Television and Social Capital

Television a blessing or a curse? TV or not TV? That is the question. .Television is one of the greatest and at the same time worst inventions of all times. . It is true that television can inform, inspire and create. But it can also misinform, deceive and destroy. Firstly, watching television makes people depended on laid-on entertainment. That makes them lazy and unoccupied. People used to have hobbies, read books, listen to music, go outside for walks now all of these have been replaced by television.Furthermore, our communication with the members of our family can be affected by television. Being glued to the â€Å"box† for so many hours can be really unsociable as you can’t talk and communicate with others while you are watching TV. Added to that, television promotes a fake lifestyle, which is totally irrelevant to real living. Children can easily be affected by that, as it is possible that they believe in fake life situations which can even lead to death. For exam ple, a young child jumped off his window, believing that he could fly just like superman.However, TV is not always a bad influence to us. Without television, we wouldn’t be able to experience the â€Å"visual travelling†. We can watch the Eifel Tower, the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum of Rome, the Sydney opera House in Australia and many other great buildings by just turning the TV on. Also, the information that television offers, can sometimes be vital as we need to be informed about the climate changes, the earthquakes, the wars, and a lot of other events which could lead to destructions.Moreover, there are enormous possibilities for educational programs on television. Since children love watching TV it can’t be that hard to convince them to learn through a television program. The lesson will be a lot more amusing and not so tiring as school lessons. Considering the audiovisual perspectives that TV can offer, teachers can easily be replaced by televisions ! In conclusion, the question â€Å"TV or not TV? † still remains unanswered. The negative points are as many as the positive ones. It’s up to us, then, to decide whether we are going to be watching TV or not.Television has the potential to unite communities, provide information to allow positive cultural, social and environmental change, and to create a true global village. It also has the potential to alienate, desocialise, to promote aggressive and negative behaviours, provide negative and inappropriate role models to our children, and to create negative values such as values of consumption and possession. During the past two decades there has been considerable debate on the issue of the impact of television violence on youth behaviour.Many in the television industry deny television's contribution to youth violence. The Net-generation refers to people born between 1977 and 1997. There have been many studies that identify an association between exposure to violence i n entertainment and violent behaviour, but these studies do not prove that exposure causes violent behaviour. They show that there is a risk that exposure to media violence will increase the likelihood of subsequent aggressive behaviour. This risk can be increased or decreased by a large number of other factors.Recent research into the effects of pornography and violent video/computer games is starting to draw similar conclusions, although findings suggest that pornographic films, especially those containing violence, can contribute to callous sexual behaviour and violence towards women. The relationship between what we see and what we do is extremely complex. Some of the more important variables are context in which violence is portrayed, the age of the viewer, the sex of the viewer, the ability of the viewer to differentiate between fantasy and reality, and justified and unjustified use of force.Violence on television seems to be effecting our feelings of safety within the communi ty. There is some evidence to suggest that the level of violence in television programs, films, news, may have led to an increase in fear that society is more dangerous than is actually the case. Censorship issues are difficult to resolve. What are our rights? Are they to be protected from viewing things that may be harmful to our own or our children's psyche, or are they to have the right to decide for ourselves? Censorship may also lead to the ‘forbidden fruit' phenomenon and the development of black markets.Similar results may occur if there is regulation of broadcasters. Would self-regulation work? It is well known that parental influence can be a major factor in reducing the impact that television violence will have on children. But parents need to be aware of this and need to take the time to know what their children are viewing and, at best, view programs with children in order to ameliorate the negative impacts from such viewing. Parental influence can also enhance the positive impacts of television, and can allow children to understand social systems and appropriate behaviour more fully.Parental education and awareness programs will determine how successful this approach is. One option to ensure television viewing is less damaging to children is to have media literacy education for children in all schools. The aim of this education would be to help children to critically evaluate the images, which are presented to them on an everyday basis. If we are concerned about the kind of television our children are watching, technological advances such as the ‘v-chip' (violence chip) can be programmed to block out unwanted programs from television broadcasts.Just as it is with censorship issues, new technology relies on parental involvement. Television programming is driven by commercial intent. Television appears to be harmless entertainment, but the function of global television is connected with the ideology of globalising capitalism. It appears the commercial intent is focused on distraction and cultural reformation. Television has a large social cost. Television viewing removes us from the physical reality of our current lives – and often for extended periods of time. When we watch television, we stop social interaction – conversation becomes fractious and partial, if it continues at all.While we watch television we miss the verbal interaction that allows for sharing, learning and building collective perspectives. Television changes culture in more ways than we can imagine. In the United States, half of the population now report watching television while eating dinner, and more than a third watch while eating breakfast or lunch. People in the US spend more time watching television than they do talking with their spouses (four to six times more) and playing with their children (an average of twenty minutes each day compared with four hours of television viewing).The situation is no much different in the UK wh ere 46 percent of people say that at the end of a working day all they want to do is watch television. It is, in fact, the number one leisure time pursuit in much of the developed world. ; People's absorption in television results in far less time for intimate social connectedness, which is visible not only in the home but in the broader patterns of community vitality, or social capital. Social capital is a term used to describe the overall health of social connectedness – feelings of common purpose, common identity and common commitment.Television viewing has been implicated in the collapse of positive civic participation in almost all of its forms. Since healthy communities are characterized by high levels of social capital and participation, lack of positive civic participation indicates and unhealthy communities. This is decline in civic participation reveals a clear inter-generational shift Music and Human life Music is one of the greatest creations of human kind in the course of history. It is creativity in a pure and undiluted form and format.Music plays a vital role in our daily life. It is a way of expressing our feelings and emotions. Music is a way to escape life, which gives us relief in pain and helps us to reduce the stress of the daily routine. It helps us to calm down, an even excites us in the moment of joy. Moreover, it enriches the mind and gives us self confidence. Music surrounds our lives at different moments of lives, whether we hear it on the radio, on television, from our car and home stereos.Different kinds of music are appropriate for different occasions. We come across it in the mellifluous tunes of a classical concert or in the devotional strains of a bhajan, the wedding band, or the reaper in the fields breaking into song to express the joys of life. Even warbling in the bathroom gives us a happy start to the day. Music has a very powerful therapeutic effect on the human psyche. It has always been part of our association wi th specific emotions, and those emotions themselves have given rise to great music.The origins of Indian music can be traced back to the chanting of the Sama Veda nearly 4,000 years ago. The primacy of the voice, and the association of musical sound with prayer, were thus established early in the history of Indian music. Today, music is available for us in different forms and the choice for music varies from person to person just as the reading choices vary from one another. There is folk music, classical music, devotional music, instrumental, jazz, rock music, pop music, hindi movie songs and many more.

Hedda Gabler Essay

In the beginning when the reader meets Hedda Gabler, one can see how she is quite a high maintenance character by how she complains that the maid has† opened the door. I’m drowning in all this sunlight. † (Ibsen 1469). Exerting her power over her husband, George Tesman, she demands him to close the curtains, which he does complacently. Later Hedda notices an old hat lying on the chair and worries that someone may have seen it. When she learns that the hat belongs to Miss Tesman, George’s dear aunt, she does not apologize for her comment which shows her tendency to belittle others, even if they are family. Hedda utters to her husband, â€Å"But where did she get her manners, flinging her hat around any way she likes here in the drawing room. People just don’t act that way. † (1418). The author depicts Hedda as a neurotic woman who criticizes the actions of others in an attempt to demonstrate her self- imposed superiority over others. Her pretentious comment introduces the theme of a high and mighty character, which readers will begin to hate, who eventually succumbs to the pressure of appearing perfect in society. In the scene where George and Hedda receive news that Mrs. Elvsted, an â€Å"old flame† of Tesman, will be visiting, Hedda remembers her as the one with â€Å"that irritating hair she’d always be fussing with† (1418). By this remark, the reader can predict that Hedda, very jealous of Mrs. Elvsted, will attempt to flaunt her superiority over her throughout the rest of the play. Once Mrs. Elvsted arrives, and she and Hedda are alone they chat about a variety of topics: marriage, love, and most importantly, a man named Eilert Lovborg, with whom Mrs. Elvsted is in love. Admitting her feelings of loneliness in her marriage, Mrs.  Elvsted strives to justify her relationship with Lovborg and mentions how happy he makes her when he allows her to help him write, as he is a published author. However, Mrs. Elvsted is unsure of the future of their relationship because â€Å"the shadow of a woman† stands between them. This unidentified woman was going to shoot Lovborg when they broke up. As Hedda learns of this, she comments, â€Å"That’s nonsense. People just don’t act that way here. † (1424). Yet, an astute reader can tell that Hedda is hiding something: she was, in fact, the woman who had previously tried to shoot Lovborg. Ibsen does this to show that Hedda acts in a manner that contradicts her snooty statements. Later in the play when Lovborg visits Hedda, he confronts her by asking why she married George because it is apparent that she does not love him. Then he inquires if she ever loved him while the two had previously been in a relationship, and he reminisced about how he confessed so many secrets to her. â€Å"Ah, Hedda, what kind of power was in you that drew these confessions out of me? † (1440) he asked. Mischievously, she responds, â€Å"You think it was a power in me? (1440). All the while, Hedda takes pleasure in knowing that she can control others by exerting her power over them. Deeper into their conversation, the reader learns that when the two enjoyed a secret friendship, Hedda had threatened to shoot Lovborg, but she did not because she feared the scandal it would have caused. Once again, Hedda proves to be overly concerned of what society thinks. On the outside, she appears to fit the mold of how a woman in society should behave; yet, internally, she struggles with a predisposition to act in a contradicting manner of what society regards as acceptable behavior. She is propelled by this internal conflict during the entire play. Earlier in the play, the reader inferred that Hedda envies Mrs. Elvsted because of her relationship with Lovborg; therefore, the reader expects to see Hedda parade her superiority over Mrs. Elvsted. True to her character, Hedda rips out the pages in Lovborg’s manuscript, which Mrs. Elvsted helped him write, and throws them into the stove. Crazed, Hedda exclaims, â€Å"I’m burning your child, Thea! You with your curly hair! Your child and Eilert Lovborg’s. I’m burning it! I’m burning your child† (Ibsen 1456). Right before this manic event, Hedda urges Lovborg to commit suicide, gives him one of her pistols, and expresses her desire for him to do it â€Å"in beauty† (1456). Once she persuades Lovborg to commit suicide, Hedda can no longer suppress her internal conflicts and shoots herself in the head. The reader can assume that Hedda commits suicide beautifully, as she hoped Lovborg would do. Her motto of â€Å"people just don’t act that way,† proves to be false because her actions are exactly what she says people do not do. Throughout Hedda Gabler, the main character possesses much contempt for her husband, insults others, and resents a former acquaintance. Despite her concern with society’s opinion of her, she feels trapped within society’s standards to act a certain way. Yet, in doing so, she becomes dejected from others and society as a whole. Repeatedly, she uses the following phrase: â€Å"People just don’t act that way,† in an attempt to suppress her internal desires to be like one of those people. By the end, Hedda cannot live torn between two different realities; she chooses to behave like one of those people, and she commits suicide- in beauty, of course.

