Discuss the causes of desertification Essay Example for Free

Discuss the causes of desertification Essay Desertification, term applied to land degradation in dry lands resulting mainly from adverse human impact. Land in these terms includes soil and local water resources, the land surface and vegetation or crops, while degradation implies a reduction of resource potential. Desertification has subsequently been recognized as one of a series of processes that affect dry lands all over the world. These processes include water erosion and wind erosion, as well as sedimentation by those agents, long-term reduction in the amount or diversity of natural vegetation, and salinization and sodication. Desertification was arguably the first environmental issue to be recognized as taking place on a global scale, a recognition that was formalized at the United Nations (UN) Conference on Desertification, held in Nairobi in 1977. CAUSES OVER GRAZING So-called overgrazing is a result of too much livestock being kept on a given area of pasture resulting in the loss of edible species and the consequent encouragement of inedible species. If excessive grazing pressure continues, the loss of vegetation cover can result in soil erosion. OVER CULTIVATION Other commonly quoted ways in which human mismanagement causes desertification include over cultivation, in which soil is exhausted by nutrient loss and erosion, the excessive clearance of vegetation, often for fuel wood, and poor management of irrigation schemes which results in salinization of soils. Over cultivation occurs due to the shortening of periods when the land is left free from cultivation (fallow), or from the use of mechanical techniques, which cause widespread loss of soil. A classic case of over cultivation leading to large-scale wind erosion of soils occurred in the infamous Dust Bowl of the Great Plains of the United States in the 1930s. DEFORESTATION Forest and woodland is cleared for a variety of motives, to create agricultural and pasture land for example, but the most serious cause of desertification in this respect is the so-called fuel wood crisis which is characteristic of many dry lands in the developing world. The collection of fuel wood from urban hinterlands in the Sahel, the most severely affected region, has resulted in the almost total loss of trees around major cities. Examples include Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and Dakar (Senegal), while the radius of the treeless zone around Khartoum in Sudan is 90 km (56 mi). SALINIZATION Salinization is one of the clearest examples of human-induced desertification, affecting about one-fifth of all irrigated cropland in Australia and the United States, and one-third in countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, and Syria. The proportion is one-half in Iraq. Excessive concentrations of salts in irrigated soils adversely affect crop yields and can ultimately kill plants. SAHEL Sahel a region in western Africa, forming a transition zone between the arid Sahara on the north and the wetter tropical areas to the south. The Sahel runs from Senegal in the west to Sudan in the east. A relatively sparse savannah vegetation of grasses and shrubs predominates. Rainfall averages between 102 and 203 mm (4 and 8 in) a year and falls mostly from June to September; periods of low rainfall and drought are common, however. An extended drought in the Sahel, lasting from the late 1960s until the early 1980s, the worst in 150 years, suggested an increasingly arid regional climate and increased desertification, bringing the Sahara further south. EFFECTS Desertification reduces the ability of land to support life, affecting wild species, domestic animals, agricultural crops and people. The reduction in plant cover that accompanies desertification leads to accelerated soil erosion by wind and water. South Africa losing approximately 300-400 million tonnes of topsoil every year. As vegetation cover and soil layer are reduced, rain drop impact and run-off increases. Water is lost off the land instead of soaking into the soil to provide moisture for plants. Even long-lived plants that would normally survive droughts die. A reduction in plant cover also results in a reduction in the quantity of humus and plant nutrients in the soil, and plant production drops further. As protective plant cover disappears, floods become more frequent and more severe. Desertification is self-reinforcing, i. e. once the process has started, conditions are set for continual deterioration. STEPS TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION Many organizations have been formed to try and combat desertification. One project is the Eden Project, by the Eden Foundation. The Eden Foundation has a field station loca ted in Niger (North Western Africa), which is researching different ways of revegetating land. Two ways The Eden Foundation has found of revegetating land are direct seeding and natural revegetation. Desertification is becoming a problem that is drawing a lot of attention. One of the larger responses to it seems to be the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), which has been joined by many countries. Although it is extremely lengthy in description, it is very vague and general.

