31 Pinterest Group Boards for Freelance Writers

Okay. If you dont know, Pinterest is my BFF. You know why? Because its totally growing my blogs.yes I said blogs. My traffic has been growing much more when I started scheduling my pins using Tailwind (a scheduling tool). When this happened, I grew my pageviews to now 42k! If youre new to Pinterest, this post wont really help you (sorry). But, if you are using Pinterest for fun, I want you to start using it for marketing your freelance writing services. And one of the best things you can start on Pinterest is to use group boards. Group boards are a collective board on Pinterest where collaborators can pin to that board. If the owner has a big following (or that board does) then that means your pins can be seen by thousands of new pinners. Those pinners could be editors, marketers, CEOs, bloggers, solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, small business owners, authors and more. Those are your clients. You can be in front of those potential clients and behold, they could email you and ask you to write for them! Yay! Its happened  to me. Okay, now that you know why Pinterest is a BFF for freelance writers, lets look at some group boards just for you. 1. Freelancer FAQs – A Resource for Freelance Writers This is my very own group board! Originally, this group board was for my other blog, FreelancerFAQs. But, it sat there for a year or more and was sort of collecting dust. So, recently I revived it by inviting more freelance writers that want to pin to that board. Now, its lively and pinners are noticing it! 2. Location Independent Job Ideas If you blog about job ideas, money making ideas or career ideas, this group board is for you! With over 11k followers, its worth sharing your pins on this group board. 3. Work from Home Job Leads For freelance writers, your blog may have some good posts about working from home right? For a lot of us thats what we strive for, want or are trying to do full-time. If you have posts in that niche topic, join this group board to share those posts! 4. Business and Management This is a straight forward group board around freelancing and management. If you blog about business type topics, this group board will help you drive more traffic to your blog and maybe get a client! 5. Freelance Fierce | Group Board This board has the best tips to help freelancers. With productivity, organizing and inspiration tips, this board can help you with sharing your posts on these topics. 6. Writing As a freelance writer, we may write aboutwell, writing of course! 🙂 This group board shares tips for freelance writers about writing. 7. Job Ideas for Proofreading, Editing, Writing Buffs If youre an editor or proofreader, heres the board for you! Along with freelance writers, you can share your posts about your service ideas! 8. The Freelancers Club from Careful Cents Carrie Smith from Careful Cents has an awesome Pinterest group board! To join make sure you are part of her Facebook group first! 9. Rebel Entrepreneurs If you blog about your service as a freelancer, this group board about entrepreneurial topics can help you reach new pinners. 10. Freelance Writing Jobs My dear friend Lorraine Reguly of Wording Well has a Pinterest group! She doesnt let you know how to request an invite, but perhaps contact her via her blog? 11. Freelance Writing This board gives tips to improve your freelance writing. If you blog about those things, then join this group board. 12. Morning Business Chat If you give business advice on your blog, this come and join Morning Business Chat! 13. Freelancing Cori of Not Now Moms Busy has a Pinterest group board for freelancers! Share your pins about business, entrepreneur tips and freelance writing/editing and more! 14. Mind Your Business As a freelance writer, we are also an entrepreneur! We sure have a business and for a lot of us, we write about our business. Heres a Pinterest group board to share those posts. 15. Client Attraction Tips Use this group board to share tips to attract clients! Oo la la, marketing your business to attract clients is my ideal way for sure! 16. Entrepreneurship Enclave If your posts are related to entrepreneurship topics, then you can share your posts on this group board! 17. Digital Writer Success This is a small group board, but if you message the owner, Im sure youll be able to contribute to this board. 18. Freelancing Help A group board to share your tips to help other freelancers be successful! 19. Awesome Writing Tips Share your writing tip posts on this group board and get noticed by more pinners. 20. Thriving Biz This group board is for female entrepreneurs with creative services. And yes, writing is a creative service 🙂 21. Awesome Writing Prompts A group board to help boost your writing skills with prompts. This owner also owns the Awesome Writing Tips board too so when requesting an invite, make sure to state which board you want to contribute to (or ask for both). 22. Biz Tips for Freelancers For pins about getting more clients, improving your freelance service and more. Join this group board by either emailing the owner, messaging them or comment on one of her pins. 23. Copywriting This is a group board, but Im not sure if the owner is still adding more contributors. But, if you are a copywriter (or even a freelance writer) and have tips about those topics then you can try to join this group board. 24. Small Business Marketplace This group board has topics about business, making money and anything related to those topics. It has a huge following, which means your pins will get seen by a new audience. 25. Freelance | Work From Home This group board is for freelancers like writers, designers, coaching and more. Share your business tips to help others. 26. Bloom Your Business This group board holds pins about helping others to grow their business. If you blog about your service and how you are growing your business, then  this group board can help you out! 27. Creative Entrepreneurs Bloggers Share your awesome posts about helping others with their freelance business. This group board helps entrepreneurs and bloggers be more successful! 28. Mompreneur Tips + Business If you are a mom freelance writer, this group board is for you! Share your awesome business tips in this group board and starting growing your traffic. 