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    • The Negative Aspect of Religion in Society

    The Negative Aspect of Religion in Society

    Religion is like slow poison, and just as poison is killing your body, in the same way religion is killing your soul. The only one difference is religion is masquerading as medicine, and while you are think, it is there for your own benefit. It is secretly killing you.  Before you become aware of it, religion has turned you into a lifeless being. The negative effects of religion on society are tremendous. Three negative points of religion such as making people ignorance, turning people against themselves , turning people against each other . Religion not only has negative points but also positive points. The three positive points such as eliminate the negative consequences of fears, charity, serve a social function. ‘If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.’ ~Albert Einstein .
    First of all religion is keeping people in ignorance to live means to learn, and life is a continuous lesson. However, when they have grown up condition to believe what is right and wrong according to religion, and told that to doubt religion means to go to hell, naturally they become afraid of seeking true knowledge. They stop searching to find the truth, to learn, and hence to grow as a human being. They are stubborn and believe everything on spiritual and faith. It means they always pray for happiness believe on god, and they believe the next life. They live without freedom, live in worry and force. Some religions force people to choose their  religions, or they try to promote everything to make people believe. All of that show about the religion keeping people in ignorance that can make people understand or know the truth so it is also the bad one of religion.

    Second, religion is turning people against each other, the other is just a projection of yourself, a mirror, on whom they can see your own reflection. Once they start hating yourself, they are bound to start hating others too. When they accept the idea that they are sinners, they start seeing those around themselves as sinners. When they believe that others are sinners, there is always a deep-rooted fear within themselves that the other wants to harm them the other is corrupted, ill-willed, an enemy of themselves. It leads people discrimination , stay away from communication and also make people become nepotism. However, they can have argument with their family by choosing difference religion. They look so extremist because of their discrimination or making people around against with each other. In addition, they will not tolerate religious ideologies that are different from the one they follow. This is why you can see religions fighting against each other. Similarly, religious people are fighting nonreligious ones. To identify with a religious ideology, and call it the only truth and way, leads to tremendously negative racism, and all kinds of violence. Just think of how many wars have been carried out throughout history in the name of God and religion. Religion turning people have argument with each other and it also can destroy communication in society and make people use the violence. That point leads people become bad behavior.

    Third, religion is turning people against themselves the demands that religion places on people are unrealistic. On the one hand, religion teaches that people are born sinners . Sin is what we are made of, and whatever we humans doing is bound to be corrupted in one way or another. However, religion is teaching people to behave in the best ways possible in a few words, to be perfect, just like angels. Nevertheless, people are not angels, so how can they act in such an unnatural way? but this has many serious consequences. When they fail doing what God has ordered, they start hating themselves, so they begin to accept the idea that you are indeed a bad person, corrupted, and not worthy as a human being.  once they do so, their live become filled with anger, bitterness and resentment .That is a true hell on the earth. Religion turning people against themselves even their own idea , they expect that what they do and what they have to follow is the best and they can ever against even themselves .
                
    Religion not only has it negative points but also has the positive points. The positive points of religion such as eliminate the negative consequences of fears that mean secure people stay away from the sadness and pain. Charity that mean it helps or shares to poor, parentless, disable, or homeless people. It is also serve a social function like make people have confidence or more believe on what they have had to believe .religion also have positive points of it and also helps and leads people to become more kind.

    As the result has shown out, you can see that is the negative effects of religion on society are tremendous. To blindly follow a religion, or any other ideology, simply means to restrict your perception, suppress yourself, and live in hypocrisy . In other words, to live in suffering and misery. Many people choose to follow religion even though they suffer from this choice simply because religion frees them from personal responsibility to live spontaneously one has to take responsibility for oneself, and this is certainly painful. Life is made of choices, and to make the right choices is not always easy. So people prefer not to chose for themselves, but to have others chose for them. They prefer to walk on paths made by others, instead of creating their on path, but we stop having an authority to tell us what to do or what not to do, will never be free. And we are free we will never be happy and peacefully.

    The Internet 2

    The Internet 2

    Thirdly, Most people will agree that the Internet has had a tremendous impact upon society. But does the Internet have a positive or negative influence on society? This is a question that has sparked much debate. Many people believe that the Internet is negatively influencing society by increasing pornography, fraud, and other negative elements. Some say that, because the Internet is not regulated, it contributes to crime and decreases the safety of human beings. However, despite these negative aspects, the Internet has opened up many new doors of opportunity for people, improving the way we live, work, and play.
    In addition, the Internet has become a critical path for research. For these reasons, and many others, many people believe that the positive influences of the Internet far outweigh the negative ones. Ten years ago, the Internet was used by only a small population of the world. Fewer understood what the Internet even was. Today, however, that has all changed in record-breaking time. The Internet is everywhere, and thousands of new users are gaining access to it everyday1. This recent explosion of interest and usage of the Net has the potential for making the Net into one of the major societal shaping forces of the future.


