Human impact on the natural enviornment Research Paper

Human impact on the natural enviornment - Research Paper Example People for instance need timber for building and for fuel, but obtaining it means cutting down trees that are an important aspect of the natural environment. In view of this, the purpose of this paper is to explore the actual human impact on the natural environment. Human impact on vegetation Human existence has a significant impact on plant life. Since the pre-historic times, human beings have greatly relied on plant life for food, shelter and clothing among other uses. With rapid urbanization and the growth of populations, green patches have shrunk to alarming levels, thus requiring a re-evaluation of the interactions between humans and the natural vegetation. Human beings impact the vegetation in various ways. Some of the disruptions to the natural vegetation are fire, deforestation for building materials and cultivation of land. Human beings have used fire since pre-historic times. Fire was an important resource for various reasons such as protection from wild animals at night, c ommunication, clearing forests and in war. Similarly, the impact of fire on the natural environment has been immense. Fires may be caused by human beings or they may occur naturally. Natural fires may be as a result of lightening strikes, sliding rocks and land slides. They may also result from spontaneous combustion, which is the accumulation of heat as a result of thick, compacted and rotten plants (Goudie 26). The effects of fire on the environment depend on its scope, duration and intensity. The nature of fire will determine the extent of the destruction it causes. While some only affect ground vegetation, others will burn out whole forests (Goudie 27). The impact of fire on the vegetation is sometimes positive. The existence of some landscapes on earth such as tropical savannas, medium latitude savannas and grasslands is attributed fires. In some instances, fires are believed to help in the germination of dormant seeds, whereby once a fire burns out, seeds that were lying dorma nt in the soil start germinating naturally (Goudie 29). At the same time, some plants have become adapted to fire as it facilitates their germination and decomposition. Some areas which are prone to fires actually show greater diversity in terms of different species thus enhancing the stability of the natural environment (Goudie 30). Human impact on water Water is an important element of the natural environment. One of its key roles in the environment is the recycling of different substances. As a solvent, it carries suspended materials as it flows through and into the earth’s surface. Effects of human beings on water areas include the direct pollution of water resources, through directing noxious wastes into water bodies. The cutting down of trees also impacts water resources, as it leads to increased down stream flow by decreasing evaporation and transpiration. Trees, through their own transpiration process increase evaporation, which then turns into precipitation on encoun tering cold air. As a result, cutting down trees reduces the chances of precipitation, which in turn affects the amount of water available to flowing streams (Haigh and Krecek 2). Human activities such as clearing of forests and plowing of grasslands change the rate at which water and streams flow and the level water infiltration (Meyer 172). Other human activities that affect water include irrigation, which lowers the intensity and volume of

Perceive Social Effects of Handheld Gadgets Essay Example for Free

Perceive Social Effects of Handheld Gadgets Essay The Problem and Its Setting INTRODUCTION Gadgets are small mechanicals or electronic devices with a practical use. Electronic gadgets are very essential and useful to the world today. Gadgets are needed to do business, to have some regeneration and help people get through their daily lives. They have made life a lot simpler for businessmen, corporate executives and entrepreneurs as they can monitor their business and work while they are away, but according to a research conducted previously in America, infants and youngsters should not have any exposure to technology yet. According to Oxford English Dictionary the 11th Edition (2014) perceive is from a variant of Old French â€Å"Percoiver† and from Latin â€Å"Percipere† which is to understand. Effects of an event or something used are often tested through tests. As to this, the group will conduct a survey to test the social effects caused by gadgets to children, especially  to the students of Philippine School Doha. Background of the Study Today, there are many people who seek to find new uses for different things. Luckily, students are tasked by their respective Science teacher to conduct a research to seek new inventions and discoveries that might help the community. One of the main topics of the researchers is the essential use of gadgets and its perceive social effects to children. The students found a research regarding handheld gadgets and its uses and effects to human beings, especially to the young ones. The group decided to conduct a survey regarding the harmful effects of abusive use of handheld gadgets to selected students of their school. This research seeks for a change and answer to why gadgets have harmful effects and what are the effects especially to the young ones and their social life. Statement of the Problem This study aimed to prove the social effects of overuse of handheld gadgets. Specifically, this aimed to answer the following questions: 1) What are the harmful effects of handheld devices to human beings? 2) What are its advantages and disadvantages? 3) What will be the after effect of the research or survey to the students of Philippine School Doha?

