Gender roles Essay Example for Free

Gender roles Essay Well, the topic of gender roles is a ripe one. While there is no specific outline providing benchmarks to use in classifying a person’s gender, a number of factors come into play in helping define one’s gender. One of the factors is cultural prescription as provided for by a person’s social group. A man is a man or a woman a woman depending on how the social group they belong to label or socializes them. But one should remember here that genitalia alone do not determine a person’s gender. While one’s sex is determined by one’s biology, both biology and culture (nature and nurture) determine their gender. There are different roles for different genders. Gender is more of culturally than biologically determined. In fact, a person could be born with male genitalia but be of female gender or vice versa. Differences exist between the male and female genders for instance; men are braver than women and women more emotional than men. Women like being protected while men like to protect. Also, men want to pursue a woman for relationship while women want to be pursued. The differences between the genders emanate from differences in sexes culture, religion among others. Some of the similarities include: both are jealous, self-centered and want to mend the other to live up to their own standards. Again, both genders converge in their need for recognition and love. These among other differences and similarities together with other factors such as legal have succeeded in being constant obstacles on the road to equality. Most social groups, our parents and the media have socialized us to believe that the male gender is superior to the female gender. One can ask, does sex determine one’s abilities? Pursuing such a question may elicit an endless debate but a sex-based approach in determining gender roles is bias and oppressive to women and perpetuates inequalities and patriarchy. No wonder women have to fight for equality. Kyra Sedgwick says that, â€Å"†¦we are still not really supposed to want it as much as guy does. † But I think women should be able to make their own choices. I would want to socialize my children in a manner that they will see both genders as equal and worth as much respect despite the differences. I will also want to allow them freedom to choose what they want to be in life. I will not deny them opportunities on the basis of their gender. I will also encourage them to follow their passion provided they are within the range of acceptable careers and I will endeavor to support them. A number of questions puzzle me. They include; In agitating for equality, do women become more women or less? Is a woman more woman because she enjoys same rights as a man? Is it possible to invent a universally acceptable modality of determining gender roles so as to eschew the controversy? What provisions do our societies make for those individuals who do not qualify as average male/female? These questions leave me lost in the labyrinths. The first and second questions demand that women be careful when agitating for equality lest they lose their identity. Anyway what is so serious about losing one’s identity? If forgoing one’s identity will make one have a happier life then isn’t it better to forgo it. What should be pursued, identity or happiness? Addressing the third question will save us unnecessary debates while the fourth question rises out of my worry that there are some persons that are left out in the classification of genders and this could be unfair- a more inclusive definition needs to be adopted for a fair discussion. In doing away with the dual classification such terms as feminism and others that are so ‘poisoned’ will be avoided and may be a less controversial nomenclature adopted. Andrea Wong is a brave woman. From her early age she tried her leg in leadership, a field that was erroneously perceived as a reserve for men. Also unlike most women, Andrea Wong knows how, after falling, to get up, dust herself off and keep going. Unlike Wong, most women get resigned after their first failure. If women were like her, they would also be leaders like she is today and would be doing great exploits. Rachel Roy is another woman who impresses me. She goes for what she wants and she wants nothing but the best, â€Å" If I couldn’t work at Contempo, I didn’t want to work anywhere. † This shows a resolve that most women lack. She knows what she wants that is to be a designer, â€Å"her passion started in childhood and she has never wavered†. She is final in her decision. These two women not only set good example for me but also are good role models for women. From the pieces, it is clearly depicted that success for women is dependent on their attitude and not their gender. If women changed their attitude then they would favorably compete against men and it would be easier for them and tougher for men. Works cited Newsweek, October 15, 2007.

Use of Math in Auto Racing Essay -- mathematics math car racing

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mathematics is found everywhere in life and work and auto racing is no exception. There are many applications of math in racing. The purpose of racing is to win and in order to do that there must be a lot of math involved. If you don’t use math and use it correctly then you will not win. Mathematics is involved in racing in two ways, the car setup and scoring an measurements. The car setup involves tire pressure, down force, wedge, aerodynamic Drag, camber, track bar and valance. The scoring system also uses math. In addition to scoring math is also used to measure different racing related subjects such as car weight, gas mileage time interval, qualifying, and the track characteristics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tire pressure is used as a setup tool that is akin to adjusting spring rates in the vehicles suspension. Increasing the air pressure in the tires raises the spring rate in the tire itself and changes the vehicles handling characteristics. In order for optimal performance the teams must know the proper p.s.i ( Pressure per square inch) for a certain tire on a certain track for a certain air temperature.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Math is also used in measuring the â€Å"downforce.† Downforce is the air pressure traveling over the surface of the car. This air pushes the car downwards which creates the term downforce. The greater the psi the greater the downforce which creates better tire grip for higher speeds through turns.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wedge is another racing term that relies on math. Wedge refers to the relationship from corner to corner of the weight of the car. The weight on any corner of the vehicle affects the weight of the other three corners in direct proportion. The wedge determines how the car handles by either stiffening the wedge or loosening it up.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aerodynamic drag is another math related racing factor. A number that is a coefficient of several factors indicates how well a car will travel through the air is the aerodynamic drag. Teams use specific tests to determine how to achieve the least amount of drag on the car in order to obtain the fastest speed possible.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Math is involved in the camber of a tire which is also very critical in creating the fastest car possible. Camber is the angle at which a tire makes contact with the track surface. The camber varies from tire to tire dep... ... degree of the angle of the track, usually the banking is the steepest in the turns. The banking can range from 0 degrees to 34 degrees which is significant to the team when preparing for a race.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Math is very important in the world of racing. In order to be the most competitive teams must know how to use math and use it correctly. Incorrect calculations can cause dismal performance, fines and be dangerous to the driver. Due to these reasons race teams accept no error in calculations and always make sure to use the math to their advantage. Math is used in different ways in racing. Math is used to determine the proper setup of a car and is used to determine the scoring and measurements of racing subjects. The car setup involves math in the tire pressure, downforce, wedge, aerodynamic drag, camber, track bar and the valance. Math is used in the scoring to determine how many points a driver receives each race and is used in measuring the car weight, gas mileage, time interval, qualifying and the track specifications. All of these are just some of the many examples of how math is relevant in all areas of life including auto racing.

