Safety of Miners in the Opal Fields

Safety of Miners in the Opal Fields Summary This essay focuses on safety of miners in the opal fields. It looks at the major potential hazards in the opal fields and ways to ensure safety from these hazards. These hazards include explosives, unstable ground, shafts, machinery and dust. The claim is only as safe as the miners who are working on it. If miners can not follow laws and preventions outlined then the claim will not be as safe as it could be. Introduction Opal mining is an exciting but potentially hazardous occupation. A responsible miner should be able to identify and minimise risks. Many people can come onto a claim such as noodlers, miners and tourists. The claim can either be current with people working or it could be old and abandoned. The condition that the claim is left in has a major impact on the safety of any person who walks onto the claim. Specific laws and regulations have been set down by the government, which must be abided by to ensure a minimum safety standard is set. The top five potential hazards are explosives, unstable ground, shafts, machinery and dust. Content Claim Preparation Many risks arise from previously worked areas. Old workings such as drill holes and backfilled or covered shafts, which could be covered by vegetation, are potential risks. Shaft positions should be approximated if mining nearby. As these old shafts can collapse, it is advisable to leave a safe distance between shafts. If work is to be commenced in old shafts a number of checks should be completed. Drives, pillars and levels poor ground should all be checked and noted. Notes may include workings on two levels with the lower level directly beneath the upper. Large un-pillared areas, thin crowned pillars and fretting or cracking of pillars. Lastly cracks in the wall and roof and pillar size should also be checked. Claim boundaries are also a key point to avoid breaking into other neighbouring shafts. Explosives Experience in using and handling explosives can often lead to complacency. Inexperienced people not only can be potentially dangerous to them but can also pose risks with miss fires, unstable walls and fly rock. Licences to purchase, transport, store, handle and use explosives must be acquired and kept up to date. This ensures a minimum standard of safety is achieved. Not only are licenses important to ensure safety but storage, transport and use of explosives can be more important. Ensuring that all explosive equipment is stored appropriately is a must. Explosives should be stored correctly in a cool, dry place with detonators stored separately from explosive material. Other storage measures which should be met is that the explosive boxes are wood lined and locked. The boxes must be wood lined to ensure no static build up occurs and creates a spark. The storage areas of diesel and Nitropril should be well separated to ensure if there is a spill that they do not mix. Many laws are already put in place for the way explosives are transported, prepared and blasted. These laws are put in place for a specific reason which is safety, any deviation from the processes set out could result in a potential injury. Explosive Fumes Various gases are generated due to blasting. Gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides along and other noxious gases pose a potential health hazard after a blast. The reason these gases are dangerous is because they displace the oxygen available for breathing. For this reason adequate ventilation is required to release these gases before entering the blasted area. When a blast occurs a blast radius should be put in place to ensure the safety of other miners. In underground mines there is no law but it is recommended that miners do not stay underground. Gases generated from the blast can disperse throughout other shafts and may also cumulate their if there is inadequate airflow, the blast may also cause sections of the roof to collapse. Gases which are dispersed throughout the mine can cumulate in low or high cavities depending on the gas. Carbon Dioxide is heavier than air and can cumulate in low spots and floor cavities. Carbon Monoxide is lighter than air and can cumulate in high spots and roof cavities. Areas of known for having inadequate airflow should be checked after blasting to ensure the gas levels are at a safe level. Fans, blowers and other ventilation systems should be used to extract the noxious gases from the mine. These should be used in preference to natural ventilation as they are much quicker. Unstable Structures The geological structures of opal fields vary. There are some structures which can support a wide underground area, yet others are blocky material with faults which makes mining difficult and not recommended. Opal mining in South Australia is quite difficult as the general bearing rock is weathered, brittle and fractured. Each place in SA is different due to the stress distributions and rock types. With all of these factors it is up to the miner to decide weather it is safe to start underground mining in that area. In certain geological structures cave-ins can occur. A survey of the underground mining area should be done, noting old workings. Whenever underground a miner has to be constantly aware of the conditions especially the roof stability. An unstable roof which could be due to hidden faults could result in a rockfall which could be fatal. Weather conditions can also affect the wall structure and integrity. Air entering the mine can dry out ground and open up cracks, slides or faults. This drying of material can cause slabs of ground to fall. If a large amount of water gets into the mine the supporting strength of walls and pillars may be reduced. Care should be taken to identify if and fretting has occurred at the base of structures. Any operating shaft should have the entrance to it kept in good condition. Loose rocks, material and tools should all be cleared from the entrance as these can easily be knocked into the shaft. The likes of wind, weathering or even a blast close by could cause material to fall. For all of these reasons outlined with falling objects it is essential to wear a hard hat at all times. All of these factors can potentially be fatal, but these factors are generally overlooked as miners often become complacent and do not check the stability and strength of walls and roofs very often. These checks should become essential