Juvenile Deliquency in Ibadan, Nigeria - 15127 Words

JUVENILE DELIQUENCY IN IBADAN, NIGERIA CHAPTER ONE 1.1 INTRODUCTION In the 1990s, juvenile delinquency has become a major global problem. The rising incidence of juvenile delinquency in many countries may be caused by certain socio-economic problems often associated with development. These includes; poverty, rapid population growth, unemployment, urbanization, industrialization, inadequate shelter and housing, youth unemployment, and under employment, breakdown of the family unit, inadequate provision of social services and inability of the educational system to respond to new challenges. From the word â€Å"juvenile delinquency†, â€Å"juvenile† means young people while delinquency means young offenders that are guilty of minor crime or†¦show more content†¦In view of the above facts, Beere, the study area as one of the urban centre in the core area of the ancient city â€Å"Ibadan† is characterised by severe problem of juvenile delinquency and also the causes which may be as a result of socio-economic problem that grossly inhibit the development of the study area in many sectors of life. This implies that planning issues where not taken into cognizance in the development and growth of urban environment, for instance, Beere the study area is characterised by high rate of juvenile crime. Therefore, the research work will critically examine the types, causes and effect of juvenile delinquency on the resident in the study area with a view to proffer or recommend the possible ways of ameliorating the problem of juvenile delinquency in the study area. 1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY The aim of this study is to assess juvenile delinquency in Beere, Ibadan. OBJECTIVES In order to achieve the above aim, the following objectives are set for study. 1. To examine the different types of juvenile delinquency in the study area. 2. To determine the causes of juvenile delinquency in the study area. 3. To determine the effect of theShow MoreRelatedEffect of Broken Home19368 Words   |  78 Pagesmountain of scientific evidence showing that when families disintegrate, children often end up with intellectual, physical and emotional scars that persist for life i.e. the drug crisis, the education crisis, and the problem of teen pregnancy and juvenile crime. But all these ills trace back predominantly to one source: broken families. A broken family in this context is one that is not structurally intact for various reasons; death of a parent, divorce, separation, dissertation and illegitimacy

Essay on Democrats and Republicans View Points - 1090 Words

Since the beginning of their inception the Republican and Democrats have had a great divide on their perceptions of what is best for this great nation of ours. Republicans and democrats are distinct in several ways above all in their ideas, politics and world views. Republicans seem to be known as conventional or cautious and they seem to embrace economic equity beyond any other thing. Whereas a Democrat seems to be more open minded and they stand for government supported programs. The purpose of the paper is to analyze, compare and contrast the two parties positions on the issues of same sex marriage, race based affirmative action and illegal immigration. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia â€Å"Affirmative action means†¦show more content†¦Democrats on the other hand have believed in Affirmative Action when it came to racial and gender quotas in education and employment. A same-sex marriage is a hot topic in today’s politics and society. Our views are changing each day as our culture is changing. Today nearly fifty percent of American’s support same-sex marriages. We are changing our views to be more accepting of all and that is why party stances on this issue are very subject to change. For majority of each party the following ideas are true. The Democratic Party is for same-sex marriage because they believe in supporting equality. They are the highest supporters for legal same-sex marriage, and propose same-sex couples should have the same legal rights as all other married couples. Repealing the Defense of Marriage act is on the top of their agenda. The Republican Party, on the other hand, opposes same-sex marriage. Republicans believe in preserving the traditional family to help protect our children’s future. They completely support the Defense of Marriage act from 1996 which says marriage is between a man and woman. The similarities between the two parties are that both are not one hundred percent for or against the issue. The views of many in each party are changing or are not yet being swayed to change. Republicans are changing their stance as well and going pro-gay. For example, theShow MoreRelatedThe Political Positions Of The Democratic And Republican Parties Essay1620 Words   |  7 Pagespolicies and political positions of the Democratic and Republican parties on the major issues that or government is having such as the healthcare, the role of government, gun control, entitlements, immigration, taxes, abortion and gay rights and many other issues that or country is going