Industrial Ecology essays

Industrial Ecology essays Throughout history we have used the Earths resources to fulfill our needs without thinking of the implications of this abuse. As a result, we are left with few resources and enormous amounts of waste. In order to stop this shortage of materials and this excess of garbage, numerous recycling ideas have been proposed. However, a new idea known as Industrial Ecology could revolutionize the awareness of recycling by placing human activities in a full-life cycle in which reuse can be profitable. The concept of industrial ecology should be considered as a change in the way industries manufacture products by thinking of the products life span as much larger and more profitable. This major change can be integrated effectively into many industries; the auto industry is a significant example. The supply of metals used in cars is running out, and their disposal results in hazardous materials, not to mention excess garbage that goes into landfills. The reusing and recycling of auto part s can cause a significant decrease in the industrys expenses. This idea seems very appealing. However, experts point out that there are several obstacles that stop the process and make it very difficult to implement. These obstacles include organizational, technical, economic, informative, regulatory and legal barriers that are enforced in the auto as well as other industries. However, there are ways of overcoming this obstacles and in fact, there is much to be gained in implementing these ecological policies in industrial settings, as proven by several examples such as containers and one-use cameras. Theoretically, Industrial Ecology provides the ideal solution to waste control and profit increase, but the barriers form a challenge for the implementation in the large-scale. In order to achieve these reorganization processes there must be an effort done by government, consumers and manufacturers. If manufacturers and engineers were to...

