Production of Food in the Future Essay

The idea of feeding a population of 9 billion by the year 2050 is daunting. Consider the United Nations’ estimate that 1 billion people in the world today are hungry. The average number of malnourished people worldwide between 1990and 2006 is 850 million with the high point of 1.023 billion hungry people, reached in the 2008 crises. Before we can determine if we can feed 9 billion people in 2050, is it not a better question to ask: â€Å"Have we met the needs of our current population?† Increases in population growth, higher food prices due to increased demand, and rising poverty levels both in the US and internationally are all obstacles that need to be controlled. To begin with, strategies mentioned in â€Å"The Future of Food† need to be put to use, in order to overcome the challenges we face in meeting the growing demand for food. Elizabeth Dickinson states, â€Å"the world is always on the verge of a food crisis† (144). The population in this world is growing larger and larger everyday, so imagine how much food production would need to increase to feed 9 billion people by 2050. For example, in Elizabeth Dickinson’s info graphic essay, the largest number of respondents voted that the world would need to increase its food production by 70 percent. That is an enormous percentage because we would need to start increasing the production from now, so by the time 2050 comes around we will have increased by 70 percent. If we delay the process of starting to increase the food production then we will probably still won’t be able to feed the whole world in the future. As the population grows, increased demand will lead to higher food prices. For example, at any time demand for a commodity rises, prices generally surge. On the other hand, at any time demand for a commodity goes down, prices decrease. The cycle works the same with supply. An increase in supply on constant demand will cause a decrease in prices while decreasing demand will cause an increase in prices. In other words, if there is too much of the same supply but little demand then the price will go down, rather than having too much of the same supply with very high demand, prices will go up. People often ask, â€Å"What’s going on in the world today that is causing this food production problem to happen?† The answer remains, the population growth. A few examples of what has caused food prices to rise so high are: China and India have the largest and quickest growing populations generating demand for food from around the globe, so impact on prices has been raising demand from these countries, the Japanese tsunami and earthquake drove up seafood prices by 6%, and vegetable prices rose 50% month due to crop damage in Australia, Russia, and South America. If these prices keep rising we will not be able to feed the whole world and we will still have hungry people in poor countries. Elizabeth Dickinson states, â€Å"Poverty is the main problem. Even when food is abundant, many go hungry because of the lack of income to purchase food† (146). To cut down the global hunger rate, ten respondents voted that the international community should promote broader economic growth. In other words, we should produce a wider and vigorous quantity of growth. Strategies we can use to face all these challenges are genetic engineering, stress-resistant breeding, and the use of ecosystems in farming. The Green Revolution, which did not bypass Africa, is another problem facing food production. Elizabeth Dickinson proclaimed, â€Å"It failed because expensive hybrid seeds and fertilizers quickly degraded soils and impoverished small farmers† (147). This Green Revolution was ineffective. The use of fertilizer increased significantly, while per capita agriculture decreased dramatically. Yield continued to stay stationary in throughout Africa in the main crops such as maize, rice, wheat, etc. The green Revolutions impact on farming and food production has caused virulent disputes. Some people argue that it has saved many lives by enlarging agricultural productivity, while others argue that it ha made a catastrophic impact on small farmers. It has also effected the environments by â€Å"generating a massive global market for seed, pesticide, and fertilizer corporations† (GRAIN). Experiments studied in the past have came to the conclusion by stating, â€Å"a main reason for the inefficiency of Africa’s agriculture is that the crops on the great majority of small farms are not the high-yielding varieties in common use on the other continents† (GRAIN). Lastly, in â€Å"What Do We Deserve?† all of the different models of economic justice relate to â€Å"The Future of Food† by Elizabeth Dickinson. The first model is the libertarian model. This model is about the inequality of people and how different races, classes, genders, and people with different sexuality preferences don’t have the same opportunities and don’t start out their lives the same. For example, people of different classes either grow up rich, middle class, or poor. Arora states, â€Å"So while the racetrack may look nice and shiny, the runners don’t begin at the same staring point† (87). The second model is the meritocratic model. This model is about how some people are already born with talents and attributes while others don’t have that advantage. Those who do not have those advantages have to work hard to earn their wins. For example, society does not give as much praise to a person who isn’t born with a talent or attribute than they do to those who already have it in them. Arora expresses, â€Å"Are their wins not as arbitrary from a moral standpoint as the wins of those born with silver spoons in their mouths?† (88). The third model is the egalitarian model. This model talks about how if the people who are born with natural gifts don’t work for their success but still get rewarded, they should share their rewards with the public who do work to earn rewards. For example, if someone is born wealthy because of the family they come from, then they should be considerate to others and share what they have instead of being greedy. They did not work hard to earn the wealth. It was just handed to them very easily. Arora proclaims, â€Å"We should certainly encourage people to hone and exercise their aptitudes, but we should be clear that they do not morally deserve the rewards their aptitudes earn from the market† (88). All of these models relate to â€Å"The Future of Food† in very similar ways. It shows that not all people can afford the increasing prices of food, which causes world hunger. The ones born with attributes that make their life easier would be able to gain fame and fortune and wont have to worry about going hungry. Also they have things a lot easier than others. People don’t deserve anything unless they have earned it. It is not fair to those who are trying hard to succeed but fail and get no credit at all. Those trying to succeed are trying to provide for themselves in order to afford the food while prices are getting higher and higher. To sum it up, food production in the future will be a very big challenge we will have to face, but all obstacles can be overcome if we set our minds to it. I believe that if we all work together on the strategies talked about earlier, we can achieve feeding all nine billion people in this world, including all the starving people in the countries that suffer from poverty. Also with all the types of models of economic justice, society need to be fair with the right ways on rewarding people from either different classes or with different advantages.

