The Yakuza

The Yakuza, also known as ‘gokudo’ form an organised crime syndicate in Japan.

A hierarchical system, the Yakuza run and control several criminal gangs simultaneously. Comprised primarily of men, the group prides itself on being outcasts and rejects, and displays this pride through their clothing and hairstyles and tattoos.

Today, there are 110,000 Yakuza in Japan, and the group is recognized and accepted widely. In fact, their reach extends into parts of Asia, and even into Europe and America.

Corporate extortion, smuggling, gambling, money laundering, loan sharking, tourist scams, and running prostitution and sex rings are just some of the Yakuza’s activities.

The Yakuza are hated by many, and feared by all. They contribute to one of the biggest social problems Japan has faced through the ages, until today.

.org frauds

Most of us assume that a .org site is a non-profit organization that either belongs to the government or is run by someone who is not interested in making profits. How many of us are aware that a .org domain name can be registered for as low as $10 and that the company can call itself accredited henceforth?

If we tried to verify the authenticity of the website, we would probably be flooded with an excess of information. This is the age old technique used by fraudulent companies: that of overwhelming the visitor with an endless stream of information, banking on the fact that not too many of us are keen on checking and rechecking and validating the information. Most of us may end up choosing to simply trust the website, and this is what fraudsters take advantage of.

Never give out any of your personal and financial information and account numbers to anyone you don’t know, even if they claim that they are from the government. Take the time to check out the website for authenticity before you make any payments.

Stay wary, stay safe.

Muslims clerics of the World Unite

Recently in the UAE, international and renowned Muslim scholars got together to condemn terrorism in Somalia. The meeting was a call for peace in that trouble torn country, and one of the first meetings of its kind where terrorism in Somalia was addressed.

The significance of such a meeting lies in the fact that the attendees were from across the globe, and were predominantly Islamic clerics and scholars with a large group of followers.

The declaration signed at the meeting condemns all forms of terrorism, and also emphasizes that it is an Islamic obligation to obey the authority of the state.

Can we dare to hope that this declaration signifies the beginning of the end of religion based terrorism across the globe?

Workplace Violence: Recognize the early signs.

When people work together 8 to 10 hours everyday, day after day, it will probably lead to trouble of some kind in the workplace. The trouble can escalate into violence; homicide is the second leading cause of fatalities at work in America today: 1,000 workers are murdered and 1.5 million are assaulted, there are 3, 96,000 aggravated assaults, 51,000 rapes and sexual assaults, and 84,000 robberies every year in the workplace. Anyone is at risk of workplace violence, and it is probably a good idea to train oneself in reading the signs for potential violence in a co-worker:

• Shouting, slamming doors loudly

• Takes no responsibility for his actions, and does what he wants regardless of its negative impact on co-workers

• Takes drugs or alcohol

• Shows abnormal behavior like arriving late for work and not apologizing, withholds important information from others, and lies unnecessarily.

• Displays poor social skills, keeps to himself and becomes fixated on one particular idea or person.

If any of these signs are noticed, make sure that the superior is informed immediately; workplace violence can happen to you or to me, or to a loved one.

How to deal with the heightened security at airports today

We all want and need greater security, especially after 9/11, but are we all prepared for the longer waits and the longer lines at every counter and the frayed tempers that are the inevitable result? Here are some tips to cope:

• Arrive a little early so that you may complete all the necessary formalities well in time and still have time left over to enjoy a cup of coffee.

• Never leave home without proper photo or documentary identification issued by the proper authorities.

• Make sure you have a paper ticket with you before you leave home. This will help you avoid standing in long queues at the ticket counters.

• Read up on the things you are allowed to carry on board and make sure that you either check in all the other items, or leave them behind.

• Also read up on the heightened security measures being followed at airports today, so that you don’t end up being taken by surprise. For instance, armed military personnel or bomb detection squads may be present, with their equipment. There may be sniffer dogs present as well. In some airports, full body scanners have been installed, and you may be subjected to a thorough examination. Don’t take it as a personal affront.

Remember; all these security measures will only help to make your travel safer. So, be prepared, and have a safe flight.

Some News for Jaywalkers

‘Jaywalking’ is used to describe a pedestrian who fails to follow the rules of the road, especially when he has to cross an intersection, or when he has to stop at a traffic light. While in some countries jaywalking is an unknown concept and pedestrians are not expected to follow any specific rules, in some other countries like the USA, jaywalking is banned and is considered a misdemeanor. In Atlanta, a Professor from England was arrested and jailed for eight hours for the crime of jaywalking! In the UK the pedestrian may cross the road anywhere except on motorways. However, the rule is not legally enforceable, while in Northern Ireland, jaywalking is a crime and the jaywalker can be charged.

In my opinion, jaywalking cannot be considered a ‘crime’ and the jaywalker cannot be charged; if he wants to cross at an intersection, he is taking his own chances, and he is responsible for whatever happens.

If you are an intelligent person and know to look both ways before you cross, then it is your business and nobody else’s. Otherwise, who knows, soon there may be ‘jaywalking convictions’ and perhaps the habitual jaywalker may be banned from walking on the road in front of a school!