Commze

How do criminals sometimes get away with what they do?  How do they clean their ill-gotten gains?  It is a three step process for many drug dealers, or corrupt politicians, or terrorists or those embezzling from their company involving the the placement, the layering and the integration…it is the process of laundering money.  Placement involves depositing the money into a legitimate bank, usually in the form of a cash deposit.  For many criminals this is the riskiest and most crucial of the steps, as large sums of cash raise a lot of attention and many questions.  Large cash deposits are required to be reported by the bank personnel.

Then the criminal may transfer the funds from one account to another or use the funds to purchase high end luxury items such as jewelry or cars.  And while this is not as risky as the original deposit, it is complex as they are attempting to make the money as hard to follow as possible.  The third stage of integration is the final step and one in which most criminals are scot-free.  The money is back in circulation in the main stream and looks legitimate.

However, countries around the world have been enforcing policies and laws which make up the anti-money laundering task force so to speak.  These policies state that any financial institute, or any regulated business or organization must report suspicious activity and must take steps within their own institutions to aid in the prevention of the act of laundering money.

The simple truth is that money is acquired honestly there is no need to launder it.  Criminals launder money.  With the initiation of the Patriot Act of the United States, following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, anti-money laundering agencies have stepped up their forces, not only to continue to apprehend criminals, but in order to protect the citizens of every country as best as they are able from attacks by terrorists, by cutting off their funds, they may stop attacks and save the lives of many innocent people.

Related posts:

1. The Need for the Suspicious Activity Report
2. Consistency When Fighting Money Laundering and Corruption
3. The Consequences of Terrorist Financing
4. No Need to Fear the Suspicious Activity Report
5. How to Learn About the Stock Market and Make Money

I found it fascinating when I was living in Mumbai for a few month about how the Jainas believe in the transmigration of souls. They believe that if they kill an animal or insect is killing a life of an ancestor. Not only to they have hospitals for old and maimed animals in every town I visited, but there are priests that go around with a mask covering their noses and mouths so they don’t breath in and kill even the smallest of living creatures.

There was a Panjrapol, not too far from the Five Star Hotel India where I was staying, so I got do delve into this Jainas society a little bit more. The Panjrapol takes up a quarter of a reserve and is separated into yards, meadows, groves with ponds, cages for beasts of prey and enclosures for the tame animals. The institution almost appeared to be a Noah’s Ark. I got to watch while veterinarians were constantly in attendance and were busily bandaging a broken paw or pouring ointment on a mangy dog, fitting wooden crutches to a lame stork. In contrast, just outside of the Panjrapol there are starving old men, women and children. I will never understand India, but then I believe I’m not supposed to.

It was interesting to note that all the carnivorous animals, like the jackals, wolves, tigers and hyenas are forced to only eat a vegetarian diet. The herbivores surely don’t mind, but the carnivores are obliged to fast along with the Janis. I watched a bullet wounded tiger sniff at a rice soup offered to him and he lashed his tail, snarling and showing his teeth and with a dull roar turned away from the unusual food. He looked at his keepers, I’m sure wishing he could eat them.

What was most unusual, and a great example of just how far the Janis belief goes, I watched a holy man who was sitting in a corner and allowed what ever insect to feed upon his body. He was entirely naked and lay motionless with his eyes shut. He was literally covered with mosquitoes, ants, flies and other sorted bugs. Again, I will never understand India. But, I will never forget her.

Related posts:

1. The Culture of Delhi, India
2. Visiting Jaipur, India
3. Bengal Tigers of Rajasthan

There are hundreds of families of birds in Thailand. Like the rare Gurney’s Pitta which are fairly easy to see if one knows where to look for them. Unlike her neighbors, Thailand is a very prosperous country, so the locals need not to eat the wild birds in order to survive. I was happy to hear this, because I love birds. Some of my favorite birds are in Thailand and are easy to see the various bird families.

For instance, just outside the window of one of the Thailand Luxury Hotels where I was staying, I saw a kingfisher. There are 86 species of kingfishers worldwide and Thailand has 15 of those species. What really great about it is most of the kingfishers have bright plumage and typically perch in trees in an upright exposed posture. The one outside my window plunge-dived in the water pond on the hotel grounds in search of food. A very resourceful bird. There must have been some small aquatic animal or insect or even a lizard for the kingfishers fancy. This particular species outside my window is a White-throated kingfisher which are known to inhabit inland areas. It was very exciting to watch this bird, absolutely stunning when the sunlight hit his beautiful shiny blue feathers.

Later, I got to spot a chocolate brown wing kingfisher with an orange body at Phang Nga Bay. I even got to see his bright blue rectangle on his back. His voice is quite distinct. A loud piercing and descending whistle. I will never forget it, very impressive.

Also, in Thailand, there are 13 species of the Hornbill. I spotted the Wreathed Hornbill, the Oriental-pied Hornbill, the Great Hornbill and the very bizarre Helmeted Hornbill all at Khao Sok . Hornbills generally are fruit eaters, though they have been known to eat small reptiles, some insects and even other small birds. They mate for life and return each year to the same tree to raise their young. Such an amazing bird.  Thailand is very fortunate to have these 2 birds in her country.

Related posts:

1. Buddhism in Thailand
2. Exotic Thailand
3. Bengal Tigers of Rajasthan
4. South Africa, the Cradle of Humankind
5. First Day in Phuket