What Are The Prospects Of Underwater Building Environmental Sciences Essay

What Are The Prospects Of Underwater Building Environmental Sciences Essay Population in Egypt increased in the last 10 years and reached 80 million with average annual growth 2.04%. Traffic congestion is the largest problem that Egypt faces, and it has a great effect on air quality, travelling time, business, and cost. The government always tries to solve the congestion by building new bridges, flyovers and subways, but unfortunately it fails due to the increase of population. In this report there is a study on building with a new technology which is building underwater. Although underwater buildings exist since 1960 but no one have heard about it. Building underwater will be advantageous to the environment if people succeed in achieving it. Everything can be built underwater like Houses, hotels, spa, restaurants à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ etc. to let people have a good life or vacation. The glamour view underwater of fishes, coral reefs and different creatures encourages people to build and live there. This report will discuss the possibility and the advantages of underwater buildings. The first section will define what underwater buildings are, and show the advantages and acceptance of them. The second will discuss the effect of underwater buildings on the environment. The third one will discuss the effect of underwater buildings on social life and the means of transportation. The fourth will discuss the materials used, ways of building and special requirements. The fifth will introduce the problems which face the underwater buildings. The sixth will show the ventilation systems that are used. The seventh, will be examples of existing and upcoming underwater buildings that make the reader able to visualize the idea well, and able to connect all the parts of report together. Finally, the conclusion will support and recommend building and living underwater to decrease congestion and pollution on the surface of the earth. What are underwater buildings? According to Dr. Khaled Abdelhady (Professor in architecture engineering, Shoubra University), underwater buildings are structures built underwater for different purposes each according to the type of building constructed (personal communication, 2010). It all started in the 1960s by Jacques Cousteaus team in the form of underwater research stations (underwater habitat, 2006). Underwater buildings already exist, but have you ever thought about going to an underwater building? Underwater building is the future foundation that has a great impact on the environment, we will be facing some problems while applying this technology but if we succeed in achieving it, it will be advantageous to our environment as it gets populated. It is true what was written in the Evolo magazine: Approximately 71% of the Earths surface is ocean, even more if climate change has its way; hence it is only natural progression that we will populate the seas someday. (Water-Scraper: Underwater Architecture, 2010). 1.1 Background on underwater building types When Dr. Khaled Abdelhady was asked about the types of underwater buildings he talked about the following types: 1.1.1 Infra Structures He said that infra structures are footings of buildings made under the water to let the building itself above the water, for example the bridges connecting cities like the golden gate bridge shown in figure 1.1 when you can see the base of bridge placed under the water (personal communication,2010). DSI_Seismic_Retrofit_Golden_Gate_Bridge.jpg Figure 1.1: Golden gate bridge (source: www.google.com) 1.1.2 Research centers Second, Dr. Khaled talked about the research centers underwater. He said that there are two types of centers, first is an underwater livings research center which examine and observe creatures underwater, and second there are scientific centers which search for petroleum in the bottom of seas and oceans (personal communication, 2010) 1.1.3 Tunnels As for underwater tunnels Dr. Khaled Said they are passage ways constructed underwater. There is a type made for internet main cables to be divided all over the world, telephone lines, and others. Other type is made for cars to go through underwater channels but for short distance rivers or water passages like tunnel Ahmed Hamdi at the Suez Canal in Egypt (personal communication, 2010). 1.1.4 Museums As for museums underwater, Dr. Khaled said there are 2 types, first one are museums made to see the underwater livings without having to go through the dangers of diving and for very old adults to be able to see them too, second there are museums made to see the old sunken monuments, why underwater? So that you can see them they exact way they were found in a beautiful creative way. And it has already been constructed like in Vasa Museum in Stockholm (personal communication, 2010). 