Friday, April 10, 2020
Get Born free essay sample
Jets new CD, Get Born, is excellent. This Australian band grew up listening to classic groups like The Who and The Beatles, and it is easy to hear the rock n roll influence. With their many instruments and styles, they bring back an old rock feel that many bands have abandoned. This CD has the older AC/DC, Bachman-Turner Overdrive mixed with some newer sounds. Last Chance begins like any other song but progresses with a rhythm that suddenly grabs the listeners attention. I was instantly reminded of AC/DC. It has the style of an old rock song and is sure to become an instant favorite. The third song, Rollover D.J., is brilliant. Jet takes the chord changes of Bachman- Turner Overdrives Takin Care of Business and adds their own distinct style. The most outstanding part is the keyboard blaring with the great sound of an old rock organ. We will write a custom essay sample on Get Born or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This CD features instruments most bands ignore, including the slide guitar and tambourine, which help Jet bring back that old rock feel. All the songs put me in mind of the ?s with simple rock sounds and an interesting mix of instruments. Call me nostalgic, but this band reminds me of a time when rock meant something.
Monday, March 9, 2020
Biography of Fukuzawa Yukichi â⬠History Essay
Biography of Fukuzawa Yukichi ââ¬â History Essay Free Online Research Papers Biography of Fukuzawa Yukichi History Essay This paper will be on the life and works of Fukuzawa Yukichi, the man who spread foreign studies throughout Japan, opening schools and founding one of Japanââ¬â¢s major universities today. I chose this topic, because the name Fukuzawa Yukichi sounded familiar and therefore I did some brief research on him. From there I found out that he had been the founder of Keio University, which got me interested in him. Fukuzawa Yukichi is a very important figure in Japanese education, for he spread foreign studies and rangaku amongst the Japanese society.My research question of this paper will be: How was Fukuzawaââ¬â¢s knowledge in foreign studies and ââ¬Å"rangakuâ⬠advantageous when trying to spread foreign studies? My hypothesis is that his knowledge helped him to gain support and respect from the bakufu as well as the citizens, and helped him to open schools throughout Japan and travel abroad to study. Fukuzawaââ¬â¢s Background ââ¬Å" Fukuzawa Yukichi was born on January 10th, 1835 in the city of Osaka.â⬠1 His father was a low-ranking samurai of the Okudaira clan of Nakatsu. However, a year and a half after Fukuzawas birth, his father passed away leaving the family in poverty. Due to this Fukuzawa was unable to go to school until he was fourteen, when he finally had enough money to go to a school of Dutch studies. ââ¬Å"When his brother sent a letter to the chancellor of the lord of his clan, it was returned to him for the address didnââ¬â¢t contain honorifics appropriate to the chancellorââ¬â¢s status. Due to this Fukuzawa developed a great hatred for the feudal system.â⬠2 Fukuzawa waited for a chance to change the ways of the feudal system. In February, 1854 at the age of nineteen he traveled to Nagasaki to study Dutch language and gunnery in order to become an expert in western gunnery. ââ¬Å"After one year, he decided to head for Edo to work for a family friend who was a physician, under the pretext of visiting his mother.â⬠3 He traveled up to Osaka where his brother greeted him. ââ¬Å"His brother then stopped him from continuing on to Edo and told him to stay in Osaka. And so Fukuzawa remained in Osaka and studied western medicine and Dutch language at the Tekijuku school run by the physician Ogata Koan.â⬠4 At the age of twenty-three, he was ordered by his clan to travel to Edo and teach Dutch at the clan headquarters. Once he arrived in Edo, he was provided with a small apartment in Teppozu. Before long his pupils started coming to learn Dutch and pretty soon his apartment had become a small school. Putting ideas into action The following year, in 1859, Fukuzawa visited Yokohama which had just been opened to foreign trade. To his dismay, his knowledge in Dutch language was completely useless, for the language in use was English, not Dutch. Fukuzawa then decided to teach himself English with a conversation book and an English-Dutch dictionary. ââ¬Å"Fukuzawa heard that the shogunate was sending a Japanese ship, the ââ¬Å"Kanrin Maruâ⬠to escort an American warship with Japanese envoys to San Francisco.â⬠5 He was determined to sail on thin voyage and sent a letter to Captain Kimura, the highest-ranking member of the Japanese Navy. ââ¬Å"He also visited the Captain at his home and asked the Captain to take him along as a personal servant, which he agreed to immediately.â⬠6 During his stay of four months, Fukuzawa was overwhelmed by the new ideas which greeted him. ââ¬Å"The men and women dancing together, ice cubes in drinks, horse-drawn carriages were all so new to him and amazed him.â⬠7 Before his journey back, he bought a copy of the ââ¬Å"Websterââ¬â¢s Dictionary,â⬠which is said to be the introduction of Websterââ¬â¢s to Japan. Upon his return Fukuzawa became an official translator for the bakufu, while continuing to study English. Fukuzawa Yukichi in 1860 Traveling abroad and gaining respect ââ¬Å"In 1861 Fukuzawa married a seventeen-year-old girl with whom he had nine children. A year later, he was sent to Europe as a highly-paid member of a diplomatic mission.