Arguments for and against GM crops Essay Example for Free

Arguments for and against GM crops Essay GM crops are genetically modified crops that have been genetically enhanced using modern biotechnology to carry one or more beneficial new traits. 1. What is the difference between GM and conventional plant breeding? Conventional plant breeding involves changing the genes of a plant so that a new and better variety is developed. New varieties of plants are bred to suit different climate conditions, improve taste or nutritional value, cope with disease or pests better, or to use water or nutrients more efficiently for example. Breeding using genetic modification (GM) also involves changing the genes of a plant so that a new and better variety is developed. It is done for the same reasons as conventional breeding. The key difference is that instead of randomly mixing genes, which occurs as a result of a sexual cross, a specific gene, which is associated with a desirable trait, is selected and inserted directly into the new plant variety. 1. What is a Pharma crops? Pharma crops are genetically engineered to produce pharmaceutical drugs. Rather than manufacturing such substances by chemical methods, the idea is to turn farmed plants into mini-factories that can mass produce medicines and other chemicals cheaply and much more efficiently. Trials of this technology have used conventional farm plants, such as maize or soya. 1. The GM supporters argue that GM crops: -Help to feed the developing world and this is a social/ economic/ political effect. This is because GM crops help increase the yield of crops for the farmers and thus benefit food distribution and benefit the country’s economy. -Are cost effective and this is social/ economic/ political effects. This is because they become more commercially available and there is wider availability. The seeds also have a resistance to disease and therefore farmers also save on insect resistance. GM crops also lower the costs of production by reducing inputs of machinery, fuel, and chemical pesticides. In addition, due to more effective pest control, crop yields are often higher. -Could benefit human health and this is related to health. This is because GM crops eradicate disease so it therefore does not create human health issues as they can repel viruses and fungi and are less toxic. -Could reduce pesticide and herbicide use and this is environmental, health, social/ economic/ political effects. This is because they have improved traits and therefore are resistant to viruses and fungi. They also increase the yield of crops and thus, do not require herbicides and so reduce costs. -Could help preserve natural habitats is environmental. This is because the efficiency gains from GM crops will place less pressure on wild or natural habitats and thereby help preserves biodiversity. In addition, Eutrophication is prevented as less fertiliser is used. The people against GM claim that: -There will not be enough to feed the world which is health and social/economic/political effects. This is because GM seeds are much more expensive than conventional seeds and therefore means the poor cannot afford them, and thus they cannot be fed. In addition the soybeans, corn, and cotton crops that are mainly produced are not crops that will help feed most of the world. -It could damage organic farmers which are social/ economical/ political effects. This is because organic farmers still spray the bt toxin on the plants whereas GM already have the bt gene encoded in the plant and therefore does not require the toxin. Therefore less people buy the organic produce and buy more of the GM produce. -It could increase herbicide and pesticide use which is environmental, health, social/ economic/ political effects. This is because even though GM plants do use fewer chemicals in the first few years, afterwards they use considerably more chemicals, as was reported in the U. S. In addition with bt corn, it required more pesticide as most pesticides are directed at other corn pests. -It could reduce biodiversity which is environmental. It can do this because it is resistant to viruses, fungi and contains toxins which therefore mean the natural environment affected as the insects and bacterium lose their food source which results in a lesser population and thus, affects the consumers like birds and so on. -It mainly benefits big biotech companies which are social/economical/ political effects. This is because they claim most of the profit for the GM seeds and these companies are also concentrating their efforts in high-volume crops, such as soybeans, corn, and cotton, and not in crops that might help feed the billions of people who live in poor countries. -It raises ethical conflicts over the control of food production which is social/ economical/ political effects. Examples of these are; 1. The possible monopolisation of the world food market by large multinational companies that control the distribution of GM seeds. 2. Using genes from animals in plant foods may pose ethical, philosophical or religious problems. For example, eating traces of genetic material from pork could be a problem for certain religious or cultural groups. 3. Animal welfare could be adversely affected. For example, cows given more potent GM growth hormones could suffer from health problems related to growth or metabolism. 4. New GM organisms could be patented so that life itself could become commercial property through patenting. Show preview only The above preview is un.

