The Bhopal Gas Tragedy Environmental Sciences Essay

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy Environmental Sciences Essay On December 3, 1984. In the city of Bhopal, a cloud of toxic gases escaped from an American pesticide plant, killing and injuring thousands of people. When the noxious clouds cleared, the worst industrial disaster in history had taken place. Now, Dominique Lapierre in her book Five Past Midnight brings the hundreds of characters, conflicts, and adventures together in an unforgettable tale of love and hope. Introduction Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) was asked to build a plant for the manufacture of Sevin, a pesticide commonly used throughout Asia. As part of the deal, Indias government insisted that a significant percentage of the investment come from local shareholders. The government itself had a 22% stake in the companys subsidiary, Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL). The company built the plant in Bhopal because of its central location and access to transport infrastructure. The specific site within the city was zoned for light industrial and commercial use, not for hazardous industry. The plant was initially approved only for formulation of pesticides from component chemicals, such as MIC imported from the parent company, in relatively small quantities. However, pressure from competition in the chemical industry led UCIL to implement backward integration the manufacture of raw materials and intermediate products for formulation of the final product within one facility. This was inherently a more sophisticated and hazardous process. In 1984, the plant was manufacturing Sevin at one quarter of its production capacity due to decreased demand for pesticides. Widespread crop failures and famine on the subcontinent in the 1980s led to increased indebtedness and decreased capital for farmers to invest in pesticides. Local managers were directed to close the plant and prepare it for sale in July 1984 due to decreased profitability. When no ready buyer was found, UCIL made plans to dismantle key production units of the facility for shipment to another developing country. In the meantime, the facility continued to operate with safety equipment and procedures far below the standards found in its sister plant in Institute, West Virginia. The local government was aware of safety problems but was reticent to place heavy industrial safety and pollution control burdens on the struggling industry because it feared the economic effects of the loss of such a large employer. At 11.00 PM on December 2 1984, while most of the one million residents of Bhopal slept, an operator at the plant noticed a small leak of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas and increasing pressure inside a storage tank. The vent-gas scrubber, a safety device designer to neutralize toxic discharge from the MIC system, had been turned off three weeks prior. Apparently a faulty valve had allowed one ton of water for cleaning internal pipes to mix with forty tons of MIC. A 30 ton refrigeration unit that normally served as a safety component to cool the MIC storage tank had been drained of its coolant for use in another part of the plant. Pressure and heat from the vigorous exothermic reaction in the tank continued to build. The gas flare safety system was out of action and had been for three months. At around 1.00 AM, December 3, loud rumbling reverberated around the plant as a safety valve gave way sending a plume of MIC gas into the early morning air. Within hours, the streets of Bhopal were littered with human corpses and the carcasses of buffaloes, cows, dogs and birds. An estimated 3,800 people died immediately, mostly in the poor slum colony adjacent to the UCC plant. Local hospitals were soon overwhelmed with the injured, a crisis further compounded by a lack of knowledge of exactly what gas was involved and what its effects were. It became one of the worst chemical disasters in history and the name Bhopal became synonymous with industrial catastrophe. Estimates of the number of people killed in the first few days by the plume from the UCC plant run as high as 10,000, with 15,000 to 20,000 premature deaths reportedly occurring in the subsequent two decades. The Indian government reported that more than half a million people were exposed to the gas. Several epidemiological studies conducted soon after the accident showed significant morbidity and increased mortality in the exposed population. These data are likely to under-represent the true extent of adverse health effects because many exposed individuals left Bhopal immediately following the disaster never to return and were therefore lost to follow-up. AFTERMATH Immediately after the disaster, UCC began attempts to dissociate itself from responsibility for the gas leak. Its principal tactic was to shift culpability to UCIL, stating the plant was wholly built and operated by the Indian subsidiary. It also fabricated scenarios involving sabotage by previously unknown Sikh extremist groups and disgruntled employees but this theory was impugned by numerous independent sources. The toxic plume had barely cleared when, on December 7, the first multi-billion dollar lawsuit was filed by an American attorney in a U.S. court. This was the beginning of years of legal machinations in which the ethical implications of the tragedy and its affect on Bhopals people were largely ignored. In March 1985, the Indian government enacted the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster Act as a way of ensuring that claims arising from the accident would be dealt with speedily and equitably. The Act made the government the sole representative of the victims in legal proceedings both within and outside India. Eventually all cases were taken out of the U.S. legal system under the ruling of the presiding American judge and placed entirely under Indian jurisdiction much to the detriment of the injured parties. In a settlement mediated by the Indian Supreme Court, UCC accepted moral responsibility