Sunday, March 8, 2020
Likely Effects Of Biofuels On Biodiversity An Environmental Sciences Essays
Likely Effects Of Biofuels On Biodiversity An Environmental Sciences Essays Likely Effects Of Biofuels On Biodiversity An Environmental Sciences Essay Likely Effects Of Biofuels On Biodiversity An Environmental Sciences Essay 1st coevals biofuels, the feedstocks are besides used as nutrient harvests and are chiefly used to bring forth biodiesel and bioethanol. These biofuels are straight produced and processed easy from the biofuel harvests or workss such as rapeseed, sunflower, sugar cane, maize etc. The 2nd coevals biofuels are generated from works lignocellulosic stuff. Bioethanol is generated by treating the lignocellulosic works stuff. Many perennial grasses, poplar, willow, forestry, agricultural waste merchandises etc are besides used to bring forth this 2nd coevals biofuels. The 3rd coevals biofuels are produced from algae which might non vie with nutrient harvests, doing it really feasible and more promising to be used. But the 2nd coevals and largely the 3rd coevals is non yet commercially feasible as the engineering is good advance and it is still undergoing development ( Biemans et al. , 2008 ) . This essay will be looking at the likely effects or impact of biofuels on biodiversity viz. the impact on home ground, impact on C segregation, impact on H2O quality and measure, impact of increased chemical usage, and impact of forestry and agricultural waste on biodiversity. This essay will besides briefly expression at a instance survey of biofuel impact in Netherlands. 2. Biofuel likely effects on biodiversity The addition in biofuel demand and usage has lead to several environmental impacts that might ensue in either negative or positive impacts on biodiversity. Biofuels can positively impact as a sustainable renewable beginning of energy, depending on its production technique, and can besides hold a negative impact, depending on the sustainability of its development. Bioefuel has a positive potency for cleaner fuels, and greater possibility for economic growing for rural communities and for husbandmans ( Pimentel and Patzek, 2007 ) . The major impact of biofuel on biodiversity is land-use alteration ( Koh, 2007 ) , and in state of affairs where biofuel will supply major part of planetary energy, this will countervail the possible extenuation of clime alteration due to decrease in green house gas emanation, by infringing extra lands to bring forth biofuel. Biofuel feedstocks picks, cultivation patterns, and the type of land that it is grown on, will find the positive or negative impact on biodiversity ( UNEP, 2008 ) . Impact on Habitat Crops grown in deforested country or degraded lands with decreased dirt cultivated land and agricultural inputs to supply feedstock for biofuel production could potentially impact biodiversity positively by reconstructing home ground and ecosystem map ( Cook and Beyea, 2000 ) . Turning perennial species for biofuel feedstocks besides have positive biodiversity impact than one-year monoculture planting, as some works or harvest rotary motion for biofuel feedstock can be good for some works species, butterfly, birds and some beings etc ( Cook and Beyea, 2000 ) . The most important cause for negative biodiversity impact globally is Habitat loss ( MEA, 2005 ) , and this could happen as a consequence of biofuel feedstocks production replacing other land utilizations, making negative impact on biodiversity. The addition in feedstock production could be affected indirectly taking to extension usage of land, this is seen in the instance where addition in maize monetary values for illustration in US has lead to husbandmans exchanging more land area of land from other harvest land usage to the cultivation of more maize ( Pimentel et al. , 2009 ) or direct extensions of cultivated countries which further additions habitat loss. For illustration, forested countries, peatlands, grasslands and wetland can be encroached for biofuel feedstock production. This can be seen in South-East Asia, where addition in demand for palm oil for the production of biodiesel has lead to a monolithic and extended deforestation, seting force per unit area on designated preservation countries ( Koh, 2007 ) . Besides in Brazil, demands for addition in the production of soy bean and sugar cane for biofuel has lead to monolithic loss of biodiversity in Cerrado and the Amazon rain forest ( Costa et al. , 2007 ) . Impact on Carbon Sequestration Land-use alteration due to biofuel feedstock harvest can besides act upon C dioxide emanation ( Searchinger et al. , 2008 ) . For illustration feedstock plantation for bioenergy on debauched land could increase the segregation of C, extenuating the planetary heating impact due to climate alteration ( Tilman et al. , 2006 ) . However, where big root of the perennial feedstock species for biofuel still remains in the dirt after crop, the sum of C in the dirt might be increased as a consequence of excess C being released from the roots to the dirt. The usage of sustainable agricultural patterns and high diverseness harvest rotary motion systems on debauched land can besides increase C segregation as a consequence of increasing dirt organic affair ( Tilman et al. , 2006 ) . Similarly, biofuels generated from waste and residues merchandises could hold no negative important impact on biodiversity and clime alteration as land usage alteration is non required for the production of the feedstock ( Searchinger et al. , 2008 ) . Biofuel feedstock plantation established on C rich dirt or forested land will greatly negate and out weigh the cleaner fuel from biofuel generated utilizing sustainable production by let go ofing monolithic nursery gases breathing as a consequence of land-use alteration and feedstock production. Procedures affecting drainage of peatlands, wetlands and glade of lands by fire for biofuel feedstock plantation can be destructive with respect to air quality and nursery gas emanations ( Righelato and Spracklen, 2007 ) . For illustration in south-east Asia, due to high demand in palm oil production, peatlands has besides been drained to run into the mark and as a consequence, it has been estimated that up to 100 metric tons of carbon-dioxide are releases in a twelvemonth per hectare and firing the peatlands doubles or three-base hits this value ( Righelato and Spracklen, 2007 ) , negatively impacting both below-ground and above biodiversity. In south-east Asia, United States and Brazil, it has been found through surveies that change overing peatlands, rain forests and grasslands for the plantation of crop-based biofuel feedstocks ( 1st coevals feedstocks ) table.1, creates carbon debt by bring forthing carbon-dioxide 17- 420 times more than the nursery gas one-year decreases derived by replacing dodo fuel usage with biofuels ( Fargione et al, 2008 ) . Water Quality and Quantity Impact Bioenergy harvest productions besides have impacts on H2O quality and handiness. Surveies have shown that biofuel feedstock production most particularly harvest feedstocks or first coevals biofuel feedstocks ( table.1 ) impact H2O resources negatively ( Berndes, 2002 ) . For illustration biofuel harvests like sugar cane, oil thenar, maize etc requires big sum of H2O for its productiveness and other biofuel feedstock harvests with greater water-use productiveness such as coconut and sugar Beta vulgaris can set force per unit area on the H2O tabular array ( Shepard, 2006 ) . There are besides instances of terrible H2O pollution, destructing aquatic life due to increases cultivation and production of biofuel feedstock. In 2007, the planetary nature fund named the Pantanal in Brazil the A ; acirc ; Ãâ ?threatened lake of the twelvemonth 2007 A ; acirc ; Ãâ A? due to H2O run outing from soya bean Fieldss, cultivated at the catchments of this lake as a consequence of increased demand and cultivation of biofuel feedstock ( Global Nature Fund, 2007 ) In Malaysia every bit good, Palm Oil Mill Effluent ( POME ) , residue of biofuel processing from palm oil is the major pollutant discharge into the Malayan rivers ( Ahmad et al. , 2006 ) . On the positive note, some of the biofuel feedstock harvests might be used in one of the bioremediation methods or phyto-remediation of contaminated H2O undertakings ( Berndes, 2002 ) . Increase Chemical use Impact on Biodiversity Expansion of lands for the production of biofuel feedstocks with homogenous cropping has lead to the increased usage of chemical applications like pesticides to command plague and besides most particularly more fertilisers to increase the dirt food and feedstock outputs has resulted in the increased emanation of N from dirt which is the major emanation beginning of azotic oxide universe broad ( MEA, 2005 ) . This azotic oxide has really high planetary heating potencies greater than that of carbon-dioxide. The addition usage of fertiliser, if sustainable patterns are non maintained to forestall leaching and eutrophicating foods emanation, can ensue in the increased eutrophication of aquatic and tellurian ecosystem and thereby ensuing to loss of biodiversity ( MEA, 2005 ) . Consequently, utilizing trees and perennial or 2nd coevals biofuel feedstock