Thursday, November 28, 2019

Introduction to Personal Development in Health and Social Care Essay Example

Introduction to Personal Development in Health and Social Care Essay My current job role is as a care assistant. When I started this job management gave me a clear guidance and what is expected from me. They described the duties and responsibilities of the role to me. I am responsible for providing support to the service users, which includes : personal care, assisting with eating and medication, assisting in toileting, supporting to use services and facilities. I attend regular refresher courses and training, which help me how to do my work and duties better.I receive regular supervision with my manager, where I discuss any problems and get support required. There are many standards that are put in place to ensure that my role is carried out to the best of my ability and in line with legislation.. These include :- Care Council for Wales Codes of Practice: Internal policies and procedures Health and safety at work act 1974 National Occupational Standards I need to know how the different policies and procedures used in my work setting impact on my work role.I follow them carefully and I ensure that I am working to the expected legal and regulatory standards. Everyone has different values, likes and dislikes, beliefs and preferences. What you may consider to be important may not be as important to others. You may find that you respond more positively to people who share your own values and less positively to people who have different views or values. As a care assistant you have to treat all service users with same level of respect regardless of values and beliefs.By reflecting on working practices with colleagues or supervisors I am able to look at situations or activities and assess if my working practices could be improved or used as ‘best practice’. When I attend my supervision my Manager ask me what my strengths are, this helps me to identify what I’m good at and what areas I need further training or support. Also during my supervision meeting with my manager/supervisor I help to complete my personal devel opment plan. This identifies any training needs or career progression I would like to undertake.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Imperialism of Decadence Essays

Imperialism of Decadence Essays Imperialism of Decadence Essay Imperialism of Decadence Essay Imperialism of Decadence Modern History Sourcebook: Francisco Garcia Calderon: Imperialism of Decadence, 1913 Calderon was a Peruvian diplomat and writer. Here he criticizes U. S. policy, as well as US businesses, for exploiting Latin Americans. He also warns of the dangers of cultural imperialism. Interventions have become more frequent with the expansion of frontiers. The United States have recently intervened in the territory of Acre, there to found a republic of rubber gatherers; at Panama, there to develop a province and onstruct a canal; in Cuba, under cover of the Platt Amendment, to maintain order in the interior; in Santo Domingo, to support the civilising revolution and overthrow the tyrants; in Venezuela, and in Central America, to enforce upon these nations, torn by intestine disorders, the political and financial tutelage of the imperial democracy. In Guatemala and Honduras the loans concluded with the monarchs of North American finance have reduced the people to a new slavery. Supervision of the customs and the dispatch of pacificatory squadrons to defend the interests of the Anglo-Saxon ave enforced peace and tranquility: such are the means employed. The New York American announces that Mr. Pierpont Morgan proposes to encompass the finances of Latin America by a vast network of Yankee banks. Chicago merchants and Wall Street financiers created the Meat Trust in the Argentine. The United States offer millions for the purpose of converting into Yankee loans the moneys raised in London during the last century by the Latin American States; they wish to obtain a monopoly of credit. It has even been announced, although the news hardly appears probable, hat a North American syndicate wished to buy enormous belts of land in Guatemala, where the English tongue is the obligatory language. The fortification of the Panama Canal, and the possible acquisition of the Galapagos Island in the Pacific, are fresh manifestations of imperialistic progress. Warnings, advice, distrust, invasion of capital, plans of financial hegemony all these Justify the anxiety of the southern peoples. Neither irony nor grace nor scepticism, gifts of the old civilizations, can ake way against the plebeian brutality, the excessive optimism, the violent individualism of the [North American] people. All these things contribute to the triumph of mediocrity; the multitude of primary schools, the vices of utilitarianism, the cult of the average citizen, the transatlantic M. Homais, and the tyranny of opinion noted by Tocqueville; and in this vulgarity, which is devoid of traditions and has no leading aristocracy, a return to the primitive type of the redskin, which has already been noted by close observers, is threatening the proud democracy. From the excessive tension of wills, from the elementary state of culture, from the perpetual unrest of life, from the harshness of the industrial struggle, anarchy and violence will be born in the future. In a hundred years men will seek in vain for the American soul, the genius of America, elsewhere than in the undisciplined force or the violence which ignores moral laws. Essential points of difference separate the two Americas. Differences of language and therefore of spirit; the difference between Spanish Catholicism and multiform Protestantism of the Anglo-Saxons; between the Yankee individualism and the omnipotence of the State natural to the nations of the South. In their origin, as in their race, we find fundamental antagonism; the evolution of the North is slow and obedient to the lessons of time , to the influences of custom; the history of the southern peoples is full of revolutions, rich with dreams of an unattainable perfection. Source: From Francisco Garcia Calderon: Latin America: Its Rise and Progress (London: T. F. unwtn, 1913), pp. 392-393.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

An evaluation of the child protection frame work in England and Wales Essay

An evaluation of the child protection frame work in England and Wales from 2000 2014 - Essay Example This essay discusses that various developments have been achieved with regards to the child protection in England and Wales, a factor that has been attributed to the increased scrutiny of the child protection systems after the incident of Victoria Climbie, Baby P namely Peter Connelly and Daniel Pelka. Developments that have been undertaken regarding child protection in England and Wales include the 2010 initiative, in which the Secretary of State for Education in England asked Professor Eileen Munro to undertake an objective and independent review regarding the state of child protection in England. The Social Work Task force preceded the Munro review, which was mandated with the task of advising the Government on the best strategies that could be adopted in order to effectively reform the entire social work profession in England. The Munro review concluded that the child protection system in England was characterized with high levels of direction and bureaucracy and that there was a dire need to create a balance between professional judgment and prescription. Moreover, the report findings were biased towards the development of framework that could enable professionals working with children protection to remain focussed. The above analysis portrays a major gap and shortcomings regarding the various problems that needed to be addressed in order to enhance effective child protection framework. The limitations depicted in child protection range from inadequacies in legal policies to protect children as well as the policy regulation on how Child Professional, Doctors and Parents can help reduce the level of child abuse and deaths in England and Wales.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Drug Laws in the United States Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Drug Laws in the United States - Research Paper Example There are different types of drugs, some of them which are quite complicated to be handled by the laws. However, one must consider few beneficial ones like Marijuana and Hemp. In this paper, let us analyse the drug laws of USA, while keeping this perspective in our mind. Drug Problem in USA: For almost a century now, US have been fighting against the problem of drugs. Billions of dollars are been spent in this effort; almost fifty billion dollars are spent yearly for controlling drugs. Sadly â€Å"Drug abusers continue to fill our courts, hospitals, and prisons† (History of the US Drugs Policy par.1). Drug laws and penalizations are all helpful methods which are used in controlling the abuse of drugs; but these methods are quite limited in order to completely eradicate the root of all such problems. Economy, Prison system and Decriminalization of drugs: If we see the feasibility of decriminalization in USA, we must first see that almost 45 million people have tried drugs in on e way or the other. Now the question is, how many of them can be imprisoned? If the focus turns to rehabilitation and education, then one can use the help of both rehabilitation and education effectively against drugs. ... tober, 2000, Portugal had taken a step which is yielded as one of the successful and significant landmarks in this arena and it made one to think quite differently. A decade ago, Portugal was struck with severe drug problems just like US is facing today. But Portugal acted quite differently by taking away all the criminal regulations from the drugs, including the top rated ones like cocaine, heroin etc. As a result, it led to a widespread fear that this act by Portugal would create horrible mess. But in adversely, it turned out to be quite helpful to those who are caught with drugs. As they were helped with treatment and also this new focus of the government wonderfully brought down the usage rate of drugs. Also wherever the drugs increased, the increment was found quite less. Apart from that all diseases related to drugs decreased in its statistics (Greenwald p.). As a result addiction rate dropped down â€Å"Five years later, the number of deaths from street drug overdose dropped from around 400 to 290 annually† (Vastag par.2). Actually the philosophy behind all this is that, decriminalizing broke the walls between the citizens and government, and room was created for education and treatment. This tactic paid off well for Portugal and it would surely help United States a lot. The Issue of Marijuana in the US: Marijuana is perhaps the most commonly used drug in US after alcohol and tobacco. And the United States government have been running long behind the regulations of marijuana. But thus, far the results are not satisfactory. In US from 1965 onwards, around 20 million marijuana offences have been recorded. Today it is more problematic than ever because more than a hundred million Americans are using it (Real World Ramifications of Cannabis Legalization and

