Kaleidoscopes of Light: Reflecting on Namibian Faith and Culture :: Essays Papers

Kaleidoscopes of Light: Reflecting on Namibian Faith and Culture In this illuminating semester in Southern Africa, my Christian beliefs have been colored with light from kaleidoscopes of cultures and people. I have been heavily challenged, strengthened anew, and turned on my head more than once. Perhaps most explicitly, I have learned about the role of religion in social change in Namibia, from study in this course, in visiting eight different churches over the course of three months, and in building relationships with inspiring Namibians. As I prepare to make my return journey home, I wonder if I will be prepared to share and describe what religious frustrations and exaltations of faith have filled my days. I wonder if my spiritual curiosity will continue to refine and deepen my appreciation for the meaning of Christianity in my life, especially as I return to work in a Christian summer camp in Montana. I wish I could say that the message of unconditional love cradled in the scripture of my faith has struck me anew during my time here. But my experiences have filled me with more spiritual questions and concerns than answers of affirmation. This is adventuresome and stimulating, to say the least, and I am glad for the challenge provided here; faith should never be a docile and lame journey of life. Throughout our religious classes this semester, meeting religious leaders and human rights activists has fueled my understanding of the meaning of Christianity. In lectures from community leaders, pastors and counselors, our class discussions bore witness to Christianity’s original context in Southern Africa, its profound role in the liberation struggle and its potential in continuing processes of reconciliation in Namibia. Reading historical reviews and articles of colonialism and apartheid exposed me to the heart-rending effects of religion in this country. What still strikes me to the core about what I’ve learned is the good religious communities can offer this nation. As our articulate speaker Rev. Nangula Kathindi, President of the Namibian Council of Churches, demonstrates with her words and her work, church involvement in breaking the wall of silence surrounding SWAPO atrocities and human rights violations is for the empowerment of Namibians everywhere. Her posit ion of authority within the church gives a fresh perspective on the role of the church playing into everyday life in Namibia, and how its influence can be used for progressive change today. The words of Kathindi fill me with hope for the future generations of Namibia; she is a living testament to the power of churches reshaping the race-war worn lives of Namibians today.

Stomach Stapling: Surgical Treatment For Obesity Essay -- Research Med

Stomach Stapling: Surgical Treatment For Obesity In today's society there is an increasing number of obese people despite the growing concerns about leading a healthy lifestyle. There are numerous programs, diets, medications, etc. that have been developed to aid weight loss efforts and weight maintenance. One field that is being rapidly explored is methods of surgical treatment for obesity. This paper will explore these surgical methods. In doing so it is important to also discuss the definition and measurement of obesity, programs that have been established and claim to aid weight loss efforts, candidates for this type of treatment, medical research that has been conducted and the risks involved in this type of treatment for obesity. The purpose of this paper is to correctly inform the reader about the claims of surgical treatment and the risks that are actually involved. Obesity: Definition and Measurement The term obesity is quite difficult to define for the mere fact that humans are highly individualistic and vary in weight and height. Therefore, a standardized definition of obesity is not inclusive. One definition of obesity is "a clinical term for excess body weight generally applied to persons who are 20% or more above a desired weight for height" (Williams, 1992, p.221). Another way to define obesity is simply as an "excess accumulation of body fat" (Perri, Nezu and Viegener, 1992, p.23); however, this definition seems to be simplistic because it does not explicitly determine what the percentage overweight should be in order to define a person as obese. Because there is no standard body weight, overweight is often measured by body mass index (BMI). Body mass index is calculated as follows: BMI=weight(in k... ...H Consensus Statement 1991, March 25-27; 9(1):1-20. Mason, E.E., Doherty, C., Maher, J.W., Scott, D.H., Rodriguez, E.M. and Blommers, T.J. (1987). Super obesity and gastric reduction procedures. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, 16, 495-502. Perri, Michael G., Nezu, A.M., and Viegener, B.J. (1992). Improving the Long Term Management of Obesity. New York: Wiley. Wadden, T.A. and VanItallie, T.B. (1992). Treatment of the Seriously Obese Patient. New York: Guilford Press. Williams, Sue R. (1992). Basic Nutrition and Diet Therapy. St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, Inc. http://www.commpro.com/thin/obesity.html http://www.commpro.com/thin/surgery.html http://www.ivanhoe.com/docs/backissues/lapband.html http://www-surgery.med.ohio-state.edu/divisions/genr/obesity.htm http://text.nlm.nih...ww/84txt.

