Tuesday, October 15, 2019
UK's Fastest Growing Companies Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words
UK's Fastest Growing Companies - Dissertation Example Leadership is an important element of businesses in our modern era. Leadership in entrepreneurship involves the building of teams with complementary talents that can enable a business to attain its objectives (Timmons and Spinelli, 2006). à à à In essence, financial leadership is entrepreneurship in its own right. This is because entrepreneurship is about the combination of factors of production for the best results for the owners of a business à à à This suggests that a strong leadership is an indispensable tool for businesses. This is because the kind of leadership structure it has creates the framework for the pooling of resources for the attainment of a specific goal. In the era of privatization and the optimization of resources, leadership is central and essential in every business venture. à à à Timmons and Spinelli (2006) identify five main attributes of a leader in a business venture which include self-concept, intellectual honesty, pacemaking, courage, and communication. Self-concept is about a vision and a realistic approach to division of power for the attainment of results. Intellectual honesty suggests trustworthiness and high standards of integrity that a person in a leadership position has and encourages his/her followers to build and observe. Pacemaking refers to the ability to inspire and drive the attainment of set standards and visions.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Difference Between Wordpad and Notepad Essay Example for Free
Difference Between Wordpad and Notepad Essay What is the difference between Notepad and WordPad? Answer: Both programs are text editors that are included with the Windows operating system. Notepad is the most basic text editor, which allows you to open and create text files. While you can create several paragraphs of text with Notepad, using line breaks (by pressing the Enter key), the program does not give you text formatting options. For example, you cannot change the font size or make the text bold. WordPad is similar to Notepad, but gives you more formatting options. You can use bold and italics formatting, and change the font, size, and color of the text. You can also create bulleted lists and center and justify paragraphs. WordPad allows you to save documents as either basic text (. TXT) files or rich text format (. RTF) files. Saving a document in the rich text format will keep all the formatting you have done to the text, while saving it as a basic text file will remove all text formatting from the document. Notepad is a good choice for creating webpages It is also useful for removing formatting from text that you have copied and want to paste somewhere else as plain text. Just paste the text into Notepad, copy it again from Notepad, and you have completely unformatted text. WordPad is a good choice for writing papers or creating documents that you want to print. It is also great for making lists, since it supports bullets. You can use WordPad to open an unformatted text document and add whatever formatting you want. If you want even more formatting options and a more user-friendly interface, you can use a program such as Microsoft Word.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
The Influences Of Tolkien In T Essay -- essays research papers
The Influences of Tolkien The influences of Tolkien are many and great, but of them all, three stand out most; his great love of nature that sprung from his experiences as a youth in the English Countryside, his acute sensitivity and desire to master language, and his involvement in trench warfare in the Great War. Tolkien himself vehemently denied that the war affected his story at all. 'The real war does not resemble the legendary war its process or conclusion. If I had been inspired or directed in the development of the legend, then certainly the ring would have been seized and used against Sauron.'; Tolkien's love of language persisted throughout his life from his child hood years till adulthood. When he was a boy he would study Welsh names that would rush by on railway coal cars, a...
Saturday, October 12, 2019
The Contrasts between Hayden and Stevens Essay -- Poetry Analysis
Both Robert Haydenââ¬â¢s poem ââ¬Å"Those Winter Sundaysâ⬠and Wallace Stevensââ¬â¢ poem ââ¬Å"The Plain Sense of Thingsâ⬠describe different aspects of what defines house and home. Although a home can be a house, a house does not always mean a home. This difference, among other factors, correlates with how both poets play on the emotional undertones between a house full of people and a lone house in the woods. While Hayden seeks to describe how oneââ¬â¢s house is a home because of a fatherââ¬â¢s love-filled action, Stevens delineates a houseââ¬â¢s transformation from a home for people to a home for the natural world. Although the poets use two different tones for their respective poems, both define what a home could stand for. ââ¬Å"Those Winter Sundaysâ⬠depicts the speakerââ¬â¢s childhood memory of Sunday church mornings. The speaker explains that his father, despite having to work outside the rest of the week