Green Energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Green Energy - Essay Example The importance of green energy is piling as the climate change is posing a global threat and the world needs to find out cleaner options for producing energy. The green energy is a more expensive energy options the fossil fuels. Therefore it cannot compete with the fossil fuels. The developing countries are still sticking to the traditional sources of producing energy which is harmful for the generations to come. The examples of green energy are biomass, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal and wind. The total green house emitted by some individual, product or organizations is termed as carbon footprint. It is difficult to calculate the total amount of carbon footprint due to unavailability of data. Carbon accounting is used to assess the GHG emissions of a nation or organization. Population, carbon intensity in the economy and economic output are the main factors behind carbon footprint. In order to decrease the level of carbon footprints, these agents are the target of individuals. If the size of the carbon footprints is known, strategies can be taken with the aim to reduce it with the help of technological developments, consumption strategies, better management of processes and products. The mitigation of carbon footprints is termed as carbon offsetting. The examples of carbon footprints are electricity, travel, recycling, water and food. The International Energy Agency anticipated 20% to 25% of the total energy production to be contributed by renewable energy in the recent future. The political and economic scenarios have prevented some major approaches in the sector of renewable energy but the recent trend suggests a change in interests. The top authorities operating in finance or technology sector are committed to use renewable sources of energy. An ethical point of view is also associated with their views. Research is on progress around the globe with the view to explore new dimensions in solving environmental hazards. Environmentalists opine that use of

Construction Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Construction Law - Essay Example The first will deal with actions Innocent can take in relation to the inferior materials under contract law and industry statute. The second section deals with standards to be used by Innocent’s architects to call for changes and review. Finally, this section will deal with the dampness problem that was discovered after the contract was rectified. Question (A) In this section, the position of Innocent in relation to their architects's findings are examined in relation to the principles of contract law, breach of contract and the common law doctrine of temporary disconformity. Rules The terms of a contract can be express by incorporation by the terms of reference or implied by relevant legal rues. Exclusion clauses cannot be applied in cases of negligence and major activities that are not done in good faith1. In this broad and general framework, the HGCRA states that the construction contract requires a contractor to build to specification2. The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) a lthough is not statutory has a composition made up of various professional associations which set standards in the building industry. Traditionally a building's structures and diagrams are to be drawn by an architect and supervised by the same architect throughout the construction process3. The architect is not part of the contract but engaged by a party, usually the sponsor or employer in a separate contract. The architect is an independent party and an agent of the employer who must operate ethically and independently4. Express terms in contracts become conditions and when they are not followed and honoured, it can lead to an action for a breach of contract5. Quality standards and quality specifications in a building contract become a form of conditions which must be adhered to. Failure to adhere to these expressly agreed standards leads to a potential breach of contract. In English Common Law, a breach of implied or express term can authorise the aggrieved party to sue for a brea ch of collateral contract under tort or sue for quantum meruit for a breach of statutory duty6. Temporary disconformity could be fully reward if the contractor makes a timely request to change the parts in order to remedy an issue that is capable of being corrected7. In Surrey V Lovell8, it was held that new destruction that damages a property during the various construction stages creates different circumstances9. Rather, in a situation where a builder quickly moves to rectify the situation, an action for a breach of contract will not stand as long as the temporary disconformity is fixed in a timely manner. Application The JCT Design and Building Contract 2011 Edition gives Innocent the right to get the inferior materials fixed. All they need is to get their architects to provide a report and they can demand the modification of the materials by Handyman. Handyman has an option of fixing the defective parts and other aspects. If they are able to do it in a timely manner, they can cl aim temporary disconformity and prevent further actions. But if they refuse, Innocent can take the action further and sue for a breach of contract since the materials used clearly do not conform with the agreed materials and level of quality that is specified in the contract. Conclusion Innocent has the right to sue for a breach of contract. This is because the fundamental specifications that invoked the contract have not been followed to specification. Hence, they can move to get Handyman to fix it. If Handyman fixes it,

