Sustainable Living In The 21st Century Environmental Sciences Essay

Sustainable Living In The 21st Century Environmental Sciences Essay Sustainable living is about a lifestyle that reduces an individuals or societys use of global natural resources (Ainoa et al. 2009). For sustainable living, we should conduct our lives in ways that are consistent with the core principles of sustainability, in natural balance and respectful of humanitys symbiotic relationship with the Earths natural ecology and biological cycles (CELL, 2010?). Such a living style requires that we make serious attempts to reduce our carbon footprint by altering diet, energy consumption and transportation methods (Winter, 2007). Brown () has described sustainable living in the 21st century as shifting to a renewable energy-based, reuse/recycle economy with a diversified transport system. It is generally recognized that education is the most important factor in improving the quality of life and for enhancing opportunities for individual development. However, it has only recently been realized that education is the decisive factor in addressing the present crisis related to environmental instability. The extent of the global environmental degradation crisis has only come into focus because of the multiple and repeated alarms being raised over the effects of climate change. However, addressing the multiple threats to the sustainability of humanity within the 21st century is an enormous challenge involving educating and re-educating people on a multitude of complex and inter-related concepts. Education must have a dominant role in moving towards sustainable living since it is the single most important factor in improving the quality of life. Science education is essential in achieving social development through environmental awareness. Education must be the advocate for environmental sustainability being a moral obligation for all. Moving towards environmental sustainability involves educating communities on the intensity of present environmental degradation and motivating them to reduce their ecological footprint based on acquired knowledge and experience. Higher education is particularly relevant to solving the crisis of climate change (Hales, 2008). It is timely that higher education should focus on science and engineering for the development of new technologies for conservation of water and energy supplied and teach communities how to live and work sustainably. Specially structured educational programs are needed. These should be multidisciplinary to cover all aspects that relate to sustainable living, must holistically address the total energy, water and carbon footprints of lifestyle choices, and explain how these choices, decisions and behaviours affect natural resources, social equity and economic development. Further, extension programs mu st act as models for others to follow and help communities walk the talk (Crosby et al., 2008). This chapter is an attempt to emphasize the most significant aspects of education associated with moving toward sustainability. What is sustainability? Sustainability has different meanings for different people and has only recently come into sharp focus following concerns on climate change and the consequences for sustainability of humanity. Unfortunately, the climate change debate has overshadowed the more important debate on the sustainability of the environment. Over the last two centuries, the environment has been seen as self-sustaining and a resource to be exploited and consumed. Only in recent decades has the environment been acknowledged as being seriously stressed and threatened, and in urgent need for conservation and regeneration. Despite the present widespread recognition of global environmental degradation being caused by human neglect, there is intense debate on how environmental conservation and regeneration can be achieved both now and in the future. This debate is frustrated by a lack of a pragmatic definition of sustainability, particularly in relation to sustainable environmental development. The much quoted Brundtlund Report definition published in 1987 was the first to link sustainable development to social responsibility: sustainable development means maintaining the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. However, the needs of the present generation are many and diverse and include food, water, energy and money among others. These needs have already exceeded the resources on which they depend and so the ability of future generations to meet their needs is already compromised. Following such a loose definition of sustainability, there has been continuing alarm on the disparity of the needs of the rich compared to those of the poor and on what should be sustained and priorities of sustaining. The reality is that present population growth, exotic lifestyles and excessive consumption of resources are not sustainable but to create sustainability remains an elusive objective. It is obvious that there is an urgent need to move towards sustainability based on major changes to the present dominant social and community values. The extreme dedication of communities to consume resources must change to conservation of resources coupled with wealth accumulation changing to wealth distribution to assist in closing the gap between the haves and have-nots. Hence, sustainability should be driven by people power. Sustainability also implies changes of attitude and emphasis on perceptions of the meaning of economic growth. This has long been associated with increased trade and industrial development which have produced a downward spiral of increased poverty and progressive environmental degradation. Economic growth has to be measured in terms of meeting the essential needs of humanity without enhancing environmental degradation together with greater equity in the distribution of economic benefits. Social