BIOMIMICRY

Human beings have always wanted to find new things that they can use in their lives from the beginning of the beginning of time to the present day, and of course, in the future. Actually, they are not always aware of it  but the answers are already out there in nature. So we don’t have to look for them far away, they are all created for us and waiting to be discovered. This new science is called “Biomimicry” and it is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions. Thus, there can be no disadvantages, on the contrary, there are lots of advantages for people.

First of all, there is no doubt that Biomimicry enables us to improve existing technological devices in the best way. Consider the Wright Brothers who, in 1903,  invented the first flying machine based on the movements of a pigeon. This move is at the forefront for today’s scientists. For example, the invention of thermoregulation was inspired by polar bears’ fur. Likewise, the owl’s trailing edge fringe has provided clues to producing silent and more efficient onshore wind turbines because the owl is equipped to hunt in silence as a result of its wing structure. Finally, the best example of biomimicry is, I think,  that some bird species plunge into the water without spattering to see fishes clearly and this is a source of information which has been applied  to express trains in an effort  to make them quieter while traveling.

Secondly, Biomimicry can be used not only for technology but also for design. For instance, butterflies’ wing patterns are used in fashion for such things  as dresses, weddings or in decoration like the design of walls, carpets etc. Actually, even some little bugs’ beautiful crustshape is something that has inspired the design of curtains.

To sum up, the most important thing is that people should know a whole sustainable world already exists. We are just now beginning to open our eyes and realize that the questions are all around us. Therefore, we have to ask ourselves “How can we live here gracefully and maintain our lives without new inventions?” In order to do this, we need a way to remind ourselves of the existence of nature.

                                                               NİHAL TEKİN                  

WHAT IS CYBERCRIME?

Although computers and the Internet have made our lives easier in many ways, actually, they both have bad sides. This is because people also use these technologies to take advantage of others. For instance, an increasing number of domestic and international criminal activities are now using the Internet. Therefore, computers and other electronic devices can be tools used to commit  crimes or are targeted by criminals. We call this cybercrime and the real definition of cybercrime is that it is the commission of illegal acts through the use of a computers or against computer systems. However, there is more than one way to describe cybercrime.

First of all, cybercrime can involve identity theft which affects the personal life of the victim on a massive scale. Cybercriminals can do this by entering your personal information and login information such as user names and passwords, phone numbers, addresses creditcard numbers, bank account and other information that criminals can use. As a result, they can steal billions of dollars or important data in the twinkle of an eye.

Secondly, you might think that the only form of cybercrime you have to worry about is hackers stealing your financial information but unfortunately, there are far more concerns than just basic financial ones. Cybercrime can also take the form of cyberstalking, harassment, bullying and even child sexual exploitation and is a security breach before anything else . Moreover, it also includes nonmonetary offenses like creating and distributing viruses to other computers. Thus, hackers can easily access data with the intention of committing offenses.

In conclusion, nowadays cybercrime is increasing day by day in our world and it is impacting our lives. It can take many forms from stealing our information to cyberstalking. Big software providers and security agencies are in a contiual battle to best each other. However individuals should also take logical precautions by downloading the patches that security firms devise, having complicated passwords of more that 14 digits and installing effective firewalls.
                                                                      NİHAL TEKİN

HOW MANY CHILDREN? (A clear 60 on a proficiency exam)

      Overpopulation has become an issue of great concern and controversy all over the world. The increase in the number of people has lead to many problems such as unemployment, low quality of public services and high levels of pollution. Limiting the number of children per family is considered by some to be a way of stabilizing population growth.The number of children a family can have should be limited by law.

     First of all, the number of children a family can have should be limited to avoid overpopulation. Increasing the number of people means increasing the use of power supplies. In other words, people have many needs such as food, safety, transport  and they use many resources to meet their needs. This leads to a reduction of sources of  energy . Access to sources of energy is a veryimportant  issue that can be linked to inter country warfare. Moreover, overpopulation can cause environmental pollution such as air and water pollution. More factories are opened to meet the people’s needs. These factories create air and water pollution with their wastes.

