Hope for the Axolotl On the Amphibian Extinction Crisis

Hope for the Axolotl On the Amphibian Extinction Crisis Today is the fifth annual Save The Frogs Day, a day to spread awareness about the amphibian extinction crisis. When I was in high school I used to spend this day at my little brothers elementary school with my pet frogs and a powerpoint presentation. This year Im sharing with you an essay I wrote two years ago. Some research has happened since then, and I encourage you to Google and PubMed for updates (and please post what you found in the comments for the rest of us to see). I hope you enjoy and I hope you learn something new. One of the strangest, most opportune gifts Ive gotten was a small plastic aquarium, from one of my best friends, on my sixth birthday. Misha had scrawled his name on the card, but you could tell it was one of those disappointing educational gifts that was actually picked out by the parents. I found it almost a year later in my closet, full of beads and wrapped in a pink feather boa. In a bout of the haphazard enthusiasm characteristic of that age, I dumped the beads on the floor and filled the aquarium with tap water and a bag of bright blue aquarium sand I found under the sink. That evening my parents bought me two aquatic frogs (both male). The bulk of my childhood was defined by those frogs. I spent hours every week watching them eat and swim in the mornings before my parents woke up. After my little brother was born we curled up next to their aquarium and watched them together, and when they died seven years later I had trouble falling asleep without their singing. The Axolotl Since then Ive branched out, extending my love for frogs to amphibians in general. My favorite amphibian today is the axolotl, because it eschews the very first characteristic were taught to associate with the class. Most amphibians are born in the water, metamorphose into their adult forms, and crawl out onto the land, not to return to their home ponds, streams, or lakes until theyre ready to lay their own eggs. The axolotl, on the other hand, never leaves its aquatic birthplace. In fact, it forgoes metamorphosis altogether, retaining its larval characteristics even as it reaches sexual maturity. Consequently the axolotl possesses for life not only its characteristic feathery external gills, but also unique regenerative powers. In humans and most other species, cells are trapped in their final forms after they differentiate. But because the axolotl does not metamorphose, its cells are capable of reverting to a state similar to stem cells, prefatory cells that can develop into anything. Rather than plaster wounds with scar tissue like we do, the axolotl rebuilds injured tissue. The result is like new. Amazingly, these abilities extend well beyond the level of tissues: the axolotl is capable of regenerating entire limbs, even when they include parts of the spinal cord and the neurons inside it, and even parts of the brain. Since the 1960s, the axolotl has been studied in hopes of understanding its regenerative powers and applying them to other organismsâ€"perhaps even humans. The axolotl is, in essence, the closest thing in nature to a fountain of youth. Unfortunately, the days of the axolotl and any secrets it hides are numbered. Of the two Mexico City lakes the wild axolotl once persisted in, one, Lake Chalco, has been drained to subdue flooding, destroying the axolotls and other animals within it. The other, Lake Xochimilco, has been reduced to a heavily polluted system of canals and small lakes fed by water treatment plants. Axolotls exist in six isolated areas of the former Lake Xochimilco, mostly clumped around the few remaining natural springs. When the Aztecs began building Mexico City, Lakes Chalco and Xochimilco were a system of five large groundwater-fed lakes. The axolotl was prevalent in Aztec culture, ubiquitous in food, in cultural ceremonies, and in medicine. Today, Mexico is home to 375 identified amphibian species, making it the country with the fifth greatest amphibian diversity. At the same time, Mexico City is home to 18 million people, making it the third largest metropolitan area in the world. In the past two decades, the wild population of the axolotl has fallen sixtyfold. Today there are estimated to be between 700 and 1,200 axolotls in the wild. The primary threat to axolotls is habitat loss and the degradation of what little habitat remains. Pollution from Mexico City corrupts water quality, and UV-B radiation, caused by the degradation of the ozone layer, weakens young axolotls, making them more susceptible to predators and to disease. In addition, at least ten species of nonnative fish have been introduced into Lake Xochimilco. These invasive species have substantial niche overlap with the axolotls to compete with them for food and to eat their eggs and young. Human exploitation for food and medicine, meanwhile, is no longer a concern, as axolotls are scarce enough to be a rare catch for fishermen. The Amphibian The threat of imminent extinction looms over other amphibian species as well. Three summers ago, biologists from the University