Airport Security: the Post 9/11 Age

Airport Security: The Post 9/11 Age Airport security in the world we live in today is drastically different then the security we knew before the events of September 11, 2001, when four passenger airliners were high-jacked over the skies of the United States, causing a global terror pandemic that still has long lasting effects today. We will look at, discuss and break down some of the key features of airport security in Canada as well as the United States, that have been improved, as well as certain security programs and features which were freshly implemented as a direct result.We will discuss â€Å"no-fly lists,† personnel training and armament, and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority or â€Å"CATSA,† including their security screening techniques and procedures (screening, responsibilities, Air Marshalls). The â€Å"No-Fly List† was created shortly after the events of 9/11, by the United States government’s Terrorist Screening Center (TSC). The list includes the names of people who are deemed unsafe, or a threat to Airline security and are no longer permitted to board a commercial airline for the purpose of travel coming in or out of the United States.The list now contains roughly 10,000 names (2011), the number people on the list fluctuates based on threat, and intelligence reporting. Canada also has a similar list called the â€Å"Passenger Protect,† a similar initiative to that of the United States list, implemented on June 18, 2007 in order to identify people who could be a threat to the security of aviation, and prevent them from boarding Canadian domestic flights as well as International flights to or from Canada.The Passenger Protect program has two main parts: a set of â€Å"Identity Screening Regulations† which requires all passengers 18 years of age and older to present a valid form of government-issued Identification in order to board a flight, as well as a â€Å"Specified Persons List† whic h has a name, birth date, and gender of the individuals believed to pose a security threat. The list contains roughly 1,250 names. Individuals who have been denied boarding and are in fact on the list can submit an appeal to a branch of Transport Canada, called the Office of Reconsideration.The program works by the government supplying the Specified Persons List to Airlines, who then compare names of people on the list with individuals who intend on boarding flights. When the airline finds a name match, they then reference the individual’s government-issued identification to confirm. The identification is then once more confirmed in person at the airport check-in area, when a confirmation has been established Transport Canada is immediately notified.Training is also provided by Transport Canada to the airlines to teach staff and agents how to implement the ID verification process, and establish procedures to ensure the rights of the passengers are respected. Of course with a system like this, controversy is brought up by civil liberty organizations citing their concerns for civil liberties, racial profiling, privacy, and the perceived failure of the no-fly list created in the United States. In the United States, several anomalies’ referred to as â€Å"false positives† have risen.A â€Å"false positive† happens when an individual who is actually not on the no-fly list, has a name matching or similar to a name on the list. One notable case of a false positive includes a United States Marine in April of 2006, who was flying home from Iraq when he was prohibited from boarding his flight home, as his name matched one on the no-fly list. The lists, although very controversial both here in Canada and in the United States play an important role in establishing airport/airline safety and security, and ensuring an event such as the attacks on September 11, 2001 will not re-occur.Secondly, the way Security Personnel are trained and armed has b een drastically affected in the post 9/11 world. In the United States, immediately after the attacks for several weeks to months afterwards, fully armed guards, either Local Police or National Guard would patrol airports in full tactical gear wielding assault rifles or tactical shotguns. In Canada the response was similar, however not as fully extended as in the United States.In Canada today, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) which is thoroughly explained in the next topic, handles all screening procedures by hiring third party private security firms to conduct screening. Our general airport security providing safety is executed by local Police forces. The RCMP once used to handle all general airport security, now only handles a few airports including Edmonton International Airport. Edmonton International Airport has a detachment of the RCMP located on site to ensure a quick and proper response to emergencies, ecurity and policing needs. The Police members on sit e are trained in emergency preparedness in order to be able to respond to a wide range of situations, including terrorism attacks. In addition to human Police officers, many airports such as Edmonton’s, implement canine members for certain situations such as sniffing out drugs, weapons, people, and explosives. In Edmonton specifically, at the RCMP airport detachment, they have Badge, a German Sheppard trained in attacking criminals, searching for lost people or baggage, as well as the ability to sniff out 15 different explosives.As well as the main goal of airport security of keeping a safe and problem free environment, security also includes Emergency Response Services (ERS). Fire and medical services are always ready at a moment’s notice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for emergencies such as fires, aircraft mayday emergencies, and terrorist attacks. The Emergency Response Services are always highly trained and outfitted with top of the line vehicles and equipment to deal with any situation, and all have requirements and policies on stringent response times.An example of the preparedness by the ERS in Edmonton is their ability to make it from the fire hall located on site