Teaching Third Grade Students Art Appreciation Essay

Teaching Third Grade Students Art Appreciation - Essay Example Jerrold Levinson in his book The Pleasures of Aesthetics proposes the characterization of aesthetic pleasure as "pleasure in an object is aesthetic when it derives from apprehension of and reflection on the object's individual character and content, both for itself and in relation to the structural base on which it rests" (Levinson, 1996, p. 6). In other words, learning to appreciate a piece of art aesthetically is to appreciate its forms, quality, value and meaning while at the same time observing the way it relates to its surrounding environment. In order to appreciate art and experience the aesthetic pleasure associated with it, students of the third grade should be taught the elements and principles of art. Elements of art comprise line, shape, form, color, value, texture, and space. Line is a moving point which creates an identifiable path. It is one-dimensional, varies in length, width and direction and is used to define the edge of forms. Lines can be vertical, horizontal, diagonal, curved, wide or narrow. Shape is two-dimensional having height and width whereas form is three-dimensional having height, width and depth. Form can be depicted in art by use of lines and shading. Color is the light reflected off objects. The brightness or darkness of color used by artists to create various moods is called value. Texture refers to the surface quality of an object. This is achieved visually in two-dimensional pictures by the use of forms and colors so that the viewer comprehends the way the object would feel in real life. Spac e in art creates an illusion of depth. This is achieved by using perspective drawing techniques and shading (The Elements of Art, 2008). Third grade students are familiar with lines, shapes and form. They enjoy drawing basic shapes and lines and using it in their own creations. Mixing colors to get new ones can be taught so that they can experiment with primary secondary, tertiary colors, shades and tints. The value of the color, texture and space can be introduced to children at this level. The basic principles of art can also be successfully taught in the third grade. The principles are movement, unity, variety, balance, emphasis, contrast, proportion, and pattern (Elements of Art, 2008). Emphasis refers to the points of interest in the picture while balance is a sense of stability achieved by repetition of shapes. Contrast is combining different elements to create points of interest. Variety in a piece of art is introduced by using various shapes and textures. Movement is the creation of action using the elements of art in such a manner as to guide the viewer's eye throughout the picture. Pattern or rhythm is a type of movement created in the picture by repeating shapes and colors. Using dark and light colors alternately can also create rhythm. The relationship between the sizes of various objects in the picture is called proportion. Unity or harmony gives the picture a complete and uncomplicated look (Rider). Third graders can be guided to recognize these principles in the works of renowned painters and apply them in their work. Methods for Teaching Third Grade Students Appreciation of Art Children can be taught to appreciate art using various methods. However, the methods used should be interesting and simple so that the curiosity to experiment with art is aroused in the child. Children should also be able to relate their experiences with art to daily life and academic studies.

Pygmalion and Educating Rita - Rita as a Modern Day Eliza :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Pygmalion and Educating Rita - Rita as a Modern Day Eliza Although Rita stands in contrast to Eliza, they share so many similarities that one could support the statement that "Rita is a modern day Eliza". Both Rita and Eliza rebel against the inflexible class system and have problems developing their potential. They suggest that everyone is capable of fulfilling his potential if he is only given the opportunity. And their teachers and other members of their class misunderstand them. Furthermore they reject the traditional role of women as well. Concerning their characters, Rita and Eliza are intelligent, quick to learn and with a strong individuality. In order to become educated, the have to make sacrifices: Eliza has to give up her accent and Rita loses her spontaneity and originality. They also become alienated from their working class backgrounds, for they advance socially through acquiring education. Unlike Rita, Eliza didn't want to change her character. Rita, on the other hand, had dreamed of becoming a completely different person. Consequently, when Rita is happy after passing her exam, whereas Eliza is feels lost between two worlds, neither belonging to the working class nor the middle class. As to the relationship with their teachers, both students become more self-confident and their teachers become dependent on them, be it in a materialistic or personal way. Yet it is Eliza who complains about Higgins ignorance and carelessness whereas Frank reproaches Rita for her superficiality. At the end Eliza has regained her pride and improved her standard of living although Eliza remaining a social misfit.

Agro Based Industries

Agro-based industry would mean any activity involved in cultivation, under controlled conditions of agricultural and horticultural crops, including floriculture and cultivation of vegetables and post-harvest operation on all fruits and vegetables. The development of agro-industries has assumed crucial importance in the economic planning and progress of the country. There are extreme variations among different states in the number of processed food industries.It is also evident from this study that except potatoes, all the other perishable products have been showing inadequate number of cold storage plants and low capacity utilization of the existing units. This study suggests that there is a need to develop the processed food industries throughout the country in order to provide more employment opportunities and to reduce the regional imbalances.The main focus of Agro based industries is: Livestock farming – Livestock are domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. Crops- Cultivation of crops. Aquaculture – The cultivation of aquatic animals or plants for food. Livestock farming is a type of farming with living animals.Livestock farming consists of Poultry farming where birds are grown for eggs and its meat, Dairy farming where milk giving cattle are grown for dairy products, apiculture where bees are grown for its honey, and cattle farming where cattle is grown for meat. Aquaculture can also be considered as a type of livestock farming dealing with water-living animals and plants. Crops, as you know are useful plants that are needed by humans. Crops consist of Food crops, beverage crops, fiber crops and fodder crops. Food crops are crops that grow food.

