Nuclear Energy And The Future Power Debate

Nuclear Energy And The Future Power Debate Thesis statement: Regardless of the various definitions of renewable, nuclear meets every reasonable criterion for sustainability, which is the prime concern. The main reasons are first it produces the most energy than any non-renewable resource, second high reserves of uranium are found on earth which is the raw material for nuclear reactors; third there is no release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, chlorofluorocarbon during a nuclear reaction, fourth plutonium, a by-product of commercial nuclear plant operation, can also be used as a fuel, fifth the amount of waste produced is the least of any major energy production process and finally the nuclear fuel is inexpensive and easier to transport. The rise of global warming concerns throughout the world over the last ten years have led to a renewed interest in what was once considered a dead market-nuclear energy. After the Cold War, nuclear energy development was largely forgotten for many years until this r enewed desire among developed nations for alternative energy sources once again thrust the idea of nuclear power into mainstream consciousness. As the price of oil and global warming concerns both continue to rise steadily, a renewed interest in the clean-burning properties of nuclear power are becoming much more attractive. Although there are various risks involved when using nuclear energy, I will argue that nuclear energy is the best source of energy to replace oil and also I will argue that nuclear energy wastes are treatable, can be recycled and possess no threat to mankind. Among the various advantages of nuclear energy, its efficiency is by far the most important. The efficient use of natural resources is a major criterion in determining the environmental friendliness of a source of energy. It is a basic energy fact that the fission of an atom of uranium produces 10 million times the energy from an atom of carbon than does coal. Nuclear energy extracts by far more energy from the natural resource Uranium than does the exploitation of oil or any other natural resource. In 1950s Dr. M. Hubbard, Geologist at Shell, said that US Oil would peak in 10 to 15 years. He was laughed at and in the 1970s we ran out of Oil. His statement was based on a Discovery Bell Curve which said oil production continues to go up even after the oil discoverys drop off and that the rate that we run out of oil can be measured on the lack of new discoveries. Heres a quote from NEIs website: Nuclear plants are the lowest-cost producer of baseload electricity. The average production cost of 1.87 cents per kilowatt-hour includes the costs of operating and maintaining the plant, purchasing fuel and paying for the management of used fuel. These facts prove nuclear energy as the most efficient form of energy over its competitors, including oil, coal, wind, hydroelectric, and near-term solar power. Some people may be under the impression that uranium is a rare metal but its about as common as copper or tin and 40 times more common than silver. Sources of nuclear energy mainly uranium, on Earth are abundant, which makes this resource similar to renewable resources. According to the NEA (Nuclear Energy Agency), uranium resources of total 5.5 million metric tons and an additional 10.5 million metric tons remain undiscovered-a roughly 230-year supply at todays consumption rate in total. Bernard Cohens, Professor of Physics at Pittsburgh University, 5 billion year estimate is based on extracting uranium from seawater, which the Japanese have already shown to work. Cohen calculates that we could take 16,000 ton per year of uranium from seawater, which would supply 25 times the worlds present electricity usage and twice the worlds present total energy consumption. He argues that given the geological cycles of erosion, subduction and uplift, the supply would last for 5 billion years wi th a withdrawal rate of 6,500 ton per year. He comments that lasting 5 billion years, i.e. longer than the sun will support life on earth, should cause uranium to be considered a renewable resource. Among the many benefits of nuclear power, the main advantage of nuclear power has over other methods is that it is a clean way to produce energy as it does not result in the emission of any of the poisonous gases like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide. In todays world when pollution of the atmosphere is one of our main worries, an option such as this is definitely preferable compared to burning of fossil fuels which causes so much of pollution (Dujardin 2007). Also, the creation of nuclear energy doesnt contribute to environmental issues such as global warming as it doesnt release carbon dioxide in the atmosphere like the fossil fuels do. More importantly, fossil fuels reserves across the world are bound to get exhausted at some or the other point of time. Going by the alarming rate at which we are using them, it is predicted that, the coal and oil deposits across the world are expected to finish by end of this century. On the other hand, the uranium deposits on the planet are to continue for a long time, and even if they end alternative sources in form of plutonium and thorium also exist. Nuclear energy is also considered to be renewable depending on the type of reactor that is being used. The special type of reactor design called a breeder reactor can create or refine radioactive elements as a part of its functioning (Young, 1998). There are breeder designs that, once operating, can refine uranium, turning even natural uranium into fuel-grade uranium that can be used by other standard reactors. Some breeder designs create plutonium as a byproduct, which can be used for either power generation or in nuclear weapons. Currently, there are 442 reactors operating in the world, 130 of which are in the United States. Another 12 are being built in foreign countries. With the current technology, only 1% of the energy available in uranium is able to be captured by thermal reactors. This energy makes up between 11% and 18% of the total energy available in the world. Developing technologies that would allow us to capture more of this available energy is at least 15 years away, b ut with incentives, these advances could be a realistic part of our future. The potential is not the only part of the advantages of nuclear energy. The uranium is reasonably cheap to mine, and easy to transport to reactors around the globe, making nuclear energy relatively inexpensive to produce when compared to conventional methods of energy production. The average finished cost of nuclear energy is between 3 and 5 cents per kilowatt, and the cost has dropped over the last 26 years, while the cost of other forms of energy has risen steadily over the same period of time (Makhijani Saleska, 1999). The potential is not the only part of the advantages of nuclear energy. Regardless of the various definitions of renewable, nuclear power therefore meets every reasonable criterion for sustainability, which is the prime concern. Concern about the proper disposal of nuclear wastes is one of the most controversial aspects of nuclear power. Nuclear wastes are radioactive and so long-lived that very special arrangements must be made for disposal. The focus and controversy are about high-level wastes, which are the minority of waste from a reactor but comprise the majority of the radioactivity. The waste is generated when utilities remove the spent fuel. The spent fuel rods are very hot and contain both remaining radioactive fuel and other highly radioactive fission products. The plant operator must shield the rods with water by placing them in tanks or ponds at the reactor sites. Industry has to maintain control and is responsible for storage until the final disposal site can be arranged. In the United States, utilities store all spent fuel temporarily at reactor sites. No permanent depository for high-level wastes exists. Industry argues that the management of wastes has been very successful. They report that there have not been any releases that have had adverse impacts and the costs are internalized. Despite their claims of success, their remains significant concerns of long-term disposal. Both, the disadvantages and advantages of nuclear power plants have to be taken into consideration when determining whether this source of energy is efficient for development of power or not. While the critics of nuclear energy have been citing the various nuclear power plant disasters that have occurred in the past as one of the main reason for refraining from use of nuclear energy, its proponents are confident that it has the ability to sustain the energy requirements of the entire world, in a safe manner. Overall, however, I believe that the use of nuclear energy greatly outweighs any other sources of energy.

