Cell phones Essay Example for Free

Cell phones Essay Every time a person answers his/hers cell phone, their safety and the safety of others around them are being greatly jeopardized. Cell Phones today pose a major risk to the human body and civilian population. When cell phones heat up they emit radiation that known to increase the chances of someone getting cancer. Besides cancer, other medical complications; such as, arthritis and damaged sleep have increased thought the use of cellular devices. Not only do cell phones cause medical problems, but they also pose a huge security threat with personal information being easily stolen. Overall, the safety of humans is being compromised by the use of the seemingly harmless device, cell phones. Many doctors and scientists are claiming that cell phones are causing medical complications. For instance, the National Cancer Institute states, â€Å"Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy, a from of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, which can be absorbed by tissues closest to where the phones is held† (â€Å"Cell Phones and Cancer Risk†). What this is basically saying, is that the radiation being put out from the cell phones are damaging vital tissues, which is known to increase the risk of cancer. This links back to the main idea of the overall safety of humans, showing that cell phones do cause a serious risk factor to the human body. Another common concern with cell phones is the theory that texting can cause arthritis; â€Å"Repetitive motion can cause pain and inflammation of the basal joint. It can even lead to thumb arthritis† (Eustice). The article confirms that the constant motion of the thumbs can indeed cause arthritis. The safety of the consumer is being compromised when a popular means of communication; such as texting, can lead to a major medical complication. Recent studies show that headaches are increasing tremendously due to cell phones: â€Å"Radiation from mobile phones damages sleep and cause headaches, according to a study by telephone makers† (carter). In this study, researchers found an increasing amount of headaches were occurring with people who use cell phones regularly; opposed to people who rarely use them or don’t use them at all. An increase in headaches is very dangerous to the safety of the human body and can be a gateway to many other complications down the road. After an extensive amount of research, doctors and scientists have found that cell phones do cause medical issues to the human body. Cell phones security is a fairly new issue brought up by a numerous amount of concerned citizens, with the fear that their safety is being jeopardized. As technology increases, more and more people are resorting to devices, such as cell phones, to get them thought the day: â€Å"The more people rely on cell phones and tablets, the more attractive these devices become as targets to thieves and other nefarious types† (Gahran). With all of these devices being used constantly, crooks can easily retrieve the personal information any personal information any person puts out there through the devices they are using. This has become a huge safety issue due to the fact that private information is being stolen from people who expect their information on their cell phones to be safe and secure. A man was shown an application on his cell phone that could link up to other people’s cell phones: â€Å"’It made all the contacts start jumping over to this phone,’ said Gooden† (Kridler). Gooden explained that the application he was shown let him easily access his wife’s phone contacts. His friend that introduced this application to Gooden then went to explain that hackers usually take the contact information and dial premium-rate numbers. The safety of the people who are in others contact information is being compromised when they have result in paying a fee for â€Å"calling† these premium-rate numbers because of someone else stealing their numbers. Boktah, an expert security hacker, states â€Å"Most people have no idea how vulnerable they are when they use their cellphones† (Murphy). Bokath’s job is to hack into cell phones to find and express all of the flaws in the devices, thus demonstrating how easy it is for a hacker to do the same. With all the scamming going on, consumers need to be aware of what they do on their cell phones to protect themselves, as well as the safety of others. Safety from personal information being stolen by hackers happens to be key concern to numerous amounts of people; this way people will not be liable for paying fees or having their identity stolen. Cell phones safety is a key concern, which the vast majority of users brood over. Cellular devices have been known to cause cancer; as well as, an increasing amount of medical problems. Some of these problems are arthritis and damaged sleep. Medical complications are not the only concern; a breach in security is another top concern for people. In essence, safety is top priority for humans, and cell phones are compromising that safety.