justice is a crucial component of sustainability. Sustainability is primarily dependent on the preservation of the diverse and complex ecosystems which make up the global ecosphere. These fragile systems are under unprecedented stress as a consequence of the relentless demands for cleared land for housing and industry, the increasing demands for fossil fuels for energy generation and the burgeoning demand for food from grain crops and for fish from the oceans. It is only because of the comparatively recent alarm bells sounded by the onslaught of climate change that irreversible environmental degradation has been fully recognized and appreciated but alas, not fully understood. In order to emphasize the scale of degradation and its correlation with human impact, a new jargon has emerged that of ecological footprint which is a measure of the ecological capacity of individuals. At present, even the crudest estimates of ecological footprints indicate that the developed nations of the world are living beyond their ecological capacity and are thus living on borrowed time. Sustainability inevitably involves government at all levels and requires democratic revitalization to produce sustainable, accountable and equitable forms of capitalism which activate social reforms and promote ecological awareness. There is a common perception that technology will solve the sustainability issue but this is a misconception since although technology can assist moving towards sustainability, it is not the unilateral antidote. Further, achieving sustainability is not a quick fix phenomenon but a prolonged and uncertain journey involving dedicated commitment of people and resources. It is already clear that the rate of technological development in mitigating climate change is not consistent with the magnitude of problem. Put simply, to reduce carbon emissions means capturing carbon dioxide and diverting it from the atmosphere. These two operations need to be both technologically and economically feasible and require time consuming research coupled with innovative strategies to commercialize new scientific discoveries. Although a tangible definition of sustainability is elusive, it does have many facets all related to sustaining the environment as the top priority.   Thus, education for moving toward sustainability also has many facets which are best illustrated by the cluster chart shown in Figure 1 and a brief discussion of each component of this cluster follows. Fig. 1 Cluster diagram to describe the components of education associated with sustainability. Education for sustainable environments Sustaining humanity in the 21st century depends on sustaining the environment as the top priority so as to preserve its resources. In simple terms, preserving these resources means that sustainable consumable yields are provided but that the consumption rate does not exceed the regeneration rate. Similarly, non-renewable resources must be preserved which means that the consumption rate is balanced by the production rate of renewable resources. In conjunction with these balancing strategies, it is necessary to ensure that waste generation does not exceed the assimilation rate of the environment. Clearly the present crisis of acute and widespread environmental degradation is the result of these three factors being ignored over many decades. The environment in all its dimensions is degrading globally. Atmospheric pollution has been of major concern for many decades but has now reached new heights of concern following the widespread concern on the effects of climate change. The main cause of climate change is believed to be due to the excessive build up of carbon dioxide in the lower atmosphere caused mainly by the excessive combustion of fossil fuels for the production of energy. However, carbon dioxide is not the only known greenhouse gas, methane is also a potent heat storage gas along with water vapor. This fact alone is sufficient for much complacency within the climate change debate and poses additional challenges for climate change educators. Whether or not climate change is a reality is irrelevant in the context of environmental sustainability since all factors which disturb the equilibrium of the environment which has been established over millennia have to be considered and addressed. Loss of biodiversity from the land arises largely from habitat loss and fragmentation produced by overuse of land for development, forestry and agriculture. This is blatant conversion of natural capital to investment capital and although there has been widespread condemnation of destruction of the rain-forests of the world for decades,   the realities of such devastation are only now becoming fully apparent as are the effects of intensive agriculture which reduces soil quality at alarming rates. It is ironic that forests conserve biodiversity, preserve water and soil quality, provide a wide variety of products and, above all, produce atmospheric oxygen by photosynthesis and yet these provisions still have no tangible market value as compared with the economic benefits of logging and land clearing which directly increase atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.   