Women on The Street Essay -- essays research papers

Women on the Street Have you ever rushed down the street and felt that nagging feeling of guilt, as you breeze by someone lying in a doorway? Is she alive? Is she ill? Why do we all rush by without finding out is she's all right? People sit in train stations, bus stations, parks, doorways, unmistakably sick, with what, we don't know. All are seemingly alone. Some beg. Some don't. Some have open sores that ooze and bleed. Some are drunk. Some talk to themselves or formless others. They have no homes. Street people make up a small percentage of the homeless population. Most homeless people blend into the daily flow of urban life. Many families are homeless. Many babies go from the hospital into the shelter system, never knowing what it is like to go home. Women are another subgroup of the homeless. Solutions to homelessness are not easily found. But before we can solve problems, we must be sensitive enough that we create the will to find the solutions. Often if we do not feel the problem, if some emotional response is not made, we are not moved to seek solutions. We are often unmoved to even recognize the questions. We cannot afford to keep walking by. "Work is a fundamental condition of human existence," said Karl Marx. In punch-the-clock and briefcase societies no less than in agricultural or hunting and gathering societies, it is the organization of work that makes life in communities possible. Individual life as well as social life is closely tied to work. In wage labored societies, and perhaps in every other as well, much of an individual's identity is tied to their job. For most people jobs are a principal source of both independence and correctness to others. It should come as no surprise that, in the work force or out, work and jobs are important in the lives of homeless women. There are women who want to work and do, and women who want to work and do not. There are women who cannot work and others who should not work and still others who do not want to work. Some work regularly, some intermittently; some work part-time, some full-time; and there are even those who work two jobs. At any given moment, there is a lot of job-searching, job losing, job changing, and ... ...es could have contained the explosive forces of racial animosity, social class differences, competition for resources, overcrowding, individuals who were not always in control of their actions, and individuals who wanted to disassociate themselves from the group. but came against these forces, and born mainly out of shared homelessness and common needs, was a powerful impulse to group cohesion and solidarity. Most of the time, the impulse to solidarity was strong enough to hold the negative forces in check, there by providing the minimum of peace and good order that made social life possible. On many evenings, as the women came together in the shelter, there was sufficient good feeling and fellow feelings, when coupled with their common needs and circumstances, to allow a sense of community to sputter into life. For most women, the loneliness of their homeless state was a terrible burden to bear; this fragile bit of community, however small, was precious indeed. "Homelessness is the sum total of our dreams, policies, intentions, errors, omissions, cruelties, kindness, all of it recorded, in the flesh, in the life of the streets." (Marin 41).

“College Is a Waste of Time and Money” by Caroline Bird Essay

In the essay â€Å"College Is a Waste of Time and Money,† Caroline Bird argues that college is a complete waste of time and money for people. She argues that most students are unhappy and unsatisfied with attending college. She believes that they go to college because it has become the thing to do or because of getting pressure from their parents or societies. Furthermore, she thinks that college is not a good financial investment because career financial success depends on other factors. She believes that people gain true knowledge and skill while working in real jobs and not in college. Bird believes that college has to be judged not by what other people think is good for the students, but how good it feels to the students themselves. To some college may be a reason to avoid adult responsibilities, gain independence or avoid intolerable home situations, but to others college is an institution offering higher levels of educational purpose that will help them succeed in their careers later on with multiple benefits. College can be financially expensive. Since it is very costly, many believe it is better to just get a job straight out of high school, not take any student loans, and start to save for your retirement right away. Though colleges have gotten more expensive, not all college graduates find high paying jobs. According to the article â€Å"College Costs Up, Little Debt Help For Occupy Wall Streeters,† it states that â€Å"colleges and universities continue to raise tuition far faster than inflation and churn out ever more indebted graduates, two reports released by The College Board today show. With states struggling to balance their budgets, the sharpest tuition increases this year were at public colleges; at four year state schools in-state tuition†¦ and despite the college expenses, college graduates aren’t able to find a good paying job†(Forbes). Finding a well paying job right after graduation may be hard during these tough circumstances, but that does not mean people should believe that college was useless to them just because they can not find an appropriate job for themselves at that moment. People must be determined, have good skills and a strong will in order to achieve a high paying job. Many people do not go to college because of all the expenses. Beside the tuition fees, there are many other expenses to consider. Many  private colleges publish a total cost of attendance of over $50,000 per year and around $15,000 of this amount is for room and board. According to the article â€Å"College Cost Crunch† it states that â€Å"The College Board reports that while the published rates for private college tuition and fees are in the range of $35,000, nearly half of all full-time undergraduate students attend a four-year college with published charges of less than $9,000 per year in tuition and fees. And most students do not pay the published rate. On average, public four-year colleges charge $7,605 per year for in-state students, and the average charge for 2-year colleges is $2,713. For lower income students, the costs are typically even less, and there are many options for financing the cost of college. Federal Pell grants are available up to $5,550 per year, and many states provide additional grants of $1,500-$2,500 per year† (Forbes). People believe that college is very expensive, but if they are able to do the right research and apply themselves for all these loans, grants and scholarship then this will reduce their tuition fees. It is very important for people to look at all their options carefully before making a decision that will have an impact on their career. The value of a college degree or certificate is very important today. The money and time people spend