Grey Country, Ontario: Impact of Geography on Humans

Grey Country, Ontario: Impact of Geography on Humans Located in southern Ontario on the south-most shores of Georgian Bay, Grey  County has often been identified as a popular tourist destination because of its endless geological landmarks, ideal climate and ample bodies of water. The area encompassed by Grey County (as seen in Figure 1.1) has been found to have a population of 92,568 and covered 4513.21 km2 of land in 2011 (#### statscan). The county was established in 1852 with its headquarters at Owen Sound (Marsh, 1931), and quicly became a major trade hub due to its plentiful natural resources which included forests, fish, fur, and minerals, leading to the establishment of sawmills, furniture factories, quarry’s and apple orchards (grey web####). In recent years, the physical-geographic landmarks have had a great influence on tourism in Grey County. In 2008 the County hosted over 1.779 million visitors, brought in over 331 million dollars in expenditures, supported over 3200 jobs and contributed 9.9 million dollars to muni cipal taxes (Action plan, ####). The study was aimed to analyze, understand and provide evidence of the relationship between the physical geography and human activity within Grey County. An analysis of how geomorphology, hydrology and climatology impacted human activity in the County was completed and an understanding of their importance was established. Due to the specificity of the topic researched throughout this study, the difficulty of acquiring credible and peer-reviewed resources was of high magnitude. The main method of research was using the key word approach on websites to maximize efficiency when searching for scholarly documents. Terms such as â€Å"Formation, Niagara Escarpment† were used on scholarly databases to yield specific details about the origins of the Niagara Escarpment. Other terms such as â€Å"Grey County, Tourism†, â€Å"Grey County, Climate, Hydrology, Geomorphology† and â€Å"Grey County, Conservation Areas† yielded sufficient information and reports on the geographical and anthropological aspects of Grey County. Lastly, the use of Statistics Canada, The Niagara Escarpment Commission and County of Grey websites provided statistical, political and historical data about the topic researched. Based on the information compiled by the key word approach it was possible to establish a relationship between the physical geography of the area and its human activity. The unique geological landscapes of Grey County, which are explained through the science of geomorphology, have been a crucial factor in attracting human activity to the area. Christopherson and Byrne have defined geomorphology as â€Å"the science that analyzes and describes the origin, evolution, form, classification, and spatial distribution of landforms† (Christopherson Byrne, 2009, G.6). The County was found to be located atop a portion of the Niagara Escarpment; recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve, with its origins dating back 430 million years and found to span over 725 km throughout Ontario (NEC, n.d). This particular landscape formation can be associated with an age-old sea that once covered the area and overtime eroded adjacent mountains depositing sediments onto the sea floor (Kreuger, n.d). As a result of lithification, these sediments were transformed into shale, slate, sandstone, dolostone and other sedimentary rocks over millions of years which we re then warped and bent by the earths forces, forming the Niagara Escarpment along the rim of the Michigan basin (Kreuger, n.d). The Niagara Escarpment was further shaped through differential erosion by a process called sapping (see Figure 1.2), where the sub-lying soft rock eroded much faster then the dolostone cap rock, leading to mass wasting and the formation of cliff slopes (talus slopes) such as the Blue Mountains (Kreuger, n.d). These mountainous regions of Grey County have promoted the establishment of recreational businesses attracting millions of tourists due to its diversified landscape and limitless year-round recreational activities. Although the steep slopes of the Niagara Escarpment within Grey County have been found unsuitable for agricultural purposes, they have attracted humans who for decades have been using them for their recreational abilities. The geography of Grey County has allowed for summer activities ranging from rock climbing, caving, camping, golfing, fi shing, biking, as well as hiking parts of the Bruce trail to winter attractions including skiing, skating, snow shoeing, dog sledding, horse back riding and snowmobiling (Grey County Tourism, n.d a). These human interactions with the geographic landscape have helped establish the importance and understanding of how geomorphology promotes the interaction of humans with their surrounding landscapes. Grey County has often been associated with mild winters and warm summers which have influenced both recreational activity and the apple growing industry in the area. As defined by Christopherson and Byrne, climatology â€Å"is the scientific study of climate and climate patterns and the consistent behavior of weather, including its variability and extremes, over time in one place or region† (Christopherson Byrne, 2009, G.3). Located in proximity to both Lake Ontario and Lake Huron, the area has been found