Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Free Essays on Lincoln Vs. Kennedy

Late presidents John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln are always in the top ten of America’s favorite presidents. So what was the reason for their assassination? Maybe society today does not have knowledge enough about the two late presidents to judge them on how great they actually were. Is Lincoln really the â€Å"Great Emancipator†, was Kennedy really out to be the best he could be, or is that a big hoax to cover for America’s late presidents? After all, the president of the United States is supposed to represent our country, their ability to make decisions, and our belief of right and wrong. Is there really a good reason Lincoln and Kennedy were assassinated or was it really a freak accident that was soon regretted by the assassins? On February 12, 1809 Abraham Lincoln was born in Hardin County Kentucky. He later moved to Decatur Illinois. In contrast, John F. Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline Massachusetts. Lincoln went on to Princeton for his studies, married at 33 to a girl of his age, ran for Legislature and won. Yet, Kennedy went to Harvard for his studies, joined the Navy upon graduation, and married at 36 to a girl of only 24. Both late presidents had children, but while Lincoln was a strict professional father, Kennedy was the high class laid back dad. Lincoln, in personality, was an upstanding, never unprofessional man, who only wanted to be taken seriously for his decisions. Kennedy, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to be the friendly man of the people, who wanted to make decisions based on public opinion. During the Lincoln presidential debates, Lincoln was the â€Å"truth teller†, but little does the United States citizens know that in the slave supporter states Lincoln agreed with slavery and said he would never believe that the white were equal or insuperior to any other race. In states that disagreed ... Free Essays on Lincoln Vs. Kennedy Free Essays on Lincoln Vs. Kennedy Late presidents John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln are always in the top ten of America’s favorite presidents. So what was the reason for their assassination? Maybe society today does not have knowledge enough about the two late presidents to judge them on how great they actually were. Is Lincoln really the â€Å"Great Emancipator†, was Kennedy really out to be the best he could be, or is that a big hoax to cover for America’s late presidents? After all, the president of the United States is supposed to represent our country, their ability to make decisions, and our belief of right and wrong. Is there really a good reason Lincoln and Kennedy were assassinated or was it really a freak accident that was soon regretted by the assassins? On February 12, 1809 Abraham Lincoln was born in Hardin County Kentucky. He later moved to Decatur Illinois. In contrast, John F. Kennedy was born on May 29, 1917 in Brookline Massachusetts. Lincoln went on to Princeton for his studies, married at 33 to a girl of his age, ran for Legislature and won. Yet, Kennedy went to Harvard for his studies, joined the Navy upon graduation, and married at 36 to a girl of only 24. Both late presidents had children, but while Lincoln was a strict professional father, Kennedy was the high class laid back dad. Lincoln, in personality, was an upstanding, never unprofessional man, who only wanted to be taken seriously for his decisions. Kennedy, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than to be the friendly man of the people, who wanted to make decisions based on public opinion. During the Lincoln presidential debates, Lincoln was the â€Å"truth teller†, but little does the United States citizens know that in the slave supporter states Lincoln agreed with slavery and said he would never believe that the white were equal or insuperior to any other race. In states that disagreed ...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Do not miss these cities while exploring Europe

Do not miss these cities while exploring Europe The lesser-known European cities which are worth tourist attention Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Florence, Berlin†¦All these famous cities have become the visiting cards of Europe. However, there are many other European cities which deserve our attention as well. They have a lot of interesting things to offer. These underrated cities are full of hidden cultural and historic treasures. So, it is high time to explore them.   The charming, cobblestone city of Maastricht This Dutch city will definitely impress you with its French and Belgian twists in the architecture, Roman and Spanish ruins, and sophisticated drink and food. It is considered to be one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. Maastricht is a lively and energetic place with beautiful historic streets and a distinct international spirit. The biggest attractions of Maastricht are the underground tours to the casemates. It would be very interesting to walk through the tunnels and listen to the stories about the life underground. You can also enjoy the stunning Limburg landscapes during a boat ride over the river Meuse. Don`t forget to visit the annual European Fine Art Fair and enjoy the artworks of contemporary and modern artists. The ancient, Arabic-inspired city of Cadiz The Andalusian city of Cadiz is almost entirely surrounded by water. It has no shortage of breathtaking views and tourist attractions. White