The Pros and Cons of Solar Power

The prospect of generating pollution-free power from the sun’s rays is appealing, but to-date the low price of oil combined with the high costs of developing new technology have prevented the widespread adoption of solar power in the United States and beyond. At a current cost of 25 to 50 cents per kilowatt-hour, solar power costs as much as five times more than conventional fossil fuel-based electricity. And dwindling supplies of polysilicon, the element found in traditional photovoltaic cells, are not helping. The Politics of Solar Power According to Gary Gerber of the Berkeley, California-based Sun Light Power, not long after Ronald Reagan moved into the White House in 1980 and removed the solar collectors from the roof that Jimmy Carter had installed, tax credits for solar development disappeared and the industry plunged â€Å"over a cliff.† Federal spending on solar energy picked up under the Clinton administration, but trailed off again once George W. Bush took office. But growing climate change worries and high oil prices have forced the Bush administration to reconsider its stance on alternatives like solar, and the White House has proposed $148 million for solar energy development in 2007, up almost 80 percent from what it invested in 2006. Increasing the Efficiency and Lowering the Cost of Solar Power In the realm of research and development, enterprising engineers are working hard to get solar power’s costs down, and expect it to be price-competitive with fossil fuels within 20 years. One technological innovator is California-based Nanosolar, which replaces the silicon used to absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity with a thin film of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS). Nanosolar’s Martin Roscheisen says CIGS-based cells are flexible and more durable, making them easier to install in a wide range of applications. Roscheisen expects he will be able to build a 400-megawatt electricity plant for about a tenth of the price of a comparable silicon-based plant. Other companies making waves with CIGS-based solar cells include New York’s DayStar Technologies and California’s Miasolà ©. Another recent innovation in solar power is the co-called â€Å"spray-on† cell, such as those made by Massachusetts’ Konarka. Like paint, the composite can be sprayed on to other materials, where it can harness the sun’s infrared rays to power cell phones and other portable or wireless devices. Some analysts think spray-on cells could become five times more efficient than the current photovoltaic standard. Venture Capitalists Investing in Solar Power Environmentalists and mechanical engineers aren’t the only ones bullish on solar these days. According to the Cleantech Venture Network, a forum of investors interested in clean renewable energy, venture capitalists poured some $100 million into solar start-ups of all sizes in 2006 alone, and expect to commit even more money in 2007. Given the venture capital community’s interest in relatively short-term returns, it’s a good bet that some of today’s promising solar start-ups will be tomorrow’s energy behemoths. EarthTalk is a regular feature of E/The Environmental Magazine. Selected EarthTalk columns are reprinted on About Environmental Issues by permission of the editors of E.

