Climate change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Climate change - Essay Example Nevertheless, global community is facing a new threat – climate change. People need to understand that it affects all spheres of their life. Being an international crisis, climate change concerns all countries. Mankind should learn how to deal with climate change and adapt to it. Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time. It effects the environment every day. There are â€Å"national and global issues that are occurring due to the climate change† (â€Å"The current and future consequences of global change†). Climate change poses great risks: extreme weather, melting ice, rising seas, shifting rainfall, floods, droughts, cyclones, and health problems. And it is not the full list. It affects the whole world, but not all regions are in the same positions. Some countries face critical problems right now. Others will face them in the near future. Risks of climate change can be grouped into different categories, for example â€Å"risks to human health, global food security, economic development, and to the natural world† (â€Å"Consequences of climate change†). Climate change transforms the natural world. Oceans and rivers become bigger, ice melts, flora and fauna changes: new species appear, while other species become extinct. Expanding oceans due to rising temperatures concern every nation in the world, but northern and island nations are under the greater impact. According to Jim Hwang, Taiwan is especially sensitive to the impact of climate change. Because of flooding, people there lose their homes and can’t produce enough food (1). One country cannot cope with it. Only cooperation can solve this problem, but it is hard to reach an agreement between all nations. Some countries do not want to spend money on studies about climate change, while others do not have money to spend. Climate change is a great challenge for international law, too. Differences in bills and

Impact of Crystal Meth Addiction

Impact of Crystal Meth Addiction By the time you are in elementary you already have some knowledge on drugs. They affect us in various ways, sometimes even personally. For Luke it became a personal issue. At first he began living in the house of a crystal meth addict to research the drug and experience first-hand how it affected others. Originally he had no intention of taking the drug, but after some time he fell into temptation. Since the house he was living in was full of crystal meth and crystal meth addicts it’s not surprising that this ending up happening. At first he would only use it occasionally/recreationally. He felt that he could accomplish more while using it and that non-user were weird for not using it. According to him it was cheap, it helped him lose weight, and it was really fun. â€Å"I felt creative, confident and productive.† (Luke Williams) But after sometime this recreational drug became something he could not live without. Luke then became an addict and began to experience psychotic episodes and aggression. Because of crystal meth he felt that everyone was out to get him and wanted to kill him. This is when he realized that he needed to stop. He went to a hospital, but they offered him pretty much no help and were very unsympathetic. The place where he used to live kicked him out and finding a place to stay became a difficult task. He lived with other crystal meth addicts but they began to flip out on him, leaving him with no choice, but to return home. His parents were very kind and took him in and helped him with his addiction. Learning to cope with the after effects of crystal meth was hard, but with the help of his parents he is now living a normal healthy lifestyle. Although he no longer has that many friends he feels better, because now he doesn’t have bad influences around him. He realizes how dumb he wa s for taking crystal meth and encourages others to never try it (Williams). But where did this drug that destroys so many homes and lives come from? This drug is a man-made stimulant that has been around for a long time. Crystal meth was originally made by the government during World War II to help soldiers stay awake. But after realizing the after affects it had on the soldiers the government decided to ban it. Most of the crystal meth in the United States comes from Mexican super labs. Although people still make it here in the U.S. it’s usually inside their homes. It’s very dangerous to make because of the chemicals involved which are very explosive. Crystal meth comes in clear chunky crystals resembling ice and is most commonly smoked. You can identify Crystal Meth addicts by certain characteristics/behaviors that they exhibit. One of the first things that you will start to notice is that they do not care about their personal appearance or hygiene. They continually pick at their hair and skin which causing themselves nasty looking sores. And they get pimples that are hard to get rid of. They are also more likely to steal to pay for their addiction. Angry outbursts and mood swings are very common in crystal meth addicts. Other affects it has on the body is raising the body temperature to an abnormal level, so high that the user could pass out or even die. They lose appetite and weight dramatically. Dilated pupils, rapid eye movement, anxiousness, confusion, insomnia, unsafe sex, violent outbursts, and twitching are some of the after effects of crystal meth. Users can become paranoid and hear and see things that aren’t actually there (hallucinations). (Ratini) But why do people take this drug? What makes it so addictive? The powerful rush people get from using crystal meth makes a lot of people get hooked right from the start. When its used, a chemical called dopamine (chemical in the brain that floods parts of it that regulate feelings of pleasure). Users also feel confident and energetic. A user can become addicted quickly and soon finds he will do anything to have the rush again. As he continues to use the drug, he builds up a tolerance. That means he needs higher doses to get the same high. The higher the dosage of crystal meth, the higher the risks. How do you get clean from such a powerful drug? How do you liberate yourself from its iron grasp? Since most people who try crystal meth are immediately addicted to it, it’s very hard to get clean from it. Actually it’s one of the hardest drug addictions to beat. People who are addicted to crystal meth usually cannot beat the addiction on their own and require professional help. They either need a professional counselor or drug treatment program. For the first few weeks their bodies will go into withdrawal and they will only be able to eat and sleep because their mind and body are too tired to do anything else. They will feel anti-social and may have violent outbursts. During the whole withdrawal your body is screaming for meth. This is the hardest part of getting clean. Then they go through a honeymoon phase where they feel super confident. Most people have a relapse during this moment because of how over confident they are. Then comes more depression and boredom after this. Finally they move into the adjustment phase where they begin to adjust to society and life in general. Staying clean is a daily choice so it’s an ongoing recovery. But how does this drug affect your spiritual life? Can you still have a close relationship with God while doing Crystal Meth? No, you can’t†¦ Of course the Bible never directly talks about drugs but that’s because they were not around during those days. But it does talk about addictions. All of the apostolic exhortations to remain sober-minded and alert are designed to remind us that we must be vigilant against the snares of the Devil who seeks to ensnare us through deception. (1 Peter 5:8) (1 Corinthians 15:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8; 2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8) All of these texts talk about being sober and how can you do that if you’re so high you don’t even know your name? Sobriety is also important for prayer (1 Peter 4:7). As Christians, our bodies are not our own, we have been bought with a price which is the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:17-19) (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Having bought us with His own life if we pollute or harm our bodies w e desecrate the House of God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). So I guess all this answers the question if you can or can’t be high and still consider yourself a devoted Christian. In the beginning I mentioned that Luke began to use the drug because he was naà ¯ve of its effects on the human body and what crystal meth actually was. After reading all of this information I feel like he would think twice before trying the drug. People don’t usually think about the effects drugs have on your body and never stop to consider the after effects. But if it is all written out for you and personal testimonies are added then it’s a lot easier to stop and be informed about the drug. This type of information would have saved Luke from a lot of pain, hardship, and danger. And all though he wasn’t a Christian, the texts from the Bible can be very helpful to Christian youth who are experimenting with different things. Many people are ignorant and think that just trying a drug once will not affect them later on and that they are just going to do it once recreationally. Unfortunately this is not the case 99% of the time. Because crystal meth is so strong peo ple get addicted to it the first time they try it and it is really hard to stop the addiction that is why Luke had such a hard time. To prevent things like this from happening we need to speak out against drug abuse and inform people on what Crystal meth and drugs in general do to your body. We need to let them know that they take control of your life and leave you worse than you ever were before. And battling drug addiction is a lifelong thing because your body will always crave the drug. Crystal meth ruins hundreds of lives, families, relationships, and homes each year that is why we must speak out against it now. Luke didn’t have people in his life to inform him, but think about the people you know that are messing around with drugs; have you taken the time to inform them? Don’t let them go through all the things Luke went through. Works Cited Petit, Aymeric. J Addict Res. Methamphetamine Addiction: A Review of the Literature (2012): http://omicsonline.org/methamphetamine-addiction-a-review-of-the-literature-2155-6105.S1-006.php?aid=3893. Ratini, Melinda. crystal meth what should you know. 16 september 2014. 6 may 2015. . Williams, Luke. life as a chrystal meth addict. The saturday Paper 2 8 2014: 2.

