Prohibition in America 1920-1933 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Prohibition in America 1920-1933 - Essay Example In 1920, the national policy of Prohibition began. The 18th Amendment to the Constitution had been officially ratified banning the sale, transportation and manufacture of alcohol in the US. ‘The Volstead Act of 1919, also known as the National Prohibition Enforcement Act, gave the 18th Amendment some teeth, clearly defining alcoholic beverage as one with an alcoholic content greater than 0.5 percent’ (Schultz 1999). But the enforcement of the Act became difficult as many Americans enjoyed liquor and would even break the law to acquire alcoholic beverages. ‘Rum fleets filled with liquor from Europe appeared off the Atlantic coast. As many as sixteen ships at a time would lie at anchor just outside US territorial waters while smaller boats made the run to safe harbors. The Canadian border was a sieve through which liquor easily flowed’ (Coffey 1975). As a result, the liquor flowed even finding its way to White House. It was a big failure. One of the important effects of Prohibition before repeal includes the declaration of US as officially â€Å"dry† from coast to coast.

Explain Nietzsches account, in terms of the Apollonian and Dionysian, Essay

Explain Nietzsches account, in terms of the Apollonian and Dionysian, of the nature of ancient Greek tragedy - Essay Example Similarly, the Dionysian corresponds to Schopenhauer which means the principle of â€Å"will† that is highly opposed to Apollonian. The Dionysian manifests when man gives up individualism to submerge into the general life led by every member of the Greek society. Nietzsche terms artistic creation as dependent on two opposing forces, which are the Apollonian and the Dionysian, where the Apollonian refers to the life giving force that shapes self-sense and is characterised by measured control and disinterest. According to Nietzsche, the Dionysian refers to a situation where the self gives way for uniting with others and general nature. Interestingly, both are intertwined at some point although they oppose each other diametrically (Nietzsche 1999, p.15). They are equally important in the arts because without the Apollonian, the Dionysian cannot have a good enough form and structure to create an art while without the Dionysian, the Apollonian does not have vitality and passion. The two Greek mythological concepts have been highly relied upon in the artistic domain to bring out interesting creativity that possibly attracts the attention of audiences. Greeks were not sensitive to suffering, thus they were highly vulnerable to influence of challenges they faced in their daily routines. They therefore developed the Apollonian aspect to avoid suffering in their daily activities since the principle developed temporary truth, although the matter in question was not real in order to assume life’s setbacks that come along. Despite the Apollonian shield, the Dionysian brought out the real effect of suffering at the heart in all occupations. The two opposing forces of the Apollonian and the Dionysian provide different categories of art in the Greek culture, but at some point, their relationship tends to face struggles (Allison 2001, p.30). It is for this reason that Greeks used

Modernity in Spain and Latin America

Modernity in Spain and Latin America History of Latin America II (Revolution Dictatorship) Why has it been so difficult to establish democratic political institutions in Latin America? Introduction Throughout history, Latin America has struggled with repeated clashes between politicians and citizens. The problems caused by these periods in these nations history are still felt today and in order to understand the reasons as to why it has been so difficult to establish democratic political institutions in these countries, we must investigate distinct periods in their histories that have shaped the countries into what they are today. Many of the countries in Latin America experienced their post-independence periods around the same time, with the majority of countries experiencing their Early Nation Period between 1825 and 1850. These periods can be characterised by the struggles for independence and constant civil war and unrest as class systems operated in the countries and so political independence meant different things for different classes[1]. Because of this system and their vastly different needs that were to be met by governments, any attempts to unite the many sides and create democratic political institutions that represent the whole of society were, and are still, met with strong opposition. However, it is to be noted that not all of the problems in the country were as a result of government opposition: many of the problems arose due to the countries being so vast and infrastructure being so poor, meaning it was hard to communicate with, and so govern, the people living outside of the main cities[2]. The majority of these people were indigenous and did not speak Spanish[3] and this added to the issues: if the people could not understand what they were hearing from the government, and not respond to this because of a language barrier, no democratic system would represent their views, no matter how hard it tried. For these marginalised groups, it did not matter which group of creole elite were in power this time, it was simply another political party who did not understand their views in order to represent them.