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman, written in the years following World War II (WWII), is widely considered to be among Americas most celebrated theatrical works. Willy Loman, the plays protagonist, is a salesman whose dwindling commission can no longer afford to maintain the lifestyle his family leads. As the plot unravels, what is revealed is a contrarian depiction of the American Dream, the notion that wealth, material comfort, and the happiness they supposedly provide can be attained with hard work. The play was massively popular because it shed light on what many Americans felt was an unrealistic pressure placed on their shoulders; rather than work to be happy, Americans were working to be financially wealthy. The discontent of Willy and his descent into darkness, both moral and mental, embodied the reality of the American middle class. Life in American pop culture was a saccharine, morally whitewashed stereotype, presenting expectations to which few could live up. Pressured to work and achieve the financial successes expected in a post-war society that covets monetary excess, Willy is slowly driven into a state of emotional and mental ruin. Essentially, Willy dies doing all the right things a typical American man in the Post-War Era ought to. Scholar Gerald Weales asserts that for Miller, Willys tragedy lies in the fat that he had an alternative he did not take, [and] having chosen the wrong star he reached fro it until he died of stretching. A significant part of the plays popularity is grounded in this clash of ideology the sparring concepts of American wealth and prosperity with individuality and reality. Terry Otten writes in Temptation of Innocence in the Dramas of Arthur Miller that Death of a Salesman, probably more than any other dramatic play, provokes critical [arguments] about the viability of tragedy in the modern age and particularly in American culture. Willys descent is found in all aspects of his life, from the stock character of the nuclear family to gainful employment and the desire to achieve and earn more in life. Members of his immediate family his wife, Linda, and his youngest son, Happy, in particular reinforce the notions that drive Willy into his state of despair. Ironically, Willy can never shake himself free of the shackles he fastens to his own life by holding onto the illusory notion that he can somehow become wealthy by simply living life the way he thinks it should be lived. He still looks up to Ben, an older relative who built his wealth off African diamond mines. The only Loman to leave material gain behind is Willys eldest son, Biff, who with his work in Texas represents the agrarian icon of American life glorified before financial gain dominated the cultural zeitgeist. Consequently, Willy looks down on him to a degree, concluding that Biff can never attain the dream in his current role. Ironically, Biff is perhaps the sole character in the play to accurately observe what happens to his father, and disillusioned by Willys state, decides to seek his own path to happiness and the American Dream. The concept of the dream is something that is debilitating to Willy; the more he pursues it, the further he descends, growing increasingly delusional in his encounters with his sons. His moral fiber, a concept valued possibly even more in Protestant America than money, wanes as he takes on a mistress despite his wifes devotion. In keeping with the concept of materialism eroding the human spirit and morality, Biff, the character least associated with Willys lifestyle, is the one to gain the most from Willys suicide, a path upon which the salesman ventured in order to provide his eldest son with a life insurance settlement. At the end of the play, it is revealed that Linda has made the final payments on the house she and Willy spent their lives paying off, stating that they are finally free. Arthur Millers story of the destruction of a middle class American worker follows the structure of a classic protest play, or a stage play with a social message. Dan Vogel writes on the complexity of Willys character and the plot at large, stating that despite Willys end, his story is not necessarily a tragedy since Death of a Salesman merely tells the story of a little man succumbing to his environment, rather than a great man destroyed through his greatness; there is no question of grandeur in such a tragedy. I. R. Choudhuri notes the irony of the American Dream is what draws its audience, stating that democracy proclaims the individual in society to be free, and American democracy, in addition, approves the myth of [Willys] infinite success and happiness; and yet, these same laws and social conventions constrain and frustrate him in what he has come to believe as the birth-right of a member of the greatest open society. For Choudhuri, Millers approach to the theme of the play is drawn through undistinguished citizens, everyman-type characters whose appeal to the typical American audience is in their mundane nature. Willys circumstances are not outlandish and fantastical. He is not a Danish prince avenging the death of his father, nor is he a Moor in Venice struggling against the machinations of a society that ostracizes him. Lomans downfall is perhaps the most appealing part of the play and the component of Millers work that made Death of a Salesman so popular. Willys demise is not something out of a fairy tale it is by his own hand metaphorically and in the end quite literally. Loman cuts himself off from any help he might get from his neighbor, his sons, and his wife; unsure even of his performance as a salesman should he act the rugged individualist or play at casual charm? Willy feels deeply guilty about his past performances as a breadwinner, father, and husband. The pressure placed on Willy warps the values of the family and leaves the protagonist unsure of his identity, which leads to his destruction and ultimately made the play palatable for an audience who may very well have been a collection of Lomans. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bigsby, C.W.E. (2000) Modern American Drama, 1945-2000. Cambridge: Cambridge U P. Bloom, Harold (ed). (1991) Willy Loman. New York: Chelsea House Publishers. Bloom, Harold (ed). (1996) Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman. New York: Chelsea House Publishers. Bloom, Harold (ed). (2000) Arthur Miller. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers. McConachie, Bruce. (2003) American Theater in the Culture of the Cold War: Producing and Contesting Containment. Iowa City: U of Iowa P. Miller, Arthur. (2005) Death of a Salesman. New York: Penguin Books. Otten, Terry. (2002) Temptation of Innocence in the Dramas of Arthur Miller. Columbia: U of Missouri P.

