Mandatory Minimum Sentences and Drug Policy Reform free essay sample

The use of mandatory minimums within our judicial system is not winning the war on drugs. This country needs drug law reforms to turn the tide on the war on drugs, and minimize their impact on our society. This comes from rehabilitation programs that are more effective and less costly for our government. Introduction Our country has gone to extremes to try and win the war on drugs. There is no evidence to show that they have made any real impact in ending or even lowering the use of drugs in this country. In1986 the federal government enacted mandatory minimum drug sentences. These laws force judges to comply with a minimum prison sentence based on the nature of the drug crime. By doing this, the federal government has tied the hands of our judges to use their judgment depending on the case. Their argument for this is it will deter people from committing drug crimes in the future. We will write a custom essay sample on Mandatory Minimum Sentences and Drug Policy Reform or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page My argument is that we are treating an addiction which needs both medical and psychological help to resolve, not longer prison sentences. Argument for Mandatory Minimums In 1986 mandatory minimums were enacted to put an end to the cocaine and crack epidemic that was going on in our nation’s inner cities. The focus was if they could apprehend the drug kingpins and lock them away for many years in prison, they would lose their realm of control of the drug world. The reality of the situation is that many gang leaders are in prison today, and have just as much control over the drug trade as they did when they were free men. Many say that the laws have inadvertently become a racial problem within this country. Laws on mandatory minimum sentences are much harsher on crack than cocaine. Since crack is predominantly used among African Americans within this country, they received much harsher punishments than cocaine users who are predominantly white. Argument against Mandatory Minimums We are not simply dealing with a bad behavior that is a scourge on society. We are dealing with extremely addictive drugs that a prison sentence will do almost no good in helping people kick their habits, and thus their old way of life. These people need medical and psychiatric help in order to rehabilitate them into the nine to five taxpaying Americans that our country wants them to be. Many drug dealers started out as users and began to sell the drug in order to pay for their own habit. Mandatory minimum prison sentences for people who are sadly destroying their lives to maintain their own personal habit are not going to be reformed in our nation’s prisons. Most of the people within our prison system are their because of non-violent drug crimes. They are not horrible people who are their because of rape, murder, armed robbery, etc†¦ People who argue in favor of mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses say it is working by putting dealers behind bars. The fact is though that most of the people behind bars due to these laws are low level dealers. â€Å"In fiscal year 2005, 61. 5% of all federal crack cocaine defendants were low-level offenders such as mules or street dealers. Only 8. 4% were high-level dealers. † (Mandatory Minimums) Mandatory minimums only go by the weight of the substance that you were selling. It is clear by this data that the weights set in our current laws do not target high-level dealers as well as they were intended to. Rehabilitation Centers vs. Prison Rehabilitation of our country’s drug users not only has a higher success rate than that of our prisons, it is also more cost efficient. It is what you refer to as a win-win. The amount of people within our jail and prison systems is estimated to be above six million people. Approximately half of these inmates used drugs regularly the month prior to their apprehension. It is fair to say then that nearly half of our prison population is candidates for drug rehabilitation programs rather than prison systems. The average cost for incarcerating an individual for a year is $20,000. The average cost of treatment at a rehabilitation center is around $9,000. It currently costs our government around one billion dollars annually to incarcerate its prison population. By taking the half of the prison population that are habitual users and putting them in treatment centers, the government could save a quarter of a million dollars a year. Not only that, but the repeat offender rate for those that have gone through the treatment centers is only a fourth of that for prison sentences. Drug courts are a new movement going across our nation. A court system set up to deal with drug crimes only. Drug courts are set up to give first time offenders a second chance. Conditions of sentencing typically involve mandatory drug testing along with therapy. If first time offenders can successfully complete the treatment program in most cases their crime is removed from their criminal record. Since many first time offenders are juveniles or young adults, this allows them to receive federal aid through FAFSA. In turn it makes it easier for them to receive higher education services, which gives them a better chance at getting the skills they need for jobs. This in turn makes it more unlikely that they will revert to their old lifestyles of drug dealing now that they are treated for a drug addiction and have been given the tools they need to succeed. Drug courts are very strict though. If a participant in the program fails to attend a therapy meeting or has a positive return on a drug test, they are sent directly to jail. The program is only for those who want to change their lives. It is true that there are some people