Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Bangladesh’s Environmental Problems essayEssay Writing Service
Bangladesh’s Environmental Problems essayEssay Writing Service Bangladesh’s Environmental Problems essay Bangladesh’s Environmental Problems essay           Today Bangladesh faces a wide range of environmental problems. As the country is overcrowded, many environmental problems are caused by demographic growth. According to researchers, â€Å"farmland soils are being damaged by overuse, rivers are being polluted by chemical pesticides and forests are being chopped down at an alarming rate†(McCrohan, 2012, p. 34). However, the most serious environmental problem is caused by climate change. Actually, climate change can worsen the situation in Bangladesh and other neighboring coastal countries. Currently, the effects of sea level rise are widely discussed in scientific literature (McGuire, 2013; Nieholls Lowe, 2007).  Researchers have found that the effects of sea level rise depend on various factors, such as land characteristics of a particular coastal zone, weather conditions, etc. In fact, there are three major factors that should be taken into consideration in the analysis of the major effects of sea level rise. These considerations include â€Å"physical impacts†, â€Å"ecosystem impacts†and â€Å"societal impacts†(McGuire, 2013, p. 45). Physical impacts involve the analysis of the physical characteristics of the coastal zone, e.g. â€Å"elevation and proximity to storm centers†(McGuire, 2013, p. 46). Ecosystem impacts involve the analysis of the range of effects of sea level rise on the most vulnerable species and habitats, living in the coastal region. Societal impacts involve the analysis of evolving effects of sea level rise which depend on both environmental changes due to climate change and the human response to these changes (McGuire, 2013). As a matter of fact, see level rise has a profound impact on any community, any nation and any country, regardless of its size and the amount of resources it has (FitzGerald et al., 2008). It becomes clear that future predictions of se a level rise are devastating, especially to coastal regions and their low lying areas (Karima Mimura, 2008). In Bangladesh, the rise of water level due to climate change affects the poor and vulnerable to a great extent. The major goal of this paper is to discuss how sea level rise is affecting the poor and vulnerable in Bangladesh. Special attention should be paid to the major effects of the rise of water level due to climate change at the global level. In order to achieve the established goal, it is necessary to provide background information on Bangladesh and provides a comprehensive analysis of the major impacts of climate change-induced sea level rise on the poor and vulnerable in the coastal zone of Bangladesh.Some Effects of the Rise of Water Level due to Climate Change           Globally, the rise of sea level is not a new phenomenon. According to John Hay and Nobuo Mimura (2004), â€Å"sea level has been rising for more than the last one hundred years, and is expected to do so into the foreseeable future, and at accelerating rate†(p. 717). Undoubtedly, the impact of the increased sea level rise will be felt in various areas (McGuire, 2013). The rise of water level due to climate change is a serious environmental problem, especially in low lying coastal areas, which are considered to be the most vulnerable areas climate change. According to researchers, low lying coastal areas suffer not only from the rise of sea level, but also from flooding caused by severe storm surges (Climate Changes the Water Rules, 2003). Today Bangladesh, Egypt and the Netherlands are the most vulnerable areas because â€Å"sea level rise will significantly increase the frequency of extreme surge events in the countries with low deltaic plains†(Climate Changes the Water Rules, 2003, p. 53). Climate change, which leads to the increase in current rates of sea level rise in many low lying coastal and intertidal areas, affects the organisms that depend on these areas. The major part of organisms includes â€Å"shorebirds that rely on these sites for feeding habitat during their migrations and in winter†(Galbraith et al., 2002, p. 173). In other words, sea level rise will have potential impact on habitats. The quality of habitats, their extent will change due to the effects of sea level rise, including erosion, the loss of wetland of coastal zones, as well as considerable shifts in salinity gradients (Cahoon et al., 2009).           The rise of sea level will reflect not only natural, but also socio-economic factors, which affect risk level (Nieholls Lowe, 2007). Researchers state that the rise of sea level is an issue of public concern because of the â€Å"high concentration of natural and socio-economic values in the coastal zone†(Nieholls Lowe, 2007, p. 195). In most cases, the coastal areas are the major site of human habitation as well as the major zone of economic activity. Besides, coastal areas are important in terms of ecological system functioning and earth system functioning (Nieholls Lowe, 2007). According to recent research, there are several factors that have an enormous impact on change in sea level at any coastal zone, connected with climate change. These factors include:At the global level, sea level rise due to the considerable increase in the volume of ocean water. Researchers argue that during the 21-st century sea level rise can be caused by â€Å"the thermal expansion of the ocean as it warms, and the melting of small ice caps due to human induced global warming (Nieholls Lowe, 2007, p. 196).At regional level, oceanic changes and meteorological change may cause certain deviations from the global sea level rise to considerable thermal expansion (Nieholls Lowe, 2007).Vertical land movement caused by various processes, including geological changes, human-induced activity (Nieholls Lowe, 2007).In general, rising s ea level over the next decade may have a wide range of effects on coastal zones, including erosion and inundation that lead to the loss of shoreline, the increasing amount of storms that lead to flooding, as well as the intrusion of salt sea water into the coastal aquifers that provide fresh water (Leung Meggitt, 2012; Nieholls Lowe, 2007).  