An Overview of Municipal Waste and Landfills

An Overview of Municipal Waste and Landfills Municipal waste, commonly known as trash or garbage, is a combination of all of a citys solid and semisolid waste. It includes mainly household or domestic waste, but it can also contain commercial and industrial waste with the exception of industrial hazardous waste (waste from industrial practices that causes a threat to human or environmental health). Industrial hazardous waste is excluded from municipal waste because it is typically dealt with separately based on environmental regulations. Five Categories of Municipal Waste The second category of municipal waste is recyclable materials. Paper is also included in this category but non-biodegradable items like glass, plastic bottles, other plastics, metals and aluminum cans fall into this section as well. Inert waste is the third category of municipal waste. For reference, when discussed with municipal waste, inert materials are those that are not necessarily toxic to all species but can be harmful or toxic to humans. Therefore, construction and demolition waste is often categorized as inert waste. Composite waste is the fourth category of municipal waste and includes items that are composed of more than one material. For example, clothing and plastics such as childrens toys are composite waste. Household hazardous waste is the final category of municipal waste. This includes medicines, paint, batteries, light bulbs, fertilizer and pesticide containers and e-waste like old computers, printers, and cellular phones. Household hazardous waste cannot be recycled or disposed of with other waste categories so many cities offer residents other options for hazardous waste disposal. Municipal Waste Disposal and Landfills Today, landfills are engineered to protect the environment and prevent pollutants from entering the soil and possibly polluting ground water in one of two ways. The first of these is with the use of a clay liner to block pollutants from leaving the landfill. These are called sanitary landfills while the second type is called a municipal solid waste landfill. These types of landfills use synthetic liners like plastic to separate the landfills trash from the land below it. Once trash is put into these landfills, it is compacted until the areas is full, at which time the trash is buried. This is done to prevent the trash from contacting the environment but also to keep it dry and out of contact with air so it will not quickly decompose. About 55% of the waste generated in the United States goes to landfills while around 90% of waste created in the United Kingdom is disposed in this manner. In addition to landfills, waste can also be disposed using waste combustors. This involves the burning of municipal waste at extremely high temperatures to reduce waste volume, control bacteria, and sometimes generate electricity. Air pollution from the combustion is sometimes a concern with this type of waste disposal but governments have regulations to reduce pollution. Scrubbers (devices that spray liquids on smoke to reduce pollution) and filters (screens to remove ash and pollutant particles) are commonly used today. Finally, transfer stations are the third type of municipal waste disposal currently in use. These are facilities that where municipal waste is unloaded and sorted to remove recyclables and hazardous materials. The remaining waste is then reloaded onto trucks and taken to landfills while the waste that can be recycled for example, is sent to recycling centers. Municipal Waste Reduction Composting is another way cities can promote municipal waste reduction. This type of waste is comprised solely of biodegradable organic waste like food scraps and yard trimmings. Composting is generally done on the individual level and involves the combination of organic waste with microorganisms like bacteria and fungi that break down the waste and create compost. This can then be recycled and used as a natural and chemical free fertilizer for personal plants. Along with recycling programs and composting, municipal waste can be reduced via source reduction. This involves the reduction of waste through the alteration of manufacturing practices to reduce the creation excess materials which get turned into waste. The Future of Municipal Waste To further reduce waste, some cities are currently promoting policies of zero waste. Zero waste itself means reduced waste generation and the 100% diversion of the remainder of waste from landfills to productive uses via materials reuse, recycling, repair and composting. Zero waste products should also have minimal negative environmental impacts over their lifecycles.

Dworkinian Law essays

Dworkinian Law essays Dworkinian interpretation is very much like the general interpretation of the constitution, in that not only must law imposersconsider the explicit meanings of the constitution but also their impact and acceptance by society. In 1954, Brown v. Board of Education, the court held that it was not constitutional to segregate blacks and whites, but if a strictly explicit view of the constitution was taken segregation would have been in accordance (Altman 85). This brings the human aspect into the equation. With the original meaning or intent an inhumane law would have been upheld. Consider the impacts on our culture if that ruling had been that it was constitutional. Implicit and explicit interpretations are both very important aspects to consider when ruling on a law, a case, or simply an infraction. Though implicit ruling may be viewed as a very liberalist approach to law making, one must consider that the original constitution was meant as a guideline not as a stone clause. By allowing decisions to be made only through the explicit meanings of the constitution, we are allowing the social stature of a two hundred year old society rule in a very different and diverse time. In the revolutionary war, the beginning battles were fought using respectable tactics. This meant standing in a formation and exchanging fire, at an extremely high death rate. Now fighting a war like that in our common day would be ridiculous, virtual suicide. If following the original warrior way is suicide, then why should the judgment of citizens strictly on what those soldiers and scholars wrote explicitly in the constitution be any different. According to Dworkinian theory the constitution should be viewed as an underlying philosophy to law, meaning we should use the words of the constitution as a backbone for the embodiment of law. It is best described as the difference between concepts and conceptions (Altman 84). This ...

