Changes in the US intelligence over 100 years Essay

Changes in the US intelligence over 100 years - Essay Example The United States Congress has been very instrumental in reorganizing this body during the times of crisis. It is these crises that have formed the basis for the reorganization of the intelligence community. The scandals and the critics faced by the organ since it was formed is also highlighted in this context Post War era President Truman in collaboration with the Congress did find out that the United States could not meet their security needs without a defined structure for decision making. They had to find a way to deal with intelligence issues in the country. On this note, the president, in 1947 , did sign the â€Å"National Security Act†, which was a part of legislation on the intelligence community. The present day intelligence structure was formed from this simple structure. The USA had the mechanism to do so. Its public also supported this move and it was further boosted by allies who saw to it that America was helped to achieve its goals. USA in the first place took t heir satellites into the space to help them watch vast areas of the world. The other initiative was the use of spy planes1. They moved into their air space to ensure that their territory was not invaded. Many posts were placed strategically all over the world. The intelligence team then listened to the messages relayed on these stations. The country took the responsibility of training and developing manpower for example: analysts, 2technicians, program managers. Much work was done to train these people on foreign languages. USA invested more in the area and space studies which would come to help them develop the intelligence community in years to come. Post Cold War era It saw the endless efforts to make DCI to be the hub of intelligence community. The media undermined their efforts with series of disclosures on their cases. In the better part of the decade, the community underwent many changes. They came up with new reforms and their oversight also changed. For example, President N ixon (1970) gave the directive to find out how the structure of the body should be changed to ensure efficiency in information collection. Several commissions were formed to help inquire about the best ways to ensure efficiency. Among them were the Rockefeller commission, the church commission, the pike committee and the Murphy commission. These commissions would form the basis of this body. In 1975, implementation of Rockefeller commission was ordered by President Ford. Out of the 30 recommendations, 20 of them had to be implemented. The commission had recommended increased supervision of the CIA activities. Its restrictions on the domestic activities were toughened. They were provided with a prohibition on the mail openings and wire taps were removed. The community had been accused of abusing tax information. They were therefore banned from this act. The most outrageous was using drugs on people without their knowledge. The president made it possible to describe the structure of t he IC in the public and their responsibilities and well defined in the presidential document which was always made public. This order also set up a committee known as the Foreign Intelligence and was to be part of the â€Å"National Security Council†. The DCI chaired the council. He was to report to the president directly, concerning resource allocation on the intelligence activities. Many restrictions were made. An example of such is barring the intelligence from using assassinations that were part of the

Case analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Case analysis - Essay Example Wolfgang Keller, a charismatic graduate from the Harvard Business School, is the managing director of premium brewer Kà ¶nigsbrà ¤u’s Ukrainian subsidiary, Kà ¶nigsbrà ¤u-TAK AE. Before taking his current position at Kà ¶nigsbrà ¤u-TAK, Keller was a strategic planner for a large German food products manufacturer. Within six months he was promoted to general manager of a small subsidiary in Ukraine that was struggling financially. Within his roughly two years spent with the company, he managed to turn it around and create a reputation as a successful hands-on manager. After his short stint as a strategic planner, Keller left the food manufacturer and joined Kà ¶nigsbrà ¤u as managing director of its Ukrainian subsidiary. After three years in this position, Keller made significant changes which dramatically helped increase sales and revenues within the company. By changing the marketing strategy, hiring a new top-management group, restructuring the sales force, and acquiring a fourth brewery in Odessa, he increased earnings by â‚ ¬10 million. Keller loved his job here and took it because he loved the responsibility and challenges it offered. These challenges helped to form Keller’s temperament , personality and business style. One of the main issues in this case is that there are two completely different personalities and management styles between Wolfgang Keller and Dimitri Brodsky. The differences between the two have resulted in a hostile working environment and a negative relationship. Keller’s personality is relationship and task oriented and employee oriented. For example Keller likes to establish trust and relationships with co-workers by motivating them and helping them to perform better. However when it comes to Brodsky he is more coercive. Keller is a highly interactive and hands on leader, whereas Brodsky keeps his distance in his interactions.

Violence in video games Essay Example for Free

Violence in video games Essay Ward, Michael R. Video Games and Adolescent Fighting. Journal of Law and Economics 53(2012): 611-28. JSTOR. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. http://www. jstor. org/stable/10. 1086/605509. There is a link between violence in the context of video games and violence affected by gamers outside of the context of gaming. Psychologists have studied the possible connections between violence depicted in the media and violent behaviors. The usual sources for violent portrayals are music lyrics, television scenes, and video/computer games. Young children spend an enormous amount of time consuming media. Media violence is having harmful effects on childrens development and behavior. The negative effects on violence in the media (specifically video games) outweigh the positive effects. Topic: Effects on violent video game playing on youth Thesis: Violent video games are affecting our youth in a negative way Revised Thesis: Violent video games increase violent behaviors in children but parents can become proactive to help fight this epidemic by engaging them in sports, academics, reading and games that require interpersonal activity. Mencius Man’s Nature Is Good David Suzuki The Sacred Balance. Averroes On the Harmony of Religions and Philosophy Moses Maimonides The Guide for the Perplexed Tanya Sanchez ENG 1201 Professor Aldridge Outline Topic – Violence in video games Thesis: Violent video games increase violent behaviors in children but parents can become proactive to help fight this epidemic by engaging them in sports, academics, reading and games that require interpersonal activity. I. Video Games and Adolescent Fighting a. Violence in media b. The overestimated link between video games and violence c. Effects on youth II. Playing video games causes violence outside of gaming a. â€Å"Everything is connected to something else† b. David Suzuki’s The Sacred Balance c. Violence in games becomes violence in reality III. Parents becoming proactive engaging children in a. Sports b. Academics c. Reading IV. Alternatives that have not worked a. Limiting time b. â€Å"Blocking† certain things c. Removing equipment V. Mencius’ Man’s Nature is Good a. Kao Tzu b. â€Å"Blank state† c. Human nature responds to the forces around it VI. Conclusion a. Restate thesis b. Summarize main points Tanya Sanchez ENG 1201 Professor Aldridge Persuasive Research Paper Rough Draft. Effects of Violent Video Game-playing on Youth Technology advances every day in society. From mobile devices to laptops and computers, to microwaves and air conditioners, to televisions and internet, technology is everywhere. Technology is the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems, methods of organization, in order to solve a problem, improve a preexisting solution to a problem, achieve a goal, handle an applied input/output relation or perform a specific function. A fast growing technological advancement today is video game systems. Video games are affecting our youth in various ways. Video-gaming is becoming an issue in society, especially the video games with violence exposed in them. Violent video games increase the violent behaviors in children, but parents can become proactive to help fight this epidemic by engaging their children in sports, academics, reading and games that require interpersonal activity. The first form of electronic gaming was computer games back in the 1960’s. These were developed by hobbyists who were associated with computer science programs at universities. The first video game consoles designed for home play developed in the mid-1970s. A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device (a television, monitor, etc. ) to display a video game. These consoles continued to increase in society and still are today. Advances and improvements in computer technology helped create more refined and realistic games. As the technology advanced, portrayals of social interactions, including violent interactions, have become increasingly more realistic. The violence in video games is affecting the youth in a negative way. Psychologists have found positive correlations between playing violent videogames and violent and antisocial attitudes stated Michael R. Ward from the University of Texas. They have not based this study on a particular sex, just on the actual video-game playing and aggression. Some have contacted policy makers to regulate the content and marketing of video games so as to curb violence, especially among children, which are more prone to it. The main concern is the connection between violence in the actual video games and violence implemented by gamers outside of the context of gaming. There is a parallel between violence in gaming and fighting. This however is further seen in gamers that play more hours daily (typically 4 or more) than those who don’t. Playing these violent video games can cause violence outside of the video gaming itself. Everything is connected to everything else as reinforced in David Suzuki’s, The Sacred Balance. This is reasonable to occur. It is not surprising that playing violent video games causes you to be violent. â€Å"People have always understood that we are deeply embedded in and dependent upon the natural world. † (427) This occurs naturally. We cannot change the natural order of the universe. Upon playing these violent video games daily for a predetermined length of time, in your head this becomes what seems to be reality. You are so accustomed to fighting and taking up violent activities in these games that in reality, this slowly becomes perfectly natural to you. Using video game consoles are not the only way one can access the violence. Other sources include the internet, televisions, smartphones, and many others. Parents can become proactive in trying to help stop this epidemic by doing some of the simplest things. Parents can start off my restricting time for their children in which they play these video games. Restricting time in which they spend playing is something very minor that can have a big outcome. Something parents should pay closer attention to is the ratings on these video games being played. There are various rating, some of which include; Early Childhood which means the content is intended for younger children, Everyone which means the content is generally suitable for all ages but may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language, Teen which means the content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up and may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language. Mature which mean the content is generally suitable for ages 17 and up and may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language, Adults Only which means the content is suitable only for adults ages 18 and up and may include prolonged scenes of intense violence, graphic sexual content and/or gambling with real currency and many other ratings. Can parents really trust these ratings? Another minor thing that can be done is â€Å"blocking† certain things that are flagged as inappropriate for your children. A downfall of doing this is that you can only control it when they are playing video games in your presence. Your child/children can easily go to a friend’s house where his/her friend doesn’t have blocked settings on specific things. This is a common way to get around it or avoiding the â€Å"My parents blocked it† situation. There are many alternatives that have not worked. Trying to limit or restrict the amount of time being devoted to playing these videogames has not seemed to be working. Removing the equipment (like the game console, computer, phone, etc. ) has not been functioning either. Some alternatives that may work instead of the disciplinary options are engaging your children in sports, academics, reading and games that require intrapersonal activity. Engaging your children in sports will not only promote a healthy lifestyle for your child/children, it will also keep them physically active. Being engaged in sports your child will adopt important values in life. Such important life lessons include self-confidence, goal setting and achieving, time management as well as patience, perseverance and determination. Your child will also learn the importance and benefits of teamwork. Helping your child focus more on academics might help solve this epidemic too. Trying to incorporate video games with learning or a way to help study can be very beneficial in the long run. Encouraging your child to read instead of playing video games can be difficult but maybe investing in a Kindle or any electronic similar to that which only focuses on reading could help. These devices have the look and feel of a game but in reality is enforcing reading, not violence. In Mencius’s Man’s Nature Is Good, he believed humans were inherently good and with the proper training could become perfect, however Hsun Tzu believed humans were inherently evil and required rites to keep them in check. In relation to the violence the children are exposed to in these video games, I think it makes most sense to believe in what Chinese philosopher, Kao Tzu believed in. He believed human nature was neither inherently good nor inherently evil but a â€Å"blank state† that could be conditioned in both directions. Kao stated, â€Å"The nature of things is like swirling water: channel it east and it flows east, channel it west and it flows west. † (95) He is comparing human nature to water. It doesn’t chose between good and evil just like water doesn’t choose between east and west. Mencius argued this claim but Kao Tzu retaliated by saying human nature is only responding to the forces around it. The influences of these video games become the â€Å"forces† around the youth in today’s society and have an impact on these children in the least expected ways. Between the actual video games and the gamer, the gamer seems to be the puzzled one. They may be so involved in the video game and the violence portrayed in it that they begin to lose some sense of reality and become what it is that they are playing. In Moses Maimonides’ The Guide for the Perplexed, the youth in society today is becoming â€Å"perplexed. † Being perplexed simply means you are puzzled or confused. Relating the video games is being misinterpreted and being related to reality when it shouldn’t be. From personal experience, I have witnessed this in my own household. Having two younger brothers both very involved in this â€Å"video game world† has brought this issue to my attention. One of my younger brothers isn’t very entertained by the violent video games but the older of the two is. He is at that age where video gaming is what he does on an everyday basis for hours. A lot of these games are violent and although he hasn’t physically been involved in any violent activities now, I just hope he isn’t involved in them in the future. One thing I have noticed is that he has been getting more aggressive in the sense that he’s becoming a little more disrespectful especially towards my parents. Maybe it’s because he is at the â€Å"teenage age† and going through puberty but something tells me it also has to do with the games he is playing. The fact that both my younger brothers are very involved in sports and one of the two is still very focused on the video games is insane. There has to be other alternatives for him not to be focusing so much on the violence he is playing. Consequently, the violence in video games is affecting our youth in a negative way. There is definitely a parallel between violence in video games and violence outside the video games. Parents can be the main helping hand in this epidemic by being proactive with their children. They can help find alternatives like engaging their children in things other than playing these video games. Even though some alternatives have not succeeded like restricting time, blocking certain things, removing equipment, etc. there are other powerful options that may have a more profound effect. Being involved in sports at a young age gives the youth many valuable lessons. Another thing is engaging your children in intrapersonal games or activities. Intrapersonal is a term used in education usually referring to multiple intelligences. Intrapersonal learners know how they work best and are usually self-motivated people. This violence in video gaming epidemic has to be more controlled if we don’t want our youth to become â€Å"what they are playing. † What would happen if society continues like this? Works Cited Averroes. On the Harmony of Religions and Philosophy. Reading the World: Ideas ThatMatter.2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton , 2010. 391-96. Print. Maimonides, Moses. The Guide for the Perplexed. Reading the World: Ideas That Matter. 2nded. New York: W. W. Norton , 2010. 397-401. Print. Mencius. Mans Nature Is Good. Reading the World: Ideas That Matter. 2nd ed. New York:W. W. Norton , 2010. 94-99. Print. Suzuki, David. The Sacred Balance. Reading the World: Ideas That Matter. By MichaelAustin. 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton , 2010. 427-34. Print. Ward, Michael R. Video Games and Adolescent Fighting. Journal of Law and Economics 53(2012): 611-28. JSTOR. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. http://www. jstor. org/stable/10. 1086/605509.

