Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Genetically modified organism Essay Example for Free

Genetically modified organism Essay In 1994, the first genetically modified food was tested and sold out into the market. Since then, over 35 countries and establishments from all around the world have started producing genetically modified foods. Genetically modified foods should be permitted because of it’s health benefits and advantages to the economy. Genetically modified foods, also known as engineered foods and biotech foods, are foods whose DNA has been modified in ways that do not naturally occur. Scientists tweak the DNA of the food by collaborating it with genes from a different organism, which gives the manufacturer all control over the plants genetic structure. Most of the genetically modified foods are from plants such as potatoes, corn, rice and even salmon. Animal feed, is also made up of crops such as soybeans, which are almost all genetically modified, meaning the food we eat from animals such as cows and chickens, are all being fed genetically modified foods, which then passes down to the meat they produce. There are a variety of reasons to why people have started genetically modifying food. To begin, it can enhance the taste of food; it increases the nutrients and also prevents pesticides and diseases. It is also a beneficial factor for the producers and the consumers as they can both save money since genetically modified foods are cheaper and most importantly since they last longer, making this an economic benefit. Although all the benefits it provides, a lot of harm comes with it. The way GM foods are engineered, is by taking a gene out of one organism and placing it into another, which disturbs the plants natural DNA. This factor kills off normal cells and provides the plant with the chemicals that scientist have injected into the plants for them to be able to last longer. Lastly, this action introduces allergens and toxins to food. The only ones to benefit from GM foods are multinational biotech companies and GM food consumers. To begin, it is economically beneficial for biotech companies because they are able to grow more crops that would last longer than a naturally grown crop. An example of this would be a potato. A naturally grown potato could last up to 3 weeks without being destroyed, in comparison to the genetically modified potato, which could last up to 7 weeks without being destroyed. Meaning this could benefit both the producers and the consumers because the fruits and vegetables that are being modified have longer shelf lives making the consumer save money and benefit from the bought products. Following its long life ability, genetically modified foods improve the availability of food for the world. As it lasts longer and cost cheaper than organic products, it improves the availability of food for the world by only producing so much at a time. Instead of producing 5 organic potatoes that will die off in 3 weeks, genetically modified potatoes are grown and will last 7 weeks, making us save potato seeds, which save more food for later increasing the worlds food supply. As GM foods are increasing the world’s food supply, they also provide an additional amount of nutrients chemically made. Genetically modified foods are modified to have more nutrients in it than the original food would have. Golden Rice, for example, is claimed to be â€Å"fortified† with vitamin A, which is an essential vitamin for the human body, which is provided by GM Golden Rice. There have been a great number of studies tracking the effects of GMOs on animals. Overwhelmingly, these studies indicate that GMOs are safe to consume. Impact on farming, GMOs allows plants to be modified to grow in environments that would be normally inhospitable. Cheaper food means, easier farming means more food, which, in turn, means less expensive food. This is not only beneficial for the average consumer, but it can have global implications: less expensive food makes it easier to feed hungry populations around the world. Increased nutritional value GMOs can be modified to have greater nutritional value than the organism would have naturally. For example, scientists, hoping to eliminate the need for post-harvest processing, have genetically modified rice to contain significantly higher amounts of vitamin A. This â€Å"golden rice† is not yet legal in most countries, but experts expect it to be within the next few years. All the Yes points 1. Genetically modified foods fill original food with chemicals. 2. Genetically Modified Food can cause cancer. 3. Genetically modified foods greatly affect our long-term health and well-being. 4. Genetically Modified foods All the No points Genetically modified foods can help solve the food crisis.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Tibetan Education Essay -- Educational Education Tibet Essays

