Industrial Revolution in Modern British History Essay

Industrial Revolution in Modern British History - Essay Example Hence, moving to towns to work in mills and factories was inevitable not forgetting that factory owners built houses for workers making them motivated. Many analysts regard industrial revolution as the most important event in modern British history because, many transformations that brought tremendous effects on social, economic as well as cultural activities of Britons took place during this period. Change in means of agriculture, mineral extraction, manufacturing of goods, means of transport, and technological advancements led to a major turning point of United Kingdom’s history since close to all daily aspects of life transformed in one way or the other. To begin with, due to improved models of attaining relevant targets of work, the average income of most people together with population commenced depicting unprecedented and sustained growth. It was during this time when most masses of ordinary people began exhibiting sustained change in terms of their living standards due to economic growth (Spievogel, 2010:432). Industrial revolution led to vast change of agricultural activities. Before, industrial revolution, farmers in the United Kingdom used to languish in dire poverty, headed solitary and nasty lives. However, their lives changed drastically when industrial revolution brought about use of farm machines such as threshers that led to advent agricultural production. In 1750, Britain became the leading agricultural producing country in the world due to improved technological advancements in agriculture and market and economic integration (Spievogel, 2010:288). With reference to agricultural development that occurred during industrial revolution, analysts consider industrial revolution as vital to most Britons today since those inventions are still useful and reliable up to date. Due to industrial revolution in Britain, scientists developed complex technologies that led to massive production of deadly weapons that British fighters used during the Sec ond World War. In addition, industrial revolution resulted to formation of very great armies equipped with airplanes, submarines, bombs, tanks, guns and many other armaments that Britain industrialist were producing in vast numbers (Foud, 2004:183). Furthermore, Britain was able to conquer more countries since it needed more colonies for extraction of raw materials, slaves, and market for her new manufactured products. Industrial revolution ensured sufficient supply of armaments during the war hence Britain was able to protect its interests due to impacts of advanced technology. Moreover, this epoch time of industrial revolution led Britain to total domination of the seas. This happened due to its strong military force making it possible and easier to gain total control of the oceanic transportation and trading activities. Through ocean trade, she could ferry her manufactured products, such as tea, tobacco, and sugar to different markets that boosted the economy of this country to a different level. Consequently, due to increasing demand for investments, the country’s national banking system ensured adequate supply of capital since it had surplus finances for use in commerce (Foud, 2004:209). Additionally, industrial revolution time in Britain will remain unique since inventions and innovations of all time occurred during this time. John Kay invented the flying shuttle a machine

FOREST ELEPHANT AND ITURI FOREST IN CONGO Essay

FOREST ELEPHANT AND ITURI FOREST IN CONGO - Essay Example On the other hand, the natives hunt on the forest elephants and perform various other activities to sustain their life. There is a fine line of difference between upholding the natural aspects of the forest and fulfilling the needs of all the stakeholders. A research including the perspectives of all the stakeholders involved is required in order to establish that line of difference. Background of Ituri The forest got its name from the famous Ituri River. Confined within the boundaries of the Uganda borders and the open regions of Savannah, Ituri forest along with its rivers ends up on the banks of the Zaire River. The forest is composed of very hilly regions covered with dense vegetation and the average altitude across the hills is around 800 meters. The dense vegetation includes trees of hardwood type, predominantly spread across several acres of the land. The forest is abundant in its natural resources and thus provides immense opportunities for economic exploitations. (Ituri Fore st, 2011) Stakeholders Mbutis The natives are the major stakeholders involved in modifying both economic and environmental perspectives of the forest. The Mbutis, formerly known as the Pygmies, have sustained their life in these dense forests for several generations. Although, at present, their population is standing around a meager 40000, they still play a major role in determining the usage of this forest area. The Mbutis primary mode of subsistence has been through hunting. Although, the reasoning for their hunting expeditions have all been closely connected to their economical subsistence, the current trends of hunting by the Mbutis, does not restrict to that reason alone. Other economic aspects are brought into the picture, bringing up different stakeholders, interested in various products of hunting. There is a wide market opened for trading forest products especially the meat of deer, monkeys and forest elephants. The contemporary trends in trade market suggest that there is a growing demand for the Antelope meat. Commercial organizations and other entrepreneurs are targeting the high commercial value for Antelope meat and hence, irrespective of the treacherous conditions of the forests, they travel up all the way to exchange flour, rice and other food products with Mbuti for Antelope meat. Since commercial hunting provides them the necessary means to sustain a forager’s life, there hunting expeditions continue to grow in the Ituri forest. Apart from this, they cultivate vegetation and extract minerals from the land and exchange it for food products. But, the resources of minerals and trees have attracted other stakeholders to make use of these resources for commercial purposes. The places once exploited only by these natives have become a source for many. As a result, there protein supplier’s role that they have been pursuing for more than 2000 years is dwindling rapidly. Immigrated settlers The exploitation started in the 1940’s i tself when the Belgians opened up the roads for easy transport and since then, several acres of land have been wiped out of trees for cultivation and agriculture. One major consequence because of these circumstances is the depletion of traditional trade between the Mbutis and the

