Earthquake Preparedness Press Release Essay

How can my family be prepared for an earthquake? This question haunts countless residents in the Los Angeles area every day. Hopefully we here at the Earthquake Preparedness Center can shed some light on how you can protect your family. My name is Darin Fort and I am the Director of Earthquake Preparedness for Los Angeles. As with any danger, knowledge of the event is of upmost importance. Some questions that should be asked by anyone who wants to defend their home against earthquakes are: What are the origins and causes of earthquakes and what is the relation of earthquakes to plate tectonics and faults in Los Angeles? What are some historical disasters associated with earthquakes? What are the hazards associated with earthquakes? What is the potential for future earthquakes in the Los Angeles area? Earthquakes are started at the Earth’s crust. Our planet is made up of different plates which float on a layer of molten material or magma much like potato chips would float on top of a bowl of water. Scientists believe there could be as many as 12 plates that make up Earth’s crust. These plates move freely like bumper cars: pulling away from each other, moving side to side or laterally, and even smashing into each other. The proof behind plate tectonics lies in mountain ranges and island chains like the Hawaiian Islands, both are products of plate tectonics. Earthquakes originate from plate boundaries called faults. The tension and movement between the conflicting faults is what causes the shock waves referred to as an earthquake. When the pressure between two conflicting plates is too much for the rock material to support, they can shift or break dramatically. The exact underground point where this occurs is the focus. Many people are familiar with the above ground ve rsion of the focus called the epicenter. When the plates crack or shift, shock waves are sent out from the focus. These waves come in three forms: Primary, Secondary, and Surface. The surface wave is the one which causes damage to our cities and homes. Unfortunately, Los Angeles is located over an earthquake hot bed. There are two different kinds of plate boundaries located under the Los Angeles area. The first is called a transform plate boundary. In a transform boundary, such as the San Andres Fault, plates move in a lateral motion. Imagine taking two pieces of rough cut wood and sliding them against one another. When the force applied exceeds the ability of the splinters holding them together, they slip and then catch again when it meets new, stronger material. This is called strike-slip affect which is produced by transform plate boundaries. The other type of boundary located in the Los Angeles area is called a convergent boundary. Convergent boundaries are located where two plates are colliding into each other. The grinding and crushing action of the two converging plates send shock waves out just as the transform boundary does. Los Angeles has been battling the effects of plate tectonics for centuries. The Los Angeles area has suffered several major events in recent history. The Fort Tejon Earthquake took place in 1857 and tremors from this quake were felt over 350,000 square kilometers (USGS, 2012). The Fort Tejon Earthquake was one of the largest in California history and originated at a strike-slip boundary. The Parkfield Earthquake of 1901 was an event we all hope never happens again. Over 700 people lost their lives that day due to the tremors which originated from the San Andres Fault (USGS, 2012). In 1994 a major event struck which killed many, injured thousands, and destroyed billions of dollars’ worth of property. There were also major events which took place in 1881, 1922, 1934, 1966, and most recently 2004 where property was damaged and even worse lives were lost. The hazards involved in an earthquake are countless. As stated earlier, the major damage causing force of an earthquake is the surface wave. The surface wave causes ground tremors that can knock building off their foundations and bring bridges crumbling down. If you are inside, either find the strongest area of the room or get under a table or desk and stay there. If you are caught outdoors get into the open, as far away from buildings, power lines, or any other type of tall or overhead structures. Another major hazard brought about by an earthquake is fire. Many times tremors from earthquakes can bring down power lines and rupture gas mains. In an event where you witness fallen power lines or leaking gas main, please move as far away from them as possible and contact rescue personnel as soon as possible. Crumbling dams and levees can also lead to flooding in some areas. Stresses in certain structures like dams and levees tend to not present themselves until it is too late to escape the rising water. You should evacuate the area until safety and rescue personnel have had time to clear the area and inspect the affected structure. We can say, without hesitation, the earthquake activity in the Los Angeles is here to stay. Since we are located directly over plate boundaries, we will continue to see seismic events. Plate tectonics, the driving force of earthquakes, is a natural process which has formed the ever-changing world we live in today. Science Daily, a leading publisher of science news, recently published an article titled â€Å"California Has More Than 99% Chance of a Big Earthquake within 30 Years, Report Shows† (Science Daily, 2008). While the actual statistic is a 49% chance of a 7.5 or greater earthquake striking in the next 30 years, we are certain that seismic events will continue to plaque the city (Science Daily, 2008). Unfortunately, many of the lives lost in earthquake events could be prevented by taking precautionary steps in our everyday lives. However, due to an increased population and congested city centers it is possible there could be more lives lost today if a major event were to strike. Please take all precautionary measures to keep you and your family safe during an earthquake. For a full list of ways to keep safe before, during, and after an earthquake, please visit www.consrv.ca.gov , click on â€Å"Earthquakes† and follow the link to â€Å"What to do if an earthquake strikes†. Remember, being prepared may save your life. Reference Page California Department of Conservation. (2007). What to do in an Earthquake. Retrieved from http://www.consrv.ca.gov/index/Earthquakes/Pages/qh_earthquakes_what.aspx ScienceDaily. (Apr. 15, 2008). California Has More Than 99% Chance Of A Big Earthquake Within 30 Years, Report Shows. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080414203459.htm USGS. (2012). California Earthquake History. Retrieved from http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/california/history.php USGS. (2012). 1857 Fort Tejon Earthquake. Retrieved from http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/parkfield/1857.php USGS. (2012). 1901 Parkfield Earthquake. Retrieved from http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/parkfield/1901.php

Sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Sociology - Essay Example Since the UK contained a well-established political structure, well-trained and highly equipped army, navy and air force, magnificent economic stability and unshakeable social hierarchy, the country was in a position to rule over the entire world for several decades. By dint of her unconquerable armed forces, sharp foreign policy and enormous financial resources, the UK invaded on numerous Asian and African countries, and captured their wealth and governmental system. Hence, the people belonging to the subjugated states got orientation with the UK as a great strategic, educational and economic giant of the world at large. Consequently, they dreamed of visiting and settling down in the UK in order to lead a comfortable and respectable life for the future years to come. Additionally, the African men, women, children and elderly were also brought in the country as slaves, where they were meant to serve their white masters in their domestic chores and professional responsibilities as wel l. By looking into the history of the British Africans, it becomes crystal clear that the Blacks had been the least educated stratum of British society, as majority of this community was either working as slaves or got involved into different petty or purported odd jobs at lower scale. Similarly, because of their association with the labour in their native land as well as scarcity of food and fruits, the Blacks underwent poorer health condition in comparison with the rest of the entire English population. Though the situation has taken drastic change with the passage of time, and the country is viewed to be exemplary in respect of the health condition and education level of its citizens, yet the Blacks are still viewed to be the least developed community in respect of both health and education, as they are refused to be treated on the foundations of equality in the British society. Thus, their past is still haunting the Blacks even after several years of their freedom from slavery a nd settling down as free citizens in Great Britain. The Paper: The contemporary Britain is undoubtedly one of the most enlightened states of the entire sphere, which offers job, business, health and immigration facilities to the highly skilled and proficient individuals belonging to various parts of the globe. Additionally, the traditional British universities have been pioneer in providing high quality education by conferring degrees against different disciplines, which does not have any match with any educational institution of the entire world. It is therefore the students who had sought education and degrees from these renowned institutions, led their respective societies and cultures by rendering valuable services in their relevant fields. The entire exposure they gain and the outstanding vision they acquire is partially dependent of the British educational institutions, cultural values, social norms and traditional way of life that proves guiding star for polishing their perso nality and enhancing their capabilities to move and survive even in the multicultural civilisations. On the one side of the picture, there appears to be affluence, luxuries, social justice, economic prosperity and technological advancements, and on the other side, malpractices, apartheid, ethno-racial and religious discrimination, poverty and deteriorating health of the lower stratum of society raise their ugly head to threaten the glow of the so-called big claims of national