A systematic literature review to study Dignity in Care for Adults

A systematic literature review to study Dignity in Care for Adults Introduction Dignity is a broad and complicated notion that can be used in legal, religious, bioethics, scientific and political contexts with different meanings. The term dignity signifies that a person has a birthright of being respected and treated morally and ethically by others. Dignity implies that people should be treated in such a manner that they feel their value and worth as individuals within the societal context (Soulen and Woodhead 2006). Dignity can be elevated and alleviated by several factors in a healthcare facility. These factors include the facility culture, surroundings and environment, attitudes and behaviour of caregivers and the practice of care being carried out in the facility. People feel more comfortable, confident and in control for making various decisions on their own in the presence of dignity but if there is a lack of dignity they may feel discomforted, devalued, embarrassed and humiliated (Weisstub and Pintos 2007). As dignity creates a sense of comfort and contro l, it is quite important that caregivers in medical institutions realise the importance of dignity while giving care to adults with learning disabilities. The proposed research will analyse the literature associated with dignity in care for adults with learning disabilities in the United Kingdom. Research Aim The primary aim of the proposed research is to analyse the meaning, perceptions and quality of dignity in healthcare with respect to adults who have learning disabilities in the United Kingdom and study the range of healthcare services available for adults with learning disabilities. Research Objectives To assess challenges of access, inclusion, choice, attitudes and legislation faced by adults with learning disabilities in healthcare. To determine whether dignity in care for adults with learning disabilities exists in reality as proposed and promoted by the UK Department of health or not. To understand and compare the types of health care services offered and available to adults with learning disabilities. To analyse the quality of healthcare provided to adults with learning disabilities in the United Kingdom and inequalities faced by them. Methodology Research methodology is an important aspect through which researches are conducted. A research methodology will actually depict that what is the appropriate approach of conducting a research and which research strategy will be applied in this research. In the similar manner it would also depict that which data will be collected for the research and how it will be collected. This entire research would focus on learning disabilities with adults and the issue of dignity will also be addressed in this research. The main objective of this research is to understand the issues of meaning, perceptions and quality related to learning disabilities and how dignity of these individuals is affected. The primary method that will be utilised in this research is based on systematic literature review. This method is implemented in this research because it would definitely be helpful because of several reasons. First and the foremost reason is that it would give a clear about the issue that is being studied. Wolf (2008) presented an idea about that systematic literature review that philosophy of science, development of health related materials etc can be analysed through systematic literature review. In the similar manner it gives a genuine and a clear idea about the issue that is being studied. Through this approach findings can be properly analysed and systematic literature review helps the researchers in the decision making process. Wolf (2008) believed that through this approach the information that is collected for this research can easily be summarised. The benefits of this approach would be that past researches can easily be utilised and this would definitely reduce the cost of researching. Another important factor for choosing this approach is the benefit of time that is at tached with systematic literature review. According to Britton and Jonsson (2004) systematic literature review is actually a cost effective approach for conducting a research. Both the researchers agreed with Wolf (2008) that generalisation and collection of data in this approach is quite simple and easy as compared to other approaches. Therefore, it can be said that because of these benefits this approach of systematic literature review is selected for this research. Ethical Issues Ethics is the term used for differentiation of right over wrong, good over evil and signification of justice or equality in the general behaviour or actions of individuals in a society (Hinman 2007). Confidentiality and privacy of individuals participating in a research is quite important especially if the research topic is quite sensitive as the case is with dignity in care for adults with learning disabilities. The researcher needs to understand and realise the seriousness of ethical issues and considerations in such a research. Although there is a danger of participants being named or personal information being compromised, the approval from the ethical issues committee is not necessary, as the proposed study will only present a systematic literature review of the data already accessible by public. The information collected in the proposed research will only be used for research purposes and real identities will be replaced by codes or false names when required. The following sect ion provides an analysis of literature relevant to the research topic that will be used in the proposed research. Analysis of Literature According to The UK Department of Health (2001) learning disability is a combination or collection of several disabilities and disorders. These disabilities may include disability to understand new information or skills, impaired function in society and an onset of any disability that started before adulthood and had a lasting effect. Learning disability or intellectual disability also referred to as learning difficulty in the United Kingdom is quite difficult to explain as it covers a broad collection of disorders or disabilities that people may face. These disabilities include but are not limited to challenges in processing information, understanding written or spoken language and other challenges that may affect quality of life (Corley and Taymans 2002). This notion