Water Pollution in China Essay Example

Water Pollution in China Essay Example Water Pollution in China Paper Water Pollution in China Paper 111 paper mills and 413 other industrial plants on the river were shut down. In the village of Humidifying?where a once-clear stream is now greenish black from factory wastes?cancer accounted for 11 of the 1 7 deaths in 2003. Both the river and well water in the village?the main source of drinking water?have an acrid smell and taste produced by pollutants dumped upstream by tanneries, paper mills, a huge MS plant, and other factories. Cancer had been rare when the stream was clear. Attenuate is town six kilometers northwest of Asian that still uses an ancient system of moats to irrigate its crops. The moats unfortunately dont drain so well and are now badly contaminated by household discharges and industrial waste. Visitors to the town are often overwhelmed by the rotten egg smell and feel faint after five minutes of breathing in the air. Vegetables produced in the fields are discovered and sometimes black. Residents suffer from abnormally high cancer rates. One third of peasants in the village Bedaub are mentally ill or seriously ill. Women report high numbers of miscarriages and many people die in middle age. The culprit is believed to be drinking water drawn from the Yellow River downstream from a fertilizer plant. The waters around Tuition in Sneezing, the home of Highs Pharmaceutical, one of Chinas largest drug makers, are so contaminated with sludge and chemicals that fishermen complain their hands and legs become ulcerated, and in extreme cases need amputation. Studies have show that people who live around the city have high cancer and birth defect rates. Polluted Yanking, pearl and Yellow Rivers Chinas three great rivers?the Yanking, Pearl and Yellow River?are so filthy that it is dangerous to swim or eat fish caught in them. Parts of the Pearl River in Guanos are so thick, dark and soupy it looks like one could walk across t. In recent years pollution has become a problem on the Yellow River. By one count 4,000 of Chinas 20,000 petrochemical factories are on the Yellow River and a third of all fish species found in the Yellow River have become extinct because of dams, falling water levels, pollution and over fishing. More than 80 percent of the Hay-Huh Yellow river basin is chronically polluted. In October 2006, a one kilometer section of the Yellow River turned red in the city of Languor in Gangs Province as result of a red and smell)/ discharge from a Sewage pipe. In December 2005, six tons of diesel Oil leaked into a arbitrary of the Yellow River from a pipe that cracked because of freezing conditions. It produced a 40 mile long slick. Sixty-three water pumps had to be shut down, including some in Jinn, the capital of Sandhog Province. The Yanking River is polluted with 40 million tons of industrial and sewage waste. Half of Chinas 20,000 petrochemical factories lie on its banks. About 40 percent of all waste water produced in China?about 25 billion tons?flows into the Yanking, of which only about 20 percent is treated beforehand. The pollution has taken its toll on aquatic life. Fish catches from the river declined room 427,000 tons in the 1 sass to 100,000 tons in the sass. The Yanking is in danger of becoming a dead river unable to sustain marine life or providing drinking water. According to report by the Chinese Academy of Sciences released in April 2007 the Yanking is seriously and largely irreversibly polluted. More than 600 kilometers of its length and almost 30 percent of its major tributaries are in critical condition. Sections of the Grand Canal that have water deep enough to accommodate boats are often filled with trash sewage and oil slicks. Chemical waste and fertilizer and pesticide run-off empties into the canal. The water is mostly brownish green. People who drink it often get diarrhea and break out in rashes. Polluted Lakes, Canals and Coastal Areas in China Dead fish in Hangout pond Studies have showed that the quality of coastal waters are deteriorating quickly as a result of land-based pollution. The study found that 8. 3 billion tons of sewage was released in Gudgeon Provinces coastal waters in 2006, 60 percent more than five years earlier. Altogether 12. Million tons Of polluted material was dumped in waters Off the southern province. Some lakes are in equally bad shape. Chinas great lakes?the ATA, Chaos and Danish?have water that is rated Grade V, the most degraded level. It is unfit for drinking or for agricultural or industrial use. Describing Chinas fifth- biggest lake a Wall Street Journal reporter wrote: The slow, hot days of summer are here, and sun-fed algae is starting to clot the milky surface of Chao s Lake. Soon a living scum will carpet a patch the size of New York City. It will quickly blacken and rot The smell is so terrible you can not describe it. Canals, See Change, Places Apple Accused of Making a River Runs Black In March 2012, Peter Smith wrote in The Times, Beyond the brick cottages of Tonguing runs Lou Ixia Bang, once the soul of the farming village and a river where, until the digital revolution, children swam and mothers washed rice. Today it flows black: a chemical mess heavy with the stench of Chinas high- tech industry ? the hidden companion of the worlds most famous electronics brands and a reason the world gets its gadgets on the cheap. Source: Peter Smith, The Times, March 9, 2012] The article then goes on to describe how the town of Tonguing Was being affected by chemical Waste from local factories that, as well as turning