What Makes A Human Essay - 1346 Words

When we look forward and anticipate the future through the means of science fiction, it seems that contributing largely to our contemporary definition of â€Å"human† is our imperfections. The very fact that we posses these imperfections is the reason that writers imagine a future where those imperfections may be eliminated; knowing that there is room for improvement drives human curiosity and ingenuity forward. So now we imagine a future where humans are perfect, ageless, precise. Would these things really still be human or closer to real life cyborgs? Maybe this question is too ethical, lacking in empirical evidence to give a non-angled answer. But for myself, what makes a human different from a machine is that we are not built off of automatic judgments, we are not ageless, and we all carry collective, as well as our own individual imperfections. For it is these imperfections that remind us that we were not constructed in factories, but are rather shaped by our biology and given environments. As humans, we do in fact posses many automatic functions, many of which are linked to the autonomic nervous system which controls and regulates bodily functions such as our heartbeats, blood circulation, and breathing patterns. As Descartes puts it, â€Å"Our own bodies can move without the guidance of volition.† So in this sense, the human body has a mechanical side to it, but when it comes to our reasoning of the world, being creative, and solving problems, these are functions that are notShow MoreRelatedWhat Makes Us Human? Essay1377 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"What makes us human?†, is an unanswered question asked by many. Is it because of our ability to have empathy for others? Or is it because of our cognitive ability which allows us to look into the future? One of the main arguments made that separates humans from animals is our communication style; our language. Is language inherently unique to human? To answer such a question, we first ope rationally define language as; â€Å"a system of communication based upon words and the combination of words intoRead MoreWhat Makes Us Human?1394 Words   |  6 PagesWhat Makes Us Human Being a human is a lot more complex than people believe it to be. Although we can be similar, we’re unique to any other mammals or animals in the world. Humans are a difficult species to understand. We’re constantly changing and creating or discovering new things, throughout our world. Being a human isn’t always easy; we get things thrown at us suddenly like sickness or death, things go wrong such as failing a test or going through a breakup, and the most challenging thing;Read MoreWhat Makes Us Human?1228 Words   |  5 PagesWhat makes us human? For thousands of years, we have struggled to describe what it means to be human. Is it the way we walk, the size of our brain, the tools we use, or our capacity for emotion? All of these can make a difference when it comes to understanding our ancestry and what makes us special. Brain size is a determining factor in the intelligence of a species. Many people would think that the larger the brain, the smarter the species; however, a species can have very large brains andRead More What Makes Us Human?1718 Words   |  7 PagesHumans are extremely complex and unique beings. We are animals however we often forget our origins and our place in the natural world and consider ourselves superior to nature. Humans are animals but what does it mean to be human? What are the defining characteristics that separate us from other animals? How are we different? Human origins begin with primates, however through evolution we developed unique characteristics such as larger brain sizes, the capacity for language, emotional complexityRead MoreWhat Makes Us Humans?1069 Words   |  5 Pages Thought is what makes us humans. Our rationalism, our ability to make decisions based on our own reason and knowledge, is what makes humans human and not animals. Now a day we all have access to the largest library, the largest source of knowledge the world has ever known: the internet. Over 2,000 years ago we had the Library of Alexandria, a place where intellectuals would gather to discuss ideas and conduct research from over half a million books, a place where knowledge could grow. InRead MoreWhat Makes Us Humans?999 Words   |  4 PagesWhat makes us humans? Ask science, and we may receive a straightforward lesson on anatomy, but if we ponder the question deeper, we eventually find that it is actually a variety of intrinsic properties that define who we are as humans. In the novel â€Å"1984,† George Orwell enlightens us to what these qualities are and pushes us to decide whether the people of Oceana that lack these qualities are even human. The core characteristics of humanity as we know it are humor, imagination, spirituality, sexualityRead MoreWhat Makes Us Human?1905 Words   |  8 PagesHumans have made tremendous strides in learning about our early ancestors, but many questions remain about how and why we are what we are today, and there are as many theories. Chris Stringer, author of Lone Survivors, attempts to answer some of those questions. The question of â€Å"what makes us human† is a complicated one, with many different answers . Human beings evolved into what we are today not only through evolutions in genetics, brain size and body size, but also through our behaviors. So muchRead MoreHuman Nature : What Makes A Human Person?1511 Words   |  7 PagesHuman nature, the essence of what makes a human person what they are, is something that everybody has. Every person is innately a person, but how they put their personhood into action is the biggest indicator of their character, or the projection of a person’s human nature. At their core there is human nature, but their actions are what direct this source of humanity. The quality of someone’s actions is shaped by their environment and sometimes their biological makeup as well. Human nature doesRead MoreWhat Makes One Human and What Makes One Animal? Essay1635 Words   |  7 PagesGulliver’s Travels exposes the interdependency between both human and animalistic behaviors. In these travels, the word â€Å"human† does not necessari ly belong to a certain species, but is rather a characteristic of reason based on the social norms of a particular society. It also claims that animals lack reason and therefore are subdued by those with reason. Since Gulliver finds that humans are the only animals capable of reason, he sees humanity in the Houyhnhnms, who are completely governed by reasonRead MoreWhat Makes Humans Truly Unique?1551 Words   |  7 PagesWhen asking, â€Å"what is it that makes humans truly unique?† you must first ask yourself what unique means. In the grand scheme of the universe, humans may not be that unique but here on Earth we are very much so. We shape the world around us every day, for better or worse. We are by no means the most abundant species on the planet, (that title goes to ants), but we are the only species on Earth protecting other species. So in this case, unique means more progressive and more biologically advanced