by Corley and Taymans (2002) is backed by Turnbull and Chapman (2010) who suggest that people with learning disabilities face several problems in understanding and processing complex information and face challenges in developing new skills. These descriptions of learning disabilities indicate that adults with such disabilities may have difficulties in processing information in several social circumstances including healthcare. This implies that adults with learning disabilities will have a higher degree of healthcare needs as opposed to people with no learning disabilities at all. McGrath (2010) argued in an extensive literature review that people with intellectual disabilities have greater healthcare requirements as compared to the general population. While explaining the nature and intensity of these healthcare needs he argues that the health care needs of people with intellectual disabilities are more complex in comparison with the general population and can result in premature death, which could otherwise be prevented through effective care. This argument by McGrath (2010) is also backed by several other researches conducted in the context of healthcare needs of people with learning disabilities (Michael 2008; Leyshon et al. 2004; Cooper, Melville and Morrison 2004; Paxton and Taylor, 1998; Nocon, Sayce and Nadirshaw 2008). Gaskell and Nightingale (2010) also agree with McGrath (2010) regarding the greater healthcare needs of people with learning disabilities. They suggest that healthcare needs of adults with learning disabilities tend to be higher in comp arison to the general population due to a variety of reasons including visual and hearing impairment, challenges in mobility, heart conditions, diabetes and osteoporosis. The greater needs for healthcare of adults with learning disabilities are also perceived by caregivers as Vecchio, Cybinski and Stevens (2009) in their study analysed the effect of disability on needs of caregivers. They implemented descriptive statistics and regression analysis to conclude that caregivers of adults with disabilities indicated that they required assistance while providing care to such adults. It was also concluded in the study that the needs of adults with learning disabilities were even greater than the needs of adults with physical disabilities with respect to healthcare (Vecchio, Cybinski and Stevens 2009). Adults with learning disabilities face several challenges with respect to societal factors including unethical treatment, abuse, undue pressure in interpersonal communication and biasness from the general population due to their specific disability (Slater 2005). Slater (2005) argued that the most prominent challenges with respect to societal factors in healthcare were neglect, poor treatment and abuse by caregivers. He argues that adults with learning disabilities have every right to dignity in life as the general population and should not be subject to abuse due to a specific disability. The Department of Health (2001) provides a clear strategy regarding treatment and care of elderly people especially when they face challenges due to learning disabilities. The recommendations presented by Slater (2005) are in line with the department of health framework with respect to poor treatment and abuse. The framework clearly outlines that dignity should be a top priority in healthcare where people should be treated in an ethical, moral and respectful manner. The importance of dignity and equality in healthcare services is iterated by another report of The Department of Health (2002) by implying the importance of fair access to care services irrespective of age and any disabilities a person may have. Philp (2007) recommended that dignity in care should not be an afterthought and caregivers should understand and realise the importance of dignity in healthcare of adults with learning disabilities. He suggests that caregivers are very busy and they need to incorporate dignity into the overall framework for providing care. In his study, Philp (2007) emphasised the need for treating adults with respect and integrity while giving them a sense of freedom and control over their actions and behaviour. He concluded that there are various forms of abuse and caregivers need to provide care with thorough understanding and realisation of dignity in care of adults with learning disabilities (Philp 2007). Holland (2000) on the other hand, analysed how ageing affects people with learning disabilities with respect to social, psychological and biological issues. He argued that adults with severe learning disabilities faced more challenges in later parts of life with respect to services as compared to adults without any disabilities. He concluded in his study that gaps were present in the healthcare and social services provided to learning disabilities and the standards established by the department of health (Holland 2000). This implies that albeit healthcare providers may focus on providing the most effective quality of services but improvements can still be made to make the quality of services more effective especially with respect to dignity in care. Batesa and Davis (2004) in their study of social inclusion and services for people with learning disabilities presented several societal challenges faced by adults with learning disabilities. These challenges include hindrance in local community participation, perceptions of general population, problems in safety and trust, limited access to social networks and limited access to services being offered. The study indicates that these challenges are faced by adults with learning disabilities mainly due to the perceptions of community and general population with respect to these people. The research concludes that social capital concept provides an effective model for services that focus on promoting social inclusion of adults with learning disabilities (Batesa and Davis 2004). The concept of social capital, which is based on social networks, and standards of trust and reciprocity Batesa and Davis (2004) can also be implemented in healthcare for adults with learning disabilities for bet ter outcomes. Health care services are of utmost importance to individuals who are suffering with different learning disabilities. McGrath (2010) believed that people with learning disabilities needs health checks to monitor the discrepancies they have. Annual health checks is a type of health care service that is offered and available to adults with