Salvage Logging :: Logging Environmental Forestry Essays

Salvage Logging Proponents: Legislators and the timber industry Opponents: Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE) Legislators have defined "salvage logging" as the act of logging unhealthy forest stands, considered to have a probability of experiencing extreme insect and disease infestation of catastrophic fire. However, no scientific consensus exists for describing an unhealthy forest, predicting or classifying catastrophic fire event, or classifying the resultant damage of an insect and disease. Salvage logging was an alternative way of meeting timber demands and generating revenues by timber industries and legislators without much opposition from the public. This is because the laws permitting such logging practices are so vague and confusing. Legislators espouse that the sales from such practice brings in money to the Treasury while rendering the forests more "health." Proponents claimed that harvesting timber would reduce fuel-loading to reduce the intensity of fires and thin-out forests stands to relieve inter-tree competition. Though this sounds plausible, the criteria for determining wha t sort of trees would be removed, and who would make the decision still remains unanswered. Salvage logging is an attempt to compromise excessive logging and controlled logging. Excessive logging obviously leads to deforestation as is evident in most areas of the world today. The savannas of Africa, the steppes of eastern Europe and Russia, the pampas of Argentina, and at least some of the prairies of North America used to be forested before human disturbance. The Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE) are strongly opposed to this kind of vague laws employed by legislators in salvage logging. In certain instances, the practice has been referred to as "logging without laws" because it exempts timber companies involved in salvage sales from most environmental laws including the Endangered Species Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the National Forest Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. It also allows for clearcutting of huge forest areas. It prevents citizens from exercising their right to challenge illegal logging plans. FSEEE also suggest such vague laws will allow for massive clearcutting of healthy trees and that it also directs the federal government to dramatically increase timber harvests. Allowing for deforestation by the federal government by such vague laws gradually contributes to global deforestation and a corresponding increase in species extinction. Reforestation, by replanting, is only done on a fraction of the deforested area, and it usually creates a monoculture plantation, with much less biological diversity and less disease resistance than in virgin, or old-growth forest.

