Do you want to be killed or loved by your kids? This is very easy to answer; of course all of us want to be loved by our kids. Even if you do not think that your own children can kill you, it is true. The meaning of kill in this paragraph is not the phisical action, our children can kill us with attitude or behavior. If we can teach our kids how to be good people in life, why don’t we do it? Parenting is the most difficult job in the world and nobody teaches them. In contrast now there are programs that give parenting classes. These classes can help us to know how to handle our children. Parents should take parenting classes because with need to know how to deal with problems, teach values and live a life that changes all the time.
First, life has changes as time changes. Nowadays life is facing a lot of new problems such as violence, drugs, teenager’s pregnancy, diseases and psicological problems. In contrast these problems are new so in the past parents did not need someone who teach them how to be parent. Parents should take parenting classes to learn how to deal with these new problems. All over the world is very easy to see violence like in the television programs, video games, cartoons, movies and news about the war in Iraq. All the kids have access to see these kind of programs so parents should know more about their children what do they play, see and listen. Children need to know about the world, as a result there are some strategies that parents can use to talk with them about it. For example, a father buys a video game for his child because he was crying for it. The father will buy the game without looking what kind of game is. The video game may have violence and it can imply bad attitude in the kids. For this type of situations parents need to take classes to know how to deal with kids and which kind of games are good for kids. Teenager pregnancy is a big concern in the U.S. because there are a lot of teenagers who get pregnant and do not know how to take care of themselves. There are parents very young, they need to learn many things about a baby. Adams (2007), “Raising children is one of the toughest and most fulfilling jobs in the world - and the one for which you may feel the least prepared”. There are many people who do not care about parenting classes because they think that they do not need it. Although be parents is the hardest job in the world you will get a lot of unique experiences, happy moments and a huge pride of your kids. Teenager’s life is very difficult there are many changes phisical and psicological. Teenager’s parents need to learn how to take care of their kids, even though they do not take care by their own. Teenager’s parents are the main teachers for teenager parents but also a parenting class will be very useful. Teenagers need to be responsable of their actions and know the responsability that they received with their child. Problems will never end so we need to deal with these and control them. Parenting classes will teach us how do we need to teach our children as a result our children will be better citizens.
Second values are the base of the perfect world. Values affect in humans in a positive way such as moral, spiritual, social and cultural. In these days we can see how people are losing their values or even worse they did not know about values. Values are taught at first by our parents. We learn all kinds of values in our home and we improve those outside the home. It will be wonderfull if all the parents know how to teach values to their children. All the people will have values and the life will be better. For example, on the school if all the kids have values like responsability, respect, honesty and friendship the classroom will be more succesful than another where the kids do not have values. The values of respect, dignity and honesty help us to finish with many crimes such as robbery, falsification and kidnapping. The age of the people does not matter if you want to learn values. Those parents who do not teach their children values yet, now we know it is time to do it. Parenting classes will tell us how to do teach values to older children.
Third most of the parents make many mistakes. The parents do not know that they are doing things wrong because nobody teach how to be a good father or a good mother. All the information that they can get is by their parents. It is not faith that the fist child of a family become the experiment without idea of what should they do in some circumstances. That is why parenting classes will have a huge impact in the parent’s life. These classes can fit in every part of the world because every part of the world has people that in certain moment will be parents. These classes need to be teach by professional people who have experience with this. Parents not only handle with their children when they are babies they need to handle with them all their lives. One of the most difficult stage is adolescence when teenagers change phisical and phicological.
Foster (2005), "When kids get to be teenagers, they think differently than children". This is another important subjet that parents should know because it is very difficult for many parentes to talk about certain topics such as sexsuality.
