Saturday, August 31, 2019

Heuristics or “rule of the thumb”

This paper is about heuristics or â€Å"rule of the thumb†. In this paper, the researcher conducted a study to find out what are the results of the test from three different respondents. It also aims to know the reactions of the respondents and lastly to know if heuristics can be applied to all. The hypothesis of this study is all of the three respondents including the researcher will have the same answer and the same reaction. The word heuristics came from a Greek letter â€Å"Heurisko† meaning, â€Å"I find†. Applying heuristics to Psychology, it is a process which is considered simple, efficient rules, and hard-coded. This used for explaining how people make decisions, making judgments, and solving a certain problem. This is helpful when one person has encountered a problem which is complex or information that lacks the full information. This rule believed to work most of the time under different circumstances but there are cases this may result to a systematic cognitive bias. Cognitive bias is the effects of the observer which drastically alter the proof of a certain thing or information. There are types of cognitive bias, and these are: hindsight bias which is tagged as â€Å"I-knew-it-all-along† effect; fundamental attribution error which is a tendency wherein what matters is only the explanations coming from one’s own self; confirmation bias is a tendency wherein there is the search and/or interpretation of an information based on what has been perceived, and lastly; self-serving bias which is the tendency wherein there is a minimal attention to the failure thus taking the responsibility to those which have succeed. Heuristic is all about the perception of the people under study, they base their answer on what they know and the tendency to neglect the factuality of the information. This also says that people made decisions based on the frequency of the answer they have given, which is the one that occurred most often and the first one which occurred. Heuristics is also for practicality use, because people are particular with what they think is practical, they avoid complexity of things and it is innate to people that they go away with things easily. In this manner, people mostly rely in their common sense. Method The sample of this study was garnered through purposive sampling, meaning that the I choose the samples based on their availability and my access with them in the time that I have done this. The samples were my friends whom I always spend time with. They are three girls which I hide in the name of Nicole, Richelle, and Mary. Their age is 23, 25, and 24 years old respectively. The procedure went on like this; I asked them if they can drop by my place to do a little favor for me which I will need in class. They were curious so they have asked a lot of questions. They even joked that I will get them into trouble. There has been a lot of persuading coming from me just to make them agree to be my respondents. I just told them that what they going to do is simple and will just take them 5 minutes of their precious time. Yes, I had to say that because my friends love to be praised or given any compliment. Later on, they agreed and dropped by my place. I brought the three of them to the kitchen and offered some snack because in doing so I can make the study easier because there will be a room for value-free or bias-free answers. I also told them that whoever go fist, she should keep the whole process in confidence, they agreed. I also instructed them that they should use their better judgment and they should not fabricate their answers for it will make the study unsuccessful. I also instructed them that they will know the answer after they have finished the process. To better secure the confidentiality of the process, I told them to stay at the other room, without saying a word or showing any expression. My parting words were, â€Å"Use your common sense, if you have one†¦ Enjoy! † They laughed. Results The result of my study is not surprising at all because I tried the test not only once and not even thrice. I got the same results which amazed me in so many ways because for one I do not like mathematics that much. Case 1 is Nicole, she chose the number 4, Case 2 is Richelle, she chose number 9, and Case 3 is Mary, she chose number 2. They all had the difficulty in doing the math, and they were laughing during the process. As you would notice all of them had chosen small numbers except Richelle who dared to choose the highest number. But the amount of the numbers they have chosen did not affect the result of the test. The three respondents had the same reaction upon knowing that what they chose is what showed up in the screen. They joked that my computer is a genius. After the last take which is done by Mary, I told them that they can share their experiences. So there, they were laughing and amazed with the results, it was then I told them what it is about. Discussion The results only meant one thing – people often give which is the most common thing, for example is Denmark and elephant. The former is the most common country that starts with letter D and the latter is the most common animal that starts in letter E. But this depends on the culture of the person who done the test, it is based on their preconceptions. The results have met my hypothesis, that all of them will have the same reaction and they will get the same answer despite the differences in their answers in the first instruction/question.

