I Was 20 / Short Story

I was 20. It was 1914. I enlisted in August. It was a week after my birthday. At 6 foot 4 inches, they signed me up before a medical. The pride, honour and excitement I felt for being able to serve king and country overwhelmed me. I had convinced myself that I would fight to defend the Mother Country. The land my grandfather spoke so kindly of. And that this was fitting, even admirable. Looking back, it’s all bullshit.

*            *            *
My eyelids were frozen shut as I crawled out from underneath someone’s leg. Sleeping close together kept you warm. I used my fingernails to carefully peel back my eyelids revealing the black cover of early morning. A sliver of light just peeking over the horizon as dawn broke. The sergeant came around asking for volunteers while we were eating breakfast. Said they needed a patrol group; a group of men sent out into no man’s land to establish how many enemy positions were still manned. Most of the men were avoiding his gaze; they knew that a patrol in full daylight was a death sentence. I agreed to go in exchange for an extra 2 packets of cigarettes. 

“And for the privilege of serving England and all her glory!” Macca exclaimed as he also volunteered, his voice brimming with sarcasm. The twenty men who overheard the conversation sniggered.
“Mate, if I was here for the bloody Brits I’d be dead as a maggot. Bloody hopeless that lot. I wouldn’t do that patrol for a million dollars!” One of the men explained before turning back to his game of cards. This caused another round of laughter.

It was midday when we started up towards the frontline. The distant humming became steadily louder as we approached the trenches our men occupied. On the way we passed through what was left of a forest. Blown to pieces, there was only a smattering of trees left. And men, what was left of them, lying everywhere. Looking around there were dead men in the trees, missing legs. Others, uniforms burnt off, were naked. The putrid smell, a mixture of vomit, blood and burnt flesh, was enough to leave three of our men on their knees, vomiting. After confirming that none of them were alive, we pressed on. It was late afternoon when we reached the frontline and began our patrol. As planned, we crawled forward as a group as far past the trenches as we dare before each going separate ways. Keeping my head down, I inched forward. Slipping away from the others I crept forwards, bullets flying over my head. I watched a small shell whistle down and strike a hundred metres away from me. The force was enough to blow me forward along the ground and straight down into a shell hole. Overwhelmed by a mindless panic, I screamed. A long, piercing scream that didn’t belong to me. Alone and vulnerable, sweat was pouring from my face and hands. As I rolled over a heavy weight landed on me, pushing down on my chest and legs. I couldn’t think, I made no conscious decision at all and I realised that I was stabbing wildly. The weight, a body, was jerking as I pushed the blade through. I didn’t stop screaming until I crawled away. The man made a gurgling sound. The gurgling was all I could hear. I couldn’t hear the guns. The smattering of bullets flying through the air, the shouting, the whistling, the clunking, clattering, clinking had all gone. The blood in my veins was pounding so hard it felt as though somebody was squeezing my heart from inside of me. I tried to tell myself that the man, the dying man, wanted to attack my country. That he threatened its freedom. As I sat there, hoping to God that the gurgling would stop, I realised that I was fighting. Not fighting for my country, no. Not fighting for myself, not for my family. Not for my future, or my children’s future. As I killed the man in front of me, I protected the man ten metres behind me. I was fighting for the mate that was standing next to me in the trench. In that moment, I fought for the one that was fighting for me.

Anti-Smoking Campaign / Smoking Isn't Just Suicide

Client: Australian Government
Agent: Impact Advertising

Brief:
Design an anti-smoking campaign of print ads targeting the dangers of passive smoking, to be viewed in all states and territories of Australia.

Introduction to Campaign:
Good morning. I’m Renee, this is Sarah and James, we’re from Impact Advertising. We were approached by the Department of Health and Ageing to pitch an anti-smoking campaign of print ads targeting the dangers of passive smoking. Today, our campaign focuses on the detrimental effects of passive smoking especially on children as you’ll see when each of us presents and discusses each individual advertisement. Our campaign ‘If you smoke, they smoke too’, looks at building the belief that smokers are accountable for the effects of passive smoking, especially in children.

Smoking Isn’t Just Suicide
The first advertisement proposal today, titled ‘Smoking Isn’t Just Suicide’, was designed to specifically provoke a reaction. When attacking this project we asked ourselves who was affected by passive smoking. We needed an element of truth so that the advertisement was relatable. So, we thought about who has to spend the most time around smokers. Who sits on the lap of their mother while she has a smoke? Or follows their dad outside to the porch two, three, four, five times a day so he can smoke? These are the kids who have grown up living with and spending time with a mother, father, sibling, aunt, uncle, grandma or grandpa who smokes. In the development of our campaign we targeted the negative physical and emotional effects of second hand smoke on children. The effectiveness and success our campaign will offer over others can be put down to the complete understanding we have of the emotional capacity of the target market.  Incorporating this understanding with our knowledge of advertising techniques and conventions we have developed an advertisement that will be successful in reducing the percentage of children affected by passive smoking. The advertisement on the left side of the flyer you have in front of you and behind me on the board is the first advertisement to be developed in response to the brief. In the design phase it was important to consider the current social and cultural context this advertisement will be seen in. 

 [Show advertisement][Hand out flyers]

As the Australian society has developed and been influenced by globalisation, technology and the unrelenting media, the characteristics of a successful advertisement have changed. In order to sustain the success of anti-smoking ads in Australia changes need to be made. In past campaigns, a typical anti-smoking advertisement sought to educate. You, as a government department, needed to provide the Australian public with the facts; they needed to know the dangers of smoking. However, the Australian audience is not passive and I can guarantee that they’ve noticed the pictures on cigarette packets. They know that smoking causes cancer in the lung, lip, tongue, mouth and throat; they know it causes heart disease, strokes, asthma and blindness. What they can’t know, is the effect on everyone around them. This print advertisement, while encompassing the classic interpretation of the detrimental effects of smoking, exploits the use of shock advertising. Evident in many of the advertising codes and conventions, this advertisement is specifically designed to upset and offend viewers in order to provoke a reaction. This approach is essential in the current social and cultural context of the Australian society. We, as a society, have become desensitised by the repeated exposure to negative and adverse stimuli provided by numerous forms of media. The public’s diminished emotional responsiveness to violence, death and destruction, the result of this repeated exposure, signifies that the advertisement industry, to successfully draw the attention of an audience, needs to ‘up the ante’. As you can see, in order to counteract the inert reaction that is received in response to a slightly distressing picture, the “Smoking Isn’t Just Suicide” advertisement takes advantage of the emotions of the audience. By depicting a child as young as two or three, as in the ad, we are playing on the belief that strong family values are present in the Australian and Western context. As our current belief system strongly disagrees with harming a child this advertisement will provide an adequate amount of shock to impact the modern thinking of the audience.