College Sports Gambling - 2514 Words

With all of the controversy of gambling in college sports, why is the issue still an issue? The answer is money. There were actions taken towards this by Congress, but the problem is that it was never completely abolished. Congress had made the mistake of creating a way around it. It is now commonly referred to as the Las Vegas loophole. They outlawed the betting nationwide with the exception of one state, one state that is the capital of gambling, Nevada. This has caused few changes, with the exception of the ever-growing revenue that it generates. Another reason the legality still remains is one not frequently mentioned, but the question of the ban being constitutional. But no matter what the law, is there†¦show more content†¦People of all kinds are in agreeance that the impact of this law would hardly be worth the effort. John Shelk, vice president of the American Gaming Association, also stated It s not like Congress is going to pass a law that bans legal gambling, and students across the country will say, ‘Oh my God, I can t gamble anymore because it s illegal. Sen. McCain, co-author of last year s Senate bi ll, had countered his opinion to ESPN.com by saying, I don t think we have to choose between enforcing existing laws on illegal gambling and closing the loophole on legal gambling. McCain added, we can do both. McCain and others claim that eliminating legalized gambling in Nevada would be an essential first step on stopping the college sports gambling. Critics disagree. They believe that the attempt to chip away at illegal sports gambling isn t a logical first step, at all. The fact of the college sports gambling, is that there is too much publicity, popularity, and money surrounding this particular gambling sport. In the beginning there was a problem with popularity. From 1951-1974, there was a 10% excise tax levied by the Federal Government on the amount of sports wagers. The tax made the business unprofitable since the profit margin was generally 5%Show MoreRelatedGambling in Intercollegiate Athletics: The Perception, Reality, and Consequences1121 Words   |  5 PagesGambling can be found in places such as casinos, local stores, and online. Over the years, gambling has found more homes. College campuses and college sports are among the various places in which gambling is taking place. College students and more specifically student-athletes are engaging in gambling for various reasons. According to (Huang, Jacobs, Derevensky, Gupta, Paskus, 2007)â€Å"the top 3 reported reasons for student- athlete gambling were â€Å"for fun† (75.6%), â€Å"to win money† (53%), and â€Å"forRead MoreEffects Of Gambling On College Students861 Words   |  4 Pages Gambling is the activity or practice of playing a game of chance for money or other stakes. Activities that are considered gambling are betting on sports and races, lotteries, card games like blackjack and poker, and casino games like slots and roulette. Bingo and raffles are technically gambling, but there are no major concerns about them, so they are not included here. Though gambling is legal within many states, it is does not make it right for people to engage in such activitiesRead MoreEffects Of Gambling On College Students861 Words   |  4 PagesGambling is the activity or practice of playing a game of chance for money or other stakes. Activities that are considered gambling are betting on sports and races, lotteries, card games like blackjack and poker, and casino games like slots and roulette. Bingo and raffles are technically gambling, but there are no major concerns about them, so they are not included here. Though gambling is legal within many states, it is does not make it right for people to engage in such activities. This is especiallyRead MoreGambling and Sports1027 Words   |  5 PagesShould Sports Gambling Be Legalized? Gambling is a common practice throughout human history, one that appeals to the individual’s desire for gain and offers the thrill of risk or uncertainty. Sports gambling is the â€Å"wagering of money or other items of value on the outcome of a sporting event, dependent either wholly or in part on chance† (Thompson, 2008, p. 1). Sports gambling generates billions of dollars annually, with large events like the Super Bowl or World Series alone able toRead MoreImpact of Gambling on Athletes and Coaches905 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Gambling has an adverse impact on the individual athletes or coachs integrity. Reputation diminishes, and the athlete becomes better known for participation in gambling activities than for athletic feats and career accomplishments. Gambling scandals can ruin careers, and permanently mar the individuals ability to participate in the sport again. As Finley, Finley Fountain (n.d.). point out, gambling also has the potential to ruin the integrity of the entire team, league, or whole sport. EnsuringRead MoreBenefits Of Gambling Among College Students1147 Words   |  5 PagesGambling Among College Students Gambling is risking money or something of value on uncertain events driven by chance. Most people see gambling as just another form of fun. Gambling often becomes a sensitive issue for the gambler and their family. This is especially important to consider, since the practice of gambling among college students is constantly growing with the rise of internet-based gambling.Though gambling is legal in many states, it does not make it right for people to engage in suchRead MoreThe American Gaming Association ( Aga )1465 Words   |  6 Pageslegal betting on sports can take place. Delaware and New Jersey have taken steps towards legalizing sport betting; however, many are against the legalization. Although some may argue that legalizing sport betting in all states will be beneficial to the economy, sport betting shouldn’t be legalized because it can lead to harmful addictions, criminal activity, and affects the integrity of sports in a negative way. Sport betting has been a part of many scandals in American sports. Athletes, coachesRead MoreEssay on Harmful Effects of Legalized Gambling1644 Words   |  7 PagesEffects of Legalized Gambling Gambling is prominent in todays society. This can be seen especially through politics. Everywhere voters are electing people to office who are pro gambling. William Thompson of the University of Nevada (1994) describes politicians by stating, Its part of the American landscape, theyll trade morality for dollars (1). In North and South Carolina, for example, the last governor election showed that the people were for legal gambling by voting in governorsRead More Gambling Essay1614 Words   |  7 Pages Gambling, while it lowers taxes and creates jobs, it also causes addicts to lose money and therefore creates a higher crime rate.A Quick History of Gambling.Gambling was a popular pastime in North America long before there was ever a United States. Playing cards and dice were brought over by both the British and the Dutch. By the end of the 17th century, just about every countryseat in colonial America had a lottery wheel. Cockfighting flourished thoughout the countries, espec ially in the SouthRead MoreEssay Cheating in Sports1397 Words   |  6 PagesCheating in Sports Sports are governed by sets of rules or customs and often, competition. Sports have always been a way to connect us to our past and to build optimism about the future. Sport’s a way to bond the people despite differences in race, age and gender. However, today the game that is supposed to teach character, discipline and team work is teaching cheating. And in today’s world, with fame, endorsement, drugs and so much to gain, it is not surprising that athletes are cheating in

