Headphones - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1438 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Technology Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Introduction Headphones are smaller versions of loudspeakers, one that can be carried around ones neck all day. They cover up both the ears reaching across from around the head. They are generally cushioned for comfort and this also helps in noise cancellation. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Headphones" essay for you Create order Over the years, the headphones have found themselves useful in more ways than one. Airplane pilots are among the many professionals to use headphones on the job; most often headphones are used as auxiliary stereo equipment, to listen to music without disturbing others, and in the production of music in the recording studio.'(Thomson Gale, 2006) SUMMARY The History of Headphones The headphones were originally adopted from the idea of telephones. By 1919 radio headphones, as shown in the picture below, had started being manufactured. These headphones were initially used more by the professionals in comparison to the public. The original headphones were far from the ones that are used today with extremely poor sound quality and no cushioning for comfort. The radio operators and telephone exchanges were the initial users of these original headphones. The drawbacks in these headphones were covered for by the invention of the first Dynamic Headphones. A German company called Beyerdynamics created these in 1937 and called them the DT 48. The production of these headphones sets a fine example of innovation in the late 1930s. However, they were incapable of producing stereophonic sounds that we get from the headphones today. Stereo Headphones can be dated back to 1958. The first Modern stereo headphones came into being as a result of the innovation of entrep reneur John C. Koss, a Milwaukee-based jazz musician and audiophile. Before this advancement by Koss, simplistic headphones were merely used in industries by telephone operators for around a century. Koss designed his version distinctively for music and they also supported stereo sound. Kosss first headphones, SP/3, were marketed as an accessory to a suitcase-sized phonograph. The phonograph was not as big as a hit as the headphones since they were largely accepted by the recording industries. Koss made a number of improvements in his original headphones and introduced the Pro/4 model in 1962. It had a microphone transducer that included an improvement in the sound quality. Gradually, new methods of producing sound in headphones were employed by Koss, such as the introduction of the electrostatic headphones, which used stator plates per ear to vibrate air molecules and create sound (Valens Quinn, 2008). These innovative steps had changed the look and quality of headphones. But th ey were still bulky and heavy. There was a need to make them lightweight and compact. By the 1980s, Sony introduced the Walkman Headphones. These were small, portable stereo headphones. They were designed completely different i.e. supra aural as oppose to the circumaural design. The first cordless headphones were by john Koss that used an infrared signal to link the amplifier to the headphones (Thomson Gale, 2006). In the 1990s, the earbud headphone came to light; a small headphone that fit inside the ear instead of sitting over it. Canalphones also came along in the 1990s, providing sound directly into the ear canal for superior sound quality and the combined effect of earplugs to prevent outside noise from leaking inside. (Dachary Carey, 2009) From Theory To Practice Competition when first innovated There was not much competition in the initial period of the birth of headphones. Beyerdynamics was the first to produce the first dynamic headphones in the 19030s. Whereas Koss Corporation produced the first stereo headphones in the 1958. With a number one rating according to the Consumer Report magazine, Koss stood for quality. Though there were other companies that tired to over their monopoly, the company managed to squelch competition from cheap imports by offering a superior product. Research shows that when a Japanese firm began selling an inexpensive $12 headphone set in the early 1960s, Koss raised its own prices, widening the gulf between the two. The company grew at roughly 15 to 20 percent annually in its early years, with profit of around ten percent (James Press, 2001). This proved Kosss company to be a lucrative one, thereby withstanding any competition that was thrown at them. Subsequent Competition But Koss Corporations principal competitor was Sony (James Press, 2001). Sony had its own set of competitors. The Walkman craze began in Japan and reached the US by 1980. Other audio companies jumped on the personal stereo bandwagon, and by Spring of 1981, at least two dozen companies were selling similar devices, many of which were marketed with catchy names of their own. Toshiba had their Stereo Walky, Infinity had their Intimate, and Panasonic sold their Stereo-To-Go. (Walkman History 101, 2002) Resistance to Innovation Innovation in the field of headphones continues to occur, but even the highest quality headphones have drawbacks and limitations. As the headphone speakers are inserted into the ear, the sound deviates from the natural conditioning and sensing elements leading to a disconnected sound effect coming from the middle of the listeners head. Another useful yet unhealthy innovation was the noise cancelling headphones. They can create a level of social isolation and feeling of detachment from the surroundings because of which the listener does not engage with the outside world. Environmental safety is compromised, as listeners cant hear traffic or other social safety cues when enjoying their favorite songs. This has led to many road accidents. Health issues can also arise when a headphone