We the animals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

We the animals - Essay Example r instance, he is not worried about the challenges his family is going through such as his father’s drinking problem and the conflict between his father and mother. The narrator is also a humorous character. This is evident in the sixth chapter after graduating into adulthood, but he still remembers the joys of brotherhood that make him wish to be young again. The brutal treatment and a true portrayal of many families as presented in the novel depict that the narrator is a real and considerate person with respect to the contemporary life experiences. The ending scenes in the last chapter create a nostalgic feeling in the audience’s mind. This is evident in the scene where the narrator speculates into the future tense telling the readers, â€Å"soon they’ll drop out, they’ll skunk around in basement apartments with grown men who keep pet snakes in glass aquariums† (Torres, 2011). A scene from the last chapter also distances the audience from the flow of the story line. The narrator says, â€Å"Look at us, see how I made them easy† (Torres, 2011). This scene presents a stylistic device that likens the writer’s story with his real life experiences. Additionally, a part of the novel also seems to be missing in this scene. This is the part between â€Å"Niagara† and â€Å"The Night I Am Made†, which describes the narrator’s sexual orientation and violence unfolding from his family. Comparable to his brothers at beginning of the story, the readers are voracious and are lef t in a melancholic mood of wanting to know more about the left part. I feel that Torres would have created reader’s anticipations to satisfy their reading appetite when he follows up this debut with a second appealing novel like We the Animals. This book touches real life experiences of many individuals as presented in different scenes. For instance, the hardships these boys went through are the extreme versions of what most of the readers remember about their childhood lifestyles. I was

Student Learning Environment & Scoring Rubric Essay

Student Learning Environment & Scoring Rubric - Essay Example Design of a rubric can be cumbersome but rewarding and useful. Today's Baccalaureate program in nursing seeks to provide leaders in nursing. This is a program that is needed in the 21st century, at a time when the world is expecting a tremendous number of patients as well as many chronic diseases. There are many challenges and at this point, there is a great shortage of nurses, therefore those who lead will need every innovation that they can find. This will include the ability to apply standards and assure core competencies, as well as teaching and mentoring newer nurses. This paper will examine the core competencies for this program and determine and determine how a nurse educator might achieve the learning environment that works (AACN, 1). According to the American Association of Colleges for Nursing, there are nine essentials that should be accomplished by the end of one's nursing program. These include, liberal education for the generalist, basic organizational and systems leadership, scholarship for evidence based practice, information management and application of patient care technology, health care policy, finance, and regulatory environments, interprofessional communication and collaboration for improving patient health outcomes, clinical prevention and population health, professionalism and professional values, and generalist nursing practice. These competencies are stated slightly differently but supported by the NLNAC and nurse educators. This paper will choose to discuss scholarship for evidence based practice, interprofessional communication and collaboration for improving patient health outcomes, and the baccalaureate generalist nursing practice. The AACN has determined that professional nursing should be supported by an evidence based practice. This includes identification of issues that affect practice as well as integration of evidence and evaluation of the outcome of that integration. Baccalaureate education should provide the tools for the graduate nurse to be prepared to use evidence based practice. This include the research process, clinical judgment, and interpersonal prospective (AACN, 1). Effective communication and collaboration among professionals in practice is essential in care today. Patient centered care has been proven by many studies to be effective an quality care (Kautz, Kuiper, Pesut, 2005). Interprofessional communication supports patient centered care, therefore interprofessional education where it involves evidence base or communication becomes an essential part of any Baccalaureate Nurse education. Learning to educate as well as communicate allows the nurse to introduce new practices more easily (IPMG, 6). Baccalaureate generalist nursing practice is essential because the overall program generally learned is completed with practice focused outcomes. This brings together the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are learned in all of the other essential practices. It allows the nurse to understand individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations in many different settings (AACN, 2009). In providing care, the nurse must be compassionate, well informed in evidence based practice, and well aware of how to conduct nursing research to meet this essential. Clinical reasoning should be evident in this nurse and she should