Art Is an Expression

Art History 6A 19 November 2011 Triumph! Art is an expression that we as humans do as a way to express and communicate with others. Through art every painting/sculpture has an intended purpose and message/story to convey. No matter what race, gender, or class, one can understand what message is being shared or find an entirely opposite interpretation other than what the artist intended. It can relate to the individual on a personal level, and that’s the beauty of art. In this essay I will be writing about two pieces of art that have been around for thousands of years.I will be comparing and contrasting the Palette of King Narmer (back) and the painting â€Å"Ti watching a hippopotamus hunt. † Both murals contain symbolism, as well as concepts of life and death. Each in their individual way conveys a message of importance and triumph. The Palette of King Narmer dates back to the first Egyptian dynasty, from Hierakonpolis, c. 3000 B. C, it is flat in appearance and double -sided with engravings on both sides, each individual side separated into 3 distinctive sections by horizontal lines with the middle being the biggest.It stands approximately 25† inches (63. 5cm) in height and tapers down to a point. The structure of the piece is very similar to the outline of a shield. It is composed of a dark color slate, common rock found in Egypt. Unlike the Palette the painting of â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† is much bigger almost double in size, standing 4 feet tall. It was created during the fifth dynasty, Saqqara, c. 2400 B. C. and is composed of painted limestone. Prior to the creation of the Palette of King Narmer, art was divided throughout Egypt.Egypt was divided geographically and politically into Upper and Lower Egypt. Society had an emphasis on becoming unified and the palate marks the unification of these two lands. King Narmer is famously known as the first king to rule these lands. The palettes’ historical importance m arks the transition from pre-historical to historical period in Egypt and serves as the foundation for generations of art glorifying kings. During the time of â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† Egyptians had a very strong belief and emphasis in death and the afterlife.Death was rarely filled with a sense of fear, but instead embraced with open arms and seen as a necessary transition one must make to live in the afterlife. Egyptians constructed mastabas for the dead. For this reason there was a plethora of funerary offerings including statues, carvings, and paintings made and placed into mastabas. The Egyptians built their mastabas very similar to homes for the dead so when they entered the afterlife they would have all the necessities and luxuries they once had during their lifetime.Narmers palette was an object commonly used in the preparation of eye make up, used by the Egyptians mostly to block and shield out the sun. The palette is most likely a votive or gift to the gods. Whereas the painting of â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† was a funerary gift made to honor loved ones who have passed and entered their next chapter in life. In both works of art, animals are portrayed but only in the palette do animals have true symbolic meaning. On the Back of the palette the upmost section portrays two cow heads one on each side, which appear to have human faces.This representation depicts a variety of interpretations: the goddess Hathor, or the goddess bat, or just a symbolism for the Kings power and strength, which is a common symbolism of a bull throughout Egyptian art. The true meaning of these symbolic bulls is unknown till this day due to the uncommon frontal portrayal of the bulls. Also in the back of the palette there stands a falcon, symbolizing the god Horus- protector of kings. The falcon is placed on top of a head sitting on papyrus representing Lower Egypt. This signifies the triumph and power Upper Egypt had over Lower Egypt.In th e painting of â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† animals individually serve no significant value, but as a whole in Egyptian art a successful hunt is a metaphor for triumph over evil. In the palette of King Narmer there are a series of hieroglyphics used to signify the powerful King Narmer making Narmers palette the earliest existing labeled piece of art. In between the bullheads are hieroglyphics of a catfish (nar) and a chisel (mer) within a frame representing the royal palace. The fish also pays tribute to the Nile River since Egypt strived and lived off the river for all its resources such as food and water.In the painting of â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† there are no hieroglyphics used because it was intended for the dead. Its purpose served to represent and honor the loved ones passed. In â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† the artist incorporates a unique series of lines/patterns to bring structure and organization to the piece. This is po rtrayed in the water beneath the boats by a pattern of wavy lines that embody fish and hippopotami. In the uppermost of the painting the artist uses a series of fine grooves that lead into a commotion of birds and foxes resembling papyrus flowers.Similarly lines play a Important role in the Palette of Narmer. A series of Horizontal lines are used to break the palette into 3 distinctive sections. Without the use of lines, the palette would have no organization and would become chaotic. The portrayal of the body when referencing both Narmer and Ti is very similar. Showing the influence Narmers palette had in art. In both pictures the eye and upper body is in frontal view while the head and legs/feet are in profile view, one in front of the other, which was a very common depiction of important figures.It was believed that by showing the Egyptians in this way all the body parts needed in the afterlife would be properly expressed and available to the deceased when needed. Slaves and anim als were painted more natural and relaxed, and with a smaller scale in drawings to show there limited importance. In both pictures the artists illustrate both Narmer and Ti being the dominating and largest figure (which is called  hierarchical scale). In the palette of King Narmer, Narmer is significantly larger in his ceremonial beard wearing a bowling pin shape crown, which represents Upper Egypt.Attached to the end of his kilt is a bulls tail indicating the power and strength of Narmer. Behind King Narmer is a much smaller servant, most likely of high rank, carrying his sandals