throw. These two parties are the most powerful in America s political landscape but differ greatly in their philosophies and ideals. In which Democrat and Republican platform are much different and similar, there isRead MoreDemocrats and Republicans: Is There a Difference? Essay1649 Words   |  7 PagesEveryone has heard the following words at one time or another Democrats are liberal, while Republicans are Conservative. Is this really true? In order to resolve this question, two questions must be answere d, what do the two terms mean? What is liberal and what is Conservative? Some Democrats are conservative and some Republicans are liberal. In this time of turmoil, Democrats and Republicans must work together to promote the common welfare. What exactly is liberalism? According to SidlowRead MoreThe Politics Of Republicans And Democrats1584 Words   |  7 PagesRepublicans and Democrats historically have found it difficult to agree on many policy issues, and taxation represents another area of disagreement. Each party’s ideology partially explains why they take a different approach to taxation and furthermore alludes to the different coalitions present in each party. Democrats traditionally favor higher taxes, while Republicans feel as though raising taxes is inefficient. The past twenty years illustrate these two stances, and each party clearly has a historyRead MorePolitical Parties And The Republican Party Platform1464 Words   |  6 PagesGenerally speaking, anyone who lives in the United States of America knows that there are two main political parties—the Republicans and the Democrats. Having two main parties has its advantages and, of course, its disadvantages. For example, in By the People James E. Monroe and Rogan Kersh (301) point out having this type of system creates â€Å"predictability and stability.† However, they also declare (301) it can â€Å"lead to a gridlock.† This is not a new concept either as there has been a divide sinceRead MoreRepublicans vs Democrats Essay1539 Words   |  7 PagesThe American political system is made up of primarily two parties, Democrats and Republicans. These parties go against each-other for many political positions, such as presidency. Each supports and opposes different issues. The Democratic Party supports a bigger government and believes the government should guide the people. They are known as Liberals because typically they like change. The Republican Party supports a smaller government and believes the people should guide the government. TheyRead MoreEconomic Status Of The Middle Class1688 Words   |  7 PagesDemocratic party leaders to aid the middle class. The Democrats have been strong proponents of pushing the middle class back up to its previous standard. They have actively defended the middle class, showing their support for immediate reform that would benefit specifically middle class workers. The middle class has continued to shrink and without action taken immediately this problem won’t be fixed. The 2016 election will be a changing point that can monumentally impact the American middle classRead MoreTax Policies, Health Care, And Crime And Capital Punishment952 Words   |  4 PagesIn 1860 the republican party sprang to life to compete against the Democratic parties, and this really lit the fire for the different viewpoints for the United States of America with Laws and rules. For decades people chose different sides, for which parties they believed offered the best ideas and laws. Matching the two parties side by side actually gives you in-depth details on the three main topics in this essay, which is Tax policies, Health Care, and Crime and Capital Punishment. People alwaysRead MorePolitical Parties During Americ The Great Rights That Every American Citizen1417 Words   |  6 Pagespublic office by selecting who they believe best represents their values and beliefs. But who organizes the candidates? What are they affiliated with? The answer is political parties. A political party is an organization of people who share the same views about the way power should be used in a country or a society . It is typically accepted that political parties in america serve four functions. The first being that they selected candidates who best represent them to run for office. The second is theyRead MoreDemocrats and Republicans Essay1122 Words   |  5 PagesAida Krafess Rosie Branciforte ENC 1101 April 8, 2013 Democrats and Republicans The United States of America is known to have two major political parties. The Republican party and the democratic one. Both parties are based on views and principles being completely opposites of each other. The Republican party is known to be a conservative party, while the democratic party is known to be liberal. Two concepts that are opposites to each other. The democratic party will most certainly convince theRead MoreLiberalism : Who And Why1358 Words   |  6 PagesRepublicanism: Who and Why â€Å"Republicans are for both the man and the dollar, but in case of conflict the man before the dollar.† This quote, by Abraham Lincoln describes some of the core principles behind Republicanism. Those core ideas are to help United State’s citizens first and the economy seconds. Republicanism is a belief that the United States should take a more conservative approach in its economic and social policies, and people believe in it because they think that a hands off government