The opponents say that parents should not take parenting classes because there is not time to do it. However, this argument is incomplete because even though there is not time for parenting classes we have to do it because is time spend for our children. Halsey, C. (n.d.), “Many people believe parenting should come naturally but sometimes we all need a bit of help, which is when parenting classes can be useful”.For some people is easier to handle with their children because of their own character. In the other hand parenting is a very difficult process for many people, that is why they should take parenting classes. For example, Some people are not pacient with their children so with some lesson they can learn how to be pacient. Parenting classes is not a waste of time; we can meet more couples and have more experiences. Parenting classes will not be for too long, these classes will be for the time that you need to learn. For example, a couple can go to parenting classes and with a few lessons can be done. Some parents do not need too much time but some of them do because they have more children or teenagers who are the most difficult age. Children would notice that their parents go to school as they do. For example, children will be surprised that their parents go to school too. Children will go to school excited and they will talk to their friends about classes for parents. As a result more parents will know about it and join these classes. Parenting classes can be lessons, courses and also online meetings. These online meetings will be with an online teacher that you can ask questions and he will give you the answers,
Parenting classes will help us more than we think. People shoul think about the future of their children. If all the people agree having good children, we need to star teaching values, good attitudes, behavior and friendship. We will never be perfects but if we ca be a little bit better we should try. Many thinks we can learn from parenting classes and also our children teach us many thinks than we did not know about before. In the future the people will have values, will know what is good and bad, will be less violence and the whole world will be a little bit better. Parents and almost parents should think about this situation and what future do they want for their children.
References
Adams, W. (2007, January). Nine steps to more effective parenting. Retrieved
January 31, 2008, from http://www.revolutionhealth.com
Foster, W. (2005, February). Teens and Talk: What's a Parent to Do? Retrieved
January 31, 2008, from http://www.revolutionhealth.com
Halsey, C. (n.d.). Family matters-beging a parent. Retrieved January 31, 2008,
from http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Monday 3 March 2008
Would you like fries with your clone?
In Guterl’s (2008) magazine article “Would You Like Fries with Your Clone?”, the author defends the government legislation about food products from clones. First, the author introduces the topic of allowing clone products and says that U. S. Food and Drug Administration and European Food Safety claim clone food is safe for consumption. Next, he shows background of GM foods in U.S. and Europe. Americans and Europeans do not like it while Americans do not care but both want companies to label their products. In the following paragraph he briefly describes cloning and asks if it is good or safe to eat or not. Then he gives financial activity in the cloning life stock industry. He says that offspring clone cow can cost 100% more than a normal cow from the U.S. farm. In addition, he gives the opinion of U.S. farmers about cloning. U.S. farmers have agreed to adhere a voluntary prohibition to sell cloned animals like food. Again he shows his opinion about clones. His opinion is that there is not evidence of any abnormal effects using cloned products. Next, there is information about epigenetic. Most anti cloning groups want to more studies before cloned products are allowed for sell. Then in the last paragraph he wrote the problem with epigenetic effects and also that there is not an enough reason to ban the practice of these products.
Cloning animals is not the best way to replace natural animal reproduction. To clone is to duplicate an animal with a process in a laboratory. Sometimes technology does not make our lives easier, on the contrary technology makes problems to our lives. We do not know the consequences that cloned animals can have so we should not use them as we use normal animals. We should be against to cloned animals because goes against to nature, carries health problems and implies economic problems.
First, cloned animals are not natural because they do not have a natural process of reproduction. Cloned animals are against to Mother Nature. According to Bruce (1998,. “For Christian, the world around us is God’s creation, and one of its most characteristic features is variety” (para. 10). One of the characteristics of nature is that everything is variable and cloning animals does not follow it. For example, there are a huge variety of cows. Some of the things that cows have different are color, size, texture, hair and amount of milk that they produce. These differences happen in natural reproduction processes. On the other hand cloned cows will be the same as the elite cow without varieties. Also cloning animals is an action against to some religions. For example, Catholic religion is against cloning animals and humans because is not the way that God gave to reproduce animals and humans. Nature gives us everything that we need; we should not be against it.
