Genetic Engineering in Donny and Ursula Save the World by...

â€Å"In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on† (Robert Frost). People from the beginning of civilization have cultivated crops ranging from methods of fermentation to classical selection for desired traits. In essence, genetic modification is not a new concept only conceived in the twentieth century; it has been occurring for millenias. Genetic engineering is only a step forward as the latest form of gene selection utilizing biotechnology, which merely catalyzes processes that previously required generations upon generations to that of just a couple days. All living organisms consist of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the building block for life that consists of the same four nucleotides: adenine, guanine,†¦show more content†¦Future GM seeds will allow farmers to maintain higher yields while using less water and chemical fertilizer by allowing farmers to produce bigger and more reliable crops. Nutrition-enhanced GM crops now in development can directly address the effects of malnutrition for poor consumers in developing countries. GM crops may be the only way to ensure that the worldwide production of food keeps pace with the growing population, which according to the United States Census Bureau, is projected to be nearing 10 billion by the year 2050. Opponents of GM crops often refer to a widely publicized article by Food Chemical Toxicology published September 2012 regarding the possible dangers of GM foods. The two-year study by Gilles-Eric Seralini a French scientist who has been a professor of molecular biology at the University of Caen experimented on only ten rats over the course of the study. In addition, the species studied has been known to develop cancer tumors regardless of its diet. Elsevier, the Dutch company that publishes Food Chemical Toxicology made a statement regarding the authenticity of the study: â€Å"A more in-depth look at the raw data revealed that no definitive conclusions can be reached with this small sample size regarding the role of either NK603 or glyphosate in regards to overall mortality or tumor incidence. Given the known high incidence of tumors in the

