Pump Characteristics Paper Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Pump Characteristics Paper - Lab Report Example The FM50 is an example of a centrifugal pumping system. The requirements of this pumping mechanism are an area which is clean, and where the fluid being transmitted is of a consistent viscosity. The design of the FM50 centrifugal pump is intended to convert mechanical energy into kinetic energy. This kinetic energy is transmitted to an impeller. The impeller transforms the kinetic energy into potential energy. The change in potential energy translates into a change of pressure in the fluid. The change in pressure in the fluid and the energy which is input enable the FM50 to provide work. Heat is a result of work. The transformation of energy results in an increase in internal energy and heat as a resultant effect. The characteristics of the FM50 pumping mechanism will be explored. These characteristics which will be measured are the following: Head height. Power input Efficiency. The first law of thermodynamics and its implications will be reviewed in this laboratory report. Introduc tion There are two types of pumps. One type of pump is a positive displacement pump. Another type is a roto dynamic pump. This research will examine the latter. Pumps and their components compose about 20% of the global energy demand. Pumping systems are responsible for 25% to 50% of the energy consumptions in a number of plant operations. Roto dynamics have two functions. These functions are: Movement of fluid from one place to another. Movement of fluid through a system in a lubricating or refrigerating function. The parts of a pumping system consist of the following components: Pumps. Prime movers. Piping. Valves Controls and assessment equipment. Pressure flow. The pump and the prime mover consume the most energy in a pumping system (Energy Efficiency Asia.org 2006). The First law of Thermodynamics which was proposed by Sir Isaac Newton mentions that energy can neither be conceived nor destroyed. Energy can only be transformed from one state to another or from one location to an other. Electrical energy is transformed into mechanical energy and its heat components. The FM50 pumping system is an example of a centrifugal pumping mechanism. The characteristics of this type of pumping system require that the situations are free of debris (Waukesha Cherry Burrell 2009). The FM50 pumping system is a relatively non complicated machinery item. The machine converts one form of energy into another. The electrical components transform the electrical energy into mechanical energy. In an internal combustion process, electrical energy is converted from chemical energy to mechanical and heat energy. In a steam and gasoline turbine, the mechanical energy of steam pressure converts to kinetic energy as the steam is forced out of a nozzle. A high speed configuration of steam particles from the nozzle of the turbines motor impacts a set of blades and causes the blades to exercise mechanical energy by means of the blade movement. In a pumping system, the pump transforms the en ergy which is derived from a turbine. This energy is transformed from kinetic energy. In the pumping system, the kinetic energy is transformed into potential energy. This potential energy causes the fluid in the pump to gyrate. The gyration of the fluid in the pump represents work. Lit Review The energy is conceived in the roto dynamic pump by rotary movement and its output. The impeller within the pumping mechanism exerts a force on the system. This force causes the energy to transform from mechanical energy which is the impeller exerting a force upon the fluid. The fluid gains kinetic energy in this process. In pumps which are employed for domestic

Information About Auto Rickshaw Engineering Essay

Information About Auto Rickshaw Engineering Essay In many Asian countries rickshaw were used as a human powered mode of transport. The cycle rickshaw in which a cart is attached to a bicycle is operated by a driver. These kind of rickshaws can still be found in cities like Kolkata. A European missionary been to Japan invented the rickshaw in Japan at the end of nineteenth century, the name rickshaw was derive from the Japanese expression Ji Riki Shaw which literally means vehicle propelled by man Around 1880 the first rickshaw appeared in India on the avenues of Simla. Some 20 years later some Chinese traders who used the rickshaw to transport goods imported few of these rickshaws to Kolkata. The same Chinese people in 1914 applied for permission to use the rickshaw to carry people and in no time all over in many south East Asian metropolis rickshaws were found. Rickshaw offered a means of earning a living for peasants migrating to the big cities. No one knows exactly how many rickshaws are on the streets of Kolkata, over a million people look to the rickshaw for their daily bowl of rice. Economists have calculated that the economic value of rickshaws and their pulling is $6 million a quarter of the budget of the whole urban transport system of a city like Paris. In 1940s Vespasan auto rickshaw or the rickshaw made out of an iron body resting on three small wheels, two on the rear and one in the front, a seating for three at the rear and a small cabin in the front for the driver, were seen. These rickshaws were fitted with a 2-stroke engine and a handle for steering like a scooter instead of a steering wheel. As the man pulled rickshaw started to work on motor it was known as auto rickshaw instead of rickshaw. The auto rickshaw had become so popular as a vehicle for hire that it became one of the chief modes of transport in India, Srilanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand and many parts of Asia and Africa. But the former version of the rickshaw is still not extinct. Considering their capacity the auto rickshaw are extremely light weight , it requires only two or three person to fully lift it of the ground and it can be pushed by one person when it breaks down. The auto rickshaw has many types of models in many different countries. The older version of auto rickshaw in India had a engine designed by lambretta which consumed too much of petrol hence they were phased out and engines designed by vespa took over, the most common auto rickshaws found today in India are the Bajaj auto rickshaws. At the beginning the engine was under the seat of the driver which made the auto rickshaw very uncomfortable for the passengers as it was very noisy and it vibrated a lot. Later on the engines were modified and placed at the rear of the auto rickshaw making it less noisy, hence making the ride much more comfortable for the passengers. These auto rickshaws are mainly seen as a passenger taxi vehicle in many different cities of India having a different colour for different cities, example. In Mumbai the colours of the auto rickshaw is black for the body and yellow near the windscreen and in cities like Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad its yellow for the whole vehicle. It also had a larger version which is a seven seater, which had a diesel engine but compared to the smaller three seater petrol engine auto rickshaws these larger version seven seater auto rickshaws were much more noisier and they vibrated a lot, in spite of this , these seven seater were a complete success in several towns and rural areas of India as it carried more passengers and the cost of running was low compared to the petrol engine. These auto rickshaws were also modified from a passenger taxi vehicle to a goods carrier vehicle to transport small amounts of goods within the city or to small distances. These goods carrier auto rickshaws came in both petrol and diesel engines and it also came in different models with different engine power. The passenger 2-stroke petrol engine was changed to a 4-stroke engine which was a very successful model, and later on it was changed to a CNG (compressed natural gas) engine. 