The Flea Rhetoric and Poetry Mingling - 1180 Words

In John Donne’s poem, â€Å"The Flea†, Donne uses the conceit of the flea to contrast the insignificant size of the flea and the incredibly significant metaphor attached to the flea. The speaker of the poem is talking to a woman, trying to convince her into having sex with him outside of marriage. This poem can be broken into three stanzas, of nine lines each, utilizes the image of the flea to convey three main ideas: the first as a vessel where their essence mingles, second as the institution of marriage, and finally as an insignificant representation of honor which would have no effect on them. Donne’s hyperbolic use of the flea extends through the poem as a metaphysical conceit to convey a logical argument out of something seemingly†¦show more content†¦He warns the woman to not â€Å"[l]et†¦that self-murder added be,/And sacrilege, three sins in killing three†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , thus three sins would weigh on her. In killing the flea she metaphorica lly kills herself, the speaker, and killing their metaphorical marriage (which is only present within the flea) thus enacting blasphemously (Donne lines 17-8). The final stanza allows the reader and the woman to finally address the woman’s main concern: her innocence. A woman’s virtue, or more specifically the loss of innocence outside of wedlock, is an extremely controversial and scandalous act that mars the woman’s identity in society for the rest of her life. This is possibility of losing face within the society holds the woman back from giving herself to the speaker, and thus sparking this twenty-seven line poetic argument to persuade her into his bed. This stanza starts off with the sudden death of the flea, which the speaker sees it as a â€Å"[c]ruel and sudden†¦[act that has]/Purpled [her] nail in blood of innocence†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Donne lines 19-20). This, to the speaker, is death of innocence. He sees it as cruel and the spilling of innocent blood as blasphemous. The death of the â€Å"innocent† flea could be an allusion to the death of Jesus Christ, however the speaker is incredibly vague and thus it is impossible to say so conclusively. The speaker continues the innocence metaphor in tandem with the conceit of the flea, as heShow MoreRelatedthatcher4803 Words   |  20 Pagesï » ¿1. G. M. Hopkins, â€Å"The Windhover†, â€Å"I wake and feel the fell of dark†¦Ã¢â‚¬  2. William Shakespeare, Sonnets 1-7 3. John Donne, â€Å"Valediction Forbidding Mourning†, â€Å"The Flea†, â€Å"Hymn to God, My God in my Sickness† 4. George Herbert, â€Å"The Collar†, â€Å"The Altar†, â€Å"Love III† 5. Andrew Marvell, â€Å"To his Coy Mistress† 6. T.S. Eliot, â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock†, â€Å"Journey of the Magi† 2. Poems for individual reading: 1. William Shakespeare Sonnet 73 (â€Å"That time of year†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) 2. John Donne, â€Å"Holy

Influence and Persuasion free essay sample

Influence and Persuasion Critical Thinking (Influence, Science and Practice) Chapter 1 1. Suppose you were an attorney representing a woman who broke her leg in a department store and was suing the store for $100,000 in damages. Knowing only what you know about perceptual contrast, what could you do during the trial to make the jury see $100,000 as a reasonable, even small, award? * Research for similar cases with the same injury but with settlements far greater than $100,000. The bigger its difference from the client’s demands, the better it would be. Present these case citations to the court and by the principle of perceptual contrast, it will drive home the point to the jury that the plaintiff’s demand is indeed very reasonable. 2. The charity request card in Figure 1. 2 seems rather ordinary except for the odd sequencing of the donation request amounts. Explain why, according to the contrast principle, placing the smallest donation figure between the two larger figures is an effective tactic to prompt more and larger donations * Listing $25 as the very first amount and succeeding it with the $10 already creates a perceptual contrast, wherein the larger amount would be rejected outright as a steep amount for donation. However, placing $5 right after the $10 creates more perceptual contrast – again the donor would lean towards the lower value. If the charitable organization’s target amount is a donation of $10/person, then it should have stopped at ten as the last amount. However, if its target amount is $5 dollars but with an objective of prompting donors to give more voluntarily, then placing the $5 between the $10 and $15 makes more sense because the donor would be forced to choose a balance between two extremes – the extremes being $5 and $15 and the $10 being the balanced amount that the donor could give without the guilt feeling of being stingy and at the same time without the feeling of being taken advantage of. . What points do the following quotes make about the dangers of click-whirr responding? â€Å"Everything should be made as simple as possible but not simpler. † Albert Einstein * From the way I understand this, it means we should not fully relegate our decisions to the automatic click-whirr human responses. Human automatic behavior patterns tend to be learned, more flexible compared with those of the animals that possesses