Home Based Childcare Essay Example for Free

Home Based Childcare Essay Childminder must handle all information that she has on the child as confidential and should be shared only with the child’s parents and the child. It is essential to handle data about children and families in a confidential way, due to that they have a legal right to privacy. It is equally important that information should not be passed on without written approval of the parents or carer, because they have the right to give or deny their consent before the childminder may take certain action with respect to their child. For example the parents or carer approval is needed to discuss information about the children with professionals such us GP, health visitors or teachers. Therefore it is important also to get permission to share the child’s learning journey with other professionals. In second place confidentiality and data protection also means that all information about children and families should not discussed with a friend or other parents. Therefore there are only two sets of circumstances to share information: * Parents or cares gave the written approval for it. * It is essential to do so in the best of interest of the child, for example safeguarding or medical emergency. All information about children and families is sensitive. So that all documentation, reports, notes about the child should be kept in a safe place such, as in a filing cabinet, which can be locked, and not removed from the childminder’s home. Furthermore all information stored on computer must be password protected. In the same way photographs of the children can only be taken with the written consent of the parents and carers. Data protection Act exist to strike a balance between the rights of individuals to privacy and to use data for the purposes of the business. The purpose of data protection legislation is to make sure that the personal data is not processed without the knowledge of the individuals. The act of data protection introduced basic rules of registration for data users and right of access to that data for the individuals who are related to it. The childminders have data protection responsibilities. First of all they need to protect the children and their families and maintain sense of trust between parent and staff. Most important is that if they keep records of the children’s health, behaviour or development on the computer or takes digital photograph of the children, they â€Å"will be expected to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)† (ncma.org.uk, 2013). The points that I may include in my confidentiality and Date protection policy are: Confidentiality Policy * All parents receive a copy of my policies and procedures, which detail how I run my setting. * My certificate of registration is displayed and available to all parents. * I am aware of my responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. * I maintain a record of parents’ and/or emergency contact details, the contact details of the child’s GP and appropriate signed consent forms. * If a child is identified as a child in need (section 17 of the Children Act 1989) I will, normally with the parent’s permission, give appropriate information to referring agencies. * I expect parents to inform me of any changes in the child’s home circumstances, care arrangements or any other change which may affect the child’s behaviour such as a new baby, parents’ separation, divorce, new partner or any bereavement. * All information shared will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed without the parents’ consent, except as required by law, for example, if there appears to be a child protection issue. Please see my Safeguarding Children policy. * I expect parents to keep private and confidential any sensitive information they may accidentally learn about my family, setting or the other children and families attending, unless it is a child protection issue. * Ofsted may require to my see records at any time. * Parents have the right to inspect all records about their child at any time. * All significant incidents are recorded in an incident book and will be shared and discussed with parents so that together we can work to resolve any issues. * As a registered provider I must notify Ofsted of any serious accidents, illnesses or injuries or the death of any child whilst in my care and any action I may have taken within 14 days of an incident occurring. * If I am in need of support or advice regarding a serious illness or incident involving a child in my care I may contact National Childminding Association who will log information regarding the incident with regard to their safeguarding policy. An NCMA designated officer will be assigned to my case and all the information given to them will be kept confidentially unless their appears to be a child protection issue which will be reported accordingly. * If an accident or incident involving a child in my care may result in an insurance claim I will contact my public liability insurance provider to discuss my case and be allocated a claim number. This may involve discussing details of the child in my care with a third party. * If I am using the National Childminding Association (NCMA) public liability insurance, the total life