Environmental Pollution In Malaysia

Environmental Pollution In MalaysiaMalaysia is rapidly developing towards being an industrial country. Many industries such as wakeless and light industries, sm totally and medium industries and backyard industries watch been growing in the last ten years. The increase in industrial and agricultural activities has named a new demand in housing, urbanization, transportation and medication as the population increase. All these will contri merelye to environmental problems especially taint due to the assemblage of hazardous chemicals such as heavy admixtures in environment.Environmental pollution has arrest a major issue that requires immediate action as it whitethorn effects valet health. Pollution erect take many forms such as irrigate and air that we breathe. Urbanization in developed and development country, refinement and industrialization make the situation of the environment worsened as such that there is no more safe place to live. From the chemistry dictionary, pol lution asshole be define as an undesirable change in the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of the inborn environment, brought about by mans activities. It may be harmful to gracious or non living things. Basically there be two main classes of pollutants which are biodegradable which means it can be rendered harmless by natural accomplishes and need therefore cause no permanent harm if adequately dispersed or treated such as sewage. Another type is nonbiodegradable which cannot be decomposing by microbial activity. For example heavy metals such as lead, DDT and other chlorinated hydrocarbons used as pesticides, which eventually accumulate in the environment and may be concentrated in food chains.Pollution also can be describes as the introduction of foreign substances into the biosphere. It may affect the soil, rivers, seas, or the atmosphere. The pollutants that are released from the anthropogenic activities such as agricultural industries, open burning, solid w aste disposal, sewage treatment plants and transportation produce hazardous and poisonous pollutants such as SO2, NOx, heavy metals and hydrocarbon compounds that effects not only human but also both plants and animals that can cause death. Some of these hazardous pollutants find their way into the human system through the food web. They may undergo biotransformation, metabolism and excreted without the risk of cyanogenicity depending on the chemical characteristics of the compound and the dose in human body. However, both(prenominal) of the pollutants resist chemical and biological transformation and accumulate in the tissues, including the nerves, to cause toxicity. The inauspicious effects of these pollutants on the nerves system give rise to neurotoxicity. genus Rana et al.,(2004) Katranitsas et al., (2003) found that there is evidence that increasing exposure to toxic elements in marine and terrestrial organisms is having adverse toxicological consequences. Therefore heavy m etals pollution become serious issues that must been concerned.Unlike other pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons and domestic and municipal litter which may visibly build up in the environment, trace metals in the environment may accumulate unnoticed to toxic take aims. Generally, human health problems associated with trace metal contamination halt been well-highlighted in the literature. In spite of the relatively low level of industrial activity in less developed regions there is nevertheless a high potential of toxic heavy metal pollution. The distribution of metals in the environment is a result of natural processes (volcanoes, erosion, spring water, bacterial activity) and anthropogenic activities (fossil fuel combustion, industrial and agricultural processes) (Florea and Busselberg, 2006). wakeless metals such as arsenic lead, copper, compact disc, or zinc are released from the earths crust into the environment through anthropogenic sources such as non-ferrous metal ind ustry or non-renewable energy consumption. These substances can cause major damage to human health or to ecosystem stability even at low concentrations in soils. To overcome this issue, many countries have taken numerous initiatives especially the developed country. For example, in 2001 the European Union council signed the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary transmission line Pollution on Heavy Metals (Europa, 2007). Therefore there are many methods to evaluate and assess the presence of these substances. One of them is biological used.The application of biological forms as the indicators is the best ways to evaluate the environmental condition. According to (Szczepaniak and Biziuk, 2003 Bargagli, 1998), in order to detect, evaluate and minimize the effects, there has been an emphasis in the use of natural bioindicators to manage atmospheric quality in both urban and rural environments. Examples of bioindicators are lichens, fish, and mosses.One of the bioindicators that can be used is lichens. Lichens are widely known as an excellent indicator to assess our environment. Lichens play importance roles to forest communities. Lichens represent a rare source of readily digestible food at all times of year and in diverse environments due to their ability to survive in extreme climate condition. More generally, lichens act as pioneer species in barren or disturbed environments their growth on rock surfaces is one of the primary stages of soil formation in such environments (Brkenhielm, 1998 Cooper, 1953 in Dawson, 2008). Lichens are small, non-vascular plants consisting of a fungus and an alga growing together in one tissue. Normally lichens are found on the bark of trees, or the reindeer lichens growing on the ground, but many other species grow on rocks, fences, roofs, tombstones, and other objects. The characteristic of lichen that sensitive to the changes of the surrounding makes them as an excellent bioindicators and biomonitors for air pollution, es pecially sulfur