the river black, has caused a phenomenal increase in cancer rates in Tonguing (according to research by five Chinese non-governmental organizations). The factories have grown up in the last few years and make circuit boards, touch screens and the casings of smartness, laptops and tablet computers. As usual in these cases, Apple was mentioned although the evidence appears to be a little sketchy as to whether these factories are actually players in the Apple supply chain. [Source: Speedometer UK/Europe blob] Smith wrote in the Times: Workers at the Cedar factory, five meters from a kindergarten where children have implanted of dizziness and nausea, have secretly confirmed that products had left the factory bearing the Apple trademark. Red Tides, Salt Tides and Algae Bloom in China Algae blooms, or transportation, in lakes are caused by too much nutrients in the water. They turn lakes green and suffocate fish by depleting the oxygen. They are often caused by human and animal waste and run off of chemical fertilizers. Similar conditions create red tides in the sea. The government estimates that $240 million worth of damage and economic loses was caused by 45 major red tides between 1997 and 1999. Describing a red tide near the own of Tomato that left the seas blanketed with dead fish and fishermen badly in debt, a fisherman told the Los Angels Times, The sea turned dark, like tea. If you talk to the fishermen around here, theyll all break into tears. In some places the Chinese have tried to minimize the damage caused by algae blooms by pumping oxygen into the water and containing the blooms by adding clay which acts as a magnet for algae. A lack funds keeps China from tackling the problem using more conventional means. A severe drought in 2006, caused large amounts of seawater to flow upstream on the Gaining River in southern China. In Macaw salinity levels in the river jumped to almost three time above the World Health Organization standards. To combat the problem water was diverted into it from the Beijing River in Gudgeon. Water Bodies Struck by Algae Blooms in China Red tides have increased in their numbers and severity in coastal areas of China, particularly in Boohoo Bay off eastern China, the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Large red tides have occurred around the Shannon Islands near Shanghai. In May and June 2004, two huge red tides, covering a total area size of 1. 3 million soccer fields, developed in Boohoo Bay. One occurred near the mouth of the Yellow River and affected an area of 1,850 square kilometers. Another struck near the port city of Tannin and covered nearly 3,200 square kilometers. It was blamed on the dumping of large amounts of waste water and sewage into the bay and rivers leading into the bay. In June 2007, coastal waters off the booming industrial town of Sheehan were hit by one the biggest ever red tides. It produced a 50 square kilometer slick and was caused by pollution and persisted because of a lack of rain. There were large algae blooms in freshwater lakes throughout China in 2007. Some were lamed on pollution. Others were blamed on drought. In Jungian Province the water level in one lake dropped to its lowest level in 50 years and became inundated with blue-green algae that produced smelly, undrinkable water. Lake ATA Pollution Lake ATA is often choked with industrial waste from factories producing paper, film and dyes, urban sewage and agricultural run-off. It sometimes is covered with green algae as a result of nitrogen and phosphate pollution. Locals complain of polluted irrigation water that causes their skin to peal, dyes that turn the water red and fumes that sting their eyes. Dams built for load control and irrigation have prevented Lake Taxis from flushing out pesticides and fertilizers that flow into it. Particularly damaging are phosphates which suck out life-sustaining oxygen. Starting in the sass a number of chemical factories were built on its shores. As of the late sass there were 2,800 chemical factories around the lake, some of which released their waste directly into the lake in the middle of the night to avoid detection. Lake ATA Algae Blooms Algae bloom in Lake ATA In the summer of 2007, large algae blooms covered parts of Lake ATA and Lake Chaos, Chinas third and fifth largest freshwater sakes, making the water undrinkable and producing a terrible stench. Two million of residents of Wax, who normally rely on water from the Lake ATA for drinking water, couldnt bathe or wash dishes and hoarded bottled water that rose in price from $1 a bottle to $6 a bottle. Some turned on their taps only to have sludge emerge. The bloom on Lake ATA lasted for six days until it was flushed out by rain and water diverted from the Yanking River. The bloom on Lake Chaos did not threaten water supplies. Reporting from Shouted, near Lake ATA, William Wan wrote in Washington Post, m/U smell the lake before oh see it, an overwhelming stench like rotten eggs mixed with manure. The visuals are just as bad, the shore caked with toxic blue-green algae. Farther out, where the algae is more diluted but equally fueled by pollution, it swirls with the currents, a vast network of green tendrils across the surface of ATA Lake. [Source: William Wan, Washington post, October 29, 2010] Such pollution problems are now widespread in China after three decades of unbridled economic growth. But whats surprising about ATA Lake is the money and attention thats been spent on the problem and how little either as accomplished. Some of the countrys highest-ranking leaders, including Premier Went