The rate of population growth is a major issue not only because of its effects on the general growth of the economy but also on its impacts on environment and general well-being of the individuals. In fact, the effects of high population growth are felt in all sectors of the economy. Most of the studies indicate that the rate of population growth is high in developing countries (Porter 55).
Researchers have produced numerous factors that have contributed to the discrepancy in the growth rate between the developing and the developed countries ranging from high rate of fertility to increased rate of poverty levels. In this particular case, the rate of population growth is compared between India and the United States. In essence, the paper seeks to find out the effects of population growth in relation to human health through the comparison of population growth between the two countries.
The population growth rates of India and United States
The study indicates that the population of India in 1950 was 357 million while that of the United States was 157 million. In 1975, the population of India has grown to 600 million people, an increase of 69%. Over the same period, the population of the US has grown only to 213 million representing the growth rate of 36%. As can be observed, the rate of population growth in India is twice that of US in the same period.
Between 1975 and 1998, the population of India was projected to be around 975 million while that of US was around 273 million. The approximate population growth rates of these two countries were 63% for India and 28% for US. Even though the decreasing rates of growth in population between the two periods can be observed, India still maintains its high growth rate. Moreover, the rate of decrease in India’s population is low compared to that of the US.
Reasons for high population growth rate in India
Like any developing country, India’s population is characterized by high birth rates, increased rate of infant mortalities and low life expectancy (Hannan 36). In addition, the population consists of the younger generation and majority live in the rural areas. However, these characteristics do not contribute directly to the increased rate of population.
In fact, the high increase in the rate of population growth is majorly blamed on the high rate of poverty levels. Studies indicate a direct correlation between the rate of poverty level and the increased population growth rate (Hannan 77). According to the India’s bureau of statistics, approximately one third of the total population still live below poverty line and in the rural areas.
In addition, this population has no access to education and reproductive health facilities such as family planning that could have contributed immensely towards the population reduction (Hannan 77). Besides, high birth rates contribute to the increased population growth rate.
In the contrary, the American population is majorly urbanized, have access to social amenities including reproductive health facilities and high literate levels, which contributes to the reduced growth rates (Porter 55). Moreover, the birth rate in America is almost at the same level with the death rates.
Conclusion
As indicated, many factors contribute to the high rate of population growth in the developing countries ranging from high literacy levels to inaccessibility to social amenities including reproductive health facilities such as family planning.
However, the high rate of population growth has been blamed on the increased rate of poverty levels. The high rate in population growth has negative impact on the general well-being of the population as well as the whole sectors of the economy. Therefore, appropriate policies and programs should be adopted to ensure increased living standards of the majority population in developing countries.
Works Cited
Hannan, Abram. Distribution and Growth of Population in India since Independence. New York: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, 2013. Print.
Porter, Douglas. Managing Growth in America’s Communities. Washington: Island Press, 2007. Print.
Population density is the number of people residing in an area depending on the size of the area. (Brannon & Feist, 2009) Noise is any sound that causes a disturbance in comfort and is usually loud or unpleasant. Population density has a direct effect on noise meaning that the higher the population density, the greater the noise.
Thus as people move to sparsely populated areas, the utility of privacy and territoriality is acknowledged. The coverage of privacy, territoriality and personal space will help us understand to what extent population density affects individual people.
Effect of territoriality
Territoriality can be described as guarding or protecting one’s space from the same species. There are three types of territoriality within the human species. They are primary, secondary and public territories. Primary territories are owned permanently by the individual such as the homes, while secondary territories are temporarily owned or rented such as car rental services.
Lastly, public territories are those that are owned by anyone and apply the rule of first come first serve basis such as fast food places or ticket offices at airports. The main aim of maintaining territoriality is to gain privacy; thus; primary territories have more privacy than the other two territories.
Territory can be categorized as a physical territory which is divided into body and personal territory, a social territory that entails the family, peers, the clan, religious and cultural associations and lastly the psychic history that entails the philosophic theories, opinions, plans, and dreams. (Brannon & Feist, 2009).
Effect of privacy and personal space
Privacy may be a separation of self from the rest. Hence, it can be said humans have less exposure of themselves to others. Personal space is the space where one is comfortable because it constitutes both primary territories and privacy. It is divided into four types that is social distance, intimate distance, personal distance, and public distance. Each has specific measurements that range from 0 to 25 feet. (Straub, 2006)
The social, cultural and biologic rules that draw the line between who is granted access to the stated distances and the rules of engagement once in these distances are pre=determined. (Arkkelin & Veitch, 1995). Private guidelines differ from individual to individual. Arkkelin & Veitch, go on to show the relationship between privacy and interpersonal relationships.
The demand for privacy and territoriality of an individual are directly proportional to the population density. To maintain the social input of an individual, there is a tendency of humans to safeguard their primary territories. Moreover, cross-cultural differences are mostly detected between different cultures.
Effect of nature
The effect of nature on individuals living in an urban environment is quite interesting. The scientists have found out that being in an urban environment impairs our basic mental process. This is due to the lack of nature which is very important for the brain. This is because they offer a mental break away from urban life.
The urban environment is crowded with people, traffic, industries institutes, and firms. It is certain that such unnatural places have vital effects on our mental and physical health and can strongly change how we reason. Proper alterations such as planting more trees, flowers, and plants in the city or urban parks can reduce the unpleasant effects of urban life.
The mind requires nature and even a little bit of nature can be of great concern. According to different studies, children suffering from attention deficit disorder have relatively fewer systems in natural settings. They have less behavioral problems when surrounded by gardens, trees and animals are capable of focusing on a specific task. The toil of city life does not only interfere with focus but also self-control.
It controls our ability to avoid temptation even as it surrounds us with it, from instance candy stores outlets to shoe selling outlets. The outcome is high calories and much credit card debts. Emotional control is also another factor. A tired brain can be easily triggered to lose its temper. Therefore, there is a great need for natural scenes that provide us with some relief.
People have spent years adapting to natural entities yet have always inhabited urban ones; this has created disparities between ancient and present ways of living; thus the emergence of chronic diseases. There has been a significant dominance of communicable diseases and inheritable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and coronary heart diseases.
These have been associated with a change in the patterns of living, consuming and environmental exposure especially in the elderly. (Straub, 2006) About this nature can be defined as a variety of habitats composed of lands, animals, soil, water or air. Human need nature for psychological, emotional and spiritual needs and this can be gained by interacting with nature.
People living nearby natural surrounding are healthier than other beings. There are several ways in which we can engage with nature such as engaging in recreational activities, enjoying the natural scenery, studying and watching wild animals and participating in measures of conserving the environment. Sustainable urban development involves seeking urban plans and policies that strive to reduce the result of a city on the environment.
Urban planning is, therefore, a vital element in ensuring a sustainable future, and safeguarding of the environment to accelerate the quality of life of individuals. Urbanization has caused the value of natural areas to decrease this is because it has lead to a high human population density, exploitation of energy and resources and pollution of land and air. (Clayton & Myers, 2009)
Effect of noise
Noise is a component of the environment, and it comes from industrial sectors, transport sectors, and individuals among others. Noise disturbs the task performance; it changes social behavior and causes frustration that may lead to aggression. Noise pollution may lead to loss of hearing thus leading to communication problems. It also disturbs sleep.
