Drugs and Economic Factors on crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Drugs and Economic Factors on crime - Essay Example Pennsylvania in 2000 had approximately a population of 12,281,054. For the year 2000 the State of Pennsylvania had a total crime index of 2,995.3 reported incidents per 100,000 people. Pennsylvania had the 43rd highest total crime index. Pennsylvania had an incident rate of 420.0 per 100,000 people for offences which were violent in nature. The state was ranked as having the 23rd highest occurrence for violent crime among the states. Washington D.C. unlike cities like Pennsylvania has very stringent gun restriction laws. These gun restrictions have not proved to be really effective. The crime rate of Washington D.C. is very high compared to the other neighboring states like Pennsylvania which do not have gun restriction laws. A review of the areas in the United States has shown that areas like Washington D.C., Chicago, New York which have the most regulative gun laws have the highest violent crime rate. Areas in the U.S. with have fewer gun control laws and higher gun ownership also surprisingly has the least crime rate Some scholars like John Lott believe that more gun restrictions lead to increased crime and violence. But scholars like Steven Levitt advocate that neither the presence nor absence of gun control laws have any significant effect on the crime rate. Steven Levitt believes that legalized abortion is one of the most important factors responsible for the crime rate in U.S. Levitt in his book Freakonomics has argued in favor of legalized abortion as the single most important factor responsible for reducing violent crime in U.S. ... Levitt has shown from statistics that legalized abortion has contributed immensely in bringing down the crime rate because he is of the opinion that unwanted children commit more crimes than wanted children. The legalization of abortion has resulted in fewer unwanted children and thus has helped in the reduction of crime over the years (Levitt, 2006). Even a comprehensive review of the published studies of gun control in 2004 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was also unable to arrive at any statistically significant effect that either the pro gun or no gun laws had on the crime rate. (Gun Politics, 2006) A recent study in the journal of the American Medical Association has reported that the 1994 Brady Law has done effectively nothing to reduce the crime rate. Thus it can rightly be said that gun control schemes have no relation to crime or to prevention of brutality (Blanks, n.d.) But the supporters of gun control believe that the crime rate can only be brought down through effective gun control. These supporters by believing so overlook the multifaceted factors responsible for crime and violence (Blanks, n.d.) Thus it is a fallacy to suppose that gun control laws will help to reduce crime and violence in the United States. It is an erroneous belief because then the areas with most guns would not have had the least crime rates. There are multiple factors responsible for crime and violence. If the crime rate has to be reduced then unlawful drug use and addiction, age demographics and poverty are the areas that have to be improved and worked upon. There are multiple population characteristics. Age is one of them. It is widely believed that rising teenage population leads to increase in the crime rate. A separate juvenile justice system is gradually

Abortion in the United States Essay Example for Free

Abortion in the United States Essay Abortion is one of the most controversial topics to date in the United States. Because of the complexity and issues involved, there are those individuals who are for abortion, and those who are against. There is neutrality that extends between the two, with those who are one the fence depending on circumstantial situations. In this paper our group of four peers debate the topic, and base a conclusion on weather women in the United States should have the right to abortion, based on the arguments themselves. Today, the reference of for and against, is better known as pro-choice and pro-life. Pro choice (abortions) refer to the political and ethical view that a woman should have complete right over her fertility, and that she should have the freedom to decide whether she wants to continue or terminate her pregnancy (Bose, 2012). According to pro-life advocates, women who demand complete control of their body should also shoulder the responsibility of preventing unwanted pregnancy, and that the result of an unplanned pregnancy, rape or incest, aborting the embryo is equivalent to punishing the unborn child (Bose, 2012). See more:  Mark Twains Humorous Satire in Running for Governor Essay The position that Valora has in this debate, is that it is the woman’s choice to decide whether or not to have an abortion, but also to understand that it is their responsibility to protect against unwanted pregnancies by using every available means of contraceptive, not including using abortion as if it were a contraceptive, as some pro-life advocates would claim. When evaluating risk, one should take in account of women’s feelings after an abortion. Feelings of depression and anxiety is something woman feel prior, and of course afterwards. Women sometimes choose abortions because of medical issues with the babies, or horrifying circumstances leading to the unwanted pregnancy. Henry P. David, PhD stated after conclusive research â€Å"severe psychological reactions after an abortion are infrequent†. The best indicator of your mental feelings after an abortion is to realize your feelings and mental health prior to the abortion. (ProChoice.org). Usual feelings aft er an abortion is relief, loss, sadness, and grief. It is okay to grieve and you should give yourself time to grieve. Women who have had abortion may have feelings of sadness because they had to make the decision on their own without help from family and friends. Some woman may live in a home life where they are made to feel worthless because of the decision they will make. Some believe women who decide to have abortions will come down with