29. Wantrepreneur 101 If you have a laptop and want to be an entrepreneur or freelancer, then you can share your tips on this group board. Just direct message the owner that you want to join! 30. Freelance Writing for Mamas This board is a collection of our best advice about how to grow your writing business, keep your household running, manage your time, work smarter not harder, and otherwise, do it all (ha!). Phew!! 🙂 31. Writing, Blogging, Biz Tips Share your tips on how to grow your blog or business on this group board. With over 3k followers, this is a great board to get more eyes on your blog. How to Join Group Boards For many of these group boards, theres no information on how to join. But, there are a lot of different ways you can request to join: Go to their blog and contact them Direct message them on Pinterest Comment on one of their recent pins Find them on Twitter or Facebook and message them there If the group board owner does have requirements, make sure to read those and follow them. Some of them may have you follow them and their board or fill out a form or first join their Facebook group. If you email me them a request or even message them on Pinterest, make sure you have these things: The group board you want to join Your Pinterest profile address Your email associated with your Pinterest account If you fail to provide those things, the owner may not invite you. There Ya Go! Good luck on joining Pinterest groups and Im sure youll be getting more traffic soon on your blog! Yay! Let me know if you have a Pinterest group board for freelancers or freelance writers! I would love to include you in this round up! Guess what? I have a free course on getting paid to write online. Sign up to my free six-day email course and get even more actionable tips to help you succeed as a freelance writer.

Complete Guide to Internships for High School Students

Complete Guide to Internships for High School Students SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you a high school student interested in getting an internship? Internships are a great way to learn about different careers, as well as get experience that you can include on your resume and college applications. Read on to learn what the benefits of internships are, what work you’ll be doing, how to find a great internship for you, and how to get the most out of your internship experience. What Is an Internship? An internship is a short-term job that allows the worker, or intern, to gain introductory experience in a certain profession.As an intern, you will work for a company or organization and gain hands-on and practical experience you can use for future jobs. There can be a lot of variation between internships. They may be part-time or full-time, paid or unpaid, take place over the summer or during the school year, and last anywhere from a few weeksto a year or more.Because internships are designed for people with little or no experience in a particular career field, most interns are students or recent college graduates. What Do You Do at an Internship? Your duties and responsibilities during your internship will depend a loton where you work. You may be calling prospective clients for a business, conducting a research experiment in a lab, leading tours at an art gallery, or one of many other options. Typically, you will spend your internship doing work similar to that of an entry-level employee at the organization.You may also do work related to severaljobs in order to learn more about different career paths.During your internship, you may work withemployees, customers, other interns, on your own, or a combination of these.Typically you will have a supervisor who will act as your boss, assign you work, and make sure you feel comfortable atyour internship. What Are the Benefits of Internships? There are multiple reasons to pursue an internship in high school; I've listed a few of the most important benefits below. Gain Experience and Skills One of the most important benefits of doing an internship is that you’ll gain skills and experience that you can use for future jobs and classes.Completing an internship that relates to a job you may want to have will help you getrelevant work experience and a better chance of getting a full-time job in that field in the future. The experiences and skills you gain during your internship can also help you in future classes as well. Don’t expect something new every minute of your internship; most of them include some less interesting duties, such as answering phones and sorting mail. However, every intern should come away with some new skills and knowledge as a result of their internship. Learn About Different Careers Doing an internship is a great, low-risk way to learn about different jobs because they provide hands-on experience and the opportunity to observe many different aspects of a career. While doing your internship, youmay learn that you don’t really enjoy a particular job that you thought you’d love, or you may discover a job you initially didn't findinteresting is actually a great fit for you.It’s much better to figure these things out during ahigh schoolinternship rather than waiting until you’ve finished college and started working to discover that the jobs you spent four years and thousands of dollars preparing foraren't a good fit for you. When I was in high school, I loved history and archaeology, and my dream job was to be an archaeologist. As a junior, I had a short internship that included surveying and excavating a field site with archaeologists. While it was a great opportunity to have, it taught me that being an archaeologist is a lot different than I imagined and not something I would enjoy as a career. Because I found this out in high school, I was able to research other careers and majors and have a better sense of what I wanted to do by the time I started college. Can Strengthen Your Resume and College Applications Internships are great experiences to include on job and college applications.Completing an internship, especially as a high school student, shows that you are a hard worker, motivated, and interested in learning new things. These are all qualities that employers and schools like to see in applicants. PotentialWay to Earn Money If your