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Archive for October, 2010

The Finnish education system starts at the age of seven for pupils and is compulsory for the next nine years until pupils reach the age of sixteen.  Homeschooling in Finland is allowed but is very rare unlike other places around the world.  There are very few private schools in Finland and for one to be initiated; permission has to be granted from the council of state who will make a decision based on political reasons.

Grading is carried out in primary schools in Finland but doesn’t seem to be as strict as some other countries, grading is normally carried out on a verbal rather than test basis and parents will receive a report normally twice a year.

There are free school lunches for both primary and secondary pupils and pupils can also expect to receive free health care.   In some schools,  pupils will also receive free teaching materials and funding for school trips.

Secondary schools are spilt normally with the intention of teaching younger children and those getting ready to leave and go on to higher education. For Finnish pupils, Swedish is a mandatory school subject and likewise Finnish is mandatory for Swedish pupils.   The value of Finland’s society is held in high regard and results of Finnish pupils and records of achievement are generally high, this in part is attributed to the high society values held in Finland.

Numerous foreign languages, environmental studies, religion, ethics, social sciences, history, maths and various sciences are just some of the languages taught in Finnish schools and the Finnish population strongly promotes English as one off the most important languages and if you visit Finland, you will encounter the majority of the population as fluent in the English language.

The principle of the Finnish education system is that everyone has access to learning in all areas and this attitude that all people are capable of learning new things at different stages of life,  is a principle they abide by.   The last three years of schooling as well as being subject based, also includes preparing young adults and teaching them the skills they will require to live and adapt in society.

English children can attend specialist English schools in Finland but they will be required to learn and study Finnish compulsory. Other schools will take English students with the aim of teaching them according to Finnish education system and again, students will be required to speak and learn Finnish. Children entering the Finnish school system seem to absorb the Finnish language easily and are soon speaking it comfortably.

In less than twenty years, the cost of an average four-year college education is expected to exceed $115,000 for public schooling and $250,000 for private schooling according to a recent poll by College Trends.   These projections are certainly startling for most parents as they ask a common question: “How will we be able to afford a college education for our children?” 

Fortunately, federal legislation has created a tax-friendly form of saving for college, commonly referred to as the 529 Plan.   Every state has enacted legislation to authorize the use of 529 Plan assets in their colleges.   Individuals generally may deposit annually $12,000 (up to $60,000 at one time to cover five years of gifts) into a special type of investment for the education of the beneficiary, typically one’s child or grandchild (although the beneficiary could be any person).   Most state 529 Plans allow an individual to contribute, in the aggregate, over $200,000 per beneficiary, though consideration should be given to the federal estate and gift tax ramifications of such contributions.

529 Plans offer a number of distinct advantages over traditional forms of college savings, such as Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (“UTMA”) accounts and irrevocable trusts.   With UTMA accounts, when a beneficiary reaches age 21, he or she would be able to withdraw all of the funds in the account to use as he or she wishes.   The possible use of custodial assets for undesirable purposes may be addressed with the implementation of an irrevocable trust.   However, in either case, the funds are subject to ongoing income tax.

By contrast, contributions to a 529 Plan grow free of federal income tax for as long as the funds remain in the Plan.   Historically, these Plans were often criticized due to limited investment options that resulted in mediocre performance, thus negating the advantage of tax-free growth.   Over time, though, with increased popularity and the ability for individuals to invest funds in Plans of any state (regardless of residence or desired school location), 529 Plan investment options have become much more varied, resulting in worthwhile investment returns.

A unique feature of the 529 Plan is that the account owner remains in control of the account.   The owner may change the beneficiary from one person to another and may determine when withdrawals are taken and for what purpose, although such changes may be subject to tax consequences.   In addition, the account owner may withdraw funds at any time for any purpose whatsoever; however, the earnings portion of such a withdrawal would be subject to income tax and an additional 10% penalty.  

With the owner having control of the account while funded, one should consider naming a successor owner in the event of death or disability.   A successor owner could include a revocable trust, a spouse or a trusted person  capable of carrying out the owner’s intentions, namely, ensuring that the Plan assets are invested appropriately and used for the beneficiary’s higher education needs.   In every case, the selection of a successor owner should be coordinated with the account owner’s personal estate planning to ensure that his or her wishes are met.    

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Did you know you can obtain a Free College Money And $1-$10,000 Scholarships for registering?  Just enter your name and email address. An advantage of scholarships for students is that you simply never need to pay this moneyback. Scholarships for student behave like a grant inside the sense the disperse or does not require one to refund nor to cover anything back. This can be used money any expenses you might have while attending college. Additionally, there are special scholarships for anyone with disabilities for instance scholarships for students with asthma, scholarships for students, scholarships for students with all the single parents, scholarships for students with low GPA, and and much more. Many students panic if they need money to fund their education and so they cannot borrow anymore. If you are beginning your college experience you will need to know how to find college scholarships. There is certainly numerous scholarships available to suit your needs which it would take you months to accomplish a study all on your own. So that you can help students there are numerous companies who have provided online guides that provide scholarships that will provide you with money to your college tuition. Samples of scholarships to students for scholarships that provide you $1000-$10,000 annually to perform your education. And sometimes, these scholarships usually are not influenced by your GPA. As an example, scholarships for students in college can be a general scholarship, scholarships for students with asthma can assist you get more money, scholarships for students with ADHD also help you to get additional money. Again, other great tales and also on. Whilst you commence your college education career please spend some time to get the maximum amount of free money she can as there are a huge selection of sources that can present you with the amount of money that you might want. There’s no reason to fund college with free money may be fond of you.

This is continued from part two of this article series. Please read that before you read this article.
10. What will be the effects of the program on the costs of the company? Will costs increase or decrease?
11. Are the employees ready for the change? Are they participating in the decision of whether flextime should be implemented or not?
12. Will employees be able to do their work independently with little or no supervision during the odd hours in early mornings or late evenings? Will some sort of supervision be required?
13. Will team projects run properly with the new flexibility in work schedules? How will the team members communicate with each other?
14. How independent is the work of each employee? Will delays of one employee cause problems to another employee?
How should the employee request the organization for a flextime schedule?
As per Scott Reeves (2006, www. forbes. com), employees must keep in mind the below seven tips before pitching for a flextime schedule.
1. Bases Covered: Make it clear to your employer that all operational requirements of the job will be covered. Your proposal won’t be approved if it means punching a hole in your duties and the company’s business.
2. Improved Service: Tell your employer how improved morale will quickly translate into improved productivity and better customer service. Show how this means bigger profits.
3. Employee Retention: Recruiting is a major expense for any employer. Make it clear how a flexible work schedule will reduce costs by making employees happier and reducing turnover.
4. No Higher Costs: Run the figures so you can show your employer flex-time won’t increase the supervisory workload or operating costs. Draft a schedule that shows that all operations will be covered during business hours.
5. Accountability: Your plan must show that flex-time won’t diminish the ability of the employer to assign responsibility and demand accountability from those participating in the program. Lines of responsibility can’t be blurred by flex-time or telecommuting.
6. Put Guidelines In Writing: If your company doesn’t already have one, put together a handbook outlining the responsibilities of employees on a flex-time schedule. This benefits everyone by defining expectations and eliminating needless squabbles.
7. Chain Of Command: All requests for flex-time should be made in writing. Establish guidelines for granting requests so it’s not based on the whim of a supervisor and applied unevenly. If there is an appeal procedure, nail down the who, what, where and when of such reconsiderations. Applying different standards to different employees will spark resentment and bitterness, undercutting the entire program.
Benefits of flextime work arrangements:
Flextime work arrangement has many benefits. They are listed below with more details about each benefit.
Increased productivity:
The work productivity of the employees increases when they are allowed to work according to their own preferred timings. This increase in productivity automatically helps the organization. The Health Science Center at Houston, The University of Texas (www. uthouston. edu) mentions that flextime increases productivity because employees can schedule work according to their “biological” clocks. Please read further in part four of this article series.

From the Depths of the Universe

to the DNA Molecule

 

Too small to be seen with the naked eye, DNA serves as the data bank of our cells. Information about all the living things around you is concealed within this miniaturized data bank inside every cell of every organism. All the structural characteristics of a rose, an orange, a sparrow, a tiger or a human being are present in the nuclei of the cells that comprise these organisms. Look at your hand that is holding this book. These data stores exist in the nucleus of every single one of the cells that compose that hand.

These DNA molecules are invisible to the naked eye but in terms of their contents and data-storage capacity, they are equal to a library consisting of tens of thousands of books. As you observe the miraculous aspects of DNA, which can be seen only by magnifying it thousands of times, you will also appreciate how such minute essential component of life places the theory of evolution in an insuperable quandary. Examining the details of this extraordinary structure will give you the opportunity to ponder the infinite might, incomparable knowledge, scope and dominion of our Lord, Allah (God) and the universe He has created.

Every day, new discoveries are being made about the universe we inhabit. Billions of galaxies lie hundreds of thousands of light years away from one another. Millions of stars that fill those galaxies, whose dimensions defy our powers of conception. Giant planets constantly revolve in a complex order at speeds of thousands of kilometers without ever colliding with one another. Here, on one of the smaller of these planets, we examine the cells, the building blocks of life on Earth, themselves no bigger than a mere speck, under the electron microscope, an invention of the 20th century.

Each of the conditions that makes this planet suitable for life is indispensable to it. The Earth’s environment exists and persists by the mercy of Allah.

Albert Einstein, one of the 20th century’s most eminent scientists, expressed man’s difficulty in comprehending the order in the universe in these terms:

The human mind is not capable of grasping the Universe. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books, but doesn’t know what it is. 1

Human beings have been equipped with all the systems they need within this extraordinary environment. The more details that we learn about the body, the more we realize how miraculous our lives are. As they discover the systems concealed inside their bodies, many people–who would otherwise live without reflection, caught up in the daily course of their lives–will reflect on the purpose behind their existence and become aware of their responsibilities to Allah, their Creator. Indeed, various scientists have acquired faith in the existence of Allah by seeing the greatness of His knowledge and the perfections He has created.

But some of them continue to refuse to see that they live in need of Allah, even though their consciences may tell them otherwise. Yet their refusal to admit the truth will not alter the facts. Allah reveals some people’s approach in the Qur’an:

 

Do not mix up truth with falsehood and knowingly hide the truth. (Surat al-Baqara, 42)

 

O Humanity! You are the poor in need of Allah whereas Allah is the Rich Beyond Need, the Praiseworthy. (Surah Fatir, 15)

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

The Most advanced Data Bank Known: DNA

 

The truth revealed by science as it progresses is that living things possess flawless and highly complex structures that could never have emerged by chance. This is evident proof that our Almighty and Omniscient Lord has created living things. The theory of evolution, which rejects the idea of our Creator and pins its hopes on coincidences, has been dealt one of its most severe blows by developments in the field of molecular biology, which demolishes–with clear and irrefutable evidence, the fundamental of Darwinism, which maintains that life originated based on supposedly simple structures.

As scientists discovered the complex structures inside the cell, which some have referred to as a “molecular machine,” they also clearly saw that these could never have come into being as the result of chance.

One such structure is DNA, the cell’s data bank, discovered in the 1950s with the invention of the electron microscope. DNA is a giant molecule contained in every cell. On that long molecular chain is encoded all the information that determines the physical and chemical structure of that cell and of the entire organism to which that cell belongs. However, the presence of such a data bank within the cell means nothing by itself. The information within that DNA must be read as needed, and processes carried out in the light of that information. It is impossible for inanimate substances to write and decipher codes, take progressive precautionary measures, and to establish a system to ensure that the information they possess comes to no harm.

Molecules made up of chemical elements from the earth and air cannot be expected to do these things spontaneously. Yet Darwinists are so blindly devoted to their theory of evolution that, as you shall see in the chapters that follow, they insist on claims that are utterly unscientific, violating reason and logic, solely for the sake of convincing themselves and others that everything is a coincidence.

Despite being an evolutionist, Francis Crick–a Nobel Prize-winning biochemist and one of the scientists who discovered DNA–admits the facts in his book Life Itself:

An honest man, armed with all the knowledge available to us now, could only state that, in some sense, the origin of life appears at the moment to be almost a miracle. 2

Richard Dawkins, known for his evolutionist views, describes the complexity concealed within the cell:

Physics books may be complicated, but . . . the objects and phenomena that a physics book describes are simpler than a single cell in the body of its author. And the author consists of trillions of those cells, many of them different from each other, organized with intricate architecture and precision–engineering into a working machine capable of writing a book. . . . Each nucleus . . . contains a digitally coded database larger, in information content, than all thirty volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica put together. And this figure is for each [individual] cell, not all the cells of the body put together. 3

If you had found a CD on your desk 25 years ago, and even if you had never seen one before, you would still never try attempt to account for its existence in terms of chance. Despite its being a very thin, flat, round piece of plastic, the regularity of its shape would still make it clear that it had been produced by an intelligent, knowledgeable human being. Even if you never met the person who designed and manufactured that CD, you would still never claim that metals and plastics had assumed such a perfect form as the result of successive accidents.

And what if you learned, through a detailed examination of the CD’s structure, that in indentations and protrusions on its surface, there was information coded in the form of the numbers 0 and 1? At first glance it appeared like just a flat plastic disc, but were it enlarged to the size of a football stadium, the indentations on it would be approximately the same size as grains of sand. 4

All the CD’s indentations and protrusions represent coded data containing text, sounds and images. The fact that dozens of books’ worth of data has been compressed into this flat disk makes it obvious that intelligent, knowledgeable minds have had a hand in its manufacture. No one could possibly maintain anything different. On the contrary, the presence here of a highly advanced technology, the processes of recording, coding and compression of data are evidence that this CD was consciously produced, and for a specific purpose.

Yet some people, who see that claims of chance are impossible to account for a flat disk of plastic, fail to employ the same honest logic in the face of DNA’s perfect creation. They maintain that the DNA molecules, too small to be seen with the naked eye but containing enough compressed and encoded data to fill thousands of encyclopedias, came into being as the work of chance. Yet the human brain that produced the CD and wrote the information it contains also consists of cells that function thanks to the information contained in DNA.

The illogicality here is obvious. In the same way that the information in the CD implies that it has been written there by someone, DNA–a far more comprehensive data bank with a far superior technology–shows the existence of a superior intellect, of a Creator. That intellect is the infinite mind of our Almighty Lord. DNA is a miracle of Allah, the sublime nature of the creation of which we have been able to comprehend through 20th-century technology.

Our Lord reveals the purpose of the things He created in one of the verses:

 

It is Allah Who created the seven heavens and of the Earth the same number, the Command descending down through all of them, so that you might know that Allah has power over all things and that Allah encompasses all things in His knowledge. (Surat at-Talaq, 12)

 

 

CHAPTER 1

Aspect of The Cell Discovered

In the 20th Century

In the second half of the 20th century, advances in the field of molecular biology entirely altered our perspective on the miniaturized world inside the cell. With today’s rapidly developing technology, biologists have become aware of the flawless and complex mechanisms possessed by the cell, realizing that these could not have come into being by chance or spontaneously. Most of the systems that constitute the cell are smaller than the wavelength of visible light. Some details in the cell can be examined only by advanced techniques such as X-ray crystallography. However, at the time when Darwin launched his theory, the level of science was extremely backward. Not even the basic structure of the cell had been revealed, let alone the discovery of the helix structure and data capacity of the DNA molecule, which James Watson and Francis Crick revealed nearly 100 years after the publication of Darwin’s book The Origin of Species

Darwin had no means of foreseeing the advances that molecular biology would subsequently make. Clearly, his theory of evolution built on fundamentally flawed knowledge and hypotheses cannot account for the existence of a structure like DNA, which amazes scientists.

The well–known Cambridge University philosopher Dr. Stephen C. Meyer compares modern science with that of Darwin’s day:

During the last half of the twentieth century, advances in molecular biology and biochemistry have revolutionized our understanding of the miniature world within the cell. Research has revealed that cells–the fundamental units of life-store–transmit, and edit information and use that information to regulate their most fundamental metabolic processes . . . biologists now describe cells as, among other things, “distributive real-time computers” or complex information processing systems. Darwin, of course, neither knew about these intricacies nor sought to explain their origin. Instead, his theory of biological evolution sought to explain how life could have grown gradually more complex starting from “one or a few simple forms” . . . in the 1870s and 1880s, scientists assumed that devising an explanation for the origin of life would be fairly easy. For one thing, they assumed that life was essentially a rather simple substance called protoplasm that could be easily constructed by combining and recombining simple chemicals such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen. 5

However, some scientists, the heirs of Darwin, still consider that atoms spontaneously combined to give rise to complex living things. In the light of the extraordinary advances made in the field of molecular biology especially over the last 50 years, it is quite astonishing that Darwin’s claim should have survived this long. This state of affairs is admitted in a statement by Dr. Richard Lewontin, an evolutionist and Harvard University biologist and geneticist:

. . . evolution is not a fact, it’s a philosophy. The materialism comes first (a priori), and the evidence is interpreted in light of that unchangeable philosophical commitment. 6

Because of their devotion to materialism, the inheritors of the theory of evolution are generally unable to accept scientific facts. They therefore insist on trying to carry an outdated 19th-century scientific conception into the present day. However, the facts are too evident to be covered up by any superstitious philosophy.

In the Qur’an, Allah reveals that there will be those who “use fallacious arguments to deny the truth” (Surat al-Kahf, 56). In another verse, He tells us:

 

Rather We hurl the truth against falsehood and it cuts right through its brain and it vanishes clean away! Woe without end for you for what you portray! (Surat al-Anbiya’, 18)

 

The Cell Is More Complex

Than a Major City

Some four billion years ago, according to the evolutionist scenario, various inanimate chemical substances entered into reactions in the primitive Earth’s atmosphere; these then combined with the effects of lightning and earthquakes–and thus the first living cell emerged. The fact is, however, that the structure of the cell is more complex that even the most populous and technologically advanced city. A great many systems operate non-stop with a flawless organization, from power stations that produce energy inside the cell to protein-producing factories, from a freight system that transports raw materials to decoders that translate DNA, and a dense and constant communications system.

For evolutionists to believe that the cell came into being by chance is as illogical and nonsensical as claiming that all the buildings, roads, transportation systems, electricity and water networks in a city such as Istanbul, with its almost 15 million population, came into existence spontaneously as the result of such natural phenomena as storms and earthquakes.

Prof. Gerald L. Schroeder, an Israeli scientist working in the fields of physics and biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) describes the order inside the cell:

The human body acts as a finely tuned machine, a magnificent metropolis in which, as its inhabitants, each of the 75 trillion cells, composed of 1027 atoms, moves in symbiotic precision. Seldom are two cells simultaneously performing the same act, yet their individual contributions combine smoothly to form life. 7

Despite being an evolutionist, the late astrobiologist Carl Sagan speaks of the amazing order in the cell as if it were a work of art:

A living cell is a marvel of detailed and complex architecture. Seen through a microscope, there is an appearance of almost frantic activity. On a deeper level it is known that molecules are being synthesized at an enormous rate. Almost any enzyme catalyzes the synthesis of more than 100 other molecules per second. In ten minutes, a sizeable fraction of total mass of a metabolizing bacterial cell has been synthesized. The information content of a simple cell had been estimated as around 1012 bits, comparable to about a hundred million pages of the Encyclopedia Britannica. 8

The nucleus inside the cell bears the DNA, the most important genetic material. Mitochondria inside the cell turn glucose (in the form of food products) into energy packets. Microscopic tubes extend throughout the cell, constituting vital pathways along which proteins and other required substances can be carried to the appropriate location. In addition, the billions of cells in our bodies build all their systems out of molecules, at the same time consistently maintaining and repairing themselves. As well as performing their own tasks, they also renew themselves. 9 They also obtain their own energy.

Prof. Werner Gitt, director of the German Federal Institute of Physics and Technology, emphasizes how the cell is far superior to any machinery made by human beings: “The biological energy conversion system is brilliantly and cleverly designed that energy engineers can only watch, fascinated. Nobody has yet been able to copy this miniaturized and extremely efficient mechanism. “10

In his book Blind Faith: Evolution Exposed, the science writer Howard Peth states that there is no such thing as a simple cell:

Formerly, it was thought that a cell was composed of nucleus and a few other parts in a “sea”‘ of cytoplasms, with large spaces in the cell unoccupied. Now it is known that a cell literally “swarms. “‘ That is, it’s packed full of important functioning units necessary to the life of the cell and the body containing it. The theory of evolution assumes life developed from a “simple”‘ cell – but science today demonstrates that there is no such thing as a simple cell. 11

In conclusion, cells are not simple sacs of jelly, as was imagined in Darwin’s day. On the contrary, as the 20th century physicist and astrobiologist Prof. Paul Davies puts it, they resemble computers with the most highly advanced technology, or complex cities.

 

 

CHAPTER 2

The Source of the Data of Life

 

 

DNA, the basic genetic material of all living things, is a long molecule resembling a spiral staircase, whose details we shall be examining in due course. DNA exists in all living things–human beings, flowers, birds, flies, and even bacteria. It contains all the necessary information regarding the features of the living cell and its regular operations. In addition, detailed information regarding a living thing’s external appearance, the kind of structure it will have, how it will grow and how its organs will work, are all determined beforehand in DNA. For example, an individual’s DNA contains information about such details as height, eye color and physical structure, how the body will defend itself in the face of which dangers, and how it will produce proteins, the building blocks of the cell. The DNA of a rosebush contains millions of pieces of detailed, coded information about its flower’s scent and color, the structure of its thorns, the shape of its leaves and the thickness of its stems. DNA molecules are rather like blueprints that determine how a living thing will be constructed and function.

Human beings carry this molecule, which exhibits far greater knowledge than themselves, in every one of their cells. For example, a DNA chain is packaged in every cell in your eyes as you read these lines. There are DNA molecules in every cell in the fingers that turn over the pages of this book, in the cells of your heart and bones, and in every cell that makes up your body. What is more, they are constantly at work to keep the individual alive.