who do not want to change and they should be in jail if they do not want to reform to the laws of this country. The idea of drug reform in this country may be a daunting task, but it needs to be done. If we do nothing about the problem it will never go away, and as it has shown so far it will only get worse. The old ways of thinking are clearly not working. Something needs to be done about this problem. There is a reason why we have the highest incarceration rate of all industrialized nations. It is because half of our incarcerated citizens are non-violent drug offenders. If we can move towards treating an illness instead of punishing a crime, our country will be better off. Less people will be incarcerated and will be productive, moving our country towards a better tomorrow. Mandatory Minimum laws within this country need major reform due to the injustice that they create. While most of the injustice was done inadvertently, nonetheless it is still there. Our country has failed to take one step closer in winning the war on drugs. It is time for America to realize it has a drug addiction problem that cannot be fixed with lengthy prison sentences. Our country needs to change the mandatory minimum laws. Cocaine and crack need to be punishable equally. In this country it is estimated that there are four million people with addictions to either crack or cocaine. About half of the nation’s prison population is in there for non-violent drug offenses. With a prison population of one and a half million people, that’s three quarters of a million non-violent drug offenders not receiving the correct treatment. Cocaine use has continued to rise since the 1980’s while crack use has stayed steady. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in this country. It has had research to show that it is a gateway drug. Users of marijuana are more likely to try drugs like crack and cocaine. Studies show that most users of marijuana have tried the drug before their sophomore year in high school. Educational systems such as D. A. R. E. are already in place as good educational tools against drugs. Our society needs to be honest about the dangers of drugs. Many anti-drug commercials of the past could go as far as to say a hit of marijuana will make you kill your parents. Many commercials of today are starting to show more honesty. Instead of saying that buying pot is the same as putting money into the hands of terrorists, they are stating the truth that it does typically make you less active. This in turn usually leads to people not completing goals, and not completing any of their goals. Alcohol is the second most illegally used drug by minors. Education about the dangers of alcohol is equally important. Alcoholism is a major problem within this country, which typically has major effects on families. Alcoholism can lead to violent households. More teens die from drinking and driving than any other way of death. Alcohol like marijuana is considered a gateway drug. This is why it is so important that we attempt to stop irresponsible drinking behaviors. Essentially drug addicts are addicted to the feeling of euphoria that comes upon them when endorphins flood the brain with the use of the drug. Drug rehabilitation centers have found great success at treating people with addiction to crack and cocaine with anti-depressants. The National Institute of Drug Abuse is taking a different approach to the problem. They are developing a cocaine-vaccine that virtually eliminates all effects of the drug. This would ensure that even if an addict were to have a relapse, the drug would have no effect, and the incentive to do the drug is taken away. Dealers of crack and cocaine usually were crack and cocaine users first. These drugs are incredibly addictive. For users to support their habits many of them turn to dealing the drug. If our society can find a way to break the cycle of addiction there is hope that we can start to turn the tide on the war on drugs. Our government simply has to recognize that we are dealing with an addiction crisis, and not necessarily bad people who are the scourge of society. Drug courts are a new movement going across our nation. A court system set up to deal with drug crimes only. These courts are now operating or have plans to be operating in all fifty states. The first drug court was established in Dade County in 1981. Drug courts are set up to give first time offenders a second chance. Conditions of sentencing typically involve mandatory drug testing along with therapy. If first time offenders can successfully complete the treatment program in most cases their crime is removed from their criminal record. Since many first time offenders are juveniles or young adults, this allows them to receive federal aid through FAFSA. In turn it makes it easier for them to receive higher education services, which gives them a better chance at getting the skills they need for jobs. This in turn makes it more unlikely that they will revert to their old lifestyles of drug dealing now that they are treated for a drug addiction and have been given the tools they need to succeed. Drug courts are very strict though. If a participant in the program fails to attend a therapy meeting or has a positive return on a drug test, they are sent directly to jail. The program is only for those who want to change their lives. It is true that there are some people who do not want to change and they should be in jail if they do not want to reform to the laws of this country. Along with anti-depressants and revolutionary new research being done to address this nation’s addiction to drugs the twelve step process is the most used system for drug rehabilitation. The twelve step process forces the user to admit he or she is powerless over the drug and that a higher power can help