making Narmer barefoot. Throughout Egyptian art being barefoot symbolizes the person is on holy ground. In Narmers right hand he holds a club, ready to strike a kneeling warrior he holds by the head with his left hand. This once again signifies the power and strength of Narmer over his enemies. Below this scene are two bearded men most likely enemies of the king lying dead symbolic of how lethal and vict orious of a ruler he is.In the mastaba of a Ti the painting â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† Ti is similarly portrayed. Ti is shown much larger and out of scale compared to his slaves depicted, representing his importance and social status. In Egypt a successful hunt was a metaphor for triumph over evil. Ti and his slaves are roaming through marshes, hunting hippopotami and birds. Ti unlike Narmer is distant away from the hunt, not engaging in the action of killing the hippopotami but yet he is still present over looking his slaves during the hunt.He is a neutral observer of life, resembling his Ka being at peace. Both murals use a variety of lines, symbols, and details not only to focus on the importance and triumph of Narmer and Ti but also make a structured organized piece of art. The palette of Narmer represents this triumph over evil more straightforward being that Narmer has already killed two of his foes about to kill another, holding in the palm of his hand the power to give life or death. On the other hand the painting â€Å"Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt† is metaphorically representing victory and triumph through the hunt.

Similarities And Differences Between Van Gogh And Monet

Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet are two highly influential contributors to the art world. Both are renowned artists whose creations are on display in several art museums throughout the world. They are two artistic geniuses who are more alike than they appear to be. While there are many similarities between the lives and art of these two prodigies there are numerous differences as well in their technique/style, subject matter, and personal lives. Technique and style are two things that an artist develops in order to define themselves. It acts as a trademark and it is what makes an artist’s work unique. Van Gogh and Monet have incredibly similar techniques and styles, however, it is the disparities within them that make them distinct. The†¦show more content†¦During his ‘Dutch’ period, Van Gogh’s subject matter was primarily focused on the lifestyle of the poor and the bible (Dubecky). In his ‘French’ period, Van Gogh had begun to shift his focus to drawing nude figures and portraits. Monet, conversely, liked to paint his subject matters in series. He would paint â€Å"the same subject at different times of the day in different lights† (Brown 1536). Some series that he painted included water lilies, bridges, and haystacks. Something that Van Gogh and Monet both really took passion in is basing their art on their life experiences. They both painted their surroundings such as landscapes, seascapes, and people around them. Van Gogh would also draw still lifes of food and would paint paintings based on his emotions during his recovered bouts of mental illness. Van Gogh and Monet had both lived exceptionally different lives. Van Gogh did not start off wanting to become an artist, he was actually very interested in theology and had eventually become a minister. It had seemed as though Van Gogh had found his calling. Unfortunately, he was released from the church after his generosity had betrayed him. While trying to help miners, he gave away all of his clothes and was only left with a cloth. The church committee overseeing Van Gogh let him go because he did not dress or preach eloquently. This led to Van Gogh gaining an interest in art which would lead him to go to an art school in Paris toShow MoreRelatedThe Starry Night Over The Rhone901 Words   |  4 Pagestime and make history. Vincent Willem van Gogh and Oscar- Claude Monet are one of those few who are both notably know artists. Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch painter notably known for his use of beauty, emotion, and vivid and contrasting colors. One of Van Gogh’s famous pa intings is the Starry Night Over the Rhone, which depicts a couple taking a midnight stroll along a illuminated river. A prologue to the art of the twentieth century, Oscar- Claude Monet painted various different famous landscapeRead MoreImpressionism and Post-Impressionism Essay1663 Words   |  7 Pagesthe art community. At the forefront of this movement was a group of Parisian artists, who sought to break free of the traditional french painting styles and subject matter. The most notable of these artists included: Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas, Paul Cezanne, Mary Cassatt, and Camille Pissarro. Each a distinct and unique artist that helped shape the Impression movement. â€Å"Each of these artists, and more, broke free of the traditional styles that were encouragedRead MoreImpressionism; Post-Impressionism Essay674 Words   |  3 Pagestransformation of self-expression in art as a whole. Impressionism is generally considered a French movement and is typically defined as spanning from approximately 1867 to 1886. Impressionism is best embodied by and was perhaps initiated by Claud Monet in such world-renowned works as Impressions: soleil levant which lent its name to the style and subsequently the art period as a whole. Impressionism in its simplest form is characterized as an artist’s impression of an actual scene, using smallerRead MoreThe Starry Night And The Scream1763 Words   |  8 PagesThe Starry Night and The Scream Vincent Van Gogh was born in the Netherlands on March 30, 1853. He pursued many other things in his life before deciding to become an artist. He was brought up in a religious atmosphere, being the son of a preacher. He was a preacher himself for a while in Borinage, a mining district in Belgium. At one point he wanted to dedicate his life to reaching out to those in poverty. At other points in his life he worked as an art salesman and a bookstore clerk. After being

