Monsato Company †A Question in Agricultural Ethics Essay Example for Free

Monsato Company – A Question in Agricultural Ethics Essay Monsato Company is a Missouri-based company founded in 1901 by John F. Queeny and his wife Olga Monsato producing saccharine. In the mid-1940s, Monsato Co. began developing agricultural chemicals and throughout the 1960s and 1970s, herbicides were developed and introduced to the farmers. In 1981, a research group was established and the business’s primary focus was molecular biotechnology. In 1982, Monsato Co. bought Jacob Hartz Seed Co., a company known in the Midwest for its soybeen seeds. Also in 1982, scientists working for Monsato Co. produced the first genetically modified plant. In 1996, RoundUp Ready Soybeans were introduced possessing an in-seed herbicide. Several other in-seed herbicides are introduced in 1997 by Monsato Co. such as RoundUp Ready Cotton and RoundUp Ready Canola. Also introduced is an in-seed insect protection called YieldGard Corn Borer. In 1998, Monsato Co. combines the technology of in-seed herbicides with their in-seed insecticides into one product for its corn seed. In 2002, Monsato Co. identifies corn hybrids, which yield more ethanol per bushel than normal corn. Later this same year, they also identify a similar hybrid in their soybeans, which will produce more oil than a normal soybean. In 2004, Monsato Co. creates American Seeds, Inc (ASI) to support regional seed business with capital, genetics, and technology investments. In 2005, Monsato Co. acquires four companies Fontanelle Hybrids, based in Fontanelle, Neb, Stewart Seeds, based in Greensburg, Ind., Trelay Seeds, based in Livingston, Wis., and Stone Seeds, based in Pleasant Plains, Ill. In 2006, they acquire several other local seed companies, some family-owned, including Diener Seeds, Sieben Hybrids, Kruger Seed Company, Trisler Seed Farms, Gold Country Seed, Inc., Heritage Seeds and Campbell Seed. Over the next several years, they also acquire other local and regional companies and continue their research and development of genetically altered seeds. Over the course of a few decades, Monsato Co. has gone from a small company making saccharine to a Midwest agricultural giant manufacturing genetically altered seed. 1 A Possible Solution: Deregulation Although the idea of producing more crops with less cost, such as additional chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides may sound, the fact remains that Monsato Co. is not only toying with nature, they are also putting smaller family-owned companies out of business. In the past several years, organic foods have become more popular. Consumers want to feed their families healthy food, not food filled with chemicals. In 2005, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) decided to back Monsato and other biotech companies by supporting the deregulation of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa. This would mean that the GE companies would have no restrictions on their technology and its use.2 Deregulation has its obvious problems. Organic crop company leaders, such as Stonyfield, Whole Foods, and OrganicValley believe that GE crops use a higher amount of toxins, herbicides, and water. Also the claims of higher crop yield will not be met and the price of this seed will be too costly for the average farmer. There is also the potential of cross-contamination of crops where a farmer using GE seed spreads the toxins to his organic neighbor through groundwater. This could lead to the organic farmer’s crops getting contaminated and his losing his license to sell organic products. Stonyfield and other organic companies opposed this ruling and in 2010 it went to the Supreme Court. The decision was that deregulation could not take place without the USDA making an environmental assessment of the genetically enhanced seeds used, and an injunction was put in place preventing the planting of GE alfalfa seeds. David and Goliath Biotech companies lobbied heavily in Washington. However, the smaller organic supporters caught the ear of the USDA and as a result persuaded them to conduct a meeting of the minds of both sides. The problem was clear – there was an incredible amount of support, political and financial, in favor of GE alfalfa. The result was that the UDSA would allow deregulation. The organic companies and farmers were faced with the fact that GE alfalfa was here to stay. What was left to fight over was whether it would be complete deregulation or one with restrictions. In their opinion, it was better to have some measure of control than no control at all, so the organic community stayed and fought. They brought to the table demands for reassurance that â€Å"(a) organic farmers whose crops become contaminated by GE alfalfa must be compensated by the patent holders for their losses due to losing their organic certification and (b) the USDA must oversee all testing and monitoring of GE crops t o ensure compliance as part of its role in protecting all US agriculture.† 3 The organic community won that portion of the battle. Conclusion The organic community may have won that battle, but they lost the war. Chemical companies and genetically engineered seed are a mainstay in today’s agriculture. Along with that they bring with them the potential for contaminated soil and damaged and lost crops of the small, everyday farmer. These farmers and family-owned businesses are being swallowed up on a regular basis. As the world’s population grows so does the demand for an ever increasing need of better, more enhanced, products. Technology provides us with the knowledge and growth for these, but in its wake leaves behind the things that matter very much to clean air, clean soil, fresh water and â€Å"pure† food. References 1) Monsato. (2010). Monsato. Retrieved from http://www.monsanto.com 2) Pearson, C. (2010, March). The Most Unethical Company is also Best Corporate Citizen. Cause Integration http://www.causeintegration.com/2010/ the-most-unethical-companyis-a-best-corporate-citizen-what-gives/ 3) Hirshberg, G. (2011, January). Speaking with One Voice to Stop Monsato and Biotech. Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-hirshberg/speaking-with-one-voice-t_b_816447.html

