Animal Imagery of Moral Reversal Essay Example for Free

Animal Imagery of Moral Reversal Essay In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the theme of moral corruption is portrayed through the moral reversal of animals through out the play. Shakespeare utilizes this strategy to help establish the theme to his audience. This type of reversal is usually connected with Macbeth himself and the more he grows self corrupt, the more abundant the animal imagery. Toward the beginning of the play, Macbeth is portrayed off as a lion in comparison to a rabbit, an eagle in comparison into a sparrow, showing Macbeth’s courageousness and bravery; â€Å"†¦Yes’ as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion. If I say sooth, they were as cannons overcharged with double cracks† (Act I: Scene II: Line 35). This image only helps establish further the moral reversal and corruption throughout the play because, as a reader, Macbeth is here seen as a brave courageous man, a hero if you must. But as the play goes on, we drastically see a change in Macbeth as he grows more corrupt and following along with it, we see the change in animal imagery associated with Macbeth. Not only does Shakespeare use animal imagery to portray Macbeth and his own corruption, but he also uses it to evoke it by depicting moral disorder amongst the animals themselves, showing how Macbeth’s actions not only affect him, but the balance of nature as well. â€Å"On Tuesday last A falcon tow’ring in her pride of place, Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed. And Duncan’s horses – a thing most strange and certain †¦Turned wild in nature†¦ ‘Tis said they ate each other.† This scene was depicted after Duncan’s death by the murderous hand of Macbeth. This not only shows how Macbeth’s negative actions upset the balance of nature, but it shows the destroying of balance with in Macbeth himself. This comparison to Macbeth earlier being portrayed as a lion, an eagle, as this courageous man, shows his shift in character. It’s a great depiction of his corruption progressing within contrast to earlier depictions. â€Å"We have scorched the snake, not killed it. She’ll be close and be herself, whilst our poor malice remains in danger of her former tooth.† In Act III Scene II, Macbeth thinks of Banquo in this way because of the witches saying he will make kings, but not be one himself. Macbeth refers to Banquo like this because he has identified Banquo as a threat that could, as a snake can, lurk in the underbrush and strike him when he least expects it. It is an ironic use of the image, since it is Macbeth who really is the snake. Macbeth falls deeper in his corruption, only causing him to seek out to â€Å"get rid of† others who he sees as a â€Å"threat†. The animal imagery here helps portray this image and this detail. Macbeth says â€Å"o, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!† Meaning his mind is full of evils and dark thoughts. This shows his realization of his corruption, and here we can see more that Macbeth has fallen deeper into his own corruption in contrast to early portrayals of his corruption. Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare uses animal imagery not only as metaphorical imagery, but to portray the fall of Macbeth and his inner corruption.

Examining Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Sciences Essay

Examining Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Sciences Essay Environment is defined as the set of physical, chemical and biological systems and their relationships with economic, social and cultural factors with direct or indirect, gradual or immediate effect on living beings and human ´s quality of life. Environmental Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the environment that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or that damage the environment which can come in the form of chemical substances, or energy such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants can be naturally occurring substances or energies, but are considered contaminants when in excess of natural levels. Environmental pollution is a problem both in developed and developing countries. Factors such as population growth, industrialization, and urbanization invariably place greater demands on the planet and stretch the use of maximum natural resources. All sectors of our society generate waste: industry, agriculture, mining, transportation, and construction. Among those sources, industry is the primary target of all waste generators because of its quantity and toxicity. Industries release the largest amount of highly toxic waste and we must focus on industrial pollution through pollution prevention programme and projects, need to be closely linked with policy -making process. The very first worldwide environmental concern was initiated at the World Conference on Human and Environment sponsored by the United Nations in Stockholm in 1972. The most visible result of conference was the creation of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) for promoting environmental enhancement program around the world. Global economy has reinforced the geographic separation among resource extraction, production and consumption. Hence, those who reap the economic benefits of using natural resources often do not bear the environmental cost. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janerio in June, 1992, focused on these issues. This new awareness led to an international agenda for sustainable development and various non-binding agreements. In fact, we need a balance between technological innovation and environmental enhancement, as well as a balance between economic development and environmental preservation. Agenda 21 is a blueprint for sustainable development into the 21st Century. Its basis was agreed during the Earth Summit at Rio in 1992. Six key mechanisms were visualized in Agenda 21 for improved environmental management in the industrial sector: Incorporating environmental considerations in industrial development through proper siting policies and mandatory environmental impact assessments. Increasing efficiency in the production and use of materials, resources and energy. Improving existing pollution abatement technologies and developing new clean technologies, products and processes. Developing and implementing emission and effluent controls and standards. Ratifying multilateral environment agreements (MEA) such as the Montreal Protocol and the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. Corporate environmental responsibility: The role of business in improving the efficiency of resource use, reducing risks and hazards, minimizing wastes and safeguarding the environment. Environmental problems are also becoming serious in India because of the interacting effects of increasing population density, industrialization and urbanization, and poor environmental management