Abstract
The paper presents an assessment of selected issue fronts concerning Hurricane Katrina, focusing on human and environmental issues. The paper discusses the ineffective response of government agencies, notably Homeland Security and FEMA. It also highlights the physical facts of a hurricane.

From the Paper
"When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in August and September the response of government agencies was ineffective and became politically controversial . The winds of the Category storm did great damage and the city's flood-control and energy ..."

Tags:Hurricane Katrina, FEMA, Homeland Security

disaster planning, government

environment

Abstract
This paper is an in-depth look at the Galveston hurricane, the path it followed, the conditions and characteristics of the storm. The author discusses the loss of life and damage caused by the hurricane, as well as the cleanup efforts by the city and future precautions taken after the devastation in Texas.

From the Paper
"On August 27th, 1900, meteorologists began to notice a small storm developing in the equatorial mid-Atlantic. Still getting organized, it drifted westward through the Greater Antilles with moderate winds and torrential rains. In Jamaica, miles of roadway, railroad tracks, and sidewalk were washed into the ocean. Cuba was submerged in over two feet of rainwater, and much of southern Florida faced the wrath of the hurricane, as well. As it crossed over the tepid waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the storm gained strength, eventually making its way to the shores of Galveston, Texas."

Tags:disaster, gulf, storm, surge, texas, tropical, miles, hour

From the Paper
" In A Sand County Almanac, Aldo Leopold presents a series of portraits of nature and the natural landscape, coupled with related musings on life, the environment, and man's place in this world. The approach taken is not dissimilar to a tradition in American literature extending back through such writers as Emerson and Thoreau. both of whom also used observations of nature to glean philosophical and practical knowledge of themselves and their world. In the Preface to the Enlarged Edition, the author's children note that the book was originally published in 1949 after Leopold's death and that much of what he discusses in this book, offering his insight into the American landscape and to our need to preserve and enjoy it, has passed into common currency, though much distorted. In 1966 when this edition was published, roadside beautification had replaced "the.."

Abstract
This paper provides an overview of what energy means to humanity. The paper explores the problems associated with non-renewable energy sources. This is followed by an examination of some of the more promising alternative energy sources being investigated and used today. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.

Contents:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Problems Associated with Non-renewable Energy Sources
Alternative Renewable Energy Sources
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper
"People have always been looking for alternative forms of energy to improve their chances for survival and simply to make their lives easier. From the first hitching of an ox to a plow, a horse to a wheeled cart, or a primitive water wheel for milling grain, people have always tried to minimize their labor and maximize their efforts. Up until about 1800, though, the primary source of fuel was wood and people still relied heavily on animals for transportation and power. However, since the Industrial Revolution, there has been in increasing reliance on nonrenewable fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum as a main source of energy. The costs associated with the use of such fossil fuels has been enormous, both in terms of environmental impact and the high economic costs involved with how these fuels must be obtained, refined and delivered to consumers. All of these steps require energy in and of themselves, and many observers are questioning the logic of continuing to pursue antiquated technologies in view of the alternative energy sources that have emerged over the last few decades."

Tags:fusion, oil, petroleum, power, wind, electricity

Abstract
The paper examines the purpose of composting as well as its advantages and disadvantages. The paper explains how mandatory composting would work, outlines the considerations that have to be resolved before mandatory composting can become more accepted in many communities and focuses on the benefits of remediation and the prevention of pollution and water erosion. The paper shows how the advantages and benefits of composting are quite substantial and arguably outweigh the disadvantages or issues involved with the process, nevertheless, there are obstacles to achieving the full benefits of composting, and they need to be dealt with suitably. The paper therefore concludes that mandatory composting can be a viable regulation for the City of Toronto, with effort and commitment from both the government and the residents.

Outline:
Introduction
The Purpose of Composting
Advantages and Disadvantages of Composting
Mandatory Composting
Issues Involved with Mandatory Composting
Remediation
Pollution and Erosion Prevention
Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Certainly, composting offers various advantages that are generally beneficial to the community. Composting creates an organic-matter fertilizing product that contains beneficial soil micro organisms and essential plant nutrients, all of which are very useful in gardening and farming. These nutrients improve fertility, soil structure, and they add organic life to the soil. Composting is considered a best plant health care practice because it promotes healthy soil and healthy soil, in turn, produces healthy plants capable of withstanding climate-related stress and pests and parasites (City of Toronto, 2009). More generally, volumes of research have proven that composting is also beneficial to the environment because it is such a good tool for maintaining soil productivity and reducing environmental degradation associated with intensive agriculture (Brown, 2009). These benefits account for the decisions of many countries and local governments to adopt composting into government policies and legislation as a as a best practice.
"On the other hand, one of the strongest objections to composting is that is (naturally) produces offensive odors associated with processing paunch waste and producing organic fertilizer (Goldstein & Goldstein, 2009). Additional disadvantages include the unpleasant nature of handling organic waste matter, issues of increased attraction of insects and rodents, and the fact that compost piles require a significant amount of space, time, and attention devoted to their proper construction, operation, and maintenance."