    Finally, Internets help a lot in the field of education by providing new information and keep them updated. It has transformed the relationship between the teachers and the students and gave a new horizon and prospects to it. Example: earlier students were not aware about the current information they depends upon books and newspapers but with the access of Internet they can easily grab the information in whatever language they want and needed. Students learn various languages and can communicate with teachers and experts just by clicking mouse. Internet has now become a source of joy and education both. State is also playing its role in increasing cyber literacy. Government by making various polices is trying to make people participate into the programs and policies made for the educational purposes. Internet also brings new social environment from private space to the globalize world. As Internet is very helpful for the students and children for their educational purposes in positive aspects. However it has its negative aspects also as there are certain websites which are dangerous to them.
    According to Littleton Colorado, in April 1999(vice-president, Gore) "In the field of education children gain access to areas which are not suitable and dangerous. And in other areas also the issues of security is of great concern. Firewalls are the issues which are always needed and in great demands for security purposes not only in the field of education but also in business . Internet is the ocean of information, as far as one satisfied it continuously provides information.

    The Internet

    The Internet

    As an avenue of entertainment and communication, and as a research and reference tool, the internet has had huge impact on the modern societies of developed nations. At the same time , there is concern that the disadvantages and negativeinfluences may outweigh the benefits to society. This article argues that, in the last decade, the advantages of the internet far outweigh the disadvantages. This claim is addressed with the support of current authoritative sources which provide the framework for making such a claim. This essay first explores the effect of the internet on the social structures of family life, and religious and spiritual practice. Subsequently, this essay examines the repercussions of the internet on national cultural identity and multiculturalism.
    Firstly. In the last ten years, modern family life has been enhanced by Developments in technology, and the internet is no exception. There are several advantages with the use of internet. The uses of internet includes but not limited to usage of search engines which will help you to collect data from all over the world, usage of email and other instant message services which are giving flexibility of sharing information among groups within seconds, usage of internet in shopping via online shopping carts helped both clients and customers. Internet has become a platform to share knowledge between different communities. Several universities are publishing their research papers in their websites/digital libraries and helping other university students, researchers and professors scholar activities. More and more of the world is spending more and more of the day online. Physical location has lost some of its importance. Social media is no longer just for the kids. Much of this change is good for humanity. Yet it has happened so rapidly that we still don’t fully understand the true effect our global, connected culture has on our own lives .Network effect explores that phenomenon through one of the most intriguing art projects that’s available to view online right now. Visit the site and you’re greeted with a message about the uncertain effect of the Internet on our psyche. Enter the project and you’re bombarded with quickly changing images and videos around different topics, a maximum level of overstimulation. Like the Internet itself, there’s tons to explore.

    Secondly, In this day and age, the Internet is the new resource tool for the masses. It has changed the way we live in society and the way people interact with each other. As more and more people log on the Internet, it has undoubtedly changed the way people think and feel about each other and the world around us. When we begin to look at the ways it has changed society, we can clearly see many reasons to its assimilation into modern life. First, it has given people a new way to communicate, through E-mail and web cams. Secondly, it is a sort of modern library where anything imaginable can be researched, and finally, not only in the virtual sense has it changed the world but also in the physical sense. Millions of jobs have been created by way of the Internet, the economy and the way people purchase thing has also changed. Because of these reasons, the Internet has become a staple in society and will continue to influence our lives in a productive way. The world today is in a high point when it comes to the economy, not only of the United States but of almost every first or second world country due in part by the Internet. The Internet serves a different purpose to every user, but to a country as a whole it serves the purpose of a great boost their economy. Billion dollar a year companies such as Dell, IBM and Macintosh greatly help the economy in way most people do not see. Not only do those companies pay taxes to the federal government, the economy gets a boost on any product that a consumer buys, thus every computer or accessories that a consumer purchases, the government is taking a little piece of the pie.

