...Farming Traditional foods are produced with traditional gardening, the production based on hybridizing. Before we use chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, the farmers used to use the animal manure to give nutrition to the seeds. The seeds absorb the nutrition from the land and the animal manure to grow up. The traditional agricultural system can classify into “Mixed Subsistence Farming”, the livestock and crops combined into one ecosystem (Biology, 1998, para.1). Organic farming method restricts to use natural pesticides and fertilizers. The organic farming focus on keeping good soil structure and fertility, and the farmers need recycle and compost crop wastes, animal manures, crop rotation, and green manures.(Infonet, n.d., para. 2). The Environmental impact of Traditional Farming Traditional farming has a vast impact on the earth. Fertilizers and pesticides are major causes of water pollution. The crops can absorb fewer fertilizers, the rest fertilizers will go to the rivers, or the lakes, which will lead to harm the aquatic plants and animals. The pesticides can reduce the biodiversity by destroying weeds and insects. The insecticides and herbicides can pollute fresh water with carcinogens and other poison s that will affect humans and wildlife (World agriculture, 2011, para. 8)....
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...Position Paper – The Pros and Cons of Animal Experimentation The Pros and Cons of Animal Experimentation Animal research has had a major role in many scientific and medical advances. It has both its advantages and disadvantages. “Moreover,” animal experimentation is an extremely controversial subject that has divided people into a group that either support animal testing or oppose it all together, and another that advocates the use of alternatives. There are many pros and cons when it comes to this subject. People all over the world have different opinions on weather animal lab testing is humane and necessary. Animal experimentation is unethical due to the practice of animal torture and suffering, animal choice and death of these animals. Animal experimentation (noun): any type of experiment performed on living animals, especially in order to test the effects of chemical compounds such as new drugs, cosmetics, food additives and pesticides (Animal experimentation, 2001). All over the world, people think differently on whether animal experimentation is an appropriate way to test medicines and products. Each year in the United States, an estimated 70 million animals are maimed, blinded, scalded, force-fed chemicals, genetically manipulated, and otherwise hurt and killed in the name of science, by private institutions, household product and cosmetics companies, government agencies, educational institutions, and scientific centers. Substances we use every day, such...
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...Biomass the Energy of Life What is Biomass? Biomass is one of five clean energies sources. Biomass refers to the use of organic material to produce energy. Biomass is organic material that comes from plants and animals, and it is a renewable source of energy. Biomass comes from a variety of sources which include food crops, grassy and woody plants, residues from agriculture or forestry, oil-rich algae, and the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes. Even the fumes from landfills can be used as a biomass energy source ("EIA Energy Kids - Biomass," n.d.). As well as many other forms of energy, the people need to know how biomass is used, the advantages, and disadvantages that it brings people. Biomass hold stored energy from...
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...Animal Rights in Medical Research As the declaration of human right states that all human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights. The issue of whether or not to grant animal rights such as those that humans have is greatly disputed over years, but without success. Animal right is an extremely complicated issue that involves the question of animal intellect, animal rights groups, and the pros and cons of granting animals their rights. I have worked with and observed chimpanzees in early 2000 in a research lab in Alamogordo, NM as an animal caretaker and seen how these primates communicate with each other. I feel this subject is very important and I will be sharing my reflections, thoughts and experiences in this paper. Researchers all over the world, who have studied primates argue that these animals hold the capacity to communicate. The researchers go on to describe that a communication barrier is all that separates humans from animals. Chimpanzees are more superior on using their hand and feet than humans. I observed them using their hand to peel bananas, use hands and feet to swing, open doors and even had a water faucet sticking out of the wall with a button that they pressed to drink water. I also got a chance to see a chimp using sign language. This particular chimp in his early life was on TV and commercials, can walk upright, and was harmless. His owner decided to part ways due to the chimp’s age and turned him over to the research facility. They can...
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...cost) of organic vs regular produce in the grocery store, they have little familiarity with the same choice of organic vs synthetic fertilizers they can use in treating their lawn and garden. In this two-part blog I will break down the differences between the two and explain the pros and cons of each. Does My Lemongrass Care? If you go to the home show and ask a booth rep selling Miracle-Gro he will extoll the virtues of synthetic fertilizer and give you a plethora of reasons why you should choose his products. Much like Farmer Ted down the road from you would love to educate you on why the truckload of chicken manure he’s got in your driveway is worth the 200 bucks he is asking you to shell out. The point is there is still a lively debate on which is better for you to use. But in most instances, the plant itself doesn’t care. A nutrient is a nutrient is a nutrient. So what gives? A Brief History of Manure Use (I mean Fertilization) Since the early beginnings of agriculture man has found that using naturally decomposing matter such as bone meal, fish carcasses, dead plant matter, and yes, animal manure, that crops grow faster, bigger, and healthier. Once farms got larger in scale and animals were used to do the heavy work manure became the fertilizer of choice for most crops. Organic fertilizer was the king because there was nothing to overthrow it. Then in the early 1840’s Justus von Liebig discovered that increasing nitrogen to the root system of plants promoted...