Nickel and Dimed Essay

Blue collar jobs are decent means to earn a living.   However, upon reading Nickel and Dimed, a sad reality on the plight of the working poor or the low-wage workforce would wrenched anyone’s heart thinking that if this one is happening in America what will happen to the rest of the other world for instance the poorer countries or we may say the fourth world? The world look up at America’s prosperity but in reading the book of Ehrenreich somebody with a heart would say leave behind that job that enslave and find a living!   This can be easier said but in the true sense it is not the case.   The world we are in is a competition and harsh to people who have the misfortune of having the least opportunity. For this reason, a gesture of kindness or a smile for the working class would alleviate their misery and this is the least we can do or offer them.   Moreover, it is a thing every man should ponder, and to find ways and means to eradicate such meanness. Essay for question number 2 Affordable housing is always in locations called the inner city.   No low-wage worker can afford a prime location and these locations are normally the place where somebody could easily find a job.   Moreover, city planners and businesses cater to the public who have the highest purchasing power because that means business.   With these realities, one may say that the problem is difficult to solve. Habitat for Humanity offers affordable housing but to marginalize few, this international housing organization despite its efforts can not extend its arms to every body that will be in need for low-cost housing.   Many of the working class has a need for affordable housing but it is a bone wrecking effort to make both ends meet.   Probably the only remedy is to lower the living condition and live within the most viable limit.   Truly the best way for a poor person is to live a frugal and detached life and that is to live in a trailer house? Essay for question number 3 Color or hues, even if we say we live in a free country still matters not because it is the Americas but on the simple truth that man are judgmental, discriminating or simply out of touch to reality, greedy or just bent on maximizing their profits. The life of working person begins not in front of his or her job but in the home when she or he start pulling the laundry, wash the dishes or fetch a son or daughter in school.   These are domestic works which needs to be polished day in and out.   In fact, this daily duties is enough challenge to a single parent when he or she needs to battle his or her time from the job that is at hand.   Moreover, single parents do not receive much emotional backups and for this reasons are occasionally being construed by a society to be in need of help but are often are the ones most of the times victimized. Essay for question number 4 Low-wage workers are often times people because of poverty have low self-esteem and for some are rebels.   These workers find difficulty in asserting themselves.   Just imagine the torture of everyday, fighting for the lease of a life that seemed to becoming expensive everyday?   Mentally these are poor workers who have already despaired on their sad fate that since there is no choice left to live, these are just the guys who would shrug their shoulder and live until one can still swallow an air to breath. People who are bereft of a just wage are men marginalized in a materialistic society that lords over technology.   A hedonistic society that looks down on men who belongs to the working class and despised them as if they are not flesh and bones like the rest of the human race.   Every citizen has the right to a just wage, a safe working condition, and a job that could sustain not just the pocket but the heart and mind as well. However, some rights are often undermine by the lack of concern not only from the policy makers but also from the public itself when people patronized products that are cheap because it provides cheap labor to its workers.   Employees of ill-minded owners or greedy businesses should make a stand not to patronized products and services that belong to these suckers.   There is a call for genuine solidarity among employees so that demands will be laid in the most effective and orderly manner or strategy.   With Barbara,   one would say that a 6$ job is not enough â€Å"to compensate indignity† (Ehrenreich, 2000). References Ehrenreich, B. (2000). Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America [Electronic Version]. Retrieved 29 February 2008, from http://www.henryholt.com/readingguides/ehrenreich.htm         

COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF TWO ARTICLES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF TWO ARTICLES - Essay Example Censorship and literature Rev Murray John Courtney 1904-1967 was a theologian with a doctorate in sacred theology. He taught Catholic trinitarian theology and was editor of the Jesuit Journal Theological Studies in Queens, New York until his death 1 John Courtney Murray posits that censorship is a compromise between freedom and restraint. Obscenity in the courts: Written one year before the article â€Å"Censorship and literature†,2 the authors Lockhart and McClure 3 narrate how obscenity was being defined by the courts at the time when there was a revival of Puritanism in the United States especially after the Civil War and the World War 1.. After these wars, there was sudden surge of obscene literature in the country that there was public outcry for a newer legislation to contain obscenity in all its forms. The legislation of the time was ineffective without a workable definition of the term obscenity. There were few reported decisions of pre-civil war period on obscene lite rature with some impact on the people who read such literature. The contemporaneous Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter came to be detested as an outright immoral book which degraded literature and encouraged promiscuity. As early as in 1868, a workable definition for obscene was provided by Lord Chief Justice Cockburn, an English jurist that came to be known as Hicklin test following his decision in Regina v Hicklin 4 which said that a material was obscene if the impugned material depraved and corrupted vulnerable individuals coming across that material. Though Hicklin was soon being followed by American courts, this Victorian moral standard was felt out of time by American federal District Judge Learned Hand who suggested that obscenity must be regulated by the Government in accordance with community standard that changed with times. Following Hand’s ruling, American courts started ignoring Hicklin test and it was finally put to rest by a 1933 Ulysses decision5 in which t he judges Hand and Agustus N H of the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a book was considered obscene by its dominant effect. And the test should be by verifying whether the passages alone depraved the mind of the individuals who has access to that book. The authors of the present article examine the treatment of obscenity under different contexts of â€Å" effects on individual readers† , â€Å"effects on community moral standards†, â€Å"offensiveness†, and â€Å"effect on probable audience† and author’s purpose. The authors question whether censorship’s purpose is only to prevent corrupting and depraving of the minds of the individuals or it is also prevent their behavior influenced by such obscene material. In the absence of judicial answer for this, authors state that there has been no attempt to show that individuals reading obscene books started behaving differently that is inconsistent with the extant moral standards. They insist that co urt have never gone beyond determining that an allegedly obscene book only affected the readers’ thoughts and desires without ever being concerned about the individuals’ behavior or actions after reading an impugned book. Courts’ decisions on obscenity have not taken care to find out what kind of thoughts that individuals are affected with. Courts have not spelt out whether the obscene material induces thoughts on sexual intercourse and whether they are within or

The implications of Tudor-Stuart polices on Ireland Research Proposal

The implications of Tudor-Stuart polices on Ireland - Research Proposal Example Hence, â€Å"...obeyeth to no other person, English, Irish except only to such persons...† that could subdue them in the battlefield in case of invasion with a sword2. However, this did not last long before Tudors and later Stuarts showing interest in subduing them though encountered severe resistance from some of the then uncooperative chieftains but eventually complied with English king’s laws. This was contrary to earlier times when they were not under the subject of any King’s laws except their Gaelic chiefs doing what they wished3. However, the imposition of Tudor-Stuart policies on Ireland aimed at subduing Ireland as well as bringing the entire state under complete control. This included even the then powerful Irish Landlords who later after the conquest turned into mere chiefs subject to Henry VIII as per the Pope Andrian IV’s wish who had given king that title4. Despite strong resistance waged by some of the then powerful proprietors like Oâ€℠¢Donell and O’Neil supported by Philip of Spain (Elizabeth’s enemy), they gave in to Henry’s regime after a miserable defeat5. Hence, they both recognized and accepted Henry III as king whereas in their capacity remained only as Anglo-Irish Nobles6. Henry VIII after subduing powerful Irish land Landlords especially in Ulster and more agreeing to give in their full compliance, he resulted to autocratic rule. This constituted torture especially to those who showed any disobedience besides bringing English settlers in Ireland7.

Charlie Wilson's War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Charlie Wilson's War - Essay Example Charlie Wilson prevented the Red Army from overtaking Afghanistan, and this eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and simultaneously fueled the rise of radical Islam. A congressional representative, Charlie Wilson had great interest in partying and staffing his congressional office with young and attractive women. This social life of Charlie Wilson brings into attention federal investigation about him being a cocaine user (Bronson 301). The federal prosecutor Rudy Giuliani carried the investigation, but no evidence against Charlie was found. Charlie was a fervent anti-communist with a strong dislike of the Soviets and was a friend of the Nicaragua’s Somoza and Pakistan’s Muhammad Zia Hag. Generally, nobody is a purist, but Charlie Wilson seemed to be one. What lured him to the plight of Afghanistan was the insurgency against the Soviet occupation and his passion for the underdogs (Quick and Nelson 456). The Soviet-Afghan war was a nine-year conflict that in volved the Soviet Union forces supported by the Marxist people of the Afghanistan government against Mujahedeen resistance. In the context of the cold war, this group found support from various sources like the United States, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and other Muslim nations. The efforts of Charlie Wilson made it possible for the Afghans to defeat the Soviet Forces. This was the last war of the cold war period. It gave a clear understanding of the two most important events of our time, which are the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of the militant Islam. Charlie Wilson served in Texas House and Senate before moving to the United States House of Representatives, where he served with the second congressional district before he retired in 1996. In the beginning of the book, Wilson is in a tub with two showgirls and a good supply of cocaine. This reputation made people underestimate Charlie Wilson and allowed him to work without anyone seeing. Charlie Wilson was used to seeing b attles and wars; he, therefore, saw himself as a man of destiny. Wilson had an unwavering patriotism and was convinced of the threat by the Soviets since the time he graduated from college (Crile 149). John F. Kennedy, when he won the elections through his inaugural speeches, has inspired Wilson. In his later age, Wilson never thought entirely of the news reports from the Afghanistan refugees, who flew from the Pakistan in thousands, and the gunships that destroyed the villages. Charlie Wilson and his counterpart Gust Avrakotos have a public picture as quintessential stereotypical American cowboys. They are depicted as fearless, rough-necked, and social class rule breakers who worked around the obstacles and pushed roughly their mutual enemy, the Soviet Union. They both used politics, spy novel secrecy, American money, and technology to fight against the Afghan tribesmen. Gust Avrakotos Until the production of the book Charlie Wilson War in 2003, the public knew almost nothing about Gust. The book portrays the U.S involvement in the Afghanistan-Soviet war as a partnership between Gust and a Texas congressional representative, Charles Wilson. Gust was born in Pennsylvania in the family of the Greek American soft drink manufacturer from the island of Aliquippa (Quick and Nelson 487). Gust graduated from the University of Pittsburgh after completing his