â€Å"Post-Abortion Stress Syndrome†, which is psychological trauma or deep depression, and the American Psychological Association has found no scientific evidence that abortion leads to this type of trauma. Furthermore, experts stated after a study with the National Cancer Institute studied abortions and breast cancer, trying to see if there is any link between an abortion and breast cancer. In the end they settled that there was no link between the chances of breast cancer if you had received an abortion. In the United States, technology has made abortion safer in the last few years. Abortions are performed with in the first 9 weeks of pregnancy. Early termination the better is for the woman, less complications. Most woman receiving their abortion within the first 9 weeks report no complications afterwards. Less than 0.5% of women have serious complication that may bring them back to be seen or hospitalized. Complication rates to rise if the abortion is decided with the pregnancy weeks of 13 and 24. The position of Tracy in this paper is that abortion should be the right of the woman. I do not believe the government or any religious authority should make this type of decision for any woman. Deciding to have an abortion is an important decision in itself and having others dictate you can or cannot choose makes the situation even more confusing. As with most any conflicts, there are usually laws which govern the actions those directly involved, and with abortion comes some of the most well-known pieces of legislature in history. Today in the United States abortion is legal in every state due to the decision of Roe v. Wade. In this case the appellant (Roe) sued the state of Teas on the basis that personal privacy was violated unconstitutionally when the state proscribes that it is unlawful to abort a fetus, other than to save the life of a mother, advised by a licensed medical physician. The ruling decided on January 22, 1973 by the United States Supreme Court was a major milestone in the still controversial topic of abortion. According to the court â€Å"the abortion statutes void as vague and over-broadly infringing those plaintiff’s Ninth and Fourteenth Amendment right† (Roe v. Wade). On the same day of the Roe decision, another case in the state3 of Georgia was also decided on, in the case of Doe v Bolton we the state in question also was found to be in violation of the appellants constitutional rights. The Ninth Amendment: The enumeration in the constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. The Fourteenth Amendment: Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or poverty, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws (Legal Information Institute). The position that Timothy has on this subject, is that a woman’s right to abortion should be that of her own decision based on the legislation’s that have been passed. A woman should be able to do with her own body as she chooses, not including using abortion as a method of birth-control. Abortion is not all together without some medical complications. The side effects of abortion are sometimes critical. Some of them involve spotting and bleeding. You could be bleeding for past 30 to 60 days, bleeding which could be very dangerous if care was not sought from a physician. Another side affect is headaches and dizziness, fever and chills, nausea and vomiting, cramping, and diarrhea. Sometimes abortion can even lead rare instances of death. During the surgery the doctors may leave some parts of the fetus inside the body. That is what may cause the affections that may cause damage to the body and or death. The symptoms are high fever, diarrhea, cramping, foul smelling in your discharge and more. Your cervix may get injured and damaged by the surgical tools that are being used during the abortion procedure which will lead to not being able to conceive again. Women who have gone through abortion are at a greater risk of ovarian and cervical cancer. Abortion is a very short p rocedure but it impacts your life forever, and the after affects of abortion varies from physical and psychological effects. Women may develop an eating disorders, or drugs on alcohol abuse, or they may have flash backs about the procedures themselves. Abortions may cause problems in relationships, and it may affect the woman’s sex life which leads to sexual dysfunction. The position that Veronica has on the subject of abortion is that she does not agree with the procedure, and the word abortion can be discussed in two different ways. Therapeutic abortion is one, where the abortion is unplanned due to medical problems with the patient’s health also unknown as miscarriage. Another way is elective abortion when it is planned. In many states planned abortions are illegal and have resulted in up to 70,000 deaths across the world every year. Many arguments support the issue on abortion. One reason why I am against abortion is that you are killing an innocent child that has nothing to do with the mistakes that one makes by having unprotected sex. You should not kill an unborn child because you are ashamed and afraid of what people might say about you. Another reason why she is against abortion is it’s against her religion. â€Å"If I make a mistake and got pregnant, then I would have to step up to the plate and take care and raise my child. It is against my religion to have abortions, because children are a gift from God†. In conclusion of this paper, there are two sides to this debate on whether women should have the right to have abortions in the United States. The research shows that the peer group has more emphases on the pro-choice side of the debate, because the laws of abortion are designed to protect the welfare of the mother and in some cases the fetus, if there is evidence of potential danger, and the fetus may be born with severe disorders, or mother having serious complications that could threaten the mother’s life. In the past, abortions were not as safe as they are today due to advanced technologies, making abortion safer than they’ve ever been before. Abortion is sometimes the best course because of medical issues, and sometimes due to other horrifying circumstances