Monday, July 6, 2020

Factors That Influence On Air Pollution - Free Essay Example

Air pollution is a very delicate issue and is the fourth-largest threat to human health nowadays. Many people believe that air pollution does not have any kind of impact on their lives due to the fact that it does not affect them on the daily basis. However, not taking good care of the air we breath can cause tragic consequences to the planet and to human health in the long run, and it might be too late to find a solution when it gets to this point. It is very important to think about the welfare of the environment in every single aspect because, at the end of the day, the planet Earth is our home. It is also where our kids and future generation will live, so we must take actions in order to prevent diseases and many other issues that come along with the pollution of the air. The most important question is: what can we do in order to protect our planet? Air Pollution is the result of the releasement of large amounts of liquid and gases into the atmosphere that cause environmental impact and human health problems. These polluting substances include industrial dust, aerosols, black smoke, solvents, acids and hydrocarbons. However, the most serious damage that Air Pollution causes is certainly towards human health. We are often being exposed to a large amount of smoke and we do not realize that many diseases, such as cancer, are related to this excessive exposure. This type of pollution is related to the decreasement of effectiveness of the mucociliary system of our nostrils. It also deteriorates asthma symptoms, upper respiratory infections, and incidence of lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Also, research shows that children and the elderly are the most vulnerable, and are often being hospitalized, mainly with respiratory diseases. One of the biggest parts of the air pollution is caused by means of transportation. Cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles and all sorts of boats and planes cause two types of environmental problems: it contributes to the greenhouse effect because it emits carbon dioxide (CO2), and puts public health at risk by polluting the atmosphere with extremely toxic gases and particles. In order to increase the number of transportation, it is necessary to seek solutions that discourage the use of individual transportation, such as cars. A good beginning would be to invest more money on the infrastructure of public transport technology, as well as providing incentives to increase walking and cycling. Therefore, decreasing the number of vehicles of transportation we see on the streets plays a big hole on the amount of pollution we are releasing into the air we breath. Another factor that plays a huge hole in air pollution is the emission of fossil fuels by industries. The presence of these pollutants in the air can cause various respiratory disorders in humans. Depending on the type of pollutant and its intensity of contact, people can even develop a cancer and have their reproductive and immune systems damaged. In the nature, the emission of sulphur aggravates the risk of acid rain. Also, other gases increase the average temperature of the earth, which can lead to the melting of the polar ice caps, among other problems that threaten fauna and flora.

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

A Development Of Feminism - Free Essay Example

In first wave feminism, middle and upper-class white women were primarily concerned with gaining the right to vote. There were also concerns with womens rights to own property outside of marriage. The 19th Amendment was signed into Congress in 1920 which stated that voting could not be denied based on a persons sex. Second wave feminism expanded greatly on womens rights to include the right to safe and legal abortion, rights to equal access socially (such as women in sports), equal education opportunities, and equal job and pay opportunities. Along with other social movements of the time, like the Civil Rights Movement, second wave feminism gained victories like the Equal Pay Act that was passed in 1963 which made paying people differently based on sex illegal and the Civil Rights Act that was passed in 1964 which prohibited employers from discriminating based on race and color, religion, sex, and national origin. Another goal of second wave feminism was sexual liberty, which included abortion rights, access to contraception, fighting sexualization of the female body and promoting the normalization of sex. Second wave feminists had a tendency to be very outspoken, abrasive, and even radical in their demonstrations in support of their goals. Third wave feminism, like second wave feminism, aims to fight sexism, but also to fight racism, classism, and inequality in general for marginalized people. Third wave feminism fights gender norms, beauty norms, labels of masculinity and femininity, discrimination based on gender ident ity, to eliminate misogyny, and to bring to justice those who commit sexual violence. There have been many women who have spearheaded feminist movements. A notable woman in first wave feminism was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the founders of first wave feminism. As noted by Paul Barnes (1999), Stanton dealt with women in politics, equal pay for equal work, the sexual double standard, child and spousal abuse, equality for women in our legal system, equality for women in education, religion, and business, [and] a womans right to ?self-sovereignty, as she called it It is obvious from Barnes summary of Stantons interests and goals in first wave feminism that she was an impressive and important figure in the 19th century womens movement. In second wave feminism, Betty Friedan, feminist and author of The Feminine Mystique, seemed to have greatly impacted the 1960s womens movement. Susan Levine (2015) notes the social movement that emerged after 1963† what historians have labeled second wave feminism† drew on many of Friedans insights and created new consciousness among both men and women. Levine also notes that Friedan called for women to enter the arts, science, politics, and professions† not as careerist ventures but in order to be a part of human social life. Betty Friedans book, The Feminine Mystique has been a powerful guide for feminists from the 1960s on. One of my favorite and most inspirational (to me) third wave feminists is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I was introduced to Chimamanda during my Gendered Communication class when we were assigned a 2013 TED Talk video titled We Should All Be Feminists. The entire speech is truly amazing, but one of my favorite parts is when she talks about how we need to raise our boys and girls differently in regard to masculinity and femininity and what gender norms we impart to them. When she is talking about how girls are socialized differently from boys in their upbringing, specifically girls being taught to cook, she states: Cooking, but the way, is a very useful skill for boys to have. Ive never thought it made sense to leave such a crucial thing, the ability to nourish oneself, in the hands of others (Adichie, 2013). This statement stood out to me because, upon hearing it said out loud, made me think well, of course! And yet, household chores are commonly unequally divided in households. In my relationships, I have easily accounted for 80% or more of the household chores, even though my partner uses and benefits from the same amenities. I was raised in a household were my mother both worked and did almost all of the housework while my dad watched TV. In my current relationship, it has been a struggle to obtain equity in this area, not only because of my instincts due to my upbringing, but his as well, because of his upbringing. I greatly admire Chimamanda and am so grateful for the knowledge I have gained in my college experience. For me, Chimamanda has greatly impacted my involvement and understanding of third wave feminism and I believe she has been an inspiration to many others.