Gender Stereotypes In Mulan - 1673 Words

The way that groups are represented in the media often has a significant impact on how these groups are viewed in reality. The media is very powerful when it comes to raising awareness about certain groups, which is important to understand. What the media portrays is often what is perceived. Instead of using the media to strengthen stereotypes among people, the media should be used to stop stereotyping once and for all. While gender stereotypes do unfortunately exist, representations of gender in pop culture can have a positive impact by allowing society to see these stereotypes being broken. In the Disney classic, Mulan, several gender stereotypes are portrayed throughout the film. Mulan, the main character, faces several expectations†¦show more content†¦Having movies like Mulan in pop culture teaches people that it is not necessary to follow societies expectations and live by what stereotypes say. Another movie that defies gender roles is She’s the Man, starring Amanda Bynes. Bynes plays the main character, Viola Hastings, a tomboy that enjoys playing soccer more than wearing heels and dresses. Viola deals with the expectations her mother places on her to be a very feminine debutante. She does not fit the stereotype of being very girly and instead seems like one of the guys. In the movie, the girls’ soccer team is cut from the school, so Viola tries to play for the boys’ team. The coach of the boys’ team laughs at her, saying that it is a scientific fact that girls are not as fast or cannot beat boys. After that rejection, Viola decides to dress up as her twin brother, who is out of the country, and pose as him in his school. She joins the boys’ soccer team at this new school and defeats her old school’s soccer team. Viola proves that girls can do anything that guys can do, and can do them better. This movie shows how gender stereotyp es should not exist because there should not be limitations to how one gender should behave. Displaying gender representation in pop culture raises awareness to how it is wrong that a girl needs to pretend to be a guy to be taken seriously in society. It is still widely viewed today that women are very weak and lesser than men. The feminine hygiene brand,Show MoreRelatedGender Stereotypes In Disneys Mulan1172 Words   |  5 PagesDisney’s Mulan From the minute one is born the division between genders is placed. The phrases â€Å"act like a lady† or â€Å"be a man† become everyday practices and lifelong slogans. Fairy tales are always focused on women who play the beautiful damsel in distress persona and on men who play the handsome knight coming in to save them. Whether you are female or male, it is important to remember that these fixed characteristics placed on genders are never to be reinforced. In a world full of gender stereotypesRead MoreAnalysis Of Mulan s A Prince Will Come And Save You1610 Words   |  7 PagesMulan was filmed in 1998 during the third wave of feminism, which is the â€Å"advocacy of women s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men† (dictionary). Mulan isn’t a typical princess, but a women who saves her father from going to war with the Huns. Disney does stray away from the typical â€Å"damsel in distress† storyline and brings a new foundation of ideas to the big screen. Where Sleeping Beauty the idea of â€Å"a prince will come† and save you, to Mulan who challengesRead MoreMul An American Animated Musical Released By Disney1019 Words   |  5 PagesMulan is an American animated musical released by Disney in 1998 during the third wave of feminism. This would explain why at first glance, Mulan appears to be a feminist film encouraging the empowerment of women. Despite positive feminist images, the film is not free from gender stereotypes. While the film is progressive by straying from the usual â€Å"damsel in distress† storyline, a closer analysis shows that it isn’t as feminist as it first appears. Mulan reinforces a masculine construction ofRead MoreChapter Analysis : Mulan Essay1252 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish 1301 20 October 2016 Bring Honor to us all In Walt Disney’s, Mulan, the classic story tells the tale of a young woman in China who decides step up and fight in fear that her disabled father will be drafted. As a girl living under a patriarchal regime, she is aware that she is not allowed to serve. Mulan defies the odds of a stereotypical girls by impersonating a man and sets off to train with the other recruits. As Mulan overcomes many challenges, she uses her talents to help defeat the HunsRead MoreMulan Essay1541 Words   |  7 Pages1998 Disney film, Mulan, and the 2016 Disney film, Moana, people may suggest that both are progressive feminist films that accurately depict their individual cultures, while uplifting the women in these films. However, with further analysis, Mulan consists of not only sexist views towards women, but also underlines stereotypical gender roles that men are greater than women. Moreover, Moana reflects a change of the conventional woman in Disney films by rejecting the female stereotypes as well as creatingRead MoreGender Representation Of Female Gender Roles Affect Society Through Social Oppression Of The Minority Group1110 Words   |  5 Pagespositive empowerment of females alike, Mulan in fact does not encourage the individual empowerment of women through separation of traditional gender stereotypes. In fact, Mulan emphasizes the roles between binary genders that ensure privilege of men over women. Additionally, the film shows how such stereotypical gender roles affect society through social oppression of the minority group. Throughout the film, it is obvious that, although it is possible to have gender performativity, there is disempowermentRead MoreGender Roles Of A Young Girl Saving China From The Huns1429 Words   |  6 Pages   Ã‚  Ã‚   Within Disney’s Mulan, gender roles, linguistic differences, and racial concepts play a substantial role in telling the story of a young girl saving China from the Huns. At first glance, while the film may