Monday, November 18, 2019

MGT assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

MGT assignment - Essay Example The company’s mission is to encourage the application of technology in all sectors of the global economy. When the organization gets more high-skilled employees, they can build a network of awareness through quality production. The compensation philosophy at Anchor bay entertainment is supposed to be based on performance; however, several of the people that I know who work for this company does not feel this way. These individuals feel Anchor bay is more like a learning institution. When the organization gets more highly educated employees, they can build the network of thriving ICT centers much quicker. We reward our employees accordingly with respect to their level of productivity. It is important to note that, the employees who dedicate most of their time for the interest of the company are vetted accordingly. BFG technologies would be involved in a meet the market compensation strategy. Compared to some companies in other regions it may look as if they are leading in the market; however, for the region the company operates in employees’ payment in relation to the market demands. Being in the information technology sector, I would see reward based on individuals, rather than a team. When a customer comes and needs consultancy on a major electronic the employees work as an individual trying to convince the buyer of the significance of that machine. The companies’ goal is to continuously improve communication technology in the country and promote the intensive use of computers in the business world. It seems that BFG technologies information systems does not align with the mission statement because the competitive pay and many of the benefits offered create an environment where meaningful relationships can be developed within the employer and employees. Brunswick Corporation being in the information technology sector I see it positioning itself at the top because the company does not offer

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Rise of Playboi Carti

The Rise of Playboi Carti The music industry is at a constant change, with new artist coming and going everyday. Yet there are so many artist out there, you can only take the time to actually know of so many. Everyone has their own opinion of what a superstar is and what defines them as one. I believe Jordan Carter also known as Playboi Carti is a superstar that has yet had his big break. I have done tons of research about Mr. Carter that supports he is on the rise and should be a  superstar. For Jordan it all started at Ethereals bachelor pad in Atlanta, where he recorded some songs. Ethereal noticed right away that Jordan was different than just any rapper new to the game, and thats why he loved to work with him. At the time Jordan Carter was still in high school. He almost didnt graduate because he was skipping school all the time to go to the studio and record. Mostly everyone in his high school was enjoying his music, especially the girls. Playboi Carti and Ethereal went on to make many hits like   Lost and Broke Boi. After high school he moved from Atlanta to New York to focus more on his music and success. In March of 2015 Playboi Carti first met Asap Rocky at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Since then he has gone on tour twice, and is now signed to Asap Mob, and Awful Records. Surprisingly there is no mixtape in his career, he is working on an album now, but his success kicked off   from his few singles. I Actually went to one of his concerts in Houston this past November with my girlfriend for his Turnt and Burnt Tour with Asap Ferg and Rob Stone. He had so many fans come out to see him, with so much positive energy in the building, it was probably one of the best nights of my life. He definitely put on a performance I will never forget, and I hope to be able to watch him again live in person one day. Playboi Carti has gained most of his fans through his music, but he has also gained a huge chunk of fans from his clothing style. Some of his favorite brands are Maison Martin Margiela, Rick Owens, and Supreme. For only being 20 he has modeled with multiple brands such as   Drakes OVO   Summer 2016 Lookbook, VLONE, Off-White, and the most recent Kanye West Yeezy Season. He is surely moving up and the best has yet to come. Not only has he modeled with many brands,   he has also collaborated with many artist such as Asap Mob, Frank Ocean, Skpeta, Lil Yatchy, and Lil Uzi Vert who he went on tour with. Playboi Cartis first music video along with his first top hit was WHAT with UnoTheActivist and Asap Rocky. Not including all of his features with other artist, his 18 songs on his Soundcloud all have over 1 million plays, some call him the god of Soundcloud. Growing up he listened to R Kelly, Lil John, Gucci, Young Jeezy, Prince, and Michael Jackson. Asap Mob is a big influence on Carti, he has always wanted to be surrounded by the group, he tries to learn from them. As of today he looks up to Bari, Nast,Michael Jackson, Asap Rocky, and Kurt Cobain. Every morning he gets in the mindset of Do I wanna show out or do I wanna be fly?. The thing about Playboi Carti is he is not afraid to test his limits with his music making ability. He is always listening and thinking about music, he describes his style as grind music, turn up, and flex music. All Playboi Carti wants to do is make people feel motivated by his music and inspire them to be like him. I have been a fan of his for almost two years now and he has yet to disappoint me. I will always look forward to his new music and seeing his face model high fashion brands. He is a superstar to me and I strongly believe Jordan Carter, aka Playboi Carti has everything if not more, to be a superstar to everyone. He started back in 2014 and already made a good name for himself. Playboi Carti is on the rise and will be a legend one day. Work Cited C.M, Emmanuel. Playboi Carti Prepares to Show You the Way With New Mixtape. xxlmag.com. XXL Magazine, 12 Jan. 2017. Web. 7 Feb. 2017. Nirui, Ava. Playboi Carti is Leading a New Generation Of Turn Up Rappers. Oystermag.com. Oyster Magazine, 19 Jul. 2016. Web. 7 Feb. 2017 Russell, Alex. Playboi Carti is Raps Young and Restless Prince.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   Complex.com. Complex Music, 16 Sep. 2015. Web. 7 Feb. 2017.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Revisions of Off-Balance Sheet Financing Essay -- Business Finance

