Abstract Soil is an incredibly important resource and maintaining the fertility of our soils is a pressing issue at the forefront of environmental science as we try to feed an expanding global population. Queensland, Australia is one area of the world where soil is being depleted and degraded at an alarming rate. Through an examination of this specific resource management problem, this essay analyzes the concept of impact assessment to develop fair, efficient and effective solutions to this environmental problem.
From the Paper ?The preservation and conservation of the worlds soil is a serious resource management problem. The sustainable use of our soil will be a major challenge for the human species for many years to come. When assessing the impact of any resource management problem and developing feasible solutions to that problem certain factors must be taken into consideration. Examining the fairness, efficiency and effectiveness of a proposed solution is paramount to its potential success. A solution for soil loss that is completely unfair to farmers or ranchers will be rigorously opposed and impossible to implement.?
Abstract This paper looks at the economic and environmental effects of the Hurricane Andrew, comparing it to other hurricanes throughout the United States.
From the Paper In August of 1992, hurricane Andrew swept through Florida and Louisiana causing more than 26 billion dollars in damage and claiming the lives of more than 60 people. Hurricane Andrew was by no means the largest hurricane to hit the United States, but what it lacked in size it made up for tenfold in power, making hurricane Andrew the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history ("Florida", Encarta Online; Rappaport).
Abstract This paper explores how acid rain is produced, what its impact is on the environment, what has been done by government agencies to help the problem, how effective these measures have been, what individuals can do to help reduce this problem, what are the current technologies for reducing emissions and how these technologies can be used to reduce acid rain in the future. It demonstrates that current attempts to reduce emissions from power plants will not have a significant effect on acid rain reduction; and will support the idea that there is not a single solution to the problem of acid rain, but rather a combination of technologies and methods will have to be utilized to have a noticeable effect of the reduction of and repair of environmental destruction caused by acid rain.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
How Acid Rain is Formed
Effect of Acid Rain on the Environment
How Large is This Problem?
What Has Already Been Done to Reduce Emissions?
Have These Measures Been Effective?
What is the Future of the Acid Rain Issue?
How Can an Individual Help?
Current Trends in Alternative Power as a Solution to the Problem
Summary
Works Cited
From the paper:
"Our modern world has many conveniences. We enjoy hot water, lights, computers, cars, and many other conveniences, which are now an integral part of our society. Many of us cannot imagine life without them. We seldom think about the costs every time we turn on a light. We do not think about the where the electricity is produced and what the effects on the environment might be. We simply turn on the light. As with all good things, there is a cost. One cost of our modern conveniences is acid rain caused by the burning of fossil fuels. The effects of acid rain came into the forefront during the early seventies as its effects began to be noticed on a global level. The impact of the effects of acid rain is considered to be of great concern to some and of little concern to others. No matter which side you are on, we all must agree that energy consumption will continue to increase globally and we must be weary of the effects of energy production and always stay focused on future generations."
Abstract This paper examines the debate over oil drilling in Alaska. It suggests that it is not necessary even given current and possibly future gas shortages in America. It gives various reasons to the adverse affect of using Alaskan oil reserves including the Exxon Valdez incident, the development of supplementary energy sources, and environmental issues.
From the paper:
"As gas prices have risen over the past year, the term "crisis" has been tossed around a great deal, suggesting a number of different possibilities. Among these: Americans may soon run out of gas, Americans may soon be paying five or ten dollars per gallon, and the American will stall utterly if there is not enough cheap gas available. In fact, of course, none of these speculations is true. What is true, and what will be discussed in this paper, is that these higher gas prices are indeed a wake-up call to Americans that something must be done to change our expectations about where our energy will be coming from in the next century."
Tags: environment, energy, Exxon-Valdez, fuel, oil, fuel, prices, energy
Abstract This paper discusses some aspects of the Kyoto Protocol and attempts to eexplain the urgency of it. The author also explains global warming ? it's causes and effects, by giving examples of companies that have thrived on being more "eco-friendly", and also examples of why the Kyoto Protocol will not be as detrimental as many predict.
From the paper:
"Global warming is not a myth but a present reality due to the extreme amounts of greenhouse gases that industrialized countries emit daily. The Kyoto Protocol, as this paper while argue, is a preventative measure of this horrific possibility."
Abstract This paper investigates the growing problem of homeless children in the United States. It pays special attention to Washington, D.C., the nation's capital, which has one of the highest homeless rates in the country. The affects of homelessness on a child is examined, and the author shows how health, emotional development and school performance are adversely affected in these children. Current solutions to the problem are examined, and found to be inadequate, and the need for new, solutions, that will address the long-term needs of this special population is advocated.
