Tree of knowledge Essay Example for Free

Tree of knowledge Essay In the Paradise Lost, Milton has created the character of Satan with unparalleled brilliance and heroic energy. Satan, the leader of the fallen angels, rises to the occasion with unusual strength and inspires his comrades with his undying conviction in his own ability and that of his followers. He refuses to accept his defeat with his strong conviction that â€Å"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav’n† (Book -I. line 263). Satan not only convinces his audience but also charms them to plunge into action with his seductive brilliance of verbal persuasion. It is evident in his compelling speech to Beelzebub, his motivational appeal to his legions and in the final seductive speech of Eve. Milton presents Satan with a singularity of grandeur, of suffering and a ruined splendor. He depicts Satan as embodiment of the spirit of pride and ambition- ambition not as a virtue but as the fevered lust for power, which springs from self-exaltation. Satan’s resolve to accomplish the fall of man is because of his jealousy and his desire to assert his supremacy. It is his pride that stands at the back of all his actions. This pride and egotism vitiate all that is noble and good in him. In his compelling speech to Beelzebub he acknowledges their plight but stresses the fact they are strong now as they are still united. His rises himself as a tower of strength and states that they are in a better position to having known the strength of God. Previously it was unknown as it was untried. He declares â€Å"All is not lost; the unconquerable Will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield: (Book I lines 106-109) Thus, he instills confidence in Beelzebub inspiring him not to yield or surrender. He claims that God’s rule was in danger with imminent revolt from them at any time. He outlines his course of action to fight against God. He expresses his desire to defy God’s authority once again as he is against to ‘bow or sue for grace with suppliant knee’. Obviously, Satan speaks boastfully and words his wishful thinking. Beelzebub understands Satan’s trial of God’s strength, but worries about the loss of Heaven and grieves for the punishment they were given. Satan aptly replies using all his skill and reminding Beelzebub that their task is never to do any good, but always to spoil or pervert what God does. He urges him to leave the lake and join him for reassembling their followers. It is noteworthy that Satan projects himself as infallible though he is actually fallen. He maintains that he neither changes nor fails. On the contrary his is a story of degradation and ultimate failure. As the poem progresses Satan becomes less compelling degrading himself from a heroic warrior to a snake ultimately. Satan’s extraordinary powers of persuasion and oration are best expressed in his most appealing and inspiring speech to the fallen angels. He begins his speech first by soothing them with words of hope. The very beginning of the speech raises the spirit of his followers with his address â€Å"O Myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers Matchless (Book I, lines 622-23). He empathizes with their suffering by acknowledging their dire situation. He acknowledges that the better part remains with them and stresses that the power of mind. He tells him from his past experience and knowledge that a fitting answer to the God would be taking revenge by working in close design by fraud or guile. He tells them about the creation of new world and the new creatures. Then they build Pandemonium to assert themselves of their power. Being a valiant leader he draws his fallen angels together and instills confidence in them saying stirs them to action with his most inspiring words. Satan is presented with extraordinary powers of oration and persuasion. His words have become the most inspiring quotations in literature. For example the quotations â€Å"the mind is its own place, and in itself / can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven† (Book I lines 254-55). and â€Å"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven. † (Book I lines 263) are electrifying and haunt the minds of his audience. Milton honestly builds the character of Satan to great heights only to show that all evil is powerful and seems attractive. It is this power and attraction that cause the down fall of all including Satan and his followers. It should be noted that beneath the attraction lies the inherent wickedness and false ambition. Satan’s seductive speech to Eve brings out all the skill and powers of persuasion in him. It involves trickery, flattery and appeal to the commonsense and emotions. The story of the Paradise Lost reaches climax in the Book IX as Satan successfully seduces Eve and takes revenge on God by degrading himself into the form of a serpent finally. Satan, who wished but never hoped to find Eve alone, finds her alone in the rose bower. He feels happy at it as it helps him to convince her easily when she is alone without Adam by her side. He feels he can use all his powers of persuasion without much defense from Eve. He is so overcome by her beauty, that for a moment, he forgets his evil intentions, and is ‘stupidly good. ’ She is gently supporting the stalks of flower plants and she herself is like the ‘fairest unsupported flower, away from her support. The spot where she is working surpasses all those famous gardens in mythology, history and the Bible. But the hot hell always burns in him and that reminds him of his present mission. He recollects his thoughts of mischief and takes advantage of the loneliness of eve as he wants of some marvelously beautiful tricks to engage her attention (Book IX, lines 494-531). He looks like a divine serpent with burnished neck of verdant gold and so on. He stands erect amidst circling spires. He is more beautiful than all the famous of myth and legend. Eve is first attracted by his incomparable beauty and when he starts speaking to her with human voice, she is greatly surprised; Satan begins with flattering the beauty of Eve, which is a method to win her favor. (Book IX, lines 533 -548). He says that such an angelic beauty is wasted in the lonely forest where she is looked at by only one man. She should be served by Goddesses. Eve expresses her sense of wonder at a snake taking sense like a human being. The tempter then fabricates his story. He says that he has obtained a recent promotion to human sense and status after eating and fruits of a tree in the garden, (Book IX, lines 568 -612). His strategy proves successful as Eve is surprised and wants to know where that tree is. The serpent (Satan in disguise) is too happy to lead her to that tree. Thus that leader of the devils leads (or misleads) the first woman to that fateful tree as a wandering fir origins fastuas or will of the wisp conducts a lost traveler into bogs and mires, where he is swallowed up, far from any help (Book IX, lines 634 – 642) . On seeing that tree, Eve immediately recognizes it to be the forbidden tree of knowledge. She tells the serpent that God has commanded them not to eat the fruit of that. So their coming there is fruitless, though the tree is full of fruits. The serpent is astonished that scandal should have been started about so excellent a tree. As if he is greatly concerned with Adam and Eve, he expresses anger at God, who deprived them of the pleasure and profit of eating the fruit. In a great emotional fervor, he begins his lecture, and looks more impressive than all the great orators of the world (Book IX, lines 665 -668). Satan is at his best in his seductive brilliance of persuasion. His words