Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Even Dogs Need Angels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Even Dogs Need Angels - Essay Example I had decided that today would be my last. I asked to meet with Dr. Mary Lou Alvarez, the head of the Pet Clinic, and though I was prepared to have her sign my termination paperwork, I would first ask to be allowed to work in the business office. I explained to Dr. Alvarez that the job wasn't at all as I had expected. The only experience I was getting was in baby-sitting sick pets and learning how not to run a business. I thanked her for offering me the opportunity and, still hoping for an office job, proceeded to offer my "just enough to be dangerous" knowledge of business. I threw in the standard clichs' from the latest Donald Trump book that I had just read and advised her that by moving her practice to the suburbs she would have "access to a more lucrative market" where there would be a "wealthier customer base" that wouldn't need the "massive amounts of credit" she was extending. I felt that my speech was having an impact on her as Dr. Alvarez smiled and allowed me to finish without interruption. Dr. Alvarez then began by telling me that she hadn't always been interested in veterinarian medicine either. When she was twelve years old her pet collie had gotten hit and sustained a broken leg with internal injuries.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Captain Corellis Essay Example for Free

Captain Corellis Essay By focusing on at least three characters from Captain Corellis Mandolin, consider the importance of the range of viewpoints used in the novel. Throughout the novel, Louis de Berniere gives every character a clear identity. By this every individual is representative of those that were present at the time of the war. This identity entitles them to show the reader different prospective and viewpoints on how they feel. Thus it portrays a sense of reality as it is not all fiction and does consist of facts from the war. However I do feel that there are central characters in the novel that make it seem more interesting and therefore grip the reader to make us want to read on. These characters dont only represent the individuals in the horrific war but manage to make the storyline seem more intriguing. Dr Iannis, Pelagia, Carlo and Mandras are selected well by Berniere to highlight different views of different people from different places. Captain Corellis Mandolin opens with an insight into Dr Ianniss daily routine. He is perhaps the most educated individual on the island and therefore well respected and known by all those who live amongst him. He is symbolic of the independence of Greece and through him we gain an incite into the historic and patriotic pride of Cephallonia. The deep desire and passion for the island is portrayed by the doctor are clear as he begins to describe the infamous island; Cephallonia rises improvidently and inadvisedly from the Ionian Sea, it is an island so immense in aniquity. rocks themselves exhale nostalgia However his views about the island, its past and its peoples beliefs prove to be inevitably subjective also showing us the history itself is subjective. This part is included by the author in the very first chapter to make readers know Dr Iannis and understand the way Cephallonians live and think. This clearly indicates the fact that this place isnt just a common ground but is, in fact a true beauty of nature to Dr Iannis. Having the doctor describe this makes us realize his view on the country and how he feels it should be written down in history as. Also the doctors occupation tells us that he is a man who likes to help others and therefore his character becomes more appealing and loved by the audience. His simple but actually quite basic procedures of operating such as carefully inserted the straightend hook into the hirsute orifice makes the patient very thankful and increases the doctors need to be with his people. The method itself sounds very complex yet in reality the operation is a simple one but as Dr Iannis is carrying it out, Bernieres adds sophisticated language to show the high level of intelligence the doctor has. Education is the reason why the doctor and his daughter stand at the top of the islands hierarchical system, and are therefore respected more than the commoners. The war brings out a side of Dr Iannis which is slightly more opinionated. We later realize that he is more into politics than he at first seems. He predicted that Greece was going to be attacked before war was even apposed upon them. To get his view across he prepares or rehearses a speech for Kokolios about Communism and its connection to Capitalism however doesnt manage to tell him as Lemoni interrupts. Pelagia is a young, ambitious women who takes after her father. She too would like to be a doctor even though she knows that women of her time have restrictions opposed onto them by a male dominating society. Her first patient was her fianci Mandras; its an irritant when the lice have gone, but oil of paraffin takes about two weeks to work This keen interest Pelagia has in medicine makes her question her future. As she goes to help Mandras with his poor health and severe condition, she realizes that she has learnt enough from her father and is in doubt about there being such a thing as a doctor who was also a woman. However it is this knowledge and education that Pelagia obtains which makes the division between Mandras and herself wider. In addition this event of her lover returning home in this condition makes Pelagia hate war even more and blames it for standing between her love and his love to fight. Pelagia is described as an attractive woman and many men on the island fall in love with both her beauty and intelligence, combining to make a perfect ideal for a woman. However, Pelagias perfection is her own downfall as she is confused about what to do when the captain is the one she loves. As of this the Doctor continued talking to Pelagia about her situation, and reminded her that she was betrothed to Mandras and that technically the captain was an enemy. He told her that love was a temporary madness; it erupted like volcanoes and then it subsided. Then he pressed her hand harder and told her that marrying the Captain would be impossible until their homeland was liberated. One can only forgive a sin after the sinner has finished committing  , he said and argued that there was an equation to be balanced, with love on one side and dishonour on the other, adding that Mandras may still have been amongst the living. To this Pelagia responds by saying i You make everything squalid. You dont know how it isi. Even though later on Dr Iannis tells her that he knows how it is, because her mother had been betrothed to someone else, and he shared all her feelings. She still doesnt realize why all this has to happen to her and says to her father that The captain has never tried to compromise me. The doctor says that Corelli is a good man but there are restrictions set and Pelagia can not go ahead with this as it is immoral and the war again is standing in her way. Mandras effectively speaks behind the veil, in secret, to the reader. What he actually went through and the way he returned from the front are revealed in his stream of thought. He starts by pointing out the indecency of his mother and his fiance seeing him naked amidst the infections, rashes and parasites infesting This portrays war as an inhumane and revolting event to be part of. All those who go to war in one way or another are infected. Whether thats physically or mentally. Then he goes on to describe what he thinks death is a brother and not an enemy He has obviously been very affected because he goes on about death being beautiful, a saviour and a good friend. However, he does not go so far as to say that it keeps him going; Pelagia does. Mandras proceeds to venerate her beauty and to say that she meant home to him, but that he has noticed that she is disgusted with her returning hero. From this he concludes that she does not think he is good enough for her and feels her love for him as changed into a formality. He realizes she may no longer have deep feelings for him, but cant understand why. Bernieres makes Mandras a lucky survivor from the war front so his description is the only valid one of the war. He describes the walk as an unpleasant travesy through the remnants of the war; decaying donkeys, charred bodies, crippled tanks and vast amounts of abandoned, useless equipment

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Alienation Essay -- essays research papers

Love is one of the most liberating connections two people can hold between each other when it is authentic and sincere. Many find completion and satisfaction when they find this ideal, true love in another. However, when love is turned into a faà §ade in order to create the image of an perfect, fulfilling relationship, it can be alienating and destructive. In Walker Percey’s essay, The Man on the Train, he claims that love is ultimately a source of alienation instead of an escape into wonderful satisfaction. This theory is exemplified in Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night, a story of a woman, Ellie, on a journey to fill her void of true love and escape her feelings of alienation. only exacerbates her sense of alienation instead of functioning as a cure. Until Ellie can find real love within herself she will never be fully satisfied with her life. In the mean time she involves herself in many different scenarios with various men seeking some form of love, her distract ion from alienation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The opening scene of â€Å"It Happened One Night† illustrates that Ellie has all the luxuries one can wish for, yet she is still dissatisfied with her life. She argues that although she is given everything she is still not happy. During an argument with Peter Ellie explains the reason for her alienation, â€Å"People who are spoiled are accustomed to having their own way. I never have. On the contrary. I've always been told what to do, and how to do it, and when, and with whom.† As a result she finds herself on a quest for her husband to be, King Westley, whom her father strongly disapproves of. In the course of her search she falls in love, yet again with Peter Warne. By the end of the movie Ellie and Peter seemingly live happily ever after. The love that Elle pursues is a forged feeling. She shifts so easily from her adoration for King Westley to her love for Peter Warne that it leads one to believe that it is disingenuous. Throughout â€Å"It Happened One Night† Ellie is being taken care of by someone else other than herself. In the beginning her father looks after her. Then on her search for her husband, Peter takes Ellie under her wing. The men in her life all play a role of a nurturer or a protector, in a sense replacing the role of her father. Ellie is essentially in search of a man that can support and nurture her. The men that fulfill Ellie’s needs in... ... (Percy 99). Furthermore â€Å"[Ellie] is taking refuge in the standard rotation of the soap opera, the acceptable rhythm of the Wellisian-Huxleyan-Nathanian romance of love among the ruins† (99). Although Ellie believes she is truly in love with Peter and plays a part in a great adventure of romance, she is just following a well-known path another has already taken. Percy continues to say that Ellie’s passion for Peter is â€Å"far from being a free exploration, it is in reality a conforming to the most ritualistic of gestures: that which is thought to be proper and fitting for a sexual adventure† (99). Finally, Ellie’s pursuit for love does not prove to be an effective method to terminate alienation. Her love for Peter will only last as long as it can attain her attention, or until the next gentleman with a flair for adventure comes along. Ellie will continuously seek love from various people. Until Ellie tires from â€Å"excursions into the interesting† and begins a journey â€Å"into [her] own past in the search for [herself]† (95) will she find authentic deliverance from alienation. As a result love only plays a part as a distraction from her boredom, and plunges herself deeper into alienation.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Importance of Knowing Grammar to Students Essay