of the Andes in Colombia used a combination of genetics and almost a decade of field work to discover 11 new amphibian species in Panama, only to find that five were extinct by the time they were identified. In the past decade, 40% of amphibian species at the El Cope national park in Panama have disappeared. At 300 million years old, amphibians are the oldest four-legged vertebrates on Earth. Since the 1970s, however, they have been in decline. Today, according to the International Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, an inventory of all known species conservation statuses, 2.1% of known amphibian species are extinct, 32.5% are threatened with extinction, and 43% are declining. Threats to amphibians mirror those to the axolotl. Like the axolotl, other amphibians also suffer from habitat loss, pollution, exploitation by humans, and competition from invasive species. In addition, over 2800 amphibian species are threatened by the chytrid fungus, a deadly pathogen that kills up to 80% of amphibians within a year of being introduced and is spreading at a rate of 28 to 100 kilometers a year. Even the fungus can be traced to human influence. Many researchers believe that a warmer climate favors the propagation of chytrid, and that the current outbreaks are due to warmer temperatures, though this is controversial. Less debated is that recent changes in amphibian habitat, from climate change to urbanization, cause enough stress to compromise the amphibian immune system, making it more vulnerable to chytrid. Worse, disease transmission increases with diversity loss. As amphibian diversity vanishes, susceptibility to chytrid will only increase. One trait that makes amphibians particularly valuable to us is their skin. Amphibians depend on their skin for everything from breathing to hydration to self-defense. Their thin, permeable skin gives them an especially intimate connection with the world around them, which includes the water they are born in, the land they live on, and the air they breathe. Because amphibians are especially sensitive to toxins and other harmful changes in the environment, they are often considered indicators of their habitats health. When trouble strikes, amphibians are often the first to go. And, indeed, trouble has struck. According to the IUCN Red List, almost 20% of vertebrate species are currently classified as threatened by extinction. Some, including nature writer David Quammen, worry that if present trends continue, the Earth will fall into a mass extinction comparable to those in Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods, characterized by a loss of over 75% of species. This was confirmed by a study published in Nature in 2011. Recent patternsâ€"multiple, atypical high-intensity ecological stressors, including rapid, unusual climate change and highly elevated atmospheric CO2â€"mirror those of past mass extinctions, say the authors of the study. Certain Doom? When I was in middle and high school, my parents and I used to canoe to the most sordid section of the muddiest marsh we could find. We put the stickiest seaweed in a Tupperware container where it lived, undisturbed, on my bedside table. Slowly, critters hatched out from the murk. All variety of creatures crawled out of the stagnant mess to explore. Usually the mosquitoes dominated the ecosystem. Tiny dots darted through the leaves and each other, growing into frenzied black clouds until finally the Tupperware was a thick fog of mosquito. Suddenly, after weeks, it stopped. The water dirtied and all lifeâ€"the jumpers and the swimmers and the crawlers and, finally, the champion mosquitoesâ€"vanished. Luckily for the axolotl, the probability of its extinction in present circumstances is low. A 2007 study by the National Autonomous University of Mexico determined that the population, while small, is stable. Furthermore, the 2011 Nature study warning of a sixth mass extinction concluded that the current loss of world biodiversity does not yet amount to one. However, the same study that concluded that axolotls are safe also noted that their population consists primarily of one-year-oldsâ€"though axolotls can live up to 17 years in captivityâ€"because pressure from predators and insufficient habitat kill most axolotls at a young age. The study concludes that a small reduction in egg and larvae survival rate increases the calculated probability of extinction within the next 20 to 50 years to 100%. The same goes for the rest of the world. According to the 2011 Nature study, the extinction of those species currently marked as critically endangered would be enough to pull us irretrievably into a sixth mass extinction. After the species currently marked as endangered and vulnerable go extinct, the loss of biodiversity corresponding to a mass extinction will take only several centuries, orders of magnitude faster than the typical two million years. Our world would soon be unrecognizable. Possible Solutions According to the 2007 study by the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the best options for saving the axolotl are to restore their habitat to a state more