The environmental and economic effects of local coal mining Research Paper

The environmental and economic effects of local coal mining - Research Paper Example Towards the northern end potatoes, wheat is grown along with cattle that are used to make dairy products. Towards the southern end farmers grow corn, tobacco and because the ground is flatter, poultry which provides eggs. The valleys of the Appalachian Mountains are ideal to grow alfalfa, hay and apples. Most of the forests that cover the ancient mountain range consist of hickories, maples and oaks. In the fall they change color from deep green to orange and crispy brown. The trees are chopped off for their wood and then taken to North Caroline furniture makers. The peaks are rich in coal, thus coal mining has emerged as a major industry and provides employment to many natives of the Appalachian Mountains. The upper land is also rich in mineral resources such as Iron, stone and crude oil. Of course the vast timber forests are worth their weight in gold as the international demand for timber for various chemical and furniture industry rises. Tourism is also a booming industry which provides a steady source of income for most people living on the mountain tops. There is a Mount Mitchell National Park which was established in 1915 and named after the scientist Dr. Mitchell who was the first one sent to the mountain to collect the accurate data on its height. He fell to his death while he was climbing one of the mountains in the Appalachian range. Mining for various minerals have taken the toll on the mountain range and their inhabitants. Mining especially, surface mining where the surface is blasted off and the mineral collected and in strip mining where a side of a mountain is due in and then the mineral is accessed. When we consider mining for coal we have to consider two things, the heat trapping carbon dioxide it generates and the solution to the environment damage that is incurred when the cheap source of fuel is dug out of the ground in massive quantities. Never has the question been so vital to survival more

Multiculturalism and Citizenship Education Essay

Multiculturalism and Citizenship Education - Essay Example A common issue that arises is the problem of stereotyping. People have preconceived notions about certain groups of people which often result in conflicts. These preconceived notions are most often based on stories that have been handed down from generation to generation, blindly trusting in the words spoken without finding out the reality them. To prevent problems regarding race from getting worse, proper education is needed. More than putting forward a sense of belongingness, citizenship offers a person or a citizen more than just his rightful place in this world. Along with a person's citizenship come a set of rights he is entitled to such as the right to vote, the right to acquire property and so on. With these rights also come a set of responsibilities, among which are obeying laws set by the government. (Family Guardian Fellowship n.d.). However, this is not enough. Citizens should be taught to acknowledge the existence of distinct cultural groups within the race. With this will come a better understanding other groups and their role in society which will lead to better interactions among groups. Bernard Crick has this to say with regard to educating the public about citizenship, "Citizenship is more than a subject. If taught well and tailored to local needs, its skills and values will enhance democratic life for all of us, both rights and responsibilities, beginning in school and radiating out. " (Citizenship Foundation n.d.., page 1) In the quote in the previous paragraph, Bernard Crick points out that citizenship should not be treated as just a subject taught in school. After finishing school, one is supposed to be equipped with the proper skills, inculcated with the right values that would enable a person to be an active, contributing member of society. This, of course, would vary depending on a nation's culture and need. Such a heavy burden lies on the shoulders of educators who are faced with the task of imparting knowledge and moulding the minds of the world's future leaders. They should take great care in doing this and in setting the right examples so as not to misinform students. On the part of the students, they should realize that once they have passed the subject, the matter of citizenship does not end there. After they leave school, it seems that they have forgotten about their lessons and go back to the old practices that put people of certain cultural backgrounds in stereotypes. In his article Multicultural Citizenship and post-devolution Britain: an analysis of minority rights, political representation and redistributive justice, Tristan Clayton associates the recent changes that have occurred in the British political landscape with several contentions in Will Kymlicka's work in Multicultural Citizenship. According to Clayton, Kymlicka claims that living in a culturally diverse society is achievable and necessary. Geographically speaking, the different areas in a country has different types of climates, terrain and resources This leads to the fact that people that come from different parts of the same country may have adversely different sets of inherent cultures and beliefs. According to Clayton, Kymlicka attests that given this innate organization, the issues that concern groups of different cultural orientation should be addressed in such a way that all groups