fits deep inside the ear, because during exercise a plugged headphone can cause bacteria growth. In addition, many users report increased earwax. Other health issues like long term or permanent hear ing damage has been reported when users are exposed to high volume levels over long periods of time. (Headphone History And Evolution, 2007) Despite all the changes, nothing was done to check these problems then and they carry on even today. Future Developments The future has much in store for us when it comes to headphones. A lot of research has been done to improve the way headphones look and sound. In the near future, we will be seeing something called bonephones, that use bone conduction to create vibrations against the head to transmit sound to a listener. Its principal benefit is that it prevents ears from damaging due to the outside environment. (Valens Quinn, 2008) Also new to the headphone world will be the introduction of the InAir technology. This technology uses the ear to its full advantage, i.e. its uses all the parts of the ear to create sound, allowing one to have an experience of personal listening similar to high quality, surround sound home stereo system while still allowing ambient sounds to be heard (Headphone History And Evolution, 2007). Critical Analysis Over time, as developments have taken place, headphones have become sleeker, more stylized and comfortable to carry, thereby replacing the huge music players. As innovators find means and ways to attract customers to headphones, their health is at stake. The in-ear headphones may cancel sound for better hearing, but it can also lead to bacterial growth inside the ear if plugged on for a long time. Nowadays, headphones have become Bluetooth enabled, though it clearly known that these rays are injurious to our health. Inventors should focus on these issues rather than stylizing headphones to make sales. With the gradual increase in the population of the world and it becoming more technology savvy, headphone use has increased. Nowadays millions of people use headphones during online gaming, online chatting such as Skype and watching videos on Youtube. Another issue with the headphones is that they sometimes do not fit the price tag. They have recently become expensive due to the in trusion of new technology, e.g. sound cancellation frequency used in Bose speakers, cordless headphones. Either the headphones are too expensive or too cheap to work properly. Another problem faced by the old school headphones lovers and myself rather than the cordless headphones lovers is the tangling of cable. Not much has been done to check the problem. However, keeping in mind the growing number music lovers, the future of the headphone market seems to be a profitable one. References Thomson Gale. (2006). World of Invention. Available: https://www.bookrags.com/research/headphones-woi/. Last accessed 7 November 2009. Valens Quinn. (2008). Time Warp: A History Of Headphones. Available: https://www.gadgetguy.com.au/time-warp-a-history-of-headphones-article-3769-115.html. Last accessed 7 November 2009 Dachary Carey. (2009). The History Of Headphones. Available: https://www.life123.com/technology/home-electronics/headphones/the-history-of-headphones.shtml. Last accessed 7 November 2009. James Press. (2001). Koss Corporation. Available: https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Koss-Corporation-Company-History.html. Last accessed 24 November 2009. Anonymous. (2002). Walkman History 101. Available: https://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/walkman/history.html. Last accessed 24 November 2009. Anonymous. (2007). Headphone History and Evolution. Available: https://inairtechnology.com/development.html. Last accessed 24 November 2009.

African Americans and the Civil War - 774 Words

December 15th 2013 AP US History Unit 7 Essay African Americans and the Civil War Slavery affected many of the political reasons that contributed to causing the Civil War in 1961. Most in the Northern states including President Lincoln were more concerned with preserving the Union rather than fighting for the freedom of all. On the other hand the South fought to preserve what they believed to be absolute state rights. However the overall goals of the war were altered significantly by the willingness of African Americans during war. This also later contributed to the new culture and politics that followed. There was always a constant controversy with the issue of fugitive slaves throughout the time of the Civil War. Major Butler†¦show more content†¦In the beginning, the concern of popular sovereignty in new territories and the reformation of the United States was a very important issue; however, now the government was faced with different issues involving the South. It was said by the Republican Party that the thirteenth amendment was expected and essenti al but if the African Americans had not been so persistent, this would not have been the case. Also the addition of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments further more angered the Southern people (Doc H). This resulted in the majority of Johnson’s presidency to be focused on Reconstruction. Black’s participation and involvement in the constitutional conventions showed their endless support to the Reconstruction (Doc J). Even though grandfather clauses and poll taxes would soon cut the blacks off from their involvement, they were able to gain full citizenship and suffrage. These particular triumphs would have been impossible if they had not altered the outcome of the war. Not only were African Americans majorly involved in political issues, but they were also very major contributors to social changes in the years that followed the Civil War as well. Many blacks disregarded Southern discouragement and many joined colored regiments or found jobs of their own (Doc F). It was alarming to most Southerners, but after the war African