Furthermore, noise exposure inhibits an effective performance. Physical effects of noise include stress, insomnia, tinnitus, and hearing loss. Urban open space focuses on maintaining balanced biodiversity thus ensuring environmental sustainability.
They also support a wide range of ecosystem. People also engage in physical activities thus boosting their health. The aesthetic value of the land on urban open spaces is also maintained. Moreover, management and conservation of nature are enhanced.
Strategies to reduce noise in the workplace include:
Noise regulation- only a certain degree of noise should be reached within a certain day. Areas such as bowling centers, where sound absorbing materials are laid on the ceiling and floor (inbuilt) to reduce the noise level thus bearable.
Placing the noisy machines in a separate room while projectors are kept away in cases as in auditorium.
Use of effective and proper equipment.
Using more quiet work processors.
On the other hand, reducing noise in the living environment may include:
Designing proper homes.
Use of absorbent material.
Designating green zones.
Agreeing with your neighbors to maintain a conducive environment.
Conclusion
It is therefore evident that the population density has a significant impact on how we live and relate to one another. Personal space and territoriality are important aspects to humanity which are altered by an increase in population density.
Nature also affects our basic mental processes such as our physical, emotional and spiritual well being. Our output as human beings is influenced by the environment. Noise, on the other hand, is also affected by the population density and should be maintained at a reduced level to reduce its health and physical effects mentioned above.
Population density should thus be regulated such that its change should be accompanied by a regulation of the factors that it alters and hence inhibiting the adverse effects associated with its change.
References
Arkkelin, D., Veitch, R. (1995). Environmental psychology : An Interdisciplinary Perspective , Prentice Hall: New York.
Brannon, L., & Feist, J. (2009). Health Psychology: An Introduction to Behaviour and Health, (7th edition), Cengage Learning: Florence.
Clayton, S., & Myers, G. (2009). Conservation Psychology: understanding and promoting human care for nature, Wiley Blackwell: New York.
Straub, R. (2006). Health Psychology: a biopsychosocial approach, (2nd Edition), Worth Publishers: New York.
Trinidad and Tobago has some of the largest fishing ports aimed at supporting the industry and supplying shark meat to the international market. Over the years, scholars have realized that various measures and sustainability put in place in the region have failed to improve aquatic populations. Such investigations had identified overfishing and unsustainable practices as the leading contributors for disoriented bio-systems. To understand the causes of the declining shark population in the selected country, this investigation relied on the use of a qualitative research design guided by the interpretivism model. This study was undertaken and completed within 10 days. After completing the analysis, 42 percent of the respondents identified overfishing as the primary cause for the recorded decline. Around 21 percent and 11 percent viewed culture and seismic activities as leading causes of reduced shark populations in Trinidad and Tobago’s shorelines within the past 20 years. Around 5 percent of the respondents identified pollution as another potential cause of population decline. The consideration of proper policies, guidelines, and the promotion of the Driver, Pressure, State, Impact, Response (DPSIR) framework to focus on these problems could help deliver the UN sustainable goal 11, which focuses on inclusive, resilient, safe, and sustainable regions.
Introduction
The concept of sustainability guides people to make informed decisions about scarce resources and how to manage them. Past scholars have offered numerous insights to explain the economic value of sharks and the demand for their meat. This trend has led to increased exploitation of fishing grounds, thereby affecting shark populations in various ways. Trinidad and Tobago, with is found on the southern part of the Caribbean, offers the best opportunity for learning more about sharks in the ocean. Ali et al. (2020) observed that around 30 species of sharks were presence on the shorelines of this country. In a report by the IUCN, it emerged that three of the species in the region had become endangered (Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 2019). Around nine were vulnerable and the remaining ones being threatened by a wide range of factors, including fishing and climatic changes (Partelow, 2018). In this small nation, the people promoted unique cultural attributes and practices that encouraged them to consume more fish. Marketers of this type of meat rely on the traditional value to entice more people to purchase it. In another study, Chan and Shing (2001) observed that the consumption of sharks in different parts of the Caribbean was low due to specific reasons. Specifically, some of the people believed that the predatory nature of some sharks made them inappropriate since they swallowed dangerous metals and hazardous plastics (Ali et al., 2020). In another study, these two species were observed to produce contaminated by lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic: Carcharhinus porosus and Sphyrna lewini (Partelow, 2018). These studies have succeeded to provide considerable insights about the dynamics existing in Trinidad and Tobago and how they impact shark population. However, the available evidence reveals that past scholars have not offered much regarding the factors triggering the overall decline in shark population. Such studies have also failed to examine public understanding regarding the vulnerability of certain shark species and their possibilities of becoming extinct. This research paper, therefore, answers most of these emerging questions and offer evidence-based steps that stakeholders can adopt to address the declining shark population.
Literature Review
The problems affecting oceans and bio-systems have captured attention of many researchers in the past. Coll et al. (2008) observed that fisheries could deplete both non-target and target species, thereby undermining the integrity of marine communities. Unsustainable fishing remained one of the leading causes of declining aquatic animals, such as shark and fish (Suman & Shivlani, 2013). In another study, Binder et al. (2013) revealed that most of the emerging environmental predicaments were becoming relevant and critical for scientific investigations. Some of these issues included depletion of natural resources, loss of minerals, scarcity of materials, and climate change (Binder et al., 2013). These problems were affecting the integrity of natural systems and disorienting the sustainability of aquatic species. Another study focusing on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among members of the public revealed that around 70 percent of the citizens in Trinidad and Tobago ate fish as a stable source of food (Ali et al., 2020). In the same report, 54 percent of the interviewees ate shark mark infrequently because they associated it with toxic risks due to the fact that such aquatic animals consumed dangerous materials.
The adoption and implementation of various frameworks has helped sensitize more people in the fishing industry. In a study by Soma (2003) it occurred that the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was an effective model for guiding policymakers to design better approaches and decisions. The framework was found to be “empowering, educating, focusing, and facilitating” (Soma, 2003, p. 47). This attributes meant that it could help stakeholders manage their fishing practices and make them more sustainable. The article “Sustainable Development Goal 11 and a New Urban Agenda for Caribbean Small Island Developing States: Policy, Practice, and Action” offers a detailed analysis of the initiatives many countries in the Caribbean are implementing to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11, which is informed by the need to create “inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities as articulated in various governance, spatial, socio-economic, and environmental policies” (Mycoo & Bharath, 2021, p. 1). However, some gaps have emerged whereby most of the citizens lack proper resources and guidelines, thereby frustrating the efforts for sound policies and attainment of the anticipated goals. Additional challenges were observed to make such objectives unrealizable, such as increasing fishing rates and absence of support systems (Mycoo & Bharath, 2021). The article proposes the introduction of superior policies and approaches to help mitigate the recorded obstacles. From these evidences, it is agreeable that most of the policies and initiatives put in place have failed to deliver the much needed results. This is partly due to the reduced involvement of the relevant authorities and the absence of proper guidelines and resources for members of the population. Cáceres and Ali (2017) recommend the inclusion of evidence-based mechanisms that encourage all stakeholders to be involved and ready to offer the much needed support. The consideration of best practices from other regions could help address most of the sustainability issues affecting different countries in the wider Caribbean region.
