Survey On Different Energy Harvesting Methods

Survey On Different Energy Harvesting Methods Mubashir Hussain, Sami-Ur-Rehman Khan Telecommunication Engineering Dept FEST, Iqra University Main Campus Karachi, Pakistan Abstract This paper serves as a survey on energy harvesting from different sources and their methods presented after a brief literature review of different technical papers available in the public domain. The Process of extracting energy from our surroundings is known as energy harvesting. The energy harvesting got its origins from the water wheels and windmills. Energy can be scavenged from sources around us like, light, water, wind, heat, radio waves, mechanical vibrations etc. In the present age we need more reliable, low cost and efficient power sources for our systems. The new systems require less energy and give out great output similarly the sources are supposed to be more efficient and effective, in this paper we have presented that how the energy which is presently wasted around us due to radiations, friction or reflection can be scavenged to make them useful of our everyday use. Keywords: Energy Harvesting Networks, Different Energy Harvesting Sources, Methods for Energy Harvesting Introduction Conventional batteries are not always beneficial as they require human involvement for replacing batteries. Hence, require electrical power to make these devices functional. Therefore, consideration of alternate type of energy source to traditional batteries is required. The electrical power is required to operate these devices can be obtained by converting the light, mechanical or thermal energies available in the ambient environment. This conversion of energy available in ambient environment can produce unlimited energy for the lifetime of the electronic device. This process of extracting energy from the ambient environment and converting them into consumable electric energy is known as Energy Harvesting. Typical energies available in ambient environment are mechanical energy, solar energy, RF energy and thermal energy. Since, it is proven to be an efficient alternative to give lifelong electrical power to electronic devices, there is an increasingly volume carried out on energy ha rvesting, these days [1-10, 22-28]. Energy harvesting sources can be utilized to maximize the ability and lifetime of the devices by augmenting the usage of battery [18-20]. Electrical devices switched on by energy harvesters can be utilized to give important information on structural and operational circumstances through positioning them in unapproachable whereabouts [21]. Different Sources Used for Energy Harvesting The categorization of energy harvesting can be done on the basis of the types of energy being used to harvest energy, available in ambient environment, into electrical energy. The different yet widely used sources for energy harvesting are photovoltaic cells, thermoelectric generators, wind turbines, and mechanical vibration devices such as electromagnetic devices and piezoelectric devices [11]. Table I highlights some of the energy harvesting sources with their power generation capability [12]. Table I: Energy Harvesting Sources [12] Mechanical Vibration When a device vibrates, an inertial mass can be utilized to generate movement. This vibrational movement can then be converted into electrical energy using 3 mechanisms including piezoelectric, electrostatic and electromagnetic. Energy used here is mechanical energy. Electrostatic Energy Harvesting This type of energy harvesting mainly depends on the varying capacitance of vibration-dependent varactors (variable capacitors). Vibration causes the separation between plates of an initially charged varactor, which causes mechanical energy to be converted in electrical energy. Electrostatic generators are simple mechanical devices that produce electricity by using manual or mechanical power [13]. Roundy, et al. [31] define the categorization of the electrostatic generators into three main classes namely: in-plane, in-plane gap closing and out-of-plane gap closing, and overlap. The different electrostatic generators under the three distinguished classes are debated in various papers. Piezoelectric Materials These are the materials that convert mechanical energy, produced by applying force, pressure or vibrations, into electrical energy. These materials are able to generate electrical charge when mechanical load is applied on them. This property of piezoelectric materials is considered by the researchers to develop various piezoelectric harvesters in order to power different applications [14, 15]. The very first example of extracting electrical energy from piezoelectric materials is from the collision of leaving steel ball bearing on piezoelectric transducer [29]. 