Tibetan Education Since 1951, education in Tibet has changed dramatically through the Chinese government’s hyper-political agenda. Depending on the source, some view the changes as great improvement to the educational system, and others are gravely concerned. The positive view is that of the Chinese policy-makers and the fear comes from Tibetans who see that their culture is being drained from the classroom. The central Chinese government wants to completely assimilate the Tibetans by removing their true history and religion from lessons and selectively choosing the physical representations of culture that serve to decorate schools for Tibetan students in inner-China. I am going to explore the different schooling experiences for the Tibetans and show how the education options for Tibetans are depriving them of their culture, resulting in poor performances in school and a dishonest, manipulated education. Education in Tibet before the Chinese invasion was quite different from how it is presently. According to a journal out of China, only two percent of school-aged children were in school, and ninety-five percent of the general population was illiterate before â€Å"Liberation.1† The overpowering Chinese government determined that they must be freed â€Å"from Western imperialists.2† Eight years later, in 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India, unsuccessfully trying to win back Tibet’s independence. Education for the Tibetans has traditionally taken place in the monasteries. However, of the greater than 2,500 monasteries that once existed in Tibet, all but three percent of them were destroyed by the Chinese government.3 These monasteries served the multiple purposes of university equivalents, religious centers, an... ...emise of Multiculturalism?† 1998 World Congress of Sociology. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 26 July- 1 August 1998. 62. Stites, Regie. â€Å"Writing Cultural Boundaries: Minority Language Policy, Literacy Planning and Bilingual Education in China.† In Gerard Postiglione (ed.) China’s National Minority Education, Ethnicity, Schooling, and Development. New York: Garland Press, 1998. 63. Kormandy, Edward J. â€Å"Minority Education in Inner Mongolia and Tibet.† International Review of Education (2002) 377-401. 64. Postiglione, Gerard A. â€Å"State Schooling and Ethnicity in China: The Rise or Demise of Multiculturalism?† 1998 World Congress of Sociology. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 26 July- 1 August 1998. 65. http://www.tibet.com/Humanrights/EduToday/testimon.html 66. Phuntsog Sipur, Nawang. â€Å"Renewal of Tibetan School Education.† Tibetan Review 28 (Aug 1993) 15-17. Tibetan Education Essay -- Educational Education Tibet Essays Tibetan Education Since 1951, education in Tibet has changed dramatically through the Chinese government’s hyper-political agenda. Depending on the source, some view the changes as great improvement to the educational system, and others are gravely concerned. The positive view is that of the Chinese policy-makers and the fear comes from Tibetans who see that their culture is being drained from the classroom. The central Chinese government wants to completely assimilate the Tibetans by removing their true history and religion from lessons and selectively choosing the physical representations of culture that serve to decorate schools for Tibetan students in inner-China. I am going to explore the different schooling experiences for the Tibetans and show how the education options for Tibetans are depriving them of their culture, resulting in poor performances in school and a dishonest, manipulated education. Education in Tibet before the Chinese invasion was quite different from how it is presently. According to a journal out of China, only two percent of school-aged children were in school, and ninety-five percent of the general population was illiterate before â€Å"Liberation.1† The overpowering Chinese government determined that they must be freed â€Å"from Western imperialists.2† Eight years later, in 1959, the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India, unsuccessfully trying to win back Tibet’s independence. Education for the Tibetans has traditionally taken place in the monasteries. However, of the greater than 2,500 monasteries that once existed in Tibet, all but three percent of them were destroyed by the Chinese government.3 These monasteries served the multiple purposes of university equivalents, religious centers, an... ...emise of Multiculturalism?† 1998 World Congress of Sociology. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 26 July- 1 August 1998. 62. Stites, Regie. â€Å"Writing Cultural Boundaries: Minority Language Policy, Literacy Planning and Bilingual Education in China.† In Gerard Postiglione (ed.) China’s National Minority Education, Ethnicity, Schooling, and Development. New York: Garland Press, 1998. 63. Kormandy, Edward J. â€Å"Minority Education in Inner Mongolia and Tibet.† International Review of Education (2002) 377-401. 64. Postiglione, Gerard A. â€Å"State Schooling and Ethnicity in China: The Rise or Demise of Multiculturalism?† 1998 World Congress of Sociology. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 26 July- 1 August 1998. 65. http://www.tibet.com/Humanrights/EduToday/testimon.html 66. Phuntsog Sipur, Nawang. â€Å"Renewal of Tibetan School Education.† Tibetan Review 28 (Aug 1993) 15-17.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Cultural Immersion Essay

