Tuesday, April 7, 2020
American Me essays
American Me essays American Me is a movie, made in 1992, directed by and starring Edward James Olmos. This movie based on a true story, about a Mexican-American male spinning over half his life in prison. He grew up in the street of East Los Angeles, were he joined the local neighborhood gang. He and his friends got sent to prison at the age of sixteen for breaking and entering. In prison he did what it took to survive, which got him more years in jail. He started the biggest click in prison, Mexican Mafia, which gave him and all Latinos, away to survive the prison life. Santana is the name of the person the movie revolves around. His parents were Zoot Suitors in their day and not like by society. Sailors, during the Zoot Suit Riots raped Santanas mother and beat up his father. Santana grew up with his father resenting him, because he was not his real son. But Santana did not find this out until much later in his life. Santana stay in the street, during his childhood to get away from his father. Santana killed his first person at the age of sixteen, which gave him respect and power. Santana love his newly find power. From his power and respect, he started the Mexican Mafia, which later expanded in and out of prison. They used the Mexican Mafia the keep Latinos united and to stop people, who were stronger, from taking anything away from his people. Santana used he power to grantee Latino peoples safety by making them pay rent. Santana and his counter parts, JD and Mundo, ran everything in Folsom State Prison. They had control of gambling, drugs, and prostitution. In prison the Mexican Mafia was up against the Black Gorilla Family (BGF) and the Arien Brotherhood. They did deal with everyone but it was a constant battle to keep the power and respect. There was nothing the system could do to keep Santana from running things. The warrant put him in solitaire and sent people in his Mafia to different prisons, but all that di...
Monday, March 9, 2020
The Sky Isnt the Limit
The Sky Isnt the Limit Free Online Research Papers If you have ever seen an episode of the 1960ââ¬â¢s cartoon ââ¬Å"The Jetsonsâ⬠, then you should know all about the almost laughable portrayal of our future society, sporting things such as flying cars and robotic house keepers. However, according to Douglas Malewicki, an inventor as well as aerospace engineer for UniModal Transport Solutions Inc., the idea seems far from a joke. The famous inventor is considered the father of green transportation, responsible for creations like the 156-miles-per-gallon California Commuter cars that hold the Guinness fuel economy records for street-legal vehicles driven at freeway speeds, as well as the highly-aerodynamic human-powered recumbent bicycle. Although both inventions seem to be great contributors to the technological revolution, neither top Malewickiââ¬â¢s latest prototype, the SkyTran. Malewicki patented the SkyTran in 1992 and published several papers on it, including a paper entitled People Pods Miniature Magnetic Levitation Vehicles for Personal Non-Stop Transportation, which was presented to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Future Transportation Conference. The paper describes how Malewicki had built and driven a freeway-legal 154-MPG car in 1981, but realized it could never be safe on a street surrounded by vehicles much larger and heavier; however, elevated tracks would allow a very light vehicle to be safe, hence the concept of the SkyTran. It went on to describe how the SkyTran can squeeze both surfaces of a track simultaneously and brake safely to a stop from 100 miles per hour in just 55 feet. In 1999, Malewicki was invited to present an overview of the invention for the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, hinting to the construction of the SkyTran in the year 2052. Once Malewicki and his partners began making proposals to transit systems, the prototype began to be recognized in popular technology magazines, as well as local and national news articles. So what exactly is the SkyTran? It is a lightweight, two-passenger PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) system suspended from elevated magnetic levitation tracks, estimated to travel around 100 miles per hour with approximately 200 miles per gallon. The special kind of tracks featured with the SkyTran allow it to use natural magnetic fields to counteract the effects of gravity, as well as propelling itself by a linear motor and metal coils built in to the tracks. Because of these unique and innovative railway features, it makes switching on and off tracks at high speeds easier and more efficient as well as requiring little to no maintenance. Ideally, the system would be elevated by standard utility poles 20-30 feet above the ground or attached to the sides of buildings. The tracks are carefully mapped out in a 3D grid of inter-city guideways to avoid intersection accidents as well as derailment, and are able to deliver you within a quarter to half of a mile within your destination. The pod a lso comes equipped with parking wheels, a vertically opening door, and air conditioning or heating to optimize the comfort of the passengers. There is a list of incredible benefits of the SkyTran system, starting with how extremely inexpensive it