Overpopulation Essays (1380 words) - Demography, Population

Overpopulation Overpopulation ?The battle to feed all of humanity is over. In the 1970's the world will undergo famines-hundreds of millions of people are going to starve to death in spite of any crash programs embarked upon now. At this late date nothing can prevent a substantial increase in the world death rate, although many lives could be saved through dramatic programs to ?stretch?the carrying capacity of the earth by increasing food production. But these programs will only provide a stay of execution unless they are accompanied by determined and successful efforts at population control.? These words, from Dr. Paul R. Ehrlich's book The Population Bomb, predicted a grim future for the world of 1968 when the book was published. Today, the debate rages on about how much life our planet can hold. With world population estimates currently around 5.5 billion, and a projected population of over 10 billion by 2100, the question of resource scarcity is raised. Will there be enough resources to support the exploding population of our planet? Also, is it true that population growth is necessary for economic prosperity, or is it responsible for problems such as hunger and poverty? One of the first things that need to be considered in the population debate is the issue of ?carrying capacity.? Many different people define carrying capacity in many different ways, and in this lies a major problem. Basic ecology textbooks define carrying capacity as the number of individuals in a population that the resources of a particular habitat can support. Others define it as the point at which the birth rate is equal to the death rate, while still others define is as the average size of a population that is neither increasing or decreasing. Each different definition of carrying capacity has different arguments for the earth being above or below its carrying capacity, or of having infinite carrying capacity. Also, many other factors must be considered when estimating the earth's capacity by any of the above definitions. For instance, one must consider the level of prosperity of the people, the technology available, and the distribution of available wealth. Under certain conditions, the world might not easily hold even 1 billion people, while under other conditions a number as high as 20 billion is possible. Another factor in overpopulation that must be considered is that of life expectancy. According to United Nations estimates, the life expectancy in developed nations in the 1950's was approximately 66.0 years, while third world nations enjoyed a life expectancy of 40.7 years. Due to substantial declines in infant mortality, the average life expectancy in developed nations was 74.0 years and 64.7 years in developing countries. However, although the majority of this increase is due to decreases in infant mortality, jumps with this large of an increase cannot be entirely explained by that alone. New developments in medicine and technology have increased life spans across the board. Even more promising, and perhaps alarming, is the fact that predicted ?upper limits?of human life expectancy have regularly been surpassed, and increases in life expectancy even appear to be accelerating. These average life expectancy increases, if they continue, will allow the world population to skyrocket at an even faster rate. Finally, and perhaps the most important issue that must be discussed in the debate on overpopulation is the issue of resource scarcity. So called ?experts?love to enter the debate and make doomsday predictions that the world will run out of food, or oil, much like Dr. Paul Ehrlich did in his book, The Population Bomb. However, these predictions never seem to come true. Julian Simon, an economist, has an idea about natural resources which has sparked mountains of debate from both camps in the overpopulation discussion. Simon asserts that all natural resources are infinite. While this claim may seem audacious at first, it becomes clearer exactly what he means when studied. His point is definitely not that there are an infinite number of gold or copper atoms in the earth. The mass of the earth is finite, and current scientific studies imply that even the mass of the universe is finite. Simon is saying that resources are indefinite in the sense that we will never run out of them for whatever we decide to use

Uncommon Clay essays

Uncommon Clay essays Uncommon Clay was devised and directed by Jeanine Thompson. I saw the 8:00 PM at the Thuber Theatre. This play purpose was to relate to others the hardships and ordeals that Camille Claudel had dealt with from her child hood all the way up to her containment in a psychiatric asylum. As the play opens, an old woman who is Camille in her old age, which is referred to as the Current Camille, greets us. She begins to tell a story beginning when she was at the age of 17 and moving right up to where she is admitted into an insane asylum. Along the way Camille reveals to the audience; the happiness, hardships, betrayal, and emptiness that she goes through during her life. In this play, there are many artistic influences presented. Three that stood out were from Antonin Artaud, The Bread and Puppet Theatre, and Bertolt Brecht. Artuads purpose was to create a theatre that shared and involved the audiences reactions and emotions. This is shown during Camilles struggle with her love affair with Rodin and how it transforms into a bitter illusion of betrayal and insanity. Artaud wanted to connect mind, body, and spirit. Jeanine Thompson is doing just that with Camilles sculptors. Her mind creates these sculptors, which evokes a spirit. Bread and Puppet Theatre is seen with Camilles loss of spirit. She displays this when she destroys most of her work. Her hands into the sculptures transformed her spirit. She was so afraid of her art being stolen or commercialized she had lost her spirit. Her sculptures had life and movement in them, which displays the Puppet part of this theatre. Had her art told a story by the way she positioned the body parts, such as the seen where she keeps going behind Rodin's back and adjusting the model. She wants the model a certain way with her arms in to relate a feeling of tension, which is part of the conventions of the Bread and Puppet Theatre. Finally see a lot of B...