1.1.5 Hotels restaurants and entertainments Another type that Dr. Khaled Abdelhady talked about was the entertainment types of buildings. There are hotels, spas, and restaurants built underwater so that people could have a nice a vacation, a massage or a meal while watching the fishes and creatures underwater. There are also games made underwater like in Disney land roller coaster as shown in figure 1.2 when you can see people getting into the water while on the roller coaster (personal communication, 2010).manta.jpg Figure 1.2: Disney land roller coaster (Source: www.google.com) 1.2 Advantage and acceptance of underwater buildings Underwater buildings have a lot of advantages to people in Egypt. It will lower the crowded places above land. It will increase the technology usage to be able to build it. It will help improve tourism as people will come from all over the world for entertainment under the red sea, and enjoyment of the astonishing numerous kinds of fishes and corals, and in same time conserve the corals from being touched and hurt by people diving. After asking a large number of people if they would accept going to an underwater city for entertainment, vacation or tourism, it was surprising that most people accepted the idea. This means that if the idea actually gets accomplished, it will be widely spread between people so quickly and it will be successful in Egypt. And as you can see in figure 1.3 the number of people accepting is about triple the number of people refusing. Figure 1.3: Chart shows the number of the acceptance and refusing people 3. Social aspects Overcrowding is considered the worlds problem, which is growing constantly and leads to many other problems. This serious dilemma prompted people to think about the colonization of the oceans, which led them to think about the underwater buildings. As we know, water covers 70% of the earths surface, while land areas form a very small percentage. Taking a look at the earth from outer space, we will find that the blue color dominates, and this will raise a lot of questions about how to exploit these areas. From this point, people begin to study the possibility of building underwater and make use of such great surfaces. Lets find out if people will welcome the idea of living underwater in the future, or it will be a useless project. Due to high cost, these underwater buildings will be limited to a certain level of people, and may be considered as a kind of prosperity. However, if we take into account that the technology advances, so there will be a way to reduce the cost. But if complete cities were built underwater, would people accept such change in their life. Some people cannot live without the sun and do not imagine themselves in a place somewhat isolated. Others want really to try this new life, and enjoy the calmness and the glorious vision. In conclusion, living underwater may become a reality if its benefits overcome its difficulties and problems. 3.1 Means of transportation After searching for the possible means of transportation to live under water, it was found that there are two possibilities. First, as many people will think, submarines would serve as the main mean of transportation. For example, thinking about its cost and applicability, we will find that it is the suitable one. Lets move to the other possibility, at a larger scale, and talk about underwater tunnels. There are some existing underwater tunnels, which would be very effective to attain a certain underwater building or complete city in the future. For example, in Dubai, Hydropolis is an underwater hotel, but it is still under construction. As it is described in figure 3.1, the developers of this project explains: It will include three elements: the land station, where guests will be welcomed, the connecting tunnel, which will transport people by train to the main area of the hotel, and the 220 suites within the submarine leisure complex.(Joachim Hauser, N.D.). C:UserspcDesktopHydropolis dubai.jpg Figure 3.1: The land station of Hydropolis (Source: Design build, ND.) 4. Construction and structure aspects 4.1 The material used   Although many materials exist for building, the one that meet the requirements with the lowest costs are to be chosen. At this level the cost will be minimized. . When choosing the materials to be used in the construction, it is important to ensure that the weight limit is not exceeded. (Carl T.F. Ross Mark El-Hajj ) The main material used for construction underwater was a special type of steel and acrylic. The acrylic material is used mainly for visibility, while the steel is used for reinforcements (supports). (Carl T.F. Ross Mark El-Hajj ) High strength steel is used as it is relatively cheap, and has its high yield strength. It is not also a good conductor of electricity and heat. It is a high corrosion resistance. (Carl T.F. Ross Mark El-Hajj )   Acrylic material is used