Hydropower’s Unintended Consequences Essay -- Renewable Energy Environ

Hydropower’s Unintended Consequences As more emphasis is being brought to renewable energy, hydroelectric power is often seen as a viable and clean alternative energy source. Hydro electric has been a longstanding source of power for this and many other countries. In the 1940s dams were supplying 40% of our nation’s electricity, and now they only generate about 10% (science bulletins). Hydro power can be a clean alternative to fossil fuels; however it should not be considered an environmentally friendly alternative of energy production. Dams built for hydroelectric production have had staggering effects on the ecosystems of which they invade, both aquatic and terrestrial, and have rippling effects linked to ecosystems far outside the site of the dam itself. Dams can have adverse effects on water quality, fish species, migration of aquatic animals, and can create biological isolation by cutting off access of species from one side of the dam to the other. Dam building took off in the United States after World War Two. This can be seen in the official slogan of the Bureau of Land Reclamation: â€Å"Our Rivers: Total Use for Greater Wealth† (science bulletins). Since then, the ambitious dam building is fully noticeable. â€Å"At least 68,000 large dams, and up to 2 million small dams, block virtually every American waterway† (science bulletins). The most highly hydroelectrically developed river in the country being the Colorado River (Lang). A river that drains over 259,000 square miles and flows through seven states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah) as well as one Canadian province, is dammed by over 400 dams (Lang). These dams create endless barrages for aquatic water life in what... ...worth the environmental toll it takes, and if it is worth the decimation of any particular species. Bibliography Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). Edwards Dam and Kennebec Restoration. Accessed March 29 from: http://www.nrcm.org/issue_edwardsdam.asp Lang, Bill. Columbia River. Accessed march 28 from: http://www.ccrh.org/river/history.htm Banks, John. Penobscot River project gets two boosts. Portland Press Herald, Thursday, February 1, 2007. Accessed march 28 from: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/viewpoints/editorials/070201penob.html Science Bulletins. Kennebec Dam Removal. Accessed march 28 from: http://sciencebulletins.amnh.org/biobulletin/biobulletin/story1206.html Penobscot River Restoration Trust. Penobscot River Watershed History. Accessed April 1 from: http://www.penobscotriver.org/content/4004/The_River/

Contemporary Issues in Information Systems Management

Assignment 1 Due Date: 05 February 20141. Analyze the relationships among ethical, social, and political issues that are raised by information systems. [10] 2. (a) Identify the main moral dimensions of an information society and specific principles for conduct that can be used to guide ethical decisions. [10] (b) Evaluate the impact of contemporary information systems and the Internet on the protection of individual privacy and intellectual property. [15] 3. Present three major arguments of those who believe that IT will not result in massive unemployment.[15]Assignment 2 Due Date: 19 February 20141. Should producers of software-based services, such as ATMs, be held liable for economic injuries suffered when their systems fail? [10] 2. It is often said that business information systems play a vital part in the success or failure of a business enterprise. a) Explain why computer-based business information systems are so vital to the operation of an organization. [10] b) Computer-based information systems can be categorized into operational information systems and management information systems. Discuss these two categories giving business examples for each one. [15] 3. Organisations are not always able to perform their own business information systems functions and some businesses prefer not to do so for various reasons. The solution for some is outsourcing. Briefly explain the concept of information systems outsourcing. Is it a good option? [10]Assignment 3 Due Date: 5 March 20141. The Internet has had a significant impact on business processes and led some organizations to consider developing a business strategy more appropriate to an e-business environment. a) Explain what is meant by an e-business strategy. [5] b) Discuss the impact on the business information systems function if the organization decided to develop an e-business strategy. [20] 2. Discuss the impacts of IT and individuals at work. [10] 3. Identify some of the major societal impacts of the Web including the digital divide and computer crime. [15] 4. Outline the role and impact of virtual communities. [15]

Free Essays on Professionalization (Hong Kong Case)