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James Eagan Holmes didn’t let six-year-old Veronica Moser-Sullivan out of that movie theatre that fateful night. Daniel Parmentors mom didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to him because of T.J. Lane. Mary Sherlack’s husband will not set the table for her after Adam Lanza entered her school. The actions of those three shooters were not to cause such small but widespread repercussions for so many other mourning people. They all suffered from various mental illnesses. 79% of recent shootings are attributable to mental illnesses. The U.S. should re-evaluate gun screenings to decrease the odds of another mass shooting by not allowing anyone with any mental or psychological problem to own or possess a firearm. While the Constitution states that everyone has the right to bear arms, the present situation is different from that past, when relations with Great Britain were shaky. Secondly, gun violence is on the rise, with 46 school shootings since 2010, compared with only 40 from 2000 to 2010. Finally, if gun screenings are modified, there will be many jobs available, while contributing to national security at the same time. Many gun owner argue that since the Constitution gives everyone the right to bear arms, that we should obey the law and allow everyone to own guns. While this is true, it does not mention that it was over a different time period that the law was passed. During that time period, relations with Great Britain were shaky, and the U.S. government wanted to ensure that each citizen would be able to defend themselves. It was essential that the country to be armed so that a part of it could not be taken over by another country that would have been greedy for power. Guns also made people feel safer, and therefore loyal to the... ...A lot of money? Yes it is. But that does not have tobe that only big change made by the government. If a fee of 50$ to own a single gun for a year was introduced, then the U.S. could make the U.S lots of money to pay for the program, and they would turn a profit at the same time.â€Å"There’s no perfect estimate of firearms in the U.S. because creating a national registry of firearms is prohibited by federal law,† noted Alex Katz, a spokesman for Mayors Against Illegal Guns. â€Å"But academics and interest groups across the political spectrum broadly agree on the 300 million figure.† And if the estimates that Katz gave are accurate, then the U.S. could have 15 billion dollars rolling in at the same time, and after staff expenses are paid, they can make nearly 2.5 billion dollars per year. This price tag that comes with the guns could even discourage some potential gunbuyers.