Such are the challenges for sustainability education, since the mindsets of developers and economists clearly have to change and natural resources need to be priced sufficiently high to ensure their preservation. Similarly, water resources globally are at crisis point. Freshwater is essential for human life but at best, it is less than 5% of the global resource. Excessive use of freshwater supplies for irrigation has markedly affected the health of river systems mainly by reducing flow rates which in turn places stress on wetland systems. Further, natural flooding of river flood plains has been curtailed by the construction of dams and weirs which further control river flow rates and hence place severe stress on vital river ecosystem resources. It is again ironic that many of these aquatic ecosystems have been studied in detail over several decades but it is only comparatively recently that inter-dependence of these ecosystems has been appreciated and value of biodiversity as a realistic measure of environmental health realized. Further, the marine environment is also undergoing rapid degradation which is most apparent from the decline in the number of fish species as a result of over-fishing with the advent of trawl technology and unsustainable fishing practices. Although the recent increase in success of aquaculture has and will continue to address this imbalance, it is clear that more severe international statutory controls on fishing are required together with the implementation of sustainable fishing practices- both of which depend on international agreements and treaties which are difficult to achieve and implement. Education for sustainable economies The supreme challenge for sustainable living in the 21st century is to curb excessive consumption in the developed world whilst raising living standards in the developing world without a net increase in consumption of natural resources and environmental impact. Historically, living standards have correlated with economic growth and environmental degradation, and so moving towards sustainable living is at best challenging and at worst, impossible. Again, education is required to change the mindset on what constitutes a sustainable economy, firstly by understanding why present national economies are not sustainable. Contemporary economics is based on economic growth and efficient allocation of resources, and multiple strategies are put in place to achieve pre-determined economic objectives upon which the wealth of nations is based. Conversely, the so-called new economics or ecological economics is based on sustainable growth and fair and efficient distribution of resources. The first time that the latter became a reality rather than a theory was at the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change summit when developing world nations argued very convincingly that the developed world should financially assist the developing world in reducing global green house gas emissions. The failure of the summit to reach a unilateral agreement on greenhouse gas emissions was largely due to a lack of agreement on the basic principle of wealth distribution which underwrites ecological economics. Conventional economics puts a price on natural resources such as fossil fuels, minerals, water and foodstuffs and these are regarded as the main drivers of national economies. However, equally important natural resources such as national parks, marine parks, wetlands, coral reefs, mangrove swamps and many others are regarded as economic externalities which need not be priced and therefore are ripe for exploitation, particularly through tourism. Ecological economics is based on realistic pricing of all natural resources which are subject to consumption by humans, either directly or indirectly and in addition, is committed to the belief that sustainable economics is based on a unilateral greening of industry such that manufacturing processes are energy and waste efficient, consume less resources and provide clean, safe working environments. Ecological economics is the fundamental platform of the emerging carbon economy. However, it is already evident that there is much opposition to a carbon tax and skepticism of the effectiveness of carbon emission trading schemes in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, so public education on the basic science and economics underpinning these schemes is obviously urgently required. Education for sustainable communities There is no doubt that the overwhelming threat to sustainability of humanity in the 21st century is that the present global population of about 6.8 billion is consuming 40% more resources that the Earth is producing per annum and so with a projected global population of 9 billion by 2050, 5.4 Earths worth of resources will be required to achieve human sustainability. Even to move towards sustainability on such a scale obviously requires a massive psyche change of humanity and   Ã‚  extreme urgency in the implementation of sustainable living practices. Building sustainable communities essentially involves people power but communities require educating in order to develop the knowledge, values and skills required for informed decision-making that will improve quality of life now without damaging the environment in the future. Achieving sustainable living is a journey of indefinite duration but with a clearly defined destination. It is a journey taken both by individuals and by communities simultaneously to the benefit of all. The foundation of sustainable communities is the development of sustainability literacy within communities which involves an understanding of the present imbalance between consumption and regeneration of essential natural resources energy, water and food. It is somewhat ironic and humbling to witness that the indigenous communities of the world have been far more sustainability literate over the last two centuries than the so-called modern communities over the last two decades. Sustainable communities are resilient communities which have changed life-style behavior and habits which depend on excessive consumerism to those which embrace waste reduction, reuse and recycle strategies all of which harmonize living standards with environmental demands. These changes take time to implement but result in community social well-being, strong economies and flourishing environments, the benefits of which become obvious to all. Sustainable communities vary enormously with respect to size and character but traditionally form two groups urban and rural. In the past, it has been much more difficult