Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Preparation of Primary Standard and Acid Base Titration Essay Example
Preparation of Primary Standard and Acid Base Titration Essay The purpose of this experiment is to determine the concentration of odium hydroxide solution by titration against the primary standard, ethanedioic acid-2-water.IntroductionTitration is a method of analysis that to determine the precise endpoint of a reaction. In a titration, solution was run from a burette into a definite volume of another solution in a conical flask. 1 or 2 drops od suitable indicator (phenolphthalein) is added to indicate the end point. The end point is the stage at which two solutions have just reacted completely. The accuracy of titration results depends very much on the correct detection of the end point.Chemicals:Ethanedioic acid-2-water crystalsDilute sodium hydroxide solutionPhenolphthaleinDeionized waterApparatus:Beakers (100 cm3 ) x 4Conical flasks (250 cm3 )Pipette (25.0 cm3 )Pipette fillerBurette (50.0 cm3 )Stand and clampVolumetric flask (250.0cm3 )Wash bottleWhite tileGlass rodWeighing bottleElectronic balanceStopperChemical Reaction involved:Procedure s:1. Clean all the glassware involved in this experiment (e.g. burette, pipette, conical flasks, weighing bottle, volumetric flask, etc.) with deionized water as directed by the teacher.2. Weigh by difference to collect the required mass (2 to 2.5g) of ethanedioic acid-2-water crystals.3. Pour the weighed crystals into a dry clean 100 cmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ beaker and add deinoized water to dissolve the crystals.4. Wash the weighing bottle with deionized water and pour the rinse into the beaker also to ensure no loss of acid crystals.5. Pour the content of the beaker in a clean 250 cmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ volumetric flask and add up to the mark with deionized water.6. Stopper and shake the flask thoroughly.7. Wash a pipette first with distilled water and then with a small amount of sodium hydroxide solution given8. Transfer 25.0 cmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ of sodium hydroxide in a clean conical flask using the pipette and pipette filler.9. Add 2 drops of phenolphthalein indicator to the conical flask. Phenolphth alein gives a red color in the alkali solution.10. Wash a burette with distilled water and then with a small amount of the ethanedioic acid solution.11. Close the stopcock. Transfer 50.0 cmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ of standard ethanedioic acid solution in a clean burette.12. Clamp the burette vertically in a stand.13. Open the stopcock for a few seconds so as to fill the tip of the burette with sodium carbonate.14. Record the initial burette reading.15. Start the titration by opening the stopcock of the burette. During the process, gently swirls the conical flask continuously to mix the two solutions. At the time when the color changes from red to colorless, close the stopcock immediately.16. Record the final burette reading.17. Calculate the volume of ethanedioic acid required to neutralize 25.0 cmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ of sodium hydroxide.18. Empty the conical flask and wash it with water.19. Repeat the steps 3 or4 times until the results from each trial are agreed.20. After the experiment, rinse all th e glassware used with tap water and put them back to their original positions.Results:Titration ResultsTitration1st (Trial)2nd3rd4thInitial reading (cmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½)0.0017.000.0015.50Finial reading (cmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½)15.832.2015.5031.00Volume of titrant (cmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½)15.815.2015.5015.50Average volume of ethanedioic acid reacted:(15.20+15.50+15.50)/3 cmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½= 15.40 cmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½That mean15.40 cmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ of ethanedioic acid is used to titrate 25.0 cmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ of sodium hydroxide.Discussion:1. Mass of ethanedioic acid crystals used:= 2.50 gNo. of moles of ethanedioic acid:= 2.50/ (12.02+1.02+16.04)= 0.02778 moleMolarity of ethanedioic acid= 0.02778/0.250= 0.11112MNo. of mole needed:= 0.11112 x (15.40/1000) = 1.711 x 10à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½Ã ¯Ã ¿Ã ½Equation:Mole ratio of C2H2O4 to NaOH is 1:2.No. of moles of NaOH needed:= 1.711 x 10à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½Ã ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ x 2= 3.422 x 10à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½Ã ¯Ã ¿Ã ½No. of mole = molarity x volume3.422 x 10à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½Ã ¯Ã ¿Ã ½ = molarity x (2.5 / 100)molarity = 0.137MConcentration of the sodium hydroxide is 0.14 mol/dmà ¯Ã ¿Ã ½Ã ¯Ã ¿Ã ½2. 