Biodiversity and Ethno botanist Exploitation by Pharmaceutical Essay

Biodiversity and Ethno botanist Exploitation by Pharmaceutical Companies - Essay Example Many medicinal plants were thus planted in farm gardens so that they could be used for treating fast illnesses whenever they occurred even without the intervention of other remedies. Physicians, midwives and herbalists in the 1800s were specifically trained in the use of medicinal plants to solve various medicinal conditions. During this time, plants parts were widely used by medical practitioners to cure various ailments in line with the teachings they received in their learning institutions. The pharmaceutical industry has flourished for a long time going by the number of large and highly profitable pharmaceutical companies that exist especially in wealthy countries today. The industry greatly relies on plant derivatives and should reasonably be at the forefront in pushing for plant conservation according to (Lapinskas par 1). Like every other business entity, pharmaceutical companies have profits at the top of their agenda. Indeed, without profits, they are doomed to fail however worthy their courses are. In order to remain in business, the companies have to seek ways of maximizing their profits and minimizing their costs. These two objectives are usually achieved by engaging in research with an aim of developing new products, improving efficiency and using cheaper raw materials. Pharmaceutical organizations use plants in two main ways; as raw material and as inspiration for new products according to Lapinskas (par 3). These organizations have established massive screening programs to identify plants that could be used for making new drugs, thousands of compounds being analysed every year in this respect. When a compound is... This report stresses that the use of herbal medicine among pharmaceutical companies has really grown in recent times and most modern pharmaceutical firms trace their origin from plant products and the knowledge of ethnobotanists or indigenous peoples. Most pharmaceutical companies have grown huge interest in herbal medicine and this interest has led them into believing that there are great profits in medicinal plants, thus they have turned their focus towards indigenous land and knowledge for new resources that can be used in developing new drugs. The knowledge of ethnobotanists is in great demand and usually sought by pharmaceutical companies and medical researchers in their fight to come up with new medicines and products for commercial exploitation. This paper makes a conclusion that the importance of plants in the development of drugs cannot be underestimated. Indeed many of the drugs that sit on the shelves of pharmaceutical companies are a result of plant derivatives some of which originated from remote parts of the world. Many arguments have been posted regarding the exploitation of plants, ethnobotanists, herbalists and indigenous people by large pharmaceutical companies. While some argue that the companies are innocent in that they commonly manufacture synthetic compounds similar to those derived from plants to come up with mass-produced products, others argue that the companies unduly exploit resources without regard to the environment and those who contribute the knowledge. Going by the arguments posted above, it goes beyond doubt the later argument holds more water.

Ogre to Slay, Outsource It to Chinese Essay Example for Free

Ogre to Slay, Outsource It to Chinese Essay David Barbosas brilliantly engages his audience with a catchy title that urges the reader to complete the piece to understand what it is that he is discussing. â€Å"Ogre to Slay? Outsource It to Chinese† is eye-catching and its content and is very thought-provoking and well researched. His preparation for the article includes him finding sources in China, who are engaged in illegal outsourcing of computer game players and contributing to what the Chinese government are attempting to halt, what they call â€Å"internet addiction†. Not only does Barbosas find these valuable sources for information and quote them, he also cites workers in these gaming factories. The effort of his research and concise conclusions to an interesting technological issue makes this piece very well put together and easily readable and understandable to a diverse audience. Barbosas says that this is an issue that spans from â€Å"Seoul to San Francisco† and he is very eloquent in his comparison between the affluent gamers, who are willing to pay Chinese workers to complete initial rounds of computer games and the gamers, themselves, who work 12 hour days, 7 days a week for a mere $250 a month. He does well, also, in showing the change of contrast from what has in history been a clear line between fantasy and reality to illustrate how these lines have blurred. He makes the point of outlining the beginning of the changes in the virtual world of gaming, when gamers began playing others worldwide a few years ago and then when they began becoming so enmeshed with their avatars (or characters that they create), that they pay others to essentially baby-sit them, as the Chinese do or use virtual currency to buy components, such as weapons to help their avatars. Barbosas does well in explaining the complex and intricate world of virtual gaming to even readers, who have no familiarity of the subject. He simultaneously delves into explaining this strange new world while vividly describing the Chinese workers behind the scenes or, more accurately, behind the screens. He paints an interesting picture of what he refers to as, â€Å"virtual sweatshops†. There gamers are playing in dark basements, surrounding by posters of the games they play. These Chinese farmers make up an estimated 40-50% of the gamers involved worldwide in these popular games and it is believed that 1 in 4 internet users in China use their online connection for gaming. In addition to the other staggering statistics Barbosas integrates into his commentary, he integrates what those involved in gaming have to say and what experts share on this issue. One conclusion by an American professor is that this illustrates how the time of Americans is valued more over the time of persons in countries, such as China. In contrast, one owner of a â€Å"sweatshop† believes that if these gamers were not working for him that they would be going back to hard farm work with smaller wages or on the streets. In conclusion, Barbosas shows his journalistic talent in this piece. His research, illustrated by interview citations and statistics, demonstrate his expertise in this strange, technological world. He presents many trends in the world of gaming, in reality versus fantasy, and in the currency involved in these questionable online enterprises. His work is easily readable by a wide audience and his lead-in to the article with it’s catchy title definitely lives up to the interest that title holds.

