Introduction to Environmental Science Essay Example for Free

Introduction to Environmental Science Essay Be able to define an environmental factor. There are two types (condition and resource). What is the difference between a condition and a resource? Be able to categorize particular environmental factors as conditions OR resources (for example, temperature is a condition and not a resource). Be able to rank from smallest to largest: ecosystem, landscape, biome, biosphere Be able to rank from smallest to largest (in terms of numbers and diversity of life): species, population, biota and biosphere. Also, what is the difference between a population of a species and a species overall? Make sure you can explain the Law of Limiting Factors. What is the difference between the optimum conditions, the zones of tolerance and the zones of stress? Can life exist outside of the zones of tolerance? Outside of the zones of stress? Be able to list the primary atoms in organic compounds. What is the difference between a producer and a consumer? Be able to classify life as one or the other. Make sure you know the products and reactants for photosynthesis and cellular respiration. In each of the following cycles, be able to identify the primary source for each atom (atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere): Carbon cycle, Nitrogen cycle, Phosphorous cycle. Be able to categorize an environmental resistance factor as population density-dependent or density-independent. Some examples may include food availability, water availability, disease, temperature, wind and available space/shelter. What are biotic potential and environmental resistance, and how are they related? Be able to define critical number (what this means for a species survival), threatened and endangered. Make sure you can list characteristics of a K-strategist versus an r-strategist. Is an elephant a K- or r-strategist? What about a fly? Be able to describe, and identify, the following community interactions: predation, competition, mutualism, commensalism, amensalism. What is an adaptation? Be able to identify common types of adaptations of organisms (camouflage, prickles on cactus, ability to store water in the desert, hibernation in cold climates, long necks to reach food, etc. see table in your Power Point and textbook). See more: introduction paragraph example How does the process of selective pressure influence the processes of evolution and speciation? What IS the process of speciation? What is time frame for evolution and/or speciation of complex species (i.e., not single-celled organisms like bacteria)? Can species that evolve from other species still mate with the species from which they evolved? How are the Theories of Evolution and Continental Drift complimentary? Be able to identify the exponential growth rate equation and the logistic growth rate equation. What are the differences between the two? (For example, carrying capacity is only in logistic growth, the shapes of the curves are different.) Be able to describe how (in what way) each of the four human population revolutions impacted the carrying capacity for humans on Earth. Make sure you can tell me what each of the letters stands for in this equation, I = (P x A x T)/S, and how increasing and decreasing each will change environmental impact (I). Make sure you know what each of these trophic categories or food web terms are: Autotrophs, Heterotrophs (includes decomposers, consumers), Producers, Consumers (first-order, second-order, third-order). Where do herbivores, carnivores and omnivores fit into the consumer classes? Be able to list the 6 major biomes, and compare them in terms of precipitation and temperature (precipitation is the primary factor that determines biomes, and temperature is the second most important factor). What are common values that humans place on biodiversity? What was the goal of the Endangered Species Act? Does it protect the organism only, or also its habitat?

Positive and negative aspects of globalisation

Positive and negative aspects of globalisation This study debates the positive and negative aspects of globalisation and attempts to determine the impact of the phenomenon on the lives of modern day humans. Globalisation is undoubtedly the defining feature of the contemporary world (International .2006, p 101-111). Economic globalisation, the driver of this phenomenon, concerns the growing interdependence of different national economies that is taking place because of the continuance and growth of international trade in commodities and services, rapid advancement and spread of technologies, flow of international capital across states, and movement of people across geographic borders (Kim Zurlo, 2008, p 130-141). Economic globalisation is in another sense fundamentally driven by the ever growing desire of organisations and people across the world to take advantage of modern day opportunities, earn more money and grow in financial and economic terms (Kim Zurlo, 2008, p 130-141). Globalisation has come about and is spreading rapidly because of two important factors; advances in areas of science and technology and the global economic policies of powerful nations and organisations (Kim Zurlo, 2008, p 130-141). Astonishing advances in areas of science and technology have made it far simpler, easier, and cheaper for people to talk to each other across vast distances and exchange information and documents (International .2006, p 101-111). The growth of the Worldwide Web and the Internet have made huge amounts of information and data available to people in rich and poor countries, developed and developing economies, and in near and remote locations. Every person on this earth with a small personal computer and a broadband connection has as much information as any other. He or she can communicate across the world, find organisations and businesses, and engage in economic, cultural and social activity (International .2006, p 101-111). Advances in transportation tech nology have reduced costs of transportation immensely in terms of ocean freight costs and air fares, making it significantly easier for people to travel across vast distances and send both goods and services to distant locations (International .2006, p 101-111). Whilst globalisation has been facilitated by the many tools generated by science and technology, it has been initiated and encouraged by neo-liberal western economies like the United States, the UK and the wealthy countries of Western Europe (Boyer, 1993, p 10-12). These nations found themselves in control of the global economy after the collapse of the Soviet Union and initiated a number of economic and trade policies for the reduction of trade barriers and the movement of capital, production and service facilities, and people across nations. (Boyer, 1993, p 10-12) Such initiatives enabled the western nations to gain access to the huge markets in Asia, Latin America and Africa that they had lost in the wake of the demise of colonialism and enabled powerful western business organisations to use their financial and physical resources to establish and increase their business hegemony across the world (Gibson, 2003, p 59-73). The initiation