The Clock Essay Example for Free

The Clock Essay A ‘clock’ is an instrument used to determine, record, and oversee time. The word ‘clock’ originates from the French word â€Å"cloche† significance ringer, came into utilization when watches were kept in chime towers in the Middle Ages. Students of history don't who or when humankind â€Å"invented† a period keeping gadget or a â€Å"clock†. Most likely a huge number of years prior when somebody put a stick in the ground and saw a sad remnant of the sun move over the ground, known as the sundial. (Cummings, 1997-2012). After the Samarian culture deserted little information, the Egyptians were close to isolate their day in two sections. A vertical stick, or pillar that is utilized to cast a shadow is known as a sundial. They were utilized as right on time as 3500 B.C.. Another shadow clock or sundial, perhaps the main convenient watch, came into utilization around 1500 B.C. to gauge the section of hours. As the sun moves from east to west, the shadows anticipate the time. They likewise demonstrated the years longest and most brief days when the shadow around early afternoon was the briefest or longest of the year. The Greeks utilized a sundial called â€Å"pelekinon†. These sundials are set apart to anticipate time precisely consistently. They assembled a progressively exact sundial dependent on their insight into geometry. An antiquated Egyptian sundial from the eighth century and a Greek sundial are still in presence today. Water tickers alongside sundials are known to be the most seasoned time-estimations gadgets. The bowl-molded surge is the easiest type of a water clock and is known to have existed in Babylon and in Egypt around the sixteenth century BC. Different areas of the world, including India and China, likewise have early proof of water tickers, yet the most punctual dates are less sure. A few creators, in any case, guarantee that water checks showed up in China as right on time as 4000 BC. (Cowan, 1958) Ctesibius or Ktesibios or Tesibius (Greek: Κï„î ·Ã¯Æ'î ¯Ã® ²Ã® ¹Ã® ¿Ã¯â€š) (fl. 285â€222 BC) was a Greek designer and mathematician in Alexandria, Ptolemaic Egypt. (Starting at 2008, 1768â€2010) He improved the clepsydra in the third century by B.C. by which water that trickled into the holder raised a buoy that conveyed a cursor to stamp the hours. He connected a toothed rack with a buoy switch that when raised would turn a wheel where he introduced mechanical marking flying creatures and ringers to mean certain hours of the day, for example, early afternoon or 12 PM. In the sixteenth century A.D. clepsydras were utilized by Galileo to time his test falling items. A light watch is additionally of antiquated source. Nobody knows precisely when it began. It was utilized to gauge the short lived of time by checking stretches along the range of the flame. Antiquated Egyptians utilized fat, a creature substances to make candles. The Romans were the first to utilize a wick within a light. Beeswax was utilized to make candles during the medieval times, anyway it was over the top expensive. It was said that the Romans and the Chinese would utilize light watches as morning timers. They would put a nail in a specific purpose of the light contingent upon the ideal time. At whatever point the light wax dissolved down to the nail, the nail would then fall onto a tin container and make a commotion. An hourglass or sand clock was a generally utilized time gadget. Its comprise of two glass compartments associated by a thin neck containing a specific measure of sand that gradually streams from the base chamber to the lower in a set measure of time, regularly one hour or something like that. Hourglasses were extremely well known on board transports, as they were the most reliable estimation of time while adrift. In contrast to the clepsydra, the movement of the boat while cruising didn't influence the hourglass. The way that the hourglass additionally utilized granular materials rather than fluids gave it increasingly precise estimations, as the clepsydra was inclined to get buildup inside it during temperature changes. (Balmer, (Oct., 1978)). In the ahead of schedule to-mid - fourteenth century A.D., huge mechanical checks start to show up in towers of a few huge Italian urban areas. These timekeepers were weight driven and wrong. One of the main tickers to strike the hour was in Milan in around 1335 A.D. These timekeepers just had one hand, the hour hand. In 1510, a man by the name of Peter Henlein, a locksmith and clock creator of Nuremburg, Germany, developed the spring driven clock. He is frequently viewed as the innovator of the watch. (Dohrn-van Rossum Dunlap, 1996). In 1557, the moment hand was imagined. Notwithstanding, it wasn’t until the innovation of the pendulum in the late 1600’s that the moment hand got helpful. As power was presented, timekeepers started to utilize an electrical drive to work the dials of an ace clock. The electrical flow supplanted the spring and weight as a force source. The piezoelectric impact given by the quartz precious stones was found by the Curie siblings, Pierre and Paul-Jacques Curie in 1880, however wasn’t applied into a clock until 1929. This impact showed by specific precious stones creating a voltage when subject to an electric field, initiated an electric potential to close by channels, along these lines fueling the clock. These tickers can have a precision of one second at regular intervals. Alongside these innovations, Charles Dowd presents time regions in 1870 isolating the United States by meridians 60 minutes, and 15 degrees separated utilizing Greenwich, England as zero meridian. In 1883 the railways embrace the four time regions for the mainland United States. What's more, in 1918 the United States Congress breathes easy Act’, approving The Interstate Commerce Commission to build up standard time regions inside the United States, and setting up sunshine sparing occasions. At last, In 1949 The National Institute of Standards and Technology constructed the primary nuclear clock, utilizing alkali. A second is officially characterized as 9,192,631,770 vibrations of the cesium molecule. Nuclear clock NIST-7 has been the principle nuclear time standard for the United States, and is among the best time gauges on the planet.

All About Abbreviations

About Abbreviations About Abbreviations About Abbreviations By Guest Author This is a visitor post by Letia Graening. A condensing is characterized as an abbreviated adaptation of a word or expression. In any case, did you realize that there are a wide range of sorts of contractions? Here is a rundown of shortening types: Abbreviation †This structures a word utilizing the underlying parts or first letters of a name. For instance, ABBA, MADD, and OPEC are generally abbreviations that take the main letter from each word to shape another word. Lesser realized abbreviations incorporate scuba and laser. The last models demonstrate that not all abbreviations must be promoted. Initialism Also called alphabetism, this is a gathering of letters, each articulated independently, utilized as a shortening for a name or articulation. Models include: CD, TV, and UK. Truncation This kind of shortened form comprises just of the initial segment of a word. These are regularly utilized when alluding to legitimate titles, for example, months of the year or days of the week, e.g., Mon., Fri., Apr., Oct. Cut †Similar to truncation in that you are utilizing a piece of the word to shape the shortening, however for this situation you’re utilizing either the center or end. Normal cut truncations incorporate telephone (phone) and ice chest (fridge). Aphesis For this situation, you have dropped the unstressed vowel toward the start of the word. These are frequently accidental and coolly spoken adaptations of the words. Maybe the best model is cause rather than in light of the fact that. Portmanteau The mixing of at least two words will give you a portmanteau. A portion of my undisputed top choices incorporate liger (lion and tiger), spork (spoon and fork), skort (shorts and skirt), and brinner (breakfast and supper). A few interesting points when utilizing truncations: Anybody can make up a contraction and many are non-standard. They should, in this way, be kept separate from formal composition. On the off chance that the full word would be promoted (e.g., Sunday or January), try to underwrite the truncation (e.g., Sun. or on the other hand Jan.). Need to improve your English quickly a day? Get a membership and begin accepting our composing tips and activities every day! Continue learning! Peruse the Writing Basics class, check our well known posts, or pick a related post below:35 Synonyms for â€Å"Look†Cannot or Can Not?30 Words for Small Amounts

6 Ways to Save Time Grading Essays

6 Ways to Save Time Grading Essays (0) Teachers have a lot on their plates, but one of the most challenging and time-consuming tasks is grading student essays. Even if you give your students a 2-page limit, grading 150 papers can take hours. It’s difficult to give each of your students the specific, helpful feedback you want to provide (at least if you’re hoping to also have a life of your own). Fortunately, these six strategies can help you grade essays effectively while still saving time for family, friends, and much-needed relaxation. 1. Focus on a particular aspect of the essay You can use this method in one of two ways: The first way is to grade the essays based on one particular aspect of the assignment, such as supporting evidence or focus and organization. This makes the grading process much faster while still allowing you to provide thorough feedback on this specific skill. You can focus on different skills each time. The second way is to read the entire paper and provide an overall grade, but then focus your comments and feedback on one particular skill. For instance, if you just taught a few lessons on supporting evidence, you could write in-depth comments for ONLY supporting evidence on your students’ papers. For many students, it’s actually easier and more helpful to focus on one skill at a time. 2. Chunk the essay into smaller pieces When essays are full of misconceptions and errors, grading takes much longer. One way to reduce the time you spend grading is to ensure that the majority of your students submit polished final drafts. You can accomplish this by chunking the assignment. For example, work closely with your students on writing their thesis statement and introduction. Next, work on gathering evidence and writing body paragraphs. Finally, talk to your students about conclusions. If you take time in class to help students work on and polish each piece of the essay, grading them will ultimately be much easier. Plus, this process can be very beneficial for student learning. 3. Use peer editing first Another strategy that results in polished final drafts is having students peer edit prior to submitting the assignment. Provide students with a list of questions, criteria, or a rubric to use in assessing one another’s essays. This guide should match what you will be looking for when you grade the final draft. After students receive peer feedback, they’ll revise their essays accordingly. By the time you receive their final drafts, they should be much closer to meeting your criteria. Peer editing also helps students become better writers. Thinking from the perspective of the grader gives them insight into what makes a good paperâ€"and what doesn’t. Another trait that makes a good paper: citations! At , the tools can be used to easily create an MLA format works cited page and avoid plagiarism. There are also handy guides on APA citations, Chicago Manual of Style, and more! 4. Create a rubric Make a rubric that sets out specific criteria and what a proficient essay should look like for each criterion. Asking your students to help you create the rubric is especially effective and will result in more polished papers. The more you use the rubric, the more you’ll recognize what “proficient” looks like according to your criteria, and the faster you’ll grade. Plus, a carefully written rubric can save you from needing to write many comments on each paper. Simply circle or highlight what level the student has achieved for each criterion, write a personalized comment or two, and staple it to the student’s paper. 5. Give collective feedback If you find yourself writing the same comment on paper after paper, providing collective feedback can be an excellent time saver. You can even jot down a few notes on what each class period seems to struggle with the most, or on common errors that you see by class period. This can usually be accomplished by skimming through a sample of essays from each period. To make this process even faster, you can skim through an overall sample of essays and write down overall struggles instead; it’s up to you! Then, stop individually writing any comment that appears on the list. Instead, create a few PowerPoint slides, either for your students as a whole or for each class period, listing and explaining common errors or issues. In class, hand back the graded essays. Explain that they may not have many comments on the paper, but you’re about to discuss the most common errors you noticed. You can then have students find and correct these errors in their own papers or write a reflection on which of the common errors they noticed and how they plan to avoid them next time. 6. Grade electronically Some teachers aren’t a fan of grading on the computer, but you might want to give it a try at least once if you haven’t attempted it yet. Reading typed essays is often faster than attempting to decipher student handwriting, and typing comments is less time-consuming than hand-writing feedback for some graders. You’ll also avoid those pesky hand cramps. Grading electronically can also make revisions easier to track for both you and the student, and you won’t have students raising their hands to ask, “What does this comment say?” This can often happen as a result of the increasingly sloppy handwriting caused by grading a gigantic stack of papers. Bonus Tip: Although it won’t technically make grading faster, you can make the grading process feel faster by offering multiple topics to choose from or allowing students to choose their own topics. This reduces the monotony of grading 150 very similar essays on the same topic, which can sometimes make two hours feel like an eternity. Conclusion There’s no magic solution for saving time without sacrificing effectiveness when it comes to essay grading. But you can try these six methods to make essay grading much faster, all while continuing to provide useful feedback and helping your students grow into strong, confident writers. For additional articles on writing, visit our blog or our grammar guides! You’ll find articles on irregular verbs, how to write a research paper, plagiarism, and many other topics.

