Thursday, December 26, 2019
Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Stimulus For The Economy
Student Loan Debt Forgiveness: Stimulus for the Economy Alan Collinge did not mean to become the poster child for student loan debt injustice. He was an average American with an average American s plan: get a student loan, go to school, get a good job, pay off student loan, get married, get house with white picket fence, have kids and grandkids, and die happy. After attaining three degrees in aerospace engineering, Collinge was left with a debt of approximately $50,000. He went to work at Caltech in 1998, and made a poor to middling salary of $35,000 a year. And, he began to repay his student loans. One day, Collinge realized he was going to be short a payment, called the bank to let them know, and was assured that everything was going to be fine. He continued his payments the next month, only now he was receiving statements that every payment he made after that one shorted payment had a late charge attached to it. When Collinge called to have the error rectified, he found out that 1 ) he did not have a federal student loan, but a loan through a for-profit company and, 2) the company was not going to remove the late charges. This was the tip of a very large iceberg that was about to sink Collinge s life plan, and the beginning of a story that is all too common among American college graduates, especially since 9/11. It turns out, debt is big business, and corporations have former students by the purse strings. Student debt totals more than $1 trillion in the UnitedShow MoreRelatedPros And Cons Of Student Loan1256 Words à |à 6 PagesApplebaum laments that from the student loan industry point of view, the student debt is there to help the loan providers amass funds from the youngest, economically vulnerable and financially unstable of which graduates form the majority. The loans have come with immense opportunity cost as the ââ¬Å"educated poorâ⬠are not able to buy homes, invest or innovate, start businesses or engage in economically viable activities wh ile the few up the echelons of power are benefiting. Tuition rates have escalatedRead MoreLoan Loans And Loan Debt1785 Words à |à 8 PagesUnited States Students are beneficiaries of student loans summing up to around $1.2 trillion. Student loan debt has grown to surpass consumer credit card debt to settle only second to mortgages. The great burden of loan repayment on graduates forced activist groups championing for loan forgiveness emerging led by Robert Applebaum. The federal government proposed policy responses encompassing reduction of interest rates, more flexible and enabling loan repayment plans, pardon of student loan schemes andRead MoreIntroduction. In The Recent Years, There Has Been An Increasing1016 Words à |à 5 Pagesfees for college students. This has been brought about by high cost of living and inflation. In addition, college tuition fees today as compared to 50 years back have increased exponentially. As a result, more students are opting to applying and taki ng student loans provided by the federal government. Consequently, statistics show that the amount of student dept is souring. This has led to economists start debating on the impact the ever-increasing student dept has on the economy of the United StatesRead MoreIs Forgiving Student Loan Debt A Good Idea?1009 Words à |à 5 PagesForgiving Student Loan Debt a Good Idea?â⬠states Robert Applebaumââ¬â¢s solution for student loan debt is a ââ¬Å"radical and wildly unfeasible solutionâ⬠in both economically and politically. Applebaumââ¬â¢s proposal is to ââ¬Å"provide a one-time bailout of student debtâ⬠¦as a way to stimulate the still-limping economy.â⬠However, Webley counters the solution has to have ââ¬Å"the purported benefited and fairness of a one-time student loan bailout.â⬠In Webleyââ¬â¢s essay, in the sixth paragraph she mentions the average debt totalRead MoreStudent Loan Loans Should Not Be Forgiven938 Words à |à 4 Pages Should student loan borrowers be forgiven for their debt? The cumulative total of student loan borrowing has already reached $1 trillion dollars already make up more than half of what Barack Obama is pushing to cap the amount any borrower must pay back and forgive outstanding debt after 20 years, even so calling to forgive some or all of the debt that is escalating. Robert Applebaum, the Author behind the Student Loan Forgiveness Act, believes that student loan should be forgiven to highlight anRead MoreIs Forgiving Student Loan Debt A Good Idea?1227 Words à |à 5 PagesForgiving Student Loan Debt a Good Idea?