Censorship Of The Internet And The Tyranny Of Our Government :: essays research papers fc

Censorship of the Internet and the Tyranny of Our Government "To curtail free expression strikes twice at intellectual freedom, for whoever deprives another of the right to state unpopular views also deprives others of the right to listen to those views," said Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr(Censorship and the U.S. Government 1). I completely agree with Mr. Holmes, and when the question of censoring the Internet arises, I cringe. Governing the Internet dominates many debates, censorship leading the fight. The Internet is the largest and most accessible form of mass media available today. It allows anyone with a few simple tools to consume, and produce, information and ideas to hundreds of people at a practically non-existent cost. Numerous factors indicate censorship of this force is not possible, and not the government's place. It should be left up to the users to decide what is broadcast. Most importantly, censorship of the Internet impairs the expression of ideas and infringes against the First Amendment of the Constitution. First of all, censoring the Internet as a whole is not possible, so why even try? Cyberspace is the most decentralized form of communication today making policing the Internet a virtually futile task. Unlike television or radio, the Internet consists of thousands of individual computers and networks, with thousands of speakers, information providers and information users, and no centralized distribution point (ACLU vs. Reno Brief 1). No guards watch to see who goes where and if that place is appropriate. The Internet has grown to be a global network. Just because one country deems something inappropriate does not mean that another will comply with the decision and follow the ruling. If posting pictures of bestiality was banned in China, for example, someone in Switzerland could post those pictures and the Chinese would have access to every single bit of data. Another example, this being completely factual, occurred in Ontario concerning the Karla Homolka/Paul Bernado trial. The courts decided that in order not to influence the jurors outside of the courtroom that a gag order would be put on media coverage of the trial. Conventional media complied, but an Internet site appeared. This was in turn shut down by the police, but still another appeared (Censorship and the Internet 1). There exists today no way of effectively tracking and determining from where a bulletin was posted, especially with the automatic dialing and encryption technology available. Thus even trying to censor the Internet as a whole would be only an exercise in futility. Although pornography and potentially destructive material exist on the Internet, not all potentially offensive material shows violent sex acts with