Dragon as a Metaphor - 1646 Words

Calvin Starbird Paragraph 1 (Intro): The Epic Tale of the Dragonslaying Hero has been told a hundred times over. But where did the archetype start? Historians believe that the original Dragonslayer story was the English epic, Beowulf, written sometime between the eighth and eleventh centuries. The story of the Dragonslayer is that of a Hero, who starts off insignificant, but after his journey, is strong enough to face and defeat the evil Dragon. The Hero’s Journey is split into three phases; in order they are: Separation, Initiation, and the Return. The story of Beowulf was written for a specific purpose, other than creating a whole genre. The bards who wrote it as though it was a history, describing the past as the way things are when†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"The darkness† in this quote is the forest where Grendel lives, which symbolizes hell. This excerpt ties back to the Anglo-Saxon’s beliefs of good and evil and exemplifies the cultural significance and the darkness as an important re presentation of evil in the Anglo-Saxon world. Another example of the forest is hell metaphor is in the movie Horton Hears a Who. After Horton leaves his home of Nool to begin his journey to the mountaintop, he is forced to go through a jungle and conquer many challenges all by himself. This is part of the Separation in the hero’s journey because Horton has responded to his call to be a hero, and is now crossing the bridge, or threshold into the unknown in this scene: â€Å"http://youtu.be/VblpG7Up76M†. This portion of Horton Hears a Who is culturally significant today because it demonstrates the heroic trait of fighting for what is right. It shows people to never give up, and to keep their promises. Jack Steele Paragraph 4 (Monotheism VS. Polytheism): The last theme explored is the belief in one god, Monotheism, rather than many, Polytheism. In the poem, the members in High Herot try to ward off Grendel with magic and rituals to the old stone gods, Paganistic beings. Ancient monks, in their attempt to convert the ancient Anglo Saxons to Christianity, made paganism sound like dealings with satan, and a way into hell. This is said in the quote â€Å"AndShow MoreRelatedA Literary Analysis of Ray Bradbury’s Short Story â€Å"the Dragon†1111 Words   |  5 PagesINDIVIDUAL WORK A Literary Analysis of Ray Bradbury’s Short Story â€Å"The Dragon† 1) The plot of the story The story begins with the description of a deep night and two men bent by their lonely fire. These men are speaking about a strange, mysterious creature, which seems to ruin everything on its way. They are talking about a dreadful dragon, which is described with much detail: â€Å"This dragon, they say his eyes are fire. His breath a white gas; you can see him bum across the dark lands†Read MoreThe Dragons Of Legend : The Epic Of Gilgamesh1063 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"The dragons of legend are strangely like actual creatures that have lived in the past. They are much like the great reptiles which inhabited the earth long before man is supposed to have appeared on earth. Dragons were generally evil and destructive. Every country had them in its mythology.† (Knox, Wilson, â€Å"Dragon,† The World Book Encyclopedia, 1973) Dragons are told in almost every culture known to man. Descriptions of the Dragon have been written, drawn, and told in culture that coul d have neverRead MoreGeorges Seurat s A Sunday Morning On The Island Of La Grande Jatte1250 Words   |  5 Pagesiconic. While at the Art Institute of Chicago, I spent most of my time in â€Å"The Elizabeth Hammond Stickney Gallery†. There were three pieces in this gallery: Saint Michael and the Devil, The Birth of Saint John the Baptist, and Saint George Killing the Dragon. Each piece was made in the Renaissance period in Europe in the fifteenth to sixteenth centuries. I believe the main reason these pieces are grouped together is that they all contain a depiction of a saint. Another reason for this arrangement is thatRead MoreGrendel Character Analysis1077 Words   |  5 PagesGrendel encounters a wise dragon who ultimately aids him in finding his own true self. The author of the work, John Gardner, writes this tale with the goal of developing a protagonist who from the outside appears to be a simple beast but on the inside gains understanding of maturity. In the novel, Grendel, through discussions with the dragon, aids Grendel in both his personal growth and development of a strong individu al identity. During his visit with the wise dragon, Grendel receives philosophicalRead MoreThe Tolkien s The Hobbit862 Words   |  4 Pagesstory our relationship to each other, the world and the universe. To tell a myth is to tell a culture s dream about its inner workings and truths. Myth does not convey these truths literally, however. A myth tells its tale through symbol, image and metaphor. They don t explain so much as offer an enchanting, elevating or disturbing experience, sometimes warning us about where we should or should not go. Myths continually come back to life all around us. No one leaves them behind because we always faceRead MoreThe Tolkien s The Hobbit1143 Words   |  5 Pagesframework of meaning, a set of collective fantasies that story our relationship to each other, the world and the universe. To tell a myth is to tell a culture s dream about its inner workings and truths. A myth tells its tale through symbol, image and metaphor. The Hobbit is a mythic image in our modern day society. It is written by J.R.R. Tolkien. This story is more myth than anything. The Hobbit acts as the sister myth to Sigurd and Volsung. There are many mythic images in both of these stories thatRead MorePopular Songs : Drugs And Pro Drugs981 Words   |  4 Pagestend to be lesser known or less popular tell the story of the addiction, about hitting rock-bottom, and of recovery such as D.L. Downer A.K.A. James Williams’ Suga Boom Boom (Chasing Dragons). Drug Ballad, was released on May 23, 2000 in the album The Marshall Mathers LP (www.sing365.com). Suga Boom Boom (Chasing Dragons) was written and sung by D. L. Downer a.k.a. James Williams and his 16-year-old niece Laleazy was produced as a single by MajorEpic music label and was released on October 26, 2014Read MoreBeowulf Quote Discussion Essay980 Words   |  4 Pages49-58) The night after the day of Grendel’s first attack, some of Hrothgar’s warriors fled Herot’s halls. The wisest fled-knowing that if they sought refuge someplace away from Herot, Grendel would not be able to reach them and kill them. Using the metaphor â€Å"Distance was safety† (Beowulf 57), Hrothgar describes the correlation between survival and those who had the wisdom and foresight to flee Herot before the next nightfall. With Hrothgar declaring that â€Å"Hate had triumphed† (Beowulf 58), Hate is employedRead MoreBeowulf, An Anglo Saxon Epic Poem1316 Words   |  6 PagesChristianity. These traits of Anglo-Saxon writing can undoubtedly be found within Beowulf. Throughout the poem, the author expresses epic poem traits through the use of rhetorical strategies. The author used literary devices such as imagery, allusion, metaphors, and tone to express the epic traits of a legendary hero with significance, a vast setting, and supernatural beings. Beowulf, the fearless warrior of Geatland, established his role in the novel as the stereotypical Anglo-Saxon main character. ThroughoutRead MoreBeowulf Movie Critic Essay709 Words   |  3 Pagesbetween the characters from the original Beowulf poem to the movie is vast. Grendel’s mother in the movie was beautiful, for example ‘Beowulf’ Movie Review says, â€Å"The link between the early battles of a young hero and his fatal confrontation with the dragon as an aging king is his temptation by the monster’s mother who dangles wealth, power and sexual favors before his bedazzled eyes,† the writer reminds us of the beauty she portrays. In the poem readers are led to believe she looks monstrous; it is