ICT and Business Development

ICT and Business Development In line with the main priorities set by the URBACT Information Society Network, this theme focuses on business development and the role of ICT as a means of tackling economic restructuring and promoting employment and in doing so fostering social cohesion and economic inclusion. The purpose of this brief document is to act as a guide for colleagues when preparing material or presentations on this topic and to provoke discussion on the issues raised in it. Business Development and its relationship to ICT?Business Development is the process of improvement that enables a business to become more efficient, profitable, and thereby creating or safeguarding jobs. Business development therefore does not only concern marketing and sales departments, but all parts of a business which constitute its value chain and requires effective communication and co-operation within a company. Over the last 20 years ICT has increasingly been identified as a major contributor to the process of business development and improvement and it has been identified that â€Å"ICT †¦. is responsible for around half of productivity growth in modern economies.It drives improved efficiency and better services and products across the entirety of the private and the public sectors. † (Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society). What has been the impact of ICT on Business? The use of ICT and technology has affected every aspect of business, transforming not only the way that business is conducted but also creating new business sectors and jobs. The creation of companies like Google and e-Bay which did not exist 10 years ago, was only made possible by advances in technology and the changes that this has created in the way that people ehave (currently Google is valued at ?44billion – Source BBC 5th June 05). Some examples of the nature of this change include: Marketing: The use of websites has allowed companies to develop new and cheaper ways of reaching new markets, offering customers the opportunity of buying goods and services whenever they want and often at reduced cost, whilst also enhancing the level of customer service. This has been coupled with the expansion and use of e-mails which again has been used by business to market their goods and services directly to potential customers, as well as communicating with existing customers and suppliers.Increasingly the marketing campaigns of businesses include the use of technologies such as Contact Management Systems that allows them to co-ordinate, monitor and report on various aspects of their marketing campaigns in new ways making these campaigns more targeted and effective. Finance: Practically all companies now use software programs e. g. Sage or Excel to manage their accounts. This has allowed them to look at financial information when required, monitor and respond to their customers purchasing patterns by e. g. offering discounts an d overall improve the management of their finances.The result of this has been for many companies a reduction in their accountancy fees. Out of office working: For many businesses the need for staff to be away from the office attending meetings etc. or to be based in another geographical location has grown alongside employee demands for more flexible working patterns. However effective communication and ability to access information etc. remains critical to the productivity of these staff members. Therefore through the use of technology many companies now use a range of technologies to enable this.These include mobile phones, e-mail, broadband, laptops, etc. Thus ensuring that companies are able to be flexible and adaptive depending on their business needs. Networks: Virtually all businesses now have or have access to a computer. The existence of two or more computers in an office almost always leads to the creation of a network. The main advantage of doing so is that resources can be shared e. g. printers, internet access, files/information can be managed and shared amongst workstations and the security of information can be better managed through a network.Increasingly networks are not just confined to the office but are being adopted so that they allow home/remote working that supports changing business needs. This transformation has really taken place over the last 20 years and continues to transform the way business is done. No business today can ignore the use of technology as its effective use helps businesses to remain competitive and profitable, thereby creating or safeguarding jobs. The role of the Public Sector? What is the case for Public Sector intervention if this is already happening?Talking specifically about SME’s, the final report (Feb. 2004) of the European Go Digital Awareness campaign 2001-2003 shows that â€Å"to help SME’s to â€Å"Go Digital† is still a policy challenge† as SME’s remain sceptical about ICT and e-business. This is mainly the result of: †¢Their experience of procuring technology has often left an impression that the wrong decision was made as the expected benefits from using new technology have not materialised. This then affects businesses willingness to further invest in technology and therefore threatens their further competitiveness. The creation of new businesses especially in new industries requires that the right support and business environment are present.For example the presence of Science Park’s, Universities, and Research Centres etc. can help the spread of an innovative culture amongst businesses. In the absence of proper support and the right environment areas/regions risk losing the jobs and prosperity brought by the creation of new businesses. †¢Procuring technology in itself is not a route to successful business development but requires that staff have the right skills to implement and use it effectively. Many of the new technologi es and emerging or existing businesses are increasing dependant on the presence of a relevant technological infrastructure to support business development e. g. Broadband access. The lack of this infrastructure can undermine business development, therefore damaging competitiveness and jobs. The issues above although not exhaustive are indications of market failure and therefore a challenge to the public sector in defining a role and developing projects/iniatives to address them.Without effective action areas/regions risk falling behind and therefore losing out in terms of: †¢Developing new businesses in new business sectors made possible by advances in technology; †¢Ensuring that businesses by effectively using technology are competitive both locally and globally; †¢Ensuring that businesses have the necessary information and support to develop into new markets; †¢Enabling businesses to become more flexible and responsive to the demands of their customers and thei r staff; †¢Developing a workforce with the necessary skills that are demanded in the present and future labour market.How did you develop your project? Once you have identified a problem or issue then the next stage is to plan actions to overcome or redress these issues. This starts with the planning stage which is a critical component to the success of any project, starting with identifying the need for the project, and includes project time scales, project design, project finance, project partners and resources, project organisation and management etc. What were the key factors in achieving this and what barriers did you have to overcome to do so?Main outcomes of the project to businesses? Over the course of any project measuring its success is a necessary part of project management, reporting and measuring impact or change. What therefore were the main outcomes of the project and how were they measured? ?Increased or improved use of ICT helped to expand business activities? ?Increased or improved use of ICT resulted in the development of new services and/or products? ?ICT usage has helped to create new networks – inside and outside the company? The adoption of ICT solutions has lead to the restructuring of working and communication methods in the enterprise? ?New models of working and/new jobs emerged? ?The implementation of e-work helped to integrate people who have been excluded from â€Å"traditional† jobs in the company before? ?The business now understands better the need for staff training? ?Additional jobs and/or the maintenance of exiting ones as a result of the projects work? Lessons learnt?During the course of any project the experience of delivery often throw’s up many unforeseen issues, especially when you are dealing with technology, which are a result of internal and external factors. This then leads to lesson’s learnt which can range from better ways to manage a project through to innovative approaches to prov iding support etc. These lessons learnt are not only of value to the project staff but also for others interested in developing or currently running similar projects.