Second, cloned animals carries with health problems, as new diseases and possible mutations. Porter (2007), writes that “This cloned animal defect predisposes the cloned animals involved to a zoonosis, disease that is spread to humans. This defect, in the cloned animals and their offspring, subjected to different environments, could mutate or spread quite rapidly” (para. 6). In Zoonosis - Symptoms and Treatment (n. d.), “A Zoonosis is simply an animal disease which can be transmitted to people. Anthrax is a zoonosis” (para. 1). Mutations can happen in the process to make cloned animals. In the article the effects of mutations (n.d.), “Mutations in these parts of the genome can substantially change the way the organism is built” (para. 7). Mutations are changes in the DNA. Mutations make differences in the animals and it can be harmful. Cloned animals can create new diseases. We should not eat cloned animals because we do not know which diseases can be develop if we eat them. We have a large amount of diseases that do not have solutions to yet. We cannot add more to the list of diseases without cure.
Third, cloning animals implies economic problems. Terry Etherton a professor of animal nutrition at Pennsylvania State University says: “The average is not likely to cloned animals. Cloning is not for standard production” (Tessler, 2008, para.3). Farmers will be economically affected by cloning animals. The laboratories that will make cloned animals are going to be the ones that gain all the money for selling animals. Farmers will be displacing by the laboratories of cloned animals. The economy of farmers will pass to the laboratories and Scientifics. Also the trade will be between consumers and big companies. This will increase the power in monopoly companies. For example, many people buy meat in the butcher shop, the money is distributed to all butchers. However, cloned animals will be selling by big companies. The money will be for the big companies and not for small business. Cloning animals have a big impact in economy issues. It will be against of the economy of farmers and in favor of the economy of monopoly companies.
Cloning animals should never be used as normal animals. Mother nature gives us all the things that we need to live and the best ones for us. We do not need to find other ways to reproduce animals if we already have a natural one. Eating cloned animals could have bad consequences in human health. Mutation and new diseases are issues that come with cloned animals. The cloning animals affect the economy. Cloning animals helps monopoly companies but dissolve the economy of farmers. All the people should know about this topic because it is a very important issue that is happening nowadays. With this information and more about cloned animals we will have a better opinion about it.
References
Bruce, D. (1998 December). Should we clone animals? Retrieved February 19,
2008, from http://www.srtp.org.uk/
Guterl, F. (2008, January). Would you like fries with your clone? Retrieved
February 15, 2008, from http://www.newsweek.com/
Porter, D. (2007, January). FDA says cloned animals for food are safe: health,
ethical and moral dilemmas. Retrieved February 19, 2008, from
http://associatedcontent.com/
Tessler, J. (2008, January). Bull market for clones: studs, not stock. Retrieved
February 19, 2008, from http://money.aol.com/
Uderstanding Evolution (n.d.). The effects of mutations. Retrieved
February 26, 2008, from http://evolution.berkeley.edu/
Zoonosis - Symptoms and Treatment (n.d.). Health care articles.info. Retrieved
February 26, 2008, from http://www.health-care-
articles.info/diseases/zoonosis.htm
Cloning animals is not the best way to replace natural animal reproduction. To clone is to duplicate an animal with a process in a laboratory. Sometimes technology does not make our lives easier, on the contrary technology makes problems to our lives. We do not know the consequences that cloned animals can have so we should not use them as we use normal animals. We should be against to cloned animals because goes against to nature, carries health problems and implies economic problems.
First, cloned animals are not natural because they do not have a natural process of reproduction. Cloned animals are against to Mother Nature. According to Bruce (1998,. “For Christian, the world around us is God’s creation, and one of its most characteristic features is variety” (para. 10). One of the characteristics of nature is that everything is variable and cloning animals does not follow it. For example, there are a huge variety of cows. Some of the things that cows have different are color, size, texture, hair and amount of milk that they produce. These differences happen in natural reproduction processes. On the other hand cloned cows will be the same as the elite cow without varieties. Also cloning animals is an action against to some religions. For example, Catholic religion is against cloning animals and humans because is not the way that God gave to reproduce animals and humans. Nature gives us everything that we need; we should not be against it.