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Genetically Modified Organisms Biology Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Genetically Modified Organisms Biology Essay The benefits and risks of any particular genetically modified crop depend on the interactions of its ecological functions and natural history with the agro-ecosystem and ecosystems within which it is embedded. These evolutionary and ecological factors must be considered when assessing genetically modified crops. We argue that the assessment of genetically modified crops should be broadened to include alternative agricultural practices, ecosystem management and agricultural policy. Such an assessment ecological services that support it. The benefits of genetically modified crops should be compared to those of other means of agricultural intensification such as organic farming, integrated pest management and agricultural policy reform. A gradual and cautions approach to the use of genetically modified crops that relies on a truly comprehensive risk assessment could allow people to reap substantial benefits from genetically modified crops while mitigating their serious risks. INTRODUCTION Genetically modified organisms ( GMOs ) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes. Genetically Modified Organisms can be produced by gene cloning methods in which a non-native gene is introduced and expressed in a new organism. Generally the new protein has also been somewhat modified or engineered for proper expression in the new host. In particular, differences between microorganisms and eukaryotic cell must be overcome, such as the presence or absence of introns, occurance of DNA methylation and certain post-translational modifications to the protein itself for proper transport within or between cells. The advent of PCR and gene sequencing methods have opened up the door to all sorts of manipulative techniques for changing the structure of protein through genetic alterations. The introduction of bacterial genes into cash crops, to enhance their growth, nutritional value or resistance to pests, is becoming rather common place in plant technology. One example that has made frequent headlines is the introduction of bacterial genes for natural pesticides into plants in order to eliminate the need for chemical pesticide use. The drawback to this technology is public concern over the consequences of ingesting these natural pesticides. Problems such as these might be alleviated by site-specific expression of the gene or control of expression throughout the lifecycle. For example, it might cause less concern if expression of a pesticide gene in the leaves of young plants could be used to prevent foliage from being destroyed early on without expression in the fruit later in the lifespan. Advantages of Genetically Modified Organisms The world population has topped 6 billion people and is predicted to double in the next 50 years. Ensuring an adequate food supply for this booming population is going to be a major challenge in the years to come. Genetically modified foods promise to meet this need in a number of ways: Pest resistance Crop losses from insect pests can be staggering, resulting in devastating financial loss for farmers and starvation in developing countries. Farmer typically use many tons of chemical pesticides annually. Consumers do not wish to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of potential health hazards and run-off of agricultural wastes from excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers can poison the water supply and cause harm to the environment. Growing genetically modified foods such as B.t. corn can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides and reduce the cost of bringing a crop to market. Herbicide tolerance For some crops, it is not cost-effective to remove weeds by physical means such as tilling so farmers will often spray large quantities of different herbicides (weedkiller) to destroy weeds, a time-consuming and expensive process, that requires care so that the herbicide doesnà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t harm the crop plant or the environment. Crop plants genetically-engineered to be resistant to one very powerful herbicide could help prevent environment damage by reducing the amount of herbicides needed. For example, Monsanto has created a strain of soybeans genetically modified to be not affected by their herbicide product Roundup. A farmer grows these soybean which then only require one application of weed-killer instead of multiple applications, reducing production cost and limiting the dangers of agricultural waste run-off. Disease resistance There are many viruses, fungi and bacteria that cause plant diseases. Plant biologists are working to create plants with genetically-engineered resistance to these diseases. Cold tolerance Unexpected frost can destroy sensitive seedlings. An antifreeze gene from cold water fish has been introduced into plants such as tobacco and potato. With this antifreeze gene, these plants are able to to tolerate cold temperatures that normally would kill unmodified seedlings. Drought tolerance/salinity tolerance As the world population grows and more land is utilized for housing instead of food production, farmers will need to grow crops in location previously unsuited for plant cultivation. Creating plants that can withstand long period of drought or high salt content in soil and groundwater will help people to grow crops in formerly inhospitable places. Nutrition Malnutrition is common in third world countries where impoverished people rely on a single crop such as rice for the main staple of their diet. However, rice does not contain adequate amounts of all necessary nutrients to prevent malnutrition. If rice could be genetically engineered to contain additional vitamins and minerals, nutrient