1.2 : CURRENT SYSTEM There were three types of engine model in the auto rickshaw, the belt drive (BD), rear axle (RA) and the rear engine (RE) The belt drive: in the belt drive model two belts ran down the side of the auto rickshaw which made the rear wheel move, in this model the wheels were not connected by an axle, in which if one of the belt snapped out that wheel was no longer driven. The rear axle: in the rear axle model the auto rickshaw has a rear axle driven by a perpendicular cam-shaft extending from underneath the drivers seat which was very noisy and vibrated a lot. The rear engine: in the rear engine model the engine is located at the rear of the auto rickshaw over the rare axle, assessable from a rear hatch, these models are much quieter and less bumpy. All of these three models were 2-stroke engines and lacked in the fuel department. The fuel tank was not sealed with a gas pump nozzle as the thank was unpressurized, hence the gas would flow faster when the tank is full than when it was half full later on a small value was located on the gas tube to adjust the gas flow. The driver also had to mix oil with the fuel as the engine was a 2-stroke engine. There was no energy storage system in the belt drive and rear axle model auto rickshaw, hence the headlight, brake lights and the signals lights had to run through a generator directly off the engine, in which the bulbs fused very often. But the rear engine model had a 12V electronics system including a battery allowing steady lights. All the models of the auto rickshaw did not have an electric starter hence the driver had to kick start the vehicle. The kick was located on the left side of the driver as a hand lever. (www.conspirators.net/armadillo/autorickshaw.html) Out of the three models the RE model was the most successful one as its engine was at the rear of the auto rickshaw making the auto rickshaw much quieter and less bumpy than the other two models, and it also had a battery allowing steady lights. Later on the 2-stroke engine was modified and replaced with 4-stroke petrol engine fitted with a electric starter. This 4-stroke engine model was very successful as compared to the 2-stroke engine. By this time the auto rickshaw also had diesel engine which made the cost of running very low and it was used as both passenger as well as a good carrier vehicle. There were many models of the petrol as well as the diesel engines with different engine capacity as shown. Bajaj 4-stroke: Bajaj Autorickshaw 4 stroke Specifications Engine 4 stroke Cooling Type Forced Air Cooled Displacement 173cc No. of Cylinders 1 Compression Ratio MaxPower 8.17bhp Max Power RPM 5000rpm Max Torque 11.5Nm Max Torque RPM 4000rpm Ignition Type DC Carburettor Keihin M10 A Transmission Type 4 forward and one reverse Clutch Type Wet multidisc type Electrical System 12V DC Head Light 35/35 W Horn 12V DC Chassis Type Pressed steel sheets and sections Front Suspension Helical coil spring and hydraulic double acting shock absorber Rear Suspension Helical coil spring and hydraulic double acting shock absorber Front Tyre Size (4.00 8).4PR Rear Tyre Size (4.00 8).4PR Brakes Drum Fuel Tank Capacity 8 litres Reserve Capacity 1 litres Wheel Base 2000mm Ground Clearance 200mm Saddle Height 780mm Minimum Turning Radius 2.88m Curb Weight 295kg Maximum Payload 335kg Fuel Efficiency (Ideal) 33kmpl Fuel Efficiency (Highway) 32 to 35kmpl Fuel Efficiency (City) 28 to 32kmpl Max Speed 55kmph * (The above model is available in Petrol, Diesel, CNG and LPG version.) Bajaj GC 1000 : Bajaj Goods Carrier Specifications Type Four Stroke, Single Cylinder, IDI, Compression Ignition    Cooling Type Forced Air Cooled Displacement 416 cc Max Power 8.5 bhp( 5.9 kW) @ 3600 rpm Max Torque 20 Nm @ 2400 rpm Ignition Type Electric start Transmission Type 4 forward 1 reverse gear Clutch Type Single plate, dry friction type, foot operated Maximum Payload 775 Kgs. Electrical System System System 12V DC Chassis Chassis Type Semi Monologue Suspension Front Suspension Antidive leading link with helical compression spring shock absorber Rear Suspension Independent suspension with spring shock absorber Tyres Front Tyre Size 4.510,8PR Rear Tyre Size 4.510,8PR Brakes Front Brakes Hydraulic brakes with auto adjuster Rear Brakes Hydraulic brakes with auto adjuster Fuel Tank Fuel Tank Capacity 8 litres Dimensions Overall length 2960 mm Overall width 1375 mm Overall height 1810 mm Wheel Base 2025 mm Ground Clearance 170 mm Minimum Turning Radius 2.75 m GVW 990 kg Loading Tray Length (Pick up) 1500 mm Width (Pick up) 1325 mm Height (Pick up) 250 mm Length (HiDec) 1500 mm Width (HiDec) 1325 mm Height (HiDec) 1050 mm *Because of our ongoing efforts to make Bajaj vehicles even better, specifications are subject to change without prior notice * (The above model is available in Petrol, Diesel, CNG and LPG version.) Later on the petrol and diesel engines were replaced by CNG (compressed natural gas) engines having all the same features. And till today all the auto rickshaws in India run on CNG engine. 1.3 : PROBLEMS AND AIM. 1.3.1 : PROBLEMS CAUSE DUE TO AUTO RICKSHAW As we are aware that an  auto rickshaw  or  a three-wheeler  (tuk-tuk) is a small three-wheeled operated by a single individual. They are cheap and common means of public transport in urban India and other parts of Asian countries as well as in some parts of Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Peru and Gautamela. Autos run on: CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), Petrol Diesel Though Autos are cheap and common means of transport it has its own disadvantages too: 1. Traffic issues/ overcrowding Auto rickshaws have a top-speed of around 50  km/h much slower than the automobiles they share the road with. The triangular form of the vehicle makes maneuvering easy, with the single front wheel negotiating the available gap, and the rear two wheels forcing a larger space. The MMW Tuk Tuk has a top speed of around 70  mph. (Ref: MMW Tuk Tuk). Being a cheap means of transport people prefer them to taxis and other means of transport. Traffic authorities in big cities try to implement mechanisms to reduce the resulting traffic slowing, but none have proven effective due to overcrowding of Autos. 220px-Rishshaw_stand_ A typical auto stand in Goa (Wikipedia) 2. Outlook: The modern cities and roads are designed for sleeker looking public vehicles for commuting these auto rickshaws look outdated and drab and looks inferiors in front of other modern road transport vehicles. Modern city planners are looking to phase out such vehicles or promoting them to be used only in villages /outskirts of cities ANd9GcSbTNytJUyOcggJ9NdIRpcmDfmYv3ZDobxZXMFc8gxuS_jheOn6_eS3QKcH ANd9GcSJLKenN3fLi3vbPlnvwMfaNIwdJQsxKzzYKer9OGtS2qCYKqX3fg Picture: Rickshawchalleng.com ANd9GcTkCINnKj7V2mW451StC07p2wMURq9m3UvR7DC5hZvLSXKlYo9CfsygYj37KA ANd9GcTJVF153b5V1fQ81M3SsBtQimfwGjLVVsQQ5KtlyxHq3Ux_ivxpyA Ref: Cepolina.com 3. Air / Noise Pollution: Though CNG run autos are more eco- friendlier than petrol and diesel autos. However, one fact was completely ignored that is noise pollution due to gas engine. With running of so many autos on concrete road surface, because of rigidity it creates more noise. The Noise level on the road during night is much more than the specified by the The Noise Pollution Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 India. Carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and nitrous oxide is emitted out is in abundance causing health issues. Besides Carbon, huge dust particles remains suspended in the air due to the constant movement of autos which is leading to breathlessness and various other health problems. (Ref: The Cityfix) To assess the impact caused by nearly 1, 00,000 auto rickshaws, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) monitored the atmospheric quality, at two areas in the City Railway Station and S G Halli, on the day of auto strike and the day before the strike. Central Bus Stand Majestic area has the most dense auto traffic, at any time of day, due to the presence of the railway station and KSRTC bus stand. Roughly between 30% to 40% of the Citys auto rickshaws ply here. This area has reported a steep reduction in oxides of Nitrogen, upto 58.8%, on the strike day. Impressive isnt it? A clear reduction in levels of Sulphur di oxide (SO2) and Respiratory Particulate Matter (RSPM) too were reported in both areas. Oxides of Carbon reduced by 33.3% at Majestic. It is known that most of the autos in City, roughly 65,000, are two-stroke ones and with incomplete combustion in them causes pollution. These autos are the ones which are 40% air polluters in Bangalore, according to KSPCB. (Ref: moneymint.in) 1.3.2 : Aim of the project The aim of the project is to run the auto rickshaw on a electrical motor with the help of solar energy. 