in which some women may become pregnant, such as rape, incest, and or other circumstances that may be legitimately valid reasons, and may lessen the quality of life for the child or mother. In 1973 it was decided by the highest court in the United States (The Supreme Court), that prior statutes infringed on the rights of women in such cases as Doe v Bolton, and Roe v Wade, making abortion legal, and the right of women to choose. Opposing arguments have raised health related issues of having abortions such as â€Å"Post-Abortion Syndrome†, breast cancer, and depression, but upon studies conducted by the National Cancer Institute, and The American Psychological Association, there has been no scientific evidence to prove the accusations. Abortion will probably remain one of the most controversial topics known to man, but the pros, and the laws which protect, are essential in preserving individual rights of freedom in the United States. References Bose, D. (2012). Arguments for Pro Choice. Retrieved from Buzzle.com website: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/arguments-for-pro-choice-abortions.html. Doe v. Bolton. (n.d.). In Legal Information Institute. Retrieved from http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0410_0179_ZS.html. Dudley, S., Ph.D., Kruse, MS, CNM, ARNP. (2006). Evaluating the risk of complications. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Abortion Federation. Revised December 2006. http://prochoice.org/about_abortion/facts/safety_of_abortion.html. Fourteenth Amendment. (n.d.). In Legal Information Institute. Retrieved from http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv Heath, S. (2012, April 14). No One Called Me a Slut. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/opinion/Sunday/having-an-abortion-when-no-one-called-me-a-slut.html. Ninth Amendment. (n.d.). In Legal Information Institute. Retrieved from http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/ninth_amendment/ Roe v. Wade . (n.d.). In Legal Information Institute. Retrieved from http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0410_0113_ZS.html. Sengupta, S. (2010, June 30). Should Abortion Be Legal. Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/should-abortion-be-legal.html.

Analysis of Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

Analysis of Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi The real Azar Nafisi Reading Lolita in Tehran is a book written by Azar Nafisi and talks about the struggles of a woman was born in Iran moved to the United States to study abroad. She got most of her education from the US and the UK. She moved back to Iran in the late 1970’s and she found here country was in a revolution and war was everywhere. The book it divided into four parts Lolita, Gatsby, James, and Austen each tells a part of the story and her life. She goes on to explain what has happened to her country and the teachings that she has done. Nafisi used to teach at different schools in Iran but the school board found her teachings wrong and expelled her. She was fed up so she got some of her best students and brought them over her house each week to discuss about all sorts of different books. Everyone there used the classes as an escape from reality of Iran’s rules and control because they were able to discus about all they wanted and to let out what they felt about their dreams wishes without anyone judging them, Since they were all woman and woman’s had no rights in Islam. One moment I the book that stood out to me in part one was when Nafisi’s mother, a person who is nothing like a Muslim woman marries a proper Muslim man they somehow work it out. Her mother loves to wear a chador because she feels is something very special to her. What gave me a shock was when the mother taught her daughter English instead of Arabic and that the father allows her. Back then woman weren’t forced to wear a chador so u can tell how much she loved her husband. During the time Nafisi was teaching the seven students at her house why she was so shocked to see her students come out of her shell or in her words â€Å"I could not get over the shock of seeing them shed their mandatory veils and robes and burst into color† (Azar Nafisi 5) She wanted to teach what the schools deemed wrong so she got her seven best students and used the teachings to release all of their ideas, emotions, and frustrations with each other as they discussed books and other literary works. In the article titled â€Å"The book club† by Sam Munson she explains how when Nafisis was teaching in the schools the government started to decide what was allowed and didn’t like what Nafisis was teachings so she got expelled and that is what got her to make this small club with some of her students. Soon each one of here students started to open up to each other â€Å"Gradually, each one gained an outline and a shape, becoming her own inimitable self† (Az ar Nafisi 5) In part two of the book you start to see all the different type of personality’s that her students have and how special they are. It also shows that Nafisis knew them very well before she picked them. She let her students be the judge and jury of the books even though she knew the answer. Even if the students didn’t talk for the books she got them to start thinking for themselves and not just follow someone. In Iran they only allowed works from Tehran to be read. Nafisis got the books and asked her students to evaluate them based on their writing and literature they also focuses a lot of their time on Gatsby to review and learn from it. Why was Nafisis having trouble with her marriage? Her father went to jail so she was left alone and during that time she said â€Å"I was insecure enough to marry on the spur of a moment, before my eighteenth birthday† (Azar Nafisi 83) She married a man who â€Å"wasn’t like us† (Azar Nafisi 83) she thought of him as he was full of himself and that he was crazy jealous this prompted Nafisis to want a divorce with him. The only way she could get a divorce was to get the approval of her father and he agreed when she said she would not sue for alimony. In the article â€Å"Lolita in Tehran Author Goes Silent† by