accompanied by his action have a compelling effect on Eve. First, he turns to the tree and plays a tribute to its great virtues. Then he turns to Eve and presents his long drawn argument (Book IX, lines 684 -733). He asks her not to believe in God’s threats of death. â€Å"Ye shall not die’, he declares. The fruit has no killing power, and he himself is the standing example for it. After eating the fruit he says he is not dead but his vital, mental and spiritual faculties are enriched. The serpent (Satan) first surprises her with his physical and intellectual abilities. Then he uses his logical reasons in and pretends very rational in his approach. He says that when it is not forbidden to the beast (the snake), it need not be forbidden to human being as well. God will not get energy for such a minor trespass but will praise the adventurous spirit of Adam and Eve: The fruit gives them knowledge of good and evil. Knowledge of good is desirable, knowledge of evil is also necessary for without knowing it, how can one avoid it? Here anyway, the fruit has to be eaten. God, therefore, cannot hurt them, and still he is just. If he is not a just God, he need not be obeyed at all. Hence, anyway, there is no need to follow God’s word. Satan excels in his brilliance in putting a series of reasons and questions to innocent and helpless Eve. He questions Eve why God has forbidden them from eating the fruit? He does it only to keep them ignorant, low and in his control. The moment they eat the fruit their eyes will be fully opened and become Gods, knowing good and evil. If he, a beast by tasting it, could attain human status, surely she a woman, by tasting the same fruit, ought to become at least a Goddess. If according to God’s words she dies the death only leads to a new birth as a Goddess which is good. Satan goes to the extent of proving that man is not inferior to God in any way and stresses that man also should have every thing as God has. He seems superb when he says that human beings have every right to become Gods for, how are they inferior to Gods? In fact, the earth created for man, is better than heaven, for earth is created later by God himself, with all heavens defects rectified. Above all how does man offend the Gods in eating the fruit? What do they lose if man becomes intelligent? Or if everything goes by Gods intention and Will, how does the tree impart knowledge without His will? (Satan means to say that tree has the intrinsic power and God has no claim or control over it anybody who eats the fruits becomes wise). Thus Satan concludes his speech saying. â€Å"These and many more causes import our need of this fair fruit,† (Book IX, lines 730-731) Satan’s guileful words have won any easy entrance into Eve’s heart. She believes his words to be true. She feels hungry as the lunch time approaches and the attractive color and fragrance of the fruit, in addition to the tempting words of Satan, encourage her to touch and taste them. Yet, she first considered it within herself (Book IX, lines. 745 -779), It is doubtless that the fruit is virtuous (powerful) which made the mute snake speak. God also did not conceal its merits and told them that it is the Tree of knowledge. But his forbidding â€Å"commends thee more. † Human mind runs towards forbidden things. If God has forbidden them from being wise such prohibition binds not. The threat of death also appears false as the serpent still lives. Then ‘For us alone was death invented? † The beast, ‘friendly to man’ has brought news about his good experience. So saying she reaches for the fruit and eats it. Eve falls an easy prey to the enticing words of the Serpent. Satan’s use of trickery, flattery and his seeming logical reasons had their effect on innocent Eve. Had she not been taken by surprise by the charming golden serpent with a human voice, Eve might have found his arguments specious. His reasons are not based on any truth or reality. All his reasons are based on self deception and pride and are aimed at tempting her to eat the fruit. Thus, Satan with his extraordinary powers of persuasion and heroic energy not only convinces his followers but also tempts them for taking revenge against God Obviously, his actions and conviction are based on self-deception and his false ambition. Works Cited Paradise Lost, John Milton http://www. dartmouth. edu/~milton/reading_room/pl/book_1/index. shtml

Community Based Rehabilitation Essay Example for Free

Community Based Rehabilitation Essay Community Based Rehabilitation(CBR) may be defined, according to three United Nation Agencies, ILO, UNESCO, and the WHO, as a strategy within community development for the rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities, and social integration of all people with disabilities. CBR is implemented through the combined efforts of disabled people themselves, their families and communities, and the appropriate health, education, vocational and social services (WHO, 1994). Institutional Rehabilitation provides excellent services to address the problems of individual disabled persons and is often available only for a small number at a very high cost. CBR as the name implies has have found in the community, its roots in the community and has to derive sustenance and support from the community. They should be rehabilitated in their community by and with people in their community. CBRfocuses on  * enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families, * meeting basic needs and * ensuring inclusion and participation. CBR was initiated in the mid-1980s but has evolved to become a multi-sectoral strategy that empowers persons with disabilities to access and benefit from education, employment, health and social services. CBR is implemented through the combined efforts of people with disabilities, their families, organizations and communities, relevant government and non-government health, education, vocational, social and other services.Mainstreaming and inclusion is seen as an effective way:to include persons with disability;to give equal opportunity and to provide a non discriminative environment for their growth and development In practical terms this means persons with disability are included in the programmes and schemes formulated by the government and others, not as mere beneficiaries but as equal members who can participate with full recognition of and exercise their rights. Need of CBR Institutional overheads and other major infrastructural expenses make the process very expensive. Moreover, the endeavours in an institution are often out of context to the felt needs of the disabled person, and thus falls short of their expectations. The fact that this person comes from a particular background and cultural setting is often ignored. The institutional culture is imposed on the disabled person and they are often expected to function as advised by the â€Å"experts†. In an institutional rehabilitation programme, the community is not linked with the process. Hence, when the disabled persons return home, it may become difficult for them to integrate into their community. Disability -Situation Time line In the 70s it was based on western health care model largely urban based and not cost effective. No real service provision for disabled. In the 80s/90s there was a shift from medical towards employment and community development. In real terms this was a social model. In the year 2000 CBR perceived in terms of Human rights and involvement and awareness of disabled persons was advocated. WHO approach emphasizes basic rehabilitation involving working partnership with local community, disabled, family, governments and professionals at regional and national levels.