Death and Dying Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Death and Dying - Research Paper Example Death and Dying Morality is a central principal requirement that defines humanity as provided by several religions. Both Christianity and Islamic religions subscribe to the necessity for the living to embrace morality during their lifetime. The two religions attach the living human’s moral conduct as determinants to their destiny after death. Death in the two religions is a fulfillment of thee religious writings and doctrines that guide human conduct. The ultimate position that the dead acquire after death, according to the two religions, are determined during their lifetime. Death is attainable before one actually dies in the physical sense. To learn the concept of death while one has physical life constitutes a core consideration as a skill of life. An individual needs to ensure reforms as a living entity and to accommodate the understanding and perception of death. Different religions have diverse conceptions of the art of death before physical demise. In as much as death comes after life and end of existence of the soul according to Islam and Christianity religions, life itself presents a platform for preparation for death. In both religions, the process of dying presents an opportunity for the individual to develop and heal.Every religion holds dissimilar perception about death. Most religious beliefs on the notions of death and dying believed that death was a transition from one from of life to another form. Knowledge of dea th and fate after death serves to regulate the conduct of believers in both the Islamic and Christianity religions, for instance. ... Foucault proposes the need to revert to ethics promoted by the Greek cultures in pursuit of ensuring the restoration of morality in the society. The promotion of ethics in Greek related to the advocate of the will to have a beautiful form of life. The need to ensure a beautiful form of life presents the best way to renew the lost ethical considerations in the society. Ethics that have its basis on the quest to lead a good life can help the society to regain the lost morality. Society members do not trust the belief that religion is the foundation of ethics. According to Foucault, there is a notable abandonment of the ethics of self in the society. Humanity does not base their ethical performance on the scientific knowledge that informs about what constitutes the self. There is a great need of society members to integrate rigorous honesty in the self. The operation of societal values has high dependence on ethical conducts that promote morality. The urge to account for the truth in an y situation is an example of morality that society should adopt. All these, according to Foucault, depend on the ability of an individual to know himself of herself; hence ensuring technology of the self. Foucault’s conception of technology of the self was highly relevant to the role of both Christianity and Islamic religions in regulating morality through the notions of fate after death of an individual. Hospice professionals used several means of control that helped in managing the process of dying. People who are at their critical point of health need care. Those in charge of the terminally ill should take proper care and be in fully in charge. Hospice care initiatives have its basis on two most significant objectives. The first objective of

Leadership Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Leadership Philosophy - Essay Example This philosophy is can be viewed from two points of view as suggested by Covey. The points of view are in principles and values. Firstly, principles initiated by a leader should be a two-way deal whereby the principles will bind both the leader and subordinates. Leaders who do not live under the principles they impose on their subordinates are seen to be people who preach virtues but practice vice. With values, leaders are challenged to lead by example by confining their actions and activities within set value that impacts positively on their subordinates. With good values in place, leaders are respected and trusted. Such trust and respect ensures that subordinates are cooperative; thereby making leadership very easy and participatory. In conclusion, I believe that my leadership philosophy will determine whether or not my leadership will be easy or difficult. For this reason, there must be the embodiment of all habits as suggested by Covey in my leadership values. These habits should include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking first to understand, then to be understood, synergizing and then finally sharpening my saw.

Close Observation of Nature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Close Observation of Nature - Essay Example Nature has always existed around us, in all forms of life. Even when technological advancements have led humans to kill nature in the most excruciating way, nature has continued to persist with its charm and beauty. It exists in the form of gardens and forests all around us. Sitting alone by Coast Redwood Tree in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park in the state of California, I kept admiring the beauty of nature. The Park is named after Jedediah Smith, who was a traveller and was the first to explore this area in 1826. The Smith River that flows all across the park adds to the splendor of the park. Sitting there, watching the river run silently, with chipmunks, squirrels, and racoons running over the place gives the place a charm of completeness. This place is an inclusive substitute of the home which will never let you get bored. (Redwood Hikes) Admiring the enhancement and lure the place had on me, I was mesmerized by the motion of the river that how it flows peacefully giving the place a fairytale environment. I noticed that the ants were travelling from one tree to another in a straight line, and then travelling to the top of the trees for their food. They would then come down and travel to the roots of the trees, perhaps to feed their young ones who are still infants and needed to be fed. The way they were caring reminded me of how we humans care for our kids. As humans, we go out from morning to evening in the quest of money- money that earns us foods, that is the stance of our livelihood.

Swans Reflecting Elephants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Swans Reflecting Elephants - Essay Example Swans Reflecting Elephants is similar to a brain teaser, or an optical illusion, which is what Dali was aiming at when he painted this piece. At first glance, the painting seems to consist of three swans sitting on a lake. They are surrounded by leafless trees, suggesting that the painting takes place in autumn, and some cliffs, and a few stray clouds drift across the sky. Despite the washed-out appearance of the colors, it is a very serene image. However, the closer that one looks at the painting, the more of the subject matter that they can make out. While the image is clearly that of swans sitting on a lake, a second, more closer examination of the piece reveals that the swans and the trees behind them reflect elephants on the lake. The bare trees become the legs of the elephants and the swans become their trunks and bodies. The perfect placement of the trees and swans allow for this double image, essentially offering two paintings, or two stories, in one. In his Swans Reflecting Elephants, Salvador Dali wanted to show that life is not always what it seems at first glance. His use of the double image, with the swans fading so seamlessly into elephants, reveals that our perception can pick up on aspects or features of life that are not immediately recognizable. This is similar to finding constellations among a smattering of stars, or picking out images or designs in the stucco of walls. Our eyes are capable of finding more than just the original image. Furthermore, Dali gives evidence.

Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Finance - Essay Example Most of these tests however have been carried out in the developed countries and have largely ignored the developing countries. This paper seeks to discuss the levels of market efficiency in the Japanese equity markets in order to determine whether they are successful or not. This will be done by evaluating several empirical studies carried out in the same. Market efficiency literature review Kono, Yatrakis & Segal (2011) carried out a study on the Japanese stock market efficiency. The authors sought to compare the performance of a stock portfolio that consisted of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) against the performance of the overall stock market which was represented by the Topix Index. This was carried out using data that was available from the 30 June 2008 to 30 June 2009. In their study, they constructed the exchange traded funds according to the Modern portfolio theory that was developed in 1952 by Harry Markowitz. The study was based on the null hypothesis that â€Å"A portfolio composed of Japanese ETFs and constructed according to the MPT provides a higher return per unit of risk than the Topix Index†. In order to arrive at the optimal portfolio of ETFs, the authors used the statistical data related to the ETFs, the mean variance optimisation model of the MPT and the risk free rates as well as the expected market return. In order to help in determining the optimal portfolio, they also used a software program that was designed for the same purpose. The optimal portfolio that they used comprised of 7 ETFs which complied with the selection criteria for the study in terms of maturity and criteria. The statistical results obtained from the data analysis were used to calculate the return per unit of risk of each of the ETFs (Kono et al., 2007). The results of the study showed that the ETF portfolio that was used in the study performed better in terms of the ratio of performance to risk as compared to the overall equity market. This means that the portfol io of ETFs had a lower negative return per risk unit than the entire Japanese equity market. The study therefore concluded that it is possible for an optimal portfolio of ETFs to perform better than the whole equity market index if the performance of the portfolio and the market is measured using the return per unit of risk which is also referred to as the Sharpe ratio by players in the stock market. The authors suggested that further research in the Japanese stock market should be carried out to test the relationship between the cash flows of the company and their performance in the stock market (Kono et al., 2011). Andersen, Bollerslev & Cai (2000) carried out a study on the â€Å"Intraday and interday volatility in the Japanese†. The study investigated the volatility of performance in the Japanese stock market. The study used a 4 year sample of 5-min Nikkei 225 returns for the period from 1994 to 1997. Testing the intraday volatility resulted in the observation that they b ehaved in a doubly U shaped pattern which was explained to be as a result of the opening and closing of the morning and afternoon trading sessions of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The authors explain that the observed feature of the doubly U shaped pattern is consistent with other market theories that have advanced the importance of private and asymmetric information when determining the prices of stocks. It was also found that announcements about the macro

