Impacts of acidic deposition

Impacts of acidic deposition Introduction There is an increasing danger of acidic deposition associated with the booming industrialization at the global level. Acidic deposition is considered as a form of threat to both the ecosystem and the human life. From an ecological perspective, acidic deposition can impose a harmful effect to the purity of water bodies and a threat to the survival of vegetation forms such as forests (Brimblecombe Hiroshi, 2007).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Impacts of acidic deposition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The principal emissions that contribute to acidic precipitation are sulfur dioxide and the various oxides of nitrogen that are as result of the burning of the fossil fuels (Gunn, 1995). The diverse effects of acidic deposition to human health and environment cannot be underestimated. For the case of the environment, acidic depositions can result to the acidification of water bodies, impose damage to plan ts and harm aquatic life (Caroll, 1990). The contributing factors towards acidic depositions can be attributed both natural factors, which are somewhat uncontrollable, and human factors such as factories, which form one of the largest contributors of the pollutants that result to acidic deposition (Environmental Protection Agency, 2008). The significant challenge is that economic sustenance in the current times requires the involvement in human activities that can impose acidic deposition. Irrespective of this, addressing the problem imposed by the acidic deposition can be implemented through the adoption of effective human lifestyle that is characterized by a less reliance on the fossil fuels and an adoption of more renewable forms of energy (Environment Ontario, 2002). Statement of aim The purpose of this research paper is to investigate the major contributing factors to the increasing levels of acidic deposition. The paper will also discuss the barriers towards the resolution of the problem of the acidic deposition. In addition, the paper will also provide an overview of the various ways through which the issue of acidic deposition can be addressed. Case study to analyze the impacts of acidic deposition The Global Environmental Change associated with acidic deposition will be further illustrated using a case study: the environmental changes by heavy industries in the Greater Sudbury, Ontario. This paper will evaluate the increasing levels of industrialization and then the outcome on the environment due to the economic boom associated with the increasing industrialization on the region. In addition, the paper will analyze the various ways through which the government was able to reverse the environmental impacts of acidic deposition in the area.Advertising Looking for essay on ecology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Overview of Acidic Deposition Acidic deposition, sometimes known as acid rai n usually takes place when the emissions because of the burning of the fossil fuels and emissions from industries are subjected to complex chemical processes within the atmosphere, which is then precipitated back to the earth as either wet or dry deposition. Wet deposition is usually in the form of rainfall, cloud, snow or fog. Dry deposition is in form dry particles of gas or particles (Environmental Protection Agency, 2008). Rainfall and snow are usually acidic, but the case is considered severe when the pH levels are less than five. The main chemical compositions that contribute to acidic deposition are SO2 and NOx. When the two compounds undergo a chemical reaction with water, oxygen, carbon dioxide and sunlight, the outcome is sulfuric acid and nitric acids, which are the core chemical agents that impose acidic deposition. Chemical compounds that are airborne can propagate over long distances; therefore, their effect can be spread over large areas and locations that are located at longer distances from the emission sources (Gunn, 1995). Causes of acidic deposition The causes of acidic deposition can be broadly classified into natural causes and human factors that result to the production of the chemical compounds that can cause acidic precipitation. The main natural factors that that contribute to the production of gases that can result to acidic precipitation are the emissions that come from the volcanoes. A typical example of this scenario is the fumaroles that are from the Laguna Caliente crater of the Poas Volcano, which is responsible for high levels of acidic precipitation with a pH level of 2 (Jacobson, 2002). This can result to the clearing of the adjacent vegetation, cases of eye irritations and respiratory problems. Biological processes that take place on land and oceans can also result to acid producing chemical compounds. The principal source of compounds that contain sulfur is dimethyl sulfide. Nitric acid is a major requirement for plant lif e and is normally generated by instances of electrical processes in the atmosphere; for instance, lightning. Glacial ice is also a source of acidic deposits. In addition, soils found in coniferous forests have been found be acidic naturally (Keller et al, 1977). Human activity is also major contributing factor to the production of acid generating compounds in the atmosphere. The most form of pollution that causes acidic precipitation is from coal power plants. In fact, the pollutants from factories can cause acidic precipitation over a large area of geographical scope because the emissions are transported to far regions before being precipitated as rain.