Richard Williams, III Essays - Physical Geography, Water

Richard Williams, III Mr. Greer Practicum STEM Robotics 09222016 The Exceptional Statewide Drought in California The issue at hand is the severe drought consuming over 71% of the state of California. This drought has California the driest it's been for 500 years . The heat has the Golden State with almost no snowpack in the mountains, which are critical sources of runoff for the state's water reservoirs. If this problem isn't fixed immediately the drought will only increase every year until the state has a 100% drought and there's no water left. This issue is was caused naturally but also influenced by mane-made things and issues such as global warming, pollution, and the overuse and waste of freshwater. One of the natural causes of the drought is a mass of warm water in the Pacific Ocean that has drifted closer to the West Coast named " The Blob ". Scientists believe this mass has persisted in about the same area for over 2 years and measure 1,000 miles across and 300 feet deep. Researchers have stated this mass of water may be a partial cause of the drought due to the increased temperature of the water, it doesn't allow much cool and moist air into the atmosphere in the direction of the state. Other scientist speculate that the high pressure system " La Nina " is likely what kicked off the drought cycle in 2011 by creating a persistent high-pressure system just off to the West Coast, close to California. The high-pressure system interfered with storm tracks and wind flow, causing storms that would usually have hit California to chart a different course and drench other locations with their much-needed precipitation. Recent studies on the scientific phenomenon have found that La Nina is to blame for the emerging drought. They've also discovered another possible cause named the "Ridiculously Resilient Ridge", which is a high pressure area in the atmosphere off the West Coast, nearly 4 miles high and 2,000 miles long. This atmospheric pressure is currently blocking Pacific winter storms from coming to California, deflecting them to Alaska and British Columbia. The results of this drought can become catastrophic. During times of drought, the areas flora and fauna are visibly dry and very unhealthy. This affects the herbivores that eat the plants, consequently removing the food source for omnivores and carnivores that eat the herbivores and plants. In summary, drought can cause an entire ecosystem to fail over time. Also the water levels in lakes and reservoirs fall dramatically, causing us humans to resort to underground aquifers and wells. The bad thing about that is over time, as the drought persists, the constant removal of the backup water can result in land subsidence, seawater intrusion, and the development of sinkholes. These issues are harder to see but are more costly to manage. The decline of surface water flows can be detrimental to water supplies for agriculture, cities, hydropower production, navigation, recreation, and habitat for aquatic and riparian species. There are no known ways to prevent and mostly natural drought; however there are ways man can prevent the negative effects of them. To begin with, local governments can use recreational surveillance drones to search for possible water sources or signs of aquifers. They can also be used to locate stranded or hurt people all over California with most focus on the Mojave, Colorado, and Great Basin Deserts. Other ways to prevent substantial water loss is to attempt to replenish the supply with seawater intrusion, which is using automated machines to remove water from the oceans, purify it, and store/deliver it to holding areas until it is needed. One of the major problems that come with droughts is wildfires. Fire departments can use drones put out the fires by remote so that no firemen with have to go in harm's way. And in conjunction with that, they can use rovers to survey particularly dry areas, locate, and remove potentially combustible debris and return them to a sec ure location. The drought in California is a major concern and should be treated as so. The natural disaster itself cannot be prevented but its effects can be. Technology is the greatest advancement in human civilization; we

european enlightenment essays

european enlightenment essays The Enlightenment was an era in human history in which thinkers and philosophers were convinced that they were rising from centuries of obscurity and unawareness into a new age made clear by reason and a respect for humanity. A number of thinkers and writers, mainly in England and France, believed that they were more educated and informed than their fellow citizens and intended to enlighten them. Society and humanity were seen as being in an inferior condition, and major changes were needed to improve the human condition. However, this belief in progress did not appear out of nowhere, it was instigated by two major historical events: the Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Revolution. Both of these key elements had major effects on the ideas and changes which appeared during the Enlightenment. The Protestant Reformation was a challenging of the Catholic churches domination over the politics, economics, and culture of European society. The Scientific Revolution was an influentia l time during which, not only natural scientific and technological advances were made, but also changes in the structure of human thought were established. Both the Protestant Reformation and the Scientific Revolution were events which preceded and directly affected the era of Enlightenment in the history of humankind. The Enlightenment was a consistent progression of these two scientific and religious events, the areas most affected being politics, religion, and the social development of the world. In the modern Western world, the greatest issue at the heart of the political debate was the question of the legitimacy of authority. The arguments revolved around the notions of order, authority, and rights. Prior to the 17th century, nations had been lead my monarchs, such as Kings and Queens, but in reality countries were divided. Nations were fragmented by feudalism and divided into states and political units, each having its own political agenda. Th...

