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Deep History of Florida and the Polk County Bioregion
Deep History of Florida and the Polk County Bioregion
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Deep History of Florida and the Polk County Bioregion
Florida is a small county in the US. The Native Americans inhabited the bioregion of Florida 12,000 years ago. The early inhabitants of the peninsula of Florida left behind artifacts and archeological evidence that is helps today in the study of the history of this state (Miller, 1998). Historical records begin with the arrival of Europeans to Florida. In 1513, a Spanish scientist Juan Ponce de Leon made the first records of the Polk County of central Florida. The Polk County is the “sunshine state” due to the warm climate and often the sunshine. The economy of this state has developed gradually, natural resource exploitation in mining, fishing, logging, and sponge diving as well as farming, cattle ranching, and citrus growing (Randazzo & Jones, 1997). This paper researches on the geological, biological, and the cultural history of Florida, central Florida, in Polk County.
The geological history of Florida commences from deep beneath its own surface where ancient rocks reveal that Florida was once in the past part of the northwest Africa. As classical supercontinents broke apart, hit, and rifted over, a piece of Africa remained joined to North America (Whitney, Means, & Rudloe, 2004). This fragment set the groundwork for the carbonate accumulation, which comprises the Florida and Bahamas Platforms. Florida in wide is a simple composition geologically expressing. The rocks are all sedimentary in entry, no molten or greatly metamorphosed rocks occurring in the state. The sea occupying the modern area of Florida was in ancient times remote from the origins of sediment, so that the dimension of canyon was much reduced here than nearer the original coastline (Randazzo & Jones, 1997). This sea was convenient to the existence of shell life, the fossils gathering to form shell rock; hence, in the early account of Florida in particular a comprehensive amount of lime and shell rock assembled.
In addition, the most common rock in Florida is the sedimentary rock. Cemented mineral particles are part of the sedimentary rocks that form the geological history of the Polk county of Florida (Miller, 1998). For instance, shell fragments, which cement together by calcite to form the sedimentary rock coquina. Limestone is another the sedimentary rock. It is essential in road building and other construction applications. A large area of Florida is covered with sediments such as the quartz sand or sedimentary rocks. Volcanic and metamorphic rocks do not happen directly at the facade, but in underground wells reaching from 3,500 feet to beneath than 18,670 feet below land exterior (Anderson, 1998). Since Florida is comparatively a young terrain, its foundation rock is composed of carbonate fossils of marine algae and shells placed in an ancient sea. Evidence shows earliest geologic deposits began during the Tertiary Eocene era.
A biological history of the Polk county of Florida dates back to when European ships first arrived on Florida in the 16th century, and the region was completely populated. Indians of the Timucua – Apalachee, Ais, Tekesta, and Calusa were growing rich lands in the north (Whitney, Means, & Rudloe, 2004). They were growing maize, pods, and squash, and fishing or hunting for almost all of their meals in the south. Places near stable food sources with fresh water, suitable microclimate and high, dry ground made the good home for these Indians (Waitley, 2003). Fresh and saline bodies of water provided regular reservoirs of fish and crustacean, while fertile soils allowed agriculture to thrive. Vulnerability almost decimated central Florida’s indigenous population of about 100,000 to deadly infections that the European immigrants brought to Florida. Measles, severe cold, even the common cold were fatal to Indians. In addition, the wars with Spain and other Europeans joined to the near destruction of early Indians of Florida.
Limited is clear about the early Indians of South Florida. The famously known society is the Calusa, whose vast kingdom was under by a sole chief. Despite lacking farming, the Calusa developed extensive political, social and trade channels (Nelson, 2005). They were also able wood carvers, and the many ritual items retrieved from a Calusa site on Key Marco exhibit great artistic ability (Whitney, Means, & Rudloe, 2004). The Calusa existed around Charlotte Harbor just north of present-day Naples and around the entrance of the Caloosahatchee River in South Florida. Arguably, the most difficult pre-contact culture in South Florida subsisted inland, in the Lake Okeechobee basin (Barnet, 2007). These folks not only had a complicated political and social structure, but they also grew maize. This has led some critics to infer that early people of South American migrated northland to South Florida through the Antilles islets of the Caribbean.