locked patterns of responses. Therefore, we have the capability to analyze and reason out situations before we make decisions. We have to keep in mind that not all stereotypes are true not every pronouncement of an expert is infallible nor every expensive thing is of high quality. Although these judgmental heuristics allow us simplified living, we must also be conscious of being aware when these simplistic rules are being used to take advantage of us. â€Å"The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are sometimes right. † Winston Churchill * This quote is a statement that disagrees with our propensity to stereotype. The stereotype is that people who are considered as fools do not have any smart or knowledgeable thing to offer in terms of opinion. The fool would be the complete opposite of people we consider as experts – people whose opinions are always held in high regard and true. Therefore the fools are people whose views are considered laughable and false. This quote actually says that there are times when a fool’s opinion should be listened to and heeded because it is right. Then again, this would only be possible if we make a conscious effort to react using other triggers rather than just the click-whirr response. . How does the photograph that opens this chapter reflect the topic of the chapter? * The photograph shows the onslaught of information that an individual has to process and assimilate into their lives every day. We get swamped with too much information, we do not have the time, energy or the ability to sort them out and allow our brain to fully process them. Oftenti mes, we resort to automatic responses with the use of stereotypes to classify things according to a few key features or triggers. Most times, our decisions are made unconsciously or with the help of trigger factors. Chapter 3 1. Suppose you were advising American soldiers on a way to avoid consistency pressures like those used to gain collaboration from the POWs during the Korean War. What would you tell them? * Advise the American soldiers to be wary and mindful of an individual’s inclination to be automatically and unthinkingly consistent. To be cognizant of situations where consistency is being used as a weapon of influence against them. Advise them to listen to their guts or be perceptive of the heart-of-heart signs the feeling towards something that an individual experiences a split second before they intellectualize about it. . In referring to the fierce loyalty of Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners, one commentator has said, â€Å"If you can persuade your customers to tattoo your name on their chests, you’ll probably never have to worry about them shifting brands. † Explain why this would be true. In your answer, make reference to each of the four factors that maximize the power o f a commitment on a future action. * Dr. Cialdini explained that commitments are more powerful when they are active; public; effortful; and viewed as internally motivated. The statement of the commentator is accurate because the motorcycle owners had made their commitment public by tattooing their commitment on their chests. These customers would be viewed as inconsistent if they purchase a motorcycle brand different from that written on their chests. Their action is also effortful and internally motivated since the action for tattooing the name was done voluntarily and of their own accord. 3. Imagine that you are having trouble motivating yourself to study for an important exam that is less than a week away. Drawing upon your knowledge of the commitment process, describe what you would do to get yourself to put in the necessary study time. Be sure to explain why your chosen actions ought to work. * Acknowledge the power of written statements. Set a goal and commit such goal in writing. Write down the date of the exam and a timetable of the topics you want to study and commit to memory before the date. Post this written commitment in a place where others would also see it. In that way, you have doubled the power of commitment by making it public. What would be the consequences of Roger’s more expansive approach to interpersonal relations? Think about your own interpersonal style. Is it closer to Rogers’ or Austen’s? Why? * Will Rogers could be taken advantage of by professional compliance people. Since we have automatic positive reactions to compliments, friendliness and the other factors leading to liking, people could exert undue influence on his decisions and daily life. 3. What parallels can you see between the findings of the boy’s camp studies and those of studies on the effects of (a) school desegregation and (b) cooperative learning in the classroom? a) School desegregation We like people who are similar to us, so our tendency in school is to associate ourselves with those we are most familiar and similar with. This results in the formation of groups or cliques that views other factions as rivals. Subsequently, these groups with divergent personalities would clash and compete because of th e differences in their orientation, ethnicity, backgrounds or lifestyle. Using the factors discussed in this chapter, describe how you would arrange your next encounter to accomplish your goal. * The first step would be to make use of similarity the factor that influences liking and compliance. Observe and learn a little bit about the seatmate – hobbies, favorite movies, books, sports – or any similarity that could be exploited to start the process of liking. Any common interest between the two of you could be a jump off point for some interesting discussions. Then enhance the liking deeper by complimenting the seatmate which is an effective device for producing return liking. . How does the photograph that opens this chapter reflect the topic of the chapter? * Adults always find kids adorable and endearing. Most adults find themselves putty in children’s hand. This is part of the adult human being’s fixed action pattern or our click-whirr reaction to kids. The picture which depicts smiling adorable kid selling lemonade is def initely someone that would trigger our liking process. It would ensure our compliance to an offer of buying a glass of lemonade even if we know that the lemonade is overpriced.

