Sondu Miriu Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Sondu Miriu Project - Essay Example The aims of modernization are liberty, rationality and progress, modernization can be defined as the process in which a society moves from traditional ways of life to more advanced and modern ways of life, modernization can be viewed as a form of social change.2( Bruno (1995) page 60) According to Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, Modernization theory is also known as the development theory whereby this theory depicts the roles played by the developed countries in order for the developing countries to be modernized and attain sustainable development. The modernization theory is in contrast with the dependency theory which states that the developed countries will exploit the developing countries and that the developed countries will continue to become richer while the developing will continue to be poorer.3( www.en.wikipedia.org/modernistiontheory) In this paper we will focus on a recent project that has caused social change in a developing country society, the Sondu Miriu project was initiated in 1999 in Kenya following a feasible study undertaken in 1985 this is according to according to the Kengen official website (2007) , the project was is a hydropower producing project and it is located in one of the most rural place in Kenya, since 1999 when work on the project started there has been various changes in the society living in this area, this paper will focus on these changes on a modernization perspective.4 (http://www.kengen.co.ke/sondu/workprogress.htm) IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT: NEGATIVE: Reallocation: The people living in the proposed location of the project will have to reallocate and this means that they will loose their agricultural land and also homesteads, despite compensation the community will still have to reallocate meaning that this will change their ways of life, the project is already in progress and therefore some people have lost their land and at the same time compensated. Water and soil pollution: Due to construction of the dam there has been water and soil pollution, there has been a loss of clean water but at the same time they have been provided with clean water for domestic use, previously they depended on the sondu Miriu river water for domestic use but now they have been provided with clean piped water for domestic use. Decline in public safety: The construction of a reservoir dam has brought up a hazard to the local community where there is a risk of people drowning also other hazard are evident from the construction of the dam such as water Bourne diseases bilharzias, elephantiasis, typhoid and cholera, however this problem has been resolved through the construction of a fence all round the dam to safeguard the local community from the hazard and also there has been the establishment of health centers that provide health care to the community. Forest encroachment: The construction of the dam has restricted access to the Kogutu forest by the local community, however this may be viewed as a positive impact in that now the forest will not face deforestation and therefore preserve the ecosystem of the area, also there has been plans to reforest the area.5 (www.corpwatch.org/article) POSITIVE: Fish farming: Local area

Imagine you are a columnist or have been contracted to write an Assignment

Imagine you are a columnist or have been contracted to write an opinion piece, for a quality publication such as The Economist o - Assignment Example A good example is what is being witnessed in Greece where the economy has been observed to decrease by 5% every year. Governments should adapt to the idea of spending to boost the economy and also concentrate on balancing the books as the private sector facilitates the economy rise. It is strange how the people who believe in austerity see this as an impossible move and believe that you can not spend when you got a debt. Keynes Theory The stimulus vs. austerity argument arises the debate about if the money supply should be increased or reduced. The difference between function one and function three views of money brings up a big debate. Also the creditors and debtors have a conflict of interest here. Creditors prefer the level three. They are more concerned with the store of value and want their money to increase value and be worth something when they are paid back. Debtors propose to earn the less money and pay back real terms. Multiplier The battle between austerity and stimulus ma inly bases around money as a vital factor that greatly determines there strength. Money functions are sub-divided into three which include: a medium of exchange, a unit of account and a measure store of value. These three functions bring out the difference between the stimulus and austerity. ... 10) Money also functions as a unit of account where it is basically used as a common unit for measuring the difference in value between two commodities or more. For example in barter trade economy, you can exchange two sheep for three goats whereas in the money economy you can value the goats for six shillings. Money functions as a unit of account in that it tells what things are worth. For example a sheep is worth three shillings and a goat at two shillings. The other function of money is as a store of value, in this sense, money is attributed by the fact that it cannot be spend immediately it is gained. The view of money as a physical medium of exchange improves the economy positively. An increase in physical exchanges increases the level of trade thus leads to quick economy growth. If money is perceived as a store of value then it will negatively contribute to the economy .The less the amount of money stored, the more valuable it becomes. Restriction on the amount of money in supp ly increases its value. Problems of Applying A Keynesian Stimulus Everyone would agree with the fact that we are facing an economic crisis. Some people believe that this situation is caused by the government giving promises it can not deliver in the long run and the best way to solve this remedy is by austerity. Whereas other people think that it is due to the private sector inability to create jobs and growth and prefer stimulus .The stimulus folks point to Europe to indicate that austerity has failed. This did not only cure economic problems but it was also rejected at the polls. On the other hand austerity switches blame to the United States and argue that stimulus was disguised. It is strange with