An Introduction to Entrepreneurship Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

An Introduction to Entrepreneurship - Coursework Example Understanding the different aspects which are a part of the entrepreneurial behaviors and expectations defines the associations and roles that pertain to business with the individual. Skills, Abilities and Behaviors The generalized concept of being an entrepreneur is based on working independently while moving into business endeavors. However, the business ventures which are created differ from other forms of business. The first difference is noted with an enterprise, which is created through a board of directors or sector of leaders with a hierarchical expectation that is established. While this particular venture may have been established by an entrepreneur, it is expected that the team collaboration and hierarchy separates the individual behaviors from the group modifications which take place. The intrapreneur is another form of leadership which many attribute to the same concept. While there are several similar skills in terms of leadership, this differs because the position is u sually based on management as opposed to starting a new venture without the use of a corporation or other entity. The entrepreneur is then defined as one which differs because of the independent nature and the characteristics of leadership used for innovation and creativity outside of other types of business ventures (Ucbasaran, Westhead, Wright, 2009: p. 99). The main difference in character with entrepreneurs is what leads to the different skills, abilities and behaviors among these business leaders. There are five known personal characteristics which create a difference between entrepreneurs and other types of leaders. This includes being open to experience, being conscious and aware of surroundings, being flexible, being agreeable and carrying a vision based on these determinants. The concept that is associated with these skills is reflective of the psychological expectations that lead to leadership skills, innovation and the ability to create and portray different ideologies in relation to the surrounding environment (Zhao, Seibert, 2006: p. 259). These psychological behaviors then lead to expectations of skills and abilities. Creativity, capability to find opportunities and performing several tasks are some of the skills expected. Entrepreneurs are known for switching skills easily while a business grows while moving in between positions and working with initiatives while creating the necessary ventures (Silva, 2007: p. 118). Creative Thinking The ability to work with leadership skills, behaviors that initiate new ventures and skills that are able to move between various positions then leads to the concepts of creative thinking which are developed by entrepreneurs. The structure that is developed with entrepreneurs is based on the intention of an individual first. This is what initiates the endeavor and allows the entrepreneur to grow, either in response to the environment or because of a vision that is related to the entrepreneur. This is combined with creative thinking to lead to the initiative of the new idea and to find ways to construct the idea into a reality. The creative thinking is furthered by evaluating the business idea to define the probability of success as well as looking into solutions that will help to launch the business into a successful endeavor. The personality of the

Management Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Management Accounting - Essay Example In the ABC approach, the costs are computed based on the activities and not on the labour or machine hours. Each activity has a cost driver attached to it and the ABC system utilises this cost driver to distribute the costs among the products (12 Manage, 2008). When the ABC Costing approach was followed, the profit margin per unit for Parrot was recorded as  £ 87.09 and that for Toucan was computed as  £ 63.88. In this case, the difference of profit per unit amounts to only  £ 23.21. ABC system indicates that the profit from Toucan is actually higher as opposed to the absorption costing system. Also, the cost drivers indicate that the M/C setup takes up a high amount of costs as the overheads. Hence it is made evident that the number of setups has to be reduced. This will result in higher profits for Bird Gardens (Cokins, 2001). In order to analyse the efficiency and to increase the profits of the company, it is essential to follow the ABC

The role of humans in the global warming Term Paper

The role of humans in the global warming - Term Paper Example A war that is now fought with scientific data as the baseline, the rifts between the two opposing sides continues to widen with rising global temperatures, evidently, becoming grossly enjoined in the controversy. From the observed instrumental temperature records, the rising sea levels, to the disappearing glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere relative to the increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, the indication that the present environmental state of affairs is massively man-made is beyond any reasonable doubt (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate (b) Change chapter 2). Indeed, from a sketchy â€Å"greenhouse† effect warning as a result of heat-trapping emissions due to global, heavy reliance on fossil fuels over the last two decades to the recent conviction of an increasing impact on the Earth's climate, coupled with deforestation, but to a lesser extent, the absolute certainty of man’s contribution to global warming has become even clearer. While scie ntific experts have fallen short of determining the precise amounts of warming attributable to human activities, recent measurements of the temperature increases of the world’s oceans relative to the expected amounts of warming from greenhouse gases, strengthen the IPPC consensus (Hansen 1433). Without a doubt, the observed dramatic increases in the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere since the advent of modern civilization, buoyed in part by industrial revolution, have been higher than at any other time in history (IPCC (a) chapter 12). As alluded above, the principal greenhouse gases [carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and the halocarbons (such as fluorine, chlorine and bromine)], each of which absorbs outgoing infrared radiation in the atmosphere, ultimately warming the planet, are all attributable to human activities. Increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere have not only resulted from the use of fossil fuel s in transportation, cooling and the manufacture of cement and other goods, but have also emanated from decaying plants occasioned by deforestation (IPCC (b) 19-20). The alterations of natural land cover around the world, principally for crop production since the industrial era, have all negatively impacted global climate. Available evidence indicates that industrial activities over the past 150 years increased the level of Carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere from 280 parts per million to 379 parts per million (IPPC (b) 54). Agriculture related activities and man’s increasing need of landfills have contributed more than stuffed Methane (CH4) into the atmosphere. The use of fertilizers has also done a fair share in the emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O). Industrial use of halocarbons on the other hand has had irrefutable effects in stratospheric ozone depletion. A number of aerosols, now massively preset in the atmosphere, are the result of biomass burning and surface mining among other industrial processes (IPCC (b) chapter 8). The above human activities, in addition to many more similar activities, have all contributed to significant radioactive forcing in one way or another, consequently altering the earth’s surface temperatures over time. Accordingly, the 2013 revised, integrated scientific review of climate change by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (7) has