Domestic terrorism and international terrorism Essay

Domestic terrorism and international terrorism - Essay Example These are their major source of finance to their activities. Internet has enhanced the occurrence of domestic terrorism, the internet has become a source of information enhancing the occurrence of identity theft which is used by terrorist group to engage in their criminal activities, information collected include individuals information, bank credit information and credit card information. The internet has also been used to lure innocent citizens into frauds where individuals are asked to pay for certain services or goods and as a result they are fraud off their money. The intervention which includes monitoring activities in the web by the authorities will be an effective way to counter terrorism. However this may result into leaking of organisations information that may lead to losses by these organisations. When there exists a monitoring device in the internet then there will be leaking of company information to its competitors or even to speculators which may lead to loss of funds. Therefore the best way to strike a balance is to monitor only suspicious information on the web mostly from regions that are suspected to have terrorist groups, there exist such monitoring systems but they were banned by the US government but the best would be to install a system that tracks conversations that include key words used by the terrorist groups. Organisational information therefore should not be monitored to avoid financial losses as a result of information leak. Therefore the federal should be empowered to monitor information regarding suspicious groups and not for the organisations. Funding of domestic terrorism Terrorist groups will involve themselves in criminal activities to fund their operations, they have an advantage in involving in criminal activity in that they gain finances and at the same time they endanger the societies that they target through these activities. The other reason is that the criminal activities the terrorist involve in are hard for the judicial system to solve and prove. Some of the criminal activities that terrorist will engage in include: Drug trafficking: Drug trafficking is an activity that the terrorist involve in order to finance their activities, initially the terrorist groups were funded by the soviet union but after its collapse drug trafficking become a major source of finance. Identity theft: Identity theft is one of the most recent means in which terrorist use to finance their activities, this has emerged with the emergence of the internet and computer software which have made it easier to retrieve peoples information, and this has enabled the terrorist to steal people's identity which have resulted to financial scams which provide finances to the terrorist groups. Cigarette smuggling This is also a means by which terrorist groups will use in gaining finances, cigarettes are smuggled from low tax regions to regions whereby individuals will buy large quantities of cigarettes

