The War on Drugs: Illegal Opium Markets

The War on Drugs: Illegal Opium Markets Introduction Opium (and opioids) which are obtained from the sap of the poppy plant have routinely been used to control pain in countries throughout the world over many centuries. Opium, also, has historically been used in a social context illustrated by the opium dens in China which has lead to it becoming a trade-able commodity with high values over recent eras. Opioids have therefore developed both legal and illegal global markets and through studying where this stands in society both now and historically it will assist the reader to interpret what is determined to be crime and subsequently justice. The notion of Crime has traditionally been regarded as an offence which goes beyond the personal and into the public sphere, breaking prohibitory rules or laws, to which legitimate punishments are attached and what a society considers to be a crime is socially constructed (Scott Marshall, 2009). Crime, however must not be considered in isolation and can be defined by the power inequalities amongst stakeholders in both how local and global relations cause tensions or aid policies and practice which result in violence, the so called white-collar crime. Wars have been attributed to the opium trade and these contested matters on both individual and national levels cause both social and personal harms (The Open University, 2009(a)). In order to critically analyse opiate use we must understand what constitutes legal and illegal drug use. Legal use can be considered to be prescription drugs, drugs available over the counter (OTC) and other socially accepted means whereas in contrast what is construed to be illegal has constantly in flux and is determined by those in power who attempt to isolate and control behaviours that are out-with social norms (The Open University, 2009 (b)). It is perhaps not by coincidence then that throughout history certain cultures, communities and specific groups have been actively targeted and by penal measures in the justice system or other socially constructed ones held accountable for wrongdoings whereas those in power both in (inter)national corporations and governments have often remained unaccountable for their actions. The war on drugs, who does it really affect? The link between global relations and the illegal opium markets have recurring themes through history. War is one of these and in America in the 1970s there was a real threat to the stability of the preceding government so a decision was made by President Richard Nixon to declare a nationwide war on drugs across the whole of America. Under the guise of this war the regime targeted dissident groups including the Black Panthers and those who canvassed support against the Vietnam War (The Open University, 2009(c)). Wars have both intended and unintended consequences, in this case the government has assisted indirectly in encouraging more violent traits with emerging gangs seeking fresh territory in order to traffic drugs illegally (The Open University, 2009,(c)). On a local level drug trade can be essential for the community to be self-sufficient, especially in poverty stricken areas and those with higher crime and deprivation levels. Such complex relations and competing power balances allow for corruptness to occur in high level positions of authority therefore benefiting those who are involved in dealing or importation, the counter argument provided by individuals living in these deprived areas of Afghanistan are that if work was provided, housing and other human essentials then they wouldnt need to be involved in illegal activities. It is clear that these communities are treated less favourably than more powerful corporations and governments who also break or influence the law. Crime involving drugs are generally associated with anti-social groups, the underclass or those with low income as opposed to the wealthier and subsequently more influential classes, therefore there is just cause in suggesting that class bias occurs when treatment is needed involving opioids. A further relative example is that in the USA black people were, and remain, disproportionally represented in the jails (The Open University, 2009(c)). Why are the powerful able to get away with Crime? The powerful, those with money, those in high positions or with influential sway are seemingly able to get away with crimes which affect locals, crimes against humanity, they hold the responsibility for punishing and regulating others. The question that must be asked is who regulates them? The truth is that they arent and if they are found at fault the problem can be made to go away. The Open University (2009, (b)) argue that there is there is a clear difference between how the justice system treats the perceived legal and illegal elements. There appears to be no regulation in how the pharmaceutical industry can be allowed without question to be involved in the Prescription Drug User Fee Act from 1992 which is linked to the Food and Drug Administration, therefore its accountability to be examined. From this it is clear that large influential corporations whom evade any punishment through the justice system, but internal corruption is more prevalent due to the lack of regulation or risk of punitive sanction within the trade. Corruption is a key area in how corporations and the illegal hierarchy together are able to by-pass the justice system allowing for the trading in opiates to continue despite strict measures attempting to prevent it (The Open University, 2009(b)). Another example in quantitative terms of justice being avoided is highlighted when Purdue Pharma, an international company was fined $600 million because they had deliberately misled their customers by stating that Oxycontin was less addictive that other competitors products. This deception caused several people to lose their lives and many people to subsequently become addicted, all from what consumer would of believed to be a reputable organisation (The Open University, 2009(b)). Again no custodial terms were handed