Ojibwa, have declared it a national prior ity. Millions of dollars have been poured into the cleanup. And yet, the lake is still a mess. The water remains undrinkable, the fish nearly gone, the fetid smell lingering over villages. [Ibid] At ATA Lake, part of the problem is that the same industrial factories poisoning the water also transformed the region into an economic powerhouse. Shutting them down, local leaders say, would destroy the economy overnight. In fact, many Of the factories shut down during the 2007 scandal have since reopened under different names, environmentalists say. [Ibid] ATA Lake is the embodiment of Chinas losing fight against pollution. This summer, the government said that, despite stricter rules, pollution is rising again across the country in key categories such as emissions of sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain. Just months before, the government had revealed that water pollution was more than twice as severe as previous official figures had shown. [Ibid] The algae bloom on Lake ATA was caused by toxic contractible, commonly called pond scum. It turned much of the lake lordliest green and produced a terrible stench that could be smelled miles away from the lake. The Lake ATA bloom became a symbol of Chinas lack of environmental regulations. Afterwards a high-level meeting on the lakes future was convened, with Beijing closing down hundreds of chemical factories and promising to spend S 14. 4 billion to clean up the lake. Lake ATA Activist We Oiling a peasant who worked for a while as a salesman, had been trying to draw attention to the condition of Lake ATA for more than a decade. William Wan wrote in Washington Post, The story of ATA Lake is a story of high-level remises and lower-level reneging, of economic interests superseding environmental ones. And it is an illustration of Chinas awkward relationship with environmental activists, who challenge the governments authority but are often the loudest force pushing its new environmental priorities on the local level-No one knows this story better than We Oiling. For almost two decades, We a peasant living along the lake,- waged a one-man campaign to clean it up. He kept track Of the thousands of factories springing up along its shores and took pictures of the untreated waste they discharged into the cake. He mailed water samples to inspectors, called TV stations and spoke out in the face of threats from factory bosses and local leaders. [Source: William Wan, Washington Post, October 29, 2010] His actions cost him his job, threatened his marriage and landed him in prison for three years. He returned home this spring to find the lake virtually unchanged. Now, with no job prospects and few friends willing to risk a visit, he spends much of his time alone at home, mulling over what he has sacrificed whether it was worth it, and whether he should continue. [Ibid] To hear Wows story Irishman is to witness the paranoia he now lives in. A short, baby-faced man, We, 42, assumes his cellophane is tapped and prefers meeting strangers in obscure spots outside town. After agreeing to take a reporter to his home, We pulls up his shorts to reveal a two-inch scar on his inner thigh. He said he got it a few weeks ago by the lake when two thugs attacked him with a knife. He points to rounder scars along his arm and his hands cigarette burns, he said, from police interrogations. [Ibid] At first, there were other villagers reporting the pollution, too, said Han Yapping, 60, who was one of them. But everyone gave up under the pressure of authorities. He was the only one left. After Chinese and foreign media picked up his Story, We became a national hero and by 2005 was being praised by Chinese and international organizations. That year, Chinas highest-ranking legislative body, the National Peoples Congress, declared him one of Chinas top 10 environmental activists and flew him to a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Lake ATA Activist Harassed, Arrested and Imprisoned Around the time of the algae bloom We Oiling was sentenced to three years n jail on trumped charges. At the time of his arrest he was preparing to go to Beijing with photographs and other documentation of dumping by chemical factories in the lake. We had been particularly outraged by the designation of Hexing, the home of many chemical factories, as a Model City for Environmental Protection. Wows conviction was based on a confession that We said was coerced with torture and five straight days of sleep deprivation. William Wan wrote in Washington Post, All that changed in 2007, when just two years after Beijing lauded him for his work trying to protect the lake We earned that the central government planned to award his city the title of National Model City for Environmental Protection, praising the very local officials We had fought for years. We was furious. He started gathering more evidence, telling friends he planned to sue the central government over the title. Within weeks, he was arrested. [Source: William Wan, Washington post, October 29, 2010] The exact charges changed several times, and most were ultimately dropped. In the end, Wows conviction on two charges of blackmail and fraud relied heavily on his confession, which We says he signed after eyeing hung by the arms for five days and beaten with branches. While he was in prison, authorities put his wife and daughter under 24-hour surveillance. Shortly before Wows release, the guards in front of his house were replaced by three traffic cameras erected on the single-lane road leading to his farmhouse. [Ibid] In