Development, impacts, implications of a contemporary political movment Essay

Development, impacts, implications of a contemporary political movment for change (Environmentalism) - Essay Example The beginnings of an environmental crisis which looms large over the world can perhaps be traced to the Industrial Revolution in Europe which led to natural resources being used, often indiscriminately, for the purpose of scientific progress (Reynolds, A Brief History of Environmentalism, n.dd). At a parallel level, European colonies in Asia, Africa and Latin America were also subjected to much ecological damage for industrial growth. Though Henry David Thoreau pioneered environmentalist thinking in the USA, it was John Muir who laid the foundation of the Sierra Club in 1892 through which the government received ample financial aid for it to undertake wilderness conservation measures (Reynolds, n.d.). The emergence of environmental activists such as Wangari Mathai from Kenya shows that environmental concerns cannot be divorced from an engagement with the imbalances of power engendered by colonialism. In contemporary times ecocriticism has become an integral part of most academic disc iplines. It has been particularly influential in the field of postcolonial studies where scholars have found a close connection between the discursive and economic power wielded by the West and the environmental damage inflicted by Western nations upon the nations of the Third World. The first breakthrough in American environmentalism came with Rachel Carson’s work Silent Spring (1962) which spoke of the impact of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a commonly used pesticide on the environment. The work created immediate controversies and numerous American industrialists clamoured for its ban, accusing the author of baseless indictments. However, the work caused enough stir for President John F Kennedy to order a thorough investigation into its claims. The research revealed the hugely detrimental effect that DDT had not merely upon the physical environment but also on human health since it was commonly used as an agricultural pesticide. Following this the use of DDT was ba nned in the USA (Lear x-xi). This is an important episode in the history of environmentalism for it fortified American environmentalist movement besides proving the efficacy of protest movements led by seemingly politically disempowered individuals against multinational conglomerates. It is a sad fact that even today, several countries continue to use DDT and many such pesticides. These continue to affect the lives of millions of people and their health even today. The reasons for this can be traced to the lobbying power of the corporate firms that produce these pesticides and the lack of civic action on the part of the citizens of these nations. This can be remedied to an extent through the spread of awareness of environmental issues. In short, the issue of environmentalism needs to extend its reach to these nations in order for it to be an effective tool. In the 1970s began the era of international cooperation on the subject of ecological conservation, the manifestation of which w as the Earth Summits summoned by the United Nations. The first among these was held in Stockholm in 1972 and was titled â€Å"UN Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm† (â€Å"Earth Summit,† The United Nations Official Website n.p.). These forums of international debate and discussion have laid bare not merely the urgent need to incorporate the

Afro-Caribbean Poetry Essay Example for Free

Afro-Caribbean Poetry Essay In this essay I will be studying the various items of poetry from manyAfro-Caribbean poets. One of the poets is Langston Hughes who was  born in Joplin, Missouri on the first of February 1902. He started  writing poetry after moving to Lincoln, Illinois. The poems I will be  studying are Mulatto and I, Too.  The next poet I will be looking at is Grace Nichols. Nichols was born  in Guyana in 1950, she came to England in 1977 this is when she  developed her fiction and verse writing. The poem I will be studying is  Praise song for my mother. The next poet I will look at will be Dr Benjamin Obadiah lqual  Zephaniah, he was born in Birmingham, but he spent most of his  time in Jamaica. After he spent some time in prison he decided to use  his energy for good and educate himself. The poem I will study I love  me mudder.  The last poet work I will be looking at will be John Agard. Agard was  born in Guyana in 1949, the country was still a British colony until  1966. In 1977 Agard moved to England. This is where he became the  light of the new West Indian British dawn of various bardic  compositions. Agard is a poet whom blends calypso styled language  with unique sounding spoken word. The work I will be studying is  Half-caste  I have paired the poems up. The pairs either share the same topic,  tone or language. One of the pairs is Half-caste by John Agard and  Mulatto by Langston Hughes, because they have the same type of  topic and also tone.  Half caste is about weather: the term half-caste can be applied to  any thing else apart from people. John Agard has written a very good  poem witch makes you think about the words we use every day with  out knowing the proper meanings and whether it makes any sense  when you break the word down. I think that many words we use now  are out of date and should be changed for politically correct terms  and alternatives. Agard also uses some stunning references to get you  thinking. The other half of this pair Mulatto tells us about the harsh  treatment black women faced at the hands of their white bosses in  the slave era and how the women were only used as play things, this  is shown in the part Whats a body but a toy?. The word mulatto  means the same as half caste but not as many people use it  nowadays. The boy in the story has a trouble fitting in with black  people and white people and does not have that sense of belonging if  he had been born to parents of the same race. The next pair is Praise song for my mother by Grace Nichols and I  love me mudder by Benjamin Zephaniah. Ive paired these poems  because they share the same topics which is their mothers.  Praise song for my mother is about how Grace Nichols loved her  mother and how she inspired to do the best she could. Its also how  she looked up to her, and how her mother was all the things she likes  such as the sunrise and the fried plantain smell. The poem is set in a  past tense which seems to tell us the readers that her mother has  died. The second half of my pair is I love me mudder. This poem is about  how Benjamin Zephaniahs mother came from Jamaica on a boat  called Windrush. Many people came from Jamaica because they  thought they would have a better life than the one they all ready had.  In black family family (need to delete this) life the figure of the  mother is very strong and is the main rule maker in the house, and  this poem shows how she works so hard just to make sure her familydont go without. The last pair of poems is taint by Grace Nichols and I, Too by  Langston Hughes these two poems have been joined together because  they both have kind of the same topic which shows the pain black  people have overcome but still yet we are strong.  taint is about the treachery that this person has had cast upon  them while they where a slave, the fact that they where stolen by men  the colour of their own skin. This reminds me of the black on black  gang warfare and killings. This person who trusted the people of their  same skin colour was betrayed. This work also shows how these  people where traded like they where animals. The poem has a  message to everyone: to stop fighting and live peacefully together.  The second half of the pair is I, Too which shows how black people  had to eat in a kitchen when company came but they ate well and  became strong. So when company comes no one will dare tell me to  eat in the kitchen and now you are ashamed about what you did to  me when I was mentally weak. This poem has a promise of hope for  Ã‚  change. Hughes suggests that Tomorrow things will be different and  people will see that beauty and equality of all peoples.

What the Writer Thought of the Event Essay Example for Free

What the Writer Thought of the Event Essay What the event symbolized for America was explicitly stated in the editorial — Woodstock was the kind of success that could be achieved when there is benevolence among people. Everyone saw a disaster out of Woodstock in the beginning. People predicted it would end out a havoc. Even hip radio stations warned people against it. It was easy for the Americans to think that such a large gathering of people in such a place would end up to no good, especially when it’s the youth that is involved. However, as the event turned out to be a success, America realized that it is not impossible for people to come together and be in a state of harmony at the same time. More importantly, Woodstock became a realization for America that the power of benevolence could do such amazing things, and could rise above such adversities as shortage in water, toilets, bad trips, and even thunderstorms. Aside from these, Woodstock symbolized for the rest of America that their youth is not going down the drain. Instead, their youth is worthy of respect and emulation, because amidst the prejudice against their capabilities and their culture, is their power to rise above the adversity and to display such a culture of good will among perfect strangers. For the parents of America at that time, Woodstock was a â€Å"wakeup call’ that their children did something worthy of their approval , and that this is what is important amidst the drugs and the display of nudity. The bottomline is that Woodstock, for America, had become as symbol of both the power of the youth and the power of benevolence, and the beauty that comes when these two powers work together. For the writer, not only was Woodstock Music and Art Fair an â€Å"Aquarian Exposition of music and peace . It was much more. It ranked among one of the most important sociological and political events of the decade. Not only was it the largest happening that ever was in history at the time, it was also a public announcement of the culture of America’s youth in the sixties. It was a manifestation of their â€Å"strength, appeal, and power† (TIME, 1969). Along the article, the writer pointed out how massive the gathering was, even estimating that had the roads not been blocked, there would have been a million people between the age of 16-30 at Woodstock. And though the writer acknowledged the presence of the largest gathering of rock idols as a bait for the crowd to come, he pointed out a more analytical reason for the gathering. According to him, Woodstock was a kind of â€Å"pilgrimage† where the youths sought to discover that there were hundreds of thousand of people who shared their culture, in other words, that they are not isolated, as they have previously thought they were (TIME, 1969). The writer was also quick to acknowledge the fact that the old generation of Americans initially saw the event as a â€Å"squalid freakout,† but had experienced a change of tune, which included even the New York Times . Along with this, however, the writer ran a paragraph that told about both the â€Å"deplorable† and commendable things about the event that could be the reason for such a two-sided perception of the event. The bad side of Woodstock that the writer perceived included deaths and illnesses from drugs, as well as the deplorable case of sanitation, accommodation, garbage, and rains throughout the event. However, the writer exalted in the fact that â€Å"there were no rapes, no assaults, no robberies and, as far as anyone can recall, not one single fight† (TIME, 1969). In the length of the rest of the article, the writer presented several analysis of the meaning of Woodstock. Among these was that Woodstock was a manifestation of the youth’s valuation of self over society, and aside from the youth’s total separation from the norms of the past generation, was also a manifestation that the adults could not control them anymore. However, along with these was the youth’s perception that they are changing the society for the good and that they did not need someone to lead them since they already have each other . In the end, the writer was able to send a message of questioning to his readers. A question of â€Å"to what purpose† could the outpouring and extremely powerful emotions of the youth could be harnessed politically. His advice was made implicitly by quoting what a sociologist had to say about the event . Towards the end, the writer’s advice turned out into a warning about the possible negative impacts of the event, instead of a dawning of enlightenment .