Paul’s Case: A Study in Temperament by Willa Cather Essay examples --

A Symbolic Perception Imagine being entrapped in a life that you did not feel you belonged in. That is the story of Paul in â€Å"Paul’s Case,† written by Willa Cather. He lived in a suburban home where everyone seemed the same and there was a feeling of despair. Paul, who was a young man, felt that his father, teachers and classmates misunderstood him and therefore were unworthy of his company. In the story there are many symbolic elements. Flowers, for instance, symbolize Paul’s personality and life. The parallel between the boy and the flowers is made by the author many times throughout the short story. In the beginning of the story Paul has a meeting with the teachers of his school because he was misbehaving. For the meeting Paul shows up wearing â€Å"clothes [that] were a trifle outgrown . . . [with] a red carnation in his buttonhole† (49). This shows his total disrespect for authority because he is going to get disciplined; and the teachers thought this â€Å"was not properly significant of the contrite spirit befitting a boy under the ban of suspension† (49).† The flower he wore shows that he does not care about school or his teachers: his teachers felt â€Å"that his whole attitude was symbolized by his shrug and his flippantly red carnation flower† (50). The principal also noted his conceit as he left the meeting and bowed which was described to be â€Å"a repetition of the scandalous red carnation† (51). It is almost as if the flower is his strength and reminds him of his ne...