to a miners daily routine. Shafts Shafts are the key entry point to the underground sections of the mine. Keeping the shaft in good condition is essential to safety. Support structures at the top of the shaft, such as timbers and pipes, should be kept in good condition. When entering any new shaft weather it is blind or dead it is essential to ventilate the shaft to clear away gases. Underground areas must have at least two means of exit. This is in case one exit gets blocked for some reason which could be due to a rock fall. Having two exits requires regular maintenance to ensure that both mechanisms, which are subjected to corrosion and weathering, are safe to use. There is a significant risk of people falling down an open shaft. Not only are tourists at risk but also the miners. Small shafts can catch a persons leg or ankle and cause injuries whereas larger shafts pose risks of vehicles and people falling in. It is recommended to leave a ring of dirt around the shaft entrance to signify that a shaft is there. When a miner leaves the claim, it is their responsibility to leave the shaft and its surroundings in a safe condition. Manner Machinery When operating any machinery either above or below ground a pre-start check should be completed. This is to ensure the machine you are about to operate is in a safe working condition. Items which should be checked are fluid levels, tyre inflation and condition, track tension, gauges, lights, hydraulic rams, lines and buckets, brakes and steering. Any diesel machinery in operation gives off carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and other noxious gases. These gases are similar to blasting gases and can be fatal if inhaled in large concentrations. When in large concentrations these gases can not be seen or smelt. Care should be taken when operating any machinery underground ensuring adequate ventilation. Dust A major hazard when working at a mine is dust. Dust can cause or trigger numerous health problems such as skin irritation, allergies and respiratory damage. Generally particles of dust are caught within the nose, throat and bronchial tubes. A small amount of these particles however get into the breathing system, due to their size and shape. It is these particles which cause the most respiratory problems. Dust particles which are of a particular concern are silica. Silica is found predominantly in sandstone host rocks. High exposure to small silica particles can potentially cause a fatal lung disease called silicosis. Although all dust can not be tested for silica it is essential to restrict dust exposure to a minimum. Ways to control dust include extractors, collection systems and maximum airflow. Wearing a respirator or a dusk mask at the absolute minimum will help prevent the amount of dust that a miner will inhale. Although it is essential that the correct respirator or dust mask is used, as each one is different, depending on what cartridge is installed in the device. Electrical Operating machines or tools underground will generally use electricity. It is important to remember that electricity seeks the path of least resistance to earth. Most cases the path of least resistance is the human body as it is 80% water. It is vital that the design and installation of any electrical supply is safe. The miner can not come into contact with any live electrical component. Personal protective equipment Personal protective equipment (PPE) will help in protecting a miner from potential hazards. PPE is not a replacement for getting rid of a specific problem. It would be preferable to fit an extraction system for dust rather than wearing a dust mask. A number of items should be worn when working in a mining area such as hard hats, footwear, breathing, hearing and eye protection. Hard hats can be uncomfortable, fall off and restrict clearance in small spaces, but these inconveniences save lives. Footwear suitable for miners are steel capped boots. They provide much more support for ankles and grip when walking on loose and rugged surfaces. The steel cap provides protection for your toes if something drops or falls onto your feet. Breathing protection general comes from dust masks either rubber of paper. Both are designed to sit on a clean shaven face. If the miner has a bear or stubble the effectiveness of these masks is reduced. Hearing protection generally comes in two forms which are ear plugs and ear muffs. Ear protection only cuts out part of the noise, usually around 20db(A). Since only part of the noise is cut out it is important to ensure that the miner realises that higher levels of ear protection is required when working next to excessively noisy machines such as jack hammers. In general eye protection should be worn at all times. There is a constant risk of particles of some nature being airborne and possibly entering the eye. Damage to the eye may be something small like a scratch to actually losing an eye. Discussion These rules and advised safety precautions to be taken are put in place for a reason. It is solely to help protect the individual from getting injured or killed. But miners in the opal fields generally have the shell be right attitude. A large amount of preventions can be put in place to help ensure safety but if the miner does not follow them these are next to useless. They may think only a short amount of exposure to dust is fine, but if they continue to have exposure to dust containing silica they could cause the onset of silicosis. Not only can you do internal damage through various noxious gases and dusts, but a lot of damage can be done to the body itself. Cuts, sprains and broken bones are a number of things which can occur depending on how safe, cautious and or ignorant the miner is. Conclusions The top five potential hazards in opal field mining are explosives, unstable ground, shafts, machinery and dust. All of these potential hazards have laws, regulations and precautions put in place to ensure a minimum standard of safety. This minimum standard of safety is only reached if the person who enters the claim follows the guidelines. The bottom line being that safety in the opal fields comes down to each individual that enters the claim. If the miner is ignorant, complacent or plain lazy the safety of not only themselves but for others working with them could be at risk. It is the miners responsibility to ensure that not only are they safe but also fellow co-workers.

