...Systemic Pesticides and the Honeybee Population Beekeepers have been experiencing a large decline in their honeybee populations for the past decade at a startling rate. The disappearance of the honeybees has a much larger impact on daily life in the United States as well as around the world than many would believe, as they are cornerstones in a healthy and prosperous ecosystem. The extremely complex yet small honeybee is responsible for a large majority of the food we consume everyday. While there are multiple theories surrounding the disappearance of the bees, the use of systemic pesticides is leading the way as the culprit. The use of systemic pesticides needs to be banned in the United States due to the negative impact they are having on the honeybee population. As the population of the United States continues to grow exponentially annually, so does the need for an increased food supply. Monocultures have been the answer to this need due to the fact that they allow farmers to mass-produce a single item much cheaper and easier than traditional farming in which multiple crops are grown on a single plot of land. There are many possibilities for the types of plants that can be found in a monoculture but typically wheat, corn, and soy are the main monocultures crops in the United States due to the wide use of these plants in countless products on the grocery store shelves. These monocultures have caused the use of pesticides to reach levels never seen before by the agricultural...
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...“Sub lethal and Lethal Effects of Pesticides on Commercial Honeybees and Wild Bees” Abstract: It is a well-known fact that the global population of bees is declining. This is a major concern because bees are the primary pollinators of the world’s crops. Commercial honeybees and wild bees both have significant impacts on the fate of the worlds produce. Without bees, produce would be an impossibility to get because there would be very little to none available. The reasons as to why this is happening have not been completely isolated yet, but scientists are testing multiple factors as to why this could be happening. One of the reasons could be pesticide and insecticide application to crops around the world. Pesticide and insecticide application could be a major contributing factor as to why the bee population is declining. This is very unfortunate because agriculture is expanding throughout the developing and the developed world. Between 1961 and 2006 global agriculture of pollinator dependent crops has increased by 16.7% in the developed world and by 9.4% in the developing world (Brittain & Potts, 2011). With commercial agriculture comes pesticide and insecticide application. Global pesticide application is expected to more than double to 10 million metric tons by 2050 (Brittain & Potts, 2011). This could be a major issue if in fact insecticides are a leading cause of global bee population decline. Neurotoxic insecticides may pose more of a direct threat to honeybees...
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...practice in Australia is a project of St James Ethics Centre © St James Ethics Centre 2 Contents Acknowledgments Summary Introduction Key findings The way forward Recommendations Introduction Brotherhood of St Laurence Gorman Industries Understanding the clothing industry Corporate responsibility and “sustainability” Developing tools for responsible business practice Roadmap methodology How we went about it Who we spoke to Overview of the garment supply chain The clothing industry roadmap Key sustainability issues in the garment sector Case study: Gorman Who is Gorman? The Gorman roadmap: Merino Tee and Forest Dress Unpicking the garment roadmap Design and production management Wool and cotton cultivation Processing raw materials and yarn manufacturing Knitting and weaving Fabric processing Cut make and trim Retailing and wholesaling Consumer use Textile waste and disposal Freight Towards sustainable garments Garment industry drivers Sources of information the HUB of responsible business practice in Australia is a project of St James Ethics Centre © St James Ethics Centre 5 6 6 7 11 12 14 14 15 15 17 18 19 19 20 22 22 23 28 28 29 32 32 34 39 43 45 48 51 55 56 58 60 60 61 3 Tools and resources Role of government Conclusions Recommendations Glossary of selected certification standards References the HUB of responsible business practice in Australia is a project...
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...what we eat, which as we can see chemical products are abundant in the Philippines. Rice is an everyday consumption of Filipino’s diet which is believed healthy for our body and abundant throughout the Philippines, but what if shortage of this production is experience because of pests invading towards Philippine rice fields. Believe it or not, this healthy is now considered insalubrious facing the fact that chemicals that are practiced towards the plants which serves as pesticide against kuhol will also harm our body, because farmers have no choice but to use chemical pesticide to eliminate these pests, is there? Before the introduction of chemical pesticides our native kuhol was a good source of viand in the rice field and seldom did it turn against growing rice plants. Using kinds of chilli pepper is one of the cheapest manners of organic planting. Proposing a healthy non-chemical pesticide which is good for both producer and consumers considering also that this will not harm the traits of nature. The chilli used in this study is abundant throughout the Philippines, planted there and...