â⬠8 During this time he visited Egypt, France, England, Holland, Prussia, Russia, Portugal and various ports in Southeast Asia, taking notes wherever he went. He then published a book which consisted of his research and experiences abroad, titled ââ¬Å"Seiyo Jijo.â⬠(Western Things) This book became an immediate best seller. It included descriptions of schools, hospitals, railways etc. In January, 1867 Fukuzawa traveled to the United States once again. ââ¬Å"This time he had gone as an interpreter for a delegation sent to purchase an American warship and to obtain rifles for the shogunââ¬â¢s army.â⬠9 Upon his return, Fukuzawa wrote another book, ââ¬Å"Seiyo Tabi Annai ( A Guide to Travel in the Western World) also became a best seller. ââ¬Å"This was followed by his third book, (Seiyo Ishokuju (Western Clothing, Food and Houses).â⬠10 He also set up his own school in Shinsenza, and named in Keio Gijuku. The number of students grew rapidly to 100 students. ââ¬Å"On the 4th of July, 1868 sounds of gunfire from a battle a few kilometers from Keio-Gijuku could be heard during one of Fukuzawaââ¬â¢s lectures.â⬠11 But he went on teaching about political economy. He told his students ââ¬Å"whatever happens in the country, whatever warfare harasses our land we will never relinquish our hold on Western learning. As long as this school of ours stands, Japan remains a civilized nation of the World.â⬠12 During these years Fukuzawa was offered several positions in the Meiji government, but refused them as well as renouncing his samurai status and becoming a commoner. ââ¬Å"This showed his true devotion to Foreign studies and connecting with the commoners. Two years later, he suffered a severe attack of typhoid fever and as a result moved to Mita, where it was less damp and had a view of the ocean.â⬠13 In the years that followed, he devoted himself exclusively either to teaching at Keio or helping initiate modern schools elsewhere. ââ¬Å"He also translated and/or wrote pamphlets about the West and elementary textbooks on a surprisingly wide variety of subjects such as physics, geography, military arts, the British Parliament and international relations.â⬠14 He bitterly criticized the traditional Japanese school curriculum, emphasizing ancient texts and the enjoyment and writing of poetry, as providing impractical pursuits. He argued that Western education was necessary and urged boys and girls who had just learned kana letters to consult translated textbooks and, at a more advanced stage, to read a Western language. Public Speaking ââ¬Å"In 1873, Koizumi Nobukichi, a member of the Keio staff showed Fukuzawa a bookled entitled ââ¬Å"American Debation.â⬠This interested Fukuzawa who immediately started to translate this booklet on speech and debation.â⬠15 He renamed in the ââ¬Å"Kaigibenâ⬠(How to hold a conference.) Fukuzawa formed the ââ¬Å"Mita Enzetsukaiâ⬠which was the Mita Oratorical Society which studied speaking in public, debating, and giving conferences. This Oratorical Society rented a room in Fukuzawaââ¬â¢s former home and held their first official meeting on June 27th, 1874. Their meetings continued on until 1875. By this time the membership had increased to over twenty. ââ¬Å"By this time, Fukuzawa and his colleagues had gained enough skill in speaking to have the confidence needed to display their art before the public.â⬠16 However, there was no such place available in Japan at the time. Therefore, he decided that he would build one on the Keio campus. ââ¬Å"He asked his friend, Tomita Tetsunosuke who was visiting the United States at the time, to send some plans of various American assembly halls. Once they arrived, he carefully drew up a blue print for his speech hall. On April 7th, 1875 the Mita Enzetsukan was completed.â⬠17 Saturday, May 1st, 1875. This was the memorable date of the first speech given in the speech hall. Nearly four hundred guests arrived and assembled at the Speech Hall. ââ¬Å"The Mita Enzetsukaiââ¬â¢s speeches were a great success and people both young and old flooded into the speech hall.â⬠18 Sometimes, more people arrived than could fit the Hall. This popularity continued on until the 1923 earthquake, when the hall waws moved to the top of Inari hill to escape damage. The number of students at Keio-gijuku, which had climbed back to more than 300 between 1871and 1876, again began to decline, in part because of the unsettled domestic scene. ââ¬Å"As most of thestudents were samurai, a decision by the government in 1871 to abolish domains and reduce the hereditary privileges and stipends of the lords and vassals also affected the amount of money that could be spent on education. In five years, this process of confiscation was completed.