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Impacts of acidic deposition specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another human activity that plays a significant role in the production of acidic nitrogen compounds to the atmosphere is livestock production, owing to the fact that it a m ajor source of ammonia, which contributes majorly towards the availability of acid rain (Environmental Protection Agency, 2008). It is arguably evident that the both human and nature are responsible for the causation of acidic deposition. However, it is estimated that anthropogenic factors account for twice of the amount of the airborne acid (Environment Ontario, 2002). The underlying argument is that human population constitutes of approximately two thirds of the anthropogenic population, implying that humans have the ability to minimize the impacts of acidic deposition (Tamra Reyes, 2009). Effects of Acidic deposition Acidic deposition has adverse effects on the water bodies, soils, forests and other vegetation, aquatic life, spoiling building and severe effects on human health. The impacts of the acidic deposition are normally evident around areas that are characterized by intense industrialization. The following are some of the adverse effects of acidic deposition to the enviro nment and human life (Environmental Protection Agency, 2008). Acidic deposition is responsible for having adverse effects on the aquatic life and altering the chemical composition of surface waters. Low pH values and high amounts of aluminum in surface waters are because of acidic deposition, which can be a threat to marine life. A pH that is less than 5 makes it difficult to aquatic life and result to a reduction in the biodiversity of the water bodies as more acidic conditions are induced. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (2008), acidic deposition is responsible for about 75 per cent of the acidic lakes and 50 per cent of streams that are acidic in nature. The second effect of acidic deposition is that it affects the chemical composition of soils and the soil biology. Microorganisms in the soil that cannot tolerate low levels of pH are killed by acidic deposition, which in turn affects soil nutrition and its ability to host plants and microorganisms. This is a poss ible explanation why forests are gradually facing extinction in industrialized regions. This is because acidic deposition causes the production of toxic aluminum and a reduction in the levels of calcium, resulting to tree growth that is stunted. In addition, only species that can tolerate high acidity levels can survive in soils that are subjected to acid rain (Environmental Protection Agency, 2008).Advertising Looking for essay on ecology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A reduction in the amounts of forests due to acidic deposition implies that there will be more carbon dioxide and less oxygen in the atmosphere, resulting to an imbalance in the atmosphere and the prospects of global warming. Chemicals that are airborne are usually toxic are harmful to the health of animals that rely in the air in the atmosphere for survival. Acid deposition also affects the human health by imposing respiratory problems that are evident through lung irritation because of dry acidic deposits. Eye irritations are also an effect of acidic deposits. Buildings and other structures are vulnerable to corrosion from acidic deposits (Environment Ontario, 2002). It is projected that a 50 percent reduction in the emissions that are responsible for the production of oxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide will be enough to facilitate the restoration of the environmental equilibrium. This goal is difficult to realize without the implementation of appropriate strategies and approac hes. Impacts of acidic deposition imposed by the environmental changes by heavy industries in the greater sudbury, Ontario Overview Air quality in has been a subject of contention in the City of Greater Sudbury due to the fact that the city is one of largest metal smelting places in the world. The City of Greater Sudbury is famous for its high emissions of sulfur dioxide, which is greatly associated with acidic deposition (Environment Ontario, 2002). The extent to which the landscape of the area has been damaged by acidic deposition and the efforts adopted by the government of Ontario and industry makes the City of Greater Sudbury a perfect case study for understanding the impacts of acidic deposition and the effectiveness of the recovery process (Environment Ontario, 2002). Over the course of its existence, the city has been a perfect example of the extent to which human activities can result to acid deposition and its aftermath as evident by instances of industrial barrens, lakes that have been damaged by acid deposition and the tallest super tack in the world being found in the area. Despite of this, environmental recovery has been attempted with the primary intention of restoring the air quality in the City of Greater Sudbury. The following section outlines the impacts of acid deposition in the area (Keller et al, 1977). Impacts of acid deposition in the city of Greater Sudbury The chemical composition of the lakes found in the city of Greater Sudbury is a clear indication of the level through increased industrialization imposes acidic deposition and the respective impact on the water bodies of the adjacent environs. The most significant industrial stress that the industries found in the city impose on the water bodies are increased erosion, acidic deposition and cases of metal contamination, which are significantly attributed to the high number of mining and logging factories in the region. As a result, acidic deposition in the city is responsible for aff ecting the water quality and aquatic life in the lakes that are found within the city. A notable impact of acidic deposition in the area is that it increases the