Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Tourism and Ecosystem

This paper aims at describing the impact of tourism on the ecosystem. This paper will begin by defining tourism and the ecosystem. Thereafter, it will give examples of how tourism affects the ecosystem. This paper will then sum up its discussion by providing a number of recommendations.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Tourism and Ecosystem specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Jax, â€Å"an ecosystem is a community of living organisms together with the physical processes which occur within an environment† (20). On the other hand, Tourism, according to Goeldner, â€Å"arises from the movement of people to and their stay in, various destinations† (10). Goeldner defines tourism as â€Å"the temporary, short term movement of people to destinations outside the places where they normally live and work, and their activities during their stay at these destinations; it includes movement for all purposes as well as day visits or excursions† (10). Basically, tourism occurs in two forms: â€Å"the journey to the destination and the stay including the activities at the destination† (Goeldner 10). It is important to note that the journey and the stay take place in an area distant from the normal place of work or stay. Tourists usually engage in activities which are different from those done while at work or at home. The interaction between humans and the ecosystem has contributed to various changes in the ecosystem. Tourism, which is a popular human activity, continues to change the ecosystem. However, detecting changes in the ecosystem, which have been caused by tourism can be challenging. The impact of tourism on the ecosystem is not only hard to predict, but also hard to detect. In addition, environmentalists find it challenging to distinguish between those components of change which are part of a natural process and ecosystem dynamics, and those which are as a result of human activities. It is important to understand how tourism affects the ecosystem in order to sustain the ecosystem function and prevent irreparable damage to the biosphere. The impact of tourism on the ecosystem is usually evaluated in terms of an ecological footprint. An ecological footprint, according to Johnson, â€Å"examines the amount of natural resources required to support a specific type of behavior, business or process† (2). Experts argue that many people tend to consume more when they are on vacation or holiday thus tourism heightens this phenomenon (Johnson 1).Advertising Looking for research paper on ecology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A number of studies have highlighted that the ecological footprint of tourists in various tourist destinations is same as that of the locals. Environmentalists hold the opinion that when arrival transport is put into consideration, this ecological footpri nt escalates. Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner for many countries across the globe. Although, tourism is a major source of income for many countries, it has been found that it exerts indirect and direct pressure on species and habitats and, as a result, tourism poses a significant threat to the ecosystem. As mentioned earlier, people tend to consume more when they are on vacation. Thus, Johnson notes that the negative effects of tourism on the ecosystem are likely to increase in tourist destinations where tourists consume more than the local communities (1). A study was conducted recently in Cape Town, South Africa, to evaluate the ecological footprint of tourists in this region. Cape Town is a popular tourist destination in South Africa and it is believed that close to 50 000 tourists visit this town per year. As a result, the local population is increased by 4 percent. During the study, the researchers â€Å"gathered data on arrival transport, on food and fibre consumpt ion, on accommodation, on land use, utilities and waste, on local transport and on activities of tourists on holiday in Cape Town† (Science Direct 1). The researchers found out that arrival transport contributes 75 per cent of the total tourist impact on ecosystem. The study revealed that â€Å"the total impact of one tourist is 45.67gha/per year† (Science Direct 1). Tourist activities often alter the aquatic habitat by interfering with predator prey interactions. Ecotourism Today argues â€Å"off highway vehicles, including all terrain vehicles, Argos, dirt bikes, and off road vehicles, driven trough or across steams and other water bodies can lead to habitat destruction and degradation, including loss of stream bank stability and erosion† (5). Aquatic habitat is likely to be distorted by pollution and alterations in the neighboring habitats. Ecotourism Today (1) agues â€Å"while recreational activities that take place in lakes, streams, wetlands, and their ri parian areas are most likely to negatively impact the aquatic environment, land based activities can also impact the environment† (Ecotourism Today 1).