Case study of the hydropower development in Argentina Essay Example for Free

Case study of the hydropower development in Argentina Essay In this paper I would also discuss one more case of the hydropower regulation and assessment. The next country to be discussed is Argentina. This country also possesses considerable hydropower potential. It has been estimated that the country has the potential of production of 169,000 GWh/year . Argentina relies in its future development on hydropower as a source of energy. That’s why its scientists resort to close examination of various aspects of hydropower development and impact on environment and society. Great emphasis is also placed on the financial aspect of hydropower development and legal regulation of hydroelectric plants and dams construction. Therefore, Argentina greatly relies on sustainable development, which can be defined as â€Å"the process which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs† . Sustainable development of the hydropower potential of the country requires deep consideration and cooperation of three basic components economic growth, environmental security and social justice . There are several acts, which serve the legal basis of the hydropower development in Argentina. One of the most important of them is The Electricity Regulatory Framework Law, which implemented the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (ENRE). ENRE is an independent item, which operates within the framework of the Secretariat of State for Energy. The latter in its turn creates the regulations, which control the work of the electricity industry . The Energy Secretariat (SENER) is the legislative component, which is responsible for the energy policy implementation. Within its frame this legislative body has one more component, the National Electricity Regulator (ENRE), which is responsible for actual application of the regulatory framework stated in the Law 26,046 of 1991 . ENRE is responsible for regulation and supervision of whole energy sector under federal control, while the other utilities are regulated by provincial regulators. The other important regulatory body of the energy sector is CAMMESA (Compania Administradora del Mercado Mayorista Electrico), which supervises whole wholesale electricity market through establishing the price of electricity, operating the electricity system and the controlling the commercial transactions in the electricity market Very important role in the energy sector of Argentina is given to the Electric Power Federal Council (CFEE), which was established in 1960 and currently plays the role of the administrator of the Funds, which given to special electricity operations. CFEF also performs consulting function of the National and the Provincial Governments regarding the power industry, new projects and researches, public and private energy services, and electricity tariffs and prices as well as changes in the legislative base of the power industry The National Promotion Direction (DNPROM) within the Energy Secretariat (SENER) regulates creation and implementation of programs concerning renewable energies and energy efficiency. The Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) is in charge of the questions concerning environmental policy. The legal basis of Argentina concerning the energy is Law 25,019 from 1998 and Law 26,190, from 2007. Changes to this law, made in 2007, focus on the national interest in renewable energy sources in regard with the public services. The law states that within the next ten years the consumption of the energy, produced from the renewable sources, will grow up to 8 %. The other main point is that law establishes a Trust Fund, which promotes the development of the renewable energy. Hydropower is recently viewed in Argentina as a potential key source of energy. On the one hand its advantages are clearly visible: it has less negative impact on the climate change as compared with fossil fuels, it’s relatively clean and environmentally-friendly, low-cost and renewable. However, not all the researchers are so optimistic. Many of them claim that hydropower plants have a negative influence on surrounding area and society. As one more proof they point at additional expenses in case of shortfalls . Sometimes, these disadvantages are even overemphasized, which presents hydropower in the negative light, or even present it as potentially dangerous. In the process of the research I found a very interesting fact, showing that such claims for the most part come from the most unexpected source – NGOs, the primary intention of which is conservation. However, in this process they seem to completely disregard such important aspects of the country development as poverty alleviation, obtaining a valuable source of cheap energy and promotion of the safe water environment, which can be provided by hydropower plants . Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the hydropower plants in Argentina is based on the Sustainable Guidelines of the International Hydropower Association, which focus on environmental, social and economic aspects of the hydropower plant construction and operation . In order to develop new hydropower projects in accordance with the newest ecological and social requirements, Argentina greatly relies on five key areas characterized by Dr. Kofi Annan on the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. These five key areas include: water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity . Conclusions. So, in this paper I investigated the role of the hydropower as an alternative source of environment, associated expenses and benefits to the society. I also made a review of the history of the hydropower as a source of energy and compared it with the other sources. I made an overview of the legislative base of two countries – China and Argentina concerning hydropower energy and their potential of development of the hydropower as an alternative source of energy. References ADB, Summary Environmental and Social Impact Assessment: Nam Theun 2 Hydroelectric Project in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Manila: Asian Development Bank, 2004. Online. Available at: http://www. adb. org/Documents/Environment/LAO/lao-nam-theun2. pdf 30 September 2007. Advantages of Hydropower. Online. Available from: http:///www. corpsresults. us/hydro 30 September 2007. Atkins, W. , Hydropower: Impacts and Trends. Online. Available from: http:///www. waterencyclopedia. com 30 September 2007. Buckley, L. Hydropower in China: Public Participation and Energy Diversity, Online. Available from: http://www. worldwatch. org/node/5037. 30 September 2007 Becker, H. A. Social impact assessment: method and experience in Europe, North America and the developing world, London, UCL Press, 1997. BP Annual Report, 2006, Online. Available from: http:///www. bp. com 30 September 2007. Burdge, R. J. , A Community Guide to Social Impact Assessment, Middleton, USA, Social Ecology Press, 2004. China Passes Renewable Energy Law, Online. Available from: http:///www. renewableenergyaccess. com 2005. Coordinacion de Energias Renovables, Potencial de los aprovechamientos energeticos en la Republica Argentina, 2006. Devoto, A. , Hydroelectric power and development in Argentina, ENTE Nacional Regulador de la Electicidad, 2005. Graham, I. , Water Power, Austin, TX, Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1999. Hydropower, Online. Available from: http://inhabitat. com/2006/12/01/rediscovered-wood-the-triton-sawfish/#more-1973 30 September 2007. Interorganizational Committee on Principles and Guidelines for Social Impact Assessment , 2003. Integrated Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Guidelines. Tunis: African Development Bank, 2003. Online. Available at: http://www. afdb. org/pls/portal. docs/PAGE/ADB_ADMIN_PG/DOCUMENTS/ENVIRONMENTALANDSOCIALASSESSMENTS/IESIA. PDF International Association for Impact Assessment, Online. Available from: http://www. iaia.org 30 September 2007. Kellert, S. R. , Macmillan Encyclopedia of the Environment, vol. 3. New York, Macmillan Library Reference USA, 1997. Learn about Hydroelectric Power Alternative Energy Source, Online. Available from: http://www. beyondfossilfuel. com/hydroelectric/ 30 September 2007. Petts, J. Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment, Blackwell, Oxford, 2005. Renewabables Global Status Report. Online. Available from: http:///www. ren21. net/globalreport 30 September 2007. Rosso, A. La construccion como herramienta del crecimiento continuado. Sector electrico. Evaluacion de las inversiones necesarias para el sector electrico nacional en el mediano plazo. Camara Argentina de la Construccion, 2006. Rules of land compensation and people resettlement in medium and large hydraulic and hydroelectricity projects. State Council, 1991. Ryan, V. Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydropower, Online. Available from: http://www. technologystudent. com/energy1/hydr2. htm 30 September 2007. Summer of International dissent against Heavy Industry, Saving Iceland. Online. Available from: http:///www. savingisland. org 30 September 2007 Sadler, B. , Verocai, I. Frank Vanclay. Environmental and Social Impact. Assessment for Large Scale Dams. Middleton, WI: The Social Ecology Press, 2000 Taylor CN, Bryan CH, Goodrich CG. Social Assessment: theory, process and techniques. Middleton, WI, The Social Ecology Press, 2004. The Historic Mechanicville Hydroelectric Station, IEEE Industry Applications Magazine, Jan/Feb. 2007 Tremblay, V. , Roehm and Garneau, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Fluxes and Processes, Springer, 2005. Xiaogang, Yu Jia Jiguo. An Overview of Participatory Social Impact Assessment for Manwan Hydropower Station in Lancang River. Asian Science and Technology Institute, 2000.