of the policy is 21 years and 4 months to enable the child to make a claim against the policy at a later date. Data Protection Policy * I am aware of my responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. * If I keep records relating to individual children on my computer I will ask for the parent’s permission. The information will be securely stored for example, in password-protected files, to prevent viewing of the information by others with access to the computer. Backup files will be stored on [insert method, for example, a memory stick, DVD or CD] which will be locked away when not being used. * All information on children, families and anyone working with me (if applicable) is kept securely and treated in confidence. Information will only be shared if the parents/carers/co-workers give their permission or there appears to be a child protection issue. All details will be kept confidential and records are kept secure. The details are easily accessible if any information is required for inspection by Ofsted. * All parents will be asked to complete permission forms for use of photos, please see Parent Permission form. Photos will be used for observations. I will be carrying my mobile phone with me when I am on outings to keep emergency contact details and to call for assistance and to contact parents if First Aid is required. My mobile does have a facility to take photo’s (this will done in accordance to parental permissions). * I am registered as a Data Controller with the ICO (Information Commissioners Office). Biography * http://www.ncma.org.uk/childminders/your_business/policies_and_procedures/data_protection.aspx * Riddall-Leech, Sheila (2010): Home-Based Childcare Student Book: Level 3 Unit CYPOP5 * The date protection Act 1998

Analysis of Inequality Reexamined by Amartya Sen

Analysis of Inequality Reexamined by Amartya Sen Harshal Bhoi Book: Inequality Reexamined Author: Amartya Sen The claims of equality in social arrangements are tested in Inequality Reexamined. Amartya Sen begins by identifying a common characteristic of virtually all the contemporary moral approaches to social arrangement. Amartya Sen studies thoroughly what equality and inequality are in different circumstances. The basic issue that divides the different approaches is not ‘whether equality’ but ‘equality of what’? Will a commitment to equality hide human differences? Let us consider some measurements on which equality may seem appealing such as rights, resources, achievements, and happiness. What’s more consider some of the facts of human diversity such as people differ in social circumstances, abilities and skills and preferences, and values. Diversity seems to cause problems for equality. The motive is differences along the latter dimensions do not include simultaneous equalization. Different skills and the differences of reward they command allude that equal rights will probably change into unequal material resources; differences of preference and value suggest that equal material resources will translate into unequal achievements. A blanket cling of equality, then, leads blindness to diversity. As an issue of human diversity, equality in any one area infers inequalities in others. One characteristic understanding of equality would oblige that individuals be guaranteed equal means for seeking after their disparate aims; a second would oblige that the distribution of resources guarantee everybody just as great results, similarly great lives. Amartya Sens Inequality Reexamined rejects both, arguing rather that individuals should face just as equally desirable life prospects-equal capability for working, to utilize his official terminology. Given the differing qualities of abilities, similarly attractive life prospects will oblige unequal means; given contrasts in what individuals make of their prospects, it will yield unequal results. Anyway, as indicated by Sen, it guarantees equality of effective freedom to accomplish prosperity. Inequality Reexamined covers numerous questions identified with inequality, its focal intention is to clarify Sens view that relevant egalitarianism calls for equality across individuals of abilities to function. Functionings consist of different doings and beings, for example, moving around, meeting expectations, being overall sustained, additionally more subjective states, for example, being happy and having sense of pride. Sens methodology from other egalitarian proposals essentially in two ways: 1 non-welfarist, as in workings other than satisfaction and 2non-resourcist as in the justness of a distribution cant be found out essentially by knowing the bundle of goods accessible to individuals. Sen advances the capability approach to solving a portion of the issues about which he is writing. The capability approach permits people the right and the ability to seek after their own particular prosperity inside their social orders. The equality Sen proclaims stems to a great extent from political and moral strengthening: It is a uniformity of chance. Sens capability methodology get conclusion to what people truly want. Sen wants to arrange his perspective as advocating equality of freedom to achieve as opposed to equality of opportunity, evidently in light of the fact that he discovers opportunity excessively related to a limited, formal conception. To complete the representation of the capability view, two