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Tourism and Ecosystem specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ecotourism Today indicates that tourist activities such as fishing and hunting of sea animals often lead to the decline in the pollution of aquatic species (Ecotourism Today 5). Environment protectionists warn that the growth of tourism around the globe has overlooked concerns of increasing ecological resource use (Johnson 2). These claims have been boosted by results from recent studies which indicate that tourist attraction sites and infrastructures are sites of resource overconsumption. For example, a recent study was conducted in the Bahamas to evaluate the impact of tourism on ecosystem. The study collected data â€Å"on bioreproductive land, Bioreproductiv e Sea, built land, energy land, and area for biodiversity† (Johnson 6). During the study, â€Å"the ecological footprint of each resort was broken into a number of key areas of ecological impact; air travel, waste, food, and hotel energy use† (Johnson 6). The study revealed that tourism has a total impact of a 56.89 gha/per year on the selected region (Johnson 6). According to McGraw, the chief editor of Bio Intelligence Service, tourism causes trampling. Vegetation and soil are often disturbed when tourists use the same route frequently. McGraw notes that anchoring activities also degrade the ecosystem: â€Å"Anchoring, snorkeling, sport fishing, scuba diving, yachting and cruising, are some of the activities which can cause direct degradation of marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, and subsequent impacts on coastal protection and fisheries† (McGraw 1). In addition, â€Å"when tourists come too close to animals, they alter the animals’ natural behavior s† (McGraw 2). As the numbers of tourist destinations continue to grow, the impact of tourism on the ecosystem also increases. Many private companies are investing heavily in the construction of recreational centers. Initially, the tourism industry in many countries was controlled by local governments. However, many private firms have entered into the tourism industry.Advertising Looking for research paper on ecology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The tourism industry has been revolutionized by the private sector but at the expense of the environment. According to (McGraw 5), a total of 40 recreational centers have constructed in South Africa in the last five years. In Kenya, a country whose economy relies heavily on tourism, 20 recreational centers have been constructed in the last three years (McGraw 6). In addition, the Kenyan government has taken control of all other small natural reserves, which have any form of wildlife. According to (McGraw 6), Kenya’s Tourism minister argues that taking control of all the natural habitats will enhance the country’s tourism sector in many ways as the number of tourist destinations will increase. This data shows how the natural environment is being altered by tourism. These developments have a significant impact on nearby ecosystems. Many natural lands located close to wildlife ecosystems are being cleared to create space for the construction of centers which will accommod ate the growing number of tourists. Confining wild animals in national parks and game reserves significantly affects their behaviors. The reproduction of these animals is restricted and this can result into the extinction of the confined species. This also affects the animals’ natural feeding habits. Moreover, the confining of wild animals into national parks alters food chains and food webs in the natural world. Recreational centers which are located close to water bodies often discharge wastes into these water bodies thus affecting the aquatic ecosystem. In summary, Tourism, according to Goeldner, â€Å"arises from the movement of people to and their stay in, various destinations† (10). Goeldner defines tourism as â€Å"the temporary, short term movement of people to destinations outside the places where they normally live and work, and their activities during their stay at these destinations; it includes movement for all purposes as well as day visits or excursions † (10). Basically, tourism occurs in two forms: â€Å"the journey to the destination and the stay including the activities at the destination† (Goeldner 10). The impact of tourism on the ecosystem is usually evaluated in terms of an ecological footprint. An ecological footprint, according to Johnson, â€Å"examines the amount of natural resources required to support a specific type of behavior, business or process† (2). Experts argue that many people tend to consume more when they are on vacation or holiday thus tourism heightens this phenomenon (Johnson 1). As the numbers of tourist destinations continue to grow, the impact of tourism on the ecosystem also increases. Many natural lands located close to wildlife ecosystems are being cleared to create space for the construction of centers which will accommodate the growing number of tourists. Confining wild animals in national parks and game reserves significantly affects their behaviors. Environment protectionist s warn that the growth of tourism around the globe has overlooked concerns of increasing ecological resource use (Johnson 2). These claims have been boosted by results from recent studies which indicate that tourist attraction sites and infrastructures are sites of resource overconsumption. Tourist activities often alter the aquatic habitat by interfering with predator prey interactions. Ecotourism Today argues â€Å"off highway vehicles, including