The Great Depression Essay -- American History

The causes and far-reaching effects of The Great Depression are examined. Discussion includes its impact on both American cultures and nations around the world. The role of World War II and the New Deal in overcoming the Depression are explored. The Great Depression began in October 1929, when the stock market in the United States dropped rapidly. Thousands of investors lost all of their of money and were forced to live on the streets often going without food. This crash led into the Great Depression. The ensuing period of 10 years ranked as the worst period of high unemployment and low business activity in modern times. Banks, stores, and factories were closed and left millions of Americans jobless, homeless, and without food. Many people came to depend on the government or charity to provide them with food. The Depression became a worldwide business slump of the 1930's that affected almost all nations. It led to a sharp decline in world trade as each country tried to protect their own industries. The Depression led to political turmoil in many countries such as Germany where poor economic conditions helped lead to the rise of Hitler. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President in 1932 and his 'new deal' reforms gave the go vernment more power and helped slow the depression. The Great Depression ended as nations increased their production of war materials at the start of World War II. This increased production provided jobs and put large amounts of money back into circulation. Several factors led to the great depression. One being the lack of diversification in the American economy. The prosperity of America had been basically dependent on a few industries like construction and the automobile and in the late 20's these industr... ...l deficit and Bennett cut back on government spending. A great burden on the country was Canadian National Railway, the government had to take over many railways and from that took in a debt of over two billion dollars. After seeing president Roosevelt's New Deal policy having good results in the U.S. Bennett introduced policies based on the New Deal. Bennett started up minimum wage and unemployment insurance. However Bennetts attempts to revive the economy were not nearly as successful as Roosevelt's. as a result the depression was worse in Canada than in the U.S., and this led to the defeat of Bennett in the 1935 election to liberal Mackenzie King. Like in the U.S. the Great Depression did not end until the outbreak of the second world war. A boost in the economy was created by a strong demand of Canadian goods in Europe and an increase of government spending.(ibid)

