Middle Childhood and Adolescence

Changes in Peer Relationships in Middle Childhood and Adolescence Statistics say that in the stages in middle adolescence 30% of the child’s social life and interactions there are a great stage of peer pressure. These results were compared to the 10% that is experienced during the early childhood. They show that they are competent by demonstrating their behaviors in these peer groups. During the elementary years in school, children have to prove to others that they understand and that they are capable of handling the different situations they find themselves in. They must keep a certain criteria in order to have friends. The main concern during these peer groups is to be accepted and most of these concerns are experienced during middle childhood. Researchers have been focusing in the friendship among the children. Friendship is one of the most important parts of the social group between early stages of childhood. Friends fill that special need we have inside and for a child’s development that is one of the most important parts. They fulfill the special needs and they help with communication, interaction, acceptance, companionship and social skills. Peer is more related to the social and popularity status and its acceptance and friendship represents more that relationship that is built on appreciation, respect and most importantly being liked. When the child has reached its adolescence stage, they will experience support from their friends and this will help in their social skills. When they are younger, they don’t experience this as much. So, the more friends they have, the more acceptances they will feel from the larger peers. Adolescent Egocentrism Jean Piaget theory of cognitive development derived from concept of egocentrism. Adolescents Egocentric explains how a teenager feels about him or herself. During the development of adolescence the human body experiences several mental and physical changes. According to Elkind (1967), adolescent’s mental abilities heighten his or her self-consciousness. Adolescent egocentrism actually reflects a weakness in their thinking that is distinctive of early formal operations. Egocentric thoughts develops in two aspects which includes the awareness that an individual sees things in a different perspective and doesn’t seem to understand that others may hold thoughts, emotions, and views different form his or hers. Egocentric is a complex concept that encompasses a wide range of questions of early cognitive development. Studies have shown that female’s egocentrism is more prevalent during their early adolescent period and gradually slows down during their later period of adolescence. The main aspect of egocentrism is both social and cognitive because it reflects o more of how individuals want others to perceive them (Sanrock 2007). For example, many teen spend more time grooming themselves than any other factor in his or her lives. According to Elkind (1967) transitions of the formal operations stages involve its own differences about egocentrism. Personal fables also encourage the adolescent egocentrism that reflect on how an individual relates to others. Adolescence experiencing egocentrism is often seen as a non-positive aspect part of their thoughts because adolescents become taken in with who they are and are unable to function properly in society due to their bias translation of reality. Formal operational thinkers view things in greater complexity and to perceive many different aspects of a situation. Studies today have explained that egocentrism is not always present in the late stages of adolescence. However it depends a great deal on the environment whereas he or she was raised. Peer Pressure Adolescents are faced with a plethora of pressures during this crucial stage in their lives. They are exposed to the difficulties of peer pressure including drugs, alcohol and sex. Peer pressure comes from several different directions. It can come from the media, parents, other family members and friends. An adolescent’s self-esteem plays a critical role in peer pressure and often will set the stage for whether a teenager will succumb to their nagging peers or abstains. At this age, one of the greatest influences comes from older peers and their â€Å"experiences† with life. Older siblings and friends tend to pressure younger adolescents into indulging in activities that may be detrimental to their well-being, often using status to gain their trust. Status quo and acceptance are important to a young mind. If an adolescent does not have the much needed support from their parents and a positive self- image going into this stage of life, they may be more susceptible to peer pressure. Pressure to use drugs and alcohol are two of the most common forms of peer pressure hat an adolescent will experience. At this stage, when a child is coming into their own, they are very impressionable beings. When another peer offers up what sounds like an amazing experience many adolescents will follow suit and give in. Even with the knowledge that drugs and alcohol have a profound effect on the human body, some adolescents will still relinquish their better judgment to â€Å"look cool† in front of their peers. Again, status quo comes into play with substance abuse. Most youth aren’t really interested in the taste of cigarettes or alcohol, but because their friends are doing it, they ill at least try it. Just trying any substance can lead to addiction as the chemicals in the brain become heightened and the impressionable being indulging in them begins to feel a sense of â€Å"euphoria† or finds the substance allows them to â€Å"let loose†. It is very important that parents are aware of the dangers that face adolescence today. As with anything, communication is key. Parents must warn their children of the risks associated with substance abuse while also being compassionate and understanding to this stage of development.

Endless Love For My Family Essay

Someone once said, â€Å"Love is the answer everyone seeks. Love is the language every heart speaks.† Funny isn’t it? Although every country, every city, every individual is so completely and utterly different in thousands of ways, we all have one common desire. Love we crave the experience, even when there is no one to experience it. It’s many a time’s said that love is even created by people it was never meant to be found with. Purely and solely because, from day one the idea that you need another human being to validate your existence has been engraved into the mind of every individual, In past generations love was a magnificent feeling, that everyone dreamt about, in today’s society love is no longer a feeling but more so an obsession one cannot live without. My obsession has been my family, which includes my sister, My Mom and My father. Sisters are one kind of the best friends you have in your life. My Sister She is another important part of my life after my mother, She is older than me but we are still life best friends, I know I fight with her more than everyone, sometimes I hate her a lot but still I love her a lot, When I complete my High School I told my parents I’m not going study but I will just do some odd jobs , my sister she really get hard on me and told me no you should do your bachelor’s degree so u can a good job in future, I did listen to her and started my 1year of college , everything is really hard for me but she is always there to help me out with all my stuffs, She really wanted to see me completing my bachelors I don’t know If I can do that or not but still I’m working on it She is like my guardian angel/ having somebody to whom you can look at without being judged. Having a mother is the best thing that one can have in life. Its often said that to have a mom is like having God by your side. My Mother is the important part of life; she is the one who give birth to me without complaining about all the pains she have been through. My mother is one of the people I must respect and love. she is the one who gets me into this world, She was always there when I need a best friend to share my story’s, She teach me how to walk, how to draw, how to pronounce, She taught me everything, She taught me more than anyone else, not only inspired me the strength to overcome hardships in my life, It is unconditional love that my mother feels that drive these feelings. Father is the best foundation one can have in life. You have a live streaming of being responsible. Father is  one important part of your upbringing. My father is my role model whom I have followed thru all my life, I always wanted to be like him, but now when I look at him I know how hard it is to be like him, He always supported me with everything t hat possibly I could have ask for, He is my everything my banker: whenever I need money he would be there to fund me When I stuck with a math problem he would be my teacher and help me out , When I would seek help to make my decision this ,man has been there to help me out and be my mentor, I know There will be obstacles and unexpected turns in my life but My father will be always there for me. I remember one thing what my father asked me to remember all the time is â€Å"Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do.† And I always remember this thing when I’m suffering from hard time I love him a lot. â€Å"But who I am with you, is who I really want to be. You’re so good for me. When I am holding you, it’s like I have the world in my hands. Yeah a better man is who I am with you.† Quoted from the popular Chris Young song â€Å"Who I am with you†. The concept of love has been transformed into the idea that out of the billions of people on the planet, But for me my family has been the reason for love. Said individual is supposed to possess the ability to change the personality and actions of another human being purely based on the overwhelming affection they hold. The Oxford dictionary defines love as â€Å"A strong feeling of affection and sexual attraction for anyone.† If love is merely a feeling of attra ction why has it ever taken 90% of the media world?