â⬠19 During this period, Fukuzawaââ¬â¢s students, most of whom were samurai, had been obliged to leave the school because of their lost privileges, the war and worsening poverty due to inflation. Those who came from Satsuma returned to join the rebellion there and were either killed or wounded. In dire financial straits, Fukuzawa supplemented the schoolââ¬â¢s budget with his personal income and also asked for loans from the government and private sources. No one, however, was willing to lend the Keio-gijuku any money and some suggested that it should be dissolved. His fellow teachers responded by voluntarily accepting a reduction of their salary by two-thirds. ââ¬Å"Subsequently, the number of students gradually recovered from a low of 200 in 1878 to as many as 500 in 1881. Fukuzawa subsequently created Keio University to teach what Japanese schools were unable to teach, and by 1890 had imported a sizable foreign faculty. ââ¬Å"20 The Economic and literary side As a measure to reduce expenditure, the government decided to sell factories and enterprises. When it was announced that these properties had been sold off at incredibly low prices, civil rights leaders criticized the government severely. ââ¬Å"A rumor appeared in the press that Fukuzawa, with the financial help of Iwasaki Yataro of the Mitsubishi Corporation, was urging a coup dââ¬â¢Ã ©tat by Okuma. In return, Ito Hirobumi kicked out Okuma from the cabinet.â⬠21 The real reason for this political drama was a struggle for control over input on legislation for the future constitution. Several Keio graduates who had worked under Okuma had suggested a constitutional monarchy on the British model, while the Ito group preferred the Prussian type. ââ¬Å"This group was responding to, and afraid of, Fukuzawa and the Keio school, since Fukuzawa himself often expressed active support for Okumaââ¬â¢s policies.â⬠22 After his political victory, Ito suspended the constitution and the opening of the Diet for ten years, canceling the sale of government properties. ââ¬Å"Before their split, Ito, Okuma and other members of the government had arranged with Fukuzawa to start a newspaper to help promote the early opening of the Diet, but this was easily given up on. Fukuzawa decided to proceed alone and launched ââ¬Å"Jiji-shimpoâ⬠on March 1st, 1882.â⬠23 He declared that this quality newspaper would remain impartial and independent. From that time onward most of Fukuzawaââ¬â¢s writings appeared in ââ¬Å"Jiji-shimpo,â⬠not only serious articles but also satire. ââ¬Å"He addressed all contemporary issues such as politics, domestic and international issues, political economy, education and educational policy, the moral code, particularly womenââ¬â¢s rights, and so forth.â⬠24 These articles and parodies fill nearly half of the twenty two volumes of his ââ¬Å"Learningsâ⠬ . His book ââ¬Å"Gakumon no susumeâ⬠was one of the first books written in the modern form of Japanese, with both kanji and kana: Fukuzawa wanted to bring education to the masses, and part of that idea was bringing language and the written word to the masses. The ââ¬Å"jiji-shimpoâ⬠was his only literary outlet left, and he continued to write in it until his death in 1901.25 . Comparison Natsume Soseki is one of Japanââ¬â¢s most influential authors. Natsume was born towards the later years of Fukuzawas life. The two great historical figures share similarities and differences. Natsume and Fukuzawa both excelled in languages: Natsume Chinese and English, Fukuzawa Dutch and English. They also both traveled abroad. Fukuzawa traveled to Europe and the United States, and Natsume traveled to England. But whilst Fukuzawaââ¬â¢s travels were all quite successful, Natsume did not benefit much from his visit to England. In fact, he went under depression. Both Fukuzawa and Natsume were teachers. However, Natsume decided to quit teaching at an early age and concentrated on writing novels. On the other hand, Fukuzawa continued to teach as well as writing books, speaking publicly, participating in human rights and the economy as well. Fukuzawa was much more active and worked in many different aspects. Natsume concentrated mainly on novels, which I think is why his novels are so famous and still studied today. One more similarity is that both men were on the Japanese yen notes. Natsume was on the à ¥1,000 note whilst Fukuzawa was and still is on the à ¥10,000 note. Conclusion My research question can finally be answered now. Fukuzawaââ¬â¢s knowledge in foreign studies and rangaku were quite advantageous when trying to spread foreign studies. He was able to gain respect from the bakufu with his knowledge of English. However, his knowledge inâ⬠rangakuâ⬠was not of much use, since Perryââ¬â¢s arrival had consisted of English, not Dutch. But because of his knowledge in so many different languages he was able to have three successful journeys abroad and to open up schools and gain respect from his pupils. Also, by learning ââ¬Å"rangakuâ⬠, Fukuzawa was able to learn English easily, as well as being able to relate with the Europeans and the Americans. Overall His knowledge in foreign studies was extremely advantageous From writing this research paper, I learned that there was more to Fukuzawa Yukichi than just finding Keio University. He worked extremely hard to learn ââ¬Å"rangakuâ⬠and English, convinced people to send him abroad and devoted his life to foreign studies and speeches. He published many books and gave numerous influential speeches which affected the Japanese society. He gave up his status as a samurai which was an extremely hard gesture at the time, and spent his life on education and spreading it to the population. He has affected and in a way created the Japanese education which we use today. Not only did he change educational aspects of Japan, but also the politics and womenââ¬â¢s rights. 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Saturday, February 22, 2020