How important is embodiment to understanding how children perceive and Essay

How important is embodiment to understanding how children perceive and experience the world - Essay Example hildhood embodiment can be considered and there is no single linear and monolithic theoretical tenet that can possibly include all social, cultural and anthropological aspects of childhood embodiment. However, childhood embodiment is unique than other phases of the development of an individual because it is when the body is directly in a rapid flux, which is not experienced at other phases of human life, except may be at an extreme old age. Embodiment of children, thus need to take into account all the aspects that go into the formation of the childhood body.    In order to execute a comprehensive theory of childhood embodiment it is important to locate the ‘body’ within the history of cultural, sociological and anthropological disciplines that have been vigorously, and at times, violently, divided into camps of biological and social reductionism. One point of view has been intent on summarily precluding the other view, and at times quite unexpected ideological fidelity has been worked out among conflicting schools. If we divide the whole approaches into ‘foundationalism’ and ‘non-foundationalism’ schools, then probably the conflicting trends become much clearer. The Foundationalist schools have a strong grounding on the body. It believes in a kind of physiological starting point, as the body being the nodal point in which and through which all other experiences are grounded. It is the base on which the superstructure of society is based. This is very clearly associated with the naturalistic view of th e body. The naturalistic view is best expressed in Shillings words: The capabilities and constraints of human bodies define individuals, and generate the social, political and economic relations which characterize national and international patterns of living. Inequalities in material wealth legal rights and political power†¦are given, or at the very least legitimized, by the determining power of the biological body. (Shilling 41) While there is a