The 12 Step Program Alcoholics Anonymous - 3299 Words

The 12 step program Alcoholics Anonymous (AA )was born in 1934. Prohibition had been repealed and a man named Bill Watson drunkenly found his way to Manhattan Hospital. Bill was known to knock back quite a bit of whiskey every day and couldn t seem to be able to quit. While he was in Manhattan Hospital he was given a new and considered experimental treatment for addiction of belladonna, which is a hallucinogen. Bill in his induced state, yelled to God to help free him of alcohol. He reported seeing a bright light and feeling such serenity that Bill quit drinking alcohol. He went on to co-found Alcoholics Anonymous and based the principles off the evangelical Oxford Group, which believed people were sinners, but with the help of†¦show more content†¦Addiction is also one of the only diseases that actually leads to another disease. By drinking, smoking or taking drugs a person can develop cancers, liver disease, heart problems, lung disease, and more. These diseases ar e brought on by the action of the addict. There is not another disease that produces another disease based on a person’s actions. Also there are many people who experiment with drugs that do not go on to become addicts. One final thought to support my viewpoint. There are also addicts that quit cold turkey and do not use again ever. (15) They did it on their own, under their own will power, without any medical intervention or 12 step program. There is no other medical disease that a person can use their own will power and decision making to stop having a disease. What I will concede is that there is an addictive compulsive component when someone makes the poor choice of using drugs, alcohol, or gambling and such. I believe we are all hard wired to have a tendency for obsessive compulsive behaviors, it is how we choose to act or not act on them that I think sets those of us apart from others. Lets get into how the 12 Steps work and why people find them to be effecti ve. I reference AA’s steps as they are the one that many organizations have modeled themselves after and all the steps are either the same or very similar. Step one in AA is admittingShow MoreRelatedThe 12 Step Program Alcoholics Anonymous3302 Words   |  14 Pages The 12 step program Alcoholics Anonymous (AA )was born in 1934. Prohibition had been repealed and a man named Bill Watson drunkenly found his way to Manhattan Hospital. Bill was known to knock back quite a bit of whiskey every day and couldn t seem to be able to quit. While he was at Manhattan Hospital he was given a new and considered experimental treatment for addiction of belladonna, which is a hallucinogen. Bill in his induced state yelled to God to help free him of alcohol. He reportedRead MoreEssay on Alcoholics Anonymous: 12-Step Program2169 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿ Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the largest and most commonly known self-help group in the world. Since the creation of AA in 1935, th ere have been many programs modeled after it, which are also based on the 12-Step Program. Some of these include Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Chemically Dependent Anonymous, as well as programs for specific drugs, such as Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and Crystal Meth Anonymous (NIDA, 2012). Attendance and participation for self-help groups are open for anyone to attendRead MoreThe Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Step Recovery Program Guide Alcoholics1611 Words   |  7 PagesRunning head: 12-Step Meeting Reaction Paper 12-Step Meeting Reaction Paper Carissa Hardy ADRE 6703 Abstract The Alcoholics Anonymous 12-Step recovery program guides alcoholics through a series of behavioral, emotional, cognitive, spiritual and social actions towards sobriety and wellness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, excessive drinking has lead to approximately 88,000 deaths in the United States each year and accounts for 1 in 10 deaths in working ageRead MoreChildhood Alcoholism And The Effect Of The 12 Step Program For Alcoholics Anonymous As A Form Of Treatment1147 Words   |  5 Pagesable to access and get a hold of alcohol more easily than they can other drugs – such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine, etc. The topic and focus of this paper is to explore specifically adolescent alcoholism and the effects of the 12-Step Program used in Alcoholics Anonymous as a form of treatment to overcome this addiction. This treatment will be evaluated through the review of empirical research and an interview with Dr. Don MacDonald, a professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Seattle PacificRead MoreAlcoholics Anonymous: the 12-Step Treatment780 Words   |  4 PagesAlcoholics Anonymous: The 12-Step Treatment Alcoholics Anonymous: The 12-Step Treatment The 12-step program used by Alcoholics Anonymous is a well-known treatment method that’s used for many types of addiction, not just alcohol. Alcoholics are encouraged to â€Å"work† the 12-steps. The first step involves admitting the powerlessness over alcohol. The second step has the alcoholic believe that there is some type of a greater power working that will help aide the alcoholic to reach sobriety, asRead MoreHistory Of Organization : Alcoholics Anonymous ( A.a )1691 Words   |  7 PagesOrganization Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio, and is a spiritual based organization with the sole purpose â€Å"to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety† threw fellowship. Alcoholic Anonymous (A.A.) foundation is built on a 12 step program that involves taking 12 step that will guarantee your sobriety (according to A.A.) because you start the 12 steps but you never end, it is designed for you to consistently work the 12 steps for theRead MoreA 12-Step Meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous: A Reaction Paper841 Words   |  3 Pages12-Step Meeting Reaction Paper Objective The objective of this study is to write a reaction on a 12-step meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous with the focus of the meeting being attitude modification. The meeting attended was the Stairway Group meeting in Decatur, Alabama. The members who attended this group meeting were of all ages, of both the female and male gender and were white, black, and Hispanic individuals. The majority of the attendees were males. First Speaker The first speaker at theRead MoreAlcoholics Anonymous : A Anonymous865 Words   |  4 PagesAttending an Alcoholic Anonymous Meeting Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in the basis that alcoholism cannot be healed medically, but spiritually. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1939 by Bill Wilson, and Dr. Robert Smith (B’s, n.d.). The main goal of Alcoholics Anonymous is recovery from alcoholism, and to fully abstain from consuming alcohol. Several non-stated goals are staying out of jail, fixing a financial situation, or becoming happier (Trizio, 2006). After attending in a meeting forRead MoreA Study On Alcoholics Anonymous Essay1459 Words   |  6 PagesAlcoholics Anonymous has held an almost sacred spot in our society as the way for addicts to get sober through spiritual means, with many people having anecdotal stories and experiences corroborating this belief. To full examine the ethicality of AA, an in depth look at AA is required. A study of its history, a description of the program, the success rates and commonly held harmful beliefs of AA, alternatives to AA, and finally an analysis using Rawlâ €™s Theory of Justice are all required in orderRead MoreAlcohol Abuse Is The Most Common Addictive Behavior1295 Words   |  6 PagesMany have tried to guest and speculate that alcohol abuse is due to many factors that include genetics, social, mental and emotional, and even how people around you raised you. Many also have speculated that people that we associates with that are alcoholics can be a factor also. It can be family and friends, schoolmates, and colleagues. Some also say that it can be due to emotional and psychological disorders such as depression, bipolar, or anxiety are factors of someone to drive to drinking to forget

Desciptive New York Free Essays

New York is one of the United States most known cites. It is also known for it’s sights and attractions. New York has always been my second home since my first home (New Orleans) was struck by a natural disaster. We will write a custom essay sample on Desciptive New York or any similar topic only for you Order Now Before I moved back to New Orleans I gained friendships and built on them. Ever since 2008 I’ve been vacationing in New York for at least one month in each summer. It’s something about that 2009 vacation I will never forget. It was overall fun and I had a blast. My 2009 vacation to New York was my best vacation because of the relationships I built on, the parties, and the fashion. When I landed in New York in the summer of 2009 the atmoshpere just felt different. I seen so many people in the airport that I will probably never see again in my lifetime. I traveled to Brooklyn via train to check in to the place I would be staying the three weeks in New York. Where I was staying was my friend’s apartment that I stayed in the previous year I was there. He asked me to come stay with him for three weeks before he left for school. He wanted me record for his YouTube channel he called â€Å"HBTV† (Half-Breeds Televison). I made an apperance in multiple episodes and directed some episodes. I relived my NYC hooping moments as well. My friend took me to some off our old hangout spots like the YMCA Gym. In there we use to play ball until the sun came up. We were so happy when we saw old faces that still worked at the gym. In there we went to adult night and had a loads of fun. I ended some nights with a nice home cooked meal from my friend’s mother. We were already best friends, but our bond grew tighter over the three weeks. We were so close, we started finishing each other sentences. i told him if he was ever in New Orleans he would always have a place to stay . New York is also known as the city that never sleeps meaning the lights are always on throught out the city and the party never stops. The parties I went too were outstanding; I don’t think no party in my lifetime will over top those. The difference between New York parties and New Orleans parties is you don’t have to watch your back after the party is over. What I mean by that is in New Orleans there is always violence during or after the party. i got expose to so many different cultures and I was expose to different music. I danced with so many different people, I also learned how to salsa dance. I met new people and I came out with a few numbers. I came to every party dry and ended up drinched in sweat by the end of the night. Every morning after parties we always discussed what happen that night, how much fun we had, and who did the funniest thing through out the party. Fashion is a big part of New York City for years. Manhattan is a â€Å"fashion burough† in my own words because of a lot of big clothing companys have offices through out the burough. There are also a lot of clothing stores in New York City. When I travel to NYC I always visit Soho. Soho is a spot in Manhattan with some nice clothing spots. Before every party I had to get a new outfit from Soho. Seeing how the culture was in New York it changed my life. I saw everything from Nikes to Reeboks. I loved the fashion so much I adapted into my everyday living. New York is one of the most known cities and is one of the best in my opinon. New York has the best everything from fashion to food. This trip to New York changed my life comepletly and gave me inspration. It’s the reason I decided to go to college to live my dream and one day live in New York again. Just breathing New York’s air felt good. Visiting New York City was my best vaction because of the parties, fashion, and the relationships I built on. If I could do it all over again I would. How to cite Desciptive New York, Essay examples