The information theoretician Dr. Werner Gitt expresses the extraordinary range of the data in DNA:

It seems necessary to assume that in addition to its protein-coding portions, DNA contains countless additional levels of structure and function. Such stored information concepts are just as much required to code for the development of the smallest organelles such as the mitochondria and ribosomes, as for building the large organs (e. g. , heart, kidneys, brain) and the overall integrated organism. As yet, no one has been able to decode this incredibly complex system. 12

As noted by Professor Gitt, the sphere of operation of the DNA’s information is very broad. DNA does not determine just physical characteristics; at the same time it plans thousands of different functions throughout the cell, the body’s organs and systems. Thanks to the information placed in DNA:

*The bones grow in exactly the right place, shape and size. The skull, ribs, pelvic bone and vertebrae all have special shapes and thickness in line with specific purposes. The vertebrae, for instance, possess just the right shape for the vitally important spinal cord to be able to pass through them. Similarly, the skull has been specially shaped to protect the brain, and the ribs to shield the lungs and heart. The balanced development of every one of these is part of the total blueprint recorded in the DNA.

*The 206 separate bones in the human body are connected to one another by ligaments and muscles in such a way as to allow them to move. The elasticity and mobility of these muscles that allows us to go up and down stairs, run, bend down and stand up again is again recorded in DNA. Thanks to the information set out by Allah in DNA, we can move our muscles in almost any direction we desire. Thus a human being can hold a glass of water, turn the pages of a book, sit in a chair without falling out of it, or carry packages weighing many kilograms.

*The cartilage that prevents friction between bones is a very special tissue in terms of its shape, structure and position. In the knees, for example, cartilage acts as a shock absorber that allows those joints to carry the whole weight of the body–tens of kilograms–without feeling stress. The detailed blueprint for the knee is also set out in DNA.

*The veins that stretch approximately 100,000 kilometers (62,140 miles) and carry vitally important blood to nourish all the body’s tissues. The veins work jointly with the heart’s special pumping system. Some are thinner than a hair, carrying red blood cells to every corner of the body, from the eyelids to the fingertips, from the brain to the kidneys.

*The way that the nerves interpenetrate the entire body lets them react very quickly to changes that the senses perceive, allowing different parts of the body to work together as a single unit.

*The 200 or so different kinds of cell in the body possess the same basic features and mechanisms, but perform very different activities. A liver cell, for example, carries out 500 different chemical processes within a matter of milliseconds (thousandths of a second), while a heart cell can produce its own electricity over a whole lifetime.

*The production of the energy you need to stand up and walk, remain standing, breathe and to open and close your eyes–in short to survive–is part of the blueprint recorded in each cell. Thanks to this blueprint, every cell knows how to obtain the most energy from foodstuffs consumed and how to make the most efficient use of them.

*The stomach secretes acids that digest meat, but do not break down its tissues. Up to 20 enzymes go into action to make blood clot during the repair of a deep cut. These are just two of the precautionary measures recorded in DNA.

*The hormonal system is a highly efficient communications system among the cells, permitting the regulation of all the balances in the body. It functions according to the information set out in DNA. How much of which substances the body will use, and how surpluses are to be stored or expelled, are also included in this specific blueprint.

*On the other hand, DNA also determines how the cells in the immune system are to exchange information. In the event of a tissue being wounded or infected, for instance, the immune system initiates reactions. Defense cells identify the site of the wound in a very short time to counter-attack the microbes entering the body through the injury. They then analyze the threat and transmit messages that begin the war against those microbes.

Whole libraries of books could be written about the details in the human body, both known and as yet undiscovered. All are parts of a blueprint recorded in the DNA’s data bank. In short, DNA acts as a planning center in every living thing, literally undertaking the responsibilities of architects, engineers, scent experts, botanists, laboratory technicians, interior designers, designers, artists, doctors and countless other experts and scientists. At every moment, Our Almighty Lord creates and controls these molecules that are in constant operation so that you can read these lines, see, breathe, think and in short, remain alive.

This fact is revealed in one verse of the Qur’an:

 

[Hud said,] “I have put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature He does not hold by the forelock. My Lord is on a Straight Path. ” (Surah Hud, 56)

 

As a very simple example, compare the information in DNA with a book. Obviously, no book can write itself. Even if we assume that this was in some way possible, it still will be absolutely impossible for anything written in that book to be meaningful. Based on this analogy, Prof. Phillip Johnson states that random coincidences can have no such power, ability or intelligence:

. . . just everybody (including Richard Dawkins) agrees that it is essentially impossible to produce a coherent book of average length by randomly combining letters, spaces and punctuation marks. Even a single sentence–like “In the beginning was the Word”–is extremely unlikely to come from pouring out a random mix of letters and spaces. 13

No doubt that the data recorded in DNA have an incomparable structure more complex than the sentence. In the beginning was the Word, and that this complex structure cannot possibly have come into existence spontaneously or by chance. Moreover, all the trillions of DNA molecules possessed by billions of living things for millions of years have all been encoded with a perfect system, placed within an area too small to be seen with the naked eye and yet used in the most rational manner. That being so, there is a Creator Who plans and arranges human beings, their cells and their DNA in that flawless and perfect manner. That Creator is Almighty Allah. To maintain the opposite is to ignore the facts, reason and logic.

However, many who would quickly agree it is impossible for letters to arrange themselves into even three small words still manage to listen with no objection to the deceit that millions of atoms combined together by chance, one by one, in a specific sequence to create a molecule containing the equivalent of whole libraries of information. The sole reason for this is their blind devotion to Darwinism, which prevents some intelligent people from seeing the evident fact of Creation and leads them into the most irrational beliefs. Everyone freed from this preconception to use his intellect will clearly see that an infinite data bank such as DNA can only come into existence through being created.

 

When they are told, “Follow what Allah has sent down to you,” They say, “We are following what we found our fathers doing. ” What, even though their fathers did not understand a thing and were not guided! The likeness of those who do not believe is that of the beast which, call out to it as one may, can hear nothing but a shout and a cry. Deaf–dumb–blind. They do not use their intellect. (Surat al-Baqara, 170-171)

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 3

The DNA Molecule’s Miraculous Structure

 

 

In discussing the chemical structure of the DNA molecule, our objective is not simply to provide the kind of information you can find in a great many books on biology, but to show the details in human creation and the extremely sensitive order on which our existence depends–and thus, to properly appreciate our Lord’s greatness and His mercy upon us.

Some people prefer to remain far removed from technical details and don’t want to tire their minds with them. But they reflect that same superficial perspective in their analyses, comments and statements. In fact, there is sublime wisdom in every detail of creation, and each of those details has been created for a specific purpose.

In one verse of the Qur’an our Lord tells us that:

 

We did not create the heavens and Earth and everything between them, except with truth. The Hour is certainly coming, so turn away graciously. Your Lord, He is the Creator, the All-Knowing. (Surat al-Hijr, 85-86)

 

Let’s examine some of the details in the creation of the DNA in the trillions of cells inside every one of the billions of people on Earth.

 

Chemical Structure of the DNA Helix

The giant molecule of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that plays a role in all the cell’s vital functions consists of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphate atoms. There are billions of these atoms in a single human DNA molecule,14 all arranged in a manner particular to that individual.

DNA is an acronym of the words deoxyribo, nucleic and acid that express the molecule’s chemical structure. This molecule in the nucleus of every human cell consists of nucleic acid arranged in a helix shape like a miniature sphere just 5 microns in diameter. 15 (One micron equals one thousandth of a millimeter. ) Nucleic acids are exceedingly important compounds, despite making up only 2% of our bodies. The basic structural units of nucleic acids are nucleotides. Some 6 billion nucleotides combine in the double helix that gives rise to DNA. 16

The DNA molecule’s structure resembles a spiral staircase, and its architectural regularity amazes scientists. The sides of the staircase, made up of various sugars and phosphates, represent the DNA molecule’s dual backbones. The steps, on the other hand, consist of pairs of four conjoined chemical substances known as bases: adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine. Bases are molecules consisting of between 12 and 16 atoms including carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen. 17 These chemicals are also specially arranged on the DNA spiral. Only two combinations of arrangements are possible: adenine (A) always bonds to thymine (T), and cytosine (C) always bonds to guanine (G). 18

Scientists have established the special sequence in which the atoms making up DNA give rise to nucleotides. But knowing the structure of the building blocks of life is not the same thing as producing them. Indeed, although the correct materials–atoms and the technology to combine them–are available to scientists, they are utterly incapable of making a living DNA molecule.

In the Qur’an our Lord reveals that:

 

It is He Who gives life and causes to die. When He decides on something, He just says to it, “Be!” and it is. (Surah Ghafir, 68)

 

Your deity is Allah alone, there is no deity but Him. He encompasses all things in His knowledge’. (Surah Ta Ha, 98)

 

A special creation is evident in the arrangements of the atoms. Every nucleotide contains some 34 atoms. Since there are 6 billion nucleotides in DNA, 204 billion atoms (34 times 6,000,000,000) need to combine chemically to form a single DNA molecule. 19 Were you able to process one atom a second and worked eight hours a day for 350 days a year, it would still take you longer than 20,000 years to produce a single DNA molecule. 20 Since this is beyond the capacity of even rational human beings, can anyone imagine that the DNA molecule came into existence by chance? Such a thing is of course out of the question. In addition, bear in mind that in the absence of DNA molecules, living things could not exist.

Indeed, the slightest error in DNA’s structure gives rise to very serious consequences, as the well-known science writer Richard Milton describes:

… [E]ach nucleotide has to be “written” in precisely the correct order and in precisely the correct location in the DNA molecule for the offspring to remain viable, and as described earlier, major functional disorders in humans, animals, and plants are caused by the loss or displacement of a single DNA molecule, or even a single nucleotide within that molecule. 21

Every base sequence in the DNA strip–the arrangement of the nucleotides adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine in the cell nucleus–constitutes a genetic text containing information needed for the building of essential proteins. From that point of view, it is noteworthy that DNA maintains its regular structure on the one hand while on the other having an arrangement that permits information diversity.

 

The DNA Strip is Wound around Bobbins

A single DNA strip in human cells consists of around 3 billion base pairs and is approximately 2 meters long. Both chains of that length need to be reduced in size to dimensions invisible to the eye. Similarly to the way in which a long thread is wound around a reel, the DNA is packaged and installed in the nucleus through a similar cellular mechanism. The DNA strip is packaged by being wound around nucleosomes, which give rise to chromosomes. The job of the nucleosomes is undertaken by proteins known as histones.

There is a 15-turn section of the DNA spiral in one nucleosome; and this is the length of 150 nucleotides. 22 This 15-turn section is wound twice around a protein nucleus, made up of eight histones containing a large number of positively charged amino acids. These perfectly complement the negatively charged phosphates on the DNA.

When information written anywhere on the DNA is needed for protein production, the nucleosome opens and the DNA strip is released for “reading. ” After this, the DNA winds back around the histones, protected from the damaging effects of the molecules around it, until the next time need arises. Genetic data require not just content, but also a sensitive order in their structure and in the features of the surrounding environment.

This order is just one of the works of our Almighty Lord, Creator of the Earth and sky. In one verse, we are told that:

 

. . . My Lord is kind to anyone He wills. He is indeed All-Knowing and All-Wise. (Surah Yusuf, 100)

 

Genes: Data Packages

A single cell nucleus, invisible to our eyes, contains a DNA strip that is 4 meters (13. 12 feet) long, packaged inside the nucleus in the form of groups known as chromosomes. The nuclei of the cells in your body contain a total of 23 chromosome pairs. When chromosomes are magnified under an electron microscope, the DNA molecule inside these chromosomes are seen to be compressed in a spiral form. Despite occupying a very small volume, this packaging system possesses a stunning data-storage capacity, as you’ll see in a later chapter.

DNA strips contain all the information required to form proteins of all kinds–enzymes, molecular motors, hormones and other building blocks. 23 The information encoded in the DNA molecule determines the symmetrical formation of the eyes and ears, the pumping of blood by the heart, the transportation of oxygen to the cells via that blood, the gastric acid that breaks down foodstuffs, and all the body’s other physical features. There are around eighty thousand of these kinds of information packets, known as genes, in the human body. 24

If the total amount of genetic information–the genome, in other words–is compared to a library, every book in that library represents a chromosome, and the chapters in the books are genes. Genes are rather like the headings in a giant encyclopedia, containing a detailed blueprint of a human being’s biologic characteristics. 25

The chromosomes passed on by way of inheritance are determined by the different arrangements of the four chemical bases constituting the DNA steps. Thousands of these steps, or base pairs, constitute a single gene. James Watson, one of the co-discoverers of DNA’s structure, notes that base sequences are the source of the differences in genes:

The four nucleotides were not however, completely different, for each contained the same sugar and phosphate components. Their uniqueness lay in their nitrogenous bases, which were either a purine (adenine and guanine) or a pyrimidine (cytosine and thymine) . . . If the base sequences were always the same, all DNA molecules would be identical. And there would not exist the variability that must distinguish one gene from another. 26

From these four base sequences, Allah has created billions of different human beings and keeps creating. Thanks to the flawless order that Allah created in DNA, human beings emerge with a detailed and complex structure and the rich characteristics they possess.

In verse 45 of Surat an-Nur it is revealed that:

 

. . . Allah creates whatever He wills. Allah has power over all things. (Surat An-Nur, 45)

 

DNA is a Stable Molecule

DNA is the most suitable molecule for carrying information. Chemists refer to it being stable, which means the molecule is not easily damaged or dissolved. Scientists engaged in research in the field of molecular biology are well aware of the importance of this stability, because DNA’s structure is far more resistant than most biochemicals used in the laboratory. Unlike many biochemicals, it can preserve its stability for months in solution, even at room temperature. 27 Prof. Daniel Dennet expresses the stable nature of the bases in DNA:

One of the important features of DNA is that all the permutations of sequences of adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine are about equally stable, chemically. All could be constructed, in principle, in the gene-splicing laboratory, and, once constructed, would have an indefinite shelf like a book in a library. 28

All shows that the DNA molecule is specially created to contain and conceal information. It is absolutely impossible for all of DNA’s properties to have come into existence togather instantaneously, as the result of chance. Each one of these has been consciously brought together at our Almighty Lord’s command.

In one verse of the Qur’an, Allah reveals that:

 

. . . That is Allah, your Lord. The Kingdom is His. Those you call on besides Him have no power over even the smallest speck. (Surah Fatir, 13)

The Astonishing Order in DNA’s Spiral

Structure

Imagine the coiled cord that leads from a telephone receiver. A long cable has been squeezed into a much shorter distance, but in such a way that it can be extended if necessary. Nobody seeing that cable could possibly imagine that it had assumed that shape by chance, because the place where the cable is used, its purpose and the ease it affords are all signs of an intellect and conscious knowledge.

The DNA in human cells has a similarly spiral shape, but is far more regular, longer and more convoluted. There is enormous wisdom behind the use of this shape. DNA’s extraordinary data capacity, which we shall be discussing shortly, and the way it is compressed into a minute space, are made possible thanks to this special form. DNA, which measures 4 meters (13. 12 feet) when its spiral is fully extended, takes up no more space than one two millionth of a millimeter, and is hard to see even under an electron microscope. 29

 

DNA is Reminiscent of a Highly Regular

Spiral Staircase

The DNA molecule is a coiled helix, consisting of two spirals, rather like a staircase. The coils in the DNS spiral have an exceedingly regular structure. The vertebrae consisting of sugar and phosphate in both DNA chains revolve at an equal distance around a common axis and twist in the same direction, from right to left. Moreover, there is no haphazard sequencing in the steps between the two arms. The bases that make up the rungs form an angle of 90 degrees to the spiral axis, giving the DNA strip its highly regular, staircase-like appearance.

The steps are joined to one another with a special locking system. The four different components of the rungs –adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine– are of different sizes. The adenine and guanine bases are large, and cytosine and thymine are small molecules. The dimensions of the molecules that will be opposite one another have been determined in such a way as to ensure equal spaces at every point on the spiral staircase.

In order for the steps to be always regular, guanine always pairs with cytosine, and adenine with thymine. Thus small bases always being opposite large ones in the DNA molecule means the distance is stable at every point. The result is a regular staircase extending with no interruptions. However, if the base adenine were to be paired with guanine just once, instead of with thymine, it would be impossible for the helix structure to proceed in a regular manner. Any error in the sequence might thus entirely impair the molecule’s chemical structure and prevent the data being used, copied and transmitted. This again indicates that the sequence cannot be the work of chance.

The distance between the turns of neighboring base pairs is also stable. This system ensures equidistance between the staircase coils, some 10 base pairs –in other words, 10 steps– form a complete revolution of 360 degrees. 30 DNA coils a billion times a second, and the staircase steps twist by performing their spiral movement. 31 This action plays a very important role in DNA’s performing two vital functions–directing the formation of protein and self-replication.

Prof. Werner Gitt, director of the German Federal Institute of Physics and Technology, says this about this special structure:

The coding system used for living beings is optimal from an engineering standpoint. This fact strengthens the argument that it was a case of purposeful design [Creation] rather than fortuitous chance . 32

 

Importance of the Bonds used in the Building

the Spiral

The dual backbones of the long DNA molecule –or the banisters of the staircase– are very strong, made up of consecutive sugar and phosphate molecules. These molecules attach to one another with a special bond known as ester covalent bonds. These are exceptionally strong and it is very difficult to break them. This strength provides protection against harmful factors that might impair genetic information. 33 The existence of these bonds makes the DNA molecule resistant and stable even while the DNA molecule is in a single-strand form.

However, there is a risk of damage to the DNA spiral structure as the coils unfold. For that reason, the spiral needs to be strong and stable enough to protect its structure but also elastic enough to be opened up very quickly so that the information can be easily used. In fact, a combination of powerful covalent bonds that protect DNA’s basic molecular structure of, and weaker hydrogen bonds that can be broken more quickly, enables the elasticity-solidity problem to be overcome. Since the hydrogen bonds forming between the four opposed nucleotides are not as strong as ester bonds, they can easily be separated with less energy by means of such factors as pH variation (acid-base equilibrium), heat, and pressure. Weak bonds play a very important role in the shaping of the large molecules in an organism, and endow with elasticity the substance they compose. However, no breakage in the bonds ever takes place. Thanks to this distinguishing feature of hydrogen bonds, the information in the DNA molecule can be used whenever required.

The significance of the elasticity in the bonds is that the vital function of protein production is made possible by DNA being copied when cells divide, and that transmission is made possible by the elastic property of the bonds between them. Since the two chains of the DNA molecule are attached to one another only by hydrogen bonds, they can easily be unraveled and separated from one another. They can also, when necessary, recombine and form a new helix structure. No breakage or impairment ever takes place in the nucleotides that constitute the steps of the DNA chain during detachment or separation. While the hydrogen bonds in the center can easily separate from one another, no breakage or stretching ever develops in the long chains at either side, attached by means of covalent bonds.

The molecular biologist Michael Denton describes the perfection in the biochemical structure of DNA:

The geometric perfection of the molecule is particularly evident in the fact that the strength of each of the five hydrogen bonds –the two between adenine and thymine and the three between guanine and cytosine– is optimal because each of the hydrogen atoms points directly at its acceptor atom, and the bond lengths are all at the energy maximum for hydrogen bonds. This is most remarkable, for it confers great stability on the molecule and makes for highly accurate base pairing during replication. 34

On the one hand, there is a need for a sound and stable structure for the containing of genetic information, while on the other a flexible structure is required for the genes to be read and copied. So the strength of the bond between the two arms that make up the DNA helix has to be just right for it to fulfill its essential functions. And indeed, the DNA helix does have just the right level of strength and elasticity. If the bond between the DNA strips were any stronger, the two arms would stop moving and become fixed. But if the bond were weaker, the molecule would break apart. 35 Yet by the will of Allah, the bonds that constitute DNA have the ideal structure to make the helix both highly regular and exceedingly functional.

 

The Importance of Phosphate in DNA

Phosphates keep together the nucleotide bases on DNA, because the DNA helix functions in an environment containing water, and water breaks down the bonds between phosphates and sugars. Thus it is both advantageous and essential that the phosphate groups in DNA be negatively charged. That negative charge eliminates the danger of the DNA being broken down in the watery environment surrounding it.

What compounds, other than phosphates, could establish a chemical bond and still manage to remain negatively charged? There are various possibilities. Yet none of these can form genetic information in the way that phosphate does. Silicic acid and arsenic esters break down rapidly in water. Although citric acid dissolves more slowly in water, it lacks the stability to maintain the molecule’s geometry. 36

Therefore, if phosphate did not have its own unique properties, the DNA’s double helix could not form. No self-replication biochemical system could be established, and life would be impossible. The well-known professor of chemistry Frank Henry Westheimer says this: “All of these conditions are met by phosphoric acid and no other alternative is obvious. “37 This situation and all the other details we have examined so far clearly show that our Lord has created the DNA molecule with miraculous properties. In one verse of the Qur’an, it is revealed that:

He knows what is in front of them and behind them. But their knowledge does not encompass Him. (Surah Ta Ha, 110)

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 4

 

DNA’s Extraordinary Data-storge Capacity

 

 

Modern technological progress in the field of data storage is truly amazing. Computer hard discs, CDs, diskettes, data sticks and similar products are becoming more advanced and efficient every day. Computer firms are seeking answers to how the maximum amount of data can be stored in the minimum space without being impaired, and how that information can be downloaded in the fastest possible manner. Even though whole encyclopedias of data can be compressed onto a single CD, it is still large enough to cover your hand. The astonishing data-miniaturizing or data-compression ability of DNA, on the other hand, far surpasses modern technology.