    Violence Against Women In Egypt 2

    Violence Against Women In Egypt 2
    THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR WOMEN (THE NCW)
    In February 2014, staff members of the NCW told Amnesty International and strongly believe that the council’s present importance was to promote women’s political participation in the upcoming presidential and governmental elections. The NCW also shared plans to develop a inclusive strategy and action plan for preventing violence against women, within the framework of a project funded by UN Women: The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The NCW stated their aim was for the strategy to address the social, legal, and institutional proportions of the wonder, and to set out actions needed by relevant government agencies and their relationship with civil society. The development of a comprehensive strategy has been a long-standing demand by independent women’s rights organizations, and must be directed with their effective discussion.
    The NCW was also working on an awareness-raising initiative on the available government services to tackle violence against women. The NCW conducted workshops with religious figures, and described plans to rollout similar activities with editors-in-chief of major newspapers, as well as school children. As result of the NCW has shown that spread some 20,000 posters defining the different types of violence, 36 and providing hot line numbers of the Ombudsperson’s Office for Gender Equality and the Department to Follow-up Violent Crimes against Women under the Human Rights Sector of the Ministry of Interior.
    The NCW cannot be characterized as an independent, sovereign institution given its founding by governmental decree, the government appointment of its members, and part confidence on state funding. Since its establishment, the NCW has played a positive role in pushing through legislative reforms, not least in the Egyptian Constitution adopted in 2014, and in accusing violence against women by non-state actors. However, it remains silent on police and military violence against women protesters and protective abuses. With the exclusion of Mohamed Morsi’s short-lived presidency, the NCW has largely rebounded the state story, including on women’s rights. According to report that the suggestion to women protesters did not trial involvement in their decision to share in the sit-ins casts a shadow on the institution’s protection of all women’s rights to freedom of appearance and meeting, regardless of their political relationships.
    The NCW has vocally supported Egypt’s new authorities, while attacking Western governments. During the Universal Periodic Review examination of Egypt before the UN Human Rights Council in November 2014, the NCW’s president contentiously stated.

    Violence Against Women In Egypt

    Violence Against Women In Egypt
    Part 1
    DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
    On domestic violence, the most recent event and the statistic show that between one and two thirds of women and girls have experienced some form of violence in the home, either at the hands of their spouses or other family members. The stigma attached to reporting domestic violence, the lack of legislation openly elimination domestic violence, and the sub-standard protective mechanisms in place mean that women frequently suffer abuse, including possibly life-threatening violence, in silence for years. According to16 Amnesty International has found that women who overwhelmed these problems to report domestic violence face indifferent, neglectful and at times adverse officials. There is no official information available on the number of men imprisoned and jailed for spousal violence. None of the survivors of violence, lawyers or NGO workers Amnesty International interviewed for this briefing had ever seen a single case of a successful trial of an abusive partner.
    The organization’s findings suggest that the occurrence of domestic violence is also strongly linked with the deeply unfair divorce system, which effectively convicts many women to remain in abusive marriages.
    VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN THE PUBLIC GLOBE
    Research into sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in the public globe, including sexual harassment, has also produced deeply alarming results. Attacks against women and girls in the public area have long plagued Egyptian society. Women and girls of all ages face sexual harassment at every step of their daily life: in the streets and on public transport, in schools and universities, and at their workplaces Sexual harassment is a form of violence against women. It gives to an environment that is threatening, aggressive, corrupting and embarrassing with the underlying threat of further and rising violence. In this way, it can have the effect of damaging or abolishing women and girls’ enjoyment of their vital human rights.
    In recent years, sexual assaults in public have flowed, with women and girls increasingly targeted for attack by groups of men and boys, often in the context of protests, but also during other large public meetings. Egyptian human rights organizations have reported they have documented over.
    Part 2
    Priceless knowledge and knowledge of violence against women in Egypt, including legislatures from the Arab Penal Reform Organization/Human Rights Association for the Assistance of Prisoners, the Association of Women in Development, the Egyptian Foundation for the Advancement of Childhood Circumstances, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, the Hisham Mubarak Law Center, “I saw Harassment”, Maan, the New Woman Foundation and Operation Anti-Sexual Harassment/Assault. In particular, Amnesty International would like to thank NGOs and individuals who helped the organization in classifying and questioning survivors of violence, namely: the Nadim Center for the Psychological Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture, the Association of Egyptian Female Lawyers, Nazra for Feminist Studies, the Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance, the Start Advantage for Rehabilitation and Training, Al-Shehab Institution for Promotion and Comprehensive Development, and Women against the Coup.
    Amnesty International is concerned that a recent restriction on independent NGOs by the authorities means that many Egyptian human rights establishments have stopped their vital activities to promote and protect human rights in the country.
    Amnesty International is particularly thankful to the women and girls who were willing to share their experiences of violence in the home, in the street or in prison, and of their fight to obtain justice and redress. That is how the Amnesty International tries to release and helps women to find the freedom in the life.