Madeline Brand said that Nafisis had suffered all her life. Her mother died when she was so young and her father was put in jail. That might be the reason to why she wanted to marry at such a young age. Because the author is from Iran you can see a lot of the connections made in the story. The struggles she faces and how she overcomes them and also when she moved to the United States she sees the world different since it’s a new place. She then goes back to Iran and it’s under war and she can’t teach anymore since she got expelled. It is related to the novel in a big way since she has a lot of experience with her home country and her background of a hard life, how her mom died when she was young and her father put in jail. She was left alone. In the biographic article titled â€Å"Azar Nafisi† by Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter he wrote a wonderful article on her struggles and her biographical of her young age and what she went through. The tone in the novel is morel like rebellious because the woman are under oppression and they want to be free so they try to go â€Å"against the man† most of the time and it relates a lot with the characters since most of them are female. Nafisi especially, she teaches at a school then the school no longer allows her to teach there because of her content so in order to rebel she gets some of her best students who are also female and brings them over to her hose for the weekend to discuss the books and topics that she was discussing when she was still teaching. The article â€Å"Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books. (Arts Letters)† by Christopher Byrd he states â€Å"Nafisi convincingly argues, pose an even greater threat to a despotic orthodoxy than any open display of political rebellion.† Showing her rebellious nature, she doesn’t want to feel inferior and the tone of the novel is set around not being oppressed she shows it a lot in the story. The relationship about this novel and the topic of literature is that in the novel Nafisi Loves to teach and on her first day of school asked if fiction is even important in literature. The way it’s related is by how the novel is being presented it’s not just a story it tells the story of a person and the hardships they went thru. The story itself is an expression of individual thought and the feeling of accomplishing from the creative process. Authors wish to share their experiences with their novels and books, their understanding and observations. It’s like making music you share what you are feeling using words in a song. In conclusion the book Reading Lolita in Tehran was a good read, it talked about the struggles Nafisi had in her life how she became a teacher moved to the united states then came back to her home town of Iran to find out it’s at war and she can’t teach anymore so she starts her own â€Å"club† where she picked some of her best students and discussed with them about books. It also talks about some parts of The Great Gatsby in part II and the reactions it had with the people from her weekend club. This book was interesting and I would read it again if I had to. Work Cited Nafisi, Azar. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books, 2003. Kindle file. Books, Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in, and Sam Munson. The book club. Commentary  116.2 (2003): 72+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. Lolita in Tehran Author Goes Silent. Day To Day 29 Dec. 2008. Literature Resource Center.  Web. 26 Apr. 2014. Azar Nafisi. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 313. Detroit: Gale,  2012. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 Apr. 2014. Byrd, Christopher. Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books. (Arts Letters). The Wilson  Quarterly 27.3 (2003): 126+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.

Born To Kill report :: essays research papers

Born To Kill   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This book was an extremely captivating read that I had a hard time putting down. This exciting novel was about an upstart gang of Vietnamese youths that formed in Chinatown who violently made their presence felt, they were known by the name Born to Kill. This book had many legal issues that we discussed in class and only a couple of issues that were not handled correctly in my eyes. This is a book that anyone that is interested in Asian organized crime should read. During the Vietnam War many people fled from Vietnam to America in order to start a new life of prosperity and to forget the horrors of the war. When many families fled they were either separated, or the parents only had the money to send one child. The latter was the case with most of the boys in the Born to Kill gang. They all came to America as refugees and were placed in foster homes that were some times no better than the camps that they had recently survived. When they found other people from Vietnam that offered an alternative solution, they were willing to do anything to repay the debt of loyalty they felt to there benefactor, in this case David Thai. The book mainly revolved around one main person Tinh Ngo, a member of the gang. Through out the book Tinh or Timmy as he was called, ran the entire gambit of emotions from total loyally to being flipped and being the key witness in the federal case against the main players in the gang. The gang committed every kind of crime from petty robberies to murder. Tinh started his career as a criminal by robbing a message parlor in Chinatown that was in rival gang territory this robbery was a simple one that went off without a hitch, it gave him a false sense of ease in committing robberies. Over the months Tinhs involvement in crimes escalated until he was arrested, for the first time, and he spent some time in prison. This disenchanted him some about the gang life and killed some of his feeling of invulnerability. When Tinh was released from prison he resumed his role within the gang, starting right back up with the robberies and such. As time passed Tinh became a trusted member of the gang and became very close to the main players such as David Thai, Lan Tram and others.

