Environmental Issues

For the past decades, people have witnessed the fact that too much dependency on petroleum products such as gasoline and diesel has led to an increase in pollution as well as shortages in the supply. To avoid such situations, alternative fuels are developed for use.

In general, alternative fuels are considered cleaner than gasoline because they are burned with fewer emissions which can help reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. A good example of this is biodiesel

Biodiesel is made from processed vegetable oils and animal fats. Compared to petroleum, biodiesel also has the same physical and chemical properties in terms of operation in diesel engines. Thus, it is a suitable substitute to petroleum.

Biodiesel, as an alternative fuel poses many advantages. First, biodiesel is biodegradable and non toxic. Apart from other fuels being used in the past, biodiesel does not have any amount of sulfur and aromatics that make sit safer to handle and carry anywhere. Second, since biodiesel is made from natural materials, it generates fewer noxious emissions thus, reducing the formation of acid rain due to sulfur dioxide. Third, biodiesel is compatible to any conventional, unmodified diesel engine so no calibrations are needed to make it work. Fourth, biodiesel can improve the engines lubricity making it work smoothly and efficiently. Lastly, biodiesel, unlike petroleum, is a renewable source, thus, it is infinitely available so long as there are materials available around us.

On the other hand, biodiesel also has some disadvantages. Biodiesels energy content is 11 lower than diesel petroleum which results to a power loss during engine operation. In addition, most of the diesel engines are designed for petroleum fuel, thus, using pure biodiesel to these engine may cause performance problems like carbon deposits, piston breaking, fuel filter plugging and severe engine lubricant degradation. In low temperature areas, biodiesel cannot be used because it can thicken and plug fuel filters.

Despite biodiesels disadvantages, many people are still trying to use it, mixing it with pure petroleum for the sake of at least reducing toxic emissions and moving towards a greener and cleaner environment.

Lesser developed countries dont possess the technological, social and financial advantages that 1st world or industrialized countries possess. As such when it comes to their methods of development they become more harmful rather than helpful to the environment. This paper seeks to discuss the different way in which lesser developed or rather third world countries pose problems due to their methods of development. As a country grows so to does its need to provide an adequate supply of food to its populace. With rising food prices developing countries are always trying numerous way to cut costs, one of those methods is the use of internationally banned pesticides to grow crops. Thought they may be banned they are a cheap alternative to safer pesticides that are available however there is a reason those pesticides have been banned from use since they cause lasting damage to the surrounding ecosystem which harms not only the people growing the food but those who consume it as well. To further sustain this growth leads to a situation of overfishing in the coastal areas around the country resulting in a severe depletion of breeding stock for new generations of fish which endangers future efforts to create methods of renewable fishing methods to ensure that fish stocks would not go extinct. Since few developed countries have the financial resources to develop sewage treatment plants the dumping of raw untreated sewage directly into the sea is common place resulting in damage to the biological elements in the surrounding coastline leading to irreversible harm to the local ecosystem.

Unfortunately due to financial constraints this scene happens in a lot of countries around the world. The resulting uncontrolled rapid population growth of third world countries due to the lack of effective social platforms which encourage family planning leads to a ever growing problems of shortages in infrastructure, financial aid and social welfare which results in having a vast majority of its citizens not getting the aid that they need. This leads to the destruction of natural habitats and ecosystems to fuel this growth (land for raising cattle, burning down forests for farm land) which further damages the surrounding environment leading to potentially irreversible damage to ecosystem of the country leading to the deaths of the unique species inherent in the local area. A rapid industrialization in urban areas due to a need to develop the country economically leads to significant risks of lung disease due to the proximity of factories to urban dwellings. If better methods of development arent encouraged back by the financial resources of first world countries the world may find itself in an environmental situation that it is so poisoned and polluted that it would be unable to support life.

Replacing conventional refrigerator with a high efficiency alternative

The conventional refrigerator I use is a pre-1986 with an average wattage of 160 wHhr, and it is always on, 24 hours per day. The days used per month are 31, while the Kilowatt hours used is 1428 kWhyear and the cost per month is  14.28, hence for a year is  171. This makes it one of the most expensive energy consuming appliances in my entire home. There is likelihood that my calculations may even underestimate the real facts, due to variation in the environmental factors like seasons. Therefore to cut down this exorbitant expenditure I opt to replace it with a high-efficiency one.

Means for Implementation
The means shall be by opting for a refrigerator with more polyurethane foam, the best non-exotic insulation so that it can not be degraded by the metal supports between the inner and outer walls hence allowing heat loss  high-efficiency compressors that are mounted on top, so that the heat generated by the compressor and condenser does not reenter the refrigerator, and also with a cooler running condenser, the efficiency of the cooling system shall have been increased better door seals which will ensure that there is no air circulation between the refrigerator and freezer compartments, such a design shall also reduce infiltration of warm air when the doors are opened and more accurate control of temperature by use of a passive evaporator  and a condenser with a large surface area. Lastly mounting the condenser on top of the refrigerator shall ensure its easy accessibility and cleaning, hence allowing the cooling system to continue running efficiently.

Under the above conditions, ideal environmental factors, model and size of the refrigerator, positioning of the refrigerator and cost of the electricity, the energy savings one might expect for instance with a high-efficiency refrigerator that uses 425 kWh per year compared to my conventional one is 1003 kWh per year. I do pay 11 kWh, then yearly I would have saved 1003 x 0.11  110.33yr which translates to 0.0126 KWhhour.

Conclusion
Therefore by replacing a conventional refrigerator by a high-efficiency alternative, one saves a lot per year in terms of money and even if the initial cost of buying and its instillation is high eventually the refrigerator will pay for itself in a few years to come by, this is only true if the cost of electricity and proper maintenance remains the same.

