An Insight Into Prophecy: Infallibility Essay

Plato once remarked that a community could produce its ideal leader and guide by handpicking a select few and exposing them to an intricate balance of gymnastics and classical music. Apart from the emasculating effect of such a course of action, it no doubt falls short of the prophetic paradigm. Prophets are an important vehicle by which Allah (swt) guides mankind; their task is to convey God’s will and provide an example worthy of emulation. Yet, in order to be emulated they must themselves be of an impeccable character. In this brief article, I shall approach the topic of prophethood from the gateway of infallibility and attempt to assess, through a discussion of the purpose of prophethood, why infallibility is required. In order for the discussion of infallibility to be a fruitful one, it would seem most appropriate to begin by shedding light upon the institution of prophethood. The religions of the world have venerated those that they consider to be prophets. These charismatic figures have led communities and shaped subsequent history. Such influence and prestige appears to derive from their common claim; that they are divinely inspired. Their popular appeal thus stems form the fact that they represent one of the many ways by which God manifests His immanence; that God is closer to us than our jugular veins.1 Yet, beyond this link with the divine, religions have differed, in some respects, regarding prophethood. Prophets, as characterised by Judaism, the first of the three Abrahamic faiths, were people who felt very deeply. They were devastated by the suffering of those that were oppressed. Having great resonance with the life of our final messenger, Muhammad (s.a.w), the Jewish prophets tended to have three main phases to their lives; contemplative seclusion, scathing criticism of the status quo and finally the provision of a means to salvation. And yet, when reading the Old Testament, it becomes very much apparent that the prophets were not of an impeccable character; they appear fallible and at times guilty of serious sin. The Genesis account of Jacob tricking his father Isaac is a particular case to note.2 Another conspicuous difference is that of ethnicity. Israel was Yahweh’s chosen nation, and as such, prophets, divine favours, were sent to guide them. In contrast, the Islamic prophetology is a universal one; it recognises both that â€Å"to every nation is a guide†3 and that Muhammad (s.a.w), the seal of prophethood, was sent as a â€Å"mercy to all the world.†4 In Christianity can be seen an even greater departure from Islam’s prophetology. Here, prophetology becomes theology in the act of deifying Christ. As a footing, aiding our understanding of the alternate prophetologies of these two faiths, we may compare what have been taken to be the respective symbols of Christianity and Islam; the cross and the crescent. Placing aside the inherent defects of redemption, original sin and the act of deifying Christ, it would seem that the cross, in Christianity, represents the one, single and unique redemptive transection between the transcendent and immanent God; the Father’s horizontal loftiness is brought to earth by Jesus’ vertical sacrifice. On the other hand, the crescent, suggestive of cyclicity and renewal, is an apt symbol of Islam’s prophetology; seeing successive prophets as one of a chain of 124,000 guides sent by the Almighty. As one is extinguished, another is born. The Islamic prophetology is conceptually simple. Islam views all prophets as having a common aim; preaching the message of monotheism. In the Qur’an, great stress is laid upon the figure of Abraham (a.s.) He is given due respect as the great patriarch; father to the line of Isaac (a.s) and Ishmael (a.s), and as such represents an ideal, that of Islam, from which Rabbinical Judaism and Pauline Christianity departed: Abraham was not a Jew nor a Christian but he was an upright man (hanif), a Muslim, and not one of the polytheists5 Along the model set by Abraham, famously known to be the slayer of idols, a line of great prophets descended. The story of Yusuf (a.s), Abraham’s great-grandson, referred to in the Qur’an as ‘the best of narratives’,6 provides us with a glowing example of how tawhid manifests itself in a believer; Yusuf (a.s), even in times of great tribulation had firm tawakkul, absolute trust in Allah. Even in jail he did not lose sight of his mission. Indeed, when asked by his two jail-mates to interpret their dreams, he ceases the opportunity to begin preaching to them, in wonderfully eloquent prose, of God’s oneness, and their ultimate accountability before Him.7 In spite of such archetypes, the children of Israel on many occasion defied their prophets. The Qur’an gives many an example of such defiance and the resulting divine retribution. The end product was that Rabbinical Judaism became fraught with legalism, and the spirit of faith began to fade. This was to contrast with the esoteric teachings of Moses (a.s), to whom the burning bush spake.8 The Qur’an also presents Jesus (a.s) as a worthy apostle who vehemently denies claims that he is God. The very first words of the Qur’anic Jesus (a.s), uttered in the cradle to defend his mother from charges of unchastity, form both a rebuttal to Pauline Christianity and concisely capture the Islamic prophetology: Surely I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the book and made me a prophet.9 Hence, in Islam, a prophet is simply a messenger of God sent to guide his people to the right path. The practical side of prophecy is that of responsibility; a responsibility by the people to follow the prophet. Regarding the final and most honoured of the prophets, Muhammad (s.a.w) the Qur’an says: Take what the Messenger gives to you, and refrain from what he prohibits you.10 It is from this platform that we may make the relatively straightforward leap to infallibility. Many arguments, both rational and scriptural, abound regarding the infallibility of the prophets. One of the most convincing is the argument that builds upon our responsibility towards prophets, as noted, and the subsequent paradox of following an errant prophet. M.R Muzaffar elaborates upon this argument: The reason for the infallibility of a prophet is that if he commits a sin or mistake, or is forgetful or something similar, we have to chose between two alternatives: either we obey his sins and mistakes, in which case, in the view of Islam, we do wrong, or we must not obey the his sins and mistakes, which too is wrong, because this is contrary to the idea of prophethood where obedience is necessary; besides, if everything he says or does has the possibility of being either right or wrong, then it is impossible for us to follow him. The result is that the benefit of his mission is lost; it becomes unnecessary, and the prophet becomes like ordinary people whose acts and speech do not have the excellent worth that we seek, with the result that there will be no obedience and his actions will be unreliable.11 ‘Allamah Hilli (d.1325), the twelver Shi’ite theologian of the Il-Khanid period, cites another key rational, aqli, proof for infallibility. He points to the argument ad infinitum; if the guardian is not infallible, then we are left with the indefinite question of who guards the guardian?12 Having provided but a taster to the arguments in favour of infallibility, one needs clarify what exactly we take it to mean. Muslim theologians have united doctrinally in favour of prophetic infallibility, and yet differences are noticeable in both its extend and its duration. Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (d.1209), a Shafi’i jurist and theologian of the Ash’ari School, claims that infallibility occurs only in the domains of belief, transmission of the divine message and religious judgement. This however, appears to severely limit the extent of authority accorded to the prophet, who is the example par excellence in all domains. Though al-Razi claims that the Sunni Ash’arites had agreed upon this, it appears that al-Baqillani (d10.13), another Ash’arite theologian, believed that the ‘infallible’ may commit unintentional errors in the transmission of the message to mankind. The flaws of such a view are clear. ‘Allama Hilli, whose views remain those of orthodox twelver Shi’ism to this day, provides a watertight definition of ‘isma, infallibility. He begins by explaining that infallibility does not itself negate the prophet’s ability to commit sin;13 avoiding sin is an active choice. This is in contrast to the determininstic understanding prevalent amongst the Ash’arites. Further, he stipulates that the infallible must neither commit grave or minor sins, in any domain, either before or after his mission commences.14 He reasons that a person who becomes inerrant upon being made a prophet will not have acquired the necessary respect from his people. Only a person that has been of exemplary character throughout his life can take on such a great responsibility as that of prophethood. In sum, one may say, rather schematically, that prophetic infallibility is denied within the confines of Judaism, extended to that of a deity in Christianity, and defined downwards by orthodox Sunnism. And yet, upon reflection, it would appear that prophecy is a great burden. Indeed, the Qur’anic revelation is described as a ‘heavy word’15 that is sent down upon the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). It is only with impeccable character, fortitude and resilience that the prophets were able to welcome such a burden, and live up to the responsibility of guiding mankind. Such character can only be adequately captured in an understanding of infallibility that does not seek to atomise, either temporally or spatially, the lives of the prophets; inerrancy most truly encompasses all domains and periods of the life of a prophet. 1 Holy Qur’an 50:16. 2 Genesis 25-28. The Genesis account speaks of Jacob having an elder brother by the name of Esau. Isaac had intended to bless his elder son before he died, but Jacob, aided by his mother Rebekah sought to trick Isaac into giving Esau’s birthright to Jacob. 3 Holy Qur’an 13:7. 4 Holy Qur’an 21:107. 5 Holy Qur’an 3:67. 6 Holy Qur’an 12:3. 7 Holy Qur’an 12:36-42. 8 Holy Qur’an 20:9-14. 9 Holy Qur’an 20:33 10 Holy Qur’an 59:7. 11 Shomali, S.A. Shi’i Islam, ICAS (2002) (unpublished manuscript), p67. 12 ‘Allamah Hilli, al-Bab al-Hadi ‘Ashr, commentary by Miqdad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Siyuri, Mashad (1989), p41. 13 Tusi, Nasir al Din, Kashf al Murad fi Sharh Tajrid al-I’tiqad, commentary by ‘Allamah Hilli, Beirut (1990), pp.341-342. 14 Op.cit. Al-Hilli, p124. 15 Holy Qur’an 73:5

Economics †Genetically Modified Food Essay

Introduction In this essay, arguments will be presented which agree and disagree with the question that ‘genetically modified crops are the only way to feed the world’. Genetically modified (GM) foods are made from genetically modified organisms (GMO). Examples of genetically modified organisms include animals, plants and bacteria. The genetic makeup of GMOs are further altered by making specific changes to their DNA and this is done by genetic engineering. Developing nations of India and Africa will be explored in their outlooks on the pros and cons of GM crops and will illustrate how this effects demand and supply. The conclusion will provide a statement which reflects the benefits of GM technology but how care must be taken to ensure the highest level of safety to human and environmental health. In support of genetically modified crops Support for the concept that GM crops are the only way to feed the world take this viewpoint for a number of reasons, one which includes that by increasing the production in supply, the demand for foods will be met by those who are currently experiencing food shortages. Food shortages are an ever increasing problem in third-world countries, including India and Africa. A major cause of food-shortages in these countries comes from there rapidly expanding populations. The increasing demand for food puts pressure to produce and provide more. For this reason, third-world countries face several agricultural challenges. Mangala Rai, Secretary of the Indian Department of Agricultural Research and Education, expressed that production food of from less land would be achieved only through the widespread use of GM crops. Mr Rai understands there is resistance to this concept however stresses that it will solve the desperate state India is in. (, September 2007). Although India is reported to be the second largest producer of wheat, in 2006 and 2007 they imported mass amounts of grain to meet the gap between supply and demand. India’s government took action and approved trials in GM cotton crops and this resulted in India surpassing the United States to become the second biggest producer of cotton in 2006 and 2007. (, February 2008). Researchers from University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Bonn in Germany reported results from farm trials conducted in India, that GM cotton crops dramatically increased yields and considerably reduced pesticide use compared with non-GM crops. ( February 2003). After experiencing great success with GM cotton, C. D Mayee, a senior scientist, and chairman for Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board said, ‘India’s first expected GM food crop is brinjal. Field trials of GM brinjal started in August 2007 and is expected to be commercialised by 2009’. ( February 2008). Similar challenges regarding GM crops were experienced with Africa, which we will illustrate next. In 2002 and 2003, many African countries including Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe were affected with a major food crisis. Unless food aid worth over US $507 million was distributed, it was estimated that 13 million people would suffer extreme starvation by the end of the year. There was initial concern from these countries to accept GM foods from the World Food Programme (WFP); however these countries (excluding Zambia who decided to its satisfaction that GM food aid was not necessary to meet the needs of Zambia’s population and secured non-GM from other sources) national governments elected to accept the GM grain, agreeing that the most important factor to prioritise was the need to alleviate hunger and this outweighed any other concerns. Clive James, chairman of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, said, ‘India can become self sufficient in food production by use of biotechnology in food crops’. He went on to further say, ‘The biggest risk associated with this technology in India is not using it’. (, February 2008). In support of the distribution and production of GM crops throughout Africa is biotechnologist Dr. Wynand van der Walt ( February 2003). He said the GM function offers opportunities to ensure food security in Africa and that there is no evidence to suggest that it poses a negative threat to human health or the environment. Over 3 billion people on all continents consume foods from GM crops and no proven cases suggest their hazardousness. Dr. Wynand van der Walt (February 2003) stated the following: We have high food prices and high food insecurity. We cannot wait for long term policy discussions. The urgency is now and all of us have an obligation to go out and communicate and counter the misinformation we face every day about GM crops. Graph (a) illustrates the relationship between price and foods from GM crops: [pic] Foods from GM crops are less expensive than foods from non-GM crops. Demand for food is high (D), and supplies of food from GM crops is high (S). Against genetically modified crops Those against the argument that GM crops are the only way to feed the world debate this point of view for a multitude of reasons, some which include the potential negative human and environmental impact. Although certain governments from developing countries like India and Africa support and have agreed to accept foods from GM crops as a way to feed their rapidly growing population, passionate anti-GM activists from these same countries strongly oppose its application and have put pressure on political parties to ban GM technology. In 2006, a large informal network representing organisations and individuals from more than 15 states of India was formed called â€Å"Coalition for GM Free India† (. April 2008). Members of this coalition believe that farmers’ science and knowledge, especially with regard to ecological farming, is the only sustainable way forward for farming in India. Their aim is to raise awareness and educate the general public, the media and civil society groups of the destructiveness of GM crops. The Coalition organised a meeting in Hyderabad where over 250 people took part to protest against the use of GM in their food, including farmers and consumers who have directly suffered from the GM cotton crops including those who have experienced huge financial losses, allergies while working in GM cotton crop fields and others who have lost their livestock that grazed on GM cotton crops. There has been a huge outcry from the Indian people to their government to cease GM crop trials. In support of the ban against GM foods in India is leading scientist Dr P M Bhargava (, July 2008). He stated the following: The problem is that no one knows what effect these foods will have on us. In animals, we have a good idea about their possible ill-effects. In science, we collect evidence on the basis of which we make predictions. All our predictions so far are not in favour of GM foods unless they are tested extensively and exhaustively, which they are not today. Experts are crying themselves hoarse; it is for the Indian government to listen. If all our politicians and scientists were committed to their country, not a single GM product would have been permitted in India as of today. I would say that as of today we do not have reasonably conclusive evidence that GM foods are safe. We should therefore exercise the precautionary principle and ban their use unless incontrovertible evidence regarding their long-term safety is obtained, which would take 10 to 25 years. It is a pity that alternatives to GM crops such as integrated pest management and the use of bio-pesticides, which are cheaper and better, and organic agriculture, are being ignored by our government in spite of the enormous evidence in their favour. Objection of accepting GM crops was Zambia of Africa which we will point to next. National government officials (NGOs) of Zambia were sceptical in accepting the GM food-aid from the WFP in their time of famine. Though they did ultimately reject the GM food from WFP, they did not do so before carrying out a thorough investigation. An expert delegation was assigned to travel to the United States and the European Union where they met with the biotechnology industry, government food safety officials, academic scientists and NGOs with an interest in and expertise on GM food safety issues. From these meetings, it was determined that the risks related with the GM maize were greater than Zambia was comfortable with and declined the WFP food-aid. ( October 2004) Although the Zambian government were under enormous pressure to accept GM grain, their stance was supported by several Zambian and regional non-governmental organisations, including Consumers International (CI) and the Zambian Consumer Association (ZACA) which ignited a campaign to press for alternatives food supplies to be made available to the country. In its campaign, CI lobbied the WFP to explore alternatives for supplying Zambia with non-GM grain from countries where such grain was available. There is very little scientific information regarding the long term health risks derived from GM crops and for this reason, many opinions are formed on the ethical stance that GM food implies. Some of these include the dependence on industrialised nations by developing countries, tampering with nature by mixing genes among species, and labelling of GM crops are not mandatory in some countries, including the United States. With so much uncertainly associated to GM crops and with retrospective gained regarding the famine threat to Zambia in 2002 and 2003, CI provided some recommendations including (. October 2004): (i) That the WFP and the U. S. Agency for International Development should immediately stop exerting pressure on affected developing country governments and presenting these countries with a misleading scenario of ‘No Choice. ‘ (ii) That the WFP and all donors should provide real choices (i. e. , sources of non-GM food aid) to any country that rejects or restricts GM food aid. Failure to do so renders the WFP’s long-standing recognition of the â€Å"the right to choose† meaningless. The WFP has a duty to actively seek options for providing non-GM foods that are in fact available to countries that prefer the non-GM alternative. (iii) The WFP should put in place additional mechanisms that enable it to respond appropriately to situations where recipient countries impose restrictions on the acceptance of GM food aid. For example, the preferences of recipient countries should be ascertained in advance of a crisis, so that planning could emphasize making the supply of food sources with different characteristics (e.g. , GM/non-GM) roughly match the expected demand. (iv). Consumer organizations in developing countries should inform themselves on the scientific, economic, trade, ethical and other aspects of the debate over GM foods and crops, so that they may constructively engage with their governments when a national risk analysis on this issue is required. Graph (b) illustrates the relationship between price and foods from non-GM crops: [pic] Foods from non-GM crops are more expensive than foods from non-GM crops. Demand for food is high (D), and supplies of food from non-GM crops is low (S). Conclusion The production of food from GM crops certainly proven scientifically that it has the capability of solving many of the worlds food-shortage problems as was illustrated in our examples in the developing nations of India and Africa. However to depend on it as being the only way to feed the world would be hasty, especially as there is little data reporting of its long term affects on the human race and the environment. In saying that, to ignore proven potentially beneficial technology would be a careless. Whilst our advancement in technology is commendable, we must proceed with care to avoid unintentional impairment on human health or the environment. List of References Layton, A, Robinson, T & Tucker, IB 2009, Economics for today, 3rd edn, Cengage Learning Australia, South Melbourne, Victoria. Environmental Graffiti, ‘GM Crops only way for India to feed itself, says Government’, May 2007, viewed 23 September 2009, . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2009, viewed 17 September 2009, . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2009, viewed 17 September 2009, . Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education, The Political Saga of GM Crops in India, 2008, viewed 25 September 2009. Genetically modified crops in India produced greater yields, reduced pesticide use, new study finds, February 2003, viewed 25 September 2009, . Human Genome Project Information, August 2006, viewed 19 September 2009, . International Food Policy Research Institute, Status of Genetically Modified: What is Being Grown and Where, May 2009, viewed 26 September 2009. May-June 2009, ‘Introduction food crisis in the Americas. (REPORT: FOOD CRISIS)’ NACLA Report on the Americas, vol. 42, no. 3, p. 15(1), viewed 18 September 2009, Business Economics and Theory. Gale. Search me! economics, Gale Document Number: A199854228 Guterman, Lisa, 2000, ‘Scientists leave the lab to defend bioengineered food’ The Chronicle of Higher Education vol. 46, no. 32, p. A29(4), viewed 20 September 2009, Business Economics and Theory. Gale. Search me! economics. Gale Document Number: A61878337 World Food Programme, 2009, viewed 25 September.

Achilles Anophtheis (Achilles revisited) Essays - Achilles, Opiate

Achilles Anophtheis (Achilles revisited) The director walked onto the stage, gingerly adjusting his radiation mask in order to fit the microphone beneath it. His nervous cough boomed through the hall. After shuffling the papers on the podium before him, he began. "Welcome ladies and gentlemen of the Pre-Apocalypse Archaeological Society. We have called this session to impart to you a matter of the utmost importance, a discovery of the highest order. As you are aware, our teams have only recently been able to sift through the debris of the razed cities of our belligerent predecessors, thanks to the efforts of our colleagues at the Physical Research Society who, with the aid of Allah, have made our task infinitely easier with the invention of a radiation suit which allows our field workers to work even in areas of the highest radiation concentration: the cities of what was formerly the United States of America. The discoveries are literally pouring in, and we have our hands full simply cataloguing the numerous finds. Our first find was a small rectangular object, containing a spool of thin ribbon, which one of our historians identified as what was known as a cassette. Simply put, it was a device on which sounds could be recorded. From its small size, our historian conjectured that it was of a type designed for recording the human voice rather than music. Armed with this belief, we managed to convince the Censor Society to allow us to reconstruct the primitive machine to play back the message we hoped it would contain. They agreed; on the condition that we did not do so until they had a chance to screen it for the negative influences that caused the downfall of the last corrupt civilization. They duly approved it and we are now ready for its first public presentation. "Before we begin, I would like to explain some of the terms used in the recording, for those of you who lack the benefit of an historical training. The tape is evidently the recording of a psychologist. You are all aware that the sacrilege which led to the destruction of the Nuclear Age was primarily caused by the decline in religious belief and values. A psychologist was the person who supplanted the role of the confessor in this blasphemous time. He labored under the delusion that the immortal soul was accessible on a scientific, human level; and, like most of the scientists of the day, impiously discounted Allah as an unnecessary complication. We found an infamous saying which pervaded much of the Pre- Apocalypse literature: 'Religion is the opiate of the people'. Well, psychology became the new 'opiate of the people.' The patient with whom the doctor is dealing with in the recording, has been identified as a prominent businessman of the day. He is what was called an arbitrageur. A man who specialized in dealings on their stock market, a term I am sure all of you are familiar with. In any case, an arbitrageur bought and sold companies for a profit. In the few pieces of literature we have been able to recover, it seems that such men were regarded as the heroes of their age. I refer of course to the numerous copies we have of the autobiographies of Donald Trump, Robert Campeau and the like. Evidently the culture considered these books to be of great importance, for we found huge amounts of them in large buildings. This was apparently for safekeeping since the storage facilities were located well away from the centres of attack in the event of a nuclear war. The periodicals of the day also reflect the reverence in which these men were held, as they are frequently mentioned. It is another mark of the degradation of the society that the primary estimate of a man's worth became the amount of money he earned. It is difficult in this holy age to conceive of such blasphemy, but it is necessary that we do so in order to avoid the same traps into which they fell. We have managed to reconstruct the scenario as far as was possible, but we endeavored to retain all of the original conversation in addition to our own narration. I don't think that there is anything further that you need to know about the recording, except perhaps that it appears to be incomplete. I would ask that you remain as silent as possible, because the tape is of very low quality and the accent is very difficult to understand. If you are having trouble,

Family Friendly Policy and Optimum Shifts for Nurses Essay

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A Control System For A Power Plant - Research Paper Example In some pressurized water reactors, distinctive control rods are used to facilitate the core to withstand a low level of power proficiently (Levine, 1999). Coolant. A liquid flowing inside the core so as to transmit the heat from it.   In light water reactors, the water mediator functions also as a major coolant. Except in boiling water reactors, there is subordinate coolant circuit where the water is changed into steam. Pressure vessel or pressure tubes. Normally, a strong steel vessel enclosing the reactor core and the coolant, but a series of tubes holding the fuel and transmitting the coolant through the adjacent moderator may be used. This has helped in the yielding of electricity that enhances other types that are costly and seasonal (Lee, 2004). Steam generator. Part of the cooling compartment where the high-pressure basic coolant taking heat from the reactor is incorporated to make steam for the turbine, in an adjacent circuit. Basically, a heat exchanger like a motor vehicle radiator. Reactors may have up to four coils, each with a steam generator.   Containment. The organization around the reactor and related steam generators which is intended to protect it from outside interruption and to protect those outside from the impacts of radiation in case of any crucial fault inside. It is usually a meter thick steel and concrete structure. Powering a nuclear plant reactor: Most reactors need to be turned off for refueling, so that the pressure tubes can be opened up. In this case, topping up is at intervals of 1-2 years, when a 1/4 to a 1/3 of the fuel assemblies are changed with fresh ones. In case graphite or water is used as a coolant, it is possible to drive a power reactor on natural instead of impure uranium. Natural uranium has the similar elemental build-up as when it was mined, while impure uranium has