out to the persons responsible which is in stark contrast to the less powerful groups who in the main are targeted as being accountable. This also demonstrates how the global (international) can affect the local (national). Global relations in the form of large corporations and drug cartels, those who together both distribute drugs when analysed actually are more similar that dissimilar, together they want to: provide a reputable service leading to repeat custom; sell their product (often for a profit); manage the risk of harm, violence or penal sanction by having management structures in place, for example those at the top have the most assets but are never seen getting their hands dirty, where the foot soldiers are placing themselves at the higher end of the risk spectrum increase professionalism in product manufacture and marketing (The Open University, 2009(b)) Why do drugs go where the trade goes? The production and use of opium has a complex interrelationship with the 19th Century colonisation where the British began to import opiates into China from its Indian colonies. The Chinese Emperor banned this import of opium due to his country suffering high addiction levels. The British government believed in free trade and took action to ensure that the Chinese would accept opium imports whether it was legal or not (The Open University, 2009(b)). Because Britain was able to exercise this power it continued to be detrimental to China. Ironically centuries later the British Prime Minister Tony Blair cited the same example the Chinese emperor had used in that Britain was being harmed therefore it was necessary to start military action in Afghanistan in order to destroy the Afghanistan opium crops. Both times our government was answerable for causing harm to another nation but not held at legal or moral fault. Instead it was held that it served as in the interest of the nation rather than criminally wrong (The Open University, 2009(b)). Trade boundaries in global affairs are not only influenced by their respective governments. Both Turkey and India contribute to the destruction of Opium crops in Afghanistan and consequentially by restricting this market globally they have control over pricing of opioids, as opposed to higher competition lowering the cost of each unit. Violent clashes followed involving the farmers and government officials but this action only harmed locals by physical violence but taking their only available source of income. By examining Tajikistan which is a country lying to the north of Afghanistan it will assist in understanding how illegal trafficking occurs. It has isolated borders and no road networks between border nations but it is the gateway to the rest of Asia and then Europe. The Tajikistan authorities seize more illegal shipments than all the other Asian counties together (The Open University, 2009(c)). When the Soviet Union collapsed, Tajikistan was devastated and they were exposed to incentives to support illegal activities by trafficking drugs. This meant that more drugs are freely available which has altered the patterns of consumption and the need for stronger drugs like heroin. Global trade in different cultures and countries therefore affects both the illegal and legal methods of importation and drug usage / dependency (The Open University, 2009(a)). Tajikistan itself is a large scale drug industry that again shows how corruption at all levels of society and particular within the police and governments i.e. Border guards and their senior officers demonstrates a blurring of who is at fault, social harms are being created at all levels and if faced with the option to survive or not locals are always going to be found at fault by influential officials (The Open University, 2009(b)). Conclusion Today, we live in a world of global trade and national exchange. I have demonstrated that where open trade occurs then so does the illegal drug market, you cant have open trade and no drugs. Crime is therefore to be considered as a global concern not a local one. In critically reviewing both legal and illegal opium markets it is fair to argue that the power disparities within localities allows for social harms to be created, on a global level what takes place in one country can have a direct impact on another leading to violence and damaged communities. Power is a key theme and is shown during the closing of the Chinese boundaries but Britain still continued to force trading relations alongside the destruction of communities in the USA, Tajikistan and Afghanistan as a result of poverty and corruptness by authorities. The definition of crime at the start is given as its socially constructed and personal, this essay opens up this theory and shows that crime through illegal and legal methods of opioid use is actually a global concern; Tajikistan following Soviet collapse shows the global implications of Crime and Justice. Approximately 1750 words not including the question or brackets. Types of Abuse: Domestic, Financial and Technological Types of Abuse: Domestic, Financial and Technological Abuse occurs when people mistreat or misuse other people. Abusive behaviors are used to manipulate others. But the uncommon types of abuse are just as important as the common ones. They include economic, academic, and psychological abuse. Economic abuse is a form of abuse when one intimate partner has control over the other partners access to economic resources, which diminishes the victims capacity to support him/herself and forces him/her to depend on the perpetrator financially. Economic and financial abuse. Examples of economic abuse are removing or keeping property without consent, dispasing of property against another persons wishes and without lawful excuse, preventing access to joint financial assets, such as a joint bank account for the purposes of meeting normal household expenses. Economic abuse can include an abuser preventing victims from working and accessing bank accounts, credit cards or transportation among other isolating tactics as mentioned before. Money gives us a voice but most