internship is paid, you also have the benefit of earning a paycheck, which I’m sure you know is a great benefit and can help you put money away for college. Should You Do an Internship If It's Unpaid? The unfortunate reality is that many internships, particularly those for high school students, aren’t paid. Many companies try to save costs by not paying interns, and high school interns are particularly likely to be unpaid because they often need a lot of training and can only do entry-level work, at least at the beginning of the internship. However, even if an internship is unpaid, you may still want to consider doing it. Why would you want to work for free?Great internships can teach you as much or more than many of the classes you take. You’ll learn what certain careers involve, gain hands-on experience, work with professionals, and learn new skills. If the internship is in a field you find interesting or want to pursue a career in one day, those benefits may make up for the lack of a paycheck.You may also be able to get academic credit for an unpaid internship, so even if you aren’t earning money, your internshipcan count as a class on your high school transcript. If you are trying to earn a lot of money now or can’t find an internship you are really excited about, then it might not be the best idea to do an unpaid internship because it may onlyfrustrate you and make your schedule busier. However, if you see an internship that seems relevant and interesting, you may want to consider it, even if it’s unpaid. Unpaid internships can still have many benefits, and it’s a good idea to consider unpaid work now, while you’re likely still living with your parents and don’t have student loans to pay off than to wait until college or after college graduation to do your first (and likely unpaid) internship. Doing an unpaid internship now can help you get a paid job or internship in the future because you will already have some experience. Just because an internship doesn't fill up your piggy bank doesn't mean you should automatically discount it. Whereto Find High School Internships It has become more and more popular for high school students to do internships, so there are a lot of resources available. However, the majority of internships are still primarily for college students, so keep that in mind while searching. Below are three of the best places to start your search. Your School Your high school may already have a program in place to help students find internships, or they may have a list of places where previous students have completed internships and enjoyed them. Talk to your academic counselor to learn what information your school has and if they can help you organize an internship. Places Where You'd Like to Work Another way to find internships is to ask directly at companies or organizations where you’d like to intern. Create a resume and be ready to talk about yourself, your interests, and what you’d like to learn at an internship. Then contact the company (in-person, by phone, or through e-mail), and ask if they offer internships for high school students and how you can apply. If they don’t, and you’re still interested in learning more about working there, ask if they offer shorter-term opportunities such as job shadowing. Internet Search Try searching â€Å"internships near [your town]† or â€Å"internships in [field you’re interested in, such as medicineorbusiness].† Because manyinternships are for college students, youshould try the other two options first because you may not be eligible for many of the internships you find online. You may also want to search "internships for high school students" to increase your chances of finding an internship you can apply for. You can find a lot of opportunities and information about internships online, but you also have to be careful about internships advertised on the internet. Some, especially if they are a company that specializes in setting up unpaid internships, exist only to make money for themselves and may not be as concerned about the quality of the internships they are offering. In general, be very wary ofcompanies that charge a fee to help you find an internship. While many internships for high schoolstudentsare unpaid, you should not have to pay large amounts of money in order to find one. What Questions Should You Ask Before Accepting an Internship? Unfortunately, as interning becomes more popular amongstudents, many companies have begun offering unpaid â€Å"internships† as a way to get free work. Many of these internships offer no compensation and little relevant experience; instead interns spend their time performing repetitive tasks or busywork that teaches few or no skills. In order to avoid these situations, research internships carefully before agreeing to one (especially ones you find on the internet), and talk to people at the organization to get answers to the following questions. What Duties Will the Intern Do? Even if the intern’s main responsibilitiesare statedon the job application or another resource, you should still ask your interviewer or potential supervisor to describe the day-to-day work because sometimes what they say can differ a lot from what is written. Listen carefully to their answers, and ask for clarification if necessary. Asking questions like â€Å"How will I spend most of my time?† or â€Å"What will be my main responsibilities as an intern?† can help you learn more about the internship and if the work you’ll be doing is relevant to your interests. If there is work you are particularly interested in, ask if you’ll have an opportunity to try it and about how much of your time will be spent on that duty. For example, if you are applying for an internship at a science lab and really want to learn more about microbiology and conducting different scientific tests, make sure you won’t be spending all your time cleaning beakers before you agree to an internship. Expect to do some busywork during your internship, but itshould also include some work that you find interesting and beneficial. How Will Interns Be Compensated? Even if you are not getting paid, you should still be benefitingin some way. After all, you are putting in a lot of hard work as an intern, and the company you work for should repay you with more than just a line on your resume. Examples of benefits that aren’t monetary include receiving quality training, learning new skills, getting academic credit, getting a housing or transportation stipend, possibly being hired at the end of the internship, orbeing introduced to workers who may be able to help you find a job in the future. If you aren’t sure how you’ll be compensated, don’t be afraid to askfor clarification. Asking your interviewer or contact at the company, â€Å"What are the ways I will benefit from doing this internship?