Essay --

1.1 Background history Composite material is a multiphase materials which can be obtained through the artificial combination of two or more different materials to attain the properties that the individual components by themselves cannot attain. Composite materials can modify for many properties by appropriately choosing their components, proportions, distributions, morphologies and degrees of crystallinity, crystallographic textures, structure and the composition of the interface between components. Due to this properties the composite materials can be designed to satisfy the needs of technologies relating to the aerospace, automobile, electronics, construction, energy, biomedical and other industries. Therefore, composite materials has been used most as a commercial engineering materials [1]. There are some type of composites that can be classified according to the matrix material such as a polymer matrix composite (PMC), a metal matrix composite (MMC), and a ceramic matrix composite (CMC). Besides that, the composite also can be categorized according to the shape of the filler or the reinforcement for example a composite that has a particles as a filler is called a particulate composite and a composite with fibers is called fibrous composite [1]. Metal matrix composite (MMC) is a composite that contains continuous metallic matrix and a few percent of the material by volume represent the reinforcement [2]. The MMC offers some unique mechanical properties such as low density, high strength, and high stiffness, high wear resistance and other attractive properties. It also can offers the properties that are exceptional compared with those of any unreinforced alloys [2]. The metal matrix composites also can be classified in diffe... ...Al2O3 particles uniformly in aluminum matrix and for its ability to fabricate the material into almost any shape [3]. 1.3 Objectives 1.3.1 To fabricate alumina particle reinforced aluminum metal matrix composite by using powder metallurgy technique. 1.3.2 To investigate the effect of different weight percentage of alumina particle on physical and mechanical properties of aluminum metal matrix composite. 1.4 Scope of study The aim of this project is to investigate the effect of different reinforcement weight percentage (0wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, 20wt% and 30wt%) of alumina particle on aluminum metal matrix composite. The composite will fabricate by using powder metallurgy technique which include mixing, compaction and sintering process. The testing involves in this project is microstructural analysis, density, porosity, hardness and coefficient thermal expansion (CTE).

East Asia History Essay

Q1a Meaning of sumo and baseball in Japan In Japan, Sumo and baseball are the central sports and depict the cultural belief of achievement, individual effort and character. Sumo is very significant â€Å"to the roots of Japan and is a form of national pride. Therefore sumo is a reflection of the historical Japan, and is today the most important sport acting as a national symbol. Somo was always encouraged young men and boys. However with the growing number of the youth, who have not seen the importance of the traditions of their forefathers have discarded this sport and replaced it with the contemporary sport of baseball. This means that baseball is taking centre stage as the most popular sort especially for the urban youth. Sumo in a way is a representative of the old generation being replaced by a modern sport of baseball. Q3. The position of women in neo-Confucian cultures â€Å"It has been justly remarked that a nation’s civilization may be estimated by the rank which females hold in society. If the civilization of China be judged of by this test, she is surely far from occupying that first place which she so strongly claims† (Chinese repository, 313). This is the remark about women in China, and is correct by all means. In many cultures across the world women and men posses’ distinct functions and responsibilities and in the Neo-Confucian cultures women held a very important position but a lesser one from that of men. Confucians viewed the family â€Å"as a microcosm of the state† which was ruled by a male emperor, therefore it meant that the man was the natural head of the home. The position of women was at home where she was to assume the responsibilities or ‘Dao’ (woman’s way) of a wife and mother. Her other roles included the upbringing of children which included their education. The woman was called to be obedient to her father first, secondly to her husband and to her grown son. Such views portrayed a woman as a tool for men, which would lead eventually to such cultural practices of â€Å"foot-binding† (meant to limit the mobility of females and serve as erotic pleasure for the men. ) Other practices included the â€Å"cult of chastity† where windows were elevated to the role of â€Å"cultural heroes† also such practices led to such harsh traditions of selling unwanted daughters. http://chnm. gmu. edu/wwh/modules/lesson10/lesson10. php? s=0 Confucianism eventually was labeled as the â€Å"chief causes for Chinas failure to modernize† by the â€Å"May fourth â€Å"generation that comprised of communists and intellectuals. Buddhism in china and Japan changed the influence that Confucianism had on the belief of women’s position in the society. By late 19th century, the liberation for the women became a major driving force within the reform and revolution movements. Male crusaders advocated for greater role for the women in the transformation of their nation. Educated women from Japan and China rallied behind them and started speaking and writing publicly for the first time. This attracted opposition and protests from the conservatives and traditionalists who wanted the status quo of gender roles to remain. They viewed the female activists as â€Å"unseemly, unfeminine and too western†. (http://chnm. gmu. edu/wwh/modules/lesson10/lesson10. php? s=0) The journey to liberation for the women is not over yet; but bolder steps have been made towards this end. And in the contemporary East Asia, women have been honored alongside men for their militant participation against in the Taiping Rebellion, where Hakka women fought against Mancho government as soldiers. Q4.  The state of Chinese economy at the time of the Chairman Mao’s death in 1976 to date In May 16th 1966 Chairman Mao Zedong lunched the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution that resulted to widespread power struggles that almost brought China to the brink of Civil War. Because of this strain China’s Economy stagnated which also affected the social and political aspect of the republic. ( http://en. wikipedia. org) After the fall of ‘the Gang of Four’ Hua Guofeng and later in 1977 Deng Xiaoping led China in affirming the modernization Programme that had been started by Zhou Enlai in 1975. Deng Xiaoping further initiated new Policies towards achieving the Four Modernizations. The Policies played a very important role in revitalizing the economy of China. The policies played a very important role of strengthening the authority that managers and economic decision makers had as opposed to political or party officials. ( http://en. wikipedia. org) Through these policies workers were offered material incentives, research and education systems were highly strengthened and strategize for an increase in foreign trade. In the period between 1976 and 1978 the economy started peaking from the Cultural Revolution. China’s economy was wholly dependent on agriculture, which had been adversely affected by three years of poor weather in 1977 that saw the drop of agricultural output. However the harvest hit a record high of 14% in 1977 and 13% in 1978. ( http://en. wikipedia. org) Today China’s economy is rated among the highest in the world becoming the world’s second largest and rated as the fastest growing economy in modern history with ac consistent GDP of over 10 %. ( http://en. wikipedia. org)