Hitler's table talk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hitler's table talk - Essay Example He categorically states that our body follows the cycle of nature. He advises humans to conform to the laws of nature and take inspiration from it and that is the way one can triumph over religion. He asserts that in nature a will of stronger prevails and it is perfectly a natures way of doing the things (38). He vehemently put his views on social class stating that "as long as social classes existed, it was impossible to set free the forces of the nation" (108). He never believed in rejecting anyone from the national community (108). He was clear in his thinking that class prejudices had no place in a socially advanced state like Germany (255). Hitler believed in shaping the Germany in such a fashion that whosoever happened to visit Germany would be relieved off his or her prejudices against Germany (22). Hitler made a special mention about Germany describing its uniqueness in a sense that it was the only country having no unemployment issue (42). He also argued about the Germany having several towns in its fold of a high cultural level and because of that Germany did not suffer either from any inferiority complex or from any superiority feelings (47). His views on Church and Christianity described his philosophy to govern people as well. He did not believe in making a pact with the Church for it could not offer long lasting benefits. The scientific advancement sooner or later, in all likely hoods, would expose the harmful effects that such compromise might bring. For this reason he kept party matters separate from the religious beliefs – that is how one could keep confrontation between Catholic and Protestant groups. He further stated that it was better to be clever in this matter rather than invite the trouble in the long run. He accepted the fact that the human beings were afraid of so many unknown things of nature for which no explanation is available. Science would resolve enquiries of metaphysical nature

Gender bias in mathematic achievement Research Paper

Gender bias in mathematic achievement - Research Paper Example In a study conducted by Arnot (134), it is difficult to separate the adoption of these attitudes from the powerful and diverse forces, which dictate the expectations of students. The third theme is drawn from a recent research study conducted by Bevan (4), which established that gender differences in Mathematics achievement essentially arise through variations in learning styles, organization of learning, and teaching styles. Based on such underpinning tenets, it is necessary to examine and account for causes of gender bias in Mathematics achievement. In his study, Becker (221) identifies that boys are best, relative to girls, in both practical and applied areas while girls do best relative to boys in computation involving decimals, whole numbers, and some algebra related aspects. Attitude towards Mathematics also played a significant role in creating the existing gender bias in Mathematics. Boys have a significantly greater tendency towards judging topics in Mathematics a s easy and significantly, more girls than boys believed that they had difficulties in remembering formulae, understanding Mathematics concepts, and in applying the work that had studied in class (Bevan 4). The perception of learners about Mathematics has a greater contribution towards gender bias. Three factors constitute learner perception towards Mathematics: learner expectations of Mathematics, types of activity that entail their Mathematics education, and prevailing stereotypes about Mathematics. As affirmed by Becker (223), the greater the agreement exists in these strands, the less the digression between Mathematics achievement and gender. Even though the variations in attainment are considered relatively insignificant, variations in the attitudes of both girls, and boys towards Mathematics is striking. Moreover, the uncertainty exhibited by girls’ and confidence in boys, both extend beyond individual

Workplace policies and practices. DreamWorks Animation Essay

Workplace policies and practices. DreamWorks Animation - Essay Example This paper considers six policies and practices which contribute to the high level of employee engagement that exists in the company: commitment to the highest quality, diversity in recruitment, coaching and mentorship, a relaxed and â€Å"fun environment to stimulate creativity, and flexible teamwork. DreamWorks Animation is company that many creative people aspire to work for, and perhaps the most attractive feature about this organization is that it is simply the best in the industry. This high quality image brings a sense of pride to all of its employees but it also brings with it extremely high expectations in times of quality of work and adherence to tight deadlines. The company attracts the brightest and best employees because of its profile as a leading and innovative animated movie producer and so long as it maintains this position it will make them want to stay and achieve even more success. The company webpages show also a real commitment to diversity in the workforce, si nce the faces of leading employees are male and female, and different in terms of age and ethnic origins also. It is a young company with an international flavour. This diversity is useful to the company because it matches the global audiences for the company products, but there is also evidence this mix encourages innovative thinking and exchange of ideas. The different social and cultural backgrounds of the staff make for a stimulating and rich working environment. The company’s philosophy makes a big statement about this point, and it is clearly one of the company’s overarching and strategic aims to have unity in diversity: â€Å"In this friendly, open and collaborative environment, people of globally diverse talent and backgrounds push creative boundaries and enjoy an easy camaraderie. We attract a globally diverse group of artists, technologists, production and support staff who come together†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (DreamWorks Website). This commitment to be inclusive mea ns that the prevailing atmosphere is open and all staff are able to participate freely in company activities without fear of prejudice or inequality. Mutual respect marks the ethical tone of the company and this in turn leads to a more committed and contented workforce. Employee engagement begins at the point where people are recruited into the company. Vacancies are advertised on the company webpage, and of course the company requires very specific and certified skills in most of its employee roles. Experience is also needed in this industry, along with new ideas that are current in the youth cultures of the present time. Locating the right mix of talent and experience is difficult in animation, and DreamWorks takes a long term view of this task. It is commendable to note that there are outreach efforts in colleges and universities to draw in talent from all parts of society, including state as well as private educational institutions. In 2005, for example, the company started off an Outreach program to attract graduates who had no experience in the industry, but could demonstrate talent in their university work: â€Å"the goal of this program was to seed the next generation of creative and technical leadership at the Studio, and also to offset the rapidly rising salary rates for experienced talent.† (Newspeak.com case study, 2011) Some such ventures are little more than public relations stunts, but the company reports that 165 entry level graduates were hired, and 93% were retained, and 8 individuals were considered â€Å"