capabilities concerning content and scope are vital. As to content: the necessity of equal capabilities for functioning does not oblige identity of capability sets. Unique capability sets may be just as great. Furthermore important, Sens intersection approach to the foundations of interpersonal correlations accentuates that matches of capacity sets may be incommensurable. Incommensurability emerges from the diversity of conceptions of the good. Incommensurability, and related limits on interpersonal comparisons of advantage, rises straight forwardly as an issue of the pluralism of conceptions of the good and the undesirability of resting correlations on a single conception; those points of confinement dont rely on upon epistemological or magical claims, or on natural gimmicks of extensive evaluative conceptions themselves. Assume we have full data and a set of conflicting conceptions of the good, each of which gives a complete ordering of capability sets. At that point, if we wish to find support within the diverse conceptions of the good for interpersonal correlations made for the reasons of a record of justice, we should face incommensurability. Anyway the wish to discover such support is itself one expression of the concern to accommodate diversity. An equivalent capability for functioning is a record of equity, not of the offset of political values. Despite the fact that Sen does not describe the full scope of political values, or their relative weight, he does note that equality of abilities is not a full account of justice. Consider two individuals who face the same limited capability set. In one case, then again, the limits reflect coercively forced legal restrictions; in the other they reflect internal weakness. In spite of the fact that this discrimination will go unrepresented in the space of capabilities, a conceivable record of justice cannot be for it. Thus, the capability perspective, central as it is for a theory of equality, cant be completely sufficient for it. There is a true need to acquire the demands of liberty as an additional principle. Any improvement in a specialists environment-cleaner water, for instance counts as a change capability for functioning: a change in water quality constitutes a change in the set of beings and doings that exist in an agents reach. However why does this change, separated from any further impacts it may have, constitute an increase in effective freedom? Improved water quality will probably reduce the amount of time that individuals need to use ensuring clean water, and that implies greater freedom. Be that as it may Sen goes further, demanding that the change itself constitutes an expansion of freedom, and not just a welfare gain. His reason is that the specialists would have chosen the change, and the idea of counterfactual decision what one would have chosen if one had the decision is relevant to ones freedom. Sens contention for the capability approach interfaces equality of capabilities to the naturally appealing thought of equivalent effective freedom. I agree with Sens stress on the estimation of effective freedom. Reasons behind being concerned with formal freedom are ordinarily also good reasons behind being concerned with effective freedom: in the event that we are concerned to guarantee formal freedom on account of its connection with the pride of individuals, or the importance of a public affirmation of equivalent worth, then we should likewise to be concerned about effective freedom with what people have the capacity do with their freedom. But Sen does not show a compelling case for the claim that ability for functioning explains the intuitive idea of effective freedom. Furthermore clearly capability is a more extensive thought. An additionally promising line of argument for the capability perspective proceeds by means of criticism of leading alternative accounts of equality. Sen argues specifically that the functioning perspective gives a superior interpretation of equality than equality of accomplishments or equality of means. Sens important focus in his discussion of equality of means is John Rawls. In A Theory of Justice, Rawls contends that justice commands the security of equal essential liberties and the maximization of the base level of earnings and wealth. Furthermore he urges that the fulfilment of these commands will accomplish the end of social justice, which is to increase the value to the slightest advantaged of the complete plan of equal liberty shared by all. The worth of liberty is a matter of what individuals can do with their rights-how beneficial the equal liberties are to them. As Rawlss emphasis on the worth of liberties indicates, then, he agrees with Sen that what matters for social justice is substantive or effective freedom. Where they disagree is that Rawls supposes that the worth of a persons liberty is determined by the level of the primary goods of income, wealth, powers, and authority at the persons disposal. That is why he thinks that protecting basic liberties and satisfying the difference principle-maximizing the minimum level of income and wealth-suffices to maximize the minimum worth of liberty. Sen, in effect, denies that primary goods are an adequate index of the worth of liberty: (e)quality of freedom to pursue our ends cannot be generated by equality in the distribution of primary goods. Human diversity suggests