Discussion About Genetically Modified Foods Essay Example for Free

Discussion About Genetically Modified Foods Essay Outline Introduction a. The genetically modified foods are a long issue which is widely debated. b. People feel confused about their safety. I. Views a. ) Magana-Gomez’s argument. b. ) He argues that negative effects of GM food were identified â€Å"at molecular and microscopic levels†. c. ) Curieux-Belfond CL contends that the benefits of genetically modified foods far outweigh the disadvantages. II. Genetically modified foods: Beneficial views Adverse views a. What is the possible risk for genetically modified crops considering nutrition and health? b. Whether the economic effects are the most important?c. Will it bring severe environment problems? III. Arguments for beneficial effects of GM foods a. Firstly, transgenic technology has made considerable progress in food applications. b. Transgenic food has successfully lowered food prices and ensured food safety. c. GM foods significantly reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. Introduction The author, Magana-Gomez, critically analyzed the risk assessment methods of transgenic food for human nutrition and health in the paper, â€Å"Risk assessment of genetically modified crops for nutrition and health†. Magana reviewed various modes including different feeding period, animal modes and parameters in the paper published in 2011 by Nutrition Reviews (Magana G, 2009). In consistent with his studies, negative effects of GM food were identified â€Å"at molecular and microscopic levels†. However, with our entry into the 21st century, genetically modified foods have undergone even faster development. However, there are also many doubts about the safety of genetically modified foods. Therefore, genetically modified foods have become a hot topic issue. Personally, although there are many controversies about GM food, I still insist on the research and promotion of transgenic food due to its diverse benefits. Views According to Curieux-Belfond CL, he could identify the factors that deserve consideration before â€Å"commercialization and promotion of transgenic food† (182). In this paper, â€Å"Factors to condider before production and commercialization of aquatic genetically modified organisms: the case of transgenic salmon†, the author took transgenic salmon as an example, in which Curieux-Belfond examined the corresponding impacts in terms of aquaculture, wildlife, ecosystem and human health. The paper published in 2011 by Evironmental Science Policy suggested that GM food undoubtedly contributed to economic benefits without exerting too much extra burden (Curieux B, 2009). In the end, the author believed that the benefits of genetically modified foods far outweigh the disadvantages. Analysis of the benefits of genetically modified foods Magana’s argument is persuasive when he assessed the risks about GM food. However, since genetic engineering techniques have successfully transferred anti-viral, insect resistance, cold resistance and other genes to cotton, wheat, tomatoes and other plants, we can get stable new varieties of genetically modified, with low production cost and high-yield food, which will ease the world food shortage and reduce the use of pesticides to a large extent. Based on the above reasons, I will provide a critical analysis with the following specific examples which show his argument is partially wrong. Firstly, transgenic technology has also made considerable progress in animal food applications. At present, a variety of mammal and bird genes are successfully integrated into the genome of fish, which can significantly enhance transgenic fish muscle protein content and improve growth speed. With the development of genetic engineering technology, people have been freed from natural enzymes to a large extent. Especially when the enzyme obtained from natural protein material encounters difficulties, genetic engineering has the unique advantages of natural gene cloning (Seralini GE, 2011). Thus, it can be highly expressed in microorganisms with mass production by fermentation. At present, the transgenic enzymes are widely used in the food industry, such as maltose enzymes amylase, pectinase and the juice protease. The food nutritional quality modified by genetic engineering has also made remarkable achievements. For instance, the genetic engineering technology has been applied for seed protein improvement, which renders it possible to change the plant composition and amino acid content. Secondly, transgenic food has successfully lowered food prices and ensured food safety, which helps increase production and food supply while reducing the farm labor and pesticide applications, agricultural inputs and production costs (Weasel LH, 2009). In the future, GM crops have great potential in solving the food crisis. For instance, by applying transgenic technology to the human staple foods of rice and wheat, people can increase food production and improve nutritional quality, which will provide mankind with higher-quality food. Furthermore, GM foods have also proved effective in alleviating poverty and hunger. The world’s poorest 50% of the population are small and resource-poor farmers, while 20% living in rural areas without their own land actually depend on agriculture. Therefore, the increase in small-scale and resource-poor farmers’ income will directly assist 70% of the world’s poorest people (Curieux-Belfond O, 2009). So far, genetically modified cotton in India, China and South Africa have already made a significant contribution to more than 1. 2 million poor farmers’ income. The benefits of genetically modified corn in the Philippines and South Africa will be much clearer in the future. In addition, genetically modified rice has great potential to benefit 250 million poor families in Asia, whose benefits will reach 10 million people (Curieux-Belfond O, 2009). Transgenic food also helps to reduce land development. Transgenic technology has been developed to improve the current 1. 5 billion hectares of arable land productivity through conservation of biological resources, thereby reducing land development and deforestation. Thirdly, I will demonstrate such improvement since they significantly reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. Traditional agriculture has a significant impact on the environment, and transgenic biotechnology can help reduce this impact. In the first decade of application of genetically modified crops, by planting herbicide and insect-resistant characteristics, transgenic technologies have greatly reduced the use of pesticides, saved fossil fuels and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Undoubtedly, genetically modified crops with drought-tolerant genes will improve water-use efficiency and maintain sustainable agricultural development, which will play an important role in easing the crisis of population growth and global food shortage (Artemis D, 2009). GM crops have also contributed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in two main ways, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping slow climate change. First, by reducing fuel use, the spraying of insecticides and herbicides, GM crops continue to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In 2007, genetic engineering has been stated to reduce 1. 1 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, which is equivalent to a decrease of 50 million cars from the road. Secondly, herbicide-resistant GM crops help reduce tillage applications, which protects the land and enhances soil carbon sequestration. Conclusions Despite the many advantages of GM food, we cannot ignore the risks. After genetically modified foods have been taken into the human body, they may cause harm to human health. Moreover, after a large number of transgenic crops come into nature, they may be biologically harmful to ecosystems. Since the risks of GM food is serous, it is important for us to reflect on it first. Any of the scientific and technological developments should be comprehensive and provide well-being for human life. If genetically modified foods can only increase our economic interests and improved material life without the moral, social and environmental harmony, they cannot be defined as making great contribution to social development. Therefore, whether GM food is a benefit or a disadvantage really depends on what kind of human values people hold (Qaim M. 2009). That is the question we reflect on deeply. In contemporary society, with the rapid development of science and technology, the economic situation of the human and the material standard of living has been soaring. It seems that mankind is taking great proud for the advanced technology. However, we should look back to what the living environment we rely on is subjected to. Therefore, genetically modified foods are seen as the savior of mankind, which is actually human self-centered ideology. Of course, with the continuous development of biotechnology and genetic engineering, human beings have the ability to create more genetically modified food. Therefore, the drawbacks of genetically modified food are not the technology itself, but rather due to humans themselves. Thus, personally, I fully sanction the development of GM foods while we should objectively analyze the potential risks. Reference Artemis D. 2009. â€Å"Health risks of genetically modified foods. † Food Science and Nutrition. 49. (2):164-175. Curieux B, Vandelac L, ect. 2009. â€Å"Factors to condider before production and commercialization of aquatic genetically modified organisms: the case of transgenic salmon. † Evironmental Science Policy. 12. (2):170-189. Magana G, Javier A, Calderon de la Barca, Ana M. 2009. â€Å"Risk assessment of genetically modified crops for nutrition and health. † Nutrition Reviews. 67 (1):1-16. Qaim M. 2009. â€Å"The economics of genetically modified crops. † Annual Review of Resource Economics. 1:665-693. Seralini GE, Mesnage R, ect. 2011. â€Å"Genetically modified crops safety assessments: present limits and possible improvements. † Environmental Sciences Europe. 23. (10): 1-10. Weasel LH. 2009. â€Å"Food Fray: Inside the Controversy over Genetically Modified Food. † American Management Association. Amacom, 86-150. Print.