and implementation of economic liberalisation policies by the majority of developing countries, at the instance of the IMF and the World Bank, provided western MNCs access to virgin new markets teeming with opportunity, and to good quality production and service facilities at costs that were unimaginable in the advanced economies (Gibson, 2003, p 59-73). Globalisation, whilst fed and facilitated by such factors, has increased rapidly in recent years and has assumed a life and a character of its own that now appears to be irreversible and beyond the control of any particular nation or group of nations (Standing Alber, 2000, p 99-119). The economies of various countries of developed economies and developing nations are now so interdependent that any effort to go against the trend seems to be absurd and doomed to failure (Standing Alber, 2000, p 99-119). Whilst globalisation, both economic and cultural, now appears to be irreversible, its impact continues to be fiercely debated (Standing Alber, 2000, p 99-119). Supporters of globalisation point to the enormous economic advancements that have been achieved by national economies, both in the developed and in the developing world, during the last two decades (International .2006, p 101-111). They state that the forces of globalisation, which have resulted in high levels of interaction between the peoples of different nations, in terms of exchange of goods, capital and people, and have been instrumental in bringing about unprecedented and astonishing growth in economic activity and cultural exchange, will also bring about greater convergence of global society in terms of economic and social equality between the people of rich and poor nations and the creation of a convergent global social and economic order (International .2006, p 101-111). Critics of globalisation are however equally forceful in their opinion of globalisation being little other than a tool of western nations for increasing their international economic and political hegemony (Tonelson, 2002, p 6-12). Such critics argue that the MNCs, like Nike, Gap, Coca Cola, IBM, who are the fundamental drivers of economic globalisation, are using every available opportunity to increase their profitability and are routinely engaging in a range of oppressive activities in the developing countries (Brecher Costello, 1994, p 1-4). They are on one hand using their resources and skills to establish market dominance over smaller, less resourced and less skilled local entrepreneurs and taking away from them their rightful markets (Brecher Costello, 1994, p 1-4). They are on the other hand exploiting the widespread economic poverty and need that exists in the developing world to obtain goods and services at cheap rates (Brecher Costello, 1994, p 1-4). Economic globalisatio n, such people state, far from creating convergence, is actively increasing the divergence between global societies (Brecher Costello, 1994, p 1-4). Recent years, they argue, have witnessed an increase in the economic differences between rich and poor societies, rather than in any meaningful convergence. Globalisation they state is resulting in a race to the bottom with increasing inequalities between different segments of people (Rudra, 2008, p 15-21). This short study takes up the debate between these two positions with reference to actual examples from rich and poor nations and strives to relate policy debates with actual realities. It strives to examine both sides of the debate and analyse whether globalisation in its present form will bring about greater economic and cultural harmony or should be moderated in the interest of social justice and equality. Race to the Bottom The race to the bottom represents a new economic phenomenon that is essentially an offspring of increasing globalisation (Tonelson, 2002, p 6-12). The concept results from the desires of developing economies in the contemporary globalised scenario for greater levels of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) to boost their per capita GDP (Rudra, 2008, p 15-21). Such FDI is invited by developing countries for the installation of production facilities for domestic as well as international consumption. Many developing economies invite FDIs and foreign participation in their economies by promising (a) opportunities to MNCs for engaging cheap and skilled labour, and (b) freedom of action with regard to hiring and firing of workers (Rudra, 2008, p 15-21). The current boom in FDIs is being driven by the desire of MNCs to establish production and service locations in low wage areas, where governments allow organisations to operate without inconvenient restrictions (Gibson, 2003, p 59-73). The passage of various free trade agreements, another integral component of the globalisation phenomenon, provides little by way of protection of the rights of workers (USLEAP, 2010, p 1). Although South America constitutes the largest supplier of bananas to the US, banana farmers and workers are continually battling injustices, poor and insecure working conditions and insufficient wages (USLEAP, 2010, p 1). Such desires and circumstances have resulted in an ongoing initiative by various MNCs to reduce their production costs by seeking out countries and regions that offer cheap wages and have low regulatory controls (Gibson, 2003, p 59-73). MNCs, in their desire to achieve high profits, actively search for countries without labour regulations in order to construct factories and begin production of goods with swiftness and at remarkably low costs (Gibson, 2003, p 59-73). With some countries offering tax incentives for specific periods of time in return for investment in factories, MNCs are also able to reduce their total overhead costs by choosing their production locations with care (Gibson, 2003, p 59-73). The desire for developing economies to attract foreign investment often leads to intense competition between nations in offering more attractive production environments, which in other words translates into availability of workers with cheaper wages and slack labour regulations (Balko, 2010, p 1). Such actions essentially result in the constant depression of wages to workers and to poor working conditions. MNCs, in their desire for cheaper production costs and greater profitability, bring about a race to the bottom where workers are exploited continuously, compelled to work for low wages in difficult working conditions, and face risks of unemployment, whenever MNCs locate more favourable locations and decide to take their business and manufacturing facilities elsewhere (Balko, 2010, p 1). A 2000 BBC report revealed an alarming incidence of child workers and adverse working conditions at the Nike and Gap sweatshops in Cambodia. Subsequent to the expose, both companies stopped operatio ns in Cambodia leaving hundreds jobless (Balko, 2010, p 1). This race to the bottom, experts on globalisation state, is resulting, not just in greater inequality between the rich and the poor, but in an all enveloping phenomenon that is diminishing the lives and the environments of the people of developing countries (Tonelson, 2002, p 6-12). China and India provide numerous examples of how multinationals are