to provide for his family, would go outside early mornings to retrieve firewood to heat the home. Only when the heat from the fire would warm the whole house and he polished his sonââ¬â¢s church shoes, would the speakerââ¬â¢s father wake the family from their slumber. No one showed their appreciation for this action that displayed the fatherââ¬â¢s love for his family. The speaker shows deep self-reproach from his indifference toward his father, which he concludes was from being young and naà ¯ve. In line 5 (ââ¬Å"No one ever thanked himâ⬠) and in line 10 (ââ¬Å"Speaking indifferently to himâ⬠) the speaker explicitly states that during those times he did not particularly care whether or not his father took the time to warm the house, polish his good shoes and then wake him up for church. At the time the speaker may have been fearful of his parents fighting, confrontation or yelling tha... ...s and downs. Both ââ¬Å"These Winter Sundaysâ⬠and ââ¬Å"The Plain Sense of Thingsâ⬠set out to describe what the speaker feels a home is, whether itââ¬â¢s where oneââ¬â¢s family is or where life resides in. Either poem takes intricate detail using the seasons to help reflect the underlying emotions of the poemââ¬â¢s voice along with standout lines that help the reader know what the speaker aims to say, why they say it and how they choose to say it. Hayden and Stevens do a nice job of conveying a certain sense without having to be boldly explicit. Works Cited Hayden, Robert. ââ¬Å"These Winter Sundaysâ⬠. Poems, Poets, Poetry: An Introduction and Anthology. Ed. Karen S. Henry. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 6. Print. Stevens, Wallace. ââ¬Å"The Plain Sense of Thingsâ⬠. Poems, Poets, Poetry: An Introduction and Anthology. Ed. Karen S. Henry. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 8. Print.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Primary Essay
ââ¬Å"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nationâ⬠. This is the first line of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ââ¬Å"I Have a Dreamâ⬠speech. Martian Luther Kingââ¬â¢s speech took place after the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. He delivered the speech on the Lincoln Memorial steps. He voiced this speech to millions of people both blacks and whites. This speech is one of the greatest speeches of the civil rights movement, because it has many rhetorical tropes such as; repetition, assonance and consonance, pathos, logos, metaphors and ethos. Martin Luther King Jr. uses a lot of repetition in his ââ¬Å"I Have a Dreamâ⬠speech. They are scattered throughout the speech but in very close proximities of each other. One of the repetitions in his ââ¬Å"I Have a dreamâ⬠. Not only is this the name of the speech of the speech but in todayââ¬â¢s world it has become a commo n phrase used in everyday life as people announce their dream to either themselves or loved ones. The phrase is even used by children who dare to dream big. Martian Luther King Jr. uses this phase to show what he sees in the future of America. One of the phrases he uses with it is: ââ¬Å"I have dream the one day this nation will and live out the true meaning of its creed: we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.â⬠Another is ââ¬Å"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their nature. I have a dream today.â⬠That part of the speech was very personal and touching. Using his own children as an example helped to touch people where the heart is. Repeating ââ¬Å"I Have a Dreamâ⬠helped people to start thinking about their own personal dreams that they might have had also. Two other repetitions Martin Luther King Jr. uses is ââ¬Å"Let freedom ringâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Free at lastâ⬠, but I will be using those phrases in another part of this analyzed paper. In Martin Luther King Jr. speech he also uses many assonances and consonances. These are the most occurring and mostly found toward the end of his speech. One of them is ââ¬Å"Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!â⬠This was the last word of the speech. He used this phrase to show all the listeners that African Americans have come so far and fought so hardà to get where we are today. Even though today there are many forms of slavery today, but it is nowhere near as bad as it was when slavery first started. That phrase was a very strong and powerful closing. It more than likely gave African Americas to strength and mind set to believe that the world is not what it used to be. It gave African Americans the mind set to move forward in life and stop dreading on the past. Martin Luther King Jr was trying to get us to open our mind set to see a greater tomorrow. Others are ââ¬Å"molehill of Mississippiâ⬠, ââ¬Å"Lookout Mountainâ⬠, ââ¬Å"curvaceous peaks of Californiaâ⬠, and ââ¬Å"Rockies of Coloradoâ⬠. They all have a poetic feeling to them. Martin Luther King Jr. uses pathos in his speech as well as many other things. He uses pathos to appeal to all the people who were truly listening to his speechââ¬â¢s emotions. One of the things he says to appeal to their emotions are, ââ¬Å"When will we be satisfied? We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of cities. Martin Luther King Jr. is