and agreed to pay $470 million to the Indian government to be distributed to claimants as a full and final settlement. The figure was partly based on the disputed claim that only 3000 people died and 102,000 suffered permanent disabilities. Upon announcing this settlement, shares of UCC rose $2 per share or 7% in value. Had compensation in Bhopal been paid at the same rate that asbestosis victims where being awarded in US courts by defendant including UCC which mined asbestos from 1963 to 1985 the liability would have been greater than the $10 billion the company was worth and insured for in 1984. By the end of October 2003, according to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Department, compensation had been awarded to 554,895 people for injuries received and 15,310 survivors of those killed. The average amount to families of the dead was $2,200. At every turn, UCC has attempted to manipulate, obfuscate and withhold scientific data to the detriment of victims. Even to this date, the company has not stated exactly what was in the toxic cloud that enveloped the city on that December night. When MIC is exposed to 200 ° heat, it forms degraded MIC that contains the more deadly hydrogen cyanide (HCN). There was clear evidence that the storage tank temperature did reach this level in the disaster. The cherry-red color of blood and viscera of some victims were characteristic of acute cyanide poisoning. Moreover, many responded well to administration of sodium thiosulfate, an effective therapy for cyanide poisoning but not MIC exposure. UCC initially recommended use of sodium thiosulfate but withdrew the statement later prompting suggestions that it attempted to cover up evidence of HCN in the gas leak. The presence of HCN was vigorously denied by UCC and was a point of conjecture among researchers. As further insult, UCC discontinued operation at its Bhopal plant following the disaster but failed to clean up the industrial site completely. The plant continues to leak several toxic chemicals and heavy metals that have found their way into local aquifers. Dangerously contaminated water has now been added to the legacy left by the company for the people of Bhopal LESSONS LEARNED The events in Bhopal revealed that expanding industrialization in developing countries without concurrent evolution in safety regulations could have catastrophic consequences. The disaster demonstrated that seemingly local problems of industrial hazards and toxic contamination are often tied to global market dynamics. UCCs Sevin production plant was built in Madhya Pradesh not to avoid environmental regulations in the U.S. but to exploit the large and growing Indian pesticide market. However the manner in which the project was executed suggests the existence of a double standard for multinational corporations operating in developing countries. Enforceable uniform international operating regulations for hazardous industries would have provided a mechanism for significantly improved in safety in Bhopal. Even without enforcement, international standards could provide norms for measuring performance of individual companies engaged in hazardous activities such as the manufacture of pestic ides and other toxic chemicals in India. National governments and international agencies should focus on widely applicable techniques for corporate responsibility and accident prevention as much in the developing world context as in advanced industrial nations. Specifically, prevention should include risk reduction in plant location and design and safety legislation. Local governments clearly cannot allow industrial facilities to be situated within urban areas, regardless of the evolution of land use over time. Industry and government need to bring proper financial support to local communities so they can provide medical and other necessary services to reduce morbidity, mortality and material loss in the case of industrial accidents. Public health infrastructure was very weak in Bhopal in 1984. Tap water was available for only a few hours a day and was of very poor quality. With no functioning sewage system, untreated human waste was dumped into two nearby lakes, one a source of drinking water. The city had four major hospitals but there was a shortage of physicians and hospital beds. There was also no mass casualty emergency response system in place in the city. Existing public health infrastructure needs to be taken into account when hazardous industries choose sites for manufacturing plants. Future management of industrial development requires that appropriate resources be devoted to advance planning before any disaster occurs. Communities that do not possess infrastructure and technical expertise to respond adequately to such industrial accidents should not be chosen as sites for hazardous industry. Since 1984 Following the events of December 3 1984 environmental awareness and activism in India increased significantly. The Environment Protection Act was passed in 1986, creating the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and strengthening Indias commitment to the environment. Under the new act, the MoEF was given overall responsibility for administering and enforcing environmental laws and policies. It established the importance of integrating environmental strategies into all industrial development plans for the country. However, despite greater government commitment to protect public health, forests, and wildlife, policies geared to developing the countrys economy have taken precedence in the last 20 years. India has undergone tremendous economic growth in the two decades since the Bhopal disaster. Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita has increased from $1,000 in 1984 to $2,900 in 2004 and it continues to grow at a rate of over 8% per year. Rapid industrial development has contributed greatly to economic growth but there has been significant cost in environmental degradation and increased public health risks. Since abatement efforts consume a large portion of Indias GDP, MoEF faces an uphill battle as it tries to fulfill its mandate of reducing industrial pollution. Heavy reliance on coal-fired power plants and poor enforcement of vehicle emission laws have result from economic concerns taking precedence over environmental protection. With the industrial growth since 1984, there has been an increase in small scale industries (SSIs) that are clustered about major urban areas in India. There are generally less stringent rules for the treatment of waste produced by SSIs due to less waste generation within each individual industry. This has allowed SSIs to dispose of untreated wastewater into drainage systems that flow directly into rivers. New Delhis Yamuna River is illustrative. Dangerously high levels of heavy metals such as lead, cobalt, cadmium, chrome, nickel and zinc have been detected in this river which is a major supply of potable water to Indias capital thus posing a potential health risk to the people living there and areas downstream. Land pollution due to uncontrolled disposal of industrial solid and hazardous waste is also a problem throughout India. With rapid industrialization, the generation of industrial solid and hazardous waste has increased appreciably and the environmental impact is significant. India relaxed its controls on foreign investment in order to accede to WTO rules and thereby attract an increasing flow of capital. In the process, a number of environmental regulations are being rolled back as growing foreign investments continue to roll in. The Indian experience is comparable to that of a number of developing countries that are experiencing the environmental impacts of structural adjustment. Exploitation and export of natural resources has accelerated on the subcontinent. Prohibitions against locating industrial facilities in ecologically sensitive zones have been eliminated while conservation zones are being stripped of their status so that pesticide, cement and bauxite mines can be built. Heavy reliance on coal-fired power plants and poor enforcement of vehicle emission laws are other consequences of economic concerns taking precedence over environmental protection. In March 2001, residents of Kodaikanal in southern India caught the Anglo-Dutch company, Unilever, red-handed when they discovered a dumpsite with toxic mercury laced waste from a thermometer factory run by the companys Indian subsidiary, Hindustan Lever. The 7.4 ton stockpile of mercury-laden glass was found in torn stacks spilling onto the ground in a scrap metal yard located near a school. In the fall of 2001, steel from the ruins of the World Trade Center was exported to India apparently without first being tested for contamination from asbestos and heavy metals present in the twin tower debris. Other examples of poor environmental stewardship and economic considerations taking precedence over public health concerns abound. The Bhopal disaster could have changed the nature of the chemical industry and caused a reexamination of the necessity to produce such potentially harmful products in the first place. However the lessons of acute and chronic effects of exposure to pesticides and their precursors in Bhopal has not changed agricultural practice patterns. An estimated 3 million people per year suffer the consequences of pesticide poisoning with most exposure occurring in the agricultural developing world. It is reported to be the cause of at least 22,000 deaths in India each year. In the state of Kerala, significant mortality and morbidity have been reported following exposure to Endosulfan, a toxic pesticide whose use continued for 15 years after the events of Bhopal. Aggressive marketing of asbestos continues in developing countries as a result of restrictions being placed on its use in developed nations due to the well-established link between asbestos products and respiratory diseases. India has become a major consumer, using around 100,000 tons of asbestos per year, 80% of which is imported with Canada being the largest overseas supplier. Mining, production and use of asbestos in India is very loosely regulated despite the health hazards. Reports have shown morbidity and mortality from asbestos related disease will continue in India without enforcement of a ban or significantly tighter controls. UCC has shrunk to one sixth of its size since the Bhopal disaster in an effort to restructure and divest itself. By doing so, the company avoided a hostile takeover, placed a significant portion of UCCs assets out of legal reach of the victims and gave its shareholder and top executives bountiful profits. The company still operates under the ownership of Dow Chemicals and still states on its website that the Bhopal disaster was cause by deliberate sabotage. Some positive changes were seen following the Bhopal disaster. The British chemical company, ICI, whose Indian subsidiary manufactured pesticides, increased attention to health, safety and environmental issues following the events of December 1984. The subsidiary now spends 30-40% of their capital expenditures on environmental-related projects. However, they still do not adhere to standards as strict as their parent company in the UK. The US chemical giant DuPont learned its lesson of Bhopal in a different way. The company attempted for a decade to export a nylon plant from Richmond, VA to Goa, India. In its early negotiations with the Indian government, DuPont had sought and won a remarkable clause in its investment agreement that absolved it from all liabilities in case of an accident. But the people of Goa were not willing to acquiesce while an important ecological site was cleared for a heavy polluting industry. After nearly a decade of protesting by Goas residents, DuPont was forced to scuttle plans there. Chennai was the next proposed site for the plastics plant. The state government there made significantly greater demand on DuPont for concessions on public health and environmental protection. Eventually, these plans were also aborted due to what the company called financial concerns. QUESTIONAIRE Name : Alkesh R