Abstract This paper explains Jared Diamond's theme in his book that geography determines all of the differences between the world's societies. The author points out that, according to Diamond, geographic factors have been responsible for all historical developments. The paper describes such geographic factors as population size, the transfer of knowledge between continents, the availability of potential crops and domesticated animals and the orientation of continental axis to facilitate the spread of agriculture.
From the Paper "In the epilogue of "Guns, Germs and Steel", Yali asks Jared Diamond, "Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own?" This question is answered by Diamond through the theme of his book, for according to Diamond, geography determines all of the differences between the world's societies. Population size in civilizations and diffusion between continents have been determining factors, as the geography of Yali's homeland demonstrates, for it imposed isolation from the rest of civilization and kept the population low, which resulted in a primitive culture in which material progress was not valued or pursued."
Abstract This paper provides a community assessment of the New York City borough known as the Bronx, most particularly its predominantly Hispanic population. First, this paper studies the overall demographics of said population. It then reviews the Health Care Status Indicators of the community, such as mortality rates among various age groups, leading causes of death or illness, and tuberculosis infection.
From the Paper "For those studying and serving given populations, such as community health care workers and nurses, there must be certain methods to use for identifying and separating the wanted demographic from the general public. One of the most effective methods to do so is to group a community by its geography. This designation is called a geographic community. First of all, community is a very broad concept and term. A good definition of what a community is might be found in Goeppinger and Shuster (2004) when they write of "a social group determined by geographic boundaries and/or common values and interests" (p. 342). Thus, the initial type of community that we are trying to define is their first definition. A geographic community is one defined by the geography, the borders, where its members live."
Abstract The paper discusses Ebenezer Howard and Le Corbusier, urban planners with two distinct models to the design of modern urban space. The paper examines how, while there exist a number of fundamental similarities in the approaches to planning of both designers, ultimately each conceives of the city in radically dissimilar terms. This essay compares and contrasts the works of both men with respect to their influence on urban planning.
Abstract This paper examines contemporary urban issues in Toronto and other Canadian cities. The author explores the concept that all cities faces challenges unique to their population. An example is where one city struggles to integrate new residents, other cities may struggle to keep its youth from relocating elsewhere. The paper concludes that each city struggles with its own specific urban issue.
From the Paper "Contemporary urban issues abound in Western cities. In fact, it can seem at times as if cities themselves exist without end of problems for policy and city planners to surmount. These problems are diverse and can encompass topics such as affordable housing, reliable public transportation, or infrastructure limitations. All of these problems, and many more, plague all Canadian cities to varying degrees. For example, one city might struggle with managing an influx of new residents while another city struggles to keep its youth from relocating elsewhere. Every city has urban issues that need to be
Abstract This paper explains why volcanoes erupt and the most common types of eruptions: plinin, Hawaiian, fissure, strombolian, vulcanian, and hydrovolcanic. The paper points out the three most recognized types of volcanoes, which are composite or "Hollywood", cinder cone and shield volcanoes. The paper also describes the volcanic areas of the Cascade Mountain Range and the Pacific Ring of Fire and specific famous volcanoes: Mount St. Helens, Mount Vesuvius, Mount K lauea, Mount Mauna Loa, Luzun Island, Lassen Peak and Mount Fuji.
From the Paper "Why do volcanoes erupt? Volcanoes erupt when rocks melt deep below the earth's surface which creates magma. Magma chambers occur when magma collects before exploding to the surface of the earth. When the magma builds up in the chambers, it comes up through the volcano and spills out to the surface creating lava. Lava is the magma that has made it to the surface of the volcano. There are many types of eruptions, but the most common types include: plinin, Hawaiian, fissure, strombolian, vulcanian, and hydrovolcanic."
Looks at how the fortress was constructed as a result of a crisis in French colonial development (early 18th Century) and examines the building of it in terms of site selection, construction, military, social life, economy, and capture.
1,935 words (approx. 7.7 pages), 6 sources, 2000, $ 61.95
From the Paper "Louisbourg (Nova Scotia, Canada) was constructed as a result of a crisis in French colonial development. France possessed one of the largest colonial empires the world had ever seen. The French colonies stretched from India, the West Indies, into the heart of what is now Canada. France and England had been at war with minor interruptions from 1689-1713. Europe formed a coalition to resist France during the war of the Spanish Succession, which left France both militarily and financially exhausted. "
Tags: canada, england, france, history, louisbourg, of, treaty, utrecht
An examination of the problem of overpopulation in the near future, through various theories and experiments. The U.S.A, third in population, is compared to other populated countries such as India and China under a number of categories.