3.3 Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting Electromagnetic energy harvesting can be attained by principles of electromagnetic induction. Electromagnetic induction can be described as the method of generating voltages in an electric conductor by varying the magnetic field around it. One of the most effective ways of producing electromagnetic induction for energy harvesting is with the help of permanent magnets, a coil and a resonating cantilever beam [8]. Electromagnetic induction gives the benefit of better mechanical damping and reliability as there will not be any mechanical intercourse between any parts; therefore, no distinct voltage source is needed [30]. Photovoltaic Cells Photovoltaic cells are the devices that transform light energy into electrical energy. The form of energy harnessed is typically light energy usually received from sunlight. Usage of photovoltaic cells would be effective and efficient at places where the availability of light is guaranteed and usage of batteries and other means of power supply are not feasible or expensive. While designing sources which harvest solar energy, constituents such as accessibility of day light, periods of smoggy cloud and snow cover, effects of operation at higher latitudes, functionalities of the photovoltaic cell used, the strength of the incident light, power supply needs are to be considered [9, 16]. Thermoelectric Generators Thermoelectric generators work on the principle of thermoelectricity to generate the required electrical energy. The phenomena of generating electric current with a temperature difference and vice-versa can be named as thermoelectricity. The thermal energy here is harvested to get electrical energy to power-up electronic devices. These devices are mostly used in space and terrestrial applications. Solid-state thermoelectric generators are considered to have long life, low maintenance and high reliability. However, their usage is limited because of their low energy conversion efficiency and high costs [17]. Microwaves Energy Harvesting Recently, researchers have designed a device that is converting the lost microwaves, generated from Wi-Fi, into electrical energy. The lost microwaves are converted into electrical energy using metamaterials. Metamaterials Literature Review As we know that in today’s world, energy crisis is one of the biggest issues as the demand of energy is increasing day by day and the supply is not enough to facilitate everyone. In such shortfall of energy supply and high demand for consumption, energy harvesting is truly a magnificent approach to bridge the gap between supply and demand. Using energy harvesting networks, we can harvest the ambient energy available in surrounding such as light, heat, electromagnetic and mechanical energy and can convert them into useful energy. Though, the amount of energy being produced by energy harvesting network is low, however, it can still be used to power small and portable electronic devices including our cellular phones –one of the most important devices used for communicating, all around the world. As the researchers are doing extensive research in this field to discover new techniques to produce more and more energy from energy harvesting networks, it seems that, in coming w orld, energy harvesters would be fulfilling more than 50% of our energy requirements. The rapid demand of energy harvesting modules can be observed by the given graph over certain period of time. Key Findings Due to rapidly increasing demand of energy, it is observed that the traditional energy producing networks are not efficient enough to facilitate everyone and people are now looking for alternatives to overcome the shortfall of energy. When it comes to find alternatives of traditional energy-producing networks, energy harvesting networks are on top of the list. Energy harvesting networks are the most efficient yet low cost energy producing devices that harvest the energy available in environment and convert them into electrical energy to power up electrical devices. Previously, solar energy and mechanical energy were two of the main and only known sources that were being used to generate energy. However, after the continuous hard work and research in this field, researchers have introduced such energy harvesting networks that can harvest electromagnetic waves, as well as radio waves into electrical energy to produce energy. The recent Wi-Fi energy harvesting network developed by the s tudents of Duke University, England, can produce electrical energy up to 3.7 volts that is equivalent to the average electrical energy produced by USB –we use to charge our gadgets. Therefore, it can be said that energy harvesting networks are the only best alternatives to traditional energy producing networks to overcome the shortfall of the energy in today’s and upcoming world. Open Areas Recently, researchers have designed a device that is converting the lost microwaves, generated from Wi-Fi, into electrical energy. The lost microwaves are converted into electrical energy using metamaterials. Metamaterials are composite materials having a structure that exhibits such properties that cannot be found, usually, in natural materials, especially the property of having negative refractive index. Metamaterials are capable to capture different forms of wave’s energy and tune them into useful applications. There is no doubt at all that energy harvesting of electromagnetic and other radio waves is the future of energy harvesting networks as they are most commonly founded waves in our today’s tech-world environment –as our communication is mainly done via electromagnetic and radio waves and it would be keep going in future too. So, the Electromagnetic energy harvesting networks would be helping the people, in coming world, to power up their devices for free, anywhere, anytime, wirelessly. Conclusion Harvesting energy from the ambient environment is being considered as a valuable alternate to replace the existing power supplies for energy constraint embedded systems. Especially, the latest research done on energy harvesting of microwaves, radiated from Wi-Fi mainly, has enlightened a new hope among the researchers to identify such energy harvesting methods that can raise the amount of power generated using the power harvesters. These