Friday, January 24, 2020

History Of Whaling :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When seventeenth-century settlers brought their knowledge of the ancient European whaling industry to the shores of New England, they were not the first to hunt the great beasts. Native Americans who lived along the coasts of the continent used carcasses of dead whales that washed up on shore for food, oil, and they used the bone for making canoes to pursue whales that swam into shallow coastal waters. As the Mayflower sailed into Plymouth harbor in 1620, many whales swam near the ship, one factor that kept the settlers on the harsh coast. Experienced fishermen in the ship's crew recognized the potential of a whaling industry.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first organized whaling in the American colonies began on Long Island (New York) in 1640, and there were whale-fisheries active in New England and New Jersey by the end of the century. Using traditional techniques brought from Europe, the colonial whalers, launched small boats from beaches, captured and towed whales to shore, cut up their blubber and bone, and then extracted the oil by boiling the blubber in large cast iron kettles called trypots.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the number of whales near shore inevitably declined, the colonists, chased whales in single masted-ships, and towed whaleboats for the hunt. They stored whale blubber in casks, which they brought home to be boiled into oil. Soon, many hunted whales by day; slept on shore at night.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the market for whale products increased, whale men undertook longer journeys. During the first years of deep sea whaling, it was the custom to cruise eastward in spring as far as the Azores. Then south along the Guinea coast of Africa, east to the coast of Brazil and then returned to home to take on supplies. They then headed north to the Davis Straits, between Greenland and North America, for the summer. As whales became more scarce on these hunting grounds American whalers began to fan out into the major oceans of the world, by building vessels that were large enough to, make voyages lasting several years. These ships were able to carry four or five whaleboats and were able to extract oil by boiling blubber on deck.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1774, at least 350 vessels sailed from ports in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York. Shore whaling, carried out on ocean shores, but was not possible from New Bedford's deep harbor. Residents engaged in deep sea whaling at least as early as 1746.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Global Health

This is a reaction essay to Cholera in Sierra Leone: the case study of an outbreak retrieved from According to A. D. A. M. Medical Encyclopedia,â€Å"Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that causes a large amount of watery diarrhea. Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The bacteria releases a toxin that causes increased release of water from cells in the intestines, which produces severe diarrhea (National Institute of Health ,U.S. National Library of Medicine – The World's Largest Medical Library,A. D. A. M. Medical Encyclopedia, May 30th 2012). † If left untreated, it can kill within hours and almost eighty percent of cases can be successfully treated with oral rehydration salts. People get infected by eating or drinking contaminated food and water and it usually manifests in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine like Africa, Asia, India, Mexico and South and Central America. The availability of safe drinking water and proper sanitation is critical in reducing the impact of cholera and other waterborne diseases.Oral cholera vaccine also reduces the risk of death by fifty percent . Sierra Leone, a West African country that has been ravaged by wars for years , experienced the worst Cholera outbreak in fifteen years. As of september 19th of this year, 19000 cases and 274 deaths have been reported. It was unusual for the Cholera outbreaks to occur in February , the middle of the dry season because most cholera outbreaks take place in the rainy season. At the onset of the cholera outbreak, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, WHO , UNICEF and Medecins Sans Frontieres-Belgium worked together to detect, confirm ,treat and prevent the cholera outbreak .But when it started raining in June, cholera spread rapidly and by August, 2000 cases were reported per week. The Ministry of Health and Sanitation have also set up a network for all health centres to report daily cases of outbreaks and have been working with W HO and partners in spreading messages about safe drinking water, hand washing and food preparation. WHO has also brought in additional experts in epidemiology, surveillance, logistics, social mobilization, water and sanitation from other WHO country offices and set up a ‘ Cholera command and control centre’.Inspite of all these efforts, there is a severe shortage of oral rehydration salts and they are expecting 32 000 cases in this outbreak. * ————————————————- â€Å"? The health of a country is often based on infant and mother morbidity and mortality rates (GCH-205-DL2, Module 4, Lauren Savaglio). † In 2007, Sierra Leone had the highest level of child mortality in the world. Maternal mortality is also one of the highest in the world. One in eight women risk dying during pregnancy and childbirth. The infant mortality rate of Sierra Leone is 123 deaths p er 1000 live births in 2009 .Babies born in Sierra Leone in 2005 had a life expectancy of only 38 years. So it can be said that public health is generally poor in Sierra Leone. â€Å"Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and causes of health and illness in populations (Jacobsen,p. 7). † In the case of the cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone, the infections started in the western area of the country where the capital, Freetown, is located. Cholera outbreaks usually occur in the rainy season but the outbreak in Sierra Leone started in February which is in the middle of the dry month.According to World Health Organization, â€Å" Cholera is an extremely virulent disease. It affects both children and adults and can kill within hours. About 75% of people infected with V. cholerae do not develop any symptoms, although the bacteria are present in their faeces for 7–14 days after infection and are shed back into the environment, potentially infecting other people. Among people who develop symptoms, 80% have mild or moderate symptoms, while around 20% develop acute watery diarrhoea with severe dehydration. This can lead to death if untreated.People with low immunity – such as malnourished children or people living with HIV – are at a greater risk of death if infected (National Institute of health ,U. S. National Library of Medicine – The World's Largest Medical Library,A. D. A. M. Medical Encyclopedia, May 30th 2012). † Therefore the risk factors of transmission of Cholera in a developing country like Sierra Leone is very high since there is no adequate environmental management and no minimum requirements for clean drinking water and sanitation. Like Jacobsen states in the textbook, Introduction to Global Health, â€Å"†¦ eep in mind socioeconomic, political, behavioral, and environmental risk factors that contribute to creating the context in which the disease occurs(Jacobsen,p. 13). † * ——â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Since cholera causes dehydration, the disease is treated using oral rehydration therapy (ORT), which is basically a solution made with water, sugar and salts. They can be bought as prepackaged mixtures or can also be made at home by combining clean, boiled 1 litre of water with 8 teaspoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt.But sometimes, severe cases of cholera require intravenous fluid replacement. Antibiotics can shorten illness, but should still be used in combination with the Oral Rehydration Therapy. The most basic way of preventing cholera is making sure communities prone to these epidemics have access to clean water and proper sanitation . Communities should also be educated about the importance of proper hygiene like hand-washing with soap after using the restroom and before cooking or eating . They should also be educated about safe handling , preparation and storage of food .Media such as radio, television or newspapers and even community and religious leaders can also be effective in spreading health education messages. And at times, early detection of the outbreak and timely provisions of treatment , like in the Sierra Leone case, is also necessary to reduce the number of deaths. * ————————————————- I think, at the onset of the outbreak, Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation did a great job in working with the government and other health sectors to confirm the outbreak of the disease even though the country has very few resources and capacity.With the help of WHO, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and partners including UNICEF and Medecins Sans Frontieres-Belgium was also able to detect, treat and prevent the spread of cholera. They also set up a â€Å" cholera command and control centre† and trained healt h workers in cholera treatment and prevention. They were successful in reducing the number of outbreaks to fewer than 40 per week but when the rainy season started in June, the epidemic spread rapidly to other districts and the number of cases arose to 2000 per week. But it should be noted that in Freetown, where the first outbreak occurred, there has been ignificant reduction of cases. WHO’s Representative in Sierra Leone, Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu, states that many villages affected by the epidemic still face a shortage of Oral Rehydration Therapy solution, the most effective and life saving treatment for an outbreak like this. The cholera epidemic in Sierra Leone made me realize how health inequalities does exist between the poor and rich population and how â€Å" even with improved prevention and therapeutic techniques, infectious diseases continue to be health risk in all populations (Jacobsen,p. 1). † It is also evident that the Socioeconomic status (SES) of Sierra Leone has played a major role in the cause and prevention of this cholera epidemic. Like Dr. Alemu mentioned in the article, an outbreak like this is a â€Å"major crisis for a country with a fragile health system recovering from several years of conflict (Health topics:Cholera in Sierra Leone: the case study of an outbreak; World Health Organization, September 2012). But looking at the bright side, Dr Eugene Lam, epidemic intelligence service officer from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) working for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative,states that â€Å" Messages about safe drinking water, hand washing and food preparation will not only reduce the cholera infections but also reduce all diarrhoeal disease, a big killer of children under-five in Sierra Leone (Health topics:Cholera in Sierra Leone: the case study of an outbreak; World Health Organization, September 2012). Jacobsen states in the preface to the textbook â€Å" If health is a human right, then basic health care and protection from preventable diseases should be available to all people , regardless of the condition that have made them vulnerable to illness, disability, and premature death (Jacobsen,preface xi). † I only hope one day by working together as a global community , we can make sure every single human being, irrespective of their