Takpere Age : 43 Company Name : RCF Designation: Chief Manager (Technical services) Which products do you deal in ? Fertilizers and other chemicals 1) Fertilizer Urea 2) Complex fertilizers (NPK) 3) Methanol 4) Sodium Nitrate 5) Ammonium bicarbonate 6) Methylamines 7) Dimethyl Form amide 8) Dimethylacetamide Which is the most hazardous chemical and what is the harm caused due to it ? Methanol is a hazardous chemical. It has severed effects on the body such as severe abdominal, leg, and back pain. Amounts of methanol can also cause Loss of vision and even blindness. Have your company faced any tragedy with regards to gas leakage? No, RCF has never faced any gas leakage problems. During the start up and the shut down all the gases are arrested using flares. If yes, how did you deal with the situation? We have upgraded ourselves with all the latest technology. There are 22 plants in all and they are installed with DCS systems in all the plants. Being established in 1968 we gradually modernized all the systems. We have computerized control systems which help us track all the activities around the manufacturing units. The temperature level of all the vessels can be moderated via computer. Internalized LAN system connections with the ammonia plants help in keeping a check on functioning of the plant, temperature and chemical levels, MCS 1010 degree Celsius. Workplace monitors help us to take corrective actions via Alarms and CCTVs which command the operators and the analysts. What are the ideal norms to be followed in a chemical manufacturing company? There are two types of Norms followed by the RCF: Safety norms and environment norms. Safety norms: Training to all contract employees Time to time health check up Separate training given to the engineers Fire fighting training Gloves, goggles and shoes to deal with hazardous chemicals Welding shield for welding jobs Environment norms: Norms related to Sox ,Nox,Ammonia , PM2.5,CO etc Other stipulated norms given by CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) and MPCB(Maharashtra Pollution Control Board) and RCF works way below these norms. What precautions are taken as a measure of safety ? Studies done by allocated bodies ISO 14000 ,ISO 9000 OSAS -18000 ( Certified) Proper medical aid availability at the time of accidents Due care for worker life by availing the insurance Health check up from time to time Workers with Phobias detected by the doctor are not permitted to work Fire Fighting Training is given to the workers in the welding department Mock drill on Levels 1,2,3 is conducted once in a quarter for monitoring safety Level 1 : Deals with gaseous emissions Level 2: Deals with Fire Department Level 3: Mutual group discussions are done in case of major issues. Level 3 Mock drill is performed once in a year. BPCL HPCL are members with RCF who are taken into consideration at level 3 Example: Heavy leakage Did the company undergo any changes after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy? RCF has set up the environment cell in 1978. 500 cr. was spent for environment protection while setting up the cell. 4 ambient air quality monitoring sections are set up around each plant of RCF to monitor the gas emissions from the plant. They function 247; to transmit and capture data every 15 minutes. Meteorological Department is set up in one of the plants to control the air pollution around RCF. Are all the employees in your company insured? There is a group insurance policy The contract workers are insured under ESI What is the role of the company in social responsibility? Ans: The following initiatives have been taken by the company: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Farmer Education on farm inputs à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Soil Testing of major and micro nutrients à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Water/Irrigation management à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Plant Protection Measures à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Training on post harvest technology marketing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Field and Crop Demonstrations are other effective means of imparting knowledge to farmers. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Tie-up with M/s ITC e-choupal à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The Company has 6 static and 4 mobile soil-testing vans. More than 60,000 soil samples are tested every year and recommendations on efficient use of fertilizers are given through Soil Health Cards. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ 600 Krishi-melas conducted serving around 3,00,000 farmers per year à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ RCF has launched a dedicated website for farmers www.rcfkrushisamridhi.com What are the various monitoring surveillance system adopted by the company for security purposes? Ans: For security purposes the company follows various policies like: The Fraud Prevention Policy of RCF-2010 has been framed to provide a system for detection and prevention of fraud, reporting of any fraud that is detected or suspected and fair dealing of matters pertaining to fraud. The policy will ensure and provide for the following:- 1. To ensure that management is aware of its responsibilities for detection and prevention of fraud and for establishing procedures for preventing fraud and/or detecting fraud when it occurs. 2. To provide a clear guidance to employees and others dealing with RCF, forbidding them from involvement in any fraudulent activity and the action to be taken by them where they suspect any fraudulent activity. 3. To conduct investigations into fraudulent activities. 