Genetically Modified Food Essay Example for Free

Genetically Modified Food Essay Genetically modified (GM) foods are ethically unacceptable. GM foods are food product derived in whole or part from a genetically modified organism by human intention. It is a special set of technologies that concerns the alteration, deletion, or addition of the genetic makeup of living organisms such as animals, plants, or bacteria. This is an important issue because GM foods have been dubbed as the Food of the Future and although studies have shown that genetically modified foods may bring about many benefits to mankind, we must also look into the ethical issues involved in producing such food before we even consider accepting it as the way of the future. First, we must understand that the word ethical is defined as having to do with ethics or morality; or of conforming to moral standards. There will be 3 parts to this essay. Firstly, I will be presenting and defending 2 arguments that support my stand. Following that, Ill take into consideration some common objections against my thesis. Lastly, I will summarize the main points in this essay before drawing to a conclusion. The essays argument takes the form of Modus Ponens: If GM is X, GM is unethical GM is X GM is unethical My main argument is that it is unethical to tamper with nature by mixing genes among the different species. By doing so, it may actually lead to a violation of natural organisms intrinsic values. There is a very delicate balance that links this world together and this is the balance that makes things work. GM foods might actually give rise to more complications such as the disturbance of natures food pyramid. For example, the pesticide produced in the crop may unintentionally harm other creatures while producing a benefit to others. The introduction of pest-resistant genes into crops could lead to the death of the pests and other animals causing an imbalance in the food chain that could possibly lead to the extinction of some species especially if they are only localized in one particular area. In Britain, a native farm bird, the Skylark, was indirectly affected by the introduction of GM sugar beets that were designed to resist herbicides. The result in planting this crop was that weeds were reduced substantially. However, since the birds rely on the seeds of this weed in autumn and winter, researchers expect that up to 80% of the Skylark population would have to find other means of finding food. Another issue brought up is that GM crops may also pose a health risk to native animals that eat the plants and may be poisoned by the built-in pesticides. Although others might also argue that the cutting down of trees to construct buildings might also be a way of tampering with nature, GM food not just tampers with physical nature but with the foundation of nature genes. Every organism, no matter how small, is made up of genes. These genes control the physical development and behavior of the organism and are passed down from parent to offspring. The word genes (comes from the Greek word genos meaning origin) actually defines natures origin and the production of GM food would mean to change the origin of nature. Furthermore, religious communities Christians, Hindus, Jews and Muslims Ââ€" also share such concerns regarding GM products. According to Bishop Jeff Davies from the SA Council of Churches, With genetic engineering, we are tampering with the structures of life that have taken millions of years to evolve and we have the arrogance to think that we can improve on them in 10 years to transfer a gene from one species into another. Different religious communities have different believes and one of them would be their food such as kosher and halal food. But with the introduction of animal genes into plants how will they define a tomato with a fish gene? This will also be a major concern to vegetarians. All in all, I believe that people should be happy with what nature has to give and not play God and try to control nature. It is unethical to sacrifice other creatures and meddle with the delicate balance of nature. Furthermore, there will be potential chain reactions that may be unstoppable. One other argument is how GM products can affect our health especially in the long run. The unpredictable changes in our food could lead to negative reactions that are not detected by research techniques until much later. A quick acceptance of GE foods without proper testing could show corporate profitability to be very influential but that would be too dangerous because there has been no adequate safety testing to ensure that using other organisms genes is going to have the same useful effects if inserted into a totally unrelated species. Furthermore, testing has only been done on a small scale currently and its hard to predict what will happen when its used on a wider ecology. In 1989, dozens of Americans died and several thousands were afflicted and impaired by a genetically altered version of the food supplement L-tryptophan. Studies have been done to show how viruses can mix with genes of other viruses to give rise to more deadly viruses. To mass market the use of GM food when it has not been properly tested for safety issues would mean that businesses are gaining at the expense of consumers health and is therefore ethically unacceptable. On the other hand, some organizations insist that GM technology is the solution to solving the problem of world hunger. However, I feel that it is simply a ploy of corporations and countries that are using the plight of the developing world as a marketing strategy to gain acceptance of GE foods. GM technology is not an economical method that can be easily implemented by most countries. In fact, genetic engineering techniques are currently being applied to crops important to the industrialized world and not on crops which the worlds hungry depend on. GM foods could actually reduce developed countries reliance on crops from developing countries, resulting in loss of trade and severe economic damage for them and intensifying their problem of poverty. This would mean that theres a conflict of interest. Furthermore, an important factor that Friends of the Earth has pointed out is that many people in the world are suffering from malnutrition and hunger because they cannot afford to buy food, not because it is unavailable. Therefore, even with GM food, people would still not be able to afford it or have it distributed appropriately. Most of the causes of hunger are found in global politics, rather than issues of agriculture and technology. As a result, a variety of groups and people are questioning the motives behind GM foods as the political causes of hunger appear to be ignored. An article from Food First observed that most innovations in agricultural biotechnology have been profit-driven rather than need-driven and it questions whether GE technology can really ensure food security, protect the environment and reduce poverty in the developing world or is it produced simply because its patentable and thus, profitable to businesses. In some cases, as reported by The Institute for Science, pesticide usage is actually increasing, and GE crop actually yield less than conventional crops. In this essay, I have come up with several valid reasons why Genetically Modified Foods are ethically unacceptable. GM foods tamper with the origin of nature which is the genes and there is inadequate safety testing to prove that GM food is safe for human consumption. Therefore, businesses are mass marketing GM food at the expense of consumers health and proclaiming that GM Food is the solution to world hunger when it might not be true. Although there might be potential and benefits in GE technology, there are still many unknown areas that might prove to be more harmful then beneficial. Furthermore, there are still too many important ethical issues that have been ignored and that reason by itself makes it ethically unacceptable.