harvests ( table.1 ) , reduces the application of agrochemicals and as a consequence impacts the environment and biodiversity positively. Invasive Speciess Impact There is besides concern for invasive species debut to the ecosystem due to biofuel feedstock production ( Raghu et al, 2006 ) . Some of the 2nd coevals biofuel feedstock productions such as woody species and grasses ( table.1 ) have invasive species traits which include long canopy period, rapid growing and high H2O usage productiveness. It is feared that these biofuel feedstock harvests if introduced will non merely occupy but will besides displace some autochthonal species ensuing in lessening or loss of biodiversity ( Ragh et al, 2006 ) . For illustration in United States, biofuel feedstock harvests such as Johnson grass ( Sorghum halepense ) , Reed canary grass ( Phalaris arundinacea ) and Giant reed ( Arundo donax ) are already known to be invasive. Impact of Forestry and Agricultural Waste Feedstock on Biodiversity Waste is the 2nd chief beginning of 2nd coevals biofuel feedstock ( table.1 ) . Woody waste feedstock coevals can be harvested straight from forest or sawing Millss. Low C segregation and large-scale biodiversity losingss in woods is due to the remotion of deceasing and dead trees from the wood, as many woodland species live and feed on these waste ( Paul and Ernsting, 2007 ) . For illustration nonvascular plants, Fungis, invertebrates, lichens, beetling etc provender and live on forest dead forests depending on the dead wood volume assortment and grades of decomposition nowadays ( Jonsson et al. , 2005 ; Jonsell et al. , 2007 ) . Dead wood facilitates tremendous assortment of arthropods which attracts higher degrees of many species such as birds. Extraction and glade of this waste will diminish the home grounds of these species and might emphasize the productiveness of the wood. Similarly, remotion of the forestry waste merchandises for biofuel production can impact biodiversity positively by cut downing the hazard of forest fires. The impact of agricultural waste on biodiversity either positive or negative depends on the home ground they are generated from and the waste merchandise. Grass film editings remotion helps protect the profusion of species aided by unfastened home grounds and besides semi-natural grasslands are conserved from natural sequence. Removal of agricultural waste besides prevents the grass land from losing its aesthetic values and assorted ecosystems. Removal of grass or works litters or waste helps diminish the dirt food or organic affair and this enhances the profusion of species in diverse grassland home grounds ( Hansson and Fogelfors, 2000 ) . Consequently, remotion of agricultural waste for illustration straw, leftover from barley and wheat, which is used to increase the dirt organic affair can impact biodiversity negatively as dirt beings will be reduced and this might connote in the addition usage of nitrate fertilisers which has inauspicious consequence or impact on the fresh water and land ecosystem and besides on biodiversity every bit good ( Paul and Ernsting, 2007 ) . 3. Case Study: impact of biofuel production from wood french friess on biodiversity in Netherlands. The Son Heathland and the New Heathland are nature modesty countries in Netherlands with several pools, heathlands and forest dunes covering about 600 hectares ( Biemans et al. , 2008 ) . The municipality of these heathlands uses waste merchandises from these heathlands to bring forth biofuels in order to protect and conserve the heathland ecosystem from turning into a wood ( Biemans et al. , 2008 ) . The heathland ecosystem and its species profusion are sustained by guaranting care of unfastened infinite, as the heathland ecosystem might be taken over by forest if trees were non cut and cleared and used for the processing and coevals of biofuel. Not droping and cutting the trees might do a negative impact on biodiversity as rare species found in the heathland might free their home ground and the necessary ecosystem services needed for their endurances. Similarly, cutting the trees around the heathland ecosystem helps in the natural regeneration of the trees which provides chances for the safety of animate beings and workss. Normally, forestry waste is non removed in some ecosystem to conserve specific species and the ecosystem, but in these sites the Son Heathland and the New Heathland, it is removed for the production of biofuel, which helps to heighten and conserve the heathland ecosystem thereby impacting biodiversity both negatively and positively. 