    The values and issues of implementing Human Rights in ASEAN Countries

    The values and issues of implementing Human Rights in ASEAN Countries

    Asian values
    They champion an alternative model of domestic governance and development. This was in part of defensive response to the proclamation of the New World Order by United States president George Bush in the aftermath of the Cold War. The United State appeared to be declaring, in hegemonic fashion, the triumph of Western values, such as democracy, human rights, and market, economics. The ASEAN response was also, in part, presented as a bulwark against the undesirable social problems rife in permissive Western societies, which, marked by excessive individualism and contentiousness, are viewed as products of excessive freedom unchecked by a strong sense of civic responsibility. Asian values as disciplined, group-oriented rather than atomized, and valuing duty to the to community over the assertion of rights. It seeks to identify the obstacles to the development of human rights protection in Southeast Asia, and it suggests what the author considers to be the best strategies for constructing the most effective and realistic approach to promoting human rights on that context. The goal of promoting human rights and fundamental freedom.
    Design to promote preventive diplomacy and build confidence among Asia- Pacific states. Trade, economics growth, liberalization, and regional security remained priorities. Stance against racism and racist governments.Changed of human rights abuses, pointing out that no state is guiltless in this respect such as the failure to prevent human rights violations. Asian values are invoked offensively and positively as a distinctive approach to human development and state-community –individual relations that is superior to the individualistic, rights-orient Western liberal democracies, typified by moral decay, social dysfunction, and disrespect for public authority. Human rights is the language of the oppressed and marginalized. Culture value are esentilization is ignore the fact that culture are not static but in flux, given the influences of international capitalism, globalism, industrialization, and emerge of global culture of human rights within modern states. The economic success in the certain East Asian countries that industrialization before they democratized.
    Asian issues:
    Human rights in formal meetings, albeit stressing that human rights are contingent upon the distinct economic and cultural conditions of the region. Elimination of poverty, hunger, diseases, illiteracy, intensive cooperation in economic and social development, promoting of social justice, and the improvement of the living standards. Cambodia issue was a deviation from the original plan to focus exclusively on economic matters. Refugees problem were constantly on the ASEAN agenda after the late 1970s. Move toward the higher plane of political and economic cooperation to secure regional peace and prosperity include matters like environmental protection and sustainable development, the control of HIV, and measure against drug trafficking.
    Against genocidal policies, extrajudicial killing, and torture.

    Disabled people in Cambodia

    Disabled people in Cambodia

     Cambodia has a major problem of disabled people; it is a serious problem that government tries to solve and protects them away from discriminations, social problems, and the living standard.
    Disable people in Cambodia are national discrimination, lack of access employment, lack of access to education and lack of access to health care. Despite the fact that Cambodian people have one disability, the country does not have adequate legal provisions to protect Human rights of people of disability.
    Cambodia is also one of the most mine polluted nations in the world  (MAG, 2012) with 4 to 6 million mines exist within the country (CMAC, 2011), especially the northwest religion.
    The nations that higher of discrimination on disabled people is a trouble that make them afraid of society, people, communication. In general Cambodians lack a formation to welcome disable people in to their normal communities. It is the fact of Cambodia that discriminate on disable person at the work place and abuse the rights of work. The cause is they are lack of the protection and valuable from government and society. Disable people lack of access to education that makes them become ignorance and can have the educated person in society.
    Children with disabilities are not sent to school and many of them are use in begin.. The discrimination between teachers to students is also the hard one for disabled people to get the knowledge and improve their abilities. Children are the main suffocation that schools are far from homes and no any transportation. That is a serious problem that lead Cambodia loses the human resources and nation builders. According to article 5 of the UN Convention on the Rights of person with disabilities. Equal and non-discrimination, every one is equal before and under the law. Every one is entitled to the equal protection and benefit of law and discrimination.
    This article suggests the Cambodia government to eliminate discrimination on disable people, give them equal rights to work, study, and also right to communicate or involve in political. Disable people of Cambodia lack of access health care service and affects of epidemic every year.
    Cambodia government has low level of access to free health care for them; most of disable people are in rural so they not have enough health care service. Most of them are poor people that have no jobs, no abilities to get well paid job. Society discriminate on them even a public health care, sometimes not for them to go to check health, test of HIV/AID or free of medicines.
    The technique of medical of Cambodia is only in urban more than rural, urban is modernize so have more of rich people are living there. That is a negative point that government has no changed. It’s disable citizens stay in the trouble of all kinds of discriminations.
    There are four majors problem of health care to disable people are lack of physical accessible facilities, lack of accessible communication material for example HIV/AID and others, discrimination experienced from health center staff, health center to far way so need to pay for transport cost.
    As the issues article has mentioned above, there are three main majors problems for disable people in Cambodia. The first one is national discrimination, discriminate on disable people, makes them afraid of people, society, and communication with other people. Second, lack of access to get education. Disable children are not sent to schools because it to far from their homes and no any transportation. The discrimination between teachers to students is the suffocation for all those disable children in Cambodia. Third, lack access of health care service. Low health care service at the rural, lack of technique of medical and also no free of medicine. The main problem is the discrimination even on public health care service. All above are the three major problems that government must solve and eliminate the discrimination on disable people as soon as possible.