learning disabilities. Usually, people who are facing these difficulties are less likely to receive continuous screening and they have less frequent routine checks. That is the reason why annual health checks should be offered by different health care institutions so that they can benefit from it in both the short and the long run. However, a concern is that whether these health checks are needed or not because if they are not viable enough so there is no need to have an exercise that would engage them in such activity. Albroze (2005) discussed that these annual health checks are very important because they assist the patients in every aspects and peo ple who are suffering from these difficulties can gauge that what is their current situation. People who have learning disabilities usually live in communities and they have the right to access different mainstream health care services. Deshler, Schumaker and Bulgren (2001) discussed that individual importance should be given to people who are suffering with learning disabilities and this can be considered as a health care service. Nurses should be effectively trained in this regard and they should help the individuals who are facing learning difficulties. These researchers also believed that equal health care services should be provided to patients who are suffering from learning disabilities. In the similar manner disability awareness should be given to them in different regards like trainings and workshops should be organised so that they can easily benefit from these activities. Certain special health care services should be allotted to those individuals that have complex and special needs (Bergmark, Parker, Thorslund, 2000). In the similar manner, certain action plans should be developed for this cause so that all these health care services would be implemented in a proactive manner. Besides certain annual che cks individuals suffering from learning disabilities should be offered regular checkups. This will provide an equal opportunity to learn about their health and they can lead a happy and a prosperous life. Certain picture-based books should be provided to them so that they can learn how they can face different complex situations (Deshler, Schumaker and Bulgren 2001). Emerson, Davies and Spencer (2005) analysed that learning disability in adults is a condition that is quite long lasting. A survey showed that about 62% of all the people who are suffering from this disability live with their parents or with their relatives. Similarly, 30% of the people especially adults live in certain form of residential care or they live with people who are also suffering from learning disabilities. However, only 7% of the people live with their partners or they live alone. There are different inequalities faced by adults when they are receiving health care facilities. Michael (2008) believed that at times people receive unequal health care treatment and this can be considered as an important issue for people who are providing learning disabilities and for those who are accessing it. People that are facing learning difficulties are not always offered the same level of services and treatment as the general population. People and health care service providers assume certain things when they are dealing with individuals facing learning disabilities (Kuntz, Minnes, Garcin, Martin, Lewis, Holden, 2005). In the similar manner the routine health care services received by these adults over the year in the United Kingdom is patchy too. Finally, people who are suffering from learning disabilities as not served and perceived as a priority (Michael 2008). Cooper, Melville and Morrison (2004) believed that people who are facing learning difficulties face unequal atmosphere. They are not treated as equal citizens in many conditions and this creates a sense of inequality in them. People with learning disabilities are discriminated in the society and there are different health care professionals who do not understand much about learning disabilities. In the similar manner many professionals in the society are not familiar with the laws associated with capacity to consent. There are certain professionals who are aware with this scenario but most of them do not consult the family of these individuals who are suffering with learning disabilities (Corley and Taymans 2002). Individuals that are suffering with learning disabilities may not understand the significance and importance of health care screening or it is highly probable that they may not recognise the symbols of ill health. This factor might create issues for the carers in both the s hort and the long run. Therefore, people with learning disabilities should be dealt with extreme care and the level of dignity should be maintained so that they can lead a healthy and a prosperous life. Summary The primary aim of the proposed research is to analyse the issues related to dignity in healthcare with respect to adults who have learning disabilities in the United Kingdom and study the range of available healthcare services. This primary aim will be accomplished by achieving several underlying objectives. All the researches that were analysed in the literature review depict that adults with learning disabilities face several challenges especially with respect to dignity and they should be dealt with extreme care. There are certain discrepancies and difficulties in this regard and there should be a proper equal approach adopted to care for adults with learning disabilities. It was also stressed in this research paper that dignity of these individuals is the main issues and once the dignity of these individuals are present they can live with self respect in the society. Relevance to Practice The entire research would be quite useful in enhancing the level of dignity in adults who are suffering from learning disabilities in United Kingdom. However, one of the major points that should be focused by different agencies and social workers would be how fast and effectively they can implement all these processes. A significant amount of research has been conducted in this regard but the reviewed literature shows several gaps in standards laid down by government health authorities and current practices. The proposed research will be helpful in filling these gaps. The proposed research would be beneficial for adults who are facing with learning disabilities and it would be beneficial for caregivers who are planning to implement these processes.