Cairo Capital of Egypt Geography and Facts

Cairo Capital of Egypt Geography and Facts Cairo is the capital of the north African country of Egypt. It is one of the largest cities in the world and it is the largest in Africa. Cairo is known as being a very densely populated city as well as being the center of Egypts culture and politics. It is also located near some of the most famous remnants of Ancient Egypt like the Pyramids of Giza.Cairo, as well as other large Egyptian cities, has been in the news due to protests and civil unrest that began in late January 2011. On January 25, over 20,000 protesters entered the streets of Cairo. They were likely inspired by the recent revolts in Tunisia and were protesting Egypts government. The protests continued for several weeks and hundreds were killed and/or wounded as both anti and pro-government demonstrators clashed. Eventually, in mid-February 2011 Egypts president, Hosni Mubarak, stepped down from office as a result of the protests. 10 Facts About Cairo 1) Because present-day Cairo is located near the Nile River, it has long been settled. In the 4th century,  for example, Romans built a fortress down on the banks of the river called Babylon. In 641, Muslims took control of the area and moved its capital from Alexandria to the new, growing city of Cairo. At this time it was called Fustat and the region became a center of Islam. In 750,  though, the capital was moved slightly north of Fustat but by the 9th century, it was moved back. 2) In 969, the Egypt-area was taken from Tunisia and a new city was built north of Fustat to serve as its capital. The city was called Al-Qahira, which translates to Cairo. Shortly after its construction, Cairo was to become the center of education for the area. Despite Cairos growth,  however, most of Egypts governmental functions were in Fustat. In 1168, though the Crusaders entered Egypt and Fustat was intentionally burned down to prevent the destruction of Cairo. At that time, Egypts capital was then moved to Cairo and by 1340 its population had grown to nearly 500,000 and it was a growing trading center. 3) Cairos growth began to slow beginning in 1348 and lasting into the early 1500s due to the outbreak of numerous plagues and the discovery of a sea route around the Cape of Good Hope, which allowed European spice traders to avoid Cairo on their routes east. In addition in 1517, the Ottomans took control of Egypt and Cairos political power diminished as government functions were mainly conducted in Istanbul. In the 16th and 17th centuries,  however, Cairo grew geographically as the Ottomans worked to expand the citys borders out from Citadel that was constructed near the citys center. 4) In the mid-to late 1800s, Cairo began to modernize and in 1882 the British entered the region and economic center of Cairo moved closer to the Nile. Also at that time, 5% of Cairos population was European and from 1882 to 1937, its total population grew to over one million. In 1952 however, much of Cairo was burned in a series of riots and anti-government protests. Shortly thereafter, Cairo began to again grow rapidly and today its city population is over six million, while its metropolitan population is over 19 million. In addition, several new developments have been built nearby as satellite cities of Cairo. 5) As of 2006 Cairos population density was 44,522 people per square mile (17,190 people per sq km). This makes it one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Cairo suffers from traffic and high levels of air and water pollution. However, its metro is one of the busiest in the world and it is the only one in Africa. 6) Today Cairo is the economic center of Egypt and much of the Egypts industrial products are either created in the city or pass through it on the Nile River. Despite its economic success, its rapid growth has meant that city services and infrastructure cannot keep up with demand. As a result, many of the buildings and roads in Cairo are very new. 7) Today, Cairo the center of the Egyptian education system and there are a large number of universities in or near the city. Some of the largest are Cairo University, the American University in Cairo and Ain Shams University. 8) Cairo is located in the northern part of Egypt about 100 miles (165 km) from the Mediterranean Sea. It is also about 75 miles (120 km) from the Suez Canal. Cairo is also located along the Nile River and the citys total area is 175 square miles (453 sq km). Its metropolitan area, which includes nearby satellite cities, extends to 33,347 square miles (86,369 sq km). 9) Because the Nile, like all rivers, has shifted its path over the years, there are parts of the city that are very close to the water, while others are farther away. Those closest to the river are Garden City, Downtown Cairo,  and Zamalek. In addition, prior to the 19th century, Cairo was highly susceptible to annual flooding. At that time, dams and levees were constructed to protect the city. Today the Nile is shifting westward and portions of the city are actually getting farther from the river. 10) The climate of Cairo is desert but it can also get very humid due to the proximity of the Nile River. Wind storms are also common and dust from the Sahara Desert can pollute the air in March and April. Precipitation from rainfall is sparse but when it does occur, flash flooding is not uncommon. The average July high temperature for Cairo is 94.5ËšF (35ËšC) and the average January low is 48ËšF (9ËšC). Sources: CNN Wire Staff. Egypts Tumult, Day-by-Day. CNN.com. Retrieved from: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/02/05/egypt.protests.timeline/index.htmlWikipedia.org.  Cairo - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo

Corporate Social Responsibility in Banks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Corporate Social Responsibility in Banks - Essay Example Corporate Social Responsibility in Banks Therefore, when a corporation engages in corporate social responsibility, it is acting in the best interest of forces which are not in a close relationship with the corporation, to the detriment of forces which are (Lantos, 2001, p. 1). This theory is based upon classical economic theory which is underscored by Milton Friedman’s analysis (Bronn&Vrioni, 2001, p 208), and this theory does not leave room for behaving ethically or responsibly (Paine, 2003, p. 1) However, in today’s socially conscious world, the traditional view is short-sighted. In this world of Occupy protests, where corporations are portrayed as soulless entities, and the extreme profit motive is seen as inherently evil, corporations now will benefit tremendously from being more socially responsible. Therefore, if corporations can show society that they are not just interested in profits, but are also interested in better the world and the environment, they will be once again more attractive to consumers. Therefore, corporate social responsibility in this environment would be advantageous to the bottom line (Innes, 2006, p. 355). This is particularly true regarding the banking industry, which is widely perceived, not inaccurately, as being the catalyst to the worldwide recession that has occurred, as their shoddy practices effectively brought down economies worldwide. Corporate responsibility may be ethical, legal, economic or philanthropic. (Mohr, 2001, p. 47). There are many reasons why corporations are compelled to act responsibly. One of the reasons why a corporation might act responsibly is its image, and, as stated above, corporate responsibility helps a corporation’s image, which, in turn, helps the corporation’s bottom line – people are more likely to patronize a corporation who is seen as being concerned about the environment and other social causes that the public holds dear (Paine, 2003, p. 110). A corporation who has socially friendly practices may b e the target of a â€Å"buycott.† Friedman (1996) advocates â€Å"buycotts,† which is the flip side of a boycott. In a boycott, companies are punished for misdeeds. On the other hand, a boycott rewards the corporation for its policies when their policies are in line with activists of a certain cause. These activists are organized and induce other shoppers to patronize the store who shares their beliefs (Friedman, 1996, p. 440). A good example of this are â€Å"Green† purchasers, who look at the ethics of a certain purchase, look at whether the purchase enhances sustainability, and decides to make the purchase based upon these factors (Young, et al., 2010, p. 20). Social investing is another way that a corporation may benefit. Social investing is where people invest their money in corporations which are in line with their personal beliefs or forward causes that the individual believes in (Entine, 2003, p. 1). Alternatively, corporations who do not act socially re sponsibility may be punished for indiscretions. For instance, a corporation who is targeted for socially unfriendly policies may find themselves the target of a boycott and other problems. When corporations do not do the right thing, then they may face boycotts, PR nightmares and fewer customers buying their products (Sassatelli, 2006, p. 218). An example of this is Bank of America. When it announced plans to charge its customers a $5 monthly debit card fee, the backlash was immediate and intense. Customers were outraged at this

Response and Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Response and Summary - Essay Example She adds that it can help people become healthier too by reducing stress and anxiety. Likewise, it may improve creativity because people have more time to think about improving different work aspects. Damon believes that, though a three-day weekend break sounds great, reality indicates that people are â€Å"going the other way,† working longer than shorter hours per week. He adds that discipline and â€Å"benevolent employer[s]† are important for a four-day week to work (â€Å"GlobalNews†). She agrees that benevolent employers understand that employees are human beings who need extra time out. She further notes that retention rates may also increase if employees think that their employers are concerned of their general welfare. High retention rates mean lower employment costs that arise due to high employee turnout. The strengths of the claims of the speaker are its promotion of a shorter week’s benefits to individuals and societies and provision of examples of companies/nations that practice it. By promoting various benefits, Lyall may convince more organizations to implement it. In addition, through giving examples of companies and nations applying it, it underlines its popularity that may increase its acceptability for other firms. The weakness of the claims is that a shorter work week alone is not enough to attain its benefits. It may not improve the economy if people are not disciplined enough to finish their work on time. It cannot enhance work-life balance too if people bring their work to their homes. It could also hardly advance gender equality, if many people continue to think that only women must perform traditional roles and responsibilities. Despite this weakness, I agree with Lyall that a four-day week can have social and economic benefits. It means being more productive because I can focus on working more efficiently. It also gives economic advantages because I have lesser expenses in going to work. Three days of weekend