basically saying that it is time for African American to stop moving and letting the white people take what is ours. Martin Luther King Jr. once again wants us to open our minds and see the foolery that the white people have dragged us through. Martin Luther King Jr. also says, ââ¬Å"I have a dream that my four children will on day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their characterâ⬠. As I stated earlier while speaking on the repetition of ââ¬Å"I have a dreamâ⬠, that phrased grabbed attention to all those people in the audience who had children and also wished the same things for them. No parent want their child to suffer the way they did. Most parents pray to God that there children have a life that is tenfold of their own. Logos means reason. Martin Luther King Jr. uses logos to show why he is delivering this speech and why he wants things to change. He is delivering this speech to show how many blacks and other races, that werenââ¬â¢t being treated equally, really did not have freedom like they should. ââ¬Å"It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negroâ⬠. ââ¬Å"Instead of honoring the sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked ââ¬Ëinsufficient fundsââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ . These quotes are just a couple of the logos quotes Martin Luther King Jr said in his speech. Metaphors, which is another useful rhetorical trope, are essential to help audiences fully understand an idea as it compares an idea with something the audience is familiar with, which is important to bring out modes such as ethos and pathos. King uses a series of more complicated metaphors in the middle of his essay. He claims that by the Constitution and Declaration of Independence,â⬠the forefathers of America were ââ¬Å"signing a promissory noteâ⬠that all men, whatever color, would be granted the same rights. However, King then says in the view of the Negroes, the US government have given the Negroes a ââ¬Å"bad check,â⬠a bad check that does not promise them the same results that have been given to the white population. Later on. King says that many equal rights activists have been ââ¬Å"battered by the storms of persecutionâ⬠and the ââ¬Å"winds of police brutality.â⬠Through this metaphor. King paints the upholders of the Jim Crow laws, the laws suppressing blacks, in a bad light. These two metaphors both relate to ethos as the first metaphor invokes the ethic of keeping your promises while the second metaphor involves torture, something which most of the American population was against. Finally, King uses several last metaphors when he writes that with faith, it is possible to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a ââ¬Å"beautiful symphony of brotherhood.â⬠This metaphor, on the other hand, is related to pathos as the audience immediately feels good due to the kingââ¬â¢s choice of words. All of these metaphors are aimed to make the audience realize that continued racial in justice will lead to total chaos while racial equality leads to a beautiful society. Overall, the metaphors King uses are effective to support the ethos and pathos as they make the audience realize that the U.S. has cheated the Negros, that those who uphold the Jim Crow laws are evil and that it is possible to transform the U.S. society. In conclusion, Martin Luther King, Jrââ¬â¢s most famous speech was the I Have a Dreamâ⬠speech given in 1963 during one of the most famous marches in history, the 200,000-strong ââ¬Å"March on Washington For Jobs and Freedom.â⬠At the time, America was in the grips of racism and segregation, making the lives of many blacks living hell. ââ¬Å"I Have a Dream,â⬠however, played a major step into changing it. It managed to inspire a generation of blacks to never give up and made thousands of white Americans bitterly ashamed of their actions, forging a new start for society. Even now, it continues to make generations of people, not just Americans, to give up their racist beliefs and advocate socialà colorblindness. W ithout King, America would be probably still heavily segregated. Other than the speechââ¬â¢s heartwarming and moving content, Kingââ¬â¢s effective structure along with the usage of all three rhetorical modes and certain rhetorical tropes and schemes has revealed the reason ââ¬Å"I Have a Dreamâ⬠as a masterpiece of rhetoric and it persuades hundreds of thousands of people support the blacks instead of treating them unfairly. Works Cited ââ¬Å"The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change.â⬠The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. ââ¬Å"Rhetorical Analysis of the ââ¬Å"I Have a Dreamâ⬠Speech.â⬠Teen Ink. Web. 13 Feb. 2014 ââ¬Å"Free Martin Luther King I Have a Dream Essays and Papers | Martin Luther King I Have a Dream Essays and Papers | Sorted by Rating. Web. 12 Feb. 2014. Laconi, Ally. ââ¬Å"How to Write a Primary Source Analysis | EHow.â⬠EHow. Demand Media, 16 May 2010. Web. 13 Feb. 2014.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Hezbollah Essay
