Environmental Degration

One of the major threat the planet faces today, environmental degradation is bound to make life difficult for all the lifeforms, including us humans, sooner or later. Studies reveal that the deterioration of environment is occurring at an alarming rate. In fact, the High Level Threat Panel of the United Nations has enlisted it as one of the ten threats for humans. This issue shares space with problems like poverty, terrorism and civil war in the list, and this itself highlights the fact that we are heading for a certain disaster. What is Environmental Degradation?It is a process wherein the natural environment of the planet is degenerated to such an extent that the biodiversity and the general health of the planet is subjected to drastic reduction. In other words, this phenomenon can be defined as deterioration of the Earth's natural surroundings as a result of excessive exploitation of the available resources – these include water, air, flora, fauna, soil etc. The life on the planet is interwoven to such an extent that a decrease in a particular attribute triggers a domino effect on all the other attributes dependent on it.How is it Caused? ’; Environmental degradation can be attributed to various human activities and some natural processes, with the later having an insignificant share in the same. Most of the resources on the planet are vulnerable to depletion, and the rate at which we are exploiting them have already brought some of them to the brink of exhaustion. Exploitation of the fossil fuels is the best example of this phenomenon. Large-scale exploitation has depleted the fossil fuel reserves across the world, thus leaving us with no option but to find an alternate source of energy.Other human activities which have been contributing to this environmental issue include urbanization, overpopulation, deforestation, pollution, hunting, etc. What Does it Affect Us? Its effects are becoming more and more obvious in form of all those environment al issues affecting the planet. The hazardous waste let out by the industries tends to contaminate the water bodies in the vicinity, thus leaving the water unfit for drinking.Similarly, greenhouse gases, such as CFCs and carbon dioxide, let out in the atmosphere have a devastating effect on the environment, thus making the planet vulnerable to a range of problems, including global warming and climate change. On one hand, incessant agricultural activities have resulted in degradation of soil, while excessive deforestation to accumulate the growing population has resulted in degradation of air and water on the other hand. Humans have seldom sacrificed their necessities, but lately exploitation of resources to fulfill these necessities itself is taking a toll on the environment.How Can we Deal With it? At one point of time, the damage reaches a stage wherein the environment can't attain the required balance on its own. In such a situation, we humans need to step in, and ensure that the damage is curbed and balance is attained. Simple measures, such as conservation of electricity, use of alternative energy sources, avoiding the use of things that pollute the environment, soil conservation, etc. , can help in saving the environment from the threat of degradation. Environmentalists, the world over, are trying their best to save our environment, and we need to do our bit to make sure that they succeed.The need of the hour is to identify the causes of environmental degradation, and eliminate them one by one. We need to understand the fact that we are a part of the interwoven life system on the planet, and any problems, like environmental degradation and environmental pollution, are bound to affect us directly or indirectly. Though the disaster is not expected to happen tomorrow or a hundred years from now, that doesn't mean it will never happen at all. That being said, the onus is on us – the most intelligent species on the planet, to make sure that such proble ms are kept at bay.The main causes of environmental degradation are as follow; 1 Industrialization 2 Agricultural development 3 population growth 4 poverty 5 urbanization 6 Deforestation 7 transport development 8 market failure Causes of Environmental Degradation There is no doubt that man has caused environmental degradation. The causes of environmental degeneration are complex and should be addressed to, before it causes complete breakdown of the environment.Ads by Google BSc Psychology Online Study In Nigeria – UK Universities. Apply Online Now For Home Study www. rdi. co. k/psychology These are the days we keep hearing about global warming, melting of the glaciers, rising of the sea levels, etc. , all of which have been linked to environmental degradation. When the natural state of the environment is compromised upon it leads to breakdown of the biological diversity and harms the health of the environment. The process of environmental degradation can either be caused by n ature itself or it is man-made (which is a fact). If one has to compare the face of earth as it was hundreds of years ago to what it is today, we will see that environment has severely been compromised upon.When people look at environmental degradation, the intensity of the problem is not actually understood, but it could cause destruction of the human race itself. The causes of this problem vary a lot and it means depletion of the natural resources and disturbances in the natural cycle of things on the face of earth. Root Causes of Environmental Degradation The best case of environmental degradation can be seen in land degradation. There are climatic conditions responsible along with the human activities, which have brought about the degradation.The effects can be seen in the arid, semi arid and dry sub humid lands. One of the cause is over grazing of land. Along with that the green cover has depleted severely in almost all parts of the world. The forest cover has made way for huma n settlement. This has resulted in the temperatures increasing with each passing day. Since the forest covers have depleted, it has resulted in large-scale erosion, which in turn, is responsible for loss of nutrients from the soil. This has led the soil to becoming barren and in some cases also sterile.Since the forest cover has been lost, the winds now blow the top soil from the land, which also leads to degradation of the environment. Pollution is eating away into the environment. Here we are talking about air pollution, where toxic substances have made their way into the air, which has caused the air to become unhealthy. Air pollution is caused by a number of reasons. One of the most prominent cause is vehicle emissions. With each passing day, the number of vehicles are on the rise, which means increase in air pollution. The next cause is release of chemical waste from various factories.The waste often forms a layer in the atmosphere of the earth, which further affects the enviro nment. In environmental degradation we cannot forget the exploitation of fossil fuels. Since the time fossil fuels were discovered, they have been exploited. This has resulted in the fossil fuel reserves depleting all around the world, hence it has become important to find alternate sources of energy. When the fossil fuels are burnt, they release toxins into the air, which further aggravate environmental degradation. The underlying causes of environment going down way is overpopulation.The land reserve that is available on earth is finite. However, the demands are ever-increasing due to increasing population. There is only so much, that one can actually extract from the earth. This has led to widespread use of chemicals and other toxins to produce more food to feed the ever-increasing number of people. This has further caused depletion of the earth. With the use of chemicals the biological balance of earth has also been destroyed as the microorganisms have been killed. If one has to see the environmental degradation causes and effects, one will see that entire ecosystems have been destroyed.The ecosystem is made up of all the living and non living elements. However, when any one of them is destroyed, it leads to the destruction of the entire ecosystem as the balance is lost. No doubt plants and animals form an important feature of the ecosystem, but the microorganisms along with water sources and soil cannot be forgotten either. Industrial waste is known to be hazardous to the environment. The waste can be in the form of liquid waste, which pollute the rivers and cause harm to the ecosystem present in the rivers.It can also be solid waste, which is not biodegradable and pollutes the environment and leads to its degradation. We have already spoken about the industrial waste emitted into the air. After reading about the causes of environmental decadence, we can say that if the human race has to survive on the face of this earth, it is important that stringent me asures be taken up to arrest further deterioration of the environment. One will have to work towards conserving air, water and soil and try to restore balance in the ecosystem, which has been destroyed or is on the verge of destruction.In other words, one will have to work towards restoring natural habitats and make sure no further harm is done to the environment. By Bhakti Satalkar Published: 3/25/2011 * Environmental Degradation * How do Humans Affect the Environment * Current Environmental Issues * List of Environmental Problems * Simple Ways to Save the Environment * How does Mining Affect the Environment * How to Save the Environment * Globalization and Its Impact on the Environment * What are Environmental Ethics?* Environmental Issues List * How to Save Our Environment * Sustainable Living Ideas Causes of Overpopulation * Why are Birds and Fish Dying Read more at Buzzle: http://www. buzzle. com/articles/causes-of-environmental-degradation. html Environmental degradation From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Eighty-plus years after the abandonment of Wallaroo Mines (Kadina, South Australia), mosses remain the only vegetation at some spots of the site's grounds Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife.It is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be deleterious or undesirable. [1] Environmental degradation is one of the Ten Threats officially cautioned by the High Level Threat Panel of the United Nations. The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines environmental degradation as â€Å"The reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social and ecological objectives, and needs†. [2] Environmental degradation is of many types.When natural habitats are destroyed or natural resources are depleted, environment is degrad ed. | This article may be confusing or unclear to readers. Please help us clarify the article; suggestions may be found on the talk page. (May 2012) | Environmental Change and Human Health, a special section of World Resources 1998-99 in this report describes how preventable illnesses and premature deaths are still occurring in very large numbers. If vast improvements are made in human health, millions of people will be living longer, healthier lives than ever before.In these poorest regions of the world an estimated 11 million children, or about one in five, will not live to see their fifth birthday, primarily because of environment-related diseases. Child mortality is larger than the combined populations of Norway and Switzerland, and mostly due to malaria, acute respiratory infections or diarrhea — illnesses that are largely preventable. Contents [hide] * 1 Water deterioration * 1. 1 Climate change and temperature * 1. 2 Climate change and precipitation * 1. 3 Population g rowth* 1. 4 Agriculture * 1. Water management * 2 See also * 3 References * 4 External links| [edit] Water deterioration One major component of environmental degradation is the depletion of the resource of fresh water on Earth. Approximately only 2. 5% of all of the water on Earth is fresh water, with the rest being salt water. 69% of the fresh water is frozen in ice caps located on Antarctica and Greenland, so only 30% of the 2. 5% of fresh water is available for consumption. [3] Fresh water is an exceptionally important resource, since life on Earth is ultimately dependent on it.Water transports nutrients and chemicals within the biosphere to all forms of life, sustains both plants and animals, and molds the surface of the Earth with transportation and deposition of materials. [4] The current top three uses of fresh water account for 95% of its consumption; approximately 85% is used for irrigation of farmland, golf courses, and parks, 6% is used for domestic purposes such as indoo r bathing uses and outdoor garden and lawn use, and 4% is used for industrial purposes such as processing, washing, and cooling in manufacturing centers. 