instead of glass; It is better than glass due to being less dense, and it is also has higher impact strength than the glass. Acrylic gives the natural size and colors of the surrounding materials than glass. It is also good insulator of electricity which is good in seeking the health and safety of customers and underwater creatures. (Carl T.F. Ross Mark El-Hajj ) 4.2 Construction It is known that the wages for underwater construction would be greater than on land construction, due to the difficulty faced during the working underwater. Another problem would arise; the building is large in size. For solving these problems, they divide the building into parts and building each part on land then assemble them under the water. (Carl T.F. Ross Mark El-Hajj, ..) 4.3 Maintenance The maintenance process is a costly process especially when dealing with an underwater maintenance. The below figure shows us how this problem can be solved, by dividing the building into parts that can be separated from the whole building; these parts can be transferred to land so that a cheaper maintenance can take place. (Carl T.F. Ross Mark El-Hajj ) Figure 4.1: The maintenance process (Source: Carl T.F. Ross Mark El-Hajj) The transparent part of the building should be always clean, so that the customers can see the marine clearly in all the time. This situation can be achieved by an automated system which uses a self cleaning coating known as the smart material. (Carl T.F. Ross Mark El-Hajj ) 5 Problem which face underwater building 5.1 Cost Building under water is a very expensive process due to the machines, instruments and skilled workers. Building under water also contains some of welfare as figures (5.1, 5.2) illustrate and it needs to huge budget.Poseidon Figure 5.1: Example of under waters welfare (Source: blog.hotelclub.com/top-five-underwater-hotels/) Dreams, however fabulous, remain unfulfilled without the cash to support the commitment; the hardest part of the process was finding sponsorship to the tune of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬550m.Thats what brought me to Dubai. Still, it was a battle which took two-and-a-half years and proved tougher than developing the project itself. No bank would pay such an amount. Its a risky investment, as there are no pilots. We had to convince investors that it is safe and will bring returns on investment. (Hauser, ND), so companies accept to co-operate with its rival to complete under water building project. 5.2 The problem of Erosion Erosion  is the process of  weathering  and transport of solids (sediment,  soil,  rock  and other particles) in the natural environment or their source and deposits them elsewhere. It usually occurs due to  transport  by wind, water, or ice so engineers should choose the appropriate materials for under water building. 5.3 The location of petroleum Figure 5.2 shows that any accident may happen in the sea to the drilling machines and machinery for searching for oil or to any ship in the sea may harm the design of the building and it is out of control.C:UsersHPDesktoppaste.jpg Figure 5.2: The accident of the drilling machine (Source: http://Oc-Po/Petroleum-from-the Ocean.htmlhttp://www.waterencyclopedia.com http://www.waterencyclopedia.com http://www.waterencyclopedia.comunderwater-hotels/) 5.4 The problem of heat of water The temperature of the water is highly variable over the surface of the water, it is heated from the surface downward by sunlight, but at depth most of the water is very cold. (Martha R.  Scott, ND) 5.5 The problem of pressure Pressure plays a big role in influencing the foundations of the building also workers face difficulties either during the construction process or during the maintenance process. 6. Environmental building aspects No doubt that the first thing that comes in our mind while talking about underwater buildings is the problem of ventilation. Ventilation is defined as a: process of supplying fresh air to an enclosed space and removing from it air contaminated by odors, gases, or smoke . Therefore, there must be a source of renewable air that helps in breathing, and getting rid of undesirable gases, like carbon dioxide and others. Lets explore a solution, for the ventilation problem, that was applied while building Holland tunnel, an underwater tunnel. Tunnels, specifically, have a great problem with ventilation, due to gases produced by trains and automobiles. This problem was addressed by Clifford Holland, the tunnels designer. His aim was to find ways to clear exhaust fumes and pump in fresh air, achieving this by using ventilation towers, like the one illustrated in figure 5.1, and fans to move air in and out. Finally, air can be renewed every 90 seconds. (Howstuffworks, ND.) Figure 6.1: Inside a Holland Tunnel ventilation tower (Source: Eric and Edith Matson, ND.) The ventilation systems that can be applied while building, can be divided