The internet now plays an important role in many people’s everyday lives. We use it for many different tasks, from finding information to purchasing products online. Millions of people worldwide are now employed in the internet industry.
Below are some of the significant moments and firsts in the history of the internet.
The First Website
It is not easy to define what the first website was as it depends on the definition of a website. The first internet-like connection was used for what was called the ARPANET, which was a secure network used to communicate information by the American military in the 1960’s. The first website, though, is credited to Tim Berners-Lee. He is considered to have invented the World Wide Web. In 1990, he and a colleague from CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) implemented the first successful communication between a hypertext transfer protocol client and a server via the internet.
The First E-commerce Site
The first website that payments could be made through was the Pizza Hut website when they introduced an order system in 1994. This made it possible for customers to order for deliveries through the website with the payment made online.
The Invention of Amazon
Amazon was founded in 1994. They were the first company to sell a product over the internet. Initially it was exclusively an online bookstore but has since expanded into many other areas, including music, DVD’s and video games. Many have attempted to copy Amazon’s business model since, with some more successful than others.
The Invention of eBay
eBay was founded in 1995. It began as a listing of a broken laser point sold by Pierre Omidyar, which to his surprise sold for $14.83. He was shocked that someone would pay this for something that he didn’t want. This immediately gave him a brain wave to start an auction website where people could sell unwanted items with people bidding for it. He realised that items some people no longer wanted may be of use to others.
Social Networking
There have been many social networking sites over the years. The first was launched in 1997 and called Six Degrees. Users were able to create profiles and list their friends. At one point Six Degrees had millions of users but it was not successful as a business and closed in 2000. Other social networking sites began to appear all over the internet with Facebook the most successful to date.
Facebook was launched in 2004. It was founded by college roommates Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes. It was initially only a way of students from Harvard keeping in touch with each other. Due to its success it was later expanded to other universities in the United States and was eventually opened to all members of the public aged over 13.
Search Engines
The first search engine of sorts was called Archie, which was established in 1990. Archie worked by logging in to FTP servers and making an index of files. Wanderer was the first web robot. Established in 1993, it returned results as a list. Later in the same year Excite became the first to analyse page content. WebCrawler in 1994 became the first search engine to capture the title and header of a page and Lycos was the first to rank based on relevancy. WebCrawler ad Lycos were the first search engines that are similar to what we consider a search engine today. Google was created in 1996 and uses a wide array of factors to list relevant websites to a users search.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Child Custody in an International Divorce
Child custody after a divorce where parents live in different countries can be very complex. The law regarding child custody and visitation rights for the parent without prime custody may vary from country to country. And once it has been decided what will happen regarding custody, being in different countries can still cause many issues.
Child Custody in International Divorces
Deciding what happens with children after a divorce is never easy. It is hard enough if the parents live around the corner to each other, let alone if they live in different parts of the world. Whether one of the divorcing couple has already moved to a different country or would like to in future it has an obvious impact on children. It certainly won’t be as easy to visit the parent they don’t live with as it involves travelling abroad.
Where Should the Children Live?
After any divorce it has to be decided where children should live, and this is often a difficult choice. Sometimes parents may decide between themselves, other times it has to be decided by the courts. In an international divorce it might be decided that children should live in the country where they already do. They will already have friends there and be used to the culture, whereas it could be very difficult to settle in if moving to a different country. There are times, though, where this might not be the case. The parent living in a different country might be better placed to look after the children on a permanent basis. From a parent’s point of view, living in different countries might make gaining custody even more important as they will not be able to see their children as regularly if they don’t.
Different Laws in Different Countries
If the two parents already live in different countries before the divorce takes place then it needs to be decided which country the divorce takes place in. Depending which countries are involved, this can make the whole divorce very complicated for a variety of reasons. Amongst these reasons are the child custody laws in each country. If both parents are seeking custody then which country the decision is made in can suit different parties. This can lead to a dispute over where the divorce should take place and could result in a longer process.