During the 1990s, the United States had one of the most successful economic periods in history. The GDP of the country increased substantially and unemployment was at a historically low level. With the success of the U.S. economy during this period spilling over into the next decade, revelations of corporate scandal and corporate governance oversight came to light. The Enron scandal of 2001 and the Wall Street Meltdown of 2008 are two noteworthy events of inadequate accounting policies that led to economic catastrophe during the past decade. The Enron Corporation‘s flawed accounting practices were perpetuated through the utilization of fraudulent special interest entities that were used to hide losses and rising debt sustained by the company during previous fiscal periods. The Wall Street Meltdown can be highly attributed to the use of mortgage backed securities and other creative investment vehicles that were distributed throughout the world as safe investments with rewarding returns. Both of these events were a product of the improper use and abuse of off-balance sheet accounting methods. The government’s reactions included the creation and revision of new and existing laws and governing bodies. As a direct result of the current corporate scandals, The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) was created. At the time, SOX was the first and most influential financial system overhaul in response to the current wave of corporate corruption. A provision of SOX established the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). The intent of SOX and its provisions were â€Å"to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures made pursuant to the securities laws, and for other purposes† (Sarbanes-Oxley Ac... ....R. Res. 3763, Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 107th Cong., 107-204 Public Law 116 STAT. 745 (2002) (enacted). Kermis, George F. and Marguerite D. Kermis. â€Å"Model for the Transition from Ethical Deficit to a Transparent Corporate Culture: A Response to the Financial Meltdown.† Journal of Academic and Business Ethics, Fall, 2009. Weissman, Robert, and James Donahue. "Wall Street's Best Investment: 10 Deregulatory Steps to Financial Meltdown." Multinational Monitor January/February (2009): 10-31. Jeffrey, Peter. "International Harmonization of Accounting Standards, and the Question of Off-Balance Sheet Treatment." Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law 12.341 (2002): 341-51. Feng, Mei, Gramlich, Jeffrey D. and Gupta, Sanjay, â€Å"Special Purpose Entities: Empirical Evidence on Determinants and Earnings Management.† The Accounting Review (January 9, 2006). 1-55.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Business Research Methods & Tools Essay

2.Suppose you were preparing two-way tables of percentages for the following pairs of variables. How would you run the percentages? When two-way tables are being done this is usually because one of the variables is thought to be the cause, affect the cause, or predict the response of the other variable. This is called the (IV) independent variable (Cooper & Schindler, 2011 p.446). aAge and consumption of breakfast cereal. I would categorize age as the IV and percentages should be computed in the direction of this variable to show that age has some effect on the consumption of breakfast cereal. bFamily income and confidence about the family’s future. I think with this scenario either one could be used as the IV to determine whether higher income families compared to lower income families have more or less confidence on their family’s future. cMarital status and sports participation. I would use marital status as the IV and compute percentages in the direction of that variable to determine the effects that marriage has on sports participation. dCrime rate and unemployment rate I would use the unemployment rate as the IV and compute the percentages in this direction to show that unemployment rates have an effect on crime rate. Inquiring Minds Want to Know Case study 1.Build the management-research question hierarchy. Management Dilemma: Will Penton Media encounter lower advertising revenue if alternative methods of inquiry stimulation went untracked due to the usage decline of reader service cards? Management Question: Are business publication advertisements generating fewer leads than in the past? Research Questions: Do we continue to include reader service cards in the magazines as a value-enhancing service to the readers as well as the advertisers? What alternative methods using information technology can be implemented to enhance adverting revenues as reader service card usage declines? Investigative Questions: What are the percentages of subscribers using reader service cards in the present compared to the past two years? If there is a decline in usage, what are the alternatives the customers are using? Can we implement strategies to streamline those alternatives in information technology to sustain and enhance our advertising revenue? Management Questions: Will Penton Media experience a decline in profits due to alternative methods in information technology of customer inquiry stimulation from advertisements? Management Decision: Discontinue the use of reader service cards and it will be replaced with alternative methods by use of emerging information technology, which will integrate the customer with the advertiser on a real-time, customizable basis . 2. What ethical issues are relevant to this study? The largest issue relevant to this study was the issue of informed consent. During this study there is no mention that the participants of the study were fully informed of the details. I also believe that there was some researcher bias because out of the 676 buyers that responded only 40 respondents were followed up with to get more knowledge of their behavior and attitudes after data had been analyzed. I don’t think 40 people out of 676 would give accurate results of buyers attitudes and behaviors. One final ethical issue is the right to privacy (confidentiality). The cover letter in the survey indicates, â€Å"All individual responses will remain completely confidential†; however, it is Penton who has the responsibility of maintaining the confidentiality as it collects data from customers that can be most likely traceable to the survey participant based on the market and information data provided at the end of the survey. 3. Describe the sampling plan. Analyze its strengths and weaknesses. The sampling plan used is this survey was the stratified disproportionate random sample. This sampling plan was used because the researcher was looking to reach a specific subgroup within the population, and focused on disproportionate because there are different sampling fractions for each stratum. For example, out of 710 questionnaires received 676 were used and out of that only 40 were chosen for another sample. The strength of this sampling plan is that there is greater precision but the weakness is the difficulty to identify what the appropriate strata is for the study (Cooper & Schindler, 2011). 4. Describe the research design. Analyze its strengths and weaknesses. Research Design is the blueprint for the collection, measurement, and analysis of data (Cooper & Schindler, 2011). The research design consisted of a multistage communication study. In the communication study the researcher questions the subjects an d collects their responses by personal or impersonal means (Cooper & Schindler, 2011). The collected data resulted in a reader-targeted mail questionnaire by phone, then by mail questionnaire to a select 300 subscribers before finalizing the questionnaire to 4,000 managers, executives, engineers, and purchasing agents. The technique used in the questionnaire was qualitative, by asking specific questions on methods of contact between consumer and advertiser. Secondary research was used when 12 magazines were used to compare the inquiry response options that were/are offered. All of these designs can help to acquire data more cost efficiently than other designs and have the ability to reach more people. However, the data may not be as accurate as with other methods. For instance, the research from the magazines may not be accurate because Penton was relying on the fact that the information from the magazines was accurate and had been retrieved correctly. 6. Critique the survey used for the study. First, the survey used was segmented to purchasers of organizations instead of a sample that represented the entire publication population. The researchers noted the margin of error was +- 4%; however, a balanced sample of the population would have produced results that could be much different than the segmented sample population. If key managerial decisions are to be made based on this questionnaire, you should have the entire population represented. In this case, just because someone is not a purchase manager, Penton is ignoring the other subscribers who may also use the reader service card service as a consumer or through their own personal business. Besides the fact it excluded non-purchase approvers from the sample, the survey is well designed. The questions are clear, concise, and accomplish the goal of how users interact with advertisers on potential suppliers, products, and services 7. Assume you are compiling your research report. How would you present the statistical information within this case to the IndustryWeek decision maker, the manager who must decide whether or not to continue to publish reader service cards? I would present this information by developing bar graphs that show the usage frequency by years. The bar graphs will be effective because they can easily show the growth or decline of use throughout the years. 8. Assume you are compiling your research report. What are the limitations of this study? The research limitations are due to excluding respondents who are not purchase decision makers. The sample of the subscriber population was not a representation of the entire population but only of subscribers with purchasing ability. This will distort the results of the survey and could impact the decision on whether to continue or discontinue the reader service cards based on the opinions of one segment of the population 9. Assume you are the decision maker for IndustryWeek . Given the declining value of the reader response card to subscribers, originally designed as a value-enhancing service to IW readers and advertisers alike, what further research might be suggested by the findings of this study? Or do you have sufficient information to stop the use of reader response cards in IndustryWeek ? I think that even though the research was limited to a small segment of the entire population, I would still make the managerial decision to end the use of reader cards due to the declining usage and with the dramatic increases in alternative means by email, internet, and facsimile communication. I think it would be a better idea to look into other options to replace the reader cards.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Successful women share their best career advice