The symbolism and overall appeal of the advertisement, seen primarily through the main image, is imperative to the success of this advertisement. The body language and colour work together to create an overall sense of despair and distress. This in turn will evoke the need to get rid of this misery. The image depicts a child being suffocated by a bag of smoke. The body language of the child mirrors the representation of suffocation. The use of a child in the advertisement, usually a symbol of hope and life, further emphasises the depraved nature of passive smoking. As well of the symbolic use of a child, the cultural meaning that is gained through the colours used in the advertisement promotes the distressing image we are trying to portray. The realistic qualities of the boy, in terms of hair, cheeks and shirt colour, stress the reality of the issue. Also, the colour black is often used to represent death, darkness and destruction. The use of black around the outside conveys the connotations attached to the colour. The representations and connotations the symbols and colours bring to this advertisement successfully convey the message we are portraying.

Furthermore, the visual codes, both obvious and subtle, are used to position the audience to accept the responsibility that goes hand-in-hand with smoking, using these devices to foreground the effect on children exposed to the smoke. The framing, shot size and camera angles have been carefully considered to ensure the advertisement will have the biggest impact on the audience possible.  The placement and size of the child compliments the knowledge of eye-line and points of focus. While eye-line is one of the most important conventions of the visual codes, placing the picture above the copy and making it large in comparison catches the initial attention of the audience. The distress in the child’s face maintains their attention and then the copy is the last aspect the audience will see. We know this through studies suggesting that the eye-line of an audience glancing at an advertisement will follow a ‘Z’ pattern, beginning at the top left corner of the page, moving right and then down. Additionally, having both a close up and an eye-level shot when framing the main image portrays a sense of familiarity. Using these shots will make the audience feel a connection and relationship with the boys. Developing this relationship between the subject and the audience will further impact the emotional and moral need to protect or help the boys.  If a child was actually standing in your house, in the park, at the supermarket screaming and crying you would want to help. Wouldn’t you?

Now, ladies and gentlemen, if you would direct your attention to the copy located at the base of the advertisement. It reads, ‘Smoking isn’t just suicide. It’s murder.’ Further reinforcing the connection between this advertisement and smoking, the copy uses vocabulary that is related to the current target market’s vernacular. It sounds dark and awful however, recently in particular, the prevalence of suicide and hearing about suicide in the media has grown dramatically. Using this word in a short, simple statement will ‘hit home’ in the current social context. Moreover, using this word in a conjunction with the word ‘murder’ is crucial in delivering our message in a manner which the audience will accept. We need to change the stigma that smoking is only suicide to the belief that it is both suicide and murder. The audience will take these two words from the advertisement and remember them as interchangeable, representing the act of smoking as both suicide and murder. We strongly believe, through the use of this particular copy, it will be possible to set off a social reaction.

This advertisement will stay in the minds of Australians. They will think about who is around when they are smoking. Our knowledge, as an advertisement agency, of successful techniques as well as our understanding of the Australian society has shaped the redesign of anti-smoking advertisements. We have modified successful advertisements of past and considered advertising techniques including framing, composition, shot size, symbols and appeals to create this ad. The use of these techniques will guarantee the success and influence this ad will provide. The second advertisement of our campaign will be presented by Sarah. Please consider that this ad will sell the idea that if you smoke, they will too. Thank-you.

Turmeric Stain Removal

Discussion

In order to make a justified recommendation on the removal of stains the following variables were tested in the experiment: temperature, concentration, agitation, the presence of enzymes in the detergent and the saturation time. Research was undertaken before the initiation of the experiment so a justified hypothesis could be made in relation to these variables. The results obtained from the experiment both supported and opposed parts of the hypothesis (as seen above). Aside from several anomalies within the data, with further research the results from the experiment can be explained using knowledge of detergents, rates of reaction and understanding the factors that affect these.

In the experiment it was necessary to use laundry detergents to remove a turmeric stain. Understanding the way detergents work to remove stains is important when considering the most effective and efficient solution. Detergents work to emulsify compounds that are not usually soluble in water (stains) by surrounding the stain molecules and making it easier for water to detach them from the fabric due to reduced surface tension.

The surface tension of water, the property that allows it to resist an external force, will limit the cleaning ability. Surface tension is the net inward force on the surface of water that causes the molecules on the surface to contract and resist being stretched or broken and is the result of these molecules being strongly attracted to the molecules below them (Woodrow Wilson Foundation, 2010). A diagram of this can be seen in Appendix 6. By lowering the surface tension of water so that it more readily soaks into pores and soiled areas the effectiveness and efficiency of the water in cleaning the cloth will increase.

The reason detergents increase the cleaning ability of water is a result of their ability to decrease the surface tension and therefore increase the effectiveness of the wash. The main characteristic of detergents is that their molecules (surfactant) consist of hydrophilic ends and hydrophobic ends (Clark, 2009).  The detergent (surfactant) molecule has a non-polar (hydrocarbon) and an ionic (polar) head (Appendix 2). The polar head is attracted to water because of the net dipole of a water molecule. In water, oxygen attracts electrons with greater strength than hydrogen resulting in a net dipole (Appendix 3 and 4). The attraction between the hydrophilic end of a surfactant in a detergent and the water molecule will considerably weaken the forces between the water molecules and decrease the surface tension. As well as the ability to decrease surface tension of water, the hydrophobic ends of surfactants attaches to fats and oils often seen in stains. So, the detergent molecules (surfactants) attach themselves to the dirt particles of the stained material and these particles are pulled out and suspended, surrounded by water, until they are rinsed away (Appendix 5).

This reaction between the stain, detergent and water is affected by numerous factors. Within this experiment results were obtained relating to the effect of temperature, agitation, enzymes, concentration and saturation time. These variables were chosen as the preliminary research suggested that they would affect the rate of reaction (excluding saturation time).

The highest rate of reaction would allow the greatest amount of stain to be removed from the material because the greater the rate of reaction the greater the amount of stain removed in a specific amount of time. When two or more chemicals react particles must collide with the correct orientation and enough force to yield a successful reaction (activation energy). Increasing the rate of reaction relies on the increase in the likelihood of successful collisions. Since a chemical reaction between detergent, water and stain particles will only occur with the collision of these particles in the correct orientation, increasing the number of these collisions will increase the reaction rate.

Temperature

To determine the effect of temperature on the cleaning process the cloth was tested in a cold wash, warm wash and hot wash. In order to obtain fair and accurate results while testing the temperature, it was ensured that the variables water, detergent, concentration of detergent, agitation and time were controlled.

For this section of the experiment it was hypothesised that if the temperature was increased then the rate of reaction would also increase resulting in a cleaner product. The results obtained from the experiment clearly showed that this was the effect temperature had on the cleaning of the cloth. The results revealed that 100% of the hot wash tests obtained better results than the corresponding cold and warm washes. The warm wash also achieved a better result than the cold wash in every test. The hot wash achieved a better result than the warm wash by an average of about 5 points on the colour scale (colour scale located in Appendix 1). This is clearly shown in the graphs located in Appendix 9. Each line noticeably shows a relationship between an increase in temperature and an increase in the cleanliness of the cloth. In fact, the 4 best results (23) obtained in the entire experiment involved a hot wash (70 degrees Celsius) and 15 out of the 16 best results also involved a hot wash (see Appendix 8). The table in Appendix 10 shows that every cloth achieved a higher rating of cleanliness in the warm wash than the cold wash and that every cloth in a hot wash achieved a higher rating than in the warm wash independent of the other variables. From these results and the assumption that the test was fair, it is possible to conclude that the hypothesis is fully supported by the results.