1. Introduction â€Å"The world has changed, so must the education system and the teaching profession!† (Education Commission, 2000.) It is of no doubt that the society has undergone unprecedented changes over the past few decades. People are becoming more and more concerned about education, from the demand for compulsory education to the quality of education. In order to cope with the rapid changes in the contemporary world and meet the challenges of the future society, the education system has also changed in order to produce what the society needs. For example, the Education Reform in the recent years no longer emphasize on the academic achievements of the students. More importantly, the aim of education should help students to achieve whole person development, as well as to engage in life-long learning (Education Commission, 2000). Teachers, as the frontline workers in the field of education, are facing a lot of challenges because they are expected to change their roles in order to echo with the new requirements of the Education Reform that aims to enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning. As a potential frontline worker in the field of education, it is very important for me to have a deep understanding about the changes about teaching profession. This would definitely give me a comprehensive picture about my future career so that I can prepare myself for future challenges. In this assignment, the concept of teaching profession, professionalization and professionalism will be discussed in the first part. The challenges faced by teachers in recent years will then be investigated. After knowing the challenges, this assignment is going evaluate to what extent does the government help the teachers to face the challenges. 2. The concept of Teaching Profession, Professionalization, Professionalism The term â€Å" profession† has been widely used in different occupations of the society. According to Law (2001), prof... Free Essays on Professionalization (Hong Kong Case) Free Essays on Professionalization (Hong Kong Case) 1. Introduction â€Å"The world has changed, so must the education system and the teaching profession!† (Education Commission, 2000.) It is of no doubt that the society has undergone unprecedented changes over the past few decades. People are becoming more and more concerned about education, from the demand for compulsory education to the quality of education. In order to cope with the rapid changes in the contemporary world and meet the challenges of the future society, the education system has also changed in order to produce what the society needs. For example, the Education Reform in the recent years no longer emphasize on the academic achievements of the students. More importantly, the aim of education should help students to achieve whole person development, as well as to engage in life-long learning (Education Commission, 2000). Teachers, as the frontline workers in the field of education, are facing a lot of challenges because they are expected to change their roles in order to echo with the new requirements of the Education Reform that aims to enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning. As a potential frontline worker in the field of education, it is very important for me to have a deep understanding about the changes about teaching profession. This would definitely give me a comprehensive picture about my future career so that I can prepare myself for future challenges. In this assignment, the concept of teaching profession, professionalization and professionalism will be discussed in the first part. The challenges faced by teachers in recent years will then be investigated. After knowing the challenges, this assignment is going evaluate to what extent does the government help the teachers to face the challenges. 2. The concept of Teaching Profession, Professionalization, Professionalism The term â€Å" profession† has been widely used in different occupations of the society. According to Law (2001), prof...

Trends Affecting Social Security Disability Applications

Trends Affecting Social Security Disability Applications Trends in Social Security Disability Affecting Applications and Awards The US government pays approximately $140 billion in  Social Security Disability  (SSD) benefits each year – making it one of our largest entitlement programs. During economic downturns, applications for disability benefits typically surge, while the opposite is true in better economic times when more jobs are available.In 2010, for example, 2.9 million Americans applied for SSD, doubling the amount of applications from 10 years prior.[i] By contrast, 2.6 million people  applied for SSD benefits  in 2013 – a record low since before the most recent recession in 2008.   Further, the trend doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon. In the 1stquarter of 2014, there were 637,675 applicants – a bit of an increase from the previous quarter but substantially lower than the trend from previous years (over 40,000 less than the 1st  quarter of 2013 and nearly 90,000 less than the 1st  quarters of 2012 and 2011).While economic trends certainly impact app lications, and awards, for SSD benefits, research suggests additional factors play a critical role, as well. A nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report suggests that the Baby Boomer generation accounted for the large surge of applications in recent times. As this generation entered their 50’s – from around 1996 through 2009 –   SSD benefits awarded to this population rose nearly 10 percent while benefits for the younger generations (25 – 44-year-olds), dropped roughly 10 percent. In fact, in December 2012, individuals who were at least 50 years old were twice as likely to receive benefits as the younger generation.[ii]Furthermore, another demographic change affecting the make-up of workers and those potentially eligible for SSD benefits is the increase of working women since around 1970. In 1960, for example, only 39,339 women received these benefits while men were more than 4 times as likely to receive them.[iii] By contrast, in 1975, more than 1 80,000 women received SSD benefits. While this amount was still significantly lower than the amount of male recipients on benefits, it reflects a drastic surge of women in the workplace. In fact, in December 2012, women represent almost half of those receiving SSD benefits.Moreover, changes in the law have resulted in an increase in conditions that qualify for SSD benefits. The Social Security Disability Reforms Act of 1984 increased the criteria for qualifying disabilities to include more people suffering from mental and musculoskeletal impairments. Consequently, in the last few years, these changes accounted for more than half of those receiving SSD benefits.[iv] Hiring the social security attorneys  who know the constantly changing factors affecting benefits and what arguments to make on your behalf can be crucial for your case.  Call us  today to schedule your free consultation at (888) 678-5839.[i]  ssa.gov/oact/STATS/dibStat.html.[ii] See Annual Statistical Report on t he Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2012, Awards to all Disabled Beneficiaries.[iii] See  Id., at Awards to Disabled Workers.[iv] To read more, including opposing viewpoints on these factors, see Huffington Post, ‘Social Security Disability Enrollment Rising Due To Demographic Trends, Not Obama ‘Slavery’ Plot: CBO.’

The Fermentation Process in Wi essays

The Fermentation Process in Wi essays The Fermentation Process in Wine Making Wine making is a long process. After the best grapes have been harvested and pressed they have to go through a process called fermentation. During pressing, when the grapes' skins are broken, yeast, or Saccharomyees ellipsoideus, from the skins comes in contact with the sugar from the insides of the grapes. The yeast enzymes convert the sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. They also make various by-products that may add to the wine's flavor and aroma. The carbon dioxide escapes into the air, but the alcohol stays in the grape juice, or must. The longer the must ferments the less sugar it will contain. Dry wines are made by letting complete fermentation take place. This lets the yeast change all the sugar into alcohol. If fermentation is stopped, there will be more sugar left in the wine, and it will be sweeter. Sparkling wines are made by adding more sugar and yeast to the wine after it has been transferred to bottles. A second fermentation builds up carbon dioxide in the bottles and this then produces the bubbles. Fermentation gives off heat, so most wineries refrigerate the must so the temperature stays constant throughout the process. White wines are usually kept at about 59F, and red wines are kept at around 86F. The higher temperature in the red wine allows the color and flavor of the skins to transfer to the wine. Yeast isn't only used in wine making. It is a very useful fungus. ...

