Changes to Britains Landscape

Changes to Britains Landscape The past few decades have witnessed an explosion of concern about the ways in which the countryside is changing in Britain. This burgeoning of interest seems to revolve around one main set of issues relating to resource use and management and to issues about the conservation of the natural environment and landscape. This can be seen in the House of Lords report (1990: 7) on the future of rural society, recognising that, while ‘historically, rural communities have been based on the exploitation of the natural resources of the countryside †¦, now priorities have changed’. Therefore, this essay aims to investigate the changes that have occurred in the British landscape since the post-war period, the reasons for these changes, and the likely future trajectory of change and policy implications. This will be done by looking at agriculture, migration and tourism as factors of environmental change in the British countryside. The many changes in agriculture since 1945 can be aptly described as revolutionary in that farming at the beginning of the twenty-first century is a vastly different proposition than at the beginning of the twentieth century. A transformation covering all farming systems has been effected through the interaction of numerous factors. The overwhelming commitment of government to aid and subsidise agriculture has been vital in helping to stabilise the industry. The growing wealth of the nation as a whole increased demand, especially for ‘luxury’ foods. There has been a ‘green’ revolution in which new techniques have supplanted old traditions, with mechanisation becoming commonplace. The decline of the general agricultural labourer has continued – to be replaced by fewer skilled workers operating new machinery or working as a specialist in a particular branch of farming. In terms of production, the extent of the revolution can be gauged from such statisti cs as the doubling of the wheat yield between 1915/19 and 1965/9, the doubling of milk and egg production between 1935/9 and 1970/4, the overall two and a half times increase in the national net output between 1937/9 and 1971/3 (Donaldson, 1972), and a four-fold rise in wheat production from the late 1940s to the early 1980s, and a 30 percent increase in the production of beef and pork during the same period (Soper, 1986). The effects upon the landscape of post-1945 changes in agriculture were described for West Berkshire by Bowers and Cheshire (1983: 29 – 51) who stressed the role played by subsidies paid to farmers. Their study area included both clay vale and chalk downlands which were studied by air photographs and ground survey and can be taken as representative of much larger trends occurring nationwide. Between 1947 and 1976 the area had lost over one-third of its hedges, half its footpaths and tracks and nearly two-thirds of its ponds. There was a small decline in the area under woodland whilst the total amount of farmland had decreased slightly as a result of residential and recreational growth. Within agriculture itself permanent pasture had fallen by nearly 80 percent, being replaced by cereals and a substantial area of oilseed rape. The number of farms in the area fell from 19 in 1947 to 12 in 1981. The great increase in the area under arable meant that chalk downland pasture was com pletely eliminated. This typifies a general trend throughout most of Britain toward a more open, less enclosed countryside, much different from that of the previous centuries, where many of the major landscape types have been altered, with deterioration occurring more widely and to a greater degree than at any other time in modern history (Bowers and Cheshire, 1983: 48). The greatest visual change in the landscape was the loss of pasture and its replacement by cereals being grown in enlarged fields. This enlargement had been at the expense of hedgerows, of which 55km out of 129km in the study area discussed above had been removed between 1941 and 1981. The loss of hedgerows was identified as being part of a vicious circle (Bowers and Cheshire, 1983: 39). Rising rents and land prices promoted intensification, leading to greater use of capital which, in turn, was favoured by subsidies on capital inputs. The subsidies have also promoted the use of chemical inputs and mechanisation, producing further intensification and landscape change (e.g. Cox et al., 1986). The arable monoculture that has been the result of this intensification requires few stock-proof barriers and is operated by means of larger machines which need bigger fields. Hence, there has been little incentive to retain hedges, especially as they require maintenance and so would require addit ional expense to pay for the extra work required. This degradation of the land stock should be halted and sustainable agricultural practices implemented through the involvement of farmers in decision making as well as policy implementation. Along with changes in agricultural practices, it is the resurgence of population growth in rural areas that constitutes a key cause of fundamental changes that are now occurring in the countryside. Forty years ago discussion of rural affairs was dominated by the issue of depopulation, however, the rural population turnaround identified in the 1970s has become the dominant pattern of contemporary rural population change. The underbounding of urban areas and local metropolitan decentralisation represents most clearly this new post-industrial settlement pattern. The statistical evidence marshalled for the UK points to a definite change in population trends affecting extensive rural zones, and this is not just limited to the fringes of larger cities. An analysis has demonstrated the large scale of the turnaround in the most rural parts of Britain, which had a population growth rate of 8.9 percentage points above the national average between the 1971 and 1981 Censuses, compared with one 5 .5 points below the average in 1951-61 (Champion, 1989). This population growth has taken the form of conversion of old agricultural buildings, development of unused farmland and the encroachment of housing onto pristine ‘greenfield’ sites. The surrounding countryside has also been changed due to the high level of infrastructure and services which this new population group requires. Another type of usage of rural localities causing major conservation issues is tourism. Rural tourism, which goes hand-in-hand with urban-rural population migration, however, is not a discrete activity divorced from other forms of leisure activity. Visitors on holiday in rural areas may spend some of their time visiting towns or resorts. This relationship between tourism in rural areas and other places is important, and holds part of the answer to addressing the problems. The countryside is an important resource for tourism in Britain, attracting a quarter of all domestic holiday nights and a third of all day trips. British people take some 10 million holidays and spend some 45 million nights in the English countryside as well as making over 1,000 million day visits. Up to a half of England’s 20 million overseas visitors also visit the countryside while they are in England and place a high value on its attractiveness (Countryside Commission, 1995). With the decline in agricultural employment, many rural areas are looking to tourism to make an even greater contribution in the future. However, as well as bringing social and economic benefits to the countryside, tourism can also brings costs, through intrusive development, traffic congestion, erosion and disturbance to wildlife and local people. Such problems are often compacted due to their highly local and seasonal nature. With the problems above outlined, it is clear that there is a need for a policy of sustainable use of the British countryside, which integrates the problems associated with modern agriculture, tourism and urban-rural migration. The Environment Act (HMSO, 1995) has gone some way to mitigating these issues, but there is still work to be done in the new millennium. The problem of climate change will likely exacerbate an already delicate ecological situation in some localities, with increased temperatures and reduced rainfalls. There is also the question of whether the encroachment of rural development upon natural resources can be halted, either through regulation of planning laws or the development of sustainable consumption, ecotourism and environmentally friendly technology. These initiatives may be stifled under the current regime of agricultural subsidies and ignorance toward greenfield development which plagues the current system. At all levels, use of rural areas must become sust ainable if they are to remain as productive as they have been since 1945, while maintaining their ecological integrity for the benefit of future generations. References: Bowers, J. K., Cheshire, P. (1983) Agriculture, the countryside and land use, Methuen, London. Champion, A. G. (1989) Counterurbanisation: The changing pace and nature of population decentralisation, Edward Arnold, London. Countryside Commission (1995) Sustainable rural tourism, HMSO, London. Cox, G., Lowe, P., Winter, M. (1986) The state of the farmer: perspectives on agricultural policy, in Cox, G., Lowe, P., Winter, M. (eds), Agriculture, people and policies, Allen Unwin, London, pp. 1 19. Donaldson, J. G. S. (1972) Farming in Britain Today, Penguin, Harmondsworth. HMSO (1995) The Environment White Paper, HMSO, London. House of Lords (1990) The future of rural society, HMSO, London. Soper, M.R.H. (1986) British agriculture today, Association of Agriculture, London.