USS Maine Explosion and the Spanish-American War

USS Maine Explosion and the Spanish-American War The sinking of USS Maine took place on February 15, 1898, and contributed to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War that April. After years of unrest in Cuba, tensions began to re-escalate in the 1890s. Seeking to calm the American public, which had been calling for intervention, and to protect business interests, President William McKinley ordered the US Navy to dispatch a warship to Havana. Arriving in January 1898, USS Maine sank on February 15 after an explosion tore through the ship. Initial reports concluded that Maine had been sunk by a naval mine. Sparking a wave of outrage across the United States, the loss of the ship helped push the nation towards war. Though a later report in 1911 also concluded that a mine caused the explosion, some began to believe that it was the result of a coal dust fire. A subsequent investigation in 1974 also favored the coal dust theory though its findings have been contested. Background Since the late 1860s, efforts had been underway in Cuba to end Spanish colonial rule. In 1868, the Cubans began a ten-year rebellion against their Spanish overlords. Though it was crushed in 1878, the war had generated widespread support for the Cuban cause in the United States. Seventeen years later, in 1895, the Cubans again rose up in the revolution. To combat this, the Spanish government dispatched General Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau to crush the rebels. Arriving in Cuba, Weyler began a brutal campaign against the Cuban people which involved the use of concentration camps in rebellious provinces. This approach led to the death of over 100,000 Cubans and Weyler was promptly nicknamed the Butcher by the American press. Stories of atrocities in Cuban were played up by the yellow press, and the public put increasing pressure on Presidents Grover Cleveland and William McKinley to intervene. Working through diplomatic channels, McKinley was able to defuse the situation and Weyler was recalled to Spain in late 1897. The following January, supporters of Weyler began a series of riots in Havana. Concerned for American citizens and business interests in the area, McKinley elected to send a warship to the city. Arriving in Havana After discussing this course of action with the Spanish and receiving their blessing, McKinley passed his request to the US Navy. To fulfill the presidents orders, the second-class battleship USS Maine was detached from the North Atlantic Squadron at Key West on January 24, 1898. Commissioned in 1895, Maine possessed four 10 guns and was capable of steaming at 17 knots. With a crew of 354, Maine had spent the entirety of its brief career operating along the eastern seaboard. Commanded by Captain Charles Sigsbee, Maine entered Havana harbor on January 25, 1898. USS Maine entering Havana harbor, January 1898. US Department of Defense Anchoring in the center of the harbor, Maine was afforded the usual courtesies by the Spanish authorities. Though the arrival of Maine had a calming effect on the situation in the city, the Spanish remained wary of American intentions. Wishing to prevent a possible incident involving his men, Sigsbee restricted them to the ship and no liberty was given. In the days after Maines arrival, Sigsbee met regularly with the US Consul, Fitzhugh Lee. Discussing the state of affairs on the island, they both recommended that another ship be sent when it was time for Maine to depart. Rear Admiral Charles D. Sigsbee. US Naval History and Heritage Command Loss of Maine At 9:40 on the evening of February 15, the harbor was lit by a massive explosion that ripped through the forward section of Maine as five tons of powder for the ships guns detonated. Destroying the forward third of the ship, Maine sank into the harbor. Immediately, assistance came from the American steamer City of Washington and the Spanish cruiser Alfonso XII, with boats circling the burning remains of the battleship to collect the survivors. All told, 252 were killed in the blast, with another eight dying ashore in the days that followed. Investigation Throughout the ordeal, the Spanish showed great compassion for the injured and respect for the dead American sailors. Their behavior led Sigsbee to inform the Navy Department that public opinion should be suspended until further report, as he felt that the Spanish were not involved in the sinking of his ship. To investigate the loss of Maine, the Navy swiftly formed a board of inquiry. Due to the state of the wreck and a lack of expertise, their investigation was not as thorough as subsequent efforts. On March 28, the board announced that the ship had been sunk by a naval mine. The boards finding unleashed a wave of public outrage across the United States and fueled calls for war. While not the cause of the Spanish-American War, shouts of Remember the Maine! served to accelerate the approaching diplomatic impasse over Cuba. On April 11, McKinley asked Congress for permission to intervene in Cuba and ten days later ordered a naval blockade of the island. This final step led to Spain declaring war on April 23, with the United States following suit on the 25th. Aftermath In 1911, a second inquiry was made into the sinking of Maine following a request to remove the wreck from the harbor. Constructing a cofferdam around the ships remains, the salvage effort permitted investigators to probe the wreck. Examining the bottom hull plates around the forward reserve magazine, investigators found that they were bent inward and back. Using this information they again concluded that a mine had been detonated under the ship. While accepted by the Navy, the boards findings were disputed by experts in the field, some of whom put forward a theory that the combustion of coal dust in a bunker adjacent to the magazine had sparked the explosion. Workers preparing to raise the wreck of USS Maine, 1910. US Naval History and Heritage Command The case of USS Maine was reopened in 1974, by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover who believed that modern science might be able to provide an answer to the ships loss. After consulting experts and reexamining the documents from the first two investigations, Rickover and his team concluded that the damage was inconsistent with that caused by a mine. Rickover stated that the most likely cause was a coal dust fire. In the years after Rickovers report, his findings have been disputed and to this day there has been no final answer as to what caused the explosion.

The Effects of The American Civil War Research Paper

The Effects of The American Civil War - Research Paper Example For four consecutive years, the confederate soldiers fought and battled with the union soldiers. The war that is regarded as the bloodiest war in the history of America cannot be swept under the carpet. The depth of loss was felt by both these two sides. The loss of lives and the destroyed infrastructure took the United States several steps back. The immense and sheer number of deaths and tragedy that was brought by the civil war remains as a constant reminder to the American people as a profound insight of the past that they have seen. The economic, psychological and social impacts of the war went on to redefine what the future of the American people.Proclaiming the freedom of slaves and creating national unity was the hardest role that the American government had to play after the recovery from war. A more detailed analysis of the American civil war points to the start of the war being at the 1860 presidential election. The republicans who were led by Abraham Lincoln were not for t he idea of expansion of slavery into the United States territories. After the republicans won and their anti-slavery campaign looked as though it would be successful, seven slave states that were being run of cotton based economies came together right before the inauguration of the president and formed a confederacy that would fight against the anti- slavery campaign. The confederacy was mainly against the idea of the fact that their source of labor for their cotton plantations would have to be paid for (Parish, p. 103).