Levels Of Pollution In The Brisbane River Environmental Sciences Essay

Levels Of Pollution In The Brisbane River Environmental Sciences Essay River Brisbane is the longest river in the southeast Queensland of Australia. It originated from the foothills of the great dividing and flows through Brisbane city before releasing its water into Moreton bay. The river was named after Thomas Brisbane, New South Wales Governor, by John Oxley in 1823. The river provided and still provides a main form of transport between the city of Brisbane and Sydney. Before the European settlement Brisbane River was very clean and unpolluted. It was then used as a source of food and also for recreational purposes. For quite a long time the growth and settlement of people around river Brisbane has adversely affected the quality of its water as well as the life that it supports (Straughan 1972 p.93). As the town of Brisbane grew the river became very unclear and polluted and by 1928 the water quality had deteriorated to the extent that it was not safe even for bath. However the government of Australia decided to protect the river from pollution and by adopting antipollution acts as well as educating the public on the importance of protecting the environment. The river was used the source for agricultural water and also provided sand used in the construction around the growing city. The river faced so many risks of pollution from the growing industries and from the waster vessels that transported petroleum products and other substances. Nitrogen from sewage treatment and phosphorous from industrial discharge as well as other metals, were and still are among the main pollutants (MacKey, Hodgkinson Nardella 1992). However the data taken on the nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the river shows that the efforts of protecting the river have bared some fruits. In 2000 the average nitrogen levels were about 2.2mg/l while in 2009 the average level had dropped to 0.5mg/l. A graph plotted for both nitrogen and phosphorous show a decrease in their concentr ation in the river. Introduction For more than 400 million years now, the Brisbane River has been flowing. Its catchments have endured a number of floods and droughts seasons while its origins have continuously shifted as the surrounding land kept changing from time to time. In 1823 when John Oxley entered River Brisbane for the first time, the river was very clean and unpolluted. After a while Oxley realized that the river could be used as a new site for new settlement and through his suggestion, the city of Brisbane was developed alongside the River in 1825. The Brisbane River, whose origin is at the base of Great Dividing Range, has a catchment area of about 30,000km square and it releases its water into the bay of Moreton (National Library of Australia 1988). The once pure water of Brisbane was mostly used for drinking and for recreational purposes like swimming and the like. However as the city of Brisbane developed, industries started growing in it. At that time industries took the river as an efficient and cheap point for waste disposal. The Brisbane River was the only means of transport between Brisbane town and Sydney until when the road links were established. This river has for long been the most important asset for of Brisbane city as its still used for transportation, recreational and relaxation purposes. For the better part of the twentieth century, this river has been polluted and overused as its basin provided grazing grounds as well as fertile lands for agriculture (Institution of Engineers, Australia, 1986). According to AsiaRooms.com, the river basin also provided suitable catchment areas which could be used for damming purposes. The river presented several advantages which for the town and its people but the people exploited these advantages so carelessly such that self reparation appeared unfeasible. Today the Brisbane River has undergone considerable modifications to meet the requirements of the citys population which is increasing. Through diverse public awareness on the need to protect the environment, the river has gained significant political support in form of anti-pollution acts and policies that were adopted by the government (Doyle Kellow 1995 p.180). Currently the duty of checking pollution levels and water quality of river Brisbane is currently on the Queensland parliament. The parliament has so far made a lot of progress in its efforts of maintaining the quality of the river by establishing two anti-pollution acts. These acts comprise the 1971; Clean Waters Act and the Pollution of Waters by Oil of 1973. Due to the current public awareness on environmental protection and by the help of these acts, the quality of River Brisbane has significantly improved although its not yet at the safe levels. According to Doyle Kellow (1995), the River is currently supporting a population of 2 million people while transport and industries and still dependent on the river, which then helps to understand why its pollution level is still above the safe levels (p.180). The aim of this essay is to give a report on the levels of pollution of Brisbane River from the year 2001 to 2010. For the 150 years that the Europeans have occupation the region, River Brisbane has seen a number of modifications. The river has survived waves of exploration including agriculture, grazing, urbanization and settlement, etc. the urbanization and settlement required flood mitigation strategies and water storage for drinking purposes (Straughan 1972 p.94). Shipping channels and flood prevention measures also needed to be taken as the river was the main means of transport between the city and Sydney. Sand dredging along the river has been the main activity as sand was highly needed for construction in the city. Between the year 1900 and 1970 approximately 12 million cubic meters of sand were extracted from the banks of River Brisbane. Extraction reached its peak latter in mid 70s when about 1.45 million cubic meters of sand were being extracted annually. The extraction later dropped to 1 million per year and eventually ceased in 1996/7. The riches of the river between mt Crosby and Wivehoe are most pleasing aesthetically because of their cool atmosphere. Between Jindalee and mt. Crosby the river widens and then flows through rural and residential areas. In this area pollution by human beings is very evident and likely. Currently the Brisbane port is accountable for extraction of sand in the lower reaches of the river so as to maintain deep channels for water vessels. This long time dredging has considerably deepened the river hence making its banks quite unstable (Olafson 1978). Strong urban development has been evident throughout the city and on the south bank reach. As this river proceeds towards the Pinkenba, commercial and industrial areas dominate while further down from Murarie to the mouth, the river passes through mangrove lined region which is dominated by commercial shipping activity (MacKey, Hodgkinson Nardella 1992 p 418-420). The speed of water in this region is often determined by season. In this region the river reaches its highest flow speed during summer when there is high rainfall while the minimum flow is in winter when rainfall is minimal. Due to the slow flow of water in this region, there is likelihood of pollutants accumulation and overall deterioration of water quality. However this accumulation of pollutants can be cleaned by the release of water from storage dams situated in the river upstream. Wivenhoe and Somerset dams release certain amounts of water that are satisfactory to the water needs of the people of Brisbane. These two dams enable a more even water flow throughout the year thus maintaining and improving the qu ality of water in the river. The dams are also used as a means for flood prevention by reducing water flow from the range. Analysis of the past and current pollutants of river Brisbane According to