A Problem Of Plastic Pollution - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 11 Words: 3355 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/04/15 Category Ecology Essay Level High school Tags: Pollution Essay Did you like this example? A million jellyfish dance in the soundless ocean as a small green sea turtles attempts to sneak up on its prey. With speed and stealth, this turtle snags the food just as a massive swarm of fog surrounds it. With a swallow of the food the turtle feels a clog, this is no jellyfish its plastic. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "A Problem Of Plastic Pollution" essay for you Create order The turtles stop breathing, it squirms and shakes in the water until all thats left is a lifeless lump of scaly green skin stuck in a protecting shell. The turtles now gone reaches land just in time to be attacked by a bird, out of the turtles neck spills a plastic bag logged in its throat. But it is not alone. Between the layers of plastic lies thousands of turned over green sea turtles shells. The never-ending surge of plastic into the worlds oceans is taking an increasing toll on iconic marine species. The Galapagos green turtles favorite food is jellyfish, so wherever jellyfish are most abundant, turtles are bound to be close by (Andrews). Unfortunately, plastic bags look like jellyfish when floating in the ocean, and if a turtle ingests a plastic bag, it forms a fatal blockage in the gut, usually resulting in death (Hardin). The plastic debris ingested by turtles can cause an intestinal blockage resulting in malnutrition, reduced growth rates, and even death. Perhaps most distressingly, turtles can starve to death because they feel full after swallowing plastic debris (Jaquet). The influx in plastic in the ocean leads to many animals such as the sea turtles suffering grand population losses due to microplastics, plastic toxicity, and plastic consumption, however, if current new technological advances, reduction of plastic, and overall human discretion in plastic occurs, the current population of sea turtles will once again rise. In the past, the United States used the ocean as personal waste disposal. In October of 1982, Peter G Ryan stated, Congress enacted the Marine protection, research and sanctions act. This is also known as the ocean dumping act. This policy declares that the U.S needs to regulate the dumping of all plastic-like materials which can affect sea turtles. But this act only controlled ocean dumping it failed to address the plastic already in the ocean. It wasnt until 1988 that Congress decided to enact the ocean dumping ban, this banned ocean dumping of all waste, especially plastic (Ryan). However, even with this act plastic still found its way to the ocean. Researches at the University of Miami set out to find where all the plastic headed and how it got there. First, they modeled a data on the currents of winds to stimulate the movement of marine debris. The result of the experiment was compared with data from satellites, and the trash was tracked by surface buoys from the NOAA (Global Drifters Program’s database)(Slat). They traced all the marine debris to a gyre in the Pacific Ocean. An Ocean Gyres is known as a system of ocean current, flowing in a circular motion, that is formed by global wind patterns and forces created by earth rotation which was observed by the researcher, Laura Parker. However, when one of these gyres circles stationary waters it acts as almost a whirlpool by dragging in plastic debris and leaving it to drift is its movement less center. Once the plastic reaches the center of the gyre, its trapped and broken down into plastic soup (Parker). That plastic then sits in the center of the gyre for years. Even if plastic was recycled, it never goes away, not for billions of years at least. Plastics take their time slowly degrading throughout billions of years stated Bob Talbot. Eventually, they become microplastics, that are invisible to the eye yet one by one they slowly pollute the ocean, gradually becoming bigger in mass, so big that it created the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. After many years of ongoing ocean dumping most areas of the ocean were now filled with the heavy toxins carried by plastics and high concentrations of pollutants from trash such as; inorganic nutrients and chlorinated patron chemicals. This uncontrolled ocean dumping caused severe depletion of oxygen levels in many ocean areas (Talbot). Leaving oceans full of trash and chemicals poisoning everything that touched it. Since plastic never biodegrades it become microplastics many turtles consume plastic almost every day they feed. Just a turtle simply opening its mouth near the Great Pacific Garbage Patch it is guaranteed to inhale at least a  ¼ a cup of plastic (Brander). As of now, around 10,000+ sea turtles die every year from eating and ingesting plastic (Tyree). But its not just the consumption of plastic that causes many turtles to die, its the combination of plastic and the chemicals it releases (BPA). As this plastic finds its way to the ocean, however, it happens to pick up twice the BPA it had before while just floating in the ocean (Halden). This plastic, as it â€Å"degrades†, then releases all of its chemicals and toxins into the ocean creating a death trap for turtles. But its not just some sea turtles that are affected by this plastic. Countless marine animals feed their babies pieces of plastic without knowing (Samokhvalova). Due to this, an estimated 700 species will go extinct in 5-6 years. As of now, 267 marine animal species are being affected by plastics. With sea turtles out of their total population, around 84% of them have been affected in some sort of way by plastic. However, out of all marine species in the world a whopping 43% are affected by plastic and the toxins it releases (Kosuth). All marine animals are affected by the plastic but it is the sea turtles that withhold the highest death rate due to plastic. The deaths of many sea turtles today are almost always plastic related. It is reported that sea turtles die from starvation, suffocation, infection, and entanglement, all of which are a direct cause of plastic. At this point in time, one in every three sea turtles has been found caught up in some sort of plastic situation. Howe ver, this is not shocking due to the fact that an estimated 1 million pieces of plastic are in every square mile in the ocean. Researchers stated that at this time it is safe to assume that at least 98% of turtles in the world have some plastic inside of them (Tyree). With almost the entire population of sea turtles withholding some sort of plastic in their system they may not have long to live. Sea turtles have also been found to have swallowed hundreds of bits of plastic. Just 14 pieces significantly increase their risk of death, according to a study. Young sea turtles are most vulnerable, the study found, because they drift with currents where the floating plastic also accumulates and