[4] For ease of illustration, we shall look more closely at two specific countries and two different but defining periods in their histories. Mexico Focussing firstly on Mexico; Mexicos Early National Period spanned from 1821 to 1876[5]. During this period, it was clear each region had strong affinities with their own area and so from the outset the political parties who formed the apparent systems of democratic government had to not only convince the people that they were the best party to be in power, but also, and arguably more importantly, that they should replace their ties with the caudillo[6] who ruled their area with an affinity to the country-wide leader who, for many, was nothing more than a name. This problem of the peoples reluctance to embrace a democratic political system for the whole of Mexico was exacerbated by the fact the caudillos were strongly averse to such a big change: these leaders had ruled their area for over a decade and were not going to submit to a national governing system easily. Indeed, such a system was entirely antithetical to the interests of the caudillos who would inevitably suffer in these systems[7]. Thus, they led coups and revolts of their people against the government and since domineering caudillos ruled the people, if the caudillo did not agree with the new system of government, then the people should submit to the views of the caudillo and not agree with the new system of government either[8]. During this time, not only was Mexico attempting to create a democratic political system amidst unrest from its own citizens, but Spain attempted to reconquer Mexico (1829), France blocked their Atlantic coast (1838-41) and the United States seized half of Mexicos land (1846-49). Great Britain also seized the Falkland Islands as Las Malvinas in 1833. Clearly, then, this unstable political environment did not encourage people to embrace the haphazard attempts at creating democratic political institutions in Mexicos Early National Period. Uprisings inspired by caudillos, language barriers preventing understanding and poor infrastructure preventing communication all contributed to the difficulties of the time. It is clear to see that Mexicos early attempts to create democratic political institutions were thwarted by international attempt to reconquer the country and by internal attempts to overthrow new governments by caudillos and their supporters. The people felt alienated and isolated from central government, and so when their caudillo whom they knew and with whom they could communicate told them what to do, they understood his rules and followed those rather than follow rules made by the government who did not represent them. Bolivia Moving on to investigate a different time in Bolivia. The causes of the difficulties in establishing democratic political institutions in more recent times in Bolivia were less intra-national and more international, due to countries becoming more reliant on international trade and the world economy. Thus, when this crashed in the 1970s the relatively new democratic governments could not withstand the pressure and the countries reverted to past authoritarian ways.[9] One school of thought reasons that this was due to the extremely high poverty rates in the country: citizens were more concerned about fighting for their lives by ensuring they had sufficient necessities in order to live than they were about fighting for political democracy. Indeed, in 1976 85% of the Bolivian population were living with unsatisfied basic needs[10]. This was caused by constant changes in ruler since 1964 and almost antithetical policies of successive leaders,[11] meaning people could not rely on the government as policies introduced by one party were overturned and directly opposing policies introduced by the next[12]. The people became apathetic to politics as their participation was limited and they knew that military leaders and dictators would not represent their views. No matter which military regime stormed their way to power, they would continue to suffer. When General Renà © Barrientos orchestrated a coup in 1964, the following 18 years in politics saw uninterrupted military rule, and General Hugo Banzers dictatorship between 1971 and 1978 was the longest spanning of the different regimes[13]. This time was filled with unrest and violence: the military regimes did not appreciate criticism or opposition. Things were done how Banzer wanted them to be done and opponents simply disappeared[14]. Clearly this is not democratic since a dictatorship is the exact opposite of democracy and the peoples views are irrelevant in such systems. Banzer did not seek to redistribute wealth and the people were, again, the ones to suffer. They did not want Banzer to be in the position he was, but he forced his way to power and there was nothing a normal citizen could do about it. Even after the end of Banzers rule, extreme political instability meant people distrusted the government. The succeeding governments seemed to forget about the countrys internal problems and focussed so much on international spending and borrowing[15] that the people continued to suffer. It wasnt until 1982 when the country elected Siles as president did the people begin to have a say again and attempts to restore democracy were made. Bolivia remains one of the poorest countries in Latin America[16], generally seen to be a result of the past authoritarian dictators and their regimes creating insurmountable debt. These leaders did not care about the countrys internal affairs and sought to boost international trade at the expense of their people. The