Buildings Energy-efficiency Development in Rural Areas of China Case Study

Buildings Energy-efficiency Development in Rural Areas of China - Case Study Example The threat of environmental pollution in China originates from rural China, where the majority of the population continuously uses forms of energy that are major causes of carbon emission and pollutions of the environment. It is not surprising that various researches are continuously conducted to identify alternative ways of reducing carbon emissions in rural Chinese homes. Also, it does not surprise that building energy-efficient development in rural areas of China is one effective solution to this problem of growing carbon emissions. The ability of rural buildings to maintain efficiency in energy conservation and use is determined by its design. As a result, this paper explores traditional hearth (thermal mass) design in rural Chinese homes. Moreover, it evaluates how design influences energy conservation and utilization. China began consuming high amounts of carbon in late 20th century influenced by the spread of the industrial revolution throughout the world (Stolten and V Scherer 895). In 1990, the country continued to experience increased in total carbon consumption, and total consumption reached 650Mtce in 1995 while per capita consumption was at 900kgce in the same year (Slide 1). In the era of the industrial revolution, the total consumption remained higher that per capita consumption. The factories and industries are producing commodities for the emerging opportunities in the global market consumed a high percentage of carbon. On the other hand, per capita income associated with household carbon consumption was increasing at a decreasing rate over the years and peaked in 2000. At a per capita consumption of 1300Kgce, the total consumption was at a high of 1450Mtce in 2007. Even though, China began consuming more carbon in the 1980s, the country experienced rapid growth in the 21st century seen a sharp increase in total consumption between 1999 and 2007. It

Importance of Physical Activity Essay

Importance of Physical Activity Essay Introduction Physical activity is an important determinant of health. Its fundamental role in energy balance and weight control and in decreasing the risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, colon cancer, breast cancer, and depression is widely known. But in this fast paced life, people hardly incorporate physical activity in their daily routine. Non communicable diseases have, as a result been on the rise across the world. Even Mauritius have not been spared from this growing concern on diseases. Undeniably, compared to the past, the health of Mauritians has bettered given that now more facilities are available to combat once mortal diseases. Lifespan has increased as a result and the trend is there are more people as from 65 years old with the balance tipping in favour of the female population. The main problem that Mauritius faces nowadays is in terms of non communicable diseases. The new life trend now leads to other complications like diabetes, hypertension, kidney failure, heart problems, smoke and alcohol related problems. Literature review Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure.(WHO,2013) Regular moderate intensity physical activity is beneficial to health. For instance, it can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and depression. Other benefits include low risk of hip and vertebral fracture and weight control. Types of Physical Activity Aerobic, muscle-strengthening, bone-strengthening, and stretching are the four main types of physical activity. Aerobic Activity Aerobic activity benefits the heart and lungs. Large muscles, such as those in your arms and legs are used the most. Running, swimming, walking, biking, dancing, and doing jumping jacks are examples of aerobic activity. Aerobic activity also is also known as endurance activity. Aerobic activity increases heart rate. The person also breathes harder during this type of activity. Over time, regular aerobic activity makes the heart and lungs stronger and able to work better. Muscle-strengthening activity Muscle-strengthening activities improve the strength, power, and endurance of muscles. Performing pushups and situps, lifting weights, climbing stairs, and digging in the garden are examples of muscle-strengthening activities. During bone-strengthening activities, muscles push against the bones as the feet, legs, or arms support the bodys weight. This helps to strengthen the bones. Running, walking, jumping rope, and lifting weights are examples of bone-strengthening activities. Muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening activities also can be aerobic if they make the heart and lungs work harder than usual. For example, running is both an aerobic and a bone-strengthening activity. Stretching improves flexibility and ability to fully move the joints. Touching one’s toes, doing side stretches and yoga exercises are examples of stretching. (AHA,2013) Levels of Intensity in Aerobic Activity Aerobic activity can be performed with light, moderate, or vigorous intensity. Moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity is better for the heart than light-intensity activity. However, even light-intensity activity is better than no activity at all. The level of intensity depends on how hard you have to work to do the activity. People who are less fit usually have to work harder to do an activity than people who are more fit. Therefore, what is light-intensity activity for one person may be moderate-intensity for another. Light- and Moderate-Intensity Activities Light-intensity activities are common daily tasks that do not require much effort. Moderate-intensity activities make the heart, lungs, and muscles work harder than usual. On a scale of 0 to 10, moderate-intensity activity is given a score of 5 or 6. It causes noticeable increases in breathing and heart rate. Vigorous-Intensity Activities On a scale of 0 to 10, vigorous-intensity activity is a 7 or 8. A person doing vigorous-intensity activity cant say more than a few words without stopping for a breath. Examples of Aerobic Activities Below are examples of aerobic activities. Depending on your level of fitness, they can be light, moderate, or vigorous in intensity: Gardening, such as digging or hoeing that causes your heart rate to go up Walking, hiking, jogging, and running Water aerobics or swimming laps Biking, skateboarding, rollerblading, and jumping rope Ballroom dancing and aerobic dancing Tennis, soccer, hockey, and basketball In the present era, many technological advances and conveniences have made our life easier and less active. But there are other factors that affect participation in physical exercise. For instance, transportation, social capital, and time barriers independently contribute to low levels of physical activity. (Zlot et al., 2006). Physical activity is highly recommended among adults and those aged 18–64 years old should do at least 150 minutes of moderately intense physical activity throughout the week or at least 75 minutes of vigorous- activity throughout the week or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous activity.(WHO,2013). Unfortunately, according to the Mauritius non-communicable diseases survey 2009, only 16.5% of Mauritians (10.9% of women and 23.2%of men) undertook sufficient vigorous or moderate physical activity to meet national guidelines, that is, 150 minutes of activity per week. 56% (65.8% of women and 45.7% of men) reported doing no moderate or vigorous leisure time physical activity at all. In line with the NCD survey 2009, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes aged 20-74 years was 21.3%: 21.9% in men and 20.6% in women in Mauritius. The prevalence of hypertension was 37.9%: 35.4% for women and 40.5% for men. The age and gender standardised prevalence of obesity was 16.0%: 11.3% in men and 20.5% in women (Mauritian adult population aged 25 -74 years). Comparing those results with the NCD 2004, the preliminary results of the 2004 NCD Survey indicate that the age-standardised prevalence of diabetes in the Mauritian population aged 20-74 years was 15.0% (15.0% among male, 15.1% among female). The prevalence of hypertension in 2004 in participants aged 20-74 years (standardized on the Census year 2000 population) was 24.2% in males, 22.8% in females and 23.1% in both sexes. In 2004, the age-standardised prevalence of obesity in adults aged 20-74 years was 5.6% among males and 13.7% among females, giving an overall prevalence of 10.3%. On one side, adults do not perform enough physical activity, on the other side, type 2 diabetes; hypertension and obesity are on the rise in Mauritius. Importance of physical activity Benefits of physical activity are widely recognised. Physical activity improves the cardiovascular and respiratory system On a regular basis, moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity strengthens the heart muscle. The hearts ability to pump blood to lungs and throughout your body is improved. oxygen levels in your blood rise as more blood flows to your muscles. Capillaries also widen. This allows them to deliver more oxygen to your body and carry away waste products. Physical Activity Reduces Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors(CHD) On a regular basis, moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity can lower risk for CHD. CHD is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood. Plaque narrows the arteries and decreases blood flow to heart muscle. Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture . A blood clot can form on the surface of the plaque. As the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery. A heart attack can result. Certain traits, conditions, or habits may increase the risk for CHD. Physical activity can help control some of these risk factors because it: Can decrease blood pressure and triglyceride levels Can raise HDL cholesterol levels. Maintain blood glucose and insulin levels, which lowers your risk for type 2 diabetes. Decreases levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). This protein is a sign of inflammation. High levels of CRP may suggest an increased risk for CHD. Helps reduce overweight and obesity when combined with a reduced-calorie diet. Physical activity also helps in maintaining a