The Namesake Free Essays

Cultural traditions, migration, family and identity are issues which emerge throughout the novel The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. How have various literary techniques been used to show that these issues play a major role in an individual experiencing a sense of belonging or not belonging. It is evident that a number of issues can greatly affect a person’s sense of belonging in particular personal experiences and cultural background. We will write a custom essay sample on The Namesake or any similar topic only for you Order Now Throughout Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel The Namesake a number of these issues emerge and have been presented to play a major role in an individual discovering their true identity while concurrently experiencing a sense of belonging or not belonging. A range of various literary techniques including intertextuality, motifs and juxtaposition have been utilised throughout the novel to illustrate the factors that influence a person’s sense of belonging and in some cases a person’s sense of isolation.The reference to the short story The Overcoat written by Ashoke’s favourite author Nikolai Gogol has been used as both a motif and a form of intertextuality throughout the novel. The Overcoat is first mentioned in chapter one when Ashoke recalls his near death experience in a train accident. It is believed that because Ashoke was clutching the pages of The Overcoat in his hand that he was found among the wreckage of the train and ‘reborn’.This personal experience played an important role in shaping Ashoke’s identity which in turn allowed him to develop a great sense of adventure which enabled him to travel to a land far away from his own and be ‘Born twice in India and once in Americaâ€℠¢. It can also be suggested that this personal experience influenced Ashoke’s ability to experience a strong sense of belonging wherever he goes. The Overcoat is again mentioned numerous times throughout the novel mainly in relation to Gogol Ganguli’s personal sense of belonging. Gogol’s namesake is in fact Nikolai Gogol and it was the short story which had influenced the naming of ‘Baby boy Ganguli’. Although there is no connection between Gogol Ganguli and Nikolai Gogol, Ganguli’s sense of belonging is greatly affected by Nikolai’s own identity. Gogol Ganguli feels that he must live according to his namesake who was considered ‘insane’ and this concurrently creates a sense of disconnection within Gogol during his high school years. After discovering the true meaning of his name, Gogol asks his father if he thinks of the night he almost died whenever he thinks of him – ‘Is that what you think of when you think of me? , ‘Do I remind you of that night? ’, to which his father reassures him that he does not. However because of this Gogol forms a sense of isolation and regret towards his father while simultaneously realising the importance of life and family.This sense of isolation is then c ontrasted to the sense of belonging that is developed later in the novel when Gogol Ganguli changes his name to Nikhil Ganguli in order to gain acceptance and a stronger sense of belonging within the American community.The Overcoat is also a motif that is used to symbolise the importance of identity and personal experience and the role these two factors play in securing a person’s sense of belonging or not belonging. It is evident throughout the novel that there are a number of motifs used that represent issues surrounding the main character and his family. The first of these motifs is manifested on the first pages of the novel where Ashima is said to be making a concoction of ‘Rice Krispies and Planters Peanuts and chopped red onion in a bowl’ to which ‘she adds salt, lemon juice, thin slices of green chili peppers’.It is said that this snack created by Ashima is a humble approximation of the snack that is sold for pennies on Calcutta sidewalks and railway platforms throughout India. This food motif emphasise the isolation that Ashima is currently experiencing as a result of her recent migration to a land foreign to her, America. Although Ashima’s craving of the snack commonly found in Calcutta emphasises her disconnection and isolation from her homeland, this sense of isolation is eventually replaced with belonging as her community of Bengali friends begins to grow later in the novel.Later the food motif is once again made evident through the gathering and sharing of traditional Bengali food between the Ganguli’s and other Bengali families. These recurring references to traditional Bengali foods reinforces the idea that migration, cultural background and traditions plays a major role in creating a sense of disconnection and eventual belonging. Similarly trains are a key motif within the novel and are first introduced in hapter two when Ashoke recalls his near death experience in a horrific train accident which did