Second, cloned animals carries with health problems, as new diseases and possible mutations. Porter (2007), writes that “This cloned animal defect predisposes the cloned animals involved to a zoonosis, disease that is spread to humans. This defect, in the cloned animals and their offspring, subjected to different environments, could mutate or spread quite rapidly” (para. 6). In Zoonosis - Symptoms and Treatment (n. d.), “A Zoonosis is simply an animal disease which can be transmitted to people. Anthrax is a zoonosis” (para. 1). Mutations can happen in the process to make cloned animals. In the article the effects of mutations (n.d.), “Mutations in these parts of the genome can substantially change the way the organism is built” (para. 7). Mutations are changes in the DNA. Mutations make differences in the animals and it can be harmful. Cloned animals can create new diseases. We should not eat cloned animals because we do not know which diseases can be develop if we eat them. We have a large amount of diseases that do not have solutions to yet. We cannot add more to the list of diseases without cure.
Third, cloning animals implies economic problems. Terry Etherton a professor of animal nutrition at Pennsylvania State University says: “The average is not likely to cloned animals. Cloning is not for standard production” (Tessler, 2008, para.3). Farmers will be economically affected by cloning animals. The laboratories that will make cloned animals are going to be the ones that gain all the money for selling animals. Farmers will be displacing by the laboratories of cloned animals. The economy of farmers will pass to the laboratories and Scientifics. Also the trade will be between consumers and big companies. This will increase the power in monopoly companies. For example, many people buy meat in the butcher shop, the money is distributed to all butchers. However, cloned animals will be selling by big companies. The money will be for the big companies and not for small business. Cloning animals have a big impact in economy issues. It will be against of the economy of farmers and in favor of the economy of monopoly companies.
Cloning animals should never be used as normal animals. Mother nature gives us all the things that we need to live and the best ones for us. We do not need to find other ways to reproduce animals if we already have a natural one. Eating cloned animals could have bad consequences in human health. Mutation and new diseases are issues that come with cloned animals. The cloning animals affect the economy. Cloning animals helps monopoly companies but dissolve the economy of farmers. All the people should know about this topic because it is a very important issue that is happening nowadays. With this information and more about cloned animals we will have a better opinion about it.
References
Bruce, D. (1998 December). Should we clone animals? Retrieved February 19,
2008, from http://www.srtp.org.uk/
Guterl, F. (2008, January). Would you like fries with your clone? Retrieved
February 15, 2008, from http://www.newsweek.com/
Porter, D. (2007, January). FDA says cloned animals for food are safe: health,
ethical and moral dilemmas. Retrieved February 19, 2008, from
http://associatedcontent.com/
Tessler, J. (2008, January). Bull market for clones: studs, not stock. Retrieved
February 19, 2008, from http://money.aol.com/
Uderstanding Evolution (n.d.). The effects of mutations. Retrieved
February 26, 2008, from http://evolution.berkeley.edu/
Zoonosis - Symptoms and Treatment (n.d.). Health care articles.info. Retrieved
February 26, 2008, from http://www.health-care-
articles.info/diseases/zoonosis.htm
Stop Soil Erosion
According with the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (2007), “Our soil resource is vital to the survival of the human race” (para.1). Soil erosion is when the soil is moved from one place to another by the action of wind or water. Collins (2001) writes, “Soil erosion is a natural process. It becomes a problem when human activity causes it to occur much faster than under natural conditions” (Soil Erosion, 2001, para. 1). Soil erosion should be stopped before it does not have a solution. How can we stop soil erosion? It is very important to find a solution for this problem because soil gives us everything that we need to survive such as food. According to the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (2007), “Because damages to soil quality are nearly always permanent, preservation of this resource is critically important to maintaining agricultural productivity and environmental quality” (para.1). Investigators and environmentalists have been found many possible solutions for erosion. Some of these solutions are better that others and also some of these are not use anymore. These solutions are terracing, ground cover, windbreaks, gully reclamation and synthetic polymers.