3 requirements of a primary standard solution:i) The solid dissolved in water should be pure.ii) The molarity of the solution should be known.iii) The solid must be dissolved completely.3i) There is no effect if the burette is not rinsed with ethanedioic acid solution since we know the no. of mole of the ethanedioic acid and the volume of sodium hydroxide.3ii) If the tip of the burette is not filled before titration begins, more acid is needed to titrate sodium hydroxide. By the mole ratio, since the no. of mole of sodium hydroxide is larger, and thus the molarity of calculated will be larger.3iii) If the conical flask contains some distilled water before the addition of sodium hydroxide, the molarity calculated will be larger since the volume of sodium hydroxide increase.4. It is advisable not to use sodium hydroxide solution to fill the burette in this experiment because alkaline wi ll corrode glass and burette is expensive, therefore sodium hydroxide is usually placed in the conical flask.Improvements:1. Graduation mark of pipette and volumetric flask should be accurately reached.2. Just add enough indicator solutions, not too much.3. Ensure stopcock has been closed before filling.4. Remember to fill up the tip of burette.5. Fix the filled burette perfectly vertical.6. Stopcock should be controlled by thumb, first and second fingers of left hand7. Swing the flask gently and continuously.8. Slow down the adding of solution when end-point is close.9. There should be no hanging drop of solution on the tip.10. The spectula should be put back the original place, to prevent the ethanedioic acid-2-water be contaminated.Conclusion:The concentration of sodium hydroxide calculated is 0.137M (correct to 3 sig. fig.)
Friday, March 20, 2020
Propaganda Maps
Propaganda Maps All maps are designed with a purpose; whether to aid in navigation, accompany a news article, or display data. Some maps, however, are designed to be particularly persuasive. Like other forms of propaganda, cartographic propaganda attempts to mobilize viewers for a purpose. Geopolitical maps are the most explicit examples of cartographic propaganda, and throughout history have been utilized to garner support for various causes. Propaganda Maps in Global Conflicts This map from the film depicts the Axis powers plan to conquer the world. In maps such as the aforementioned propaganda map, authors express specific feelings on a topic, creating maps that are meant not just to describe information, but also to interpret it. These maps are often not made with the same scientific or design procedures as other maps; labels, precise outlines of bodies of land and water, legends, and other formal map elements may be disregarded in favor of a map that speaks for itself. As the above image shows, these maps favor graphic symbols that are embedded with meaning. Propaganda maps gained momentum under Nazism and Fascism, as well. There are many examples of Nazi propaganda maps that were intended to glorify Germany, justify territorial expansion, and decrease support for the U.S., France, and Britain (see examples of Nazi propaganda maps at the German Propaganda Archive). During the Cold War, maps were produced in order to magnify the threat of the Soviet Union and communism. A recurrent trait in propaganda maps is the ability to portray certain regions as big and menacing, and other regions as small and threatened. Many Cold War maps enhanced the size of the Soviet Union, which magnified the threat of communisms influence. This occurred in a map titled Communist Contagion, which was published in a 1946 edition of Time Magazine. By coloring the Soviet Union in bright red, the map further enhanced the message that communism was spreading like a disease. Mapmakers utilized misleading map projections to their advantage in the Cold War as well. The Mercator Projection, which distorts land areas, exaggerated the size of the Soviet Union. (This map projection website shows different projections and their effect on the portrayal of the USSR and its allies). Propaganda Maps Today choropleth map maps The maps on this site show how political maps can mislead today. One map shows the results of the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election, with blue or red indicating if a state voted majority for the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, or the Republican candidate, John McCain. From this map there appears to be more red then blue, indicating that the popular vote went Republican. However, the Democrats decidedly won the popular vote and the election, because the population sizes of the blue states are much higher than those of the red states. To correct for this data issue, Mark Newman at the University of Michigan created a Cartogram; a map that scales the state size to its population size. While not preserving the actual size of each state, the map shows a more accurate blue-red ratio, and better portrays the 2008 election results. Propaganda maps have been prevalent in the 20th century in global conflicts when one side wants to mobilize support for its cause. It is not only in conflicts that political bodies utilize persuasive mapmaking however; there are many other situations in which it benefits a country to portray another country or region in a particular light. For example, it has benefited colonial powers to use maps to legitimize territorial conquest and social/economic imperialism. Maps are also powerful tools to garner nationalism in ones own country by graphically portraying a countrys values and ideals. Ultimately, these examples tell us that maps are not neutral images; they can be dynamic and persuasive, used for political gain. References: Boria, E. (2008). Geopolitical Maps: A Sketch History of a Neglected Trend in Cartography. Geopolitics, 13(2), 278-308. Monmonier, Mark. (1991). How to Lie with Maps. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