The History of the Genocide in the Rwandan

Introduction The Rwanda genocide that occurred in 1994 led to the loss of about 800,000 lives of the Tutsi community. The assassination of the president Juvenal Habyarimana triggered the genocide where the Hutu militia together with the Rwandan military organized systematic attacks on the Tutsi who were the minority ethnic group in Rwanda.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The History of the Genocide in the Rwandan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Rwandan genocide was quite strange because it was a speedy mass killing, which led to the loss of about 800,000 lives in just 100 days. The United States of America president at that time Bill Clinton during his visit to Rwanda apologized and told the Tutsi that he felt like other people â€Å"†¦who did not fully appreciate the depth and the speed with which you were being engulfed by this unimaginable terror† (Power Para. 7). The Rwanda genocide becomes t he extreme genocide that occurred in the 20th century. This essay explores the history of the genocide, the reasoning of the Hutu government and establishes why the international community did not intervene. History of the Genocide Hutu and Tutsi are the two tribes of Rwanda who have always been political enemies, fighting for power since independence in 1952. Belgians who colonized Rwanda favored Tutsi while they neglected the Hutu, but after independence, Hutu begun to enjoy the privileges of the government. â€Å"†¦independence ushered in three decades of Hutu rule, under which Tutsi were systematically discriminated against and periodically subjected to waves of killing and ethnic cleansing† (Power Para. 17). Many Tutsi went to exile in the neighboring countries and formed rebels who constantly attacked the Hutu government. In 1990, Tutsi formed the Rwanda Patriotic Front, which attacked the Hutu government leading to the Rwandan civil war. The Rwandan civil war led to the signing of the Arusha Accord that compelled the Rwandan government, which Hutu dominated, to form a government of national unity by incorporating marginalized Tutsi and the Hutu who were in opposition. For the realization of peace, the deployment United Nation peacekeepers helped in demilitarization of the civilians for Tutsi and Hutu to live in harmony. Hutu thought that the Tutsi and the Belgians wanted to enslave them again as during colonization and they vowed never to agree with the terms of the Arusha Accord. By 1993, â€Å"Hutu extremists rejected these terms and set out to terrorize Tutsi and those Hutu politicians supportive of the peace process †¦thousands Rwandans were killed, and some 9,000 were detained while guns, grenades, and machetes began arriving by the planeload† (Power Para. 18).Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Subsequent periodic attacks on Tu tsi set the stage for the genocide in 1994. Then, there was evident militarization of Hutu in readiness to exterminate the Tutsi and Belgian peacekeepers, who the Hutu perceived as their enemies. The assassination of the Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana triggered systematic mass killings of Tutsi by the Hutu military where they killed about 800,000 Tutsi in about 100 days. Though many diplomats perceived it as civil war, they alter discovered albeit late, that genocide had occurred. Now the genocide is a great scar in the land of Rwanda. Hutu Government Hutu government emerged after independence in 1952. Prior to the independence, the Tutsi enjoyed much privilege from the colonial government because they cooperated with the Belgians in undermining the Hutu struggles for independence. Therefore, the Hutu government reasoned that Tutsi were their enemies and they fought them both politically and by use of military. Democracy was difficult to achieve because political parties and Tutsi were defiant to the Hutu government and it perceived them as dissidents. The enmity of the Hutu and the Tutsi became feasible when the Hutu government in three decades consecutively discriminated against the Tutsi tribe leading to their exile. â€Å"In 1990 a group of armed exiles, mainly Tutsi, who had been clustered on the Ugandan border, invaded Rwanda†¦next several years the rebels, known as the Rwandan Patriotic Front gained ground against Hutu government forces† (Power Para. 16). After the Rwandan civil war, the Hutu government realized that the Tutsi were a great threat to their government and their existence, hence devised ways to exterminate them. The Hutu government also perceived the signing of the Arusha Accord that led to the formation of government of national unity as a scheme to overthrow them out of government. The Arusha Accord was just a paper as the then United Nations assistant executive; Beardsley confessed that, â€Å"we flew to Rwanda with a Michelin road map, a copy of the Arusha agreement, and that was it †¦ under the impression that the situation was quite straightforward; there was one cohesive government side and one cohesive rebel side† (Power Para. 21).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The History of the Genocide in the Rwandan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Hutu extremists in the government rejected the implementation of the Arusha Accord and did not implement it to the letter. Consequently, anyone who was supporting the Arusha Accord became an enemy to the Hutu government. The Hutu government reasoned that Tutsi, opposition leaders and foreign diplomats wanted to overthrow them from the government, thus organized systematic mass killings as a way of defending their its rule. The assassination of their president was a clear indication of a scheme to overthrow the government. International Community The international communi ty did not intervene in the Rwanda genocide because of the bureaucracies in their policies. For instance, the United States foreign policy did not provide for Bill Clinton to intervene the occurrence of Rwanda genocide. George Bush in 2000 issued his statement concerning Rwanda that, â€Å"I don’t like genocide, but I would not commit our troops †¦ genocide could happen again tomorrow and we wouldn’t respond to any differently† (Power Para. 40). The foreign policies of the United States are full of bureaucracies and that is why it took long for them to respond but with apologies that could not help. They did not consider Rwanda genocide as a humanitarian crisis, thus, they kept quiet while 8000 lives are lost per day. There were slow responses from the international community because the situation of Rwanda was a combination of civil war and genocide. Power argues that, â€Å"it is true that the precise nature and extent of the slaughter was obscured by th e civil war, the withdrawal of U.S. diplomatic sources, some confused press reporting, and the lies of the Rwandan government† (Para. 26). Other nations relied on the United Nations and the United States of America but they all kept quiet leaving them to rely on confusing news from the Rwandan government and the media. If the international community could have intervened, it could be justified as a humanitarian war because it could have saved many lives Conclusion The Rwandan genocide is a shocking experience to the world because it depicts how human lives can be lost in such an inhuman way. The situation of Rwanda became much worse as the international community never responded effectively to save the situation.