The Sandinistas Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Sandinistas - Research Paper Example In 1981 the U.S. Government suspended the economic help for Nicaragua under the pretext that Salvadorian insurgents received weapon from Cuba through Nicaragua. Soon the USA started providing direct military aid to the National Guard that escaped from the country. This help resulted in creation of the whole opposition army called â€Å"contras†. At first their government were accepted and then resulted in big economic and political crisis. The given paper will try to reveal what was brought by contras to Nicaragua: freedom or evil. By 1983 the Sandinista government continued to enjoy the growing support of the population, especially among the peasantry and poor citizens. However, at this time it had to face the opposition including the organized business community, the highest Catholic clergy, social democratic and some communistic (pro-Chinese) labor unions, Indians, English-speaking Black communities of the Caribbean coast. The leading newspaper of the country presented the ideas of opposition. Also the armed actions of the counterrevolutionary groups financed by the USA (contras), which made raids from the bases on the territory of Honduras, began. Indians, who were moved from their lands by Sandinista, joined contras. However, different oppositional groups were separated as the majority of them were extremely hostile to each other. Actually, they were hostile not only to each other but to peaceful citizens, hundreds of which were killed by contras: â€Å"Reagan calls the Contras "freedom fighters" and has compared them to the Founding Fathers. He claims supporting their war against the Sandinista government is the only hope for democracy in Nicaragua. But the truth about the rebels is not so glorious† (Ross, 1986). During 1984 the USA increased the military presence in Honduras and El Salvador. Military activity of contras increased, and they began to make air raids on the territory of Nicaragua. The ships of the US Navy plying

The disilluusionment of an american physician by sandeep jauhar Essay

The disilluusionment of an american physician by sandeep jauhar - Essay Example This book was preceded with another one, Intern which addressed the story from the perspective of any other new person in the field who comes to the field with high expectation only to realize that things are not as they seem out there. After acknowledging that there are challenges, the book, disillusionment of an American physician emphasizes on the need for urgent reform within the sector something that i have also witnessed in professional life. Dr. Jauhar brevity is particularly evident. For example he addresses corruption in the book. It is true that corruption is prevalent and that implies that only the rich get the good services at the expense of the poor in our health care system (Jauhar, 2014). Reading through the book, one gets the feel of what awaits in the real practice. One understands that, what is taught at medical school may not be very practical because some aspects of what is taught in school are not found in real practice. Dr. Jauhar gives an account of how insurance companies are supposed to be begged to make payments for patients, some of whom are in critical conditions and this goes to show how the society has become to self centered. Through the book, one gets a feel of the kind of relationship that exist between the doctors and the patients in the real world; this is evident through numerous accounts of patients who sometimes insist on certain types of treatment even in cases when the doctors do not agree. The significance of the book is highlighted in the author’s ability to face the truth to the extent of showcasing the unscrupulous nature of some doctors in the profession; for example, the author talks of the story of Dr. Chaudtry’ that has private practice. Like any other doctors of his time, he is faced with declining remuneration, numerous laws suits longed against hospitals and doctors and fraudulent insurance

Departures (2008) Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Departures (2008) - Movie Review Example His boss at this new job was Sasaki, who acted more forcefully towards Daigo when he showed up for the interview. He first lied to his wife about the job who later discovered and despised the job. While almost all people despised the job, Daigo took pride in his work and perfected the profession acting as a gatekeeper between the deceased and their families. The film follows a profound but comical journey as Daigo uncovers the joy, the wonder, and the absolute meaning of life, family and love. The music in this film is balanced. Here, the music balances with the tones of the actors and balanced with the scene being depicted. In addition, the sound effects were also in accordance with the mood of the scene. The overall sound track was analytical in that it had details that could take the audience in an instantaneous mood according to the intended mood of the scene. Overall, the editing of the film was carefully done to bring the intended view and perception for the

