The Battle for the Campaign Agenda in Britain

The 1997 election was a struggle, not just for votes, but also to control the campaign agenda. Significant, but contradictory, challenges faced the media, parties and the public. For journalists, the problem was how to engender any zip into the campaign. Ever since Black Wednesday, in September 1992, Labour had seemed assured of victory while Conservative support floundered in the doldrums. For five years, perhaps it just seemed like longer, pundits had been writing of the end of the Conservative era, bolstered by all the accumulated evidence from opinion polls, by-elections and local elections. By the start of the six-week official campaign, the horse-race story was almost lifeless. Moreover, to the dismay of leader-writers, commentators and columnists, Blair's strategic shift towards the centre-left had removed much of the drama of serious policy conflicts between the major parties. Few issues remained where one could discern clear blue water between Labour and the Conservatives – devolution and constitutional reform, perhaps the faint ghost of trade union rights and spending priorities – but on so much the contest was a classic case of an echo not a choice. Lastly, at the outset the campaign promised tight party control, in as gaffe-free an environment as could be humanly managed. At the start the Labour party seemed insecure and sweaty despite its enormous lead in the polls, and the professional andelson machine at Millbank Tower left almost nothing to chance, as though the souffle of support might suddenly collapse. Based on their formidable track-record during the 1980s, the Conservatives had a reputation for running highly professional campaigns. Given the palpable sense of public boredom and impatience, a feeling of oh-do-lets-get-on-with-it, the challenge for journalists was to find something fresh and interesting to hold the attention of their readers and viewers. During the six week campaign there was, on average, about ten hours of regular BBC and ITN television news and current affairs programmes every weekday1, not including election specials, nor Sky News, CNN, Radio 4, Five Live, newspapers and magazines, the internet election web pages, and all the other plethora of media outlets. Something had to fill the ravenous news hole. For the public, the primary urge seemed to be to get it all over with. But voters also needed to make sense of the choice before them, when policy differences between the parties had shaded from the red-and-blue days of Thatcher v. Foot to a middle of the road wishy-washy mauve. Many issues confronting voters were complex, technical and subtle, with no easy answers: what will happen to the economy if Britain enters, or stays out, of the ERM? How can the peace process move ahead in Northern Ireland, given the intractability of all sides? Can Britain afford an effective and comprehensive health service, given ever-increasing demands on the system and spending limits accepted by all parties? These, and related, issues facing Britain have critical consequences for the lives of citizens, but they admit of no simple sound-bite panaceas. The needs of the news media and the public were at odds with those of the parties. Given their lead, the primary challenge for Labour was to manage their media environment against unexpected crises, in play-safe reactive mode. The watchword was control. Memories of the polling fiasco in 1992, and Neil Kinnock's false expectation of victory in that campaign (â€Å"We're allright! â€Å"), dominated strategy in 1997. The challenge for the Conservatives was to staunch grassroots morale, and even build momentum, by emphasising the positive economic performance of the government, by reassuring voters to trust Prime Minister John Major against the inexperienced and unknown Tony Blair, and by attacking Labour on the old bugaboos of taxes and trade unions. To gain traction the Conservatives had to take more risks than Labour. The challenge facing all the minor parties, but particularly the Liberal Democrats, was to avoid being squeezed by Labour's smothering slither centre-left. Who won? The aim of this chapter is to examine this battle and evaluate the outcome. The first section sets out the long-term context by considering how campaigning has been transformed in the post-war era. The 1997 election represented another critical step, it can be argued, in the transition to the post-modern campaign in Britain, — characterised by partisan dealignment in the press, growing fragmentation in the electronic media, and strategic communications in parties. The second section goes on to analyse what was covered in the national press and television during the campaign, and whether this suggests Labour won the battle of the campaign agenda, as well as the election. Lastly, we consider how the public reacted to the coverage, whether they felt that journalists generated interesting, fair and informative coverage, and the implications of this analysis for the struggle over campaign communications. The Evolution of the Post-Modern Campaign Modernisation theory suggests that during the post-war era the political communication process has been transformed by the decline of direct linkages between citizens and parties, and the rise of mediated relationships. Swanson and Mancini argue that similar, although not identical, developments are recognisable across industrialised democracies2. In the earliest stage, the premodern campaign in Britain was characterised by the predominance of the partisan press; a loose organizational network of grassroots party volunteers in local constituencies; and a short, ad-hoc national campaign run by the party leader with a few close advisers. This period of campaigning gradually evolved in the