Prince George's County Community Hazards Research Paper

Prince George's County Community Hazards - Research Paper Example The county has been affected by a number of hazards which has resulted of loss of property and even lives. Some of these hazards are related to weather which have caused injuries and deaths to the people. Moreover, it is evident that the public are not informed about certain hazards and how to manage the same in the places in which they live in. According to report released by FEMA higher percentage of people are likely to build in floodplains areas due to the fact that they are not aware of the risks associated with the same (Association of State Floodplain Managers, 2008). Therefore, it is important to inform the public about the risks associated with building in floodplain areas. However, it is has been noted that in some cases the public are not aware that they are residing in floodplain areas and they only become aware of the same after purchasing property in flood areas and suffer the effects of the floods (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2005). In Prince George’s C ounty the risk level of the existing hazards are described as medium high. These hazards include drought, severe storm, streambank erosion and winter storm. However, the river of risks is high when it comes to coastal floods and the Riverine flood hazards. Based on this the damages caused by the aforementioned risks are calculated using damages caused to the buildings, in addition to the value of replacing the buildings and also the age of the building. However, studies have indicated that damages which are as a result of wildland fire or drought are caused by the way human population utilize land. It has been pointed out that drought as a hazard within the county impacts negatively on the planning of the place and more specifically the agricultural sector. Nevertheless, the less it is hard to mitigate the damages that are caused to crops (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2005). Hazards such as wildland fires influence areas with grass fields, brush, crops and even tress. Apart from resulting into loss f crops the same results into economic loss not only at the personal level but also the county. Additionally, when forests are burnt the planning area of the county is interfered with and human population is likely to encroach in the land. Streambank erosion as a hazard affecting the county on an annual basis is as a result of constant and increased river discharge. This makes the hydrology of the county to change. Presently, the officials of the county have indicated that streambank erosion causes a variety of problems ranging from minor to major ones. The hazard has resulted into infrastructures an aspect that has resulted into human population encroaching land that is publicly owned. Additionally, the winter storm which is another hazard that occurs in the area on an annual basis is mostly characterized by three aspects. These are high amount of moisture, lift and cold air which not only results into precipitation but also formation of cloud. In most caus es the winter storms that affect the Maryland negatively are as a result of jet streams which are in the middle attitudes cross and move to the continental United States (Prince George's County Department of Environmental Resources, 2011). Additionally, the degree of the storm varies in addition to the impacts caused by the same. For instance within the county cases of property

Including Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Education Research Paper

Including Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Education Programs - Research Paper Example Further, the differences between children with disabilities or developmental delays and other children are difficult for teachers to deal with (Openshaw 45). However, an inclusive early childhood classroom benefits both normal children and those with disabilities. The former learn acceptance, tolerance and helpfulness, while the latter benefit from the dynamic environment, particularly when they receive supplementary help to overcome any setback caused by their disability. Social workers, special education teachers, speech therapists, and others can provide immense support. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood education programs. Early Childhood Education Optimizing children’s potential through early education depends to a great extent on the environment in which they learn, whether at home, in day care, or in a nursery school classroom. In an inadequate environment, children’s poten tial will not get developed, resulting in quickly widening gaps in achievement which become increasingly difficult to overcome. Example of a model program in America for preschools targetted at low-income children is Head Start. It has offered a helping hand to the nation’s neediest families and children through provision of pre-academic skills, social skills, preventive medical and dental care; and teaching families about nutrition. Head Start also provides child care services otherwise unavailable to low-income parents, and gives nutritious meals and snacks to the preschoolers. It is one of the several early education schemes that ensure that children from lower economic groups get support and preparation for formal schooling (Kennedy 3). The aim is towards equity among all children for reaching their potential and fulfilling their dreams. Short-term beneficial outcomes of the Head Start program are that â€Å"children benefit from improved health and nutrition, and from b eing in a safe and nurturing environment† (Currie 233). Some medium-term benefits of the early education program include the prevention of children being placed in the special education track, and reduced incidence of grade repetition in early grades. Potential cost savings are extensive, because special education is significantly more expensive than regular schooling, and those children who enter special education are more likely to stay in that track. Monitoring of the children’s progress is necessary at every step. Inclusion in Early Childhood Education The concepts of inclusion and exclusion of children with disabilities in relation to the general early education classroom, renders disabled children as ‘different’ from their non-disabled counterparts. Inclusionary discourses are based on the ‘humanness’ of disabled children, where they are not perceived as ‘the other’ as compared to children in the general education classroom. The concept of humanity emphasizes disabled children being ‘like us’. On the other hand, exclusionary approaches to early education believe that regular teachers and early childhood centers are not responsible for the education and care of disabled children (Purdue, Ballard & MacArthur 47). Early childhood education that incorporates inclusion of disabled children, or excludes them is a concept that is a part of a wider social context where there may be