From the Paper "According to research done by The Better Homes Fund, homeless children have very high rates of acute illness- half suffer from two or more symptoms during a single month. They suffer twice as many ear infections, five times more stomach problems, six times as many speech impediments, and are four times more likely to be asthmatic. Homelessness also has a huge impact on a child's emotional development, as homelessness presents a myriad of stressful and traumatic experiences. Studies indicate that more than one-fifth of homeless children between three and six have emotional problems serious enough to require professional care and that children between seven and seventeen suffer from very serious mental health problems."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the history of the Green Revolution and describes the events that led up to its birth. It discusses the main causes of the struggle and looks at in which direction it is heading. The paper also discusses why the revolution needed to occur for change to happen and what it hopes to achieve.
From the Paper "Revolutions are most often associated with the color red ? for the blood that runs in the streets. But the world has been witness to a very different kind of revolution, a green one. The Green Revolution is a term describing a worldwide movement that began in the 1960s. The goal of this movement is not to topple any specific government or any specific ideology. Rather the goals of the Green Revolution are to increase and diversify crop yields in agriculturally less advanced regions of the world so that there will be enough food for all people to eat without resorting to environmentally devastating techniques to feed themselves and their families such as slash-and-burn agriculture. "
Abstract This paper addresses where the world's water sources are located, what classes of contaminants are found in drinking water, how it is processed to become safe for human consumption, and lastly, special attention is given to the problem of lead in drinking water.
From the Paper "The type of water we generally use in human activities is freshwater. Only 3% of the world's water supply is freshwater and two-thirds of that is frozen, forming the polar ice caps, glaciers, and icebergs. The remaining 1% of the total world water supply is freshwater available as either surface water or ground water; ground water accounts for two-thirds of this amount. Surface water is water that is visible above the ground surface, such as creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes. Ground water is water that either fills the spaces between soil particles or penetrates the cracks and spaces within rocks. Most people get their water from ground water sources. Roughly 9 out of every 10 public water systems. Public water systems operate wells to tap ground water and just over half of the total population served by Public water system drinks water from a ground water source. Millions more get their water from private wells which also tap ground water sources. Ground water systems tend to serve smaller numbers of people, while surface water systems generally serve large populations. The quantity and quality of the world's water supply depends on how we choose to use water. Our use can be consumptive, which means that the water is not returned to nature (such as drinking water), or noncomsumptive. Nonconsumptive use returns water, polluted or not, to the system. Creating hydroelectric power is an example of nonconsumptive use. "
Abstract This paper illustrates the issues of large urban port cities as seen in Dublin and New York City. The paper provides an in-depth history of each city and compares the social issues of the urban environment, ethnic diversity, poverty and crime.
From the Paper "New York City is generally considered the doorway to America. It is the largest city in the nation, seven million strong, and a main hub of financial activity. This is probably the most racially and ethnically diverse of the large American cities, the epitome of the melting pot. A third of the population is of African descent, fifteen percent are Jewish, twelve percent Hispanic. Other ethnic populations have a vocal presence, including the Irish, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Indian, and other Asians. If one city has represent urban America over the last 200 years, it would be the harbor city of New York, New York.
" Across the Atlantic ocean lies another city, a little farther from the ocean, though not much. It is the "fair city" of Dublin, that capitol of the Republic of Ireland. This is a fairly heterogeneous city, for it is the center of 4,000 year old struggle for cultural sanctity and independence. The vast majority of the citizens are Irish or British nationals, Christian and white. Most are Roman Catholic, and the largest "minority" are the British Protestants. One fourth of the citizens of Ireland, approximately 900,000 souls all told, now live in Dublin and its suburbs, and its name is becoming synonymous with Irish culture and tradition."
Tags: dublin, new, york, city, urban, city, cities, port, social, issue, environemnt, ethnic, diversity, poverty, crime
Abstract This paper discusses the many positive aspects of UV radiation. The author examines the way ultraviolet light is commonly used, defines UV light, its dangers and how it's used in fluorescent lighting. The paper also describes how UV radiation is frequently used in water purification plants, destroying harmful bacteria.
From the Paper "UV radiation is what is responsible for causing human skin to tan. Unlike x rays, ultraviolet radiation has a low power of penetration, so its only direct effects on the human body occur on the skin's surface and include sunburn, suntan, aging, and carcinogenic changes. Most of us know that "sunburn" is not simply a metaphor but is in fact like burns from other forms of radiation and can include symptoms ranging from redness and tenderness to blisters, swelling, seepage of fluid, and sloughing of the outer skin. Tanning ? while it is never healthy, as we know now, is simply a natural body defense that uses melanin to help protect the skin from further injury from UV radiation."