Breed Specific Legislation Does Not Curb Pit Bull Attacks

Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) has been bandied about in several legislative arms of the United States government including the local and state levels for decades. In particular, pit bulls as a breed have recently come under fierce attack due to a plethora of news stories which highlight attacks on humans and the use of the breed for fighting purposes. Municipal ordinances seek to either ban ownership of specific breeds such as pit bulls, curb ownership of these animals or impose unreasonably strict responsibilities on those who choose to care for pit bulls such as keeping the animal confined and requiring hefty insurance supplements.Such legislation, unfortunately, does nothing to address the real problem which begins with the owner himself, not the dog, whose breed has been proven not to be unpredictably aggressive. Instead of laying the blame with owners who are irresponsible or those who use them for fighting, BSL legislation targets pit bulls for simply being what they are, an d the rights of citizens to own their choice of dog breed. Definition of the Pit Bull Breed and BSLThe term â€Å"pit bull† refers to â€Å"a type of short-coated large terrier, anywhere from 40-80 pounds, characterized by a wide skull, powerful jaws, and a muscular, stocky body† according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) but it is not technically a breed recognized by the American Kennel Club. For the purposes of this paper, we will use this term to denote any variety of what is commonly known as a pit bull.The pit bull was brought to the United States from England for use as an â€Å"animal baiting† dog whereby it would be trained to attack a large animal such as a bear and hang on with its teeth until the animal was brought down. When this was judged to be illegal in the 1800’s, many pit bull owners began to train the animals to fight each other instead. Thus, the fighting instinct was nurtured and eventually bre d into the dog. According to the ASPCA (aspca. org), citizens need to be aware that â€Å"even though a breed may be characterized by a certain pattern of behaviors, individuals within a breed can vary tremendously†.According to Diane Blackman (â€Å"Breed Specific Legislation†, 1995), BSL is defined as â€Å"ordinances [which] may regulate or prohibit certain breeds regardless of the temperament or behavior of the individual animal†. The problem with this definition is that it refers to a specific breed, which must be narrowly defined to make such an ordinance enforceable. There are many varieties of pit bull dogs available, many of whom have been mixed with other breeds. Are all pit bulls, then, at the center of this controversy or is there a particular recognized breed that legislatures are aiming to control?Such definitions must be clearly defined before enforcement becomes even remotely practical. Ineffectiveness of the Legislation BSL legislature has been proven to be ineffective and unconstitutional in municipalities where it has been enacted in the past. In the 1980’s BSL first started to appear in cities such as Hollywood, Florida, Cincinnati, Ohio and a small town in New Mexico. These were followed by legislation at the state level in Michigan, Ohio and Florida. All of these ordinances specifically targeted pit bulls as being inherently dangerous to society.What has happened in each of these communities and states is that either owners continue to keep pit bulls in their care but do so illegally or they switch to a different breed of dog and train it to be aggressive because that was the original purpose in obtaining the pit bull in the first place (Weiss, 2001). Weiss quotes Brittany Wallman of the South Florida Sun-Central as stating â€Å"Officials in Prince George, Maryland are considering a repeal of the community’s BSL, arguing that the legislation has simply encouraged owners of vicious dogs to either Ã¢â‚¬Ë œgo underground’ or ‘get fighting dogs not covered by the ban’.† Many municipalities which have imposed BSL were later declared to be unconstitutional in restricting a specific breed of pet. According to Weiss, quoting the ruling in Hearn vs. City of Overland Park: â€Å"The Kansas Supreme Court affirmed the district court's findings that (1) the ordinance was not unconstitutionally vague or overbroad; (2) the ordinance did not violate the state or federal due process rights of the plaintiffs; and (3) the ordinance did not violate the plaintiffs’ equal protection rights under the United States and Kansas Constitutions.† In Dade County, Florida, a group of dog owners protested the BSL ordinance based on grounds that it was discriminatory and did not sufficiently define the breed. The District Court found the definition of a pit bull satisfactory but did uphold that enforcement of the ordinance could be â€Å"applied in a discriminatory fashion † (Weiss, 2001), thus unfairly targeting certain pets. Currently, there are many laws on the books pertaining to pet ownership, such as leash laws, but most are rarely enforced.Imposing a law based on breed, which, as previously discussed, is certainly difficult for an enforcement officer to pinpoint, will do nothing to stop problems such as dog bites from occurring. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that an ordinance banning pit bulls â€Å"depends for enforcement on the subjective understanding of dog officers of the appearance of an ill-defined ‘breed’† (Weiss, 2001). When encountering dogs of mixed breeds, it is nearly impossible to make a solid determination; according to Blackman (â€Å"Breed Specific Legislation, 1995) â€Å"a part boxer dog can easily be mistaken for a part pit bull†.Clearly, one of the biggest problems with enforcing BSL is creating a definition of a pit bull that is easily recognizable by enforcement officers, non-discriminatory and does not unfairly target animals of mixed breeds. Creating legislature based on a dog’s breed also adds a burden to municipalities of prohibitive cost and providing extra manpower to enforce the ordinance. A ban on pit bulls in Cincinnati, Ohio was eventually overturned due to the excessive cost of enforcement.The statute had been on the books for nine years with no success until the city began to take enforcement more seriously. When Ohio Valley Dog Owners protested, the courts found that with â€Å"dozens of dogs in custody and court cases to decide† it was unreasonable and placed a great burden on enforcement agencies as well as the courts to keep BSL on the books (Weiss, 2001). Instead, the court system ordered that all pit bulls in Ohio be registered with the local police department, â€Å"marked with tattoos and microchips, photographed, confined, and insured† (Weiss, 2001). Alternative SolutionsA better way to address the problem o f aggressive dogs and their violent behavior is to target the owners, not the animals, through educational initiatives and enforcement of existing laws directly related to the owners of pets who have been proven to have dangerous tendencies. Legislature that addresses this focus is just beginning to be recognized as a viable alternative to BSL. The state of California recently proposed a bill that â€Å"gives prosecutors power to press felony charges against ‘any person owning or having custody or control’ of a dangerous dog, even if the person is not the dog’s owner† (Weiss, 2001).In Indiana, prosecutors are allowed to find owners of pets responsible if these animals exhibit violence toward any employees of local government or utility companies in the commission of their job. Owners need to be aware, through educational programs, that the training of their pet is the biggest key to affecting its behavior. Classes that promote safe handling without the use of violence can be effective and would be a natural extension of local animal control agencies and Humane Societies. Programs aimed at children and raising their levels of safety awareness are also beneficial.Laws that are already in place regarding dangerous animals and hold owners accountable their dogs’ actions regardless of breed need to be vigorously enforced. Rather than targeting a specific breed, animal enforcement agencies need to collectively focus on violent or aggressive behavior in any dog, not just pit bulls. Upholding leash laws will certainly help as keeping any animal under the owner’s control in all situations is vital in the prevention of attacks. Conclusion Pit bulls are often associated with the breed’s history as being violent and aggressive due to their training.It is not, however, advisable to relate all dogs of one breed as distinguished by these traits. According to Cox (2002), â€Å"any dog can be dangerous†. Humans are an inte gral part of the equation of pit bulls equal violence. Only when pet owners are properly educated and current laws regarding responsible ownership enforced will there be a reduction in the amount of attacks instigated by dangerous dogs, no matter their breed. Legislation at the state and city levels needs to focus on owners as the responsible parties and let go of the idea that pit bulls as a whole are a menace to society. Works CitedAmerican Society for the Prevention Cruelty to Animals. â€Å"Pit Bull Information†. Retrieved November 13, 2007 from the ASPCA Website: http://www. aspca. org/site/PageServer? pagename=pets_pitbull. Blackman, Diane. â€Å"Practicality Of Breed Specific Legislation In Reducing Or Eliminating Dog Attacks On Humans And Dogs†. Breed Specific Legislation, 1995. Retrieved November 13, 2007 from the Dog-play Website: http://dogplay. com/Articles/MyArticles/pitbull. html. Cox, Rachel. â€Å"Breed Specific Legislation†. InterNetWorkers: Apr il, 2002. Retrieved November 13, 2007 from the Ibiblio Website: http://lists.ibiblio. org/pipermail/internetworkers/2002-April/005220. html. New Leash on Life. â€Å"Breed Specific Legislation†. Retrieved November 13, 2007 from the NLOL Website: http://www. nlol. org/chicago/bsl. asp. Real Pit Bull, The. â€Å"Breed Specific Legislation†. Retrieved November 13, 2007 from the Real Pit Bull Website: http://www. realpitbull. com/laws. html. Weiss, Linda S. â€Å"Breed-Specific Legislation in the United States†. Animal Legal and Historical Web Center. Detroit College of Law: 2001. Retrieved November 13, 2007 from the Animal Law Website: http://www. animallaw. info/articles/aruslweiss2001. htm.