Land Degradation In The Nile River Basin Environmental Sciences Essay

Land Degradation In The Nile River Basin Environmental Sciences Essay Per capita availability is generally calculated by dividing total annual renewable water resources with population. While this could provide an accurate picture for countries with no dependency on external water resources, it does not provide an accurate depiction for countries with trans-boundary water resources. Taking into account the dependency ratio of the countries provides a much more realistic depiction of future water resources. For instance, Uganda has a 40.9% dependency ratio for its total annual renewable water resources (Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, DRC and Kenya contribute runoff into Lake Victoria). This will be impacted when increased water demand in upstream nations results in reduced water runoffs into Uganda. Egypt which originally had a 98% dependency ratio has been able to bring down its dependency by increasing alternate water resources but still has a 76% dependency ratio (55.5 BCM out of 73 BCM). Chapter 4 Land degradation is one of the challenges faced by several countries in the Nile River Basin. Land degradation comprises of any negative or undesirable change in the texture, content, moisture of land due to a combination of natural hazards and man-made activities. The African continent is characterized by 46% of extreme desert and 11% of land mass that is humid. Presently, in Africa around 250 million people are directly affected by land degradation while, worldwide 1 billion people in 100 countries are at risk of land degradation. The causes of land degradation are a combination of changes in the natural ecosystem, and the impact of the human social system, including human use and abuse of sensitive and vulnerable dry land ecosystems. Land Degradation in the Nile River Basin In Rwanda, around 71% of total land area is facing severe degradation and about 60% of its forest cover has been lost in the last two decades partly due to genocide, displacement and repatriation. Similarly, more than 30% of Burundi is severely or very severely degraded. In Tanzania, widespread land degradation is found in the highlands, especially on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Kenya faced about 30% land degradation in 2002 and around one third of its population was directly dependent on degraded land by 2008. Also, land degradation is widespread in Kenya, affecting 20% of all cultivated areas, 30% of forests, and 10% of grasslands. Uganda faces land degradation and erosion covering 60% of its total land area, the majority of which is in the highlands of the South-west. Ethiopia also faces land degradation mostly in its highlands, especially in the Amhara region. It is estimated that Ethiopia loses 4% of its GDP due to land degradation. In Sudan, approximately 1,200,000 km2 of land has degraded in varying degrees. The most degraded zones are the arid and semi-arid regions in the Northern half of Sudan where 76% of the countrys population resides. In Egypt, the North-western delta faces highest degradation due to contamination and increased salinity. Common Causes of Land Degradation in the Nile River Basin Some of the causes for land degradation in the Nile River Basin are as follows: Population Pressure: Growing population in the Nile River Basin countries puts immense pressure on land and its resources leading to severe degradation and reduced outputs. For instance, the majority of the population in Egypt and Burundi, 98% and 58% respectively, live in the Nile Basin. In Kenya, 70% of the population lives in 12% of the countrys land area which is suitable for rain-fed cultivation, thereby putting immense stress on its resources. Deforestation: The most common cause for land degradation in the Nile River Basin is deforestation. To adhere to the needs of growing population, forests are cleared and there is immense pressure on its resources. In Rwanda, the forest area was reduced to 4700 km2 from 7000 km2 post the genocide in 1994. Deforestation also took place due to increased need for wood to construct makeshift shelters for displaced people and for cooking. Bushfires have also become common especially in the dry seasons in the Eastern and South-eastern regions of Umutara, Kibungo and Bugesera. In Burundi, the rate of deforestation in high due to increased dependency on wood for fuel. The forest cover declined from 11.3% in 1990 to 5.9% in 2005. In Tanzania, deforestation is severe in areas populated with refugee populations. Also, wild fire is common in its grasslands. Between 1990 and 2005, Uganda lost one-third of its forest area due to deforestation. It is estimated that at this rate, Uganda will not have any forests by 2055. Uganda loses around $ 200 million annually due to deforestation. Deforestation is a major factor for land degradation in Ethiopia. While the forests once covered 65% of the country and 90% of the highlands in Ethiopia, by 2001 they were reduced to 2.2% and 5.6% respectively. The Blue Nile basin faces such severe deforestation that very little forest cover remains in the region. The forest coverage fell from 16% to 2% in the 1980s itself. Over Grazing: The demand for livestock is high in the Nile River Basin. Cattle farming leads to over grazing in fertile lands, depleting its quality and productivity. In Rwanda, over grazing is observed in range-lands especially in the North-west parts of Umutara. In Tanzania, over grazing is witnessed mostly in the Lake Victoria Zone and parts of Northern Tanzania. Over grazing accounts for 75% of the total degraded land in Sudan. In Uganda, the cattle corridor has most of its land degraded due to over grazing from Moroto and Kotido in the North-east through Luwero and South to Masaka and Mbarara. Leaving aside the North, most of the Corridor is seriously degraded. Lack of Awareness: Improper farming practices, poor soil management policies due to lack of awareness also lead to land degradation in the Nile River Basin. For instance in Rwanda, only 36.6% of the total land had soil protection structures in 2005 as compared to 83% in 1998. Climate Change: Climate change is another factor due to which there is immense land degradation. Increasing instances of floods and droughts lead to wide spread land degradation. There are various forms of land degradation. These include Soil erosion and sedimentation Surface runoff and floods Desertification and loss of natural vegetation Sand encroachments Sedimentation and Soil Erosion Sedimentation has three stages. It starts with soil erosion which is essentially the removal of top soil which is then transported and deposited in different locations depending upon the flow of water or wind or gravity. Some of the causes of sedimentation include deforestation which reduces water retention thereby increasing soil erosion; floods and droughts; and changes in river flow. Sedimentation in the Nile River Basin is witnessed the most in the Nile Equatorial Region, Blue Nile catchment and the coastal belts. Wide spread deforestation has a detrimental impact on the sedimentation levels in the Nile Equatorial Lakes and leads to increasing soil erosion. The siltation of the Nile Equatorial Lakes if combined with unusually high rainfall could lead to a rise in the lake levels which could in turn lead to flooding. The key problem sites for soil erosion in the Lake Victoria Basin are the Kagera River and the Nyando River in Kenya. Due to its topography and torrential rainfall, the Blue Nile catchment faces high rates of