Womens Heart Health Promotion in New Zealand

Womens Heart Health Promotion in New Zealand Karenne Melo Rosarie Ann Nicole Trespeces Joanne Tolentino Fight Against Heart Disease in Women: A Health Promotion Plan Health Promotion is the process of enabling people to have a control over their wellbeing—physical, emotional, socio-cultural and spiritual. Without encouragement from health professionals, improvement of health and reduction of the incidence of illnesses and disabilities is impossible to attain. Thus, health strategies in promoting health must take priority. In this paper, a health promotion plan on Heart Disease in Women, which is one of the objectives of the New Zealand Health strategies will be presented. New Zealand has a growing frequency rate of heart disease mainly because of its rising population, an ageing population and lifestyle variations such as smoking, having secondary lifestyle or physical inactivity and changes in diet. According to the Ministry of Health (2014), heart disease is the number one cause of mortality in New Zealand and is responsible for 30% death cases per year. One dies from heart disease every 90 minutes, giving a total number of 16 deaths per day in New Zealand. The Health Strategy for New Zealand gives a background for the health sector to inflate the total health status of New Zealanders and to lessen inequalities amongst New Zealanders. The unequal distribution of social determinants in terms of age, sex, hereditary factors, financial, education, occupation and housing conditions are associated with health inequalities. According to Ministry of Health (2012), â€Å"addressing these social determinants of inequalities requires a total health approach that takes justification and explanation of all the influences on health and in what way they can be commenced to improve overall health status. This method necessitates both intersectoral action that addresses the social and economic determinants of health and action within health and disability services.† Ministry of Health (2012), recommend philosophies in health that should be applied to any activities to safeguard inequalities in health in those activities. In the proposed framework, it includes making and imposing extensive strategies which are the following: Structural – social, financial, national and historical health inequalities root grounds identification Intermediary pathways – comprises psychosocial and behavioral factors that intercede the influence of structural factors on health Health and disability services – it is a thorough actions undertaking Impact – on socioeconomic situation minimization (MOH, 2012) Further, the key to Health Promotion here in New Zealand is the founding document of the Treaty of Waitangi. It is an agreement between the relationship of the Crown and the Maori. The crown represents the non-Maori people and the New Zealand government. The treaty of Waitangi is a document that provides the framework of Maori and non-Maori health development and well-being. This is to ensure that both parties are equally respected in terms of providing their health care needs. Also, to reduce the incidence of inequities between the Maori and Non-Maori, it is very important to acknowledge the Treaty of Waitangi and the treaty principles which is participation, partnership and protection. In participation, it emphasizes the involvement of Maori in planning, monitoring and evaluating programs. While the principle of partnership, refers to the relationship of Maori and non-Maori in making health plan, policies and programs. In making all these strategies and health promotion, it is important to include the principle of protection. This is to ensure that the interest of the Maori is protected and both Maori and Non-Maori have equal health status and outcomes (Ministry of Health, 2003). Moreover, the Ottawa Charter was first created during the first international conference on Health Promotion which was held in Ottawa, Canada in November, 1986. It is the key founding document of health promotion in New Zealand. This framework has provided a useful tool guide for actions and implementation of health promotion (Ministry of Health, 2003). Health Promotion Plan on Women’s Heart Disease The annual plan includes assessment, prevention and control programs, monitoring and evaluation, indirect management and administrative operations. Goal: The program aims to reduce the incidence of Women’s heart disease and control its complications by ensuring that Women in New Zealand have opportunities to access the health services/ programs. General Objectives: To conduct health assessment of women who are at risk for developing heart disease; To implement prevention and control program, such as eat well and be heart healthy, stretch and sweat, and fight against tobacco related death; To monitor and evaluate improvement of health and effectiveness of programs; To ensure practitioners are skilled and well-trained to be efficient in providing health promotion campaigns and education; To support operations in the conduct of the programs; Health Control and Prevention Programs Title: How’s your heart? Heart disease assessment and education Rationale: Screening tests and knowledge on heart disease are the keys to prevent cardiovascular disease (American Heart Association, 2014). Regular screening tests should begin at age 20 because this would serve as an eye-opener for women to modify their lifestyle or make necessary changes to prevent development of heart diseases. Education provides knowledge to women on how to make heart healthy and how to prevent heart diseases Goal: To provide free heart screening services in public health hospitals or centers monthly and provide regular health education campaigns and educational materials such as brochures, flyers, posters, pamphlets. Target population: Women living in New Zealand starting age 20. Strategies: Actions: Communicate and ask support to the Ministry of Health and Board of Trustees of the hospital for the implementation of the program, Involvement of Maori, Pacific, and other locals or migrants to support, contribute and participate in program development. Range of Activities: Vital screening tests are blood pressure, body weight, Fasting Lipoprotein Profile (cholesterol and triglycerides), blood glucose. Health Education Settings: Public Health Hospitals and Community Health Centers for the screening, University and Workplace for Education and a door-to-door campaign Title: Eat well and be heart healthy Rationale: Improving nutrition to reduce the prevalence of weight gain or obesity, a precursor to heart disease takes priority and be addressed (Willett, Koplan, Nugent, Dusenbury, Puska, Gaziano, 2006). In New Zealand, obesity is also one of the targets Health Strategies. Goal: To ensure mothers’/ women’s class shall be conducted to provide adequate knowledge on proper diet and menu preparation. Target population: Women living in New Zealand starting age 20. Strategies: Actions: Communicate and ask support to the Ministry of Health and Community authorities for the implementation of the program, Involvement of Maori, Pacific, and other locals or migrants to support, contribute and participate in program development. Range of Activities: Healthy food policy development, Food diary and menu planning, Health Education Settings: Public Health Hospitals and Community Health Centers, University and Workplace for Education and a door-to-door campaign Title: Stretch and Sweat Activities Rationale: Sedentary activity among women is known to be a major risk factor in developing heart disease next to smoking. In the year 2009, 246 New Zealanders had premature death caused by lack of physical activity). Failing to do physical inactivity can highly contribute to another risk factor like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Sedentary activities may lead to poor health outcomes (Auckland Council, Waikato Regional Council, and Wellington Regional Strategy Committee, 2013). Evidently, active physical activities are beneficial to maintain a good health. It is helpful for maintaining a healthy heart and body. It is not only considered to be a preventive measure, but also a treatment itself (Auckland Council, Waikato Regional Council, and Wellington Regional Strategy Committee, 2013). According to Heart Foundation (2004), active physical activity can reduce up to 50% of incidence and fatality rate of heart disease. While, those with existing heart disease will have 25% decrease chance of dying from another heart attack. Goal: To incorporate 30 minutes of moderate to intense physical activities into the daily activities of women at least 5-7 times a week (Heart Foundation, 2004). Target Population: To achieve a maximum health benefit, it is important for people to be physically active. According to Active New Zealand Survey (2015), they identified that women are most likely to be inactive than men. This is due to the different factors that hinder them from participating in any physical activities. As stated by the World Health Organization (2015), lower income of women may be a barrier to access physical activity. Aside from that, women have limited time to engage in physical activities because of their caregiving roles at home. Strategies: Actions: Communicate and ask support to the Ministry of Health and Community authorities for the implementation of the program, Involvement of Maori, Pacific, and other locals or migrants to support, contribute and participate in program development. Range of Activities: Free yoga every Tuesday and Thursday morning and afternoon, Free Zumba class during weekends, Fun run activities and bike and hike activities Settings: Parks and open fields Title: Fight against Tobacco related death Rationale: According to the Ministry of Health, the main cause of avoidable morbidity and mortality in New Zealand is tobacco use. It is responsible for an estimated 4,300 to 4,600 deaths per year and it contributes considerably in the development of some heart disease. Tobacco consumption is one of the health inequalities in New Zealand as increased smoking incidence are seen amongst groups that have low income. On the other hand, approximately 1.3 billion individuals uses tobacco worldwide and it causes five million premature deceases annually. At the present stage, it is responsible for the mortality ratio of one in ten adults worldwide. As per WHO (2014), tobacco usage will result in to 10 million deaths annually by year 2020 if present patterns remain. Goal: The three key objectives of tobacco control strategies are to lessen initiation of smoking, to double the likelihood of quitting and to lessen the exposure to second- hand smoking. Target Population: The no smoking strategies are intended to become routine practice for all health care workers in connection to those individual who smoke. Nevertheless, within the population of individual who consumes tobacco there are specific target population. These are Maori and Pacific people as these population display considerably increase incidence of tobacco use compare to other population. New Zealand Health Survey 2013, found out that Maori women were two times probable to be a smoker in comparison in women in entire population while both Maori and Pacific men were 1.5 times probable to be smoker in comparison in the entire population. Another important target population are parents’ ages 15 to 45 years of age. Helping parents to stop smoking is vital to further lessening smoking initiation by children and young age. Strategies: Actions: Communicate and ask support to the Ministry of Health and Community authorities for the implementation of the program, Involvement of Maori, Pacific, and other locals or migrants to support, contribute and participate in program development. Range of Activities: Health Education, Smoke free celebration activities, individualized quit smoking plan, house-to-house monitoring, also promotion of nicotine replacement therapy. Nicotine Replacement Therapy comes in five forms that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These are nicotine patches (transdermal nicotine system), nicotine gum (nicotine polacrilex), nicotine nasal spray, nicotine inhalers and nicotine lozenges.These are locally available which can be consumed for eight weeks, and double the chances of quitting as these will diminish smoking cravings without affecting one’s health. Monitoring and Evaluation: Each program must be monitored and evaluated whether effective or not in order to modify the program and conduct research studies on how to improve health. Indirect management and administrative operations: Attendance to meetings, convention, trainings, and summit is very important to ensure that the practitioners are skilled and effective in promoting health on heart disease. Support to operations: The funding and budget allocated for the health programs, which includes the education and campaign materials By and large, health promotion is critical in the health care delivery system, and that must be practiced to prevent or eradicate onset of diseases. Further, the involvement and consultancy of the people in the community in the development of programs are extremely significant to identify health threats and problems properly, and make necessary intervention programs tailored to their needs. Consequently, would address and prevent health inequalities and improve health outcomes. References Auckland Council, Waikato Regional Council, Wellington Regional Strategy Committee. (2013). Information for General Practice on Physical Activity and Heart Disease. Retrieved on March 30, 2015, from http://wellington.govt.nz/~/media/about-wellington/research-and-evaluation/people-and-community/2013-costs-physical-inactivity-regional-accounting-perspective.pdf Active New Zealand Suvey. (2015). Part 1: How active are we? how active do we want to be? Retrieved on March 30, 2015, from http://www.activenzsurvey.org.nz/Results/NZ-Sport-and-Physical-Surveys-9701/SPARC-Facts-97-01/Part-1/ American Heart Association. (2014). Heart-Health Screenings. Retrieved on March 30, 2015 from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Heart-Health-Screenings_UCM_428687_Article.jsp Heart Research Institute. (2013). Heart Disease in New Zealand. Retrieved on March 18, 2015, from http://www.hri.org.nz/about-heart-disease/heart-facts/ Heart Foundation. (2004). Information for General Practice on Physical Activity and Heart Disease. Retrieved on March 30, 2015, from http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/GP-PA-and-heart-disease.pdf Ministry of Health. (2003). A Guide to Developing Health Promotion Programmes in Primary Health Care Settings. Retrieved on March 31, 2015, from http://www.hauora.co.nz/assets/files/PHO%20Info/dvpinghealthpromotionprogs.pdf Ministry of Health. (2013). Implementing the ABC Approach for Smoking Cessation. Retrieved on March 18, 2015, from https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/implementing-abc-approach-smoking-cessation-feb09.pdf Ministry of Health. (2013). Reducing Inequalities in Health. Retrieved on March 18, 2015, from https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/reducineqal.pdf Quitline. (2013). Nicotine patches, gum and lozenges. Retrieved on March 18, 2015, from http://www.quit.org.nz/62/help-to-quit/nicotine-patches-gum-and-lozenges Willett, W.Koplan, J.Nugent, R.Dusenbury, C.,Puska, P. Gaziano, T. (2006). Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries 2nd ed. Retrieved March 29, 2015 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11795/ World Health Organization. (2015). Physical Activity and Women. Retrieved on March 30,2015, from http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_women/en/ World Health Organization. (2015). Health Promotion. Retrieved on March 30, 2015, from http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/previous/ottawa/en/ World Health Organization. (2014). Why is tobacco a public health priority? Retrieved on March 18, 2015, fromhttp://www.who.int/tobacco/health_priority/en/print.html.