Culture has been characterized as the beliefs, arts, morals, customs and traditions exhibited by a group of individuals within a particular society (Langness 1987). It has long been believed that culture has been associated with one’s ancestry. My trip to Jamaica has made it evident that this entirely is not the case. There are a number of other factors that could cause two groups of individual from the same ethnical background but living in different societies. My paper will be discussing my experiences and realization during my short but meaningful trip to the island of Jamaica. My Cultural Background In order to show that people who come from the same ethnical background do not necessarily have to have the same culture, I will first provide information regarding my own personal background to serve as the basis. Although I am an American living in California, my ethnical descent is African. The roots of my family are embedded in Mississippi. It is for this reason why the food and way of life I have been brought up with resembles those that live in the southern part of the country. In fact, even if I do come from a single parent household, our traditions are very much Southern from the food we eat, the importance we give to our religion and spending time with the family. Day One of My Trip This trip was not just my first time to Jamaica, but my first trip outside of the United States. The moment I had gotten out of the plane, I could say that I was immediately shocked with what greeted me. When I left California for Jamaica, I went through an airport that was air-conditioned and my full of the latest security precaution devices and machines to pass through. I did not see anything of this sort when I arrived in the airport at Jamaica. No high-technology security equipment and no air-conditioner running in the airport. I was greeted by a man named Darwin Mills who was going to drive me to the house of Mr. and Mrs. James, my host family. Mr. Mill’s disposition was as warm as the weather. He was more than happy to drive me first around the Montego Bay area of the island to show me around. Although he was extremely enthusiastic about everything in Jamaica, I could not help but notice how different it was from my hometown in California. It was if I was in another world. For starters, the vehicle used by Mr. Mills to bring me to my destination was right-handed, which was why they were driving in the opposite lane than I would back in California. I also saw people walking on either side of what was supposedly their main highway. When I meant that they were walking on either side of the highway, I am not talking about them walking on sidewalks on either side of the highway. They were literally walking on the side of the highway. What really caught my attention was how underdeveloped the area was. It was not anything like what you would see in tourist brochures and magazines. The streets were filled with pot holes. Houses were small and the fences were poorly made. There were no skyscrapers or large business establishments back home. It made me realize just how fortunate I was living in a sturdy well-built house with a sturdy fence and driving on a well-paved road, despite the horrendous traffic. My first taste of authentic Jamaican cuisine was at lunch time when Mr. Mills brought me to the Rock House Hotel. I was blown away on just how fresh the food was. It tasted deliciously different. After which, I was taken to Rick’s Cafe, which is known more for the daredevils jumping over the cliffs into the wide blue ocean. At the background was a steel drum band playing Reggae music, which is one of the signatures of Jamaica. I was fascinated on how something so simple could be able to develop wonderful, upbeat music. When Mr. Mills dropped me at Mr. and Mrs. James’ house, I nearly jumped at the sight of the dogs that Mr. James keeps loose at the front yard. He apologized for them and explained to me that their dogs were allowed to run loose for their own protection. Although their homes were equipped with two air-conditioners, he explained to me that this is rarely used since electricity is rather expensive in Jamaica. This is the reason why they only use electric fans. As I retired for the night, I kept reminding myself not to immediately judge my life back in California and what I have initially seen in Jamaica so that I would be able to fully understand more about living in Jamaica. Day Two of My Trip The highlight of the second day of my trip was when Mr. and Mrs. James introduced me to Mr. James’ uncle, Charles and his cousin, Brenda. It was through my conversation with them that I begun to slowly learn more about Jamaica. According to them, for a long time, Jamaica had been a colony of England. It only gained its independence in 1962. Majority of the inhabitants of the island were predominantly of African descent, like I was. Although they live far away from Africa, they still hold dearly to their African