them restore their sanity. This has its own constitutional conflictions with the separation of church and state. The twelve step process is only one option that can be taken towards drug rehabilitation though. It could be set up where defendants could choose a faith based rehabilitation program through the state or a non faith based rehabilitation program. There is no one strategy that works for every addict. Each case needs to be dealt with on a personal basis. They need to get to the bottom of why they want to use drugs. There is typically an underlying issue in a user’s life that causes them to search for an escape. The escape that ends many people in prison for lengthy sentences happens to come from crack and cocaine for too many people. Our rehabilitation centers need to work closely with the patients’ family whenever this is possible. Most drug users have families that are drug users as well. It is a perpetual cycle that continues to go on. It continues to go on because the underlying problems within the family are not addressed and they continue to turn to drugs in an attempt to escape the issues. Families are typically the best support system for a user trying to go clean. Without the help of the family or a family like atmosphere, users find it difficult to see a reason why they should quit. They need to see the impact that it makes on their loved ones to make it real to them. The ugliness needs to be shown in order for the user to see the full consequences of his or her actions. I am not proposing that we get rid of prison sentences for drug offenders by any means. We should only offer rehab to first time offenders who will be able to show whether they truly wish to change their lives for the better. If you have been through the program once and reverted back, then you have not proven to society that you are willing to be a productive law-biding citizen. Everyone deserves a second chance, but not necessarily a third or fourth. Rehabilitation of our country’s drug users not only has a higher success rate than that of our prisons, it is also more cost efficient. The amount of people within our jail and prison systems is estimated to be above six million people. Approximately half of these inmates used drugs regularly the month prior to their apprehension. It is fair to say then that nearly half of our prison population is candidates for drug rehabilitation programs rather than prison systems. The average cost for incarcerating an individual for a year is $20,000. The average cost of treatment at a rehabilitation center is around $9,000. It currently costs our government around one billion dollars annually to incarcerate its prison population. By taking the half of the prison population that are habitual users and putting them in treatment centers, the government could save a quarter of a billion dollars a year. Not only that but the repeat offender rate for those that have gone through the treatment centers is only a fourth of that for a prison sentence. Rehabilitation centers have a success rate of sixty to seventy five percent. When those figures are applied to the prison population that means that at the lowest success rate twenty five percent of our prison population would become productive members of society. While the repeat offender rate for rehabilitation centers is between forty and twenty five percent, prison are seventy five percent. With our current system over half a million of our non-violent offenders will be back in prison for the same crime, while with rehabilitation at worst it would be around three hundred thousand. The key to success with our rehabilitation centers is to provide long term assistance. It will be much better off for the nation as a whole to treat the triggers of addiction before it gets out of hand. Yes it is the addicts fault the he or she is addicted, but this does not mean that we should let society hurt on a principle of stubbornness. We should help our fellow man stay clean if he wants to be clean. With long term assistance programs for patients of rehabilitation programs, the success rate can reach as high as ninety five percent. I am not naive enough to think that this high of a number will work just as well for prisoners. Some prisoners simply do not want to break their addiction. If they do not want to change their lives, there is very little that rehab will do for a patient. Society has treated the drug problem within this country with extremely harsh punishments. We have been blind to see that we have been approaching the problem with the wrong strategy. Rehabilitation and education are the two strongest weapons in the war on drugs. If we change the lives of drug offenders, we will be able to exchange a large portion of our prison population into productive members of society. This would turn people who used to be a burden on taxpayers into taxpayers themselves. This would ultimately help the economy of America and the overall quality of life. The idea of drug reform in this country may be a daunting task, but it needs to be done. If we do nothing about the problem it will never go away, and as it has shown so far it will only get worse. The old ways of thinking are clearly not working. Something needs to be done about this problem. There is a reason why we have the highest incarceration rate of all industrialized nations. It is because half of our incarcerated citizens are non-violent drug offenders. If we can move towards treating an illness instead of punishing a crime, our country will be better off. Less people will be incarcerated citizens are non-violent drug offenders. If we can move towards treating an illness instead of punishing a crime, our country will be better off. Less people will be incarcerated and will be productive, moving our country towards a better tomorrow.

