What Does It Mean to Be a Teacher

To Whom It May Concern, Teachers are the facade of a school. They teach students skills that prepare them for their whole life. Teachers are leaders not followers; they are the lyrics to a song. They support the helpless and make frowns into smiles. A teacher is always on time and neatly dressed, not grumpy. Teachers have lost their way now. They miss some school days at a time; they record grades into the computer at the last minute, and they do not care about the students.Teachers have lost their true value. There is a teacher named Mrs. A, she does not do any of her work. She is never at school; her grades are never in on time, and there is always a substitute in her class room. Her students have not learned anything since school started, and it is certainly driving my teacher crazy. My teacher is always covering for her but gets in trouble for no reason. Teachers like Mrs. A have lost the knowledge of what it means to be a teacher.They take it for granted; teaching children is a privilege that is rewarded to those who entirely devote themselves to the job. Not those who abuse the privilege. If a teacher can not meet their full expectations, then he/she should not have the job. Students need the strong to lean on, not the weak. Students need a soaring eagle, not a crawling worm. Teachers have lost their respect; the title does not mean anything anymore. Does anyone know what the definition of a teacher is? Sincerely, Brea Robinson

Evaluate a Range of Ways to Embed Elements of Functional Skills in Your Specialist Area.

Evaluate a range of ways to embed elements of Functional Skills in your specialist area. Functional skills are new qualifications developed to allow people to conduct themselves in a confident and independent manner in life. They are practical skills in literacy, numeracy and information communication technology that provide essential knowledge and understanding. The language courses – in my case Italian – are aimed at widening the knowledge of different people cultures and their ways of expression within community groups and as such embedding functional skills helps to develop intelligence, attitude and behavior in each individual. These skills allow individuals to make a positive contribution to the community in which they live and work by laying the foundations for development in any further education or training. The language courses incorporate literacy skills through the introduction of the grammar. The learners need to understand grammar well enough to pick out the right words when they are required to do a translation. According to my experience it is a very proficient exercise to pick an article from a magazine or a newspaper and ask each learner to read it out loud and have it translated into the target language. In this way the principles of knowledge, comprehension and application are put into practice. Another useful exercise can be done by asking the learner to change the verbs in the article from simple present to simple past or to future tense and have them translated into the target language. The language courses also embed some mathematical concepts. An example could be by teaching numbers with dice and make the learners say the sums once the dice are thrown or write on the whiteboard some arithmetical expressions including addition, subtraction, division, multiplication (e. g. 0 + 2 : 6 x 5 ) and ask the learner to make the calculation. Learners are expected to do some homework on the subjects taught and discussed in class. The homework form containing questions, quizzes, and sentences with gaps to be filled is emailed to each of them. This will be completed in computerised format and in this way the functional skill of information and communication technology is incorporated. Anothe r way to embed ICT skills in the session is encouraging the learner to do a research using the internet about a cultural event or a geographic area of the country of interest. Things that could develop my skills in embedding Functional Skills in my teaching are the use of some websites – such as BBC Languages and Linguascope in my case – which could provide some new learning activities that can be introduced in class; use of DVDs to record some TV programs like news, cultural events and documentaries in the target language which could provide new subjects for communicaton and listening in class ; set activities that require students to check for their own and each other’s learning errors and check for these myself . This can be fulfilled with active learning methods and enjoyable tasks like cards, role play, dice that create more participation , concentration and more cognitive engagement. Functional Skills – an Introduction to Functional Skills – 20 August 2008 (online) http://www. qca. org. uk/qca_6062. aspx G. Petty (2004) Teaching today. Nelson Thornes Ltd, Cheltenham

