The Singer Solution to World Poverty

The Singer Solution to World Poverty Peter Singer is an Australian Philosopher. He is considered as a controversial ethicist, who gives one-fifth of his income to famine relief agencies.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Singer Solution to World Poverty specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Recently he wrote an article in The New York Times â€Å"The Singer Solution to World Poverty† in which he has suggested that those who have money to spend on luxury should generously donate to help poor people. In this article he has represented some unconventional thoughts about rich people`s obligation for needy ones. However, he has overlooked many facts and has unanswered many questions. Peter Singer has suggested that prosperous people of America should limit their luxurious activities for the sake of poor, hungry and malnourished people. Here question arises what does luxury means? Everyone in this world has different perception about luxury for example ma ny people consider Television as the basic need of life in order to get information and current situation of the world where as some people consider it as a luxury like Peter Singer who strongly believes that the amount of money we spent to buy a TV could be donated to a hungry person who can buy healthy food for himself with that money (Singer). Today people do not consider TV as a luxury but they rely on it for their daily activities they wanted to know about weather emergencies, current events and happenings that are going on across the global. One more important question is about â€Å"necessity†. Most of the American people consider toilet paper a necessity whereas other might consider it as a luxury those people who are living in stricken localities. In this article Peter Singer emphasizes on the need to save lives of poor people by donating that money which goes for luxuries (Singer). Money should be donated to the organizations like UNICEF that could send the money ac ross the boundaries. With that money clothes, food shelter and basic necessities of life could be provided to needy people.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, many people doubted the amount of money they donate to such organizations would really reach to the people it was send for? Peter strongly believes that people of America may become kind one day and they start donating money for hungry children in foreign countries. There is urgent need to realize the fact that if a person just gives up eating out in a restaurant for only one month he could easily save amount that can save life of a child (Singer). From this it could be suggested that saving life of a child is much more valuable than dining out. The perception of donating might be difficult for few years but gradually prosperous people would start donating and this trend could be passed on to generations to generations. Another important question which has left unanswered is that what will happen if organizations such as UNICEF will receive more and more money, they will become power full and would be able to take decisions that might affects the whole world. It could result in causing anarchy, more poverty, hunger and destruction (Singer). According to Peter there is greater need to help people overseas but what about poor needy people of America? Here poverty level is rising day by day, when the government is unable to resolve their issues than how can they give permission to organizations to give money to foreign countries (Singer). Therefore it could be concluded that there are various facts is this article that are left unclear. Although Peter`s thoughts are really good and humanistic but there is no practical application of his perceptions in today`s world. Work Cited Singe, P. The Singer Solution to World Poverty. 5 September 1990. people.brandeis.edu. 20 June 2011 http://peopl e.brandeis.edu/~teuber/singermag1.html.

Organic (Biological) Weathering Explained

Organic (Biological) Weathering Explained Organic weathering, also called bioweathering or biological weathering, is the general name for biological processes of weathering that break down rocks. This includes the physical penetration and growth of roots and digging activities of animals (bioturbation), as well as the action of lichens and moss on various minerals.   How Organic Weathering Fits Into the Larger Geological Picture Weathering is a process by which surface rock breaks down. Erosion is a process by which weathered rock is moved by natural forces such as wind, waves, water, and ice. There are three types of weathering: Physical or mechanical weathering (for example, water gets into cracks in rock and then freezes, pushing against the rock from the inside);Chemical weathering (for example, oxygen interacts with iron in rocks, causing the iron to turn to rust and thus weakening the rock)Organic or biological weathering (for example, the roots of a tree grow into boulders in the soil and splitting the boulders apart over time) While these different types of weathering can be described as different from one another, they also work together. For example, tree roots may split boulders more easily because the rocks have been weakened as a result of chemical or physical weathering.   Plant-Related Biological Weathering Tree roots, because of their size, cause a significant amount of biological weathering. But even much smaller plant-related actions can weather rocks. For example: Weeds pushing through road surfaces or cracks in boulders can expand gaps in the rock. These gaps fill with water. When the water freezes, the roads or boulders crack. Lichen (fungi and algae living together in a symbiotic relationship) can cause a great deal of weathering. Chemicals produced by fungi can break down the minerals in rocks. Algae consume the minerals. As this process of breakdown and consumption continues, rocks start to develop holes.  As described above, holes in rocks are vulnerable to physical weathering caused by the freeze/melt cycle. Animal-Related Biological Weathering Animal interactions with rock can cause significant weathering. As with plants, animals can set the stage for further physical and chemical weathering. For example: Tiny burrowing animals secrete acids or scrape their way into rock to create rocky burrows. This process weakens the rock and actually starts the weathering process.Larger animals leave feces or urine on rock. The chemicals in animal waste can corrode minerals in rock.Larger burrowing animals shift and move rock, creating spaces where water can accumulate and freeze. Human-Related Biological Weathering Human beings have a dramatic weathering effect. Even a simple path in the woods has an impact on the soil and rocks that make up the path. Major changes affected by humans include: Construction moving, scoring, and smashing rock for construction of buildings and transportation systemsMining massive projects involve stripping entire hillsides or making major changes to or removing rock from under the surface of the EarthAgriculture in addition to moving rocks to make farming possible, human beings also change the composition of the soil through fertilization and application of herbicides.