people, therefore, suffered undeniably at the hands of these leaders. It is impossible to create democratic political institutions if the leaders do not care about the citizens of the country and seek only to benefit themselves. Bolivia is a prime example of a country who experienced great difficulty in establishing democratic political institutions as the military ruled the country for a long time, and any change in government was not as a result of democratic election but violent coup. The people simply had to accept what was happening in the politics of their country, or risk their lives trying to change it. Conclusion It is clear, then, that establishing democratic political institutions has not been easy in Latin America, specifically in Mexico and Bolivia, for many reasons. From the outset, Mexico had to tackle both international opposition to their ruling of their own country, and internal resistance from caudillos and their supporters, while Bolivia continued to struggle until very recently with dictatorship and extraordinarily high levels of debt preventing development of democracy. Bibliography Atlantic Council, Urbanization in Latin America. (2014)Available at: http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/publications/articles/urbanization-in-latin-america [accessed on 30/11/16] BBC, Mexico Profile- Timeline. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19828041 [accessed on 30/11/16] BBC, Timeline: Bolivia. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1218814.stm [accessed on 30/11/16] Ewout, Frankema The Colonial Origins of Inequality: Exploring the Causes and Consequences of Land Distribution in Poverty, Inequality, and Policy in Latin America (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009) pp19-45 Fowler, Will. Latin America Since 1780 (Hodder Education, 2008) Hansen, Edward C. Wolf, Eric R. Caudillo Politics; A Structured Analysis in Comparative Studies in Society and History, Volume 9, Issue 2 (January 1967) pp168-179 Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, General statistics on killings and disappearances of union activists. [BOL5479], 11 June 1990. Available at: https://www.ecoi.net/local_link/170859/272293_en.html [accessed on 30/11/16] Lynch, John Caudillos in Spanish America 1800- 1850 (Oxford University Press, 1992) McNeish, John-Andrew, Stones on the Road: The Politics of Participation and the Generation of Crisis in Bolivia in Bulletin of Latin American Research, Vol. 25, No. 2 (Institute of Anthropology, University of Bergen, Norway, 2006) pp. 220-240, Morales, Juan A. Sachs, Jeffrey D Bolivias Economic Crisis in Developing Country Debt and the World Economy (University of Chicago Press, 1989) pp57- 80 Pastor, Manuel Jr. Bolivia: Hyperinflation, Stabilisation and Beyond in Journal of Development Studies, 1991 Republic of Bolivia, Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (La Paz, 2001) Sivak, Martin El dictador elegido: biografà ­a no autorizada de Hugo Banzer Suà ¡rez (Plural Editores, 2001) UNICEF, Bolivia. Situation of Poverty in the Country. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/bolivia/english/resources_2332.html [accessed on 30/11/16] [1] Will Fowler, Latin America Since 1780 (Hodder Education, 2008) p34 [2] In 1950 only 40% of the Latin American population lived in urban areas. Atlantic Council, Urbanization in Latin America. (2014)Available at: http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/publications/articles/urbanization-in-latin-america [accessed on 30/11/16] [3] Fowler, Latin America Since 1780 p36 [4] ibid [5] BBC, Mexico Profile- Timeline. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19828041 [accessed on 30/11/16] [6] Caudillos is most accurately translated as chieftain, deriving from the Latin caput meaning head. See Eric R. Wolf, Edward C. Hansen Caudillo Politics; A Structured Analysis in Comparative Studies in Society and History, Volume 9, Issue 2 (January 1967) pp168-179 at p169 [7] Wolf, Hansen, p170 [8] John Lynch, Caudillos in Spanish America 1800- 1850 (Oxford University Press, 1992) [9] Fowler, Latin America Since 1780 p134 [10] Republic of Bolivia, Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (La Paz, 2001) p16 [11] Juan A. Morales, Jeffrey D. Sachs Bolivias Economic Crisis in Developing Country Debt and the World Economy (University of Chicago Press, 1989) pp57- 80, table 3.2 p59 [12] BBC, Timeline: Bolivia. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1218814.stm [accessed on 30/11/16] [13] Martin Sivak, El dictador elegido: biografà ­a no autorizada de Hugo Banzer Suà ¡rez (Plural Editores, 2001) [14] Exact figures are unknown. Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, General statistics on killings and disappearances of union activists. [BOL5479], 11 June 1990. Available at: https://www.ecoi.net/local_link/170859/272293_en.html [accessed on 30/11/16] [15] Manuel Pastor, Jr. Bolivia: Hyperinflation, Stabilisation and Beyond in Journal of Development Studies, 1991. p213 [16] UNICEF, Bolivia. Situation of Poverty in the Country. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/bolivia/english/resources_2332.html [accessed on 30/11/16]

Hamlets Softer Side Essay -- Literary Analysis, Shakespeare