The Human Mind Essay Example for Free

The Human Mind Essay Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Computers are everywhere and the processors for personal computers these days are more powerful. In the last decade, we have witnessed the advancement of computer in the areas of movies and entertainment, multimedia arts, science and technology, business and industries, health, sports, and education. Humans have created the very useful and powerful machines that have made our lives convenient. However, there are shades of controversies and arguments claiming the superiorities and abilities of either the human brain or the computer’s processor. Humans have created and developed a great machine and the capabilities of their creations have gone beyond our imagination. Human Mind and Computer   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   People created computers and software that functions like the human mind. The human brain processes information similar to a computer. It receives information, scrutinizes it, stores it, and remembers past knowledge to work out problems rationally. Since the human mind possesses all the memories of past events and memories of everything that has happened in our life, we can use it to recall the information that we need. For instance, while you are driving, you hear an old familiar music on the radio that you have not heard for a long time. You are thinking of the name of singer who sung the song and suddenly you recall the name of the singer and the lyrics of the song. The human brain is sometimes faulty and does not always work they way we want it to but our memory comes back while we may be thinking of something completely different. This problem is due to the organization of memory in the human mind. The human brain stores millions of memories but it has no idea where they are located (New York University Office of Public Affairs, 2008). The information in the brain is retrieved not by knowing where it is, but by using cues or clues that hint at what we are looking for (ibid.)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gelgi (2000) wrote that consciousness or the understanding process is the most important factor that differentiates the computer from the human mind. He further stressed that the computer can compute the data given but it cannot understand what it is. It can perform any operation for which it is programmed but it cannot evaluate nor make its own judgments (Priddy, 1999). A good example of this statement can be applied in statistical analysis where the researcher feeds the raw scores into the computer to determine the results of the survey. The computer will yield either a â€Å"1† or â€Å"2† that may represent â€Å"yes† or â€Å"no† respectively but it cannot provide a descriptive analysis of the data. The computer simply follows instructions; hence it does not have a mind. Searle (1980) claimed that the mind is not a computer program because computer programs has a syntax and human minds have semantics and is not an algorithm. Humans obtain information through the senses and they have the ability to read and interpret facial expressions (Technology Research News, 2006). Because of our ability to pick up gestures and understand body language, we tend to disregard the use of verbal expression. When we see a person smile, nod, and raise his eyebrows, we can interpret this as a sign of greeting or saying â€Å"hi† or â€Å"hello† in non-verbal manner. A computer is a powerful machine that is capable of repetitive and logical functions but it cannot be compared to the human brain as it cannot communicate with us in a manner we are accustomed to (ibid.). Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Computers are extensions of the human mind and body. The complexities of the human brain in terms of thinking process and its multitude neuron network structures cannot be duplicated by machines that are controlled and created by human beings. Computers are effective tools that has made our lives more comfortable but it does not have the capability to think, feel, interpret, and decide like human beings. References Gelgi, F. (2000). Can AI be more advanced than the human mind? Retrieved July 4, 2008 from http://www.public.asu.edu/~fgelgi/ai/ai_mind/ai_mind_ess.htm. New York University Office of Public Affairs (2008). Human mind product of chaotic evolutionary path, NYU psychology professor concludes in new book. Retrieved July 5, 2008 from http://www.nyu.edu/public.affairs/releases/detail/2087. Priddy, R. (1999). The mind-computer analogy. Retrieved July 5, 2008 from http://home.no.net/rrpriddy/lim/13.html. Searle, J.R. (1980). Minds, brains, and programs. Retrieved July 5, 2008 from http://members.aol.com/NeoNoetics/MindsBrainsPrograms.html. Technology Research News (2005). Pattern recognition: computers and human communications. Retrieved on July 4, 2008 from http://www.trnmag.com/Stories/2005/030905/HIW_Pattern_Recognition_030905.html.