physically immobilize him momentarily but eventually acted as source of independence and crucial motive in his want for a better life away from his homeland. The motif of the train is then manifested when Ashima gains independence for the first time when riding it alone, although she is alone Ashima feels a sense of belonging to the American community to which she now belongs to. This event is eventually contrasted to her leaving behind presents she bought for her deceased father on the train.Because of this Ashima now creates a great sense of loss as well as disconnection from her homeland, culture and family. For Gogol the train acts as a setting for which his most important relationships have been established in turn providing him with a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging is then contrasted to the se nse of disconnection and hurt he later experiences when he discovers the affair between his wife Moushimi and another man whilst on a train. The key motif of the train within The Namesake can be seen as a symbol for change and advancing. This motif is also used to express how personal experiences and relationships can greatly affect a person’s identity and in turn influence their sense of belonging or isolation. The use of juxtaposition throughout the novel The Namesake to contrast each characters sense of belonging. It is also used to emphasise the affect cultural traditions, migration, family and identity have on a person’s sense of belonging. The American culture is greatly contrasted to the traditional Bengali culture to which the Ganguli’s belong to. The two cultures are vastly different in many aspects of life including food, morals and family simply to name a few.The Ganguli’s diaspora from Calcutta has resulted in their sense of disconnection and isolation from society as well as from their family back home. Their lifestyle back home within the Bengali culture has been greatly compared to the lifestyle which they now live in America. Juxtaposition has also been used throughout the novel to contrast the different identities in which the characters have. It can be noticed that Ashoke has a rather strong sense of identity as does Sonia, however Ashima can be viewed as a person who is torn between two worlds whilst Gogol’s dentity is rather confused. From this it can be gather that each characters identity shapes their sense of belonging and this is once again reiterated through the use of juxtaposition. By utilising literary techniques including intertextuality, motifs and juxtaposition Jhumpa Lahiri has successfully addressed issues such as cultural traditions, migration, family and identity while concurrently demonstrating how such issues play a major role on influencing a person’s sense of belonging or not belonging.It is palpable to acknowledge the fact that personal experiences, relationships, time and cultural traditions play an important role in shaping a person’s personal identity that can in turn influence a person’s sense of belonging and in some cases not belonging. By using the previously mentioned literary techniques, Jhumpa Lahiri has effectively represented this idea in her award winning novel The Namesake. How to cite The Namesake, Papers The Namesake Free Essays Jhumpa Lahiri in her famous book â€Å"The Namesake† clearly portrayed the facts and problems of Bengali immigrants in America, their culture, laws and customs of different religious observations and family life. In her novel Lahiri narrates the story of a Bengali family who immigrated to America and their condition in the exile was a blending of cultural and emotional disparity with the Native Americans. The story is centering about the family of Ashoke and Ashima Ganguly, a perfect immigrant family who are deeply interested in carrying their Bengali culture. We will write a custom essay sample on The Namesake or any similar topic only for you Order Now The story starts with the serious accident in India from which Ashoke fortunately got rescued due to the book of short stories by Nikolai Gogol. Though they thought their child’s name would be selected by Ashima’s grandmother but circumstantially name of their son was given by Ashoke. He named his son Gogol in the name of famous writer Nikolai Gogol. After moving out of Boston they tried to admit Gogol in the school with a good name Nikhil again according to the similarity to the first name of Nikolai Gogol but Gogol disagree to have that name and he continued with his nick name Gogol. After some days his sister was born and she was given the name Sonali. They simultaneously celebrated the birth of Christ and the most major festival of Bengali Hindu’s Durga Puja, the worship of Goddess Durga. Efforts were made from the part of their parents to aware them of Bengali culture and language. On coming to India they visited several famous places in Calcutta, Delhi and Agra and then came back to America. One day listening to the lecture of her teacher on the life of Nikolai Gogol, Gogol was very much upset and started trying to deny his name. Consequently Gogol changed his name to Nikhil and then again on hearing the incident behind his naming from his father he became disappointed. Meanwhile Gogol graduated and Sonia started studying in California. At this time Ashoke died of a massive heart attack in Ohio and they observed the death of Ashoke according to the Hindu Custom. Following the breaking of relationship between Maxine and Gogol her mother expressed her interest over the marriage of Gogol with Moushumi Majumdar, whom he met before in family parties. They married each other according to the Hindu traditions.   