sedimentation as compared to the White Nile, whose sedimentation is largely retained in the Equatorial Lakes and the Sudd region. While the Nile catchment runoff is estimated at a low rate of 5.5%, the ratio of the runoff of the Blue Nile catchment on its own is 20%. Sedimentation has a negative effect on reservoirs built along the Nile River Basin. It clogs the area thereby reducing the amount of water that can be stored. Rwanda Around 40% of land in Rwanda is at high risk of erosion, 37% requires soil retention measures before cultivation, and only 23% is erosion free. Data from field research stations report soil losses between 35 246 tonnes per hectare annually, amounting to losses costing about 3.5% of Rwandas agricultural GDP. The Nyamitera River delivers 567,000 tonnes of particles in a matter of five flood days to Rwanda, of which more than half is the annual suspended sediment yield of its Nile Basin region. Increasing use of land for tea cultivation is also leading to sedimentation in Rwanda. The Mulindi tea plantation in Gicumbi district uses fertilizers that cause soil degradation, water pollution and deforestation, which in turn results in soil erosion, floods and sedimentation in the valley. Burundi Deforestation, over grazing and agricultural expansion into marginal lands are the main factors leading to soil erosion in Burundi. The sediment yield of Burundi and its contribution to the Nile basin is presently unavailable. Sedimentation causes many problems in Burundi including blocking inlet channels of pump irrigation schemes, clogging hydropower turbine areas, corroding pumps among others. Tanzania The main type of erosion witnessed in the Lake Victoria Basin in Tanzania is sheet erosion where a uniform thin layer of top soil is washed away. In Tanzania, 61% of land area faces soil erosion with a topsoil loss of 100 tonnes per hectare per annum. Highest soil loss within the Lake Victoria Basin is from cropland which loses 93 tonnes per hectare annually, followed by rangeland losing 52 tonnes per hectare each year. Additionally, there has been soil loss in Shinyanga, Dodoma, Morogoro, and Arusha. Also, Kagera Basin is vulnerable to soil erosion and leaching of nutrients due to its high population and poverty levels. The Masalatu Reservoir constructed on Simiyu River receives an annual sedimentation yield of 406 m3/ km2 or 1.43 tonnes per hectare. Kenya The Nyanza province bordering Lake Victoria is undergoing rapid catchment deterioration due to frequent droughts, deforestation and old agricultural practices. This results in Kenyas high sedimentation load contribution to Lake Victoria Basin through its tributaries. 61% of the basin area contributes to soil sedimentation at a rate of 43 tonnes per hectare each year, whereas the rest of the basin forms a sink area where sediments are collected. Due to high sedimentation on the bed, the rivers Nyando, Nzoia and Sondu, and other tributaries emptying into Lake Victoria are prone to flooding. Surface runoff in wet season causes sheet, rill and gully erosion. Wind causes erosion in dry season. Nyando River experiences severe gully erosion due to heavy water runoff. The removal of the top soil is very high ranging from 90 tonnes per hectare annually in degraded areas, to 67 tonnes per hectare elsewhere. Uganda Major source of soil erosion to the Lake Victoria Basin is the Kibale River at 0.06 tonnes per hectare annually. Runoff in sub-catchment of Bukora is the main reason for causing soil erosion. Soil loss rates are the highest on bare soils, followed by annually cultivated land, degraded range lands and perennially cultivated land. Lake Albert is also under threat of siltation due to inflows from Kyoga Nile, as well as Semliki River which carries sedimentation from DRC. It is estimated that 4% 12% of GNP is lost from environmental degradation, of which 85% is through soil erosion, nutrient loss and crop changes. Also, the rate of soil fertility depletion in Uganda is one of the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia There is high erosion in the Ethiopian Highlands. Around 1900 million tonnes of soil is eroded annually at an average of 100 tonnes per hectare. Also, up to one billion tonnes of top soil is lost each year. The Highlands face severe types of soil erosion including sheet, rill, gully and wind. It also witnesses stream bank erosion, biological, physical and chemical degradation Blue Nile is the major contributor of sedimentation during the flood season, contributing approximately 125 million tonnes, while the Atbara contributes roughly 50 million tonnes. The flows of the Blue Nile are unregulated until they arrive in Sudan leading to an enormous amount of sedimentation at the Roseires Dam. With increased deforestation and agricultural activities along the banks of the Blue Nile, there is a substantial amount of debris added to the flow which is carried downstream. The proportion of runoff to sedimentation is higher for the Atbara River which is due to its geographic location in a drier region than the Blue Nile and also due to a relatively longer period of dry season followed by heavy rainfall in a relatively short period. Sedimentation peaks three weeks before rainfall peaks as rainfall washes away soil loosened due to loss of moisture during the dry season. A decline in crop yields has been witnessed at a rate of 1 to 3% on cropland and 2.2% in Ethiopian highlands. It is estimated that the cost of land degradation due to soil erosion to Ethiopia could be about $2 billion in 25 years or $80 million each year. About 80% of the losses are from reduced crop production and 20% from reduced livestock production. Soil nutrient depletion reduces crop production by 885,330 tonnes annually amounting to losses of around 14% of agricultural contribution to Ethiopian GDP. Sudan Soil erosion is leading to rapid siltation and loss of functionality of reservoirs and irrigation schemes in Sudan. The small reservoirs get silted quicker. Irrigation schemes are witnessing major damage due to siltation which is leading to a reduction in water transported to crop lands. For instance, crop water requirements are no longer met in the Gezira and Rahad irrigation schemes. River band erosion along the Blue Nile River has been witnessed with most affected areas lying downstream of Roseires Dam, Singa to AlSuki. River widening in the region also leads to bank erosion where irrigable land is lost as has been witnessed in the main Nile and Atbara River sections. Around $1.5 million worth of economic losses have been witnessed via the loss of mature date palm trees as a direct result of bank erosion. Egypt The Nile Bank is witnessing bank erosion due to the corrosive action of sediment free waters as witnessed in Sudan past Roseires Dam. Agricultural land is depleting at a rate of 13,000 hectares on an annual basis due to bank erosion. Increase in coastal erosion and extensive erosion of the Nile Delta is being witnessed due to lack of sedimentation and increase in salinity levels. Sedimentation in Reservoirs Sedimentation is the single greatest problem reservoirs face in maintaining their functionality for water storage, as well as for hydropower generation. Hydropower generation is reduced during peak sedimentation periods as debris gets caught in the turbines and need to be shut down for cleaning. Sedimentation stuck in the cooling mechanism of the hydropower plant leads to loss of efficiency in energy generation and also requires shutdown for repair. Also, silt adds to the wear and tear of the plant which decreases the lifespan of the