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Partition and Scramble of Africa - 1582 Words

INTRODUCTION It can be refferd to as a period whereby European powers colonised, invaded, occupied and annexed African territories in a very rapid and unprecedented manner, even though there was little interest in Africa up to the 1870s. In fact, up to 1880 Europeans ruled merely 10% of the African continent. Yet within 30 years, by 1914, European nations will have claimed all of Africa except Liberia (a small territory of freed slaves from the United States) and Abyssinia (Ethiopia), which had successfully held off Italian invaders at the battle of Adowa in 1896. The partitioning of Africa was seen as a means of easing tensions between European states which was high in the late 19th century and avoid a full blown out war in Europe†¦show more content†¦Therefore, New Imperialism was backed up by industrialists who, while extending the limits of their markets, promoted the political expansion of western empires. The wish to realize new investments in Africa. Industrial bourgeois were co nstantly searching for lucrative investments, ranging from the exploitation of natural resources, such as farming or mining extraction, to production of goods, such as electric appliances, or to services, such as legal counselling. The new businesses in Africa provided huge returns because the western consumers demanded more and more items that required to be made with foreign materials. The industrialization revolution stimulated the intensification of economic relations between the West and the Africa that increased industrialists greed and, as a consequence, cemented their desire to expand western possessions in Africa to make more money. Therefore, the aggregate investments abroad were one of the economic levies that amplified the expansion in Africa. In addition there was the idea of civilizing people in Africa. This was a religious motive for many Christian missionaries, in attempt to save the souls of the uncivilized people, and of the idea that Christians and theShow MoreR elatedBerlin Conference of 1884: Scramble and Partition of Africa818 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Scramble and partition of Africa The expansion that was fueled by capitalist industrialism as well as nationalism subjugated land to be under European control, in nineteenth century. British Empire alone during this period was made up of more than a quarter of the worlds land mass and people. Europe in addition to its colonial possessions by 1914 occupied over 80 percent of the globe. This conquest of Africa somehow revealed a good example to what is termed as new imperialism. The confusionRead MoreThe World Of Color By B Dubois922 Words   |  4 Pages The Scramble for Africa can easily be defined as the forced invasion and division of African countries among European superpowers. Those powers included Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and Belgium. Each superpower wanted control over a certain area on the continent and would do anything to ensure that their area remained in their best interest. To bring the conflicts to the forefront, the countries participated in the Berlin Africa Conference in 1884-1885. In this conferenceRead MoreAnalysis Of Wangari Was A Kenyan Political Activist And Her Country s Assistant Minister Of Environment, Natural Resources And855 Words   |  4 PagesCentral Africa to earn a doctorate. She later was elected to Kenya s National Assembly in the country’s first free election in 2002, and has written several books and scholarly articles. She is a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for her holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces democracy, human rights, and women s rights in particular. She started the Green Belt movement, which is women in the community who plant trees in order to improve the quality of living throughout Africa. WangariRead MoreScramble for Africa1841 Words   |  8 PagesWhat were the major historical factors explaining ‘the scramble for Africa’? In order to approach this essay question, my analysis will be divided into two parts. The first section will define what the scramble for Africa means. In the subsequent sections, I will refer to the case history of colonization of Africa by some European countries, the motives behind their actions and its consequences on Africa particularly. The scramble for Africa was described as the golden period of European expansionismRead MoreExamine the Economic Arguments Used to Explain the Partition of West Africa2209 Words   |  9 PagesExamine the economic arguments used to explain the partition of West Africa. In the late 1880s, only limited areas of Africa were subjected to the direct rule of Europeans. However, the next 20 years saw an increase in the confiscation of African colonies by the Europeans and by 1914 the partition of Africa had been consolidated. By 1914, with the exception of Ethiopia and Liberia, the whole of Africa had been partitioned and occupied by the imperial powers of France, Britain, Germany, PortugalRead MoreSample Resume : Dublin City University Essay2132 Words   |  9 PagesHilderink Student ID: 15212972 Date: 13 November 2016 Programme: BA Humanities Module: History 2 Europe and the wider world? HIS2 Tutor: Dr Barry Whelan Content Assignment Report Form 3 Essay 4 ?What were the causes and motivations behind the ?Scramble for Africa 4 Bibliography 11 Assignment Report Form ASSIGNMENT REPORT FORM Student Name: Anita Hilderink Summary of Performance* Performance Components Bands Excellent (H1) Marks range: 70-100% Very Good (H2.1) Marks range: 60-69% Read MoreThe General Act of the Berlin Conference on West Africa2361 Words   |  10 PagesIntroduction The aim of this paper is to analyze the General Act of the Berlin Conference on West Africa (1884-1885) and the partition of Africa among the main European powers, considering its importance for the construction of Europe. The Conference of Berlin was the culmination of a process that began with the presence of European traders in the costal areas of West Africa. The relations between Europe and Africa developed during the age of slave trade and were transformed on the 19th century. The ConferenceRead MoreA Time Of Colonization Of The African Continent By European Power1537 Words   |  7 PagesAfrican continent by European power is better known as ‘the scramble for Africa’. The European nations involved in the scramble were Germany, France, Britain, Belgium, Portugal, and Italy. The economic, social, and military evolution Europe was going through at the time allowed for this to happen. In 1870, only 10 percent of Africa was under European control. However, over time European rivalries intensified which caused a mad scramble to rule as much of the continent as possible. By 1914 the onlyRead MoreThe European Colonization Of Africa1461 Words   |  6 PagesThe European colonization of Africa, also known as the Scramble for Africa, Partition of Africa, or Conquest of Africa, occurred between the 1870s and 1900s, and was the invasion, occupation, colonization, and annexation of African territory by European powers during a period of New Imperialism. European control of the continent increased from 10 percent (1870) to 90 percent (1914), with only three territories, Saguia el-Hamra, which was later integrated into Spanish Sahara, Ethiopia and LiberiaRead MoreSocial And Economic Effects Of British Imperialism1544 Words   |  7 Pagespopulation. Scramble for Africa The Scramble for Africa was marked by the occupation, division, and colonisation of African territories. It was lead by European powers in the period of New Imperialism, and disrupted many belief systems and traditional ways of life. It was a scramble as European powers aimed to increase their control over African territory, materials, and markets. The competition was intense, and eventually divided much of the continent among themselves. Much of Africa was forcibly