because they are less choosy than adults turtles about what to eat. Even a single piece of plastic can occasionally cause death for a young turtle who consumes plastic. In one case a turtle was found with its digestive tract blocked by a soft piece of plastic; in another, its intestine was destroyed by a sharp piece of plastic. The study found that half of the juvenile turtles would be expected to die if they ingested a total of 17 plastic items. In some, a variety of plastic material was found inside their digestive tracts. As many as 329 pieces were found in just one sea turtle. Because of a turtles anatomy, they cant vomit up something once they’ve swallowed it, Dr. Hardesty said, meaning it either passes through their gut or gets stuck. For a juvenile of typical size, half the animals would be expected to die if they ingested 17 plastic items, the study concluded. (Taylor-Smith). Since humans committed to the ocean dumping prevention ACT, dumping should be reduced, but this is not the case. The National Academy of Sciences estimates that 14 billion pounds of garbage is being dumped into the ocean every year, more than 1.5 million pounds per hour. According to the Academy, the United States could be the source of approximately one-third of this ocean plastic pollution. The United States is one of the top consumers of plastic in the area and the biggest contributor to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Due to the plastic, all animals in the Pacific area are in danger especially the sea turtles. Sea turtles have diseases and unsustainable livelihoods heading their way. Imagine if you could see a turtle choking on plastics you produced and baby turtles dragging abandoned nets for months to years before dying. Plastic in the ocean is jeopardizing the natural ways of the marine life by disrupting entire bio-geo cycle causing unwanted problems. This threatens the existence of all life underwater from smaller fish to even whales. Reports say that around one million birds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed every single day due to plastic ingestion. Several marine species are on the verge of extinction because of such type of ocean pollution. Sea turtles are different though, they consume plastic garbage as food, leading to blockage in the gut and ulceration, and eventually to death. These sea turtles are also the most common victims of ‘Ghost Nets’ in the ocean. Which are stray plastic nets used for fishing and plastic crates also cause oceanic ruination, chokes turtles by getting tangled in precious reefs, causing them to break apart the process of being tangled in them is referred to as ‘Ghost Fishing. Essentially the turtles will get caught and wont have a food source. Also, the turtles may get choked. These nets if lost in the water, however, always make an appearance at the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. As mentioned earlier BPA is a hazardous material, found commonly in many plastics, and it pollutes the water badly. Bisphenol A doesn’t get diluted in water, it uses oxygen as it degrades, resulting in a low level of oxygen in the waters as oxygen levels go down. It also badly affects the survival of marine animals including whales, dolphins, and turtles. Plastic waste can either float for miles on the water or they could be submerged on the sea-bed or commonly be found on the sea-shore. But due to BPA not matter how much plastic every single piece is filled with massives amounts of BPA. Before the days of plastic, when fishermen dumped their trash overboard or lost a net, it consisted of natural materials (metal, cloth or paper that would sink to the bottom or biodegrade quickly). Plastic, however, remains floating on the surface, the same place where many genuine food sources lie and can remain in that same spot for up to 400 years unless currents pick it up. Plastic is durable and strong aka the qualities that make it so dangerous if it reaches the ocean. If plastic objects make it into the main sewer system (by being flushed down the toilet, or carried by the rain into a street drain), and the water treatment plants are overwhelmed by excessive rain, then those floating objects can float right out to sea. When heavy rains arrive in mid-summer, they swept the streets clean and overloaded combined sewers after floating out to sea, debris was blown back onto the shores. Plastic soda rings, baggies, styrofoam particles and plastic pellets are often mistaken by sea turtles as authentic. Despite only 0.05% of plastic pieces from surface waters are pellets, they comprise about 70% of the plastic eaten by Sea turtles. But plastic soda rings arent even one of the top pieces of trash in the patch. It includes cigarette butts, Paper pieces, plastic pieces, styrofoam, glass pieces, plastic food bags, plastic caps and lids, metal beverage cans, plastic straws, glass beverage bottles. The mountains of plastic forming and the drastic amount of marine animals dying from plastic is horrendous. One way we might get rid of plastic forever is through some new technological systems, like The Ocean Saviour. This vessel will be a world’s first, self-powering 70m tri-deck clean-up vessel, purposefully engineered to locate, retrieve and recycle plastic from the ocean to preserve one of our most valuable assets, the ocean, for future generations. Central to the built of the vessel is the Manta Collector Array collection systems at the side and front of the vessel which will deploy and draw in plastics. The plastics will then be fed into an onboard conveyor, chopped finely, milled and processed through onboard plasma gasification (converting organic energy into synthetic energy) process which will destroy the plastic completely with minimal atmospheric pollution. The product of this pioneering process will then be used to fuel the vessel, making it self-powering. This v essel proves that maybe the soups of plastic can be dispossessed of thought technology. The Ocean Saviour project has requested a large-scale catamaran as the most economical and stable option on the water. The open plan lower deck will be one of the main working areas of the vessel and has been specially designed to allow ventilation with hinged storm shutters which offer protection against the weather. This entire deck is dedicated to plastic removal and industrial scale recycling. Mid-deck is home to two 12m containers which will offer research laboratory facilities or VIP accommodation options and bulk storage area, for crew quarters. The wheelhouse is located on the third deck which will also house