pervasive differences in the capacity of people to change target conditions (assets, primary goods, circumstances) into functioning. Furthermore that implies we shall not find anything such that balancing it ensures an interpersonal equalization of capability sets (something besides capability sets themselves). Or-accepting that those sets represent the extent of freedom nothing such that equalising it equalises the extent of freedom. Thus, on a fundamental level in any event, social assessment of equality, poverty, and justice should continue specifically as far as the extent of freedom as represented by capability sets and not regarding a subset of the components that focus the extent of freedom. Sens reactions of equality of achievement underscore its restricted power. Also his objections to equality of means specifically, primary goods-point as far as possible in that idea, as well. But the last criticisms are in the end less convincing. Sen is right in urging that justice requires a concern with the value of freedom; and, as cases of disability and desperation show, essential goods are at best case scenario an imperfect substitute for that worth. So there are some cases in which the concern for effective freedom committed to equality requires that we look beyond the distribution of essential goods. What is less clear is the way best to react to those limits. Both the essential goods view and the capability theory assume a capacity for individuals to take responsibility for their aims, and that obligation would require the individual to adjust their aims to the accessible scope of chances. On the off chance that this is correct, then given a background of far reaching opportunities, equal chances for individuals with equal abilities will significantly limit the scope of inequalities by the lights of the capability approach. In perspective of the instructive focal points of essential goods, we might use them CONCLUSION To finish up, Inequality Re-examined makes two key focuses: the first point is the truths of differences confuse our understanding of equality; and the second point is a conceivable origination of equality will have some association with the thought of equivalent access to what individuals have inspiration to value. What is less clear is that recognition of human diversity qualities obliges us, as an issue matter, to make examinations in regards to capabilities. Importance of incommensurability, restricted data, obligation, and the need-in any event as an issue matter-for a thought of seriousness recommend that essential goods correlations will suffice in the cases-separated from disability and desperation in which the capability methodology is generally dubious.

Social Status Essay -- Sociology, Society, Roles

Roles are created from social status. Social status is the position we have in a social hierarchy. As a person’s social status change, their role also changes. Many will have more than one status at a time but they will perform their role one at a time. The roles we go through are not as easy as they seem to be. Each role has to be properly fulfilled in order to get approval from the society. Roles are difficult to maintain and succeed in for the reason that society expects other to behave a certain way according to their roles and if they do not, then they point their fingers at them. The roles can be classified from the way one dresses, such as their clothing, language, demeanor and general appearance will be different from male to female. Many might have endured role conflicts with a multiple role expectations. People will always try to perform their best when performing a role, even though it can be very difficult. One’s position can be over seen over all other stat us is master status. There can be a positive or a negative effect on the master status but depends on the society to decide what ones master status is. The expectations that must be fulfilled for a role to be properly played are the actions that society has set. The behavior one should follow in order to proper attain the role. an example of this would be the role of a father taking care of his family, playing with his children, support them financially and much more. His master status will be positive and every one will appreciate him for fulfilling his role perfectly. Nevertheless if one was to do something different from the norm, then the society labels the person negatively. If the father was to neglect his responsibilities of the family and start drinking, th... ... status that is given since birth. There are multiple roles to be performed with each status that a person holds. The roles we go through are not as easy as they seem to be. Each role has to be properly fulfilled in order to get approval from the society. It is difficult to carry out a role perfectly because the society has expectations set. The difficulties that one may endure while performing a role is that their appearance, language, demeanor will not be appropriate to the role. Another problem that many people go through is role strain, role conflict. They have trouble figuring out how to balance two roles at a time. Master status is a behavior, appearance or anything that stands out the most in a person. It can be taken negatively or positively. Generally, many have encountered how it feels to perform a role and tried their best to get society’s appreciation.