House at Hidden Valley :: essays research papers

My Weekend Family Get-Away   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout my childhood I liked to escape from everyday routine and be alone with my family or my closest friends. There was the trail in the woods by the old battlefield where I would take my dog for long walks and for a change of scenery. There was the pond where my friends and I would go and throw rocks to see who could get theirs to skip the farthest. These places are vivid in my memory because that’s where I would go to have fun, but the one place that sticks out in my memory the most, the place I know better than anyone, my weekend get-away, was my family’s house at Hidden Valley Ski Resort. While I was growing up I was blessed to have this house to go to on the weekends during the winter. Come Friday I would be so excited because I knew where I would be going, I loved it up there. The sights of the resort, the distinct smell of the house, and the anticipation of the drive up there all contribute to the most vivid and realistic memories I remem bered about this place   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The excitement that filled my mind was incomprehensible to any person who has never experienced this for them self. The trip up to the house was only an hour but it felt like three or four. Snow would fall on the windshield, then be wiped away by the windshield wipers as we were driving, and every five minutes my mother would scream, â€Å"Watch out, Jeff,† as she would grab the handle on the door. As we pass through the tollbooth at exit 9, my Dad threw the change in the container. From the ting, ting, ting, sound the change made, I knew that we were close. â€Å"Only twenty more minutes,† he would say, then right after my Mom would say, â€Å"Yeah, more like ten the way he’s driving.† Finally, we would make the right hand turn into the resort and drive up the hill. About half way I would get a feeling in my stomach not the feeling you get when your nervous, the one you get when your excited. With the first step out of the car onto the frozen ground the snow would crackle beneath my feet. Sometimes I would get a little in my shoe right between my sock and my pants.

The Host Chapter 44: Healed

â€Å"Wanda†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"We don't have time. I'd do it myself, but I can't get the angle right. There's no other way.† â€Å"I don't think I can†¦ do it.† â€Å"For Jamie, even?† I pushed the good side of my face as hard as I could against the headrest of the passenger seat and closed my eyes. Jared was holding the rough fist-sized stone I'd found. He'd been weighing it in his hand for five minutes. â€Å"You just have to get the first few layers of skin off. Just hide the scar, that's all. C'mon, Jared, we have to hurry. Jamie†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Tell him I said to do it now. And make it a good one. â€Å"Mel says do it now. And make sure you do it hard enough. Get it all the first time.† Silence. â€Å"Do it, Jared!† He took a deep breath, a gasp. I felt the air move and squeezed my eyes tighter. It made a squishing sound and a thud-that was the first thing I noticed-and then the shock of the blow wore off, and I felt it, too. â€Å"Ungh,† I groaned. I hadn't meant to make any sound. I knew that would make it worse for him. But so much was involuntary with this body. Tears sprang up in my eyes, and I coughed to hide a sob. My head rang, vibrated in aftershock. â€Å"Wanda? Mel? I'm sorry!† His arms wrapped around us, pulled us into his chest. â€Å"‘S okay,† I whimpered. â€Å"We're okay. Did you get it all?† His hand touched my chin, turned my head. â€Å"Ahh,† he gasped, sickened. â€Å"I took half your face off. I'm so sorry.† â€Å"No, that's good. That's good. Let's go.† â€Å"Right.† His voice was still weak, but he leaned me back into my seat, settling me carefully, and then the car rumbled beneath us. Ice-cold air blew in my face, shocking me, stinging my raw cheek. I'd forgotten what air-conditioning felt like. I opened my eyes. We were driving down a smooth wash-smoother than it should have been, carefully altered to be this way. It snaked away from us, coiling around the brush. I couldn't see very far ahead. I pulled the visor down and flipped open the mirror. In the shadowy moonlight, my face was black and white. Black all across the right side, oozing down my chin, dripping across my neck, and seeping into the collar of my new, clean shirt. My stomach heaved. â€Å"Good job,† I whispered. â€Å"How much pain are you in?