utilize an innocent plotline typically geared for young children, stereotypes and racist themes abound, prompting the question of how much of the movie is authentic, and how much of the film is the American perspective on Chinese culture. After an anthropological analysis of the film, it isRead MoreGender Roles And Social Expectations1231 Words   |  5 Pagesnot notice like gender roles and social expectations. Even though children may not realize the social expectations aspect incorporated into movies they still absorb those lessons like a sponge. They learn these aspects by seeing them as role models, they have the desire to become that person. For an example, during Halloween we see hundreds of little girls dressing up like their favorite princess. They see these princesses as role models since little girls can relate them to by gender. Depending onRead MoreOne Woman Rescues An Entire Nation : Mulan Defies Traditional Gender1106 Words   |  5 PagesOne Woman Rescues an Entire Nation: Mulan Defies Traditional Gender Roles Becomes a Hero What does it mean to be a man or woman, girl or boy? Who creates these gender constraints and reinforces these roles within a society? Gender is a social construct that is manufactured by the media in order to guide the masses towards thinking and behaving in a way that is perceived to be accurate. â€Å"Gender is not something we are born with, and not something we have, but something we do—something we perform†Read MoreThe Movie Mulan 883 Words   |  4 PagesMulan is an animated film that was released in 1998 from Disney during third wave feminism, which features an Asian woman protagonist. She is a Disney princess, but at first glance you wouldn’t think so. Mulan is introduced as a clumsy tomboy who did not think she would ever bring honor to her family. In order to accomplish said honor, she would have to by being the perfect bride, in accordance with the matchmaker. The film has a great amount of feminist ideals, however, it doesn’t leave out stere otypical

Euthanasia Should Be Legal - 1536 Words

The second source evaluated in regards to religion influencing whether euthanasia should be legal was â€Å"Euthanasia† written by Amelia Mihaela Diaconescu. Diaconescu has only written this journal in 1 July 2012 and nothing else. This shows a lack of credibility or that she is just starting to write. This was a peer reviewed article regarding what euthanasia is in the United States, England, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, and Holland. This is a strength because it shows diversity even though that all of these countries are developed they are still different. â€Å"Euthanasia, in its passive form (orthonasia) as acceptance of the will of God has been accepted by the Roman Catholic Church which has defined it as inaction or omission which by itself†¦show more content†¦This increases his credibility since he is not making up statistics just to get his point across. This blog article seems balanced when he interjects quotes from another doctor, Dr. Elliot Fisher. Both realize that modern medicine is increasing the life expectancy of terminally ill patients by only a few years while increasing billions of dollars spent. This shows a slight bias because he picked quotes that agree with what he is saying rather than choosing a counter argument. The final source used to discuss the economic factor in euthanasia was â€Å"‘The High Cost of Dying’: What Do the Data Show?† by Anne Scitovsky. Scitovsky was a Health Economist who died at age 96 on 16 January, 2012. Scitovsky was born in Germany and was very qualified to write this paper. In the very first paragraph of the article she states â€Å"Various studies of medical care expenditures show, it is argued, that we spend a â€Å"disproportionate† amount of our health care resources on patients who are terminally ill† (Scitovsky). A weakness in this statement is that she only says various studies but does not mention which studies she is talking about. A strength is that in the sentences before this one, she states the percents of national care expenditures that have risen including â€Å"in 1960 to 7.5 percent in 1970 and to 10.5 percent in 1982.† These percents are not estimated nor rounded so this strengthens her argument. She als o cites who she got the statistics from increasing her ownShow MoreRelatedEuthanasia Should Not Be Legal1683 Words   |  7 PagesEuthanasia is derived from the Greek, â€Å"eu† meaning good, and â€Å"thanatos† translating to death, together the word makes â€Å"good death†. A person who is terminally ill often goes through excruciating pain and suffering. Ultimately, the right to euthanize a terminally ill patient should be legal across the nation because that person doesn’t see an end to their anguish, so they wish to turn to euthanasia. Euthanasia frees the patient’s body and mind, lets them die with dignity, and their loved ones don’tRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal? Essay1449 Words   |  6 Pages Euthanasia: The Right to Die Euthanasia is a concept that has been around for a very long time. It has been practiced since ancient Greece. We all have different opinions towards it; some of us might be for it and others against it. In most parts of the world Euthanasia is illegal. Many countries have denied the right to euthanasia, but is that fair and ethical? It is the painless killing of a patient’s agony from an incurable and painful disease. Euthanasia should be legal. SomeoneRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1387 Words   |  6 Pagesunexpectedly† (Wpadmin). This shows that many people show aversion towards euthanasia and would not want themselves to be euthanized. Euthanasia occurs when someone is suffering from a painful or incurable disease and they prefer to die. It is done by taking them off of life support or not giving them essential supplies to live such as food, medications, oxygen, and more. There are countless debates of whether or not euthanasia should be legal, and whethe r or not it benefits people. Some countries allow itRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1061 Words   |  5 PagesDetermining Euthanasia Millions of precious lives have been deliberately taken throughout the world due to the new Euthanasia Law. Euthanasia is the practicing of assisted suicide, due to terminally ill patients or depression. The practicing has just been legalized September 2015, and will be put into effect in California January 1 2016. Although, it is still being argued if adolescents should have the right fro this and if it’s morally correct all together. Euthanasia should be illegalRead MoreEuthanasia Should Not Be Legal1520 Words   |  7 Pages Euthanasia or commonly known as Physician-Assisted Suicide is defined as the painless killing of a patient who is suffering from an incurable and painful disease or is in an irreversible coma. It is an act that speeds up death. Some people consider euthanasia to be a mercy killing and others consider it to be murder. This practice is illegal in most countries. In the United States, however, six states have legalized physician-assisted suicide even though most states, 44 to be more specific, haveRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1919 Words   |  8 Pages Euthanasia is a widely debated topic of the 21st century. Many places have legalized it, others refuse to even talk about the subject. However, more and more people are wanting their right to die to be recognized while others fight back against that right. A lot has to go into the backing and thinking about euthanasia, beginning with the different types that there are. After that, you would have to look at both sides to analyze why it would be a good practice to have, or a bad one. ManyRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1311 Words   |  6 Pageshave used euthanasia, or physician assisted suicide. They used it with the purpose of releasing their soul and the pain that they could not endure any longer. Euthanasia is a process provided by the medical system today that involves active and passive euthanasia. Physician assisted suicide is spreading across the world, and people are using it legally. In the U.S, euthanasia has been legalized in some states so people are trying t o take advantage of it. Many people have used euthanasia so they wouldRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1360 Words   |  6 PagesOwadara Adedamola ENG 101 Prof. Skeen 24 November 2015 Legalizing Euthanasia â€Å"Euthanasia is defined as conduct that brings about an easy and painless death for persons suffering from an incurable or painful disease or condition† (Muckart, et al 259). Euthanasia, also dying with dignity, is the practice of the termination of a terminally ill person s life in order to relieve them of their suffering. Euthanasia is one of today’s most controversial health issues with debates on people’s rightRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?2146 Words   |  9 PagesWho should be in charge of ending your life? Understanding euthanasia in its entirety can only be met when one knows the various forms it can take. They include passive, active, voluntary, and involuntary. Passive euthanasia refers to the practice of medical practitioners refraining from providing treatment in turn, allowing death. Active euthanasia, on the other hand, involves the deliberate killing of a person, using medical skills and knowledge as an instrument (Sheldon). The primary concern inRead MoreShould Euthanasia Be Legal?1183 Words   |  5 PagesThe word euthanasia is defined as good death, but this meaning cannot be taken literally without analyzing its underlying implications (Vaughn 595). The primary issues that must be raised when discussing euthanasia are differentiating between active and passive forms, analyzing the values that people place on their life and realizing that euthanasia is beneficial. Euthanasia provides a means for patients who are in agony to be relieved of their condition while ensuring that doctors follow appropriate

Animal Experimentation Is Necessary For Medical Research

When picking up makeup or shampoo at a drug store, does one ever stop to think if an animal tested product is being bought or not? Innumerable people fail to consider how these products came to be or if there was animal experimentation was involved. Many people are oblivious to the appalling occurrences that take place in laboratories involving animal cruelty on a daily basis. Government officials and scientists believe that testing on animals is essential for medical research, but many of the results prove to be irrelevant and the reality is that most animals that are experimented on go through excruciating torture that frequently leads to death. Even though the methods of testing have greatly changed over the course of many years, this topic is widely debated between animal right’s activists, scientists and the government, as well as the public. It is inhumane to burn, electrocute, torture with drugs, poison with chemicals, or even kill an animal for the sake of a humanâ₠¬â„¢s well being. Although animal experimentation is a traditional method to develop more medical advancements with less human-based experiments, it is an expensive way of testing products and often the results show inaccurate outputs, and at the same time, it is cruel to the animals. Animal testing is said to date back thousands of years. Existing evidence reveals that the ancient Greeks experimented on living animals. A process known as vivisection, or dissecting living animals, was performed to study theShow MoreRelated Animal Experimentation: A vital role in medical reasearch Essay1035 Words   |  5 PagesAnimal experimentation has been and will continue to be a source in scientific research. Similarities between animals and humans allow for researchers to provide safer drugs and new treatments for diseases. (Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR), 2008). Animal experiments have provided many positive outcomes in medical advancements that save human and animal lives. However, many people in today’s society have an emotional attachment to animals which fuels opposition to animal experimentationRead MoreAnimal Experimentation Is Fundamental For Medical Advancement And Cancer Research909 Words   |  4 PagesAnimal experimentation has been a cont roversial issue amongst scientists and animal activists since the early 1600s (Animal Testing - ProCon.org). When it comes to the topic of animal experimentation, most of us will readily agree that it’s necessary for medical research. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of morality. Whereas some are convinced that it’s unethical and scientifically unnecessary, others maintain that it’s needed for medical progress. My stance on the subjectRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Animal Testing859 Words   |  4 Pagessciences is the use non-human test subjects by medical research institutions. Animals used for experimentation can provide extremely important information due to their physical and genetic similarities to humans. The tradeoff to furthering the field of medical science is that often times these experiments result in pain, suffering, and death of the test subjects. This raises serious ethical and moral questions about the use of animal experimentation. It is a matter of serious debate as to whetherRead MoreArguments Against Animal Testing1157 Words   |  5 PagesWhat comes to mind when thinking about animal experimentation? Thoughts of innocent, lovable animals being stabbed with sharp needles? Well, that is not exactly the case, as animal experimentation plays a very important role in human health today. However, the idea of animals testing has become quite a controversial topic. Over the past few decades, there has been an extensive debate over the use of animals in medical and product testing. The majority of people seem to think that it is an unnecessaryRead MoreAnimal Experimentation Essay812 Words   |  4 Pagesbeen using animal experimentation to create new ways to help save the human race. There are people who believe that it does help, and that it is necessary to continue, while others oppose and want to fight for the elimination of animal experimentation. Scientists fight for the cures needed to help man kind, but struggle to do so as people fight against their work in progress. But as Jennifer A. Hurley stated, â€Å"History has already shown that animal experimentation is not essential to medical progressRead MoreEssay about The Good, the Bad and Ugly of Animal Experimentation1197 Words   |  5 PagesThe Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Animal Experimentation Animal experimentation plays an important role in today’s medical and pharmaceutical advances, but many question the morality of such a use of animal life. Whether one argues that testing different products and drugs on animals is necessary or not, this has become an integral part of developing products. From that Tylenol we pop to get rid of our headache to that perfect shade of pink lip gloss, animal testing is used in order to produceRead MoreEssay on Save the Animals: Say No to Animal Experimentation!1218 Words   |  5 Pagesfor animals before prescribing them to human beings. However, would it feel good to know that every year, hundreds of thousands of animals are captured from the wild and die just because of these said experiments? For many years now, scientists have been using animals for their laboratory experiments to produce new medicines. Although scientists have been using this process for many decades in the field of medicine, it is still a controversial issue for those who are pro animal experimentation andRead MoreEssay about The Necessities of Animal Experimentation1273 Words   |  6 PagesThe Necessities of Animal Experimentation Throughout my paper, I felt as though I was able to give a solid and fair representation of the opposing viewpoint on issue of animal testing. However, it was challenging because I strongly oppose animal testing. The rhetorical analysis played a role in this, because I was required to use the various rhetorical appeals to compose a strong argument. Using the appeals definitely helped in trying to persuade the reader to acknowledge the opposingRead MoreAnimal Experimentation Is Unnecessary and Cruel Essay946 Words   |  4 Pagesmillions of animals suffer through painful and unnecessary tests. Animals in laboratories all over the world live lives of deprivation, pain, isolation, and torture. Even though vast studies show that animal experimentation often lacks validity, leading to harmful human reactions, we still continue to use this method of experimentation, while many other less-expensive and more beneficial alternatives exist. Going beyond the issue of animal experimentation being morally wrong, this form of research is alsoRead MoreAnimal Experimentation And Its Effects On Human Life And Survival965 Words   |  4 PagesInstructor Miguel Marrero English 1302 September 18, 2014 Animal Experimentation The various experiments are performed on living animals especially to test the effects of chemical compounds such as new drugs, cosmetics, food additives and pesticides. The application of animals to test a large number of products from household compounds and cosmetics to pharmaceutical has been considered to be a normal strategy for many years. Animal experimentation has existed since ancient times and contributed to human

Negative Effects of Genetically Modified Food/Crops Free Essays