methods would be going to assist in placing the energy harvesters as one of the best power sources for portable power devices in the field of wireless technology. References [1] Amirtharajah R and Chandrakasan A P, â€Å"Self-powered low power signal processing,† IEEE Symposium, VLSI Circuits, Digest of Technical Papers, 1997, pp 25–26. [2] Amirtharajah R and Chandrakasan A P, â€Å"Self-powered signal processing using vibration-based power generation,† IEEE Journal of Solid-Stage Circuits, v 33 n 5, May 1998, pp 687–695. [3] Arakawa Y, Suzuki Y and Kasagi N, â€Å"Micro seismic power generator using electrets polymer film,† Power MEMS Conference, Kyoto, Japan, 2004, pp 187–190. [4] Atwood B, Warneke B and Pister K S J, â€Å"Preliminary circuits for Smart Dust,† Proceedings of Southwest Symposium, Mixed-Signal Design, 2000, pp. 87–92. [5] Cavallier B, Nouira H, Foltete E, Hirsinger L and Ballandras S, â€Å"Energy storage capacity of vibrating structure: application to a shock system,† Proceedings of Symposium on Design, Test, Integration and Packaging of MEMS/ MOEMS DTIP0, Montreux, Switzerland, 2005, pp 391–393. [6] Bayrashev A, Robbins W P and Ziaie B, â€Å"Low frequency wireless powering of micro-systems using piezoelectric magnetostrictive laminate composites,† Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2004, v 114, pp 244-249. [7] Beeby S P, Tudor M J, Koukharenko E, White N M, O’Donnell T, Saha C, Kulkarni S and Roy S, â€Å"Micromachined silicon generator for harvesting power from vibration,† Proceedings of Transducers, Seoul, Korea, 2005, pp 780–783. [8] Beeby S P, Tudor M J and White N M, â€Å"Energy harvesting vibration sources for Microsystems applications,† Journal of Measurement Science and Technology, 2006, v 17, pp 175-195. [9] Callaway, Jr and Edgar H, Wireless Sensor Networks, Boca Raton, Florida: Auerbach Publications, CRC Press LLC, 2004. [10] Cavallier B, Berthelot P, Nouira H, Foltà ªte E, Hirsinger L and Ballandras S, â€Å"Energy harvesting using vibrating structures excited by shock,† IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, 2005. [11] Park G, Farrar C R, Todd M D, Hodgkiss W and Rosing T, â€Å"Energy Harvesting for Structural Health Monitoring Sensor Networks,† Technical Report, Los Alamos National Laboratories, LA, February 2007. [12] Atwood B, Warneke B and Pister K S J, â€Å"Smart Dust mote forerunners,† Proceedings of 14th Annual International Conference on Microelectromechanical Sytsems, 2001, pp 357–360. [13] Peano F and Tambosso T, â€Å"Design and optimisation of a MEMS electrets-based capacitive energy scavenger,† Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems, 2005, v 14, pp 435–529. [14] White N M, Glynne-Jones P and Beeby S, â€Å"A novel thick-film piezoelectric micro-generator,† Smart Material Structures, August 2001, v 10, pp 850–852. [15] Williams C B and Yates R B, â€Å"Analysis of a micro-electric generator for microsystems,† in Proceedings of Solid-State Sensors and Actuator and in Eurosensors IX. Transducers, 1995, v 1, pp 369–372. [16] Raghunathan V, Kansal A, Hsu J, Friedman J and Srivastava M, â€Å"Design Considerations for Solar Energy Harvesting Wireless Embedded Systems,† Fourth IEEE/ACM International Conference on Information Processing in Sensor Networks, April 2005. [17] Fleurial J P, Snyder G J, Herman J A, Smart M, and Shakkottai P, Giauque P H and Nicolet M A, â€Å"Miniaturized thermoelectric power sources,† Intersorie Energy Conversion [18] Kansal A and Srivastava M B, â€Å"An Environmental Energy harvesting framework for Sensor Networks,† Proceedings of International Symposium on Low Power Electronics and Design (ISLPED ’03). ACM Press, 2003, pp 481-486. [19] Kansal A, Potter D and Srivastava M B, â€Å"Performance Aware asking for Environmentally Powered Sensor Networks,† Proceedings on the Measurement and Modeling of Computer Systems in Joint International Conference, ACM Press, 2004, pp. 223–234. [20] Kansal A and Srivastava M B, â€Å"Distributed Energy Harvesting for Energy Neutral Sensor Networks,† IEEE Pervasive Computing, v 4, January-March 2005. [21] Park G, Farrar C R, Todd M D, Hodgkiss W and Rosing T, â€Å"Energy Harvesting for Structural Health Monitoring Sensor Networks,† Technical Report, Los Alamos National Laboratories, LA, February 2007. [22] Sodano H A, Inman D J, and Park G., â€Å"A Review of Power Harvesting from Vibration Using Piezoelectric Materials,† The Shock and Vibration Digest, 2004, v 36, pp. 197–205. [23] Sodano H A, Inman D J and Park G, â€Å"Comparison of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Devices for Recharging Batteries,† Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures. 2005, v 16, pp 799-807. [24] Sodano H A, Simmers G E, Dereux R, and Inman D J, â€Å"Recharging Batteries using Energy Harvested from Thermal Gradients,† Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, January 1, 2007, v 18, pp 3 10. [25] Sterken T, Baert K, Puers R and Borghs S â€Å"Power extraction from ambient vibration,† Proceedings of 3rd Workshop on Semiconductor Sensors and Actuators, November 2002, pp 680–683. [26] Sterken T, Fiorini P, Baert K, Borghs G and Puers R, â€Å"Novel design and fabrication of a MEMS electrostatic vibration scavenger,† Power MEMS Conference, Kyoto, Japan, 2004, pp 18–21. [27] Staley M E and Flatau A B, â€Å"Characterization of energy harvesting potential of Terfenol-D and Galfenol,† Proceedings of SPIE, 2005, pp 630-640. [28] Tashiro R, Kabei N, Katayama K, Tsuboi F and Tsuchiya K, â€Å"Development of an electrostatic generator for a cardiac pacemaker that harnesses the ventricular wall motion,† Journal on Artifcial Organs, 2002, pp 239–245. [29] Umeda M, Nakamura K and Ueha S, â€Å"Analysis of the transformation of mechanical impact energy to electric energy using piezoelectric vibrator,† Japan, Journal of Applied Physics, 1996, v 35, pp 3267–3273. [30] Roundy S J, â€Å"Energy Scavenging for Wireless Sensor Nodes with a Focus on Vibration to Electricity Conversion,† Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2003. [31] Roundy S, Wright P and Pister K, â€Å"Micro-electrostatic vibration-to-electricity converters,† Proceedings, IMECE, 2002, pp 1–10.