Researchers argue that â€Å"the sensitivity of a coastal region to sea level rise depends both on the physical aspects (shape and composition) of a coastal landscape and its ecological setting†(Cahoon et al., 2009, p. 9). In other words, the effects of sea level rise on natural environment of coastal zones will be profound. Today researchers fail to make long term projections of the effects of coastal change because of various factors that are different in different regions (Leung Meggitt, 2012; Sarwar, 2005).  Donald R. Cahoon and colleagues (2009) state that â€Å"given the large potential impacts to human and natural enviro nments, there is a need to improve our ability to conduct long-term projections†(p. 9).Bangladesh: background information           Bangladesh is a small South Asian country, but one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Bangladesh is located in East India, South Asia. The neighboring countries are Nepal, India, Bhutan and Myanmar. The total size of the country is 143,998 km2. The population of Bangladesh is over 142 million people based on the 2011 survey findings (Leung Meggitt, 2012, p. 2). The density of population is 962, 42 per km2. The geographical location of Bangladesh affects its environment and economy because of drought impact (Sarwar, G. M. 2005). The severity of drought in this country is different in different parts. Northwestern and Southwestern parts face moderate drought impacts, while the most drought-prone region is Northwestern part (Leung Meggitt, 2012).           Climat e conditions are different in different parts of Bangladesh. According to the prediction of researchers, there will be â€Å"an average temperature increase in Bangladesh due to climate change of 1.00C by 2030 and 1.40C by 2050†(Shaw et al., 2013, p. 232). Undoubtedly, drought prone areas will experience water stress conditions and considerable decline in agricultural production (Shaw et al., 2013; Leung Meggitt, 2012).  The climate of the country is characterized by hot weather, heavy rains and considerable humidity due to seasonal variations in weather conditions. It has been found that â€Å"more than 80% of the annual precipitation of the country occurs during the southwestern summer monsoons , from June through September†(Thomas et al., 2013, p. 1).           The major rivers are Teesta, Atrai, Karatoya, Bangali, the Jumana River and the Ganges River, as well as many other minor rivers. Besides, there are many ponds and canal s in Bangladesh that are connected to the major and minor rivers during the monsoon season (Shaw et al., 2013). Researchers have found that â€Å"due to the consequences of climate change as well as drought, the water bodies in these areas are going dry, river beds are filled in with sand, and water flow in the river is decreasing†(Shaw et al., 2013, p. 234). As a result, dry season in Bangladesh leads to negative changes in water system as practically everywhere in the region there is no surface water. The groundwater remains the only source of irritation, as well as agricultural, industrial and domestic usage (Shaw et al., 2013).           In general, Bangladesh as a tropical low lying country has always faced a wide range of environmental challenges and natural disasters, including â€Å"flood, cyclone, tidal surge, river bank erosion and earthquake†(Soroar Routray, 2012, p. 577). Climate change affects sea level rise in Banglade sh as well.Bangladesh’s Environmental Problems essay part 2
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Geography and Overview of the Caribbean Nation of Haiti
Geography and Overview of the Caribbean Nation of Haiti Population: 9,035,536 (July 2009 estimate)Capital: Port au PrinceArea: 10,714 square miles (27,750 sq km)Bordering Country: The Dominican RepublicCoastline: 1,100 miles (1,771 km)Highest Point: Chaine de la Selle at 8,792 feet (2,680 m) The Republic of Haiti, is the second-oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere just after the United States. It is a small country located in the Caribbean Sea between Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Haiti has years of political and economic instability however and it is one of the poorest nations in the world. Most recently Haiti was struck by a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake which damaged its infrastructure and killed thousands of its people. History of Haiti The first European habitation of Haiti was with the Spanish when they used the island of Hispaniola (of which Haiti is a part) during their exploration of the Western Hemisphere. French explorers were also present at this time and conflicts between the Spanish and French developed. In 1697, Spain gave France the western third of Hispaniola. Eventually, the French established the settlement of Saint Domingue which became one of the wealthiest colonies in the French Empire by the 18th century. During the French Empire, slavery was common in Haiti as African slaves were brought to the colony to work on sugarcane and coffee plantations. In 1791 though, the population of slaves revolted and took over control of the northern part of the colony, which resulted in a war against the French. By 1804 however, local forces beat the French, established their independence and named the area Haiti. After its independence, Haiti broke into two separate political regimes but they were