Hezbollah, Arabic for ââ¬Å"Party of Godâ⬠, is also known as Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine, the Organization of the Oppressed on Earth and as the Revolutionary Justice Organization (Global Security, p. 1). Hezbollah (also Hizbullah and Hizballah) is a Lebanese social, political and paramilitary organization founded in 1982. Hezbollahââ¬â¢s historical and political background was the Israeli Defense Forceââ¬â¢s presence in Lebanon (1982-2000), the Lebanese Civil War (1979-1990) and the plight of Arab Palestinians, many of whom had fled to Lebanon, where their presence ââ¬Å"changed the historical balance between Muslims and Christiansâ⬠(Bennett, 2005, p. 214). In the war, Lebanonââ¬â¢s various religious communities vied for power and Hezbollah was established as by Shiââ¬â¢a to strengthen their traditionally weak political position, with help from Iran and Syria. Committed to making Lebanon an Islamic state, to the liberation of Israeli occupied territory (which it claims means dismantling the Israeli state) Hezbollah was named a terrorist organization by the USA in 1994. One scholar describes the organization, which has seats in Parliament and in the Cabinet, runs a large social welfare program, as ââ¬Å"a moderate, mainstream political partyâ⬠(Harik, 2007, p. xiv). Harik says that Hezbollah ââ¬Å"is considered a legitimate resistance force all over the Arab and Muslim worldsâ⬠(p. 7).à Azani discusses Hezbollah as a ââ¬Å"social protest movementâ⬠(2009, p. 1). This raises the question whether the US is correct to label Hezbollah a ââ¬Å"terror organizationâ⬠and why it does so?à Harik says that no one has ever proved that Hezbollah has ever attacked a civilian (p. xiv) or that it was responsible for attacks on US personnel (p. 193). In responding to these questions, what follows examines the history of the organizations, its aims, programs and activities and why the US regards it as a terrorist organization. The Shiââ¬â¢a in Lebanon Modern Lebanon was created after World War I, when the Great Powers defeated the Ottoman Empire and divided the Middle East among themselves as League of Nations mandates. These newly created states were to be given independence when they were considered ready for self-determination. The Lebanon became a French mandate. Lebanon was religiously diverse, with Christians in a small majority, followed by Sunni Muslims, followed by the Shiââ¬â¢a. Under four centuries of Ottoman rule, the Shiââ¬â¢a were suspected being Iranââ¬â¢s fifth column. Consequently, the community was ââ¬Å"impoverished and underdevelopedâ⬠(Norton, 2009, p. 12). Under the French, an attempt was made to share power between the main communities. The Marionite were given the Presidency, the Sunni the office of Prime Minister, which left the Shiââ¬â¢a with the Speakership, a ââ¬Å"position with far weaker constitutional powersâ⬠(Norton, p. 12). This was based on the 1932 census, which, says Norton, was ââ¬Å"the last official census ever conducted in Lebanonâ⬠(p. 12). This arrangement continued after independence in 1943. The Shiââ¬â¢a community in Beirut was very small; most lived in the south and in the Beqaa valley. Azani says that the ââ¬Å"political awakeningâ⬠of the Shiââ¬â¢a began in the 1960s and 1970s, led by Imam Musa al-Sadr, ââ¬Å"a Shiite cleric with the characteristics of a religious and political leader.â⬠Born in Iran to a Lebanse family he studied at the great centers of Shiââ¬â¢a learning (p. 48). From 1959, al-Sadr was Mufti of Tyre and ââ¬Å"in less than two decades he succeeded, with strenuous activity, charisma and high rhetorical ability, in organizing the Shiââ¬â¢a community, characterized for hundreds of years by passivity and isolationalism, and in mobilizing it into collective activity for the realization of social and political goalsâ⬠(pp. 48-49). The influx of Palestinian refugees into South Lebanon upset the traditional power of the Shiââ¬â¢a elite in the region. The increasing politicization of Shiââ¬â¢a leaders in Iran impacted their role in Lebanon. From the 1970s, the number and influence of clerics increased, with al-Sadr and the future founder of Hezbollah, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah, leading a movement that wanted to bring about an Islamic revolution in Lebanon, following the Iranian revolution of 1979. The Lebanese Civil War and the founding of Hezbollah On the one hand, the Shiââ¬â¢a in Lebanon were finding their political voice, encouraged by co-religionists in Iran. On the other hand, the security situation in Lebanon was deteriorating. The tradition of good relations between communities was breaking down with Christians being depicted as pro-Israeli, while Muslims were aligned with the Palestinian cause. April 13, 1973 a Christian paramilitary group ambushed a Palestinian bus in retaliation for the killing of a Christian earlier that day (Bennett, 2005, pp. 213-5). Fighting began between different communities, Sunni, Christian, Druze and Shiââ¬â¢a. In 1976, unable to stop the fighting the President asked the Syrians and other Arab leaders to ââ¬Å"end the war.