4. To provide assurances that any and all suspected fraudulent activity will be fully investigated. This policy applies to any fraud, or suspected fraud, involving employees of RCF (all full time, part time or employees appointed on adhoc / temporary / contract basis, probationers and trainees) as well as representatives of vendors, suppliers, contractors, consultants, service providers or any outside agency doing any type of business with RCF. The company also employs 12 to 15 security guards in around the office premises. What is the back-up plan of the company in case of untoward accident or any emergency? Ans: There is availability of ambulance at factory site Safety alarms are available as a warning signal to act quickly in case of emergency Workers are provided with proper and maintained machineries What role does ethics play at RCF? We make sure that air pollution Act, water pollution act and noise pollution act are followed strictly. In MOU with government of India we ensure that are 2 man days per employee for training. What measure has RCF taken apart from the government norms? Instead of N2O, RCF uses DN2O acid catalyst which has the potential of depleting pollution by 300 times. We also use selective catalytic reactor to emit colorless fumes instead of brown fumes as earlier. Interpretation Analysis of the Interview RCF produces fertilizers and other hazardous chemicals of the grades :15-15-15 20-20-0 RCF being one of the largest chemical fertilizing plants takes utmost precautions and applies stringent practice of safety measures. They are very particular about the safety and take heavy measures for the same. They give adequate training to all the workers as well as the contract employees. They are one step ahead in applying the safety norms. There have no incident taken place in RCF with respect to gas leakage or other such disaster. They are very innovative and have modernized all the plants since 1968.They use computerised monitoring system to check the functioning of every plant which is reviewed in every 15 minutes.There are 22 plants and a plant is shut down once a year for annual maintenance either in May or October for a maximum period of 20 days one plant at a time.They have spent around 500 crores for developing the environment cell thus contributing to the protection of environment. They are also very particular about the health of every worker. Also after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy , the government norms have become very stringent.Thus, the whole interview gave us a idea that RCF believes in Better Safe than Sorry Q. Describe the systematic errors that led to the disaster in December 1984 ? These were the above factors that contributes to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy in 1984.    PRODUCTION : The use of hazardous chemicals like (MIC) instead of less dangerous ones   . MAINTENANCE: Storing these chemicals in large tanks instead of over 200 steel drums.   Possible corroding material in pipelines  Ã‚   Poor maintenance after the plant ceased production in the early 1980s   SECURITY SAFETY : Failure of several safety systems (due to poor maintenance and regulations).   Safety systems being switched off to save money-including the MIC tank refrigeration system which alone would have prevented the disaster. GOVERNMENT : The problem was made worse by the plants location near a densely populated area, non-existent catastrophe plans and shortcomings in health care and socio-economic rehabilitation. Analysis shows that the parties responsible for the magnitude of the disaster are the two owners, Union Carbide Corporation and the Government of India, and to some extent, the Government of Madhya Pradesh. FINANCE : Providing less wages no promotions to highly skilled workers which made them to switch the organisation. TRAINING : Forcing the workers to use english manuals even after knowing they are not familiar with the language. Q. Find out trigger points that a continuous process manufacturing plant dealing with hazardous materials need to watch out for ? A continuous process manufacturing plant have to watch out on following points : Chemical levels of : Nox Sox Ammonia $ other hazardous Chemicals Temperature levels of the Vessels After Bhopal Gas Tragedy , all the chemical manufacturing companies have started having stag monitors in every branch as a precaution measure. Wherever these hazardous chemicals are produced, stored, used or handled, a proper and effective health management programme should be implemented so as to protect the interest and safeguard the safety and health of people who are exposed to such materials. Policies and strategy the responsibility of the management regarding the safety of employees and the use of the chemicals should be stated in the policy statement. To give effect to the policy, the management must frame a wide strategy on managing the hazardous chemicals. Register of chemicals these should contain the information regarding the location and the inventory of the chemicals. Also it should mention the number of people exposed to those hazardous chemicals. Risk assessment and control 1) identification of the safety and the health hazardous events, 2) Frequency of the exposure to the chemicals and likelihood of occurrence of the events and its evolution too. If the finding shows that the risk is too high and not acceptable than preventive measures should be taken as soon as possible. Safety work procedures at any point where and when this chemicals are used in handling there should be a written procedure for the start up, routine operation, shut down and maintenance work. It also include the use of personal protective equipments when necessary and also other precautions to be taken. Storage of chemicals a storage system is established based on the nature of the chemical, incompatibility, quantity and environmental conditions. So the layout of the storage design should take into the consideration like the statutory requirement, material safety data and also other national and international standards to be followed. Personal protection equipment include respirators, safety glasses, field shields overall, aprons and gloves. Workplace monitoring it reveals which workers, area of the workplace and nearby vicinity of the plant will be most affected if level of the airborne contamination increases. A regular checkup by a competent person should be carried out