† â€Å"Not much,† I lied. â€Å"Anyway, it won't hurt much longer. How far are we from Tucson?† Just then, we reached pavement. Funny how the sight of it made my heart race in panic. Jared stopped, keeping the car hidden in the brush. He got out and removed the tarps and chains from the bumper, putting them in the trunk. He got back in and eased the car forward, checking carefully to make sure the highway was empty. He reached for the headlights. â€Å"Wait,† I whispered. I couldn't speak louder. I felt so exposed here. â€Å"Let me drive.† He looked at me. â€Å"It can't look like I walked to the hospital like this. Too many questions. I have to drive. You hide in the back and tell me where to go. Is there something you can hide under?† â€Å"Okay,† he said slowly. He put the car into reverse and pulled it back into the deeper brush. â€Å"Okay. I'll hide. But if you take us somewhere I don't tell you to go†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Oh! Melanie was stung by his doubt, as was I. My voice was flat. â€Å"Shoot me.† He didn't answer. He got out, leaving the engine running. I slid across the cup holders into his seat. I heard the trunk slam. Jared climbed into the backseat, a thick plaid blanket under his arm. â€Å"Turn right at the road,† he said. The car was an automatic, but it had been a long time and I was unsure behind the wheel. I moved ahead carefully, pleased to find that I remembered how to drive. The highway was still empty. I pulled out onto the road, my heart reacting to the open space again. â€Å"Lights,† Jared said. His voice came from low on the bench. I searched till I found the switch, then flicked them on. They seemed horribly bright. We weren't far from Tucson -I could see a yellowish glow of color against the sky. The lights of the city ahead. â€Å"You could drive a little faster.† â€Å"I'm right at the limit,† I protested. He paused for a second. â€Å"Souls don't speed?† I laughed. The sound was only a tad hysterical. â€Å"We obey all laws, traffic laws included.† The lights became more than a glow-they turned into individual points of brightness. Green signs informed me of my exit options. † Take Ina Road.† I followed his instructions. He kept his voice low, though, enclosed as we were, we could both have shouted. It was hard to be in this unfamiliar city. To see houses and apartments and stores with signs lit up. To know I was surrounded, outnumbered. I imagined what it must feel like for Jared. His voice was remarkably calm. But he'd done this before, many times. Other cars were on the road now. When their lights washed my windshield, I cringed in terror. Don't fall apart now, Wanda. You have to be strong for Jamie. This won't work if you can't do that. I can. I can do it. I concentrated on Jamie, and my hands were steadier on the wheel. Jared directed me through the mostly sleeping city. The Healing facility was just a small place. It must have been a medical building once-doctors' offices, rather than an actual hospital. The lights were bright through most of the windows, through the glass front. I could see a woman behind a greeting desk. She didn't look up at my headlights. I drove to the darkest corner of the parking lot. I slid my arms through the straps of the backpack. It wasn't new, but it was in good shape. Perfect. There was just one more thing to do. â€Å"Quick, give me the knife.† â€Å"Wanda†¦ I know you love Jamie, but I really don't think you could use it. You're not a fighter.† â€Å"Not for them, Jared. I need a wound.† He gasped. â€Å"You have a wound. That's enough!† â€Å"I need one like Jamie's. I don't know enough about Healing. I have to see exactly what to do. I would have done it before, but I wasn't sure I'd be able to drive.† â€Å"No. Not again.† â€Å"Give it to me now. Someone will notice if I don't go inside soon.† Jared thought it through quickly. He was the best, as Jeb had said, because he could see what had to be done and do it fast. I heard the steely sound of the knife coming out of the sheath. â€Å"Be very careful. Not too deep.† â€Å"You want to do it?† He inhaled sharply. â€Å"No.† â€Å"Okay.