Unit 1 Info Tech ? Outcome 3/Assessment Task 2 ? Investigation Report :: essays research papers

Unit 1 Info Tech – Outcome 3/Assessment Task 2 – Investigation Report To complete this assessment task, it stated to study and analyze different events that I did during three days. I was asked to describe the sources of information, describe the nature of the information, technologies used to produce it, the qualities and the usefulness of the information. The different types or sources and information consisted of Text, numeric, sound and visual. These are all major ways that information is transmitted to the public. Sound, Visual and Text are the most common ways, as everyone sees them at least 10 times a day. These are shown if forms such as newspapers, magazines, via radio or television, billboards and over the Internet. The information shown originates from ideas, and from what the public wants. An example of this is the news. Major stories are so well organized and picked very carefully. It must appeal to the whole community, in a very strong way, whether it is about a killing, some major court hearing and even something popular in parliament. Probably one of the major things that a news reporter has to think about is â€Å"who is the news targeted at†? Target audience can make the difference between the story being eye catching and appealing to the public, or being just another ordinary story. Depending on what audience the story is aimed at, determines what time the story will be shown, or on what page. For example, the sport is always shown at the end of the news and on the last pages of the newspaper. Accuracy, completeness, consistency, validation, appropriateness and timing are major parts needed to get a message across. Accuracy is very important, yet some news reporter’s change the story around a little to keep viewers and readers interested. Validation and timing is very important, because viewers want to be updated with current news. The information that was shown as texts, picture and sound were the 3 main points that attract people. Sound because it is easy to get through to people without them doing much, reading because people look at the papers everyday as well as billboards, and picture because everyone watches the television at some stage of night.

Essay --

Should we always act rationally? Rationality is the practice of acting by reason, yet reason is variable and individual specific. Reason means in accordance with the facts of reality while the alternative would be acting by impulse. This result is an undesired consequence and in result is irrational due to the action being based upon belief. Reason is man’s mean of survival, having the mindset of not making the right decisions challenges the ability to live. Additionally, a consequence of acting irrationally is that it weakens the ability to act rational in the future. Upon choosing to act irrationally, one is acknowledging a lack of trust within the mind; repeated actions or irrationality will result in a belief of one’s practice. Man’s basic vice is suspension of his consciousness or having an unfocused mind resulting in refusal to know. Also, commonly used terms include stating something is rather rational or quite rational implying that rationality is a matter of degree. Now, we sometimes assess the rationality of a given decision. Indeed, we very often do in the sense that if ...