Visitation Agreements
For parents whose children do not live with them visiting them after an international divorce can be very difficult. The reason for this is obvious; they live in a different country so it involves either the parent or the children travelling. This means things are usually very different than after a divorce where only one country is involved. It is fairly common for parents who don’t live with their children to see them every other weekend or for an evening or two every week. This is not as simple when they are in a different country. Instead of a short time spent together on a regular basis this can mean spending longer periods together on a less regular basis.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Child Custody in International Divorces
Deciding what happens with children after a divorce is never easy. It is hard enough if the parents live around the corner to each other, let alone if they live in different parts of the world. Whether one of the divorcing couple has already moved to a different country or would like to in future it has an obvious impact on children. It certainly won’t be as easy to visit the parent they don’t live with as it involves travelling abroad.
Where Should the Children Live?
After any divorce it has to be decided where children should live, and this is often a difficult choice. Sometimes parents may decide between themselves, other times it has to be decided by the courts. In an international divorce it might be decided that children should live in the country where they already do. They will already have friends there and be used to the culture, whereas it could be very difficult to settle in if moving to a different country. There are times, though, where this might not be the case. The parent living in a different country might be better placed to look after the children on a permanent basis. From a parent’s point of view, living in different countries might make gaining custody even more important as they will not be able to see their children as regularly if they don’t.
Different Laws in Different Countries
If the two parents already live in different countries before the divorce takes place then it needs to be decided which country the divorce takes place in. Depending which countries are involved, this can make the whole divorce very complicated for a variety of reasons. Amongst these reasons are the child custody laws in each country. If both parents are seeking custody then which country the decision is made in can suit different parties. This can lead to a dispute over where the divorce should take place and could result in a longer process.
Visitation Agreements
For parents whose children do not live with them visiting them after an international divorce can be very difficult. The reason for this is obvious; they live in a different country so it involves either the parent or the children travelling. This means things are usually very different than after a divorce where only one country is involved. It is fairly common for parents who don’t live with their children to see them every other weekend or for an evening or two every week. This is not as simple when they are in a different country. Instead of a short time spent together on a regular basis this can mean spending longer periods together on a less regular basis.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
VPN Glossary
VPN (virtual private network) is a technology that allows a secure network between two computers. Examples of this include the internet and internal networks within a business where users are able to log in remotely over the internet. User encryption and secure protocols are used so data transmissions are not interpreted and can travel safely over a network or between networks.
Below is a glossary of some important terms related to VPN.
Authentication
Authentication is the process that determines whether attempted access to a network should be given or not. Once it is established whether or not a user should be allowed access, it will either be authorised or denied.
Certificate Authority (CA)
This is the authority that issues and manages the security credential within a network. It is used to set up the security using rules as to how, and by whom, access can be authorised, and how data packets can travel. This involves encryption and decryption.
Data Packets
A data packet is a group of data that travels between two networks or one part of a network and another. When something is sent from one network to another it is called a data packet.
DNS
DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is the protocol for mapping host names, domain names and aliases to IP addresses.
DSL
DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line and is the method of bringing high-bandwidth information over a phone line.
Encryption
Data is scrambled so that it cannot be interpreted when travelling across networks. This is called encryption and is vital for data being able to travel securely. It means that the data packets are ineligible to humans. The opposite of encryption is decryption, which is the method of data being de-scrambled back into its original form.
FTP
Standing for File Transfer Protocol, this is the name given to the way that files exchange between computers. It is the process of uploading files so they can be viewed over a network, whether the internet or another type of network.
Gateway
As in the real world, a gateway means an entrance to somewhere, in this case a network from another network. An example of a gateway in the virtual world is where date travels from the internet to another type of network.
IP
This stands for Internet Protocol. It is the protocol by which data is sent from one computer to another.
MPLS
MPLS stands for Multiprotocol Label Switching and is the standard for speeding up the flow of traffic on a network. MPLS gives each data packet a label which means it can be quickly identified at each stage of data transfer.
Protocol
This is the name given to a set of rules for communicating data across networks. Rules that are set for a VPN are called protocol. In some ways the term protocol is another word for rules, where an action will be set in motion upon a set of conditions.
Tunnel
In the real world a tunnel is a passageway, and in the virtual world it is similar but instead of somewhere for cars or people to travel it is where data travels. With VPN, a tunnel is a passageway through a network where data packets travel. It is secure meaning traffic can move safely where is might not be possible without the tunnel.