Throughout Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the titular character Hamlet acts as an indecisive, histrionic college man, but this personality does not completely characterize him. In many instances, Hamlet proves himself to be an understanding and compassionate prince towards his confidants. Because many of his friends and family have disappointed him, Hamlet puts on a persona that divulges his conflicting nature in which he acts crazy but is really sane. Before Hamlet puts on his fictitious play, he gives an honest speech to Horatio that reveals Hamlet’s most sensitive traits. Hamlet begins his list of praise by explicitly stating that his following words do not flatter Horatio. Since Horatio â€Å"[has no revenue] but thy good spirits/ To feed and clothe thee[,]† Hamlet sees no need to flatter him (III.ii.60-61). In what seems like an insult at Horatio’s poverty, Hamlet actually praises Horatio’s cheerful attitude. Hamlet’s clever metaphor implies that he humbles himself before Horatio’s ability to put on a happy face. This acknowledgement of a positive outlook on life exposes Hamlet’s own demeanor as a fun loving man. Hamlet wishes he could act like Horatio in the same upbeat fashion and conduct himself in his natural behavior unlike his standard pessimistic state. He continues his masked praise with a jab at courtiers who constantly flatter Hamlet in hopes for a reward. Since Hamlet is a royal prince, he is prone to receive many compliments and bows from people with hidden agendas. To assure Horatio that he means well, Hamlet believes that only the â€Å"candied tongue [should] lick absurd pomp/ And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee† (III.ii.62-63). Hamlet’s language illustrates a young child that wants candy and flatters to achieve some an... ... of the most vulnerable and tender moments in Hamlet’s dialogues. As Hamlet’s softer image emerges, he adds new dimension to his personality in which he is not only the angry and crazy son but the loving and kind friend. However, Hamlet behaves more maniacally than benevolently in the play, and this speech is only a small portion of Hamlet’s speeches. Hamlet cannot linger in this exposed state and feel â€Å"[s]omething too much of this--† (III.ii.76). Although Hamlet pours his heart out to Horatio, the situation becomes slightly uncomfortable, and Hamlet moves on to his big production. These lines reveal more of Hamlet’s personality but also add more mystery as the reader never gets to know this Hamlet for very long. The most interesting part of Hamlet is overlooked and fosters an incomplete picture of Hamlet that is too often emotional and too often misunderstood.

Future of Nuclear Power in Sustainable Development Essay

With the population increase and economic growth, energy is becoming an essential part for development. To some extent, in any development process, reliable access to modern energy services is needed. However, the world is facing the energy imbalance: that of energy generation have consequences for the environment so meeting this growth in demand while safeguarding the environment poses a growing challenge. To date, the use of nuclear power has been concentrated in industrialized countries, which might play in filling the growing gap between what the world wants to consume in terms of energy and what the environment tells us we can sustain is considered. 1〠Development of Neural Power In the last few years, the nuclear power is mainly used in the industrialized countries. More and more countries pay their attention to the introduction of nuclear power programs, such as Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, etc, not limited to Asia. Also, other countries such as Argentina, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, and South Africa are working to expand their works. As is shown by statistics, of the world’s 439 currently operating nuclear power reactors, 403 (or 91%) are in either OECD countries or countries with economics in transition [1]. In terms of electrical generating capacity, 349 GWCe) out of 368 GWCe) , or 95% of nuclear generating capacity is installed in these countries. At present, nuclear power is a proven technology which has provided more than 16% of world electricity supply [2]. In the future of nuclear power, many different views are raised on its sustainable development, particularly to innovative reactors and fuel cycles [3]. There are a number of significant environmental benefits arising from the use of nuclear power, but it does raise its own environmental issues. During the operation, some radioactivity is released at a very low level into the environment either via filtered emissions to the atmosphere or in liquid form in the cooling water discharged to sea. Thus, on one hand, nuclear power is a hazardous energy and should be phased out. On the other hand, the nuclear power can be sustainably used. Comparing with the fossil-based energy, nuclear power does not emit CO2 and other hazardous emissions, which the impact of the nuclear power chains on the health and environment is less negative than those for fossil-based energy. Currently, Europe, North America and some countries in Asia have been enjoying the advantages of nuclear power. 