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The international community never imagined that mass killings of that extent would occur as many thought that what was happening was just a normal civil war. Thus, ethnical politics of Rwanda and the international community are responsible for the occurrence and the extent of the genocide. Works Cited Power, Samantha. â€Å"Bystanders to Genocide.† The Atlantic Monthly 288.2 September 2001. Web. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2001/09/bystanders-to-genocide/304571/ This essay on The History of the Genocide in the Rwandan was written and submitted by user Zion Mcguire to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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Children face unique Health Risks Essays

Children face unique Health Risks Essays Children face unique Health Risks Paper Children face unique Health Risks Paper Essay Topic: Unique Because of their physiology, children face certain health risks that adults do not, and have been found to be particularly at risk to health dangers from exposure to pesticide residues in food. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, governmental agencies and independent organizations conducted studies on chemical pesticide toxicities. In 1996 the EPA began testing of all pesticides on the market to specifically determine their risk levels for children. Many pesticides have already been banned because of their propensity for causing cancer, birth defects, and neurological disorders in children and infants. Because there is conflicting information in the media about which chemicals are dangerous and to what degree, parents must be wise about the measures they take to protect their own children. Using only organically grown produce and refraining from the use of any pesticide products in ones own garden and lawn are two of the most important ways parents can protect their childre! n. Introduction Children face unique health risks because of their physiological differences with adults. Unfortunately, it is easy for adults to forget this fact. According to scientists Lawrie Mott of the Natural Resources Defense Council, pesticides are one of the five worst environmental threats to our nations children (Dumanoski, p. 46). Indeed, the recent increases in cases of childhood cancer (brain and leukemia are the most common forms in children), birth defects, and learning disorders are serious causes for alarm. Can any of these disorders be proven to be caused by pesticide residues? Of all health risks to children, pesticide use is certainly one that seems to have garnered much attention from researchers and the media. Unfortunately for consumers, there are so many conflicting opinions and information that it is difficult to determine the true dangers, how much of what will cause which medical problems? Children are exposed to so many dangers, such as falls and accidents, these are challenges that have a clear link between cause and effect (Partridge, p. 71). On the other hand, pesticide use does not. There are so many factors involved, including the thousands of chemical pesticides on the market, concentration levels of those pesticides, and the ages at which children are exposed to specific pesticides. There are no absolutes. Even the few chemicals that have been proven to cause health risks offer no definitive information about the severity of potential damage. It is most difficult to determine risk factors without human experimentation, and that is considered by many people to be unethical. Parents need assistance weeding through all the information available on pesticide dangers in order to determine how to protect their children. In recent years, many federal agencies and legislators, as well as nonprofit groups, have become involved in the issue. Actress and mother Meryl Streep and other Connecticut mothers founded Mothers Others for a Livable Planet in the late 1980s in response to the National Resources Defense Councils (NRDC) report Intolerable Risk: Pesticides in Our Childrens Food. The study examined data on the eating habits of American children and the pesticide levels in 27 different food crops, relating this information to rates of cancer and other diseases in children. Eight of the pesticides studied were found to be carcinogens. Scientists determined that a child was four times more likely to be exposed to these specific carcinogens as was an adult, because of the childs eating habits and the fact that the tolerance levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were based on someone with the body weight of an average grown man. This would mean that children could potentially be ingesting high enough levels of chemical pesticides to be harmful to their health. Because of Mothers Others and similar consumer organizations, public awareness of environmental toxins and synthetic growth hormones in our food has risen, and sales of organic food products have increased. The Intolerable Risks study reported that in some cases, depending upon the age of the child and other factors such as body mass, even brief exposures to certain toxins can cause damage to the development or function of an organ system. The report recommended that the EPA set new tolerance levels for pesticide use on food products, keeping in mind the differences between children and adults as well as health considerations. In response, the EPA announced in 1995 a new national health policy under which all future EPA risk assessments (such as those dealing with toxins in food) would consider threats to children and infants. One year later, Congress passed the Food Quality Protection Act, which stated that infants and children need additional protection against exposure to pesticides; it requires testing of all pesticides to determine their effects on children. Under this law, unless tests prove that there is reasonable certainty of no harm (Heubner and Chilton, PG), no