Friday, August 30, 2019

HNC Social Care Grief & Loss Essay

Grief is a natural response to a major loss, though often deeply painful and can have a negative impact on your life. Any loss can cause varied levels of grief often when someone least expects it however, loss is widely varied and is often only perceived as death. Tugendhat (2005) argued that losses such as infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, adoption and divorce can cause grief in everyday life. Throughout our lives we all face loss in one way or another, whether it is being diagnosed with a terminal illness, loss of independence due to a serious accident or illness, gaining a criminal record (identity loss), losing our job, home or ending a relationship; we all experience loss that will trigger grief but some experiences can be less intense. Kubler-Ross (2005) argued that there were five stages of grief, these being the following stages: ‘Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance’. She believes these five stages of grief are part of the framework that makes up our learning to live with the one we have lost and feels these stages make people better equipped to cope with life and loss. She states that they are not tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. But they are not stops on some linear timeline in grief. Not everyone goes through all of them or goes in a prescribed order (Kubler-Ross et al., 2005). A description of Kubler-Ross’ five stages of grief are: Denial – on first hearing of the death there may be disbelief. The person may hang on to the hope that the deceased will walk in as normal. Numbness and shock may also be felt. Again, this particular process can be applied to any kind of loss not just death. Anger – the strength of the pain results in anger; this anger can be directed at anyone, including self anger where the bereaved person blamed themselves. Bargaining – some people may try to negotiate with another person or with god to be given another chance, to be able to go back to how things were before. Depression – once the person starts to absorb the full truth they may become deeply saddened. There can be intense feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. The person may be tearful over minor matters and find minor matters hard to deal with. They may have no energy for routine activities. Acceptance – There is no  requirement that the deceased person is forgotten, but the bereaved person needs to recognise the truth of their situation and to gradually release their emotions. They need to realise they can still carry on even if they still feel the loss of their loved on e. (Kubler-Ross et al., 2005) In contrast to the five stage recovery model introduced by Kubler-Ross (2005), Wright (2011) introduced a seven stage recovery model. Wright, like Kubler-Ross, believes that losses need to be grieved before individuals can heal and move on and that it is important to interpret the stages loosely, and expect much individual variation. Both believe there is no neat progression from one stage to the next. They argue that in reality, there is much moving back, or stages can hit at the same time, or occur out of order. A description of Wrights’ seven stages of grief are: Shock & Denial: A numbed disbelief occurs after the devastation of a loss. A person may deny the reality or gravity of their loss at some level to avoid pain. Shock provides emotional protection from being overwhelmed all at once. This may last for weeks. Pain & Guilt: Shock wears off and replaced with suffering of excruciating pain. It’s important to experience the pain fully and not numb it artificially. Anger and Bargaining: Frustration leads to anger. Uncontrolled, it can permanently damage relationships. May result in trying to negotiate with one’s self (or a higher power) to attempt to change the loss that has occurred. Depression, Reflection & Loneliness: A long period of sad reflection overtakes a person and the magnitude of the loss sets in. The Upward Turn: Life becomes calmer, more organized as one starts to adjust to life with the loss that occurred. Reconstruction & Working Through: As a person starts to become more functional, realistic solutions seem possible for life after the loss. Acceptance & Hope: The last stage – a person learns to accept and deal with the reality of their situation. A person is more future-oriented and learns to cope. (Wright, J. 2011) During the time I have been employed within social care I have worked in conjunction with various organisations who offer support to individuals experiencing grief and loss. Victim Support Scotland is an organisation I have recently referred one of my cases to who has suffered a loss. My service users father was subsequently murdered following a drug related  crime, the incident was reported on nationally and images were published on the internet and papers. My service user (who I will name as Ben for the purposes of confidentiality) is a 14 year old male, he maintained a close relationship with his father albeit did not live in the same house as him due to his parents divorcing. Following the death, Ben appeared to pursue his life as normal and at no point showed any emotion for his loss. However, 5 weeks later his mother informed me that Ben began to spend much of his time researching his father’s name using Google and started to keep his father’s belongings in his bedroom. He started to become increasingly emotional stating he didn’t understand how his father died and on several occasions left school to return home. After referring Ben to Victim Support Scotland and CAMHS, I offered him a rehabilitation program for bereaved children and young people called Winston’s Wish. The service is a charity specifically tailored to rehabilitate and support, children and young people who have suffered a traumatic loss. The service is a residential rehabilitation unit and each program is conducted over 7 days, this gives all young people the opportunity to discuss their loss with other young people in their position or similar. The program is specifically designed using activities and sports to put each individual at ease and to help everyone engaged with each other. Support After Murder And Manslaughter (SAMM) is another charity I have used, SAMM offers support specifically to individuals who have suffered a loss through murder or manslaughter. SAMM has offered me as a practitioner great support, advice and guidance on how to support individuals who have suffered a loss through these circumstances. They offer group support and one to one support as well as telephone support, they also have a secure forum that only people who have suffered these particular losses can access. This gives individuals an area where they can discuss their experiences at their leisure. The Compassionate Friends is a charity that supports parents who have experienced the death of a child of any age from any circumstances. This service offers counsellors and support workshops to help parents cope with their loss, similar to The Samaritans charity. The Samaritans is another charity that can be used as a support service for anyone experiencing any kind of loss and grief where they feel support is required. Similar to other services they have a helpline and counsellors to help implement support packages and support  individuals with the recovery process. The Miscarriage Association provides support and information to anyone affected by pregnancy loss, using: helpline, email support, forum, leaflets and regional support (Scotland, England and Wales) from people who have been through pregnancy loss themselves. They do not offer counseling sessions however, they can refer people to the correct professionals where this can be sought. The Miscarriage Association charity also provides support to practitioners working with women and partners who have been affected by a pregnancy loss. Having spent the majority of my career working with young people and families who are involved in the care system, whether it is residing in residential or foster care I have taken a keen interest in how they feel during the transition process of their life moving from care into adulthood. From research young people leaving care are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society and often go through a grief and loss process when leaving care: they are three times more likely to be cautioned or convicted of an offence they are four times more likely to have a mental health disorder they are five times less likely to achieve five good GCSEs, eight times more likely to be excluded from school and less likely to go to university one in five homeless people are care leavers (DfES, 2007, Care Matters: Time for Change) From the statistics above there is clear evidence that leaving care for a young person is traumatic and leaving care often has some impact on their life. One of the main challenges, I have observed from my experience working within child care transitions, is that young people often find the challenges of supporting themselves and no longer having the ‘safety net’ feeling of support from their care workers very overwhelming. A young person (who I will name as Adam for the purposes of confidentiality) I worked with for a long period of time was very upset and showed clear signs that he was experiencing loss and grief when leaving residential care. Adam found it extremely difficult to cope emotionally and physically with the transition process of leaving care. My organisation offers a support package to young people who are leaving care, the package allows the staff  team the young person has been working with to support them in their new accommodation for a short transit ion period. Adam felt supported and safe whilst in residential but felt leaving care would be like returning to the violent and abusive family he was raised in as this was his only experience out of care. Prior to leaving care I supported Adam by enrolling him on a college course, developing an extensive supported living care plan and gave him additional responsibilities throughout his transition period to help him to cope with the responsibilities of life out of care. After leaving care I visited Adam and offered my support by allowing him to contact us via telephone and letter if he wished to do so to help him with the grief and loss process. For many weeks after leaving care Adam kept in touch daily by calling us and updating us on his life out of care, being there and showing support to Adam was enough for him to still feel supported and comfortable. Eight month on and Adam has accepted his life out of case, he still maintains contact with his staff team from care and has maintained his college attendance. He continues to live a happy and ambitious life who after several months of leaving care didn’t think it was possible to live out of care. Adam has realised society have accepted him and with the support he has been given during the transition process has gave him the skills and confidence to cope and therefore made the grief and loss process of leaving care easier. All residential child care organisations have specific legal policy and procedures to follow in the event of a death of a child in their care. A Glasgow City Council study suggested that almost half the children in their residential care setting had harmed themselves deliberately (Piggot et al, 2004). An analysis of the figures collected by the Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA) shows that at least two children in care have died from suicide every year since 2000. There is evidence that the number of suicides among care leavers is much higher than those in care (Cowan, 2008). Most deaths now take place in a hospital or nursing home. If someone dies in hospital, a member of the medical team will contact the person’s family. The body will then be taken to the hospital mortuary, where the body will be stored until the family arrange for the body to be collected by funeral directors. Before the body is taken to the funeral directors chapel of rest  the hospital staff will usually collect the person’s personal possessions, such as jewellery. Before someone can be formally registered dead, a hospital doctor or their GP will need to issue a medical certificate stating the cause of death. The family will be given a notice, explaining how to register the death; it is a criminal offence not to register a death. A hospital may ask the families permission to carry out a post-mortem examination to learn more about the cause of death, the family does not have to agree to this! In some cases, a doctor may not be able to issue a medical certificate, in such cases they will refer the death to the Procurator Fiscal for investigation. It is most common for the Procurator Fiscal to be involved if someone dies unexpectedly or under suspicious circumstances. When someone dies at home, their GP should be contacted as soon as possible and will normally visit the deceased’s home. If the death was expected the GP should be able to issues a death certificate giving the cause of death, however if the person doesn’t have a GP or the name of the persons GP is unknown, an Ambulance should be called. If someone dies unexpectedly or under suspicious circumstances in their own home the Procurator Fiscal would carry out the investigation, the procedures for this are the same if someone dies in a care/nursing home. There are considerable differences surrounding death in Britain today and how death was viewed during the Victorian Era. The Victorians dealt with death as part of their everyday life, dying was common at all ages and often people died in their home surrounded by family and friends. However, today death has become remote and this has a contribution to the difficulties surrounding people coping with death today. During the Victorian Era three of every twenty babies died before their first birthday, and those who survived infancy had a life expectancy of only forty-two years (Douglas, 2002). Over the past century there has been a considerable decrease in the rates of morbidity and mortality, attitudes began to change as mortality rates declined and life expectancies rose. Death rates fell between 1750 and 1820 from 26 to 22 per 1000 in England and in Scotland from rates possibly as high as 38 to 20 per 1000 in 1855 (Wrigley and Schofield, 1981). Maternal and infant mortality were known risks of pregnancy, families were larger and many generations were raised within the same household. During  Victorian times, the family would be responsible for cleaning and preparing the body for burial and the body would be stored at the family home until the funeral. In Britain today this would not be the case, depending on religion, the deceased would be transported to a mortuary if examination was required, otherwise it would be stored at a funeral directors. The funeral parlour is now responsible for cleaning the body and preparing the body for burial, the family of the deceased have the opportunity to select their loved ones clothing when they are lay to rest. Today there is no restriction on who can attend a funeral, an individual’s sex plays no part o n whether they attend a funeral or not, however during Victorian times only men attended funerals and the gravesite. Christian beliefs vary, however my focus will be on the Catholic beliefs and rites of Christianity. In the Roman Catholic Church, a priest will anoint the person with holy oil as a preparation for death, this is called Last Rites. When a person dies their body is placed in a coffin. Sometimes this coffin is left open so that relatives can say a final goodbye. The coffin is then usually taken to a church or chapel. Here a priest will read from the Bible and a service will be held to celebrate the person’s life. The priest will also say a few words about the person which are designed to comfort the mourners and then say prayers, hoping that the person will now be in heaven. In a Roman Catholic church there will be a special Eucharist called a Requiem Mass where prayers are said for the dead person’s soul. The coffin is taken from the church, either for burial or cremation after the service which mourners can attend (Dickerson et al., 2006). In the past many people did not approve of cremation, only in the last 50 years cremation has been granted in Roman Catholic churches. Roman Catholic’s felt that being cremated would mean that the person could not be resurrected on the Day of Judgement. Therefore, cremation for Roman Catholic’s is a very recent change. When a Jewish person dies, the processes for the burial take place as quickly as possible, cremation is not accepted. Jewish people are very strict when it comes to funerals while more progressive Jews are known to have differing attitudes. When a Jewish person dies the body is traditionally left for eight minutes while a feather is place in the mouth or nostrils to detect signs of breathing before being washed and dressed in  tachrichim. A tachrichim is a white shroud, men are also wrapped in their tallit (prayer shawl). The fringes are cut off the tallit to show that he is now free of the religious laws. The body is put in a plain wooden coffin which is sealed. From the time of death until burial, the body is never left alone as many Jews appoint ‘watchers’ this being a person who will stay with the body day or night until the funeral, praying and reciting (Lewis, 2006). Before the burial the mourners make a tear in their garments – the act of keriah – to show their grief. Jehovah Witness is a relatively new religion that was formed in Pennsylvania in 1870. The Jehovah’s Witnesses funeral service is similar to other Christian faiths and usually takes place within a week after death, their service only lasts between 15 and 30 minutes. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that when a person dies, their existence stops because the Bible states that human beings do not have an immortal soul that survives when the body dies. Witnesses don’t believe there is such a thing as hell, they argue that it would be completely against God’s nature to torture humans for eternity. They strongly believe death is not the end of everything and that each person can be remembered by god and eventually be resurrected. Witnesses funeral services usually take place in the Kingdom Hall, the Jehovah’s Witnesses place of worship and can often have an open casket for people attending to view the body. The Congregation Elder conducts the service and delivers a talk, the talk highlights the deceased person’s life and any dying thoughts or expressions they may have left. The purpose of the talk is to comfort the bereaved by explaining what the Bible says about death and the hope of a resurrection. Rather than being an overly mournful event, it is a time when family and friends can be reassured of the time when the Bible promises that, thanks to the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the dead will be raised, and they will see their loved one again. The family can decide whether to have a burial or a cremation following the funeral service (jw.org). Regardless of religion the death of a family member or friend can be extremely painful and often very difficult for family and friends to cope with. A humanist and new age funeral are funerals that are non-religious, this does not mean to say it is easier or more difficult to cope with, it simply means that the deceased do not have any particular religious belief. A non-religious person is familiar with cremation and burial procedures and will welcome ideas for readings and  music. If the deceased writes down what they would like to happen at their funeral and give it to a family member to take lead, this reduces a huge amount of pressure from the family. It is important the person things about the music they would like played and any poems or stories they would like to be read. A humanist funeral is often very person centered, it looks back over the life of the person who has died and celebrates it. The danger with a humanist funeral is you can make religious people feel excluded, however if you include a period of silence in the funeral this give religious people time to have a silent prayer (Cowling, 2010). Officiants are pe ople who conduct a humanist funeral and are generally at least 35 years old, have experience of public speaking, and have probably had experience in nursing, teaching, social work or something similar. Funeral directors are able to make arrangements with trained officiants in their local area. Bibliography. Cowan, C. (2008) Risk factors in cases of known deaths of young people with experience of care: an exploratory study, Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care. 7 (1). Cowling, C (2010). Good Funeral Guide, Continuum. New York. p73. Douglas, A (2002). Victorian Mourning Customs, Pagewise, Inc. Retrieved from http://ky.essortment.com/victorianmouri_rlse.htm. Kubler-Ross, E and Kessler, D (2005). On Grief and Grieving, London: Simon & Schuster. p7-28. Lewis, A (2006). Handling Bereavement, Easyway Guides. Brighton. p55-56. Piggot, J., Williams, C., McLeod, S., et al (2004) A qualitive study of support for young people who self-harm in residential care in Glasgow, Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care. 3 (2), p45-54. Tugendhat, J (2005). Living with Grief and Loss, Sheldon Press. London. Wright, J. (2011). 7 stages of grief: through the process and back to life. Retrieved from http://www.recover-from-grief.com/7-stages-of-grief.html Wrigley, E. A. and Schofield, R (1981). The Population History of England 1541–1871, London. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/atheism/ritesrituals/funerals.shtml http://www.jw.org/en/ Assessment 7 ‘Supporting Individuals Experiencing Loss and Grief’.