Ostrom’s Social-ecological Systems Framework (SESF) is a practical model that helps researchers analyze and understand how different forces act on a given ecosystem. Ostrom’s model presents a social-ecological system comprised of a vocabulary of key concepts and terms that can promote cross-institutional evaluations and subsequent evaluations (McGinnis & Ostrom, 2014). The model outlines 8 first-level core sub-systems researchers can use to define the SES (Social, Economic, Political, and Ecosystems) interactions in a particular region. The analyst will go further to examine how the SESs interact with these four multi-linked sub-systems: resource systems, governance systems, resource units, and the actors (see Fig. 1).
Fig 1: “Social-ecological framework (with the most recent set of variables included into the SESF” (p. 1800).
The Actor in 4 Dimensions (A4D) framework has emerged as a powerful tool for analyzing social and ecological systems in a given region. The model helps analysts integrate citizens in a given community in order to analyze their views and promote environmental governance (Dancette & Sebastien, 2019). Through its application, the model guides actors to become part of the discussions. The investigator relying on the tool will denote the existing power relations “by integrating strong, weak, and absent actors in the analysis” (Dancette & Sebastien, 2019, p. 1798). This framework succeeds in highlighting reflexive and subjective elements, thereby finding it easier to conceptualize socio-ecological systems (see Fig 1). These aspects explain the A4D framework is capable of shedding more light regarding the issue of fishing in Trinidad and Tobago. The choice of this framework is informed by the notion that the selected case study is a unique location whereby the involved players appear to be greatly influenced by the existing cultural ad ecosystem services.
Fig 2. A4D model (Dancette & Sebastien, 2019).
The A4D model is applicable to this research because it links different actors and studies how they relate to each other. In the selected locality, it is agreeable that the people interact directly with the environment. The fishing industry presents socio-ecosystems that have the potential to determine the overall integrity of the surroundings. Past studies have relied on this model to analyze the manner in which cultural groups interact with the environment. For example, Dancette and Sebastien (2019) completed a study to examine the manner in which fishermen and the relevant agencies engaged in the management of fisheries in Cape Verde. In the study, Dancette and Sebastien (2019) applied the A4D framework in Basque County with the aim of analyzing the process of gravels management. From such studies, it was evident that the actions of the people had the potential to dictate the outcomes and sustainability of the affected ecosystems. Such findings presented additional insights for learning more about ecosystems and how they could be preserved.
The findings from Cape Verde revealed that individuals played a significant role towards promoting environmental sustainability. The adoption of the SESF and A4D models help shed more light on the roles of different actors and how they engage in meaningful dialogues. The ultimate aim is to ensure that sustainability results are recorded (Dancette & Sebastien, 2019). The findings from various studies adopting the model show conclusively that the framework is capable of capturing the cultural context in Trinidad and Tobago. The strategy would help shed more light on the state of affairs in the selected locality and how the stakeholders were responding to the diminishing numbers of sharks.
Research Methods
Introduction
Research Aim and Questions
The aim of this research was to study the observable decline in shark population experienced in these areas of Trinidad & Tobago: Tiger, Mako, Hammerhead, and Manta Rays. The analysis would help answer these two research questions:
What are the causal factors behind the sharp decline in shark population in the selected regions?
What sustainability options and mechanisms should experts put in place to mitigate this ecological problem?
Research Design
The investigation relied on the use of a qualitative study design to establish the trends in shark population as recorded within the past two decades. This subjective approach entailed the inclusion of scientists, fishermen, and experts in Trinidad and Tobago regarding the observable decline in shark population. Interviews and researches were completed to collect adequate data and information.
Research Design/Methodology
Research Philosophy
The interpretivism model or philosophy guided this research. Specifically, the role of the expert was to complete interviews and make timely observations to learn more about shark population in Trinidad and Tobago. This method allowed the researcher to pursue the intended interests and learn more about the causes of the declining shark population in the selected regions.
Research Type
The completed research entailed the use of a qualitative approach to gather, examine, and analyze the acquired information. Without collecting numerical data, it was possible to highlight the concepts, experiences, and opinions of the respondents. Consequently, it was easier to have an in-depth analysis of the issue under investigation and offer timely deliberations for future research and preventative mechanisms to tackle the declining population of sharks in Trinidad and Tobago.
Research Strategy
To collect timely and high-quality information, the selected action plan revolved around the use of a case study focusing on Trinidad and Tobago. This area had a unique history of fishing and was also one of the regions with many ports whereby sharks remained prevalent. In terms of ethnography, the people of Trinidad and Tobago were engaging in fishing as the primary economic activity. This practice made them some of the leading exporters of fish meat in the world. They also relied on shark meat to support their cultural beliefs and ideas. Such attributes made the country the best choice for completing the study. From a phenomenological perspective, it was possible to conduct interviews and learn more about what the respondents saw or felt regarding the sharp shark population decline in the selected ports.
Time Horizon
The research approach relied on a cross sectional model to collect timely information from one point or region. This effort made it possible for the investigator to gather responses within a period of 10 days. However, the strategy remained problematic and made it impossible for the researcher to gather additional evidence, a process that could have shed more insights or findings. This amounted to a practical constrain that affected the quality of the gathered insights.
Sampling
To complete the study, a survey was conducted by using interview forms that were filled based on the responses gained from the respondents. The 10-day period made it possible for the researcher to identify different regions and involve more participants into the study. The adoption of unstructured interviewed allowed most of the participants to remain involved and offer the required information. This approach made it easier for the researcher to gather adequate data randomly and use it to make the relevant inferences. The study also entailed the collection of qualitative data from the Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville (ERIC), a leading agency that relied on the use of Baited Remote Underwater Videos (BRUVs) to assess population rates in the region.
Data Collection Methods
As described earlier, the implemented qualitative design made it easier to complete timely interviews and acquire additional insights from them. The gathered evidence was then included in the developed form and eventually used for analysis. This approach led to the production of a high-quality report that shed more light on the phenomenon observed in the area under investigation.
Data Analysis
Using a qualitative research design, data was grouped and descriptive in accordance with the interpretivism philosophy. The emerging information is presented in the “Findings” section below.
Findings
The study focused on the emerging trends regarding shark population for the last 20 years. The observations revealed that several factors had led to the recorded sharp decline. Based on the developed research design, a number of categories emerged that informed the nature of the presented data. Some of them included overfishing, pollution, cultural attributes of the people, seismic activities, and no issues (see Fig. 3). Each of the categories was assigned a frequency depending on the number of times it emerged as a leading cause for the decline in the selected region. Subcategories were also identified depending on the inputs received from the identified interviewees. For example, overfishing was subdivided into overexploitation, industrial purposes, or artisanal. Culture was categorized further to include medicine and food. Seismic activities identified during the investigation included surveys and mapping, oil exploration, and economic development. Issues to do with pollution included environmental forces and species’ inability to adapt due to the recorded changes in ecological integrity.