pesticide residue is allowed on any food product. The EPA has estimated that it will take approximately 10 years to re-evaluate all of the tens of thousands of chemical pesticide compounds that are currently on the market. Even though pesticide companies have tested products on human volunteers for decades, the EPA will not utilize the findings of such studies in its determinations of legal pesticide limits (Reuters, PG). In 1996 the EPA released its Environmental Health Threats to Children report, which had several purposes. Among them was to provide recommendations for funding for comprehensive studies on environmental health risks to children. The agency recommended that research be done for the first time on the cumulative effects of exposure, rather than simply studying the possible effects of singular chemical exposures, as had historically been done. It makes sense. Most children are exposed to many more than one chemical by age five. The 1996 report affirmed that because children are still growing, children breathe more air, eat more food, and drink more liquids per body mass than do most adults. Furthermore, they are more vulnerable to toxin exposures because their organs and immune systems are still developing; this is especially true for infants. Likewise, infants are often exposed to things that older children arent because they crawl around on floors, tend to put objects into their mouths, and suck on thumbs or fingers that may have been exposed to toxins such as pesticides or other chemicals on grass, carpet, or in soil. Additionally, children consume more fruit, like grapes and apples; applesauce; and fruit juices than do adults. In 1997 the EPA conducted a conference on Preventable Causes of Cancer in children, in order to examine the possibility of a link between cancer in children and environmental toxins. Although death rates from cancer have decreased recently due to better treatment methods having been developed, the incidences of cancer in children have risen. It was determined that the incidence of cancer in children has increased since the 1970s from 12. 8 cases per 100 children to 13. 6 cases per 100. Cancer is the third leading causes of death in children between the ages of one and four, accounting for approximately eight percent of all deaths in that age group. In the five to 14 age group, the disease is the second leading cause of death, and accounts for approximately 12 percent of all deaths. About 1500 children die each year from various forms of cancer. Many pesticides have been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals, and thus are dangerous to children. It is believed that leukemia, a cancer of the immune system, may be caused by toxic exposures to chemicals during pregnancy (Dumanoski, p. 48). As the childs immune system matures during the first two years of life, the leukemia develops. Many birth defects are also linked to pesticide residue. Birth defects account for about 11 percent of all deaths in the one to four age group, and about five percent of all deaths in the five to 14 age group. The link between pesticides and birth defects can be illustrated by a study by the University of Minnesota Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Pathology, which determined that the rates of genital and urinary tract birth defects in the children of Minnesota farmers and other families living in the states farming communities are particularly high where specific pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are used. Researchers were stunned to discover that children conceived in the spring, when the use of these chemicals is higher than in any other season, tended to have higher rates of birth defects (Dumanoski, p. 47). Childrens brains and immune, endocrine, and reproductive systems take years to fully develop. The potential for infertility can occur with just a single exposure to a dangerous chemical. This can even occur through a chemicals passage from mother to infant in the womb. Over time, toxic substances a womans body has accumulated are stored in her fat cells. Therefore, even toxins she has been exposed to pre-pregnancy can cross the placenta to the fetus. In 1998 the U. S. Department of Agriculture performed tests on thousands of domestic and imported fruits and vegetables for pesticide residues. The produce samples used for the study consisted of a combination of fresh and processed items. The highest levels of residue were found in apples, cantaloupes, grapes, green beans, peaches, pears, spinach, strawberries, and winter squash. Pediatrician and author Philip J. Landrigan, M. D. is the director of the environmental risk study panel of the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D. C. His panel recently confirmed that pesticide testing does not take into account the special vulnerability (Joyce, PG) of children and infants. The panel has not determined that there is evidence of pesticides causing childhood diseases, only that there is a necessity for changing the way pesticides used on food crops are measured. According to Landrigan, less than half of the 75,000 synthetic chemicals now on the market have undergone testing for toxicity; of those that have, few of them have been tested specifically for toxicity in children (Dumanoski, p. 47). A long-time advocate of childrens health, Dr. Landrigan was recently instrumental in establishing a special EPA Office of Childrens Health Protection. As of June 2000, the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Consumers Union (publisher of Consumer Reports magazine has become involved in the pesticide issue, and has urged the federal government to require greater precautions in treating food crops with pesticides on behalf of Americas children. Consumers Union has reported that there are approximately 20 specific chemicals that are to blame for most of the toxic residues found in our food. One of these is chlorphyrifos, which the EPA has recently banned because of its potential for causing blurred vision, memory loss and other neurological deficiencies. Two of the most common brand names for chlorphyrifos are Dursban and Lorsban. These pesticides are commonly found in apples grown in New Zealand, grapes grown in Chile, tomatoes grown in Mexico, and soybeans grown in the United States. The chlorphyrifos products are among the most widely used pesticides (Hebert, PG), and they will likely stay on store shelves until the end of 2001. Its use has already been completely banned on fruits and vegetables, but will still be allowed on some grains and other crops. Another recently banned agricultural chemical is Captan, a fungicide that has been proven to be a carcinogen. Captan has been banned by