4. Decision The potency for biofuel to function as an energy security to protect and replace dodo fuel due to uninterrupted depletion of the dodo fuel minerals resource and besides its possible to extenuate green house gasses is great. But if sustainable direction ( e.g. for land usage and feedstock picks ) , policies and criterions are non set and implemented for the production of biofuels or bioenergy, the unsustainable practise in the production will do serious negative impact on biodiversity by destructing assorted ecosystem and home grounds. Besides societal impacts can non be ignored every bit good, as biofuel production might and will vie with nutrient harvests production in future, if attention is non taken to sustainable balance its production and will thereby impact the multitudes.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Free Essays on Expressive Paper
A place I visited as a child was forced into my memory very recently. This place is known around the world as The World Trade Center of New York City. When news hit of the buildingââ¬â¢s destruction, vivid memories of my time atop the one hundred ten story building began to reform in my mind. Visualizations, sounds, sense of touch, and even emotional memories zipped through my head like a surge of electricity. It is as if I am there again. The wind struck my face as I stepped onto the roof of the World Trade Center. The air on the street level was hot, but the summer heat was not felt at the elevation of this rooftop. Immediately, the cold wind numbed my face, not from the temperature, but from the force in which the wind pressed on my skin. I walked to my left and placed my hand on the metal railing for support. The railing was cold, so cold that it seemed to affect the functioning of my arm. My entire body was cold now and I was only wearing a short sleeve t-shirt. As I stood on the building the only sound I could hear was of the wind bombarding my eardrum. My dad called me to another side of the roof, I followed. As I approached the railing I realized the wind was no longer blowing directly in my ear, and I began to hear sounds. The echoing of car horns and vehicle motors rose from the street with an enormous rumble. Although I was one hundred and ten stories high, I could hear the many sounds of the city that never sleeps. I peered over the railing and was awestruck by the view that lay in my path of sight, thousands of buildings that seemed to touch the sky. None of those buildings were as high as the Trade Center. Millions of tiny black squares were spotted on the sides of the buildings like holes in a termite mound. It was then that I realized the complexity and quantity of life in New York City. From this height, I could see mi... Free Essays on Expressive Paper Free Essays on Expressive Paper A place I visited as a child was forced into my memory very recently. This place is known around the world as The World Trade Center of New York City. When news hit of the buildingââ¬â¢s destruction, vivid memories of my time atop the one hundred ten story building began to reform in my mind. Visualizations, sounds, sense of touch, and even emotional memories zipped through my head like a surge of electricity. It is as if I am there again. The wind struck my face as I stepped onto the roof of the World Trade Center. The air on the street level was hot, but the summer heat was not felt at the elevation of this rooftop. Immediately, the cold wind numbed my face, not from the temperature, but from the force in which the wind pressed on my skin. I walked to my left and placed my hand on the metal railing for support. The railing was cold, so cold that it seemed to affect the functioning of my arm. My entire body was cold now and I was only wearing a short sleeve t-shirt. As I stood on the building the only sound I could hear was of the wind bombarding my eardrum. My dad called me to another side of the roof, I followed. As I approached the railing I realized the wind was no longer blowing directly in my ear, and I began to hear sounds. The echoing of car horns and vehicle motors rose from the street with an enormous rumble. Although I was one hundred and ten stories high, I could hear the many sounds of the city that never sleeps. I peered over the railing and was awestruck by the view that lay in my path of sight, thousands of buildings that seemed to touch the sky. None of those buildings were as high as the Trade Center. Millions of tiny black squares were spotted on the sides of the buildings like holes in a termite mound. It was then that I realized the complexity and quantity of life in New York City. From this height, I could see mi...