The Intersection of Race, Sexual Orientation and Religion in the Gay Co

Intersectionality is a relevant theory for some gay, lesbian or bisexual individuals. Intersectionality studies "the relationships among multiple dimensions and modalities of social relationships and subject formations" (McCall, 2005). The theory argues, pursues and considers how gender, race, sexual orientation and other categories of identity interact on many and often concurring levels of social relationships, therefore allowing discrimination and social inequity. Intersectionality explains how the notion of social injustice, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and belief-based bigotry such as religion are not independent of one another; instead, they are interconnected, and thereby reflect â€Å"intersectionality† in regards to social relationships. Humans are multifaceted beings; we move, maneuver and adjust, to present different and appropriate representations of ourselves to others, based on the circumstances. Perhaps we look for a reflection of ourselves within the groups with we associate. We strive to understand ourselves, in part by the people with whom we come in contact the most, namely our family, friends and co-workers. Race, sexual orientation and religion, individually, are hot bed topics of discussion, but how do each one of those issues, or all of them intersect in the life of someone who is gay, lesbian or bisexual, and how do those individuals manage those identities as they negotiate the multicultural experience that we call life? Does culture have an impact on the identity of homosexual persons? To what extent may devotion to a particular faith cause discordance between gay and religious identities? The research examines, and attempts to determine what effect racial identity, sexual orientation, an... ...d Participants of a Gay-Positive Church. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 39(3), 333. doi: 10. 1111/0021-8294. 00028 Schulte, L. J. , & Battle, J. (2004). The Relative Importance of Ethnicity and Religion in Predicting Attitudes Towards Gays and Lesbians. Journal of Homosexuality, 47(2), 127-142. doi: 10. 1300/J082v47n02_08 Tajfel, H. , & Turner, J. C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds. ), The Social psychology of intergroup relations. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole Pub. Walton, G. (2006). "Fag Church" : Men Who Integrate Gay and Christian Identities. Journal of Homosexuality, 51(2), 1-17. doi: 10. 1300/J082v51n02_01 Ward, E. G. (2005, September). Homophobia, hypermasculinity and the US black church. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 7(5), 493-504. doi: 10. 1080/13691050500151248

How Does Shakespeare Use Representations of Speech and Other Dramatic Effects to Introduce Iago’s Character?