exploiting workers (Chan, 2003, p 21- 28). American MNCs constantly ask for lower prices from their suppliers in China. The resultant reduction in wages to workers is thereafter cloaked by incorrect payroll reporting (Chan, 2003, p 21- 28). Dan McDougall (2008) states that companies like Gap and Esprit, both of which are widely recognised fashion brands, use subcontractors in India that surreptitiously use child labour behind closed doors and employ local toughs to keep visitors away. Local factory owners in India dodge labour regulations and powerful labour unions in order to employ an ever growing force of poor rural children. Many such children, especially those engaged in the textile sector, damage their eyesight and hands from long hours of work in badly lit rooms. Their growth is adversely affected by having to sit in abnormal positions in uncomfortable work stations. Most of them do not have fixed working hours or supportive trade unions. The wages of child workers are sometimes less than 20% of adult wages (McDougall, 2008, p1). The UN-HABITAT (2004), in a recent publication, states that the benefits of globalisation, in terms of improvements in incomes and economic growth are being negated by the rapid and unplanned urbanisation of cities, greater inequality and increased poverty. The movement of jobs and money to cities and states that can provide cheap labour is fuelling this race to the bottom. It is estimated that approximately 2 billion people, 75 % of the combined present day population of India and China, will live in slums by 2030. Amongst the worst affected by the reduction of barriers to the mobile modern day industries are female workers, whose wages and working conditions have reduced significantly. This race to the bottom is not just limited to the poorer developing nations. Even productive industrial cities like Detroit and Chicago have lost significant shares of their available jobs, because of production activities being shipped abroad by numerous business organisations (UN-HABITAT, 2004, p 1-2). Convergence and the Race to the Top Whilst the apprehensions and worries evidenced by modern day economists and experts on globalisation are very real and cause for immense concern, it would be foolish to deny the significance of the changes brought about by globalisation (Boyer, 1993, p 15-29). The composition of trade has for example changed dramatically over the last two decades. Both developing and industrialised countries now trade in competing products (Neto Viega, 2009, p 16-25). Whilst western economies, ever since the days of the industrial revolution, has exported manufactured products with high value addition, even as the rest of the world has traditionally exported primary commodities with low margins, more than 70% of the exports of developing countries are now constituted of manufactured items. Services, which until recent years were essentially local in nature, are progressively increasing their share of global trade (Neto Viega, 2009, p 16-25). Much of this shift in composition of trade has been accompanied with global redistribution of employment, as well as production (Boyer, 1993, p 15-29). Developing countries have now become important suppliers of numerous industrial goods. The advanced economies are also being able to sustain their economic growth with the support of an ever growing services sector in the developing countries (Boyer, 1993, p 15-29). MNCs, it cannot be denied, have contributed to such structural changes by shifting their operations to locations that are proximal to markets and have low labour costs (Boyer, 1993, p 15-29). Many countries that have been able to integrate into the global trading scheme are growing faster, obtaining better access to technology and capital, improving their productivity and achieving higher living standards (Boyer, 1993, p 15-29). China and India provide good examples of the adoption of sound economic and development strategies that take advantage of globalisation opportunities and yet ensure protection from its ill effects (Chan, 2003, p 21- 28). China has been regularly achieving an annual GDP growth rate in excess of 10% on the back of an export led economy that services markets across the world (Chan, 2003, p 21- 28). Such economic growth has changed the lives of millions of people and brought them above the poverty line (Chan, 2003, p 21- 28). The poverty rate in India remained stagnant from the late 1940s to the early 1980s despite the best efforts of a succession of socialist governments. The countrys growth rate spiked after the adoption of liberalisation policies i n the early 1980s. The growth rate soon crossed 6% and the country was able to cut poverty in half in the ensuing two decades (Rudra, 2008, p 30-39). There is also a hard body of evidence to suggest that the growing economic interdependency of the contemporary globalised era will inevitably compel most countries and organisations to adopt similar managerial and social processes to bring about a homogenisation of national, fiscal and social policies (Boyer, 1993, p 15-29). Such adoption of technologies and processes are being witnessed in China and India and will progressively pervade the developing world (Boyer, 1993, p 15-29). Supporters of globalisation argue that higher economic growth and incomes will automatically result in greater financial resources with states, which can then be used for improvement of social security and the quality of life of disadvantaged population segments and bring about improvements in education, skills and earning power (Boyer, 1993, p 15-29). Such processes will inevitably converge across nations to bring about improvements in the quality of life of millions of people across the globe and bring about a race to the top (Boyer, 1993, p 15-29). These arguments are of course supported by enormous data on the improvement in employment figures, higher incomes and better quality of life of people in the developing countries that have embraced globalisation. Discussion Globalisation has very clearly brought about immense benefits to the peoples of both developed and developing nations (International .2006, p 101-111). Whilst the developed economies have been able to use the huge markets and cost economic production bases that have opened up in the developing regions of Asia, South America, Africa and East Europe to sustain and grow their economies, the developing countries have been able to use their bank of skilled and unskilled people to increase employment, incomes, education and quality of life in their nations (International .2006, p 101-111). Mathematically and logically the situation appears to be a win-win situation for both the developed and the developing world and should hypothetically over time lead to a homogeneous mass of people across the world with converging political, social and economic processes and improved qualities of life (International .2006, p 101-111). Unfortunately the situation is hardly as simple as this. The ongoing process of globalisation is actually being carried forward by the actions of numerous international business organisations (Standing Alber, 2000, p 99-119). Many of these organisations are aiming to