According to calculations by Leonard Adleman of Los Angeles South California University, just 1 gram (0. 0022 pounds) of DNA can contain the equivalent amount of data to 1 trillion CDs. 38 This shows that data are concealed in a million, million times more efficiently in DNA than in a CD. 39

The volume of a human being’s DNA is 3 billionths of a cubic millimeter (3 x 10-9 mm3). 40 According to G. G. Simpson, if all the features of all the species that have ever lived were to be loaded onto DNA, the resulting total volume of DNA would fill only a small part of a teaspoon. Enough space would even be left over the rest of the teaspoon to contain all the books that have ever been written. 41

Dr. Leonard Adleman, the inventor of the DNA computer, which represents a new sphere of technology, says this about the mechanism in DNA and the cell:

If we look inside the cell, we see extraordinary machines that we couldn’t make ourselves. It’s a great tool chest. 42

According to Darwinists, however, this giant data bank in the cell –capable of holding the equivalent of tens of thousands of books– came into being spontaneously as the result of chance. In the eyes of Darwinists, who have no qualms about building another total impossibility on top of that one, chance has compressed all the data in a library large enough to fill an entire football stadium, undamaged, into a space too small to be seen with the naked eye. Darwinists still blindly advocate such a total impossibility. Yet neither the cell nor DNA, its data bank, can emerge from the chance combination of unconscious atoms. Even the very smallest components of living things have been created for a specific purpose, and every one of them are far too complex to admit any possibility of chance.

Michael George Pitman, a professor of biology from University of Sydney, uses the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer’s words to express how life is not just a collection of inanimate substances:

Every organism is organic through and through in all its parts, and nowhere are these, not even in their smallest particles, mere aggregates of inorganic matter. 43

If we were to express the volume of data in DNA in numerical terms, then a 4-meter (13. 12-foot) long DNA molecule has been packaged and compressed into a cell only 3 to 5 microns in diameter (1 micron = 1/1000 millimeter). If the DNA codes in every one of the body’s 100 trillion cells were laid out end to end, the resulting length would stretch to the Sun and back 600 times. 44

Prof. Jerry Bergman, known for his scientific papers, emphasizes the engineering in DNA in an analogy:

Suppose you were asked to take two long strands of fisherman’s monofilament line –125 miles [201 kilometers] long– then form it into a double-helix structure and neatly fold and pack this line so it would fit into a basketball. Furthermore, you would need to ensure that the double helix could be unzipped and duplicated along the length of this line, and the duplicate copy removed, all without tangling the line. Possible? This is directly analogous to what happens in the billions of cells in your body every day. Scale the basketball down to the size of a human cell and the line scales down to six feet [2 meters] of DNA. . . . The DNA packing process is both complex and elegant and is so efficient that it achieves a reduction in length of DNA by a factor of 1 million. 45

The molecular biologist Michael Denton describes the extraordinary nature of DNA’s data compression ability:

. . . it is clear that cells are immensely complex entities. . . more than a number in a jumbo jet. . . the complexity of a jumbo jet packed into a speck of dust invisible to the human eye. It is hardly conceivable that anything more complex could be compacted into such a small volume. Moreover, it is a speck-sized jumbo jet which can duplicate itself quite effortlessly46

DNA’s ability to hold information is so efficient that all the data concerning to a human being can be compressed into an area weighing just a few trillionths of a gram. 47 According to Yale University’s Prof. George Gaylord Simpson, the data belonging 1 billion living things can be squeezed with ease into a single grain of salt. 48

Prof. Francis S. Collins, a physicist and geneticist and also director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, describes the results of his study of DNA:

Now fifty years since Watson and Crick unraveled the structure of the double helix, I think it is amazing to contemplate the elegance of DNA carrying information . . . This digital code allows, in a very easily copyable form, such a massive amount of information to be carried inside each cell of the human body. This double helix DNA is made up of base pair letters. The whole human genome consists of three billion of these base pairs all packaged inside the cell’s nucleus. . . The three billion letters are able to direct all of the biological properties of a human being. 49

The well-known molecular biologist Michael Denton mentions that biological information to be packed into the tiny volume of the cell nucleus seems to be specifically arranged for human beings. 50 If DNA did not have this data compression ability, the cell would have to be very much larger in order to hold irregular DNA strips. But it is impossible for cells to be any larger, because the cell’s sources of oxygen and nutrients are efficient only given the existing diameter of the cell. 51 From that point of view, the cell’s size and therefore, its ability to hold DNA, is of vital importance.

This glorious packaging system is made possible by the DNA molecule’s ability to coil and form long spirals that bend and give rise to intertwined, regular helixes. This packaging technology evidencing highly advanced engineering, can be seen in the nucleus of every cell. By means of this packaging system that our Almighty Lord created in our cells, millions of kilometers of DNA “letters” remain contained in a volume we cannot see with the naked eye.

 

The Giant Encyclopedia in the Human Cell

So extraordinary is the amount of information recorded in DNA that a single DNA molecule contains enough information to fill a million encyclopedia pages. To put that another way, 1,000,000 pages of data that control the functioning of the human body have been encoded inside the nucleus of every cell. You can obtain a better idea of this amount when you consider that even the 23-volume Encyclopedia Britannica, has only 25,000 pages. This gives rise to an extraordinary picture. Inside the nucleus, itself far smaller than the microscopic cell in which it is contained; is a data bank 40 times larger than one of the largest encyclopedias on Earth, equivalent to a 920-volume encyclopedia. Research has shown that this giant encyclopedia contains some 5 billion different pieces of information. Let’s repeat those two words, “contains information”

We now need to stop and think about what this means. It is easy enough to say that a cell contains billions of pieces of information. However, we are discussing not a computer or a library, but an area 100 times smaller than a millimeter made up solely of protein, fat and water molecules. It would be astonishing for only a single piece of information, let alone millions, to be contained inside this tiny molecule. Moreover, books and encyclopedias are inert and inanimate. Someone possessed of consciousness needs to read the information and act on the instructions it contains. Yet DNA is a living source of information that does not just contain data, but also uses that information and acts upon it.

How can a chain consisting of atoms arranged one behind the other, in a space just a billionth of a millimeter in diameter, possess such knowledge and memory? While each of the 100 trillion cells in your body are capable of learning a million pages by heart, how many pages could you –an intelligent individual– learn during the course of your lifetime? Any rational person will conclude that the cell is the work of a superior mind and superior knowledge. It is impossible, as evolutionists maintain, for DNA to have arisen by chance in one single cell, let alone in an organism consisting of billions. Almighty Allah (is the Creator of all things. Allah reveals in one verse of the Qur’an as follows:

They do not measure Allah with His true measure. Allah is All-Strong, Almighty. (Surat al-Hajj, 74)

 

The Data Storage Technology in DNA

Is Greater Than That of Computers

The computer is the most advanced technology through which large quantities of information can be stored. The information possessed by room-sized computers 50 years ago can now be stored on small discs. Yet the latest computer technology, developed by human intelligence as the result of centuries of accumulated knowledge and many years of effort, comes nowhere near to approaching the data-storage capacity of DNA.

A strand of DNA is only one 2 millionth of a millimeter in thickness. Despite this extraordinary thinness and the fact it is 4 meters (13. 12 feet) long, DNA strips never become tangled up with one another. Thanks to its special structure, the DNA is folded up perfectly inside the cell’s nucleus – an example of incomparable engineering.

One of the main goals of computer engineers is to be able to store as much information as possible in as small a space as possible. At present, the highest level storage capacity on Earth is that belonging to DNA molecule. 52 In his book The Road Ahead, Bill Gates, the president of Microsoft, writes:

Human DNA is like a computer program but far, far more advanced than any software we’ve ever created. 53

The well-known American philosopher Prof. Daniel Dennet describes the density of information contained in DNA in his book Darwin’s Dangerous Idea:

Even to those of us accustomed to the “engineering miracles” of the computer age, the facts are hard to encompass. Not only molecule-sized copying machines, but proofreading enzymes that correct mistakes, all at blinding speed, on a scale that super computers still can not match. Biological macromolecules have a storage capacity that exceeds that of the best present-day information stores by several orders of magnitude. 54

The sequencing of the codes in DNA resembles that of the digits in a computer system. The numbers in a computer environment can contain an image, the instructions for a computer game, or the text of a book. The codes in DNA contain information that serves to produce new proteins. 55 But no computer engineer can imitate DNA, which contains sufficient information to fill a million encyclopedia pages in a space invisible to the naked eye. To claim that DNA emerged by chance is even more irrational than maintaining that the most advanced computers could have done so. DNA exhibits evident proofs of Allah’s sublime creation. Allah reveals this matchless creation in the Qur’an:

 

He is the Originator of the heavens and the Earth. . . (Surat al-An’am, 101)

 

Astonishing Comparisons That Elucidate

the Giant Data Capacity in DNA

Instead of using units of measurement, scientists resort to various comparisons to emphasize the vast amount of genetic data in human beings. Here are some examples that stress the breadth of the data capacity in DNA:

*If the information in the human genome could be written down using the alphabet, it would fill 1,000 books of 1,000 pages each, each page containing 3,000 letters. 56 1,000 books times 1,000 pages times 3,000 letters equals 3,000,000,000 (3 billion) letters.

*If those 3 billion letters in the human genome were written out as a single sentence, it would stretch from the North Pole to the Equator. Someone working at a typewriter at a rate of 300 letters per minute for 8 hours a day, 220 days a year, would take 95 years to complete the task. 57

*For the genetic information to be written out would require 12,000 160-page books. Compared with computer chips with a 16 MB capacity (a megabyte is 1 million bytes, the smallest data units in a computer), the DNA strip in the human genome contains 1,400 times more information. 58

*If a pinhead 2 millimeters (0. 078 of an inch) in diameter were stretched out to the thinness of the DNA molecule, it would be 33 times longer than the Equator. 59

*The information in DNA is sufficient to fill a library consisting of 100 sets of a 30-volume encyclopedia. 60

*Were the information in DNA to be placed in books piled one on top of the other, those books would attain a height of 70 meters (229 feet). Alternatively, that information could fill 200 phone books of 500 pages each. 61

*If the DNA in all the cells in the human body were flattened out and laid end to end, they would stretch for some 50,000,000 kilometers (31,070,000 miles. ) That distance is enough to go from the Earth to the Solar System. Light would take approximately two days to travel the entire length of the DNA in your body. 62

*According to professor Jérôme Lejeune, a genetics expert, the genetic data belonging to all the human beings on Earth could be contained in a quantity of DNA no larger than a few aspirin tablets. 63

*The information in the DNA in a single human cell could fill 1 million encyclopedia pages. Individuals could not live long enough to read their own genetic data. Where they to read the DNA code every day, 24 hours a day, non-stop, it would take 100 years to complete the task.

*To envisage the density of the data in the DNA molecule, assume that you have enough DNA to cover a pinhead. Now consider that this same information is written down in books of 160 pages each. The data in such a small amount of DNA could fill 15 trillion (15 times 1012) of those 160-page books. If you placed that many books one on top of the other, their height would be 500 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon (384,000 kilometers, or 238,600 miles). Alternatively, if these books were equally distributed among the 6 billion or so people in the world, every individual would receive 2,500 volumes. 64

The boundless information that these examples try to express is stored inside every cell nucleus. The presence of DNA, storing the equivalent amount of information to a large library, in some 100 trillion cells, means 100 trillion of these libraries. Were we to compare that level of information with the level so far achieved by mankind, we would be unable to find an example sufficiently large. In addition, if we multiplied that quantity by the 6 billion people currently living on the Earth and the billions of others who lived in the past, a boundless quantity of data would appear before us.

Moreover, we are now speaking only of human genetic information. Bearing in mind the genetic information possessed by the millions of living creatures that have ever existed, the level rises to heights that exceed comprehension. The knowledge that our Omniscient and Almighty Lord has manifested in DNA leaves absolutely no room for claims based on chance.

In one verse, it is stated that:

 

There is no one in the heavens and Earth who will not come to the All-Merciful as a servant. He has counted them and numbered them precisely. (Surah Maryam, 93-94)

 

Rather We hurl the truth against falsehood and it cuts right through it and it vanishes clean away! Woe without end for you for what you portray! (Surat al-Anbiya’, 18)

 

DNA Is an Example of the

Artistry and Intellect of Allah,

the Lord of Infinite Knowledge

The basic claims of the theory of evolution are based on blind chance, which cannot give rise to information. If the chemical formula for a drug that cures cancer is written down one day, all the authorities would join forces to identify the discoverers and even give them an award. Nobody would wonder if that formula was the result of ink being spilled on the page, Any rational mind would think that it could have been written only by someone with expertise in chemistry, physiology, oncology (the branch of medicine that studies cancer) and pharmacology (the branch that studies drugs).

Evolutionists seek to account for the origin of

When prominent alumni of the existing seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) were drawing up a blueprint to set up a new IIT, the government itself had announced plans for new IITs in the coming years to bridge existing gaps in technical education. Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh in August this year unveiled a plan to set up eight IITs for a revolution in the field of present education system. The IIT mission would therefore be in line with that long-term objective of central government. Higher education in India got a big boost with eight new IITs to be set up at a total cost of Rs. 60. 80 billion ($1. 5 billion). New IITs had been approved in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Among them, six IITs have already started their academic sessions this year, while the other two – approved in Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh – are expected to start operations from the 2009-10 academic years. To ensure that the IITs function properly, the government has sanctioned 30 faculty posts per year for each new IIT. It has also specifically approved the post of a Director in each of these IITs in the grade of Rs. 26,000 (fixed) and a post of Registrar in the grade of Rs. 16,400 -22,400 for each new IIT. The Cabinet has also decided to raise the grade of all existing seven IIT Directors from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 26,000 (fixed). Three existing IITs — Guwahati, Madras and Delhi — have been made mentor institutions for the education institutes at Patna, Medak and Rajasthan respectively. Technical faculty from the Guwahati and Madras IITs are deployed to teach at makeshift campuses at Patna and Medak. IIT Rajasthan doesn’t even have a makeshift campus, and has started functioning from its mentor’s campus at IIT Delhi. With 6 new IITs functioning this year, overseas expansion of IITs is put on hold. The HRD ministry has said that Syria’s vision of an IIT in its capital will have to wait for some time. There are mixed responses from experts on these new IITs. Prime Minister’s initiative to establish eight new IITs has drawn flak from his scientific adviser CNR Rao, who said that the opening of so many IITs is going to be a disaster. Even prominent alumni of IITs are concerned about IIT brand value. They raise questions about operations of new IITs. The one problem which bothers all new IIT directors is that of finding quality teaching staff. As per the government, the creation of new IITs will enable provision of high quality Indian education for more students. It would also address state and region specific technology related problems of states and UTs situated in the IITs’ Zones. Prominent IIT Prof. Joshi said the new IITs have created opportunities. Recently in a meeting at Patna he said, a number of brilliant students who might have not made it due to limited number of seats will now be able to join in IITs. Putting aside initial problems and operational difficulties, these institutes are expected to address high quality manpower requirements of Indian industry.

I remember the excitement that my MBA classmates shared with me while recruiters fawned over them making job offers that could lead to fast-track business careers. Naturally, everyone wanted either to eventually own a business or become the CEO of a business. The best that most new MBAs could hope for immediately, however, was to gain a place in a training program that would lead to an executive position or to become a consultant to senior management in a business.
It was a big commitment to earn a Harvard MBA to become a businessman. You had to live in the Boston area, work long hours every week, not earn much money for two years, and pay lots of tuition fees and expenses. Many classmates graduated with large loans that took many years to repay. Most people figured that they would finally be ahead of the game financially within five to ten years . . . or so they hoped.
Gaining the choice to make that big time and financial commitment was hard, too. Many more applicants were rejected than accepted in those days (it’s even more difficult to gain a place at Harvard now).
If you were over a certain age, you probably wouldn’t even consider taking this route. Why? The companies hiring from Harvard then were looking for relatively young talent with no more than five years of experience.
If you weren’t a person with an undergraduate degree from a prestigious university or someone who had excelled in the military, you probably didn’t even apply for admission into Harvard Business School. The odds against your acceptance were staggering.
To many people it seemed like the fast track to business success was a very narrow lane that was closed to them.
Fortunately, optimists abound among those who want to have good business careers. Many feel that if they can get a chance to prove themselves, they will stand out.
Experience supports this confidence: If we look at the leaders of many of the most successful companies, these people didn’t go through any hard-to-acquire educational experiences. These leaders proved themselves to be capable of getting things done on the job . . . not in the classroom.
Today, the fast track to a successful business career, a passing lane that puts you ahead of other people, is still an MBA . . . but increasingly that MBA is gained from an online school and is earned by someone who has at least twenty years of work experience and is holding down a full-time job. That combination of work and study used to be called “working your way through school” but now it has become the best way to get a practical education: You are able to use what you learn in school during your day job. This means faster advancement in a current job while gaining lots of experience in applying new learning to your work.
What are some of the benefits of this approach?
1. You gain credibility: Not everyone has an MBA degree.
2. You are considered for higher level jobs because you have a good education and lots of experience.
3. You arrive in your next job ready to do the work, rather than needing a lot more training.
4. Doing a good job in your first post-MBA position qualifies you for quick advancement into more senior positions.
5. You are likely to gain an earlier opportunity to build a substantial equity stake in your new employer.
Let’s look at Mr. Ralph R. Richey, a 2006 MBA graduate of Rushmore University (an online school) as an example of what can be done to help your business career. While in high school, Mr. Richey was accepted into a two-year apprentice program to become an electronic technician. After that, his curiosity about business led him to take courses in bookkeeping and management.
In the late 1970s and the 1980s, Mr. Richey decided to try a different life style and founded a music studio and a martial arts studio. He also fronted for a rock band, earned a music teacher’s certificate, and taught both music and martial arts. Having burned the proverbial candle at both ends while single, he decided to go back into a more conventional career after marrying.
During the 1980s, Mr. Richey owned or managed several companies offering fire and security alarms. He also developed an interest in Computer-Aided Design and took courses to become qualified to work in that emerging technology activity.
In the 1990s, he shifted to finance and helped raise millions of dollars for a high-tech marine manufacturing company. In the 2000s, he switched his expertise into raising money for real estate development and had the misfortune to attract a fraudulent lending company which didn’t meet its commitments. That misfire set him back, and he refocused his attention again.
Mr. Richey decided to go into technology management, looking for a senior level position. People didn’t take him seriously because he lacked a business degree.
Spurred by that realization, he enrolled at Rushmore in early 2005 and graduated less than two years later while holding down a demanding full-time job. He picked Rushmore because he would get credit for 30 years of work experience, would study under experienced executives as his professors, and would have a chance to apply his learning to his job.
At the time he enrolled, Mr. Richey hoped to use his MBA studies to either start a successful technology consulting business or to be hired as a senior executive in an established technology company with a six-figure salary.
How did he do after graduation?
His first job was a four-week temporary assignment to be the controller for a division of a construction company consortium that paid within his target salary range. Within 18 months, he advanced to become the full-time CFO of the entire consortium. Candidly, he feels that he wouldn’t have even landed an interview for his current job without his MBA degree form Rushmore.
Mr. Richey reports that “I have a new sense of personal satisfaction from earning my degree, which in turn has provided a new sense of financial security. ”
Imagine where Mr. Richey’s career might be today if he had earned that MBA degree twenty years earlier.
What’s the lesson? The passing lane that can speed you into a highly successful career is available through earning a low-cost, online MBA degree while you keep your current job. You gain a lot of upside potential at little cost in time and effort.
Are you ready to accelerate your career progress?

The following 10 online hospitality management programs are excellent choices for students looking to enter these growing industries:1. Strayer University: This online university offers both Bachelor’s and Master’s of Business Administration degrees that prepare students for many different business, government and nonprofit managerial positions, with a focus on hospitality and tourism. 2. University of Phoenix: This well-known college offers an Associate of Arts in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism and a Bachelor of Science in Business / Hospitality Management that teaches practical foodservice, lodging management and tourism skills, with more advanced development in the BS program. 3. DeVry University: Students can enter the Bachelor in Business Administration – Hospitality Management program at this online college to launch their career in foreign or domestic hospitality and tourism. The BA in Organizational Management – Hospitality Management at Ashford gives students the opportunity to examine the management of organizations from a human perspective, enhancing skills in communication, decision-making, group behavior, ethics and human resource management. 5. American Military University: The Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management through this online school focuses on food and restaurant operations and management, entertainment industry management, the lodging industry and operations, parks and recreation management and much more. 6. Sullivan University: This online institution offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Hospitality Management that prepares students for advanced hospitality industry positions. 7. American Public University: The Bachelor of Arts degrees in Hospitality Management from this online college are designed to help graduates enter the fastest growing travel, tourism and hospitality industries in the world. 8. Drexel University Online: This university offers a MS in Hospitality Management – Global Tourism that helps students develop the necessary skills to work in advanced hospitality industry jobs, with multiple concentration choices such as Global Tourism. 9. The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division: The online wing of this college offers a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management that provides wide-ranging hospitality and human relations training. 10. Stratford University: A Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management from this respected online university allows a student to build more advanced skills in baking and pastry arts, culinary arts and hotel and restaurant management.

Let’s consider the example of an entrepreneurial inventor attempting to market his newest creation: a portable hydrostatic body fat test appliance. Design is complete, testing is finished and results exceeded initial assumptions, several working prototypes have been built, UL Approval is in hand, patents filed and a business plan has been customized. The wellness aspects of the unit make it timely and potentially very lucrative if handled properly.

Most entrepreneurs would consider the status of the above-described project to be advanced and well positioned. Only one problem, a very big problem: the inventor is a brilliant engineer and conceptualist, but is phobic about standing up and presenting himself, his product and his profit opportunity. As a result, he will struggle to find investment capital, a license deal or a strategic alliance. To successfully commercialize this new wellness appliance, and any other new product opportunity, the inventor must be able to sell all aspects of the features, benefits and income generation to be derived from the novel device.