survivors of abuse already feel silenced by their experience. Lack of money intensifies feelings of being trapped, developed and alone. People living below the poverty line are the most vulnerable to economic abuse. For those manage to escape the abuse and survive initially, they often face overwhelming odds in obtaining long term security and safety, ruined credit scores, sporadic employment histories and legal issues caused by the battering make it extremely difficult to gain independence safety and long term security. Getting out of economic abuse involves opening separate bank accounts from the abuser. Creating a private account or find a safe place to store cash since saving up in and itself can trigger abuse, victims are tasked with finding ways to make and save money without the abuser finding out. Dean emphasizes that someones ability to save money will depend on the degree to which their adviser exerts control over them. For someone who is bei ng watched 24/7 the money saving process may be much slower. As with any abusive relationship victims must consider their safety after theyve left. Stopping economic abuse is an extremely complicated task because each familys financial situation and relationship is different. Economic abuse is rarely talked about and misunderstood by people but we simply cant afford to talk about it anymore.. Technology abuse is digital partner violence when technology is used such as cell-phones, computers, and location technologies to bully, harass, stalk or intimidate a partner. Often this behavior is a form verbal or emotional abuse perpetrated online, through texts, calls Etc. The internet is one of the most popular dynamics shaping our social, intellectual and moral spheres. The internet empowers individuals with immediate information to collaborate, engage, and participate. Technology abuse is extremely common in abusive relationships. Abusers often misuse technology as a way to control and monitor, or humans victims. Many states have responded to this misuse of technology by passing specific laws to address the behaviors. In other states these acts can come under criminal laws such as harassment, stalking, eavesdropping, unlawful surveillance, etc. There are different types of technology abuse such as sexting, which is the act of sending and receiving sexually explicit text messa ges, photographs or videos mainly through a mobile device. There Is always a risk that a sext could be shared or distributed with additional people electronically without your consent. Another is impersonation, impersonation generally refers to when someone uses a false identity and commits acts that will result in personal gain or that will deceive or harm another person. Some states have laws that criminize impersonating another person with the intent to defraud someone. One more example of technology abuse is Electronic surveillance. Electronic surveillance is a broad term used to describe when someone watches another person actions or monitors a persons conversations without his/her knowledge or consent by using one or more electronic device. Electronic surveillance can be done by misusing cameras, recorders, wiretaps, social media, or email. It can also be done by the misuse of monitoring software (Known as Spyware) which can be installed on a computer, tablet, or smartphone to secretly monitor the activity without users knowledge. Young people are increasingly being subjected to technology abuse. Teen violence prevention organization day one says half of the people ages 14-24 have experienced it. Lesbians, gays bisexuals users are more than twice as likely than straight users, to experience abuse online. The study found that also men and women are subject to similar levels of abuse, the attacks on women were often of a more serious nature of the 20 categories of harassment the researchers looked at. Men were most likely to report being called names and being embarrassed online. Psychological abuse (also referred as psychological violence, emotional abuse or mental abuse) is a form of abuse, characterized by a person subjecting, or exposing another person to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychological abuse is common and yet few understand the psychological abuse definition enough to spot it without the visible signs of physical abuse can stay hidden for years. Psychological abuse though can be just as worse as physical abuse. psychological abuse can affect your inner thoughts and feelings as well as exert control over your life. You feel uncertain of the world around you, and unsafe in your own home, physiological abuse can destroy intimate relationship with yourself psychological abuse also applies to children and may impair their development into a healthy adult. The abuse signs and symptoms may start small at first as the abuser test the waters to see what the other person will accept, but before long the psychological abuse builds into something that can be frightening and threating. Signs include name calling, yelling, insulting the person, threating the person or something that is important to them, ignoring, isolating the excluding them from meaningful events. CITATIONS Campbell, Rebecca. Code to Inspire: Bitcoin Gives Afghan Women Financial Freedom. Bitcoin Magazine. N.p., 14 Apr. 2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2017. Written by Britni De La Cretaz.Britni Has Also Written: How Budgeting Improved My Relationship, Making Financial Amends in Alcoholics Anonymous and My Shopping Addiction Nearly Destroyed My Life More from This Author. How to Rebuild After Escaping Financial Abuse. Daily Worth. N.p., 28 Jan. 2017. Web. 23 Mar. 2017. Technological Abuse, Harassment on the Rise for Teens. CBS News. CBS Interactive, 22 Oct. 2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2017. Tracy, Natasha. Psychological Abuse: Definition, Signs and Symptoms. Healthy Place. N.p., July-Aug. 2012. Web. Mar.-Apr. 2017. Soong, Jennifer. When Technology Addiction Takes Over Your Life. WebMD. WebMD, 12 Nov. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.

