Pros and Cons of the Corn-Based Plastic PLA

Pros and Cons of the Corn-Based Plastic PLA Polylactic acid (PLA), a plastic substitute made from fermented plant starch (usually corn) is quickly becoming a popular alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. As more and more countries and states follow the lead of China, Ireland, South Africa, Uganda and San Francisco in banning plastic grocery bags responsible for so much so-called â€Å"white pollution† around the world, PLA is poised to play a big role as a viable, biodegradable replacement. Proponents also tout the use of PLA, which is technically â€Å"carbon neutral† in that it comes from renewable, carbon-absorbing plants, as yet another way to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases in a quickly warming world. PLA also will not emit toxic fumes when incinerated. However, there are still issues with the use of polylactic acid such as its slow rate of biodegradability, its inability to mix with other plastics in recycling, and its high use of genetically modified corn (though arguably the latter could be one of the good effects of PLA as it provides a good reason to alter crop yields with genetic splicing). The Cons of PLA: Biodegradation Rate and Recycling Critics say that PLA is far from a panacea for dealing with the world’s plastic waste problem. For one thing, although PLA does biodegrade, it does so very slowly. According to Elizabeth Royte, writing in Smithsonian, PLA may well break down into its constituent parts (carbon dioxide and water) within three months in a â€Å"controlled composting environment,† that is, an industrial composting facility heated to 140 F and fed a steady diet of digestive microbes. It will take far longer in a compost bin, or in a landfill packed so tightly that no light and little oxygen are available to assist in the process. Indeed, analysts estimate that a PLA bottle could take anywhere from 100 to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill. Another issue with PLA is that it must be kept separate when recycled, lest it contaminates the recycling stream; since PLA is plant-based, it needs to be disposed of in composting facilities, which points to another problem: There are currently a few hundred industrial-grade composting facilities across the United States. Finally, PLA is typically made of genetically modified corn, at least in the United States. The largest producer of PLA in the world is NatureWorks, a subsidiary of Cargill, which is the world’s largest provider of genetically modified corn seed. This is tricky because the future costs of genetic modification (and the associated pesticides) to the environment and human health are still largely unknown. Pros of PLA Over Plastics: Utility and Biodegradability Genetically modified foods may be a controversial issue, but when it comes to genetically spicing plants together to breed corn that yields more crops for industrial use has its major advantages. With the increasing demand for corn to make ethanol fuel, let alone PLA, it’s no wonder that Cargill and others have been tampering with genes to produce higher yields. At least harmful plastic isnt be used as frequently anymore! Many industries are using PLA because they are capable of biodegrading at a much faster rate than plastic while still offering the same level of sanitation and utility. Everything from plastic clamshells for food take-out to medical products can now be made from PLA, which drastically reduces the carbon footprint of these industries. While PLA has promise as an alternative to conventional plastic once the means of disposal are worked out, consumers might be better served by simply switching to reusable containers, from cloth bags, baskets, and backpacks for grocery shopping to safe, reusable (non-plastic) bottles for beverages.

How to ask for a letter of recommendation

How to ask for a letter of recommendation At every professional stage in life (job searching, job switching, promotion seeking), there will come a time when you need to ask someone to write you a letter of recommendation. Though not as common as they once were, many would-be employers still want to know that someone vouches for you. If the thought of asking someone to say nice things about you makes you nervous, don’t worry- it’s awkward for everyone. Here are a few tips on how to make the asking as easy as possible for everyone involved.Ask someone who really likes you.This seems like a given, but it’s worth stressing: only ask people you are certain will say wonderful, glowing things about you. Just because you worked for someone and did the bare minimum doesn’t mean he or she thinks fondly of you. If you were forgettable, you’re going to get a bland and generic letter.Remember, this doesn’t always have to be a former (or current) boss. A colleague at your level is fine; so is some one you’ve worked with on volunteer projects outside of work. The key is that he or she can vouch for the exact skills the person receiving the letter wants in an employee.Offer to clarify.The more information you give, the easier it is for someone to knock out a letter. After you receive a â€Å"yes,† get specific. After saying thank you (always say thank you), describe in detail the specific job you’re applying for and what talking points would be most useful. You can give a list of skills the hiring manager wants in an applicant and remind the person you’re asking about how you have exhibited those skills in the past. It can also be helpful to outline some of your recent and past achievements for them to reference without having to look them up or ask.Be prepared to draft it yourself.A lot of times busier people will ask you to sketch out (or write entirely) the letter by yourself. Always say yes. Take the list of achievements this person knows youâ₠¬â„¢ve accomplished, match them up with the list of requirements from the job posting, and go to town. In most cases, he or she will  look it over, make a few cosmetic changes, and then sign it. You’ve made everyone’s life easier!Respect people’s time.Waiting until the last minute and then saying, â€Å"Please get this to me tomorrow,† is rude and inconsiderate. Your letter of recommendation is not among the most important things in someone’s life, and no one should have to drop everything just because you were too lazy to ask in advance. Give someone at least a week (and ideally two or three) to get you a letter.Just ask.Popping the question can be hard, but you won’t get a letter if you don’t ask for it. Yes, you might feel uncomfortable asking someone to do a favor for you, but if you’re smart about who you ask and pick someone who only has glowing things to say, chances are he or she will be more than happy to do it. Give the key details, throw in a little flattery, and ask away.