† or something similar will show that you are direct and interested in making the most of your experience. How Much Are Interns Expected to Work? Some companies try to get as many hours out of their interns as possible, so make sure you and your employer are on the same page. There should be no confusion about this before you begin working. Your employer should provide a document that states how many hours you are expected to work a week and how many weeks you will be working for. If they don’t, ask for one before you begin working.Having this settled before youstart your internshipwill reduce the possibility of you working long, unexpected hours and feeling like you are being taken advantage of. How Can You Make the Most of Your High School Internship? After you have researched internships, applied to those that interest you, and been offered a position, it’s time to start working! Take the following steps to make sure you are getting as much out of your internship as possible. Learn as Much as You Can For most internships, the more effort you put in, the more benefits you get.Make it a goal to learn as much as you can during your internship. Even if a particular duty doesn’t seem that exciting, do your best at it. You never know, you may find it interesting or use those skills down the road. Be proactive. If you don’t have enough work to do, ask your supervisor what other things you can help with. This will help you learn more and show your boss that you are motivated and a hard worker. If you don’t know how to do something or need more information, ask! As an intern, you aren’t expected to know everything, and it’s much better to ask for help than to try to do something on your own and potentially make a big mistake. Discuss What You'd Like to Learn An internship is an opportunity for you to gain skills and knowledge that you think will benefit you in the future, so you want to make sure that at least part of what you are learning is applicable and interesting. You likely won’t be able to decide everything you get to do, but if there is a certain job you want to try or skill you want to learn, mention this to your supervisor. They may be able to give you some roles that require that skill or put you in contact with people who know a lot about that field and can answer your questions. Remember, both the company and you should be benefitingfrom this internship. Make Personal Connections One major benefit to internships is that you can make professional connections that may help you get a job in the future.If people know you and like the work you do, they will be more willing to hire you one day, even if they move to a different company. While at your internship, make it a point to speak with as many people as you can.You can also use your new contacts to get advice and learn more about a particular career field by asking them questions like why they chose this job, what they like about it, what they dislike, and if they have any advice for you as you finish high school and begin college. Summary Internships are a great way for high school studentsto get experience, gainnew skills, and learn more about different jobs and career fields. Internships can involve many duties and responsibilities, but, in general, they give the intern entry-level experience in a certain job or profession. Even unpaid internships can benefit you by giving you work experience, new skills, and a better idea of the type of career you want to have. To find an internship, talk toyour academic adviser, contact places where you’d like to work, or search online. Before agreeing to an internship, make sure you research it carefully so you understand what you’ll be doing. Once you begin working, make the most of your internship by learning as much as you can, being willing to do extra work, and getting to know your coworkers. What's Next? Want to learn more about a certain career but don't have the time to commit to an internship? Job shadowing may be just what you're looking for! Check out our complete guide to job shadowing. Wondering if you should get a job? We have guides to help you decide if getting a job is the right choice for you as well asthe eight best jobs for teenagers. Community service is also a great way to get experience and learn about different jobs. Read our guide to learnwhat community service is and how it can benefit you. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. 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Review and evaluation of E-commerce solutions for SMEs Dissertation

Review and evaluation of E-commerce solutions for SMEs - Dissertation Example Apart from that SMEs have been also supported with financial assistance, management training, legislative & policy support, and counselling services. The SME sector of a country is considered as one of the pillars of the economic growth of a country. The statement SMEs are a major source of entrepreneurial skills and creativity and contribute to economic and social cohesion. They hold the key to innovation and are also emerging as global players, by participating in worldwide production and supply chains made by the Deputy Director- General for Enterprise and Industry clearly reflects the importance of SMEs in a country. According to reports SMEs contribute significantly towards the total GDP of a country and are also responsible for generating large number of employment opportunities. The definition of SME however differs from one country to the other. In simple terms the criteria for a company to fall in the category of SMEs differs from one country to the other (Asia Pacific Econo mic Cooperation, 2004). In order to ensure growth of this sector, government as well as the private sector played active roles. There have been several programs in