Steroids: A Growing Role in Society Essay -- Sports Drugs Steroid Essa

Steroids: A Growing Role in Society Dear Mr.: Here is my research project on steroids and its effect on society. While conducting my research I have learned that steroids are becoming a serious and dangerous problem in society. I believe that my research project would be a good reference for anyone interested in the science and culture of steroids in America. Some of the topics I covered in my project are topics that have for the most part been ignored by most scholarly works on steroids. For example, I have devoted a whole section of my paper to the prevention and care of steroid use. I also included a large section on the scientific facts and effects that steroids have on the body. The issue of steroids in society is a very hot topic and I was able to find many helpful materials from many different sources. One of these sources is a controversial book written by a former Major League Baseball player. Other sources are from newspaper and magazine articles written in lieu of the recent controversies. By using subjective materials such as these I was able to get a feel for the opinions within American culture regarding the use of steroids. I’ve enjoyed working on this project, and would be happy to answer any questions. Sincerely, Name Abstract   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Steroid use is a growing problem in society. There is a multitude of research pertaining to the science of steroids but the prevention and treatment of steroid use has for the most part been largely ignored. In order to get to the root of the problem the research should contain not only the basics of steroids, but also the culture of steroid use.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The reasons why people use steroids range from improving sports performance to prevention of abuse and rape. By focusing not only on the obvious reasons for steroid use, the prevention and treatment of steroid use becomes a much bigger and more complicated problem than most would assume.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many different procedures being used to control steroids and their abuse. Some of them appear to be working but many of them do not. Only telling people the adverse affects of steroids is the most ineffective way to control the problem. Rather, teaching people the risks and rewards of steroids and how to receive the same rewards without actually using the drugs seems to be the most effective method.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Steroids have now t... ...2005). Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big. New York: Regan Books.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ciola, T. (2004). Steroids Kill. Orlando: Axion Publishers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gallaway, S. (1997). The Steroids Bible. Belle Intl.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Info Facts: Steroids. (2005). National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved March 28, 2005, from the World Wide Web: http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/steroids.html   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kerr, R. (1982). The Practical Use of Anabolic Steroids With Athletes. Research Center for Sports.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lukas, S. (2001). Steroids (The Drug Library). New Jersey: Enslow Publishers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Paris, J. (2005, April 16). Steroids: dangerous, illegal and so very easy to obtain. North County Times [Online newspaper]. Retrieved April 16, 2005 from the World Wide Web: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/04/17/sports/amateur.txt   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Silverstein, A. (1992). Steroids: Big Muscles, Big Problems. New Jersey: Enslow Publishers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Teens and Steroids. (2000). Focus Adolescent Services. Retrieved April 10, 2005, from the World Wide Web: http://www.focusas.com/steroids.html   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Yesalis, C. (2000). Anabolic Steroids in Sports and Exercise. Philadelphia: Human Kinetics Publishers.

Multi Criteria Analysis of the Local Environmental Impacts of a Factory

The chief constructs of this survey are environmental impact appraisal, environmental impact analysis, impact designation and significance finding. Environmental impact analysis is one of the phases of environmental impact appraisal ( EIA ) to inform determination shapers about the likely effects of their actions ( Sadler and McCabe, 2002 ; Wathern, 2013 ) . It includes impact designation and impact significance finding. Impact designation is the procedure of exemplifying cause and consequence relationship of a undertaking activities and their cardinal environmental facets, and needs a systematic expert cognition and judgement to qualify them ( Sadler and McCabe, 2002 ) . The cardinal environmental facets of this survey are activities that interacting straight with the environing environment and imposed environmental impacts in the two suppression and Pyro treating units of MCF. Significance is the strength of impacts that includes about the impacts’ beneficial or determiner, reversible or irreversible, repairable or irreparable, short-run or long-run, impermanent or uninterrupted, local, regional or planetary, inadvertent or planned, direct or indirect and cumulative or individual ( Canter & A ; Canty, 1993 ) . Significance finding is a procedure of building judgements which is of import, desirable or acceptable of impacts ( Lawrence, 2007a & A ; b ; Sippe, 1999 ) . It is besides a anticipation of impact magnitude ( Thompson, 1990 ) . In add-on, impact significance finding considered impact features such as magnitude, continuance, frequence, spacial distribution, reversibility, likeliness, nature and timing ( Beanlands & A ; Duinker, 1983 ; McCabe, 2002 ) . In another instance, Canter & A ; Canty ( 1993 ) related the impact significance finding with showing and scoping. The showing and scoping are performed before a undertaking execution to look into whether an environmental