to experience a humid continental climate with moderate temperatures, cold dry air from the Arctic, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and dry winds from the Pacific (Brown McKay, 1974). The area of study was found to have an average temperature and snowfall during winter months of -4.50  °C and 49.7 cm respectively (see Figure 1.3 1.5), an average temperature of 18.40 °C during the summer months (see Figure 1.3) and a yearly precipitation average of 62.8 mm (see Figure 1.4) (The Weather Network, n.d). The geographic location of Grey County and its climate influenced the apple growing industry during the 1840’s when farmers realized that the large bodies of water; Lake Huron and Lake Ontario, reduced the chances of late spring and early autumn frosts while the surrounding Niagara Escarpment and Beaver Valley acted as a barrier confining warm lake air, creating a climate suitable for apple growing and making it one of the biggest industries in the area (Almond, 1985). The ideal winter and summer climates as well as the geographical landscapes of Grey County have not only attracted apple farmers, but also tourists and new residents because of the vast amount of recreational activities offered during all four seasons of the year. During the winter, residents and tourists have been able to enjoy activities such as skiing, snowshoeing, skating, ice fishing, snowmobiling and hiking due to the cold climates and mass snowfalls combined with the rol ling landscapes of the Niagara Escarpment and Beaver Valley. People have also been able to partake in various recreational activities during the spring, summer and fall seasons which included biking, fishing, camping, cave exploring, hunting, swimming and rock climbing (Grey County Tourism, n.d a). The climate within the area of study has promoted settlement for several decades and continues to be a strong factor, in parallel with the geographic landscape, in attracting the human population to Grey County. The hydrologic activity within the County has been a critical resource in providing clean drinking water and promoting recreational activity but has also been known to cause flood damage during extreme runoff events. Christopherson and Byrne have defined hydrology as â€Å"the science of water, its global circulation, distribution, and properties, specifically water at and below the earths surface† (Christopherson Byrne, 2009, G.7). The area of study has been found to contain a large amount of lakes and rivers, which in conjunction with the hills and valleys have formed the areas three major watersheds: Grey Sauble, Nottawasaga and Saugeen Valley Conservation Areas (see Figure 1.6) (Grey County Tourism, n.d b). As a result, the surrounding lands have provided valuable resources in the form of underground aquifers, which have been used as a main source of clean drinking water for the people of Grey County (Waterloo Hydrogeologic, 2003). The area of Grey County has also been kn ow to experience flooding in the spring months due to the large volume of runoff from winter snowmelt. In late April of 2013, it was found that the combined event of snowmelt and precipitation in the Grey County area was larger then a 100 year summer storm of duration greater than 14 hours, leading to large armounts of flooding, damage and road closures due to unsafe driving conditions (Greenland International Consulting Ltd., 2014). Despite the previously stated risks, humans are still attracted to Grey County because of its vast amounts of lakefront properties, plentiful supply of self sustaining groundwater and hydrology influenced recreational activities. Tourists and residents have been able to take part in various activities such as canoeing the rivers of the County, boating on the Nottawasaga Bay, and fishing both during winter and summer months. This research has proved that humans will seek areas of natural beauty and plentiful resources despite it being prone to substantia l flooding, further solidifying how the physical-geographic environment has influenced human population in Grey County. Grey County has been found to attract human activity do to its geological landmarks, ideal climate and ample bodies of water. Its wide range of hills and valleys shaped by geomorphology, moderate continental climate with cool winters and warm summers as well as the abundance of hydrologic related resources have made Grey County a popular tourist destination for millions of humans annually due the various recreational businesses promoted by these qualities. It is evident by the information provided within this study that human activity within Grey County has been heavily influenced by the presence of its unique physical-geographic phenomena. Figure 1.1: County Of Grey Unknown (n.d), County of Grey, Municipalities and Townships, Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://www.grey.ca/services/local-municipalities/?i=7365 Figure 1.2: Differential Erosion, Sapping Process Walter Tovell (1955), The Sapping Process, [Diagram], Retrieved November 14, 2014, Niagara Escarpment Commission http://www.escarpment.org/about/geology/weathering/index.php Figure 1.3: Average Annual Temperature Data for Owen Sound, Ontario. The Weather Network (n.d), Temperature Data, Retrieved November 16, 2014, from http://www.theweathernetwork.com/forecasts/statistics/summary/cl6116132/caon0515 