Benefits of Renewable Energy in Domestic Houses

Benefits of Renewable Energy in Domestic Houses Chapter One: Introduction Rationale Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources that are renewable, constantly replenished by nature such as sunlight, wind, rain and geothermal heat. All of these forms of renewable energy can be used as a cleaner source of energy in houses. As these forms of renewable energy can be harnessed to generate sufficient electricity even for the most demanding of houses and then some, the electricity generated from renewable resource would be clean, safe, environmentally friendly, cost effective and efficient. Our present happy progressive condition is a thing of limited duration William Stanley Jevons 1865 This quotation shows that as far back as the mid 1800s civilisation knew the that worlds resources were not infinite and that one day they could run out, so for the past 150 years or so civilisation could have been planning for this and looking for alternative types of energy such as renewable energy. Traditional Fossil fuels are running out, they are getting harder and more expensive to obtain, and their emissions are polluting our planet. Newer, greener, alternative, renewable, energy solutions are available today. Emerging technologies are making them more efficient, and more affordable, with shorter payback times. This makes them a viable alternative to traditional energy sources. Energy costs have snowballed in recent years. U.K energy wholesale prices have risen by 100% for electricity, and 230% for Gas since February 2007. Coal has seen a, massive jump with a 400% increase in the last 10 years, from just  £23 a ton in 1999 to  £100 a ton in 2008. Oil prices have increased dramatically recently and are always prone to fluctuation. Oil has reached peak supply and increasing demand from developing nations is likely to keep prices high. (line.3,4,5. par 2 from home page of www.renewable alternative.co.uk website for Caron alternative energy systems.) The Author found this quote to be very incisive as it not only shows that traditional fuels are no longer going to be an option in the future but with current demand for energy the price is going to sky rocket. This quotation also looks at how promoting and using renewable energy systems can help you to create a cleaner and more environmentally friendly environment, the quote also looks at how renewable systems can be more cost effective not only in the overall life span but also in the installation aswell as many governments of countries are now giving out grants to homeowners in order to promote renewable energy. The author will go into the details of the grants in greater detail later in the dissertation. Aims In this dissertation the author aims to show that installing renewable energy systems in domestic houses is not only encouraging green energy but also cost-effective and as productive as traditional heating systems in homes. Throughout the dissertation the author plans to name and describe the different types of renewable energy systems that are available to a dwelling to make it more energy efficient. Objectives To establish an appropriate research methodology to support the research needs of the dissertation. To analyse and assess the different types of renewable energy systems. Conduct a survey of consumers who have purchased/installed a renewable energy system in their house. To investigate the advantages and disadvantages between renewable energy systems and traditional heating systems. Formulate conclusions and make recommendations on the basis of my findings. Hypothesis Is Renewable energy in domestic houses more beneficial than traditional heating systems? Structure of Dissertation Introduction Chapter one introduces the reader to the dissertation. It provides a brief overture to the topics that will be discussed in the dissertation. It also discusses the aims, objectives and the structure of the dissertation. Research methodologies In chapter two the author discusses the research methodologies used to research information and this includes the research process, primary and secondary literature sources. List of renewable energy systems In chapter three the author makes a list of the different types of renewable energy systems available to the consumer. List of traditional heating systems In chapter four the author makes a list of the traditional heating systems available to the consumer. Detailed description of renewable energy systems In chapter five the author gives a detailed description of the different types of renewable energy systems and lists the advantages and disadvantages. Detailed description of traditional heating systems In chapter six the author gives a detailed description of the different types of traditional heating systems and lists the advantages and disadvantages. Analysis of questionnaires This chapter analyses the opinions of the home owners who have installed renewable energy systems in their homes. In this chapter the author has made up a customer survey and given it to home owners (who have installed renewable energy systems in there house) to complete. The author will compile and analyse the results of this survey. Case study In this chapter the author looks at different examples of similar research. Conclusion and recommendations This chapter provides the conclusions and recommendations of the dissertation. Bibliography and References The bibliography and references is a list of all the books, articles and websites used to research the dissertation Chapter Two Research Methodologies Introduction: In this chapter the author outlines the various methods used to produce this dissertation. It identifies the different sources used and illustrates how with comprehensive research the information was collated. The author also discusses the limitations encountered in researching for this dissertation. Research Process The research process begins by the author preparing a preliminary literature review. This enables the author to acquire a sufficient grasp of the theories and methods of analysis in renewable energy systems. The preliminary literature review help the author develop his knowledge of the planning system and legislation. The preliminary literature study also helps expand an overview of the primary sources of information available. The preliminary literature study in the initial stages in the research process presents a large amount of the material needed for the dissertation. The author uses this information to narrow his research. This focused his intentions on specific areas. The author then had to decide on what format the dissertation would take and how to go about producing it. By studying past dissertations on similar subjects it will assist in the expansion of the initial idea and will demonstrate the correct method to execute a dissertation. Throughout the research process different information is collected. This information can be broken up into different headings primary and secondary sources. Sources: Primary and Secondary Primary Literature Sources: Primary literature is the most accurate source of information as it publishes original research (Naoum, 2007). The lists of primary sources included in this dissertation were academic research journals, dissertations, government publications and reports on the subject matter. Discussion was carried out with the librarians in both Robert Gordon University and Carlow Institute of Technology this broadened the research avenues. The main sources of information included: Documents from the European Union Documents from the Irish government Sustainable Energy without the hot air by David JC Mackay Renewable Energy Policy by Paul Komor Secondary Literature sources: Secondary literature sources are those that cite primary sources such as textbooks, trade journals, newspaper articles etc. The secondary sources were mainly conducted during the authors research period. The author used many different sources such as the internet and the library amenities available. The uses of search engines specifically orientated to renewable energy were of great significance to the author. The internet was a very good source for up to date material. The author concentrated on the local sustainability websites, Departments of Environment in Austria, Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom European Parliament, and the national newspaper websites to source information for this information. Limitations During the research for this dissertation there were various limitations. One of the greatest limitations the author encountered was the time restriction. Accumulating the information needed time it takes time to process the information and assemble the dissertation. A problem the author encountered was there were very few books that discussed the issues of the the performance of renewable technology in domestic houses. One other difficulty was the response rate was very poor to the authors emails and letters. The response rate was very poor and thus effected the authors overall objective view on this dissertation. Literature Review The author undertook a literature review to source the relevant research interests. The literature review provided the background information for the rationale. In researching for this dissertation the author used textbooks, newspapers, legislation and published reports as the principal sources. Past Dissertations Past dissertations in the Robert Gordon University provided a valuable source of information. The past dissertations were a considerable help with the layout and format of the dissertation and also helped with developing the content. Questionnaire The use of questionnaires was a significant help in receiving feedback from the people who are most influenced by the renewable energy systems (the people who have had them installed in there houses) on their opinions and experiences. Chapter 3 List of Renewable Energy Systems The list of renewable energy systems falls under certain different criteria for example solar, wind power, biomass etc. these are some of the systems that the author will be looking at in greater detail later on in the dissertation. Solar Solar panels. Photovoltaic cells. Evacuated tube collectors. Heat pumps Geothermal heat pumps. Wind energy Wind turbines Biomass Wood Chip or Pellet Boilers Water management Rainwater harvesting Chapter 4 List of Traditional Energy Systems The list of traditional energy systems that the author has decided to research falls under the following criteria Gas, Oil and Coal the author will be looking at these systems in greater detail later on in the dissertation. Traditional heating systems Gas Oil Coal Chapter 5 Detailed Description of Renewable Energy Systems Solar Panels Solar thermal (heat) energy is often used for heating water used in homes and for heating the insides of buildings (space heating). Solar space heating systems can be classified as passive or active. Passive space heating is what happens to your car on a hot summer day. The suns rays heat up the inside of your car. In buildings, the air is circulated past a solar heat surface and through the building by convection (meaning that less dense warm air tends to rise while denser cool air moves downward). No mechanical equipment is needed for passive solar heating. An active solar thermal system relies on solar collectors to transform sunlight into heat that can be used for space heating or more commonly to produce hot water. Active systems often include some type of energy storage system. Information taken from: (http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyexplained/renewable/flatplate.html) Solar Energy the Environment Using solar energy produces no air or water pollution and no greenhouse gases, but does have some indirect impacts on the environment. In addition, large solar thermal power plants can harm desert ecosystems if not properly managed. Birds and insects can be killed if they fly into a concentrated beam of sunlight, such as that created by a solar power tower. Some solar thermal systems use potentially hazardous fluids (to transfer heat) that require proper handling and disposal. Concentrating solar systems may require water for regular cleaning of the concentrators and receivers and for cooling the turbine-generator. Using water from underground wells may affect the ecosystem in some arid locations. Photovoltaic Cells What are Photovoltaic Cells and how do they work? Photovoltaic Panels are usually situated on a roof and use semi conductors to convert sunlight to produce electricity for your home. Unlike Solar Panels which use the energy of the Sun to heat water, Solar PV (photovoltaic) converts the suns energy into electricity. The panels are made up of an array of cells which are made of materials such as silicon. The Solar PVs are made up of a negative and positive field similar to a battery. The photovoltaic panels do not require sunlight to be effective as they operate from daylight rather than sunlight specifically, although they do supply more electricity in sunnier climates. The more sun, the more electricity produced. The photovoltaic cell is activated by light. Electricity is created by the creation of an electric field across layers of semi-conductors in the cell. Advantages of Solar PV Photovoltaic cells are low maintenance, but do require checking of the wiring and ensuring the Photovoltaic panels are kept clean and debris free. For new build or renovations, photovoltaic installation costs will be lower as they can be incorporated with other works. Photovoltaic reduces your carbon footprint. Alternative energy systems can improve overall scoring for Energy Performance Certificates which form a compulsory constituent of the Home Information Packs HIPS which house sellers now have to compile. Alternative, renewable energy systems increase the value and saleability of your property. Photovoltaic panels are low noise. Photovoltaic panels can be used to supplement wind energy. Suitability Photovoltaic panels should be placed so that they are South or mainly South facing to gain most benefit from them, on an area where they will not obstructed or overshadowed by buildings or trees. If they are in the shade for part of the time their output will be less. Whilst traditionally these have been available in panels, Photovoltaic is now also available in a form which mimics traditional tiles, and also as units which can be used in the construction of conservatories where they can also provide shade. For larger Photovoltaic installations you may require planning permission. A individual system design will provide you with the best options for your individual needs. We are able to design and supply off grid options which can allow you to be self sufficient for electricity, heating and hot water. Photovoltaics (pvs) which convert sunlight directly into electricity, have many attractive features. They are quiet, dependable, have no moving parts, can be installed very quickly, and can be sized to power anything from a single light to an entire community. However they are quite expensive, with current costs of 20 per to 40 us