â€Å"indeed.† Grammar is the backbone of a language and without it any single thing you know may be flux, in a sort of jelly without much consistency. In a nutshell, grammar provides you with the structure you need in order to organize and put your messages and ideas across. It is the railway through which your messages will be transported. Without it, in the same way as a train cannot move without railways, you won’t be able to convey your ideas to their full extension without a good command of the underlying grammar patterns and structures of the language. I understand that many students ask this question simply because in their own experience they have always been presented with two main scenarios, and nothing in between. They want to know where they are going to be standing as regards to their learning. Which are those two scenarios? Well, in one extreme we have those language courses that teach grammar almost exclusively, as if preparing the students to be grammarians of the second language rather than users. In the other extreme we have those â€Å"communicative† courses in which the only thing that is done is to talk about something or to read an article and comment on it. In many cases, what is seen in one class has no resemblance to what is done in the next. In my experience, both scenarios may seem good for very specific purposes but I personally feel both are inappropriate for most language learners. For starters, by itself, a good command of the grammar of a language does not imply that the person is able to communicate effectively, as we usually see with students who have only been exposed to an all-grammar-oriented approach sometimes for many years. Many could recite the grammar by heart but if asked to express basic information, they would hesitate too much and browse through all the grammar rules in their heads before making an utterance, or simply dry up. Secondly, just talking in class without anything else done in order to learn from the actual conversation is not good enough either. It may be helpful of course, but up to a certain point. This approach may be more useful for very advanced students who just need to brush up their second language, but for those in need of building up the foundations of a new language, it is certainly too vague and flux, without any consistency. So then, when asked: â€Å"is grammar really important for a second language learner?† I always say â€Å"yes†, but, the real question, or issue here is not whether grammar is important or not but rather how we should present grammar to our students. You may be surprised to hear that most of my own students, even advanced ones, have very little awareness of grammar jargon and terminology, in spite of the fact that they can make a pretty good use of the second language. â€Å"How is that possible?† you may ask. First and foremost, teachers need to know precisely what they are trying to prepare their students for. I do know that what I want is to â€Å"create† users of a new language. I want to prepare people to actually engage in communicative situations using appropriate language and patterns. I am definitely not interested in their explaining to me or making a mental list of all the grammar uses that a certain pattern has. For example, think of your own native language. Name all the tenses that you can find in your own native tongue with their corresponding uses and structures. Unless you are a teacher, a translator or someone who needs to have a very good grasp of this meta-language, more likely than not you may feel at a loss to answer that question. And that does NOT mean in any sense that you are not a terrific user of that language. After all, you can understand and express whatever you want with ease. What is more, by being able to do so, you show an awesome command of the internal grammar of the language. If you knew no grammar patterns you would not be able to make a single sentence but you can. This means that although you may lack the conscious ability to describe how your language works (i.e. its grammar) you can use it perfectly. You are a user of the language. You make a perfect use of the grammar of your native language intuitively or unconsciously. Again, our primary goal as second language teachers must be to create users or the language, not linguists! It escapes the aim of this article to describe how we can achieve this but basically we are going to name the main elements to consider to create â€Å"language users.† To begin with, it should be noted that whatever we present our students with should follow a progression from the very general meaning to the very specific pattern or structure we want them to learn (or that they need to learn of course). I would like to highlight that all this takes place within the same class. Before we start to use the material we have selected, it would be good to introduce the students to the topic you are going to work on. You can have them guess or infer what the material will say about it, they can make predictions and when they fail to use appropriate language, you may provide it. This is good to elicit vocabulary that may be necessary for them to know in order to understand the topic. After you have created curiosity in the topic and provided students with key terms on the topic, make sure you follow a progression such as the one that follows: 1) Provide them with exposure to real language and real situations IN CONTEXT. 2) Initial focus on gist, not form. 3) Focus on more specific meaning. 4) We can then focus on very specific meaning. 5) Analysis and systematization: after we make sure the students have a good understanding of the whole material, you can have them focus on particular items or patterns that may be important for them to learn at their stage (i.e. grammar) You can systematize it more formally and teach them how it works. After all, they have already seen it in practice and they have also worked around meaning, now it is time for them to learn how to use it. 6) Give them exercises for them to practice the new structure. Do not be afraid of using grammar drills and patterns. They could be VERY useful for them to fix the new structures in their brains. 7) Give them homework to force them to revise this at a later time. The homework does not necessarily need to be communicative in nature. Profit from the time in class to communicate and interact. If possible, avoid drilling activities while you are with them in class. However, the time they are on their own could be very well used to do all the drilling and rote practice that may prove useful for them to gain a good command of the grammar form you are trying to teach them. Personally I feel that the time in class must be used for providing learners with as many communicative situations as possible, rather than making them focus on drills and patterns that they could easily practise on their own. 8) Provide them with ample opportunities to practice what they have learned in REAL or REALISTIC communicative situations. Create situations so that they can make lots of mistakes and encourage them to improve on them by reminding them of what they have studied. 9) Recycle and mention the topic again as many times as necessary, time and again. This is essential for them to finally acquire the new structures in a natural way. As you can see, I am not condemning grammar at all as some readers may feel when in my articles I complain about teachers working almost exclusively with a grammar-oriented approach. On the contrary, I feel it is essential in order to master a language. However, how grammar is presented to the students is what really matters. I utterly disagree with those teachers who come to class and tell the class: â€Å"Open your books. Today we will learn the â€Å"Simple Present Tense.† In the suggested steps to follow in any class, you will have noticed that I have used a quite eclectic approach, starting from a communicative situation (steps 1-4) with the focus on understanding the message from the gist up to very detailed info and later, and only later, once meaning is clearly understood, we reach the grammar item we may need our students to learn at their stage. The obvious advantage of this approach is that while dealing with grammar, the students will have a clear idea of the context in which it was used and the communicative need it satisfied.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Impact of Terrorism and Violence on Global Tourism