to the mid-point on the furthest runway in 3 minutes. Finally, as a direct result of the attacks of September 11, 2001 we seen the formation of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority or â€Å"CATSA,† in December 2001, introduced by then Finance Minister Paul Martin, which included a very comprehensive plan aimed at enhancing economic and personal security in Canada.In April of 2002 CATSA took over responsibility of passenger and employee screening, although they still hire private security companies to do much of the screening, CATSA still oversees training and equipment available. CATSA states their mission is â€Å"to protect the public by securing critical elements of the air transportation system†¦ † Their responsibilities can be grouped into four major areas; Pre-board screening, hold baggage screening, non-passenger screening, and Restricted Area Identity Cards.Pre-board screening is done by Private Security firms hired and governed by CATSA, their tasks include getting all carry-on items coming onto an aircraft to go through X-ray, individuals must then pass through metal detectors and physical searches can and will be executed if an alarm is raised either through the metal detector, or random selection. Full body scanners are also used to reveal weapons, objects or explosives hidden under or within clothing. CATSA also implements the use of Explosive Detection Trace (EDT) technology at security checkpoints; this involves a quick swabbing of carry-on items or hands to test for explosives.Hold-Baggage Screening (HBS) is another major area of CATSA, this is what happens to our baggage once it has been checked in and is on its way to be loaded onto the aircraft. This is the process of screening all checked baggage using a co mbination of state-of-the-art explosive detection technology, as well as highly trained security personnel. During HBS the density of baggage is tested as well as additional testing for trace amounts of chemicals. HBS is currently in full deployment in 89 airports across Canada since 2006, for all domestic and international flights.CATSA is responsible for the instillation, deployment and renovations of HBS systems as well as regulatory compliance monitoring. Another major area of CATSA is non-passenger screening (NPS), this is required by Transport Canada starting back in 2004 and involves the random screening of people who work at the airports, these people can include flight crews, airport crews, caterers, maintenance workers, and baggage handlers. This subjects employees to unpredictable security screenings at entry points within airport restricted areas, the screening process is similar to that of the passenger screening, and also includes an Identification check.CATSA states t hat they screen 2,500 employees a day out of the 100,000 employees who have access to secure areas in Canadian airports. They also state that this program is continually evolving, as the only constant is â€Å"the cooperation needed between screening officers and non-passengers. † The fourth noted area of CATSA is the Restricted Area Identity Card (RAIC) program, which is constantly advancing through the use of biometric scanners. The RAIC program uses state-of-the-art duel biometric scanner identification programs to ensure the identity of the personnel who have restricted access.The program includes cards with built-in microchips to store biometric information of fingerprint and iris scanner templates. The RAIC program has been fully functional since January 31, 2007 in over 28 major airports in Canada. It’s notable that the biometric technology used here is also utilized in non-passenger screening and these two programs work in conjunction with one another. CATSA al so jointly implements the Canadian Air Carrier Protective Program (CACPP) with Transport Canada; this program is similar to that of the U.S. Sky Marshall Program. This program strategically places highly trained, armed, undercover RCMP members, also known as In-Flight Security Officers (IFSOs), on Canadian registered commercial airliners. IFSOs mandate is to be able to successfully prevent the aircraft from being taken over by an unauthorized individual(s), as well as gather and interpret intelligence on terrorist and criminal activity within civil aviation. In conclusion, airport security in North America and the world will continue to grow and prosper.In the post 9/11 world today, policies and procedures will only grow tighter and more stringent in an effort to prevent terrorism. From no-fly lists created to prevent the wrong people from boarding passenger planes, to tighter and better trained local Police and Security personnel on the front lines preforming screening, security an d emergency response services. To government initiatives like the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority providing important and well-rounded security systems from x-ray scanners to In-Flight Security Officers, the airline industry has never been more stringent in counter terrorism.References Airport screening: 9/11 response. (n. d. ). In CBC News; the fifth estate. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://www. cbc. ca/fifth/fastenseatbelts/security. html No fly list. (n. d. ). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/No_Fly_List Passenger Protect. (n. d. ). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Passenger_Protect Security Screening. (n. d. ). In Canadian air transport security authority. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://www. atsa-acsta. gc. ca/Page. aspx? ID=7&pname=Screening_Controle&lang=en Canadian air carrier protective program. (n. d. ). In Transport Canada. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from ht tp://www. tc. gc. ca/eng/aviationsecurity/page-186. htm Gazette magazine – the canadian air carrier protective program . (n. d. ). In RCMP-GRC. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://www. rcmp-grc. gc. ca/gazette/vol70n3/air-eng. htm Emergency response. (n. d. ). In Fly EIA. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://www. flyeia. com/emergency_response. aspx

Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Lay Public (FINAL draft) Benefits of Omega 3 Fatty Acids In the rush to cut calories, reduce cholesterol intake, and avoid saturated fats, many of us have embraced low-fat diets and low-fat foods. But some fats are necessary and â€Å"essential† for health. These fats show great promise for fighting the onslaught of heart disease and diabetes, possibly even cancer. What are these â€Å"good† fats—and how do we get enough of them? The benefits of Omega 3 fats have been researched for quite some time and now those benefits are becoming increasingly well-known.Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids: They are necessary for human health but the body can’t make them — you have to get them through food. Essential fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that the human body needs for metabolic functioning but cannot produce, and therefore has to be acquired from food. What makes omega-3 fats special? They are an integral part of cell me mbranes throughout the body and affect the function of the cells in these membranes. They provide the starting point for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation.Omega-3 fats are a key family of polyunsaturated fats. There are three main omega-3s, Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are found mainly in fish. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the most common omega-3 fatty acid in most Western diets, is found in vegetable oils and nuts. The Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to life at every stage, even before birth. They are found in the membrane of every cell in the body and help to ensure that the cell membrane is ideally equipped to do its job.They are also used in the regulation of all biological functions, including those of the cardiovascular, reproductive, and immune and nervous systems. Optimum health can only be achieved when sufficient Omega-3s are obtained from the diet. They hel p maintain good health, promote brain and vision development and protect against disease. In chronic illness, it has been shown that an increase in the Omega-3 fatty acids of marine origin can effect an improvement across a range of conditions, both physical and mental.Research is continually producing positive findings for these vital nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids are nutrients that play a vital role in safeguarding the body against a number of health disorders and diseases and the Omega 3 benefits are many and wide reaching. Basically, they are a class of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids that must be supplied to the body through diet. Omega 3 fatty acids also help improve the inflammatory response of the body, which means relief from painful inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, without the side effects of drugs.In addition, they facilitate the production of hormone-like chemicals called prostaglandins, which play a vital role in regulating a number of bodily pr ocesses such as blood clotting, blood pressure, inflammatory as well as allergic response, and nerve transmission. Among the Omega 3 fats benefits is to safeguard the body against cardiovascular diseases. This comes from their ability to reduce the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides in the blood, as well as reduce blood pressure.They also help raise the good cholesterol level (HDL), prevent thickening of the arterial walls, and inhibit platelet segregation (and hence prevent blood clots). Omega 3 fatty acids help stabilize blood insulin levels, and hence reduce the risk of diabetes and obesity. Omega 3 fatty acids boost brain activity and are, therefore, considered as brain food for enhancing intelligence, memory and concentration. They have also been found to be helpful in the treatment several mental disorders such as depression, psychosis, migraine, dyslexia, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and Alzheimer’s disease.By promoting healthy cell wa lls, Omega 3 fats provide protection against undesired mutations in the DNA that may trigger the growth of cancerous cells, reducing your risk to commonly occurring cancers like breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer. They also boost the immune system, thus increasing your resistance to common colds and other such allergic reactions. Omegas 3s are very important for our overall health and well-being. What health consequences and implications can occur due to lack of Omega 3 fatty acids in our diet?A lack of Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet has been associated with mood swings, depression, memory loss and other neurological problems. A deficiency of Omega 3's is among the prime cause in much inflammation related diseases such as joint pain, arthritis and osteoarthritis. Given the wide-ranging importance and benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, it is important to eat fish or other seafood one to two times per week, particularly fatty (dark meat) fish that are richer in EPA and DHA . This is especially important for women who are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant and nursing mothers.From the third trimester until the second year of life, a developing child needs a steady supply of DHA to form the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Many women shy away from eating fish because of concerns that mercury and other possible contaminants might harm their babies, yet the evidence for harm from lack of omega-3 fats is far more consistent, and a balance of benefit versus risk is easily obtained.With so many Omega 3 benefits, it would only be prudent to include them in your daily diet. Some good sources of omega-3 fatty acids are: fatty fish (e. g. tuna, salmon, herring, halibut, shrimps, and scallops), nuts and seeds (e. g. , walnuts, almonds, flaxseeds, hempseeds, mustard seeds, and pumpkin seeds), tofu, broccoli, dark green vegetables and Brussels sprouts. Or you may take supplements of omega-3 fatty acids, but preferably after consultation with your doc tor. As we can see there are a phenomenal number of omega 3 benefits on health which makes it absolutely vital to include these essential fatty acids in our daily diets. This can be carried out either through natural food sources, or through pure and potent omega 3 fatty acid supplements.