mid-nineteenth century following the development of mass party organizations registering and mobilising the newly enfranchised electorate. Despite the introduction of wireless broadcasting in 1922, this pattern was maintained in largely identifiable form until the late fifties3. The critical watershed came in 1959, with the first television coverage of a British general election, symbolising the transition to the next stage. The evolution of the modern campaign was marked by a shift in the central location of election communications, from newspapers towards television, from the constituency grassroots to the party leadership, and from amateurs towards professionals. The press entered an era of long-term decline: circulation of national newspapers peaked in the late fifties and sales have subsequently dropped by one-third (see Figure 1). The fall was sharpest among tabloids, pushing these further downmarket in the search for readers4. This fierce competition transformed the nature of the British press, producing growing sensationalism, and more journalism with attitude, while changes in ownership ratcheted the partisan balance further in the Conservative direction. One major factor contributing towards declining circulation was the rise of television. The political effects of this new technology were strongly mediated by the regulations governing broadcasting in each country. In Britain the legal framework for the BBC/ITV duopoly was suffused by a strong public service ethos which required broadcasters to maintain ‘party balance' and impartiality in news coverage, to ‘inform, educate and entertain' according to high standards, and to provide an agreed allocation of unpaid airtime to arty political broadcasts5. Within this familiar context, television centralised the campaign, and thereby increased the influence of the party leaders: what appeared on BBC1's flagship 9 O'clock News and ITN's News at Ten, and related news and current affairs studios, was the principle means by which politicians reached the vast majority of voters. To work effectively within this environment parties developed a coordinated national campaign with professional communications by specialists skilled in advertising, marketing, and polling. The ‘long campaign' in the year or so before polling day became as important strategically as the short ‘official' campaign. These changes did not occur overnight, nor did they displace grassroots constituency activity, as the timeless ritual of canvassing and leafletting continued. A few trusted experts in polling and political marketing became influential during the campaign in each party, such as Maurice Saatchi, Tim Bell and Gordon Reece in Conservative Central Office, but this role remained as part-time outside advisors, not integral to the process of government, nor even to campaigning which was still run by politicians. Unlike in the United States, no political marketing industry developed, in large part because the only major clients were the Labour and Conservative party leaderships: the minor parties had limited resources, while parliamentary candidates ran retail campaigns based on shoe-leather and grassroots helpers. But the net effect of television during the era of modernisation was to shift the primary focus of the campaign from the ad-hoccery of unpaid volunteers and local candidates towards the central party leadership flanked by paid, although not necessarily full-time, professionals6. Lastly in the late twentieth century Britain seems to have been experiencing the rise of the post-modern campaign, although there remains room for dispute in the interpretation of the central features of this development and its consequences. The most identifiable characteristics, evident in the 1997 campaign, include the emergence of a more autonomous, and less partisan, press following its own ‘media logic'; the growing fragmentation and diversification of electronic media outlets, programmes and audiences; and, in reaction to these developments, the attempt by parties to reassert control through strategic communications and media management during the permanent campaign. Partisan Dealignment in the Press In the post-war period parties have had long-standing and stable links with the press. In 1945 there was a rough partisan balance with about 6. 7 million readers of pro-Conservative papers and 4. 4 million readers of pro-Labour papers. This balance shifted decisively in the early 1970s, with the transformation of the left-leaning Daily Herald into the pro-Conservative Sun, and the more aggressively right-wing tone of The Times, both under Rupert Murdoch's ownership. By 1992 the cards had become overwhelmingly stacked against the left, since the circulation of the Conservative-leaning press had risen to about 8. 7 million compared with only 3. million for Labour-leaning papers (see Figure 1). Throughout the 1980s Mrs Thatcher could campaign assured of a largely sympathetic press, which provided a loyal platform to get her message across7. One of the most striking developments of recent years has been the crumbling of these traditional press-party loyalties. The evidence comes partly from editorial policy. The Conservative press had started to turn against Mrs Thatcher in 1989-90, when the economy was in recession and her leadership became deeply unpopular, and this constant barrage of criticism probably contributed towards her eventual demise8. During the 1992 election, while the Sun and the Daily Express continued to beat the Tory drum, comment from some of the other pro-Conservative press like the Mail and The Sunday Times was more muted, and four out of eleven daily papers failed to endorse a single party9. The new government enjoyed a brief respite on returning to office but press criticism of John Major's