and also result of the monitoring should be correctly evaluated and properly recorded. Emergency planning responses and first aid procedures its needed to cope up with chemical acciidents such as fires, explosions, spills, or leaks of hazardous materials. Emergency procedures should be established so that the source of release should be properly rectified and the area of contamination could be properly contained. The first aid programme will ensure that provisions for emergency treatment of victims of chemical poisoning or excessive exposure to toxic chemicals are met. Information and training employees who handle chemicals or may be affected by them should be informed of the hazard potential of these chemicals and the procedures for safe handling, minimization of exposure. A training programme should be instituted to ensure that the safe handling procedure are both known and understood by all concerned. Information on hazardous chemicals and safe handling procedures should be disseminated regularly to employees involved via group and individual training, data sheets and other aids. Programme review and audit the management should conduct an annual review of its hazard

Living Together Before Marriage Essay

It is known that one out of two marriages will end in divorce. According to Dr. Harley, in â€Å"Living together before Marriage†, eighty-five percent of the divorced couples were cohabitating before marriage, otherwise known as: living together. With these kinds of statistics, why would people want to live together before they get married? It’s a perfectly logical question, with a perfectly logical explanation. Couples naturally want to know each other before they take the big plunge. Some may say, â€Å"You have to try it before you buy it†. It leads a very good point: couples should know each other before they vow to spend the rest of their lives with one another. However, it’s been proven to be more harmful than helpful to a relationship, because of the habits that are inevitably created. Whether they are good or bad, habits are hard to break and may cause problems throughout a lifetime. Cohabiting is a month-to-month agreement, says Harley, theoretically saying there is always an easy way out. People believe if things get too tough it’s easier to separate rather than divorce. Yes, this is true, but what happens when the couple decides to get married? Now, they’ve transformed their minds to be weak, to give up when the going gets tough, and to leave when things aren’t working out. That is why living together before marriage is harmful. On the other hand, married couples who have not cohabitated together have a different perspective on things, and it is easier to make decisions based on what is good for the marriage and not just for themselves. This is because they go into the marriage believing it is for life, and not a month-to-month agreement. Marriage can be tricky because the decisions that are made are no longer for yourself, they are for the good of the marriage. Cohabitating before marriage is the very source that diminishes the meaning of marriage: oneness. A marriage is when two become one, a reading from the book, One Flame. Couples who live together before marriage have a hard time understanding the concept of oneness. There is a definite single mindedness, â€Å"My problem is my problem and your problem is your problem!† Why change the current agreement, if it works? By not changing the agreement, hypothetically you’re not truly married. All of the stages are there, but they are not connected spiritually, which is the very reason couples get  married or should get married to begin with. Another reason why cohabitating can be dangerous is the slight chance the woman may become pregnant. A report from Combating Out-Of-Wedlock Births says, that â€Å"one in three children are born out-of-wedlock.† Having a child out-of-wedlock is still considered socially unacceptable. If a pregnancy were to occur, then the couple may feel obligated to get married, if not for themselves for their child. The couple may not be ready, but they have been placed in a situation where they were rushed. A marriage out of convenience or inconvenience is never a good one, the marriage is contaminated and doomed before it starts. Perhaps the most detrimental and permanent negative effects from couples living together are placed on their children. Children born out-of-wedlock are often subjected to unstable environments. Obviously their parents have their reasons why not to marry, like the old saying, â€Å"You can’t live with them and you can’t live without them!† Consequently the children are the ones who suffer, their life is forever altered. Glenn T. Stanton states in Cohabitation and Children, â€Å"For those children living with both unmarried parents, three quarters of these children will see their parents break up before they reach the age of sixteen.† The quality of life for these children is often poor, and their parents usually are of low financial standings. There is a significant increase in poverty for cohabitating parents. â€Å"The poverty rate for children with married parents is about 6%, while it is about 31% for children living with cohabiting parents†, sa ys Stanton. Cohabitating before marriage can be dangerous, however, there are a few precautions that may be taken to avoid problems in the future. If cohabitation is inevitable before marriage, then the couple should at least be engaged. This way they have announced their marriage and are committed to a date. The perspective is very similar to a real marriage, it enables you to make decisions together and has a sense of oneness. These precautions may be useful, but there’s nothing that can substitute for the real thing. Marriage alters the mind, and what once was fake now is real. Marriage is a  life-long commitment and should to be treated with a great deal of respect. Cohabitating before marriage is proven to be extremely risky. Avoiding cohabitation may not only save a marriage, but may also increase your marriages overall lifestyle.