Change Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Change Management - Assignment Example The postal organization specializes in courier and express services (Australian Government, 2011). The organization is trying to expand business in the field of retail merchandise and agency services. Traditional postal service business had become unprofitable in last few years. The concept of traditional postal communication has changed due to evolution of email communication, social networking. People prefer to use internet communication rather than traditional postal services. The postal organization has incurred a loss of $90 million in last 5 years. Australian Post is trying to change business strategy in terms of shifting focus on retail Merchandise and agency Services. They need to manage the change process carefully. Change management will help them to build a strong organizational framework. Change Management Change management tries to integrate different systems and structure with the organizational structure of the company. Change management can be applied in the transitio n phase of the organization. A company can go for whole system change or partial system change. Many organizations use ADKAR change management model to improve productivity. Dupont is a well known chemical company of USA. They used the model to implement change management in the production process. ADKAR model can be explained in the following way. A- Awareness is generated for change. Top management of the company identifies problem areas like staff productivity, poor service delivery, poor annual sales volume and low productivity of existing system. The management then decides to change existing process. D- Existing employees express desire to participate in change process. They can be termed as change agents. K- Knowledge in terms of training and development is given to the change agents. The knowledge process helps them to understand key issues of new system. A- This is the application part of change management. In this phase organization starts to use new implemented system. Or ganization takes external help to implement new system. The external system monitors the application phase. Coaching and mentoring are required to manage change agents. R- Organization tries to reinforce the sustainability factor. Companies try to maintain the new implemented system. They try to analyze the result of change management in this phase. Change management is a dynamic process. Organization can implement change management program in various areas like marketing, production process, financial management system and organizational structure. Change management can be implemented by altering the thinking process of existing employees. It is very difficult to find employees who accept change very successfully. The organization needs to select change agents ready to accept new system. Service based models like changing customer relationship management requires rigorous training and development program. Top level management needs to communicate with change agents regularly. Study shows that at least 15 engagements are required to clarify the objectives of top management (University of Pennsylvania, 2010). Change Management in Australia Post Australia Post has business expertise in the field of postal services (like letter and parcel delivery, courier services). The organization is trying to expand business in the field of third party agency services like banking, bill payment, insurance, passport application and

My Developmental Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

My Developmental Narrative - Essay Example So in a way, college studies for me have become a vacation in a way. But it is only a vacation in terms of the exacting standards of the educational institution that I am enrolled in. Having all of my classes in English now presents me with a different kind of tension and stress level. My English speaking and written skills are not as excellent as I wish as they could be but I somehow manage to get by in class. After all, I was raised in a highly disciplined country with a track record for academic excellence. So it comes as no surprise that I am able to adapt to my surroundings whenever the need arises. I have found that as a college student, I have come to mature immensely. I no longer view my studies as an activity that takes away from my time that I had allotted for having fun. Maybe it was because I was being forced to study lessons that I had no interest in at the time. As a college student, I finally have the chance to study things that are of interest to me. So I find studyin g more fascinating and useful now. These days, I view my education as a means to achieving a goal instead of a burden like I did in high school. Remember how as a child, we are reliant on our parents for everything? We follow everything that we are told to do without asking questions because we believe that they know best for us. Then we become teenagers and the friction begins to increase as we slowly develop into our own persona that is a far cry from what our parents expect of us. The same thing happened to me in regards to my relationship with my parents. From being a clingy child who asked mother to help me with even the smallest task, I have slowly become my own independent person who tends to question his parents when asked to do something. In fact, save for the few arguments that I have with my parents, I don't think that we really talked at all. I found them boring and an encumbrance in my daily life because of all the rules that they expected me to follow. There were more don'ts than there were do's coming from them when it came to living my life. So you can imagine how I too passed through the rebellious phase during high school. If I had a choice back then, I would rather not have my parents around me. But as I progressed in age, I found that my sentiments about my parents also changed as well. Perhaps it is because they loosened the controlling reins that they had on me before and allowed me to develop my own opinions and live my life, allowing me to learn from my mistakes but always being at the ready to help me recover from it if I ask them to. Now at I have spent a significant amount of time abroad as a university student. I cannot help but think about how it will affect my relationship with my parents. We were not close in the past and I am afraid that this move will further make us strangers to each other. I know that I will not see them as often as I used to anymore. Funny, I thought that not seeing them was exactly what I wanted in life. Bu t it turns out that a significant part of me misses them and the family relationship that we had. It is hard to miss your parents and not see them everyday because when you do see them, it seems like so much time has passed and they have aged a lot since you last saw them. The physical changes that they undergo are equivalent to the same changes that they see in me according to them. They are specially proud of the fact that I have become even