Successful women share their best career advice Everyone- women, men, old, young- can use some guidance in their careers. Mentorship has long been established as a huge difference-maker, especially for people just starting out or people embarking on a new professional path. This level of support has proven especially beneficial for professional women, who do best when they’re able to get insight and advice from other professional women. Yet according to a study of professional women by talent scouting firm Egon Zehnder, only 54% of women have access to that kind of mentorship by other women. That doesn’t mean that those of us without those resources have to go it alone- rather, we can take inspiration from successful women who have been willing to share some of their hard-won knowledge and insights. Let’s look at some of the most inspiring career advice out there, from women who’ve made it.Be open to opportunities.â€Å"Be prepared to spot growth opportunities when they present themselves- because they are the key learning opportunities. You’ll know because they make you uncomfortable, and your initial impulse may be that you’re not ready. But remember: Growth and comfort never co-exist.†- Ginni Rometty, chairman, president, and CEO of IBM  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Always take on new challenges- even if you at not sure you are completely ready.†- Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook  Ã¢â‚¬Å"If a job’s not scary, it’s not worth doing.†- Jasmine Whitbread, Chief Executive at London First  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Don’t cut off your career branches too early. Don’t step away from your career based on what ‘might’ happen.†- Mary Barra, chairman and CEO of General Motors  If you wait around for the exact right opportunity, you might find yourself waiting around while your skills and experience go to waste. If you’re a new grad, or looking for a new job, it can be tempting to not go for opportunities that aren’t exactly like you envisioned your career, or that feel like a stretch for the experience and skills you have. But really, what do you have to lose by stretching a little? The worst possible outcome is the word â€Å"no,† which is rarely fatal. And in the best case, you could be hired for a job that challenges you and makes you grow as a professional.Be resilient.â€Å"Life’s a marathon, not a sprint. When things go wrong, dust yourself off.†- Kate Grussing, Founder and Managing Partner at Sapphire Partnership  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you.†- Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Senator and Secretary of State  Failures and disappointments are going to happen occasionally, no matter who you are and what industry you’re working in. Sometimes these will be your fault, and sometimes they won’t. The one thing that all failure scenarios have in common is that you can move on from them. No matter how embarrassing it may feel, or how dire, all you can do is accept that things happened the way they did, understand why things happened what they did, and learn what you can do next time to help avoid the same kind of catastrophe.Build your team wisely.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"You are only ever as good as the team you build, so be a talent magnet and surround yourself with the best and the brightest.†- Marianne Lake, CFO of J.P. Morgan Chase  Ã¢â‚¬Å"†Never be afraid to recruit people brighter than you are, and never be afraid to recruit people who are different than you. That is sometimes hard to do, but incredibly powerful if you want to create a team that is really effective.†- Judith McKenna, COO of Walmart  Think of it as career #squadgoals. Every successful person has worked as part of a team at some point in their careers- and in fact, teamwork is one of the qualities most prized by employers. The important part is making sure that your team is able to support your goals. That may mean being a more engaged and supportive colleague yourself, or if you’re in a management role, it means recruiting the best possible people to help you grow achieve your own goals.Everyone has his or her own career goals in mind, and it can feel like we need to step on others to achieve those, but things will go much more smoothly- not to mention more easily- if you focus on building ways to work together instead of taking everything on yourself.Be yourself.â€Å"Be who you are. You’re unlikely to be first or last- your journey is your journey.†- Desiree Clarke-Noble, Director, Head of Brand and Marketing at Royal Bank of Canada  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Sit down and ask yourself, ‘What is the most important thing to me?’ What grosses me out the most? What makes me the most upset - is it healthcare? Is it so many people being hungry in our culture? Is it sexual abuse? Mix that with doing somet hing you love, something you could keep doing forever and ever. For me, it was ending violence against women, and I mixed it with music. And I’ve had a 25-year career. So that’s my advice: Find something you really care about and mix that with something you love doing.†- Kathleen Hanna, musician and activist  If your professional self is more aspirational than authentic, you’re likely to find yourself dissatisfied with the career path your persona has chosen for you. Whatever choices you make- job, relationships, skill-building- should be ones that fit with who you are, not necessarily who you think you should be.Find your focus.â€Å"The thing people want most is your focus and attention. You destroy that when you think you’re multitasking, because you’re not accomplishing either.†- Wendy Clark, president and CEO of DDB North AmericaMultitasking can be seen as a prized skill, in a world where there are about 40 digital distractions every minute and ever-increasing demands. Instead of focusing on the number of things you can do this minute, try thinking about the quality of what you’re doing and learning in the moment. Being able to send an email while half-listening to a colleague and compiling a report will get more things checked off on your to-do list, but how many of those things are you actually doing well? If you try to bring mindfulness and thoughtfulness to your to-do list, you are upping the quality factor of your work.Project confidence in all you do.â€Å"Speak slower; be more executive and more authoritative. When you speak quickly it’s hard to distil big messages and put a good case forward to your customers and your team.†- Helen Sutton, Vice President of Enterprise in Northern Europe at DocuSign  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Don’t be afraid to ask questions; that’s one thing that differentiates women from men.†- Claudia Palmer, Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Offi cer at ReutersOne of the best things you can do for your career is to take control and ownership of your professional path. That means expressing yourself clearly, and being an advocate for your own interests. Whether it’s negotiating a salary increase or trying to get ahead, being timid or hesitant is unlikely to get you what you want. The more you can project confidence and competence, the more you’ll be able to build confidence in your abilities.If you have any of your own favorite pieces of career advice for or from women, we’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

