Waste to Energy free essay sample

Waste-to-energy Taking Care of Garbage Michelle Rowland Buena Vista University We all have to share this world with its limited resources. We must take advantage of all resources we have, regardless if they came from the earth, are man made, or are waste products. The average person in America throws away 3. 7 pounds of garbage every day (Resource Recovery Public Works, 2009). It is no surprise that this leads to landfills that are filling faster than we ever thought due to more people and the increasing throwaway economy. We are facing geological limits for landfills in many areas. Waste-to-energy is a productive method of relieving stresses on natural and man made resources. Waste-to-energy plants turn problems into energy solutions by reducing the amount of garbage and using the energy from the trash as a resource for energy. Running out of landfills Many areas are running out of landfills and the space to develop any landfill. For instance, New York was one of the first major cities to run out of landfill space. The landfill for the New York area was closed in March 2001, leaving New York to haul garbage to landfill sites in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. New Yorks arbage alone accounts for over 12,000 tons going to other landfills daily. In addition, Toronto, Canadas largest city closed its last landfill on December 31, 2002. Toronto is hauling their garbage to Michigan. The landfills of Athens, Greece reached capacity and closed at the end of 2006. The garbage of Athens is sitting in their streets as communities in Greece have been unwilling to take the Athens garbage. Athens is facing a garbage crisis. China is facing similar challenges. Some areas of China are letting the garbage sit on unoccupied areas where the landfills have closed (Brown, 2008). The increase of garbage in the streets will have damaging affects on the health and livelihoods of the citizens of the area. Garbage is garbage whether its in our own backyard or across the world. Consequently, reducing the amount of trash is beneficial for everyone and using waste-to-energy facilities will help landfills last longer. Garbage gas energy One method of using landfills as a resource for energy is to utilize the methane that is produced in landfills. We dont have a shortage of landfills or their gases; it makes sense to use the products that they produce. The methane can generate electricity in power plants. Brown (2008) stated that Atlanta, Georgia has invested in capturing methane and building a pipeline to a carpet factory, where they use the methane to supplement their energy source. The landfill and the factory both reduce greenhouse gases being a win-win for both of them. Jackson (2009) reported the landfill in Gaston County North Carolina and the countys public works departments the methane into electricity. The landfill has begun collecting the gases and will reduce the amount of methane that is flared out Oackson, 2009). By reducing the amount of methane being flared out they reduce the amount escaping into the tmosphere. The methane continues to be produced on a daily basis long after the cell reaches its capacity. Consequently, using methane energy is a clear advantage for the use of the harmful gas and should be utilized in as many landfills as possible. One disadvantage with methane energy is that does not reduce the amount of garbage going to landfills. This still causes landfills to become filled to capacity and discontinue the ability to accept garbage. The landfill would continue producing the methane for years, but not be able to provide the garbage service. Obviously other fforts to reduce the amount of garbage taken to landfills are required. Waste-to- energy Who would have ever thought garbage could be a miracle energy source? Yet today, garbage is a fuel that is renewable. Garbage is a source of energy that reduces the buildup of greenhouse gases. Garbage is being used at 89 plants in the United States and over 700 others throughout the world (Michaels, 2008). Lets take a closer look at this miracle fuel. Waste-to-energy is a process of creating energy in the form of electricity or heat from the incineration of garbage. The process has been endorsed by leading environmental scientists. The waste-to-energy facilities of the United States are required to meet the most stringent environmental standards in the world. The facilities are equipped with advanced emissions control equipment available. The US EPA concluded that the plants have dramatic decreases in air emissions, and produce electricity with less environmental impact than almost any other source of electricity. Americas Own Energy Source revealed the EPA has estimated that waste-to-energy avoids the release of 33 million metric tons of carbon dioxide yearly (Americas Own Energy Source). The technology to burn garbage with ower emissions than conventional fuels burned in most power plants is readily available today. The new waste-to-energy plants are reducing greenhouse gas emissions in three ways. One way is by producing electricity that would have been generated by a conventional power plant. Another way they reduce greenhouse gas is by disposing of solid waste that would have gone to a landfill, decomposed, and then generated methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. Waste-to-energy plants also recover metals for recycling, another factor at reducing the amount of garbage in addition to recycling resources. Waste Management was chosen as a founding member of the U. S. pilot program to promote the trading of greenhouse gas emission credits. These credits are earned by companies who limit or eliminate harmful carbon dioxide emissions. By Waste Managements donation of carbon credits to the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, it was the first Olympics in modern history to have zero impact on the environment (Waste to Energy, 2009). However, this information is misleading as the Olympics did have carbon dioxide emissions.