Computer abuse is subject to taking advantage of electronic media to Assignment

Computer abuse is subject to taking advantage of electronic media to gain information and use it against the third party - Assignment Example INTRODUCTION Computer abuse is subject to taking advantage of electronic media to gain information and use it against the third party. The evolving technologies such as the expert use of smart phones, tablets, laptops, home computers have added the threat of new crimes every day. The criminal activities are encompassed by excessive use of technology and computer abuse, which have resulted in major social, cultural, and financial losses over the last two decades. The new dimension of criminal activities involves expert use of technology that is intelligent and technical that it can be even misread by the law enforcement agencies. For instance, a property crime on a larger scale involves fraud against the property of people without involving any physical contact with the people (Denning, 2004). The prevention of such crimes is essential for the future of advance technology and criminal investigations undertaken by trained computer experts or forensic individuals. The advancement of tec hnology and awareness of computer abuse possess a serious threat for not only to individual but also to the nation’s security in terms of legislative and financial crimes preceded by computer frauds and abuse. It has also resulted in crash of financial markets, the great depressions periods and various money laundering cases, which is a threat for not only the national security but also preceded under anti-terrorism globally. The last three decades have given rise to various hacker groups around the globe who had attacked and invaded the financial market as well as the highly sensitive data regarding the national security. For instance in recent years, the wake of wiki leaks is a big example of computer abuse. It has resulted in releasing secret sensitive information and publishing documents that possess a serious national and financial threat globally (National White Collar Crime Centre, 2002). The emerging threats from excessive computer abuse have raised the scope of feder al and local legislation in regards to larger crimes. The legislations and penalties are in place to combat the computer abuse and punish the offenders for misuse of information and data (Denning, 2004). DISCUSSION Computer Crimes and Abuse Computer crimes are defined as criminal activities committed in a technological environment in order to cause damage or derive economic gains from other others (U.S. Department of Justice, 2001). According to the adaption of Cohen Felson’s Routine Activities theory, a crime is determine due to the availability of a suitable target, lack of backing from any guardian and a serious motive by the offender. It was also stimulated that usage of computer adversely can result in invading the sensitive information and using it for criminal purposes (Gordon et al, 2003). It is also confided in law that intentionally or without permission, accessing the computer services or any device can result in committing a criminal offence (National Security Ins titute, 2004). The traditional crimes such as fraud, theft and organised criminal rings are now

A Brief History of Environmental Movements Assignment

A Brief History of Environmental Movements - Assignment Example Climate change was experienced way back during colonial period. Destructive human activities practiced long ago, has continued to the contemporary times. People nowadays continue to practice Deforestation, poor fishing methods, water pollution and has lead to adverse climate change. There is shortage of food, reduction in aquatic and wild life species as well as depletion of soil formation. It has however come to be felt throughout the world by its effects and that is why environmental movements are continuously formed worldwide to address the situation. Women environmental heroes and die hards like Amrita Devi who formed a strong revolution to protect the trees. She was just a woman with an unbelievable passion and courage that not even many men could possess. She fought through pain and blood just to protect the trees which they believed was sacred. The group encircled the trees and was killed in huge numbers one after the other before the government intervened. After the brutality, three hundred and sixty two lives were lost inclusive of the matriarch. This was a phenomenon effort to protect the environment. Industrial revolution was a major transition of events which brought about the modern agriculture farming, infrastructure, technology, modern heath care, commerce and civilization. This revolution however came with a lot of demerits. Some of the problems included water and land pollution from the steamship, slavery, nuclear radiation as well as pollution of the air due to the smoke. Industrialization is the mother of modernization across the world. It brought about machinery, chemicals like pesticides as well as insecticides. These chemicals have greatly affected human and animal life through the food chain. Numerous heath complications have been brought about by the consumption of chemically processed foods. Climate change is a major issue throughout the globe. It is caused by