Thursday, February 20, 2020
What's worth preserving-King Kong 2005 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
What's worth preserving-King Kong 2005 - Essay Example But paired with a brilliant script and good direction, the makerââ¬â¢s of Kong 2005 knew it was a recipe for success, and not just the box-office kind. No other remake of a fiction film was able to reflect realities or tell truths than the original in such a thrilling and tear-jerking fashion. And truthfully speaking, thatââ¬â¢s what really counts. To say that the film took audiences at the edge of their seats is an undeniable understatement. Even without seeing Kong, the scene with the savages is enough to make one suddenly ââ¬Å"goosebumpyâ⬠. King Kong then finally arrives and a screech from Ann Darrow confirms the presence of the big beast. And lo, Kong never looked more like a real gorilla. Cheers to science! Thanks to science and the filmmakerââ¬â¢s reference to it that kids watching the movie can easily identify with what their watching. With its massive size, huge fangs, and intimidating bearing, one might think that fear is something thatââ¬â¢s instantly instilled in innocent minds as they realize that there are real beings bigger than their parents looking exactly like it. And spectacular as the wrestling scene was with the T-rexes, the big ape is now alone with a human being, ââ¬Å"Is it dinner time?â⬠But then, all fear of the girl being eaten is suddenly gone as they all see that the 50-foot monster is, indeed, the gorilla that they learned in schoolââ¬âit eats plants. And speaking of learning, I remember a story of a friend who shares the same sentiments as I have on the film. He watched the movie with his cousins and their families and their little nephews and nieces watched too. When it came to the particular scene I just mentioned, he laughed quietly as his cousin says to her son, ââ¬Å"See Andre? If you want to be big and strong like King Kong, you have to eat vegetables too.â⬠Again, cheers to science! The film goes on and we realize that Kong of 2005 is more of a gorilla than
Public International Law as a Branch of Ethics Assignment
Public International Law as a Branch of Ethics - Assignment Example The vital question that needs to be answered in the given context is as to whether public international law is simply a branch of ethics or the concept has a distinct legal character? The fact that must be understood here is that there exists very little divergence between the ethics and the law is it in a local or international context. In such a scenario, public international law is an institution that has strong ethical moorings and an effective and pragmatic legal character. Devoid of ethics, the public international law will be a tool serving the more powerful. Sans a legal character, public international law will be some sort of international diplomatic luxury. Hence, to be effective, the public international needs to rest on the twin pillars of ethical sanctity and legal force. Law stands to be a rule or general principle that has significance and acceptance in a specific domain and is enforceable by an authority. Ethics pertain to the general aspects of morals and the particular moral choices to be made by an individual, community or a nation, which are not enforceable by any authority. Going by these definitions, there certainly exists a relation between ethics and the law. The power of law rests on an agreement between the individuals, institutions, and nations that they will abide by an acceptable and just code of conduct in their association and relationship with each other. Hence, law constitutes the fundamental foundation of any viable community, be it local or international. It can only sustain itself as a pragmatic institution if the involved parties abide by it and agree to respect its outcome and sanctity and respect the institutions and organizations divested with the power to enforce the law. The notion that encourages the individuals, organiza tions and nations to abide by and respect law is their acceptance and understanding of the fact that the institutions designed by them to enforce and administer law will do so in a just and upright manner, without resorting to any impropriety, that is in an ethical manner.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN PERSPECTIVE Class Research Paper - 1
HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN PERSPECTIVE Class - Research Paper Example into the understanding of differences such what we owe the old, different theories such as Law of Nature to determine behavior, and the connection between the approaches such as social and sexual contract. That the law of nature can be seen as a law of reason and that natural law can be seen through the same eyes that are used in reason. According to Locke, the natural law has often been found in the scriptures and that they have been established through the will of God. The natural law should, therefore, be understood in the line of actions that are consistent with Godââ¬â¢s scriptures. The other approach that has been fronted by John Locke is that the law of nature should be considered as