The rapid population growth witnessed in the recent past has enhanced the demand for products to meet the needs of the people. This has resulted in emergence of a variety of industries meant to provide the necessary products. However, the way people use and habitually wastes the scarce resources is of great concern to the society and the environment we live in. Industries present the suitable products which are vital in the day-to-day life of the population. For instance, electric products have become so important in our lives that avoiding their use is almost inevitable. However, electronic products pose a lot of risks to the users due to their hazardous components. Besides, these products lifecycle is short leading to their production in high quantities to meet the increasing demands. Upon manufacture, these products should therefore be used and disposed in a manner that enhances environmental conservation and sustainability. This has proven to be a challenging task when handling products from electronic industry.

Electronic wastes are considered to be the most generated waste in Massachusetts. Besides, an estimated four million tons of electronic wastes are disposed of in the U.S landfills. Electronic waste is generally any refuse generated through disposal of electronic devices and apparatus. These may include superfluous electronic items such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), televisions, pagers, computers, cell phones, MP3 and DVD players among other items. Massachusetts has recorded a fast and rapid growth of electronic waste in the recent past and a lot of effort has to be made to efficiently and effectively manage the waste to improve the living condition of the people of Massachusetts as well as ensure environmental sustainability (Massachusetts department of environment 1). The stakeholders in the environment have embarked on a recycling strategy that ensures the waste produced undergo processes that will minimize health problems associated with e-waste. To begin with, Waste Management Recycle America is one of the largest company managing wastes in Orange community. It has elaborate network and has installed locations where wastes are dropped off for further collection. Electronic wastes are however charged at 50cents as at the time of their disposal.

Electronic Recyclers International (ERI) is another stakeholder in Orange community. This company recycles materials that it has received from the Orange community into metals, plastic and glass. This company ensures that no such waste is placed in the landfill as well as exported illegally. Another equally important stakeholder in electronic waste management is Allied waste services which installed points of waste in various parts of Orange community. Interstate Refrigerant recovery Inc is an additional company aiming at recycling of e-waste in the community. Finally, Environmental Protection Agency regulates the activities of all these companies to ensure that they adhere to the laid down environmental standards. These companies encourage those who want to dispose their electronics for one way or another to give them out to other people or to convey them to installed stations erected by the companies. These strategies have enhanced electronic waste reduction to a great extent.

It is noteworthy that about eighteen states have passed legislation on electronic waste except Massachusetts for reasons not well known. However, the state has made a commendable effort in banning cathode ray tubes found in monitors as well as televisions. These tubes contain dangerous elements such as lead which poses great risks to the health of the users.

Electronic wastes contain hazardous components which contaminate soil when left lying on the surface of a landfill. Moreover, these wastes contaminate water stream in case contact with such medium is eminent. Their disposal should therefore be carried out in a proper manner so as to prevent the surface water and underground water as well as soil contamination (Waste Management America 1). Conversely, during transportation of these waste to their disposal sites electronic waste emit harmful substance that pose risks to the lives of people in the society. Electronic waste may contain heavy metals such as lead as well as cadmium and beryllium which are considered to be serious contaminants of water, air and land. Additionally electronic wastes contain substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This element was rampant in products such as capacitors, transformers among other items which were manufactured before seventies. Finally and more important is that these wastes contain dangerous elements such as mercury and other toxics which not affect the human life but also cause environmental concerns. Mercury is poisonous and can cause death.

Apart from health and environmental effects, electronic wastes have adverse effects on the economy. It is estimated that surplus electronic wastes have proven more expensive to repair and even to recycle. Electronics such as CRT as well as laptop costs a lot of dollars to repair when broken down and are therefore exported to countries with proper repairing system.

Conclusion
Rapid population growth has instigated technological advancement which has in turn made the consumption of electronic products almost inevitable. The disposal of such waste is of great concern to the society given the health and environmental implications of the wastes. These wastes should be recycled in effective and efficient manner as protect the water streams as well as soil from contamination. It is therefore important to instill a culture of proper electronic waste management not only to safeguard the environment but also protect the pubic from dangerous and poisonous emissions arising from the waste.

GLOBALISATION
Although the term is most commonly used to refer to the breaking down of barriers to trade such as embargoes, tariffs and duties between economies globalization holistically refers to the continuing process of economic, social and cultural integration between the countries of the world. Websters online dictionary defines the term as growth on a worldwide scale or at an international level. So the concept may be described as the world turning into a global village where all nations are connected with and dependant on each other. Nowadays, with the advent of technologies such as the internet and telecommunication networks, distances have to a large extent become meaningless. At the same time, dangers such as terrorism, drug trafficking and nuclear weapons mean that no nation or country can exist in isolation from the rest of the world.

Of course, the mingling of cultures of the world is not a recent phenomenon. In fact, the transfer of goods and ideas between populations separated by thousands of miles commenced in the third millennium B.C with the establishment of trade between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley civilization. Since then the peoples of the world have become more and more inter-dependant with each new invention and discovery. The invention of ships and navigation equipment bought Egyptian traders to Asia. The Silk route brought exotic herbs, paper and many other products hitherto unheard of, to European nations and Christopher Columbus voyage of discovery incited the mass migration that has today, arguably turned that continent into the economic heart throb of the world.

All these developments can be seen as predecessors to the contemporary phenomenon of globalization. But this term has only become part of vernacular since the latter half of the 1980s. Perhaps the most accurate description of the term is the systematic removal of barriers to trade between countries in the wake of the Second World War. At the end of WWII, delegates from forty four Allied nations of the world met in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire in the United States in 1944 to formulate a set of laws and set up a number of institutions to assist in trade and commercial activity between the nations of the world. The US Secretary of State Cordell Hull was one of the conveners of this meeting. In his memoirs he explained the purpose of this agreement was to facilitate interdependence between countries so that they would not get jealous of each others resources and capacity and would also result in an increase in the living standards of each country as well.

So it is clear that the intention behind trying to increase trade between countries of the world was to provide greater opportunities for people and businesses to sell their crafts and services and thereby improve their economic conditions. To the extent of boosting trade between countries we can say the idea has been successful. Data maintained by the World Policy Forum shows that, world exports increased to 16.2 in 2001 from 8.5 of total gross world product in 1970.