Impact of Economic Competitiveness on Wages

Impact of Economic Competitiveness on Wages The growth of low wage jobs is inevitable as national governments seek to promote economic competitiveness. Discuss. Introduction This essay discusses the hypothesis that governmental policies aimed at improving a nation’s relative performance in the global economy must lead to an increase in the low paid jobs. If considered in a global context the subject covers a wide spectrum. So the essay considers the United Kingdom’s (UK) economic experiences from the late 1970’s, with particular emphasis on the Thatcher era from 1979-1990 when the foundations for the UK’s economic reforms were laid. The profound change in economic management coupled with the rapid advances in communications and information technology has accelerated the effects of â€Å"globalisation† and led to severe disruption in the UK labour market. Evidence exists that the erosion of the bargaining power of employees due to the twin effects of government policy and globalisation has exacerbated the decrease in real earnings amongst the less skilled workforce. However this vulnerability can be partially off-set by some of the benefits due to improvements in the UK’s international economic competitiveness and an effective mix of domestic labour market policies. Economic Competitiveness: A Definition For centuries, international trade has been the bedrock of the UK’s prosperity. Economists have long debated the effect of government policies on trade and national prosperity. In 1817 during the first stirrings of the industrial revolution David Ricardo developed an argument which can be summarised as: â€Å"The classical theory of international trade and its role in economic development is based on the principle of comparative advantage. The comparative advantage paradigm states that a country performs better by concentrating on the production of those goods and services for which it possesses a comparative advantage over others, and then trade those goods for those of other countries.†[1] Modern economic theory still supports the basic tenets of Ricardo’s argument, which was primarily developed as an attack on government’s protectionist agricultural policies at the time. Recent research, however, goes a step further. Michael Porter devised the concept of National Advantage [2] which argues that governments have a significant role to play in enhancing a nation’s comparative advantage when competing in the global economy. His â€Å"Diamond of National Advantage† (below) suggests that perusing policies that enhance company performance by, say, strict product standards, stimulating demand for advanced products, focusing on factor creation, with improved worker skills and stimulating rivalry by enforcing antitrust legislation will support the development of a strong and internationally competitive trading economy. The UK Experience After the Second World War the UK government pursued policies to reduce unemployment through subsidies, direct support for industry, including nationalisation of some economically challenged sectors such as coal-mining, railways and a major automotive manufacturer, limiting external competition through protectionism. Trade policy was largely governed by favouring Commonwealth countries, through the â€Å"Commonwealth Preference† arrangements. This approach was largely self-defeating as suggested by the Economist as early as 1960. â€Å"A comprehensive system involving the granting of large margins of preference might be expected to have results of two kinds: it should ensure to exporters a larger share of the market than they would otherwise obtain, or enable them to charge higher prices for their goods than in non-preferential markets. An examination of Commonwealth Preference suggests that its effects in both directions are more limited than is implied by the support which it commands in the Commonwealth and the hostility it sometimes arouses in non-Commonwealth countries.† [3] In particular, it was in conflict with some of the concepts of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, (GATT) formed in 1947 to promote economic recovery after the war by reducing barriers in international trade, particularly the reduction in tariff barriers. The UK economy prospered under this regime particularly in the late 50’s and early 60’s but by the 70’s the cracks were beginning to show. By the mid 70’s it was obvious this economic model was not in tune with the needs of a modern nation in a rapidly changing world. Some of the old tenets were under scrutiny and the entrenched bastions of economic power were at loggerheads. In particular, the power of the union movement and the entrenched conservatism and resistance to change of management in the traditional industries such as coal, rail and manufacturing led to conflict and industrial disputation which were ruinous to the economic health of the nation. Successive governments failed to address the underlying economic causes of the problems, until Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister in 1979 with a new approach to economic governance. Her philosophy was not necessarily based on economic theory, although some of her advisors and ministers were well versed in Keynesian economics. Her government embarked on a series of structural economic reforms including the privatisation of government-owned industries, deregulation of large swathes of UK economic activity, particularly financial services and the pursuance of an aggressive free trade agenda. â€Å"What became known as Thatcherism may have been an agenda which benefited corporate capital, as left critiques emphasize, but its ideological formulation was populist and it employed the petty bourgeois values of thrift, hard work, and family solidarity as the central justifications for privatization, tax cuts, reduction of state expenditure, and hostility to trade unions.