The effect that temperature has on this experiment and the results obtained can be explained in relation to the effect that the increase in temperature has on the rate of reaction. When a substance is heated the particles move faster as the heat energy is transferred to kinetic energy. The increased temperature, and therefore increased kinetic energy, makes the molecules accelerate and move around more; so, there is more chance of a collision between molecules. In addition, the molecules will impart a greater amount of energy in collision due to the gain in kinetic energy and therefore increase the chance of achieving the activation energy needed in order to have a successful collision. On the contrary, if the reaction occurs at a lower temperature there is a lower chance of the molecules colliding due to decreased speed and energy of particles.

It is obvious that the results were obtained because of the change in temperature. However, it is also possible to see that there is a difference in the cold washes, warm washes and hot washes between tests. This indicates that other variables can also affect the rate of reaction and the cleaning process.

Enzymes

To determine the effect that the presence of enzymes in detergent has on the cleaning ability two different laundry powders were used. The first, Woolworths Home Brand, did not contain enzymes and the second, Fab Laundry Detergent, did. This was observed on the packaging on both of the detergents. It was ensured that between tests only one variable was changed (the detergent) to maintain accurate results.

It was hypothesised that if the laundry detergent contains enzymes then the rate of reaction will increase. This hypothesis was supported by about 72% of the tests with the laundry detergent containing enzymes obtaining an average of about 3 shades lighter than that of the cloth washed with the laundry detergent with no enzymes. The difference between the detergent with no enzymes and the detergent with enzymes is greatest when the cloth is washed in the cold washes and the 10 minute saturations. While most of the time the enzyme laundry detergent produced better results, a number of unexpected results can also be seen through the data. It was hypothesised that enzymes would produce better results than no enzymes regardless of the controlled variables. However in 3 tests, the detergent with no enzymes yielded worse results than the same test with a detergent containing enzymes by between 1 and 3 shades. These anomalies (seen in Appendix 7) occurred in the [Cold Wash, Concentration 2, No Agitation, 30 minutes] test, the [Warm Wash, Concentration 1, Agitation, 10 minutes] test and the [Hot Wash, Concentration 2, No Agitation, 10 minutes]. As these tests have nothing in common it is not possible to make a conclusion about the determining factor and may have been cause by an error. Another 7 tests produced the same shade of colour in the resulting cloth. In the [Cold Wash, Concentration 1, No Agitation, 30 minutes], [Warm Wash, Concentration 1, Agitation, 20 minutes], [Warm Wash, Concentration 1, Agitation, 30 minutes], [Warm Wash, Concentration 1, No Agitation, 30 minutes], [Warm Wash, Concentration 2, No Agitation, 30 minutes], [Hot Wash, Concentration 2, No Agitation, 20 minutes] and [Hot Wash, Concentration 2, No Agitation, 30 minutes] tests, the presence of enzyme had no influence on the final product (seen in Appendix 11).

Enzymes will normally increase the rate of reaction and improve the cleaning process because of the characteristic that allows them to lower the activation energy of a chemical reaction and decrease the reaction time. By lowering the activation energy each collision between particles and subsequent reaction requires less energy to be successful. The three dimensional shape of an enzyme brings reactant closer together into its active site, therefore allowing the chemical bonds to weaken and change with less energy.  An enzyme acts as a biological catalyst, increasing the rate of the reaction without changing the molecule and without raising the temperature. As the reaction requires less energy to occur the particles are more likely to have successful collisions. This explains why the enzyme detergent had more influence (raising the resultant shade by an average of 3 points) on cold and (raising the resultant shade by an average of 2.5 points) warm washes when compared to the influence it had on the hot washes (raising the resultant shade by an average of 1.5 points). The hot washes have adequate energy to overcome the activation energy without the use of enzymes because of the additional heat energy. Using enzymes in the cooler washes had more effect because the reduced energy was able to be used more efficiently in the reactions as a result of the enzymes.

Concentration

To determine the effect that the concentration of detergent has on the cleaning ability two different concentrations of powders were tested. The first, 1.25g, was taken from the recommended usage for the Fab Laundry Detergent and scaled down to fit the amount of water being used (100mL). The second concentration used was double the first amount to create a significant difference and with the anticipation that the results would vary greatly. It was ensured that between tests only one variable was changed (the detergent) to maintain accurate results.

It was hypothesised that if the concentration of laundry detergent was increased then the rate of reaction would increase and the tablecloth would be cleaned more effectively. The results revealed that this was not the case 66% of the time. In fact in 24/36 tests, concentration 1 (the smaller amount of laundry detergent) proved to result in a cleaner cloth (see Appendix 12). 6/8 of the best results obtained (colour 22 and 23) used concentration one. While there were 4 tests conducted that supported the hypothesis, the majority went against it. Where the hypothesis was supported and concentration 2 obtained a better result the difference between was minimal, only 1 or 2 shades. An anomaly in this data, where concentration 2 achieved a better result by more than 3 shades if colour was the result from the [No Enzyme, Cold Wash, Agitation, 20 Minutes] test.  

Although the results from the experiment were unexpected they can be explained using relevant theory. It was expected that the increase in the concentration of laundry detergent would result in a crowding of the particles and therefore an increase the likelihood of particles colliding (see Appendix 7). However, in the experiments conducted it seemed as though the amount of water and stained cloth limited the amount of detergent that was used in the reaction. It was observed that when the 2^nd concentration was used in tests the water was cloudy at the end of the saturation time. This may be due to an excess amount of detergent being used and the water acting as a limiting reagent in the reaction. This limiting reagent will stop the reaction when it is completely consumed and there is nothing the excess reactant can continue to react with. So, increasing the concentration will only increase the reaction rate while there is a ratio where each reactant can be used completely.

Agitation

To determine the effect of agitation on the cleaning process the tests were conducted controlling the other variables and saturating the cloth in either an agitated beaker (with magnetic stirrer) or a beaker with no agitation. In order to obtain fair and accurate results while testing the effect of agitation, it was ensured that the variables water, detergent, concentration of detergent, temperature and time were controlled.

For this section of the experiment it was hypothesised that if agitation was present then the rate of reaction would increase and the cloth would become cleaner. The hypothesis was supported by about 55% of the results (20/36) where agitation provided a better result; however, agitation did not affect 16% results and the cloth without agitation achieved a better result 25% of the time (see Appendix 9). The results suggest that agitation had a greater influence on the cold and warm washes than the hot washes. This trend is seen when comparing the percentage of cold and warm wash tests with agitation that achieved better results than the tests without agitation with the percentage of hot wash tests with agitation that achieved better results than the tests without agitation. About 62% of cold and warm wash tests were improved by the use of agitation compared to only about 40% of hot wash tests improved by agitation (see Appendix 13).  While 5 out of 8 of the best results (22 and 23) were obtained with the use of agitation, the worst 3 results (4 and 5) were also obtained with the use of enzymes (see Appendix 8). These results strongly suggest that agitation only affects the result slightly compared to some of the other variables.