acidic levels of the surface water, which in turn raises the solubility of toxic metals and affect the organic composition of the soils, making it difficult for the soil in the region to sustain vegetation in order to foster a balance in the atmosphere. Acid deposition in the area has also affected the regenerative capability of vegetation in the area. The City of Greater Sudbury receives rain that has acidity levels that are twice the amount that forests can withstand. The outcome of this is forest depletion in the city because acid deposition has a significant effect on the soil nutrients. The impacts of acid deposition can be reversed, although they may take a long time to restore the acidity levels that are not harmful for the sustenance of an ecosystem (Tamra Reyes, 2009). The approach identified to address Acidic dep osition The identified plan of approach towards addressing the issue of acidic deposition is through fostering the adoption of more renewable forms of energy, so that that there will be minimal reliance on fossil fuel, which are major contributors of the sulfur dioxide and the oxides of nitrogen to the environment. In addition, it is important to regulate the amount and the kind of emissions that factories emit to the environment. Other strategies that can be adopted in order to address acidic deposition include coal washing with the objective of elimination of sulfur before combustion, the use of alternative power plants and the overall reduction in the consumption of energy (Gunn, 1995). The outcome of the implementation of the above strategy is the containment of the waste from factories, which involves the use of water treatment strategies in order to reduce the level of metal concentrations and acidity levels before industrial water is released to the environment. With this res pect, it is the responsibility of local authorities and the obligation of such factories to ensure that they adopt water treatment plans to address the issues that are likely to increase acid deposition. Environmental management strategies are not effective without the aspect of public awareness and their involvement towards the same. Public awareness plays an important role in ensuring that the people have an understanding of the environmental stress regarding the air and water quality of their environment. As such, local authorities must implement programs that encourage the people to be more cautious towards the importance of environmental awareness (Gunn, 1995). Analysis of the adopted strategy The methods outlined in the plan of approach for addressing the problem of acidic deposition are viable and can be used for reducing the amount of acid-contributing substances in the atmosphere. However, they all have their strengths and limitations, and the effectiveness of the methods d epends on the tradeoff between their advantages and disadvantages. Coal washing with the aim of removing sulfur prior to combustion is vital in the elimination of acidic deposition, has a significant challenge in the sense that it results to the generation of polluted water. On the hand, using fuel alternatives is an expensive strategy and requires adequate time for its effective implementation. Any approach that requires a reduction in energy consumption and adoption of alternative forms of energy requires a complete overhaul of the energy policies in Canada. However, the basic argument is that a reduction in energy consumption, adoption of renewable sources of energy as alternative forms of energy combined with the strategy of emissions control is the best approach towards the elimination of human factors that result to acid deposition. In addition, it is important that new solutions have to be developed constantly to address the increasing problem of acid deposition (Caroll, 1990 ). Conclusion Acidic deposition is an increasing global environmental change that requires the deployment of appropriate strategies in order to contain its impacts. It is arguably evident that the acidic deposition affects the chemical composition of the ecosystem, threatens the sustenance of the aquatic life, forests, and the biological and chemical composition of the soil and affects human health. It is also notable that human activities are a major contributing factor towards acidic deposition; as such, any approaches that should be implemented to contain acidic deposition should be centered towards the regulation of human activities. The suggested approaches include the adoption of alternative forms of energy that are renewable, reduction of energy consumption and increasing people awareness towards environmental conservation. References Brimblecombe, P., Hiroshi, H. (2007). Acid Rain Deposition to Recovery. New York: Springer. Caroll, E. J. (1990). International environmental diplomacy: the management and resolution of transfrontier environmental problems. New York: CUP Archive. Environment Ontario. (2002). Air Quality in Ontario, 2001 Report. Ontario: Environment Ontario. Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Effects of Acid Rain Surface Waters and Aquatic Animals. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects-acid-rain#health Gunn, J. (1995). REstoration and Recovery of an industrial region, Progress in restoring the damaged landscape near Sudbury, canada. New York: Springer-Verlag. Jacobson, M. Z. (2002). Atmospheric pollution: history, science, and regulation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Keller, W., Pitblado, R. J., Conroy, N. I. (1977). Water Quality Improvements in the Sudbury, Ontario, Canada area Related to Reduced Smelter Emissions. Water, Air and Soil Pollution , 31 (3-4), 765-774. Tamra, G., Reyes, O. (2009). Carbon trdaing How it works and why it fails. Critical currents , 7, 10-56.