healthy weight over time Can help people to quit smoking. Smoking is a major risk factor for CHD. Inactive people are nearly twice as likely to develop CHD as people who are physically active. According to studies, inactivity is a major risk factor for CHD, just like high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking. Physical Activity Reduces Heart Attack Risk For people who have CHD, aerobic activity done regularly improves the function of the heart. It also decreases the risk of a second heart attack in people who already have had heart attacks. Vigorous aerobic activity may not be safe for people who have CHD. Physical activity boosts mental wellness Tension, anxiety, depression and anger are relieved by performing physical activity Exercise increases the flow of oxygen which directly affects the brain. Your mental acuity and memory can be improved with physical activity. Physical activity improves physical wellness. Stronger immunity It enhances your immune system and decreases the risk of developing diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Reduced risk factors Becoming more active can lower your blood pressure by as much as 4 to 9 mm Hg. Thats the same reduction in blood pressure delivered by some antihypertensive medications. Physical activity can also boost your levels of good cholesterol. Recommendations of physical activity AHA Recommendation At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 5 days per week for a total of 150 OR At least 25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity at least 3 days per week for a total of 75; or a combination of the two AND Moderate to high intensity muscle-strengthening activity at least 2 or more days per week for additional health benefits. Physical inactivity Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths globally Globally, six percent of deaths are attributed to physical inactivity. This follows high blood pressure (13%), tobacco use (9%) and is equal to high blood glucose (6%). Moreover, physical inactivity is the main cause for approximately 21–25% of breast and colon cancers, 27% of diabetes and 30% of ischaemic heart disease burden. (WHO) Physical inactivity Globally, around 31% of adults aged 15 and over were insufficiently active in 2008 (men 28% and women 34%). Approximately 3.2 million deaths each year are attributable to insufficient physical activity. In 2008, prevalence of insufficient physical activity was highest in the WHO Region of the Americas and the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In both these regions, almost 50% of women were insufficiently active, while the prevalence for men was 40% in the Americas and 36% in Eastern Mediterranean. The South East Asian Region showed the lowest percentages (15% for men and 19% for women). In all WHO Regions, men were more active than women, with the biggest difference in prevalence between the two sexes in Eastern Mediterranean. This was also the case in nearly every countrhttp://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_inactivity/en/y. Physical inactivity and cardiovascular disease The increasing urbanization and mechanization of the world has reduced our levels of physical activity. The World Health Organization believes that more than 60% of the global population is not sufficiently active. If you are physically active you will increase your life span, regardless of any adverse inherited factors. Physical activity, at any age, protects against a multitude of chronic health problems including many forms of cardiovascular disease. Physical activity protects you by regulating your weight and improving your body’s use of insulin. Being active is beneficial for your blood pressure, blood lipid levels, blood glucose levels, blood clotting factors, the health of your blood vessels and inflammation, which is powerful promoter of cardiovascular disease. Studies show that doing more than 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate physical activity or an hour of vigorous physical activity every week will reduce your risk of coronary heart disease by about 30%. The consequences of physical inactivity are staggering. More of us are overweight. Adult (and childhood) obesity/overweight level continues to increase: 68% of all Adults are obese or overweight. It is more difficult today to create an active lifestyle. People are less active due to technology and better mass transportation. Sedentary jobs have increased 83% since 1950; Physically active jobs now make up only about 25% of our workforce. That is 50% less than 1950. Our average work week is longer. Americans work 47 hours a week 164 more hours a year than 20 years ago. Extra weight costs us physically and financially. Obesity costs American companies $225.8B per year in health-related productivity losses. The average healthcare cost exceeds $3,000 per person annually. An obese employee costs employer additional $460 to $2,500 in medical costs and sick days per year There are previous studies that have been carried out to assess the views of high school students towards physical activity. In 2010 according to the study carried out by Lovell among non-exercising female students in the United