2〠Status of Neural Power To date, the use of nuclear power is increasing. In terms of new construction, however , the pattern is different, 16 of the 30 reactors now being built are in developing countries and most of the recent expansion has been centered in Asia China, for example, currently has four reactors under construction, and plans a more than five- fold expansion in its nuclear generating capacity over the next 15 years. India has seven reactors under construction, and plans roughly a seven-fold increase in capacity by 2022. Japan, Pakistan and the Republic of Korea also have plans to expand their nuclear power capacity [4,5]. In the near future, additional countries in the Asia-Pacific region will choose the nuclear power option. Vietnam intends to begin construction of its first nuclear power plant in 2015. Indonesia plans to build two 1000 MW reactors in central Javaa. Recently, the Energy Generating Authority of Thailand announced plans to build two large nuclear plants, with construction to be gin in 2015. In Malaysia, a comprehensive energy policy study – including consideration of nuclear power- is to be completed by 2010 [6]. The resurgence of interest in nuclear power [7-9] is not limited to Asia. Other countries such as Jordan and Turkey are seriously considering or planning for the introduction of nuclear power programs. And many others, such as Aragentina, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and South Africa, are working to expand existing programs. In the USA, where no new reactors has been ordered in 28 years, these trends, plus excellent performance of the existing nuclear fleet and financial incentives in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, have led to a race to develop new nuclear power plants. Twenty countries now have new plants either under construction or under development with well over half of these new nuclear plants likely to be built over the next two decades in five countries- China, India, South Korea, Japan and USA. Also, in the USA, several dozen reactors are in various stages of proposal development, while international nuclear vendors and service providers are forming new alliances. Finally, rising uranium prices have led to development of new mines. 3〠Rising Interest of Neural Power Any negative impact on the population health and environment is unacceptable. Once it happens, it will be phased out. The negative consequences for nuclear power would be the same. If it is not possible or too expensive to improve sufficiently their safety, we must insist on their closing. The international conventions for nuclear safety were carried out, which legally enhance nuclear safety. Also, the IAEA updated the safety standards for reflecting the best industry practices [10]. Importantly, both the IAEA and the world Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) , created international networks to conduct peer reviews and exchange operating information to improve safety performance. Another important factor is the strong performance of nuclear power that drives the renewed interest in nuclear power. Up to date, with more than half a century of operating experience, nuclear power is becoming a mature technology. In the past two decades, more and more significant improvements are made in nuclear power plant reliability, as well as lower operating costs and a progressively improved safety record. 4〠Problems of Nuclear Power a) Management of radwaste Annually, the spent nuclear fuel produced is about 10,000 tons, which is small when compared with the nearly 28 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) waste from fossil fuels [11, 12]. In addition, the radwaste is most concerned point in public. Based on the expert experiences, the reasonable geological disposal of high level radioactive waste is safe and feasible. But for public, it is likely remain skeptical, which the nuclear waste disposal will likely remain controversial. The emphasis in the problem of radwastes should be in obtaining the support of people. On one hand, we should provide true information on comparative assessment of different energy sources. We should provide a clear report that there is no risk for the population health and environment from radwaste repositories. On the other hand, as soon as possible the countries with suitable places for repositories should license them and start the disposal process. Moreover, cooperation will be effective to share the burden of the waste disposal cost for countries with small nuclear power programs. b) Technological innovation If we want to develop the new reactor or fuel cycle technologies, technological innovation is needed. Currently, the nuclear Research and Development (R&D) projects are focused on enhancing nuclear safety, reducing proliferation risks, minimizing waste generation and improving economic performance [13]. In particularly, many developing countries, such as some countries in Asia, have been devoted to develop small and medium size reactor designs. These designs allow a more incremental investment than is required for a large reactor, and provide a better match to grid capacity in many developing countries. To some extent, these reactors are more adapted in applications [14]. c) Nuclear non- proliferation With the increasing expectations for nuclear power, there are concerns regarding the spread of nuclear weapons and sensitive nuclear technology. However, at the same time, the nuclear proliferation should be prevented. Now, a safeguard system has been established to guarantee the peaceful application of nuclear technology. An integrated system of safeguards can and should permit effective control of non-proliferation by a combination of technical measures and the extension of institutional measures [15]. It would occur in two steps. The first step would create a mechanism for the assurance of supply of nuclear fuel, possibly including fuel bank to be managed by the IAEA. For countries that use nuclear fuel for electricity generation, this mechanism would severe as a supplier of last resort, thereby removing the risk of having their fuel supply interrupted for non- commercial reasons. The second step