Justice vs Mercy

Justice is the most fundamental requirement of a properly functioning, civilized society. An unwavering system of cause and effect that apply to all members is exactly what human beings need to ensure peaceful living. As the events and characters of Shakespeare’s King Lear clearly indicate, mercy is extremely important in dealing with problems in society, but justice should be the standard by which people are governed in dealing with crimes, however harsh it may seem.Man needs to fear the consequences of his actions because if there are no undesired repercussions, he will follow his baser desires to no limit. When there is a strict system of justice in place that applies to all members of society, fewer crimes will be committed as a result of public punishments. Also, there is a system of karma that we already see in place. If justice is not served by the law, some form of justice comes around to the perpetrator from a higher power. Therefore, in dealing with crimes in society as a whole, the use of justice should dominate the use of mercy.I believe that human nature is to be content with virtue. However, there is also a part of us that is desirous of evil. It is that lower, deeper part of our desires that gives us pleasure in doing things that we know are harmful to ourselves and those around us. Most people will tell you they follow a certain moral conduct because of the virtue of their character, but only a certain percentage of those people actually speak the truth. The rest, only do so for fear of consequences.This is exactly the reason why people behave well in front of others, while they do many undesirable things when they are alone. If there is no fear of the legal repercussions of one’s actions, the majority of the population will not be able to control that inner monster who is only satiated with evil and destruction. As Albany, the son-in-law of King Lear so eloquently puts it: â€Å"If that the heavens do not their visible spirits | Send quickly down to tame these vile offences, | It will come,| Humanity must perforce prey on itself, |Like monsters of the deep. (IV, ii, 46-49). He is saying that if some form of justice is not dished out, the world would turn into a wild and savage place. Therefore, a system of justice that allots punishments that are equal in degree to the crimes committed is needed to keep people in check. Also, the system of justice that we just spoke about should be unwavering for each and every individual in society, no matter the rank or position of that person. King Lear himself says, â€Å"†¦Through tattered clothes small vices do appear; /Robes and furred gowns hide all.Plate sin with gold, /And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks; / Arm it in rags, a pygmy’s straw does pierce it† (IV, vi, 167-169) Here, he is complaining of the sad state that the justice system is in. There is a huge amount of unfairness that happens when judging the rich and the poor for the same offence. Poor people suffer a lot more for their petty crimes, while the rich can get away with the worst things by paying off the right people. What King Lear concluded hundreds of years ago, is still the sad state of our society today.The justice system is so corrupt that people in higher positions of power that are tried and proven guilty of horrendous crimes sometimes get the same amount of prison time as a small scaled armed robbery. An example of this is when pictures leaked of physical and emotional torture and sadistic killings conducted by a certain general and the 6 other people on his team in a prison in Iraq. A lot of the people that were there were taken from the streets and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and had no knowledge of the terrorist forces.These people were detained and every time they were to be ‘questioned’, they would be taken to a room, stripped naked, beaten, put into stress positions and have a number of other thin gs done to them that are too gruesome to speak of. These American soldiers took pictures of all the things that went on. These pictures were ultimately how they got caught. Even with all that proof, the largest sentence that was given out was for 10 years to the general and sentences ranging from 6 months to a couple of years to the 6 other members that were involved.This is how unfair the justice system is in North America. If a society was to be created where all members are actually treated the same, there would be less crime in that society as a whole as everyone would know they cannot get away with anything. Lastly, justice is such that what goes around, comes around. I believe in karma as it is often apparent in life. Sometimes, the return is not of equal degree to the action, but in the end, you reap what you sow.This is what Albany means when he says, â€Å"This shows you are above,/ You justicers, that these our nether crimes/ So speedily can venge†. (IV, ii, (78-80) He is expressing his gratitude to the Gods for the death of Cornwall for his horrible crimes. I am also of the opinion that God will even out the forces of evil when He sees fit. Therefore, we should establish the ideal system of justice and stick with it in the correct manner. If crimes are committed by us, we should accept the punishment agreed on by the society or a stronger and worst punishment may come our way from someone else.In conclusion, to ensure a society in which crime is curbed as much as possible, a proper, strict justice system needs to be established that is equal in its dealings with all classes of people. This is the only way to ensure the control of human desire as there is no telling what a person might do to harm themselves and others without rules to govern them. References: 1)Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Toronto: Signet Classic Shakespeare, 1998. 2)Ghosts of Abu Ghraib. dir. Rory Kennedy, 2007.