on college matters. College education is universally viewed as such a great investment that the cost and its return on investment are beneficial towards future careers. The impact of getting a job can be very difficult. In today’s economy, getting a job is pretty tough, and it is a lot tougher for those without a post-secondary education. The chances of getting a job without a post-secondary degree or certificate are very few. According to the U.S Dept. of Labor the over all unemployment rate is 9.1%. The rate of people with only a high school diploma is a little bit higher at 9.5%. But college graduates have an unemployment rate at only 4.5%. Unemployment for ages 18-25 with only a high school diploma is currently over 50%, but the jobless rate for those under 25 with a college degree is only 8%. It is very hard to argue that skipping college to start working early is a practical financial alternative when over half of the young people out of high school are unemployed. The benefits of college go beyond creating improved career choices. The average pay for a job with a college degree earns almost twice the average for those with a high school diploma. People with higher education will have a  lifetime work of $800,000 more in wages. The jobs available to those with a post-secondary education are more interesting because they have more mobility between jobs and they have more advancement opportunities within companies. In other words, a college degree or certificate will greatly enhance the ability to get a job people will enjoy. In addition to actually liking that job and getting paid more for it, they have benefits including more leisure time, more opportunities, better health, less dependence on government services, and having children that are far more likely to be successful in school. Of course, there will always be exceptions of highly successful entrepreneurs like Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Steve Jobs who were very successful without completing college, but most of CEOs in America have a college degree. In her essay, Bird believes that students should go to college because they want to themselves, not because someone pressured them in to it. The students should have an inside view of what’s good for them. If they feel college is not necessarily good for them, then people can not expect them to go through with it. They need to set their own goals in life whether it be getting an education or getting a job right after high school. Everyone should be able to make decisions for them self. In the article â€Å"Is College worth It?,† it states that â€Å"the main purpose of a college education is to teach work-related skills and knowledge, and it is to help a student grow personally and intellectually. College graduates place more emphasis on intellectual growth; those who are not college graduates place more emphasis on career preparation† (Pewresearch) Though college may seem pointless to others, it actually helps students grow intellectually while building new skills that prepares them for their careers. College is definitely a good investment. Despite its expensive cost, people should not make any excuses because there are so many ways and opportunities to reduce the tuition fees. The money students invest in going to college will come back in multiples when they land a higher paying job. College graduates with a degree will always have a secure future financially. Aside from the financial benefits of going to college, the education students receive and the experience they gain from going to college will make them a better rounded person. It not only helps students grow intellectually, but it helps them mature as a person. It strengthens their skills, builds confidence and prepares them for a career in the real  world. Those who believe going to college is a waste of time and money should really consider the benefits and values of having a college degree, unless of course if they are a true genius like Bill Gates, then by all means go for the American Dream! Work Cited Novack, Janet. â€Å"College Costs Up, Little Debt Help For Occupy Wall Streeters.† Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 26 Oct. 2011. Web. 15 July 2012. . Novack, Janet. â€Å"College Cost Crunch.† Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 28 Oct. 2010. Web. 14 July 2012. . â€Å"Is College Worth It?† Pewresearch.org. Pew Research Center, 15 May 2011. Web. 14 July 2012. . Caroline Bird. â€Å"College is a Waste of Time and Money.† The Norton Reader.1975

My Experience At The Military Service - 2215 Words

I remember that I served in the military service three years ago, and serving the military service was my perfect turning point that changed my entire life. I remember that when I was 20, I was very introverted that I could not even talk with other people to ask the directions. I remember that I had just reached young adulthood, and did not know about the world. I remember that I didn’t have any confidence, passion, patience, and willingness to challenge myself for my goals. I remember that I was a lazy person who always did my tasks late. I remember that I didn’t attend college after I graduated from high school. I remember that I decided to serve in the military instead of attending college because I was not sure about what I want to do and what I want to be. I remember that my parents and my uncles advised me that if I go to the military, I can be more mature than before, and I could find the path which I should challenge for my future. I remember that when I heard about this advice from my parents and my uncles, I just laid my hopes on the military, and believed that it would surely change my life. I remember that fortunately, this decision led me onto the right path that completely changed my world. Until now, I really appreciate the previous me who made the right decision for my future, and I’m convinced that the military service is absolutely my greatest turning point in my life. I remember that when I first got to boot camp, I thought that I just wanted to flee fromShow MoreRelatedMy Experience At The Military Service1611 Words   |  7 Pagesthat I served in military service at three years ago, and serving the military service was my perfect turning point that changed my entire life. I remember that when I was 20, I was very introverted that I could not even talk with other people to ask the directions. I remember that I just reached young adult who did not know about the world and just graduated from high school. 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At this point in time I have not met with individual clients; instead the focus has been to gain a better understanding of the population’ s unique culture. In supervision we review archived cases with presenting problems such as marital conflict, parenting, bereavement and grief, adjustment into civilian life, overall military lifestyle stress that has lead to anxiety or depressionRead MoreMilitary Sexual Trauma among US Servicewomen during Deployment700 Words   |  3 PagesTitle of Article: Military Sexual Trauma among US Servicewomen during Deployment: A Qualitative study Date of article: February 2014 Source (Please attach copy of article): Burns, B., Grindlay, K., Holt, K., Manski, R., Grossman, D. (2014). Military sexual trauma among US servicewomen during deployment: A qualitative study. American Journal of Public Health, 104(2), 345-349. 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Revenge in Edgar Allen Poe´s The Cask of Amontillado Essay