Leisure Time And Cultural Values Of Biodiversity Environmental Sciences Essay

Leisure Time And Cultural Values Of Biodiversity Environmental Sciences Essay Many people derive value from biodiversity through leisure activities such as hiking, birdwatching or natural history study. Biodiversity has inspired musicians, painters, sculptors, writers and other artists. Many culture groups view themselves as an integral part of the natural world and show respect for other living organisms. Popular activities such as gardening, fishkeeping and specimen collecting strongly depend on biodiversity. The number of species involved in such pursuits is in the tens of thousands, though the majority do not enter mainstream commerce. The relationships between the original natural areas of these often exotic animals and plants and commercial collectors, suppliers, breeders, propagators and those who promote their understanding and enjoyment are complex and poorly understood. It seems clear, however, that the general public responds well to exposure to rare and unusual organisms-they recognize their inherent value at some level. A family outing to the botanical garden or zoo is as much an aesthetic and cultural experience as an educational one. Philosophically it could be argued that biodiversity has intrinsic aesthetic and spiritual value to mankind in and of itself. This idea can be used as a counterweight to the notion that tropical forests and other ecological realms are only worthy of conservation because of the services they provide. Key words:Biodiversity;leisure,aesthetic Introduction Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or on an entire planet. Biodiversity is one measure of the health of biological systems. Life on Earth today consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The year 2010 was declared the International Year of Biodiversity. Biodiversity is not consistent across the Earth. It is consistently rich in the tropics and in specific regions such as the Cape Floristic Province; it is less rich in polar regions where conditions support much less biomass. Rapid environmental changes typically cause extinctions.[1] 99.9Â  percent of species that have existed on Earth are now extinct.[2] Since life began on Earth, five major mass extinctions have led to large and sudden drops in Earthly biodiversity. The Phanerozoic eon (the last 540 million years) marked a rapid growth in biodiversity in the Cambrian explosion-a period during which nearly every phylum of multicellular organisms first appeared. The next 400 million years was distinguished by periodic, massive biodiversity losses classified as mass extinction events. The most recent, the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event, occurred 65Â  million years ago, and has attracted more attention than all others because it killed the nonavian dinosaurs.[3] The term was used first by wildlife scientist and conservationist Raymond F. Dasmann in a lay book[4] advocating conservation. The term was widely adopted only after more than a decade, when in the 1980s it came into common usage in science and environmental policy. Use of the term by Thomas Lovejoy, in the foreword to the book Conservation Biology,[5] introduced the term to the scientific community. Until then the term natural diversity was common, including by The Science Division of The Nature Conservancy in an important 1975 study, The Preservation of Natural Diversity. By the early 1980s TNCs Science program and its head, Robert E. Jenkins,[6] Lovejoy and other leading conservation scientists at the time in America advocated the use of biological diversity. The terms contracted form biodiversity may have been coined by W.G. Rosen in 1985 while planning the National Forum on Biological Diversity organized by the National Research Council (NRC) which was to be held in 1986, and first appeared in a publication in 1988 when entomologist E. O. Wilson used it as the title of the proceedings[7] of that forum.[8] Human benefits Biodiversity supports a number of natural ecosystem processes and services.[10] Some ecosystem services that benefit society are air quality,[11] climate (e.g., CO2 sequestration), water purification, pollination, and prevention of erosion.[11] Since the stone age, species loss has accelerated above the prior rate, driven by human activity. The exact rate is uncertain, but it has been estimated that species are now being lost at a rate approximately 100 times as fast as is typical in the fossil record, or perhaps as high as 10,000 times as fast.[12] Land is being transformed from wilderness into agricultural, mining, lumbering and urban areas for humans. Non-material benefits include spiritual and aesthetic values, knowledge systems and the value of education..[9] Human health Biodiversitys relevance to human health is becoming an international political issue, as scientific evidence builds on the global health implications of biodiversity loss.