The Role of the Yellow River in Chinese History
The Role of the Yellow River in Chinese History Many of the worlds great civilizations have grown up around mighty rivers- Egypt on the Nile, the Mound-builder civilization on the Mississippi, the Indus Valley Civilization on the Indus River. China has had the good fortune to have two great rivers: the Yangtze and the Yellow River (or Huang He). The Yellow River is also known as the cradle of Chinese civilization or the Mother River. Usually a source of rich fertile soil and irrigation water, the Yellow River has transformed itself more than 1,500 times in recorded history into a raging torrent that has swept away entire villages. As a result, the river has several less-positive nicknames as well, such as Chinas Sorrow and the Scourge of the Han People. Over the centuries, the Chinese people have used it not only for agriculture but also as a transportation route and even as a weapon. The Yellow River springs up in the Bayan Har Mountain Range of west-central Chinas Qinghai Province and makes its way through nine provinces before it pours its silt out into the Yellow Sea off the coast of Shandong Province. It is the worlds sixth-longest river, with a length of about 3,395 miles. The river runs across central Chinas loess plains, picking up an immense load of silt, which colors the water and gives the river its name. The Yellow River in Ancient China The recorded history of Chinese civilization begins on the banks of the Yellow River with the Xia Dynasty, which lasted from 2100 to 1600 BCE. According to Sima Qians Records of the Grand Historian and the Classic of Rites, a number of different tribes originally united into the Xia Kingdom in order to combat devastating floods on the river. When a series of breakwaters failed to stop the flooding, the Xia instead dug a series of canals to channel excess water out into the countryside and then down to the sea. Unified behind strong leaders and able to produce bountiful harvests since Yellow River floods no longer destroyed their crops so often, the Xia Kingdom ruled central China for several centuries. The Shang Dynasty succeeded the Xia around 1600 BCE and also centered itself on the Yellow River valley. Fed by the riches of the fertile river-bottom land, the Shang developed an elaborate culture featuring powerful emperors, divination using oracle bones,Ã and artwork including beautiful jade carvings. During Chinas Spring and Autumn Period (771 to 478 BCE), the great philosopher Confucius was born in the village of Tsou on the Yellow River in Shandong. He was almost as powerful an influence on Chinese culture as the river itself. In 221 BCE, Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi conquered the other warring states and established the unified Qin Dynasty. The Qin kings relied on the Cheng-Kuo Canal, finished in 246 BCE, to provide irrigation water and increased crop yields, leading to a growing population and the manpower to defeat rival kingdoms. However, the Yellow Rivers silt-laden water quickly clogged the canal. After Qin Shi Huangdis death in 210 BCE, the Cheng-Kuo silted up entirely and became useless. The Yellow River in the Medieval Period In 923 CE, China was embroiled in the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Among those kingdoms were the Later Liang and the Later Tang dynasties. As Tang armies approached the Liang capital, a general named Tuan Ning decided to breach the Yellow River dikes and flood 1,000 square miles of the Liang Kingdom in a desperate effort to stave off the Tang. Tuans gambit did not succeed; despite the raging floodwaters, the Tang conquered the Liang. Over the following centuries, the Yellow River silted up and changed its course several times, breaking its banks and drowning surrounding farms and villages. Major re-routings took place in 1034 when the river split into three parts. The river jumped south again in 1344 during the waning days of the Yuan Dynasty. In 1642, another attempt to use the river against an enemy backfired badly. Kaifeng city had been under siege by Li Zichengs peasant rebel army for six months. The citys governor decided to break the dikes in hopes of washing away the besieging army. Instead, the river engulfed the city, killing almost 300,000 of Kaifengs 378,000 citizens and leaving the survivors vulnerable to famine and disease. The city was abandoned for years following this devastating mistake. The Ming Dynasty fell to Manchu invaders, who founded the Qing Dynasty just two years later. The Yellow River in Modern China A northward course-change in the river in the early 1850s helped fuel the Taiping Rebellion, one of Chinas deadliest peasant revolts. As populations grew ever larger along the treacherous rivers banks, so too did the death tolls from flooding. In 1887, a major Yellow River flood killed an estimated 900,000 to 2 million people, making it the third-worst natural disaster in history. This disaster helped convince the Chinese people that the Qing Dynasty had lost the Mandate of Heaven. After the Qing fell in 1911, China plunged into chaos with the Chinese Civil War and the Second Sino-Japanese War, after which the Yellow River struck again, this time even harder. The 1931 Yellow River flood killed between 3.7 million and 4 