Water pollution and the way agriculture affects this global dilemma Research Paper

Water pollution and the way agriculture affects this global dilemma - Research Paper Example Water Pollution and the way agriculture affects this global dilemma Water pollution is becoming an increasing problem throughout the world today. Some of the people identify the main cause of water pollution to that of agriculture activities. For instance, in the United States, the cause of pollution is forty-eight percent of stream and river water and on the other hand, forty-one percent of the lake water because of agricultural activities (Sustainable Table, 2011). This issue has largely become a ‘global dilemma’ as the topic aptly puts it. This requires a detailed study of the topic. The question therefore arises as to how agriculture leads to this global dilemma, and how adversely it affects and endangers the lives of the species. Various studies have shown that indeed modern agricultural system has had a significant role in increasing the water pollution. Agriculture is a major contributor in European countries to the cause of water pollution, both ground and surfac e water (Echaore-McDavid, 2007). Pollution has a non-point source, and thus, it does now allow its measurement. ‘Non point source accounts for almost half of water pollution and agriculture remains the largest contributor to it’ (Sustainabletable, 2011). In addition, the same study also states that almost 50-70% of the pollution of the surface waters originates mainly from agricultural lands in the form of fertilizers and animal wastes (Roberts, 1995). Not only this, but the use of pesticides, specifically the synthetic herbicides, have also caused a major concern, since these an easily leach into the ground water and pollute it. In aquifers, the nitrate concentration may also increase due to the intensity of the usage of fertilizers (Echaore-McDavid, 2007). In addition, the storage of manure in lagoons often becomes a source of water pollution. ‘When these lagoons leak during storms or rain, they may rupture and overflow’ (Sustainabletable, 2011). Leaking lagoons subsequently lead to the emission of antibiotic residues and harmful bacteria, which leaches into the water surface (Sustainabletable, 2011). The building of dams to aid irrigation in agriculture also alters the stream flow regimes that lead to the degradation of the aquatic and riparian habitats. The run-off due to rain and storms also pose an additional problem. Surface run off from agricultural lands carries salts, fertilizers, pesticides, pathogens and other pollutants, and dumps into aquifers and other water sources. The water sources used for drinking water poses a threat to human and animal health (Shortle & Abler, 2001). A study carried out by the US environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) found that agriculture is the leading cause of poor quality in river and lakes (Shortle & Abler, 2001). However, this problem is not limited to the United States only. This problem is very significant in developing countries, where the majority of the population depends upon agricu lture for their livelihood. This in essence does prove that the problem of water pollution is indeed a global dilemma. According to Shortle and Abler (2001), a process known as eutrophication, the nitrogen, and phosphate present in fertilizers runs into the water, and thus, causing the algae to bloom. This reduces fish life. Aquatic vegetation also disappears. The marine eco system therefore gets disturbed. The pesticides in water supplies may also risk human health. This water pollution also reduces the availability of public drinking water, thus putting a strain on our scarce water resources. Modern agriculture systems have also led to increase in salinity and water logging due to irrigation. This has destroyed large amounts of lands, especially in developing countries (Shortle & Abler, 2001). Hence, this has become clear through all the review literature explained above that water pollution has indeed become a

