Abstract
In this paper, the author examines a study by W.K. Lauenroth as it is presented in "Fundamentals of Physical Geography: 2nd Edition." The author argues that average annual temperature, as a part of climate, is very important in relation to biomass of plant material.

From the Paper
"Lauenroth's study is important because it suggests that the average annual temperature can in fact play a deterministic role in influencing primary productivity in natural grasslands. Other "meteorological variables" come into play "such as rainfall, windliness and duration of sunshine" but temperature "is probably the most significant climatic factor in biological terms as all metabolic processes...are temperature dependent" (Ford 17). If the average annual temperature is too low (below approximately four degrees celsius) then, according to Lauenroth's study, the biomass of organic life is essentially zero tonnes per hectare in natural grasslands: this could be due to the fact that low temperatures are correlated with low amounts of sunlight and plants require sunlight to produce their own food."

Tags:biome, climate, geography, grasslands, natural, physical, temperature

Abstract
This paper explains that Japan's economy leading up to the 1990's was one of great prosperity and stability; however, following the speculative boom in the 1980s, the Japan's asset price bubble burst in the early 1990s, which lead to economic recession. The author points out that one important key to Japan's sustained economic recovery is the restoration of a healthy, functioning banking sector. The paper concludes that the central causes of Japan's recovery are structural and material enough that, failing some major problem, the recovery of the Japanese economy will continue at a slow and stable rate. Illustration.

From the Paper
"Industrial output in 2005 was at the highest level since 2000, with the December figure rising for the fifth straight month after seasonal adjustments. During this time the unemployment rate fell for the third year in a row to just 4.4%, with the number of job seekers making the number of job offers for the first time in more than 13 years. It is due to these factors that Japanese consumers are increasing spending. The consumption propensity of wage-earning households, which is measured by the ratio of household spending to disposable income, registered the highest level in 15 years, at 74.7 percent in 2005. However, there is a problem of declining consumerism in Japan, as the country begins to feel the effects of its aging population."

Tags:consumer, banking, speculation, aging, recession

Abstract
This paper explains that the issues surrounding the massive Canadian Arctic region vary but have a direct impact on sovereignty and circumpolar cooperation of countries with respect to environmental issues. The paper then discusses these issues and how they put Canadian sovereignty at risk. The paper argues that must assert a presence in the Arctic region to prevent damage to a very sensitive and valuable ecosystem. By pressuring the international community not to make the Northwest Passage an international strait, Canada will achieve its goal.

From the Paper
"The idea of military influence in the north was not only seen in this era. The Cold War, in the post World War Two era focused on the two super powers of the United States and Soviet Union. Because of their nearness to one another circumpolarly, the United States developed the Distance Early Warning system, better known as DEW. The DEW system was a development of a series radar station in the far northern Arctic region of Canada, with additional stations along the North Coast and Alaska. It was set up to detect incoming Soviet bombers and missiles during the Cold War."

Tags:pipelines, non renewable resources, cooperation transboundary, boom bust cycle

Abstract
The paper focuses on the impact of weather on insurance rates and policies and on the construction of buildings and homes. The paper looks at the effect of weather on agricultural vs. urban regions and discusses how insurance companies have adopted risk assessment and management strategies for insuring meteorological hazards. The paper then discusses the development of building code guidelines and how the weather impacts housing and the structures of electrical power generating stations. The paper concludes that it is very easy to see, using Canada as an example, how weather impacts many areas of day-to-day functioning.

From the Paper
"The weather is an often over looked feature of our environment in terms of its deeply seeded impacts on our day-to-day lives. While most individuals are aware of the fact that the weather dictates what they might wear during the day, which coat or jacket to choose, and what activities they may be able to participate in, the broader impacts of weather are not as often a topic of concern. Everyone is aware of the impact of natural disasters related to weather, as these events can often wreck havoc with individual areas of the country or world for an extended period of time. Recent examples within Canada include the hurricanes that occurred in the fall of 2003. Although hurricanes are very uncommon in Canada, due to its northern location, the tail ends of a tropical storm hit parts of southern Ontario causing power outages and structural damage to a variety of buildings."

Tags:insurance, buildings, housing, construction, hailstorms, tornado, heat, cold

Abstract
This paper tracks the fall of the Spanish Empire over the 19th Century. Starting with the Napoleonic Wars and following the Empires demise into the 20th Century, the essay shows that great-power status is easier to obtain than maintain. It examines the reasons why the Empire fell, delving into economic analysis and socio-political environments.

From the Paper
"European power and diplomacy has changed drastically over the past two centuries. With the onset and the outcome of both the First and Second World Wars, the map and power structures of Europe have been radically altered. Russia emerged as a leading European power and Germany, with its direct involvement in both World Wars, established itself as a country with important European power. Today, Great Britain, Russia, and Germany are seen as vital leaders in European affairs and even France is remembered as the once great power that it was. Many grand powers of the modern period are no longer even remembered as the leaders that they used to be and this is certainly true in the case of Spain. Spain, whose empire at the turn of the nineteenth century was the largest in the world is today mysteriously missing from the roster of European countries of authority. It is the purpose of this paper to discover what events and circumstances of the nineteenth century led to the ultimate demise of the Spanish Empire. Although previous centuries will not be directly discussed in this paper, it is important to note that the decline of the Spanish Empire had already begun before the turn of the century."