into two methods: natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation. Natural ventilation depends on an open window if the architecture permits, so it cannot be used in underwater buildings. Therefore, mechanical ventilation is applied to ventilate these buildings. The most important thing is the way to get oxygen needed for breathing. Breathing under water could happen in several ways; such as hydrolyzing the sea water, reversing osmosis, or suctioning methods through air pumps. (Chamberland, ND.). Oxygen can be extracted from seawater since people will live underwater, and it will be a practical method. Reverse osmosis is an effective method used in water treatment; and in the future it will be used to get oxygen, while living underwater. Suctioning oxygen, using air pumps, would help in both getting oxygen and providing good ventilation. 7. Examples 7.1 Dubai Underwater Hotel It is still under development. The hotel location will be 33 feet underwater. Its total cost is over $550 million. The land station will be connected with the underwater section with a 515 meter long tunnel through which an automatic train will transport people to the underwater hotel. It is 260 hectares area consisted of 220 suits bubble shaped 20 meters underwater. The hotel will also have several security measures. It has a series of watertight doors in case of any rapture. It will also have its own missile defensive system in case of any terrorist attack. 7.2 UNDERSEA RESORTS- Poseidon Mystery Island The idea was for the American engineer Bruce Jones. The Poseidon Resorts Mystery Island shown in figure 7.1 could be reached by elevator. It is a 1.1 million square foot , 40 feet under water. Room standard area is 550 square foot. (wayfaring,2007) . The budget of the project is $100 million. http://www.wayfaring.info/images/poseidon_mystery_island_5.jpg Figure 7.1: Poseidon Mystery Island (Source: www.wayfaring.info) 7.3 Ithaa underwater restaurant It is the 1st of its kind in the world. It is 16 feet below the surface of Indian Ocean. It is encased in clear acrylic. The ithaa restaurant can be reached by a wooden walkway shown in figure 6.2 from over the water. It was hard to build it on the beach of rangali due to technical challenge, limited resources and quality problems. (Wikipedia, 2010). It was constructed in Singapore. Its construction began in May 2004, and it was completed in October 2004 including installation of the acrylic arches, air conditioning and electric ducts. Its life span is 20 years. http://travel.spotcoolstuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/under3.jpg Figure 7.2: Ithaa underwater restaurant (Source: www. Wikipedia.com) 7.4 Jules Undersea Lodge It is the worlds first underwater hotel, originally built in the early 1970s. It was opened to the public in 1986. (hotelclub,2007).The entrance to the hotel is 21 feet underwater on the sea floor. The Lodge is fully stocked with compressed air.

Capital Punishment Essays -- essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Capital Punishment He is escorted down to a room with handcuffs on both arms and feet. The tension in the room causes nervousness and a stirring in his stomach, which entombs his dinner from the night before. He is told to take a seat. Still in doubt of his fate he notices the witnesses and their various expressions. His family is grief-stricken, a sharp contrast to the family of the brutally murdered, for which he was found guilty of. If only they knew what he knew; for they would not be strapping him into the chair, soaking a sponge, and placing it on top of his head along with the metal skullcap. If they knew the truth there would be someone in his place today. But alas, the truth dies along with the innocent. Capital Punishment, as read in the scene above, has importance in times dating back to ancient civilizations. It’s purpose is to permanently disband those unfit to live with society. Even knowing its prominent background, in modern times there is doubt whether or not it is still necessary. Today, in the twenty-first century, there are currently 38 states with the death penalty. The other twelve have life with out parole as the maximum sentence. In the practicing states there were 66 executions carried out in 2001, 85 in 2000, and 98 in 1999. If this trend continues there will be even fewer this year. The states leading execution are Texas and Oklahoma, as of 2001. Texas carried out nearly 26% of the 66 executions and Oklahoma leads with 28%. By region; the South carries out 79% of the U.S. executions, with the Midwest at 15%, the West at 6% and the Northeast at 0%. (Death Penalty Info†¦.) The reasons why someone may be sentenced with capital punishment vary from state to state. The most common factors include first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping. According to the poet Hyman Barshay, â€Å"The death penalty is a warning, just like a lighthouse throwing its beams out to sea. We hear about shipwrecks, but we do not hear about the ships the lighthouse guides safely on their way. We do not have proof of the number of ships it saves, but we do not tear the lighthouse down.