Americans started attending school and the onceShow MoreRelatedAfrican Americans And The Civil War1076 Words   |  5 Pages Throughout history African Americans have had is bad in the United States. First they went through slavery which lasted about two hundred year and was ended around the Civil War which was in the 1860s-1870s. Next after they went through slavery they went through the law of Jim Crow that started after the Civil War which stated, â€Å"Separate but Equal†, and that was not the case because African Americans were still treated as second class citizens. After about ninety years around the 1960s Dr. MartinRead MoreAfrican Americans And The Civil War1449 Words   |  6 PagesWhen the Civil War began, they wanted to take part in fighting to free all slaves. At the end of the civil war passed the civil rights act that gave citizenship to people that are born in the united states, years later African American men were given the right to vote. This might give equal rights but African Americans are still being discriminated. Almost century later, African Americans are still being discriminated. They got jobs and their kids go to school, but more notice that it wasn t rightRead MoreThe Civil War On African Americans Essay1421 Words   |  6 PagesThe years preceding the Civil War were monstrous for African Americans located in the South of the country. Northerners and Southerners would argue that their visions of how society is structured is the right way and should be expanded throughout the nation. Southerners claimed that slavery is okay, and it’s a positive labor system. On the contrary, Northerners claim that laborers should be paid by wage, men should have equal opportunities, and slaves should gain freedom. The four most significantRead MoreAfrican American And The Civil War876 Words   |  4 PagesIn 1865, when the civil war ended in America and slavery was abolished, the African American population in the South faced many challenges related to their new found freedom. Following the pos t-Civil War Reconstruction period, white supremacy resurfaced in the South (AE Television, 2015). Beginning in the early 1900s through 1970 there was a mass exodus of African American s from South to North America. Although some African American s were known to have moved from the South as early as 1850Read MoreThe Civil War Of African Americans1010 Words   |  5 Pagescentury. For an African American, the word â€Å"life† evolved from a word that meant absolutely nothing, to a word that stood for an individual’s highest commodity. After the civil war, emancipation for slaves transformed from a dream to a reality. Although the civil war finally ended in 1865 after four years of fighting, certain citizens and groups across the nation still remained in a state if disagreement with the freedom granted to African Americans. The years after the civil war revolutionizedRead MoreAfrican Americans And The Civil War1309 Words   |  6 PagesIn the summer of 1619, the fir st Africans were brought to Jamestown, Virginia not to live as free settlers but as subordinate slaves. They worked strenuously for Whites, who considered themselves superior to Africans, without much benefit. Racism is not just the belief that one race is superior to others, but the act of negatively identifying individuals based on the color of their skin. Attributing race to individual character has proven to have negative implications that are difficult to mend.Read MoreAfrican Americans And The Civil War1540 Words   |  7 Pageshistorical backdrop of the United States, African Americans have dependable been victimized. When Africans first came to America, they had no choice but to be slaves. The progressed toward becoming slaves to the rich, covetous, lethargic Americans. African Americans had given no compensation and regularly whipped and beaten. They battled for their opportunity, yet when the Civil War came African Americans had this logic that if they were to join the Ci vil War they could liberate all slaves. HoweverRead MoreAfrican Americans And The Civil War859 Words   |  4 Pagesslavery, predominately in the American South, African-Americans were finally set free from bondage. The fourteenth and fifteenth amendments quickly followed, granting citizenship to â€Å"all persons born or naturalized in the United States† and granting African American men the right to vote, respectively. Naturally, Americans denoted these momentous legislative feats, collectively packaged as the Reconstruction Amendments, as a means of celebration for African-Americans. However, in order to rectifyRead MoreAfrican Americans in the Civil War1971 Words   |  8 PagesAnderson HIST 3060 February 25, 13 African Americans and the Civil War The role African Americans played in the outcome, and the road to the outcome of the Civil War was immense. The fact that the south had slaves and the north did not played an enormous role in the issues. The north wanted to abolish slavery, and the south did not and after the war started this became one of the main reasons for the Civil War. Since most African Americans could not read or write, this made them an easyRead MoreAfrican Americans And The Civil War971 Words   |  4 PagesAfter the civil war African Americans hoped that the world they lived in would be an equal one; little did they know they had more struggles to conquer. Three major amendments were passed to provide African Americans with equality; the 13th amendment officially and finally put an end to slavery and any future involuntary servitude, the 14th amendment states that colored men and women were given citizenship, and the 15th amendment gave black men the right to vote. Although these amendments were passed

The Impact of the Current Regulatory Framework on Water Quality in Ireland Free Essays