The effect agitation has on the rate of reaction and subsequent cleaning of the cloth is related to the increase in the likelihood of collision. Agitation keeps reactant particles in motion increasing the chance of collision in the correct orientation (AUS-e-TUTE, 2013). The stirring also increases the kinetic energy of the particles and therefore increases the chance of the activation energy being obtained in a reaction. However, where the other variables are together decreasing the rate of reaction the presence of agitation does not have as much of an influence over the result and will not be able to change the outcome.

Time

To determine the effect of the saturation time on the cleaning process the tests were conducted over 10, 20 and 30 minutes. 3 pieces of material were in each beaker and 1 was removed after 10 minutes, another was removed after 20 minutes and the third was removed after 30 minutes so that the environment and variables were controlled.

It was hypothesised that if the time was increased then the resulting fabric would be cleaner. The results supported the hypothesis to some extent. Overall, the 20 and 30 minutes washes outperformed the 10 minute wash almost 100% of the time. However, when comparing the results from the 20 and 30 minute tests the improvement is not as obvious if there is an improvement at all. In fact, the 30 minute wash only obtained the best results in 12 out of 36 tests, obtaining the same result as the 20 minutes wash in 7 tests and the 20 minute wash obtaining the better result in 3 tests (see Appendix 14). 3 of the 4 tests that achieved the highest result (23) were saturated for a total of 30 minutes (see Appendix 8).  

The longer the material is left in the water the cleaner it should become. This should occur because the reaction has the greatest amount of time to take place and therefore particles should collide more in 30 minutes than with the same variables in 10 and 20 minutes. A factor that may have affected these results quite dramatically and could explain the discrepancy between the practical and theoretical components is the colour of the original material before being placed in the beaker. While every piece of material was stained by turmeric, each cloth had a varying degree. If a single piece of cloth was stained to a lesser degree than another it could take less time to remove the stain.

Errors

A number of errors were made during the experiment that may have affected the accuracy and validity of the results. As mentioned above, the original degree of stain in each individual piece of cloth was not considered or observed. The resulting colour of the material may have been improved relative to another piece of material because the original stain was not as bad. Another mistake that was made during the experiment was that the surface areas of each detergent were not considered. Prior research (available in log book) has made it known that surface area will affect rate of reaction and therefore the cleaning process. So while the detergents had similar surface areas the effect of the difference cannot be shown. As well as this it was assumed that the Home Brand laundry detergent had no enzymes. As it wasn’t listed on the product packaging it was assumed that like most home brand detergents it did not contain enzymes (according to prior research) but it is a possibility that there were some form of enzymes present. In the experiment for temperature it was found that maintaining the temperature on a hot plate was extremely difficult. Often the temperature of the water became too high because the hot plate would continue to heat the water past the required temperature. If not monitored very closely, the temperature could not be kept completely consistent throughout the entire saturation time.

Improvements

Improvements could have been made to this investigation in order to be an accurate representation of a washing technique. The use of an actual washing machine and a full size table cloth would have improved the validity of the experiment and provided results relevant to the task. The experiment may also have been improved by increasing the accuracy of measurements, controlling the environment, controlling the surface area of each detergent and observing the initial staining of each individual piece of cloth. Using a wider variety of concentrations of detergent would have greatly improved this experiment as knowing the minimum amount of detergent that could be used to obtain the greatest result would enable a justified recommendation. As well as this, to improve the experiment, different brands of washing detergent should have been tested as other brands may have been more effective.

Recommendation

It is recommended that a tablecloth stained with Turmeric is washed in a detergent containing enzymes, at a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius, with a concentration of laundry detergent equal to 1.25g/0.1L, agitation and a saturation time of greater than 30 minutes. This wash will, without fail, deliver the best results and clean the tablecloth completely. However, it is understood as a restaurant business the economic impact of this wash would be too great for the return. Considering this, there are two viable options that would satisfy both the economic needs and cleaning standards of the restaurant. Assuming that a colour greater than ‘20’ on the colour scale was accepted as ‘clean’, the cost of cleaning the tablecloth can be reduced greatly. The first option would be to use a home brand detergent (one without enzymes) in a hot wash, with agitation (as in a normal washing machine) for a period of 30 minutes or longer. The home brand detergent is consistently cheaper than the premium enzyme detergent however the advantages of the enzyme detergent can be nullified through the use of other increasing factors. The other option is to use an enzyme detergent in a warm wash with agitation for a period of 30 minutes or longer. The use of an enzyme detergent decreases the temperature needed to obtain a clean tablecloth. The benefits in the reduction of electricity cost (using a warm wash instead of a hot wash) compared to the reduction in detergent cost will determine which of these two recommendations should be used at the restaurant.

Penicillin

The discovery and development of penicillin was heavily influenced by a variety of factors. There were numerous factors that impacted both the discovery and development including war, government involvement, individual skill, teamwork, scientific method, technology, beliefs and attitudes, money and chance.

Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1929. This discovery depended on a number of key factors, specifically Fleming’s individual skills, WWI, his beliefs and attitude and an element of chance. These factors were particularly important because of their influence in Fleming’s field of work and scientific method.

During the First World War, Fleming served in the British Army’s medical corps and worked in military hospitals. He was often left to treat men who were not fatally wounded but still died from infection. This experience in war hugely contributed to the development of penicillin because of the influence it had over Fleming’s beliefs and attitudes. After working in military hospitals, Fleming became a Professor of Bacteriology and in his work, searched for a way to prevent the spread of infection. After being influenced by the war, his attitude towards the lack of knowledge about infection completely changed. He became determined to find a solution to these deadly infections.

While doing research on the flu, a combination of individual skill and chance led Fleming to discover the antibiotic penicillin. Fleming was known to be quite careless in his laboratory and after returning from a holiday, found that a bit of mould had fallen into a culture plate containing bacteria. This mould had killed off the bacteria around it, forming a clear patch. Fleming’s level of skill allowed him to recognise the importance of this observation and if anybody else had come across the dish, the importance of penicillin may never have been discovered. As well as this, it was simply chance that the laboratory provided the ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria and mould. Fleming recognised the potential benefits of using penicillin as an antibiotic but could not continue to develop it because he did not have the enough money, individual skill or support he needed to use it as a treatment for general infections.

Howard Florey and Ernst Chain were able to develop penicillin into a useful antibiotic because of a number of factors Fleming did not possess including government involvement, WWII, teamwork, individual skill, money, scientific method and chance.

Howard Florey’s first decision to recruit a team of scientists that were to work together on the development of penicillin was perhaps the most influential factor. By gathering a team of scientists he increased the level of experience, skill and scientific background into the development of this promising drug. Florey’s team consisted of individual members concentrating on the area in which they had the most knowledge. For example, Ernst Chain worked on purifying penicillin, a problem that Alexander Fleming encountered, with 2 other scientists. Using the individual skill of several experienced scientists in a team environment made the development of penicillin possible.