â⬠states Robert Applebaumââ¬â¢s solution for student loan debt is a ââ¬Å"radical and wildly unfeasible solution both economically and politically. Applebaumââ¬â¢s proposal is to ââ¬Å"provide a one-time bailout of student debtâ⬠¦as a way to stimulate the still-limping economy.â⬠However, Webley counters that the solution has to have ââ¬Å"the purporte d benefited and fairness of a one-time student loan bailout.â⬠In Webleyââ¬â¢s essay, in the sixth paragraph she mentions the average debt totalRead MoreGraduation Speech : College Is Not A Opportunity1817 Words à |à 8 PagesWithout a doubt, todayââ¬â¢s purpose of college is to foster student development. However, itââ¬â¢s become unclear with the rising costs of tuition as well as the growing importance of preparation for a job upon graduation. In fact, universities are no longer seen as simply a place of higher education. They are rather professional junctions from which students can become secure jobs and steady income afterward. This is partially due to the fact that graduating high school is no longer seen as an accomplishmentRead MoreStudent Loan Debt And Why It Is A Problem Essay1507 Words à |à 7 Pages Student Loan Debt and why it is a Problem Student loan debt affects college students all over the United States. Today students are having to take out loans in order to pay for all of their college expenses. It can be a pain to deal with the hassle of paying back the loans. The problems with student loans include causing students to go into debt that they are not able to pay them off in the given time which makes them put major life decisions on hold, and the debt stay with the student evenRead MoreStudent Loan Crisis Research Paper1332 Words à |à 6 PagesMany of the protesters occupying Wall Street and other places say they are upset about the rising price of going to college. There is little dispute today that the number of students who have debt has increased, and that the amount of money they have borrowed has gone up (Billitteri). Many students incur large amounts of debt that will never pay dividends in higher wages or greater job satisfaction, and they graduate into a world with weak employment prospects. Its a b etrayal of the American socialRead MoreThe Obama Administration : The Bush Administration Essay1760 Words à |à 8 PagesObama has favored internal stimulus packages. So is deficit spending is as necessary as the freedom with our budgets over the last several decades indicates? As millennials, most feel the last 30 years indicate that it is an integral part of our economy: there has never been a moment where the national checkbook has been completely ignored. Joseph Stiglitz, a nobel prize winner, argues that deficit spending increases economic growth and decreases long term government debt (governmentisgood.com). Deficit
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Corruption Is A Universal One - 1431 Words
The problem with corruption is a universal one, but this challenge is particularly egregious in new and developing democracies. Brazilââ¬â¢s troubles with corruption stem from far before democratization in the 1980s. From the military takeover and the rule of the bureaucratic authoritarian regime to the present day, this nation has struggled with nepotism, clientism, and favoritism as well as a slew of other corrupt practices. The state, federal, and municipal levels of government have all been plagued with corruption scandals. From the impeachment of President Fernando Collor to the Mensalà £o scandal, the Brazilian government has been in a constant struggle to quell its problems with corruption and economic distress. In this paper I will explain how politicians engage in corruption at the municipal level and the effects their actions can have on the nation. To do this, I will analyze the underlying causes of corruption in Brazilââ¬â¢s municipalities (namely Rio de Janeiro an d Sà £o Paulo) and how these causes are acted on. Finally, I will detail the repercussions of these actions, and what Brazil can do (and to some degree has done) to solve this issue. To understand how corruption occurs and what is effects are, the underlying causes of corruption must be understood first. Both systematic factors as well as traditional and societal expectations have made corruption possible in Brazil. Why politicians can and do abuse their power can give much needed insight in understanding the mostShow MoreRelatedJustin Bautista. Mr. Jablonski. 