1.4 : objective To review the current system To replace the current system Chapter 2 : START CURREENT SYSTEM OF AUTORICKSHAW JOURNALS ARTICLES RESEARCH PARAMETRIC DESIGN INTERNET DRAFT 3D MODEL CFD FEA VALIDATE CONCLUSION END Chapter 3: LITERATURE REVIEW. 3.1: journal on solar panels on vehicles Solar panels have photovoltaic cells (PVC) which are used in solar vehicles, the suns energy is converted into electricity we can use by the help of these photovoltaic cell. Solar panels can cost upto 400$ each which is a very expensive technology. The price of the solar panels varies from panel to panel depending on how fast the panel can capture and convert the energy. In 2006 the Venturi Eclectic was presented at the paris auto show. This car used solar and wind energy but could onlt travel upto 30 miles per hour. There are many benefits of a solar vehicle, there is no noise pollution as the panels panels work silently, the energy one gets is free and has zero percent emission. The Toyota prius has a new solar roof that can power the car for at least 20 miles longer. (www.aboutmyplanet.com/alternative-energy/solar/facts-solar-powered/) Working of a solar vehicle: Solar vehicle completely depends on the energy of the sun. Unlike any other solar device the solar panels on a solar vehicle has to harness the energy from the sun. These solar panels consist of hundreds or thousands of solar cell arranged neatly ultra pure mono crystalline silicon and reach efficiencies up to 20 % ie . this percentage is converted into electricity from the total solar energy falling on the panels. The electrons are charged by the photons (light particles) when sunlight hits the solar panels, this makes the electron to move one later of the solar cell to another. Thus electrical current is produced due to the energetic movements of the electrons between the layers of the solar cell. This electric current is transferred to the battery pack when the electric motor is switched off. When the conditions are not sunny the power from the battery is used. The technology of the battery pack is similar to teh cell which powers our i-pods and cell phone made up of lithium ion c ells. Using a 220V power outlet the battery pack can be fully charged in 3 hours or a day of using only solar panels. Compared to the normal vehicles the solar vehicles have a different transmission system. Power the motor is controlled by two components called Motor controllers and Power trackers. The job of the motor controller s are to convert the DC power from the batteries or solar panels to AC electricity for the motor. By simply setting the frequency of the AC output one can manipulate the speed of the motor. The job of the power trackers is to maintain a suitable level by correcting the current when the energy is used to charge the batteries, it boost the voltage. Changes in sunlight, temperature and assorted factor makes the power output in solar panels to vary, in which necessary continuous calibration and adjustment is required, this done by the power tracker. A solar vehicles body is designed to cover three benefits to maximize energy It should be lightweight. It should have good aerodynamics. And large flat surface area for maximum number of solar panels. (www.aboutmyplanet.com/environment/solar-work/) 3.2 Articles on auto rickshaws 3.2.1 Without chargers, solar rickshaws gather dust In Chandigarh the administration provided a public transport system in the form of solar rickshaws has fallen flat. These lot of first 10 eco friendly vehicles provided by the administration are now in the municipal corporation gathering dust upon them. Later on by random selection these vehicles were given to some rickshaw drivers. At various location in the city charging points were to be provided by the municipal corporation for charging these rickshaws which were not done. Disappointed by the municipal corporation these vehicles were returned back to the municipal corporation. These green rickshaws weighted about 210 kg and had a speed of 15 to 20 km per hour and had a solar battery that lasted for 6 hours or 70 km on which these rickshaws were operated. It took about 5 hours to charge these batteries with the help of charging units which had to be connected to solar panels. In order to make this scheme successful the municipal corporation has to set up charging units at different location in the city. People would also prefer these green rickshaws to some extend compared to the diesel or petrol version of the rickshaws as it addressed environment concerns. (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/without-chargers-solar-rickshaws-gather-dust/articleshow/6766082.cms) 3.2.2 Solar rickshaws find no takers BANGALORE: Indias Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) launched a solar rickshaw with great fanfare two years ago had found no takers yet. While is causing concern a engineer from Pune claimed that his design was copied by CSIR. Solecksaw which is three wheeled, in principle can use electricity to drive the motor by converting sunlight with the help of solar panels. It was promoted as a green rickshaw as it did not contribute to global warming as it emits no gases, and was developed by a unit of CSIR which is know as Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) which is Durgapur, West Bengal. But the solecksaw has not caught on in spite of its high voltage publicity. Till now in the markets these rickshaws have not been sold on commercial basis, said the head of the manufacturing technology group at CMERI Mr. Amit Banerjee In Delhi, Durgapur, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Dhanbad, and Ahmedabad, around 30 soleckshaws which were fabricated at CMERI were deployed initially for demonstration said senior adviser Mr. Himadri Maiti . He also admitted that they are not in operation currently due to various local management and administrative problems. The Central Electronics Limited did set-up some charging stations at few places but these stations are not been used to charge the soleckshaws batteries as the vehicle in those location are not operating said Mr. Himadri Maiti. At least 1000 solecksaws were to be deployed in the common wealth games village in Delhi was the plan of CSIR which was abandoned as the Games Organising Committee backed out on the proposal, on the plea of security issues, to which they had agreed initially. Mr. Himadi Maiti also said the proposal by CSIR to operate at least 10 solecksaws for delivering post under a pilot project And the CSIRs proposal to operate at least 10 soleckshaws for postal delivery under a pilot project in Rajashtans Ajmer district is still pending with the postal department, he said. 3.2.3 Web messenger drives civic campaigns for noble cause BANGALORE: Vivan Philips a post graduate student of psychology is the common mans messenger who take the common mans problems to the government by collating peoples votes on small yet crucial issues. Last year around June he launched a website www.consciousevolutionmovement.com where people can file their petitions with a big banner he was at Cubbon park for two issues ensuring wall climbers on metro rail pillars and urging manufactures to produce non-polluting auto rickshaw asking for votes. Vivian is still on the same campaign this year having some interesting observations: A majority of volunteers and voters he got for these issues are student. The wall climbers campaign got the maximum response and the introduction of non-polluting auto rickshaw or immediately even replacing them this issue was supported by many college students. Two other issues were recently added by him following the public demands, which included raising enough funds to educate every under- privileged child and mass production of solar panels by the government. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Web-messenger-drives-civic-campaigns-for-noble-cause/articleshow/5761342.cms . 3.3 Information on solar panels A solar panel is a device that collects photons of sunlight, which are very small packets of electromagnetic radiation energy, and converts them into electrical current that can be used to power electrical loads. The use of solar energy started more than 100 years back, at the beginning solar power was just used to produce steam to run some machinery. This was until the discovery by Henri Becquerel of photovoltaic effect allowed to convert solar energy (sunlight) into electrical energy. Becquerels discovery then led Charles Fritts to invent the first genuine solar cell in 1893 which was made by coating sheets of selenium with a thin layer of gold, from this arised the device we know today a solar panel. An American inventor named Russel Ohl patented the worlds first silicon solar cell in 1941. Ohls invention led to the production of the first solar panelin 1954. These new solar panels were first used in space satellites, but today solar panels and complete solar panel systems are used to power a wide variety of applications. How does an solar panel work?Solar Photovoltaic Power System Diagram Solar panels collect sunlight which is a clean renewable source of energy and convert it into electricity. This electricity can be use to run electrical loads. Solar panels are made up of many individual solar cell which are composed of layers of silicon, boron (which provides the positive charge) and phosphorous (which provides the negative charge). The photons are absorbed by the solar panels and in doing so an electric current is initiated. The resulting energy is produced from photons striking the solar panel surface which allow electrons to be knocked out of their atomic orbits and released into the electric field generated by the solar cell which then pull these free electrons into a directional current. This entire process is know as the photovoltaic effect. An average home can produce enough electricity using solar panels for all of its electrical load, as it has enough roof area for number of solar panels. As solar panels produce direct current (DC) it cannot be used to support electrical load, but with the help of an invertor that converts direct current into alternating current (AC), one can use the electricity to support electrical loads, different size of solar panel arrays meet different demanding electrical loads. The direct current produced by a solar panel which can converted into alternating current by the help of invertors can be used to power different loads in a commercial building or a house, it can also be used to power remote traffic controls, boat, vehicles, telecommunication equipments and many such machinery. Benefits of solar panels: Producing electricity using solar panels is a very practical way for many applications. This is very beneficial to people who live off-grid, off- grid means living in a location where there is no electrical supply from the main electric utility grid. Many homes and cabins in a remote areas benefits using a solar panel system, as compared to the huge fees for installing a electric utility poles from the main grid access point, solar power system is less expensive and if maintained properly can provide power for nearly three decades. The greatest benefits one can enjoy by using solar power is that it is a clean and renewable source of energy, as global climate change is the biggest problem we face today it is very important to reduce the pressure on the atmosphere from the emission of greenhouse gases. Solar panels require very less maintenances as it has no moving parts and if properly maintained can last for decades. Once the installation cost is been paid of a solar power system the electricity it produce is absolutely free for the rest of the systems lifespan that could be upto 15 20 years depending on the quality of the system, due to this one can eliminate the monthly electric bills and it can also be an additional income, because if one uses less power than the total power produced by the solar system the excess power can be sold to the electric utility company. (http://www.mrsolar.com/content/what-is-a-solar-panel.php)

My Philosophy of Teaching Essay -- Educational Educating Teaching Essa

Philosophy of Education As Malcom Forbes once said, â€Å"Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.† As a future teacher and educator, I heartily agree with the quote from Mr. Forbes, a successful businessman. Because I have been a student in school since I was five years old, I have had many opportunities to look at my education and assess what I have truly learned. Honestly, I can say that the most important part of my past and current education has been being exposed to the many ideas and concepts of our world today. Aside from learning about the all important â€Å"classic† subjects, I have been fortunate enough to be educated by individuals who truly wanted to teach me, as well as other students, to make a difference in the world. Due to the condition our world is in today, I feel it is extremely important to teach my future students about such issues as racism, gender inequality, war, legal matters and environmental issues, just to name a few. In order to be a successful person in the world today, it is imperative that all citizens are aware of the many non-educational issues surrounding them. It is vital that every person is capable of making rational decisions on his or her own. These ideas and skills are not something that parents alone can teach their children, simply because so many children do not have parents that are involved in their lives. Therefore, it is the school’s responsibility to teach the students about all areas of life. Every student, regardless of background, race, sex, and ethnicity will be educated on how the become a more worldly person. No one, thanks to a free public education, will be denied the right to learn. Because I hold these views, it is clear that I embrace a So... ...e, as well as observation hours and lessons to teach. Yet I know that deep down inside, I am making a good decision for my life. Teachers may not make the most money or have the most respected profession, but it is a job that is always needed. Teachers have helped encourage so many of the world’s brightest people; so many people have admitted that they wouldn’t be where they are today without the support from that one special teacher. I want to be that special teacher, the one who goes the extra mile for her students and pushes them to be the best they can be. But most importantly, I want to be able to teach my students to be worldly and independent. For Robert Hutchins once said, â€Å"It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts†¦it is to teach them to think, if that is possible, and to always think for themselves†.