would seek to bring any new operations for uranium enrichment and plutonium separation under multinational control. These multinational controls should also be extended to facilities that already exist- to ensure that all countries are treated equally in terms of their nuclear capabilities. d) Economic cost Although cost is perhaps not a major factor affecting plans for nuclear power in most areas of the world, in the United States, which has the world’s largest nuclear program and sufficient growth in electricity demand to support substantial growth in generating capacity, the cost of electricity has been the dominant factor in determining what type of capacity gets built [16]. As the United States has moved to reduce the economic regulation of electricity generation, cost has become a competitive focus, and â€Å"capital cost is the single most important factor determining the economic competitiveness of nuclear energy† (University of Chicago, 2004, p. xi). In 2009 the U.S. National Academies published a large study of energy technologies. After reviewing many previous studies, the authors noted that â€Å"cost estimates in the open literature have varied by more than a factor of two. Recent estimates have ranged from $2400/kW to as much as $6000/kW† (Committee on America’s Energy Future, 2009, p. 526). These are cost estimates for the United States. High costs are seen in the much-delayed new Finnish reactor, discussed further below. Until new plants are built in the United States, costs will remain a major uncertainty and an obstacle to growth of the industry. e) Public opinion Dana Mead, chairman of the MIT governing body, commented that â€Å"Nuclear power generates the most varied public opinion of any power generation type. According to MIT studies, 39% of those polled feel it should be reduced, 35% feel in should be increased and 11% don’t believe it should be used at all — the highest fraction of people who are opposed to any type of generation† (remarks at the American Nuclear Society Annual Meeting, as quoted in Power Engineering, August 2007). In addition to proliferation and economic cost, the main controversies regarding nuclear power are whether the public will accept new nuclear plants, whether sites can be found where the public will accept a geological repository for their spent fuel, and whether future development should be based on the once-through or the closed fuel cycle [17]. Bringing the public into decision processes early will substantially improve the climate for nuclear power to go forward. (In the United States , the law requires that the federal agencies make the final decisions.) 5〠Future of Nuclear Power While there are still uncertainties ahead, it seems quite likely at this point that, in the near-term, new nuclear power plants will be built, both in countries that already have substantial nuclear programs and in new countries. Thus, the number of countries with nuclear power plants will increase, and since some of these countries have small grids and limited infrastructures, it is likely that smaller reactors will be used to meet some of these needs [18, 19]. In the near-term, nuclear power growth will likely be met by existing technologies and those technologies for which substantial development has already occurred. Nuclear power development will not be the only source of power to meet growing energy demands and growing concerns about global warming. The near term is also likely to see the development and deployment of more renewable power of current or evolutionary design, and possibly of clean coal technology. Other options, such as increased conservation and the deployment of more energy efficient end-use technologies, will also be exploited. In the longer term, more advanced nuclear power plants, such as the Generation IV power plants, will likely be deployed. These will be able to meet a more diverse range of energy needs than the current generation of large, centralized electricity-generating power plants can meet. Possible applications include process heat for industrial applications, the generation of fuels such as hydrogen for transportation, and a variety of possible off-grid applications [20-23]. Likewise, other energy-generating technologies will continue to develop and will be deployed as appropriate. In the much longer term, these could potentially include fusion power. If that is successful, it could ultimately replace some of the technologies of today, including perhaps nuclear fission power. 6〠Conclusion Nuclear energy alone is not a solution, but it is likely in the near Future to have an increasing role as part of the global energy mix. Through the analysis and investigation, it is clear that nuclear power can bring significant long term benefits in terms of increased access to energy and security of energy supply. Nuclear power at present does possess proven technologies that ensure adequate safety level and safe radwaste disposal. Non-proliferation of nuclear materials is effectively supported by the system of IAEA safeguards. This structure is sound and it provides the basis for the further development of nuclear energy. However, the nuclear industry needs to work on new, innovative technologies in order: on one hand, to reduce the costs and thus answer the strong challenge of competing energy generation technologies, on the other hand, to facilitate the dialogue between the nuclear industry and the public by providing more transparent, convincing solutions and designs A success ful development of innovative nuclear technologies