Malunggay Bark Extract As A Source Of Electricity

Malunggay Bark Extract As A Source Of Electricity The 21st century trend is an era in which technologies become part of human lives. In this age, efforts and time are exhausted by many individuals or groups in order to create technologies that can be utilized in any human endeavour. Conversely, for most of these innovations and inventions to function, electricity is required. In the Philippines, a country that is abreast with technologies, majority of the electricity requirement is derived from electric power plants that are run by fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal. Moreover, batteries which are portable source of the said energy are also in use. However, due to rapid increase in technologies that require electricity, some problems arise. At present, since there is a huge demand for electricity, fuel required to generate such energy becomes scarce. People have realized that most of processes and materials for electricity generation have negative effect on the environment and on health of human. Hence, researches are conducted to discover green (clean, natural, derive from biological source), low cost, and readily available alternative source of electricity. In line with this view, Filipinos actively participate to achieve this purpose by introducing malunggay (Moringa oleifera) as an important source of not only nutrition and medicine but of electricity as well. Malunggay is a tree that preferably grows in countries with tropical climate such as the Philippines. This tree can be easily propagated since malunggay can be grown from seeds or mature stem cuttings. In the country, this tree is commonly found in household backyard, aligned with perimeter fences, since the edible and nutritious flowers, fruits, and leaves of malunggay are part of the diet of Filipinos. Aside from the nutritional value of some parts of malunggay, all parts of this tree are used in herbal medicine to cure some diseases. Given that this tree can serve several purposes, malunggay becomes in demand. In light of the discussion of the environmental problems and characteristics of malunggay, a group of researchers conducted a study entitled MOB Electricity: Malunggay Bark Extract as Alternative Source of Electricity, to show that malunggay (Moringa oleifera) bark extract is a viable alternative source of electricity; consequently, providing an environment friendly, inexpensive and accessible source of electricity. At this point in time, since there is a strong desire to improve way of living, great attention is given to technologies. Due to this interest, innovations and inventions which require electricity are continuously developed. Thus, electricity must be continuously generated. On the contrary, most of the processes and materials for electricity generation pose hazards to the environment and human health. Therefore, a clean, low cost, and readily available source of electricity is needed, a reason that motivated the researchers to engage in this investigatory project. B. Statement of the Problem This study entitled MOB Electricity: Malunggay Bark Extract as Alternative Source of Electricity intends to investigate the feasibility of Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) bark extract as an alternative source of electricity. Specifically, this study sought to answer the following questions: 1. Is there a significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from liquid form of malunggay bark extract obtained through crude and ethanol extraction? 2. Is there a significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from jelly form of malunggay bark extract obtained through crude and ethanol extraction? 3. Is there a significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from liquid and jelly form of malunggay bark extract obtained through crude and ethanol extraction? 4. Is there a significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from varying amounts of malunggay bark extract? C. Hypotheses 1. Ho: There is no significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from liquid form of malunggay bark extract obtained through crude and ethanol extraction. Ha: There is a significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from liquid form of malunggay bark extract obtained through crude and ethanol extraction. 2. Ho: There is no significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from jelly form of malunggay bark extract obtained through crude and ethanol extraction. Ha: There is a significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from jelly form of malunggay bark extract obtained through crude and ethanol extraction. 3. Ho: There is no significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from liquid and jelly form of malunggay bark extract obtained through crude and ethanol extraction. Ha: There is a significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from liquid and jelly form of malunggay bark extract obtained through crude and ethanol extraction. 4. Ho: There is no significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from varying amounts of malunggay bark extract. Ha: There is a significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from varying amounts of malunggay bark extract. D. Significance of the Study This study will provide the energy sector in the country a green alternative source of electricity which will reduce the use of materials that have hazardous effects to human and environment. Hence, minimizing occurrences of diseases and slowing the rate of environment degradation. Furthermore, the positive result of this study could also assure people with inexpensive and accessible source of electricity. Moreover, this study introduces a new application of malunggay, thus, further increasing the demand for this tree. In this effect, farmers in the country could have extra income by providing the needed supply of malunggay. E. Scopes and Limitations The focal point of this study is the feasibility of malunggay (Moringa oleifera) as an alternative source of electricity. In order to assess the said feasibility, malunggay bark extract obtained through crude and ethanol extraction was utilized. Subsequently, voltage was measured for different set-ups and treatments. However, the researchers were unable to determine the component of the extract responsible for electricity generation since the material was not subjected to chemical analysis. This restriction might be an additional recommendation for future researches. The researchers conducted this study from January 9, 2012 to August 23, 2012. All experiments and observations were done at JICA laboratory of Sapang Palay National High School. F. Operational Definition of Terms Gelatin Powder used to create a firm form of extract. Carbon Rod -served as the positive electrode (anode) of the external circuit connected to malunggay bark exract. Zinc Plate served as the negative electrode (cathode) of the external circuit connected to malunggay bark extract. Multi-tester used to measure the amount of voltage from malunggay bark extract. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE I. Introduction In the onset of the 21st century, negative effects of environmental issues such as pollution, ozone depletion, and global warming become notable. Thus, these problems gained the attention of people around the world. Among these negative effects are development and widespread of diseases, development of skin cancer, increase in temperature, heavy rains, heavy floods, strong typhoons, and climate change. In response, organizations are created, and conventions and researches are conducted to deal with these issues. Today, as data are continuously gathered;various human activities that involve emission of gases, chemicals, and radiations are considered as one of the large contributor to environmental degradation. Such human activities include generation of electricity. However, since electricity is vital in operating technologies which advances human lives, search for clean alternative source of electricity should be conducted to prevent further degradation of the environment. II. Electricity Generation Electricity is the form of energy that has the highest demand at this point in time. This energy form is required to operate technologies that people created for life advancement. Thus, energy industries are in continuous search to supply the needed demand of electricity. Today, there are different sources from which this energy is derived. These sources include fossil fuels (petroleum and coal), nuclear energy, hydropower, solar energy, and wind energy. These sources are used to drive turbines in electric power plants which will generate electricity. Electricity generated from these sources is the one supplied in wall sockets of houses and buildings. Another source of electricity is battery, a source that is in portable form. (Bose, 2010) In the Philippines, a country that is abreast with technologies, majority of the required electricity is derived from electric power plants that are run by fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal. Moreover, batteries which are portable source of the said energy are also in use. However, emissions from such electric power plants are composed of gases which cause air pollution and contribute to global warming. Likewise, batteries have chemical components that can leak and pollute land, water and air. In addition to these negative effects to the environment, human can also acquire diseases due to said contamination. (Petrina, 2007) III. Green Electricity People are now aware of the harmful effects of conventional electricity generation to human health and environment. Consequently, efforts and time are spent in order to discover alternative green clean, natural, biological sources of electricity, an action that would minimize presence of harmful chemicals and gases in the environment. In connection to this notion, researchers have considered different plants, different parts of plants, and organisms as potential source of green electricity. (U.S Environmental Protection Agency, 2012) Basic example of green energy is electricity from fruits and vegetables. Many people, during childhood, have done classroom experiments to derive electricity from lemon and potato. Results of these experiments proved that these materials can generate electricity because juices of fruits and vegetables act as electrolytes which initiate reaction to free and move electrons. (Renico, 2012) On the other hand, another related research was conducted by scientists of Stanford University which harness electricity from algae. The concept behind this project is the process of photosynthesis involved in food production of plants. According to the scientists, in this process, electrons from water are given with high energy by sunlight. These electrons are the one the scientists captured using electrodes. (Stanford University, 2010) Lastly, researchers of Arizona State University study the possibility for bacteria to generate electricity through the use of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) which contains waste water and bacteria dwelling on the material. In this research, the persons involve relate electricity generation to metabolic activity of bacteria. (Arizona State University, 2008) IV. Malunggay Tree Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) tree, which commonly grows in tropical countries such as Philippines, is characterized by long, straight, white trunks; small, green, compound leaves; and seasonal white flowers that yields long pods. This tree propagates easily and does not require much attention. In fact, malunggay seeds or matured stem cuttings can be planted in any kind of soil and does not require regular maintenance. (Asia Green Group, 2012) In the Philippines, malunggay can be found in most household backyards because edible parts of this tree (flowers, pods, and leaves) are part of Filipino cooking. Moreover, these parts of malunggay tree provide people with vitamins and minerals needed by the body. Aside from providing nourishment, this tree also has medicinal value. Based on numerous studies, malunggay contains chemicals that have antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. (Fahey, 2005) CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY Gathering of Materials/Equipments Among the materials gathered by the researchers were malunggay (Moringa olifera) bark, gelatin powder, ethyl alcohol, filter paper, gloves, face mask, and old batteries. Equipment as well was borrowed from the school laboratory. These equipments include beakers, reagent bottles, funnel, stirring rod, thermometer, mortar and pestle, alcohol lamp, triple beam balance, strainer, tripod, and wire gauze. Collection of Zinc Plate and Carbon Rod Researchers collected old batteries. Subsequently, these batteries were uncovered and electrolyte inside was removed. Since electrolyte component of battery is composed of slightly toxic chemicals, researcher wore gloves and face mask. In this manner, zinc plates and carbon rods were obtained. Preparation of Malunggay Bark Extract A. Crude Extraction Malunggay barks were collected and cut into small pieces by the researchers. Afterwards, the barks were placed in a blender. Finally, in order to obtain pure extract, minced barks were placed in soft cloth and squeezed. B. Ethanol Extraction Malunggay barks were collected and cut into small pieces. Then, barks were placed in a blender to mince the material. Next, minced barks were oven-dried for 5 minutes and were pulverized with mortar and pestle. After this process, 100 grams of pulverized bark was placed in a reagent bottle in which 250 ml of ethyl alcohol was poured afterwards. Lastly, extract which was rested for 10 hours for purification purpose was filtered through a funnel with filter paper. Varying the Amount of Bark Extract Amount of bark extract obtained through crude and ethanol extraction was varied for each treatment. 