would be to build compared to other transit modes like light rails and buses. One mile of SkyTran guiderail, including stations and stops, will cost $1 million to $2 million, while the Light rail costs $25 million to $50 million per mile, and SkyTran vehicles will cost approximately $4,000 to $6,000 each while one new 36-passenger transit bus costs $300,000. As far as labor costs go, SkyTranââ¬â¢s operating and maintenance costs are only a fraction of those required to support a light rail and expanded bus system since there are no drivers. Also, consider the savings not only in terms of the tax burden current transit systems put on the public, but in other areas such as no land purchases or neighborhood destruction to provide rights-of-way. Additional benefits include the freedom and convenience passengers will receive with the system because they will not be spending any time in traffic, which will reduce stress as well as their time commuting. It is environmentally friendly because of the 200 miles per gallon it can achieve, as well as the elimination of air and noise pollutants that used to be caused by traffic and gridlock. Last but not least, it will help with the rising number of deaths due to automobile accidents. In the United States each year, there are over six million car accidents and around 40,000 deaths due to how unsafe cars can be, from drunk or irresponsible drivers to car malfunctions; the SkyTran would drastically reduce those numbers. Not only does it keep its riders safe, but heres where SkyTranââ¬â¢s self-driving vehicles really shine. Essentially, there is no risk that an incapacitated driver will crash or endanger other vehicles, but if they can manage to press the vehicle Emergency button in case of a medical situation, such as heart attack or seizure, then an operator will intervene, assess the situation, and re-route you straight to a hospital or emergency room. People with medical conditions can also wear monitors that detect a dangerous event and communicate with the system for them, even if they are unconscious. Malewickiââ¬â¢s intentions for the SkyTran were not to completely replace cars, just eliminate commuter traffic. It is not expected for you to ride the system to your local grocery store or down the street, just lengthy trips into or throughout the city. Although the concept seems beyond brilliant, it has of course been met with criticism. One of the design flaws is the size of the pods. Because they only seat two at a time, it will make it hard for groups or families to travel together, as well as not being able to carry large amounts of stuff, like luggage. Another dangerous possibility to consider is a local area power failure. Imagine hanging in a pod in the middle of winter until the utility company restored power, or until a cherry picker could come by and rescue you; it would not be the best way to spend your morning. To summarize, nowadays we all seem to be obsessed with technology- always having the better cell phone, car or computer, or simply being more advanced than everyone else. The SkyTran could be the one technology that starts a whole other revolution, opening up other scientific discoveries. It could be the future of our transportation system; the advantages obviously outweigh the risks. It is ideal for the every-day commuter- efficient, environmentally friendly, fast, and not to mention extremely aesthetically pleasing. If UniModal actually introduced this advancement into our lives, the possibilities could be endless. Research Papers on The Sky Isn't the LimitLifes What IfsTwilight of the UAWBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfQuebec and CanadaStandardized TestingThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationThe Spring and AutumnOpen Architechture a white paperMind TravelPETSTEL analysis of India
Friday, February 21, 2020
English Research Paper #3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
English Research Paper #3 - Essay Example The existing psychological studies seem not to cover the true extent of its possibility as a variety of criticisms and analysis of this nature focused on the psychological interpretation of the fiction mainly treating them as unconscious manifestation of the writer's own problems. However, it is possible to undertake a more detailed psychological reading of his fiction, reaching beyond the conventional psychological analyses, in order to identify the author's awareness of the unconscious processes and imaginative powers. Thus, a detailed psychological analysis of the fiction by Poe, especially the major short stories such as "The Cask of Amontillado," reveals that the author was unusually aware of the often incomprehensible mental unconscious processes and also that he possessed tremendous understanding and control of the mental make up as Poe was blessed with a conscious theory of the mind and in this paper we undertake such an analysis. It is the author's skill in developing the ch aracter along the psychological path, completely understanding the way a character should act in similar situations, what helps him in creating characters of great recognition. A profound analysis of the story "the Cask of Amontillado" proves this great mastery of Poe in characterization. To have a closer understanding of the biography and