† Barshay and other pro death penalty supporters believe that the death penalty deters would be killers. A person would be less likely to do something if he or she thinks that harm will come to them. This is basic human... ... Due to the fact that it costs more to support life with out parole, the money saved from capital punishment can be used to help society in a better way. Both sides have their point in this argument. Although many oppose capital punishment, in most states it is still active whether they believe in it or not, and are still punishable by it. It’s the choice of society to take a stance and show their opinion. Bibliography Death Penalty Information Center 29 April 2002 Press release, Death Penalty Information Center, Oct. 27, 1992 Denno, Deborah W., Is Electrocution an Unconstitutional Method of Execution? The Engineering of Death over the Century, 35 WILLIAM & MARY L. REV. 551, 664-665 (1994). Karwath, Rob & Susan Kuczka, Gacy Execution Delay Blamed on Clogged IV Tube, CHICAGO TRIB., May 11, 1994, at 1 (Metro Lake Section). Kwok, Abraham, Injection: The No-Fuss Executioner, ARIZONA REPUBLIC, Feb. 28, 1993, at 1. Pro Death Penalty 29 April 2002

Confedrates in the attic

Tony Horwitz in the book, â€Å"Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches of an Unfinished Civil War† travels throughout the south following the path of the Civil War he meets many people interesting and different people and visits the cities and towns along the path of the Civil War there are many themes throughout the book, but the two I found most important were Reality, and The Life of a Solider. The reason I choose these as my most important topics are because I feel it is necessary to understand the reality of the Civil War and to do that understanding the life of a solider is necessary.During Horwitz' travels one of the first things he learns is that the reenactments are not as easy and fun as he had expected, however there are people who have the same love as Horwitz but do not take Reenactment's as seriously, â€Å"We try to be authentic, but no one wants to eat rancid bacon and lie in the mud all night. This is a hobby, not a religion† (Horwitz 130). The life of a soldier in the 1860's was difficult and for the thousands of young Americans who left home it was an experience none of them would ever forget.The average reinactor was male thirty-four, and did this for fun, so magine how harsh it was for an eighteen year-old drafted solider to leave home and eat rancid bacon and lie in the mud all night. â€Å"Soldiers would carry their cards, dice, writing utensils, letters, and other necessary goods for passing time in their haversacks. Soldier often had to carry these supplies as well as several other things that they needed with them at all times. The types and amounts of supplies available to these soldiers depended on the resources of their armies. â€Å"( Capman and Jankoviak 9).Here the textbooks goal is to make students aware of what the reality of a solider as carrying the personal with them twenty-four/seven. Racial Tensions in the civil war Throughout the Civil War racial tensions grew exponentially, this was not a very good thing f or African American soldiers either fighting with the north or being forced to fght with the south. Getting a Haircut in the army â€Å"The Union and Confederate armies were haphazardly raised, badly organized, poorly trained, inadequately fed, clothed and housed, and almost wholly without comforts, sports, entertainments or proper medical care†(Commerger 1).Im one of ommerger's articles he writes about getting a haircut during the Civil War something that seams so normal to any of us but at camp Cameron there was only one person who knew how to cut hair, one time a man came running through the camp screaming,† The Yankees are coming! † and right there in the middel of his haircut they picked up their weapons and marched into War. How The Civil War Soldiers Marched No hardships were harder than the marching The roads were dusty in the summerand muddy in the winter; the soldiers were dressed in heavy wool, loaded own with fifty or sixty pounds of equipment, often w ithout food for most of the day.It is no wonder that straggling was almost universal, or that thousands of men fell out of line and got lost. It is difficult to know whether the Confederate or the Federal soldiers suffered most from marching. More Confederates than Federals were country bred, and theretore more accustomed to cross-country hiking; on the other hand the Confederacy was low on shoes, and there are any number of stories of Southern soldiers marching barefoot, even in the winter months.