the main crew areas and helipad. However, though this is the number way to possibly remove plastic it has one downfall. A high Price. It cost 50 million dollars to make this vessel, but it may be worth it due to the estimated promise that in 40 years the entire ocean will be free of plastic, plus if we had one or maybe two more of this vessel the years would be lessened. With a plan like this plastic will be destroyed. But the ocean savior project is not alone, there are many options such as the seabin that may be slightly less effective but million of time less expensive than the Ocean Savior. The Seabin V5 is a floating garbage bin, which acts as a trash skimmer and debris interceptor. By pumping water into the device, the Seabin V5 can intercept floating debris, macro and microplastics, and microfibers. It acts as a trash skimmer, the Seabin V5 is also able to clean the water from contaminated organic material (leaves, seaweed, etc†¦). The Seabin V5 is equipped with oil absorbent pads able to absorb petroleum-based surface oils and detergent predominant in most marinas around the world. However, the Seabins is not the solution to plastic pollution. The real solution lies in Education, Science, and Systemic Change. From packaging producers, environmental regulators and to the final consumers; everybody along this chain can play a role and has the possibility, the potential, and the responsibility to be part of the solution. Seabins are installed in the water to collect and reduce the amount of mismanaged debris that from the land enter into the ocean. Seabin Project Science and Research programs take advantage of the global network of Seabins that are currently present around the world. They contribute to the understanding of the issue of marine pollution by generating a global database that will inform the public, governments, and communities about the status of their coastlines and water bodies. Seabin will also take every opportunity possible to develop new ways in which we can remove more plastics from our oceans and achieve ocean conservation and sustainability. Through this product, they aim to not only clean and spread aw areness. Though new technologies open a world of new opportunities to clean the ocean, we will never be able to achieve a clean ocean unless we regulate or even get rid of plastic. AT this very moment thousands of humans choose to limit their plastic use during the day. By limiting we limit the amount of plastic that gets in the ocean. Today California has become the first state to implement a partial ban on plastic straws. Dine-in restaurants will no longer be allowed to automatically provide customers with straws. Customers who need plastic straws will have to request them. Restaurants that violate the ban will receive warnings first, and repeat offenders will be fined at a maximum of $300. The new ban comes on the heels of previous plastic straw bans from companies and cities. This ban is mostly due to the massive amounts of dead greens sea turtles ending up on beaches in California. They are found with stomachs full of plastic and plastic straws up their nostrils. To achieve this human ne ed to contribute to and limit their overall use of plastic. Earlier this year, the Walt Disney Company announced a ban on single-use plastic straws and stirrers at nearly all its theme parks and resorts. The policy, which is set to be in place by mid-2019, will cut down on the upwards of 175 million straws and 13 million stirrers that are used at these locations each year. Paper straws will be available upon request and, for guests with disabilities, the company is developing alternative options for traditional plastic straws. Disney will also eliminate polystyrene cups at its parks and cut down its reliance on single-use plastic bags. Instead of disposable bags, guests will have the option to buy reusable shopping bags. The company will reduce the amount of plastic in guest rooms by 80 percent. However, in Orlando at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, plastic straws and cup lids have been banned since the park opened in 1998. Nearly sixty years ahead of his time Walt Disney banned plastic from the Animal Kingdom park to benefit animals and make sure they are never put in danger. Since Disney has vowed to ban plastic in early 2019 it has set off a chain reaction. Seattle banned plastic straws, and San Francisco is working to ban straws and other plastic items starting July 1, 2019. Not only that but many everyday people have been getting involved by protesting plastic or refusing to use plastic straws. All the people needed to be something to believe in and they start to react and begin to change the ways, in this case, in which they use plastic. Some steps regular people have taken to help partake in riding plastic is no plastic November. This moment not only caught the attention of governments and cities but it caught the attention of restaurants. By eliminating their use of plastic for a mouth restaurant thought why only a month why not have it year round. A number of restaurants around the U.S have taken action and eliminated plastic straw use. Metal straws and paper straws now rise to the occasion to fill the place of straws. Though many complain about the use of metal straws and paper straws its a small thing to sacrifice for a project bigger than most. The Goal of No Plastic November was not to rid plastic forever. It was merely to set off a chain reaction and show companies and the world that the people care and they want to help. Plastics have become a vital asset for humanity. Not a single person can live without it because it is included in our shoes to our toothbrushes to glasses. The worst part is that most humans dont even acknowledge the amount of plastic they use each day because it is so ingrained in everything we do. Though these extensive research new technologies seem to be the best way to go, seeing as though two vessels will minimize worldwide plastic to 20 years from now. However, as we clean the ocean we must clean the land. We must minimize the amount of plastic we use each day in hopes that by doing this we can save hundreds of species from nearing extinction. Animals such as the sea turtles are in desperate need of help. If humans take action and work to reduce or even eliminate plastic not only will we be eliminating the actual plastic install but we will e eliminating the toxicity it releases into the ocean. Then maybe, just maybe, you might catch a glimpse of a green sea turtle catching a nd eating a real jellyfish, instead of a plastic bag.