After deciding to come back in Calcutta Ashima realized that for 33 years she missed India and at this older age she will miss her job, American Culture and above all her children. In the mean time divorce took place between Gogol and Moushumi. To search the old books as his mother was willing to donate some books to the library where she last worked, Gogol got the book ‘The short stories of Nikolai Gogol’ given by Ashoke at Gogol’s birth day in 1982 and he became emotionally moved reading his father’s statement in his own handwriting. In the book several important cultural ceremonies was pictured in an impressive way. At the age of six months Gogol went under ‘anaprasan’ which is based on his first consumption of solid foods in which Dilip Nandy acting as Ashima’s brother played the major role by feeding rice to the child. Lahiri narrates the incident as follows: Gogol is dressed as an infant Bengali groom, in a pale yellow pajama-punjabi from his grandmother in Calcutta. The fragrance of cumin seeds, sent in the package along with the pajamas, lingers in the weave. A headpiece that Ashima cut out of paper, decorated with pieces of aluminium foil, is tied around Gogol’s head with string. He wears a thin fourteen-karat gold chain around his neck. His tiny forehead has been decorated with considerable struggle with sandalwood paste to form six miniature beige moons floating above his brows. (Lahiri 39) Such description helps the reader to have a proper look into the Bengali culture. Moreover about Durga Puja she mentioned the custom of worshipping the goddess with marigold petals and eating of vegetarian foods. On Ashoke’s death Ashima, Gogol and Sonia ate mourner’s diet i.e. food without meat and fish which is, another example of Bengali Hindu’s culture. On the eleventh day there was a social ceremony called ‘shradhya’ to end the mourning period. Lahiri described this culture in her own way: The rest of it-the calls, the flowers that are everywhere, the visitors, the hours they spend sitting together in the living room unable to say a word, mean nothing. Without articulating it to one another, they draw comfort from the fact that it is the only time in the day that they are alone, isolated, as a family; even if there are visitors lingering in the house, only the three of them partake of this meal. And only for its duration is their grief slightly abated, the enforced absence of certain foods on their plates conjuring his father’s presence somehow. (Lahiri 181) Again while describing the marriage of Gogol and Moushumi she started from the way in which both of them sat in the marriage ceremony to the playing of Shenai music including the inevitable presence of a Brahmin as a priest. While observing these customs Gogol realized the extent of obedience which is involved in such a ceremony. Moreover she also makes aware her readers about the custom of addressing â€Å"his second set of parents† as â€Å"Baba and Ma†. (222) If we compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the culture depicted in the book and Judaism, then we will see that both cultures in their own way are different from each other. First we consider the culture regarding birth of a child. The culture portrayed in the book suggest that after the birth of a baby the name is given by her grandparents which symbolizes the place of honor the grandparents hold in the Bengali society, though it is not rare that the name is given by the child’s parents. On the other hand according to Jewish rituals, immediately after the birth of the child father will pray to the almighty for blessings for the child. If the child is son his name is given on the eighth day after the birth and in case of girl child name is given at the time of birth. According to the Jewish concept marriage is very important without which a person remains incomplete. In the past Jewish marriage were arranged by parents though they can seek help from others to find the appropriate match. The marriage ceremony involves breaking of a plate which symbolizes the destruction of temples in Jerusalem and signifies that Jews are still feeling very bad for that heart breaking incident. But according to the culture in the book, Marriage can be done on some specific holy days and it can be done in the presence of a Brahmin priest. Father of the bride handed over the bride to the groom and they will ask for blessings from older people including their parents. If we search for similarities then we will see in case of birth both cultures have the tradition of praying to God for the well being of the child. In case of death both cultures several rituals as a sign of mourning and in both cultures being in contact with the dead body causes ritual dirt. And above all both the cultures have beliefs in afterlife which is based on the fact that those who lived an honest life in its truest sense will get another beautiful life. So far we have discussed different laws and customs regarding religious observances like birth, marriage and death and most importantly family life of the Bengali immigrants in America. Moreover we have tried to research the main culture depicted in the book and at last we tried to compare the different similarities and differences between culture described in the book and the culture of Judaism. Works Cited Lahiri, Jhumpa. The Namesake. India: HarperCollins Publishers India, 2006 BBc-Religions and Ethics-Jewish Weding Rites: Jewish Weding Rites.   