leadership deepened following the ERM debacle on 16th September 1992, with only the Daily Express staying loyal. Journalists continued to highlight the government's difficulties over Europe, and internal splits over the debate on the Maastricht Treaty. By the winter of 1993, a succession of scandals involving Conservative politicians created headline news while editorials regularly denunciated the government, and particularly the Prime Minister. By the time of the July 1995 leadership challenge only the Daily Express backed John Major solidly, while the Sun, the Mail, The Times and the Telegraph all argued that it was time for him to be replaced10, an embarrassment for their leader writers given the outcome. The question, in the long run-up to the election, was whether the Tory press would return home, once the future of the Conservative government was under real threat. In the event, the 1997 election represents a historic watershed. In a major break with tradition, six out of ten national dailies, and five out of nine Sundays, endorsed the Labour party in their final editorials (see Table 1). This was twice the highest number previously, and it reversed the long-standing pro-Conservative leanings in the national press. With impeccable timing, the Sun led the way on the first day of the campaign, (THE SUN BACKS BLAIR), with a frontpage claiming Blair is a â€Å"breath of fresh air† while the Conservatives were â€Å"tired, divided and rudderless†, and its defection stole the headlines and damaged Tory morale. This change of heart came after assiduous efforts by Labour to court press support, including meetings between Blair and Rupert Murdoch, especially Blair's visit to Australia in 1995. roughout the campaign the Sun, with ten million readers a day, provided largely unswerving support for Blair, although opposing Labour policy on Europe and the unions, and many commentators predicted that the switch, based on Murdoch's commercial considerations rather than political affinities, would not last long11. Labour's traditional tabloid, the Daily Mirror, with six million readers, continued its brand of centre-left journalism (â€Å"the paper for Labour's TRUE supporters†). On the las t Sunday of the campaign, influenced by Murdoch, The News of the World decided to follow the lead of its sister paper, the Sun, and backed Labour. Among the broadsheets The Guardian called for tactical voting for the Liberal Democrats in seats where it made sense, but broadly endorsed Labour. The Independent was more restrained in its backing, casting its editorial vote for Labour â€Å"with a degree of optimism that is not entirely justified by the evidence†. The paper was clearly more anti-Tory than pro-anything. The Times advised their readers to back Eurosceptic candidates from whatever party, although, in practice, nearly all were Conservatives. Only leads in the Daily Telegraph, and the Daily Mail (â€Å"Labour bully boys are back† â€Å"Labour's broken promises†) remained strongly in the Tory camp. Even the Daily Express was more neutral than in the past: a double-page spread was divided between Lord Hollick, its chief executive, arguing for Labour and its chairman, Lord Stevens, arguing for the Conservatives. The front-page of the election-eve Mail carried a colourful Union Jack border and the apocalyptic warning that a Labour victory could â€Å"undo 1,000 years of our nation's history†. Yet any comparison of editorial policy probably under-estimates the balance of partisanship in news coverage during the overall campaign. For example, the Mail ostensibly endorsed the Conservatives during the campaign, but in practice it probably deeply damaged the government by headlining sexual scandals in the party, and reinforcing images of disunity with leading articles highlighting the number of Tory Eurosceptics. With friends like this, the Conservatives did not need opponents. To understand this we need to go beyond the leaders, which are rarely read, and even less heeded, to examine the broader pattern of front-page stories. The most plausible evidence for dealignment is that certain papers like the Sun, traditionally pro-Conservative, switched camps, but also that front-page stories were often so similar across all the press, driven by news values irrespective of the paper's ostensible partisanship. Since the early 1970s fierce competition for readers has encouraged far more sensational coverage in the popular press, fuelling an endless diet of stories about ‘scandals', (mostly sexual but also financial), infotainment, and the Royals, preferably all three. This process started when Rupert Murdoch bought the News of the World in 1968, and the Sun a year later. It accelerated in the cut-throat competition produced by the launch of the Daily Star in 1978, which sought to out-do the Sun in its relentless search for sex, investigative ‘exclusives' about celebrities, violent crime, and graphic coverage of the bizzare. Those who thought British newspapers had reached their nadir at this point had under-estimated the soft-porn Sunday Sport, launched in 198612. The tackiness of the popular press, such as their exhaustive gossip about the goings-on of the younger Royals, gradually infected and corroded the news culture of the broadsheets as well. By the mid-1990s, the journalism of scandal trumped party loyalties, hands down. This fuelled the series of sleaze stories about senior Conservative politicians hroughout John Major's years in government, and there was no let-up during the campaign. As documented in detail later, the first two weeks of the election were dominated by a succession of stories about corruption in public life and sexual ‘scandals', providing a steady diet of negative news for the government which swamped their message about the economy.