Energy And Water Sustainability Activities Implemented In Australia An

Question: Discuss about the Energy And Water Sustainability Activities Implemented In Australia And India. Answer: Introduction Sustainability refers to the ability to initiate activities in such a manner that natural resources are saved and ecological balance is sustained in the organization. All people present in the environment shall understand the need to address the future problems which can attract the world if the natural resources get depleted. So, to initiate the purpose of using the resources efficiently, sustainability approach was implemented to spread awareness regarding nature. The report discusses about the energy and water sustainability activities implemented in Australia and India. Further the report also talks about the governmental regulation, technological innovation, and activities implemented by private sector and exemplar projects as well. Energy sustainability refers to the process of consuming energy in such a way that energy is saved and not wasted in any activities performed by them. Initiation of sustainable energy refers to the process of using hydroelectricity, solar energy etc. to save it for future generation. Water sustainability refers to the process of properly using water so that it saved for the consumption by future generation (Ioannou, and Serafeim 2016). The main reason behind sustainability is to save the scarce resources so that it is saved for the use of upcoming generation. Future activities taken by Australia and India on account of sustainability are discussed below: Energy sustainability Purpose Australia India Government Regulations The government of Australia established standards and programs with the aid of which energy efficiency is maintained and an economic solution is adopted by the companies to change over all state of the country. The country operatedenergy exchange management tips so that they can efficiently advice the small, medium and large Australian corporates to initiate sustainable activities (Australian Government 2017). A great emphasis on laid on energy efficiency by the government. The government initiated many law such as Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure (BEED) Act 2010, Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse GasManagement Amendment Act 2010, Energy Efficiency in Government Operations (EEGO) Policy (2006), Australian Government ICT Sustainability Plan (ICTSP) 2010-2015 etc. which acted in favor of the situation and issued certain legislation which helped the countrymen to implement such activities. The country created $2. 55 billion Emission Reduction Fund and Safeguard Mechanism, this process complemented the Renewable energy target implemented by the country. The Emission Reduction Fund stated that government will provide incentives to the company who emit less carbon as compared to their margins and imposes penalty on companies who emits more (Australian Government 2017). The country made a National Energy Productivity Plan which stated regulations to improve the productivity by 40 per cent between the years 2015 and 2030. India being the fourth highest energy consumer is in extreme need to implement regulation which shall help the country to make use of energy sustainably. The renewable energy targets assisted the households of the country to make use of renewable technologies to develop the sustainability (Reegle 2017). The Ministry of Non-Renewable Resource India implement various action plans like, Grid Interactive Renewable Power which involved the power generation through solar, wind, biomass, small hydro etc. power. Also they reduced the use of fossil fuel and replaced it with some alternatives so that sustainable development is initiated in the company. Technological innovation There are a numerous innovative technologies which the government of Australia implemented so that sustainable development is initiated. The country compressed the air in a container and used it as a source of creating energy. Various tools like, jackhammers, drills, spray-painters were used by companies to manufacture and generate energy from various other source. This technological innovation was originated and implemented under the surveillance of the government, also this techniques helped to use alternatives instead of wasting energy. Thus, in this way by compressing air, people of Australia made use of energy sustainably (Australian Government 2017). Another way in which the country issued technological implementation in themanagement process is by investing in motor operation efficiently so that within minimum cost production of efficient machines is made. Such machines help the country to make use of less energy resources, due to which ultimately energy is saved and used efficiently by people prevailing in Australia. Electric model for cars was initiated so that low energy resources are reduced and environment becomes healthy. This process reduced the demand for motive power. There are a numerous technological changes which India implemented to change like initiation of low carbon emission products, distribution of on-site generation of renewable energy like solar panel etc. The country initiated use of LED lights which helped the government to reduce less energy as compared to old halogens. Companies and households collectively reduced the use of energy (Ministry of new and renewable energy 2017). Apart from that the quality of product was also improved with the use of such products The dignitary of ministry of climate change India affirmed that they want a sustainable growth of India with greenery all around. For that they initiated mission innovation under which 5 year clean energy development plan was introduced by the country. Activities of private and non-governmental sectors There are many co-operative societies in Australia which assisted the activities of the country to initiate sustainability in energy resources. Some are namely, Alternative Technology Association, Energy Efficiency Council etc. The Alternative Technology Association serves more than 5000 members in the country. The process helps people to develop an understanding relating to sustainable use of resources in their day to day activities. It helps the company to develop good practices in their organization culture (Australian Government 2017). Many plans related to the energy efficiency are implemented in India, so that future growth is sustained in the country. 80 per cent of oil which is consumed by citizens of India is imported from other countries, considering that effect many private sector organizations takes the initiative to spread awareness regarding the misuse of such resources. Energy Conservation Act (EC Act), Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is some of the legal bodies and acts which define and govern such activities. The private sector helps the government sector to circulate the information provided by such organization throughout the country. Exemplar Project The exemplar project for energy efficiency in Australia would define a model under which less motor vehicle are consumed by the people. Apart from that, this model shall also state the legislative regulation which the government shall impose if people emit more carbon through their activities or they waste the resources. The exemplar project for the country India to initiate energy sustainability shall be actively concentrate by the government of India as India ranks one of the top countries which uses energy. So, reduction in supply of energy resources shall be initiated so that there is a decline in use and wastage of such resources. Apart from that the government shall impose high tax on the consumption of such resources so that people wisely use it and do not attract penalties (MNRE 2011). The common people of India shall also initiate innovative activities in their day to day activities so that they also save these resources for the future generation. Lastly, sustainability is not a motive; it is a practice which shall is initiated by all people. So, a committee shall be formed in the country to monitor the activities implemented for this purpose. Water sustainability Purpose Australia India Government regulations The department of Australian government initiated environmental sustainability policy throughout the country so as to promote sustainability by actions as well. The objective of the government with initiation of this policy is to regulate environmental performance of the country so that they do not lack behind in terms of environmental sustainability worldwide. The government of Australia outlined various policies which helped the country to manage the water scarcity. Some the acts were initiated namely, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, State Government Water Legislation and Regulations, such as theWater Management Act were introduced which defined the measures and actions of the government to conserve water (Henley 2013). National Groundwater Management Improvement Programme was initiated by the government to set measures so that ground water depletion can be controlled. Ministry of Drinking Water Sanitation initiated to make use of rooftop water harvesting process (Ministry of new and renewable energy 2017). Also the ministry adopted budgetary system to purchase machineries for water sustainability process. Apart from that Hydro-Meteorological Data Dissemination Policy by Ministry of Water Resources was originated to aim the conservation of use of water. Government bodies were authorized under this process to make them liable for the work holding in their areas. Technological innovation It has been noticed that in Australia there is irregular climate change which is adversely affecting the state of people. To save water depletion from the country, they implemented technological advancement techniques like, Waterset which helped the people of Australia to use less water in their day to day activities. The country developed new water sources, and recycled the energy to use water. Apart from that they build infrastructure in such a way that water co-operation activities are maintained by people in the country (Australian Government 2017). The water use calculator helped people to analyze their saving plan and tailor their household activities The Indian Institute of Technology Madras, initiates activities to make use of impure water to change it so that it becomes usable for people of the country (National Innovation Foundation India, 2017). Many techniques like rain water syringe, water extraction etc. were implemented by the commoners of the country. They helped the people around their city to properly make use of water using such techniques. Activities of private and non-governmental sectors The water co-operation of Australia works with a motive to help people to save water and perform activities which make use of water resources efficiently. The water calculator project was also initiated by the water co-operation only; they also made use of social media to spread awareness regarding adequate use of water and adequate supply of water. Many private companies and nonprofit organization worked in favor to supply efficient use of water in the country. They also made use of water resources in their organization which supply optimum water to people and make less wastage (Australian Government 2017). The technology present in the country India removes bacteria and microbes and other particles present in the water which make the impure. They remove those using nanoparticles of silver ions which help in destroying contaminated particles and making it useful to work (National Innovation Foundation India 2017). Non-profit organizations play a significant role in India to save water. They form group and marches on road to spread awareness around the city. Swajaldhara, total sanitation program etc. are some of the initiative taken by them to avoid wastage of water in household chores and factory premises. Strict regulations were imposed on them if they do not follow such rules (Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation 2017). Exemplar Projects The exemplar project which shall be developed by the citizen of Australia and the government shall include strict regulation for the use of water and its wastage in the environment. Awareness shall be spread to all groups of people so that they understand the need of the era. Apart from that the model shall also develop tools and machines which efficiently supply water to people without wasting it. The process which India shall implement to save water to through using innovative techniques and adequately implementing them in the country. Most of the activities in the country are left in the middle only due to which no effective change is created in the country. So, they shall form strategies to properly implement techniques to save water (National Innovation Foundation India 2017). Conclusion Talking about the companies and their sustainability issues, the fact shall be noted that both the countries have their different issues related to the sustainability of energy and water. And the resolutions adopted by the company also have their significance differently. Further companies strategies defined by both the companies, it shall be noted that Australia being a comparatively bigger countries have different problems and innovative and technological solutions for them. So, the country implements sustainability in a better way. Apart from that the major issue which Indian citizen faces is that they do not have adequate understanding regarding their rules and laws, so the initial responsibility of the government and its member is to spread the information to all. Apart from that it shall also be taken in accounts that India is a developing country due to which they do not have enough resources and they are marginalizing the consumption already. So, the above mentioned strategies provide adequate response to the sustainability issue related with the country India. Thus, in the limelight of above mentioned events the fact that shall be noted is that different countries apply different strategies but at the end the main purpose of all these strategies is to initiate sustainability in the management so that future generation is saved (Crane, and Matten 2016). Further another fact which shall be taken into consideration is that India being a developing country and Australia being a developed country has different issues and solve their issues differently. One way which India can learn from the activities of Australia is that how manage activities in an innovative manner. Like, Australia makes use of their technological innovation in saving energy and water in the country, similarly India shall also learn to adopt such innovative techniques in their management process. Concluding to above statement it shall be considered that all countries shall aim to implement sustainable techniques to save resources in their country. References Australian Government, 2017., Energy Information. Viewed on October 6, 2017 from https://www.environment.gov.au/energy/information Henley, W., 2013. The new water technologies that could save the planet. Viewed on October 6, 2017 from https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/new-water-technologies-save-planet Australian Government, 2017. National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development - Part 1 Introduction. Viewed on October 6, 2017 from https://www.environment.gov.au/about-us/esd/publications/national-esd-strategy-part1 Ministry of new and renewable energy, 2017. Policies. Viewed on October 6, 2017 from https://mnre.gov.in/information/policies-2/ MNRE, 2011. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR FOR THE PERIOD 2011-17. MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. National Innovation Foundation India, 2017. Water Conservation. Viewed on October 6, 2017 from https://nif.org.in/water_related_technologies Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, 2017. National Groundwater Management Improvement Programme.Viewed on October 6, 2017 from https://wrmin.nic.in/forms/list.aspx?lid=1261 Crane, A. and Matten, D., 2016. Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press. Ioannou, I. and Serafeim, G., 2016. The consequences of mandatory corporate sustainability reporting: evidence from four countries. Australian Government, 2017. Environment. Viewed on October 6, 2017 from https://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/environment Australian government, 2017., Energy. Viewed on October 6, 2017 from https://www.australia.gov.au/information-and-services/environment/energy Reegle., 2017. India (2014). Viewed on October 6, 2017 from https://www.reegle.info/policy-and-regulatory-overviews/IN