a universal entity that applies to everybody at every particular time and in any place, but the law has to consider that the differences in culture will have to state what is culturally acceptable in different societies. Locke talks of natural law to be normative rather than descriptive and that it is not mandatory that civil laws stay in harmony with the elements of natural law. It is significant to understand that civil laws should often be made consistent with the structures of natural law. F or the purpose of seeking to derive an understanding in regards to the law of nature, one has to put human behavior in perspective and to create an awareness that civil rights are connected to natural law and that the different cultures do not have to exhibit similarities in the peculiarity of the beliefs The link between sexual contract and the social contract had been documented by John Locke especially when he developed a discussion on the relationship between the two types of contract as well as the relationship between the individual and the state. The discussions about the relationship witnessed between the state and the individual are the ideas that shaped Carole Patermanââ¬â¢s theory of sexual contract and the critique of the views presented by such thinkers as Locke and John Stuart
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Evidence-based Assessment of ADHD in Children Essay
Evidence-based Assessment of ADHD in Children - Essay Example negatively affect the childââ¬â¢s academic performance and self-esteem including the childââ¬â¢s relationship with family members and friends (Hoza et al., 2005; Hazelwood, Bovingdon, & Tiemens, 2002). ADHD can also lead to behavioural problems which often make the child unable to socialize with other people (Kerns et al., 2001). In rare cases, Fleischmann et al. (2005) found out that approximately 20.8% of the suicidal cases in young people have disruptive behaviour disorder which is related to ADHD. In the absence of proper treatment such as medicine and behavioural therapy, children with ADHD could cause behavioural problems not only at home but also in school, work, and relationship with the opposite sex. Eventually, the negative effects of ADHD could cause a child to become depressed, frustrated, or engage with the use of illegal drugs if left untreated. To effectively provide children with ADHD with proper treatment, early detection of ADHD is important. Concerning the increasing number of ADHD throughout the United Kingdom, this study will focus on assessing some of the evidenced-based assessment method used in detecting ADHD in children. In the process of going through the main discussion, evidences behind the psychological assessment of ADHD in children will be evaluated. As part of assessing whether a child has ADHD, medical professionals would often use analogue methods such as conduct an interview with the child, go through the patientââ¬â¢s medical history which includes issues related to social, emotional, educational, and behaviour of the child, physical exam, and the use of behaviour rating and/or checklist in detecting ADHD (Kooij et al., 2008; Parker & Benedict, 2002; ; Forbes, 2001; Barkley, 1991). Likewise, laboratory measures such as the Connersââ¬â¢ Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Gordon Diagnostic System ââ¬â a self-contained computer device can also be utilized in detecting symptoms of ADHD (Kelley, Noell, & Reitman, 2002, p. 28; Barkley,
Monday, January 27, 2020
Trends in Psychology and Psychologists
Trends in Psychology and Psychologists There are some cases where people think that the best way to deal with their mental issues is to keep it within themselves. However, that is not the best solution for all cases. It is a fact that bottling up your emotions could increase the risk of getting a heart disease or some forms of cancer and have serious negative effects oh your health (Chapman, Fiscella, Kawachi, Duberstein, Muennig, 2013). For everyones mental and physical health, people should take their feelings and emotions out through talking to someone or seeking help. This is where Psychologists are needed. Psychologists conduct research, experiment about the human mind and behavior, and provide counseling to promote the well-being of people and improve mental health. Psychologists are essential because we are complex beings, no other animal brain is capable of functioning with high consciousness as we do, and its not easy to understand and express ourselves. The study and practice that they do help people become mor e aware of their mind and conscious for mental prosperity. Psychology occupation is relatively large in size because there are many fields in psychology that people can specialize and work in. The employment of psychologists was 21,600, and the total employees were 10,700 in 2014 with the average retirement age being 63. Clinical psychology is one of the most popular specialty areas. They are in charge of evaluating and treating mental illnesses and work in hospital or health center to assess conditions of individuals or families. Another popular area in this occupation is experimental