5] It is estimated that one in three people over the entire globe are already facing water shortages, almost one-fifth of the world’s population live in areas of physical water scarcity, and almost one quarter of the world’s population live in a developing country that lacks the necessary infrastructure to use water from available rivers and aquifers.Water scarcity is an increasing problem due to many foreseen issues in the future, including population growth, increased urbanization, higher standards of living, and climate change. 3] [edit] Climate change and temperature Climate change affects the Earth’s water supply in a large number of ways. It is predicted that the mean global temperature will rise in the coming years due to a number of forces affecting the climate, the amount of atmospheric CO2 will rise, and both of these will influence water resources; evaporation depends strongly on temperature and moisture availability, which can ultimately affect the amount of water available to replenish groundwater supplies.Transpiration from plants can be affected by a rise in atmospheric CO2, which can decrease their use of water, but can also raise their use of water from possible increases of leaf area. Temperature increase can decrease the length of the snow season in the winter and increase the intensity of snowmelt in warmer seasons, leading to peak runoff of snowmelt earlier in the season, affecting soil moisture, flood and drought risks, and storage capacities depending on the area. [6] Warmer winter temperatures cause a decrease in snowpack, which can result in diminished water resources during the summer.This is especially important at mid-latitudes and in mountain regions that depend on glacial runoff to replenish their river systems and groundwater supplies, making these areas inc reasingly vulnerable to water shortages over time; an increase in temperature will initially result in a rapid rise in water melting from glaciers in the summer, followed by a retreat in glaciers and a decrease in the melt and consequently the water supply every year as the size of these glaciers get smaller and smaller. 3]Thermal expansion of water and increased melting of oceanic glaciers from an increase in temperature gives way to a rise in sea level, which can affect the fresh water supply of coastal areas as well; as river mouths and deltas with higher salinity get pushed further inland, an intrusion of saltwater results in an increase of salinity in reservoirs and aquifers. 5] Sea-level rise may also consequently be caused by a depletion of groundwater,[7] as climate change can affect the hydrologic cycle in a number of ways. Uneven distributions of increased temperatures and increased precipitation around the globe results in water surpluses and deficits,[6] but a global dec rease in groundwater suggests a rise in sea level, even after meltwater and thermal expansion were accounted for,[7] which can provide a positive feedback to the problems sea-level rise causes to fresh-water supply.A rise in air temperature results in a rise in water temperature, which is also very significant in water degradation, as the water would become more susceptible to bacterial growth. An increase in water temperature can also affect ecosystems greatly because of a species’ sensitivity to temperature, and also by inducing changes in a body of water’s self-purification system from decreased amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water due to rises in temperature. [3] [edit] Climate change and precipitationA rise in global temperatures is also predicted to correlate with an increase in global precipitation, but because of increased runoff, floods, increased rates of soil erosion, and mass movement of land, a decline in water quality is probable, while water will car ry more nutrients, it will also carry more contaminants. [3] While most of the attention about climate change is directed towards global warming and greenhouse effect, some of the most severe effects of climate change are likely to be from changes in precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, and soil moisture.It is generally expected that, on average, global precipitation will increase, with some areas receiving increases and some decreases. Climate models show that while some regions should expect an increase in precipitation,[6] such as in the tropics and higher latitudes, other areas are expected to see a decrease, such as in the subtropics; this will ultimately cause a latitudinal variation in water distribution. 3] The areas receiving more precipitation are also expected to receive this increase during their winter and actually become drier during their summer,[6] creating even more of a variation of precipitation distribution. Naturally, the distribution of precipitation acro ss the planet is very uneven, causing constant variations in water availability in respective locations. Changes in precipitation affect the timing and magnitude of floods and droughts, shift runoff processes, and alter groundwater recharge rates.Vegetation patterns and growth rates will be directly affected by shifts in precipitation amount and distribution, which will in turn affect agriculture as well as natural ecosystems. Decreased precipitation will deprive areas of water, causing water tables to fall and reservoirs and wetlands, rivers, and lakes to empty,[6] and possibly an increase in evaporation and evapotranspiration, depending on the accompanied rise in temperature. [5] Groundwater reserves will be depleted, and the remaining water has a greater chance of being of poor quality from saline or contaminants on the land surface. 3] [edit] Population growth The available fresh water being affected by climate is also being stretched across an ever-increasing global population. It is estimated that almost a quarter of the global population is living in an area that is using more than 20% of their renewable water supply; water use will rise with population while the water is also being aggravated by decreases in streamflow and groundwater caused by climate change.Even though some areas may see an increase in freshwater supply from an uneven distribution of precipitation increase, an increased use of water supply is expected. [8] An increased population means increased withdrawals from the water supply for domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses, the largest of these being agriculture,[9] believed to be the major non-climate driver of environmental change and water deterioration.The next 50 years will likely be the last period of rapid agricultural expansion, but the larger and wealthier population over this time will demand more agriculture. [10] Population increase over the last two decades, at least in the United States, has also been accompanied by a shift to an increase in urban areas from rural areas,[11] which concentrates the demand for water into certain areas, and puts stress on the fresh water supply from industrial and human contaminants. 3] Urbanization causes overcrowding and increasingly unsanitary living conditions, especially in developing countries, which in turn exposes an increasingly number of people to disease. About 79% of the world’s population is in developing countries, which lack access to sanitary water and sewer systems, giving rises to disease and deaths from contaminated water and increased numbers of disease-carrying insects. [12] [edit] AgricultureAgriculture is dependent on available soil moisture, which is directly affected by climate dynamics, with precipitation being the input in this system and various processes being the output, such as evapotranspiration, surface runoff, drainage, and percolation into groundwater. Changes in climate, especially the changes in precipitation and evapotr anspiration predicted by climate models, will directly affect soil moisture, surface runoff, and groundwater recharge. In areas with decreasing precipitation as predicted by the climate models, soil moisture may be substantially educed. [6] With this in mind, agriculture in most areas needs irrigation already, which depletes fresh water supplies both by the physical use of the water and the degradation agriculture causes to the water. Irrigation increases salt and nutrient content in areas that wouldn’t normally be affected, and damages streams and rivers from damming and removal of water. Fertilizer enters both human and livestock waste streams that eventually enter groundwater, while nitrogen, phosphorus, and other chemicals from fertilizer can acidify both soils and water.Certain agricultural demands may increase more than others with an increasingly wealthier global population, and meat is one commodity expected to double global food demand by 2050,[10] which directly aff ects the global supply of fresh water. Cows need water to drink, more if the temperature is high and humidity is low, and more if the production system the cow is in is extensive, since finding food takes more effort. Water is needed in processing of the meat, and also in the production of feed for the livestock.Manure can contaminate bodies of freshwater, and slaughterhouses, depending on how well they are managed, contribute waste such as blood, fat, hair, and other bodily contents to supplies of fresh water. [13] The transfer of water from agricultural to urban and suburban use raises concerns about agricultural sustainability, rural socioeconomic decline, food security, an increased carbon footprint from imported food, and decreased foreign trade balance. 9] The depletion of fresh water, as applied to more specific and populated areas, increases fresh water scarcity among the population and also makes populations susceptible to economic, social, and political conflict in a numbe r of ways; rising sea levels forces migration from coastal areas to other areas farther inland, pushing populations closer together breaching borders and other geographical patterns, and agricultural surpluses and deficits from the availability of water induce trade problems and economies of certain areas. 8]CLimate change is an important cause of involuntary migration and forced displacement[14] [edit] Water management The issue of the depletion of fresh water can be met by increased efforts in water management. [4] While water management systems are often flexible, adaptation to new hydrologic conditions may be very costly. [6] Preventative approaches are necessary to avoid high costs of inefficiency and the need for rehabilitation of water supplies,[4] and innovations to decrease overall demand may be important in planning water sustainability. 9] Water supply systems, as they exist now, were based on the assumptions of the current climate, and built to accommodate existing river flows and flood frequencies. Reservoirs are operated based on past hydrologic records, and irrigation systems on historical temperature, water availability, and crop water requirements; these may not be a reliable guide to the future. Re-examining engineering designs, operations, optimizations, and planning, as well as re-evaluating legal, technical, and economic approaches to manage water resources are very important for the future of water management in response to water degradation.Another approach is water privatization; despite its economic and cultural effects, service quality and overall quality of the water can be more easily controlled and distributed. Rationality and sustainability is appropriate, and requires limits to overexploitation and pollution, and efforts in conservation.Natural hazards are excluded as a cause, however human activities can indirectly affect phenomena such as floods and bush fires. 8. This is considered to be an important topic of the 21st century due to the implications land degradation has upon agronomic productivity, the environment, and its effects on food security. 