Christian Influences on the Modern World

Despite its numerous branches, Christianity as a whole is the religion practiced by majority of world’s population. Ever since its beginnings in the first century AD, it grew exponentially. Massive numbers of its followers have caused it to have considerable influence on the world culture. Since the majority of its followers were from what is considered the western world, the influence of Christianity on it was greater than elsewhere. The impact of Christian philosophy in the areas of politics, economy, business, law, education, science and human relations will be discussed in this report.While the issues discussed are contemporary, the historical aspects are also presented. The educational system of countries under theocratic governance is influenced to a greater extent by it than any other institution. The reason for this is simply that the process of educating requires the presentation of ideas and theories whose validity is established by the governing authority. Where oth er institutions concerning business, health, etc†¦ already have an established infrastructure, the educational institution can be completely remodeled and molded into any shape that is desired.Those countries that practice extreme forms of theocracies generally concentrate in providing religious education and ignoring other subject areas [1]. Some of the subject matter may be considered extravagant resulting in its exclusion from the curriculum. At the same time, through religious influence, young minds can be channeled into maintaining the cultural aspects of the nation that themselves could have been shaped by the religion [2]. Christianity has played an influential role affecting western societies throughout history. The command of Christianity was greater in the past centuries and has gradually decreased.Today its influence is very low and constantly fading. In the 18th and 19th century, Christian education was extremely important to the education of a child. More so than a ny other subject matter, the moral aspect of life was given more importance. However as time passed and knowledge grew, especially in the field of science, other subject matter grew in their precedence. Nevertheless, religious education was not neglected. However, in the early 20th century, the education of the origin of life contradicted the religious education concerning that matter. This issue was taken to court and the court decided in favor of the religious side [3].Half a century later, when opponents questioned the constitutionality of prayers in public schools, the matter went to the Supreme Court and the decision this time resulted in the abolishment of prayers from schools. This was the turning point in the influence of Christianity on education. From this point on, the influence of Christianity on education has been minimal and public school education has been completely secularized. Christianity’s influence on business is not easy to perceive. The effect of other religions on business, such as Islam’s effect on the business practices in the Middle East is easily observable.Some of the many influences of Islam on business in a country practicing Islam include closing and opening shops at only certain periods of the day, having certain religious holidays, donating certain amount of the profit to the local Muslim charity and so on. Likewise, the effect of Judaism on business is easily observed when those practicing Judaism don’t open their places of business on Saturdays in order to keep Sabbath and not buying or selling of any â€Å"non-kosher† food items. Looking at all these practices, it seems that Christianity stands out because it does not seem to have any influence on the business practices of our current world.This may seem true because those nations that had practiced Christianity in the past have for the most part separated religion from social aspects of life. Nevertheless, the current business practices of the w estern world have been influenced by Christianity in complex and subtle ways. One of the effects of Christianity is the very existence of the capitalist nature of the businesses in countries that had been influenced by Christianity. In the past when capitalism was under attack by communism, one of the chief aspects of anti-communism propaganda was claiming communism to be an anti-Christian ideology.This idea is not as far-fetched as it seems. The idea that hard working people should be rich and idle people should be poor originated from biblical passages which say that a man who does not work shall not eat. There are other biblical passages which advocate that hard work is blessed by God. Thus the idea of a capitalist country where every individual tries his/her best to gain wealth and is not hindered from doing so originated in many ways from the Christian culture. This idea also reveals how communism stood in the opposite position since the wages of every worker would be fixed reg ardless of the work put in.Apart from the above mentioned influences, similar influences are hard to pinpoint. However, they still do exist. As an example, the keeping of business places closed on Sunday is the direct result of the dedication of Sunday as a day of rest as it was established by the Catholic Church. In the current period, Christianity did attempt to make an influence in the business practices of the western world when credit cards were gaining fame and becoming part of the society. Christian influence attempted to oppose the trend because Bible passages indicated that a person should never borrow money but live by what he/she owns.Thus a hurdle was setup by this concept but it did not have much effect and credit cards became part of society. However, this indicates that Christianity is not as influential as it used to be and its power is fading. It has always been supposed and portrayed that science and Christianity stand on opposite sides. The proponents of each side for the most part believe that they will be at war with each other. And this is not an unfounded belief either because the Christian account of creation has always conflicted with the account of evolution which is accepted by the majority of scientists.The Supreme Court of the United States had upheld the scientists’ right to teach the theory of evolution in public schools and the struggle by the Christians to abolish that right has faded, since the Christians have understood that no court is going to rule in their favor [4]. However, this loss of Christianity was a major one because not only did it affect other scientific areas but it also affected aspects of culture, education, morality, etc†¦ If the very claim that God made everything could be contested and the new ideology is going to take dominance then all aspects of lifestyles will change for those who accept the new belief.And this change has already taken place and it is advancing further. The modern gay rights movement and the abortion movement though seem not to have any roots in this science VS Christianity battle, but it is only logical to perceive that the opponents of these movements are backed up by their religious belief which holds an opposing view of morality than those that the proponents of these movements hold. Regardless of the past defeats, the Christian movement has been putting up a fight against the popular claims of science in the field of biology.While the explanation for the origin of life has been attributed to the theory of evolution by its proponents, the lack of major fossil evidence as highly supposed by the early founders of this belief as well as the mostly unexplainable aspects of the complexity of life has brought into question the validity of this entire belief system. While the proponents of the theory of evolution have no answers to these new confounding problems, the lack of any supporting evidence to the original Christian belief has hindered its success into its own reestablishment.Nevertheless, the Christian side did wage a war and has attempted to take the matter of teaching their view to public school students through the idea of â€Å"Intelligent Design† to the Supreme Court. Even though the Christian side lost, their opposition is still strong and only time can determine the ultimate fate of this issue. While the influence of Christianity on most aspects of life in America has resulted in its weakening ability to maintain its power, its influence on politics stands out.Politics is the only field where Christian views regardless of the class of voters has mostly prevailed. In fact, a presidential candidate is not likely to be elected to the White House unless he reveals Christian upbringing or at least Christian views. Not only is politics inconsistent with the rest of the social structures, it is the only field that stands in utter contradiction since it had officially separated itself from all religious influences thr ough the concept of â€Å"separation of Church and State† first presented through the Constitution of America.While in other structures of society, Christianity stands in opposition to the trends and aspirations of the culture which for the most part picks liberal views over the conservative ones, in the case of politics, it is only the candidate running for his/her seat whose views are considered. The voters seem to hold the view that a candidate from a Christian background is moral and thus necessary to maintain a stable structure of the American way of life. This is not to say that the voters choose an anti-abortion or anti-gay candidate as their elected official.But the voters pick a candidate who describes his choices as being motivated by Christian views even though his interpretations of Christian morality may completely oppose Christian teachings. Thus in light of all these events and opinions, Christianity still holds its power in the field of politics although the o ther institutions have mostly rejected and ousted it. Christianity has played a crucial role in relationships, be it marital, single or family relations. Christianity teaches its followers to live with morality, and has set out a series of rules and regulations.These rules include abstinence and the legal binding of two individuals through marriage. Christianity strictly forbids sex before marriage. Whether practicing Christians follow this trend is in question due to a lack of reliable statistical data. However, many Christians choose to interpret these rules to fit their own needs and desired views. Such is the case where Christian children are taught to â€Å"respect their elders† and parents are encouraged to â€Å"discipline their children† [5].Whether â€Å"discipline† is meant as a corporal form of punishment or limiting the child’s recreational activities is left to the user’s interpretation. However, the teachings of the Bible/Christianity have often been used as justification or an excuse to abuse children This form (corporal punishment) of abuse is detrimental to a child’s physical and mental health and thus Christianity is often labeled the culprit and seen in bad light due to the fact that many infer that Christianity condones the abuse of children. From 1970 to 2000 the majority of U. S. tates voted to ban corporal punishment on a child the only exception being Ohio [6]. Christianity had influenced the modern world ever since its conception. Since the west has influenced the rest of the world dramatically, it can be said that Christianity itself has influenced the entire world. However, despite being a major religion of the world, the influence of Christianity has been fading in the past few centuries. For a majority of its existence it was the primary dictator of various ideologies. Drastic turn- around from this practice as witnessed in the contemporary orld will no doubt create a fundamentally differen t society. Whether for good or for worse, the effects of our presently upheld ideologies will only be known in its time.References1] http://worldblog. msnbc. msn. com/archive/2007/10/26/433457. aspx2] http://news. bbc. co. uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1874471. stm 3] http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/10545387/  

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Slavery in American and the Declaration of Independence Essay