Introduction According to World Travel and Tourism Council 1997, â€Å"Tourism Industry is the world’s prominent industries contributing $3. 6 trillion to the global gross domestic product (GDP) and employing 255 million people†. (Apostolopoulos, Sonmez &Tarlow 1999). It is also considered one of the most exciting and progressive industries which has a big impact on all other industries. Although tourism industry has shown tremendous growth in recent years providing incredible experiences to its consumers yet it remains highly prone to natural (e. g. Tsunami, Hurricane & volcanic eruptions) and human caused calamities (e. g. war, crime & terrorism). This essay therefore discusses about terrorism in relation to tourism. It focuses on the impacts of terrorism on global tourism and provides an understanding of the relationship between political instability, terrorism and tourism. Tourism, Political Instability and Violence Definition of terrorism† : ?† The US Department of State defines terrorism as â€Å". . . premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against civilians and unarmed military personnel by sub national groups†¦ sually intended to influence an audience†Ã¢â‚¬  ? (Sihmez 1998)   Definition of political instability† : ?† Political instability describes the condition of a country where a government â€Å"has been toppled, or is controlled by factions following a coup, or where basic functional pre-requisites for social-order control and maintenance are unstable and periodica lly disrupted†Ã¢â‚¬  ? (Cook 1990, cited in Sihmez 1998). The study of D’Amore & Anuza 1986 states that, â€Å"Closer scrutiny of terrorism- for the purpose of understanding some of its underlying currents-begs a look at world conditions. As a new millennium is about to begin, nations wrestle with hunger, disease, and numerous other socioeconomic and environmental problems, which are further exacerbated by the alarming growth in the world’s population rate, the combination of which may nurture terrorism. It is suggested that terrorist organizations can easily recruit members by offering better conditions to people living in undesirable circumstances in undeveloped nations†. Therefore, in a situation where terrorism is on rise, safety and stability are the two factors that cannot be ignored while undertaking travel to other countries. Over the years, tourism industry has undergone tremendous changes wherein crime and violence have increased to a great extent. Such exertions have had a big impact on tourists altering their travel. Political instability can be categorised into various forms such as: international war, riots, social unrest, civil war, terrorism etc. â€Å"Most of the evidence on tourist motivations points to fear and insecurity as a major barrier to travel and thus a limitation on the growth of the industry. In addition to the openly stated fear there is often an expression of lack of interest in travel, which can mask an underlying fear. In these circumstances, the possibility of terrorism, however remote, will have an effect on the tourism demand of a large number of potential tourists. † (eds Mansfeld & Pizam1996) Political instability and tourism can be best explained with an example of crackdown by Chinese government on students who protested in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square In a volume edited by Mansfeld & Pizam (1996), â€Å"The sight of tanks rolling into the Square; the violent battles between students and troops; the steadfastly uncompromising attitude of Chinese authorities; it was all watched by the world on prime-time television. And most people living in free societies felt revulsion and anger; those planning holidays to China cancelled, while those with a vague notion of visiting the country put it on hold for the distant future- if ever† General impacts of terrorism and political disturbances upon the tourism industry Even its demonstrated economic success does not shield international tourism from the sinister power of terrorism† (Sonmez, Sevil F. , 1998). No country is safe from the threat of terrorism and research has shown that no part of the world has been spared by it. The fear of a totally unexpected terrorist attack grips the mind of today’s tourist, irrespective of region he is travelling to. Terrorism started to t ake its toll on tourism from mid 80’s, when international tourism was at its peak (Sonmez, Sevil F. 1998), and it became a major concern for many countries. Its impacts vary from direct to indirect and individual to global. Usually, after a terrorist attack or violence erupted due to political clashes, a destination recovers back to its normal inflow of tourists in about a quarter, but some major incidents can also affect tourist visitation for a longer period of time, the reason being over popularity by the media (Sihmez, 1998). For example, India was overexposed in the media after the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 which has had a negative effect on inbound tourism to India during the first quarter of 2009 (Tourism Forecasting Committee, 2008). Political disturbance, on the other hand, has long-term and deeper effects on a destination as it threatens the economy, the law and the society as a whole, thus jeopardizing the potential of a country as a tourism destination (Sihmez 1998). Economic impacts Terrorism and political turmoil mainly affect the economy of a country or a region. Worst hit are the countries, which are majorly dependent on the tourism industry. A good example can be given from 1986, when 54% of Americans who planned to go to Europe, cancelled their bookings because of the risks implied by the rise of terrorist activities during that period (D’Amore and Anuza 1986, cited in Sihmez 1998). Furthermore, countries located nearby a politically agitated country may suffer from a perceived lack of safety by tourists who associate the neighbouring countries due to geographical proximity, although travelling in the former may be without any risk. Countries often have to bear the costs of terrorism, in terms of investments in security, terrorism risk insurance premium, airport screening opportunity costs and consumer welfare losses to ensure safety and security for their people (Keefer P. , 2008). Psychological impacts Impacts of terrorism on tourist behaviour and decision-making process (Sihmez, 1998 pg. 13) however, depend on the type of tourists: business travellers and leisure travellers will not react the same way in regards to risk, as they do not have the same motivations and needs for travel. Image deterioration / Negative images Natural events such as floods, tsunami or earthquakes do not have the same impact on a country’s image as a terrorist attack has. Natural calamities may draw sympathy, and may affect inflow of tourists for a short period, but people know that natural disasters are unavoidable, so the image they form of a destination is different. Fall in tourist arrivals in these destinations may recover earlier because these destinations are not perceived as ‘unsafe’, as in case of a destination, where terrorist activity is prominent. Politically unstable environment of a destination usually has a negative and a much stronger impact on people’s mind over a longer period of time because human action is deliberate and physical injury is most of the time the aim of these actions. Examples and focus on a particular region or destination There are a lot of tourist destinations which suffer from terrorist attacks. Egypt which had almost 4 billion dollars in tourist receipts in 1999 depended a lot on the tourism revenue. However, the revenue from this sector of economy decreased due to the terrorist attacks by al-Gama’a al-Islamiya. The first attack occurred on October 1, 1992. One British tourist was killed and two others were wounded. During the five year period about 100 tourists were killed in the attacks including the tourists from Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Japan and Great Britain. One year after the first attack tourism revenue in Egypt felt by 11 percent. However, it increased by four percent in 1994 and by 34 percent in 1995. Moreover, net increase in tourist receipts between 1993 and 1997 was 93 percent (Essner, 2003). The Egyptian government managed to sustain its tourism sector and contribute to the GSP by 5% (Weaver). The factors of this success are the huge historic and cultural heritage of Egypt that keeps drawing international visitors, but also incentive measures taken by the industry in order to sustain inbound tourism. For instance, the national airline, EgyptAir, cut its airfares by 50% after the 1997 Luxor massacre of 58 tourists (Weaver). â€Å"Event in New York City and Washington D. C. on September 11, 2001 was one of the most significant terrorism attacks which occurred recently. This event influenced the economies of states which depended on the tourism industry a lot. Furthermore, the whole economy of the USA was demolished which led to the global economic slump† (Pizam, 2002). Certain sectors of the tourism industry suffered from the terrorist attack. Hotel occupancy rates decreased dramatically. It â€Å"plummeted to 41. 8 percent the week following the attacks, a 52-percent decrease from the same period in 2000† (Stafford et al, 2002). In total, 3016 people died including passengers and crew on the planes, people within or beneath the Twin Towers and on the ground at the Pentagon. This attack has certain impacts on travel and tourism industry in the USA. Security measures at the places where large number of people including tourists are likely to gather were reconsidered. The number of US National guards in the airports increased and other security measures in the airports such as better screening and checking of passengers and baggage technologies were introduced. Security measures were improved in seaports, bus stations and train station as well. It included increasing of the surveillance cameras and checkpoints. The number of security guards in these places grew up as well. Moreover, the Federal Aviation Administration set up the program of increasing the number of bomb-sniffing dogs. The FAA trained 175 dogs for 39 airports (Goodrich, 2002). Many other countries which have high rates in tourism receipts also suffered from the terrorist attacks. Establishing of an Islamic Palestinian State in place of Israel resulted in the attacks initiated by both Israelis and Palestinians. This disturbance led to dramatic drop in 1996 in the number of tourists which grew steadily between 1970 and 1994 (Sihmez Sevil F. 1998). Another example of suffering from terrorism attack is Peru. Attacks by the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), a Maoist terrorist group caused the decrease in number of tourists from 350,000 in 1989 to 33,000 in 1991 (Sihmez Sevil F. 1998). Word of mouth and previous experience Media Reporting & Image making Intergovernmental relationsGovernment policies and interests Figure 1: Political instability, violence and the imaging process Hall &O’Sullivan study (cited in Mansfeld & Pizam 1996) The above figure is a model of various factors that lead to image creation of the political stability of the destination region. Three factors: word of mouth, media and the government lead to the images creation of destination, in the tourist generating regions. Domestic tourism is equally affected by the occurrence of any kind of violence or terrorist activity. Many factors such as: promotion, tourist attractions, development, new routes, travel prices contribute in to reasonable changes in domestic as well as international tourism. As per the study of Bar-on (cited in Mansfeld and Pizam 1996), act of violence can affect tourism in following ways: â€Å"Tourists may fear being killed or injured. † Security checks, especially at airports, may take a long time and even be unpleasant for some tourists. † â€Å"Tour operators, travel agents and airlines may not want to risk organizing trips to specific regions. † â€Å"Travel insurance of tourists and airlines may be difficult, limited or expensive. † â€Å"Friends or relatives at the destination may advice against the proposed trip. à ¢â‚¬  This is also supported by Hall and O’ Sullivan study (cited in Mansfeld & Pizam 1996) which states that, â€Å". . . tourism may decline precipitously when political conditions appear unsettled. Tourists simply choose alternative destinations. Unfortunately, many national leaders and planners either do not understand or will not accept the fact that political serenity, not scenic or cultural attractions, constitute the first and central requirement of tourism. † Although, political violence may not last for a longer period yet it has the tendency to leave a formidable impact on the tourism industry for many years which further can affect the confidence of the tourists and also the investors in tourism industry. Crisis management and recovery methods employed by the tourism industry Tourism has been a way for under-developed and developing countries to get more revenue. Therefore tourists are a potential target for terrorist groups looking to destabilise and undermine these countries by cutting the revenue they get from tourism activities. Recent events such as 9/11, the Southeast Asian tsunami and the Bali bombings have had devastating consequences upon the tourism industry and have shown crisis management and recovery measures have become critical in managing a destination (Robson 2008). According to Santana (cited in Weber 1998), crisis management comprehends five steps: signal detection, preparation/prevention, containment/damage limitation, recovery and learning. Planning and training before, during and after the crisis have also been highlighted (Santana, cited in Weber 1998). On the one hand, research has shown the tourism industry was able to fully recover from terrorist assaults in a period of six to twelve months, at the condition these events were not repeated in the future (Pizam and Fleischer, cited in Arana 2008). However, appropriate management methods must be employed and applied by destination managers in order to ensure image destination rehabilitation. To this end, the management and coordination of human and financial resources as well as public relations through the media for example are critical when it comes to managing terrorist events at a destination (Stafford et al 2002). For instance, a set of recommendations compiling crisis management, preventive management and recovery methods through marketing could be useful for the tourism industry to restore a destination’s image (Sonmez 1998) and prevent any negative publicity from spreading (Stafford et al 2002). Furthermore, collaboration between tourism industry actors and government organisations can often be preventive and mitigate the impacts of the crisis (Stafford et al. 2002). In terms of preventive and recovery methods, tourism destinations should promote the use of information for locals and visitors (Weber 1998) in order to ensure their own safety, for example by signalling any suspicious piece of luggage in a public space through the use of official signs posted in public areas such as airports, railway stations and stadiums. The role of advertising and education as recovery methods is also of importance. For example, the ‘Vigipirate Plan’ was put in place by the French government in 1991 after several terrorist attacks took place in Europe in the nineties. It is made up of 4 levels of emergency (yellow, orange, red and purple) and has been greatly promoted in France at the local administration levels as well as to the general public, especially after massive terrorist attacks such as the March 2004 Madrid attacks and the July 2005 London bombings. Furthermore, government initiatives such as the Australian travel advisory (smartraveller. gov. au) which issues travel recommendations to destinations presenting a certain degree of risk is a preventive way to avoid any accidental or dangerous event. For example, the Australian Government gives tips about Cyprus in terms of safety and security in both the Cypriot and Turkish part of the island, as well as details about local laws, entry and exit requirements and health issues (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2009). On the other hand, tourism may be a way to enhance peace, mitigate tensions between countries and recover from any negative effects of terrorism. An example of this is given by the situation between North and South Korea (Kim 2007). Research was conducted in order to evaluate the reactions of South Koreans after visiting a natural site, Mt Gumgang, an emerging tourist destination located in North Korea. The findings suggested that South Korean visitors to North Korea had a better image of the country and the people after their tourist trip, although both countries have technically been at war for decades (Kim 2007). To conclude, tourist destinations have the possibility to prevent terrorism actions from happening or mitigate their effects through combined policies of crisis management involving different participants such as governments and private/public tourism bodies. Nevertheless, although tourism is often a victim of terrorism and political disturbances, it can also be used as a tool to promote and enhance peace between countries affected by political tensions. References Adams, S. 2004, All the Troubles: Terrorism, War and the World after 9/11, Simon Adams, Australia Arana J. , 2008, The impact of terrorism on tourism demand, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 299–315. Apostolopolous Y. , Sonmez S. & Tarlow P. 1999, Tourism In Crisis: Managing the Effects of Tourism, Journal of Travel Research, Vol. 38, No. 1, viewed 17 May, http://jtr. sagepub. com. ezproxy. lib. uts. edu. au/cgi/content/abstract/38/1/13 Bar-On R. , ‘Measuring the effects on tourism of violence and of promotion following violent acts’, in Mansfeld Y. & Pizam A (eds), Tourism, Crime and International Security Issues, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. , pp. 159-160 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2009, last viewed May 17th 2009, http://www. smartraveller. gov. au/ Essner J. 2003, Terrorism’s Impact on Tourism: What the Industry May Learn from Egypt’s Struggle with al-Gama’a al-Islamiya, viewed on May 15,2009, http://sand. miis. edu/research/student_research/Essner_Tourist%20Terrorism. pdf Hall C. & O’ Sullivan V. , ‘Tourism, political instability and violence’, in Mansfeld Y. & Pizam A (eds), Tourism, Crime and International Security Issues, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. , pp. 105-114 Kim S. , 2007, Using tourism to promote peace on the Korean peninsula, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 291–309. Mansfeld Y. & Pizam A. , ‘Conclusions and Recommendations’, Tourism, Crime and International Security Issues, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. , pp. 311-312 Mueller J. 2007, Reacting to Terrorism: Probabilities, Consequences and the persistence of Fear, Ohio State University, viewed 17 May, http://scholar. google. com. ezproxy. lib. uts. edu. au/scholar? hl=en&lr=&q=REACTING+TO+TERRORISM%3A+PROBABILITIES%2C+CONSEQUENCES%2C+AND+THE+PERSISTENCE+OF+FEAR&btnG=Search Pizam A. 2002, Tourism and Terrorism, Hospitality Management, Vol. 21, No 1–3 Robson, L. , 2008, Crisis Management in Tourism, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 600–601. Sihmez Sevil F. 1998, Tourism, Terrorism and Political Instability, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 25, No. 2. Sonmez, S. F. 1998, Tourism, Terrorism and Political Instability, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 25, No. 2. Stafford, G. Et al, 2002, Crisis Management and Recovery, Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly 27, Cornell University Tourism Forecasting Committee, 2008, Forecast 2008, Issue 2, Tourism Forecasting Committee, Canberra, pp 91-92 Weaver D. , Tourism Management, 2000 Weber, S. 1998, War, Terrorism and Tourism, Annals of Tourism Research, Volume 25, Issue 3, Pages 760-763 ———————– Tourists Destination Region Generating Region Media Government