Most countries of the world are now attempting to increase their trade with others. The formation of trade blocs such as MERCOSUR, the European Union and ASEAN are all attempts to reduce barriers to trade and movement across borders. Even countries that have traditionally maintained much closed economies in the past such as India and China are now attempting to boost their exports. In fact it is now a well established fact that China has increased its exports so much that it is providing a majority of consumer and industrial goods to the rest of the world. One third of all outstanding US debt is also financed by China. Countries that are still adamant against opening up their borders to the goods and services of the rest of the world are fast becoming pariah states. One example of this is North Korea that is now considered a hostile state and a threat to world peace by a majority of the worlds nations.

Even recent economic crises faced have not deterred the faith of proponents of the global village. Addressing the World Economic Forum in 2000, Former US President Bill Clinton stressed that we have to build an environment in which everyone feels that open markets are the best way to improve standards of living and increase overall prosperity of every citizen of this world. And again, after the sub-prime mortgage crisis of the United States threatened the economies of other countries and many feared that world trade would once again recede into the pre-WWII era leaders of the world have once again reaffirmed their belief in free trade and integration among nations. Countries belonging to the European Union have helped their weaker member states shore up their reserves, China has continued to finance US debt and aid from international donor agencies is still flowing to developing nations.

But moving beyond the economic definition of globalization, contemporary social theorists have devised a more comprehensive explanation of the term. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy describes globalization as basic changes that occur in the social context of how people live and function due to which the concept and significance of territory and space changes with the speeding of change as to how a person functions and carries out his daily activities.

Considered in this light, it appears that globalization is reshaping the very essence of human psychology. A poignant example may be that nowadays many people casually remark that the world is once again flat Obviously this does not imply that the globe has literally flattened, it simply visualizes that every corner of the planet is now much more accessible and that people have ready access to information about far off places. They can also travel to most of those places that were unfrequented just a few decades ago.

Societies all over the world have developed closer relations but recently the pace of this contact has quickened and this can be attributed to the different modes of communication and conveyance available to people this includes cheaper telephone networks, email, airplanes etc. Multinational organizations have emerged which produce goods that appeal to the tastes of the people consumers in many different markets. Information, money, raw materials all can now move easily from one country to another. Ideas and cultures are also changing and evolving as a result. Because of these changes laws, economies and social interactions are also becoming integrated and are being developed at an international level.

This unimpeded transfer of products and of ideas has brought many banes and boons to humans. Among the most obvious advantages of globalization is economic prosperity for millions, and the spread of ideologies such as democracy, civil liberties and greater tolerance for others cultures and beliefs. It is hardly contestable that the movement of ideas such as global awareness campaigns against diseases such as AIDS and the perils of drug abuse have made a positive impact in the lives of many people. Even the emergence of new economic superpowers can be partly attributed to the globalization of western ideals of free trade and capitalism. After all, it is the dissemination and acceptance of these ideas in countries like India, China and Russia that has given a new life to their economies. Previously, governments of all three countries operated in introverted and isolated environments encouraging self-sufficiency. It was only after they adapted the economic views prevalent in other parts of the world that they emerged in their current roles as the worlds suppliers and to a large extent, demand producers.

But not all effects of the increased mingling of humans are positive. Some, like its effects on different cultures are debatable. For example, in India the age-old custom of infanticide is finally showing some signs of reducing. But in the same country, Goa a place that had a distinct and deeply rooted culture is now losing its heritage because of the exodus of foreign tourists and the businesses that have cropped up to cater for them.

Still other impacts of the phenomenon are downright disturbing and at times lethal. One often overlooked effect is that of the spread of diseases. As humans from different and previously unconnected areas interact, they also carry each others germs and diseases to those places. In many places the peoples immune systems are not used to these foreign anti-bodies and are thus much more susceptible to them. For example, when the Europeans started to migrate to America, they bought with them measles. This was a disease that the local inhabitants the native Americans had no prior exposure to. As a result entire villages were wiped out by this disease. The spread of modern-day viruses like the avian flu can also be attributed to similar causes.

Negative effects on the environment have also received a minimum attention from the world at large. China has become the worlds largest producer in the whole world over the past few years. In 2002, the World Watch Institutes reported that China had also become the country emitting the most carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, overtaking the US in this shameful act. It is increasingly harder to combat emission of pollutants from industrial processes as the output of developing nations rises because many of these countries have lax environmental regulations. In the rare cases where laws exist, implementation is hard because the governments of these countries either lack the resources or the political will to implement such laws.

But perhaps one of the most disturbing effects of globalization is that on income disparities and food security in many parts of the world. This is worrisome not only because the problem is acute for millions but also because these are the very same problems that globalization was supposed to address. The problem is that much of the developed world has benefited greatly from economic integration among nations. These populations can now afford better food, for more dependants. Their increased demand is continuously driving up food prices. Further, in many cases the rich have better access to trading instruments and derivatives based on food supplies than the poor have access to the food itself. Speculation in oil, grain and meat markets are fast making their procurement difficult, especially for those living in abject poverty, for instance many sub-Saharan countries. A report published in 2008 by the International Food Policy Research Institute states that, the main reason behind the rise in food prices is that the well to do populations have experienced a change in diet. (Von Braun, 2008). That same year, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization warned that world food production will have to be 70 by 2050 if 2.3 billion projected population is to be fed.

Although the easing of trade barriers and encouragement of free trade among nations was in theory supposed to improve economic conditions in all countries and bring their inhabitants at more comparable standard of living, in many cases these differences have been increased by international competition. In particular two kinds of problems are most alarming. Firstly, qualified professionals and highly educated people living in developing countries have migrated en masse to developed countries where they can earn better incomes for their skills. Secondly, the lack of implementation of rules against corporations in poorer countries has allowed many companies to run substandard operations like sweatshops and dangerous mines in those places.

These problems pose key challenges for many governments across the globe. In fact recent international forums for economic and social integration such as the Davos summit and the G-20 summit have seen developing countries finally teaming up to register their dissent towards many policies being propagated by developed nations. Some of the problems can only be addressed through concerted efforts by the international community, For example, poorer nations cannot afford many of the eco-friendly solutions that are required to reduce their adverse impact on the environment. These countries need financial assistance and expertise of other nations to address these matters. Some programs such as tradable carbon credits can only work if countries that responsible for the majority of the worlds industrial pollution like the USA and China can bind their corporations to actually buy these credits thereby holding them directly liable for their negative externalities.