From Belief to Agnosticism

I was always wondering why people experience miseries, travails and hardships while others are on cloud 9 experiencing great happiness and contentment. Then I questioned myself why it so? Why is it that not all people experience happiness that they deserve? Why is life unfair? It was not until one day, I heard my parents talking about Jesus. I then asked myself, who is Jesus? Is he that important to the lives of the people? Why were my mom, grandparents and dad talking about him? In their conversation, they said that Jesus is the Savior of all humanity.It was the only time I heard them talking about Jesus. That probably was the effect of their TV watching about religion and great evangelist. My parents, especially my mother, taught us that faith in God is very important. My mother is very religious, very active in other church activities and the one who really pushes us to go to church though my father is very lazy in attending Sunday services in the church. Just like my mother, my g randparents are also very religious. They never miss to go to church every Sunday. My parents and my grandparents actually meet in the church.My parent’s wants that we should earnestly go to church every Sunday and see to it that it will only be spent for Jesus alone. Eventually, we found a church where we always fellowship. It is also where I grew and mature spiritually. As I served Jesus through the years, I never experienced such great manifestation of His goodness. I always hear my friends and church mates talk about Him and the miracles and help that Jesus did for them and for their family. But why is it that I still do not experience it all? It was not until my dad passed away.I felt so empty inside of me; it was like something is just so missing. I questioned the existence of God that if He really existed why would all this sufferings happen to me? I was faithful to Him all along and all I deserve is this, the lost of my father? I was so miserable and so discouraged at that time. I was full of uncertainties and insecurities at that time. Then one day, I found my bible inside my cabinet and when I opened it I saw God’s words saying that whoever is lonely, weary and tired should just call upon His name and He will feel all of the emptiness one feels.He is also our great loving father that even we lose our earthly father; He will remain our father now and forever. I then realize my worth and regained my faith back to him. I put on my mind that whatever happens, God has a plan for it. That everything happens for a purpose, for a reason. I continued my relationship with God and as I mature I began to see things in a different perspective. In the ways that Jesus wants me to. Things that I should perceive that are right, noble and perfect. But I cannot deny that this generation becomes cruel.Others do not consider religion an important tool in ones life. As we all know Religion involves the relationship between mankind and what is regarded as sac red. Religion almost always includes the belief in the supernatural and a code of ethical behavior. Why do men suffer? What is the nature of the Universe and how it is governed? What is the nature of man and what is his destiny? Religion tries to answer the questions of ultimate existence and of life and death and human and destiny. Many religions hold the universe is governed by God.Through religion man may see meaning in the universe and find a personal role in it. Thousands of years ago, religion played a very vital role in the lives of the people. Even thought that time things were not that so complicated not like now, people still has a closer connection to God. People then put a greater emphasis on going to church, fellowshipping with their brother’s and sister’s in the Lord and in maintaining their relationship with their creator. As of now, in our present times I think that Religion is ten times important than it was before.As the modern world is evolving and i s now being introduced to different kinds of beliefs and theories that could likely shake our foundation of faith for God. The basis and the only foundation of our faith is Jesus Christ. We must hold on to him more especially these days that there are many deceivers out there that are being used by the enemy to destroy us and to keep us away from the loving arms of God. When we don’t have a strong foundation of our relationship to God, we can easily yield to the temptations and offerings that Satan will present to us, like the technology of today.If we don’t know how to control the usage of technology of today, we can be manipulated and controlled by it. That is just one of the tactics of Satan to let us fall into the pit he is preparing for us, for us to be kept away from God’s destiny for us. Today, there are many existing religions. There are the Protestants, Orthodox and the Roman Catholics. But whatever our religion is, let us always remember that salvation is an individual concern. One cannot be saved because of his religion but what counts is his relationship with Jesus.As I look around and observe the magnificent things, I can really say to myself that how awesome is he who created the heavens and the earth. I can truly say to myself that there is someone up there, who is greater than us and omnipotent. There are times that I try to figure out things but the truth is I cannot fathom it; thus, that is how religion came in. Through religion, I have learned that there is God; the God who created the universe and I am his masterpieces. But his existence has been questioned for many years now whether he does exist or not. Doubts and disbeliefs reign in others’ minds because of lack of knowledge in knowing God.Religion plays a vital role in helping us to know our Creator; thus, many religions are coming out because they want to help the mankind to know about God. Like the family and the economy, religion is a universal and pervasi ve phenomenon, a part of the cultural system, because it is assumed to meet some basic need of human being. Religion is an integrated part of human experience and shows remarkable continuity through time. Personally, religion has a significant role in my life. It helps me know who my creator is. Through religion I can be able to know the words and the ways of God.Yes, I do have religious convictions. My principles and philosophies in life are guided with the teachings of my religion. I have faith in my religion because it helps me to do what is right in the sight of God; thus, it helps me live life wisely by loving and putting God first and love my neighbors as myself. I believe that God is my Savior, He is my redeemer. He redeemed from the darkness. I was once was lost but now I am found in His arms already. I believe He created from His image and likeness. He restored my dying soul when I was still lost. I believe that He rose from the dead and ascended in heaven.He is my comforte r, my best friend and my loving father that I could never have here on earth. My personal perceptions with regards to religion are very much different from my mother and my grandparents. They believe that the Bible is for every individual and its principles can be applied to all ages and everything should works the same way as the word of God never changes and still the same yesterday, today and forever. But in my own opinion, I believe that the Bible was written to the older audiences so some of the concepts and rules do not apply to the world we are in today.An example of this is that, the Bible says that parents should train up their children to where they should go and when they are old, they will not depart from it. As I have observed, most of the parents right now do not train their children to the right thing (excluding my parents). They fail to supervise their children. They just let their children talk back to them and allow them to do their own thing even though it is not right. Just like aborting a baby without a valid reason. They consent and condone their child’s immoral act by aborting the babies. I can say that because I have observed it.Another thing, the Bible also agrees that parents should not spare the rod in disciplining their children. In addition to this, the Bible commanded the children to obey their parents for this is right and honor them so that we may live long. Yet, children nowadays are very disrespectful to their parents’ authorities. There are still a number of religious issues being tackled by now. The issues that keeps affecting the different aspects of human life. Different religions keep on competing for them to invite individuals to come and join with them. Sometimes because of these, the essence of having a religion is lost.The real perspective of establishing a deeper relationship with God is lost because of the overwhelming issues that could bother the spiritual and emotional aspect of a person. The real ro le of having a religion is to develop a deeper and serious relationship with our Almighty Creator. God does not base our salvation on what religious denomination we join to. He looks at the position of our hearts and of we really love Him and long to be with Him sincerely. He does not base his judgment on the things we do and achieve. It is our hearts that He looks up to.