Educational Administration and leadership

These are the most salient problems that the superintendent faces in her new job. (i) Complacency This is the general contentment with the state of affairs in the district system. In my opinion this is most salient of the problems since it presents a culture that has taken time to develop. Its effects are that the stakeholders fail to see their vulnerabilities and do not see the need to change. This culture is deeply ingrained in Harmony district such that any effort to bring change will definitely be resisted and this is not something that’s going to be resolved easily. As it is a mind that has learnt to think in a certain pattern will not easily be taught otherwise. The areas of complacency include: Non-compliance with the teaching evaluation program – The school district management team, teachers and parents have gotten used to not complying with these rules and it will take firm action to ensure compliance. (ii) Inequities – racial and poverty segregation This presents a special problem to the improvement of the district school system. This is a major obstacle not just to the school system but to the development of the entire region. The effects segregation are deep rooted and not easily resolved. Segregation is a social evil that requires diligent and patient campaign. It adversely affects the education system because when a school is economically segregated and under funded it affects the spending and consequently the quality of a school. This in turn affects the performance. (iii) Personnel This is a countrywide problem. The majority of teachers are old and waiting for the age to retire. This means that they are not so keen on utilizing the modern methods of teaching. Their teaching style is out-dated and is not relevant to today’s changing world. They do not prepare their students to be adequately prepared for the challenges of today’s world. The superintendent has to ensure that the state mandate is followed and that teaching models used prepare students adequately. This problem is not very easy to resolve since the superintendent cannot hire or retire teachers. However one of the actions will be to ensure that the state mandate is complied with and all teachers evaluated regularly. The teaching models have to be up to date and should take into account the changing role of education in today’s world. iv) Financial mismanagement This is a form of corruption and the problem with any form of corruption is that those who practice it will always fight back any efforts to stop them. However this problem is put as the fourth priority because it’s slightly easier to resolve. These are always laid down procedures in all financial undertakings and the superintendent will have to ensure transparency and accountability by for instance putting in place an independent audit committee that will look into the books of accounts and ensure that no funds are misappropriated. The superintendent will ensure that financial regulations that concern the school system are followed. An audit committee will also be formed to examine all the books of accounts. Another strategy is will be ensuring that the responsibility of overseeing the budgeting and appropriation of funds does not lie on an individual/person but on a board to take care of this important responsibility. (v) Lack of support from assistants The 3 associates’ superintendents have openly disclosed their diverted interests. The fact that they didn’t get the coveted position makes them not be the best working mates. Their support willingly given would go a long way in ensuring the success of the changes that need to be made. Without it the superintendent’s job becomes more challenging. (vi) Low level of education among parents Parents who have not attended college are less likely to encourage their children to seek further education in colleges. This has led to the small number of students furthering their education after high school and to some extent the low population of students attending high school in the district. (vii) Indiscipline Scholl indiscipline is reported in the schools closest to the metropolitan centre. This is a thorny issue that needs to be urgently addressed since the potential of disrupting learning and aversely affected performance. Solutions Complacency This problem will take a lot of firmness and strength of will on the part of the superintendent. It is not going to be easy to inspire change to the people especially with the three associate superintendents not promising any support. However it can be done through the following steps: – †¢ Laying down the problem of pointing the vision for the future. †¢ Ensuring proper and effective communication with the stakeholders. This will ensure that people own the process or at least understanding why the changes must be made. †¢ Taking firm action in areas of complacency. Ensure that areas are non-compliance with the state