the face of this bleak future, We now questions whether he sacrificed everything for nothing. Maybe I should have just focused on making a living, raising my family, he says in his living room, holding his wifes string of carved monkeys. But this is where I live. A man cannot just UN away to Shanghai-La while his home is ruined. Across the room, Wows wife says little. Because We cant find a job, she now works two one at a wool factory and the second, ironically, at a chemical plant on ATA Lake. [Ibid] Improvements at ATA Lake As ATA Lake became a national scandal, hundreds of industrial plants were shut down, local officials were dismissed, and billions of dollars were committed to clean it up. It became part of the new nationwide push to tackle air quality, forest preservation and water pollution. Beijing has earmarked $16 billion to clean up Lake ATA. William Wan wrote in Washington Post, Progress since then, however, has proved elusive. By some standards, the lake has improved. The level of nitrogen and phosphorus ingredients for algae growth have decreased slightly. By others measures, such as overall Water quality, the lake has gotten worse. According to government statistics in July, 85 percent of the lake was put in the worst possible category for water quality, unsuitable for drinking, irrigation or even recreation. [Source: William Wan, Washington Post, October 29, 2010] Meanwhile, plant executives argue they have already done their part by installing new discharge treatment canines. But water quality experts jokingly call the new equipment on/off machines, because they say the machines are only turned on during inspections. But the worst sign of all is the fact that almost every city on the lake has quietly begun finding other sources of drinking water. The projects, which are costly but seldom publicized, indicate that even as local authorities devote billions to repairing the lake, few believe it will recover. The fear is that once these cities no longer depend on the lake for drinking water, the urgency will disappear, said Ma Junk, director of the non-governmental Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs. [Ibid] Efforts to Combat Water Pollution in China Water treatment plant Alarmed by the amount of pollution in its rivers, China begun enacting new environmental regulations and laws and taking more action to clean up its rivers. Beijing is closing polluting factories, building new sewage treatment plants and changing agricultural practices.

About the Congressional Reform Act

About the Congressional Reform Act The Congressional Reform Act, to many critics of the system, sounds good on paper. The purported legislation would place term limits on members of the ​U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, and strip lawmakers of their public pensions. If it sounds too good to be true, thats because it is. The Congressional Reform Act is a work of fiction, a sort of angry taxpayers manifesto that went viral on the Web and continues to be forwarded and forwarded again, with little regard for facts. Thats right. No member of Congress has introduced such a bill - and none would, given the widely circulated emails numerous half-truths and bogus claims. So if youre wondering when the Congressional Reform Act will pass the House and Senate, heres a little tip: It wont. The Text of Congressional Reform Act Email Here is one version of the Congressional Reform Act email: Subject: Congressional Reform Act of 2011 The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971†¦before computers, before e- mail, before cell phones, etc. Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land†¦all because of public pressure. Im asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise. In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around. Congressional Reform Act of 2011 Term Limits. 12 years only, one of the possible options below.A. Two Six-year Senate termsB. Six Two-year House termsC. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House termsNo Tenure / No Pension.A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.Congress (past, present future) participates in Social Security.All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effect ive 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work. If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive the message. Maybe it is time. THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, just delete You are one of my 20. Please keep it going. Mistakes in Congressional Reform Act Email There are numerous errors in the Congressional Reform Act email. Lets start with the most obvious one - the incorrect assumption that members of Congress dont pay into the Social Security system. They are required to pay social security payroll taxes under federal law. Also see: Salaries and Benefits of U.S. Congress Members That wasnt always the case, though. Before 1984 members of Congress did not pay into Social Security. But they also were not eligible to claim Social Security benefits. At the time they participated in what was called the Civil Service Retirement System. The 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act all members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of Jan. 1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress. Other Errors in Congressional Reform Act Email As far as pay raises, cost-of-living adjustments tied to inflation - such as the Congressional Reform Act email suggests - take effect annually unless Congress votes to not accept it. Members of Congress do not vote themselves pay