Budgeting Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Budgeting Process - Essay Example Due to increasing industrialisation the environmental problems are also increasing, it is affecting the climate, bio-diversity and the ecosystem of the planet. Therefore there is an immediate need of budget modernisation for sustainable development. If it's not achieved then it might have adverse effects on shareholders values because firms neglecting the rules may be closed or fined severely. b) Feasibility study is an important phase in the development process. It enables the developer to have an assessment of the product being developed. It refers to the feasibility study of the product in terms of outcomes of the product, operational use and technical support required for implementing it. c) According to consumer modernisation the solution to some sort of crisis can be found in more production, more modernity and more industrialisation. Rather than more production consumer modernization purports on different industrialisation and production. This is termed as more -as-different approach. In the present markets the production is more that result in the increase in economy and thus maintaining overall consumption low and sustainable. Thus we could say that consumption is dematerialised. Though the present world is turning towards e shopping still some of us like to prefer the old ways of purchasing things like jewellery, cars, etc. d) Let's take the case of United Kingdom and its... Unemployment was on rise and there was no perfect system to maintain law and order between the EU countries. There was chaos all the time. The post war era was the beginning of expansion in the trade sector. The benefits do not come that easily. Treating those who hurt by trade, equitably a difficult public policy issue. The important issues that were to deal with are controlling the rapid growth of trade deficit, high inflation rate and soaring prices of crude oil. The post war era has seen a rapid expansion in trade and accordingly the economic and political structure has experienced steady and substantial growth. Gaining profits from trade depends on individual economic behaviour. Instead of building own automobiles, manufacturing own goods, producing own food, it is better to manufacture goods in which they have specialisation and trade them for other goods that are required. This thought made the UK a leading exporting country in international trade. The most surprising thing is that the total UK imports amount to only about 12 percent of the country's GDP. International trade brings rich dividends and imposing restrictions to such exchanges will hinder the further improvement and in realising the true gains from trade. Protectionism is the factor that's becoming hindrance to international trade. e) In the context of budget process jobs were created and destroyed as well. Creation and destruction of jobs depends on comparative advantages and disadvantages. Cutting of jobs does not have any net loss on the economy further more it improves the living standard and raises the economy. It is known truth that international trade has positive and negative effects. The wages

The impact of substance abuse in the work place Essay

The impact of substance abuse in the work place - Essay Example Being a supervisor, my responsibility involves maintaining a productive, safe and secure environment for all employees at the work place. It is also my responsibility to evaluate and conduct performance discussion with employees. In the course of my duty as a supervisor, it is expected of me to treat all employees fairly in a manner that does not demean anyone (opm.gov). During my supervisory duty, it came to my attention that Balbito exhibited the following problems of absenteeism at work missing work for about two days a week. In addition, Balbito also had the following problems; falling sick at work frequently, missing deadlines, sleeping at work, problems with handling recruits in a professional manner and being at loggerheads most of the time with other co-workers. Consequently, the situation prompted me to take intervention and referral preparation for the employee prior to the actual intervention and referral. To this regard, it became worthwhile to put down on paper the perfo rmance problem as concisely and precisely as possible. In addition, it was necessary for me to prepare myself professionally for a constructive confrontation with the employee, Balbito (opm.gov). The responsibility of diagnosing drug abuse or alcohol abuse is not among my duties. Furthermore, having all answers to problems of an employee is also not my duty. The responsibility of providing therapy or counseling is the duty of the EAP professionals not the supervisor. In my own perspective, these problems are mostly related to alcohol addiction. Although Balbito had earlier admitting having problems with alcohol abuse, I detected that it was rather an addiction. Balbito purportedly used alcohol for recreational purposes, but the symptoms of irresponsible handling of his duties suggested addiction of alcohol due to its use as a stress reliever. Since my professional requires strict supervision of the performance of employees, I intend to address the issue strictly with no sympathy in this context (opm.gov). First, am going to summon the employee (Balbito) and express my concern regarding his performance as a human resource professional. In the most precise manner, am going to inform him of the problem of alcohol addiction that has come to my attention. Additionally, I will avail the documentation of the problem to him in a professional way as the supervisor. At last, I will demand an explanation from him regarding his performance. Since the employee (Balbito) had already admitted his problem regarding alcohol abuse, I will refrain from personal issues and frame the discussion strictly to matters pertaining performance to resolve his problem. In a professional perspective, am going to address my concern regarding performance to get the employee (Balbito) to acknowledge the performance problem. During the performance discussion with the customer, I will order the employee (Balbito) to stop reporting to work under the influence of alcohol since it has a negative im pact on his performance. Adding to this, I will give the employee a fortnight to improve on his performance failure to which, he is subject to suspension from work for a period of one month. To make the intervention effective, am going to refer the employee (Balbito) to employee assistance program professional for counseling. By doing this, information concerning his privacy regarding this issue will be availed to him.