†[4] Since that period it is true to say that â€Å"Thatcherism†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦was†¦. to become the ruling consensus of the British government . soon established and exported around the world[5] It is interesting to note that Thatcher’s economic policies predated Porter’s research outlined in section 2, as Hood and Young observed: â€Å"While what has occurred falls short of a systemic approach to counteract market-distorting behavior or to build up created assets, there is little doubt that there have been consistent themes pursued since the Conservative government came to power in 1979. Deregulation, privatization, the restructuring of the handling of labour disputes, and so on have been driven by a clear philosophy concerning the role of the market and the negative economic and social effects of certain types of market distortions†[6] Effect on Employment and Wages As the Thatcher reforms began to bite, the short-term results reverberated around the UK. For example the industrial midlands in the late 70’s was the heart of the automotive and machine tool manufacturing industries. By the mid 80’s it was an industrial wasteland with acres of empty and derelict factory space with many thousands of workers displaced or redundant. This picture was repeated in many communities previously reliant on â€Å"smokestack† industries in the north and west of the UK. Anecdotal evidence suggested many of those displaced from manufacturing jobs had joined the informal self-employed workforce and those still in full-time employment had migrated to low-wage jobs in service industries such as retailing. This is backed up by comments from Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) which reports: â€Å"The labour market plays a crucial role in reaping potential gain from globalisation by facilitating a shift of jobs from decli ning sectors or occupations to expanding ones, in line with the changes in comparative advantage. However, this labour market adjustment is not always smooth because many workers displaced from declining sectors are poorly positioned to move into newly-created jobs in export sectors, which may be located in different regions or require different qualifications†[7] The International Labour Organisation (ILO) also echoes a similar theme: â€Å"Policies aimed at increasing competitiveness by lowering unit labour costs should consider the potential consequences on either workers (via wages) or firms and economic growth (via productivity). For example, on the one hand, an excessive and long-run emphasis on wage moderation may threaten a country’s productivity growth rate as it might discourage innovation and investment in human capital†[8] In the longer term, however the overall benefits to the UK economy were substantial. The shift from a manufacturing to serviced based economy has brought significant benefits to the nation. â€Å"The UK, a leading trading power and financial centre, is one of the quintet of trillion dollar economies of Western Europe. Over the past two decades, the government has greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance. Since emerging from recession in 1992, Britains economy has enjoyed the longest period of expansion on record; growth has remained in the 2-3% range since 2004, outpacing most of Europe.†[9] Not everyone has benefited from this development. In relative terms the rich have got richer whereas the lower-paid workers have seen their relative position decline. â€Å"The UKs growth in wealth equality has been the fastest among the worlds 30 richest and most developed countries. But in 2005, when the organisation compiled its latest data, the UK remained a more unequal society than three-quarters of OECD countries, with the richest 10% earning nine times more than the poorest 10%.†[10] Striking the Balance Based on the UK government’s experience, seeking to promote economic competitiveness can be beneficial for the national economy overall. â€Å"Open trade and investment policies can be a powerful force for raising living standards. Economists have long emphasised this point and it is confirmed by much research. For example, the OECD’s Growth Study estimated that a 10 percentage point increase in trade openness translates over time into an increase of around 4% in per capita income in the OECD area.†[11] However to mitigate the disruptive effects of such aggressive economic policies, suitable social policies should go hand in hand. For example policies to enhance labour mobility and relocation, income security packages linked to retraining to increase re-employment options, skill-development programs and minimum wage policies to limit low-pay traps. A balanced policy approach can help offset the growth and pervasiveness of low wage jobs. Bibliography Fidelis Ezeala-Harrison, Theory and Policy of International Competitiveness, page 4 Greenwood Publishing Group Michael E. Porter The Competitive Advantage of Nations, Free Press, 1998 Economist Intelligence Unit, The Commonwealth and Europe (London: Economist Intelligence Unit, 1960.) Philip Abbott, Leadership by Exemplar: Reagans FDR and Thatchers Churchill, Presidential Studies Quarterly 27.2 (1997) Simon Jenkins, Thatcher and Sons, page 1, Allen Lane 2006 Neil Hood, and Stephen Young, 8 The United Kingdom, Governments, Globalization, and International Business, ed. John H. Dunning (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999) Globalisation, Jobs and Wages, Policy Brief, OECD, June 2007 ILO Key Indicators of the Labour Market KILM 4th Edition 2005 Central Intelligence Agency Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20505 The Guardian, Wednesday October 22 2008 Globalisation, Jobs and Wages, Policy Brief, OECD, June 2007 Footnotes [1] Fidelis Ezeala-Harrison, Theory and Policy of International Competitiveness, page 4 Greenwood Publishing Group [2] Michael E. Porter The Competitive Advantage of Nations, Free Press, 1998 [3] Economist Intelligence Unit, The Commonwealth and Europe (London: Economist Intelligence Unit, 1960.) [4] Philip Abbott, Leadership by Exemplar: Reagans FDR and Thatchers Churchill, Presidential Studies Quarterly 27.2 (1997) [5] Simon Jenkins, Thatcher and Sons, page 1, Allen Lane 2006 [6] Neil Hood, and Stephen Young, 8 The United Kingdom, Governments, Globalization, and International Business, ed. John H. Dunning (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999) [7] Globalisation, Jobs and Wages, Policy Brief, OECD, June 2007 [8] ILO Key Indicators of the Labour Market KILM 4th Edition 2005 [9] Central Intelligence Agency Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20505 [10] The Guardian, Wednesday October 22 2008 [11] Globalisation, Jobs and Wages, Policy Brief, OECD, June 2007