Different Perspectives in Looking at Literacy

I. IntroductionThe objective of this paper is to provide a general discussion on how literacy can be understood from different perspectives. Just the like the proverbial 5 Blind Men of Hindustan who described the elephant albeit incompletely and relative to their experience, literacy can also be understood from different perspectives. We may say that though all these perspectives are correct, they are also at the same time all inadequate to describe the whole phenomena of literacy.Yet by bringing all of these perspectives together, we can come with a fuller picture and definition of what literacy really is. It is the aim of this paper to come up with a more complete understanding of literacy. In the end, we will bring together the different perspectives and come up with a wider view. Eventually it is hoped that through this, a better understanding of literacy can be achieved. Yet in the end, the definition would still be incomplete for literacy is a process and learning never really ends.The point however is to live it at its utmost definition and contribute to its enhancement. There are four perspectives that will be dealt with in this paper with which literacy is tackled. These are: 1. Literacy as a skill; where cognitive skills in speaking, reading, writing, and functional literacy are discussed 2. Literacy as socially situated; where literacy is defined by the specific social context from which it springs. 3. Literacy as a process of learning; where literacy is seen as a lifelong and unending process4. Literacy as text where critical analysis of the social constructions are processed.II. BodyLiteracy as a skill The Cognitive science perspective on literacy looks at literacy mostly as reading and writing skills where reading must become like second nature and automatic while at the same time having a very accurate interpretation. The brain must be able to process reading as fast as it can and in the most precise comprehension as possible. This skill must be practice in order to have mastery over it (Abadzi, 2004).Writing on the other hand is another skill which is intricately connected to a particular syntax of a specific linguistic script which are meaning-based and sound-based (Barton, 1994). An example of meaning based writing is the Chinese character which is not an alphabet but a representation of what is being referred. An example of sound-based writing is our current alphabet based on the Greek system of writing assigning vowels and consonant sounds to actual letters that would signify meaning. This is considered to have technological superiority over other forms of script (Olson, 1994).There is a belief that writing is more superior to speech because it is the actual transcription of the spoken word. Thus the cognitive argument emphasizes on the significance of literacy in society’s advanced capacities and progress. However this view has been criticized. To quote from Olson: ‘The focus on literacy skills seriously underestimates the significance of both the implicit understandings that children bring to school and the importance of oral discourse in bringing those understandings into consciousness in turning them into objects of knowledge.’ (Olson, 1997 cited in Street 2004)Thus one needs to factor in oral competencies together with reading and writing skills in looking at literacy as skill (Robinson, 2003). Numeracy skills also have to be added as an important component of literacy. Literacy skills must also include those that enable access to knowledge and information such as skills in surfing the internet, technological skills, computer literacy, among others (Lankshear, 2003). This new view paved the way for the concept of functional literacy which can complement the limitations of the skills based perspective.Functional literacy is defined by the World Congress of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy, Tehran September 1965: â€Å"Rather than an end in itself, l iteracy should be regarded as a way of preparing man [sic] for a social, civic and economic role that goes beyond the limits of rudimentary literacy training consisting merely in [sic] the teaching of reading and writing. † (Yousif, 2003) Functional literacy is most often linked to development which not only means teaching reading, writing, ‘rithmetic and speaking, but also knowing how to go about in society such as finding a job.Literacy as Socially Situated The ethnographic perspective to literacy looks into the practices of literacy in different cultural and social contexts. This perspective has been coined NLS or New Literacy Studies (Gee, 1999). This perspective looks at ‘the everyday meanings and uses of literacy in specific cultural contexts and links directly to how we understand the work of literacy programmes, which themselves then become subject to ethnographic enquiry’ (Street, 2004). This perspective looks at literacy not only as a skill but as a social practice which is socially constructed and imbedded in the culture of society.It argues that reading and writing are not neutral skills but based on concept of ideology, identity, being and knowledge. Thus this perspective emphasizes on the social situatedness of literacy. This is a more culturally sensitive approach where there is no single and universal definition of literacy but only in the social context wherein meaning is derived from (Doronilla, 1996). Most often than not the classification of illiterates are done on traditional societies on the hunting and gathering mode of economic production.However we cannot impose this definition on their lives because the applicability of being â€Å"literate† on their culture is not going to be very significant. Thus there is a call to review the literate-illiterate dichotomy. In a study by Sylvia Scribner together with Michael Cole in (The Psychology of Literacy, 1981) on the functions of literacy in Vai of north-west L iberia, they argue that literacy will only be fully understood within the context of the people’s social practices (Barton, 1994). The argument is such that being literate means that one can navigate well in his or her social world.In traditional societies, learning to read and to write is not as compelling as learning to hunt and survive in the forest. The criticism levelled at this approach is that it emphasizes too much on local context without factoring in external forces such as colonization, religious evangelization, economic globalization and others (Brandt, 2002). Others also question this overemphasis on cultural difference when literacy should be encouraging peoples of the world to integrate and create meaningful social, economic, and political linkages (Maddox, 2001).Anthropological and ethnographic researches looking into the communicative process reveals that it is the local contexts that define literacy and that the texts can only be produced within specific cul tural and social perspectives. Thus literacy should not be imposed from the outside as a dominant discourse but should naturally development from one’s culture. Literacy as a process of learning The constructivist perspective looks at literacy as a continuing process rather than an end product. Knowledge is seen as continually evolving and being socially constructed in the process of doing.This looks into the perspective of the learner and how he or she makes meaning and sense from his own experiences. In this perspective, critical reflection is the key to individual and social transformation. This was developed by Kolb in adult education where the design is experiential and learning begins by personal reflection (Kolb, 1984). Paulo Freire is one of the main theorists propounding on this perspective. I quote from Paulo Freire, â€Å"Every reading of the word is preceded by a reading of the world.Starting from the reading of the world that the reader brings to literacy progra ms (a social- and class determined reading), the reading of the word sends the reader back to the previous reading of the world, which is, in fact, a re-reading. (Freire, 1995)† For Paulo Freire, literacy is not a matter of learning to speak, then to read then to write. These are all part of the learning process. Literacy is such that it gives meaning to our life and to our world as we continue to be part of the never ending process of social transformation.The whole process of interpretation and meaning giving should not be without conscientization and resolve to higher action. Part of Freire’s pedagogy is praxis which is a combination of theory and practice where literacy can dialogically transform the world (Freire, 1995). For Freire literacy originates first and foremost, from the social practices of man and his actual encounter with the world. Literacy as text Linguists, educationalists, and literary theorists look at literacy from the perspective of it being the à ¢â‚¬Ëœsubject matter’ (Bhola, 1994)) where the nature of the given texts are created and used by individuals.These texts may vary in terms of genre and subject, the levels of difficulty in the language being used, and in ideological content which can be explicit or hidden. This perspective looks at literacy where texts are