dioxide pollution, since they derive their water and essential nutrients mainly from the atmosphere rather than from the soil.A lot of studies towards lichens had been done related to pollution especially air pollution in most Europen countries and jointure America Asia. During the period 1973-1988, approximately 1500 papers were published on the effects of air pollution on lichens Richardson (1988) cited in Ahmadjian (1993), and many general reviews of lichens and air pollution have been compiled (Ahmadjian, 1993). The legislation about air quality that they made has been passes through out the countries especially in developing countries where air pollution is bad. In Malaysia, several(prenominal) studies has been conducted (Mokhtar et al., 2006) to determine the heavy metals pollution level using lichen at difference places. From the research, they found out that the predisposition of lichens towards heavy metals vary from each species. Most of species of lichen have a wide geographical distribution, which allows for a hold of pollution covering wide areas and its high capacity to accumulate metals (Burton, 1986). Hutchinson et al., (1996) stated that lichens do not have seasonal variations and therefore accumulation of pollutants can occur all year-round. Lichens and mosses usually have considerable longevity, which led to their use as long-term integrators of atmospheric affirmation (Sloof, 1993). The benefits of using lichens as quantitative biological monitors of air metal deposition compare to conventional air sampling techniques rise from that lichens are present in most terrestrial habitats, are perennial, inexpensive and easy reproduced (Baffi et al., 2002).Problem statementNowadays the level of heavy metals in the environment increasing day by day as the world becomes much more developed. This is because the uncontrolled released of heavy metals leads to the pollution due to the excessive anthropogenic activities. The continuous loading of heavy metals into midland and coastal water make the situation worsens. Anthropogenic activities such as mining, smelting and agriculture have locally increased the levels of heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and nickel (Ni) in soil up to dangerous levels for plants, animals and human beings. Although with the forest around us, the status of heavy metals level quite crucial as the result of human daily activities, dense population area near the forest and also an increasing of the transportation. These activities give adverse effect to the life being as they enter into the environment. Other than that the regulations provided by Malaysian government which is the Environmental Quality Act 1974 by Department of Environment, settle down not fully been forced due to the involvement other parties such as local authority to take action when the level of pollutants exceed the monetary standard given especially in coastal a rea. This is due to the different department have different responsibilities. Nevertheless these parties can be work together to create a better life. Meanwhile due to the lack of studies towards the lichens in our country, the data obtained can help the local authority in decision making process thus maintained the quality. Besides that, it would help to make an assessment about the environmental condition and perhaps to improve environmental quality status.ObjectiveThis take up was carried out in order to achieve as the followingsTo quantify the heavy metals present in lichens.To evaluate the level of heavy metals in lichens.To establish the correlation coefficient of heavy metals pollutants in lichens with the surrounding environment.Significant of studyBy knowing that different species has different sensitivity towards heavy metals, it allow bettering understanding about the sensitivity of lichens towards heavy metals at surrounding environment. The presence or absences of spec ies in areas can give better understanding about the sensitivity of lichens towards the pollutants. The data obtained also can be used to assess the toxicology effects not only to the lichens but also on human. Heavy metals can very toxic if the level of the pollutants high than the limited given. The data also can create the distribution patterns of lichens at that place. The pollution level and status place also can be determined. This study provides a reference record for conducting further biomonitoring studies.Thesis organizationThe determination of heavy metals in lichens as bioindicators is a thesis based on previous research in different sampling location. Overall, this thesis consists of five chapters which are to assist in understanding and ease to organize through writing process. The chapters in this thesis have been organizing as followsChapter 2 generally discuss about the used on lichens as bioindicators. In this chapter, it also has detailed explanation on the morph ology of lichens that play important role in accumulate heavy metals. It also intromit the history on the scientific research on lichens, the prodigious role on absorb the heavy metals and the effects of air pollution and metal pollution towards lichens.Chapter 3 is more focusing on research methodology. In this part, it is divided into three parts which are the description on area of study, sampling collection and lastly laboratory analysis which is the procedure to determine heavy metals using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS).Chapter 4 is focusing on the results obtained and discussion. In this chapter, it discuss about the data obtained after analyze by ICP-MS. It also include the statistical tools to analyze the precision of the data obtain in order to have a good data. It also states the results and the data interpretation between the samples.Chapter 5 is the last chapter which is the conclusion. In this part, it concludes for the whole chapter in the the sis. It related on the objective of the study including the recommendation to improve the research on lichens.