Connell Shaw (1980), the major sources of pollutants of the river comprise the many large scale discharge points where wastes from industries and treatment plants discharge into the river (p.356-358). Currently the discharge from sewage is treated to a safer secondary standard with only a small portion of it being left in the primary standard. The small portion of primary standard sewage discharged into river Brisbane does not only contribute considerably to the toxicant load in the river but also to the nutrient load and increased demand for oxygen. This pollution leads to the contamination of fish and other aquatic life by such substances. Sewage discharge around the city of Brisbane is usually chlorinated hence causing a negative impact to the river. The most common discharges to river Brisbane resulted from the highly industrialized section of the river. The city of Brisbane has two main treatment plants for waste water as well as Gibson Island on the Southside and a luggage point on the North side both of which are found at the industrialized section of the river. Moreover River Brisbane faces other risks of pollution from the BP and Caltex oil refineries which discharge into the river discharge streams from potentially contaminated areas. Other discharges into the river such as runoff from the urban and industrial parts, and from upstream parts of the catchment, discharge substantial toxic pollutants into the river (Wong Tam 2005). Sometimes accidents occur resulting to spills of petroleum and insecticides among other substances. This often results to contamination of the river leading to fish death and other water lives. For instance in April 1998, a tanker known as Barrington was docked at White Island in Brisbane collided with a local boat named Austral Salvor. This accident resulted to a spill of 8 tonnes of heavy fuel into the river. Conclusion In order to recommend any possible measures that can help improve the quality of River Brisbane one must understand the past and the current pollutions characteristics of the river. In this paper, the pollution analysis of river Brisbane is based on the data provided by Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management. Nitrogen and phosphorous which are the main pollutants of the river have been measured and their levels in the river minimized. Nitrogen is found in fertilizers and it usually reaches the river when rain water passes through agricultural fields where fertilizer has been applied. Its also produced during sewage treatment processes. Phosphorous is produced in the waste treatment plants in Brisbane and from confined livestock operations. According to Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (1997), both nitrogen and phosphorous are can be harmful and toxic to aquatic life since their enhance growth of aquatic plants which then depletes the water of oxygen hence posing d anger to fish and other organisms (p.35). The graph below shows the levels of nitrogen and phosphorous in River Brisbane from the year 2000 to 2009. The concentration of these pollutants was measured in milligrams per litre of water. Fig.1 graph of nitrogen and phosphorous concentration against years From the graph we see that in 2000 the level of nitrogen in river Brisbane was quite high with more than 2mg of nitrogen in every litre of water. However due to the extensive public awareness and the anti-pollution measures taken by the government these levels reduced drastically between 2000/1 to below 1.5 mg/l. the downward trend in decrease of nitrogen continued until 2008 when the average level was about 0.5 mg/l. in 2009 the levels appeared to be rising again which shows that the government as well as the general public of Brisbane may have relaxed in its efforts to maintaining the quality of the river. On the other hand phosphorous levels have been low all through with level of below 0.4mg/l in 2000. The phosphorous levels have also shown a general downward trend and show a likely hood of reaching zero levels within the next few years if the same trend is maintained. The analysis of the past and the present pollution situations of river Brisbane indicate the government as well as the local authorities have done tremendous work in controlling the water quality of the river. If the efforts are maintained, the river will reach its old clean levels within a few years.

Cultural Communication Essay -- essays research papers

Culture can be defined as, â€Å"learned behaviors that are communicated from one generation to another to promote individual and social structure† (Communication; Making Connections, 44). In other words, information and behavior that is appropriate to where we live, where we have come from, and the traditions of those places are handed down along generations to insure that they continue. These behaviors help us identify who we are and who our ancestors were. American culture is an eclectic combination of many races from all over the world coming together to create a culture unlike those found anywhere else. A very different culture can be found in Eastern Europe, specifically the culture found in France. Considering the events that lead up to the United State’s War on Terror, and France’s refusal to help, it is important for Americans to understand this different culture and many of the communication barriers that have lead to the hostility between the two nati ons. These communication barriers can be overcome through patience, understanding, respect for the other culture, and by seeking similarities between the two to create a common ground of understanding.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The social structure in most countries is most often created through war and political change. The American colonists overthrew their tyrannical government during the American Revolution. This drastic change allowed for the colonies to create their own sense of individuality. People of different ethnicities began to merge as they settled the same areas, yet still maintained many aspects of their homelands. America is now foreseen as a great ‘melting pot’ of diversity. For over hundreds of years, people from all over the world have come to America looking for the freedoms they are often denied in their native lands. As the Statue of Liberty states, â€Å"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,† (msn.Encarta.com). The United States prides itself on being considered a safe haven for all who seek it. France also went under a drastic change after its own revolution, but with very different results. Up until 1789, the beginning of the war, less than half of the population actually spoke French. After the Revolution, the new French government tried to create a un... ...t† (Communications; Making Connections, 46). In other words, a cultural relativist is willing to put themselves in the place of another from a different culture in order to identify with them without making judgments. It is important to note that understanding is not the same as accepting cultural difference or condoning them. Using these concepts, one can begin the process of effective communication across a variety of cultures. Though divided by the Atlantic Ocean, language, politics and social structure, the United States and France have much in common. Both countries revolted against their corrupt governments to establish better ways of life. Both countries believe that their stands on issues are for the benefit of the rest of the world. Coincidentally, French architect, Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, designed both the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty, each symbols of their respective nations. The Statue of Liberty was given to the United States by France to commemorate the alliance the two countries during the American Revolution. If we use our similarities to build bridges instead of differences to build walls, communication between cultures can be effective and beneficial.