Kingdom, that the greatest perceived benefit from exercise was physical performance followed by the benefits of psychological outlook, preventive health, life enhancement, and then social interaction. The greatest perceived barrier to exercise was physical exertion, which was rated significantly higher than time expenditure, exercise milieu, and family discouragement barriers. Another study was carried by Daskapan in 2006 targetting Turkish university students. Current exercise habits and perceived barriers to physical activity were assessed in the sample. Using a Likert Type scale, participants responded an instrument with 12 items representing barriers to physical activity. Mean scores were computed. External barriers were more important than internal barriers. Lack of time due to busy lesson schedule, My parents give academic success priority over exercise. and lack of time due to responsibilities related to the family and social environment were most cited items for physical activity barriers. In 1999, Allison carried out a study to assess the perceived barriers to physical activity among high school students in Metropolitan school in Toronto. Results showed that time constraints due to school work, other interests, and family activities were three of the four barriers considered most important. Female students had more perceived barriers than the male students towards physical activity. Two empirically distinct and theoretically meaningful factors emerged from the analysis—perceived internal barriers and perceived external barriers. Perceived internal barriers were predictive of physical activity in overall activity and outside of school activity. Perceived external barriers were predictive of overall physical activity and other school activity, but in the direction opposite of that hypothesized. It was concluded that perceived barriers may be predictive of physical activity participation among high school students only under specific conditions. Till date, no study has been carried out in Mauritius among the young population. To combat the rise in non-communicable diseases plaguing Mauritius, it is essential to identify the factors that are preventing young adults, especially the future graduates of our country, from adhering to the national guidelines of 150 minutes physical activity per week. On the same wavelength, the aim of this study is to identify the barriers that influence the students in participating in physical exercise. Findings from the current study will help to investigate the students’ motives for physical exercise and the challenges they face in taking part in regular physical exercise. The findings can assist policy makers, to design effective health strategies in promoting physical exercise at the level of the university.

An Annotation of Paul Laurence Dunbars Ships That Pass In The Night :: Dunbar Ships Pass Night Poem Essays

An Annotation of Paul Laurence Dunbar's Ships That Pass In The Night Laurence Dunbar's "Ship That Pass In The Night" is a cry for opportunity for all men, regardless of race. Dunbar's poem directly parallels a passage from Frederick Douglass' autobiography that gives an account of his life as a slave. Both Douglass and Dunbar look out at the ships that sail by and see hopes for societal changes. Although they both sought change, their aspirations were quite different. Frederick Douglass watched the ships from ashore, wishing for freedom and for slavery to be abolished. Paul Laurence Dunbar on the other hand was already a free man. He was on a ship, still more of an opportunity than Douglass had, yet he was still in search for new opportunities for African Americans. The new opportunities that he seeks are upon a ship somewhere sailing in the dark night and keep passing him by. Links from the poem below are best read in order from the beginning of the poem to the end Ships That Pass In The Night by Paul Laurence Dunbar Out in the sky the great dark clouds are massing; I look far out into the pregnant night, Where I can hear a solemn booming gun And catch the gleaming of a random light, That tells me that the ship I seek is passing, passing. My tearful eyes my soul's deep hurt are glassing; For I would hail and check that ship of ships. I stretch my hands imploring, cry aloud, My voice falls dead a foot from mine own lips, And but its ghost doth reach that vessel, passing, passing. O Earth, O Sky, O Ocean, both surpassing, O heart of mine, O soul that dreads the dark! Is there no hope for me? Is there no way That I may sight and check that speeding bark Which out of sight and sound is passing, passing? The speaker begins by looking out into the night sky and sees a storm brewing. The storm represents the future, and like the nature of a storm, the future is unpredictable. A storm can either be threatening with thunder and lightning, or just a gentle rain that comes and goes. The speaker does not know what the future will bring for African Americans. He only knows that something is going to happen. The night is "pregnant" with opportunity and equality, waiting to deliver to people of all races. But the storm brewing on the night horizon is both threatening and promising for the speaker.