History with Derek Mahon Essay

History is a subject which preoccupies Mahon in many of his most important poems. I would choose particular poems because of his view towards our history and the past. His poetry presents history in a very negative light. Mahon sees the past as ‘deep-delving, dark, deliberate you would say’. In the poem Rathlin Mahon recalls historical violence on an island that is now a ‘sanctuary’ of peace and ‘through with history’. However this island in the past has witnessed ‘unspeakable violence’ with the massacre of the Rathlin women. He speaks of the ‘unnatural silence’ on the island gradually becoming ‘natural’ over the years through the island not being inhabited. Come the end of the poem Mahon is unsure ‘whether the future lies before us or behind’. Whether the violence is now behind us or is violence a continuing part of our future? In Mahons Poem Kinsale there is a welcome and a long awaited moment of light and hope. The opening line of this poem was an optimistic thought from Mahon himself by saying, ‘the kind of rain we knew is a thing of the past’. The use of imagery in this poem is both vivid and warming. The image of ‘Yachts tinkling and dancing in the bay’ is a striking image as it is both beautiful and positively uplifting. The sun is a direct contrast to the rain. The sun is an image of hope and the ‘future forbidden to no-one’ while the rain is the constant reminder of a violence filled history. Although Mahon showed a slight sense of hope he is constantly overcome with those ‘who have come so far in darkness and in pain’. In the poem A Disused Shed in Co. Wexford he uses the metaphor of mushrooms neglected in a shed to represent the victims of history. Please note! This is not an example of text written by our writers! Essaypedia.com is a database of essays that were collected at open web resources. You can use them at you own risk following the citation rules below. But we recommend you to order a custom plagiarism-free essay written just for you from one of our writers. Place an order, add your paper details and enjoy the results! You can keep in touch with your writer, check the draft of your paper and send your order for revision for free. If you are hesitating to place an order – just ask for a quote! However the both extraordinary and unbelievable picture of mushrooms with feelings is not the only reason I would choose this poem. Mahon uses the image of mushrooms neglected and forgotten to portray the misery and despair of thousands of victims who have died or survived the torturous past. ‘They are begging us you see’ to not forget them or forget what they have been through. Even the most insignificant people in history still deserve the recognition for their struggle. Small heroes from the past ‘In their wordless way’ are saying ‘Let not our naà ¯ve labours have gone in vain’. Mahon also deals greatly with the theme of isolation in this poem. The mushrooms are completely cut off from the world and their only form of light ‘Is a keyhole rusting gently after rain’. The theme of isolation is also portrayed in the poem Grandfather. The ‘Grandfather’ in the poem has completely isolated himself from family and friends. ‘Discreetly up to no good’ he leaves the house in the morning and does not return until ‘After dark’. However nothing gets by this grandfather, ‘Nothing escapes him, he escapes us all’. ‘His shrewd eyes bolt the door’ to his life and he would rather not be bothered by anyone or anything. Another good choice of poem sticking with the theme of isolation would be After the Titanic. In this poem the persona of Bruce Ismay is overcome with guilt and as a result has completely isolated himself from the world. This poem is a favourite of mine also because Mahon writes in the persona of Ismay so brilliantly. ‘Include me in your lamentations’ was the final line of this poem and it sums up what Ismay was asking for. Like the mushrooms in A Disused shed in Co. Wexford he wanted to be remembered just like those who had died in the sinking of the titanic. He believed he ‘sank as far that night as any hero’ as his life and soul died that night. He watched the ship go ‘thundering down’ and with it went his ‘costly life’. He now ‘stays in bed’ and ‘will see no-one’. Mahon allows the reader to become Bruce Ismay if only for a minute. It is amazing reading this poem. The poem Antarctica is also a great example of Mahons ability of writing in a variety of personas. In this poem Mahon writes in the persona of captain Lawrence Oates an explorer who gave his life for the lives of his fellow men. ‘I am just going outside and may be some time’ are said to be his final words. Mahons deals greatly with the theme of people in this poem. He shows that there is good in man kind and ‘At the heart of the ridiculous, the sublime’. Mahon shows that even in the worst instances of isolation imaginable, trudging utterly alone, to his death Oates action may seem entirely ‘ridiculous’ but in this case it is somewhat heroic. People in life may make some pretty foolish decisions but there might always be a good outcome. The poetry of Derek Mahon is poetry that one could not live without. With this collection of marvellous pieces his poetry will continue through generations and linger in peoples minds for some time, ‘In fact forever’.