Hamlet: Hamlets Hate For His Uncle Brought On By Ghost :: Shakespeare Hamlet

Hamlet: Hamlet's Hate For His Uncle Brought On By Ghost In society today one might look back on the time of Shakespeare and say how ruthless and barbaric people were in that time, not realizing that the people of today are just as cruel and unforgiving. Shakespeare's Hamlet is a penetrating portrayal of a young man overcome with rage brought about by his uncle. This deep hate for his uncle along with his inability to forgive his mother, and the betrayal of his friends later brings him to his own destruction. Hamlets hate for his uncle is brought on by a ghost. In the beginning of the play, Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father who tells him "Know thou noble youth, the serpent that did sting thy fathers life now wears his crown"(pg. 29) These words tear at Hamlets heart enraging him, thus beginning the steps to his destruction. He vowed to avenge his fathers death, and would stop at nothing to take the life of his uncle. His uncle however is not the only one Hamlet has developed a hate for. He believes his mother played a large roll in his fathers death too. The speedy marriage of his mother to his uncle along with the words of his father"Taint not thy mind nor let thy soul contrive against thy mother aught"(pg.31) lead Hamlet to believe that his mother also had something to do with his fathers death. His mother whom he loved so dearly now becomes one of his worst enemies, destroying him even more than before. Hamlets mother, and uncle however are only the beginning of this emotional roller coaster, later he is betrayed by two of his best friends. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. two of Hamlets dearest friends betray him by turning him over to his uncle, who plans to ship him to England for his death, and further more are the ones to escort Hamlet to the ship. "will't please you go, my lord?"(pg.104) are the words of Rosencrantz urging Hamlet to board the ship, knowing full well that he boards to go to his death. This brings about the final chapter to Hamlet's mental destruction, and from this point on Hamlet cares nothing about his nor any one else's life. Hamlet: Hamlet's Hate For His Uncle Brought On By Ghost :: Shakespeare Hamlet Hamlet: Hamlet's Hate For His Uncle Brought On By Ghost In society today one might look back on the time of Shakespeare and say how ruthless and barbaric people were in that time, not realizing that the people of today are just as cruel and unforgiving. Shakespeare's Hamlet is a penetrating portrayal of a young man overcome with rage brought about by his uncle. This deep hate for his uncle along with his inability to forgive his mother, and the betrayal of his friends later brings him to his own destruction. Hamlets hate for his uncle is brought on by a ghost. In the beginning of the play, Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father who tells him "Know thou noble youth, the serpent that did sting thy fathers life now wears his crown"(pg. 29) These words tear at Hamlets heart enraging him, thus beginning the steps to his destruction. He vowed to avenge his fathers death, and would stop at nothing to take the life of his uncle. His uncle however is not the only one Hamlet has developed a hate for. He believes his mother played a large roll in his fathers death too. The speedy marriage of his mother to his uncle along with the words of his father"Taint not thy mind nor let thy soul contrive against thy mother aught"(pg.31) lead Hamlet to believe that his mother also had something to do with his fathers death. His mother whom he loved so dearly now becomes one of his worst enemies, destroying him even more than before. Hamlets mother, and uncle however are only the beginning of this emotional roller coaster, later he is betrayed by two of his best friends. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. two of Hamlets dearest friends betray him by turning him over to his uncle, who plans to ship him to England for his death, and further more are the ones to escort Hamlet to the ship. "will't please you go, my lord?"(pg.104) are the words of Rosencrantz urging Hamlet to board the ship, knowing full well that he boards to go to his death. This brings about the final chapter to Hamlet's mental destruction, and from this point on Hamlet cares nothing about his nor any one else's life.

Deception in Sophocles Philoctetes and Hesiods Theogony :: Deception Sophocles Hesiod Essays