5 ml of extract was allotted to Treatment I, 10 ml for Treatment II, and 15 ml for Treatment III. Preparation of Jelly Form of Malunggay Bark Extract In a beaker, constant volume (5 ml) of water was poured and heated to 70oC. When water reaches the specified temperature, constant amount (10 g) of gelatin powder was added into the water. Then, the solution was continuously stirred. Before the solution solidifies, the assigned amount of extract per treatment was poured without stopping the stirring process. Material was immediately removed from heat. Measuring Voltage Zinc plate and carbon rod were installed to each treatment. From these electrodes, multitester was connected to measure voltage. Measurement was done for five times. Subsequently, voltage measured from each treatment was recorded. METHODOLOGICAL FLOWCHART Gathering of Materials/Equipments Collection of Zinc Plate and Carbon Rod Preparation of Malunggay Bark Extract Set-up 1 Liquid Form of Extract Set-up 2 Jelly Form of Extract Crude Extraction Ethanol Extraction Crude Extraction Ethanol Extraction Treatment I: 5 ml Extract Treatment II: 10 ml Extract Treatment III: 15 ml Extract Treatment I: 5 ml Extract 5 ml Water 10 g Gelatin Powder Treatment II: 10 ml Extract 5 ml Water 10 g Gelatin Powder Treatment III: 15 ml Extract 5 ml Water 10 g Gelatin Powder Measuring Voltage per Treatment Data Gathering Tabulation and Statistical Analysis of Results CHAPTER IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS The researchers conducted several experiments. Subsequently, data and results obtained from these experiments were recorded in tabulated from in this chapter. After each table of data, interpretations of these results were discussed. In the aid of these interpretations, the researchers could have initial assessment of the hypotheses presented in this paper. Table 1.0 Set-up 1 Crude vs. Ethanol Method of Extraction (Liquid Form of Extract) Treatment Amount of Extract Trial Crude Extraction Ethanol Extraction Voltage (V) Voltage (V) Liquid Form of Extract I 5 ml 1 1.0 1.2 2 1.6 1.8 3 1.6 1.8 4 1.6 1.2 5 1.6 1.2 II 10 ml 1 2.6 1.2 2 2.7 1.1 3 2.7 1.0 4 2.6 1.0 5 2.7 1.0 III 15 ml 1 2.7 1.0 2 2.7 1.0 3 2.7 1.0 4 2.7 1.0 5 2.7 1.0 Table 1.0 shows that liquid form of crude bark extract generated higher and more uniform amount of voltage than liquid form of ethanol bark extract. In addition, for crude bark extract, amount of voltage increases as amount of extract increases. Table 2.0 Set-up 2 Crude vs. Ethanol Method of Extraction (Jelly Form of Extract) Treatment Amount of Gelatin Powder (g) Volume of Water (ml) Volume of Extract (ml) Trial Crude Extraction Ethanol Extraction Voltage (V) Voltage (V) Jelly Form of Extract I 10 5 5 1 2.0 1.0 2 2.0 1.0 3 2.0 1.2 4 2.0 1.2 5 2.0 1.2 II 10 5 10 1 1.8 1.4 2 1.8 1.2 3 1.8 1.4 4 1.5 1.2 5 1.2 1.2 III 10 5 15 1 2.5 1.8 2 2.5 1.8 3 2.4 1.8 4 2.4 1.8 5 2.5 1.8 Table 2.0 shows that jelly form of extract from crude extraction yielded higher amount of voltage than jelly form of extract from ethanol extraction. However, more uniform voltage reading is obtained from jelly ethanol bark extract than jelly crude bark extract; as the amount of extract increases, amount of voltage reading increases. Table 3.0 Liquid vs. Jelly Form of Extract (Crude Method of Extraction) Treatment Amount of Extract Trial Liquid form of Extract Jelly Form of Extract Voltage (V) Voltage (V) Crude Method of Extraction I 5 ml 1 1.0 2.0 2 1.6 2.0 3 1.6 2.0 4 1.6 2.0 5 1.6 2.0 II 10 ml 1 2.6 1.8 2 2.7 1.8 3 2.7 1.8 4 2.6 1.5 5 2.7 1.2 III 15 ml 1 2.7 2.5 2 2.7 2.5 3 2.7 2.4 4 2.7 2.4 5 2.7 2.5 Table 3.0 shows that both form of crude bark extract generated relatively high amount of voltage. Even so, jelly crude bark extract yielded fluctuating amount of voltage as the amount of extract increases. Table 3.1 Liquid vs. Jelly Form of Extract (Ethanol Method of Extraction) Treatment Amount of Extract Trial Liquid form of Extract Jelly Form of Extract Voltage (V) Voltage (V) Ethanol Method of Extraction I 5 ml 1 1.2 1.0 2 1.8 1.0 3 1.8 1.2 4 1.2 1.2 5 1.2 1.2 II 10 ml 1 1.2 1.4 2 1.1 1.2 3 1.0 1.4 4 1.0 1.2 5 1.0 1.2 III 15 ml 1 1.0 1.8 2 1.0 1.8 3 1.0 1.8 4 1.0 1.8 5 1.0 1.8 Table 3.1 shows that as amount of liquid ethanol bark extract increases, amount of measured voltage decreases. For jelly form of bark extract from ethanol extraction, voltage reading increases, as the amount of said extract increases. CHAPTER V SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS Summary: This study entitled MOB Electricity: Malunggay Bark Extract as Alternative Source of Electricity aspires to prove if malunggay bark extract could be a possible source of electricity and to ascertain if there would be a significant difference when the method of extraction, form of extract, and amount of extract are varied. In order to test the feasibility of malunggay bark extract as alternative source of electricity, the researchers prepared two different set-ups and under each set-up there are three treatments. For the second set-up, amount of gelatin powder and amount of water used in each treatment were controlled. Then, voltage was measured in each treatment per set-up for five times using a multi-tester. The results obtained from different set-ups were analyzed using Two-Factor ANOVA with Replication. The results are summarized as follows: On the first set-up, statistical analysis showed that there is significant difference in the amount of voltage measured from liquid form of malunggay bark extract when method of extraction and amount of extract were varied. On the second set-up, statistical analysis showed that there is significant difference on the amount of voltage measured from jelly form of malunggay bark extract when obtained through different extraction method. Furthermore, statistically significant difference also exists on the amount of voltage reading when the amount of said form of extract was varied. Statistical analysis of Tables 3.0 and 3.1 indicate that there is significant difference on the amount of voltage measured when the form of extract and amount of extract were varied. Conclusion: Based on the results of statistical analysis and observations, the researchers conclude that malungggay bark extract could be a viable alternative source of electricity. Moreover, the people behind this study were able to discover that the 15 ml liquid form of extract obtained through crude extraction yielded the highest and most stable amount of voltage among all the treatments done. Recommendations: In this study the researchers encountered some hindrances which limited the scope of the investigation. Hence, only test for the feasibility of malunggay bark extract as an alternative source of electricity was conducted. Nonetheless, the study does not end with this objective. There are other factors related to electricity generation in malunggay bark extract that should be considered. Researchers would like to propose the following to other people who consider pursuing this project: Further increase volume of extract in order to obtain higher voltage reading. Convert the extract in a form that will facilitate easier and more stable voltage measurement. Subject the extract to chemical analysis to determine the component responsible for electricity generation. Develop a way to harness electricity from the extract.