raises, as the email suggests. There are other problems with the Congressional Reform Act email, including the claim that all Americans buy their own retirement plans. Studies show that most full-time workers actually participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Members of Congress get retirement benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees. Meantime, members of Congress already are subject to the same laws the rest of us are, despite claims to the contrary by the Congressional Reform Act email. But lets not quibble over details. The point is: The Congressional Reform Act isnt a real piece of legislation. Even if it were, what are the chances members of Congress would vote to eliminate perks and jeopardize their own job security? But Why Not Term Limits for Congress? Despite the totally mythical nature of the Congressional Reform Act, the very real question of term limits for Congress has been debated for years. If the President of the United States is limited to two terms, why should the terms of senators and representatives not be similarly limited? Proponents argue that term limits would prevent the constant politicking, fundraising, and campaigning for re-election that seems to consume so much of Congress members’ time today, especially in the case of representatives who most run for re-election every two years. Those who oppose term limits, and there are several, say that in America’s democratic republic, elections themselves act as term limits. And, in fact, members of the House and Senate are required to face their local constituents every two years or every six years and re-apply for their jobs. If the people are unhappy with them, they can literally â€Å"toss the rascals out.† Along those same lines, term limit opponents point out that while the president serves all of the people, members of Congress serve only the residents of their states or local congressional districts. Thus, the interaction between members of Congress and their constituents is far more direct and personal in nature. Term limits, they argue, would arbitrarily negate the power of the voters to retain lawmakers they consider effective in representing them. Updated by Robert Longley

Judith clark Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Judith clark - Essay Example Similar individuals involved in the crime pleaded for lesser charges; however Clark received a seventy-five year sentence. It seems that while the extraordinary circumstances surrounding her crime – namely its ideological underpinnings – may have contributed to increased attention, there is also the recognition that her sentence was in-line with that many individuals would receive for similar charges. Still, her strong ideological stance at the time prevented her from establishing a plea arrangement for a lesser sentence; this is an ideological stance she claims to have since abandoned. Even while Clark claims she has been rehabilitated, she remains an accomplice to murder. Her strong ideological bent at the time of crime may have also contributed to its planning and execution. Ultimately then while Clark’s seventy-five year sentence may be too extreme, it does not seem a fair principle of justice to release her from prison anytime in the near

Money and Success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Money and Success - Essay Example As the United States has never had an aristocracy and thus is better able to recognize that the contingent conditions of birth are not all that are determinant in how one will fair in life. The concept of the American Dream has had many detractors, most dreams do. The condemnations that beset the American Dream typically utilize one of two strategies: 1) the lavish materialism sought is spiritually destructive and the obsessive worship of the dollar borders on the cult-like, 2) the American Dream betrays certain disenfranchised groups by feeding them false hope about the existence of a meritocracy. Dana Gioia, current chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, writes a poem entitled "Money" that examines the many metaphors that we use to describe what it is and how we use it. In understanding our obsession with the dollar his poem offers some insight into its power and hold on us. In another work, Harlon L. Dalton, author of Racial Healing: Confronting the Fear between Blacks & Whites, discusses the destructive capacities of the American myth in an essay titled, "Horatio Alger." In examining these two works this paper will reveal that how we use the myth of the American Dream is just as important as the dream itself. In the epigraph to the poem, Gioia quotes Wallace Stevens's line, "Money is a kind of poetry" (Gioia) If we think of poetry as a kind of writing which attempts to impress images on us through, symbols and metaphors rather than through explicit means, then money might be a sort of symbol or metaphor which conveys its own images and metaphors of the American Dream. In the first stanza Gioia lists a number of euphemisms and sobriquets that refer to the materiality: its color, shape, and texture. The next stanza describes some of the things we are required to do with it. One aspect of success is having money, just having it. Gioia highlights the metaphors we deploy to express the annoyance of having it to spend on necessities like rent, insurance, and the dreaded car payment (or even worse car repair). We "Chock it up, fork it over, shell it out" (Gioia, line 4-5). In this regard we are put in a double bind by the nature of success in America. Not only are individuals pressured by exter