Domestication and Spread of the Sweet Potato

Domestication and Spread of the Sweet Potato The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a root crop, probably first domesticated somewhere between the Orinoco river in Venezuela north to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The oldest sweet potato discovered to date was in the Tres Ventanas cave in the Chilca Canyon region of Peru, ca. 8000 BCE, but it is believed to have been a wild form. Recent genetic research suggests that Ipomoea trifida, native to Colombia, Venezuela, and Costa Rica, is the closest living relative of I. batantas, and maybe its progenitor. The oldest remains of domesticated sweet potato in the Americas were found in Peru, about 2500 BCE. In Polynesia, decidedly Precolumbian sweet potato remains have been found in the Cook Islands by CE 1000-1100, Hawaii by CE 1290-1430, and Easter Island by CE 1525. Sweet potato pollen, phytoliths, and starch residues have been identified in agricultural plots alongside maize in South Auckland. Sweet Potato Transmissions Transmission of the sweet potato around the planet was primarily the work of the Spanish and Portuguese, who got it from the South Americans and spread it to Europe. That doesnt work for Polynesia, though; its too early by 500 years. Scholars generally assume that either seed of the potato were brought to Polynesia by birds such as the Golden Plover that regularly cross the Pacific; or by accidental raft drift by lost sailors from the South American coast. A recent computer simulation study indicates that raft drift is, in fact, a possibility. Source This article on the domestication of sweet potatoes is part of the About.com Guide to Plant Domestications, and part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Bovell-Benjamin, Adelia. 2007. Sweet potato: A review of its past, present and future role in human nutrition. Advances in Food and Nutrition Research 52:1-59. Horrocks, Mark and Ian Lawlor 2006 Plant microfossil analysis of soils from Polynesian Journal of Archaeological Science 33(2):200-217.stonefields in South Auckland, New Zealand. Horrocks, Mark and Robert B. Rechtman 2009 Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and banana (Musa sp.) microfossils in deposits from the Kona Field System, Island of Hawaii. Journal of Archaeological Science 36(5):1115-1126. Horrocks, Mark, Ian W. G. Smith, Scott L. Nichol, and Rod Wallace 2008 Sediment, soil and plant . Journal of Archaeological Science 35(9):2446-2464.microfossil analysis of Maori gardens at Anaura Bay, eastern North Island, New Zealand: comparison with descriptions made in 1769 by Captain Cooks expedition Montenegro, lvaro, Chris Avis, and Andrew Weaver. Modeling the prehistoric arrival of the sweet potato in Polynesia. 2008. Journal of Archaeological Science 35(2):355-367. OBrien, Patricia J. 1972. The Sweet Potato: Its Origin and Dispersal. American Anthropologist 74(3):342-365. Piperno, Dolores R. and Irene Holst. 1998. The Presence of Starch Grains on Prehistoric Stone Tools from the Humid Neotropics: Indications of Early Tuber Use and Agriculture in Panama. Journal of Archaeological Science 35:765-776. Srisuwan, Saranya, Darasinh Sihachakr, and Sonja Siljak-Yakovlev. 2006. The origin and evolution of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) and its wild relatives throughout the cytogenetic approaches. Plant Science 171:424–433. Ugent, Donald and Linda W. Peterson. 1988. Archaeological remains of potato and sweet potato in Peru. Circular of the International Potato Center 16(3):1-10.

Green Zone Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Green Zone - Dissertation Example According to the research findings it can therefore be said that as the primary target of Urbanwell is to develop a facility that will have a positive impact on the living standard of the community and harness a culture of growth and development. Another aspect of paramount importance is the sustainability of the facility that is to be developed, as this venture does not consider financial profit making as its prime motive. But the self-generation and regulation of finance will provide stability to the social enterprise. Urbanwell is a charity organisation and being cost effective in its service charges is of utmost importance as well and this aspect will completely change the business and operational model of the enterprise. Lastly and most importantly the element of risk must be minimum as we are aware of the fact that the profit margin is going to be very short and so will be a recovery time incase a loss is faced. Hence all actions must be analysed and counterproductive actions m ust be highlighted and eliminated. Concluding, what Urbanwell requires is facility that is cost effective both to the end user and establishment, sustainable on economic, environmental, cultural grounds and provide progressive and healthy growth to the community. For these reasons we as development consultants propose that Urbanwell must make its investment of about  £ 3.5 Million in developing â€Å"Green Zone†.... According to the report 25 percent of boys and 33 percent of girls aged between 2 and 19 years are overweight or obese. Then more than 60 percent of adult males will be stated as obese by 2050.Whereas more than 50 percent of overweight children will become overweight adults. But the most distressing fact is that the amount of direct health service costs from obesity will increase 7 times by 2050 and it is to be noted that at present 45 Billion Pounds is spent on curative measures of obesity and obesity related illness. The statistics mentioned above are a clear indicative and propose themselves that we should seriously take some appropriate actions to safeguard our youth and preserve our future from the damage. We suggest that in order to create a healthy environment. We must develop facilities which provide both awareness and solution to the problem. For which we have come up with an idea of â€Å"Green Zone† whose aim would be to change the diet plan and eating habits of chi ldren in an interactive and unique manner. The marketing of Green Zone will not only help in increasing the sales of the company but will also aid in creating awareness of the problems associated with bad eating habits and illness. GreenZone would be working under the slogan of â€Å"Great Health is Great wealth†. It is to be noted that the Department of Health has come to a conclusion that the 71 million times UK children snack while traveling to and from school each week. This is a clear indicative of the potential market that we are going to focus. What we at Greenzone aim at is that firstly create awareness among people in general and mothers in specific that green and healthy diet is very