2,981 words (approx. 11.9 pages), 15 sources, 2000, $ 88.95
Abstract This paper examines the problem that overpopulation will pose in the near future. It examines several theories and predictions on this problem, ranging from the Book of Genesis to Thomas Malthus's mathematical hypothesis. Furthermore, the paper analyses several experiments done on the subject, proving how serious the problem is. The United States, third in population, is compared to other populated countries such as India and China in numerous aspects, including: population, industrialization, health, food supply, etc.
Abstract This paper discusses how ecological footprints, effective ecological tools used to help maintain our world, impose many questions in sustaining the earth's life. Charts are included with the paper.
Defining Our Ecological Footprint
Dependency on Nature
Carrying Capacity of Cities and Earth
Comparison between Countries
Natural Capita: Effects on the Earth
Impact of the World Economies
Solutions
From the Paper "The world economy has a great impact on the ecological footprints of the world. Every country wants to obtain economic growth to produce more money. But in doing this, they have to deplete their natural capital, which in turn, is not helping in sustaining this world. As William Rees states, "there is simply not enough on the planet to sustain present international development trends using prevailing technologies" (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). So something drastic has to be done. As the ecological footprints of humans are already too large for the earth to handle, how can we accommodate the rising materials and rising in population, while trying to sustain the earth. Most analysts agree that it can happen in two ways: through a reduction in the standard of living or through the increase in material and energy efficiency (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). These two issues also apply problems, through cultural, economic, and social values. Especially in the more developed countries. To lower the standard of living would be outright rejected in the more developed countries such as Canada and the U. S. So indeed, most people agree that "global sustainability is achievable only through large increases in the consumption of goods and services in both poorer and richer countries" (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). But still a problem arises. There will still be inequity in the growth of the more and less developed countries. It seems the richer get richer and the poorer get poorer. A consensus seems to be emerging though. They say that the needed consumption will work if there is a reduction in the material energy costs of goods and services. "
Abstract The following paper looks at the devastating effects of Hurricane Mitch and examines how the shocks are still being felt to this day in Central America. The author contends that no matter how much we progress against the rage of nature we are unprotected.
From the paper:
"The calamity that hit the Central American nations in October 1998 took suffering to a new height. Though an accurate toll is still hard to calculate--and as many as 10,000 people were estimated to be dead in the battered countries of Nicaragua and Honduras, while as many as 2 million may be were made homeless after the relentless rains of Hurricane Mitch. In much lesser degrees, calamity also visited El Salvador and Guatemala. In all, the storm wrought $3 billion in damage--more than half the combined Nicaraguan and Honduran gross domestic products--and devastated at least two-thirds of those countries' public infrastructure."
Abstract This paper describes the effects that the brown tree snake had on the wildlife of Guam. The brown tree snake, accidentally imported to Guam shortly after World War II, appeared all over the island and ended up killing several species of the native forest birds that lived in Guam. This paper is a historical description of the development of the brown tree snake as a plague. It details the origin of the Brown Tree Snake and the terrible effects it had on the island of Guam. Moreover, this paper shows the environmental effects on the development of the Island.
From the Paper "Determining the number of animal species existing on the island of Guam prior to the arrival of humans has presented a distinct difficulty. From archeological excavations on the nearby island of Rota, scientists have determined that the original human colonists' domesticated animals extirpated many species thousands of years ago (Chiszar et al1997). World War II "subjected" Guam to naval bombardment so severe that some artillery fire leveled some forests (Chiszar et al 1997). After the war, extensive seeding of the island took place with an exotic legume (Leucaena leucocephala.) It permanently replaced native trees over vast areas (Chiszar et al 1997). The fauna of Guam seemed stable until the 1960's. At this time Wildlife authorities noticed the entire absence of birds from the southern one-third of the island. The boundary of the absence of birds seemed to be moving steadily northward. Birds were missing from the southern two-thirds of the island by the end of the 1970's (Enbring & Ramsey 1983). Thirteen years later, in 1983, all 10 forest species occurred concurrently only in 160 ha of mature forest beneath the cliff line at the northern tip of Guam, with a few species still occupying parts of the northern plateau (Savidge 1987). The early 1980's reveals many factors blamed for the decline in Guam's forest birds. Disease, pesticides, habitat loss, hunting, and introduced species evolve as the major suspect reasons. Elimination of the forest's mosquitoes that possibly harbor avian malaria or avian pox brought an influx of pesticide usage. During World War II to the-mid 1970's, the military used pesticides such as DDT and other chlorinated hydrocarbons to kill the mosquitoes (Enbring & Ramsy 1983). Pesticides might have caused declines in the past; therefore, it cannot be ruled out as a cause for the earlier reed-warbler extinction (Reichel et al 1992). Tests conducted in 1981 indicate low pesticide levels on Guam. Pesticides probably were not responsible for the current declines of forest birds (Reichel et al 1992). The years since 1945 have witnessed an increase in weedy species, though substantial native habitat remains in southern and northern Guam. Birds have disappeared from forests that previously supported healthy bird populations (Savidge 1987)."