Figure 1.4: Average Monthly Rainfall for Owen Sound, Ontario. The Weather Network (n.d), Monthly Rainfall, Retrieved November 16, 2014, from http://www.theweathernetwork.com/forecasts/statistics/summary/cl6116132/caon0515 Figure 1.5: Average Monthly Snowfall for Owen Sound, Ontario. The Weather Network (n.d), Monthly Snowfall, Retrieved November 16, 2014, from http://www.theweathernetwork.com/forecasts/statistics/summary/cl6116132/caon0515 Figure 1.6: Watersheds of Southern Ontario. Conservation Ontario (2014), Conservation Authority Watersheds, Retrieved November 17, 2014, from http://www.conservation-ontario.on.ca/what-we-do/watershed-stewardship/aquatic-species-at-risk Almond, B. (1985) History of the Meaford and Area Apple Industry. Unpublished history available at the Meaford Museum and Meaford Public Library. Brown, D., McKay, G. (1974). The Climate of Southern Ontario (2nd ed.). Toronto: Environment Canada, Atmospheric Environment. Christopherson, R., Byrne, M. (2009). Geosystems: An introduction to Physical Geography (2nd Canadian ed.). Toronto: Pearson Prentice Hall. Conservation Ontario (2014), Conservation Authority Watersheds, Retrieved November 17, 2014, from http://www.conservation-ontario.on.ca/what-we-do/watershed-stewardship/aquatic-species-at-risk Greenland International Consulting Ltd. (2014). Climate Change Adaptation A Four Season Approach to Drainage Infrastructure Guidelines. Study, Blue Mountains. Grey County Tourism. (n.d a). Travel Experiences, Retrieved November 16, 2014, from http://www.visitgrey.ca/travel-experiences/ Grey County Tourism. (n.d b). Conservation Areas, Retrieved November 17, 2014, from http://www.visitgrey.ca/travel-experiences/beautiful-naturally/conservation-areas/ Krueger, R. (n.d.). The Blue Mountains. Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://www.watershedtrust.ca/index.php/home/a-brief-natural-history Marsh, E. (1931). A history of the County of Grey, (p. 217). Owen Sound, Ontario: Fleming Pub. Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC), (n.d.). Geological Timeline, Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://www.escarpment.org/about/geology/timeline/index.php The Weather Network (n.d), Temperature Data, Monthly Rainfall, Monthly Snowfall, Retrieved November 16, 2014, from http://www.theweathernetwork.com/forecasts/statistics/summary/cl6116132/caon0515 Unknown (n.d), County of Grey, Municipalities and Townships, Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://www.grey.ca/services/local-municipalities/?i=7365 Waterloo Hydrogeologic . (2003). Grey and Bruce Counties Groundwater Study. Company Study, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Walter Tovell (1955), The Sapping Process, [Diagram], Retrieved November 14, 2014, Niagara Escarpment Commission http://www.escarpment.org/about/geology/weathering/index.php

Capital Punishment Essay: Clarifying Impressions of Death Penalty :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Clarifying Impressions of Capital Punishment      Ã‚   There are many false impressions floating around through American society concerning the death penalty; this paper hopes to clarify some of the more prominent, noticeable ones.    Does the death penalty deter? Scientific studies have consistently failed to find convincing evidence that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than other punishments. The most recent survey of research findings on the relation between the death penalty and homicide rates, conducted for the United Nations in 1988 and updated in 1996, concluded: "Research has failed to provide scientific proof that executions have a greater deterrent effect than life imprisonment and such proof is unlikely to be forthcoming. The evidence as a whole still gives no positive support to the deterrent hypothesis..."(Hood 238)    Reviewing the evidence on the relation between changes in the use of the death penalty and crime rates, a study conducted for the United Nations in 1988 and updated in 1996 stated that "the fact that all the evidence continues to point in the same direction is persuasive a priori evidence that countries need not fear sudden and serious changes in the curve of crime if they reduce their reliance upon the death penalty".(Edwin)    Recent crime figures from abolitionist countries fail to show that abolition has harmful effects. In Canada, the homicide rate per 100,000 population fell from a peak of 3.09 in 1975, the year before the abolition of the death penalty for murder, to 2.41 in 1980, and since then it has declined further. In 1999, 23 years after abolition, the homicide rate was 1.76 per 100,000 population, 43 per cent lower than in 1975. The total number of homicides reported in the country fell in 1999 for the third straight year.(Hood 253)    One of the most important developments in recent years has been the adoption of international treaties whereby states commit themselves to not having the death penalty. Three such treaties now exist:    * The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which has now been ratified by 46 states. Seven other states have signed the Protocol, indicating their intention to become parties to it at a later date. * Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms ("European Convention on Human Rights"), which has now been ratified by 39 European states and signed by three others.

