E-Logistics and International supply Chain Management Essay - 1

E-Logistics and International supply Chain Management - Essay Example Furthermore, industries are driving towards landscape that is defined as flat one by Thomas Friedman. Thomas Friedman declared that era of multinational corporations or the era of globalization 1.0 especially in high tech industries is on the verge of passing away. Similarly, there is a major shift in the aero-strategy and the systems with which the aircrafts are conceived, planned, produced, and supported have changed considerably. The new era defined as globalization 2.0 is the era of horizontal specialization with tight integrations of specialized original equipment manufacturer (OEM) (AIAC, 2009). With this the new era of globalization in the aerospace industry, 320-hectare Seletar Aerospace Park of Singapore has managed to attract the considerable investment from the aerospace manufacturers across the world as reported in the Financial times recently published article (Grant, 2014). Among leading investors include leading aerospace industry giant Rolls Royce and the supply chain perspective for Rolls Royce in Singapore’s aerospace hub forms the central idea of this paper. This paper is based on the assessment of factors that drove Rolls Royce towards Singapore and its potential challenges in place; while concluding with, action to overcome challenges. The aerospace industry, including the defense and commercial industry, accounted for $695 billion in the year 2012 with four percent increases from 2011. The annual operating profits $59.8 billion and 8.6% annual profit margin (PwC, 2013a). According to another project in reference from past trend, the future is projected as follows: According to Capgemini (2011) the demand drivers of the industry is the reviving economies while, at the same time, growth in demand from the middle-east, China and India have been offsetting the slowed demand from developed part of the world. The major factor driving demand includes the rising low cost carrier pattern trends specifically in the developing countries.

Natural disaster, early warning and the role of mobile Essay

Natural disaster, early warning and the role of mobile - Essay Example e in Noah’s time which wiped out the whole world except Noah and his family; the January 24, 1556 earthquake in Shaanxi, China which snuffed the lives of 830,000 Chinese; the 1835 New York City conflagration which demolished 500 buildings; the March 18, 1925 tornadoes in Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota, USA which exterminated 689 lives; and the tidal waves cum floods that slaughtered some 900,000 lives along the Huang He River in China that fateful day in 1887 ( Hoffman 540-542), humanity absorbed all the losses with complete helplessness and came out of the trying experience traumatised but with a will to start life all over again. Today’s disasters taught humanity to respond and prepare to that moment when nature on a mad rampage delivers once again its deathly whipping that normally results to a gnashing of teeth. Today governments and the private sector or various non-government organisations exert gargantuan efforts to resist these natural catastrophes. They have l earned to formulate strategies to mitigate the destructive effects of these cataclysms. The first conceived step is the establishment of early warning systems wherein accurate, timely information about incoming disasters is gathered and relayed to specific agencies designed to With early warning systems, the menacing effects of these catastrophes can be diminished when communities are forewarned and given enough time to prepare especially to evacuate. The accurate measurement of seismic waves as invented in 1935 by Charles Richter (McCarthy 433) using the seismograph invented as early as 132AD by Zhang Heng was a high landmark in the forewarning of an incoming devastating earthquake (Henshaw 185). A more important invention that allowed man to brace against the merciless onslaught of typhoons, cyclones or hurricanes was the TIROS-1, invented by NASA scientists in 1960 and which became the very first weather satellite that can detect hurricanes, typhoons or cyclones, which are basically

Critical Thinking Case - Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical Thinking Case - - Essay Example The company should ensure its financial reports abide by the GAAP. The Microsoft Corp may have violated the rules and regulations of the security and exchange commission. Microsoft documented reserves minus a properly substantiated or recorded basis. The SEC noticed that from the year 1995 to 1998, the company maintained secret liability, allowances, accruals, and reserves accounts that are termed as reserve accounts or reserves by the SEC. These undisclosed accounts stretched from $200 million to $900 million on quarter-end in the course of those 4years. At the operational level, regional controllers upheld reserve accounts in conformity with the accepted accounting principles and were correctly documented and reviewed systematically by the internal audit department of Microsoft Corp. However, at the high-ranking company level, the journal entries were carried out to several reserve accounts without applying accurately based statistics, analysis or formulas. Additionally, there was minimal or no recording to support the alterations to these reserv e accounts. The main justification was founded upon the decision of the probability of forthcoming events. Therefore, these reserves lacked the needed documentation as required by the national securities statute and did not have sufficient substantiation as speculated in GAAP (Sandretto, 57). Microsoft Corp was not doing the right thing as all the reserve accounts were not being maintained according to the GAAP, and they were not reviewed accordingly with the company’s internal audit department. Additionally, the documentation and changes depended on subjective judgments instead of factual analysis and statistics. Furthermore, the actions of only maintaining some reserve accounts and having others undisclosed are termed as fraud, and this affects the company’s profitability. Therefore, the company should make sure there are no undisclosed accounts and all