Cryonics On The Way Raising The Dead Philosophy Essay

Cryonics On The Way Raising The Dead Philosophy Essay Today technology plays a vital role in every aspect of life. Increasing standards in technology in many fields has been taken man today to high esteem. But the present available technologies are unable to interact with atoms, such a minute particles. Hence nanotechnology is used in this context. Nanotechnology is nothing but a technology which uses atoms with a view to creating desired product. It has wider application in all fields, the important application is CRYONICS. Cryonics is nothing but an attempt of raising the dead making them alive. In this technical paper we would like to present how the process of cryonics goes on and why nanotechnology is being used and description of molecular machines which has the capability of repairing damaged cells and its effect on Culture, Health, and Longevity. And we also present the philosophical and ethical considerations of cryonics and benefits of supporting cryonics society. Cryonics is an area in which most of the work is to be done in the future. INTRODUCING CRYONICS: Cryonics is nothing but an attempt of raising the dead- making them alive. Actually the word cryonics is the practice of freezing a dead body in hopes of someday reviving it. A cryonics is the practice of cooling the people immediately after death to the point where the molecular physical decay completely stops, in the expectation that scientific and medical procedures currently being developed will be able to revive them and restore them to good health later. A patient held in such a state is said to be in cryonic suspension. There is reason to believe that current cryonics procedures can preserve the anatomical basis of mind. Cryonics works became more effective with the implementation of nanotechnology in it. PREMISES OF CRYONICS: The central premise of cryonics is that memory, personality, and identity is stored in cellular structures and chemistry, principally in the brain. While this view is widely accepted in medicine, and brain activity is known to stop and later resume under certain conditions, it is not generally accepted that current methods preserve the brain well enough to permit revival in the future. Cryonics advocates point to studies showing that high concentrations of cryoprotectant circulated through the brain before cooling can prevent structural damage from ice, preserving the fine cell structures of the brain in which memory and identity presumably reside. HISTORY: The first mention of nano technology occurred in a talk given by Richard Feynman in 1959, entitled. Historically cryonics began in 1962 with the publication of THE PROSPECT OF IMMORTALITY Referred by Robert Ettinger, a founder and the first president of CRYONICS INSTITUTE. However, the modern era of cryonics began in 1962 when Michigan College physics teacher Robert Ettinger proposed in a privately published book, The Prospect of Immortality that freezing people may be a way to reach future medical technology. Even though freezing a person is apparently fatal, Ettinger argued that what appears to be fatal today may be reversible in the future. NEUROPRESERVATION: Neuropreservation is cryopreservation of the brain, often within the head, with surgical removal and disposal (usually cremation) of the rest of the body. Neuropreservation, sometimes called neuro, is one of two distinct preservation options in cryonics, the other being whole body preservation. In some Neuropreservation cases, only the brain is cryopreserved. Neuropreservation is motivated by the brains role as the primary repository of memory and personal identity. The advantages and disadvantages of Neuropreservation are often debated among cryonics advocates. Critics of Neuropreservation note that the body is a record of much life experience, including learned motor skills (muscle memory). While few cryonicists doubt that a revived neuro patient would be the same person, there are wider questions about how a regenerated body might feel different from the original. Partly for these reasons (as well as for better public relations), the Cryonics Institute preserves only whole bodies. About three-quarters of the patients stored at Alcor are Neuropreservation patients. CRYONICS AND NANO TECHNOLOGY: 1. Why only nanotechnology is used in cryonics: Biological systems and molecules have a number of attributes that make them highly suitable for nanotechnology applications. Remote control of DNA has proved that electronics can interact with biology. Gap between electronics and biology is now closing. The key to Cryonics eventual success success is nanotechnology, manipulating materials on an atomic or molecular scale, according to most techniques who are interested in cryonics suspension. Current medical science does not have the tools to fix damage that occurs at the cellular and molecular level, and damage to these systems is the cause of vast majority of fatal illness. Nanotechnology is the ultimate miniaturization can achieve. A nanometer is equivalent to the width of six bonded carbon atoms. A DNA molecule is 2.5nm wide. Cryonics basically deal with cells, these cells is in order of nanometers. At present there is no any technology which deals with such minute cells. Only nanotechnology can have the ability to deal with such cells. Normally fatal accidents could be walked away from, thanks to range of safety devices possible with nanotechnology. Viruses, prions, parasites and bacteria continue to mutate and produce new diseases. Our natural immune system may, or may not, handles. In theory, a nano cell sentinel could make our body immune to any present or future infectious disease. Fracturing is special concern for new vitrification protocol brought online by Alcor for neuro patients. If advanced nanotechnology is available for patient recovery, then fracturing probably causes little information loss. Fracturing commits cryopatient to the need for molecular repair at cryogenic temperature a highly specialized and advanced form of nanotechnology. Whereas unfractured patients may be able to benefit sooner form simple forms of nanotechnology developed for more main stream medical applications. Damage caused by freezing fracturing is thought to be potentially repairable in future using nanotechnology which will be enable manipulation of matter at the molecular level. REVIVING PATIENTS BY MEANS: 1. MOLECULAR MACHINES: They could revive patients by repairing damaged cells but for making those cell repair machines, we first need to build a molecular assembler. The fundamental purpose of