An overview of Under Armor and how they are challenging nike in sports Essay

An overview of Under Armor and how they are challenging nike in sports apparel - Essay Example The company’s wide range of products is being used by many reputed consumers and other people of the world as well. Apart from all these, there also exist numerous competitors of Under Armour in the world. Among them, Nike is one of the major competitors of the company as both of them operate their business in the world of sports brand (Thomas Reuters, 2014). To analyse the competition between these two huge brands, this study will consist of the overview about Under Armour and the ways they are competing with its competitors. A complete study of the background of the company along with its vision, business culture and expansion strategies will be taken into due consideration. This information will help to understand the competitive advantage of the company in the local as well as the global market. Since 1996, Under Armour has been running its business successfully in the field of sports shoes and other required accessories for sports. In the present scenario, the company is operating its business in major parts of the world such as North America, the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and Asia. The idea of business of sports brand came from a simple idea developed by the 23 year old former captain of the University of Maryland i.e. Kevin Plank’s special team. During playing days of Kevin Plank, he hated to wear the sweat soaked cotton T-shirt again and again, especially in the hot warmers days. In order to get rid of this problem, he set out an idea of manufacturing such T-shirt, which can be suitable for the players to wear even in the hotter days. Plank named the company of sports brand as Under Armour. For the first time in the world of sports, a new design of T-shirt named as #0037 came into existence. This t-shirt was designed in such a manner that it comprised of moisture soaking fibres, which help the players to keep them cool and dry even in the hotter conditions. At the initial stages of the development of such

Pharmacy as a Career Essay Example for Free

Pharmacy as a Career Essay One of the most dynamic industries in health care is pharmacy. I chose this career because it provides various outlets for professional growth, excellent financial gains, and the opportunity to take care of people all the time. As the â€Å"medication expert on the health care team,† my task is to manage the medication therapy of patients and clients by providing information and advice as well as improving the quality of their lives. In addition, I picked this line of work since it is one of the most accessible health care professionals. New challenges come each day as pharmacists assist patients with their health care needs in terms of medications. Coincidentally, I live in a city where health care demands are high and the standard of living is extreme and active. In this set-up, a career in Pharmacy offers enough resources, opportunities, and flexibility needed to maintain balanced health care career and fulfilling personal life. The fact that you have to deal with different types of people and personalities is interesting and stimulating. What is great about this profession is the lifetime learning as well taken from institutions and everyday actual experiences. Continuous education allows for professional and personal development in all aspects. A degree in Doctor of Pharmacy allows for better positions and job offerings in health care facilities in both immediate and long-term basis. It will also give me the break of exploring other fields such as teaching or publishing written works in educational institutions. Practice in Pharmacy can also be privatized. This further study in Pharmacy will offer me more options for other careers which are all equally motivating and inspiring.

The American :: essays research papers

A literary technique that authors often times employ is giving to the characters a name to enhance the reader’s understanding of that character. In The American, Henry James uses this style with most of his characters’ names. Often times, the names may translate into an English word, or it could even just sound like an English word. The novel is better understood because of this and the reader can get more meaning out of each character and his or her personality traits. In whichever way James chooses to depict names, they intensify the reader’s comprehension. The main character, Christopher Newman, is a prime example of Henry James’ use of this method. He is named after Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of America, as he says early in the novel, "Did you ever hear of Christopher Columbus?†¦my parents named me for him." (6). This is just relating him ever more to America and distinguishing him from a European. His last name "Newman" is very symbolic. He has traveled to Europe and Paris to basically become a "new man." He has given up his previous life of business and hard work, and is determined to live carefree and abroad. Newman changes day by day, and the reader follows along with these changes. The name Claire de Cintré also enhances the reader’s knowledge of her as a person. "Claire" in French means "light" and "Cintré" often can be translated as "crazy" or "insane." Claire is a light in many ways. She always wears white clothing, which can be very bright and seems to almost emit a glow when she is in a room. Her personality is also very lightening. She is well liked among everyone the reader is introduced to and always seems to attract the attention of people when she is in the room. Newman says, "†¦if you are going into a room with Madame de Cintré, you needn’t be afraid of being noticed yourself!" (139). Claire also can be seen by the reader to be a bit "crazy." She puts on a grand façade to those around her, but she can be different. She seems to be very depressed behind the happy face that she puts on. Nobody will really speak of why her previous marria ge was such a disaster, and this may be the cause of her depression. The reader can also assume that living with a mother and brother as the Marquise de Bellegarde and Urbain could drive any sane person a bit mad.