Organic food †Agriculture Essay

What is Organic Food? Organic farming is a relatively new concept to us, though we are practicing it for thousands of years without noticing. Organic farming is nothing but cultivating foods and other agricultural products using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation. Organic food is produced with: †¢No synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fumigants †¢No fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge †¢No genetically modified organisms (GMOs). †¢No irradiation †¢No hormones, antibiotics, artificial ingredients or trans fats In simple words organic farming is way and means to cultivate naturally, in other word primitively in a sense. The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals and people. A Brief History of Organic Food: Until the early part of the 20th Century pretty much all the food grown across the world was organic. It wasn’t called organic food – it was just food. Nobody had thought of putting chemicals into soil and sprays to enhance crop growth and yield. And genetic engineering took place over generations as farmers selectively bred to improve their stock or their seeds. Organic food farming continued in small, mostly family-run, farms or kitchen gardens where people grew food for their own requirements. The produce was sold in farmer’s markets. Large scale organic farming was begun by farmers and scientists, as a mark of protest to the agricultural industrialization. With the rise of the petro-chemical industries in the early 1900s, agricultural research became focused very much on the chemicals that are needed for plant and animal growth. That these chemicals come from finite resources, most often as by-products of oil refining, was rarely thought of. That they could cause other problems was seldom recognized until the problems became too big to ignore. In the 1930s there was a reaction against the use of chemical additives in people’s food. It was led, in part, by Rudolf Steiner who also designed an educational system based on his holistic and sustainable outlook. These early organic farmers and foodies laid the foundations for today’s interest in sustainable lifestyles. Now, organic food is widely available and has become very popular, with soaring sales. Principles of Organic Agriculture: These Principles are the roots from which organic agriculture grows and develops. They express the contribution that organic agriculture can make to the world, and a vision to improve all agriculture in a global context. The Principles of Organic Agriculture serve to inspire the organic movement in its full diversity and guide our development of positions, programs and standards. Principle of Health. Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, human and planet as one and indivisible. This principle points out that the health of individuals and communities cannot be separated from the health of ecosystems – healthy soils produce healthy crops that foster the health of animals and people. Health is the wholeness and integrity of living systems. It is not simply the absence of illness, but the maintenance of physical, mental, social and ecological well-being. Immunity, resilience and regeneration are key characteristics of health. The role of organic agriculture, whether in farming, processing, distribution, or consumption, is to sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms from the smallest in the soil to human beings. In particular, organic agriculture is intended to produce high quality, nutritious food that contributes to preventive health care and well-being. In view of this it should avoid the use of fertilizers, pesticides, animal drugs and food additives that may have adverse health effects. Principle of Ecology Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them. This principle roots organic agriculture within living ecological systems. It states that production is to be based on ecological processes, and recycling. Nourishment and well-being are achieved through the ecology of the specific production environment. For example, in the case of crops this is the living soil; for animals it is the farm ecosystem; for fish and marine organisms, the aquatic environment. Organic farming, pastoral and wild harvest systems should fit the cycles and ecological balances in nature. These cycles are universal but their operation is site-specific. Organic management must be adapted to local conditions, ecology, culture and scale. Inputs should be reduced by reuse, recycling and efficient management of materials and energy in order to maintain and improve environmental quality and conserve resources. Organic agriculture should attain ecological balance through the design of farming systems, establishment of habitats and maintenance of genetic and agricultural diversity. Those who produce, process, trade, or consume organic products should protect and benefit the common environment including landscapes, climate, habitats, biodiversity, air and water. Principle of Fairness Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities Fairness is characterized by equity, respect, justice and stewardship of the shared world, both among people and in their relations to other living beings. This principle emphasizes that those involved in organic agriculture should conduct human relationships in a manner that ensures fairness at all levels and to all parties – farmers, workers, processors, distributors, traders and consumers. Organic agriculture should provide everyone involved with a good quality of life, and contribute to food sovereignty and reduction of poverty. It aims to produce a sufficient supply of good quality food and other products. This principle insists that animals should be provided with the conditions and opportunities of life that accord with their physiology, natural behavior and well-being. Natural and environmental resources that are used for production and consumption should be managed in a way that is socially and ecologically just and should be held in trust for future generations. Fairness requires systems of production, distribution and trade that are open and equitable and account for real environmental and social costs. Principle of Care Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment. Organic agriculture is a living and dynamic system that responds to internal and external demands and conditions. Practitioners of organic agriculture can enhance efficiency and increase productivity, but this should not be at the risk of jeopardizing health and well-being. Consequently, new technologies need to be assessed and existing methods reviewed. Given the incomplete understanding of ecosystems and agriculture, care must be taken. This principle states that precaution and responsibility are the key concerns in management, development and technology choices in organic agriculture. Science is necessary to ensure that organic agriculture is healthy, safe and ecologically sound. However, scientific knowledge alone is not sufficient. Practical experience, accumulated wisdom and traditional and indigenous knowledge offer valid solutions, tested by time. Organic agriculture should prevent significant risks by adopting appropriate technologies and rejecting unpredictable ones, such as genetic engineering. Decisions should reflect the values and needs of all who might be affected, through transparent and participatory processes. How can we be sure that our Food is Organic? The early followers of organics were often dismissed as anti-scientific cranks. Nowadays, organic production is one of the fastest growing sectors of agriculture, and there are millions of dollars being spent to research more sustainable farming methods. But, unfortunately, organics still account for a minority of the foods grown. Most nations have a government regulated system that certifies that those people who claim to be selling organic produce are actually doing so. It will vary from country to country, but most systems will be affiliated with the international umbrella organization IFOAM. We can check with IFOAM to make sure that the organic accreditation is actually recognized. Types of Organic Food: Organic products grown in healthier soil contain higher amounts of nutrients, and many taste better than their conventional counterparts. Hence, the popularity of such produce is picking up volumes in recent years. There is no better choice for one’s consumption than organic produce. The major types of organic foods are: Organic Vegetables and Fruits Organic vegetables and fruits are the most common type of organic food that is available in the market. They come in a wide variety and they are usually in good quality. Any certified organic plant product must come from fields that have remained free of chemical application of fertilizers and pesticides for at least three years, and must follow regulations set by Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore. Organic Meat Organic meat is perfect for meat lovers as in is healthy and not contain any chemicals in the meat as the animals are fed with natural food that does not contain chemicals. Organic provisions require animals to be raised without receiving antibiotics, hormones, or growth stimulants. Humane treatment and access to the out-of-doors are stipulated, and the animals must be fed 100% certified organic feed and must graze in certified organic pastures. Organic Dairy Products Organic dairy products are extremely popular in recent years as they are safe and healthy to consume. Milk from all dairy animals, including cows, goats, and sheep, may be certified organic. Certified organic products cover nearly the full dairy spectrum, including milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream, and more. Organic Fish Organic fish are fishes that are rare in fish farms such as salmon, trout, cod, halibut and sea bass. Fishes that are caught in the open see cannot be labeled as organic due to the fact that it is uncertain of what the fishes eat. Advantages of Organic Foods: The debate about the advantages of organic foods is over. According to a new $25-million study into organic food – the largest of its kind to date – organic food is more nutritious than ordinary produce and it may help to lengthen peoples lives and prevent disease. More Nutrients The European Union funded study found that organic fruit and vegetables have up to 50% more antioxidants, which scientists believe can cut the risk of cancer and heart disease. They have also more vitamins and minerals such as iron and zinc. According to other recent studies, organic foods are better for fighting cancer. And people eating organic food have improved immune system, better sleeping habits and are less likely to be overweight than when eating â€Å"conventional† foods. (Can you imagine the benefits of eating both raw and organic food? ) Better Taste The taste of organic fruits and vegetables is often superior to any conventional produce. That’s why many top restaurants use organic produce in their menu. Today, most fruits and veggies are manipulated to look and stay good. The strawberries from your ordinary supermarket may look great on your cake but they have virtually no taste. However, the taste of fresh organic fruits is irresistible! Safer for Babies and Children The advantages of organic foods might be highest for babies. The average baby is born with 200 toxins and carcinogens in its body. By the time kids reach their 2nd year, most have pasted the lethal limit for the toxins. By feeding your child organic food, it will have about 1/6th the amount of carcinogens in its blood. Thus you will decrease the chances of illnesses significantly. Therefore, especially for infants and children a raw organic food diet is incredibly important. Irradiation? Do we ever wonder why organic vegetables and fruits seem to spoil so much faster than produce from normal supermarkets? The reason is that many foods are irradiated. Irradiation kills bacteria and extends food life. But, it also alters the molecular structure and life force of the food. Some irradiation methods use radioactive substances, others high energy electrons or X-rays. I don’t know about you, but I prefer my food pure and not irradiated. So one of the advantages of raw organic foods is that it still has life force. Raw organic seeds grow – cooked and irradiated seeds don’t GMO Secrets Organic food stores don’t sell genetically modified (GM) food. It’s suspected that GM food causes allergies and decreases your immune system. Government is being secret – at least vague – about the health consequences of GMO food. I’ve read enough to not want to take a chance. Do you? Shocking Animals Organic meat, fish and poultry is healthier for you. Organic farmed animals are raised without dangerous chemicals, growth hormones or antibiotics. Pesticides used in ordinary farming don’t just affect the animal who eats it first. They accumulate in their tissues (mostly fat). Animals on top of the food chain get the highest concentration of these chemicals. Conventional animals full of toxins and dirt. A cow, chicken or pig will retain most of the pesticides it has ever eaten (directly or indirectly through other animals). Factory farm animals are fed great quantities of (polluted) fish, food doused in pesticides and fed many unnatural compounds never eaten by wild animals. Inorganic animal food (meat, fish, dairy and eggs) is a main source of pollution to the environment. According to research animal food contribute to as much as 95% of the toxic chemical residues in the American diet. Meat, fish and poultry have 10 times the amount of the dangerous chemicals DDT, DDE and TDE as conventional produce. In addition intensive farming is incredibly cruel to farm animals. One of the most outrageous advantages of organic foods is that organic farms treat their animals much more humane. They place a great emphasis on animal welfare. Just for this reasons, switching to an organic living makes sense. And even consider becoming vegan. Save the Environment Organic food facts are especially striking if you consider the environment. Conventional farming methods erode soil and use dangerous pesticides that may take centuries before they’re gone. Think of the DDT, thought to be harmless but appeared to be extremely bad for your health. Even though this pesticide has been forbidden for many years now, it’s still found in virtually all waters, human beings and animals in the world†¦ In addition, over time, artificial pest controls become less and less effective, so that even more chemicals must be used or other methods found. One of the huge advantages of organic food is that buying it has a huge positive impact on the environment, the animals and people who live on it. Organic vs. Non-organic: A new study looking at the potential health benefits of organic versus non-organic food found that fruit flies fed an organic diet recorded better health outcomes than flies fed a nonorganic diet. The study from the lab of Southern Methodist University biologist Johannes H. Bauer, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, found that fruit flies raised on diets of organic foods performed better on several tests for general health. Flies on organic food performed better on some health tests â€Å"The data demonstrated that flies raised on organic food extracts by-and-large performed better on the majority of health tests,† reported the researchers. It remains unclear why organic diets delivered better health, the researchers said. The Bauer lab results come at a time when the health effects of organic food are widely debated. Prior studies by other researchers have found conflicting results when reviewing the scientific literature for data. While several studies have shown elevated nutrient content and lower pesticide contamination levels in organic food, a recent publication reporting a large-scale analysis