geopolitical enviroment in Ireland :: essays research papers

GEOPLITICAL ENVIROMENT The Irish government been stable since it’s foundation of state in 1921, before the foundation of Irish state, the Irish was a body of UK starting 1801 with complete participation in the parliament. Current Ireland has fully written constitutions that separate courts, parliament and executive. Furthermore, Ireland provides property right under the Irish constitutions as well as European Court of Justice. Ireland political parties on the other hand had been supporters of pro business which lead the country to one of the fastest growing economy earning the Irish a nick name Celtic tigers in the 21st century. Ireland’s economy had 80% growth in the last decade with a current GDP per capital 122 % with GDP growth rate totaled 6.3 of European average. However inflation seems to be a concern because of 4.7% rate which stands over the EU average. All major political parties of Ireland are pro business that create business friendly environment, especially for foreign investment . The Ahern government cut Ireland corporate tax rat form 16% to 12.5% in 2003 below EU 30% rate. This glories effort by the Irish government made Ireland the most attractive place for U.S. investors by receiving one third of U.S. investment in Europe specifically in the computer, software, and engineering industries. The relationship with U.S. investor’s and Irish government is constructed very strongly that U.S. investors invest three times in Ireland than Netherlands which is the second largest U.S. investment located in E.U. barriers to investment in Ireland are minimal with restrictions applying for agricultural land and Irish airlines. There are no other restrictions concerning transfers, repatriation of profits, and access to foreign exchange. Permission may apply for countries that are not in E.U. economic area. Companies have also competitive advantage based on highly educated task force with 35% graduate of science and engineering compared to 26% average in E.U. Ire land also leads in terms of the number of science and engineering graduates as proportion of the population aged 20-34 in 2000 (16.3 per thousand compared to an EU average of 6.8 per thousand).

Maggie and Dee & sisters Essay

Everyday Use is about these two colliding characters: Maggie and Dee are sisters. In the story, Maggie seems to be the powerless and passive character. She had scars from being burnt and this experience brought her to directed inward. She valued the things that are less superficial and more meaningful. She has stayed with her mother and there she learned making quilts. Dee is more the outgoing type. She cares a lot about her style. She’s into physical appearance and boys are one of her interest. Thesis Statement: The central conflict this part of the story is the triumph over legacy – who will be recognized as the successor? This very powerful story revolves around the quilt. As Dee tries to win the quilt, she also seeks her long-lost heritage after a long time of absence. (Walker 278). (66) â€Å"’Maggie can’t appreciate these quilts! † She’d probably be backward enough to put them to everyday use. †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Dee always tries to prove herself in the way of her power to persuade and aggression (Walker 278): (68) â€Å"But they’re priceless,† she was saying now furiously for she had a temper. Maggie would put them on the bed and in five years they’d be in rags. Less than that! †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ But Maggie is a strong person with inner strength and she knows that the legacy has been passed on to her (Walker 279). (74) ‘â€Å"She can have them Mama, â€Å"she said like somebody used to never winning anything reserved for her. â€Å"I can ‘member Grandma Dee without the quilts. † Maggie said. ’† The mother knew that her daughter Maggie has been the one who deserves the heritage. Although Maggie seems weak and she will talk in peace (Walker 279). (75) ‘â€Å"She stood there with her scared hands hidden in the folds of her skirt. She looked at her sister with something like fear. But she wasn’t mad at her. This was Maggie’s portion. This was the way she knew God to work. †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Towards the end of the story, Dee knows that her mother fought for Maggie and has won the battle. She denies herself from humility that she lost (Walker 279). (81) ‘â€Å"You ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live, you’ll never know it. † Dee will always hide the loss. She will not be someone who will stand up for defeat and that is in a way being a coward (Walker 279). (82)â€Å"She put on her glasses and hid everything above the tip of her nose and her chin. † Conclusion: Everyday Use explores the long years a mother’s will to raise her children, see them grow and realize their identity. Maggie spent her every day with her mother and her mother experienced her presence for the longest years. Meanwhile Dee has spent her life away from her family. The one who has learned the craft of quilting which signifies her unconditional love for her family is Maggie and finally her mother realizes that and in all sense she deserves that honor of their heritage. Citation: Walker, Alice. â€Å"Everyday Use. † In Love and Trouble: Stories of Black Women. Harvest Books (1974): 272-279.