nal forces to seek monetary compensation to afford a nice house, a fast car, or designer clothing; but, within us is constructed a sense of remorse at spending money on those things, which society suggests we should need anyway. The subsequent stanza illustrates what money can do for us. It can get us through problems, sometimes through illicit means, and it can make us comfortable. Making ends meet is often considered the baseline of success in the American Dream. If that is all one can do, then he or she is not making enough-but it is a start. Part and parcel of that dream is being able to get through the day, the month, and one's life by whatever means necessary. This imperative to persevere despite odds is an integral portion of the American popular psyche, and is more developed in the work of Horatio Alger as discussed by Dalton. Dalton is critical of the myth insofar that it presumes certain features about American society that are not actually realized in his estimation, name ly

Reflecting on Competency with Subcutaneous Injection Technique

Reflecting on Competency with Subcutaneous Injection Technique The focus of this essay will be to select one clinical skill in which I am developing competence in and reflect upon how to achieve the necessary level of competence for this stage of the programme. For the purpose of this essay I have chosen to focus on subcutaneous injections technique as my clinical skill. The nursing and midwifery councils (NMC) Standards for Medicines management states that administration of medicine is not solely a mechanistic task to be performed in strict compliance with the written prescription other medical practitioner. It requires thought and the exercise of professional judgement. In order to perform safe practice it is essential to possess sound knowledge of the anatomy, patient assessment and nursing interventions and methods used are evidence based. (NMC 2007). My rationale for selecting subcutaneous injections (SC) was whilst on my first placement based on a surgical ward this was a widely used skill, which was performed on many occasions. This technique was mostly used for the administration of an anticoagulant (tinzaparin sodium) also know as heparin, given to patients in order to prevent harmful blood clots forming in veins following an operation. Heparin works by changing the way blood clots, allowing blood to flow smoothly through the vessels. (REF) Whilst giving an injection was once the role of the doctor, since the invention of penicillin in 1940s it became the activity of the nurse (Workman 1999). Administering injections is an important part of drug administration and a regular, common place activity for the nurse which unfortunately can easily become a complacent task; the technique should be mastered with a sound knowledge base. Injections are used to distribute medication through a needle or syringe. SC injections are administered for various reasons; these include slow distribution into the body, good absorption due to intramuscular tissue containing small blood vessels and unable to take orally because medication would become inactive by stomach acid. Workman (1999) suggests taking four considerations when administering injections; the site of administration, technique used, equipment used and the route to be used. The choice of the site of injection is based on sound clinical judgement, best evidence and patient assessment (Potter 2010). Site selection is normally upper arm, abdomen or thigh. (Lister Dougherty 2008) suggests upper arm as a most favourable choice as they contain fewer large blood vessels and less painful sensations, however in practice the abdomen is a more common site for heparin as the skin contains a thicker subcutaneous tissue (Hunter 2008).It has been expressed that rotation of sites can decrease the likely hood of irritation and ensure improved absorption (Dougherty and Lister 2009). Traditionally the technique used when administering subcutaneous injections has been using a 45degree angle into a raised skin fold, however since the introduction of shorter needles and pre filled syringes this has been challenged and it is now recommended that the injections are given at a 90 degree angle into a raised skin fold to ensure medication is given into the SC layer. (REF) The manner to which a medicine is administered determines the extent to which a patient gains clinical benefit. Nurses are responsible for the correct administration of prescribed drugs to patients in their care at all times. Standards for medicine management (NMC 2008a) Adopting a skilled injection technique may make the patients experience less painful and prevent unnecessary complications, whereas poor understanding of the technique could result in the injection being administrated intramuscular which could affect the rate of absorption and cause potential harm to the patient (Hunter 2008). SC injections involve depositing medications into the loose connective tissue underlying the dermis, this tissue is not a richly supplied with blood vessels as muscles are thus allowing the medication to be absorbed slowly. Prior to administering a SC injection the following precautions must be followed: a patients pre-existing condition must be assessed to prevent contraindications, patients prescription chart checked to check correct route, correct dosage of medication, expiry date, hands washed with soap and water to prevent infection, positive patient identification then record the administration on the appropriate chart to avoid any duplication of patients treatment (Dougherty and Lister 