The Structure of Wholeness :: Ontology Atoms Papers

The Structure of Wholeness Using a part-whole-calculus the vague concept of wholeness is rendered precisely as the structure of an atomic boolean lattice. The so-defined prototypical structure of wholeness has the status of a category, since every element of our experience may be considered as an intended application of it. This will be illustrated using examples from different ontological spheres. The hypothetical and therefore fallible character of the structure is shown in its inadequacy in grasping quantum logical facts. This demands a differentiation of wholeness. The defined structure may be seen as circular in two respects: On the one hand it is the precondition for the understanding of its own syntactic and semantic basics, on the other hand there exists a mutual defineability between its atoms, which leads us to the thesis that wholeness cannot be defined in a non-circular manner. Introduction In this paper I attempt both to explicate the popular, but vague notion of wholeness and to point out its meaning for ontology. To begin with, I’ll give a brief survey of the essentials: In accord with an elementary intuition of ‘wholeness’ I introduce an implicit axiomatic definition of its structure, which proves to be a familiar Boolean-lattice. This internal view of the concept of wholeness is followed by a more philosophical external view, which looks at the structure in its context. It will be shown that the structure corresponds to the criteria of an ontological category, namely consistence, adequacy, content and coherence, so that we are justified in speaking of the ‘category of wholeness’. This feature leads to some interesting results: As a consequence of the adequacy of a category the structure turns out to be a model on its own. The self-application leads on the level of the axioms to the boolean lattice of all substructures and on the lev el of the terms of axioms to semantical boolean lattices, which may seen as basic units for the whole language. Thus the understanding of the structure of ‘wholeness’ takes for granted that there is a pre-understanding of the very same. Furthermore, there is another kind of circular understanding on the level of the atoms of the structure, because there exists a mutual defineability between the atoms, which cannot be eliminated without leaving the wholeness. But even if we try to leave it, we enter another wholeness, so that circularity is inevitable in the end. A. Intuition First of all, let me describe the leading intuition of ‘wholeness’.

Community Essay examples -- Teaching Education

Community This article asks the question; why must schools invite the public to join the dialogue on public education? New structures and committees are being erected in communities across the nation to build stronger connections between schools, school boards, and communities. One such structure is a district advisory committee composed of community leaders. Its purpose is to improve the quality of communication between the school district and the community. It looked for ways to increase community ties to the schools, to make residents more aware of what was going on, and to gain community feedback. Though this committee in New Jersey has functioned well and is very supportive, an increasing concern is that divisions within the community might contaminate both the committee and school board. Schools and school boards need better communication from the community to better the efficiency of the schools. Community input plays a vital role in developing school goals. Students and parents have the most immediate stake in school quality, but the community also has significant interests in the schools. The public, or community, has an important role in public education. Three reasons arise as to why community involvement is essential for a stronger school system. First, only the community can create â€Å"public interest.† Without good communication on public interest, elected officials cannot properly determine what is best for both the schools and community. Se...