impact survey is needed or non. However, this survey chiefly focused on bing mill to make up one's mind its farther monitoring and commanding way on the bing important impacts. Therefore, impact significance finding of this survey is the procedure of doing judgement about of import or desirableness of the impacts of the bing production procedure of the mill. It is the procedure of placing the local impacts of the two treating units ( Fig 1.1 ) by associating the causes and effects, and analysing it for farther attending and commanding mechanisms. By and large, environmental impact analysis of this survey is referred to the procedure of placing and analysing the defined impacts and provided indicants for the decisive organic structure to the effects of the existed pr oduction activities of the mill.Model of the surveyThis survey framed on the integrating of Multi Criteria Analysis ( MCA ) and perceptual experience study analysis to roll up and analyse informations about local environmental impacts of the mill ( Figure 2.1 ) . This model comprises the stairss of the multi-criteria analysis of the survey and how this integrates with perceptual experience study analysis.1.1.1.Impact designationThe first measure of the MCA for this survey was local impact designation that comprises designation of activities and environmental facets led to local environmental impacts. To place the local environmental impacts sing the overall cement production procedures of the mill are needed. It helps to find the chief activities performed to bring forth cement and their environmental facets. Face to confront interviews with the higher forces of the mill and literature were the beginning of informations for local impact designation. The higher forces included two pr ocedure directors from crush and raw factory ( CRM ) and coal and kiln ( COK ) treating units and a deputy general director of the mill and they selected purposively. The interviewees had 10 to 16 old ages of work experience in the mill. The survey collected informations utilizing cardinal informant interview ( Annex 10 questionnaire II ) , site visit, structured questionnaire ( Annex 10 questionnaire I ) and literature reappraisal as informations aggregation instruments. The cardinal informant interview was integrated with site visits to understand the cardinal activity of each processing unit and their environmental facets and possible impacts. In add-on, it was supported by structured questionnaire about overall images of the mill. The collected informations about the impact designation was compiled utilizing the checklist. The checklist used to sum up the identified activities, environmental facets and possible impacts. This was taken topographic point by incorporating of the relationship of flow of procedure of activities and environment facets that resulted in impacts.1.1.2.Criteria designationStandards are necessary to find the significance of impacts.Generally, standards features includemagnitude of the impact, continuance, frequence, spacial distribution, reversibility, likeliness, nature and timing ( Beanlands & A ; Duinker, 1983 ; McCabe, 2002 ) . Hence, these features are wide and are used foranytype of impact, to be more specific on local environmental impacts this survey adopted six standards byKumar & amp ; Armani ( 2012 ) listed inTable 2.1.These adopted standards are easy apprehensible by local stakeholders and all fulfills the standard demands listed by Dodgso, et Al. ( 2009 ) . These demands are completeness, avoids similarity and redundancy, selects of import to judge option /impacts in this study/ , gives precedence for impact comparing and rating, options are independent, avoids dual numeration, manageable standards size. The standards had a value ranged from one ( lower limit ) to ten ( Maximum ) on the Likert graduated table that made easier the respondents to set their judgements about the local impacts numerically. Table 2.1: Detail description of the adopted standards and scope of their value.MagnitudeHappeningImpactDetectionControlsLegislation adoptedThe size or the extent of the impactFrequency of the impactThe grade of consequence of the impactFeeling clip of the impacts or the consequenceControling steps to the beginning of the consequence taking in the millThe position of following with the states criterions5 – severe6-continuous6– fatal to life5-more than 24 hours5– absence or no effectual control10– no meeting statute law or control bound3- centrist5-several times a twenty-four hours5-health effects4– within 24 hours4– mechanism but non dependable1– in conformity1- low4– one time a twenty-four hours4– affects vegetations and zoologies3– within 8 hours3-control needs human intercession3– one time a hebdomad3– resource ingestion2– within 1 hours2-has built-in secondary control2-once a month2– uncomfortableness1– instantly1– available and effectual at beginning1-very rare1– negligible ocular impact1.1.3.Burdening standardsFollowing to following the standard was burdening of these standards which is specifying the comparative importance of the standards to judge the local impacts. In this survey weighting was determined through ranking of the standards by experts found in different sectors of the regional province, such as Tigray Environmental Protection, Land Administration and Use Agency ( TEPLAUA ) , Bureau of Labor and Social Affairs ( BoLSA ) , Bureau of Urban Development, Trade and Industry ( BoUDTI ) and Bureau of Health ( BoH ) . Data was collected in a structured questionnaire ( Annex 11 questionnaire II ) . The experts were selected purposively from the sectors. These sectors are selected, because they have responsible experts to measure and command the mills in the Tigray regional province. Based on the features of the experts, 80 % of the experts were master degree holders in different field specialisation. The experts’ work experience was 60 % 1-5 old ages, 40 % above 5 old ages. The 90 % of the experts were responsible to measure and command mill, in relation to environmental issues. The ranks were converted to burden utilizing the expression specified in equation 1. It was analyzed utilizing Rank Order Centroid ( ROC ) method ( Barron & A ; Barrett, 1996 ; Edwards & A ; Barron, 1994 ) . This is a procedure of change overing the ranks given by the experts into weights [ 1 ] of each single rank for each standard, and so calculated the mean weight ( WI) for each standard among each other. i= 1, 2†¦ , 6.