deficiencies could be alleviated. For example, blindness due to Vitamin A deficiency is a common problem in third world countries. Pharmaceuticals Medicines and vaccines often are costly to produce and sometimes require special storage conditions not readily available in third world countries. Researchers are working to develop edible vaccines in tomatoes and potatoes. These vaccines will be much easier to ship, store and administer than traditional injectable vaccines. Phytoremediation Not all genetically modified plants are grown as crops. Soil and groundwater pollution continues to be a problem in all parts of the world. Plants such as poplar tress have been genetically engineered to clean up heavy metal pollution from contaminated soil. Disadvantages of Genetically Modified Organisms The pros and cons for using genetically modified organisms ( GMOs ) are vast and varied but there is little argument over the uncertain consequences of this relatively new science. The pace at which GMOs have found their way into the food supply is what frightens many opponents, as long-term risk assessments wonà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t be available for many years. Long-term health effects The science of genetically modifying organisms is in its infancy, coming online in earnest in the mid-1990s. Pressure from agricultural interests and the scientific community eager to prove the viability of the process has led to what some would call an irresponsible rush to market of these products. More than 60 percent of the products in most U.S. grocery stores are derived from sort of genetically altered plant or animal, notes Nina Fedoroff, a molecular biologist at Penn State University in the spring 2007 issue of Science Journal. There simply hasn;à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢t been enough time to study the long-term health effects on humans from eating genetically altered foods. Gene spilling Many of the arguments against bio-engineered food stuffs focus on the law of unintended consequences. It is unclear what effect, if any, genetic pollution from inadequately sequestered populations of genetically modified crops would have on the surrounding wild varieties. Releasing pollen from genetically altered plants into the wild via wind and insects could have dramatic effects on the surrounding ecosystem but there is no long-term research yet available to gauge the impact. Reduced biodiversity Biodiversity even within a species or genus, keeps plant and animal population viable. If a particular virus for example, affected corn in Northern Iowa but the slightly different variety of corn grown on an adjacent farm was immune, only the portion of the crop susceptible to the virus would be lost. As genetically engineered crop consume more and more acreage, the number and variety of wild species is reduced. Such as alignment threatens the entire supply as pests and diseases repelled by just one or a few genetically altered varieties develop resistance to those defenses. In a doomsday scenario, a lone pathogen could wipe out an entire harvest nationwide and spawn years of underproduction as the agriculture industry struggles to recover and combat the threat. Cross-pollination The potentially negative environmental impacts of GMOs are numerous, and many are as yet unknown and could be irreversible. These include the loss of flora and fauna biodiversity, unintended harm to other organisms and reduced effectiveness of pesticides. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, one of the biggest concerns is the creation of super weeds: the unintentional transfer of herbicide resistance genes from desired crops to weeds. Some of these concerns, however, are the same concerns that could occur with breeding. Genetic consequences The artificial insertion of genes into organisms could destabilize that organism, encouraging genetic mutations that could be detrimental either to the environment, to humans or both. Insertion of the desired gene into a crops genome could activate or deactivate other genes, causing unintentional consequences as well. For example, genes that orchestrate the precise development of tomatoes could be de-activated, leaving tomatoes rotting on the vine before maturation. Long-lived organisms, such as trees, would be most at risk with consequences unknown for perhaps years. Its entirely possible they would no longer bear fruit, or they would have weak trunks. Characteristics of bark we may rely upon for paper products may disappear. The possibilities are essentially endless. Furthermore, changes in gene expression of genes that already exist in the organism may have negative consequences by interacting with the product of the inserted gene. For example, the gene coding for the red color of berries could interact with the inserted disease resistance gene creating an entirely new protein that perhaps would cause cancer after the berries were eaten by humans. As of 2010, many of the consequences are purely speculative and true issues would not be known for perhaps years. Animals GMOs pose a potential risk to insects, particularly those involved in pollination of GMO crops, as well as birds, insects, organisms in soils, and water. The impact of GMO pollen in bees gut or ingestion by bacteria is not known. One fear is that the insects may develop resistance to the pesticides after ingesting GMO pollen, creating swarms of pesticide-resistant bugs. Intellectual property The risk of GMOs to the world economy may be significant. It is entirely possible that world food production would be dominated by a few companies, increasing the dependence of developing countries on industrialized nations. Foreign exploitation of natural resources, labeling issues and scientific advances skewed to