VPN Client
A VPN Client is the name given to VPN software. It is simply the software a user uses to access the virtual private network.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Below is a glossary of some important terms related to VPN.
Authentication
Authentication is the process that determines whether attempted access to a network should be given or not. Once it is established whether or not a user should be allowed access, it will either be authorised or denied.
Certificate Authority (CA)
This is the authority that issues and manages the security credential within a network. It is used to set up the security using rules as to how, and by whom, access can be authorised, and how data packets can travel. This involves encryption and decryption.
Data Packets
A data packet is a group of data that travels between two networks or one part of a network and another. When something is sent from one network to another it is called a data packet.
DNS
DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is the protocol for mapping host names, domain names and aliases to IP addresses.
DSL
DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line and is the method of bringing high-bandwidth information over a phone line.
Encryption
Data is scrambled so that it cannot be interpreted when travelling across networks. This is called encryption and is vital for data being able to travel securely. It means that the data packets are ineligible to humans. The opposite of encryption is decryption, which is the method of data being de-scrambled back into its original form.
FTP
Standing for File Transfer Protocol, this is the name given to the way that files exchange between computers. It is the process of uploading files so they can be viewed over a network, whether the internet or another type of network.
Gateway
As in the real world, a gateway means an entrance to somewhere, in this case a network from another network. An example of a gateway in the virtual world is where date travels from the internet to another type of network.
IP
This stands for Internet Protocol. It is the protocol by which data is sent from one computer to another.
MPLS
MPLS stands for Multiprotocol Label Switching and is the standard for speeding up the flow of traffic on a network. MPLS gives each data packet a label which means it can be quickly identified at each stage of data transfer.
Protocol
This is the name given to a set of rules for communicating data across networks. Rules that are set for a VPN are called protocol. In some ways the term protocol is another word for rules, where an action will be set in motion upon a set of conditions.
Tunnel
In the real world a tunnel is a passageway, and in the virtual world it is similar but instead of somewhere for cars or people to travel it is where data travels. With VPN, a tunnel is a passageway through a network where data packets travel. It is secure meaning traffic can move safely where is might not be possible without the tunnel.
VPN Client
A VPN Client is the name given to VPN software. It is simply the software a user uses to access the virtual private network.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Thursday, May 12, 2011
What do Conveyancing Solicitors do?
Conveyancing is a requirement of buying a home. It is a legal requirement and without it you can’t purchase a home. It is possible for a buyer to do the conveyancing themselves but it is wise to hire a professional, a conveyancing solicitor. It may cost more, but it reduces the stress of what is already a stressful process.
But what do conveyancing solicitors actually do?
Conveyancing is essentially the legal side of someone buying a home. A conveyancing solicitor will make sure all the relevant legal requirements are met and taken care of. Below are some of the tasks that they will be involved in.
A conveyancing solicitor will work to obtain a contract containing the conditions of the sale. This will include any specifics about the sale that need to be taken into consideration. This includes any possible problems or restrictions that are out of the ordinary. Things that can be included in this includes any building restrictions and if anyone other than the owner has any rights to use the land, for example if a pubic footpath goes through the land. If the building is listed the information regarding this will be detailed in the conditions of sale contract.
Any relevant enquiries need to be made with the seller’s solicitor. Any information needed about the property being purchased needs to be established. The solicitors act as the go-betweens between their client and the people they are buying from or selling to. This includes obtaining a fixtures and fittings list from the seller detailing anything that will be left in the property and the condition they are in.
One of the most important tasks is to draft a contract of sale. This is the contract that details the actual sale; who is selling the property, who is buying the property, how much it is being purchased for, and any other conditions. This means the sale can take place.
As well as acting as a go-between between the buyer and seller, a conveyancing solicitor also acts as a go-between between their client and the client’s mortgage company. They will arrange for the deposit to be paid by their client to the mortgage company and they will arrange for the purchase amount of the home to be paid to the seller. They will also make sure (if relevant, which it won’t be for first time buyers) the client’s mortgage on their previous home is paid off.