the past initiated by different establishments to ensure growth of SMEs. In addition, adoption of different technologies by the SMEs is also another obvious factor. The latest to this is the implementation of e-commerce technology by several small and medium sized companies. The principal reason behind the implementation of this technology is to drive growth and profitability. However before getting further deep into the study, a brief overview of the e-commerce technology is provided below. ... In order to ensure growth of this sector, government as well as the private sector played active roles. There have been several programs in the past initiated by different establishments to ensure growth of SMEs. In addition, adoption of different technologies by the SMEs is also another obvious factor. The latest to this is the implementation of e-commerce technology by several small and medium sized companies. The principal reason behind the implementation of this technology is to drive growth and profitability. However before getting further deep into the study, a brief overview of the e-commerce technology is provided below. E-Commerce: A Brief Overview Over the past few decades, e-commerce has evolved as one of the fully functional application for carrying out business transaction through electronic medium. During the early days of internet commercialization, the data transmission speed used to be extremely slow. It used to be characterized with the slow dial up connections. At that time, Netscape came into light and changed the scenario of internet browsing. Along with increased data transmission speed, it also succeeded to provide great internet surfing experiences to the user. Thus, several eminent scholars and individuals of the online business industry consider Netscape as the reason for the arrival of this new business dimension. This development has also led to the concept of e-commerce, where people can carry out business transaction over the electronic network. Thus, e-commerce is defined as a system of conducting business activities with the help of internet and other information technologies (Zongqing, 2004). Moreover, considering the current business environments, a number of scholars believe that companies must

Design option evaluation report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Design option evaluation report - Essay Example Moreover, direct radiation are normally scattered by the atmosphere (Heard, 2006). Alterations of temperature have been depicted to appreciably affect reaction speed for particular trace compounds. Facts that strongly influence the design of a smog chamber and its corresponding auxiliaries for studying reactions under diverse simulated tropospheric conditions are mainly concentration of chemicals and temperature. Low concentration of members within the chemical reactions presents both analytical complications and stringent demands on the underlying cleanliness of the air utilized to make up the reaction mixture (Burrows, Borrell & Platt, 2011). Humidity ought to be controlled. The materials of construction ought not to introduce appreciable concentrations of impurities or react with the existing components of the reaction mixture (Heard, 2006). The radiation sources employed for irradiation of the smog chamber contents ought to simulate the intensity and peculiar distribution existing within the lower troposphere in the spectral locations and corresponding temporal distributions in the reaction chamber ought to be as even as feasible. In China, some small volume smog chambers have been developed to study gas-phase kinetic mechanisms, which precisely temperature controlled indoor smog chamber made of FEP Teflon film to study the SOA formation. Nevertheless,the small volumes of these smog chambers impact the disadvantage of relatively large wall effects thus making it cumbersome for the experiments of long durations. There exist numerous means to study photochemical smog, with the most common one being utilizing data from a smog chamber to establish a reaction model (Burrows, Borrell & Platt, 2011). Smog chamber facility is utilized to excite atmosphere photochemical reactions processes through irradiating primary pollutants namely NOz and corresponding hydrocarbons within the chamber. In 1952, a serious case of

Human Resource Management And HR Policies Essay - 1

Human Resource Management And HR Policies - Essay Example Apart from these activities the sector also includes sports and leisure time activities and programs such as golf courses, fitness clubs, fishing, arts, and crafts. Similarly, the hospitality sector of the leisure industry involves accommodation facilities along with flooding and other amenities. By summarising these attributes it is quite evident that the industry accumulates the features of the entire entertainment industry along with the characteristics of travel and tourism sectors. No wonder due to this special attribute, the industry gains advantages from both the booming sectors related to the leisure choices of people. Hence, the industry itself is emerging as an important and quite promising segment in the global market (Human Kinetics, 2005). Being an emerging and one of the most promising industries, several companies are choosing to enter the leisure industry while few companies have already gained an identifiable position in the industry. Brendon Jones Ltd. is also a company engaged in the activities of the leisure industry. The company presently employs almost 300 associates working in it’s headquarter and 10 other outlets scattered in different parts of the Valley of South Wales. The administration of the company is set with one individual manager to deal with the obstacles emerging in each of the ten outlets among whom none were specialized in the Human Resource Management (HRM) sector. This was one of the major problems which laid the company to a disruption in terms of its HR policies. The paper, therefore, will be focussed on the identification and the evaluation of the problems faced by the company in terms of its employee satisfaction, i.e. its HR policies. Moreover, the paper will aim at recommending a strategic solution in order to eradicate these obstacles and invigorate its performance as a leisure service provider company.