Miller, G. T. (1994), says “Soil is a complex mixture of inorganic materials (clay, pebbles, and sand), decaying organic matter, water, air, and billions of living organisms” (para.1). Miller, G. T. (1994), “In addition to food, soil provides us with wood, paper, cotton, and medicines, and it helps purify the water we drink and decompose and recycle biodegradable wastes” (para.2). “Soil erosion is a complex process encompassing detachment, transport, and deposition, and is caused by wind, water and physical disturbance” (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2007, para.8). Favis-Mortlock (2007), writes “Soil erosion has been occurring for some 450 million years, since the first land plants formed the first soil” (para. 1). Soil erosion is not new as natural process but it is new problems since the human produce it faster than natural. Favis-Mortlock (2007), says, “Soil erosion reduces land productivity, challenges agricultural sustainability, and degrades soil, air and water quality” (para.8). To combat soil erosion fist we need to find the cause of it and then find the best solution that focus in that cause of the problem. Miller, G. T. (1994), “The two main agents of erosion are flowing water and (by far the major cause of soil erosion) and wind” (para. 4). To find easily a good plan for any problem we first need a very specific objetive.
One of the biggest producers of the soil erosion is water that can be from rain storms, snow and others. In the article Erosion control, (2008) claims, “We can't avoid rain storms, but we can reduce the erosion they cause. One of the solutions to stop soil erosion is terracing. Slopping areas are the ones that terracing stops from soil erosion. This treatment solves the problem of soil erosion caused by the water. This procedure reduces the speed of water that takes parts of soil and produces soil erosion. In the article Erosion control, (2008) says why terracing is effective, “The level steps of a terrace reduces the velocity water by stopping the water from flowing down hill. By slowing the movement of water, terraces gives the water time to seep into the ground” (para.6). Terracing an effective treatment for soil erosion is becoming more succesful.
Next, In the article Erosion control, (2008), explains “The key to stopping erosion is to anchor the soil in place and to slow down the water moving across it” (para. 3). One of the solutions that produce this to stop soil erosion is ground cover. Ground cover consists in planting certain kind of vegetation in the ground. This vegetation will make the soil stable. The underlying purpose of this method is to undercover the soil with grass, trees and other types vegetation. Maine Deparment of Enviromental Protection, (2005), writes “The first step is to stop soil from moving in the first place. Keep soil undercover...” (para. 14). There are many kinds of ground cover such as grass, shrubs and trees. This method is very convenient, cheap and easy to start. This is a kind of method which does not need specialist to install the equipment because the equipment is plants. Ground cover is cheap because we can find seeds in our fruit residues. For example, we can leave the grass that grows after rain such as wild grass. This grass will be ground cover and will have advantages for soil such as keep the soil on the ground. This method not only has the benefit of stop soil erosion. Ground cover also has some benefits for the environment. In the article Erosion control, (2008) writes “This cover has many other benefits including the addition of organic matter, aesthetic value, wildlife benefits, absorption of rain water, and many others” (para. 13). One method can solve more problems that we think it does.
In addition, there is another treatment to stop soil erosion this is windbreak. This treatment stops the soil erosion that is caused by the wind. Windbreaks are based in trees and shrubs which are going to reduce the speed of the wind. As a result the wind will not take away parts of the soil and produce soil erosion. Windbreaks have effects in the environment but these effects are not harmful. According with Brandle (2006), “Windbreaks are barriers used to reduce and redirect wind. They usually consist of trees and shrubs, but may also be perennial or annual crops and grasses, fences, or other materials. The reduction in wind speed behind a windbreak modifies the environmental conditions or microclimate in the sheltered zone” (para.1). Windbreak is a treatment that needs more work than ground cover because sometimes it uses materials such as fences, barriers and others. Moreover, the quality of work that windbreaks do is determinated by their structure. Brandle (2006), explains “Windbreak structure -- height, density, number of rows, species composition, length, orientation, and continuity -- determines the effectiveness of a windbreak in reducing wind speed and altering the microclimate” (para.2). This method also has similarities with ground cover because uses natural resources such as trees to stop the wind. Most of the methods to stop soil erosion use natural sources.