â⬠Bennett remarks that as a result of the civil war, the word ââ¬Å"Shiaâ⬠entered the Western vocabulary (p. 215). The revolution in Iran would reinforce the wordââ¬â¢s presence in the media. It was in the context of the civil war that Hezbollah was founded. The Palestinian Liberation Army was raiding Israel from across the border. Al-Sdar mysteriously disappeared in August 1978 (Norton, 2009, p. 29). This led to Israel invading Lebanon in June 1982, and to Hezbollahââ¬â¢s formation. From the start, committed to liberating Palestine, Hezbollah also raided across the border. However, its immediate aim was to end Israelââ¬â¢s presence in Lebanon. Between spring 1983 and the summer of 1985, Hezbollah ââ¬Å"launched an unprecedented wave of suicide bombings which included an attack on the US Embassy and US Marine branches in Beirut in October 1983 and the US Embassy annex in Beirut in September, 1984â⬠followed by the taking of Western hostages, according to Global Security (p. 1). Hezbullahââ¬â¢s Aims and Structure The organizationââ¬â¢s Consultative Council has 12 senior scholars at its head and a Directing Council under its Secretary-General.. The organizationââ¬â¢s charter sets out three objectives: 1. to expel the Americans, the French and their allies definitely from Lebanon, putting an end to any colonial entity. 2. to submit the Phalanges [Christian militia] to a just power and bring them all to justice for the crimes they have committed against Muslims and Christians. 3. to permit all the sons of [Lebanese] people to determine their future and to choose in all liberty the form of government they desire. [Hezbollah] call[s] upon them all to pick the option of an Islamic government, which alone is capable of guaranteeing justice and liberty for all. Only an Islamic regime can stop any further attempts at imperialist infiltration (Richardson, 2006, pp. 83-4). Hezbollah and Israel From 1978, a UN force was deployed in Lebanon to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli forces under Security Council Resolution 425. However, it was not until 2000 that Israeli troops were completely withdrawn. Until then, Hezbollah carried out attacks on Israelis targets. After the withdrawal, Israeli continued to launch missile strikes and raids into Lebanon and Hezbullah ââ¬Å"in retaliation, launched rocket attacks in Northern Israel on an almost regular basisâ⬠(Bajpai, 2006, p. 594). According to Global Security, Hezbollah ââ¬Å"operates against Israel in four main wayâ⬠: 1. brimging terrorists and collaborators through the border crossings usinf foreign documents. 2. setting up a terrorist organization inside Israel and Judea, Samaria and the Gaza strip. 3. cross-border operations ââ¬â smuggling weapons and terrorists 4. financial support for Palestinian organixzations and groups. Others do not use the word ââ¬Å"terroristâ⬠but represent Hezbullahââ¬â¢s activities as legitimate resistance to Israel, which has defied UN Resolutions to withdraw from all occupied territory. Bajpai writes, ââ¬Å"even after its formal withdrawal from Southern Lebanon in 2000, Israel engaged in frequent military incursionsâ⬠(p. 594). In 2004, the UN called for the disbanding and disarming of all Lebanese militia (Resolution 1559). However, in the elections of 2005, Hizbollah won 14 seats (out of 128), and was awarded 2 cabinet posts. By 2008, Hizbollah had eleven out of thirty cabinet seats (Council on Foreign Relations, p. 1). In the 2009 election, it lost a seat but still received 10 seats in the 30 members Cabinet. Hartik says that Christians have supported Hezbollah, which makes it harder for ââ¬Å"its enemies to float the fundamentalist stereotype of a raging gang of religious fanatics whose main aim was to put enemies of the faith to the swordâ⬠(p. 79). Other Christians are outspoken in criticizing Hezbollah as the stooge of Syria and Iran and as setting itself up as a state within the state (Azani, p. 231). As well as carrying out military or terrorist action, depending on the commentatorââ¬â¢s perspective, it spends millions on welfare and education work, funded by Iran. In 2006, Hezbollahââ¬â¢s operatives crossed the Israeli border and captured two IDF soldiers. This came a month after Palestinian operatives had captured an Israeli soldier (Global Security, p. 1). In response, a 34-day war followed during which Israel launched air strikes, killing ââ¬Å"56 citizens including 37 childrenâ⬠(Bajpai, 594). As a result of this war and Hezbollahââ¬â¢s resistance, its popularity within the Muslim world increased. The war ended with a UN brokered cease-fire and another Resolution calling for the disarming of all militia. Hezbullah did succeed in preventing a full-scale invasion. The Global Security report on Hezbollah states that in addition to funding from Iran and help from Syria, the organizatuon engaged in fund-raising around the world (p. 2). The report makes no mention of its extensive social program but the Council on Foreign Relations however describes it as a ââ¬Å"major provider of social servicesâ⬠(Council on Foreign Relations, p 1.) Acts Attributed to Hezbullah In addition to the acts mentioned above, according to CFR, Hezbollah lists the 1985 hijacking of TWA flight 847 and the attacks in Argentine on the Israeli Embassy (1992) and on a Jewish community center (1994). Azani refers to links with other organizations across the globe. He lists an attempt to destroy US ships in Singapore in 1995 and arrests of members in 1997 for planning an attack in a US Embassy. The 9/11 Report said that Al-Qaeda operatives train at Hezbollah camps (p. 203). He refers to other arrests made in 1999 and in 2001 when plans to attack targets in South and North America were foiled.