An Event that Defines Me Essay -- Personal Narrative Writing

An Event that Defines Me There really is no particular event in my life that I can say defines me. Though there are a series of events that has shaped me into the person that I am today. The events that have defined my life have been trials that have tested my integrity and my faith. I have stumbled and fallen but have gotten up time and time again to only go further than before. There have been walls and obstacles that have kept me from being an individual that values higher education. During my high school career I never thought that I would have attended a university or even a community college. I never thought of the concept of higher education though I was pushed by my parents to attend college I never had it in my plans to go to college. Never the less I was given good advice from friends and family telling me that a college education would be the best for me. Without a degree I was certain not to achieve either financial success or career security. While in high school the only thing on my mind was to join the United States Army. Since almost half of my family was either in the military or in prison, I chose to go the path of the military. I was an outstand cadet in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp. I had many decorations and medals that boasted my achievements of scholarship, integrity, loyalty, and leadership ability. It seemed that I was almost destined to become a United States Soldier. School was an easy thing for me, I floated through courses and could have graduated a year early but didn’t cause I wanted to walk with my class. I had lots of things going for me even applying to West Point Military Academy. Unfortunately I never was accepted to at... ... later I received a call from the same recruiter, â€Å"Chris, guess what? We have a position that opened up in military intelligence.† He said. â€Å"No, Thanks. I’m going to college.† These series of events have a significant value to me, there has never been a family member in either both sides attended a community college or a university. I am the first one and I never knew how to get here but with the help of my family and friends I have accomplished something that never has been accomplished by anyone close to me. I feel everyone looking at me and wondering if I will succeed or fail. Since I have been in College I have done my job. I have interned for Senator Jon Kyl, worked for Latino Vote Project, and helped out on campaigns. And due to these accomplishments my views have changed about the military and made me more humble and wise towards other issues.