Vietnam War :: essays research papers

The Vietnam War   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Vietnam War was the longest war in America's history of involvement. Twenty years of hell, land mines, cross-fire, and death. Vietnam was divided by the Geneva Accord. The north being communist run by Ho Chi Minh. The south being anti-Communist run by Ngo Dinh Diem. Before Vietnam was separated, it was run by France. France had ruled most of Indochina since the late 1800s. The Vietnamese were unhappy with the way the French were controlling, therefore, many of them took refuge in China. When in China, they began to follow the lead of Ho Chi Minh, who wanted to model the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence as that of the U.S. version. In the 1940s, Japan had taken over Vietnam which upset Ho Chi Minh and his revolutionaries when they had returned a year later.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After returning, Minh had help from the Vietminh; an organization of communist that wanted freedom from other countries. Their main goal was to turn Vietnam into a self-governed communist country. France wanted none of this non-sense. In 1945 they had moved back into southern Vietnam and ruled most of the cities. Ho Chi Minh swore to fight France to gain control of the whole country. U.S. promised to aid France, and sent almost $15 million worth of financial aid to France. The French fought for four years, being financially aided by the U.S. the whole time. The U.S. spent nearly one billion dollars in order to help France regain control of the tiny country. The only reason that much effort was put into a small area was the fear of the y. Domino Theory. The Domino Theory first showed it's head during a 1954 news conference by U.S. President Eisenhower. The domino theory is the fear of the spread of communism from one country to the next, and so on. Even with the as sistance of the U.S. France could not gain the control it once had on Vietnam.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When president of south Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem decided that the election of 1956 should be canceled, America strongly agreed so that Minh could not gain control of the whole country. Diem was a Catholic, which angered the country consisting mostly of Buddhist. In opposition to Diem, a new regime was conjured up in south Vietnam called the Vietcong. Vietcong were residents of South Vietnam who were in favor of the communist rule in North Vietnam.