Another solution for soil erosion is gully reclamation. Gully is a hole on the earth and needs to be covered. The main purpose of gully reclamation is to cover the hole which is caused by erosion. Environmental Consulting Services (2001), gives a definition of gully reclamation “Small dams, usually 0.4 to 2.0 m in height, made from locally available materials such as earth, wooden planks, brushwood or loose rock, are build across gullies to trap sediments and thereby reduce channel depth and slope (para. 1)”. This treatment helps soil from erosion caused by water. Environmental Consulting Services (2001), “The practical session will be held on a catchment for a dam which is due for rehabilitation in the lowveld of Swaziland” (para. 1). Gully reclamation is an expert solution to make the soil stable.
There is another method to stop soil erosion this is shyntetic polymers. This method consists in spray synthetic polymers such as glue to the soil to make it stable. However, nowadays synthetic polymers are not used anymore. When a product or method goes out of business it is not for a good reason. Many times is because the product has something wrong and it needs to be repaired. Because in other way will affect consumers in this case soil. Cargle (1986), argues that “however, the polymer’s function is to control the drifting of the resinous binders, which are primarily natural or syntetic rubbers, rather that providing dust control” (para. 2). However, today there are so many possible solutions for this problem that do not use chemical products like synthetic polymers. Ground cover is one of these methods which are natural process. With Ground cover and other methods we only need to plant vegetation which helps soil to be stable and to do not go away. Also windbreaks is a good method to stop soil erosion and does not need chemical products. This method uses trees to slow down the speed of the wind that takes away soil. In addition terracing is a good plan to stop soil erosion from water. Last, gully reclamation covers holes on the ground caused by soil erosion. These holes are a consequense of soil erosion from water.
In conclusion, there are 4 solutions to stop soil erosion. To decide which the best solution is for certain problem we need to follow some rules. One of important rules is to focus in the causes of the problem so you will find a specific solution for it. Another thing is that the best solution also depends on your own necessities. For some farmers one method is better and for others not because different necessities. For example, in soil erosion, when is caused by wind you need to find solutions that fulfill the objective. There are solutions for soil erosion caused by wind such as windbreaks. Other solutions stop soil erosion caused by water these are gully reclamation and terracing. Also there are solutions which stop soil erosion from water and wind such as ground cover. All of these solutions have differences in process and are made for certain causes of erosion such as wind or water. We can start using methods stop soil erosion in our backyards. There are some methods that are cheap, convenient and easy to use.
References
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (2002, December), In
defense of soil and water resources in the United States: soil erosion
research priorities. Retrieved February 14, 2008, from http://asabe.org/
Brandle, J. (2006 April), Windbreaks. Retrieved February 20, 2008, from
http://plasticulture.cas.psu.edu/
Cargle, V. (1986 June), Method for soil stabilization and fugitive dust control.
Retrieved February 20, 2008, from
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4592931.html
Collins, J. (2001, February). Soil erosion. Retrieved February 14, 2008, from
http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/
Environmental Consulting Services (2001 November), Construction and
maintenance of erosion control structure. In Soil erosion control training
manual. Retrieved February 20, 2008, from
http://www.ecs.co.sz/env_articles_soilerosion.htm
Favis-Mortlock, D. (2007, May). About soil erosion. Retrieved February 14,
2008, from http://soilerosion.net/.
Maine Deparment of Enviromental Protection, (2005), Soil erosion. Retrieved
February 18, 2008, from http://www.state.me.us/
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, (2008). Erosion control. Retrieved February
20, 2008, from http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/LUESA/Home.htm
Miller, G. T. (1994). Environment: problems and solutions. California: Wadsworth
Publishing Company.