machinery, depending on the abrasiveness of the mineral content in the silt. Hydropower generation is often stalled during floods to clean turbines and prevent damage resulting in very low power generation during flood season. Sedimentation also leads to reduced water storage capacity which results in less water for irrigation and cost of construction to raise the dam to maintain storage capacity. Currently, the cost of clearing sedimentation is prohibitive at $625 million ($5 to clear 1 m3 of silt, about 125 MCM is being cleared per year). Roseires Dam The primary mandate of the Roseires Dam is to ensure that runoff levels are maintained to meet irrigation and water storage requirements. The Roseires Dam is losing considerable parts of dead water storage capacity, as well as live storage capacity. In 1966, its storage capacity was 3,329 MCM which has been reduced to 1,920.89 MCM as of 2007, leading to a 37% decrease in storage capacity. The Roseires Dams height has been elevated in order to mitigate losses in functionality and another elevation project is being currently discussed. Aswan High Dam in Egypt Aswan High Dam has 100% trap efficiency of sedimentation which means that waters are almost perfectly sediment-free beyond the Aswan High Dam. Sedimentation transported to the reservoir and deposited there is practically negligible from December to June, peaking from July to September, reducing in October and November to none in December. Aswan High Dam is losing considerable part of live storage capacity, as opposed to dead storage capacity which was designed to absorb sedimentation. The reservoirs total operational span has been reduced to 362 years from an initial estimate of 500 years as a result of sedimentation. Desertification The African continent, with the Sahara desert in the North and the Sahelian belt below, is vulnerable to desertification. This condition is exemplified with increasing instances of drought and famines. The causes of desertification are complex, including both direct and indirect factors such as: Cultivation, inappropriate agricultural practices and overgrazing Unsustainable animal husbandry and pastoralism Climate change including reduced rainfall Population growth pressures Poor land use and management practices Lack of soil and water conservation structures; Removal and loss of vegetation; Deforestation and land clearing; Total dependency on natural resources for survival; Human activities comprising technological agents (water pumps, boreholes, dams) and institutional mechanisms and policies. Desertification in the Nile River Basin East and South-east regions of Rwanda show increasing desertification trends due to increase in population and migration leading to over exploitation and degradation of land. People from densely populated provinces in the North, for instance Ruhengiri, Gisenyi and Byumba, and Butare and Gitarama in the South, are moving towards the least populated provinces in the East including Umutara, Kibungo, Kigali and Ngali in the South East. In Burundi, the area of Imbo witnesses long dry spells leading to a gradual decrease in water resources, especially in the levels of Lake Tanganyika with a tendency towards desertification. Since 1999, there has been a strong variability of rainfall with a tendency for a long dry season from May to October (6 months) in the lower altitude outlying areas like Kumoso, Bugesera, and Imbo. In Tanzania, the main reason for desertification is expanding agriculture rather than overgrazing by pastoralists. Around 33% of Tanzania is affected by desertification. The coastal areas face pressure from intensive cultivation and fuel wood gathering. In Kenya, 80% of its area is estimated to be threatened by desertification with up to 30% of the population affected by desertification and drought. Drought and increasing population are key factors that enhance desertification in Kenya. The Nyika Plateau and the Coastal Region are affected and threatened most by desertification. Also, the woodlands are prone to drought and desertification, primarily due to slash and burn methods of land preparation. Kenyas drylands occupy 88% of the land surface area, and have a population of 10 million people. Approximately 50% of livestock and 70% of wildlife are located in these drylands. In Uganda, the North-east, especially the Cattle Corridor has been witnessing overgrazing, soil compaction, erosion and the emergence of low-value grass species and vegetation which have subdued the lands productive capacity, leading to desertification. Some dryland districts like Moroto, Nakasongola, Karamoja and Kakuuto in Rakai are experiencing desertification. Around 71% of Ethiopian land is prone to desertification including its highlands and lowlands. The Rift Valley suffers immense desertification and land degradation. Desertification threatens Ethiopias agricultural productivity, wherein more than 80% of the population depends on various forms of agricultural production. Also, 95% of the farms are small-scale and depend on rain-fed agriculture. Ethiopia suffers a loss of $139 million per year due to reduced agricultural productivity. Sudan and parts of Egypt are more prone to desertification in the Nile River Basin. Egypt has experienced accelerated desertification of rangelands in the last few decades. Presently, 45% of rangelands are severely degraded, 35% are fair, 15% are good, and 5% are excellent. It is reported that 11,000 hectares of land has been lost due to desertification. Parts of Western Egypt fall into the Sahara and are hot and dry areas which are extending into the mainland. Increasing evaporation has also led to drying out of one of the Toshka Lakes. Egypt witnesses various forms of desertification such as: Degradation of irrigated farmland due to low quality water in irrigation Degradation of rain-fed farmland (Northern coastal belt and Northern Sinai) Degradation of rangeland (Northern coastal belt) through overgrazing, plant covers degradation Sand Encroachments from the Western desert on the Nile Valley land (Southern Egypt) and on the High Aswan Dam reservoir (in Egypt and Sudan). Desertification in Sudan In terms of desertification, Sudan is the largest and most seriously affected country in Africa. The arid and semi-arid lands cover an area of 1.78 million km2, constituting around 72% of the total area of the country. There is moderate to severe land degradation in the desert and semi-arid regions in the Northern half of Sudan. The Western part of Sudan (in the Sahel region) is most prone to drought and increasing desertification, especially the states of Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum and Kassala. The total desertification between Darfur and Kordofan is 22% i.e. 200,000 km2. A decline in precipitation has caused a stress factor on pastoral societies in these two regions, thereby contributing to conflict. There is a very strong link between land degradation, desertification and conflict in Darfur. In northern Darfur, increasing population growth, lack of resources and environmental stress led to conflicts which were further sustained by political, tribal or ethnic differences. As a consequence of desertification in Darfur, there has been increased mortality due to famine and disease, a decrease in total water and land availability, quality of water and land (including fertility), production of major staple foods, and deaths of domestic animals. It is estimated that since the 1930s, there has been around 50 to 200 km Southward shift of the boundary between semi-desert and desert. This boundary is expected