Thomas More essays

Thomas More essays Sir Thomas More ranks in the upper echelon of heroes of the humanist movement. His greatest work, Utopia, focused on peoples curiosity concerning the New World. The premise of Utopia is a conversation that More had with Raphael Hythlodaeus, a sailor who traveled with Amerigo Vespucci to discover a new land named Utopia. More utilizes the pun of the word Utopia, meaning both good place and no place. More both criticizes his own government and describes a perfect one, a mixture of progressive ideas and those of Plato. In this society, the concept of private property is virtually non-existent. The majority of political officers are elected in free elections, and More believes that everyone-men, women, and members of every profession-should do genuine work, particularly manual labor. Because everyone is working, all tasks can be completed in a six-hour day, leaving plenty of creative leisure time. Everything in this society is shared, and material goods are of no particular value. For example, silver and gold were not kept in vaults; rather they were used to construct pots and pans. More tries to return to medievalism while integrating the improvements of his age. He also opposes the new system of capitalism, and states that evils transpire most when money beareth all the swing. More insists on equality, and this equality means that all people should work at a trade, except the few selected to be either priests or scholars. However, despite his clever preparation, Mores equality breaks down , as he has slaves for labor considered unworthy of the Utopians. He, in addition, was disgusted by the incessant warfare of his era, and insisted on little or no warfare conducted by his Utopians. He intends that all wars be contested on bordering lands, and would be fought by mercenaries. One of the imperfections of Mores society is that he only stretches this ideal nation to ...

Human Services Program and Profession SEMINAR UNIT 6 Research Paper

Human Services Program and Profession SEMINAR UNIT 6 - Research Paper Example Basically the service offered should be tailor-made depending on the student background so that student develop the qualities that make him more resourceful, intelligent, understanding and he get connected to group and enjoy life and the process of learning. The diverse culture makes it difficult to treat the child in the same manner while rendering human service. Children form one community, culture tend to be more close with similar culture and avoid other groups which later might result in conflicts. It would result in group within the group. The challenge is to make children open minded. It is necessary to understand the psychology of child which generally is founded on diverse culture base. The language used communication methods also differ based on the background of diverse culture. Skills also differ depending on the cultural background. Health, nutrition condition also differ resulting in different characters, attitude and personality. What are three careers in the field of human services working with children, adolescents, and their families? Give some background on the positions you discuss including some of the training and skills needed for the positions. Would you be interested in pursuing any of the careers you listed? Why or why not? 3 careers in the field of human service are Counsellor, Social service Assistant and Childcare Worker. As Counsellor it is necessary to study the background of the child and family. In career counselling it is necessary to know the tradition and skills of family .Important aspect is child skill. As Social service assistant basically it is necessary to provide food, mental healthcare including adoption of child and to take all the needed measures to make the child pursue the career which interests the child so that child can make maximum contribution. As Child care worker the responsibilities would be to feed, ensure safety and make child to

Hazard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Hazard - Essay Example Therefore, hazardous chemicals should be appropriately labeled and stored in a place where they are not easily accessible to untrained staff. â€Å"A hazard communication program contains three basic components: labels, MSDS, and employee information and training† (106). Suppliers should provide labels on chemicals and each chemical should have a document describing its properties, hazards, and proper handling. Employees should be trained to know hazardous chemicals and how to protect themselves against physical or health hazards. This source is very important since it enables employers to know which provisions there are under the law, and gives employees the right to sue employers for non-compliance with hazard communication. This source compares to the book safety and the security professional: occupational safety and health strategies in the Annotated Bibliography (AB), in that they both base their interpretation of hazard communication on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This book, however, contrasts with the book Hazardous chemicals: control and regulation in the European market, because the latter centers on the classification of hazardous chemicals, while the former focuses on the legal aspects of hazardous substances. ... The author states that, â€Å"the entire safety program is driven to ensure that accidents are avoided, that workers remain healthy, and that productivity is maximized† (105). This can be achieved through staff training to ensure adequate disaster preparedness, and prompt emergency response and self protection. According to Wyman, â€Å"communicating chemical hazards starts with employers assessing the presence of hazardous chemicals in the workplace and establishing safety programs to minimize those hazards† (205). Ideally, hazard communication should, therefore, serve to notify employees of the hazardous nature of chemicals found at their place of employment. The work is imperative in the annotated bibliography, since it sheds light on how employees at all levels- ranging from directors to supervisors and subordinates - can ensure protection at the workplace, through hazard communication. This book compares to Hazardous chemicals: control and regulation in the Europea n market, in that both books provide information on how members of staff is supposed to protect themselves from physical and health hazards, for example, irritants and carcinogens. This source differs from the book A Guide for Safety And Loss Prevention Professionals in that the latter focuses more on the legal aspects of hazard communication, while the former emphasizes on safety maintenance at the workplace. Disaster management is indeed a practice that cannot be alienated if hazards have to be handled in the workplace. California Department of Industrial Relations. Guide to the California Hazard Communication Regulation. California: California Department of Industrial Relations, 2000. Print. In this guide, the