Battle of Queenston Heights in the War of 1812

Battle of Queenston Heights in the War of 1812 The Battle of Queenston Heights was fought October 13, 1812, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815) and was the first major land battle of the conflict. Seeking to cross the Niagara River, American troops under Major General Stephen van Rensselaer encountered a variety of difficulties. Finally landing part of his command, van Rensselaer engaged British forces under Major General Isaac Brock. In the resulting fighting, American troops suffered a defeat after militia forces refused to cross the river and a British counterattack isolated those on the Canadian side. The battle marked the end of a poorly managed campaign for the Americans. Fast Facts: Battle of Queenston Heights Conflict: War of 1812 (1812-1815)Dates: October 13, 1812Armies Commanders:United StatesMajor General Stephen van Rensselaer6,000 menGreat BritainMajor General Isaac BrockMajor General Roger Hale Sheaffe1,300 menCasualties:United States: 300 killed and wounded, 958 capturedGreat Britain: 14 killed, 77 wounded, and 21 missing. Native American casualties 5 killed and 9 wounded Background With the outbreak of the War of 1812 in June 1812, American forces began marshaling to invade Canada. Intending to strike at several points, the American efforts were soon put in jeopardy when Brigadier General William Hull surrendered Detroit to Major General Isaac Brock in August. Elsewhere, General Henry Dearborn remained idle at Albany, NY rather than move forward to capture Kingston while General Stephen van Rensselaer was stalled on the Niagara frontier due to a lack of men and supplies (Map). Major General Sir Isaac Brock. Photograph Source: Public Domain Returning to Niagara from his success at Detroit, Brock found that his superior, Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost had ordered British forces to adopt a defensive posture in the hopes that the conflict could be settled diplomatically. As a result, an armistice was in place along the Niagara which allowed van Rensselaer to receive reinforcements. A major general in the New York militia, van Rensselaer was a popular Federalist politician who had been appointed to command the American army for politic purposes. As such, several regular officers, such as Brigadier General Alexander Smyth, commanding at Buffalo, had issues with taking orders from him. Preparations With the end of the armistice on September 8, Van Rensselaer began making plans to cross the Niagara River from his base at Lewiston, NY to capture the village of Queenston and the nearby heights. To support this effort, Smyth was ordered to cross and attack Fort George. After receiving only silence from Smyth, van Rensselaer sent additional orders demanding that he bring his men to Lewiston for a combined assault on October 11. Major General Stephen van Rensselaer. Public Domain - National Gallery of Art Though van Rensselaer was ready to strike, severe weather led to the effort being postponed and Smyth returned to Buffalo with his men after being delayed en route. Having spotted this failed attempt and received reports that the Americans might attack, Brock issued orders for the local militias to begin forming. Outnumbered, the British commanders forces were also scattered along length of the Niagara frontier. With the weather clearing, van Rensselaer elected to make a second attempt on October 13. Efforts to add Smyths 1,700 men failed when he informed van Rensselaer that he could not arrive until the 14th. Opposing the American advance were two companies of British troops and two companies of York militia, as well as a third British company on the heights to the south. This last unit possessed an 18-pdr gun and a mortar which were located in a redan halfway up the heights. To the north, two guns were mounted at Vroomans Point. Around 4:00 AM, the first wave of boats moved across the river under the leadership of Colonel Solomon van Rensselaer (militia) and Lieutenant Colonel John Chrystie (regulars). Col. van Rensselaers boats landed first and the British soon raised the alarm. The British Respond Moving to block the American landings, British troops under Captain James Dennis opened fire. Col. van Rensselaer was quickly hit and put out of action. Captain John E. Wool of the 13th US Infantry took over and pushed into the village with the aid of American artillery firing from across the river. As the sun rose, British artillery began firing on the American boats with great effect. As a result, Chrystie was unable to get across as his boat crew panicked and returned to the New York shore. Other elements of Lieutenant Colonel John Fenwicks second wave were forced downstream where they were captured. At Fort George, Brock, concerned that the attack was diversion, dispatched a few detachments to Queenston and rode there to see the situation himself. In the village, American forces were contained in narrow strip along the river by the artillery fire from the redan. Though wounded, Col. van Rensselaer ordered Wool to take a force upstream, ascend the heights, and take the redan from behind. Arriving at the redan, Brock sent most of the troops guarding it down the slope to aid in village. As a result, when Wools men attacked, Brock was forced to flee and the Americans took control of the redan and its guns. Brock Killed Sending a message to Major General Roger Hale Sheaffe at Fort George, Brock requested reinforcements to block the American landings. Due to the redans commanding position, he immediately resolved to recapture it with those men on hand. Leading forward two companies of the 49th Regiment and two companies of York militia, Brock charged up the heights assisted by aide-de-camp Lieutenant Colonel John MacDonell. In the attack, Brock was struck in the chest and killed. Though outnumbered, MacDonell pressed the attack and pushed the Americans back to the edge of the heights. The British assault then faltered when MacDonell was hit. Losing momentum, the attack collapsed and the Americans forced them to fall back through Queenston to Durhams Farm, near Vroomans Point. Between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM, Maj. Gen. van Rensselaer worked to consolidate the position on the Canadian side of the river. Ordering the heights to be fortified, he placed Lieutenant Colonel Winfield Scott in command with Brigadier General William Wadsworth leading the militia. Despite the success, Van Rensselaers position was tenuous as only around 1,000 men had crossed and few were in cohesive units. Disaster on the Heights Around 1:00 PM, reinforcements arrived from Fort George, including British artillery. Opening fire from the village, it made crossing the river hazardous. On the heights 300 Mohawks began attacking Scotts outposts. Across the river, the waiting American militia could hear their war cries and became reluctant to cross. Arriving on the scene around 2:00 PM, Sheaffe led his men on a circuitous route to the heights to shield them from the American guns. Frustrated, van Rensselaer re-crossed to Lewiston and worked tirelessly to convince the militia to embark. Unsuccessful, he dispatched a note to Scott and Wadsworth giving them permission to withdraw if the situation warranted. Abandoning their field works, they constructed a barricade at the top of the heights. Attacking at 4:00 PM, Sheaffe met with success. Hearing the Mohawk war cries and fearing massacre, Wadsworths men retreated and soon surrendered. His line collapsing, Scott fell back, ultimately retreating down the slope above the river. With no escape and the Mohawks, angry over the loss of two chiefs, in pursuit, Scott was forced to surrender the remnants of his command to Sheaffe. Following his surrender, around 500 American militia who had fled and hid emerged and were taken prisoner. Aftermath A disaster for the Americans, the Battle of Queenston Heights saw 300 killed and wounded, as well as 958 captured. British losses totaled 14 killed, 77 wounded, and 21 missing. Native American casualties 5 killed and 9 wounded. In the wake of the fighting, the two commanders agreed on truce to treat wounded. Defeated, van Rensselaer resigned and was replaced by Smyth who bungled two attempts at crossing the river near Fort Erie.