Problems like brain drain from developing countries require holistic changes in the social and economic environments. Better education and more employment opportunities have to be generated so that qualified people have incentives to stay in their homelands. Better implementation of laws applying to minimum wage and working conditions is also crucial to avoid the exploitation of labor in these countries. National interests of nations that are dependant on international donor organizations and more prosperous countries can also be undermined because of certain policies that are thrust upon them. For example, conditions imposed on Pakistan by the International monetary fund have forced the countrys government to keep interest rates high and increase power tariffs at a time when the worlds economies are trying to boost growth by lowering the cost of borrowing. These restrictions have played havoc with that countrys industrial output which is still in its nascent phase. One of Pakistans leading newspapers recently quoted a local economist who said that, the conditions put on the loan provided by IMF is likely to cause up to three million job cuts in the different sectors and will put around 8 million people in to poverty. Countries in such conditions must abide by conditions set forth by international financiers and creditors to remain solvent and continue trading with the rest of the world. At the same time they must formulate contingent policies to minimize the negative impact on their domestic economies.

The roles of individual organizations have also been profoundly affected by globalization. News media companies, be they print, television, radio or online have all seen major changes in their roles and target audience, as well as the environment in which they operate. The worlds view is not limited to CNN, BBC and the New York Times anymore. People in every corner of the world have access to regional newspapers and news channels from distant places. People in all parts of the world also have a much greater interest in happenings from across the world now.

Resultantly, news media everywhere has to cater a much wider range of news and updates for their audience. When reporting on these events and issues they cannot afford to simply be sensitive towards one single kind of point of view. The news organization of today has to be much more aware of the sensitivities of a much broader audience. Similarly, they cannot report on all matters of national interest in the same way either. Many topics can undermine the international image of the country or even compromise certain clandestine state matters. So these organizations can face repercussions from that end to. For example, the bombing of Al-Jazeeras Baghdad bureau by US forces during the Iraq war was a carried out because that agencys coverage agenda was in stark defiance of the claims of US military during the offensive.

Even when such organizations claim to cater to a limited region, such as the Middle East, they still have to be mindful of the fact that many different kinds of cultures and value systems exist there, from the extremely conservative Saudi Arabia to the much more liberal and westernized United Arab Emirates. When airing transmissions to these territories they have to assure none of their customs and values are unduly undermined. Conversely, news agencies and companies are now much better poised to present an accurate and comprehensive depiction of their countries r regions to the rest of the world.

The rise of globalization has seen hiccups along the way. Rising tensions between economic superpowers like USA and Iran the spread of diseases and dissemination of nuclear weapons among rogue states are all very pressing concerns for the nations of the world. The ever increasing inter-dependence of countries also means that they cannot afford to ignore international problems with the excuse that they are not indigenous concerns. For example the spread of religious extremism across many parts of the world can only be combated if many countries take comprehensive and coordinated steps against them. Whether the problems that arise are economic, political, social or environmental globalization will continue in these areas just as it is continuing in positive terms. What will be crucial in determining the overall impact of this increased collusion between the peoples of the world is how different governments and nations join together to avail this mixed blessing.

The protection of coastal land and the communities from the destruction of the sea is a major concern all over the world. Defra (2001) stated that climate change and the predicted rise in sea levels are likely to further the concern in the future. HM Treasury(2003) made a statement that in England, the estimate of over one million properties valued at over 130 billion are at risk from coastal flooding, 113,000 properties valued at 7.7 billion for coastal erosion. In a fifty years forecast, the estimated report is that, if nothing is done to maintain and improve the existing coastal defence systems, the damages to property from coastal flooding will rise to an average of 1.5 billion per year. The UK government will have to invest 210 million per annum. This bulk amount is nevertheless met by the taxpayers. The good project appraisals are needed to ensure that the taxpayers would receive a good value for their money from coastal defence projects. Defra(2003), then MAFF, in the UK had produced a series of flood and coastal defence projects and this includes a guidance documents for the appraisal of projects. The supplementary note does not address the changes made. The interim guidance does not address one of the key changes made in the revised book namely the incorporation of values for the non-market and environmental benefits and costs that are associated with flood and the coastal defence projects.

MAFF (2000) confirmed that the government guidelines for the appraisal of coastal defence schemes in the UK do not require that non-market amenity benefits are to be considered. However, new options in the coastal defence management would provide opportunities for the integration of coastal defence with amenity provision. This will tackle the findings of a choice study that will evaluate the amenity benefit of alternative coastal defence system that are currently being considered. It is important that these benefits are for all the local community members and the industries as well. MAFF (2001) commented that the management and guidelines for the appraisal of coastal defence projects should be amended to incorporate amenity benefits. The integration of the planning and management of the coastal land and associated inshore waters are the strategic and comprehensive attempts at the issues affecting the countrys coastline.  Since coastal defence has been unplanned in the past 10 years, a more strategic approach had been taken through the Shoreline Management Plan and the Coastal Defence Strategies.

The coastline of East England is comprised of soft erodible sedimentary geology. The coastline is diverse with areas of low-lying land that are very susceptible to flooding. Foreshore materials are variable which includes sand, gravel mud and bedrock. Brooke, (2002) commented that the risk to loss of land, property and life is high, especially in the eastern part of England. David (2007) cleared the issue regarding the systematic region-wide assessment of the coastal risks has made a risk base regional monitoring framework to be in the development process.

Bathymetric Map of East England
This is a bathymetric map or a topographic map of East, South East England. The red colour represents the coastal land. The colour blue represents the sea bed or the earths surface. The deviation of the colour blue means that the darker the colour becomes, the deeper the water is. Thus, this also represents the topography of the earths surface.