conducive to the survival of eggs and young. This includes improving the quality of water, extricating foreign fish, and re-establishing Lake Xochimilco as more than a series of canals. Current efforts revolve around building axolotl sanctuaries in Lake Xochimilco, in which the axolotl are separated from the invasive fish by wooden gates. Another option, reintroduction (freeing lab-raised axolotl populations into the wild), has been considered but rejected, for fear of spreading chytrid fungus to and reducing the genetic diversity of the wild population. The possibility of introducing healthy captive populations into the wild has similarly been considered for saving other amphibian populations, but cautiously. In one case, the reintroduction of the Majorcan midwife toad introduced chytrid to the island of Majorca, infecting the reintroduced toads as well as other amphibians on the island. Another option is to fight fungus with bacteria. Some amphibians naturally have symbiotic bacteria on their skin that produces antifungal agent, protecting them from chytrid. Culturing bacteria from healthy wild populations in the lab and then inoculating as yet untouched populations can boost their immunity. This was attempted in 2008, when scientists captured all the tadpoles from a pond in Majorca, treated them with medication for chytrid, and, after draining the pond with a bucket and leaving the basin to dry in hopes of eradicating the fungus, reintroduced the tadpoles in hopes that they would survive to repopulate the region. This method lowered the level of infection, but it did not eradicate the fungus. Lowering the level of infection may, however, be enough. A 2010 collaboration between the Oregon State University and the University of Colorado-Boulder concluded that the chytrid fungus requires a threshold of 10,000 zoospores per frog to initiate the collapse of an entire population. Since eliminating chytrid altogether does not seem realistic, reducing the amount of chytrid, perhaps by capturing frogs before the infection hits and treating them with antifungal agent, may be the best option. One method of achieving the effect on a larger scale, proposed in a 2011 study published in Nature, is to introduce these bacteria to soil in amphibian habitats. Another option, proposed by a 2011 study published in Science, focuses on keeping species alive in captivity in zoos and aquariums around the world. Though the axolotl is threatened with extinction in the wild, for example, there are currently over 1000 axolotls in captivity at the University of Kentuckys Ambystoma Genetic Stock Center, which sends 15-20,000 axolotl embryos per year to labs worldwide. Captive populations could allow us to treat current problems before they lead to extinction, or to maintain the option of reintroducing the animals if their native habitat is restored. Unfortunately, note the authors of the 2011 Science paper, only 3% of threatened amphibian species are represented in zoos. Overall, only 37% of threatened species and 18% of near-threatened species are represented in zoos. This is commendable, but not enough. Biodiversity in Policy The above solutions are regional and short-term. Solutions to the greater, directly human-caused problems of habitat destruction and global climate change must happen on a much broader scale. Cutting down our contributions to habitat destruction and climate change is the most difficult and most important thing we can do to preserve the world as we know it. In 2002, at the first meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity, world leaders committed to significantly cut down extinction by 2010. 2010, in a similar manner, was declared the International Year of Biodiversity. A 2010 analysis of data in the IUCN Red List and recent progress in conservation, published in Science, estimates that without our efforts to mitigate our effects on the environment, twice as many species would now be threatened with extinction. But this is not enough. We fell radically short of our goal of reducing extinction rates by 2010: the rate of biodiversity loss has not slowed, according to a 2010 report on progress toward the Conventions goals, also published in Science. The 2010 analysis of the IUCN Red List insists that the only way to cut down biodiversity loss is to completely turn our act around: hope lies in reversing detrimental policies, fully integrating biodiversity into broad-scale land-use planning, incorporating its economic value adequately into decision making, and sufficiently targeting, funding and implementing policies that tackle biodiversity loss, among other measures. The Convention on Biological Diversity met again in 2010. The measures taken were not nearly as drastic as science has deemed necessary. Every year, according to the first 2010 analysis, an average of 52 vertebrate species move one Red List category closer to extinctionâ€"from vulnerable to endangered, from endangered to critically endangered, and, finally, from critically endangered to extinct. If we are to have any hope of preserving the world as we know it, we cannot afford another decade of falling short.