mandate and so forth. Personnel This is a countrywide problem. The majority of teachers are old and waiting for the age to retire. This means that they are not so keen on utilizing the modern methods of teaching. Their teaching style is out-dated and is not relevant to today’s changing world. They do not prepare their students to be adequately prepared for the challenges of today’s world. The superintendent has to ensure that the state mandate is followed and that teaching models used prepare students adequately. This problem is not very easy to resolve since the superintendent cannot hire or retire teachers. However one of the actions will be to ensure that the state mandate is complied with and all teachers evaluated regularly. The teaching models have to be up to date and should take into account the changing role of education in today’s world. Financial mismanagement This is a form of corruption and the problem with any form of corruption is that those who practice it will always fight back any efforts to stop them. However this problem is put as the fourth priority because it’s slightly easier to resolve. These are always laid down procedures in all financial undertakings and the superintendent will have to ensure transparency and accountability by for instance putting in place an independent audit committee that will look into the books of accounts and ensure that no funds are misappropriated. The superintendent will ensure that financial regulations that concern the school system are followed. An audit committee will also be formed to examine all the books of accounts. Another strategy is will be ensuring that the responsibility of overseeing the budgeting and appropriation of funds doesn’t lie on an individual/ person but forms are board to take care of this important responsibility. QUESTION 2 (i) One of the first personnel decisions the superintendent will make will be to increase the number of staff at the professional development office. This is from understanding that this office plays a crucial role in the district. It is the office charged with the responsibility of managing the school district’s teacher evaluation system. Currently teacher evaluation has not been happening in accordance to the state mandate. One staff member is not able to accomplish all that needs to be done. This office is also charged with the responsibility of giving assistance and support to new teachers. The fact that this office has not been functional in the last many years has affected the orientation process for the new teachers in the district. Having nowhere to turn to they now seek help from principals and other experienced teachers within their schools. These principals and teachers may be too busy or may not be objective in their giving of assistance. This has led to new teachers not being properly oriented. This will in turn affect their future work. Again this department will make it possible to motivate and boost the morale of the new teachers. (ii) Initiate comprehensive staff development program This program will be designed with the view of training teachers and will incorporate improvement plans. The time for planning will be set out in the program and the teachers being trained will be exempted from their normal responsibilities. The superintendent will recommend to the district board the adoption of performance pay policy for school principals who show remarkable performance. This will serve to encourage principals to spur the teacher within their schools to work even harder with their students so that they may improve their performance. This is in accordance to the human resource concept of giving incentives to outstanding performance in order to motivate them. Question 3. A curriculum philosophy refers to a set of values, beliefs and ideologies that guide educational administrators in the execution of their day to day duties. The numerous challenges facing Harmony District School system calls for a superintendent with a focused mind, one who is able to dissect through the problems of the school system and thereafter offer long lasting solutions to the inequities rampant in the area, the lax educational administrators , the dysfunctional teacher support services as well as the dismal performance of the schools , the increasingly agitated parents, the ignorant the ignorant and unsupportive parents all require a superintendent with a strong philosophy. A strong and reproducible curriculum philosophy is not only a guide to the superintendent but also serves as guidance to the whole district school system in dealing with the existing challenges and issues. The superintendent will have to borrow from similar cases in other systems especially from where they are transferring from. Additionally, the superintendent will rely heavily on the almost 30years field experience to deal with the staff as well as the parent body which clearly are not functioning in a manner likely to yield into a synergetic effect. Performance is the greatest challenge for the incoming superintendent. The statistics clearly point to a scenario whereby only very few students make it to the grade level. A comparative. As the new superintendent, the following curriculum if followed would result in the school system regaining new strengths and therefore uplifting the school performance. By emphasizing on non-compromise to quality, the superintendent will ensure that through better management staff, and especially then 253 veterans will use traditional instructional methods and have gone un-inspected for 5 