literary career of Edgar Allen Poe, before we proceed exploring the psychological analysis of "the Cask of Amontillado," we may state that the short career of the great American literary genius which came to a sudden tragic end due to drug abuse and consumption of alcohol was enough to carve an everlasting literary monument of prose and poetry that reminds the generations of the master craftsman. This great literary genius was born on January 19, 1809, in Boston as the son of David, Jr. (a lawyer-turned actor) and Elizabeth Poe (an English actress) and was blessed with a good literary background. He acquired fame as a novelist, critic, short story writer, and poet and worked in various literary magazines such as Burlington Gentleman's Magazine, Evening Mirror, and Graham's Lady's and Gentleman's Magazine. Significantly, Poe "was far ahead of his time in his vision of a special area of human experience--the "inner world" of dream, ha llucination, and imagination." (Edgar Allan Poe, Bibliographical Essay, 2004). Poe has numerous poetry collections such as Tamerlane and Other Poems: By a Bostonian (1827), Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems (1829), Poems (1831), The Raven and Other Poems (1845), and Eureka: A Prose Poem (1848), stories like Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque (1840), Prose Romances: The Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Man That Was Used Up (1843), and Tales (1845) etc to his credit. It is most significant that "Poe's stature as a major figure in world literature is primarily based on his ingenious and profound short stories, poems, and critical theories, which established a highly influential rationale for the short form in both poetry and fiction." (Edgar Allan Poe, Sidelights, 2004). Most remarkably, "there is a psychological intensity that is characteristic of Poe's writings, especially the tales of horror that comprise his best and best-known works. These stories--which
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Differences in Globalization.Differences Between Globalization From Essay
Differences in Globalization.Differences Between Globalization From Above And From Below - Essay Example In the business front, globalization may refer to the aspect of investing resources and conducting businesses beyond domestic and national markets to international markets across the world with a view of enhancing closer relations in different markets (Investopedia 2013, p. 1). Indeed, globalization involves the creation of an open and common global market and investment opportunities. Generally, globalization may define distinct political, economic, and social processes of a given society where it involves the decentralization of modern technologies, ideologies, and practices (Najera 2007, p. 1). This allows for the sharing of information and exercising free will in defined aspects as more people across the globe establish close and relevant relationships. More so, this fosters international trade, international policies, and cultural exchange (Investopedia 2013, p. 1). Ideally, there are significant benefits that relate to globalization in the modern world and hence the support on globalization by various scholars. Nevertheless, there are differences regarding the future and expansion of globalization with some scholars viewing globalization as an inexorable process. This leads to the assumption of different views concerning globalization. This includes globalization from ââ¬Å"belowâ⬠and globalization from ââ¬Å"above.â⬠The proponents of globalization may relate it to industrial growth in developing nations where such nations benefit from increased employment opportunities and technological transfer from the industrialized nations. Indeed, globalization allows the developing nations to derive economic benefits from the industrialized nations thus fostering economic growth in the developing nations. Nevertheless, we still have critics of globalization who claim that the benefits of globalization are prone to numerous risks. Indeed, the critics of globalization have homogenizing impacts on culture and exploit the domestic people and environment ( Najera 2007, p. 1). Moreover, they assert that globalization demeans national sovereignty and underrates the domestic labor force (Investopedia 2013, p. 1). There are different instruments of globalization, which include the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, which recorded immense success in the recent past (Brecher, Costello & Smith 2000, p. 1). As such, it is evident that globalization has taken root and its application in the modern world bears potential benefits. There are different types of globalization, which include economic globalization, cultural globalization, economic globalization, globalization of sport, globalization of higher education, and globalization of medicine, health, religion, and science (Ritzer 2010, p. 60). More so, there are distinct factors that drive contemporary globalization which include technology, capitalism, and multinational corporations (Ritzer 2010, p. 60). Nevertheless, there are differences regardi ng the future and expansion of globalization with some scholars viewing globalization as an inexorable process (Ritzer 2010, p. 60). This leads to the assumption of different views concerning globalization. This includes viewing globalization from ââ¬Å"belowâ⬠and viewing globalization from ââ¬Å"above.â⬠Notably, there are significant differences between globalization ââ¬Å"from aboveâ⬠and globalization ââ¬Å"from below.â⬠Ideally, we can refer to the view of globalization ââ¬Å"from belowâ⬠as democratic globalization and refer to the view of globalization from above as corporate globalization. More specifically, globalization ââ¬Å"from belowâ⬠refers to a situation where individuals (activists) or