The Role of Islam in African Slavery

Slavery has been rife throughout all of ancient history. Most, if not all, ancient civilizations practiced this institution and it is described (and defended) in early writings of the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians. It was also practiced by early societies in Central America and Africa. The Quran prescribes a humanitarian approach to slavery: free men could not be enslaved, and those faithful to foreign religions could live as protected persons, dhimmis, under Muslim rule (as long as they maintained payment of taxes called Kharaj and Jizya). However, the spread of the Islamic Empire resulted in a much harsher interpretation of the law. For example, if a dhimmi was unable to pay the taxes they could be enslaved, and people from outside the borders of the Islamic Empire were considered an acceptable source of slaves. Although the law required owners to treat slaves well and provide medical treatment, a slave had no right to be heard in court (testimony was forbidden by slaves), had no right to property, could marry only with permission of their owner, and was considered to be a chattel, that is the (moveable) property, of the slave owner. Conversion to Islam did not automatically give a slave freedom nor did it confer freedom to their children. Whilst highly educated slaves and those in the military did win their freedom, those used for basic duties rarely achieved freedom. In addition, the recorded mortality rate was high -- this was still significant even as late as the nineteenth century and was remarked upon by western travelers in North Africa and Egypt. Slaves were obtained through conquest, tribute from vassal states, offspring (children of slaves were also slaves, but since many slaves were castrated this was not as common as it had been in the Roman empire), and purchase. The latter method provided the majority of slaves, and at the borders of the Islamic Empire vast number of new slaves were castrated ready for sale. The majority of these slaves came from Europe and Africa -- there were always enterprising locals ready to kidnap or capture their fellow countrymen. Black Africans were transported to the Islamic empire across the Sahara to Morocco and Tunisia from West Africa, from Chad to Libya, along the Nile from East Africa, and up the coast of East Africa to the Persian Gulf. This trade had been well entrenched for over 600 years before Europeans arrived, and had driven the rapid expansion of Islam across North Africa. By the time of the Ottoman Empire, the majority of slaves were obtained by raiding in Africa. Russian expansion had put an end to the source of exceptionally beautiful female and brave male slaves from the Caucasians -- the women were highly prized in the harem, the men in the military. The great trade networks across North Africa were as much to do with the safe transportation of slaves as other goods. An analysis of prices at various slave markets shows that eunuchs fetched higher prices than other males, encouraging the castration of slaves before export. Documentation suggests that slaves throughout Islamic world were mainly used for menial domestic and commercial purposes. Eunuchs were especially prized for bodyguards and confidential servants; women as concubines and menials. A Muslim slave owner was entitled by law to use slaves for sexual pleasure. As primary source material becomes available to Western scholars, the bias towards urban slaves is being questioned. Records also show that thousands of slaves were used in gangs for agriculture and mining. Large landowners and rulers used thousands of such slaves, usually in dire conditions: of the Saharan salt mines, it is said that no slave lived there for more than five years.1 References Bernard Lewis ​Race and Slavery in the Middle East: An Historical Enquiry, Chapter 1 -- Slavery, Oxford Univ Press 1994.