Category
Frequency
Relative Frequency
Percentage (%)
Pollution
1
1/19
5
Culture
4
4/19
21
Overfishing
8
8/19
42
Seismic Activities
2
2/19
11
No Issues Detected/Reported
4
4/19
21
TOTAL
19
–
100
Fig 3: Categories and frequency
The completed analysis went further to reveal that overfishing amounted to 42 percent of the causes responsible for the declining shark population in Trinidad and Tobago. The other factors, namely pollution, seismic activities, and culture, amounted to 5 percent, 11 percent, and 21 percent respectively (see Fig. 3). The report identified such common practices as dangerous and capable of affecting the overall integrity and population of sharks in the region.
Fig 4: Graph for observable categories
The reports obtained from ERIC offered additional findings regarding the intended research questions. For instance, Trinidad and Tobago stood out as one of the countries whereby fishing was a primacy economic activity. The ports were seeing over 150 vessels engaging in fishing activities. The institute had also selected the geographic location because it had one of the observational shark populations in the Caribbean. The recent activities aimed at exploring and drilling oil also encouraged ERIC to continue undertaking its investigations in the area (Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 2019). The agency had reported that most of the sustainability efforts were either inappropriate or ineffective, thereby continuing to affect the recovery levels for shark species (Alleng, 2014). The ongoing efforts to conserve fish and sharks in the region were met with resistance since most of the local residents relied on fishing to put food on the table (see Fig. 4). The country was also liaising or partnering with other nations, such as China, to explore the ocean and eventually help maximize its outputs or exports for shark meat.
Fig 5: Pie-chart for causes of population decline
The investigations revealed that the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Policy Framework was in place to support the sustainability of most of the natural resources in different ports. Unfortunately, the findings offered some of the obstacles that ICZM faced in an effort to deliver the intended outcomes (Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 2019). For instance, majority of the people were only focusing on fishing since it contributed significantly to their social, cultural, and economic objectives (see Fig. 5). The efforts different agencies and partners had put in place were ineffective, thereby continuing to contribute to the sharp decline in shark population in the selected area.
Discussions
The completed research presented various insights regarding the population of shark species in Charlottesville over the last two decades. For instance, the investigations revealed that the early 1990s were characterized by abundant shark population. Majority of the identified individuals indicated that people were not willing to swim because they feared such animals. The report by ERIC offered a number of historical facts regarding the history of fishing in the region and how it had impacted on aquatic life. The research revealed that the government of Trinidad and Tobago chose to give fishing rights to the China between 1996 and 1997 (Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 2019). Within less than a year, the shark population in the selected region had reduced significantly, thereby encouraging more people to swim. Some of the mostly affected sharks by the fishing rights at the time included the reef and pelagic migratory species (Alleng, 2014). Because of the increasing level of fishing, Trinidad and Tobago would eventually become one of the leading suppliers of shark fins to consumers in different parts of the world, such as Singapore.
The investigations revealed that overfishing was a common malpractice as most of the people were interested in achieving their economic aims. Some of the people were keen to acquire shark meat as part of their cultural practices and receive healing abilities. Such developments were to blame for the reduced levels of shark species in the coast line. The promotion of oil surveying and exploration activities in the region had resulted in reducing number of sharks. Most of the activities compelled most of the species to migrate to other regions (Mycoo & Bharath, 2021). There was also a strong connection between such activities and the interference of aquatic life.
The increasing number of fishing vessels in the selected area of study was a testimony to the sharp decline of shark population within the past20 years. ERIC had selected the region due to the recorded challenges and present timely strategies to improve sustainability. According to the findings, most of the efforts government agencies had put in place to achieve the UN sustainability goals had not delivered timely results. Without proper mechanisms and incentives, the coastlines of Trinidad and Tobago had continued to record increasing cases of sea pollution and contamination. People continued to fish without considering the possible implications of their efforts and actions (Mycoo & Bharath, 2021). These issues, therefore, contributed significantly to the overall decline in shark population in the selected area for this study.
While a number of SES frameworks exist in the area, including the efforts ERIC has been undertaking over the years, the population of sharks has been declining. It would, therefore, be appropriate to consider a better framework that can help transform the situation and deal with the reducing shark population. Based on the recorded findings, the Driver, Pressure, State, Impact, Response (DPSIR) stands out as an effective model for helping stakeholders address this problem (Binder et al., 2013). This framework seeks to support the development of “an improved understanding of, indicators for, and appropriate responses to impact of human activities on the environment along the causal chain-drivers-pressure-state-impact-responses” (p. 6). When applied, more people in the region will be able to understand the nature of the promoted actions and how they affect shark population.
Study Limitations
The completed study succeeded in offering additional insights regarding the issues affecting the sustainability of Trinidad and Tobago’s fishing ports. However, some limitations were observable that affected the overall integrity of the presented results. For instance, the limited timeframe of 10 days was inadequate for the study, thereby affecting the integrity and nature of the final observations. The random and small sample size considered for the study limited the percentage of the responses different participants offered. A bigger sample would have ensured that the study was integrated and capable of delivering high-quality findings (Binder et al., 2013). These approaches only allowed the investigator to interview a small number of people.
Conclusions and Future Steps
Trinidad and Tobago remains the best destination for monitoring shark population, examining the effectiveness of sustainability measures, and analyzing the factors leading to the disorientation of biodiversity. The completed study revealed that 42 percent of the respondents viewed overfishing as the major cause of shark population decline. Other notable reasons or factors included seismic activities, people’s culture, and pollution. Most of the sustainability measures different agencies had put in place, such as ERIC, had not delivered sustainable results.
The outlined solutions appear workable and capable of helping the selected region to recover from overfishing. The proposed solutions need to be addressed through the power of government policies. The inclusion of proper policies and agencies will ensure that timely results are eventually recorded. However, the potential drawback is that some of the people might be unwilling to support the implementation of such guidelines. Another one is that the affected coastlines could take longer to support the recovery of fish populations. However, these proposals are timely and resonate with the challenges recorded in the country.
Based on the presented literature review, the government should consider new policies capable of addressing the challenge of sustainability. Such interventions should be aimed at controlling the nature of seismic activities promoted in the region, tackle challenges of pollution, and maximize stakeholder participation to address the challenge of overfishing. Both the AHP and KAP approaches could help sensitize and empower more people to start focusing on this problem and implement superior measures to protect the declining shark population in Trinidad and Tobago.
Chan, C., & Shing, A. (2001). Case study of the integrated coastal fisheries management project: A pilot project for the Gulf of Paria, Trinidad. CANARI.