4/24/17. Term Paper. Political1190 Words à |à 5 PagesJustin Bautista Mr. Jablonski 4/24/17 Term paper Political corruption in the Philippines In the Philippines, there is an abundance of political corruption..This corruption can be stopped if Rodrigo Duterte stays as president and doesnââ¬â¢t get impeached. Political corruption has been in the Philippines since the 1960s. During the 1960s is when president Ferdinand Marcos was elected. Ferdinand Marcos was president from 1965 to 1986. But before he was president he also had many other political jobs.Read MoreProtection for Whistleblowers in Malaysia1694 Words à |à 7 Pagesprotection to the private and public sectors. One of the WPAââ¬â¢s key objectives is to fill in the gaps left by the said sectored-specific legislation. The objective of this act is to give safeguard to the whistleblower in the form of confidentiality of their information, immunity from civil and malefactor action and safeguard from detrimental action being taken against them. Whistleblower protection is one of the Malaysian Governmentââ¬â¢s efforts towards tackling corruption and promoting g ood governance under RegimeRead MoreThe Great Gatsby891 Words à |à 4 Pages Unfortunately, the 1920ââ¬â¢s was also a period where greed, corruption and organized crime took a firm foothold. The exuberant happiness of the time was only trumped by its gap between the rich and the poor. The novel shows the true face of the so-called Age of Wonderful Nonsense with the writerââ¬â¢s own personal conflict. F. Scott Fitzgeraldââ¬â¢s groundbreaking novel The Great Gatsby has stood the test of time with its messages of how corruption, extravagance, and overindulgence can destroy peopleââ¬â¢s livesRead MoreShould International Businesses Do As the Romans Do When in Rome1541 Words à |à 7 Pageschallenges in their international business dealings due to the environments they operate in which are commonly less regulated, are not democratically governed with legal systems to solve ethical and social responsibility dilemmas and are full of corruption. Managers are consequently face d with many unfamiliar economic conditions, cultural values and competitive variables (Grace and Cohen, 2000:180). Wild, Wild Han (2010:128) define ethical behaviour as personal behaviour, which is in accordanceRead MoreCorruption Of African Democratic Functioning772 Words à |à 4 PagesCorruption has been an emerging issue in Africa within the context of government administration systems. Corruption in Africa involves the unprofessional conduct of authority of those who hold power and people in authority misuse the power by looking for personal increase which they are assigned. Segregation and poverty increase do to corruption, because of politics that are living a bountiful life, many of Africans are lacking from their basic needs such as education, housing, food, right to useRead MoreKohlberg s Theory Of Moral Development1450 Words à |à 6 Pagesbehavior driven by obeying authority: behavior driven by obeying authority and conforming to social order. Level 3- Post Conventional morality last two stageies is 1- Social Contract: behavior driven by balance of social order and individual right s, 2-universal ethics: behavior driven by internal moral principles ( www.mentalhelp.net ).â⬠ââ¬Å" Carol Gilligan s criticism of Kohlberg s theory was not only a critique of the absence of a gender- related focus but also of the scientific approach and methodsRead More Absolute Power Does NOT Corrupt Absolutely Essay840 Words à |à 4 Pagesoutdone by good deeds, and corruption is a matter of opinion. Nothing in the world we live in is always anything. Even though there is what we call facts, even those facts are sometimes disproven with other facts showing the falsity of that fact. This same idea can be applied to the idea that a person given absolute power will always be corrupted. Just as it does not always rain when it is supposed to, an absolute monarch is not always bad. If there is even one example that shows otherwiseRead MorePolice Corruption969 Words à |à 4 PagesPolice Corruption Second Essay for AJ 101 Krystal Lamas Victor Valley Community College Author Note This paper was prepared for AJ 101 for Mr. Ronald M. Field .M.A. Abstract Police corruption is a complex issue. Police corruption or the abuse of authority by a police officer, acting officially to fulfill personal needs or wants, is a growing problem in the United States today. Things such as an Internal Affairs department, a strong leadership organization, and community support are justRead MoreThe Problem Of The Crisis Of Bundelkhand Region Is Affected By The Menace Of Droughts Since Over A Decade990 Words à |à 4 Pagesnutrition and food security. Thus government cannot simply blame the crisis as a natural phenomenon and there are certain loop holes from the part of government. This region is also characterised as feudal area that discourages private investment. Thus corruption in combination with feudal oppression and ecological ruin has further aggravated the distress of people making their survival a challenge. Thus, the region is seriously in need of drought relief work to prevent the affect of famine which leads toRead MoreEssay on The Problem of Police Corruption951 Words à |à 4 Pagespolitical machine, corruption has become second nature to these ââ¬Å"public servantsâ⬠. From rigging elections to accepting ââ¬Ëdirtyââ¬â¢ donations to the aldermanââ¬â¢s campaigns, corruption can be found from the very top of the political layer, down to the lowest government position. Those involved in the corruption have benefited greatly from their dirty deeds. Public residents arenââ¬â¢t directly aware of this corruption since they arenââ¬â¢t public officials, but most can attest to corruption when it involves the