An Essay on Responsibility in A Separate Peace

An Essay on Responsibility in A Separate Peace A Separate Peace: Responsibility A responsibility is something for which one is held accountable. Often people say that one is responsible for one’s own words and actions; if something happens as a result of something one does one is responsible for it. But is it possible that something could be the result of various actions from different people who are therefore equally responsible, or is there always one person who is most responsible for the incident at hand? Such a situation where this question is relevant is present in the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles. In the novel, the main character, Gene, ponders his responsibility for the death of his best friend, Phineas or Finny. After reading Gene’s account of the events that led to Finny’s death the reader may observe that there are three people who are all partially at fault for Finny’s death. Gene, a classmate named Brinker, and Phineas all had something to do with the incident, but who was most responsible for it? Gene is probably the most obvious to blame for part of Phineas’ death. Gene clearly feels guilty, that is why he returns to the tree fifteen years after the fact, for some sort of closure. As Gene and Finny were about to jump from a tree branch into the river together, Gene shook the branch causing Phineas to fall into the river unexpectedly and hurt his leg. Later on, when Phineas re-injured his leg and was having it set in a routine operation, he passed away. The doctor said that it was probably because some marrow entered his blood stream and caused his heart to stop. But if Finny had never fallen in the first place he would have not been on that operating table. Therefore, indirectly an action of Genes eventually resulted in Finny’s death. But was this action done consciously? The author does not specify. â€Å"My knees were bent and I jounced the limb†(Knowles p.52) says Gene in his account of the incident. â€Å"I jounced† is an active verb but †Å"were bent† is passive meaning that some unknown force bent Gene’s knees and as a result of that he jounced the limb. Since this action was not totally Gene’s he is not thus totally responsible for the fall or the events that occurred as a result of it. Brinker, Gene and Finny’s classmate was responsible for the circumstances that lead to Phineas’ second fall. Brinker suspected that Gene was responsible for Finny’s first fall and begrudged him somewhat for not enlisting in the army with him when he had wanted to. It was Brinker who called together the trial in which Gene was prosecuted for purposely causing Finny to fall off the tree. But even if Gene was to blame for Finny’s first fall, it was not necessary to drag Finny out of bed in the middle of the night and put him through such emotional turmoil when he was still physically vulnerable from the accident. If Brinker had not organized the trial Finny would have never rushed out in such an upset manner causing him to fall and hurt himself again. The doctor was not sure why Phineas died. â€Å"In the middle of it [the surgery] his heart just stopped. I can’t explain it.†(Knowles p.185) He said. Later on the doctor conjectured that Phineas p robably died when marrow entered his blood circulation and clogged his heart but Gene meant the world to Finny. The idea Brinker introduced to Phineas that his best friend would betray him hurt Phineas severely and maybe even caused him to loose the will to live. Brinker’s actions were crucial to Finny’s death and since they were done with cruel intentions Brinker is largely responsible for the death of his classmate. Surprisingly enough Finny is partly responsible for his own death. He knew that jumping off the tree into the river was dangerous hence the name of the club â€Å"Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session†(Knowles p.24) whose membership requirement was one jump from the tree. Also, if not for Finny Gene wouldn’t even have come to the meeting the night of the accident, Gene wanted to stay in the dorm and study but Finny used reverse psychology in order to convince him to come. Lastly, it was also Finny’s idea that they jump together rather then alone, risking the possibility that the movement of one could cause the other to loose his balance. If not for any of these incidents Finny would never have fallen to begin with, Gene’s trial would never have taken place, and he would not have found himself on that operating table. This makes Finny largely responsible for his first fall and partly responsible for his death. In conclusion although none of them were conscious that their actions would eventually lead to Finny’s death, Gene, Brinker, and Finny were all partly responsible for it. The one most to blame however was Finny himself, starting a club in which jumping off the tree into the river was a membership requirement was the first in the series of events that eventually lead to his death. If Finny had not done this none of the incidents which Gene and Brinker were at fault for would have ever had reason to take place. Consequently, the person most to blame for the death of Phineas was Phineas himself. As the song goes: â€Å"It is of no surprise to me, I am my own worst enemy.†(Lit Place in the Sun)

Heinekens Internal Processes,Mission and Vision Research Paper

Heinekens Internal Processes,Mission and Vision - Research Paper Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that despite its origin in Dutch, Heineken has made a significant presence in the two Americas, owing to the massive business opportunities in the region. The company entered the American market and Latin America in the early 20th century following the slackening of regulations in the region. And in 2010, Heineken entered into strategic acquisitions of beer companies in the United States, Brazil, and Mexico. In the latter two countries, Heineken settled for FEMSA. The organization’s internal processes revolve around managing risks through effective control systems. These measures, according to the company, ease its identification of the risks for better interventions in order to realize its operational and pecuniary goals. In addition, these internal mechanisms enable the company’s operations to be in line with relevant laws and policies in the countries within the two Americas. The company relies on a system of control for prop er processing and release of financial statements. In light of these, Heineken’s internal control mechanisms form the central part of their internal management processes. Heineken is renowned for its push for quality of goods and financial restraint. The company encourages an entrepreneurial culture across organizational levels so as to obtain opportunities that foster continuity in terms of business development and creativity, whilst absorbing controlled risks. Heineken International argues that the carefully structured customized portfolio per country and the rigorous balance sheet depict the brewer’s risk appetite. Regardless, in competitive markets like North America’s and emerging South America’s, achieving financial restraint where proper marketing expenditure pays out has been relatively counterproductive to Heineken.