Basic Rhetorical Analysis of Science Fair Project Booklet Essay

Basic Rhetorical Analysis of Science Fair Project Booklet - Essay Example creating a document that was both engaging, interesting, and presented the core weighty issues that should be considered and employed by the targeted stakeholders in middle school/elementary school. As a function of this analysis, it is the hope of this student that the reader can come to a more informed understanding concerning the rhetorical best practices that are utilized within the EPA handbook and seek to appreciate the mechanisms through which they are employed and the way in which they are presented. One of the most effective rhetorical strategies that is employed is with respect to the direct and nearly immediate representation of what the booklet is for, who, and why. This helps to provide the stakeholder with an understanding both for the overall importance of environmental protection, science, learning, and the role that the EPA plays in helping to secure and safeguard the viability of the future environment. Along with this representation of underlying rubric, the booklet does not stray very far from the core goal that the teacher within middle school is attempting to engage the student with; that both science, inquiry, and learning are all â€Å"fun†. As such, the booklet begins by stating this and giving some of the ways in which inquiry based learning provides a level of inference into the way the world works and gives the student a level of satisfaction with respect to discovering the answers for themselves. The greatest difficulty in presented the rubric that has thus far been alluded to is the fact that it is directed towards two distinct groups; the teachers and administrators of middle schools as well as the students themselves. In such a manner, the rhetoric and approach is split and needs to provide interest and ideas on both the part of the students and their teachers; a somewhat difficult task for a single booklet of such brevity. Regardless of this, the step by step approach and â€Å"keys to success† that are represented within the

Ethcial Issues in the Financial services Industry Term Paper

Ethcial Issues in the Financial services Industry - Term Paper Example It is considered that general people tend to consider the field of financial services as more unethical as compared to other areas of business. This is considered as such mostly because of the fact that the industry is considered to be quite large. 2 Ethical issues are considered to have a huge importance in the industry of financial services because numerous people are considered to be consumers of such services. General people tend to consider this field as more unethical as compared to other areas of business. This is mostly because of the fact that the industry is considered to be quite large. It comprises mortgage lenders, pension funds, investment banks, mutual fund organizations, insurance organizations, securities firms, and banks. The industry is considered to make lot of headlines which tout for its ethical lapses due to its vast size. Intermediaries that operate in the field of financial services must follow standards of the industry, rules of law, and act in an ethical manner. The organizations operating in the financial services industry conduct numerous meetings with regard to marketing of financial services, investment analysis, technology training, and new product training but there is very less importance placed with regard to ethical training. The thinking of organizations must be changed in this regard such that ethical training forms part of conferences in financial service organizations and should have a significant number of attendances. The financial services industry is considered to provide essential services which can be considered as fundamental to modern society and economy. It provides services such as safeguarding money of the general public and providing them with domestic lending services. In this regard, it can be said that considering the vital role that financial service organizations play, it is logical to