20 Cloud Storage Solutions for Small Business

20 Cloud Storage Solutions for Small Business A small business always has a chance to grow, and for that, it needs to have easy-to-operate and manageable technologies. As such, cloud computing has become attractive to smaller organizations, since it makes it possible to meet demands more quickly and with fewer financial resources. In addition to decreasing network infrastructure spending, one of the major benefits of using the cloud is the ease of remote access to programs and services. Because all company information is available on the internet, there is no longer a need to install applications on computers and you can connect to the virtual server from anywhere, anytime. Program updates are also made automatically and the information is backed up. Cloud computing can transform the way companies conduct their business. Cloud computing is considered by many IT experts as a next-generation tool, capable of delivering cheaper, faster, portable and secure operations for large and small businesses. After all, anyone who works in the field knows that in order to deploy a new solution, the company has to go through a long purchase and deployment process to have the computing resources available, while a cloud provider provides the same resources in a much shorter time. In practice, the implementation of a new system is reduced from months to days. The comparison we will organize in different key points on each of the services with all the important data that we need to know. Among the points, we have the platforms, with which it is compatible, the free space they offer the price for that wide storage space, the limit of the files or the special features. Dropbox One of the most famous cloud storage services is also one of the most robust. The Dropbox has little room for storage in the free plan, but the user can expand this capacity. The idea of the company is to encourage people to share the service (each invitation sent, you get more space, for example). Dropbox is compatible with many systems and facilitates teamwork. The only drawbacks are the lack of tools for direct editing of documents (although the program syncs any edited files) and the inability to use an official app in Windows Phone. The prices of the plans paid are not absurd, but there are better competitors in this regard. Google Drive Googles product comes installed on almost every Androids and Chromebooks, making it an easy choice for anyone who already uses other company services. The Google Drive has considerable storage space, automatically syncs photos, has fast functions to share files and a tool for editing documents (text, spreadsheets, and presentations) and complete and intuitive. Whoever is at a disadvantage is Windows Phone and Linux users, but other systems are taken care of. Googles security system is very good and the cost-effectiveness of the paid plans are quite considerable and the most recommended service for those who need 100 MB, 1 TB or more of cloud storage. OneDrive The Microsoft OneDrive is one of the most complete and compensating products for those seeking a free solution. You get a good free amount of GBs to save documents, you have the option to sync photos, you can share several files and edit everything with Microsoft Office in its online version, which is robust but a great buster. It even comes in Windows 10 with a folder of its own so you can save documents much more easily. The security of OneDrive is enhanced, with the only disadvantage being the incompatibility with the Linux system. The prices of the paid plans are not the best, but it is an option to be considered by those who are also interested in signing the Office 365 package. Amazon Drive Yes, Amazon also thought of users who do not want to invest in storage (or want to test a cloud storage service) and ensure 5GB of upfront space for new Amazon CloudDrive 10 users. There is no option to increase the space via indication, only through the purchase of a storage space package. The web interface is nothing special. There are clients for Windows and Mac, but none for Linux. There are also Amazon CloudDrive apps for Android and iOS devices, Kindle as well as connectors for Amazon FireTV. Box The Box is one of the most reliable services in the world, being a well-balanced option in terms of space and security. Again, like some competitors, the disadvantage is the incompatibility with the Linux system, in addition to having the menus only in English (the only one free of this defect). In the free version, you can save individual files of up to 250 MB, but have 10 GB for this. The plan paid more in account also is not an absurd of expensive, but the available space is of only 100 GB without the option for annual payment. Mega The Mega 2 storage system became popular quickly (the system is about a year old) on account of its notorious owner, Kim DotCom, the same owner of the famous Megaupload share site, always involved in some scandal to raise The banner of freedom of file sharing. Mega, as well as Dropbox, allow you to send files from mobile devices through applications for Android, iPhone or Blackberry and also have sync clients for Windows. The Mega team is working on synchronization clients for Linux and Mac right now. Facilitators are always welcome, and the built-in mini-clients for Chrome and Firefox browsers are helpful and facilitate the direct storage of downloaded data from the Internet, downloads, and other files. The Mega gives the user 50GB free for storage of any types of files. The web interface of the application, as well as the interface for mobile devices, is extremely friendly and well made, with the most modern interactivity features just drag and drop your files into any folder creat ed in the system. Although space is quite generous from the beginning, it is not possible to gain more space in the system or even indicating other users. PromptFile Although PromptFile is a very simple site that does not have many features, it offers 250 GB of free storage space without upload or downloads limits. Files of any type can be sent from the computer via FTP and from a remote URL as long as they are not larger than 5 GB. You can also share files (except folders) with anyone, even if they do not have a user account, allowing you to stream music and videos without having to download them. Users report that you can not move files to folders unless you use the Cut and Paste function, so the drag-and-drop function is not supported. Also, it would not be possible to create folders by FTP. PromptFile can be used without registering an account, but larger restrictions apply to file size and storage limits. Hubic With hubiC, you get 25GB of file storage at no cost. Windows, Mac, and Linux (command line) users can install desktop software to upload files or use the web version. The mobile app can be used with Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry. The files and folders can be shared with anyone even if you are not a registered user hubiC. However, they must be set to be available for only 5, 10 or 30 days before the link expires. With a shared folder, visitors can download multiple files at once by downloading a single ZIP file. You can get up to 50 GB by pointing out other people. pCloud PCloud gives you 10 GB of free online storage, and through referrals from friends and other bonuses you can get up to 20 GB. A desktop client can be installed on Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. There is also a mobile app