million people, making it the deadliest flood in all of human history. In the aftermath, with war raging and the crops destroyed, survivors reportedly sold their children into prostitution and even resorted to cannibalism to survive. Memories of this catastrophe would later inspire Mao Zedongs government to invest in massive flood-control projects, including the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. Another flood in 1943 washed away the crops in Henan Province, leaving 3 million people to starve to death. When the Chinese Communist Party took power in 1949, it began building new dikes and levees to hold back the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. Since that time, floods along the Yellow River have still posed a threat, but they no longer kill millions of villagers or bring down governments. The Yellow River is the surging heart of Chinese civilization. Its waters and the rich soil it carries bring the agricultural abundance needed to support Chinas enormous population. However, this Mother River has always had a dark side to it as well. When the rains are heavy or silt blocks up the river channel, she has the power to jump her banks and spread death and destruction across central China.
Sunday, February 16, 2020
The Use of Imagery as a Literacy Device Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
The Use of Imagery as a Literacy Device - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to analyze a single literary device depicted in Poeââ¬â¢s story. In as much as the story has a number of literary devices irony as imagery remains a dominant element of the work. It is quite ironical at the beginning of the story with a description of Roderick. Since he believes most of his family members are suffering from hyper reactivity he also believes to be suffering from the same disease. This is ironical as he concludes to be suffering from Hypochondriac according to family history. For instance, the narrator says, ââ¬Å"I was forced to fall back upon the unsatisfactory conclusion, that while, beyond doubt, there are combinations of extremely simple natural objects which have the power of thus affecting us, still the analysis of this power lies among considerations beyond our depth.â⬠(Poe 06) This was in support of the fact that he believed with no doubt the sickness was a family sickness. Consequently, the story reveals irony, which mak es the story fascinating as a disease, is only accorded one family. Despite Roderick and Madeline being a brother and a sister they are involved in an intimate relationship. For instance in the story, ââ¬Å""Her decease," he said, with a bitterness which I can never forget, "would leave him (him the hopeless and the frail) the last of the ancient race of the Ushers." (Poe 16)This was a depiction of the relationship, which existed between the two, who were from a family of the ushers. It was, therefore, ironical for the two to engage in intimate relationship as this represented incest. This is evidenced in the book when he says,â⬠And thus, as a closer and still closer intimacy admitted me more unreservedly into the recesses of his spirit,â⬠In addition, a sulphureous lustle is displayed among the characters who perceive themselves as sister and brother. From this perspective, irony manifests itself clearly leaving readers wondering what type of characters the two were (Po e and Lanier 36). The house of usher is full of ironical happenings, for instance, Roderick buries her sister alive to fulfill his prophecy. According to his prophecy, the people suffering from hyperactive reactivity like his sister are supposed to get buried alive. This is ironical as to how one can bury another alive just because he feels she is sick. This is also ironical considering the incestuous relationship between Roderick and Madeline we expected him not only to show love to his sister as a lover, but also as someone passionate. It is expected when a person dies he does not resurrect; however, this is a common event in the story with Madeline resurrecting to meet his brother Roderick. This is an ironical representation of unnatural characters who portray a bizarre of menacing events. Distress and agitation fills the bizarre occurrence of events as Madeline struggles out of the vault full of her, own blood, this is a horrifying scene (Poe 56). Vampirism of the last part of t he story relays many messages to the readers who remain guessing what happened to the last duo of the family. In conclusion, irony becomes a major literary device used in the story dominating almost all the narration. The fall of the house of usher manifests a disappearance of the family, which mainly suffers from a disease, aroused hyper reactivity. Several instances depict irony staring with the intimate relation