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

How to Use an Example of a Thesis Paper to Your Benefit and Not Get Caught

How to Use an Example of a Thesis Paper to Your Benefit and Not Get Caught How to Use an Example of a Thesis Paper to Your Benefit and Not Get Caught We want you to gain as many advantages from getting example papers as possible because writing tasks are not assigned just to torment your pour young student soul. They are aimed at developing many skills that you will need in your future. And now, standing finally on the same ground, we would like to tell you about real custom writing services, particularly about the main benefits of buying an example of a thesis paper. But first, let’s make sure that you know how to use it right. So, in order to get the most out of a custom-written sample you should: Read and make sense of the paper. Make sure you agree with the points provided in an example and all the statements seem logical to you. Cover the list of provided sources. Find out more about the topic after you have read the paper – you’ll be surprised with how many original ideas may appear in the process. Write your own outline. Use the sample’s contents as a basis, take some chapter titles or paraphrase them (if you feel safer that way); add 1-2 sentences to each point to describe every part in brief. Create your own, unique thesis paper. Use the information from the sources to elaborate on your outline and take some parts from the sample (all the examples provided by the custom writing service are 100% original, so don’t worry about plagiarism). This is actually how it’s done. It seems much easier than creating a thesis paper from scratch, and, in fact, it really is. Check out how it simplifies the process and have a look at other essential benefits: You save time on looking for trustworthy sources as they are already sorted out in a reference list; You receive an example of a standard thesis paper structure applied in practice; You can follow and copy a polished academic writing style without searching for quality samples on the Internet; An example of a thesis paper already has a direction of research and a number of arguments you may either include in your own writing or just use them to create new statements; You see how a logical speculation should be put on paper – how to support an argument, how to add transitions between paragraphs, etc.; You don’t need to do any preliminary work, everything’s ready for you to analyze and make your own conclusions. Can you imagine how much time such a sample can save? Hours, days †¦ months? This is a perfect variant for a person who wants to spend time and efforts with minimal waste and maximum use. If you are this person, then order a sample paper without any second thoughts and experience the new way of getting the most out of academic writing!

Monday, October 21, 2019

Organic Chemistry Hydrocarbon Nomenclature Prefixes

Organic Chemistry Hydrocarbon Nomenclature Prefixes The purpose of organic chemistry nomenclature is to indicate how many carbon atoms are in a chain, how the atoms are bonded together, and the identity and location of any functional groups in the molecule. The root names of hydrocarbon molecules are based on whether they form a chain or ring. A prefix to the name comes before the molecule. The prefix of the molecules name is based on the  number of carbon atoms. For example, a chain of six carbon atoms would be named using the prefix hex-. The suffix to the name is an ending that is applied that describes the types of chemical bonds in the molecule. An IUPAC name also includes the names of substituent groups (aside from hydrogen) that make up the molecular structure. Hydrocarbon Suffixes The suffix or ending of the name of a hydrocarbon depends on the nature of the chemical bonds between the carbon atoms. The suffix is -ane if all of the carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds (formula CnH2n2), -ene if at least one carbon-carbon bond is a double bond (formula CnH2n), and -yne if there is at least one carbon-carbon triple bond (formula CnH2n-2). There are other important organic suffixes: -ol means the molecule is alcohol or contains the -C-OH functional group-al means the molecule is an aldehyde or contains the OC-H functional group-amine means the molecule is an amine with the -C-NH2 functional group-ic acid indicates a carboxylic acid, which has the OC-OH functional group-ether indicates an ether, which has the -C-O-C- functional group-ate is an ester, which has the OC-O-C functional group-one is a ketone, which has the -CO functional group Hydrocarbon Prefixes This table lists the organic chemistry prefixes up to 20 carbons in a simple hydrocarbon chain. It would be a good idea to commit this table to memory early in your organic chemistry studies. Organic Chemistry Prefixes Prefix Number ofCarbon atoms Formula meth- 1 C eth- 2 C2 prop- 3 C3 but- 4 C4 pent- 5 C5 hex- 6 C6 hept- 7 C7 oct- 8 C8 non- 9 C9 dec- 10 C10 undec- 11 C11 dodec- 12 C12 tridec- 13 C13 tetradec- 14 C14 pentadec- 15 C15 hexadec- 16 C16 heptadec- 17 C17 octadec- 18 C18 nonadec- 19 C19 eicosan- 20 C20 Halogen substituents are also indicated using prefixes, such as fluoro (F-), chloro (Cl-), bromo (Br-), and iodo (I-).  Numbers are used to identify the position of the substituent. For example,  (CH3)2CHCH2CH2Br is named 1-bromo-3-methylbutane. Common Names Be aware, hydrocarbons found as rings (aromatic hydrocarbons) are named somewhat differently. For example, C6H6 is named benzene. Because it contains carbon-carbon double bonds, the -ene suffix is present. However, the prefix actually comes from the word gum benzoin, which as an aromatic resin used since the 15th century. When the hydrocarbons are substituents, there are several common names you may encounter: amyl: substituent with 5 carbonsvaleryl: substituent with 6 carbonslauryl: substituent with 12 carbonsmyristyl: substituent with 14 carbonscetyl or palmityl: substituent with 16 carbonsstearyl: substituent with 18 carbonsphenyl: common name for a hydrocarbon with benzene as a substituent

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Importance of Court Case of Korematsu v. United States

Importance of Court Case of Korematsu v. United States Korematsu v. United States was a Supreme Court case that was decided on December 18, 1944, at the end of World War II. It involved the legality of Executive Order 9066, which ordered many Japanese-Americans to be placed in internment camps during the war. Fast Facts: Korematsu v. United States Case Argued: Oct. 11-12, 1944Decision Issued: Dec. 18, 1944Petitioner: Fred Toyosaburo KorematsuRespondent: United StatesKey Question: Did the president and Congress go beyond their war powers by restricting the rights of Americans of Japanese descent?Majority Decision: Black, Stone,  Reed,  Frankfurter,  Douglas, RutledgeDissenting: Roberts, Murphy, JacksonRuling: The Supreme Court ruled that the security of the United States was more important than upholding the rights of a single racial group during a time of military  emergency. Facts of Korematsu v. United States In 1942, Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, allowing the U.S. military to declare parts of the U.S. as military areas and thereby exclude specific groups of people from them. The practical application was that many Japanese-Americans were forced from their homes and placed in internment camps during World War II. Frank Korematsu, a U.S.-born man of Japanese descent, knowingly defied the order to be relocated and  was arrested and convicted. His case went to the Supreme Court, where it was decided that exclusion orders based on Executive Order 9066 were in fact Constitutional. Therefore, his conviction was upheld. The Courts Decision The decision in the Korematsu v. United States case was complicated and, many might argue, not without contradiction. While the Court acknowledged that citizens were being denied their constitutional rights, it also declared that the Constitution allowed for such restrictions.  Justice Hugo Black wrote in the decision that all legal restrictions which curtail the civil rights of a single racial group are immediately suspect. He also wrote that Pressing public necessity may sometimes justify the existence of such restrictions. In essence, the Court majority decided that the security of the general citizenry of the US was more important than upholding the rights of a single racial group, during this time of military  emergency. Dissenters in the Court, including Justice Robert Jackson, argued that Korematsu had committed no crime, and therefore there were no grounds for restricting his civil rights. Robert also warned that the majority decision would have much more lasting and potentially damaging effects than Roosevelts executive order. The order would likely be lifted after the war, but the Courts decision would establish a precedent for denying rights of citizens if the current powers that be determine such action to be of urgent need.   Significance of Korematsu v. United States The Korematsu decision was significant because it ruled that the United States government had the right to exclude and forcibly move people from designated areas based on their race. The decision was 6-3 that the need to protect the United States from espionage and other wartime acts was more important than Korematsus individual rights. Even though Korematsus conviction was eventually overturned in 1983, the ​Korematsu ruling concerning the creation of exclusion orders has never been overturned.​​ Korematsus Critique of Guantanamo   In 2004, at the age of 84, Frank Korematsu filed an amicus curiae, or friend of the court, brief in support of Guantanamo detainees who were fighting against being held as enemy combatants by the Bush Administration. He argued in his brief that the case was â€Å"reminiscent† of what had happened in the past, where the government too quickly took away individual civil liberties in the name of national security.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