Although some of its flora and fauna are evident, the Everglades of the Polk central Florida too is included of many numbers, if not thousands, of lesser-known plants, -vcreatures, and fish that are sections of the living – changing ecosystem (Barnet, 2007). The River of Grass involves wetlands plants, trees and marsh plants, insects, fresh and saltwater fish, amphibians, lizards, mammals, and birds. Some 67 species are on the governmental threatened or jeopardized lists. Many rare, species of exceptional interest, are included on state lists. A brief overview of chosen Everglades’ plant and animal species are the marsh species, Tree Island, hammock species, mangroves, orchids, bromeliads, and ferns (Nelson, 2005). The flora and fauna of the Florida has a vast number of plants and animals. The historical evidence shows that the ancient Florida was the best place to be. The flora and fauna of the Polk County of Florida is an important part of history.
Humanity arrived at Florida at least 12,000 years ago. The rich diversity of backgrounds in prehistoric Florida carried a large number of plants and creatures (Miller, 1998). The animal community included all mammals. In addition, many additional giant mammals that are now obsolete such as the saber-tooth tiger cat, mastodon, giant armadillo, and camel scoured the area (Anderson, 1998). The Florida coastline along the Atlantic Ocean together with the Gulf of Mexico was very distinctive 12,000 years ago. The sea level was much below than it is today. As a result, the Florida foreland was higher than double as wide as it is now (Waitley, 2003). The humankind who inhabited Florida at that time was archers and gatherers, who only seldom sought big game for food. Recent researchers think that their nutrition consisted of little mammals, plants, seeds, and shellfish.
These primary Floridians settled in areas where regular water supply, good stone supports for tool making, and fuel were ready. Over the centuries, these local people developed complex cultures (Anderson, 1998). During the period prior to connection with Europeans, indigenous societies of the peninsula developed advanced farming, give in exchange with different groups in what is now the southeastern United States, and expanded their social system, reflected in large synagogue hills and community systems. The social history of the Floridians was rich with practices that ensured that each member of the society participated towards the well-being of the Polk county Florida.
In conclusion, the history of Florida is rich with different knowledge. The geological history reveals the sedimentary rocks that lie beneath the surface of the earth. The biological history shows the different residents of the area including both plants and animals. Lastly, the social history explains the ways of life of the inhabitants of Florida. How they carried out their lives in the ancient days. Although this paper has analyzed the bioregion of Florida, more study that is critical is still necessary.
References
Anderson, R. (1988). Guide to Florida prehistoric animals. S.l.: Winner Enterprises.
Barnett, C. (2007). Mirage: Florida and the vanishing water of the Eastern U.S. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Bennett, T. P. (2010). The legacy: South Florida museum. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.
Clark, J. C. (2013). Orlando, Florida: A brief history.
Miller, J. J. (1998). An environmental history of northeast Florida. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Nelson, M. K. (2005). Trembling earth: A cultural history of the Okefenokee Swamp. Athens: University of Georgia Press.
Rajtar, S. (2007). A guide to historic Lakeland, Florida. Charleston, SC: History Press.
Randazzo, A. F., & Jones, D. S. (1997). The Geology of Florida. Gainesville, Fla: University Press of Florida.
Statsky, W. P., Diotalevi, R. N., & Linquist, P. (2010). The Florida paralegal: Essential rules, documents, and resources. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.
Ste.Claire, D. (1998). Cracker: The Cracker culture in Florida history. Daytona Beach, Fla: Museum of Arts and Sciences.
Waitley, D. (2003). Best backroads of Florida: Volume 3: Beaches and Hills. Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press.
Wasserman, A. (2010). A people’s history of Florida, 1513-1876: How Africans, Seminoles, women, and lower class whites shaped the Sunshine State. Sarasota, Fla: A. Wasserman.