The National Water Act defines a wetland as land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The WritePass Journal

The National Water Act defines a wetland as land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Introduction The National Water Act defines a wetland as land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Introduction1.Definition of a Wetland1.1 Function and Value of Wetlands2. THREATS TO URBAN WETLAND2.1 Physical Destruction2.2   Water Pollution2.3   Exploitation3.   WATER QUALITY4.   THE uMNGENI ESTUARY 4.1   Description of the uMngeni Estuary4.2   Threats to the uMngeni Estuary4.3   Reasons for Restoration5.   POSSIBLE RESTORATION PROCEDURES5.1   Considerations when Attempting Restoration5.2   Possible Mitigation Measures to Aid Restoration6.   BIO-MONITORING AND RESTORATION6.1   Types of Monitoring Methods6.2   Monitoring Restoration 7.   BIO-MONITORING7.1 Programmes Implementing Bio-monitoring7.2   South African Scoring System7.3   Habitat Assessments Aiding Bio-monitoring8.   BENTHIC MACRO-INVERTEBRATES8.1   Characteristics That Aid in Bio-Assessments9.   THE USE OF BENTHIC MACRO-INVERTEBRATES IN BIO-MONITORING  9.1   Sensitivity of Benthic Macro-invertebrates to Environmental Stress9.2   Advantages of Using Benthic Macro-invertebrates in Bio-monitoring9.3 Disadvantages of Using Benthic Macro-Invertebrates in Bio-monitoring10.   Role Benthic Macro-invertebrates Will Play in Monitoring and Conserving uMngeni Estuary10.1   Characteristics of the Benthic Macro-invertebrate Population that Indicates the Health Status of the Estuary10.2    How Feeding Groups Are Linked To the Composition of the Estuary10.3. The Distribution of the Various Types of Benthic Macro-Invertebrates Along the uMngeni River Into the Estuary10.4.   The Effectiveness of Using Benthic Macro-Invertebrates in Bio-Monitoring11. AREAS OF CONCENTRATION  CONCLUSION  REFERENCES  Related Introduction 1.Definition of a Wetland The National Water Act defines a wetland as land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The water table in a wetland is usually very close to the surface; therefore the land is, at times, covered with shallow water supporting thousands of species, typically adapted to life in saturated soil (Agius, 2010). Wetlands in KwaZulu-Natal vary greatly according to topographic, hydrological and climatic influences. Wetlands can be referred to as swamps, marshes, estuaries, bogs, floodplains, vleis and pans. The internationally accepted definition of a wetland includes â€Å"areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters,† (Dugan, 1993). There are three unique characteristics that indicate whether an environment is a wetland or not. Firstly there must be a high water table, which acts as a hydrological indicator. Secondly hydric soils must be present, which acts as a pedological indicator. Finally hydrophytic vegetation must grow in the environment, which acts as a botanical indicator (James, 1979). 1.1 Function and Value of Wetlands Wetlands have many functions and values man increasingly depend upon, due to their exponential population growth. Wetlands have hydrological functions, such as flood attenuation where they form natural floodways, aiding in the transportation of flood waters. Wetlands store water during floods, which is slowly released to downstream areas. Wetlands recharge and discharge ground water and can dissipate erosive forces. Wetlands improve the quality of water by aiding in the removal of excess nutrients, chemical contaminants, sediments and numerous toxic substances (such as heavy metals and pesticides). Wetlands also provide a habitat for a broad variety of plants and animals. In Natal 144 wildlife species are dependent on wetlands for their life requirements. Many of the animal species listed as endangered in South Africa are associated to wetlands. Wetlands have high tidal and inland productivity, which provide nutrients and are food sources to many species. Lastly wetlands have various socio-economic functions which include providing recreational sites for fishing or hunting and they provide educational opportunities for observing and studying nature (Rosenburg, 1993). 2. THREATS TO URBAN WETLAND The value of wetlands was not realised up until very recently. Prior to this they were not protected by law and therefore were frequently degraded and even destroyed by an increasing and continuous urbanisation and industrialisation of our planet. This damage continues to occur however due to the disregard for the legislation protecting these areas and the ignorance of the possible outcomes of the loss of these wetlands. 2.1 Physical Destruction There are numerous threats to the sustainability of the wetlands existing today. An ever increasing global population and the resulting outcomes of this is the major hazard for the protraction of these precious regions. It leads to the growth of residential and commercial development which may occur near or over wetlands eventually leading to their destruction from activities such as levelling, dredging, draining, filling, removal of vegetation and restriction of flow in order to create additional land to be used for the purposes of construction (Hendricks, 2004). 2.2   Water Pollution Human interference in or around wetlands brings about other activities which impact negatively on the wetlands and the ecology within. Pollution from dumping, littering, runoff and untreated stormwater and sewage diversion into a wetland, as well as from public recreational activities, alters the hydrology of the wetland and diminish the water quality. This results in groundwater contamination, poor soil conditions to facilitate vegetation growth, flora and fauna extermination as well as disruption of flow patterns (Agius, 2010 ). 2.3   Exploitation Urbanisation also leads to the exploitation of the resources that wetlands offer. Water is pumped out of the wetland for various purposes such as for potable water and irrigation. These areas are also abundant in minerals and peat which are extracted as well as fish which are harvested excessively. If left unmanaged the sustainability of these wetlands may be at risk. Chemical contamination due to pest control is a secondary effect from these activities which reduces the conditions in which living organisms in the wetland can continue to exist (NSW Department of Natural (Resources, 2008), (MRSC, 2001). 3.   WATER QUALITY Biological communities, such as communities of benthic macroinvertebrates, can change due to habitat degradation, water quality degradation or both. Ecosystems in both rivers and estuaries are affected by water quality variables. These variables could be physical, which include turbidity, temperature and suspensoids; or chemical, which includes toxic and non-toxic variables. Toxic variables being: traces of metal and biocides, and non-toxic variables being: pH, conductivity, nutrients, organic enrichment and dissolved oxygen. The quality of water can also be affected by the composition of the uMgeni estuary itself. The factors affecting water quality are namely, topography, geology, climate, land use and the type of soil found in the estuary (Eggers, 2007). 4.   THE uMNGENI ESTUARY An estuary, by definition, is a type of wetland located at the crossing point between two environments, viz. marine and fresh water environment, and is the most dynamic and productive ecosystem in the world (Ethekwini Municipality, 2010). Figure 1. Aerial photograph of uMngeni River leading to uMngeni Estuary and out into the Indian ocean (Ethekwini Municipality, 2010)    Figure 2. Photograph of uMngeni Estuary (Ethekwini Municipality, 2010) 4.1   Description of the uMngeni Estuary The uMngeni Estuary supported by the uMngeni River, which carries water from the Inanda Dam, flows into the Indian Ocean at Durban as depicted in Figure 1 (The River Health Programme, 2002). The uMngeni Estuary is a 230 ha, structurally modified, permanently open estuary which can be viewed in Figure 2. One of uMngeni Estuary’s most eye catching features is its Beachwood Mangrove, located on the northern bank – the fifth largest mangrove in South Africa (Ethekwini Municipality, 2010). The uMngeni Estuary is of both ecological and recreational importance – providing marine animals with a habitat as well as allowing for human sporting activities such as angling (South African River Health Programme, 2004). The mouth of this estuary, being permanently open, gives rise to a high salinity gradient, which brings about a diverse fish population. It houses 24 taxa of benthic macro-invertebrates, with polychaete Capitella capitata being the most prominent – a type of indicator species which detects organic pollution. There is also an abundance of birds at the estuary (Ethekwini Municipality, 2010). 4.2   Threats to the uMngeni Estuary The uMngeni Estuary, like many other natural water sites, are susceptible to threats. Currently, the state of this estuary is classified as â€Å"highly degraded† by the eThekwini Municipality. uMngeni Estuary is situated in the eThekwini Municipal Area, an area home to a third of KwaZulu-Natal’s population; however, this population occupies only 1% of the province’s land area, creating a population over load and the need for urban expansion. Expansions along the coastal regions disrupt the estuarine environment causing degradation (Ethekwini Municipality, 2010). Other more serious threats include: canalisation of the uMngeni River, this results in the removal of habitats in the estuary region; the Inanda Dam regulating the flow of water, thus preventing the natural supply of sand entering to the river resulting in silting and the closing of the estuary; eutrophication as a result of nutrient additions; chemical and organic pollutants; invasive alien plant specie s and direct resource exploitation due to sand mining and over fishing (South African River Health Programme, 2004). 4.3   Reasons for Restoration It is of importance that the uMngeni Estuary be restored to good condition for it is viewed as a biodiversity asset, providing key ecosystem services such as nursery area for fisheries, flood abatement, biodiversity refuge protection and recreation. Being located adjacent to Moses Mabhida Stadium and at the northern end of Durban’s beachfront, it is a zone of recreational activities as well as a tourist â€Å"hot spot† and it is therefore crucial that the condition of the estuary be enhanced to promote tourism and economic growth in South Africa. In addition, a good quality estuary would offer the local community, as well as visitors, the opportunity to engage in nature based activities in an urban landscape (ECO Systems, 2010). 5.   POSSIBLE RESTORATION PROCEDURES A damaged or degraded wetland is by no means useless or irreparable. In fact in many countries throughout the world damaged wetlands have successfully been restored such as the Tidal Wetlands at East Trinity, Cairns, Australia (Agius, 2010). After decades of being subjected to noxious sulphuric acid runoff, scientists were able to reverse the effects by gradually allowing sea water into the wetland using existing floodgates. 5.1   Considerations when Attempting Restoration According to the Parks and Recreation Board for the City of New York, the key points to focus on when attempting the restoration of any wetland are the re-establishment of appropriate hydrological systems, soils and indigenous vegetation (Parks and Recreation, 2010). This can be achieved by a number of acts to undo the negative effects that were previously impacting upon the wetland. These acts include fill removal, fresh soil placement, invasive plant eradication and indigenous plant restoration, erosion control, stormwater, runoff and pollution management (Parks and Recreation, 2010). 5.2   Possible Mitigation Measures to Aid Restoration Fill removal and soil replacement aims at land alterations that will assist in reforming previous ecologic conditions that existed within the wetland. The eradication or control of alien plants and the restoration of indigenous plants also assist with this revitalization. Stormwater, runoff and pollution can be eliminated and managed however long term pollution elimination can only be achieved through the efforts of the surrounding residents and industrialists. These people should understand the value of a wetland and therefore why conservation is crucial in order for them to behave in manner that does not result in further pollution (Casagrande, 1997). During the restoration process it would be extremely beneficial to utilise indicators so as to monitor the quality of the water and thus the condition of the wetland as a whole. In this way the progress or lack thereof can be noted and this may give an idea of the way in which to proceed with the restoration process. 6.   BIO-MONITORING AND RESTORATION Human activities are continuing to increase yearly and this is placing pressure on wetlands. Many wetlands have already been destroyed due to urban and agricultural development. The remaining wetlands need to be monitored so that they remain functional. Efficient and accurate techniques are essential for the assessment of a wetland. There are four major factors in wetland degradation namely: altered water regime, habitat modification, pollutants and exotic species. Monitoring may be defined as the collection and analysis of environmental data (Biological, chemical, and/or physical) over a sufficient period of time and frequency to determine the status or trend in one or more environmental parameters or characteristics toward meeting a management objective (Cale. 2004). Wetlands are sensitive and need to be constantly monitored to remain balanced. Monitoring wetlands provides information on the Biotic Integrity which is defined as â€Å"the ability to support and maintain a balanced, integrated, adaptive community of organisms having a species composition, diversity and functional organization comparable to that of natural habitat of the region.† (Garner 2002). 6.1   Types of Monitoring Methods Digital change detection is used to spot visual changes over a landscape. Aerial photos are captured via satellite or aircraft. Images taken at different times are observed and changes in vegetation are noted any suspicious findings prompt further investigations. Chemical and physical monitoring gives useful insight into the state of the water with the wetland.   Samples of water are gathered and properties such as water depth, dissolved oxygen content, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), ph levels, temperature and turbidity are determined and analysed to establish the status of the wetland. Toxicity tests are carried out in laboratories whereby a sample is taken from the wetland then screened and compared to that of controlled water to check for toxicity. Chemical monitoring provides information on toxic compounds but cannot provide early warnings (Michael 2010). Biological Monitoring uses the responses of living organisms to determine the state of a wetland. Living organisms such as Algae, benthic macro invertebrates, vertebrates, phytoplankton etc are used as indicators of the wetland’s status these organisms are sensitive to change. Changes in their reproduction, growth, behavior etc are observed which gives insight with regards to what’s happening in that environment.   