Miller, G. T. (1994), says “Soil is a complex mixture of inorganic materials (clay, pebbles, and sand), decaying organic matter, water, air, and billions of living organisms” (para.1). Miller, G. T. (1994), “In addition to food, soil provides us with wood, paper, cotton, and medicines, and it helps purify the water we drink and decompose and recycle biodegradable wastes” (para.2). “Soil erosion is a complex process encompassing detachment, transport, and deposition, and is caused by wind, water and physical disturbance” (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2007, para.8). Favis-Mortlock (2007), writes “Soil erosion has been occurring for some 450 million years, since the first land plants formed the first soil” (para. 1). Soil erosion is not new as natural process but it is new problems since the human produce it faster than natural. Favis-Mortlock (2007), says, “Soil erosion reduces land productivity, challenges agricultural sustainability, and degrades soil, air and water quality” (para.8). To combat soil erosion fist we need to find the cause of it and then find the best solution that focus in that cause of the problem. Miller, G. T. (1994), “The two main agents of erosion are flowing water and (by far the major cause of soil erosion) and wind” (para. 4). To find easily a good plan for any problem we first need a very specific objetive.
One of the biggest producers of the soil erosion is water that can be from rain storms, snow and others. In the article Erosion control, (2008) claims, “We can't avoid rain storms, but we can reduce the erosion they cause. One of the solutions to stop soil erosion is terracing. Slopping areas are the ones that terracing stops from soil erosion. This treatment solves the problem of soil erosion caused by the water. This procedure reduces the speed of water that takes parts of soil and produces soil erosion. In the article Erosion control, (2008) says why terracing is effective, “The level steps of a terrace reduces the velocity water by stopping the water from flowing down hill. By slowing the movement of water, terraces gives the water time to seep into the ground” (para.6). Terracing an effective treatment for soil erosion is becoming more succesful.
Next, In the article Erosion control, (2008), explains “The key to stopping erosion is to anchor the soil in place and to slow down the water moving across it” (para. 3). One of the solutions that produce this to stop soil erosion is ground cover. Ground cover consists in planting certain kind of vegetation in the ground. This vegetation will make the soil stable. The underlying purpose of this method is to undercover the soil with grass, trees and other types vegetation. Maine Deparment of Enviromental Protection, (2005), writes “The first step is to stop soil from moving in the first place. Keep soil undercover...” (para. 14). There are many kinds of ground cover such as grass, shrubs and trees. This method is very convenient, cheap and easy to start. This is a kind of method which does not need specialist to install the equipment because the equipment is plants. Ground cover is cheap because we can find seeds in our fruit residues. For example, we can leave the grass that grows after rain such as wild grass. This grass will be ground cover and will have advantages for soil such as keep the soil on the ground. This method not only has the benefit of stop soil erosion. Ground cover also has some benefits for the environment. In the article Erosion control, (2008) writes “This cover has many other benefits including the addition of organic matter, aesthetic value, wildlife benefits, absorption of rain water, and many others” (para. 13). One method can solve more problems that we think it does.
In addition, there is another treatment to stop soil erosion this is windbreak. This treatment stops the soil erosion that is caused by the wind. Windbreaks are based in trees and shrubs which are going to reduce the speed of the wind. As a result the wind will not take away parts of the soil and produce soil erosion. Windbreaks have effects in the environment but these effects are not harmful. According with Brandle (2006), “Windbreaks are barriers used to reduce and redirect wind. They usually consist of trees and shrubs, but may also be perennial or annual crops and grasses, fences, or other materials. The reduction in wind speed behind a windbreak modifies the environmental conditions or microclimate in the sheltered zone” (para.1). Windbreak is a treatment that needs more work than ground cover because sometimes it uses materials such as fences, barriers and others. Moreover, the quality of work that windbreaks do is determinated by their structure. Brandle (2006), explains “Windbreak structure -- height, density, number of rows, species composition, length, orientation, and continuity -- determines the effectiveness of a windbreak in reducing wind speed and altering the microclimate” (para.2). This method also has similarities with ground cover because uses natural resources such as trees to stop the wind. Most of the methods to stop soil erosion use natural sources.