houses, open plazas, cobblestone streets, wonderful beaches and seafood, and charming old center – all these things will definitely impress every visitor of Cadiz. This city is well known for its fabulous seafood and fish. At El Faro restaurant you can enjoy some delicious local dishes. Don`t forget to take an excursion to Castillo San Sebastian, which is a magnificent historic fortress, linked to the sea by a tidal causeway. Hamburg – a Germany`s Gateway to the World Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany, the biggest port, and the centre of international trade. It is one of Germany`s wealthiest cities. There are a lot of attractions in Hamburg which are really worth your attention. There is always something to marvel at the Fish Market, HafenCity, and Port of Hamburg. You can visit the century-old Speicherstadt, which is the world-largest contiguous warehouse complex. Elbphilarmonie in HafenCity is a new cultural and urban landmark of Hamburg. It is one of the ten best concert halls in the world, where you can enjoy the classical music culture, music of the 21st century and sophisticated light music. The Portugal city of Porto will become your love at first sight Its higgledy-piggledy medieval centre, charismatic locals, divine food and wine, beautiful monuments and bridges, tiles, shopping streets, hipster bars, flowering balconies, baroque churches, and colorful cliffs will definitely leave you breathless. This city looks like it has emerged from the pages of a storybook. The River Douro on the Gaia side and the historic centre of Porto belong to the World Heritage. Don`t miss to visit Casa do Infante, by Riberia, enjoy the great beaches and cafà © terraces at the mouth of the river Douro, explore Porto by night, try a francesinha, which is one of Porto`s specialties, and stroll through the Parque da Cidade, down the seafront. Perugia – the picturesque Umbrian city with rich history Perugia is a substantial town city with good transport links and a number of historical attractions. It is a medieval, hilltop city that rises above the lush vineyard and hills. It is a major center of medieval art and a major producer of chocolates. It is a home of the Eurochocolate Festival and Umbria Jazz Festival. The Saint Peter`s Basilica is one of the most significant and symbolic landmarks of the city. Fontana Maggiore is the main symbol of Perugia. It is a perfect holiday destination with the beauty of the architecture and active leisure active ideas. The charming city of Aarhus has plenty to offer Aarhus is the second-largest city in Denmark, which is full of opportunities for tourists. It is surrounded by beautiful nature. Here you will find wonderful areas for running, walking, and biking. It has several attractions that are renowned internationally. Den Gamle By, ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, Musikhuset Aarhus, Moesgaard Museum, and Tropical Houses at the Botanical Garden are the absolute best attractions in Aarhus. You should definitely visit this city if you are interested in art and architecture.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Strategic Marketing of Qatar Airways Assignment

Strategic Marketing of Qatar Airways - Assignment Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that strategic marketing orientation is an integral part of the modern-day business. Modern day business is ever-changing. It is very important for each and every organization to change their structure according to the time. The modern business is full of cutthroat competitions; managing competition is the need of the hour for the management across the world. Customers are the focus and understating customers continuously is a complex but important task. The performance of the company has significant dependency on inter-functional co-ordination. Organizational culture with their values and visionary thoughts also play significant roles in the marketing orientation. Shareholders are the pillars of organizational successes, it is important for every company to take care of the long-term interests of shareholders. With the help of this study Managing director of Qatar, airways will be able to get some insights of marketing orientation on the bas is of the above-written factors. The organization has 131 fleet sizes and the company covers 144 destinations across the world. According to Donavan, Brown, Mowen, customer orientation is all about a group of actions taken by the companies to identify and meet the needs of the customers. The authors said that previously organizations were more products centric but as the business scenario has changed nowadays organizations are transforming themselves into more customer-centric. They also commented that performances of the organizations are highly dependent on the continuous understanding of changing needs of customers. In the modern world of business customer orientation is the core factor and fundamental aim of every organization is to remain focused towards customers. They argued that in modern-day business every company relies on pricing, innovation and brand image. They commented that apart from all these things organizations can gain high competitive advantages through offering quality services and by meeting the customer expectations.