The example cited here is true. It is one of the saddest spectacles we see in the consulting world when poor basic sales skills stand between a great opportunity and success. The creator has identified a need. He has addressed the need. In the run up to presenting the product he has taken every correct step in the development process. Now, finally at the cusp of success, the inability to sell the idea is a major roadblock.

This is silly. The most important task confronting any new business or product opportunity is the ability to sell the project. The only affirmation to a products value occurs when the item is sold, and for how much. The inability to sell confirms in the eyes of buyers and investors that there is a lack of need, commitment, confidence, and passion for the product.

Selling is simply asking a person for a preferred outcome and obtaining their agreement to buy. The seller conveys a product (or service, technology, patent, trade secret, etc. ) and receives consideration (money, goods, property, etc. ) from the buyer. Each side in a sales transaction should receive a fair perceived value.

For many people the fear of finding themselves in a sales presentation or meeting format is truly enervating. They love their project and know it cold. However, they cannot overcome a dread of failure, rejection. They take failure personally. I have seen capable people break out in sweat, nervousness, become confused and flighty before a sales presentation that could dramatically change and improve their life. This real effect of the dread of selling themselves, and their opportunity, can be overcome and must be if entrepreneurial success is to be achieved.

Short the option of hiring professional sales talent, or sales consultants, an entrepreneur will always need to be the sales face of his product and business. He has so much to gain and so little to lose. Gaining a customer from a confident, successful sales presentation is crucial to a new enterprise. Losing a sale because of a stumbling performance can be crushing (and a lost sale is gone for good).

Here are a few points that an inexperienced entrepreneur, with limited sales skills can utilize to improve in this essential area.

Prepare, Prepare, Then Prepare Some More!

Before any sales presentation you must do everything possible to learn about the prospect, their industry, needs, competition, current pricing models, promotions and industry trends. The more knowledge you have, the more confident you will be that you have answers for probable questions and objections. This preparation can go a long way to assuaging fear of the selling process. Confidence results in a conveyance of strength, and strength is always admirable in selling.

Seek Out a Mentor!

Somewhere in your life’s experience, you have made contact with a person with experience in business at some level. Family, friend, a neighbor, a cousins brother-in-law, they are out there and closer than you think. Ask for help. I mentor at a university and consider it one of the most fulfilling parts of my busy schedule. I get back a lot more than I give, and I give a lot. Mentoring is rewarding. Contact small business incubators, SCORE and local university business schools for information on available mentor programs.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Have you ever played a sport? The first time you swing at a golf ball I will bet that you did not hit a 300-yard linear rocket. You practiced. The more you practice the better you become at hitting a golf ball. Don’t read theoretical books on developing the golf swing, or watch training tapes. You learn, really learn, by doing something repetitively and critiquing performance results.

It is no different in achieving sales success. The more you put yourself and your product in the sales arena the more comfortable you will become. With comfort, comes confidence. Confidence is contagious and with more faith in your abilities sales will begin to happen and then cascade.

Give Value First-and Then Close!

Actually asking for the purchase-order, or an investment (the closing), is the greatest persistent hurdle many struggling sales people can not overcome. They either can’t ask for a preferred, needed outcome, or cannot properly time the attempt. Timing in sales is crucial. The buyer has many options for consideration. Why is your offering of better value, performance, durability and novelty? Confirming the value of your product for the buyer is the foundation of the sale.

Too many sales people attempt to close too quickly because they mistakenly believe that they have fully detailed the benefits of their product. Only the buyer can confirm that the product benefits have been fully explained. The best way to confirm that no stone has been left unturned is to ask questions, and then listen carefully to the answers.

With the value proposition of the product on offer fully described, and an understanding of how the item will be of value to the buyer, you are now in position to ask closing questions.

 Learn to Use Assumptive Closing Questions and Statements!

Never ask a question you do not know the answer too! There should be only one answer, not open to variables. For instance, never ask a decision-maker (you are selling a weight loss product), “Why should any kid be fat today”? What is wrong here? Possibly the buyer has an overweight child. Possibly the child has a medical condition. You do not know with absolute certainty that you have not touched a raw nerve. Theoretically kids probably should not be fat but they are, and for many reasons.  

Instead, ask assumptive closing questions sprinkled throughout the meeting.

“You can certainly recognize the labor saving feature we have engineered into in the new Type 54 Platform Loader, can’t you Tom”?

“You can see that the option to utilize the multi-purpose blending/grinder blade on the new rotor is a real labor saver and advance on the old Expedient model”.

“The new unit will save 4. 2% in energy and maintenance expense over our past models, and anything else currently on the market. Won’t that look nice on your departments bottom line”?

You want to plant seeds that the choice has already been made based on the value proposition you have detailed for the decider. If you receive doubts, objections or negative comments, you have not constructed the value confirmation properly.

Tell to Sell!

For many inexperienced sales people, the following will be difficult, but it is the best sales training point I ever received: “people do not like to make decisions, so you make decisions for them”. Telling is selling, while asking is buying. The opportunity to control the presentation, ask qualifying questions, set up a successful close and then receive the positive commitment you seek (and need, and deserve) is greatly enhanced if you can subtly direct the buyer to sign the order. “Mike, we need to get this contract done today, so we can have inventory in time for the catalog mailing”! 

Limit Risk for the Buyer!

Buying requires action. Let’s face it, it is far easier to be inactive, stick with what you have and know, than to bring in a new product. The new item requires a lot of logistic work: creating a new vendor file, issuing a new purchase order, assigning a new warehouse area, a new in-store shelf alignment, discontinuing the product you will replace, etc. In addition, there is a history with the old item, and there is no certainty your new product will perform better, or even as well. This represents risk.

It is crucial that you leave the prospective buyer feeling that there is minimal risk involved in purchasing from you, and there is a significant potential upside. Your features, benefits and novel improvements need to be detailed in an open, transparent and comprehensive presentation that leaves no doubt that you offer a real advance over competition. No flim-flam, just the facts ma’am.

Friendship Makes Sales!

When I make a cold call I have two goals: make a friend, and make a sale. We all have experienced meeting a stranger in a social situation, bumping into them later, chatting and commencing the process of building a relationship that results in creating a friend. When you make a call, whether the first or tenth meeting, your goal should be a sincere offer of yourself as a friend to the buyer. A buyer, as a friend that evolves from a commercial stranger, knowing that you are playing in a local tennis tournament next weekend, is always more likely to purchase from you than if they know nothing about you other than what they see in a meeting. Friends ask questions that reflect their real interest in another’s needs, desires and motivations. Friends are good listeners. Make each contact an opportunity to prove that you are interested in the buyer’s wellbeing, as well as their business.  

Testimonials Are the Most Important Tool for New Entrepreneurs!

A testimonial is a quote for attribution that supports the feature and benefit claims related to a business or product. The acquisition of a file of testimonials is invaluable in cementing that current users of a product are strong voices for the utility of the item. I never take a prototype or product to a presentation until I have a handful of quotes from focus groups, customers that have seen the product demonstrated or product buyers. This is more valuable than any advertising.

I have every buyer physically touch and handle the testimonial file and encourage them to contact the people that have offered the positive comments. In 35 years of selling, I have only had one buyer actually reach out and make the contact (the call resulted in a glowing review). The mere fact that they have in their hands an inventory of happy product users is a powerful closing tool.

My Price is Fair and Firm!

Price is the Achilles Heel for 95% of all sales people, and 100% of the unsuccessful sales people. Do not sell price. Somebody will always sell cheaper.

20 years ago the Japanese were the low cost producers of our imports. The Korean’s then replaced the Japanese as the low cost producer in the Orient. Today the Malaysians, Indonesians and Central America all provide lower prices than Korea. The next wave of nano-priced labor will be from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Somebody will always be ready, willing and able to produce for less.  

Sell the quality and benefits of your product. “My price is firm and fair, this product lasts twice as long as my competitors, and this makes the price differential negligible”. Be proud to detail the reasons your product is priced as it is.

Negative Selling is Not Negative!

Every product has a negative in one area or another. These negatives are the sales points that competitors hang their hat on when seeking advantage. Negative selling is not an attack on the competition. Negative selling is when you are up-front about a perceived deficiency in your product and turn that feature into a positive.

 

Mercedes Benz automobiles are expensive (relative to Lexus, a direct competitor), costly to maintain, and fuel. Mercedes knows this. They have perfected a negative selling technique to turn these perceived flaws into strengths. Mercedes position is that safety and superior performance requires advanced engineering, strength in materials and thus, added weight (resulting in heavy fuel consumption) but this is overcome by a real safety advantage. “Would you want to put your family at risk in anything less than the best engineered car on the road”?

In one of my early ventures I had a direct competitor. His product was 100% natural. My product was synthetic. There is a real belief in many people that natural is always better. It is not. There are reasons that we live longer, better, healthier, more active lives than prior generations and yet consume copious amounts of products artificially enhanced with chemicals, preservatives and supplements. Nevertheless, his tout that his all-natural product was superior to mine had resonance with retailers and consumers.

Here is how I developed a negative sales strategy to overcome the synthetic vs. all-natural argument. “ Brand X is an excellent product. It is 100% natural. I looked at making a totally natural product for my Company. I decided, after a great deal of research and clinical testing, to make my product using a blend of herbs, vitamins and preservatives. The preservatives are absolutely essential in stabilizing the product, extending the shelf life of the product and safe usage by your customers. I would never compromise safety in order to obtain an edge. ”

In this case, the negative selling proposition that I proposed also had the wonderful advantage of being true. My competitor was eventually withdrawn from the market because consumers experienced bacterial infection around the eyes. The FDA ordered the product removal. The preservatives I used (thus making my product synthetic) protected against microorganisms that caused infections.

I love to sell. All successful entrepreneurs either are, or must become, strong advocates for their opportunity. This advocacy is most fully confirmed by sales success. Nothing happens in any enterprise until somebody sells something. Every other facet of business depends on the crucial trigger mechanism of a buyer deciding to purchase a good or service from a seller.

 Selling is fundamental to all commercial life. It is an elemental form of competition. The drive to try, to achieve, to overcome odds is inherent in all entrepreneurs. Sales success is the utmost confirmation of this desire to test oneself in the marketplace.

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the impacts of strict patents in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) Agreement. It discusses the historical and current policy context, to better understand how strict patents affect the availability of essential drugs in developing countries.

The research shows that the pharmaceutical industry prioritises profit above health. Strict patents reduce the availability and affordability of new essential drugs in developing countries, and thereby have a negative impact on the health of the world’s poor. Larger pharmaceutical companies benefit more than smaller companies because they have a monopoly in the industry. They invest more in research and development and, linked to economies of scale, are better positioned to exploit markets for new drugs.

The example of India highlights the importance of generic production and essential drugs in developing countries. It shows that while TRIPs promotes economic growth of the industry and encourages investment in research and development of new drugs, it increases the prices of new essential drugs, thereby isolating benefits from the majority poor populations in developing countries.

The paper suggests that based on historical and current trade policy, developed countries have an ethical obligation to allow poorer countries to develop infrastructure for their pharmaceutical industry, a responsibility not being fulfilled. It suggests TRIPs be revised under a more ethical framework. This includes increasing public funding of research and development, shortening the length of patents and allowing developing countries to generically produce essential drugs.

The paper highlights the interconnectedness of social, economic and political factors that could increase the availability of essential drugs in developing countries. It highlights the importance of better understanding the issues surrounding strict patents, and why the scientific community is critical to this process, in terms raising awareness and collaborating with independent organisations and concerned citizens to ultimately press governments for change at the national and international level.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1. 1 What are Patent Laws?

1. 2 What is TRIPs?

1. 3 Focus and Structure of the Paper

2. Pharmaceutical Industry for Profit or for Improving Health?

2. 1 Scale of Profits

2. 2 Investment Priorities

2. 3 Diffusion

3. Essential Drugs and Generic Production

4. Impacts of TRIPs

4. 1 Main advantages

4. 2 Main disadvantages

4. 3 The Doha Agreement and Compulsory Licensing

5. Conclusions

6. References

1. INTRODUCTION

‘As the ancient scourge of polio was rolled back by his vaccine 50 years ago, Jonas Salk, the inventor of the polio vaccine was asked why he never took a patent out on the medicine, a patent that would have made him wildly rich. “There is no patent,” he replied … “Could you patent the sun?”’ (Salon. com magazine 2001).

This paper explores the impacts of pharmaceutical patents on drug availability in the third world, focusing on the impacts of the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) Agreement. It highlights the value of essential drugs and generic production in developing countries, using India as a case study. It also explores alternatives to TRIPs and the role of the scientific community.

1. 1 What are patent laws?

A patent can be defined as ‘a monopoly right granted to person who has invented a new and useful article, an improvement of an existing article or a new process of making an article’. It consists of an exclusive right to manufacture the new invented article, or manufacture an article according to the invented process for a limited period. During the term of patent, the owner of the patent, i. e. the patentee can prevent any other person from using the potential invention .

Figure 1: Brief History of Patent Law

The timeline below illustrates the brief recent history of patents in the world .

1880-1882

Patent statutes introduced in most European countries

1883

Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property – cornerstone of the modern international patent system.

1947 International Patent Institute (IIB) established at the Hague

1970

Patent Co-operation Treaty signed in Washington, D. C.

1978

International Patent Institute integrated into the European Patent Office (EPO)

1979

Bayh-Dole Act passed-granted permission to U. S. universities to license and profit from federally sponsored research*

1980

International Patent Documentation Centre (INPADOC) integrated into the EPO

In the pharmaceutical industry patents have a straightforward objective. They provide a strong incentive for companies to invest in the research and development of new drugs, knowing that they will be able to recuperate costs and, subsequently, profit from the new drug. However, patents enable parent companies to control the price and availability of new drugs. There is no competition from other companies to produce the drug, which would usually lower the price. Thus, increasing the length of patents can reduce the availability of new essential new drugs in developing countries, with knock on health problems.

Essential drugs can be broadly defined as those that satisfy the health care needs of the majority of the population. They should, therefore, ideally be available at all times in adequate amounts; in the appropriate dosage forms; at reasonable (affordable) price; and, meeting the criteria of quality, safety and efficacy (New Strait Times 1998).

Under the term of a patent, drugs, essential or non-essential, can only be produced by the parent company. This means that there is no competition from other companies to produce the drug, and the parent company can charge a high price for the drug, effectively making the drug unavailable for poorer people.

New drugs tend to be more available to developed countries, because people are more affluent and can afford higher prices. For this reason, pharmaceutical companies tend to market their drugs at developed countries. Overall, developed countries benefit more from new technology and advances in science because their governments, companies, and people can afford to buy into the technology.

The World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, which extends the length of patents, enables companies to significantly increase their profits and increase the technology gap between developed and developing countries.

1. 2 What is TRIPs?

The Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) was added to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) at the end of the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations in 1994. It came into full force in January 2005, and its inclusion by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was the ‘culmination of a program of intense lobbying’ by the United States, supported by the EU, Japan and other developed countries .

The United States strategy of linking trade policy to intellectual property standards can be traced to senior management at Pfizer (a large United States pharmaceutical firm) in the early 1980s. Pfizer mobilised corporations and made maximising intellectual property privileges the number one priority of United States trade policy .

According to the WTO, ‘TRIPs is an attempt to strike a balance between the long term social objective of providing incentives for future inventions and creation, and the short term objective of allowing people to use existing inventions and creations’ .

The following requirements of TRIPs all have a bearing on the pharmaceutical use of patents .

? Copyright must be granted automatically, and not based upon any “formality”, such as registrations or systems of renewal.

? National exceptions to copyright (such as “fair use” in the United States) must be tightly constrained.

? Patents must be granted in all “fields of technology” (regardless of whether it is in the public interest to do so).

? Exceptions to patent law must be limited almost as strictly as those to copyright law. In each state, intellectual property laws may not offer any benefits to local citizens which are not available to citizens of other TRIPs signatories (this is called “national treatment”). TRIPs also has a most favoured nation clause.

? Patents in the pharmaceutical industry will apply for 20 years, instead of 10 to 15 years.

Some developing countries began to grant their own patent protection in the late 1980s, but TRIPs is a compulsory requirement for any country who wants to be a member of the World Trade Centre, and with that memberchip access to international markets and trade relationships. Countries which do not adopt TRIPs can be disciplined through the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism, which is capable of authorising trade sanctions against dissident states . Therefore, the economic and poltical threats, which could cripple a poor economy, effectively forced developing countries to ratify the agreement.

The TRIPs agreement makes it easier to obtain and enforce patents. It increases the length of pharmaceutical patents, from 10 to 15 years to 20 years, which encourages companies to invest more in research and development and promotes economic growth. However, it favours developed countries, which have the capacity to enforce their rights globally, and create more exclusive trade options under the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). Developed countries have more pharmaceutical infrastructure and companies that are used to using patents to make profit.

1. 3 Focus and structure of this paper

Chapter 1 introduced the main contentions of using strict patents in the pharmaceutical industry. It explained how patents work, and the main changes that TRIPs will make to the pharmaceutical industry.

Chapter 2 shows the monopoly of a handful of large pharmaceutical companies in the pharmaceutical industry. It provides a sense of the scale of the profits made by these companies, contrasting the investment priorities and types of drugs produced with those that are needed in developing countries. The Chapter debates whether the industry is for profit or health, briefly highlighting how companies make false claims through advertising in developing countries.

Chapter 3 introduces the idea of essential drugs and generic production, exploring the benefits with a case study of India. Chapter 4 shows how TRIPs will restrict generic production of essential drugs, and the impacts this will have on the majority poor populations in developing countries. The conclusion, Chapter 5, suggests how TRIPs could be revised under a more ethical framework, exploring the historical and current drug policy context, with particular emphasis on the role of scientists.

2. PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY FOR PROFIT OR HEALTH?

In an attempt to understand how pharmaceutical companies control the availability of essential drugs, and use patents to make substantial profits, this chapter debates whether the pharmaceutical industry is for profit or health. It looks at the scale of profits made by the pharmaceutical industry and their investment priorities, also challenging whether ‘diffusion’ of biotechnology works to provide essential drugs to developing countries.

2. 1 Scale of profits

There is a very familiar trend in the international pharmaceutical industry. A handful of multinational companies, originating from developed countries, have a great deal of economic power, which gives them control over drug availability and health. They also lobby governments to make trade policy which suits their profit making agenda. In 1996 the first ten multinational pharmaceutical companies accounted for approximately 36 per cent of the world pharmaceutical sales of US$ 251 billion .

Table 1: The World’s Top Ten Pharmaceutical Companies in 2003

Company Pharma Profit ($million) Pharma Sales ($ million) Pharma Operational Profit Margin

Pfizer 12,920. 0 28,288. 0 45. 7%

Merck & Co. 10,213. 6 21,631. 0 47. 2%

GlaxoSmithKline 7,598. 2 26,979. 0 28. 2%

Johnson & Johnson 5,787. 0 17,151. 0 33. 7%

AstraZeneca 4,006. 0 17,841. 0 22. 5%

Novartis 3,857. 3 13,497. 4 28. 6%

Wyeth 3,505. 5 12,386. 6 28. 3%

Aventis 2,969. 6 15,705. 4 18. 9%

Abbott 2,739. 0 9,304. 0 29. 4%

Takeda 2,446. 6 6,838. 3 35. 8%

Group Subtotal 56,042. 9 169,621. 8

Average 31. 8%

Source: Adapted from Scrip Report 2003

The pharmaceutical sector racks up the largest legal profits of any industry, with an average 18. 6 % return on revenues in 2001 (Resnik 2001).

However, Table 1 shows that the top ten companies achieved a much higher average profit margin of 31. 8% in 2003. Thy have a monopoly over the industry. Linked to economies of scale, larger companies can exploit larger market penetration to increase their profits. For example, Pfizer and Merck & CO, two out of the top three pharmaceutical companies in 2003 according to gross sales, had a profit margin of 45. 7% and 47. 2% respectively. This was much higher than the average profit margin of the top ten companies (31. 8%), which illustrates the relationship between economic power and power of market exploitation.

The pharmacetical industry justifies their high profits with the argument that a great deal of time and money is invested in the research and development of new drugs. In 1998, developed countries spent US$520 billion on research and development, more than the total economic output of the world’s poorest 30 countries. In 2003, it was estimated that the average cost of producing a new chemical compound is around US$ 200 million . Thus, the industry is keen to protect their investments and subsequently reward their efforts by making a great deal of profit. However, there are ethical issues as to whether the scale of the profit can be justified, given the healthcare problems that exist in developing countries resulting from the unavailability of essential drugs.

Large pharmaceutical companies maintain their monopoly by investing great sums in legalities to lobby governments into protecting the industry, by making strict patent law. ‘The combined worth of the world’s top five drug companies is twice the combined GDP of all sub-Saharan Africa and their influence on the rules of world trade is many times stronger because they can bring their wealth to bear directly on the levers of western power’ (Borger 2001).

One of the leading US biotechnological companies, Genentech, has four times as many lawsuits to protect its patents as it has products (Fowler 1996). At least one company has been created in the US whose ‘main business,’ according to the Wall Street Journal, ‘is buying up broad patents and then sueing other companies for alleged infringements’ (Fowler, 1996).

Thus, there is also the issue that investing so much money and time in litigtion is highly unproductive, when this money could be better spent on research and development of new drugs, and subsidising the cost of essential drugs in developing countries.

2. 2 Investment priorities

The world market for pharmaceuticals shows a clear division: non essential drugs are produced and targeted at developed countries promising high profits, while developing countries are still in need of basic healthcare and essential drugs.

Of the 1223 new drugs marketed between 1975 and 1996, only 13 were developed to treat tropical diseases – and only four were directly the product of pharmaceutical industry research. In recent years, drug companies have produced thousands of new compounds but less than 1% are for tropical diseases .

In 1998, global spending on health research was US$70 billion , but 90% of the money spent on health research and development focuses on medical conditions responsible for only 10% of the world’s burden of diseases (Benatar 2000). Only US$300 million was dedicated to research for vaccines for HIV/AIDS and only US$100 million to malaria research, diseases with the highest mortality and morbidity rates in the world, and devastating in developing countries.