As well as individual skill and teamwork, money was also huge factor in the development of penicillin. After experiencing remarkably successful results the team needed drug companies to help it produce the large amounts required to test patients. Unfortunately, companies in Britain were unable to provide the financial help because of the Second World War had started and the production of medicine was in high demand. Against the wishes of Ernst Chain, Howard Florey travelled to America to explain the development of penicillin. This led to the funding that penicillin needed to be mass produced. This mass production meant that the effects of penicillin could be tested on more people. Without this vital funding and perhaps even the war and demand for effective treatments, the development of penicillin never would have been possible. 

Effect of the Gallipoli Campaign on Australian Identity

The horrors that were experienced by the soldiers fighting in Gallipoli significantly shaped and influenced the Australian identity and uniqueness that is still known today. During World War 1, Australian soldiers were called upon to fight for Britain in a number of campaigns including that of Gallipoli. Before the outbreak of war in Europe, the Australian identity was distinctly different because of the British influence over the nation.  While the Australian soldiers were fighting in Gallipoli they experienced terrible living and fighting conditions. These awful conditions changed the Australian soldiers and convinced them of their identity as Australian rather than British. When the soldiers returned home from Gallipoli, their changed spirit and new found identity spread throughout the nation and a new Australian was born.The campaign in Gallipoli was great and horrifying enough to radically affect the Australian spirit and identity.

Prior to 1914, Australia was a nation that considered themselves as an extension of the British Empire rather than an independent country with different aspirations and beliefs. Australia was still a developing nation and was struggling to develop an identity separate from that of England. During the years before the outbreak of war, with the Japanese gaining power daily, Australia adjusted its aspirations and specifically supported the development of the naval and military forces. Young boys that grew up before 1914 were deliberately taught the virtues of patriotism and the glories of race and Empire. Essentially, the government was ensuring that when the war eventually broke out these same boys would feel compelled to enlist in the army to protect the British Empire. Australians believed they were obligated to support Britain and so when the call came to defend the Empire their eagerness could not be contained.

The conditions that the soldiers went through while fighting in Gallipoli had an enormous and immediate impact on their spirit and the pride they held in being Australian. The Gallipoli campaign was fought under physically demanding conditions but soldiers also became aware of the poor British leadership, that their lives were of little value to higher authority and that the strength of their Australian spirit was enough to give them greater faith in themselves over their British leadership. As the war in Gallipoli dragged on, the horrors only intensified. The whole Gallipoli operation cost Australia 26111 casualties, including 8141 deaths.  Some believe this number was largely due to the poor British leadership and their lack of care for the Australian soldiers. The Australians experienced horrific injuries, lack of nutrition, poor leadership, new and unknown illnesses and diseases among other things while fighting in Gallipoli. Australians respected the British less as this continued and to started to believe in each other and the value of mateship and brotherhood.  They began to pride themselves in being Australian rather than British and instead of fighting to protect Britain they were fighting to protect and prove Australia and it’s strength. An Australian spirit was born within the terrifying conditions that were Gallipoli and it was this spirit that led the nation to find a new sense of identity.

When the soldiers that had survived the war returned home they brought with them a sense of pride and unique traits that founded an Australian identity that was not there before. This campaign, among many others, is what began the moment and national feeling towards becoming a united nation. The way in which Australians looked at themselves and their world had been radically adjusted and the generations of Australians that came after the war were brought up with new and different values that were now considered ‘Australian’. The media was one of the many influences over this change in spirit and identity for a number of reasons. Newspapers, photographs, books and magazines all proclaimed this sense of pride in their soldiers that had not been reported on before; the public believed it. They printed their disappointment in the British leaders and told stories of the terrible conditions and through this the public was led to appreciate the enormity of war and experience the same sense of pride that the soldiers felt in themselves and their country. 

In 2011, this is all still know and remembered because of the countless tributes to the Australian soldiers including ANZAC Day Parades, RSL clubs, patriotic movies and several documentaries. Australia as a country learnt the values of mateship, unity, bravery, friendship, endurance, tenacity and pride through the battles that were Gallipoli.

Even though only a fifth of Australians actually fought in Gallipoli, it affected the identity of everybody in the entire nation. Before the war, during the war and after the war had finished the Australian identity was continually changing and developing. Although before the war the Australians were struggling to separate themselves from their British origins, afterwards they had a distinct and unique identity which had stemmed from the soldiers experience in Gallipoli.  Despite being defeated, the Gallipoli campaign has become a defining moment in the development of the Australian identity.  

Atomic Energy

Atomic Energy

“The element uranium may be turned into new and important sources of energy” Einstein (1933)
“I am become death, destroyer of worlds” J. Robert Oppenheimer (fewer than 10 years later)
“Science has nothing to be ashamed of, even in the ruins of Nagasaki” Jacob Bronowski (conversely)

Considering these statements, and the on-going development of atomic energy and its uses, write an essay that:

a)                  explains atomic energy

b)                  compares the arguments for and against the use of atomic energy

c)                   presents your position on atomic energy

What is Atomic Energy?

Atomic energy is energy produced by atoms and most commonly referred to as nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is the result of splitting uranium atoms in a process called fission.  Scientists discovered that when an atom of uranium is struck by a fast moving particle called a neutron it breaks into two or three pieces. The splitting of the uranium produces vast amounts of energy in the form of both heat and light. The energy from splitting the atoms, when slowly released, can be used to produce electricity. When this chain reaction isn’t controlled and the energy is released all at once, a tremendous explosion occurs.

The energy from fission can be harnessed in a nuclear power plant by controlling and slowing down the chain reaction. When harnessing the energy, small amounts of uranium are placed inside long rods and loaded into nuclear reactors. Inside these nuclear reactors the atoms are split apart in a controlled and safe manner.

In the chain reaction, particles released from the splitting of one uranium atom can go on to split other uranium atoms. In order to control this chain reaction, control rods are used to regulate the splitting so that it does not occur too quickly.

This chain reaction produces heat energy which, in turn, is used to produce electricity.

Short History of the Development of Atomic Energy

The development of atomic energy started 200 years ago and is still on-going today.

In 1895 a German physicist discovered x-rays and since then contributions to the development of atomic energy have included the discovery of the electron, radioactive elements in radium and polonium, rays emitting from radium, isotopes, the theory of radioactive decay, the theory of relativity (E=mc²), the nucleus of an atom, the theory of atomic structure, nuclear reactions and quantum mechanics.

The power of nuclear energy soon became clear and a letter to President Roosevelt from Albert Einstein outlined its potential use as a dangerous weapon.

This letter includes the quote – “the element uranium may be turned into new and important sources of energy” (Albert Einstein, 1939). Before the Second World War, the element uranium had no known practical use. The letter was a warning to President Roosevelt during the Second World War of the possibility of constructing an extremely powerful bomb. In his letter, Einstein hinted that the German government intended to do just this.

Although there were many contributions, Einstein’s theory of relativity (E=mc²) was the most significant addition to the development of atomic energy.

Uses of Atomic/Nuclear Energy
Weaponry, Energy, Medicine

There are many uses for nuclear energy, some of which have only been identified very recently while others have been refined and developed to become more efficient and practical.