Lecturer: Aisling O’Gorman Waste Process Management Lecturer: Aisling O’Gorman Waste Process Management 08 Fall 08 Fall Submission Date: 11/10/2012 Word Count: 2387 Submission Date: 11/10/2012 Word Count: 2387 The Impact of the Current Regulatory Framework on Water Quality in Ireland: Maria McShane The Impact of the Current Regulatory Framework on Water Quality in Ireland: Maria McShane Introduction Based on the evaluation of various reports, papers, documents, regulations and legislation from numerous agencies, departments, directives and bodies it can be seen that although â€Å"on paper† major changes have been made so as to improve the quality of water in Ireland, realistically the amendments do not match up. This being that progress has been slow and minimal when compared to the reform of regulations and legislation and the introduction of the Water Framework Directive. Considering the key importance of water as a natural resource both to society and habitats alike it will be argued that although the intention is there to improve the quality of water in Ireland (and there have been some improvements) as an overall, actual major physical improvements to the water quality has yet to be seen. We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of the Current Regulatory Framework on Water Quality in Ireland or any similar topic only for you Order Now Report Firstly the Water Framework Directive will be examined to highlight its purpose, current status and goals for the future and how it fits into impacting Irelands water quality. The WFD was set up by the EU â€Å"in response to the increasing threat of pollution and the increasing demand from the public for cleaner rivers, lakes and beaches† (The Eu Water Framework Directive. [online] Available at: http://www. wfdireland. ie/wfd. tml[Accessed on 08/10/12]). According to the Water Framework Directives’ website, their aims are to â€Å"protect/enhance all waters (surface, ground and coastal waters), achieve â€Å"good status† for all waters by December 2015, manage water bodies based on river basins (or catchments), involve the public and streamline legislation†1 (The Eu Water Framework Directive. [online] Available at: http://www. wfdireland. ie/wfd. html[Accessed on 08/10/12]). In order to achieve these goals a timetable for implementation of the directive was created, starting from its transposition into Irish Legislation by the European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003, (Statutory Instrument 722) on 22nd December 2003 (European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003, (Statutory Instrument 722). (The Eu Water Framework Directive. [online] Available at: http://www. wfdireland. ie/wfd. html[Accessed on 08/10/12]). From the 22nd December 2003 to the 22nd June 2009 no Programmes of Measures were actually implemented in order to beneficially impact Irelands water quality by the WFD. Instead the WFD established (June 2004) and characterised (December 2004) Irelands River Basin Districts, submitted a National Summary Report on the characterisation of the RBDs to the European Commission (March 2005), developed classification systems for surface water and groundwater (June 2006), established and maintained appropriate Monitoring Programmes (June 2006), prepared and published a work programme and timetable for the production of River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) (June 2006), identified the significant water management issues in each river basin (June 2007), drafted RBMPs and allowed six months for written comment (June 2008), and finally established environmental objectives and final Programmes of Measures and developed RBMPs for implementation (June 2009), (Water Framework Directive, [2005]). Although this research and reporting is a vital function of improving Irelands water quality, the timeframe in which this has been done means that physical progress has been h indered. The actual recovery progress made to Irelands water quality can be seen in various Environmental Protection Agency reports. According to the EPA’s Water Quality in Ireland Report of 2007-2009, between 1987 and 1990, 77. 3, 12. 0, 9. 7 and 0. % surveyed river channel length were unpolluted, slightly polluted, moderately polluted and seriously polluted respectively. By the 2001-2003 report the percentage of unpolluted rivers had dropped from 77. 3% to 69. 3% which is significant, in addition to this the percentage surveyed of seriously polluted rivers had risen from 0. 4% to 0. 6%, slight and moderate pollution had also risen by 5. 9 and 2. 6 percent respectively. By the 2007-2009 report the percentage of surveyed river that remained unpolluted had dropped again to 68. 9%, slight pollution had also risen to 20. 7%. Fortunately moderate and seriously polluted waters had seen a drop from 12. 3 and 0. 6 to 10. 0 and 0. 4 percent respectively (M. McGarrigle et al. [2009). Considering that the water quality of rivers for the 2001-2003 recording period was healthier than the 2007-2009 recording period, even though the 2001-2003 period coincides with the implementation of the WFD, highlights that for a period of six years that the WFD was in effect Irelands river water quality declined. This corroborates to the argument that yes the WFD has carried out reports, monitoring programs and drafted plans all well and good, but without any actual meaningful actions taken, what good is the WFD at all? This is not to say that the WFD has not done anything positive, for example since its introduction â€Å"the percentage of channel surveyed classified as seriously polluted has decreased to 0. 4 percent compared with the previous period when 0. 