       Another issue is about parents’interest. As thenumber of children in the family increases, the care and attention devoted to each child decreases. This means parents can devote more  time to fewer children. Children receive their first and fundamental education from their parents, so the interest of the parents in their children is very important. Some kids grow up in the streets. It is a good thing that children play with their peers in the streets but if parents do not pay attention to their children, they can get close to kids who have bad habits.

       It has been said that children are economic power for their family. For example, for a farming family, children are the workers who will work in the field. For some families also, children are a source of income because they work to support their family financially. However,this argument is not actually logical.As thenumber of children increases, the per capita income decreases. It is easier to meet the needs of fewer children. As the number of children in the family increases, this becomes more difficult. Furthermore, as the number of children increases, the sharing of inheritance becomes more difficult. This sharing can even cause  conflict between siblings.

       In conclusion, laws should restrict the number of children a family can have. Although this seems to be undemocratic,  it is important for the society’s future. The important thing is not  to raise a lot of children but to raise moral and educated children.

MELEK KARAKUZU

THE CAUSES OF POVERTY

Everyone wishes to maintain a certain standard of living and enjoy a certain quality of life in society. At the very least, they wish to be able to afford their basic requirements and pay the bills. In order to do so, they seek gainful employment which they often find but sometimes do not. The lack of regular or an adequate income results in poverty which impacts the individual in question and his immediate social circle and family. There are various reasons for poverty of this kind some of which are linked to the political and economic landscape and some to the individual himself.

The current situation of a country can have a direct impact on the financial situation of an individual. Political uncertainty and/or civil war for example can destroy livelihoods and the customary way of life of citizens leaving them destitute and in need of aid and handouts from charitable organizations. An obvious example is modern day Syria where the civil war has destroyed communities, homes, livelihoods and a whole way of life. Another is Rakhine state which, due to the actions of Myanmar authorities, is being erased and from which the locals have been fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh. Macroeconomic problems in the country can also have a devastating effect on individuals. High inflatio , like in the case of modern day Venezuela or Zimbabwe, can make the salary or wages earned by people completely worthless very quickly. The rapid drop in the value of currency in both these countries has created mass poverty on an enormous scale. In cases such as these, there is very little individuals can do except, perhaps, up sticks and migrate.

Demographics can also be linked to poverty. In most developed countries, there is a smaller dependent population with respect to the working population who are generating an income and contributing to the economy. The dependent population, the children and the elderly, can thus be cared for by the resulting welfare state. Services like education, healthcare, home help and even government housing can be provided for free reducing overall poverty. Not so in developing and especially underdeveloped countries. In places such as these, there is a large young population; in other words, there is a huge dependent population competing for basic services and jobs. That they cannot all be helped in countries such as these which are also wrestling with economic problems and perhaps political uncertainty also goes without saying. The inevitable result is poverty and this is the fate of many youth in third world countries for example. In short, if one is unfortunate enough to be born in countries such as these, one is likely to have to struggle with poverty.

An individual may be faced with poverty for reasons unconnected to those listed above as well. In this age of rapidly developing technology and automation, certain hitherto viable professions are disappearing to be replaced by new ones. Labour intensive work and monotonous routine work is now being done by robots and computers leaving the people who used to do this kind of work without the ability to make a living. There is no call, in other words, for unskilled workers any longer. The sorts of people who are in demand are those with skills that are applicable to the 21^st century. Those who do not possess these skills, those who find it difficult or impossible to retrain and those who are perhaps too old to learn new skills may, therefore, be faced with poverty as there is no longer any call for what they have to offer. The key here is not to be left behind.

In conclusion, poverty may be a consequence of the times and circumstances one is living in or of a lack of training and education. The latter can be dealt with through individual effort and determination. The former is harder for the individual to deal with in the short term. The demographics of the country can only be bettered by means of government policy. The same goes for political stability and economic reform. Both need to be tackled on a nationwide basis with the correct government policies. Poverty can, therefore, become a life sentence in some cases, something global charities need to keep in mind.  