addressing these two key challenges would permit a large-scale development of nuclear energy in the next century. Thus, in the foreseeable future, the need for the development and deployment of more advanced versions of today’s energy production technologies will continue, and all promising technologies should be pursued. It is likely that different technologies could be favored in different circumstances. These circumstances could be based on a variety of factors, including national policy, regulatory and other mechanisms in different countries, and geopolitical situations (remoteness, availability of particular resources, etc.). Globally, it appears that the world is likely to need substantial new contributions from all sources, particularly those capable of supplying significant amounts of clean, low-carbon energy. Nuclear power is one of the most promising of these sources. References [1] International Automatic Energy Agency , Nuclear Technology Review, August 2006, IAEA, Vienna , Austria. [2] Energy, Electricity and Nuclear Power Estimates for the period up to 2020, Reference Data series No. 1, July 2002, IAEA, Vienna , Austria. [3] International Automatic Energy Agency IAEA Bulletin, volume 49/1. September 2007, IAEA, Vienna, Austria. [4] Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, . [5] IAEA, 2008b.Nuclear Power Reactors in theWorld. IAEA Reference Data Series no. 2. Vienna. [6] IAEA, 2009. Energy, Electricity and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period up to 2030. IEAE Reference Data Series no. 1. Vienna. [7] Jones, J.M., 2010. U.S. support for nuclear power climbs to new high of 62%. Gallup.com, March 30. 2010. [8] Sustainable Development in a Dynamic world, world Development Report- 2005, World Bank. [9] Bharadwaj, A., Krishnan, L.V., Rajgopal, S., 2008. Nuclear Power in India: The Road Ahead. Center for Study of Science. Technology & Policy, Bangalore (September). [10] Bilboa y Leon, S., 2009. Development of advanced nuclear reactors worldwide. Nucl.Plant J. September October. 27 (5), 36–42. [11] Rashad S.M. , Hammad , F.H.; Nuclear Power and the Environment ;Compartative Assessment of Environmental and Health Impacts of Eelectricity Generating Systems, Applied Energy 65 (2000) 211-229. [12] Rashad S.M. , Nuclear Power and the Environment Prospects and Challenges, Proceeding of Energy for Sustainable Development and Science for the Future of the Islamic World and Humanity Conference , Organized in Kuching / Sarawak , Malaysia 29 Sept-2 Oct. 2003 Islamic World Academy of Sciences, Amman , Jordan, 2006. [13] Innovative Technologies for Nuclear Fuel Cycles and Nuclear Power , Proceedings of International Conference held in Vienna, 23-26 Hune 2003 organized by IAEA et a1 , Vienna, Austria, 2004. [14] International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycle, . [15] Nuclear Power and Proliferation Resistance: Securing Benefits, Limiting Risk. American Physical Society, College Park, MD (May). [16] Chicago, University of., 2004. The Economic Future of Nuclear Power: Study Conducted at the University of Chicago. 2004(August). Cirincione, J., 2009. Chain reaction. Foreign Policy (May 7). [17] Nuclear Energy Study Group, American Physical Society Panel on Public Affairs, 2005. [18] MIT, 2003. The Future of Nuclear Energy: An Interdisciplinary MIT Study. . [19] Deutch, J.M., Forsberg, C.W., Kadak, A.C., Kazimi, M.S., Moniz, E.J., Parsons, J.E., 2009.Update of the MIT 2003 Future of Nuclear Power Cambridge, MA. [20] InterAcademy Council, 2007. Lighting the Way Toward a Sustainable Energy Future. Amsterdam. (October). [21] MacFarlane, A., Asselstine, J., Ahearne, J., 2008. The future of nuclear energy: policy recommendations . Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (December 11). [22] MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), 2003. The Future of Nuclear Power: An Interdisciplinary MIT Study. Cambridge, MA. [23] Nuclear Energy Agency (France), 2008. Uranium Resources Sufficient to Meet Projected Nuclear Energy Requirements Long into the Future. Paris (June 3).

Ethnocentrism, Stereotyping, and Prejudice Essay

I’ve spent most of the week searching and reading internet blogs, journals and electronic articles; thumbed through various dictionaries available at the library; scrutinized various metropolitan newspapers, to try to have a better understanding about ethnocentrism (1), stereotyping (2) and prejudice (3), and their meanings. I admit to this day, I walk away still confused. Why? After reading the definitions of each of these words, I’ve come to realize that their individual meanings are so near to that of racism (4) , profiling (5), or discrimination (6) – it is difficult to tell them apart. I decided to go back to a book that I read several months ago written by Dr. Mike S. Adams, Criminal Justice Professor at the University of North Carolina [ (Adams) ]. â€Å"†¦ I have been perplexed by the difficulty that many academics have with the proper use of such simple terms as racism, prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping. They are always getting them confused, while the terms are really quite simple. † Dr. Adams says †¦ â€Å"one needs to understand, differentiate between the three terms describing it â€Å"as easy as learning your ABC’s: ‘A’ stands for attitude, ‘B’ stands for behaviour, and ‘C’ stands for cognition. † Prejudice deals with negate attitudes; discrimination deals with negate behaviors. Though I must admit that after re-reading Dr. Adams’ book, I walk away with the sense that these three