Explain the position of Dualism and physicalism Essay

Explain the position of Dualism and physicalism - Essay Example This philosophical thought has been applied for instance in the mind-body relation to claim that a human being is a physical system with the central nervous system and brain without a mind or soul (Crumley 5). For instance, physicalists postulate that the mind or soul is not an immaterial substance but occurs in physical form that is consisted of cells at one level which can be broken down further into atoms at their smallest level. This makes the mind and the brain to be same substance in an outlay where the mind is a consequence of neural connections. This positioning of the mind and the brain based on the assumptions make in physicalism means that damage to the brain translates to the same damage in the mind. This is true for example in the case of the brain which contains multiple elongated cells referred to as neurons whose function is to carry specific impulses. Contacts between neurons take place through points of contact named synapses. A specific neuron in the human nervous system is the C-fibers whose function is to supply the skin with nerves and transmit pain impulses. According to Physicalist, when a person experiences an occasion of pain or occurrence of a thought these are believed to be physical events related to C-fibers transmitting or certain electrical and chemical events taking place in the brain and central nervous system (Crumley 64). Apart from the assumption that the mind and brain are the same, another condition of physicalism is based on the belief that the physical world is causally closed. The thesis of causal closure fundamentally argues that any physical event must equally have a physical cause. This assumption by the Physicalists means that for every occurrence in world, there must be an explanation on the basis of causal interactions occurring at the physical level. Therefore, this worldview is

Analysis paper 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysis paper 2 - Essay Example The key focus areas are in the textile and clothing industries, in the entertainment field, in factory farms, and in scientific laboratories. Among the causes that it is active in include abuse of domesticated animals, cruelty in the annihilation of animals that are deemed as pests but serve a useful role in various ecologies, and other related animal issues. Its means of advocacy include campaigns of protest, legislative lobbying, investigations of cruel acts against animals, education of the general public, the rescue operations involving animals in distress, the invitation of celebrities to take part in campaigns, the holding of events that are of special significance to the movement, and research initiatives (PETA). The literature defines various language-based tactics and strategies in common use by social movements around the world, and the objective of this paper is to identify PETA’s tactics and strategies and classify them according to the categories presented in the text, by way of undertaking an analysis of the use of those tactics and strategies as they relate to PETA’s campaigns and advocacies. To wit, the different strategies and techniques of persuasion presented in the text are acts that are symbolic and not verbal; the use of new technological platforms such as the Internet and social media; obscenity; labeling; ridicule; the use of music; the use of slogans; identification; polarization; and the employ of the power language or rhetoric. Through PETA’s long history, it is reasonable to assume that the movement must have employed all of the tactics and strategies listed above in some form or other in its campaigns and programs. The goal is to be able to look at the more current literature to identify exactly what tactics and strategies are relevant to PETA’s campaigns (Stewart, Smith and Denton 167-168; PETA; Tolhurst; Saul; Burns). In a most recent protest, PETA was reported to have laid