years are inspected and such incidences do not recur in future. Usually such occurrences are caused by laxity on the part of the associate superintendents as well as the superintendent. If such a problem occurs at the superintendent’s office, this can only mean that matters are worse off in the schools. This has a bearing on the motivation of teachers as well as of the students and therefore performance is affected. Specifically, to bring the poor performing schools in the north area feeder system would simply require; adherence to state mandate on inspection and evaluation, addressing the inequality issues such as resources, enough teachers and enough administrators. Integration as a curriculum philosophy calls for amalgamation of the school system into the needs of the students and parents with an aim of ensuring that the schools provide and impart self sustaining education. By achieving the above, the superintendent is able to save the whole school system. The involvement of the local community in all of the above measures is of core importance in that the community is a big stake holder of the school and therefore all measures must get the approval of the community in the sense that it is the community that naturally should benefit from the school system. Currently that is not the case because the school system has ceased to adhere to state mandate rules and regulations. 4) You are to assume that Harmony School District is in a state with precisely the same laws as yours. You are concerned that the student performance data is evidence of inequities in the system and you are concerned that the school district has become complacent with these inequities. What problems presented in this case are related to issues of power and domination? Harmony school district must be made to deal with the rampant cases of inequities. The worst thing is the fact that this inequities currently happening do happen under the watch of the law enforcers. The superintendent is mandated to oversee the whole school system in the district. The law has to some degree protected the marginalized communities from discrimination and unfair treatment but at the same time it has failed to freely address the problem which studies have shown as a major contributor to poor performance in some schools in the Harmony school district. The above mentioned problems can only be addressed through the implementation of the state laws regarding education and which calls for and guarantees equal opportunities in the school system regardless of ones racial background. Although the law has been in place for decades it is evident that, it has not dealt and addresses the problems conclusively and effectively. Therefore there is a need for a more concerted effort towards the protection of the minority groups especially in the African-American community whose entry to grade – level is pathetic and wanting. The other legislation which needs urgent review is the school administration Act which calls for all education officials to be vigilant in making sure that the laxity observed in the school system for the past 5 years is done away with. Specifically, the following issues need urgent attention from the superintendent; Resource allocation is another issue, the fact that there is only one professional development staff is an indicator of neglected and dysfunctional school system. This can only be referred to as lack o human resource and it is a pointer to inequality in the resource distribution in the Harmony schools districts. The fact that, the schools have not had, their classroom buildings repaired for the past 5 years is a further testimony that the system is fully mismanaged and there is inequity in resource allocation. There is a need for equitable resource allocation from the state education department with an aim of ensuring that all schools no matter their locations or the social class have access to equal and adequate learning facilities including all necessary resources such as teachers, staff and materials. Without equitable resource distribution the pertinent issues of poor performance as well as other challenges facing the school system shall continue to haunt the school system and the superintendent in charge. Therefore the funding of the schools in the country need to be looked at afresh with an aim of helping out places like Harmony schools districts which is facing unprecedented challenges. The numerous sit-ins by parents is something which the superintendent needs to be wary about mainly because the trend may lead to general disturbances in the schools further affecting performance. This becomes a reality due to the fact that, if the parents are taking part in sit-ins or strikes then the children may take after them and the situation may further complicates an already complicated situation. The issue of power and domination is evident in the school system. The fact that, the white students perform better than others from other backgrounds is a pointer of power wars in the schools which may imply a dominance by children from well to do parents. Dominance is also evident in the way the parents who work in the nearby town in professional jobs are more active in the affairs of the school and even have seconded representatives to board meetings. This is an indicator that, the above are advantages as compared to their colleagues who do blue-color jobs who do not actively participate in the day to day running o the schools. Finally this is reflected in the performance of students therefore resulting into inequities.