Monitoring Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Monitoring - Essay Example It may be legal for an employee to make negative comments about their employer over the internet. However, the employer might decide to discipline the employee if they directly post the negative comments in reference to them. Such discipline could amount to the termination of employment and other opportunities in the working environment (Online Privacy: Using the Internet Safely). If the employee defies the ethical concern on confidentiality and discloses confidential information about the employer over the internet, then the employer has a right to terminate their employment. Employers ask for private information about the social web pages of their employees. This is an ethical concern that affects businesses because it amounts to the infringement of the employeesââ¬â¢ privacy rights. Such practices might affect the society in a negative manner, as the employers would practice discriminatory recruitment practices. The development of peer-to-peer sharing of files has led to a concern in business ethics (Business & Entrepreneurship). It has led to the illegal transfer of copyrighted content, for instance, the free sharing of software among users. The owners of such software could sue the business as they have defied the terms and conditions stipulated in the usage agreement. "Can My Employer Discipline Me for My Comments Posted on Facebook, MySpace, or My Blog?" - LawInfo. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Earned media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Earned media - Essay Example Earned media are used by a large number of companies to promote their brand. The best and most favorite thing about earned media is that it's cost free. Earned media can help promote a project by taking in the most little effort. (Ransom, 2012) There are several ways in which earned media can be used effectively. On Facebook, a page of the product can be made. In this way, people will get to know more about the product and how great it works. Moreover, there can be quizzes functioned by the product. People will find it interesting to share it on their profiles. These quizzes can reflect their personalities, so their friends will be looking at them too. Furthermore, an account on Snapchat will be able to post updates regarding the product on daily basis. This will provide the customers a chance to know about the new updates about the product and their new prices as well. An application can also be made. This application will provide the latest updates regarding the Uber company. The application can be readily available on play store so that android and ios users can easily download it. The application will be downloaded free of cost. Uber company can also provide daily horoscope. This will attract a large number of people as people are curious to know more about themselves. People might even share it with their friends. In this way, the friends will not only know about the horoscope but will also get to know about the company. Ransom, V. (2012). 3 Easy Ways to Grow Earned Media. Mashable.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Formal Presentation Tactics Essay Example for Free
Formal Presentation Tactics Essay Presentations, unlike reports, carry the personality of a speaker, simultaneously allowing for interaction between all participants involved. A good presentation is hinged on precise, well researched content as well as a clear well laid out structure. Simply put, content relates to information useful to the people. It differs significantly from presentations to reports. The latter are analyzed at the readersââ¬â¢ pace but the former must account for the amount of information that can be assimilated in a single sitting. The structure followed must be logical, sequenced as well as suitably paced so that the audience can effectively follow the proceedings. Other salient aspects are packaging and the human element. Presentations must be well prepared for the audience is literally at the presenterââ¬â¢s mercy; they do not have the option of rereading certain portions or skipping others altogether. The human element, when used effectively, contributes greatly to the success of any presentation (Clark, 2007). The importance of preparation cannot be overstated. It may be a threadbare cliche, but failure to prepare really is preparation to fail. Research is vital both in term of content and the audience. The material presented must be accurate, supported with credible illustrations. Simple concise statements of intent usually assist in defining the scope of a presentation. Presenters must also establish the nature of the audience it terms of level of education, employment cadre and familiarity with the language. The findings serve as an indicator of the jargon the presenter may use as well as the vocabulary used. This aspect also defines the audienceââ¬â¢s aims and objectives as for attending the presentation (Blair, n. d. ). If this is not effectively done, there will be little communication, rendering the entire presentation an exercise