cents per kWh for grid connected systems (compared to 3 to 5 cents per kWh for coal or natural gas systems). Although costs have come down considerably in recent years and will continue to drop ,PVs are currently nowhere near cost competitive with fossil fuels. (l.3,4,5 par.2 pg 39 Renewable Energy Policy by Paul Komor) Evacuated Tube Collectors Evacuated cellular tubes are made up of a series of modular tubes mounted in parallel .these tubes can be added to or taken away in accordance to hot water demands. These collectors consist of rows of parallel see through glass tubes in which each contain an absorber tube. In an evacuated tube collector the sunlight passes through the glass tube and heats up the absorber tube by means of a heat exchanger. The thickened fluid then flows back into the bottom of the heat pipe. The pipes must be placed at a certain angle so that the method of vaporization and compaction will work to the best of its capability. Advantages of Evacuated Tube Collectors The tubes can be individually replaced easily without special tools and the water does not have to be drained from the solar hot water system. The E.C.T (evacuated tube collectors) work like a thermos and keep up to 93% of the suns heat in and lose between only 3-5% of the heat gained. The E.C.T will work in cold weather up to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Geothermal Heat Pumps A geothermal heat pump is a central heating and/or cooling system that pumps heat to or from the ground. The geothermal heat pump uses the heat from the ground as a source of heat (in the colder months) or a heat storage (in the warmer months). This design takes advantage of the reasonable temperatures in the ground to improve efficiency and reduce the costs of operating heating and cooling systems. The systems work a lot like a refrigerator or an air conditioner. Heat pumps can transfer heat from cold areas to warm areas, against the natural direction of run, or the systems can improve the natural surge of heat from a warm area to a cool one. But unlike air-source heat pumps, which predominantly transfers heat to or from the colder outside air, a ground source heat pump takes its heat from the ground. The fact that underground temperatures are much more constant means that geothermal heat pumps are much more energy efficient than air source heat pumps. What a ground source heat pump does is it extracts the heat from the ground in the colder months (for heating) and transfers the heat back into the ground in the warmer months (for cooling). During the summer months, the procedure can be changed so that the heat pump takes the heat from the building and channels it to the ground. In order for a ground source heat pump to work it must have a heat exchanger connected with the ground to remove or disperse heat. Direct exchange systems move refrigerant underground, closed loop systems use a combination of anti-freeze and water, where as natural groundwater is used in open loop systems. Geothermal electricity has one compelling advantage over wind and solar. Its not limited by the whims of the wind or the sun and can therefore provide base load electricity. Typical geothermal plants operate at capacity factors of 90 percent, compared to winds 25 to 30 percent. This means that a geothermal power plant is delivering close to its maximum output most of the time. This makes it a much more valuable and dependable source of electricity. Wind Turbines What are wind turbines and how do they work? Wind turbines are the most common of the alternative energies, they are effectively the modern equivalent of the old fashioned windmill. The rotors or blades of the wind turbines are placed on a pole high up, where they need relatively little wind to turn them. The spinning blades of the turbines create electricity by rotating a permanent magnet to generate electricity, which can be used for a variety of purposes. The more electricity required the bigger the wind turbines required. When most people think of wind turbines they think of the very large commercial wind farms, with very high, very large wind turbines. Wind turbines are now available on a much smaller scale for domestic dwellings, and are capable of generating sufficient electricity for the household, and dependent upon size, there is also the possibility of selling excess electricity to the grid. Advantages of Wind Turbines Wind turbines are environmentally friendly. Once installed wind turbines provide free electricity. Wind turbines are a more established technology, they are a cheaper option and have a lower payback period. During periods of good wind, electricity produced by Wind turbines and not used or stored can be sold to electricity companies. Our new generation wind turbines not only look different, they are quieter and more efficient. Their light-weight and compact design allows them to be located on building roofs. Suitability In the main, wind turbines are used for supplementing an existing electricity supply. You will need a suitable environment to be able to locate the turbine, as far away as possible from trees and buildings. You will need a suitable base or plinth on which to mount the wind turbine. Wind turbines only generate electricity while there is sufficient wind so a continuous supply of electricity cannot be achieved. If there is no existing supply of electricity, electricity will either need to be stored for unproductive periods, and/or used in conjunction with another source of renewable energy. Not all locations are suitable for wind turbines, the positioning of the turbine and the surrounding environment are critical for optimum performance. Any local planning restrictions need to be taken account of in England and Wales planning permission is necessary to install a small wind turbine. Wind turbines are best suited for rural properties, farms, community buildings, industrial estates, schools etc. The fundamental idea behind wind power is appealingly simple: the wind turns the blades, the blades turn the generator, and the generator makes electricity. The reality of course is much more complex. Todays wind turbines are technically sophisticated and finely engineered, incorporating the latest advances in materials, microprocessor controls, and computational fluid dynamics (for blade design) (line 5, par 2, pg 34 Renewable Energy Policy by Paul Komor) Biomass Most common process of biomass combustion is burning of wood. In developed countries replacing oil or coal-fired central heating boiler with a wood burning one can save between 20 and 60% on heating bills, because wood costs less than oil or coal. At the same time wood burning units are eco-friendly. They only emit the same amount of the greenhouse gas CO2 as the tree absorbed when it was growing. So burning wood does not contribute to global warming. Since wood contains less sulphur than oil does, less sulphate is discharged into the atmosphere. This means less acid rain and less acid in the environment. (This is the opinion of the manufactures of the frohling company who manufacture biomass boilers.) Biomass can be converted to different forms of energy including heat, power, combined heat and power or liquid bio fuels. Direct combustion of biomass material. Some processing of biomass may be carried out prior to combustion e.g. sorting, chipping, pelleting or drying. The chemical processes-where solid biomass is upgraded to a liquid or a gas by pyrolisis and gasification. Decomposition of solid biomass to liquid or gaseous fuels by processes such as anaerobic and fermentation. Whilst the author was researching biomass energy he came across a very interesting article on the importance of biomass energy in Germany this is what it states Biomass is one of the most important and most diverse renewable energy sources in Germany. Quote taken from (http://www.bmu.de/english/renewable_energy/doc/42722.php).As Germany is one of the leading countries in sustainability in the European Union the author thought that this would be quite beneficial to the dissertation. Biomass can be used in solid, gas and liquid form to create electricity and heat and to produce bio-fuels. It is estimated that of the total final energy created from renewable sources in the year ending 2007 biomass contributed 69% this is a staggering figure when you take that more than two thirds of renewable energy came from biomass. According to the final energy consumption bio energy is responsible for almost 4 percent of total electricity use, just over 6 percent of total heat required and 7.6 perce nt of total fuel needed. The use of bio-energy is to be further expanded. The technical potential required for this is available in Germany. In the agricultural and forestry sector, part of the 17 million hectares of agricultural land (approx. 12 million hectares of arable land and approx. 5 million hectares of grassland) and of the 11 million hectares of woodland are available for biomass production. By far the most important source of bioenergy in Germany is wood. About one quarter of Germanys wood production (lower quality line of production) is used for generating energy, approximately three quarters are used as material. Waste wood and used wood are also used for energy production. Model calculations by the Federal Research Centre for Forestry and Forest Products have shown that there are reserves to expand the use of wood without impairing sustainable forestry. quote taken from (http://www.bmu.de/english/renewable_energy/doc/42722.php) this quote shows how the German people are using there natural resources to further enhance the solution to fossil fuel problems. Economically biomass energy has become quite significant in Germany with almost 100,000 jobs being created in the bio energy sector, specifically in the agricultural and forestry sections, where they are manufacturing materials such as pellets, wood chips or biogas from biomass. The total earnings from the bio-energy sector came to 10.23 billion euro in 2007. (Information was taken from the website of the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the German Government) Rainwater Harvesting Rainwater harvesting is the collecting and keeping of rainwater. It can provide water for drinking, for farm animals, for watering land and for water to refill acquifies in the process known as groundwater recharge. In some cases rainwater is the only sensible or available water source. The systems are very suitable in areas where the rainfall is greater than 200mm per year. There are two types of harvesting ground water harvesting and roof harvesting. Ground water harvesting systems feed water from a prepared catchment area into a storage area. They are usually only considered in areas where rainwater is extremely limited and additional supplies of water are lacking or not available at all. They are very suitable for small communities. If well designed, ground catchments systems can collect large amounts of rainwater. Roof harvesting systems feed rainwater that falls onto a roof into storage through a system of gutters and pipes. The initial flurry of rainwater after a dry spell should not be stored as it could be polluted with dirt, bird droppings etc. Roof gutters must have sufficient slope to avoid any chance of a back log of water. The gutters must be strong enough, and big enough to carry maximum flows. In order to reduce the risk of contamination and fungus growth the storage tanks should be covered. In order for the Rainwater harvesting systems to be kept hygienic and clean they require regular cleaning and maintenance this will prolong the good working order of the systems. Rainwater harvesting in towns or cities can be very useful for many reasons. One of the main reasons rainwater harvesting can be implemented in cities is to supply extra water for the citys requirements, to replenish vegetation to improve the scenic beauty of a town/city, to increase the ground water table through artificial recharge, to alleviate urban flooding and to improve the quality of groundwater. Another reason that rainwater harvesting can be useful for is in households the water can be used to flush toilets and for washing clothes, sometimes it can be more beneficial to use rainwater to do laundry as some area the mains water may have traces of lime which could effect the washing machine over time. It can also be used for showering or bathing. It will require ultra violet treatment prior to use for drinking. Chapter 6 Detailed Description of Traditional Energy Systems In this chapter the author decided to look at the materials used to heat the traditional types of heating systems. Gas How Was Natural Gas Formed? The main ingredient in natural gas is methane, a gas (or compound) composed of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Millions of years ago, the remains of plants and animals (diatoms) decayed and built up in thick layers. This decayed matter from plants and animals is called organic material it was once alive. Over time, the sand and silt changed to rock, covered the organic material, and trapped it beneath the rock. Pressure and heat changed some of this organic material into coal, some into oil (petroleum), and some into natural gas tiny bubbles of odourless gas. Advantages of Natural Gas The process of burning natural gas is cleaner than burning other fossil fuels. It releases fewer emissions of sulphur, carbon, and nitrogen than oil or coal. As natural gas is one of the cleaner fuels it has become much more popular in recent years. Disadvantages of Natural Gas Natural gas may be cleaner than other fossil fuels but like other fossil fuel, the burning of natural gas will produce carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is the second biggest greenhouse gas contributing to the greenhouse effect. Natural gas also has a negative effect on the environment while it is being manufactured, refining and transporting. Oil Oil was created from the remains of plants and animals that existed millions of years ago in a maritime environment. Heating oil is a liquid with gluey features, it is a combustible liquid petroleum product used as a fuel for heating systems or boilers in buildings Heating oil is very similar to diesel fuel, and both are classified as distillates. It consists of a mixture of petroleum and hydrocarbons Disadvantages of Oil Oil products help us achieve many things. We use them oil products to fuel many of our transport systems such as automobiles, planes trains etc to heat our homes, and to develop products such as medicines and plastics. Even though oil products make life easier discovering, manufacturing, transporting, and the use of them can harm the environment through water and air pollution. Harmful gases and emissions are produced from burning Oil products. Some of these harmful emissions include: Particulate matter (PM) Carbon dioxide (CO2) Sulfur dioxide (SO2) Carbon monoxide (CO) Nearly all of these by-products of burning oil have a negative effect on peoples health and the environment: Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, which is of course a source of global warming. SO2 is known to causes cause