Subtle Issues in Revenue Recognition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Subtle Issues in Revenue Recognition - Essay Example This is not to say that management should ignore social responsibility such as protecting consumers, paying fair wages, maintaining fair hiring practices and safe working conditions, supporting education and becoming actively involved in environmental issues. Stakeholders other than stockholders can no longer be enrolled. These stakeholders include creditors, employees, customers, suppliers, communities in which a company operates and others. The impact of decisions must be recognized. The Enron controversy resulted to different political and economic changes which affected both government and private agencies. Enron has developed into becoming a part of America’s top ten companies in the span of nearly two decades. Their sudden rise to power seemed impossible to many industries in the financial world. However, the scam which brought upon Enron success was discovered. Deception was the name of the game for Enron. They concealed their controversial and suspicious dealings and transaction with their growing debt so that they appear debt-free and admirable to stockholders and the public. At last, every lie and cover up was made known to many when the company suddenly and unexpectedly filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. That was their last resort. Not even company partnerships and affiliations could save the money and the glory of Enron. When the news of bankruptcy of Enron was revealed, the reasons behind Enron’s downfall remained unclear and uncertain. There were mixed reactions among businessmen, politicians, stockholders, and others. Most of them were enraged while some felt concerned. There were those who were not surprised that the discrepancies with the financial statements could actually happen. It was as if it was the common habit among those who wish to decrease their debt. Questions such as the reason behind the downfall as well as the possible ways and means for preventing bankruptcy rose among the interested public.  

Africa Essay -- essays research papers

The combination of individual and national power and the need to find a safe route to the trade markets of the Indian Ocean led the Europeans to the continent of Africa in the late 1400’s. They would soon discover the abundance of its natural resources and in the next four centuries would systematically trigger the breakdown African societies. These acts would lead the Africans to be integrated into an exploited and racially dominated labor structures that would spread throughout the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It began with the exploration of the Portuguese in and around western Africa in the late 1400’s to gain access to the Akan goldfields of West Africa. Once they gained access to these fields it helped finance future exploration round the southern tip of Africa and reach the trade markets of the Indian Ocean. They purchased silk, spices, perfumes and other goods, return it to Europe and sold it for a profit. They built the fort of Elmina in West Africa to protect their interests from other European countries who were also seeking fortune in Africa. When they reached the eastern coast of Africa it was amazed by the wealth of the Swahili States comprised of Zanzibar, Kilwa, Mombassa and Sofala, they wanted to seize them. They first sailed into the important towns and demanded the rulers to become Portuguese subjects and pay them tributes. When the rulers refused the Portuguese would raid the towns until they gave into them. They built a fortress called fort Jes ... Africa Essay -- essays research papers The combination of individual and national power and the need to find a safe route to the trade markets of the Indian Ocean led the Europeans to the continent of Africa in the late 1400’s. They would soon discover the abundance of its natural resources and in the next four centuries would systematically trigger the breakdown African societies. These acts would lead the Africans to be integrated into an exploited and racially dominated labor structures that would spread throughout the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It began with the exploration of the Portuguese in and around western Africa in the late 1400’s to gain access to the Akan goldfields of West Africa. Once they gained access to these fields it helped finance future exploration round the southern tip of Africa and reach the trade markets of the Indian Ocean. They purchased silk, spices, perfumes and other goods, return it to Europe and sold it for a profit. They built the fort of Elmina in West Africa to protect their interests from other European countries who were also seeking fortune in Africa. When they reached the eastern coast of Africa it was amazed by the wealth of the Swahili States comprised of Zanzibar, Kilwa, Mombassa and Sofala, they wanted to seize them. They first sailed into the important towns and demanded the rulers to become Portuguese subjects and pay them tributes. When the rulers refused the Portuguese would raid the towns until they gave into them. They built a fortress called fort Jes ...