to sustain rural communities due largely to the one-way migration from country to town/city to obtain employment. However, this trend can be at least partially reversed with the wider implementation of eco-development which has been responsible for the so-called new urbanism philosophy but is only just becoming apparent in rural and regional centre infrastructure planning. Eco-development is based on a clean, green living philosophy which incorporates consumption of renewable energies, conservation of water and living off the land using smart ways to grow food. Sustainable literacy only becomes effective when communities understand and appreciate that sustainable living not only gives rise to better, healthier lifestyles but also is cost effective both in the short and long terms. By virtue of their sustainable lif e-styles, sustainable communities are resilient to the effects of climate change and are well suited to benefit from future carbon-based economies. Education for sustainable energy supplies Sustaining humanity in the 21st century requires sustaining energy resources and supplies which creates the dilemma which has become known as the global energy crisis. Coal, oil and natural gas combined provide about 80% of global energy needs mainly in the form of electricity and transport fuels but at the same time produce the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions which are believed to be responsible for global warming. It is estimated that global energy demand could jump by 50% by 2030, consistent with a global population increase of 1.5 billion over the next two decades and this translates to a global warming estimate of the order of 6oC if fossil fuels continue to be the primary energy resource.    An increase of 6oC corresponds to about 3 times the global warming which has occurred over the last century and would have catastrophic environmental, economic and social effects. It is this type of horror scenario which is driving the so-called global energy revolution which dictates that there has to be a move away from fossil fuels as the primary energy resource towards the use of clean green renewable energy resources. These are receiving increasing attention but all have significant technological, development, economic and ethical problems associated with them. The dilemma is that at present, all known renewable energy resources combined including nuclear, solar, wind and biofuels account for less than 10% of global energy requirements and although considerable technological advances are occurring with respect to the commercial development of renewable energy resources, this situation is unlikely to change significantly within the next decade. Similarly, efforts to reduce greenh ouse gas emissions from existing coal-fired power stations, collectively known as clean coal technology, are at least 10 -15 years away from commercial reality. It is conservatively estimated that fossil fuels will remain as the primary global energy resource for at least the next 30 50 years and that phasing out of existing coal-fired power stations will take at least 10 15 years. Thus, the energy crisis is essentially how are sustainable energy supplies to be provided exclusively from renewable energy resources over the next half century? Although, it is generally agreed that the transition to renewable energy resources is inevitable, the time scale for such a transition is very unclear since there are not only major technological problems to be overcome but also major social and economic issues to be addressed along the way which involve significant educational strategies to be unilaterally implemented. Given that it is already abundantly clear that we live by an energy economy it is unlikely that the extra costs associated with abatement of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion coupled with the costs of developing alternatives to fossil fuels will be readily accepted by communities, given that the present escalating costs of electricity and transport fuels are a source of despair globally. Then there are ethical issues to be resolved in the transition to clean energy resources. It has been extensively argued that nuclear power is the only realistic alternative to coal and oil as a primary energy resource but the general population is very concerned about the degree of fail-safe operation of nuclear power stations and is very concerned about safe disposal of nuclear waste. Similarly, biofuels which rely on food crops such as corn products as the primary energy resource are competing with the desperate need to increase grain production globally to address malnutrition in some 23% of the global population. It is clear that the global energy revolution will only succeed if viable education strategies are introduced and available to the general population which address the widespread lack of understanding of climate change and, in particular, its causes and also address the pros and cons of renewable energy resources. The immediate future has to involve a blend of old and new energy generation technologies coupled with a widespread recognition that energy has to be conserved and not wasted. It is practical education programs which will promote this ethic at all levels within communities. Education for sustainable water supplies Sustainable living also means having access to sustainable water supplies. At present, it is estimated that some 15% of the global population do not have access to safe water and the majority of these are in developing countries. It is well-known that many of the life threatening diseases, so common in the developing world, are spread by drinking contaminated water. Further, it is estimated that agricultural irrigation consumes some 65% of global freshwater supplies and already many countries and regions are experiencing water scarcity at alarming levels due to prolonged periods