Level diploma for children and young peoples workforce

Levels diploma for children and young peoples workforce BY tarsal 2345 SSH 31 : Promote communication in health social care or childcare and young people's setting. 1. 1 Identify the different reasons people communicate The people communicate with each other and the varied methods of communication; how communication affects individuals and groups. Communication not only affects the professionals but the children and the relationships between the various people linked to the work place setting. People communicate with each other on a regular basis.This is a key skill acquired room birth, a skill dominant in humanity since the beginning of time. It is a vital survival skill acquired learned enhanced and practiced to make perfect. The most basic of which is speech and body language. Communication is a tool with which we exercise our influence on others bring about changes in society, in ourselves, In our attitude and in our environment. Through communication we can motivate the people a round us and can establish and maintain relationships. Communications make up a major part of our daily active life; and are a social requirement to mingle via communication.It Is a social activity to verbally communicate, correspond by reading writing or even body language! Communication Is the giving and receiving of information. Communication Is not specific to methods which speech Is relayed such as writing or reading but It Is refined by caste, culture, and education. When people live in/belong to a certain society or caste or have similar educative backgrounds. This contributes to their mindset and behavior and leads to better understanding of each other and In cases of different mindsets- creates misunderstanding. In this case the attitude and understanding and background of the person with whom weInteract with our communication skills would seem to be Imperfect and Ineffective. Some reasons of communication 0 To persuade 0 To provide and share Information/ knowledge 0 Ask qu estions 0 Express emotions 0 Maintain and promote good relationships that are affective In personal social and professional levels 0 Good flow of Information Ensure people know their roles and responsibilities Make sure rules and regulations are carried out Work together as a team Express wants and needs Negotiate and lease with others Interaction Avoid problems and misunderstandings place.Love understanding sharing and caring for each other all build a better society, unity; the core of which is strong communication. In a work setting communication is very important as it is the strongest factor we have to build and develop a relationship between ourselves, the children, their parents and our co workers. By being an affective communicator it helps to promote and create a positive working environment.In an establishment where we work as a team communication is important to keep up the group spirit, knowledge about what is happening whilst working with children It is vital to also co mmunicate with other professionals as well such as Doctors nurse's parents school teachers, social workers there co workers police men fire men etc So it is important that the rest of the team is communicated the information to as well 1. 2 Explain how communication affects relationships in the work setting.Information needs to be passed on to the relevant people keeping in mind the necessity of information to safeguard the internet of children and also protecting them and us as their Careers. I work on a need to know For example whilst I was out during school run time. My assistant was at home. I got a text from a parent that someone else would be coming one hour early than normal to pick up the child. Due to network issues I couldn't call the assistant.So had to call the parent to tell the person to wait till I got back as I needed to discuss something, also career at home had no idea what was happening, thereafter that day I had a briefing with the parent that I will have to have at least twenty minutes notice before pick up, even if assistant is at home; As I may be out. They will have to wait until I return. Also I had to have a briefing with my assistant that should any of the parents knock on the door and they are unaware they must wait till I return as I may need to talk to the parents/ relay mom information etc.In this way I kept my parents and assistants aware that we need to make sure things are in order. Otherwise things can go out of hand and I need to maintain safeguarding for everyone. I made sure I was clear and precise and to the point and made sure they all understood the importance of the instructions. I felt that as I was the main role leader I should communicate my wants and needs clearly so that the other people working under me will understand the rules and regulations. Also the set out rules and regulations need to be fair and Just- not biased.So the relationship between co-workers will be a happy one and an easy environment where the e nvironment in smooth. With clear understanding colleagues would support each other and this is very vital for a healthy setting. I felt that I kept a professional and friendly approach during my day. At times taking on Jobs where I felt the assistant needed more help made them realize that we are a team not a boss against their employee. In a work environment it is also important to have reviews from parents or co workers that will help improve the setting, so we can reflect on our reactive and take action to enhance it.Another reason why it is important to convey information to one colleague to another is the