Rise of US to power during the 20th century Essay -- essays research p

The U.S. Rise   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There were many factors that contributed to the United States’ rise and roles as a world power during the early 20th century. Presidential policies during this time period were the foundation of the U.S.’s role as a world power. The conflict in the Philippines was evidence of the U.S.’s ability to crush uprising and control a territory. The Spanish-American War demonstrates the U.S.’s role as a world power. Although the U.S. was only about a century old it’s influence drastically affected the whole world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Presidents during the 20th century developed and relied on many different policies involving foreign relations. President Roosevelt’s policy was â€Å"Speak softly and carry a big stick: you will go far.† He applied this African proverb in Latin American relations and acted as a sort of â€Å"international police officer.† Taft’s â€Å"Dollar Diplomacy† advised American businesses to invest wherever their products are sold. President Wilson believed that the U.S. was the champion democracy, and whenever the U.S. could instill democracy or help out, it should. This policy was called â€Å"Moral Diplomacy.† Presidential policies kept the U.S. involved in foreign affairs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After Commodore Dewey had captured the Philippines an uproar tested the power of the U.S. After debate, the U.S. decided to annex and hold off the independence that the Philippines had waited so long for. The U.S. used crue...

Willa Cather Describes Erotics of Place in her Novel, A Lost Lady Essay

Willa Cather Describes Erotics of Place in her Novel, A Lost Lady To discover an erotics of place in Willa Cather's A Lost Lady, takes little preparation. One begins by simply allowing Sweet Water marsh to seep into one's consciousness through Cather's exquisite prose. Two paragraphs from the middle of the novel beckon us to follow Neil Herbert, now 20 years old, into the marsh that lies on the Forrester property. This passage, rich in pastoral beauty, embraces the heart of the novel-appearing not only at the novel's center point but enfolding ideas central to the novel's theme: An impulse of affection and guardianship drew Niel up the poplar-bordered road in the early light [. . .] and on to the marsh. The sky was burning with the soft pink and silver of a cloudless summer dawn. The heavy, bowed grasses splashed him to the knees. All over the marsh, snow-on-the-mountain, globed with dew, made cool sheets of silver, and the swamp milk-weed spread its flat, raspberry-coloured clusters. There was an almost religious purity about the fresh morning air, the tender sky, the grass and flowers with the sheen of early dew upon them. There was in all living things something limpid and joyous-like the wet morning call of the birds, flying up through the unstained atmosphere. Out of the saffron east a thin, yellow, wine-like sunshine began to gild the fragrant meadows and the glistening tops of the grove. Neil wondered why he did not often come over like this, to see the day before men and their activities had spoiled it, while the morning star was still unsullied, lik e a gift handed down from the heroic ages. Under the bluffs that overhung the marsh he came upon thickets of wild roses, with flaming buds, just beginning to open.... ...arsh. A final glimpse of marsh turned wheat field comes in the fourth chapter of the novel's Part Two. Heavy rains have come to the Sweet Water valley, lifting the river over its banks and swelling the creeks. Cather reports that "the stubble of Ivy Peters' wheat fields lay under water," (121) raising the hope that Peters' intrusion upon the land is merely temporary, that given respite from human meddling, the marsh will reassert itself. I admit that this is my hope more than it is Cather's. But even if this is so, it is Cather who arouses the desire that invites me to hope. Works Cited Cather, Willa. A Lost Lady. Ed. Susan J. Rosowski with Kari Ronning, Charles W. Mignon and Frederick M. Link. The Willa Cather Scholarly Edition. Lincoln: U of Nebraska P, 1997. Williams, Terry Tempest. An Unspoken Hunger: Stories from the Field. New York: Vintage, 1994.