Bill Clinton Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Bill Clinton - Research Paper Example Because she was a widow, Virginia Dell Cassidy studied nursing in New Orleans to fend for her and her son, immediately after her son William was born. She left the baby in her parents’ home in Hope, Arkansas. Her parents, Eldridge and Edith Cassidy, had a grocery store in Hope which gave credit to blacks and whites alike, even if the town was still heavily segregated. Because of this, Clinton’s grandparents heavily influenced him in his political career, especially on the matters of civil rights and racism. Edith was also a private nurse in Hope. As a beautiful young widow, Virginia Cassidy went out with a number of men but finally settled for Roger Clinton, Sr. Clinton, Sr. was the owner of the Buick dealership store in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Shortly after the marriage, the family moved to Arkansas. It was a good marriage at first, and Clinton, Sr. was a good father for young Bill. However, Clinton, Sr. was an alcoholic and abused his mother a lot. When Bill was ten, Virginia became pregnant with Roger, Jr., and young Bill remarked that that pregnancy was the couple’s attempt to salvage their marriage. Bill loved his younger brother and enjoyed being an older brother. However, when he was fourteen, his mother divorced and remarried Roger Clinton, Sr. This proves that the Clinton-Cassidy marriage was on for the long haul and William Jefferson Blythe III legally changed his name to William Jefferson Clinton as a gesture of love for his stepfather (Clinton, 2004). He was an active school leader and an A student. He was always on the top three of his elementary and high school classes. He was also a musician. He attended St. John’s Catholic Elementary School and Hot Springs High School in Hot Springs, Arkansas and it was there that he decided to have a career in politics even if he loved music and biology (he contemplated being a musician and a doctor but knew he would be great as a public servant). This decision was rooted on two important events in

Rate of Fermentation

Rate of Fermentation Cells obtain energy through a process called respiration. Yeast normally respires aerobically. In the absence of oxygen, yeast carries out anaerobic respiration. Yeast carries out alcohol fermentation which is catalysed by the enzyme zymase to produces ethanol, carbon dioxide and energy. Ethanol is used in making wine. Alcohol fermentation equation: Glucose Alcohol + Carbon dioxide C5H12O5 2C2H5OH + 2CO2 The rate of fermentation is influenced by several factors like temperature, type of sugar solution, concentration of yeast and concentration of glucose. In order to measure the rate of fermentation, the rate of production of carbon dioxide is measured in this experiment. Aim: To investigate how volume of yeast suspension may influence the rate of fermentation. Hypothesis: As the volume of yeast suspension increases, the rate of fermentation also increases. Variables: Independent variable : Volume of yeast suspension Dependent variable : Rate of fermentation Constant variable : Concentration of glucose, type of sugar solution, temperature, time  taken for the rate of fermentation. Materials Apparatus: 50-mL of measuring cylinder, 2-ml of graduated pipette, yeast suspension, glucose solution, 37oC warm water, burette, stopwatch, test tube, delivery tube, and basin. Methods: 1) 20mL of glucose solution was added to the test tubes using a 50mL measuring cylinder. 2) 2mL of yeast suspension was added to the solution in test tubes using a 2mL graduated pipette. 3) The end of the test tubes were covered with the thumb and the test tubes were inverted several  times to thoroughly mix the contents of the test tubes. 4) The test tubes were covered with a stopper. 5) The delivery tube was attached, measuring cylinder was filled with water and the apparatus was  set up so that gas produced will be collected in the measuring cylinder. Two sets of apparatus  were set up where one of them acts as a control. 6) The test tubes were placed in a beaker which is  ¾ full with warm water at 370C to ensure a  suitable environment. 7) The volume of gas produced in the measuring cylinder was observed and recorded every 5  minutes for a total of 40 minutes. 8) The experiment was repeated by using 4mL of yeast suspension instead of 2mL of yeast  suspension. 9) A table was constructed to record the time of measurements and the total volume of carbon  dioxide produced for both experiment. A graph was constructed. Discussion: Based on the graph, the curve for experiment which uses 4ml of yeast suspension is steeper than the curve for experiment which uses 2ml of yeast suspension. We can conclude that as the volume of yeast suspension increases, the volume of carbon dioxide produced also increases. When more volume yeast suspension is used the reactant will increase causes the frequency of collision to be increase too. So, higher productive collision will happen and causes the product which is carbon dioxide to be released will increase. The results can be said precise as the readings are close to each other in both experiments. However, the reading for the experiment which uses 4ml of yeast suspension at minute of 35 and 40 is not precise as it has quite big difference. The graph has no scattered points and this indicates that random errors are not very significant for this experiment. Random error such as the temperature of the water bath is not consistent to 37 °C and this may affect the result obtain ed. Besides that, another possible random error is the inability of human to react fast when using stopwatch. He might start take time or end the time slowly or quickly. So, it may affect the precision of the results. Improvements can be done by using an incubator as its water bath which its temperature will not drop or gain once it is fixed to 37 °C. The person with stopwatch must really quick to start the stopwatch exactly after the delivery tube is connected to the test tube containing yeast suspension and glucose solution. The accuracy cannot be commented as the true value is not given in both experiments. However, based on the theory it is true that when the volume of yeast suspension increases, the volume of carbon dioxide produced also increases. Systematic errors such as the burette might not be calibrated properly. Some of the carbon dioxide gas might dissolve in water and affects the actual volume of carbon dioxide gas produced. Therefore, improvements such as use only t he burette which is perfectly calibrated and gas syringe is used to collect the exact amount of carbon dioxide produced. It is important to use a lot of samples because a more reliable result can be obtained and the effect of random errors will be reduced. So, the results obtained can be more precise. Repeating the experiment also is important as it will increase the validity of results. Conclusion: As the volume of yeast suspension increases, the rate of fermentation also increases. Hypothesis is accepted.