3] It is estimated that up to 40% of the world's agricultural land is seriously degrad Measuring Land degradation is a broad term that can be applied differently across a wide range of scenarios. There are four main ways of looking at land degradation and its impact on the environment around it: * A temporary or permanent decline in the productive capacity of the land.This can be seen through a loss of biomass, a loss of actual productivity or in potential productivity, or a loss or change in vegetative cover and soil nutrients. A decline in the lands â€Å"usefulness†: A loss or reduction in the lands capacity to provide resources for human livelihoods. This can be measured from a base line of past land use. * Loss of biodiversity: A loss of range of species or ecosystem complexity as a decline in the environmental quality. * Shifting ecological risk: increased vulnerability of the environment or people to destruction or crisis. This is measured through a base line in the form of pre-existing risk of crisis or destruction. A problem with measuring land degradation is that what one group of people call degradation, others might view as a benefit or opportunity.For example, heavy rainfall could make a scientific group be worried about high erosion of the soil while farmers could view it as a good opportunity to plant crops. [5] [edit] Causes Overgrazing by livestock can lead to land degradation Land degradation is a global problem, largely related to agricultural use. The major causes include:[citation needed] * Land clearance, such as clearcutting and deforestation * Agricultural depletion of soil nutrients through poor farming practices * Livestock including overgrazing and overdrafting * Inappropriate irrigation[6] and overdrafting * Urban sprawl and commercial development Soil contamination including * Vehicle off-roading * Qua rrying of stone, sand, ore and minerals * Increase in field size due to economies of scale, reducing shelter for wildlife, as hedgerows and copses disappear * Exposure of naked soil after harvesting by heavy equipment * Monoculture, destabilizing the local ecosystem * Dumping of non-biodegradable trash, such as plastics [edit] Effects Soil erosion in a wheat field near Pullman, USA. The main outcome of land degradation is a substantial reduction in the productivity of the land.[7] The major stresses on vulnerable land include: * Accelerated soil erosion by wind and water Soil acidification and the formation of acid sulfate soil resulting in barren soil * Soil alkalinisation owing to irrigation with water containing sodium bicarbonate leading to poor soil structure and reduced crop yields * Soil salination in irrigated land requiring soil salinity control to reclaim the land [8] * Soil waterlogging in irrigated land which calls for some form of subsurface land drainage to remediate t he negative effects [8] * Destruction of soil structure including loss of organic matter Overcutting of vegetation occurs when people cut forests, woodlands and shrublands—to obtain timber, fuelwood and other products—at a pace exceeding the rate of natural regrowth. This is frequent in semi-arid environments, where fuelwood shortages are often severe. Overgrazing is the grazing of natural pastures at stocking intensities above the livestock carrying capacity; the resulting decrease in the vegetation cover is a leading cause of wind and water erosion. It is a significant factor in Afghanistan.Agricultural activities that can cause land degradation include shifting cultivation without adequate fallow periods, absence of soil conservation measures, fertilizer use, and a host of possible problems arising from faulty planning or management of irrigation. They are a major factor in Sri Lanka and the dominant one in Bangladesh. The role of population factors in land degradat ion processes obviously occurs in the context of the underlying causes. In the region, in fact, it is indeed one of the two along with land shortage, and land shortage itself ultimately is a consequence of continued population growth in the face of the finiteness of land resources. In the context of land shortage the growing population pressure, during 1980-1990, has led to decreases in the already small areas of agricultural land per person in six out of eight countries (14% for India and 22% for Pakistan).Population pressure also operates through other mechanisms. Improper agricultural practices, for instance, occur only under constraints such as the saturation of good lands under population pressure which leads settlers to cultivate too shallow or too steep soils, plough fallow land before it has recovered its fertility, or attempt to obtain multiple crops by irrigating unsuitable soils. High population density is not always related to land degradation. Rather, it is the practice s of the human population that can cause a landscape to become degraded. Populations can be a benefit to the land and make it more productive than it is in its natural state.Land degradation is important factor of internal displacement in many African and Asian countries[9] Severe land degradation affects a significant portion of the Earth's arable lands, decreasing the wealth and economic development of nations. As the land resource base becomes less productive, food security is compromised and competition for dwindling resources increases, the seeds of famine and potential conflict are sewn. [edit] Sensitivity and resilience Sensitivity and resilience are measures of the vulnerability of a landscape to degradation. These two factors combine to explain the degree of vulnerability. [5] Sensitivity is the degree to which a land system undergoes change due to natural forces, human intervention or a combination of both.Resilience is the ability of a landscape to absorb change, without significantly altering the relationship between the relative importance and numbers of individuals and species that compose the community. [10] It also refers to the ability of the region to return to its original state after being changed in some way. The resilience of a landscape can be increased or decreased through human interaction based upon different methods of land-use management. Land that is degraded becomes less resilient than undegraded land, which can lead to even further degration through shocks to the landscape. [edit] Climate change Significant land degradation from seawater inundation, particularly in river deltas and on low-lying islands, is a potential hazard that was identified in a 2007 IPCC report. citation needed] As a result of sea-level rise from climate change, salinity levels can reach levels where agriculture becomes impossible in very low lying areas.Journal ofLand Degradation & DevelopmentVol 24 (6 Issues in 2013)Edited by: Professor Artemi Cerdà  Prin t ISSN: 1085-3278 Online ISSN: 1099-145X| * Description Land Degradation & Development is an international journal which seeks to promote rational study of the recognition, monitoring, control and rehabilitation of degradation in terrestrial environments. The journal focuses on: * what land degradation is; * what causes land degradation; * the impacts of land degradation * the scale of land degradation; * the history, current status or future trends of land degradation; * avoidance, mitigation and control of land degradation; * remedial actions to rehabilitate or restore degraded land; * sustainable land management.Land degradation may be defined as the loss of utility or potential utility through the reduction of or damage to physical, social, cultural or economic features, and/or reduction of ecosystem diversity. There may be a single cause or a complex mix of causes, some may be biogeophysical ('natural'), some socioeconomic ('human') and it is quite possible that cause(s) will be indirect, perhaps cumulative and difficult to identify. A major challenge is to learn how interactions between development and environment can be better managed to increase prospects for ecologically and socially sustainable improvements to human well-being.Development means attempts to improve human well-being or environmental quality in rich and poor nations on a sustained basis (sustainable development). Papers are invited on scientific, social, economic, political and historical aspects of terrestrial environmental degradation. Also welcome are analyses presenting forecasts of trends, case studies and discussion on management, planning and policy-making relating to the promotion of ecological sustainability and the counteraction of land degradation. In addition to original research papers, regional and thematic reviews, both invited and submitted, will be included, as will short communications, book reviews and applications of remote sensing and computer te chniques.The members of the Editorial Board are drawn from a comprehensive range of disciplines and nationalities. Together with a strict refereeing procedure this will ensure Land Degradation & Development maintains a high standard and presents material from a wide range of disciplines, from interdisciplinary study and with an international coverage. The subject matter will include the following topics: ENVIRONMENTS Degradation of: deserts, savannas, rangelands; forests, woodlands, tundra; mountain environments; wetlands, floodlands; farmland, irrigated land; sand-dunes; coastal zones, islands, urban, peri-urban environments. In polar, temperate, subtropical and tropical regions.PROCESSES #39;Desertification', rangeland degradation; soil degradation (compaction, loss of fertility, reduced organic matter, pollution, waterlogging, acidification, salinization, alkalinization, 'laterite' and hard-pan formation); erosion; degradation of vegetation cover, 'deforestati on'; impoverishment of wildlife habitats, loss of species. CAUSES Climatic change; sea-level variation; drought; storms; earth processes (geomorphological, volcanicity, natural leaching of soils); bushfires; degradation as a consequence of: industry, urban growth, agrochemicals, agricultural modernization, energy production/consumption, mining, warfare, refugees or migrants, breakdown of traditional landuse strategies, altered communications, legislative changes, demographic changes, administrative causes, institutional causes, social or economic causes. PERCEPTIONSPerception/recognition of degradation, attitudes toward degradation; ethics and land degradation; indicators; monitoring, surveillance; assessment of significance; establishing past, present and future trends. IMPACTS Physical, biological, social, cultural and economic impacts (direct, indirect, cumulative); long-term and short-term impacts; assessment of significance; aesthetic impact of degradation. Water pollution From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Raw sewage and industrial waste in the New River as it passes from Mexicali to Calexico, California. Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies (e. g. lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater).Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds. Water pollution affects plants and organisms living in these bodies of water. In almost all cases the effect is damaging not only to individual species and populations, but also to the natural biological communities. * 1 Introduction * 2 Categories * 2. 1 Point sources * 2. 2 Nonpoint sources * 3 Groundwater pollution * 4 Causes * 4. 1 Pathogens * 4. 2 Chemical and other contaminants * 4. 3 Thermal pollution * 5 Transport and chemical reactions of water pollutants * 6 Measurement * 6. 1 Sampling * 6. 2 Physical testing * 6. Chemical testing * 6. 4 Biological test ing * 7 Control of pollution * 7. 1 Domestic sewage * 7. 2 Industrial wastewater * 7. 3 Agricultural wastewater * 7. 4 Construction site stormwater * 7. 5 Urban runoff (stormwater) * 8 See also * 9 References * 10 External links| Introduction Millions depend on the polluted Ganges river Water pollution is a major global problem which requires ongoing evaluation and revision of water resource policy at all levels (international down to individual aquifers and wells).It has been suggested that it is the leading worldwide cause of deaths and diseases,[1][2] and that it accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily. 2] An estimated 700 million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1,000 Indian children die of diarrheal sickness every day. [3] Some 90% of China's cities suffer from some degree of water pollution,[4] and nearly 500 million people lack access to safe drinking water. [5] In addition to the acute problems of water pollution in developing countries, develo ped countries continue to struggle with pollution problems as well. In the most recent national report on water quality in the United States, 45 percent of assessed stream miles, 47 percent of assessed lake acres, and 32 percent of assessed bays and estuarine square miles were classified as polluted. 