[13][14][15] This issue is closely linked with the issue of climate change,[17] as many of the anticipated health risks of climate change are associated with changes in biodiversity (e.g. changes in populations and distribution of disease vectors, scarcity of fresh water, impacts on agricultural biodiversity and food resources etc.) Some of the health issues influenced by biodiversity include dietary health and nutrition security, infectious diseases, medical science and medicinal resources, social and psychological health.[18] One of the key health issues associated with biodiversity is that of drug discovery and the availability of medicinal resources.[19] A significant proportion of drugs are derived, directly or indirectly, from biological sources; At least 50% of the pharmaceutical compounds on the US market are derived from compounds found in plants, animals, and microorganisms, while about 80% of the world population depends on medicines from nature (used in either modern or traditional medical practice) for primary healthcare.[14] Moreover, only a tiny proportion of the total diversity of wild species has been investigated for medical potential. Through the field of bionics, considerable advancement has occurred which would not have occurred without rich biodiversity. It has been argued, based on evidence from market analysis and biodiversity science, that the decline in output from the pharmaceutical sector since the mid-1980s can be attributed to a move away from natural product exploration (biopr ospecting) in favor of genomics and synthetic chemistry, neither of which have yielded the expected breakthroughs; meanwhile, natural products have a long history of supporting significant economic and health innovation.[20][21] Marine ecosystems are of particular interest in this regard,[22] although inappropriate bioprospecting has the potential to degrade ecosystems and increase biodiversity loss, as well as impacting the rights of the communities and states from which the resources are taken.[23][24][25]. Conservation of biodiversity Conservation biology matured in the mid- 20th century as ecologists, naturalists, and other scientists began to collectively research and address issues pertaining to global declines in biodiversity.[26][27][28] The conservation ethic differs from the preservationist ethic, originally led by John Muir, that seeks protected areas devoid of human exploitation or interference for profit.[27] The conservation ethic advocates management of natural resources for the purpose of sustaining biodiversity in species, ecosystems, the evolutionary process, and human culture and society. [26][28][29][30] Conservation biology is reforming around strategic plans that include principles, guidelines, and tools for the purpose of protecting biodiversity.[26][31][32] Conservation biology is crisis-oriented and multi-disciplinary, including ecology, social organization, education, and other disciplines outside of biology.[26][28] Preserving biodiversity is a global priority in strategic conservation plans that are designed to engage public policy and concerns affecting local, regional and global scales of communities, ecosystems, and cultures.[32] Action plans identify ways of sustaining human well-being, employing natural capital, market capital, and ecosystem services.[33][34] and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Strategies for biodiversity Strategically, focusing on areas of higher potential biodiversity promises greater return on investment than spreading conservation resources evenly or in areas of little diversity but greater interest in the conservation. A second strategy focuses on areas that retain most of their original diversity. These are typically non-urbanized, non-agricultural areas. Tropical areas often fit both sets of criteria, given their natively high diversity and relative lack of development.[35] However, many animal species are migratory, meaning that focusing only on specific locations is insufficient. Wildlife corridors can help support migration, and is considerably cheaper and easier than clearing/preserving entirely new areas. Some habitats may require restoration before standard conservation techniques can be effective. Conclusions Popular activities such as gardening, fishkeeping and specimen collecting strongly depend on biodiversity. The number of species involved in such pursuits is in the tens of thousands, though the majority do not enter mainstream commerce. The relationships between the original natural areas of these often exotic animals and plants and commercial collectors, suppliers, breeders, propagators and those who promote their understanding and enjoyment are complex and poorly understood. It seems clear, however, that the general public responds well to exposure to rare and unusual organisms-they recognize their inherent value at some level. A family outing to the botanical garden or zoo is as much an aesthetic and cultural experience as an educational one. Philosophically it could be argued that biodiversity has intrinsic aesthetic and spiritual value to mankind in and of itself. This idea can be used as a counterweight to the notion that tropical forests and other ecological realms are only worthy of conservation because of the services they provide.