of drought. Droughts are predicted to become more prolonged as a result of the consequences of climate change and so demand for freshwater will inevitably rise predicted to be by some 30% over the next two decades and thus it is clear that urgent strategies are necessary to educate communities to use less water more efficiently. Unfortunately, increase in freshwater use is driven by numerous factors which are difficult to assess and control. These factors include population increase and distribution, lifestyles, economies and, most particularly, by increasing demands for food which drives increases in irrigated agriculture. There is also a political factor which influences freshwater usage in that many of the worlds major freshwater resources are shared since major rivers often flow through several countries. For example, the Danube passes through 12 countries that use its water and the Nile flows through 9 countries which are totally dependent on its waters. Agreement between countries that share freshwater resources can be difficult to achieve and sustain but are generally associated with demands for more effective water usage and strict management programs. Since freshwater is such a valuable resource, water pricing is a highly contentious issue at all levels domestic, industrial and agricultural. Agriculture is linked directly to food production and hence farmers believe that they have the right to sufficient water to produce sufficient crops to provide a sustainable income for themselves and their families. Some governments however believe that such water rights should be controlled by license in view of the scarcity of the commodity and this explains the conflict that is evident between primary producers and water licensing authorities. It is inevitable that sustainable agriculture depends on a major reduction in water used for irrigation by progressive use of drip-irrigation technology in conjunction with installation of improved drainage and recycling systems. Also, during the so-called Green Revolution of the 1960s, new strains of many species of crops resulted in large increases in productivity and this technology is now focused on strains of grain crops which require less irrigation. At the industrial level and as a major part of industrial greening strategies, industry is adopting water recycling initiatives which may include partial treatment of waste water. These initiatives are complementary to the energy consumption reduction strategies and are consistent with the 3Rs of clean, green industry reuse, recycle, reduce. At the domestic level, a user pays system is usually applied to water consumption and during periods of drought, restrictions are placed on water usage which are enforced by water management authorities. It is becoming increasingly apparent that due to the escalating cost of water, communities and individuals are becoming more aware of the need for water conservation and are taking appropriate steps to initiate the 3R rule both individually and collectively. These initiatives include the installation of water tanks in homes to collect rain water and the recycling of non-sewage waste water for external use. No longer can it be taken for granted that the right to water means simply turning a tap on. Education for sustainable food supplies Food security, in conjunction with sustainable energy and water supplies, are the essential components of sustaining humanity. At present, food security is not a reality since at least 15% of the global population is undernourished and with a projected surging population increase, it is a daunting challenge to reduce world hunger, especially since this is directly linked with poverty and exacerbated by global warming. The Green Revolution, which partially achieved food security over the period 1960 to mid-1980, was the dawn of intensive agriculture which has resulted in serious environmental problems. Widespread deep tilling of land together with excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides coupled with intensive irrigation has caused degradation of soil quality and texture in addition to dry land salinity. The additional threat of climate change will inevitably further threaten the achievement of food security in coming decades unless urgent steps are taken now to move towards sustainable agriculture. Science, technology and innovation are essential drivers of sustainable agriculture and hence food security. Improved mechanization of agriculture using efficient harvesting machines which reduce soil compaction are already increasing productivity and use of geographical positioning system (GPS) technology to monitor and control the position of such machinery enables precisely measured amounts of seed, fertilizer and pesticides in addition to the determination of soil and plant quality, which enables early detection of diseases. Further, development of improved crop varieties and marker assisted plant breeding combine to reduce losses due to pests and diseases. These biotechnologies lead to strains which are tolerant of drought, heat and saline conditions in addition to improved pest and disease resistance. Further, drip irrigation coupled with micro-nutrient addition is becoming increasingly effective in increasing production of staple crops such as sweet potato. In the quest to find alternative, clean, green energy resources, bio-fuels have come into prominence.   Biofuels are currently produced from starch, sugar cane, wheat, maize and palm oil. Biofuel production is currently somewhat controversial since the required raw material is derived from land that should be used for food production. In addition, sugar cane and palm oil plantations contribute to deforestation of tropical rain forests.   