6]Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants and either does not support a human use, such as drinking water, and/or undergoes a marked shift in its ability to support its constituent biotic communities, such as fish. Natural phenomena such as volcanoes, algae blooms, storms, and earthquakes also cause major changes in water quality and the ecological status of water. Categories Surface water and groundwater have often been studied and managed as separate resources, although they are interrelated. [7] Surface water seeps through the soil and becomes groundwater. Conversely, groundwater can also feed surface water sources. Sources of surf ace water pollution are generally grouped into two categories based on their origin. Point sourcesPoint source pollution – Shipyard – Rio de Janeiro. Point source water pollution refers to contaminants that enter a waterway from a single, identifiable source, such as a pipe or ditch. Examples of sources in this category include discharges from a sewage treatment plant, a factory, or a city storm drain. The U. S. Clean Water Act (CWA) defines point source for regulatory enforcement purposes. [8] The CWA definition of point source was amended in 1987 to include municipal storm sewer systems, as well as industrial stormwater, such as from construction sites. [9] Nonpoint sources Nonpoint source pollution refers to diffuse contamination that does not originate from a single discrete source.NPS pollution is often the cumulative effect of small amounts of contaminants gathered from a large area. A common example is the leaching out of nitrogen compounds from fertilized agric ultural lands. Nutrient runoff in stormwater from â€Å"sheet flow† over an agricultural field or a forest are also cited as examples of NPS pollution. Contaminated storm water washed off of parking lots, roads and highways, called urban runoff, is sometimes included under the category of NPS pollution. However, this runoff is typically channeled into storm drain systems and discharged through pipes to local surface waters, and is a point source. Groundwater pollution See also: Hydrogeology Interactions between groundwater and surface water are complex.Consequently, groundwater pollution, sometimes referred to as groundwater contamination, is not as easily classified as surface water pollution. [7] By its very nature, groundwater aquifers are susceptible to contamination from sources that may not directly affect surface water bodies, and the distinction of point vs. non-point source may be irrelevant. A spill or ongoing releases of chemical or radionuclide contaminants into s oil (located away from a surface water body) may not create point source or non-point source pollution, but can contaminate the aquifer below, defined as a toxin plume. The movement of the plume, called a plume front, may be analyzed through a hydrological transport model or groundwater model.Analysis of groundwater contamination may focus on the soil characteristics and site geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, and the nature of the contaminants. Causes The specific contaminants leading to pollution in water include a wide spectrum of chemicals, pathogens, and physical or sensory changes such as elevated temperature and discoloration. While many of the chemicals and substances that are regulated may be naturally occurring (calcium, sodium, iron, manganese, etc. ) the concentration is often the key in determining what is a natural component of water, and what is a contaminant. High concentrations of naturally occurring substances can have negative impacts on aquatic flora and fauna.Oxy gen-depleting substances may be natural materials, such as plant matter (e. g. leaves and grass) as well as man-made chemicals. Other natural and anthropogenic substances may cause turbidity (cloudiness) which blocks light and disrupts plant growth, and clogs the gills of some fish species. [10] Many of the chemical substances are toxic. Pathogens can produce waterborne diseases in either human or animal hosts. [11] Alteration of water's physical chemistry includes acidity (change in pH), electrical conductivity, temperature, and eutrophication. Eutrophication is an increase in the concentration of chemical nutrients in an ecosystem to an extent that increases in the primary productivity of the ecosystem.Depending on the degree of eutrophication, subsequent negative environmental effects such as anoxia (oxygen depletion) and severe reductions in water quality may occur, affecting fish and other animal populations. Pathogens A manhole cover unable to contain a sanitary sewer overflow . Coliform bacteria are a commonly used bacterial indicator of water pollution, although not an actual cause of disease. Other microorganisms sometimes found in surface waters which have caused human health problems include: * Burkholderia pseudomallei * Cryptosporidium parvum * Giardia lamblia * Salmonella * Novovirus and other viruses * Parasitic worms (helminths). [12][13] High levels of pathogens may result from inadequately treated sewage discharges. 14]This can be caused by a sewage plant designed with less than secondary treatment (more typical in less-developed countries). In developed countries, older cities with aging infrastructure may have leaky sewage collection systems (pipes, pumps, valves), which can cause sanitary sewer overflows. Some cities also have combined sewers, which may discharge untreated sewage during rain storms. [15] Pathogen discharges may also be caused by poorly managed livestock operations. Chemical and other contaminants Muddy river polluted by sed iment. Photo courtesy of United States Geological Survey. Contaminants may include organic and inorganic substances. Organic water pollutants include:* Detergents Disinfection by-products found in chemically disinfected drinking water, such as chloroform * Food processing waste, which can include oxygen-demanding substances, fats and grease * Insecticides and herbicides, a huge range of organohalides and other chemical compounds * Petroleum hydrocarbons, including fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuels, and fuel oil) and lubricants (motor oil), and fuel combustion byproducts, from stormwater runoff[16] * Tree and bush debris from logging operations * Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as industrial solvents, from improper storage. * Chlorinated solvents, which are dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), may fall to the bottom of reservoirs, since they don't mix well with water and are denser. * Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) * Trichloroethylene * Perchlorate * Various chemi cal compounds found in personal hygiene and cosmetic products.A garbage collection boom in an urban-area stream in Auckland, New Zealand. Inorganic water pollutants include: * Acidity caused by industrial discharges (especially sulfur dioxide from power plants) * Ammonia from food processing waste * Chemical waste as industrial by-products * Fertilizers containing nutrients–nitrates and phosphates—which are found in stormwater runoff from agriculture, as well as commercial and residential use[16] * Heavy metals from motor vehicles (via urban stormwater runoff)[16][17] and acid mine drainage * Silt (sediment) in runoff from construction sites, logging, slash and burn practices or land clearing sites. Macroscopic Pollution in Parks Milwaukee, WIMacroscopic pollution—large visible items polluting the water—may be termed â€Å"floatables† in an urban stormwater context, or marine debris when found on the open seas, and can include such items as: * Tras h or garbage (e. g. paper, plastic, or food waste) discarded by people on the ground, along with accidental or intentional dumping of rubbish, that are washed by rainfall into storm drains and eventually discharged into surface waters * Nurdles, small ubiquitous waterborne plastic pellets * Shipwrecks, large derelict ships. Thermal pollution Main article: Thermal pollution Thermal pollution is the rise or fall in the temperature of a natural body of water caused by human influence.Thermal pollution, unlike chemical pollution, results in a change in the physical properties of water. A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers. Elevated water temperatures decreases oxygen levels (which can kill fish) and affects ecosystem composition, such as invasion by new thermophilic species. Urban runoff may also elevate temperature in surface waters. Thermal pollution can also be caused by the release of very cold water from t he base of reservoirs into warmer rivers. Transport and chemical reactions of water pollutants See also: Marine pollution Most water pollutants are eventually carried by rivers into the oceans.In some areas of the world the influence can be traced hundred miles from the mouth by studies using hydrology transport models. Advanced computer models such as SWMM or the DSSAM Model have been used in many locations worldwide to examine the fate of pollutants in aquatic systems. Indicator filter feeding species such as copepods have also been used to study pollutant fates in the New York Bight, for example. The highest toxin loads are not directly at the mouth of the Hudson River, but 100 kilometers south, since several days are required for incorporation into planktonic tissue. The Hudson discharge flows south along the coast due to coriolis force.Further south then are areas of oxygen depletion, caused by chemicals using up oxygen and by algae blooms, caused by excess nutrients from algal cell death and decomposition. Fish and shellfish kills have been reported, because toxins climb the food chain after small fish consume copepods, then large fish eat smaller fish, etc. Each successive step up the food chain causes a stepwise concentration of pollutants such as heavy metals (e. g. mercury) and persistent organic pollutants such as DDT. This is known as biomagnification, which is occasionally used interchangeably with bioaccumulation. A polluted river draining an abandoned copper mine on Anglesey Large gyres (vortexes) in the oceans trap floating plastic debris.The North Pacific Gyre for example has collected the so-called â€Å"Great Pacific Garbage Patch† that is now estimated at 100 times the size of Texas. Many of these long-lasting pieces wind up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals. This results in obstruction of digestive pathways which leads to reduced appetite or even starvation. Many chemicals undergo reactive decay or chemically change especi ally over long periods of time in groundwater reservoirs. A noteworthy class of such chemicals is the chlorinated hydrocarbons such as trichloroethylene (used in industrial metal degreasing and electronics manufacturing) and tetrachloroethylene used in the dry cleaning industry (note latest advances in liquid carbon dioxide in dry cleaning that avoids all use of chemicals).Both of these chemicals, which are carcinogens themselves, undergo partial decomposition reactions, leading to new hazardous chemicals (including dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride). Groundwater pollution is much more difficult to abate than surface pollution because groundwater can move great distances through unseen aquifers. Non-porous aquifers such as clays partially purify water of bacteria by simple filtration (adsorption and absorption), dilution, and, in some cases, chemical reactions and biological activity: however, in some cases, the pollutants merely transform to soil contaminants. Groundwater that mo ves through cracks and caverns is not filtered and can be transported as easily as surface water.In fact, this can be aggravated by the human tendency to use natural sinkholes as dumps in areas of Karst topography. There are a variety of secondary effects stemming not from the original pollutant, but a derivative condition. An example is silt-bearing surface runoff, which can inhibit the penetration of sunlight through the water column, hampering photosynthesis in aquatic plants. Water pollution may be analyzed through several broad categories of methods: physical, chemical and biological. Most involve collection of samples, followed by specialized analytical tests. Some methods may be conducted in situ, without sampling, such as temperature.Government agencies and research organizations have published standardized, validated analytical test methods to facilitate the comparability of results from disparate testing events. [18] Sampling Sampling of water for physical or chemical test ing can be done by several methods, depending on the accuracy needed and the characteristics of the contaminant. Many contamination events are sharply restricted in time, most commonly in association with rain events. For this reason â€Å"grab† samples are often inadequate for fully quantifying contaminant levels. Scientists gathering this type of data often employ auto-sampler devices that pump increments of water at either time or discharge intervals.Sampling for biological testing involves collection of plants and/or animals from the surface water body. Depending on the type of assessment, the organisms may be identified for biosurveys (population counts) and returned to the water body, or they may be dissected for bioassays to determine toxicity. Further information: Water quality#Sampling and Measurement Physical testing Common physical tests of water include temperature, solids concentrations (e. g. , total suspended solids (TSS)) and turbidity. Chemical testing See al so: water chemistry analysis and environmental chemistry Water samples may be examined using the principles of analytical chemistry. Many published test methods are available for both organic and inorganic compounds.Frequently used methods include pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD),[19]:102 chemical oxygen demand (COD),[19]:104 nutrients (nitrate and phosphorus compounds), metals (including copper, zinc, cadmium, lead and mercury), oil and grease, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), and pesticides. Biological testing Main article: Bioindicator Biological testing involves the use of plant, animal, and/or microbial indicators to monitor the health of an aquatic ecosystem. Control of pollution Domestic sewage Main article: Sewage treatment Deer Island Waste Water Treatment Plant serving Boston, Massachusetts and vicinity. Domestic sewage is 99. 