Monday, December 9, 2019
Edward Britton - Izod Wolfe Character Study free essay sample
Edward Britton Formal Argumentative Essay ââ¬Å"Is Izod Wolfe an evil villain or an unsung hero? â⬠Essay: ââ¬ËEdward Brittonââ¬â¢, a novel by Gary Crew and Philip Neilson, tells the distressing story of the anguish and conquests of two teenage convicts in the Australian boys prison, Point Puer. Izod Wolfe and Edward Britton are the main characters with very different dreams, hopes and fears. Izod Wolfe, however, comes across as an evil villain. This is due to the fact that he is a murderer, a thief and he entertains dark thoughts. Firstly, Izod is an evil villain due to the fact that he is a murderer. Murder is usually regarded as the worst possible crime a human could commit. Izod both murdered someone, Buckridge, and attempted to murder someone as a test, the chaplain, throughout the novel. This certainly shows the villainous thoughts of Izod, as willfully taking someoneââ¬â¢s life is cruel and wrong. Izod stole a life, and payed for it, by dying himself. Izod is seen to murder Buckridge duringâ⬠¦ (page 233 ââ¬â 234) This proves that he was definitely driven by a dream of revenge against Lieutenant Buckridge, and now he has completed his mission, he is happy. This shows that he receives joy from evil such as death, revenge and hate. As it states in the bible ââ¬Å"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. â⬠Therefore Izod isnââ¬â¢t a loving person, he is evil. Izod was also careless about the damage and wreckage he caused to others by murdering Buckridge. He was so determined to accomplish his so-called ââ¬Ëgoalââ¬â¢ that he didnââ¬â¢t care who or what got in the way of him. This is a common trait of evil villains in various other stories told throughout history. This is demonstrated when Izod tries to poison the chaplain duringâ⬠¦ Izod demonstrates that he wants his enemy to suffer a long and painful death, and to do this he needs to make sure that the way he kills Buckridge certainly inflicts this pain. Testing this on someone else would mean to inflict this pain towards them, meaning that Izod doesnââ¬â¢tââ¬â¢ mind inflicting physical trauma on others. This is certainly evil and shows that Izod Wolfe is unquestionably an ââ¬Ëevil villainââ¬â¢. Secondly, Izod is an evil villain because he is a thief. Izod certainly lacks morals that people in our everyday society believe in such as not stealing. Stealing is genuinely wrong; it is also a dishonest thing to do. Stealing is something that is obviously immoral because you are taking something that is not yours without permission from the person youââ¬â¢re taking it from. Izod demonstrated this act of dishonesty when â⬠¦ Izod thought of the miserable supply of food that he had stolen and stashed in the cave, of the mortar and pestle that he had lifted from the surgeon, but Hecht couldnt know about that could he? Izod, in this situation, was worrying if Hecht had found out about his stolen diary. This shows that Izod feels a The fact that Izod is a thief certainly contributes to the fact that he is an evil villain. Thirdly, Izod is an evil villain due to the fact that he entertains dark thoughts. In the beginning of the novel, Izod Wolfe, comes across as a disturbed young boy, whose main purpose in life is avenge the deaths of his family. While in church, when he boys are praying, Izod challenges the existence of God and he prays to ââ¬Ëthe Dark Oneââ¬â¢ that he will have strength, endurance and opportunity to complete his task. This is evident when Izod contemplates: ââ¬Å"And if there is no God, and never was, then I call up the Diabolos, the Dark One, to use meâ⬠(page 37). This shows that Izod certainly has a Satanist mind and doesnââ¬â¢t care about the destruction of others, by the devil, in order for him to achieve what he believes is his ââ¬Ëpurposeââ¬â¢ in life. Satan (or Diabolos) is the embodiment of pure evil who personifies the darker parts of humankind, things such as violence, lust and a lack of faith. Izod also entertains malicious thoughts as he thinks wickedly about his enemy