A low lying coastal area located at the mouth of an estuary near an industrialized and urban area, consists of a low cliffdune and soft eroding sedimentary materials. There is long shore drift moving fine medium sand along the coast from north to south. The sand movement maintains beaches of the North and South of the area. This will help to protect the upper shore areas from erosion. Due to the sea level rise and cliff erosion, the local municipality and industries demanded for coastal protection in order to protect their dwellings, industries and their major roads that passes along the coast.

Shoreline Management Coastal Defence (2004) stated that there are several planning options to consider for the protection of the coastline. Holding the line would be one. Holding the line is a coastline protection scheme that involves the construction of a seawall. Houses use the seawall as sea defence. The overflow of sea water is being prevented by the seawall when water flows over the beach to the land lying behind. Overflow usually occurs during high tides and intense storms. Seawall prevented erosion problems and reduce the risk of overflow. Seawalls have also a negative scenic impact on the beach as much as reducing the views of the sea from peoples homes, but if a walkway is to be created on top of the seawall, there would be some recreational benefit of it. Another option would be advancing the line. This method is the building of a new defence seaward of the existing defence line. Retreating the line is the method of managed realignment, allowing retreat of the shoreline thus with management control or limit movement. The do nothing approach is the decision of not investing anything in providing or maintaining the defences.

Coastal defence issues and strategies (2009) claimed that the techniques to be applied in coastal management which involves the cost benefit approach to hard engineering and soft engineering are the following. The construction of groynes is viable. Groynes are wooden, concrete, rock barriers or walls built perpendicular to the sea. Groynes creates a wider and plentiful beach, thus protecting the coast because the sand would filter and absorb the wave energy. Groynes require a very minimal maintenance, and it is one of the most common coastal defence structures. The construction of seawall is another option. Seawalls reflect the energy of waves back to the sea. It destroys the incident energy that results to a reduced turbulence. Seawalls are ordinarily made of concrete rocks which are built at the back of a beach or at the base of a cliff. The use of seawalls is a one of the traditional methods used in coastal management. Revetments are wooden slanted upright blockades. These are built on the coast parallel to the sea towards the back of the beach. This is used to protect a cliff or a settlement behind. Timber is the usual material used with rock infill. Revetments dissipate and absorb the energy when waves break against revetments. Revetment traps the materials behind barriers that protect the base of the cliff. Revetments could be watertight, and covers the slope completely, allowing water to filter through after the dissipation of the wave energy. According to the Environmental Agency (2010), major maintenance is required within a moderate time of being built. This is determined by the quality of the materials used for its construction. The rock armour, known as riprap, is a pile of large rocks at the foot of dunes or cliffs with native stones from the beach. Generally, ripraps are constructed to areas that are prone to erosion to absorb the wave energy and hold beach materials. Using riprap is effective but it is not popular because of the fact that it does not look good on the coastline and reduces the recreational value of the beach. Gabions are boulders and rocks wired into a mesh cage and placed in front of areas that are vulnerable to heavy erosions. When the seawater strikes on the gabion, the water is drained, leaving sediments. The boulders and rocks absorb wave energy. The disadvantages are that they get worn out very quickly and are not attractive.

Hence, gabions are not a good source of coastal management. Offshore breakwaters are concrete blocks and boulders, sunk offshore to redirect waves and filter energy waves and tides. The waves break offshore and reduce their erosive power. This activity leads to wider beaches, in turn, will absorb the reduced wave energy to protect cliff and settlements behind. Cliff stabilization is used to help prevent landslides and other natural disasters. This can be done through the drainage of excess rainwater, terracing or planting and wiring in order to hold cliffs in place. Entrance training walls are rock or concrete walls which are built to constrain a creek or a river that discharges across a sandy coastline.

These walls help in stabilizing and deepening of the channel that benefits navigation, flood management, river erosion and quality of water. Due to interruption of longshore drift, this can cause coastal erosion. The installation of a sand bypassing system to pump sand under and around the entrance training wall is to be done. The cost of construction is very expensive. Floodgates are storm barriers which were introduced after the North Sea Flood of 1953. This is a prophylactic method to prevent damage from storm surges. They are habitually open, and they allow free passage, but close when the land is under a threat of a storm surge. One of the most common soft engineering techniques of coastal defence management scheme is beach nourishment or replenishment. The method is importing alien sand off the beach and piling it on top of the existing sand. This method requires constant maintenance. The cost of construction is not expensive, but requires control structures and ongoing management and minor works. Sand dunes stabilization needs vegetation that can be used to encourage the growth of dunes needed to trap and establish blown sand. As of today, the research will have to be carried out, because the rough estimate is not yet established. The beach drainage or beach dewatering lowers the water table beneath the beach face. A lower water table facilitates the deposition by the reduction of the flow velocity during the backwash and prolonged laminar flow. A very useful effect of the system is that the collected seawater is very pure due to the effect of the sand filtration. It may be used to oxygenate stagnant inland lagoons, desalination plants, land-based aquaculture, aquariums or seawater swimming pools. The cost of installation and operations of the offshore protection differs. The costs that are associated with a drainage system of a beach are lower that the hard engineered structures. If compared to beach nourishment, the economics of building a beach, drainage is considered.

Evidence has a clear demonstration that there are significant differences in the value of amenity benefit that is associated with the alternative types of coastal defence options. The values should not be disregarded in the coastal defence projects which is the current situation in East of England. Flood and Coastal Defence (2008), confirmed that recommendations are made that Defra must modify its guidance for the appraisal for coastal defence projects in order to include a requirement to consider the non-market benefits of the alternative option. These non-market benefits should include the amenity benefits to local residents, together with the benefits by the present and potential visitorstourists especially in locations where tourism is a significant contributor to a local economy.  The amenity benefits in the coastal defence will help to ensure the best value for money that is going to be attained.