all terrain vehicles, Argos, dirt bikes, and off road vehicles, driven trough or across steams and other water bodies can lead to habitat destruction and degradation, including loss of stream bank stability and erosion† (Ecotourism Today 1). Environmental protectionists also argue that it is important to understand how tourism affects the ecosystem in order to sustain the ecosystem function and prevent irreparable damage to the biosphere. However, detecting changes in the ecosystem, which have been caused by tourism can be challeng ing. The impact of tourism on the ecosystem is not only hard to predict, but also hard to detect. In addition, environmentalists find it challenging to distinguish between those components of change which are part of a natural process and ecosystem dynamics, and those which are as a result of human activities. Works Cited Ecotourism Today. ‘Potential Effects from Tourism and Recreation on Aquatic Ecosystems.’ August 2012.Web. Goeldner, Charles. Tourism: Principles, Practices and Philosophies. London: Oxford Press, 2010. Print. Jax, Maxwell. Ecosystems: Basic Principles. Cape Town: Oxford, 2010. Print. Johnson, Allan. Exploring The Ecological Footprint Of Tourism In Ontario. Waterloo, Ontario: Oxford Press, 2010. McGrew, John. â€Å"Environmental Impacts of Tourism†. Bio Intelligence Science 6 June 2010: 1-10. Web. Science Direct. Effects of Tourism on the Ecosystem. March 2012. Web. https://www.sciencedirect.com/. This research paper on Tourism and Ecosystem was written and submitted by user Gloria F. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

History Of Bullet Proof Vests

History Of Bullet Proof Vests Humans throughout recorded history have used various types of materials as body armor to protect themselves from injury in combat and other dangerous situations. The first protective clothing and shields were made from animal skins. As civilizations became more advanced, wooden shields and then metal shields came into use. Eventually, metal was also used as body armor, what we now refer to as the suit of armor associated with the knights of the Middle Ages. However, with the invention of firearms around 1500, metal body armor became ineffective. Then only real protection available against firearms were stone walls or natural barriers such as rocks, trees, and ditches. Soft Body Armor One of the first recorded instances of the use of soft body armor was by the medieval Japanese, who used armor manufactured from silk. It was not until the late 19th century that the first use of soft body armor in the United States was recorded. At that time, the military explored the possibility of using soft body armor manufactured from silk. The project even attracted congressional attention after the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901. While the garments were shown to be effective against low-velocity bullets, those traveling at 400 feet per second or less, they did not offer protection against the new generation of handgun ammunition being introduced at that time. Ammunition that traveled at velocities of more than 600 feet per second. This, along with the prohibitive cost of silk made the concept unacceptable. Silk armor of this type was said to have been worn by Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria when he was killed by a shot to the head, thereby precipitat ing World War I. Early Bullet Proof Vests Patents The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office lists records dating back to 1919 for various designs of bulletproof vests and body armor type garments. One of the first documented instances where such a garment was demonstrated for use by law enforcement officers was detailed in the April 2, 1931, edition of the Washington, D.C., Evening Star, where a bulletproof vest was demonstrated to members of the Metropolitan Police Department. Flak Jacket The next generation of the anti-ballistic bullet proof vest was the World War II flak jacket made from ballistic nylon. The flak jacket provided protection primarily from ammunition fragments and was ineffective against most pistol and rifle threats. Flak jackets were also very cumbersome and bulky. Lightweight Body Armor It would not be until the late 1960s that new fibers were discovered that made todays modern generation of cancelable body armor possible. The National Institute of Justice or NIJ initiated a research program to investigate the development of lightweight body armor that on-duty policemen could wear full time. The investigation readily identified new materials that could be woven into a lightweight fabric with excellent ballistic resistant properties. Performance standards were set that defined ballistic resistant requirements for police body armor. Kevlar In the 1970s, one of the most significant achievements in the development of body armor was the invention of DuPonts Kevlar ballistic fabric. Ironically, the fabric was originally intended to replace steel belting in vehicle tires. The development of kevlar body armor by NIJ was a four-phase effort that took place over several years. The first phase involved testing kevlar fabric to determine whether it could stop a lead bullet. The second phase involved determining the number of layers of material necessary to prevent penetration by bullets of varying speeds