Deception Point Page 41

Making the raging river of air even more unnerving to Tolland was the slight downwind grade of the ice shelf. The ice was sloped ever so slightly toward the ocean, two miles away. Despite the sharp spikes on the Pitbull Rapido crampons attached to his boots, Tolland had the uneasy feeling that any misstep might leave him caught up in a gale and sliding down the endless icy slope. Norah Mangor's two-minute course in glacier safety now seemed dangerously inadequate. Piranha Ice ax, Norah had said, fastening a lightweight T-shaped tool to each of their belts as they suited up in the habisphere. Standard blade, banana blade, semitubular blade, hammer, and adze. All you need to remember is, if anyone slips or gets caught up in a gust, grab your ax with one hand on the head and one on the shaft, ram the banana blade into the ice, and fall on it, planting your crampons. With those words of assurance, Norah Mangor had affixed YAK belay harnesses to each of them. They all donned goggles, and headed out into the afternoon darkness. Now, the four figures made their way down the glacier in a straight line with ten yards of belay rope separating each of them. Norah was in the lead position, followed by Corky, then Rachel, and Tolland as anchor. As they moved farther away from the habisphere, Tolland felt a growing uneasiness. In his inflated suit, although warm, he felt like some kind of uncoordinated space traveler trekking across a distant planet. The moon had disappeared behind thick, billowing storm clouds, plunging the ice sheet into an impenetrable blackness. The katabatic wind seemed to be getting stronger by the minute, applying a constant pressure to Tolland's back. As his eyes strained through his goggles to make out the expansive emptiness around them, he began to perceive a true danger in this place. Redundant NASA safety precautions or not, Tolland was surprised the administrator had been willing to risk four lives out here instead of two. Especially when the additional two lives were that of a senator's daughter and a famous astrophysicist. Tolland was not surprised to feel a protective concern for Rachel and Corky. As someone who had captained a ship, he was used to feeling responsible for those around him. â€Å"Stay behind me,† Norah shouted, her voice swallowed by the wind. â€Å"Let the sled lead the way.† The aluminum sled on which Norah was transporting her testing gear resembled an oversized Flexible Flyer. The craft was prepacked with diagnostic gear and safety accessories she'd been using on the glacier over the past few days. All of her gear-including a battery pack, safety flares, and a powerful front-mounted spotlight-was bound under a secured, plastic tarp. Despite the heavy load, the sled glided effortlessly on long, straight runners. Even on the almost imperceptible incline, the sled moved downhill on its own accord, and Norah applied a gentle restraint, almost as if allowing the sled to lead the way. Sensing the distance growing between the group and the habisphere, Tolland looked over his shoulder. Only fifty yards away, the pale curvature of the dome had all but disappeared in the blustery blackness. â€Å"You at all worried about finding our way back?† Tolland yelled. â€Å"The habisphere is almost invisi-† His words were cut short by the loud hiss of a flare igniting in Norah's hand. The sudden red-white glow illuminated the ice shelf in a ten-yard radius all around them. Norah used her heel to dig a small impression in the surface snow, piling up a protective ridge on the upwind side of the hole. Then she rammed the flare into the indentation. â€Å"High-tech bread crumbs,† Norah shouted. â€Å"Bread crumbs?† Rachel asked, shielding her eyes from the sudden light. â€Å"Hansel and Gretel,† Norah shouted. â€Å"These flares will last an hour-plenty of time to find our way back.† With that, Norah headed out again, leading them down the glacier-into the darkness once again. 47 Gabrielle Ashe stormed out of Marjorie Tench's office and practically knocked over a secretary in doing so. Mortified, all Gabrielle could see were the photographs-images-arms and legs intertwined. Faces filled with ecstasy. Gabrielle had no idea how the photos had been taken, but she knew damn well they were real. They had been taken in Senator Sexton's office and seemed to have been shot from above as if by hidden camera. God help me. One of the photos showed Gabrielle and Sexton having sex directly on top of the senator's desk, their bodies sprawled across a scatter of official-looking documents. Marjorie Tench caught up with Gabrielle outside the Map Room. Tench was carrying the red envelope of photos. â€Å"I assume from your reaction that you believe these photos are authentic?† The President's senior adviser actually looked like she was having a good time. â€Å"I'm hoping they persuade you that our other data is accurate as well. They came from the same source.† Gabrielle felt her entire body flushing as she marched down the hall. Where the hell is the exit? Tench's gangly legs had no trouble keeping up. â€Å"Senator Sexton swore to the world that you two are platonic associates. His televised statement was actually quite convincing.† Tench motioned smugly over her shoulder. â€Å"In fact, I have a tape in my office if you'd like to refresh your memory?† Gabrielle needed no refresher. She remembered the press conference all too well. Sexton's denial was as adamant as it was heartfelt. â€Å"It's unfortunate,† Tench said, sounding not at all disappointed, â€Å"but Senator Sexton looked the American people in the eye and told a bald-faced lie. The public has a right to know. And they will know. I'll see to it personally. The only question now is how the public finds out. We believe it's best coming from you.† Gabrielle was stunned. â€Å"You really think I'm going to help lynch my own candidate?† Tench's face hardened. â€Å"I am trying to take the high ground here, Gabrielle. I'm giving you a chance to save everyone a lot of embarrassment by holding your head high and telling the truth. All I need is a signed statement admitting your affair.† Gabrielle stopped short. â€Å"What!† â€Å"Of course. A signed statement gives us the leverage we need to deal with the senator quietly, sparing the country this ugly mess. My offer is simple: Sign a statement for me, and these photos never need to see the light of day.† â€Å"You want a statement?† â€Å"Technically, I would need an affidavit, but we have a notary here in the building who could-â€Å" â€Å"You're crazy.† Gabrielle was walking again. Tench stayed at her side, sounding more angry now. â€Å"Senator Sexton is going down one way or another, Gabrielle, and I'm offering you a chance to get out of this without seeing your own naked ass in the morning paper! The President is a decent man and doesn't want these photos publicized. If you just give me an affidavit and confess to the affair on your own terms, then all of us can retain a little dignity.† â€Å"I'm not for sale.† â€Å"Well, your candidate certainly is. He's a dangerous man, and he's breaking the law.† â€Å"He's breaking the law? You're the ones breaking into offices and taking illegal surveillance pictures! Ever heard of Watergate?† â€Å"We had nothing to do with gathering this dirt. These photos came from the same source as the SFF campaign-funding information. Someone's been watching you two very closely.† Gabrielle tore past the security desk where she had gotten her security badge. She ripped off the badge and tossed it to the wide-eyed guard. Tench was still on her tail. â€Å"You'll need to decide fast, Ms. Ashe,† Tench said as they neared the exit. â€Å"Either bring me an affidavit admitting you slept with the senator, or at eight o'clock tonight, the president will be forced to go public with everything-Sexton's financial dealings, the photos of you, the works. And believe me, when the public sees that you stood idly by and let Sexton lie about your relationship, you'll go down in flames right beside him.†

Earthquake Sichuan