Revenge and Delay in Hamlet Essay

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare is one of his most influential tragedies telling the story of treachery, revenge and moral corruption. The play is about Prince Hamlet who seeks to exact revenge on his uncle Claudius for murdering his King Hamlet, Claudius’s brother. Hamlet’s father then succeeds the throne and takes as his wife Gertrude, the old King’s Widow and Prince Hamlet’s father. â€Å"As doth well appear unit our state, But to recover of us by strong†¦ †(1. 1. 01-102) These word by Horatio, Prince Hamlet’s close friend reveals to the reader one of the crucial themes in this play, the need for revenge, not just by Hamlet but by Fortinbras, the Prince of Norway and Claudius through Laertes. Their emotions, thoughts and action are fueled by their craving for vengeance and as the three revenge plots intertwine, it is revealed that the nature of revenge is not simple but complicated as the reader seeâ₠¬â„¢s Hamlet’s inner struggle to take action, and his inability to make decisions. see more:conflict in hamlet The indecision, hesitation and delay are what make the plot stand out from other revenge stories. The main plot in the play is that of Hamlet who is visited by the Ghost of his father telling him to avenge his death. Hamlet’s response was â€Å"Hast me to know’t, that I, with wings as swift, As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge† (1. 5. 29-31)Sets the plot for revenge but later he is seen having his doubts as expressed in the line â€Å"Fie upon’t, foh! About, my brains! † (2. 2. 574). After Hamlet establishes Claudius’ guilt, by staging the murder of Gonzago he gets the opportunity to kill the unattended Claudius in his chamber but allows this opportunity pass after soliloquizing the matter and saying that killing Claudius will not be revenge as he will go to heaven. Throughout the play he is reflective and pensive and delays the moment as long as he possibly can. He is later exiled when he accidentally kills Polonius. After another visit by his father’s ghost he makes up his mind. He returns to Denmark and in a fencing match that ensues, he manages to kill both Laertes and Claudius even though he dies from the wound he received from the Poisoned tip of Laertes sword. Claudius on the other hand, uses Laertes as tool to carry out his plan to kill Hamlet. Laertes is blinded by the need of vengeance such he would do whatever it takes to accomplish this without any hesitation whatsoever. Claudius takes advantage of this situation and it’s quite evident in the following lines: â€Å"Laertes, was your father dear to you? Are you like the painting of a sorrow† (4. 7. 05-107) and â€Å"To show your father’s son in deedmore than in words? † (4. 7. 123-124) Laertes replies: â€Å"To cut throat i’the church. † (4. 7. 125)Claudius cultivates this thirst and his ability to act rashly which drives him in a fencing match with Hamlet. This turns into a bloody ending and ultimately leads to Hamlet and Claudius’ death. Fortinbras, the prince of Norway wants to avenge the death of his father by creating so large an army that would over the Danish army. He is a strong-willed leader described as â€Å"Hot and full† (1. 1. 96), with a tendency to act rashly as opposed to Hamlet’s continual hesitation delay. While Hamlet is contemplating on the issues of life, death and morality of revenge, Fortinbras is out to conquer lands. However, he also listens to his friend Horatio who advices him to wait before he attacks Denmark. This allows him in the end to achieve his vengeance without doing much. Hamlet himself considers Fortinbras a model of greatness, as he passed him with his army he remarks, â€Å"To be great, is not to stir without great argument but to find quarrel in a straw, When honor’s at the stake. † (4. 4. 52-55) Fortinbras is not bothered too much with thoughts and is quick to take action to preserve his family’s honor. In conclusion it can be said that the main reason Hamlet fails on his mission of vengeance is due to his hesitation partly brought by his own cowardice and partly due to his inner conflict with the moral outlook of it all. Laertes fails because he is too quick to move into action without careful consideration of the situation at hand. Fortinbras on the other hand, succeeds because even though he was quick to take action, he listens to his uncle’s advice. In the end, this teaches the reader the importance of thinking clearly, coherently and sticking to our principles prior to taking any actions.

Career Analysis My Career Essay - 1804 Words

CAREER ANALYSIS My career aspirations are to become a tax attorney or tax lawyer. I have wanted to be a lawyer ever since second grade when we did a mock trial in the classroom. It was only recently that I narrowed down my concentration to a specialized field in taxation. As a tax attorney, my job will include handling â€Å"a variety of tax-related issues for individuals and corporations† (Lawyers: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2015). My job will also include â€Å"[helping] clients navigate complex tax regulations, so that they pay the appropriate tax on items such as income, profits, or property† (Lawyers: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2015). An example for what I may do for a corporation is advise them â€Å"on how much tax† they need â€Å"to pay from profits made in different states to comply with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules,† and also comply with state and local rules (Lawyers: Occupational Outlook Handbook 2015). COMPANY ANALYSIS The company I have chosen to analyze is Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher Flom LLP, one of the most prestigious law firms in the United States that grosses over one billion dollars a year. Skadden, Arps, Meagher Flom (Skadden) is a Multinational Corporation located in 5 of the 7 continents. For over 60 years, â€Å"Skadden has provided legal services to the corporate, industrial, financial and governmental communities around the world in a wide range of high-profile transactions, regulatory matters, and litigation and controversy issues.† Skadden’sShow MoreRelatedEssay on Miles Franklins My Brilliant Career1284 Words   |  6 PagesMiles Franklins My Brilliant Career Topic: Give a detailed analysis of a key scene or passage from My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin. The focus and essence of My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin is centred on the relationships and interactions of Sybylla Melvyn (the key character of the novel), towards other characters. 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