‘It would be more profitable to develop a drug designed to enhance sexual performance for Anglo-American males than to develop a medicine designed to treat or prevent malaria’ (Resnik 2001).

There is also the suggestion that pharmaceutical companies focus more effort on a certain drug in developing countries when it is in their research interest; “Of diseases in the Third World, AIDS is getting the most attention and focus. Not coincidentally, it is also one of the few diseases that remain a threat to First World countries” (Censored 2000).

Pharmaceutical companies are able to devote their resources to non-essential drugs targeted at the richer markets of developed countries and at the same time, exploiting the markets in developing countries by influencing the world price for drugs. For example, pharmaceutical companies have long resisted “differential pricing” on their US$12,000-a-year courses of anti-AIDS drugs, which would allow a course to cost less in Cameroon than in Canada . Thus, the effect of purchasing power parity means that the prices are even higher in real terms in developing countries.

Drug Aid

In many cases, drug companies will provide drugs to developing countries at cheaper cost as aid. For example, in March 1998 Glaxo Wellcome (UK) announced that it would sell its anti-HIV drug AZT for 70 per cent below the normal price to pregnant women in developing countries . However, drug aid is not always beneficial. Reich et al (1999) found that out of 16,566 drug donations shipped from the US to 129 countries between 1994 and 1997, 10-40% were listed on neither the national essential drug lists nor the WHO model of essential drugs in developing countries. Also, 30% of shipment items had a year or less of shelf life (ibid. ).

Advertising and false claims

There is also evidence that companies, in addition to prioritising non-essential drugs for developed countries, exploit markets in developing countries by convincing people that they need non-essential drugs. A survey, in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that ‘62 per cent of the pharmaceutical advertisements in medical journals were either grossly misleading or downright inaccurate’ (Madeley 1999).

There has been much criticism of the advertising in developing countries, claiming it is particularly persuasive in nature and that people are misinformed and encouraged to believe wild promises. This illustrates the exploitative nature of the pharmaceutical industry, and the quest for profit at the expense of health.

“In the corporate headquarters of major drug companies, the public relations posters display the image they like to present: of caring companies that bring benefit to humanity, relieving the suffering of the sick. What they don’t say, is that, so far, their humanity has not extended beyond the limits of the pockets of the sick” (Hilton 2000).

In summary, the pharmaceutical industry is for profit. A handful of economically powerful companies use economies of scale to exploit the markets of developed and developing countries. As a whole, the pharmaceutical industry is:

? Priortising investment in non-essential comfort-oriented drugs for the wants of the more affluent in developed countries, whilst neglecting the needs for essential drugs for poorer people, particularly in developing countries.

? Investing heavily in litigation and patents to restrict competition from other companies, and enable control over the price and availability of drugs.

? Exploiting people in developing countries, using persuasive advertising to make false claims.

? Motivated by profit, not health.

As Smith (1994) points out, ‘There is a direct conflict between the pursuit of health and the pursuit of wealth. ’

2. 3 Diffusion

Policymakers and representatives of the pharmacetuical industry argue that relevant technology reaches poorer people by means of ‘diffusion. ’ This describes the process by which drugs become available to the poor after patents expire, and when competition to make the drugs drives down the prices of the drugs so that poorer people can afford them. However, as agents of disease, including bacteria and viruses, are continually adapting to drugs and developing resistance to them, new drugs are often essential and life saving, which means it is critical they are available very soon after production in developing countries. Patents reduce the availability of new essential drugs, because they increase the time it takes for diffusion to take place, if it happens at all.

The lack of infrastructure in developing countries makes it difficult for essential drugs to reach those who need them, which can increase the time it takes for technology to ‘diffuse’ to the poor, even after patents have expired. For example, oral rehydration therapy, a simple and cheap salt-and-sugar solution, has been mass distributed since the 1980s and has greatly reduced child deaths from diarrhoea, ‘but even though it only costs 10 cents a sachet, it is still unavailable for 38% of diarrhoea cases in Third World countries. ’ Another example, Penicillin, discovered in 1928 and first marketed in 1943, is unavailable to 2 billion people. (Healey 2001)

The unavailability of essential drugs therefore extends beyond a lack of access to new drugs designed to treat devastating infectious diseases [essential drugs] (Resnik 2001). 50% of people in developing nations do not have access to even basic medications, such as antibiotics, analgesics, bronchodilators, decongestants, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-coagulants and diuretics (Reich 1979-1981).

In the 1980s structural adjustment programmes were enforced on developing countries by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. These trade liberalisation policies involved the establishment of ‘export-processing’ zones, which offered financial incentives, such as tax concessions, to companies. By favouring privatisation and encouraging multinational companies to move their operations to developing countries, one of the supposed objectives of economic liberalisation was to assist ‘development’ and the transfer of pharmaceutical technology to developing countries.

However, there has been a lack of ‘diffusion’ of knowledge and technology. In fact, it is the lack of technology transfer measures in export-processing zones that attract pharmaceutical multinational companies. With firm control over technology, even when high-tech methods of production are used they can be kept away from the domestic economy. The southern Indian city of Bangalore has, ‘thanks to Western companies’ passion for outsourcing, grown into one of the world’s premier technology hubs and is the centre of the India’s growing IT industry’ (its export revenues rose from US$150 million in 1990 to $4 billion in 1999). However, areas surrounding Bangalore are in fact extremely ‘low-tech’. In Karnataka (also state capital), there were still only 2. 73 internet connections per 1000 people in 1999; in even poorer states (like Orissa), that rate dropped to 0. 12 connections per 1000 people.

‘As it turned out, there has been virtually no transfer of relevant technology by these companies to developing countries . . . in fact, by using the power that control over technology brings, they have eliminated many potential competitors and prevented indigenous pharmaceutical industries from developing to meet the real needs of the people of the third world’ (Kanji et al 1992). Thus, the evidence leads me to personally agree with this line and disagree that diffusion can be relied upon to make essential drugs available at times when they are needed most in developing countries.

Multinationals provide employment in developing countries, it is typically very low paid with little security, and the products (and the techniques and profits) go back to the companies of developed countries. Unfortunately, even though direct foreign investment provides low-paid jobs and does not transfer technology, those jobs are still vital for many that live in poverty and have limited employment options. This highlights why re-regulation of the corporate sector is required so that markets meet certain social criteria. For example, interfering with markets to reduce the price of essential drugs in developing countries.

“Pharmaceuticals, they are a commodity. But they are not just a commodity. There is an ethical side to this because they’re a commodity that you may be forced to take to save your life. And that gives them altogether a deeper significance. But they [big pharmaceutical companies] have to realize that they’re not just pushing pills, they’re pushing life or death. And I believe that they don’t always remember that. Indeed I believe that they often forget it completely. ” (Drummond 2003)

3. GENERIC DRUG INDUSTRIES AND ESSENTIAL DRUGS

In many countries with large poor populations, such as Argentina, China, Egypt and India, national policy enabled a locally financed pharmaceutical industry to develop almost exclusively engaged in manufacturing generic drugs. These industries could ‘copy cat’ certain drugs and in some cases the manufacturing processes of other pharmaceutical companies.

This Chapter illustrates the main benefits to health of generic production in developing countries, in terms of increasing the availability of essential drugs. It uses India as a case study.

Benefits

In countries with generic drug industries, drug prices are low because the primary national objective is for the government to provide affordable drugs for its people, and develop the industry for economic welfare and greater self-sufficiency. India holds a record, with prices for many drugs 10 to 100 times lower than in developed countries. The introduction of generic antiretroviral drugs by Indian companies reduced the price of these drugs by 97% (Henry et al 2002). Research and development efforts by generic drug industries have also led to the development of vaccines against leprosy and hepatitis B, and anti-cancer drugs .

Multinational companies have less economic control over the market because the domestic drug industry controls the domestic market. Therefore, poorer people are less dependent on multinational companies and the extortionate prices that they can charge for drugs. In addition to lower cost, as will be seen from the case study of India, generic drugs have the advantage of being competitive in quality to those produced by large multinationals, originating from developed countries.

A case study of India

In India, multinationals held only a 20 per cent market share in 2000 : national pharmaceuticals have gained knowledge and capacities in research and development, which has enabled them to replicate manufacturing processes for already known drugs, and develop a bulk drug industry for various chemicals and antibiotics.

India’s local drug companies have long benefited from a relaxed patent regime.

History of patent law in India (up until the 1970s)

1856 The Act Vi Of 1856 On Protection Of Inventions Based On The British Patent Law Of

1852 Certain Exclusive Privileges Granted To Inventors Of New Manufacturers For A Period Of 14 Years.

1859 The Act Modified As Act Xv; Patent Monopolies Called Exclusive Privileges (Making. Selling And Using Inventions In India And Authorising Others To Do So For 14 Years From Date Of Filing Specification).

1872 The Patents & Designs Protection Act.

1883

The Protection Of Inventions Act.

1888

Consolidated As The Inventions & Designs Act.

1911

The Indian Patents & Designs Act.

1999

On March 26, 1999 Patents (Amendment) Act, (1999) Came Into Force From 01-01-1995.

1972

The Patents Act (Act 39 Of 1970) Came Into Force On 20th April 1972.

Source: Adapted from http://www. legalserviceindia. com/articles/patents_geographical. htm accessed 10th November 2004

In the past, India honoured patents on manufacturing processes but not patents on products, which allowed generic drug companies to ‘reverse engineer and manufacture drugs’ without paying royalties to the companies who own patents on those drugs (McNeil 2001).

The features of the 1970 Patents Act helped to promote India’s pharmaceutical industry, which specialises in generics. It has enabled considerable technological innovations and development of knowledge, with its provisions enabling the drug industry to grow at a rapid pace. (The Lancet, 2004)

The Indian Pharmaceutical industry is the pre-eminent sector in India, in terms of scientific and technological developments. India ranks among the top 15 drug manufacturing countries in the world. In 2004, the domestic drug industry met approximately ‘70% of India’s demand for bulk drugs, drug intermediates, chemicals, pharmaceutical formulations in the form of tablets, capsules and orals’ (Lancet 2004). India’s generic drug industry has enabled a huge number of people to afford essential drugs that would have otherwise been out of reach because of patent induced high prices and unavailability. Generic production therefore promoted self-sufficiency and assisted economic development.

“The Indian firm Cipla’s offer to MSF [Médecins sans frontiéres] to provide a cocktail of antiretrovirals for less than $350 a year (compared to the big boys’ $10,000) resounded like a thunderbolt. Suddenly, the emergence in the South of very low cost generics producers seems credible” .

4. IMPACTS OF THE TRIPs AGREEMENT

This chapter discusses the impacts of the TRIPs agreement (January 2005) on India’s pharmaceutical industry. It starts by mentioning the pressure and reasoning behind India’s decision to comply with TRIPs, and then examines the positive and negative aspects of the agreement, which might emerge in the next few years.

India amended the law governing patents i. e. Patents Act, 1970 by Patent (Amendment) Act, 2002, on 20th May 2003.

The main features of Patent Act, 2002, were:

? Enlargement of non-patentable inventions

? Twenty year patent term for all patents

? Burden of proof on defendant in case of infringement when a patent is for the process of producing a new product

? Making importation a right of a patentee

This Act prepared India for full TRIPs compliance, and currently, India is adapting to the changes to the pharmaceutical industry under the TRIPs Agreement, which came into force on January 1st 2005.

Indian companies have now lost the opportunity to develop processes for patent protected drugs. This could allow multinational companies to establish a monopoly over the Indian drug market, unless Indian pharmaceutical companies can compete.

Pressure to comply with TRIPs

There was pressure for India to meet TRIPs requirements because India would have otherwise been disciplined by the WTO, and ‘India’s market access rights would have been jeopardised’ along with other benefits (Lancet 2004).

There was intense lobbying, predominantly by the United States pharmaceutical industry, to impose the TRIPs agreement. PhMRA claimed that the US pharmaceutical industry loses US$500 million annually only through a lack of patent protection on drugs in India . The GlaxoSmithKlein CEO Jean-Pierre Garnier described the Indian pharmaceutical industry as price-undercutting “pirates”, and said the company “is not doing this to get a Nobel Prize. ”

In response, Hamied, on behalf of the Indian pharmaceutical firm CIPLA, said “Indeed, we are a commercial company. But I market 400 products in India. If I don’t make money on a half-dozen of them, it’s no big deal. I don’t make any money on the cancer drugs we sell or drugs for thalassemia, a blood disorder that’s common in India. We sell these drugs virtually at cost because I don’t want to make money off these diseases which cause the whole fabric of society to crumble. India alone will have 35 million HIV cases by 2005, and it’s something we can’t afford. ” (Lindsey 2001)

4. 1 Main advantages

On the one hand, TRIPs could promote more research and development and stimulate competition to produce new drugs. On the other hand, India will lose its ability to generically produce essential drugs for its majority poor population.

Generic drug production in India has meant that research and development of new drugs has taken a back seat. Indian companies are ‘getting actively engaged in research and development of their own molecules/pharmaceutical products and processes . The Indian government is providing a range of tax concessions designed to encourage research and development, including a 10-year tax holiday on income arising from research and development. (Lancet 2004)

Thus, TRIPs is increasing investment in the research and development of new drugs. It promotes economic growth of the Indian drug industry, because companies now have patent induced control over the price and availability of new drugs. India already has more pharmaceutical products approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) than any foreign country, which is helping the industry to obtain and enforce patents. The Indian pharmaceutical industry will be able to increase its contribution to drug discovery and development, which, given the cost-effectiveness of research and development in India, can only increase. (BJU 2003)

‘TRIPs will cement India’s position as a global pharmaceutical outsourcing hub and offshore location for research and development and other support services including strategic services in patenting and related matters. ’ India is also becoming an attractive location for the outsourcing of patent drafting . In addition to these benefits to the industry as a whole, TRIPs has also imposed higher quality standards for drugs and processing.

Proponents of TRIPs argue that patent induced privatisation of the industry will lead to growth of the domestic industry that will increase the availability of all biotechnology products to poor people i. e. diffusion. However, as mentioned before, patents can reduce the availability of new essential drugs by restricting short term diffusion. Thus, although TRIPs may encourage more research and development of drugs, these drugs will be less available to poorer people who cannot afford them at times when they need them most.

However, there are counter-arguments that TRIPs will not make new drugs unaffordable. For example, Shantha Biotech, which was first to launch the indigenously developed hepatitis-B vaccine in the country in 1997, has secured the World Health Organisation (WHO) certification for its product “Shanvac B” (now marketed at “Hepashield”). Shantha is the only company in India to get this certification for the hepatitis-B vaccine, and it is being provided at a quarter the price of the previously imported vaccine (Jayaraman 2001).

However, despite greater availability of a few specific drugs, linked to some Indian companies obtaining licenses, the price of new drugs over the next few years is likely to be relatively high in terms of what the population is used to and can afford.

4. 2 Main Disadvantages

Under TRIPs, there will be more consolidation in the pharmaceutical industry, as larger companies are more capable of using patents to secure higher profits. Linked to economies of scale, these companies will be able to exploit the patent system to out-compete other companies. Multinationals such as GlaxoSmithKline, which already operate in India, will have a particular advantage. Smaller companies will be less capable of buying into the strict patent system. Merely securing a patent from America’s patent office costs at least $4000. Defending it in court can cost millions (Economist 2002).

Although TRIPs does not patent old drugs already on the market, there is still a backlog of products waiting for grant of product patents, some which may already be on the market, as product claim applications have been filed since January 1 1995. Unless Indian companies have stopped manufacturing such drugs completely, a large number of litigation and infringement suits will ensue .

TRIPs restricts India’s generic industry and longer patents provide additional incentive for foreign investment in India. This could actually pose a threat to India’s pharmaceutical companies. At an international level, Indian companies’ advantage in cheap vaccines for hepatitis or rabies may be eroded by potential development of cocktail vaccines that promise delivery of multiple vaccines in a single shot (Jayaraman 2003). Although TRIPs encourages growth of the industry and creates some large winners, it creates many losers.

Since the 1970s, India’s poor population has benefited from a range of drugs available at relatively low prices. The industry is efficient at making generic varieties and has a number of different companies able to produce such drugs, which means that new drugs on the market can be imitated both quickly and easily. This provides a means of sharing the benefits of technological advancement in developed countries with developing countries, usually isolated by a gap in technology. According to some reports, India is home to the fastest growing rate of new infections in the world (Hankins 2003). Without the benefits of generic drug production, the population of India could suddenly be faced with a health crisis.

According to a recent Times of India report; the price of cancer drug Gleevac has risen from to Indian Rs120, 000 ($2,590) from its price just a few months ago of Indian Rs4000 ($86. 35) – 30 times more, because of TRIPs .

4. 3 The Doha Agreement and Compulsory Licensing

TRIPs has a clause that allows governments to override patents and provide essential drugs to the poor in some circumstances. Working with Non Government Organisations (NGOs), Brazil and a group of African countries pressured policymakers to revise TRIPs. The meeting in Doha, November 2001, between the world’s trade ministers attempting to organise a new round of trade negotiations (Health Affairs 2004), led to the Doha “Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health. ” This declaration affirmed that TRIPS “should be interpreted and implemented in a manner supportive of WTO members’ right to protect public health and, in particular, to promote access to medicines for all. ”

‘It affirmed the right of nations to use the exceptions of TRIPS, such as the compulsory licensing provision, to meet public health concerns, specifically stating that “public health crises, including those related to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics, can represent a national emergency” and thus facilitate the right to use compulsory licensing’ (World Trade Organisation Declaration 2001).

‘Governments can issue compulsory licenses to allow other companies to make a patented product or use a patented process under licence without the consent of the patent owner, but only under certain conditions aimed at safeguarding the legitimate interests of the patent holder’ . For example, the Supreme Court of India may interfere to justify the dispensation of drugs at an affordable price on the grounds of concern for public suffering. They can grant a compulsory license for companies to produce a generic drug. If required, the government may also fix the price of these drugs as well as the royalties to be paid to the inventor for the remaining term of patent .

A further 30 August 2003 Amendment to the Doha Agreement enables governments to let their pharmaceuticals generically produce drugs for other countries, as well as their own people, in times of ‘acute suffering. ’ Previously, Article 31(f) of the TRIPS Agreement stated that products made under compulsory licensing must be “predominantly for the supply of the domestic market”. (WTO Press Release 2003) This applied directly to countries that could manufacture drugs, limiting the amount they could export. It will now be possible for countries to import cheap generic drugs in times of ‘acute suffering’.

This was regarded as a victory by the developing world and as a defeat by the research-based drug industry.

However, there are serious questions as to whether compulsory licensing can even work. ‘No generic medicines have been manufactured this way in the past decade, treating no patients in any country worldwide’ (Attaran 2003). ‘Threats of compulsory licensing might be useful when rattling sabres with drug companies to lower medicine prices, but only a single (and unusually powerful) developing country, Brazil, has ever succeeded in doing so. As such, compulsory licensing or the threat of it has seldom had any practical effect for public health’ (Attaran 2004).

Nevertheless, the pharmaceutical industry in developed countries has objected, with the United States leading the objections. ‘America’s drug industry has fought tooth and nail to impose the narrowest possible interpretation of the Doha declaration, and wants to restrict the deal to drugs to combat HIV/Aids, malaria, TB and a shortlist of other diseases “unique to Africa” . ’ This means that the industry is against the use of compulsory licencing, and only prepared to accept its use in Africa, which is very unethical when most developing countries do not have sufficient access to essential drugs. It highlights the ruthlessness of paharnceutical companies, in terms of seeking maximum profit even at the expense of the world’s health.

Compulsory licensing and the amendments to TRIPs are positive in respect to health care in developing countries. The changes suggest that governments do respond to pressure and there has already been some admission on their part that TRIPs could be revised under a more ethical framework. However, even with these amendments, TRIPs does not tackle the root problems of unequal power relations between developed and developing countries, which give rise to the unequal access to pharmaceutical biotechnology.

5. CONCLUSION

This chapter argues in favour of alternatives to TRIPs. It starts by summarising the benefit of increased public funding in research and development. It shows the close ties between science, business and government and goes on to explores wider policies, highlighting the ways that the scientific community can promote more ethical drug policy.

Public funding

If a larger proportion of research and development of new drugs was publicly funded, then this would encourage more investment into the development of essential drugs, which are needed in developing countries.

Data submitted to the Joint Economic Committee of Congress by the National Bureau of Economic Research reveals that public research, not private, led to 15 of the 21 most essential drugs introduced between 1965 and 1992, and other studies in the 1990s suggest that only a minority of important drug discoveries in recent years (estimates range from 17% to 40%) were the result of commercial research (O’Leary 2002). This shows that public funding is paramount to the production of essential drugs, and therefore to health in developing countries. The combined effect of shortening patents and increasing public funding in the pharmaceutical industry would ensure that not only are more essential rugs produced, but that they also reach those who need them.

The next section shows that scientists need to devote more attention to the unethical nature of drug policy and voice concerns to the public. This involves deconstructing a scientific agenda from the economic agenda of government and big business.

Governments, science and big business

Scientists ideally work to discover “truth” and gather knowledge to help people. Research and development, however, tends to be profit-driven, and there are conflicts between seeking scientific advancement and helping people, because helping people is not always profitable. Government policy supports the pharmaceutical industry, as strict patents favour the expansion if the industry and economic growth. Although business and governments are therefore dependent on scientists to design new drugs and technology, their common agenda allows them to exert political and economic control over science. Any social objective to deliver essential drugs to the poor is lost in this agenda. Scientific search for ‘truth’ therefore becomes a quest for profit, because of the vested interests of government and business.

The United States Office of Management and Budget reported that academia, in addition to federal funding, receives millions of dollars for research from donors and the private industry.