In May 2008, a memorial tragedy has carved our heart. More than 60,000 of our compatriots died in the Great Sichuan Earthquake. It was a once-in-a-year strong earthquake registering a magnitude of 7. 8 measured in the Richter scale. The province where the earthquake took place, Sichuan, is in western China and its capital is named Chengdu. It is surrounded by the Sichuan Basin. In the Great Sichuan earthquake, the epicenter was in Wenchuan County, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, which is 80 km north-west of Chengdu; and its depth was 19 km. On May 12, 2008, the earthquake occurred at 14:28 (China Standard Time) and the first tremor was felt. The earthquake was so strong that it was felt by cities like Beijing and Shanghai, and neighbour places like Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam and Thailand also experienced tremors. The scope of the areas affected by the quake mainly included the north-east China along the Longmen Shan fault. The Sichuan Basin was created 55 millions years ago, where the Indo-Australian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate. These endogenetic forces create fold mountains, and therefore the Sichuan basin is bounded by mountains on all sides. As a consequence, areas around the Sichuan Basin are prone to earthquake. In 1933, there was a 7. 5-magnitude earthquake occurring in north-west of Sichuan, causing 7500 deaths. What has caused such a massive earthquake? To be precise, according to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred because of the motion on a northeast striking reverse fault on the northwestern edge of the Sichuan Basin. Since the crustal materials moved slowly from the high Tibetan Plateau, when they flowed to the strong crust underlying the Sichuan Basin and southeastern China, pressure gradually developed. The energy was then released in the form of seismic waves and thus led to the occurrence of the earthquake. Another possible cause is that the huge amount of water storage in reservoirs in Sichuan developed stress over the crust. The pressure stored may be released, causing an earthquake. There were not any official warnings prior to the main quake. This is attributed to the fact that earthquakes are hard to forecast, and the results are not always accurate. However, it is said that there was a sign revealing the earthquake: a large number of toads were migrating in Sichuan two days before the main quake. These animals’ abnormal acts may reflect in earthquake events. In the Sichuan Earthquake, the China Earthquake Administration did not find strong evidence to show that an earthquake was to be occurred. Therefore, when the earthquake came, evacuation could not be made effective and thus a huge damage was resulted. Then on 12 May, an earthquake indeed struck the area. The main quake of the Sichuan Earthquake took place at 14:28 local time, nevertheless, the rupture lasted for only 120 seconds. In the following three days, many aftershocks still threatened the people. There were 64 to 104 major aftershocks, with magnitude ranging from 4. 0 to 6. 1. These aftershocks continued to bring new deaths and casualties in the area. For example, on 17 May, an aftershock destabilized a slope and caused a landslide. On 25 and 27 May, the Qingchuan County had two aftershocks on the spot with magnitudes greater than 5. On 27 May again, an aftershock hit the Ningciang County. Till 29 June, the number of deaths has reached about 70,000 and over 370,000 people were injured. More than 17,000 people were missing, and many people were made homeless. More than 15 million people must be evacuated out of the area, and about 45 million people were affected by the incident. As a recent natural hazard, the Sichuan Earthquake is definitely a severe one, with a tremendous destruction. This earthquake caused the most serious casualties and deaths after the occurrence of the Tangshan Earthquake in 1976. Apart from the loss of lives, the earthquake brought about many impacts as well. The impacts can be divided into three aspects, namely social, economic, and environmental. First, 0. 21 million of buildings and houses were collapsed, including 7,000 schools. Many people lost their homes, and students lost their opportunity of education for a period of time. Later it was found that some buildings were too loosely structured; partly because of corruption. Some workers did not do their best to build the buildings. In addition, the communication network was destroyed. In Sichuan, Chongqing and Huabei, the communication was completely jammed. The traffic network was also disrupted. Many highways or railways were cracked due to great vibrations, and the international airport in Chengdu was closed. The roads must be closed for maintenance. These have led to difficulty in relief work. Finally, some victims of the earthquake stole or robbed stuff. After the earthquake, there were more crimes committed by the victims. On the other hand, the Sichuan Earthquake brought environmental issues. In the affected areas, clean water was inadequate. When people had to drink contaminated water, illnesses or diseases may be developed. Also, in the areas, corpses were everywhere and we know how unhygienic it was! Together with the warm temperature, the filthy place set up a good condition for diseases to spread. To make the affected areas more hygienic, the death bodies must be incinerated, and cleaning agents like insecticides must be sprayed regularly. Meanwhile, the affected areas were heavily polluted. The earthquake initiated poisonous gas leakage, explosions or fires, which in turn polluted the air. The ecology was disrupted as well. On the economic aspect, the disastrous events led to huge economic losses. The government used more than $400 billion for relief and rescue work. The Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange lost connection with Sichuan and Chengdu companies, the companies’ stock prices dropped substantially afterwards. Owing to fact that the earthquake has destroyed Sichuan so terribly, prompt relief and rescue work was crucial. The mitigation work involved the efforts of local government, regional and international aid. The central government sent different leaders to the affected areas to manage relief work. On 14 May, two days after the main quake, more than 11,000 people participated to give assistance to the suffered people. A team of medical helpers was sent to deal with health problems. The government also kept necessities and rescue materials which are to be sent to the victims. Different departments cooperate to restore Sichuan’s face. Until 18 May, more than 110,000 military personnel and policemen were sent to participate in rescue work. They saved thousands of lives, evacuated tourists and residents, repaired the highways and transferred materials to the affected victims. This devastating earthquake has called for help from all over the world. In Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, the voluntary or charity organizations held many fund-raising campaigns to raise money or food to the Sichuan people. Even in the initial state of mitigation, the Hong Kong and Macau governments donated 0. 2 billion to China. Many helpers like policemen were also sent to Sichuan to help mitigation work. Apart from regional help, the earthquake victims gained help from international aids. For instance, Valley Tsinghua Network (SVTN) set up the â€Å"China Earthquake Relief Fund† to help victims involved in the massive earthquake. This China Relief Fund provided a convenient platform for individuals, organizations to donate money to the victims, where all proceeds went to the Red Cross Society of China to help restoring the infrastructure in Sichuan. Many countries including India, Singapore, Russia, America and Japan provided China materials, money, apparatus and services to search for lives and help the suffered ones. Some volunteered professionals reached Sichuan to give education to the children, to soothe the suffered people and to give counseling and care to them. The victims’ emotions must be calmed down to prevent emotional disorders. It seems that the Sichuan Earthquake had a perfect solution with the aids of different parties. In fact, there were many difficulties encountered in rescue work. After an earthquake, the immediate step is to save as many lives as possible. The first 72 hours are golden times. The Sichuan Earthquake, however, occurred in mountainous