Bottled water is a steadily growing business in many countries of the world. Despite its long presence on the market, it continues to increase sales each year (Statistic Brain, 2016). Many people believe that bottled water is tastier, healthier, or is otherwise better than widely available tap water. However, gradually more studies show that most of these beliefs are unfounded or misunderstood. Several tests show that on many occasions tap water is cleaner and the control behind its quality is more reliable. Several blind trials also suggest that tap water is chosen as having a better taste when the participants do not know that it does not come from a bottle (Viscusi, Huber, & Bell, 2015). Finally, a question of environmental influence is constantly raised by various agencies and activist groups, which claim that the process of bottle production and the bottles usually create waste that is not properly recycled. As a result, despite the best marketing effort of industry giants, the issue of the sustainability of bottled water becomes more prominent in the later years, in part thanks to the youth activist groups which raise awareness. In particular, personal observations show that the Facebook newsfeeds of the young audience often feature information bits about the disadvantages of bottled water and advertisements of refillable bottles. However, the actual effect of activism, as well as its demographic characteristics, is unclear. The following study aims to analyze the impact of the increased information regarding water bottles at the younger population to find out whether they tend to use refillable bottles rather than buy bottled water and thus determine possible ways to improve the situation.
Methods
The study was performed by observing the students of the college in the campus area for five days. The numbers of students carrying bottled water and those carrying refillable water bottles were recorded and compared to find out which group is more numerous. Because of the personal observations made on Facebook, the hypothesis was that the number of students with refillable bottles would be higher because of better access to information and awareness of the harmful environmental effect of disposable bottles.
Results
After five days of observations, the total number of people carrying refillable bottles totaled 18, or 5, 2, 5, 4, 2, respectively. The number of students with disposable bottles of water totaled 44, or 12, 6, 8, 16, and 2, respectively. Of the total number of students carrying water bottles, only 29% had refillable ones.
Discussion
The results differed significantly from the initial assumption. They suggest that despite serious involvement in the movement to promote the use of tap water, most of the young people prefer bottled water. These results show a serious difference between the stated goals and values and the actual purchasing habits. However, the study has two serious limitations. First, the recorded number is prone to error because of the difficulties in observation. Second, there is no data on the use of bottled water among the older population, which may differ enough to partially confirm the hypothesis. Thus, it is recommended to develop a better method which would provide a better opportunity for research and conduct a similar study among different age group to be able to contrast the results against other data.
References
Statistic Brain. (2016). Bottled water industry statistics. Web.
Viscusi, W. K., Huber, J., & Bell, J. (2015). The private rationality of bottled water drinking. Contemporary Economic Policy, 33(3), 450-467.
Nowadays, the possibility of wolf population’s restoration in the Northeast districts of America draws significant attention. The researchers continue to evaluate the potential advantages and disadvantages of the idea, and, in the state of New York, the public opinion is gradually shifting from negative to positive attitudes towards the reestablishment of the wolf population (Enck & Brown, 2002). The recent findings in the wildlife populations’ research demonstrate that the restoration of wolves in the Adirondack Park may positively influence regional development and may contribute to the improvement of the environmental condition.
The Adirondack Park
The Park occupies a massive part of New York. The territory of the Park comprises a few cities and yet the surroundings of the Adirondack Mountains are in the preserved zone (The Adirondack Park, 2016). It is one of the favorite holiday destinations for many people who love nature, and the initiative for the gray wolf population restoration has the potential for the acceleration of tourism development. Ecotourism is a promising trajectory in the industry, and many people can be attracted by the opportunities to encounter wolves (Enck & Brown, 2002). In this way, economic growth may be regarded as an indirect consequence of animals’ restoration, and economic development will contribute to the enhancement of local infrastructures and increase in life quality.
Wolf Population
When the Americans first commenced the settlement in the Northeast of the country, the wolves were perceived as deleterious and dangerous animals. As a result of such prejudiced attitudes and lack of objective knowledge about wolves’ behavior, the animals were completely expatriated by 1874, and at the moment of the official establishment of the Adirondack Park, there were no wolves on its territory (Enck & Brown, 2002). Nowadays, gray wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act, which remains in force in forty-eight states. And the further expansion of wolves’ living environment will contribute to species conservation.
Ecosystem Balance
One of the biggest environmental challenges in the Adirondack Park is the large and uncontrolled population of deer that significantly harms the environment and raises the issues of deforestation. Deer eat the young shoots of trees and, in this way, contribute to the extinction of some other species. However, the reestablishment of wolves’ population may provoke favorable outcomes in problem-resolving.
It is possible to observe in the example of Yellowstone Park where the similar problems with elk overpopulation took place that the restoration of wolf population may help to maintain the environmental stability (White & Garrott, 2005).
For a long time, elk put the population of beavers at the risk of extinction. Beavers played a huge role in the ecosystem, but when they were deprived of access to the food they simply left the Park’s area, and it led to the gradual desiccation of water reservoirs. The reappearance of wolves helped to restore the delicate balance of the ecosystem. The wolves influenced elks’ behavior – they became more cautious and started to spend most of the time hiding in the forests. As a result, deforestation near the ponds decreased, and other wildlife populations could return to their living environments.
Conclusion
The review of research findings revealed that the restoration of the wolf population may provoke multiple positive outcomes in regional development and environmental stability maintenance. Moreover, the reestablishment of the wolf population has implications for environmental education. The potential benefits for the ecosystem achieved through the reappearance of wolves in the Adirondack Park may be explored and evaluated, and the accumulated evidence will serve as a historical document for the prevention of the similar mistakes provoked by the lack of knowledge.
A slight alteration of one or more of the biotic and abiotic factors will affect other organisms’ populations in an ecosystem. The biotic factors affecting the deer’s population include human conservation measures, building a highway, the influx of cougars, diseases, and deforestation, while the abiotic factors are temperature, water, rocks, soils, acidity, and humidity. The conservation measures secure a habitat for the deer to thrive in, increasing their population while deforestation and wildfires destroy the habitat, hurting the population. On the other hand, the construction of a highway predisposes the deer to road accidents, leading to decreased numbers. Cougars prey on deer; hence, their influx will cause the population of deer to decrease. The entry of diseases into an ecosystem will cause mortalities of the deer. An increase in precipitation causes the habitat to flourish, food supply is increased, and consequently, the deer population increases as well.
An ecosystem refers to a complex community of biotic and abiotic factors, the physical environment, and the interrelationship between them in a given space. Biotic factors entail all living organisms in the community, and they include humans, animals, plants, viruses, and bacteria, while abiotic factors are non-living things such as soil, rocks, water, acidity, and humidity. In an ecosystem, energy is essential, and it is obtained from sunlight. The energy then flows in the ecosystem through a food web. Within the ecosystem, specific organisms occupy a given area referred to as a habitat, which provides them with shelter, nutrition, and water for their survival. Niche entails the ecological role an organism plays in the ecosystem. It is defined by the animal’s behavior, such as how it eats or where it lives.
Food Web and Interconnectedness
The biotic components of a local ecosystem are plants, grasshoppers, butterflies, frogs, and birds, while the abiotic factors are temperature, water, rocks, soils, acidity, and humidity. In the food web, plants play a vital role. Plants require adequate humidity, soils containing nutrients, water, and appropriate pH for their growth. If there is a deficiency or an excess of one of the abiotic components, the plants may wither, and the food web will be affected. Moreover, the abiotic components form the shelter for some biotic factors such as frogs.