Synthesised by living organisms

Synthesised by living organismsDefinition of biopolymerBiopolymers are naturally carry onring polymers which are synthesised by living organisms. This synthesis arse occur either internally within an organisms structure, or externally in appropriate conditions. The term biopolymer also encompasses those polymers which are bring upd by the physical or chemical preaching of production environments. However, depending on the terms origination, it does not strictly include those polymers produced by biological manipulating. For this reason, it is best to classify such polymers as instigateially man-made biopolymers. by dint of the chemical and physical manipulation of production environments, a large variety of biopolymers have been synthesised. Each of these newly developed biopolymers are available with unique and beneficial properties, along with the ability to biodegrade and provide a renewable source of elastic like material. Reasons why biopolymers may become increasingl y important in clubho drop petroleum derived plastics have formed an integral relationship with modern society, providing a cheap, convenient and durable method for developing numerous consumer goods and new(prenominal) products. The detrimental impacts associated with plastic favour the use of biopolymers. Such impacts, along with other factors, involve An overuse of non-biodegradable plastics. These plastics are produced at a rate of over 100million tonnes per year- consumption patterns which have genius to serious problems concerning environmental pollution, waste management and danger to animals. An uncertainty about the future resources of the petrochemical application. This industry may become obsolete or produce goods to a fault expensive for mainstream consumption. The initiatives of recycling have failed to make any spectacular progress over the previous decades. The recent success of biocompatible plastics which have revolutionised the medical industry. The ability to use industrial waste (such as food waste) as a substrate for biopolymer production. This has the added benefit of improving waste usage and reducing other forms of pollution and treatment. fire of electronic waste (e-waste) to recover the precious metals contained in chips and circuits. With the continued exponential growth of the electronics industry, the illegal practice of secretly burning e-waste releases many toxic gases, in particular if coated in PVC. For these reasons, much interest has arisen in the design and development of biodegradable, renewable, practical and economically viable biopolymers to replace the synthetic plastics consumed today. The new age of renewable energy and waste management have resulted in great emphasis on the future of biopolymers and the relative efficiency of their production. Selected BiopolymerPHB is a biopolymer belonging to a collection of biopolymers called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). It is also classified as a polyester due to conta ining an ester functional group. PHB is synthesised by the polymerisation of (R)-3-hydroxybutynl-CoA.PHB is produced by bacterium as the result of physiological stress. During this process PHB acts as an energy storage molecule to be used later when other energy sources are depleted. The most common form of PHB is poly-3-hydroxybutyrate,(as shown in the above diagram), in time discussed below are the generalised notes for all PHB isomers. PHB was first discovered in 1925 by Maurice Lemoigne who concluded that bacteria could produce polyesters. However Maurices discovery was not formally recognised as PHB until its rediscovery in 1957. This stimulated much interest in the future of biopolymers, an interest which has reignited in recent years due to the environmental fence and uncertain future of the petrochemical industry. Using traditional production methods, up to 80% of the dry weight of the bacteria can be composed of PHB. Properties of the biopolymer 100% biodegradable in bot h aerobic and anaerobic environments Biocompatible the polymer can be naturally incorporated into and decomposed by the human luggage compartment Thermoplastic Piezoelectric produces an electric authority when compressed 8 Low thermal stability 9 Ultra violet bulwark 10 High melting point 175C8 Low resistance towards acids and bases 10 Transparent and lustrous High crystallinity structural arrangement 8 Stiff 8 More dense then water 10 brittle depends on the level of crystallinity 8 Does not have chain branching it is isotactic (uniform structure) and therefore flows well during processing8 Is not soluble in water hydrophobic 8 Has a low permeable level (penetration) for oxygen, water and carbon dioxide8Uses or potential uses of the biopolymerRelationship between uses and properties PHB could become the new material for use in bottles, bags, wrapping, nappies and other disposables where biodegradability is a concern Due to the biodegradability of PHB in both aerobic and anaerobic environments (both in the presence or lack of oxygen) there is a great incentive for the potential switching of the polymers derived from petrochemicals. PHB is also hydrophobic, has low permeability by oxygen, water and CO2, has UV resistance, high melting point, and is isotactic properties which make PHB a suitable replacement for many plastic products. PHB can be used as a medical tool. These include surgical implants, treads and coatings. In medical applications, PHB is biocompatible with the blood and tissues of humans and other mammals. The normal metabolism of humans produces the monomer of PHB, (R)-3-hydroxybutynl-CoA,and thus does not reject the polymers use as a medical tool. Surgical implants and threads all reabsorb into the body. In the pharmaceutical industry, PHB can coat capsules and provide slow or controlled drug release. The property of biocompatibility allows this process to occur. Also, a low permeability for O2 and H2O allows it to be released sl owly.The electronics industry currently burns the plastic (usually PVC) coatings around