Abortion Should Abortion Be Legal Free Essays

Abortion: Should Abortion Be Legal? Throughout the history people have agreed and disagreed with many significant issues. And in the face of controversial arguments everyone has their very own opinion. Even though it is more likely that reasonable people might agree with a logical argument, there are some that are not very easy to convince because it contradicts their view points. We will write a custom essay sample on Abortion: Should Abortion Be Legal? or any similar topic only for you Order Now Such is the case of the controversial issue of abortion. To understand better why people support abortion, first we have to comprehend what abortion is. According to the National Right to Life, the term abortion refers to â€Å"any premature expulsion of a human fetus, whether naturally spontaneous, as in a miscarriage, or artificially induced, as in a surgical or chemical abortion. † (www. nrlc. org, March 4, 2013). The definition is only useful to appreciate the real problem more precisely. In this paper I will focus on four key arguments that support pro-abortion; and I will present my opinion on each one to evaluate if the argument works or not through the usage of rhetorical thinking. Finally, I will conclude by briefly stating my opinion regarding this issue after analyzing these arguments of the other side of the coin. One of the most talked about arguments that support abortion is â€Å"Abortion is a Fundamental Right. † In Jan. 22, 1973 the US Supreme Court recognized â€Å"A woman’s right to choose abortion is a ‘fundamental right’† in the case Roe v. Wade. Lower federal courts had declared†¦ denying a woman the right to decide whether to carry a pregnancy to term violated basic privacy and liberty interests contained in the Constitution. The court concluded that Constitutional rights to privacy and liberty protected a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy. †(NAF. org, 5 March 2013). This is a strong argument because it is about abortion in the terms of its legal premises. The Supreme Court had to give the woman the reason because that is what is written in the Constitution. Besides, it is much easier to let a person win a case than changing the Constitution. Even though the arguments presented in court defended the woman very assuredly. The final decision did not even mention any rights of the potential life that was forming or whatsoever, which is wrong because the woman can do anything that she wants with her body, but the fetus that I inside her is a totally distinct individual with different DNA and factions. For these reasons, this argument is a dilemma because while abortion gives the woman the right to make decisions on her body, it eliminates the legal rights of the unborn child. Another slightly more sensible pro-abortion argument is â€Å"Abortion in the Case of Pregnancy Due to Rape. According to the website Libertarians for Life, â€Å"Pregnancy due to rape acts against the woman’s liberty. In some sense, it’s a perpetuation of the aggression of the rapist. Regardless of the practical problems of pregnancy, rape is a major trauma, and the pregnancy complicates that still further. † (Walter, 10 March 2013). This argument has a sense of pathos, in the way that it conveys a tragic expe rience with an undesired pregnancy. The author highlights how keeping the pregnancy could lead to a major psychological trauma. A different but as well as sensible pro-abortion topic is the issue of â€Å"Abortion gives couples the option to choose not to birth babies with severe and life-threatening medical conditions. † According to PROCON. org, â€Å"The X syndrome, the most common genetic form of mental retardation, affects about 1 in 4,000 males and 1 in 8,000 females. One in 800 babies have Down Syndrome, and one in 3,500 babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis. It is not right to sentence a child to life with an acute handicap. † (PROCON. org, 5 March 2013) This argument conveys a lot of sense of pathos. It is effective because the only people that can actually understand this deeply are the parents and family involved. However, I still strongly disagree with taking away an innocent human’s life. Besides, with so many technological advantages, it is sad to see that people don’t test themselves before deciding to have a baby and later find, during the pregnancy, that the baby that’s coming will have a mental or physical disadvantage. In addition, there is no proof that showing