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Learning Theories Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Learning Theories - Research Paper Example Because of that, different types of learning methods are prevailing among people. Different scholars and psychologists have formulated different learning theories after comprehensive researches and studies. â€Å"Although there is no acceptable definition of learning, a generally accepted definition of learning is any relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs as a result of experience† (Chowdhury, 2006, p.1). Learning is a process and a product at the same time. Many of the psychologists defined learning as a change in behavior. It is a fact that all the people behave in a particular way based on their knowledge level. For example, a person who has completed college education may behave more diplomatically than a person who has not completed college education. In other words, learning makes lot of behavioral changes in a person’s life. ... Customization of these learning theories is necessary for a student to learn the topics properly. In other words, every student should have a customized learning strategy or theory in order to learn the topics properly. This paper describes my ideas of â€Å"the best learning environment† and supports it using the theoretical perspectives of what defines the "best of" in education. Learning Theory and its importance â€Å"Learning is a personal act. We each place our own personal stamp on how we learn, what we learn and when we learn. How we learn is a question that begs the answer--based on learning theory† (Chowdhury, 2006, p.2). As mentioned earlier, no two individuals are alike in their learning methods. Different people use different methods for learning a particular topic. The awareness about different learning theories will definitely help the educators in providing customized learning environments for each student. For example, brighter students may require more complex assignments whereas average or below average students may require simple assignments in order to help them in their learning process. â€Å"Learning theories are the basic raw materials, which are applied in training activities. It is, therefore, essential that the trainer understand the learning theories so that he or she can design the effective training program† (Chowdhury, 2006, p.6). It is important for the educator to know how a particular subject can be taught well in a class. For that purpose different learning theories may help. For example, many learning theories suggest that motivation is required for the students to learn a particular topic well. In order

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Native Americans in the United States and Include In-text Citation Essay Example for Free

Native Americans in the United States and Include In-text Citation Essay TermDefinition Segregationâ€Å"The physical and social separation of categories of people. † (Macionis, 2012, p. 61) De jure segregationâ€Å"Children assigned to schools specifically to maintain racially separated schools. † (Schaefer, 2012, p. 414) Pluralismâ€Å"A state in which people of all racial and ethnic categories have about the same overall social standing. † (Macionis, 2012, p. 63) Assimilationâ€Å"The process by which minorities gradually adopt cultural patterns from the dominant majority population. † (Macionis, 2012, p. 63) Part II Write a 75- to 150-word response to each of the following questions. Format your work according to the class writing guide: †¢Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of an ethnic, racial, or national group, such as the Turkish killing of Armenians after WWI, the Nazis’ slaughter of 6 million European Jews during WWII, or the mass killings in Rwanda in 1994. Has genocide ever been practiced or condoned in North America? Explain your response. Yes, genocide has been both practiced and condoned in North America and the United States. The native inhabitants of North America, or Native Americans, were destroyed as a people. In the early 18th century, several states including Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey promoted the genocide of local native people by offering a scalp bounty on every dead native. In 1703 12 pounds was the price paid per scalp by the State of Massachusetts, by 1723 that price had soared to over 100 pounds per scalp. In that same period, George Washington compared Natives to wolves or beasts of prey, and called for their total destruction. By 1814, Andrew Jackson supervised the mutilation of more than 800 members of the Creek Tribe, which had been murdered by his troops. As time progresses to 1867, General William Tecumseh Sherman was saying, â€Å"We must act with vindictive earnestness against the Sioux [Lakota] even to their extermination; men, women, and children. † No one knows a precise number of Native Americans that were murdered at the behest of our United States Government, but some estimates make the number of European Jews murdered by German Nazis look small. (Religious Tolerance, 2011) †¢Consider the readings from this week as well as last week. What is the difference between Arab Americans and Muslim Americans? Why are the two often thought to be interchangeable? Explain your response. Arab Americans are Americans of Arabic heritage, which have either immigrated to the United States or have been born here and can trace their lineage back to the Middle East. (The Prejudice Institute , 2012) However not all people from the Middle East are Arab. Muslim Americans are people who practice the religion of Islam and live in the United States. (Muslim Americans, 2011) I think that often these two terms are thought to be interchangeable because there are a great deal of Muslims in the Middle East and those are the Muslim Extremist that we she on the news. Therefore, as we always do we go right to the stereotypes that have been played out in the headlines of the news. So if a person is of Arabic decent he or she must also be Muslim, which is why people tend to consider the two terms interchangeable. ? References Religious Tolerance. (2011). Retrieved from http://www. religioustolerance. org/genocide5. htm Macionis, J. J. (2012). Social Problems, Census Edition (4th ed. ). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. The Prejudice Institute . (2012). Retrieved from http://www. prejudiceinstitute. org/Factsheets5-ArabAmericans. html Muslim Americans. (2011). Retrieved from http://www. people-press. org/files/2011/08/muslim-american-report. pdf.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Charlemagne :: essays research papers

Charlemagne Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, became the undisputed ruler of Western Europe, â€Å"By the sword and the cross.† (Compton’s 346) As Western Europe was deteriorating Charlemagne was crowned the privilege of being joint king of the Franks in 768 A.D. People of Western Europe, excluding the church followers, had all but forgotten the great gifts of education and arts that they had possessed at one time. Charlemagne solidly defeated barbarians and kings in identical fashion during his reign. Using the re-establishment of education and order, Charlemagne was able to save many political rights and restore culture in Western Europe. Early Life Charlemagne was born in 742 A.D., to a very famous and well-known family. Charlemagne’s grandfather was Charles Martel, the man who was responsible for the defeat of the Saracens. Charlemagne was also the eldest son of Bertrade (also known as Bertha Greatfoot) and Pepin the Short, the first to become king of the Franks. With the almost full extinction of schools in the 8th century, many historians say that Charlemagne received very little education, but did learn the art of reading from Bertrade. The one thing that kept Charlemagne motivated throughout his entire life was his deep devotion to the church. Charlemagne was a tall young man with light blond hair, and was described by his secretary as, â€Å"face laughing and merry. . . his appearance was always stately and dignified.† (World book 452) Charlemagne had great wit, but was stern at times. He had simple and moderate tastes; he enjoyed hunting, riding and swimming. Charlemagne had a large wardrobe with many Frankish dresses, linen shirts and breeches, silk-fringed tunics, hoses wrapped with bands, and for the winter he had coats made of otter or marten skins. Charlemagne asked his people to improve their lifestyles, but he divorced two of his four fives without any given cause. Charlemagne’s Reign In 768 A.D., Charlemagne at the age of 26, along with his brother Carloman inherited the kingdom of Franks. However, in 771 A.D. Carloman died, making Charlemagne the sole ruler of the kingdom. At this time the northern part of Europe was out of order and unruly. In the south, the Roman Catholic Church was asserting itself alongside the Lombard kingdom in Italy. While in Charlemagne’s own kingdom, the people were becoming and acting as barbarians and neglecting education and faith. But Charlemagne was determined to make his kingdom as strong as possible.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Fahrenheit 451 Essay

In the book Fahrenheit 451, Beatty claims that â€Å"If you don’t want a house built, hide the nails and wood† (61). * What Beatty means here, is that if people don’t want society to have knowledge, then all knowledge-bearing materials must be destroyed, which in this instance, are books. Books give people knowledge and more complications, which he claims can make people less happy. Ignorance is bliss because every character in Fahrenheit 451 who discovers the truth is in immediate trouble, and completely loses their control on life. Clarisse is a character who finds herself in trouble because of awareness of the truth. For example, Clarisse says â€Å"Oh, they don’t miss me, I’m antisocial. I don’t mix. It’s so strange. I’m very social indeed† (29). She cannot fit in with her peers because of her education, and has a hard time â€Å"socializing† at all. A child who is incapable of making friends due to higher education is a very troubling experience for anyone. Beatty also says â€Å"Clarisse McClellan? We’ve a record on her family. We’ve watched them carefully. Heredity and environment are funny things. You can’t rid yourself of all the odd ducks in just a few years† (60). Because of Clarisse’s family background, and their history, Beatty and the rest of the firemen keep a very close eye on her family. Her entire family is looked upon as social outcasts because of their lack of ignorance. Clarisse later disappears from society. Clarisse is separated and discriminated against, and for this, she was not even able to function in society due to her education. Even more troubling, are the events that occur at Mrs. Blake’s house. Mrs. Blake held in her possession an entire library of books, and the fire department is called to have them destroyed (36-38). By the time the fire department got there, and pumped kerosene all over the entire house, she refuses to leave the house. She said â€Å"You can stop counting† as the firemen continued to count and give her time to evacuate the house before burning it (39). She wants them to stop wasting