string(104) " to case studies and reports highlighting potential harms of genetic modification \(The Economist 19\)\." Author: Instructor: Course Title: Date: Negative Effects of Genetically Modified Food/Crops Genetically modified organisms refer to organisms whose genetic components have been changed to produce an unnatural occurrence. Genetic engineering refers to the technology employed in the alteration of the genetic elements, which also facilitates the transfer of genes between related and non-related species. This technology is applied in the production of Genetically Modified (GM) crops/foods in order to meet the desired objectives of the industry operators. We will write a custom essay sample on Negative Effects of Genetically Modified Food/Crops or any similar topic only for you Order Now The 1980 US Supreme Court pronouncement on the legal patentability of biological life in the Diamond vs. Chakrabartyn case opened the gateway to genetic engineering (Lex Orbis). There are some perceived benefits of the GM foods industry, both to the producer and consumer, especially in regard to increased food productivity and nutrition. Conversely, there have been reported cases on potential risks to human health and the environment due to GM foods/crops. The harmful effects of GM foods production and consumption cannot be overlooked, due to their impact on human health, the environment and socio-economic operation of a society. The introduction and widespread use of Genetically Modified (GM) foods has been met with uncertainties in regard to public acceptability due to the confirmed and potential harmful effects of this technology. GM foods are disputable for various reasons, one of them being the adverse effects of these foods to human health. There are concerns over deaths, near-deaths and diseases such as cancer and bacterial infections arising out of GM foods. Human beings need food for survival but it is incongruous to consume potentially harmful food for one’s existence just for survival. Studies indicate that there have been recorded deaths attributable to Genetic Engineering in foods. In 1989, a genetic modification of the food supplement known as L-tryptophan produced a devastating disease known as the Eosinophilia Myalgia syndrome (EMS). There were about 37 people who died from the ailment, as well as around 1500 who were physically impaired. The GM food supplement was manufactured by a Japan’s chemical company known as Showa Denko, which offered a $2 billion settlement to the victims, but investigations into the product were not carried out. In addition, initial GM tested products such as Flavr Savr have been reported as harmful to animals, evidenced by the premature deaths of the animals used in these lab tests. Further, in 1996, a company known as Pioneer Hi-Bred, the largest seed company in the US, produced soybeans with the added protein methionine, through splicing Brazil nut DNA into the conventional soybeans (Cummins, Lilliston and Lappe 36). Researchers from the University of Nebraska reported that the use of the GM soybeans may result in fatal allergies to individuals allergic to Brazilian nuts. Fortunately, the company withdrew the product from the market before any fatalities occurred. Allergenic reactions to GM foods are another area of concern to the consumer public. There has been an increasing rate of food-allergenic individuals in the nation, especially among children, which was confirmed by the Center for Disease Control. The increased alteration of diets contributes to the rising rate of food sensitivity, since GM foods are not comparable to regular foods (Nestle). Other indications of the allergenic quality of GM foods include the following: A study on GM potatoes with cod genes indicated they were allergenic; two independent studies indicated that GM Bt corn produced allergenic effects, even on the farmers who used genetically engineered Bt sprays to produce such corn; in 1999, York Laboratory researchers discovered a connection between the rise in allergic reactions to soy and the consumption of GM soy. The potential risks of GM foods extend to disease causality and bacterial infections. Scientists have established a connection between a protein hormone known as GH and a chemical hormone called IGH-1 associated with breast cancer, and in some instances, prostate cancer. The protein hormone GH is injected in dairy cows to facilitate the production of more milk, thus it has been used to boost the productivity of dairy corporations. Genetically modified versions of the hormone have been approved to enhance milk productivity despite warnings by scientists that this GM hormone increases the IGF-1 hormone in consumers, from about 70 to 1000%. Dr. Samuel Epstein, a University of Chicago doctor and the Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition explained the connection between GH and IGF-1; that the GH induces the malignant conversion of human breast epithelial cell types that eventually leads to cancerous growths. However, the US Food and Drugs Administration rejected the importance of such findings. The proponents of GM foods point to some science reviews which claim that GM crops in the market pose limited risks to human health. GM foods undergo protocol tests to determine their effects on human health as well as their allergenic quality. These tests have been evaluated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the result is that the GM foods currently in circulation pose no allergic effects to people. The World Health Organization further maintains that all GM foods in the global market have been approved after passing the necessary risk assessment tests; hence they are not harmful to human health. Additionally, the organization claims that adverse effects of these foods have not been proved among the general public where the GM foods have been permitted thus there should be no reason for alarm (World Health Organization). However, this position falls short of completely meeting the concerns of consumers, since various scientific studies have reflected negative health effects of GM foods, contradicting WHO’s position. Despite the observation of harmful effects on a minority, GM foods cannot be ruled as completely safe for human consumption. In consideration of all the evidence presented, it is certain that genetic engineering technology presents certain dangers and health hazards that need to be thoroughly assessed before GM foods are absorbed into the global market. The assessment criteria for these products should also be revised with reference to case studies and reports highlighting potential harms of genetic modification (The Economist 19). You read "Negative Effects of Genetically Modified Food/Crops" in category "Essay