5 percent was seriously polluted† (M. McGarrigle et al. [2009]). It cannot be stressed enough that in order to improve the quality of water in Ireland research and reporting is fundamental, however the point being made is that pencil pushing and fiddling around writing reports and documents will not recuperate Irelands water systems. Six years is a very long timeframe for an EU commissioned directive to take no feasible action other than talk about and plan what it’s going to do and then expect to reach its target of returning all waters to â€Å"good status† by December 2015. To emphasise the case that without acting and merely focusing on the bureaucratic side of things the WFD has impeded its own progress, citing’s from the South Western River Basin Management Plan (2009-2015) report will be looked at. It states, â€Å"municipal wastewater discharge is one of the two most important sources of pollution in Irish rivers, accounting for 38% of the number of polluted river sites recorded (the other source being agricultural activities)† (South Western River Basin District [2010]). This is not new news, this has been known for quite some time and â€Å"the two top sectors responsible for the pollution of Irish rivers are municipal and agriculture† has even been quoted in the 1991-1993 EPA water quality in Ireland report. To add to this the Nitrates Directive was set up in 1991 for the â€Å"protection of waters against pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources† (Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, The Nitrates Directive. [online] Available at: http://www. nviron. ie/en/Environment/Water/WaterQuality/NitratesDirective/ [Accessed on 08/10/12]). This directive actually implemented legislation that â€Å"required the avoidance of practices by farmers which create a risk of causing pollution to water courses and provide for inspections by local authorities. They also provided for strengthened enforcement provisions and for better farmyard management. They included provisions relating to times of the year, weather and soil conditions when the application of fertilisers is permitted, the minimum setback distances from water sources for the application of fertilisers and minimum storage capacity for manures†. Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, The Nitrates Directive. [online] Available at: http://www. environ. ie/en/Environment/Water/WaterQuality/NitratesDirective/ [Accessed on 08/10/12]). Why then is the SWRBD reporting that agriculture is the second biggest cause of pollution to Irish rivers, number one when this has long been known and number two when measures have already been put in place a long time ago to address this problem? To add to this they also quoted â€Å"The main objective i n relation to wastewater is to meet the requirements of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations (2001-2010) in full† (South Western River Basin District [2010]). Not to be crude, but are they for real? This is common sense, these regulations have been in place since 2001, and yes they would have been modified over the years but how in 2010 when this report came out can meeting these regulations still be just an objective? To highlight further the WFDs failure to have a significant positive impact on the quality of Irish water a recent EPA report on the assessment of aquatic ecosystem responses to POM’s intended to improve water quality in Ireland was released. According to this report, â€Å"results presented suggest that many existing POMs have proven or are proving ineffective in raising BWQ (biological water quality) and restoring ecological functioning† (D. Taylor et al. [2012]). An example of this can be seen in the â€Å"strategic replacement of 10% of septic tank systems in part of the Blackwater catchment in CO. Armagh† (D. Taylor et al. [2012]). The report showed that overall, prior and subsequent to the replacement of the septic tank systems phosphorous loads remained largely the same. In conjunction with this result, â€Å"in other parts of the Blackwater, the replacement and upgrading of septic tank systems had no significant phosphorous concentration effects, despite the implementation of additional POMs aimed at reducing phosphorous inputs from point and diffuse sources† (D. Taylor et al. [2012]). The report goes on to say that some of the â€Å"potential reasons why the implementation of POMs have had limited success include the delayed, incomplete or uneven application of measures† (D. Taylor et al. [2012]). This only solidifies the argument that the WFD spent too much time thinking about what to do, and then what measures they did put in place, for the most part either took too long to do so or did not implement the measure properly in order to meet their 2015 deadline. Which follows now onto a report that was released in July 2010 on behalf of the WFD entitled â€Å"Final River Basin Management Plans Background Documentation, Alternative Objectives: Approach to Extended Deadlines†, its main purpose, to focus on certain cases that require an extension past the 2015 deadline (kind of defeats the purpose of the WFD if they are admitting defeat five years before the deadline). Under section 4. 0 ‘Agriculture’ of this report, one of the cases for exclusion is nitrate losses from agriculture to groundwaters. The reason for this, â€Å"Scientific data indicates status recovery extends beyond 2015. â€Å"Recovery of elevated nitrate levels in groundwater bodies is expecte d to take place in approximately 20 years even with full implementation of the Good Agricultural Practice regulations (Fenton et al, in press). So yes, while it is known that the natural recovery of a water system takes substantial time, with technology today could the WFD not invest in developing nitrate removal techniques such as, layered double hydroxides which â€Å"are of interest because of the potential to use LDHs to remove agrochemicals from polluted water, reducing the likelihood of eutrophication† (Wikipedia. org, Layered Double Hydroxins. [online] Available at: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Layered_double_hydroxides [Accessed on 08/10/2012]). Another case looked at in this report is wastewater discharges from some treatment plants. The reason for the exemption, a technical/practical constraint, it states