practices. Although environmental protection has always been a part and parcel of Indian Culture as evidenced by the stipulated responsibilities of the State as well as Citizens for the nature and living being in the Constitution of India under Article 48A and 5 1A (g). India is giving highest priority to this subject in its national planning. Environmental management is not, as the phrase could suggest the management of the environment as such, but rather the management of interaction by the modern human societies with, and impact upon the environment. Environmental management is a mixture of science, policy, and socioeconomic applications. It focuses on the solution of the practical problems that humans encounter in cohabitation with nature, exploitation of resources, and production of waste. Environmental laws and policies are based on the realization that the physical surroundings mark the dire necessities of mankind. Over the last few decades, the developing countries have established impressive arrays of policies, legislation and institutions for environmental protection and pollution control. Laws for Environmental Management in India The relevant laws relating to environmental management in India are listed below: The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989 as amended in 2000. The Manufacture, Storage and Import or Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 amended in 2000. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991. The Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 1994 as amended on May 14, 1994 and April 10, 1997. The National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995. The Chemical Accident (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules 1996. The Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998. The Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999. The Fly Ash Notification, 1999. The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. The Batteries (Management and handling) Rules, 2001. The role of environmental law is basically to shield and shelter the resources and preserve the environment. The government has taken initiative, time and again, to look into the environmental matters. Even though, over the past few years, the need to curb the environmental crises has been realized, yet there has not been any concrete step towards it. In this situation it becomes imperative that the people become aware of the environmental issues and know their rights and liabilities relating to the environment. As with all management functions, effective management tools, standards and systems are also required. A large number of tools for assessing environmental impacts are available. Examples include Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), System of Economic and Environmental Accounting (SEEA), Environmental Auditing (EA), Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), a newly-developed decision-making support tool, has been used in many developed and developing countries for predicting and evaluating potential environmental impact of policies, plans, and programs (PPPs), as well as for providing alternatives to avoid, mitigate, or compensate for these impacts. The concept of Strategic Environmental Assessments originated from regional development / land use planning in the developed world. In 1981, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department published the Area-wide Impact Assessment Guidebook. In Europe ,the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, the so called Espoo Convention, laid the foundations for the introduction of SEA in 1991. The general objectives of SEA are : 1. Contribute to an environmental and sustainable decision-making process 2. Improve policy, plan and programme quality 3. Strengthen and facilitate projects EIA 4. Foster new means of making decisions. Over the last 15 years, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has become an important policy instrument for national governments, particularly in Europe. The integration of environmental concerns into strategic decision making and policy making has been widely recognized as an essential feature for moving towards more sustainable development in all policy sectors. SEA is a procedural tool with the purpose of integrating environmental aspects in a structured manner into decision making processes. So, the increasing awareness of environmental impact assessment community has recently led to an intensifying debate on the theoretical foundations and the appropriate practical use of SEA. SEA is a framework within which a range of different analytical tools and methods can be applied. Assessment methods can be evaluated from different perspectives depending on the role, purpose and mechanism of assessment. The capability and international experience of the SEA approach makes it a benefit to the industrial sector in developing countries such as India. Three main, interrelated avenues for further development of SEA are Environmental Focus Strengthening existing SEA arrangements and approaches as mechanism for Environmental Sustainability Assessment and assurance Sustainability focus Utilizing SEA as a component or means of integrated assessment of the effects of Policy and Planning proposals in relation to the environmental , social and economic objectives of sustainable development. Convergence Focus Promoting the convergence of SEA within integrated assessment and planning systems for sustainable development. Some common threads run through all the three lines of approach, notably environmental integration, although the relative emphasis shifts in moving from the existing SEA approach to sustainability appraisal or integrated assessment and planning. These routes can be seen as sequential, progressive steps, securing one base before progressing to the next; and the process will take time. In India, the term SEA is not used in official parlance and, therefore, its use is not strictly governed by its many global definitions. Nevertheless, existing institutional mechanisms and EIA process at the country level provide elements of SEA that are being harnessed by decision makers and are increasingly popularizing SEA both as a concept and diagnostic tool for the review of environmental impacts including ecological, economic and social concerns that are integrated in decision making for economic development plans. Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is gaining widespread recognition as a tool for integrating environmental considerations in policy, plan, and program development and decision-making. Notwithstanding the potential of SEA to improve higher-order decision processes, there has been very little attention given to integrating SEA with industry planning practices. As a result, the benefits of SEA have yet to be fully realized among industrial proponents. In this work an attempt has been made to look into the application of strategic environmental assessment for industries with the help of case studying and it is seen that SEA is an effective management tool to control industrial pollution not only for developed countries but also for developing countries. If SEA is to meet its potential, as a valuable business tool in addition to its policy role, then SEA must become relevant and responsive to the environmental governance of industry. This requires that SEA should form an integral part of industry planning and decision-making. Organization of dissertation In chapter -1, the introduction of strategic environmental assessment and its application in industry is discussed and organization of dissertation is given. In chapter -2, genesis of strategic environmental assessment is given and its benefits and performance _________________are included. In chapter- 3, a literature review of historical development and Status of SEA in developed and developing countries is presented and its relevance in Indian context is discussed. In chapter-4, the process and methodology of SEA is covered and steps in SEA process, environmental objectives and SEA framework and method are described. In chapter 5, case studies on power industry and auto industry in Shandog Province of China are taken up and various types of problems encountered in SEA are discussed. In chapter -6, results and discussions are included and recommendations for improving SEA system are given. In chapter -7, the conclusion of the study is given and the importance of SEA in future is highlighted. 2.0 SEA: Genesis Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is an impact assessment tool that is strategic in nature and has the objective of facilitating environmental integration and the assessment of the opportunities and risks of strategic actions in a sustainable development framework. The strategic action is strongly linked to the formulation of policies, and they are developed in a context of planning and programming procedures. The strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is the term used to describe the environmental assessment process for policies, plans, and programmes (PPPs). Moreover, individual projects have not only economic but also environmental, social, and political impacts that can be acceptable when considering an isolated project, but unacceptable when taking into account both the direct and indirect effects of projects, policies, and programmes acting in synergy. SEA provides the framework for the articulation of individual projects in a way that is coherent and respectful with the environmental, social, political, and economic conditions. SEA contributes to a better planning and monitoring process and is a potential tool for decision making, as its more integrated assessment procedures improve the coordination between different impact assessments. SEAs should enable foresight and assist policy makers to design projects that maximize environmental, functional, economical, social, and politica l goals. Objectives of SEA The objectives of strategic environmental assessment are to : Contribute to an environmental and sustainable decision-making process. Improve policy, plan and programme quality. Strengthen and facilitate projects EIA. Foster new means of making decisions. Benefits of SEA The immediate benefits of SEA application can be found in information that assists sound decision-making and in the consequent gains achieved in environmental protection and sustainable development. There are secondary benefits of SEA also as it Provides for a high level of environmental protection. Improves the quality of plan and programme making. Increases the efficiency of decision-making. Facilitates the identification of new opportunities for development. Helps to prevent costly mistakes. Strengthens governance. Facilitates transboundary cooperation. 2.3 SEA in the decision-making hierarchy SEA is recognised as an important decision support tool for integrating environmental considerations along with social and economic considerations into proposed policies, plans and programmes (PPPs). There is a hierarchy of levels in decision making comprising projects, programmes, plans and policies. Figure 2.1 SEA : Up-streaming environmental considerations into the decision- making Hierarchy, (Source OECD, 2006) Logically, policies shape the subsequent plans, programmes and projects that put those policies into practice. Policies are at the top of the decision-making hierarchy. As one moves down the hierarchy from policies to projects, the nature of decision-making changes, as does the nature of environmental assessment needed. Policy-level assessment tends to deal with more flexible proposals and a wider range of scenarios. Project-level assessment usually has well defined and prescribed specifications. Policies, plans and programmes (PPPs) are more strategic as they determine the general direction or approach to be followed towards broad goals. SEA is applied to these more strategic levels. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is used on projects that put PPPs into tangible effect. 2.4 SEA and Sustainable Development Truly speaking, Sustainable development is meets the demands of today without destroying the possibilities for the future generations to satisfy their needs. Sustainable development is now a generally accepted vision for any sort of development, but there is a concern over how to achieve such a process. The concept of SEA can contribute to the sustainable development process. Over the last 10 years, SEA has become widely recognized by governments and development stakeholders worldwide as a valuable component of the sustainable development process. SEA, involving the environmental assessment of proposed and existing PPPs and their alternatives, is gaining widespread recognition as a supporting tool for decision making towards achieving sustainable development. The contribution of SEA towards sustainability stems from several points: SEA ensures the consideration of environmental issues from the beginning of the decision-making process. Provides a framework for the chain of actions Contributes to integrated policy making, planning, and programming Can detect potential environmental impacts at an early stage, even before the projects are designed. 