Intellectual Development Of Children Essays - Child Development

Intellectual Development Of Children In two separate issues of "Time" magazine, the intellectual development of infants and preschoolers was analyzed with contrasting viewpoints regarding the development of their brains and the views regarding how best to encourage the cognitive abilities of these young children. In the earlier issue, dated February 3, 1997, the special report consisting of two articles titled "Fertile Minds" and "The Day-Care Dilemma" the theories of Jean Piaget's cognitive-development are supported. In the latter issue, dated October 19, 1998, the special report titled "How to Make a Better Student" focused on refuting the theories supported in the earlier issue of this magazine. Understanding the influence of Piaget's and other's views on intellectual development of young children on the contrasting views of this topic and how it reflects contemporary opinions on how young children should be raised is the focus of this paper. Hopefully, these contrasting articles will provide a more holistic understanding of Piagetian theory and its application to real-life situations. I. Children's Intellectual Development: Preoperations By the age of 3 and 4 years old, children have attained what Piaget called functions or "preoperations" that enable young children to perform a number of feats far beyond the capabilities of infants (Piaget, 1950). Infants concentrate on constructing a world of permanent objects. Once constructed, these objects will be known to exist even when they are no longer present to the infant's senses. Preschool children, in contrast, are constructing a world of qualities and properties that different objects share in common. They are beginning to identify and name colors, shapes, textures, density, and so on. At this stage, children are beginning to understand same and different as these terms refer to properties. At the same time, it is necessary to recognize that these classes are formed only on the basis of perceptual attributes such as color and form and not on the basis of any quantitative characteristics. Moreover, although children can name and identify members of different classes cow, dog, or car, they cannot as yet operate on these categories in a systematic way. That is to say they cannot logically add categories and recognize that cats, dogs, and cows are all animals. Nor can they logically multiply classes and appreciate that a cat is both a cat and an animal at the same time. In short, the one-many or quantitative dimension of classes escapes young children. Only when they have attained the concrete operations of childhood (age 6 to 7 years) will they begin to be able to coordinate sameness and difference and arrive at the notion of a unit that is basic to all quantitative thinking. A unit, for example the number 3, is at once like every other number in that it is a number but also different in that it is the only number that comes after 2 and before 4. Once children have a notion of a unit, they can engage in numerical as well as logical addition and multiplication (Gesell, 1949). The young child's limitation with respect to operating on classes is most evident when we ask them to define a word. Young children routinely define words by describing their functions; an apple is to eat; a bike is to ride. Only when they attain concrete operations at about the age of 6 or 7 years will they begin to define terms by nesting them in higher order classes, where an apple is a fruit, and a bike has wheels--you go places with it. Occasionally young children may define a word by placing it within a broader context, but this is often an anticipation of later intellectual achievement, not a true reflection of the young child's competence (Carey, 1989). In the "Fertile Minds" and "The Day-Care Dilemma" articles, neuroscientific evidence is used to comply with Piagetian theory of preoperational stages of development. The article describes in depth how the rapidly proliferating brain cells at birth make connections that shape a lifetime of experience. Thus, the author of this article points at that the first three to four years of development are critical and that "there is an urgent need . . . for preschool programs designed to boost the brain power of youngsters" (Nash, 1997, p.51) This argument is supported by hard, quantifiable evidence in the form of PET scans. Furthermore, the use of Piagetian tools to be incorporated in the education of toddlers in day-cares is stated to be a means that society can use to promote the intellectual development of young children who live in conditions that are a threat to their brain