In Edger Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado the narrator, Montresor, seeks revenge against his friend Fortunato who he claims had cause him many injuries. The story takes place during carnival time and many are celebrating even Fortunato who was dressed as a clown and wore a colorful hat with bells. Fortunato had been drinking which made him even less aware of any sort of plot against him. Montresor lures him into his wine vaults and easily chains him to a wall deep inside a small crypt. Fortunato is too drunk to even comprehend what is happening or even resist. Finally Montresor builds a stone wall confining Fortunato inside to die. In the story we can distinguish many notable characteristics of Montresor. He may be perceived as heatless†¦show more content†¦Montresor has held this grudge against his friend who according to him had given him â€Å"thousands of injuries.† This grudge he has makes him vindictive as he seeks revenge against Fortunato for his ins ult against him. His family’s motto is â€Å"Nemo me impune lacessit meaning â€Å"No one attacks me with impunity†. The motto implies that the entire Montresor family history is filled with acts of revenge. Montresor becomes obsessed with his vengeance and when he has Fortunato chained to the wall he mocks at his cries and moaning, â€Å"I replied to the yells of him who clamored. I re-echoed, I aided, I surpassed them in volume and in strength.† Montrosor never mentions what the insulting act was which can tell us that the actual act wasn’t as important as him just getting some sort of revenge. The third characteristic we see in Montresor is pride. He isn’t modest and boasts even after fifty years about his perfect crime. His pride is what leads him to seek revenge against Fortunato because he doesn’t want him to think he can go with impunity after insulting him. The murder may have not been just out of anger for the insult but more of because he didn’t want to be seen as weak. Montresor takes pride in his extensively planned out scheme and how he plans out all the details. Edger Allan Poe wrote characters, like Montresor, with these certain characteristics so we could relate to the emotions and feelings in the story. Montresor seeks revenge, takes pride in his vengeful acts andShow MoreRelatedThe Cask Of Amontillado And The Masque Of The Red Death Analysis1403 Words   |  6 PagesEdgar Allen Poe was a famous American short story writer, who expressed literature through mystery and horror. Poe elaborated his writing, to be able to tell stories, within imagination, and suspense towards his readers. Moreover, the majority of Poe’s life relates to his storytelling through, mystery and suspense, considering his sudden death at the age of 40. 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Poe started to embrace this new genre and his writingsRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe1575 Words   |  7 Pageshas committed the perfect murder in just such a tale, â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado.† Montresor plots and kills an unwary friend/foe during carnival time for motives that are unclear. The author of this tale, Edgar Allan Poe, influenced by his somewhat tragic life and one of the most influential Gothic writers, uses symbolism and irony to show the multitude of complicated motives of the narrator in his famous horror story. Upon examining Edgar Allan Poe’s life, one is not surprised that he chooses toRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allen Poe992 Words   |  4 PagesEdgar Allen Poe had many pieces of literature, but one in particular â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† reflected his personality. It is a short story that can be read easily, and can take on many ironies. The several ironies can point to the fact that Poe himself was implanted into the story as he was a mysterious man. There are several characters with different personalities often interpreted as Poe hiding his dark side which would be â€Å"Montresor†. The other personality Fortunato could be that drunken personalityRead MoreAnalysis Of Edgar Allen Poe s The Cask 1563 Words   |  7 PagesLiterature 10 November, 2015 Gothic Elements in Poe’s Captivating Stories Edgar Allen Poe can be described as a master of gothic literature. Poe enjoyed incorporating the gothic theme into his stories (â€Å"The Cask† 52). The free dictionary website describes gothicism as a style in fictional literature characterized by gloomy settings, violent or grotesque action, and a mood of decay, degeneration, and decadence. Edgar Allen Poe experienced many failures and disappointments throughout the course of hisRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of The Cask Of Amontillado 1493 Words   |  6 PagesInto to Literature: American I Dr. Julia Pond 12 October 2017 The Cask of Amontillado The Cask of Amontillado is a tale of terror written by Edgar Allen Poe. This short story is from the point of view from Montresor’s memory. The setting of this story is in a small unnamed European city, at a local carnival and then at the catacombs under Montresor’s home, around duck. The brief synopsis of this story is about the revenge that the Montresor, the antagonist and narrator, wants against FortunatoRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allen Poe1204 Words   |  5 Pagesas I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge† (Poe 1). This line draws the reader into the story by bringing up questions like, what insults could have been done to deserve such revenge? The uniqueness in the question itself is that it turns the table of a classic mystery or gothic story (Mcgarth). Instead of asking â€Å"who did it,† the question is, â€Å"why did he do it† (Baraban Motive for Murder in Cask of Amontillado ). Montresor uses Fort unato’s strengthens and turns themRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Poe1402 Words   |  6 PagesNewton Oguma. Eng 102. Instructor: Iris Barbour. Date: 2/13/2017. The Cask of Amontillado. The historical content in Poe’s story correlates with an era between nineteenth and twentieth century during which premature burial and underground cemeteries were ordinary to ancient Rome. According to (Theodore Npg), â€Å"one of Poe’s concerns shared by several people of his time was premature burial†. The story happened during Carnival which was a celebration before ancient catholic lent. This celebration

Advantages of internet free essay sample