A Man For All Seasons

The change from night to day (81 ) Is conveyed using a simple change of lighting. Light conveys the notion of change. Many scene changes are followed by the subsequent change in lighting. Like the setting of the sun indicating the change into night. Bolt's use of light gives the viewers an ability to feel the mood of the next scene and foreshadow the outcomes. The candle is used many times throughout the play and is a source of focused light. It Is small and casts a dim light, bringing the feeling of darkness and conspiracy. When taken away or blown out, it represents a change; the end of something.Wolves exits the stage, † taking most of the light from the stage as he does so† (13) giving the scene a dark and sinister feeling. It foreshadows the change of Lord Chancellor to Thomas More, and how this new position is going to be troublesome and fatal. Cromwell â€Å"[seizes] Rich by the wrist [and] he holds his hand in the candle flame† (46) frightening Rich and Int roducing the feelings of cruelty and horror Into the atmosphere. Cromwell frightening action reflects what has happened In that scene; how Rich has now switched sides, ending his relationship with More.Their friendship smoldering away eke a slow burn. Silences are as Important as dialogue in a play?discuss the most significant silent moments In the play and their Importance. There are many silences In the play, such as those of the common Man, who chose to maintain silence Instead of revealing the plotting against More. More had also kept silent as Rich took the silver cup which signifies corruption instead of the teaching Job, a way to benefit society. In Act II, More remains silent about Norfolk until he is sure that the friendship should be ended.When Norfolk states that More should take the oath, More ends his silence s well as the friendship. The biggest silence Is Mere's, which had kept him alive through the ordeal of King Henrys divorce until the very end. This silence, accor ding to the bible, cannot be seen as dissent towards the king. He wittily uses this silence to his advantage in order to protect himself and his family against the law, as well as to prevent perjuring his beliefs. However, Cromwell argument that silence can signify affirmation with the example of the silent murder witnesses cost More his life.More also protects his family from the law by refusing to answer them. The silence e maintains about his opinions with the Act of Supremacy Is foreshadowed by the takes offence, by staying silent in front of them, they are able to truthfully answer in a court of law that they do not know his opinions. Stage directions convey a great deal: how do the stage directions for the Common Man convey the plays ideas? The Common Man is used by Robert Bolt to change the setting of the stage in the play. Many times in the play, he changes the setting while in character.He also addresses the audience and comments on the action as a character within the play . Robert Bolt uses the Common Man as a narrator through he stage directions to help the play to flow as a story rather than a play. Due to the Common Man's stage directions, he is meant to draw the audience into the play rather than alienate them. He begins the first act by saying, â€Å"It is perverse! To start a play made up of kinds and Cardinals in speaking costumes and intellectuals with embroidered mouths, with me. (1) The Common Man is to represent the common type of people and through his actions and different characters throughout the play, the Common Man is relatable for the audience members and his reliability is conveyed through his stage directions. The Common Man is also used to highlight the traits of the other characters. As the boatman, he is used to demonstrate mere's generosity. (15) The Common Man is also used to connect the two acts. At the beginning of Act II, the Common Man is used by Bolt to describe the change of time and setting, he sets up the scene by gi ving the audience some background.The foreign water is emphasized by the Common Man's speech at the beginning of Act II, â€Å"a lot of waters flowed under the bridge† (47). The Common Man is used as a tool to help bring the play together and to help develop the other characters within the lay. Thematic Questions: On page 1 5-16–More has a conversation with the boatman. Explore the ethical implications of ;their discussion. How does the imagery of the boat and water reflect those ideas? In the preface to the play, Robert Bolt addresses his usage of water â€Å"as a figure for the superhuman context. The sea is unpredictable, unknown and alien giving it a sense of supernaturalism. He states that his main metaphors are the sea and water; that the â€Å"references to ships, rivers, currents, tides, navigation† (xvi) are all used to create a poetic image with philosophical depth. He compares society by contrast figures as dry land. Although Thomas More grasps onto the safety of the law and land, his faith takes him out into the chaos of the sea. Within the play, the symbolism of Mere's faith in God as water and his belief in the law as the land is explored.Since Bolt intended the land to be considered to be a safe and known concept within the play, it can be compared to Mere's knowledge in law. More is educated in law and he constantly uses the law to back his arguments. Due to mere's knowledge of the law, he knows that he cannot be accused of high treason. â€Å"The law s a causeway upon which so long as he keeps to it a citizen may walk safely. † (92) More is comparing the law to a citizen's walkway, if the law is kept, the citizens should â€Å"When a man takes an oath, he's holding his own self in his own hands.Like water and if he opens his fingers then- he needn't hope to find himself again. â€Å"(83) Since More refuses to take the oath towards King Henrys divorce, he is avoiding the law. He is choosing his faith and religion over the law; water over land. By not taking the oath, More doesn't open his fingers and he doesn't lose himself. He stays rooted in his faith. Only God is love right through, Howard; and that's my self. â€Å"(71) In the end, More explores the extent of his faith and he learns to walk on water, by putting all his trust in God and putting God above the law.Character Questions: Compare and contrast Thomas More and William Roper. Thomas More and William Roper were both upright men who had a strong sense of morality and goodness. More and Roper differ in terms of religion. While More is unwavering in his Catholicism, Roper has swayed towards the Lutheran Church before turning back to Catholicism. More is