in futility. The introduction of any presentation is vital. Based on this aspect alone, it is possible to determine success. It is not enough to attract the attention of the audience; presenters must sustain it. One of the most effective ways of doing this is to establish a theme that the presentation will revolve around. This works well with a quick breakdown of the presentationââ¬â¢s guiding structure and an establishment of a rapport with the audience. Apart from maintaining the audienceââ¬â¢s attention, it allows both parties to feel comfortable and significantly reduces the presenterââ¬â¢s level of anxiety. A good beginning deserves an equally good ending. Some experts dispense with the idea of starting the conclusion by stating that it is a recapitulation of the presentation as people may switch off. They favor either a sudden end marked with a phrase that will linger in the memories of the audience, or with a flourish, pace as well as voice carrying listener through a powerful crescendo (Blair, n. d. ). Preparing the body of the presentation does not translate to writing down the speech word for word. Having the main points on cards provides an outline as well as an effective memory jogger. Important questions to keep in mind, as stated in the research phase are the purpose, the nature of people attending, their familiarity on the subject and audienceââ¬â¢s attitude towards the speaker. Other options to explore in terms of the structure of the body are timeline, problem/solution, classification, climax and complex to simple (or vice versa) layout (Clark, 2007). In contemporary group communication, visual aids are vital as they reinforce the delivery of the verbal message. Technology has lent itself to this respect, allowing for larger audiences to participate. Behavioral studies suggest that novelty and creativity in the application of visual aids is a major contributor to the success of a presentation. An example is displaying four different styles of hats when describing four major functions of project managers. With traditional aids, the rule of thumb is to employ different slides for distinct purposes; they should not be there at all if they have no purpose. Slides should not be cluttered as it has the counteractive effect of confusing the audience, rather than elucidating verbal message. Presenters must speak to their audience, as opposed to the visual aids. Therefore they must be thoroughly conversant with every slide to avoid presenting their backs to the audience as they struggle to explain what is going on. Legibility, color, contrast and size are factors to consider in the design of each slide. Everyone in the room should easily follow the aids without movement or strain. Delivery is another pillar of presentations. Presenters on one hand have the ability to enhance a presentation manifold and on the other, butcher it. The discussions of this aspect start with focus on the eyes. The fact that they are usually described as windows to the soul indicates that they are the first, most effective instruments in convincing people of speakersââ¬â¢ openness, honesty and their confidence in the material they are presenting. Herein lies the importance of maintaining eye contact. Doing so with all sections of the audience, accompanied by the hint of a smile convinces an audience that the presenter acknowledges and values their presence. Voice is the next aspect to assess, particularly variation and projection. However, projection does not mean shouting. Carefully watching the audience is the best indicator of the level of audibility. Voice variation is so powerful that it can make a well prepared presentation appear dull or make transform a boring topic into an exciting one. This aspect rules out monotonic speeches and their soporific effect. Changes in tone and well timed poses emphasize delineation and express certain feelings, moods and emotions. Rhetorical questions have proved useful in this respect as they inherently have tone variations at the end (Blair, n. d. ). Body language, expressed through appearance and stance are other important elements under the topic of formal presentation tactics. Posture as well as body orientation communicate a multitude of messages. By standing erect while leaning forward, speakers express approachability, receptiveness and friendliness. Gestures also play their role by making the content of the presentation more interesting in addition to facilitating understanding (Clark, 2007). The topic of speaker anxiety has been tackled from a number of angles. Some people insist on the impact of a simple change in attitude (Sathoff, 2008) while others encourage speakers to embrace nerves. The thinking behind the proposal is premised on the ââ¬Å"flight or fightâ⬠condition occasioned by the release of adrenaline. Welcoming and recognizing nerves allows speakers to gain the edge by taking the fight option. They tackle the challenge of the presentation better, achieving better results than they envisaged. Attitude change encompasses positive thinking, mental visualizations of the task at hand and the belief that mistakes are part and parcel of the learning process. In all cases, deep breaths and short water breaks are of great help. Alcohol is not an option, as misinformed parties claim (Clark, 2007). Formal