† I took the ugly knife. It had a heavy handle and was very sharp; it came to a tapered point at the tip. I didn't let myself think about it. I didn't want to give myself a chance to be a coward. The arm, not the leg-that's all I paused to decide. My knees were scarred. I didn't want to have to hide that, too. I held my left arm out; my hand was shaking. I braced it against the door and then twisted my head so that I could bite down on the headrest. I held the knife's handle awkwardly but tightly in my right hand. I pressed the point against the skin of my forearm so I wouldn't miss. Then I closed my eyes. Jared was breathing too hard. I had to be fast or he would stop me. Just pretend it's a shovel opening the ground, I told myself. I jammed the knife into my arm. The headrest muffled my scream, but it was still too loud. The knife fell from my hand-jerking sickeningly out from the muscle-and then clunked against the floor. â€Å"Wanda!† Jared rasped. I couldn't answer yet. I tried to choke back the other screams I felt coming. I'd been right not to do this before driving. â€Å"Let me see!† â€Å"Stay there,† I gasped. â€Å"Don't move.† I heard the blanket rustling behind me despite my warning. I pulled my left arm against my body and yanked the door open with my right hand. Jared's hand brushed my back as I half fell out the door. It wasn't a restraint. It was comfort. â€Å"I'll be right back,† I coughed out, and then I kicked the door shut behind me. I stumbled across the lot, fighting nausea and panic. They seemed to balance each other out-one keeping the other from taking control of my body. The pain wasn't too bad-or rather, I couldn't feel it as much anymore. I was going into shock. Too many kinds of pain, too close together. Hot liquid rolled down my fingers and dripped to the pavement. I wondered if I could move those fingers. I was afraid to try. The woman behind the reception desk-middle-aged, with dark chocolate skin and a few silver threads in her black hair-jumped to her feet when I lurched through the automatic doors. â€Å"Oh, no! Oh, dear!† She grabbed a microphone, and her next words echoed from the ceiling, magnified. â€Å"Healer Knits! I need you in reception! This is an emergency!† â€Å"No.† I tried to speak calmly, but I swayed in place. â€Å"I'm okay. Just an accident.† She put the microphone down and hurried around to where I stood swaying. Her arm went around my waist. â€Å"Oh, honey, what happened to you?† â€Å"So careless,† I muttered. â€Å"I was hiking†¦ I fell down the rocks. I was†¦ cleaning up after dinner. A knife was in my hand†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My hesitations seemed like part of the shock to her. She didn't look at me with suspicion-or humor, the way Ian sometimes did when I lied. Only concern. â€Å"You poor dear! What's your name?† â€Å"Glass Spires,† I told her, using the rather generic name of a herd member from my time with the Bears. â€Å"Okay, Glass Spires. Here comes the Healer. You'll be fine in just a moment.† I didn't feel panicked at all anymore. The kindly woman patted my back. So gentle, so caring. She would never harm me. The Healer was a young woman. Her hair, skin, and eyes were all a similar shade of light brown. It made her unusual looking-monochromatic. She wore tan scrubs that only added to that impression. â€Å"Wow,† she said. â€Å"I'm Healer Knits Fire. I'll get you fixed up directly. What happened?† I told my story again as the two women led me down a hallway and then through the very first door. They had me lie down on the paper-covered bed. The room was familiar. I'd been in only one place like this, but Melanie's childhood was full of such memories. The short row of double cabinets, the sink where the Healer was washing her hands, the bright, clean white walls†¦ â€Å"First things first,† Knits Fire said cheerfully. She pulled a cabinet open. I tried to focus my eyes, knowing this was important. The cabinet was full of rows and rows of stacked white cylinders. She took one down, reaching for it without searching; she knew what she wanted. The small container had a label, but I couldn't read it. â€Å"A little no pain should help, don't you think?† I saw the label again as she twisted the lid off. Two short words. No Pain? Was that what it said? â€Å"Open your mouth, Glass Spires.† I obeyed. She took a small, thin square-it looked like tissue paper-and laid it on my tongue. It dissolved at once. There was no flavor. I swallowed automatically. â€Å"Better?† the Healer asked. And it was. Already. My my head was clear-I could concentrate without difficulty. The pain had melted away with the tiny square. Disappeared. I blinked, shocked. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"I know you feel fine now, but please don't move. Your injuries are not treated yet.† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"Cerulean, could you get us some water? Her mouth seems dry.† â€Å"At once, Healer Knits.† The older woman left the room. The Healer turned back to her cabinets, opening a different one this time. This, too, was filled with white containers. â€Å"Here we are.† She pulled one from the top of a stack, then took another from the other side. Almost as if she were trying to help me fulfill my mission, she listed the names as she reached for them. â€Å"Clean-inside and out†¦ Heal†¦ Seal†¦ And where is†¦ ah, Smooth. Don't want a scar on that pretty face, do we?† â€Å"Ah†¦ no.† â€Å"Don't worry. You'll be perfect again.† â€Å"Thank you.† â€Å"You're very welcome.† She leaned over me with another white cylinder. The top of this one came off with a pop, and there was an aerosol spray nozzle underneath. She sprayed my forearm first, coating the wound with clear, odorless mist. â€Å"Healing must be a fulfilling profession.† My voice sounded just right. Interested, but not unduly so. â€Å"I haven't been in a Healing facility since insertion. This is very interesting.† â€Å"Yes, I like it.† She started spraying my face. â€Å"What are you doing now?† She smiled. I guessed that I was not the first curious soul. â€Å"This is Clean. It will make sure nothing foreign stays in the wound. It kills off any of the microbes that might infect the wound.† â€Å"Clean,† I repeated to myself. â€Å"And the Inside Clean, just in case anything has snuck into your system. Inhale this, please.† She had a different white cylinder in her hand, a thinner bottle with a pump rather than an aerosol top. She puffed a cloud of mist into the air above my face. I sucked in a breath. The mist tasted like mint. â€Å"And this is Heal,† Knits Fire continued, twisting the cap off the next canister, revealing a small pouring spout. â€Å"It encourages your tissues to rejoin, to grow the way they should.† She dribbled a tiny bit of the clear liquid into the wide cut on my arm, then she pushed the edges of the wound together. I could feel her touch, but there was no pain. â€Å"I'll seal this up before I move on.† She opened another container, this one a pliable tube, and then squeezed out a line of thick, clear jelly onto her finger. â€Å"Like glue,† she told me. â€Å"It holds everything together and lets the Heal do its job.† She wiped it over my arm in one swift pass. â€Å"Okay, you can move that now. Your arm is fine.† I held it up to look. A faint pink line was visible under the shiny gel. The blood was still wet on my arm, but there was no source anymore. As I watched, the Healer cleaned my skin with one quick pass of a damp towel. â€Å"Turn your face this way, please. Hmm, you must have hit those rocks just exactly wrong. What a mess.† â€Å"Yes. It was a bad fall.† â€Å"Well, thank goodness you were able to drive yourself here.† She was lightly dripping Heal onto my cheek, smearing it with the tips of her fingers. â€Å"Ah, I love to watch it work. Looks much better already. Okay†¦ around the edges.† She smiled to herself. â€Å"Maybe one more coat. I want this to be erased.† She worked for a minute longer. â€Å"Very nice.† â€Å"Here's some water,† the older woman said as she came through the door. â€Å"Thank you, Cerulean.† â€Å"Let me know if you need anything more. I'll be up front.† â€Å"Thanks.† Cerulean left. I wondered if she was from the Flower Planet. Blue flowers were rare-one might take a name from that. â€Å"You can sit now. How do you feel?† I pulled myself up. â€Å"Perfect.† It was true. I hadn't felt so healthy in a long time. The sharp shift from pain to ease made the sensation more powerful. â€Å"That's just how it should be. Okay, let's dust on a little Smooth.† She twisted the last cylinder's top and shook an iridescent powder into her hand. She patted it into my cheek, then patted another handful onto my arm. â€Å"You'll always have a small line on your arm,† she said apologetically. â€Å"Like your neck. A deep wound†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She shrugged. Absentmindedly, she brushed the hair back from my neck and examined the scar. â€Å"This was nicely done. Who was your Healer?† â€Å"Um†¦ Faces Sunward,† I said, pulling the name from one of my old students. â€Å"I was in†¦ Eureka, Montana. I didn't like the cold. I moved south.