Weaponry

When nuclear energy was first developed it was used as a highly powerful and dangerous weapon, called an atomic bomb. Nuclear energy was useful as a weapon because of the enormous amount of energy it could give off in the form of an explosion. The atomic bomb has only ever been used in warfare twice. Both times it had devastating effects, killing thousands of people through the blast and then thousands more through radiation poisoning. However, in 1963 the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union all signed a nuclear test ban treaty that prohibited nuclear weapon testing in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water.

Energy

Nuclear energy provides the world with approximately 14% of its electricity. The first nuclear power station started operation in the 1950’s and there are now over 440 commercial nuclear power reactors operating in 30 countries. Many countries are highly dependent on this source of power. Fifteen countries depend on it for more than a quarter of their electricity while three quarters of France’s power is nuclear.

Medicine

Nuclear energy also plays a significant role in medicine. Nuclear energy plays a role in both the diagnosis and treatment process. Millions of nuclear medical procedures are undertaken each year. It is used to identify and treat many diseases and has potential to benefit the medical field greatly in the future.

For and Against

Since nuclear energy was first introduced there has always been a debate about whether or not nuclear energy should be used. Originally, it was feared as a weapon and when they started using it for electricity, there was strong objection and disapproval. Nuclear energy has many advantages and disadvantages and has impacted the world for both good and bad.

Economic

Nuclear energy has impacted the world economy both positively and negatively. There are huge economic benefits in building a nuclear power plant and using nuclear energy. These benefits include the creation of millions of job opportunities, the ability to generate substantial revenue in electricity sales and the fact that it consumes a large amount and a range of different materials.  As well as having many economical benefits, nuclear energy also has some disadvantages in terms of economic growth. The cost of building and financing a nuclear plant is very high and the cost of creating one is on the rise due to the shortage of parts and skills. Generally, most people agree that the economic advantages of using nuclear power outweigh the disadvantages but there is still much debate about whether the economic advantages are enough to overlook the other detriments.

 Environmental

The most controversial debate about nuclear power is whether it is better for the environment than other power sources or whether it just affects the environment in different ways. Both sides of the argument are relevant and important. On one side, nuclear energy appears to be a clean energy source that meets our growing energy needs. It helps to reduce green house gas emissions and has decreased our reliance on fossil fuels such as coal. Since nuclear power plants don’t ‘burn’ anything they also help protect air quality. However, on the other side nuclear power produces a lot of waste material. This waste material, or radioactive waste, takes thousands of years to decay and can be very harmful to the environment. It can impact the atmosphere, water sources and crops. There are limited options when it comes to disposing this waste safely for the long period of time that it needs to decay. This problem is a huge factor to consider when deciding whether or not you support nuclear power.

Moral

The moral and ethical aspects in the debate for and against nuclear energy are both prominent and important. This is where the quotes from both Oppenheimer and Bronowski have to be considered. The quote, “science has nothing to be ashamed of, even in the ruins of Nagasaki” (Jacob Bronowski), suggests that even after nuclear power was used to kill thousands of people, science cannot be blamed. Some believe that he is right in the fact that it was not science that caused those deaths but people and their immorality. Nuclear weapons are often the topic of debate when it comes to morals and what is acceptable in warfare. Although the US, UK and Russia have signed a treaty against the use of nuclear weapons, there is still approximately 23,000 in existence. After the first atomic bomb was detonated in New Mexico, Robert Oppenheimer, who had a role in the project, was noted as saying “I am become death, the destroyer of worlds”.  Within a month of him saying this, two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan. Another aspect that cannot be ignored when considering the moral decisions is the numerous meltdowns and nuclear accidents, the most recent of which happened last year after a tsunami hit the coast of Japan. There have been abundant nuclear accidents which have caused many health and environmental problems. The radiation from these ‘meltdowns’ has been known to cause cases of radioactive contamination and radiation poisoning leading to the death of humans and animals. The debate for and against always comes back to who is to blame for these problems. Nuclear power may be the right solution for our future but there is the fear of what humans could purposely or accidentally do with it and therefore has been treated with trepidation.

Discussion

I believe that nuclear power is an important and efficient source of energy that is a very good alternative to fossil fuels that emit harmful gases. I also believe that while the nuclear plants that we already have should be well maintained and continue to be used, the money invested in new projects should be used elsewhere. Instead of funding new power plants, this money should go towards more reliable, safe and renewable energy sources and towards research for a better way to dispose of nuclear waste and for developing safer and more reliable ways of obtaining energy from nuclear reactions.

Bibliography

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Vujovik, L 2009. ‘Albert Einstein’. Retrieved 23^rd January, 2012 from http://www.teslasociety.com/einstein.htm

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Edgreen, 2009. ‘Nuclear Energy’. Retrieved 23^rd January, 2012 from http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/n_renew/nuclear.htm

Energy Information Administration, 2011. ‘EIA Energy Kids – Nuclear’. Retrieved 24^th January, 2012 from http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_nuclear

Elert, G 2008. ‘Einstein’s letter to Roosevelt’. Retrieved 24^th January, 2012 from http://hypertextbook.com/eworld/einstein.shtml

HK, 2008. ‘Power Production, Nuclear Power’. Retrieved 25^th January, 2012 from http://www.hk-phy.org/energy/power/print/nuclear_phy_print_e.html

Bellis, M 2010. ‘Atomic Bomb Detonation at Hiroshima’. Retrieved 25^th January, 2012 from http://inventors.about.com/od/astartinventions/a/atomic_bomb_2.htm

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, 2011. ‘Nuclear Test Ban Treaty’. Retrieved 25^th January, 2012 from http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty.aspx

Peace Pledge Union, 2012. ‘Atomic Bomb.’ Retrieved 27^th January, 2012 from http://www.ppu.org.uk/learn/info/atom1.html

Krieger, D 2012. ‘Nuclear Weapons’. Retrieved 27^th January, 2012 from http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=18359

Weaver, L 2011. ‘Nuclear Power Good for Economy’. Retrieved 27^th January, 2012 from http://www.theledger.com/article/20090128/COLUMNISTS/901280304?p=1&tc=pg

Centre for American Progress, 2011. ’10 Reasons Not to Invest in Nuclear Energy’. Retrieved 28^th January, 2012 from http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/nuclear_energy.html

Nuclear Energy Institute, 2012. ‘Nuclear Energy’s Economic Benefits’. Retrieved 28^th January, 2012 from http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/newplants/whitepaper/jobs
Totty, M 2012. ‘The Case For and Against Nuclear Energy’. Retrieved 28^th January, 2012 from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121432182593500119.html

Abolition of Apartheid

What were the most significant factors in the ending of the apartheid system and who was more significant in that process: Nelson Mandela or F.W. de Klerk?