Food Web of Biotic Components
Activity 2
Predation. Vultures prey on lizards, insects, rodents, small birds. They also feed on animal carcasses.
Mutualism. Human beings provide domestic animals with food, shelter, and veterinary care, and in turn, the animals offer milk, eggs, and meat.
Mutualism with the tarantula. The tarantula protects the frog from predators, and in turn, frogs protect the tarantula’s eggs.
Competition. They compete with fish for algae in the water.
Mutualism. They help in pollination in plants while they obtained food.
Commensalism. Plants are in a commensal relationship with spiders. The latter uses plants to support their webs, while plants have no benefits from this relationship.
Activity 3
The primary habitat for giraffes is the savannah woodlands and grasslands. They have a unique niche in the savannah. They are selective browsers, which slows the growth of bushes and trees, hence maintaining the woodlands.
Lions are mainly found in the hot areas in Africa and parts of Southeast Asia. In their niche, they are on the top of the food chain, and they prey on other animals for food. This helps control the population and balance the ecosystem.
The habitat of a white-tailed deer involves mixed forests, wooded farmlands, and even coniferous forests. In the ecosystem, they play a role as prey and herbivore. They are a source of food for humans, wolves, coyotes, among others. They also feed on plants and vegetation, hence preventing their overgrowth.
Coevolution
Coevolution occurs when two or more organisms affect each other’s revolution. It happens when the two organisms interact with the other during an evolutionary time (Pyke, 2019). A good example is between plants and insects; most plants depend on insects such as bees for pollination, and in turn, bees get nectar. Therefore, an evolutionary change in the plants will affect the insect’s evolution.
Reference
Pyke, G. (2019). Animal movements: An optimal foraging approach. In J. C. Choe (Ed.), Encyclopedia of animal behavior (2nd ed., pp. 149-156). Elsevier Academic Press.
The increase in the number of species over a certain ecosystem over a given period is itself population growth. Numerous factors cause population growth either in human beings or in animals. Nevertheless, the increase in population has its own advantages and disadvantages.
While population growth can lead to cheap labor in human beings, it can also lead to pollution, ecosystem change and competition over minimal resources. Population growth varies from one place to another depending on the economic status of the inhabitant species. For example, in areas where poverty dominates, the level of births is arguably high while in industrialized countries, birth control mechanisms exhibit, leading to controlled population growth.
Population growth increases proportionally with the existing opportunities like food, water and shelter. Nonetheless, when population is high, people tend to fight over resources like water, food, oil and other natural resources. Consequently, all manner pollution, environmental degradation and contamination result.
Environmental consequences can cause diseases and sometimes death of species. It is therefore good for any government to act in a manner that will control population growth in their respective countries. Some of the elements used to normalize population growth include death and birth rate control.
Where population growth is high, so are death rates. Sometimes death rates can act as a population control measure. However, this element is not an effective control measure. The most effective population control measures comprise of enactment of birth control policies. The paper examines the causes and effects of population growth in human beings.
Population Growth Cause Traffic Congestion and Air Pollution
Population growth has many negative than positive effects. For example, high population means many people own cars. This is a positive effect since; cars increase comfort and ease traveling from one place to another. However, with the increase in the number of cars on roads, traffic congestion occurs. Under this scenario, transport system becomes a burden to many who want to reach their workplaces earlier enough.
Moreover, exhaust fumes from the high number of cars lead to air pollution hence, environmental degradation. Additionally, these cars emit thick and cloudy fumes full of dangerous gases responsible for ozone depletion. Statistics carried out by environment ministries and non-governmental organizations indicate that, since 1990s, population growth has led to overcrowding of cars on roads hence terrible traffic jams.
Furthermore, these people own cars that fume dangerous gases to the atmosphere hence air pollution. For example, environmental scientists record high percentages of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO2) gases released from cars as responsible for global warming.
In addition to global warming, these gases are dangerous to human health. They create fatal respiratory diseases and some people can contract cancerous diseases, which affects their health status. Transport researchers note that, when there is traffic congestion, cars release high percentage carbon monoxide due to low traveling speeds. (Lewyn, Para 1-6).
Population Causes Water Pollution
In any living scenario, water is one of the most important basic needs. Human beings have varied water use demands. For example, people use water to generate electricity, to transport goods from one place to another, do recreational and use it in other commercial transaction rationales. For these reasons, water becomes part of human living. However, there is a problem with water when population growth occurs.
This is because; water consumption rate increases and consequently, pollution result. Water pollution is a state where human beings perform activities, which end up contaminating water with other dangerous particles. For example, increased population numbers rely on agriculture for survival. In agricultural practices, people use chemicals like pesticides, fertilizers and other herbicides to protect crops-predators.
During rainy seasons, rainwater sweeps these chemicals into water catchments thus, polluting water. On the other hand, reliance of industries to create a living to the growing population has adverse water effects. On many occasions, the release of industrial sewerage into rivers and lakes cause water pollution.
Domestic activities like bathing, washing of clothes, washing of utensils and other household equipments lead to water pollution as well. Furthermore, the problem enhance when water users become many, thus creating competition. Even in flushing toilets, the scarcity of water caused by overpopulation can lead to waterborne diseases, which in turn, affect human beings negatively. (Krantz, Kifferson Para. 1-10).
Population Growth and the Ecosystem
Because of population growth, all manner waste products; biological, chemical and mechanical lead to ecosystem change. Human practices within a certain environment lead to ecosystem change. The high numbers of human beings consume the available vegetation leaving an ecosystem changed.
Likewise, in order to create shelter, people cut trees and build houses thus, destroying vegetation. On the other hand, building manufacturing industries change the ecosystem of a given place, in addition to air and water pollution. Human activities like road construction, charcoal burning, and pollution change the ecosystem of a certain place. (Green Facts Para. 1-19).
Conclusion
It is apparent to note that; population growth has adverse effects on the environment. Through population growth, there is an increase in the number of cars on roads, which end up causing traffic congestion and air pollution. Traffic congestions force vehicles to move at relatively low speeds thus, emitting dangerous gases to the atmosphere.
These gases are air pollutants, which participate in global warming. On the other hand, human activities through water lead to water pollution while on the other hand; other human activities geared to economic stability can cause ecosystem change. It is therefore the responsibility of any sitting government to enact policies aimed at controlling population growth for the good of the few living species.
‘Fluoride and Mercury – The Dumbing Down of our Population’ is a documentary that commences with assessing the ethical principles behind environmental degradation emanating from government services as well as from privatization of its services.
Blaylock highlights that the government takes little concern while carrying out functions related to environmental issues, as evidenced by lack of ethical principle in explosive devices, medical practices, water supply, and lack of providing adequate information concerning unsafe environmental conditions. This inference has been drawn from qualitative and quantitative data based on a number of case studies in the documentary.
Reflection
This documentary is characterized by intense debate that is able to provide an overall judgment of government affairs and its privatization services with regard to environmental issues.
It reaffirms that when a government privatizes its operations, such as vaccination and water supply services, it becomes external in the decision-making process, thus exercising limited control to the operations of the organizations (Moe 473).