A Teacher Essay Essay

Being a public school teacher is certainly one of the most challenging careers, but it is absolutely the most important profession there is. After all, without teachers, there wouldn’t be any other professions! As a teacher, you create the foundation for your students upon which they will build the rest of their lives. You are not only influencing the future of your own students, but you are affecting the collective future of all of humanity for generations to come. You may not be able to see the long-term affect that you have on your students, but you are writing on the pages of who they believe they are, what they believe they are capable of, and who they will choose to be and become. This will determine what they choose to contribute to the world, which will have an impact on shaping the world of tomorrow for all of us. We each touch and affect countless others throughout the course of a lifetime. Everything we say, feel and do has a ripple effect that influences the present and the future of the collective consciousness on Earth. As a teacher, you have the ability to have a profound impact on your students’ lives in the present and far into the future. Think back on the teachers you had in your youth, and think of the ones that had the greatest impact on your life, both positively and negatively. How did they help shape your ideas about yourself and about the world? Did they contribute to your self-esteem, or to your self-doubts? Being a teacher takes great patience, strength, courage, stamina, compassion, intelligence, humor, kindness, caring, heart, generosity, etc. It often involves a great deal of self-sacrifice as well, because unfortunately, our present society greatly undervalues this most noble of professions. Those who choose a career of being a teacher do so knowing that they will face great challenges with little financial reward. You must therefore find the rewards of this career in other ways, by knowing that you are giving your students the tools with which they can succeed at life. Our present educational system in North America, and in other parts of the world, is antiquated and stale, leaving most students and teachers feeling  uninspired. Memorizing facts for tests is not learning. Knowledge is a living, growing thing, and in order to truly learn, the mind must be engaged with passion and interest. The ideal teaching environment is one in which the students are able to think, ask questions, and explore the relevance that the information has in real life, and the impact it may have on their own lives. Young people must know why it is important for them to know what is being taught to them, otherwise it will simply feel like a waste of time, and they will be bored and disinterested. In North America, we have developed a terrible apathy toward education, and many students feel that school is not â€Å"cool†. In Africa, children are begging to have an opportunity to go to school, because they know that education is the key to the future. Oprah Winfrey recognizes how important education is: she honors teachers everywhere as unsung heroes, and has been funding the building of schools in Africa because she believes that education and knowledge empower people to create a more successful life. In our present North American school system, being in a classroom can be very tiring and draining for both the teachers and the students. As a teacher, you keep giving energy continually to your students, but if nothing is coming back to you, it can feel demoralizing and even depressing, which can lead to burnout. It is important for you as a teacher to find ways to keep you and your students motivated and inspired. Most people do not realize the full impact that teachers have on students. Teachers have the ability to support a person’s self-esteem, or to destroy it. Many young people may be experiencing devastating pain at home, either physically, emotionally, mentally or even spiritually, so school may be the only place where they can receive support and encouragement. This is particularly true of â€Å"bad† kids, who are often suffering greatly at home, and as a result, they begin to live down to other people’s expectations of them. If they are labeled as â€Å"bad†, then they will feel â€Å"bad† and will do â€Å"bad† things because that is who they have come to believe they are. As a teacher, you can foster and encourage your students (and yourself) to  have a strong desire to succeed in school, and in life. The ideal classroom environment is one that inspires co-operation, rather than competition. In life, as each one wins, we all win, because the joy of one raises the vibration of the collective consciousness for us all. We have a situation in schools today, particularly in public schools, where everyone wants to be the same, and no one wants to stand out. Therefore, we must try to encourage them all to be outstanding! One of the ways you can do this is to encourage your students to be stars. This can be challenging with older students because they will act like everything is stupid and they don’t care, but they really do care. You can create a board with the name of everyone in your class, including yours, and have gold stars that you can stick on the board next to each person’s name as they accomplish any positive achievement, including teamwork and positive effort. Although you may have to pay for this out of your own pocket, it is very inexpensive and will repay great rewards for all concerned. Perhaps the students can even give stars to each other, to you, and to themselves for any positive accomplishment. You can give stars out for grades, but also for class participation, for effort, for improvement, for attitude, for citizenship, for extra credit, etc. You could even further motivate the students by having a â€Å"play day† or â€Å"pizza day† when the class collectively gets a certain number of stars. You don’t have to pay for this yourself, you can have a collection jar where the students can contribute their own money to such a reward celebration. Ideally, you want to make teaching fun and rewarding for you, and have learning be fun and rewarding for your students, so be as creative as possible. Rewards don’t have to require money, but feeling like a star can create infinite rewards for life. You can encourage your students to make a star chart for themselves at home, or better yet (with their parents’ permission), to put gold stars on their mirror whenever they have a sense of accomplishment or overcoming challenges – that way they can start to see themselves as a star on a daily basis. I would recommend this for you as  well, and for everyone. A positive, inspiring and encouraging environment has infinite positive ripple effects. You can make your classroom into an oasis where I and my students can all feel good about yourselves. This will create positive energy that keeps growing, which will energize you instead of draining you. If you inspire your students, you will feel inspired, and vice versa. Likewise, if you motivate them, you will feel motivated, and vice versa. Encourage your students to work together and to be self-motivated, so that all the energy is not just coming from you. Foster group work and group discussion, where each person has a sense of making an important contribution to the whole. The more fun and interesting you can make it for you and your students, the more you will all put into it, so you will all get more out of it and want to be there. As a teacher, you are the cornerstone of our society, and you make the greatest contribution there is to changing and affecting our world. I applaud you, and everyone in your profession. May you be inspired to inspire, motivated to motivate, and encouraged to encourage.