School Violence: Cause and Remedies

School Violence : Causes And Remedies Educators and policy makers have been grappling with the issue of violence in schools for decades, . Educators, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, political scientists, anthropologists, and sociologists have all weighed in on the possible causes. Sifting through the theories can be overwhelming, and implementing effective violence prevention programs is often frustrating. No wonder, then, that teachers and administrators often feel defeated when they confront the dangerously aggressive behavior of some pupils.According to a federal survey. Seventy-one percent of all public elementary and secondary schools reported at least one violent incident during the 1999-2003 school years. Causes: Violent behavior and the intent to act violently are potential symptoms of numerous psychiatric disorders. Conduct Disorder, a state of persistent disregard for social conventions and rules and manifesting as criminal and antisocial behavior before the a ge of 18, is perhaps the most frequently mentioned diagnosis among violent youth.In addition substance abuse and dependence can contribute substantially to violent acts, either by reducing inhibitions among otherwise nonviolent students or by creating a climate through drug transactions in which violence is central. More rarely, impulsive behavior found in conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder can lead to violent outbursts. Finally, diagnoses such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, and a range of psychotic disorders have been associated with the development of violent behavior among youth.In addition to certain psychiatric diagnoses, characteristics such as low verbal IQ, immature moral reasoning, poor parental modeling, poor social skills, and lack of social supports have all been associated with the development of violent behavior in children. Studies examining characteristics particular to the school environment have found that a weakly structured school and a student's poor academic performance, low commitment to education, and, perhaps most important, poor attachment to the school are all strong indicators of potential violence.In addition, schools that tolerate physical and social aggression, especially when perpetrated by elite student groups within the school, are increasingly at risk for the outbreak of violence on or around school grounds. These characteristics alone are not sufficient to predict the occurrence of violence. Remedies: Clinicians and school officials must pay special attention to potential motives for and means of committing violence.They must be willing to discuss provocative and threatening journal writing and art projects with students and with designated school authorities who decide what actions to take to protect the student and the school. Listening to students who express concern about another student's behavior is particularly important. Ignoring violent behavior or wanting t o let â€Å"someone else† deal with the problem is a normal parental reaction. Discussing with your child ways to protect themselves is not â€Å"scaring† them unnecessarily, but is equipping your child to not be a victim.There are things you can do to help your child if the unthinkable does occur. Studies of extremely violent behavior in schools have found that those who commit high-profile acts of violence have almost always made their intentions known to peers through direct or indirect communications. Educators must foster a setting in which students are comfortable making their concerns known to teachers and peers. Interventions both to curb and to address student violence must be multifaceted. Serious psychiatric disorders indicate the need for counseling and possibly medication. The treatment plan must integrate legal considerations.Recent innovative approaches show promise for addressing violent behavior in schools. One of them is Multi systemic Treatment, whic h involves multiple and active interventions for young people who commit violence, has attracted increasing attention during the past decade. Schools are an important setting for addressing violent youth, and the extent to which students feel attached to their school has direct bearing on the likelihood of later and ongoing violence. Schools, therefore, are a necessary part of the complicated equation that will ultimately make learning and development safer and more rewarding for everyone.