of all available studies concluded no clear trend was apparent. Organic farming only uses naturally occurring chemicals or traditional remedies to control pests and diseases. According to public perception, organic food is the healthy option. Sales of organic produce have rocketed over the past few years with the organics industry sending out messages of safer, healthier food created by farming practices which are better for the environment. But is it really as good as we think? Critics argue that organic farming leads to the risk of contamination with potentially dangerous bacteria and mould toxins, and increased levels of ‘natural pesticide’ found in organic produce could even be as dangerous as synthetic chemicals. So who do we believe? Are organic fruit and vegetables as harmless as they appear? And why do they cost so much? In this piece, common views about this subject are discussed. Is organic food the healthier option? Is it as safe as the public think? Many in the public perceive organic food as the healthy option. However, organo-sceptics argue that organic food may not be as safe as we think. †¢The public’s viewpoint is based on the fact that no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers are used in organic agriculture leading to the assumption that no pesticide residues are present on the products. Without the use of pesticides, organic crops develop a natural defense mechanism in the form of chemicals all called phenols. The organic supporters claim that these chemicals are antioxidants and that organic fruit and vegetables are better at protecting the body from cancers and heart disease. Organic-sceptics argue that these natural pesticides may be a potential health risk and insist that there is no evidence to show health gains from organic food. The lack of evidence, however, may be due to the difficulty in conducting such a study. †¢The use of manure as a fertilizer in organic farming leads to fears of contamination of produce with bacteria such as E.coli which could lead to food poisoning. However, it has been shown that by composting the manure for a precise time at an exact temperature, the amount of bacteria present is greatly reduced. As long as these conditions are adhered to, the risk of food poisoning is kept to a minimum. †¢Another significant concern regarding organic farming is the contamination of produce with toxic substances produced by moulds called mycotoxins. There is a greater chance of crops being vulnerable to moulds if they are damaged by insects or weather. The organic lobby argues that although less effective fungicides are used in their farming methods, organic produce is less prone to fungal attack as crops are not fed with chemicals known as nitrates which may make plant cells in conventional crops more vulnerable to fungal growth. Are the levels of pesticides used in conventional farming enough to damage health? The quantities of pesticides used in agriculture are declining as the industry is developing more efficient methods of delivery and pesticides which have the ability to target specific pests more accurately. Pesticides have played an important role in improving crop yields but are often hazardous materials. Care must be taken when using such materials to ensure that they are applied as advised to minimize risks associated with misuse. Before a pesticide can be used commercially its safety must first be proved. The law requires that only pesticides approved by Government regulators shall be sold, supplied, used, stored or advertised. This ensures that the levels and toxicity of all pesticides used in agriculture are at a safe level. Is organic farming a viable option in the developing world? It is argued that without pesticides and genetically modified crops, farming is not economically viable in the developing world. Non-organic farming allows you to farm land that would otherwise not be farmable. Yields are high and costs are low. However, there is a worry that intensive farming in these countries will destroy the fertility of the land and in the long run organic farming will secure the future for sustainable farming. Why is the price of organic produce so high? Crop rotations, higher animal welfare standards and restricted use of chemicals, leading to lower yields, all mean that organic food costs more to produce. Subsidies from the government are paid mainly to farmers with non-organic farms allowing them to keep their prices low. The pro-organic lobby argues that when buying non-organic food you are in fact paying threefold; once at the counter, second via taxation and third to remedy the environmental pollution. As the sector develops and technologies are improved, the cost of organic food should decrease as yields increase and production costs decrease. Organic Food market: From economic point of view, organic market is growing very fast worldwide. A simple statistics can tell a lot. According to Data monitor’s â€Å"Organic Food: Global Industry Guide†, the global organic food market grew nearly 10% in 2009 to reach a value of $60 billion and market is forecasted to have a value of $96. 5 billion in 2014. Organic agriculture offers enormous trade opportunities for farmers in the developing and least developed countries. This organic market expansion makes it possible for farmers to reap the benefits of a trade with relatively high price premiums. Food producer have also found fast growing markets for natural and organic products. One example is Earthbound Farm, a company that grows and sells organic product. It started in 1984 as a 2. 5-acre raspberry farm in California’s Carmel Valley. Founders Drew and Mera Goodman wanted to do the right thing by farming the land organically and producing food they’d feel good about serving to their family, friends, and neighbors. Today Earthbound Farm has become the world largest producer of organic vegetables, with 40000 acres under plug, annual sells of $480 million, and products available in 75% of America supermarkets. Organic farming, on the other hand, promotes the health of both consumers and the environment contrast to modern farming. The main problem with modern agriculture, however, is that the synthetic chemicals never disappear. When we eat a mango grown using synthetic pesticides, traces of the pesticides remain in the mango, and the chemicals end up in our fat cells. Similarly, cotton grown using synthetic chemicals retains traces of the chemicals after it is woven into a fabric. Chemicals, used for cultivation are then absorbed into the plant, air, soil, water, and eventually, our bodies. Started after mid 1950’s reaction against modern toxic farming methods, organic farming excludes the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and genetic engineering. Organic farmers respect their land: they feed and build the soil with natural fertilizers; they protect crops against insects using natural insect predators, barriers, or traps; and they control weed growth with crop rotation, hand weeding, cover crops, and mulches. In the past decade, the organic agriculture market has grown exponentially because more consumers are learning that organic farming is better for them and their environment. How can we market Organic Products? The marketing model used in conventional agriculture is not easily applied to organic systems. Currently, local elevators that accept organic grains are not common, though they do exist in some areas. Farmers that transition to organic production must also transition their marketing strategies. Whether growing organic grains, herbs, fruits and vegetables, or raising organically certified livestock, marketing becomes an additional consideration. Producers who have always sold to local elevators will find that quality time will be needed to do a good job with marketing organic products. Organic Foods Strategic Marketing and Communications The â€Å"Go Green† trend is quickly gaining momentum. Law makers are actively working to pass legislation that promotes the development of green energy sources, manufacturers are researching technologies that can be used to produce new biodegradable products, and USDA certified organic foods are increasingly finding their way into every home. More than other green initiatives, the demand for organic foods has soared in recent years. With the implementation of new federal requirements for labeling of natural and organic foods, and the growing research that suggests links between foods produced using antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, irradiation or bioengineering and illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, consumers are gaining confidence in the quality and benefits of organic foods and increasingly rejecting their conventionally produced counterparts. As young people grow up consuming organic foods and learn to accept them as healthier and more eco-friendly, the organic foods industry will continue to gain market share. Many organic farmers link in to existing networks of organic wholesalers, exporters and processors. Others use the opportunity provided by their change to organic, to take on a completely different approach such as direct marketing to consumers. This fact sheet discusses some of the options for marketing of organic produce and poses some questions to be considered as we develop our marketing strategy. A small but rapidly growing market The market for organic food and fiber has been growing around the world for some years now. It is however still very small, making up only about one per cent of the world total market value. One of the risks associated with supplying product into a small market, is that of oversupply of certain products, leading to depressed prices. To help avoid this situation, some market research is vital early in the process of considering organic conversion and certification, as highlighted below. Some organic farmers manage the risk of oversupply in organic markets by selling into conventional markets when necessary. This means sacrificing any organic price premium, but can help to stabilize prices in the organic market – a benefit in the longer term. Organic price premiums. Many organic products receive a price premium, justified by higher costs of production under organic management. Such premiums are not guaranteed and can be influenced by the supply and demand situation and product quality. Whether or not your produce is likely to attract a premium price, and whether or not a premium is necessary for economic viability, should be considered during your market research and development of a marketing strategy. Consider marketing options early One of the first steps in the process towards organic certification is to identify marketing options. We should ideally have our markets organized before you begin certification, especially if you think you will need to receive a price premium to cover extra costs arising from organic management. The change to organic marketing may be easy if you already sell direct to end-consumers or retailers who might welcome the access to organic produce, or to wholesalers and exporters who have links to organic markets. If your wholesalers/exporters currently have no links with the organic industry, are they interested in pursuing organic certification to diversify their business? If not, some research may be required to identify suitable alternative marketing options. Develop a marketing strategy When you are planning your change to organic farming and are looking at marketing options, take the time to consider what your marketing objectives are and how you might achieve them. Pulling this and other relevant information together into a marketing strategy will help us to focus your efforts in the most productive areas. Some key points to consider are: †¢Be closely involved in selling your produce or leave it to a ‘professional’ marketer? †¢Maintain a diversity of markets to spread the risk in case the usual supply chain fails for you? †¢Have direct contact with end consumers? †¢Use customer feedback to guide farm production (e. g. crop varieties and seasonal availability)? †¢Increase financial security by improving returns? †¢ Consider different marketing options Following are options that organic farmers commonly use to market their produce, along with some of their pros and cons from a farmer’s perspective. Often a range of different options will be used to balance the risk, the workload and the prices obtained. 1. Direct to consumers 2. Direct to retailers 3. Direct to Wholesaler 4. Use mass media Look for opportunities to tell a story that gets media attention as this exposes potential new customers to our organic business and products. One area of opportunity is to piggy-back onto relevant local, state, national and global events. For example, contact local media with an interesting story about: †¢National Organic Week (e. g. highlight local organic production and produce availability) †¢Earth Day and World Environment Day (e. g. how organic farming reduces environmental impacts). †¢Organic Day (e. g.promote citizen buying organic produce within the country as an example) †¢National Tree Day (e. g. plant a treed spray buffer) †¢World wetlands day (e. g. how your farm protects its wetland) Organic Food in Bangladesh: Organic certification is the parallel tool needs to develop getting the market opportunity worldwide. Those who intend to label and market their foods as organic will usually seek certification – almost certainly if they grow for the export market. However, many farmers practice organic techniques without seeking or receiving the premium price given to organic food in some markets. This includes many traditional farming systems found in developing countries. Agriculture that meets organic production standards, but that is not subject to organic inspection, certification and labeling, is referred to as ‘organic by default’. While economic and institutional conditions differ, both certified organic agriculture and organic agriculture ‘by default’ rely on the same technology and principles. Although the results might be similar, organic agriculture ‘by default’ may not always represent a deliberate choice between alternative productions. Organic certification focuses on this part. We may have a huge farm producing by default organic product. Organic certification will just convert it certified and added a huge value. Organic certification scheme varies from country to country regulators. The two sources of general principles and requirements governing organic production and trade are: Firstly, the ‘Basic Principles’ of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), a private sector international body, with some 750 member organizations in over 100 countries. IFOAM defines and regularly reviews, in consultation with its members, the Basic Standards that shape the organic term. According to IFOAM basic standards ‘organic agriculture is a whole system approach based upon a set of processes resulting in a sustainable ecosystem, safe food, good nutrition, animal welfare and social justice. Organic production therefore is more than a system of production that includes or excludes certain inputs. ’ But in order to access the major organic markets in Europe and United States, one has to comply with specific regulations that are instituted in these countries. These are Regulation 834/07 in the case of Europe and the National Organic Programmed (NOP) in the case of United States. Certification Bodies operating following above stated standards, need to take accreditation from an accreditation body under ISO/IEC Guide 65 for demonstration their competence. Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB) is ready to play its role in this regards. We expect our entrepreneurs to come forward with initiative for launching organic farming and organic certification body. BAB will provide all necessary support as national Accreditation Body.