( Equation1) Where WIis the weight for each IThursdaystandards, N is the figure of standards and K is a rank given by experts.1.1.4.Scoring environmental facetsAfter burdening, the following measure was hiting to the identified environmental facets. The beginning of informations for this measure was employees in the mill, and the information was collected in a structured questionnaire ( Annex 11 questionnaire IV and V ) . The employees selected utilizing a bunch sample method by constellating them in three working displacements. Then, ten employees were selected utilizing a simple random method from each displacement which is a sum of 60 employees ( 30 from CRM and 30 from COK ) from the mill. Respondents are characterized: in CRM, 40 % sheepskin and 60 % grade holders, and their working experiences are the 30 % 1-5 old ages, 33 % 6-10years and 37 % above 10 old ages. In COK: 57 % sheepskin and 43 % degree holders. Wholly participants were 48 % sheepskin and 52 degree holder employees participate in hiting. Their on the job experience was 30 % employees had 1-5 old ages, 38 % employees 6-10 old ages and 32 % employees had above 10 old ages. The mark given for each impacts by each employee is calculated its norm by ratio method ( RM ) . The RM was calculated the mean mark utilizing the amount of entire respondents replied to each mark multiplied by the value given in the Likert graduated table and divided by the entire figure of respondents participated in hiting ( equation 2 ) . ( Equation2) Where OmegaIis mean mark of IThursdayidentified impacts, RNis the figure of respondents replied to the mark of IThursdayimpact and VIis the given value in the Likert graduated table of the IThursdaystandard ( Table2.1 ) . RoentgenThymineentire figure of respondents participated in marking.1.1.5.Accumulating end productsThe cumulative grade of impact of each activity calculated from the end products of ROC and RM. They combined utilizing comparative significance ( equation 3 ) ( Deng et al, 2011: Noah & A ; Lee, 2003 ) . ( Equation3) Whereis a comparative significance of impactsis the weight for IThursdaystandards andis the deliberate mean mark of IThursdayidentified impact on the Kithstandards. Note that the scope of standards ‘legislation adoption’ was modified to ‘1’ for the mean mark 1-2, ‘2’ for 3-4, ‘3’ for 5-6, ‘4’ for 7-8 and ‘5’ for 9-10. It keeps the comparison of the standards during taking the combined consequence of the merchandise summing up of the tonss and weights. For impact significance finding, benchmark scene is necessary to place the ‘significant’ and ‘insignificant’ impacts by comparing cumulative consequences of impact significance finding against the stated benchmark ( Table 2.2 ) . This helps to find what and where betterments are needed. Table 2.2: The manner of puting benchmarks of the survey.StandardsTot Respondent50 % MarkStandards WeightCombination 50 % mark & A ; The weight of standardsMagnitude302.50.1760.4Happening3.00.2040.6Impact3.00.3261.0Detection2.50.1270.3Controls2.50.1110.3Legislation adopted3.00.1030.3Decisive value2.9Table 2.2 shows the procedure of benchmarking to find the significance of the impacts. Benchmark decided by presuming the 50 % scope value of the standards in the Likert graduated table given as a mark. Consequently, the survey sets 2.9 as benchmark to make up one's mind the significance of possible impacts. The deliberate weight utilizing ROC is straight used for the benchmarking. When the combined consequence of the impacts equal or less than 2.9 it is undistinguished and if the consequence is greater than 2.9 it is important and needs farther controlling and monitoring steps.1.1.6.Perception study analysisThis survey did perceptual experience study analysis to compare the community perceptual experience on the impacts with the consequences of the employees about the significance of the local environmental impacts of the mill. The survey used local community ‘s families as a beginning of informations to the study analysis. In the study a sum of 120 local communities’ from entire population of 1122 families were participated and selected indiscriminately. These families were 68.3 % male households’ caputs and the remainder were female households’ caputs. Their age was 75 % in the age scope of 31-50 old ages, 17.5 % in more than 51 old ages and 7.5 % in the age of 18-30 old ages. The 65.0 % of the families can read and compose and the staying completed primary and high school instruction. The 99.2 % of the participant family has lived in the topographic point since their birth. The distance of the respondent’s place from the mill, 52.5 % of the respondents are populating at a distance of above 200 metres radius the remainder 33.3 % and 14.2 % respondents are populating within 101-200m and 100 m radius ( Annex 10 Table 9.1 ) . The Data was collected from the families utilizing structured interview ( Annex11 questionnaire VI ) . Descriptive statistic ( means, frequence, per centum and count ) was used to analyse the collected information from the local community in the SPSS statistical bundle. Note that the community perceptual experience on environmental impacts assessed their understanding utilizing ‘disagree’ , ‘not much’ and ‘agree’ . However, the ‘not much’ count is included to ‘disagree’ count on the presented informations, because it was perceived that similar account between ‘not much’ and ‘disagree’ during informations aggregation ( Annex 10 Table 9.3 ) .1.1.7.Examine consequencesThis is the procedure of impact significance finding from the overall gathered and processed informations. It is a measure that determined the cardinal environmental facets and their effect, and is identified the beginnings from bing activities’ of the treating units. In add-on, it is correlated to the consequences of other bookmans and within the consequences of this survey. In add-on, it is the procedure of set uping the decision of this survey.