that Down Syndrome people feel ‘sentenced’ or in any disadvantage. It is just the parents that see that the baby is different, not the baby himself. Therefore, this should also be considered a hasty generalization because the family and others see that the baby will be born with a disadvantage, they think that the baby will be miserable—but there’s no proof of that. Mary Gordon, a pro-choice woman author of A Moral Choice, gives her opinion and brings up a very important issue in favor of abortion: â€Å"Abortion transformed from a public into a private issue. She stated that â€Å"The RU-486 pill, which can induce abortion early on, exists. † She added that women were going to obtain it whether or not it is â€Å"legally available. † Her claim is that â€Å"If abortion can occur through chemical rather than physical means, in the privacy of one’s home, most people not directly involved will lose interest in it. As abortion is transformed from a public into a private issue, it will cease to be perceived as politi cal; it will be called personal instead. † (Gordon 190). I think Gordon is right at some point—when she softens out the issue that by making a medical rather than a physical abortion it would then become more personal rather than political, some people might even change their view point, just like they did with the morning-after pill. However, I still believe that if there is already a morning-after pill, then there should be no reason for any woman to wait until confirming her pregnancy in order to take action. Why not taking the morning-after-pill after an unprotected intercourse to avoid any problem on the first place? Time is very crucial in all aspects; women that wait to see if they are pregnant take a very high risk that can lead to either an unwanted pregnancy or worse—an abortion. On the other hand, I think she is trying to cover the sun with one finger. She is exposing a slippery slope fallacy by sort of saying that if people don’t see the problem, then there should be no problem at all, which isn’t true because not by covering the problem, it will make it disappear. Who knows maybe by doing abortions at home there could be more risks involved. In conclusion, I believe that Abortion is a cruel, immature and unfair way to end a pregnancy. No one should end a pregnancy because it is their responsibility to use contraceptives on the first place. If a woman cannot afford to buy contraceptives, then she should control her instincts instead of getting pregnant to get rid of the unborn baby afterwards. Besides, medicine is so advanced nowadays which really makes abortion a despicable choice for an apathetic woman. Even though, I do respect their opinions regarding their â€Å"freedom†, I do not think that they have much of consideration for the lives of their unborn babies. The reasons why a woman could end her pregnancy are endless. There are tons of excuses—some good others not much—that will always come into sight, but if we start taking wise choices from the beginning, then, we will be able to determine that who pays the consequences is not the person that made the damage but the innocent baby that the mom-to-be does not want to give the right to live. Moreover, if abortion was made illegal again, then hundreds of lives would be saved every year. Besides, life is the most valuable gift anyone can have and possibly give. But like the saying goes: to each their own. Since abortion is legal, it is really up to the woman to take a wise and moral decision and to opt for different alternatives before abortion. Works Cited: Gordon, Mary. â€Å"Should Abortion Be Restricted? † Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues. By George McKenna and Stanley Feingold. 18th ed. N. p. : McGraw-Hill Companies,Inc, 2012. 188-96. Print. Taking Sides Ser. NAF, Staff. â€Å"National Abortion Federation: Pro-Choice and Proud. † National Abortion Federation: Pro-Choice and Proud. N. p. , n. d. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. NRL, Staff. â€Å"Abortion: Some Medical Facts. † Abortion: Some Medical Facts. National Right to Life, n. d. Web. 4 Mar. 2013. ProCon, Staff. â€Å"Abortion ProCon. org. † Abortion ProCon. org.  © 2013 a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit, 5 Feb. 2013. Web. 5 Mar. 2013. Walker, John. â€Å"Abortion in the Case of Pregnancy Due to Rape. † Libertarians for Life – Abortion in the Case of Pregnancy Due to Rape. N. p. , 1998. Web. 10 Mar. 2013. How to cite Abortion: Should Abortion Be Legal?, Papers