The Cold War and U.S. Diplomacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Cold War and U.S. Diplomacy - Essay Example Reagan claimed that most people did not understand the functioning of Nicaragua, as they only knew it as a Marxist country but many were not for the idea of exchange of money and weapons and this made it difficult for the U.S to bring in funding (Bermann, Page 9, 1996). The Reagan Doctrine was out to offer both covert and overt support to resistance movements and anti-communists guerrillas so as to have the governments backed by the Soviet governments in Asia, Latin America and Asia. The doctrine was designed to cut down on the general Cold War strategy administration. After Reagan’s election in the year 1981, he decided to support the resistance revolutions in countries like Angola, Nicaragua, Afghanistan and Cambodia. In May 1982, Reagan approved a document which was referred to as, U.S National Strategy, which its main purpose was stop and overthrow the development of soviet management and the presence of armed forces worldwide, and also to increase the cost of support that was being provided by the soviet and increase the use of rebellious rule at the same time collaborating with the terrorist. Reagan started a campaign for the community to support his plans by using some of the strong statements to prove it. For example in 1985, he said that the U.S citizens were not to lose faith in those who were able to risk their lives for their country worldwide even in the dangerous continents like Afghanistan (Burns, page 89, 1999). One year down the line, he stated that America was going to support both morally and substantially those who were ready to fight for the freedom of their nation even if it included dying. Reagan’s destructive policies and measures caused much damage in many countries. The exploitation and management of the banks by the U.S for example that was practiced in Nicaragua led to the decimation of its economy. War on the Sandinista national liberation front was funded by the administration that the congress played a role in suppor ting it. This was a war that several terrorist from Nicaraguan, which was referred to as Contra, fought and its main aim was to conquer the Sandinistas who after the 1979 revolution, took over power (Flanagan, page 25, 2000). In 1981, was the year that establishment of Contra forces started and Reagan funded the Central Intelligence Agency by authorizing the release of large sums of money. There was also the generation of extra money from illegal sales of weapons to Iran which was channeled to the Contras. These illegal actions were later known in Iran Contra Affair in the month of November in 1986, which led to condemnation and conviction of his staff. The collapse of the FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional) in the 1980s was as a result of the U.S continuous hostility. The victory of the contra military was not the cause of the fall of the Sandinista, but it was because of the U.S economic blow, the restrictions on trade and the social and economic attack of the nation. President Daniel Ortega finally accepted that he was defeated in the 1990 elections due to the persistent economic failure and handed over the government to the conservative who emerged the winners (Oberdorfer, page 71, 1999).. The elections however were not held as a result of Reagan’s pleas but to others efforts especially President Oscar Arias. He was the one who held the negotiations of a peaceful handover

Friday, October 18, 2019

How Has the Internet Influenced the Nature of Community Involvement in Assignment

How Has the Internet Influenced the Nature of Community Involvement in Development Decisions in Urban Planning - Assignment Example According to the International Association of Public Participation IAP2, any method which involves the public in making decisions or solving problems is known as a stakeholder engagement. The Internet has contributed significantly in increasing stakeholder engagement in the urban planning process. This paper attempts to investigate how far the Internet has been successful in doing so. Urban Development Planning The Planning Authorities formulate development plans for the urban, semi-urban and rural sectors. The entire development planning process involves the services of a wide range of professionals. They include civil engineers, architects, environmental engineers, geographers, real estate and property managers, surveyors, cartographers, community association managers, surveying technicians and also market and survey researchers (U.S Department of Labor, 2008, p. 222). The Role of the Internet The Internet has primarily been used to computerize the existing processes of communicati on between the Government and the community people. Citizens have used the e-mail to exchange information with the Government officials instead of writing hard copies of letters. The Community people have accessed information regarding urban development activities, on specific websites instead of reading pamphlets and reports. They could download this information from the Internet as a digital copy if they required it. Many urban planning bodies have posted an extensive amount of information regarding their plans and programmes on these websites. Earlier there used to be newspaper notices and official records regarding the same. The citizens can access a wide variety of planning related documents on the internet which sometimes also includes the agendas of urban planning board. Many planning agencies have adopted Geographic Information Systems (GIS) on their websites which have allowed the citizens to access GIS data and design their own maps. In 2004, a survey was conducted on the websites of 582 cities of the U.S.A which had recorded a population of 50,000 or more in the 2000 Census. It was found that 55% of the websites posted the urban plans of the Civic Authorities and 35% of them provided an e-mail address for the citizens to communicate. 37% of the websites also enumerated the major points of discussion of planned meetings with the community people. (Goodspeed 2008 p29; Conroy & Cowley, 2004) Brody, Godschalk and Burby have identified five areas where the Internet has played a significant role in facilitating community participation in urban planning and development. Some of these areas still offer considerable scope for the Internet to function as a significant medium of communication (Goodspeed, 2008). 1) Providing Information to the Community and Providing them with Opportunities to influence Planning Decisions: There are urban planning websites that have a provision for the citizens to write their views in an open forum where the planning authoritie s can clarify these opinions following a process of exchange of views. The website of PlanNYC (a student run site concerning urban planning) has allowed website visitors to post their comments. Similarly, blogs have been launched on the internet by some communities that have the provision for the residents to post their opinion on a variety of topics relating to urban development planning. A group called E-Democracy.org has launched a forum which facilitates

Domino's Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Domino's - Assignment Example This provides a representative data on her market share trends. In its behavioral paradigm, Domino is able to meet the demands of its marketing by basically employing online services. This has proved instrumental since a wide variety of people are reached. It also ensures populous numbers are informed on the same in a span of a very short duration. Domino has an international presence as one of the strategies to reduce the debts that are tied to the company. This debt is to the tune of $ 1.5 Billion, whereas her financial standing as regards her assets is only estimated at $ 450 million. The market share in favor of Domino is based on the price sensation amongst Pizza consumers. Those that need a quick cheap Pizza will be favored by Domino’s Pizza. This makes them focused simply to delivery contrary to services offered in restaurants. However, for a long time, poor taste has been a derailment of her trade. To address this, two strategies have been deployed, that is, using trial periods as a tool to maintain the customers after presenting them with a better alternative. The other strategy is the projection of her future growth and implement the means to do so. This can be achieved by maintaining loyalty as well as expanding her presence in China, where her current standing is at 5-times-customer-orders per year against a 17-times-customer-order per year by Quick-Service Pizza. The market share for Domino in totality stands at 18.4 % in the United States which is a leading franchise globally. In China, Domino’s standing percentage against Pizza Hut’s is 3.7 % which is quite

Thursday, October 17, 2019

How hubris and empathy are exhibited in all 3 short stories Essay

How hubris and empathy are exhibited in all 3 short stories - Essay Example Three short stories are presented in this paper written by some of the well-known short story writers of our time: The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne; Killings by Andre Dubus, and; Good Country People by Flannery O’Connor. In all these short stories, the theme of hubris and empathy are so interwoven with each other that one would not have much impact without the presence of the other. The short story Good Country People pits hubris and empathy, albeit largely pretended, between two of its major characters. One is a 32-year old girl who, embittered by an incident that took one of her legs when she was still a child, pursued higher learning and used it to shield herself from the agony of being different. She adopted a haughty and condescending attitude towards those who are simple and less bright fancying herself to be beyond them. Stomping around defiantly with a wooden leg attached to one of her legs, she is deprecating, for example, against the simplicity and naivetà © of others even towards her good-natured mother. Her arrogance was put to a test when she met the other character, a supposedly Bible salesman, who she disparagingly refers to as one of those ‘good country people’ whose â€Å"naivetà ©Ã¢â‚¬  she is planning to exploit. What initially attracted her to the young man was his claim that he is suffering from a heart ailment, a condition she is also suffering and which has compelled her to stay home rather than put her PhD to use teaching in universities. This makes her feel that she is sharing something in common with him and additionally, despite his ‘ingenuousness’ he seems to understand the importance she attaches to her artificial limb. However, instead of her playing the young man, it turned out that she is the one being played by him. Confident that she is in control, she allowed him to lure her to a secluded barn with the plan