Pollution in Our seas essays

Pollution in Our seas essays Since the beginning of time, human beings have taken advantage of the oceans by using them as a dumping ground. Soda bottles, food wastes, plastic pellets, old tires, fishing equipment, and many other types of debris are dumped into the oceans. This senseless act is killing innocent sea animals at an alarming rate. In addition to harmless marine creatures dying off, our drinking water has become greatly affected as is our ability to use water for recreational purposes. In order to combat water pollution, we must understand the problems, how it affects the ocean, and become part of the solution. Water pollution is any chemical, physical or biological change in the quality of water that has a harmful effect on any living thing that drinks, uses or lives in it (Water...). There are several categories of water pollutants. The most damaging and most numerous of all are plastics. The problem occurs when we no longer need these items and we dispose of them especially the throwaway material used in wrapping or packaging. Plastic does not promptly break down in nature. Which means, the plastics that are tossed in the ocean today may still be around hundreds of years from now causing immense harm. It requires high ultra-violent lights in order for it to decay. One survey in the North Pacific found that 86% of the floating trash was plastics (Threatened... 40). However, the amount of plastic wastes found in our oceans is steadily increases. This plastic can affect marine life in two significant ways: by entangling creatures, and by fooling the predator into thinking that it is food. For example, a plastic bag looks like a jellyfish to a sea turtle. However, if consumed by the sea turtle, it could choke or it could cause a serious infection interna lly. Below is a picture illustrating what a six-pack ring (used to hold beverages) thrown into the ocean can do: In 1992, a group in North Caroli...

Interracial Adoption and Diverse Family Units †African American Studies

Interracial Adoption and Diverse Family Units – African American Studies Free Online Research Papers Interracial Adoption and Diverse Family Units African American Studies Adoption laws differ from state to state and even from country to country but one thing that remains is the benefits, happiness and joy it brings to families and children. The practice of adoption dates back at least as far as the 18th century BC, but it wasn’t always a good experience as children were sold into black market. It wasn’t until Hammurabi, who took the corruption out of the process, wrote the first legal reference about adoption. After WWII, organizations attempted to place children within families of other ethnicities and designed programs such as â€Å"Operation Brown Baby†. During the civil rights movement, interracial adoption began to radically multiply. The family experience is more important than growing up in a same-race environment; orphaned children are better off received care and love from a family unit, regardless of skin color. Throughout the decades, prejudice and racism has plagued this country by encompassing the minds of the each generation’s youth. Not until recently has people’s ideologies truly changed to begin accepting other cultures and the notion of interracial families. The Howard M. Metzenbaum Multiethnic Placement Act was instituted in 1994 which â€Å"prohibits an agency that receives Federal assistance and is involved in foster care and adoptive placements from delaying or denying the placement of a child based on race, color, or national origin of the child or adoptive foster parent or the child involved†(Wikipedia). In order to remove ambiguous language and any latent discrimination, this act was revised. The Interethnic Adoption Provisions, â€Å"forbid agencies from delaying or denying the placement of a child solely on the basis of race and national origin† (Wikipedia). There are many pros and cons of adopting interracially, however this development provides more benefits than harm. Although it may be challenging for a child to learn their culture with a family who does not share the same background, many believe that these children are still able to grow up as healthy individuals. Same race adoption is falsely considered to make most sense, and to inflict the least disruption in a child’s life. However, by practicing only race-matching adoption, minority children are left in the system to wait; most never getting adopted. â€Å"Minority children made up 60% of those in foster care nationwide in 1994 and waited twice as long for permanent homes as did other foster children (www.gao.gov).† The longer children are in the foster care system, the less chance they have of leaving. When they age out of foster care, â€Å"27% of males and 10% of females were incarcerated within twelve to eighteen months. 