A Good Nutrition Starts With The Basics - 881 Words

â€Å"A good nutrition starts with the basics: a well-rounded diet, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and high sources of protein† I totally agree with this fact. Our overall eating pattern plays a vital role in reflecting our health. So focussing on my 7 day meal, I can say that intake of 2 fruits/day (apple,kiwi,banana,pear,orange,cantaloupe) have really helped me in providing fiber and vitamin C,A to my body. They have been my strengths and a fact that I know is that they have been helpful in maintaining my skin and hair. The level of Sodium was maintained pretty well. Drinking water in right amount is necessary as it does contain sodium depending on the source but it was one of my strength. I try to have 6-8 glasses of water everyday. It controls the way our muscles and nerves work and helps in controlling the fluid balance when body needs salts. I try my best to have control on cholesterol and sugar as everyone in my family is suffering from hereditary problems. 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Living in the Free Essays

Torso’s City 3 eye characteristics: average individual incomes decreased by 20% or more between 1970 and 2005 relative to the Toronto average individual income Neighborhoods comprise about 39% of the city neighborhoods Key issues deterministic-planning a lack of regard for the post-colonial and immigrant experiences of the families that live there large concentration of poverty and lives lived amid crowded high-rise buildings and housing projects the constant surveillance and media representations of violence perpetuated by the City of Toronto Police, Housing Corporation, and media outlets Defining the Ghetto (A first approach) The 40% criterion: â€Å"an area in which the overall poverty rate in a census tract is greater than 40 percent. The ghetto poor are then those poor, of any race or ethnic group, who live in such high-poverty census tracts†¦ Visits to various cities confirmed that the 40 percent criterion came very close to identifying areas that looked like ghett os in terms of their housing conditions. Moreover, the areas selected by the 40 percent criterion corresponded closely with the neighborhoods that city officials and local census urea officials considered ghettos†¦ Let is important to distinguish our definition of ghetto tracts based on a poverty criterion from a definition based on racial composition. We will write a custom essay sample on Living in the or any similar topic only for you Order Now Not all majority black tracts are ghettos under our definition nor are all ghettos black. Arrows and Bane 1991:239-241) Defining the Ghetto (A second Approach) â€Å"the ghettos’ of space and group-specific institutions all four major ‘elementary forms’ of racial domination, namely, categorization, discrimination, segregation and exclusionary violence† (Loci Yucatan: Urban Outcasts, 1995) â€Å"the hypertext’ Is moreover defined by the â€Å"physical dilapidation, social decay and stunning depopulation† that has further led to a â€Å"collective demutualization† and â€Å"absent presence† of the state (course reading) What researchers find in Torso’s inner city Schools? Violence and Cultural Complexity This is where the documentary intervenes: The film looks into how violence is based on a logic of reciprocity (code of honor) and how this logic/dynamic can be interrupted It assumes/demonstrates how former actors of violence (gang leaders) take on a new role as interrupters of violence It lows insights into people’s aspirations and dimensions of everyday life (resilience and where alternatives originate) What needs to be discussed Does the film reproduce an ‘ecology-centered’ discourse or does it allow for seeing the cultural complexity of violence in a broader perspective? The Interrupters (Documentary) Dir. Steve James Film about â€Å"violence interrupters† in Chicago â€Å"who use their own personal experience and street credibility to work in the communities† (film synopsis) Discuss along with L. Waistcoat’s article (same context) How to cite Living in the, Papers

Each year there are about 250 people added to deat Essay Example For Students

Each year there are about 250 people added to deat Essay h row and 35 executed. From 1976 to 1995 there were a total of 314 people put to death in the US 179 of them were put to death using lethal injection, 123 were put to death using electrocution, 9 were put to death in a gas chamber, 2 were hanged, and 1 was put to death using the firing squad. The death penalty is the harshest form of punishment enforced in the United Sates today. Once a jury has convicted a criminal, they go to the second part of the trial, the punishment phase. If the jury recommends the death penalty and the judge agrees then the criminal will face some form of execution, lethal injection is the most common form used today. There was a period from 1972 to 1976 that capital punishment