regions where relief efforts were hindered by the landscape. Added to the above, the transfer of materials was difficult because of blocked roads and water transports. The visibility was lowered as a consequence of heavy rains; thus the people could not find the survivors easily. As a result, the rescuers could not reach in time, and there were still a large number of deaths. As seen from the human responses, the earthquake has caught global attention and acquired help and assistance from people. But this still cannot redeem the lost lives. What are the lessons learned through this disaster? Since earthquakes give little warning in advance, the ultimate efforts should be put to mitigation and preparedness. The government has endeavored to pin down the number of deaths and casualties after the earthquake, but what about preparedness? Residents should be well educated about earthquake facts. They should know what to do when an earthquake indeed hits the area. Besides, preparedness includes recruitment of specialized and skillful rescue teams in case of an incidence of earthquake. Transport and communication networks should always be maintained. The apparatus used in rescuing people can be improved by means of technology. Finally, the government can also â€Å"prepare† by inspecting the quality of buildings. Construction codes have been modified to reinforce the buildings in order to cope with earthquakes. However, the privately-built housings were not reported. Therefore, buildings with bad quality are likely to demolish when earthquakes hit. It was mentioned above that the Sichuan Earthquake is the most disastrous one following the Tangshan Earthquake. In fact, both quakes have similar magnitudes and depths of epicenter. With a mountainous range in Sichuan, relief effort is difficult because the affected areas are hardly reached, and the materials are hardly transferred. So why did the Tangshan Earthquake cause much more deaths than the Sichuan one? The prime reason is that China restricted the spread of the news of Tangshan Earthquake, thus rejected help from others. As mentioned above, the suffered people in Sichuan Earthquake received many aids from all over the world. The mitigation was much better for the latter event. Thanks to everyone who has paid an effort to help the victims in Sichuan. Natural hazards are inevitable. It is heartbroken that the people lose their homes, their family or their beloved ones. To bring minimal loss after a disaster, all of us must cooperate to give help. It is glad to see that all people were giving a hand to the Sichuan victims, and it is nice to see that Sichuan today is recovered. The Sichuan Earthquake has given us a precious lesson: what we should do today is prepare for the worst, and when another outraging disaster strikes, we shall do our best to counteract it. References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Tangshan_earthquake http://www.ntdtv.com/xtr/b5/2008/05/21/a144365.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Sichuan_earthquake

Who s Harassing Whom - 976 Words

Marianne Jennings in â€Å"Who’s Harassing Whom?† writes, about her stand on women and sexual harassment. She adopts a stern and passionate tone in order to convince the audience of the responsibility women bear for being harassed. Jennings’s purpose is to highlight how some women bear part of the blame in the matter by choosing to stay in situations where they are the recipients of unwanted advances, because of personal ambition. Jennings in â€Å"Who’s Harassing Whom?† furthers her purpose by employing ethos, pathos, and logos to support her argument. In her article regarding sexual harassment, Jennings employs ethos in order to establish her character and credibility to lay a foundation to support her point of view. She seeks to persuade the†¦show more content†¦The writer appeals to logic by posing a rhetorical question to the audience, â€Å"how innocent are the victims of harassment anyway?† (256) when referring to women, allegedly harassed by their supervisor, at the â€Å"Ford plant in Chicago† (256). The writer states â€Å"they tearfully told of sleeping with their supervisors to keep their jobs† in order to show that women choose to sleep with their bosses instead of getting another job. Another way that Jennings supports her argument is by anticipating objections from the audience. She offers supporting evidence to counter the opposing view â€Å"either I stay here and get harassed †¦or leave and take another job for less pay† (256), in order to show that some women stay because money is more important than their â€Å"virtue† (256). The writer points out that people who think of sexual harassment in terms of money over their safety are people who make poor decisions. It seems that â€Å"$22.00 an hour† (256), the hourly pay at the Ford plant, is a good enough reason to put up with sexual advances. Through Jennings’s employment of logic, she successfully shows that women at the receiving end of sexual harassment are making flawed decisions by staying merely because of financial reasons. As a result, the writer suggests that women bear some responsibility by staying. Similarly, Jennings employs pathos in her article to appeal to the emotions of the reader to support her argument by citing a high-profile case and by using highlyShow MoreRelatedCyber Bullying Has Been Overlooked By Many Schools1383 Words   |  6 Pagesbeing done to the victim. Cyber Bullying can consist of name calling, harassing, starting a rumor, impersonating or creating a fake profile to harm someone online. Cyberbullying is a serious matter that has affected many people. There are plenty of terrible stories of how certain people were cyberbullied. Here is the story of Justine and how she handled her situation of cyberbullying. The story of Justine dealt with someone harassing her over email. This got so bad that there were 90 emails a day, justRead MoreAnalysis Of Jodhpur Girl Moves Petition And Annul Child Marriage991 Words   |  4 PagesIssues in Context. Web. 7 Feb. 2016. Summary: Santadevi, a nineteen year old Indian woman, was married as an infant. She and her parents now seek to annul her marriage on the grounds that it was an illegal union of minors, but Sanwlaram, the one to whom she was married, and the village community refuse to consent to this annulment and attempt to force her to accept the marriage with fines and threats of kidnap and ostracization. To the village community, local traditions and laws established by theRead MoreSexual Harassment At The Workplace1359 Words   |  6 Pagesemployment action;† this is referred to as quid pro quo. For example, if an employee complies with the harasser’s request, then she will get a raise. This unlawful act is usually presented in the workplace by a person who has an upper hand, such as a manager, to ensure that s/he will get what s/he wants. Employees are often victimized by fear that they will not get promoted or that they will get fired. They also dread that if a complaint is filed, it wil l not be handled correctly. â€Å"This instance of sexualRead MoreSexual Harassment And Gender Harassment1731 Words   |  7 PagesEmployers should make this a top priority and see that it is not effecting the performance of employees to achieve the goals of the organization (Collier 1995). Information had been gathered through a survey which included females from two diverse cultures who worked in a public-sector company. The results showed that inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment were co-related and harassment based on gender was a bridge amongst the two behaviors. In addition, these practices tend to happen again and againRead MoreShould Gay Rights Be Legal?1580 Words   |  7 Pagesto any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits and any other term or condition of employment. Gender identity discrimination, on the other hand, is more specific to people who don’t conform to stereotypes of gender identity and/or gender expression. Recently, however, some courts have concluded that transgender persons are protected from discrimination under Title VII and other sex discrimination statutes. Neither affinityRead MoreThe Homelessness Of The Homeless1745 Words   |  7 Pages One of the