Wireless Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Wireless Technology - Essay Example Wireless technologies are becoming commonplace. Millions of individuals and businesses apply to the benefits of wireless technology, to raise the efficiency and productivity of their decisions. That wireless technology benefits businesses and improves their productivity is undeniable. Unfortunately, not all business owners are willing to accept and deploy effective wireless systems in their organizations. Wireless technologies speed up data transmission and are more secure compared with hardware wired mechanisms. The multitude of wireless technology standards makes it possible to find the best solution for each and every worker. The use of wireless technologies is particularly useful for the complex organizations, which comprise numerous departments and are being dispersed over a large territory: in this case, wireless technologies are the only possible way to improving interconnectedness and sharedness of knowledge and data between all levels of the organization’s performance . The current state of technology provides an extensive list of wireless technologies and standards, which facilitate the choice of the best wireless solution. The use of Wi-Fi, HomeRF and Bluetooth favor the implementation of wireless technologies in business and help businesses to meet their data transmission needs. â€Å"Wi-Fi is the most widely used wireless technology at present. It is an IEEE 802.11b wireless standard and can transmit data up to 11 Mbps† (Wells, 2009, p.81). The use of improved Wi-Fi versions is possible, too: for example, WiFi/g and WiFi5 exemplify a relatively new standard of connectivity and can transmit data at almost 54 Mbps (Wells, 2009). Apparently, there is no need to wait until wireless technologies â€Å"settle down†. They have already become an essential ingredient of daily business routine. Undoubtedly, wireless networks can enhance productivity and efficiency within organizations. This is, actually, one of the

Middle Range Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Middle Range Theories - Essay Example If properly analysed and explored within a systematic framework, mid-range nursing theories can actually proper guidance as well as direction in terms of what research goals to be pursued. The serious development of mid-range nursing theory started during 1960’s and 1970s when serious efforts were put in place to actually drift away from the existing models being followed in Nursing. (McEwen & Wills, 2007) Community empowerment requires a continual shift in the power relationships between individuals and groups. It is also considered as an outcome which varies with different distribution of resources within the society. The community psychology suggests a positive link between community empowerment and overall health outcomes. When it comes to self care, community empowerment and motivation can play an important role. This paper will actually discuss the issue of community empowerment and motivation with regards to self-care and discuss is it from the perspective of mid-range theories of nursing and how they can solve this problem. Brief Description of the Problem Literature on community psychology indicates that empowerment can actually increase the overall self-esteem and competence of individuals which improves the perception of control and which invariably results into better health outcomes. Empowerment is generally related with an individual’s actions and subsequent development of small groups, community partnerships and organizations which can further lead to the ultimate political action required to bring in the desired change in the public health. It is however critical to understand that concrete efforts have not been put in place in order to ensure self-care, community empowerment has not been viewed as one of the critical tools to ensure positive health outcomes. The overall domain of community empowerment as well as self-care has been mostly focused upon the environmental changes and how it can affect the overall health outcomes for t he patients. Individuals can have better chance to ensure their self-care and better health outcomes if individuals can participate into the communities and empower themselves. (Lundy & Janes, 2009) From the perspective of nursing, community empowerment is relatively important however, given the overall complexity involved, nurses need to take greater care in understanding the overall dynamics and how they can develop an effective link between community empowerment and self-care. It is critical for nurses therefore to understand the individual circumstances of their patients and attempt to deliver an overall experience which can improve the overall health outcome for the students. Nurses therefore face difficult and complex challenges in this regard. (Janice E. Hitchcock, Schubert, & Thomas, 2003) Comfort Theory Word comfort is considered as complex and diverse in nature and has remained one of the intriguing aspects of nursing. Comfort has been defined as â€Å"the immediate state of being strengthened through having the human needs for relief, ease, and transcendence addressed in four contexts of experience†. The comfort therefore is considered as the desirable and positive outcome which is required to bring patients and their families to engage into the positive health outcomes. Comfort theory was developed in 1990s by Katharine Kolcaba and is considered as middle range theory for nursing practice, education and research. This theory is

Banking Regulation in the United States Research Paper

Banking Regulation in the United States - Research Paper Example There are three federal banking regulators in US which include; Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Office of the Comptroller of Currency all having separate although overlying authority over commercial banks. Additionally, there exist various groups of depository institutions having similar functions to those of banks although they have unique category of regulatory institutions, laws and regulations (Shanmuganathan, Merlin and Bryan 389). Banking regulations can be classified into varying groups to reduce ambiguity and to link the regulation to the motives behind their introduction. According to Shanmuganathan, Merlin and Bryan (392), the regulations could either fall under economic regulations, information regulations and health-safety-environment (HSE) regulations. Economic regulations comprise restrictions and requirements introduced by the government to control profits, prices and conditions for entry and exit into the industry. In the banki ng industry, economic regulations include those limits on interest rates paid on deposits and those charged on credit. They also include limits on fees charge for financial services, requirements for establishment of new branch or entry into the banking industry, limitations on areas and activities where banks can engage in (Shanmuganathan, Merlin and Bryan 394). In the banking industry, information regulations require banks to offer standardized information on deposits and loan rates to customers. Moreover, information regulations require that banks to ensure safe custody of customer’s information. Health-safety-environment (HSE) regulations in the banking industry are implemented to prevent banks from becoming insolvent. Safety and soundness regulations are based on various tools such as minimum capital requirements, restrictions on banking activities and supervising the bank’s management to ensure the banks operations are run competently and honestly. All the regula tions in-turn protects the consumers’ interests (Shanmuganathan, Merlin and Bryan 395). Banking regulations in US have a long history and have undergone various changes to conform to emerging economic concerns. This paper will explore the evolution of banking regulations in US from around 1900 to the present. The emphasis of the paper will be on the way economic factors have influenced changes in these regulations. In addition, the paper will discuss how the regulations have affected the economy and banking. Major Banking Regulations in the US Previously, most banks in US were state based and issued varying notes. Consequently, the federal government had limited control of banks until the National Banking Act was passed in 1864 establishing a national banking system and allowed for chartering of national banks (Williams, Julie and Gillspie 1279). This act set the stage for the development of a common and stable national currency which was to be backed by the US Government bon ds issued within the national banks system. Although this law could be linked to the demand for a national currency, its main motive was to create a reliable market where the government bonds could be sold in new network of national banks to acquire resources to finance Civil War (Williams, Julie

A reflection paper on a book chapter Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A reflection on a book chapter - Research Paper Example The traditional approach of making comparison in relation to politics employed speculative and normative tools, with Aristotle leading in that pursuit. This comparison made up the pre-modern comparative politics. While the specific start of modernity remains a diverse debate, comparative politics in the modern times dates back to the emergence of various social science disciplines like sociology and political science (Caramani, 2008; Ch.1). Following this, political science is regarded as a young professional practice due to the fact that modernity is associated with the 21st Century. On the other hand, post-modernism is seemingly an upgrade of classical modernity. In this case, political comparisons are systematic and clearly organized, thus the argument that post-modernism is a stage within the process of modernity. This whole pursuit cannot fail to importantly account for political influence across the identified three periods prior to modernity. Contributions towards comparative politics are diverse and dynamic. History has it that many historians and modernists have the shaped comparative politics over time. The highlighted individuals in Chapter One; The Evolution of Comparative Politics are just but a few who have significantly contributed towards the evaluation and assessment of comparative politics throughout pre-modern, modern and post-modern times (Caramani, 2008; Ch.1). Although political undertakings are one of the most volatile practices in the contemporary world, the ideas, concepts and theories aired in the chapter are still relevant. The contemporary times in political context can be said to be modern in nature and paving way to post-modernism. Systematic comparisons of political aspects are evident today, with key players in the political field drawing relevant political concepts from political experts of the past. Therefore, the applicability of political comparisons in current times remains a significant