chips and circuits to retain precious metals. PHB could provide an utility(a) which prevents toxic gases being released by this practice. Due to the property of biodegradability, special treatment facilities could be established to extract the precious metals in an environmentally friendly manner. Potential benefits of the biopolymer to society and the environmentEnvironmental impacts Recycling plastic as an alternative to environmental pollution and landfill usually requires much energy compared to creating new plastic. A biopolymer with the ability to biodegrade, such as PHB, removes the need to consider the less energy effective recycling method. Burning waste plastic to harness energy is an option towards to landfill issue, but this releases toxic gases and increases carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. Conversely, biological polymers form part of a natural cycle whereby carbon dioxide and water are used during photosynthesis and released during natural decomposition. The ability to synthesise PHB from a wide variety of carbon wealthy sources means that a secondary use or market can be found for some waste products. Using substrates such as industrial food waste and molasses from sugar processing reduces the need for the treatment and disposal of such wastes. The complete changeover to PHB from normal petroleum derived plastics would reduce landfill volumes by almost 20%, given this is the percentage composition of plastics in our rubbish. This would reduce overall volumes of pollution.Societal impacts PHB and other biopolymers have revolutionised the medical industry. PHB is biocompatible with human blood and tissues, and readily reabsorbs into the body objects such as implants and threading. The biopolymer can also be used as a material for slow releasing drugs. Improvements in this field are inevitable. Petrol derived plastics can be carcinogenic. E xamples include those containing benzene and vinyl chloride. PHB is a safer material for use in containers and drink bottles where this is an inconclusive concern. Reducing the volume of landfill by 20% has the social benefit of increasing overall domestic, commercial and industrial land use. It also reduces the public eyesore the landfill creates. Production of PHB using food substrates can have negative societal impacts. A higher demand for substrates which form the staple diet of developing countries may reduce the ability of these countries to purchase this food. Such a answer would worsen the food shortages of these developing countries.HSC ChemistryAssessment Task 1 BiopolymersCurrent problems with the biopolymerHSC ChemistryApplying PHB as a substitute material for petroleum derived synthetic plastics would greet substantially more and offer no real performance advantages other than its biodegradability. In the production of PHB four major factors influence overall cost the price of the substrate the effective yield achieved from that substrate the price of other input factors tedious production procedures such as the need for a subtle culture of alcaligenes eutrophus The cost of harvesting the PHB directly from alcaligenes eutrophus costs approximately $8/kg. This is substantially more than the $1/kg production cost for most oil color based plastics. These high costs are reflected in the relative costs of different substrates. The cost of the petrochemical substrate for polypropylene is US$0.185/kg of polypropylene . This is a large variation compared to the prices of different PHB substrates given in the following table substrate effectiveness based on substrate costs and yield of PHB SubstratePrice of substrate (US$/kg)Yield (kg/kg of substrate)Substrate Cost (US$/kg of PHB)Glucose0.4930.381.350Sucrose0.2950.400.720Methanol0.1800.4300.420Acetic Acid0.5950.3801.560Ethanol0.5020.5001.000Molasses0.2200.4200.520Cheese whey0.0710.3300.220 corn whi skey Starch0.2200.1850.580Hemicellulose0.0690.2000.340In addition to the economical restraints of PHB, various mechanical issues are also apparent PHB is stiff and brittle compared to polyethylene and polypropylene. This has hindered its wide acceptance as a practical replacement for these materials. Brittleness is directly related to the degree of crystallinity in the material. At room temperature, over time, secondary crystallisation occurs and the material becomes more brittle. The polymer chains degrade during processing The effect of the mass production of PHB on the environment has not been thoroughly investigated. While the material is biodegradable and renewable, major environmental consequences not yet identified may exist.Properties/production processes which need further researchThe main directions of improvement and research into modifying PHB and/or its production process can be classified into two categoriesHSC Chemistry1. Methods which involve the physical or chemic al manipulation of production environments Adding lubricants and plasticisers to prevent degrading of chains during processing. Researching new bacteria which naturally produce plasticisers along with the biopolymer to address the issue of brittleness. Such progress would directly reduce the production costs as the plasticisers otherwise added are expensive. inhibition of the secondary crystallisation that occurs over time Making products that are programmed degradable a biopolymer that allows you to control when and how it degrades. This will insure that the biopolymer remains practical while still in use. Investigating the influence of additives on PHB degrading and level of brittleness Increasing the productivity of processing techniques such as Extrusion the process in which blends are mixed to create a uniform product Injection moulding the process of injecting the molten polymer into a mould to solidify Investigating which solvents used in the extraction process are most productive and efficient Distinguishing methods which decrease the production time. Time means money, and the time taken by the bacteria to produce PHB is an economical factor hindering its commercial use.