The Free Application For Federal Student Aid - 1606 Words

Introduction During week two, we were tasked to conduct a financial analysis of the Johnson family and assess their ability to independently fund the college educations of their three children. That analysis determined the two hundred dollars currently contributed monthly to each child’s college fund since each child was born will not fully fund their educations, given their ages, current balances in each college fund and the annual inflation of college costs. Assuming their available cash flow will only support the current monthly college fund contributions, alternative methods and financial tools must be explored to mitigate the shortfall. The purpose of this paper will be to research other college funding alternatives which may†¦show more content†¦However, it is equally important for other potential forms of financial aid as â€Å"many states and colleges use your FAFSA data to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid† (Federal Student Aid, 2017, p.1). Federal Student Aid is a very large program â€Å"providing more than $150 billion in federal grants, loans, and work-study funds each year to more than 13 million students paying for college or career school† (Federal Student Aid, 2017, p.1). Therefore, the student who is seeking financial aid to cover a portion of college costs needs to first and foremost complete a FAFSA application as it is the basis for Federal Student Aid but is also the data source for other forms of student financial aid. FAFSA applications consider the assets of the parents and the student in determining the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and will normally expect a higher percentage of contribution from student assets vice a lower percentage from the parents (Mannaioni Greer 2016). For determining family or student assets to be assessed against potential financial aid, FAFSA places emphasis on family or student adjusted gross income as other assets such as â€Å"retirement accounts, cash value life insurance, home equity and small business assets† are excluded when calculating the EFC. Institutional Methodology, on the otherShow MoreRelatedFree Application For Federal Student Aid1967 Words   |  8 Pagesdiligence and sacrifice, and a lot of leg work, paying for college should not be a barrier to your education. Federal Aid The first step is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA ). The application has federal, state, and possible college specific deadlines. 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The Culture Of Shut Up By Jon Lovett Essay - 1431 Words

Within a society that is reliant on the internet as a means of connectedness to one another, there will be drawbacks. The fate of this society is how people grasp this concept of unlimited compatibility and get around the drawbacks. Within the internet and all the ideas and saying that are flooded into the streams of computer-human interactions there will always be room for backlash and critique. In the article â€Å"The Culture of Shut Up† Jon Lovett produces his ideas on how society needs to get a grip on the endless amount of connectedness that spawns from the internet and how people must deal with the fact of how unreserved it is. When someone says something, a person doesn’t agree with, Lovett states that you cannot just tell them to â€Å"shut up† because they won’t shut up, they don’t have to and they never will. â€Å"You don’t beat someone’s idea by beating the thinker. You beat their idea with an idea. The fact of the matter is that society must use the connectedness offered by the modern age of technology to their advantage rather than be set off track by some drawbacks that come with it. Jon Lovett uses the internet and the effect on society as his topic in â€Å"The Culture of Shut Up.† Lovett exemplifies the routine of how people must concern themselves with something else rather than get tied into a dead-end controversy with something someone said that they didn’t happen to agree with. A basepoint to start with this series is social media. The effect social media has onShow MoreRelatedJon Lovett : A Screenwriter And Former Speechwriter For President Obama954 Words   |  4 PagesJon Lovett is a screenwriter and former speechwriter for president Obama. Most recently he was serving as a producer of the award-winning HBO series The Newsroom, and is also the co-creator and head writer of 2012 sitcom 1600 Penn on NBC. In Lovett’s speech â€Å"The Culture of Shut Up† he beli eves that too many debates deteriorate into misplaced rage, or discouraging free speech. Lovett believes that all the chaos that comes with free speech is worth it, rather than letting a few voices speak for theRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesBehavior 271 Understanding Work Teams 307 Communication 335 Leadership 367 Power and Politics 411 Conflict and Negotiation 445 Foundations of Organization Structure 479 v vi BRIEF CONTENTS 4 The Organization System 16 Organizational Culture 511 17 Human Resource Policies and Practices 543 18 Organizational Change and Stress Management 577 Appendix A Research in Organizational Behavior Comprehensive Cases Indexes Glindex 637 663 616 623 Contents Preface xxii 1 1