psychology. Psychologists in this field area are interested in conducting research about the behavior of humans and animals. Other areas include forensic psychology, developmental psychology, industrial psychology, and so on. Psychologist choosing to work in private practice is continuing to increase over time. In 2010, the percentage of the psychologist who stated that private practice is their primary job was 41%, which is a dramatic increase from 1960, when the percentage was just 17% (Norcross Karpiak, 2012). This career is part of a larger group called Social and community service professionals (NOC 415). According to the labor force survey (2015), in Canada, union rate for this group is 52% Psychologists are responsible for advocating mental well-being by working directly with their patients or clients and treating people with mental or emotional disorders. Considering this, it is understandable that effective education and training is important for people who want to work in this career. The requirement and license process vary from province to province. Some provinces require PhDs for a license to work independently while in others a masters degree is sufficient. Due to the many different areas psychologist works in, their earnings are wide in variation. The average starting salaries for psychologists range from about $35,000, particularly for those who are self-employed and just starting out, to more than $120,000 a year. The typical working hours for this occupation depends on their job and the level of responsibility. Some have about 40-hours, and others have more than 50 to 60-hours a week. Psychologists have a high level of stress because treating patients can be extremely rewarding but also emotionally draining. They have heavy workloads and tight schedules. They sometimes have to deal with violent and uncomfortable behaviors. However, no matter how much years psychologists spend to satisfy the requirements and how much stress they get from treating patients, job satisfaction has remained constantly high across the 50 years. No less than 85% of psychologists do not regret going through the process and hardships because of their satisfaction in the career (Norcross Karpiak, 2012). Psychologists could have their jobs for life, but the periods of government cutbacks in the past has made it harder for psychologists to secure the job. However, they can still count on having their job for at least 5 to 8 years. This occupational group is predicted to encounter a shortage of workers in the future because of the substantially higher number of job openings available compared to the recent years. According to Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS), new job openings for psychologists are expected to total 10,00 while only 8,800 new job seekers are expected to fill them over the period 2015-2024. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has asked 649 company owners how the labor shortage affected the business. More than 50 percent of owners has said that themselves are working more hours and that they were receiving lower quality applicants. 45% of owners has also stated that they had to raise labor costs. Looking at the job predictions of psycholog ists, we can expect that the worker shortage may have a serious negative impact on businesses. Many trends in society have affected jobs in the field of psychology. This fields expected growth is about 12 percent over the next ten years. One of the reasons why the predicted job growth is relatively high might be because future impact of mental illness on Canadians is expected to increase by 31% over the next 30 years, resulting in more than 8.9 million people living with a mental illness (Smetanin, Stiff, Briante, Adair, Ahmad, Khan, 2011). Anxiety, depression and other mental disorders growth can be explained by the continuous development of technology. 95% of teens are continuously using the internet. Smartphone ownership in teens ages 12-17 is continuously growing, from 23% to 37% from 2011 to 2013 (Madden, Lenhart, Duggan, Cortesi, Gasser, 2013). It is proven that social media sites make people compare their life with others. People suffer from increased anxiety because of their failure to meet the expectations and demands that are forced on mood them (Lidbetter, 2012). In Salford Business School at the University of Salford, 298 people were surveyed for the charity Anxiety UK and it was found out that 53% of people think social media changed their behavior; 51% of the people said that it was negative behavior because of their confidence declining due to comparisons to others. This would mean that many teenagers would experience an increase in anxiety and depression leading to needing more support and treatment to overcome the emotional issue. Increased use of social media also affects teenagers drug usage. A study by National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents, the 16th annual back-to-school conducted by CASAColumbia at Columbia University (CASAColumbiaTM) showed that teenager from 12-17 who use social media on a daily basis are five times more likely to use tobacco, three times more