Battle of the North Cape - World War II - Scharnhorst

Battle of the North Cape - World War II - Scharnhorst Battle of the North Cape - Conflict Date: The Battle of the North Cape was fought December 26, 1943, during World War II (1939-1945). Fleets Commanders Allies Admiral Sir Bruce FraserVice Admiral Robert Burnett1 battleship, 1 heavy cruiser, 3 light cruisers, 8 destroyers Germany Rear Admiral Erich Bey1 battlecruiser Battle of the North Cape - Background: In the fall of 1943, with the Battle of the Atlantic going poorly, Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz sought permission from Adolf Hitler to allow surface units of the Kriegsmarine to begin attacking Allied convoys in the Arctic. As the battleship Tirpitz had been badly damaged by British X-Craft midget submarines in September, Doenitz was left with the battlecruiser Scharnhorst and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen as his only large, operational surface units. Approved by Hitler, Doenitz ordered planning for Operation Ostfront to commence. This called for a sortie by Scharnhorst against Allied convoys moving between northern Scotland and Murmansk under the direction of Rear Admiral Erich Bey. On December 22, Luftwaffe patrols sited Murmansk-bound convoy JW 55B and began tracking its progress. Aware of Scharnhorsts presence in Norway, the commander of the British Home Fleet, Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, began making plans to eliminate the German warship. Seeking battle around Christmas 1943, he planned to lure Scharnhorst from its base at Altafjord using JW 55B and Britain-bound RA 55A as bait. Once at sea, Fraser hoped to attack Scharnhorst with Vice Admiral Robert Burnetts Force 1, which had aided in escorting the earlier JW 55A, and his own Force 2. Burnetts command consisted of his flagship, the light cruiser HMS Belfast, as well as the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk and light cruiser HMS Sheffield. Frasers Force 2 was built around the battleship HMS Duke of York, the light cruiser HMS Jamaica, and the destroyers HMS Scorpion, HMS Savage, HMS Saumarez, and HNoMS Stord. Battle of the North Cape - Scharnhorst Sorties: Learning that JW 55B had been spotted by German aircraft, both British squadrons left their respective anchorages on December 23. Closing on the convoy, Fraser held his ships back as he did not wish to deter a German sortie. Utilizing the Luftwaffe reports, Bey departed Altafjord on December 25 with Scharnhorst and the destroyers Z-29, Z-30, Z-33, Z-34, and Z-38. That same day, Fraser directed RA 55A to turn north to avoid the coming battle and ordered the destroyers HMS Matchless, HMS Musketeer, HMS Opportune, and HMS Virago to detach and join his force. Battling poor weather which hampered Luftwaffe operations, Bey searched for the convoys early on December 26. Believing he missed them, he detached his destroyers at 7:55 AM and ordered them to probe south. Battle of the North Cape - Force 1 Finds Scharnhorst: Approaching from the northeast, Burnetts Force 1 picked up Scharnhorst on radar at 8:30 AM. Closing in the increasingly snowy weather, Belfast opened fire at a range of around 12,000 yards. Joining the fray, Norfolk and Sheffield also began targeting Scharnhorst. Returning fire, Beys ship failed to score any hits on the British cruisers, but sustained two, one of which destroyed Scharnhorsts radar. Effectively blind, the German ship was forced to target the muzzle flashes of the British guns. Believing he was engaging a British battleship, Bey turned south in an effort to break off the action. Escaping Burnetts cruisers, the German ship turned northeast and attempted to loop around to strike at the convoy. Hampered by degrading sea conditions, Burnett shifted Force 1 to a position to screen JW 55B. Somewhat concerned that he had lost Scharnhorst, Burnett reacquired the battlecruiser on radar at 12:10 PM. Exchanging fire, Scharnhorst succeeded in hitting Norfolk, destroying its radar and putting a turret out of action. Around 12:50 PM, Bey turned south and decided to return to port. Pursuing Scharnhorst, Burnetts force was soon reduced to just Belfast as the other two cruisers began suffering mechanical issues. Relaying Scharnhorsts position to Frasers Force 2, Burnett maintained contact with the enemy. At 4:17 PM, Duke of York picked up Scharnhorst on radar. Bearing down on the battlecruiser, Fraser pushed his destroyers forward for a torpedo attack. Maneuvering into position to deliver a full broadside, Fraser ordered Belfast to fire starshells over Scharnhorst at 4:47 PM. Battle of the North Cape - Death of Scharnhorst: With its radar out, Scharnhorst was caught by surprise as the British attack developed. Using radar-directed fire, Duke of York scored hits on the German ship with its first salvo. As the fighting continued, Scharnhorsts forward turret was put out of action and Bey turned north. This quickly brought him under fire from Belfast and Norfolk. Changing course to the east, Bey sought to escape the British trap. Hitting Duke of York twice, Scharnhorst was able to damage its radar. Despite this success, the British battleship struck the battlecruiser with a shell which destroyed one of its boiler rooms. Quickly slowing to ten knots, Scharnhorsts damage control parties worked to repair the damage. This was partially successful and soon the ship was moving at twenty-two knots. Though an improvement, this reduced speed allowed Frasers destroyers to close. Maneuvering to attack, Savage and Saumarez approached Scharnhorst from port while Scorpion and Stord neared from starboard. Turning to starboard to engage Savage and Saumarez, Scharnhorst quickly took a torpedo hit from one of the other two destroyers. This was followed by three hits on its port side. Badly damaged, Scharnhorst slowed allowing Duke of York to close. Supported by Belfast and Jamaica, Duke of York began pummeling the German battlecruiser. With the battleships shells striking, both light cruisers added torpedoes to the barrage. Listing severely and with the bow partially submerged, Scharnhorst continued to limp along at about three knots. With the ship critically damaged, the order was given to abandon ship around 7:30 PM. Charging forward, the destroyer detachment from RA 55A fired nineteen torpedoes at the stricken Scharnhorst. Several of these struck home and soon the battlecruiser was convulsed by a series of explosions. Following a massive explosion at 7:45 PM, Scharnhorst slipped beneath the waves. In the wake of the sinking, Matchless and Scorpion began picking up survivors before Fraser ordered his forces to proceed to Murmansk. Battle of the North Cape - Aftermath: In the fighting off the North Cape, the Kriegsmarine suffered the loss of Scharnhorst and 1,932 of its crew. Due to the threat of U-boats, British ships were only able to rescue 36 German sailors from the frigid water. British losses totaled 11 killed and 11 wounded. The Battle of the North Cape marked the last surface engagement between British and German capital ships during World War II. With Tirpitz damaged, the loss of Scharnhorst effectively eliminated surface threats to the Allies Arctic convoys. The engagement also demonstrated the importance of radar-directed fire control in modern naval battles. Selected Sources Operation Ostfront: ScharnhorstImperial War Museum: Battle of the North Cape