Whitney, E. N., Means, D. B., & Rudloe, A. (2004). Priceless Florida: Natural ecosystems and native species. Sarasota, Fla: Pineapple Press.
Zimmerman, S. (2006). A history of smuggling in Florida: Rumrunners and cocaine cowboys. Charleston, SC: History Press.
Miller, J. J. (1998). An environmental history of northeast Florida. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Corporate governance
Corporate governance
Table of contents
Executive summary………………………………………………………………………..3
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………4
Definitions………………………………………………………………………….4
3.0 ASX’s Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations and How the Principles Relate to Business Ethics……………………………………………………………………5
3.1 Principle 1: Lay solid foundations for management and oversight………………5
3.2 Principle 3: Promote ethical and responsible decision-making…………………..6
3.3 Principle 7: Recognize and manage risk…………………………………………6
4.0 How effectively the GPT Group corporate governance statement communicates information in relation to the principles selected…………………………………………………………7
4.1 Principle 1: Lay solid foundations for management and oversight……………….7
4.2 Principle 3: Promote ethical and responsible decision-making……………………7
4.3 Principle 7: Recognize and manage risk…………………………………………..7
5.0 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………8
6.0 References……………………………………………………………………………9
Executive Summary
Corporate governance has continued to tremendously develop rapidly over the past decades, as a consequence, attracting a significant public interest owing to its apparent significance for the economic good of companies and the society as a whole. For this reason, it has become a vital aspect for many companies. The report generally highlights corporate governance as an important aspect of organizations/businesses and its relationship with business ethics.
1.0 Introduction
Purpose
Corporate governance, the system through which corporations/companies are controlled as well as directed, has undoubtedly continued to spread out rapidly throughout the globe, as a result, becoming a significant aspect for many corporations to consider owing to a number of recent high-level corporate failures. Consequently, businesses are currently employing the corporate governance statement as means through which to communicate their governance practices in addition to promoting their respective ethical credentials to the concerned parties. This particular report will therefore describe what corporate governance and business ethics is including their relations. Besides, it will also elucidate the three principles selected from the ASX’s Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations explaining how these principles relate to business ethics.Finally; it will evaluate how effectively the GPT Group’s corporate governance statement communicates information in relation to the principles selected.
2.0 Definitions
Corporate Governance: A framework of practices and regulations through which a corporation’s directors ensures not only accountability, transparency but also fairness in terms of its relationship with all the corporation’s stakeholders (ASX Corporate Governance Council,2007). It is basically a mechanism/means through which a corporation’s policies and decisions are monitored. Issues of ethics are not only relevant to every corporate governance aspects but to every decision or action made by the board. According to Felo (2011),the decisions made by a corporation’s board right from its discretionary decisions when carrying out its duties as laid down by the law, or ordered by the shareholders to the various choices followed in pursuit of significant business strategies, all these choices bring about significant consequences that directly affect the corporation’s workers and other shareholders.
Business Ethics: As highlighted by Demidenko & McNutt (2010), business ethics basically refers to the type of professional or applied ethics that examines or scrutinizes ethical principles as well as moral/ethical issues that crop up within the business environment. Business ethics are relevant to all aspects of corporate governance as well as every decision or action made by the board. The behavior of a particular board member or the type of leadership displayed by a corporation’s board is, for instance, capable of developing integrity issues in it or even being significant in as far as the organization culture is concerned all together (Schwartz, 2013). A corporation’s type of leadership thus reflects various ethical values including integrity, fairness, honesty, and respect (Schwartz, 2013).
Relationship between Corporate Governance and Business Ethics: Business ethics are no doubt relevant to all the aspects of corporate governance as they have significant consequences that directly affect the corporation’s workers and other shareholders hence key to the long-term success and welfare of all the corporation’s stakeholders.