BP and Theories of Regulation

Question: Interest Theory and what of the role of regulators (politicians)? What are the motivations of politicians as regulators? Answer: 1. Introduction This study is about the public interest theory and the role of politicians as regulators, their motivations and its repercussions on the society. The argumentative study is presented through an analysis of the research publication by Jean Houdet and Charles Germaneau. The methodology undertaken is to make an analysis in three parts. The first part gives an internal introduction and regulatory theories. The second part is an argumentative presentation that argues on the role of politicians who act for the benefit of a few interest groups through an analysis of the research publication by Houdet and Germaneau. The third part presents the requirement for a standard accounting practice and regulation that will meet the changing business needs. The study concludes with the fact that politicians as regulators play according to a few interest groups while framing regulations at the cost of the society and environment. A single, unified accounting practice is required. 2. Internal Introduction The first part of the study is an internal introduction. This part makes an analysis of the financial accounting theory and the need for theories of regulations. Special emphasis is given to the role played by politicians and the factors which motivate these politicians to intervene in objectives and functioning of governing regulators. 2.1 Financial Accounting Theories Financial accounting theories are classified as normative and positive theories. 2.1.1 Positive Accounting Theory This is a positive theory which predicts and explains accounting practices and is based on the economic theory that focuses on agency relationship as they provide resources to the firm such as owners and managers, managers and debt providers. It assumes that self-interest drives an individuals action to increase his wealth and increase his self-interest. 2.1.2 Normative Accounting Theories These theories identify the objectives of GPFR such as the conceptual framework. Normative Accounting Theories are classified as current-cost accounting, exit-price accounting, and deprival value accounting. 2.1.3 Systems Oriented Theories They are of three types namely: Stakeholder Theory: It has two branches which are ethical (or normative branch) and managerial (or positive branch). It describes that all stakeholders such as employees, lenders, shareholders, customers, government and interest groups have a right to get the information provided to them. Legitimacy Theory: Organizations should ensure that their operations remain within the norms of societal requirements, are legitimate. Through disclosures in annual reports, organizations consider the rights of the investors as well as the public in general. Institutional Theory: Organizations tend to take the same form and characteristics within their field. This theory overlaps with the stakeholder and legitimacy theory. 2.2 Role of regulators The objective of accounting is to provide access to information so that interested parties may take decisions. Accountants and accounting standards require regulations. Regulations help to benefit the society in general rather than to serve a particular interest group. Regulations are required To protect public interest For healthy competition. When there are windfall profits Information asymmetries Profit skimming To correct inequitable and inefficient market practices 2.3 Theories of regulation Public Interest Theory Capture Theory Economic Interest Group Theory 2.3.1. Public Interest Theory The Public Interest Theory gives a normative justification for regulations. It depicts that regulations are formed to correct inequitable and inefficient market practices. This theory gives importance to regulations to benefit the society instead of benefitting vested interests. The government should work as a neutral arbiter(Deegan 2006) It helps in healthy competition, stabilizes the economy and ensures social objectives in policy-making Deepwater oil spill damage of BP depicts the way markets are unregulated and inefficient. It also shows that government lacks neutrality which was the main criticism of public interest theory. 2.3.2 The capture theory Organizations that come under regulations will ultimately control regulators as decisions made by regulators will impact the industry significantly. Interest groups use government regulators like politicians as protective gears to serve their own interests. 2.3.3 Economic Interest Group Theory It prescribes that interest groups become regulators wherein regulations serve particular parties for private interests such as politicians. It is also called as the Coalition-building theory 2.4 Motivation of politicians as regulators Politicians are pressurized by powerful interest groups in regulatory intervention. The incentives that politicians get from these interest groups are: To be re-elected To maintain control and power To attract support for re-election successfully Politicians compete to increase their wealth and income and help interest groups to achieve their narrow self-interests thereby shaping regulatory practices. State power is made to fit demands by interest groups. Interest groups provide political support through campaign and vote contributions. The deep-water horizon spill by BP is an example of how BP used political power to protect itself from the environment crisis it created through its oil-spill. 3. Argumentative Analysis of Research Publication This part describes the research publication that is taken for analysis. The methodology used for the analysis is through an argumentative study that supports the research publication on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill by Joel Houdet and Charles Germaneau. The analysis argues to support that politicians are regulators who act for interest groups and studies the motivations behind the role of politicians as regulators. 3.1 Description of the Research Publication British Petroleum has an annual profit of over $23.6 billion which is the largest for an Australian Corporation. It employs around 100,000 employees around the world. On 20 April 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico, the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded(Houdet Germaneau 2011). BP was held responsible for damages to the environment along with Transocean, MOEX and Anadarko. Bob Dudley the CEO of BP accepted responsibility for the incident stating that (Wilson Kuszewski 2011) The well integrity had failed Undetected hydrocarbons had entered the wall and ignited the Deepwater Horizon The well was not sealed by a blowout preventer It has caused 11 deaths as well as environmental havoc through hurricanes and seasonal threats to areas around the Gulf Coast (Hiscock 2012). 3.2 Argument supporting the role played by politicians as regulators The research publication on the BP deepwater oil spill exposes the environmental damage caused by the oil spill. But the corporation tried to get off the issue through manipulative activities. Regulations are required to protect the society and environment. But when regulations are manipulated, it backfires on the society. BP used political power to make the government act in its favor and act against the public interest. 