for iOS and Android devices that are very intuitive and easy to use. PCloud supports adding files from a remote URL, as well as a single file, and uploading entire folders via a browser. Mobile apps can upload photos and videos directly to your pCloud account. Files and folders can also be shared with other users who do not use the service. Shared folders can even be downloaded as a ZIP file. In addition, pCloud allows upload links to be generated for your folders, allowing anyone to upload files to your account. A unique email address is also generated, which allows you (or anyone) to send email files directly to a folder in your pCloud account. You can also backup photos from your social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, and Picasa. ADrive The ADrive is little known but has come to prominence in recent years when offered at no cost high storage space. However, now it only allows subscription plans. With Adrive, you can transfer files via FTP, use a desktop app and the online collaboration feature, and recover old versions of files saved via history. Do not be scared by the absence of gratuity: a number of options of the paid plans are also interesting. Bitcasa Bitcasa also offers an extremely secure service with encrypted files such as Mega. It gives you 20 GB of free space to your users, but you can reach impressive amounts of space for nothing cheap prices. It is also compatible with most platforms, either desktop or mobile. You can access the Bitcasa website SpiderOak To conclude, we have a service that is not as well known here but that stands out for the high level of security and privacy. With the zero knowledge system, SpiderOak guarantees that none of your files will be accessed in any way by third parties. He eliminated the free plan and established few and not very advantageous paid plan options, so choose it only in case you really prioritize the privacy of your data. In addition, this service is incompatible with Windows Phone. Copy Until you knew Copy 5, you really thought that free cloud storage systems could not get any better. But Copy came up to surprise. The system leaves absolutely nothing to be desired for its older market companions. With about two years of life, Copy was created by Barracuda (the same manufacturer of hard drives, everything to see, not?) As a form of advertising the company to foster the slogan We stored like no one. With free 15GB initials for any new user, Copy has clients for Android, Linux, Mac and Windows and its interface is fairly minimalist on both the computer and the web. Gaining more space through nominations turns out to be more beneficial than in other systems that practice this mode. For each nominated user who signs up and installs the Copy application, you will gain 5GB of space, meaning more than any other for each indication. JustCloud The JustCloud 6 model is very similar to the others shown in this article, however, the initial space is only 15MB. It really does seem like little, but every month you stay with your active account in the system, you will gain 1GB of space. So in 1 year, you will have 12GB of space, which is sometimes not achieved through indications in other systems. Other ways of getting space are indicated on the tools website. JustCloud has standard 256-bit encryption for any type of user account, which makes the security of your files much larger than in some market systems. MediaFire The MediaFire 7 storage system was born from an American startup with the same name and eventually became a system used by around 30 million users worldwide. Recently the mobile applications were released, but the users are very well served with standard Windows and Linux clients of the application. The user initially gains 10GB of storage space in a very nice and easy-to-use interface. The file size limit for the free version of the tool is 200MB per file. The initial space can be increased in several ways: get 2GB of additional space when installing the desktop client, 2GB when installing a client for a mobile device (Android or iPhone), 1GB when connecting MediaFire to your Facebook account and another 1GB per post An advertisement of the system in its timeline. By indicating users who register in the system, their space bonus can reach the limit of 32GB. Syncplicity The storage system with a name that combines synchronization (sync) with simplicity (simplicity) is none other than the companys security and storage EMC. Only this information already gives enough credibility to be worth the user testing the system. Initially, the user gains 2GB of storage space. Syncplicity 9 has applications for mobile devices such as Android and iPhone as well as desktop clients for Windows and Mac (unfortunately there is not yet a Linux client yet, but in a technical contact you know the Linux client is in development). The web version of the system really is quite poor, however the Android version, for is quite rich in details and features. Wuala Wuala 11 is a Swiss cloud storage system from a Zurich-based company that first wanted to solve its internal storage problems. They partnered with a French company specializing in storages, the Lacie and so were born the storage system provided in several paid plans with large storage capacity and a free plan with 5GB of space initially. It has clients for android, iPhone, Mac, Windows, Linux and Solaris. Unlike other systems, it does not have a web interface for sending files online. Everything is done through the clients for the most diverse platforms. The Wuala interface for Linux is very similar to that of any file manager, simple and functional. It is also possible to gain 1GB of additional space for each friend indicated who use the system, but the additional space limit is 10GB. Cubby The company that created the LogMeIn remote access application initially created Cubby 12 as an additional feature for customers who had a business or Pro account in LogMeIn. Then the company decided to provide the storage solution separately and was quite right in this choice. The Cubby has AES 256-bit encryption and gives the user 5GB of initial space, which can be incremented up to 25GB free through the recommendation of friendly users of the system, with 1GB of bonus for each friend indicated to use the system. ICloud Apples service is exclusive to users of Apple products (its not possible to use it without linking the account with a device running iOS or Mac OS X) via the web, through the PC, just for viewing which is stored in the cloud. However, iPhone and iPad enthusiasts can fully benefit from the many iCloud features. The Apple product saves almost all of your information in the cloud. Whether it be the contacts, the calendar, the calendar, the photographs or any other documents, everything is properly secured on the servers of Apple. The problem is that all this information consumes a lot of space and you end up having to pay for more if you want to save lots of files. Conclusion Precisely one of the services most used is Dropbox, which offers only 2GB of free cloud space, at the other end is MEGA, the service of Kim DotCom that offers us up to 50GB completely free. For an average user, the best option is always the one that offers us more free space, since if we want to upload some documents and synchronize the photos of the camera we do sporadically, it is the best option. For professional use, it is certainly best to have a payment plan that can offer up to one terabyte of cloud space. These factors must depend on our choice.