Examine the Treatment of Women and Minortities in Corportations Essay

Examine the Treatment of Women and Minortities in Corportations - Essay Example But, despite these changes, many in the world in positions of power do not have the patience or adaptability to accept the fact that woman can play a leading role, and so discrimination has become a normal experience for women. This paper examines how females are treated in companies as they have now become a threat to the continued economic and political ascendancy of men. Table of content Introduction 4 Public policies 6 Public policies about women and minorities 7 Role of corporations in affecting public policies about women and minorities 8 Programs run by the corporation that helps in affecting women and minorities 10 Mission statements for how women shall be treated in corporations 11 Conclusion 12 Examine the Treatment of Women and Minorities in Corporations Introduction Women in America face different opportunities, types and levels of treatment, and cultural acceptance and norms than a century ago. Women a hundred years ago were not expected to have full and free civic and c ultural participation, and were expected to ultimately deserve domestic tasks, have and raise offspring. Social norms constructed women as passive and frail, and not as competent to achieve strongly or intellectual all that men could. Men were supposed to be breadwinners, strong John Wayne figures with unquestioned authority over the home and over children. Though this was always an idealized view of the world, and ignored micro-conflicts going on in the culture at all times (especially since the feminist movement is as old as the 19th century), certainly these archetypes and schema are still important to cultural formation today. Changing role of women today Counterintuitively, despite obvious cultural and social changes, family responsibilities have not modified much in today's society. Women might be in the workplace more often, but the conventional responsibilities of women are still dominant. They are still the very compassionate provider and nurturer of infants and children, t he comforter for the weeping young offspring and the feminine existence of the household. While the husband's job has diversified into more domestic chores such as cooking, cleaning, attending PTA meetings, and going to soccer games, they still overwhelmingly are considered to have the role as head of the household, not its manager. Women have picked up more economic labor, but this has not been met by men picking up commensurate domestic labor (Hochschild, 1990). This is of course increasingly at odds with a world where women can often out-earn their male counterparts and are often more educated and qualified. Can women truly "be like the man", in terms of domestic authority, economic power, etc.? Arguably, yes. Women are increasingly capable of managing money, handling home improvement projects, and being single parents and sole breadwinners. Women aren’t likely to become as physically strong as men, but that has never been a truly important consideration in an industrializ ed society. Women are increasingly capable of thinking like men, but still being in a somewhat subordinate period and having different gender norms and construction have made it unlikely that women will be like men in terms of lived experiences, values and

Compare and contrast salvation and the self Essay

Compare and contrast salvation and the self - Essay Example While Buddhism denies the existence of a soul or a distinct self, Hinduism affirms its existence in its most sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita. According to Theravada Buddhism, there is no soul or consciousness that is separate from matter. The world's sufferings are caused by the attachment to our ego. According to Buddhism, even the notion of an immortal soul or that of a loving God are delusions. According to Teravada, one who gains insight passes through four stages .The fourth and final stage is that of the Arhat., "who has attained complete freedom ..The Arhat is free from all bonds including the desire for existence in formed or formless worlds, as well as ignorance, excitability and ambition"(Encyclopedia Britannica) The Sthitaprajna of the Bhagavad Gita exhibits similar traits. Salvation, whether it is the Nirvana of the Buddhist, or Moksha of the Hindu, is the highest goal one can aspire for. According to Theravada Buddhism, Nirvana is " beyond death,not caused, not born, not produced; it is beyond all becoming and devoid of all that makes up a human person"(Encyclopedia) It is the abode of supreme happiness, which is attained by one who has realized the Four Noble Truths. The four Noble Truths were told by the Buddha in his first sermon after his enlightenment.

Management accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Management accounting - Essay Example BA is flying to over 550 destinations and to 155 countries worldwide including Americas, UK, Europe, Middle East and South Asia, Africa, and Asia/Pacific (â€Å"British Airways,† 2010). It has been considered as one of the leader in the airline industry worldwide and known for its excellence, quality, and full air and ground services. Aside from being the largest international scheduled airline in UK, BA offered several services and facilities to their customers to guarantee their convenience. The company has been privatised and shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) under the ticker symbol BAY (â€Å"London Stock Exchange,† 2011). As history trace its origins back, BA was formed with the mergence of BOAC, BEA, Cambrian Airways, and Northeast Airlines last 1974 (â€Å"British Airways,† n.d.). ... They have decided to merge because of recession that badly hit the operations of the two airlines (BBC News, 2009). The purpose of this paper is to explain how management accounting can supply information to assist the management of British Airways, particularly the key techniques that are favourable to the company. Review of the Nature and Role of Management Accounting Management accounting is an exclusive type of accounting wherein the supplied information is more specific. Furthermore, it â€Å"exists to serve managers helping them work as decision makers, planners, and controllers of their respective departments or areas of responsibility† (Atrill & McLaney, 1994, p.14). In other words, the role of management accounting is to assist the managers in making decisions or problem solving, and provide accounting information necessary to make realistic future plans. They are expected to provide financial or economic information particularly available to those in managerial posit ion. These are needed in carrying the tasks of decision-making, planning, and control so that organization will be managed effectively and efficiently. Decision making and planning is one of the crucial tasks played by management accounting. There are instances that the management needs to settle with the best option to be pursued which at the same time favourable to the organization. The determined courses of action will be evaluated as to their costs and benefits which is the role of planning. Furthermore, the information will be more effective if the result of the appraisal showed that the benefits outweigh the costs. Control is the second primary tasked that â€Å"involves a comparison of actual performance with the plan so that