Christchurch Earthquake Essay

On Tuesday 22nd of February 2011 there was a 6.3 magnitude earthquake at 12:51pm. The damage in Christchurch was far more substantial than the damage caused in the 7.1 earthquake only 5 months before. 185 people were killed in the February earth quake and thousands more were injured. The epicentre of the earthquake was very close to Lyttelton and only 10 kilometres out from Christchurch Central city. The fault line that ruptured and caused the earth quake was the 15 kilometre fault along the southern edge of the city from Cashmere to Avon Heathcoat estuary. The build-up of stress or pressure in the rocks below Christchurch The earth is made up of many tectonic plates. It is the movement of these plates that has created the geographical features of many countries. New Zealand lies on the boundary between two of these plates: The Pacific Plate and the Australian Plate. This boundary is most obvious along the Southern Alps. From this main fault there are many smaller ones spreading outwards. Some of these spread into Canterbury. Before the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes it was not thought that there were any significant fault lines near Christchurch. Now we know there are. Stress is not caused by the movement of tectonic plates, but more by when the edges of the plates jam against each other and stop moving. The pressure builds up behind the part that has jammed. Eventually the pressure is so great that the plate moves suddenly and this causes earthquakes. The build-up of stress and the sudden movement when the stress is released shakes the rocks deep under Christchurch. The fault lines under and near the city shake, causing the rocks to move. This causes the major earthquakes.The outer core of the earth is layer of molten rock. On top of this is the mantle. On top of the mantle is the earth’s crust that we live on. The mantle gets very hot and in thin places molten rock rises to its top. Because of this hot and cold relationship, the crust on top is broken into tectonic plates. The movement of molten rock causes energy to be moved upwards into the crust. When the crust can no longer hold this energy, it moves along the boundaries of the tectonic plates. These boundaries are the weakest parts of the crust and will therefore be the first bits to break and move. Release of stress The Port Hills fault line that caused the 6.3 magnitude earth quake in February was 15km long and stretched east to north east along from Cashmere to the Avon Heathcoat estuary. The fault line that caused the Feb 22 quake was one that was previously unknown close to the Port Hills. This fault line did not break the earth’s surface, so there was nothing visible for scientists to go and look at. Using instruments that measure earthquakes and earth movement scientists were able to determine exactly where this fault was and that the bit that actually moved, causing the earthquake was 15km long. Fault lines are the weakest part of the earth’s crust. When there is stress caused underneath by movement, the fault lines are the first part to move. It is a bit like a piece of glass: if there is a crack in the glass that will be the first place where the glass will break. So pressure is released under the earth’s crust. The earth’s crust will actually hold a lot of t his pressure. When the pressure becomes too much for the crust to hold, the fault lines are the first bits to move. One of the ways scientists measure and record the fault movement was through the displacement of GPS stations, whose displacements were used to create the fault slip model. http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Our-Science/Natural-Hazards/Recent-Events/Canterbury-quake/Hidden-fault The transmission of energy through the earths crust The energy released when a fault line moves is like a stone being dropped in a puddle of water. It causes ripples to move out from the centre. The ripples are worst nearest the centre and they get smaller as they get to the edge of the puddle. The centre of an earthquake is the epicentre. When energy is released at an epicentre, waves of energy move outwards, causing the ground to shake. As the epicentre of the Christchurch earthquakes was quite close to the city, the energy that caused the ground to move under Christchurch was violent. If the epicentre had been further away the quakes would have felt smaller.There was movement up, down and sideways during the February quake. The block of land on the south side of the fault line rose about 2.5 metres – this included the Port Hills. The land on this side of the fault also moved westwards. The land on the north side of the fault moved eastwards towards the sea. However, much of this movement was underground. The land has risen as much as 40 centimetres around the western side of the Avon-Heathcote estuary.The amount the Port hills has risen  varies a lot , under Lyttelton Harbour it has risen about 5 centimetres but at the base of the hills near the Heathcote valley, it has risen to a maximum of around 25 centimetres. As a result of the fault slip, areas like Bexley, Aranui, Wainoni, Avondale and New Brighton have sunk, mostly by less than 15 centimetres. Northern, northeastern and central areas of Christchurch have also sunk, but generally by less than 5 centimetres. Earth quakes / fault movements are measured with a sensitive instrument called a seismograph. Earth quakes generate seismic waves and the seismograph is used to detect them. The magnitude of an earthquake depends on how big or small the fault is and the amount it has slipped. The seismograph shows the recordings made on the seismographs detected at the surface of the earth to determine how large the earthquake was. A short wiggly line that doesn’t move very much means a small earthquake, and a long wiggly line that wiggles a lot means a large earthquake. Through the seismograph we get the Richter scale. The Richter scale is a scale used for expressing the magnitude of an earthquake based on the height of the largest shake 100km from the epicentre. There are different types of seismic waves that can be detected; there are P waves and S waves (primary and secondary) P-waves are travel at the greatest velocity through the earth making them the first waves to be recorded on a seismograph during an earthquake. S waves are transverse waves that travel slower than P waves but are more destructive because of their large amplitude. The effects on man-made structures and aftershocks Liquefaction is a substance where strength and stiffness of a soil is reduced by tectonic plates shifting or other rapid movement. Liquefaction occurs in sodden soils. The water applies a pressure on the soil particles this controls how tightly the particles are pressed together. Before an earthquake, the water pressure is relatively low. However when the tectonic plates start shaking it can cause the water pressure to build up to the point where the soil particles can readily move. Some Areas of Christchurch are more prone to others as some suburbs have up to 9cm of liquefiable substances such as sand and soft soil. These substances turn into liquefaction easily as they mix well with the water underground. Costal areas are also more prone as the soft sand mixes well with the water also. There was more damage caused by liquefaction in the central city and eastern  suburbs than other places simply because it depends on the soil. Since Christchurch is built on marsh land our soil is very susceptible to liquefaction and there is very little we can do to stop it. Some Areas of Christchurch are more prone to others as some suburbs have up to 9cm of liquefiable substances such as sand and soft soil. These substances turn into liquefaction easily as they mix well with the water underground. Costal areas are also more prone as the soft sand mixes well with the water also. Most buildings that survived the Christchurch earth quake were wooden because when wood is shaken it is able to bend and twist with the movement, whereas for bricks and stone they can’t move at all and just have to absorb the shock of the shaking which generally leads to buildings collapsing all together E.g. Christchurch Cathedral, CTV building and Knox church. Buildings like the Christchurch Women’s Hospital survived through the September and February earthquake because its foundations are base isolated. Base isolation is when a building is separated from the ground that it is built on. Large plates separate the ground and the building. One plate is secured to the ground and the other is secured to the bottom of the building. During an earth quake these plates only move a little bit, absorbing mos t of the shock from the earthquake minimizing damage to the rest of the building. Also depends on the soil under the building, if it is prone to liquefaction or not. Some houses had liquefaction coming up through their floors damaging the foundations so much they had to leave their homes, and basements of office buildings or apartment blocks were flooded with liquefaction, making them un-use able.A tsunami didn’t occur after the Christchurch earth quake because the epicentre was in land and no seismic energy was released under the sea. Tsunamis only happen when the epicentre is in the sea, making the energy from the earth quake ripple the water on to land. The bigger the earth quake is, the bigger the tsunami. Aftershocks? After shocks are a lots of smaller earth quakes that happen after the initial earth quake. They occur because the fault line that ruptured needs to settle down again and release stress, aftershocks are the fault lines way of releasing remaining energy. According to http://www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz/february there have been 8673 after  shocks since February 22nd 2011 as of Monday 19th May 2014. Including after shocks that have been so big they are classed as an earth quake of their own like the 13th of June 2011 and the 23rd of December 2011. After shocks do not occur in the exact same place, but they do occur along the same fault line and in the same region. The main earthquake has already happened and released most of its energy already, but further along the fault line the rocks are now out of place and the grinding between them causes more earthquakes (aftershocks). Bibliography http://www.ipenz.org.nz/IPENZ/forms/pdfs/ChChFactSheets-Answers-critical-questions-buildings.pdf http://keithwoodford.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/understanding-the-christchurch-earthquake-building-damage/ http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2013/05/10/where-does-an-earthquakes-energy-come-from/ www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1103/S00054/the-canterbury-earthquakes-scientific-answers.htm http://www.mona.uwi.edu/earthquake/quickinfo.php http://all-geo.org/highlyallochthonous/2011/02/magnitude-6-3-earthquake-rocks-christchurch/ http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Our-Science/Natural-Hazards/Recent-Events/Canterbury-quake/Hidden-fault http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_ground_acceleration http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1103/S00054/the-canterbury-earthquakes-scientific-answers.htm http://file.stuff.co.nz/stuff/12-51/ http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/historic-earthquakes/page-13

Rider to the Sea as a Tragedy

Riders to the sea as a Tragedy Drama must excite, startle, thrill and shake us. Such effects cannot be produced by a play which is lacking in conflict. The conflict in a tragic play may be between human beings pulling in different directions, between a character and the environment in which he finds himself or the society of which he is a member. Riders to the Sea succeeds in representing human sufferings which raises pity and fear among us and makes us to decide that the play is a great one in its tragic appeal. The tragic theme of Riders to the Sea moves round with the deep pathos of a mother Maurya.The tragedy of the play is simple and straight- forward, but sublime and universal in its penetrative appeal. The play brings out the utter tragedy of humanity, pitted against the violent force of a cold, unrelenting, natural element- the sea. The sea assumes here almost the role of fate and becomes instrumental to human suffering and death. Riders to the sea is indeed a great tragedy i n its representation of human suffering and cathartic appeal. There are two views on the tragic vision of life. One is that man is the play- thing of inscrutable power called fate and another is that character is responsible for the tragic end.In Greek tragedies, tragic fate for the heroes is predetermined. Oedipus and Antigone become obstinate and tyrannical. Their tragedy is due to their over confidence in their respective attitudes. In this light, we see Riders to the Sea as a suitable combination of Greek and Shakespearean tragedies. The sea is a force of Nature over which nobody has any control. Opposing the sea, and opposed by the sea, are the members of the community living on the island which serves as the setting for this play. The human opponents of the sea in this play are Bartley, his sisters Cathleen and Nora, and his mother Maurya.These human opponents operate on three levels. Bartley must sell his horses at the Galway fair. His sisters seem to have a sacrificial proph etic function. Maurya speaks two great elegies for the dead, and the dead are not only members of her own family, not only members of the island community of Aran, but of the whole world. Man’s conflict with the sea, and woman’s loss, is archetypal; it is everywhere in myth, legend, history, from the Greek Anthology to Lycidas. The people living on the Aran Islands must remain constantly aware of the sea, its menace, its moods, and also its help because it is both the giver and the taker of life.It is the giver of life because the people of the island earn their livelihood partly by catching fish from the sea and collecting wea-weed from the sea-shore; and it is the taker of life because people perish in it. The conflict between the sea and the human characters is indicated at the very outset when we are told about the drowning of a man in the far north and about the shirt and the stocking which were got off that man’s body. If these items of clothing belonged t o Maurya’s son. Michael, then she is to be told that he had got a clean burial.Thus, when the play opens, the sea has already robbed Maurya of one of her sons. The next step is Bartley’s decision to cross over to the mainland in order to sell a couple of horses. Cathleen feels concerned about the weather on the sea, especially when Nora informs her that there is a great roaring in the west, and that it will get worse when the tide has turned to the wind. Maurya feels even more concerned about the weather, and she wants that Bartley should not go this day when the wind is raising the sea and there was a star up against the moon during the night.As Bartley is firm about going, Maurya makes the gloomy forecast that he would be drowned like the rest. When he is actually gone, she wails: â€Å"He’s gone now, and when the black night is falling I’ll have no son left me in the world. † The climax comes when dead body of Bartley is brought to the house and when Cathleen is told by one of the visiting woman that Bartley had been knocked down into the sea by the grey pony and that he had been swept away by a huge wave towards the white rocks. On learning of Bartley’s drowning, Maurya appropriately says: They’re all gone now, and there isn’t anything more the sea can do to me. † There will be no need for Maurya to feel any anxiety about anybody in future because the sea has already taken away from her all her men-folk Thus the sea proves to be a victor in this everlasting struggle between man and the sea. Maurya is, of course, the great loser in the battle, but she is not to be regarded as a single woman who has to bear the brunt of the sea. Maurya represents the whole community living on this island.

Opposition Against Macbeth Essay

Finally the three witches who built up Macbeth is also opposing him with a new prediction which would lead to his downfall. (3. 5 29-31) In Act three we are introduced to Macbeths deception and paranoia as he begins to suffer horrifying images of his murdered victims appear amongst him. Macbeths greatest opposition as he quickly destroys his status among others is Banqou his closest friend . Banqous suspicion towards Macbeth grows deeper ,yet it’s his persistence towards his prophesies that forces him into silencing the topic of his beliefs and knowledge for his own ambitions. Banqou awaited for his prophesies to suffice his wants yet as the time grew Macbeth grew in power with dark intentions. AS time quickly slipped through Banqous hand Macbeth noticed the threat the Banqou held against him. (Act3-2)(40-61)Macbeth began to experience paranoia and Banqous suspicion fueled that paranoia. With the witches misleading statements towards Banqous life and rise to glory, Macbeth was convinced there was a defective statement that may lead to his death through Banqous request. With fear and hatred circling his mind, Macbeth convinced two attendants to murder Banqou. (Act3-3)(12-33)As the two murders go off and commit their crime, Macbeth hints to his wife of great plans and that’s a sign of glory and confidence filling his soul. Macbeth had experienced a lack of sleep and a lack of apatite as he sat at his thrown while Banqou and others revolved around him with great suspicion leaving an emotional and mental scar. Act3-4)(49-101)After Banqous death, Macbeth grew great confidence yet it was the idea of murdering his friend haunted him daily and knowing Fleance escaped grew more fear within his soul. (Act3-5) The second opposition which played a large role from the beginning was the witches and Hecate. Macbeth finally reached his goal and accomplished his prophesy yet it was his greed that made him want more power and knowledge of future occurrences ,Knowing this Hecate Decided to convince Macbeth of more glory awaits him and raise his confidence to a higher level which will finally destroy him and lead him to his great down fall. Hecate knew Macbeth’s rain among Scotland and those close to him had to reach its limit and allowing him to continue would lead them to their death. In order to avoid the conflict and remove Macbeth from his power swiftly, Hecate and the other witches decided to allow Macbeth collapse on himself through gentle statements they created. Macbeth’s insecurity and fear leads him to gain enemies and demons which over take his mind. Act3-6)The final great opposition that slowly forms against Macbeth was Lennox and the other lords. Lennox and the other lords begin to discuss Macbeth’s actions among his territorial rule. The lords begin to discuss all the crimes they are sure Macbeth had committed. Macbeth begins to create a defence for himself as he find out his enemies alliance grows rapidly. Macbeth leads himself into the lowes t of situations as he slowly begins to murder others . His suspicion and terror haunts his every move and his enemies grow with his every day at his position.