May 5, 2008http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/rites/weddings_1.shtml. How to cite The Namesake, Essay examples

The Population Bomb Essays - Population Ecology,

The Population Bomb By Paul Erhlich The book The Population Bomb, Paul Erhlich describes the impending problem of human overpopulation. Eventhough this book was written in the 1960's, Erhlich still brings up many points which are still valid in today's society. Environmental science often is not thought of by the public or the government, let alone the problem of human overpopulation, so this book served as one of the first looks into the issue. Environmental activists are often shunned as being too leftist or straight out insane. By making many logistical arguments, Mr. Erhlich shows us that environmental problems aren't so farfetched. Erhlich speaks of several problems which are intertwined with the one of population. The first problem which Erhlich delves into, is that of the depleted food source. As the population grows larger, the food supply diminishes. He claims that there are 2 natural solutions to this problem; one being the death rate solution, and the other, the birth rate solution. The death rate solution would be the increase in the death rate and the birth rate solution would be a decrease in the birth rate, respectively. Erhlich also warns that the doubling times of populations are becoming more frequent and that exponential growth will start occurring, and from studies done on animal populations, we know that exponential growth leads to near extinction. Another problem Erhlich speaks of is the environmental erosion due to human exploitation. Humans also always turn to pesticides to take care of their problems, however they do not realize that what they are doing is slowly killing themselves and everything on the Earth, along with the pests the poison is intended for. As a cause of the overuse of pesticides, the agricultural worth of the farmland is also decreasing. Erhlich warns that pesticides only create resistant pests and aid in the formation of cancer. Some pesticides seem to have no apparent effects, but they actually are building up in the body, by being stored in the fatty tissue, such as DDT. Erhlich also speaks of the arising problems created by the use of monoculture for farming and of the simple ecosystems we are creating to make things easier for ourselves. By implementing monoculture, we are facilitating the destruction of the crops. Crops are more susceptible to disease and pests by not having any variety. Pesticides also cause pollution. They pollute not only our air, but our land, water and bodies. Pesticides run off from the land into rivers, then are carried into the ocean where they contaminate our food and water supplies, leading in some cases to death. For instance, Lake Erie is now "dead" because of pollution. It is horrible that we are killing the very thing which supports us. The only time when the government will take action to help the environment is when there is massive death tolls. Erhlich claims that we are playing "environmental roulette" by ignoring the preservation of the environment. Lead pollution, over reliance on fossil fuels, and pesticides are ruining the Earth. We have too many cars, too many people, too little water and not enough food. Erhlich says that if we do not stop what we are doing, then nature will remedy itself of this problem by way of a death solution. We have unknowingly begun self-extermination. Overpopulation causes diseases to be more readily spread. There will not be enough doctors to take care of the sick, sanitation will go down, and vectors will be able to survive and spread diseases. Viruses will be spread by our rapid transportation systems and biological warfare may take place. (How right he was about that!) Erhlich explains that we need to begin using contraception, need to begin caring and environmentalists need to be allowed to take action. We also should increase food production and let farmland rest to regain lost nutrients. To my knowledge the novel did not have much direct effect on the way environmental science is approached. What this book did accomplish is to alert people to the problem. No one ever thinks that human population could be a problem. According to humans, humans are never the source of a problem, so then why concern yourself with something such as human population?