In consideration of the optimal solution of the coastal defence in Eastern England, the management solutions that were carried out should be environmentally sustainable.  A long term strategic view is needed, if a shoreline management plan is to lead a sustainable coastal defence. In order to achieve environmental sustainability, the minimal use of finite natural resources and environment as a whole is encouraged. There must be an understanding of the importance of appropriate environmental practices and using the best practice to sustain and maintain the present environment and further enhance the preservation of the environment. The coastal area can be technologically feasible in many ways. Technological developments are likely to happen in the future. Being adjacent to an industrialized and urban area, we can foresee the growth towards automation and robotics. Thus, the coastal defence system must be feasible to possible technological growth or development. As the technology improves its growth, the desire for the preservation of the assets in the coastal zone had resulted in the widespread installation of feasible coastal modern technologies. A very good example of this is the installation of optic communications. Measures for economical viability are not to be neglected in the process. As tourism grows in the area, the economic situation improves. The creation of more local jobs follows. The whole task of planning, designing, building the management of coastal defences is cost effective.  Shoreline Management (2006), clarified the matter that based from the contributions of experienced coastal defence specialists, the management solution is economically viable. We can absolutely confirm that the measure taken is socially desirable or tolerable because of the effectiveness of the coast management scheme. Monitoring provides the information to let you know whether the management solution is socially desirable. The East Coasts of England are very suitable for surfing. The beach composition, which comprises of the surface materials such as silt, mud, sand, gravel, boulders, rocks and boulders or the combination of both, and the gradual slope of the sea bed along the surfing area, add to the effectiveness to the protection of the coasts, making the waves suitable for surfing, swimming and other family activities on the beaches. These factors lead the coasts to be legally permissible. From the stated factors, it is likely that the coastal area is administratively achievable, and lastly, it is politically expedient.

Today, we know that the problem in coastal management is getting more complicated. Some of us believe that we must not build hard defences, and that the environment should be left alone.  Policy of managed retreatment would only result in more lands being lost to the sea since dunes and marshland, eventually forming natural barrier. We need to look at a new range of options in our shoreline management. The present government is committed to defend where it is sustainable and affordable to do. Let us not assume that building the coastline defences are the best options. Neither can we assume these defences will completely remove the risks. We need to look at the other ways that the coastline communities can cope with the risks. We can work on effective town planning to ensure that the new developments will not increase flood and coastal erosion. Household members and business along the coasts can protect themselves against flooding with their property level protection measures. Entertaining the different methods of land management will surely slow down the rate of rainwater to travel across land, and into watercourses in order to reduce the incidence of flooding. Using the natural features such as sand dunes, saltmarshes and flood plain storage areas can help reduce the potential of flooding and coastal erosion. Using different approaches in supporting communities to adapt to the rapid changing of the coastlines is to be considered.

Finally, the Shoreline Management Plan (2009) insisted that the proper education of the people living along the coast for possible flooding is very important. Defra is funding the environmental agency to advise the planning authorities on proposals developments to ensure that flood risk is properly taken into account. In addition, Mangor,(2001) agreed to the fact that consultation have been extended to the environmental agency, and made a standing plan so that if the planning authority proposes to grant permission for major development, the coastal defence will likely to be advancing to the properly coordinated means of protection.

Concepts on waste management must not be locked in books, textbooks, lectures and academic examinations. This learning journal has brought me to journey into the environment that is accessible to me. Through the following experiences, I realized that environment does not exist as a subject or course sitting in a vacuum. Every moment is a chance for me to practice waste management concepts because I exist in an ecosystem that is connected to other ecosystems around the planet.

This journal is a sharing of my self-discoveries in lieu of the subject waste management as reflected in my daily activities. These activities will include from going to the grocery to reading newspapers to consciously venturing into waste recycling practices and even to simply make an inventory of my own carbon footprint.

Undergoing these common experiences with a critical perspective led me to reconsider some of my usual way of living adjusting it to lessen my own environmental footprint by managing my time, materials and ways of doing things in consideration to my environment. Definitely there were small initiatives that came out from this learning journal that I am grateful for.

Best of all, the exercise enabled me to document these insights which I hope to continue even after the course.

Movie 2012
The movie visualized a doomsday scenario. It was a modern day Noahs Ark story where humanity triumphed despite mans weaknesses and natures wrath. Moviegoers buzzed over the special effects of the movie. Some were just fans of doomsday scenarios. My take on the film is enlightening. I was made aware not so much of the doomsday possibility and the idea that humanity can be saved by a futuristic Noahs Ark where rich people can buy themselves a ticket, but what shocked me was the amount of materials that got destroyed as the world went underwater. So many cars, house, buildings, bridges, and more things made of steel, glass, and aluminum. Everything was exploding and going on fire, underwater and into smokes. Water was engulfing it in just one effortless splash. The movie ended with the Arcs finding paradise that is green and covered with vegetation while water surrounds the new found island, and happy people excited to rebuild and repopulate.

I believed that the scenario is possible. Theres more to science that we dont know. I believed that the human spirit has the capacity to envision survival techniques. What I dont believe is the way man has surrounded himself with all inanimate objects. From a green lush of vegetation, man surrounded himself with an environment that was as cold as steel capable of fueling fire in a flash. How did we ever get to this place called urban area

The movie showed snapshots of how urban man produced so much waste in the guise that people needed these things. It was depressing. Steel will never be the same to me again. Reflecting on my analysis, I believe that my appreciation for automobiles went down a few notches lower. I know that a lot of families have at least two cars and its deemed necessary due to lifestyles. But on second thought, if there is a will to manage waste then managing comfort zones on an individual basis can help make the difference in a big way no matter how small an offering.

Going to the supermarket
On a weekly basis, I make it a point to get supplies to approximate freshness in my food consumption. On day three of my learning journal, I took extra time looking at food labels of the hundred of products available in the local supermarket, a few blocks away from where I lived. My findings brought me to note how much abundant in terms of food choices the community had access to. Grocery stores were categorized according to product then my grocery store categorized the products according to calorie, sugar free, organically grown, with no preservatives, vitamin fortified, and other hidden persuaders that was part of what I was buying. There were at least 20 different brands of shampoo. And one brand carried specifics like for dry or oily hair, with or without conditioner, anti-dandruff, anti-fizz, anti animal testing and so on.