interests of richer countries are just a few of the concerns. Although eventually more efficient and economical, initial research and development costs involved in bringing GMO products to market are substantial. To offset these costs, companies patent their products. Infringement issues are a major issue. Human health Human health is also at stake. GMO plants may create new allergens or unintentionally confer antibiotic resistance in humans. As part of the technique, genes that confer antibiotic resistance are inserted into GMOs as markers but they could confer resistance to these antibiotics when consumed by humans. However, the gene introduced into the potatoes was already known to be toxic to mammals. Researchers simply chose the gene to test the technique and it was never intended for human or animal consumption. As pollen spreads, pharmaceuticals derived from plants and fed to animals are then consumed by humans, also with unknown consequences. Food supply at risk Genetically modified seeds are a patented product, and in order to purchase the seeds customers must sign an agreement for use with the seed manufacturer. As the reliance on GM seeds expands world wide, concerns about food supply and safety continue to escalate. Genetically engineered seeds are identical in structure, and if a problem affects one particular crop a major crop failure can result. Environmental destruction Most GMO seeds are genetically engineered to be herbicide tolerant, resistant to insect infestation and disease. Environmentalists worry that the characteristics of GM crops may encourage farmers to increase their use of herbicides and pesticides, which will raise human consumption of dangerous toxins. GM crops also manufacture their own pesticides, which puts further poisons into humans and soil and may cause unforeseen changes in the environment. Another concern is that toxins contained in the GMO plants may harm other organisms, such as monarch caterpillars, bees and birds. The pesticide found in genetically modified cotton and corn is implicated in the deaths of poultry, cows, horses, sheep and buffalo worldwide. Conclusion As a nutshell, although Genetically Modified Organisms have a lot of advantages but still face many ethical issues related to the growing and consumption of genetically engineered crops. They hold potential to greatly increase the nutritional value of food as well as the productivity of crops, while at the same time provide many safety as well environmental concerns. These decisions need to be looked at by all of humanity since everyone is directly affected by the choices. While each person can read these details and come to different conclusion on the value of genetically engineered foods as well as the ethical choices being made by the companies in charge of producing these foods. The ultimate choice on genetically engineered foods should be placed onto a well informed consumer not held in the dark by those in power of the government and large corporations which may not have the general publicà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s interests as their primary goal.

Korean War Essay -- History

Throughout history the United States has fought in many wars. Whether the fighting took place in Europe such as WWI or in our own land like the civil war. The one war many people seem to forget is the Korean War. The Korean War also known as the â€Å"forgotten war† was a war between North Korea, South Korea and the US together with the South Koreans to help. The Korean War was fought on sea, land, and in the air over and near the Korean peninsula (Brown, p.2). On June 25, 1950, the North Koreans rumbled across the thirty-eighth parallel. The invasion was successful because the south was not expecting or even prepare for a war. The invasion was so successful that they pushed the south to a tiny defensive area around Pusan. That’s when President Truman steps in real quick to halt the invasion of the North Koreans. Truman ordered American armed forces under General Douglas MacArthur to support South Korea. The Korean War was a clash between Communist forces and Free World (Brown, p.2). On June 25th, 1950 at 4 a.m. the North Korean People’s Army (KPA) attacked across the 38th parallel, implementing a well-developed invasion plan (Lewis p.1). The KPA had a huge number of military men compare to the South Koreans. It had about 135,000 soldiers in 10 divisions, five separate infantry brigades, and one armor brigade with 120 soviet-made-T-34 tanks (Lewis p.1). The Republic of Korea (ROK) was taken by surprise and was not fully equipped with weapons like the KPA (Lewis p.1). So for that matter the ROK could not halt the invasion. But if the South Koreans would have had heavy artillery like the KPA then maybe the KPA’s invasion plan would had been a failure. The United Nations Security Council approved a US sponsored resolution that called fo... ...t (Brown, p.17). On October 7 the UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for unification of Korea and authorized MacArthur to send his forces into North Korea. The North Korean capital of Pyongyang fell on October 19, and the allied UN troops flooded north effectively unopposed. They pushed the North Korean forces to the Yalu River, which formed the North Korean border with the region of China. The war left marks on the Korean peninsula and the world around it. Even though the Korean War was fairly short, no one knows the exact numbers of deaths. According to the history channel website, â€Å"nearly 5 million people died and almost 40,000 Americans died in action along with more than 100,000 wounded.† (Korean War, p.1) Every war is going to have its cost. The total approximation fot the United States involvement in Korea was about 67 billion (Calore, p.2).