The Afro-Cuban Struggle for Equality :: History Historical Racial Essays

The Afro-Cuban Struggle for Equality The Afro-Cuban struggle for equality essentially began after the emancipation of the slaves in 1886. This struggle would continue until 1912, when a brutal government massacre ended their hopes of real equality. The Afro-Cuban struggle for equality was a key issue in Cuba’s fight for independence, as well as, Cuba’s fight to find its identity and character. The first attempt to unite the Afro-Cuban community was the formation of the Directorio Central de las Sociedades de la Raza de Color in 1887. This was the first black political party within Latin America. "The main focus of the struggle led by these Afro-Cubans and the Directorio was equal rights and equal protection under the law." [35] The Spanish did not see the Directorio in the same manner. They thought it was a tool, used by blacks and mulattos that used racism against whites in order for the black population to take over Cuba. When the black community said they wanted to be considered equals, the white community was hearing another Haiti. They feared that the black community was going to revolt against them and try to take over the whole country. This white fear was at the core of the equality issue and represents the white person’s main rejection of equality. The Afro-Cuban community tried to explain the Directorio by "explaining that the Directorio was not a black party uniting Afro-Cubans in a supposed hatred of whites. It was the opposite of a racist movement and struggled to suppress racism." [52] Afro-Cubans knew that they would never be accepted as equals with the white class, so they helped decided to help aid in the cause for independence of Cuba from Spain. They hoped that if they helped fight to win their countries independence, they would be able to achieve greater equality and a better role in society. †¦their goal was probably not only independence from Spain but also the creation of a new society in which they would fully participate. Blacks rebelled against racism and inequality, landless peasants regardless of race stood up for land, popular cabecillas wanted political power, and orientales in general hoped to gain control of their region’s destiny. The potential for the war to become a social revolution was strong indeed. [57] The war was a colorless one. Cubans fought next to Cubans. Cubans looked at the war as a new beginning.

Mind game Essay

Interrogation is a mind game. I will set up a friendly environment where the suspect feels comfortable to gain his trust and becomes receptive to my questions. I will play with his thoughts and emotions that perhaps what he did was unintentional or a result of unavoidable circumstance. I will not directly put the blame on the suspect but will make him fully understand the moral seriousness of the crime. Furthermore, I will tell him that there is overwhelming physical evidence that would implicate him to the crime and that there are witnesses and fingerprints found in the crime scene, even if I have to make a bluff. Then I will offer him different theories to what happened, one more justifiable than the other. Whichever he chose, guilt is already admitted. Preparation is essential for a successful interrogation. First, the surrounding should be conducive without distractions and guarantees privacy. This will also give me the opportunity to analyze the body language of the suspect. I will study the case facts which will be the basis for my questionings. My knowledge about the crime can somehow persuade the suspect to tell the truth. In addition, I will also study the personal background information of both the victim and suspect, more so about the suspect’s feelings, attitudes, and values. Finally, I will resolve the details of the documentation like forms, audiotape, and videos so that the interrogation process is not disrupted. The Miranda warning has adversely affected the procedures of police work. In its report Handcuffing the Cops: Miranda’s Harmful Effects on Law Enforcement, the National Center for Policy Analysis disclosed that the warning caused a significant drop in confessions. With few confessions, police have difficulty in solving crimes. Therefore, the Supreme Court should suspend Miranda for crime prevention to be effective and detect early terrorism threats. References Cassell, P. G. (1998). Handcuffing the Cops: Miranda’s Harmful Effects on Law Enforcement. National Center for Policy Analysis. NCPA Policy Report No. 218, August 1998. ISBN #1-56808-040-9 Fleisher, W L. & Gordon, N. J. (2001). Effective Interviewing and Interrogation Techniques. Academic Press, New York. 1st edition. ISBN-10: 0122603818 Inbau, F. E. , Reid, J. E. , Buckley, J. P. & Jayne, B. C. (2004). Essentials of the Reid Technique: Criminal Interrogation and Confessions. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc. , MA. ISBN-10: 0763727288