3.2.1 Arguments supporting this position BP has not disclosed the ecosystem and social damages fully nor has it exposed the calculation methodologies of its $40.9 billion pre-tax charge. It was more of political bargaining that resolved the amount that determined the loss to the environment than a technical calculation says the research publication(Houdet Germaneau 2011). The White House withheld information regarding the oil spill by blocking the information to the public. Immediate impacts in the Gulf of Mexico after the oil spill could be seen with the naked eye. Dolphins averaging 200 are dying annually; shrimp fisheries have closed and deep-water corals show tissue damages are some examples of the environmental disaster. About 20 valuable categories of ecosystem services around the Gulf of Mexico have been affected(Houdet Germaneau 2011). Other events in recent years include the removal of the mining tax by Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton through political intervention and bringing in a new tax policy so that the mining industry does not pay much tax(WordPress 2011). President Obama was criticized for blocking foreign crews from helping with the clean up. 3.2.2 Result of the Deepwater Oil Spill Gulf Coast States lost around $65 billion revenue annually through tourism The commercial fishing industry from the Gulf Coast lost about 40% of its 2008 sales which was equal to $4.3 billion loss The Gulf of Mexico producing about 73% of domestically harvested shrimps was reduced by 50% after the oil spill(Smith, Smith Ashcroft 2011) British Petroleum was claimed guilty of willful misconduct and gross negligence and was asked to pay $18 billion by a federal judge for violating the Clean Water Act. BP had recorded a $43 billion towards costs for the oil clean up which is a meager amount compared to the damage BP had spent eight times the bill towards its auditing firm to block its audit file report which was against the transparency code of accounting(Cohn 2014) Interest groups who influence public policies are collective organizations who involve in lobbying and influence government ministers, parliament and party platforms so that they can change public policies in their desired direction(Vromen Cook (eds.) 2012). 4. New Accounting Standards There are about 500 organizations that are involved in standard-setting. International bodies set standards of accounting for a number of products and services. However, the problem of standardization prevails because(Edwards Walker (eds.) 2009) Benefits and costs of standards are not evenly distributed members across communities There is a problem of identifying the optimal criterion Choosing a socially optimal standard and a social welfare criterion is difficult Issues like the oil spill of BP and, the mining tax issue by BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are some examples analyzed stating the need for new accounting standards and regulations and the role of politicians as regulators who manipulate regulations 4.1 AASB The AASB or the Accounting Standard AASB 137 has been set to ensure measurement bases and recognition criteria that apply to contingent assets, contingent liabilities, and provisions. Disclosure of adequate information in the notes helps users for decision-making. The AASB 137 gives guidance towards implementing new measures(AASB 2010). Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or GAAP are promulgated by the FASB or the Financial Accounting Standards Board and includes the SFAS or Statements of Financial Accounting Standards providing accounting guidelines. 4.2 FASB The FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board) in the US provides rules for companies to follow in their financial reporting and to provide useful information to investors and other stakeholders for decision-making. It has issued many Accounting Standard Update (ASU) regarding share-based payment accounting, adoption of US GAAP Financial Reporting Taxonomy, lease accounting guidance, pension accounting and, measuring and recognizing of financial instruments(FASB 2016). Robert Herz, FASB chairman has criticized politicization of accounting. According to him, special interest groups provide inferior accounting methods that do not provide transparent and unbiased information of the entity. He has pointed out to the interference by the SEC and Congress on various accounting issues like lobbying, troubled debt, pensions and special purpose entities. Enron and Worldcom faced political challenges and pressures that almost shook the White House which made it relevant to insulate standard setting from politics. The failure of Wall Street and AIG; false financial reporting by Freddie and Fannie were other national issues that the US faced during the global meltdown that brought in the Sarbanes-Oxley into practice(Herz 2009). 4.3 IFRS In the UK, companies have to follow IFRS while preparing consolidated financial statements. They can also follow UK GAAP. Amendments have been made in July 2015 UK GAAP as changes in the business world required new rules and regulations. 4.4 Need for Standardization Accounting practices must be flexible and should move with the flow of the business world. (Hassler 2015). Past failures, unreasonable goals and structural weaknesses in systems have to be removed. Expectations should be set so that they are reasonably accomplished. An accounting standard that will increase the societal welfare should be identified. Standards should not only involve technical expertise, it should also consider social efficiency Regulatory bodies should not have political interference A new socially superior accounting standard will still remain imperfect and limited in the same way as a new drug for a disease has to be improved upon. 5. Conclusion Regulations play a critical role in the welfare of the society and the economy. Regulations and its framework should work in the public interest. The research publication on the deepwater oil crisis by BP shows how interest groups such as big corporations use political power to manipulate regulations in their favor. Business environment fraud has to be eliminated and steps to be taken to minimize or prevented(Parker, Sale Ussery 2006). Politicians tend to give in to short-term concerns when regulatory policies are against their personal electoral interests. As neutral transmitters of public administration, bureaucracy in politics is indispensable(Hamidi-Ravari 2014). The private interest theory argues that short-term political moves are made for vote-maximizing through modifying regulatory policies.(Mejri Wolf 2013). Bibliography AASB 2010, 'AASB 137: Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets- July 2004', Federal Register of Legislation, vol V, no. 3, pp. 1-13. Cohn, M 2014, BP Demands Release of McGladrey's Audit of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Claims, viewed 19 May 2016, Deegan, C 2006, Financial Accounting Theory, McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd, Sydney. Edwards, J, Walker, SP (eds.) 2009, The Routledge Companion to Accounting History, Routledge, New York. FASB 2016, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, viewed 20 May 2016, Hamidi-Ravari, A 2014, 'The Critical Role of the Reporting Entity Concept in Australian Financial Reporting', Essay Series, Research Centre, Australian Accounting Standards Board, ISSN 2202-5723, AASB Research Centre, Victoria. Hassler, A 2015, 'Accounting for the Future', Senior Honors Thesis, Honors Program, Liberty University, ISBN 1530, Digital Commons, New York. Herz, R 2009, The Accounting Cycle: Politics of Accounting Standards Setting, viewed 20 May 2016, Hiscock, G 2012, Earth Wars: The Battle for Global Resources, John Wiley Sons, Solaris. Houdet, J Germaneau, C 2011, 'The Financial Impacts of BP's Response to the Deepwater Horizon Waterspill Comparing Damage Valuation Approach and Highlighting the Need for More Reliable Environmental Accounting and Reporting', Research Gate, pp. 1-5. Mejri, M Wolf, D 2013, 'Crisis Management: Lessons Learnt from the BP Deepwater Horizon Spill Oil', Thesis, Business Management and Strategy, Macrothink Institute, ISSN 2157-6068, Proquest, Cedex. Parker, P, Sale, M Ussery, C 2006, 'Business Environment Fraud: Accounting Happenings', Allied Academics International Conference, vol 11, no. 1, pp. 65-78. Smith, LC, Smith, ML Ashcroft, PA 2011, 'Analysis of Environmental and Economic Damages From British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizontal Oil', Albany Law Review, vol 15, no. 1, pp. 1-23. Vromen, A, Cook, I (eds.) 2012, Contemporary Politics in Australia: Theories, Practices and Issues, Cambridge University Press, Port Melbourne. Wilson, E Kuszewski, J 2011, Shared Value, Shared Responsibility: A New Approach to Managing Contracting Chains in the Oil and Gas Sector, IIED, London. WordPress 2011, 'BHPBilliton: Dirty Energy', Alternative Annual Report 2011, vol II, no. 1, pp. 1-28.