9 percent pure water, while the other 0. 1 percent are pollutants.Although found in low concentrations, these pollutants pose risk on a large scale. [20] In urban areas, domestic sewage is typically treated by centralized sewage treatment plants. In the U. S. , most of these plants are operated by local government agencies, frequently referred to as publicly owned treatment works (POTW). Municipal treatment plants are designed to control conventional pollutants: BOD and suspended solids. Well-designed and operated systems (i. e. , secondary treatment or better) can remove 90 percent or more of these pollutants. Some plants have additional sub-systems to treat nutrients and pathogens. Most municipal plants are not designed to treat toxic pollutants found in industrial wastewater. 21]Cities with sanitary sewer overflows or combined sewer overflows employ one or more engineering approaches to reduce discharges of untreated sewage, including: * utilizing a green infrastructure approach to improve stormwater management capacity throughout the system, and reduce the hydraulic overloading of the treatment plant[22] * repair and replacement of leaking and malfunctioning equipment[15] * increasing overall hydraulic capacity of the sewage collection system (often a very expensive option). A household or business not served by a municipal treatment plant may have an individual septic tank, which treats the wastewater on site and discharges into the soil.Alternatively, domestic wastewater may be sent to a nearby privately owned treatment system (e. g. in a rural community). Some industrial facilities generate ordinary domestic sewage that can be treated by municipal facilities. Industries that generate wastewater with high concentrations of conventional pollutants (e. g. oil and grease), toxic pollutants (e. g. heavy metals, volatile organic compounds) or other nonconventional pollutants such as ammonia, need specialized treatment systems. Some of these facilities can install a pre-treatment system to remove the toxic components, and then send the partially treated wastewater to the municipal system.Industries generating large volumes of wastewater typically operate their own complete on-site treatment systems. Some industries have been successful at redesigning their manufacturing processes to reduce or eliminate pollutants, through a process called pollution prevention. Heated water generated by power plants or manufacturing plants may be controlled with: * cooling ponds, man-made bodies of water designed for cooling by evaporation, convection, and radiation * cooling towers, which transfer waste heat to the atmosphere through evaporation and/or heat transfer * cogeneration, a process where waste heat is recycled for domestic and/or industrial heating purposes. [23] Agricultural wastewaterMain article: Agricultural wastewater treatment Riparian buffer lining a creek in Iowa Nonpoint source controls Sediment (loose soil) washed off fields is the largest source of agricultural pollution in the United States. [10] Farmers may utilize erosion controls to reduce runoff flows and retain soil on their fields. Common techniques include contour plowing, crop mulching, crop rotation, planting perennial crops and installing riparian buffers. [24][25]:pp. 4-95–4-96 Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) are typically applied to farmland as commercial fertilizer; animal manure; or spraying of municipal or industrial wastewater (effluent) or sludge.Nutrients may also enter runoff from crop residues, irrigation water, wildlife, and atmospheric deposition. [25]:p. 2-9 Farmers can develop and implement nutrient management plans to reduce excess application of nutrients. [24][25]:pp. 4-37–4-38 To minimize pesticide impacts, farmers may use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques (which can include biological pest control) to maintain control over pests, reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, and protect water quality. [26] Feedlot in the United States Point source wastewater treatment Farms with large livestock and poultry operations, such as factory farms, are call ed concentrated animal feeding operations or feedlots in the US and are being subject to increasing government regulation. 27][28] Animal slurries are usually treated by containment in anaerobic lagoons before disposal by spray or trickle application to grassland.Constructed wetlands are sometimes used to facilitate treatment of animal wastes. Some animal slurries are treated by mixing with straw and composted at high temperature to produce a bacteriologically sterile and friable manure for soil improvement. Construction site stormwater Silt fence installed on a construction site. Sediment from construction sites is managed by installation of: * erosion controls, such as mulching and hydroseeding, and * sediment controls, such as sediment basins and silt fences. [29] Discharge of toxic chemicals such as motor fuels and concrete washout is prevented by use of: * spill prevention and control plans, and specially designed containers (e. g. for concrete washout) and structures such as o verflow controls and diversion berms. [30] Urban runoff (stormwater) Main article: Urban runoff See also: Green infrastructure Retention basin for controlling urban runoff Effective control of urban runoff involves reducing the velocity and flow of stormwater, as well as reducing pollutant discharges. Local governments use a variety of stormwater management techniques to reduce the effects of urban runoff.These techniques, called best management practices (BMPs) in the U. S. , may focus on water quantity control, while others focus on improving water quality, and some perform both functions. 31] Pollution prevention practices include low-impact development techniques, installation of green roofs and improved chemical handling (e. g. management of motor fuels & oil, fertilizers and pesticides). [32] Runoff mitigation systems include infiltration basins, bioretention systems, constructed wetlands, retention basins and similar devices. [33][34] Thermal pollution from runoff can be cont rolled by stormwater management facilities that absorb the runoff or direct it into groundwater, such as bioretention systems and infiltration basins. Retention basins tend to be less effective at reducing temperature, as the water may be heated by the sun before being discharged to a receiving stream. [31]:p. 5-58 *

Nursing Mission Statement Essay

It is my purpose to provide safe and accurate nursing care by educating patients and their families to promote optimal health. It is my goal to assist patients in their journey to self-care by advocating for their health and independence. This nursing mission statement will explain the functional differences between the Idaho Board of Nursing (BRN) and a professional nursing organization (PNO); this will include examples of how the American Nurses Association (ANA) Provisions from The Nursing Code of Ethics influence nursing practice as well as discuss my professional nursing traits described in the Code of Ethics (ANA, 2001). I will identify and explain Dorothea Orem’s Grand Nursing Theory the â€Å"Self-care Deficit Model† that has influenced my professional role as a registered nurse and discuss how Florence Nightingale’s contributions to the profession have impacted nursing practice today (Habel, n.d). Finally, I will discuss how beneficence and respect for autonomy were safeguarded while caring for an obese patient in the clinic where I practice. A. Functional Differences State Boards of Nursing are government agencies tasked with the regulation of nursing practice. They were created to protect the public’s health and welfare and are responsible for ensuring the safe practice of nursing. State Boards are responsible for issuing and maintaining nurse’s licenses. They ensure practicing nurses are qualified and practice within the scope of their licenses (ANA, 2012). The Idaho State Board of Nursing interprets and enforces the state nurse practice act. Each state has a Nurse Practice Act which are laws defining the qualifications and scope of nursing practice in their state. They are responsible for taking action against those nurses who practice outside their licenses or have exhibited unsafe nursing practice (ANA, 2012). They assist in the accreditation process for approval of nursing education programs (ANA, 2012). The professional nursing  organization, the American Nurses Association (ANA) was developed for nurses by nurses in order to further advance nursing as a profession. It allows nurses to collaborate and share in their best practices; it provides a code of ethics to hold the nursing profession in high standards (Matthews, 2012). What is the difference between the regulatory Idaho State Board and the ANA? The Idaho Nurse Practice Act is comprised of statutes to provide the public with quality health care, ensuring that I am qualified and honest to practice nursing. Nurses like me must maintain valid nursing licenses and practice within the scope of that license according to the nurse practice act of Idaho (ANA, 2012). The ANA supports me in the advancement of my education, promotes my rights in the workplace and lobby government and regulatory agencies on healthcare issues that affect both nurses and the public (Matthews, 2014). B. Nursing Code Examples The Provisions of the Code of Ethics for Nurses was initiated by the ANA’s board to hold nursing to a higher standard of care (ANA, 2001). I will give two examples of these provisions that influence my career in nursing. Provision three states â€Å"The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient† (ANA, 2001). As a nurse I feel it is my duty to advocate for my patients especially when they are naà ¯ve to care and services that could better their health, rights and safety. I currently work as a clinical nurse for the Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA) in a small, rurally secluded town. It is important that the Veterans I care for in the clinic get the care they need even though the large medical center is 250 miles away. The majority of our Veterans are over the age of 60. Traveling long distances for care and long wait periods are simply not a viable option for them. I encourage my provider and the VHA to work together to get the Veterans necessary lab or x-ray testing, annual eye exams and hearing screenings referred locally in a timely manner. The next provision I am influenced by is Provision seven which states â€Å"The nurse participates in the advancement of the profession through contributions to practice, education, administration, and knowledge development† (ANA, 2001). I participate on the Standard Operating Procedures Committee at the Veteran’s Medical Center where I work. I serve as a member on the committee to represent five outlying Community Based Outreach Clinics that exist in  the smaller communities in two states. It is my responsibility to speak with the nursing leaders in the other clinics to ensure their procedure standards are written documents based on the individual needs of the clinics rather than the medical center. I am also responsible for collecting and reporting for National Patient Safety Goals in our clinic. Goals the VHA works to achieve include standards of care like identifying patients with two identifiers prior to medication administration, nursing procedures and collection of blood work. C. Professional Traits The ANA lists several professional traits in the Code of Ethics, in this next section we will discuss the four professional traits I bring to an interdisciplinary team found in Provisions three, four and eight. Provision three lists two traits I bring to every patient encounter, privacy and confidentiality (ANA, 2001). In order for me to advocate for my patients it is important that I am able to safeguard their privacy and confidentiality. I work to ensure patient’s physical, auditory and written privacy with the Advanced Nurse Practitioner and the LPN in our clinic. During any examination that requires a patient to undress they are provided a safe exam room with a lock on the door. When a door is closed to an exam room we knock before entering. We also use tele-health in our clinic and have created signage for the outside of the door that lets people in the clinic know there is an appointment in progress and not to enter. We use this signage for any encounter a patient has with members of the interdisciplinary team who include primary care providers, dieticians, psychiatrists and other specialty providers. Pt confidentiality is also protected in our clinic by ensuring the conversations between patients and providers cannot be heard by passerby’s when using tele-health technology. Confidentiality of patient’s personal information is kept by shredding documents containing their information; email correspondence concerning patients are encrypted to ensure only intended members of the team get the needed information securely. A strong personal and profession trait I possess is accountability. Provision four discusses the importance of the nurse accepting accountability and responsibility in nursing judgment and action as well as delegation (ANA, 2001). When caring for a patient I am accountable and responsible for any harm or potential harm that I may cause.  