unified in 1820. In 1822, Haiti took over Santo Domingo which was the eastern portion of Hispaniola but in 1844, Santo Domingo separated from Haiti and became the Dominican Republic. During this time and up until 1915, Haiti underwent 22 changes in its government and experienced political and economic chaos. In 1915, the United States military entered Haiti and remained until 1934 when it again reclaimed its independent rule. Shortly after regaining its independence, Haiti was ruled by a dictatorship but from 1986 to 1991, it was ruled by various temporary governments. In 1987, its constitution was ratified to include an elected president as head of state but also a prime minister, cabinet and supreme court. Local government was also included in the constitution via the election of local mayors. Jean-Bertrand Aristide was the first president to be elected in Haiti and he took office on February 7, 1991. He was overthrown that September however in a government take-over which caused many Haitians to flee the country. From October 1991 to September 1994 Haiti had a government dominated by a military regime and many Haitian citizens were killed during this time. In 1994 in an attempt to restore peace to Haiti, the United Nations Security Council authorized its member states to work toward removing the military leadership and restore Haitis constitutional rights. The U.S. then became the major power in removing Haitis military government and formed a multinational force (MNF). In September 1994, U.S. troops were prepared to enter Haiti but Haitian General Raoul Cedras agreed to allow the MNF to take over, end military rule and restore Haitis constitutional government. In October of the same year, President Aristide and other elected officials in exile returned. Since the 1990s, Haiti has undergone various political changes and has been relatively unstable both politically and economically. Violence has also ensued in most of the country. In addition to its political and economic problems, Haiti has most recently been impacted by natural disasters when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near Port au Prince on January 12, 2010. The death toll in the earthquake was in the thousands and much of the countrys infrastructure was damaged as its parliament, schools and hospitals collapsed. Government of Haiti Today Haiti is a republic with two legislative bodies. The first is the Senate which comprises the National Assembly while the second is the Chamber of Deputies. Haitis executive branch is made up of chief of state whose position is filled by the president and a head of government which is filled by the prime minister. The judicial branch is made up of Haitis Supreme Court. Economy of Haiti Of the countries in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti is the poorest as 80% of its population lives below poverty level. Most of its people contribute to the agricultural sector and work in subsistence farming. Many of these farms, however, are vulnerable to damage from natural disasters which has been made worse by the countrys widespread deforestation. Larger scale agricultural products include coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum, and wood. Although the industry is small, sugar refining, textiles, and some assembly are common in Haiti. Geography and Climate of Haiti Haiti is a small country located on the western part of the island of Hispaniola and is west of the Dominican Republic. It is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Maryland and is two-thirds mountainous. The rest of the country features valleys, plateaus, and plains. Haitis climate is mainly tropical but it is also semiarid in the east where its mountain areas block the trade winds. It should also be noted that Haiti is in the middle of the hurricane region of the Caribbean and is subject to severe storms from June to October. Haiti is also prone to flooding, earthquakes, and droughts. More Facts about Haiti Haiti is the least developed country in the Americas Haitis official language is French but French Creole is also spoken Source Central Intelligence Agency. (2010, March 18). CIA - the Worldfactbook Haiti. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html Infoplease. (n.d.). Haiti: History, Geography Government, and Culture - Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0107612.html United States Department of State. (2009, September). Haiti (09/09). Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1982.htm
Thursday, November 21, 2019
A Raisin in the Sun Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
A Raisin in the Sun - Essay Example It can also be inferred that she puts great value for Asagai’s opinion. This is why author has written in the play, â€Å"she looks back to the mirror, disturbed†, when she hears Asagai ask her, â€Å"were you born with it (born with the hair) like that?†(Hansberry, Nemiroff, and Baraka, 61). Asagai is smiling throughout this episode and even laughing loud at her confusion (Hansberry, Nemiroff, and Baraka, 61). He is aware of his superiority over her. And she is not emotionally honest enough to tell him the real reason why she changed her hair. Instead she finds an excuse in telling him that she changed the hair because â€Å"it was hard to manage†¦when it is raw†(Hansberry, Nemiroff, and Baraka, 61). The drama of the play is brought to a new dimension when the scene of Walter lets his son know he is still have the plan to involve in the liquor store deal. This is because, it is only in this moment that the audience sees a different side of Walterâ €™s personality as he generally strikes to the audience as a restless and quarreling person. But in this scene, the reader or viewer of the play is reminded of the real human being that Walter is.
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