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Oil industry in Russia in 2050 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Oil industry in Russia in 2050 - Assignment Example Of vital significance are the factors, which influence international demand and supply of energy. Owing to the fact that approximately 1.4 billion people in different parts of the world do not have electricity, it is very vital that access to modern forms of energy be enhanced to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of poverty and hunger reduction, as well as the promotion and expansion of health and education. By the year 2050, the Russia will be virtually energy sufficient. The major reason for this is the increased domestic production of oil and shale gas in Russia. The fact that the Russia is among the major players in the international field alongside United States of America and other countries, requires that a national energy outlook report be carried out on the nation. Energy is very significant in different regions of the world since it supports and enhances social development as well as the growth of financial systems in different nations. As a consequence of the universal importance of energy, it is of utmost magnitude that different actors affected by the energy industry, for instance, the consumers of energy, leaders in government, actors in the energy sector, commercial institutes and the civil society, gain a comprehension of the basic actualities which typify the energy sector. This paper aims at describing a national energy outlook report for the Russia in the year 2050. This report will present the long-term projections of the supply and demand of energy in the Russia from the present times to the year 2050. The descriptions and projections made in this paper will focus greatly on the contributions made by the petroleum and gas sectors. The energy resources in the United States, as well as the policies, regulations and ethics, which infl uence the Russian energy sector, will also be examined. An in depth analysis
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Behaviour of pestel on business organisation
Behaviour of pestel on business organisation ABSTRACT: The purpose of this report is to analyse the behaviour of pestel on the behaviour of Business organisation. Pestel is combination of four research strategies Political, Economic, Social, Technological. History of PESTEL History of PESTLE is about ten years old thats why we cannot define the exact history of PESTEL. From our research, the earliest know reference to tools and techniques for Scanning the Business Environment appears to be by Francis J. Aguilar (1967) who discusses ETPS a mnemonic for the four sectors of his taxonomy of the environment: Economic, Technical, Political, and Social. [www.rapidbi.com] PESTEL stands for: Political Economic Social Technological Environmental Legal PESTEL analysis is instruments that can help organisations drawing reaching STRATEGIES by helping them realize the EXTERNAL surroundings in which they operate now and will be operate in the future. It forces the business leaders worldwide to create their used for big picture [www.mindtools.com] STRATEGY AND STRATEGIC DECISIONS Every organisation its strategy and strategic determinate are related with the: Meeting of an organisations actions to its environment Orbit of an organisations action what it performs or performs not do List of an organisations actions to its requirements Focus on organisation will ahead in long term Entailment for change across the whole organisation strategy making, strategies and determine are normally hard. PESTLE analysis grants one important scene of strategic analysis the EXTERNAL environment enquired consistently by use of a simple methodology. PESTLE is not linked with an organisations INTERNAL environment or its strengths and weakness. These important impacts of strategic analysis are best crossed using different methods. [www.mindtools.com] PESTLE ANALYSIS One utter of PESTLE analysis has three main elements. The first two are very developed at the same time with the third best done as part of the following already process. External factors list Entailment of external factors identity Linked importance of implication of external decide A depict list of factors, influences or pressures that have already impacts, now or in the future, for the organisation is compiles for each of the PESTLE ingreedgs.[www.rapid.com] Political Government type and constancy Freedom of press, rule of law and degrees of bureaucracy and corruption Rule and de regulation sheers Social and employment lawmaking Tax, policy, and trade and tariff controls. Environmental and consumer security Likely changes in the political environment Example Political analysis for Coca Cola: Non alcoholic beverages fall within the food category under the FDA. In manufacturing these products Government Polices plays vital role. It is necessary to obey these laws for the survival and to avoid the fines. So change in laws and regulations contains the changes in accounting standards, taxations requirements and environment laws in domestic of foreign jurisdictions. So the non alcoholic business is without limitations, competitive product, pricing pressures and many others that political factors which really affecting the overall output of the organization. And it greatly affects the organizations working at international levels like Coka Cola. [www.peerpapers.com] ECONOMIC Currant and project economic increase inflation and internal rates Unemployment and labour supply Labour costs Levels of item income and income distribution Impact of globalization Likely facts of technological or other change on the economic EXAMPLE Economic changes like recession greatly affecting the buying power of the customers so prices for the properties are greatly affected. And the investors of property are dumped due to this economical effect. SOCIO-CULTURAL Population development