words, ultimately still have same meaning – discrimination. However, Dr. Adams’ logic regarding the ABC method does make some sense. Using his analogy, I considered recent events which took place in our town involving several police officers and an unconscious criminal suspect [ (Sims) ]. Though a jury determined that the officers were not guilty, it was evident from the various film footages shown, the suspect was thrown, from his vehicle and was unconscious when the five officers arrived on the scene and proceeded to beat him. Despite the suspect’s colour or status, I, along with many other viewers of different races, sects, etc. , felt that the officers violated the suspect’s civil rights. In my eyes, this was a blatant case of stereotyping, prejudice, and racism. I even tried to apply the ABC rule: ‘A’ being that the officers in pursuit of the suspect witnessed one of their own being nearly hit during the chase. They (police) immediately demonstrated their ‘white and authoritative’ powers. The officers had the attitude, that all black suspects are possibly armed and dangerous. We’ve a long way to go to remove labels and retrain people’s way of thinking regarding the accepting of others without consideration to their ethnic, cultural or social status. Works Cited Adams, Mike S. Dr. Welcome To The Ivory Tower of Babel: Confessions of a Conservative Professor. 2004. 16 February 2011 . Sims, Bob. â€Å"Birmingham News Blog. † 20 May 2009. 17 February 2011 . Encarta Dictionary (1) Ethnocentrism: a belief in or assumption of the superiority of the social or cultural group that a person belongs to. (2) Stereotyping: to categorize individuals or groups according to an oversimplified standardized image or idea. (3) Prejudice: an unfounded hatred, fear, or mistrust of a person or group, especially one of a particular religion, ethnicity, nationality, sexual preference, or social status. (4) Profiling: classification of persons based on personal information such as ethnicity, political view or behavioral patterns. (5) Racism: the belief that people of different races have different qualities and abilities, and that some races are inherently superior or inferior. (6) Discrimination: treating people differently through prejudice: unfair treatment of one person or group, usually because of prejudice about race, gender, age, religion or ethnicity.

What to Do With Surface Tree Roots in Your Yard

What to Do With Surface Tree Roots in Your Yard Tree and yard owners are often faced with the problem of a trees exposed surface roots. Tree roots that grow on the surface are difficult to mow or walk over and can affect the growth and health of nearby grass and ground covers. The usual response to remedy the situation is either to cut the roots or add fill soil over the roots and then replanting grass or ground cover. However, cutting out surface tree roots  is not advisable as tree roots offer structural support and provide a nutrient flow that supports growth and vigor. When damaged, tree roots attract pests and pathogens. Trees that experience root removal or serious root damage can express top canopy death on the side the roots were harmed. Removing roots can also introduce rot into the root, the base, and the trunk of your tree. Adding supplemental soil to cover roots can also harm your tree. You can, however, add an  additional cover like mulch over roots to smooth out the surface of the landscape. Adding extra dirt,  on the other hand, can reduce the concentration of soil oxygen needed for roots to survive, and trees may begin to show symptoms immediately or decline over time upon covering them. Proper Treatments for Surface Roots Ultimately, the best advice for gardening or landscaping in a yard that has surface tree roots is to leave them alone and incorporate them into your designs. Dont grow your garden or introduce small ornamentals near a trees surface root system (its life-support system, essentially) as introduced extra vegetative competition may or may not survive against these large trees. Having plants that heavily compete for nutrients and light is never good within the trees critical root zone- the tree may not suffer but the cover plant will lose vigor,  probably struggle to thrive, and will cost you the price of the plant plus the planting time.   A better way to deal with surface roots is to cut a bed around the offending root system and cover with coarse mulch, making sure to not add more than an inch of extra soil. Trying to establish even a patch of tolerant grass or ground cover among the surface roots can often be difficult, and  it might actually be impossible to do because of natural tree root toxins produced by certain tree species. Symptoms of Tree Root Damage and Fill Injury In addition to the root injury itself, other visible symptoms of injury may include small, off-color leaves, premature fall color, suckering along the main trunk, dead twigs throughout the canopy of the tree, or even death of large branches. The types of tree injury will vary by  tree species, tree age, the health of the tree, root depth, type of fill and drainage. Trees that are usually severely injured by additional fill include  sugar maple,  beech,  dogwood, and many oaks,  pines,  and spruces.   Birch and hemlock seem less affected by root  fill  damage than other species, but elms, willow, London plane tree,  pin oak,  and locust seem to be the least affected. Older trees and those in a weakened state are more likely to be injured than younger, more vigorous trees when it comes to soil fill damage.