Does your state have any exemptions to the NICS background check Essay

Does your state have any exemptions to the NICS background check requirements - Essay Example The initial purpose of this waiting period is to ensure that there is sufficient time for processing all documentation including a background check. In addition, individuals may purchase a firearm due to an external impulse and may act irrationally if they are given a firearm immediately. Therefore, this period is designed to allow the individual to relax and consider his reasons for purchasing the firearm (FBI, 2013). According to the NICS, a waiting period is not obligatory and an individual may attain possession of his or her firearm immediately. Florida state laws require a three ay waiting period for handguns; however, riffles have no waiting period (FBI, 2013). 3. A permit is a document which is issued by a state allowing an individual to carry out a certain action, which in this case is the purchase or own a firearm. The permit often documents certain conditions that have to be met. In addition, the permit often has some restriction. These are often associated with background checks and storage requirements which are intended to ensure safety within the community. The permits also vary from state to state as some may allow the use of the gun for hunting and target practice, however, prohibit its use for self defense. In Florida, no permit is required for the purchase of shot guns, hand guns or rifles (FBI, 2013). 4. Gun registration is not required in Florida for all firearms. Once an NICS background check has been conducted, the individual has full ownership or his firearms and there are no other obligations in the purchasing process (FBI, 2013). Florida also recognizes licenses from other states. In addition, unlike most states, Florida allows both residents and non residents to carry firearms (FBI, 2013). 5. All dealers of firearms in Florida have to register with the Department of Law enforcement and they have to meet the requirements of this institute when they conduct their sales. In addition, they have to gain approval from the Department of Law E nforcement before every sale and afterwards a record of sales is sent to the police (FBI, 2013). 6. Florida state law allows all individuals to possess firearms upon their consent; however, all legal requirements have to be met. Only illegally purchased firearms are prohibited in Florida. Another restriction of firearm ownership is age and individuals are obliged to be above 21 years old (FBI, 2013). 7. Throughout Florida all firearm regulations are similar, and a license is valid throughout the state. However, there are some specific areas which prohibit concealed carry of a firearm. These places include areas of nuisance according to s. 823.05, highway patrol and police stations, prisons or correctional facilities, courtrooms, schools, universities, polling areas, legislature meetings, career centers, in any establishment which sells alcohol and in passenger terminals such as train stations and the airport. The only exception of this law is that the weapons carried are for shipmen t or are being legally transported to another location. It is also prohibited for individuals to carry a concealed firearm in the Savanna Preserve Park unless he or she is a law enforcement agent. Seaports are also obliged to show a notice for the prohibition of firearms. The possession of a firearm in restricted areas s regarded as a misdemeanor of the

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

How hubris and empathy are exhibited in all 3 short stories Essay

How hubris and empathy are exhibited in all 3 short stories - Essay Example Three short stories are presented in this paper written by some of the well-known short story writers of our time: The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne; Killings by Andre Dubus, and; Good Country People by Flannery O’Connor. In all these short stories, the theme of hubris and empathy are so interwoven with each other that one would not have much impact without the presence of the other. The short story Good Country People pits hubris and empathy, albeit largely pretended, between two of its major characters. One is a 32-year old girl who, embittered by an incident that took one of her legs when she was still a child, pursued higher learning and used it to shield herself from the agony of being different. She adopted a haughty and condescending attitude towards those who are simple and less bright fancying herself to be beyond them. Stomping around defiantly with a wooden leg attached to one of her legs, she is deprecating, for example, against the simplicity and naivetà © of others even towards her good-natured mother. Her arrogance was put to a test when she met the other character, a supposedly Bible salesman, who she disparagingly refers to as one of those ‘good country people’ whose â€Å"naivetà ©Ã¢â‚¬  she is planning to exploit. What initially attracted her to the young man was his claim that he is suffering from a heart ailment, a condition she is also suffering and which has compelled her to stay home rather than put her PhD to use teaching in universities. This makes her feel that she is sharing something in common with him and additionally, despite his ‘ingenuousness’ he seems to understand the importance she attaches to her artificial limb. However, instead of her playing the young man, it turned out that she is the one being played by him. Confident that she is in control, she allowed him to lure her to a secluded barn with the plan

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Inclusion in the classroom Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Inclusion in the classroom - Term Paper Example As a result, the children with disabilities are not receiving sufficient and much needed care and attention, and the regular education of students is interrupted all the time. If there are students with special needs, then the educator is obliged to direct disproportionate attention to a small number of students, thus lessening the quantity of energy and time aimed at the rest of the class. Certainly, the variety of abilities is simply too big for one educator to sufficiently teach. As a result, the commission for greater educational responsibility and accomplishment are incapable to be met. There is also great concern for an emotional well being of the students with special needs. Many parents are concerned that other students will be ridiculing the one that stand out in some way. And the teacher cannot always be nearby to support the student with disabilities or protect him. One of the teachers’ goals is to help his students to develop as individuals, with is hard to achieve when some of his students, on the ground having some disabilities, have lowered self-esteem and stigmatized and even persecuted by other students. The learning disabilities field seems to recognize that being treated as an individual can usually be found more easily outside the regular classroom" (Lyon & Vaughn. (1994). p. 15). There are many reasons why the majority of students with special needs benefit more from services received outside the regular classroom. ... Also, as far as the educators’ trainings and abilities, ordinary teachers seldom have a desire or patience for a special student in their class Inclusion is a matter of concerns not only for the parents of children with special needs. There are number of voices against it coming from parents of the students with no disabilities. They are concerned that academic achievements of their children will suffer due to the teacher’s shift of attention to those with disabilities, thus leaving his regular students to be more on their own. Parents of children without disabilities often worry that the curriculum standards will be lowered by the inclusion of students with disabilities and those students with ADHD. Some special educators voice concerns that full inclusion may result in diminished or inadequate specialized services for students who have special needs. They point out that the regular classroom may not be the best setting for every child. Violent and emotionally disorder ed children, for example, may pose a threat to themselves and to their classmates. Overworked classroom teacher have complained that they are given inadequate resources and training to deal with students with disabilities. Ideally, when students with disabilities are included in regular classroom, their teachers receive special training and help from special education teacher who serves as either a co-teacher or a consultant. (Ryan, 2008, p.76-77) The hard work of inclusion do not bring success often because educators in conventional classrooms do not have proper preparation; there is a lack of knowledge about inclusion amongst supervisors, and the financial support for training and resources is usually short. One

Rituals and festivals Essay Example for Free

Rituals and festivals Essay Rituals and festivals have been a part of traditional European life for many years. They involved all religions, social classes and happened in almost all areas throughout Europe. Back in these times, there were no forms of entertainment like television, cell phones and video games. People depended on one another to entertain themselves. People in Europe would also be punished or tortured in front of the whole town to control public outbursts. An example of this is known as charivari. Some of these festivals and rituals were for political purposes too. Festivals and rituals of traditional European society mainly served as enjoyment, enforcement of public rules, and political purposes in daily life. Festivals and rituals were a type of fun and entertainment for Europeans. In a painting by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, it shows a picture of Europeans at a carnival, enjoying the days before Lent. Usually the days before lent people indulge themselves with alcohol. In the painting, it shows a man wearing a robe with a bucket as a crown of thorns and a stick as his cane. Jesus Christ is being mocked by representing the violence of Lent. This shows that the people are just enjoying the carnival because they are mocking their ruler (Wikipedia). The picture also shows people running around with drinks and food and also playing games with each other (Doc. 3). In a document by R. Lassels, a French traveler, he comments on Italian Carnival customs. He states â€Å"All this festival activity is allowed the Italians that they may give a little vent to their spirits, which have been stifled for a whole year and are ready to choke with gravity and melancholy† (Doc. 5). Since Lassels is from France, it means he really does not know Italians. So the fact that he said that the Italians really enjoy festivals is true because he could tell when he saw them at the carnival since he does not really know them (POV). In a comment made by Baltasar Rusow, a Lutheran pastor, he talks about the saint’s feast day festival. In one part of his comment, he states â€Å"Around these bonfires people danced, sang and leapt with great pleasure, and did not spare the bagpipes† (Doc. 2). This quote shows that the Europeans were enjoying the festival. Baltasar Rusow is a Lutheran pastor, so since it was the saint’s day feast, he probably was there so he saw first-hand how happy the Europeans actually were (POV). Festivals and rituals let Europeans forget all the bad and have fun with each other. When someone did something wrong in a town, the whole village would come and punish them too. In a  stang song from Lincolnshire England, they talked about a man who beat his wife and what they did to him. The song reads â€Å"Old Abram Higback has been beating his good woman; but he neither told her for what or for why, but he up with his fist, and blackened her eye. Now all ye old women, and old women kind, get together and be of a mind; collar him and take him to the out-house, and shove him in. Now if that does not mend his manners, then take his skin to the tanners† (Doc. 9). This shows that if one person is in trouble or was being abused, the whole town would help you get payback. If there were no rituals then he would have gotten away with it. There were also rituals such as charivari that punished Europeans for crimes. Charivari is also known as riding stang. A Russian official wrote about a woman who was ill after her punishment. He stated â€Å"A village policemen brought her before the village assembly, where they hung on her neck the basket of berries she had gathered, and the entire commune led her through the village streets with shout, laughter, songs, and dancing to the noise of washtubs, frying pans, and bells† (Doc. 10). Since the man was the officer that wrote the report, he may have been bias because he may have stretched the truth to make the situation worse than it actually was (POV). If there was not any ritual of punishment, the lady may have done it again. It shows the rest of the people what will happen to them if they commit a similar crime. Punishments for offenses and crimes were often public and embarrassing. Charivari was a very scary thing for a person. Elizabeth Gaskell, an English author, talked about a woman who forced to ride stang after abusing the other sex. She said â€Å"They hunt the delinquent and mount her on their horse astride with her face to the tail. So they parade her through the nearest village or town, drowning her scolding and clamour with the noise of frying pans, just as you would scare a swarm of bees† (Doc. 8). The purpose of riding was embarrassment. It makes an impact on the suspect and the rest of the town. This allowed the people in the town to enforce laws. Europeans also used rituals and festivals to help support political ideas. A man named Giovanni di Carlo, a Dominican monk, wrote about when rich fathers and their sons would switch positions so the sons will know what to do when they are older. Giovanni says â€Å"their very sons had put on their clothes and the sons had learned all of their gestures, copying each and every one of  their actions and habits in an admirable way† (Doc. 1). The sons learn everything about their father, even the clothes they wear. It gives the father a chance to know what the sons go through and the sons to know how their father’s lives are. If this ritual was not in place, then the sons wouldn’t know what to expect when they are older or they wouldn’t have been able to bond with their dad. Henry Bourne, a man from Great Britain, commented on the rituals in the Scilly Islands. Henry states â€Å"The servant and his master are alike and everything is done with an equal freedom† (Doc. 6). Since Henry is not from Scilly Bourne, he does not know for sure if the servants are treated fairly, making his point bias (POV). This quote shows that the king treats his servant like family because it is a ritual. A police inspector from Toulouse, France showed that certain festivals or arguments had a specific goal. The police officer said â€Å"When a royalist widower of the Couteliers neighborhood remarried, he began receiving raucous visits night after night. Most people who took too active a part were sent to the police court. But that sort of prosecution was not very intimidating† (Doc. 7). This quote is saying that people really respect rituals and customs and if someone is going to break them they will be punished. People really cared about rituals and used festivals and punishment to show that they need to be followed. Festivals and rituals of traditional European society mainly served as enjoyment, enforcement of public rules, and political purposes in daily life.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Environmental impact of the life cycle of tap water with the life cycle of glass bottled water