maximise their profits by exploiting each and every opportunity that is becoming available to them, because of (a) the eagerness of developing countries to accept their investment, and (b) the rather undeveloped legal infrastructural and social security systems in such countries (Standing Alber, 2000, p 99-119). Such circumstances are leading to numerous instances of oppression of vulnerable people, destruction of valuable environmental habitat, and elimination of local skills, cultures and even societies (Standing Alber, 2000, p 99-119). Relentless depletion of Philippines forest area from 35 to 20 percent is a direct result of the down levelling effect of globalisation (Brecher Costello, 1994, p 1-4). Local governm ents and regulatory authorities are in most cases ill-equipped and incapable of preventing such injustices from taking place (Standing Alber, 2000, p 99-119). The impetus of globalisation has also essentially come about from the development of a neo-liberal global economic order that allows international business organisations to do much as they please and renders national governments incapable of bringing in safeguards to protect their people, without losing out on fresh as well as existing investment (Tonelson, 2002, p 18-26). The situation is further compounded by the lack of a global regulatory body for the control of international trade and commerce from the humanistic perspective (Tonelson, 2002, p 18-26). Whilst much of international effort in the area of globalisation has focused on the facilitation of international business through the easing of capital and tariff barriers and recent years are seeing the growth of an international lobby for the protection of the global environment, there is no body or apparatus that protects the rights of workers and other segments of society who can be hurt by the rampant and uncontrolled actions of international business organisations and their local suppliers (Tonelson, 2002, p 18-26). The need of the hour is for the formation of a global body that will take concerted and joint action to protect the international society, and particularly that of the developing world, from the effects of the many unfortunate imbalances that can occur because of the desperation of local governments for attraction of investment and the propensity of business organisations to forsake social concern for organisational profit (Tonelson, 2002, p 18-26). Conclusions This study debates the positive and negative aspects of globalisation and attempts to determine the impact of the phenomenon on the lives of modern day humans. Globalisation is undoubtedly the defining feature of the contemporary world. Supporters of globalisation point to the enormous economic advancements that have been achieved by national economies, both in the developed and in the developing world, during the last two decades. They state that the forces of globalisation, which have resulted in high levels of interaction between the peoples of different nations, in terms of exchange of goods, capital and people, and have been instrumental in bringing about unprecedented and astonishing growth in economic activity and cultural exchange, will also bring about greater convergence of global society in terms of economic and social equality between the people of rich and poor nations and the creation of a convergent global social and economic order. Critics of globalisation are however equally forceful in their opinion of globalisation being little other than a tool of western nations for increasing their international economic and political hegemony. Such critics argue that the MNCs, who are the fundamental drivers of economic globalisation, are using every available opportunity to increase their profitability and are routinely engaging in a range of oppressive activities in the developing countries. Whilst the apprehensions and worries evidenced by modern day economists and experts on globalisation are very real and cause for immense concern, it would be foolish to deny the significance of the changes brought about by globalisation. The need of the hour is for the formation of a global body that will take concerted and joint action to protect the international society, and particularly that of the developing world, from the effects of the many unfortunate imbalances that can occur because of the desperation of local governments for attraction of investment and the propensity of business organisations to forsake social concern for organisational profit.

Free Terrorism Essays: We Need the United Nations :: September 11 Terrorism Essays

We Need the United Nations in Our War Against Terror The United Nations has often been criticized, but events after the terrorist attack of September 11 show how essential it is to international peace and security. The United Nations Security Council, in particular, has proved its value in the present crisis. To combat terrorism, and specifically Osama bin Laden's network and the governments of Iran, Iraq, North Korea and other countries, a broad and diverse coalition is necessary. President Bush quickly realized that the active cooperation of other countries, including Muslim countries, was essential to the intelligence and policy work needed to find terrorists and destroy their networks. The support of these countries was also important to avoid a severe political backlash against the use of military force in Afghanistan. To secure such cooperation and support, country-by-country negotiations were necessary, but they were not sufficient. The campaign against terrorism needed to be rendered legitimate in the eyes of the world - particularly in countries whose governments and people are suspicious of the United States. Unilateral American action could have too easily been portrayed as lashing-out by the powerful "hegemon" at the expense of the poor and the weak. To be legitimate, action had to be authorized collectively, in a public forum representing the whole world. No such forum exists except the Security Council of the United Nations. Its fifteen members currently include three Muslim countries - Bangladesh, Mali, and Tunisia. Hence unanimous resolutions by the Security Council belie the claim that efforts against terrorism are "anti-Muslim." The Security Council has passed two unanimous resolutions on terrorism since September 11. Meeting in New York the very next day, it adopted Resolution 1368, which unequivocally condemned the terrorist attacks on the United States, and called on the international community to redouble its "efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts." Resolution 1368 also referred to the "inherent right of individual or collective self-defense," in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. In effect, it declared that military action by the United States against those responsible for the attacks would be lawful. Last Friday, September 28, the Security Council passed a more specific and equally far-reaching resolution, Resolution 1373. In this resolution it acted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which gives the Security Council authority to order states to carry out "the measures decided upon by the Security Council.