the EPA for use on 42 different food crops. It is hoped that, as a result of the more intensive testing required by the 1996 food safety law, more of these dangerous chemical pesticides will be banned in the near future by the EPA. In a June 2000 report, the Consumers Union encouraged consumers to take special precautions in feeding fresh produce to their children, revealing that many pesticides banned by the EPA as far back as the 1970s are still showing up in some food products today. One of these is the chemical dieldrin, which remains in soil for long periods of time. The National Agricultural Chemicals Association has announced that it will take the recommendations of all the involved agencies and organizations very seriously, and will take whatever actions are necessary to make the food safety system in the United States better for children (Joyce, PG). Heubner and Chilton posit that some of the policies regarding food production could be more harmful than helpful by bringing about other risks. For example, reducing the amounts of pesticides used on fruits and vegetables has been proven to lower crop outputs. This means less food, a decreased variety of food, greater costs for farmers, higher prices for consumers, and a potential for increased rates of incidence of natural toxins and carcinogens. Indeed, many plants produce their own poisons to ward off insects and other pests. These can also be dangerous to human health, but it is only the man-made chemical pesticides that are currently being studied for their negative effects. Perhaps a better option is utilizing nonchemical synthetic pesticides that are less dangerous to our health. The infamous Intolerable Risks report did not discuss potential exposures to natural toxins, nor did it compare the risks of pesticides to the benefits of a varied and plentiful food supply (Heubner and Chilton, PG). Perhaps what this country needs is the ability to put environmental risks in context with other risks to childrens health. Certainly, environmental contaminants are not one of the top risks to the health of our children. Scientists are attributing childhood cancer, birth defects, asthma, and other disorders to environmental toxins when there is sometimes no concrete and definitive proof. There are many other factors that could contribute to health problems in children, including poor diets, increased exposure to tobacco smoke, and poor prenatal care. All of these are lifestyle issues, and the lifestyles of American people can certainly be considered to be at least contributors to some childhood ailments. For example, approximately five million of the 15 million Americans who have asthma are children. Even though air quality is reported to have improved since 1970, asthma rates have doubled since that time. Asthma deaths have increased by 40 percent since 1982. These increased rates of incidence and death can be attributed, at least partially, to lifestyle changes. Children spend more time indoors than they used to, which exposes them to more tobacco smoke, cockroach allergens, and other indoor pollutants. The fact is, we dont know why asthma is becoming more prevalent†¦ (Heubner and Chilton, PG), but to blame it entirely on environmental toxins is hardly fair. The same could be true for cancer and birth defects. As a nation, perhaps we should spend less time worrying about environmental effects on children and more time dealing with social problems that are undeniable risks to children drugs, gunshot wounds, etc. There is so much conflicting information in the media about pesticide toxicity, that consumers have a difficult time determining what is the truth. For example, in 1989 the EPA called for a gradual phasing out of the user of Alar, the brand name of the Uniroyal Chemical Companys apple growth enhancement chemical daminozicle. Alar was used by apple orchards to regulate apple growth, so that farmers could harvest them all at once. Subsequent to the EPA action, a 60 Minutes segment on Alar use led to a nationwide boycott of apples, resulting in a complete withdrawal of Alar from the market. Alar had been pointed out in the Intolerable Risks report as a possible carcinogen. In fact, the NRDC determined that Alar was likely to cause at least one case of cancer in every 4,200 children under the age of five who were exposed to the chemical. In 1999, however, the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) determined that there has never been any scientific, definitive proof that Alar causes human disease, and that in order to develop any negative effects from Alar residue on apples, one would have to consumer gallons of juice made from apples grown with the chemical, per day, for a long period of days. Therefore, the risk is now thought to be minimal. With so much conflicting information available through both the media and governmental agencies, how can parents know how best to protect their children? Firstly, experts warn parents not to stop feeding their children fruits and vegetables. These foods contain important nutrients for growing bodies. There are several ways that parents can protect their children from pesticides in food. The consumer organization Environmental Working Group recommends that parents demand that their supermarkets carry fresh locally produced fruits and vegetables. Produce grown locally is less likely to have high exposure to chemicals, because they dont need preservatives to stay fresh for transport across the country. Other options include buying organic or pesticide-free produce, or growing ones own pesticide-free produce at home. All product should be carefully washed before being eaten. If a fruit or vegetable has a waxy buildup on the outside, it should either be peeled or washed with a drop of mild soap before being given to children. Children can also be exposed to pesticides while playing in their own backyards. The National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides suggests that parents avoid using chemical lawn products, and water their lawns less frequently but for longer periods of time. This practice will allow grass to grow stronger with the ability to crowd out weeds (Gould, p. 145). Not all of these suggestions will work for every familys lifestyle. Parents should review the available information and make informed decisions that make sense to them. Additionally, there are plenty of materials on the market that can offer further information to consumers on reducing their risks of pesticide exposure. Gould recommends the book Raising Children Toxic Free: How to Keep Your Child Safe From Lead, Asbestos, Pesticides and Other Environmental Hazards, by Herbert L. Needleman, M. D. and Philip J. Landrigan, M. D. Organizations such as the Childrens Environmental Health Network and the EPA offer free information on environmental health hazards to children. What about environmental issues besides pesticide use that can affect the health of Americas children? The EPA has pledged to consistently and explicitly consider children when assessing environmental hazards (Dumanoski, p. 51) in the future for example, hazards in air and water quality. Pesticide use is really only a drop in the bucket. American lifestyles are causing many of the medical problems suffered by children in this country. **Bibliography** Bibliography Dumanoski, D. Childs Plague: Its Dangerous to be a Kid in a Polluted World, Sierra. 