Additionally, underlining the knowledge level of the public with regard to environmental issues is central, as it gives emphasis to the reasons why unethical environmental practices continue to thrive within the country.
What is of importance in this documentary, though, is the fact that it underscores the need for evaluating the areas that the government can challenge the private sectors and, therefore, make viable decisions while privatizing their roles. A number of agents such as Environmental Protection Agency, higher learning institutions, National Autism Association, and American Dental Association can facilitate this, as they help to evaluate the effectiveness of government duties privatized to the private entities.
As such, the documentary questions the role of the government with regard to protection of its citizens, given that it holds the sovereign rights of protecting its citizens from unethical environmental practices through information gathered from these agencies (Mosher 348).
Despite the fact that the government takes cognizant of the fact that roles involving use of chemical weapons should not be privatized as they pose threat to the air we breath, it is apparent that it has not taken the same measures when it comes to conservation of water.
The documentary points out that the government has taken little concern in assessing the level of mercury in vaccines as well as the levels of fluoride in water, yet these chemicals have equal negative implications on the lives of the citizens, as well. Thus, the government should ensure that it assesses the level of national security and public safety in relation to environmental conservation (Moe 473).
This documentary is crucial as it raises concerns over the manner in which dissemination of information is carried out by the government. As Mosher (348) states, the government officials should act in a manner that suggests that they are, indeed, servant of the members of the public; thus, they should take the initiative of advising the citizens accordingly.
And while it is the role of the government to provide its citizens with credible information regarding the risks of environmental degradation, the documentary suggest that many people are not informed about pollution of environmental resources and its adverse effects on health.
Therefore, inasmuch as the government is likely to loose control over management of its services through privatization, it is mandated to come up with an organizational culture that would ensure public responsiveness, clear allocation of responsibilities between the government and the private institution, as well as accountability of the environmental issue at hand.
Moe, Ronald. “Exploring the Limits of Privatization.” Public Administration Review. 47.6 (1987). Print.
Mosher, Frederick. Watergate: Implications for Responsible Government, by Frederick C. Mosher and Others, with a Foreword by Sam J. Ervin. New York, N.Y: BasicBooks, 1974. Print.
The discipline of Public relations deals with establishing a good relationship between an organization with the public and other stakeholders in the firm through trend analysis and provision of the necessary advice to relevant authorities. A public relations section in organizations is responsible for establishing good beneficial relationships between the firm and other external stakeholders of the company.
By establishing a fast hand relationship, the reputation of the firm could improve while affecting the performance of the organization positively (Cutlip and Center, 2009). This paper, therefore, attempts to apply the eight steps of public relations planning in familiarizing the public about the importance of water. The paper analyses the planning action by going through a case study for the program intended to bring water to the town population.
Case Study: Water for the People, Town Council
Defining the problem
Water is essential for life in many ways, human beings need water as well as animals. The best thing to do first is to collect information to establish the exact problem facing the people. The problem afflicting society is natural meaning it is external to them. Poor governance brings about the problem since there are no people in the town council willing to assist the people to get water.
It is usually the responsibility of the government as the custodian of the public good to ensure through the council that basic needs such as water are provided to people. The public should access water without any difficulty if possible free of charge. It is through research that we come to know people have been living without easy access to water for quite some time.
The problem is not with the people but the government agency responsible for supplying water. The kind of public relations challenges to be addressed are internal to the organization. The public officials need to be sensitized to take responsibility and provide water services to the public. The audience for this case is the internal public implying that it is the organizational employees being communicated to by the public relations office (Bradstreet, 2007).
The kind of research to be conducted is qualitative because it is cheap and convenient. The public officers in charge of water distribution in the town are asked in focused groups what might have caused them not to avail water to the public. While they answer the questions, the public relations officer records the findings; the obtained data is later analyzed keenly to identify the underlying issues that result in lack of water distribution in the town.
The SWOT analysis explains the financial capability of an organization. It is applied in this case to scrutinize the financial position of the organization. The town council is known to be having enough resources from tax collection as well as committed employees. The only weakness is the bureaucratic nature of the organization, which delays decision-making. Another weakness is the lack of enough technology in the council; it relies on the central government to provide qualified personnel to manage technical projects.
The council has an opportunity of enjoying a monopoly of the market (Clean Ocean Foundation, 2011). Another opportunity is that the council will be raising taxes from the project, although it already has enough taxes. The specific problems identified include the following:
That the officers feel they cannot implement the policy because there are insufficient funds.
That they cannot introduce the program because there are other suppliers offering water at cheap prices.
That the council cannot supply water because it does not have the equipment and qualified personnel, those available are not water experts.
Objectives
The major target of this public relations plan is to identify problems facing the campaign aimed at availing water to the urban population. The plan goes ahead to outline procedures that should be undertaken to make the campaign successful. It aims at changing people’s attitudes and perceptions from negative to positive. People change their perceptions from hostile to having an interest in the organization, from ignorant to being knowledgeable. The following are some of the identified objectives.
To make the public accept that the problem exists and that it can be solved only if all stakeholders develop interest.
To create awareness to the public that water is an essential commodity and lacking it brings about complications including health problems.
To make the internal publics accept that they have a responsibility of ensuring that basic needs such as water should be availed to people.
To sensitize the external publics to know that it is there right to be provided with water at low costs if not free.
To forge a working unity between the citizens and the council in solving societal problems in the future.
The objectives are set within a specified period, all the stakeholders are informed in time to make them prepare in advance.
Audiences, Publics, and Stakeholders
The public relations plan has to consider two types of audiences; the first is the internal public that involves the officials supposed to implement the policies meant for water delivery. Another set of audience is the external public, which is now the beneficiaries of the plan. The specific group in the internal public is the management; the plan should target the managers who make policies at the senior-most level.
When they are convinced well then the plan about having water in the town will succeed. After familiarizing the top management with the program, it is also important that the junior staff be informed about it because they are the real implementers of the program. As per the external public, everyone in the community should be targeted. Water problems are prevalent mostly in slum areas; they should be the first target. The plan also needs the support of the well to do in the society hence the plan should target to inform them as well.
Tactics and Themes
The public relations office in the council develops a central agenda of the plan and communicates to both internal and external public. The themes developed aim at putting together actions with the exact period and budget. The public relation officers, therefore, choose tactics, which are tools and methods to apply in carrying out the exercise.
The water program is to contain a catchy and memorable theme that attracts the attention of the majority. The slogans to use contain no more than five words such as ‘water is here’. The officers strategize to come up with long-term policies that will end up sustaining the program. They can incorporate some community organizations to make the program stronger.
The planners again need to define the ways in which they will use to conduct the program. They need to ask themselves whether they will use magazines to reach the public or other available tactics. The best one for the water program is broadcast media. Most of the targeted external public has easy access to radios and televisions it would be unwise to use the internet since few people check internet advertising (Friends of the Earth Australia, 2007).
Strategies
The public relations officers figure out in advance on the best ways possible that would ensure the success of the program. They need to come up with alternative plans called plan B. Strategies provide general guidelines and themes for the overall effort. The officers need to be aware of upheavals that might face the program; it means that strategies should be diversified.