Tags: biogeography, birds, brown, introduced, island, snake, Guam, species, treeWorld, War, II, forest
Abstract This paper explores the ways in which a heterogeneous group of people come over time, because of historical events as well as some shared characteristics, to see themselves as belonging to a group. The idea of self-determination is very much based on an idea that the group identity is more important than individual differences, and by examining the history of the Kurds we come to have a sense of how cultural differences can be forged into a single social and nationalistic identity.
Table of contents
Introduction
Geography
Origins of Kurds
Demographics
Language
Religion
Birth of Kurdish Nationalism
Political History to 1946
The Mahabad Republic
Recent History
Conclusion
From the Paper ?Many Americans may have only a vague idea of where Kurdistan is, which might reflect only a vague geographical sense of a people far away from the United States. But it also must reflect the fact that Kurdistan as a region and the Kurds as a people are ambiguous in many ways. Although they are looked at from the outside as a single people and have considered themselves to be one people at least in some ways for centuries, they are a very diverse group, internally divided by religion, language and social structure.Such divisions have prevented the Kurds from having a sense of themselves as a unified people, an internal divisiveness that has been exacerbated by the fact the Kurds live under a number of different national governments, including those of Iran, Iraq and Turkey.?
Abstract A study of Greece including regional geography, religion, history, its islands and more. Also included is an examination of Greece's mountainous regions and their advantages to agriculture. Also, a bit of history of Greek Mythology and the religions in Greece. It also includes a summary of the ancient war between the two city-states: Athens and Sparta.
From the Paper "Greece is divided into three main regions: the Peloponnese peninsula, Attica, and Macedonia. The Peloponnese is the southern portion of Greece and the home of Sparta, one of ancient Greece's most powerful city-states. It consists of a narrow land bridge connecting the Peloponnesus to the mainland. Attica, the middle plains and partly rugged area, contains three large plains where wheat is grown and stock pastured. Athens, another important city-state in Greece, lies at the tip. The last main region of Greece is Macedonia in the north. This section is a rough and rugged area, although it is gifted with broad flat plains where the majority of Greece's very little farmland lies. These regions divide the country into valleys and plains. Mountains, which make up most of Greece's geography, are the generators of the rough and rugged areas of the regions. They also played an important role in the lives of ancient Greeks. (Stein 11-12)"
Abstract The following paper discusses the East Timor conflict where many towns in East Timor were burnt to the ground and East Timor residents showed signs of malnutrition. The writer looks at what America could and should be doing to help solve this conflict. It also looks at past U.S. strategies to help resolve conflict in Kosovo.
From the Paper "The sun rose on America. The quaint towns and big cities of the United States reminded one Kosovar refugee of his hometown in their own little way. He relished his hometown as he was growing up, but it had been torn apart in the Kosovo tragedy. He stayed in America, and the reason was that he had nothing to go home to. He went to his apartment in New York and watched the news."
Abstract This essay tells of Uzbekistan's endeavor to become a developed nation. It details the many problems associated with the transformation of Uzbekistan into a developing country. Some of these problems include corruption, problems with the country's arid terrain and the challenge of switching from a policy of havoc to one of order with the necessary government agencies in place. The paper then presents the different steps that are necessary to be to taken in order to ensure a successful transformation. The author then discusses the prospects for successful development when faced with many difficult challenges.
From the Paper "In Uzbekistan state enterprises are being changed into shareholding companies, and private enterprises account for 45 percent of all registered firms. However, these businesses make decisions to set prices, output, and investment on a non-market base. Economic reform has been limited and frequently ineffective. Foreign investment has been low, and the government of Uzbekistan has been reluctant to undertake the reform measures advocated by the IMF, The World Bank, and other international economic organizations. Corruption, inefficiency, and bureaucratic resistance frequently stifle efforts to develop new business initiatives."
Abstract This paper focuses on the significance of the city of Wilmington, NC during the Civil War. The paper briefly mentions the economic factors behind the significance of this city but primarily discusses the role of Fort Fisher and how this fort made the city of Wilmington famous during the war years.
From the Paper "During the civil war, some cities played a significant role in supporting the cause of their states. While the Union army was trying to capture all Southern states in a bid to stop them from declaring independence or withdrawing from the American Confederation, some cities played a major role in at least putting up strong resistance against the Union Army. One such city was that of Wilmington in North Carolina and the importance of this city lied in its ports. It is important to understand that ports and naval ships were the best way of transporting goods and weapons from one end to another and therefore attempts were made to cut off the route so that ships wouldn?t be able to enter or leave Wilmington port."