FedEx Companys Marketing Recommendations

FedEx Companys Marketing Recommendations Overview FedEx has enjoyed regional dominance in parcel and cargo deliver in Southern China for a couple of years. When it entered Chinese market in 1995, FedEx enjoyed a brief monopoly of international deliveries in Southern China. It also had a stake in Hong Kong and other Cities in mainland China.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on FedEx Companys Marketing Recommendations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With at least 11 weekly flights to and from Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, FedEx had a considerable Market Share in U.S.-China delivery. While entering Chinese market in 1995, FedEx opted for frontal-assault marketing strategy which was used in Europe in 1980s. The strategy was successful despite the Asian devaluation currency in 1997. However, the company recorded its first international quarterly loss in 2008. The 2008 loss and poor deliveries to China ware expected to be compensated by increased Chinese export to western countries especially the United States. The company had nearly locked out competitors from southern China market of Guangzhou and Shenzhen which represented the largest manufacturing base in China. FedEx controlled over 13% of international deliveries in the region by 2001. It faced stiff competition from UPS, DHL, TNT and China post EMS international delivery express. It is now necessary for it to protect its market from competitors and venture into new ones. However, domestic express deliveries have been limited by bureaucracy and biased regulations from Chinese Communist Party government with the aim of shielding local investors and China Post from international competition. Competitors like DHL and UPS entered joint ventures with Chinese firms like Sinotrans and China Post. China joined World Trade Organization and agreed to remove some regulations by 2005. This would allow fair competition between local and international delivery companies. C ompetitors have entered agreements and bought local Chinese firms with hope of capitalizing on the situation.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Recommendation 1 FedEx should venture into un-tapped market in remote Parts of China though increased investment. Justification The Chinese economy accounts for slightly over 1% of world economy but its growth rate is one of the highest with an average of over 10% in the last few years. Several cities in China rely on local companies to deliver parcels and cargo to international destinations. However, the parcels and cargo take several days to reach their destinations. Furthermore, Southen Chinese cities are increasing their manufacturing capacities which increase their exports too. Therefore, most business establishments require fast delivery services for mails and cargo. Although competitors like UPS and DHL have been expanding their markets recently, there are enough opportunities for expansion. The investment should be based on the agreement between China and WTO to full deregulate domestic markets and lift foreign ownership restriction on local businesses by the year 2005. International companies can buy local firms or establish joint investments with Chinese citizens. FedEx can capitalize on this situation to expand its market to other Chinese cities which require international deliveries on daily basis. Implementation Before the final day of full deregulation of domestic markets and lifting of ownership restriction on local businesses, FedEx should keenly follow Chinese government steps towards achieving the WTO target. During every deregulation step, FedEx should invest to ensure that it is ahead of its main competitors. Meanwhile, it should continue offering quality services to its current customers and expand in its traditional market of southern China. Continued quality services will ear n FedEx recommendation to new companies and those experiencing delayed or poor delivery services offered by other companies. Recommendation 2 FedEx should enter into joint ventures with existing companies which have reliable networks within China.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on FedEx Companys Marketing Recommendations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Justification Transport and communication infrastructure is not fully developed in China. This means that there are several cities, towns and villages which are hard to gain access to yet they require delivery services. However, State owned China Post and some private companies have been operating in these areas for several years despite the poor accessibility. FedEx can make use of these organisations to reach customers who have not gained access to reliable international delivery services. United Postal Services has gained access to the southern China through Ya ngtze River Express Airlines. DHL has acquired some percentage of Sinotrans to make it competitive in the region. FedEx can counter ths competition by enhancing relationship with its existing partners and enter into agreements with new ones. Since TNT was expected to end its engagement with Sinotrans by 2003. FedEx can capitalize on that and enter into business agreements with Sinotrants to fill the gap left by TNT. Although TNT is entering into joint venture with a subsidiary of China Post, customers who relied on its venture with Sinotrants will be left without reliable delivery service. This is a good opportunity for FedEx to explore. Implementation FedEx must establish weather partners are reliable or not before it enter into joint ventures with them. This will ensure that their reliable and quality services are not jeopardized. Back ground check should be carried out before an agreement is reached to keep off companies with poor public approval in their areas of operation. Alte rnately, FedEx can identify local courier and delivery companies which can be trusted by customers in their respective areas and then enter into joint ventures with them. Finally, when the company has established enough links with customers, it can improve its services while it introduces other competitive services to their new customers.