Picture This You Are Going To Travel Over One Thousand Essays

Picture this: You are going to travel over one thousand miles across Alaska---by car? by train? by plane? NO!! You are travelling by dogsled - your only companions on this journey will be eleven to fourteen of the most honest, loyal and strong dogs that you can find. For over six grueling months, you and your carefully selected dogs have been training, and now it is up to you and your canine companions. For sledders (or "mushers") this is a dream come true because they are about to start the Iditarod - a name possibly derived from the Indian word "Ingalik" meaning"distant place". Only half of the starting team of dogs will finish. Those with the strongest heart and the will to go on against overwhelming odds will complete the race. The Iditarod is a dogsled race that takes place in Alaska every year. It goes from Anchorage (Alaska's largest city) to Nome, stretching over 1,000 miles of icy, snow-covered ground. The Iditarod was begun in the 1960's when people tried to restore tradition to Alaska. It was first run to commemorate a trip that took place in 1925 to deliver medicine to Nome. The race has two routes, the Northern and the Southern. In even-numbered years, the Northern route is used and in odd-numbered years, the Southern route is used. The Iditarod is the hardest and toughest dogsled race there is. Sometimes the mushers get so tired, they hallucinate. What makes the race so demanding? Three features: time, temperature and distance. The temperature in Alaska is so cold that it can reach up to 40 degrees below zero during the running of the race. Because it gets so cold, the mushers have to wear several layers of clothing. One of the major sponsors (Timberland) has made specially-designed clothes to keep them warm, including sleeping bags, snowshores, special long underwear, boots for wet and dry surfaces, water resistant climbing suits, and mittens made out of beaver skin. Other equipment includes dog "booties" for the dogs' feet, and a six foot long 28 pound tobaggan. One tobaggan, made by North Star is called the "Ferrari " of dogsleds. More than one sled is used. As the land gets flatter and icier, a new sled with flat runners is used. This sled is easier for the dogs to pull on the icy surface. For training, the dogs are split up into two teams for three days of workout and one day of rest. It is critical that the dogs be able to maintain their pace even when they are exhausted. The dogs get a few days off before the "big day". Sometimes accidents can happen. For example, when training, Bruce Johnsen, Canada's top musher, plunged through the ice of a frozen lake where he and his eight dog team died. The mushers and their team can get attacked by a moose, like when Susan Butcher got attacked by a near 500 pound moose, killing two of her dogs and injuring one. Mushers are now starting to carry weapons to defend themselves from moose. While the team is on the trail, the mushers drive the team for six to eight hours at a time, then they take a break and feed the dogs (beaver and horsemeat, plus beef). They also rest or sleep. During the first couple of miles out of Anchorage, the dogs go about 14 miles an hour, but after that they slow down slightly to 11 or 12 miles per hour. The starting positions are drawn based upon when a person enters. To enter the race, you must complete a 200 mile race. When the race starts, each team has a one day supply of food. Also on the trail are 25 checkpoints that each team must check in at. At some checkpoints, veterinarians check the dogs. Some mushers pick up fresh dogs and leave the tired ones at the checkpoint. For some mushers, the prize money at the end of the race is enough to keep them going ($50,000 to the winner, and $150,000 split among the next ten finishers). But for others it is an honor just to finish the trail. IDITAROD FACTS: Mushers rely on voice commands. Among them are: Mush! - Let's go! Gee! - Turn right! Haw! - Turn Left! Whoa! - Stop! SUPPLIES: - Snowhoes, sleeping bag. - Eight booties per dog, plus a restraint to carry an injured or sick dog on the sled. - Two pounds of food per dog. - Three dog drop chains (for dogs left at checkpoints) - Hand ax, head lamp, matches or lighter, plus emergency - lighting equipment CHECKLIST: Gangline: heavy nylon line that harnesses the dogs' strength to the back of the sled. Tugline:

A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton Essay Example

A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton Essay Example A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton Paper A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton Paper Overseas Filipino workers or OFWs work in foreign lands in order to provide for themselves and their families; and they also help the countrys economy through their remittances. In doing so, they can face abuse and racism by their employers. They may also become homesick from being away from their families, friends and homeland. Our music video aims to promote greater appreciation for OFWs and the fruits of their labor, and also to highlight what family members of OFWs go through. The target audience for our music video is students, specifically high school students; seeing that is very common for students to have parents or relatives that are OFWs. The video will have a story, with characters going through conflict, climax and resolution. The dramatic approach will be used in our treatment. The music video is the best way to present the topic. It can easily bring out emotion from the audience by letting them see the different stories of OFWs. By using this kind of presentation, immediate reaction could also be seen after the audience had viewed the music video. Treatment The music video will revolve around the lives of three OFWs. The three main characters will be a single mother, who is working as a yaya, a newly graduated woman who is working as a nurse and a father who is working as a janitor. The main story will be in a hospital setting with the nurse and the janitor working there. The yaya on the other hand, will also be at the hospital looking after a young boy who is confined in the same hospital. The first verse of the music video will start with the scene of the three main characters (who just arrived) at the airport trying to look for their families in the crowd. The first refrain and chorus will show flash backs of the characters on the job back in the hospital. In the chorus, the yaya looks at the wall clock as the nurse enters the room of the child and looks at her wrist watch and then checks on the child. Outside the door, the janitor stops cleaning for a while as the nurse comes out of the room. The three of them begin to reminisce about their family back home. In the second verse, the three characters contact their families back home. The next scenes will show each of the families receiving their remittances after talking with their loved one working as an OFW. In the second refrain and chorus, the families of the OFWs will be shown. Each of them has their own feeling of grief. The son of the yaya begins to ask his guardian about his mother, the parents of the nurse patiently wait for the call of their daughter and the janitors family is crossing out each date that passes. In the bridge, each of the characters hardships (such as working long shifts and being lonely) working abroad will be shown. As the first verse repeats, the scene in the airport will be shown again for the continuation of the story. Each character will see their families approaching them and hug them tightly.

Social enterprises Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social enterprises - Essay Example The main mission and objectives of a social enterprise are to carry out some form of social benefit to the local or international community by developing socially-minded programs, workplace ethics, and then expanding these principles into broader society. Common examples of social enterprises are those organizations that have a specific focus such as conserving wildlife or improving the skills and talents of workers so that they can become better contributors in society. A social enterprise takes all of its profit (if earned through commercial practices) and then builds momentum with these resources in redefining or assisting social policy. Any organization that is non-profit and has a specific agenda (though they can have profit opportunities), with a focus on contributing to society through corporate social responsibility, would be labeled a social enterprise. An example of the social enterprise can be viewed in The Ashoka Organization, a non-profit organization that specializes in social program development and social enterprise entrepreneur support. Ashoka is a global association of many different social enterprise leaders that provides temporary salaries to start-up social enterprises, offers professional support in their social-minded efforts, and also provides networking opportunities for social enterprise leaders for the purpose of education and support (ashoka.org, 1). One of the main missions of this organization is to assist in building infrastructures and financial stipends to assist in developing a common social agenda and spreading social innovation at the global level. This social enterprise uses its resources solely for this agenda, taking part in many different social programs such as working toward the de-programming of bullies that assault youths (ashoka.org). The common goal is improving society and building more network support in efforts such as these. What makes the social enterprise