rate and age visibility Press attract to work, public likes and dislike, social tabus Population employment forms, job market exemption Socio cultural changes Population health, education and social quality EXAMPLE In western countries, most of people like fast food, but in eastern people like home food .so it is play very important role in any organisation. TECHNOLOGICAL Touch of rising technologies Affect of internet decrease in communications cost and increased outside working Explore and development action Action of technology shift EXAMPLE Technological environment is also affecting the organisation behaviours .Now a days customers are moving more towards the Internet so for a successful organisation its necessary to spend extra expenses and energy to make and maintain the website. EVIRONMENTAL Example Environment consequence is those linking to pollution, global warming, sustainable development and other elements of the green docket. Today all over the world every business tries to matchup their business through environment. All though it is very difficult, but not impossible. LEGAL World eu, national legisation change, prospects etc. These factors may help us a starting point for thinking but make sure include other point as well because it is not easy task. Advantages of pestel: Another broad, rule is that wherever it is slow or fast change in an area, we should always welcome the new opportunities and threats because through threats and weakness, we are able to do affects for the future. And remember that change is always good. If we see develop countries, we can image or we can get the result, they are successful because of lot of hard work. And of have power to take the challenge as a task. Pest analysis is useful puppet for realizing what is helping around us. In a big picture. It means what sort of opportunities and threats we have in the organisation. And how we can control it, and make over life easy. So PESTEL analysis for the planning of any organisation. [www.mindtools.com] CONCLUSION: PESTEL analysis is very useful key to success in field of life. Because in PESTEL we are able to discuss, what is major problem, and how we can solve it. But in other-hand, we have to very careful about to taking they decision, because in PESTEL changing are always happing. So it is very important, we should have complete knowledge about currant issues. We also are ready for new channels. Through PESTEL analysis we are able to achieve success in EXTERNAL environment. If we achieve big success, the small problem will automatically solve. REFERENCES: www.rapidbi.com www.peerpapers.com www.mindtools.com The market planning guideBy David H. Bangs Strategic management By John L. Thompson, Frank Martin
Friday, January 17, 2020
Consumerism and the Environment Essay
Consumerism is a concept that was created before the Great Depression, which, by definition, means ââ¬Å"the concept that an ever-expanding consumption of goods is advantageous to the economy; the fact or practice of an increasing consumption of goodsâ⬠. In other words, consumerism has meant the transformation of citizens into shoppers. In fact, after the tragedy of 9/11, we were not asked to sacrifice or work hard in order to defeat terrorism, we were asked to go shopping. (Barber, 2008) Buying more products may help the economy but it is not good for the environment. Statistics show that the act of consumerism has negatively affected the environment and made a sustainable future very difficult. With the threat of overpopulation and the increased consumption of food and natural resources, our environment may not be able to sustain future generations. In looking at the statistics of consumption in America over the years, we have doubled or tripled our consumption of food and natural resources in the last 50 years. One of the root causes of our environmental problems is hyper-consumption. We simply buy too much of what we donââ¬â¢t need and often even what we really donââ¬â¢t want. According to Globalissues. org ââ¬Å"half of the world lives on less that $2 a dayâ⬠and WorldWatch. org or World Watch Institute states ââ¬Å"12% of the worldââ¬â¢s population lives in North America and Western Europe and accounts for 60% of private consumption spendingâ⬠. The statistics of consumption in America is disturbing. Putting the consumption of food aside, global oil production is currently about 81 million barrels a day and is predicted to fall to 39 million barrels a day by 2030 due to diminishing resources. Seager, 2007) In 50 years and as these resources doubled in consumption, carbon dioxide levels increased over 20%, which is very harmful to our environment and the ozone. The worldââ¬â¢s population needs to realize that consumerism is affecting the environment in very bad ways and people need to start changing the way they live and buy in order to help save the environment. The effect of consumerism to the environment has been well documented over the years. From fuel consumption to polluted air, a damaged ozone and massive waste and garbage dumped, our environment has taken a lot of hits. The increase of natural fuel over the last few decades has many people wondering what the world will do if we run out. The answer is simple. We need to transform the way we use fuel into re-usable, environmentally friendly fuel. That is easier said than done, but massive change is