Journeys: Meaning of Life and Inner Journey Essay

To go on a journey does not necessarily require one to physically move from one place to another. A journey can happen anywhere, and at any time, even if you are not moving. An inner journey is to transcend above the physical and temporal world into a spiritual realm. This enables one to look at life attentively and be alert to the lessons learnt from experience. ‘Of Eurydice’ by Ivan Lalic, ‘Fax X’ by Gwyneth Lewis, ‘Wind in the Willows’ by Kenneth Graham, ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost, ‘The Red Tree’ by Shaun Tan and ‘Baraka’ directed by Ron Fricke are five texts that explore this concept of inner journeys. Collectively they present inner journeys to be inevitable, that they require you to make choices and that they make you ask questions of an ontological nature. It can be argued that inner journeys are inevitable in that they are unavoidable. Whether we are open to it or resist it, essentially we grow from experience and consequently this growth contributes to one’s understanding of self. This idea is presented in ‘Of Eurydice’ through choice of words such as ‘dark’, ‘despair’ and ‘death’. These words all have connotations to the fact that death is inevitable, and the persona has come to realize this when his is unable to return from a journey with his goal. This supports the idea that journeys are indeed inevitable and cannot be avoided; furthermore his understanding is emphasized when the composer ends with ‘hideously enriched’. This use of oxymoron is effective in that it portrays that idea of growing and learning from the most painful experiences. Similarly, ‘Fax X’ also deals with the idea of journeys being inevitable; the metaphorical use of a cruising ship implies hopeful prospects for a better day. However the symbolic use of ‘Tomorrow ringing out like a buoy’ presents the depressing idea that essentially we are only looking ahead and mindlessly keeping ourselves occupied until death engulfs us. Hence it is arguable that Inner journeys are unavoidable, as we cannot escape the fact that one-day we will die. As humans we incomprehensibly attempt to outlive our allotted lifespan, in doing so we take ourselves on an inner journey of realization and consequently acceptance for death. In addition, inner journeys are essentially about the choices one has to make in life, as conflict and contradiction are at the heart of any journey. ‘Wind in the willows’ is an example of how conflicting attitudes in one’s self determines what ‘path’ we choose. ‘Wind in the willows’ presents three characters that represents the ego of one person: the optimist who is open to change, the pessimist who resists it, and the one little voice stranded in the middle trying to make a choice. The attitudes of these three different personalities are presented through language, which depicts the nature of the characters. The punctuation of the toad’s character constantly consists of commas. This creates an exhilarating effect that enables the audience to get caught up into the toad’s excitement and zest for life. The language of the toad is also that of an optimist. The use of ‘tomorrow’, ’beautiful’ and ‘we’ suggests that the toad is happy and willing to go on a journey and is open to change. The Rat’s attitude however is in complete contrast to the toads. The use of adjectives such as ‘slowly, and ‘trusting hands into his pockets’ suggests that the rat despises change. Hence the use of these two character, with the mole being indecisive in-between alludes to the choices one that to make constantly in life. Our insatiable thirst for more is hindered by our obligations to be responsible and sensible. Hence this conflict within one’s self depicts the inner journey of the responder trying to make choices by weighing pros and cons in their heads. Similarly, ‘The Road not taken’ presents elements of uncertainty as well as the burden of making choices. However this is communicated to the responder through symbolism, alliteration and accumulation of words. The ‘Road’ itself is symbolic of choice. The title indicates that the poem is about the road the composer did not take. In conjunction with the use of alliteration in ‘wanted wear’ it reflects the persona’s desires and personal aspiration. The choice of words such as ‘Diverged’, ‘yellow’ and ‘sorry’ are connation to choice, the uncertainty of making such choices and the regret of having to make choices. The accumulation of these words suggests that the persona is filled with an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and regret. Regret stems from his inability to be everything he wants to be and hopelessness of being incapable of exploring all the possibilities and desires in his life, because ultimately life is too short. ‘The Road Not Taken’ laments on the reality of life, that one cannot be everything due to the constricting nature of making choices. However one cannot escape making choices in life, and every choice that you make will consciously or unconsciously take you onto an inner journey of realization, hope and desire. Furthermore, inner journeys essentially require you ask questions of an ontological nature. An inner journey is present in the human desire and insatiable thirst to seek answers concerning who are they, what they are worth and the purpose of their life. This concept is evident in ‘The Red Tree’ by Shaun Tan, which depicts the story of a child’s struggle to find her place in the world. The ambiguity of the ‘child’ allows the responder to reflect upon the child within themselves and their personal desire to find one’s sense of self in a confusing and incomprehensible world. This idea is presented in frame two of the Paleolithic Fish. The milky eyes of the Paleolithic fish have connotations to death; the open mouth of the fish suggests that the child is being engulfed by a world full of doom and despair. However in the same frame, a little red leaf still lingers. The use of the colour red implies the leaf is one of passion and hope of the individual. The conjunction of the fish and the leaf suggest that journeys are depressing, as they require you to look at the depth of your being and your insignificance. However, despite the profanity of our reflection of our inner journeys there is always of sense hope that exists and enables us to continue on with life. ‘Baraka’ directed by Ron Fricke extends on this struggle to find answers in life. Using production elements such as sound, lighting, transition rates and camera angles, Fricke show humanity’s attempts to find answers through human relationship with nature and religious exploration. The transition of lighting from dark and light in the opening sequence suggests the evils and beauty of the world. The camera angles of the mountains are such that the mountain seems empowering and it appears that it is leading up to the sky. This is followed by quick transition rates that occur through the shots of technology, which are a reflection of the busy, and conglomerated lives humans. The contrast between these images enable meaning to be made and allows the responder to transcend above the physical and temporal world and reflect upon the way humans live. In such a convoluted and technologically elite world, humanities underlying desire is to find the ultimate purpose in life.