Depression Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Depression - Essay Example Therefore, there are some differences in symptoms of depression depending on stage of development, gender, and culture. Depression is not a weakness, however, a severe ailment with genetic, mental, as well as social features to its causes, signs, and treatment; an individual cannot ignore it because if left unattended to, it may get worse, and if it is undertreated, it will reoccur again. There are selected collective signs and indications of depression, although it differs from individual to individual. It is significant that an individual remembers that these indications can be part of natural life`s regular low point. However, the more indications a person has, the resilient they are, and the lengthier they have persisted, the more possible it is that a person is handling the depression. Examples of signs includes loss of interests in day-to-day practices, changes in sleeping, alteration in appetite, energy loss, as well as loss of self-esteem. In most cases, depression is the key aspect for suicide (Glen, 2007). The profound desolation and desperateness that goes together with depression can create perversity appear like the single manner to do away with agony. Therefore, this shows that the feelings of passing away are a severe indication of depression. According to research, dejected men are less prospective than women to recognize thoughts of self-disgust and desperation (Nolen, 2001). Rather, they always grumble about fatigue, irritability, and loss of concentration in their daily activities. Despite the fact that the amounts of depression in females are high than those in men, it is noted that men are at a higher danger of committing suicide, and in particular grown-up

Critical Thinking Case - Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critical Thinking Case - - Essay Example The company should ensure its financial reports abide by the GAAP. The Microsoft Corp may have violated the rules and regulations of the security and exchange commission. Microsoft documented reserves minus a properly substantiated or recorded basis. The SEC noticed that from the year 1995 to 1998, the company maintained secret liability, allowances, accruals, and reserves accounts that are termed as reserve accounts or reserves by the SEC. These undisclosed accounts stretched from $200 million to $900 million on quarter-end in the course of those 4years. At the operational level, regional controllers upheld reserve accounts in conformity with the accepted accounting principles and were correctly documented and reviewed systematically by the internal audit department of Microsoft Corp. However, at the high-ranking company level, the journal entries were carried out to several reserve accounts without applying accurately based statistics, analysis or formulas. Additionally, there was minimal or no recording to support the alterations to these reserv e accounts. The main justification was founded upon the decision of the probability of forthcoming events. Therefore, these reserves lacked the needed documentation as required by the national securities statute and did not have sufficient substantiation as speculated in GAAP (Sandretto, 57). Microsoft Corp was not doing the right thing as all the reserve accounts were not being maintained according to the GAAP, and they were not reviewed accordingly with the company’s internal audit department. Additionally, the documentation and changes depended on subjective judgments instead of factual analysis and statistics. Furthermore, the actions of only maintaining some reserve accounts and having others undisclosed are termed as fraud, and this affects the company’s profitability. Therefore, the company should make sure there are no undisclosed accounts and all

Adolescents and Cyberspace Essay Example for Free

Adolescents and Cyberspace Essay Abstract The Internet has a great deal of benefit in our lives. It is the window that opens onto the world and shows us everything that is happening around us. Although it is meant to help and support our needs, enrich our social lives and expand our civic connections, it has not been going so far in this way. A lot of research is showing that the heavy use of cyberspace is isolating people form the world around them. Knowing that adolescents are spending a great deal of their time in cyberspace, this article will examine the things they miss when they are left to grow up in it. Leaving Adolescents Grow Up in Cyberspace The question on whether leaving adolescents grow up in cyberspace is beneficial or not has long been controversial. When a lot agree that cyberspace has made their life easier, many others believe the opposite. Everything has side effects, which might have great impact on its user if not handled properly. It seems that adolescents, out of all other people, all missing a lot when their parents are letting them grow up in cyberspace. Everything in this advanced world is possible these days, thats why we find students who study on the Internet in hybrid or online courses. Traditionally, learning has been assumed to take place in a classroom or face-to-face environment where the instructor and students are physically together, but not all students learn the same way and therefore the traditional