Second   generation   biofuels are currently being investigated which use crop residues, grasses and willows as base materials and these have much promise as future commercial biofuels and are free of the food related controversies. The last decade has seen massive exploitation of marine resources in the quest to achieve food security. The application of modern technology to commercialization of fishing operations has led to a global overfishing crisis such that sustainable fisheries thresholds have been exceeded. Many of the coastal commercial fisheries have collapsed as a result of declining catches and the global industry is facing further threats from seawater warming and increasing acidification caused by climate change. Thus, the seafood industry is not sustainable. The solution involves harvesting methods that capture fish selectively and within specified limits so as to allow regeneration. However, such strategies are difficult to implement on an international scale. Aquaculture is becoming increasingly important in addressing the challenge of food security. Total fish capture in 2010 amounted to some 145 million tonnes of which aquaculture contributed 54 million tonnes representing an increase of some 20 million tonnes compared to a decade ago. Aquaculture meets at least three objectives: provides seafood and hence income for coastal communities, reduces fishing pressure on wild populations and maintains fish supply to sustain commercial, subsistence and recreational demands. Aquaculture can be sustainable provided that quality seawater, dependable supplies of seed and feed-stocks are available together with application of strategies to ensure disease free hatcheries and grow-out systems.   The next generation of aquaculture may involve introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs have already been introduced into agriculture and genetically modified crop strains have been shown to give higher yields with lower fertilizer suppo rt. The transgenic animal products are controversial and early attempts to market GMO salmon have faced stiff resistance. However, the potential for GMOs to be a force in combating food shortages is significant and cannot be overlooked. Food security is clearly based on a combination of sustainable agriculture, sustainable fisheries and sustainable aquaculture together with a paradigm shift in the extent to which natural food resources are exploited. Fundamentally, more food has to be produced with less energy, less water, less chemicals and by methods which allow environmental regeneration. Education in sustainability science and technology Sustainability science is the science associated wi

The benefits of preschool Essay -- essays research papers

Everyone has his or her own first day of kindergarten experiences. Some might have been more memorable while others still trying to forget. Mine was merely an observance and evaluation period. After I gave my mother a kiss goodbye, and placed my belongings in the cubbyhole I was ready to learn, but unfortunately the majority of the other students were not. Considering one can not get too accomplished over many loud high-pitched cries, I was forced to be patient and suffer silently from boredom.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Preschool is a beneficial tool for children because they learn social skills and gain an appreciation at an early age for the education system. The prefix â€Å"pre-â€Å" means before or prior to. Preschool education refers to the education of children prior to the first grade of elementary school (Melton 181). By the time kindergarten started I was already comfortable with the idea and concept. I was not only ready, but excited to go to school to learn and meet old and new friends.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rachel and Margaret McMillian (Boyer 47) first developed the nursery school system in England of 1911. They were first coordinated to serve the needs of the poor, and health, nutrition, and social services were provided with an educational program (Boyer 48). Because preschools are subject to licensing regulations and because they have qualified teachers, they provide a valuable experience for each child beyond and baby-sitting service (Kranyik 91). The nursery-school movement began in the 19th century with the growth of the factory system. Mothers were often at work long hours at a time while younger children were left neglected. They were established so those mothers could leave their children in a safe place while they worked. Preschool is an option, but because of the state of the economy, it has forced both of the parents to seek full-time employment, they have no choice. With many children living in a single parent families, the custodial parent may have to work to support the family. Parents who are professionals and want to stay in position as well as raise a family need child care while they are at work (Kranyik 91).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The modern nursery school has changed the mold from when it was first introduced. It is centered more around education than daycare. After WWI many different universities set up labora... ...bservations and understanding of the child as he is, not as adults imagine he might or should be. Dr. Montessori then devised a total environment to help the child develop himself as a total human being. She saw the role of the teacher as one of directing activity rather than actually teaching, so she preferred to use the name â€Å"directress instead of â€Å"teacher.† There are many differences between Montessori and traditional preschool but the basic idea stays the same.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although preschools were mainly invented for the convenience of adults (Melton 182), the have evolved from sandboxes and finger painting to letter blocks and handwriting instructions. Everything is created for the advancement is actually benefiting the preschooler now and in the future even more so. Melton, David, How to Help Your Preschooler Learn. New York, NY: David McKay Company, Inc. 1976 Malloy, Terry, Montessori and Your Child. New York, NY: Schocken Books 1974 Kranyik, Margery A., Starting School. New York, NY: Continuum 1982 Hainstock, Elizabeth, The Essential Montessori. New York, NY: Plume Printing 1986 Boyer, Ernest L., Ready to Learn. Princeton, NJ: The Carnegie Foundation 1991