Definition Essay on Redneck

Redneck You might be a redneck if you have ever mowed the lawn and found a car. We have all heard this famous phrase, along with many more, from the comedian Jeff Foxworthy. But what does being a redneck really mean? Many southern people have been stereotyped as rednecks because of their accents, slang and lack of formal communication ability. But it takes more than just the way a person talks to make them a redneck, like attitude and appearance. The term â€Å"redneck† began being widely used after the hippie era when men started cutting there long hair short enough to burn their necks.A white member of the southern rural laboring class is how a knowledgeable person has officially defined â€Å"redneck†. Yes, they are from rural areas and are from a working class of people, though it does take more than language and accent to classify someone as a redneck. A redneck will wear shorts and boots for the comfort not because it is a fashion statement. It’s someone th at would rather go mudding or four wheeling on a weekend, rather than going for a dinner and a movie.Thoughts of getting dirty doesn’t send them running for the nearest bathroom where they can clean themselves up. Rednecks are not afraid of backbreaking manual labor, but after work they are going to blow off steam all night. They will generally get an hour or two’s worth of sleep before returning to work to sweat out the alcohol from the night before. Rednecks are very proud to be Americans, they generally chew tobacco, and hunting and fishing is a big part of who they are. Rednecks are generally big fans of football and could tell you every driver in a Nascar race.Gucci, Macy’s, and malls, are not places that you will see a redneck shopping. Just go to your local Wal-Mart and you will surely see many there doing there one stop shopping. Where else can you buy hunting supplies, guns and ammo, fishing gear, food, clothing, and electronics all in one store? Pictur e this, a full moon high in the sky, with more stars shining than a person could count in a month. A vibrantly green field outlined with trees, with a creek running across the back. A dirt road along the outside edge of he field leading to the back corner where there are four wheel drive trucks backed up to a red glowing bonfire that was built with what was found along the creek bank. The trucks look as if they have been dipped like an ice cream cone, but only in mud. Coolers filled with beer are closely positioned around the people that are sitting on the tailgates and standing around the fire. ‘Something Bout a Truck,’ blasting from a stereo that cost more than the truck cost before the big mud tires were put on.Without a worry or a care in the world this party will continue until the wee hours of the morning. This is a true example of what a redneck is. A simple, every day, hard working person who could care less what this week’s fashion statement is. They are who they are, and if you don’t like it, they don’t care. They are a laid back partying group that are just out to blow off steam and have some fun. Many people say that being called a redneck is a bad thing, but rednecks are proud of who they and for them it an honor.

Hurricane Katrina Essay

Crisis and Disasters On August 23, 2005 the tropical depression 12 formed in the Caribbean then it rapidly became tropical storm Katrina on August 24, 2005 as it drifted toward southern Florida. Then on August 25 it strengthened into hurricane Katrina. No one at this time had any idea of what was coming, that this would be on the five deadliest hurricanes in Untied States History. Resulting in the death of around 1, 820 people. From the Gulf coast along Florida to Texas much damage was caused from storm surge. The main amount of damage was in New Orleans, Louisiana which flooded due to levee systems failing, resulting in 80% of the city being flooded and the flood waters lasted for weeks, destroying homes, buildings, and entire communities. . Hurricane Katrina began in the Bahamas on August 23 and as it made it was into southern Florida it became a category 1 hurricane before it grew rapidly in the Gulf of Mexico. In the Gulf in became a category 5 hurricane but weakened before it hit southern Louisiana on August 29 becoming a category 3 hurricane. In just 9 hours the storm went from a category 3 to a category 5 hurricane, this was due to the storms movements over the warm waters of the loop current, which increased the wind speeds of the hurricane. On August 26, the National Guard was activated in Mississippi to help prepare for the oncoming storm. The next day the state activated its Emergency Operations center along with 57 other emergency shelters opened along the coastline and evacuation orders were put into effect. Louisiana’s hurricane evacuation plan calls for local governments in areas along and near the coast to evacuate in three phases, starting with the immediate coast 50 hours before the start of tropical storm force winds. Persons in areas designated Phase II begin evacuating 40 hours before the onset of tropical storm winds and those in Phase III areas (including New Orleans) evacuate 30 hours before the start of such winds although many people at the time were unwilling to evacuate due to the fact they didn’t want to leave their homes, business, or even pets. Many private facilities that relied to bus companies and ambulance services to evacuate people failed due to the fact that they waited too long. This happened when the Governor did not sign an emergency waiver to allow licensed drivers to transport evacuees on  school buses. On August 27, George W. Bush, President of the United States, declared a state of emergency in certain