The end of apartheid is one of the most significant events in South African history and at the time presented much hope for the country in the form of peace and equality. This essay will outline the main influences in the ending of apartheid as well as discuss the significance of both Nelson Mandela and Fedrik Willem de Klerk in order to identify the most significant factor in the ending of apartheid. The apartheid in South Africa had meant that for 50 years the government had discriminated against the majority of South Africans because of the fact that they did not have white skin. This discrimination had caused death, racism, violence and uprisings. It had created an unstable and declining nation. There were however, two very significant men who are thought of as the two most important factors in the process of ending apartheid. Both Nelson Mandela and Fedrik Willem de Klerk (F W de Klerk) were crucial to the end of segregation in South Africa and the significance of their influence is not questioned. There were many factors, people and events that had major and minor impacts on both the end of apartheid and the decisions of Mandela and de Klerk. These factors included The United Nations, sanctions from surrounding nations, protest from the general public, several anti-apartheid groups, black activists, the ANC (African National Congress), violent uprisings, and black opposition in trade unions and schools among many others. It is clear just by the sheer amount of opposition that apartheid was severely disputed throughout both the country and the entire world. There were many influential, powerful and significant factors that helped peacefully end the apartheid in South Africa.

International pressure from nations across the world did influence and affect the country’s perspective on apartheid. The pressure on South Africa to change was coming from many governments as well as organisations such as the United Nations and other anti-apartheid groups. After the United Nations condemned apartheid in 1952 it tried to convince South Africa to discard their controversial form of government. The United Nations continued to criticize South Africa and eventually proposed tough economic sanctions to further convince the country that it needed to change. These sanctions would stop trade with South Africa, particularly in necessary supplies such as oil. Unfortunately, not all of the countries that were trading most with South Africa wanted this to happen. South Africa was also facing anti-apartheid governments in other nations. The Swedish government, who were strongly opposed to apartheid, supported and donated money to groups within South Africa against apartheid. The British Anti-Apartheid Movement however, instead of donating money, demonstrated their disapproval through sanctions on the sporting competitions between Britain and South Africa. They banned South Africa from the Olympics and stopped cricket and rugby matches between the nations. These sanctions were putting enormous pressure on the nation and consequently the South African economy started to struggle. International pressure as well as the pressure from within the country in terms of the declining economy was enough to convince most of the population that it was time for change in South Africa.

The raising awareness of the terrible realism of apartheid throughout the community also had a lot to do with certain black activists. These black activists were working to increase black consciousness and obtain equal rights for black communities. Leaders such as Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and Steve Biko worked for and with black communities inspiring hope, optimism and faith. Walter Sisulu was a South African anti-apartheid activist and member of the African National Congress. He was an active member of the ANC and travelled around the world gaining support for the apartheid struggle. Oliver Tambo was also a member of the ANC and worked alongside Sisulu trying to gain political power against apartheid as well as organising protests and riots to convince the South African Government to change. Steve Biko was slightly different in that he raised awareness amongst black communities of their worth and value. He tried to convince the black South Africans that they didn’t deserve to be discriminated against and that the government wasn’t right in treating them as less than equal. These three men as well as many other activists inspired the black communities to take a stand against the biased laws. They inspired and motivated protests such as the Soweto riots, the Vaal Triangle uprising, the Sharpeville Massacre and many other demonstrations. These protests raised enough awareness of the cause that the South African government realised people were prepared to question the law and order of the nation. Unfortunately, most of these uprisings ended with hundreds dead and thousands more injured. Black activists and anti-apartheid groups such as the ANC were very much a significant part in the changes in South Africa leading to the end of apartheid.

 Nelson Mandela was the most influential black activists in South Africa and worked for many years in order to fight the government and the rules of apartheid. In the earlier years of apartheid, Mandela led black protests in order to raise awareness of the unfair and unjust rules that were governing the country. He increased his anti-apartheid efforts when he joined the ANC and realised that peaceful protests were not working as effectively as they had hoped.  In 1960, Mandela proposed to the ANC that they set up a military wing to organise more noticeable acts of protest. The ANC agreed and Mandela proceeded to form Umkhonto we Sizwe. He organised bombings, and such acts, with no intention for injury or death but instead to bring attention to the anti-apartheid cause. In 1963, Mandela and several other members of Umkonto we Sizwe were arrested and stood trial for ‘plotting to overthrow the government by violence’. He and the eight other members were sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island. During his years in prison, he became widely known and accepted by the black community as a symbol of resistance to the apartheid system. During his years in prison, Nelson Mandela inspired many uprisings and protests amongst black communities. This was because during all his time in prison he did not give up on his idea that the apartheid rules should be fought. Instead of negotiating his freedom, he continued his work and teachings.  He became known for his persistence and determination and was respected for it. His imprisonment raised awareness of the black peoples’ struggles both nationally and internationally. He is often associated with being the inspiration for all black protest in South Africa and can be truthfully credited for a lot of the black resistance to the apartheid system. While Mandela inspired the people and changed the way apartheid was viewed in South Africa and around the world, the government still refused to change. Mandela’s imprisonment, the increasing protests and the call for change meant that it seemed unlikely South Africa would ever be able to solve their escalating crisis without falling into civil war.

With the population and economy of South Africa suffering from national and international pressure, the nation knew that something would have to change. In 1989, F.W. de Klerk was elected to lead the country after promising to unite South Africa. F.W. de Klerk knew that as a leader, he had to do something to bring South Africa back to the situation of law and order. He also realised that because of international pressure, the South African economy was in distress. He knew that although he and his party, the National Party, had always strongly supported the apartheid laws, something in South Africa had to change.  He is considered one of the most significant influences to the end of apartheid because of the changes he made to ensure equal rights for each South African. To further demonstrate his belief in a multiracial nation, he released Nelson Mandela, unbanned the ANC (who had been banned since 1960) and promised to work towards a fair law system where there would be equal rights regardless of skin colour. He met with Mandela and other leaders and members of the ANC. They discussed the need for change in South Africa and attempted to identify a compromise to apartheid without upsetting the white minority. In his first act as the president of South Africa, de Klerk had completely and officially discarded the idea of white supremacy. His position had allowed him to take advantage of the existing pressure and need for change to ensure a peaceful transition out of apartheid. As president of South Africa, he managed to make drastic changes to the governing of a torn country, gained respect for working towards equal rights for all South Africans and allowed the nation to move forward in terms of law enforcement and economy. F.W. de Klerk was hugely significant in the ending of unfair discrimination and in the establishment of a new, multiracial, united South Africa.

Although Fedrik Willem de Klerk was extremely valuable and important, Nelson Mandela was more significant to the ending of apartheid in South Africa for a number of reasons. His impact on the process of ending apartheid was more significant in that it lasted for longer, affected more people and is still considered a representation of the struggle in South Africa. More so than de Klerk, he is recognised today as the single symbol of resistance. He affected people on an emotional scale and initiated the change of attitude within South Africa. His determination, passion and courage were crucial to his significance. As well as F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela there were many beneficial influences in gaining momentum for the anti-apartheid cause. However, although there were many factors that contributed to the ending of apartheid, Nelson Mandela was the most significant.

Bibliography

"Biography." F.W. De Klerk -. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1993/klerk-bio.html>.

"Biography." Nelson Mandela. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1993/mandela-bio.html>.

"The End of Apartheid - HistoryWiz South Africa." HistoryWiz: For Students, Teachers and Lovers of History. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.historywiz.com/end.htm>.

"Nelson Mandelas." Nelson Mandela Apartheid. 2011. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.nelsonmandelas.com/apartheid.php>.