3.0 ASX’s Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations, and how the Principles relate to Business Ethics
3.1 Principle 1: Lay solid foundations for management and oversight
This principle holds that corporations ought to establish and make known the relevant board and management roles and responsibilities. The principle also offers various recommendations including the company’s need to establish and disclose the various functions set aside for the board as well as those entrusted to the senior executives; the company’s need to make known the performance evaluation process of the senior executives as well as the need for a company to providing information guiding on this particular principle (ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2007). This principle relates to business ethics in the sense that it supports openness in terms of the various choices made by the company’s senior leaders (Dando, 2013).
3.2 Principle 3: Promote ethical and responsible decision-making
This particular principle encourages the need for ethics and responsible decision making within companies while offering various recommendations majoring on the establishment and disclosure of the code of conduct and the establishment and disclosure of a policy relating to diversity (ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2007). This principle relates to business ethics in the sense that it facilitates ethical behaviours and ensuring proper accountability in terms of suitable board compositions and decision making procedures within the company (Dando, 2013).
3.3 Principle 5: Make timely and balanced disclosure
This particular principle holds that companies ought to not only promote timely but also a balanced disclosure or revelation of all the material matters relating to the company. The principle also offers various recommendations including the need for companies to develop and disclose written policies aimed at ensuring compliance with the ASX Listing Rule on disclosure requirements in addition to ensuring accountability at the senior executive levels (ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2007). This principle relates to business ethics in the sense that it not only facilitates ethical behaviours but also fights for the need for accountability in terms of creating a transparent attitude (Dando, 2013).
4.0 How effectively the GPT Group corporate governance statement communicates information in relation to the principles selected
4.1. Principle 1: Lay solid foundations for management and oversight
The GPT Group corporate governance statement facilitates not only ethical behaviours but also ensures there is proper accountability in terms of appropriate corporation board composition and decision making procedures. This is made clear through its provision of a list of the board’s responsibility that oversees the entire group’s business as well as having a formal charter that sets out the major roles and functions on the website, an action that clearly relates to the above principle that advocates for the establishment and revelation of the relevant board and management roles and responsibilities, as result, avoiding unethical behaviours such as conflicts of interests.
4.2 Principle 3: Promote ethical and responsible decision-making
The GPT Group Corporate governance statement articulates while also ensuring the implementation of standards of behaviors that are expected for the business practice. Other than this, it offers the basis for ethical behaviour that enables the corporation entrust confidence and trust among all its stakeholders. Corporate governance definitely advocates for meaningful values as well as policies and mechanisms that the corporation leaders and employees in making ethical choices (Schwartz, 2013). The GPT Group corporate governance statement therefore undoubtedly relates to this principle (Principle 3) that encourages the need for ethics and responsible decision making within companies.
4.3 Principle 5: Make timely and balanced disclosure
The GPT corporate governance statement is effective in terms of setting the major purpose for their establishment including what the company or business stands for (Dando, 2013). This disclosure is important as it reflects the company’s core values, a factor that relates to the above principle (principle 5) which holds that companies ought to not only promote timely but also a balanced disclosure or revelation of all the material matters relating to the company.
5.0 Conclusion
The report has clearly highlighted the significant relation between corporate governance and business ethics. In order to influence the company’s ethical culture, the directors ought to not only set up meaningful values for the organization but also come up with policies/mechanisms and controls to support them and their workforce in making ethical choices.
References
ASX Corporate Governance Council, 2010, Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations with 2010 Amendments, 2nd Edition
Dando, N, 2013, “The right way to govern”, Keeping Good Companies, ICSA International, Pp.605-608
Demidenko, E, & McNutt, P, 2010, ‘The Ethics of Enterprise Risk Management as a Key Component of Corporate Governance’, International Journal of Social Economics, Volume.37, No. 10, Pp. 802-815.
Felo, J, 2011, Corporate Governance and Business Ethics, Pp.281-296
Schwartz, M, 2013, Developing and Sustaining an Ethical Corporate Culture, Business Horizons, 56, Pp 39-50
The GPT Group 2013, Annual Financial Report 2013, GPT, Sydney.