The Twenty-First Century

Never before in history have there been more health problem in the world than in the twenty-first century. There seems to be an incrementing amount of people that will be diagnosed with some type of disease or sickness. The main culprit that causes so many people to be in that state is diet. This not only affects adults but children as well, significantly on school property. A child that is well nourished can perform well in school and adapt to making healthier decisions in regards to the consumption of foods. Thus, banning junk food in schools is an effective solution to students performance in school. In the schools setting children are no longer advised by their parents on what to eat and are forced to choose from the options that the school offers. The child's health then depends upon the nutritional value of the choices that are available. Junk food in schools often includes pizza, hamburgers, fried foods such as french fries and chips, canned food, and large quantities of processed foods. Some of these foods can come from vending machines as well. There can be healthier options such as vegetables, salad, and fruits, however, children tend to choose less healthy options. On the occasion that schools ban junk food, children will have no other option but to choose healthier food choices. This will result in an increase of children eating healthier and enhancing their performance to do well in school. In some instances, children can be rebellious and not want to consume the healthy alternatives due to unfavorable preferences. This can cause ineffective performs in the classroom and their overall behavior hindering their ability to do well academically. However, schools can solve this by advising and consulting with the children before making any changes. In this process school administrators motivate children to make healthier food choices using incentives, pledges, and competitions which is exactly what a field study conducted by Sekar Raju, Priyalin Rajagopal, and Timothy J. Gilbride. The study concluded that â€Å"all three interventions increased the choice of fruits and vegetables ten weeks after the intervention ended.† This demonstrates that it is possible for children to adapt to healthier food choices that they can apply when choosing foods from the cafeteria. Children can even make a habit early on in their lives to eat healthier. Some people might say that the problem of children's poor health is caused by how they were taught how to make decisions at home and not on school grounds, thus it is not the school's responsibility to attend to every child dietary needs. However, if the school's administration had already taken the initiative to respond by the students best academic interests they should take into consideration that proper nutrition can enhance their performance. According to the article â€Å"The Relationship between Nutrition and Children's Educational Performance: A Focus on the United Arab Emirates† by Galal, Osman, and Judie Hulett, students who are not well nourished have lower attendance, shorter attention span, lower performance scores, and more health-related problems. In addition to this, junk food is harmful and can inhibit students performance in school. There was a cross-section survey done by British secondary school children and the results stated that the daily consumption of junk food was associated with poorer mental and physical health. Thus, if schools provide healthier options students can perform better in school and articulate in a normal manner. A concern that schools and parents have is that banning junk food and increasing healthier alternatives will result in additional money needed to buy the materials and food. This was the case for Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District in suburban St. Louis that with the initiative of superintendent Lina Henke, candy, chips, and all but one vending machine were removed. She also had all processed food replaced by whole foods by means of local resources. Linda Henke stated that â€Å"To get kids to focus on school, and come to class with energy and enthusiasm, this is essential.† Although most districts struggle with the budget, once changes have been made to the foods served in the cafeteria the school will benefit from the children's academic and social performance. For this reason, additional schools are making changes and seeing promising results from banning junk food. Banning junk food in school can benefit both the school and the children. Although the school will have to make accommodations due to financial requirements the outcomes will result in an overall better performance by the students. Student will learn earlier on in their live how to make healthier food choices and add to their well being as they grow up. Schools should take more into consideration the power that food can have on children and their performance in school.