to continue to move Southwards due to declining precipitation. The remaining semi-desert and low rainfall savannah, which represent 25% of Sudans agricultural land, are at considerable risk of further desertification and could lead to a 20% drop in food production. Sand Encroachment Instances of desert encroachment in Sudan are increasing, whereby the entire strip of the country along the Nile especially between Delgo and Karima in Northern Sudan is threatened. Sand dunes on the Eastern bank of River Nile in Sudan and encroachments in North-central regions can threaten the rivers course. Sand encroachment is also affecting the productivity of soil which has been witnessed extensively in the Gezira scheme and also in some areas of North Kordofan, North Darfur and Kannar in the Northern State, Sudan. In the Dongola-Merowe region of Sudan, the area covered by sand dunes increased from 51.2 km2 to 61.2 km2 between 1976 and 1996 and decreased to 35.1 km2 in 2000. This decrease could be attributed to an increase in the area covered by gravel and/or coarse sand. In Egypt, active sand dunes and encroachments occupy more than 16.6% of the countrys total land area. Sand encroachment in Egypt is further enhanced by the erratic rainfall, active winds, and scarcity of plant cover. Some inactive sand accumulations have been noticed in the Eastern side of the Nile delta and in the Sinai Peninsula. Types of Desertification Processes Underway in Sudan Climate-based conversion of land types from semi-desert to desert The least drought resistant vegetation fails to survive and reproduce. For instance, in Northern Darfur and Northern Kordofan, this is manifest in the widespread death of trees during drought events which are not followed by recovery. The desert climate is estimated to move Southward by approximately 100 km over 40 years. Degradation of existing desert environments, including wadis and oases At least 29% of Sudan is desert, within which there are hundreds of smaller wetter regions resulting from localized rainfall catchments, rivers and groundwater flows. It was discovered that all these areas were moderately to severely degraded, primarily due to deforestation, overgrazing and erosion. Conversion of land types from semi-desert to desert by human action Activities such as deforestation, overgrazing and cultivation result in habitat conversion to desert, even though rainfall may be sufficient to support semi-desert vegetation. One of the problems is the conversion of dry and fragile rangelands into traditional and mechanized cropland. Chapter 5 Water Quality Several factors pollute Nile waters, in particular faecal coliform bacterial contamination caused by lack of sanitation facilities and a high dependence on pit latrines, leading to presence of animal and human waste alongside open water bodies. Additionally, agricultural fertilizers and pesticides discharge high concentrations of nutrients and phosphates that runoff and leak into ground and surface water. Also, chemical pollution from industrial waste, mining activities and domestic sewage are released into water bodies without any effective wastewater treatment. Furthermore, sedimentation and siltation caused by deforestation, land degradation and soil erosion impact overall water quality. Lastly, poor planning practices, weak infrastructure and inadequate wastewater treatment systems add to the untreated water discharge. Some of the impacts of water pollution are death and destruction, loss of livelihood and income, and health hazards. The problem with a transboundary water resource in terms of water quality is that, polluted water from one area flows into the other area. This is specially witnessed in the Lake Victoria Basin. Water Hyacinth is another transboundary issue between the countries as it has a tendency of spreading fast and also leads to increased evaporation. Pollutant loads are washed away along with runoff and sedimentation loads which lead to water quality deterioration further downstream, rendering it non-viable for drinking purposes. Rwanda The main sources of water pollution are domestic, commercial, industrial, agriculture, water hyacinth and mismanagement of wetlands. Due to increased population and agricultural practices, inadequate sanitation facilities, there is an extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides. Also, wastewater from rural towns and villages containing faecal pollution are left untreated, giving rise to water borne diseases. In River Nyabugogo, there have been high rates of Iodine at 7.62m per litre. Additionally, there are large concentrations of Copper at 1.3mg per litre, Fluoride at 1.85mg per litre, Ammonia at 1.7mg per litre and Sodium at 105.3mg per litre. Also, Hexavalent Chromium was found ranging between 0.09 to 0.28 ÃŽÂ ¼g per litre. Although the Rwandan Ministry of Lands, Environment, Forest, Water Mines (MINITERE) and ELECTROGAZ have laboratories in place for water monitoring, the data is insufficient. The water drinking standards have been defined but have not been adopted yet. As a result of eutrophication by water hyacinth and agricultural pressure, Lakes Mihindi and Muhazi in Southern Rwanda are diminishing in size. Burundi There are several types of water pollution including bacteriological pollution from animal waste, organic pollution due to waste effluent from coffee processing plants, and industrial pollution via chemical fertilizers such as nitrates, phosphates and pesticides. Some of the causes of pollution are high demographic density, lack of latrines and waste dumping, and mining activities resulting in discharge of heavy metals and arsenic, especially in River Kanyarus tributary, Nowgere. Bujumbura accounts for 90% of industries in Burundi. However, data regarding industrial pollution is unavailable and not much has been achieved in monitoring and managing water quality due to under-resourcing of laboratories. Tanzania The water quality in Tanzania is affected by natural factors and human activities. The former comprises high fluoride concentrations and salinity in natural waters. The latter includes discharge of municipal and industrial wastewater, run-off from agricultural lands, and erosion encompassing high concentrations of nutrients, pathogens, BOD and COD levels. Additionally, gold mines in the Lake Victoria Basin consist of heavy metal pollution. Tanzania has no comprehensive national program for monitoring the quality of water or pollution even though water utility companies are required by law to monitor the water source and quality of water they supply. Kenya Water pollution in Kenya is caused by point and non-point sources such as agricultural activity, urbanization, industry, leachates from solid waste tips, sediments, salts, fertilizers and pesticide residues. Additionally, municipal sewerage plants discharge untreated wastewater into surface watercourses, causing significant health hazards and localized eutrophication. Tanneries, pulp and paper mills, coffee processing factories, breweries and sugar cane processing facilities do not have effective wastewater treatment plants and their effluents contribute organic loads, heavy metals and other toxic substances. The point pollution sources include sugar, paper, and fish industries, and also municipal sewage, oils and lubricants, marine workshops, petrol stations, human wastes and refuse from market and urban centres and fishing villages. The main non-point pollution sources comprise high nitrate, phosphate and pesticides from poor application of agricultural chemical and soil erosion. The Kenyan Lake Victoria Basin has a population of 12 million people and a low depth of approximately 6 meters, thereby causing an inability of catchment areas to perform purification of water. Although only 8% of Lake Victoria falls into Kenyan territory, tributaries such as Sio, Nzoia, Yala, Nyando and Mara are already severely polluted and contribute further to the lake pollution. Uganda The increased demand and use of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and fertilizers is impacting the water quality in Uganda. Agricultural practices account for 50% of nitrogen and 56% of phosphorus into the Lake Victoria Basin. Additionally, the exploitation of petroleum threatens the overall ecosystems of Lake Albert and Edward Basins. The Northern end of Lake George, Uganda, and its associated wetlands receive localized metal pollution from a former copper mine and tailings left after metal extraction. There is a