Summarize articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Summarize articles - Essay Example Religious leaders from the Calvinist, Presbyterian and Methodist clergy also played a key part in establishing colleges, spurred on by faith in mankind and the desire for progress (Rudolph, 44-67). Chapter 8 of Clark Kerr’s ‘The Uses of the University’ reflects upon the hard choices that universities and colleges had to make regarding their curriculum and teaching standards, as well as assessment criteria. This fluctuated between more privatization, more federalization and more cultivation of general public support to effective use of resources, more pluralistic leadership and attention to longer term goals. Since it is impossible to predict the state of the economy, it has been decided to turn over the responsibility for the education sector to the Federal Government. In this way the research and learning aspect of these institutions could be preserved. The progress of civilization depends upon learning (Kerr, 184-197). Ellen Goldring and Claire Smrekar in their ‘Magnet Schools and the Pursuit of Racial Balance’ (2000) explore the role of magnet schools in reducing racial isolation and encouraging diversity. These schools were born out the desegregation movement of the mid-1970s and have been so successful in meeting the needs of special and minority students that there is a long waiting list for admissions. Yet as regards the goal of reducing minority exclusion from the rolls, only 44 percent or less managed to achieve this milestone. While the effort was greatly appreciated by parents, yet the more desirable longer term goal would be to undoubtedly achieve racial integration within the community and the workplace (Goldring & Smrerkar, 2000,

A Rose for Emily- William Faulkner Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A Rose for Emily- William Faulkner - Essay Example The town people felt sorry for her and left her alone other than their speculations about her which could not be confirmed until they entered her house after her death. After her funeral, they went to inspect the upstairs of her house and found the male maid there, but he was dead in bed and he had piece of her hair on a pillow found beside him. They were both shocked and amazed that she was an eccentric as they had believed adding validity to the gossip. The fast paced story telling emphasizes the gossipy and uncertain nature if her life’s story. When Emily was alive, it was almost a past time of the town as a topic of gossip and speculation, but after her death she became almost a famous legend of the town and the story would continue to be told now as truth rather than gossip. The story ends with the town unsure of what to do or believe ending almost as mysteriously as it began. This perspective epitomizes the sense of small town gossip giving a feel for the town she lived in with the ironic twist that these busybodies were right about her the entire time and yet she was able to commit the perfect murder right under their watch. Works Cited Booth, Alison, J. Paul, and Kelly J. The Norton Introduction to Literature. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2007. Print.