How a Bill Becomes a Law Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

How a Bill Becomes a Law - Research Paper Example In order for a bill to become law a number of steps have to be followed. The legislative process A bill can only be introduced by a member of Congress – House of Representative or the Senate. A number is assigned to each bill based on its origin. Bills which originate in the House of Representatives have H.R. affixed to them while those which originate in the Senate has S. affixed to them. This is an indication that the bill has been officially introduced (Longley n.d.). It is then printed by the Government Printing Office in the Congressional Record. Bills are referred to one or more Houses based on their specific rules. The Speaker of the House of Representative or President of the Senate refers this Bill to various committees that have the responsibility of considering them. If the bill is approved by the committee it is then debated and voted on in the process of becoming law. Bills that are not acted on are deemed to have died in committee. The Bill is then reported to th e House or Senate by the committee where it is initially read and amended where necessary and then read a second time. The Bill is then read a third time when it is debated and voted on by members (Longley n.d.). ... The respective House will enter the objection on their journal and start the process of reconsidering it. If two thirds of the house agrees to pass the bill after reconsideration then it should be sent along with the objections to the other House for reconsideration and the same process of approval be sought. If two thirds of the House approves the bill then it becomes law. There is also a requirement that the names of each person who votes for and against the bill be entered in the Journal of the respective Houses. If the bill having passed to the President of the United States is not returned by the President within ten days, with the exception of Sundays, then the bill will become law as if it was signed by the President. However, if Congress is adjourned and in so doing prevents its return, then it does not become law even though the President has not sent any objections to Congress. Unless a different date is expressly specified a bill becomes law when it is approved by the Pres ident – signed and dated or by passage over the President’s veto. The role of the judiciary The Judiciary plays a key role after the legislative process is completed. The judiciary is given the sole power of interpreting the law, determining its constitutionality and applying it to individual cases (The White House). As a branch of the government its foremost role is to defend and uphold the U.S. Constitution (Ladner 2000). It provides the framework in which the rights of investors are protected as in the case of different laws such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is provided by the court. At every level, the role of the judiciary is to protect the