Essay on fossil fuels free essay sample

Throughout history it is a known fact that humans depend on energy to satisfy basic needs. In order to meet these needs humans have gone to the extent of putting the environment at risk. Air pollution is currently one of the five leading causes of death worldwide and the usage of fossil fuels is a major factor contributing to this. (Future talk: clean renewable energy September 2013). Fossil fuels are finite sources of energy; while the demand for energy will continue to increase, there will still be a decrease in amount of fossil fuels available, which means humans will need to find other sources of energy. There are numerous sources of alternative energy; however the safest, cleanest and reliable source is the renewable sources of energy. Renewable energy, if expanded and explored, have great potential to replace fossil fuels. This essay will evaluate the different types of renewable energy resources in terms of its ability to replace fossil fuel without lowering the quantity or quality of energy produced. We will write a custom essay sample on Essay on fossil fuels or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Wind energy is one source of renewable energy that may have a chance of replacing fossil fuels. Wind energy is plainly the exploitation of the kinetic energy in the wind to produce electricity. Over time, the power capacity of wind has evolved as humans through research have found new and better ways to harness its energy and turn it into energy Figure 1 shows the time evolution of the global wind power capacity over the years along with a prediction for the future years. The principle behind harnessing wind energy is that when the force of the wind is passed through turbines, the movements of these turbines converts energy into electricity. The most commercial method of harnessing wind energy is though â€Å"wind farms† where hundreds of wind turbines (windmills) are spread over large plots of land. In comparison to fossil fuels, wind energy is better in a number of ways. It is more plentiful, widely distributed and also renewable which means there will never be a worry of it running out. Wind energy is also cleaner in terms of its affect on the environment. In comparison to fossil fuels wind energy releases no greenhouse gas emissions during operation. Also, in comparison to other sources of renewable energy, wind energy uses comparatively less land to operate. The overall cost per unit of energy produced is similar to the cost for new coal and natural gas installations. (Top 5 alternative power sources to replace fossil fuels, September 25th 2013). However, the problem with this source of energy is that the installing of turbines are not generally welcomed as it destroys the natural view and also generates a lot of noise pollution. Another more widely used sources of renewable sources of energy include solar power. Solar power is one of the most widely used sources of energy in place of fossil fuels. Solar power in simple words is the conversion of sunlight into electricity. A more large-scale method of harnessing energy is by using the concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. CSP technologies focus’s the suns rays on mirrors which then reflects the sun rays to one central boiler where the liquid within in the boiler is heated and used to boil water. The steam produced is then used to drive a turbine and generate electricity. Critics of solar energy claim that solar power cannot be depended on as it is extremely intermittent. In other words the nature of solar energy cannot be depended on as it can easily change from time to time. However, improvements in technology and constant research have made solar power just as regular and accessible as fossil fuels. Different CSP systems use different liquids, but one common characteristic is that these liquids are usually able to attain the heat and remain warm for a long period of time (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2013). This way electricity can be produced during periods of peak need, on cloudy days or even after sunset. Another major issue very commonly brought up against the feasibility of solar energy is that it is expensive to install the equipment needed for CPS or the solar panels. However, what is very commonly overlooked is the cost of using fossil fuels. The extraction, mining and transportation of fossil fuels is already costly and as the years go by, and the depletion of fossil fuel will cause the prices off fossil fuels even more. On the other hand, when using solar power, the money only goes into the capital needed to install the equipment needed. Unlike fossil fuel, this is a one-time payment, which means overall the cost of using solar power is less than that of using fossil fuels (Future talk: clean renewable energy September 2013). Apart from wind energy and solar energy, another commonly used source of renewable energy is hydroelectricity. Basically, hydroelectricity is the power that is derived from the energy of falling water (Top 5 alternative power sources to replace fossil fuels, September 25th 2013). The forces within the currents are passed through turbines, which generates electricity. Water is 800 times denser than air therefore even the slowest flowing stream of water can yield quite a considerable amount of energy enough to compete with that of fossil fuels. Of the various means to produce hydroelectricity, the more widely used method used to harness hydroelectricity is through dams. The water in these flows through turbines, the energy force within this body of water causes the turbines to turn. The turbines are connected to generators. When the turbines turn, they make the generators move. The generators are the machines that produce electricity. There are many cases where dams have been implemented and are extremely successful; one famous case is the Bonneville Dam, which is one of the many dams in Columbia. It has 20 turbines and generates more than a million watts of power yearly, which is enough to power hundreds and thousands of homes and businesses. The largest power plant in the world is the Three gorges Dam. It has 26 turbines and generates a billion watts of power a year generating enough energy for the homes and businesses in the town of Sandouping located in Yiling District. This dam is a source of power for over 35,00 citizens in Sandouping. Hydroelectricity actually has a real chance of replacing fossil fuels, as it has been proven there are successful cases around the world where hydroelectricity is being used. The most major advantage is that hydroelectricity relies on water, which is a clean and renewable energy source. It has not chance of running out. Water is renewable because of the existence of the water cycle, water evaporates forms cloud and then rain downs on earth starting the cycle again. It is a fact that in the United States, hydroelectricity generates approximately 9% of the total energy supply. The facilities currently available in the U. S can generate enough hydropower to produce electricity enough to power 28 million households, which is equivalent to 500 barrels of oil. Renewable energy sources do stand a real chance of replacing fossil fuels if we can overcome the major obstacles in place. The first major obstacle is the intermittent nature of these resources. However although they are intermittent they also compliment each other, which means more than one source can be implemented at a time. What these resources have to be able to do is match the human’s power demand and by combining two sources of energy this can be achieved. The second major factor preventing the shift from using fossil fuels to using renewable sources of energy is the price factor. Although it may look like the price of using renewable source of energy is higher, this is actually not the case. The price of fossil fuels is actually higher due to the need to extract and transport it all the time, wherelse for renewable energy sources the capital will only go into installing the necessary equipment’s. To summarize my essay fossil fuels are a depleting source of energy that is polluting earth and will soon run out. We need to replace this source before it causes permanent damage. Renewable sources of energy, through research and improvements in technology have become much more dependable and has a real chance of replacing fossil fuels. It is overall cleaner and abundant in nature, along with that as a whole it is also relatively cheaper in comparison to fossil fuels.

The puritan periods and age of classicism Essay Example

The puritan periods and age of classicism Essay Example The puritan periods and age of classicism Essay The puritan periods and age of classicism Essay Former presidents and officers of the ABACAS, (mention their names), my fellow alumni from different batches , guests, ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant evening .. Were gathered here tonight as usual to annually celebrate this reunion of great significance, our BACH grand alumni global reunion. Binnacle Catholic High School, BACH, rings a bell in our hearts, it brings us back to wonderful memories as cost say that high school days are the best, perfect, exciting days of our lives. BACH was our very foundation where we got educated and trained, Many years have gone by since we all graduated from BACH, we lost touch, we became distant, there has been transition in our lives since then. We had varied lives: we faced challenges , experienced heartbreaks ,reaped rewards. _our Journey may not be easy But we all made it here tonight , thankful for the role BACH has played in our development. Our alma mater gave us a special sense of belonging. Our directors, school heads and teachers, whether still living or not, touched our lives and gave us gifts which we carry to the end of our lives. Let us be thankful again for this gathering , rekindle high school memories, renew our friendships, and continue to support our alma mater in our own way, for this Is the legacy that the founders of our school and the great director , the late FRR. Leo Benzene left us to fulfill. I wont keep you long with a lengthy speech because we need to spend more time to enjoy this occasion. Let us get reacquainted and share our stories Let us stay forever young so that our horizon still looms ahead, beckoning tomorrows of fulfillment and greater Joy and most of all , we shall meet again next year, and In the ensuing years to come.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS - Assignment Example I can apply my skills in the computer not only in my home country in the KSA but anywhere in the world. My past history in computing has been from an early age along with my academic career that was related to computing. From the young age of 14, I was already working with computers in Saudi Arabia. That went on for about two years. I did gain much experience in this field and this motivated me to choose the computing field to be my future career. This is when I decided to go to the UK to pursue my studies in computers. It was difficult adjusting to life in a foreign land and I had to overcome a few hurdles. However being a hardworking person helped me to maintain my targets. Within a short time period I developed and gained many skills and abilities as I am a fast learner and attentive to details. I made sure that I always read and develop new vocabularies and learning new concepts of computing. I did International Foundation year at Bradford University and I learned many things tha t created for me a strong foundation towards my progression towards a computing career. I learned the fundamentals that are necessary for a computing degree and I believe that I have the necessary tools that will enable me to be creative and effective towards my computing degree. I already obtained my results for term 1. I am currently waiting for my term 2 results that will be issued very shortly. International Foundation year has solidified me more and gave me a direct path to degree study at university and ensured that I gain the skills and knowledge to succeed in a computing degree. It helped me gain scientific knowledge and understanding to a level where I will be suitable for a computing career. My main target in life is to be useful person able to help, share and be creative therefore, I choose computing as my main career. My main aim is to establish my degree in computing degree and after that stage, i am willing to continue and pursue a Masters’ degree and consequent ly, a PHD at a later stage in future.    SWOT Analysis I have been thrown in various situations and in each one, I learn more about myself and about others. These situations make me reflect on what I have learned from them. According to Osterman (1990), â€Å"reflection is the essential part of the learning process because it results in making sense of or extracting meaning from the experience†. One should not just go through life as if everything comes as second nature. We need to think critically if what we are doing is truly meaningful and relevant or if we are just wasting our time on something insignificant. I have also used a SWOT analysis of my strengths and weaknesses in my current situation and what opportunities and threats are around me. Strengths: My self-analysis process revealed that I am the ultimate â€Å"people-person†. I attract people to approach me without any reservations. I have a strong belief in my own skills and have the ability to inspire ot hers to do well for themselves, with me setting a good example. I am an enabler, sincerely encouraging people to bring out the best in themselves, cheering them on along the way to their success. I am known to be generous, giving whatever time and energy I can without expecting something in return. In terms of work, I am very capable