The exchange of contracts is where the property officially changes hands, where the property is passed over from the seller to the buyer. This is arranged by the conveyancing solicitors and is the change of names for the deeds of the property. At this stage the solicitor will also make sure payments are made to the seller, via the mortgage company if relevant.
Other legalities also have to be sorted out, including stamp duty. The stamp duty form needs to be filled out and payments need to be made on behalf of the clients.
The above covers the basics of what conveyancing solicitors do. The fees charged and the payment structure varies from lawyer to lawyer. Some offer a fixed free meaning the client knows beforehand exactly how much they will be paying for this service. This is becoming less common though, with paying as a percentage of the value of the property the most common payment structure. For example, the buyer may pay half of a percent of the value in conveyancing fees, so £1000, for a £200,000 home. The other type of payment structure is to pay an hourly rate depending on the time the solicitors is spending working for that particular client.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Stone King are Conveyancing Solicitors Bath.
But what do conveyancing solicitors actually do?
Conveyancing is essentially the legal side of someone buying a home. A conveyancing solicitor will make sure all the relevant legal requirements are met and taken care of. Below are some of the tasks that they will be involved in.
A conveyancing solicitor will work to obtain a contract containing the conditions of the sale. This will include any specifics about the sale that need to be taken into consideration. This includes any possible problems or restrictions that are out of the ordinary. Things that can be included in this includes any building restrictions and if anyone other than the owner has any rights to use the land, for example if a pubic footpath goes through the land. If the building is listed the information regarding this will be detailed in the conditions of sale contract.
Any relevant enquiries need to be made with the seller’s solicitor. Any information needed about the property being purchased needs to be established. The solicitors act as the go-betweens between their client and the people they are buying from or selling to. This includes obtaining a fixtures and fittings list from the seller detailing anything that will be left in the property and the condition they are in.
One of the most important tasks is to draft a contract of sale. This is the contract that details the actual sale; who is selling the property, who is buying the property, how much it is being purchased for, and any other conditions. This means the sale can take place.
As well as acting as a go-between between the buyer and seller, a conveyancing solicitor also acts as a go-between between their client and the client’s mortgage company. They will arrange for the deposit to be paid by their client to the mortgage company and they will arrange for the purchase amount of the home to be paid to the seller. They will also make sure (if relevant, which it won’t be for first time buyers) the client’s mortgage on their previous home is paid off.
The exchange of contracts is where the property officially changes hands, where the property is passed over from the seller to the buyer. This is arranged by the conveyancing solicitors and is the change of names for the deeds of the property. At this stage the solicitor will also make sure payments are made to the seller, via the mortgage company if relevant.
Other legalities also have to be sorted out, including stamp duty. The stamp duty form needs to be filled out and payments need to be made on behalf of the clients.
The above covers the basics of what conveyancing solicitors do. The fees charged and the payment structure varies from lawyer to lawyer. Some offer a fixed free meaning the client knows beforehand exactly how much they will be paying for this service. This is becoming less common though, with paying as a percentage of the value of the property the most common payment structure. For example, the buyer may pay half of a percent of the value in conveyancing fees, so £1000, for a £200,000 home. The other type of payment structure is to pay an hourly rate depending on the time the solicitors is spending working for that particular client.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Stone King are Conveyancing Solicitors Bath.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Kernott v Jones: A Landmark Case?
A possible landmark case is being held at the Supreme Court. The case of Kernott v Jones could impact the way separation cases are handled where property is concerned with the break-up of cohabiting relationships where a couple is not married.
Mr Kernott and Ms Jones were an unmarried couple who bought a home together in 1985. The home was bought jointly in both of their names with Ms Jones paying the deposit on the mortgage. The couple separated in 1993 and Mr Kernott moved out. Ms Jones continued living at the couple’s former home with their two children. From this point onwards she paid the mortgage with Mr Kernott no longer contributing towards this.
Normally where a couple is living together but are not married, they are deemed to each own 50% of a home if it has been bought in both of their names. Because it is jointly bought they are considered equal owners. This is the same as it would be for friends or business partners who have bought a property jointly. This means that, in theory, Ms Jones and Mr Kernott should be entitled to half of the home each.