Thanks to the growth of information technology, we now live in the ‘Computer Age’. The Internet has many uniquely modern functions. Yet, there are risks and bad effects when using it. Four pros are going to fight against four cons below. Widely used in offices, research institutes, information centers and education, the Internet has greatly raised the accuracy and efficiency of work, and saved much money and manpower for human beings. This multi-medium assists us in our work in so many ways. It can centralize updated data and backup documents without copying by hand. We can check available balance, make transfer payment, pay bills and buy insurance or stock through the internet. It makes our life so much easier. On the other hand, the Internet represents an opportunity for students to explore the incredible wealth of information which enhances our learning. The low cost and nearly instantaneous sharing of ideas, knowledge, and skills have made collaborative work dramatically easier. We will write a custom essay sample on Advantages of internet or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It allows us to conveniently and professionally do researches, prepare projects, and do other work. This really can enable us to acquire more knowledge and equip ourselves. The Internet provides us with new chances to widen communication and deepen relationships. We can stay in touch with family and friends across the globe via using chat-rooms and messaging tools such as MSN and facebook, a very popular site which allows people to share photos with others. Moreover, you can meet friends worldwide and exchange different cultures. Fun and entertainment can also be offered by the Internet. Shopping on line no longer sounds strange. It is handy and comfortable to get what you want on web sites and wait at home for the goods delivered. Children can play various kinds of on-line games. Indeed, the Internet has become a companion of man. Despite the numerous advantages of using the Internet, there are some disadvantages we should admit. The use of the Internet may have bad effects upon the economic fields and society. A sudden and undesirable change in a program of a computer system can cause a bank to lose thousands of million dollars within one day. Work of months or even years may be destroyed within one minute by computer viruses. People have to bear the pain of facing by sudden power cut or failures of function. Crimes committed with the help of computers are not rare. As the regulations of uploading information or photos via the internet are not strictly revised, ones privacy may not be highly protected. Along with the rise in broadband internet connections, people can easily share and download illegal pirated files such as movies and music. The classified documents of the Hong Kong Police Department and ICAC have been exposed to the public because of the guarantee-free file-sharing program on the Internet. Such an incident reflects that Internet crime can be so serious that it can threaten governments and businesses. In addition, computers provide no direct communication among people. Conversations are mostly expressed in written words rather than spoken language. The lack of personal interaction may result in a loss of social skills. One’s way of getting along with people cannot be practiced simply through the Internet. The internet somehow behaves like drugs and alcohol. Being addicted to it, people sometimes don’t know when to stop accessing it. Such behavior is regarded as a kind of illness nowadays. Overuse may result in neglect of other aspects of life, such as work and study. Unless one has the real need to use computers for a period of time, it is particularly time-consuming to surf most of the time. Moreover, some people may get their eyes hurt by sitting for too long in front of computers. These actions should not be encouraged. Despite these facts, the Internet has been a major source of information and leisure, and we should use it wisely and discreetly. I personally think the benefits outweigh the harm. With a few clicks on the keyboard, we can virtually visit everywhere in the world. I believe the Internet will bring us more surprises and offer us a promising tomorrow

Science in Environmental Management

Introduction The research paper will focus on Geo science and the environmental flows that are found in the Murry Darling River in Australia which covers an area of 1.06 million kilometres per square metre. The economic output that is generated from the Murry Darling River is approximately $23 billion in Australian dollars.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Science in Environmental Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More From this amount, $10 billion has been set aside to be used for agricultural purposes. While the use of the Murray River’s resources has been beneficial to the Australian Government, there have been notable ecological and environmental degradation of the river’s resources as a result of pollution and misuse of the river basin1. To deal with the environmental problems facing the Murry River, the Living Murray Initiative was initiated to restore the basin to a clean water resou rce. The initiative involved conducting scientific investigations and analysis by focusing on the increased environmental flows to the river and the benefits that would be derived by recovering the water basin of the river. The composition of the river basin was analysed using scientific methods and the soil, vegetation and plant species were also examined to determine the extent of the degradation in the basin2. The use of science in the initiative therefore played a major role in developing a strategic plan that would be used to manage and coordinate the sustainable use of the river’s water resources as well as other environmental resources in the Murray Darling River Basin. The incorporation of Geo science in the Murry Initiative highlighted the importance of using scientific methods in conducting environmental management techniques to prevent the effects of degradation to the environment. To further understand the concept of Geo Science, a definition is in order. Geo scie nce, which is also referred to as Earth Sciences, deals with all scientific aspects that are related to the composition of the Earth. Geo science involves the study of the atmosphere, air particles, soil composition, water, plant and vegetation and the biosphere. 3Advertising Looking for assessment on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Incorporating Geo Science into the environmental management activities has ensured that the proper strategies and techniques have been used to deal with the ecological issues that arise as a result of environmental degradation. The analysis of the affected natural resources by using geo scientific approaches such as geological engineering, hydro ecology, and ecosystem response models have ensured that appropriate measures are designed to deal with these issues. There are however gaps that have arisen in the use of Geo science and science in managing the environment. These gap s have arisen because of the limited amount of research information that is available on the subject. The studies conducted on geo science and environmental management have been limited with many researchers mostly choosing to focus on the concept of environmental geology which shows the interaction that human beings have with the environment and the impact this relationship has on the ecological system on the environment. The limited research therefore makes it