Discuss how an understanding of the biology of insect pests assists in Essay

Discuss how an understanding of the biology of insect pests assists in the control of stored product pests - Essay Example It also helps to determine whether there is an infestation in a given building, what methods should be used to remove it, and provides wider methods for the creation of new pesticides and insect repellents. Reason For Entry, Method of Entry, and Location The primary reason that an understanding of the biology of an insect pests helps in exterminating the pests by giving an understanding as to why the insects would come inside that building at that particular location. Generally, these reasons include coming into buildings seeking food, water, or shelter from the elements. For example, cockroaches are attracted to moisture around pipes and drains, and so buildings with such sources of moisture are more likely to contain cockroaches than drier buildings. Ants, like cockroaches, are also attracted to leaking pipes or condensation build-up, and will enter buildings or rooms in search of this moisture. Ants are also attracted to food sources such as sugar, especially in cases of general p oor sanitation. Locating those food and moisture sources can help determine why the pests are entering the building. Once the reasons for the pests coming in has been determined, the moisture or food source can be removed. Removing the source of food or water should help reduce the number of pests coming into the building, and therefore reduce the difficulty of eradicating the infestation of that building. Once the pests inside have been eradicated and the reason new pests were entering the building is removed, there should be no future issues with that particular pest in that building unless a new source of food or water is presented (Juneau et al., 2010). Additionally, understanding the biology of the insects can help an exterminator understand how the pests are entering the building of infestation in the first place. Crawling insects generally come in through openings into the building which are accessible from the ground. For example, insects may enter buildings through cracks i n the exterior masonry or other building materials, or other gaps in the exterior of the building. Doors left open especially can attract ground-level crawling insects. Small gaps and openings around water pipes, heating and cooling air vents, and exterior windows and doors, can all provide access to crawling insects. However, it is not only ground-level access that will allow in crawling pests that should be looked out for. Exterior landscaping features such as climbing vines, bushes and shrubbery, or tall grasses, may all provide access for crawling insects to reach open windows or other access points that are higher off the ground and would not normally be accessible to such pests (Juneau et al., 2010). Flying pests could obviously access higher points such as open windows that are lacking screens or that have damaged screens with holes that could allow in insects. Looking for such points of access could help determine where the pests are entering the building; blocking these ent ry points would therefore help stop the pests from infesting the building. Understanding the methods the insects are using to enter the building will help determine where the blockades should be placed in order to stop them. Knowledge of the biology of the pests can also help determine what locations in the buildings may be hiding those pests, and therefore where to look to eradicate them. For example, the bodies of bed bugs are almost completely flat. This allows them to hide in