Climate Change in Peru Essay - 1516 Words

Peru is a nation composed of heterogeneous ecosystems including the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, deserts, the Andes Mountains including the glacial regions, and the second largest portion of the Amazon Forest Basin (US AID, 2011). Its heterogeneity creates such a dire situation for Peru in terms of climate change and the effects it has on each individual system as well as the effects on wildlife and human occupants that live in these regions. In Peru, the climate changes that have been taking place have led to several disastrous outcomes that include not only draught, but have also led to depletion of the Amazon Rain Forest, an increase in disease, extreme temperature changes, glacial ablation, extreme weather, and changes in the†¦show more content†¦Cirilo Quispe Latorre, the mayor of Cachimayo district recalls how the climate has change just since he was younger: â€Å"The rains used to start in October, and we would plant broad beans, wheat, and potatoes. Now the rai ns begin around mid-December, and we lose more than a month and a half of growing time.† (Hufstader, 2009). Latorre goes on to say that the rains, which once ended in April now end in March. This significantly diminishes the amount of time that farmers have to produce crops which in turn has led to decreases in the output of crops in the last twelve years (Hufstader, 2009). However, according to the USAID report on Peru, annual rainfall percentages have not changed drastically over the last 40 years. There has been an increase in the coastal regions and highlands (where most of farming takes place), a decrease in the jungle areas, and little change anywhere else (US AID, 2011).What has changed though, is the extent of the drought periods which cannot be alleviated by the intense periods of rain (US AID, 2011). This issue could be helped in the long term by utilizing more advanced irrigation methods that could store water during the intense rains to help alleviate some of the b urden of the long droughts. One of the most significant effects of climate change in the region has been the devastating effects of the melting glaciers. These glaciers often provide an extra source of water for farming regions, storing water in the rainy season andShow MoreRelatedDifferent Languages And Dialects That The People And Local Citizens Use Essay1729 Words   |  7 PagesIn Peru, there are many different languages and dialects that the people and local citizens use. Although the official language of Peru is Spanish, Quechua and Aymara are other languages that the people use. Like many countries with a mixture of citizens, Peru is no different when it comes to different dialects and sounds of its native language. In the northern part of the country, you may find that some words that are differently pronounced but still have the same meaning as they do in other partsRead MoreThe Republic Of The Inca Empire1648 Words   |  7 PagesPeru is the third largest country in South America and is about 3 time s the size of California. (New World Encyclopedia) Peru has many different ethnic groups and was also the center of the Incan Empire. There are still ruins and landmarks that still stand from this ancient civilization. There are also various types of climate regions which truly makes Peru a one of a kind country. History Peru has a long history of people and groups that could possibly pre date the ancient superior compared to theRead MoreThe Effects Of Oceans On The Climate System1340 Words   |  6 Pagescomponents of the climate system. The big cause for most climate change on Earth is the atmosphere and the oceans are an essential factor. Even though they do not respond to the climate changes they do have a role in the climate system. Earth is a big planet with at least 71 percent covered with water and 96.5 percent is located in the Earth’s oceans. There is an extreme interaction between the atmosphere, ocean and ice. In the past, ocean circulation has strongly