approach is not ideal for all students (Young, 2007). This is true, but a lot of students are finding it difficult to cope with the new and modern way of learning, where the instructor lectures them online. Some students say: -Instructor feedback tend to be slow -I didnt feel as part of the class -You cant verbalize your thoughts and let others hear your ideas -Too many technical problems -Unreliable Internet connections from my Internet service provider -You also lose the personal teacher student relationship -No way to read body language -With on-line classes, it is hard to be able to get the whole personal thing -You dont get to see the professor or class members face-to-face -It takes more time to e-mail or post a question on the discussion board and wait for a response (Students Positive and Negative Experience in Hybrid and Online Classes, 2007, page). Moreover, Irvine(2004) states: Assignments are dispersed online. Students are much more likely to do research online than use a library. And even class handouts have gone the way of the Web, posted on electronic bulletin boards for downloading after class(p.31A). So, if the Internet connection went off, students wouldnt be able to continue their work. When the computer server in Emory University went down for a few hours one evening, a lot of people were at loose ends, they couldnt to their homework (Sridharan, 2004). This is how adolescents are missing the more active and efficient way of learning because of cyberspace, thus suffering from a lot of educational and studying problems they are better off without. Looking at the world today would make us realize how much we miss security. And since adolescents are widely using cyberspace, they are the most likely to get affected by what it generates. A lot of teenagers have no problem in making friends, of whom theyve never seen. In fact, they see that it is one of the purposes of using the Internet. But they never realize how dangerous it could be to meet someone you havent actually seen. The Internet allows people to communicate with people who are different from them, people in another country or kids at school they dont talk to. This access of information is so easy, but of course there is a dark side to having such broad access: it gives identity thieves and sexual predators a new place to look for victims (Stern, 2004). Also, the Internet has shaped the way adolescents work, live, and relax. It has even created new ways for them to express themselves which might be liberating and fun but can also become a forum for of pettiness and criminal exploitation (Irvine, 2004). Furthermore, Ian and Walder (2005) say: As we have become dependent on the Internet, as the network of networks, so we have become vulnerable to criminal and terrorist networks that use cyberspace as a means to undermine and circumvent state control. Protecting against those that wish to attack  the integrity, confidentiality and availability of systems and data they process, is primarily an issue of implementing appropriate security measures. (page) The main purpose for this worry is because adolescents are unaware of what criminals might do to take advantage of people who want to be friendly, allowing them to threaten the countrys and societys safety. In this way letting them spend too much time in cyberspace is making them loose a lot of security which puts them in dangerous problems later on. We must not forget the most important consequence of growing up in cyberspace: lack of social life and relationships. Sitting in front of the monitor for several continuous hours, without even noticing how time flies by quickly, makes us never want to get off the chair. As many adolescents are living in virtual communities, their only concern is making friends online. Ten years ago, social theorists were suggesting that the Internet would revolutionize social relationships (Carter Denise M., 2004). Now, the Internet has come a far distance that kids and teens cant live without it; people can find a job without leaving their desks, shop online without going to the mall and communicate with others without meeting face-to-face by e-mails, online chat rooms and instant messages. So, all the activities that were done with family and friends, are being done alone on the Internet. As a result, such activities have proved to be more isolating than watching television, which friends and family often do in groups, and the time spent with them is decreasing a lot in the presence of the Web. In addition, teens are preferring not to go out for walks or hang out with friends because they are busy in their own larger world. Know it or not, youngsters who are allowing time online to replace face-to-face interaction are being isolated from the real world and are being trapped in the virtual world (Staples, 2004). Seemingly, Teenagers who spend much of their lives hunched over computer screens miss the socializing, the real world experience that would allow them to leave adolescence behind and grow into adulthood. These vital experiences, like much else, are simply not available in a virtual form (Staples, 2004, p.A29). All of this is breaking the social relationships and is bringing up adults that dont know how to deal with others because they never had the chance to sit and talk face-to-face. A lot of people fear of not being able to go with the flow; who ever doesnt have access to cyberspace doesnt have a life. But this isnt proved to be completely true since its not being used in the best and efficient way. Of course its the parents job to lead them to the right track; they should always keep them under high supervision. To be more specific, parents should encourage them to have a real life, make real friends, go to real places and spend quality time with family. This doesnt mean getting rid of this great technology but not letting it control them. Indeed, adolescents are missing a lot of the real world and its content, and arent aware of the circumstances and the costs of growing up in cyberspace. References Carter Denise, M.