The Texas General Land Office - 835 Words

The Texas General Land Office or TGLO, has many responsibilities throughout the state of Texas. Their main responsibility is to earn funds for the Permanent School Fund. The main way that they raise money for this goal is by leasing out the land that has been set aside for this purpose. The Texas General Land Office has around 700,000 acres for this purpose. This land is usually leased for the production of oil and gas, development of commercial property, agriculture and renewable energy projects. This fund was created to raise money for Texas schools and was created when Texas became a country in 1836. The organizations other responsibilities include the preservation of the state’s history, the conservation of state resources, surveying the land within the state, providing veterans with land and housing, maintaining the Alamo and veteran cemeteries in the state. They also educate the public about environmental problems on the coast and how to prevent them. They also monitor the coast for any oil spills and are there to help clean them up when they do happen. The TGLO achieves this goal by being split into five different divisions. These are the history and archives division, the energy and minerals division, the state lands division, the caring for the coast division, and the veterans land board division. The history and archives division is responsible for maintaining the records and maps of the state throughout its history. They also maintain all the different landShow MoreRelatedThe First Constitution of the Republic of Texas (1836)902 Words   |  4 PagesThe first cons titution of Texas adopted on March 1, 1836 opens with these words, â€Å"We, the people of Texas, in order to form a Government, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense and general welfare; and to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves, and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution†. 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Islamic Shirk and Diverse Views Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Islamic Shirk and Diverse Views. Answer: Introduction Islam is a monotheistic religion which has been coexisting with other religions for years in many parts of in the world. In Islamic tradition Shirk is the worshipping of idols and believing in multiple gods But Islam believes in only one god Allah (Khan 2015). Shirk is an unforgivable sin that one can commit. The word Shirk literally means the sharing or becoming partners. In the form of polytheism or idol worshipping God is associated with objects of worshipping, which is completely prohibited in Islam. There are several references in the Quran that support the belief. In the Quran it is mentioned as the greatest sin, as every other sin can be forgiven except disbelievers and idol worshippers (Al-islam.org 2017). Islam Is Not against Figurative Representation Figurative representations are not directly prohibited in Islam; however it becomes problematic if it becomes Shirk or worshipping the figure as a part of divine status. In the Genesis all the worshipped statues by Terah were destroyed by Abraham (Dube 2015). The hadiths discussed certain figurative representations can only be through plants, pictures and inanimate objects. Bamiyan Buddhas and The act of Shirk Bamiyan is a famous valley of central Afghanistan that became significant Buddhist centre during eighth century. In eleventh century the Muslims came in power in Bamiyan area. The Buddha statues were extremely popular among the Chinese monks and Indian Buddhists. UNESCO rewarded it by enlisting as one of the World Heritages (Whc.unesco.org 2017). In the Hindkush mountain region, the two large Buddha idols made of sandstone cliff were the main attractions. The 181 feet tall Buddha idol was carved between 591 A.D to 644 A.D and represents cultural combination of Greco Buddhist and Bamiyan traditional artistry (Litoing 2015). It is not just the contemporary Islamic practitioners of Taliban regime that attacked the idols; the idols were faceless even before the destruction. This proves that even before the Islamic era the idols have suffered various attacks. The Contribution of Taliban in The Act The Taliban regime is infamous for its obsession over religious identity and the act of breaking leads that the motives were only religious in nature. The ideology they believe in is built by Pashtun nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism (Roy 2015). Fundamentalists saw Buddhism as an easy target. However the destruction of Bamiyan Buddhas has more than just the Taliban religious identity. The edict said that the destruction was represented as an Islamic act (Harding 2001). Therefore any idols, temples are shrines representing non Islamic religions are considered to be the manifestation of polytheism and idolatry. The other idea behind the destruction could be considered as the restoration of orthodox belief. The Taliban wanted to secure that no one in the future could worship the statues. Mullah Mohammad Omar of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan raised the radical question regarding idol breaking that reflected their perception of Shirk (Litoing 2015). The Socio Religious Perspective Another connection can be made as one examines