most discussed topics around the world is homelessness. Each and every day more and more people become homeless. People around the world have tried numerous times to resolve this dilemma. This situation is growing and it s starting to spiral out of control. One solution that is getting popular the more we let this situation grow is that criminalizing the homeless is ok. People cannot criminalize the homeless. Homeless people should not be criminalized because they have nowhere to goRead MoreShould Homelessness Be Criminalized?1747 Words   |  7 Pagesmost discussed topics around the world is homelessness. Each and everyday more and more people become homeless. People around the world hav e tried numerous times to resolve this dilemma. This situation is growing and it s starting to spiral out of control. One solution that s getting popular the more we let this situation grow is that criminalizing the homeless is good. People cannot criminalize the homeless. Homeless people should not be criminalized because they have nowhere to go, they haveRead MoreThe Feminist Theory Of Women1842 Words   |  8 Pageswith men causing it to be more of a feminist issue, as well as a gender role issue. Women have served in all the nation s wars, but today make up a larger percentage of the service than in previous conflicts. Sexual harassment is one thing that can’t be hidden in the workforce. One specific place that this tries to be hidden or kept a secret is in the United States Military. The U. S. Department of Defense is one of the biggest employers in the world (Alexander). They employ an estimate of 3.2 millionRead MoreThe Civil Rights Act Of Michelle Alexander s The New Jim Crow902 Words   |  4 Pages1903, Hon. Frank Moss, a former police commissioner of New York City, published this paragraph: For three years, there has been through the courts and the streets a dreary procession of citizens with broken heads and bruised bodies against few of whom was violence needed to effect the arrest. In a majority of such cases, no complaint was made. If the victim complains, his charge is generally dismissed. The police are practically above the law (Moss, 343). The most common cases of police brutalityRead MoreSleep Paralysis And Its Effects1695 Words   |  7 Pagesdown on your chest as he’s staring into your soul? Sound familiar? Well, it is for me, and it’s commonly known as Sleep Paralysis. This can be an extremely unsettling experience for many individuals, especially those who’ve been able to distinguish who the mysterious figure is, in most cases, Slender Man. There are several factors that play in Sleep Paralysis that make the occurrence so terrifying for countless individuals. Today, I will be sharing with you the horrific factors playing in Sleep Paralysis

Fairy Tales Reflection of Societal Dysfunction Essay

When people talk about fairy tales, in their mind, they will automatically think about fantasy element such as princess, princes, and fairy and of course the happy ending at the end of every fairy tale. They give us a place for freedom of thinking and relaxing. Moreover, in some way, we used fairy tales to teach a childs moral lessons about how to behavior. Do fairy tales only offer the freedom of thinking and moral lesson fairy tales to people? We use to think that the fantasy in the fairy tales has no impact on their society, and its merely the element to get the stories in fairy tales gloomier and more attracted to the reader. No, fairy tales still hold one more important function. In one aspect, fairy tales reflect the bad side of†¦show more content†¦The willing to believe in fairy tales is existent and choosing to follow the forest nymph who leads her to the faun in the labyrinth first visit she is the action of a rebel. As Guillermo Del Torro, the films director of Pa ns Labyrinth, he states: Fascism is the absolute lack of imagination, the absolute lack of choice, and the most masculine expression of power. Under its cruel restrictions, people are prohibited from thinking for themselves. They (the people) have to take what the fascist society offers them and are not allowed to think for themselves. However, Ofelia made her choice for herself. She would rather put her faith to believe the fantasy characters in fairy tales which no one believes than live with the real world. The actions of accepting that she is a princess and trying to find her way back to her underworld kingdom, we see that Ofelia represents the unwillingness to live under a fascist regime by escaping from the real world where the lives of men seem worthless. She uses the fantasy world as the way to escape the living with the captain. Annalee Newitz, the author of Pan’s labyrinth-Can Fantasies Rescue Us from Fascism, said, â€Å"Ofelia’s fantasies are more than m erely escapist because they allow her to find political allies.† Her actions of betraying the Caption also shows her defending the Marxist rebels. When she knows that she cannot return to her kingdom Ofelia decides to go with Mercedes and help the Marxist rebels.

Technology And Its Impact On Technology Essay - 1675 Words

In today’s society, there have been many speculations on the impact of technology. The rise of technology has unfolded into the betterment of many advances in the industry. However, it is no surprise that these advances have also caused society into depending so much on technology. Author Sherry Turkle, argued that we as a society have distanced ourselves from one another; she discusses her observations drawn from human beings and their interaction with social machines. She indicated that humans rely much more on technology which has negatively impacted the way we communicate with one another. Every individual has their own flaws. In our imperfections, we tend to discriminate among one another, we have preconceived notion based on what we have seen or experienced. Perhaps, there is a say that goes ‘a book should never be judged by its cover ’. In addition to, various studies observed by between robots and children, Turkle implies that robots are slowing replacing humans. As a result of our dependency on technology, humans are failing each other and the constant rise of technology should not be blame for it, as we do have control over some of these issues. In the 1760-1800’s, the first machine age occurred during the industrial revolution. The industrial revolution was transition from a hand labor to a machine labor. The new machines were powered by water, steam and coal. The Industrial revolution marked a very profitable time for many factory owners because, unlike humansShow MoreRelatedTechnology And Its Impact On Technology1468 Words   |  6 PagesThe technology has presented an enormous deviation in this world, and alike somewhat deviation, it has not been easy to become accustomed to the variations presented. In this report, it is possible to highlight that this technology consumes some time for some people to take its ideas. 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Schwa Essay Example For Students