Reflective Report

The purpose of this report is to reflect upon an aspect of my development that I have encountered throughout my time as a student in Personal and Professional Development (PPD) class conducted by lecturer Mr. Jeremy Ivan Thambirajah. I am a student here for almost a semester, and over my time here I have gained a lot than expected. Going through the PPD programme has taught me so much. It taught me how to be me. I have learned here how to write and express myself, how to think for myself and how to find answers to the things that I do not know.Most importantly, I have learned how important self esteem is when conducting a presentation. I learnt that ethics, like how we dress when conducting a presentation is very important. The lecturer has made me aware of these formal systems of organization that enable people carry out tasks in the workplace. I even find the class exercises enabled me to be more disciplined, in others words, it has taught me to manage myself properly when it comes to completing coursework given by the lecturer. On top of that, it gave me a better team working skills, thus managing others well and overall was a good exercise in time management.I can be slightly about getting my own way. Although I value myself as a good listener, I could benefit from considering other people’s opinions more carefully. Through this I can conclude here that this programme has enlightened me on the need for self-development. Even though I prefer to avoid confrontation, especially with people I know well. However, this is something that I need to overcome in order to be a successful leader. This, I realised after going through the PPD programme. I also found myself to be more confident with the work that I was assigned by the lecturer.I have learnt to be patient and to communicate effectively. Writing had always been one of my strengths, but it was challenging to take that initial step past the high school, five-paragraph essay form that constricted my ide as for so long. Moving past this form, however, has greatly opened my mind. My thoughts are now able to be more complex because I have learned to adapt a logical argument in an organized way. I have reflected on this picture and concluded that I should not forget these experiences. I still wished we had been taught about more stuffs, like how to manage stress.

A Guide to Chinese Citizenship

The ins and outs of Chinese citizenship are outlined in China’s Nationality Law, which was adopted by the National People’s Congress and becoming effective on September 10, 1980. The law includes 18 articles that broadly explain China’s citizenship policies. Here is a quick breakdown of these articles. General Facts According to Article 2, China is a unitary multinational state. This means that all nationalities, or ethnic minorities, that exist within China have Chinese citizenship.   China does not allow dual citizenship, as stated in Article 3. Who Qualifies For Chinese Citizenship? Article 4 states that a person born in China to at least one parent who is a Chinese national is considered a Chinese citizen.   On a similar note, Article 5 says that a person born outside of China to at least one parent who is a Chinese national is a Chinese citizen—unless one of those parents has settled outside of China and has acquired foreign nationality status.   According to Article 6, a person born in China to stateless parents or parents of uncertain nationality who have settled in China will have Chinese citizenship. Renouncing Chinese Citizenship A Chinese national who voluntarily becomes a foreign national in another country will lose Chinese citizenship, as mentioned in Article 9. Additionally, Article 10 states that Chinese nationals can renounce their Chinese citizenship through an application process if they have settled abroad, have close relatives that are foreign nationals, or have other legitimate reasons.   However, state officials and active military personnel cannot renounce their Chinese nationality according to Article 12. Restoring Chinese Citizenship Article 13 states that those who once held Chinese nationality but are currently foreign nationals can apply to restore Chinese citizenship and renounce their foreign citizenship if there are legitimate reasons.  They cannot retain their foreign nationality when accepted. Can Foreigners Become Chinese Citizens? Article 7 of the Nationality Law states that foreigners who will abide by the Chinese Constitution and laws can apply to be naturalized as Chinese citizens if they meet one of the following conditions: they have close relatives who are Chinese nationals, they have settled in China, or if they have other legitimate reasons. Article 8 describes how a person can apply for naturalization as a Chinese national, but will lose their foreign nationality on the approval of the application. In China, local Public Security Bureaus will accept applications for citizenship. If applicants are abroad, citizenship applications are handled at Chinese embassies and consular offices. After they are submitted, the Ministry of Public Security will examine and approve or dismiss applications. If approved, it will issue a certificate of citizenship. There are other more specific rules for the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions. Sources Nationality Law of the Peoples Republic of China. Government of Hong Kong. Nationality Law of the Peoples Republic of China. Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China in the United States of America.