TATOOS AND PIERCING IN THE WORKPLACE

People have always worn clothes of one sort or another for protection from the weather, to fit in with the customs and way of life of the society in which they lived and to look good. The type of apparel has always varied across the world in accordance with climatic conditions and what was available in the region. Another common practice to complete the look people desired to achieve for one reason or another was to make use of adornment of various sorts. This often consisted of precious metals such as gold or silver which was beaten into intricate shapes and designs and embellished with precious stones. Jewelry of this sort came in the form of rings, tiaras, necklaces, bracelets and body piercing. The final form of body adornment was the practice of applying paint to the body in the form of makeup and tattoos. These practices have been around for a long time and are part of our culture so to suddenly turn round and declare that piercing and tattoos are in appropriate in the work place is completely illogical.

The use of makeup and body decoration of all sorts, including tattoos, has important cultural dimensions. In many parts of Africa for instance, the application of tattoos is an important part of the ceremony celebrating becoming an adult. The young person shows of both his tattoos and the body scaring he receives with pride. In a democratic country, it makes no kind of sense to argue that tattoos are acceptable for some and not for others. After all, in the global world, the human resources department of any big firm could be faced with applications from all over the world. Telling a qualified person who could be of great benefit to a company to have his tattoos removed and reapply would land the company in court. It follows that what is acceptable for some should be acceptable to all. A company cannot fight long established customs just because it hasn’t seen them very often. Fashion is a global business and is no longer restricted to small areas of the world.

The same is true is for body piercing which, contrary to what some may think, wasn’t discovered by hippies; it was around long before teenagers starting piercing their tongues, belly buttons and noses. The best known form of body piercing is ear rings and even our prehistoric ancestors wore them. There is no country in the world where ear rings are never seen. Telling people applying for a job that they can pierce their ears but not their noses would infuriate applicants from India or the Middle East where nose piercing, “hızma”, has been around for eons. Checking belly buttons and asking people to stick their tongues out during interviews would land the company on the front pages of the tabloids and all over the internet in seconds. The resulting negative publicity and court cases concerning unfair treatment are just not worth the hassle whatever the private views of the H.R. department are. All that has happened in the modern world is that the practice has spread to other parts of the world, something fashion tends to do.

The way an individual decides to present himself to the world is also a matter of choice. People are free in their choice of clothes, the colors and designs they decide to sport and the accessories they decide to complete their outfits with. Some wear jeans, some prefer dresses, others wear suits. Some prefer light makeup; some prefer a lot more and yet others prefer none. Some buy cosmetics, some wear henna and others have tattoos. Some wear valuable jewelry; some wear dress jewelry. Some wear ear rings; others pierce their noses or their belly buttons. Some wear bracelets on their wrists; others wear then round their ankles. People cannot be up in arms about some forms of body adornment and not others; it is irrational to say the least.

There are fields where some body piercing or any kind of jewelry may be inappropriate for various reasons. One such field is medicine: doctors and nurses are obliged to put the safety of patients above all else. You cannot have a surgeon excusing herself because her ring got tangled in the patient’s entrails for example. Hygiene needs to be maintained at hospitals hence the white coats, scrubs, the lack of jewelry and the disinfectant hand-washes. The same goes for the army where the apparel sported needs to be practical in terms of the job that needs to be done, defending the country and fighting the enemy. However, although jewelry may be impractical in both these professions, tattoos create no practical problems in terms of security and hygiene and are, therefore, logically perfectly acceptable.

The world of fashion includes both what we wear and how we accessorize. What aspects of fashion one decides to follow is a matter of individual choice. This choice is determined both by individual preferences and practical considerations. Workplaces would do better to shift their focus to applicants’ skills and talents and what they can do for the company. They should avoid being sidetracked by irrelevant details such as body piercing and tattoos.