21 November 1997. Volume 82, p. 46-52. Gould, J. Keeping our Children Safe: What You Can Do to Protect Them from Hazards in the Air They Breathe, the Foods They Eat, and More, Good Housekeeping. 1 October 1996. Volume 223, p. 145-147. Hebert, H. J. EPA to Ban Common Pesticide, AP Online. 8 June 2000. www. elibrary. com [November 18, 2000]. Huebner, S. ; Chilton, K. Overplaying Environmental Threats to Children, Consumers Research Magazine. 1 April 1998. Volume 82. www. elibrary. com [November 18, 2000]. Joyce, C. Scientists Concerned About Pesticide Effects on Kids, All Things Considered (NPR). 28 June 1993. www. elibrary. com [November 18, 2000]. Krasnow, I. Militant Mothers, Taking up Issues That Matter, The Washington Post. 2 November 2000, p. C4. Partridge, K. Choose Your Poison, Todays Parent. 1 September 1999. Volume 16, p. 69-74. Toufexis, A. Watch Those Vegetables, Ma; Pesticide-Laden Produce May Endanger Your Tots, Time. 6 March 1989, p. 57. Author Not Available. Pesticide Residues Seen Too High in Childrens Food, Reuters Business Report. 7 June 2000. www. elibrary. com [November 18, 2000].

Multinational Companies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Multinational Companies - Essay Example The two companies equally believe in being socially, ethically as well as environmentally responsible and accept their duty towards the society, making every effort on their part, to come up with safe products which contribute towards creating prosperity and opportunity for the global citizens. It is not unusual to find out that customers are considered to be the most valued stakeholder by both the companies. Samsung as well as GE strive to deliver first-rate products and services to their customers, while focusing on integrity and excellence simultaneously. Another vital similarity that exists between the companies is with regard to innovation and change. Samsung, with its innovative products ranging from camcorders to refrigerators, considers innovation to be extremely critical for a company’s survival in today’s fast-paced world. On the other hand, GE too, with its vast array of innovations in light bulbs to aircraft engines, has always believed in innovation to be a major factor for a company’s growth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Apart from the similarities, there exist certain definite differences between the two Multinational Corporations. Though both the companies believe in workforce diversity and in hiring the best talent from across the world, GE is more all-encompassing in its view on diversity. GE not only believes in diversity on the basis of nationalities but it also considers diversity on the basis of class, gender, race and community as equally important. As stated in (GE, 2012), GE commits itself to support the Gay, Lesbian.

Analysis of Current Issues in Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysis of Current Issues in Finance - Essay Example On one side, the change process must be rapid and fast while on the other hand the process of supporting the information technology systems consists of improving on the multifaceted interrelation. Their repercussions on the expected change can normally be dependably managed by letting various people involved. Therefore, the procedures involved in the organizational change call for both managerial competencies and analytical skills in coping with high level of convolution to concentrate on the process (Van, 2001; p. 112). All the tasks call for the incorporation of individuals who have unique views such as business experts, senior management or IT-professionals. Hence it is critical for the efficiency of management of change to enhance the process of communication over such professional cultures. There are various ways to research and boast the organizational change process. Majority of the methods are found on social and psychological dimensions. Other areas comprise of change in man agement, organizational learning, enhancement of communication, images within the organization and organizational culture. These strategies amount to a good comprehension of the process of change, focus on the fundamental aspects of success and thus enhance the management and design of the process of change. ... The terms given by the respective language of modeling encourage the analysis, transformation and evaluation of the models (Van, 2001; p. 115). The procedures for modeling support various views on an organization like tactical view, as a business procedure or an IT perspective. It tends to be considerable to execute conceptual models for evaluation, designing, introduction of information systems and for the procedure of organizational change in common. Nonetheless, the application of the conceptual models for the purpose of organizational change has to overrule two stumbling blocks. Most managers are hesitant to deal with the conceptual models on top of the availability of economic assessment of models even if they are taken to establish they lead to more expenses (Audretsch & TTS, 2013; p. 293) Found on the presumption that there is no valid process to evaluate the general cost and benefit, there is need to assess the models in different views. Control of the organizational change i s found on an efficient evaluation of the corporate strategy, challenges in the future period, major resources and organizational environment. This comprise of for example, the evaluation of evolving and changing markets, the evaluation of core rivals, the analysis of the IT and human resources on top of evaluation of the main business processes. An enterprise’s conceptual models pledge to encourage processes of change in the organization in different dimension. By concentrating on the major abstractions, they enable the reduction of the entire intricacy. The particular intention of language modeling must give terms that encourage evaluation and analysis. For example, a language for designing business process might comprise of terms like use of resources and media conflicts