Reflection on My Portfolio Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing

Reflection on My Portfolio Literature has fascinated me from an early age. I was always an extremely active child, yet all I needed to settle down was a good book. The worlds created from the page within my mind were wondrous and amazing. However, I never imagined that I would become an English Literature major in college. Like many others before me, I wasn’t sure what you could do with an English major but teach or write, neither of which I planned on doing. A business or management major seemed much more practical. Despite these misgivings, I knew that I wanted a major that I enjoyed rather than one that was a â€Å"safe bet.† Therefore, when a professor of mine opened my eyes to all of the possibilities, it didn’t take long for me to decide. Now I can confidently say that my English major has given me invaluable experiences and taught me innumerable lessons that will aid me not only in my career life but also in my personal life as well. I have been able to develop my writing a nd creative ability so that no matter where I go or what I do I can make the most of it. I also have the wonderful ability to reflect on my life through examining literature and making connections and reflections in my own life. As I prepare to leave Loras I am confident that my English Literature Major has prepared and fully qualified me for whatever is to come. When it came time to decide which papers to include in my portfolio I was in quite a dilemma. Most of the papers I wrote in my college career were saved electronically. Unfortunately, some technical problems came up and I lost all of these. This setback significantly reduced my options. However, while this hindrance may be considered a tragedy, in reality it turned out to be a... ...ate with an English Literature Major, I know that the Literature has always been a strong theme in my life. Thinking back on me as a child, I see myself stuffing a towel in the crack of my bedroom door so my parents wouldn’t see that the light was on (because I was covertly reading instead of sleeping as I was supposed to). Or looking back to high school, I was voted most athletic, but I wasn’t a typical jock. Rather, I was the student-athlete who carried a book on the bus and read instead of playing cards with the other girls. All of these experiences laid a pattern in my life. Now that I am graduating from college, I see my Literature Portfolio as the culmination of my love of literature; but I do not see it as the end. I know that as I move on in my life, my experiences as a literature major will never leave me and will aid me in everything I do.

Letter of Motivation Essays -- essays papers

Letter of Motivation My educational background is quite diverse. I spent my last three years at the Geelong College Australia, and have successfully finished year 12 there. My choices of subjects reflected the diversity of my interests - English, Mathematics, International Studies, Legal Studies, and Economics. I excelled in International Studies and was awarded Academic Merit. Upon my return to Surabaya at the start of year 1999, I attended IBMT (Institute of Business Management and Technology), an International University which follows the United States curriculum, at which I majored in International Management. The subjects I took were: Accounting I and II, Sociology, Psychology, World Civilization, English Composition, Public Speaking, and Organizational Management. I finished the semester with a GPA of 3.6. The excellent quality of the University, as well as helpful teachers and friends, have contributed immensely to my success. In the classroom I can do much more than to warm the seat; I can add a lot to class discussions. As I have grown older and more mature, I have begun to realise the value and significance of helping others and contributing to my surrounding community. I was involved in many clubs and social activities such as the United Nations Youth Conferences, Geelong Radio Station, Peer Education Street Theatre, 40 Hours Famine Committee, Amnesty International, a badminton club and basketball club. I also value very much my work experience at Weight...