If I administered a medication incorrectly I am responsible for the mistake and must report it to the primary care provider and the patient. I am responsible for knowing what nursing tasks may be carried out by the LPN or clerk in my clinic. This is based on what the state practice act allows as well as my judgment for how competent they are in that assigned task. I also must you judgment while carrying out orders from mid-levels and doctors. It is my responsibility to carry out tasks I am comfortable and competent doing and voicing any concerns I may have with the rest of the team. Provision eight states â€Å"collaborates with other health professionals and the pubic† (ANA, 2001). As part of an interdisciplinary team it is imperative that I collaborate with other members so the patient can receive safe and appropriate care. There are times when a patient may have an adverse reaction or allergy to a particular medication prescribed by the primary provider. It is my responsibility to report these issues to the provider in order to rectify the situation and have the patient stop the medication causing harm. Sometimes the pharmacist may be consulted by the primary care provider to find an alternate medication for the patient to take. In collaborating with each other we address the issue together and work to find a solution that is best for our patient. D. Nursing Theory Resource The theory I most identify with in my professional career is Dorothea Orem’s â€Å"Self-Care Deficit Model: Self-Care, Self-Care-Deficit, and Nursing Systems† (Habel, n.d.). A client does not seek my professional advice, instruction or care unless there is a need or concern. D1. Nursing Theory in Practice Orem’s general theory of Self-Care, Self-Care Deficits, and Nursing Systems states that when an individual becomes ill for any reason and is unable to care for themselves they have a self-care deficit that requires nursing interventions. Self-care refers to the daily, independent cares an individual performs; they are developed over time and have a purpose. The theory provides the patient with nursing interventions based on the nurses’ assessment of self-care (Habel, n.d). The interventions may provide complete care by the nurse, partial care that both the patient and the nurse complete together, or it may be a matter of educating the patient how they  can give self-care. The ultimate goal of the nursing interventions is patient autonomy in order to maximize the patient’s personal level of care; to optimize the patient’s growth and restore health and well-being (Habel, n.d.). This theory correlates with my professional practice on a daily basis in the VA outpatient clinic where I work. Any patient over the age of 70 is screened annually for self-care deficits. A functional, physical and mental screening is performed to asses any self –care deficits my patients may have. The patients are asked about their daily routines like dressing themselves, using a telephone, managing finances and grocery shopping. The individual is rated on a scale from 0-4 where zero is the ability to perform independently to four, which is needs total assistance. When a self-care deficit is found I intervene. If they are not able to dress themselves they sometimes have a spouse or caregiver to do it for them at home; at the clinic I would assist them completely. If the patient lives alone and it is found they have a complete self-care deficit and lack a support system I put in a referral for home health nursing. I may discuss the option, along with the primary care provider, of a long term care facility for the patient. If a patient can perform some self-care, but the caregiver or spouse needs assistance in day to day cares of the patient I may refer the patient to the social worker to help them find nursing care or respite care at home. Sometimes the patient is unable to operate a telephone because they are unable to hear so I refer them to get a hearing screening and may get them a hearing impaired telephone. I also screen every 6 months for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression since the Veterans may have participated in combat or experienced some other traumatic insult that they require assistance dealing with mentally. If they screen positive for PTSD or depression then I refer them to the social worker to assist the individual with their mental health. The majority of my practice involves educating patients and their families about a diseases and disorders such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, obesity and many other illnesses. This self-care deficit requires education to reach the goal of self-care by the individual. I use written hand outs and instructions to teach individuals how to manage their disease whether it is how to monitor their blood pressure at home or what foods are good sources of nutrition. Patients come to the VA clinic because they have a basic need for care. The  nursing system in Orem’s theory describes nursing interventions from wholly compensatory which is total, dependent care; partially compensatory, when the patient can meet some self-care needs with some degree of nursing intervention and finally the nurse acts in a supportive teaching role (Habel, n.d.) All of these nursing interventions are aimed at patient autonomy so the individual can meet the goals to maintain or improve heal th and restore self-care E. Nursing Contributions When I think of historical nursing figures there is always one who comes to mind above any others. Florence Nightingale is possibly the most famous and recognized for changing nursing from domesticated home care of the ill to a respected profession. Florence Nightingale was a pioneer for human advocacy. Although Nightingale did not specifically define advocacy in nursing, she wrote letters of correspondence, government documents and books that describe instances of her advocacy. She believed that all people deserved the same opportunities no matter what religion, sex or ethnicity; she was a strong proponent of equal human rights (Selanders, 2012). Florence Nightingale advocated for nursing by creating standards of care and educating nurses to improve health care for patients. She collected information and used statistics while caring for patients to promote their health. Her analysis of patient care led to an improved patient environment, changing it from unsanitary to a more sanitary environment which promoted health and well-being (Selanders, 2012). Her leadership in the profession led to establishing her own school of nursing in England which in turn prompted schools in America. This leadership paved the way for nurses to become leaders in a respected profession (Selanders, 2012). Today Florence Nightingale’s vision for the professional nurse continues. Nightingale’s beginnings in statistical analyses of patients and their environments is carried on in nursing practice today. My everyday nursing practice involves the use of evidence-based practice to improve patient care and well-being (Selanders, 2012). Research in health is accomplished by nurses in order to find better ways for me to care for my patients. For instance, we know that people may be susceptible to high blood pressure and we use evidence-based  practice to screen for, prevent and treat it. I monitor my patient’s blood pressure at every visit. If during the screening they have risk factor such as obesity or smoking I educate them on proper nutrition and smoking cessation. I work together with the primary care provider and pharmacists to teach patients how to take their medications properly and how to monitor their blood pressure at home. Nightingale’s work in educating nurses continues with my own education as I try to gain the knowledge to improve myself and my practice of nursing. I work on advancing my nursing by continuing my education to develop my leadership skills and professional growth. F. Principles In this section I will discuss how I have safeguarded principles of beneficence and the respect for autonomy. The principle of beneficence is an ethical duty to be compassionate in my care of patients and to promote autonomy through positive actions of kindness (Cherry, 2011). A patient of mine has been struggling with obesity for the past two years. He has lost 60 pounds and gained 40 pounds back. I set up a one-on-one appointment with patient to discuss what actions he may take to get back to a healthier weight. Instead of placing blame on the patient and telling him what he is doing wrong, I focus on the things he is doing right. He continues to walk over a mile a day, but he admits he has not been writing in his food diary. Together we worked to create short term goals, goals the patient felt he could attain in the following weeks. When the patient returned he had increased his walking distance and had started writing in his food diary again. It is my ethical responsibility to have respect for patient autonomy. Autonomy is the personal freedom of a patient and their right to decide what choices to make in their health care. In the example above the patient came to me for help and guidance because he had gained weight. Instead of telling the patient what he should do to get back to a healthier weight we discussed options together. I provided him autonomy by asking what choices he could make to attain his weight loss goal. We discussed what better food choices he could make and how he could increase his physical activity in order to reach his goal. The patient was able to maintain his autonomy and make the choices he thought were necessary to lose weight. When the patient returned to the clinic he had reached his goal to increase his  physical activity and lost 2 pounds. G. Conclusion This paper has been about my professional journey to create a professional mission statement. The Idaho State Board protects the public by issuing and maintaining my nursing license and the American Nurses Association advocates for the advancement of nursing and patient well-being. I am an advocate for the protection of patient safety and rights and participate in committees at my workplace to advance my profession. Safety, confidentiality, accountability and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team are some of the professional traits I use to care for my patients. I have shown how Orem’s theory of Self-Care has been integrated into my practice and explained how Florence Nightingale’s contributions to professional nursing have been applied in my modern nursing practice. Finally, I have explained how I used beneficence and respect for autonomy in caring for an obese patient in my clinic. References American Nurses Association (2001). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. Retrieved from http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/CodeofEthicsforNurses/Code-of-Ethics.pdf American Nurses Association (2012). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/mainmenucategories/tools/state-boards-of-nursing-faq.pdf Cherry, B., & Jacobs, S. (2011). Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends & management (5th ed.). Memphis, TN: Elsevier. Habel, M. (n.d.). Nursing theory: At the heart of practice. Retrieved from https://lms.nurse.com/Aspx/CourseObjective.aspx?TopicID=5892 Matthews, J (2012). Role of Professional Organizations in Advocating forthe Nursing Profession. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 17, No. 1, Manuscript 3.doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol17No01Man03. Selanders, L.C., Crane, P. C. (2012). The Voice of Florence Nightingale on Advocacy OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 17. doi: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol17No01Man0 1.