à He says that the global network is spread across forty countries and every continent, including Europe where activists have also been arrested. In Germany, two charities funding the organization were shut down (p. 205).à However, Hartik points out that while Western attention focuses on its ââ¬Å"guerilla activitiesâ⬠in the Lebanon it is social welfare activities that attract support, making it in her view a ââ¬Å"mainstreamâ⬠organization. It has achieved more in this field, she says, than any other party (p. 81). On the other hand, it has refused to disarm. After 2001 and the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in NY, the US has repeatedly asked Lebanon to shut Hezbollah down and to close bank accounts. Lebanon has refused to do this, claiming that Hezbollah is not a terrorist organization, which Syria also denies. Syria is one of four countries considered ââ¬Å"state sponsors of terrorâ⬠by the US State Department. In April 2010, reports began circulating that Syria had given SCUD missiles to Hezbollah. Syria denies this.
Environmental issues Essay
It was not yet realized by the public the seriousness of the environmental problems we face if not for the issue on global warming. Dozens of organizations, many of them with international memberships, are now working on everything from saving wildlife to developing new sources of energy. But pollution, energy consumption and economic growth are independent problems. Effective programs for dealing with one of them often aggravate the others. For example, devices that clean automobile exhaust and reduce air pollution also decreases fuel economy, thereby using up our limited reserves more rapidly. Similarly, banning the burning of household trash reduces air pollution but increases environmental pollution, as land, animals and scenery are sacrificed for strip mines and oil wells, and the wastes produced by the fuel are dumped into the environment. On the other hand, ignoring the need for more energy retards the economy, thereby increasing unemployment and possibly reducing food product ion. Nature is fighting back against the abuses we have inflicted upon it! Due to human carelessness that damaged the environment, many communities are now suffering from environmental crises. The air that you breathe contains gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide in certain amounts. But many people live in areas where the air contains pollutants that are harmful to their health. Air pollution is a common problem in congested and urban areas (The Washington Times 2006, p.26). Food, air and water needed for lifeââ¬â¢s processes which the environment provides unfortunately contain harmful substances called pollutants. The presence of air, water and soil in the environment is of waste materials or pollutants which the environment cannot handle, degrade, disperse or diffuse so that it becomes unclean and unhealthy is called pollution (Colla 2002, p.125). à There are four general types of pollution, namely: 1. Air Pollution ââ¬â It is an undesirable change in the physical and chemical characteristics of air. Industrial plants, motor vehicles, indiscriminate throwing and burning of refuse everywhere make the air polluted. Cigarette smoking contributes to air pollution, most especially in enclosed places. Foul smell from waste and methane gas emitted through the combustion of refuse contributes to the problem of air pollution (Kemp1994, p.23). Prolonged exposure to air pollution may cause/aggravate respiratory and other diseases as well as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. 2. Water Pollution ââ¬â this results when water contains more harmful substances such as harmful bacteria and poisonous chemicals, than it can naturally get rid of. The dumping of domestic and industrial wastes into the rivers, canals, and other water bodies causes pollutants to be introduced into waterways. Frequent flooding which carry topsoil and sewage into the water supplies pollute the water, too. Sugar mills, distillers and mining firms without proper waste disposal systems are among the principal polluters of the nationââ¬â¢s waterways. Soap and water detergents produce enormous persistent layers of suds on the surface of receding waters. Substances such as harmful bacteria and poisonous chemicals are likely to cause gastro-intestinal diseases, cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, infectious hepatitis, food poisoning and even death. Mercury in sea water is absorbed by tiny plants that provide food for small fish, which is eaten by a larger fish. When they are eaten by men, mercury is deposited in the kidneys and brain which may cause death when accumulated (Kemp 1994, p.23). 3. Land Pollution ââ¬â This takes place when harmful substances are introduced into the soil making it unable to sustain plant life. Dumping areas are breeding places of disease carriers such as flies, rodents, mosquitoes and cockroaches. Uses of excessive amounts of fertilizer, pesticides and other toxic chemicals can destroy the ability of the soil to self-generate. They deplete the nutrients, harden the texture, and increase toxicity, making the soil less productive. Other causes of land pollution are atomic fallouts and mine tailings which poison agricultural lands. Toxic residues from the accumulation of chemicals in the land can cause cancer and other diseases (Kemp 1994, p.24). 