Tony Horwitz’s Confederates in the Attic, History, and Reconciliation :: Confederates Attic

Tony Horwitzs Confederates in the Attic, History, and ReconciliationLong after the courteous War we are still fascinated by it. In near circles, the War of Northern Agression or the Lost Cause is thought of, discussed, brought to life daily. epoch e truly war has its fanbase, the Civil War has a special indication for America. It was the war for the preservation of the Union in some classes, a violent and tyrranical putting-down of a justified rebellion in others. I have never been specially interested in the war, or any war for that matter. I have in addition never been terribly entertained by professional sports or cowhand movies, either, so I blame my lack of enthusiasm for Civil War wisdom and history much on my general lack of manliness preferably than any fault of the wars. It was obviously a very moving conflict.When I moved from Illinois to Arkansas and entered the eighth grade, I discovered my new shoal was approximately a year behind my old school in about subje cts. I spent an additional nine months firming up my knowledge of acres Science, and relearning American History. For the most part, the entire academic year was simply a refresher we even used some of the same textbooks I had used in the seventh gade. It was the same, that is, until we got to the Civil War. In Illinois the war was portrayed in fairly target terms, something like this In the Civil War the North and sec fought against each other. The South wanted to secede from the union, and the North wanted to keep the US together, oh and fall by the wayside the slaves. Illinois was part of the North. The instruction wasnt necessarily complete or elevated, just I never felt like I was personally involved in the war. However, in Arkansas, in the South, I received an education much more like this During the Civil War, we fought against the North. They didnt want to let us secede. We wanted to, and would have, just we lost. They freed the slaves.Even at 13 I understood there w as something very different about the way that people in the North and in the South view the war. Many writers, poets, and critics have pronounced that part of what makes the South so southern is the fact that it builds itself on its past. It cannot let go of the past.Tony Horwitzs Confederates in the Attic, History, and Reconciliation Confederates AtticTony Horwitzs Confederates in the Attic, History, and ReconciliationLong after the Civil War we are still fascinated by it. In some circles, the War of Northern Agression or the Lost Cause is thought of, discussed, brought to life daily. While every war has its fanbase, the Civil War has a special distinction for America. It was the war for the preservation of the Union in some classes, a violent and tyrranical putting-down of a justified rebellion in others. I have never been particularly interested in the war, or any war for that matter. I have also never been terribly entertained by professional sports or cowboy movies, either, so I blame my lack of enthusiasm for Civil War lore and history more on my general lack of manliness rather than any fault of the wars. It was obviously a very moving conflict.When I moved from Illinois to Arkansas and entered the eighth grade, I discovered my new school was approximately a year behind my old school in most subjects. I spent an additional nine months firming up my knowledge of Earth Science, and relearning American History. For the most part, the entire academic year was simply a refresher we even used some of the same textbooks I had used in the seventh gade. It was the same, that is, until we got to the Civil War. In Illinois the war was portrayed in fairly objective terms, something like this In the Civil War the North and South fought against each other. The South wanted to secede from the union, and the North wanted to keep the US together, oh and free the slaves. Illinois was part of the North. The instruction wasnt necessarily complete or elevated, but I ne ver felt like I was personally involved in the war. However, in Arkansas, in the South, I received an education much more like this During the Civil War, we fought against the North. They didnt want to let us secede. We wanted to, and would have, but we lost. They freed the slaves.Even at 13 I understood there was something very different about the way that people in the North and in the South view the war. Many writers, poets, and critics have pronounced that part of what makes the South so southern is the fact that it builds itself on its past. It cannot let go of the past.