Abstract With the increased level of awareness of the environment, automotive car manufacturers vie on the viability of selling environmentally hybrid cars. Leading this group are Honda and Toyota. This paper is a market analysis of the position of Toyota's Prius. It analyzes the situation of the firm in the market, the industry of hybrid cars, the strategy adopted by Prius and how it is faring in the market, the barriers of the market, some alternative strategies to rectify the weakness of Prius and the implementation of one of its alternatives.
From the Paper "Strength and weaknesses: Currently, the company is focussed on external environment more then its internal environment. This is because having established its organization on concrete structure right from the beginning. Set on a hereditary mode of operations, Toyota operates on hierarchy basis. The company believes in not firing its employees, which could be one of its greatest disadvantage resulting in redundant retainment. However, at the executive level, Toyota is one of the most admired companies due to efficient management planning.
The key to its success among consumers is its ease of sales through its drive-away pricing systems that takes away the issue of negotiation of new cars. Individual model prices are set in all geographical location therefore consumers are not subjected to dealer's manipulation. "
Abstract This paper examines several false stereotypes that the American public maintains concerning the homeless population across the country. Unemployment, physical and emotional abuse, disasters or accidents are discussed as causes of homelessness. Also examined are several governmental organizations appointed to deal with the homeless population. While the statistics continue to mount against homeless people, the reasons that Americans seem to pretend not to notice how grave the situation actually is, are detailed.
From the Paper "Many Americans today have several preconceived notions about who homeless people are and why they are homeless. People find that dismissing the homeless as degenerates and bums is easier than realizing that they could possibly be at risk of becoming homeless themselves. America is also in denial about the plague of homelessness that has settled on our nation. Because of attitudes like these, the continually growing problem of homelessness in our country is, for the most part, ignored or believed to be irreparable. The people of America should eliminate the many stereotypes that exist about the homeless population in the country and understand that the problem of homelessness can be helped despite its presumable hopelessness."
Abstract This paper addresses the issue of global warming. A definition of the term is provided and the causes and effects are outlined. The U.S. government's proposed solutions for addressing the problem are also discussed.
From the Paper "One of the most imposing problems in the environment sector of the US government is the prevailing occurrence of global warming not only in the United States, but also in other parts of the world. Global warming is the result of the continuing accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides are examples of greenhouse gases that are present in abundant amounts in the atmosphere. These gases are generated from human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and emission of gases from industrial factories. Deforestation, increased use of chemical treatments in agriculture, industrial production, and improper waste disposal are several reasons that also contribute to the growing amount of these gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are hazardous when accumulated in great amount because they trap the energy released from various sources on Earth, and if these energies are continually trapped in the atmosphere and are not released, global warming occurs."
Tags: hazard, greenhouse, gases, atmosphere, industry, agricultue, waste, production
Abstract This paper provides an extensive background and analysis of transportation methods and their supporting systems and services on a national, regional and local basis. The author stresses the importance of safety and that as technology continues to advance, new safety systems and standards will continue to develop.
Table of Contents
Introduction
History of Transportation
Transportation Today
Safety Devices
Department of Transportation
Travel on Land
Travel by Ship
Air Travel
Railroad Travel
Keeping Transportation Safe
Bibliography and Endnotes
From the Paper "Today, there is a vast array of transportation choices, commercial airliners, trains, automobiles, subways, buses, motorcycles, motor homes, ships, boats, or bicycles. Depending on the amount of time and money we want to spend, there are many choices involved in travel.
But with these increased means of travel come change in global markets, environmental challenges, transnational security threats and a communication and information revolution. Every mode of transportation has individual risks, safety issues, laws, and problems. And each mode of transportation has agencies that deal with them."
Abstract The paper shows how the mission statements of both Ford and Honda reflect both the highly competitive nature of the automobile industry today as well as the fact that these two companies ? like any two well-run companies ? are trying to define a niche in the marketplace that is both broad enough to supply a sufficiently large customer base for the companies to expand and prosper but is at the same time sufficiently focused to allow the company to have a clearly recognized identity. The paper shows how Ford emphasized corporate citizenship and commitment to environmental issues whereas Honda focused more on its products and less on its corporate philosophy.
From the Paper "Ford is also planning to add a Hybrid Electric Vehicle to its line of offerings. HEVs are an especially important addition to the Ford line-up (as they would be to the line-up of an manufacturer) because they offer a substantial amount of the environmental benefits of a fully electric car with none of the range-of-driving restrictions that a fully electric vehicle has. Although HEVs are not as "green" as fully electric cars, their presence in the Ford stable of offerings is an important strength for the company. Given that many people want a more environmentally responsible car but are unable or unwilling to change driving habits that make a fully electric car feasible, the HEV may well be the next generation of car that many if not most Americans choose to buy."