examples" Consumers should also be fully aware of the type of products displayed in the market in order to make informed choices. Genetic modified foods and crops have also been frowned upon for their potential negative effects to the environment. There are concerns over the toxicity levels in the soil due to genetic engineered farming, leading to soil pollution and destruction of plant and animal life. Despite the positive effects of genetic engineering technology in boosting food supply to the public, the application of this technology raises the use of chemicals and bio-engineered products in farms, hence the environmental degradation. It is essential to support a food crop production system that maintains environmental standards rather than ruin them, thus maintaining the spirit of environmental conservation. The GM crop industry advocates for this technology on the grounds that genetic engineered seeds and plants are helpful to the environment by decreasing the amount of chemicals used in farms. However, most of the GM agricultural products have a high chemical resistance, which in turn increases rather than decreases the use of herbicides or pesticides with toxic effects to the farms. The GM crop industry seeks to profit from the sale of more products, and these include seeds as well as pesticides and herbicides. In light of this issue, it is conceivable that the industry intends to sell more genetic engineered agricultural products as well as chemicals; hence environmental safety is a challenge if farmers rely on these products, since they go hand in hand with great use of herbicides/pesticides. According to environmental scientist, R. J. Goldburg, scientists expect that the use of herbicides will triple due to GM agricultural products (Goldburg 647). An example of a company in this industry is Monsanto, which is a world leading corporation in the production of genetic engineered seeds as well as the herbicide known as Roundup. The herbicide glyphosate, also called Roundup, has damaging effects to plant and animal life. The US Fish and Wildlife Service indicated that Roundup poses a threat to 74 endangered species; it affects natural processes in plant life such as photosynthesis. Further, the herbicide decays in the soil but it leaves deposits on the crops harvested for the consumer. Glyphosate, which is the main component in Roundup, is harmful to humans, and has led to numerous cases of illness among farmers. Various scientific research projects also indicate the harmful effects of GM products to the soil; these include the research carried out by Oregon scientists which indicates the GM microorganism, klebsiella planticola killed vila soil nutrients and rendered it sterile. Similarly, in 1997, it was established that Rhizobium melitoli, a GM bacterium, released toxins in the soil that caused pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency also expressed its concerns over the matter, but these microorganisms are still in operation. The Oregon research also indicated that some of these microbes killed wheat plants when introduced into the soil. Other indicators of the environmental effects of GM products include the creation of super weeds and super pests; plant and animal invasions; destruction of forests; the death of beneficial insects and genetic pollution. GM elements such as Bt endotoxin have been reported to stay in the soil for about 18 months and could be transported to other wild plants, thus forming super weeds, resistant to beetles and butterflies, and this process affects the balance of nature. Super pests are created when common pests like budworms and cottonboll worms develop immunity from toxins due to repeated exposure. Research indicates that cottonboll worms have developed immunity from Bt sprays used in organic farming (Tabashnik, Gassmann and Crowder 199-202). Plant and animal invasions threaten the existing species and result to the imbalance of nature. Emerging GM strains can induce bio-invasions into plant or animal life, such as the invasion of the kudzu vine, which is an exotic plant from Japan with rapid growth. The damage to forest life is yet another justification for the claims against the production of GM foods/crops. GM trees have developed a resistance towards chemical sprays thus when spraying is carried out in a forest with GM trees, they survive but the plant life around them are killed. Unlike rainforests or tropical trees that support animal life such as fungi, insects and birds, GM trees are flowerless and sterile; hence they cannot support forest life in its entirety. Research further demonstrates that GM components destroy beneficial insects in plant life such as the monarch butterfly larvae which feeds on milkweed. In 1997, New Scientist reported that the proteins found in genetically modified canola flowers could potentially harm honeybees (Pain) Additionally, genetic pollution is another negative effect of GM production on the environment. Genetic pollution is facilitated by the transfer of GM pollen through rain, wind, birds or insects, and it becomes difficult to contain since unlike chemical pollution, it does not decay. The government of Thailand terminated field assessments for Bt cotton from Monsanto after the Institute of Traditional Thai Medicine established genetic pollution of nearby plants (GRAIN 1-7). In the face of the controversy around GM technology and its effects on the environment, the supporters of the technology advocate that it offers a solution to environmental strain caused by overpopulation. The proponents of genetic engineering argue that the technology is beneficial to the environment since it presents a solution that prevents further depletion of the environment as the world population rises. It is evident that overpopulation has caused negative effects on the environment, due to the constant struggle for land, water, fuels and other resources necessary for human existence. For this reason, supporters of this technology view it as the means to support the food requirements of the world as a whole while aintaining the