Teens VS. The World - [Feature Article]

Teens Vs. The World Untold plight of an oppressed generation

Renee Terz reports

It’s 2013 and the world is different, we know that. But has it really changed? Are we moving forward? Or have we stopped? Have the issues that we, as a society, faced 20, 30 years ago been resolved? Racism, sexism, abuse and poverty still exist and have become even more prevalent. We don’t have world peace or a solution for global warming. These controversial social issues have always been at the forefront of intense media attention, the top of the world’s ‘to-do’ list and the number one priority. Surprisingly, they haven’t been fixed, solved or dealt with.

As these issues persist, the question of who to blame is often answered by pointing the finger at our youngest generation, the ‘leaders of the future’, the energetic, innovative, creative adolescents. And so, as the current generation of teenagers find themselves experiencing their first kisses, first days of high school, nasty friendships and controlling parents, they are also faced with the overwhelming issues of a society they are expected to influence and inspire. Of course, where there are songs about the first kisses, first days, friends and parents there are also songs addressing the world, our society and the idea of change.

Much of music today that deals with social commentary does so with prejudiced ideologies of responsibility and culpability at heart.   

It Always Seems to Go
The classic, ageless nature of music

Originally released by Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi has been referred to as a cultural phenomenon. Recorded during the 70’s, a period known for iconic, reactionary tunes, Big Yellow Taxi advocates for the protection of the environment. The timeless relevance and meaning of the song, as well as it’s unfailing

popularity has led to the track being covered four times by different artists over the last 40 years. Most recently recorded by Counting Crows in 2003, the song is still well-known by younger generations.

When Big Yellow Taxi was first released, the song reflected the cultural values of a society only beginning to comprehend the environmental impact of urban development. The song speaks directly of Mitchell’s reaction to the destruction of a forest in Hawaii to build a resort. Through the lyrics, it is obvious that Joni Mitchell aimed to encourage listeners to accept that urban development caused the destruction of beauty.

“They paved paradise and put up a parking lot”

When Mitchell released the song, this phrase encompassed the key message she was trying to portray. It outlines her beliefs relating to the topic of environmentalism and conservation. Through the use of the word ‘paradise’, listeners are invited to adopt a protective discourse. By depicting the natural environment as faultless, perfect, an ‘ideal’, it encourages listeners to act against the destruction caused by urban development and protect what Mitchell believes is paradise. Interestingly, the biblical representation of ‘paradise’ is very similar to the image she is trying to portray. Incorporating a religious discourse meant that listeners related her message to ideas of hope and faith. This similar representation of paradise further emphasised the importance of the protection of the environment against urban development.

“They took all the trees and put them in a tree museum
And they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them”

This verse further emphasises the immoral nature in the destruction of our environment for money. The lyrics describe the irony involved in cutting down trees only to build a museum in which to display them. By using this style of language and representing the destruction of trees as pointless, Mitchell presented an alternative reading to listeners. In this, she suggested that as well as being destructive, urban development served no true purpose.

Through Mitchell’s use of specific, stimulating language and clever use of irony she positioned the listener to accept the ideas surrounding environmentalism that are represented in the lyrics. The popularity and success of this song in the 1970’s is entirely related to the values and beliefs that were shared by Joni Mitchell and her audience about this relatively modern social issue. However, as the first-world society has progressed and the issue of sustainability and urban development has become familiar and less eminent, the influence and feeling of the song has changed.

“Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”

To ensure the listeners feel connected and attached to the lyrics in this section the artist has used second-person narrative and a simple, straightforward approach. It’s almost begging for you to respond with: “Yes! Yes it does!” In Big Yellow Taxi’s latest release by the Counting Crows in 2003, this particular phrase is of greater significance and importance than ever before. While the environmental basis of the song still exists, the views and beliefs of a different social context have shifted the focus to incorporate contemporary issues. In particular, the ideas of regret and despair that are reflected in this phrase allow youth to easily relate and respond to the message of the song.

While teenagers face the harsh reality of growing up, losing the innocence of their childhood and standing up against a world with huge expectations, Big Yellow Taxi provides comfort and  reassurance  in relation to the normality of feeling ‘powerless’ that is a part of this ‘crazy thing called life’.

They’re Just Waiting on the World
Can we blame them for their apprehension?

John Mayer is an American pop and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist and music producer who has had huge success both in the U.S. and around the world. While his time in Hollywood has left him with some public disapproval and criticism, no-one can argue that his music isn’t some of the best of his generation.

His song ‘Waiting on the World to Change’, released in 2006, was one of the first that directly addressed the lack of change the world has undergone. Kelefa Sanneh of the New York Times called the song “a lovely and anger-free ode to a vaguely dissatisfied generation.” The single ‘Waiting on the World to Change’ from his album ‘Continuum’ is a moving apologia for ‘Gen Z’s’ seemingly endless sense of ‘apathy’.

“Me and all my friends we’re all misunderstood
They say we stand for nothing and there’s no way we ever could”

In the first verse, Mayer develops the foundation for the political theme seen through the song.  Although the lines seem vague, after a little scrutiny it is clear to see who is being represented in the lyrics. The phrase ‘me and all my friends’ refers to Mayer and his entire generation; a generation of young, confused teenagers. Conversely, ranging from disapproving parents to reigning governments, ‘they’ could refer to anyone with the ability to tyrannise or intimidate these same adolescents. These lyrics also represent Mayer and his generation as though they expect the world to change so that they can hold onto their fixed views. 

”Now we see everything that’s going wrong with the world and those who lead it
We just feel like we don’t have the means to rise above and beat it”

In these lines it is possible for listeners to expose a discourse of hopelessness and distress that Mayer believes is being felt by an oppressed generation. Through the words ‘we don’t have the means to rise above and beat it’, Mayer tries to explain to the listener the reason for Gen Z’s apparent ‘lack of concern’ relating to world issues and the overwhelming sense of understanding. He directly exposes his belief that the oppression of youth is related to the increasing magnitude of social issues. The first-person perspective Mayer exploits in the lyrics encourages listeners to feel comfortable to adopt the ideology Mayer privileges because of the personable aspect it provides.

“So we keep waiting, waiting on the world to change”

Finally, the repetition of these lyrics throughout the song suggests that Mayer believes they embrace the values and beliefs he is attempting to represent. As the lyrics describe, listeners are invited to accept that ‘teens’ or ‘Gen Z’ have been seemingly inactive because they are waiting for the world to change for them.

While the youth of today view Mayer’s song as relevant and significant in meaning, other listeners may find they are reluctant to accept Mayer’s ‘excuse’ for his generation.  This resistant reading may originate from an older group who feel as though it is the responsibility of the younger generation to create change and influence the world.

These two songs are intended to bring about change, make us doubt our way of thinking and the things we take for granted. Is it right to place the blame on a generation who haven’t had the chance to drive, see an ‘R’ rated movie or vote?

So, as the world changes before us, will we be able to act in time to save the social and physical integrity of it? Will we spend too long waiting for it to change for us?  Or is it true that we can’t truly see the beauty of what we have until we lose it?