When a newborn baby enters the world

When a newborn baby enters the world, the farthest thing from the mind of a parent is the neurological development of the newborn babys brain. It is not likely that one would think of a babys brain as a jumble of neurons like a ball of yarn waiting to be sculpted into a work of art. However, one should be concerned and interested in the development of their childs brain as certain critical periods pass for developing skills in math and logic, music, emotions, language and movement. It should be stated that there are certain critical periods that comprise the growth and development of neurons as they wire the brain. If these neurons are used they become integrated into the circuitry of the brain by connecting to other neurons; if they are not used, they may die (Begley, 1996, p.65). One can safely assume that these windows of opportunity are a very critical time in the stimulation of the growth of brain activity. By age sixteen, the wiring of the neurons throughout the brain is almost complete, making it harder for adults to pick up new tasks easily. However, the adult brain is crisscrossed with approximately 100 billion neurons, allowing the brain to have over 100 trillion connections (Begley 1996). Genes often determine the brains main circuits, but the environment and a childs experiences in that environment shape trillions of finer connections, which can determine the personality characteristics that the child will bear (Begley 1996). Math and logic are necessities for developing spatial skills, both of which intertwine with music. After 19 preschoolers were given piano or singing lessons their spatial reasoning skills dramatically improved, along with their ability to complete mazes, draw geometric figures and copy patterns (Begley 1996). Music seems to excite the brain and enhance complex reasoning tasks, as nine string players brains were examined wit...

How the Photosynthetic Process Works in Trees

How the Photosynthetic Process Works in Trees Photosynthesis is an important process that permits plants, including trees, to use their leaves to trap the suns energy in the form of sugar. The leaves then store the resulting sugar in cells in the form of glucose for both immediate and later  tree growth. Photosynthesis represents a beautifully wonderful chemical process in which six molecules of water from roots combine with six molecules of carbon dioxide from the air and creates one molecule of organic sugar. Of equal importance is the by-product of this process- photosynthesis is what produces oxygen. There would be no life on earth as we know it without the photosynthetic process.   The Photosynthetic Process in Trees The term photosynthesis means putting together with light. It is a manufacturing process that happens within cells of plants and within tiny bodies called chloroplasts. These plastids are located in the cytoplasm of leaves and they contains the green coloring matter called chlorophyll. When photosynthesis takes place, water that has been absorbed by the trees roots is carried to leaves where it comes in contact with the layers of chlorophyll. At the same time, air, containing carbon dioxide, is taken into leaves via leaf pores and exposed to sunlight, resulting in a very important chemical reaction. Water is broken down into its oxygen and nitrogen elements, and it combines with carbon dioxide in the chlorophyll to form sugar. This oxygen released by trees and other plants becomes a part of the air we breath, while the glucose is carried to the other parts of the plant as nourishment. This essential process is what will make of 95 percent of the mass in a tree, and photosynthesis by trees and other plants is what contributes nearly all the oxygen in the air we breathe.   Here is the  chemical equation for the process of photosynthesis: 6 molecules of carbon dioxide 6 molecules of water light → glucose oxygen The Importance of Photosynthesis Many processes occur in a tree leaf, but none more important than photosynthesis and the resulting food it manufactures and the oxygen it  produces as a byproduct. Through the magic of green plants, the radiant energy of the sun is captured in a leafs structure and made available to all living things. Except for a few kinds of bacteria, photosynthesis is the only process on earth by which organic compounds are constructed from inorganic substances, resulting in stored energy.   