    What is the WTO?

    What is the WTO?

    What is the WTO?
    The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business.
    Who we are?
    There are a number of ways of looking at the World Trade Organization. It is an organization for trade opening. It is a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements. It is a place for them to settle trade disputes. It operates a system of trade rules. Essentially, the WTO is a place where member governments try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other.
    What we stand for?

    The WTO agreements are lengthy and complex because they are legal texts covering a wide range of activities. But a number of simple, fundamental principles run throughout all of these documents. These principles are the foundation of the multilateral trading system.
    Non-discrimination
    A country should not discriminate between its trading partners and it should not discriminate between its own and foreign products, services or nationals.
    More open…….
    Lowering trade barriers is one of the most obvious ways of encouraging trade; these barriers include customs duties (or tariffs) and measures such as import bans or quotas that restrict quantities selectively.
    Predictable and transparent
    Foreign companies, investors and governments should be confident that trade barriers should not be raised arbitrarily. With stability and predictability, investment is encouraged, jobs are created and consumers can fully enjoy the benefits of competition — choice and lower prices.
    More competitive
    Discouraging ‘unfair’ practices, such as export subsidies and dumping products at below cost to gain market share; the issues are complex, and the rules try to establish what is fair or unfair, and how governments can respond, in particular by charging additional import duties calculated to compensate for damage caused by unfair trade.
    More beneficial for less developed countries
    Giving them more time to adjust, greater flexibility and special privileges; over three-quarters of WTO members are developing countries and countries in transition to market economies. The WTO agreements give them transition periods to adjust to the more unfamiliar and, perhaps, difficult WTO provisions.
    Protect the environment
    The WTO’s agreements permit members to take measures to protect not only the environment but also public health, animal health and plant health. However, these measures must be applied in the same way to both national and foreign businesses. In other words, members must not use environmental protection measures as a means of disguising protectionist policies.

    5 things WTO can do
    The world is complex. The World Trade Organization is complex. This booklet is brief, but it tries to reflect the complex and dynamic nature of trade and the WTO’s trade rules. It highlights benefits of the trading system, but it doesn’t claim that everything is perfect it were a perfect system, there would be no need for further negotiations and for the system to evolve and reform continually.
    1 The WTO can ... cut living costs and raise living standards
    We are all consumers.
    The prices we pay for our food and clothing, our necessities and luxuries, and everything else in between, are affected by trade policies.
    Protectionism is expensive.
    Overall incomes can rise.
    Food is cheaper. The same goes for other goods and services.
     2 The WTO can ... settle disputes and reduce trade tensions
    More trade, more traded goods and services and more trading countries — they bring benefits but they can also increase the potential for friction. The WTO’s system deals with these in two ways. One is by talking: countries negotiate rules that are acceptable to all. The other is by settling disputes about whether countries are playing by those agreed rules.
    3 The WTO can ... stimulate economic growth and employment
    The relationship between trade and jobs is complex. It is true that trade can create jobs, but it is equally true that competition from imports can put producers under pressure and lead them to lay off workers.
    The impact of competition from foreign producers varies across firms in a sector, across sectors of the economy as well as across countries. So does the impact of new trade opportunities.
    4 The WTO can ... cut the cost of doing business internationally
    Many of the benefits of the trading system are more difficult to summarize in numbers, but they are still important.
    They are the result of essential principles at the heart of the system, and they make life simpler for the enterprises directly involved in trade and for the producers of goods and services.
    Trade allows a division of labor between countries.
    Non-discrimination is just one of the key principles.
    Trade facilitation
    5 The WTO can ... encourage good governance
    Transparency — shared information and knowledge — levels the playing field. Rules reduce arbitrariness and opportunities for corruption.
    They also shield governments from lobbying by narrow interests.