Helical CT Scan in Comparison to MRI Scans

Helical CT Scan in Comparison to MRI Scans Introduction Helical CT is also known as spiral CT; the two terms are interchangeable (Kalender, 1994). Both MRI and helical CT have been introduced into clinical practice ahead of any evidence for cost-effective improvement in clinical care. Both technologies are still evolving. For instance vascular 3D imaging is a newly expanding indication within CT. Although helical CT is replacing conventional CT the question arises as to whether it will replace MRI. 1) Equipment Helical CT began in the 1990’s. It is a fast technique; data is collected continuously at less than one second for a 10 mm slice. It is called helical because the patient moves continuously though the machine whilst the X-ray tube rotates around them. Slip ring technology enables the scanner, mounted on a gantry, to continue rotating in the same direction around the patient yet still maintain its power supply and x-Ray capability. Because it is so quick breathing does not affect the quality of the final image and it is an excellent way to view the lungs and liver. Because of the continuous rotation helical CT enables patient translation and the acquisition of data to take place at the same time. Helical CT requires completely different equipment to convention CT necessitating the replacement of the entire unit not just an upgrade. A multislice CT scanner is along the same principle as a helical scanner but is even faster still and contains more detection elements. Although the actual data acquisition is so much faster with multislice the time required to process the image is lengthy (so patient through put will be no faster). The amount of data storage space required for multislice images is incredibly vast and may overload the capability of the existing PACS system within the hospital. The equipment for MRI consists of a large, heavy magnet which creates the magnetic field. Magnetic shielding of the room is necessary together with stringent safety precautions to avoid accidents for instance with flying metal objects within the room. The scanning tube where the patient must lie is relatively enclosed and this can create problems with claustrophobia. The equipment is also very noisy which may unnerve the patient. MRI requires more extensive software for viewing the images than does CT. Some MRI machinery is more open permitting greater patient access even to the extent of allowing simultaneous surgery (Gould and Darzi, 1997). 2) Techniques MRI involves the person being placed in a large magnet the magnetic field of which causes all the protons (the nuclei of hydrogen atoms) in the body to line up and oscillate at a certain frequency (precision frequency). Radiofrequency pulses are emitted from the machinery at the same frequency as the precision frequency causing the protons to come out of alignment for a brief time and subsequently realign emitting energy in the process. The radiofrequency of these emissions is specific to the type of issue (since it reflects the hydrogen content) and is then computed to form an image. Patient movement is a major problem with the MRI technique since data acquisition is quite slow and so it is not as good as helical CT for moving organs such as the lungs and liver. MRI scans are more expensive to produce that helical CT. The major advantages of MRI over helical CT are that MRI involves no x-Ray exposure and certain structures provide better images with MRI such as the brain and musculo skeletal system. MRI is definitely the best test for acoustic neuroma (Renowden and Anslow 1993). CT is better than MRI for imaging brain trauma and is better in the abdomen for the bowel (on account of it being a moving structure) whereas MRI is better in the pelvis. Helical CT is finding a place in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (Roy 2005). The disadvantages of CT are the x-Ray dose and the nephrotoxicity of some contrast agents. In 1993 the Royal College of Radiologist guidelines recommended MRI be used for investigations on the brain, musculoskeletal system, oncology and paediatrics, the 1995 version of the guidelines recommended back pain beyond six weeks be investigated by MRI. The Royal College of Radiologists document on oncology (1999) provides graded evidence based recommendation of which scanning modality to use according to tumour site. 3) Staff Staff training is necessary for both modalities of scanning. MRI staffing costs are higher than with CT. Because MRI scans are in such demand and scanning time long it is often necessary to run the machines in the evenings and at weekends (Moore Golding, 1992). Multislice CT can involve increased radiologist workload. 4) Patient Patients with metal implants or pacemakers or who are claustrophobic are unsuitable for MRI. Mechanical ventilation is a relative contraindication. Patients with acute major trauma including head injury are unlikely to be suitable for MRI because of the duration of scanning. The increased x-Ray dose to patients (and to the community) of the later generation CT scanners is of concern (National Radiological Protection Board, 1990). For this reason MRI is the preferred modality for children and fetuses (Duncan 1996). Patients requiring interventional procedures may be suitable for a CT fluoroscopy (Wagner 2001). 5) Quality of results MRI is preferred for the brain and spine (where it is of overriding advantage), orthopaedics and the pelvis. MRI produces very accurate images of soft tissues but imaging time is longer and artefacts are caused by patient movement. It is likely it has reduced the number of knee arthroscopies (Stoner, 1995) and it is anticipated to reduce the number of invasive radiological investigations such as angiograms. MRI may develop a clinical role as investigating the actual function of the brain in neuropsychiatry (Callicott and Weinberger1999). CT is preferable for bone. In brain trauma, subarachnoid haemorrhage and acute cerebrovascular disease MRI is not as good as CT. Spiral CT is used for the lungs and abdomen and pelvis. It is valuable in detecting small lesions. It is helpful in trauma patients since the procedure is so quick. Spiral CT does lose a bit of resolution as compared with conventional CT and so for structures that are not moving conventional CT or MRI has the advantage. 