Introduction to Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Introduction to Business Law - Essay Example The notices were so located that they were not visible at the time of entering the contract. In addition, the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 specifies that no contractual exclusion term can exclude or limit liability, if there had been negligence that had resulted in injury, death, or other loss or damage, where the term of the notice is unreasonable3. The validity of an exclusion clause is to be verified, by invoking the provisions of the Unfair Contracts Terms Act (UCTA) 19774 and the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations (UTCCR) 19995. In Curtis, the court held that the defendant company was unable to evade liability, on the basis of an exclusion clause; as it had been distorted by its sales personnel6. In Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking, the court ruled that the defendant was liable for the injury, because the contract had been concluded at the time of purchasing the ticket at the ticket dispensing machine7. An exclusion clause averts liability, only if it is a part of the contract. Moreover, in the absence of adequate notice, an exclusion clause is ineffective. This is axiomatic in contract law. In L’Estrange the exclusion clause being printed in a manner that was difficult to read, was held to be inapplicable by the court8. Therefore, the Uxbridge Hotel’s contention, relying on the exclusion clause, is not tenable. Therefore, the Uxbridge Mill House Hotel management cannot rely on exclusion clauses for evading liability, in respect of Angelina’s stolen jewellery. A proper notice had not been displayed and the notice had not been included in the contractual terms. The notices were so located that they were not visible at the time of entering the contract. In addition, the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 specifies that no contractual exclusion term can exclude or limit liability, if there had been negligence that had resulted in injury, death, or other loss

Management Change Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Management Change - Case Study Example In considering the movement of an organization from one country to another, the impact of the international environment has to be considered primarily as the organizational structure is highly influenced by the international marketing environment. In this discussion we focus on the nature of the organizational structure and the impact of the international environment on the company that is analysed here and would also discuss the cultural and non cultural factors that seem to affect an organization that shifts base from one country to another (Axinn and Matthissens, 2006). We examine the organizational structure, also the international environment and business environment on international marketing strategies. The implementation of the marketing mix is also considered along with the effects of internationalization and movements of a company from one country to another (Axinn and Matthissens, 2006; Balmer, 2006). ... The focus is on understanding the dynamics and relationship between the origin and destination markets. The four elements of marketing mix consist of the marketing tactics and deals with price, place, product and promotion. These four Ps are the basic elements of marketing but recent theories on 7Ps have added people, process and physical evidence in the marketing mix (Balmer 2006, Gronroos 1993). These elements are important as what customers and buyers get will depend on the combination of the suitability of the price, the quality or acceptability of the product in the market, promotional services done to sell the product and the place in which the product is being sold. Thus some major issues in marketing success relate to the place in which a product is launched or promoted and if the environment is suitable for the product then it would be considered as successful in terms of place, as the place is in accordance with the expectations of the company if the product sold and the ma rketing techniques used are commensurate with the needs of the environment or social conditions. As place defines the social environment, it is an important ingredient in the success of any marketing program and is a part of the marketing tool as the place will show the marketing environment to be considered as also issues such as how far the local environment is suitable for launch or marketing of the product (Gronroos, 1993; Balmer, 2006). The place involves the cultural as well as social values, the lifestyle of the people, the preferences of the surrounding locals and residents, and the geographical or environmental factors that can affect the sale of a product

The Brand Crash Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Brand Crash - Essay Example As part of this swing toward making everything an aspect of the brand, companies were beginning to recognize the power of the building to promote the brand itself. One of the companies to key into this idea early was The Body Shop, which expanded by as many as 50 stores per year beginning in 1988, even during the years of the recession. â€Å"Most baffling of all to Wall Street, it pulled off the expansion without spending a dime on advertising. Who needed billboards and magazine ads when retail outlets were three-dimensional advertisements for an ethical and ecological approach to cosmetics? The Body Shop was all brand† (Klein, 2000, p. 20). However, there has often been difficulty in getting business executives typically focused on the ‘bottom line’ to understand the significant assets architecture and design can be in developing the corporate brand, which, in turn, works to establish the company’s ultimate success. â€Å"While statistical analysis and e conometric techniques have been used to evaluate the trade-offs between alternatives, features, and prices for products, there has not been a tool to inform the design process of architecture, environmental graphic design, and the built environment. However, the ‘fixed assets’ of built environments, especially those of retail and consumer service sectors, are integrally linked to brand identity and equity† (Taylor, 2004). Investigating the roles of the architect and designer in relation to architecture and design to both promote the brand and foster cultural interaction with the public reveals various ways in which postmodernism reflects a cultural response to social and technological change.