Complaint Letter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Complaint Letter - Assignment Example James Adams put me on hold for several minutes, almost 45 minutes, and then returned to say he could not help me. Needless to say, I was quite frustrated and annoyed as I have expected a much higher level of service from your company, and this experience has disappointed me. This is the second time that I have not been treated very rudely and with no assistance. I let go of the previous situation as I did not want to cause troubles for anyone and the young lady at the store seemed overly stressed and overworked. However this call has pushed me over the edge and I do not want to spend any more time on this problem, I am returning the blender to the local store immediately, and I expect a full refund. Please inform the local store [Your Local Store], that I will be back to return the blender and I do not want to be pushed around, as I do not have any more time to waste on this issue. I am including the details of my bill: This is a very saddening event as I am a regular customer at Wal Mart and I have always been treated well by all the staff at Wal Mart. However over the last two events, I have been spoken to very rudely and I do not think this is fair. I hope you do take some strict action against this and do recognise that I nothing against James Adams personally. It is the sheer lack of professionalism and courtesy that has upset me. I hope the level of professionalism and courtesy that is generally extended to all the customers is maintained and customer complaints are not overlooked. I will be informing my family and friends about this

The Legalization Of The Same-Sex Marriages Essay

The Legalization Of The Same-Sex Marriages - Essay Example The issue of same-sex marriage is a topic that will always garner controversies and it is hardly possible to establish any single perspective considering the myriad social, ethical, philosophical, religious and political aspects. According to a national study conducted by the University of Queensland, given the choice, 54 percent of same-sex partners are prepared to get married while 80 percent of Australians who are maintaining the same-sex relationship will advocate such marriages even if they do not wish to marry. There are many legal benefits for married couples and it is even more important for same-sex couples since they experience denial of legal rights because of social prejudices (12 Reasons Why Marriage Equality Matters, n.d.). There are other cultural benefits like each partner will feel more responsible towards the other. Moreover, it has been seen that if legal recognition is not given to same-sex marriages then it can have the adverse impact on the physical and mental h ealth of the partners involved. Social discrimination can lead to severe depression and lower self-esteem among these people. Such cases are more common among the young LGBTs who become prone towards running away from home, substance abuse, and suicidal tendencies (Renzetti & Edleson, 2008, p.337). If I am to consider my own opinion on this topic I will say homosexuals need not be subjected to any kind of discriminations and should be accepted with open arms within the society because being a homosexual is completely natural and harmless. There are a number of arguments against same-sex marriage. Children adopted by these couples are brought up away from one parent like lesbian couples will raise their children apart from fathers and vice versa. Thus the individual role of each parent like social security from fathers and emotional security from mothers will be absent for these children.

Negotiation plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Negotiation plan - Essay Example However, the Union still needs to agree on the matter concerning the wage increases during the existence of the agreement (Guasco, 2007). This matter is very important to the workers, as it one way or the other shall determine their productivity and effectiveness. The union requests an award for the workers that will help cover the past 3% inflation and a 2% salary increment for previous contributions towards productivity. The union requires the agreed disbursements made right after the agreement commences, and not on any conditions whatsoever (Bond, 1999). The union workers will be more than willing to look into productive bonuses in addition to this increment, as long as it agrees to measures of productivity. Where a mistake come from one individual, the rest workers should not suffer. The union demands an even distribution of bonuses to all hourly paid employees (Guasco, 2007). The workplace Arrangements It is important and right of the workers to attend premium training when they get the need to progress, and not when there is a vacancy in the company. When employees who reach a higher level that demands a higher salary cannot find a position within the company, an allowance for such training is to be awarded which, is a half the difference between the grade they trained for, and the one they are now in. The trained employees are would promoted, before advertisement is considered whenever there is a higher vacancy in the company. Hours Roster, Shifts and Overtime Implications The workers union has set forth these three working arrangement options, a shift pattern, making one work for 76 hours over two weeks. There is also a monthly arrangement cycle of 152 hours, or an annual cycle of 1976 hours. An employee should work for an average of 8 hours overtime weekly on summer and at least two in the winter. The union demands that the company rewards the overtime hours double the amount paid on normal hours and compensation arranged to the employees who in some c ases might find themselves sitting in for others, hence breaking the usual roosters routine. The Duration of the Agreement The workers union intends to make this the only negotiation they would have with the Dairy Company, where proper assessments are required to make sure that no contradicting loopholes left through successive plans such as in the case of future salary increments. This will see an improvement in the productivity of the employees via time conservation. It will also convince the employers that the hearts of the workers are at what they do, and not for destruction of the firm in any way. Workplace committee The Union will take the workplace committee as a consultative body since as said in the above point; this is a onetime negotiation only. The committee formed from the collaboration of the employers and the employees will only be set to resolve any arising issues within the company, and act as a uniting code between the workers and the company. The Union understands that other light issues also need redress, but since the agreement is a unifying dialogue leaves them open for employers suggestions. Such concerns are sick-offs and day-offs (Eden, 2010). The workers intend to build a relationship with the Dairy Company, and that is why the employers have a room to air their views on some issues. The Union, therefore, resolves on adopting the integrative

IT Consultancy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

IT Consultancy - Essay Example They have a website that has information about all these issues regarding livestock. The problem with this website is that there is no functionality apart from providing information about the various activities in the organization. Due to this, there is a need to have any small web based functionality on the website so that livestock dealers can connect with ILD and interact in a dynamic way. This, therefore, requires that the website has some dynamic aspect that will enable the two entities to communicate and interact more interactively (Grant, Hackney and Edgar 65). There is therefore a need to install e-livestock, which is a small functionality that will enable the dealers to search for livestock, send requests, get feedback and issue queries without having to write emails. This will enable sellers of livestock to send their requests to the website and get feedback. The new application will be an addition of a form to the website. This will require that the form is accessible from a web site, that is, it is web based. For a user to access the form there will be the need to have the following requirements: The above are the requirements for the use of the system. It is a small system because the website is already there. There is no development of the website from scratch. This is a small application that will be achieved using the smallest time

Should College Athletes Be Paid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Should College Athletes Be Paid - Essay Example The key question posed by many previous reformists is whether college athletes should be paid. Given the consideration of many factors such as health, behavior, multi-billion dollar industry, moral decay, physical condition, talent and popularity, it stills remains an issue at stake whether student athletes should be paid (Sack & Staurowsky 139). Various magazine articles have been presented, covering the issue which has necessitated immediate action from reformists and ranking professional in the field. The National College Athletic Association over the previous year provided that schools should award the students two thousand dollars per year as a stipend but dropped the proposal after concerns were raised on how it would be achieved by the media. Upon pressure by the highlighted events through media coverage such as Euro sports and sports columnists, prominent coaches think that this idea should be revived and have sought to have it implemented. This is based on the argument that the playoffs fetch more money that is given to the directors, coaches and NCAA and which should also be given to the students. In my opinion, the media have enhanced the speed of consideration of this issue by providing information on the step taken and direction thus far. Student athletes should be get non cash payments from their colleges while if hired by companies they should receive monetary compensation for their time and energy. In this case, payment depends on a variety of things and can be achieved in many forms. Television coverage of sports competitions among the various institutions to determine the winner generates millions of dollars as additional revenue for the participating schools in which case the thousands of college and university students should be part of the cake (Shropshire & Davis 156). Cash payments should be made when the students play for an outside team or when hired by the companies outside the scope of the school. Through the media, open discussions a nd forums have come up to discuss issues relating to payments of athletes. Some magazines provide coverage on certain players posing probable concerns on payments and television shows invite athletes on talk show trying to get their views on the matter and other issues in the federation. Colleges on the other side need to focus on the students as a motivational tool and award them benefits in kind such as insurance schemes, proper housing, full educational scholarships and other fringe benefits (Griffin 91). The coverage of significant presentations such as ESPN show that student athletes spend more time in the field practicing and in most cases utilize most of their energy to gain money for the schools which then should have a responsibility to motivate them by offering them some form of payment. It is essential to note that talented students will most likely attend colleges that offer rewards for their efforts and thus most of management will seek them immediately after high schoo ls with enticing propositions such as scholarships awards. This is not enough though, and they need to further offer cash and remuneration after the games athletes participate (Shropshire & Davis 162). Sporting events are also covered in movies which try to bring more action on what actually transpires in the field. High school