World Systems Theory: Analysis

World Systems Theory: Analysis The World Systems theory was the brain child of Immanuel Wallerstein in 1974. It saw the division of the world into three parts; the core, the semi-peripehry and the periphery. The core meaning those countries which were economically developed such as countries of the Western Europe, the United States of America and Japan. The semi-periphery was in between and was most of the countries in Asia. The peripheral countries on the other hand were those who were resource rich and highly under developed like the countries of Latin America and Africa. The world systems theory is a more of a Marxian approach of understanding under development especially in Latin America. It is a materialist theory as it sees the political and cultural, socio and religious aspects of a country all determined by the economy and it is a systems analysis because all of this is seen as one organisation. The world systems theory is a critique of capitalism and finds it precursors in the Annales school as well as the dependency theories. The period after World War II marked the age of decolonization in the world. Many former colonies were now independent nations, but, they were still under developed. The strategy offered to them to overcome this underdevelopment was to follow a path of modernization akin to the western model. Development theorist like Rostow advocated his five stages of growth. These were all compulsory stages by which a country has to pass through to become a developed nation starting from the first stage which is that of being a poor nation. So Western Modernization replaced Western Colonialism. But then scholars like the promoters of the dependency theory shunned this approach saying in fact Western modernisation embedded in capitalism was detrimental to the state. We shall now follow the paper through a brief note on capitalism. This will be followed by a glimpse into the precursors of the world systems theory such as the dependency theory. A look on what the world systems analysis is and how it affects governance and finally we shall look at the critiques of the world system analysis. Capitalism Capitalism as understood by most is the maximisation of profit. Capitalism according to thinkers like Weber was successful because of a spirit it embodied this spirit according to Weber was in the Calvinist and Protestant ethic. Weber went further to say that it was in fact a Judaic ethic. This was supported by Sombart who became a sympathizer of the Nazis and like Ford were anti-Semitic. They were of the opinion that international finance was controlled by men of a single and peculiar race. Wallerstein himself says that there are certain epochs of capitalism and divided his analysis of the determining elements of the modern world into four such epochs; the formation of the European world economy from 1450 to 1650; the consolidation of this system from 1640 to 1815; the technological transformation which was the industrial revolution between 1815 to 1917 and the consolidation of this capitalist world economy from 1917 onwards. However in the period of the 1890s to the 1920s a French speaking-critique of work of Sombart and Weber emerged. This was the school of Henri Pirenne. Pirenne developed a materialist theory of social and economic causation. He claims that the Viking raids were a consequence of the displacement of the Mediterranean trade routes to the north by the Muslim conquests. Thus in saying so he challenges Weber and Sombarts claim that capitalism is a spirit and a mentality but in the revival of towns and trade routes in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The Annales school of thought followed in Pirennes footsteps to develop a materialist bottom-up approach to understand economic and social history. While Weber and Sombart saw capitalism in its industries Pirenne saw its roots since the medieval times though the two parties both agreed on the fact that capitalisms main object was profit. This accumulation of profit as the main objective of capitalism proved to be very detrimental to the former colonies, called the Third World. The third world was characterised by huge labour resources, poverty, huge deposits of natural resources and raw materials as well as food grains. Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Columbia were in the 1950s predicted to become major players on the world economic stage. They all possessed sufficient internal markets to propel growth; a formidable industrial base; abundant reserves of raw materials; powerful stimuli to grow nationally and; satisfactory formations of domestic capital.1 Yet in the end these five countries became trapped in a dependent state on the developed nations. During the days when colonial countries had paramount power the view of development effectuated by Europeans was to exploit and draw profit from the resources of the non European world. This view supposes then that development of the European colonies was not to happen. However, out of the moral and political duty that seemed to bear upon the colonists to develop their resource bases as it represented a material and moral good for the world. There was therefore no harm in exploiting the resources of the colonies as it seemed that the white mans burden to develop these civilizations was an adequate transaction between the two parties. Post 1945 there was a decolonizing process in the world. Countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America were freeing themselves off the colonial yoke. There was a surge of anti-colonial sentiments and assertiveness in these old colonies. Development at this juncture began to be defined by the belief that there was no need for a colonial master to develop them. There was an assertion that the colonies left to themselves could develop by their own endeavours. There was thus in India a call for Swadeshi and the call for the rise of indigenous industries and the growth of indigenous capital. However the assumption was faulty in the line that modernity and development was in actuality defined by the adoption of strategies of the global North and the technology of the North. Latin authors called this new ideology as developmentalism. The Soviet Union called it socialism and the United States called it economic development. This ideology of developmentalism was favoured by many countries of the North and they offered aid to the countries to help them out in their objective. The Economic Commission for Latin America (CEPAL) developed a new language of core-periphery relations used primarily to justify program import-substitution industrialization. The more radical Latin American scholars called this dependency which needed to be fought against so that the dependent countries could develop. Then in the 1970s the oil turmoil in the world took place. The villain it was said was developmentalism. Import-substitution industrialization was perceived as corrupt protectionism. State building was deconstructed as feeding a bloated bureaucracy. Financial aid was seen as money wasted. It was decided that loans to states in distress, to be beneficial, needed to be hed ged by requirements that these states cut out wasteful state expenditures on items like schools and health. State institutions were proclaimed as inefficient and should be privatized so as to be responsive to the market and therefore reach maximum efficiency. The Dependency school which saw capitalism as a system of exchanges. The dependency school of thought see the poverty of the South as a result of low prices for the exports of primary products to the North and as a result of the deteriorating terms of trade the countries of the South failed to industrialise and remain as raw material and food suppliers to the North. For example Argentina in the 1900s was considered to be a very important country and its rise was very anticipated. However, due to lopsided terms of trade and unequal exchange relations with other industrialised economies countries of the global South had become according to Andre Gunder Frank underdeveloped. Unlike Rostows model of development which starts by showing that all the countries are in the beginning poor and then shift through different trajectories of development to become developed countries Frank said that it was only in the exchanges with the north that the economies had lost their balance internally and hence failed to accumulate capital domestically and industrialise on their own. In his essay on the sociology of development and underdevelopment Frank critised the assumption that by following stages of growth poor countries could become developed by replicating the path of the developed nations. This path was marked by the ability to exploit other lesser developed countries. A global structure emerges in which a metropolis or the core imposes itself on satellites in the south through colonialism. They could force the satellite countries to produce cash crops or raw material for the core which was essential for their industries which they resold to the countries of the south. The World System Theory The world systems theory speaks of a polarised world and a polarising world at the economic reality. Wallerstein argues that the people of the South saw that there were people better off than them and they aspired towards this. The North saw this as a tinderbox and wanted to quell the threat by putting in intellectual discussions about development and globalisation that were respectable but in retrospect misguided. They wanted that the rest of the world aspire to reach qualities of life present in countries like Denmark. But at the same time there could be alternatives to this. The gap between the core of history has grown wider not smaller as is evidenced in society, even if some countries have improved their standing in the distribution of wealth. The World Systems theory departs from all here in the notion that capitalism develops as a comprehensive structural constraint at the international level. It combines a core where the social transformations have taken place, with a periphery that is equally a part of the capitalist system. The division of labour was the systemic constraint according to Wallerstein which is bounded in a specific way, internally structured, regulated, centralises and subject to functional mechanisms such as self sustenance trough specialisation. This strategy was firstly one that wanted a political empire where lands were connected into the long distance trading system. The second strategy was of functional specialisation in which each state seeks to adapt its actions to the functional requirements of its place in the system. The strategy of functional specialisation included minimising overhead costs by abandoning territorial imperial ambitions and fiscal policies and to adopt instead mercantilist or protective policies. This resulted in accumulation of capital at the core and consistently reinforces the position of the state in the division of labour. The periphery which also has specialised functions even though they are the production of raw material and food grains however unlike in the core the labour relation is mostly of a bonded nature. The semi periphery assumes the tasks of both the core and the periphery. The basic strength of capitalism has been two fold (Wallerstein,1984); on the one hand it has been able to accumulate capital at all costs and on the other it has put into place political structures to guarantee this accumulation of capital. It happens that workers demand for higher renummeration and the factory gives in because it goes into paying this additional money would not affect it too much. However, when the same workers press for more renummeration the factory relocates or is a runaway factory. The existence of a large pool of rural labour for whom urban waged employment at whatever level of renumeration. So as Wallerstein argues that as wage rates goes up in one part of the world it is followed by another section in the world willing to work at a much lower wage. However, this new urban wage labourer historically then becomes less urbanely disoriented and asks for more benefits, here again the factory shifts to another zone. Wallerstein then argues that there has been a de crease in the number of zones to which the factory can flee to and this is called deruralization of the world. The costs of input is dependent on the percentage what the owner wants to pay as inputs and he does so by avoiding all these input costs and shifting it to others. This is called the externalization of costs. The three principles of externalisation are detoxification, renewal of primary resources and infrastructure. Detoxification is easily understood by taking the example of dumping sites. Garbage is dumped in a new site and the costs of this dumping activity is slow to show itself. E-Waste dumping in China may be taken as an example where the electronic waste from all over the globe is collected and dumped in China. However, sites to dump all this new waste is running out. To remedy this, projects are taken up either by the governments or individuals to clean up the mess. Now there is more knowledge as well about the cost and damages that this dumping is causing on the environment. Who then pays for this cleaning up? One argument is that you internalise the cost and you make the pr oducer of the waste pay for it. The other example is of the carbon market where developed countries are buying the carbon credits of developing and underdeveloped nations so that their industries are free to emit polluting articles into the environment. Atul Kohli says that industrialisation is a major component of development of a country; even then it is not the only factor. He says that industrialization involves a procedure of societal change. Industrialization is therefore possible in a situation of political stability, the availability of experienced entrepreneurs and of a capable urban work force.2 This was found in countries like England and hence capitalism was easier to come out there. Berand argues that trade has developed by leaps and bounds because of better transport and communication facilities. The post-war GATT brought about the end of protectionism, economic warfare and hostility. There was also a spurt of new companies which were multinational in character and had easy capital flows in different countries. Like Wallerstein argued, there was a lack of new spaces for the core countries from whence to get resources from. Berend adds that the new division of labour has led to many of the core countries to transport their raw material extraction activities to the peripheral countries. These activities which are labour intensive and highly polluting are shifted to peripheral countries for the cheaper labour cost and less restrictive environmental regulations. As a consequence of the shift there was a huge amount of deindustrialisation in the advanced countries. However the industries that shifted to the South were those which were not highly advanced and more la bour intensive, the more important sectors like research and development and fine chemical industries. There is persistent exploitation in the periphery by the core and the semi periphery. Therefore, according to Wallerstein the state managers should not blindly continue to increase production in the sectors that define them as part of the periphery. Wallerstein argues that peripheral states should not try to produce any more raw materials but should try to emancipate themselves from their structural peripheral positions by changing their productive contribution to the division of labour. There is an understanding that the concept of state and society exist in the same juridical diameter. According to Wallerstein these two organisations are operated by the same individuals. Thus this fits into the idea of the nation which refers to a society that has a state to itself, or has the moral right to have a state to itself; the right to self determination. Wallerstein says that in saying this there is a difficulty of defining the boundaries of a nation. Therefore he uses the measure of interdependent productive activities, or the effective social division of labour, or an economy. He says that in modern history the dominant effective boundaries of the capitalist world economy has expanded from its stand in the sixteenth century to encompass the entire world. This new world economy is constituted by cross-cutting network of productive processes so that there are a number of backward or forward linkages on which these processes are dependent on. There is also state pressure that affects the labourer. It governs the relationship as Wallerstein says between the bourgeois and the proletariat. Then it governs the relationship among the bourgeois. Wallerstein says that the states are constantly changing in form, strength and boundaries through the interplay of the interstate system. The commodity chains also become longer and more intertwined in the machinery and therefore there has been a constant pressure by the strong against the weak. The pressure has become more concentrated in the chains that are the easiest to monopolize in a few areas core processes in core areas and more and more of the processes that require less skilled and more extensive manpower that is easiest to keep at a low income level in other areas peripheral areas. Wallerstein says that parallel to the economic polarization there is also the political polarization between the stronger states in the core areas and weaker states in peripheral areas. A strong state is not one that is authoritarian but one which can maximize the conditions for profit making by its enterprises within the world economy. This may mean the creation of quasi monopoly situations or restraining others from doing the same to its disadvantage. The strength of a stronger state according to Wallerstein is measured by its ability to minimize all quasi monopolies or to enforce the doctrine of free trade. There are also the states that sit in between the core and the periphery called semiperipheral states. They are usually attached to a core state for benefits. These states at times of difficulty of capital accumulation take advantage of the situation and become freer of the control of the core states. They are freer to play among their rivals and create new quasi monopolistic constraints. However if they are too weak they return back to the imperialistic fold. Wallerstein says that in an interstate system, state are actors, but, at the same time they are organisations. The world economy, as different from international economy is a complex of language, religion, ideologies. There exists a Weltanschauung of imperium. The major social institutions of the capitalist world economy the states, the classes the peoples are all shaped by the ongoing workings of the world economy. World Systems Theory and Governance According to some interpretations of Wallerstein works, he is more in favour of looking at the macro. He says that the world is more than just a limited to a certain space therefore it is the entire processes in the globe which brings about this relationship between the core and the peripheral areas. According to the dependency theorist it is not so much the state that is now responsible for the shifts in the international affairs but it is the dynamic of economic forces. The achievement of the modern world in technology has made it possible for the flow of surplus from the lower to the upper strata; from periphery to the core by eliminating the political superstructure. The world systems theory sees the correlation between the economic position occupied by owners- producers in the world market economy and the state. The state strengths is determined by five independent measures of political strength. These include the extent to which state policy can compete in the world market economy (mercantilism); the extent to which states can affect the capacity of other states to compete (in military power); the ability of states to mobilize resources to perform these competitive and military tasks at the cost that they do not eat into the profits of their owner-producers; the capacity of states to create administration that permits the swift carrying out of tactical decisions (or an effective bureaucracy); and the degree to which the political rules reflect a balance of interest among owners-producers such that a working hegemonic bloc forms the stable underpinnings of such a state. 3Wallerstein believes that the decline in the state power has actually incre ased the freedom of action of capitalistic enterprises which have now become multinational corporations(MNCs). Wallerstein minimises the role of the state according to Tony Smith, to such an extent that he says that there are no socialist systems nor are there feudal systems because there is only one world system. The state no longer fights the socio-economic battles but it is the classes. These five factors are the political and economic factors of state strength and reciprocally linked because economic efficiency adds to the strength of the state. In the core states where there is more economic efficiency states have less need to intervene in the world market economy. To Wallerstien the state is most active in states with moderate strength. Thus from this argument it follows that in the core the presence of a centralized and powerful state institutional political structure is thus an indication of weakness rather than strength. This is so because the presence of a strong bourgeois ie class would agree to the collective arrangements that require a strong king to impose. In the semi-periphery the weakness of the owner-producers requires direct state involvement in the extraction of surplus strong state institutions as an indication of strength. Those state in the periphery were seen as the weakest as they have very weak institutional power structures. Wallerstein also uses the dominant class structures to explain the movement of states within the capitalist world economy residing outside the core. He takes for example the case of Sweden and Prussia. He says that the institutional political structures present in the states enabled the states to extract economic surplus. In the case of Sweden the autonomy of its peasantry and corresponding weakness of the its landowning aristocracy4 made it possible. While in Prussia the ability to use military force under the inspiration and support of the Junker class which helped it to gather this surplus through wars and territorial expansion. The state too will intervene only up to the point of its effectiveness in consolidating its power in the face of dominant class relation. Therefore state intervention presupposes a specific societal actor in the core and the periphery; the actor in the core is the dominant classs hegemonic bloc and in the semi-periphery is the centralized state. What has e merged in Kohlis argument is the neo-patrimonial state with the inability to distinguish between the public and the private sphere and the administration using its power and influence to gather benefits for its own self aggrandisement. The neopatrimonial state is a state wherein the centralised and cohesive nature actually do not lead to its industrialisation. The neo-patrimonial state which is weak in domestic capital invites other stronger capitalist groups to fill in the vacuum, to take up economic activities directly. Nigeria for example offered its oil in exchange for a ready source of income on demand. However, these commodity booms do not last very long because the political incapacity of the neo-patrimonial state. In Kohlis argument a developmental state has an almost defined public and private sphere. They are opposite to neo-patrimonial states and are characterized by cohesive politics, that is by centralized and goal oriented authority that penetrate deep into society. To reach these goals the developmental state attaches itself closely to a more developed state or group and in this political arrangement there is a tight control over labour. South Korea under Park Chung Hee and Brazil under Estado Novo are examples of such state, though they resemble fascists states of interwar Europe and Japan. Then there are states which attempt to pursue several goals simultaneously. Industrialisation, agriculture, redistribution welfare is at times politicised either because of intraelite conflicts or because state authority does not penetrate deep enough in society to touch and control the lower class. India and Brazil in several periods exemplify this type of state. Wallerstein says that the relation between state strength and autonomy is very close as determined by the strength of its dominant class and the role played by its owner-producers in the capitalist economy division of labour. While the British state was less autonomous than the absolute monarchy of France its mercantilist class of Britain, the element of strength made the British mercantilist to take on a tailor made rather than a readymade character. Within this core the dominant class force limits the autonomy of the state and the state strength. Outside the core there is a highly centralized state to provide extra market assistance to increase efficiency. State autonomy is neither presupposed or seen as something that explains state action. As Poulantzas5 presupposes the existence of relative state autonomy and invokes it as a functional explanation of how capitalist social formations come to be in close contact. Wallerstein on the other hand, treats relative state autonomy as som ething that varies with the sources of a states power that are related to the structure of its dominant class and integration into the capitalist economy. State autonomy is related to state strengths in different contexts according to particular world contexts and can be functional or dysfunctional. It serves as a descriptive concept whose content varies across conjunctures. Conclusion Wallersteins theory is at times historically inconsistent. As Tony Smith, however says that Wallerstein is wrong in his discussion of state power. As Theda Skocpol points out, the strong states in the sixteenth century were not at the core; in England and Holland but on the periphery; in Spain and Sweden. Alexander Gerschenkron according to Smith6 has demonstrated that the late industrialisers were successful because of exceptionally strong state structures that were determined to modernise. The peripheral countries like Russia, Japan and Germany could not have developed without the vigorous leadership of the state. The major flaw of Wallersteins Volume I treatment of state formation and structures, according to Skocpol and Brenner are drawn from his insistence that productive hierarchies facilitates the operation of unequal exchange enforced on weak states by the stronger states. However the counter argument is that countries like England and Holland which had the strongest economie s failed to develop absolute states like Sweden or Prussia which were in the periphery and the semi periphery. The world systems theory has often been criticised for its overarching focus on economics. Economic growth is important to the development of the state, but it is not the only underlying factor o development for a country. There are other such measures like sociopolitical development, redistribution of resources and other things. References Berend, Ivan T Globalization and its Impact on Core Periphery Relations, UCLA Center for European and Eurasian Studies Conference Papers, Paper 1, Los Angeles, 2004 Garst, Daniel Wallerstein and His Critics in Theory and Society, Vol 14, No. 4, July 1985 Kohli, A State Directed Development : Politics, Power and Industrialisation in the Global Periphery, Cambridge , CUP, 2004 pp 1 -26 New Dictionary of the History of Ideas Smith, Tony The Underdevelopment of Development Literature: The Case of the Dependency Theory; World Politics, Vol. 31, No. 2. (Jan., 1979), pp. 247-288. Stable URL : http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0043871%28197901%2931%3A2%3C247%3ATUODLT%3E 2.0.CO%3B2-I Wallerstein, Immanuel -The Politics of the World Economy, The States, the Movements and Civilizations; Cambridge, CUP, 1984