50% of these children were unemp loyed and 37% had not finished high school†. (Adoption.com). The statistics show that it is crucial to provide these children with support and encouragement as they grow older and it would be a crime to deny them this merely because of skin their color. Even if such issues such as culture and identity arise, the family can contribute to helping the child learn about it. Tips for raising a child of a different background include: Become intensely invested in parenting; Tolerate no racially or ethnically biased remarks; Surround yourselves with supportive family and friends; Celebrate all cultures; Talk about race and culture; Expose your child to a variety of experiences so that he or she develops physical and intellectual skills that build self-esteem; and take your child to places where most of the people present are from his or her race or ethnic group (Adoption.com). You should not allow your children to practice racially biased comments or others in your family network. By showing that it is unacceptable you are setting a boundary for your children. If you have a Hispanic child, take them to the Hispanic fair in your town. If you have a black child, buy her a black doll. Show that all cultures are unique, special, and should be celebrated and appreciated. Through discussion of other races and cultures, the child’s background will be rich in culture and diversity. Just by using some of these ideas, you can make having an interracial child a rewarding experience. There are an abundance of horrifying stories in which children are neglected and abused in the foster care system and even in their own homes with their biological families. Two-year old Brianna Blackmond was shuffled back and forth between foster care and her neglectful biological mother. On December 22, 1999, the judge handling Briannas custody case ordered the District of Columbia Child and Family Services to return her to her mothers home. There Brianna lived with her mother, her godmother, and twelve other children in a rat-infested, feces-stained home where the children went without food for days at a time. Two weeks later, Brianna died. Her godmother had beaten her with a belt and struck fatal blows to her head. (Swize) Placing a child in a home based on the biological and or ethnic similarities just reflects a self serving interest. It reflects society’s agenda to control the fate of economically disadvantaged children. Brianna’s fate is shared with many others who have suffered as the result of a system that cares more about the color of their skin then their quality of life. Regardless of the ethnic similarities a child and parent have in common, this does not mean they are more capable of providing a nurturing environment than a person of a different ethnicity. How can anyone place cultural awareness over a child’s physical well being? The fact that Child and Family Services placed Brianna back into the custody of a parent who had a history of being unable to provide for her is a disgrace. The very agency that is supposed to ensure the safety of millions of children in the system issues death warrants every time they carelessly return or place a child into unsuitable c onditions. The first time Brianna was removed from her biological mother’s home she was placed in a foster home with parents that were not black. The judge in her case openly stated that â€Å"the destruction of the black family (through trans-racial adoption) was driving her crazy†. This statement reflects the misguided focus and perception of those responsible for the placement of these children. It is obvious that they were anxious to take return her to an â€Å"unfit† mother for the sake of saving the â€Å"black family†. Situations like Brianna’s reveal the contradictions in the debate over trans-racial adoption. Kids are discarded to be victims of the system. The reality is there are not enough black families to meet the staggering numbers of foster children who need parents. Why would one deny them access to a better life based on the color of their skin? The standard that determines a child’s fate should be based on the love and support a family is able to provide not the superficial image of what a family should look like. ` People misconstrue the notion of interracial adoption as trying to obtain a color-blind society and erase the effects of past discrimination which society views as impossible. But this is truly not the case at all. The emotional and physical effects of growing up in the foster care system are far more traumatic than being raised in a trans-racial yet supportive family. Interracial adoption is not aiming at solving societal issues of prejudice but rather to benefit the quality of life of our children. This type environment encourages constructive exposure and identity to one’s race. Parents who have adopted children of another race may embrace their child’s culture and background by choosing to live in a more racially diverse neighborhood to ensure that their child is regularly exposed to families of the same race. As with any life experience, obstacles will be encountered when adopting a child of a different background but there are ways that you may overcome these. With the amount of minority children in foster care, and the people who have the means of adopting, we should not place a limit. Statistics show that interracial adoption is becoming more common place and it is worse to leave these children in the foster care system rather than placing them in an adoptive home regardless of race. There are ways to integrate an interracial family together and to ensure that the child will not lose their racial identity. An attempt to incorporate a color-blind society in today’s world is not what interracial adoption is trying to accomplish. The only concern is for the welfare of the flood of children in the foster care system and not to solve deep rooted societal issues. It is imperative to keep an open mind on this topic in order to facilitate the excessive and unnecessary amounts of ch ildren in foster care. The importance lies with providing these children with stable, healthy homes so they will be given a fair opportunity to live a mindfully healthy and happy life. 1. adoption.com. Introduction to Transracial or Transcultural Adoption. 