Slavery in American and the Declaration of Independence - Essay Example The promise found in the Declaration of Independence that are men are created equal must today be viewed with the caveat that those who conferred legitimacy it was convinced that blacks held no claim to the same rights as whites and so there was no necessity to qualify the promise of universal equality within the document. The draft of the Declaration of Independence that was handed over by Jefferson, Adams, and Benjamin Franklin go the Continental Congress for approval originally contained a quite long passage directly calling to question the very institution of slavery. "He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither" (Higginbotham 381). This passage is not to be found on the official Declaration, of course, because representatives to the Conti nental Congress from the southern slaveholding states quickly colluded to express objection to its potential harm to their economic interests once the shackles of British rule had been successfully thrown off. In the final version of the Declaration, references to the institution of slavery are still expressed, but only in a manner that specifically accuses the British of inciting the slaves to revolt against their owners. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and most of the members of the Continental Congress had historically expressed in no uncertain terms before it came to write a declaration for independence based on the radical concept that all men were created equal their belief that a righteous difference existed between the rights of whites and the rights of blacks. John Adams went so far as to write the God Himself has "never intended the American colonists 'for Negroes and therefore never intended us for slaves" (Breen 202). When the phrase "all men are created equal" is found in the Declaration, therefore, it is actually is truer than it may at first glance appear. The intention of the Declaration of Independence was to spur not blacks to fight for independence and equality, but for whites to fight for the suspension of the class rule that had dominated European civilization for centuries. Jefferson and the other founding fathers did not write or approve the Declaration as a means to give hope to slaves that the American Revolution was going to bring them freedom, or that it would endow freed blacks with anything even approaching equality. Jefferson's incitement of the proposition that all men are created equal was at the time sheer propaganda directed specifically toward white colonists whom the revolutionaries needed to buy the idea that business as usual in Europe for millennia was not the future of the coming new country. Jefferson's use of the words "all men are created equal" can actually be seen more a threat to the grounded ideals of the aristocrac y.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

International Operational And Logistical Strategies Essay

International Operational And Logistical Strategies - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that total quality management encompasses combined management effort to improve and advance the quality of the company’s products at all levels. It has to do with meeting the customers’ quality expectation. Total quality management aids at improving effectiveness, flexibility, and effectiveness of an organization to meet the needs and expectation of all involved stakeholders. It facilitates planning and organizing to understand the contribution of all involved stakeholders. The frequently wasted energy and effort is eliminated through concrete and effective planning and organization. In total quality management, the leaders’ works on productive strategies of ensuring quality service management and total elimination of the detected problems and shortcomings. The ideology of total quality management accesses the management capability of managing people and business processes to meet customers’ quality expectation. Businesses provide the best outcome in satisfying the customers need through a well working combination of the total quality management and effective organization leadership. The guiding principle behind total quality management is suppliers-customer interface. The interface should be functional in internal level and in external level. Total commitment to quality is very essential in achieving the desired customer quality. To achieve the expectation of the total quality management ideology, frequent transmission of the quality messages together with the need and desire to change the culture of an organization for quality advancement are very fetal and necessary. The three main elements in total quality management are people, process, and systems available in the organization (Jarrett 2006, p. 57) In total quality management, the term quality refers to meeting fully the needs and expectations of the organizations’ customers. The component of quality in total quality management includes; reliability, maintenance, availability appearance, performance, delivery, cost effectiveness, and delivery. The understanding of the organization on all this needs necessitate total quality management (Joseph 2008, p. 50). After comprehensive understanding of the customer’s needs, the organization must strategize on the best means of achieving them for the sake of the customers (Slack, Chambers, Johnston, 2010, p. 19). The initial stage in achieving the quality expectation of the customer is conducting market research. Research helps in understanding the actual and real needs of the customers. The collected finding should be communicated to all relevant organization departments. For an organization to effectively meet the expectation of its customers, the involved stakeholders, department, activities must be integrated. The organization changes should also be based on customers’ satisfaction. Proper integration of all interfaces is very necessary in achievin g total quality organization (Zimmerman, 2006, p. 23). To meet the reality of total quality management, the process of transformation must start from the top. Senior managers must have the will and desire to achieve quality in the organization service delivery. They must demonstrate their total commitment and will of offering quality services to their customers. The operational managers must follow the suit of their seniors (Harrison and van Hoek, 2008, p. 87). Communication on the need and commitment to quality service delivery is also very relevant and demanding. The principles, ideologies, and benefits of total quality management must be communicated and understood by all playing partners. Frequent interaction and consultation in the organization is the real way of developing the required quality attitude and perception among the organization workers. The other core requirement in the total quality man

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Writer's Choice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Writer's Choice - Assignment Example This is because companies produce their goods to target the global market and sourcing is a core consideration (Lechner & Boli, 2011) Future global sourcing will depend on negotiated worldwide performance parameters, a globally incorporated market system as well incorporation of global professionalism especially in marketing, human resource, engineering and source groups. One effect of sourcing globally is that companies no longer source components but rather source in systems and services. This is important to companies because they not only have to produce affordable goods for the global market, but the goods need to be of right quality and standard. Companies which source systems therefore have an easier way of controlling quality and price. Another effect of global sourcing is that as much as companies would still prefer traditionally cheaper markets of China, Eastern Europe and India, they cautiously check the unknown costs that arise from sourcing in these markets (Lechner & Boli, 2011) The articles relate to the week’s topic because they fulfill the objective of evaluating how organizations can control cost of production by ensuring that standards and quality are observed when sourcing from a global market. This results in production of quality goods and services which meet global standards and consumed by a global market. Prior to buying of a system or even a product, purchasers usually would be interested in finding out an estimation of the total of direct as well as indirect charges included in a specific transaction. The comprehensive figure is what is called a Total Cost of Ownership. One main challenge that organizations go through while implementing a Total Cost Measurement system is the length of time required to come up with a comprehensive Total Cost Measurement System. This is because organizations have to go through

Monday, August 26, 2019

Organization and Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Organization and Management - Essay Example On the other hand, there are companies that were able to successfully adopt empowerment strategies, such as the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company was based on the ideals of innovative customer service and is widely known for pleasure-seeking comfort and luxury. The Ritz-Carlton is a pioneer in employee training. It has transformed the service industry by achieving the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. It was the only hotel company to receive the prestigious award. Currently, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is supervised by Marriott International, Inc., a top international hospitality company. Mr. Marriott has created an approach that places emphasis on their human resources and provide greater satisfaction and value for the company and its employees: â€Å"1. Get it right the first time, 2. Money isn’t the only thing, 3. Create a caring workplace, 4. Promote from within, and 5. Build your brand†. Empowering employees and improving customer service were the thrusts underlying the self-motivated and autonomous work teams at the Ritz-Carlton Company. After receiving the Malcolm Bardrige Award, the Ritz-Carlton Company realised that empowering their employees, especially their front-line staff, would further motivate the staff and create an excellent customer service. With these objectives in mind, the company’s executive group embarked on an empowerment programme. After a thorough assessment of existing processes in each department, the executive group discovered several management duties for potential reassignment to hourly staff. These involved projecting budgets, interviewing and choosing members of the team, collecting payroll accounts, and creating work schedules. The company created a mission statement that was approved by the entire staff. The front-line staff began the trial with self-directed activities by acquiring the duties of the

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Globalization Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Globalization - Assignment Example $500 million to renewable energy is a $500 million advantage that renewable energy firms get over firms that are not going that direction: It alters the market dynamic, creating another interaction. The equation, â€Å"Early 2008 Government stimulus program (worth $50 Billion USD) (political) x Big four Australian Banks kept credit lines open (business) = Cash Flow†, expresses yet another element of the interaction. However, it ignores that the ties between these things are even more incestuous than they seem: Since banks in industrialized countries are so regulated by the government, with interest rates controlled and currency given the full faith and credit of the government, the equation can be changed to â€Å"(Government + business) * (Business + government)† = cash flow. The stimulus program is a solution to the market meltdown, by creating both government-backed monetary sources (pension funds) and business-backed sources (credit lines). The impact on globalizati on is complex: It could involve Australia more in the international market as they return to purchasing; or it could make Australians turn inwards and consolidate internally to the country. This event certainly, however, diverges the Australians away from the world, representing the state as an agent countervailing against market forces and globalist interaction. It attempts to protect the interests of Australian consumers, â€Å"a safety measure, a precaution against imminent financial disaster†. In this sense, it is designed to keep Australians away from the fate of the world, which at the moment is poverty. This brings to mind an obvious question: Insofar as globalization keys all markets together, both in boom and in bust, how justifiable is

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Discussion Board 6-1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Discussion Board 6-1 - Assignment Example According to Kail and Cavanaugh (2013), adolescents face serious hormonal fluctuations that may results to depression, stress, joy or antisocial behaviors. In case that such changes result to depression or stress, the affected person may be have negative socio-emotions that may cause them develop withdrawal attitudes. Such occurrences have the impact of widening the gap between an individual adolescent and the family members. In some cases, an adolescent may have the tendency to discriminate between the family members with they relate closely. The given adolescent may have negative view of the distant or disliked family members and infer lies or make false accusations. This can result to disagreements, disharmony and conflict between the family members that the given adolescent enjoys close relationship and those they have distant relationships. A good manifestation of impact of negative socio-emotional changes of adolescents on family system involved one of my friends whose condition resulted to disagreements between the parents. As an adolescent boy who lived mostly with the mother as the father worked far from home but paid regular visits to the family, the mother handled the boy softly. The boy became hot tempered and preferred violence and aggression in solving his problems. Later, the father transferred to a work place near home so that he lived with the family. On realizing the behavior of the boy, the father began disciplining the friend so that he might change and know how to manage his problems effectively. Discipline involved punishments and talks, which the mother interpreted as inappropriate (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2013). Conflict caused by difference in views of the parents concerning the boy’s condition led to divorce and the adolescent moved to live with the mother. In another instance, an adolescent girl who was also the only child from a neighboring family