“Bioethicists at the University of Toronto take funding from GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Merck to write editorials on bringing biotechnology to the developing world . . . Bioethicists at the University of Pennsylvania take money from Pfizer to write an article explaining why physicians should not accept gifts from companies like Pfizer. (Engler 2004) This shows the irony whereby large companies control information which should criticise their activities.

In the United States, even federal money comes with strings attached. Federally funded experiments and research are subject to massive amounts of bureaucratic regulation and oversight. Members of academia are now increasingly involved in the private sector. ‘This means that, even in basic research, funding is not free from profit motives or federal regulation, and the research is not necessarily a pure drive for more knowledge . ’ Thus, it is hard to separate science from the profit motives of business and politics, which share a common agenda. Scientific information can be biased because it is conditioned by this agenda.

‘Today the most powerful players outside government are private corporations. They contribute financially to political parties in the US, Europe and elsewhere and a neo-liberal trade agenda has become the mantra of virtually all elected political parties. The price governments have to pay for this support is to ensure that their electoral platform corresponds quite closely to the agenda of big business. ’ (Shutt 2001)

It is unfortunate that science, politics and business are so intertwined that it is difficult for the benefits of biotechnology and knowledge to jump the political and economic hurdles to reach developing countries.

It means that scientists need to be more vigilant about the type of drugs they help to produce, and what they endorse. Moreover, the scientific community need to play a more active role in raising awareness about pharmaceutical issues, so that people become more informed and capable of working with other groups, such as NGOs and members of the scientific community, to press governments for change. Scientists and the public can apply pressure to regulate the corporate sector, by imposing corporate social standards in the trade of drugs, and deconstruct those pressures from big business that controls science and information.

Public mistrust

Governments have control over science. They manipulate the science often finding a balance between where public support lies and where the money lies. This has resulted in public mistrust and scepticism in science. In the UK, for example, the public was informed by government that BSE could not be transmitted from cattle to humans, and the government promoted British beef and the industry for around ten years, before it emerged that there was a human form of the disease, variant CJD. Mistrust and scepticism was the result.

Scientific ignorance can also weaken the ties between science and the public. People may ignore the science because it is viewed as obscuring a larger picture (Michael, 1996). Science can be difficult to understand and, as mentioned, communication through the media reflects the agenda of business and government. If people do not trust the scientific media or understand the science of issues, their uncertainty can be compounded by a general mistrust of science and the scientific community. It is also important to consider that people also have different views on issues, which highlights the need for better communication and debate. New abortion procedures to people who are already pro-life are simply ‘more efficient ways to kill unborn babies,’ whereas to pro-choice advocates they are safer, less intrusive ways of protecting the choices and health of mothers .

People need to feel that a scientific organisation has no vested interests. This is why independent organisations for public scientific awareness and education are important to build up this trust. In Britain, this includes COPUS (Committee on Public Understanding of Science) run by the Royal Society. There is also the Wellcome Trust, which informs the public on science policy and practice (as well as contributing to researching social implications of sciences) “The culture of science needs a sea-change, in favour of open and positive communication with the media. ’ If these independent scientific institutions, collaborating with NGOs and the scientific community, can succeed in informing and educating people, ‘it will pay for itself many times over in renewed public trust’. (UK Select Committee on Science and Technology 2000)

Agreeing with this line of thinking, if independent scientific organisations can give more attention to health problems in developing countries, then they can raise public awareness about these issues. The potential to change policy rests on a more informed public.

Individual scientists and the scientific community, collaborating with independent organisations, can debate ethical issues and highlight the importance of improving health in developing countries by increasing the availability of essential drugs. “Some of the favourite topics of bioethicists seem trivial compared with the important health issues facing people in the world’s poor countries and in impoverished regions in rich countries” (BMJ 2004). “The risk of dying from maternal causes in sub Saharan Africa is 1 in 16. In Western Europe it is 1 in 4000. ” Bioethicists could focus their attention on the morality of a world system that allows “500 000 girls and women [to] die every year – 99% in developing countries – from preventable conditions and injuries related to pregnancy and childbirth. ” (Lancet 2004)

It is especially important to make younger people more aware of the issues pertaining to the use of strict patents, in order to produce an informed public in the long term. Thus, there needs to be more attention to such issues in colleges and universities, as part of a curriculum, then younger people could debate for themselves the fairness of TRIPs. Again, a more informed public would be less likely to accept the ‘unfair’ policies enforced by their governments.

Therefore, policy must change. After all, it is the wider policies that enable corporations to exploit poorer people, who cannot afford to buy into technology. Roy Vagelos, the former head of Merck, claims that “‘A corporation with stockholders can’t stoke up a laboratory that will focus on Third World diseases, because it will go broke’ … ‘That’s a social problem, and industry shouldn’t be expected to solve it . ‘ Although biased from an industry viewpoint, he does make the point that companies are by definition profit motivated and that giving companies greater freedom is not in the best interests of health, especially poorer people.

Historical policy context

‘One cannot separate economics, political science, and history. Politics is the control of the economy. History, when accurately and fully recorded, is that story. ’ (Smith, 1994). There are wider policies that need to be considered. Patents are a form of imperialism.

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries rich, powerful states, including Britain and other European countries, exploited third world colonies. Richer states exploited the natural resources and workforce of the colony, and efficient supply chains were constructed for this purpose, based on unequal power relations. Although developing countries gained economic dependence in the 1960s and early 1970s, an economic dependence continued. Developed countries lent large sums of money to developing countries, and these debts became unpayable due to the rise in interest rates. Developing countries, instead of investing in health, still have to repay these debts, and they have become economically dependent on the companies and governments of developed countries, who control trade policy.

Thus, based on a historical trade policy context, governments in developed countries have the responsibility to help developing countries supply drugs to their populations.

‘Enormous agricultural subsidies ($310 billion) in developed countries deny the agrarian populations of poor countries the opportunity to export products and accumulate wealth’ (OECD, Paris 2002). The subsidies alone are roughly equal to the entire gross domestic product (GDP) of sub-Saharan Africa. ‘Redirecting just 1 percent of this government spending to global health would more than double the foreign aid spent to control HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined. ’

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda opines that giving priority to medicine patents in trade negotiations has been a “red herring” and that “if there were no agricultural subsidies. . . we [Africans] would earn enough money to buy all the drugs we want” (Wall Street Journal Editorial 2003). Although I think that reducing agricultural subsidies is just one element of improving pharmaceutical infrastructure in developing countries, he makes a valid point that improving the distribution of drugs is linked to redistributing wealth between countries.

Kanji et al (1992) take this further to point out that a country’s pharmaceutical and health policy cannot be isolated from its general development startegy. November et al 1982 elaborates by stating that ‘dependence on products [drugs] and the agents and institutions which make them available, fosters the notion that the solution to illness resides in the purchase and consumption of medications rather than improvements in living condtions’ (November et al 1981).

I agree with this line of reasoning that links the unavailability of essential drugs in developing countries to wider policies, and highlights the need for more sustainable development that takes into account the vulnerability of the poor by imposing strict social criteria in drug policy and trade, rather than strict patents (economic criteria). It should be emphasised that shortening the time length of patents is one important factor among many that could improve the avilability of essential drugs and all round healthcare in developing countries.

Melrose, 1982, says that ‘companies should keep to their declared obligation of making sure that drugs “have full regard to the needs of public health” and demonstrate special social responsibility in poor countries by not advertising non-essential multivitamin tonics, cough and cold preparations and expensive and irrational combination drugs (Melrose 1982). ’ Although I agree that corporations need to behave more responsibly, this should be a legal prerequisite rather than an ‘obligation. ’

Ironically, there is great potential and ability of the large pharmaceutical firms, which have been so criticised in this text, to develop more essential drugs for the poor. The private sector has a great deal of knowledge and capital, which can be used to produce new essential and non-essential drugs. Thus, although public funding would help to give priority to essential drugs, the private sector should still contribute significantly. This is especially the case in the foreseeable future because the private sector is largely responsible for the production of all new drugs. ‘If Pfizer, Merck, Glaxo-Wellcome, and other pharmaceutical companies do not develop drugs that plague developing nations then …there is a real danger that people in developing nations will become therapeutic orphans’ if the pharmaceutical companies lack the proper incentives to develop drugs for the developing world’ (Reich 1979-1981).

Thus, the final part of the conclusion looks at ways of regulating the corporate sector.

Regulating the corporate sector

Governments can regulate the pharmaceutical industry in two broad ways, either by direct control, usually by making legal requirements, or by creating incentives. A mixture of the two strategies can be effective.

Control involves regulating and monitoring biotechnology companies and pharmaceuticals through the creation of legal requirements. For example, when these organisations develop drugs/ vaccines, governments can mandate them to comply with research and manufacturing standards to ensure products are safe and efficacious . Governments can control drug prices furthermore because they often have authority over the granting and use of patents. For example, in the US, the government has the right to license drugs to other companies if the patentee does not make it available to the public on reasonable price and terms. Such a right is currently focused on drugs that have been developed with public support . It needs to extend to drugs developed with private support.

Although laws are paramount in regulating corporate conduct, there is the issue that corporations have no moral obligations over and above the requirement to comply with the law (Friedman 1970). Governments can, in this regard, create further incentives for these organisations to engage in developing drugs/ vaccines that benefit populations in developing countries. For example, it could create subsidies or offer grants for research in certain areas. The Orphan Drug Act, introduced in the US in 1983, creates tax and marketing incentives for those companies that engage in creating drugs for rare diseases. Also, governments could commit to purchasing future critical drugs/ vaccines in order to minimise the ‘private entity’s financial risk’ .

Ideally, TRIPs should be replaced by policy which curtails the power and influence of the private sector, by shortening the time length of patents, allowing generic production in developing countries, and at the same time increasing public funding of research and development.

In summary, making more ‘ethical’ drug policy is dependent on:

? International policies

- removing TRIPs, shortening the length of patents; allowing developing countries to generically produce essential drugs.

- subsidising research and development of essential drugs.

- regulating the corporate sector: ensuring that essential drugs are reasonable priced; ‘a price that allows the company to earn its money but also promotes accessibility and equity’ (Brody 1996) & (Spinello 1992).

? National policies

- providing funding and technical support for NGOs who raise awareness of the issues surrounding the use of strict patents in the pharm,aceutical industry.

- Promoting education in schools; collabortaing with independent scientific organisations to provide information publicly, through the media.

- Setting an example by increasing public funding in research and development; prioritising investments in essential drug production; greater transparency; governments more accountable to the public than companies.

- Campaigning for fairer drug policies at the international level

? Education and public awareness

- Informed people in developed countries, able to raise issues pertaining to the use of strict patents and resist ‘unfair’ policies.

? The role of the scientific community

- a scientific community that focuses more on third world issues and health problems, and raises awareness about the underlying policies that cause an imbalance in wealth and health.

- Independent scientific organisations that can communicate information to the public and collaborate with scientists and NGOs, and raise concerns with business and government.

- campaigning for ‘truth’ and sharing of knowledge, as well as more regulation of the corporate sector, and governments who are more accountable to the public.

This paper highlights the interconnectedness of social, economic and political factors which can improve the availability of essential drugs in developing countries.

To end on a more positive note, pharmaceutical companies have created life-saving drugs which have helped to save millions of lives, but these drugs have tremendous potential to save many more lives and alleviate suffering by helping to curb the incidence of various infectious diseases, which cripple the social and economic fabric of developing countries. The paper also highlights the importance of better understanding the impacts of TRIPs in developed countries, so that governments are pressed to change policies at the national and international level. The role of the scientific community is critical, in terms of having more say and control over drug policy, and helping to increase public awareness about drug policy. Ultimately, a concerted effort between the scientific community, public and NGOs can resist ‘unfair’ drug policy and some of the exploitative practices of pharmaceutical companies.

7. REFERENCES

Books/Journals

Attaran, A. (2003) Assessing and Answering Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health: The Case for Greater Flexibility and a Non-Justifiability Solution. Emory International Law Review 17, no. 2 (2003): 743–780.

Benatar, S. (2000) Avoiding Exploitation in Clinical Research. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics 2000; 9: 562-65

BJU (2003) Fitzpatrick (Ed) International Volume 92 No

Companies are always looking to hire people who have some prior work experience, as they feel more comfortable with employees who have worked before, and are thus in a position to understand the challenges that comes with it. Internships and cooperative education programs gives you that advantage over someone who has no prior experience of ever setting a foot in an office!
Interns get a chance to apply the theoretical knowledge that they have gained from textbooks into practical situations, and also understand how different things are once you step outside the protective environment of a classroom.
Internships
An intern works with an actual company, usually but not necessarily, in a field related to a student’s academic or career goals. Internships provide progressive experiences in integrating theory and practice. These are mostly in the summer breaks, but can also be during an academic year. They can be either full time or part time, and can range from few weeks to a couple of months or more. Such positions are, more often than not, unpaid; but they can also be partially paid. However, for students in their third or final year, or for those who have just graduated, gaining hands-on experience in a professional environment should be more important than monetary gains.
A research or dissertation internship is a type of internship taken by a student, usually during their final year. They work with a particular company and prepare a report, which is usually presented towards the end of the year.
Cooperative Education Programs
Cooperative education is a method of combining academic education with practical work experience. These usually have a specified minimum work period. In an alternating arrangement, a student generally works full time 40 hrs per week during the term. In parallel program, students work part time 20 hrs per week for the term. The student’s performance is usually monitored by the school and supervised by the employer. It helps students gain credits as a part of their curriculum. Cooperative education gives students excellent professional experience and many times companies hire the students who have worked with them as a part of a cooperative education program.
International Internships
International internships, though not new, are finding big followers across the globe in the increasingly global market place. Students are taking advantage of international internships in increasing numbers, especially in fields like computer science, information technology, consumer goods and marketing. Countries like Japan, Spain, and India are big favorites, as it exposes them to global trade practices along with an opportunity to learn new cultures and languages. Countries like India provide some of the best experience in global work culture and world-class technologies, with an amount of exposure that was not even previously thought of at an intern level.
However, students need to check before taking on an international internship, as it may mean different things in different countries around the globe. Though such endeavors can be a great learning experience, students need to research properly about the place they are going to visit, to make utmost of their learning time in the new land.

This event will take place on: Wednesday 16 July 2008, 8:30 am – 1:30 pm at the Università Bocconi, via Sarfatti 25, Milano: Bachelor programs presentations . In case you can not attend personally it is possible to receive information you need by email.

You will receive information on admission procedures, tuition fees, scholarships and financial aid, language centre, international relations, cultural acrivities and sports, career service and the participation is free. You can receive information about these courses: Economics and Finance, Economics and Management for Art, Culture and communication, Economics and Social Sciences, Bachelor in International Economics and Management, Business Administration and Management and Law .

Counseling area: Professors and university students are available to answer questions about the specifics of each program. Selection test simulations: Make your reservation at the general Reception area. Guided tours of the Bocconi Campus : Tours start about every 30 minutes, from the general Reception area.

Università Bocconi is internationally recognized for the quality of its research and a focus on economic and social development. Committed to internationalism and to building an extensive network of academic partnerships with many of the world’s leading business schools and companies, the University offers quality Bachelor programs at every level of higher education.

There are many opportunities at Università Bocconi available to students in order to obtain scholarships, tuition contributions, and tuition and fees exemptions.

Research is at the heart of Bocconi´s mission: it drives scientific and social progress and lays the basis for excellence in undergraduate and graduate education. Bocconi is committed both to basic research, a long-term undertaking whose results can greatly affect our lives and our world, and applied research, a constant endeavour aimed at matters of a more practical nature or of direct interest to business and government.

Bachelor programs

Computers have become the life line of today’s high- tech world. There is no work, in our whole day, for which we are not dependent on computers or the technology products. The use of computers has overpowered our life and we have got addicted to computers to a great extent. Perfection is equivalent to the work obtained from computers. Also, this all is not overrated; computers have actually brought a revolutionary change in the whole way, with which the education and the work culture are practised. Today it’s very important for everybody, whether it’s you or me to gain the education in the field of computers. Learning the basics of computers is highly important for the students to excel in their respective fields. Computers help students to learn better and learn the practical aspect of the subject. Other than the usage of the computers in different fields, computers in itself, is a very vast subject to study. There are a number of schools and colleges in India, providing computer education to students. The students are made to learn the subjects on the basis of their preferences, with all the training and practical knowledge given to them.

In fact, schools also have computers as the subject for the students, to learn the basics of the subject. We are introduced with the subject, from our primary classes and therefore made friendly with the tech world, from the very beginning of our school. Moving further in the school education, we get introduced with the specialisations of the field of computers, which helps us in deciding their career in the computers. With the increase in the demand of computer professionals, a significant number of computer institutes are getting opened. The institutes are aimed to train the students in the field of computers and make them skilled enough to handle the difficulties at the work.

There are computer engineering programmes provided by the IT colleges of India. Computer engineering courses are basically divided into software engineering and Hardware engineering. We are suppose to choose the course according to our choice and the field, which  interests us. There are many diploma courses in computers available in the colleges. BCA and MCA are also among the famous computer courses in the field of software programming, which can be opted by us. These courses are provided by most of the management schools of India and contribute in the grooming of the students. The computer institutes polish the skills of the students, so that we are able to match with the latest developments in the world of technology, and are able to find a perfect job for ourselves.

Few of the top most computer institutes in India, are:

 

v  University of Delhi Department of Computer Science

v  Institute of Information Technology of Management

v  R. K. College of Systems & Management

v  Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology – Allahabad

v  Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (Punjab)

v  Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management

v  Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology

v  Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi

v  Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune

v  Birla Institute of Information technology, Pilani

v  PSG College of Technology

These are few of the most popular computer colleges in India. Engineering and computer application courses are highly preferred among students. But apart from this, there are many design and animation courses, which come under the category of the computer courses. There are a number of design institutes in India, which trains the students in their respective fields and produce great talent for the industry. Also, to make the already working force aware of the computers and its uses, training sessions are organised by the companies in India to make them aware of the latest developments.

Studying After Profession:

Often times, you can make moves within your field with the experience and you’re your prior education. But occasionally you may find that the qualification requirements of a job you want surpass your level of expertise, where your higher education from internationally reputed institution can emphasize your contour. If this is the case, you may want to consider pursuing your overseas education from the world’s top study destinations like, USA, UK, and Australia, which makes you a more effective candidate.

Going back to college is probably one of the most effective ways to continue your education. Whether you’re studying for your Graduate study program or an even more advanced degree, you will find that going back to college significantly heightens your level of qualification in the eyes of prospective employers.

Keep Up with Technology:

Staying abreast of the latest technology seems like a no-brainer for individuals who work in professions like IT or web development. However, those who are not in technological fields are finding that they too need to become more computer savvy. So how can you become more educated in the world of technology? One way is by taking classes at your local community college. Whether you’re taking one class as you need it, or going for a certificate, getting educated on popular software like Microsoft Office or Adobe can help improve your chances of securing a better job. Just be sure to note on your resume every new technology you’re proficient in. This way, your application can make its way to the interview stack based on your newly-acquired level of expertise.

Get Professional Assistance from Expertise Mentor:

One of the immense approaches for studying abroad is by finding a professional consultant to help in your processing for admission and visa. There are many consultants in the market, but you have to work little hard in analyzing and choosing the company that can help you in reaching your study destination. Impel is one such consultant that facilitates and take care of all your overwhelming obligations and A great place to find a mentor is within the company you work for. But if you don’t work yet, or you don’t want to find a mentor there, you can look at career-specific clubs and organizations for experts who might be willing to give you a helping hand.

If you’re really interested in making advancements in your career, continuing your education is a great way to go. Come take the time to meet the team Impel and fly to study abroad. That way, you’ll know that you’ve made the best decision to guide your career toward more fulfilling opportunities.

In New York, a state in the Northeastern region of the United States people never forget to take part in sports. Games that represent New York are all supported by the people. American football is one of the games that always gain their support. New Yorkers enjoy watching the New York Giants stepping on the field for years and they always show it wholeheartedly. The Giants constantly surprise their fans with their tremendous skills and terrific accomplishments that never disappoint them by purchasing Giants ticket. New York Giants stand for the New York metropolitan and a professional football team located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The team is a part of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). By, 1925, they are included as one of the first five teams who joined. But in the end, the New York Giants is the only team left playing until today. The Giants have featured 15 hall of fame players, including NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award winners Mel Hein, Frank Gifford, Charlie Conerly, Y. A. Tittle and Lawrence Taylor and earned many NFL titles. 2004 was the year when they got Eli Manning from University of Mississippi as quarterback replacing Kurt Warner. The fans keeps on getting Giant tickets just to see Manning play. They are hoping to see a game that might get them another title. The team has won three Super Bowl Championships together with the 2007 season that proved the talents of the Giants. It’s the reason why the Giants ticket became well-known and tricky to find. Every season, the supporters purchase Giant ticket early to ensure the best seats at the Giants Stadium. In 2010, the New York Giants will hold their home games at the New Meadowlands Stadium which is adjacent to the former Giants Stadium. It can accommodate 82,566 people in one game and people are excited to witness Giants home victories in the new stadium. It’s fun watching the thrilling game with the finest facilities offered by the New Meadowlands Stadium. Tom Coughlin, the New York Giants’ coach is hoping to display an extreme game from the team and will be wildly cheered by their home fans. He would surely be surprised how the people will storm in to become a part of this strategic game. This team have always been adored by the people and still keep on buying tickets to claim the next Super Bowl Championship.

ASU is just one of the many ground universities to implement online degree programs. As online education continues to expand in both enrollment numbers and popularity, many traditional ground schools are recognizing the benefits and developing online degree programs of their own.