Late Adulthood and End of Life Paper

Late Adulthood and End of Life Paper Late Adulthood and End of Life Paper Throughout a human beings lifespan, an individual experiences many pivotal changes both physically and mentally. Of all of these life stages, none is more difficult a reality as late adulthood. Individuals are given a taste of youth and vitality, and must watch as it is slowly taken away. In some cultures, the elderly are treated with respect and care, and in others, the elderly are considered a burden and receive little respect and poor care. How do perceptions of death and dying vary from culture to culture? The ancient Egyptians spent their entire lives preparing for death and the afterlife, but how do other cultures perceive these experiences? To gain a better perspective on late adulthood and the end of life, this paper will provide information on the areas of concern during these life stages such as health and wellness, stereotypes associated with late adulthood, and cultural view of death and dying. Health and wellness in late adulthood As individuals age the human body experiences many physical and mental changes. Aging or senescence represents these changes that the human body goes through which diminishes the body’s capacity to regenerate making it vulnerable to illness and disease (Berger, 2008). According to Berger (2008), â€Å"Gerontologists distinguish between primary aging, the universal changes that occur with senescence, and secondary aging, the consequences of particular diseases† (p. 620). The physical changes associated with aging are typically gradual with noticeable declines in hearing, vision, taste, and smell (Mesa Community College, 1997). In addition to the decline in sensory functions, some elderly individuals experience more prominent health concerns such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a decrease in lung function. Other more serious health concerns that typically arise in late adulthood are those of cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. Often depression can be a main contributor to failing health as increases in health issues and experiencing the death of family and friends makes one’s own mortality more apparent. Not all individuals in late adulthood suffer from these health ailments. There are numerous lifestyle factors that can contribute to illness, and can be altered to provide an individual with a healthier more active life. There are numerous simple lifestyle changes an individual can make that can assist in his or her health and wellness and also decrease some of the negative effects of aging such as healthier eating habits, exercise, and regular medical checkups. Healthier eating habits involve consuming the proper amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and protein every day. Balanced meals and healthy snacks can increase energy and ward off potential illness and disease. Exercise is also an important factor in contributing to wellness in late adulthood as exercise increases blood flow, builds healthy heart muscle, increases lung functions, and increases mobility. Mobility is often a factor in older adults who become sedentary causing muscles to atrophy and increase the likelihood of blood clots and heart-related problems. Routing medical checkups can also promote health and wellness by monitoring current medical issues and diagnosing new health issues. This allows doctors to diagnose properly and treat illness and disease early. Ageism and stereotypes Ageism refers to prejudice against elderly individuals by the use of stereotypes. According to an article provided by Net Industries (2011), â€Å"Ageism occurs throughout society in varying degrees, in television, advertising, movies, stores, hospitals, and jobs† (p. 62). Society assumes that with the increase of age comes a decrease in faculties, which is an assumption that is not always true. Younger individuals typically hold negative stereotypes regarding elderly people (Net Industries, 2011). Often older individuals are considered to be slower, more costly, and less adaptable to change than younger individuals making tasks such as finding employment and receiving equal treatment difficult. According to an article provided by Net Industries (2011), â€Å"Studies consistently demonstrate that there is no correlation between age and job performance, despite the common stereotype that productivity declines with age. Indeed, research reveals that some intellectual functions may even improve with age† (p. 62). Often older adults are treated as children by society making assumptions of their abilities and mental functioning. Viewpoints of death and dying Death at any stage in life is personal and holds different meanings to different people. Society places a great deal of meaning on death based upon age, situation, and their personal experiences and beliefs. The viewpoints of death and dying in early childhood are limited; however, children have a basic understanding of death by the age of two through their own observations of family members (Berger, 2008). Children who are dying often fear death as they do not have a fully developed concept of dying and associate death with abandonment (Berger, 2008). At this life stage, it is important to have guidance from his or her parents to gain a better understanding of death and dying. Death and dying in adolescence is often a second thought as adolescents in this life stage place less value on life and ore often reckless and irresponsible with their lives and the