Pedogenesis in Western Washington and Northern Alaska: A Comparison of

Pedogenesis in Western Washington and Northern Alaska: A Comparison of the Primary Factors Introduction: Pedology is partially based on the established principle that soil changes are directly correlated to specific biotic communities and regional climatic patterns. From this principle questions have arisen as to why the Arctic tundra that lies above the treeline in Alaska displays similar chemical characteristics to that of the well-developed Podzols and Spodosols found in the coniferous forests of Washington. The Podzols and Spodsols of these coniferous forests are defined by their cool and humid regional climates and by the acidic parent material from which they formed. Recent studies indicate that the E and Bs horizons that define the temperate forest soils are also found above the treeline in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Siberia (Ugolini, Stoner, & Marret, 1987). What role does biota play in the current soil formation for each of the sites? Why do the similarities exist between the sites despite differences in climate and vegetation? What other factors consistently influence the soil properties? The purpose of my paper is to address the question of which soil forming factors have the greatest effect on the similar and distinct characteristics of the two geographic locations. Podzolization: Pedogenic Change in Alaska and Washington Chemical analyses of temperate forest soils in the Pacific Northwest have been collected to examine soil forming trends (Ugolini, Stoner, & Marret, 1987). Such data allows us to compare various ecosystems and their characteristic pedological processes. Ugolini et al 1987 show how the soil solution analysis allows us to see ". . . a simple two-compartment system" (p.91). The first ... ...d processes, principles, and knowledge necessary to further our understanding of modern pedogenesis as an important part of soil science. References Cited: Birkland, Peter, 1984, Soils and Geomorphology: New York, Oxford University Press, 372 p. Marret D.J., Stoner M.G., & F.C. Ugolini, August 1987, "Arctic Pedogenesis: 1. Evidence for Contemporary Podzolization." Soil Science, 144, p.90-100. Schlichte, A.K., & F.C. Ugolini, May 4, 1973, "The Effect of Holocene Environmental Changes on Selected Western Washington Soils," Soil Science, 116, p.218-227. Sletten, Ronald, & F.C. Ugolini, January 1991, "The Role of Proton Donors in Pedogenesis as Revealed by Soil Solution Studies." Soil Science,151, p.59-72. Stoner, M.G., & F.C. Ugolini, January 1968, "Arctic Pedogenesis: 2. Threshold-Controlled Subsurface Leaching Episodes." Soil Science, 145, p.46-50.

