Abstract
This paper examines how a study of Southern California coastal waters in 1999 showed that the waters rarely contain enough bacteria during the summer to make swimmers sick, except at creeks and storm drains that are releasing urban runoff. It looks at how significant portion of coastal water contamination comes from non-point source pollution such as agriculture and urban runoff, faulty septic systems, marinas and recreational boating and habitat degradation. It proposes a study to determine the coliform count in water samples from New Port Beach, California which is considered to be one of the best urban beaches in the United States and provides an analysis of the results.

From the Paper
"Newport Beach is the fifth best urban beach in the United States, according to the Surfrider Foundation report issued in May, 2000 (Mehta, 2000). The city was one of three California communities to make the list as a place where healthy shorelines and urban development coexist. However, Newport Bay suffers from extreme pollution from the Santa Ana River. In January, 2000 Gumbel (2000) reported that all 8 miles of Huntington Beach, a few miles north of Newport Beach, had been closed since the previous summer because the water had shown exceptionally high levels of enterococcus bacteria, indicating fecal contamination. Surfrider Beach in Malibu was plagued at the same time by E. coli bacteria and viruses. The contamination in both cases was attributed to urban runoff."

Tags:bacteria, pollution, shorelines

Abstract
This study examines the history of rum running in the Canadian Atlantic region in the early 20th century. By understanding the effect of bans on alcohol and the United States Prohibition Act, many Canadian rum-runners found a viable business in smuggling rum all along the Atlantic coast. Furthermore, this type of illegal trade had a long lasting effect on local Canadian culture and economics by raising the standard of living for local fishermen. In essence, this paper brings forth the historical analysis of Canadian rum with a focus on how this trade influenced the various Canadian coastal towns on the Atlantic coast.

Tags:rum, running, history

Abstract
California, located in the western part of the United States, is the third largest state in the nation. This paper looks at the geography of California and the diversity of the region.

Paper Outline
Introduction
Regions
Klamath Mountains
Coastal Ranges
The Sierra Nevada
Central Valley
Cascade Mountains
Basin and Range Region
The Los Angeles Ranges
The San Diego Ranges
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The Cascade Range stretches over 700 miles across Northern California, Oregon, Washington, and Southern British Columbia, running parallel to the Pacific, about 100-150 miles inland. Although often described as a northern continuation of the Sierra, Nevada Mountains, "the Cascades are not an extension of the Sierra Nevadas. They are a completely separate range with different origins. The Cascades are largely volcanic; the Sierras are fault block mountains." (Cletheroe). In California, there is still one active volcano called Lassen Peak located in the southern Cascades. In California, Mount Shasta is also part of the Cascade Range."

Tags:mountains, Pacific

Abstract
This paper explains that the northern slopes of Alaska's one hundred fifty million acre coastal plain, which is part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), is abundant in both oil and gas reserves and is the number one prospect for United States' oil and gas development. The author points out that the use of wildlife refuges and wilderness areas for energy development has become a very hot topic, especially in Alaska, because of the United States' dependence on foreign oil. The paper relates that researchers and developers are seeking new technologies to drill for and transport the oil without hurting the surrounding environment in the process.

From the Paper
"According to government estimates, the equivalent of one billion, four hundred million barrels of oil are tucked away under Teshekpuk Lake. This lake is Alaska's third largest lake. Teshekpuk, which means big enclosed coastal water. This is where the Pacific Black Brant migrates for its annual molt. Migratory birds, as well as moose, bear and fish take full advantage of this wild life refuge. Many make their home there and
others migrate to this placid lake every year."

Tags:coastal, migratory, development, transport, technology

Abstract
This paper presents an overview of the age old process of raising shellfish and finned fish on inland farms, known as "aquaculture". The paper takes a look at the ancient history of aquaculture as well as its more recent history in the Midwest/great plains region of the United States. The paper also includes information on the current status of aquaculture and concludes that it is a process that is both well-established and a boon to farmers and consumers alike.

Introduction
History of Aquaculture
History of Midwest Aquaculture
Current Status of Midwestern Aquaculture
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Except for bucolic scenes of fishing on rivers meandering across the Midwest and Great Plains, most people don't equate fish with that region, at least not huge catches of commercial fish. However, as long ago as 1996, "traders in the 'futures pit' of the Minneapolis Grain Exchange were shouting and signaling bids and offers for spring wheat, white wheat, white shrimp and black tiger shrimp" (Weber 1996). Moreover, the shrimp being traded in Minneapolis was of interest to the local trading office of the Thai government (Weber 1996); Thai food depends heavily on shrimp, so finding it at commodity prices is important to the Thai people."

Tags:rivers, catches, commercial, shrimp, trade, thai, commodity, prices, warm, coastal, waters

Abstract
The paper states that immigration has played a significant role in shaping the growth and development of urban cities in America. In their book "Urban Geography, New York" the authors Kaplan, Wheeler & Holloway expand on this idea. The paper relates that the authors hypothesize that immigration is largely responsible for the expansion of many cities in the United States, Canada and other outlying regions. The paper comments that had the immigrants not populated many coastal cities in the United States, the country may not have had the flavor of diversity it has today.

