Environmental science assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Environmental science assignment - Essay Example (MacFarlan & Sgherri, 2001) Research has also demonstrated that there is a direct relationship between the extent of HIV prevalence and the severity of reduction in growth of gross domestic product in a country. (Piot et al, 2001) Many children in Botswana are growing up with one parent, and a growing percentage are growing up having lost both parents to AIDS or to concomitant infections. It has been suggested that the increased population of orphans could have a negative effect on biodiversity caused by excessive reliance on hunting and food gathering of children orphaned by AIDS. It also seems extremely likely that the dispensation of human bodies could prove problematic, as any mechanism for caring for the dead could involve contamination of air or groundwater. Further studies must be undertaken to fully understand the ramifications of AIDS infections and deaths on the environmental status of Botswana and other South African countries. 1d) The US and Canada could take many steps t o reduce the prevalence of AIDS in Botswana and in sub-Saharan Africa in general. For one, working to equalize treatment of women would go a long way toward preventing new infections. Supporting programs to educate girls and women would reduce infection, and providing safe spaces for girls and women would prevent infection through rape and other nonconsensual sexual acts. The Stephen Lewis Foundation funds educational programs for young women and girls in an effort to empower them to protect and support themselves. 2) Precautionary Principle â€Å"The precautionary principle sets forth no positive obligation; it simply reminds legislators that they cannot wait for proof of a cause-effect linkage between a given substance, process, or activity and environmental harm before acting to reduce or eliminate the risk of this harm.† (Ellis, 2006) As a justification for public health policy in particular, the precautionary principle has serious drawbacks. Likewise, a company seeking t o introduce a novel substance or process into the environment ought to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of that novelty before being permitted to act. Critics have stacked precautionary practices because they have "produced and promoted ineffectual environmental policies." (Gardiner, 2006). This practice presupposes that human beings fully understand their environment, and that they fully comprehend the ramifications of that. Suppose a process designed to remove chemical pollution from the air was introduced, and that this process involves the use of heavy metals to bind the aforementioned chemical pollution. How would the resultant toxic slurry be disposed of? What about potential harm to individuals working to implement the law? These questions and more would have to be addressed in a satisfactory manner before the process should be legalized, and companies permitted to go forward with implementation plans. Anyone wishing to introduce a new chemical, industrial process, land us e change or any other significant and novel development into any society should absolutely be required to demonstrate not only the safety but the efficacy of that development and transparency of intent before they are permitted to introduce it, even if they are ostensibly acting in the interests of public health. All too often, the needs of large corporations are valued over those of individual human beings. Anyone who stands to make a profit from the introduction or implementation of a novel venture ought to be prohibited from sponsoring

Documentary Film journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Documentary Film journal - Essay Example My homeland is Iran. After the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran experienced a tremendous influx of immigration from these regions; today this immigration constitutes one of the largest social issues in Iran. As the issue has garnered significant media attention, it’s recognized that there has also been significant misrepresentation. To a large degree I recognized that the media’s representation of these immigrants was unfair and increasingly produced negative stereotypes. In fact, these immigrants are required to work long hours for extremely limited pay in a process that is akin to modern slavery. While I had direct experience with immigration in Iran, my knowledge of the illegal immigration experienced in the United Kingdom was limited. Still, after a quick perusal I came to recognize that the immigrant experience in this region held many parallels to the abhorrent conditions Iranian immigrants experienced. Indeed, further research demonstrated that the problem of t he illegal immigration experience cannot be limited to any one region, but is instead a global problem. Indeed, Chinese writer and journalist Pai notes: The number of people living outside their countries of origin more than doubled between 1975 and 2000, from 75 million to 175 million, and is likely to double again in the next twenty-five years, according to International Labour Organization (ILO). Among the 175 million away from home, migrant workers and their families now account for 120 million people globally. It’s estimated that undocumented migrant workers constitute about twenty per cent of global migration: which means that there are around 24 million ‘illegal workers’ world-wide (2007, p. 246). This understanding of the global and expanding nature of the illegal immigration crisis greatly influenced and inspired my research and motivated my documentary production. To a large degree it was the namelessness of these immigrants that grabbed my attention an d emotionally affected me. I considered that because of the nature of their condition they lack any status and in a sense it’s as if they don’t exist. I began to focus my research on a number of books and articles. These include: Reluctant Refuge, Enslaved, Modern Slavery, Chinese Whispers and etc. After my initial research of the pervading subject literature, I sought out a number of individuals who were experts in immigration law. Finally, having gained a thorough foundational understanding, I turned to major films on the subject. There is a tremendous amount of cinematic exploration of the immigration issues. My research involved films including: Ghosts (2006) by Nick Broomfield, Welcome (2009) by Philippe Lioret, Journey of Hope (1990) by Xavier Koller, La Promesse (1996) by Dardenne Brothers, Dirty Pretty Things (2002) by Stephen Frears, Gypo (2005) by Jan Dunn, The Visitor (2007) by Thomas McCarthy and etc. My next step was attending trials that included illegal immigrants as a means of gaining a first-hand perspective on the interaction between law and immigration. Interview Process After researching literature, film, and legal elements, I turned my focus to reaching out to interview actual illegal immigrants. As one might expect this was the most challenging aspect of my research. These individuals are an invisible part of the economic structure