Is India Safe for Its Residents? Essay

In fact I think INDIA is the safest place to live in on earth for Indians.Yes I do agree that there is terror of terrorism; but then u need to firmly fight againstit. U can run off ur responsibilities by saying that India is not a safe place. Toh†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. do u think that settling down in foreign can make u feel secure If u think so ur definitely wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are Indians safe in a country like AUSTRALIA,infact Indians are insultedthere and where ever we go and what ever we do†¦..there is nothing that equals our mother and mother land. violence and problems maybe a trouble for us ..but i think there will be no placewith out problems †¦. what we need to do is justto manage ourselves†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ any ways to sum it up..INDIA IS THE SUPERIOR,THE SUPREME AND THE HEAVEN FOR INDIANS. right ______________________________________†¦ In India there has been lack of political will and assertive decision making to bring such fugitives to justice. Barely a month later, with the Delhi blasts this weekend, the NSA might have to revise his earlier estimate; his claimssound meaningless. Jammu and Kashmir is facing unrest. The Northeast is unsettled.West Bengal andTelangana are simmering, over 160 districts in 13 states are in the grip of left wing extremism. While the crime rate is growing, abductions and extortions have almost become an industry. The rangdari and supari culture is now a new brandof threat to the Indian citizen.Money laundering, hawala, small arms proliferation and human trafficking are on the rise. The debate on countering these internal threats, however,has been overwhelmed by politics, rather than deterrent action.While India seems tobe safe are Indians secure? Or are we on course to a functional anarchy? India’s current crisis of internal security has been a concern particularly since Decembe r 2001. When terrorists assaulted Parliament, they struck at India’s nerve centre; a qualitatively different target; and at variance with India’s previous experience with multiple threats of insurgencies, terrorism, left wing extremism, narcotic trafficking, religious fundamentalism and subnationalism. The Indian security apparatus and elite are largely indifferent, or have shied away from formulating an internal security doctrine. There has been no serious attempt to institutionalise a mechanism, direction or assertive policy to deal with â€Å"internal threats†; interim, ad hoc and incremental means have been the favoured methods adopted by successive governments. There is virtually no means to define coherentlythe enemy within. The continuous assault on Indian citizens and their psyche has shown clearly that the security apparatus has failed to plug the reocurrence of terrorist attacks. The intelligence fraternity gropes in the dark about the actual strength, source, capacity and logistics of the enemy’s next attack.With our domestic security apparatus going so horribly awry we can take it for granted that we will almost never apprehend the killers. Worse, these terror attacks and militancy are seen as merely a â€Å"law andorder† concern and treated as subject of state, whenever, political violence on a massive scale breaks out in a state, the police become the first responders. The police in India are trained, equipped and mentally conditioned to deal only with civil disorders.When confronted with serious threats to internal securitylike terrorism, insurgency and other proxy war situations, they find it difficult to respond effectively. In such a situation, the state seeks the expertise of paramilitary forces. Creation of fast track courts to avoid judicial delay and enactment of a deterrent anti-terror law would constitute an essential step forward. The need of the hour is toinstitutionalise, develop procedures and processesthat would boost inter institutional co-ordination, facilitate professional conduct of operations on athorough, professional policy analysis. Lack of professional mindset for informed debate, fierce expression of spite, bitterness and mutual political acrimony take place instead of constructive policy discussions

The Effects of Gmo

Daniel Ramirez Lagunas English 12 CP 18 May 2012 FDA Labeling In our society today, there is a small percent of our food that has been genetically engineered. Genetically modified food can affect people that ingest the substances by causing health issues. With these possible long-term effects of GM foods, the FDA, Food and Drug Administration, should require labels for consumers to see. These labels would help inform the public of the possible dangers of the GM food. Without these labels people can suffer serious medical conditions that can destroy their lifestyles.The FDA should require warning labels on all GM foods. GM foods come with many different health risks. One health risk is severe allergic reactions. These allergic reactions can even be life-threatening. An article from the San Francisco Chronicle states that GM fish can possibly cause severe allergic reactions that could be life threatening. â€Å"Genetically engineered fish pose an increased risk of severe, even life-th reatening, allergic reactions to sensitive individuals. † (SF Chronicle).Because of this possible outcome, the FDA should require all GM food to have proper labeling warning consumers of the possible dangers. Some may argue that this fish will still provide the nutrients that a normal fish provide. Even so, with many potential health hazards, GM food should be labeled so people know what they are getting. A survey from the SF Chronicle states â€Å"95% of the public wants labeling. † (SF Chronicle) If people want a label saying if their food has been genetically modified, then it should be.Even if the same nutrient content is the same, a warning label should be