2.5 Basic principles of SEA To be influential and help improve policy-making, planning and decision-taking, an SEA should: Establish clear goals. Be integrated with existing policy and planning structures. Be flexible, iterative and customised to context. Analyse the potential effects and risks of the proposed PPP, and its alternatives, against a framework of sustainability objectives, principles and criteria. Provide explicit justification for the selection of preferred options and for the acceptance of significant trade-offs. Identify environmental and other opportunities and constraints. Address the linkages and trade-offs between environmental, social and economic considerations. Involve key stakeholders and encourage public involvement. Include an effective, preferably independent, quality assurance system. Be transparent throughout the process, and communicate the results. Be cost-effective. Encourage formal reviews of the SEA process after completion, and monitor PPP outputs. Build capacity for both undertaking and using SEA. 2.6 EIA and SEA Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to decision-makers. EIA is now practiced in more than 100 countries worldwide. Today, EIA is firmly established in the planning process in many of these countries. In 1989, the World Bank ruled that EIA should normally be undertaken for major projects by the borrower country under the Banks supervision. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) also made recommendations to member states regarding the establishment of EIA procedures and established goals and principles for EIA. Despite the existence of good EIA guidelines and legislation, environmental degradation continues to be a major concern in developing countries. In many cases, EIA has not been effective due to legislation, organizational capacity, training, environmental information, participation, diffusion of experience, donor policy and political will. EIAs have not been able to provide environmental sustainability assurance (ESA). This failure and the inherent limitations of EIA lead to the consideration of strategic environmental assessment (SEA). It is the proactive assessment of alternatives to proposed or existing PPPs, in the context of a broader vision, set of goals or objectives to assess the likely outcomes of various means to select the best alternative(s) to reach desired ends. 2.7 The fundamental differences between SEA and EIA SEA and EIA are the tools that share a common root impact assessment, but have different assessment foci: strategies for future development with a high level of uncertainty in SEA; proposals and measures, concrete and objective, for the execution of projects in EIA. This difference between SEA and EIA in the object of assessment generates different methodological requirements related to the scale of assessment and to the decision-making process. In table 2.1, some fundamental differences between SEA and EIA are presented which help to corroborate the different methodological approaches that SEA and EIA must have. Table 2.1: Fundamental differences between SEA and EIA Some fundamental differences between SEA and EIA SEA EIA The perspective is strategic and long-term. The perspective is of execution in the short and medium-term. The process is cyclical and continuous. The process is discrete, motivated by concrete Intervention proposals. The purpose is to help build a desirable future; it is not to attempt to know the future. The intervention project has to be known with the suitable level of detail. The definition of what is intended is vague, there is a large amount of uncertainty and the data are always quite insufficient. The definition of what intends to be done is relatively precise and data are reasonably available or can be collected through field Work. Follow-up in SEA is performed through the preparation and development of policies, plans, programmes and Projects. Follow-up in EIA is performed through the construction and implementation of the project. The strategy may never be put into practice given that the actions established in plans and programmes may never be implemented. Projects requiring an EIA are executed, once their environmental feasibility is guaranteed. Figure 2.2 (a) represents the behaviour of an SEA methodology that follows a traditional EIA-based model. The objective is to assess the solutions proposed by a plan or programme and their effects. The solutions proposed in a plan or programme are taken as outcomes, not as means to achieve objectives, and SEA is going to assess the impact of these outcomes on a set of environmental factors. This approach has very limited or even zero capacity to influence the major strategic options. (b) Figure 2.2: (a) EIA-based methodology, (b) Strategic-based methodology (Source -Partidà ¡rio, 2007) Figure 2.2 (b) represents the behaviour of an SEA methodology that follows a strategic-based model the objective is to assess the proposed strategies during a planning and programming process in relation to the manner in which these strategies seek to respond to strategic problems and objectives. In this case, the aim of SEA is to analyse and discuss strategic alternative options that provide a response to the same strategic problems and objectives in an environmentally more integrated and sustainable context. The analysis is centred on how the plan or programme seeks to resolve the development objectives or the problems in an environmental and sustainable way, and not to assess the actions proposed as solutions or outcomes in the plan or programme. This approach increases the opportunity of SEA to facilitate the integration of environmental and sustainability issues in these strategic processes. 2.8 The Evolving Paradigm-from EIA to SEA The stages from EIA to SEA are given in Table 2.8 Table 2.2: Stages from EIA to SEA Paradigm / stage Key characteristics 1st Generation-Project EIA. Includes social, health and other impacts, cumulative effects and biodiversity. 2nd Generation-SEA. Applies to PPPs and legislation. 3rd Generation-towards environmental sustainability assurance (ESA). Use of EIA and SEA to safeguard critical resource and ecological functions and offset residual damage; plus environmental accounting and auditing of natural capital loss and change. Next generation-towards sustainability appraisal (SA). Integrated or full cost assessment of the economic, environmental and social impacts of proposals. 2.9 Strategic Environmental Assessment Performance Criteria A good-quality Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process informs planners, decision makers and affected public on the sustainability of strategic decisions, facilitates the search for the best alternative and ensures a democratic decision making process. This enhances the credibility of decisions and leads to more cost- and time-effective EA at the project level. For this purpose, a good-quality SEA process: Is integrated Ensures an appropriate environmental assessment of all strategic decisions relevant for the achievement of sustainable development Addresses the interrelationships of biophysical, social and economic aspects. Is tiered to policies in relevant sectors and (transboundary) regions and, where appropriate, to project EIA and decision making. Is sustainability-led Facilitates identification of development options and alternative proposals that are more sustainable. Is focused Provides sufficient, reliable and usable information for development