assembler is to position atoms. Robotic arms are other position devices are basically mechanical in nature, and will allow us to position molecular parts during the assembly process. Molecular mechanics provides us with an excellent tool for modeling the behavior of such devices. The second requirement is the ability to make and break bonds at specific sites. While molecular machines provides an excellent tool for telling us where the tip of the assembler arm is located, current force fields are not adequate to model the specific chemical reactions that must then take place at the tip/work piece interface involved in building an atomically precise part. For this higher order sufficient calculations are needed. The methods of computation chemistry available today allow us to model a wide range o f molecular machines with accuracy sufficiently in many cases to determine how well they will work. 2. COMPUTATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY: It includes not only the tools and techniques required to model the proposed molecular machines it must also includes the tools required to specify such machines. Molecular machine proposal that would require million or even billions of atoms that have been made. The total atom count of an assembler might be roughly a billion atoms. While commercially available molecular modeling packages provide facilities to specify arbitrary structures it is usually necessary to point and click for each atom involved. This is obviously unattractive for a device as complex as an assembler with its roughly one billion atoms. The software required to design and model complex molecular machine is either already available or can be readily developed over the next few years. The molecular compiler and the other molecular CAD tools needed for this work can be implemented using generally understood techniques and methods from computer science. Using this approach it will be possible to substantially reduce the development time for complex molecular machines. ACTUAL PROCESS OF CRYONICS: The procedure explaining is the practical one how an Alcor patients body is frozen and stored until medical technology can repair the body and revive the patient, or grow a new body for the patient. Patient declared legally dead On way to Alcor in Arizona, blood circulation is maintained and patient is injected with medicine to minimize problems with frozen tissue. Cooling of body begun. (If body needs to be flown, blood is replaced with organ preservatives). At Alcor body is cooled to 5 degrees. Chest opened, blood is replaced with a solution (glycerol, water, and other chemicals) that enters the tissues, pushing out water to reduce ice formation. In 2 to 4 hours, 60% or more of body water is replaced by glycerol. Freezing the body The patient is placed in cold silicone oil, chilling the body to -79oC. Then its moved to an aluminum pod and slowly cooled over 5 days in liquid nitrogen to -196oC (minus 320oFahrenheit), then stored. Actual process starts: After preserving the body for someday, they will start the surgery. As a part of it, they will apply some chemicals like glycerol and some advanced chemicals to activate the cells of the body. By doing so, 0.2% of the cells in the body will be activated. After that they will preserve the body for future applications. .Storage vessels Stainless steel vats formed into a large thermos bottles like container. Wait for up to four bodies weighs about a ton; stands 9 feet tall. CRYONICS AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS: CRYONICS IN SCIENCE FICTION AND IN MOVIES: There are so many science fiction films that feature cryonics that it is hard to know where to begin. Woody Allens Sleeper has always held a particular place of affection in the hearts of cryonics advocates. But most films take it more seriously. CRYONICS AND HEALTH: One of the worlds leading cryonics organizations has observed that the percentage of doctors among its membership is ten times that of the general public. Many in cryonics match their thirst for life in the future with a passion for enhancing life today. Their goal is not to live recklessly and badly now in hopes that future repair can restore what has been abused today. CRYONICS AND LONGEVITY: The fact remains, no matter how much exercise you do or however many vitamins you may take to prolong your life, there comes a point where the human body will break down and eventually Die. A time may be coming when that moment may be pushed back radically, and when good health and freedom from the pain of age and illness are everyones choice. But right now, the choice for a truly extended life comes down to a choice for cryonics. It is certain that new means will be developed in the future to push back aging and sickness. Its also certain that it cant benefit you if youre not there to receive it. Cryonics is an attempt to make sure that you do receive it. That you can reach that future point where the promise of human longevity is fulfilled to its maximum. If longevity matters to you, cryonics matters to you. BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING THE CRYONICS SOCIETY 1. Assistance. 2. Information 3. Action. 4. Meaning. 5. Social Support and Public Outreach 6. A Chance for Life OBSTACLES AGAINST CRYONICS: PRESERVATION INJURY ISCHEMIC INJURY REVAIVAL FINANCIAL ISSUES COURT RULES AGAINST PRESERVING: ETHICAL AND PHYLOSOPHICAL ISSUES: Cryonics is based on a view of dying as a process that can be stopped in the minutes, and perhaps hours, following clinical death. If death is not an event that happens suddenly when the heart stops, this raises philosophical questions about what exactly death is. Ethical and theological opinions of cryonics tend to pivot on the issue of whether cryonics is regarded as interment or medicine. FUTURE HOPES OF CRYONICS: With the knowledge of the cryonics, cryonists are preserving the brains of humans. We know that each person alive today was once a single cell and a complete human being can be grown in the natural surface of that brain begins a process of growth and development that perhaps appends to the brain a complete young adult body. State. Thus they believe that genetic programming of a single cell on the surface of that brain begins a process of growth and development that perhaps CONCLUSION. With the implementation of cryonics one can get back the life. Cryonics is an area in which most of the works is to be done in future until now the concept of this area has been proposed. So, the scientists are making long promises and greater hopes of the Cryonics World Your Last Best Chance For Lifeand Your Familys.