Common ground Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Common ground - Essay Example According to Terris (1999), one sixth of the total land base in our country yielded to development within a short ten year period from 1982 to 1992. This author’s article deals with the issue of a decline or extinction in various species caused by bulldozing down grasslands and forests, thus building towards a plea for the conservation and preservation of wildlife. The article by Shaw (2004) however, does acknowledge that human activity has stripped away a considerable amount of forested land, thereby depriving the wildlife of their habitat; however reforestation has also been active and this has produced a condition where the nation is now a haven for wild animals and many species that were once endangered are not multiplying in record numbers. For wxample, Shaw (2004) cites the example of the bald eagle, whose population was once down to 32 pairs but has now increased to 329 known active bald eagle nests. In providing an argument that urban sprawl has contributed to the decl ine in certain species of wildlife, Terris(1999) provides specific examples of such species that have been out at risk, such as the Florida panther, the pygmy owl, the kangaroo rat and even plant species such as the saguaro cactus. Her analysis is based upon the following main arguments: (a) Development of land for habitation and especially leap frog developments have eroded the natural habitat for wildlife. (b) Patterns of urban growth have produced loss of habitat for several species of wildlife, fragmentation or the breakup of ecosystems and the generalization of ecosystems wherein only the hardy species that can survive on green lawns and stuff from garbage cans are able to survive. (c) Conservation alone cannot save wildlife, what is necessary is control over development patterns, i.e, restricting unfettered and unplanned development and effectively managing growth in such a manner that it protects wildlife The article by Shaw (2004) is based upon two singular aspects; first th e proliferation of wildlife and second, the increasing proximity of humans to wildlife. In support of her claim that reforestation is rekindling many once diminished species, Shaw (2004) offers the following arguments: (a) Natural reforestation is increasing due to the decline in farming, especially in the eastern United States, which is also increasing wildlife (b) Suburbanization or low density development outside the cities provides a variety of habitat and vegetation that is a draw for animals. (c) A new ecology is being established, i.e, with suburbanization, people build new kinds of habitat such as bird feeders, gardens and ornamental nurseries which are breeding grounds for meso mammals, or mid sized species which only need smaller areas to roam (d) Some species such as deer and geese are both wildlife success stories and a cause of nuisance as well. For example, deer can be a nuisance in the form of deer related collisions, carriers of Lyme disease and damage to crops and s eeds. (e) Increasing proximity of wildlife has become a cause of concern in several areas, for example a mountain lion attacked a woman riding a bicycle near a wild life park. (f) On the basis of her arguments, Shaw(2004) argues that there seems to be an apparent compatibility between human and wild life and the growing notion and people can exist side by side with wilds animals. Entrepreneurs are making efforts to build natural sites

How men perceived women in the Middle Ages and Renaissance Essay

How men perceived women in the Middle Ages and Renaissance - Essay Example Women from time immemorial experienced several social issues such as sexism as well as physical and emotional abuse. They have been perceived and treated differently by different people of different ages and race. With the continuing arguments about women even in this modern age, it would be beneficial to consider how different great minds have thought about them. It is an interest in this paper to dissect the human form of the woman in comparison to that of a man if they have been created only to identify one from the other, how are good women perceived, the roles they play in the society and what kind would they be on an extreme. With such discussions, it is the purpose of this paper to enlighten readers and let them understand more the qualities women hold. An interesting presentation of arguments about the creation of the woman is evident in â€Å"The Production of the Woman† where it is suggested that the woman should have not been produced for reasons such as â€Å"the female is a misbegotten male†, the woman is of less strength and dignity than man, causing sin and therefore, inequality and because God foresaw that the woman would cause the man to sin (Aquinas). Nevertheless, the author argues on the point of view of the Bible from Genesis 3:16 that man should not be alone but should have a partner comparable to him. As a priest of the Roman Catholic Church, Aquinas might have been compelled to base his arguments from the Holy Book and thus quotes from the Word of God that there was a necessity for the creation of the woman. Furthermore, he goes on to explain how women should be treated by their husbands; that they were not made to become helpmates in the accomplishment of tasks but helpers in the sense that they were to produce children together as partners. With regard the woman being called ‘misbegotten’, the author suggests that the intention of nature depends on God. As for inequality, the circumstance is claimed to have a lready existed even before sin was born. God knew that Eve will sin but still created her because if ‘God deprived the world of those things (Eve included) which proved an occasion of sin, the universe would have been imperfect† (Aquinas). The author believes that with God being omnipotent, He can direct any evil to a good end. On the second argument, Aquinas refutes that the woman was correctly created out of the rib of the man for the dignity of the man himself. In addition, this will make him cleave even more to the woman and as a consequence, the woman would acknowledge that the man is the head of the woman. Figuratively speaking, the situation speaks about the church and Jesus Christ; that as the woman was taken from the man, the church is also taken from Christ. About kinship, Eve may have been taken from Adam but she was not born from him so that the man did not marry his daughter. Continuing on the third discourse, Aquinas discusses that indeed, on a natural mann er, a bigger thing cannot be made from a smaller thing. However, the creation of Eve from the rib of Adam is similar to the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand people from the five loaves of bread. Just as the five loaves have been increased, the small rib of Adam had been increased to create the size of Eve. Aquinas showed that the removal of the rib of Adam did not make him imperfect by putting it in