Dark Dreams Essay

In the novel Dark Dreams page 47 â€Å"The Waves to Freedom: The Story of Nga-Huynh Diep† (by Gracia Diep, aged 15), it tell us how the Vietnamese were treated. It says that the communist parties were to come and strip away everything that was precious in Vietnam from its people. The Vietnamese were forced to live without any freedom either under the tough supervision of the communist party or in a re-education camp. It also says that the only happiness these people have was hope of escaping the country to have another chance at freedom in another land. In this story Nga-Huynh’s family risked their lives to escape Vietnam and she was only twenty-one years of age. They went through an emotional and a painful journey. The only way to travel to Australia was by boat and they had to follow the smugglers. The smugglers not only let her family travel by boat but also other families as well. So it was risky. The boat may sink and they will run out of food. Nga-Huynh sacrificed a lot for a chance at freedom and has come out maintaining her strong character. It says that the experiences of her escape from Vietnam haven’t weakened her they have made her into an even stronger person. Anyways she is now happily married, working woman with two daughters. She also lives in Melbourne and has found life in Australia very pleasant and would even call it her â€Å"home. † However she would like to go back to Vietnam and see what has happened to the country since she left it in 1979.

Essay about Euthanasia - 1510 Words

Introduction Euthanasia continues to be a subject of ethical debate. It is defined as the administration of lethal drugs by someone other than the person concerned with the explicit intention of ending a patient’s life, at the latter’s explicit request (Quaghebeur, de Casterle, Gastmans, 2009). An unprecedented number of people in the United States today live well into their late adult years. Improved medical and public health practices, increasing life expectancies, and the â€Å"graying† of the baby boom generation have all contributed to this phenomenon (Moulton, Hill, Burdette, 2006). Euthanasia has been and always will be a topic of debate in the United States because Americans are living longer. Oregon, Washington, and Montana†¦show more content†¦Research Question and Thesis The purpose of this research is to examine euthanasia. The physician behind such a controversial topic and the variety of religious beliefs compared. In my opinion I believe someone’s life is in God’s hands. I’m not so sure how I would feel if I was approached by a loved one who was suffering with a terminal disease and I was asked to assist in ending their life. Key Terms Euthanasia is the intentional administration of lethal drugs in order to terminate painlessly the life of a patient suffering from an incurable condition deemed unbearable. Voluntary euthanasia is the intentional administration of lethal drugs in order to terminate painlessly the life of a patient suffering from an incurable condition deemed unbearable by the patient, at the patient’s request. Non-voluntary euthanasia is the intentional administration of lethal drugs in order to terminate painlessly the life of a patient suffering from an incurable condition deemed unbearable, not at this patient’s request. Physician assisted suicide is a physician intentionally assisting a patient, at this patient’s request, to terminate his or her life. Dr. Jack Kevorkian Dr. Jack Kevorkian is an Armenian-American pathologist who served in the Army in the Korean War. He was also known as Doctor Death. Dr. Kevorkian once stated â€Å"My aim in helping the patient was not to cause death. My aim was to end suffering. It’s got to be decriminalized.† Dr.Show MoreRelatedEuthanasia Essay : Euthanasia And Euthanasia863 Words   |  4 PagesThis is why Euthanasia is important and summarizing the research that I found on Euthanasia. Euthanasia is important because there is a lot of arguments about Euthanasia. Some people support it and some people do not support Euthanasia (Euthanasia and assisted suicide- Arguments). Euthanasia allows people to be free from physical pain. It is the hastening of death of a patient to prevent further sufferings (Euthanasia Revisited). The religious argument states God chooses when human life ends. EuthanasiaRead MoreEuthanasia Essays : Euthanasia And Euthanasia1432 Words   |  6 PagesDoe s euthanasia assists patients to die with dignity? From fresh to dying, is the humanity multiplies the development natural law. Along with medicine progress and life enhancement, the people besides pay attention to eugenics, simultaneous starts to pay attention to the euthanasia. Since this century 50 ages, regarding euthanasia, many countries’ medical