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...These animals should be worth the time and effort to domesticate (National Geographic 35:20) relative to how much nutrition and yield. The domesticable animals are usually not carnivores because other animals would have to be grown to feed them (National geographic 35:32). The ideal animals are herd animals. This way, if the leader of the herd is domesticated, the herd is under control. These animals are also very social, allowing them to all be kept in the same space (National Geographic 37:16). The Americas lacked these large, domesticable animals, and was not able to have productive farming. In addition, crops spread across lines of latitude easier than the lines of longitude (Diamond 87). Since the Americas are generally on the longitude, crops are not easily spread across the continent. How productive farming is for different communities depends on their geographic location for the crops, animals, and spread of seeds across their continent. Even from the beginning, civilizations were already unequal simply because of the plants and animals in their...
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...Diamond is his boldness. He not only fills the role of a geographer, anthropologist, historian, psychologist, and biologist (all in the same book!), but completely dismantles the entire basis that scientific racism rests on. While this is not necessarily his main intent, he acknowledges it, at one point even saying “In short, Europe’s colonization of Africa had nothing to do with differences between European and African peoples themselves, as white racists assume. Rather, it was due to accidents of geography and biogeography—in particular, to the continents’ different areas, axes, and suites of wild plant and animal species. That is, the different historical trajectories of Africa and Europe stem ultimately from differences in real estate.” He covers almost every field of science that he can to extensively answer this question of how the setting the society was put in, not the people themselves, ultimately decide the fate of it. He is masterful in his style of making the way our societies were built, and how much the geography of a place actually has to do with that society. His storytelling abilities are amazing, getting the reader fully invested in his book, and his talent as a storyteller shines in Guns, Germs, and Steel. Altogether, Diamond’s experience and wit ultimately make his style and voice an enjoyable...
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...environment. Coal is largely carbon-based, and along with that comes large emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. (Turk & Bensel, Ch. 6.4) With the environmental associated with coal, it cannot be describes as a viable long term substitute for oil as a primary source of energy. Hydropower may be much more environmentally friendly in terms of carbon emissions in to the atmosphere, but some environmentalists still contend that it is not completely environmentally friendly. In an article released by the Environmental News Network, it is mentioned that “Environmentalists around the world are calling for the removal of hydroelectric dams and working to stop construction on new ones so that rivers can run free.” (Hydropower Plants Have Pros, Cons, Environmentalists Point Out, Para. 5). Currently, about 19 percent of power is produced from hydropower. Among the disadvantages of hydropower are the high investment costs, change in stream water quality, and...
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...GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS _____________________ A Position Paper Presented to Mr. Jesse R. Songcayawon, Ph. D. History Department Adventist University of the Philippines _____________________ In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Course General Philosophy _____________________ By Krishnalyn Precious Jewel Castro Rosedelle Colot Jedd Fabroa Dean Carlo Fajilan Joan Mary Hidalgo Julius Anthony Hiphip Myrtle Magalang Mark Anthony Mayorga Ruiz, Mike I. INTRODUCTION A. BACKGROUND As the population of the world continues to increase, it will be accompanied by an increase in the demand for food. Food is one of the most vital needs of the world we live in. In the old days, ancient people kill for food to survive. Today, some people mark it as piece of extravagance and whatnots. Food feeds our hunger and in turn, gives energy for the daily activities we humans need to do in order to get through the day. Also, it forms connection within another human being for it is shared along the dinner table and have food as the topic of the night. Basically, food is the demand and supply which runs the world: be it in the developed country where food is made even luxury and be it in the developing country where food is seen as a staple for survival. Since the total acreage planted is no longer increasing, unless new production technology is adopted, such an increase in demand that is unmatched by an increase in supply in the world food market will raise...
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...Linda Covarrubias Elaina Westegaard ENG-123-X1530 17 November 2015 How Are GMOs Affecting the Environment and Our Health? Food has been one of the basic needs since the birth of a person. History shows that the production of food only consisted of hunting, harvesting, and farming. During these times, it usually took a long time before these foods arrived at the dining tables of families. However, today, technology has allowed the mass production of food. Unfortunately, the market has taken advantage of technology, not letting us know how food is made, leading to the birth of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). GMOs are widely used in most foods today. Though most people are unaware of this, GMOs even exist in some of their favorite food products. Many reports tell that diseases, such as E-Coli and Salmonella, have been caught from GM-foods. Furthermore, researchers and doctors believe that GMOs carry a huge risk; although, some scientists claim that GMOs are completely safe for human consumption. GMOs should be banned because they have a negative impact on human health, and potential risks on the environment. Although GMOs were only introduced in 1996, the side effects can already be seen: there have been increased allergic reactions, antibiotic resistant bacteria and other toxic hazards. While these side effects of GMOs may seem minuscule in the grand scheme of things, the lasting effects can be much more drastic. More and more children are having life-threatening allergies...