In 2006 Mr Kernott tried to claim his half of the property. His former partner challenged this though, as she felt that since she had been paying the mortgage in the twenty-one years since he left, she should be entitled to the majority of the home. The case went to the High Court and Ms Jones was awarded 90% of the home. Mr Kernott is turn challenged this in the Court of Appeal and won. It is now being heard again by the Supreme Court.
In a similar situation for a couple who had been married the circumstances of each half of the couple would be taken into consideration when deciding on the share of the home that each should have.
There are several ways of looking at the ownership of the home in the case of Ms Jones and Mr Kernott.
One is that they should be entitled to 50% each as they own it jointly. It is, after all, owned in both of their names. Does it matter who has been paying the mortgage or who’s been living there? They knew the circumstances when they bought it and the law shouldn’t be changed.
Another view is that as Ms Jones has been paying for the home the majority of it should be owned by her. She has been paying the mortgage all these years and therefore should own an equivalent proportion.
A third way of looking at it is that Ms Jones may have been paying for the home, but she has also benefitted; she has been living there all this time.
This case could prove to be a landmark one. If it is not deemed that each party owns half of the home each then this could prove to be a precedent for future cases. It could change the way family law is dealt with regarding the break-up of unmarried cohabiting couples. This is something that many family law solicitors and other experts have been calling for for a long time.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Family Law in Partnership are a Family Law Solicitors who look for an ethical approach to assist their clients.
Mr Kernott and Ms Jones were an unmarried couple who bought a home together in 1985. The home was bought jointly in both of their names with Ms Jones paying the deposit on the mortgage. The couple separated in 1993 and Mr Kernott moved out. Ms Jones continued living at the couple’s former home with their two children. From this point onwards she paid the mortgage with Mr Kernott no longer contributing towards this.
Normally where a couple is living together but are not married, they are deemed to each own 50% of a home if it has been bought in both of their names. Because it is jointly bought they are considered equal owners. This is the same as it would be for friends or business partners who have bought a property jointly. This means that, in theory, Ms Jones and Mr Kernott should be entitled to half of the home each.
In 2006 Mr Kernott tried to claim his half of the property. His former partner challenged this though, as she felt that since she had been paying the mortgage in the twenty-one years since he left, she should be entitled to the majority of the home. The case went to the High Court and Ms Jones was awarded 90% of the home. Mr Kernott is turn challenged this in the Court of Appeal and won. It is now being heard again by the Supreme Court.
In a similar situation for a couple who had been married the circumstances of each half of the couple would be taken into consideration when deciding on the share of the home that each should have.
There are several ways of looking at the ownership of the home in the case of Ms Jones and Mr Kernott.
One is that they should be entitled to 50% each as they own it jointly. It is, after all, owned in both of their names. Does it matter who has been paying the mortgage or who’s been living there? They knew the circumstances when they bought it and the law shouldn’t be changed.
Another view is that as Ms Jones has been paying for the home the majority of it should be owned by her. She has been paying the mortgage all these years and therefore should own an equivalent proportion.
A third way of looking at it is that Ms Jones may have been paying for the home, but she has also benefitted; she has been living there all this time.
This case could prove to be a landmark one. If it is not deemed that each party owns half of the home each then this could prove to be a precedent for future cases. It could change the way family law is dealt with regarding the break-up of unmarried cohabiting couples. This is something that many family law solicitors and other experts have been calling for for a long time.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Family Law in Partnership are a Family Law Solicitors who look for an ethical approach to assist their clients.
Monday, May 9, 2011
What are MDG’s?
MDG stands for Millennium Development Goals and is a set of eight international goals for development with the aim of achieving them by 2015. These have been agreed upon by all the United Nations member states and other international organisations.
The reason for coming up with these goals was to improve conditions in some of the world’s poorest countries. The goals cover a number of social and economic issues. They were established at the Millennium summit in 2000 and came from the Millennium Declaration produced by the United Nations:
“every individual has the right to dignity, freedom and quality; as basic standard of living that includes freedom from hunger and violence and encourages tolerance and solidarity”.