Essay --

Animal cruelty, also called animal abuse, is the human infliction of suffering or harm upon non-human animals, for purposes other than self-defense or survival. To me, animal cruelty is wrong and is a serious issue all around the world and must be stopped. Animal testing is a form of animal cruelty that if gone wrong is considered as animal cruelty. Animal testing can be considered good if the scientists don’t painfully harm the animals. The only animals that should be used for testing are mice, rats, and hamsters, not cats or dogs or other house pets. How can someone have the audacity to harm any animal? Animal testing is used for trialing new medicines, cosmetics, and injections to know they are safe for humans, but what scientists do to the animals in labs is gruesome. There are pros and cons of this debate, but mainly cons because who wants to put acid in a cute bunny’s eyes for no reason. Some pros are that, animal testing has contributes to many life-saving cures and treatments such as experimenters removed the pancreas from dogs which led to the discovery of insulin which sa... Essay -- Animal cruelty, also called animal abuse, is the human infliction of suffering or harm upon non-human animals, for purposes other than self-defense or survival. To me, animal cruelty is wrong and is a serious issue all around the world and must be stopped. Animal testing is a form of animal cruelty that if gone wrong is considered as animal cruelty. Animal testing can be considered good if the scientists don’t painfully harm the animals. The only animals that should be used for testing are mice, rats, and hamsters, not cats or dogs or other house pets. How can someone have the audacity to harm any animal? Animal testing is used for trialing new medicines, cosmetics, and injections to know they are safe for humans, but what scientists do to the animals in labs is gruesome. There are pros and cons of this debate, but mainly cons because who wants to put acid in a cute bunny’s eyes for no reason. Some pros are that, animal testing has contributes to many life-saving cures and treatments such as experimenters removed the pancreas from dogs which led to the discovery of insulin which sa...

Tone, Motif and Theme in Night Essay examples -- essays research paper

When people lose their dignity, they also lose a part of the very thing that makes them human. Despair, hopelessness, fear and apathy are all ways a human can lose their humanity. The eyes provide a window onto the soul, and thus a view on the person’s mental state. The eyes also function in reverse, as a symbolic gesture of control over someone. All of this is present in Night, by Elie Wiesel, an account of human tragedy, human cruelty, human dignity, and the loss thereof.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At the start of the book, the residents of Sighet live relatively happily, oblivious to the approaching storm. Mochà © the Beadle practices the cabbala, with, â€Å"dreaming eyes† (13), living his life by his own terms. His eyes are his distinguishing factor; they show his hope for the future, his love of life, and his own freedom. Mochà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s eyes seperate him from the rest of the town, elevating him to a model of self-esteem, and a confident, independent person. However, the German cruelty to the foreign Jews changes Mochà ©; â€Å"There was no longer any joy in his eyes† (17). By subjecting him to horror and fear, they removed the parts of Mochà © that made him Mochà ©. When Mochà © lost his dignity, he lost himself. The horrifying part of Mochà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s experience is the Gestapo; they acted, â€Å"without passion, without haste† (16). Their apathy towards their ‘job’ turns them into monsters. The inhuman act of m urdering hundreds of people in cold blood was made even more heartless by feeling no emotion abo...

Defining the Future of Education Essay -- Educating Argumentative Pers

Defining the Future of Education What should be the goals of an elementary education within an increasingly diverse population? The simple and obvious answer is that an educational institution should be a place for individuals to learn. The job of the teacher is to issue facts, share methods in which the facts can be learned and model consistent and appropriate behavior. Such behavior should consist of modeling appropriate presentation, cleanliness, respect, methodology, etc. Such a question is bound to raise many arguments by teachers and the answer will raise many arguments by students. Most of our children, especially grades K-5, are not receiving the simple and obvious answer noted above; they are receiving mediocre teaching skills by teachers who are bitterly under-paid, over burdened, and often not credentialed. Mike Rose's, "Lives on the Boundary" (1989), expresses similar views that appear to be quite complex but are attainable. Rose expresses the tremendous need for embracing the purpose of education. He describes several individuals who developed both the social and cognitive ability to step outside the strict confines of tradition and pursue their individual dreams. Rose gives hope and confidence that it is not the students, who are failing, it is the educational system that is failing the students, and particularly those who are ill prepared and lack resources. More often than not, the ability to visualize our potential is lost in what should be rather than what is. Education needs to be seen as a wonderful experience. The content of any curriculum should emphasize the process rather than the product and the joy that can be achieved by struggling together. Struggling together is simply an extension of what we... ...any projects based on Gardner's theory have been implemented in classrooms all over the nation and are proving to be extremely advantageous. Schools have the potential to be a very different kind of place. Teachers need to go beyond the principal and superintendent and talk to each other. Time needs to be allotted where teachers can work cooperatively on issues of curriculum and assessment and foster the development of all forms of thinking. Works Cited Bishop, J. Thomas. "Enemies of Promise." In the Presence of Others: Voices That Call for Response. Second Edition. Andrea A. Lundsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz. St. Martin's Press. New York, 1997. 26-261. Thomas, Lewis. "The Hazards of Science." In the Presence of Others: Voices That Call for Response. Second Edition. Andrea A. Lundsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz. St. Martin's Press. New York, 1997. 239.

Does Internet Makes Us Stupid?