status of the environment. GM food production has the potential to support the growing need of food supplies in the present world, but its damaging effects to the environment cannot be ignored since they pose long-term risks, that impact on future generations. These destructive effects on the environment, plant and animal life have been scientifically proven, thus they are not negligible GM crop production definitely introduces harmful effects to the envi ronment and its inhabitants, making it an unsafe means to support food demands. The collaboration of core organizations in the environmental sector should be established in order to forge a way that incorporates stringent environmental standards in the GM food industry. Such organizations include the US Food and Drug Administration and the United Nations Environment Programme. There are a lot of concerns in the GM food industry, with some risks already identified while some remain to be discovered, hence there should be more emphasis on safe food production strategies rather than a technology filled with uncertainties (Krech 580). The other argument against genetically modified foods arises out of the negative political, social and economic implications of the industry to modern society. The extensive application of biotechnology in food production will change established farming drastically, the strongest effect being on the indigenous farmers, and eventually the consumers. GM food production requires patenting, and the large corporations in this sector will eventually push the indigenous farmers out of their farms, while they control food products and prices. Advocates against GM crop production argue that his industry will displace farmers out of their livelihoods, since they face the risk of being bought out by large multinational companies that can pursue genetic engineering from a large-scale level. The control of the GM food production industry by large corporations amounts to bio-colonization, which by extension refers to the power that bio-technology controllers possess in the current and future market. The ability to control genetic components as well as agricultural resources is the source of so much power, for its food production. Indigenous farmers in the U. S. are currently self-sufficient in food production, but with the advancements in the GM food industry, more and more people will be dependent upon these industry controllers for food. These industry controllers may be referred to as the bio-colonizing companies, which will possess a lot of decisive power in the world economy due to their control of genetic and agricultural resources. Agricultural workers will also be greatly afflicted with the transfer of control in the industry from individuals to corporations or governments. The result will be displacement of farmers from their economic activity by more powerful forces, leading to a high rate of food dependency from companies and the government (Committee on the Impact of Biotechnology on Farm-Level Economics and Sustainability 206). Unfortunately, the WTO, World Bank and GATT provide regulations that facilitate large-scale and foreign interests at the expense of local economies, which further impede self-sufficiency in those countries. Another socio-political issue of concern is the debate on the labeling of GM foods. Proponents of GM foods argue that these foods are similar to regular foods thus the need for labeling is unnecessary, but a counterargument is that with the potential risks of GM foods, consumers should be fully aware of the contents of their foods in order to make informed choices. The consumer has the right to be informed of the ingredients in his/her food, irrespective of the safety or harmful levels of the food. Some parties argue for genetic engineering in food production as the solution to world hunger and other economic problems that arise out of food shortages. The proposition is that GM foods can be produced even under harsh soil and climatic conditions since they can be engineered to withstand such conditions. For this reason, most lands that have previously not been utilized for farming can now be made useful, and eventually solve the problem of overcrowding on the fertile lands. According to the proponents, this move is expected to increase food productivity, thus solving two problems at the same time; the scramble for resources and food security. However, such an argument fails to consider the bigger picture in regard to autonomy in food production among local farmers and regions. It is clear that the GM food industry is controlled by large corporations and governments, hence they would in turn control productivity and supply on the international front. In this regard, indigenous farmers as well as small economies do not achieve food security; rather they become more dependent on multinational companies. In summary, genetically engineered foods raise a lot of questions and concerns among the public due to the insufficient information regarding the sector and the potential harm it presents to the people and the environment. There are proponents with valid perspectives who argue for and against the concept, but it is important that the benefits of this technology are weighed against the risks, in order to determine the true value of the industry to consumers (Ackerman). Positive effects include increased food supply and control of overpopulation in fertile lands, but these benefits are overshadowed by the numerous reported and unreported harmful effects of genetic science in food production. From health complications to environmental degradation and negative socio-economic impacts, the GM food production industry is potentially catastrophic in the present time and in the future ahead. Works Cited Ackerman, Jennifer. â€Å"FOOD: How Altered? † National Geographic Magazine. (2002). Web. 18 March 2011. Committee on the Impact of Biotechnology on Farm-Level Economics and Sustainability. Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States. Washington, D. 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