Reverse Osmosis for Wastewater Recycling Essay

Reusing treated wastewater for beneficial purposes, such as agricultural and landscape irrigation, industrial processes, toilet flushing, or groundwater basin replenishment, is growing in response to environmental and economic concerns. One of the key factors involved in recycling wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent for another use is the need to reduce total dissolved solids (TDS). This is often done by using a reverse osmosis (RO) system, which relies on pressure differential to force a solution (in this case, water) through a membrane that retains the solute on one side and allows the pure solvent to pass to the other side. While extremely effective on biologically treated wastewater, RO systems need to be coupled with an effective pretreatment system to avoid common issues that can result in system failure, including plugging, fouling, and scaling. One of the most effective pretreatment options for wastewater applications is membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology, in which a membrane process like ultrafiltration (UF) or microfiltration is combined with a suspended growth bioreactor. MBR provides high quality feed water to the RO, minimizes footprint and the cost of civil works, and reduces treatment plant downtime, thereby reducing operating costs. Koch Membrane Systems’ PURON ® submerged MBR technology has successfully been used as the pretreatment option for challenging industrial and municipal water reuse RO systems, and can help make water recycling technologies more cost-effective. Reverse Osmosis Systems Present Challenges for Water Reuse Pretreatment methods are critical when designing RO systems. For example, RO membranes used for most water reuse applications contain a brine spacer, typically made of low density polyethylene mesh netting. If there is a high level of suspended solids in the feed water, this brine spacer can become plugged. Another issue is the high levels of organics contained in many biologically treated wastewaters, which are rejected by the RO membrane and progressively concentrated as the water flows across the membranes. This concentration of organics can foul the membrane, especially towards the RO system outlet. Biofouling can also occur, because the organics in wastewater make an excellent food source for microorganisms. Also, some treated wastewaters contain high levels of bacteria, so biogrowth may occur quickly even if RO feed water is disinfected. Finally, calcium phosphate scaling can cause problems with RO systems operating on some wastewaters. The scaling can be mitigated by operating at lower water recovery, using acid or other antiscalant to minimize scaling, or modifying the operating conditions of the WWTP to reduce the amount of phosphate in the RO feed. These plugging, fouling, and scaling issues mean that the RO system needs to be operated at higher pressures, leading to increased power consumption, increased chemical costs for cleaning, and a shorter membrane life. How can these challenges be minimized and overall water reuse system lifecycle costs reduced? Effective pretreatment of the feedwater before it flows through the RO system is the answer, provided that the pretreatment steps are chosen carefully to ensure that the RO system can work as intended. Reverse Osmosis Pretreatment Options There are many different pretreatment options, and the best for a particular process depends on power, chemical, labor and land costs, wastewater source, and the existing wastewater treatment system. Conventional Pretreatment The conventional effluent pretreatment scheme might be primary treatment, biological treatment and, the most crucial part of the process, solids-liquid separation using secondary clarification. The conventional sedimentation process often doesn’t remove enough bacteria and suspended solids, so sand filtration may be added to improve the solids-liquid separation and provide higher quality water to feed the RO system. Using ferric chloride along with the sand filtration may enhance solids and organics removal. However, upsets in the secondary clarifier can lead to effluent with higher levels of TSS and BOD, causing plugging of the brine spacer with suspended solids and organic fouling. Also, power consumption for RO systems with this type of pretreatment tends to be high, and membrane life is often quite short. Lime-softening has been somewhat more successful in protecting the RO membranes, but this increases operating costs and does not totally prevent fouling of RO membranes. Ultrafiltration Improves Suspended Solids Removal As RO Pretreatment Many of today’s water reuse systems use an ultrafiltration (UF) pretreatment step to emove suspended solids. These systems typically use hollow fiber UF membranes, which do an excellent job of providing water with low suspended solids to feed the RO system. However, the UF system is an extra treatment step, requiring additional footprint, and adding to operating costs. The UF system may also be susceptible to upsets from a conventional WWTP, which can further increase its operating costs. Membrane Bioreactor As RO Pretreatment With an MBR, the UF membranes are submerged in the activated sludge to combine the biological step and the solid-liquid separation into a single process. The membrane acts as a barrier, which improves the effluent quality. The MBR eliminates the secondary clarifier and does not rely on gravity for liquid-solids separation and so allows the activated sludge to operate with a higher mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentration. The increased MLSS concentration reduces bioreactor tank volume, saving footprint and capital construction costs. Overall, the MBR process reduces footprint significantly compared to the combination of conventional activated sludge followed by sand filtration or ultrafiltration. The footprint savings due to the wastewater treatment plant alone can be as much as 50 percent, along with additional footprint savings from eliminating other filtration steps. Using MBR technology also simplifies the overall treatment train, minimizing the number of unit operations. Benefits Of Koch Membrane Systems’ PURON MBR Technology Koch Membrane Systems’ PURON submerged hollow fiber UF module offers robust, cost effective solutions for RO pretreatment. The patented membrane module contains hollow fibers, the lower ends of which are fixed in a header. The upper ends are individually sealed and are free to move laterally, as shown in Figure 1. The PURON module is submerged in the mixed liquor. All solids and particulates remain on the outside of the fibers while permeate flows in an outside-in pattern by means of a vacuum that evacuates permeate through the inside of the hollow fiber. | The free moving fibers, combined with central air scour aeration, ensure stable filtration during plant operation, long membrane life, and lower operating costs due to reduced need for energy, cleaning and maintenance. PURON MBR has been used successfully as the pretreatment step for a number of challenging industrial wastewater systems. For example, a Belgian firm that manufactures chemicals for film processing and printing uses large amounts of fresh water for cleaning and production. The firm began reusing its wastewater to reduce its fresh water costs, and selected an RO system to produce water with the low salt and nitrogen content required for its process. The firm installed a PURON submerged hollow fiber MBR as the pretreatment step prior to the RO, and the system has been operating successfully since 2005. Another example is an Australian malt-producing company that sought to reduce its use of fresh water by recycling its wastewater. PURON MBR technology was selected as the pretreatment step for the RO system, since it provided the best quality water to feed the RO while minimizing overall operating costs. The MegaMagnum ® RO system recovers the MBR effluent as product water for reuse. The system has been running since 2006. In fact, the RO permeate quality is equal to or better than the local potable water supply. Space & Cost Considerations Treatment operation footprint is a primary consideration in developing the best treatment system. Since the PURON MBR system reduces the volume of the bioreactor tanks and eliminates the secondary clarifier, the footprint for an MBR process is much smaller than tertiary filtration steps with sand filtration or UF. If space is limited, MBR may be the only pretreatment choice that fits in the available space. Other considerations include costs of land, civil works, equipment, power, chemicals and labor, and the payback period used. High land and civil costs tend to favor MBR use. For large municipal treatment facilities requiring RO as a final treatment step, an MBR should compare favorably to conventional wastewater treatment as a pretreatment step prior to RO. In a 20-year analysis the municipality should realize savings in RO membrane replacement and power as a result of the MBR pretreatment step. For an industrial company looking at a short payback, the preference for conventional or MBR technology will depend on the relative cost of civil works and land versus the equipment cost. Conclusions Using RO systems to reclaim and recycle wastewater effluent is growing rapidly, and Koch Membrane System’s PURON MBR technology is now being considered as the pretreatment option for an increasing number of industrial and municipal reuse applications. The PURON submerged membrane modules provide high quality feed water to the RO, minimize footprint and the cost of civil works, and reduce the susceptibility of the RO treatment train to upsets. PURON is a trademark of Koch Membrane Systems GmbH and is registered in Austria, Benelux, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. MegaMagnum is a registered trademark of Koch Membrane Systems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Wastewater Recycling for the Stone Fabrication Industry As a stone fabricator you’re looking for a wastewater treatment system that keeps you in compliance, but wouldn’t it be nice to save some money too? That’s where our wastewater recycling and treatment systems come in. These zero discharge, closed loop systems collect the water you use for polishing, cutting, and other processes; cleans it thoroughly, and recycles it so you can use it again. Your wastewater is never discharged into the public system during this process, so you have no chance of being out of compliance. Between the money you’ll save on non-compliance fees and the reduced cost of your water bill, the return on your investment will be substantial. And because we use the most durable, well-designed components on the market in each wastewater recycling system, you can be sure this system will run efficiently for as long as you need it to. We even design and manufacture some of those components in house, including: * Filter presses * Clarifier systems * Chlorine dioxide generators * Control panels * More The solid, smart construction of our zero discharge wastewater recycling systems results in a wide variety of beneficial features, including automation options, expandable filter presses that can accommodate your business as it grows, the ability to accommodate flow rates for 10 GPM – 200 GPM, the ability to filter solids water down to below 1 micron, and more.