likely to use alcohol, and twice as likely to use marijuana. In addition, 40% admitted they had been exposed to pictures of people under the influence via social media, suggesting a correlation between the two factors. The most addictive substance, tobacco, causes premature mortality in Canada. It is responsible for almost 17% of all deaths (Whiteford, 2013). The serious negative impact caused by addiction to drug and alcohol increases the need for psychologists for a treatment of the addiction. Another reason why the field is expected to grow may be because the stigma surrounding mental health declined (Bell Canada, 2015). In a survey done by National Harris/Decima in 2015, it was found out that 57% of people believed that the stigma surrounding mental illness reduced compared to 5 years ago. Also, 81% has admitted that they were more aware of issues involving mental health than they were five years ago. Lastly, 70 % has said that they believe peoples belief and thought regarding mental illness has changed to a positive attitude. Thanks to this, many people with emotional and mental issues are becoming more comfortable in speaking up about their problem with their family and friends thus resulting to more people seeking help. This is important because the stigma is one of the main reason why people with mental illness do not seek help. Through removing the stigma regarding mental illness, people would be able to speak openly without fear of getting judged. With more people asking for help, the need for psychologists would continue to increase. Not only did the development in technology affect the field of psychology to grow, but it also improved and changed how the psychologists treat patients. Though out the history, treatment has been carried out with the patient and the psychologists in the same room. However, technology has developed to the point that this can be achieved without actually being together at one place. Telehealth, which is about using technology such as video calling to virtually have a conference and deliver treatment services to the clients, is continuously growing in usage among psychologists (Nickelson, Magallettaa, Ax, 1998). Online therapy is similar in concept. It is about performing therapy through real-time type communication between the psychologist and the patient. Although there is a clear benefit, it makes it easier for people to get therapy without transportation, it also raises a lot of questions on the ethical and practical issues, such as, the effect of therapy when the patient is on a video monitor and not in the room or the problem of security when virtually communicating with the patient. Other issues involve the hardship in understanding the client accurately and forming a relationship through communication in a text. There is no definite answer to these problems, and the issue is still being reviewed by psychologists. I believe that for a person to become a psychologist, one should be able to come up with new and better solutions, suggestions, and techniques to improve clients well-being and ask insightful questions to help different clients in need. I feel that Bibliography Bell Canada (2015). Bell Lets Talk: The first 5 years (2010-2015). Retrieved from http://letstalk.bell.ca/letstalkprogressreport Campbell, L. F., Freedheim, D. K., Norcross, J. C., VandenBos, G. R. (2016). APA handbook of clinical psychology (1 st ed., Vol 5. ). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Government of Canada. (2015). Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.publichealth.gc.ca Jessica L. Kohout and William E. Pate, Employment and trends in psychology, pp. 343-361, Springer New York, New York, NY, 2013 Madden, M., Lenhart, A., Duggan, M., Cortesi, S., Gasser, U., (2013) Teens and technology, 2013.: Pew Research Center, Washington, D.C. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/03/13/teens-and-technology-2013/ Morgan, R. D., Kuther, T. L., Habben, C. J. (Eds.). (2012). Life After Graduate School in Psychology : Insiders Advice from New Psychologists (1). Hove, US: Psychology Press. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com Psychologist. (n.d.). Career Cruising. Retrieved January 21, 2017, from http://www.careercruising.com Smetanin, P., Stiff, D., Briante, C., Adair, C.E., Ahmad, S. and Khan, M. The Life and Economic Impact of Major Mental Illnesses in Canada: 2011 to 2041. RiskAnalytica, on behalf of the Mental Health Commission of Canada 2011. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. (2011). National survey of american attitudes on substance abuse xvi: teens and parents. Retrieved from http://www.centeronaddiction.org/addiction-research/reports/national-survey-american-attitudes-substance-abuse-teens-parents-2011 Whiteford et al. (2013). Global burden of disease attributable to mental and substance use disorders: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet, 382: 1575-86. Chapman, B.P.; Fiscella, K.; Kawachi, I.; Duberstein, P.; Muennig, P. Emotion suppression and mortality risk over a 12-year follow-up. J. Psychosom. Res. 2013, 75, 381-385.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)