The influence of Internet on the society â€Å"When we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. † This statement, which was made by President Barack Obama, makes us question whether the use of the Internet helps us succeed or makes us stupid and lock ourselves out of the outside world. The Internet bubble increases its volume and density rapidly, because the number of people and hours using the internet increases dramatically every day. Consequently, books and other research resources are becoming increasingly less valuable.The Internet has become the biggest library. By growing so rapidly, the Internet system not only makes life so much easier, but also may exceed certain ethical and moral limits. I think that it is true that the influence of Internet in some instances is making us less intelligent. In this essay, however, I am going to argue that internet doesn't make us stupid. In fact, I believe that what we build an d use now, is a huge new development for the nation and for us as individuals. First, I want to point out that Internet lets us develop as a nation. Since it improves continuously, we as human beings improve, as well.As we develop a system which can carry unimaginable amounts of knowledge, we can become smarter by taking advantage of the information. It doesn’t take that much time to find everything anymore. Thus, we can learn much more in a shorter time period, compared to finding something specific in books or articles, for example, which can be very time-consuming. Of course, books are most likely written in a high-level language, which is in many cases not applicable for the Internet and which can make us able to understand and use specific unusual words.On the other side, however, I think that we want to learn things in an understandable way and to be able to use them quickly, so that we can learn more in the limited time we have. It is true that many people access inapp ropriate internet information or spend more time playing games instead of relating to â€Å"real† people or being outdoors. It is also true that, in some cases, we are getting accustomed to accessing information so easily we don't appreciate it enough. This consequently, makes us lazy in doing research of our own. Instead, we are often using other people’s information and their opinions.I think, however, that this doesn’t make the majority of people less intelligent. In fact, it connects minds. For instance, we are doing something completely new, and we don’t want to do it badly or go to a bad place. The Internet allows us to read reviews and recommendations from people with experience. Thus, we are able to be prepared for something and do a better job. It is also often possible to chat 24 hours a day with someone personally from a specific company or even doctors. This results also in huge timesaving and answers our questions easily. This doesn’t make the people more stupid.To the contrary, it makes them more mature and we develop as human beings. Even people who are actually lazy or not as smart get the chance to improve themselves easily. People who are already very intelligent use the opportunity to go even beyond their abilities. Moreover, as mentioned in the introduction, President Obama also supports that Internet doesn’t make us more stupid, because we are not only relying on it, but thinking with human mind: â€Å"The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together.There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires. So we say to ourselves, ever since the founding of this country: you know what, there are some things we do better together. † Although the Internet was created by decentralized gro ups of scientists and programmers and hobbyists, government financing supported much of the early research, obviously because it saw many advantages for the nation in it.In the New York Times article â€Å"The Internet? We create that†, the author supports Obama’s statement, by saying that â€Å"†¦ life is full of things we do better together. But what the Internet and its descendants teach us is that there are now new models for doing things together, success stories that prove convincingly that you don’t need bureaucracies to facilitate public collaboration, and you don’t need the private sector to innovate. † Thus, as shown, the Internet is a new way of learning and doing things which helps us to improve as a human beings.Pointing out things that we do and don't do together brings me to the next point of Internet as a huge advantage in international communication and developing our understandings. The Internet gives us the ability to commun icate with different people around the world and to improve our intellectual diversity. As we learn so much more from other countries and cultures, we get more open-minded and informed. We are getting close as a world community with fast and reliable communication possibilities around the world.In addition, business uses the internet to cooperate and trade with other companies all around the world and to become international. On one hand, this leads to more and better language skills, and on the other hand, to better understanding and studying of different cultures and economies. Consequently, the world view makes us smarter and makes us seek the best we can achieve. A few decades ago, people were not as informed about other countries and diverse as they are now. Every country can improve itself and take huge advantage of other countries, rather than just studying books and not connecting with real people and countries.The communication possibilities are more personal and interactiv e through different chat services and video conferences offered, for instance, by Skype, FaceTime, Whatsapp or Viber. We, who created the internet, did it to become more intelligent. To seek to the best is human nature. How else would everything be so easily and equally available for everyone? From my personal experience I can say that the communication possibilities through the Internet are one of the biggest advantages of the Internet. As an international student in the U. S. I can easily contact my family and friends back in Germany and be up to date. This enables me to study overseas without feeling as far apart and improve myself in all ways in a different culture. It is also worth mentioning that the internet makes it possible and realistic to study in a different language without having major difficulties. Since the internet offers fast access to information in all languages and different translation pages, it is possible to understand everything and make different researches . This fact connects to my last argument: The Internet is the best resource of information.Besides the facts that the Internet helps us to improve ourselves and connect with other countries easily, we have all resources collected together, which we improve and up-to-date constantly. Besides the point that we save time, it lets us compare lots of information. It is true that Internet has diminished our interest in reading books and going to the library. In the book â€Å"The Shallows,† Nicholas Carr mentions that the rise of the Internet might lead to loss of important mental talents because every technology would come with trade-offs.According to Carr, however, the Internet is actually good for the mind. He applies a comprehensive 2009 review of studies published on the cognitive effects of video games and found that gaming led to significant improvements in performance on various cognitive tasks, from visual perception to sustained attention. Consequently, he claims that dif ferent tasks of the Internet could increases the speed of information processing. We don’t need to stick with only a few resources, but can compare everything to get the most correct information, and as a side effect, increase our concentration skills.For example, when we are looking for a specific historic time period, we can compare resources from writers all over the world and thus, we can compare different views on certain aspects. What if the two books you find in the library have two completely different descriptions of an event? Where else, except on the internet through Google or Yahoo searches, could we find out what’s really true? Besides this, the Internet offers access to the latest research in different fields like technology, science or medicine. Isn't that what we want and what can make us smarter?A 2009 study by neuroscientists at the University of California proves that performing Google searches led to increased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, at least when compared with reading a â€Å"book-like text. † This certain brain area would, according to the studies, underlie the precise talents, like selective attention and deliberate analysis, which would have vanished in the age of the Internet. Thus, the Internet or specifically â€Å"Google, isn’t making us stupid – it’s exercising the very mental muscles that make us smarter. In addition, students are most likely required to use the internet for extensive researches and be in contact from any place through email or blackboard, for example, to share information and learn. All in all, through my demonstrated arguments that internet lets us act as better people in our life, that it connects the world, and that it is the biggest library with all imaginable information, I strongly believe that Internet is making us predominantly cleverer.It is true that it all depends on an individual person and how he or she is taking advantage of the onli ne world. It also depends what character and habits the person has generally in his or her life, because so does he or she, most likely, get influenced by the internet. In my opinion, however, every person gets advantages of the Internet in their way and learns for his or her life. If, in some way we can say that Internet has a negative effect on the person, we can’t only blame the Internet.All interrupting technologies and the people attending the online world are seeking to get the attention of people, who are constantly craving to get new information in the best way. Consequently, many opportunities and offers are almost impossible to resist that we are wasting a lot of time in the internet. But we are human beings and we are trying to seek to the best or can you resist everything and just be perfectly mature? ——————————————– [ 1 ]. http://www. nytimes. com/2010/06/06/b ooks/review/Lehrer-t. html? _r=0