Friday, August 23, 2019

Legal opinion for formation of a public company Coursework

Legal opinion for formation of a public company - Coursework Example Before the company starts its business, it must have allotted shares whose minimum value should be at least 50, 000 pounds. A quarter of the shares should be paid up; this amounts to ?12, 500. For each of the allotted shares, up to the last quarter of its nominal value has to be paid up as well as any premium (Companies House, 2012). The other procedure in the formation of a public company includes the choosing of directors of the company. Several requirements have to be followed when choosing the company directors. One of the requirements is that the person should not be disqualified by law from becoming a director or be bankrupt. The maximum age of directors that was previously seventy years has been removed. During the formation of the company, the minimum age required for company directors is sixteen years. The directors of the company should then select few names (four) that are suitable enough and indicate the company’s objective (Companies House, 2012). One of the four names selected will become the main name while the three others have to be mentioned in their order of preference. The directors should then make an application to the registrar of companies to ascertain whether the selected names are appropriate. Once the names go through, the next step includes the drafting of the memorandum of associations and articles of association. The authorized share capital of the proposed public company should then be declared and be in line with the minimum paid up capital required in forming a public company. The next step involves filing a declaration and attaching the statement in lieu of the prospectus. Once the company is through with these steps, it will obtain a certificate that will enable it to commence business. Shares will be floated through an initial public offering, which states the price per share and the minimum and maximum number of shares that can be held by shareholders (Companies House, 2012). How the courts distinguish between contrac ts of service and contracts for services and the importance of this distinction. The law distinguishes between a contract of service and a contract for services. A contract of service refers to an agreement, which may either be verbal or written, implied or expressed. In this contract, a person makes an agreement employ another person as an employee while the employed person makes an agreement to serve the employer. An example of a contract of service includes an apprenticeship agreement or contract. On the other hand, contracts for services refer to independent contractors and sub-contractors. In differentiating between a contract of service and contracts for services, courts apply such tests as integration and control (Barendrecht 2007, p. 151). The test of integration looks at the extent to which the work of the employee may be said to be integrated into business. The control test explores the question on whether the employer can tell the employee what they ought to do. Other tes ts applied by the courts in the distinction between contracts of services and contracts for services include mixed or multiple tests. These tests question whether the agreement or engagement has wages, holiday pay, and sick pay. The courts state that these tests ask whether PAYE and PRSI are deducted. According to the courts, these multiple and mixed tests should also look at whether

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Natural disaster Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Natural disaster - Essay Example The disastrous effect of the earthquake in Haiti needs quick management and attention from the rest of the world and proper utilization of all the methods accessible for restoration of the country are important to save people in this part of the world. An article in the New York Times was published in January 2010 bearing the title â€Å"Thinking about a New Haiti†. This article provides an insight into the destruction that struck Haiti as a result of the earthquake. It explains the fact that many people lost their lives in this disaster and the infrastructure in the country became destroyed and people became stranded. It puts forward the fact that counties of the world including United States and Canada have started negotiating for aid and help to redevelop this country into a New Haiti. The author has also presented suggestions for quick recovery which include the utilization of the sources which the country has efficiently, spreading the people around the country to small towns and villages for the promotion of jobs and better living as well as the development of the roads and other structural requirements of the country. Foreign help and assistance from Haitians who are settled in different countries has also been put f orward in the article. â€Å"Thinking about a new Haiti† by the author is a subject that needs to be brought up and has been explained by the author perfectly. He has used language to create a proper connection between the Old Haiti and provided an insight into the development of the New Haiti. The author explains the poor condition of the people in a clear manner with these words, â€Å"In old Haiti there is still mostly horror. It is a nation of the homeless and maimed. Despite a stunning global surge of aid, many survivors still lack water, food and tents. â€Å"With this explanation he puts forward the importance of the aid that the Haitians require. The author coordinates his article in a manner to explain to