Black Slavery among the Cherokee Indians Essay

Despite the great attention that Black slavery are getting from different groups and individuals, the plight remains as there are some aspects that need to be further scrutinized and observed. Based on available literature, the slavery on Black tribes has been given only given a limited attention and that there has been a very low awareness that there exists slavery in the tribes of the Blacks Americans, including the Cherokee Indians. Southern histories which are supposed to retell the stories of Southern Americans do not provide a clear understanding and a vivid account on the slavery Cherokee nation. There are no available accounts of the complete history of the Cherokees and if there is, it only provides a little space for the discussion of the Cherokees—but nothing substantive, really. The Cherokees are said to be slave owners and regard themselves as a superior tribe. But despite their being slave owners, they treat their slave humanely unlike their white counterparts. The book Red over Black: Black Slavery among the Cherokee Indians written by R. Halliburton Jr. basically revolves around this idea and unmasks the unknown facts of slavery in Cherokee Indians. revolves around this issue The author exposed the different aspects of slavery in Cherokees and appears to have exhausted the literature available with regards to the Indian Cherokees. The author made use of historical accounts to present factual thoughts on Indian Cherokee slavery. The book is written in outline form so as to provide the readers a chronological narrative of the facts and data about the Indian Cherokee slavery. The book is written in detail as the author employed a descriptive and narrative style to provide a clearer scenario of what he is trying to relate to his readers. The author presented his perspective in the issue on slavery of Indian Cherokees—or Indians in general. The author related that Indian Cherokees give benefits to their slaves. They even provide training for the development of their slaves. Their slaves are even hired to serve as carpenters, gardeners or other works that they deem in line with the slave’s capacities. After a while, these slaves would be eventually set free. Perhaps, the intended audience of the author is the general public who has little knowledge on the culture and history of Black slavery particularly on the side of the Cherokees. The book could serve as a tool for realization of the intended audience to what the Indian Cherokees has to offer. The book offers a different perspective on slavery. The usual accounts of literature would project slavery as one extremely negative thing—the scenario that slaves are always overworked and unpaid. The book also breaks the stereotypes among Black Americans or Indians. The blacks are always depicted as inferior and powerless, but this book did otherwise. The book, I think, succeeded in persuading me in the thesis presented. Through the author’s analytical narratives and description, he was able to present his points and ideas clearly and effectively. Generally, the book is commendable in its effort to unmask the unexplored part of the American history. It is an attempt in breaking the stereotype of the inferiority of the Blacks. More so, it is an excellent source in presenting another perspective of the American history while upholding the empowerment of the Black Americans. The author, R. Halliburton Jr. , is an author of a number of books pertaining to Black Americans. The usual themes of his book are the discrimination and interesting facts addressing the social plight of the Black Americans. Reference: Halliburton, R. Red over Black: Black Slavery among the Cherokee Indians. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1977.

Color Change Chemical Volcano Demonstration

Color Change Chemical Volcano Demonstration There are several chemical volcanoes that are suitable for use as a chemistry lab demonstration. This particular volcano is nice because the chemicals are readily available and may be safely disposed after the eruption. The volcano involves a color change of the lava from purple to orange and back to purple. The chemical volcano can be used to illustrate an acid-base reaction and the use of an acid-base indicator. Color Change Volcano Materials goggles, gloves, and a lab coat or apron600 ml beakertub large enough to accomodate the beaker200 ml water50 ml concentrated HCl (hydrochloric acid)100 g sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)bromocresol purple indicator (0.5 g bromocresol purple in 50 ml ethanol) Make the Chemical Volcano Erupt In the beaker, dissolve ~10 grams of sodium bicarbonate in 200 ml of water.Set the beaker in the middle of of the tub, preferably inside a fume hood, since strong acid is used for this demonstration.Add around 20 drops of indicator solution. Bromocresol purple indicator will be orange in the ethanol, but will turn purple when added to the basic sodium bicarbonate solution.Add 50 ml concentrated hydrochloric acid to the purple solution. This will cause the eruption in which the simulated lava turns orange and overflows the beaker.Sprinkle some sodium bicarbonate on the now-acidic solution. The color of the lava will return to purple as the solution becomes more basic.Enough sodium bicarbonate will neutralize the hydrochloric acid, but it is best to handle only the tub and not the beaker. When you are finished with the demonstration, wash the solution down the drain with plenty of water. How the Volcano Works changes color the sodium bicarbonate HCO3- H ↔ H2CO3 ↔ H2O CO2