areas of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. On August 28 almost all infrastructe had been shut down along the coast making it even harder to evacuate people. On the morning of August 28 with winds up to 175 mph and category 5 statues it hit Louisiana. On August 2 9 Katrina made its second landfall as a category 3 with winds up to 125mph near Buras-Triumph, Louisiana. Katrina’s third landfall was near the Louisiana/ Mississippi line as a category 3 hurricane with 120mph winds. After reaching Tennessee it was downgraded to a tropical depression and finally lost it’s power over the Great Lakes region. From the Gulf coast along Florida to Texas much damage was caused from storm surge. The main amount of damage was in New Orleans, Louisiana which flooded due to levee systems failing, resulting in 80% of the city being flooded and the flood waters lasted for weeks, destroying homes, buildings, and entire communities. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said this was â€Å"probably the worst catastrophe, in the country’s history.† The aftermath from Katrina had many negative effects. The economic effects from the storm were the worst. The Bush Administration asked for 105 billion dollars in repairs and reconstruction for the area. Katrina destroyed 30 oil rings in the Gulf Coast and caused 9 to permeably close. Mi ssissippi’s forestry industry was affected being that 1.3 million acres of timber was destroyed, this was around 5 billion dollars worth of damage. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without jobs after Katrina. Hundreds of thousands of people were sent all across the United States to different shelter locations. The levee failures in New Orleans are accounted to be the worst civil engineering fail in U.S history and a lawsuit was filled against the U.S Army Corps of Engineers who built the levees by Judge Stanwood Duval but this was thrown out due to the sovereign immunity in the Flood Control Act of 1965. There was also another investigation of federal agencies which resulted in the resignation of FEMA director Michael D. Brown. On September 12, 2005 Brown resigned, stating that it was â€Å"in the best interest of the agency and best interest of the president.† Before his resignation Brown had already been taken away from his job as coordinator in federal efforts in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast by Homeland Security secretary Michael  Chertoff . It was been said that Brown was forced out of the administration rather that voluntarily resigning.. . Katrina destroyed many wildlife habitats and breeding grounds for marine mammals such as turtles, fish, birds, and many marshes for migrating ducks were destroyed. Seven million gallons of oil were leaked into the ocean. Many spills were cleaned up but some managed to leak into the ecosystem and some towns were even flooded with oil mixed waters. During the clean up, flood waters were pumped into Lake Pontchartrain, which took 43 days. Those waters contained many toxic things to wildlife such as bacteria, raw sewage, pesticides, toxic chemicals, and oil. Many citizens starting looting stores in New Orleans in search of food, water, and many other items for personal gain. The news media reported rapes, murders, thefts during this but many reports turned out to be inaccurate. The National Guard was sent in to restore order and over the first week that’s what they accomplished. The Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team was sent into Louisiana to to verify, document, and cha racterize deaths caused by hurricane Katrina. It was found that there were 971 Katrina-related deaths in Louisiana and 15 deaths among Katrina evacuees in other states. Drowning was the cause of (40% of deaths, injury and trauma caused 25% of deaths, and heart conditions caused 11% of the deaths that were the major causes of death among Louisiana victims. After hurricane Katrina many state, local, and federal agencies were aware of the serious devastation of the area but were unable to communicate with each other properly into order to coordinate a rescue response such as help citizens, provide law enforcement, and evacuate the rest of the city. During the first two days the federal government forces had no commutation with the states national guard . resulting in either agency being able to operate at full efficiency. No one had any idea what the other agency was doing or had already done. This resulted in the delay of many ground forces be assisted to the area. FEMA requested assistance from DOD not knowing what the National guard had already done to fill the same needs. This also resulted in no formal command relationship which caused confusion o n what jobs both sides need to do. The destruction of communications infrastructure made it impossible for emergency responders and citizens to communicate effectively. With 70 percent of the city’s  police officers being victims themselves there was not enough law enforcements to restore order. The Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security had to send it different agencies of law enforcement t to help the New Orleans police department . Many hospitals were destroyed during Katrina and with thousands of people needing assistance it was devastating. Most local and State public health and medical assets were overwhelmed by these conditions, placing even more responsibility on federal agencies.. The process for approval for the reimbursement for medical and public health services provided by Federal agencies created delays and frustrations among health care providers, patients and the general public. Triage was also a big factor during Hurricane Katrina considering the