On Arabian Culture Essay

The literature on social diversity and cleavages in Arab society and the Middle East as a whole suffers from several fallacies, two of which are most pertinent here. One is the tendency, particularly among Orientalists, to speak both of the mosaic nature of Arab society and of the existence of a unified mentality, or one Arab mind, without any awareness of the contradiction between these two abstractions. The other is the emphasis either on communal cleavages or on class conflicts, with the result that one becomes explanatory while the other is ignored. The interplay and coincidence of these two cleavages are rarely examined in their historical and social contexts. How can an individual define the diversity of Arab society? The diversity that characterizes Arab society needs to be analyzed within a three-dimensional framework: (a) a homogeneity-heterogeneity continuum; (b) the processes of conflict-accommodation-assimilation; and (c) social class cleavages. The continuum that covers the range from a completely homogeneous society to one of great heterogeneity encompasses a complex system of vertical loyalties and communal differentiations (ethnic, linguistic, sectarian, tribal, local, regional, and the like) that coincides as well as conflicts with social class cleavages. Arab society has historically been highly heterogeneous. Certainly, one may argue that there has recently been a resurgence of communal loyalties and mobilization, confirming the mosaic and segmentary structures of society. What cannot be granted is the static conception of these loyalties and cleavage as permanent, unchanging forms of differentiation. What is Arab society in general? The characterization of Arab society as heterogeneous, however, needs to be accompanied by an explicit clarification that not all Arab countries are similar in this respect. In fact, they differ widely in regard to their positions on the homogeneity-heterogeneity continuum. Compared to other Arab countries, Egypt and Tunisia, for instance, may be described as rather homogeneous as far as communal cleavages are concerned. These two countries tend to have fewer ethnic, religious, and tribal differences (and, hence, conflicts) than other Arab societies, and are characterized more by social complexity and social class cleavages. A second group of Arab countries, such as Lebanon and Sudan, occupy a position close to the opposite end of the continuum, each being more of a mosaic in structure and social composition. A third set, such as Syria, Algeria, Arabia, and Morocco, tend to occupy positions more in the middle of the continuum. Conventional Western literature on Arab and other Middle Eastern societies has persistently avoided any serious discussion of social class structure. Instead, it has conceived of Arab societies simply as a mosaic. At the margin of this mainstream discourse, however, there has been some occasional speculation on problems of social stratification. Whenever a discussion of this nature has taken place, it has evolved into a heated exchange. One point of view reaffirms the conclusions of the mosaic model and questions the relevance of class analysis. For instance, C. A. O. van Niewenhuijze and James Bill, in separate works, dismiss class analysis in economic terms and instead use Weberian concepts of status and power. Similarly, Iliya Harik has more recently dismissed the thesis put forward by some writers that the Lebanese civil war is actually a class struggle and expressed his â€Å"belief that class distinctions in Lebanon are too obscure to sustain the class struggle argument†. Bryan S. Turner, by contrast, has pointed out that anyone â€Å"who wants to develop a Marxist analysis of North Africa and the Middle East must start with a critique of the mosaic theory and all its related assumptions†. Such a critique, he explains, is required because mosaic analysts believe â€Å"that traditional Middle Eastern societies were not class dominated and that in the modern Middle East social class is only in the process of emerging alongside other forms of social stratification†. Nicholas S. Hopkins has applied ideas of class derived from the Marxist tradition to changes in the social structure of an agricultural town in Tunisia, concluding that essential changes in the mechanization of agriculture and in the improvement of communications â€Å"led to a shift in the organization of work away from a pattern based on mobilization of labor within the household or the extended kindred . . . and toward a pattern of labor determined by wage labor†. Consequently, this Tunisian agricultural town has shifted from a society in which rank was based â€Å"on vertical rather than on horizontal links† to one â€Å"based on class†. Hopkins argues further that not only is there class in the objective sense, â€Å"there is also class consciousness, at least in embryonic, symbolic form†. My own view is that the persistence of communal cleavages complicates rather than nullifies social class consciousness and struggle. This persistence of communal cleavages and vertical loyalties in some Arab countries is owing to the perpetuation of traditional systems in which communities are linked to their local za’ims (traditional leaders) through patron-client relationships. To the extent that constructive change can be introduced in these areas, such traditional systems will give way, increasingly, to other social and class relationships. Reference: Gutas, D. (1998). Greek Thought, Arab Culture : The Graeco-Arabic Translation Movement in Baghdad and Early Abbasid Society (2nd-4th & 8th-10th C. ): Routledge. Rejwan, N. (1998). Arabs Face the Modern World: Religious, Cultural, and Political Responses to the West: Gainesville University Press of Florida. Szarmach, P. E. (1979). Aspects of Jewish Culture in the Middle Ages: Albany State University of New York Press