traditions and customs. Celebrations of the various African festivals are held annually. Despite its booming tourism industry, Jamaica remains to be a third world country. This conversation had answered a lot of my questions when I had first arrived in Jamaica and it had opened my eyes and my mind and developed an understanding and appreciation to the people living in Jamaica. Despite everything surrounding them, they remain to be warm and extremely accommodating to me and more than willing to help me learn as much as I can about Jamaica and Jamaican’s way of life. Day Three of My Trip My last day in Jamaica happened to land on a Sunday. The day started with a day at the beachside which Jamaica has long been known for. But I did not go there to swim, because I do not know how. Instead, I had been taken by Mr. James to the beach to do some shopping. Unlike in California where everything is bought in the local grocery or seafood market, here in Jamaica, it only takes a matter of a few hours for the food to be caught, picked, cleaned, cooked and served. Speaking with meals, my last meal in Jamaica was something similar that one that I would usually have back home. We were served a feast of greens, jerk chicken, rice and peas. Just like back home, Sunday was a time when families get together and enjoy each others’ company over a wonderful spread of home-cooked favorites. Reflection Taking the road less traveled by American tourists in Jamaica, I was able to learn so much about their way of life. Back home, I have been fortunate to have access to a number of amenities and privileges that most Jamaicans would only dream about. Yet, their situation has not diminished their warm and sunny outlook towards life. Despite their limited resources, Jamaicans are able to make the most of what they have and keep a positive outlook. For instance, some African Americans to this day hold a grudge against Caucasian Americans for the prejudice, racism and oppression the older generations have experienced since the time of the slave trade. While Jamaicans had also experienced the same oppressive treatment in the hands of the English, they have placed the oppression behind them and instead celebrate on the fact that they are now free from the oppression. Reference Langness, L. L. (1987). The Study of Culture. Novato, CA: Chandler & Sharp.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Carolingian Empire and Charlemagne History Essay - 2231 Words

Charlemagne History 101 - Fast Forward Fall 1996 PREPARED BY: SUBMITTED: September 30, 1996 Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, King of the Franks (742-814), was a strong leader who unified Western Europe through military power and the blessing of the Church. His belief in the need for education among the Frankish people was to bring about religious, political, and educational reforms that would change the history of Europe. Charlemagne was born in 742 at Aachen, the son of Pepin(or Pippin) the Short and grandson of Charles Martel. His grandfather, Charles, had begun the process of unifying western Europe, in the belief that all people should be Christian. Charlemagnes father, Pepin, continued this†¦show more content†¦(Holmes 97) The Papacy had been reduced to controlling only a small portion of land around Rome, and was under constant aggression from the Lombards. Pope Hadrian I in 773 appealed to Charlemagne to help rebuff the Lombards, and in the winter of that year in a short and decisive campaign, the Lombards were defeated. Charlemagne then added King of the Lombards to his title, and gave control of the northern part of Italy to the Pope. The creation of the Papal States indebted the Pope to Charlemagne, and Pope Leo III eventually crowned Charlemagne Emperor of the Romans on Christmas day in 800AD. (Ganshoff 41) Power in Carolingian society was based on land ownership, also known as Feudalism. Charlemagne knew that he must have the allegiance of the people to himself, the King. To accomplish this, he looked back to the seventh century, and instituted an oath of fidelity - a promise to do nothing that would endanger the king or his sons or the royal power. The feudal monarchy created by Charlemagne had two definite characteristics: absolute power limited only by advice given by nobles and the Church and power based on a contract - the oath of fidelity pledging allegiance by the kings subjects. (Boussard 42) The oath brought two immediate advantages. It created a direct, personal link between the subjectShow MoreRelated Charlemagne Essay1379 Words   |  6 PagesCharlemagne By the Cross and the Sword : Charlemagne’s Impact on the West. â€Å"He who ordains the fate of kingdoms in the march of the centuries, the all-powerful Disposer of events, having destroyed one extraordinary image, that of the Romans, which had, it was true, feet of iron, or even feet of clay, then raised up, among the Franks, the golden head of a second image, equally remarkable, in the person of the illustrious Charlemagne. Notker the Stammerer, the monk of St. Gall, wrote these wordsRead MoreCharlemagne And The Carolingian Renaissance1677 