bound together in intertextuality where people’s practices and texts intertwine. Thus the texts have the power to reproduce social practices such as social inequalities, gender relations, and racism among others. This is referred to as discourse.Others improved this perspective by also including non verbal communication, gestures, body language are part of the communication process where different cultures and contexts can change the interpretation of meaning (Kress, 2001). Thus people choose ‘representational resources’ on a case to case basis depending on what situation and what context. To illustrate, even the theories of literacy are themselves embedded in the assumptions and values of institutions and individuals. This perspective requires a critical reading of the text as social constructed and at the same time socially recreating society.Meanings are constructed according to social binaries and collusion of different values and forms of life. The criticism levelled at this perspective is determining its applicability in multi cultural settings and in a rapidly globalizing information society where the internet serves as a main medium bridging different cultures. Moreover, this perspective tends toward nihilism if we begin to look at all text being socially constructed, one may conclude that there neither defining value nor stable foothold to culture. Literacy as a Dominating IdeologyNeo Marxists levels its attack on the idea of literacy itself as a western and dominating ideology that creates social inequalities. This is being done by derogatory classification of â€Å"illiterates† without even lookin g at their specific culture and life forms from their own point of view. Literacy as an ideology is said to impose a standard created by the First World which brings with its own economic system of capitalism as already accepted. Thus the space of indigenous peoples for discourse is reduced only to a certain level of â€Å"literacy† from which they can discourse.Those who cannot speak the educated language are silenced. Technical discourse is preferred over experiential discourse. Bringing it all together If we look at the various perspectives in which we have analyzed literacy, we can see some common denominators in which all these perspectives can agree upon. These are: 1. That literacy should involve the whole range of human communication skills such as reading, writing, speaking, counting and even non verbal communication and the study of proxemics and body language as forms of representation. 2.That literacy is contingent on the needs of the learners and the needs of soc iety. 3. That literacy must be able to empower and engage the people and must thrive within a positive learning environment. Yousif gives general definition of literacy based on these 4 perspectives: â€Å"Literacy is a technical capacity and a social act whose principal focus is reading, writing and numeracy as a step in a lifelong learning process that can lead to creative expression and conceptual problem-solving skills.Its principal objective is to enable the individual to achieve his goals and to  contribute to the welfare of his community (Yousif, 10-12 June, 2003). † If we examine the definition above we will observe that at the core of literacy are cognitive skills but it does not end there. The definition of Literacy further reaches out to creative expression, the ability to navigate the social world and survive, and conceptual problem solving. This definition further affirms the social roots and origins of literacy as human beings are social beings. As individuals they have to make meaning and interpret communication. As social beings, we need to be part and contribute to the welfare of society.As literacy is integral to culture and society, it is also a lifelong process of learning for human society is never static. The Significance of this definition This definition can prove to be very significant in the conduct of literacy efforts all over the world. While literacy efforts may stress on cognitive skills at the beginning, they should also emphasize on self actualization and social transformation as a direction. Literacy is also seen not as an end in itself but a lifelong process directed at creative self expression, psychological empowerment and self actualization, critical engagement, and social transformation.Literacy efforts should also look at the applicability and practicability of literacy programs on the actual life situation and culture of the people. There is no generic formula for literacy and the point of literacy programs is t o make human communities a better place to live in. While however accepting such diversity, we also have to take note that the mass media through the information high way is literally changing the communication landscape of the world.Thus we need to be open to learning how to navigate through fast developments while being critical of dominating discourses that flood the media.III. Conclusion:Education for Freedom During the last 300 years when the industrial revolution began, dramatic advances had made it a requirement for people in the modern world to have formal education in the schools. Before that, the transmission of learning and skills happened via oral tradition and the socialization of the young. Today, educational institutions are a must and acquiring formal education is already a necessity among the young.With the study of the different perspectives on literacy, we now know that literacy does not only mean skill but also competency. However, competency is not enough if one is to reach his highest potential. One needs critical self reflection to examine the deepest roots of our society and social life in order to change it. Thus literacy means gaining knowledge to understand the world and analyze society. Yet again the process never stops. For in the end, knowledge is useless if it has no goal and direction. The only worthwhile direction of human knowledge is none other than Freedom.This is what it really means when we say that reason has finally triumphed; where the world lives on free discourses and what matter is what’s right and not who’s right. This is where literacy brings not only development but also freedom and a better world guided by wisdom and reason. As information society increases global communication and makes the world smaller, so must the free exchange of culture and knowledge proceed without discrimination but with respect so there would be a diversity which is a unity in itself guided by the highest kind of literacy w e can ever imagine.

Everything’s Arranged

The short story ‘Everything’s Arranged’ by Siew Yue Killingley is about a Ceylonese girl named Rukumani that having a secret affair with a Ceylonese boy named Devanayagam while studying at University. Both of them love each other deeply. As they went for longs term vacation, their secret affair discovered by their parents. The story tells about how these young couple, especially Rukumani has struggled and suffered because of their family members, relatives and their community as they try to get together in life. Her marriage was arranged against her own wish.The main characters in this story are Rukumani and Devanayagam. Meanwhile, the other characters are Johnny Chew, Amy Wong, Mr. Sambanthan, Susheela, Nadarajah, Rukumani’s mother and grandmother, Devanayagam’s father and Auntie Sally. As from the story, the setting of the story might be around early stage after our country’s independence. During that time, love marriages are still alien to Indian cultural. The typical India Community thought fall in love as a big sin and only arranged marriage is allowed. The conflict of the story is about the rejection of love marriages by old generation.The story reveals the conflict faced by the two lovers, Rukumani and Devanayagam, who are secretly in love. Their parents, who do not know about their love story, have arranged a marriage for them, and the problem comes when both of them have to marry to another persons. The first theory that can be related to the story is Feminism Theory, which can be defined as a â€Å"recognition and critique of male supremacy combined with efforts to change it. † Feminist Theory is an outgrowth of the general movement to empower women worldwide, and it involves every sense, including belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.According to the theory, feminists fight for the equality of women and argue that women should share equally in society’s opportunitie s and scare resources. They try to fight for women’s right to be equally and fairly treated in the society, regardless of their gender. There are three ultimate goals of feminism, which include demonstrating the importance of women, revealing that historically women have been subordinate to men, as well as bringing about gender equity. ‘Feminist Theory’ is an umbrella term for Liberal Feminism, Radical Feminism, Socialist Feminism, and also Marxist Feminism.Radical Feminism According to Radical Feminism, male power and privilege is the basis of social relations, and sexism is the ultimate tool used by men to keep women oppressed. As we can see in this story, Rukumani is not allowed to decline