Tags:spanish, government, europe

Abstract
Ireland's culture is diverse and extensive. This paper sheds light on many aspects that make Ireland a unique country. A heavily-sourced essay that covers the geography, culture, history, and economy of Ireland.

From the Paper
"Due to rising tension and resentment of British rule over Ireland an uprising of Irish citizens began on Easter Monday April 24, 1916. Patrick Pearse read a proclamation announcing the establishment of the Irish republic under an interim government. Elsewhere in Dublin, armed men of the Irish Citizens Army took control of four key points in Dublin. The Irish Citizens Army received assistance from Germany, which was a key factor in them obtaining supplies to aid the revolution against Britain. This particular revolt was unsuccessful, yet it led the way for further revolts (Irelandseye, 2002)."

Tags:belfast, catholicism, cromwell, dublin

Abstract
This paper discusses how ecological footprints, effective ecological tools used to help maintain our world, impose many questions in sustaining the earth's life. Charts are included with the paper.

Defining Our Ecological Footprint
Dependency on Nature
Carrying Capacity of Cities and Earth
Comparison between Countries
Natural Capita: Effects on the Earth
Impact of the World Economies
Solutions

From the Paper
"The world economy has a great impact on the ecological footprints of the world. Every country wants to obtain economic growth to produce more money. But in doing this, they have to deplete their natural capital, which in turn, is not helping in sustaining this world. As William Rees states, "there is simply not enough on the planet to sustain present international development trends using prevailing technologies" (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). So something drastic has to be done. As the ecological footprints of humans are already too large for the earth to handle, how can we accommodate the rising materials and rising in population, while trying to sustain the earth. Most analysts agree that it can happen in two ways: through a reduction in the standard of living or through the increase in material and energy efficiency (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). These two issues also apply problems, through cultural, economic, and social values. Especially in the more developed countries. To lower the standard of living would be outright rejected in the more developed countries such as Canada and the U. S. So indeed, most people agree that "global sustainability is achievable only through large increases in the consumption of goods and services in both poorer and richer countries" (Westra and Werhane ed. 1998, 115). But still a problem arises. There will still be inequity in the growth of the more and less developed countries. It seems the richer get richer and the poorer get poorer. A consensus seems to be emerging though. They say that the needed consumption will work if there is a reduction in the material energy costs of goods and services. "

Tags:capacity, carrying, footprints, economy, world, natural, capita, sustainability, consumption, food, ecology, countries, cities, earth, nature

From the Paper
"Louisbourg (Nova Scotia, Canada) was constructed as a result of a crisis in French colonial development. France possessed one of the largest colonial empires the world had ever seen. The French colonies stretched from India, the West Indies, into the heart of what is now Canada. France and England had been at war with minor interruptions from 1689-1713. Europe formed a coalition to resist France during the war of the Spanish Succession, which left France both militarily and financially exhausted. "

Tags:canada, england, france, history, louisbourg, of, treaty, utrecht

Abstract
This paper is a country profile on Italy that reflects the current adversities that Italy faces. Afflictions outlined include illegal immigration, corruption, and elections. The paper explains the problems Italy has faced in the past, and the problems they face now. It also emphasizes the difficulty in repairing these problems.

From the Paper
"The Italian Republic, better known as Italy, became a nationwide state in 1861; they were united under King Victor Emmanuel. It originally had a parliamentary government; that came to an abrupt end in the early 1920s when the Fascist leader, Benito Mussolini, established a dictatorship. He formed an alliance with Nazi Germany that ultimately led to both Mussolini and Italy's defeat in World War II.(1) Italy's economy was finally revived in 1946 when a democratic republic replaced the monarchy. In 1999, Italy joined the European Monetary Union and now uses the "Euro Dollar" as their currency. This paper will show that Italy's most current affliction revolves around the influx of illegal immigration."

Tags:benito, mussolini, europe, lira, euro, sicily, silvio, berlusconi, government, rome

Abstract
This paper differentiates between the dangerous slab avalanche, and the often harmless powder avalanche. It explains what weather conditions contribute to the worst avalanches. It also examines the significant impacts avalanches have on the environment and shows certain preventative techniques to protect and limit the damages and deaths caused by avalanches.

From the Paper
"There are two types of avalanches; powder avalanches and slab avalanches. In very cold, dry weather, light powdery snow grains don't stick together. If this snow is pushed down the slope, it forms a powder avalanche, which swirls along like an enormous white cloud. Normally these avalanches aren't that dangerous as there isn't much snow in them, they are also easy to get away from, most of the time. The slab avalanche is the most dangerous, and causes the most damage. A slab avalanche starts off as a solid chunk of frozen snow about the size of a soccer field and about 30 feet thick ( McClung, David and Schaerer, Peter, 129). It usually forms on sunny days that are followed by frosty nights and snow that melts and freezes again. These slabs are cracked, commonly by the edge of a ski, and break into many different thick pieces that haul down the slope, taking out whatever is in its path."

Tags:avalanche, disasters, disasters, natural, related, weather