visible before a buyer buys the food so the person has a choice. GM Foods not only can cause severe allergic reactions, but also can contribute the lifelong diseases. An article from The Atlantic states that researchers in China have found new information that shows that we're consuming more than just vitamins an d protein, we are also absorbing information, or microRNA. MicroRNA has been connected to help cause â€Å"cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. †(Atlantic) This study shows how GM food could influence human health in unanticipated ways.If GM foods do contain microRNA that can severely affect people’s health, then the FDA should warn people of the risk of eating GM food. People who support GM food argue that if we preform test on GM food to look for microRNA, then we must perform the test on normal food. If the FDA decides to test it or not, they still should provide labels stating the risk of microRNA in food. The FDA should require labels on all genetically modified foods so people know what they are eating. By doing so, people will be warned It will warn of the possible risks to their health and have the chance to make better food choices.Health risks that may occur by eating genetically modified foods include severe allergic reactions, cancer, Alzheimer’ s and Dementia, and diabetes. If the FDA does not label these foods, and people don’t know what can happen to them if they consume these foods you can expect to see a rise in lifelong diseases. If people are warned of the potential effects of eating GM foods, they will hopefully make smart decisions regarding their health and the foods they eat. It would be in the best interests of all people to label genetically modified food.

Junk foods Essay

Research has revealed that the increase in the junk foods industry is interrelated with the rapid increase in the obesity pandemic. Junk foods contain high calories and fats and are therefore the sole ingredient in the spread of overweight and obesity. The cause for alarm is that the targeted lots are the pre-school, school going children and adolescents. Over the years, the number of school going children becoming overweight and obese has increased two fold because they easily access the fast foods and junk foods outlets. Overweight is a condition responsible for so many other diseases: these are like: heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, high pertension, the gallbladder disease, infertility and weakened immune system, just to mention but a few. The illnesses aside, obese people face social stigma: the society discriminates the victims because people normally believe that they are to blame for their conditions. As such, they do not freely intermingle with the rest for fear of such stigmatization (Cassell, D. 000). Junk foods should therefore not be encouraged in schools because of the health effects that follow and because basically ‘prevention is better than cure’. The junk food culture today has become a social custom and so many school going children therefore just take these foodstuffs to conform to what other people-especially their peers- are doing to identify with them. Such environments that are conducive to weight gain make school going children more vulnerable to obesity. In most cases, non-healthy foods are more affordable than the healthy alternatives: junk food manufactures make the foods more attractive because of the labeling that is more appealing. When children grow up not knowing how to prepare healthy foods, they resort to cheaper and less time consuming –in preparation-foods which are obviously more energy giving and have high percentages of calories. Apart from school going children, even adults are not spared in then spread of the obesity pandemic, and this is a cause for alarm in the society (Jefferies, R.  B 2005). To perfectly understand the correlation between increased consumption of junk foods and the increase in prevalence of obesity, the role of junk foods in nutrition related disorders should be analyzed. Junk foods and fast foods consumption coupled with little or no healthy exercise is the sole reason for the abrupt increase in overweight and obesity especially in urbanized regions. In such regions, the quality of the diets is questionable; this has led to the increase in obesity which in severe cases leads to death. The probability of overweight children becoming overweight way into adulthood is very high, and chances of such a person dying prematurely are high too. Obesity caused by excess consumption of junk foods has dire economic effects: since obesity leads to other diseases like high blood pressure, the costs of treating these ailments are far above the ground. A country’s healthcare system is hard-pressed: this is a financial weigh down since the biggest percentage of the healthcare costs are taken care of by the tax payers. The costs divided into direct and indirect costs: direct costs are those that are injected into the direct treatment of the disease, prevention and diagnosis and research. Expenditure that is not direct are those of the employment asset value of employees lost due to the people who are sick and the employment benefits lost due to passing away of the employees. Hospital bills are very costly since these funds run into billions that could be injected into other projects, this means that overall, the economy of a country strains due to this pandemic (Hernell,O 2005). The psychological effects are among other things, negative body image or low self esteem, unease, dejection and more often than not, obese individuals carry out themselves in a way that is not socially healthy. Social stigmatization can be eliminated by increase in education about obesity matters. The position that the sale of junk food promotes school activities-as held by many- holds no water; this is because the students’ health and the society’s’ health in general is more important