Children And Television Essay -- essays research papers

Children atomic number 18 vulnerable and easily swayed by everything around them. P bents try to do everything in their power to protect their electric razorren from unhealthy environments. They child-proof everything, but they dont realize that thousands of strangers enter the home everyday...through the television receiver. Television is in 98% of North American homes and the average Canadian child watches four hours of television every day. Most parents do not realize that their children are watching effect-ridden television programs and that by the age of 18 the average North American child will have viewed over 200,000 acts of television violence. Children should not be allowed to watch godforsaken television programs because children are easily desensitized to violence, they are unable to distinguish populace and fantasy and they copy what they see on television. Children are very impressionable and are easily desensitized to the violence they see on television. Researc h has shown that young children are aroused by aggressive scenes on television and show higher levels of emotion when watching aggressive programs than when watching passive programs. The arousal diminishes with repeated photograph to television and the violence no longer affects children. When people are no longer aroused by violence they become less responsive to valet suffering and may not be as quick to help or may not intervene during an emergency. When there is a problem, arousal levels are high and quick action is taken but when arousal levels do no increase then people are not as touch about the problem and may not jump in to solve it. Because society is becoming more aggressive, there will be more violent sociatal situations and if people do not take swift action and help because they are desenstiaed to the violence, many lives could be lost. Young children have trouble distinguishing between realism and fantasy. They cannot make objective evaluations, cannot form logic al conclusions and cannot sort out relevant data about the things they see on television. They dont understand the difference of opinion between what is possible and what is actually probable. If a young child see individual on TV jumping off a mountain and arrive on their feet, they believe that it is real becausw they saw it happen with their own eyes and do not have the capacity to believe otherwise. Children do not work up the capacity to dis... ...eir children are watching in addition to the type of programs. In the formative years, they should also let off to their children the difference between " accept" and "reality." For example, if the child sees someone getting shot on a TV program, the parent should point out that these are just actors pretending to get shot with a pretend gun. Frank discussions about the repercussions of real violence should also be discussed, with the focus on "right" and "wrong" behavior. This will help develop a grit of morality within the child which will allow him or her to make more informed decisions. The hue and cry about reducing the amount of violence on TV has had little affect on programmers or producers. The best defense parents can mount against the cumulative affects of television violence is to clearly explain to their children what is acceptable behavior. If parents explain their expectations to their children, they will be better able to formulate their own opinion regarding violence within a strong moral fashion model rather than within a blurred and confused sense of television reality which glorifies violence and makes is seen acceptable.

The Age of Enlightenment Essay -- Enlightenment 2014

Science vs the Enlightenment vs PoliticsThis essay argues that the Enlightenment is the most important concept among the three given in the title. The Age of Enlightenment was a period in early modern history when western societies, led by its intellectuals, made a marked fracture from religion based authority to one of scientific reason. Prior to this period, the Church and the State were intricately interlinked and the Enlightenment sought to sever states and politics from religion through and through the application of rational analysis based on scientific observation and facts. This movement traces its origins to the seventeenth and eighteenth century Europe. Similar undercurrents of progressive thought were seen in the New World as well, most notably from such intellectuals such as Tom Paine and other proponents of American independence (Porter & Teich, 1981).The Enlightenment has had a silent impact on the cultural evolution of Western Europe in particular and the whole of th e continent in general. A landmark piece of acquisition that turned the tables in favor of scientific reason...