For the longest time that the grocery was offering these products, there was no need for me to question the labels. I just assumed that regulatory committees and institutions were in place and doing their job. It was more than enough for me to finally decide what kind of shampoo to take given the choices. But during that particular grocery visit, I took a second look at the manufacturers. The same company manufactured a number of products. A line of different products had the same brand so much so that you can buy products from head to foot from the same brand. I realized that there was no real competition in terms of product content and service. There was just a competition in price. One brand offered shampoo to all market segments thereby securing their profitability.

And I bought three kinds of shampoo for good measure. How many shampoo brands do I need to clean my hair Its the same question posted by the environmentalist when they ask you, how much do you need when half the products you buy specially on sale eventually just goes to waste after its locked for a year in the cupboards waiting for it to reach expiry date. Overconsumption, in this day and age when humans stress the environment for so much wants than needs is unforgiveable. And overabundance is not an excuse either for overconsumption. One result of overabundance is pressure to add value to foods through processing. The producers of raw foods receive only a fraction of the price that consumers pay at the supermarket. The remaining 80 of the food dollar goes for labor, packaging and other such value-enhancing activities. (Nestle, 2007) Overconsumption eventually leads to waste.

Upon arriving home, I checked the cupboards and made a list of the usual grocery items. I vowed to always bring this list whenever I go to the grocery and make sure that I dont buy anything unnecessary. Just because its on sale doesnt mean that I need to buy it.

Visiting the recycling shop
Studies show that households has so much waste that managing a communities waste can be a nightmare.  For example, canadian households continue to generate more solid waste, and the majority of it ends up in landfill sites. Each Canadian generated about383kilograms of solid waste on average in2002, of which about one-fifth was recycled or otherwise diverted, according to a report in the2005edition of Human Activity and the Environment, the annual compendium of information on how Canadians interact with their environment.

Waste segregation starts at the home. Decades ago it was just about biodegradable and non-biodegradables. Current practice went into specifics like paper, bottles, cartons, kitchen refuse, plastics and furniture. One day, I had an idea to go and check out the recycling shop in our community. I wanted to see what they did with those segregated materials, like where it went, how they handled it and what they did with it.

I found out that paper went to a paper recycling plant that made cartons. Bottles were further clustered according to their shape and sizes and sent to their original bottling plants for re-use. Kitchen refuse was sent to an anaerobic digester that treated the effluents before they threw it into the municipal sewers. And as for plastics, they had to compress these plastics, melt them to recycle them into plastics again.

My field trip to the recycling plant was memorable because I was this ninth grader again who was as excited to go on a field trip with no idea whatsoever of what Id encounter. There were lots of machines and a few workers and the shop manager who didnt mind the grime and dirt because compared to decades ago, handling waste in this age was way so much better because segregation started at home. Bottles were cleaner, paper didnt mix with kitchen refuse, and organizing was more manageable therefore the shop is able to gather more waste from nearby communities. The shop earns from waste and therefore the more waste they collect, the more they can earn from it.

What a lovely field trip. My segregation at the house made more sense because if I can manage my own environment, and my neighbors do it also, collectively, it adds up to an even bigger sum than the mere adding up of me and my neighbors waste. I believe thats what they call synergy. I guess waste management makes more impact when a collective consciousness actively puts it in place. From then on, segregation on my part wont be an obnoxious thing to do, nor make it become just an ordinary habit. I would always be reminded that each time I take effort to segregate conscientiously, I know Im directly helping my environment.

Lecture on Organic Waste
The community of my uncle is into organic waste recycling. They have this small farm with free-range chickens and a small patch of herbal garden.

Last week, I visited my uncle and this time conscientiously listened to his 20-minute lecture on his organic gardening. I visit my uncle on some weekends when I crave for home cook meals. So that weekend, I had a home cook rosemary chicken while he lectured on organics.

If to see is to believe, I had no choice but to believe how organics changed his life. He used to be an automobile sales man during his younger days but finally went back to his country home to live off the land, so to speak. He had about 500 chickens in his small backyard of different age. The backyard that was once, concrete, was raised using soil bedding. The chickens happily scratched, pooped and pecked at these soil beddings during their lifetime. At the other end of the backyard was a small 50 square meter of herb garden that was also on raised beds. My uncle said he would spray pro-biotics to the surroundings as pest prevention and bacteria prevention. Probiotics had effective micro-organism that fed off the micro organisms that gave out bad smell like those of the other chicken farms.

From time to time, my uncle would transfer the soil from the chickens to the herb garden and vice versa. It was literally and physically a cycling and recycling of nutrients. My uncles chicken consumption was just three chickens a week and so he would sell chickens to his neighbors along with lettuce, arugula, basil and tarragon to spice up the poultry meat. He earns from this selling of chickens enough to buy him his weekly grocery, utilities and other expense of an inexpensive lifestyle, including having to cook for me on weekends.

My uncle is living proof of organic recycling. He is one of those new farmers that could save the planet. Hailing from small vegetable farms, cattle ranches and grain farms covering thousands of acres, producers have embraced new approaches to agriculture. They are renewing profits, enhancing environmental stewardship and improving the lives of their families as well as their communities.

I learned a lot about pro-biotics and managing a small piece of land just enough to sustain simple needs. I know that these are part of sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture is a rapidly growing field aiming at producing food and energy in a sustainable way for humans and their children. Sustainable agriculture is a discipline that addresses current issues such as climate change, increasing food and fuel prices, poor-nation starvation, rich-nation obesity, water pollution, soil erosion, fertility loss, pest control, and biodiversity depletion. (Lichtfouse, 2010)

But whats more important is that simple Grade 5 Science experiment is making my uncle healthy. He doesnt spray synthetics nor inject antibiotics and hormones on his crops and livestock that makes the chicken very juicy and tender and disease risk free.

Though I cant stop eating at the fast foods, I can definitely buy my share of chicken budget for the week. Maybe I can bring some friends and let them taste organic chicken. Maybe they will like it and get some tasty idea about organics. Maybe some of my friends who have farms would think about probiotics. Who knows Im just proud of my uncle who took to heart waste management and made it into a lifestyle instead of just merely a course to pass in a university.