American Revolutionary War General Essay Example for Free

American Revolutionary War General Essay The American Revolution was the course by which numerous American colonies became an autonomous nation. It involved novel ideas grounded on republicanism and needed success in a long battle with Britain. Following the fighting that raged for nearly a year, the United States declared independence in 1776, as an autonomous country and established a coalition with France that leveled the naval and military might of the two nations. The fundamental cause was the British government’s refusal to permit Americans voice their concerns in setting duties. During the pre-revolutionary period, some notable events such as the Braddock’s expedition influenced the revolutionary path. The Braddock’s expedition commenced in 1755 in Pennsylvania . Among the volunteers during the expedition was Daniel Morgan who is considered one of the most victorious field leaders during the American Revolution. The tales of this renowned patriot and the regiments that operated under his command in the Boston siege, assault of Quebec, the obliteration of Burgoyne’s forces at Saratoga as well as his devastating conquer of Banastre Tarleton cannot be forgotten. Not much is known concerning the Daniel Morgan’s early life. It is generally thought that he was born in New Jersey in the year 1736 . His early life was signified by a rough frontiersmen outlook. He left original home when he was a child and established in Winchester, Virginia. Morgan was remarkably strong and a tireless, hardworking worker. He started by employing himself out but within a very short period of time earned sufficient confidence from his boss to be in charge of the boss’s sawmill. Although Morgan would sink into debts severally, he managed to save sufficient money to establish an autonomous wagon. Generally, Morgan was a prosperous captain, militia, farmer and a respectable citizen. When in 1775, the Continental Congress sanctioned the recruitment of two firms of Virginia riflemen, Morgan was the unchallenged choice from his Virginia County to recruit and head one of them. Early Career Daniel Morgan had an unconquerable spirit together with rapid wit made him a favorite amongst the people and before long most of the colleagues from Berryville and Winchester looked upon him as their leader . An agitated and high-spirited individual, he abandoned home in his early teens and established in Virginia. The muscular man was repeatedly in problems with the laws for affraying in taverns and failing to pay card debts and liquor. As a trucker, he accompanied the unfortunate Braddock’s expedition. His career started his career by working as a planter but was later given a job to work as a trucker for a wagon. Within a period of six months, Daniel had saved sufficient cash to purchase own team and cart and became a trucker under his own management on the Great Wagon Road . This road started in Philadelphia, traversing via Lancaster, shifted southward to Maryland, Frederick, traversed through Winchester, crossed the middle and eastern sections of Virginia Valley ending up in North Carolina. Morgan’s first hand experience of North Carolina and southwest Virginia added to his eye-catching defeat of Tarleton and the following idiotic tactics of Cornwallis to arrest him resulting to the British conquer at Yorktown as the American Revolution ended . Braddock’s Expedition The war of Monongahela commenced in 1755, near the location of contemporary-day Braddock, Pennsylvania. After it ended, over five hundred British forces lay dead and approximately five hundred were wounded . Only three hundred managed to escape the menace uninjured including George Washington . Edward Braddock, a British commander had been fatally wounded and succumbed to injuries several days later. Braddock’s men suffered badly from the initial stages of the war. The Tactics used by Indians were supremely appropriate for woodland battle. Battle between the French and British on the border implied additional work for Daniel who volunteered ferrying materials for the British forces. The rival assertions of England and France for the rich valleys southwest of Alleghenies had started to create slaughter. The French had already conquered the England fort located on the Allegheny Rivers and Monongahela and Washington had attempted to repossess it only to admit defeat at Great Meadows. Colonel Braddock was dispatched from Britain to conquer the tracts on the western side of the mountains. He brought a force comprising a collection of artillery and two regiments. There was need to procure transportation and Daniel volunteered his services. In addition to the regulars, Braddock also enjoyed the company of several men and camp followers. The forces were gathered at Cumberland pending the Braddock’s arrival. The aim was to proceed but the mission was delayed for several days while teams and wagons were found to carry the equipments and baggage. Once the regiment was in motion the journey was extremely slow. The roads were dominated by creeks and swamps and the terrains rough. Braddock made a decision to walk ahead with one thousand two hundred men and to abandon the artillery and baggage with Colonel Dunbar. Dunbar’s forces set camp at Great Meadows, the dawdlers started arriving with information concerning Braddock’s defeat. Fear and panic spread throughout the entire camp at the imagination that the enemy might attack. The following day most of the troops went back home together with most of the teams and wagons, abandoning the helpless and wounded. Due to the nature of Daniel’s work, he was among those in the wagon trains when Braddock’s forces were assaulted and nearly eliminated by an Indian and French alliance; instead of materials, Daniel found himself ferrying wounded soldiers . The condition on the Virginia frontier and Pennsylvania was ominous. The Braddock’s defeat left the border open for the murdering and robbing of the border populace. At a period when condition demanded all men to be available to safeguard the defenseless population, Dunbar and his troops left for Philadelphia. The Virginia’s administration met the condition with swiftness and energetically raised an extra force of sixteen firms under Washington to protect the frontier. Washington assigned forces at different places along the frontier. Morgan was assigned the responsibility of ferrying supplies along the defense lines. This was an extremely risky task as a trucker and was regularly exposed to serious dangers from the loitering foe. Morgan escaped death narrowly no several occasions. Experience with British Forces In the year 1756, Daniel experienced a dreadful disagreement with a lieutenant from Britain . The officer had been offended by something Daniel had articulated and after abusing him verbally; he hit him with the edge of his blade. Daniel’s instantaneous right cross hit the officer meaningless knocking him cold. The defiant act led to speedy military justice. The British laws were excessive on this form of crime and Daniel was accorded five hundred strokes, the harshest penalty possible. Such punishments were neither uncommon for the British forces nor was it unusual for men to pass away under the stroke. He obtained all of the punishment except one stroke. Daniel was too strong to pass away, but the familiarity left his body a piece of hamburger and bone . Once the wounds healed over, nonetheless, he acquired a priceless visual aid that proved important to him severally. It was articulated that the penalty would have murdered a slighter man. Until this period Daniel had not commanded anyone. He had helped Braddock and in return got wrongly trodden for his endeavors. The battle frenzied on and extended to the bottom of the blue hills. Fort Louden and Fort Cumberland were attacked by the foe standing just two hundred miles away from Daniel’s dwelling in Winchester. The militia was called to Fort Garrison and Daniel headed the forces towards the fort and commanded to for some period. Although none of his position is documented, it is widely assumed that he commanded the garrison. Shortly after his arrival, a body of Indians and French attacked Fort Edwards. Owing to Daniel’s leadership and bravery, the assault was halted. The battalion sallied forward and surpassed their enemies wounding and killing numerous Indians as the escaped in all directions. In 1758, General Forbes, the leader of the British battalion planned to assault Fort Duquesne; Daniel was suggested by leading officers of Virginia for the captaincy post. Governor Dinwiddie rejected the recommendation and only an ensign’s charge was obtainable. Daniel accepted the charge and was positioned at different forts beside the border in 1758 . Devastating Attack Daniel was dispatched from these forts with a company of two defense force . He was assaulted by a group of Indians and French. The defense forces were blasted and fell right away off the horsebacks. Daniel was stroke by a gunshot that pierced via his neck, scraping one part of his neck-bone, and then passing via the mouth . The gunshot removed all of Daniel’s teeth, but surprising enough didn’t harm the jawbone. In other words, Daniel’s head had been shot. Although wounded terribly, Daniel never fell from the horseback. The blood oozed effortlessly out of the gunshot wound and he was vulnerably weak, yet in such circumstances he was capable of keeping his feelings long enough to run away from additional harm. The horse he rode on panicked at first and froze, But Daniel seized her neck in an attempt to spurn her on . Incredibly, the horse curved and headed back to the fort. The Indians, assuming Daniel was fatally wounded, descended upon the defense forces searching for scalps. Daniel, also assuming he was just about to perish, speeded the horse to escape from his chasers to avoid mangling of his body. Daniel’s horse arrived at the fort when he was insensible. He remained in a critical condition for a long period of time, but with judicious treatment and good care, he recovered. Daniel later went back to Fredrick where his manly and bravery behavior had accorded him a high standing amongst his folks. Experience as a Lieutenant The Indian and French War ended and it seemed as if Daniel would get a chance to lead a nonviolent live. But following the peace treaty Pontiac’s battle broke out, an onslaught that destroyed the whole Western Frontier. Virginia reacted by recalling militia into active service to assist the existing battalion already stationed on the border. The forces were put under the authority of Colonel Stevens. Daniel was posted as a lieutenant in the regiment. In a crucial battle, the Indians were conquered and forced to implement a peace agreement without Daniel participating in the battle. The band of soldiers was disbanded and therefore ended the war. Leader of County Militia In 1771, the governor of Virginia, William nelson commissioned Daniel as Captain of Frederick County’s militia . This was a period of great extension on Virginia border, a development which disappointed Indian populace. Great carnages were happening in places such as Kentucky and Virginia’s populace feared that the trouble would spread to Virginia quickly. Their fears were confirmed and atrocities were committed by a band of settlers, instigating Dunmore’s War. Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, was confident to deal with the issue himself. He commanded a big battalion from the northern region to be organized and four brigades of volunteers and militia to be arranged in the Southern regions. While staffing for these regiments was being executed, a defense force was recruited to position itself between the border and the settlements under McDonald command. It was under the command of McDonald that Daniel took the leadership. He recruited several men and proceeded to Wheeling in Virginia to link up with McDonald. Major McDonald was initially requested to assume a defensive location, but decided to launch offenses due to lack of arrangements with the Indians. Daniel’s forces rapidly pushed the Indians from their locations forcing them to retreat. An Experienced Fighter By the year 1775 Daniel was an assessed and country fighter. He was capable of fighting using Indians methods of fighting and was proficient in using Pennsylvania gun, a long, thin tool of great accuracy and range. Not amazingly, when the Congress commanded the recruitment of ten firms of border riflemen to work as light infantry, Daniel was selected as a captain. After the U. S revolutionary War started at the skirmish of Concord and Lexington, the Congress established the famous Continental Army. The Congress gathered and called for creation of rifle firms from colonies to assist the Boston Siege and General Washington was named the commander of the army. It permitted the recruitment of twenty thousand men into the army. Congress also required ten firms of riflemen to be called into service in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania states. Among the companies provided by Virginia State, Daniel Morgan was chosen as the leader of one rifle firm by the commission of Frederick County through an undisputed vote . Daniel’s first significant assignment surfaced in 1775, when worked in Benedict Arnold’s voyage that attacked Canada . Exposed to the waist and sporting Indian breechlout and leggings, Morgan led the expedition. During the assault, he took momentary command Montogomery’s murder. He battled valiantly against the foe until ultimately overpowered by larger numbers and forced to surrender. Although Daniel spent eight months in an English detention prior to exchange, his notable achievements at Quebec gave him merited acknowledgment. He was endorsed for the post of colonel and provided with a special force of light infantry comprising five hundred selected backwoodsmen. Achievements during Revolution Saratoga War Daniels’ light forces had its best moments in the Saratoga battle of 1777, when he rushed to help the northern army, then refuting the southward campaign from Canada of General Burgoyne . Burgoyne had witnessed his forces repulsed at Bennington and Oswego and his weapons run precariously thin in New York. During the battle, American colonel Horatio permitted Burgoyne to exploit his supplies in unsuccessful probes. Morgan was used by Gates to annoy and delay the enemy. The rifleman, utilizing their woodland knowledge effectively killed many redcoats. Soon enclosed by Gate’s forces and bands of militiamen, Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga. As other attacks in the south were being evaluated, Britain’s standing among the colonies was tarnished both militarily and politically with enemies as well as friends. Morgan went back to Washington’s forces with splendor and immediately joined army politics. He believed his achievements would earn him a larger command as well as promotion particularly because a novel light infantry was being formed. However, the Congress felt that Virginians fielded sufficient Generals and offered the authority to a Pennsylvanian, Anthony Wayne. Cowpens War After a long period of inactivity, Morgan chose to accomplish his stand at Cowpens after the American grounds brightened in the South with a novel leader, Nathanael Greene who dispatched him into South Carolina . Confident to eliminate Daniel before attacking the higher south, Cornwallis dispatched Tarleton to pursue him. Daniel’s assumed advantage of Tarleton’s behavior for rapid action and his disregard for the inexperienced militia and the accuracy and longer range of Virginia riflemen. The gunmen were located to the frontline while both the regulars and militia remained behind. The first units were required to withdraw upon being threatened thus provoking a premature attack. During the campaign, Morgan famed himself as a leader of troops who nevertheless sustained the ordinary touch and maintained their secret. Typical soldiers toiled harder and shoved themselves a little bit further when Daniel was supervising them. The approach achieved enormous results; as the English troops neared, the American troops reloaded their guns. When the enemy got close they fired in their faces. Within a very short time, Tarleton’s one thousand and seventy six men got wounded, one hundred and ten killed and eight hundred and thirty captured . Although Tarleton managed to escape, all his equipments and supplies were captured by the Americans. Daniel’s cunning strategy is widely viewed to be the strategic masterwork of the battle and the most effectively executed envelopment of contemporary military history . Conclusion Braddock’s conquer was indeed one of the drastic events of the period before American Revolution. It left population settlements in Virginia and Pennsylvania susceptible to Indian and French invasion. Braddock’s expedition also improved Daniel Morgan’s standing and assisted helped him to be the sensible choice for an officer of Riflemen units in the American Revolution. Finally, the expedition was a significant chapter to the long battle with the Indian forces for the administration of the western Pennsylvania and Ohio valley. Saratoga War was also a significant success, won when United States required success in the most awful way and played an integral role in influencing other governments such as French administration to formally join the battle to aid the besieged colonies. The coalition with France became pivotal in maintaining American Revolutionary military resistance and resolve Bibliography Cassell, Frank. The Braddock Expedition of 1755: Catastrophe in the Wilderness, n. d, http://www. hsp. org/default. aspx? id=622 (29 July 2009) Cheaney, Janie. Daniel Morgan, 1998, http://jrshelby. com/kimocowp/morgan. htm (29 July 2009). Chapel, Hill. Daniel Morgan: Revolutionary Rifleman. North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press, 1979. Daily, Allen. History of the Descendants of David Morgan, 2000, http://freepages.genealogy. rootsweb. ancestry. com/~morgansociety/david. htm (29 July 2009). Frassett, James. Revolutionary War, 2000, http://www. revolutionarywararchives. org/morganearlyyears. html (29 July 2009) Jacob Cushing, A Sermon Preached at Lexington, April 20th 1778. Boston: Powars Willis, 1776. John Archdale, A New Description of that Fertile and Pleasant Province of Carolina, Narratives of Early Carolina, (1911): 277-313. Richard Price, A Discourse on the Love of Our Country . . . Commemorating the Revolution in Great Britain. London: Edward E. Powars, 1789.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