ââ¬â Buckridge. When Buckridge and his family arrive at Point Puer Boyââ¬â¢s Prison, Izod seeââ¬â¢s Buckridge and starts to plot his retribution. During the novel, Izod became so focused on his revenge that he had no time for the beauty in life and he ultimately loses himself to avenging his familyââ¬â¢s deaths. This caused him to turn into an evil villain, who instead of being pure and wanting to rehabilitated from prison, wanted to avenge, worship a darker Lord and murder. This is evident in the novel when Izod is contemplating his revenge for Buckridge, when he first arrives at the prison. Moving his lips imperceptibly, like a soul in prayer ââ¬â through to a darker Lord than Jesus ââ¬â he murmured, ââ¬ËAn eye for an eyeâ⬠¦ I swear on my motherââ¬â¢s body, I will kill himâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬â¢ Seeing Buckridgeââ¬â¢s wife and daughter, as he correctly supposed, sitting behind the man, his smile broadened. ââ¬ËAnd them tooâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬â¢ (page 24 ââ¬â 25). This shows the carelessness and recklessness that Izod has for those around him. He is so dedicated to revenge that he doesnââ¬â¢t care for his outcome. He is certainly morally confused and the difference between right and wrong has been blurred. The fact that he is constantly praying to a darker Lord reveals his ââ¬Ëevil villainââ¬â¢ nature. As M. K. Gandhi once said: ââ¬ËAn eye for and eye makes the world blindââ¬â¢. These factors all contribute to the knowledge that Izod Wolfe is an evil villain. In conclusion, Izod Wolfe is indeed an evil villain. This is because he is a murderer, a thief and he entertains dark thoughts. Thus it is clear that one, who turns to dark forces, is a murderer and a thief, can only find one means to an end.
Monday, December 2, 2019
Science-Fresh Water Essay Example
Science-Fresh Water Essay Safe drinking water is a necessity for human survival and everyday activities (ââ¬Å"Ground Water and Drinking Waterâ⬠, 2006). Because naturally, all water in the world contains some impurities with respect to its supply and processes it undergone before going to its final destination. For instance, some impurities originated from additional man-made chemicals, erosion from natural rock formations, and the filter destinations that the raw water undergone (EPA Drinking Water and Health, 1999). The sources of water vary from place to place. In urban areas, the water that most people use comes from surface water sources like lakes, rivers, watershed, and reservoirs. On the other hand, people in rural areas utilized water generated through pumping it to the underground soil, called aquifers which are natural underground water reservoirs.(CRC, 2003) Then, before utilizing the water, it has to undergo some treatment and purification processes in order to check its safety, palatability, usability, and compliance to the standards set by the authority (EPA Drinking Water and Health, 1999). Upon its storage, it has to be filtered, conditioned, and disinfected to diminish the presence of impurities and bacteria in the water. These processes are undertaken in an authorized water treatment plant. Then, the water is now to be distributed through various point consumers such as residential, commercial, and industrial (Asia Brewery, 2004). We will write a custom essay sample on Science-Fresh Water specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Science-Fresh Water specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Science-Fresh Water specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer On a greater extent, the water of the world faces some issues more especially on supply and conservation. Just like in African nation, there is crisis in water supply that causes high death rate. Also, in cities like in Metro Manila, Philippines, the crisis in water supply can be related to insufficient water storage in most watersheds and reservoirs. This study will utilize library and online research for better illustration and interpretation of the research topic.à However, an actual visit to freshwater treatment plant and interview to authorized plant personnel and operators are needed for actual field experience and appreciation to fully supplement the concepts read in the literatures like books and magazines. Drinking water can come from numerous natural sources. Freshwater, although accounting for a very small percentage of the Earthââ¬â¢s total water supply, is quite plentiful and can be found in nature in various forms. Freshwater which can also utilized as drinking water can be found on surface waters, groundwater, glacial ice, and underground springs. These sources are those usually tapped for raw water to be processed into a communityââ¬â¢s drinking water. The main problem is not the availability of water but the processing it requires by which it can attain the standards needed to be safely drank.