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...Name: Abdulaziz Alharbi Instructor: Holly Harris Class: Bio 100.07 Date: 12/2/2015 Genetically Modified Organisms Genetically Modified Crops can be both useful and hazardous. They conceivably give people certain supplements and help the earth in specific ways yet they are still unsafe on the grounds that we don't have the foggiest idea about the impacts it will have on individuals and what it can do to our surroundings. A hereditarily adjusted life forms are infusing one living being with DNA from another living being to express new qualities that would not normally exist. Hereditarily changed creatures are utilized more as a part of adjusting yields and creatures. However, can likewise be connected to different living beings, for example, microscopic organisms. In Terri Raney and Prabhu Pingali's study "Sowing A Gene Revolution", the survey hereditarily adjusted life forms, for example, changed yields being valuable to all of society. A standout amongst the most vital moral predicament concerning hereditarily adjusted creatures is the conceivable impacts it can have on people and nature. Changed foods were nonexistent until 1994 when the Flavr Savr tomato started to be sold in stores. The reason for this altered tomato was to postpone aging which is the motivation behind amicably changed nourishments; to give the new sustenances a characteristic that would be more advantageous for individuals and for the earth. Researchers can make a sure product to certain qualities...
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...Morality of Cloning Cloning, is it morally right or wrong? That is the question many have been debating for years. Cloning an animal, or even more so a human, may seem, taboo. Ask yourself, what are moral standards built upon? Religion? Or do they come from ourselves? Most of today's moral standards are built upon Christianity, one of the worlds biggest religions. Many people believe that God made us to reproduce sexually, between a man and woman only, and that cloning is playing God and going against his will. Other religions too, have spoken out about cloning. Religion has been a main issue for the scientific community for many decades and will continue to be so. Many other subjects such as abortion, and assisted suicide have been a controversial...
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...nature deserves moral consideration because nature has intrinsic value. In two experiments participants (n=91 and 84) generated moral reasoning responses to ecological moral dilemmas. The reasoning was coded as ecocentric, anthropocentric, or nonenvironmental (i.e., social contracts, truthfulness). Individual di¡erences and situational variables were examined in relation to moral reasoning about ecological dilemmas. Pro-environmental attitudes were related to more ecocentrica nd anthropocentrica nd less nonenvironmental reasoning. The presence of information about the impact of ecological damage on the environment, especially a more ‘‘wild’’ environment, elicited more ecocentric reasoning, while the presence of a social commitment elicited more nonenvironmental moral reasoning. The implications of the research for con£icts over environmental commons dilemmas are discussed. # 2001 Academic Press Ecocentrism and Anthropocentrism: Moral Reasoning about Ecological Dilemmas There is as yet no ethicd ealing with man’s relation to land and to the animals and plants which grow upon it. . . The extension of ethics to this third element in human environment is. . .an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity. (Leopold, 1949, pp. 238^9) Aldo Leopold, sometimes called the father of environmental ethics, expressed these ideas over 50 years ago in his revolutionary essay ‘‘The Land Ethic.’’...
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...Did you know that “the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported in 2016 that 71,370 animals suffered pain during [animal tests]” (ProCon). The fact that over 71,370 animals are suffering through tests begs the question as to why we continue if that many animals are being harmed. However, the rise of animal testing in products has brought up a controversial issue since the late nineteenth century when it first became popular. Animal testing is experiments put on animals to help understand the possible outcomes it can put on humans. Today, animals get tested for different products often found in cosmetics, prescriptions, and household cleaning supplies. The cons associated with animal testing today by far outweigh the possible pros that could come from it. Although most people would agree with testing products before humans use them in everyday life,...
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...difference. Organic foods are defined as any food that is cultivated without using synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and hormones. Animals that produce organic goods do not take antibiotics or growth hormones. The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the national organic program. The word "organic" reflect how the farmers grew and processed products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil, water conservation and reduce pollution. Conventional food can be defined as food that is produced by farmers who produce foods with different types of chemical fertilizer to make the plants grow faster. Giving the animals antibiotics and other medications help prevent disease. When choosing between conventional and organic produce, one should define organic; the advantages as well as the disadvantages to making an informed decision. Organic produce and organic ingredients are grown without pesticides and growth hormones. Animals that produce the organic product are fed organic feed and have to ability to graze on free range. Organic animals do not take antibiotics or anything to speed up their growth. Unlike conventional foods, organic foods are grown naturally. No pesticides were used on these plants to control insects. Using pesticides can cause death to birds and other animals. Organic farmers do not use synthetic fertilizers, they use soil that has been naturally cultivated. Organic foods have strict limitations...
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