ASU has had an online sector of its university in place, but has recently partnered with ESM and Pearson, two education management firms, in order to enhance the online learning experience of its online students. ASU will partner with the two firms in order to “deliver management services and technologies that will support student enrollment, engagement and retention in its online degree programs. ”

This occasion marks the first time the two companies have worked collaboratively to help schools develop and grow their online degree programs. Doug Kelsall, CEO of ESM remarked on the online education trend and the services students need in online programs, “as more students look to online learning, we need to make sure they not only have access to in-demand programs, but that they also have the support necessary to thrive in these programs. ” Matt Leavy, CEO of Pearson eCollege reiterated these sentiments, “Our innovative approach with ASU Online and ESM not only expands educational opportunities, but it does so in a way that will enhance the experience for students and drive stronger learning outcomes. As the school’s online programs continue to grow and evolve, our comprehensive solution will enable ASU Online to stay ahead of the changing needs of its students. ”

Are you one of the many students thinking of pursuing an online degree? Let us help. Visit the University Bound site for all of the online education and online degree program information and resources you need to choose the right online school.

An LPN to RN bridge online degree program is an educational program that a licensed practical nurse can take to earn a higher degree in nursing. This degree qualifies the student nurse to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The NCLEX is a required examination that all nursing graduates must take and pass to become a licensed registered nurse in the US.

Is the move from LPN to RN a feasible career direction for you to take? Yes. There is a growing scarcity of registered nurses. One that a World Health Report- 2003 (WHO) acknowledged: “The most critical issue facing health care systems is the shortage of people who make them work”.

In the USA today, statistics show that there is a population on ratio of 773 nurses for around 100,000 patients (The Global Nursing Review Initiative-2005).

Clearly, there is a wealth of job opportunities for an LPN looking for career advancement as an RN in the health care industry. As an RN, you will gain better autonomy. You will also be in the best position to assume a leadership role and substantially increase their ability to earn.

Is there one particular LPN to RN bridge online nursing degree program that you should be looking to join? No – the one that works is a program you have designed for yourself.

As an active LPN, you will be juggling a fulltime job while studying. The first step then is to evaluate your personal circumstances and your career goals.

Ask yourself these questions:

How will you be able to devote sufficient time to learning, while functioning at work and participating in your family’s lives? Can you rely on your family’s support to take on or rotate some of these domestic tasks with you?

Second step – inform the human resources department about your career plans. Their assistance will help you several ways:

Rescheduling work shifts.

Recommendations and guidance on hospital supported programs, as many hospitals offer tuition reimbursements.

Assist you in securing a position in your workplace, for your clinical learning experiences. This is a requirement of both online and offline nursing programs.

Third step – do an engine search for the different schools. Check out their programs. Submit your accomplishments to the accredited schools and then compare which among these will give you the most credits to becoming an RN. Most virtual schools give 30 credits to licensed practical nurses.

Last step – Once you have selected the program to enroll in, use the school’s resources. Most schools will assign you a guidance counselor to assist you with the application process, identify financial aid resources, and help you create a schedule that suits your work and personal schedules. This will help you on your path to bridge the LPN to RN career path.

The University of Phoenix Online offers only two criminal justice and law enforcement programs, one undergraduate and the other graduate.

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration is a four-year program that encompasses the subjects of policing, criminal law, and corrections, besides providing a broad outlook on the study of crime and justice in American society. The course is designed to groom professionals working in the field of criminal justice for administrative, supervisory, and leadership positions that demand a higher level of skill and responsibility. As a student of the BS degree in criminal justice administration, you will be educated in how to deal with human relations and resolve social conflicts, besides learning how to use the latest technology to detect, solve, and fight crime. Your work in a position of importance and reliability will involve working with subordinates, peers, and superiors. This program will inculcate in you the competence needed for interpersonal communication, administrative decision-making and personnel management. Professionalism on the job and the moral ethics that govern the profession are also dealt with in the curriculum.

The undergraduate course is a good stepping-stone for professionals in the criminal justice field who are seeking to advance their careers or branch into a diverse specialization. The course includes subjects like Organized Crime, Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice, Skills for Professional Development, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminology, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Interpersonal Communications, Introduction to Policing, Criminal Court Systems, Introduction to Corrections, Juvenile Justice, Ethics in Criminal Justice, Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice, Research methods in Criminal Justice, Organizational Behavior and Management, Criminal Justice Administration, Criminal Justice Administration, Criminal Justice Policy Analysis, Managing Criminal Justice Personnel, Futures of Criminal Justice, and an Interdisciplinary Capstone Course. Each course carries three credits.

The Master of Science in Administration of Justice and Security prepares undergraduate students and professionals in the criminal justice field for administrative roles in criminal justice and security programs. Promotions and transitions across the various areas of criminal justice like law enforcement, corrections, security, and court operations are easily facilitated if you have a master’s degree in a related discipline. This program will train you in problem-solving techniques in security and justice organizations.

The degree includes courses such as Survey of Justice and Security, Organizational Administration and Behavior, Management of Institutional Risk, Ethics in Justice and Security, Criminological Theory, Legal Issues in Justice and Security, Critical Incident Management, Cyber Crime and Information Systems Security, Public Policy Issues, Concepts of Physical and Personal Protection, Forensic Science and Psychological Profiling, and Program Development and Evaluation. Each course carries three credits.

The problem is: while the courses sound good what you will really get is more of management education rather than more of criminal justice education. If you are opting for UoP, be ready to expect a management orientation rather than a criminal justice orientation. The sharp focus on criminal justice is missing.

St. George is an oasis in the southern Utah desert. And offers fantastic golf at 12 diverse golf courses . . . St. George’s Red Rock Golf Trail . . . within a 15-minute drive of one another.

Whether you drive or fly into St. George, the first time you take in the surrounding scenery, you see an area probably unlike anything you’ve seen before. Red rock … along with black lava rock … astounding cloudless blue sky … broken up by white-walled gorges.

The first time I saw the area was many years ago. I was a freshman on the University of Utah JV football team. We left chilly Salt Lake City on a bus and headed south.

I can’t remember the month. Maybe October or November. It was a long trip at a time the speed limit was capped at 55 mph. An ill-fated and senseless government mandate of that era.

As we headed down the hill from Cedar City on into St. George, we could see the scenery changing dramatically. And when we got off the bus, pleasantly warm temperatures greeted us.

We played a game against Dixie JC on a “field” in the middle of the town’s rodeo grounds. I remember looking down as I got into my stance and seeing . . . between several sparse patches of grass . . . dried manure. Left over from the previous summer’s rodeo. Great for a garden but not a football field. Oh my how the area has changed.

My lovely bride and I even spent a few days there on our honeymoon. Before continuing on to Las Vegas of course. But over the last decade, the St. George area has been one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country.

It’s a great place to spend a vacation as you can play four or five very diverse golf courses without draining your bank account.

For more information about where and how to golf St. George Utah, click on the links below. Each one will take you to the website for that specific golf course.

So far you have used Facebook for social interactions, why not use it now as a gaming platform. On Facebook you can enjoy games that will surprise you at every level with their exciting features. This article will throw light on top 5 top Facebook game apps that Facebookers can play solo or with friends.

With over 30 million members globally and over 15 billion page-views per month, Facebook has been ranked at the 7th spot for most visited website in the United States. Launched by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004 as a social networking site for university and college students, Facebook has come a long way. In May 2007, Facebook launched a platform within its user interface that allowed developers to build third-party applications. This has encouraged businesses to promote and market their products and services via Facebook. Today, it’s a worldwide craze and people around the globe not only engage in virtual socializing but also play variety of captivating and thrilling games on Facebook. Take a look:

Top Facebook game apps: Feudalism 2

This series of online gameis set in medieval England. The objective is to conquer the world in a series of battles with warlords. Navigation of the characters through the various villages to defeat and conquer is done by using arrow keys or W, A, S, and D. This top Facebook game allows you to exhibit multiple skills via the play mode that enables you to walk across the land and shoot with spacebar as the enemy approaches. Additionally, drag and drop different weapons to power up your ammunition. This game sharpens your reflexive skills and keeps your adrenalin racing because you must be ready to battle at any given point in time, especially when you conquer the world.

Top Facebook game apps: Paint Blood

This action-packed game heightens your observation skills, by allowing you to navigate through a maze to reach the other side safely. The character portrayed in the game is an artist who must tread of the enemy blood to escape to safety. Guide the artist with arrow keys to discover computer chips that would reveal the next level which is complex and more challenging.

Top Facebook game apps: Trigger Master

Test your reaction time with this top Facebook game apps. Aim and shoot at teasing townsman who disapproves this fellow for falling in love with a woman who they consider less than beautiful. Be quick to shoot the targets as they move swiftly once you launch the game.

Top Facebook game apps: Karoshi: Suicide Salaryman

This bizarre top Facebook game apps perhaps reflects the current situation of a professional living in metropolitans or small cities. It follows an overworked man who must kill himself for you to win the game. The game launches with him in a cave depicting the office environment where players to reach different levels in the games must navigate him to jump and hop to his fate.

Top Facebook game apps: Vampire Fever

Vampires! Yes you guessed it right; this is a classic Billiards style Halloween game that allows you to strike creatures similar to the pool game. Play to infect the various creatures like bats, witches and mummies by shooting at them with Viro. The objective of the game is to prevent these creatures from attaining complete health at each challenging level.

With such engaging games on Facebook, you can now enjoy your free time by playing it with friends online! All you need is a PC or laptop with an internet connection and you are ready to have fun anytime, anywhere.

It takes about seven hours to go from Venice to Munich (Munchen) by train, but it is totally worth it! The back and forth ticket costs aproximately 60€ and you get to enjoy the landscape that you would otherwise miss if you were travelling by plane. Besides, when you arrive at your final destination, at the Hauptbahnhof main train station, you’re just beyond Karlsplatz, in downtown Munich!

 

 

Located in the Bavarian region (the tourist’s favourite), Munich is a cultural capital where metropolitan habits live in harmony with conservative values. But most of all, Munich is the capital of beer, where the legendary  Oktoberfest  takes place and Muncheners and foreigners join together to drink quantities of beer that doctors do not reccomend.

 

 

Marienplatz it’s Munich’s epicenter, a famous meeting point for young people, artists and street singers. The hot spots on this square are Neues Rathaus and Peterskirche (aka as Alter Peter, ‘Old Peter’): the former is definitely a must-see, and the latter a cannot-miss-it church that offers a sweeping view – scaling the over 300 steps it’s totally worth your sweaty effort, trust me! The square looks cute’n'all but behold – pickpocketing does happen to absent-minded tourists.

After such physical and cultural exertion, relax in the Englischer Garten (english garden) where you can have a beer and watch the river surfers (!) fatigue with a sadistic-like smile on your face. The Englischer Garten is the biggest park in Munich, a green lung close to the heart of the city. Make sure you drink your beer next to the Chinesischer Turm, in the famous Biergarten (Beer garden) and have a chat or two with some hippy, yuppy, alternative folks who advise you to buy Fair Trade products.

 

 

The best place for shopping in Munich is in Kaufingerstrasse-Neuhauser Strasse – yes, I know, German will never be easy, but words like Zara, Mango and Promod are internationally renowned and easy to pronounce. Do not forget to buy kitsch souvenirs like leberkuchen in the shape of a heart where you can read ‘I mog di’ (‘I love you’ in bavarian dialect) or any bad taste product from one of the many sex shops.

 

 

Intimate, trendy and atomic (in the lilliputian sense of the word). You’ll be amazed how so many people can fit in the Atomic Café (Neuturmstr. 5 Altstadt), which features rock and indie music, DJs and live bands. If you ask the DJ of the day to play your favourite song you might get lucky. Be sure not to wear your best-seller H&M outfit if you don’t like the idea of seeing people dressed up like you; remember that in Munich you’ll always compete with an overly dressed-up crowd.

 

 

Cord club (Sonnenstr. 18 Zentrum) has a terrible logo, one must say. Maybe the time that you have to wait in line to get in makes it look even worse. But once you’re inside, you’ll realize it’s totally worth it, not only because of its 70s charm (there are mirrors in the ceiling – kitschy, hu?) but also because of its danceable tunes. Do not expect any house music, though – the Cord club crowd is more up to alternative, indie, rock music. Little red light candles, blondies and hotties, mirrors and sweat running down the windows. . . Take it for granted.

 

 

There are also many gay and lesbian bars in Munich with suggestive names like Teddy Bar (Hans-Sachs-Str. 1, Isarvorstadt), Bon Valeur (Sonnenstrasse 17, Isarvorstadt), Carmen’s Lounge (Theklastrasse 1), Inge’s Karotte (Baaderstrasse 13, Isarvorstadt) and many others.

 

 

After getting off your dancing shoes, prepare your stomach for what’s coming next: breakfast. Yes, you need at least a mental preparation if you’re not used to eating sausages in the morning. But you cannot miss the Weisswurse (white sausages) experience! This regional speciality is usually served with Bretzel (salty bread) and sweet mustard. And you want a lot of beer with that, of course! Here’s a tip you’re going to thank me for: do not eat the skin!

Even if your belly hasn’t digested breakfast at 5 pm, you must manage to find some space in it for a delicious snack with sausages (again) curry and chips.

 

 

How to eat cheap in Munich? The University district has tons of restaurants where you can get a good meal without sacrificing your budget, and most biergartens allow you to bring your own food. Enjoy!

 

 

Finally, after convincing you, dearest reader, to spend a lovely weekend in Munich (hopefully) it’s time to leave you with the best hostels in Munich!

 

 

Munich Travel Guide

 

 

Book your Next Holiday!

Pursuing an international business career is not an easy task, it usually requires extensive traveling, fluency in a second language which is almost always a requirement in international business, and of course working in this profession necessitates flexibility to fit into very different cultures than your own.
International business specialty offers different paths one could take. The many opportunities for professionals in American business are the same opportunities overseas some of which includes advertising and sales professionals, product managers, retail buying, travel and tourism business, banking, managers and trade experts. International companies must compete in the challenging market thus requiring the need for knowledgeable and business minded professionals.
A bachelors degree in business is often required for most people who choose a career in international business. Jobs can often be competitive and so many aspiring business students go the extra mile of earning their masters degree in either business administration (MBA) or international business (MIB). A bachelors degree is a four year course and a masters degree is usually one to three years after a bachelors degree.
Some programs are much more aggressive than others. However, for any of these programs, a high school diploma or its equivalent is a minor requirement. Since international business also involves working together and communicating within the cultures, fluency in a second language is another requirement. Programs of bachelors and masters degree are usually the most competitive and require a high GPA to be accepted. Consulting with a college career counselor is a good way to know the specific requirements for entry into specific programs.
Online programs offer all levels of preparation for elite individuals who aims towards a career in business. A lot of programs offer classes that can be completed at home. Specific programs can also be offered online such as a bachelors or masters degree in business administration, or associates in international business.
International business careers are very rewarding and yearly salaries in this field can vary greatly depending on the company and the type of business. Chief international executives can have pays ranging from $200,000 to $400,000 annually. Lower level directors and representatives may have salaries ranging from $50,000 to $130,000 per year. Higher end pay scales are most likely for those individuals who have a masters in international business and many years of experience.
Some of the leading schools that offer International Business programs are the University of Phoenix Business; Walden University; Ellis College; Regent University; Strayer University; Keiser College eCampus; Kennedy western University: Argosy University (Business & IT); National American University Online; LeTourneau University; Keller graduate School of Management; Berkeley College Online; Jones International University; and Cardean University.

On line degree programs are a great educational choice for people who cannot afford the time or expense required for regular Universities. You can study anywhere and whenever it is convenient for you. While this seems like a very positive thing, it often leads to on line degree programs being taken less seriously. Many people tend to put off studying, don’t complete assignments, fall behind, and then eventually just drop out. You require a high level of motivation and self-discipline to work independently and successfully complete your degree program.

There are several factors that affect motivation in online students:Isolated Learning

With on line degree programs, you forgo the kind of normal socializing that is possible in regular schools. Unless you are an introvert with a passion for your own company, this can create problems in staying motivated.

You can keep from feeling isolated by developing a strong support system of family and peers and participating in team projects with your fellow students. Technology Skills

On line degree programs are a difficult proposition if you don’t know how to send emails or how to use chat, forums, and search engines. Spending more time worrying about operating the computer than in learning is quite a demoralizing factor.

So it’s important to first get yourself thoroughly acquainted with the computer basics. There is no need to feel embarrassed. We all have to start somewhere. Comprehension Skills

On line degree programs require excellent comprehension skills as you will be working independently. People from different cultural or linguistic backgrounds may face obstacles here. Also, without actual instructors to constantly monitor the work, many people find it difficult to stay motivated.

Stay in regular contact with your online instructor through email and chat messages and, if you don’t understand something, get it clarified. Writing Skills

Online interaction requires the ability to express yourself adequately through the written medium. People who cannot write well tend to feel intimidated and as a result don’t participate enough in the online learning process.

The only way you can learn to write well is by reading a lot and by writing as often as you can. Practice will certainly improve skills. Distractions on the Internet

While on line degree programs require much research and interaction over the Internet, you could end up reading a lot of irrelevant matter or chatting about things not related to your course.

Try not to waste your time in non-essentials. Stick to your schedule and complete your work on time. Distractions in the home environment

If you have too many family obligations, have very young children to care for, or face constant interruptions, it is very difficult to stay focused on your coursework.

Set aside a couple of hours every day for study and ask your family, friends, and neighbors to not disturb you in this time. Stay motivated and you will soon successfully graduate from your on line degree program.

Condo buildings often have beautiful exteriors.

However, did you know that they also can give rise to vibrant social lives inside?

New condo owners may be pleasantly surprised by the accomplishments and strengths of their neighbors. At a typical urban condo, professional videographers and writers live alongside business analysts and financial consultants. A condo near a university also will have ambitious graduate students pursuing multiple degrees. Generally, condos draw an interesting mixture of younger and older people. Most people really enjoy this mix!

Friendships with people in your building can help you save money because your neighbors will share information about nearby retail and professional services. They will help you keep abreast of events in your building, as it is, after all, a shared investment. As you discover common interests, you can share recipes, tools, and books. Carpooling to events or downtown entertainment could not get any easier! The possibilities are endless! On the occasions that several of you stay in, you can share drinks. At the end of the night, it is easy for everyone to walk down the hall back home.

Interestingly, these relationships take can take a little more effort than you may think!

A little known fact about condo living is that it can be extremely private compared to any other housing choice in a metropolitan area. Any shared and open green space-where neighbors might otherwise mingle-may be completely separated from individual units. People make a deliberate choice to go there. Condo owners who prefer to keep to themselves certainly are very free to do so.

The extra privacy can be a great thing! However, it does mean that meeting your neighbors can require more effort. It is worth it, though! Having even one friend in your building can make a big difference!

Here are some tips to get started:

• Take the bus to work. Riding the bus can be take a lot of effort because there are schedules to watch and stops along the way. However, it does save money! A pleasant by-product for condo owners is that doing so most certainly will put you in close contact with your neighbors. You may not have a detailed conversation with everyone, but even a pleasant ‘hello’ can be meaningful.

Meanwhile, the development of light rail in many cities should continue to make public transportation more and more comfortable. Try not to dismiss this option lightly.

• Practice learning and remembering your neighbors’ names as you encounter them. Sometimes this takes practice! By making a point to introduce yourself to others, you may encourage others to do the same.

• Attend at least one Home Owner Association board meeting in order to introduce yourself to board members. Attending a meeting will expose you to the complex inner workings of a condo building. That way, you can begin to appreciate your home for the microcosm of the city that it is! Contact your property management company to request a copy of the schedule today.

Probably the most favored things from the the computer industry sector could be the The apple company ipod. It’s really a storage area system enabling for folks to load their very own music on them as well as take it with them anywhere they’re going. Considering that many people generally need to make objects much more individual for them, there are many different ipod skins they can purchase. A number of the top quality skins can be found from several companies. Numerous establishments offer their ipod skins for sale in many different approaches. Consumers can buy them in shops and online through the website. If people will be looking to purchase an ipod skin online, they will will be able to view numerous different types. Once they choose what they want, an individual can place their order and get the skin delivered to them in a short time period. A handful of the unique ipod skins obtainable include things like solid colors, metropolitan themes, floral themes, patterns, nature, holiday seasons, pictures, around the world, sports, and plenty of other choices. Together with this kind of a variety of skins, a person are able to find something that will be exclusive to them. If folks want, they can create a photo of them develop into an ipod skin. Those who are still pumped up about the World Cup in soccer can buy many ipod skins that show a soccer ball including a banner of the country they cheer for. Young people who will be attending college might also be able to find a skin that corresponds to their university. Different colleges include Army, Virginia Tech, Wyoming, Air Force, Western Kentucky, and Tulsa. These are merely examples of the many different ipod skins that are available. When folks are thinking about ipod skins for his or her ipod, they would want to think about how they would like their own ipod to be protected. Despite the fact that they could find large covers, many individuals like the ipod skins considering they are a protectant so are aesthetically captivating. Exactly like a number of people customize their own computer, many individuals also love to customize their own ipod. The particular screen on an ipod touch can get busted if someone isn’t mindful. Instead of paying lots of funds to by a specific protectant case for the screen, people today can purchase ipod skins that do the job on their behalf. The skin is simple to remove, and improves the grip on the ipod touch. This causes it to become tougher for the ipod to slide out of someone’s hands. Anybody who wants to ensure that their own ipod touch is actually functional for some time would want to acquire more than one ipod skins. Since they are simple to take off, people today might swap the skins up from time to time to acquire a different look. It does not matter if someone features a second, third, or fourth generation ipod touch. They will be able to locate skins to protect their ipod. Not only is an ipod a costly investment, it can become more costly if someone will harm to it and manages to lose almost all their tunes. This is often a big problem if they purchased some or all of their songs from a web site that only lets them one download of the song. It is a smart choice on the part of any person to get a number of ipod skins to keep their ipod shielded.