Religion and Education Institutions

Since the beginning of mankind, every civilization shows evidence of some sort of the religion and education institutions. These institutions are essential to organized human society. From teaching your grandson to assemble a tomahawk to worshipping the Greek god of war, people show religion and education in many different ways. What does it mean to be religious? It means almost everything because religions deal with the whole of human life and death. For centuries people have searched for the meaning and truth of their own nature and the nature of the universe. Religions are the result. We view religions as communities of people who share practices and beliefs, who gather together in special buildings to worship, and who have a special way of living. More then three-quarters of the world†s population consider themselves members of some time of religion. Religion deals with almost all aspects of human life. It may have influence in marriage, work, and even food. Religion has been around for thousands of years and it will continue for many more. There are thousands of religions and thousand more subdivisions of those. Religions are divided mainly into ancient and modern religions. Not to say that the â€Å"modern† religions just originated in the past couple years, just they are still practiced in present times. Some of the ancient religions include Egyptian, Zoroastrianism, Greek, Roman, Norse, and Celtic. The beliefs of these religions vary greatly and you could write a paper on each one. Among the main modern religions, Christianity and Islam are the most popular throughout the world. Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, and many others are still practiced throughout the world. Hinduism and Buddhism are mainly practiced in the Far East. Christianity is most common among English speaking countries. Islam is the primary religion in the African continent. There are thousands of variations of the religions that I have named previously. Religion and power have been closely related in the past millenium. Powerful leaders have taken advantage of people†s religion. Religion has to do with ones mind and if a leader controls religion, he controls the mind of his followers. In the past, priests and church leaders played important roles in the government. These roles gave them power and influence over the following people. The caste system in India places priests and other people with religious prowess on the top rung of society. In the Vatican City, the pope runs the whole country. He is also the leader of the Catholic Church. This shows the relationship between power and the church. In many tribal societies, the medicine man or religious leader is well respected among his brethren. This is because of his involvement with religion. Fundamentally, if you control your people†s mind, then you also control their body. Many religious leaders have abused their powers in the past and have been involved in brutal religious battles. The leaders in the churches gain power and develop a state of dictatorship. They go to war for their god. The crusades were a violent conflict, which occurred between two separate religions. This particular conflict was between the Christians and the Islamic people. The Muslims took over Jerusalem and the Christians spent years trying to recover the center of their religion. In more recent times the Jews were persecuted because of their religion. Hitler ordered the massacres of millions of people because of their religious beliefs. Many people have died sacrificing themselves for their religion. That is how powerful the institution of religion really is. Religion affects many things and United States politics are no exception. The churches try to influence who gets elected. They support candidates to further their beliefs. For example: abortion, euthanasia, and homosexuality are current issues that churches are trying to have an impact on. They may contribute money, educate their members one way or another, and have rallies in their church. For these reasons, many politicians try to gain support from religious supporters. Several trends are showing throughout the world. Many religious people feel the quality of religious education in schools is unacceptable and therefore take it upon themselves to teach their children. This system is known as homeschooling. This has been becoming more and more popular every year. Another trend is the increase of nondenominational churches. These churches lack the title of Baptist, Lutheran, and such. The reason for this may be the harsh treatment of others from denomination to denomination. Another main institution among families throughout the world is education. There are many different types of education. Public, private, and traditional are the most common forms of education. Public Education consists of a government sponsored schooling system, which is available to all people of the community. Some feel that this system is lacking, because they have no accountability. However, it does provide an education to everyone, rich or poor. The private school system is a business institution that does not receive support from the government. The parents pay to put their children in these institutions. The disadvantage of this system is the cost. They have to pay for public school in addition to the private school tuition. The advantage is it places kids of the highest capability and places them together. This maximizes learning potential. The traditional education system is most popular in small villages and undeveloped nations. This education would be your parents or elder teaching you the essentials to life. Your dad would take you out and show you how to hunt; your mother would show you how to cook. This educational system is very limited, because you would only learn as much as your teacher knows. Public education was developed to expand the knowledge of United States citizens. The idea behind it was to give everyone an equal opportunity to learn. Before this time only the rich had the luxury of education. Everyone in the country pays taxes in order to support the institution. This money is used to develop schools and pay teachers. In turn, anyone can enroll in the school without any additional fees. This system is based on an equal opportunity theory. Everyone has the opportunity to learn if they have the desire. In the movie, School Ties, a boy experiences the prejudice of a private religious school. He was from the lower class among society and that put him at a disadvantage. People did not give him respect because of how little his dad makes. He was used to going to a public school, so he had not experienced the close bonds to his classmates that occurs in private institutions. He managed alright in the beginning until religion came up. He was Jewish and the school he attended was Catholic. These religions conflict and he was discriminated against for his beliefs. He lost friends and respect because he believed differently. Whenever people are different, they suffer discrimination. This proved true in School Ties.