Tags:pollution, erosion, remediation, recycling, waste

Abstract
This paper discusses how there is national and international pressure for Canada and the United States to improve operations of the waste oil industry. Also examined is how, although rules, regulations and laws are improving moderately across the globe with world meetings such as the Kyoto Accord and Basel Convention, the standards set by the two nations are in dire need of improvement. The paper contends that more research and public education is needed on this topic and that international task forces such as the Basel convention need to be more effective in ensuring nations are complying with waste oil safety proposals.

From the Paper
"The United States government has passed legislation to deter improper operations in the waste oil industry such as hazardous dumping. In 1976, Congress passed the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which established a minimum set of standards and regulations for control of hazardous wastes throughout the nation (Schichor, Gaines and Ball, 2002). The results of such legislation increased the costs of disposal of oil waste. This lead companies that were responsible for disposing of toxic waste to turn to illegal means of disposal to reduce costs. An example of this is the Russell Mahler case, where tens of thousands of gallons of waste had been dumped by his company into sewers. Mahler was fined $750,000, served a one-year prison sentence and was one of a handful of people in the country to serve time for such offenses (Schichor, Gaines and Ball, 2002). "

Tags:Kyoto, Accord, Basel, Convention, toxic

Abstract
This paper discusses some aspects of the Kyoto Protocol and attempts to explain the urgency of it. The author also explains global warming it's causes and effects, by giving examples of companies that have thrived on being more "eco-friendly", and also examples of why the Kyoto Protocol will not be as detrimental as many predict.

From the paper:

"Global warming is not a myth but a present reality due to the extreme amounts of greenhouse gases that industrialized countries emit daily. The Kyoto Protocol, as this paper while argue, is a preventative measure of this horrific possibility."

Tags:environment, gas, greenhouse, sustainability

Abstract
This paper presents the background and current information with regards to sustainable development and some of the problems that are associated with the concept. The paper states many of these areas of concern and provides possible remedies for this initiative, which is mainly the need to ensure a common direction or path.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
History
Perspectives on Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development Principles
Business, Politics and the Environment
Technology
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"Many view sustainable development as a concept that should be incorporated into our ways of thinking and into the policies that govern our society. The environment is continuing to enter a state of serious threat, and sustainable development is a means in which growth and profit are still able to occur, and the protection of the environment is the utmost importance. Sustainable development is a concept that cannot only be incorporated into the many aspects of planning but it is also an essential component of management initiatives."

Tags:generation, future, research, environment, policy

Abstract
This essay deals with four areas which are causing Canadian National Parks to disappear--extreme government cut-backs, identity crisis, improper management and ecosystem destruction. It also suggests ways in which the government can change its polices to save these parks.

From the Paper
"Canadians look at the infamous National Park's landscape and see a vast and beautiful range of Canada at its best. Unfortunately, what one sees is often deceiving. The truth is that the state of Canada's National Parks is alarming. Entire species are disappearing, vegetation is being destroyed by development and urbanization, and the pristine lakes and rivers are being contaminated by pollution. The Canadian Government has not been fulfilling its managerial role in protecting the essential resources that are comprised in Canada's National Parks. The problems that have generated in the Park's system have often dismissed due to their seemingly insignificant characteristics. Unfortunately, all of the insignificant problems joined together to create a devastating picture of dysfunctionality of the National Parks. There are four pivotal points that have caused the Park's disastrous spiral aimed at oblivion. Extreme cuts to the Parks Canada's budget has forced them to compromise their principles on how the parks should be run, and resorted to doing what they could. Parks Canada has found itself in an extreme identity crisis, as financial pressures are pitting conflicting philosophies against one another. The Canadian Government is the root which many, if not all of the posing threats the National Parks has emerged from. Their improper management and mentality has potentially shattered any chance of Canada's ecosystem to flourish. Until the Canadian Government stops seeing the nation's national Parks yet another way to generate a clever income for their institution, the parks will continue to lose their ecological integrity until they fade from man's sight completely."

Tags:canada, crisis, cutbacks, degredation, forestry, government, identity, management, national, park

Abstract
Soil is an incredibly important resource and maintaining the fertility of our soils is a pressing issue at the forefront of environmental science as we try to feed an expanding global population. Queensland, Australia is one area of the world where soil is being depleted and degraded at an alarming rate. Through an examination of this specific resource management problem, this essay analyzes the concept of impact assessment to develop fair, efficient and effective solutions to this environmental problem.

From the Paper
?The preservation and conservation of the worlds soil is a serious resource management problem. The sustainable use of our soil will be a major challenge for the human species for many years to come. When assessing the impact of any resource management problem and developing feasible solutions to that problem certain factors must be taken into consideration. Examining the fairness, efficiency and effectiveness of a proposed solution is paramount to its potential success. A solution for soil loss that is completely unfair to farmers or ranchers will be rigorously opposed and impossible to implement.?

Tags:agriculture, argoforestry, arid, crop, degradation, depletion, desert, desertification, farmland, land, management, marginal, resource, salinisation