(2004, December).Living in Virtual Communities: Making Friends Online.Journal of Urban Technology 11(3), 109-125.Retrieved March 19, 2008, from EBSCO Host database. El Mansour, B. Mupinga, D.M.(2007, March).Students Positive and Negative Experiences in Hybrid and Online Classes.College Student Journal 41(1), 242-248.Retrieved March 19, 2008, from EBSCO Host database. Ian Walder.(2005, April).Crime and Security in Cyberspace.Cambridge Review of International Affairs 11(3), 109-125.Retrieved March 19, 2008, from EBSCO Host database. Irvine, M.(2004, December 5).Youths Adopt, Drive Technology Advances.Fort Worth Star-Telegram, p.31A. Staples, B.(2004, May 29).What Adolescents Miss When We Let Them Grow Up in Cyberspace.New York Times, p.A24.

The Introduction Of Asean Politics Essay

The Introduction Of Asean Politics Essay The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by the five original Member Countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined on 8 January 1984, Vietnam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999. The institutions and processes in ASEAN have evolved gradually, building upon member countries great diversity in size, levels of development, natural and human resources, histories, cultures, values and traditions, languages, religions, races, economic and social institutions, and political systems. Taking into account this diversity, ASEAN cooperates voluntarily and on a consensus basis for the common good, with peace and economic, social and cultural development as its primary purposes. This is reflected in the ASEAN Declaration of 8 August 1967: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations represents the collective will of the nations of Southeast Asia to bind themselves together in friendship and cooperation and, through joint efforts and sacrifices, secure for their peoples and for posterity the blessings of peace, freedom and prosperity. It was a short, simply-worded document containing just five articles. It declared the establishment of an Association for Regional Cooperation among the Countries of Southeast Asia to be known as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and spelled out the aims and purposes of that Association. These aims and purposes were about cooperation in the economic, social, cultural, technical, educational and other fields, and in the promotion of regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. It stipulated that the Association would be open for participation by all States in the Southeast Asian region subscribing to its aims, principles and purposes. It proclaimed ASEAN as representing the collective will of the nations of Southeast Asia to bind themselves together in friendship and cooperation and, through joint efforts and sacrifices, secure for their peoples and for posterity the blessings of peace, freedom and prosperity. ASEAN continues to be a dynamic region despite the economic setbacks caused by the financial crisis of 1997-1998. As ASEAN faces the challenge of achieving sustainable development in the context of todays increasingly globalized world, it has recognized the need for greater integration and cooperation among member countries. No longer does ASEAN separate financial from commercial and investment concerns, nor the environment and social concerns or science and technology from the demands of economic growth. http://www.asean.org/asean/about-asean/history http://www.asean-community.au.edu/images/asean-map1-1.jpg Picture from AU ASEAN Community, http://www.asean-community.au.edu/ In 2006, the ASEAN region had a population of about 560 million, a combined gross domestic product of almost US$ 1,100 billion, and a total trade of about US$ 1,400 billion. The diversity of the region is apparent in the fact that the largest country in terms of land area is 2700 times larger than the smallest country; the country with the largest population has 580 times more people than the smallest country; and the richest country has a GDP per capita that is 145 times the poorest country. AIMS AND PURPOSES As set out in the ASEAN Declaration, the aims and purposes of ASEAN are: To accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian Nations; To promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter; To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance on matters of common interest in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields; To provide assistance to each other in the form of training and research facilities in the educational, professional, technical and administrative spheres; To collaborate more effectively for the greater utilisation of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade, including the study of the problems of international commodity trade, the improvement of their transportation and communications facilities and the raising of the living standards of their peoples; To promote Southeast Asian studies; and To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organisations with similar aims and purposes, and explore all avenues for even closer cooperation among themselves. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES In their relations with one another, the ASEAN Member States have adopted the following fundamental principles, as contained in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of 1976: Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and national identity of all nations; The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion; Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another; Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful manner; Renunciation of the threat or use of force; and Effective cooperation among themselves. http://www.aseansec.org/about_ASEAN.html ASEAN And Sustainable Development Facing the challenges of achieving sustainable development in the context of todays increasing globalized world, the ASEAN has recognized the need for greater integration and cooperation among member countries. ASEAN no longer separates financial from commercial and investment concerns, nor the environment and social concerns or science and technology with the demands of economic growth. In 1997, the Heads of State and Government of ASEAN reaffirmed their commitments to the aims and purposes of the Association through ASEAN Vision 2020, which reflects the desire of ASEAN to pursue a more sustainable path to development as: a clean and green ASEAN with fully established mechanisms for sustainable development to ensure the protection of the regions environment, the sustainability of its natural resources and the high quality of life of its people This vision will be achieved through a series of action plans, which will set strategies and specific activities with measurable targets, outputs, means of implementation and mid-term review mechanisms. The first of such action plans is the Hanoi Plan of Action (HPA) for 1999-2004, adopted during the ASEAN Summit in 1998. The Hanoi Plan of Action (1999-2004) aims to achieve the following objectives: 1. Strengthen macroeconomic and financial cooperation 2. Enhance greater economic and integration 3. Promote science and technology development and develop information technology infrastructure 4. Promote social development and address the social impact of the financial and economic crisis 5. Promote human resource development 6. Protect the environment and promote sustainable development 7. Strengthen regional peace and security 8. Enhance ASEANs role as an effective force for peace, justice and moderation in Asia-Pacific and in the world 9. Promote ASEAN awareness and its standing in the international community 10. Improve ASEANs structures and mechanisms ASEAN Vision 2020 forms the sustainable development framework for the ASEAN member countries to collectively pursue ASEANs goals, as set forth in the Vision, by the year 2020. The ASEAN Summit in adopting this Vision decided that the goals of Vision 2020 will be achieved through a series of medium-term action plans, which will set strategies and specific activities with measurable targets and outputs, including means of implementation and mid-term review mechanisms. The first of such action plans, known as the Hanoi Plan of Action (HPA) for the years 1999 to 2004, was adopted by the ASEAN Summit in 1998. ASEAN shares and believes in the global vision for sustainable development and has the commitment and political will for integrating environmental considerations into development planning. ASEAN Vision 2020 and the HPA reflect ASEANs responsive integrated policy framework, which weaves together demographic dynamics, social development, economic growth, natural resource use and enviro nmental protection, and other development initiatives. ASEAN considers its Vision 2020 and the series of medium-term action plans, starting with the Hanoi Plan of Action, as part and parcel of the global effort to plan and implement national and regional sustainable development activities in the Southeast Asian region. It draws heavily upon, and ensures complementarity and synergy with, the Rio Resolutions, Agenda 21 and the various multilateral instruments agreed upon. ASEAN believes that in setting the future sustainable development framework, WSSD should draw upon the lessons, experiences, institutional settings, mechanisms, realities and dynamics of regional inter-governmental frameworks. This report offers that for the Southeast Asian region. It is within this framework that the report highlights ASEANs challenges in realizing sustainable development, its efforts in addressing these challenges and its future commitments towards a sustainable Southeast Asia that is able to meet the needs of the present without compromising the abilit y of future generations to meet their own needs (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987). ASEAN Initiatives on Sustainable Development Economic Development Sustained economic growth is key to sustainable development. It provides the means for nations and people to uplift their living standards and have a decent and healthy lifestyle, with adequate housing and education. More importantly, it allows measures to be taken to promote the conservation of natural resources and protection of the environment, which in turn fuels economic growth and sustains life. Since Rio 1992, ASEAN has experienced rapid economic growth through industrialization and export-led growth. This enabled ASEAN to move away from resource-based industries to manufacturing and service industries. Since rural communities were able to find jobs in these sectors, this eased the pressure on natural resources and member countries were able to devote more resources to environmental protection. The financial crisis of 1997-1998 set back all that. Poverty and social unrest increased. Member countries inevitably increased the exploitation of their natural resources to sustain their level of income. Despite the setbacks and turmoil brought about by the financial crisis, the ASEAN is committed more than ever to pursue economic liberalization, promote trade and investment regimes that are increasingly integrated in ASEAN, and open to the rest of the world. Measures undertaken by ASEAN in this direction include the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) and the ASEAN Industrial Cooperation (AICO) Scheme. ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) The 1992 AFTA agreement required the elimination of tariff barriers among the ASEAN member countries with a view to integrating the ASEAN economy into a single production base and creating a regional market of 500 million people. By lowering tariff rates, ASEAN hopes to enhance economic competitiveness and promote cross-border trade and investment in the region.Partly as a result of the implementation of the Agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme for the AFTA, trade between ASEAN countries has grown from $44.2 billion in 1993 to $95.2 billion in 2000, representing an average annual increase of 11.6%. One of the desired outcomes of AFTA is the rationalization of industrial production in the region, which is expected to allow for product specialization and thus avoid duplication of expensive production facilities. AFTA was substantially realised in January 2002 with six original member countries cutting their tariff barrier on almost all manufactured and ag ricultural products between zero and five per cent. ASEANs Integrated Infrastructure Network Economic integration requires good infrastructure facilities in the region such as regional networks of highways, railways, telecommunications, power grids and water and gas pipelines. ASEAN Vision 2020 calls for the establishment of interconnecting arrangements in the field of energy and utilities for electricity, natural gas and water within ASEAN through the ASEAN Power Grid and a Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline and Water Pipeline and the promotion of cooperation in energy efficiency and conservation, as well as the development of new and renewable energy resources. 1. Social Development ASEAN recognizes that sustainable development is not only about generating wealth but also ensuring its equitable distribution. A decent quality of life for its people requires a high quality environment. The activities of the poor are not the main causes of environmental degradation and yet they are the most affected by it in terms of quality of life and health. A number of factors, including declining productivity, pollution, erosion, natural calamities (such as floods and droughts), depressed commodity prices and the influx of cheap imports, impose formidable challenges to their livelihood. These challenges lead them to exploit natural resources unsustainably. As a result, it has been necessary for the ASEAN to address two key social development issues, poverty and health and their interrelationships with the environment. Poverty Although poverty levels in the ASEAN have been declining, poverty levels in some of the newer member countries are still considerably high. To address poverty issues, ASEAN Vision 2020 hopes for an ASEAN where hunger, malnutrition, deprivation and poverty are no longer basic problems. A number of measures under the Hanoi Plan of Action are meant to see this vision through, including the Plan of Action on ASEAN Rural Development and Poverty and the ASEAN Plan of Action on Social Safety Nets. The Framework Plan of Action on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication was adopted in 1997 and defined the following key actions: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ building and/or enhancing capacities for research, assessment and monitoring of poverty in ASEAN countries; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ training of facilitators on rural development and poverty eradication; and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ developing a campaign for enhancing national and regional public awareness on rural develop ment and poverty eradication. The social impacts of the financial crisis were then addressed by the 1998 ASEAN Action Plan on Social Safety Nets. Priorities in the action plan include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ targeting and rapid impact assessment methodologies for social programs; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ service delivery and related operational issues; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ role of central and local governments in social safety nets; and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ partnerships in social policy. 2. Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection ASEANs environment and natural resource endowments are unique and diverse. Forest cover in ASEAN is over 48%, compared to the world average of below 30%. Three of the 17 mega biodiversity countries are in ASEAN. Terrestrial protected areas in the region number 1,014 sites, protecting 418, 000 km2. The regions aquatic and marine ecosystems are highly productive and species rich. Half a billion people in ASEAN depend on these resources for their livelihood, causing increasing stress on the natural environment. A number of factors have led to natural resource degradation, such as rapid population rise, conversion of forested and ecologically-sensitive areas for agricultural purposes, poverty and damage caused by forest fires and natural disasters. ASEAN member countries are actively engaged in addressing global environmental issues. Almost all member countries are parties to the relevant major multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). Burdened with the onerous obligations of these MEAs without the promised substantial financial and technical support to implement them, ASEAN is taking a lead in promoting synergy and coordination among these MEAs to overcome institutional and human resources constraints, and at the same time to ensure a holistic and synergistic approach to the issues. Forest Ecosystems and Biological Diversity The ASEAN region has a total land area of 4.4 million sq km, most of which were once covered with forests. In the mid-1990s, regional land use patterns were detailed as: Forest cover and deforestation vary widely across the region. From 1970 to 1990, ASEAN lost 31.4 million hectares of forest, a rate of about 15,700 km2 per year. Deforestation increased by 1990 to 2000, with annual loss estimated at 23,260 km2 a year. Forest certification has been employed to encourage sustainable forest management by promoting trade in forest products from sustainably managed forests. The ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) endorsed the Framework for ASEAN Regional Criteria and Indicators (CI) for Sustainable Management of Natural Tropical Forests in October 2000. The regional CI is a guide to developing nation-specific criteria, indicators and standards, which could be used to assess sustainable forest management practices or for timber certification. 