(CRC, 2003) The main standard in defining whether water from a source can be safe to drink is by measuring the microorganisms present in the water. Coliform content, heterotrophic plate count, and turbidity are dome measurements that indicate the amount of bacteria present in a given water sample. Other, more specific tests are also in place to measure microorganisms like E.coli, Giardia liamblia and Cryptosporidium. (USEPA, 2006)These microorganisms usually result in diarrhea and other gastro intestinal diseases when found in sufficient quantity in drinking water. Another aspect that is monitored in drinking water safety is the presence of contaminants. These come in the form of chemicals/ elements that are harmful to the human body when imbibed in certain amounts. These includes heavy metals like lead, which causes lead poisoning, radioactive elements and isotopes, and body poisons like cyanide and arsenic, which in sufficient amounts, causes death.(USEPA, 2006) Water comprises most of the human body and is essential in most of our processes. Therefore a steady supply is needed everyday in order to ensure a personââ¬â¢s health. Water also contains minerals, which in trace amounts are essential to body processes. Water is needed in metabolism, muscle activity, digestion, almost in every aspect of the human body. (CRC, 2003) In The city of Chicago, Illinois, water that supplies the whole city is derived from Lake Michigan. Water from the lakes enters the intake at about 20-30 feet. It then passes through a series of filters that screen out large debris. The water is lifted upwards by means of pumps and then pre-treated with chlorine. Water then enters the flocculation basin, where a rapid mix tank ensures that the flocculation process is carried out. These utilize the electrical charge of unwanted compounds to separate them from the water. Alum is added to the water for the flocculation process. The rapid-mix tanks make the smaller particles in the water come together into larger clumps called flocs. The plant utilizes aluminum as a coagulant, using it to bind sediments together. Water that is coming from the flocculation chamber flows towards the sedimentation bed, where it sits for 4 to 7 hours. This is to allow the floc sufficient time to settle.à After settling, the water passes through a more tho rough filtration system. This system consists of layers of sand and gravel.à à Afterwards, the water settles in the clearwell, where chemicals like fluoride and phosphates are added. The water then flows towards Chicagoââ¬â¢s distribution system. This distribution system makes use of artificial pressure in order to provide water to households in the city. In the suburbs, water towers are sometimes utilized in order to harness gravity as a source of force for the water flow. In the village of Oaklawn in Illinois, water is supplied by the municipality. Three wells supply water to the city, one of which is located at Oaklawn itself. Chemicals added to the water include chlorine as an anti-microbial, fluoride, for dental health, and polyphosphates, in order to minimize the corrosion of lead pipes. The City of Chicago can provide us a view of what a normal municipal water treatment system looks like in the United States. However, in other, less developed countries, the treatment of water by the government for public use is sadly lacking. This inability of the public offices to provide safe drinking water to its constituents s results in an increase in home water treatment gadgets in both rural and urban areas. These devices usually consisted of tap water being passed through a filter composed of several layers of different materials. The lack of drinkable water from the tap also increases the use of bottled water. In the production of distilled water on the other hand, water is subject to a commercial distillation system which utilizes vapor compression. Vapor compression is a much more cost efficient method of distillation since it uses the heat from the boiling waters vapor to add more heat to the system, all this while the vapor condenses.