A Life Cycle Analysis Of A Dam Environmental Sciences Essay

A Life Cycle Analysis Of A Dam Environmental Sciences Essay Dams are built for various purposes; the major function includes hydroelectric power generation, drinking water supply, irrigation, flood control, recreation etc. But the different incidents and studies done by several researchers proved that these large dams made for these purposes, also simultaneously pose substantial threats to the life, property and the environment throughout their lifecycle. The impacts may be different in different phases, namely construction, operation and decommissioning phase. There are about 845,000 dams around the world (Jacquot, 2009), the cumulative impact of all these dams could be enormous. So, it is essential to minimise the impacts due to dam construction on lives, property and environment. Identifying possible impacts, calculating risk and minimising the risk through the adoption of various techniques could help to lower the overall impacts. Major hazards associated with Dams throughout their lifecycle (Reservoir): Construction Phase: Construction of large infrastructure like dams demands massive amount of construction material, excavation process and vehicles, which directly impacts on the environment and society. Most of the equipments and vehicle engage on such activities use fossil fuel as the principal source of energy and contribute to the green house gas emission. The estimated emission from Glen Canyon dam during its construction phase was calculated as 800,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent (Pacca, 2002). The risk of accidents due to the vehicles, construction activity and excavation process to the worker is probable. The construction site could be of special interest for some animal or plant, so this activity may lead to the disappearance such plant/animal from that area for ever. Operation Phase: The operation of dams also poses threat to the environment and people. The threat of dam failure during the operation phase due to various reasons may cause huge loss of life and property. There is always threat of drawing of people on the dam. The emission during this phase from the decay of biomass in the reservoir is obvious; the emission from the Glen Canyon dam during its operation phase was estimated to be 3,500,000 metric ton of CO2 equivalent (Pacca, 2002). The failure of dam is the most destructive event of the entire lifecycle of dam. The details on dam failure are discussed separately below. Decommissioning Phase: This is the last stage of the life cycle of dam, this stage pose threat of sweeping the downstream areas (settlements, infrastructure, etc) and the lives. The emission from this stage is found as largest in comparison with construction and operation. The emission from the decommissioning of the Glen Canyon dam was calculated as 33,000,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent (Pacca,2002), which was more than nine times the emission from the entire operation phase. Though the decommissioning work is done in controlled manner, the loss of property would not be as the dam failure. Environmental and Social consequences throughout a dams life: Construction Phase: Resettlement of people: Construction of Dam requires huge area of land, which is often acquired by displacing people from that place. People are often forced to leave their inherited land giving them psychological stress and the resettlement to the new location often alters the existing environment there. In China Three Gorges Dam have already displaced a million people and still another 80000 are to be moved till its final stage, 1200 villages and 2 major towns have had to be abandoned and rebuilt (McGivering, 2006). Archaeological sites: In some cases even the archaeological sites also get destroyed due to dam construction. More than 100 archaeological sites, some dating back over 12000 years is to be submerged due to the three gorge dam (Gleick, 2009). Transportation, excavation and construction: The movement of vehicles during the construction of dam contributes to emission to some extent and equally disturb the ecology there. The excavation and construction process both impact the ecology locally. Air pollution due to the dust can be expected. Operation Phase: Siltation: Rivers carry sediment loads, the amount vary according to the characteristics of the catchment area and the velocity of the running water. The construction of dam reduces the velocity of the river thus helping sediment to settle down within the reservoir. If the sediment deficit exit due to this in river, the channel can be expected to evacuate sediment from its bed and banks in the downstream effecting the environment there (Grant,2003). Methane Generation: Hydro power was considered to be the renewable that produce no greenhouse gases. According to Boyle, G (2009), a report by the world commission on dams (WCD, 2000, Anon, 2001), the decaying of vegetable matter in an anaerobic condition produces methane (CH4), when the land is flooded with hydro project. Fish migration: Fish are affected directly by the obstruction like dam on its course. The most commonly affected species like Salmon, which needs to go upstream for spawning, can be obstructed from their spawning place. Inundation of the spawning grounds within the reservoir, periodic inundation and drying out of spawning ground and refuge area downstream of the dam further hampers the fishs activity. (Harvath, and Municio,1998). Fertility of the downstream plains: The downstream part of dam loose the nutrient containing soil, which used to receive during flooding. After the building of the Aswan dam, in 1960s, the land downstream no longer receives the soil and nutrients previously carried by the annual Nile flood. The agricultural system has been destroyed in the downstream and to be replaced and is replaced by irrigation and chemical fertilizer (Boyle, 2004). Local climate change: Increased precipitation has been observed after the construction of dam, the physical process by which large scale surface evaporation triggers in the precipitation recycling in such area (Hossain, et al, 2009). Changes in the air moisture percentage, air temperature, air movement in big scale can be caused by big scale dam (Tahmiscioglu, et al,.). Impact on biodiversity: In some cases building of dams disturb the habitat of critically endangered species too, the winter shelter of Siberien Crane and the Baiji Yangtze river dolphin, are found to be affected by the three gorges dam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Dam). Induced earthquakes: large reservoirs can cause seismic events as they fill, as the pressure on local faults increases (ICE 1981). The seismic activity of magnitude 5.7 was recorded in Lake Oroville in Butte county of California in June 1982(Allen, 1982). Agricultural/ loss of forests: In many cases, the construction of dam covers the productive agricultural land which used to be the means of sustenance for the local people and in many cases clear some part of forest destroying natural ecosystem. About 1400 hector of agricultural land is to be submerged because of the three gorge dam (Gleick, 2009). Spread of disease (increase in disease carrying vectors, e.g. mosquito): Study carried out by Yewhalaw, et al (2005), found that the impoundment can act as breeding ground for vectors like mosquito, and found that the children living near to dam are at greater risk of plasmodium infection than the children living away. Decommissioning Phase: Decommissioning: Even though, decommissioning of dams help to restore the reverine ecosystem to its natural condition, some short term negative effect such as sediment mobilisation, contaminated material and threat of super saturation can be seen (Bednarek, 2001). Dam Failure: One of the most obviously harmful effect of large dam is seen, when it falls. The underlying causes may be different in each case. Some of the major causes are (ICOLD, 1973): Overtopping Foundation defects Piping and seepage Conduits and valves Seismic event damage Failure of dam due to internal water pressure Failure of dam due to prolonged period of rainfall and flooding Causes of Dam Failure that occurred between 1075- 2001(NPDP, 2007) (Adopted from historic records of Dam Performance, 2007) On the basis of the above graph it can be said that, flood or overtopping of the dam wall stand far ahead from other causes of dam failure. Seepage and piping is on second position and rest of all are responsible for very less number of dam failures, this graph proves that the overtopping of dam is the major causes of dam failures. Cost of Dam Break: The cost of dam break consists of two components; reconstruction cost of dam and economic loss due to destruction and inundation downstream (Kuo, et al, 2008). Cost and Benefit from Dam: Dam construction is an expensive work and demands huge sum of money, but it provides extremely necessary things for running the society and development like energy and water for drinking and irrigation purpose. On the other hand it has some impacts on society and environment, some of which needs lots of money and time for restoration while others are irreparable. So construction of dam has its own pros and cons. Ways to minimise the occurrence of dam failure: Dam failure is the most destructive incident in the entire life cycle of dam, which may cause huge loss of life and property. So it is essential to ensure the safety of dam in order to protect the life and property. Some of the important steps essential for the reduction of dam failure and its impacts are as follows (MDE, 1996): Strict legislation should be promulgated by government for the construction of dam/ Reservoir. Routine deformation monitoring of seepage from drains in and around larger dams is necessary and if found faulty, corrective measure should be taken. In case of wall fracture, rock grouting (pressure pumping of cement slurry) can be done to reduce the risk of dam failure. Regular monitoring and maintenance could help a lot to prevent dam failure. Early warning system should be incorporated in the reservoir system to protect people and property downstream, in case of dam failure. Dam construction should not be allowed in the area of high seismic activity. Most of the nations make safety programme for the protection of dam. In USA most of the states are responsible for the safety of dams within their boundary and to ensure the safety they regularly follow the following procedure (Lane, 2008); Evaluate the safety of existing dam. Review plans and specification for safety and regulatory programme. Carry out periodic inspection on construction on new and existing dams. Review and approval of emergency action plan. Some measures to reduce other impacts on and due to dams: Management of catchment of river can help to reduce sedimentation on dam, which may include plantation on the catchment area, adoption of landside and erosion control measures for the upstream area of dam. The periodic cleaning of dams can help to reduce the load of sediments within a dam and help to reclaim the capacity to its original form. Fish ladder can help to restore fish migration to some extent. (source) The calculation of probable maximum precipitation (PMP) and estimation of probable maximum flood (PMF) and the probability of average return period for that river, could help to design the dam properly (CSCD,1985), which could prevent dam from failure. Monitoring should be carried out to control the breeding of mosquitoes in dam, if found, mosquito larvae must be controlled with the approved mosquito larvicide, so that the other aquatic organism will have minimal impacts from larvicide (DHF,2006). Rich picture of Dam and associated Impacts A Rich Picture illustrating impacts of dam on various aspects of environment and society Risk of Dam Failure with age: Percentage of different age groups of dam failures in Russia in comparison with the failures of world dams. (Adopted from Management of Impounded Rivers, Wang