Samples of these living organisms are taken and analyzed. Early warning systems can be developed whereby organisms from site are kept in a special on site laboratory and receive flow from the actual site, these organisms are monitored over time to note any behavioral and physical changes induced by anthropogenic stress. Early detection is key to restoring a balanced environment (NAVFAC, 2004). 6.2   Monitoring Restoration Monitoring methods are not only useful for early detection they also aid in monitoring restoration processes. During restoration monitoring techniques can be used to collect data on soil, nutrient levels, plant and animal growth etc ,this data would indicate whether or not the restoration is successful. The restoration process must be under constant monitoring to ensure success. 7.   BIO-MONITORING Bio-monitoring, by definition, is a technique used to check the health of an aquatic ecosystem by using the density and relative abundance of resident organisms as an indicator (Day, J., 2000). According to Rosenberg and Resh (1993), the â€Å"ideal’ indicator should have the following characteristics: The indicator should be a taxonomically sound and be identifiable with ease The indicator should have a wide spread population distribution The indicator should be numerically abundant The body size of the indicator should be large The ecological requirements of the indicator should be known Indicator should be suitable for the use in laboratory studies 7.1 Programmes Implementing Bio-monitoring To increase the awareness and knowledge on the state of aquatic ecosystems across South Africa, The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) developed a programme, known as the National Aquatic Ecosystem Bio-monitoring Programme (NAEBP), for monitoring the health of aquatic ecosystems. This programme was later renamed the River Health Programme (RHP), which focused on the implementation and maintenance of bio-monitoring across South Africa. The RHP use invertebrates as one of the many organisms used for bio-monitoring (WRC, 2002). 7.2   South African Scoring System Scoring Systems are used to allocate scores to different biotic groups, based on the organism’s sensitivity to pollution and environmental stress. For example, stoneflies and mayflies have high scores based on their abundance and presence. The South African Scoring System, better known as the SASS4, is based on macro-invertebrates, where taxa are assigned sensitivity scores according to their responsiveness to changes in the water quality. All biotopes are sampled to obtain an accurate reflection of the communities of macro-invertebrates and their corresponding sensitivities to deteriorating water quality. The sensitivity scores for all the communities are summed to give the sample score. The Average Score per Taxon (ASPT) is found by dividing the sample score with the number of communities found (Graham, M., 1998). 7.3   Habitat Assessments Aiding Bio-monitoring For bio-monitoring to reflect the true condition of the river and estuary, a habitat assessment must be performed. An assessment of the habitat integrity must be performed before the assessment of the biotic integrity. A habitat assessment will aid the bio-monitoring in numerous ways, including finding appropriate sampling sites, provides basic information that will help interpret the bio-monitoring results and will help identify constraints on the potential of a site. The SASS4 recognizes 3 habitat assessment guides which could be used, namely, the Habitat Assessment Matrix (HAM) which looks at the impact of physical habitat degradation using a SASS score, the habitat assessment (HABS1) in which habitats are assessed based on biotopes used for sampling and Habitat Quality Index (HQI) which is very similar to the HAM (WRC, 2002). 8.   BENTHIC MACRO-INVERTEBRATES Benthic macro invertebrates (benthic = bottom, macro = large and invertebrates = animal without backbones) are animals without backbones that are larger than  ½ millimetre – a photograph of benthic macro-invertebrates can be viewed in Figure 3 below. These animals live in sediment, debris plants etc for at least part of their life. Benthic macro invertebrates include crustaceans such as crayfish, such as clams and snails, aquatic worms and the immature forms of aquatic insects such as stonefly and mayfly nymphs (DNR 2004). Figure 3. Photograph of Benthic Macro-invertebrates Benthic macro invertebrates are widespread and can live on all bottom types. They are found in wetlands, lakes ponds etc. most benthic species can be found the whole year round but numbers intensify during spring just before the reproductive season.   Benthic macro invertebrates easily move around with the currents or by flying. Many species undergo metamorphosis then reproduce. Most of their lives are spent in water (Rosenburg,1993). These organisms are an invaluable tool with regards to wetland monitoring and bio-assessments in general. When placed in harmful environments these organisms display â€Å"tell tale† responses, these responses help conservationists identify problems in the wetland. 8.1   Characteristics That Aid in Bio-Assessments Benthic macro invertebrates have characteristic that aid in bio-assessments. à ¼Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   They are well dispersed and occur in most wetlands. à ¼Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Show different reactions to different types of pollution and other adverse effects. à ¼Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   High life spans à ¼Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sampling of Benthic macro invertebrates is simple , does not require heavy equipment The observation of benthic macro invertebrates provides important information that will prolong wetland health and increase sustainability. Their behaviour and availability aids conservationists to develop early warning signs and save wetlands. 9.   THE USE OF BENTHIC MACRO-INVERTEBRATES IN BIO-MONITORING   Benthic macro-invertebrates possess all the ideal characteristics of a bio-monitoring indicator, as listed above by Rosenberg and Resh (1993). Benthic macro-invertebrates have been documented as one of the most valuable tools for bio-monitoring aquatic ecosystems and are widely chosen to evaluate the quality of surface waters. The types of bio-monitoring using benthic macro-invertebrates include surveillance and to ensure compliance (Richard, 2010).Surveillance surveys could be taken before and after the environmental impact or could also be taken to see whether water resource management techniques are effective or not. Benthic macro-invertebrates could be used to ensure immediate environmental requirements are met or used to control and monitor long term water quality (Townsend 1980). 9.1   Sensitivity of Benthic Macro-invertebrates to Environmental Stress According to Rosenberg and Resh (1993), benthic macro-invertebrate display certain reactions, that are both biochemical and physiological, when confronted by an adverse environment. Exposure to impacted environments could even lead to deformities. Jeffrey and Madden (1991) found that other macro invertebrates have also had negative side effects, such as a decrease in the case building ability of the Agapetus fuscipes, a decline in the feeding rate of the amphipod Gammarus pulex and a change in the reproductive behaviour of the midge Chironomus riparius. Salanki (1986) noted that the populations of the macro invertebrates tend to drift down stream of the water body when faced with chemo-physical changes.   Therefore the most common indicators of environmental stress in macro invertebrates are the changes in their growth, survival, population distributions and reproduction. 9.2   Advantages of Using Benthic Macro-invertebrates in Bio-monitoring In this literature review benthic macro-invertebrates have been chosen as the biological indicator in the uMngeni Estuary, over other forms on macro invertebrates for numerous reasons. They occur and can survive in almost all types of habitats. There are various taxa of benthic macro-invertebrates that range in sensitivity to all kinds of environmental stresses and pollutants. Benthic macro-invertebrates are sedentary by nature, making it easier for them to pick up on approaching pollutants. Their life cycles are long enough to detect exposure to pollution and environmental stress, and the population will not recuperate so quickly that the harm will go undetected. Sampling the Benthic macro-invertebrates is a simple procedure and does not require complicated devices on site (WRC 2002). 9.3 Disadvantages of Using Benthic Macro-Invertebrates in Bio-monitoring However, according to Rosenberg and Resh (1993), there are disadvantages to using benthic macro-invertebrates in bio-monitoring. There are certain environmental impacts that do not affect benthic macro-invertebrates. Water quality is not the only factor that effects their population distribution and abundance, the natural conditions of the habitat in which they live also plays an important role. Their population abundance and distribution varies across the seasonal changes, which can cause sampling problems.   Fortunately, the problems discussed can be overcome with proper knowledge of the habitat predilections, life history and drift patterns. 10.   Role Benthic Macro-invertebrates Will Play in Monitoring and Conserving uMngeni Estuary 10.1   Characteristics of the Benthic Macro-invertebrate Population that Indicates the Health Status of the Estuary The surveillance of benthic macro-invertebrate communities, focusing on taxonomic composition and richness, is the most sensitive tool for effectively detecting changes in aquatic ecosystems, like the uMngeni Estuary. Therefore it is more beneficial to analyse the entire population of invertebrates as a whole rather than looking at individual taxa. Population characteristics, that could be used to detect environmental changes, include richness, diversity and interactions as a functional community. Community functions include productivity processes, decomposition and fluxes in nutrients and energy (Williams, 1990) 10.2    How Feeding Groups Are Linked To the Composition of the Estuary The analysis of the size and characteristics of various feeding groups of benthic macro-invertebrates can be linked to certain aquatic conditions and can give insight into the nature and composition of the estuary. According to Townsend (1980), these macro-invertebrates can be categorized into 4 major feeding groups, namely, grazers which feed of algae, shredders which feed of large particles of plant matter, collectors which feed on fine particles on the stream bed or filtering through the water and predators which feed on invertebrates, fish and other aquatic animals. Therefore if an unnatural increase in the number of grazers were found during the bio-monitoring, it could be concluded that there is an abnormal growth of algae in the estuary that could be due to an environmental stress or pollutant. 10.3. The Distribution of the Various Types of Benthic Macro-Invertebrates Along the uMngeni River Into the Estuary The benthic macro-invertebrate population distribution in terms of the various feeding groups, with regards to the uMngeni River supplying the uMngeni Estuary, will be as follows. The upper part of the river will have course particulate organic matter. Here large population groups of shredders and predators can be found. In the middle reaches of the river, finer material can be found supporting collectors and grazers. In the lower reaches of the river and estuary the material found will be very fine and tend to settle as the current slows down. Here predominantly grazers can be. However the population distribution down the river into the estuary can be influenced by many abiotic factors, such as oxygen, current, substratum, concentration of dissolved chemicals and temperature. All these factors must be taken into consideration during the testing phase. 10.4.   The Effectiveness of Using Benthic Macro-Invertebrates in Bio-Monitoring Using benthic macro-invertebrates in bio-monitoring is one of the most effective ways to indicate an environmental impact. For example if toxins are flowing through the water of the river, a chemical investigation would not reflect the exact impacts as the toxins would be quickly washed downstream and out of the estuary. However there would be radical changes to the benthic macro-invertebrate populations for quite some time, even after the toxins have gone (Graham 1998). An investigation determined by Muirhead-Thomson (1987), showed that a community of benthic macro-invertebrates took 2 to 3 week to recover from the application of the insecticide, methoxychlor. This would give researchers ample time to find the exact impacts of a pollutant or environmental stress if implemented along the uMngeni River and into the estuary. 11. AREAS OF CONCENTRATION Different species of invertebrates can be located at specific areas throughout the estuary as discussed in the previous section. It is therefore important to know which region of the wetland would be of particular significance in achieving the goal of restoration. The overall state of the water quality of the uMngeni Estuary is especially dependant on the condition of the freshwater being provided by the uMngeni River. It would thus be prudent to pay attention to the benthic macro-invertebrates that exist at the point where river and estuary meet and even further up along the river as well. In this way it may determined if considerable degradation is occurring before the water even enters the wetland. By monitoring and enhancing the condition of water in the river the quality of the water in the estuary can be enhanced (South African River Health Programme, 2004). Ultimately a large number of concentration areas should be chosen so as to obtain a general idea of the state of the estu ary and whether conditions are improving or declining.   CONCLUSION The uMngeni Estuary is an invaluable ecosystem in the Durban area that if left unprotected will be destroyed by pollution and exploitation. It is essential that efforts be made to restore this environmental treasure to a naturally functioning wetland devoid of human impaction. In correlation with the restoration procedure the utilisation of a bio-monitoring process is extremely useful in determining wether conditions in the wetland are improving. 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Monday, November 4, 2019