Driving Age Should Be Increased to 18 Essay

The huge number of car crashes caused by young drivers is an issue which is now being strongly debated in Australia. According to the new research released on 7 April 2010 by Carhistory.com.au, Australia’s most comprehensive vehicle history website, one in ten Australian teenagers have had a car accident (Coffey, J 2010). Due to that serious fact, an idea of increasing the driving age to 18 with a minimum of 18 months on ‘P’ plates has been suggested to reduce the number of teens’ deaths by car accidents. Although that proposal will lead to some inconvenience for young drivers, it can prevent them from unsafe and immature way of driving, which guarantees the reduction on teens crashes. One drawback of the issue that the driving age should be increased to the age of eighteen is the inconvenience caused to teenagers. Driving is becoming essential in modern society, especially for the youth. 16 and 17 year old children should be allowed to drive to get to scho ol or work because taking public transportation is very time consuming, and it is also a big problem for them if they are late from the classes for they miss a bus. Furthermore, country kids who live in areas with few buses or trains and very far from city cannot expect their parents to drive them around every day, so having rights to drive is really necessary to them. On the other hand, everything has two sides. The increase in the driving age to 18 has been strongly advocated due to the fact that young drivers are not able to control the cars safely on the road. One major reason leading to car accidents is the distraction while teenagers drive. Multi-tasking is  becoming popular in many teens but it does not work for young drivers. They chat on the phones, listen to an iPod while driving, and even eat some fast food. They can also be distracted by debating with their friends or changing the radio station (The three top reasons why teen crash cars). Those actions directly prevent them from concentrating on the road, which is able to cause collisions. Even experienced drivers can have accidents when they leave their minds and eyes off the road, and their hands off the wheel. From the research for young drivers of South Australia government, having passengers in the vehicle is a distraction and can increase the risk of a crash. Inattention was reported as the cause of 32% of fatal crashes and 44% of serious injury crashes in 2005 (Government of South Australia 2005). Another element leading to car crashes is young drivers’ inexperience on the road. During the first 500 miles of driving, teen drivers are 10 times more likely to be in auto crashes than any other age group because they are lack of training (Ten tips to keep teens safe behind the wheel 2010). At the age of 18, one gets more exposure to traffic situations and experience in making decisions, so he drives more securely and is less likely to harm others. Moreover, the longer teenagers stay on ‘P’ plates, the safer they drive due to some restrictions like no alcohol while driving as well as the speed limit of 100 km/h even where the posted speed limit is higher (Government of South Australia, n.d.). Therefore, 18 months on ‘P’ plates is a good idea to make young drivers drive more consciously. Another factor leading to the raise in the age of driving is young drivers are not mature enough to be on the road. Firstly, teenagers’ brain does not develop enough to deal with all complicated situations while driving. This is clearly shown by the fact that some parts of the brain do not develop until late teenager, like the prefrontal cortex which is the most intelligent part of the brain and known as the brain’s executive. According to Earl Miller, a professor of neuroscience at MIT, the prefrontal cortex does not grow fully until the age of eighteen, nineteen and twenty (Patterson 2010). Moreover, young people are those who are at an age of demanding the independence, as well as taking part in a thrilling social life. They act at night, travel at a very high speed under the influence of alcohol or drug to show off because of peer pressure. Teenagers are also  irresponsible for what they cause. With the overwhelming desire to experience new more challenging actions, they usually do whatever they like without thinking about the subsequences. This is proved by the fact that the parts of the brain responsible for controlling impulses and considering the consequences of decisions may be under development until well after teenage years (Young Drivers: The Road to Safety, 2006). Therefore, they cause an enormous number of car accidents which result in a significant amount of deaths. In Western Australia, according to the Western Australia Government, young less experienced drivers, especially from 15 to 19 years old, who consume alcohol before driving are at higher risk of crashing than people in the other age groups (Government of Western Australia 2010) In conclusion, the increase in the driving age to the age of 18 with the minimum of 18 months on ‘P’ plates has raised many for and against arguments. For young drivers, that idea is indeed irritating. In spite of that fact, it cannot be denied to help to avoid the raising number in car accidents caused by young drivers because of reckless and unconscious driving. Modern technology such as car was invented to serve the society, but young people are abusing it and causing a lot of regrettable consequences. Therefore, the law of increasing the driving age should be applied as soon as possible to urgently lessen the bad results that young drivers may cause. REFERENCES Coffey, J 6 April, 2010, One in ten Aussie teens have has a car accident, Media release, accessed 13 April 2011, . Government of South Australia, 2005, Road crash facts 2005 for South Australia, Department for transport, Energy and Infrastructure, pp.15, accessed 13 April 2011, . Government of South Australia, n.d., P1 provisional licence, Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, accessed 13 April 2011, . Government of Western Australia, July 2010, Drink driving: Information sheet, Government of Western Australia, accessed 15 April 2011, pp.1. Patterson, L Mar 29, 2010, Earl Miller says younger generation will be better multi-taskers, Earthsky, accessed 12 April 2011, . Ten tips to keep teens safe behind the wheel, Jul 21, 2010, accessed 06 April 2011, . The three top reasons why teen crash cars, n.d., Car accident advice, accessed 06 April 2011, Young Drivers: The Road to Safety, Oct, 2006, Policy Brief, accessed 06 April 2011, .