1995. 13 Oct 2006 . 2. Answers.com. Interracial Adoption. 2006. 13 Oct 2006 . 3. Horne, Charles. The Code of Hammurabi. Ancient History Source Book 1910 12, October 2006 . 4. Implementation of the Multiethnic Placement Act Poses Difficult Challenges. United States General Accounting Office GAO/HEHS-98-20409/2006 16, October 2006 . 5. Interracial Adoption. Wikipedia. 2006. 11 Oct 2006 . 6. Swize, Jennifer. Transracial Adoption and the Unblinkable Difference:. Virginia Law Review (2002): 1079 1118. 7. The Adoption History Project. African-American Adoptions. 2005. 16 Oct 2006 . Research Papers on Interracial Adoption and Diverse Family Units - African American Studies19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationHip-Hop is ArtThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseWhere Wild and West MeetOpen Architechture a white paper

Rewright this paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Rewright this paper - Essay Example Creative communities are groups of people that have dedicated themselves to discovering how to introduce new ways of eating, building and communicating to the general society. These communities are designed to discover new models of sustainable living through the creativity of the community members. All creative communities share some characteristics. The members of a creative community try to take care of their needs for things like education and health care within the community. They try to provide for the needs of humanity at the local level and in a way that is safe for future generations. They think locally with the idea of setting an example of proper living for the nation. Some people say that creative communities isolate themselves from the rest of society. They say that this keeps them from influencing anything. This is not true, because member of creative communities participate in institutions of the larger society. This is how they share their ideas and experiences. For a very long time the term designer has had a specific definition. A designer was viewed as a person that made a plan and then other people were to follow the plan. Manzini challenges this view by saying a designer is anyone that acts in for change in society. Therefore, people who wear the title of designer as well as members of creative communities or regular citizens can be viewed as designers. Traditional vies of design are still valid. Designers can operate within their areas of expertise. This way they can imagine and create those things that do not exist yet. What needs to change is the isolation of the designer. Design needs to be seen as a social learning process. In this view, the designer is more of a facilitator than a boss. The designer works with the community enacting change instead of directing the change. The designer needs to use the skills they possess to facilitate the changes. This change makes the designer’s job more complex. Instead of

Resources regarding English 1 writing Annotated Bibliography

Resources regarding English 1 writing - Annotated Bibliography Example The types of writing included on this page are cause/effect essay, comparison/contrast essay, definition essay, description essay, narration essay, persuasive essay and process analysis essay. Each page gives three to four points that should be included in this type of essay. It is a handy reference when I’m trying to figure out what to write. This site has a lot of the same information as the â€Å"Types of Writing† site, but adds to it. It discusses the types of writing in a lot more detail, so it would be helpful to come here after I have decided on the type of writing from the other site. After getting an idea of the type of paper I’m going to write, this site would fill in the details of what is expected and gives extra help on how to write an essay and many other forms of writing. This site gives very practical help on how to write a good essay for university. The author is the wife of a teacher and has a long history of editing and helping students. She points out some of the common mistakes students make and will be helpful to make my essays better. This site walks visitors through the writing process. It helps you get your ideas together, organize them neatly and put them together in an academic way. It is helpful because it gives you choices based on different answers to questions like when the topic is assigned or when no topic is assigned. This site talks about the various styles that people can write in such as a conversational style or a poetic style. It is helpful because you don’t always think about styles like this and it helps to use the right style for the kind of writing you are doing. This site gives a lot of writing help like some of the other sites I’ve found, but I think it will be most helpful for helping me find out how to do better research. It provides some resources to go to and talks about the research process. The other sites have better information about the writing