The Death Penalty and Race Essay -- Capital Punishment Essays

The Death Penalty and Race To look closely at many of the mechanisms in American society is to observe the contradiction between constitutional equality and equality in practice. Several of these contradictions exist in the realm of racial equality. For example, Black s often get dealt an unfair hand in the criminal justice system. In The Real War on Crime, Steven Donziger explains, There are so many more African-Americans than whites in our prisons that the difference cannot be explained by higher crime among African- Americans - racial discrimination is also at work, and it penalizes African- Americans at almost every juncture in the criminal justice system.1 This paper focuses in on one of those "junctures" - the death penalty. The racial disparities that Donziger finds in the prisons can also be found in death row. To be exact, African-Americans are 12% of the US population, but they make up 40% of the death row population.2 I, like Donziger, believe something more is at work; and in the tradition of Ture and Hamilton, I believe that this something works in covert ways. It would almost be better if we could place the blame on blatant racial discrimination. But the death penalty does not serve the explicit purpose of oppressing Blacks. Racism persists, but it has taken on more implicit, more subtle, and arguably more harmful forms. The death penalty is a timely lens through which to observe the covert racism that operates in institutional settings. This topic can be overwhelming, and this paper is in no way comprehensive. Rather, it is an opportunity to string together some soci ological and legal concepts with personal analysis in the d esire to demonstrate that the death penalty and the institutions surrounding... ...ziger, 100. 13 Chambliss, 250. 14 Chambliss, 248. 15 Donziger, 127. 16 Donziger, 109. 17 Donziger, 110. 18 Campaign to End the Death Penalty (pamphlet). 19 Leon Higgenbotham, Shades of Freedom (Oxford University Press, 1996) xxv-xxvi. 20 Donziger, 109. 21 David C. Baldus, et al, "Comparative Review of Death Sentences: An Empirical Study of the Georgia Experience," The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology 74 (1983): 663-664. 22 Baldus, 664. 23 Donziger, 109. 24 U.S. General Accounting Office, "Death Penalty Sentencing: Research Indicates Patterns of Racial Disparities," The Death Penalty in America, 271. 25 Hugo Adams Bedau, The Death Penalty in America: Current Controversies (New York: Oxford University Press, 1997) 250. 26 Donziger, 113. 27 Ellsworth, 90. 28 Ellsworth, 92. 29 Chambliss, 243. 30 Ellsworth, 92.