Criminal Liability And Use Of Force Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Criminal Liability And Use Of Force - Essay Example When someone is arraigned in court on the event that they solicited another person, it has to be proven. At this point, corroboration comes in. In court, there always has to be evidence otherwise multitude of people will be held custody and others for no solid reason. Corroboration requirements apply on a crime of solicitation when the accused is guilty of commanding another person to commit a crime. Not only is corroborating evidence a requirement on its own, it needs one witness along with it. Corroborating evidence is so firm on its own that it only needs one witness. It can have recordings of audio and video acts or any other doing. Someone is found guilty even on planning a solicited crime even though the crime is not in progress. The crime of solicitation can be numerous in one plan considering whether they happened in different places, different ways, different times and different payments with different amounts. The accused would be facing several suits. It is found sensible that if one encourages another person to commit a specific crime, it is part of that crime too. Conspiracy is termed used as the agreement or merging of ideas between two people to commit a crime. A conspiracy is successful when there is a motive and is agreed upon, an intention to the motive and an overt act. An overt act could be something like buying of ammunitions and guns to be used in the certain crime. The overt act is a very transparent act that can be used as proof in front of a jury or during jurisdiction on a presentation of a crime.

Transnational Media Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Transnational Media Globalization - Essay Example Frames are seen as a perfect metaphor for media because they're diverse and indefinite, that is, they allow for a measure of flexibility, of definition, and use. According to Watson "we have picture frames into which we insert images that in turn, in some way or another, provide us with representation; something that has been subject to a number of wider frames, each one manipulating and influenced by the other (2007, p. 107)." It is critical to identify the difference between frames that are visible, immediately identifiable and those that are invisible, whose presence you sense but is often difficult to single out. These are identified as subliminal. The newspaper page is a frame, from its headlines, headings and subtitles, to the position of photographs, to the shifts in print size: the bigger the story, the bigger the type. Well, not exactly and not always, with television we can readily recognize framing devices (Creeber 2001, p110). In his novel, "Putting 'Reality' together: BBC News, Philip Schlesinger refers to a specific case in which the BBC in collaboration with the British government exercised the act of gate-keeping to prevent an originally green-lit investigative report from being broadcast. In the book Schlesnigner notes "the New Statesman journalist,, Duncan Campbell, was, commissioned by the BBC in November 1985 to make a series of six programmes called Secret Society originally to be broadcast on BBC-2 in November 1986. The series as a whole was controversial, its topics including the abuse of private data, problems of British radar systems, freedom of information, the powers of the Association of Chief Police officers, and government authority during nuclear emergencies (Schlesinger, xxv)." The piece was set to reveal many vulnerabilities in public policy that gave elites and government figures the privilege to exploit their positions. Schlesinger goes on to point how the specific aspect of the pro gram that would make controversial stemmed from a government cover-up by Parliament not to reveal the details of a secret satellite project, codenamed Zircon , for which funding had been passed through the House of Common's Public Accounts Committee (Schlesinger, xxv). While the program was cleared to be aired on December 4th 1986 by the Assistant Director-Genreal of the BBC, Alan Protheroe, it was eventual banned by the Director-General, Alasdair Milne on January 15th 1987 on the grounds of national security (Schlesinger, xxv). This is a classic example of gate-keeping and censorship practiced by the BBC for the sake of protecting the policy makers and elites of the country. The gate swings shut