The Millennium Development Goals are targets that were set up to try to achieve the statements of the Millennium Declaration. They focus on three main areas of humanity; bolstering human capital, improving infrastructure, and increasing social, economic and political rights.
The eight MDG’s and an explanation of each are below:
MDG 1 – to eradicated extreme poverty and hunger
The target is to halve the proportion of people living on less than $1 a day. This includes achieving decent employment opportunities for all, including women and young people. Halving the proportion of people worldwide who suffer with hunger is another aim of this goal.
MDG 2 – to ensure that all children complete a full course of primary schooling
Increasing the numbers that enrol in primary education is obviously key to improving the education of children, but it is also about what happens after. As well as improving the numbers who enrol, increasing the numbers who continue through their primary education is also important. It is hoped that this will go a long way to improving literacy among 15-24 year olds in the long run.
MDG 3 – to promote gender equality and empower women
For any balanced society it is important that the two genders are equal and have equal opportunities. In many of the poorer parts of the world women are significantly disadvantaged. The aim of the fourth development goal is to eradicate this discrepancy. This includes educational opportunities, both in primary education and beyond. It also means more women being employed in non-agricultural sectors and more women in parliament.
MDG 4 – to reduce child mortality
A specific target here is a two thirds reduction in the mortality rate among children under the age of five. This includes reducing infant mortality rates and increasing the proportion of 1 year old children immunised against measles.
MDG 5 – to improve maternal health
In some parts of the world the poor quality of maternal health is a serious issue. MDG 5 aims for a three quarter reduction in the ratio of maternal mortalities. It is hoped that there will be an increase in births that are attended by skilled health professionals and this should reduce maternal health dangers. Another part of this goal is the increase in the availability of contraception as well as general improvements in family planning. Births amongst adolescent parents should therefore fall. Improved antenatal care in another target.
MDG 6 – to combat HIV, AIDS, Malaria and other diseases
This goal is split into two areas; HIV and AIDS, and Malaria and other diseases.
With HIV and AIDS the first objective is to halt the current increase that is being seen in the numbers contracting HIV and AIDS. Once this has been achieved reducing the numbers contracting it is the next step. 15-24 year olds are specifically being targeted as a key group. If they don’t contract HIV or AIDS then they can’t pass it onto their children. Mothers passing the decease onto their children is one of the highest causes. Contraception is one of the most important, if not the most important, ways of preventing HIV and AIDS. Increasing condom use is therefore a key part of this goal. Improving knowledge, including knowledge of the risks, is also seen as important, especially among 15-24 year olds.
Malaria is another one of the main killers in terms of decease in developing countries. To help reduce related deaths the use of bednets is important. It is hoped that the number of children under 5 with fever who are treated with anti-Malaria drugs in increased. Another key disease is tuberculosis.
MDG 7 – to ensure environmental sustainability
To help environmental sustainability it is important to integrate the principles of sustainable development into national policies and programmes and to reverse the loss of environmental resources. Millennium Development Goals 7 aims to reduce biodiversity loss. This includes reversing the trend for deforestation, reducing CO2 admissions, setting safe biological limits for fishing, reducing water resource being used unnecessarily, and further protection of endangered species. It is hoped the proportion of the population who don’t have access to drinking water is halved and the population using improved sanitation facilities is increased. Another aim is to significantly improve the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.
MDG 8 – to develop a global partnership for development
The final goal is to develop an open, non-discriminatory trading and financial system. This includes addressing the special needs of the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island development states. Dealing with debt problems of developing countries is also important.
So these are the eight Millennium Development Goals. For information on the progress of the MDG’s, check out the Millennium Development Goals Report.
Andrew Marshall (c)
For Millennium Development Progress Stories visit the Development Progress website.
The reason for coming up with these goals was to improve conditions in some of the world’s poorest countries. The goals cover a number of social and economic issues. They were established at the Millennium summit in 2000 and came from the Millennium Declaration produced by the United Nations:
“every individual has the right to dignity, freedom and quality; as basic standard of living that includes freedom from hunger and violence and encourages tolerance and solidarity”.
The Millennium Development Goals are targets that were set up to try to achieve the statements of the Millennium Declaration. They focus on three main areas of humanity; bolstering human capital, improving infrastructure, and increasing social, economic and political rights.