Plato Apology Essay Example for Free

Plato Apology Essay The Apology is Plato’s accurate depiction of the Socrates’ own defense at the trial provoked by Meletus. However, besides current accusers, Socrates has to speak out to defense against former accusers who have created prejudices of him for long time. Former accusers prosecute Socrates for â€Å"studying things in the sky and below the earth† and â€Å"[making] the worse into the stronger argument† (Plato 18b-c). Moreover, Meletus, who is one of recent accusers, charges Socrates of â€Å"[corrupting] the young and not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in new spiritual things† (Plato 24c). The dialogue between Socrates and the jury as well as Meletus describes the true personality of Socrates and answers the question if Socrates is guilty or innocent of those charges. First, Socrates is accused of studying â€Å"things in the sky and things below the earth† (Plato 23d). In this time period, Athenian people believe that gods are the ones who create and rule the world. Everyone must believe in and worship with no doubt. Therefore, if anyone tries to study and explain matters in terms of natural phenomenon instead of religious belief, he or she is immediately charged of not believing in gods and receives punishments from whole society. In this case, older accusers believe that what Socrates is doing is as same as other philosophers who trying to oppose religious belief and negatively impact the society. This is reflected by the comedy of Aristophanes depicting Socrates as a person who has ability to â€Å"walk on air† and present â€Å"a lot of other nonsense† matters (Plato 19c). However, Socrates proves that he is not that type of person and he does not have any knowledge of those matters by saying â€Å"I do not speak in contempt of such knowledge† and asking if anyone has ever heard him discussing about these subjects (Plato 19d). In fact, Socrates’ occupation is a wisdom searcher who dedicates his life to find wise men and to discuss about virtues (Poage). Therefore, the first accusation is not true, and Socrates is not guilty because Socrates does not â€Å"[study] things in the sky and things below earth† to oppose the trust of gods. Second, the earlier accusers prosecute Socrates for â€Å"[making] the worse into the stronger argument† as many Sophists do (Plato 18b-c). The accusers claim that Socrates is one of many Sophists who are â€Å"very good speakers. Indeed, they [have] reputations for being able to convince a crowd that up [is] down, that day [is] night, that the wrong answer could be the right answer, that good [is] bad and bad is good, even that injustice is justice and justice would be made to appear as injustice† (Pecorino). Furthermore, Sophists are paid for delivering speech and only care about winning debates and lawsuits more than anything else. Thus, most of them are feared and hated by Athenian people. Nevertheless, Socrates distinguish himself from Sophists by giving evidence that he â€Å"live[s]in great poverty because of [his] service to the god† (Plato 23b). While Sophists such as Gorgias of Leontini, Producs of Ceos, and Hippias of Elis charge fee for their services, Socrates never asks or receive money from anyone whom he approaches and asks questions regarding to wisdom and virtue. Unlike Sophists who are wealth and famous, Socrates is so poor because of his free service. In addition, Socrates’ intention is to help other people understand virtue and become wiser rather than teaching them how to become good speakers as Sophists do. Therefore, Socrates is not guilty of â€Å"[making] the worse into the stronger argument† (Plato 18b-c). Another charged brought by later accusers against Socrates is â€Å"corrupting the young† (Plato 23d). Socrates teaches his young men be wiser and think about themselves. This annoys the Athenian government and officials because they think those young could break the laws and create rumor among the society. Hence, Meletus prosecutes Socrates for teaching the young to go against the government and emphasizes that all the Athenians make the young become better except Socrates (Plato 25b). In order to reverse that accusation, Socrates uses example of horse breeders who are trained and have experience to take care of horses and make them better while the majority lacking of skills and knowledge cannot. As a result, it is impossible for all the Athenians to know what benefits the young. Only Socrates who has knowledge and skills is able to teach the best for the young. Moreover, Socrates indicates that no one wants to harm oneself; neither does Socrates. If he intentionally corrupts the young, he is putting himself at risk because â€Å"the wicked people do some harm to their closest neighbors while good people do them good† (Plato 25e). Therefore, it is impossible for Socrates to teach the young in the way to harm him. After Socrates disproves Metelus’ charge, he criticizes Metelus’ prosecuting procedure. If Socrates harms the young unintentionally, Metelus has to â€Å"get hold of [Socrates] privately, instruct and exhort [Socrates]† (Plato 26). In contrast, Meletus brings Socrates straight to the court â€Å"where the law requires one to bring those who are in need of punishment, not of instruction† (Plato 26). As a result, Socrates again shows that he is not guilty. The last accusation brought against Socrates is â€Å"not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other new spiritual things† (Plato 24c). In order to prove that Socrates does not trust in gods, Meletus states that Socrates â€Å"says that the sun is stone, and the moon earth† (Plato 26d). If Socrates does say this statement, he denies the presence of Apollo the god of the sun and the presence of Selene the goddess of the moon. Nevertheless, Socrates claims that Anaxagoras of Clazomenae is actually the one who said those matters. Moreover, Socrates catches Meletus’s contradiction when he claims that Socrates does not trust in gods. To make Meletus admit his contradiction, Socrates asks Meletus â€Å"[d]oes any man believe in spiritual activities who does not believe in spirits? † and Meletus answers there is no one (Plato 27c). Socrates believes in the Oracle of Delphi which is related to spiritual activities, and everyone in Athens including Meletus knows that. This means that Meletus agrees that Socrates also believe in spirits which are â€Å"either gods or the children of gods† (Plato 27d). Now, Meletus contradicts himself by saying Socrates believe in gods. Consequently, Socrates successfully shows Meletus’s false and prove that he not guilty of the charge. In conclusion, Socrates is not guilty of the charges from the earlier accusers as well as the recent ones. Socrates provides many evidences and uses his excellent argument skill to prove that he is innocent, but the jury still is not convinced and sentences him to death. What Socrates does is not harmful to anyone in Athens; he only try to question about wisdom and discuss about ethics in order to find the answer for the Oracle. Socrates teaches his students to realize that they are not wise as they thought and show them the way to better themselves by seeking more wisdom. Unfortunately, jealous people and conservative culture does not understand his divine destiny and fallaciously accuse him like a criminal. Works Cited Pecorino, Philip A. An Introduction to Philosophy: An Online Textbook. Study Web. n. d. Web. 13 July 2013. Plato. Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo. 2nd ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. , 2002. Print. Poage, Nathan. Apology Outline. Behavioral Social Sciences Department. Houston Community College. n. d. Web. 13 July 2013.