â€Å"The time required to plan and design upgrades to treatment plants and to achieve approvals and licensing means it is not technically possible to achieve good status in 2015,† the action applied is to leave â€Å"Local Authorities to upgrade plants through the Water Services Investment Programme† meaning that funding is one of the reasons that there will be a delay in the overhaul of wastewater treatment plants in Ireland. Unsurprisingly, according to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government website â€Å"with the changed economic climate and the finalisation of the first cycle of River Basin Management Plans, the new programme aims to prioritise projects that target environmental compliance issues† (Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Water Services Investment Programme. online] Available at: http://www. environ. ie/en/Environment/Water/ WaterServices/WaterServicesInvestmentProgramme/ [Accessed on 08/10/2012]). This here shown lack of initiative by the Government and the WFD by not investing in technology that can help recover Irish waters allows the development of this last argument. In a very recent position paper entitled â€Å"Reform of the Water Sector in Ireland† carried out by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government it was highlighted that â€Å"water services cost over â‚ ¬1. 2 billion to run in 2010, of which operational costs amounted to some â‚ ¬715 million, with capital expenditure of over â‚ ¬500 million†. The paper goes on to tell of the impending establishment of the state company ‘Irish Water’ â€Å"that will take over the water investment and maintenance programmes of the 34 county and city councils with the key aim of supervising and accelerating the pace of delivery of planned investments needed to upgrade the State’s water and sewerage networks† (Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, [2012]). This state company intends on funding its investments and programmes via water charges paid for by Irish householders. Despite the fact that Ireland is in a recession and its people are struggling as it is financially, the fact remains that Ireland is the only country in the OECD that does not pay for its water use (Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, [2012]). It states, â€Å"Our capacity to fund the future capital investment requirements from the exchequer is severally constrained. The Government’s plan for Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-16 shows a decline in exchequer capital investment in water and waste water services from â‚ ¬435 million in 2011 to â‚ ¬371 million in 2012 and a further decline to â‚ ¬296 million by 2014† (Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, [2012]). This is one of the reasons why Irish Water is a good idea as it will actually fund the necessary wastewater treatment plant changes that need to be done in order to tackle some of Irelands water pollution issues while also effectively reducing the amount of treated potable water wasted everyday by Irish households. So to sum up, yes, introducing the WFD has had a positive impact as it has lead to developments in implementations that will help to recover the quality of Irelands waters, however the main argument being made in this paper is that they failed on several points. Firstly they spent too much time on the bureaucratic side of things, six years to be exact figuring out what the problems were and where, when a lot of them were obvious, had been known about and reported on several years previously and many had already been addressed. Secondly, a lot of POMs that were implemented were done so either to late or not properly, meaning that a lot of them have not lead to any significant positive changes. Finally where the WFD failed was a lack of investment into developing technologies that might help accelerate the return of Irish waters to their natural state, and a huge time lag into implementing water charges so as to invest into Irelands infrastructure regarding wastewater treatment. Overall time here is what has been wasted, as for every day that no action is taken is another day when Irelands water and habitats suffer. Nature does not and can not wait for the pencil pushers. References 1. The Eu Water Framework Directive. [online] Available at: http://www. wfdireland. ie/wfd. html[Accessed on 08/10/12] 2. Water Framework Directive, [2005]. The Characterisation and Analysis of Ireland’s River Basin Districts, National Summary Report. Ireland 3. Environmental Protection Agency, M. McGarrigle et al. [2009]. Water Quality in Ireland. Ireland 4. South Western River Basin District, [2010] South Western River Basin Management Plan. Ireland 5. Environmental Protection Agency, [1993] Water Quality in Ireland. Ireland 6. Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, The Nitrates Directive. [online] Available at: http://www. environ. ie/en/Environment/Water/WaterQuality/NitratesDirective/ [Accessed on 08/10/12]). 7. Environmental Protection Agency, D. Taylor et al. [2012] Water Quality and the Aquatic Environment STRIVE Report 91. Ireland 8. Lag Time: A Methodology For The Estimation Of Vertical, Horizontal Travel Flushing Timescales To Nitrate Threshold Concentrations In Irish Aquifers Fenton et al under review 9. Wikipedia. org, Layered Double Hydroxins. [online] Available at: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Layered_double_hydroxides [Accessed on 08/10/2012]. 10. Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Water Services Investment Programme. [online] Available at: http://www. environ. ie/en/Environment/Water/WaterServices/WaterServicesInvestmentProgramme/ [Accessed on 08/10/2012]). 11. Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, [2012] Reform of the Water Sector in Ireland. Ireland How to cite The Impact of the Current Regulatory Framework on Water Quality in Ireland, Papers

Segmentary system free essay sample