Environmental Ethics Essay

Environmental ethics falls under the discipline of environmental philosophy that studies how human beings relate to their natural environment. This is a wide study that involves a variety of other disciplines such as those that study human relationships, economics, the earth’s structure and biology especially ecology. Human beings being the most superior of all the living things on earth have an ethical obligation to the environment concerning the earth, air, water, other organisms and the human population, both the present and the future generation. Environmental ethics brigs up a variety of issues concerning what, when, how and why we should consider this area of study. Aspects arising include the environment’s moral value, how sustainable are the policies on environmental protection, and how do these apply to the developing nations, and what policies should be put in place to ensure that the environment is safe guarded for the future generation, among others. This topic has been studied by many philosophers through the years, but it only came to be recognized as an independent discipline in 1970, due to awareness of effects of increasing human knowledge on the environment. Growing economics and populations, new technologies and development of industries all have had various adverse effects on nature, although aimed at improving life. The works of Rachael Carson, Paul Ehrlich, Aldo Leopold, among others brought about ethical concerns about the environment. Under environmental ethics, human beings have a duty towards the environment, on protection and conservation as well as having a quality life for themselves. In this context, contentious issues arise as to why we should be concerned about the environment. Should it be for us, the living human beings, the future generation, or for the environment itself regardless of our own benefits? Different personalities offer different answers to this question, hence different views have come up on environmental ethics. The issues of environmental ethics is of growing concern to the government and other institution including United Nations which have come up with incentives to people to value and appreciate nature. Earth Day which is held annually (first held in 1970) continues to create awareness and sensitize people on the value of the environment and why it should be protected. The Moral Standing We cannot handle ethics without reference to moral philosophy, which is concerned with individual behaviors and conducts. the moral standing depends on what is considered ‘right’ or ‘good’ and ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ by an individual or a society. For instance, different societies have different views on areas like land and animal ownership, rights of the future generation, and many more. Personal conduct with respect to environmental ethics defines how people should interact with nature, regarding its exploitation and conservation. The moral standing of the ethical issues on environment are wholly placed on human beings as they are the only living things who can reason and decide on moral issues. Many of the environmental concerns revolve around man and how these affect him, thus the responsibility of environmental ethics should be solely man’s. Responsibility to the environment implies that we are aware of this task, we are able to do it, we are at liberty to do it or not, and carrying out of the task has an effect to others existing in the environment. This means that we know the damage we can cause to the environment, the effects of this damage and the prevention or solutions to these problems. This gives us a moral significance in environmental ethics, and gives us a central role. The moral standing therefore means we have the moral obligation towards nature and the capability to carry out this responsibility. When we consider environmental ethics, then, look at issues such as: †¢ Should we care about nature for itself while it’s people who really â€Å"matter†?  That is if not for human beings benefit; why else should we conserve the environment? And if depleting the natural resources is necessary for life improvement, why not exhaust it? †¢ Is the loss of biodiversity, destruction of scenic geographical features for human benefit such as in agriculture so harmful to man? Where is the need to conserve a species while it has no chance of survival in the near future due to changes in earth’s patterns? †¢ Is it right for a person to own land, it being a natural resource among others, or is it morally wrong?  Is it fair that 5% of the human population use 30% of natural resources, while in other less countries the population suffers due to lack of the basic resources such as food and clean water? Do these resources exist for the benefit of a few or should they be left free for use by all? †¢ Is it possible for human beings to improve nature, seeing how man seems to have no control over nature when it comes to events such as natural calamities? †¢ Do recent developments in technology relieve us of our duty of protecting the environment? For instance, does biotechnology with potential to create new species, or bring back an extinct species, relieve us of the duty to conserve the biodiversity? Or alternative sources of fuel give us a right to deplete the natural fuel reserve? †¢ Should we let nature take its course as it always has or try and preserve it without assurance that this is of any benefit, or that this only hinders the course of nature? Is there any way that nature can take care of itself without our hand, like self renewal? The main issue surrounding environmental ethics today is the activist movements on environmental protection that focus people on the wrong issues, that is the moral standing is more emotional than factual or logical. The following are essential in discussing environmental ethics and policies. Western Religion and Culture It has been viewed by some philosophers that the Western religion has adversely affected the environment as it teaches that human beings have dominion over the earth and subdue it. Others view this as a command to take care of nature as we have been left in charge. The command given in the bible to the first man â€Å"be fruitful and fill the earth† (Genesis 1:28, Holy Bible KJV) raises the question of population control, is it ethical for the sake of the environment or is it a direct defiance of God’s command? To address this sensitive topic, religion should be understood in context. At the time of the command there was only one man on earth, so he was required to ‘fill’ it, but now the earth is already ‘filled’. Is it logical to still apply the very same principles now as they did then? The culture of a people defines how they relate to and use the environment. Many of the historic events that shape the western culture have had a huge impact on the environment. Events such as the industrial revolution, technological advances and the modern culture have affected the environment. Culture can easily adapt to changing environments, as well as cause permanent change to different environments. The environment is very wide and continuous, while cultural practices are defined by the environment. Therefore it is ethical to put environment before culture, and change current lifestyles towards more nature friendly practices. The future generation Most of the damage to the environment is more likely to affect the future human population. This therefore calls on the currently living humans to consider the rights of those who are not yet born. We might not know exactly what that generation will require but we are well aware of the basic needs of living beings; food shelter and basic health. Based on these we can have a model of what the environment should offer the future human beings. Therefore it is our moral obligation to them to utilize nature as much as we need to but ensure that we do not deny them the enjoyment of the same. Animals Other animals should be considered when addressing environmental ethics, since they are sentient beings, that is are capable of feeling. Although animals come after humans, they have rights and should be considered according to what they are interested in, such as feeding, living in their natural habitat, and allowed their existence. Controversy about animal rights arises in what animals exactly should we grant rights to. For instance, are insects or other smaller animals in this category? Is it right to use animals for laboratory research for medical and other studies to better our lives? The simple answer to this question is that unless it is extremely necessary, animals should not be put at risk or in adverse conditions. The harm to animals should be justified and be limited to a certain allowable level. Ecofeminism Women are seen to be closer and more in touch with nature; this is claimed by feminists concerned with the environment (Cochrane, 2007). This is because of their ability to give life, and the fact that the earth is considered female (Shiva, 1993). Thus this gives them a better understanding of nature and how to coexist in harmony. Val Plumwood, an ecofeminist believe, that feminism should go hand in hand with environmentalism as both women and the environment are under the same oppression. Another feminist argues that the problem is in trying to justify this kind of oppression thus allowing such subordination. When considering environmental ethics and policies, the domination over women and nature is a critical issue that requires attention. Economics and Ecology Economics and ecology usually appear as counter forces. Economy involves trying to allocate the limited resources while ecology looks out to protect these resources. The ever growing human population has placed great pressure on nature and thus their distribution is highly competitive. Market forces have added more pressure to natural resources and their exploitation. Rapid growth of industries has contributed to environmental deterioration. The cost-benefit considers questions like; if nuclear power makes electricity cheaper, should this field be ventured? What is the cost of preserving a forest compared to the cost of exporting timber? These raise challenges when setting up policies on the environment because of the question of cost versus the benefit of environmental ethics. Technology Technology has had a huge impact on human life as well as on the environment. The effects of technology are both beneficial and adverse. The medical, agricultural, communication and energy industries rely heavily on technology to better human life. Technology has the power to destroy nature as well as replenish it. The technological advances that are most potentially harmful include nuclear technology that is able to annihilate nature and biotechnology which has the potential to alter the natural species boundaries. Since all technologies come with potential risks along with their benefits, ethical consideration must be made with regards to the environment. Conclusion  In studying environmental ethics, the first thing is to ask the question ‘what should be done about the current environmental situation and how should it be done? ’ The other consideration is the importance of individual natural resources and how much effort and cost we should dedicate to protecting such. This should be based on facts and not feelings, like and dislikes. It is important that policies be based on an integrated system that has in mind all the components of nature, as well as involvement of the government, institutions and other countries.