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Factors Impacting on Nursing Care Quality
Factors Impacting on Nursing Care Quality Introduction Nurses play an indispensable front-line role in patient care within the NHS. However, issues such as role ambiguity, management concerns, training deficiencies, and a limited evidence-base raise serious questions about the quality of health care nurses dispense. This essay considers some of these issues. Role Ambiguity Although nurses offer a wide variety of patient care services, there is considerable ambiguity about specific work responsibilities in some areas of nursing (Goll-McGee, 1999; Rask Hallberg, 2000; Hinsby et al, 2004; Dickens et al, 2005; Needham et al, 05; Sekula, 2005). Forensic psychiatric care is a good example. In a comprehensive survey of nurseââ¬â¢s views about their job responsibilities, Rask and Hallberg (2000) found significant differences between licensed mental health nurses and registered nurses in the emphasis attached to key nursing roles, such as assessment, medical tasks (e.g. giving medication), and actions relating to patients ââ¬Ëdaily living activitiesââ¬â¢. Nurses often feel uncertain about whether they can undertake certain tasks autonomously without incurring the wrath of doctors. For example, much has been written about nurse-initiated thrombolysis for cardiac patients (Rawles, 1994; Smallwood, 2000; Smallwood et al, 2004; Kelly, 2004). Patients pres enting at an A E unit with cardiac symptoms may benefit from nurse-administered thrombolysis prior to formal medical screening. This would include performing an electrocardiogram and administering a thrombolytic agent via a standard protocol. Although nurse-induced thrombolysis may significantly reduce door-to-needle times, until recently there was no precise definition of this role in nursing literature. Nurses are often unsure precisely what roles they are expected to perform to deal with problems like teenage pregnancy and STD transmission (Campbell, 2004). This situation is confounded by the fact that sexual health needs vary considerably across specific patient groups (e.g. HIV incidence is significantly high and access to health access seemingly more limited amongst African/immigrant communities) (DOH, 2001, 2002; 2005a, 2005b; also see Erwin et al, 2002). The net effect of this haziness is that nurses may not always be entire certain of their role at critical moments, or may feel too stressed out, in situations where immediate patient care is paramount. Workload, Time Management Training Issues The issue of work-related stress (Ewers et al, 2002) is directly implicated in workload time management. It is no secret that nursing staff in the UK can be overworked at times (Kilfedder et al, 2001; Hinsby Baker, 2004; Hughes Umeh, 2005). A major reason for this is the severe time constraints created by the multiplicity of tasks nurses are required to perform. The Nursing Stress Scale (Plant et al, 1992; Tyler Cushway, 1995), a standard measure of work stress experienced by nurses incorporates workload as one of several separate and distinct sources of stress, highlighting the importance of this factor in nursing care. The workload problem was emphasised in a recent article about school nursing (Martell, 2005). School nurses are heavily under resourced but yet face an arduous workload, more so for those working in the pubic sector. Staff shortages and a multiplicity of responsibilities means that not enough time is spent on health promotion and in the classroom. More than half o f school nurses report feeling ââ¬Ëemotionally drainedââ¬â¢, and work excess hours on a daily basis, several times a week. The level of stress seems to vary considerable across different nursing fields. A recent study found that registered nurses report higher levels of stress compared with psychiatric nurses especially in the absence of social support (Hughes Umeh, 2005). Then there is the issue of training. Nurses in the UK receive extensive training before being employed to work on the ââ¬Ëfrontlineââ¬â¢ (Campbell, 2004). However, questions have been raised about the adequacy of existing nursing education in various aspects of patient care. For example, although it has been suggested that nurses can play a crucial role in evaluating and caring for victims of sexual assault, nurses in the UK currently receive no formal training in this area (Dinsdale, 2005). Another area of training deficiency is in HIV prevention. Although the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) appr oves specific training courses for nurses in this area, universities and colleges are not compelled to offer them, ââ¬Å"Pre-registration training for nurses does not include mandatory education relating to sexual health services. Nurses working