Shakespeare portrays Iago’s character in the play ‘Othello’ with villainous content by using dramatic effects and specific representations of speech in order to engage the audience to witness this deceitful, dishonest and disturbing man. Iago portrays himself as an innocent and rejected man with the use of powerful and emotive language such as ‘despise me’ and ‘abhor me. ’ The abrupt language used by Iago enables the audience to witness his disgust after Roderigo accuses him of withholding some information from him about his own finances.Iago acts the innocent and threatened character by stating ‘if ever I did dream of such a matter, / Abhor me. ’ The phrase ‘abhor me’ is a use of hyperbole used by Iago, where he exaggerates the issue of not being trusted by Roderigo. Here, the audience is able to see how Iago exaggerates things to a great level and it allows them to believe Iago will behave in this way for the m ajority of the play.Connotations of jealousy are revealed frequently throughout the play, especially within Iago’s first speech between himself and Roderigo, of how he was dismissed as lieutenant in favour of ‘Michael Cassio, a Florentine-/ A fellow almost damned in a fair wife. ’ Here, Iago claims that Cassio will have a wondering eye and is likely to stray from his job, proving how untrustworthy he is. He claims Cassio ‘nor the division of a battle knows/ More than a spinster, unless the bookish theoric. Shakespeare’s powerful use of imagery and asyndetic listing here, when Iago refers Cassio to a ‘spinster,’ reveals connotations of him being an inexperienced soldier as much as a spinster woman is inexperienced in love. The use of asyndetic listing also infers jealousy as Iago is listing the many reasons why Cassio should not have been promoted. The term ‘bookish theoric,’ refers Cassio to be an inexperienced and unknowled geable man on the battlefield, except from the theory he learnt about war in books.Here, the audience can witness Iago’s jealousy, which foreshadows the vengeful acts he performs later on upon certain characters within the play. Juxtaposition is also used when Iago describes to Roderigo the many reasons why Cassio should not be lieutenant, as he claims Cassio’s soldiership is ‘Mere prattle without practice’ compared with he who is ‘worth no worse a place,’ claiming he deserves no lower rank than lieutenant and subordinate to Cassio. This, aswell as showing jealousy, reveals Iago’s blunt arrogance towards being cast aside for the promotion. This may enable the reader to both take pity on him and understand his upset of being verlooked, or disagree completely and believe he is too confident for his own good. Shakespeare introduces Iago as a master of manipulation in the sense that he dominates the conversation when speaking to Roderigo.Th is may be because Roderigo is seen as Iago’s right hand man and is easily manipulated into believing and sympathising with Iago because of the way Othello treated him. In response to Iago’s speech that is full of connotations of jealousy and deceit about the dismissal of the promotion, Roderigo responds by stating ‘by heaven, I rather would have been his hangman. This enables the audience to see how honourable and trusting Roderigo is to Iago as he does not question the latter of how he may be wrong and also does not judge Iago’s aggressive nature towards Cassio and his experience in battle. The metaphorical use of the phrase ‘I rather would have been his hangman,’ is largely ironic as this, again, foreshadows Iago’s actions later on within the play upon those who, in particular Othello, deceived him. Aswell as the manipulation Iago empowers over Roderigo, he also has a financial hold upon him.Roderigo uses the simile ‘as if the s trings were thine,’ where he states that Iago has been using his money as if it were his own. In response to Roderigo’s accusation, Iago replies by saying ‘Sblood, but you will not hear me. ’ Instead of apologising to Roderigo for abusing his trust in looking after his money, he accuses Roderigo of not listening to him. It is here that Iago begins his long speech revealing his jealousy and he was betrayed, allowing the topic of the theft of the money to be forgotten.Shakespeare allows the audience to witness another vengeful side to Iago where he says the promotion seems to stem from favouritism and academic prowess rather than seniority, in which he believes there is no reason to love the moor. After Roderigo claims he would ‘not follow [the Moor],’ Iago responds by saying he will ‘follow [Othello] to serve [Iago’s] turn upon him,’ meaning he will eventually get his own back and will not ‘truly’ follow him due to the pain and deceit this has caused him. The phrase ‘Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago’ infers that Iago would not want to be himself if he were the Moor as he is of lower status.Iago would also not be true to himself he were sucked into the Moor’s ways, so he would continue to serve Othello, but will conceal his true feelings. Shakespeare also portrays Iago’s bitter behaviour when he declares to Roderigo, ‘in following him, I follow but myself,’ meaning he will look after his own interests instead of doing what is best by the Moor, which also portrays him as a self-serving character. His self-serving character is proven in the scene two when informing Othello of Roderigo spreading foul reports about the general. He claims Roderigo ‘spoke such scurvy and provoking terms against [Othello’s] honour.Iago’s double dealing nature proves he is untrustworthy, deceitful and a trouble stirrer, which is ironic as previously he was speaking of how he was treated unkindly and believed Othello was the deceitful person within the issue of the lieutenant promotion. The manipulative power Iago has over Roderigo must be strong if he is unaware of the great stirring Iago is conducting behind his back. Iago’s true representation is best portrayed by Shakespeare with the use of degrading, vulgar and taboo language in order to cause trouble when informing Brabantio of Desdemona’s deceitfulness in order to take revenge upon Othello.Upon arriving at his house, Iago orders Roderigo to ‘poison [Brabantio’s] delight†¦ incense her kinsmen†¦ Plague him with flies†¦ throw such changes of vexation. ’ These dynamic imperatives reveal connotations of rather harsh pain, suffering and destruction, enables the reader to visualise the two men trying to cause much distress, worry and anger to Brabantio before informing him of his daughter’s disappearance. Iago can be seen as a very self-centred character as the revenge he wants to be conducted upon Othello, means another person, Brabantio, will also be hurt during this vengeful act.It also shows how Iago enjoys causing much chaos and mayhem amongst people to witness their reactions for entertainment, and to possibly show he does not want to be the only character who has been deceived. After Brabantio calls out to the two men, Iago immediately uses his vulgar language to explain who Desdemona is with when stating ‘you have lost half your soul†¦ an old black ram is tupping your white ewe. ’ At first Iago portrays his sorrow towards the senator when saying ‘you have lost half your soul’ as if he pities him. The vulgar description ‘an old black ram is tupping your white ewe’ reveals rather degrading and racist imagery.The ‘black ram’ is in reference to the moor, portraying him to be a dirty, old man who is having relations with a pure and innocent â⠂¬Ëœwhite ewe’ which is in reference to Desdemona. The audience can see that this use of zoomorphism infers rather negative qualities about the moor before he has even been introduced into the play. The use of zoomorphism occurs often throughout the first act when Iago graphically describes the sexual relationship between Desdemona and Othello to her father. Iago states to Brabantio that his ‘daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs. The constant use of animalistic imagery and reference to specific animals, infers that the two characters are having a very sexual relationship and may not be together for love. This phrase is also a use of antithesis as the ram and ewe differ completely, similarly to how Desdemona and Othello differ in race and ethnicity. The degrading language used reveals Iago’s total disregard for Brabantio’s feelings and status in society, proving once again the manipulative nature Iago has and the enjoyment he receiv es when causing someone else great distress.Shakespeare also uses religious imagery within the play when Iago declares to Brabantio: ‘the devil will make a grandsire of you. ’ This imagery can also be seen as racial as the devil was often depicted as black, which proves he is referring Othello to the devil. Once Brabantio finds his daughter is in fact missing from his house, Iago decides this is the time to flee, showing his distrust to Roderigo by leaving him to fend for himself.He claims ‘it seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place, to be produced†¦ against the moor,’ where he means he cannot be seen by Brabantio as it may threaten his official position if he is brought forward as a witness against the Moor. Iago, and his double dealing ways, tells Roderigo that he ‘must show out a flag and sign of love. ’ The metaphor used by Iago here, conveys to the audience that Iago will support Roderigo from a distance but will not support him in person, but he later informs Othello of Roderigo’s supposed deceitful ways.Shakespeare uses a variety of different language techniques in order to portray Iago’s villainous character with such content. Zoomorphism is used frequently when Iago is referring to Othello which shows his racist and vulgar language, especially when describing the sexual relationship between Desdemona and Othello. The audience is able to see how Iago revels in the mayhem and distress he causes amongst characters including Brabantio. This shows the cruel and manipulative streak he has.