10 Intensifiers You Should Really, Absolutely Avoid

10 Intensifiers You Should Really, Absolutely Avoid 10 Intensifiers You Should Really, Absolutely Avoid 10 Intensifiers You Should Really, Absolutely Avoid By Mark Nichol You are not hereby forbidden to employ the following adjectives according to their casual connotations, but to strengthen your writing, try limiting usage to that which most closely reflects their literal meaning: 1. Absolute: The original sense of absolute is â€Å"ultimate,† but now it is weakly used as an intensifier (â€Å"It was an absolute riot!†). Minimize, too, usage in the connotations of â€Å"outright† and â€Å"unquestionable† and reserve it to mean â€Å"unrestrained† or â€Å"fundamental.† 2. Awesome: Originally, something awesome inspired awe. Now, the most mundane phenomena are exalted as such. Try devoting this word to truly spectacular sensations alone. 3. Fabulous: This adjective, derived from fable, once referred to sensory stimuli one might expect to encounter in a flight of fancy. It’s long since been appropriated to describe extravagant fashion sense or, more mundanely, notable accomplishments, but it is most potent when restricted to describing phantasmagorical phenomena. 4. Fantastic: Avoid using as a synonym for excellent; senses such as â€Å"unbelievable,† â€Å"enormous,† and â€Å"eccentric† are truer to the source. 5. Incredible: As with fantastic, usage of this word has strayed far from the original meaning of something that does not seem possible. Only if a story literally cannot be believed is it authentically incredible. 6. Magnificent: Something magnificent was originally grand or sumptuous, exalted or sublime, but the word has been diminished in impact by its exclamation in response to merely commendable achievements. Reserve usage to describe things of stunning impact. 7. Real: This term derives from the Latin term res, â€Å"thing, fact,† and should be used only to denote genuine, actual, extant, practical phenomena; minimize its use, and that of the adverb really, as a synonym for complete or completely. 8. Terrific: Terrific, originally referring to something terrifying, has long been rendered impotent by use as a synonym for great, but try to reserve it for such descriptions as â€Å"a terrific crash.† 9. Very: The most abused word on this list and one of the most in the entire English language comes from the Latin word for â€Å"true.† Consider restraining yourself from using it in writing except to convey verity, precision, and other adjectival connotations, rather than the adverbial sense of â€Å"exceedingly.† 10. Wonderful: Use when a sense of wonder is involved, or at least when there’s an element of surprise, not just to suggestion a reaction of delight. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Addressing A Letter to Two PeopleDifference between "Pressing" and "Ironing""To Tide You Over"

People of Hindu the Culture Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

People of Hindu the Culture - Assignment Example This paper illustrates that the Hindu culture is unique and nurses need to recognize that Indians have different perceptions towards health and wellbeing. Therefore, nurses need to understand the critical aspects that define the Hindu culture. For example, the Hindu culture exhibits stringent practices of nutrition that healthcare providers should take note of, as this paper will highlight. Food is a critical part of life in Hinduism. The people associate food with their God. They recognize that food is responsible for nurturing the different aspects of the human being. Hindus do not take food for granted, but rather recognize it as a gift from their God Brahman. For this reason, the people respect food and say a number of prayers before partaking food. There are strict rules governing the preparation of food as well as the ingredients of the Hindu food. The Hindu culture prohibits beef and pork. Notably, the bee is from the cows, which have a representative symbol of a mother. On th e other hand, the Hindu view pigs as unclean, and hence pork should not be an ingredient in their food. Many people of the Hindu culture believe that it is wrong to slaughter animals a factor that causes them pain. For this reason, many of the Hindu people avoid animal products and adopt a stringent vegetarian diet. Women who are responsible for preparing food take a birth before any of the ingredients. In addition, there are specific prayers said before cooking the food. When these conditions are met, a woman can then begin food preparation. Hindus observe high levels of cleanliness before partaking food. The male members of the family lead prayers said before undertaking the food. The Hindu people offer thanksgiving through a different set of prayers after eating. The Hindu culture places emphasis on the ritual and mystical significance of food. Since the food is a representation of Brahman, the people usually consider food as God. There are certain mental attitudes associated wit h the person cooking food. In addition, people hold different beliefs towards different types of food. The Hindu culture prohibits the consumption of impure food because it affects the person eating.

Lassa fever in west africa Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6500 words

Lassa fever in west africa - Coursework Example However, an accurate clinical diagnosis and using management techniques, the virus is capable of being controlled or even being diminished and the health of individuals infected in the West Africa regions improved (Buchmeier, Torre & Peters, 2007). It is estimated that deaths caused by Lassa fever in West Africa ranges between the gaps of 5000 to 10,000 out of two million cases of Lassa fever cases reported yearly. The majority of the highest percentages of death reported are documented to be from West Africa. This implies that for every death caused due to Lassa fever, West Africa is the region which is mostly affected. Diagnosis of Lassa has proved to be a challenge for the government and clinical officers in West African countries, therefore making it extremely difficult to determine the mortality rate associated with the Lassa virus (Pasqual, 2011). In addition, due to difficulty in the diagnosis of the virus, many individuals affected with the virus rarely seek treatment in hospitals or associated institutions like clinics. Moreover, the prevalence of the diseases in some countries is brought by rodents. These places are high risk areas and spreading to a larger populations for example Mali (Dworkin, 2011). Lassa fever is characterized by the delays caused in the cellular immunity which is responsible for fulminant viremia. The rates at which at which Lassa fever is reported in West African countries like Sierra Leon is 8-15 percent, Guinea4-55 percent and Nigeria 21 percent. Conversely, in other parts of West African countries like Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal, the cases of Lassa fever reported here are considered to be sero-positivity. This means that cases of Lassa fever acts as positive serum reaction because of the presence of antibodies in the body. An analysis of the