Theoretical Writing Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Theoretical Writing Assignment - Essay Example Cultivation theory According to Gerbner (1969), television determines how a person looks at society. Television is broadly accessible to all people. Moreover, as Gerbner (1969) says, television is becoming very powerful because it is seen as a part of modern living and personal lifestyle. Unlike other types of media, television is one media of mass communication that is accessible to people right from childhood (Bryant & Zillmann, 2002). In this case, the television becomes the main way that people have acquired information, both general information and cultural reality. In this regard, as people grow old, television becomes a major part of determining how they view things. Reality is based on the general information that people gather while growing up. Because of this, it can be said that a person’s reality is based on the information they have gathered over time, whether in a formal or an informal way. A child in Africa who has no television may have a completely different v iew of reality from one in the United States. In the developed world, television has become the centre of cultural learning. Cultural artefacts are learnt through television. Television is a perfection of the society. Because most of the programs in television are fiction acted out by a well directed model, it creates the perfect world for individuals. The role of television in the modern developed world can be best understood by looking at the way culture was passed on before mass media. Cultural festivals were important in every society as a way to hand down important cultures. In this case, the cultural festivals and other cultural norms passed down from the older generation acted as a way to create a reality for the society. It is important to note that even in early days before the arrival of modern mass media most of the cultural reality was created with the intention to achieve something. Modern television may be geared towards cultivating a reality that will promote consumer ism to the benefit of the corporate world (Gerbner, et al., 1986). In the past, these perceived realities were created as a way to preserve the society and make people easy to govern. Looking at television, one can identify that television is just a modern extension of the tradition ways of passing on reality to the society. Before television, society created reality by telling specific stories which were told to children since they were young and this created a reality for them. There has not been much change about this due to a number of reasons. First, a look at television shows that deletions is used to tell (factious) stories which are bent towards changing the way an individual thinks about reality (Paisley & Stone). This is why over fifty percent of American believes that there are aliens who have visited this plant with UFOs despite there being no scientific evidence of such events. Violent TV shows There has been a greater debate ion how violent television shows affects an individual, especially young adults. This debate is very important because it has very serious implications. Most people still believe that the various grass incidences of mass shootings in public schools and other public places by young adults has been caused by violent video games. So the question that every person should be answering is whether these people who have

Construction and operation of aircraft fluid systems Coursework

Construction and operation of aircraft fluid systems - Coursework Example The turbine engine and the pneumatic power generation component are integral. Largely, the engine component is responsible to the pneumatic power generation. The constructional design of the power generation component takes into consideration the needs to regulate pressure and temperature. Normally, bled air conditions depend on the engine functioning conditions. Critics contend that bleeding the air from the engine can lead to engine suffocation consequently leading to mechanical breakdown. The pneumatic compressor bleeds air from the engine in various stages, a low-pressure port, intermediate and high-pressure port. The compressor has a check valve, which prevents air from moving to low pressure port during bleeding. By design, the low-pressure port is always open, but the shut valve may close it if the engine is a critical condition. The pneumatic power system in aircraft is a secondary power. By design, bleed air is tapped from one or more points along the engine compressor to pr ovide pneumatic power. To achieve the requirement drive shafts, from the engine’s high pressure shaft, drive an accessory gear box on which are mounted generators and hydraulic pumps as well as engine’s own accessories. ... The pneumatic power system has several functions in an aircraft. These functions are air conditioning and pressurization. In aircrafts for civil transport, bleed air is useful in extracting the secondary source of power. The users of the pneumatic power system are air conditioning system and pressurization systems. By design, the air pressure in the aircraft cabin should be at a pressure equivalent to 8000 feet or less and this requires a constant supply of air. It follows therefore that the pneumatic power systems must supply the required pressure in the aircraft. Moreover, the oxygen used in the aircraft requires replacement at constant intervals. Normally, the contaminant level should be under check to avoid suffocation in the aircraft. To control this process, the aircraft requires a source of air pressure that can aid the sucking of the contaminated air and replacing it with fresh air. The pneumatic power systems provides effective high pressure used in the above requirement. Th e process of air conditioning passes through numerous stages ranging from sucking the contaminated air, filtering as well as supplying the fresh air alongside a maintained temperature. The pneumatic power systems drive the ice protection systems. Dangerous icing conditionings are no longer a threat to the modern aircraft because of the modernization of the aircraft components. However, critics have several reasons behind the need to protect aircraft from icing conditions. Some of the reasons adduced against this factor include possibility of accidents resulting from the accretion of ice on the lifting surface of aircraft. The major cause of engine intake icing is the special flow conditions present and most aircraft have at least some provision for de icing in this region of the frame.