Research Proposal (Tomato Juice) Essay

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION As an individual, we play an important role in setting a good example for encouraging people into good dietary habits. To stay fit and healthy, teach them to choose healthy food and be active from an early age. Adopting a healthy lifestyle helps us all to feel fitter, look better and concentrate better in everything we do. The topic that I have chosen is regarding the â€Å"Tomato Juice†, I feel the need to impart to everyone that one of the foods we need to eat and drink is just within our reach. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY A healthy life requires proper nutrition as well as regular exercise. Both are key in the prevention of disease and also help improve overall mental and physical health. Diets full of bad fats, such as trans and saturated fats, put you at risk for stroke, certain cancers and heart disease, whereas a diet rich in vegetables lowers the risk of prostate and breast cancer, among other benefits. Sugar, bad fats and processed foods also increase your risk for joint problems, such as arthritis, which is compounded by a lack of exercise, as regular workouts keep the body limber and loose. A healthy diet should be high in vegetables, fruits, cold water fish and whole grains, while exercise should include cardiovascular and strength-training workouts. The list of effects from poor nutrition and lack of exercise is seemingly endless. Both generally result in considerable weight gain, which puts you at risk for a myriad of health problems, whether physical, mental or emotional. These unhealthy eating habits can affect our nutrient intake, including energy, protein, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals as well as fibre and fluid. Taking charge of your health will not only protect you from health problems as you age, but will also give you more energy and peace of mind. Health is a resource of everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities. One of the factors that determine the health of a person is the food that he eats. Good nutrition, based on healthy eating is one essential factor that helps us to stay healthy and be active. Poor eating habits include under- or over-eating, not  having enough of the healthy foods we need each day, or consuming too many types of food and drink, which are low in fibre or high in fat, salt and/or sugar. Our health defines us, and on this research I will tackle the benefits of tomato and how it can be useful to us either raw or processed. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM How to attain a palatable tomato juice based on taste, color, odor, and texture? How to convince people that drinking tomato juice can help lead a healthy lifestyle? What is the impact of this research to consumer, restaurant and HRM department? OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY To maintain health by preventing vitamin deficiency state in an individual. The general objective is to transform the proposed product as to improve the taste, odour, colour and texture to make it highly acceptable to the preferences of the consumer. To support the integration of health awareness for prevention and control diseases such as skin problem or discoloration, hair loss, constipation and many more with the help of other health interventions as appropriate. The goal is also to ensure the acceptability of the proposal within HRM department and possible business in the market and certain business minded individuals. We aim to pursue business in existing markets by offering an innovated product which is healthy and desirable to the taste of the majority of the consumers. To give credit to the HRM department for giving the opportunity to the students to explore beyond what they can see and read on text books, magazines and other sort of media advertisements. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This study will create a major change in the perception of many individuals of how can we live and enjoy while staying healthy by having sufficient knowledge on the product being proposed. In addition, it will be beneficial to supplier-customer relationship by offering a new variety of a refreshing product which both can save cost. The researcher will also be able to gain more knowledge far beyond the basics of reading by doing the actual process and gathering data from different resources such as books and internet and from doing the procedure of the proposal itself. The HRM department will have other criteria of research oriented strategies that constitute part of  comprehensive content analyses which can be used as a guide for succeeding students or individual to whom this research may be imparted. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION The study is for the HRM department of NONESCOST. This will include some student who will be asked to try and evaluate the product. The research is merely to create awareness to the people within or outside the campus the benefits of this study. This research is only limited to catching people’s desires to acknowledge the product and not to the extent of providing the nutritional value of the proposed. DEFINITION OF TERMS Conceptually – is based from gathering one’s point of view of a certain product (tomato juice) through inquiry. Acceptability – is based on an individual’s highest and lowest satisfaction on the product being offered. Palatable – is when a person literally likes the tomato juice based on the moment he tasted it, without considering other factors. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE Tomatoes are a very popular vegetable. They are tasty, versatile, affordable, and provide a variety of health benefits. The tomato is consumed in diverse ways, including raw, as an ingredient in many dishes, sauces, salads and dinks. While it is botanically a fruit, it is considered a vegetable for culinary purposes. Tomatoes are featured in a variety of recipes and can be used in a number of different ways. One of the most popular options for consuming tomatoes is in tomato juice. The juice is rich, tasty, and filled with health benefits. OTHER SIGNIFICANT NAME The tomato has a scientific name of Solanum lycopersicum, while commonly known as tomato plant. For a long time tomatoes were known by the name Lycopersicon esculentum, but recent work by scientists has shown that they are really part of the genus Solanum – as Linnaeus recognised when he first described the species. Today scientists and plant breeders all use the name Solanum lycopersicum for the cultivated tomato. BIOLOGY The origin of the cultivated tomato is somewhat unclear. Ethnobotanists and geneticists however have attempted to track down the centre of domestication. â€Å"The genus Lycopersicon- the botanical group to which the tomato belongs- is native to western South America, and only Lycopersicon lycopersicum var. cerasiforme, the wild cherry form of the cultivated species, has spread throughout Latin America and the New World Tropics. Second, the tomato was not known in Europe until after the discovery and conquest of America, descriptions and drawings first appearing in the European herbals of the middle and late 16th century. Third, these writings clearly reveal that man had been trying to improve the size of the tomato and the diversity of its shape and color. These achievements over the wild ancestors were almost certainly achieved by early man in America. Mexico appears to have been the site of domestication and the source of the earliest introductions, and the wild cherry tomato was probably the immediate ancestor.