Relationship Between Drug Use and Crime

Relationship Between Drug Use and Crime Reviewing empirical research examining the relationship between drug use and crime. Undeniably, there is a strong association between illicit drug use and criminal activity, which appears to be consistent across much of the empirical literature with regard to the relationship between drug use and crime. (Moore, T. et.al, 2007, p.369) However, the relationship between drug use and crime is complex and dynamic, often associated with entrenched social and health problems such as unemployment, socio economic inequality, and poor mental health. Furthermore, the complexity of the relationship further develops with the links being neither simple or linear, nor universal across offending. (Raskin White Gorman, 2002) Goode argues that drugs and crime are intimately related in the public mind and suggest currently, that drugs and crime are connected in a very specific way and whether their connection bears directly on a specific issue of whether or not property crime would decline under decriminalisation of certain illicit substances. (1997). The issue that comes to the fore is that there is sometimes a tendency in the literature, and policy and public debate, to over simplify and over-draw the links between these two phenomena. This is supported in the work of Makkai (2002) whereby the argument that much of the Australian discussion on illicit drugs and crime is ill defined, simplistic, and lacking in evidence where an assumption that there is a causal relationship between drug use and crime is made without sufficient supporting evidence. (p. 113) Furthermore, Raskin White and Gorman also supports the view of Makkai stating, policy makers assume that an important connection between drugs and crime exist, however the precise nature of the connection remains elusive. There is clear evidence in literature suggesting and supporting that drug use and crime tend to be associated or co-existing in the same populations. Within Australian literature this evidence is contained within the studies of Kevin, 1999; Loxley, 2001; Makkai, 1999 and Makkai, 2001. Interestingly, when reviewing literature examining the drugs and crime nexus, the body of research pertaining to offending/drug use careers and initiation into drug use provide useful insight into the relationship. Pudney (2002); Best et al (2001a) argue that the onset of criminal behaviour generally precedes the onset of initial and/or regular drug use. This assertion is demonstrated empirically whereby 17 per cent of prisoners reported illicit drug use prior to offending, 29 per cent report that crime and drug use occurred at the same age, but offending before the commencement of illicit drug use was reported at 54 per cent. These results that generally the lifetime drug-using/ criminal career begins with the onset of offending, then illicit drug use, with continuing cycle of regular offending and regular drug use (Makkai Payne, 2003a, p10). Moreover, this bolsters the relationship between drug use and crime. The aim of this paper is to review the literature regarding the relationship between drug use and crime, particularly the theoretical models and the empirical evidence surrounding the three main theories in order to find gaps in the research and to identify future trends and research parameters regarding the relationship between drugs and crime. The three main theories to be examined is the assertion that substance use leads to crime, crime leads to substance use and that crime and drug use have common causes. As stated during the introduction the relationship between drugs and crime is dynamic and complex. There are a variety of ways into and out of the drug offending nexus which vary between individuals and according to a range of factors. For example, Scott et al 2001 state the links between drugs and crime can vary according to factors such as age (p.161), or sex as argued by Mazerolle (2008); Johnson (2004); Haas Peters (2000), or the order of introduction as to whether drug use or offending came first (Farabee et al, 2001). Furthermore, according to Scott et al 2001, that serious illicit drug use contributes to continuity in serious crime, and vice versa, concluding that crime affects drug use and drug use affects crime (p.270) This argument is supported by both Best et al, 2001a, p161 and Welte et al, 2001, p436 who suggest a two way relationship between drug use and offending. Theories concerning the relationship between drug use and crime Substance use leads to crime Goldstein, considered the first to originally develop the theory between the relationship of drugs and crime, suggested three separate explanations of how the link occurs. Goldstein asserts that psychopharmacological, economic motivation and a systemic theory explain the drugs and crime nexus. (1985) The first explanation and described as the psychopharmacological theory defines, that the short or long term use of certain drugs produces physical effects which lead to offending behaviour. This theory has been applied to both property and violent crime, but it is mainly associated with violent offending and attributes acute or chronic intoxication or the effects of drug withdrawal as contributing factors towards criminal behaviour. This psychopharmacological theory gains support in research conducted by Lo Stephens (2002) proposing that offenders were (or claimed to be) intoxicated with illicit drugs at the time of the offence (p 125). Further research within Australia also suggest within Drug Use Monitoring Australia (DUMA) data that 34 percent of police detainees claimed to be under the influence of an illicit drug when they committed the offence, furthermore 14 percent claimed to be under the influence of alcohol. Further support is provided to Goldsteins initial theory in Indermaurs (1995, p 156) Western