difficult to gain any further knowledge in relation to the use of geo science in environmental management activities. The Murray Darling Basin The river basin is viewed to be the lifeline of the eastern parts of Australia which is made up of Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. The basin is made up of five river systems which are the Darling River, the Murray River, Murrumbidgee River, Billabong Creek, and the Lachlan River. The Murray Darling Basin is mostly used for 40 percent of the irrigation purposes in the agricul tural fields that are based in these three regions. The diagram below represents the size and topography of the Murray Darling River Basin and the various river systems that are found in Queensland, Victoria and NSW as identified by Prasad and Khan Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Science in Environmental Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Prasad and Khan in their (2002) The most valuable resource of the Murray Darling region is the water that is found in the river which not only sustains the agricultural industry in Australia but also provides a home for the marine wildlife and the plant species that are located around the river basin. According to Ortega, the number of endangered bird species found in the Murray River total 35 while the number of endangered animal species amounts to 16. The river also boasts of having 35 different marine species in the various river systems that make up the Murra y Darling Basin. The river basin is also known to host one of the richest indigenous archaeological sites in Australia that have prehistoric features such as old camp sites, burial grounds, canoe shaped trees and scarred trees. Despite having all these many features, the river has faced degradation as a result of development activities by the Europeans in a span of 50 years that have seen the basin’s resources deteriorate4. Problems in the Murray Darling River Basin The problem of land degradation and salinity became more prominent in the 1960s after the River Murray Commission conducted a study on the salinity levels in the water resources of the river. The results of the study showed that 40 percent of the river’s length had lost a significant amount of its marine wildlife and plant species as a result of the high salinity in the water. The results also showed that 10 percent of the Murray River’s length was impaired which saw the loss of 50 percent of the aqu atic macro invertebrates that were expected to occur there. The high salinity levels have continued to threaten the native plant and marine species that live within the river basin. The salinity levels in the basin accounts for half of Australia’s saline seepage levels which are mostly caused by high irrigation, increased land developments, and erection of structures along the river.Advertising Looking for assessment on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The global climatic weather conditions that keep changing and are erratic have also had an impact on the water levels of the Murray River. The weather changes have led to increased drought and flooding situations that have affected the composition of the river and its five systems. Apart from increased saline levels, the other forms of land degradation that have affected the Murray include water logging and high acidification of the water. The extensive land degradation that has taken place in the Murray flood plains and the major deforestation experienced in the three regions has led to a decrease of vegetation along the river channel. The introduction of exotic tree species such as the willows and poplars has continued to degrade the river basin even further as these trees require more water to grow5. Environmental Flows in the Murray Darling River Environmental flows are described as the releases of water by water catchment areas such as the Murray Darling River to the surroundin g environs of the water areas. Environmental flows which can also be the natural flow regimes of a river are viewed to play an important part in forming the ecological features and wetlands of other river systems that form part of the river basin such as the Murray Darling. The environmental flows of a river are influenced by the shape and size of the river basin, the distribution of the marine habitat and plant species, the structure of the marine habitat and the nature of the relationship between the main river channel and the flood plains. The Murray Darling River is mostly characterised with unpredictable flows with the high flows occurring during the summer and spring seasons of Australia while the low flows occurred during the winter and autumn seasons. The flows became more unpredictable with the increasing amount of development that was taking place near the river basin and the five river systems. The development of structures such as houses and commercial buildings also saw the need to supply water to these structures which was especially high during the autumn and summer seasons. The water quality of the Murray has also been affected by the constant water shortages that arise due to increased consumption activities such as irrigation and water supply activities as well as the severe droughts that have continued to affect most parts of Australia. The table and graph below represents the biotic, monthly environmental flows and environmental condition of the Murray Basin as outlined by the Murray Darling Basin Commission6. Indices Percentage of river length in each category Reference (%) Significantly Impaired (%) Severely Impaired (%) Extremely Impaired (%) Biota Condition 62 28 8 2 Largely unmodified (%) Moderately Modified (%) Substantially Modified (%) Severely Modified (%) Overall environment condition 3 69 29 0 Environmental components: -Hydrological disturbance index 43 44 11 1 -Catchment disturbance index 4 93 3 0 -Habit at index 28 36 34 3 -Nutrient and suspended load index 4 41 49 6 Murray Darling Basin (2009). Murray Darling Basin (2009). Reforms taken to reduce the Degradation of the Murray River The formation of the Murray Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) by the Australian Government was meant to steer major reforms on the river basin that would see the effects of the land degradation being reversed as well as an improvement in the management of water resources. The commission initiated a combination of hydrological and salinity abatement projects that would be used to deal with acid and saline levels in the river basin. The initiation of these projects on the Darling River saw a reduction of 20 percent of the average salinity levels in the river systems that were based in the Southern Part of Australia. To recover the lost plant and marine wildlife species that were present in the river before the degradation, the use of fish ladders and weirs around the dams were introduced. The MDBC has so far spent over 650 million AUD to increase the amount of environmental flows into the river. This amount of money has mostly been used to address the issue of large scale irrigation activities that are taking place in the three regions that encompass the Murray Basin. Some of the projects that have