M.N Srinivas sees caste as a segmentary system. Every caste for him divided into sub castes which are the units of endogamy whose members follow a common occupation, social and ritual life and common culture and whose members are governed by the same authoritative body viz the panchayat. Srinivas was an eminent Indian sociologist who is known for his work on caste and caste systems, social stratification, Sanskritization and Westernization in southern India and the concept of Dominant Caste. As part of his methodological practice, Srinivas strongly advocated ethnographic research based on fieldwork, but his concept of fieldwork was tied to the notion of locally bounded sites. Thus some of his best papers, such as the paper on dominant caste and on a joint family dispute, were largely inspired from his direct participation (and as a participant observer) in rural life in south India.MN Srinivas in his paper entitled dominant Caste in Rampura featured the procedure of social change in India in view of the idea of prevailing standing. As per him, a station to be named, as a prevailing position must have broad cultivable land ought to have significant numerical quality and ought to possess a high place in the neighbourhood caste order.The dominant caste may assume self-importance, separate itself from others and think about itself as the defender of the group. Compelling individuals from the prevailing caste settle question in their group as well as intra-station debate. A prevailing station keeping in mind the end goal to keep up agreement among the diverse financial strata inside its standing structure may shape position based affiliations. Position individuals are admonished to take measures to keep up the virtue of the standing and enhance their caste status.M.N Srinivas introduced the term sanskritization with Indian Sociology. The term refers to a procedure whereby individuals of lower ranks all in all endeavor to receive upper standing practices and convictions to get higher status. It shows a procedure of social portability that is occurring in the conventional social arrangement of India. M. N.Srinivas in his investigation of the Coorg in Karnataka found that lower standings with a specific end goal to bring their situation up in the rank chain of command embraced a few traditions and practices of the Brahmins and surrendered some of their own which were thought to be tainted by the higher stations. For instance they surrendered meat eating, drinking alcohol and creature forfeit to their gods. They imitiated Brahmins in issues of dress, food and rituals. By this they could assert higher positions in the pecking order of standings inside an age. The reference assemble in this procedure isnt generally Brahmins however might be the prevailing position of the area. Sanskritization has happened typically in bunches who have appreciated political and monetary power yet were not positioned high in custom positioning. Srinivas, truth be told, has been widening his meaning of the term Sanskritisation every once in a while. At first, he portrayed it as— the procedure of versatility of lower caste by adopting vegetarianism and teetotalism to move in the caste hierarchy in a generation.Sanskritisation is a much broader concept than Brahminisation. M.N. Srinivas preferred it to Brahminisation for some reasons:-Sanskritisation is more extensive term and it can subsume in itself the smaller procedure of Brahminisation. For example, today, however all around, Brahmins are veggie lovers and nondrinkers, some of them, for example, Kashmiris, Bengalis and saraswath Brahmins eat non-vegan nourishment. Had the term Brahminisation been utilized, it would have turned out to be important to indicate which specific Brah ¬min gather was implied. Further, the reference gatherings of Sanskritisation are not generally Brahmins. The procedure of impersonation require not really occur on the model of Brahmins. Srinivas himself has given the case of the low ranks of Mysore who received the lifestyle of Lingayats, who are not Brahmins but rather who guarantee uniformity with Brahmins. So also, the smiths (one of the lower positions) of Mysore call themselves Vishwakarma Brahmins and wear holy strings and have sanskritised some of their customs. (All things considered, some of them eat meat and drink alcohol. For the exceptionally same reason, numerous positions, including some untouchable standings dont acknowledge nourishment or water from their hands). The bring down ranks imitated Brahmins as well as Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Jats, Shudras, and so forth in various parts of the nation. Subsequently the term Brahminisation does not totally clarify this procedure. M.N. Srinivas himself recognized this reality and stated: I now understand that, I underscored unduly the Brahminical model of Sanskritisation and disregarded alternate models Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra.According to Prof Satish Deshpande the 1980-90 witnessed the return of the repressed- the renewed militancy and social visibility of the lower classes.  