Neolithic Revolution essays

Neolithic Revolution essays The Neolithic revolution, also known as the agricultural revolution, was a change in the way of life of our ancestors. This period was a full transition from a food gathering to a food producing society. It took place about eight thousand years ago among various tribes in Asia and the Middle East. It included a transition from foraging and hunting to the domestication of animals (mostly the dog) and to farming. Tribes settled in fertile areas and formed agricultural communities many of which grew into villages and cities. This relatively stable way of life and the more reliable food supply and surplus led to the development of new professions, to labor specialization and ultimately to the stratification of these societies. Improved conditions of life led to somewhat longer life spans. Nevertheless population growth remained low due to high infant mortality rates. The social impact of the Neolithic revolution was not as much on immediate population growth, even though it did have a long-term impact on population growth, as on the material and spiritual development of the human race. It is widely regarded as the beginning of civilization. Attempts to control environment in order to produce more food brought about the idea of people working and socializing together as a society. More social changes were brought about in the creation of larger and more complex settlements. This showed people that in order to thrive in their society, they were going to need to expand and explore further possibilities of how to make their lives more advanced. This led into the innovations of agriculture, which were first formed in Shandidar, what is now known today as Palestine. Following the changes of agriculture came the invention of pottery and sun-dried bricks. This made it possible for the people to make art and build more developed housing quarters. Finally came the invention of writing and the invention of the wheel ...

Zygorhiza Facts and Figures

Zygorhiza Facts and Figures Name: Zygorhiza (Greek for yoke root); pronounced ZIE-go-RYE-za Habitat: Shores of North America Historical Epoch: Late Eocene (40-35 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 20 feet long and one ton Diet: Fish and squids Distinguishing Characteristics: Long, narrow body; long head About Zygorhiza Like its fellow prehistoric whale Dorudon, Zygorhiza was closely related to the monstrous Basilosaurus, but differed from both of its cetacean cousins in that it had an unusually sleek, narrow body and a long head perched on a short neck. Strangest of all, Zygorhizas front flippers were hinged at the elbows, a hint that this prehistoric whale may have lumbered up onto land to give birth to its young. By the way, along with Basilosaurus, Zygorhiza is the state fossil of Mississippi; the skeleton at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is affectionately known as Ziggy.

Discursive essay Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Social Media Usage in the Workplace - Research Paper Example Research indicates that many employees spend a significant part of the day at the workplace on social media, both for professional and personal benefit. However, research indicates that many companies in the modern world have not embraced the use of social media in the workplace. A study showed that less than 43% of companies have an open policy for social networking at the workplace (Abate et al. 2011, p. 6). Nevertheless, of those companies that prohibit the use of social network among employees, less than 30% blocks the use of these social networking channels altogether (Al-Deen and Hendricks 2011, p.221). Furthermore, findings show that many firms are continuing to embrace social networking at the workplace citing benefits brought by social networking. The study found out that firms restricting the use of social networking at the workplace have been dropping by 10% annually since the introduction of social networking (Abate et al. 2011, p. 6). This has left a lot to be desired of the argument that social media has no place in the modern the workplace. The world has experienced increased growth in the usage of social media over the past few decades. The growth continues to be witnessed with many firms offering social media sites coming up. The most prominent social media sites in use currently include twitter, facebook, mySpace, LinkedIn, and YouTube, just to name but a few (Abate et al. 2011, p. 8). These social media sites give people the opportunity to interact with friends and families all over the world. However, its usage in the workplace has been controversial with some arguing that it has no place in the modern world. Those who argue in this manner put a strong case against social media in the workplace. One of the arguments put forwards against embracing social media in the workplace is that it decreases employee productivity (Al-Deen and Hendricks 2011, p.222). Researchers reveal that many managers oppose social media usage in the workplace since i t wastes employee’s time, which can be used for productive purposes.