Marketing in the Media 2013 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing in the Media 2013 - Essay Example Everybody wants the best for their pet, which in most cases receive as much attention as their loved ones. In fact, to some, they are their only source of companionship. Therefore, people want the best for their best friends, and the best way of doing this is by feeding them on the best quality food available. This is the marketing strategy that Blue Buffalo had when it launched the campaign series. Uploaded videos are short, directly addressing the main aim of the advertisement, which is showing the advantages of using Blue Buffalo food over other brands. Blue buffalo advertisement is not just an ordinary advertisement; it incorporates creativity, emotional appeal, engages the customers, and assures them of quality and results. Additionally, it is daring and convincing, especially by challenging the customers to take a test of their brand quality. Relevance of the advertisement Advertising is the manner in which producers of either goods or services seek to convince the public to pu rchase their goods or services, or sell their ideas to the people in order to make a sale. Marketing on the other hand is the act of communicating the value of an idea, good or service to a particular target audience in order to make a sale. ... Among the common strategies used by organizations, include educative advertising strategy, informative advertising strategies, and aggressive advertising strategies, among others. The Blue Buffalo campaign highlights the need for an aggressive marketing strategy for the success of any brand. Most of the companies, despite having a strong brand, fail to make sales due to lack of aggressive marketing and advertising. Aggressiveness of an advertisement seeks to catch the attention of the target audience, convincing them that theirs is the best choice. Not unless a company embarks on an aggressive marketing strategy, people will never know of the existence of their brand. By aggressively advertising, Blue Buffalo aims at catching the attention of all pet owners, within and outside United States to use its brand. Persuasive advertising, according to (Armstrong, 2010) aiming at persuading people to purchase a product or service, is an example of advertising strategy that Blue Buffalo adver tisements use. Blue commercials particularly aim at persuading pet owners to use their food to feed their pets (â€Å"Blue.com.† 2013). In order to consider a pet as successful, it must have achieved its purpose of sending the required information to the audiences. In this case, the success of Blue advertisements is persuading target market to purchase Blue Buffalo pet food. While advertising, different organizations use different methods in order to win target customers. Creativity is very significant in an advertisement, and every advertisement seeks to incorporate different styles in order to make the advert rather appealing and captivating. Not only does it capture the attention of the people, it also shows the uniqueness of the

IKEA's Global Strategy - Furnishing the World Essay

IKEA's Global Strategy - Furnishing the World - Essay Example The entrance of IKEA into Germany has been unbeaten because of low prices of IKEA’s products. Although Germany was a mature market and various established retailers were attracting the major consumer segments, still IKEA enlarged the market and changed the competitive position because even the established retailers adopted the formula of IKEA in their own operations. In Germany, unlike traditional retail stores, IKEA introduced lean organizational strategies through which it enhanced responsibilities and freedom of employees. These strategies energized employees by increasing their motivation level. Canadian market was also a mature market, however, IKEA through its full advertising campaign, positive word-of-mouth and newly recruited local suppliers, energized Canadian market and successfully established its position. Moreover, in Canada, lean organizational practices were welcomed. In the huge and mature market of U.S. IKEA established it position by catering to the local ta ste and tapping into local expertise through franchising, acquisitions and joint venture. Therefore, IKEA’s practices insisted the competitors to reconsider their pricing strategies, advertising strategies, product features and management styles. It has analyzed from case study, that most of the markets which IKEA has targeted, word-of-mouth remained the best effective advertising strategy of the company however, in the U.S. market more focused media-advertising was required. IKEA through its TV advertising campaign touched the personality, life style and emotions of people and encouraged the sales of company. Through this campaign IKEA actually changed the furniture buying behavior of the consumers in the United States. The series of eight TV advertising spots was featured in such a way that every consumer in the U.S. could associate himself/herself with one of the series. Therefore, after this campaign, consumers started buying furniture not only to furnish their living space but as a matter of their lifestyle, personality and emotions. The campaign benefited IKEA because other companies in the U.S. were spending huge in advertising to stay in the business, whereas, by changing the behavior of consumers towards furniture, IKEA grew its customer base.     

Human Rights Essay Example for Free

Human Rights Essay The Internet appears to be the ideal technology for democracy. When the Internet began, people thought they could communicate and even engage in commerce without the need for a big police force. As people from different cultures begin connecting to the Internet, it appears that the Internet is only as democratic as people make it. Government’s next move online has been significantly less comfortable. China has recently forced Google to rewrite their search software so that it supports the values of state security over individual freedom by blocking certain sites. In order to continue doing business in China, the Chinese government forced Google to disable certain functionalities of their products so that Chinese citizens cannot connect to Web pages on topics such as human rights and democracy. The Chinese government and Google derived the so-called Great Firewall of China in order to conceal from the public the potential contents that may pose threat to Chinese ideologies and politics. References Baase, S. (2007).Gift of Fire: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computing and the Internet. Pearson Prentice Hall. Garland, E. (2007). Future, Inc. : How Businesses Can Anticipate and Profit from Whats Next. AMACOM Div American Management. Giddens, A. (2006). Sociology. Polity. Hassan, R. (2004). Media, Politics and the Network Society. McGraw-Hill International. Human Rights Watch, . (2007). Human Rights Watch World Report 2007. Seven Stories Press. Landow, G. P. (2006). Hypertext 3. 0: Critical Theory and New Media in an Era of Globalization. JHU Press. Marling, W. H. (2006). How American Is Globalization?. JHU Press. Meza, E. P. (2007). Coming Attractions? : Hollywood, High Tech, and the Future of Entertainment. Stanford University Press. Reuvid, J. , Li, Y. (2005). Doing Business With China. GMB Publishing Ltd. Wood, A. F. , Smith, M. J. (2005). Online Communication: Linking Technology, Identity, and Culture. Routledge.

The ethical principles and teaching of one religion Essay Example for Free

The ethical principles and teaching of one religion Essay Examine the ethical principles and teaching of one religion, focussing particularly on what is believed about the nature and value of human life, and the relationship between humans and the environment. Most religions have similar ethical principles and beliefs on the value and nature of human life; however this essay will be focusing on one religion in particular, Islam. Islams main principles about the human life are quite similar to the other religions, and the fact that life is sacred. This underpins all issues dealing with medical ethics such as Abortion and Euthanasia. Muslims believe that all human life is sacred because it is given by Allah, and that Allah chooses how long each person will live. Human beings should not interfere in this, which is why Islam would most definitely favour sanctity of life over quality of life, as the Islamic view is based on the very high priority the faith gives to the sanctity of life. The Quran states: Whosoever has spared the life of a soul, it is as though he has spared the life of all people. Whosoever has killed a soul, it is as though he has murdered all of mankind. (Quran 5:32) It is a manifestation of the dignity of man that Islam has placed an infinite value on human life. This is expressed in the Quran in the following terms: We ordained for the children of Israel that if anyone slew a person, unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land, it would be as if he slew the whole of mankind. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of a whole people. (Al-Maida, 5:32) If Euthanasia is taken as an example, Islam believes human life is a value to be respected unconditionally, irrespective of other circumstances. The concept of a life not worthy of living does not exist in Islam. Justification of taking life to escape suffering is not acceptable in Islam. Prophet Mohammad taught: There was a man in older times that had an infliction that taxed his patience, so he took a knife, cut his wrist and bled to death. Upon this God said:My subject hastened his end, I deny him paradise. All these teachings are derived from the Holy Book of Islam, The Quran, which is said to be the word of Allah. There are many other quotes from the Quran which support the argument of the sacredness of life. If anyone kills a person unless it be for murder or spreading mischief in the land- it would be as if he killed the whole people. (Quran 5.32) When their time comes they cannot delay it for a single hour nor can they bring it forward by a single hour. (Quran 16.61) And no person can ever die except by Allahs leave and at an appointed term. (Quran 3.145) Destroy not yourselves. Surely Allah is ever merciful to you. (Quran 4.29) There is a vast amount of emphasis put on the sacredness of human life, and how it should be protected at all times, however Islam permits killing, under very strict circumstances, in a war called Jihad, and is often mistranslated to mean holy war, however its true meaning can be anything from an inward spiritual struggle to attain perfect faith to a political or military struggle to further the Islamic cause. The Prophet Muhammad has given clear instructions about the behaviour of the Muslim army. He observed: Set out for Jihad in the name of Allah and for the sake of Allah. Do not lay hands on the old verging on death, on women, children and babes. Do not steal anything from the booty and collect together all that falls to your lot in the battlefield and do good, for Allah loves the virtuous and the pious. So great is the respect for humanly feelings in Islam that even the wanton destruction of enemys crops or property is strictly forbidden. When thinking of the nature of life, it is natural to ponder upon creation. For example how would Islam manage to answer lifes unanswered questions such as, When does life begin?, Where does life come from?, and What happens at death?. As with all religions Islam tried to answer them, with help from the Holy Scriptures, such as the Quran and Hadith. The question of when a human life begins is a profoundly intricate one, with widespread implications, ranging from abortion rights to stem cell research and beyond. A key point in the debate rests on the way in which we choose to define the concepts of humanity, life and human life. Islam states that human life begins at the moment when a male sperm penetrates a female ovum and becomes united with it. The impregnated ovum constitutes the first cell that contains a full genetic record of the human kind in general and of the individual foetus itself that will distinguish it from any other being at any point of time. This first cell will then start reproducing itself throughout the various developing stages of the conception period until the moment of birth. The moment a woman conceives and the conceptions said to be stable in the uterus, the life shining in this uterus has full respect and is protected by established Islamic law provisions. If the foetus reaches the stage when a soul is breathed into it (some say after 120 days, others after 40 days), its sanctity becomes greater as agreed upon, and this results into certain provisions of the Islamic law. Islam also believes that all types of life were created by Allah, from water. Let us look at what Allah has said in the Quran about our creation to back up this theory: Now let man but think from what he is created! He is created from A drop emitted Proceedings from between the backbone and the ribs: Surely (Allah) is able to bring him back (To life)! The Day that (All) things secret Will be tested, (Man) will have No power, and no helper. (Quran 86:5-10) As Allah has given life, he can also take it away, and has a plan for us all. Muslims believe that the present life is a trial in preparation for the next realm of existence. All the Prophets of God called their people to worship God and to believe in life after death. They laid so much emphasis on the belief in life after death that even a slight doubt in it meant denying God and made all other beliefs meaningless. Islam teaches that after death there will be a Day of Judgement. When people die they remain in the grave until the Day of Judgement. When the Day of Judgement comes, Allah will decide what happens to people and his decision is final: To Allah belongs the knowledge of the unseen of the heavens and the earth; and the coming of the Hour of Judgement is like the twinkling of an eye, or even quicker. Surely, Allah has full power over everything. (Quran 16:77) Allah will also judge all believers, not just Muslims: Those who believe in the Quran, and the Jews and the Sabians and the Christians, any who truly believe in Allah and the Last Day and act righteously, shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. (Quran 5:69) People who have followed the teachings of Allah will go to Paradise, which will be a perfect world of rest and pleasure. Here they stay forever. This is called akhirah or in other words life after death. People who have ignored Allahs teachings will go to hell where they will be punished. Those who have believed and acted righteously will be made happy in a splendid Garden. Those who disbelieved and rejected Our Signs and the meeting of the Hereafter will be brought face to face with punishment. (Quran 30:15-16) Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam has no teaching about reincarnation. Muslims have only one chance to live their lives and they are judged on how they do this. When researching the value of human life there are many reasons not to destroy life in Islam however Islam does not always see destroying life as wrong. For example there are many quotes in the Quran, as mentioned beforehand, as to why life is so sacred, and only Allah has the right to take it away. If we look at the issue of abortion, Muslims regard abortion as wrong and haram (forbidden), but many accept that it may be permitted in certain cases. All schools of Muslim law accept that abortion is permitted if continuing the pregnancy would put the mothers life in real danger. This is the only reason accepted for abortion after 120 days of the pregnancy. The Islamic view is based on the very high priority the faith gives to the sanctity of life. This passage has been stressed many times by myself, for it is the main valid point for backing up the sanctity of life and in the Quran it states: Whosoever has spared the life of a soul, it is as though he has spared the life of all people. Whosoever has killed a soul, it is as though he has murdered all of mankind. (5: 32) Most Muslim scholars would say that a foetus in the womb is recognised and protected by Islam as a human life although. Islam allows abortion to save the life of the mother because it sees this as the lesser of two evils and this is a general principle in Sharia (Muslim law). Abortion is regarded as a lesser evil in this case because, The mother is the originator of the foetus, the mothers life is well-established, the mother has with duties and responsibilities, the mother is part of a family, and allowing the mother to die would also kill the foetus in most cases. Islam also regards the relationships between humans and the environment very highly. The world Earth appears no less than 485 times in the holy book of the Quran. Sharia, the word for Islamic Law, literally means source of water. In the words of Allah, There is not an animal in the earth, nor a creature flying on two wings, but they are nations like you. (6:38) The question of the creation of human beings is relevant; to understand the role of religion in the environment the Holy Quran states Blessed be He, in whose hands are all sovereignty. He has power over all things. He created death and life that He might put to test and find out, which of you acquitted himself best. He is Mighty, Forgiving One. (67:1-2) Life is thus, a brilliant demonstration of Gods wisdom and knowledge. He has shown the humans a right path of life. Theres complete stability and unity in the laws of the universe. Man being a part of the whole system must also operate justly in the sphere over which he is given control and power; otherwise, he is working against the natural laws of the Universe, as well as his own nature. The result of which can be destruction in the environment. In conclusion, as with many other religions, Islam has similar concepts and principals about human life and the environment which are clearly outlined in Holy Scriptures such as The Quran and may influence our personal morals and views on ethical issues. BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1) http://www.islamweb.net 2) http://www.bbc.co.uk 3) http://www.earthisland.org 4) http://www.muhajabah.com 5) The Puzzle of Ethics Peter Vardy Paul Grosch 6) Understanding Islam Duncan Baird Publishers