3. ASEANs Governance and Cooperative Mechanism ASEANs governance mechanism, which has evolved gradually over the years, is now very much institutionalized and cover major sectors such as political, security, economic, social, environment and other functional areas. The highest decision-making body of ASEAN is the Meeting of the Heads of State and Government or ASEAN Summit held every year. The Annual Meeting of Foreign Ministers, better known as the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) is responsible for the formulation of policy guidelines. The AMM is supported by the ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC) and the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), while the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) is supported by the Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) and several working groups. Overall coordination at the national level in each of the ASEAN member countries is undertaken by a dedicated ASEAN department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4. ASEAN Environmental Management Framework ASEAN cooperation on the environment started in 1978 with the establishment of an ASEAN Experts Group on the Environment (AEGE), which has since been elevated as the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN). The ASOEN is composed of the heads of environmental ministries/departments/agencies that are responsible for environmental matters in their respective countries. The cooperative programmes and projects of ASOEN are guided by the ASEAN Strategic Plan of Action on the Environment (SPAE)1999-2004. The ASOEN reports to the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME), which is primarily responsible for policy matters related to the environment. At the national level on the other hand, ASEAN member countries have designated specific institutions to implement Agenda 21. Pro- Arguments 1. ASEAN serves as a regional-cooperation organization between the country members. 1.1 ASEAN has a well-established governance structure for the Southeast Asian region to effectively develop, coordinate and implement regional programs. 1.2 ASEAN also provides the forum to facilitate the development and implementation of integrated regional sustainable development policies, strategies and action plans consistent with the global framework and the needs of member countries. 2. ASEAN has the ability to advance its sustainable development goals and ambitions. 2.1 ASEAN emphasized that existing frameworks for regional inter-governmental governance such as ASEAN should be fully utilized as part of the international governance structure to promote coordinated sustainable development initiatives for that region. 2.2 ASEAN also called upon the Global Environment Facility to enhance its effectiveness by improving its operational procedures and be more responsive to the identified needs of developing countries; and accord priority to regional policies developed within the ASEAN institutional framework. 3. ASEAN has been successful in coordinating its member countries to plan a sustainable development framework in its agenda. 3.1 ASEAN called for declarations and commitments such as those contained in the Rio Declaration, Agenda 21, Millenium Declaration and the Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development to be implemented expeditiously. 3.2 ASEAN called for developed countries to fulfill their commitments in financial assistance, technology transfer and capacity building in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. 3.3 ASEAN also provides the forum to facilitate the development and implementation of integrated regional sustainable development policies, strategies and action plans consistent with the global framework and the needs of member countries. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ ASEAN called for the further enhancement of the international economic and trading systems to complement the ASEANs efforts to open trade and investment in the region, in particular, to improve market access for developing countries exports, eliminate trade-distorting subsidies and barriers to trade for agricultural products, and provides special and differential treatment to developing countries. ASEAN expressed its opposition to the use of environmental measures for protectionist purposes. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ ASEAN also called for the strengthening of the international financial architecture, which includes a review of the roles of the international financial institutions as well as international regulatory bodies in order to enhance their capacity to contain and resolve financial crises. Priority should be accorded to measures to protect the poor and most vulnerable segments of society. ASEAN also welcomed efforts to deal comprehensively and effectively with the debt problems of developing countries and to make the management of debt sustainable in the long term.