Analyzing my own Carbon Footprint
Last week, I figured to list down the ways of my using water as a personal exercise in resource inventory. The list highlights my use of water that starts as soon as I wake up. I use the bathroom at least three times a day. I use water for the kitchen at least twice a day, for preparing, cooking food and cleaning dinner plates. Cleaning the house daily use water. The plants are watered everyday as well.

I use at least 100 gallons of water a week that totals to 3,000 gallons a month. The arithmetic goes on. This data shows me how dependent I am of water. As they say, a man can go on 40 days and 40 nights without food but three days without water can become life threatening. But in my list of water, drinking water to nourish my body takes on less than 5 glasses a day that is less than the recommended dietary suggestion. The rest of the water I use goes to making my own abode-environment clean according to the standards of my community.

My dilemma took me to criticize how much water I use to flush my pee. Would it be better to flush every after three pees Would that help the environment Was this an important dilemma If I had a thousand pees left in my lifetime, would my water conservation amount to at the least a hectare for irrigating corns Managing my water, at the least meant that I would have to use water wisely in a conservative manner I suppose.

It would not be advantageous to me directly. I wouldnt want my bathroom to smell acidic. I cant hold out my pee either. And I cant share pee flushing with my neighbors. One solution that comes to mind is a flushing gadget. These gadgets can measure the amount of water used for flushing. Minimum mode is flushing for pee and maximum mode is flushing for everything else. Its a minimal investment on my part considering the guilt I now have of using too much water.

Unhealthiest Food at the Mall A Yahoo Article
Browsing the internet daily, I chanced upon this article on health entitled, Unhealthiest Food at the Mall. It interested me because I also frequent the malls when I get a chance. The article posts a list of unhealthy food and offers alternatives. For example, drinking Mango Mantra instead of Jumbo Java Juice that packs sugar equivalent to six packs of MM. It suggests a Tomato Pizza over an Sbarro Stuffed Pepperoni. It will choose Broccoli with Eggplant Tofu instead of Panda Orange Chicken which is yummy. The authors basis of comparison is the amount of salt, unsaturated fats and calories that the food is packed with. Never minding the taste and how it sounds or how it looks, the author believes that these mall food and drink generally makes teens go on their way to obesity.

I believe this author did his nutrition research. I commend on his effort of publishing alternatives to the food that is criticized. Its also best that he shared the reason why he published the article because it puts in perspective his motives which was to help a column fan. The article will definitely help other readers like me.

This puts me into realizing that while there is an external environment to be managed, there is also an internal environment to be dealt with, personally, 24 by 7, even while sleeping. The amount and kind of food we take affect our internal environment which is composed of organs, blood flow, balance, and to those who believe, spiritual dimension.

Calories, unsaturated fats and salt are not evil by themselves. What makes the internal environment imbalanced and dis-ease is getting too much or too little of something too hot, too spicy, too sweet or too salty. Traditional Chinese Medicine studies suggest that knowing the right food to eat begins by knowing the outer environment. Heavy breakfast warms the body up that came from sleep where sleep is experienced during night when there is not sun and therefore is a cold environment. So while the sun rises, the environment warms up and so should the body warm up as well. Vegetables and fruits that are predominantly cold will balance the body during lunch hours if and when lunch is taken at noon when the environment is very hot.

Dis-ease begins when internal temperatures, pressure and volume are imbalanced due to over intake of anything that is salty, sweet, sour, or bitter. Research on this article and reflection on this topic has made me reflect on how I manage my own internal environment. Health is a reflection of the balance between the different aspects of ourselves (body, mind, soul) and our environment, our experiences, our associations and our food. There cannot be sickness in any of these categories without its being reflected to some degree in all of the others. (Tierra 1980) It is shocking to find out after reading this article that some companies offer goods that are essentially of no use to the body and therefore just a waste of energy.

Summary
The field of waste management seems large and full of challenges at first thought. Waste management is a big concept. Managing it makes it more complicated. In the early onset of this learning journal, I really didnt know where to start. But as soon as I jotted down my plans, laying out an outline of what I can do first, things seem to fall into place.

The journal led me to look at my own waste products, internally and externally. I didnt need to go to the North Pole to understand global warming. I didnt need to go to a big farm to understand sustainable agriculture. The supermarket and my experience there was enough to open my sights on the ills of overproduction and how capitalism destroys the environment.

The journal definitely led me on a journey of exploration and search for answers because observing definitely led one to questions that was not there before. Life before the journal just went on like any other Monday to Sunday habits. Whats scary is that I have been going through my habits not knowing that the little things I do affects the planet including the planet inside me.

I know that I learned a lot because I enjoyed the explorations. It was a big field trip in a sense that I didnt really attend lectures or seminars. I had a great time going to different places that were always there and where I always went but this time, with the learning journal in mind, I discovered that I could learn from these common environments. Observations, analysis, reflection and reaction were prime movers to my journey and discovery. These skills have to become the habit instead of habits that do not help the environment albeit increase the chances of its destruction.

March 10, 2006 -- There has been a significant buzz on television commercials and in the media making a strong case that everyone needs to add probiotics into their diets for good health. Faith Popcorn, trend predictor, noted probiotics as one of the hottest food trends for 2006. Are you confused by terms like probiotics that sound more like a chemistry experiment than a dietary supplement Youre not alone.

Probiotics are the latest in the category of good-for-you foods. Basically, they are good bacteria added to foods or occurring naturally in certain yogurts, fermented dairy drinks, and in supplement form. Probiotics have been used as a form of treatment for a variety of gastrointestinal diseases including irritable bowel, lactose intolerance, travelers diarrhea, and antibiotic-induced diarrhea.

How do they work Scientists are not exactly sure but surmise that the good bacteria replace or crowd out the germs or bad bacteria in the intestinal tract. Another theory is that the good bugs keep the intestinal tract acidic where bad bugs cant survive. Our digestive tracts are lined with more than 400 different kinds of good bacteria that help fight off infection and keep us healthy. The largest group of good bacteria is the one found in yogurt. By consuming foods with probiotics, you can increase the number of healthy bacteria, boost your immunity, and promote a healthy digestive system.