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...cease to exist when it comes to goods, services, and even food. We think nothing of having freshly squeezed orange juice or kiwis for breakfast, even if we live in New York City with 10-inches of snow on the ground in the middle of January. We live in an age where everything and anything is available for consumption year-round at your local grocery store. However, this global market also comes with potentially major ecological and economic impacts (both positive and negative). For example, the coffee you drink may come from beans imported from Columbia, the sugar you use may come from India, or the steaks you sear on the grill may have come from Argentina. How much fuel was spent transporting these products across the ocean? Were any pesticides used? If so, was it done in a sustainable fashion? Were forests cleared to make room for grazing herds or larger agricultural fields? These are just a few of the many questions we should be asking ourselves. This is an article (short) from 2006 in Time magazine. It is called “Local Food Movement: The Lure of the 100-Mile Diet.” http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1200783,00.html This is a much more in-depth look (14 page journal article) at the contrast between global and local food choices. We are reading 2 chapters already this week, so I’m not sure if this would be overload. It is a good article, but it is from 1996. http://www.cias.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/comingin.pdf For this assignment, think about the...
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...Current Event Supply and Demand “Why Are Food Prices So High?” The economy has been in a downturn and to top it off food prices are at the highest they have been in 36 years (Odland, 2012). Some economist say this is a good sign of economic growth, but I must disagree. My personal food budget has had to increase because of inflation, and the fact that it is still rising gives me good sense to presume our economy is not on the road to recovery. Food is not a scare resource so why is the price rising? This is caused by supply and demand since these two terms are what make up price levels. Steve Odland explains in “Why Are Food Prices So High?” “The rising food prices have been caused by falling supply or increase in demand” (Odland, 2012). This conclusion entails more than just the basics of food. As learned in accounting when goods and services are produced you have what is known as overhead costs. Odland makes a good observation that even the price of fuel effects the price of food because it is used for the equipment to manufacture the crops. Also our food trade has become more international creating an extra demand for food. Food can be altered by climate change and natural disasters, the tsunami in Japan increased the price of seafood. Crops damaged in Australia, Russia and South America inflated the price of vegetables 50% here in America. Steve Odland also states the increase use of ethanol increases the demand for corn, which in turn increases the price...
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...“Industrial hemp and marijuana are different varieties of the same species, Cannabis sativa L. In the United States, Cannabis sativa is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, regardless of its narcotic content, under the Controlled Substances Act as amended.” (USDA 1). U.S. markets for hemp fiber (specialty textiles, paper, and composites) and seed (in food or crushed for oil) are, and will likely remain, small, thin markets. Uncertainty about longrun demand for hemp products and the potential for oversupply discounts the prospects for hemp as an economically viable alternative crop for American farmers. (USDA i). The main reason the hemp market is as described by the USDA is that hemp is illegal to grow in the United States currently. We know this to be the reason because back in WWII the U.S. needed rope, but could no longer trade with Japan and so allowed farmers to grow hemp for the war effort as it is a high-yield, fast-growing crop that makes fine rope. The possession of hemp products is still legal here; the only condition is that it must have be free of THC. However, the amount of THC in industrial hemp is so small that “the only thing you will get from smoking it is a headache.” (Greg Bambaugh). Many people believe and say that the reason it is illegal to grow is due to its similarity to marijuana but, as noted by the first quote, they are different things, and even the USDA knows it; "It's like a Chihuahua versus a Saint Bernard," says David Bronner. (Wells)...