The Women Of Jane Austen :: Jane Austen Females Essays

The Women of Jane Austen Jane Austen has attracted a great deal of critical attention in recent years. Many have spoken out about the strengths and weaknesses of her characters, particularly her heroines. Austen has been cast as both a friend and foe to the rights of women. According to Morrison, 'most feminist studies have represented Austen as a conscious or unconscious subversive voicing a woman's frustration at the rigid and sexist social order which enforces subservience and dependence'; (337). Others feel that her marriage plots are representative of her allegiance to the social quid pro quo of her time: 'Marriage, almost inevitably the narrative event that constitutes a happy ending, represents in their view a submission to a masculine narrative imperative that has traditionally allotted women love and men the world'; (Newman 693).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In reality, Austen cannot accurately be evaluated as an author (or feminist subversive) without first examining the eighteenth century English society in which she lived and placed her heroines. Watt says that Austen's characters cannot be seen 'clearly until we make allowances for the social order in which they were rooted'; (41). Austen lived in a society where women were expected to be 'accomplished,'; as Darcy states in Pride and Prejudice, but not well educated ('Notes';). Women of the late eighteenth-century could not attend educational institutions like Oxford or Cambridge. It was not considered necessary for a woman to have knowledge of either Greek or Latin. If a woman received training, it was usually religious or domestically practical. The expected accomplishments of a woman at the time included the ability to draw, singing, speaking modern languages (such as Italian or French), and playing a musical instrument, usually the piano. These accomplishments were required to attract the right (rich) kind of husband. A woman's financial status was very important, and yet there was little she could do to improve it. Women of some social standing could not just go out and get a job. The only opportunities for support outside one's family was work as a governess, or live-in teacher. Money for a woman usually only came through marriage or the death of her father, and then only if she had no brothers or other male relatives. Marriage, then, was looked upon by both men and women as a necessity for security, regardless of a lack of attraction or love. Long-range financial stability had to be procured at an early age.

The Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal – The Taj – is the â€Å"King Emperor† amongst the World Wonders. The Taj is the final achievement and acme of the Mughal Art. It represents the most refined aesthetic values. It is a fantasy-like grandeur. It is the perfect culmination and artistic interplay of the architects' skill the jewellers' inspiration. The marble in-lay walls of the Taj are amongst the most outstanding examples of decorative workmanship. The elegant symmetry of its exterior and the aerial grace of its domes and minarets impress the beholder in a manner never to be forgotten. It stands out as one of the most priceless national monuments, of surpassing beauty and worth, a glorious tribute to man's achievement in Architecture and Engineering. The Taj is threatened with deterioration and damage not only by the traditional causes of decay, but also by changing social and economic conditions which aggravate the situation with even more formidable phenomena of damage or destruction. A private sector preservation organization called â€Å"World Monuments Fund† (American Express Company) has published a list of 100 most endangered sites (1996) in the World. The environment of Agra is today beset with problems relating to the inadequacy of its urban infrastructure for transportation, water and electricity. Residential fuel combustion, diesel trains and buses, and back-up generators cause the densest pollution near the Taj Mahal. Constitution of the proposed Agra Ring Road and Bypass that would divert the estimated daily 6,50,000 tons of trans-India truck traffic financing. Strict controls on industrial pollution established in 1982 are being intensively enforced following a 1993 Supreme Court Order. The Asian Development Bank's proposed $300 million loan to the Indian Government to finance infrastructure improvements would provide the opportunity to solve the chronic problems. Agra contains three World Heritage Sites, including the Taj Mahal. † According to the petitioner, the foundries, chemical/hazardous industries and the refinery at Mathura are the major sources of damages to the Taj. The Sulphur Dioxide emitted by the Mathura Refinery and the industries when combined with Oxygen – with the aid of moisture – in the atmosphere forms sulphuric acid called â€Å"Acid rain† which has a corroding effect on the gleaming white marble. Industrial/Refinery emissions, brick-kilns, vehicular traffic and generator-sets are primarily responsible for polluting the ambient air around Taj Trapezium (TTZ). The petition states that the white marble has yellowed and blackened in places. It is inside the Taj that the decay is more apparent. Yellow pallor pervades the entire monument. In places ugly brown and black spots magnify the yellow hue. Fungal deterioration is worst in the inner chamber where the original graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal lie. According to the petitioner the Taj – a monument of international repute – is no its way to degradation due to atmosphere pollution and it is imperative that preventive steps are taken and soon. The petitioner has finally sought appropriate directions to the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to stop air pollution in the TTZ and save the Taj. The court considered the affidavit filed by the board and directed the board to issue a public notice. Pursuant to the courts order, the board filed affidavit (5. 