Drug Trafficking in the UAE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Drug Trafficking in the UAE - Essay Example The United Arab Emirates is one of the world’s fastest growing economies as well as tourist destinations. Recently, the attraction of this region to international drug syndicates has heightened awareness by UAE authorities in addressing this danger. This brief paper shall highlight the drug trafficking problem that threatens the federation, and the measures that have been adopted within the past decade to ensure the region’s security. Concepts that will be discussed involve: drug trafficking, which includes the sales, distribution, possession with intent to distribute or sell, manufacturing, and smuggling of controlled substances (wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn); drug abuse, which involves taking a psychoactive drug or performance enhancing drug for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect; drug possession, or the crime of having one or more illegal drugs in one’s possession, either for personal use, distribution, sale or otherwise; and narcotics, which are d rugs that produce numbness or stupor, and are often taken for pleasure or to reduce pain; extensive use can lead to addiction. Developments in the drug trafficking problem The UAE has been lauded by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), the UN organization that monitors anti-drug activities worldwide, for the efforts made by the federation to fight drug abuse and trafficking. Evidence of these have been documented by news articles in the media, some of the more recent and more remarkable of which are presented here: 1.The Emirati Navy, Coast Guards, and other maritime coalition forces operating in the Gulf cooperated through information exchange and maritime coalition, in the seizure of nearly 30 tonnes of hashish at sea in just four months.

MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS AND STEREOTYPES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

MEDIA REPRESENTATIONS AND STEREOTYPES - Essay Example Most modern advertisements depict women as a sex tool intended to attract men. This represents the social part of life hence connecting advertisements with the advertised product. Actually, the blog addresses the core issues regarding women and advertising. There is a wonderful link between advertisement and women and the advertisers of various products no longer concentrate on the functions of the product as before. Although advertisement has experienced evolution, it may be said that the transformation is not that socially positive. Female exposure and body dismemberment of women’s body as explained by Kilbourne tends to reduce women to nothing more than a sex object and sex whose most important thing in them is their body part. Woman’s intelligence and wisdom is never displayed in the media advertisement. Indeed this is a worrying trend that hugely destroys the society’s perception. Woman’s position in the society is continually distorted as the blog explains yet it is the bad side of depiction that appeals most to the