Authority Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Authority - Essay Example military, the importance of authority in the military, and also what may happen if authority is either lacking or not respected by the appropriate subordinates. Before exploring how authority is used in the military, it is important to understand what the word means and the ideas that it implies. The Collins English Dictionary offers up a variety of definitions, such as "the power or right to control, judge, or prohibit the actions of others," or "such a power or right delegated, especially from one person to another," or "the ability to influence or control others" (Collins). If we dissect these definitions one-by-one, we can see a recurring pattern across all three: power. Authority can only be gained through power, mostly due to the position that someone holds. A high up position can give someone authority over others because of their job description, which likely allows them to offer guidance to subordinates. Another component of the word authority is that it is delegated or assigned, typically from one person to another. Authority is often found in a chain of command, with those towards to top of the tree afforded more authority than p eople lower down the food chain. Also, authority usually is a two-way street between leaders and followers. There has to be a relationship between each set of individuals and both should know where they stand in the relationship; only in an equal relationship will there be no need for either party to have authority over the other. Informal relationships are often like this, whereas in formal situations authority is necessary in order to preserve some sort of organization within large groups of people. Finally, the definition of authority involves influence or control applied by one person over another. In less formal situations, a leader will look to influence his or her subordinates but not control them. Controlling a group of people allows little room for them to be creative and think outside the box. In formal organizations,