† As a matter of fact, â€Å"the bulk of the historical, linguistic, archaeological and ethnobotanical evidence favours Mexico, particularly the Vera Cruz-Puebla area, as the source of the cultivated tomatoes that were first transported to the Old World. † Although the origin of the tomato is somewhat clouded, there is no doubt that the cultigen of today has had a long journey. When the tomato finally made its way to Europe, the public responded with fear for several probable reasons. First, tomatoes belong to the family Solanaceae, which includes Datura and Belladonna – the deadly nightshade, among other poisonous species. The assumption was that tomatoes must be poisonous as well. Second, in Germany, because of its terrible smell, the tomato plant was rejected. The tomato acquired names like the â€Å"Devil’s wolf apple.† This great fear of toxicity of the tomato plant probably prevented its utilization for many centuries. Today, the toxicity of the Solanaceae family has been studied extensively, and it has been found that most of the species are posionous. Obviously Belladonna and Datura are among the more poisonous members of the family, but the potato plant is also quite toxic. Lycopersicon spp., which are less toxic than the other members of the family contain tomatine, a toxic glycoalkaloid. Many wild relatives of the tomato such as Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme, L. chilense, L. peruvianum, L. hirsutum, and L.  pimpinellifolium are among the richest genetic pools available for cross breeding. Almost all of the effective resistances to virulent tomato diseases have been found from wild species of Lycopersicon and Solanum. Geneticists from UC Davis have been making trips to the Andes and Central America in search of new species since 1948. Since then, researchers have amassed a germplasm stock effective against over 42 diseases. â€Å"Few other crops are blessed with such extensive collections of wild forms and their derivatives.† Not only are these wild relatives valuable sources of genetic material for disease control and prevention, but also for arthropod resistance, improving fruit quality, abiotic stress tolerance, and drought/cold resistance among many others. NUTRITION FACTS Nutritional Value per 100g of Fresh Tomatoes Source: USDA National Nutrient Data Base Principle Nutrient Value Percentage of RDA Energy 18 Kcal 1% Carbohydrates 3.9 g 3% Protein 0.9 g 1.60% Total Fat 0.2 g 0.70% Cholesterol 0 mg 0% Dietary Fiber 1.2 g 3% Vitamins Folates 15  µg 4% Niacin 0.594 mg 4% Pyridoxine 0.080 mg 6% Thiamin 0.037 mg 3% Vitamin A 833 IU 28% Vitamin C 13 mg 21.50% Vitamin E 0.54 mg 4% Vitamin K 7.9  µg 6.50% Electrolytes Sodium 5 mg less than 1% Potassium 237 mg 5% Minerals Calcium 10 mg 1% Iron 0.3 mg 4% Magnesium 11 mg 3% Manganese 0.15 mg 6.50% Phosphorus 24 mg 3% Zinc 0.17 mg 1.50% Phyto-nutrients Carotene-ß 449  µg — Carotene-ÃŽ ± 101  µg — Lutein-zeaxanthin 123  µg — Lycopene 2573  µg — COMPARATIVE CONTROL Organic and conventional tomatoes grown in Florida in December 2003 and January 2005 were harvested at the breaker stage and ripened at 20 ºC. When tomatoes were determined to be fully ripe by visual inspection, samples were collected for quality analyses (color, firmness, total soluble solids, pH and total acidity). In each year, no significant differences in color or total soluble solids were detected between treatments. In 2003, total acidity was the only quality parameter that differed significantly (0.40% vs. 0.44% total acidity) between conventional and organic fruit, respectivey. In 2005, conventional tomatoes had significantly higher soluble solids (4.4 vs. 4.0  °Brix) and were firmer (2.5 mm vs. 3.4 mm deformation) than organic fruit. Sensory evaluation (duo-trio test with balanced reference) was conducted in 2005 to determine whether consumers could perceive a difference between tomatoes grown conventionally or organically. Panelists could perceive a difference between conventional and organic tomatoes by smell or taste with high reliability (P

English as the official language of the U.S. Essay

The English language has already been established as the official language in 28 States; this would beg the question, what made these States pass such an Act, especially since the Courts already designated such a law as being unconstitutional and infringing upon the First Amendment speech rights (Feder, 12). This question will be addressed throughout the paper, which will first consider the legal proceedings that have occurred thus far for this ‘Official English’ movement. The finding of this paper is self-evident in that the objections to this movement have been rendered invalid, largely due to a lack of irrefutable arguments as the paper will demonstrate. The numerous advantages that will be highlighted will argue for, and show, the benefit to the nation – to both the majority as well as the minorities – of making English the official language of the U. S. U. S. Legislature As of the publishing of the CRS Report in 2007, 28 states in the United States have declared English as the official language in their state constitutions. On the flip side, the U. S. Constitution has enacted several laws such as the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act, and the Equal Educational Opportunities Act in an effort to protect the language rights of the country’s minorities. These Acts authorize, amongst others, the use of voting materials in states and political subdivisions, with instructions in two languages at the same time, as well the use of languages other than English, when deemed essential, to provide effective and efficient public and private services. The U. S. Congress initiated its effort towards the Official English movement in 1984 with ‘The English Language Amendment’ that was proposed for the Constitution, and it culminated when ‘The Language in Government Act’ passed the House in 1996, but failed to do so in the Senate. Amendments to ‘The Language in Government Act’ were later introduced, with the Inhofe Amendment passing in the 109th Congress which affirmed English as the ‘national language’, and later as the unifying language of the U. S. ; at the same time, ensuring the rights of minorities (Feder, 4). Consequent to Amendments that were later introduced, the passage of such Legislature would now largely be a symbolic one with negligible or zero actual effect on the inhabitants of the country, with regards to the legal aspects. This is largely because â€Å"†¦ an affirmation by the Congress of the central place of English in our national life and culture †¦ would not, of its own force, require or prohibit any particular action or policy by the government or private persons. Nor would it, without more, imply the repeal or modification of existing federal or state laws and regulations sanctioning the use of non-English for various purposes,† as stated in Feder, 4-5. Benefits The basic principle upon which the proponents of this movement rest their reason for making English the official language of the United States is that it serves to create