6) Cost Cost considerations include those of initial purchase (or lease) set up and also running costs. Assistance in the procurement process is available from the Diagnostic Medical Equipment team which is working closely with the Department of Health in the optimising of value for money in the replacement of all MRI and CT scanners that are pre-1997. A 16 multislice CT scanner costs approximately  £500 000 whereas an MRI scanner is more at  £800 000; running costs are also more with MRI (Frank, 2003). Bowens and Smith (writing in 1999) state the costs of an MRI scanner are from  £400 000 for a 0.5T and  £750 000 for a 1.5T. They state the service contracts are around  £50 000 per year and that to lease a machine costs about  £120 000 per year. MRI may be more expensive to install since the magnet is large and heavy. The site may be unsuitable with regard to load bearing or access. In any case expense will be incurred in magnetic shielding. MRI is a relatively expensive imaging modality. Fletcher (1999) has analysed costs of acquiring and operating MRI in the NHS over a seven-year machine lifespan. Its staffing, upgrade, maintenance and running costs are all high. The cost of an MRI scan varies from  £30 to  £180 (Bowens and Smith, 1999). In evaluating costs it is necessary to look at the whole picture. The running costs of isolated MRI machines will be higher than where machines are grouped together. Smaller MRI scanners just for joint scanning use may prove cost effective (Marti-Bonmati Kormano, 1997). If a more expensive scanning modality saves on the costs of surgery then overall there may be economic gain. For instance MRI may avoid knee joint surgery (Bui-Mansfield 1997). It is important to ensure that it is actually replacing other investigations or surgery and not just adding to them (Hailey Marshall, 1995). Overall the cost effectiveness will depend on how appropriately the imaging modality is used. Regarding CT the X- Ray tubes are expensive. A helical scanner is likely to need one x-Ray tube replacement per year (possibly more frequently in the case of a multislice scanner) and this will cost approximately  £30000-40000 (Conall and Hanlon, 2002). Berry (1999) performed a systematic review finding little clinical or economic impact of spiral CT. Conclusion Although there has been away from MRI to helical CT in some clinical situations units will need access to both types of scan. Cooperation between different units is important in order to provide a comprehensive service to the population. It is likely that some patients such as orthopaedic outpatients should move to another unit for the scan. Computerised reporting makes off site scanning realistically closer. Choice of scanning modality is likely to ultimately depend upon collaboration with local units to develop a hub and spoke approach to providing cost effective services which are also effective and convenient for patients. References Book Fishman EK Jeffrey RB Spiral CT. Principles, Techniques and Clinical Applications. 2nd edition. 1998 Philadelphia. Lippincourt Raven. Articles Berry E et al A systematic literature review of spiral and electron beam computed tomography: with particular reference to clinical applications in hepatic lesions, pulmonary embolus and coronary artery disease. Health Technology Assessment, 1999; 3(18) Bui-Mansfield LT et al Potential cost savings of MR imaging obtained before arthroscopy of the knee: evaluation of 50 consecutive patients. American Journal of Roentgenology 1997; 168: 913-18 Callicott JH and Weinberger DR Neuropsychiatric dynamics: the study of mental illness using functional magnetic resonance imaging. European Journal of Radiology, 1999: 30(2): 95-104 Conall JGarvey CJ and Hanlon R Computed tomography in clinical practice BMJ 2002;324:1077-1080 Fletcher J et al The cost of MRI: changes in costs 1989-1996. British Journal of Radiology 1999; 72(5): 432-437 Duncan KR. The development of magnetic resonance imaging in obstetrics. British Journal of Hospital Medicine, 1996; 55(4): 178-81 Frank J introduction to imaging Student BMJ 2003;11:393-436 Gould SW and Darzi A The interventional magnetic resonance unit the minimal access operating theatre of the future? British Journal of Radiology 1997; 70 (Special issue): S89-97 Kalender WA Spiral or helical CT; right or wrong?[letter] Radiology 1994; 193:583. Hailey D and Marshall D The place of magnetic resonance imaging in health care. Health Policy, 1995; 31: 43-52 Marti-Bonmati L Kormano M. MR equipment acquisition strategies: low-field or high-field scanners. European Radiology 1997; 7(Supplement 5): 263-68 Moore NR and Golding SJ Increasing patient throughput in magnetic resonance imaging: a practical approach. British Journal of Radiology, 1992; 470-75 26 National Radiological Protection Board. Patient dose reduction in diagnostic radiology. Didcot, 1990:1(3). Renowden SA and Anslow P. The effective use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of acoustic neuromas. Clinical Radiology 1993; 48(1): 25-8 Roy P-M Colombet I and Durieux P et al Systematic review and meta-analysis of strategies for the diagnosis of suspected pulmonary embolism. BMJ2005;331:259 Royal College of Radiologists. A guide to the practical use of MRI in oncology. London RCR, 1999b Royal College of Radiologists. Making the best use of a department of clinical radiology: guidelines for doctors (2nd edition). London RCR, (3rd edition) 1993, (4th edition) 1998, (5th edition) 2003. Stoner DW. The knee. In: Seminars in Roentgenology 1995; 30: 277-93 Wagner LK. CT fluoroscopy: another advancement with additional challenges in radiation management. Radiology 2001; 216: 9-10 Reports Bowens A Smith I Magnetic resonance imaging: current provision and future demands. Nuffield Portfolio programme Report No3. Northern and Yorkshire RD Portfolio programme at the Nuffield Institute for Health. December 1999. Available at http://www.nuffield.leeds.ac.uk/downloads/portfolio/mri.pdf Royal College of radiologists Making the Best Use of a Department of Clinical Radiology Guidelines for Doctors. Fifth Edition 2003 BFCR(03)3 Making the Best Use of a Department of Clinical Radiology Guidelines for Doctors. Fifth Edition Websites British Association of MR Radiographers http://www.bamrr.net/ Department of Health www.dh.gov.uk Diagnostic Medical Equipment team http://www.pasa.doh.gov.uk/dme/radiology/mr.stm