Friday, November 1, 2019

Souq waqif and Museum of islamic arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Souq waqif and Museum of islamic arts - Essay Example The museum of Islamic art is also another such building in Doha that employs traditional architecture, drawing its design from the Mosque of Ahmad ibn Tulun in Cairo. Traditional architecture is recognised today as a fortress of the past. With increased touristic activities, in Doha, Souq Waqif and the Museum of Islamic Art among other buildings serve as tourist destinations because of their artistic structural designs (Brebbia 301). The traditional architectural designs in the Arab world signify their suitability in the local environment that has incorporated the idea of sustainability. The increasing contemporary architectural designs are blending with the traditional designs to reflect the Qataris Islamic identity. Many of the buildings in Qatari are shifting to the traditional architectural patterns and styles that combine both traditionism and modernism. The new buildings are reproducing Qatari’s traditional architectural elements and styles, such as the museum of Islamic art, and old ones such as Souq Waqif that are rebranding to have that traditional outlook. The museum sits on an area of approximately 64 acres of an artificial island in the Doha cornice and a walking distance from the famous Souq Waqif. It was constructed in 2008 and opened its doors to the public in the same year. The island was created at the request of Mr. Pei, who was tasked to come up with the architectural design, whose main aim was to make the building stand out such that future buildings would never encroach it (Boussaa 62). The idea of the museum of Islamic art came after a series of tours around the globe studying Islamic architecture. Mr. Pei visited many places from the grand mosque in Cordoba Spain and the great mosque of Damascus where he found that climate and culture are very vital in interpreting Islamic architecture, although none of those