Ban the Use of Cluster Bombs Essay -- Bombs Air Weapons Essays

Ban the Use of Cluster Bombs â€Å"It looked like the ball boys and girls toss each other during Hmong New Year festivities. Six year old Sia Ya threw it to her four year old brother, He couldn’t catch it and it landed behind him, exploding and killing him instantly. Sia Ya died after two agonizing days and nights in the provincial hospital.† (Account of Laotian cluster bomblet accident in 1996 - Laos War â€Å"Legacy†) I. INTRODUCTION Cluster bombs were first used in the American conflict in Vietnam and Laos in the sixties. They became popular because they are one of the cheapest air delivered weapons available, costing about $60 per bomblet. They can be used against a variety of targets covering significant areas, rather than, for example, pin-pointing individual armored vehicles. They were believed to be a perfectly fit weapon during the Southeastern Asian jungle battles. Today, forty years after the war, unexploded submunitions still cause about 10 thousand innocent victims each year. Despite the inhumane scars that followed its use in the above conflicts, cluster bombs were used again in the Balkans, in the Gulf War and today in Afghanistan. Now that we know their devastating long term effects, is it ethical to keep them in usage? II. WHAT ARE CLUSTER BOMBS? Cluster bombs, also called dispensers consist of two parts: the bomb shell itself and the hundreds of little bombs (called "bombies" by Laotians) that are contained inside of them. They are usually dropped from an aircraft - although they might also be launched like a missile. They "fall" away from the aircraft and are stabilized in flight by fin assemblies. I... ...press_releases/PR051799.htm http://www.landmineaction.org/assets/downloads/Cluster%20bombs%20report%20summary.pdf http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/10/29/ret.bomb.warnings/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/cluster_bomb/6.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2001/cluster_bomb/6.stm http://www.mcc.org/clusterbomb/laos_legacy/melting_weapons.html http://www.mcc.org/clusterbomb/laos_legacy/lucky.html http://www.icbl.org/index/text/Detailed/1456.html http://www.hrw.org/hrw/campaigns/kosovo98/flash6.htm http://www.uxolao.org/ http://www.minesactioncanada.com/home/news_detail.cfm?NEWID=12&lang=e http://www.essex.ac.uk/armedcon/themes/landmines/default.htm http://www.icbl.org/ http://www.hrw.org/arms/clusterbombs.htm Organizations working to ban Landmines: http://www.boes.org/coop/lmines/