Second Language Required Police Departments

Second Language Required Melanie Martinez Current Issues in Criminal Justice Everest University Online Second Language Required The United States of America is full of many cultures, languages, and heritage. With many citizens’ ancestors originating from other countries, it is no wonder that almost every language has made it into America. Law enforcement can be delayed by these languages, though. Officers can benefit from being bilingual, but that is not the reality for most departments.With Spanish being the second, or even first, language of most citizens, it is essential for law enforcement to learn this language, or another popular one. It can help avoid confusion from a suspect not responding or prevent an unnecessary death. When an officer can speak more than one language it may help save lives. If a patrol car pulled up to a house where an unanswered 911 call was made, they may be entering a dangerous area. If it was a meth lab that was about to blow up, and the person outside only spoke Spanish, they could unknowingly enter the home and it explode with them in it.That is a situation that could be prevented with taking the time to learn another language. Even though getting every officer to learn another language would benefit the effect of law enforcement, the reality of the situation is saddening. With officers working long hours and in a stressful job, it does not allow much time for officers to learn a new language (Hickey, 2012). Along with tight budgets of police departments, it does not allow the officers to learn it at work either.The reality of the situation is that officers just do not have the time to learn another language. It would also make officers work even longer; resulting in more overtime and it would complicate staffing when learning it on the job. Learning another language is beneficial to the officer and the police department in every city. It would avoid complications and confusion in any given situation (Khashu, Rahman, &am p; Shah, 2007). It also is not really a reality with the hours officers and the stress deal with on a daily basis.Time management is the only way to get it done with the help of the department, officers, and the budget. It is all a matter of time. Reference List Khashu, A. , Rahman, I. , & Shah, S. (2007). Overcoming language barriers: solutions for law enforcement. Vera Institute of Justice. U. S. Department of Justice. Page 4. Retrieved from: http://www. cops. usdoj. gov/Publications/vera_translating_justice_final. pdf Hickey. (2012). Taking sides: clashing views in crime and criminology, 10th ed. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Describe Both the Positive and Negative Impacts of Globalization to Singapore Essay

There are many definitions for globalization. With the rapid development of technical inventions and increasing economic bonding, most tend to regard ’’globalization’’ as a non-border platform, where the exchange of goods, resources, and information in all aspects take places vigorously in the present world. Apart from those materials, the movement of people also becomes frequent when the connection to every corner in the globe has been built up via advanced technology. In general, globalization not only breaks the obstacles of communication but also provides more profitable markets, which indicate a path to affluence. Without any doubt, every country tries to formulate and implement the suitable policies in order to utilize the advantages offered from globalization. Singapore is no exception. However, this unstoppable phenomenon can also be considered a double-edged sword. It could either improve or deteriorate the basic social issues. In terms of the education in Singapore, globalization indeed equips the students with strong competitiveness and international view. Since English become the language mainly used around the world, the government has started promoting English-learning environment in order to structure the track linking to the international stage. And it is proved afterwards that this strategy has successfully brought out the positive impact of globalization in Singapore. The evidence is that more and more famous universities from the West are drawn to establish branch campuses in Singapore. For instance, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore was founded in 2000 and Imperical College London-Nanyang Technological University was set up later on in 2010. These two premium schools provide opportunity and professional instruction in medical area. College of Medicine in NUS is no longer the only option for those