8. 93), wherein it stated that public notice was published in two national newspapers calling upon the industries to file their replies during the extended time. The affidavit also states that all listed industries were polluting industries and 507 out of them had not even installed any air pollution control device. The 212industries that did not respond to the notice and failed to take any steps towards installing the pollution control devices were closed by order-dated 27. 8. 93. The court was assisted in its efforts to improve air quality in the TTZ by the reports prepared by the NEERI (National Environment Engineering Research Institute), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) on the supply of fuel gas to industries in the area and the study conducted by the Vardharajan Committee, which was constituted in May 1994, by the MoEF. Varadharajan Committee made, among others, the following recommendations: â€Å"Steps may be taken to ensure that no new industry including small industries or other units which can cause pollution are located north-west of the Taj Mahal. Efforts may be made to relocate the existing small industries particularly the foundries, in an area southeast of Agra beyond the Taj Mahal so that emissions from these industries will not be in the direction of the monuments. Similar considerations may apply to large industries such as Fertilizer and Petrochemicals. Such industries, which are likely to cause environmental pollution, may not be located in the neighbourhood of the refinery. The Committee further recommends that no large industry in the Agra region and its neighbourhood be established without conducting appropriate detailed studies to assess the environmental effect of such industries on the monuments. Location should be so chosen as to exclude any increase in environmental pollution in the area. †¦ The Committee wishes to record its deep concern regarding the existing level of pollution in Agra. It recommends that an appropriate authority be created which could monitor emissions by industries as well as air quality at Agra on a continuous basis. This authority should be vested with powers to direct industries causing pollution to limit the level of emission and specify such measures as are necessary to reduce the emissions whenever the pollutant level at the monuments exceeds acceptable limits. The Committee particularly desires that recommendations made in regard to reduction of existing pollution levels at Agra should be covered to a time-bound programme and should be implemented with utmost speed. The Committee also recommends that studies should be undertaken by competent agencies to explore the possibility of protecting the monuments by measures such as provision of a green belt around Agra in the region between Mathura and Agra. Even though assurances have been obtained from IOC that adequate precautions would be taken to contain the pollution on account of using coal in the power plant, the Committee is of the opinion that till such time this problem is studies in depth and suitable technologies have been found to be satisfactorily in use elsewhere the use of coal in the refinery power plant should be deferred. The National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) gave an â€Å"Overview Report† regarding status of air pollution around the Taj in 1990. â€Å"The sources of pollution, including small and medium-scale industrial units, are scattered all around Taj Mahal. High air pollution load is thus pumped into the Taj air shed. Sudden rises in concentrat ion level are often recorded in all directions in gaseous as well as particulate pollutant depending upon the local micro climatic conditions. On four occasions during the five-year air quality monitoring, the 4 hrly average values of SO2 at Taj Mahal were observed to be higher than 300 ug/m3, i. e. 10 folds of the promulgated CPCB standard of 30 ug/m3 for sensitive areas. The values exceeded even the standard of 120-ug/m3 set for industrial zones. Statistical analysis of the recorded data indicate that 40% (cumulative percentage level) has crossed the standard set for sensitive receptors/zones. The SPM levels at Taj Mahal were invariably high (more than 200 ug/m3) and exceeded the national ambient air quality standard of 100 ug/m3 for SPM for sensitive locations barring a few days in monsoon months. Another study during 1985-87 brought to fore that the overall status of the ambient air quality within the trapezium has significantly deteriorated over this period. â€Å"The Taj Mahal marble samples analyzed by NEERI in 1993 reveal that the black soot on certain protected surfaces contains 0. 