presentations are powerful avenues for self expression. Practice really does make perfect. Listening and watching self recordings allows for self discovery. Presenters can assess their performance and improvement against a checklist. Watching seasoned presenters in their element provides tried and tested success tricks. It is quite heartening to learn that oral presentation skills can easily be learned. Works Cited: Blair, G. M. , ââ¬Å"Presentation Skills for Emergent Managersâ⬠, n. d. Retrieved on 25th March, 2009, from http://www. see. ed. ac. uk/~gerard/Management/art1. html Clark, D. R. , ââ¬Å"Presentation Skillsâ⬠, 2007. Retrieved on 25th March, 2009, from http://www. nwlink. com/~donclark/leader/leadpres. html Sathoff, R. , ââ¬Å"Speaker Tipsâ⬠, 2008. Retrieved on 25th March, 2009, from http://www. ed-u. com/publicspeaking. htm
Monday, January 20, 2020
My First Love Essay -- essays papers
My First Love When I was ten years old, I fell in love. It was more romantic and emotionally uplifting than any other experience I had ever been through. The object of my affection reciprocated that love instantly, and since that day, we have never fought, never been apart, and never been unfaithful. It started one brilliant October day. The bright New England foliage fell like large, fluttery raindrops as I coasted down the road that lead to the elementary school, and the gravel crunched beneath my bike tires as I rounded the corners. I sighed. Today had been just another day at school for me. Another day with the rest of the country-grown kids who lived in the hills of this straight-laced town. Another day in which I said hello to everyone I saw, calling them by name. Just another normal day with normal events. Except for the fact that this was the day that the cast list for Bakersfield Elementary School's production of "Oliver Twist" had been posted. Big deal. I had auditioned, but mainly because Cathy, a good friend of mine, had no one to audition with, and had whined so much, I did it to make her shut up. It was the most dull and uneventful process I had been through since my last doctor's checkup. The audition process consisted of the 2 directors (who actually were the school's music teacher and the secretary) saying the following: "Read these lines." "Okay, now read these ones." "Try that again, please." "Right, now sing this... And this." Then they muttered for a bit amongst themselves, and then said, "okay, then, thanks for auditioning!" Cathy had obsessed and worked herself into such a frenzy by the end of the day that the list was going to be posted. She was worried about if she was going to be cast or not. Her incessant fidgeting and one-way conversation irritated me so much, I had headed home early, not even stopping to see if I was in the play or not. I know that it's bad when you avoid friends, but I think maybe I was just in a bad mood or something. I now found myself riding back to school, compelled to see if I had actually gotten a part. As I walked into the school, I saw a small group of kids loitering around a piece of paper by the door that led to the gymnasium. This was it. I stepped toward it, muttering "excuse me to a pair of burly eighth-grade girls who looked quite disgusted. I scanned do... ...lfway across the gymnasium, which had been completely rearranged and decorated in black for this play. I walked up the three steps to the stage. I turned to face the audience. And I saw them. The whole town, sitting there, watching me. I swear a sweat drop rolled down my jaw line, and all of the lines that I had worked so hard to remember flew right out the window. I didn't know what to say. It was if the weight of the world had been placed squarely on my head. In that split second that I lost all of my composure, just as fast, I regained it. I shook it off. The lines came flooding back, and I resumed my character. I threw my whole heart and soul into my performance. Adrenaline was rushing through my blood, and I acted better than I had ever had in rehearsal. I even earned quite a few laughs for the "kiss" with Mr. Bumble. The curtain call came, and as I stood onstage with the rest of the cast, I smiled on the inside as well as on the outside, and I felt as though I would burst with the feelings that were bouncing around in my head. I was happier than I had ever been in my whole life (at least that I could remember). When I was ten years old, I fell in love with Theatre.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Environmental Science and Ethics: Global Warming Essay