Roughly 80 percent of the earths total photosynthesis is produced in the ocean. Its estimated that 50 to 80 percent of the worlds oxygen is generated by ocean plant-life, but the critical remaining portion is generated by terrestrial plant life, particular the earths forests  Ã‚  So the pressure is constantly on the terrestrial plant world to keep up the pace. The loss of the worlds forests has far-reaching consequences in terms of the compromising the percentage of oxygen in the earths atmosphere. And because the process of photosynthesis consumes carbon dioxide, trees, and other plant life, are a means by which the earth scrubs out carbon dioxide and replaces it with pure oxygen. It is quite critical for cities to maintain a healthy urban forest in order to maintain good air quality.   Photosynthesis and The History of Oxygen Oxygen has not always been present on earth. The earth itself is estimated to be around  4.6  billion years old, but scientists studying geologic evidence believe that oxygen first appeared about 2.7 billion years ago, when microscopic cyanobacteria, otherwise known as blue-green algae, developed the ability to photosynthesize sunlight into sugars and oxygen. It took roughly a billion more years for enough oxygen to collect in the atmosphere to support early forms of terrestrial life.   It is unclear just what happened 2.7 billion years ago to cause cynobacteria to develop the process that makes life on earth possible. It remains one of sciences most intriguing mysteries.

Global Environmental Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Global Environmental Change - Essay Example Serious threat from oil exploration on the eastern slopes of the Andes and the adjacent Amazonian lowlands of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia have led to a conflict between hydrocarbon hotspot and biodiversity hotspot. Loss of biodiversity and associated ecosystem services is one of the most challenging problems ecologist face. Advances in information technology, featuring computer simulation models built on digital databases and satellite imagery incorporating GPS and GIS can go a long way to identify problems, evaluate risks and design counter measures. Accurate maps are created using remote sensing technology that can play an important role to monitor the environmental effects of human activities on land and water resources. We are passing through the defining moments of human development challenges of the 21st century. Failure to respond will not only stall but also reverse international efforts to reduce poverty. The earth's ecosystems and the biosphere's life-supporting sy stems need to be understood for survival of mankind. The poorest countries are most vulnerable and will be the first to suffer from global environmental change, though they have contributed least to the problem. Large-scale global environmental hazards to human existence include climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, biodiversity loss, changes in hydrological systems and the supply of freshwater, land degradation and stresses on food-producing systems (WHO, 2008) 1. Their influence on the earth's ecosystems and the biosphere's life-supporting systems needs to be understood for survival of mankind. It also brings the complexity of the systems upon which we depend. Though there are many factors affecting global environmental changes, in this paper we shall discuss the impact of "desertification" and "dwindling biodiversity" on the earth. Desertification Approximately one-third of the earth's land surface is arid desert land with scanty rainfall, sparse vegetation and limited population (Walker, 1997) 2. Deserts are formed by a combination of factors that change over a period of time and will vary with locations. Unscientific land use practices leads to deterioration in vegetation, soil erosion and salinity directly affecting soil fertility and leads to soil compaction and crusting. Population pressure, socioeconomic factors, globalization, unbridled urbanization and merciless mining indirectly induce desertification. The inability to logically and technologically respond to such demands sets off a downward spiral of land degradation. It is very difficult to distinguish whether desertification was caused by reckless land management practices or from climatic turbulence. Due to its vastness, discussing desertification on a global scale require copious deliberations. This discussion is, therefore, being confined to China, which is big enough and favorably positioned in the northern mid latitudes for such a study. China also suffers from a very patchy distribution of water resources 3. China's Environmental Protection Agency has reported that Gobi Deserts expanded by 52,400 km2 during 1994-99 and is now within striking distance from Beijing. Scientists fear if this rate continues complete desertification will arrive within 15 years. Satellite pictures forewarns how two deserts in North central China are