their breath and allow her to remain in the house while it was burned. The woman on the porch reached out with contempt to them all and struck the kitchen match against the railing† (40). The entire house is burned, with her in it. The woman committed suicide, due to her education and presence of the books. She is so befuddled by the content in the books, that when educated, she refused to even live any longer once her source of knowledge was burned. Being burned to death is about the most cruel way to die, and Mrs. Blake did all this only because she had been educated. Also, Faber found himself getting into several problematic situations involving his lack of ignorance. Faber was once an English teacher, meaning that he was very highly educated, because he had the permission to educate students (74). Faber is one who was around during the time where books were starting to be deleted from existence. He had the knowledge, and the ability to stand up for what was right, but never did. Faber has had to live with his guilt for several years now, just wishing he would have done something different, all because he was educated and enjoyed reading. If Faber would have never been educated, he wouldn’t waste his time worrying about the past! During a huge fight between Beatty and Montag, Beatty says â€Å"Well-So there’s more here than I thought. I saw you tilt your head, listening. First I thought you had a Seashell. But when you turned clever later, I wondered. We’ll trace this and drop it on your friend† (118). Beatty is threatening to bring harm to Faber, for being associated with Montag. He plans on taking both of them to jail, at this point. Faber was about to get serious jail time or more serious punishment, just for being associated with someone who was trying to become smarter! It’s very troubling to have the want to be educated, but be punished for the thirst for more education, which is exactly what happened to Faber. However, the best example of someone whose life is destroyed by the absence of ignorance and the presence of books, is Montag. Montag, the protagonist has a life of order in the beginning of the book, he says â€Å"It was a pleasure to burn. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed† (3). Montag enjoys his life of destruction at first, and nobody is directly harmed by it. After discovering books, this all changed. Montag eventually loses it, kills Beatty (119), and runs from the law (137-179). Montag lost everything: his wife, his house, his job, his friends, his entire life! Montag’s life was most affected by the presence of books, and the deletion of all previous ignorance, because with the addition of education, Montag’s life became a complete misery he wished to get out of.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

What does china has an ageing population?

China, the second larges country in the world, is facing a serious problem — ageing population. Before 1979, when Mao was the chairman of China, he persuaded women to have lots of babies in order to finish his plan – the Great Leap Forward. This is the start of the ageing population in China. In January 1958, Mao launched the second five year plan known as the Great Leap Forward. 1Mao wanted China to become a world power. He wanted to catch up with the west by ending Chinese dependence upon agriculture. His aim was to catch up with UK in the industry products in ten years time and with America in 15 years time. In order to do this, he will need lots of peasants but many of them die during this progress. This is why Mao encouraged women to have lots of children. In the DTM, the birth rate at stage 2 and 3 are both very high and this is due to requirement of Mao. China's population base increased â€Å"only† by another 100,000,000 on top of its 432,000,000 base.2 The magnitude of China total population increase so much that even the People's Republic of China found it hard to support. This is when One Child Policy (ICP) came in to control the over growing population. ICP is the birth control policy of the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC)3. When Deng Xiao Ping took over the power at 1978, he realized the overpopulation is a roadblock to economic development and also the death rate will increase due to the lack of food and water, then he came out with the ICP idea. In general, this policy is very successful because the birth rate has been reduced gradually starting at the middle of stage 3 in the DTM. The 1982 fertility survey shows the total fertility rate falling from around 6.0in the mid-1950s to well below 4.0in 19614. However, ICP leads to some other problem such as the ageing population. Since the ICP is introduced, the population has successfully decreased. However, the infant mortality increases at the same time. This is because as a Chinese tradition, the boys carry the family name but now, the families are only allow to have one child therefore the chance of having a boy is less then before. Because of this, some families may choose to kill the baby if it's a girl in order to carry the family name. This is not the only effect of ICP, since most families choose to have a boy rather than a girl, there will be more males than female in the future. The difference will also increase as the time pass by. As years go by, the medical care develops a lot in China therefore the life expectancy increase at the same time. Since the birth rate was so high is 1960s but then decrease so much when ICP is introduced, there are depend people then