Developments in transportation Essay Example for Free

Developments in transportation Essay Developments in transportation, rather than in manufacturing and agriculture, sparked American economic growth in the first half of the nineteenth century. is not accurate. While development in transportation played a fundamental role in Americas growth, if it were not for developments in manufacturing and agriculture the new technology in transportation could not have successfully been completed. Without the raw materials, and the products which came out of the early US iron and steel industry, (which were all ultimately determined by the United States agricultural market), the transportation revolution could not have been carried out. Also, with the rapid growth of the agricultural markets, American economic growth boomed. All three factors, (transportation, agriculture and manufacturing) played an equal role in sparking the American economic growth in the first half of the nineteenth century. The cotton gin was just one of the few reasons in which the American economy grew at a rapid pace. Eli Whitneys intention in 1793 of the cotton gin, which separated raw cotton from seeds and other waste, caused the economy to boom, with the growth of southern farms. As the southern plantations who could keep up with this new boom in cotton got larger and larger, small farmers moved west. This migration of small farmers to the west caused a need for developments in transportation to link the nation. In turn, these developments in transportation caused a boom in economy. Therefore, both manufacturing inventions and transportation inventions caused the growth in economy. New inventions and capital investment led to the creation of new industries and economic growth. As transportation improved, new markets continuously opened. The steamboat made river traffic faster and cheaper, but development of railroads had an even greater effect, opening up immense areas of new territory for development. These new developments just opened up entrepreneurs eyes, and helped them to create the boom parts of the cycles in the 19th century. The new factories which sprang up around the US starting with mills such as the Lowell mills also led to new developments which helped the United States  economy grow. More jobs were created, and wage earners were able to make twice the amount of the price of goods. Although these booms in the economy did not last for every long, it can not be intelligently argued that new developments in transportation were the only reasons in which the United States economy boomed during this time. New inventions, and new ways of creating goods, which came along with the Industrial Revolution truly opened up the nations workforce, and sprang its economy as well.

Significance of Sustainable Agriculture

Significance of Sustainable Agriculture Ahmad Fitri Bin Jamaludin Table of Contents (Jump to) CHAPTER 1: Introduction CHAPTER 2: Roles of Sustainable Agriculture Economy Roles Social Responsibility Research for Sustainable Agriculture Future CHAPTER 3: Importance of Sustainable Agriculture Future Predictions Environmental Factors Scarcity of Land Profit Factors Rural Economies CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION CHAPTER 5: REFERENCES CHAPTER 1:  Introduction Sustainable agriculture is the production of agricultural goods, necessary to satisfy the needs of present and future generations, in order to protect the components of natural factors, like water, air and soil. Technologies and production approaches that meet ecological environmental development requirements is being used for sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agricultural requires the prevention of ecological crises, like major accidents, with strong negative impact on the environment. Source: http://www.saiplatform.org/sustainable-agriculture/definition In the diagram, we can see that economy, environment and society play a major role to achieve sustainable agriculture. Environmental problems happen on big geographic areas, starting with the local level, on-going with the regional and ending on a global level. The global level prevents environmental issues from getting resolved and needs other global approaches. Globalization is an objective developing process of contemporary world that has a great potential for making the world better. The key causes of globalization are represented by two processes which are technological and political. The technological process consists in a strong and rapid development of communications and transport. The means of communication allow people to connect and interact on large geographical areas. The vehicles let people to move and interact in a short time over long distances. Political processes have made national borders easier to pass or disappear by creating international organizations. Environmental issues are related to contemporary social economic development. The main socio-economic issues to be addressed are combating poverty, changing consumption and production structures, demographic dynamics, environmental and human health protection. The survival of the society as a whole is influenced by individual behaviour and the behaviour of various communities. CHAPTER 2:  Roles of Sustainable Agriculture Economy Roles A farm must be economically viable in order to be truly sustainable. The environmental and social advantages of sustainable production methods do not always interpret into immediate economic improvements. Hence, sustainable agriculture practices can have a positive economic impression on a farm. For example, diversifying the farm with several crops and markets helps to reduce financial risk. Over time, improved soil and water quality, as well as other environmental benefits from sustainable practices, may raise the value of the farm. Selling products directly to local markets in the community reduces shipping and fuel costs and can potentially decrease transportation costs. While sustainably grown produce may not bring the full price premiums sometimes paid for certified organic products, growers selling directly to individuals and specialty markets can still capture added value. Production costs can be variously affected by sustainable methods. Fertilizer and pesticide costs are gen erally reduced on a sustainably managed farm because, for example, legumes and crop rotations tend to be less expensive than their synthetic alternatives. Labour costs are often higher than conventional systems. The higher labour costs are most often attributed to the increased time required for monitoring and managing pests on sustainable farms. Planting material costs can be lower for growers saving their own seed or producing their own stock. However, those using organic planting material often pay more for seed or other planting material. Machinery costs (purchase, fuel, and repairs) will vary depending on the specific type of sustainable production system. Conservation tillage systems and reduced pesticide applications can cut costs related to machinery use and fuel costs. On