Arthurs Unrealism: Monty Python, Gawain and the Green Knight, and the Destruction of :: Essays Papers

Arthurs Unrealism Monty Python, Gawain and the Green Knight, and the Destruction ofIdealsIt may be that ideals ar incumbent for humanity. Without idealized images, codes of behavior, even idealized objects, mankind would have difficulty functioning. There would be a lack of context or criteria with which to judge objects that may be termed less than ideal. However, the problem with idealized images is that they can never be described fully, and certainly never attained. An example is the contemporary ideal of feminine beauty, which has led to incalculable problems such as depression and psychological dietary disorders among women who perceive themselves to be inadequate. The more culturally emphasized an ideal is, the more ordinary people are made to feel inadequate.This has led to a trend common to all centuries, that of puncturing ideals by showing them to be less than what they are supposed to be. In dodge and literature we see manifestations of this mechanism. It is a protect ive mechanism in a sense, for it prevents total absorption in the ideal, forcing us to see it for what it is, a benchmark and not a realistic goal. Even in the works where men and women achieve the ideal, it is usually accomplished by supernatural means, for a concomitant of the ideal is that it cannot truly exist in the natural and hence imperfect world. Examples of such mechanisms range from the colloquialism out of this world to describe the superlative to the common mythological example of the religious leader being the son of a god.One of the most enduring myths in the Western world is that of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Regardless of the origins of the tales, the fact is that by the time they had been filtered through a French sensibility and re-exported to England, they were representations of not one but several ideals. Courtly love and chivalry and the various components thereof, such as martial prowess, chastity, bravery, courtesy, and so on, were presente d as the chief virtues to aspire to, and the knights as role models. Arthurs eventual fall is precisely because of having failed at some level to fulfill these ideals in his life.The Arthurian cycle shows a sporadic awareness of the impossibility of mere humans fulfilling all the ideals that Arthur and his court represent. The story of Lancelot and Guenevere, Merlins imprisonment by Nimu, and numerous other(a) instances testify to the recognition of this tension between the real and the unrealistic.

Columbine -Type Students In American Public Schools :: science

Columbine -Type Students In American Public SchoolsDont kid yourself. Theres trouble in paradise that escapes the vision of folks wearing rose-colored glasses. Im not a contemporary Chicken Little running around howler The sky is falling And Im not a little boy crying out WolfI am a causation English teacher with thirty-four years classroom experience. Ive taught through wars, recessions, political assassinations and public anti-war protests. Ive seen and broken-up hundreds of bloody student fights. Ive been threatened by enraged students and by their irate parents. Been there done thatColumbine-type students attend most high and middle schools across the country. They attend Hammonton High, Hammonton Middle, Edgewood, Oakcrest and even Beverly Hills High. They might not evermore wear trench coats and carry concealed guns and grenades. But the Columbine student mindset is definitely present. These troubled Columbine-type youths are scarier than the obnoxious wise guys that daily adjudge teacher authority and they are more frightening than the student bullies that terrorize weaker peers and start brawls in the school cafeteria or hallways. The tacit behavior of Columbine-like students makes them a unnerving challenge to school authority.Sure, high schools have peer mediation. The basic problem is that these Columbine-like students dont want to communicate with representatives of standard academic school society. The sinister-minded teens ofttimes dont even communicate with each other. Thats what makes them walking and sitting time-bombs pretend to detonate. They prefer having an insular existence that does not want to be disturbed. They dont express themselves until its too late.The Columbine student mentality has a certain behavioral profile. Thats right all you politically correct critics out there, I emphatically stated the improper word profile. The kids say little or nothing at all. They keep their feelings and thoughts mainly to themselves plot of g round sitting in their desks, oftentimes seething beneath cool external faades. Columbine-type kids seldom participate in classroom discussions or volunteer to do inferential things in school. To them athletics, school clubs and awards are not worth pursuing. Their rebellion is silent, stealthy, cold, cunning and calculated. Their ongoing rage is adroitly camouflaged they could erupt and explode at whatsoever minute. These kids, probably around five percent of any middle or high schools student body, are individual sticks of dynamite ready to be lit. Not even the students guidance counselors have any psychological handle on what these wily youths are thinking, feeling or plotting.The Columbine-type kid often feels picked-on, frustrated, alienated and persecuted.