a bond of unity. While this bond can be used in order to address any issues through more effective communication between the relevant parties, it also does not rob anyone of their heritage. As stated by Adams, 111, â€Å"All languages and cultures are precious in our history and are to be preserved and maintained. These are not, however, public responsibilities. † Parsimonious equity is another, much touted reason for the movement. Where equity states that all judicial hearings should allow a defendant the right to be heard in the language (s)he is most conversant and comfortable with so as to permit the population to be served by the government. Parsimonious equity, on the other hand, maintains that in order to ensure that the government is not bogged down under administrative costs of ensuring an interpreter for each individual need, an official language must be recognized that will ensure that all legal and government related proceedings be dealt with in English. Such a system remains equitable, as well as, limits the costs associated with such activities (Fishman, 59). With regards to the ‘language-rights’ argument it must be noted that while protecting the rights of minorities in of itself is a sufficiently altruistic and, in the case of the U. S. , required task of the government, it must be ensured that the majority not be discriminated against either. Such a paradox would result in the formation of extreme political parties that would effectively shut out the minorities, due to their large, and united, numbers. In light of this argument, the proponents stress that by officiating the role of the English speaking majority in the United States the government will preclude the establishment of such highly biased and extreme parties, and maintain the unity and equity of the nation. Therefore, while it may be historically justified for minorities to seek redress for past acts of subjugation, as usually happens with minorities, and oppose the majority, it would be more I keeping with the â€Å"interest of [the] linguistic minorities to seek a balance,† as stated by Joseph, 62. To an extent it seems understandable that the minorities might feel as if they are being presented with a raw deal, but when the minorities themselves start supporting the cause for making English the official language this argument against the movement is rendered void, and is in fact turned into another reason for supporting the movement. Such a case was witnessed in Alabama, where the black-majority counties voted for the movement by a significant margin (Tatalovich, 244). Learning from Canada Looking at the northern neighbor of the United States, proponents of the movement have found several examples that corroborate their stand of maintaining a single official language for the country. The numerous political conflicts that Canada has faced over its bilingual official languages status have merely served to show how not to operate in one’s own country, in addition to clearly distinguishing the effect of considering the language issue as irrelevant and trivial. As stated by Ricento, 37, â€Å"the disconcerting strength gathered by separatism in Canada contains a lesson for the United States and its approach to bilingual education. † In trying to placate a larger amount of people by using its dual official language system, Canada has only shown to its more powerful neighbor how it is sometimes in the interest of the minorities to ignore their protests and support the decision of the majority. By catering to the Quebec speaking individuals in their country Canada has given them the right to lose out on greater economic benefits as shown by the research conducted by Li, 135-136: the effect of the use of an official language is signified by the â€Å"†¦$911 [male earnings] above the mean even after controlling for other variables,† and similarly, in the U. S. (Zavodny, 449). Conclusion The English language is the language of the majority as far as the U. S is concerned. There has been a movement towards making it the official language of the country in addition to it being so in over half the States already. However, this movement has subsequently led to the minorities crying foul over the perceived loss of their rights and the perceived inequitable behavior that they expect. The proponents of this movement, on the other hand, cite the greater cause of national unity, as well as that of parsimonious equity to vie with the concern of future lost income of minorities. It is the duty of the Government to now realize the potential benefits that will result in letting Acts based on making English the official Language through Congress. Especially since the greatest objection of minority language rights and perceived subjugation by the majority has been proven to be baseless in light of the Alabama vote. The remaining minorities should seek to overcome their emotional attachment to their original heritage, and understand that this movement will not necessarily threaten their roots; instead, it will result in greater opportunities for them through a more equitable treatment at court and business. Beyond these realizations, the government should initiate a budget towards facilitating the teaching of English to immigrants who cannot afford to learn it through their own devices. This is in light of the view that current instructions for the English language, in the United States, are inadequate to prepare them for their future life in the country (Citrin, 108). With Canada serving as an example of the effects of having more than one official language, the United States can ensure that it does not fall into the same trap by creating the equivalent Spanish-speaking enclaves in their country. Economically, politically, and culturally, having only English as the official language will help deal with a lot of problems along these facets of life that will prove to, over time, strengthen the role of equality in the society – a value that is immensely appreciated in the current era, especially in these neck of the woods. Eventually this movement will succeed, because it not only enjoys widespread support from the majority and a few minorities of the U. S. , but it has also managed to secure enough political support behind it to make it a key bill: one that is presented to the Congress in almost every sitting since the mid-1890’s. Works Cited Adams, K. L. & Brink, D. T. Perspectives on Official English: The Campaign for English as the Official Language of the USA. Walter de Gruyter. Fishman, J. A. The Rise and Fall of the Ethnic Revival: Perspectives on Language and Ethnicity. Walter de Gruyter. (1985). Joseph, J. E. Language and Politics. Edinburgh University Press. (2006). Ricento, T. & Burnaby, B. Language and Politics in the United States and Canada. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. (1998). Tatalovich, R. Nativism Reborn? : The Official English Language Movement and the American States. University Press of Kentucky. (1995). Citrin, J. â€Å"Language politics and American identity. † Public Interest. (1990): p96-109. Feder, J. â€Å"English as the Official Language of the United States: Legal Background and Analysis of Legislation in the 110th Congress. † CRS Report for Congress. (January 25, 2007): pp18. Li, P. S. â€Å"The Economics of Minority Language Identity. † Canadian Ethnic Studies. (2001):