and calibers and developing a prototype vest that would protect officers against the most common threats: the 38 Special and the 22 Long Rifle bullets. Researching Kevlar Bullet Proof Vests By 1973, researchers at the Armys Edgewood Arsenal responsible for the bulletproof vest design had developed a garment made of seven layers of Kevlar fabric for use in field trials. It was determined that the penetration resistance of Kevlar was degraded when wet. The bullet resistant properties of the fabric also diminished upon exposure to ultraviolet light, including sunlight. Dry-cleaning agents and bleach also had a negative effect on the antiballistic properties of the fabric, as did repeated washing. To protect against these problems, the vest was designed with waterproofing, as well as with fabric coverings to prevent exposure to sunlight and other degrading agents. Medical Testing of Body Armor The third phase of the initiative involved extensive medical testing,  to determine the performance level of body armor that would be necessary to save police officers lives. It was clear to researchers that even when a bullet was stopped by the flexible fabric, the impact and resulting trauma from the bullet would leave a severe bruise at a minimum and, at worst, could kill by damaging critical organs. Subsequently, army scientists designed tests to determine the effects of blunt trauma, which is injuries suffered from forces created by the bullet impacting the armor. A byproduct of the research on blunt trauma was the improvement of tests that measure blood gasses, which indicate the extent of injuries to the lungs. The final phase involved monitoring the armors wearability and effectiveness. An initial test in three cities determined that the vest was wearable, it did not cause undue stress or pressure on the torso, and it did not prevent the normal body movement necessary for police work. In 1975, an extensive field test of the new Kevlar body armor was conducted, with 15 urban police departments cooperating. Each department served a population larger than 250,000, and each had experienced officer assault rates higher than the national average. The tests involved 5,000 garments, including 800 purchased from commercial sources. Among the factors evaluated were comfort ​when worn for a full working day, its adaptability in extremes of temperature, and its durability through long periods of use. The demonstration project armor issued by NIJ was designed to ensure a 95 percent probability of survival after being hit with a .38 caliber bullet at a velocity of 800 ft/s. Furthermore, the probability of requiring surgery if hit by a projectile was to be 10 percent or less. A final report released in 1976 concluded that the new ballistic material was effective in providing a bullet resistant garment that was light and wearable for full-time use. Private industry was quick to recognize the potential market for the new generation of body armor, and body armor became commercially available in quantity even before the NIJ demonstration program.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Sexual Harassment & Sexual Consent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sexual Harassment & Sexual Consent - Essay Example    It has been observed that those people who have certain authority and power usually commit such acts. They know that after doing so they can escape easily which somehow promotes them to do so. The reason why such acts are usually undercover is that the person committing such acts has an idea that what he/she is doing is not ethical and therefore tries his best to keep things undercover. â€Å"It, therefore, becomes critical that employees be made aware of what constitutes sexual harassment and be given the means to end such abuses.† (Parboteah & Cullen, 2013) This can be done through various means. One can hide their identity or if they have to show then they try their best and make sure that the victim does not open his mouth in front of the labor or the masses under any circumstances. Thus â€Å"Sexual harassment is not an exclusively sexual issue but may be an exploitation of a power relationship. Like any other power struggle, many instances of sexual harassment are initiated and negotiated by a person in a position of authority and are sustained at the expense of another who cannot counter demands without risk of reprisal (student teacher vs. student, principal vs. teacher)† (Brandenburg, 1997 ). Lastly one of the most prominent reasons which I believe is the concept of liberty and freedom in society. Today mostly the young generation has forgotten their values, culture, and ethics. The promotion of activities like consumption of alcohol, drugs etc. has given individuals the right to choose this path for themselves. Furthermore, the mingling between the opposite sexes, nudity, and openness is another reason. Kissing, touching and such activities are so common that they motivate the opposite sex to opt for such activities which in turn results in an increased ratio of sexually explicit crimes. (Hynes, 2011). Hence in a nutshell sexual harassment has increased tremendously over the passage of time. Many factors contribute which together results in popularity. Firstly one should know what sexual harassment is so that they can express their reservation.