Genetically Modified (GM): Pros and Cons

Genetically Modified (GM): Pros and Cons Food is a vital source for the survival of mankind. The current global food crisis has become too significant a problem that we cannot avoid this issue any further. Several solutions are made to salvage the situation like educating the nations on eating habits, population control and providing food and financial aid to poor countries that face hunger and famine. However, enforcing birth control and changing eating habits is possible but difficult to change the mindset of billions of people within the near future, what we need is an immediate response to tackle this exponentially increasing problem. The most efficient solution to solve the global food shortage issue might be the reliance on science and technology, the growth and consumption of genetically-modified (GM) food. Despite many controversies regarding the use of GM food, it could be the best answer to handle this global food shortage. In this is article, the pros and cons of GM food will be evaluated along with reference fro m two developing countries China and Philippines which will describe their use and attitude to GM foods. The creation of GM food can play a rather significant role in solving the problem of food shortage worldwide. GM food are produced quicker and an additional advantage of GM food to food that are grown naturally is with the help of genitical enhancement, certain food are manufactured to grow more nutritiously than when produced naturally, for example, golden rice genetically developed to provide Vitamin A will help reduce Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) commonly contracted in developing countries as a result of malnutrition (Curtis; McCluskey; Wahl, 2004). Another example that shows a plus point to the suppor of GM food is drought-resistant crops. They are created to allow crop yield without being too sensitively affected by erratic climate changes. This means that crops can still be grown and harvested to feed people even when rain doesnt come. Kenya, for example, has been experiencing drought for the fourth consecutive year. In addition to the lack of rain, the unpredictability as to when rain will come causes confusing and inefficient planting and hence, poor harvesting. With the use of genetically enhanced drought-resistant crops, they will not face problems like poor harvest. (Integrated Regional Information Networks, 2009). Furthermore, since GM crops are produced more quickly than naturally grown crops, crop yield will increase significantly which benefits farmers and most importantly, reduce the problem of food shortage. However, there is an argument that contradicts the point in GM crops helping the increase of crop yield. It is asserted by Mexican Research Scientist, Dr. Antonio Serratos (2008) that production of GM food is unpredictable resulting in the evolution of a mutated version of the actual species. The unpredictability also questions the production of GM crops being more efficient than traditonal methods. As refered from the example before regarding the creation of drought-resistant crops, the essence of drought-resistant can also be transfered to weeds. Hence, evolving weeds into drought resistant weeds. This will then result in an increased use of fertilisers or even fertilisers of higher potencies to get rid of the GM weeds which instead do more harm to the ecosystem than by traditional breeding. Therefore, an increased in enhanced weed could also lead to a reduction in crop yield. On the other hand, the following argument faults the unpredictability of genitically enhanced crops. Plant Scientist from the John Innes Centre, Dr. Giles Oldroyd (2008) argue that science, by definition is predictable. When one gene of an organism is transfered into another organism it is done thoroughly and sensitively to ensure accuracy. Furthermore, a case study of conventional growing of crops requiring nitrogen fertilisers. The use of nitrogen fertilisers have many adversed effects such as deaths in Mexico and depleting natural resources (fossil fuels). This natural method of crop growing is doing harm to the environment and debates that the perceived unpredictability of genetically enhanced crops are harmful. Dr. Oldroyd also believes that the use of biotechnology is necessary to prevent issues from food shortage due to the expansion in world population and climate change. My first example of a developing country is the Philippines. It is one of the pioneers in Asia to use GM crops where mainly corn was substituted with GM Insect-protected (Bt) corn which has assisted farmers in controlling invasion of insects on the corn without the use of agricultural pesticides. The following example will explain how the use of GM crops is more convenient and profitable than conventional cropping. Jerry Due is one of more than 50, 000 Filipino farmers in the Philippines that embrace the use of GM corn. Due had less problems dealing with corn borers. Furthermore, he has had an increase of an estimated 20 to 30 percent increase in yield since he started using GM grains two years ago. This also reflected positively on his income, he is now confident in being able to save sufficient money to send his son to school and support his throughout his studies. In addition, Due stated that another advantage to the use of the Insect-protected corn is that they need not burn the residue in their harvest where it is necessary for naturally bred corn, instead they simply leave the residue in the field where it will naturally deompose and become fertilisers. Hence having more time to spend on his family and also reduce negative impacts to the environment. (Monsanto, 2005) However, there were much domestic debate for Philippines to allow GM crops to be grown in the country due to mainly religious reasons. Philippines is mainly a Roman Catholic country, it has encountered fierce disapproval from environmental groups as well as many Catholic bishops when the Philippine government approved growth of GM crops in the country. Mr. Gloria Arroyo, Filipino President state that the Vaticans approach to GM crops is postive and has allowed the country to cultivate them however, the Vatican states otherwise. The Vatican were still in the midst of discussion, studying the implications and ethics of using GM crops (Mantell, 2003). Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales Archbishop of Manila informed President Arroyo to eliminate sale of GM rice products that were imported from the United States as they pose dangers to the peoples health as well as the environment. He stated that â€Å"As a church institution, we have moral obligation to protect the interest of Gods people and their inherent right to safe food and healthy environment† (Rosales cited by Digal, 2007) The government sees the necessity of GM crop being grown in the country which will help its people economically as described that it had to weigh the consequences between the idealogy of faith and desperation over food deficit. My second example of a developing country and its use of GM food isChina, the country with the largest population in the world.With over 1.3 billion people and an expected population of 1.4 billion by late 2010s, this is a massive nation requires an incredibly large supply of food to feed its people (Rosenberg, 2008). The China government is very supportive of food biotechonology because they understand the urgency of the immediate availibility of food and the additional nutrional content that GM food can provide. It has policies of self-sufficiency which resulted in China being the fourth largest producer of GM crops globally. The government also believes that more efficient agricultural production techniques need to be practised and GM crops have proven to show superiority over conventional crops with higher yield, pest resistance and longer shelf life. The people in China has a relatively positive attitude towards the use of biotechnology on food where only 9.3% of respondents in a survey display negative opinions towards the use of biotechnology on food. This could be partly due to positive influences from the countrys government regulation and media coverage . Moreover, the benefits of GM food are considered outweighed to its so-called healths risks and implications. The general benefits which are key factors to developing countries like China are the availibility of food, the nutritional enhancement and last but not least, the economic advantage to the use of food biotechnology. A consumer-attitude analysis was done in China and results show that Chinese consumers are willing to pay an average of 16% appreciation for GM soybean oil and 38% appreciation for GM rice over natural alternatives (Curtis; McCluskey; Wahl, 2004). Another survey was done to show that at least half of the survey respondents have heard of GM food and about half urveyed that were adequately informed about GM food define GM food as safe for consumption. Only about 20% of overall surveyed feel that GM food is considered unsafe (Zhong; Marchant; Ding; Lu, 2002). This shows that the chinese consumers are not ignorant as to what GM food is all about. The reason as to why chinese consumers are willing to pay premium for GM food is that they are willing to experiment new products. They have great trust in the governments judgement on food safety and the price change between GM and conventionally grown food is not a factor big enough to prevent them from buying (Curtis; McCluskey; Wahl, 2004). In conclusion, this article has shown perspectives from two developing countries and their postive attitude towards the use of GM food apart from religious reasons. Most importantly, this essay has evaluated and shown that the use of biotechonology on food as a response to tackle the food crisis faced worldwide has been relatively successful with reference from the two developing countries discussed. Genetically modified crops play a very important role in increasing efficiency in production of food for the world, perceived health risks dangers, for example, mice that were fed with food that underwent biotechnology had severe health damages (Zhong, Marchant, Ding, Lu 2002) need to be cushioned and the embracement of enhanced crops ought to be look upon by the entire world. Bibliography: Curtis K; McCluskey J; Wahl T. 2004, AgBioForun â€Å"Consumer Acceptance of Genetically Modified Food Products in the Developing World† Digal S. 2007, AsiaNews â€Å"Stop US GM Food, says Cardinal Rosales† [Accessed on 27/11/09] from http://www.asianews.it/view4print.php?1=enart=8509 Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) 2009, Prevention Web â€Å"Kenya: Drought-resistant crops encouraged† [Accessed on 28/11/09] from http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/news/v.php?id=10731 Mantell K. 2003, Science and Development Network â€Å"Philippines announces Vaticans approval of GM food† [Accessed on 27/11/09] from http://www.scidev.net/en/news/philippines-announces-vaticans-approval-of-gm-foo.html Monsanto Company, 2005, â€Å"Filipino Farmers Reap Advantages of Genetically Modified Organisms† [Accessed on 27/11/09] from http://www.monsanto.com/biotech-gmo/asp/farmers.asp?cname=philippinesid=jerrydue Rosenberg M. 2008, About â€Å"China Population† [Accessed on 28/11/09] from http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/chinapopulation.htm Zhong F; Marchant M; Ding Y; Lu K. 2002, AgBioForum â€Å"GM Foods: A Nanjing Case Study of Chinese Consumers Awareness and Potential Attitudes†