McCarthyism and the Crucible Essay

Throughout history there have been many events that are direct parallels of each other. These parallels are evident in Joseph McCarthy’s, McCarthyism and in Arthur Miller’s, the Crucible. McCarthyism was the fear of communism that was created by the Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy. This was a time of fear after the Second World War in the years 1950 through 1954. McCarthy had conducted hearings accusing people who were suspected of being related to communism. During these hearings, he forced people to give up names of other â€Å"followers† and if they refused to give names of others, they were imprisoned. In Arthur Miller’s, the Crucible it was a based off the Salem Witch Trials. This era had the same tactics of dealing with the supposed followers as McCarthyism, but in this case it was for witchcraft. Many people were accused of witchcraft and put to death for being related to the accusations. The Salem Witch Trials and McCarthyism were both examples o f false accusations and public hysteria. The Crucible and McCarthyism were both fueled by fear. In the onset of the Crucible, Abigail, a woman who was in love with John Proctor, began blaming people of being affiliated with witchcraft and communicating with the devil. She said, â€Å"She made me do it! She made Betty do it.. She makes me drink blood!† (Miller I.43). Abby had blamed Tituba about being a part of witchcraft and it soon lead to her death because she couldn’t plead innocent. During this time the courts would just blame you for being a part of witchcraft and it was almost impossible to prove your innocence. Abigail kept blaming people and soon created the fear in the town because they believe she would blame them next. Many people became very cautious of their actions in the town because they were afraid of being accused. McCarthyism was fueled by the fear of the communists taking over and a potential nuclear war. Joseph McCarthy installed this fear into everyone because neither he nor the United States knew who was a communist or not. There had been spies that snuck into the states. The trust of people was lost and everyone was  afraid of being accused themselves. In William Pfaffs, Revisionist View of McCarthyism Misses the Mark, he states, â€Å"McCarthyism was not about spies, it was about people who had been communist party members, or who had expresses pro-Communist or fellow traveling sympathies.† McCarthy had been cautious of the potential threats but he took it to far. It was almost impossible to prove your innocence. He made it so hard that to prove your innocence you had to tell the government about someone else who had affiliation with the communist life style. McCarthyism and the Witch Trials had different ways of following through with their prosecutions. During the Salem Witch Trials, the people who were accused of witchcraft and denied their affiliation with the devil were hanged. There was no sympathy to the false accusitions they made. When John Proctor takes the blame for his own wife, to avoid her death he accepts the punishment but will not sign that he is affiliated, Hale says â€Å"Excellent is it enough he confess himself. Let him sign it, let him sign it.† (Miller IV.141) John Proctor believes that his word is worth the amount of his signature because if he were to sign he would be signing his life way. He would lose his dignity and eventually he lost his life. During McCarthyism nobody was killed for being accused. Most people were imprisoned and came out of prison with a bad reputation. A major example of this was the Hollywood Ten. These were people in the filmmaking industry who were accused of communism. McCarthy assumed that they were affiliated because of their movies, or shows had hidden messages telling people to follow communism. After many court hearings these celebrities were convicted. In HCUA and The Hollywood Ten, â€Å"during and after the trials The Hollywood Ten were blacklisted. This meant that no one in the business would work with them for fear that they would be labeled a communist.† The Hollywood Ten lost their income because they had a lack of work and many of them received no further entry back into the film industry and also a bad reputation. Both of these historical events caused for public humiliation and fear. McCarthyism and the Salem Witch Trials were very complex events in history. From false accusations, fear, public humiliation and also public hysteria, these two events played a big role in the history of the United States.  McCarthyism was the fear of communism and in the Crucible it was the fear of witchcraft. The United States has faced many potential problems with fear and these two problems being an example of this concept. Both McCarthyism and the Salem Witch Trials were different events but show many correlations between each other.