Schwa Essay SchwaSchwaSchwas past is slightly blurred, but it is generally held that thereligion has its roots in ancient Egypt. A small breakaway group are believed tohave gathered regularly to exchange news and, on occasion, personal accounts oflandings by what they called `star-creatures. These beings were identical tothe Egyptian gods, and their belief was that these beings came to their land,from their home amongst the stars, disguised as animals with which they werefamiliar (the jackal, the cat etc). Some hieroglyphics have been uncovered byarchaeologists which, according to Schwa followers, are the originalinscriptions of members of the ancient religion, but have been wronglyinterpreted by `UFO fanatics as proof that aliens built the pyramids. Thisleads non-believers to give little weight to what was actually a true andproper religion. Since those primitive days the religion has developed enormously, butthe biggest and most important advancements have only come in the past decade. Previously, followers had only gathered in what could be described as `sects inmany different countries, with the highest concentration being in North America. It wasnt until 1986 that Jeff Krantz, a 19 year old art student at theUniversity of Michigan, started came to be known as `The Union, a wave ofchange that would sweep across the world over a period of two years, and wouldresult in united international Schwa religion. I had just been transferred from (the University of) Wisconsin in theearlier part of that year, Krantz says. I had attended regular meetings withabout half a dozen other believers. We met one night each week to talk aboutstuff related to our belief that the Earth, and everything on it, was createdby extraterrestrial beings. I guess you could say theyre on the same level asthe gods of other religions, but we believe that our creators are actual living,breathing beings, not spirits; an analogy would be our superiority overcreatures which we created through gene technology, DNA splicing or whatever. At one of these meetings we decided that we should have some sort ofsymbol that we could make into stickers. Each of us could then stick them onbooks or wherever, just to get people thinking about what theycould mean, andalso to bring the group together under an identifiable symbol kind of like aflag.The task fell to Adrian Blackwell, another art student whom Krantz sawoften outside of these meetings. The idea for the sticker kind of came to mewhen I was on acid, Blackwell recalls, smiling. Actually, I saw these twosymbols at the same time, almost; an alien head and a starfish. The starfishdidnt really do anything for me, so I drew the other one and the other guysloved it. A copy of the design is on the cover page. Yeah, the design was great, says Krantz, but I thought it needed somesort of name. That Saturday night I went to a party. I got smashed, and thenthis name sort of appeared in my head : `Schwaerozni. I knew it couldnt havebeen an accident. Anyway, when I went to write it under the design before wesent it to have the stickers made, I could only fit in `Schwa. The name stuck.After his move to Wisconsin, Krantz stayed in touch with his fellowbelievers in Michigan. He began working part time at a hardware store for a fewmonths. His last day at the store was the turning point for the religion. Iused to steal solvent from the store, take it to my dorm and sniff it, helaughs. Pretty pathetic, really. Finally my boss caught on to what I was doing,and he called me into his office. He gave me a big lecture about the stupidityof sniffing solvent, the fact that he could have had me charged with shoplifting,dont ruin your life, blah blah blah. Then he gave me my last paycheck minusthe cost of a c an of solvent. That night I was pretty pissed off, and I sniffeda little more than usual. I was climbing onto the roof to see if I could flywhen I thought of this brilliant joke. I thought it was so funny that I forgotall about flying and just went back to my room to write it down before I forgotabout it. Later on I told it to the other guys over. Although it had nothing todo with Schwa, they all said that something about it reminded them of it.We all thought the joke was kind of spooky, yeah, Blackwell says. Butthe weirdest thing was the dream I had that night. I saw an alien being come outof a craft, approach me, and touch m..y forehead. Then I saw a page from the phonebook, zooming in on the University of Wisconsins listing. Then Jeffs full nameappeared. After that, a map of North America appeared. It slowly zoomed in onWisconsin, showing more and more detail, until the whole of my vision was filledwith the University campus. An arrow flashed, pointing at the dormitories. ThenI w oke up. .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890 , .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890 .postImageUrl , .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890 , .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890:hover , .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890:visited , .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890:active { border:0!important; } .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890:active , .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890 .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ucb718b2346434c9499c73358246bc890:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The House On MAngo Street EssayThe next day we had a meeting. Each of us was exited. We just lookedaround at each other, and we knew. Each of us had had the same dream. We knewthat it was really a carrier for that message. We had to tell everyone we knewthe joke. It was a pretty good one, the type youd tell friends anyway, and itwasnt dirty so you could tell anyone. But no-one seemed to report any strangedreams afterwards, or even act strange. So, we just decided that the dream onlycame to believers.They were right about that, says Krantz, raising his eyes to heaven. The Uni hated me! Or at least, whoever sorted the mail did. I got a little overtwo thousand letters over the next year hundreds from Americans only in thefirst couple of months, then from all over the world as the joke spread.Followers now hold this joke as a sacred message from their creators,and since others did not notice anything unusual about it, it has been almostimpossible to trace. However, by freak coincidence, a researcher into conspiracytheories, Garo Yellin, was looking at a relatives photos from a trip to Germanyin 1990 when he noticed a message scrawled on the Berlin Wall in the backgroundof one picture. The thing that really grabbed his attention was a crude drawingof an alien head, much like the Schwa symbol. He enlarged the picture to see themessage written next to the head. It was, as far as he could see, this: Vennist das nurnstuck git und slotermeyer? Ya! Beigerhund das oder die Flipperwaldtgersput! Translation attempts have been made, but apparently this is in a codeknown only to Schwa followers, in order to protect the joke. Every letter I got said the same sort of thing, Krantz continues. These people had the same beliefs I did, and the dream had revealed my identityto them. They looked to me now as a leader. I had been chosen to lead my fellowbelievers in one united faith, which for obvious reasons, I decided to callSchwa. They were of all ages and denominations, but since we are all of lowlystatus under our creators and our lives are momentary compared to theirs they had no problems with me leading them.The main concern of the religion is to worship their alien creators inreadiness for the coming day of judgment. Who knows when they will come? saysKrantz. All I know is that when they do, they will be performing a little . . . weeding, shall we say? Theyre going to polish off their creation. All thingsyou or I consider bad or annoying or dangerous will be made likable, or eveneradicated. And we, sentient beings that we are, will be judged not by therighteousness of our actions, but by our worship of them. Then, all those whodid not follow them will be removed from the Earth and from our memories wewill feel no loss or sadness and we will be left only with happy and peacefulthoughts, and in a Utopian world. Some, knowing the origins of Schwa, say it is a cult based onintoxication. Well, it is in a way, but their is a deeper purpose for this. Whenintoxicated by some form of drug, we are still awake, but there is a subtle linkwith the subconscious. We are more receptive to the messages our creators wishto plant in our minds. Hallucinations are not caused by the intoxicationdirectly, but by them, trying to reach us. However, he laughs, if you fallover or try to fly, thats the drug talking!Their only festival is held each year on June 12, the date of theincident in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. That day, says Krantz, a mist ofsome sort caused masses of people to hallucinate simultaneously. They say theysaw a UFO land, and aliens coming out of the craft. This hallucination was awarning from our creators of the coming day of judgment. In celebration of this,followers meet secretly, take drugs, and chant the following : Oona Schwagallumbits dangk! Once again, this seems to be in some sort of co de. The onlyintelligible translation yet given seems to be a joke on the part of thetranslator : Schwa for tuna-safe dolphin meat! But the true meaning of this,like their sacred joke, they keep secret.