Correspondence education is nothing differ and there are no  extra mark  engaged to it. It has been  thoroughly a long time that people have adopted this medium of teaching. Several certificate courses, degree and diploma programs  and master degrees courses like distance learning executive MBA are provided by universities. There are several  technical nuances  associated in making this way of teaching which has too the figure of online education  in the  current life. Each has become so facile that any learner can approach the program from any any place facile time. This suppleness has produced such mode of education very well- known . But, if you are an  endeavoring candidate of a online education, you would achieve it  Surprising to see that all  subject experts, professors, professionals are involved in making the course modules. If we see an  exemplification of an online  MBA, then  preamble from admission to attaining the degree all thing  is accomplished online. Online  lectures  are provided to the candidates.   Specialist of the belonging subject provides online lecture and candidates can even  interpellate any query  through online chat window. Every thing in this associates a lot of software instruments that the Institutes uses to give the best to the candidates. Each of the working people accepted this nature of  education. Dissimilar  to the  pristine time when large packets of study books and notes were sent to candidates, presently each thing is sent via net. Profuse of these learning materials for example online  MBA materials are in the manner of Power point presentations ,otherwise, in a PDF file. Albeit there is much carefull  stuff included in producing all such educational material in a correspondence education program, a candidate need not necessarily familiar with the all applications. The candidate should have only knoweldge of the basics of computer operation and internet operations. correspondence  MBA is a course that is  uttermost renowned in the distance learning  courses. Such course  aid many people and working individuals to either select in an MNC or to achieve a better career growth. A working individual can  reformmanagerial ability and can farward  to the next level. Distance learning  MBA is popular because it helps in getting good salary and career to the working professionals. If you are also hoping about  an distance learning MBA or any program in the mode of a distance education then you just have to search  the Institute that suggesting accredited programs and enroll yourself.

Julio was last arrested at 30 years old. Born and raised in Clovis, New Mexico, he moved to Las Vegas, New Mexico, when he was 18, where he graduated High School and then began college.

His drug use began recreationally, when a friend showed him the high of sniffing inhalants, gold spray paint. A few years later he was addicted and his attitude in life and his actions had completely changed. Once a good student and a top All State soccer player he flunked out of college. He had lost his dreams.

Years later, he was in Texas and lead a police car on a high speed chase. When they finally popped the tires and then captured Julio he managed to slip out of the hand cuffs. He stole a police car at the scene, and almost ran over a cop in his race to leave the scene. The state tried him for “attempt to commit capital murder on PD”, but fortunately the video showed that he swerved to avoid hitting the officer. Given a five year sentence for getting out of restraint from handcuffs, he did 2. 5 years and was paroled in 2005. Julio maintained sobriety through his parole sentence but relapsed and moved back to NM. He lost his wife who went back to Dallas with his second son.

He was rearrested and sentenced for possession of aerosol, misdemeanor attempt to use it for a euphoric feeling. He was busted inhaling behind a housing project in a vacant yard.

Once in the system, again, the social worker for the public defenders office referred him to a new criminal and drug rehabilitation program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Second Chance Program was opened by Rick Pendery, who is the national executive director of the Second Chance Centers, after having a high rate of success running the Second Chance Program in state prisons.

Julio has been taking part in the program for six months, he explains what a difference it has made in his life, “Everything has changed. My self confidence is restored, I have self esteem. I no longer see myself as a loser. I have potential to learn, my hunger to get educated has returned. Education is the one thing that can’t be taken away from a person. I want to go back to school. I believe that the best counselor is one who has been through it. I want to help others. I also want to be a soccer coach. And I like to use words, I might want to do something in the field of English literature. ”

The Second Chance Program consists of four core modules, the Drug Rehabilitation Module, the Learning Skills Module, the Self Respect Module all of which are delivered in a secure residential facility, on an intensive eight-hour a day, six-day a week course schedule over an average of six to eight months. The Reintegration Module which includes Life Skills is continued post release to ensure their successful reintegration into the community as a productive citizen.

I feel strongly that this program needs to made available to people. ”, Julio explains. “I can’t say enough how I feel that it will save lives. That is what it comes down to: Second Chance has become a front line battle for lives out here, the staff here that are willing to pass on what they are being taught are front line soldiers. The drug war is everywhere. We are battling an unseen enemy that is very prevalent. This enemy needs to be addressed. We can’t cover it up. People can’t wait until it affects them or someone they know. ”

The growth rate for employment as a psychologist is above average due to an increased demand for these services in hospitals, schools, mental health centers, social service agencies, consulting firms and substance abuse clinics. Further, the average earnings enjoyed by industrial-organizational psychologists as of 2004 were $71,400. Online psychology programs give people the opportunity to study for a career in this challenging, rapidly growing field without compromising their other daily activities.

Students pursuing psychology online degrees learn about the human mind and behavior and its biological, social and cognitive bases, as well how to apply this knowledge to practical problems. Student enrolled in online psychology programs can choose to specialize in areas of psychology such as educational, child, clinical, sport, forensic, industrial, organizational, social and marriage and family therapy. The U. S Department of Labor reports that four out of ten psychologists are self-employed. The remaining psychologists work at places such as public and private schools, hospitals, state and federal government, correctional institutions, market research firms, advertising agencies, day care centers, mental health care providers and PR firms. Dynamic positions held by psychology graduates include media buyer, copywriter, art therapist, retail buyer, teacher, child welfare caseworker and public relations specialist. A wide variety of exciting employment options exist for students who earn psychology degrees online.

In order to work as a psychologist, students must fulfill the required course of education, usually a doctorate, then complete an internship and gain one to two years of professional experience. Sometimes psychology students are also required to complete a thesis or original research paper. At this point, the student can take the application state licensing qualifying examination to become a psychologist. Most of the state licensing boards give a standardized test, but equirements vary from state to state. Some states also require continuing education to renew a psychology license.

Online psychology programs make it easy for busy professionals to fit continuing education requirements into their hectic schedules. Doctoral training programs in counseling, school and clinical psychology are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the National Association of School Psychologists are also involved with accreditation of school psychology advanced degree programs. It typically takes students five to eight years to complete psychology online degrees.

In 2004, psychologists held approximately 179,000 jobs. With the variety of interesting employment opportunities that exist in the psychology field today, online psychology programs afford students a chance for career advancement while they balance their work and family responsibilities.

The growth rate for employment as a psychologist is above average due to an increased demand for these services in hospitals, schools, mental health centers, social service agencies, consulting firms and substance abuse clinics. Further, the average earnings enjoyed by industrial-organizational psychologists as of 2004 were $71,400. Online psychology programs give people the opportunity to study for a career in this challenging, rapidly growing field without compromising their other daily activities.

Students pursuing psychology online degrees learn about the human mind and behavior and its biological, social and cognitive bases, as well how to apply this knowledge to practical problems. Student enrolled in online psychology programs can choose to specialize in areas of psychology such as educational, child, clinical, sport, forensic, industrial, organizational, social and marriage and family therapy. The U. S Department of Labor reports that four out of ten psychologists are self-employed. The remaining psychologists work at places such as public and private schools, hospitals, state and federal government, correctional institutions, market research firms, advertising agencies, day care centers, mental health care providers and PR firms. Dynamic positions held by psychology graduates include media buyer, copywriter, art therapist, retail buyer, teacher, child welfare caseworker and public relations specialist. A wide variety of exciting employment options exist for students who earn psychology degrees online.

In order to work as a psychologist, students must fulfill the required course of education, usually a doctorate, then complete an internship and gain one to two years of professional experience. Sometimes psychology students are also required to complete a thesis or original research paper. At this point, the student can take the application state licensing qualifying examination to become a psychologist. Most of the state licensing boards give a standardized test, but equirements vary from state to state. Some states also require continuing education to renew a psychology license.

Online psychology programs make it easy for busy professionals to fit continuing education requirements into their hectic schedules. Doctoral training programs in counseling, school and clinical psychology are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the National Association of School Psychologists are also involved with accreditation of school psychology advanced degree programs. It typically takes students five to eight years to complete psychology online degrees.

In 2004, psychologists held approximately 179,000 jobs. With the variety of interesting employment opportunities that exist in the psychology field today, online psychology programs afford students a chance for career advancement while they balance their work and family responsibilities.

Bruno Moubchir is upbeat about the down economy.   Why? Its good for small business like his Bruno’s Limousine Services.   His rationale is that as head of a small car service he has low overhead and therefore, can offer competitive prices.   He just wants one opportunity to introduce his company to a new client and he believes the individual will become a loyal customer.  Once new clients schedule Bruno’s services, they find the professionalism in comfort, care and timeliness that is important in the competitive limousine service industry.   Bruno’s Limousine Services recently relocated from Black Rock to 1140 Post Road, directly across from Patriot Bank and Shell Service Station.   With a spacious office on the second floor, Moubchir finds the new location gives him a visibility and convenience in meeting the limousine service needs of clients in close proximity to the office.   Recently, Moubchir left his driver’s seat to take a few moments to discuss his business and a career path that took a turn from his original decision to enter the field of criminal justice.   “Business is growing.   Even though the economy is bad, we’re doing well,”  said Moubchir, commenting upon the status of his business.   “Companies still have to send their employees on business trips.   As a smaller company we can offer discount (pricing).   Our prices are very competitive.   “We’re here to give good service and to help people spend their money wisely.   The market is huge.   You just have to know how to get your own clients… People are shopping around.   when they find us, we’ll do everything to keep them as a client”.     Moubchir cited the support and activities of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce which was instrumental in his decision to relocate to fairfield.   He finds the networking opportunities offered through the Chamber an important factor in making business contacts.   A native of Morocco, Moubchir speaks fluent Arabic and French which has been significant factor in his obtaining a limousine service contract with clients from Saudi Arabia who come to the U. S. on business  During their visits to Manhattan, Moubchir is their personal driver and remains available to offer limousine service throughout their stay.   He said the professional service required at that level carries over to all his clients.   “Everyone is treated like royalty”.   Offering good personal service comes easy to Moubchir, for he describes himself as a “people person”.

Although he majored in criminal justice at Sacred Heart University with a goal to become a member of the FBI, Moubchir began thinking about establishing disown limousine service company after he was working part-time for another car service.

With Bruno’s Limousine Services’ big motto “Big enough to serve, Small enough to care” the company maintains five sedans and two SUV’s.   The cars are equipped with WiFi.   THe company provides car services for corporate travel, airport transportation, special occasions, weddings, events, proms and formals.   Currently, through the company web site at www. brunoslimousine. com, Moubchir is hosting a free weekly raffle drawing with the opportunity to win a free trip any airport in the tri-state area.   Moubchir’s administrative assistant Maria Douich staffs the office and with a large television screen mounted on the wall, keeps watch on traffic patterns in the metropolitan aerate assist in communicating traffic updates to drivers.

Douich praised Moubchir’s personable characteristics that contribute to his success in providing transportation.   “He’s very outgoing and makes clients feel comfortable.   He adapts to any situation. ”

The pre-booked limousine services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.   However, in the case of short notice, the company will make an effort to fulfill travel needs.   The company is fully licensed by the state Department of Transportation and permitted and insured for complete client protection.   For more information or to make travel arrangements.   Call 203-540-5155

 

 

MBA is the common abbreviation for Master of Business Administration. mba in india is the most sought after and rewarding career course. MBA in India is pursued after graduation and it is completed in a span of two years. However, Executive MBA is a career choice is also offered that lasts for a year. These days most of youth are opting MBA in India due to its rewarding benefits. An MBA surely help students who want to go ahead in their respective career because management has become very important in every industry. With the growing demand of managers the institutes offering MBAs have also gone up. There are lots of recognized b schools in India which are offering MBA programs in different electives. However, Indian Institute of Management located at six cities is considered as the premier institute for MBA in India. Faculty of Management Studies of Delhi University is also regarded as premier institute for MBA in India. Most of b schools in India offer MBA in finance, hotel management, international business, fashion technology, human resource, communication etc.                           There are a large number of b schools and institutes in India which offer MBA through distance learning. Distance learning MBA is the same as traditional MBA that is offered on campus. The only difference between distance learning MBA and regular MBA is that you won’t have actual classes and lectures during the course of study. You can complete your distance learning MBA by sitting at your home. You can also complete your distance learning MBA while doing your current job. You have to select your institute wisely for your distance learning MBA. Indira Gandhi National Open University may be your choice for your distance learning MBA. However, there are various b schools and institutes in India offering distance learning MBA.    Universities in India play a pivotal role in offering higher education. The universities in India can be classified into many groups such as central universities, state universities, private universities, and engineering universities, deemed universities, agricultural universities, open universities and national institutes of importance.   Really there are a few universities (Delhi University, JNU, BHU, IITs, IIMs and some others) in India which are playing an excellent job of producing progressive citizens for the nation. But with the growth of the economy, the Indian Universities and other institutes of higher education have faced with a new challenge. Universities in India have to prepare more and more enlightened minds that will be able to participate in the growth of India.

Engineers plan and design new products and systems. Engineers use advanced technical skills to oversee many types of projects. Projects may include building a new highway, designing a production line, or installing a water system. Engineers oversee the planning and building of new factories and plants. They oversee the design of new products. Sometimes they improve the way products are made. Engineers set goals and establish policies and work procedures for meeting those goals. There are various types of engineering courses available

Electrical Engineers install and maintain the power supply in any manufacturing company. They also maintain any motors and heavy electrical equipment in these companies.

Electronics, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers design embedded systems i. e. electronic devices. Telecommunication engineers specifically take on the designing of communication networks e. g. mobile phones, blue tooth devices etc.

Computer Engineers job is to design/ build and maintain Computer hardware or write software codes. These could be for banking, telecommunications or software for embedded systems i. e. electronics.

Chemical Engineers work specifically in chemical industries to design and maintain the plant they work in. These industries include pharmaceutical, food, textile, paint, fertilizer, cosmetic, detergent and in oil refineries.

Instrumentation Engineers automate manufacturing and chemical processes. Their work includes interfacing the plant with a computerised system and ensures that the plant runs automatically.

Mechanical Engineers research and develop machines, tools and various mechanical devices and components. A mechanical engineer is concerned with the design, planning, development and maintenance of machines and equipment ranging from jet engines to minute instruments used in medicine and surgery.

Civil engineers build cities — from roads and bridges to tunnels, public buildings, and sewer systems. They are involved in the planning, construction, and maintenance of all kinds of infrastructure.

 

 

 

Electrical Engineers are hired by power generation and transmission companies like NDPL, Delhi Transco, BSES, EIL, DMRC, which are mostly government, and private players like Reliance Energy, Tata Motors, L&T, Bajaj Auto etc.

Electronics, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers are in a lot of demand right now because all software companies require networking. Apart from that there are a large number of companies working in embedded systems. Firms like Texas instruments, Sasken, Paxonet and Bosh, recruit electronic engineers. Leading software companies include Wipro, Infosys (both hire almost 500-700 engineers per year) and Amdox (which hires almost 100 engineers an year).

Computer and Information Technology Engineers are highly in demand and is another most sought after field. Mega players like Infosys higher about 2000 computer professionals every year, with Wipro, TCS and Patni demanding almost the same

Chemical and Instrumentation Engineers find jobs with Petrochemical Industries like BPCL, HPCL & Reliance, Pharmaceutical Industries Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd, Inorganic and organic chemical plants such as Dai-Ichy, Hindustan Organic Chemicals Ltd. Some are hired by Process Consultants like Tata Honeywell and Emerson.

Civil Engineers can find job in Government departments, private and public sector industries, military, engineering services research and teaching institutions etc.

Mechanical Engineering finds applications in all fields of technology. They could work in many industries including private or public sector industries of various types, and their work varies by industry and function. Engineers are required in automobile, chemical, electronics, steel plants, oil exploration and refining, technical wings of armed forces, space research organisation, etc.

 

 

 

Salaries in government organizations are 10-12, 000 per month. Whereas private companies pay much more, about 2. 5 lacs per annum

Companies like Texas and Sasken pay a starting salary between 2. 5 – 4 lacs whereas Wipro and Infosys pay anything between 2- 3 lacs per annum.

Since the growth rates of these companies are pretty high e. g. an engineer with 3-4 years of experience can expect a salary of 60-75 thousand per month

Computer Engineering and Information Technology Engineers are paid a starting salary of Rs 1. 5 – 2. 5 lacs per annum. However growth rates are exponential. With about 4-5 years of experience, one can expect a salary of about Rs 60,000 – Rs 80,000 per month. In addition to this, after about 2 years in the field, one can expect a trip abroad for about 2-10 months. During this period, salaries are about $5000 per month additional to what you get by the company that originally hired you.

Chemical and Instrumentation Engineers usually get a starting salary of about Rs 2 – 2. 3 lacs per annum with a growth of about Rs 30,000 per annum.

Civil Engineers The earnings depend on the industries employing civil engineers such as Central or State government departments or private concerns. In India, a bachelor’s degree candidate in civil engineering can receive a starting salary of Rs. 4000 up to Rs 7500 approximately with 2-3 years experience

Mechanical Engineering Most fresh engineers start at Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 per month, with allowances. Those with an additional management degree in addition to engineering can command salaries of Rs 10,000 to Rs 40,000 per month.

In all these fields, a master’s degree is an added advantage and starting salaries go up by about Rs 40,000 – 50,000 per annum.

The study routes and various engineering college details are given in next part of this article.

Depending on where you earn your acupressure certification, there is a variation in how long the course will take and the specific subject matter you will learn. However, in most acupressure certification classes, candidates gain theoretical knowledge of the meridian system commonly facilitated through acupuncture. And, while some introductory acupressure classes may be extended through holistic workshops and seminars, a number of massage schools and healing arts schools have begun providing acupressure certification programs as the course directive.

In addition to hands-on training in pressure points and the techniques of acupressure, students enrolled in acupressure certification programs are educated in Five Element theory, anatomy, physiology, and the pathology of injury and various types of illnesses. Additional studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophies, as well as supplemental education in aromatherapy, hydrotherapy and other natural healing arts may or may not accompany the course; but may be offered as elective training.

During the course of the acupressure certification program, prospective therapists gain clinical training in full body acupressure massage, which entails the application of finger pressure to acu-points located along the meridian pathways (energy channels). Students will also learn that as a complementary healthcare treatment, acupressure is believed to restore the body’s “Chi,” or life force; and its ability to reduce tension and increase blood circulation, thus improving overall wellbeing.

Other acupressure certification training options include educational programs that are primarily focused in equine and canine massage therapies. These courses place an emphasis on canine/equine anatomy, physiology and pathology; and treatment thereof. Graduates of these particular programs can prospectively work in veterinary clinics and other animal healthcare facilities.

For the aspiring massage therapist, there are a number of acupressure certification courses that are included in an overall massage therapy curriculum, or as continuing education units to further enhance skills and knowledge base to provide more all-inclusive services to clients.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding acupressure certification courses, let professional training within fast-growing industries like natural healing, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore acupressure certification programs near you. What You’ll Learn in an Acupressure Program

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Freelancing has certainly become one of the present trends of income-generating medium for professional. In fact, for online freelancing, freelance programming job is one example that most of them are participating.
Because of the huge demand in online services, most especially in programming, to become a freelance programmer nowadays is a great advantage most especially to those who graduated in information technology- based course.
For the reason that more and more companies are finding various ways to promote their services or products in a much better way, there exist a huge opportunity for freelancer to achieve success in this arena. Because there is a great need for freelance programming job, most especially as freelance web programmer, you can be certain that this demand will continue to increase as days go by.
If you want to become a freelance programmer or if you are already a freelance programmer and enthusiastic to allocate your extra time and skills, experience, and expertise to a more productive activity, then freelance programming job is the best avenue for it. Freelance web programmer is one of the best way to make more money online.
If you intent to become a freelance programmer, here are some useful things that you must not forget:
1. To become a freelance programmer, there is a need for you to set and finalize certain goals. That is very essential when you are to engage in freelancing job because when you are able to set your goal, you are able to make a strong foundation and this will lead you to the right track towards success. That is, before you decide to accept freelance programming job, be sure that you have got what it takes to be; polishing your programming skills is essential.
2. Since freelance programming job is commonly done online, it is expected that you are to present your portfolio online also. Therefore, there is a need for you to develop a good portfolio (all that are necessary to showcase must be well-designed, more presentable) because looking for job online is a little bit different from personal application. Remember that it is more difficult to build trust most especially to your potential client that you have not met in person.
3. Once you have got a client or if you are already a freelance web programmer, for example, try to build and maintain your good working relationship with your client. Online working can be a factor for you to make it difficult to develop trust and confidence. However, you have to strive harder to make things work out. You must not be hindered by this constraint and just try to be professional enough to be trusted.
4. You must also be able to promote your self when you intent to become a freelance web programmer. Promotion is really essential so that potential clients can see you in the huge network of Internet. You can have this done by building your own website, blog commenting, by signing -up to online marketplace, by developing a self-promotion piece, by social networking, etc.
5. To become a freelance programmer will also mean that you understand the protocol of business environment and that of being professional enough to your schedule and contract signed must always be given importance.
Try to visit some websites that cater freelance programming job. Surely, you will be able to find some that suit best to your ability.

When you’re ready to discover an in-depth and philosophical view of spirituality, metaphysics, and God, then participating in one of a number of holistic theology programs might be the educational path to pursue.

Become a spiritual counselor, life coach or holistic theology educator when you enroll in holistic theology programs that teach the fundamentals of meditation, guided imagery, prayer, spiritual and emotional healing, as well as mind/body/spirit medicine.

Students learn how to achieve and maintain emotional and spiritual balance by applying many of the theories and practices that are offered through holistic theology programs. Some of the greater prospects achieved through these studies are self discipline and individual empowerment. Being able to find acceptance and understanding to some of the many unexplained questions in life, holistic theology defines the importance of self awareness and higher consciousness; and its important relationship to the Universe and beyond.

Graduates of holistic theology programs may elect to work in youth leadership programs, as holistic ministers, spiritual counselors and mentors, or as spiritual healers, among other associated professions. As a supplementary education, natural health practitioners may benefit from these studies as they also learn effective communication skills, as well as critical listening skills.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in learning more about these or other healing arts programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore holistic theology programs near you. Holistic Theology Programs

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All Rights ReservedNOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.