was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Their reason for this decision was that the death penalty was cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The decision was reversed when new methods of execution were introduced. Capital punishment is a difficult issue and t here are as many different opinions as there are people. In our project, both sides have been presented and argued fully. Different forms of the death penalty are more humane than others. In the 1920s people decided that lethal gas, or the gas chamber, was more humane than death by electrocution. Nevada was the first state to adopt the gas chamber as their form of execution. The Humane Death Bill was passed abolishing all other forms of execution (Hanging or firing squad were the only other two forms of execution at that time) in the state of Nevada, this bill was signed by the governor on March 28, 1921. Not long after electrocution was tried as being inhumane, the gas chamber was challenged as being cruel and unusual punishment also. Gee Jon and Hughie Sing were the first two people to be sentenced to die by lethal gas. Justice Coleman, after the appeal was denied, relied on the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment to try and prove that the courts was not able to say that lethal gas was a painless way of putting a man to death. He tried to prove that it would subject the victim to either pain or torture. Many people attended the execution of Gee Jon, some of who were physicians and scientists. They came to try and prove that this was a humane way of killing a man, and were unanimous in the end, pronouncing this as a quick and painless method of execution. Several of them said they thought it the most merciful form yet devised. (Vila, pg. 78-79) This is what happened to the victim according to A. Huftaker, E. E. Hammer, and Major D. A. Turner of the Army Medical Reserve Corps., The man went unconscious after his first breath of the vaporized acid (liquid hydrocyanic acid). Since the man was unconscious he did not feel any pain and died almost instantly. There for the death penalty was for that time a humane way of killing someone. Electrocution was also done away with in Florida. In its place came lethal injection. The 74 year old oak chair was banished after the second messed up execution in seven years. Jesse Taferos in 1990 and Pedro Medinas on march 25. These cases were the basis for the accusation that the electric chair was cruel and unusual punishment. In both executions, flames shot from the prisoners heads when the current of electricity was turned on. The chairs head gear was blamed for this problem. It was brutal, terrible. It was a burning-alive, literally, said attorney Michael Minerva after witnessing the Medina execution. .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be , .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be .postImageUrl , .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be , .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be:hover , .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be:visited , .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be:active { border:0!important; } .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be:active , .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u750c2b5a74046924e99a3e6042b4a5be:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: W.E.B DuBois thoughts on education EssayAfter all this happened the question of what would replace the electric chair if and when Florida got rid of it came up. The answer to that was lethal injection, a mix of drugs that sends a person in to unconsciousness and then kills them. This was described as similar to putting an animal down. This was a method already employed by 32 states and seemed like the best solution to the problem at hand. Of the 32 states already using lethal injection Florida Corrections Commission surveyed 17 of these states. The majority of these states said that they switched to the needle, lethal injection because it is the most humane form of capital punishment. Florida took polls showing the death penalty was strongly supported. Texas, the first to use lethal injection in 1982, and other states has had this form of capital punishment tested in court time and time again and it has always come out as being valid and humane to the victim. Is Capital Punishment humane? Which methods, if any, are humane? The Prolonged suffering of an individual is not humane. Pain is subjective and it is Impossible to know with certainty the experience or range of experiences of those who undergo execution. Botched executions, where the offender lingers on before death, don not offer opportunities for us to assess the experience. (Executions in America pg.47) When the execution goes according to plan, the person doesnt live to tell about the experience and the effects of it. Execution can be a vary long and brutal process, when something goes wrong. Long ago, in the United States, hanging