the time period when the destruction occurred. This time of the year is significant for as the time of celebrating the Eid al Adha. This is the celebration of the feast for Abrahams sacrifice (Loue 2017). Abraham sacrificed his son for fulfilling Gods desire. The time of celebration reminded them about their responsibility of life that is following Gods orders and offering him whatever is needed. Abrahams practice of idol breaking has already been discussed. So the specific time and Abrahams association with it made the Taliban feel the need more than ever. Mullah Mohammad Omars selection of the specific time seems to be more than just a coincident. The View on Negative Impacts The Islamic people prove that the idols are meaningful to them by breaking them with so much attention. Their concern for the existing idols highlights their acknowledgement of the idols power more than the worshippers. The destruction also gained huge public attention which those sites did not have during the period of preservation. Thus the idols also gained a greater status after the breaking. This demonstrates various contradictory views in protecting Tawhid and resisting shirk. Tawhid is the belief of unity of the lord (Bbc.co.uk 2014). As in Islamic tradition Allah is the god that created all the beings on the earth and everything depends on him. Islam believes that Allah is in the authority of all beings and no one else can share his authorship. Tawhid al Ibadah declares that Allah is the only one to be worshipped and Shirk paralyzes this core belief of Islam (Lamprecht 2014). The Philosophical View on Appropriation There can be other philosophical perspectives that can offer us a broader view that is associated with the practice of Islamic Shirk, if one considers that unconsciously man worships himself in the guise of God. The postmodern era has put too much stress on the concept of image. The image has been given too much importance by the postmodern man in a very commercial sense. Some theorists consider destroying the Bamiyan Buddha statutes to be a typical postmodern phenomenon (Janowski 2015). The incident can be seen as the Muslim appropriation of Buddhism (Rafiabadi 2007) The Buddhist theology is not just involved in idol making and concentrating ones good deeds on his feet. Buddha himself encouraged destroying of ones permanent self. So the obsession of the post modern era representing through idols would not have been appreciated by him. Instead he could have encouraged the statue making practice. However this is not enough to justify the destruction heritage statues by the Taliban. Conclusion Taliban are often accused of interpreting the Quran in a superficial and simplistic way. There are various interpretations of the Islamic Shirk, fundamentalists use it for some propagandist purposes, some theorists justify it through religious implications and philosophers shed different light over it (Taniguchi 2017). However from the above discussions it is undeniable that through Shirk one can understand the various perspectives related to it. Above that, the power of the understanding is capable of unfolding various aspects of religion, human acts and life over all. The Islamic understanding of Shirk possesses enough strength to uphold the diverse ideologies, beliefs and views and their bearers. References "BBC-GCSE Bitesize: Islam And Other Faiths". 2014.Bbc.Co.Uk. https://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/rs/death/islambeliefrev3.shtml. "First Greater Sin: Shirk (Polytheism)". 2017.Al-Islam.Org. https://www.al-islam.org/greater-sins-volume-1-ayatullah-sayyid-abdul-husayn-dastghaib-shirazi/first-greater-sin-shirk Centre, UNESCO. 2017. "Cultural Landscape And Archaeological Remains Of The Bamiyan Valley".Whc.Unesco.Org. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/208 Dube, Zorodzai. "The statue debate: Ancestors and'mnemonic energy'in Paul and now."HTS Theological Studies71, no. 3 (2015): 01-05. Harding, Luke. 2001. "Taliban Blow Apart 2,000 Years Of Buddhist History". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/mar/03/afghanistan.lukeharding Janowski, James. "Bamiyan, Vandalism, and the Sublime."Change Over Time5, no. 1 (2015): 28-64. Khan, Aftab Ahmad. "Just One God."Defence Journal18, no. 12 (2015): 34. Lamprecht, Mark A. "Exploration Of The Similarities Between The Unity Of Allah And The Unity Of The Triune God Of The Bible." (2014). Litoing, Nougoutna Norbert. "Rejecting shirk and promoting taw?id? A critical examination of the motivation and objective of the iconoclasts in Bamiyan (2001) and Timbuktu (2012)." PhD diss., University of Birmingham, 2015. Loue, Sana. "Religious Observances, Festivals, and Celebrations." InHandbook of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Practice and Research, pp. 103-120. Springer New York, 2017. Rafiabadi, Hamid Naseem, ed.Challenges to religions and Islam: a study of Muslim movements, personalities, issues and trends. Sarup Sons, 2007. Roy, Olivier. "afghanistan after the taliban."Afghanistan: Identity, Society and Politics Since 1980165 (2015): 147. Taniguchi, Yoko. "Do Archaeological and Conservation Sciences Save Cultural Heritage?: Cultural Identity and Reviving Values After Demolishment." InAncient West Asian Civilization, pp. 179-197. Springer Singapore, 2017.