Journal about working people Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Journal about working people - Coursework Example Burnout is associated with increased risk for development of cardiovascular disease. It is therefore particularly important to check the level stress among employed people. Employees can begin by determining whether they suffer from burnout or not. This can be through an assessment of mental and physical conditions of welfare i.e. anxiety, headaches etc. individuals can also prevent stress by first appreciating that this are tough economic times, change expectations and taking time to exercise. In cases where burnout is already present; employees could reverse the situation by striking a balance work and personal life. Meditating also helps lower the amount of stress hormones being released by our bodies. Also connecting with others and sharing experiences is important in managing stress. For managers, trying to let people work on their own, concentrating less on business targets and having other people know that they are valued will help reduce stress levels. In conclusion therefore the modern workplace is a major source of stress and stressful lives can result into medical conditions such cardiovascular disease, impotence and many others. It is important therefore for individuals to accept the conditions as they are, change their expectations worry less about their jobs. Employers should also motivate employees and take care of their psychological needs to increase

Film script Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Film script - Essay Example But her daddy and most members of her family who were also teachers really wanted Apple to try being a teacher for once. Her hopes were gone but her options were limited and so she had to prepare for her National Service to be a teacher. Her parents who did not want Apple to know that they were happy she was going to be part of the family profession after all for at least one year pretended to be sharing in her displeasure. They helped her relocate and before she realized, she had started teaching a class of 34 students in a very remote village. The whole condition of service was not appealing because she was without most of the luxuries she received from her lovely family back home. Sudden Invitation to Fly As a way of proving a point to Apple that she was surely going to succeed into become a very great teacher, her parents called her very often to encourage her and provide her with almost every other thing they thought would make her life a good one. But Apple was just refusing to adjust, given the fact that she was seeing herself as a round peg in a square hole. One Friday afternoon after her second break, she saw a Mercedes Benz car come to pack in the compound of her school. Readily, she identified the car as that of her head of department, back at the university. Apple was invited to the office of her headmistress and the news she was met with was the greatest shock she was yet to receive in her life. Her head of department informed her that he had been asked to bring one female girl from her department to undertake a Masters Level scholarship program as an international student in Cameroon, Africa and that she was the one he had spotted to go. Traveling abroad had always been the ambition of Apple, no matter where the opportunity was going to fall. But inwardly, what was going to be even more satisfying was the fact that she was going to leave the classroom. This did not even make her think of the fact that the departure was going to be as sudden as onl y 1 week away. 1 Week of Absolute Silence Within a very short time, all the necessary processes had gone through and Apple was set to leave her beloved parents for an entirely new continent, which was the African continent. The Master Program she was going to pursue was a delight for her but the experience of exploring the much talked about African continent was another area of motivation. To her dismay, Apple will arrive in Cameroon as a total stranger than she thought she was actually going to be. Apple suffered the disadvantage of technology that makes us no longer give meaning to the use of paper and pen. This is because upon reaching Cameroon, her phone got automatically locked for change in point of registration. Meanwhile, she did not have the phone numbers of any of her family members off head. Not even that of her newly found boyfriend back home could be recalled off head. As though it was going to be a problem she was going to overcome easily, for a whole week, she had not got someone around to unlock her phone for her. After two days of not having the means for her people to know her fate, desperation, anxiety and disappointment started setting in. by the time the first week was over and her phone was successfully unlocked, she had not seen anything like sleep, eating or learning. This is because her concentration was totally gone. Even though she had access to emails, she found her dad had not been checking his mails frequently. Lack of Adjustability

Globalization and HRM Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Globalization and HRM Strategies - Essay Example About 40% of the company’s revenue is generated from U.S. markets. Together with its bottling partners, Coca Cola Company is ranked among the top ten private employers with over 700,000 system employees. The main role of HRM in every company is to hire, train, and to develop employees and even to punish or dismiss them whenever necessary. Being a company with branches, outlets and subsidiaries in several countries, the culture of various host countries has been a major consideration to the Coca Cola’s human resource department. The human resource has amended its policies to allow room for considerations regarding the cultures of the various host countries (Farnham & Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, 2010). With the changing culture, the coca cola human resource management function is charged with a mandate to provide the glue that binds the diversified cultural groups into Coca-Cola family. The company’s human resource management always propagates a common human resource philosophy within the company. To overcome the cultural barriers, the Coca Cola human resource management has created a program to develop the group of internationally minded mid level executives who will offer guidance and control the employees of the company in different branches all over the world. The impact of globalization has affected the manner in which the Coca Cola basic principles of human resource management as a whole is applied on the global scale, to enhance coordination of human resource management to be more effective. With globalization, Coca Cola company human resource management has initiated new plans to ensure the company’s employees from different regions interact in a safe mode despite the differences in their cultures (Farnham & Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, 2010). To overcome negative impact of globalization on the company’s operations, the human resource management has come up with programs to offe r special training to newly recruited employees. The human resource management is also placing new employees with the old employees to allow them learn work and the values prevalent in the company. Another crucial area in which the effect of globalization has affected the activities of Coca Cola’s human resource management has been in the area of corporate social responsibility (Farnham & Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, 2010). In an attempt to ensure there is a healthy relationship between the company and the host countries, the human resource department has intensively embarked in a process of studying the environment of different host countries with a view of finding ways in which the company can contribute to the welfare and development of the people. Labor markets deals with issues such as employments, wages, and also unemployment. In the current economy, demographic changes have led to an increase in ageing workforce. This has highly influenced how the Coca Cola human resource department functions. With labor markets providing the structure through which the employees and employers relate, the company’s human resource department has adopted new policies to ensure that the company’s employees are working in conducive working conditions (Farnham & Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, 2010). The human resource management has also revised terms of engagement with the company’

The New Dress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The New Dress - Essay Example Conformity is a condition of acceptance. A woman’s dress defines her position. Although Mabel is evidently intelligent and well-read, her entire sense of self-worth is centered entirely round her dress. Mabel gives great importance to the men’s opinion. She seeks assurance from Robert Haydon and Charles Burt. She admits that â€Å"If he had only said, â€Å"Mabel, youre looking charming to-night!† it would have changed her life† (6). The men are not defined by their dress. This is clear from the fact that Mabel does not draw attention to their clothes. The men are focused on conversation and are obviously considered superior enough to judge the women’s dresses. Mabel is from a lower social and economic strata than the other women at Mrs. Dalloway’s party. She cannot afford a fashionable new dress because that â€Å"meant thirty guineas at least† (2). She comes from a poor background, â€Å"being one of a family of ten; never having money enough, always skimping and paring† (9). She is married to a law clerk and manages â€Å"tolerably in a smallish house, without proper maids† (10). She is dependent on her husband’s income. Her financial constraints contribute towards her feelings of inferiority and insecurity. She attempts to meet the social conventions by mingling with the other party guests, but is tortured by feelings of alienation. In an age in which women are judged not for their personal worth, but largely by their dress, Mabel Waring remains an outsider at the party, as her dress does not conform to the accepted standards of

Cultural artifact about Korean War in 1950 Essay

Cultural artifact about Korean War in 1950 - Essay Example d into a full-blown war pitching the USA against international communism, considering that North Korea was a USSR backed territory, while South Korea was pro-west (US Department of State n.p.). While the Korean War of 1950 has not been publicized like the Vietnam and the Second World Wars, it remains the bloodiest war that was fought for a short period, yet claimed more civilians’ lives than either the Vietnam or the World War II. The war occurred during a period of heightened tension between the USA and the Soviet Union in Cold War. Thus, despite the fact that the Korean War was a war between the North and the South Korea, it remains the height of the Cold War tension. Thus, the Korean War of 1950 impacted the world by changing the world map through the creation of two sovereign states from the Korean peninsula, increased the Cold War tension globally by posing the threat of the outbreak of World War III and elevated the logistical, weaponry and equipment status of the Chines e military. The Korean War started on June 1950, through the aggression of the North Korea against the South Korea, after its troops crossed over the boundary between the two territories, and took the war the South Korean soil. The tension between North and South Korea had been there for long before the war. In addition, there was international interest in this conflict from the onset of the separation of Korea into the north and the south, considering the fact that China and Japan had previously shown interests in controlling the Korean territory (Naval History and Heritage Command n.p.). Russia had also fought with Japan for the control of the Korean territory, but Russia was defeated in this war in 1910, after which Japan Annexed Korea as its colony, and ruled it until the end of World War II. The separation of South Korea from North Korea had occurred in 1945, when the foreign interested parties resolved to have Korea separated along the 38th parallel as a temporary measure, until a

The increasing use of computers in schools Essay

The increasing use of computers in schools - Essay Example Hence, schools have introduced the use of computers not only to improve students' academic performance but also to increase students' familiarity with new technologies as well as make learning fun and effective for students. The introduction of computers in schools aimed first to improve students' performance in their academic subjects. Educators believe that the computers facilitate ease and convenience especially when these are used by the young people to write papers or do research. Studies done by researchers at Boston College state that regular use of computers in order to do research and write paper can improve students' writing abilities. These students are said to perform better in schools than those who don't use the computers on the same undertakings (O' Dwyer et al, 2005). Researchers also found out that the students' constant use of the computer results to higher score in standardized writing tests as a consequence of their learning from producing drafts, editing to correct errors and writing the final copy. In addition, computers have made the access to information swifter as students do not have to browse through books in the library in order to search to gain access for hard to find data.