Cause And Effects Of Soil Erosion Environmental Sciences Essay

The Latin word erodere, intending â€Å" to gnaw away † is the beginning of the word eroding ( Roose, 1996 ) . Soil Erosion is the physical remotion of surface soil by assorted agents, including falling raindrops, H2O fluxing over the dirt profile and gravitative pull ( Lal 1990 ) . The Soil Science Society of America defines eroding as â€Å" the have oning off of the land surface by running H2O, air current, ice or other geological agents, including such procedures as gravitative weirdo † ( SCSA, 1982 ) . Physical eroding involves the withdrawal and transit of indissoluble dirt atoms ( sand, silt and organic affair ) . Removal of soluble stuff as dissolved substances is called chemical eroding and this possibly caused by surface overflow or subsurface flow where the H2O moves from one bed to another within the dirt profile ( Lal 1990 ) . Harmonizing to ASCE, 1975, the physical procedures in dirt eroding include withdrawal of dirt atoms, their transit and subsequent deposition of dirt deposits descent by raindrop impact and overflow over the dirt surface. Rainfall is the most of import detaching agent ( Morgan and Davidson 1986 ; Lal, 1990 ) followed by overland flow in entraining dirt atoms ( Lal 1990 ) . The procedure of dirt eroding occurs in three chief stairss, withdrawal of dirt atoms, transit and deposition of dirt atoms downslope by raindrop impact and overflow over the dirt surface ( ASCE 1975 ; Morgan and Davidson, 1986, Lal 1990 ) followed by overland flow in entraining dirt atoms ( Lal, 1990 ) . Soil eroding reduces soil productiveness by physical loss of surface soil, decrease in rooting deepness and loss of H2O. In contrast dirt, dirt depletion means loss or diminution of dirt birthrate due to harvest remotion or remotion of foods by eluviations from H2O go throughing through the dirt profile ( Lal, 1990 ) . Sedimentation nevertheless, causes off site effects like debasement of basins, accretion of silts in H2O reservoirs and entombment of low-lying productive countries and other jobs ( Lal, 1990 ) . Sediments is the chief cause of pollution and eutrophication ( Lal, 1990 ) . Harmonizing to Lal 1990, dirt debasement may be caused by accelerated dirt eroding, depletion thr ough intensive land usage, impairment in dirt construction, alterations in dirt pH, leaching, salt accretion, construct up of toxic elelments such as aluminium or Zn, inordinate flood taking to cut down dirt conditions and hapless aeration. Soil Erosion is the most serious and least reversible signifier of land debasement ( Lal, 1977 ; El-Swaify, Dangler and Amstrong, 1982 ) . Soil eroding and dirt loss, harmonizing to Lal ( 1990 ) have inauspicious effects on agribusiness because they deplete the dirt ‘s productiveness and decrease the resourse base.2.2 Soil Erosion ProcessGeologic eroding can be caused by a figure of natural agents including rainfall, fluxing H2O and ice, air current and the the mass motion of dirt organic structures under the action of gravitation which cause the disentangled or dissolved crude and stone stuffs to be removed from a topographic point and finally deposited to a new location ( Lal,1990 ; Morgan and Davidson, 1986 ) . The Soil Science Society of America ( SCSA, 1982 ) described geologic eroding as â€Å" the normal or natural eroding caused by geologic procedures moving over long periods and ensuing in the have oning off of mountains, the edifice up of inundation fields, coastal f ields. Etc. † The slow and constructive natural dirt eroding procedure has been significantly accelerated by human activities of hapless agriculture patterns, overgrazing, land glade for building, logging and excavation ( Lo, 1990 ) . Accelerated eroding non merely affects the dirt but besides the environment and is the primary cause of dirt debasement ( Lal, 1990 ) . Agribusiness has been identified as the primary cause of accelerated dirt eroding ( Pimentel, 1976 ) .2.3 Soil Characteristics in the Torrid zonesExtremes of clime and broad assortment of parent stuffs cause great contrast of dirt belongingss in the Torrid Zones from dirts in other temperate parts. In the Torrid Zones dirts are extremely variable and diverse like the flora ( Sanchez and Buoi, 1975 ; Van Wambeke, 1992 ) . The chief dirt types are alfisols, oxisols, ultisols and inceptisols ( El-Swaify, 1990 ) . Tropical dirts low in weatherable minerals and basic cations ( Na, Ca, Mg, and K ) resulted from uninter rupted weathering of parent stuffs ( Lo, 1990 ) . The ability of these dirts to maintain works foods is mostly dependent on the humus content found in works biomass and the organic affair ( Rose,1993 ) . The inaction of dirt mineral components ( china clay and sesquioxides ) in these dirts, causes lack in harvest foods, lowers the capacity to retain basic cations, bounds active relationship with organic affair and overly immobilizes phosphates and related anions, a status which are extremely toxic to works roots ( Lo, 1990 ) . Crop production in tropical dirts are constrained by chiefly aluminum- derived dirt sourness and sterility but by and large their physical belongingss are favorable ( El-Swaify, 1990 ) . Tropic dirts have moderate to high permeableness under natural conditions, but susceptible to quenching and development of impermeable crust upon action of raindrops and as a consequence overflow additions with uninterrupted cultivation ( Lal, 1982 ) . This crusting cause undi stinguished decrease of filtration rate, increasing H2O overflow which leads to acceleration of dirt eroding ( Falayl and Lal, 1979 ) . It is of import to observe nevertheless that heavy and intense rains cause terrible eroding in the Torrid Zones ( Morgan, 1974 ; Wilkinson 1975 ; Amezquita and Forsythe, 1975 ; Lal 1976 ; Aina, Lal and Taylor, 1977 ; Bois, 1978 ; Sheng 1982 ) .2.4 Soil Erosion on Steep SlopeHarmonizing to Lal 1990, Steeplands refer to lands with a incline gradient greater than 20 % . It is of import to observe nevertheless that level rippling lands have a great potency for harvest production and agricultural development. Due to the possibility of dirt eroding and the job of mechanisation, the steep countries are considered fringy for agribusiness production ( Lal, 1990 ) . The hard topography in steepland agribusiness restricts mechanisations of operations therefore, cut downing all agricultural activities ( land readying, cultivation and harvest home ) , restricting the husbandman in graduated table and efficiency. Input signals such as fertiliser and pesticides have to be carried manually by the husbandman. As a resulted they are used barely. Perceptibly any addition in the usage of these agricultural inputs will ensue in diminution in he husbandmans net incomes from the by and large lower agricultural field ( Benvenuti, 1988 ) . For all these grounds steepland husbandmans tend to concentrate in high value harvest production of limited graduated table ( Ahmad, 1987 ; Ahmad 1990 ) . It is of import to observe nevertheless that husbandmans prefer steepslopes due to cultural manus cultivation, seting and reaping can be done in an unsloped manner ( Williams and Walter, 1988 ) . Futher more subsistence husbandmans are found on steep inclines because of mo re favorable environmental conditions such as lower temperatures, reduced diseases and higher dependability of rainfall. ( Hurni, 1988 ) . In the Torrid Zones, remotion of forest flora causes inordinate leaching and accelerated dirt alimentary loss. Being extremely weathered dirt types, their contained minerals by and large have hapless ability to retain occluded foods against leaching. Clay soils with high residualmiron contents are considered superior in opposition to runoff caused dirt eroding ; therefore, dirts emanated from basic pyrogenic stones and ruddy dirts developed from chalky stones are strongly aggregated due to the cementing belongings of Fe oxides, hence, dirt eroding is expected to be less than for most other dirts. Besides soils developed from fragmental volcanic stuffs with andic belongingss are immune to dirty eroding ( Sheng, 1986 ; Ahmad, 1987 ; Ahmad, 1990 ; Lal, 1990 ) . Soils formed from shales, schists, phyillites and sandstones are considered extremely erodible. Dirts produced from these stones are high in both sand or silt fraction, and clay minerals and Fe oxides are by and large deficient a s cementing agents for a stable-structured dirt. These parent stuffs are by and large rich in Muscovite occurring in all dirt particle-size fractions. Micah-rich dirts are weak-structured, and therefore raindrops can easy free the weak sums, while the clay fraction dispersed in H2O. The ensuing isinglass flakes settling on their level axes in the H2O movie on the dirt surface causes dirt crusting. The formation of dirt crusts further restricts H2O entry into the dirt ( Ahmad and Robin, 1971 ; Sumner, 1995 ) , ensuing to disposal of a much greater volume of overflow H2O, a status which leads to farther decomposition of dirt sums and conveyance of colloidal dirt stuff ( Ahmad, 1987 ; Ahmad 1990 ) . Soil crust restricts gaseous exchange taking to anaerobic dirt conditions, denitrification, toxic effects due to ethylene production, and mechanical electric resistance to seedling outgrowth ( Ahmad 1987 ; Ahmad, 1990 ) . Steep incline cultivation can do certain instability in the ecological system with both onsite and offsite damaging impacts ( El-Swaify, Garnier and Lo, 1987 ) . Soil, clime, land usage and farming systems affect the extent and the grade of badness of dirt eroding. However, irrespective of dirt and climatic conditions, intensively used steeplands in dumbly populated parts experience terrible dirt eroding job. Land usage influences the grade of badness of dirt eroding on steeplands. Uncontrollable graze or over graze, exensive and opprobrious cultivation, diversified cropping are responsible for terrible dirt eroding in unprotected cultivable lands ( Roose, 1988 ; Liao et Al 1988 ) . Ahmad ( 1987 ; 1990 ) reportd soil loss of about 120 t0 180 metric tons per hectare in Tobago Trinidad. In Australia, one-year dirt loss of 200 t/ha to 328 t/ha has ben reported from inclining sugar cane plantations in cardinal and north Queensland ( Sallaway, 1979 ; Mathews and Makepeace 1981 ) . There are two types of dirt eroding associated with the Caribbean part, land slipping and gullying. Land slipping is a manifestation of mass motion associated with steepland agribusiness and the badness being strongly influenced by the parent stuffs. Land glade ( illustration deforestation ) and harvest production can act upon land stealing peculiarly in the early part of the moisture season when the cleared dirt moistures faster due to impregnation of the dirt above stone. Serious disruptions, harvest loss and devastation of any mechanical anti eroding devices can ensue from this signifier of mass motions. Due to drastic alterations in hydrological conditions experienced by land of course prone already to stealing and cleared for agribusiness for the first clip land slippage would be of common experience ( Ahmad 1987 ; Ahmad 1990 ) . Gullying is another common signifier of dirt eroding that occurs on steep land bcause of the terrain involved. This is more common on flaxen dirts, volcanic dirts and vertisols, which are all porous stuffs. Soils easy attain concentrated conditions upon the rapid entry of H2O, accordingly interrupting the stuff and finally, taking to the formation of gullies. Agricultural activities enables this dirt eroding in steeplands by leting rapid dirt wetting upon the start of the moisture season. Farming activities though inappropriately oriented field boundaries, pes paths and the deficiency of proviso for disposal of surface H2O are some chief causes of gullying, even on dirts non prone to this tpe of steepland dirt eroding ( Ahmad 1987 ; Ahmad 1990 ) . Since steeplands are traditionally considered fringy for agricultural harvest production, most research on dirt eroding and dirt preservation has been done on either level land or ‘ rolled land with a maximal incline of approximately 20 % ‘ ( Lal, 1988 ) .2.5 Factors Affecting Soil ErosionThe causes of dirt eroding have been intensively discussed during the past 40 old ages. Soil eroding is a natural procedure that is enhanced by human activity ( Richter, 1998 ) and occurs in all landscapes and under different land utilizations. In add-on to human activities, dirt eroding procedures are besides caused by morphometric features of the land surface, the erosive forces of rainfall and the erodibility of dirts and dirt surfaces. When rainwater reaches the dirt surface it will either come in the dirt or run off. Runoff occurs when the rainfall strength exceeds the infiltration capacity of the dirt. Water eroding is the consequence of the scattering action of rain beads, the transporting power of H2O and besides the exposure of the dirt to scattering and motion ( Baver and Gardner, 1972 ) . The effects of dirt eroding is besides classified: definition of gullies and account of gully development is given by Morgan ( 1996 ) , every bit good as Hudson ( 1995 ) who to boot focuses on single instances of the development of gullies. Toy et Al ( 2002 ) give elaborate definitions of dirt eroding characteristics and procedures such as sheet eroding and inter-rill eroding, rill eroding, every bit good as passing and lasting gully eroding. Rill erodibility depends both straight and indirectly on dirt belongingss such as majority denseness, organic C and clay content, clay mineralogy, cations in the exchange composite, dirt pH and experimental conditions such as wet content, aging of prewetted dirt and quality of gnawing H2O ( Rapp,1998 ) . Govers ( 1990 ) found that overflow eroding resisitance of a loamy stuff was highly sensitive to fluctuation in the initial wet content and to a lesser extent to alterations in majority denseness. The procedure of H2O eroding can be separated into two constituents, rivulet and interrill eroding ( Young and Onstad, 1978 ) . Interrill eroding ( sheet eroding ) is chiefly caused by raindrop impact and removes dirt in a thin about unperceivable bed ( Foster, 1989 ) . In interril eroding the flow of H2O is by and large unconfined, except between dirt balls and screens much of the dirt surface. As the speed of flow increases the H2O incises into the dirt and rivulets signifiers ( Evans,1980 ) . Rill eroding begins when the gnawing capacity of the flow at some point exceeds the ability of the dirt atoms to resistant withdrawal by flow ( Meyer cited by Rapp, 1998 ) . Soil is detached by headcut progress from knickpoints ( De Ploey, 1989 ; Bryan, 1990 ) , rill slide shedding and hydraulic shear emphasis ( Foster cited by Rapp, 1998 ) every bit good as by slouching by underselling of side walls and scour hole formation ( Van Liew and Saxton, 1983 ) . These procedures are normally combined into a withdrawal anticipation equation as a map of mean shear emphasis ( Foster cited by Rapp, 1998 ) . When the rivulets develop in the landscape, a three to five fold addition in the dirt loss commonly occurs ( Moss, Green and Hutka 1982 and Meyer and Harmon 1984 ) .2.5.1 Vegetative FactorsThe effects of flora can be classified into three catergories: The interception of raindrops by the canopy ( D'Huyvetter, 1985 ) . Two effects are associated with this. First, portion of the intercepted H2O will vaporize from the foliages and roots and therefore cut down overflow. Second, when raindrops strike the flora, the energy of the beads is dissipated and there is no direct impact on the dirt surface. The interception per centum depends on the type of harvest, the growing phase and the figure of workss per unit country. A well