Words   |  7 PagesProfessor Rui de Sousa Medieval Civilization - Section 01 27 September 2017 Charlemagne and the Carolingian Renaissance The Carolingian Empire was not at full fruition when Charlemagne rose to power, it was quite the contrary. In the eighth century, the lands covered by what is now known as France and Belgium, as well as part of Germany made up the Frankish state ruled by the kings of the Merovingian line. The Merovingian empire was weak and in a steady decline; the majority of people in Western EuropeRead MoreCharlemagne: The Hero of the Dark Age Europe Essay1170 Words   |  5 PagesMost scholars, under the same breath, deem Charlemagne as the hero Dark Age Europe needed. As the king of the Frankish kingdom, Frankia, from 768, he started recovering order after the collapse of the Roman Empire in the Dark Ages. On the other hand, some believe that he is the cause of World War II. They reason that he caused the separation of his land into Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and western Germany by giving parts of his kingdom to his sons. However, his sons, through their foolishnessRead MoreCharlema gne : The King Of The Frankish1515 Words   |  7 Pages Charlemagne (Charles the great, Karl 1) Charlemagne, also known as Karl I or Charles the great [1] was the king of the Frankish (the Germanic peoples of France, west Germany and North Italy). He took the throne in 768 A.D after the death of his father Pepin the short, with his brother Carloman as co-ruler. He became king of Italy in 774 after his conquest of the Lombard kingdoms and after 800 A.D he was proclaimed the ‘Emperor of the Romans’ by the Pope Leo III. This marks the peak of the CarolingianRead MoreEssay on A Very Brief History of the Papacy1499 Words   |  6 Pagesthe high regard of the church by the 6th century. The beginning was the church’s unsolicited popularity. This could be linked to its relationship with the early apostles. The Roman Church was the first in the empire to be established by the Apostles. Since the 4th century the Roman Empire was being primed to receive the church as the highest power in its land. When the barbarians started their invasion on Rome the church had a very powerful leader at the time. Pope Gregory I was responsible forRead MoreThe King Of The Frankish1509 Words   |  7 PagesCharlemagne, also known as Karl I or Charles the great [1] was the king of the Frankish (the Germanic peoples of France, west Germany and North Italy). He took the throne in 768 A.D after the death of his father Pepin the short, with his brother Carloman as co-ruler. He became king of Italy in 774 after his conquest of the Lombard kingdoms and after 800 A.D he was proclaimed the ‘Emperor of the Romans’ by the Pope Leo III. This marks the peak of the Carolingian empire that Charlemagne founded [2]Read MoreThe Carolingian Renaissance1472 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿The Carolingian Renaissance is known for the cultural transitions and great achievements that were obtained in the 8th century under the direction of Charlemagne. Charlemagne, who was also known as Carolus Magnus and Charles the Great, was one of the greatest leaders during the Midd le Ages. He was a military man, king of the Franks, and was appointed as Roman emperor in 800 AD. Throughout Europe, he was seen as a great example of an emperor and Christian king. Not only did he revive the politicalRead MoreCharlemagne King Of The Franks1809 Words   |  8 PagesCharlemagne King of the Franks Born in about 742, Charlemagne was the son of King Pepin III (known as Pepin the Short). Pepin and his brother together ruled the Franks, whose kingdom included parts of present-day France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. Upon Pepin s death in 768, Charlemagne and his brother Carloman inherited the kingdom. When Carloman died three years later, Charlemagne became the sole ruler. Charlemagne, also known as Charles the great was a ruler in times of turmoilRead MoreCharles The Great : The King Of Europe Essay2195 Words   |  9 PagesCharlemagne also known as Charles the Great, was born around the 2nd of April 747 and died on the 28th of January 814. He was noted down in history as King of the Franks, a Germanic-speaking people who invaded western Rome residing in current day Germany, the King of the Lombards, Germanic people who resided in parts of the Italian peninsula, and finally was the First Holy Roman Emperor. Another name that has been bestowed upon Charlemagne was the title â€Å"Father of Europe†. Due to the CarolingianRead MoreThe Medieval Ages Essay536 Words   |  3 Pagesthe deconstruction and devolution of the formerly grand institutions of the Roman Empire left a world darkened to the eyes of history. The world lost touch with simple concepts to a modern history student of writing, economy, culture, and government#8212;the mainstay of that which we cannot see ourselves without#8212;civilization. What was left of Europe was a state of chaos. In all other periods of human history I have studied there were similarities among them from which I could draw conclusions