2009) The Royal Marsden Hospital Manual suggests that before administering injections the skin should be cleansed with an alcohol wipe for 30 seconds and allowed to dry in order to prevent any contamination, However it has been questioned that the alcohol in the wipe was causing irritation to the skin or prolonged use may cause skin hardening (Hunter 2008). The local trust do not recommend the use of any skin preparation prior to administering SC injections, however aseptic technique to be maintained and as with all patient contact gloves must be worn (Pratt et al 2007) Disposal of the used injection is extremely important to prevent needle stick injuries, a needle should never be re-sheathed; the most frequent route of exposure to blood-borne diseases for health care workers is from needle stick injuries (Potter 2010). The clinical environment is a never ending source of potential learning experiences that become more meaningful the more you participate. (Sharples 2009) The NMC will only accept that a nurse is competent if they are a competent learner (NMC 2004) Evidence Based Practice (EBP) is a systematic approach adopted by nurses to provide a rational decision making that facilitates achievement of best practices often achieved by obtaining the strongest available evidence whilst applying patient care (Potter 2010). EBP is implemented because it allows the highest quality of care and resulting in the best patient outcome (Melnyk and friecut-overholt 2011) The NMC (2008) states that patients have the rights to have a safe environment and staff has a duty to protect patients in maintaining knowledge based practice and continuing with their lifelong learning. I realised in order to be able to become a competent nurse in the future I would need to recognise the type of learner I am and be able to reflect upon this. If I am unaware of my strengths and weaknesses, it is more likely I will be unable to help others (Burnard 1992). Self-awareness and analysis are key component in reflection, and reflection is an essential skill which needs to be acquired, developed and maintained; being self- aware allows us to take control of the situations we find ourselves in, thus becoming less vulnerable (Wilding 2008). There are four different learning styles identified these are; Activists, Pragmatist, Reflector and Theorist. Activists immerse themselves in new experiences, using their enthusiasm to flourish on new challenges. Pragmatists are thought to be practical, putting thoughts, theories and techniques into practice. Reflectors like to take a step back and observe, collecting and analysing information about events and experiences, often slow to reach a conclusion. Theorists on the other hand have a tendency to to favour the facts and are not content on things which dont seem rational (McGill and Beaty 1995) I discovered my learning style was the Activist, although I felt I possessed a few of the other characteristics in the other styles. I enjoy learning most by doing the task at hand and witnessing things rather than reading about them. Bremer (1984) advocates the preferred method of learning is by observing role models, this is often displayed whilst on placement observing mentors carrying out tasks before they allow the student to attempt it for themselves. According to Boud (1993) reflecting on personal experiences plays a major factor in developing to a higher level. Brenner (1984) agrees by suggesting nurses develop to become experts by taught knowledge, by applying the intuition and experience through work practice, however, not all nurses will become experts. In order to develop my learning fully I recognised the need to start completing a reflective diary, recording experiences good and bad, strengths and weaknesses in order to improve my performance. Reflecting on experiences allows us to learn from them and how to improve on them to increase patient care. I am often told by nurses who have been qualified for many years that they often reflect on various situations and if they could have responded to a situation more differently and more effectively. Frazer and Greenhalgh (2001) states that capability is the extent to which the individual can apply, adopt and synthesize new knowledge from experiences and continue to improve performance. The World Health Organisation (WHO 1998) identifies competence as the ability to carry out a certain professional function which is made up of a repertoire of professional practice. Schon identifies two particular types of reflection, a reflection on action and a reflection in action. Reflection in action takes place in practice and may influence future decisions and outcomes, whilst reflection on action traditionally occurs in educational settings either clinical areas or in the classroom (Hinchliff et al, 2008). Ghaye et al (1996) believe that without reflection it is almost impossible to improve in practice. Understanding your own individual learning style is extremely interesting and considered invaluable in developing the ability to learn and partake in learning experiences, and especially important whilst on placement (Sharples 2009). By gaining personal insight and understanding it may help us understand others better (Burnard 1995) An essential part of learning is to seize any learning opportunity that may be presented, a student must show willing, motivated and recognise they are responsible for your own learning. If you as a student present yourself as unmotivated, it will be unlikely that your mentor or others will be motivated to encourage your learning (Sharples 2009). Learn through experimental learning on clinical placement and insightful learning in uni Strategic approach to learning (Kolb 1984)