distributed, near turning surface vegetive screen will decelerate down the rate at which H2O flows down the incline and will besides cut down concentration of H2O ( D'Huyvetter, 1985 ) . As a consequence, it will diminish the erosive action of running H2O. There is besides the consequence of roots and biological activity on the formation of stable aggregrates, which consequences in a stable dirt construction and increased infiltration that reduces overflow and decreases eroding ( D'Huyvetter, 1985 ) . Increased permeableness besides reduces eroding as a consequence of in increased H2O infiltration due to better drainage. Stables aggregrates in the surface soil besides counteract crusting.2.5.2 Rainfall FactorsRaindrop size, form, continuance of a storm and weave velocity interactions controls the erosive power of rainfall ( D'Huyvetter, 1985 ) . The erosivity of rainfall is expressed in footings of kinetic energy and is affected by assorted factors. Harmonizing to Wischmeier and Smith ( 1965 ) , the strength of rainfall is closely related tot vitamin E kinetic energy, harmonizing to the arrested development equation E = 1.213 + 0.890 log I Where E = the kinetic energy ( kg.m/m2.mm ) I = rainfall strength ( mm/h ) Raindrop size, distribution and form all influence the energy impulse of a rainstorm. Laws and Parson ( 1943 ) reported an addition in average bead size with addition in rain strength. The relationship between average bead size ( D50 ) and rainfall is given by: D50:2.23 I 0.182 ( inch per hr ) . The average size of rain beads increases with low and average strength autumn, but declines somewhat for high strength rainfall ( Gerrard, 1981 ) . The kinetic energy of an rainfall event is besides related to the speed of the raindrops at the clip of impact with the dirt ( D'Huyvetter, 1985 ) . The distance through which the rain bead must fall to keep terminal speed is a map of bead size. The kinetic energy of a rainstorm is related to the terminal speed harmonizing to the equation: Ek = IV2/2 Where Ek = energy of the rain storm I = Intensity V= Velocity of raindrop before impact Ellison ( 1945 ) developed an equation demoing that the relationship between the dirt detached, terminal speed, bead diameter and rainfall strength: E = KV4.33 d1.07 I0.63 Where E = comparative sum of dirt detached K = dirt invariable V = speed of raindrops ( ft/sec ) vitamin D = diameter of raindrops ( millimeter ) I = rainfall strength 2.5.2.1 Effect of rainfall strength on overflow and dirt loss Harmonizing to Morgan ( 1995 ) , soil loss is closely related to rainfall partially through the detaching power of raindrops striking the dirt surface and the part of rain to runoff. If rainfall strength is less than the infiltration capacity of the dirt, no surface overflow occurs and the infiltration rate would be the rainfall strength ( Horton, 1945 ) as sited by Morgan ( 1995 ) . If the rainfall strength exceeds the infiltration capacity, the infiltration rate peers the infiltration capacity and the extra rainfall signifiers surface overflow. Harmonizing to Morgan ( 1995 ) , when the dirt is unsaturated, the dirt matric potency is negative and H2O is held in the capillaries due to matrics suction. For this ground, under saturated conditions littorals may bring forth runoff really rapidly although their infiltration capacity is non exceeded by the rainfall strength. Intensity partly controls hydraulic conduction, increasing the rainfall strength may do conduction to lift so that although overflow may hold formed quickly at comparatively low rainfall strength, higher rainfall strengths do non ever produce greater overflow ( Morgan, 1995 ) . This mechanism explains the ground why infiltration rates sometimes increase with rainfall strengths ( Nassif and Wilson, 1975 ) .2.5.3 Soil FactorsHarmonizing to Baver et Al, ( 1972 ) , the consequence of dirt belongingss on H2O eroding can be in two ways: First, certain belongingss determine the rate at which rainfall enters the dirt. Secondly, some belongingss affect the opposition of the dirt against scattering and eroding during rainfall and overflow. The atom size distribution is an of import dirt belongings with respects to erodibility. Generally it is found that erodible dirts have a low clay content ( D'Huyvetter, 1985 ) . Soils with more than 35 % clay are frequently regarded as being cohesive and holding stable sums which are immune to scattering by raindrops ( Evans, 1980 ) . Evans besides stated that littorals and harsh loamy littorals are non easy eroded by H2O due to its high infiltration rate. In contrast dirts with a high silt or all right sand fraction are really erodible. Erodibility of dirt additions with the proportion of sums less than 0.5mm ( Bryan, 1974 ) . Factors which contribute to aggregate stableness include organic affair content, root secernments, gluey gels formed by interrupt down of organic affair, the binding of atoms by sesquioxides and the presence of a high Ca concentration on the exchange sites of the colloids alternatively of a high Na content ( D'Huyvetter, 1985 ) . The deepness of eroding is determined by the dirt profile ( Evans, 1980 ) . Harmonizing to Evans dirt skylines below the A skyline or plough bed are frequently more compact and less erodible. The texture and chemical composing of the sub surface skyline can besides hold an inauspicious consequence. Normally deep gullies can be cut if the parent stuff is unconsolidated. If immune bedrock is near the surface merely rills will develop. Soil rich in surface rocks are less susceptible to eroding ( Lamb, 1950 and Evans, 1980 ) . Rocks protect the dirt against eroding and besides increase the infiltration of the streamlined H2O into the dirt. The antecedent dirt wet and the surface raggedness are both regarded by Evans ( 1980 ) as of import dirt factors impacting eroding. The ability of a dirt to accept rainfall depends on the wet content at the clip of the rainfall event. 2.5.3.1 Factors impacting aggregative stableness Dirt construction is determined by the form and size distribution of sums. Aggregrate size and strengthe determine the physical belongingss of a dirt and its susceptibleness to breakdown due to H2O forces. Their stableness will hold a decisive consequence on dirt physical belongingss ( Lynch and Bragg, 1985 ) . The chief binding stuffs giving stable sums in air dry province are the pasting agents in organic affair ( Chaney and Swift, 1984 ; Tisdale and Oades, 1982 ) and sesquioxides ( Goldberg and Glaubic, 1987 ) . 2.5.3.1.1 Aluminium and Iron Oxides The dirt used by Kemper and Koch ( 1966 ) contained comparatively small free Fe, although it did lend to aggregrate stableness. Their informations show a crisp addition of free Fe from 1 to 3 % . Goldberg and Glaubic ( 1987 ) concluded that Al-oxides were more effectual than Fe-oxides in stabilising dirt construction. Al-oxides have a greater proportion of sub-micrometer size atoms in a sheet signifier as opposed to the spherical signifier of Fe-particles. Shainberg, Singer and Janitzky ( 1987 ) compared the consequence of aluminum and Fe oxides on the hydraulic conduction of a flaxen dirt. 2.5.3.1.2 Organic Matter Organic affair can adhere dirt atoms together into stable dirt sums. The stabilising consequence of organic affair is good documented. Little elaborate information is available on the organic affair content required to sufficiently beef up sums with ESP values greater than 5 or 7, and incorporating illite or montmorrillionite, so as to forestall their scattering in H2O ( Smith, 1990 ) . High humus content makes the dirt less susceptible to the unfavorable influence of Na ( Van den Berg, De Boer, Van der Malen, Verhoeven, Westerhof and Zuur, 1953 ) . Kemper and Koch ( 1966 ) besides found that aggregative stableness increased with an addition in the organic affair content of dirts. A maximal addition of aggregative stableness was found with up to 2 % organic affair, after which aggregative stableness increased really small with farther additions in organic affair content.2.5.3 Slope FactorsSlope features are of import in finding the sum of overflow and eroding ( D'Huyvetter, 1985 ) . As slope gradient additions, overflow and eroding normally increases ( Stern, 1990 ) . At low inclines due to the low overland flow speeds, withdrawal of dirt atoms from the dirt surface into the H2O bed is due to detachment entirely ( Stern, 1990 ) . Additionally, at low incline gradients, atoms are splashed into the air in random waies unlike the instance with steeply inclining land where down incline splash occurs ( Watson and Laflen, 1985 ) . As incline gradient additions, the ability for surface overflow to entrain and transport deposits increases quickly until the entrainment by the surface overflow becomes dominant lending to sediment conveyance ( Stern, 1990 ) . Foster, Meyer and Onstad ( 1976 ) presented a conceptual theoretical account that showed that at lower inclines, interill conveyance determined eroding, while at steeper inclines, raindrop withdrawal determined it. Th unvarying bed features of sheet flow conveyance tend to be replaced by channels because of instability and turbulent flow effects ( Moss, Green and Hutka, 1982 ) . There are many empirical relationships associating dirt conveyance by surface wash to incline length and incline gradient. Zingg ( 1940 ) showed that eroding varied harmonizing to the equation: S = X1.6 tanB1.4 Where S = dirt conveyance cm/yr Ten = incline length ( m ) B = incline gradient ( % ) Surveies conducted by Gerrard ( 1981 ) , showed that plane and convex inclines did non differ significantly in the sum of dirt lost by surface overflow, but concave inclines were less eroded. Some research workers such as Zingg ( 1940 ) and Mc Cool et Al ( 1987 ) indicated that dirt eroding additions exponentially with addition in slope gradient. The relationship is indicated after Zing ( 1940 ) by: Tocopherol = aSb where Tocopherol is the dirt eroding, S is the incline gradient ( % ) and a and B are empirical invariables. The value of B scopes from 1.35 to 2.0. The other relationship between eroding and incline gradient for inter-rill eroding is given by Mc Cool et Al ( 1987 ) E = a wickedness B Q+C Q is the incline angle in grades A, B and C are empirical invariables. However, even if the consequence of incline gradient on eroding is good recognized, several surveies indicate that the power relationship between incline gradient and dirt loss over predicts interrill eroding rate by every bit much as two or more times ( Torri, 1996 ; Fox and Bryan, 1999 ) , and the relationship is better described as linear.2.8 Soil Erosion Impacts2.8.1 Soil Physical Properties Progressive dirt eroding increases the magnitude of dirt related restraints for harvest production. These restraints can be physical, chemical and biological. The of import physical restraints caused by eroding are reduced rooting deepness, loss of dirt H2O hive awaying capacity ( Schertz et al 1984 ; Sertsu, 2000 ) , crusting and dirt compression and hardening of plinthite ( Lal, 1988 ) . Erosion besides consequences in the loss of clay colloids due to discriminatory remotion of all right atoms from the dirt surface ( Fullen and Brandsma, 1995 ) . The loss of clay influences soil tilth and consistence. Exposed undersoil is frequently of monolithic construction and harder consistence than the aggregative surface dirt ( Lal, 1988 ) . Development of rivulets and gullies may alter the micro-relief that may do usage of farming machinery hard. Another consequence of eroding is that the manangement and timing of farm operations. 2.8.2 Soil Chemical Properties Soil eroding reduces the birthrate position of dirts ( Morgan, 1986 ; Williams et al. , 1990 ) . Soil chemical restraints and nutritionary jobs related to dirty eroding include low CEC, low works foods ( NPK ) and trace elements ( Lal, 1988 ; Fullen and Brandsma, 1995 ) . Massy et Al ( 1953 ) reported an mean loss of 192 kilograms of organic affair, 10.6 kilogram of N and 1.8kg per hour angle on a Winsconsin dirts with 11 % incline. Sharpley and Smith ( 1990 ) reported that the average one-year loss of entire P in overflow from P fertilized water partings is tantamount to an norm of 15 % , 12 % and 32 % of the one-year fertiliser P applied to wheat, assorted harvest grass and peanut – sorghum rotary motion patterns severally. Researchers ( Massy et al 1953 ; Lal, 1975 ) have besides reported extended loss of N in scoured deposits. 2.8.3 Productiveness Quantifying the effects on harvest outputs is a hard undertaking. It involves the rating of interactions between dirt belongingss, harvest features and clime. The effects are besides cumulative and non observed until long after accelerated eroding begins. The grade of dirt eroding ‘s effects on harvest output depends on dirt profile features and direction systems. It is hard to set up a direct relationship between rates of dirt eroding and eroding induced dirt debasement on the one manus and harvest output on the other ( Lal, 1988 ) . It is good known that dirt eroding can cut down harvest outputs through loss of foods, structural debasement and cut down of deepness and H2O keeping capacity ( Timilin et al, 1986 ; Lal,1988 ) . Loss of production in scoured dirt further degrades its productiveness which in bend accelerates soil eroding. The cumulative consequence observed over a long period of clip may take to irreversible loss of productiveness in shoal dirts with hard-boiled plinthite or in dirts that respond to expensive direction and extra inputs ( Lal,1988 ) . 2.8.4 Off Site Effects of Soil Erosion. Effectss of eroding include siltation of rivers, harvest failure at low lying countries due to deluging, pollution of waterbodies due to the assorted chemicals brought by the overflow from different countries. Several surveies reported the significance of the off site effects of dirt eroding on land debasement ( eg. Wall and ven Den,1987 ; Lo, 1990 ; Robertson and Colletti, 1994 ; Petkovic et Al, 1999 ) Rainwater washes off stuffs that originate from fertilisers and assorted biocides ( antifungals, insect powders, weedkillers and pesticides ) which are applied in big concentrations. They reappear in greatr measures in the hydrosphere polluting and polluting the H2O environment ( Zachar,1982 ; Withers, and Lord, 2002 ; Verstraeten and Poesen, 2002 ) . Chemical pollution of H2O chiefly by organic affair from farm Fieldss causes rapid eutrophication in waterways ( Zachar, 1982 ; Zakova et Al, 1993 ; Lijklema, 1995 ) .2.8.5 Soil Erosion ModelsModeling dirt eroding is the procedure of mathematically depicting dirt atom withdrawal, conveyance and deposition on land surfaces ( Approaching et al, 1994 ) . Erosion theoretical accounts are used as prognostic tools for measuring dirt loss and undertaking planning. They can besides be used for understanding eroding procedures and their impacts ( Approaching et al 1994 ) . There are three chief types of theoretical accounts, empirical or statist ical theoretical accounts, conceptual theoretical accounts and physically based theoretical accounts ( Morgan 1995, Approaching et Al 1994, Merritt et al 2003 ) . It is of import to observe nevertheless that there is no crisp difference among them. 2.8.5.1 Physically Based Models These theoretical accounts are based on work outing cardinal physical equations depicting watercourse flow and deposit and associated alimentary coevalss in a specific catchment ( Merritt et al. , 2003 ) . They are developed to foretell the spacial distribution of overflow and deposit over land surfaces during single storms in add-on to number overflow and dirt loss ( Morgan, 1995 ) . Physically based theoretical accounts are besides called procedure based theoretical accounts ( Morgan, 1995 ) as they rely on empirical equations to find eroding procedures. These theoretical accounts use a peculiar differential equation known as the continuity equation which is a statement of preservation of affair as it moves through infinite over clip. The common physically based theoretical accounts used in H2O quality surveies and eroding include: The Areal Non-Point Source Watershed Environment Response Simulation ( ANSWERS ) ( Beasley et al. , 1980 ) , Chemical Runoff and Erosion from Agricultur al Management Systems ( CREAMS ) ( Knisel, 1980 ) , Griffith University Erosion System Template ( GUEST ) ( Misra and Rose, 1996 ) , European Soil Erosion Model ( EUROSEM ) ( Morgan, 1998 ) , Productivity, Erosion and Runoff, Functions to Evaluate Conservation Techniques ( PERFECT ) ( Littleboy et al. , 1992 ) and Water Erosion Prediction Project ( WEPP ) ( Laflen et al. , 1991 ) . 