The eight MDG’s and an explanation of each are below:
MDG 1 – to eradicated extreme poverty and hunger
The target is to halve the proportion of people living on less than $1 a day. This includes achieving decent employment opportunities for all, including women and young people. Halving the proportion of people worldwide who suffer with hunger is another aim of this goal.
MDG 2 – to ensure that all children complete a full course of primary schooling
Increasing the numbers that enrol in primary education is obviously key to improving the education of children, but it is also about what happens after. As well as improving the numbers who enrol, increasing the numbers who continue through their primary education is also important. It is hoped that this will go a long way to improving literacy among 15-24 year olds in the long run.
MDG 3 – to promote gender equality and empower women
For any balanced society it is important that the two genders are equal and have equal opportunities. In many of the poorer parts of the world women are significantly disadvantaged. The aim of the fourth development goal is to eradicate this discrepancy. This includes educational opportunities, both in primary education and beyond. It also means more women being employed in non-agricultural sectors and more women in parliament.
MDG 4 – to reduce child mortality
A specific target here is a two thirds reduction in the mortality rate among children under the age of five. This includes reducing infant mortality rates and increasing the proportion of 1 year old children immunised against measles.
MDG 5 – to improve maternal health
In some parts of the world the poor quality of maternal health is a serious issue. MDG 5 aims for a three quarter reduction in the ratio of maternal mortalities. It is hoped that there will be an increase in births that are attended by skilled health professionals and this should reduce maternal health dangers. Another part of this goal is the increase in the availability of contraception as well as general improvements in family planning. Births amongst adolescent parents should therefore fall. Improved antenatal care in another target.
MDG 6 – to combat HIV, AIDS, Malaria and other diseases
This goal is split into two areas; HIV and AIDS, and Malaria and other diseases.
With HIV and AIDS the first objective is to halt the current increase that is being seen in the numbers contracting HIV and AIDS. Once this has been achieved reducing the numbers contracting it is the next step. 15-24 year olds are specifically being targeted as a key group. If they don’t contract HIV or AIDS then they can’t pass it onto their children. Mothers passing the decease onto their children is one of the highest causes. Contraception is one of the most important, if not the most important, ways of preventing HIV and AIDS. Increasing condom use is therefore a key part of this goal. Improving knowledge, including knowledge of the risks, is also seen as important, especially among 15-24 year olds.
Malaria is another one of the main killers in terms of decease in developing countries. To help reduce related deaths the use of bednets is important. It is hoped that the number of children under 5 with fever who are treated with anti-Malaria drugs in increased. Another key disease is tuberculosis.
MDG 7 – to ensure environmental sustainability
To help environmental sustainability it is important to integrate the principles of sustainable development into national policies and programmes and to reverse the loss of environmental resources. Millennium Development Goals 7 aims to reduce biodiversity loss. This includes reversing the trend for deforestation, reducing CO2 admissions, setting safe biological limits for fishing, reducing water resource being used unnecessarily, and further protection of endangered species. It is hoped the proportion of the population who don’t have access to drinking water is halved and the population using improved sanitation facilities is increased. Another aim is to significantly improve the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers.
MDG 8 – to develop a global partnership for development
The final goal is to develop an open, non-discriminatory trading and financial system. This includes addressing the special needs of the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island development states. Dealing with debt problems of developing countries is also important.
So these are the eight Millennium Development Goals. For information on the progress of the MDG’s, check out the Millennium Development Goals Report.
Andrew Marshall (c)
For Millennium Development Progress Stories visit the Development Progress website.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Steel Making Process
We see and use steel every day. We use it in the form of cutlery to eat with, we drive cars that are made with materials including steel, we wear watches with steel in them and we may even have steel furniture. Steel is also one of the most widely used materials in construction, and used to build anything from houses to skyscrapers and bridges. But how is steel made?
The process of making steel is long and complicated and compromises of many different stages. The exact steel making processes varies across different Steel Suppliers, but this article explains the basics of turning Iron Ore into Steel ready to be made into a product.