been initiated to deal with irrigation have been water trade programs within the three states of Victoria, NSW and Queensland. The conservation of water has also been used to change the hydrological flow of the water with particular focus on the environmental flows in the headwater dams7. Environmental Management of the Murray-Darling Basin The environmental management of the Murray Darling Basin has been viewed to be a complex process because of the complexity of the river system and the various features that make up the Murray Darling Basin. The various environmental issues that are affecting the basin and the extensive degradation that has taken place in the surrounding areas has b ecome a source of concern for the relevant authorities charged with the conservation of the river. The MDBC which has the main authority for performing conservation and management activities has developed a Basin Cap that will be used to limit the amount of water diverted for consumption purposes. The cap was also developed to deal with issues such as the poor water quality in the Murray River which has been as a result of the degradation that has taken place in the river. The high acidification and salinity in the water has led to the loss of indigenous plant species as well as indigenous marine wildlife. The health of the river is projected to become worse if current management systems that are in place are not changed to deal with the situations. The large amounts of water that are being used for irrigation purposes have led to a reduction in the water levels of the river as a result of poor irrigation management practices. The benefits of the MDBC Basic Cap have seen the stabili sation of rights to access the river for consumption purposes by the existing users. There has also been an increased emphasis on achieving water use efficiency for developmental purposes. Another benefit of the Basic Cap has been a notable decrease in the percolation of the River’s groundwater leading to fewer cases of water logging and lower salinity levels in the water and the soil. The general water quality has also been improved as well as the natural ecosystems found within the river basin.8 Science in Environmental Management The use of science in environmental management activities has been viewed to be an important concept that has continued to gain more prominence in the recent past. Environmental science has been defined as the study of the physical aspects of the environment such as the air, water, soil, plant and animal habitats as well as human activities and their impact on the environment. The scientifical aspect of environmental science analyzes the chemical and biological aspects of the environment such as the water bodies, micro organisms, soils, rocks and minerals. The use of science in environmental management activities has enabled the use of scientific data and results to develop programs that will be used to protect the environment from further degradation and deterioration. Environmental science looks at the relationships between the global, social and human systems that lead to the degradation of the environment and the deterioration of the natural resources found in the environment. Scientific approaches are developed to deal with these issues by creating sustainable science programs for community and business use. Such programs will provide scientific information on what causes the deterioration of the environment and what steps can be used to control and prevent these problems from recurring again in the future9. Environmental Geoscience and the Murray-Darling Basin The severe drought and water shortages that are experienced by the Murray Darling River Basin have dried out some of the wetlands that are located near the Murray River a situation that has seen the wetlands being exposed to sulfidic sediments that have increased the levels of acidification and salinity. Environmental geoscience was conducted in these wetlands to determine the amount of acidification and sulfidic sediments that are formed when there is a reduction of sulphate in the water. The main cases of acidification identified in the River basin are the sulfidic sediments such as acidic sulphate soils that are left behind when the river basin dries. The amount of sulfidic levels have continued to increase as a result of the changing natural wetting and drying cycles that have been caused by the severe droughts. The three wetlands that are located along the Murray Darling River are the Psyche Bend Lagoon, the Tareena Billabong and the Bottle Bend Lagoon. These three wetlands have continued to experience high acidification and salinity l evels in the water which makes them prone to continuous flooding during the rainy season. Geoscience data shows that the most common sulphide mineral found in all the three wetlands to be iron monosulfide greigite which might have an adverse effect on the water resources and the nutrients found in the water10. The diagram below represents the various wetlands and river systems that make up the Murray Darling River Basin as represented by Prasad and Khan in their 2002 report on the water and climate of the Murray Darling River Basin Prasad and Khan in their (2002) The Distribution of Inland Wetlands in the Murray Darling Basin The use of geoscience was used to examine the extent of the sulfidic sediments in the three wetlands. Geoscience data showed that 21 percent of the three wetlands examined had evidence of sulphur in the soil sediments that was of a high concentration. This in turn increased the acidification levels in the water and soil in the Murray Darling River Basin. The h ighest concentration of sulfidic sediments was found in the lower areas of the Murray River. The geoscience data collected from analysing the wetlands also showed that there was a correlation between the sulfidic sediments in the wetlands and the concentration of sulphate in the overlying water columns of the river basin. This high amount of sulphate concentration in the river’s water has been noted to be a cause of concern for most of the wetland managers in the area. There has been an increasing need to return the wetlands to their original form to ensure that the state of the river is healthy. As long as the sulfidic sediments are present in the wetlands, the natural wetting and drying cycle will be unable to take place effectively. The wetting and drying phase should only be reinstated if the risks of acidification have been properly assessed11. Ecosystem Response Modelling in the Murray Darling Basin The modelling of conservation activities has mostly been focused on the use of geoscience to provide guidelines and information that will be used for the water management of the Darling basin which is Australia’s largest and economic water catchment area. The use of ecosystem response models has been viewed to be an important concept when responding to the declining ecological conditions in the Murray River Basin. The quantitative ecosystem models have been developed to ensure that there is better decision making with regards to the issue of water allocation and the deterioration of the Murray Basin. One of the main response models