    The differences between US Independence Day and Khmer Independence Day

    The differences between US Independence Day and Khmer Independence Day
    In the world every country has its own Independence Day. Independence day is a day that lead everyone around the world live with happily, safety, peace and happiness. Every country has it own culture and also difference Independence Day. There are many points of differences between US and Khmer independence day such as culture, date, the way of celebration, carnival , picnics, concert, base ball games, US has got from Great Britain for 240 years ago, Khmer has got from France for 63years ago.
    First, the US Independence Day also referred to as Fourth of July or July Fourth in The U.S., is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress declaring that the American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and no longer part of the British empire. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, reunion and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States.

    Second, Cambodia was a French protectorate for 90 years before it gained independence from France on November 9, 1953. Independence Day, which marks that event, is a national holiday. The principal celebrations are held in the capital city of Phnom Penh, beginning with a morning ceremony at Independence Monument on the crossroads of Norodom and Sihanouk Boulevards, usually with the King of Cambodia in attendance. Later in the day, there is a gala parade held in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, with colorful floats and marching bands. Shops are adorned with national flags. After dark, the Royal Palace and other important buildings and monuments are lit up. A large fireworks display is held near the riverbanks of the Royal Palace.

     Third, the similar points of US and Khmer independence such as got independence and also have celebrations. Both of countries celebrate Independence Day every year to remain all citizen or people next generation to know and get what are their cultures . The celebrations include foods, fireworks, and parades. There are a few points of the similarity of US and Khmer independence day. They get independence and celebrate every year.
    Furthermore, the differences between US and Khmer Independence Day are many points. Khmer Independence Day on 09,November 1953 got from France for 62years ago. Khmer independence celebrates every year. The difference points from US such as Khmer releasing white pigeons, balloons, cheering crowd. They fly balloons near Independence monument and they also have their king joint the celebration. The differences of US that compare with Khmer such as US got Independence Day on 4 July 1976 from great Britain for 240 years ago. The differences from Khmer such as US celebration has barbecues , carnival, fairs, picnics, concert, baseball games and family reunions. There are the differences between US and Khmer Independence Day, difference culture , date, Khmer got from France, US got from Great Britain. US got 240 years independent , Khmer got 62 years independent.

    As the explanation above both countries have the similar and difference points from independence day also a national day. The differences are more than the similar points. Difference date, got independence from difference countries. Different culture, celebrations. The similar points such as they celebrate that day every year also have fire works and parades. Independence day is a day that every body wants and remembers.A day that change their future counties, develop and also peaceful.