Deception in Sophocles' Philoctetes and Hesiod's Theogony For many centuries, the art of deception has been a powerful tool for achieving goals, and it has spawned the ancient debate of the ends justifying the means. In the tragedy Philoctetes by Sophocles and in Hesiod's Theogony, there are many instances of deception, particularly on the part of men in the texts. For each of them, the deceit is justified as a means of building and maintaining a reputation or obtaining power. Ultimately, however, the use of deception results in putting the men in positions of further vulnerability. In Philoctetes, the character of Odysseus is portrayed as well accustomed to using deceit for personal gain without much consideration for morality or human compassion. He not only deceives Philoctetes himself, but he has the audacity to con Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, into doing the same. Odysseus's first deception of Philoctetes happens before his second arrival on Lemnos with Neoptolemus. Odysseus and his crew maroon the injured Philoctetes on the island with no one to help him by sneaking away while he is asleep. Odysseus explains their reasons for abandoning him: We had no peace with him: at the holy festivals, we dared not touch the wine and meat; he screamed and groaned so, and those terrible cries of his brought ill luck on our celebrations (Phil. lines 6-9). No one is able to heal Philoctetes because his disease was inflicted on him by divine power. Nor does he have the self-control to keep quiet, even during religious ceremonies, and his lack of self-discipline reflects poorly on the group as a whole. Philoctetes's unrestrained howling during solemn occasions jeopardizes their dignity and their reputations as serious and powerful men. Odysseus returns to Lemnos only because he realizes that, in order to sack Troy, he must have the bow of Heracles which is in Philoctetes's possession.