was he most widely used method of execution. the persons spine was supposed to snap. During the 18th Century and earlier, hanging were often botched. If the prisoner failed to die from the drop then they would slowly suffocate. If the prisoner was too heavy then the fall could rip the head from the body. The electric chair replaced hanging. The goal of electrocution is the paralysis of the heart and respiratory system. This happens through the burning of the internal organs. Willie Francis was a prisoner who experienced only a few seconds of electrocution and survived. This was a result of a malfunction of the machinery. He said that the experience was quite painful and that My mouth tasted like cold peanut butter. I felt a burning in my head and my left leg, and I jumped against the straps. I saw little blue and pink and green speckles.(Costanzo-44) A year later he was executed again. As you can see from these examples, the executed often undergoes horrific physical and even emotional abuse. Can you imagine living through electrocution and going through the process one, two, or three more times!Although we first think of the effects on the executed, we dont always think of the effects on other people. There are people directly and indirectly involved. For example, Jurors, prison officials, the families of the condemned, and e ven the families of victims witness or are tied to it some other way. Botched executions can be the result of mistakes by the executioners, equipment problems or struggling by the prisoner. In order to perform lethal injection a prisoner with a history of intravenous drug use, the executioner may have to surgically locate a deeper vein. Even a small error in dosage or administration can leave a prisoner conscious but paralyzed while dying, a sentient witness of his or her own, slow, lingering asohyxiation.(Costanzo-46) The executioner has to live with the fact that there were the cause of the agonizing death of another human being. A man lying face up on a hospital gurney is subjected to what looks like a routine medical procedure. The only difference is that the goal is to kill instead of heal.(Costanzo-47) In 1951, Eliso Mares was put to death by a firing squad. The prison staff likes Mares and so they aimed away from his heart Mares bled to death and it was a slow lingering proce ss. Again, the executioners were at fault. In 1985, Alpha Otis Stephens was shocked with three 1,900 volt of electricity. When Stephens was shocked the first time, he struggled for breath for eight long minutes. he was shocked again but witnesses spotted him continuing to gasp for air. After 23 more breaths he was shocked one last time. Fred Leuchter, a major designer of the electrocution machinery, gave his opinion on the cons of the electric chair: If you overload an individuals body with current Youll cook the meat on his body. Its like the meat on an overcooked chicken. If you grab the arm, the flesh will fall right off in your hands.. That doesnt mean that he felt anything. It simply means that its cosmetically not the thing to do. Presumably the state will return the remains to the victims family for burial. Returning somebody who has been cooked would be in poor taste. This would affect the victims family. Even if they chose not to watch the execution, the remains can be just as emotionally harmful. In the example that I started earlier, you can gather that is would not be pleasant to see your son or daughter executed numerous times or shocked a number of times. .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1 , .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1 .postImageUrl , .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1 , .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1:hover , .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1:visited , .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1:active { border:0!important; } .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1:active , .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1 .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua9ae935b126a5bc20a93901a0126aad1:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Impact of Child Abuse EssayAs you can see from the above arguments there are many paths you could take as far as if the death penalty is humane or not. As an over all out come of this paper I think that lethal injection is the most humane form of execution. The reason for this is it is really hard to botch this type of execution but the others such as electrocution and hanging can be botched quite easily. Although over all I think that the death penalty is a bad solution to this problem, the idea of two wrongs dont make a right comes into play in this case quite stongly, if it is really needed then I would have to say that lethal injection is the most humane form of execut ion. Although it is humane, I dont think I would be able to go through with actually being executed or executing someone.