    Analyze Pros and Cons of Dollarization in Cambodia

    Analyze Pros and Cons of Dollarization in Cambodia
    Dollarization emerged spontaneously in Cambodia because public confidence in the riel eroded the following a series of shocks that ranged from the destruction of all infrastructures by the Khmers Rouges to the subsequent mismanagement of the economy. The lack of public confidence in institutions and in the banking system remain high and dollarization which are still in progress, in spite of recent improvements in macroeconomic stability and of measures taken by the authorities to restore confidence. If this trend continues, the country may eventually become fully dollarized. No harsh action should certainly be taken against the use of dollar. However, there is a need to build up a consensus on how to promote the use of the national currency.
    1.      History of Dollarization
    Dollarization in Cambodia Resulted from a series of shocks, experiences and events that eroded public confidence in capacity of the authorities to maintain the value of national currency, the Riel. There are already some amounts of US dollars circulating in Cambodia during the period of the Khmer Republic (1970-1975). However, the Riel Remained the Currency used normally in domestic transactions. The first shock occurred from 1975 to 1979 when all financial infrastructure in Cambodia (markets, trade, money, and banking) were systematically destroyed. There was no place for financial system under the Khmer Rouge.1 Immediately after they conquered the capital city, the National Bank of Cambodia’s headquarters was bombed to the ground2. After the Pol Pot regime in 1979, commercial transactions were conducted mainly in the form of barter, or using rice and gold and later also Vietnamese dong.
    In 1980 the Central Bank was re-established under the name of the people’s Bank of Kampuchea and the Riels was again the country’s legal currency. During the 1980s, the people Bank of Kampuchea were providing the multitude of services, including acting as the monetary authority, the cashier of the government, and the only institution providing banking services, such as deposits, loans, and payment instruments. The use of US Dollar (USD) and Thai Baht (THB) was restricted by the centrally planed economy. However, confidence in the Riel remained low, given the political structure and the security situation, with the consequence that dollar and baht and above all gold were largely considered as a refugee as a refuge by Cambodians.
         2. Respective Use of Riel and Dollar
    The riel is used by the Government and the National Bank of Cambodia for paying their employees, and is preferred by the general public for small transactions. It is also more in use in rural areas. The dollar serves all functions of money since it is used as:
    • a valuation instrument (prices being often indicated in dollar),
    • a settlement instrument (transactions being mostly settled in dollar cash), and • a saving instrument. Both residents and non-residents use the dollar. Foreign firms, NGOs, agencies and embassies spend in dollars, including paying their employees.
    Banks also prefer to carry out transactions in foreign currency. In December 2006, out of 18 banks, 8 did not accept deposits in riels although the law as the country’s legal tender declared the riel. Most loans were also denominated in dollars (97%). Out of 18 banks, only 4 granted loans in riels, for limited amounts.
    3. Advantages of Dollarization
    Given the lack of public confidence in the riel, dollarization has helped in maintaining payment capacities in Cambodia.
    First, the introduction of large quantities of banknotes in dollars, at the beginning of the 1990s, allowed the public to switch from using gold to banknotes for transactions and to store wealth. Until then, using unproductive physical assets such as gold was common practice in Cambodia. Subsequently, the progress of monetization has encouraged savings within the middle class.
    Second, dollarization prevented capital flight and promoted financial deepening. The elimination of incentives to place savings abroad encouraged domestic financial intermediation, which resulted in the growth of the financial system. Only over the past three years, the volume of bank activity has roughly doubled, and the loan to deposit ratio has grown regularly.
    Third, dollarization lowered the risk of currency devaluation. The demand for riel remained low and the market very small. Hence there was little incentive for speculators to try to gain from short-term changes in the price of riel. Dollarization has protected Cambodia against contagion in the face of the Asian crisis (1997-2000). It sustained confidence of investors in their operations in Cambodia.
    Fourth, dollarization promoted awareness by policymakers of the need to avoid bank financing of public deficits. Eventually, the use of dollar facilitated the integration process of Cambodian trade in the international economy. Currency stability promoted macroeconomic stability and a predictable business environment. It reduced the transaction costs (avoiding currency conversions). It allowed the boom in the garment industry in Cambodia.
       4. Disadvantages of Dollarization
    First, it undermines the effective conduct of monetary policy. The NBC cannot develop instruments of monetary policy and its role of lender of last resort for banks facing liquidity problems is greatly constrained.
    Second, the national currency may appear as a symbol of sovereignty and nationhood.
    Third, the income from seignorage is minimized. The government of the United States gains seignorage benefit from Cambodia since the dollar denominated money stock held by Cambodian people does not earn interest. The net annual income foregone is assessed in the range of USD 20 to 90 million per year.
      5. What to Do Now?
    As mentioned earlier dollarization in Cambodia did not result from policy decisions. Rather it emerged because public confidence in the riel eroded. Keeping riel in circulation will depend on the capacity of the government to move forward with reforms that increase public confidence in the local currency. Removing the use of dollars cannot proceed by forced conversion of foreign currency deposits into riel. Such a measure would stimulate capital flight and drive the dollarized economy underground. Hence, subsidized riel lending or harsh actions against dollar intermediation are not recommended. Altogether, the immediate target cannot be to “de-dollarize”, but to promote the use of riel, through an increase of the general public’s demand for the national currency.
      6. How to Promote the Use of Riel?
    Prerequisites