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...Organic Vs. Conventional “The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and the perfection of human beings” (Fukuoka 119). Agriculture is one of the most important determinants of the quality of non-urban areas, one that can create a cultural identity of an area. But despite the cultural identity it can give, farming and agriculture also provide food which is needed for all living organisms to survive. Nevertheless, the processes and methods of producing the food are split between two very different ideas: Conventional or Organic agriculture. Conventional farming describes any farming not dedicated to alternative methods. Fundamentally, conventional farming is the kind of farming which dominated the 20th century and which accounts for most farming today. In conventional farming, chemical plant protectants, chemical fertilizers and intensive mass animal farming are common. The term “conventional farming” draws its meaning from the contrast to alternative farming methods such as organic farming. Conventional farming methods date back to the Industrial Revolution, which gave birth to newly invented machinery. This new machinery began producing goods with greater efficiency and output, which had previously been made by hand. It was also the beginning of the transformation of society, but did not overtake agriculture as quickly as it did in other areas of production, such as textiles and printing. No doubt, that was because agriculture...
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...Mahmoud gave me back my book today; it have taken him only two days to read it. 5- In June 2006, I've visited my uncle in Australia. 6- Do you prefer modern or tradition music? 7-1 can't send e-mails because there's a problem with my internet connect. 8- There has been a real grow in the number of people with broadband. 9- One day, I'd like to work for a charity organisation. 10- Interesting, many people prefer to use traditional banks rather than online banking. 11 - He leaves school at 14 and worked in a bookshop. 12- He preferred read books to selling them, 13- He was thinking he wanted to be a scientist. 14- Michael Farady was one of the most brilliant scientist of his time. 15- For animals and humans, cooperate is important for survival. 16- A good business person can quickly make an important decide. 17- My predict is that you will be a successful engineer. 18- Her intend is to pass all other exams next year. 19- The combine of the wind and rain made driving very difficult. 20- Crete is the island in the Mediterranean Sea. 21 - Luxor is a place popular to the tourists. 22- Japan is a large group of islands in Pacific Ocean. 23- Japan is about 300 kilometers from a east coast of Russia. 24- The 125 million people live on the islands of Japan. 25- Australasia consists of the large island of Australia and a number of the smaller...
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...Research several certifications for an industry you are familiar with. Compare two certifications in the same industry. Which do you think is the stronger, or more effective, and why? Write a short analysis of your findings. For additional details, please refer to the Short Paper/Case Study Rubric document in the Assignment Guidelines and Rubrics section of the course. Food, the one thing all human beings can agree upon its necessity for our survival. Ever walked into a grocery store and gotten a headache from the bombardment of food certifications. USDA Organic, Certified Humane Raised & Handled, Natural, Fair Trade Certified, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Food Alliance are just a few of the dizzying array of food certifications circling around. The simple truth only two of the multitudes of certifications around should warrant your attention. Some will contend that Fair Trade has its merits, really? The Fair Trade association developed from the need to offer protection and security for coffee farmers. Fair Trade exists to provide premiums to farmers to ensure the farmers gets a standardized price and were not exploited for labor. Sounds fair right? Fair Trade lacks any governmental branch, its criteria is created from within its own walls. Where does the money really go? To the laborers? Better farming conditions? Or in someone’s bank account? There is unfortunately no way to trace the funds making Fair Trade hard to trust and impossible to verify. ...
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...relationships in this ecosystem after the eruption. List 3 references. After the forests were destroyed by lava and mudflow, producers were completely destroyed and died out. This caused a disruption in the food cycle because then, consumers such as deer had less food supply causing them to starve and die. After a while, the decomposers begin to kick start the cycle for new life, bringing back order. Exercise #2- Discuss any two plant species and any two animal species that are affecting the Everglades. What are the challenges facing the native species and how are they adapting to the changing environment? List 3 references. Plants – Australian pine- This plant was brought over to the Everglades and used for landscaping purposes from South pacific Islands and Australia. The tree’s roots disrupt the nesting of the native creatures such as the American crocs and turtles. Brazilian pepper plant- This pepper tree was brought over from Brazil to market the peppers. As birds ate the seeds, they begin to spread them from their feces. As these trees begin to spread throughout the Everglade, its dense structure allowed it to form concentrated thickets displacing native vegetation. Animals – Green iguana- These iguanas were imported from Central America as pets. As they begin to get to big, the owners started to let them free. They live off of the native vegetation and repopulate quickly. They also began to eat the native tree snails which are threatened and rare. Burmese python-...