who are keen to be a doctor. The students in Singapore are given diverse chances but equally well-trained. Meanwhile, the influx of foreign educational system not only pours in fresh energy but also opens a window for students to look further and widely. As for the country, the limited resources are expanded to nurture more elites, which is beneficial in a long-term. The structure of workforce is also changed as globalization sets in. Importing foreign workers has become one of government’s policies in attempt to maintain competitive labor. The foreign labor can be described as well-paid workers. The benefits that attach to the introduction of foreign workers are showed as advanced idea, skills, and experiences constantly flow into industries. Local workers can also gain international expertise and strengthened the capability via global network. Muti-National Corporations in Singapore render local employees workshops to further technical knowledge and personal development, and even send them abroad to other international branches. In this way, a steadfast foundation has been transplanted into Singapore’s workforce. Despite of all undeniable advantages of globalization, still, some downsides gradually slip into the society. For those at the bottom of social scale and unskilled worker, it becomes harder to survive in the society. With weak competitiveness, they are left far behind while Singapore’s economy as a whole places an impressive record in recent years. In other words, the rich becomes richer and the poor becomes poorer. It is a sign revealing a crisis of M-Form Society. Middle class gradually disappears and remain two extremes in the society, poverty and affluence. Government also takes on the risk of investment in foreign companies. The investment takes large cost at very beginning and might not return profit in the immediate term. Subsequently, economic restructuring and uncertainty will accompany with the investment. On the other hand, as a result of global linked economy, the nation becomes more fragile. When ‘’September 11th terrorist attack’’ afflicted the economy leader, USA, it contributed to a domino effect around the world. Singapore also suffered from economic recession due to the close business partnership with USA. Some companies were forced to close or decided to lay off a part of employees. The fast rise of unemployment rate bombarded the society at that period of time. Nowadays, the world has been inevitably encountering the impacts of globalization although they are not fully positive. Government should weigh both advantages and disadvantages in order to find the balance in between. Therefore, the max benefits could be shared in society and minimize the potential problems derived from globalization.

Term Paper on Unionism in the Grapes of Wrath

Term Paper on Unionism in the Grapes of Wrath Dmytruk PAGE 6Dmytruk, OleksandrEnglish 8 HonorsMs.Leyow26 May 2010Forgotten StruggleThe period before the Great Depression was known as the "dark age" for the unions throughout the United States. During this time, monopolies took a center stage in the national life to cover the actual labor misery behind the scenes. In John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, the family of migrant farmers is used to penetrate the forgotten struggle of American labor. It serves as a corner stone to remind the public of the true history. It is the past where a common man was left in shreds to stay by himself. One of the critical elements is union organization for the common interest in an age where business is united under centralized patronages. Therefore, the novel is the window into the past, illustrating the idea of unity as a resort against tyranny and monopoly.United StatesThe struggle between the large business and organized labor is an extensive aspect of American history in the 1930's; this unf air battle was lost in time, but it has to be uncovered in order to serve as a reminder of the brutal past.Throughout the early 20th century, the organized labor was viewed as a part of a radical agenda. Starting with the Russian Revolution, labor organizers and their followers were associated with the Communist take over. Unions such as Cannery, Agriculture, and Industrial Workers Union were falsely accused of conspiracy and anarchy, "[the] strike led to the arrest of 14 CAIWU leaders in Sacramento in July 1934," (Migration News 2). One example of similar treatment is seen in the argument between a migrant farmer called Floyd Knowles from the novel and a deputy. In this manner Floyd Knowles is used as an example to demonstrate false accusations that...