Consider the importance of Curley’s Wife Essay

   She seems to believe that the man sent her a letter, and that her mother ripped it up, so she left home and, out of spite, married Curley. Even thought she never received the letter, she still clings on to the tiny bit of hope that one day she will be in the movies. Unfortunately, she dies before she has the chance to fulfill her dream, just as Lennie does. This represents and shows the reader how lives never go to plan. Their dreams are wishes for untarnished happiness and the freedom to fulfill their dreams is non-existant. As well as being important in the story, she also has some distinct unimportance. In the novel, she is never given her own name; she has the title of Curleys Wife and is looked upon as his property. It is as if she has no human rights. Whilst everyone else on the ranch has a name, including Crooks the stable buck, she is just defined as the wife of a man she hates. She tells Lennie that, â€Å"he ain’t a nice fella. † She doesn’t like being locked up in the house, and ends up having to sneak around so Curley doesn’t catch her. She also seems insignificant in comparison to the other characters, as she has no specific job on the ranch. She seems to have a lot of time on her hands, because she is heavily made up, and her hair seems to be perfect each time she appears. She fills her time in this way. She also wanders the ranch constantly claiming that she’s â€Å"looking for Curley. † This is because otherwise she is always in the house or hiding from Curley. For example, in Chapter One, when Lennie and George have first arrived, she is stood at the doorway asking for Curley, and after she has left, Curley arrives and asks if anyone has seen his wife. This proves that she is always hiding from Curley, and he is always keeping a watchful eye on her. When she dies, and is lying in the hay, Curleys intentions seem to be just to get revenge, nobody mourns her death. Only Slim has the decency to â€Å"touch her cheek,† and check her pulse under her â€Å"slightly twisted neck. † Curley jumps up and immediately says, â€Å"I know who done it. † His only thought is to kill Lennie. Ever since Lennie crushed Curleys hand he’s been planning revenge, and now he has the perfect reason. Nobody stops to mourn a young, unfortunate, nai ve girl’s death. Even though she has been at the ranch for only two weeks, she seems to already have gathered a reputation of a tart. George generally seems to regard all women as â€Å"jailbait† but knows that there’s â€Å"gonna be a mess ’bout her. † Of course, he is right. The other men on the ranch also think she’s a tart, and Whit thinks that Curleys wife has â€Å"got the eye goin’ all the time,† and Candy also says that â€Å"She got the eye. † Neither of these comments are factual, but they give you a bad impression of Curleys wife. When Curleys Wife first appears, her â€Å"hair is in curls†, she has â€Å"rouged lips†, and is wearing â€Å"red fluffy mules. † She is wearing a lot of red and this usually represents prostitution. When she has left after flaunting her body, George remarks, â€Å"Jesus! What a tramp! † Whit also says â€Å"she ain’t concealing nothing. † She could be more modest but she just wants male attention and the only way she can do this is by showing off her body. Although the main impression of Curleys Wife is that of a tart, there are many qualities that make you feel pity for her. She isn’t bright, and has an isolated life in her house, trying to hide from Curley. She says, â€Å"I don’ like Curley,† and clearly regrets marrying him. When describing her dream, she uses â€Å"I coulda,† and not â€Å"I will. † The girl has no hope and believes her life will be living on the ranch, doing nothing but hiding from Curley. She is also very nai ve, in the last Chapter, when Lennie kills her, she is led in the hay and is described as â€Å"pretty†, â€Å"sweet†, and â€Å"young†. All of these characteristics are those of an innocent girl, the young woman Curleys Wife really was. Curley only wants revenge for her death, Slim is the only person who checks her pulse, and even tells Curley to stay behind, but revenge is all Curley wants. Even Candy curses over her dead body, he says, â€Å"you god-damn tramp† and claims that she ruined his dream of owning the ranch with George and Lennie. Candy blames Curleys Wife, who was really just a lonely girl, and needed someone to talk too. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE John Steinbeck section.