socioeconomic status , can achieve a â€Å"state of complete physical, mental and social well- being (Jacobsen)†. * ————————————————- ————————————————- * ————————————————- References: * —————————————â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Health topics:Cholera in Sierra Leone: the case study of an outbreak; World Health Organization, September 2012. Retrieved from http://www. who. int/features/2012/cholera_sierra_leone/en/index. html on September 30th,2012. * ————————————————- National Institute of health ,U. S. National Library of Medicine – The World's Largest Medical Library,A. D. A. M. Medical Encyclopedia, May 30th 2012 . Retrieved from www. ncbi. nlm. nih. ov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001348/ on September 30th,2012 * ————————————————- * ————————————————- Health statistics of Sierra Leone;World Health Organization,2012. Retrieved from http://www. who. int/countries /sle/en/index. html on september 30th, 2012 . * ————————————————- * ————————————————- Introduction to Global Health, Kathryn H. Jacobsen . * ————————————————- * ————————————————- GCH-205-DL2 (FALL 2012), Module 4, Lauren Savaglio.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

The Social Acceptance of Teen Pregnancy - 1006 Words

Teen Pregnancy has become a constant form of societal acceptance. Amongst the ages of 15-19 three quarters out of a million of them ended up pregnant, while only a few of them had planned it. Because of hit television shows like 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom, Teen Mom 2, and Teen Mom 3, media has made it acceptable for teens to attempt motherhood. In this case, teens are not taking in account the associated health risk and related issues like abortion, lack of care, and mental trauma. The children of teen mothers consequently suffer from the possibility of infant death, being born premature and with low birth weight, the possibility of blindness, deafness, chronic respiratory problems, mental retardation, mental illness, and cerebral palsy. These consequences are due to the fact that these girls have not fully developed themselves and will begin a cycle of teenage pregnancy. Therefore, teenage pregnancy is becoming a steady trend that many young girls seem to reluctantly fall into due t o the negative influence of society. Teenage pregnancy arose back in the colonial era because in this time frame it was very common for adolescences to marry. Children were around the age of 13 when they were having children in royalty and this was considered the norm. By the 1900’s the country became more industrialized and it was not until the 1950’s, era of the baby boomers, where during WW11 women were engaging in premarital sex. It was the norm for teens to marry out of high school theirShow MoreRelatedTeenage Pregnancy Essay1573 Words   |  7 Pagescolonization, First Nation teen pregnancy rates are higher, and has adversely affected them psychologically, socioeconomically as well as conflicting with their cultural beliefs. As teen motherhood is socially structured. 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In fact, the birth rate has been on a steady decline over the past 20 years, from 61.8 in 1991 to 26.5 in 2013. Teenage pregnancy represents both a health and social inequality in our society. Specifically, teenage childbearing is a public health issue because teenage mothers are more likely to experience negative social outcomes such as dropping out of school. This is a self-reinforcing cycle, as children of teenage mothers face higher chances of poor academic achievementRead MoreQuestions On Gender Identity And Gender Essay1251 Words   |  6 Pagesunderstanding and sensitivity to other peoples’ gender. When we say gender, we initially mean the biological characteristics that determine whether we are male or female. This is somewhat different in gender identity because it involves the thoughts and acceptance of an individual’s gender no matter what their biological gender may be. An example of this would be someone who is born with biological characteristics of a female, but identifies with a male gender. 2. Psychoanalytic Theory of Gender (p.371):Read MoreIs The Most Socially Consequential Family Trend Of Our Generation?990 Words   |  4 PagesProblem Statement In the United States it is becoming more and more likely for children to grow up without their fathers. Father absence is a crucial social issue and can be linked to dozens of our most pressing social dilemmas. David Blankenhorn of the American Experiment said â€Å"this trend of fatherlessness is the most socially consequential family trend of our generation† (Blankenhorn). Father absence in the American home has a serious and negative effect on the well-being of our societyRead MoreAmerican Culture And The Influence Of Music1397 Words   |  6 Pagesworldliness that now typifies the pop culture, interferes with art. This is due to the audience’s acceptance of music containing lyrics that encourages all kinds of indecorous behavior. Although, Beyoncà © is known for being the third most honored women in Grammy Award history and a global symbol of female empowerment, her song â€Å"Partition† should be avoided because it lacks emotion, encourages tee n pregnancy, and has lyrics crowded with unintelligible pop-culture references. The first reason to avoidRead MoreDetrimental Effects of Social Media on Teenagers963 Words   |  4 PagesThe use of social media (which includes such media as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr) has become so popular among today’s youth, that it is becoming more than just a fragment of the youth’s world, it is becoming their world. According to a social network statistics report conducted on August 18, 2013, ninety-eight percent of teens are already using some form of social media. 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