Week Assgn

Mixed Methods Lori Hudson Walden University Mixed methods research is combined with qualitative and quantitative research methods which consist Of the quality and emphasize measurement and variables (Dentin & Lincoln, 2003). In this paper, I will provide information about mixed methods and what type of designs, timing, and data collection that was used by Tortes. I will also discuss the theoretical lens that will be used in the study. Will also discuss the data analysis, which will deliver bendable information and the rationale as to why mixed methods were used in this particular article.Design Using the mixed methods research article by Tortes provided in the Learning Resources, briefly describe the type of design and the timing of the data collection. Theoretical Lens Briefly describe the theoretical lens that underlies the study. Be sure to support your points with scholarly support. Data Analysis Briefly describe the data analysis procedures used in the study. Be sure to support your points with scholarly support. Rationale for Mixed Methods Explain the rationale for using the mixed method design in this study.Be sure to support your points with scholarly support. Conclusion Your conclusion section should recap the major points you have made in your work. However, perhaps more importantly, you should interpret what you have written and what the bigger picture is. Remember your paper should be 2 – 3 pages not counting your title page and reference page. Please do not exceed three pages of content. Save your Application as a â€Å". Doc† or â€Å". RTF† file tit the filename APP+your first initial+last name.For example, Sally Ride's assignment filename would be â€Å"Appeasers†. Use the â€Å"Submit an Assignment† link, choose the Week 9: Application basket, and then add your Application as an attachment. References Always include references. Be sure every reference is in PAP format with a hanging indent. Also, every citatio n should have a reference and vice versa. Use the PAP manual, the Citation Guide or some source to verify your format. PAP is very specific about punctuation and how elements Of the reference are presented.