arenas, educational world, and ethical groups have been arguing about the euthanasia argument for many years, although many person of ideas haveRead MoreThe Debate Of Euthanasia And Euthanasia1429 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION: The debate of euthanasia is an ongoing one that’s shrouded with much controversy and ambiguity regarding the ethics of it in contemporary Australian society. However, the frequency of this topic being debated by physicians, influential figures and the media has become more prominent now than ever. In particular, in association with its impending legislation within Australian states. (The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists,2012) Various types of euthanasia are recognised,Read MoreEuthanasia Essay : Euthanasia And Euthanasia Essay1223 Words   |  5 Pages Euthanasia James Dudley Euthanasia continues to be an ongoing issue in modern society. Over the course of history, there has been a multitude of debates that have tried to justify assisted suicide, or euthanasia. Gallup’s study in 2013 openly shows this statistic by showing that over 75 percent of Americans trust that euthanasia should be acceptable. However, what Americans don’t comprehend is that making any form of euthanasia legal infringes upon the right to life as stated in the constitutionRead MoreThe Issue Of Euthanasia And Euthanasia2073 Words   |  9 Pageslife is beyond toleration or they feel as though there is no point to living, the issue of euthanasia often arises. Euthanasia is technically defined as â€Å"the act or practice of killing someone who is very sick or injured in order to prevent any more suffering†. In america people have the right to end their life. The topic of euthanasia is one that is highly disputed among people over the world.† Euthanasia means killing someone who is very sick to prevent more suffering† (Weaver 1). An example ofRead MoreEuthanasi Euthanasia And Euthanasia1515 Words   |  7 Pagesetymology of the word ‘euthanasia’ originates from the Greek language which has a literal meaning of â€Å"good death†. Other names for euthanasia are ‘assisted suicide’ and ‘mercy killing’. Euthanasia is done when the person is suffering from a terminal illness such as cancer, and then steps are taken to end the person’s life so that they no longer have to suffer. [Helga Kuhse. July 1992. Bioethics News. The World Federation of Right to Die Societies. http://www.worldrtd.net/euthanasia-fact-sheet. AccessedRead MoreEuthanasia And The Death Of Euthanasia1351 Words   |  6 Pagesfor the dying who request euthanasia to be able to end their suffering. Euthanasia is con sidered a â€Å"gentle and easy death† because it comes from the Greek words, Eu meaning good and Thanatosis meaning death. Euthanasia is illegal in most of the United States. However, assisted suicide, is legal in six different states. The states that assisted suicide is legal in are California, Oregon, Colorado, Washington DC, Vermont and Washington. The key difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide is whoRead MoreEuthanasia Essay : The Euthanasia989 Words   |  4 Pagesthe euthanasia process and what to expect. The euthanasia can take place in the privacy of your own home or you may choose to have it done at your veterinarian’s office. Your veterinarian may offer at home euthanasia or you may be able to locate a veterinary service that does at home euthanasia such as Home To Heaven. This is a personal choice and should be made with you and your pet’s comfort in mind. Additionally, you may want to decide if you wish to be present during the eu thanasia. SomeRead MoreEuthanasi Euthanasia And Euthanasia861 Words   |  4 PagesEuthanasia, the practice of medically terminating life in order to relieve pain and suffering of a patient, has been a complex and controversial topic since its conception. In ancient Greece and Rome attitudes toward active euthanasia, and suicide had tended to be tolerant. However, the rise of the Christian faith reinforced the views of the Hippocratic Oath, a swearing of ethical conduct historically taken by physicians. This shift concluded a medical consensus in opposition of euthanasia. IssuesRead MoreThe Debate About Euthanasia And Euthanasia1631 Words   |  7 PagesThe debates about euthanasia date all the way back to the 12th century. During this time, Christian values increased the public’s opinion against euthanasia. The church taught its followers that euthanasia not only injured individual people and their communities, but also violated God’s authority over life. This idea spread far and wide throughout the public until the 18th century when the renaissance and reformation writers attacked the church and its teachings. However, the public did not pay much