Holes by Louis Sacher

Holes by Louis Sacher Theme Fate does play an important role in the lives of many of the characters in the novel Holes. Stanley’s great-great-grandfather was cursed with bad luck by Madame Zeroni because he did not carry her up the mountain as he had promised. The bad luck haunts his relatives for over a hundred years, until the day Stanley Yelnats the third fourth fulfils the promise of his great-great-grandfather by carrying Madame Zeroni's great-grandson up a mountain and sing him Madame Zeroni's lullaby. From this point the Yelnats family’s luck turns. Stanley Yelnats great-grandfather was robbed by Kate Barlow and left stranded in the desert. He had survived alone for seventeen days before he was rescued by some hunters. He claimed to have â€Å"found rescue in god's tumb†. So when Stanley and Zero are stranded in the exact same desert over a hundred years later and spot a mountain with the contour of a thumb, Stanley decides to follow his great-grandfather's example and climb the mountain. On this mountain they find onions and water which gives them strength to survive and continue their adventure. On their adventure, Stanley and Zero develop a solid friendship. They face a lot of challenges which makes them bond even stronger. A good example is when Stanley carries Zero's almost lifeless body up the high, steep mountain. Stanley steals a car just to help his friend Stanley, and Zero gets in to a fight only to defend Stanley. Good Conflict Zero escaped from Camp Green Lake after he had hit Mr. Pendanski in the head with his shovel. Knowing that Zero is walking around in the desert without any food or water leaves Stanley feeling guilty and worried about him. This makes him steal a car and escape from camp, just to help his friend. Fine. Conflicts between characters Catherine Barlow and Trout Walker Catherine is the first woman to turn Trout down and give him a â€Å"no†. This upsets Trout, and he burns Catherine's school down and kills her boyfriend. Mr. Sir And Stanley Stanley is accused of stealing Mr. Sir's sunflower seeds and is taken to the Warden by Mr. Sir. The Warden gets upset about Mr. Sir wasting her time with trifles and slap him his face with her poisonous nails. Mr. Sir's face get ugly swellings and he lets his anger and embarrassment out on Stanley. Zero an Mr. Pendanski Mr. Pendanski is constantly mocking at Zero about how stupid and incompetent he is. Zero finally gets enough and hits Mr. Pendanski in the head with his shovel. Fine Setting Green Lake was once the largest lake in the whole of Texas. It was a bright and lush place surrounded by peach trees and fertile mountains. When Sam got killed the whole town of Green Lake was somehow punished, not one single drop of water has fallen on Green Lake since that fateful day. The area is now all hot and dried up and there are no longer any remains of the green and sunny paradise it used to be. Camp Green Lake is now just a dry wasteland without any signs of vegetation, shade or water. Beside the boys, the only residents are scorpions, rattlesnakes and some deadly yellow-spotted lizards. When Stanley and Zero leave Camp Green Lake the sky turns dark and the first drop of rain for over a hundred years falls into the empty lake. Water being reunited with the lake is probably an indication on that vegetation and wildlife slowly will return to the area. We are also told that Camp Green Lake will become a Girl Scout camp in a few years. This tells us that the camp probably will be upgraded and get a friendlier look. It is also unlikely that a Girl Scout camp would find place in a desert, so this again suggests that Green Lake is returning green again. Good Characterization When Stanley arrives Camp he is an unhappy, overweight kid without any friends, being bullied by classmates and teachers. He appears to be secluded and feels uncomfortable in social situations and he is often sick with generally bad health. After just a weeks stay at camp, Stanley starts to lose weight and gain muscle. He gets a little more confident as he feels more accepted and he is given the nickname â€Å"Caveman » by the other boys. Stanley’s letters home Stanley writes a lot of letters home to his mum which gives us an impression of him being a kind and caring boy. In the letters he twists the truth with the intention of sparing his mum. This underlines his character even more. A few months later Stanley has gotten even stronger. He is a faster digger with muscles and thick skin. His low self esteem seems to be as good as gone. When Zero ask him to teach him how to read, Stanley has no problem turning him down. It is like he has lost much of his sympathy. By the time he leaves camp, Stanley has changed a lot, both physically and psychically He is more self-aware and has developed the emphatic side of himself. He is the same good guy as before just braver and happier. Good Zero Zero is first presented as a silent and strange character who shrinks from answering questions and talking. As we follow Zero through the book, we get to know him as an honest and generous boy. He is homeless and sent to Camp Green Lake because he had stolen some shoes. He is a smart kid, however he has some trouble expressing himself since he neither can read nor write. Stanley helps him with his language problems and they develop a friendship and Zero really opens up through the book. Good The adults at Camp Green Lake Mr. Sir Mr. Sir is one of the counsellors at Camp Green Lake. He is emphatic and tough and seems to enjoy being cruel to the campers. As result of his attempt to quit smoking, he is constantly chewing sunflower seeds. Mr. Pendanski Mr. Pendanskis in charge of Stanley's tent at Camp Green Lake, Tent D. He seems to be a friendly and quite stupid man, however he reveals the mean side of him- self when he suggests shooting the boys at the end of the book. (He is also nasty to Zero throughout. ) The Warden The warden is the commander in chief at Camp Green Lake. She is threatening and feared among both the campers and the other adults at camp. She claims that the boys are digging to build character, however she is really looking for Kate Barlow's treasure. Good Parallels between the stories Peaches Kate Barlow was famous for her spiced peaches, (Stanley and) Zero finds remains of these peaches out in the desert a hundred years later, calls them Sploosh and survives on them. The cure against bad foot odour, invented by Stanley's father has the smell of peaches and is named Sploosh. Onions Sam was an onion-seller, and he spoke well about the many healing qualities of onions. Sam's onion field was located on the exact same spot as Stanley and Zero find their onion supplies. The onions make Stanley and Zero regain their health and. avoid bites from the deadly yellow-spotted lizards.. Yellow- spotted lizards Yellow-spotted lizards are deadly lizards living in the empty holes at Camp Green Lake. Each lizard has exactly eleven yellow spots on their back, and it is said that if you are close enough to count them you are as good as dead. It was a yellow-spotted lizard that killed Kate Barlow and it is yellow-spotted lizards that almost kills Stanley and Zero while they are digging up Kate's treasure. Mary Lou Mary Lou was Sam's donkey. Sam claimed her to be almost fifty years old, and explained it by her eating nothing but raw onions. She got shot in the head and died the same day as Sam. There is also the boat. Fine The role of the song The first song deals with the fact that life is hard and a wish of an easier life. The second song is replying that life will never be easy and you will have to face your troubles and be proud of yourself. This song fits the Yelnats family, since they are a family with bad luck wishing life was easier. OK, but how does this change in the song reflect the changes in the story? Title I believe the novel is called holes simply because the campers have to dig holes and there are also â€Å"holes† in the novel which need to be filled. You could give some examples of these. There are also holes in the lives of Stanley and Zero. For example, the one left by Zero's mother when she disappeared. Good. You have answered the various parts of the assignment well and have shown insight and a very good understanding of the novel. You could perhaps have written a little more in some of your answers. Language: mistakes (there are a few too many of these) are colour coded as follows yellow: spelling blue: verbs green: language (for example, word choice, prepositions, punctuation and so on)