Water resources Essay Example for Free

Water resources Essay Our business SABMiller is one of the world’s largest brewers, with brewing interests and distribution agreements in over 60 countries across six continents. Our brands include premium international beers such as Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Miller Genuine Draft, as well as an exceptional range of market-leading local brands such as Aguila, Miller Lite, Snow and Tyskie. Six of our brands are in the world’s top 50 beer brands. We also have considerable expertise in bottling and distributing some of the most famous soft drink brands in the world, including Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Appletiser and Minute Maid. We are one of the biggest franchise bottlers and distributors of Coca-Cola products outside the United States, operating in 10 of our markets as bottlers of Coca-Cola products. In addition to our Coca-Cola bottling operations, we also produce and bottle a range of soft drinks in a further eight of our markets. In total, non-alcoholic beverages – sparkling beverages, water, fruit juices and malt beverages – make up 18% of our total beverage volumes. Sparkling beverages alone constitute 11% of our total beverage volumes. We operate 41 bottling plants, responsible for producing 50 million hectolitres (5 billion litres) of soft drinks per annum. Contents 01 Leading bottler of soft drinks 02 Where we operate 04 A framework for sustainable development 06 Marketplace 07 Workplace 09 Environment 11 Community 12 Contact details Leading bottler of soft drinks SABMiller’s beverage interests extend beyond brewing and into soft drinks where we have operations in 18 countries, both as selfstanding businesses and, in some countries, alongside a brewery. While brewing is at the heart of our business, the soft drinks operations contribute demonstrably to our overall profitability and success. Through consistently delivering superior operating performance and earnings growth for our bottling operations, and through our commitment to sustainable development, we are able to bring significant value to the economies and societies in which we operate. We work closely with The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) across 10 of our soft drinks markets. The business partnership through which soft drinks reach consumers is known as the CocaCola system. Coca-Cola licenses bottlers in each region which then manufacture and distribute the final product. Our partnership with TCCC extends beyond just selling soft drinks. Our local bottling operations take part in joint planning with their regional and local Coca-Cola partners, addressing both operational issues, such as packaging and procurement, and wider social investment activities. TCCC sets and controls very detailed standards to maintain the integrity and quality of its brands through a process known as The Coca-Cola Quality System. Our brand portfolio As one of the biggest bottlers of Coca-Cola products in the world, we believe that brands are the key to our success. Our ability to nurture and grow brands that consumers want is one of our most important business assets. We are proud to be associated with some of the world’s best known soft drink brands through our partnership with TCCC. As part of our franchise agreements, we bottle and distribute a wide range of still and sparkling soft drink brands. Some of the best known brands include Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Light, Fanta and Sprite. We also aim to offer a range of products and brands that meet different consumer needs for refreshment, nutrition and replenishment. The soft drinks product range that we produce includes still and sparkling mineral water, fruit juices, and sport and energy drinks. SABMiller plc Soft Drinks Report December 2007 1 Where we operate SABMiller operates franchise bottlers of Coca-Cola products in 10 markets: El Salvador and Honduras in Latin America; Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia and the Indian Ocean islands of Comores and Mayotte in Africa; and South Africa, where we own major brand Appletiser and ABI, the largest bottler in the country. In addition, our operations in Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Peru in Latin America, China, USA, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Canary Islands produce a range of fruit juices, water and malt beverages. Total beverage sales volumes by region Latin America 20% Europe 15% North America 17% Africa and Asia 32% South Africa 16% (‘000 hectolitres) Beer/other alcohol 34,948 Soft drinks 19,474 Total 54,422 (‘000 hectolitres) Beer/other alcohol 40,113 Soft drinks 27 Total 40,140 (‘000 hectolitres) Beer/other alcohol 46,591 Soft drinks 84 Total 46,675 (‘000 hectolitres) Beer/other alcohol 74,163 Soft drinks 13,837 Total 88,000 (‘000 hectolitres) Beer/other alcohol 26,543 Soft drinks 15,987 Total 42,530 2 SABMiller plc Soft Drinks Report December 2007. Denotes regions where SABMiller operates, or has a major distribution agreement Denotes regions covered by our strategic partner Castel North America distrubution only Europe distrubution only Africa and Asia Latin America 14 bottling plants 17 bottling plants Brands include: Coca-Cola Fanta Sprite South Africa Brands include: Coca-Cola Fanta Sprite Tropical Cristal (water) 10 bottling plants Brands include: Coca-Cola Fanta Sprite Appletiser Peartiser Minute Maid SABMiller plc Soft Drinks Report December 2007 3. A framework for sustainable development Sustainable development is an integral part of running our global business successfully. We work within a sustainable development framework which focuses on the 10 priorities most relevant and material to our business’s environmental, social and economic footprint. This framework has been embedded into our global operations and we have developed, tested and launched a sustainable assessment matrix (SAM) which enables each operation to measure its performance against the 10 priorities. This framework provides a common approach within the group, supporting learning between our businesses. SABMiller’s 10 sustainable development priorities 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Discouraging irresponsible drinking Making more beer and soft drinks but using less water Reducing our energy and carbon footprint Packaging, reuse and recycling Working towards zero waste operations Having supply chains that reflect our own values and commitments Benefiting communities Contributing to the reduction of HIV/Aids Respecting human rights Transparency in reporting our progress Strategy and performance measurement The creation of the sustainable development framework of 10 priorities and the accompanying SAM system has been an important investment for us. The self-assessment process enables our businesses to compare their performance against the 10 priorities and with their peers within the group. All operations where our group companies have day-to-day management control must achieve the minimum level 1 on the stairways. Operations which fall short of level 1 must have mitigation plans in place to achieve this standard as soon as possible. Where operations have achieved the highest standards at level 4, they provide case studies and learnings for other parts of the business. In addition, to encourage operations to engage in level 4 projects, we have also committed to long-term scenario planning for the key priorities of water, carbon and HIV/Aids, to assess the business needs and current and potential future thinking on these issues. Through SAM, we aim to collate and report the sustainable development performance of all our businesses where SABMiller group companies have day-to-day management control, either as a result of a majority shareholding or through a management agreement. However, we share our standards and policies with our associates and other business interests where we do not have direct management control. In China, for example, we have had several meetings with the CR Snow senior management team to share our sustainable development approach. 4 SABMiller plc Soft Drinks Report December 2007 Our soft drinks operations adhere to the fundamentals of our sustainable development priorities, while also endorsing and operating within the Coca-Cola framework of four key areas: Marketplace, Workplace, Environment and Community. This framework is closely aligned with our sustainable development priorities, and working in partnership with TCCC, we are committed to delivering programmes and initiatives which add value in the countries and communities in which we operate. Marketplace TCCC is an active member of the business community in each country where it operates, working hand in hand with local individuals, merchants and governments to improve the health and prosperity of the local economy and environment. Similarly, SABMiller is committed to creating sustainable ways to do business and to contributing to economic growth by running successful and accountable businesses which encourage entrepreneurs, create jobs and stimulate local economic activity. In order to make a long-term and sustainable impact, we need to explore ways in which our core business activities can best contribute to both our organisation and towards wider social and economic objectives. and collaboration. As a global organisation, transferability of skills is important to us and we are committed to employing the best people, whatever their backgrounds, and we value and respect diversity. We also acknowledge that HIV/Aids is an operational as well as a social issue and we cannot rely on a healthy workforce for the future unless we proactively engage with this difficult challenge. As one of the biggest bottlers of Coca-Cola products, we ensure that we meet, or exceed, the water management requirements of TCCC at our bottling plants. The Coca-Cola approach is built upon comprehensive risk analysis of the water resources supplying plants in its global franchise bottling network. Since 2004 we have worked collaboratively with Coca-Cola in our Central American and African operations to study the annual renewable fresh water supply, supply economics and the social context of water resources of our bottling facilities. Environment Operating in an environmentally responsible