4. Noise Pollution (Persistent noise) ââ¬â This refers to the presence of too loud, too sudden or very unpleasant sound that becomes an assault to the body causing mental or physical harm. The roaring of motor vehicles, grating sound of jackhammer, squeaking of tires, screeching brakes, blaring television sets, radios and stereos and even loud shouting are some types of dangerous noises when one is continuously exposed to them. Noise pollution affects not only the ears but also directly or indirectly impairs the mind and the whole body. Directly, it can cause deafness; indirectly, it may lead to increased heart beat and high blood pressure that eventually cause cardiovascular disease (Kemp 1994, p.24). Most pollution is caused by man, pollutants will increase as population grows, and hence, minimizing the production of pollutants and managing its proper disposal must be the goal of every human being. But the air pollution must be given extra attention by the government, society and each individual to protect people from this environmental danger, not only for ourselves but for future generations. Air Pollution, Environmental Hazard There are five basic pollutants of air are carbon monoxide, sulfur oxide, hydrocarbons (organic compounds made up of hydrogen and carbon) and small particles that float in the air (Jordan 2005, p.12-20). Sources of Air Pollution 1. Automobile exhausts The poisonous carbon monoxide in the air comes from automobiles. Nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons are also produced as by-products of engine combustion. The more vehicles there are on the road, the greater is the possibility of pollution. Unleaded gasoline and some anti-pollution automobile parts cut down the amount of pollutants in the air. But transportation vehicles are still a major cause of air pollution. 2. Industry Industries are responsible for the second largest amount of pollution in the air, next only to vehicles. Fuels that are used in some industries may give off large amounts of sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide and harmful particles of dust and ash. Sulfur oxide is made when fuels containing sulfur like coal are burned. Certain industrial processes may give off more of one pollutant than another. This depends on the kind of fuel used and the product that is being made. 3. Individuals People pollute the air in many ways. Each time a person smokes a cigar/cigarette, the air is being polluted when he burns trash, air pollution is increased. More pollution is added when he uses wood for cooking or to keep warm during the cold months or cool during the hot months. Effects of Air Pollution 1. Respiratory disorders If you have breathed polluted air, the eyes may water, the nose may run and a cough may develop. Serious illnesses are likely to happen to people long exposed to polluted air. Chronic bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer are common in air polluted areas. Cigarette smoking is closely related to the development of long cancer. Heart diseases, especially heart attacks occur more in places where there is a high level of carbon monoxide in the air. 1. Accidents Vehicle accidents happen more often in places where air is polluted. These accidents may be caused by poor visibility in the polluted air. Or they may be caused by increased exposure to carbon monoxide. People with watery eyes, headaches and breathing problems often find it hard to drive in air polluted areas. 2. High economic cost The government may spend billions of pesos per year to control air pollution. However, little has been done by the government to control air pollution due to the struggling economy and the low economic growth. The United States spends around 4o billion dollars a year to control air pollution. The cost of air pollution is about 200 dollars per year for each person. Air pollution can also add to the rusting and corrosion of vehicles and machinery. Even farm crops may be harmed or stunted in growth by air pollution. There is a way out of this trap. In a word, it is sacrifice. The fact that there is no way both to clean up the environment and conserve natural resources without changing the life-style of people in the industrialized nations. The challenge is that of motivating people to make the necessary changes now, before a worldwide disaster forces much more difficult adjustments upon us. Preventing of Air Pollution Everyone needs to care more about the problem of air pollution. Car exhausts and air conditioning systems can be checked at regular times and kept in good working condition. Air conditioners, if not working properly, may give off harmful hydrocarbons. Vehicles should not be allowed to idle for more than a few minutes because idling lets carbon monoxide escape in the sir. Use of public transportation would also lower the number of vehicles on the road and in return would also lower air pollution. Strict laws on transportation and industry must