From the Paper
"In figure 10 of the work, the reader can clearly see that Mexicans made up almost 59 percent of the population of immigrant settlers; this is the largest subdivision of Hispanic and Latino settlers. People of Puerto Rican ethnicity make up the next largest slice of the pie at just 10 percent of the Hispanic and Latino settlers. A review of the U.S. Census Bureau conducted in 1990 shows that many Cuban immigrants populated many coastal cities in Dade County in Florida, another major coastal city. In the New England States, Florida, California and Canada, the total number of immigrants exceeded either 500,000 or 1,000,000 of the population totals. The U.S. Census Bureau of 2000 also cited by Kaplan, Wheeler and Holloway (2004) shows the largest influx of Asians occurred in California, Washington State and in some New England cities, with as many as 1 million immigrants living in cities at any one time."

Tags:immigration

Abstract
Rising sea levels, resulting from global warming, may have a potentially important impact on human culture. Recent evidence supports the contention that increases in greenhouse gases are linked to rising sea levels. This paper shows that one important impact of climate change and rising sea levels is increased rates of extinction across the globe. Further, changes in sea level will have a significant impact on outlying coastal areas, both in terms of physical changes and in terms of events such as storm surges. The paper shows that rising sea levels in the United States and across the world will have significant economic and cultural impacts and may influence human health and the environment through the flooding of toxic waste disposal sites.

From the Paper
"The human impact of increasing sea levels will also be felt in socioeconomic terms, in addition to physical and environmental changes (Warrick, 1993). If sea level rises at what is an estimated to be a 50 to 200 cm in the next century, the financial impact on the United States could be significant. In total, the cost for a one meter rise in sea level during that time would run 270 to 475 billion dollars. This would include the cost of protecting emotion resort communities by raising barrier islands and pumping sand onto beaches, the cost of using dikes and bulkheads to protect developed areas along sheltered waters, and the loss of undeveloped lowlands and coastal wetlands (Titus et al., 1991)."

Tags:environment, climate

Abstract
This paper is about Joy Kogawa's "Obasan" and individual vs. collective attempts to overcome suffering. Kogawa's novel was published in 1981, a time when the experience of the Japanese in Canada and the United States during World War II was being talked about a good deal. The author was herself interned during the War, like thousands of Canadian Japanese people who lived in coastal areas of the Province of British Columbia.

Abstract
Historians presume that the Toltecs are actually the refugees from the "Teotihuan culture" which fell apart during the 700 A.D. They were among the first purely "Militaristic" cultures and commanded the neighboring states by their military power. The paper shows that the empire expanded rapidly and the Toltecs began to take control of lands which were controlled by the Mayans. The Toltec Empire extended into what is present day Mexico, Guatemala and the Pacific coastal area of Chiopas. The paper describes how the Toltec Empire, which flourished from the 8th century, began to fall during the Twelfth century when Mayans, Chimetics and the other tribal powers finally subordinated them. Since there is no written record our primary source of information about the mesoamerican society is from the archaeological evidence discoveries. This paper examines the Toltec Society in detail.

From the Paper
"The era of the Toltecs is perceived by historians as the change from a priesthood society to that of a Militaristic one. Toltec society was a militaristic one that used its army to subjugate and occupy the neighboring lands. This is all the more evident form their architecture. Toltecs had great regard for their warriors and enshrined many of their brave warriors in their temples. There is an air of somber about their architectures. The Toltec's carved out images of serpents, eagles, jaguars and other forms of threatening images. They also had images of their god Tezcatlipoca, "Smoking Mirrors" carved out in most of their architectures. Toltec's used Limestone as the main material for their constructions. A characteristic feature of the Toltec architecture, other than the various carvings of snake, jaguars, eagle etc, is their flat roofed constructions. Unlike the roman civilizations wherein we see lot of dooms the Toltecs predominantly designed flat roofed buildings. [Ferguson,]"

Tags:Tezcatlipoca, Tula, Quetzalcoatl, Chich?n, Itz

Abstract
Currently, there is a great deal of controversy surrounding the issue of the reinstatement of the draft in the United States. There are rumors and whispers rampantly floating through the media that are frightening the general public, while the officials who actually know about the subject are categorically denying such intentions. This paper examines an article from the "Coastal Post," which contends that a military and civilian draft is inevitable by Spring 2005.

From the Paper
"The article then moves on to quote Secretary Rumsfield, one of the experts most often asked it there is any foreseen need for a draft, (who always says absolutely not) as describing the present military situation as, "a long hard slog" and then claims that several unnamed members of congress and unnamed military "experts" believe a draft will be inevitable. (Coastal Post Online http://www.coastalpost.com/04/07/01.htm) Clearly these are inflammatory, words considering the present reality of the Bush Administrations hard line on voluntary service. The article also mentions the recent recall of retired servicemen back to active status, which if looked at from another angle is an attempt to avoid a draft rather than enforce one."

Tags:army