    The first and foremost condition to promote the use of riel is to maintain peace and institutional stability, since uncertainty was the main incentive for the public to keep cash in dollars at home. The only real long-term fix to dollarization is to stabilize inflation in a credible way. Fiscal prudence is key element that needs to be conducted in proper way. In view of the inertia in strengthening credibility, stabilizing inflation will only have an impact on dollarization over time. Anything that can strengthen confidence in the banking system, including bank supervision, must be encouraged. Similarly, anything that can be done in terms of strengthening the capacity, independence, and credibility of the central bank is welcome.
    Measures Already Implemented
    Several measures have already been implemented, to increase the demand for riel, and improve the quality of supply. Since 2000 an increasing proportion of public sector transactions have been required to be paid in riels (public utilities such as water and electricity, and tax liabilities are paid in riels). In addition, Government employee salaries are denominated and paid in riels. The NBC has made efforts to replace old, dirty bank notes with new ones. New types of notes have been issued periodically. Requesting that taxes be paid to the NBC has facilitated the withdrawal of old notes. The NBC has also issued notes with high face value (up to 100 000 riels). However those notes are not much used by the public and, because there are limited channels by which bank notes can return to the NBC, very old notes remain in the circulation. Exchange rate stability is important in maintaining price stability in a highly dollarized country. Hence, the NBC’s policy has aimed at maintaining the value of riel, through foreign exchange interventions (direct sales of dollars, to absorb cash in riels from the public, and to accommodate the demand of utilities companies). The demand for micro-loans from the poor to microfinance institutions (MFIs) is mostly denominated in riels. However, MFIs have access to international funding in dollars, not in riels. To avoid taking foreign exchange risk, they are forced to extend a significant part of their loans in dollars (34% of their loan portfolio as of end-2005). The NBC is willing to encourage their funding in riels, to support rural areas that are not used to making transactions in dollars. Hence, in 2005, the NBC has tempted a pilot experience of direct funding to a microfinance institution in riel, in order to enable it to grant loans denominated in riel. However, the central bank considers that market mechanisms are preferable, such as recycling riels deposited in commercial banks. A new Law on Negotiable Instruments and Payment Transactions was issued in 2005. It improved the payment system framework, and also reinforced the role and authority of the central bank on interbank payments, clearing, and information. This is a significant achievement for the credibility of the Cambodian financial system. Despite these measures, the trend remains towards increased dollarization and, if sustained, the Cambodian economy may eventually become fully dollarized.
    Further Options
    A series of new measures may be considered to support the demand for riel, increase supply, and improve the quality of market mechanisms. All prices of goods and services should be indicated in riel. The government may expand its riel requirement to the collection of non-tax revenue. It should also settle more domestic expenditures in riel, since only 74% of expenses are paid in riel (2001). The government could also consider requesting all international organizations in Cambodia do so. Paying public employees through a deposit into a bank account (instead of through cash) may encourage bank intermediation in riel, and discourage public workers from changing their riels into dollars as soon as they get paid. Commercial banks would also benefit from larger intermediation. According to the Public Financial Management Reform Program (PFMRP), all Government’s accounts must be centralized in the NBC. These funds should be converted into riel, according to the Central Bank Law (article 21-2). The quality of payment services in riel must also be improved to enhance the credibility of the national currency.
    Bank intermediation in local currency needs to be developed.
    Although the banking system is globally highly liquid, some banks have difficulties to access liquidity. There is a need for an interbank market and also for a stronger payment system. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have special difficulties to access resources in riel. This should be addressed given the large number of people who use only riels in rural areas; MFIs should not provide them with dollars that they do not demand for. Hence, there is a need to organize a wholesale market for the funding of microfinance. The support of commercial banks will be critical in this field. In addition, banks would accept more riel deposits if they could find other riel-denominated assets, such as treasury bills bearing an attractive interest rate. However, the National Treasury currently does not need to borrow from the market. Hence the NBC may consider revising the structure of its interest rates. Instead, market interest rates for bank loans and deposits in riels are higher than in dollars by at least 2 or 3%. Together with commercial banks interested in the process, the authorities could consider promoting price indexation to facilitate the growth of financial instruments in riels. However, preconditions must be met, such as a sufficiently sophisticated financial system, a credible price level, etc.
    • Increase Supply Passively
    The NBC is encouraging commercial banks to install ATMs that distribute banknotes in riel, and to promote credit cards in riel. The central bank also intends to pay even greater attention to improving the quality of bank notes circulating throughout the country, including through a greater commitment of its branches. The NBC is considering a reform of its activity in provinces, to enhance the performance of its branch network.
    • Improve Market Mechanisms
    The wholesale payment system needs to be dramatically improved. The NBC has initiated the process, with the support of international expertise. Commercial banks have also taken several initiatives. The interbank market should be developed, through the introduction of secured transactions. The legal base is already in place, but the market still lacks tradable securities, to be used as collateral.
    The Cambodian authorities do not support a full dollarization of the economy. On the contrary, the Government thinks disadvantages of full dollarization outweigh the benefits and prefer to reduce gradually the level of dollarization. However, in spite of various measures that were taken in the past to “de-dollarize” the country, the trend is still towards even greater dollarization. No harsh action should be taken against the use of dollar. However, there is a need to build up a consensus regarding dollarization and on how to promote the use of the national currency. This paper is only one step in that direction.