in sexual health gain post-basic education in an ad-hoc manner through working in the specialty, and by undertaking specialist post-registration courses (Campbell, 2004, p.169). Nurses often receive limited (if any) training in the care of specific patient groups. For example, few nurses have special knowledge of the health care needs of ethnic minorities communities (DOH, 2000b; Andalo, 2004). Those who by chance spend some time working in such communities may gain some of the necessary expertise, but otherwise most nurses may be uninformed in this area. School nursing is another area in which training needs are not being met (Harrison, 2004; Martell, 2005). Martell (2005) reports that school nurses often have limited access to essential training for their role. Research Evidence-based practice As with other branches of health care there is increasing emphasis in nursing care on evidence-based practice (Lewis Latney, 2003; Thompson et al, 2004; Ring et al, 2005). Feasible evidence-based practice requires an adequate evidence base (Lewis Latney, 2003). However scientific literature in certain areas of nursing care is often patchy, delaying the development of appropriate ââ¬Ëbest practiceââ¬â¢ statements that will ensure consistency in the quality of care nurses dispense across all sectors of the NHS and private sector (Hoskins, 2000; Serrant-Green, 2004). The importance of evidence-based ââ¬Ëbest practiceââ¬â¢ guidelines cannot be overstated. The Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development Unit (NMPDU) emphasises their importance in achieving consistent care delivery across nursing sectors. Unfortunately, even where best-practice guidelines have been widely developed for nursing care, as is the case with NHS Scotland, implementation is often slow and inconsisten t (Ring et al, 2005). Nurses rarely refer to an evidence base when making decisions about patient care (Thompson et al, 2004). For example, midwifes often fail to offer antenatal HIV testing to women for ethnic minority backgrounds, to avoid appearing discriminatory (Gibb et al, 1998), even though such testing is a standard recommendation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), DOH, and Nurse Agencies National Minimum Standards (DOH, 1994, 2000a). Guideline execution can be hampered by many factors including resource deficiencies, lack of training, resistance to change, lack of emphasis or prioritisation, absence of local nurse ââ¬Ëleadersââ¬â¢ who can champion best-practice ideology, and resistance to change. Fulbrook (2003) notes that nursing knowledge and care often derives from more experiential and in-depth one-to-one interactions with patients, rather than formal scientific doctrine. Thus, it is questionable whether existing best practice statements, wh ich are rooted in positivist literature, are indeed appropriate for nursing care. Conclusion The quality of nursing care patients receive may often be compromised by workload issues, training deficiencies, a paucity of an adequate research evidence base, inconsistent implementation of clinical guidelines, and poorly defined job responsibilities. It appears these problems are rather more pressing in the public compared with private sector. A recent study of the work-related perceptions of nurses working in non-NHS facilities found that nurses in this sector reported greater levels of support, cohesion, job clarity and physical comfort (Dickens et al, 2005). However, they also indicated greater work pressure. There appears to be significant variation across various nursing specialties in the importance attached to key aspects of nursing care, such as patient assessment. Furthermore, certain nursing domains, for example school nursing, suffer from severe staff shortages, a multiplicity of responsibilities, and significant training issues. Overall, nursing care in the UK appears to lack the support it needs to meet expectations. References Andalo, D. (2004) How to sell. Nursing Standard, 18, pp.14-17. Campbell, P. (2004) The role of nurses in sexual and reproductive health. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 30, pp.169-170. Department of Health (1994) Guidelines for Offering Voluntary named HIV Anti- Body Testing to Women receiving Antenatal Care. London, Department of Health. Department of Health (2000a) Nurse Agencies National Minimum Standards: Nurse Agencies Regulations.London, Department of Health. Department of Health (2000b) Black and ethnic nurses midwives and health visitors leading change a report of the Mary Seacole leadership award the first five years. London, Department of Health. Department of Health (2001) The National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV. London, Department of Health. Department of Health (2002) The National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV: Implementation Action Plan. London, Department of Health. Department of Health (2005a) Integrating the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV with Primary Medical Care Contracting. London, Department of Health. Department of Health (2005b) HIV and AIDS in African Communities: A Framework for Better Prevention and Care. London, Department of Health. Dickens, G., Sugarman, P. Rogers, G. (2005) Nursesââ¬â¢ perceptions of the working environment: a UK independent sector study. Journal of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. 