Life :: essays research papers

1. Evolutionary Psychology assumes that human behavior, just like human anatomy and physiology has been shaped by the evolutionary process. A. Can you justify that assumption? Yes, because it is saying that the mental mechanisms that underlie human behavior are held in common among people all over the world. These mental organs constrain and shape people's thoughts, perceptions and behaviors. Also, evolved mechanisms in the brain channel the evolution of human societies and human culture that make some outcomes more likely than others. B. Don't the advanced learning capacities of humans negate the relevance of an evolutionary approach to human behavior? No, because not all behavior is learned or just there from the beginning. According to human behavioral ecology, peoples' interests are defined in evolutionary terms: as wanting to maximize their fitness. 2. Evolutionary psychology assumes that the brain is composed of many domain-specific cognitive modules. A. What does the phrase â€Å"domain-specific† mean? It means that there are socialized cognitive mechanisms designed to solve problems important in the EEA. B. Why is this assumption justified theoretically? Because empirical evidence shows that animals are predisposed to learn some things and not others. C. What empirical evidence exists to suggest that it is correct? A study on rats concluded that their food aversions are based solely on the taste of foods that have made them sick, not the food's size, shape or color. However, there are certain foods that rats won't touch because their diet is strictly controlled by genes. 3. Human mating and parenting behaviors are critical to fitness and should have been responsive to selection. A.Do you expect men and women to have the same mating and parenting adaptations? Why or why not? No, because with women and men are predisposed to certain types of mating and parenting adaptations. Women tend to mate with fewer people and are more inclined to heavily partake in parenting of the offspring. Men are generally inclined to mate with whomever, whenever, and however often they can and because they aren't sure of paternity, they are less inclined to parenting the offspring.

Sound Essays -- essays research papers

Resonance and Sound†¦Physics and Music Since sound is the medium of music, most of the physics of music is the physics of sound. It's important to remember that sound waves are compression waves. You can imitate a compression wave by stretching out a slinky (you do have a slinky, don't you?) and flicking your finger against a coil at the end. Sound waves are not like the waves on the ocean or the waves you get by waving a stretched-out rope. Take a tuning fork (you do have a tuning fork, don't you?) and whack it on your knee. What do you hear? Unless you hold the tuning fork right next to your ear, you won't hear much of anything. This is because a small tuning fork can't push very much air around. Now take the same tuning fork, whack it on your knee again, and touch the non-forked end to a tabletop or other handy wooden surface. The sound should be a lot louder. This is because the vibrating tuning fork causes the tabletop to vibrate. The tabletop can push much more air around than the fork alone. If you touched the end of the tuning fork to a hollow box or, say, the body of a guitar, the sound would be even louder. This is because the vibrations get transferred to the air inside the box, which vibrates as well. If the dimensions of the inside of the box are a multiple of the wavelength of the sound, some of the sound waves will reinforce each other for even more volume. If a vibration or sound wave can excite another o bject into vibrating, the second object is sai...

suicide Essay -- essays research papers

Suicide Suicide is a significant cause of death in many western countries. Attempts at suicide, and suicidal thoughts or feelings are usually a sign indicating that a person is not coping, often as a result of some event or series of events that they personally find prostrating traumatic or distressing. Most people who attempt suicide are confused about whether or not they want to die. They usually are desperate to find a way to remove or stop emotional pain. A suicide attempt is often a cry for help that ends in a tragedy. In eight out to ten suicides the person has spoken about their intent before killing themselves. In many cases, their impact can be mitigated, or their prostrating mind will gradually decrease if the person is able to make constructive choices about dealing with the crisis when it is at its worst. In some cases exceeding deaths by motor vehicle accidents annually. Many countries spend limitless amounts of money on safer roads, but very little on suic! ide awareness and prevention, or on educating people about how to make good life choices. They need someone to take them and their emotional pain and discouragement seriously. What is usually most helpful is to encourage them to express them-selves without telling them how they should feel or think. In the vast majority of cases a suicide attemptor would choose differently if they were not in great distress and were able to evaluate their options objectively. Most suicidal people give warning signs in the hope that they will be rescued, because they are intent on stopping their emotional pain, not on dying. Suicidal people need friends who will listen patiently and show they care, and referral to a professional if possible. Since this can be extremely difficult, so we may be better able to recognize and help other people in crisis, and also to find how to seek help or make better choices ourselves. People usually attempt suicide to block unbearable emotional pain, which is caused by a wide variety of problems. A person attempting suicide is often so distressed that they are unable to see that they have other options. We can help prevent a tragedy by trying to understand how they feel and helping them to look for better choices that they could make. Suicidal people often feel terribly isolated because of their distress, they may not think of anyone they can turn to, fu... ... taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone. God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The church prays for persons who have taken their own lives. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Page 608) Suicide is an issue which should be examined at by all angles. Not just from the angle that it is â€Å"wrong". End of debate. Rather it should be looked at from the point of view that â€Å"yes" for some people, they should be allowed to die in peace. Attempted suicide is also relatively rare in children under the age of 12. After that the rates increase constantly with age especially among girls, who are far more at risk of making attempts than boys. A considerable amount is known about the characteristics of adolescent suicide attempters, especially the disturbed care and family problems and the factors that reckless their suicide attempts. Prevention of child, adolescent and adult suicidal behavior is an urgent task. Doctors, other health professionals and teachers play an important role in identifying those most at risk, but this is often difficult because their characteristics are shared by many more individuals who will not carry out suicidal arts.

Accounting Career Paper Essay

There are many jobs that require accounting. Yet, accounting has never been thought of as interesting. Accounting is instead thought of as being tedious and even boring. However, what people may not know is that FBI agents must develop a readiness for accounting to be able to fundamentally do their jobs properly. In addition to accounting, there are many requirements, tests, and processes you must go through to become an FBI agent, which makes it a difficult but worthwhile job nonetheless. FBI agents provide protection to society and also investigate into many different cases, many cases require forensic accountants to analyze and report their findings on specific things such as bank accounts and other information. In order to become an FBI agent, there are many requirements that must be fulfilled. To start, one must have a 4 year degree from a college or university â€Å"accredited by one of the regional or national institutional associations recognized by the United States Secretary of Education† (FBI) and be a United States citizen. There is also an age requirement to become an agent. One must be at least 23 years old, but younger than the age of 37. This is due to the physical strains of the profession. The strains of the tasks given to FBI agents make it harder as one continues to age to work in the field. FBI agents are typically paid around 60,000 annually. If agents are relocated to a high cost area they are given a one time extra bonus of 22,000 dollars. See more:  The Story of an Hour Literary Analysis Essay In addition to the requirements, there are many tests that you must pass in order to become an FBI agent. There are many steps that need to be fulfilled in order to apply to become an FBI agent. First you must apply online or at a designated FBI branch office. Once you are accepted, you must take a couple of tests during the application process before you can become an FBI agent. The tests are comprised of two phases. The first phase test evaluates and determines if you have the critical skills and abilities that are required to perform and handle tasks of an FBI agent. The second phase test requires you to be interviewed by a panel of three special agents to determine if you have the necessary skills in order to handle certain situations and be able to communicate as well. There are many other factors that must be looked into when special agents look at applicants, such as the  honesty and integrity of the applicant. There is also a writing portion that evaluates your writing skil ls and ability to judge and record certain situations in detail. The next test that you must take is the physical portion of the test. You must adhere to the given instructions and also complete a number of physical exercises. In addition to the tests you are required to have a extensive background check done and medical examinations. Before being accepted as an FBI agent you are to â€Å"begin your career at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia for approximately 21 weeks of intensive training at one of the world’s finest law enforcement training facilities. During their time at the FBI Academy, trainees live on-campus and participate in a broad range of training activities.† (FBI.gov) With all the tests and requirements in place, It may not seem as if FBI agents require accounting in the field. But one of the five areas you must qualify for in order to be accepted into a special agent position is accounting. A type of accounting that is most commonly used in an investigation is forensic accounting. Forensic accounting â€Å"is a branch of accounting that not only requires knowledge of accounting and auditing principles but also the ability to work on investigation and litigation teams to look into illegal financial activity and assist in litigation processes.† (Gina L.). Forensic accounting is increasing in demand currently due to the recent increase of crime. This can be seen in the job postings for forensic accounting (http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspxAPath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=JHP5SX6X761WT9HGW6N&IPat) (http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspxAPath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=JHV3FS793TPJFYHX382&IPath=JRKV0I) To become a Forensic Accountant you must have a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related subject. Most graduates who earn a graduate certificate or master’s degree in forensic accounting can drastically increase their employment and salary outcome. Forensic accountants are also usually required to have their Certified Public Accountant (CPA). They can also become Certified Fraud Examiners or Certified Forensic Accountants after two years of experience.

Nursing Information Expert Essay

Nursing is a profession within the health care sector that focuses on protecting and promoting health care. It involves prevention of illness, injury and treatment of human diseases. The nursing profession requires that information of patients should be kept and recorded in a manner that can allow for proper review of patients. Some of the tasks that a nursing information expert is charged with include communicating and coordinating care with all other clinical disciplines, coordinating discharge planning, education and teaching transitions of care. They are also tasked with managing all information related to the nursing process and patient care delivery. According to (Gassert’s, 1996), some of the roles of a nursing information expert include administration, leadership and management, analysis, consultation and research evaluation. These roles require that the nursing information expert should be very good in information keeping and analysis. Professional nurses use information and data in everyday practice not only to add value to various health organizations but also to improve them. Some of the ways in which professional nurses use information and data to improve outcome include analyzing clinical and financial data, promoting and facilitating access to resources and references, providing content to standardized languages and improving relationships between providers and recipients of health care (Clifford, 2001). Technology is the collection of tools such as machinery, modifications, arrangements and procedures used by humans to foster their daily activities in various fields. There has been a tremendous growth in technology in the healthcare sector. (Henneman, 2010) states that technology in the acute and critical care setting is typically equated with devices such as bedside monitors, computerized provider order entry (CPOE), bar-coding devices, mechanical ventilators, dialysis machines, point-of-care testing, ventricular assist devices, and computerized information systems. The type of technology therefore required for the care of each individual patient is very crucial to the recovery and the health of a patient. The analysis of information and data has been made very easy for the nurses through the technology that has impacted very positively in the health sector. It is the combination of technology and handling of information that has brought about the reduction in mortality rates in various health organizations. References Clifford, C. &. (2001). Pre- and post-test evaluation of a project to facilitate research. Journal of Advanced Nursing. Gassert’s, P. a. (1996). Information Management in Nursing and Health Care. Standards of practice and preparation for certification., 280-287. Henneman, E. A. (2010). Patient Safety and Technology. Patient Safety and Technology.