impacted the climate sway of ice agesRead MorePeru Essay1655 Words   |  7 PagesInternational Trade Activities In recent years, Peru has been a stable emerging economy and has consistently experienced positive economic growth. Peru’s emergence as a growing economy and stable economy has been a recent phenomenon. During the 1980s, Peru was isolated from the global economy and many citizens of Peru believed in a protectionist economic worldview (Silva, 2014). Peru’s protectionist economic policies prevented the entry of foreign direct investment (FDI) and resulted in a veryRead MoreThe El Nino : A Weather Phenomenon1548 Words   |  7 Pagesmeter (1.5 feet) higher and 45 ° F warmer in Indonesia than Ecuador. Upwelling, is when warmer waters from westward movement, influences the colder waters to rise on the coasts of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. Upwelling causes cooler, nutrient-rich water to the upper layer of the ocean, the euphotic zone. Global climate is also influences by this Upwelling of the water. The warm waters of the Pacific ocean temperature aids in increased rainf all around the Indonesia Islands and New Guinea. Furthermore,Read MoreCountry Evaluation963 Words   |  4 PagesPeru: Country Evaluation Geographical Situation Peru is located in the west of South America, and has borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, and Chile. It is almost twice the size of Texas. Peru is the third largest country in South America, and has a wide range of natural resources. The country has three main regions which are coast, mountains and jungle (Peru Travel, 2015). Generally, May through October is the dry season; November through April is the rainy season, and there are usually moreRead MorePeru-Pest Analysis Essay examples1351 Words   |  6 Pages3, 2011 * * PEST ANALYSIS: PERU * * POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT * Over the past 10 years, Peru has experienced great political change following the impeachment of President Alberto Fujimori in late 2000, on accounts of bribery and corruption. Since then, former Presidents Alejandro Toledo and Alan Garcia as well as current President Ollante Humala have significantly decreased bribery and corruption, stabilizing the political climate and allowing for economical growth toRead MoreCauses of Climate Change. Is It Nature of Negligence?1540 Words   |  7 PagesTRINITY COLLEGE L6 SCIENCE GEOGRAPHY CLIMATE CHANGE: NATURE OR NEGLIGENCE The climate of our world is changing, but why? There is a great debate going on in the scientific community on whether our current climate change crisis is a natural occurrence over millions of years – as what has happened on the planet of Mars – or this natural process is being accelerated by man’s negligence. But first we must establish what is climate change? Climate Change is a long-term shift in the statistics ofRead MoreDiscuss the Contention That Sustainable Tourism Is, Perhaps, an Impossible Dream.1713 Words   |  7 Pagespromotes conservation, has low negative visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations’ (IUCN, 1996). Many companies do operate in a sustainable manner. For example, Peru Treks and Adventure are a small organisation based in Cusco, Peru, that offer treks around the Inca trails. They pride themselves in their sustainable operation. They are fully aware of their economic responsibility, making sure they employ as many locals as possible (all bar oneRead MorePalm Oil Growth And Sustainability1323 Words   |  6 PagesPalm Oil Growth in Peru Slows as Land Suitability and Sustainability Take Top Priority Palm is a tree crop suited to cultivation in climatic conditions similar to those of the tropical rainforest. From 1999 to 2009, global production more than doubled. Thirty years ago, palm oil accounted for less than 2 percent but now accounts for 37 percent of vegetable oil consumption worldwide, and palm has displaced soy as the world’s most important vegetable oil. Palm oil is used as a biofuel, for cooking