Essay on video games violence Essay Example for Free

Essay on video games violence Essay The gaming industry greatly impacts how people, from young children to adults, spend their time. According to Health Magazine (2009), â€Å"90 percent of kids aged 8 to 16 play video games, and they spend about 13 hours per week doing so (more if you’re a boy). † Whether its educational, or just plain fun and entertainment video games have evolved greatly in the last 40 years. Today’s sophisticated games are in a class of it’s own with it’s realism and impressive graphics. With this ever advancing technology, comes better games with realistic situations. There’s no harm in playing video games for recreation. However, the problem lies within the violent video games and the aggression that these video games cause in children. For years researchers and experts have issued studies linking video games to aggressive behavior. It’s a controversial subject, nonetheless, it shows just how powerful the affect the games have on children. To illustrate, CBSnews. com reports a story of a 17 year who bought the popular game, â€Å"Grand Theft Auto†. In this game, the player is encouraged to do as much illegal activity and engage in as much violent behavior as they can to be rewarded with accolades and higher points. The more heinous the act, the higher you move up in the game. After playing this game for nine months, the 17 year old gunned down three men, two police officers and a dispatcher in a county jail, in the same style he was trained from the video game. In the kids statement to police, he said : â€Å"Life is like a video game. Everybody’s got to die sometime. † This is just one example of aggressive behavior as a result of violent video games, but there are many more cases. Children’s minds are very impressionable, and violent video games are harmful to their minds because of how interactive and realistic these games can be. According to research by child psychologist David Walsh, as further reported in the article, violent video games can be linked to physical aggressive behavior in children because of the brain. His study revealed that the teenage brain is not fully developed. Violent video games have a deeper impact on a teenage brain versus an adult brain. Walsh further states, it’s â€Å"largely because the teenage brain is different from the adult brain. The impulse control center of the brain, the part of the brain that enables us to think ahead, consider consequences, manage urges thats the part of the brain right behind our forehead called the prefrontal cortex. Thats under construction during the teenage years. In fact, the wiring of that is not completed until the early 20s. Therefore, since children’s mind are still underdeveloped, violent video games have a negative effect and cause children to believe aggression is appropriate. From the National Institute on Media and Family, six medical groups issue warnings as to the effects that violence has on children: (1) â€Å"Children will increase anti-social and aggressive behavior. (2)Children may become less sensitive to violence and those who suffer from violence. (3) Children may view the world as violent and mean, becoming more fearful of being a victim of violence. (4) Children will desire to see more violence in entertainment and real life. (5) Children will view violence as an acceptable way to settle conflicts. † From studies to real life examples of violent behavior, video games has shown to have an influence on children’s behavior. Violent video games will not be going away anytime soon. The only solution to combat the issue of violent video games is for parents to be actively involved in their children’s free time and take an interest in what their children play. Once parents are informed on their decisions to allow their children to play violent video games, they will know that if choosing violence, it will have an effect on the impressionable child mind.Parents beware. References Harding, A. (2008). Violent video games linked to child aggression. Health Magazine. Retrieved from http://www. cnn. com/2008/HEALTH/family/11/03/healthmag. violent. video. kids/ Bradley, E. (2005). Can a video game train someone to kill? Retrieved from http://www. cbsnews. com/stories/2005/03/04/60minutes/main678261. shtml 2010. Fact Sheet. National Institute on Media and the Family. Retrieved from http://www. mediafamily. org/facts/facts_vlent. shtml.

The Role of Ideals and Self-Interest in the History of America :: American America History

The Role of Ideals and Self-Interest in the History of America Throughout history, beginning when settlers first arrived in America, every event that took place became part of American history. Ideals, as described by Dr. Margolies, History Professor at Virginia Wesleyan College, are "motivating, lofty goals". Some of these ideals, which shaped American history, included life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as protected by the Constitution. Self-interest, a second influential factor in American history, is shown through the gaining of benefits for oneself. Although it is debatable which of these two influential factors was more dominant in American history, the possibility arises that they coincide with one another revealed by many documented events. Self-interest can be seen in many of the writings throughout American history. The mercantile system, as exhibited by the British on the colonies, was an extremely hedonistic approach to gaining wealth for themselves. Mercantilism, as set forth by the Navigation Acts, imposed strict and extremely descriptive laws that would limit and exploit trade in the colonies, allowing Britain to control the wealth and profit of materials and goods in America. These acts were used to keep America from trading with any other countries. As stated in the Navigation Act of 1660, "no goods or commodities whatsoever shall be imported into or exported out of any lands" to his Majesty belonging"in any other ship or ships...as do truly and without fraud belong only to the people of England or Ireland" (Restoration 98). Britain knew that by controlling the colonies in this manner they could take the raw materials out and sell the finished products back, and by doing so they would profit greatly. This mercantile system exemplifies the arrogant minds of the British while America was developing. This system would soon become a failure due to the people's demands to have representation along with taxation, and their desire to separate from England as a free and independent state. Likewise, it was due to self-interest of the greedy planters and the self righteous farmers in the south that slavery was highly used. At that time they needed all the labor they could get, and the cheapest way to obtain it was through the purchase of slaves. Some of the slavery was downplayed by calling it indentured servitude, where servants were essentially slaves for a limited number of years.