Pearl Harbor Essay

Picture yourself as a crew member on one of the naval ships in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1944 before complete destruction began. It’s a perfectly calm Sunday; everyone’s going about their own duties in a peaceful manner. Suddenly in the sky dozens of fighter pilots zoom overhead. Crew members have zero time to react to the planes as they begin to fire and drop bombs in the harbor. The initial surprise and confusion of the attack prevents any actions of defense. This attack on Pearl Harbor and all the pain and panic it caused for the US, will forever be remember as one of peril and devastation. In the 1940’s war erupted in Europe and parts of Asia. The US had initially planned to stay out of the war as long as they possibly could. America’s economy was weak from WWI efforts and Americans weren’t looking to get involved right away (Bachrach, Deborah, 12). Instead the US took a more safe approach by aiding Allied powers in Europe with weapons, ammunition and overall supplies. When US became aware that Japan had joined Hitler and the Axis powers they immediately ended trade and blocked many of their trading routes (Encyclopedia WWII, 81-82). While taking action overseas America still had no intent of joining the war and encouraged non-violence (Rosenberg, About. com). Even though the US only did what they thought was necessary because of recent Japanese actions. The Japanese didn’t feel the same way as they did. Aggravated Japanese military officials began a plot to attack the US. It took months for the Japanese to decide on their plan and where they would attack. Japan and Admiral Yamamoto Isuroku decided on a surprise attack that consisted of a very organized sneaky approach (82-84). Isuroku the man in-charge of planning pleaded with Japanese officials for weeks. Convincing them that retaliation was needed. When approved planning began (84). They planned to sneak; 6 aircraft carriers, 9 destroyers, 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, and 2 submarines across the Pacific. (Bachrach, Deborah Pearl Harbor, 35). Their destination would be Pearl Harbor and they planned to station within about 90 minutes of Oahu (pearlharbor. org). Once in position for attack the Japanese Planned to release 3 waves of attacks on the Harbor. Main targets for destruction were the naval aircraft carriers, next were the battleships and airfields (on the day aircraft carriers were out at sea). The real-time attack would be under the command of Admiral Naguma (Encyclopedia WWII, 86). Even though Japan thought there plan was flawless. They nearly avoided many speed bumps. Around the time of tensions between the US and Japan the US had created a secret message interceptor. Which if not terminated would have most-likely prepared the US for the attack. Because of paranoia of war the US terminated the interceptor program. These actions further helping the Japanese keep their attack a secret and undetected (pearlharbor. org). The first wave of attacks began at 7:48 a. . Hawaiian time consisting of 183 aircrafts (all sources). Thirty minutes before attack Japan claims they sent a message stating that peace negotiations were over between the two countries (Rosenberg, about. com/Pearl Harbor). Loses for the US were much worse during the first than second because of surprise. Two-thirds of losses came from the first wave. The fighter planes bombed all 8 battleships in the harbor. They also blew up all airfields in the area giving the US no air defense for 2nd wave (erikanderson. net/pearlharbor). The USS Arizona was blown up into flames and was sunk other ships were damaged none as bad as the Arizona. Despite complete surprise brave crew members on ships managed to get on guns and take down several planes flying overhead (Encyclopedia, 87). The most destruction to the ships in the harbor came from the suicide fighter pilots. Most intended for the USS Arizona. The USS Arizona also accounted for more than half of the casualties in both waves because of the 2,000 plus people on board (Encyclopedia WWII, 88). The destruction the first wave did was devastating and had the island in panic. After the attack people in Oahu still didn’t understand what exactly had happened (all sources). Many men and women were immediately rushed to the