Global Warming can be defined as the continuous rising of temperature of the globe. This phenomenon is brought about by the greenhouse gases that rise into the atmosphere. The gases are trapped within the atmosphere by the sunââ¬â¢s energy. The build up of these gases had caused the globe to warm-up. National Resource Defence Council had noted that that over the 50 years the average global temperature has increased in a very fast rate and according to scientists, this would continue still in the future. It has been further analyzed that average temperature in the United States would increase 3 to 9 degrees higher at the end of the century. Future predictions from the Environmental Protection Agency of America reveal that the world would experience increasingly hot summers and intense thunderstorms. As stated above, the cause of Global Warming is the greenhouse gases. According to the website, timeforchange. com, the major natural greenhouse gases are water vapour Carbon Dioxide, Methane and Ozone. When sunlight reaches the earthââ¬â¢s atmosphere, it is absorbed and it warms the earth. Most of the heat is enclosed in the atmosphere at a longer time than the sunlight. This in turn creates the warming effect around the globe. The greenhouse gases acts like a reflector of heat radiation to the Earthââ¬â¢s atmosphere. Investigation of experts show that the higher the concentration of greenhouse gases, the higher would be the heat reflected to the Earthââ¬â¢s atmosphere. The National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) shows that Carbon Dioxide is one of the major contributors of the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere which causes around 9 to 26%. Coal burning power plants are stated as the largest source of Carbon Dioxide in the United States. Carbon Dioxide produced every year is 2. 5 billion tons every year. Automobiles are the second largest source which produces 1. 5 billion tons every year. Based on statistics from NRDC, the largest source of global warming pollution is the United States. Creating a ratio and proportion examination, Americans are 4 percent of the worldââ¬â¢s population. However, the United States contributes 25% of the Carbon Dioxide pollution in the atmosphere. Comparing numbers, 4% of the people in the globe produce a quarter of the pollutants. This only shows that control is necessary in this particular area. Further investigating the phenomenon, there are four major effects of Global Warming. These are climate pattern changes, health effects, warming water and ecosystem disruption. Average warmer temperatures rises as a result, the frequency of heat waves rises. The probability of having drought and wildfire also increases. The warmer temperature results to a higher rate of evaporation during the seasons of summer and fall. As evidence, there has been a recorded drought in the years 1999 to 2002. This has been noted as one of the widespread droughts in the last 40 years. Another is that the Firefighting expenditures have consistently increased by $1 billion per year. Heated climates cause heat waves and the heat waves result in heat related deaths. In the year 2003, an estimate of 35,000 lives were claimed by heat waves in Europe. It can be further noted that the temperature had reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature had not changed for two weeks. Aside from the heat waves, the heat had also caused increased in weed growth wherein the pollen triggers allergies and causes asthma. Mosquitoes can further survive because of the increase in temperature. Mosquitoes carryng dengue viruses and Malaria can survive in elevations as high as 7,200 feet in Colombia. The warming of water had caused more powerful and dangerous hurricanes according to the NRDC. As explained by the council, warmer water in the oceans drives more energy into tropical storms. This in turn causes the storms to become more destructive and intense. As evidence, the number of storms within the category of 4 and 5 had increased in the last 35 years. The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season had shown a record of 27 storms where 15 of the storms had become hurricanes. Another is Hurricane Katrina that had happened in the year 2005. The melting of glaciers and ice thaw is also an effect of the warming water. Ski Resorts in the Alps as per Cline (2005) had all increased elevations and some ski resorts should not be opened because of the line of snow reliability had increased. Further elevation of snow is needed in order to operate a ski resort. The Ecosystem shifts and some of the species die. As a result of the warmer temperature, some of the species in the ecosystem die because the species cannot adopt to the warmer climate. As per NRDC, there are more than one million species that would be extinct in the year 2050 because of global warming. The most possible ecosystems that would be affected are thouse in the Alps, the tropical mountains and the mangrove forests. The warmer temperature and rise in the sea level would not be able to support the ecosystems in the near future. There had been several solutions that had been several solutions that had been enumerated by the National Resource Defense Council. These are to save energy using appliances that has the energy star level on it. By being able to save energy, this may have an effect in the energy produced by the coal burning power plants. Another possible solution is the modification of vehicles which are the second largest contributor of the greenhouse gases. The fuel burning models of to-date would be modified by the fuel cell technology cars that would be introduced in the next twenty years. This does not only concern vehicles but also aircrafts. There has been a study from the NRDC that the airline industry seeks information on algae-based fuel and biobutanol, which can be made from sugar, beets, corn, wheat and straw. Last solution that can be noted in the report of the NRDC is the burying of coal underground. The United States is looking at future prospects of converting