2.8.5.2 Empirical Models These theoretical accounts are based chiefly on observations and are normally statistical in nature. They are based on inductive logic, and by and large are applicable merely to those conditions for which the parametric quantities have been calibrated ( Approaching et al. , 1994, Merritt et al. , 2003 ) . The chief focal point of these theoretical accounts have been in foretelling mean dirt loss although some extensions to sediment output have been developed ( Williams, 1975 as quoted by Approaching et al.,1994 ) . Empirical theoretical accounts are by and large based on the premise that the implicit in conditions remain unchanged for the continuance of the survey period. They are non event responsive and disregard the procedure of rainfall – overflow in the countries being modeled. Empirical theoretical accounts are often used in penchant to the more complex theoretical accounts and are peculiarly utile as first measure in placing beginnings of deposit and alimentary coevalss ( Merritt et al.,2003 ) . Among the normally used theoretical accounts are: The Universal Soil Loss Equation ( USLE ) ( Wischmeier and Smith, 1978 ) , Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation ( RUSLE ) ( Renard et al. , 1994 ) and the Soil Loss Estimation Model for Southern Africa ( SLEMSA ) ( Etwell, 1978 ) . 2.8.5.3 Conceptual Models These theoretical accounts are based on on spatially lumped signifiers of H2O and sediment continuity equations ( Lane et al. , 1988 in Approaching et al. , 1994 ) . They intend to include a general description of catchment procedures, without including the particular inside informations of procedure interactions which would necessitate elaborate catchment information ( Merritt et al. , 2003 ) . These theoretical accounts can supply an indicant of the qualitative and quantitative effects of land usage alterations, without necessitating big sums of spatially and temporally distributed information. The chief characteristic that distinguishes these conceptual theoretical accounts from empirical theoretical accounts is that the conceptual theoretical account, whilst they tend to be aggregated, they still reflect the hypothesis about the procedures regulating the system behavior ( Merritt et al.,2003 ) . The Agricultural Non-Point Source Model ( AGNPS ) ( Young et al. , 1989 ) , Agricultu ral Catchment Research Unit ( ACRU ) ( Schulze, 1995 ) , Hydrologic Simulation Program Fortran ( HSPF ) ( Walton and Hunter, 1996 ) , and Simuator for Water Resources in Rural Basins ( SWRRB ) ( Arnold et al. , 1990 ) are among the theoretical accounts ( Merritt et al. , 2003 ) used in eroding and H2O quality surveies.2.7 Soil Erosion in the CaribbeanSoil Erosion in the Caribbean in chiefly affected by two types of factors, climatic factors and topographic factors. It can be seen that the dirts of the islands of the West indies should be capable to a great trade of eroding by H2O. The sum of dirt eroding happening in the Caribbean has non been quantitively determined. The badness of the eroding depends on topography, rainfall, natural flora, erodibility of the dirts, land usage and dirt direction. Harmonizing to Breckner 1971, topographic effects are every bit utmost as the climatic effects. Several Caribbean islands are characterized by steep inclines with a high per centum ( 58 % ) of the land country holding inclines greater than 30 grades. Many inclines are greater than 45 grades and agriculture is practiced on these inclines ( Gumbs 1997 ) .2.7.1 TrinidadErosion surveies on a scope of dirt types in many tropical states have shown that dirt losingss can be extended ( Suarez De Castro 1951, 1952 ; Smith and Abruna 1985 ; Sheng and Michaelsen 1973 ; Lal 1976 ) . The earliest comprehensive study on dirt eroding in Trinidad was done by Hardy ( 1942 ) . He reported considerable gulling and sheet eroding in the foothills of the northern scope peculiarly in the western portion where intensive cultivation is carried out. Burning to unclutter the land for moisture season and landslides are common in some topographic points where the dirt is within six inches of parent stone. Beside s harmonizing to Hardy sheet eroding is an of import in the Caroni field. He suggested that the dirt on the sides of the extremely cambered beds of the sugar cane countries is straight exposed to the rains and is therefore merely as prone to eroding as open dirt on steep hills of the northern scope. In Las Lomas the sandy dirts are described as being really erodible. Since much of the land is a forest modesty, eroding is non a terrible job. In the cardinal scope land weirdo is a major job and the sothern inclines show many land slip cicatrixs. Chenery ( 1952 ) mentioned that Brasso clay, the most broad spread dirt of the cardinal scope is really scoured due to drawn-out cultivation. Both Hardy and Chenery commented on the terrible eroding of the marl soild and the associated ruddy dirts of the Naparima territory in southern Trinidad, with caps of open white marl being a common characteristic of the hills of the part. Alleyne and Percy ( 1966 ) measured the dirt loss from the major dirt type ( Maracas clay loam – orhoxic tropudult ) in the northern scope under Ananas comosus ( Ananas comosus ) with 50 % of the country terraced and pangola grass ( Digitaria decumbens ) . Under both types of flora the overflow was less than 10 % of rainfall and the dirt losingss were both really little ( & lt ; 0.4 and 0.05 metric tons per hectare during the moisture season ) . Lindsay and Gumbs ( 1982 ) have shown that this dirt type is merely somewhat erosible but the big sums of dirt can be lost from the bare dirt ( Gumbs and Lindsay 1982 ) . Report on losingss of N by eroding either in overflow or eroded deposits are limited. Neal ( 1944 ) considered that the bulk of nitrogen loss by eroding occurs in the organic fraction of the dirt as H2O easy loosens and floats off organic affair. Lal ( 1976 ) found there was a inclination for greater losingss of inorganic N in the erosed deposits than in the overflow H2O.2.7.2 Tobago:Information on the eroding state of affairs in Tobago are Brown et Al ( 1965 ) , Hardy ( 1942 ) and Breckner ( 1971 ) . All the cragged countries of Tobago is extremely prone to eroding with dirts formed from such extremely erosive parent stuffs as diorite and schists ruling. Volacanic tufas and breccias make up the 3rd major type of prent stone. In the South of the island eroding becomes a more serious job. Hardy has described heavy eroding in the Castara – Parlat country on the leeward side of the island. On the winward side of the island, big spots of land on the volcanic dirts are still being cleared, chiefly by firing and seting with cultivable harvests such as maize, land commissariats and tomatoes. The worst scoured country is in Mason Hall. – Les Coteaux territory. The flaxen clay loam dirts of this country formed from dioritein really irregular, steeply inclining topography look to be extremely erodible. This is due to the chief country sing provincial farming which involves intensive cultivation. It is of import to observe nevertheless that brown et al estimated that between 1956 and 1965 1500 estates of land have been treated by dirt preservation steps under the subsidies strategy. The authour saw no grounds of treated land. It was observed that dirt preservation steps were practicised. Limited dirt preservation is practiced chiefly in the signifier of intercropping and on occasion trash mulching ( Gumbs 1997 ) .2.7.3 Antigua:The low rainfall and degree topography of much of both Antigua and Barbuda has meant that non as much eroding has occurred as in some other parts of the West Indies ( Hill 1964 ; Vernon and Lang 1964 ) . However much accelerated eroding has occurred in the cragged countries of Antigua. Cotton was grown extensively and requires a long fallow period under hapless hapless direction. Monoculture of sugar cane in the yesteryear has besides added to the loss of much dirt in hilly countries. Harsh and Torrential rains occur frequently after long periods of drouths when vegetive screen is thin. This has contributed to the eroding job. In the hills of the cardinal part, Indian Creek loam and Liberta clay loam are both described as being really eroded with parent stuff being exposed in some topographic points. In the south West mountains, frys clay loam and springhill loam, small dirt is left at all on the steeper slopes.2.7.4 Barbados:Harmonizing to Veron and Carroll ( 1966 ) about 25 % of Barbados occurs occupies comparatively level coral dirts on which eroding is non considered to be terrible. They suggested that eroding control measures, possibly necessary on the dirts of highland tableland of St. toilet ‘s Valley. In the hilly Scotland District eroding is really terrible. Cumberbatch ( 1985 ) reported that it was estimated that 70 % of the country was threatened by eroding and that 11 % of it had reached a really terrible province of debasement. L andslides and gullying are common.2.7.5 Dominica:The dirts of Dominica are extremely permeable except dirts formed on pyrogenic stones, the shoal dirts and other dirts become less permeable during pedologic development. As a consequence non as much eroding occurs. Dominica is charaterised by steep inclines where 86 % of the land country has inclines greater than 20 grades and merely 2 % has slopes between 0 to 5 grades. Slopes of over 60 % with natural flora and cultivated inclines over 50 grades are reported by Lang ( 1967 ) , bespeaking that the dirt is of unusual stableness. It is of import to observe nevertheless that eroding is limited because much of the land is still under forest. On the Leeward side of the island, most of the shoal dirts and other dirts of low permeableness occur. Poor dirt and harvest direction has been the major subscriber to the dirt eroding job. The slow regeneration of dirt suitable for cropping in he dry countries ( as in St. Lucia besides ) increases he strength of dirt eroding. Harmonizing to the environment profile of Dominica prepared under the advice of the Caribbean Conservation Association in 1991, Dominica has great potency for agricultural development without damaging or remotion of the forest lands. Forestry and forestry development are of import. Timber extraction is undertaken but harmonizing to Russell ( 1974 ) it amendss merely a comparatively little country and the eroding caused is non important.2.7.6 Grenada and Carriacou:Harmonizing to Vernon et Al ( 1958 ) , although some terrible eroding can be seen in the hills where switching cultivation, atomization of land, hapless land distribution and hapless cultivation patterns exist, Grenada has suffered less from eroding and birthrate exhaustion than many of the Caribbean islands. There are two chief grounds for this ; The island ‘s agribusiness is chiefly on tree harvests, chocolate ( Theobroma chocolate tree ) and nut million ( Myristica fragrans ) , banana an nutrient harvests are often interplante with chocolate ; and major wood fires are non prevailing. The dirt parent stuff is really basal rich an the dirt has been farther enriched by add-ons of volcanic ash from eruptions in about islands in recent times. Even if some surface dirt is lost, the underlying open stuff is about as fertile and promotes raid vegetive growing. Caribbean has suffered really terrible eroding over about the whole island and in many instances merely the parent stone remains.This has been as a consequence of the erodible nature of the dirt, unsustainable cultivation methods an overgrazing. The dirts of cariacou are skeletal dirts over ash and agglomerate dirts formed from other pyrogenic stones and those formed from limestone. They are all susceptible to eroding and deep gullies.2.7.7 Monsteratt:Lang ( 1976 ) describes the whole island as enduring from terrible dirt eroding and the greater part holding lost its top dirt. Unlike the dirts of Dominica, they are by and large unstable and many dirts are extremely erodible if cultivated on inclines greater than ten grades.2.7.8 St. Vincent:Harmonizing to Watson et Al ( 1958 ) dirt and land usage study of St. Vincent, he mentioned that because of certain types of harvests grown, dirt eroding is a serious job. The three harvests which contribute to much of the eroding are cotton ( Gos sypium sp. ) , arrowroot ( Maranta arundinacea ) and land nuts ( Arachis hypogaea ) . Cultivation of these harvests disturb the dirt and go forth the dirt bare for long periods. Erosion can be seen in all but the flattest countries. It is of import to observe nevertheless that the husbandmans of St. Vincent are witting of the eroding job and dirt preservation methods are of high criterions.2.7.9 St Lucia:Soil eroding is a major job in St. Lucia. Many of the dirts inside are susceptible to heavy rains and dirt can be seen being washed off by even the smallest rills ( Stark et al 1966 ) . In countries of allophonic clay dirts, slouching is a job and gullying besides is common throughout the island. Common patterns such as clean cultivation of really steep land and of uncluttering steeply inclining forested land which would be left under its original flora have accentuated the state of affairs. Probably the most terrible affecs of eroding are on the so called â€Å" shoal dirts † which contain a bed of indurated stuff in the substrate.2.7.9.1 St. Kitts and Nevis:Information on dirt eroding on these two islands is taken from the dirt study study by Lang and Carrol ( 1967 ) Erosion in the cragged countries of the islands has much been reduced by conserving the country in wood. Where the wood has been cleared and planted to proviso harvests, some accelerated eroding is seen. The undersoil of most of the island ‘s dirts is free run outing and contour cultivation is common the worst effects of eroding are normally avoided. On the island of Nevis in contrast, much eroding can be seen. In much of the chief agribusiness countries the surface dirt has been lost wholly.2.7.9.2 Jamaica:The dirt study studies of Jamaica ( Barker, 1963 and 1970 ; Finch 1959 and 1961 ; Morgan and Baker, 1963 ; Price 1959a and 1959b ; Stark 1963, 1964a and 1964b ; Vernon, 1959 and 1960 ) indicate that dirt eroding is rampant in many parts and on many dirts of the island. One of the major factors is population force per unit area which consequences in increasing frequence and strength of land usage or the usage of land beyond its capableness. The parishes of Westmorland, Portland, Hanover, Clarendon and St. Elizabeth are particularly noted as enduring from terrible accelerated eroding. Soils where eroding is a serious job are limestone dirts, shale deriveds and the dirts formed on grano-diorite. Besides the shale dirt dirts are noted for their superficiality, hapless infiltration and permeableness, factors which contribute to serious