Chem 112

Experiment 2 Acetic Acid Content of Vinegar By Kelsey Huber Chem 112L-01-George Gachumi September 19, 2011 Lab partners: Danielle Antes, Alex Ogren, Vanessa Kellems In this experiment acetic acid will be titrated with sodium hydroxide. As the sodium hydroxide is titrated into the acetic acid it is measured by pH. The sodium hydroxide is added into the acetic solution in small increments using a burette. The concentration of acetic acid averages at 0. 9Â ±1. 5M and the known value of the acetic acid is 0. 833M.The percent error of the experiment averages at 0. 66%. Possible errors could include incorrect measurements of sodium hydroxide and/or acetic acid. Background: Titration is when one solution is slowly added to another solution so that the reaction between the two can be accurately recorded or measured. For example, when a base is slowly added to an acid the equivalence point should be neutral. Methods of titration are even used in the food industry to express the oil and fat c ontents in different products.For example, titration is used in the cheese and the wine business to test if the product is ready for consumption. Procedure: Hirko, R. Chemistry 112L General Chemistry I Laboratory, 5th ed. ; bluedoor: Eden Prairie, MN, 2011; Experiment 2. Results: Graph A. 1 shows the second derivative used to find the volume of NaOH to equivalence point which equals 8. 02 ml. Graph A. 2 shows the titration curve of the pH versus the volume of the solution. Graph A. 1 Graph A. 2Discussion: The titration of sodium hydroxide to acetic acid eventually produced a dark pink solution. The equivalence point of this solution is a weak acid. The acetic acid molarity of commercial vinegar varied slightly in the three trials. In trial one the vinegar molarity was 0. 173 M, in trial two it was 1. 061 M, and in trial three it was 1. 322 M. The concentration of acetic acid was calculated at 0. 9Â ±1. 5 M, by taking the average of three trials. This is within 0. 067 M of the known value which is 0. 833 M.By inspection of the titration curves there could be a difference based on the exact amount of sodium hydroxide being dropped from the burette into the acetic acid solution. At the equivalence point the pH is not seven because acetic acid is a weak acid and it is being mixed with a strong base, sodium hydroxide. The indicator turned red when it reached the equivalence point. Phenolphthalein was a good indicator for the titration of a weak acid with a strong base because it was the solution that caused the red color as the sodium hydroxide and acetic acid reached an equivalence point.Phenolphthalein would however not be a good indicator for titration of a weak base with a strong acid because the phenolphthalein reacted with the sodium hydroxide to create the red color; it was not turning red as a result of the acetic acid. Inaccuracies in the determined concentration of sodium hydroxide to acetic acid can be attributed to possible measurement errors. Inaccura te measurements while adding the sodium hydroxide from the burette into the acetic acid throughout the three trials could result in various outcomes on the graphs effecting results such as the equivalence point and the titration curve.