Free Essays on Score Ratings

Although my consistency score was relatively high being a twelve I disagree with some of the tests’ outcome. On the other hand I believe some of my scores to be true for me. My â€Å"achievement† level was considered low, which is the opposite of what I would think when looking at my life. I strive for the best constiently and never give up until I think I have achieved all there is possible to accomplish in a certain task. However, when I finish a job and am satisfied I feel secure and get a high from this achievement thinking I’m ready for the next. When it comes to â€Å"order† I have teenage tendencies to be stubborn or rebellious, but I am usually pretty organized. I feel I can accomplish more if I’m organized, and this goes along with my score in the order category. I had a high â€Å"exhibition† which fits my personality to a tee, I would love to teach or give lectures. My â€Å"autonomy† was also high and I think this is because I am very self-suffcient, since I have moved out of my house this characteristic in my personality has come out even more. I know what I have to get done and do it. My â€Å"affiliation† was low which again is the opposite of me, I love people and feel stimulated around them. My friends are like family, and I have very close relationships with them. â€Å"Intraception† is me in some ways and not in other ways. I like trying to figure out what people are thinking or why or how they came to that conclusion however I don’t distrust people, just purely am interested. When it comes to â€Å"dominance† the test showed I need to dominate, but in reality I fear responsibility. I had a very low score for â€Å"abasement† and it worried me that low scores are hard to interpret. My high score in â€Å"change† predicts my adventurous nature and interest of new experiences. All in a ll I could have applied some aspects of each category to my life whether high or low. The test helped me identify mo... Free Essays on Score Ratings Free Essays on Score Ratings Although my consistency score was relatively high being a twelve I disagree with some of the tests’ outcome. On the other hand I believe some of my scores to be true for me. My â€Å"achievement† level was considered low, which is the opposite of what I would think when looking at my life. I strive for the best constiently and never give up until I think I have achieved all there is possible to accomplish in a certain task. However, when I finish a job and am satisfied I feel secure and get a high from this achievement thinking I’m ready for the next. When it comes to â€Å"order† I have teenage tendencies to be stubborn or rebellious, but I am usually pretty organized. I feel I can accomplish more if I’m organized, and this goes along with my score in the order category. I had a high â€Å"exhibition† which fits my personality to a tee, I would love to teach or give lectures. My â€Å"autonomy† was also high and I think this is because I am very self-suffcient, since I have moved out of my house this characteristic in my personality has come out even more. I know what I have to get done and do it. My â€Å"affiliation† was low which again is the opposite of me, I love people and feel stimulated around them. My friends are like family, and I have very close relationships with them. â€Å"Intraception† is me in some ways and not in other ways. I like trying to figure out what people are thinking or why or how they came to that conclusion however I don’t distrust people, just purely am interested. When it comes to â€Å"dominance† the test showed I need to dominate, but in reality I fear responsibility. I had a very low score for â€Å"abasement† and it worried me that low scores are hard to interpret. My high score in â€Å"change† predicts my adventurous nature and interest of new experiences. All in a ll I could have applied some aspects of each category to my life whether high or low. The test helped me identify mo...

The 5 Worst Ways to Hunt for a Job

The 5 Worst Ways to Hunt for a Job Doing everything right and still not getting the gig? Make sure you’re not breaking any of these five hard-and-fast rules before despairing. The problem could be your strategy! 1. Getting stuck in search enginesFor every online application you submit, try to find an ‘in’ somewhere instead. Troll your LinkedIn for personal connections. Reach out. Use your network. That direct introduction could be the difference between an online application and an actual interview. Instead of doing keyword job searches, sign up to get Job Matches based on your entire profile.2. Applying to everythingYou’re amazing and you’re versatile, but you’re not qualified for everything. Make sure you’re not applying blind to absolutely every job, no matter whether you are qualified. Or, if you don’t look right on paper but can make a case for yourself, try and reach out directly to the hiring manager. If you’re not matching up to job requirements, co nsider taking a class or honing a new skill for the next round of applications.3. Expecting a breakSure, you’re a fast learner. But sometimes a company wants to hire someone who can jump right in the ring. Being a â€Å"fast learner† is great, but don’t expect that that will always get you through the door. Focus your energy instead on convincing your interviewer why you’d actually be perfect for the job, rather than claiming you can catch up as you go along.4. Being too aggressiveOkay, we get it. You’re looking for work. But networking is networking. Allow time to build a relationship before sticking your resume in a new connection’s face. Try and build a real relationship before you start asking for favors- or a job!5. Calling too muchIf you haven’t heard anything, play it cool. A simple, respectful follow-up email checking on their decision-making timeline will do fine. There’s a difference between proactivity and desperatio n. Make sure you’re on the good side.If you’re guilty of any of these five faux pas, consider trying a new strategy. These common sense guidelines should be a productive start.5 Job Search Tactics You Should Stop Immediately