Transport in the Industrial Revolution

Transport in the Industrial Revolution During the period of major industrial change known as the ‘Industrial Revolution’, the methods of transport also changed greatly. Historians and economists agree that any industrializing society needs to have an effective transport network, to enable the movement of heavy products and materials around in order to open up access to raw materials, reduce the price of these materials and the resulting goods, break down local monopolies caused by poor transport networks and allow for an integrated economy where regions of the country could specialize. While historians sometimes disagree over whether the developments in transport experienced by first Britain, then the world, were a pre-condition allowing for industrialization, or a result of the process, the network definitely changed.   Britain Pre-Revolution In 1750, the most commonly used start date for the revolution, Britain relied on transport via a wide-ranging but poor and expensive road network, a network of rivers which could move heavier items but which was restricted by the routes nature had given, and the sea, taking goods from port to port. Each system of transport was operating at full capacity, and chaffing greatly against the limits. Over the next two centuries industrializing Britain would experience advances in their road network, and develop two new systems: first the canals, essentially man-made rivers, and then the railways. Development in Roads The British  road  network was generally poor prior to industrialization, and as pressure from changing industry grew, so the road network began to innovate in the form of Turnpike Trusts. These charged tolls to travel on especially improved roads, and helped meet demand at the start of the revolution. However, many deficiencies remained and new modes of transport were invented as a result. Invention of Canals Rivers had been used for transport for centuries, but they had problems. In the early modern period attempts were made to improve rivers, such as cutting past long meanders, and out of this grew the canal network, essentially man-made waterways which could move heavy goods more easily and cheaply. A boom began in the Midlands and Northwest, opening up new markets for a growing industry, but they remained slow. The Railway Industry Railways developed in the first half of the nineteenth century and, after a slow start, boomed in two periods of railway mania. The industrial revolution was able to grow even more, but many of the key changes had already begun without rail. Suddenly the lower classes in society could travel much further, more easily, and the regional differences in Britain began to break down.

Alcohols and Energy it takes to break them Essays

  Alcohols and Energy it takes to break them Essays   Alcohols and Energy it takes to break them Essay Alcohols and Energy it takes to break them Essay This experiment is to investigate how much energy alcohols give off when they are burnt. When burnt the alcohol reacts with oxygen to give the products Carbon Dioxide and Water. Chemical Formula: Structural formula (methanol) Structural formula (ethanol) The structural formulas for the rest of the group of the homologous alcohols have the same structure, with more carbon and hydrogen atoms arranged in the same way. In an exothermic reaction heat is given out when the new bonds are formed. When bonds are broken the heat energy is taken in so the reaction is endothermic. In this experiment we have an exothermic reaction because it produces more energy forming new bonds than breaking them. So it gives out heat energy. The energy output is found by subtracting the energy produced to form the bonds from the energy produced to break the bonds. This is known as the enthalpy, which is always negative as heat is lost from the reaction. This can be shown in this rough energy level diagram. Chemical Principles By Master Slowinski suggest that heat used by products (Hp) subtracted by heat used for reactants (Hr) equals the enthalpy (? H). It can be shown in this chemical formula. Hp Hr = ?H However doing a practical experiment is not the only way to work out the enthalpy of an alcohol. We can show it in energy level equations, using figures from textbooks to tell us the energy in kJ/mol. This is a good way to predict what results we might get from our experiments if they go according to plan. Here is an energy level equation, how to work out the energy produced by burning Methanol. Chemical symbol of bond Energy required to break/form bonds C-C 347 O=O 498 O-H 464 C=O 805 C-O 350 C-H 415 In our practical experiment to work out the amount of energy released from the reaction we need to use this equation. Heat Energy = mass of water x specific heat capacity x change in temperature = ________ Joules This equation is only assuming that the energy released by the alcohol we are burning is the same as the heat energy absorbed by the water. The specific heat capacity is the amount of energy required to heat the substance. The specific heat capacity of water is 4.2J/à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C because that is the reliable figure that I have researched The bonds are made due to the forces of attraction between the atoms. This can be either covalent bonding, where the atoms share an electron, or ionic bonding which involves a metal and the one atom gives an electron to another atom. In our experiment the Hà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½O and the COà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ are examples of covalent bonding. I need to make my experiment a fair test by keeping the material of container, the volume of water in the container, the change in temperature and the height of the container from the flame the same. The only variable I will not be changing is the type of alcohol and the time taken to burn it. The variables for this experiment are: Material of Container: The beaker I keep the water in has to be the same as some materials are better conductors of heat than others. I will probably be using a copper container as it is easy to find and can withstand high temperature. The material will heat up, and I will have to use wooden tongs to keep the experiment safe and make sure that I dont get burnt. Volume of Water in Beaker: This needs to be the same throughout all of my experiments otherwise heat will be lost in the environment quicker or slower than the previous experiment. I have chosen water because it is safe and easy to