Tourism Essay -- essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Currently, ecotourism is rapidly becoming one of the world’s largest industries. According to the World Trade Organization, 600 million people traveled to see â€Å"environmental areas† in 2000, spending more than 500 billion U.S. dollars. This makes ecotourism one of the world’s number one earners, ahead of automotive products, chemicals, petroleum, even food .   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  But, what exactly is ecotourism? Ecotourism happens to be a special branch of tourism. The Conservation International defines it best saying it is â€Å"responsible travel that promotes the conservation of nature and sustains the well being of local people .†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There has been dramatic growth of participation in outdoor recreation and ecotourism activities. The bad impacts of ecotourism have led to high demands and this has attracted tourist developers looking to access the environment, â€Å"answering the tourist’s demands†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Unfortunately, there are very few rules or regulations regarding ecotourism and its development. And because of the lack of rules tourism developers are destroying the environment. This problem can not go unnoticed. We are running out of places to ruin, and we will soon not have any where to call home.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to Erlet Cater and Gwen Lowman,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The much needed rules and regulations must include good and environmentally   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  sensitive, infrastructure-including airports, transport and communications   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  networks, and sanitation and electricity supplies. But above all else,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  sustainable ecotourism requires careful planning †. Without this planning, ecotourism is doing more harm that good.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I will show how these tourist developers are putting huge strains on the environment and how the effects of this behavior will eventually leave the land with the inability to cope with the drastic changes. I believe with carefully planned ecotourism development and rules and regulations, we can make ecotourism and the environment blend simultaneously.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, the tourist developers are adding increased pressure to the limited natural resources, especially in places... ...ions to stop all this destructive behavior.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Letting this growing problem go unnoticed will lead to the environment’s crumbling. We have no other options when it comes to living on another planet, at least at the moment. We need to establish harsher rules and take better care of where we call home.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In conclusion, now that I have explained what tourist developers are doing wrong and what they are doing to destroy our environment we can see that the effects of their behavior have been devastating. We are running out of places to ruin and resources to use up. Someone must step up and create rules so we can protect our environment instead of destroying the earth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bibliography Cater, Erlet, and Lowman, Gwen. Ecotourism-a sustainable option?. New York, 1994. Croall, J. (1995) Preserve or Destroy: Tourism and the Environment. London:Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. â€Å"Ecotourism.† Online Posting. 2 February 2002. 27 January 2004. Theobald, William. Global Tourism: the next decade. Oxford, 1994. Worpole, K. (1999) Driving Forces. The Guardian, 8 June.