fact that the number of people needing help was much greater than the number of first responders. Many people needed to be rescued and were injured and with the conditions of the city it was a hard task to find people and be able to transport to them a care center. This was a long task considering first responders had to locate a victim, transport them somewhere for help, get back to the same area and keep looking only to repeat the process over and over. It was hard to pick and choose to would get help first considering the fact that only numbers of people would be found at a time. During Hurricane Katrina DMORT set up the Find Family National Call Center in Louisiana. This was the center of operations for finding the location and reuniting families that were separated during Hurricane Katrina. Out of 13,000 people that were missing, around 7,000 were reunited to their families thanks to the DMORTS operation. DMORT were given two missions during Hurricane Katrina. One was to set up a base camp for DMORT and the other was to set up a base camp for the 1600 person Urban Search and Rescue crew. Other duties were to set up temporary morgue facilities, do victim identification, forensic dental pathology on diseased bodies, processing, preparation of diseased bodies. One major thing that was learned during Hurricane Katrina is that during such a major disaster declaring a state of emergency and an evacuation of a area is not enough to reduce the amount of fatalities during a disaster. A big problem was that During Katrina many agencies had no ways to communicate and set up a chain of command in order to operate at full efficiency of their abilities. When it is known that a natural disaster is going to take place , the agencies that are going to respond being state or federal need   to know in advance in order to set up a plan for each agency so that no one is doing the same thing over. Good communication methods need be planned out before hand since this way such a major issue during Hurricane Katrina. Another major issue during Katrina was triage and the lack of first responders. Once it is known that a major disaster is about to take place local medical centers can not be relied on being that there is a great chance they can be destroyed or without any power as seen during hurricane Katrina. Centers need to be set up away from the danger area and transportation of these civilians need to be prepared in advance. Small issues that can lead into big problems such as the Governor during Katrina w did not sign an emergency waiver to allow licensed drivers to transport evacuees on school buses are objectives that need to be taken care of in advance to avoid such issues. Centers that are set up need to be well equipped and supplied to handle the amount to people that will be sent there. Organizations such as the American Red Cross should be asked in advance for their assistance, not after the disaster has already taken place. Assistance on how hospitals to get paid back by federal funds for their assistance should be taken care of during advance being that this was a major issue during Katrina. Federal teams that will be needed just be warned in advance for their assistance and be told to be on immediate standby. This should include professional search and rescue teams , the National Search and Rescue Response team, the National Guard, DMORT, Psychologists, EMS, Firefighter, state and federal police agencies, and DMAT should all be prepared .

Elmore The Navigators Analysis - 1212 Words

Elmore begins this adventure into mentoring providing us two definitions. The first, later attributed to Dawson Trotman of The Navigators, is strategically investing in the lives of a few people now who will be able to benefit greater numbers in the future (Elmore, 2012, Kindle Locations 137, 349). The second definition he shares gives the process a personal feel, â€Å"a relational experience through which one person empowers another by sharing their wisdom and resources† (Elmore, 2012, Kindle Location 144). The succinctness and complexity of these definitions encapsulate the framework to which Elmore returns throughout. The key elements revealed here are relationship, investment, process, focus, empowerment, and multiplication. These elements†¦show more content†¦So, is it still worth our time if only one-third of the mentees reproduce themselves? Even if only 4 people follow through and mentor 12 more people each time, at the end of six generations, the return on t he original investment of 12 people was still of over 15,000 people or an average yearly return on investment of 21,000%. No one should turn down an investment opportunity like this. In fact, the reason I have invested 21 years in the lives of students is due to the investment someone had made me. Once we buy into the process, the next logical question is what does it take to prepare to be a mentor. Elmore warns that if one waits until feeling prepared, then likely, no one would ever be mentored (2012, Kindle Locations 1038-1039). If we refrain from sharing our knowledge and experience until a particular level of proficiency is attained, we deprive future generations of the foundation already available to empower them as effective leaders (Elmore, 2012, Kindle Locations 1041-1043). This is reminiscent of a conversation with my father about being prepared for children, the ultimate mentoring relationship. He assured me that we were as ready as we would ever be and waiting to feel prepared would only result in never planning to have children. Unfortunately, many potential mentors fail to ever reproduce themselves because they never feel prepared. After making his case for mentoring, Elmore advocates for