obtain. Change in Temperature: We will keep this the same so that each of the alcohols can release the same amount of energy. If we were to use time as our controlling factor, then a fast burning alcohol such as Pentanol would increase the temperature far quicker than a slower burning alcohol such as Methanol. Height of Beaker above flame: This should be kept the same so that not very much heat energy can escape from going into the water. A boss and clamp, or a tripod should control this; I will investigate in my preliminary work, which one will work better. Length of Wick: I dont have any control over this factor, other than the Burner that I am using, the wicks should all be about the same size anyway. However I will try and chose burners that have wicks roughly the same length. Preliminary Work: In my preliminary work I will be trying to find out what volume of water would be best to use and whether to use a tripod or a boss and clamp to hold the beaker in place. I will also be investigating the temperature change in the water and what mass of the alcohols I should be using. I need to decide how many alcohols to burn and also to see how far above the flame the beaker will need to be. I will also be investigating the material of the beaker that the water is held in and looking at the length of wick. Prediction of Diagram of Preliminary work: Results of Preliminary Work: I tried out two different volumes of water, 50ml and 100ml. 50ml of water reached the temperature very quickly and 100ml of water is easy to use in my enthalpy calculations. The length of wick couldnt be altered from the length that it was originally at. The distance of the wick from the bottom of the beaker could be altered easily. I started off with it at 6cm from the bottom of the container, but changed it to 4.5cm as the movement of air in the classroom tended to blow the flame about a lot. I decided to use a copper beaker instead of a glass one as copper transfers heat quickly and not a lot of heat will be used to heat the copper beaker up. I also discovered that I would have to use a boss and clamp instead of a tripod as a boss and clamp is a lot more stable and I can alter the height of the beaker more easily. I cannot alter the mass of the alcohol that I am using, but I can measure the mass before I start and the mass at the end of the experiment, to work out how much mass of the alcohol has been burned. To decide what the temperature change had to be I could work out what it couldnt be before my preliminary experiment. I could cool the water, but it would take up valuable practical time. I could change the starting temp of my water, but there was no point as it was 24à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C, room temperature. I also couldnt raise it to more than 70à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C incase some of the water evaporated. In the end I settled with 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C temperature change as it didnt get too hot, and didnt take up too much time, so it allowed for some repeats. I also had to stir the water with a thermometer, to keep the heat constant in the copper container. Here are my preliminary results: Experiment 1: Mass changed from 127.22g to 126.7g when we burned Pentanol. We used 100ml of water and we had the beaker 6cm above the wick. The starting temperature was 24à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C which we raised 10à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C. Experiment 2: Mass changed from 126.7g to 126.0g when we burned Pentanol. We used 100ml of water and the beaker was 4.5cm above the wick. The starting temperature was 24à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C, which we increased by 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C. Experiment 3: Mass changed from 117.42g to 116.85g when we burned Methanol. We used 50ml of water and the beaker was 4.5cm above the wick. The starting temperature was 24à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C and we raised it by 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C. Experiment 4: Mass changed from 116.85g to 115.94g when we burned Methanol. We used 100ml of water and the beaker was 4.5cm above the wick. The starting temperature was 24à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C and we raised it by 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C. Diagram of Experiment: Apparatus: 1 measuring cylinder 5 different alcohol burners 1 copper container 1 box of matches 1 boss and clamp stand 1 pair of wooden tongs 1 thermometer 1 heat proof mat 1 set of scales A piece of paper and a pen 1 tap supplied with water Measurements: 100ml of water Copper Beaker 4.5cm above the burner I will be using a boss and clamp stand I will be raising the temperature of the water 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C Method: 1) Measure 100ml of water into a copper container, making sure that the container is clean. If it is not clean then rinse it out before beginning experiment. 2) Record the mass of the alcohol burner and place on a heatproof mat next to the boss and clamp stand. 3) Set up the boss and clamp with the container 4.5cm above the wick of the burner. 4) Stir and record initial temperature of the water. 5) Light the wick immediately after I have done this and continue stirring the water. 6) As soon as the water has reached 20à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C above the starting temperature blow out the wick and record the mass of the alcohol and burner. Throughout the test I will control the mass of water, 100ml, the same copper can and the wick 4.5cm from the bottom of the copper container. Predictions: I predict that alcohols with more carbon atoms in their chemical structure will produce more energy when their new bonds are formed. I predict that the alcohols with more carbon atoms such as Pentanol will produce more energy than an alcohol with less carbon atoms such as methanol. I also predict that the alcohols with more carbon atoms in their chemical structure will not have as much mass burned. This is because they are releasing more energy per gram than the alcohols with less carbon atoms in their chemical structure. Using the theoretical energy level diagram I can see how my results will come up against the theoretical ones. Alcohol Theoretical Energy Level Diagrams Results Methanol 666 kJ/mol Ethanol 1276 kJ/mol Propanol 1895 kJ/mol Butanol 2520 kJ/mol Pentanol 3138 kJ/mol Robert Bennett 10JR, 10A5 Robert Bennett 10A5 Dame Alice Owens School