'Gun Control' - Does it work?

by Eyrie Clark

11 dead. 10 dead. 26 dead. Every year, over 250 mass-shootings take place in the United States, making an average of almost once per day.

In the wake of so many mass-shootings: Fort Hood, the Aurora theater, Sandy Hook Elementary School, and most recently the shooting at the navy yard in Washington, D.C., and finally, the shooting of 13 people in a Chicago basketball court, which included a three-year-old child among the victims, many people not only in the United States, but around the world, are having a serious debate about the merits - or lack thereof - of gun control.

Credit to The Guardian

Many people believe there is no connection between gun control and the rate of violence in a country. For instance, Republican Representative John McCain believes that there is no connection between guns and violence at all. He, along with many other conservatives, persistently speaks out against gun-control laws, attempting to block almost all progress. So let's start out by having some fun and tearing his statement to pieces.

Why has Chile become an economic force in South America & will it last?

By Izak Kallumpram

 

Economic History of Chile

Having come out of a repressive military dictatorship of General Pinochet in early 1990s, Chile opened up as a nation, becoming more of a democracy. By detracting its powers in the country’s economy, the government allowed the free-market orientated economy to push ahead whilst achieving political stability. In past centuries, especially under the Spanish-colonial periods, Chile had been a mainly monopolistic and closed economy. Once the economy did open up to foreign trade it reaped the rewards, becoming the fastest growing economy in South America in the 1990s, undertaking an aggressive privatization process and has weathered recent regional economic instability. With Chile already having free trade ties with the U.S. as well as elsewhere in the world, the tools for success were in place to a capable trading platform.  This coupled with a falling inflation, strong currency and affirmative monetary and fiscal policies meant that Chile was in a robust and stable position approaching the new millennium.

How do you feel about plastic money?

by Karina Shooter

Australian Plastic Banknotes Photo Courtesy of realitypod.com

The Bank of England has announced that plastic banknotes may be introduced in the UK from 2016. The transition would begin with the new Winston Churchill £5 note, soon followed by the new £10 featuring Jane Austen. The Bank has been looking into the possibility of plastic banknotes for the past three years, and is now going into the final stage of the procedure - a roadshow across the UK to find out public opinion on the matter. In December a final decision will be made on whether plastic notes should be introduced. 

So why the sudden change? Plastic notes are a lot more durable than their 'paper' counterparts (which are actually made of cotton pulp combined with linen and other plant fibres). A typical £5 note currently lasts just over 6 months before it is so worn and torn that it is deemed unsuitable for circulation by the Bank of England and is shredded. A polymer note will last for 2.5 times longer, which will reduce money spent on the replacement and disposal of worn banknotes. It will also be more environmentally friendly, as less notes will have to be disposed of on such a frequent basis.