fact that some children have allergies. Worker did not know about it or didn't know how or why it is triggered, the child could be in danger. This affects the child's safeguarding rights and proper training for this was required and full information needed to be shared to protect both the child and the career from a difficult and hazardous situation. If the co worker was absen t/away they need to know if something new has happened to make sure they are up to date.I held a session with the assistant, the parent and the nurse involved with the child's treatment till date. And was given a full training session on how the practical parts of the allergy is dealt with. Observations are an important way to communicate information even for personal settings. Sometimes I am working alone. Doing paperwork helps to structure learning goals and objectives aiming for higher, knowing the child's potential and aiming to develop any under developed areas.If we communication with children and young people: we need some key skill to make our bobs and skills more competent 0 Being patient= having the ability to control our selves when there is trying situations 0 Listening skills= listen to and understand the child/Rene needs as much as possible 0 Remembering= names, personal preferences special things to them to make them feel like they belong and that this is a place wher e they are part of a small family 0 Body language = making sure our body language and posture is positive so the children can positively develop 0 Maintaining a good eye = when we talk to children make eye contact so they are aware that the conversation is for them and they are the individual it is aimed at 0 Sensitivity = using word carefully selected 0 Showing warmth love caring, understating, sincerity positive values of others etc 0 Safeguarding = making sure that all their physical and mental interests are always priority. Confidentiality = making sure we do not tell others about what is happening in our settings.So children's information is kept safe For example In my experience I found that sometimes information can be misinterpreted, such as one day I had arranged for a parent to come and meet me at the library, for a session where I would read with the children and she would also articulate with the children. As I had mentioned very briefly that I would be taking them to li brary A; but she had thought it was library B and went to a different library. However we resolved the issue as soon as I realized and I rerouted to the second library. Luckily there was a telephone conversation in which I had picked up from her that she was in library b and without putting any blame on either side met up at library b instead. Parent realized the misunderstanding and we made sure that in future we will be clear of exact venue as there are a few libraries nearby.

Science, Technology and Ethics in Frankenstein {written by Mary Shelley} Free Essay Example, 1250 words

Human beings make tools and techniques that do not work well for them. Technology fails human beings. They try to answer with technology, problems above problems. Frankenstein is a novel about oppressive forces. Dangerous pursuit of knowledge and cursed human inventions are the oppressive forces operating in the novel. Humanity or human beings are oppressed (literally and allegorically) in the novel. The oppressive force, the monster stands at the center of the action. He was rejected by the society. He starts dangerous activities because of his grotesque appearance and because of his perverted or abnormal manner of the creation. He is out of strange chemicals and stolen body parts. Monster is the result of dark, supernatural workings and is not the pure result of collaborative scientific efforts. This dark supernatural working is another oppressive force that troubles human beings and leads them to destruction and death. Monster is the symbol of the oppressive forces in the world that are the brain child of human beings. Several of the human inventions are powerful and destructive enough to swipe out the entire humanity from the earth. We will write a custom essay sample on Science, Technology and Ethics in Frankenstein {written by Mary Shelley} or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now What about the invention of Atom Bomb. The inventor Albert Einstein was in the same plight as experienced by Victor Frankenstein here. What good it furnished for the betterment of the humanity. Was it ever found to be genuinely beneficial for a single individual in the world? The unwanted pursuit of knowledge has presented nothing but tears, pain, separation and absolute annihilation to the world. The origin of HIV is also suspected to be the result of some devilish pursuit of knowledge and inventions (in a laboratory). The monster is the representative of this human knowledge thirst that works against its creator. The monster or the dangerous knowledge that Victor used to create the monster is the oppressive force that killed Victor’s brother, his wife and finally Victor. Monster was made by abnormal manner of creation. Abnormal knowledge track manufacture nothing but man eating monsters. Abnormal knowledge track is attempting to clone human beings. Abnormal knowledge track is destroying killing babies inside its mother. Abnormal creation has become the most popular field of study for scientists who represent Victor Frankenstein in the present world. Aggressive and wrong hunt for knowledge or inventions is yet to introduce several more oppressive forces or monsters into this world. HIV has become an oppressive force that has gone much beyond the control.