12, pp.297-302. Dinsdale, P. (2005) Pioneering nurse-led assault service. Nursing Standard, 19, p.9. Erwin, J., Morgan, M., Britten, N., Gray, K. Peters, B. (2002) Pathways to HIV testing and care by black African and white patients in London, Sexually TransmittedInfections, 78, 37-39. Ewers, P., Bradshaw, T., McGovern, J. Ewers, B. (2002) Does training in psychosocial interventions reduce burnout rates in forensic nurses? Journal of Advanced Nursing, 37, pp.470-476. Fulbrook, P. (2003) Developing best practice in critical acre nursing: knowledge, evidence and practice. Nursing Critical Care, 8, pp.96-102.Gibb, D.M., MacDonagh, S.E., Gupta, R., Tookey, P.A., Peckham, C.S. Ades, A.E.(1998) Factors affecting uptake of antenatal HIV testing in London: results of a multicentre study. British Medical Journal, 316, pp.259-261. Goll-McGee, B. (1999) The role of the clinical forensic nurse in critical acre. Critical Care in Nursing Quarterly. 22, pp.8-18. Gray-Toft, P. Anderson, J.G. (1981) The nursing stress scale: development ofan instrument. Journal of Behavioural Assessment. 3, pp.11-23. Hinsby, K. Baker, M. (2004) Patient and nurse accounts of violent incidents in a medium secure unit. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 11, pp.341-347. Hughes, H. Umeh, K. (2005) Work stress differentials between psychiatric and general nurses. British Journal of Nursing. 14, pp.802-808. Kilfedder, C.J., Power, K.G. Wells, T.J. (2001) Burnout in psychiatric nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 34, pp.383-396. Harrison, S. (2004) School nurses pivotal to achieving health targets. Nursing Standard, 19, p.7.
Monday, January 20, 2020
Peer-Reviewed Article: Heart Disease Essay -- Article Review
There are many reasons I have used health care services at different times in my lifetime from birth to the present time. I have utilized pregnancy healthcare services. I have used health care services for preventive care such as a yearly Pap smear or health physicals. My friends, family and my co-workers may use health care services for the same reasons as mine, especially if they are of the same gender. The peer-reviewed article that I chose was about heart disease. Heart disease needs particular attention from health care administrators, since ââ¬Å"Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a progressive syndrome that results in a poor quality of life for the patient and places an economic burden on the health care systemâ⬠. (Ramani, Uber, & Mehra, 2010). There is no one test to diagnose heart failure. Hypertension increases the risk of heart failure 2 to 3 fold. (He, et al, 2001) The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has identified 4 stages of heart failure. (Hunt, Abraham, Chin et al, 2009). Screening patients for heart failure is sometimes controversial. Health care administrators...
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Outline the Ways in Which Rubbish Can Be Said to Have Value in a Consumer Society
Since the latter part of the nineteenth century, contemporary UK society has been steadily changing. Where once we tended to define ourselves by our employment and the status in society that position may have given us, we now define ourselves much more by the goods we buy and choose to surround ourselves with (Hinchcliffe 2009). What we wear, the house we live in, the food we choose to buy and the experiences we create for ourselves all are thought to say more about us personally and as a society and have led to the creation of the term ââ¬Ëconsumer societyââ¬â¢(Hinchliffe 2009). The rise in disposable income and the ability to acquire easy credit has enabled the vast majority of the UK population to buy goods more readily than at any time ever before and to fill our homes with an array of consumables. However this increase in affluence has generated a massive rise in consumer goods being manufactured and purchased and consequently is creating huge amounts of waste in return. Outdated and broken goods, massive amounts of packaging and waste created during manufacture are proving increasingly difficult to dispose of. The resources being depleted in order to create and transport goods are also having devastating consequences on the earth and the environment and are not sustainable (Brown 2009). This essay will look at some of the ways in which we can revalue this rubbish in our ever changing and evolving society. When we purchase goods today there are many factors that can eventually transform the item into what we would commonly term as ââ¬Ërubbishââ¬â¢, something of no value whatsoever to its owner. Goods are made increasingly cheaply and in quantity to allow for low selling prices and are not necessarily built to last. The cost of repair can be more than replacing the item itself with very few specialist repair services being offered on the high street nowadays. Ever changing fashions and trends altering every season can lead to everything from shoes to furniture being thrown away and replaced in order for one to stay ââ¬Ëin trendââ¬â¢ in our modern consumer society (Brown 2009). One theory of how rubbish can be redefined and given new value is put forward by Michael Thomson (Brown 2009). His theory suggests that items can