Material religion

Connection with the material world is inevitable for a person with all senses in tact.   Upon rising at 5:30am, one can watch the sun rise over the land, eat breakfast, listen the news, shower, and dress, put on jewelry, and maybe even find a few minutes to establish a connection with the Divine.   One great dialogue among contemporary social scientists today, is determining the place religion occupies in the material world: i.e., how does it influence the culture of a people?   Within the body of this paper, we will explore the influence of Buddhism on Chinese Culture, Christianity on American culture, and the role of the physical senses in one’s experience of the divine. For many years, spirituality and the material world were seen as two different spheres†¦one is governed by the tides of commerce while the other is inhabited by mysterious supernatural beings.   In the twentieth century, the rise of the natural sciences and Communism pushed religion into the background, however with the terrorist attacks of 9/11, conservative governments in many Western countries, and movies like The Passion of the Christ, the question of religion’s place in society had once again come to the foreground. Since the enlightenment period, sensory data was used to dispute claims of the existence of a super-natural world beyond this one.   Because one cannot hear, see, smell, or feel God, the angels, ghosts, or draw tears of blood from a statue through any normal means, many, especially in the academic community, dismissed these possibilities.   Is religion not extrasensory by its very nature, requiring the faculties of human intuition and faith?   Some might say that these human sensory deprivation entities have more spiritual advantages because they are not tempted by the physical world.   However, Clark argues that religion cannot exist without the input of the same senses used to disprove it. Calling upon the readers to imagine living without the imagery, musical, and gustatory rituals surrounding many religious ceremonies, she says that such a spirituality would never come into being, â€Å"Close your eyes and imagine a life without mediation.   You are blind, deaf, dumb, and unable to touch or smell anything in your environment.   The majority of us would find it difficult to cope with the loss of even just one of these senses.   Now pause and consider a religious life without mediation.   Even the least overtly sacramental faiths depend on visual, oral, and material culture in everyday life†(Clark, 123-4). Apparently, it is her argument that the religious and the material work together in a symbiotic relationship to form a coherent vision of reality for adherents.   Paintings of saints, prophets, angels, the crafting of temples and cathedrals, and symbols such as the Cross, Star of David, and swastika (in Buddhism) help to forge a material link to the spiritual realm. When Buddhism was first introduced to China, many of its symbols were adopted into the mainstream of Chinese culture.   For example, elaborate circular paintings called mandalas, had become objects of meditation, as did swastikas.   Many important figures such as Kuan Yin were venerated as bodhisattvas, enlightened beings that returned to the world repeatedly to help liberate all other beings from the wheel of death and birth before claiming this liberation for themselves.   These Bodhisattvas were extremely popular in China before the rise of Communism. The robes monks and nuns used to adorn themselves were immediately indicative of the Buddhist order, and the laity would support them, and visit the monastery for instruction in meditation,  Ã‚   â€Å"Images and relics allowed the ordinary person to experience Buddhism in a manner that was at once powerful and intimate, without the immediate intervention of learned intermediaries explaining what should be felt, what should be understood.   Sacred objects, perhaps more than any of the other types of Buddhist objects, rendered the religion tangible and proximate for any who wished it, from the most erudite of monks to the illiterate devotee†(Kieschnick, 24). Today, Asian philosophical systems such as yoga and Zen are marketed to American consumers through fitness classes, clothes (containing Sanskrit script such as the OM symbol), and books promising to help the reader with relationship dilemmas and career moves.   Today, more Westerners are embracing Eastern philosophy because of its dissemination through the popular culture of the Internet and the bookstore scene. Even in Christianity, a religion that traditionally eschews the trappings of materialism to embrace a life of simple service, iconographic images aids the faithful not only in making their religion more practical, but helping to connect strangers that share the same beliefs, â€Å"Religious objects function within complicated networks of beliefs, values, myths, and social structures. Clerical elites articulate the proper use of objects based on their understanding of scripture and religious traditions.   People relate to objects as if they were sacred characters, in spite of warnings against idolatry.   Religious artifacts may also function like tools they help Christians to acknowledge common commitments, delineate differences, express affection, or socialize children†(McDannell, 57). In the modern age, many people buy jewelry, t-shirts, and bumper stickers to share their beliefs with the world.   For example, since the 1980s, Christian Rock had gathered quite a following, and there are many radio stations in the area dedicated to playing Christian music.   To many children and young adults, attending religious institutions is a boring way to spend a Sunday (Friday, or Saturday) afternoon.   With the introduction of religion into pop-culture, people are viewing spirituality as a more socially desirable phenomenon. Works Cited Clark, Lynn. Religion, Media, and the Marketplace. NJ: Rutgers UP, 2007 Kieschnick, John The Impact of Buddhism on Chinese Material Culture. NJ: Princeton UP, 2003 McDannell, Colleen. Material Christianity: Religion and Popular Culture in America. CT: Yale