The Difference Between the High School System and Graduate Research Paper

The Difference Between the High School System and Graduate Institutions - Research Paper Example One of the similarities of the different college-level paths is that each enhances the communication ability of the students in the level of advancement. However, the higher the level, the more advanced the communication. Students from graduate level have better communication compared to the other levels considering that it is the highest of all, therefore, the environment ensuring that individuals advance in their written and oral communication mechanics and techniques (Kis and Park, 2012). Additionally, the college and graduate levels usually offer specialized education system in which students in such institutions study in various fields and areas of specialization, making them more informed on the various study topics in which the students are specialized (Kis and Park, 2012). In the case of high school; however, students study many subject areas with little or no specialization in a particular field. The approach of education in such a perspective limits the aspect of identifyin g the strengths and weaknesses of a student in a particular field of study (McCauley, 2007). Advanced placement institutions usually offer a similar curriculum to that of the high school, only that the exemplary students get an opportunity to take examinations approved by the board. Such an aspect enhances the student’s understanding of the different subject areas examined. Despite being affiliated to the high school curriculum, Advanced Placement colleges offer specialized examinations to its students, bringing about an aspect of specialization as observed in the case of colleges and graduate institutions.

Case study Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case study - Assignment Example However, profit and loss account does not provide information about future. (1.b) Profit and Loss Account Review: When looking at the profit and loss account of the Modern Furniture of both years, there are some items that are worth considering for decision making. The gross profit has declined by 10.75% from 2011. The major reason is the increase in the inventory cost. The other important thing to notice is that, there is a sharp decline of 5.8% in the net profit from last year which clearly indicates that there are no effective controls over the cost. Specially, salaries, maintenance and cleaning costs have increased to a significant amount. In addition to the facts mentioned above the Modern Furniture has also paid a bank interest of ?5200 due to the bank overdraft facility availed by the business in 2012; whereas, there was no such facility in the previous year. Marketing cost has also increased to ?51,500 from ?45,000 which is normal in a growing business like Modern Furniture. (2.a) Purpose of Balance Sheet: As the profit and loss account shows the results of revenue and expenses for the whole year, the balance sheet reflects the financial position of the entity on a particular point of time including the details of total assets, liabilities and owner’s equity. ... It is a picture that shows the strength and weaknesses of the business. (2.b) Balance Sheet Review: There are many observations in the balance sheet. The liquidity position has deteriorated since last year. There is no cash balance available at the end of year 2012. Investment in the non-liquid assets such as inventory and prepayments has increased together with the investment in receivables since last year. In addition to this Modern Furniture has also availed the bank overdraft facility so, there are major problems regarding liquidity. The business is holding more inventory than the previous year due to the growth in the business. Higher inventory levels will counter the threat of stock out at the price of higher inventory cost. The business has also made heavy investment of ?70,550 in fixed assets keeping in view the future expected demand. The overall position of the business is reasonable except the liquidity issue which requires prompt action from the owner. To overcome the cur rent situation the business should make investment in the liquid assets such as cash and securities otherwise it will be difficult to pay the liabilities in due time. (3 a) Purpose of Cash Flow Statement: Cash flow is also one of the most important parts of the financial statements which reflect all the receipts and payments made by the company during the financial year. The purpose of preparing the cash flow statement is to ascertain whether there are sufficient cash flows available to finance the operations. Cash act as a blood to run any organization. If the business is unable to produce sufficient cash, there will be going concern threat due to severe liquidity problems. The most important of all three activities in the cash flow statement is the