Environmental impact of the life cycle of tap water with the life cycle of glass bottled water Abstract In this report, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is applied to compare the lifecycle of tap water and bottled water using the four assessment methods. The results of inventory analysis and impact assessment shows that the tap water and glass bottled water production processes play an important role in almost all of the analysed parameters. The processes that have was examined include production and transportation, the quantification of the energy used and the potential contributions to impact categories was also evaluated. It was realised that the glass bottle water production shows a relatively higher energy requirement as well as overall higher contribution to environmental impact in Climate change, ozone layer, Exotoxicity, acidification/eutrophication, respiratory organics, respiratory inorganics, radiation, carcinogens, land use and minerals. 1:Introduction Presently, industries and businesses are assessing how their activities affect the environment due to increases environmental awareness. Also, the Society is becoming more concerned about the issues of natural resource depletion and environmental degradation and many industries have responded to this awareness by providing sustainable products and using sustainable processes. Drinking water is a basic necessity, but how can this basic need be satisfied in an environmentally friendly manner. This analysis compares the entire life cycle from the water extraction to serving it up in a glass bottle in a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The systems that have been assessed in this study are: the production of inputs of tap water and glass bottle, transportation, energy used and the manufacturing process. This study was carried out with the use of the SimaPro 7 software for the inventory and interpretation of the analysis. Eco-indicator 99 (l) V2.02/Europe El 99 l/l was used as an assessment method in which the various materials and products are weighted with regard to the impact caused by them to the environment. 2:Benefits of conducting Life Cycle Assessment * Life cycle analysis encourages a more informed and broader view of the environmental impact of a product. It helps decision-makers select the product or process that results in the least impact to the environment. This information can be used alongside other factors, such as cost and performance data to select a product or process. * LCA helps to avoids generalisations about the environmental performance of a product in isolation to its total life cycle. Rather, it openly acknowledges the assumptions made, and tests the effects of the assumptions. * LCA allows producers and consumers to compare relatively, the significance of different types of environmental impacts with caution. * LCA helps to avoid the Shifting environmental problems from one place to another; It allows a decision maker to study an entire product system thus, avoiding a sub-optimization that could result if only a single process were the focus of the study. For example, when choosing between two rival products, it may appear that product A is better for the environment because it generates less solid waste than product B. However, after performing an LCA it might be discovered that the first product actually creates larger cradle-to-grave environmental impacts when measured across all three media i.e. air, land and water e.g. it may cause more emissions of chemicals during its manufacturing stage. Therefore, the second product that produces solid more waste may be viewed as producing less cradle-to-grave environmental harm or impact than the first technology due its lower chemical emissions. This ability to track and document shifts in environmental impacts of products can help decision makers to fully characterize the environmental trade-offs associated with product alternatives. By conducting an LCA, analysts will be able to; * Analyze the environmental trade-offs associated with one or more specific products to help gain stakeholders acceptance for a planned action. * Quantify the environmental emissions to air, water, and land in relation to each life cycle stage and the major contributing process. * Develop an efficient assessment of the environmental consequences associated with a given product. 3:Challenges encountered in conducting Life Cycle Assessment Performing an LCA could be time and resource intensive. Depending on how comprehensive the user wishes to conduct, gathering the data can be problematic, and the availability of data can greatly impact on the accuracy of the final results. Therefore, it is important to consider the availability of data, the time required to accomplish the study, and the financial resources necessary against the anticipated benefits of the LCA. Table 1 below shows the general challenges of LCA. Table 1:The general challenges and difficulties of LCA methodology. Goal definition and scoping In conducting an LCA, the cost may be prohibitive to small firms; also, the required time to conduct LCA may exceed product development constraints especially for short development cycles; the temporal and spatial magnitude of a dynamic product system are complex to address; definition of functional units for the evaluation of design alternatives can be problematic; allocation methods used in defining system boundaries have inherent weaknesses; complex products (e.g. automobiles) entails huge resources to analyse. Data collection Availability of data and access can be limiting e.g. proprietary data; data quality, including bias, precision completeness and accuracy ,are frequently not well addressed. Data Evaluation Sophisticated models and model parameters for evaluating resource depletion, human health and ecosystem, may not be available or their ability to represent the product system may be repulsive. Thus most times, uncertainty analyses of the results are often not conducted. Information transfer Design decision-makers often lack knowledge about environmental effects, and aggregation and simplification techniques may distort results. Synthesis of environmental effect categories is limited because they are incommensurable. According to (Keoleian, 2003)Both cost and time constraints currently limit the practice of LCA. Most small companies are not likely to be able to afford specializing in LCA and even for larger firms, the benefits of investment in LCA may not be apparent immediately. In some cases, possible cost savings may not be identified unless full cost accounting systems have been instituted. Therefore, in other for it to be more cost effective, it should be incorporated into the existing environmental management system and information systems within a firm. Also, LCA will not conclude on which product is the most cost effective or works the best. Therefore, the information developed in an LCA should be used as one component of a more comprehensive decision process in assessing the trade-offs with cost and performance, an example is Life Cycle Management. 4:Present quality examples of uses of LCA. One example of the uses of Life cycle assessment is its application in the pulp and paper industry. Life cycle assessment is used to compare the environmental impact of the use of two kinds of fuel i.e. heavy fuel oil and natural gas, in the pulp and paper production process. Another, LCA methodology can be applied to agricultural production. An example is the Life cycle analysis of sugar beet production using different forms of nitrogen fertilizers. It could be used in this aspect to quantify and evaluate the impact of the choice of different N fertilisers on the environmental burden associated with the sugar beet production system. Also, it could be applied in the bakery industry. An example is the life cycle analysis of bread production by comparing homemade bread or industrial bread. In this context, it could be used to compare the environmental effects of producing bread at home or at the bakery showing which type of bread production has less environmental effects and how the environmental effects can be reduced. 5:Guidance and LCA standards There are international standard which help us undertake LCAs in a standard way. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies) and the ISO technical committees produce international standards on a variety of topics. The ISO 14000 series The ISO 14000 series relates to numerous facets of environmental management. These series includes ISO 14040 14043 and they were prepared by the Technical Committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental Management Subcommittee SC 5, Life Cycle Assessment. While ISO recognizes that LCA is still in a growing stage of development, ISO 14040-14043 is a consensus-based, voluntary set of standards pertaining to LCA. ISO 14040 Environmental management Life cycle assessment Principles and framework: Specifies the general framework, principles, and requirements for conducting and reporting life cycle assessment studies, but does not describe the life cycle assessment technique in detail. ISO 14041 Environmental management Life cycle assessment Goal scope and definition and inventory analysis: Specifies the requirements and procedures for the compilation and preparation of the definition of goal and scope for an LCA and for performing, interpreting, and reporting a life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis. ISO 14042 Environmental management Life cycle assessment Life cycle impact assessment: Describes and gives guidance on the general framework for the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase of LCA, and the key features and inherent limitations of LCIA. It specifies requirements for conducting the LCIA phase and the relationship of LCIA to other LCA phases. ISO 14043 Environmental management Life cycle assessment Life cycle interpretation: Provides requirements and recommendations for conducting the life cycle interpretation in LCA or LCI studies. It does not describe specific methodologies for the life cycle interpretation phase of LCA and LCI studies. (Dooley, 2002) ISO 14040:2006 Environmental management Life Cycle Assessment Principles and framework PAS2050:2008 Specification for the assessment of life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services (Patterson, 2009) These standards set out the general process that should be followed when undertaking any Life Cycle Assessment and are not legally binding or enforceable. 6:Methodological framework 6.1:General requirements This analysis was performed using a methodological framework based on ISO (International Organization for Standardization) recommendations stated above and according to ISO, there are four phases in LCA: goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment and interpretation. 6.2:Goal and scope definition 6.2.1: Purpose The purpose of this study is the identification and assessment of the environmental impacts associated with the production, use, disposal and recycling of tap water and glass bottle water. The main reason for conducting this study is to compare the environmental impact of the life cycle of tap water with the life cycle of glass bottled water, to provide information on which of production processes has less environmental impact, to understand which of the processing stages account for the highest or lowest environmental effects and to evaluate how the environmental impacts can be reduced. 6.2.2: Functional Unit (FU) The main purpose of the functional unit is to provide a reference unit to which the inventory data are normalised. In this assessment, the appropriate functional unit of water is related to 1 kg of portable water to be consumed and the equivalent amount which is 750 grams of water in the bottle 6.2.3:Study Questions The study seeks to answer the following questions: * What are the environmental impacts of tap water and glass bottle production? * What are the different materials used in the manufacture of these two products? * Which of the production processes has less environmental impact? 