hospital. Of the American fatalities, nearly half of the totals were due to the explosion of the USS Arizona (88). At 8:00 am Admiral Husband W Kimmel sent out an emergency dispatch that the US was under attack by the Japanese (pearlharbor. org). The second wave which didn’t come long after the first ended started at 8:54 am. In an attempt to cripple the US naval fleet even more, the Japanese sent 170 more planes toward Oahu (pearlharbor. rg). This attack was sent to finish off whatever was still floating in the Harbor. Even though the 2nd wave didn’t do nearly as much damage as the first, it still managed to do a surplus amount of extra damage (ph. org). The second wave was divided into three groups. One was tasked to attack Kaneohe, the rest Pearl Harbor proper. The separate sections arrived at the attack point almos t simultaneously from several directions (Encyclopedia WWII, 90). Despite this low alert status, many American military personnel responded effectively during the battle. The crew members of ships and pilots on land all made efforts to make a difference during the second wave. They managed to kill sixty men and capture one. Even though the American death toll was much greater the response they made was very impressive while dealing with complete and utter surprise. Ninety minutes after it began, the attack was over (Rosenberg, About. com). The attack was over, but much was loss and damaged and many left wounded. After the fact 2,386 Americans died and 1,139 left wounded. Also 50 – 60 civilians were killed from anti-aircraft shells landing in populated areas. Eighteen ships were sunk or beached, including five battleships and one blown up (the USS Arizona) (Pearlharbor. org). Battleships damaged; the Arizona exploded, Oklahoma was capsized along with 429 people dead, West Virginia was sunk along with 106 dead, California was sunk along with 100 dead, Nevada was beached along with 60 dead, Tennessee was hit by two bombs but remained afloat along with 5 dead, Maryland hit by 2 bombs remained afloat along with 4 dead, and The Pennsylvania hit by one bomb remained afloat with 9 dead (Bachrach, Pearl harbor, 36-38). Also 178 aircrafts were destroyed in the bombing of the airfields (WWII encyclopedia, 89). Ten days after the attack Admiral Husband W. Kimmel was relieved of his duty as Commander of the naval fleet in Oahu. The reason was, because government officials believed that Kimmel didn’t take the right actions in preparing for upcoming attacks. He later went to testify against explaining that enough information was not presented to him to make the right calls (90). After all the death and destruction the US realized that they had many chances to prevent the attack from becoming. For example, Kimmel knew that an attack was evident just not where the attack would be at. Despite his knowledge of that he still let the day be a relaxed Sunday instead of having men station prepared for attack. Also the government and high officials didn’t take enough initiative in the fact that they and seriously angered the Japanese with their recent actions (erikandeson. net/pearlharbor). More or less the attack could have been defended or much rather stopped if initiative had been taken at the time. The day was a terrible day in American history and is the biggest death toll on American soil by foreign attack in that time period (Bachrach, Deborah, Pearl Harbor, 45). As said by Franklin Delanor Roosevelt, â€Å"a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. †(All sources) Ultimately the attack at Pearl Harbor was one of tragedy and unwelcoming surprise. Since the attack there have been only a few events in American history that have cause as much panic and despair. As a matter of fact to this day is known as one of the worse attacks on American soil by a foreign enemy, which pulled an unwilling nation into unwanted war. Even though the Japanese succeeded with their plan at Pearl Harbor, the response from the US was much greater than they expected. Their plans to cripple the US Naval fleet ended the war for them very disturbingly. In all the hate this event caused in the end it pulled America in to do the war and out of the great depression. All the men who lost their lives in this attack died an honorable death. December 7, 1944 is a day will live in infamy.