lives of others. A different viewpoint of death and dying is seen in adulthood as the reality of their own mortality is acknowledged and the lives of their family members. Typically adults do not fear death because of maturity and knowledge of death. The fear and concern is for leaving unfinished business such as raising their children. Anxiety builds in adults regarding death as they come to the realization of their age and becoming closer to death as they continue to age. Adults have established a healthy respect for life and the tragedy of death. In late adulthood, older adults have the least anxiety about death and dying as they are aware of and accept their mortality and often have an established spiritual belief of an afterlife after their mortal death. Often death is associated with relief when an older adult has a serious illness or a great deal of physical pain or failing mental health. Cultural attitudes towards death and dying Attitudes toward death and dying are often different based upon cultural and religious differences. Some cultures base their feelings toward death on spiritual beliefs whereas other cultures believe in a higher power and a promised eternity. In Buddhism, death is just a process in which an individual must endure to be reborn (Berger, 2008). Buddhists do not dear dying but believe that it brings peace and enlightenment. In Hinduism, death is also a process of new life. Death involves the entire family preparing for their loved one and bear witness the individual’s descent to rebirth. In Judaism, little significance is placed on the physical body of an individual. Individuals are buried within one day after death, and the individual is mourned by family and friends together at home for one-week (Berger, 2008). Jewish individuals believe in the celebration of life more than that of death. Christianity and Islam are very similar in beliefs as death is considered merely the means of their mortal lives ending and their eternal life beginning whether it is heaven or hell. Death in Christianity and the Islamic faith can be good or bad depending on the individual’s devotion and faith in God. All individuals regardless of culture or religion hope for death without pain that comes quickly after living a long life in the company of family and friends (Burgess, 2008). Conclusion Late adulthood is a period in an individual’s life span that creates physical and emotional difficulties. Illness and disease cause serious health issues that can affect an individual’s quality of life; however, healthy eating habits, exercise, and proper medical care can assist in improving and increasing an individual’s life. Death is an inevitable part of life that everyone must face. When that time comes, death can be a peaceful release from pain or a journey to spiritual enlightenment. References Berger, K. S. (2008). The developing person through the life span. (7th ed. ). New York: Worth Publishers. Mesa Community College. (1997). The developmental psychology newsletter: Late adulthood. Retrieved from: http://www. mesacc. edu. Net Industries. (2011). Ageism – Stereotypes about age and older persons. p. 62. Retrieved from: Ageism – Stereotypes About Age And Older Persons

Transcendentalism - A Major Belief During the Early 1800s - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 1 Words: 345 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/07/08 Category Philosophy Essay Level High school Tags: Transcendentalism Essay Did you like this example? Transcendentalism is the belief that men and women have a sense that is beyond what they can see, touch, or hear. Transcendentalists believe mostly in Individualism, Idealism, and Intuitive Thought. Individualism is a major belief of Transcendentalism. Individualism is the belief that we should have the freedom to express our ideas and thoughts. Transcendentalists believe that the freedom of individuality is very important for ones well being. The followers also believe that religion takes away the ability of self-reliance. Religion is full of rules and following what youre told, which is what Transcendentalists are against. Conformity is also what they are against. Anything that takes away your right of freedom is not accepted by this group. Individualism is one of the major parts that Transcendentalists standby. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Transcendentalism A Major Belief During the Early 1800s" essay for you Create order Idealism is another very important belief. Idealism is the belief in staying positive. Idealistics believe in reaching a positive goal. They are not realists either. Realists see the negative, where Idealistics do not believe that negatives even exist. Transcendentalists believe that by showing a positive attitude, you can overcome any problem you may face. A positive attitude is the best medicine in their eyes. Idealism, and all that comes with it, is very important to the Transcendentalists. Intuitive Thought is a belief of Transcendentalists that is based on your own mind. Intuitive Thought is knowledge through your instincts. Transcendentalists believe that you should always base knowledge off of your instincts. They also believe that rational thinking, is actually irrational. Trying to prove something with facts is unnecessary in their eyes, you should only rely on your intuition. Factual things are only second hand knowledge as well to Transcendentalists. They are not to be trusted. Intuitive Thought is the belief that you should only rely on your instincts. Transcendentalists believe in many things, but mainly they believe in Idealism, Intuitive Thought, and Idealism. These three things are very important to them. Without them, Transcendentalism would mean something very different. Transcendentalism, and the beliefs of Intuitive Thought, Individuality, and Idealism, were a very key part of history during the early 1800s.