be enforced. Instead of burning trash, it should be allowed to decompose in pits. The decomposed materials can be utilized as fertilizer for plants and at the same time minimizes smoke in the air. Stricter laws on cigarette smoking should also be enforced. The end result of this is lesser lung and heart ailments and cleaner atmosphere (Cline 1992, p.35-37). Political Action The real problem comes from the wealth the power of the opponents of environmental protection. On the local level, environmentalist face rich land developers who can make large campaign contributions to the politicians who decide what land may or may not be developed. At higher levels of government, environmentalists face even more powerful foes: multinational corporations that stand to make big profits from despoiling the environment. Included here are some of the most powerful corporations in the world, such as petroleum and mineral companies that want to sink wells and mines in fragile wilderness areas, the manufacturers that spew pollutants into the air and water, and the firms that sell products such as polluting automobiles and unsafe pesticides. Such corporations have spent hundreds of million dollars to persuade the government not to outlaw their destructive activities (Diehl, p.20-21). The environmentalists and the concerned public simply do not have that kind of money. If we are to preserve the natural environment for ourselves and the generations to come, two things must be done. First, a stronger educational campaign must be launched to make more people aware of environmental problems. Second, more ordinary citizens must join together and become involved in the political action necessary to strengthen anti-pollution laws, increase the enforcement effort, and protect our natural resources. Conserving Resources There is no doubt that our existing resources can be used far more efficiently. It is possible for a large-scale, multiple-stage recycling program to be introduced in imitation of natural ecosystems. To take a simple example, garbage could be used as fuel to run the mills to make recycled paper, the wastes from which could be burned as fuel. Similarly, it is possible that community water districts will some day become closed systems, meaning that the water would be used again and again, never being discharged into an ocean or river. Some factories already have such closed systems (Sarewitz 2000, p.55). It is possible to envision larger closed systems designed so that no industrial material would ever be discarded as either waste or pollution. Energy conservation can also stretch our natural resources. Insulating homes, driving smaller cars at slower speeds, riding trains and buses instead of driving cars, recycling the heat used in factories, and restricting the manufacture of energy-wasting gadgets are obvious ways of eliminating waste. The immediate task is not to develop technologies that are more energy sufficient; the challenge is to find ways or persuading people to use the conservation measures that are already available. Better Technology A growing number of scientists and concerned citizens are coming to see solar system as the best answer to the worldââ¬â¢s energy problems. Solar power units use the endless supply of energy from the sun, are nonpolluting, and pose no threat of radiation or explosion. Other promising approaches use specially prepared ponds of water to trap solar energy or mirrors to concentrate it on a single location, where it can be used to generate electrical power (Tennesen 2004, p.85). Limiting Growth Technological solutions are attractive, but it is doubtful that they alone can resolve the environmental crisis. It is often argued that industrial growth is necessary to create new jobs for a growing population. The argument that economic growth is necessary to eliminate poverty and create a more egalitarian society is also misleading. Despite decades of rapid economic growth, the industrialized nations continue to show enormous inequalities of wealth and power (1991, p.12). Conclusion The environmental crisis does not mean everyone should return to hunting and gathering; the worldââ¬â¢s current population is too large to even consider such an idea. Keeping a clean environment is the responsibility of the government, society and each individual. Today, air pollution must be given extra attention to protect people from this environmental danger. All of us must have aknowledge of this environmental menace. The young generations today, like us, crave for the total preservation of our natural resources, earnestly begging to put an end to wastage and preserve the natural wealth intended by our Mother Earth for the future. Yes, there is still gleaming hope to save our Mother Earth from total destruction. There is still a chance to regain the lost paradise we unscrupulously abused. We must do our part to make this world a safer place to live in, not just for ourselves and our neighbors but our future generations. The will to dynamic implementation to this urgent call lies in your strong and sustainable support, giving once more Mother Earth a chance to care for our lives now and in the future generations.
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