International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 12

International Business - Essay Example Additionally, this part will attempt to explain why comprehending the local religious practices and beliefs are significant to the success of a business. Dreher (46) defined globalization as both a process and worldwide condition in which the globe is becoming more interconnected while communication has become instantaneous as each day passes. Technology is the key driver to globalization. On the other hand, cultural individuality is the opposite of collectivism. Therefore, in an individualistic culture, concepts and views are based on the self and thus they are independent instead of relying on the group. As a result, they often value their personal goals more than the group’s goals. In most instances, cultural individualistic societies are made up of a diverse population exhibiting low communication and low power distance characteristics. Countries such as Canada, Australia ,and New Zealand are said to possess a highly individualistic culture. People in countries such as Singapore used to eat fried rice at the time McDonalds was opening in America. That is in 1955. During this period, most people had not heard of the term cheeseburger. Little people from Singapore expected that McDonald would soon be a big hit there within a very short time. Currently, McDonald is an enterprise operating in many countries worldwide. A recent survey conducted in about six countries revealed that many more people are familiar with the McDonald symbol than they are with the Christian cross. This example signifies the importance of globalization in enhancing or promoting cultural sameness. Thus, through globalization, multinational corporations and companies have promoted and designed a specific type of consumerist culture where standard commodities which are often promoted by worldwide marketing campaigns create same lifestyles globally. Through globalization, multinational corporations influence the values of its employees and customers.

Navigation Systems Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Navigation Systems Inc - Essay Example One can buy a foreign currency for a month from today, or for two months from today. It is clear that the repatriation must be made using a spot rate because it gives a greater amount of conversion with that of a forward exchange rate. The company must be advised to convert its income at spot transaction for a greater yield. Benefits can be derived using a currency option or a currency swaption especially when the exchange rates are high and will yield a greater amount of that currency. Foreign exchange market is where the exchange rate is determined. This market is not a single gathering place where traders shout buy and sell orders at each other. Traders work at their desk dealing with each other by computer and by phone. The daily volume of business dealt with on the foreign exchange markets in 1998 was estimated to be over $2.5 trillion dollars. (Daily volume on New York Stock Exchanges is about $20 billion) Today (2006) it may be about $5 trillion dollars. The daily volume of the foreign exchange market in North America in October 2005 was about $440 billion. The Foreign Exchange market expanded considerably since President Nixon closed the gold window and currencies were left afloat vis--vis other currencies and speculators could profit from their transactions. Until recently, this market was used mostly by banks, who fully appreciated the excellent opportunities to increase their profits.

US Constitution Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

US Constitution - Assignment Example Marbury vs. Madison: only Supreme Court can interpret Constitution, participated in Revolution of 1800 and witnesses the peaceful transfer of powers. James Madison, 1751-1836, was the 4th president of the U.S. 1809-17, member of the Continental Congress; 1780-83. Republican Macon’s Bill No. 2: that allowed trade once more (1809-1817). James Monroe, 1758-1831, was the5th president of the U.S. (1817-25). Went to law school with Thomas Jefferson (1780-83) and was a member of the Virginia legislature (1782) as well as the Continental Congress (1783-86) (Madison, James, et al 1). Marshall’s Decisions: McCulloch vs. Maryland (1819) Bank of US can’t be taxed, Dartmouth College vs. Woodward (1819)-contract is highest law, Gibbon’s vs. Ogden (1824)-Congress controls Interstate Commerce. John Quincy Adams, 1767-1848, was the 6th President of the U.S. (1825-29). U.S. senator for Massachusetts (1803-8), he infuriated fellow Federalists by backing Jeffersonian laws, ta riff of Abominations: equal to 45% in some cases. John Marshall, secretary of state for President John Adams, Chief justice (1801-35). Marshall gave many historic and critical rulings in Supreme Court (McNeese 60). Andrew Jackson, 1767-1845, was the 7th president of the U.S. (1829-37); he was elected to the U.S. Congress (1796). Martin Van Buren, 1782-1862, was the 8th president of the U.S. (1837-41). A Democrat as well as an Andrew Jacksons ally (Madison, James, et al 2). Andrew Johnson, 1808-75, was the17th president of the U.S. (1865-69). Was a staunch supporter of President Lincoln. Rutherford Hayes Birchard, 1822-93, was the 19th president of the U.S. (1877-81); a Republican, a member of Congress (1865-67) plus governor of Ohio (1867, 1869 and 1875). Participated in civil war; became a major general of volunteers (1865). Abraham Lincoln, 1809-65, was the 16th president of the U.S.