planning and decision making. Concentrates on key issues of sustainable development. Is customized to the characteristics of the decision making process. Is cost- and time-effective. Is accountable Is the responsibility of the leading agencies for the strategic decision to be taken. Is carried out with professionalism, rigor, fairness, impartiality and balance. Is subject to independent checks and verification Documents and justifies how sustainability issues were taken into account in decision making. Is participative Informs and involves interested and affected public and government bodies throughout the decision making process. Explicitly addresses their inputs and concerns in documentation and decision making. Has clear, easily-understood information requirements and ensures sufficient access to all relevant information. Is iterative Ensures availability of the assessment results early enough to influence the decision making process and inspire future planning. Provides sufficient information on the actual impacts of implementing a strategic decision, to judge whether this decision should be amended and to provide a basis for future decisions. 2.10 SEA as a PPP (policies, programmes and plans) formulation tool SEA methodology should emphasize the role of SEA as a PPP formulation tool. It is at the stage of PPP formulation, rather than of appraisal of an already formulated PPP (for instance, green paper stage, review, public consultation) that SEA can be most effective. PPPs go through a complex process of evolution during their development, and SEA has a significant role to play in this, as shown in Fig. 2.3 Figure 2.3: Role of SEA in PPP formulation (Source Therivel, 2000) SEA should start early in PPP formulation and be integrated, preferably as an active intervention in the PPP design process Fig. 2.3 shows SEA as a design tool and not as a document. The preparation of a report is probably the least important part of the SEA. It should be regarded only as documentation of the processes used, and available, where necessary for later review. The real value in SEA is as a creative tool in the cycle of PPP formulation and reformulation. Bailey and Renton (1997) report, from their study of government agencies in Australia, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the majority of responding agencies view policy formulation as the most appropriate point in the decision-making process for the consideration of environmental effects à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This value is derived from the involvement of environmental professionals in PPP formulation and increased environmental awareness amongst decision- makers, which leads to PPP modification where necessary to respond to environmental/ sustainability objectives. SEA also requires that the decision maker be an active participant in the SEA process. Relegation of th e conduct of the SEA to consultants external to the PPP formulation process is unlikely to have the same effect on the outcome as extensive involvement by the proponent who holds the key to PPP modification and the early involvement of the decision-makers themselves. 2.11 Three lines of argumentation and Development of SEA In spite of almost two decades of experience, Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) foundations remain unclear to the point that the case for needing an instrument called SEA could be questioned. The aim is to ask what problems SEA was meant to solve, and what needs it was meant to address, by reflecting on the strengths and weaknesses of SEA thinking to date. This critical reflection on the foundations of SEA has helped identify the strengths and weaknesses of arguments relating to the concept and approach to SEA. The three lines of argumentation supporting the development of SEA are summarized in table 2.3 Table 2.3 Three lines of argumentation supporting the development of SEA First line of argumentation On strategic The strategic dimension of SEA originally linked to the paucity of environmental type assessments of policies, plans and programmes (PPPs). Second line of argumentation On procedures, methods and tools The framing of SEAs methodological dimension in response to perceived limitations in EIA practice, and the growing emphasis on process versus technique Third line of argumentation On purpose The purpose of SEA and the increased reference to the contribution to sustainable development (Source -Bina Olivia, 2007) The main factors influencing the early development of these lines of argumentation, and their evolution over the last 15 years are highlighted in below Fig. 2.4 Figure 2.4 : Changing concept of SEA First line of argumentation The first line of argumentation has been a decisive influence in slowing the evolution of SEA in response to identified problems with EIA, by claiming that its strategic dimension was the result of the strategic nature of the planning decisions it was assessing, and by oversimplifying the nature of PPPs and of tiering. This has meant that the development of the strategic dimension of SEA, in terms of its role, procedures, methods and tools, was delayed until the late 1990s. Second line of argumentation Second line of argumentation initially focused on technical and procedural problems (symptoms) related to EIA practice. It was not until the late 1990s that the SEA community began to address the caus

Beloved Essay -- miscellaneous

Beloved Everyday, people are faced with choices. Some of life’s choices are simple, such as deciding what to wear to school or choosing a television station to watch. Other choices, however, are much more serious and have life-altering consequences. Sethe, the protagonist of Beloved, and Sophie, the main focus in Sophie’s Choice, are mothers that are faced with choices that change their entire lives. While the time period and characters involved differ, the choices of Sethe and Sophie can easily be compared. First and foremost, Sethe and Sophie both make choices that lead to the killing of their children. In both pieces, the actions of the mothers cause the audience to think twice about the limits of maternal love. Sethe tries to kill her children to save them from a life of slavery. Sethe’s plot was unsuccessful, for only one daughter was murdered. To fully understand Sethe’s actions, the reader must realize that on that August afternoon in 1855, Sethe reaches for the handsaw to protect her children from Schoolteacher. Sethe wants to murder her other children, but they escape before she can harm them. Sethe truly believes that she is saving her family from the pain of slavery, and, as a result, her choice alienates her from the rest of her community. Nobody in the area wants anything to do with Sethe after the death of her daughter. Like Sethe, Sophie also attempts to spare her family from pain. She is also faced with a gruesome choice that ends up affecting the res...

Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future :: Science Research Term Papers

Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future Abstract In order to move toward a more sustainable Colorado Springs we must address the system of conventional energy production that fuels the city. Colorado Springs experiences an annual growth rate of 2.5%. The increase in population from year to year results in an increase in the demand for affordable energy. This growing demand in turn places considerable stress on the finite resources that produce this affordable energy. There is a daunting amount of scientific evidence warning people about the environmental and health effects associated with coal-fired power plants, coal mining, and the combustion of natural gas. As we exhaust our finite resources and become increasingly aware of the harm that conventional energy production has inflicted upon our communities, we must look to renewable energy sources. These renewable energy sources provide a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable alternative to coal and natural gas. Obstacles in the way of making the shift from conventional to renewable energy include cost considerations and questions of reliability. Education is the key to overcoming these obstacles. A community that is informed about the drawbacks of conventional energy and the benefits of renewable energy should demand a healthier and more sustainable energy program from Colorado Springs Utilities. We propose to educate the people of Colorado Springs through the formation of a Sustainable Energy Task Force. This task force will increase each individual’s awareness of their impact on the health of the community and environment; and will work with city council and CSU to develop a cohesive Sustainable Energy Plan for Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs is community addicted to cheap energy. Unfortunately, most citizens do not realize the true cost of conventional energy production, which is considerably subsidized by taxpayers. When one factors together the adverse health effects and environmental degradation that result from conventional energy production the cost rises even more dramatically. Customers of Colorado Springs Utilities are unaware of these effects and see coal and natural gas as the cheapest forms of energy available. Although renewable energy appears more expensive at face value, a deeper look reveals an energy source that is much cleaner and more sustainable for future generations. The people of Colorado Springs must be educated about the adverse effects of conventional energy production and the opportunities that renewable energies hold for the future in order to maintain the health of the environment and society of which they are a part.

McMurphy, Rebel with a Cause in Ken Keseys One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest :: One Flew Over Cuckoos Nest

McMurphy, Rebel with a Cause in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Ken Kesey's experiences in a mental institution urged him to tell the story of such a ward. We are told this story through the eyes of a huge red Indian who everyone believes to be deaf and dumb named Chief in his novel "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". Chief is a patient in an Oregon psychiatric hospital on the ward of Mrs Ratched. she is the symbol of authority throughout the text. This ward forms the backdrop for the rest of the story. The men on the ward are resigned to their regime dictated by this tyrant who is referred to as 'the Big Nurse', until McMurphy arrives to disrupt it. He makes the men realise that it is possible to think for themselves, which results in a complete destruction of the system as it was. Randle P. McMurphy, a wrongly committed mental patient with a lust for life. The qualities that garner McMurphy respect and admiration from his fellow patients are also responsible for his tragic downfall. These qualities include his temper, which leads to his being deemed "disturbed," his stubbornness, which results in his receiving numerous painful disciplinary treatments, and finally his free spirit, which leads to his death. Despite McMurphy being a noble man, in the end, these characteristics hurt him more than they help him. He forms the basis to my study of rebellion. The Narrator, Chief Bromden comments that it was not he who originally decided to adopt the act of being deaf and dumb but others who treated him as if he were deaf and dumb, which illustrates that the way a person is depends upon the society around him. Indeed, Chief Bromden's father told him: "If you don't watch it people will force you one way or the other into doing what they think you should do, or into just being mule-stubborn and doing the opposite just out of spite." This is very much emphasised in the book: Kesey strongly suggests that the residents of the ward in his novel are there because they could not cope with the pressures put on them by society to conform, and that their madness is caused by others, rather than originating within the men themselves.