Cloud Computing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Cloud Computing - Research Paper Example For this analysis, focus would be on the public cloud where software and hardware systems are hosted in the remote data center of the provider as opposed to private cloud where the software and hardware systems are hosted in the enterprise of the customer. Thus, instead of having local servers and computers in the consumer’s premises, the provider provides a remote data center from which end users access the cloud through web browsers or mobile applications (Rountree & Castrillo, 2013). These cloud application providers seek to provide similar or better service as if the software programs were locally installed in the end-users’ computers. The capital investment involved in setting up a cloud would be mainly on the data center. This cost would be borne by the cloud provider who acquires all physical computing resources including networks, storage, servers and hosting infrastructure. On the other hand, the operation costs would be passed on to the users. The equipment an d assets in the data center belong to the service provide while the user would enter into a contract with the provider on a monthly or annual basis. Additionally, this cloud provider manages the computing infrastructure meant to provide the cloud services and runs the cloud software which provides the required services. The provider takes up the responsibility of deploying, configuring, maintaining and updating the way software applications operate on cloud infrastructure so as to meet the expected service provision levels. Therefore, the cloud provider would be expected to design, develop, procure, install, test, deploy, provide and manage the IT resources in cloud computing. Raj (2013) observes that this shift of capital demanding model to an operating expense model transfers material risk from the service user to the provider. DEPLOYMENT MODELS Organizational requirements on the services to be accessed from the cloud and the control needed varies greatly. Therefore, different ser vice models have been used to implement the cloud environment. During the early stages in the development of cloud computing, there were only two categorizations, private and public cloud according to Hollwarth (2012). These two shared specific characteristics. However, these categories were extended to cover forms like the hybrid cloud and even a more specialized model known as community cloud. Private cloud Private cloud infrastructure is solely operated for an organization made up of multiple consumers. According to Mell and Grance (2011), the ownership, management and operation of this cloud could be vested in the organization, an appointed third party or a combination of these. It could be hosted on or off premises. Accessibility would be through local area network, LAN or wide area network, WAN (Raj, 2013). This implies that the organization substantially holds control of the data center thus improves on privacy and security issues. Nonetheless, Hollwarth (2012) observes that private clouds could fail to be fully utilized as compared to public clouds and as such could fail to operate efficiently. Additionally, undertaking the control of security of the cloud could come with higher cost implications as opposed to public clouds. Community cloud Shared by various organizations, community cloud is exclusively provisioned for use by a specific consumer community sharing similar concerns such as compliance considerations, policy,

John Brown Essay Example for Free

John Brown Essay John Brown was from Connecticut, born in strict religious family in 1800. At 12, after seeing a slave being brutally beaten, swore to never forget that day. In the mid 1800’s he decided to campaign against slavery in Kansas and Nebraska, so did the pro-slavery who campaigned for the continuation of slavery. With the murder of six anti-slaverists and that slave who was beaten many years ago, he decided that: â€Å"In order to end slavery, violence must be applied† (John Brown). In 1956, at the town of Lawrence, Pro slavery members destroyed the anti slavery head quarters and killed 6 of its members. John Brown observed the violence that erupted at Lawrence town. John Brown was set on revenge and on May 24th he and 6 of his followers pulled 5 men from the Pro slavery camps at Pottawatomie Creek and killed them. To avoid charges, John Brown went to New England to charge and raised money for 2  ½ years in order to purchase weapons. He was financially supplied by a secret group of six wealthy men who supported his ideas. In October 16, 1859, John Brown and 21 followers decided to take the weapons of the military arsenal in Harpers Ferry. John Brown hoped that giving the slaves weapons, they would revolt against slavery but they didn’t show up in the battle. John Brown was intercepted by the US. Marines led by Robert E. Lee. The Marines were victorious and John Brown was captured. He faced charges in Virginia and he was hanged. The execution of John Brown led the nation to divide itself into two polars, one believed that all men are born free and another who believed that Black people should be slaves. Some say that John Brown was martyr and others say that he was a terrorist and his efforts were in vain. John was a martyr who fought and died for his beliefs, and his sacrifice leaded to the abolition of slavery, so yes John Brown was a courageous abolitionist who died for a cause he believed in.