never easy. We also have to look at what damage this consumption is doing to the air and the ozone layer. The effect of ozone layer depletion often seems as if it is a far away problem. In reality, the weakening of the Earthââ¬â¢s protection from radiation has implications that spread across the planet. The Environmental issues caused by ozone layer depletion will ultimately affect everyone. (Ozone Layer Depletion, 2012) According to statistics, the holes in the ozone layer are getting bigger year by year. There may not be a way to reverse the damage that has been done, but we can prevent more damage just by making simple changes. The US produces nearly 230 million tons of trash per year and less than one fourth of it is recycled and the remaining garbage is burned. If we put a proper plan in place, we could recycle 70% of this waste and dramatically decrease the demand virgin resources. There are several environmental agencies that actively seek to make a change for the better. There is no one person or group able to make decisions that are binding upon all or even most of the participants in a movement. This makes negotiation and settlement difficult, if not impossible. Getting more people involved in environmental activism does not mean they need or have to picket or protest environmentally unfriendly businesses, just to be aware and work on their own consumption. (Arquilla & Ronfeldt, 2001) With the massive increase in consumption and the negative effect on the environment, the American government and corporations are putting plans into place to protect our environment. For example, according to thewhitehouse. gov, ââ¬Å"The Obama Administration is committed to protecting the air we breathe, water we drink, and the land that supports and sustains usâ⬠. The Recover Act Investments in our Environment is finding for programs and projects that will protect the environment. The National Ocean Policy helps preserve our oceans. The government is also working to reduce air pollution by setting ambitious new fuel economy standards for cars and trucks that will raise the miles per gallon usage and decrease carbon emissions. The government has also proposed national standards for mercury, arsenic and other toxic air pollution from power plants. There is also the proposal for the development of clean energy, which, should slow down if not stop the usage of natural fuel and also have a positive effect on the environment. None of these proposals or policies has been put into place as of yet, but it is good to know that the government is at least working on a solution. Not only is the government working on a solution but also several of the leading corporations in America have ââ¬Å"gone greenâ⬠to help protect our environment. Companies like Bank of America, McDonaldââ¬â¢s, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, and many others have decided to look at the big picture and give our environment a little help. Most of these big companies were big environmentally unfriendly companies and either chose to go green or had to go green because of falling profits. They had to go green because when the public got wind of the waste the companyââ¬â¢s business suffered quite a bit. There are several things that we, as a nation, can do to help our environment and to ensure that we have a sustainable future. First thing that we need to do is to try and reverse as much damage that has been done to our environment as possible. In order to do that, some major changes have to be made. According to science. howstuffworks. com, doing the following things could help the environment in tremendous ways: Leave your car at home at least 2 days a week; it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,590 pounds per year. Recycle all paper and plastic. If an office building of 7,000 workers recycled all of its office paper waste for a year, it would be like taking about 400 cars off the road. Compost your waste. Composting will reduce the amount of waste that is put into landfills or burned and polluting the air. With regards to preserving sustainable resources, that problem is a little tougher to solve. Fossil fuels are a finite resource, which means it has a limit and when it is gone there is no replacing it. We have to find environmentally friendly fuels to replace fossil fuels. We also have to be careful with our food, water, and soil. Several studies have shown that even if rely on renewable resources like rainwater, we have to make sure that rate of consumption does not exceed how much can be produced. We have the knowledge to help save and sustain our environment and population. Ever since the inception of Earth Day in 1970, activists have lobbied to get governments, corporations, and regular people to see the damage that is being done to our environment. These activists are and have been working ever vigilantly to get the word out that the environment is in trouble. We are seeing it now with the holes in the ozone and the depletion of the natural resources. Our society has been built on consumption and the idea that more is better. In order to reverse this way of thinking we have to change the way we do things. It is a long and hard process but if everyone, including governments and corporations, would do their small part we will have a more sustained and healthy environment.
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