During the Nehruvian era, Caste was among the few traditional institutions that were presented as all bad, as social evils without any redeeming features. And in 1950s and 60s, it seemed to have no active role in urban everyday life. After Mandal, we have realised that the sole reason for the invisibility of caste in the urban context is that it is overwhelmingly dominated by the upper castes. This homogeneity has made caste drop below the threshold of social visibility. Satish Deshpande (2003) have been critical of income and size-based assessments of the middle class. They have analyzed the middle class from the Marxist perspective and have examined it with respect to ideology and power. As a consequence, while Vanaik contends that the middle class is a part of the ruling elite, Deshpande argues that the Indian middle class is hegemonic. Most importantly, they look at class through the lens of power and contend that the middle class derives power from ideological representations. Deshpande, however, sarcastically remarks that with the gradual eclipse of the idea of development one could no longer be confident that the middle class, the developmental state, and the nation were marching in step. The middle classes have since then gradually distanced themselves from the idea of nation state and its development.The processes of globalisation and localisation have seen the emergence of sub national loyalties as well as the lure of transnational identities among the new middle classes seeking adjustment. Thus having consolidated its social, economic and political standing, this new class, especially its upper segment, is all set to corner the benefits of globalisation. All the issues like modernity, the nation, Hindutva, or the middle class, seem to veer around to the overarching theme of globalisation and the geography of cultural regions. Deshpande suggests that the processes of globalisation that produce a sort of identity anxiety should be accompanied by the g rowth of particularistic cultural identities of all kinds. caste inequalities) where one sees in India an aggressive return of the repressed expressed in the resurgence of Hindu communalism in the 1980s. Deshpande overviews the spatial strategies Hindu communalism takes up to entrench its interest and re-constitute an idea of India in a different direction from that of the Nehruvian secular-modernist vision. It broadly has been described as a process of competitive de-secularization of the public sphere and a re-sacralization of the nation as pace. Genealogically it draws from the writings of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a militant Hindu nationalist. Symptomatic of its efforts are the events of 1992 Ayodhya – being the demolition of the Babri Mazjid by carders of the Hindu right by claiming that the mosque was originally the site of an ancient Hindu temple. The displacement of the other from the public space via an aggressive symbolic intrusion into it for its own privilege by claiming a mythic historical right over the site has characterized the political spatial strategy of resurgent Hindu communalism. Alongside such developments the book takes a keen look at the class which s eems most embroiled in the factors being discussed – the middle class. It historicizes the notion of this category by bringing to bear how it has been thought of in the past and what it may be becoming today. Marxs initial dismissal of the middle class is re-contextualized using a Gramscian understanding of how the middle class perpetuates and regulates the dominant ideology serving the present social structures – which in some ways accounts for the historical conservativeness of this section. The section then takes a close look at just how large this section may be and considers the possibility that the commonsensical notion of the middle classes now constituting the majority of the country is again a gross misunderstanding. Rigorous quantitative analysis done on the basis of earning, expenditure and consumption demonstrate that the middle class is actually much smaller than we suppose. Having established its relatively smaller size than supposed it then explores as to how this entity is in a position to see itself as the repository of the true moral legitimacy of civil society. Fundamental to this position (as already noted) is the fact that it is the middle class which articula tes the hegemony of the ruling bloc, hence the class most dependent on cultural capital (this seems to be as true in the Nehruvian period as it is in the subsequent ones). The post-independent project of developing the state via the Nehruvian middle class also invested this group with the added moral legitimacy they seem to command.Louis Dumonts treatise on the  Indian caste system.   It analyses the caste hierarchy and the ascendancy tendency of the lower castes to follow the habits of the higher castes. This concept was termed as  Sanskritisation  by  MN Srinivas.  Louis Dumont the theory of Varna is Dumont has viewed that India has the traditional hierarchy of Varnnas, colours. Through this  there is the fourfold division of the society, such as Brahmins or priest, Khatriyas or warriors,  Vaishyas or the traders/ merchants and the Shudras or the servants.   He found that there was no  categories below this called to be the untouchables.  Caste and varnas are to be understood with  relationship of hierarchy and power.  He has made a disjunction between the ritual   status and the secular power which includes the  political and economic power. There is the subordination of the political and economic criteria of  the social stratification to that of the ritual status in Dumonts model.  At the end Dumont  discusses, the significant changes in the castes. He views that the traditional interdependence of  castes has been replaced by  a universe of impenetrable blocks, self-sufficient, essential,  identical and in competition in one another.Various sources of changes in caste system includes  judicial and political changes, socio-religious reforms,  westernisation, and growth of modern  professions, urbanization, spatial mobility and the growth of market economy. But, despite all  these factors making for change, the most ubiquitous and the general form the change has  occurred  in contemporary times is one of a mixture or combination, of traditional and modern  features.  Those low in a hierarchical system universally see it as disadvantageous to them   and object to the system or to the manner i n which it is applied   to themselves. Any social hierarchy, then, is perpetrated and perpetuated by elites and is struggled against as circumstances permit, by those they oppress.Name:- SachinEnrollment No:-SKG162E0458BA Sociology Hons