† So many lies. I felt a twist of anxiety in my stomach. â€Å"I started out in Maine,† she said, not noticing anything amiss in my voice. As she spoke, she cleaned the blood from my neck. â€Å"It was too cold for me, too. What's your Calling?† â€Å"Um†¦ I serve food. In a Mexican restaurant in†¦ Phoenix. I like spicy food.† â€Å"Me, too.† She wasn't looking at me funny. She was wiping my cheek now. â€Å"Very nice. No worries, Glass Spires. Your face looks great.† â€Å"Thank you, Healer.† â€Å"Of course. Would you like some water?† â€Å"Yes, please.† I kept a grip on myself. It wouldn't do to bolt the glass down the way I wanted to. I wasn't able to stop myself from finishing it all, though. It tasted too good. â€Å"Would you like more?† â€Å"I†¦ yes, that would be nice. Thank you.† â€Å"I'll be right back.† The second she was out the door, I slid off the mattress. The paper crackled, freezing me in place. She didn't dart back in. I had only seconds. It had taken Cerulean a few minutes to get the water. Maybe it would take the Healer just as long. Maybe the cool, pure water was far away from this room. Maybe. I ripped the pack off my shoulders and wrenched the drawstrings open. I started with the second cabinet. There was the stacked column of Heal. I grabbed the whole column and let it clatter quietly into the bottom of my pack. What would I say if she caught me? What lie could I tell? I took the two kinds of Clean next, from the first cabinet. There was a second stack behind the first of each, and I took half of those, too. Then the No Pain, both stacks of that. I was about to turn back for the Seal, when the label of the next row of cylinders caught my attention. Cool. For fevers? There were no instructions, just the label. I took the stack. Nothing here would hurt a human body. I was sure of that. I grabbed all the Seal and two cans of Smooth. I couldn't press my luck any further. I closed the cabinets quietly and threw my arms through the straps of the pack. I leaned against the mattress, making another crackle. I tried to look relaxed. She didn't come back. I checked the clock. It had been one minute. How far away was the water? Two minutes. Three minutes. Had my lies been as obvious to her as they were to me? Sweat started to dew up on my forehead. I wiped it away quickly. What if she brought back a Seeker? I thought of the small pill in my pocket, and my hands shook. I could do it, though. For Jamie. I heard quiet footsteps then, two sets, coming down the hall.

Impact Of Technology On Our World - 909 Words

The impact of technology has undoubtedly shaped the way we live in today’s world. This impact has made life much easier and convenient in every aspect of our everyday lives. However, when technology is broken down to different types and purposes, that is when we begin to recognize is certain technology actually moving the human race forward or backwards? One highly debated and arguably the most popular type of technology, is social media. Social media has negatively impacted our world to the point where humans no longer communicate face to face, it distracts us from what s really important, and causes many problems down the road if not used properly and responsibly. Social media plays a huge role in distracting us. It can make even the smallest of tasks more complicated. It can distract us from conversations with friends and also when we are performing daily tasks such as driving. Everywhere you look today, there will always be someone paying attention to their phones at all times. The world is so tech-savvy and because of this we begin to see a multitude of people always on their mobile devices when walking down the street, driving down the road, and in church. The world is moving away from physical communication and more towards communication through a signal. There are always advantages to the world communicating using more technology, however it cannot be as effective as face to face communication. If we continue down this road of meaningless communication then we willShow MoreRelatedImpact Of Technology On Our Modern World1262 Words   |  6 PagesOne small step for technology, one large step for mankind Take a moment and look around you. What do you see? Most likely you are surrounded by technology. This new phenomenon is a vital part in the modern world. The domination of technology has engulfed our culture, it has become a large portion of our everyday life and the way that we function. 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