Durkheims definition of Religion Application to Political Movements Essay

Durkheims definition of Religion Application to Political Movements - Essay Example This book received great accolade because Durkheim utilized a case study of the Australian aborigines, stating that they represented the most elementary form of religion within a society or culture. According to Durkheim, religious representations such as sacred rituals come into existence when groups of people come together and such rites or rituals are aimed at bringing people into a certain state of mentality while keeping them excited. Thus, in essence, religion gave people within a society a form of identification and mark of togetherness (Allen et al, 2012, p.2). His theory on religion was founded on the fact that sociology can be explained using natural sciences as it is a scientific study and in turn it can be proven using an experiment, in this case the case study. However, science is proven using scientific facts; the same cannot be said for religion, as it would be difficult to establish any religious facts. This was the main challenge facing Durkheim as he embarked on exp laining religion (Orru and Wang 1999, p.47). Criticism of his work stemmed from the fact that his case study featured ‘primitive peoples’, whose mode of thinking cannot be equivalent to western or rational thinkers of modern times. This was overlooked, nonetheless, because of the imaginative and insightful ideas that he was able to bring to light. It has been demonstrated that there is difficulty or it is of no significance to attempt to prove that religion can indeed be studied as a science; more so, that sacred rituals are a universal concept (Allen et al, 2012, p.6). Political Movements Commonly referred to as political sociology, the study of politics suggests that political parties function in the same way as religious sects. Followers in both cases exhibit the same kind of loyalty where leaders and/or fellow followers are justified or excused for any villainous crimes committed. Another theory explored suggests that even though political parties employ rituals and symbols as modes of self-representation, they are not similar to religious phenomenon. However, they need to be explained as demagogic means needed to preserve and reaffirm the authenticity of power among masses of people. This is referred to as the crowd manipulation interpretation, where the irrational aspects of belief and faith are used in an attempt to determine the impact of politics on the masses. For this reason, politics is termed as secular religion as a system of rituals and symbols are employed and this create an atmosphere of sacredness that, in turn, brings out politics as an object of worship and devotion (Jones, n.d). Following Durkheim’s argument, in order to understand fully religion we must go back in time and analyse religious phenomena historically. This explains why he selected the Australian aborigines as his case study; that however primitive they might have been, it would be significant to discover their constituent and how they gave rise to the mode rn religions. This is done by comparing constituent elements from both cases. Durkheim insists, nevertheless, that this analysis involving both historical and ethnographic observations is not a conceptual possibility but rather a concrete reality. Notably also, he explained his choice of the Australian aborigines, a pre-modern group stating that it was scientific because there needs to be a foundation for every concept to be rightly explained. This was in contradiction to scholars who use history as a means of bringing into disrepute their modern counterparts (Rosati 2009, p.13). This implies that religion or any

Lutheranism and Calvinism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Lutheranism and Calvinism - Essay Example Due to his intellectual gifts, Martin Luther was able to pursue studies in the University of Wittenberg and his scholarship, especially in the Bible, helped his progress towards a reformer. In 1517, he was forced to break up with Rome and he dedicated his life to the spreading of reformative ideas. Although Lutheranism and Calvinism outwardly share several commonalities, they both differ from each other in a significant way. In spite of the fact that both these movements emphasized people's sinfulness, lack of free will, and helplessness, rejected good works as means of salvation, accepted only baptism and communion as sacraments etc, the major ideologies of Calvinism were very different from those of Lutheranism. They differed with regard to the concept of predestination, morality and discipline, church organization, etc. Significantly, Calvinism particularly appealed to certain groups and the people of the cities welcomed both Lutheranism and Calvinism. Calvinism, especially, appealed to the learned men and the literate, and it emphasized sobriety, discipline, and communal responsibility. It was more successful in the areas of southern France.

Human Resource Management - Worklife balance Essay

Human Resource Management - Worklife balance - Essay Example This paper contributes to the work/life balance and work/non-work conflict literature by analyzing the literature of various studies, which examine the attitudes and experiences relating to work/life balance among UK, employees in the first 10 years of their careers. Specifically, the analysis explores the extent to which work/life balance matters, the extent to which it is being achieved and the factors that determine perceptions of work/non-work conflict, including the state of the psychological contract between employer and employee, work involvement and organisational support. The potential impact of work/non-work conflict on organisational commitment is examined, and the policy implications for employers considered. Corporate leaders understand that employees' work and family lives rare inextricably linked. They al ways have been but today, with increased pressures in both domains, the overlap and the challenges created are increasingly obvious and complex to resolve. Solving the paradox seated in an organisation's need to be optimally productive and the individual's need to find quality time to meet domestic responsibilities, to establish, maintain and grow relationships and to relax and re-charge, is the great challenge of the new millennium. Most managers have yet to overcome the conundrum for themselves let alone help employees resolve it in their lives. The prospects for easing the work/ life imbalance dilemma lie, at least in part, in establishing what is creating it. 'Know thy enemy' and so forth. Enemy number one must surely be the 'time distribution imbalance' trap - consistently committing too much time to work where this is having a detrimental impact on personal life. However, the concept of 'work-life balance' means different things to different people, and there are always shades of grey. What is an imbalance to one person is perfectly acceptable to another. In addition, commercial realities cannot be ignored. Somehow, the needs of key customers and/or other stakeholders must be met or they will take their patronage elsewhere. These and the myriad of other related issues are why the problem is so vexed and why many leaders effectively suspend their attempts to solve it. It ends up in the 'too hard' basket. However, given the gravity of the problem and the potential upside that comes with finding a remedy, at some point the issue must come back to the fore. So where to start Most managers agree that a so-called 'quality work environment' reduces the employment stresses that can spill over to staff's personal lives and create distress. The quality work environment bundle might include job characteristics such as work time flexibility, individual responsibility and autonomy, the physical office environment, pay, equity and advancement conditions. Lastly, but certainly not least, the nature of interpersonal relations in the office is very important. For some time, it has been argued that achieving a 'balance' between home life and work life is increasingly a priority for many people. As long ago