Australian study of robbery that found 52.8 per cent of offenders reported being under the influence of illicit drugs at the time of offending and 5.7 per cent were experiencing the effects of withdrawal. The objective of the Drug Use Careers of Offenders (DUCO) project is to further understand the drug use and criminal histories of incarcerated offenders and to contribute to the empirical evidence on the link between drug use and crime. In the example of the DUCO study, questions regarding whether the offender was intoxicated and whether the offender committed the offence because they were intoxicated were asked. The study found that 24 per cent of prisoners reported they were intoxicated with illicit drugs, 17 per cent with both illicit substances and alcohol, and 21 per cent just with alcohol. However, these proportions more than halved when examining whether the crimes could be asserted to be causally attributed to intoxication, with 10 per cent for illicit drugs, 8 per cent for both and 9 per cent for alcohol only (Adams et al, 2008; Makkai Payne, 2003a, p16). Although research asserts that there is some significance of the psychopharmacological theory in explaining the link between drugs and crime, ambivalence surrounds the conclusion. For example, the Australasian Centre for Policing Research (ACPR, 2001, p15 16) conclude that it is probable that intoxication by either drugs and/or alcohol plays a role in the dynamics of the drugs and crime nexus, but that it should not be overestimated. Additionally, Raskin White Gorman (2000 p.185); MacCoun et.al (2001, p. 5) argue that the psychopharmacological theory explains little in terms of the relationship between drugs and crime. The second theory to explain the drugs and crime nexus is termed the economic compulsive and suggests that crime is commissioned in order to finance a drug habit. Makkai, 2002b argues that this theory primarily relates to property crimes, however may also relate to violent crime such as robbery where violence may be used during the commission of a property crime (p111 113). Support for this theory is derived by the research within Australia of Maher et al whereby high proportions of drug users report commit crime and in particular property offences to aid in paying for a drug habit (2002). These findings also concurs with Best et al, 2001a whose finding suggested that the most typical property crime was that of shoplifting (48 per cent of respondents), followed by burglary (28 per cent) then unarmed street robbery such as bag snatches and muggings (13 per cent). Furthermore, empirical studies examining the drugs and crime nexus such as Collins, 1999 and Nelson et al, 2002 asserts th e tendency that burglary is the offence associated most with financing drug use, however not as high as the income derived from offenders involved in drug selling. (Weatherburn et al, 2003, p193). Pritchard Payne cite that the main reasons for burglary are to support a drug habit (44 per cent of respondents), to obtain money or goods (42 per cent) and money was needed as a result of unemployment (41 per cent) 2005, p 46. In conclusion and although strong evidence has been provided in support of the theory, economic motivation cannot provide a complete explanation of the link between drugs and crime, however does contribute and explain why crime accelerates as addiction increases (ACPR, 2001, p.16). Furthermore, Bennett Holloway (2005); Raskin White Gorman (2001) identifies gaps in the research where there is a need to distinguish between different categories of drug users when examining the relationship between drugs and crime. Systemic theory as examined by Goldstein suggest the engagement within drug market activities results in offending, that is, drug related crime results from negative interactions in the illegal drug market, where it is argued that distribution and use of illicit drugs are inherently connected to the commission of crime, with particular reference to crimes of violence (Raskin White Gorman, 2000, p191) Reiss Roth argues that systemic crime is associated with drug distribution through organisational crime, transaction related crime and third party related crime. Although there is some anecdotal evidence suggesting a strong connection between drugs and crime, however as Bean (2002) asserts, research on organised crime outside the United States is limited and states that it does not directly discuss the relationship between organised crime and drugs and, furthermore the literature available could be classed as journalistic in nature rather than empirical research. On the other hand, Findlay states without drug trafficking, dealing and use being illegal, profit would not be assured (1999, p.26), which in turn suggest that drug related crime is an artefact of law and policy (McBride et al, 2001, p5). Crime leads to substance use The second proposed theory is that offenders are more likely to become illegal drug users. Thus, individuals who are deviant are more likely to be involved or choose social situations where drug use condoned or encouraged. Raskin White Gorman state that this theory may arise when deviant individuals use drugs to self medicate or to provide and excuse to commit deviant or criminal acts (2000, p174.) or that income from criminal acts providing additional income enables the offender to purchase drugs, contrasting the previous theory of drugs compelling the offender to commit a crime. In short, both overarching theories receive support and even reinforce each other in the sense that crime may lead to drug use and drug use may lead to more crime. Crime and drug use have common causes The third theory suggests that crime and drug use are not directly causally related to each other, however are related due to sharing other common causes in terms of individual level, interpersonal level, environmental and