independent people. This slows down the economic development of China. When there are more dependent then the government will need to pay more than it earns. Since the dependent people can not earn their own living, the government will have to give them money and because the numbers of dependent people are so many, the money that was given to the dependents is more than the money China earns. The birth rate keeps dropping in China is due to one other main reason – as most of the people are now educated, they understand that if you want to raise up your children as best as you can, one child is more than enough. Also, the cost of having two children is normally too expensive for lower or middle classes. The time that is taken to look after them is too much if both parents are working. These are the main reasons why most of the parents choose not to have more than one child. In conclusion, China has an ageing population a problem is because the birth rate was really high when Mao was the chairman but then it decreases so much that ICP was introduced. The differences between that get worse and develop as the ageing population. Because of this problem, the economic developments is held back since the input and output is not balance due to part of the income is given to those dependent people. The death rate will increase dramatically when the dependent people die. This will affects reputation of China too.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Trying Juviniles as Adults essays

Trying Juviniles as Adults essays Trying Juveniles as Adults and Placing them into Adult Institutions Juveniles being tried as adults, who is to blame? In todays society it is not who or whom it is what. Juvenile offenders are now facing a double-edged sword. Not only can they be tried in a Juvenile court for a crime committed. They are now being charged as adults. Charging a juvenile as an adult has stirred up many different views. When should we say enough is enough? Violent crimes committed by juveniles have become a growing epidemic. The children of today are subjected to violence in popular songs, television shows, and even computer games. Parents having guns accessible to children and the society the child lives in all play a part in the destruction of our youth. Juvenile offenders are now facing tougher punishment for their actions. Juvenile crime is stated as an act committed by a minor that would be considered a crime committed by an adult, such as vandalism, burglary, assault, or murder (Silverstein 11). Juveniles are committing these crimes against families, classmates, and strangers. In many states, a juvenile is any one under the age of eighteen. Young offenders commit these crimes because they feel neglected, that no one cares, and this is a way to get attention. However, professionals say that juvenile offenders commit these crimes due to being abused or even ignored as a child (Valentine). Telling a parent to not ignore, punish, or leave your child home alone or your child could grow to become a criminal, seems severe. Why dont we just tell them how to raise their children? We as a society can not place the blame on a parent the juveniles are the ones at fault. Juvenile crime is dated as far back as the 1600s. Where in the Massachusetts colony, a teenager over sixteen years of age who had cursed at or hit his parents could receive the death penalty (Landau 88). In this time-pe...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The History of the Green Movement

The History of the Green Movement Though the conservation movement had European roots, many observers maintain that the United States has emerged as the worlds leader in environmentalism. If America does, in fact, deserve credit for leading the green movement, what made the United States such a crucible for environmentalism? Its partly due to the immigrants who came to the North American continent in the colonial era and partly to the natural beauty of the land they found when they crossed the Atlantic. The Early Years of the Green Movement America, of course, didnt invent the green movement any more than it invented trees. The basic principles of sustainable forestry management, for example, were known throughout Europe (especially Germany, France and England) since the medieval era. Farming communities in Asia practiced soil conservation through terrace farming and other sustainable agricultural practices. English writer Thomas Malthus, in his oft-quoted An Essay on the Principle of Population, alarmed much of 18th-century Europe by proposing that an increase in human population beyond sustainable limits would result in a catastrophic plunge in population due to famine and/or disease. Malthus writings would inform much of the alarm over the population explosion roughly 200 years later. But it was after the colonization of the Americas by Europeans that writers and philosophers were among the first to propose that wilderness had an intrinsic value beyond its usefulness to humans. While fisheries, hunting grounds, and timber stands were important to civilization, visionaries like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau proposed that in wildness is the preservation of the world (Thoreau). Their belief that nature possesses a spiritual element that transcends human utility gave these men and their followers the label Transcendentalists. The Green Movement and the Industrial Revolution The transcendentalism of the early 1800s and its celebration of the natural world arrived just in