Chinese Literature Essay

The first short story under consideration is â€Å"Iron Child† by Mo Yan. The piece of literature deals with industrialization of China, which aimed at establishing the socialist model of political system of this country in the beginning of the second half of the twentieth century. The outcomes of the political transformation of China, particularly, child labor, are described in the story. The story â€Å"Iron Child† is narrated by a five-year-old boy (Yan n.pag.). Another short story under analysis is â€Å"Dogshit Food† by Liu Heng. The events of this story take place in the period of the so-called Great Leap Forward (1958). â€Å"Dogshit Food† deals predominantly with the issues of social life in China and political transformation after the World War II. The author emphasizes the human perception of beauty and ethical aspect of interpersonal relations. The story is being delivered in the third person singular, which indicates author’s narrative. The protagonist of the novel is Yang Tiankuan (Heng n.pag.). In spite of thematic diversity and differences in the formal realization of subject matter in both short-stories, â€Å"Dogshit Food† by Liu Heng and â€Å"Iron Child† by Mo Yan, they have a wide range of similarities. In his short story â€Å"Iron Child†, Mo Yan deals with the issues of industrialization of China establishing the socialist model of political system. The writer also reflects upon the most acute and burning social issues, particularly, child labor. It should be mentioned that Mo Yan creates the reality in which children appeared to be the most vulnerable in  the face of decisions and choices of adults. The general tone of the novel is gloomy. The pace of revolving the plot is predominantly moderate, gravitating towards acceleration. The surrealist vision gives this short story the flavor of reminiscence, since the author, apparently, is recalling and reconsidering his childhood. The aspect of the surrealist vision is embodied in the Iron Child who is the protagonist’s friend. Iron Child is endowed with extraordinary abilities of consuming iron (Yan n.pag.). On the other hand, â€Å"Dogshit Food† by Liu Heng, above all, accentuates the inter-personal relations between Yang Tiankuan and his wife and Yang Tiankuan and the rest of community inhabiting the Flood Water Valley. According to the short story, the negative effect of reformatting the agriculture and economy of China is related to the issue of malnutrition. Apparently, the author is drawing a parallel between the affliction and the person’s character. The conflict between the appearance, the outer surface, and person’s inner world is revealed through the lens of Yang Tiankuan’s wife. Namely, the author analyzes the way she treats Yang Tiankuan and others and, consequently, the way she perceives the world (Heng n.pag.). Therefore, the issues dealt in both novels are social life in China in the age of the Great Leap Forward, childhood and the status of children in Chinese society, interpersonal relations, human perception, and understanding the beauty. The essence of social issues and their outcomes and, as a result, the cause-effect relations dealt with in both short stories constitute the commonness between these particular pieces of literature. Another important observation to be made concerns the aspect of distinctiveness and autonomy of Chinese literature in general and Chinese prose of the twentieth century in particular. The phenomenon of distinctiveness and autonomy of Chinese literature was predetermined by the geographical position of China as well as scientific, cultural, and political separateness of this region from the rest of the world. Coalescence, i.e. loss of individuality, of the Chinese historic-cultural frontier in Asia represented itself as a notable fact common to the second half of the twentieth century. Mo Yan and Liu Heng’s positions supported Chinese identity in the context of culture by all means. Considering the current situation, it is important to admit the process of introducing the realities of the Western world to East and China in particular. They were assimilated into Eastern ground. Mo Yan and Liu Heng’s short stories were called, above all, to communicate the idea of cultural identity to the audience across the world. In other words, these particular pieces of literature have no target audience. In its turn, the absence of target audiences indicates both self-sufficiency and self-sustainment of art in general and literature in particular. Self-sufficiency and self-sustainment are the markers of the postmodern art, philosophy and the concept of world. However, social determination of both pieces of art is obvious as far as their subject matter is concerned. In my considered opinion, the issues of identity, assimilation and social determination presented in both â€Å"Dogshit Food† by Liu Heng and Mo Yan’s â€Å"Iron Child† are important in terms of investigating and analyzing. Works Cited Heng, Liu. â€Å"Dogshit Food.† _Fiction Since 1976._ Trans. Deride Sabina Knight. N.p., n.d. 366 – 378. Print. Yan, Mo. â€Å"Iron Child.† _Fiction Since 1976._ Trans. Howad Goldblatt. N.p., n.d. 367 – 387. Print.