(AquaTechnology, 2007) After that, ozonation is again employed to make sure no bacteria are present in the water. Distillation makes sure 99.9% of the water is pure, however, the process of removing impurities at the molecular level also removes minerals present in the water that are vital to the bodyââ¬â¢s processes. In the case of municipal water distribution systems, chlorine is added in the facility, in some cases into the pipes themselves. Chlorine is used as an anti microbial chemical to ensure that whatever microbial contamination that the water encounters during its distribution is easily countered. In the case of bottled water, water is sealed into disinfected PET bottles and then sealed with a plastic cap cover. (CRC, 2003) The private sector has also utilized various means by which to purify water. These range from simple filters that are placed directly on the faucet to complex machinery that undergo those steps of commercial purification but at a smaller scale. à These machines provide a combination of the various processes that purify after and make it safe to drink. Portable distillers are now available, most with built in filtration systems. Aside from the other basic processes, other methods are used by water treatment plants to treat drinking water. Ultraviolet radiation is used in place of ozonation to kill off bacteria and other microorganisms still present. Lime is added in some areas where water is acidic, in order to bring it to the desired pH level of around 7. In some plants, extensive pre-treatment is also undergone. These include the addition of sodium carbonate in order to soften up hard water, and preliminary filtration for surface waters. The most commonly used disinfectant is chlorine, and its derivatives. Chlorine acts as an oxidant. It kills ff most microorganisms. However, chlorine used in treatment can sometimes reach its gaseous form, which is poisonous to humans. Chlorine and its derivatives is also a carcinogen in sufficient quantities, making it a health hazard to consumers. In special cases, additional treatment to drinking water can also be implemented. The addition of fluoride in some areas is used as a precaution to tooth decay. In cases where ions in the water dissolve the lead in pipes, Plumbosolvency precautions are undertaken. This involves increasing the pH as well as adding phosphate ions. Some areas where radioactive isotopes are present in the area around the water source use ion exchange to eliminate these ions. Other methods include boiling, mostly in developing countries. Filters containing carbon in the form of charcoal, as well as silver ions also act in making water safe for drinking by removing microorganisms. Reverse osmosis, involving the use of a semi permeable membrane to remove impurities is also a commercial water purification technique. In the developing countries, water is available in large quantities and is generally safe to drink. These are the exception, instead od the rule in numerous countries ariuynd the world. Countries in Africa and in the Indian subcontinent are currently in a crisis to provide safe drinking water to their people. In Africa, drought is a prevalent occurrence, and the numerous wars have turned what available water there is into deadly weapons, poisoned so that the other side has no use for them. In India, their Holy River Ganges, the primary source of water for millions of inhabitants, is fraught with pollution ranging from human fecal waste to industrial runoff. Most of the countries in the world still obtain their drinking water naturally, with no or minimal treatment. This is due to the cost of treatment, lack of facilities and education. Many are unaware that the water they drink everyday contains microorganisms and contaminants that are harmful to their body. In most of these poor or developing countries, the rivers and water systems by which they obtain their drinking water is polluted. And since water treatment is at a minimum, these countries still experience a high rate of diarrhea, gastro intestinal problems and dehydration. T them, water, in any form is a great resource while to those of us living in developed countries, water is often taken for granted, wasted and disregarded. Water is necessary to life. However, drinking water for human purposes is limited in quantity. Most of the freshwater in the world are frozen in glaciers, or deep underground. The increase in human population, the resulting pollution has further taxes our ability to provide safe drinking water. Most people in developing countries drink unsafe water fraught with microorganisms and contaminants simply because they have no means of purifying it. The pollution of our streams and ground water has eliminated a free drinking water supply, making water a rising market commodity. Like all natural resources, water in the form we can safely use is finite. The challenge is in coming up with a cheap, cost effective method by which safe drinking water can be made available to everyone. And even then, water, as with life, should not be wasted; it must be conserved and secured in order to ensure the health and survival of our species.
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