History of Mutiny on the Bounty

History of Mutiny on the Bounty In the late 1780s, noted botanist Sir Joseph Banks theorized that breadfruit plants which grew on the islands of the Pacific could be brought to the Caribbean where they could be used as a cheap food source for slaves working on British plantations. This concept received support from the Royal Society which offered a prize for attempting such an endeavor. As discussions ensued, the Royal Navy offered to provide a ship and crew to transport breadfruit to the Caribbean. To this end, the collier Bethia was purchased in May 1787 and renamed His Majestys Armed Vessel Bounty. Mounting four 4-pdr guns and ten swivel guns, command of Bounty was assigned to Lieutenant William Bligh on August 16. Recommended by Banks, Bligh was a gifted sailor and navigator who had previously distinguished himself as sailing master aboard Captain James Cooks HMS Resolution (1776-1779). Through the latter part of 1787, efforts moved forward to prepare the ship for its mission and assemble a crew. This done, Bligh departed Britain in December and set a course for Tahiti. Outbound Voyage Bligh initially attempted to enter the Pacific via Cape Horn. After a month of trying and failing due to adverse winds and weather, he turned and sailed east around the Cape of Good Hope. The voyage to Tahiti proved smooth and few punishments were given to the crew. As Bounty was rated as a cutter, Bligh was the only commissioned officer on board. To permit his men longer periods of uninterrupted sleep, he divided the crew into three watches. In addition, he raised Masters Mate Fletcher Christian to the rank of acting lieutenant in March so that he could oversee one of the watches. Life in Tahiti This decision angered Bountys sailing master, John Fryer. Reaching Tahiti on October 26, 1788, Bligh and his men collected 1,015 breadfruit plants. The delay off Cape Horn led to a five-month delay in Tahiti as they had to wait for the breadfruit trees to mature enough to transport. During this time, Bligh allowed the men to live ashore among the islanders. Enjoying Tahitis warm climate and relaxed atmosphere, some of the men, including Christian took native wives. As a result of this environment, naval discipline began to break down. Attempting to control the situation, Bligh was increasingly forced to punish his men and floggings became more routine. Unwilling to submit to this treatment after enjoying the islands warm hospitality, three sailors, John Millward, William Muspratt, and Charles Churchill deserted. They were quickly recaptured and though they were punished, it was less severe than recommended. In the course of events, a search of their belongings produced a list of names including Christian and Midshipman Peter Heywood. Lacking additional evidence, Bligh could not charge the two men as aiding in the desertion plot. Mutiny Though unable to take action against Christian, Blighs relationship with him continued to deteriorate and he began to relentlessly ride his acting lieutenant. On April 4, 1789, Bounty departed Tahiti, much to the displeasure of many of the crew. On the night of April 28, Christian and 18 of the crew surprised and bound Bligh in his cabin. Dragging him on deck, Christian bloodlessly took control of the ship despite the fact that the most of the crew (22) sided with the captain. Bligh and 18 loyalists were forced over the side into Bountys cutter and given a sextant, four cutlasses, and several days food and water. Blighs Voyage As Bounty turned to return to Tahiti, Bligh set course for the nearest European outpost at Timor. Though dangerously overloaded and lacking charts, Bligh succeeded in sailing the cutter first to Tofua for supplies, then on to Timor. After sailing 3,618 miles, Bligh arrived at Timor after a 47-day voyage. Only one man was lost during the ordeal when he was killed by natives on Tofua. Moving on to Batavia, Bligh was able to secure transport back to England. In October 1790, Bligh was honorably acquitted for the loss of Bounty and records show him to have been a compassionate commander who frequently spared the lash. Bounty Sails On Retaining four loyalists aboard, Christian steered Bounty to Tubuai where the mutineers attempted to settle. After three months of fighting with the natives, the mutineers re-embarked and sailed to Tahiti. Arriving back at the island, twelve of the mutineers and the four loyalists were put ashore. Not believing that they would be safe in Tahiti, the remaining mutineers, including Christian, embarked supplies, six Tahitian men, and eleven women in September 1789. Though they scouted the Cook and Fiji Islands, the mutineers did not feel that either offered sufficient safety from the Royal Navy. Life on Pitcairn On January 15, 1790, Christian re-discovered Pitcairn Island which had been misplaced on British charts. Landing, the party quickly established a community on Pitcairn. To reduce their chances of discovery, they burned Bounty on January 23. Though Christian attempted to maintain peace in the small community, relations between the Britons and Tahitians soon collapsed leading to fighting. The community continued to struggle for several years until Ned Young and John Adams took control in the mid-1790s. Following Youngs death in 1800, Adams continued to build the community. Aftermath of the Mutiny on the Bounty While Bligh was acquitted for the loss of his ship, the Royal Navy actively sought to capture and punish the mutineers. In November 1790, HMS Pandora (24 guns) was sent to search for Bounty. Reaching Tahiti on March 23, 1791, Captain Edward Edwards was met by four of Bountys men. A search of the island soon located ten additional members of Bountys crew. These fourteen men, a mix of mutineers and loyalists, were held in a cell on the ships deck known as Pandoras Box. Departing on May 8, Edwards searched the neighboring islands for three months before turning for home. While passing through the Torres Strait on August 29, Pandora ran aground and sank the next day. Of those on board, 31 crew and four of the prisoners were lost. The remainder embarked in Pandoras boats and reached Timor in September. Transported back to Britain, the ten surviving prisoners were court-martialed. Four of the ten were found innocent with Blighs backing while the other six were found guilty. Two, Heywood and James Morrison, were pardoned, while another escaped on a technicality. The remaining three were hung aboard HMS Brunswick (74) on October 29, 1792. A second breadfruit expedition departed Britain in August 1791. Again led by Bligh, this group successfully delivered breadfruit to the Caribbean but the experiment proved a failure when the slaves refused to eat it. On the far side of the world, Royal Navy ships relocated Pitcairn Island in 1814. Making contact with those ashore, they reported the final details of Bounty to the Admiralty. In 1825, Adams, the lone surviving mutineer, was granted amnesty.

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