The competitors might attempt to block the campaign using all the means and for that case, the planners need to be ready to tackle the challenges head-on. Strategies are long-term plans that oversee the success of the program (Bass Coast Shire Council, 2011).
Time
The calendar helps in organizing and planning the things that should be undertaken. The concerned offices or individuals should arrange in time the chronology of events before, during and after planning of the program. Timing is an important aspect given the bureaucratic nature of public offices.
Programs take time to be approved. Keeping in touch with time enables planners to fix things appropriately. The external public needs to be informed on time when the campaign will be starting for them to prepare well. The organizers of a water program are supposed to use the Gantt chart which shows the activities to be completed on the vertical axis and total time allotted to each task on the horizontal axis.
Activities are given priority beginning from the top to the bottom because the policy of first things first applies in public relation planning. The most urgent programs are addressed as fast as possible to avoid last-minute rush. A clear timetable should be drawn to avoid confusion and time wastage (Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2011).
Figure 1. Gantt chart showing Utilization of time in water program.
Evaluation
Evaluation is the assessment of the on-going program. The officials from the council should cross-examine the program to determine whether it is in the right direction or not. Assessment is done at the middle of the program, end or can be done as the program is still running.
It should be a continuous program so that it can be determined whether changes should be introduced or even whether the program should be held for some time. Without evaluation, funds can be wasted without achieving organizational goals and objectives. The public relations officers use research to check whether the program is running according to the set objectives. The kind of research to conduct is quantitative, with help of standardized data collection tool called questionnaire.
Questions are asked to both internal and external publics whether the campaign had any impact as far as their perceptions are concerned. Their response is very critical because it determines whether the project will be taken to another level or not. The organization cannot go ahead to implement a project that faces hostility from the public because it would not succeed and the same time it will be a waste of time and resources (Department of Planning and Community Development, 2010).
Conclusion
At every level of planning public relations action, the practitioner must take time to analyze each level. The level should be treated independently for proper analysis because a slip in one level can lead to a slip in the whole program. Public relations depend on the timing of events; information is not given out to the public at time.
The officials should scrutinize the existing socio-political events. The people might be having political issues with the program; it is not advisable to release contrary information to the wishes of the people. Some other times, the organization might be campaigning for an agenda that is not urgent and pressing (Hannan and Wallace, 2007). People are interested in things that affect them in their society. For the case of water, people are more concerned and therefore it is possible for the organization to succeed in accomplishing its mission.
‘The Training Centre is a learning center where students are nurtured to be the models of future success. The initiative serves students at the high school and college levels. The center takes educational care for the disabled, toddlers, and other underprivileged students. TLC places more value on plurality and welcomes students from all cultural, racial, religious, sex, ethnic and economic backgrounds.
Currently, TLC is attempting to establish an integrated program that will look into the needs of its needy students to achieve their long-term dreams. The initiative will be called the TLC initiative for achieving the dream. The program targets students that are not in a position to gain academic and lifelong success on their own. Some students are disabled and need help; some are financially disabled and need support, while others perform well, but lack jobs.
The program will be cheap, but strategic to set since the committee is not willing to allocate any extra resources for the initiative. The available resources and finances will have to be employed to plan and implement the program. The program will purely be run using the learning center’s strength.
The initiative intends to assist students in the community prosper in their academic endeavors. The program will help the students with different forms of problems get an educational degree, diplomas, and certificates. The program will also help students to get transfers to other learning institutions where need be. Upon award of the academic qualification certification, the program will also help the students get jobs in the labor market.
The main concern of the program will be to help students with financial constraints hindering academic and life success. Common victims of these situations include underprivileged students and those of color. The program will act on a variety of fronts, comprising efforts at college students and in research, public policy, and community participation.
Goals of the program
To incorporate needy and bright students from different backgrounds. The program will be inviting and welcoming students of diverse cultures, races, social and economic backgrounds into its curriculum with a primary goal to promote the achievement of dreams.
To nurture students, experiencing duress to be socially important in the future.
Boost students who come from underprivileged social-economic backgrounds to achieve educational success.
Help every student who comes into the center achieve his or her dream.
Search for an opening for well-performing students who wish to further their studies. To find and secure internship and job positions for students who successfully finish enrolled educational or course training.
Engaging students, the business community, and the civil society in the program.
Conducting thorough research on appropriate practices and students attainment at the community level.
Fusion of the initiative to ‘The Learning Centre’ (TLC)
The Learning center has declined to allocate any additional funds, space resources, or financial budget to the establishment and the implementation of this program. The program initiators and implementers will have to employ strategic plans through which this initiative will become an integral part of the learning center.
Resources required for the initiative to stand up include an office where affiliated students will be visiting for assistance and further guidance. The learning center has already mandated the program developer and manager to come up with a proposal that will outline everything necessary for the smooth running of the program.
The proposal indicates that apart from an office, the program needs staff members and funding to run smoothly. However, the existing personnel can be allocated the positions in the meanwhile. The learning center has opted to begin with the already enrolled students at the institutions to avoid additional costs.
This way, the program will be using resources and funds allocated for the needs of the institution until the program stabilizes. The long-term goal of the initiative is to become a self-sustaining initiative that will be taking care of very needy students using external funds and grants from prominent business people, charity organizations, and well-wishers.
The strategy that the program embraces ensures that the normal running of the center’s programs will not be affected. No program will stop to facilitate the running of this initiative and still no additional funds or resources will be added to aid the program. Through the integration of the program into the Learning Center, the fusion of policies, common goals, and long-term objectives will occur and the program will run courtesy of the Learning Centre.
The program is expected to take a maximum of five years to integrate fully into the normal system of the learning center. The first two years of the project will ensure that the program attempts to embrace the policies and nature of the learning center. The program will be working in line with the overall goals of the center. With time, the center will be considering the program as one of its key goals.
Implementation of the program
To ensure the goal is attained, the center will have to fix and embrace the goals of the initiative into its curriculum. Students and teachers will collaborate in driving the program to success. This way, ‘the goal achieving program’ can be counted as one of the many programs of the center. The center will ensure that its school curriculum takes into consideration all needs of the initiative. By the fifth year of this program, the initiative must have been integrated fully into the existing system.
The implementation of this program will require strategic management and planning by the project officers. The main objectives of the program will have to be executed to attain the long-term goals. The policy embraced by the learning center will help foster the evaluation of the implementation strategies to establish the best and appropriate approaches the center should embrace to attain the goals of the program without much difficulty.
The government and some other not-for-profit organizations are willing to support the program financially hence; the center will not incur any unplanned cost. Through the department of developmental education, the learning center can gain a boost from the government to use the program to initiate new interventions and implement innovative ideas.
Recommendations
The government should show interest in developmental education research. Fund to support such innovative ideas and interventions that contribute to the general goals and dreams of the country should be allocated funds to easily be implemented.
Double effort should be dedicated to goals attainment programs to come up with new strategic plans that can promote academic, social, and economic performance both at the school and societal levels.