Garden for the Blind :: Architecture Design Essays

Garden for the Blind If I were to sum up what I want to do with this garden in one word, it would be â€Å"awakening;† awakening of the senses other than that of sight. These senses include sense of smell, sense of touch, sense of taste, sense of sound, and also the kinesthetic sense (one’s place in space). The garden will allow for complete awareness of one’s surroundings and the plants present in the garden, although sight will not be used. The journey through the garden should be an enjoyable experience for those who want to emerge themselves in a world unlike the very physical one we live in to day. I find the concept of designing a garden for the blind to be very interesting. I began researching for the garden by viewing the website for the Dans le Noir restaurant in Paris, France. The room where one eats is in complete darkness and blinded staff members and waiters guide the restaurant goers throughout the restaurant. I want to do something similar to this in my garden in that there should be some people there to assist the blind as they walk through the garden if they would like assistance. However, the garden will not be in complete darkness. There will be light so that the blind can feel as if they are walking through a regular garden during the day and feel the sun and lights on them, but also for anyone else who would like to view the garden regularly or blindfolded. I want the garden to be able to be viewed in various ways by anyone who would like to do so. While researching for the garden, I did not find the book by Richard Florida titled The Rise of the Creative Class to be too helpful, except that it made me appreciate the creative abilities that are needed to complete a project such as creating a Garden for the Blind. However, I did find Sensory Design by Joy Malnar and Frank Vodvarka to be very useful. In the book, I found an interesting passage that I hope will characterize my garden when it is finished and people get a chance to view it. The passage says that â€Å"Some great gardens unfold like narrative or a piece of music as we move through them and view their carefully choreographed wonders† (Malnar and Vodvarka). I hope that the smell of the flowers and the touch of the plants will allow those who experience it to feel this type of enjoyment as they go through the garden.

Clothes In Latin America Essay

Clothes in Chile and general Latin America Clothing styles throughout Latin America vary from region to region and have been influenced through several different sources. Fashion in Latin America today and traditional fashions of Latin America differ dramatically. Climate, location, isolation, population, economy, history, colonial influences are many of the sources that have helped to contribute to these changes. Traditional Latin American fashion varied form region to region but maintained a distinctive appearance. Traditional and new aged Latino fashions are generally easy to decipher from each other. Modern fashion in Chile and most of Latin American have lost their traditional roots and are similar to North American. It has become the norm to see a citizen of Chile walking the street in Gap or American eagle. The amount of traditional roots left in clothes largely depends on the location. Rural Latin American and Chile clothes are much more traditional than in the cities. Rural Chileans and Latin Americans who live in tropical climates prefer lightweight cotton clothing in general. Men usually wear lightweight cotton clothing and loose fitting cotton shirts. The majority of the woman dress in long skirts and blouses. In contrast, people who live in mountains or places of high elevation need heavier clothing for protection against the cold. Both men and woman alike wear ponchos or will simply use blankets with a slit for the head. Woman also dress in full skirts, long sleeved blouses, and shawls. Different lifestyles require different sorts of fashion. Farmers wear straw or felt hats to protect themselves form the sun. In the highlands men often wear coarse hand woven shirts and baggy pants. Rural people generally go barefoot or in sandals, and some even make shoes out of automobile tires. Despite modernized fashion Chileans and other Latin Americans, will dress more traditionally for special events or occasions. Chilean cowboys (Hausas) wear big flat-topped hats, heavy ponchos, colorful sashes, fringed leather leggings, and boost with spurs. This is a traditional outfit for Hausas in Chile. The clothing of the Araucarias Indian women of south-central Chile includes brightly colored shawls and heavy silver jewelry. Many Indian groups wear brightly colored clothing with traditional patterns. In such groups, each area/village has its own special designs and colors. Colonials played a large and important role in the alteration and adaptation of Latin American fashion. The cultures different styles of clothing mixed together and became more European/American as time went on. Over the years factories have bee built throughout Latin America and Chile, many of which produced clothes, influencing fashion further. Media greatly promoted the Americanization of clothes in the Hispanic culture as well. Different regions have held on to their native clothes styles better than others. Traditional clothing, however, can still be found in certain areas of Latin America today. Areas that are more isolated than others have a better chance of holding on to their traditional way of dress. Because these regions are isolated they have not been as colonized as other areas and are visited by outside locations less often. Even if a location isn t necessarily isolated the physical characteristics and weather can cause traditional dress to continue. Extreme heat of cold, high winds, and a rocky area of land are examples of factors that cause modernization to decrease. Clothes worn in Latin American countries today differ greatly from region to region. In Ecuador the Otovindions are well known for their distinctive weave pattern, bright colors, and sharp depiction of figures in their clothing. Clothes in Ecuador and many other Latin American countries are hand made to a larger extent than in America. Bolivia is very much in touch with their traditional roots in clothing today. Many men and boys wear brightly colored knitted caps with earflaps, which help to keep them warm in the highlands. Due to warm weather in certain areas of Bolivia many Bolivians wear lightweight fabric, especially lightweight cotton. Despite the changes in civilization the many native Bolivian Indians are able to maintain their traditional style of clothing and customs. The woman wear their hair in long pigtails with a soft derby hat on their heads. Bolivian women will wear an apron over a bright skirt with many underskirts, which are cool.

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