Budget Cuts in Education Essay

Drastic cuts in Florida’s educational system are in resulting increasing class sizes, the elimination of music, art, and other elective classes, the significant reduction in extracurricular activities, and a diminished ability to provide incentives for teachers to continue teaching. The effect of these changes will be a long term negative impact on teacher’s ability to teach and decrease our students’ ability to learn. Budget cuts are forcing qualified teachers out of the classroom where they are most effective and causing them to pursue other careers or academic endeavors. As stated in State Impact, because of the shortage of funds of over $170 million, Broward County alone has laid off more than 2,400 employees and most of them have been teachers (O’Connor, 2011). Andy Ford, president of the Florida Education Association, the statewide teachers union, said the union is expecting about 20,000 teacher layoffs (Castro, 2011). As a result of these layoffs, and current graduating teaching students, school districts are left with a surplus of teachers. Many have the opportunity to come back to work before the next school year begins but may not be at the same school or even teaching the same grade level. Because this is based on seniority, those teachers who have been laid off and unfortunately are not one of the chosen to go back to work, have been forced to go back to school to either continue to pursue their education career or pursue a completely different major. Recent layoffs have resulted in, expanded classroom sizes with potentially disastrous effect on student performance. There once was a time classrooms had a maximum of 20 students. In some states, classroom sizes have expanded to as much as 36 students in one class. According to Science Daily, reports show that students in small classes in grades four through six consistently have better results than students in large classes. Those in small classes that had better cognitive and non-cognitive skills, had better scores on standardized national tests in grades six and nine, and perceived themselves as developing more self-confidence and greater patience (Expertanswer, 2012). Budget cuts that result in inreased class sizes need to be made with these considerations in mind. Many people are not aware of the effect of music on students’ ability to learn and retain information, yet as documented previously, music classes are one of the first programs to be cut in this environment. According to Science Daily, there is now definitive proof of different brain development and improved memory of students who take music lessons when compared to those who do not (Press, 2006). â€Å"Not only do the brains of musically-trained children respond to music in a different way to those of the untrained children, but also that the training improves their memory as well. After one year the musically trained children performed better in a memory test that is correlated with general intelligence skills such as literacy, verbal memory, visuospatial processing, mathematics and IQ† (Press, 2006). If it costs $2. 5 million to have an art program, music program, and physical education program, one can see why school are making these cuts, however; in the light of this research provided, we can see that these cuts will be coming at the expense of our students cognitive abilities. As the budgets get smaller, and the expenses are getting bigger, specials and elective classes are being cut. Music and art have been eliminated in some schools. In others, it is just part time. Students are not getting the basic musical and artistic education, which were once available years ago. Teachers who used to teach elective classes are forced to teach core subjects if they still want a job. Physical education classes have also been cut in some schools or have been reduced significantly. Some teachers work at two different schools. For example, three days out of the week, they may work at an elementary school and the other two days; they may work at a middle or high school. As a result to physical education being reduced or eliminated, childhood obesity may be more of a concern. Because physical activity has been extremely reduced in many households because of television, it is important that students have physical education in school. Teachers do not have many incentives to continue teaching. There is no money to purchase simple materials for the classroom. As said in Public Good, Public Cuts; elementary schoolteachers have resorted to asking students to buy supplies at the beginning of the school year (Economists, 2011). A suggested list is available for the parents and these supplies are what the students will need for the duration of the school year. Many teachers spend their own money to purchase supplies as well. Students in middle school and high school do fundraisers to raise money for special events at their schools. The effects of these budget cuts are impacting every area of students’ academic experience including the frequency of the update in the school textbooks. Schools typically updated their textbooks every few years, however; with these budget cuts; this researcher has found that students may be using the same textbooks for 10-15 years due to the lack of funds. Although this may not be an issue with some subjects, there are subjects, such as History and Social Studies that are subjects that require updated information as years go on. If students used the same textbook for 15 years, a History book would be missing three presidents. Textbooks are an essential part of student’s education and if there are no funds to purchase new ones, students in the United States will be behind compare to other countries are much more advanced concerning education. Field trips and extracurricular activities have been reduced or eliminated. Students do not have the chance to go on all the field trips that were once upon a time offered. Field trips that are now taken tend to be at the cost of the parents. Parents have been forced to come out-of-pocket for the entire cost of field trips. Schools also sponsor fundraisers to assist these parents in paying for some of those costly trips. For example, fifth grade students who are going on their end of the year trip may sell donuts or candy boxes in efforts to raise money to pay for that trip. Some schools do not have funding to continue specific sports. Fees have increased and parents are having pay out-of-pocket for student’s uniforms and to travel to games in order to continue these sport teams. Budget cuts are now negatively affecting the actual physical environment in which students learn. According to State Impact, future possible district budget cuts in efforts to save jobs include â€Å"eliminating art, music, technology and/or reading teachers to save up to $4. 1 million, eliminating middle and high school athletic programs and saving $2. 2 million, and raising thermostats one degree to 78 degrees, the highest allowed by state law, saving $500,000† (O’Connor, 2011). With increasing class sizes and increase in temperatures, students will now be forced to learn in cramped, potentially uncomfortable conditions that will impact negatively student learning. Given the negative impact of described these budget cuts, it would be wise to consider alternative options to deal with budget shortfalls. Other options of saving money are available, such as teachers taking extended holidays without pay. School district saved millions of dollars by closing all public schools two extra days during thanksgiving break. Schools should only have been closed Wednesday through Friday but the district managed to get approval to close Monday and Tuesday as well. The economic condition has affected drastically the public schools due to the budget cuts they have faced. It has caused major setbacks because there is no money available to supply the materials these students need to learn effectively. At this rate, schools eventually will begin to shut down. Teachers have already begun to retire early because they can only foresee it getting worse. Something has got to give at this point, but it should not be at the expense of student’s education. If schools cannot teach students the simpler things, such as what encyclopedias are which may be an opportunity for parents to spend more bonding time with their children and take them to the library to learn new things. Sooner than later, students in Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten will be attending school for half a day only instead of a full day in efforts to save money. It is imperative that parents encourage educational activities at home as well as physical activities. Broward County Schools are suffering drastically. Although they seem to have it figured out, cutting art, music, physical education, and other special programs may not be what is best for the students.