time to be trampled underfoot by the ravages of the Industrial Revolution. As forests disappeared under the ax of reckless timber barons, coal became a popular source of energy. Unfettered use of coal in homes and factories resulted in horrific air pollution in cities like London, Philadelphia, and Paris. In the 1850s, a carnival huckster named George Gale heard about an immense California redwood that was over 600 years old when Jesus was born. Upon seeing the magnificent tree, nicknamed The Mother of the Forest, Gale hired men to cut the tree down so that its bark could be displayed in his sideshow. The reaction to Gales stunt, however, was swift and ugly: To our mind, it seems a cruel idea, a perfect desecration, to cut down such a splendid tree ... what in the world could have possessed any mortal to embark in such a speculation with this mountain of wood?, wrote one editor. The growing realization that human industry was obliterating irreplaceable wilderness and endangering human health resulted in the earliest efforts at managing natural resources. In 1872, Yellowstone National Park was created, the first of what became one of Americas best ideas: a network of national parks that were strictly off-limits to exploitation. The Conservation Movement Takes Root As the Industrial Revolution continued to wreak havoc on wilderness, a growing chorus of voices sounded the alarm. Among them were John Muir, a visionary poet of the American West and its spectacular beauty, and Theodore Roosevelt, an avid reformer whom Muir convinced to set aside vast tracts of wilderness for conservation. Other men, however, had different ideas about the value of wilderness. Gifford Pinchot, who studied forestry in Europe and became an advocate for managed forestry, was once an ally of Muir and others in the conservation movement. As Pinchot continued to broker the clear-cutting of virgin forests with influential timber barons, however, he fell out of favor with those who believed in the importance of preserving nature, regardless of its commercial uses. Muir was among those who decried Pinchots management of wilderness areas, and it is Muirs interest in preservation as opposed to conservation that gave rise to what may be Muirs greatest legacy. In 1892, Muir and others created the Sierra Club, to do something for wildness and make the mountains glad. The Modern Green Movement Begins In the 20th century, the conservation movement was overshadowed by events like the Great Depression and two world wars. Only after World War II ended and the rapid transformation of North America from an agricultural society to an industrial one was well underway did the modern environmental movement begin. Americas postwar industrialization proceeded at a breakneck pace. The results, while amazing in their breadth, alarmed many with the havoc they wreaked. Nuclear fallout from atomic tests, air pollution caused by millions of cars and factories spewing chemicals into the atmosphere, the destruction of once-pristine rivers and lakes (like Ohios Cuyahoga River, which famously caught fire due to pollution), and the disappearance of farmland and forests under suburban developments were a concern to many citizens. Into this maelstrom stepped a quiet, studious scientist and author.  Rachel Carson in 1962 published, a devastating argument against the reckless use of the pesticides that were wiping out populations of birds, insects, and other animals. The now-classic book gave voice to millions of Americans who saw their rich natural heritage disappearing right before their eyes. Following the publication of Silent Spring and books like Paul Erlichs The Population Bomb, Democratic Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson joined many other politicians in adding environmental protection to their platforms. Even Republican Richard Nixon made considerable progress toward incorporating environmental awareness into his administration. Not only did Nixon create the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), he also signed the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, which required environmental impact assessments for all large-scale federal projects. And on Christmas Eve of 1968, NASA astronaut William Anders, while orbiting the moon with the Apollo 8 mission, snapped a photograph that many people credit with providing a foundation for the modern green movement. His photo shows a small, blue planet Earth peeking over the horizon of the Moon. (See above.) The image of a small planet, alone in a vast ocean of space, showed billions the fragility of our planet and the importance of preserving and protecting Earth. The Environmental Movement and Earth Day Inspired by the protests and teach-ins that were occurring worldwide throughout the 1960s, Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed in 1969 that there be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment. In Nelsons words, The response was electric. It took off like gangbusters. Thus was born the event now known as Earth Day. On April 22, 1970, the first celebration of Earth Day took place on a glorious spring day, and the event was a tremendous success. Millions of Americans coast to coast took part in parades, concerts, speeches and fairs devoted to preserving the natural heritage of the United States and the entire world. In a speech that day, Nelson stated, Our goal is an environment of decency, quality, and mutual respect for all other human creatures and for all living creatures. Earth Day is now