situational factors. Pudney states that social, economic and family circumstances appear to be influences on young peoples risk of becoming involved in both crime and drug use (2002, p28) A range of risk factors (which may increase the likelihood of an offence occurring) and protective factors (which reduce the impact of an unavoidable negative event) are described within this theory where Weatherburn et al simply state that were risk factors outweigh protective factors, the greater the likelihood of becoming in drugs and/or crime (2000 p 49 -53) and there is considerable overlap and relationship between illicit drug use and criminality (ACPR, 2001, p28). After describing the drugs and crime association within this literature review it is possible to conclude and identify recommendations for further research. No one individual theory can adequately explain the drugs and crime nexus in every instance, furthermore the relationship between drugs and crime is very complex, whereby the conclusions researched on this topic vary and depend on which area the researcher examines and interprets the data. Furthermore, consideration to all theories is prudent in order to develop a true assessment of this relationship. Illicit drug use and crime are mutually reinforcing where both can precede the other, and be interrelated with a broad range of other variables, however there is no required criteria or necessary causal links between the relationship. That is, most drug users do not engage in criminality and there is an absence of evidence suggesting that drug use in and of itself causes criminality, and that criminality in and of itself forces people into drug use. With this said, drugs are important within the context of violence and property crime (MacCoun et al, 2001, p2), where the drug using offending population commit a disproportionate amount of crime. Although it can be said that the drugs and crime nexus is intimate, further research is necessary to assist in further defining and understanding the links, where the methods of disaggregation or examining specific areas may prove beneficial and give greater clarity such as, the relationship between crime and particular kinds of drugs, connecting empirical findings to drugs and crime theories, and researching the casual connection between drugs and crime. Finally, an area of interest to the writer to identify gaps in the research pertaining to the drugs and crime nexus is drug use in prison. This paper reviewed a number of studies in reference to the relationship between drugs and crime in an effort to illustrate the complexity of the connection. After examining the link the paper discussed three theoretical models which endeavour to explain the relationship; the psychopharmacological link; the economic-compulsive link; and the systemic link. Drug users dependency on expensive drugs where affordability is lacking demonstrates the closest link between drugs and crime; however even with this example the relationship is not automatic due to crime not being an inevitable consequence of drug use. Finally, involvement in crime is also dependent on economic, social and cultural contexts, not simply drug use.

The Environment and Environmental Hysteria :: Environment Environmental Research

The Environment and Environmental Hysteria missing Works Cited Fanatics see everything in absolutes. Perspective means nothing to them(425). In this essay I will focus on the events surrounding the regulation of Alar (diaminozide) up to and including 1985, as a case-study of knowledge and decision-making amidst uncertainty (418-19). I pick this time period in particular, because it is when the NRDC and other public interest groups began their campaign in protest against the EPA's decision to not ban Alar. My analysis of the events surrounding Alar will take shape around a critique of Michael Fumento's article "Environmental Hysteria: The Alar Scare," in which he paints the NRDC as "fanatics" launching a "smear campaign" not founded in any rational decision-making. This is an important argument to counter, because it has not only been taken up by many to condemn citizen-group action in the case of Alar, but to criticize their activities in many other regulatory processes. The chief framework used to devalue public action in these cases is the technocratic model, wherein it is believed that decisions can be best made by obj ective, rational experts acting based upon scientific knowledge. In this case, we can see a perfect example of when a decision was decided by scientific experts, in accordance with the technocratic model. Fumento and other supporters of the technocratic mode privilege the scientific knowledge of bodies such as the Scientific Advisory Panel in this case over other forms of knowledge. He denounces NRDC as fanatics based on his claim that they acted in spite of, and in contradiction to scientific declarations and reports which indicated that their "Alar alarm" did not correspond to the evidence at hand (423). However, the Alar saga is typical of many regulatory decision-making processes in that the scientists and administrators were forced to act before scientific opinion has solidified around a certain determination of the dangers of the chemical. In this case, the scientists cannot simply rely on the accepted scientific verdict, but they need to make value judgements about what evidence and opinion to include in their decision-making and what to ex clude. In this type of scenario, I will first argue, the technocratic model is imperfect for our democratic country, as it privileges the value judgements of scientists over those of the populace. I further suggest that scientists themselves should not be considered above subjectivity nor fanaticism, but rather in some cases their rigorous abidance to objectivity can be seen as a certain type of blind"fanaticism.