If a man has the means to feed himself and protect himself he is free Essay

If a man has the means to feed himself and protect himself he is free. In your opinion, to what extent is this statement relevant for the 21st century - Essay Example The objective of this essay is to analyze the relevance of this statement n the 21st century. Considering the ethics of the discussed statement, it must have relevance at given time. The ideology of freedom suggested here is non-competitive and sharing in nature. However, in the globalised 21st century, where freedom is defined in terms of economic and social competence and people compete with each other for materialistic achievements, food and protection won’t satisfy the needs of men. Hillary Rodhan Clinton, The Secretary of States has stated three essential elements of a free nation which includes a â€Å"representative government, a well-functioning market, and civil society† (Clinton, 2011). Taking this policy of the government into account, it can be assumed that the discussed statement is not given importance in today’s market driven society. However, further analysis of the current policies will reveal that the materialistic objectives ultimately lead to the basic need of food and protection for men. For example, a representative government, func tioning market, and civil society are all indicators of a food secure and protected society. Ironically, the process of achieving the materialistic objectives, most times results in denying the larger objective of food and protection for fellowmen. Bradley J. Birzer , The Commonwealth Men and the American Revolution, Thursday, June 30, 2011, The Imaginative Conservative, Retrieved on 26 September 2011,

A Snapshot of TEXAS Government in My Life Assignment

A Snapshot of TEXAS Government in My Life - Assignment Example I did this by considering three crucial agencies namely the environmental protection agency, Texas health and human services agency and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Agency. I am walking along the 6th street in Austin, Texas. Everybody is busy in their normal economic activities. While others are in the offices, businesses, schools, and industries, others were just walking around the streets meeting people and other under shades holding small meetings (Duncan9). This created an interesting scenario bearing in mind that all these groups of people are doing constructive things based on the nature of their jobs. One can be sure that I was curious in understanding how everybody was executing his or her mandates in a manner that will satisfy the authority. This triggered my movement to various government offices and just I could just watch when in the queue the way citizens were being attended to. I also welcomed myself in various forums and meetings that were being run by the government agencies. They helped to attain a broad picture of how these agencies do things. Similarly, I gained an opportunity to interact with the citizens who were the attendees of those meetings and the offices. I also managed to interact with the officials of these agencies, and this gave me an opportunity to understand their roles, policies and how they fitted in the government’s structure (Duncan 19). I, therefore, gained a golden opportunity of interacting with the main stakeholders of these government agencies and hence understood very well how service delivery was being done. My interaction with their clients helped me to judge their service delivery as well as the importance of their jobs to the society. In my snapshot, I was interested in environmental protection, Texas health and human services and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection agencies. The environmental agency is a state agency whose mission is protecting the human health.

Career Development Plan Part 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Career Development Plan Part 4 - Essay Example This paper analyses the new compensation plan at InterClean Corporation. A well structure compensation plan reduces employee turnover and increases corporate profits since it provides adequate incentive for an employee to increase their productivity. The old InterClean had a sales staff that got awarded a sales commission for the sales an employee obtained. This system force the employee to think about individual results, since the salesperson pay would increment based on his/hers achievements. Since the company offered simple product this was a viable strategy. This no longer applies to the new business model the company is implementing. Teamwork is now more important than ever and long term satisfaction of the customer is a strategic focus that must be pursed in order to achieve customer retention. In the solution based business follow up contracts with the clients generated a lot of income for the enterprise. There are two types of rewards systems that cam be used by a company. These two types of rewards are intrinsic rewards and extrinsic rewards. Intrinsic rewards are positively valued work outcomes that the individual receives as a result of work outcomes, while extrinsic rewards are positively valued work outcomes that are given to an individual or group by some other person or source in the setting (Schermerhorn & Hunt & Osborn, 2003). The total compensation plan the company will offer has to satisfy the needs of both the employee and the firm. The firm does not want to establish a plan that does not encourage professional development and teamwork. The new compensation plan the company will offer to its salespeople will be profit sharing plan with a group merit pay element as well as other individual incentives. In a profit sharing plan a company contributes a portion of its pre-tax profits to a pool that will be distributed among the eligible employees (Hr-guide, 2008). The profit sharing at InterClean will be calculated