Analysis Of Booker T. Washington Essay - 2187 Words

At the beginning of the twentieth century there were no two voices more influential in Black America than those of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. The staunch differences in their respective ideologies gaining their roots by way of the backgrounds both men endured in the earliest days of American Reconstruction following the Civil War. Booker T. Washington was born into slavery in Virginia on April 5, 1856. Following emancipation his mother moved the family to West Virginia to rejoin her husband. Washington saw the value of education from a young age, and this is what led him to eventually attend and graduate from Hampton University. In 1881 he was recommended by the Hampton President of the time to become the leader of the brand new normal school in Alabama, the Tuskegee Institute. This political and educational position allowed Washington to become a highly trusted voice among those charged with the task of educating the next generation of young, black educators. Hence the amount of attention focused on Booker T. Washington’s famous (some may call infamous) Atlanta Address, in which he states very clearly his take on how African Americans should go about coexisting with white America, primarily in the Southern states. This â€Å"Atlanta Compromise† as many of its critics would come to refer it as, called for a rather passive approach by African Americans to go about issues regarding civil rights. Rather than try to challenge fundamentally unjust laws suchShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Booker T. Washington1306 Words   |  6 Pagespopulation. In the later 1800’s, black empowerment was on the rise. As slavery cease to exist and the newly freed slaves were introduced to American Society, many were uncomfortable about how to strive in a world were they were constantly oppressed. Booker T. Washington, an educator at the time, believed the black Americans had to earn their way into society through education and accept minor segregation if it meant in the future, they are fully integrated. W.E.B. DuBois, a scholar, however, believe theirRead MoreAnalysis Of Booker T. Washington872 Words   |  4 PagesBooker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois were two of many very influential Black leaders in African American history. These men, though born over a decade a part, shared a common aspiration of obtaining equal rights and sought education for change on the behalf of Blacks. However, the philosophy in which these goals would be achieved differed greatly among the two. Booker T. Washington was born April 5, 1856 in Franklin County, Virginia. His mother was a slave which meant that he too wouldRead MoreAnalysis Of Booker T. Washington1476 Words   |  6 PagesBooker T. Washington, in his autobiographical book Up From Slavery, recounts his formative experiences as a child and his work as an adult. Only 9 years old when the Civil War ended, Washington grew up during the Reconstruction Era. With African Americans able to attend school following Emancipation, Washington worked hard to get an education. Race relations of the era and the challenges African Americans faced would come to inspire Washington to pursue teaching and advocacy. He would come to establishRead MoreAnalysis Of Booker T. Washington1399 Words   |  6 Pages1a. Booker T. Washington had a very different social philosophy than most African Americans pursuing their freedom had during this era. This philosophy brought upon much tension and many tended not to agree with Washingtonâ₠¬â„¢s ways of thinking. One of the people who disagreed with Washington was W.E.B. Du Bois. Both Washington and Dubois were essentially striving towards the same outcome, but they both had different approaches. Booker T. Washington argued that African Americans must educate themselvesRead MoreAnalysis Of Booker T. Washington926 Words   |  4 Pagesto the readings, Booker T. Washington believed in the Industrial Education also called a Technical/Vocational Education for the Negros, and W.E.B DuBois believed in the Liberal Arts Education. Booker wrote and delivered the speech The Atlanta Compromise in 1895. He was known for founding the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, now known as Tuskegee University in Alabama. The Institute grew immensely and focused on training African Americans in agricultural pursuits. Bookers’ statement the AtlantaRead MoreAnalysis Of Booker T. Washington999 Words   |  4 Pageswhich had videos about Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. There were two African American men wanting to uplift the Black community, but sought two different ways of doing so. They both saw things from two different points of views. Booker T. Washington spoke as a southerner who grew up as a slave that experienced racism throughout his life. He advocated industrial/vocational education to give blacks a useful skill to make money and take of their families. Washington had attended Hampton UniversityRead MoreAnalysis Of Booker T. Washington Essay1618 Words   |  7 PagesBooker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois 1) Who were these men? Provide a brief biography of both. Booker T. Washington was born, into slavery, on April 5th, 1856 in Hale’s Ford, Virginia. He was nine years old when his family was emancipated, and they moved to West Virginia. It wasn’t until after he moved that he began to receive an education. He eventually graduated from the Hampton Institute; he worked through the time he was in school in order to pay for his education. He went on to laterRead MoreAnalysis Of Booker T. Washington1630 Words   |  7 PagesBooker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois were very important African American leaders in the United States during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They both felt that African Americans should not be treated unequally in education and civil rights. They had beliefs that education is crucial for the African American community where they stressed that educating African Americans would lead them into obtaining government positions, possibly resulting in social change. Washington andRead MoreAnalysis Of `` Booker T. Washington1047 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¨Booker T. Washington Success, through society’s critical eye, is typically defined by one’s occupation and annual income. This story of success takes the road less traveled; Jeannette Walls begins her story describing her motivation for writing it. Prompted by her mother’s urgings to no long live in shame of her past, Jeannette initiates her memoir by narrating what gaveRead MoreAnalysis Of Booker T. Washington1747 Words   |  7 Pagesand how they helped better the lives of black Americans while also disclosing some of their more problematic notions. The impacts and contracts of Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. Du Bois, Alexander Crummell, and Marcus Garvey on post-emancipation America are evident through the social and political progress of the United States. Booker T. Washington was a nationalist who supported gradualism and separatism. He was very conservative compared to others of his time, especially other black leaders