Huck :: essays papers

Naivety of Huckleberry Finn The dialect that Mark Twain used in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" mocks the poor education and incompetence of the South in the late 1800's. As the narrator of the novel, Huck Finn, fits the exemplary part of a young and naive boy. He does not comprehend the immensity of the world but, rather the small portion that he sees. As Huck takes the reader through each episode of the book, he does not perceive any kind of humor in the word devices he uses. He takes them quite seriously and is portrayed as a naive character to the reader. Mr. Twain has purposely given the readers reason to believe he is mocking the characters in the book with this audacious comedy. Huck Finn says out of the ordinary things that most people would not have the slightest idea about. At the beginning of chapter one, the Widow Douglas tells him of Moses and the Bulrushers. He is eager to hear all about the stories of Moses until he finds out that Moses has been dead a "considerable long time." Huck tells the reader that he "don't take no stock in dead people." To him, there is no lesson in these stories unless the person is alive and is related to someone. The novel places realistic views and does not hold romantic value besides that of the character Tom Sawyer. Huck does not understand why Tom makes every task so complex yet, Huck is very admirable of Tom's ideas. Throughout the book Huck asks himself if Tom Sawyer would approve of the way he deals with certain matters. This shows dramatic irony because Tom would not be stuck in these situations that Huck is in, in turn adding to Huck's naivety. This brings the readers to the Dauphin and Duke, who take advantage of Huck because of his gullibility, tricking him into thinking they are of a royal class and deserve superior care. As readers, we see the entire picture, past the fraud's act. Huck goes along with the low life and cunning ways the Duke and King make money. A classic example of this is when the Duke and King, the scoundrels that they are, put on the stage production of "The Royal Nonesuch," making their own success from the foolish townspeople. Jim, the runaway slave displays a naive humor laced with superstition.

Confusion at the Busy Airport

There I was at the world's largest and most hectic airport. It felt like a whole new world around me but it was all to come to an abrupt end shortly. As the thousands of people around me went on with their lives so did I. Then it all started, as I approached the counter I overheard some police officers stating that a terror alert had been sounded and that all officers should be on high alert. My heart started pumping faster and faster, I started sweating and my adrenaline levels shot up. Everywhere nook I looked at I saw flashing red lights hooked up to countdown timers that seemed as though they were going to blow up any second and to mention the eerie sounds I kept hearing. As fast as I could I checked in my baggage and headed straight to my boarding gate. As I ran up the stairs I caught a glimpse of what looked like a flashing light wired up to a small box. Instinctively I shouted ‘BOMB' but within seconds I realised that it was a camera not a bomb. What have I done I thought, I had caused a stamped in the world's busiest airport. Everybody scampered to grab their belongings and headed towards any possible path to escape. All officers immediately reacted and within a matter of minutes everything was under control. However it was too late alone I was responsible for the deaths of what seemed to at least a hundred people. There, in front of me lay a child who seemed to be just 3 years old but his life had already come to an end. Nevertheless this was not the time to break down yet more a time to be happy that it really wasn't a bomb. On this sudden turn of mood each person started clearing the place and getting the injured to the hospital. But luck wasn't on our side and our happiness was short lived as this time the cry for safety was real. There was a deafening, explosive ‘BANG'. The entire building started shaking; all windows cracked and huge pieces of supporting beams fell to the ground. No one expected what was going to happen next. All flights to and from the airport were cancelled, all passengers were in a total state of panic. Fires raged throughout the building in turn blocking all possible exits. I thought to myself ‘So this is the end. I brought this upon myself,' I thought. Just that very moment a sudden turn of events occurred, which meant I could escape the death trap I was in currently. Due to the harmful gas build up in the airport many were barely managing to breath and some already on the ground unconscious. I took the deepest breath I could and ran for a small hole that blew open in the wall due to the raging fire. I leaped and went right through the fire and just barely made it sustaining very little injuries. Within another 30 minutes the fire was brought under control. This was the worst disaster that London had seen in years. Only 157 people escaped with minimal injuries, with another 276 in the hospital and a devastating 698 dead. Yet to think that majority of these people died only because of me!

The Roman Emperors at their Age of Accession