move from being valued into the category of rubbish and out again into something of value. Items can be ââ¬ËTransientââ¬â¢, in other words, not built to last and consisting of most of the consumer goods such as mobile phones and clothing we can purchase in our shops today. Their value will decrease with use and they will often be replaced as fashion and trend dictates and newer and more desired items come on to the market. Other items can be called ââ¬ËDurablesââ¬â¢. These items are often more expensive to buy and gain value over time such as good jewellery, paintings and rarer items people may wish to invest in or collect. His third category is one of ââ¬ËZero valueââ¬â¢ such as completely broken items and worn out clothes (Brown 2009). Economic reasons can be one of the ways in which new value can be placed on an object. The rise in charity shops, car boot sales and online auctions enables some of the ââ¬ËTransientââ¬â¢ items to be given new value. One personââ¬â¢s rubbish may be of value to another (Brown 2009). The changing economic climate since the recent credit crunch and more unemployment may mean that people with more time and less money may find uses for the worn out clothes and other ââ¬ËZero valueââ¬â¢ items by repairing or recycling in some innovative way(ââ¬ËReflections on Material Livesââ¬â¢,2009). Transient goods can become out-dated over time until they apparently become almost worthless. Some of these goods may then become popular or appealing in some other way. For instance a new trend in retro items such as the current interest in ââ¬Ëshabby chicââ¬â¢ goods gives the items a fashionable appeal. Old and outdated consumer goods can become of interest to collectors and as interest increases so does the value. If these goods are no longer being produced, demand will outweigh supply and thus increase their price and therefore their value (Brown 2009). Aesthetic revaluation is another example of how new value can be given to rubbish. Some contemporary artists such as Tracey Emin and Chris Jordan (Brown 2009) have created works containing junk and other waste such as plastic cups, circuit boards, empty bottles and cigarette ends. By making a statement about our wastefulness in our consumer society in their works, they are bringing new value to rubbish by transforming it into valuable objects of art (Brown 2009). Environmental concern is another aspect that is prompting the revaluation of rubbish. In 2008, the waste generated more quickly than could be disposed of, was said to be 40% greater than the earthââ¬â¢s available yearly resources (Brown 2009). The earthââ¬â¢s resources and its capacity for absorbing the waste we generate has become environmentally unsustainable. Disposing and recycling of rubbish is now huge international business and although there is great economic value in this for the companies involved the need to find ways to sustain the environment is also a major factor in this process (Brown 2009). Transporting rubbish around the world where it is recycled more cheaply and remanufactured into a usable commodity to be shipped back, highlights the new value of some of our rubbish. Waste plastics, paper, card and glass are now just some of the products collected, recycled and sold for profit. Previously they may have been simply landfilled at not only monetary cost, so of ââ¬Ënegative valueââ¬â¢, but as we are now discovering, great cost to our planet (Brown 2009). Revaluing rubbish can therefore come about in many ways. In an ever growing consumer society we are beginning to become more fully aware of not only the amount of rubbish we are generating, but the understanding that by revaluing this waste we are helping to sustain the planet. Where once we would have thrown it into the bin without thought, we now know the ââ¬Ëvalueââ¬â¢ of our waste. The increasing demands to cease using plastic carriers in favour of supermarket ââ¬Ëbags for lifeââ¬â¢; the prevalence of car park bottle bins and clothing banks; the household recycling bins are all constant reminders to us of the value of our rubbish. Economic value can be added to out dated goods due to new trends and fashions and as items become of interest to collectors. The less there may be of something and the more the demand is for it; the more likely the value will be raised creating further interest and higher prices. Taking junk and turning it into art also revalueââ¬â¢s rubbish. Many artists are seeing the possibilities of pointing out to us our wastefulness and by using rubbish in their art they are turning it into something of artistic merit and often considerable monetary value (Brown 2009). Moreover, even design students today are being taught to utilise used items and create something new and useful or aesthetically appealing from them. (Reflections on Material Livesââ¬â¢, 2009). Whether selling our old possessions on online auctions for profit or donating to the charity shop, we are giving new value to what we no longer feel has worth. Rubbish is becoming more and more valuable as our consumption as a society grows ; ââ¬Å"at a time when weââ¬â¢re both short of materials globally as well as short of energy globally, weââ¬â¢re now looking to waste as a real resourceâ⬠( Reflections on Material Lives,2009).
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