than that financial aspect of it. To say that the society is going to make money at the expense of children’s health is unreasonable; this explains why junk food sales should not be encouraged in schools at any cost. Thanks to excessive consumption of junk foods, tooth decay and disorders have increased to epidemic levels and dental care is needed, this is very costly given that the economy is not forthcoming. Osteoporosis is an even major fear and the overall treatment of these diseases is very costly, all said and done, prevention of these diseases by discouraging the consumption of junk foods is less costly (Cataldo, R. 000). Another reason why junk foods should be discouraged in schools is because these foodstuffs create a ‘bliss point’: this is a point where a person eating them feels hungrier and wants more and more. The ingredients used to make junk foods like sugar and fats are addictive; the worst party of it is that the foods are always available and therefore the temptation of taking more and more is hard to resist. These modern foods are hyper appetizing and the end results of most of such foods is to create and or arouse a mind-set of pleasure. Research has proven that half the populations of people who are obese and overweight are more likely to be restless or, better said, over-active than their normal counterparts. Once these people are electrified, the neurons in the brain trigger more action making their systems to demand more food to eat-more often than not, this means yearning for more junk foods. The bliss point is the peak of wanting more salt, sugar and fats: these are the ingredients for desserts and other junk foods and at the best possible level, ones appetite is excited to want more of such foods (Hollander, T 2004). The evil of junk foods is that they make us to desire less of healthy foods and therefore discourage healthy eating: this fact explains why junk foods should no be encouraged in schools. Healthy eating is one thing that constitutes discipline; when people do not eat healthy, they are considered not to be morally well-mannered and this is one of the contributory factors to social stigma experienced by people who are overweight. Healthy eating ensures fine health and therefore one is not at risk of getting diseases. When young adults eat healthy, this is a way of ensuring that they are responsible and that they need not wait for adults to instill good manners. Junk foods make students inactive (that is once they become overweight), this means a people of lazy character who can not get involved in much activity. Inactivity is disastrous in the work place and even in schools: this means that even the performance of students in class reduces abruptly and this is not impressive for the schools image. Should these people grow into adults and get to the employment fields, they become sluggish at work and this in turn leads to poor performance. Overweight people are more often than not discriminated at work and in extreme cases, they even could be paid at lower rates than their counterparts and this is not just. Inactivity or a country of inactive people is costly to the overall economic growth because this causes it to be low (Corrine B 1999). Junk foods by reducing activity lead to health issues that in the long run lead to disabilities, diabetes and arthritis are just some of the effects of eating these foods in excessive amounts and soon, people are eating themselves to premature death. Levels of cholesterol rise due to the same and insulin resistance thrives. Thanks to fast foods and unhealthy eating, breathing problems in men increase and in women, fertility rates decrease. The ingredients used to make junk foods are of very poor quality and are less rich in nutrients. The question is not the quantity of the food, rather, it is the quality, and this explains why the body does not get the right nutrients in the right proportions when someone eats junk food. On this note therefore, the individual eats more and more but does not get enough of the food, or rather, gets hungry too fast. Indeed, eating junk foods in excess is an act that triggers a health time bomb (Dare, C. 1999). These foodstuffs reduce the desire to want very much of foods rich in calcium: calcium is very important in bone structure construction and once we do not have enough of it, the effects are out of the ordinary. Young adults therefore suffer from poor bone structure at very tender ages hence reducing their life spans. Highly processes foods (as junk foods are) contain a lot of chemicals in their additives; we may not get obese but we could get other sicknesses. One may not even suffer when they are young but the side effects catch up with us as we age, so the solution is to stop eating these foods in the first place. It is not a small truth therefore to say that by eating these highly artificial foods, our systems get intoxicated with poisons. Some of the old age effects of these foods are early menopause: in spite of having poor fertility, menopause also catches up with us and this means women are at a greater risk (Escott, S. 1996) Since overweight and obesity are major concerns in the world at large and are caused by excessive consumption of junk foods, it is important to devise ways of preventing the disease in view of the fact, it is a health time bomb in waiting. Obesity slows down the metabolic rates (hence slowing down the process of breaking down of food) of the victims hence leading to inactivity and putting one at a risk of adding more weight. To curb this problem therefore, the solution is to eat healthy coupled with taking exercises. The rationale behind this argument is straight forward, when one exercises, the metabolic process or better said, the process of breaking down of fats is increased and therefore, the fats are emulsified or broken down into a more normal digestive process. One may either employ the services of a