Boy Band Bash

Remember New Edition? You know you do.. the â€Å"Mr. Telephone Man† song.. Bobby Brown and those kooky guys known as Bell Biv and DeVoe.. I know you remember the late 80's.. 1988, 89. New Kids On The Block were like, the boy band du jour. But alas, the 90's rolled around and heavier grunge music like Nirvana and Soundgarden, as well as a heavier, edgier rap such as Ice Cube and Snoop Doggy Dog took over the music scene.. Thus ends our tale Somewhere along the lines, while rap and R&B maintained their power, rock music lost a bit of theirs, letting pop music creep back into the scene. I suppose that the Spice Girls can carry some blame for that by being the first pop group to get out there, and while there are a couple of Spice Girl clones, they aren't as prevalent as the boy bands that followed. 1998 had unleashed a torrent of boy bands on the US, many of whom spent time in Europe to start a cult following. The following is a run down of the Boy Bands that have left Unless you've been living under a rock, the Orlando based group, Backstreet Boys reigned supreme as the top Boy Band in 1998. With the top selling album in 1998 behind Titanic, the Backstreet Boys have just released a new album and are planning a second world tour. The band enjoyed 4 top 10 singles in 1998, including â€Å"As Long as You Love Me†, â€Å"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)†, â€Å"I'll Never Break You Heart†, and â€Å"Quit Playing Games (With my Heart)†. Their world tour pulled in $10 million. The middle of 1998 brought a lawsuit between the band and Lou Pearlman. While the details of the settlement has not been released, it resulted in the dismissal of their management team, Donna & Johnny Wright, with Lou Pearlman being named a partner with the Backstreet Boys for 1/6 of the action. Pearlman's Trans-Continental Records is still in legal entanglements with the Backstreet Boys's label, Jive/Zomba. This may or may not be one of the reasons why Trans-Continental began promoting ‘N Sync, a replica of the Backstreet Boys, more aggressively For better or for worse, the fans are happy that ‘N Sync, another Orlando based band, left their mark in 1998. With their self titled album the 22nd topselling album of the year (with 4 million albums sold since it's release last March), and Top Ten Christmas album, the group is also enjoying the success of three top ten singles, â€Å"Tearin' Up My Heart†, â€Å"I Want You Back†, and â€Å"(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You†. Their current single, â€Å"I Drive Myself Crazy†, is climbing the charts. Their success proves that there's plenty of love (and money) to go around at the top of the music chart. Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync's album have switched positions in the top many times in the last months of 1998. Not to be left out, the original managers for the Spice Girls have formed another group, Five. With top selling singles, â€Å"When The Lights Go Out† and â€Å"Everybody Get Up†, the five lads from England wandered into the U. S. st October. While the reception has been warm, their success in Europe will keep them in the the limelight for an aggressive promotion Breaking away from the pre-packaged format of boy bands, 98 Degrees, like ‘N Sync, packaged themself and went in search of management. The band snuck backstage at a Boyz II Men concert and the result was a manager in the form of Paris D'Jon. With their first album behind them, 1998 had these Ohio native recording â€Å"True to Your Heart† for Disney's Mulan. At the end of 1998, they released their second album, â€Å"98 Degrees and Rising†. The band is now embarking on their summer tour with their Top 10 single, â€Å"Because of You†, leading the way. One of the most popular boy band in the U. K. has barely made a mark in the United States. Despite a million dollar campaign last August, the group has barely touched the U. S. Billboard charts. Boyzone is one of the oldest, both in term of longevity and age of the members, of the boy bands. However, the designation may be a misnomer. All of the guys are all over 26, and one of whom has a son. The fact that they don't quite fit into the cookie cutter mold of a boy and may be the reason they haven't done as well in the U. S. The more likely reason, though, is that the label doesn't quite know how to pigeonhole Boyzone into their carefully constructed While most of the current crop of boy bands have been around for several years (even if U. S. fans haven't heard of them until now), the recording industry is preparing for the future; hoping the trend can sustain itself. The trend has so far been proven successful, Joey McIntyre and Jordon Knight, who previously where a part of New Kids On The Block, have recently became hits. Also, former Mannuedo star, Ricky Martin has rose again with his smash hit, â€Å"Livin La Vida Loca. 1999 will prove to be an interesting year, as the industry watch to see if the Meanwhile fans continue to flock to sold out shows to see their favorite members of the Backstreet Boys or ‘N Sync. Teenagers driven by hormones into their first crush, enjoy collecting pictures of their favorite members. Is this a plan to brainwash teenage girls into buying millions of CD's, created by Lou Pearlman, king of Boy Bands? Just like how many licks it takes to get to the bottom of the Tootsie Pop, â€Å"The World May Never Know. â€Å"