the other hand, certain systems, such as ridge tillage, can require specialized equipment. Fuel and machinery costs can increase as a result of moving bulky materials, such as organic matter, for soil improvement purposes. The result is that some farms that utilize sustainable agriculture practices may be more profitable than their conventional farming counterparts, although the reverse can also be true. In addition to crop production methods, many other factors can affect the bottom line, including management, marketing skills, and experience. Social Responsibility Social sustainability relates to the quality of life for those who work and live on the farm, as well as those in the local community. Fair treatment of workers, positive farm family relationships, personal interactions with consumers, and choosing to purchase supplies locally (rather than from a more distant market) are just some of the aspects considered in social sustainability. Community supported agriculture (CSA), farmers markets, U-pick, cooperatives, and on-farm events are just some of the ways a sustainable farm can have a positive impact on the local community. In essence, the farm supports the community and the community supports the farm. According to ATTRA (2003), there are few actions need to be done in order to achieve the social sustainability which resulting the sustainable agriculture. First, the farm should support other businesses and families in community. The money should just circulate within local economy. Young people should take over their parents’ farms and continue farming. Research for Sustainable Agriculture Future Sustainable agriculture represents for farmers and rural communities, federal investments in research, education, and extension geared for sustainable agricultural systems have been woefully inadequate. National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition(NSAC) recognizes that without sufficient resources for relevant research, education, and extension, farmers and ranchers will be unable to access new and emerging innovations, information and markets that will help them expand their businesses, conserve natural resources, and address food and nutrition needs in their communities. Throughout 2013, NSAC worked to increase federal resources and funding for sustainable agriculture research, education, and extension in recognition of the critical importance that research plays in ensuring success and innovation across all sectors of agriculture (NSAC, 2013). In 2013, NSAC continued its efforts to secure increased funding and support for critical agriculture research programs, like the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE). SARE, US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s flagship program for sustainable agriculture, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, thanks in large part to NSAC’s continued advocacy over the years. NSAC also fought to restore and increase funding for critical research programs that are currently â€Å"stranded† due to the farm bill expiration last fall, including those programs that support research on organic production, specialty crops, and beginning farmer and ranchers, such as the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Program and the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program. The Organic Production and Marketing Data Initiatives program (ODI) is a valuable resource that provides policymakers, organic farmers, and organic businesses the data they need to make sound policy, business, and marketing decisions. This year, NSAC continued to advocate for this important annual funding stream, especially as USDA gears up to release its next comprehensive Census of Agriculture in 2014 and follow up survey of organic producers. NSAC also successfully secured a coveted spot on USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) Advisory Committee, which sets priorities and provides recommendations for future federal data collection efforts through the Department of Agriculture. By having a seat at the table, NSAC will more effectively be able to highlight the critical importance of collecting reliable data for sustainable producers including organic farmers and those growing for local and regional markets. CHAPTER 3:  Importance of Sustainable Agriculture There is a lot of importance of sustainable agriculture. The main significance is to make sure that the agriculture on supplying goods, food, water, air and soil satisfy the need of present and future. Future Predictions Source: Crop Breeding for Low Input Agriculture: A sustainable Response to feed a Growing Population Growth Figure above show the world population is increasing and the availability of resources statistic and prediction. It summarize that the number of resources going to decrease as the population increase. In order to stabilize the output of crops and goods, the sustainable agriculture has to be done. Environmental Factors Environmental concerns are vital to sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture is frequently described as ecologically sound practices that have little to no adverse effect on natural ecosystems. However, more than that, sustainable agriculture also seeks to have a positive impact on natural resources and wildlife. This can often mean taking measures to reverse the damage. For example, soil erosion or draining of wetlands that have already occurred through harmful agricultural practices. Renewable natural resources are protected, recycled, and even replaced in sustainable systems. Also inherent to sustainable agriculture environmental concerns is the stewardship of non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels. A key to successful sustainable production is healthy soil, with a central tenet that management practices â€Å"feed the soil and the soil feeds the crop.† Ecologically, this means that soil fertility is provided by adequate soil organic matter and biologically based inputs that feed soil organisms, which release nutrients to plants. Sustainable methods of enhancing soil fertility and improving soil health include: using nitrogen-fixing legumes, green manure, and animal manure; minimizing or eliminating tillage; and maintaining year round soil cover. However, depending on the condition of the soil, establishing healthy soils may take several years. This approach does not preclude the use of synthetic fertilizer that can be used to supplement natural inputs. However, fertilizer decisions are based upon soil test results and are applied on as needed basis. Synthetic chemicals known to harm soil organisms and soil structure must be avoided in sustainable agriculture. Source: Sustainable Agriculture (John, Robert, James, 1990) Combination of crops, or of crops and livestock, make farms more sustainable by maintaining soil productivity and by reducing a farms reliance on a single crop. On the farm shown above, the parallel strips of land have been planted on the contour of the terrain with oats (yellow) or corn or alfalfa (both green). Within each strip, crops