the marriage which is arranged by her parents as it is considered as rude. She does not even get the chance to make a decision for her own future. â€Å"The time for her marriage to be arranged would soon come†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Based on this line, we can deduce that sexism is t he ultimate tool used by men to keep women oppressed.Even at the beginning of the story, it is mentioned that Rukumani will soon get married to a guy who she does not know, and it is all arranged by her parents, without considering her feelings. Her father especially, has chosen someone who he thinks is the best for his daughter because of the cheap dowry his family willing to give. Even though Rukumani already has a guy who she loves, she knows that there will be a lot of obstacles that she has to go through for their love, and it might be impossible to continue the relationship because of the arranged marriage.Realizing it or not, Mr Sambanthan, Rukumani’s father, is the one who gives oppression to his own daughter. He thinks that it is his right to find someone to be his daughter’s husband. â€Å"†¦had proved a disgraceful and shameless hussy by rejecting a match with a promising lawyer who was willing to accept a cheap dowry because of her B. Sc†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Rukumani is accused as an ungrateful child after her parents find out about her Chinese friend, Jonny, whom they taught her boyfriend. In this situation, women’s oppression is the deepest as the woman in the story has no right to do the things she likes.On that day, Jonny, who is her classmate, came to her house in order to have a talk with her during the long term vacation. However, her little brother and her mother misunderstand about them, by claiming that Rukumani brings her Chinese boyfriend to their house. It is seen as a very shameful and immoral act, that her mother starts to think of what the society might think about their family. Plus, her mother tends to compare her with the neighbours by saying that their daughters have never brought a man into their houses. Rukumani is oppressed and she does not know what to do in order to set her free.Her parents think that the guy whom they want to take as their son in law as the most perfect match for their daughter without considering Rukumani’s feelings. â€Å"At the same time, they liked to pretend that Rukumani was too spiritual to know everything about sex†¦Ã¢â‚¬  According to this line, women’s oppression is the most widespread as their lives are arranged that they do not have the chance to plan their future by themselves. Men use sexism as their ultimate tool to keep women oppressed. In Rukumani’s family, everything has been planned by her father and no one is capable of objecting it. At times I think of committing suicide but I am not sure how to kill myself. † Referring to this line, we can conclude that women’s oppression causes the most suffering in their lives. In the letter she writes to Auntie Sally, Rukumani has mentioned that she somehow feels to commit suicide for the sadness and oppression she faces because of the arranged marriage. Marrying a guy who she does not even know is not her choice, and she is not willing to do that. At certain extent , she just feels like her life is reaching to an end, which she feels hopeless, hence thinking of committing suicide.However, she does not do that as she does not know the way. It clearly shows that the decision made by her father has caused her to suffer in her life; she does not have freedom to make a decision for her own life. Liberal Feminism Liberal Feminism is about freedom, which all people are created equal and should not be denied equality of opportunity because of gender. It highlights the efforts on social change through the construction of legislation and regulation of employment practices. However, in this short story, the bias towards men can be clearly seen. †¦he could go out to shows with his friends.† During the long vacation, Devanayagam can still hang out with his friends, but not for Rukumani. In their culture, women are not allowed to freely go out with their friends, and they are strictly controlled by their parents. It is not fair for Rukumani as sh e also has feelings and freedom to do the things she likes, just like men have. The freedom should be equally given to everyone, regardless of their gender. Just like men, women can as well manage their own lives independently and should not be restricted just because of one’s wish.Psychoanalysis According to Sigmund Freud there are parts that involve in humans’ lives, which are id, ego, and superego. Id allows humans to get their basic needs met. Freud believed that the id is based on pleasure principal. In other words, the id wants whatever feels good at the time, with no consideration for the reality of the situation. The id does not care about the needs of anyone else; it is only its own satisfaction. As in ego, which is the second part, the personality begins to develop after interacting more and more with the world.The ego, which is based on reality principle, understands that other people have needs and desires and that sometimes being impulsive or selfish can h urt us in the long run. It is the ego’s job to meet the needs of the id, while taking into consideration the reality of the situation. The ego acts a balancer or reminder, and it puts limitations to the id. It tells us whether our particular action is right or wrong. In this short story, Mr Sambanthan, who is Rukumani’s father, has a very strong id. He does not even care about others’ feelings whenever he wants to make a decision.He has been arranging Rukumani’s marriage without even discussing with her, as knows that he has power to anything he wants to. â€Å"The time for her marriage to be arranged would soon come and she would find out all about that after she was married. † This line clearly shows Rukumani will only know about her own marriage after she get married, and there is someone who is planning for her. With a very strong id, Mr Sambanthan wants the marriage to be successful without even realizing that he is actually being unfair to hi s daughter.He only takes his feelings into consideration, and neglects others’. As a good father, he should first discuss with her daughter, and think of her feelings, as this matter is related to his daughter’s future. Instead, he rules everything in the house and once blaming his wife for not teaching good morals to Rukumani. Because of this, Rukumani feels so sad and worried if she had to break up with his boyfriend and got married with a guy she does not love, or even knows. â€Å"At times I think of committing suicide but I am not sure how to kill myself. In the other hand, the ego makes Rukumani not to kill herself because of the problem.Rukumani once mentions in the letter she writes for Auntie Sally that she is thinking of committing suicide as a result of the pressure she feels. However, she does not do that thing as she is still able to think rationally. Nevertheless, Rukumani also has the strong id as she eventually tells her parents and the guys’ th at she has a boyfriend that she loves. The action is considered as rude, and it is the reason why the guy’s family rejects her, and do not want to proceed with the marriage.

Differences (The Woman Warrior) essays

Differences (The Woman Warrior) essays Through out the years, society has portrayed certain individuals to have an effective and positive role in ones upbringing. In Maxine Hong Kingstons The Woman Warrior, Brave Orchid has had an effective and positive role in her daughters upbringing. However, at the time it seems she is heartless and full of hate toward her daughter; it is merely nothing but tough love. Deep within herself she knows her daughter will succeed very much in life as she once did. Yet she can not let her know, due to her Chinese upbringing because, Thats what Chinese say. We like to say the opposite (203). Yet, due to her tough upbringing she is perhaps the most influential role model towards all of her kids, teaching them though Chinese women are only taught to be wives or slaves someday, they to can be very strong not only emotionally and physically, but also intellectually and successfully, just like Brave Orchid once was. Brave Orchid and Little Dog never see eye to eye, never agreeing with each others differences and different cultures, one raised with Chinese cultures and values the other is very much accustomed to her new American values, and traditions. Little Dog, is rose as a Chinese-American, trying to see life from both perspectives, never understanding the reason why her Mother does certain things, or raises her children differently than others. Unlike her Mother Brave Orchid, who lives her life accustomed to her values and Chinese traditions, never understanding her daughters rude behavior, and impoliteness towards adults, and not understanding her strange American behavior. Thus, is why Mother s are causes due to the lack of information Little Dog is taught by her Mother about her Chinese culture. However, though there was a lot of tension and hostility between the two through out the story; Brave Orchid...