Cyp 3.1

cyp 3. 1 P47 2. 2 Explain how children and young peoples development is influenced by a range of external factors. Lack of finances – economic factor (parents may be unemployed) – The child will miss out on additional opportunities by not being able to attend after school activities such as swimming/music lessons, sports activities (tennis, football, gymnastics) or extra tuition. – Affecting social, emotional, physical, intellectual development. Inadequate housing poverty – Poor housing conditions may affect the child’s health and chances of developing through play if they live in a small over crowded house.The house may have damp (mould) not enough finances to provide adequate heating in the winter months, which will affect the child’s health. Lack of or unsuitable furniture/equipment – The child may not have a proper bed or blankets this will affect the child’s health if they cannot get enough rest/sleep, no safety equipment f or babies/young children – stair gate, plug socket covers etc†¦ which could cause the baby/child to have accidents or come to physical harm.Community social factor – Living in built up Inner city areas where there is antisocial or challenging behaviour within the community – parents may feel it is unsafe for their child to play in the community, the child may become involved through peer pressure to join the group/gang. There may not be sufficient local facilities for the parent to participate in activities with their child. The social infrastructure maybe lacking . e. g. play group’s, playgrounds, community halls where after school clubs are held.Diet personal choices – Lack of finance may mean that the child is not being provided with a sufficiently healthy nutritional diet. Low income families may buy foods that are a lot cheaper such as processed foods, these foods have higher levels of fat, salt and sugar – this can lead to poor co ncentration, lack of energy, obesity and many health problems. Education – Again lack of finances might lead to the child falling behind in their education – lack of study books or equipment, no access to the nternet – helping with their homework/research. Parents may not be able to afford school trips so the child may be affected emotionally and socially, feeling isolated or alienated from peers. Motivation and aspirations – The child/parent may feel despair living in inadequate housing conditions as well as the struggle of financial difficulties, may lead to anxiety, depression for child or parent, affecting the child’s motivation to learn and thrive in education.Lack of adequate parenting skills – Not encouraging their child to develop, not reading to the child, not engaging in activities that interest the child, not communicating with their child or others in the right manner (aggressive, shouting, swearing, ignoring or degrading) or par ents with antisocial behaviour, will leave the child feeling inadequate, having low self esteem, poor emotional, social and communication development. Addictions – The child may grow up in a vulnerable household where parents may be alcoholics or drug abusers, this will cause further financial problems for the family unit.The way in which the addicted parent cares for their child will have a detrimental affect on the child’s development as they will be incapable of providing a stable, nurturing and safe environment for their child. As the parent is consumed with their addiction they may neglect the child’s physical, emotional and intellectual needs. The child may take on the role of the main carer of the family (younger siblings as well as the parent) as the parent is incapacitated by their addiction.

My Conflict Management Philosophy Essay

There are always times when one doesn’t agree with another opinions and decisions. Thus, conflict occurred. I’m pretty sure everyone faced conflict almost every single day in their life and it’s inevitable. However there are few ways to solve it or even simplify the problem. I can still recall I faced a huge conflict with my mom few years back. I am vexed whether to continue my studies in university or college. I went to do a lot of research and seek for counselor’s opinion. My counselor teacher is the only person which I can trust the most as she has helped me a lot during my high school years. Despite that, she also taught me ways to release stress as well. She is also willing to give me extra tuition classes to help me in my studies. That is why I’ll always put more efforts and be diligent to achieve a good result. Thus to me, she is the most respectful teacher in my life. Of course when I have no idea what course to further my study, I will look for her and seek her advices. She is indeed a very good and kind teacher. She helped me in differentiating the advantages and disadvantages of the university and college that finally conclude first problem. I found my passion in studying Mass Communication and so far Han Chiang College is one of the famous in teaching Mass Communication course in Penang. Hence, I make my decision to study there. However, things did not go on smoothly. I have a serious argument with my mom as I told her I will further my studies in Han Chiang because she wanted me to continue my studies in a university. All along my mom is a stubborn person. She will never listen to the others opinion except for my dad. It is certainly not easy to persuade my mom. My mom will always use the method of forcing to make me follow her way and every time I obey to her decision. However for the sake of my own future, I did not follow her way this time. My mother is indeed an indomitable person. She was so angry that time that she wants to kick me out of the house. Based on this situation, firstly I practiced the method of withdrawal because I know if I continue to argue with my mother, it’s going to be another endless fight. No matter how long we quarrel for it, it will also not come out with any solution. Then I just shouted to her to end our argument on that day. After that, I quickly walk back to my bedroom and shut my door. My mom was very angry of me that time because I simply throw my temper on her. Consequently, our relationship became worsen and my mom did not talk to me for several days. During that time, I am very disappointed and yet sad. I’m disappointed because my mom forces me to follow her way and do something that I don’t wish to. I’m sad is because of relationship with my mom is getting worse and worse. After calming myself down, I know this topic is unavoidable. Thus, I come out with a solution to solve it. I know the only person who can help me to solve this problem is my dad. So I went to look for my dad and discuss it with him. I used the method of negotiating to discuss with my dad. I told him I love my mom and I don’t want her to upset but I really don’t want to force myself to do anything that I don’t like. After having a talk with my dad, he told me that he will talk to my mum and discuss it with her. After that, my dad helps me to persuade my mom. Lastly, my mom allows me to continue my studies in Han Chiang College but with a condition. My mom doesn’t want me to study in college because she is afraid I’ll pay much attention on my studies as college schedule is much more flexible than in university. Thus, she’s afraid that I’ll skip my classed very often and hang out with friends. So, I made a promise to her that I’ll not skip my classes and I’ll try to maintain my CGPA above 3. 0 for every semester. In conclusion, we used the method of compromising in this mater.