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...Taz and Ant; One Endangered, One Invasive Taylor Drake Biology 106A, Fall 2012 In a world dominated by humans there are many things that also inhabit Earth, one of those being animals. Sometimes these animals can thrive in certain or multiple geographical areas while others, due to humans, may fail to adapt and survive. An invasive species is one that has a native geographical range but then somehow gets transferred to a new geographical range where it possibly can thrive and cause problems such as the Red Imported Fire Ant. On the other hand, there are some species of animals that are endangered and on the brink of extinction like the Tasmanian devil. With the encroachment of humans on the animal’s environment, they have hindered their ability to thrive forcing them to become endangered. Humans influence on the ecosystem, animals have to adapt like the Red Fire Ant or be forced to near or possible extinction like the Tasmanian devil. 1 The Tasmanian devil (Figure 1), Sarcophilus harrisii, is the largest carnivorous marsupial of the family Dasyuridae found on the Australian island of Tasmania (Figure 2) (Tasmanian devil). The devil is normally black with a white patch around its neck and generally about the size of a small dog weighing between fifteen and twenty Figure 1. The Tasmanian devil, Sarcophilus harrisii pounds (Tasmanian Devil). On Tasmania, it lives in coastal scrubs and eucalypt forests but is also found near places of human inhabitance because S...
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...LP - students to complete a response to the dot points above using a linking sentence to link the two dot points int he one response. 30/10/13 P6 identify antigens as molecules that trigger the immune response explain why organ transplants should trigger an immune response LP - complete a response to each dot point. In you answer make a link between the two dot points (this will mean that you can write one response with a linking sentence) 31/10/13 P1 gather, process and present information from secondary sources to show how a named disease results from an imbalance of microflora in humans --> students to use the laptops to research the above dot point. LP - students are to complete a full repsonse to the above dot point focussing on a particular microflora and the results of an imbalance in this. 01/11/13 P3 identify the components of the immune response: – antibodies – T cells – B cells describe and explain the immune response in the human body in...
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...When these gardens were first thought of it was discovered that very few people knew how to garden. Training was provided to help these people complete their task. The trend of creating a community or private based garden for teaching and learning continues to this day. (Hampton, 2005) As we know in this new century many families live in or near major city however on of the things that lacks there are a number of positives also a number of unfortunate negatives towards having a community garden; there are far too many on both the positive and negative sides to list but the main areas to focus on would firstly be the positive. Some positives to a community garden are as follows: • There is a decreased amount of chemicals and pesticides used in home grown gardens than the industrial mass produced, • By having a community garden you are creating just that a community, • A decrease in the grocery bill will result in a happier family and morale all round. (Surls.2001) • Gardening in general has been linked to better psychological benefits. • And those people that indulge in gardening have been found to enjoy a more nutritious diet than the non-gardeners. (Somerset, Ball,...
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...OMG GMO The article from the biology news website is about bananas; genetically modified bananas to be specific. The bananas will be used in human trails to see their effects on us. Biology news.net claims that this is the first time such a trial will be conducted on humans. The reason why this trail is being conducted is to nourish, lift the wellbeing and health of millions of east Africans. In east Africa the banana is a staple of their cuisine, unfortunately the banana lacks the micronutrient vitamin A and iron. As distinguished professor James Dale, leader of the Queensland University of Technology project puts it “The consequences of vitamin A deficiency are dire with 650,000-700,000 children world-wide dying from pro-vitamin A deficiency each year and at least another 300,000 going blind.” It seems Professor Dale is doing his part to end world hunger. These bananas which have been planted in Australia will be shipped to the U.S. for the first human trail. The bananas look just like any other banana from the outside but inside they are orange because of all the vitamin A . There are already test fields being planted in Uganda after DR. Dale claims that “"Hundreds of different permutations went into field trials up north and we tested everything to make sure our science worked here in Queensland. Now the really high-performing genes have been taken to Uganda and have been put into field trials there." The bananas that are high performing will then be planted...
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