and Melching, 2007). Though age is one of the important factor for the dam failure as the walls and other infrastructures erodes or weakens with age, but it is not only the factor that causes dam failure; faulty structures, extreme weather events, sabotage, seismic activities etc also trigger to dam failure. The above graph showed that the highest number of dam failure was in the age group 0-10, which then gradually decreases as the age group increases. The defective structure can lead to dam failure even at its early age while the well constructed and well maintained dam can serve over hundred years. On the basis of above graph it can be said that aging in not the primary factor for dam failure and proper maintenance can lengthen the life span of dam despite of age, and does not show clear correlation with dam failure. One probable reason of less number of dam failures of the aged dam could be the proper maintenance and decommissioning before the dam failure occurs. Risk Assessment of dam failure: Risk assessment was calculated on the basis of data from Annex-3. High severity condition Total Occurrence= 11 Average time taken to repeat the events for the class IA (with more than 300 deaths) =11.1 year Average Death calculated=1111.1 Risk=Frequency (event/ unit time) -Magnitude (Deaths)=1/11.1-1111.1=0.09-1111.1=99.99 Therefore, Risk=99.99 per 11.1 year Risk calculation for overall dam failure Total occurrence of dam failure=46 Average gap between successive events=0.39 year Average death per event=357.91 Risk= Frequency (event/ unit time) -Magnitude (Deaths) Therefore, Risk= 1/0.39-357.91=2.6-357.91=930.5 person per 0.39 year Conclusion: References: Allen, C,R, 1982, Reservoir Induced Earthquakes and Engineering Policy, California Geology, 35, 11 Bednarek, A,T, 2001,Undamming Rivers: A Review of the Ecological Impacts of Dam Removal, Environmental Management, 27,803-814. Boyle, G, 2004, Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future, Oxford University, Oxford CSCD,1985, Safety of Dams: Flood and Earthquake Criteria, National Academy Press, Washington D.C. DHF, 2006,Guidelines for Preventing Mosquito Breeding Sites Associated with Aquaculture Development in NT,Department of Health and Families, Darwin Gleick, P.H., 2009, Three Gorges Dam Project, Yangtze River, China, Water Brief, 3, 139-150. Grant, E, G, et al, 2003, A Geological Framework For Interpreting Downstream Effects Of dams On Rivers, Water Science and Application 7, 209-225 Harvath, E, and Municio, M. A. T.,1998, 2nd International Symposium in Civil Engineering, Budapest Hossain, F, et al, 2009, Local Climate Change, EOS, 90,453-468 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Dam, assessed on 4 March, 2010. http://www.internationalrivers.org/files/srdamsafety.pdf, assessed on 20 May, 2010 http://npdp.stanford.edu/npdphome/Historic%20Performance%20of%20Dams.pdf, assessed on 20 May ,2010. http://www.damsafety.org/, assessed on 20 March, 2010 International Committee on Large Dams (ICOLD, 1973),Lessons from Dam Incidents,Reduced Edition, Paris Jacqot,J,2009, Numbers Dams; From Hoover to Three Gorges to the crumbling ones, Environmental Policy, http://discovermagazine.com/2009/mar/08-dams-hoover-three-gorges-crumbling-ones, assessed on 17 May 2010. Kuo,J,T, et al, 2008,Dam Over Topping Risk Assessment Considering Inspection Programme, Stoch Environ Res Risk Assess, 22, 303-313 Lane,N, 2008,Aging Infracture: Dam Safety, Congressional Research Service McGivering, J, 2006, Three Gorges Dams Social Impact, BBC , http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/asia-pacific/5000198.stm, assessed on 3 March 2010. MDE, 1996, Maryland Dam Safety Manual, Association of State Dam Safety Officials Pacca,S, 2007, Impacts from Decommissioning of Hydroelectric Dams: A life Cycle Prospective, Climate Change, 84, 281-294 Tahmiscioglu, M, S, et al,.. Positive and Negative Impacts of Dam on the Environment, International Congress on River Basin Management, 760-769 Wang,Z,Y, and Melching, S, 2007, Management of Impounded Rivers Yewhalaw, D, et al, 2005, Malaria and Water Resource development: The Case of Gilgel-Gibe Hydroelectric Dam in Ethopia, Malar. J, 8, 21 Annex-1 (Part-A) PLAGARISM DECLARATION I declare that the work I am submitting for assessment contains no section copied in whole or in part from any other sources unless it is explicitly identified by means of quotation marks. I declare that I have also acknowledged such quotation by providing detailed references in an approved format. I understand that either or both unidentified and unreferenced copying constitutes plagiarism, which is one of a number of very serious offences under the universitys code of practice on the Use of Unfair Means. Student No- 200910979 LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS OF A DAM CONTENTS PAGE NO. INTRODUCTION: 3 Major hazards associated with Dam: 3 Major environmental issues associated with dam 3-4 Catastrophes (Dam failure): Siltation Methane generation Fish migration Resettlement of people Fertility of the downstream plains Local climate change Impact on biodiversity Induced earthquakes Agricultural/ loss of forests Spread of disease Archaeological sites Decommissioning Key questions for part B 5 Draft Plan 5 References 6 Word Count- 1076 Word Limit- 1000 INTRODUCTION: Dams are built for various purposes; the major function includes hydroelectric power generation, drinking water supply, irrigation, flood control, recreation etc. But the different incidents and studies done by several researchers proved that these large dams made for these purposes, also simultaneously pose substantial threats to the life, property and the environment throughout their lifecycle. The impacts may be different in different phases, namely construction, operation and decommissioning phase. Yes, but what is th eproblem situation or concern? Major hazards associated with Dam: Dam failure: one of the most obviously harmful effect of large dam is seen, when it falls. The underlying causes may be different in each case. Some of the major causes are: Seismic event damage Failure of dam due to internal water pressure. Failure of dam due to prolonged period of rainfall and flooding. Threat to human life due to drowning in dam. Major environmental issues associated with dam: Catastrophes (Dam failure): Dam failure often results huge loss of life, property and environment. During 20th century some 200 dam failures caused more than ten thousand people outside China and in the year 1975 only about quarter of million people were perished in the series of hydroelectric dam failure in China (Boyle, G, 2004). Siltation: Rivers carry sediment loads, the amount vary according to the characteristics of the catchment area and the velocity of the running water. The construction of dam reduces the velocity of the river thus helping sediment to settle down within the reservoir. If the sediment deficit exit due to this in river, the channel can be expected to evacuate sediment from its bed and banks in the downstream effecting the environment there (Grant,2003). Methane generation: Hydro power was considered to be the renewable that produce no greenhouse gases. According to Boyle, G (2009), a report by the world commission on dams (WCD, 2000, Anon, 2001), the decaying of vegetable matter in an anaerobic condition produces methane (CH4), when the land is flooded with hydro project. Fish migration: Fish are affected directly by the obstruction like dam on its course. The most commonly affected species like Salmon, which needs to go upstream for spawning, can be obstructed from their spawning place. Inundation of the spawning grounds within the reservoir, periodic inundation and drying out of spawning ground and refuge area downstream of the dam further hampers the fishs activity. (Harvath, E, and Municio, M. A. T.,1998). Resettlement of people: Construction of Dam requires huge area of land, which is often acquired by displacing people from that place. People are often forced to leave their inherited land giving them psychological stress and the resettlement to the new location often alters the existing environment there. In China Three Gorges Dam have already displaced a million people and still another 80000 are to be moved till its final stage, 1200 villages and 2 major towns have had to be abandoned and rebuilt (McGivering, 2006). Fertility of the downstream plains: The downstream part of dam loose the nutrient containing soil, which used to receive during flooding. After the building of the Aswan dam, in 1960s, the land downstream no longer receives the soil and nutrients previously carried by the annual Nile flood. The agricultural system has been destroyed in the downstream and to be replaced and is replaced by irrigation and chemical fertilizer(Boyle, G, 2004). Local climate change: Increased precipitation has been observed after the construction of dam, the physical process by which large scale surface evaporation triggers in the precipitation recycling in such area (Hossain, F, et al, 2009). Changes in the air moisture percentage, air temperature, air movement in big scale can be caused by big scale dam (Tahmiscioglu, M, S, et al,.). Impact on biodiversity: In some cases building of dams disturb the habitat of critically endangered species too, the winter shelter of Siberien Crane and the Baiji Yangtze river dolphin, are found to be affected by the three gorges dam (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Gorges_Dam). Induced earthquakes: large reservoirs can cause seismic events as they fill, as the pressure on local faults increases (ICE 1981). The seismic activity of magnitude 5.7 was recorded in Lake Oroville in Butte county of California in June 1982(Allen, C,R, 1982) Agricultural/ loss of forests: In many cases, the construction of dam covers the productive agricultural land which used to be the means of sustenance for the local people and in many cases clear some part of forest destroying natural ecosystem. About 1400 hector of agricultural land will be submerged because of the three gorge dam (Gleick, P.H., 2009). Spread of disease (increase in disease carrying vectors, e.g. mosquito): Study carried out by Yewhalaw, D, et al (2005), found that the impoundment can act as breeding ground for vectors like mosquito, and found that the children living near to dam are at greater risk of plasmodium infection than the children living away. Archaeological sites: In some cases even the archaeological sites also get destroyed due to dam construction. More than 100 archaeological sites, some dating back over 12000 years will be submerged due to the three gorge dam (Gleick, P.H., 2009). Decommissioning: Even though, decommissioning of dams help to restore the reverine ecosystem to its natural condition, some short term negative effect such as sediment mobilisation, contaminated material and threat of super saturation can be seen (Bednarek, A,T, 2001). Key questions for part B: Answer to the following questions will be searched in the second part of this case study: What are the major hazards associated with dam and how the risk can be minimised? What are the approaches practised to minimise the impact on dam on environment and human? How the dam induced impact like sedimentation, obstruction on the fish migration route and increase in diseases carrier vector can be regulated? How the regulating body ensure the safety of dam? How the factors like politics and economy affect in the construction of dam? Draft Plan: Introduction Major hazards associated with Dam (Reservoir) Causes of Dam failure The possible impacts of such hazards Measures to minimise the impacts Environmental Issues associated with Dam Impact on agriculture and forest Impact on fish migration Impact on biodiversity Measures practised to minimise the impact Socio economic impact of Dam Abandonment and resettlement of displaced people Damages to ancient heritage (archaeological structure) Ways to minimise the damage to ancient heritage Cost Benefit Analysis of Dam Conclusion