Impact of Social and Economic Indicators on Maternal

Question: Discuss about the Impact of Social and Economic Indicators on Maternal. Answer: Introduction The socio-economic conditions of the people in the society depend a lot on the external conditions. It would be correct to say that the governments of different nations have an important role to play to improve the social and economic conditions of the people in the society. It has been observed that the socio-economic conditions of the women are good in the developed countries like USA and Australia (Neupane, 2014). However, the socio-economic conditions of the women are not good in the developing nations like India and Nepal. The government of Nepal has been trying hard to improve the socio-economic conditions of women. However, the social and economic development of women would require the continuous support of people in the society (Wang, 2014). It would be interesting to study the socio-economic status of women in Nepal and how this status differ from the status of the women in the developed nations like Australia. Objectives of research project: The objective of the research is to study the socio-economic conditions of women in Nepal and compare this status with the social and economic status of the women in developed nations like Australia. The paper would also study the ways by which the socio-economic conditions of women in Nepal could be improved. Research questions: What are the current socio-economic conditions of women in Nepal? What are the ways by which the socio-economic conditions of women in Nepal could be improved References Neupane, G., Chesney-Lind, M. (2014). Violence against women on public transport in Nepal: sexual harassment and the spatial expression of male privilege.International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice,38(1), 23-38. Wang, G. Z. (2014). The Impact of Social and Economic Indicators on Maternal and Child Health.Social indicators research,116(3), 935-957.

Dickens explores contrasting values Essay Example For Students

Dickens explores contrasting values? Essay Sissy helps Louisa in this way and enables her to understand about her true emotions. Their first private interaction involves the mention of school and education, but it is not long before the subject of Sissys father is brought up. It is Louisa who urges Sissy to speak of the matter and assures her that no harm could be found in such an innocent question. This emphasises Louisas curiosity about loving relationships and indicates how different the two girls are in that Louisa has yet to experience the same love and care that Sissy was brought up with. In contrast to Louisa, who shows no gratitude for her privileged upbringing and compares her life to a light with nothing to rest upon, a fire with nothing to burn and a starved imagination, Sissy is grateful for her life as a horse-riders daughter and has an immense appreciation towards Gradgrind for providing her with an upper class educational upbringing. Sissy is clearly very different to Louisa in this way and their contrasting values are emphasised. Louisa is a product of utilitarianism and many of her values derive from this theory. Having been trained and programmed by her father, her ideas are in line with those of society at that time. Sissy, on the other hand, doesnt accept utilitarianism. In school, she answers wrongly to many questions and fails to grasp many of the ideas behind this system. Sissy allows her values, which are clearly very different to Louisas, to come across in her responses to her teachers questions. She is a caring and compassionate girl who is forever concerned with others. Her life has been full of fancy, which contrasts to Louisas metallurgical and fact filled childhood. The girls values about family life clearly differ greatly, as Sissy is much more able to show her emotions. Sissy is more the model of the old fashioned lady by being kind of subservient to everyone in the house. She has been brought up in the circus, which when comparing the two girls, seems a much better environment to bring up a child in. Dickens talks of the circus peoples untiring readiness to help and pity one another. Louisa is a new lady, educated like a man, smart, but still giving in to the men around her and sacrificing her happiness. Her father has taught her never to wonder and has shut out many things from her life. Dickens establishes the contrast between Sissy and Louisa very successfully by allowing them to form the beginnings of a possible great friendship. Although their relationship is still in its early stages, during the first book, we are able to understand that due to their different upbringings they have different views and contrasting values. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Hard Times section.