Torture

Torture Although torture is an illegal means of interrogation in many legal jurisdictions across the world, law enforcement agencies still practice it. In the United States, the emergence of terrorism attacks in the 21st century has led to the application of torture in the interrogation of terrorists and suspects to reveal pertinent information that is critical in the maintenance of national security.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Torture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Since the constitution is a supreme law that defines the application of torture, interrogation policies that the law enforcement agencies apply usually originate from outside the legal arena. For instance, Jack Bauer, a fictional actor in TV show ‘24’ is a government agent who plays a significant role in influencing polices and legislations concerning interrogation. Lithwick (2008) argues that, in the United States, Jack Bauer has sig nificantly influenced the development of interrogation policy because many prominent lawyers often cite his recommendations (Para. 1). Although many lawyers regard his recommendations, Jack Bauer is not a professional expert in interrogation because he is not an international lawyer, a behavioral psychologist or a counterterrorism expert. Therefore, examination of historical, social, political, cultural and technological aspect of torture indicates that interrogation techniques have no legal basis. Throughout history, different nations and military organizations have employed torture as a means of interrogating persons or punishing criminals. Ideally, torture is an act of imposing physical, psychological and emotional pain on people so that they can yield to certain demands. Ancient Romans and Greeks employed torture in interrogating and punishing military detainees and strangers captured during the war. Moreover, during the period of the slave trade, slave owners used torture to pu nish slaves who did not perform their roles as expected. Because of its effectiveness in interrogation, punishment and or revenge, dictatorial regimes employed torture to compel its political enemies to give some vital information or yield to the demands of state. However, Sands (2009) argues that torture is not only illegal but also an ineffective means of interrogation (Para. 8). The emergence of democracy and human rights advocacy have led to the perception of torture as illegal and an inhuman means of interrogation or punishment that is contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Thus, the use of torture in interrogation has a historical basis rather than legal basis as reflected in its ancient application.Advertising Looking for research paper on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Torture is a social issue that affects the relationship between citizens and the law enforcement agencies. Normally, law enforcement agencies employ torture as a way of retrieving vital information from citizens by scaring or compelling them to participate effectively in community policing. Thus, the use of torture portrays law enforcement agencies as inhuman and barbaric in that they are not sensitive to consequences of their torturous acts. Interrogation experts observe that torturing is an ineffective means of interrogation because retrieved information has low reliability because tortured suspects can give false information so that they do not undergo further torturing. Costanzo and Gerrity (2009) view torture as an ineffective way of interrogation because it has negative psychological and social impact on both victims and perpetrators of torture (p.182). Victims and perpetrators will develop violent behaviors because torture makes them insensitive and inhuman. Hence, torture has social basis relative to the legal basis because it compels the society to adapt violent behaviors that law enforce ment officers and victims develop. Torture is a political tool that various regimes across the world employ in effecting their political ideologies and influencing national decisions. In essence, torture is a political crime of obedience where a regime formulates and issues policies regarding national issues compelling political leaders to support or risk facing torture. Torture, as a crime of obedience, occurs when one opposes authorities in case of victims. However, in case of perpetrators, it involves the obedience to instructions from authorities. Kelman (2005) asserts that, though torture is both illegal and immoral in the society, perpetrators perform it in response to orders from authorities (p.126). Hence, torture provides the means by which political authorities can exercise their power and instill fear on citizens. In the regimes that do not have democracy or uphold human rights, torture is a political tool of frustrating political opponents and maintaining power. Accordin g to Gomez-Barris (2007), the state formulated the rhetoric of civil war so that it could justify the violation of human rights by torturing civilians (p.88). Thus, it means that torture is a political tool of oppression that various governments employ in undermining human rights. From the cultural perspective, torture is an issue that touches the morality of the society and different cultures all over the world. Most cultures regard torture as an inhuman act that violates not only societal norms but also moral codes since it promotes violent behavior that is insensitive to human life. Different cultures perceive human life as having inherent dignity, which should not be subject to brutal acts such as torture.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Torture specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, cultures that do not promote democracy are more likely to tolerate torture compared to democratically mature cultures. According to Luban (2005), torture emanates from liberal culture and ends in the development of torture culture (p.1427). Prior to terrorism attacks in 2001, the Americans abhorred torture. However, the emergence of terrorism threats has transformed the liberal culture of the Americans to cherish torture as an effective means of interrogating terrorists in spite of its illegality. Because of advancement in technology, law enforcement agencies have invented several interrogation techniques to enhance the effectiveness of interrogation. Since terrorists pose enormous threats to national security, the United States has formulated and adopted various interrogation techniques that inflict physical, psychological and emotional pain on individuals. Cesereanu (2006) argues that electric torture is an effective technique of interrogation because it can apply electric shock on intimate parts of the body such as breasts and genitals, as well as causing both psychological and physical pain (p. 1). Electric torture involves the use of varied instruments such as electrodes, electric truncheons and electric cables. Water boarding is another interrogating technique that does not cause any physical harm as it entails partial suffocation of a person. However, it inflicts a fair deal of psychological, emotional and physical pain. The United States’ soldiers mainly employed water boarding in torturing terrorist suspects in Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib prisons. Moreover, medical torture is another form of torture that entails the use of drugs to produce pain without any physical harm. Hence, law enforcement agencies are inventing new interrogating techniques that are torturous, but do not cause any physical harm so that human right advocates do not realize their impacts on victims. Despite the fact that torture is both an illegal and immoral act in society, different states continue to torture suspects and prisoners using various interrogating techniques that have no legal bas is. Since the society perceives torture as a violation of human rights, the United States, for a long period, viewed torture as a barbaric and inhuman act. However, the emergence of terrorism has compelled the United States to employ different forms of interrogative techniques such as water boarding and electricity. Although interrogative experts perceive torture as an ineffective means of interrogation, Jack Bauer, who has no any interrogative expertise, is tremendously influential in the development of interrogative policies in the United States. Therefore, torture has historical, social, political, technological and cultural basis rather than a legal basis.Advertising Looking for research paper on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Reference List Cesereanu, R. (2006). An Overview of Political Torture in the Twentieth Century the Microcosm of Torture Instruments. Metabasis, 3(1), 1-11. Costanzo, M., Gerrity, E. (2009). The Effects and Effectiveness of Using Torture as An Interrogation Device: Using Research to Inform the Policy Debate. Social Issues and Policy Review, 3(1), 179-210. Gomez-Barris, M. (2007). Torture Sees and Speaks: Guillermo Nunez’s Art in Chile’s Transition. A Journal on Social History and Literature in Latin America, 5(1), 86-107. Kelman, H. (2005). The Policy Context of Torture: A Social-Psychological Analysis. International Review of Red Cross, 87(857), 123-134. Lithwick, D. (2008). The Bauer of Suggestion: Our Torture Policy has Deeper Roots in  Fox Television than Constitution. Retrieved fromhttps://slate.com/news-and-politics/2008/07/our-torture-policy-has-deeper-roots-in-fox-television-than-the-constitution.html Luban, D. (2005). Liberalism, Torture and the Ticking Bomb . Virginia Law Review,  91(1), 1425-1461. Sands, P. (2009). Torture is Illegal and It Never Works. The Guardian. Retrieved From https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/nov/24/torture-jack-bauer-24-redemption