The Blast Furnace
The first stage of the steel making process is to create Coke. This is done by heating Coal in a Coke Oven, thus turning it into the Coke product. The next stage is inputting the Coke into a Blast Furnace. Also put into the Blast Furnace is Limestone, Sinter and most importantly, Iron Ore. In the Blast Furnace this is all heated to around 870 Degrees Centigrade (1598 Fahrenheit). During this process impurities including Carbon are oxidised and flout out of the Iron Ore into a slag. This is removed from the steel making process leaving the Molten Iron that continues to be used for the eventual creation of steel.
Basic Oxygen Furnace
Next the Molten Iron is put through the Basic Oxygen Furnace. First, though, Lime and Scrap pieces of metal are added to the Molten Iron. The Scrap Metal can come from recycled products, which have both financial and environmental benefits. The Molten Iron, Lime and Scrap Metals are added to the Basic Oxygen Furnace, with Oxygen added. This oxidises unwanted materials including remaining Carbon.
Vacuum Degassing
Next is the Vacuum Degassing stage. During this stage the Molten Iron that leaves the Basic Oxygen Furnace is placed in a vacuum which removes still existing excesses of Hydrogen and Carbon. This removes any imperfections that would otherwise affect the quality of the metal.
Slab Caster
The left over Molten Iron, Lime and Scrap Metal are next fed into a Slab Caster. This has the job of solidifying these materials into a single material. This turns it into hot strips, also known as Coils.
Tempering Machine
A piece of machinery called a Tempering Machine is then used to toughen the metal. The Steel Coils are fed through the Tempering Machine which uses hot rolls to transfer martensite or bainite into a combination of ferrite and cementite. After this the material has become a cold rolled steel product.
The above is the basic process of making steel. Much of the steel making process involves removing impurities from iron and scrap metal. What is done with it from this point on varies depending on its final use.
The steel making process is much more machine based than it used to be. This makes the whole process much cheaper (and therefore cheaper for consumers further down the line) and it means steel is made into a more consistent product.
Andrew Marshall (c)
The process of making steel is long and complicated and compromises of many different stages. The exact steel making processes varies across different Steel Suppliers, but this article explains the basics of turning Iron Ore into Steel ready to be made into a product.
The Blast Furnace
The first stage of the steel making process is to create Coke. This is done by heating Coal in a Coke Oven, thus turning it into the Coke product. The next stage is inputting the Coke into a Blast Furnace. Also put into the Blast Furnace is Limestone, Sinter and most importantly, Iron Ore. In the Blast Furnace this is all heated to around 870 Degrees Centigrade (1598 Fahrenheit). During this process impurities including Carbon are oxidised and flout out of the Iron Ore into a slag. This is removed from the steel making process leaving the Molten Iron that continues to be used for the eventual creation of steel.
Basic Oxygen Furnace
Next the Molten Iron is put through the Basic Oxygen Furnace. First, though, Lime and Scrap pieces of metal are added to the Molten Iron. The Scrap Metal can come from recycled products, which have both financial and environmental benefits. The Molten Iron, Lime and Scrap Metals are added to the Basic Oxygen Furnace, with Oxygen added. This oxidises unwanted materials including remaining Carbon.
Vacuum Degassing
Next is the Vacuum Degassing stage. During this stage the Molten Iron that leaves the Basic Oxygen Furnace is placed in a vacuum which removes still existing excesses of Hydrogen and Carbon. This removes any imperfections that would otherwise affect the quality of the metal.
Slab Caster
The left over Molten Iron, Lime and Scrap Metal are next fed into a Slab Caster. This has the job of solidifying these materials into a single material. This turns it into hot strips, also known as Coils.
Tempering Machine
A piece of machinery called a Tempering Machine is then used to toughen the metal. The Steel Coils are fed through the Tempering Machine which uses hot rolls to transfer martensite or bainite into a combination of ferrite and cementite. After this the material has become a cold rolled steel product.
The above is the basic process of making steel. Much of the steel making process involves removing impurities from iron and scrap metal. What is done with it from this point on varies depending on its final use.
The steel making process is much more machine based than it used to be. This makes the whole process much cheaper (and therefore cheaper for consumers further down the line) and it means steel is made into a more consistent product.
Andrew Marshall (c)
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