How can an oil spill destroy a marine ecosystem Essay

How can an oil spill destroy a marine ecosystem - Essay Example The problem is worth discussing; thus, the given paper will analyze the effect of oil spills on marine life (Smith, 2013). The scale of oils spills is large because besides the officially recognized sources of spills, there are additional pollutants connected with everyday humans’ activity. Much of dirt including oils is transferred to seas by means of storm drains. Natural leakage of oils also contributes to this kind of pollution. Serious harm is done to the world oceans when the large amount of oil is spilt into the sea at once. It is especially dangerous for marine life as in this case the sea does not have enough time to recover. As West puts it, â€Å"Despite massive clean-up efforts following the  Exxon Valdez oil spill  in 1989, for example, a 2007 study conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found that 26, 000 gallons of oil from the Exxon Valdez oil spill was still trapped in the sand along the Alaska shoreline† (West, n.d. ). When oil appears in the sea, some of volatiles are evaporated at once, while the oil forms a pellicle that swims in the water and can sweep large areas. Certainly, marine animals and fish, which appear near this pellicle, can be impacted negatively. First of all, the species, which live in the water and consume vegetation, can suffer because oil impedes the oxygen entering and prevents water exchange that causes the death of vegetation consumed by fish and marine animals. This leads to death from starvation (Smith, 2013). Animals and birds, which appear in the oil film, smudge with oil, and since oil coating cannot be easily eliminated, they can die from loosing the water resistance of their coats. Flying birds can also be smudged that prevents them from normal flying. â€Å"Some animals are more vulnerable to oil than others. For example, young may be less able to deal with either coatings or exposure to toxic substances than adults due to their size, underdeveloped immune syst ems and behaviors. Marine mammals, seabirds (especially penguins) and  sea turtles  are all particularly vulnerable to oil on surface waters as they spend considerable amounts of time on the surface feeding, breathing and resting† (â€Å"Effects of oil on marine life,† n.d.). Oysters and mussels can be also smudged with oil that kills the animals, which consume them. What is more awful is that these species can appear on our table. Such cases have been already met: some people complained that marine products tasted oily. Thus, not only animals, but also people are in risk to consume marine products smudged in oil. Gulping oil is also dangerous for marine species and can lead to long term consequences including the violation of reproductive function, ability to grow, etc. â€Å"Fish and shellfish may not be exposed immediately, but can come into contact with oil if it is in the water column. When exposed to oil, adult fish may experience reduced growth, enlarged liv ers, changes in heart and respiration rates, fin erosion, and reproduction impairment. Oil also has effects on eggs and larval survival† (â€Å"Oil spills can be ...,† n.d.). Thus, it is clear that oil spilt in the water causes more series damage than oil spilt on land as it is not easy to trace it, and also it can cover large areas due to oil film formation. Animals and birds which

Max Weber Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Max Weber - Essay Example For instance, Catholic doctrine as formulated by Aquinas differs from earliest Christianity and Stoicism in the viewpoint concerning equality of all human beings. This doctrine greatly influenced power relations in modern society metaphysically where human beings suffer either because of the original sin, individual causality of karma, or the corruption of the dualistic world. In which case, human beings suffer violence, strife, and differences in worldly social status and position. This in return created various and modern castes and stratifications â€Å"that have been providentially ordained, and each of them has been assigned some specific, indispensable task desired by god or determined by the impersonal world order, so that different ethical obligations devolve upon each.† (Weber 1993). These castes were maintained because of the regard for divinely ordained authoritarian relationship which contributes to the kind of modern social and political administration we have today. This in accordance discourage or condemn any revolt or rebellion against the authority as it only means creaturely arrogance or pride against the sanctity of God-built social order. Meanwhile, submitting to the established organic organization and functioning based from the assigned task will give person happiness in the world and in the life to come. Meanwhile, Islamic doctrine holds no regard to salvation and thus the kind of 'rulership' rejected universalism that leaves the people to decide upon any indifference to the Islamic regulations. On the other hand, social castes present in Hinduism justify discrimination and outcasts since the doctrine chiefly depends on person's fulfillment of his cast function to achieve higher chances of higher status in the next life. This can be manifested to the doctrine's affirmation to social discrimination since it believes to the idea that people who were in the lowest castes and sacrificed much can gain more in any of transmigration of souls. As Weber pointed out, political power struggle evolved to order of legal sate because of its increasing objectification. However, he also pointed that political power struggle in religion's perspective "is merely the most effective camouflage of brutality, for all politics is oriented to the reason of state, the pragmatic and self-purposive sustenance of the external and internal distribution of power. These goals must necessarily seem completely meaningless from the religious point of view. Yet only in this way does the realm of politics acquire a peculiarly rational power of its own, once formulated by Napoleon, which appears as thoroughly alien to every ethic of brotherliness as do the rationalized economic orders." (Weber 1993). Also influential is the religious antipathy to sexual acts that can be seen in cultic chastity meaningfully developed in place of the various types of magical motivation. The doctrine believes that sexual abstinence is a fundamental factor to achieve salvation. This can be done through contemplative withdrawal from worldly pleasures. Moreover, sexual drive and other related pleasures constitute the most powerful temptation that will only strengthen the hold of 'animality' to human. This religious convention greatly regarded modern sexual act as irrational and are only brought about by animalistic tendencies of human. Acts to subjugate sexual acts legitimizes marriage as a regulatory process for sexual intercourse and used the idea of legitimate child rearing to impose action fiercely against prostitution and extra-marital affairs. Karl Marx According to Karl Marx, religion depends