way is a priority for all of our businesses. The Coca-Cola system’s environmental commitment is focused on the areas where we have the most significant and visible impacts – water, sustainable packaging, and energy and climate protection. As the bottler, our operations play a crucial role in water conservation and purification, energy efficiency and solid waste management. We are also committed to the re-use of bottles. SABMiller and TCCC share the commitment to the conservation and preservation of scarce natural resources, and in 2007 both companies signed the CEO Water Mandate, a United Nations initiative. Community SABMiller and TCCC share the belief that the future of our businesses depends on the vitality of the communities where we operate. The continued health and sustainable growth of our business depends on the long-term wellbeing and success of the communities that surround us. We are intensely committed to the economic success and continued growth of these communities through our corporate social investment activities. Our particular emphasis is on supporting enterprise development, promoting sustainable water use and tackling HIV/Aids. Workplace For the people of TCCC, work is more than a place to go every day. TCCC believes work should be a place of exploration, discovery, creation and inspiration. At SABMiller, we believe that people are our enduring advantage. We understand the importance of training and development, and of creating a culture of communication SABMiller plc Soft Drinks Report December 2007 5 Marketplace SABMiller is committed to creating sustainable ways to do business and to contributing to economic growth by running successful and accountable businesses which create jobs and stimulate local economic activity. 1 Empowering soft drink distributors in Zambia Since SABMiller re-entered the Zambian market in 1994, Zambian Breweries Limited (ZBL) has become one of the country’s largest taxpayers and investors outside of the mining sector. ZBL’s sales and marketing department has invested more than US$1,300,000 in setting up an empowerment distribution chain for its carbonated soft drinks operations, creating over 1,800 jobs. This investment involves several initiatives, including the sourcing, purchasing and maintaining of 500 branded kiosks, or N’tembas, complete with ice bins; providing 155 fully branded containers which are placed in high density areas as retail sales points and wholesale outlets; and the provision of more than 300 vending trolleys and 700 ice boxes to street vendors. Interest free start-up loans and loans to purchase vehicles are also provided to enable distributors to more adequately distribute our products in rural areas where distances preclude direct outlet delivery, and in urban high density areas where drop sizes are too small. In order to help these entrepreneurs to succeed, trade marketing representatives from ZBL provide training to ensure that they distribute the product effectively. Through these investments ZBL achieves additional sales volume, while the distributors make a profit, enabling them to employ people and generate growth within their community. 2 Honduras provides skills to children. Our soft drinks business in Honduras introduced an education programme for the children of workers in the Azunosa sugar cane fields with the aim of eliminating the problem of child labour in the local industry and improving the level of education and household income in the community. Up to 100 children attend the school operated by the Cerveceria Hondurena Foundation, where they are provided with knowledge and skills in a structured and certified programme. Food, medicine, clothes and financial assistance are also provided. Part of the training includes the growing of non-traditional crops such as sweet potatoes, peppers and tomatoes. These crops are taken to the local market to be sold, and the proceeds are reinvested in the Foundation to cover some of the costs of the programme. 3 Angola supports Junior Achievement In partnership with several other companies operating in Luanda, our soft drinks business, Coca-Cola Bottling Luanda (CCBL), supports the Coca-Cola Foundation’s Junior Achievement Initiative in Angola. The training programme aims to develop entrepreneurial spirit and selfinitiative, as well as to provide a basic understanding of business fundamentals to students in public schools. The people of CCBL volunteer to contribute 75 working hours to the programme, giving their time and expertise to teach the students and provide them with knowledge and information about how the business world works and how strong ethics and values can contribute towards creating a successful business. Two courses are available: Personal Economics, which introduces the students to the business world, and helps them to choose a career path and understand the skills required for it; and Mini-Enterprise, which consists of basic business content from setting up a business to producing and selling the goods. Students set up their own simulated businesses and are responsible for producing and selling the products, and ultimately its success. Almost 900 students benefited from the first two semesters of the programme, and CCBL believes this will prepare and inspire Angola’s youth to lead fruitful lives at home and make a meaningful contribution towards the country and a better world. 1 2 3 6 SABMiller plc Soft Drinks Report December 2007 Workplace At SABMiller, we understand that people are our enduring advantage. We strive to create excellent, safe working environments that inspire and motivate our people to develop a can-do attitude that comes from a real passion for what we do. 1 ABI addresses HIV/Aids For several years our soft drinks business in South Africa, ABI, has addressed the issue of HIV/Aids among its workforce through a comprehensive intervention programme. The two areas of major focus internally are to manage existing infections through voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) and early diagnosis; and managed health care, which includes anti-retroviral treatment and an effective education programme aimed at reducing or preventing new infections. Wellness educators have been trained to apply the model in small group sessions which are carried out during working hours. ABI focuses on VCT through its ACT campaign (Awareness, Counselling and Testing), which is designed to encourage employees to discover their status early enough to start treatment should it be required. The costs of the ACT campaign are paid for by the company and since its inception, 86% of ABI employees have participated and know their status. Information regarding the medical condition of employees is kept strictly confidential at all times and employees who have a life threatening disease are treated with sensitivity and compassion. The company supports the principle of non-discrimination. A Life Threatening Diseases policy has been put in place to provide a framework within which to manage HIV/Aids and inform employees of their rights, responsibilities and benefits. All employees and their dependents have access to a managed health care programme which includes lifestyle management and the provision of antiretroviral therapy through an external service provider. ABI aims to contribute to the reduction of HIV/Aids in the communities in which it operates by making HIV/Aids prevention and management an integral part of its Corporate Social Investment strategy and projects. 2 Angola training for success Coca-Cola Bottlers Luanda (CCBL) believes in harnessing the potential of the people who live and work in the communities in which it operates. In partnership with a professional training school, EFTA (Escola de Formacao Teconologica de Angola), students are recruited and provided with the training and skills required by CCBL for expansion into other parts of Angola. Through the education programme the students are trained to become mechanics, electricians and production line operators over a period of three to 18 months. This enables the business to invest in both developing skills for future employees, and in enhancing the capabilities of local communities. An added benefit is that students are also equipped with skills which can be transferred to other parts of the business. CCBL has invested approximately US$400,000 in the programme, which will run until 2010. 1 2 SABMiller plc Soft Drinks Report December 2007 7 Workplace continued We are committed to building strong teams of smart, educated people who are capable of working throughout the company, throughout the world. 3 Zambia assists employees with HIV/Aids programme Most of the employees who work at Zambian Breweries and its soft drink operations are locals who have grown up with the stigma that surrounds. HIV/Aids in a country which has a national prevalence rate of 18%. HIV/Aids is a major focus for Zambian Breweries and as such it was the first company in Zambia to provide antiretroviral treatment for all of its staff and their families, as well as to have voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) centres in place on all sites. Following initial discussions with employees, the first on-site VCT centre was opened, and within six months approximately 100 employees had been through the centre. A year later the business had an HIV/Aids VCT count of 80%. This was a huge source of pride for management, indicating a high level of trust from employees. As an example to all employees, members of the Operating Board went for VCT and were taken through the counselling training. Managers were then required to include HIV/Aids in their goals in order to create a sense of ownership from senior managers. While its HIV/Aids policy is recognized as one of the strongest in the country, the disease remains one of the biggest risks facing the business, given its high prevalence among those individuals who form part of its supply and distribution chains. As a result, Zambian Breweries has also started a programme to promote awareness and understanding of the disease beyond the workplace and into the communities in which it operates. At our operations in Botswana, a similar programme is in place to assist all employees. The company provides on-site clinics, a doctor who calls twice a week to test and counsel employees, and nurses and peer educators educate the staff about the virus. 