Child Beauty Pageants

A child's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. It is our misfortune that for most of us that clear-eyed vision, that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring, is dimmed and even lost before we reach adulthood. ~ Rachel Carson The year was 1920. The First World War ended and the women’s movement began to take off. 1920 also marked the first year of the American beauty pageant. This was a groundbreaking year, as women from all over the United States were given the opportunity to show their talent, outer beauty and inner intelligence. Little did our country know, that 40 years later, children as young as 10 months old would be competing in beauty pageants. 1960 marked the first child beauty pageant in America and started a major American trend. Since the tragic death of JonBenet Ramsey in 1996, child beauty pageants have been a hot topic of debate. Ramsey’s death opened a new door to the skepticism of beauty pageants by allowing the media into the world of child beauty pageants through more curious eyes. These eyes began to see beauty pageants as a threat to children and their safety; being exposed to the world at such a young age with a made-up face of inappropriate maturity (Buzzle, par. 1). Destruction of the child’s self esteem and constant attentiveness to appearance are major cons that continue to grow. Cons of unremarkable expenses, loss of educational interest and loss of innocence also remain, strengthening the fact that beauty pageants are harmful to children who compete in them. A child’s self-esteem is a fragile element. Advocates for child pageants believe beauty pageants boost children’s self-esteem by the attention they receive for being dolled up, dancing and singing and winning awards for placing higher than the other children. But as fast as self-esteem can be built up by a sentence of praise or a trophy, it can be just as easily shut down by not being good enough for someone else and losing. The amount of pressure put on children to excel in a pageant is astounding. When the child has outside pressure of excelling and winning a pageant, the effects of a loss are damaging. Children become easily frustrated at such a young age and often cannot understand why the massive amount of pressure was put upon them for no reason. The main focus of winning that the parents stress on their child is unnecessary and unhealthy to the child’s mind. A healthier alternative to building a child’s self-esteem would be to enroll he or she in a community team sport. Youth sports give children the chance to participate and earn a sense accomplishment without being let down under pressure. Although child beauty pageants contest to specific age ranges, the judging is no different than the Miss America Pageant. Child beauty pageants consist of modeling sportswear, evening attire, dance and talent. The children are judged based on individuality in looks, capability, poise, perfection and confidence. As the judges call it, â€Å"the complete package† (Minorcon, par. 3). Children are constantly exposed to the newest hair extensions, longest-lasting make-up and latest clothing lines all in effort to beat out their fellow three-year old. These pageants are preparing young children for their teen and adult years at too early of an age. Child beauty pageants play a uniquely powerful role in defining what is attractive in our society by ranking and awarding the physical attractiveness of children. This constant reminder of putting hair and make-up above all else is disturbing and forces children to be concerned with superficial issues that have no long-term value. With cosmetic innovations being created and perfected, radical pageant parents have gone to great lengths to perfect their child. â€Å"When some of the children lost baby teeth that had not been replaced by pageant time, their parents fit them with false teeth. When a girl’s hair was too short to curl like Barbie’s, fake additions were fitted† (Harvard, par. 8-9). These â€Å"fixes† cost thousands of dollars that could be put toward a more beneficial and long-term career. Not only are the cosmetic alterations breaking the banks of these parents, but the additional pageant costs are making a dent in their wallets too. â€Å"There is a minimum cost of $545 to enter the pageant, which covers basic entry fees. Another $395 is needed for the maximum options of this pageant,† (Minorcon, par. 3). These â€Å"maximum options† might include staple clothing, such as tights or tank tops. All additional clothing, including sportswear, eveningwear, talent clothing, not to mention the â€Å"must have† accessories, is up to the parents to pick from the money tree in the back yard. This money should not be spent on pre-maturely advancing a child’s appearance, but should be saved for activities such as youth sports, or better yet a college fund! Several studies have been done on child beauty pageant contestants to seek out their experiences and thoughts rather than their parents’. Researchers are curious especially concerning contestants’ thoughts on further education. The real concern should be on future education needs; all of the girls aged eight to ten interviewed by A Network were not concerned with further education† (Par. 4). Many pageant girls have false aspirations of becoming a model, and while aspirations are crucial for any child, the dreams of becoming a model are slim to none after coming out of the child pageant life. Althou gh education is not necessarily effected at that present moment, the participating children do not plan ahead based on their mind and intelligence they will gain by attending school, but rather on their appearances. Lastly, the loss of innocence from these beauty pageants is devastating. Fake plastic smiles, false eyelashes and polished appearance spoil a child’s innocence. Children grow up to think that the only way to earn money is through exploitation of their bodies, which is not true. These children are the future of our world. A child’s growing years are important as they form the foundation for the development of body and mind. Childhood is the time for them to play, not learn poise. It’s the time for them to be mischievous and not polished. It’s the time for them to do well in academics and not exhibit their bodies. Children are more beautiful covered in mud than when covered in make-up. Works Cited The Whys and Woes of Beauty Pageants. 08 June 2000. Harvard. edu. 08 February 2010. Child Beauty Pageants. 12 January 2010. Buzzle. com. 08 February 2010. Beauty Pageants do More Harm Than Good. 16 December 2007. Debate. org. 07 February 2010. Beauty Pageants: Good, Bad, or Plain Ugly. 06 March 2004. Buzzle. com. 07 February 2010. Child Beauty Pageants Beauty Pageants: From the Title of Mini Supreme to America’s Next Top Model English 106 Cassie Robinson 3 Otober 2012 Abstract Beauty pageants have changed drastically in the past fifty years. Beauty pageants used to be all adult females who dressed in their Sunday best and walked on the catwalk at the county fair. Now, little children are decked out in glitzy outfits, have wigs that make their hair twice as long, and have teeth to make it seem like their baby teeth haven’t fallen out yet.In this literature review, I reviewed different articles, some against child beauty pageants and some that showed a firsthand look into the beauty pageants. Based on the reviews, I have made a decision as to whether child beauty pageants are good for those involved or not. Hundreds wait in silence as the announcer walks to the stage. â€Å"And the first place award goes to†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The pause is added for dramatic effect, as if these parents and children need any more drama in the ir lives. Hair is pulled, tears are shed, and crowns are won.This is just another typical weekend for those in the pageant world. The views of beauty pageants have drastically changed within the past decade. Some think pageants are used to exploit little children and are a way for mothers to live vicariously through their daughters who are winning crowns and money. Others believe they are just a more drastic way for their children to play dress up and win money while doing it. The six articles chosen for this literature review will discuss one side of the argument.Something eye-catching in the article, â€Å"Toddlers in Tiaras,† written by Skip Hollandsworth in 2011 was the line, â€Å"And you know what I hate? All these years later, I’ve still got this anxiety about feeling like I have to be perfect† (Hollandsworth, 2011). This is how Brooke Breedwell feels about pageants now, after being a pageant queen from age three months to eight years old. After telling h er mother she wanted to quit pageants and emphasizing it by throwing a curling iron at her, Breedwell finally gave up the lavish pageant life due to stress.Even as an eight year old, the stress was too much to handle. â€Å"The promise of a tiara has always been a fast, easy sell to young girls who pine to be princesses,† (Hollandsworth, 2011) which is something all girls and their mothers want. In order to win that crown, there are many time consuming tasks that must be done before the pageant. There are layers of makeup to be put on, eyebrows to be waxed, natural hair and fake wigs to be curled, fingernails to be manicured, bronzer to be applied to arms and legs, dresses to be sewn, and dances and routines to be learned.It is enough to stress any eight year old out. After all of this work and stress, it would be downright heartbreaking to find that someone else has beaten you for the title of Grand Supreme. This article is different from the others I chose to include in my literature review in the sense that it discusses not only the stresses that pageant girls go through, but also some of the legal situations that have been brought about thanks to the pageant world. JonBenet Ramsey is a name that is famous all around the world.The six-year-old pageant beauty who would have gone on to be the next Marilyn Monroe who was found murdered in her home on Christmas morning. For a couple months afterwards, pageants seemed taboo, but then, even in the wake of JonBenet’s murder, pageants became even more famous. Little girls are being trained to dance provocatively and blow kisses at their judges from a young age and these videos end up online and even on TV. These videos are made to be public so others can see the awards and crowns the little girls win and anyone, including pedophiles, can access them. On TV, the shows not only give the names of these children, but they also tell you what towns these little girls live in,† (Hollandsworth, 2011) wh ich would give these pedophiles easy access to track down the little girls. This would not be hard to do with the way our society is turning to technology. One article, â€Å"Is the Media to Blame for Child Sex Victims,† written by Mark Davidson in 1997, discusses the media’s association with beauty pageants even further. Americans support multi-million dollar activities that exploit children and promote the provocativeness of them, such as beauty pageants.Beauty pageants, â€Å"commercially flaunt kids’ bodies, often converting preteen and preschool girls into sex puppets adorned with lipstick, mascara, false eyelashes, bleached hair, high heels, and satin-and-rhinestone gowns and professionally coached in showgirl postures and movements,† (Davidson, 1997) which leads to controversial topics like the 1996 sexual molestation and murder of JonBenet Ramsey. There are many movies, such as â€Å"Lolita† and â€Å"Pretty Baby,† that portray young girls as being involved in sexual situations with older men.This leads to young girls growing up to believe this is acceptable. What makes this article different is that it does not revolve around beauty pageants, but around the media and its involvement in child pornography and exploitation of girls at a young age. Hollywood and the likes, â€Å"engage in massive pimping for child temptresses,† (Davidson, 1997) which intrigues young minds and makes them believe that since it is accepted in media, it is accepted in everyday society.Only after JonBenet had been murdered did the media look for moral guidance to see if what it was displaying was appropriate. A little girl who had not even started kindergarten had to be murdered before the media questioned their morals. The press argues that, â€Å"the tiny contestants really want to participate, as if they are capable of giving informed consent to their own victimization,† (Davidson, 1997), when in all actuality, the chi ldren have no concept of what is really happening. My next article, â€Å"Toddlers and Tiaras TOO MUCH TOO SOON? written by Charlotte Triggs in 2011, is a continuation of the stresses of being in the pageant world. It is not only stressful on the children, who are the main event of the pageants, but also on the parents. These parents put their children through the pageants and shell out the money for entrance fees, homemade dresses and flippers, which are fake teeth for the girls who are losing their baby teeth. â€Å"You’re never going to win that money back, even if they win every weekend,† (Triggs, West, Aradillas, 2011) said one mother about the pageant life.So, if there are no perks of being in pageants other than seeing their daughters win crowns, why do the mothers go through the stress and lose money to pageants? The same mother then went on to say, â€Å"But you’ve got to do it because your kid loves and excels at it and it’s something you enjo y as a family,† (Triggs, West, Aradillas, 2011). So if families are happy watching their children in pageants, then they are more than willing to put up with the stress. In addition to the stresses of ageantry and reasons for participating, things such as the confusing life moments and the decisions pageant girls go through are discussed in the article. While most girls their age are out playing with Barbies with their friends, these girls are dressed as Barbie and have a twisted view of how they should look. â€Å"Little girls should play with dolls, not be dolls,† (Triggs, West, Aradillas, 2011) said a New York-based clinical social worker. The girls are being dressed in outfits that are more suited for a stripper than a preschooler, and it can have a negative effect on them in the long run.The girls grow up being obsessed with their appearance and may look into different ways to keep up the appearances they once had, such as plastic surgery or eating disorders. These factors will affect the young girls before they are even in high school. The next article, â€Å"Pretty Babies,† written by Rosemary Ellis in 2011, discusses the way the author viewed beauty pageants when she was younger compared to how she views them now, as an adult. When Ellis was younger, beauty pageants were only seen at the county fair, which came only once a year, in the month of August.The fair itself was a magical time for Ellis, not to mention getting to see girls ranging from elementary to college age walk across a stage in their Sunday best and giving the judges their best smile. Today, the adult pageants are overlooked and, â€Å"the Miss America pageant has become so irrelevant that it lets ABC air the show for free,† (Ellis, 2011) because of the recent explosion of pageants for little girls. There are more than five thousand of these pageants across the country. This article differentiates from the rest in the sense that the author compared the pageants known in her childhood to the pageants that are shown now.In the pageants now, the girls are spray-tanned and covered in makeup, and the studio pictures they take before pageants are edited so much that one would not be able to recognize the little girl if she walked up to them on a sidewalk. Ellis goes on to examine the outfits the little girls are wearing now, seeing clothing that, â€Å"gathers to suggest a bust and has slogans across the chest or rear that are more suited to a stripper than a first grader,† (Ellis, 2009). These clothes send out provocative messages not only to girls in the pageant world, but also to all little girls who see the clothing and get used to it at a young age.Most people only see the mother/ daughter side of pageantry, never the father/ daughter side of it, which my next article, â€Å"Father Knows Glitz,† written by Joey Bartolomeo in 2010, discusses. Dads who are involved in pageants are not only single dads or gay dads; they are also just everyday, hard-working dads who love to see their daughters happy when they win an award. Not only are there soccer and football dads, but there are now pageant dads. Not all of them are dragged into it, either.Some, like Lon Enos, a tattooed, burly man, like being the pageant dad just because â€Å"It’s fun and it’s cool,† (Bartolomeo, 2010), an opinion that would differ from the quintessential man in America who watches football or baseball on the weekends instead of competing in pageants with his daughters. Compared to the other articles, this one stands out because it gives a firsthand view from a pageant dad, rather than the typical pageant mom. Compared to pageant moms who tend to try to live vicariously through their daughters, the dads are usually more relaxed and laid back although some can be intense.Even things such as making a dress, â€Å"I’m not spending $6,000 for a dress when it takes me three hours to make one,† (Bartolomeo, 2010) or building a new shelf for crowns and sashes become jobs for a pageant dad to do. The braver of the pageant dads will even get up on stage with their daughters and help them with their routines. â€Å"There will be enough time for them to be women. For now, let’s just allow them to be little girls,† is a quote from Staceyann Chin in her article, â€Å"Beauty and the Boob Tube,† written in 2009.Chin came across the show â€Å"Toddlers in Tiaras† while procrastinating on a project she was working on. Much to her dismay, she was drawn in to the show, which reminded her, â€Å"of dog shows—tiny, powerless competitors trained to do as they are told, with trainers who exploit their charges to gain fame and fortune and live out some archaic dream they once had for themselves,† (Chin, 2009). Seeing the little girls being rewarded for their beauty made Chin feel uncomfortable because of an incident that happened when she was younger.Her grandm other’s friend would have the young Chin sit on his lap and he told her if she smiled for him, he would give her a coin. Her grandmother would always take away the coins when he left, saying, â€Å"Any money you make on your back will hurt your head,† (Chin, 2009). Many of the top ranked girls in pageants receive prizes such as checks and cash prizes, signifying being paid for looking pretty. This was after they got all dressed up, went out on stage, had their eyes, hair, and legs judged by adults, and then moved their hips in a suggestive manner.The pageant world is training the girls for a future that is not too great. Meaning, the pageant world is training them to look to others for judgment instead of trusting and believing in themselves, or that they need to look really good all the time or people will not like them. â€Å"I wanted to rush in—save these girls from an experience that would make them self-conscious about their little bellies, bottoms, and cu te button noses,† (Chin, 2009) is the way most people feel while watching the show, and yet, they are hooked and cannot wait for the next episode.It is the way the media portray the drama of the show that keeps viewers like Chin attached to the show. That is what makes this article different from the rest. It discusses the media involvement in the pageant world. Along with videos of these girls being put on the Internet, shows such as â€Å"Toddlers in Tiaras† and â€Å"Honey Boo Boo† which exploit the girls at a young age are also televised, causing the girls to live with their young pageantry for the rest of their lives, even though they may not have made the decision to participate themselves.After walking out on stage and, â€Å"dramatically ripping off a black, sheer robe to reveal a sparkly bathing suit,† (Chin, 2009) one little girl’s mother â€Å"kept trying to make her say she loved pageants and that she was a pageant girl. The toddler wou ld not repeat either phrase,† (Chin, 2009). Has the world of pageants changed so much that the toddlers who are the bane of all existence for the pageants do not even want to say they love pageants?Most people believe children who participate in beauty pageants are at a higher risk of having psychological and body image issues when they get older. While most think the pageants are bad for children, there are those who believe the pageants are a job for the children and give them careers for later in life. Based on the articles I have read and reviewed, I conclude that child beauty pageants are not good for those involved. References Bartolomeo, J. (2010). FATHER KNOWS GLITZ. People, 74(16), 64-71. Retrievedfrom EBSCOhost. Chin, S. (2009).Beauty & the Boob Tube. Advocate, (1026), 76. Retrieved fromEBSCOhost. Davidson, M. (1997, September). Is media to blame for child sex victims?. USA TodayMagazine. p. 60. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Ellis, R. (2011). Pretty Babies. Good Housekee ping, 252(8), 21. RetrievedfromEBSCOhost. HOLLANDSWORTH, S. (2011). Toddlers in Tiaras. Good Housekeeping, 252(8), 150-194. Retrievedfrom EBSCOhost. Triggs, C. , West, K. , & Aradillas, E. (2011). Toddlers & Tiaras TOO MUCH TOOSOON? (Cover story). People, 76(12), 160-168. Retrievedfrom EBSCOhost. Child Beauty Pageants Child Beauty Pageants While beauty pageants started in the 1920’s, children’s beauty pageants began in the 1960’s. This is when the predicament all began. Equally important is the definition of child abuse. It is defined as the exploitation of a child. Children in beauty pageants are exploited at a very over powering rate. Since there is so much exploitation, it should be considered child abuse. Due to parental involvement, children participate in pageants that damage them physically, mentally, and emotionally, prohibiting them from appropriately socializing in society.Before and during beauty pageants, there are many preparations that happen. Before the beauty pageants, the children’s parents get them tans and flippers which are a type of falsified teeth. After that, the parents either wax or even clear up any imperfections they may have like wrinkles, bushy eyebrows, and/or messed up hair. At the pageants, the girls get covered with make-up in the hopes of hiding any imperfections the child may have. The child is then dressed in whatever attire they are required to wear.For example: dresses, swimsuits, formal attire, and/or casual. After that, the girls will model their attire to the judges. Pageants will continue on into the talent portion in which the children will show their talents to judges. The talents vary from dance routines to karaoke, or even simply doing a catwalk. Child beauty pageants only judge based on looks and pure perfection. There are many damages that those requirements put on children. These requirements at times go as far to making five to six year olds look like sixteen to twenty year olds (Grosaru).The children are made to look more mature than what they are. Writer Frank Rich says â€Å"Today the merchandising of children as sexual commodities is ubiquitous and big business. † Referring to this statement, this shows that it also makes it easier for them to be made susceptible to pedophiles, eventuall y at times ending with the child being harmed physically by one of those men or women. Other than being subjected to that type of danger, the children are also subjected to cosmetic damages as well. Botox is one of the common cosmetic tools used.This is used to make the children appear â€Å"perfect† with no marks or any types of imperfections. One mother Kerry Campbell gave her eight year old daughter Botox and her excuses for giving her daughter this drug was one to give her a head start in pageants and second because all the other moms were doing it (Thompson). Many mothers like Kerry Campbell may be doing this type of abuse to their children because simply they want their child to be ahead in the pageants. Injecting a child with a dangerous chemical just to get a ahead in a child beauty pageant is a clear example of child abuse.The mental afflictions that the pageants cause to the children are numerous. Pageant mothers begin to create anxiety by the continuous moving from hotel to hotel. This keeps the child from having a normal home. In addition to this, there is no time for the children to socialize with friends in their own hometowns. They are not able to socialize with society at large. Now some of pageant parents argue that their children are able to make friends when they’re participating in the pageants.This is false and quickly disproven when the children are given the infamous speech of â€Å"no other girl is your friend here. † This speech begins to create paranoia about ever making friends or socializing with peers of their age (Grosaru). Other than creating anxiety and paranoia, there is also self destruction of self-image because they are made to think their body must be a certain way and their hair. This is called being â€Å"A little Barbie† (Nusseara). Mothers also can cause confusion within the child because of the beauty pageants.Mothers who had only boys try to make their boys into girls by making them partici pate in pageants. This causes the child to have confusion about their sexuality and this should not be done to a child. Such gender confusion and lack of self esteem in the name of a pageant are s clear signs of child abuse on the part of the parent. The parent should help the child to build their self esteem and not tear it down. There is a type of Darwinism that is incorporated in these pageants which is the fear the parents have of their children being losers (Giroux).Psychologist David Elkind says, â€Å"Parents use to be worried about if their children were good at school, but now they are only worried if their child are so called losers at school. † Parents create this emotional destruction within the children. The children begin to fear of becoming losers or disappointments to their parents so they are continuously rehearsing how to be perfect every day. In these pageants, the moms try to relive their own fantasy of what they once used to do or what they never got to e xperience themselves (Grosaru).This is abuse as the parents are only entering the child in the pageant for their selfish need to relive a glory day. The mothers go as far as lying about their child’s age to give them an advantage in the competition. This begins to make the child feel guilty about lying afflicting the emotional impairment to the child. In the 1960’s, children’s beauty pageants were created on the intention of showing off the innocence of children; when in reality it was use to exploit the children and make a profit off of them by making them dress inappropriately and not advocating their well being.This exploitation of the children is pure child abuse and nothing else. The children of these parents should be taken away for their safety. Laws or regulations should be made to insure the well-being of the children. Children who participate in beauty pageants all suffer physical, mental, and emotional damage; which keeps them from appropriately socia lizing in society and developing normally.