coal into a clear burning gas and capturing Carbon Dioxide. The Carbon Dioxide would then be buried underground to prevent it from being released to the atmosphere. Looking at the effects of the global warming to the environment, it is only right to have laws and further investigate the matter. However, there are some who use this global phenomenon as a means to gain fame, money, grants and chances for a better life. Driessen (2007) had shown the different angles that can be illustrated because of the global warming phenomenon. The main topic of his article shows that the issue of global warming had caused alarm however it had also helped produced financial and political incentives. It has been shown in the article that the some scientists had used the study of global warming to improve their chances of getting research grants and foundations in companies, foundations and the government. Politicians gain credentials because they had put in interest in global warming. They had put their pork barrels into projects that would promote ethical planetary protection. Driessen (2007) had stressed that corporate responsibility was promoted by some politicians. There are several actions that were supposed to be negated but instead are praised by the people because the consequences of actions that had been taken by the politicians are not shown at present. The effects of their actions can only be seen in the long run. The politicians had cemented their relationships with the environmentalists because of the environmental protection projects that they had attributed in lieu of global warming. Another group that had benefited from the global warming phenomenon are the environmentalists. Driessen (2007) had taken note of the manipulation of the environmental activists that had led them to use the global warming situation to raise funds. It had become a strategy for these groups to have control over a global resource through the use of laws, treaties, regulation and pressure campaigns. Environmental Defense of the government had blamed the warming of the environment to the situation brought about by the increasing cases of disease such as malaria. Looking at this angle closely, the environmental defense could have made preventive measures like fumigation in order to kill the mosquitoes that cause these diseases instead of blaming the climate. There are also some companies that may use the situation to further advertise their product which shows a self-interest in the business. According to an issue in New York Times by Revkin last 2005, the Bush Administration had made several notations on the notes about the climate changes. It was shown in the article that several officials in the government had manipulated the data about the climate because of the fact that America has been showing a very large contribution in the global warming phenomenon. In order to save face, the government had tried to change the readings in the climate. Thus, there were several incidents that showed that these were covered up by the government officials in the white house. Ethically speaking, as inhabitants of the Earth, the people must concentrate on solving the problem of global warming and not on focusing on things that are just for show. Some may show that they are doing a particular thing to save the planet but if the deed is analyzed more closely, it was being done in order to benefit on what they can get out of the people who would believe on their actions. Global Warming is a very serious topic and it needs every personââ¬â¢s cooperation in order to put things in order. Being able to create projects and research that help investigate global warming is not enough. What is important in the issue of Global Warming is the actions that each and every one would do to prevent further damage of the phenomenon to the environment. REFERENCES Revkin, A. (2005). Bush Aide Softened Greenhouse Gas Links to Global Warming. New York Times. 8 June 2005. Retrieved last January 15, 2008 from http://www. nytimes. com/2005/06/08/politics/08climate. html? pagewanted=1&_r=1 Driessen, P. (2007) Global Warming, Ethics, Pork and Profits. Canada Free Press. 27 September 2007. Retrieved last January 15, 2008 from http://www. canadafreepress. com/2007/driessen020707. htm Time for Change (2007). Cause and Effect of Global Warming. Retrieved last January 16, 2007 from http://timeforchange. org/cause-and-effect-for-global-warming National Resource Defense Council. (2007). Global Warming Basics. NRDC: The Earthââ¬â¢s Best Defense. 9 February 2007. Retrieved last January 17, 2008 from http://www. nrdc. org/globalWarming/f101. asp National Resource Defense Council. (2007). Solving Global Warming it can be done. NRDC: The Earthââ¬â¢s Best Defense. 9 February 2007. Retrieved last January 17, 2008 from http://www. nrdc. org/globalWarming/solutions/default. asp National Resource Defense Council. (2007). Consequences of Global Warming. NRDC: The Earthââ¬â¢s Best Defense. 9 February 2007. Retrieved last January 17, 2008 from http://www. nrdc. org/globalWarming/fcons. asp Environmental Protection Agency. (2002). Global Warming: Cause and Effects. Retrieved last January 15, 2008 from http://chronicle. augusta. com/images/headlines/080402/Global_Warming. jpg
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