8 SABMiller plc Soft Drinks Report December 2007 Environment Operating in an environmentally responsible way is a priority for all of our businesses. 1 ABI sets the benchmark ABI, the soft drinks subsidiary of SAB Ltd in South Africa, has set the benchmark for SABMiller’s priority to make more soft drinks with less water. ABI’s Midrand manufacturing and distribution unit upgraded its water treatment plant, replacing the conventional chemical treatment plant with a Nano/RO membrane filtration plant. In a country where potable water remains an issue, the plant invested R2. 4 million ($344,800) in new equipment and systems to reduce waste water. The upgrade resulted in the plant performing at 1. 48hl of water for every hectolitre of product, and a water ratio target of 1. 3hl/hl by 2012 has been set. The percentage of water lost down the drain was also reduced from 30% to 10%. Steady progress has been made on the previous water to soft drink ratio of 2hl/hl at the plant, and 1. 35hl/hl is now being achieved when production conditions are favourable. This compares very well against other PET only plants and the average usage across TCCC’s global operations, which includes those plants which use returnable glass bottles, is between 2hl/hl and 2. 5hl/hl. In a further effort to reduce the company’s environmental footprint, ABI is also a major funder of South Africa’s Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Recycling Company (PETCO), which is a world first industry-led initiative. The company’s activities involve the recycling of PET plastic bottles and their conversion into polyester resin, which is then used to make products such as video tapes, pillow fibre, fleece jackets and carpets. Established in 2005, PETCO has made steady progress in increasing the volume of recycled PET in South Africa. The company is also committed to increasing awareness and education about PET recyclability. 2 Creating business opportunities in Zambia Zambian Breweries Limited (ZBL) is the largest recycler of bottles and plastic crates in Zambia. Of the 320 million bottles that are used in Zambia every year to bottle beer and soft drinks, only 9 million of these are being used for the first time. The rest are reused between 10 and 25 times during their lifecycle, after which they are crushed and recycled. ZBL also uses 13 million plastic crates a year, only 100,000 of which are being used for the first time. These plastic crates are reused several times and, once damaged, they too are crushed and recycled. In addition to reducing its impact on the environment, the recycling of bottles and crates has created opportunities for small local recycling businesses to develop. ZBL has helped to set up an independent plastic recycling business which has created 40 jobs and resulted in any new crates consisting of 75% recycled plastic materials. Three local entrepreneurs have also been assisted with the purchase of a glass crusher to help them set up a glass recycling business. Additional kilns may also be purchased with the aim of turning the bottles that are no longer suitable for bottling beer or soft drinks into recycled glassware which small businesses can sell to local bars and trade outlets. 1 2 SABMiller plc Soft Drinks Report December 2007 9 Environment continued As a bottler, our operations play a crucial role in water conservation and purification, energy efficiency and solid waste management. 3 Honduras recycles PET bottles As PET plastic bottles have grown in popularity with consumers in Honduras, the lack of an existing recycling culture has resulted in problems with litter and environmental damage. On the island of Roatan, Cerveceria Hondurena, in collaboration with the local municipality, government authorities, local communities and other private sector businesses, has established a recycling programme involving the collection, storage and transfer of PET bottles. The programme aims to remove the solid plastic waste on the island and reduce the environmental damage caused to beaches and coral reefs; promote a culture of recycling plastic bottles among the community, consumers and the general public; protect the mangroves; and help reduce environmental pollution. The project involves the collection of plastic waste from the collection points established by the local council. The waste is then transported from the island to the mainland at La Ceiba and Puerto Cortes. A pilot recycling campaign held during the Easter period in two local communities also included visits to schools and colleges to help educate students about recycling and the impact of litter on the environment. Cerveceria Hondurena has undertaken several other initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint. Among its major achievements has been a 21% reduction in the total glass weight used for sparkling soft drink returnable glass bottles over the last 10 years, and the introduction of 100% recycled plastic crates two years ago. Of the current crate population, 30% is now made of 100% recycled plastic. 4 Cleaner water at Appletiser At the Appletiser plant in South Africa, waste water used in the manufacturing process is carefully cleaned and filtered before either being reused to irrigate the neighbouring apple orchards or returned to the nearby river. The Appletiser plant filters and releases its waste water into a series of four ponds. Through the ponds, the Ph balance of the water is restored and it is aerated before being allowed to settle. From there, the water is pumped through a shallow labyrinth, which allows oxidation to take place and uses ultra violet light from the sun to help sterilise the water. At the end of the process, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) has been reduced from an average of 8,000 units when it leaves the plant to between 30 and 50 units. This reduction in COD is critical, as a high level can cause water life to die from lack of oxygen. The waste and treated water is carefully monitored and a report supplied to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. 4 10 SABMiller plc Soft Drinks Report December 2007 Community The continued health and sustainable growth of SABMiller’s business depends on the long-term wellbeing and success of the communities that surround us. We are firmly committed to benefiting our local communities. 1 Lesotho: educating the supply chain on HIV/Aids In line with our Sustainable Development Framework, SABMiller’s subsidiaries and affiliates aim to contribute to the reduction of HIV/Aids within their sphere of influence. The Lesotho Brewing Company (LBC) held a workshop to educate soft drink hawkers and street vendors about HIV/Aids. The course provided attendees with information on how to avoid infection, the use of condoms, voluntary counselling and testing, as well as living with the virus. both students and neighbouring communities, that the company identified other local schools in need of access to water where it has implemented the rain harvesting system. Through this project, Industrias La Constancia has helped three schools in the Nejapa area neighbouring the soft drinks plant. Over 1,000 members of the community have directly benefited from the programme to date. The system has also enabled the schools to save money as they no longer need to buy water. The programme will benefit 23,000 people in local communities and is supported by several companies including USAID and financed by the Coca-Cola Foundation. It will contribute to the country’s efforts to reconstruct and rehabilitate the infrastructure that was almost entirely destroyed during the war, by increasing access to water among the urban poor and improving the management of water points. In a second project CCBL also recognized that the hospital in Bom Jesus, the municipality where CCBL’s plant is located, needed substantial upgrading in order to improve access to healthcare services for its 150 employees and the local community. In a partnership which CCBL established with other local companies, local authorities and the provincial government, critical services at the hospital have been upgraded in order to more effectively combat common diseases such as cholera, tuberculosis and malaria, and to decrease the infant mortality rate. 2 El Salvador provides water to students In partnership with TCCC, Industrias La Constancia in El Salvador has worked to help schools in local communities gain access to water, thus elevating the quality of life of the students and enabling them to enjoy their education in a healthier environment. The company identified the Tutultepeque School as one in need of assistance and in co-ordination with FONAES, a semiautonomous organisation, designed a project that would enable the school to have its own water supply through the construction of a rain harvesting system. The programme, called ‘Water for my school’, was such a success, benefiting 3 Angola builds for the future In an effort to improve access to water and health facilities, Coca-Cola Bottling Luanda (CCBL) has embarked on two projects to improve local facilities and infrastructure. The Community Watersheds Partnership Programme aims to reduce the incidence of water borne diseases among the residents of Kilamba Kiaxi and Viana in Luanda, thus leading to improvements in health and the quality of life. The project includes the construction of 10 community water standpoints, training for community hygiene promoters, the establishment of municipal water boards and a governance structure being put in place. 2 3 SABMiller plc Soft Drinks Report December 2007 11 SABMiller plc (Registration No: 3528416) Registered office SABMiller House Church Street West Woking Surrey England GU21 6HS. Telephone +44 1483 264000 Telefax +44 1483 264104 Head Office One Stanhope Gate London England W1K 1AF Telephone +44 20 7659 0100 Telefax +44 20 7659 0111 Internet address www.sabmiller. com Sustainable development Telephone +44 1483 264139 Sustainable. [emailprotected] com For further information on SABMiller’s global Sustainable Development priorities and activities, please visit http://www. sabmiller. com/sabmiller. com/en_gb/ Our+responsibility/ 12 SABMiller plc Soft Drinks Report December 2007 www. sabmiller. com.