celebrated worldwide and has become an environmental touchstone for two generations of eco-activists. The Environmental Movement Solidifies In the months and years following the first Earth Day and the creation of the EPA, the green movement, and environmental consciousness were solidified into private and public institutions around the world. Landmark environmental legislation, like the Clean Water Act, the Federal Pesticides Act, the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Scenic Trails Acts, were signed into law. These federal acts joined many other state and local programs to protect the environment. But all institutions have their detractors, and the environmental movement is no exception. As environmental legislation began to be implemented nationwide, many in the business community found that environmental legislation was having a negative impact on the profitability of mining, forestry, fisheries, manufacturing and other extractive and polluting industries. In 1980, when Republican Ronald Reagan was elected to the presidency, the dismantling of environmental safeguards began. By appointing anti-environmental crusaders like Interior Secretary James Watt and EPA Administrator Anne Gorsuch to office, Reagan and the entire Republican Party signaled their naked contempt for the green movement. Their success was limited, however, and both Watt and Gorsuch were so universally disliked even by members of their own party that they were removed from office after serving a matter of months. But the battle lines had been drawn, and the business community and the Republican Party remain vehemently opposed to the environmental protections that define much of the green movement. The Green Movement Today: Science vs Spiritualism Like many social and political movements, the green movement has been strengthened and annealed by the forces that oppose it. After James Watt was appointed to lead the Department of the Interior, for instance, membership in the Sierra Club grew from 183,000 to 245,000 in just 12 months. Today, the green movement is again defined and galvanized by its command of issues like global warming and climate change, wetlands preservation, the Keystone pipeline, nuclear proliferation, hydraulic fracturing or fracking, fisheries depletion, species extinction and other important environmental concerns. What distinguishes the green movement today from the earlier conservation movement is its emphasis on science and research. Speaking in spiritual tones and using religious metaphors, early environmentalists like Muir and Thoreau celebrated nature for its profound impact on mans emotions and our souls. When Hetch Hetchy Valley in California was threatened by a dam, Muir exclaimed, Dam Hetch Hetchy! As well dam for water-tanks the peoples cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man. Now, however, we are far more likely to call upon scientific data and empirical research to buttress arguments in favor of wilderness preservation, or against polluting industries. Politicians cite the work of polar researchers and use computerized climate models to battle global warming, and medical researchers rely on public health statistics to argue against mercury pollution. Whether these arguments succeed or fail, however, still depends on the vision, the passion and the commitment of the people who make up the green movement.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

STUDENT HOUSING PROJECT (AMSTERDAM) Research Paper

STUDENT HOUSING PROJECT (AMSTERDAM) - Research Paper Example g difficulty faced by students from the two main universities in Amsterdam by transfiguring the containers into apartments that accommodate thousands of students. Apparently, Keetwonen, the biggest container city, was created through an initiative closely backed by the Tempohousing contractors. The development created a new experience and lifestyle for students who flock the universities each year. The universities seldom provide accommodation for students while the strict Netherlands rent control system which requires that that private, non-profit housing conglomerates including Stichting DuWo and DeKey be accountable for renting houses to students in a bid to protect them from paying high rents, thus making it hard to cure the accommodation challenge (Kimberley 1). The project’s actual stacking speed was virtually 20 units daily, which goes into the record as the fastest constructed units. The project developer, Quinten De Gooijer, found square building designs to be ideal particularly when containers are used due to the superfluous structural veracity they offer. Architects added a special feature to the exterior of the units by fixing green tubes that hang as curtains that serve the decorative function (Caroline 55). Moreover, there are concrete pavements that were included to create a desirable atmosphere for students as well as improve the site’s persistence. In one of the floors, there is a central installation point that supplies natural gas used in heating the units. Initially, people feared that the units would be too hot, cold, noisy or small. However, they later realized that their fears were unsubstantiated after the units turned out to be well insulated, unobtrusive and spacious enough to offer value for the students’ money (Skaeve 1). Additionally, they contain exceptional facilities including detached sleeping and studying chambers, persona l kitchen (with a sink and stove), balcony, bathroom, a programmed ventilation system with capricious