qualified nutritionist or adopt a healthier eating pattern: just enough body giving foods and more of the other essential nutrients in the right proportions. Eating healthy will have to be coupled with having the right attitude and great discipline. Again, one need to go on an exercising program, long brisk walks although not strenuous, jogging and probably going to the gym, reduction of average screen time and instead focusing on body fitness would just make a huge difference in health (Franseen, L. 1999). Another way out is to change ones lifestyle in a positive way: more often than not, the biggest barrier to change at times is the mind set. Often, one believes that they can not take up a challenge and change; this is normally when one believes that they can not achieve a certain goal. People are often caught up in busy schedules and do not have time to get involved in exercising programs. Another barrier to change is normally the environment in which one lives; people tend to conform to the lifestyles that other people lead in their surrounding. In this case the pointers to these lifestyles are trends in food and status. One needs to beat the barriers by evaluating the current lifestyle, identifying the flaws in the said lifestyle and making out the areas that need amendments. Information acquisition is important in this process and helps one learn healthy ways to lose weight (Garfinkel, P. E 1997). Support system helps one to lose a large mass of weight and doing it single-handedly. Friends can act like a source of enthusiasm in spite of the fact that they may not want to achieve the same objectives as you, they provide support just in case you may want to draw back. In a weight loss program, setting practical goals is one of the ways of achieving the goals of weight loss and management. Objectives that are short term and that are practical help one to gain the driving force towards their realization. In the same breath, an individual does an assessment to see where they have reached against how far they want to go and what they have so far achieved. In the instance that short term objectives are set, they prove helpful in achieving and the realization of the final objective (Rosenbloom, C. 999). As a point of concern, learning institutions should be made healthy places to learn: the quality of food served should therefore be of great importance both to the administration and to the society in general in order to guarantee security to our children. For students to learn at their full potentials, the feeding programs should ensure that the foods served are of high nutritional value and that they are fresh and attractive to the scholars and that the food service supports the learning institutions educational mission. School meals should meet the health standards of the regulatory authorities and these should also be met by the learning institutions’ feeding programs: these standards if imposed, the students will not be left at risk of feeding on junk and fast foods throughout the day. The regulatory authorities together with the learning institutions administration should ensure that the meals served in school grounds should offer a wide assortment of cultural cuisines to offer students with a variety to choose from (Woolsey, M. 2002). There should not be an incongruity between what the children are taught in learning institutions on nourishment and good eating habits and the reality on the ground, whether students are eating unhealthy foodstuffs or what is easily available is junk food. Against this background therefore, food and nutrition should be incorporated into the schools learning syllabus and the students should also learn about food preparation. At the grass roots levels, there should be established an advice-giving board that should comprise of the educators, parents and the community at large to come up with courses of action that govern school feeding programs. The advice-giving board should instill disciplinary action against the learning institutions that do not follow the resolutions passed, time and again; the board members should make impromptu visits and inspect the food service amenities and the set of choices of foodstuffs available for students. Such an arrangement would ensure good discipline on standards of hygiene and food quality especially if there is a feedback mechanism provided to monitor the implementation (Smith, A. F 2006). Medics say that eating of beans help in burning up calories: beans are low in fats and calories content and when one takes beans; they feel satisfied for as long as four hours. Often, one does not feel like eating when they are fully satisfied and as such, there is no temptation to eat junk foods. Exercises should also be done after meals so that the process of emulsification of fats is complete, aerobic classes are ideal in this case because as a matter of fact, stored fats are naturally turned into fats and stored in this form. Breakfast should be the largest meal in the entire and normal day; it should also be the meal that contains the largest amount of calories. Since there is a lot of activities during the mid-morning and the entire day, calories are burnt down easily and more rapidly. Biologically, eating food with very little calorie content is no the solution to weight loss, this is because when the body is at very low metabolism, it is considered famished. When the body lacks adequate nutrients, it becomes difficult to achieve loss of weight. Lifting weights is also Okayed as a way of loosing weight, this is because lifting weight increases muscles and this in turn increases the rate of burning down calories and fats. Drinking a lot of water is very healthy a method of reducing weight: the higher the amount one takes the higher the likelihood of loosing weight, when one feels hungry, it helps one to eat less. When one drinks water before eating, they do not eat much (Carolyn, C. 2004).