Procurement management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Procurement management - Assignment Example Other concerns in this step include the determination of what to procure, how much to procure and finally, when to do the procurement. In the same process, the project manager and the procurement management team decide on the question of make-or buy the items required for the project accomplishment. Identification of the type of the contract- once a need has been ascertained to obtain the items and materials from an outside source, the procurement team, will embark on deciding on which type of contract to sign with the prospective bidders. Very key in this process is to question the risk management strategies with different bidders. The prospective suppliers must be comprehensively engaged on this concern to explore any possibilities of risk occurrence, and the risk mitigation strategies that are in place to cushion the firm from the impacts. It is upon such establishment that such contract types as the cost plus fixed fee or cost plus the incentive fee will be agreed upon (Project Management Institute-PMBOK 2008). The third stage is to develop the standardized procurement documentation. These documents are drafted and reviewed every now and again depending on the circumstances at any given stage of the project implementation. Such important procurement documentation include the standard forms, the quotation proposal, the Invitation For Bid (IFB), the Request For Quote (RFQ) and other form templates used in the process created specifically for the procurement processes. The Procurement Management Plan- in the plan, the project manager puts in place the roles and responsibilities of the project team and that of the organization. Notably, creation of understanding among or between the project team members and the organization is necessary at this point. This is because such arrangements, more often than not, create the conflict of interests, duplication of responsibilities and the completion for resources by the members of the

Public Meeting Paper Essay Example for Free

Public Meeting Paper Essay The public meeting I went to was at the City Hall chambers building located in downtown El Paso at two civic center plaza drive. It was a regular City Hall Council meeting where voting sessions were conducted. City Council members and mayors of El Paso do these meetings to resolve problems and improve their city through funding, spreading awareness, and implementing laws. City Hall Council meetings are from Monday through Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm. City Hall Council meetings allow and encourage public attendance and participation. The City Hall Council meeting I went to was Tuesday March 15th. It was three hours long, but I attended the first hour of the meeting from 8:30am to 9:30 am. At the beginning of the meeting there was a Spanish interpreter provided for Spanish speaking El Pasoans. There was also a sign language interpreter provided for people with special needs. Then there was a prayer thanking God’s grace for safety and prosperity and mentioning the devastating natural disaster in Japan, and asking God to have mercy on Japan and protect the U.S. from similar disasters. After that people were asked to stand in respect for the Pledge of Allegiance which was read by City Council members. Mayor Ann Morgan Lilly announced Mayor’s proclamations. First guest was Miss Shanaya Fastje Day who is an 11 year old girl. She spoke to kids about bullying and its impact and effect on kids. She discussed ways to prevent or at least reduce the cases of bullying. She also mentioned the ways on how kids should deal with bullying and who to reach to incase of such incidents. Mayors thanked her efforts especially Mayor Beto O’Rouke. Her father spoke about his daughter’s efforts and asked the city of El Paso to assist and help her to make her cause and efforts influential and effective. Mayor Pro Tempore Emma Acosta thanked her and asked to applause her. The second mayor proclamation was Franklin Mountain Poppies Preservation Day. Jody spoke about it and asked people to attend a celebration in the Northeast area of El Paso. The celebration was open to the public and is done every year near the Museum of Archaeology of El Paso. From what I understood it’s to preserve and breed poppies. Then a group kids identified as girl scouts but had no recognition. They greeted the City Council members as everyone does. The reason they came is in the hope to be inspired and to become City Council members or mayors themselves one day. Kids identified themselves by saying their names and then were thanked and left. Mayor’s proclamations continued and the following was National Brain Injury Awareness Month. This awareness month was March 2011 as approved by Mayor John Cook. The speaker was Nancy Peters who is the director of marketing for Mentis Neuro Rehab center for Brain Injury, and she is also the facilitator of El Paso Brain Injury Support Group. She spoke in general about brain injuries and mentioned statistics and the common ages for brain injuries which were kids from birth to four and from nine to fifteen. Then she allowed some of their patients to share their stories and testimonies. Most of the survivors stories were soldiers of Fort Bliss and veterans of the Iraq war and one of them was a victim of a car accident. They shared their stories and thanked Mentis for their efforts and help for them. Afterwards there was a call to the public where six members signed to talk. Their names are William Hart, Jerry Fade, Lisa Turner, Jorge Artalejo, Lynn Fitzgerald, and Manny Hinojosa. First was William Hart who spoke about anti immigration laws and how unjust they are. He compared anti immigration laws to slavery and segregation laws who were unjust, cruel, and inhumane. He also mentioned that being laws doesn’t make them good, because there are unjust laws being supported by lobbyists who pay money to law makers in the United States. He asked to get rid of such laws and to emphasize justice and compassion. He also mentioned that the United States is an immigrant country and that the founding fathers had values of freedom, equality, and justice. Also mentioned that most the immigrants come at a young age and know nothing and love nothing but the United States. The next speaker Jerry Fade was absent, so the third speaker was called. The third speaker was Lisa Turner who spoke about rolling blackouts of electricity and water. She blamed El Paso Electric Company and PSP. She said that they failed to do their jobs and that there was no excuse not to operate in cold weather as the generators and machines are made to operate in all climates. She complained about them not paying attention to their equipment and generators that are supposed to pump water and air to generate electricity. She questioned them spending enough money on maintenance and renewing their equipment and generators. She also said that an Ice storm in New Mexico affects El Paso because of no generator capacity. The fourth speaker was Jorge Artalejo and his topic was â€Å"the wind of change blows through the desert of El Paso†. He spoke about utilities are supposed to operate in different conditions. He also spoke about the city of El Paso elections. The fifth speaker was Lynn Fitzgerald and his topic was â€Å"Frank Buckles buried in Arlington National Semetary†. He complained about not having enough memorials in the United States to honor World War 1 veterans. He asked for a memorial in El Paso for all female soldiers who fought in The United States wars. He thanked all service men who fought for the United States and asked to honor them. Before he left he wanted to a share with everybody a picture that depicted the disastrous effect of the natural disaster in Japan. Final speaker was Manny Hinojosa and his topic was â€Å"Transparency†. He requested more transparency from the city of El Paso in matters such as money spending, electric company to be accountable, city’s help for the elderly, and computers ships planted in trash cans and their cost and benefit. He also asked them to improve their web site to be ahead of newspapers on what’s going on in El Paso. He also asked them to answer their emails, be clear or transparent, and to post issues or news on their web site as soon as possible. After the call to the public ended, there was the Consent Agenda where members of the audience can vote, and items that are not called are approved. Representative Robertson corrected things and asked questions. He also asked to delete incorrect postings and postpone discussions. Introductions for voting sessions began with item numbers and codes about specific cases. Most of the motions passed unanimously, some of which were about city elections, construction, and health. This was my first City Hall public meeting and it was a new experience to me. I liked the fact that I had the chance to witness how governments operate even if it was on a small scale such as cities. I think that the meeting was productive and positive and continued as expected without disturbances or shortcomings. The most important issue to be questioned during this meeting was about questioning El Paso Electric Company reliability and professionalism. I was there for the first hour of the three hours meeting, which I think is enough time to discuss and get things done.