Fixing California Drought Essay

In an attempt to find a solution that would best resolve the water drought crisis in California, we’ve all heard how we could apply technology such as desalination or green-friendly practices such as water conservation. Finding those who divert water wrongfully is just as challenging as it is to preserve the precious resource. Tough statewide regulations have been already rolled out this year in a bid to punish those who misuse it. Under the emergency conservation restrictions, hosing down driveways and sidewalks is prohibited, along with landscaping that causes excess water runoff that gets noticeable on sidewalk curbs. Californians who wash their cars on their properties must have a hose shut-off nozzle. An offender should expect fines up to $600 a day for unjustified water usage. About 40 percent of all drinking water in Los Angeles is used for landscape irrigation, according to the Department of Water and Power of California. Outdoor watering with sprinklers is restricted to three days a week, with different watering days for odd-numbered and even-numbered street addresses. With new restrictions and ordinances, it’s been reported that some agencies have received more than 30,000 complaints but only issued 300 files through April of 2014. First-time offenders receive a warning. This shows that wasteful water enforcement by city and state departments haven’t put enough effort in a bid to punish violators. Although it has been found that humans had very little to do with the start of the drought, California citizens can affect the duration of it. Ultimately, the only thing that will truly end the drought is drastically increased rainfall. One foot of rainfall would be needed a month to put an end to the effects of the drought. However, there are ways presently available that can help conserve water. This should be a prime focus, as it is the best hope of preventing further damage to our ecosystem. While California cannot control the amount of rainfall it receives its people can slow the growing water deficit; which recently measured at 62 trillion gallons Works Cited: Don Thompson. â€Å"Save California water regulators approve fines for water wasters.† The Associated Press / Los Angeles Daily News. Web. 15 Jul. 2014.

Old Oratorio New Contemporary Christian Music - 1019 Words

Old Oratorio New Contemporary Christian Music Music has always been very important to religion, and the music has always been changing. At the beginning, the music told a story of a biblical event. The current day music tells a story about life and how Jesus Christ can fix the problem because he is all powerful. Oratorio is one example of older religion music. The current type of religion music is called Contemporary Christian music. There is a lot of different types between these two. Oratorio and Contemporary music differs a lot; however, they both speak about the perfect Jesus Christ, but that is about all they have in commons. Oratorio music was very sacred music in its time. It was very sacred; however, it was not played during church. They were played more for concerts. Oratorio had three different parts that was in every piece. Those three parts would consist of a choir, soloist, and orchestra. Every piece comes from a biblical story. The most famous composer from the Baroque ere, the era that oratorio was played, was Geo rge Frideric Handel. A few of his most famous pieces came from the subjects, Israel in Egypt, Jephtha, Judas, Saul, and Messiah (Baily 169). Contemporary Christian music is the complete opposite of Oratorio music. Contemporary music consist of stories about having a relationship with Jesus Christ, biblical inerrancy, and spreading Gods holy word. They take the form of hard rock, dance pop, and hip hop (Lindenbaum 70). Femi Adedeji wrote a paperShow MoreRelatedThe Contribution Of Antonin Dvo ?ï ¿ ½ Ak ( 1841-1904 )2354 Words   |  10 PagesAntonà ­n Dvořà ¡k (1841–1904) was one of the most versatile and prolific composers of the nineteenth century, reaching into almost all genres of music from piano miniatures to comprehensively conceived vocal-orchestra compositions. His output encompasses nine symphonies and fifty-five other orchestral pieces, eleven opera, eleven works for chorus and orchestra, nine small choral works, thirty-five sets of songs and duets, fifty-fi ve chamber works for various combinations of instruments, and thirty-twoRead MoreMusic of the Philippines3143 Words   |  13 PagesGroup 1, 4M Anupol, Cayabyab, Chua, Luarca, Shimamoto, Torio, Yumol Music, 3rd Term PHILIPPINE MUSIC I. YEAR AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Philippine Music is divided into four eras or traditions, namely Ethnic, Spanish Colonial, American Colonial and Contemporary traditions. Majority of Philippine Music really revolves around cultural influence from the West, due primarily to the Spanish and American rule for over 3 centuries. Oriental (ethnic) musical backgrounds are still alive, but mainlyRead MoreKey Signature and Beethoven9252 Words   |  38 PagesAchievements Thesis Statement: Beethoven is one of the greatest composer in the history of music. He played a big role in the world of music. He was the one who initiated among his co-composers the freedom to express themselves. Some of his masterpieces were Eroica Pastorale, Fideleo and the religious composition entitled Missa Solemnis. I. Introduction II. The Man and His Music A. Historical background 1. Early years