6% Calcium and traces of Sulphate. X-ray diffraction studies indicated that soot and quartz (Silicon Dioxide) and the major constituents of the black coating at Taj Mahal (Lal and Holden, ES & T, April 1981). The origin of soot can be traced back to the fuel consumption around the sensitive receptor, while quartz is derived from geocrustal origin and causes surface abrasion. Soot in itself is not chemically destructive, but with tar it acts as a soiling agent. Absorption of the acidic gases is enhanced due to the presence of soot/smoky matter resulting in long-term effects. Further, the presence of soot reduces the aesthetic value of the monument. Ambient air around Taj Mahal is polluted primarily from point/line sources and has adverse impacts on building material by alteration of marble and sandstone structures at microcrystalline level. The earlier studies have revealed that the concentrations of gaseous pollutants and SPM (predominantly soot and carbon particles) are relatively high during winter months due to the frequent inversion conditions restricting vertical dispersion. During monsoon seasons, suspended particles are washed away and this cycle of pollutant builds up and subsequent removal continues exposing fresh surface of the monument to the pollutant. The period industrial development of Agra-Mathura region has resulted in acidic emissions into the atmosphere at an alarming rate. This causes serious concern on the well being of Taj Mahal. †¦ The gaseous pollutants being acidic in nature, significantly both the as well as the biotic components of the ecosystem like plants and building material like marble and red stone. The sources of pollution in Agra region as per the report of the Central Pollution Control Board are iron foundries, Ferro-alloyed industries, rubber processing, lime processing, engineering, chemical industry, brick refractory and vehicles, Mathura Refinery and Ferozabad Glass Industry. On 3 August 1995, the court formed a tentative view that polluting industries in the TTZ would have to be relocated and sought the assistance of the Union Government to device an appropriate solution. Taj, being a cultural heritage is an industry by itself. More than two million tourists visit Taj every year and this is a good source of revenue for the country. The court had monitored this petition for over three years with the objective of preventing and protecting the Taj from deterioration and damage due to atmosphere and environmental pollution. It cannot be disputed that the use of coal/coke by the industries emits pollution in the ambient air. The objective behind this litigation is to stop pollution while encouraging development of the industries. The old concept that development and ecology cannot go hand in hand is no longer acceptable. The development of the industries is essential but not at the cost of the environment. Orders passed by the court time to time indicate that the relocation of the industries from TTZ is to be resorted to only if the Natural Gas, which has been brought at the doorstep of TTZ is not acceptable/ available by/to the industries as a substitute for coal/coke. The GAIL has already invited the industries in the TTZ to apply for gas connections and industries operating in TTZ with the gas connections need not relocate. The atmospheric pollution in the TTZ has to be eliminated at any cost as it's not just the preservation of monument, which is essential, but also the human life. In August 1999, the Supreme Court struck again, ordering the closure of 53 iron foundries and 107 other factories in Agra that had not cleaned up their act. The order has become a call to arms for foundry owners, workers, trade union representatives and small-scale industry. However, industry is buying time: it filed a review petition through the Uttar Pradesh State government and obtained a reprieve on the court order's implementation. The matter comes again before the Supreme Court this summer. In the meantime, Agra's Iron Founders' Association is building up their case. They argue that 3,000 cottage and engineering units depend on the foundries, and that they directly or indirectly employ about 300,000 workers. They hold that the technology for using natural gas in their industries is not yet ready. Taj trapezium project's phase II gets green signal Buoyed by a decline in the pollution levels around the Taj trapezium with the successful implementation of the first phase of the afforestation project, the state administration has okayed the Rs 15. 0-crore second phase. The success of the plantation scheme assumes significance since a report prepared by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur, had pointed out how â€Å"pollution inventory of Agra reflected high concentration of NO2, SO2 and CO2†. Apart from a vigorous re-run of the plantation campaign in the Taj city, this ph ase envisages greening of â€Å"sensitive receptors† of pollution like the heritage monuments and the 42-hectare land strip along the NH-2 (Delhi-Agra-Kanpur), NH-3 (Delhi-Agra-Mumbai) and NH-11 (Jaipur-Agra) highways. A 3