Another solution for soil erosion is gully reclamation. Gully is a hole on the earth and needs to be covered. The main purpose of gully reclamation is to cover the hole which is caused by erosion. Environmental Consulting Services (2001), gives a definition of gully reclamation “Small dams, usually 0.4 to 2.0 m in height, made from locally available materials such as earth, wooden planks, brushwood or loose rock, are build across gullies to trap sediments and thereby reduce channel depth and slope (para. 1)”. This treatment helps soil from erosion caused by water. Environmental Consulting Services (2001), “The practical session will be held on a catchment for a dam which is due for rehabilitation in the lowveld of Swaziland” (para. 1). Gully reclamation is an expert solution to make the soil stable.
There is another method to stop soil erosion this is shyntetic polymers. This method consists in spray synthetic polymers such as glue to the soil to make it stable. However, nowadays synthetic polymers are not used anymore. When a product or method goes out of business it is not for a good reason. Many times is because the product has something wrong and it needs to be repaired. Because in other way will affect consumers in this case soil. Cargle (1986), argues that “however, the polymer’s function is to control the drifting of the resinous binders, which are primarily natural or syntetic rubbers, rather that providing dust control” (para. 2). However, today there are so many possible solutions for this problem that do not use chemical products like synthetic polymers. Ground cover is one of these methods which are natural process. With Ground cover and other methods we only need to plant vegetation which helps soil to be stable and to do not go away. Also windbreaks is a good method to stop soil erosion and does not need chemical products. This method uses trees to slow down the speed of the wind that takes away soil. In addition terracing is a good plan to stop soil erosion from water. Last, gully reclamation covers holes on the ground caused by soil erosion. These holes are a consequense of soil erosion from water.
In conclusion, there are 4 solutions to stop soil erosion. To decide which the best solution is for certain problem we need to follow some rules. One of important rules is to focus in the causes of the problem so you will find a specific solution for it. Another thing is that the best solution also depends on your own necessities. For some farmers one method is better and for others not because different necessities. For example, in soil erosion, when is caused by wind you need to find solutions that fulfill the objective. There are solutions for soil erosion caused by wind such as windbreaks. Other solutions stop soil erosion caused by water these are gully reclamation and terracing. Also there are solutions which stop soil erosion from water and wind such as ground cover. All of these solutions have differences in process and are made for certain causes of erosion such as wind or water. We can start using methods stop soil erosion in our backyards. There are some methods that are cheap, convenient and easy to use.
References
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (2002, December), In
defense of soil and water resources in the United States: soil erosion
research priorities. Retrieved February 14, 2008, from http://asabe.org/
Brandle, J. (2006 April), Windbreaks. Retrieved February 20, 2008, from
http://plasticulture.cas.psu.edu/
Cargle, V. (1986 June), Method for soil stabilization and fugitive dust control.
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http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4592931.html
Collins, J. (2001, February). Soil erosion. Retrieved February 14, 2008, from
http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/
Environmental Consulting Services (2001 November), Construction and
maintenance of erosion control structure. In Soil erosion control training
manual. Retrieved February 20, 2008, from
http://www.ecs.co.sz/env_articles_soilerosion.htm
Favis-Mortlock, D. (2007, May). About soil erosion. Retrieved February 14,
2008, from http://soilerosion.net/.
Maine Deparment of Enviromental Protection, (2005), Soil erosion. Retrieved
February 18, 2008, from http://www.state.me.us/
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, (2008). Erosion control. Retrieved February
20, 2008, from http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/LUESA/Home.htm
Miller, G. T. (1994). Environment: problems and solutions. California: Wadsworth
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