Effects of Air Pollution and Proposed Solutions

Effects of Air Pollution and Proposed Solutions With the rapid development and urbanization in Hong Kong, the air quality deteriorated due to a great amount of air pollutants released into the atmosphere, and contributing to the greenhouse effect as well as worsening global warming. This essay is divided into two parts, the first part is briefly talk about the negative effects caused by serious air pollution in terms of sustainable development, and the second part is a detailed discussion of the suggested solutions. The effects caused by air pollution can be discussed in terms of sustainable development with three aspects which are inter-related, inter-dependence and equally balanced, and these aspects are environmental, social and economic aspects. In terms of the environmental aspect, the worsening air quality will fasten the greenhouse effect with a rise in temperature and contributing to global warming. In terms of the social aspect, â€Å"the World Health Organization estimates that every year, 2.4 million people die from causes associated with air pollution† (Sierra-Vargas Teran,2012, p.1031). It shows how air pollution causing health impacts on human. The worsening air quality increases the risk of having â€Å"respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, or cancers† (Deguen et al. 2012), and according to Sierra-Vargas and Teran (2012), people who are active outdoors, people with diseases and elderly are at higher health risk. These pollution-related illnesses are affecting the quality of life because these illnesses not only shortened the life expectancy and caused the psychological stress, but also increased the expenditure on health care. Therefore, serious air pollution causing pollution-related health impacts in the social aspect and increasing the expenditure on health care in the economic aspect. Apart from the social aspect, the poor air quality with low visibility and high concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere also produce negative impacts in the economic aspect. Deteriorating air quality affects local tourism industry and the foreign investment. According to Law and Cheung (2007), the tourism industry in Hong Kong has recently threatened by the deteriorating air quality, regarding to the huge economic contribution from the tourism industry, poor air quality may reduce the willingness of tourists to travel in Hong Kong. Besides, some foreign investments are retreated and some professionals refuse to work in Hong Kong because of the poor working environment with worsening air quality. All these economic impacts will weaken the competitiveness of Hong Kong and resulting in unexpected economic losses which in turns suffered by the whole society. From the examples mentioned above on the impacts in three specific categories, we can notice that air pollution caused adverse impacts at both individual and social levels. Therefore, â€Å"[i]n order to protect the air quality from deteriorating further, more efforts should be made by the government, as well as by society to make Hong Kong a clean and safe place to travel and to live† (Law and Cheung, 2007, p.398). Both the HKSAR government and the public should be responsible for the improvement works on air pollution, such as a strong pertinence policy together with active public participation. The most important and effective long-term air improvement policy should be the adoption of sustainable development approach with an equal balance between the environmental conservation and the economic development. Hong Kong is a well-known financial-based metropolis around the world. Therefore, the government mainly puts emphasis on the economic development, but neglected the importance of environmental conservation, in other words, the government weighted the economic development over the environmental conservation, and thus resulting in environmental destructions during the process of economic development in Hong Kong. However, it is hard to make equal balance between the economic development and the environmental conservation, and the co-existence of both aspects may be in a low possibility, because one aspect has to make scarification when the other one exists. For examples, lands for economic development propose generate a great amount of dust particulates during construction and resulting in poor air quality with low visibility. Simultaneously, the air quality improvement policies for environmental conservation purpose spend a huge amount of government expenditure. But, regarding to the serious problem of air pollution in Hong Kong and the related distinct negative outcomes caused, environmental conservation should be given the first priority and economic development should come the second. The second possible solution is urban greening. Vegetation plays an important role in air purification because plants can absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis. In order to improve the air quality, the government should carry out urban greening to increase the green areas through proper city planning in the urban areas, especially in the inner cities and heavy traffic areas, such as MongKok, Wan chai, Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui. However, limited spaces with densely distributed pattern of skyscrapers in the urban areas create hurdles on urban greening and the use of the valuable lands for growing vegetation in urban areas may trigger voices of disapproval. But, there are two possible ways of urban greening, the first solution, according to Sierra-Vargas Teran (2012), is making good use of rooftops for growing plants, the government can give economic incentives to the property owners for the encouragement of planting vegetation on rooftops. The second one is re-planning the existing parks with an enlarged percentage on the area of vegetation. These two solutions can make the best use of the available space resources that do not require extra space on the ground floor. Sources of pollutants in Hong Kong are mainly from power plants and vehicles, so strong pertinence policies on these two sources are needed. The first solution, according to Sierra-Vargas and Teran (2012), promoting the use of the landfill gases as one of the energy sources is a possible way to improve air quality with a fall in the amount of pollutants. Mexico is one of the successful places that converts â€Å"landfill gas into electricity and powers the light rail transit system and city street lighting at night† (Sierra-Vargas and Teran, 2012, p.1036). The Hong Kong government should study from the cases of Mexico and conduct a suitable plan based on the ideas observed. The alteration of landfill gases into useable energy can reduce the greenhouse gases being released into the air. Another solution is promoting the extensive use of renewable power instead of non-renewable power so as to change to a cleaner way for power generation, such solar power and wind power. However, there are two difficulties in using landfill gases and adoption of renewable power resources. The first hurdle is a great amount of government expenditure is required for the construction or installation of the specific power plants, like the regular maintenance of the power plants. Besides, the opposition from environmental protection groups may also rise because this power generation method is not classified as renewable power. If the opposition raise, it is better to take the second solution instead of both solutions in order to avoid social conflicts based on the problem mentioned. In terms of the vehicles, the government should work together with two bus companies to carry out the discussion about the expansion of the service area and increase the service provided to the public. The HKSAR government can use economic incentives or make investments to increase the operating capital of two bus companies. With better bus services provided, the willingness of people to take public transportation to school or to work will be increased and thus less energy is used and less pollutants are emitted into the atmosphere. Apart from the policies mentioned above, the active public participation on the reduction of air pollutants is very important and it should be made by every citizen, such as the using of public transportation instead of private cars and reduce the use of energy means less air pollutants are released by burning non-renewable power resources, such as coal. Also, citizen should actively participate in the consultation of the government policies launched for improving the air quality. Air pollution is a serious problem which created many negative impacts, and an effective comprehensive solution with a lengthy period for thorough and careful planning is needed for improving air quality. It is beneficial when better air quality can be found in Hong Kong. Although the problems of air pollution cannot be totally eliminated, the more efforts we pay resulting in a higher chance for us to make changes and improve the air quality. References Sierra-Vargas, M. P. Teran, L. M. (2012). Air pollution: Impact and prevention. Respirology, 17 1031-1038. Law, R. Cheung, C. (2007). Air quality in Hong Kong: A study of the perception of international visitors. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 15 (4), 390-401. Deguen, S., Sà ©gala, C., Pà ©drono, G. Mesbah, M. (2012). A new air quality perception scale for global assessment of air pollution health effects. Risk Analysis, 32 (12), 2043-2054.