rotate on a four-year cycle: corn (a one-year crop) is replaced by oats (another one-year crop), which is then replaced by alfalfa (a two-year crop). Such rotations improve the control of weeds, insects and diseases; they also improve the efficiency of nutrient cycling. Contour strip-cropping greatly reduces soil erosion. Other sustainable concepts include maximizing diversity through planned crop rotations, intercropping, and companion planting; protecting water quality; composting; year round soil cover; integrating crop and animal production; soil conservation practices; and attracting beneficial wildlife (Mark,Krista,Matt, 2012). A few traditional agricultural practices, such as moldboard plowing, are in conflict with sustainability since they can result in damage to soil structure. Rather, tillage practices should be appropriately timed, using implements that minimize damage to soil structure to the greatest extent possible. Insects, diseases, and weeds are managed, rather than controlled, in sustainable systems. The goal is not necessarily the complete elimination of a pest, but rather to manage pests and diseases to keep crop damage within acceptable economic levels. Sustainable pest management practices emphasize prevention through good production and cultural methods. Some strategies include: using crop rotations that will disrupt the pest life cycle, improving soil quality, practicing good sanitation, using optimum planting densities, timing planting and transplanting operations to avoid high pest populations, employing biological control, and growing resistant varieties. Monitoring pests through frequent crop inspections and accurate identification are essential to keeping ahead of potential problems. Integrated Pest Management techniques can be incorporated into a sustainable program. These may include scouting, targeting pesticide applications, and the use of biological pest controls. Pesticides are seen as a last resort when using IPM methods, and are chosen for their low toxicity, specificity to the pest, and lack of persistence in the soil. Achieving a healthy, balanced ecosystem takes time. Making the transition to sustainable farming is a process that generally requires moving forward step-by-step. While there are common goals that are critical to sustainable agriculture, there is no single approach that will guarantee sustainable success on every farm. The methods for accomplishing those goals must be tailored to the individual farm. Scarcity of Land Land is one of the resources that going to deplete across with the world population. There are some 5 billion hectares of land presently available for the global food supply: 1.5 billion hectares of farmland and permanent crops as well as 3.5 billion hectares of grassland, grazing land and extensively used steppe (Warner, 2008). Of this land, 1.9 billion hectares have already been degraded to a greater or lesser extent due to intensive and improper use (IAASTD, 2008). According to figures from the UN convention on desertification, 80 per cent of the agricultural land has been damaged by erosion to a moderate to considerable degree (David, 1995). Ten million hectares are lost to erosion every year. That is ten times the amount of arable land in Switzerland. And even in the developing world, expanding settlements are increasingly devouring farmland. All told, the rate of annual loss of farmland is 1.3 per cent (David, 2005). The need to stop the loss of farmland is urgent. This includes regenerating depleted soils so they can be uses in the future with sustainable production methods. Compost has a key role to play here. Profit Factors Source: Sustainable Agriculture (John, Robert, James, 1990) Profits from sustainable farms can exceed those of conventional farms, according to Steven L. Kraten, formerly of Washington State University. The cash incomes per acre for the two types of farms were comparable over two years, but because the input costs of sustainable agriculture are lower, its net returns are 22.4 percent higher. Variable costs include those for fuel, machinery maintenance, seed, fertilizer, pesticide and labor. Among the fixed costs are property taxes and interest on loans. The sustainable agriculture has proved since 90s that it will give more profit compared to conventional sustainable. Rural Economies Among the unseen costs of industrial food production are its effects on small family farms and rural communities, which include the loss of nearly four million farms in the United States since the 1930s (Gorelick, 2012). Sustainable farms cater local economies by providing jobs for members of the community and purchasing supplies from local businesses. A study by University of Minnesota showed that small farms with gross incomes of $100,000 or less made almost 95 percent of farm-related expenditures within their local communities (Chism, 1994). Research has shown that small-locally owned farms have a multiplier effect for every cent the farm spends, a percentage remains in the local economy, contributing to the community’s economic health (Swenson, 2009). Factory farms hire as few workers as possible and often purchase supplies, equipment and animal feed from the same agricultural conglomerates that purchase their products (Weida, 2004). The University of Minnesota found that large farms with gross incomes greater than $900,000 made less than 20 percent of farm related expenditures locally(Chism,1994) Industrial farms often have absentee owners whose profits are sent out of town. CHAPTER 4 CONCLUSION In conclusion, the sustainable agriculture helps society, environment as well as economic in positive way. CHAPTER 5 REFERENCES ATTRA. 2003: Applying the Principles of Sustainable Farming http://www.clemson.edu/sustainableag/IP107_Applying_Sust_Farming.pdf NSAC. 2013, Annual Report 2013 John P. Reganold, Robert I. Papendick and James F. Parr. 1990: Sustainable Agriculture, 9-10. Mark Keating, Krista Jacobse, Matt Barton. 2012: University Kentucky: Sustainable Agriculture Werner Harder, BLW, BAFU magazine Umwelt 2/2008 International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development IAASTD, Global Summary for Decision Makers, 2008, www.agassessment.org. David Pimentel et al., Environmental and Economic Costs of Soil Erosion and Conservation Benefits, Science, vol. 267, 24/2/1995 World Population, Agriculture, and Malnutrition − David Pimentel and Anne Wilson; Published on 1 Jan 2005 by WorldWatch / Constructive Creativity Gorelick, S., Norberg-Hodge, H. (2002). Bringing the food economy home.International Society for Ecology Culture. Retrieved August 28, 2012. Chism, J. W., Levins, R. A. (1994). Farm spending and local selling: How do they match up?Minnesota Agricultural Economist, 676. Swenson, D. (2009). Economic impact of a diversified small farming operation in Woodbury county. Department of Economics, Iowa State University. Weida, W. J. (2004). Considering the rationales for factory farming. Environmental Health Impacts of CAFOs: Anticipating Hazards Searching for Solutions. Retrieved August 23, 2012