modest in his dress, refusing to change even when the king visited. However, Roper is bold in clothing, changing into a magnificent black robe and cross after his conversion back to Catholicism. Bolt calls More â€Å"a hero of selfless. (xiv), referring to how he keeps his morals int act even when his life is threatened. Both men were well educated in law and put in service of the crown, with More as the lord chancellor and Roper â€Å"[being] called to the bar. † (16) Thomas More is a conservative, sensible man with a solid foundation on his morals and beliefs. He is not outspoken about his ideas, and he tries to guide people in the eight direction by posing questions and choices instead of being direct. William Roper, however, is more liberal, and energetic. More is older and more experienced with life, careful with his speech and loyal to his conscience.Roper speaks his mind, thinking little of the effects of his words. He is constantly voicing his opinions at every opportunity, leading to Mere's warning to protect his family. He also stands very firm on his beliefs and what he feels is right. Roper is one to take quick action, doing what he wants to do. However, More is thoughtful about his actions, staying out of harms ay and hiding behind his knowle dge of the law and having faith in it. Through Roper's actions within the play, Roper is Mere's foil and emphasizes Mere's strong belief in God and the Church in contrast to his passion for whichever church he was in at the time.Compare and contrast Cardinal Wolves and Thomas Cromwell. Cardinal Wolves and Thomas Cromwell were both key figures in this play, as influential members of government. They were both practical, politically aware men that played important roles in the affair of the kings divorce, and recognized the importance of having an heir to the throne. There are many physical differences between Wolves and Cromwell. Wolves is â€Å"Old. A big decayed body in scarlet† (xx), whereas Cromwell is in his late thirties, and dressed in black.Beyond the physical, the name of effective action† (xx), while Wolves is ambitious and intelligent, although his character is not well-developed before his death early in the play due to pulmonary pneumonia. His death serves a s a warning for anyone else that did not follow the wishes of the king, and foreshadows the eventual death of Thomas More. Both Cromwell and Wolves try their best to complete what the King wants. â€Å"When the inning wants something done, [Cromwell] does it. † (21). Cromwell doesn't stop to question the kings desires, nor does he try to compromise with those who are against the King.He wished to gain power through the affairs of the king despite the immoral consequences. Wolves tries to find alternate paths to the same outcome for the king, he looks at all aspects of the situation before drawing a conclusion. His wisdom is shown when he tells More that â€Å"Letting [King Henry] without an heir and we'll have them back again. Let him die without an heir and this ‘peace' you think so much of will go out like that! (12) Wolves takes other's opinions into account whereas Cromwell only cares for the result that will make himself look best.Wolves failed to obtain the Pope' s dispersion, and therefore did not succeed in fulfilling the Kings wishes for divorce, while Cromwell devised many plans that led to the achievement of the divorce through force. Compare and contrast Lady Alice and Lady Margaret. Alice and Margaret are the ones closest to Thomas More. Both women are intelligent and righteous. This is shown when they agree that Rich was to be arrested when it became apparent that he had betrayed More. Alice is Mere's wife, an understanding and caring woman that trusts in More beyond simple reasoning.She understands that he values morality over his life,and she feels that â€Å"[More] the best man that [she] ever met. † (86) Alice is sad to see her loved one go, but accepts his final resolution and painfully comes to terms with his decision. Unlike her stepmother, Margaret does not understand his reasons for sacrificing his life. â€Å"Meg [is] under oath to persuade [More]† (83) to choose life over morality. Alice is an impressive woma n in her forties with an incredible ability to understand and worship her husband† (xx) as well as society, leading to trouble and defiance towards both.Margaret is a beautiful girl in her twenties with a naivety that is fostered by the care of her father. Both Alice and Margaret possess a unconditional love and care for Thomas More that they act upon in many occasions in the play. For instance, they repeatedly asked him about his conversations with Cardinal Wolves. Also, they prepared a feast for the King's visit on his behalf. Although More is evasive and silent on his affairs, they think nothing but good of him, and support him to the end.

International Relations And American Foreign Policy

International Relations and American Foreign Policy are both strong qualities that help define America as a nation. Not only that, but a strong nation that has the reputation to not be trifled with. The concept of International Relations is so much broader than most will ever know and be aware of. It is such a vast field that almost anything can fall under it. However, there are four main qualities of our foreign policy and international relations that define the process, and that is statesmanship, military and war, international economic policy, and cultural exchange. These four are the core parts of International Relations and America’s Foreign Policy. Statesmanship is basically the ability, qualifications, and practice of managing public affairs. The three most important qualities of statesmanship are a vision, a moral compass, and the wisdom to execute. Aristotle believed that statesmanship was for the betterment of the community. As the city-state comes first, there obviously needs to be a vision for the community, a moral compass to follow and the wisdom of determining and making the execution of that plan. Statesmanship helps lead a country to greatness. The Bible also has its own spin of statesmanship. For example, Proverbs 21:3 says, ‘To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.’ This verse alone shows that the essence of politics is not separated from morality. That is one reason why a moral compass is one of the most importantShow MoreRelatedHistory of British Foreign Policy1135 Words   |  5 Pagesundergraduate research paper entitled â€Å"British Foreign Policy in the XV III Century: The Struggle for an European Balance of Power†. 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