that were proposed to be used in the environmental management of the Darling Basin was CART analysis which can be used to model thresholds that would represent the conditions of the flood plains and the wetlands. Other response systems that incorporated the use of geoscience information and knowledge were the use of geographic information systems that had remote sensors that would be used to detect the extent of degra dation in the plant and marine species found in the river basin. An example of a remote sensing approach according to Saintilan and Overton is the Landsat archive technique which can be used to reconstruct the original form of the river by analyzing the historical frequency of the river’s degradation over the large wetland areas. Decision support systems have also been seen as ecosystem response models because they incorporate the ecological and hydrological aspects in the development of the decision models that will be used to manage and conserve the water. Examples of decision support systems that have been used on the River Basin are the Murray Flow Assessment tools and the water allocation decision support system. The use of these response models has ensured that there is proper management of the environmental flows of the Murray Basin and that there are developed plans that will be used to manage conservation activities. The diagram below demonstrates an example of a res ponse modelling system that can be used to manage the Murray Darling River Basin12. Saintilan and Overton (2010) Geo science data on the Murray Darling Basin The geoscience information that was collected focused mostly on the environmental impacts of the climate changes to the river basin. General circulation models were used to predict the amount of green house emissions in the atmosphere that would affect the composition of the river. Geo science information was used to predict the climate changes that would take place in Australia in 2030. The predictions saw that there would be a rise in the average temperature from 0.4 to 2.0 degrees Celsius. The amount of rainfall and snow experienced during the winter season would also increase from -10% to +5% in 2030. The predicted changes that would take place in the river basin would be between +1% and -15%. This would mean that the level of water in the basin will reduce drastically during the winter and spring season. The diagram below represents the changes in the amount of rainfall that have been predicted for the year 2030 based on Prasad and Khans 2002 synthesis report on climate in the Murray Darling Basin. Prasad and Khan (2002) The Macquarie catchment was used as a model to explain the effects of climate change on the availability of water in the area. This was the only study that was conducted in the whole of Australia. The integrated quantity quality model (IQQM) was developed to explain the changes in precipitation and evaporation in the Macquarie catchment. The IQQM analysed the risks that were associated with a reduction in water levels in the catchment area. The results of the study showed that the allocation of the water for irrigation purposes would be below 50 percent of the required allotment. The other result of the study was that the wetland areas would experience a decrease in the number of rain days experienced in the region13. The use of Science in the Murray Darling Basin River modelling s oftware has been used by water managers to understand the effects of increased irrigation and land degradation on the Murray Basin. The modelling software incorporates the use of computer based programs that track the amount of water in the river basin which will help in the management of water supply for irrigation and consumption purposes. The use of geoscience knowledge and basic scientific models has been used to develop these river models to ensure that water management activities taking place in the river are done effectively. Environmental geoscience has also been used to assess the floodplain ecology of the river and its riveline which is facing the lack of environmental flows. Geoscience has been used to investigate the ecosystems within the flood plains and their functionality as well as the climate in the Murray River region. The impact of the changing climate has also been analysed by looking at how it will affect the future water resources of the river basin. Groundwate r research will also be conducted through the use of geoscience information and knowledge. This research will be used to manage the groundwater resources of the Murray Basin for the current and future durations. The amount of geoscience data collected on groundwater research showed that there was a need to conduct numerical modelling for groundwater risk assessment activities and the setting of boundaries that would be used to plan for the management of the groundwater. Geoscience knowledge was also necessary in evaluating the risks of groundwater such as the levels of salinity, acidification, base flow impacts and the ecological assets. 14 The Geospatial inundation patterns in the semi arid regions of the River Basin The flood plain wetlands of the Murray Darling River are viewed to be the most ecologically significant components in the whole of Australia’s water areas in terms of the high abundance of aquatic and plant habitats located within the wetlands. The environmental flow of the river has been seen to be the main driver behind the sustenance of the river ecology and the inundation patterns of the floodplain wetlands. Inundation has been identified as one of the major influencers of marine distribution, water composition and the survival of the plant species in the Murray basin. Understanding the geoscientific aspects of temporal and spatial variability in the inundation patterns is a critical step in managing the environmental flows of the Murray Darling River. The use of satellite remote sensing such as the Landsat satellite has provided the opportunity to monitor the inundation patterns of the floodplain wetland areas. The patterns will be used to manage the ecosystem in the Murray Basin by mainly focusing on the vegetative species in the basin as well as the marine habitats15. Use of Geoscience in the restoration of significant wetlands in NSW The significant wetlands in the Northern part of the Murray Darling basin have faced a constant dec line over the past decade which has seen the mortality of wetland trees and the gradual reduction in the amount of wetland vegetation species. To respond to the ecological issues that were affecting these critical wetlands in the Northern parts of the Murray Basin, the NSW government in a collaboration with the Victoria and Queensland state governments initiated the rivers environmental restoration program (RERP) that would incorporate the use of geoscientifc information and knowledge for environmental management purposes16. The scientific part of the RERP program was used to improve the hydrological representation of the wetlands in the northern parts of the river basin by the construction of hydrodynamic models and the conducting of soil surveys to determine the amount of degradation currently in the basin. Geoscientifc knowledge