Value of Health Care Essay -- United States Healthcare

The Value of Health Care The development of value based healthcare reimbursement systems between healthcare payers and healthcare providers is evolving from the need to provide patients with beneficial healthcare technologies under conditions of significant economic uncertainty. The concept examined centralizes on shifting the focus of the healthcare system from volume to value. Value is measured by outcomes achieved based on a full cycle of care not volume of services rendered based on each service performed. Summary of Article The article chosen for this assignment was published on December 23, 2010 in the New England Journal of Medicine (Porter, 2010). The author, Porter (2010) examines the role of value in the healthcare system in the United States. According to Porter (2010) â€Å"Value should define the framework for performance improvement in healthcare.† Porter indicates that value in healthcare should be measured by outcomes achieved not the volume of services rendered. According to Porter (2010), â€Å"The proper unit for measuring value should encompass all services or activities that jointly determine success in meeting a set of patient’s needs. Posistive and Negative Affects, Cost, Quality, Access, Trade-offs The national pay for value based system development has positive and negative aspects. System implementation will require multiple entity participation. Hospitals, physicians, outpatient centers, and clinics all will be responsible for collaboration in developing an integrated communication system which will present additional expense on the front end. Government mandates will be required; from implementation dates to specified circumstances in which assistive funding may be available. Multi provider ... ...g outcomes are important actions towards improving outcomes. True reform will require both moving toward restructuring the care delivery system and a national system of consistency, regulation and payment. References Lee, T.H. (2010). Putting the value framework to work. New England Journal of Medicine. 363:2481-2483 Porter, M.E., (2010). What is the value in healthcare? New England Journal of Medicine. 363:2477-2481 Porter, M.E., (2009) A strategy for helath care reform – Toward a value-based system. New England Journal of Medicine. 361:109-112 Carlson, J.J., Sullivan S.D., Garrison, L.P., Neumann, P.J., Veenstra, D.L. (2010). Linking payment to health outcomes: A taxonomy and examination of performance-based reimbursement schemes between healthcare payers and manufacturers. Health Policy, 96(3), 179-190. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.02.005