6.2.4: Product description The products being assessed are glass bottle and tap water. The raw material used in the production of glass bottle are dolomite, sand, feldspar, limestone, silica sand, natural gas, 2 litres of water and electricity while the raw material used in the production of the tap water are water from lakes, water from river and underground water, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, charcoal and electricity. 6.2.5: Product system boundaries The system being assessed produces glass bottle water and tap water using the typical life cycle stages. * Cradle to material production for glass bottle and reuse. * Treatment and distribution of tap water. 6.2.6:Process flow charts The process flow for the glass bottle is represented in figure 1 below and it includes the following; Water, dolomite, soda, limestone, feldspar, sand, silica sand, natural gas, electricity, transport and waste disposal (land filling and recycling). Figure 3:The network of the Life cycle analysis of the glass bottled water. Figure 4:The network of the Life cycle analysis of the tap water. 6.4.2:Impact Assessment of the tap water and glass bottle water The comparison is made up of the environmental impact of glass bottled water and tap water. For the glass bottle water, the environmental impact is also determined by the power requirements, the basic infrastructure and in this case, the waste disposal scenario is taken into consideration which involves the recycling of the glass. The power requirements and basic infrastructures includes; Electricity, soda powder at the plant, natural gas, transport, manufacturing of the empty white glass bottle and assembly of glass bottle full of water. The analysis of the inventory carried out for the tap water shows that the environmental impact of tap water is determined by power requirements and by the basic infrastructure i.e. the electricity production medium, the pump station, portable water , water supply network and supply of water. By contrast, the recycling equipment used in water treatment is less relevant in this context. The power consumption figures (percentages) are relatively accurate as they make a 100%. Eco Eco-indicator 99 (l) V2.02/Europe El 99 l/l method was used in this study with regards to all the impact categories. For each of the two systems analysed using the SimaPro 7 LCA software, the potential contribution to climate change, ozone layer, Exotoxicity, acidification/eutrophication, respiratory organics, respiratory inorganics, radiation, carcinogens, land use and minerals are characterized. The results are presented below in histograms and in tables. Generally there are 3 steps in Life Cycle Inventory Analysis, namely: * Classification and characterization, * Normalization, and * Weighting Classification and characterization are mandatory element while normalization and weighting are optional elements (Guinee, 2002; Hauschild, Jeswiet, Alting, 2005; ISO14000, 2000). 6.4.3:Characterisation Chart 1:The characterisation under impact assessment for the life cycle analysis of the glass bottle. According to the characterisation chart above, the environmental impact is at the waste disposal scenario and assemble of glass bottle full of water but less at the transport process for all the impact categories. Table 4:Table showing the characterisation result of the impact category in glass bottled water Climate change Climate change is the change in the statistical distribution of weather over a period of time ranging from decades to millions of years. From chart 1 above, the main cause of climate change is more evident during the assembly of glass bottle full of water, emission of CO2, NOx, SO2 etc during the waste disposal stages and at the transport stage due to emission of CO2 by the lorry. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 1.49E-9, -5.92E-8 and 1.31E-9 respectively. Ozone layer The ozone layer is a layer in Earths atmosphere containing relatively high concentrations of ozone (O3). This layer absorbs about 93-99% of the suns high frequency ultraviolet light, which is potentially damaging to life on earth. From chart 1 above, the main cause of the ozone layer is assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 3.71E-11, -7.45E-12 and 6.47E-13 respectively. Ecotoxicity Ecotoxicity refers to the potential for biological, chemical or physical stressors that affects the ecosystems. Such stressors might occur in the natural environment at concentrations, densities or levels high enough to disrupt the natural biochemistry, behaviour and interactions of the living organisms that comprise the ecosystem. From chart 1 above, the main cause of the ecotoxicity is assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 0.00779, -0.0171and 0.000516 respectively. Acidification/eutrophication Acidification is a natural process used to describe the loss of nutrient bases i.e. calcium, magnesium and potassium through the process of leaching and their replacement by acidic elements such as hydrogen and aluminium. Eutrophication is the increase in the concentration of chemical nutrients in an ecosystem to an level that it increases the primary productivity of the ecosystem. From chart 1 above, the main cause of the Acidification/eutrophication is assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 0.022, -0.00425 and 0.000211 respectively. Respiratory organics From chart 1 above, the main cause of the respiratory organics is assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 2.2E-10, -8.4E-11 and 2.02E-11 respectively. Respiratory inorganics From chart 1 above, the main cause of the respiratory inorganics is assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 3.57E-7, -1.56E-7 and 2.94E-9 respectively. Radiation Radiation is energy that travels in form of waves or high-speed particles. It occurs naturally in sunlight and sound waves. If exposed to small amounts of radiation over a long time, it increases the risk of cancer and it can also cause mutations in genes, which could be pass on to generations after exposure. From chart 1 above, the main cause of the radiation is the assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 1.11E-10,-1.25E-11 and 1.02E-12 respectively. Carcinogens A carcinogen is any substance or radiation, that is an agent directly involved in the exacerbation of cancer or in the increase of its propagation. From chart 1 above, the main cause of the carcinogen is the assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 1.99E-8,-1.03E-8 and 3.41E-10 respectively. Land use Land use is the modification of natural environment into built environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements. From chart 1 above, the major impact on land use is caused by the assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 0.00345,-0.00942 and 0.000176 respectively. Minerals Minerals are naturally occurring solid formed through geological processes with characteristic chemical compositions, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. From chart 1 above, the major impact on mineral is caused by the assembly of the glass bottle full of water, emission during the waste disposal stage and the transportation stage. These are indicated in table 4 above where they contributed 0.00586,-0.00357 and 0.00034 respectively. NB: From the characterisation impact category, the negative number for the waste disposal stage is caused by the uptake of carbon from the atmosphere during the water disposal scenario. Chart 2:The characterisation under impact assessment for the life cycle analysis of the tap water. From the characterisation chart above, the environmental impact occurred at the supply of water stage for all the impact categories. Table 5:Table showing the characterisation result of the impact in the tap water 6.4.4:Normalization Normalization is defined as the extent to which an impact category contributes to the total environmental burden (Guinee, 2002). When the values are normalized, comparison between impacts can be made. From chart 3 below, It was found that the main impact is from the assembly of glass bottle full of water. The main substances that contributed to this impact are; Carbon dioxide, fossil, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, lead, nitrogen oxides, particulates and sulphur oxide emissions that occurred during the manufacturing of the empty white glass bottle. The second impact is the waste disposal, this impact is caused during the waste scenario. The third impact being transport caused due to emission from the lorry taking the bottles to the retailer. Chart 3:The normalisation under impact assessment for the life cycle of glass bottled water Table 6: The normalisation under impact assessment for the glass bottled water. Chart 4: The normalisation under impact assessment for the life cycle of tap water From the chart 4 above, It was found that the main impact is from the supply of water. The main substances that contributed to this impact are aluminium, chloride and chlorine emissions that occurred during the production of the portable water. Table 7: The normalisation under impact assessment for the tap water 6.4.5:Weighting Weighting is a process by which indicators are aggregated into a single score. It makes use subjective weighting factors (Soares, Toffoletto, Deschenes, 2006). Based on table 7, the weighting under impact assessment for the life cycle of the glass bottled water is given the same as normalization. The main impact occurred at the assembly of glass bottle full of water. Followed by waste disposal and transport impact. Chart 5: The weighting under impact assessment for the life cycle of glass bottled water Table 8:The weighting under impact assessment for the glass bottled water Chart 6:The weighting under impact assessment for the life cycle of tap water Based on table 8 below, the weighting under impact assessment for the life cycle of the tap water is given the same as the normalization. The main impact from the supply of water. The main substances that contributed to this impact are aluminium, chloride and chlorine emissions that occurred during the production of the portable water. Table 9:The weighting under impact assessment for the tap water Conclusion / Recommendation From the analysis conducted, tap water contributed the least damage to the environment while glass bottle contributed the highest damage to this category. However, tap water still contributed even at a moderate effect and efforts are needed based on reducing the damages that could happen. Thus, from an environmental point of view, tap water is generally preferable to glass bottled water. If, as an exception, bottled water is consumed, its production process is much more relevant for its environmental impact than its assembly. Among the impacts identified are; * The empty glass bottles production process contributes damages to the human health and the ecosystem quality. * The electricity generation process which uses natural gas has reduced the natural resource. To overcome these problems, suggestions of corrections are as follows: 1. The use of plastic bottles water to replace the glass bottle water 2. The reliance on natural gas for electricity generation is suggested to be combined with other two types of renewable electricity generation namely: * Using 25% solar energy (considering most manufacturing industries to divert into the use of solar energy). * Using 25% hydro-electric energy 25% considering the fact that electricity could be generated from the flowing water in the water treatment plant. * Using 50% natural gas. 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National Pollution Prevention Center, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Dana Building, 430 E. University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1115, USA Lopes. E and Dias. A et al (2002) Application of life cycle assessment to the Portuguese pulp and paper industry. Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810 Aveiro, Portugal, Journal of Cleaner Production 11 (2003) 51-59. Medline Plus website (2010) Radiation Exposure [online] Available from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/radiationexposure.html [Accessed 12th April 2010] Patterson. T (2009) LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA). Sustainable Environment research centre, University of Glamorgan.