has been used to develop models such as the LIDAR which have been used to formulate water management programs and prediction programs that will assess th e frequencies and durations of flooding in the area. The use of hydrological models and ecosystem response models in the Murray area has been viewed to be important in managing the river water. The effects of environmental flow on the growth of marine species The northern part of the Murray Darling Basin has faced alterations in the timing and frequency of the flood events that are experienced in the region which has resulted in the decline of water levels and the general health of the river basin’s vegetation, marine species. The efforts to manage the health of the basin have been hampered by the lack of proper understanding of the biology of the various freshwater marine species and how the environmental flow characteristics will impact the number of these fish species in the river basin. The two fish species that were studied included the Retropinna semoni/ Australian Smelt and the Nematolosa erebi (bony bream).which are commonly found in the Gwydir wetlands of the Murray Darling River.17 Conclusion There has been limited research on the field of geoscience in environmental management because of the concept being fairly new. The review of geoscience literature and articles for research that can be used in the environmental management of the Murray Darling River Basin has shown that there is limited research conducted on the subject of geo science in environmental management programs. The research used in this paper has however demonstrated that there is hope for future studies and research work in the topic as the scientific aspect of the topic is useful in developing and analysing environmental conservation and management activities. Bibliography Australian Water Resources, ‘River Condition in the Murray-Darling Basin 2001’, Australian Government, National Water Commission, 2005. Bhat, A., ‘The politics of model maintenance: the Murray Darling and Brantas River Basins Compared,’ Water Alternatives, Vol.1, No.2, 2008, pp.201 -218., Department of the Environment and Heritage, ‘Integrated Water Resource Management  in Australia: The Murray-Darling Basin Initiative,’ Australian Government, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, 2004. Hall, K.C. and Baldwin, D.S., ‘Distribution of inland wetlands with sulfidic sediments in the Murray Darling Basin, Australia,’ Science of the Total Environment, Vol.370, No.1, 2006, pp.235-244 Heagney, E., Spencer, J., Fowler, A., and Allman, R. ‘The effect of flow on the growth  and conditions of two native fish species Gwydir wetlands’ University of NSW, Sydney, 2010. Murray Darling Basin, ‘Environmental Flows and Water Quality for the River Murray,’ http://www2.mdbc.gov.au/nrm/water_issues/environmental_flows.html, 2009. Newage Publishers, ‘ Environmental Science,’ http://www.newagepublishers.com/samplechapter/001281.pdf,2010. Ortega, V., ‘Australia’ sea rch for another food bowl,’ http://candobetter.org/node/1847, 2010, Prasad, A., and Khan, S., ‘Murray-Darling Basin dialogue on water and climate,’ River symposium, Brisbane, 2002 Saintilan, N., and Hillan, J., ‘Progress towards the restoration of significant wetlands in  NSW under the Rivers Environmental Restoration Program,’ Rivers and Wetlands Unit, NSW Department of Environmental Climate Change. 2010. Saintilan, N., and Overton, I., ‘Ecosystem response modeling in the Murray Darling  Basin,’ Csiro Publishing, Victoria, Australia, 2010, Pp. 412-415 Simpson, C. (Ed.) GEM NEWS: Newsletter of the IUGS commission on Geoscience for  environmental Management. 2007, pp 1-28 Thomas, R., Lu, Y., Cox, S. and Hunter, S., ‘Spatial inundation patterns in floodplains  wetland of semi-arid regions in the Murray-Darling Basin,’ University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 2010. UNEP, ‘Environmental Flows: The living Murray Initiative, Australia. Report for the  Global Ministerial Environment Forum, Jeju, Korea, 29-31 March 2004, p.2 Webb, J., ‘Inland acid Sulphate soils: a study of three wetlands along the Murray-  Darling River.’ Environmental Geoscience, http://www.latrobe.edu.au/geosci/honours/glover.htm, 2009, Young, B., ‘Science supporting water management in the Murray Darling Basin,’ CSIRO, http://www.csiro.au, 2010. Footnotes 1 UNEP, ‘Environmental Flows: The living Murray Initiative, Australia. Report for the Global Ministerial Environment Forum, Jeju, Korea, 29-31 March 2004, p.1 2 UNEP, ‘Environmental Flows: The living Murray Initiative, Australia. Report for the Global Ministerial Environment Forum, Jeju, Korea, 29-31 March 2004, p.2 3 Colin Simpson (Ed.) GEM NEWS: Newsletter of the IUGS commission on Geoscience for environmental Management. 2007, pp 1-28 4 Vivienne Ortega, ‘Australia’ search for another food bowl,’ htt p://candobetter.org/node/1847, 2010, 5 Australian Water Resources, ‘River Condition in the Murray-Darling Basin 2001’, Australian Government, National Water Commission, 2005. 6 Murray Darling Basin, ‘ Environmental Flows and Water Quality for the River Murray,’ http://www2.mdbc.gov.au/nrm/water_issues/environmental_flows.html, 2009. 7 Anjali Bhat, ‘ The politics of model maintenance: the Murray Darling and Brantas River Basins Compared,’ Water Alternatives, Vol.1, No.2, 2008, pp.201-218., 8 Department of the Environment and Heritage, ‘ Integrated Water Resource Management in Australia: The Murray-Darling Basin Initiative,’ Australian Government, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water ,Population and Communities, 2004. 9 Newage Publishers, ‘ Environmental Science,’ http://www.newagepublishers.com/samplechapter/001281.pdf, 2010. 10 Dr. John Webb, ‘ Inland acid sulphate soils: a study of three wetlands al ong the Murray River, Australia,’ Environmental Geoscience, http://www.latrobe.edu.au/geosci/honours/glover.htm,2009, 11 K.C.Hall and D.S Baldwin, ‘Distribution of inland wetlands with sulfidic sediments in the Murray Darling Basin, Australia,’ Science of the Total Environment, Vol.370, No.1, 2006, pp.235-244 12 Neil Saintilan and Ian Overton, ‘Ecosystem response modeling in the Murray Darling Basin,’ Csiro Publishing, Victoria, Australia, 2010, Pp. 412-415 13 Awadhesh Prasad and Shahbaz Khan, ‘ Murray-Darling Basin dialogue on water and climate,’ River symposium, Brisbane, 2002 14 Dr. Bill Young, ‘ Science supporting water management in the Murray Darling Basin,’ CSIRO, http://www.csiro.au, 2010. 15 Rachael Thomas, Yi Lu, Steve Cox and Simon Hunter, ‘Spatial inundation patterns in floodplains wetland of semi-arid regions in the Murray-Darling Basin,’ University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 2010. 16 Neil Saintilan and Jeff Hillan, ‘Progress towards the restoration of significant wetlands in NSW under the Rivers Environmental Restoration Program,’ Rivers and Wetlands Unit, NSW Department of Environmental Climate Change, 2010. 17 Elizabeth Heagney, Jennifer Spencer, Ash Fowler and Rich Allman, ‘ The effect of flow on the growth and conditions of two native fish species Gwydir wetlands’ University of NSW, Sydney,2010. 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