Cell Organelles :: essays research papers

The studies of Robert Hooke 1665 into a plant material would allow the determination of a pore like regular structure surrounded by a wall of which he called ‘cells’ this in itself unbeknownst to him, was the discovery of the fundamental unit of all living things. In 1838 a botanist called Schleiden derived the theory ‘The basic unit of structure and function of all living organisms is the cell.’ Over 150 years later this can be regarded as one of the most familiar and important facts within the biological fields. Drawing of cork cells published by Robert Hooke 1665 The Cell itself and use of Cytology: The cell can be thought of as a bag in which the chemistry of life is allowed to occur, partially separated from the environment outside the cell, it exists within all living organisms as its basic structure. The study of cells is made possible through the use of ‘cytology’ the preparation of materials for examination through microscopes as an average animal cell exists on a scale of 10 microns roughly one hundredths of a millimetres. Originally light microscopy was used in this field but with the advancement of knowledge scientists were restricted to 200nm magnification, or 2 tenths of a micron. Realising the existence of cell organelles within the cell structure, allowing the function of the cell itself to occur; It was necessary to increase magnification by utilising an alternate source radiation (alternate to light).The result was the electron microscope, whereby the short wavelength and negative charge of electrons when supplied with energy allowed for greater focusing with electromagnetism. This method bends the path of the beam in the manner of a lens to light. Cell Organelles and the variation between Plant and Animal Cells: We have already determined the cell to be the foundation to all organisms, however the term cell is associative and categorises a wide variation. Every animal cell has a specified function whether it be the production of hair, mucus, or the process of other chemicals ( multiple reactions occur within a cell for other purposes i.e. creation of ATP, protein manufacture etc.) So from this we must examine the cell in more detail and determine what it is within the cell that creates it specialised function and separates it as an individual type. Plant cells vary from animal through the existence of certain organelles. Organelles are the substances that provide a cell with the ability to produce (a production line) and exist within the cells boundaries.

Speech on the Importance of Co-curricular Activities in School by R Jain

It happens more than sometimes that a student who has consistently shown in studies does less well later on in life than a student who has always been academically mediocre. The reason is not, necessarily, that the former has not lived up to expectations, or that the latter has all the connections that count. Often it is just a case of the mediocre rising to excellence because he has had the good luck of finding himself. Albert Einstein, Leo Tolstoy and Rabindranath Tagore were not considered particularly bright prospects in school, but nevertheless took the world by storm. Obviously, academics is only one yardstick of a student’s ability.At the school level, it is presently the most important yardstick and will probably continue to be so in the foreseeable future. It is generally agreed that an educated person is required to have grounding in certain specified areas of knowledge that may be termed as ‘basic subjects’. Over and above that, though, a good school wi ll offer a wide variety of supplementary or co-curricular activities involving games, music, art, literature, photography, the computer, and what have you. The more varied and better organised these activities are, the greater are the chances of a student succeeding in discovering himself.What does that mean? It means finding out what one likes doing, what one is good at and what one would like to develop one’s skills in. It is not impossible for this to turn out to be a fairly long drawn-out trial-and-error process. A student may begin by trying his hand at painting and find himself lacking; he may then move on to debating and discover he is worse at it; he may then have a shot at acting, but in vain; finally, he may find his metier in creative writing. He starts writing stories and poems and getting appreciation for and feedback on them. It makes him a happier, more motivated, and more energetic person.He may have been an indifferent student, but now, because his self-estee m has risen and he is more confident of himself, he attains a higher rank in class as well. It is not necessary that he should go on to become a famous writer. The very fact that he has confidence in himself now will make a world of difference to how he goes about life and what he does with it. It is up to him to seek out suitable avenues for the expression of his creativity, but once that is done, that initial act of self-discovery in school will prove to be one of the most positive turning-points in his life.What today is called ‘co-curricular’ was yesterday known as ‘extra-curricular’. The change in wording is significant and reveals recognition of the worth of non-academic pursuits in education. That one does not need to sit in ‘examinations’ in most co-curricular activities is a factor that makes them more enjoyable than classroom study; however, that may also be the very reason why a section of students don’t take them seriously en ough.More and more colleges and organisations have begun to look beyond the school-leaving and graduation and post-graduation certificates while deciding whom to take in and whom to leave out during admission or employment, and a good co-curricular track record may well give one an edge over a rival candidate who has no such background. This development, also, should further the worthy cause of co-curricular activities.