Multicultueral issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Multicultueral issues - Essay Example Why? What did you learn about yourself from the assessment on p. 228+ of the text – Four Building Blocks of Diversity-Conscious Leadership? The results of the self-assessment test revealed that I am culturally intelligent as most responses indicate one’s understanding of meeting people from diverse cultural backgrounds. There is therefore strengths in the areas of understanding diversity in culture from the experiences in previous travels in different countries. I met many people while studying in the USA. Among my friends are people with Eastern Europe, Asian, Hispanic backgrounds. I understand that different cultures have different ways of doing things or saying something, and I respect this. I am therefore satisfied with generating a high ranking for my CQ since it is an indicator of greater understanding, awareness, and skills in communicating, both verbally and non-verbally, with people from various cultural backgrounds. Finally, I learned that the four building blocks of diversity-consciousness leadership are understanding, awareness, skills, and commitment; where I have strengths in all three: understandin g, awareness and skills and would need to develop the building block on commitment ensure being a more diversity-conscious leader. In Chapter 1, my knowledge on the topic of diversity was significantly enhanced as it discussed topics that range from diversity, culture, diversity consciousness, and presented a number of different reactions to our changing cultural landscape. As such, my appreciation for different perspectives, preferences, and points of views of people from diverse walks of life was strengthened. I learned to deepen my consciousness in terms of disputing identified myths in diversity and in ways to assimilate in a new culture to prevent conflicts and to enhance communication and interpersonal relationships. 4. Based on what you

The Holocaust Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Holocaust - Essay Example He mentions the inhumane agony that the soldiers put prisoners through only because they were homosexuals. Their uniforms were marked blue to identify them. He complains that to this day there would be several other prisoners like him who witnessed the torturous death, Pierre’s loved one; an eighteen year old boy was put through in front of all prisoners and yet they choose to be silent about it (Seel, 1995). Going through these testimonies, historians can do a lot in developing our understanding of the holocaust. They can shift our focus to the main matters that made people victims, the society, the choice that people made which the soldiers thought were punishable at that time. The ways that were adapted for punishments; the killing centers, extermination camps (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum), and such and spread the knowledge so people may know what their ancestors had to go through for them to get here. The modern society has much to learn from the Holocaust. Believing on differentiating and dividing everything never helped anyone. Defining someone from their differences from others is not the way a society is supposed to be. The modern society, instead of following into the footsteps of such people, should learn to make a difference by developing a sense of acceptance and proving themselves greater. History should not be repeated, it should be made.Bibliography Seel, Pierre, and Joachim Neugroschel.  I, Pierre Seel, Deported Homosexual: A Memoir of Nazi Terror, 25, 26. New York: Basic Books, 1995. Accessed July 27, 2012.

BUSINESS LAW ( REPORT ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

BUSINESS LAW ( REPORT ) - Essay Example Even in America itself, it is not possible for a company to function with a unique law in to different states. In other words, companies need to function with respect to the laws prevailing in the location where they operate. Separate legal personality and limited liability are two common terms associated with company law. Wiss (2010) describes separate legal personality as an incorporated company, â€Å"united or combined into an organised body† having rights and liabilities. In her opinion a company is a fictitious person who can enter into contracts, own property and even commit crimes. At the same time when a private company limited by shares, the creditors deal with the company, not with the individuals and it can be termed as a limited liability company. In such cases, if the company become bankrupt, the creditors or the investors do not get paid regardless of the personal financial capabilities of its memebrs (Wiss 2010). Separate legal personality and limited liability are two advantages of corporate status. But under certain circumstances these advantages will become invalid and this paper briefly explains such circumstances in which separate legal personality and limited liability will b ecome invalid. It is not possible for a company to take undue advantages in the name of limited liability or separate legal personality. Corporate law has mainly identified seven instances in which the corporate veil (law that protect the members or founders of a company in case a problem arises) can be lifted; fraud, agency, trust, group enterprise, tort enemy character, tax (Sadhu, n. d) Richard Wachman (2005) has mentioned that fraud is costing British business  £72 billion a year, 6% of the annual revenue of British businesses (Wachman, 2005). The recent corporate scandals involving Enron, WorldCom, Parmalat and Refco, have not taught any lessons to the authorities or the investors. Fraud can attain many forms; some companies may overstate their profits, some

What was the impact of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Coursework

What was the impact of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor - Coursework Example The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7th, 1941 marked a turning point in American history, changing the political consensus on foreign policy in the nation and leading directly to the country’s entry into the largest and most destructive war in history. The first and most lasting consequence of the Pearl Harbor attack was the ending of the isolationist view of American foreign policy that had grown domestically in the electorate following WWI and the Great Depression. As Krzys Wasilewski writes in "American First in WWII," â€Å"On September 4, 1940, a law undergraduate, R. Douglas Stuart, Jr., founded the America First Committee (AFC), an organization that was to promote isolationism and warn the public against the horrors of Europe`s war. Soon he was joined by Lindbergh, Wood, Nye, and other experienced individuals who turned an obscure committee into a nationally recognized institution whose voice was heard all over the country. America was not the polic eman of the world, stated the AFC. Lindbergh, who became the organization`s most recognized member, said that the United States should invest its resources in defending itself, not other countries. ‘Shall we now give up the independence we have won, and crusade abroad in a utopian attempt to force our ideas on the rest of the world?’ asked Lindbergh, ‘or shall we use air power, and the other advances of modern warfare, to guard and strengthen the independence of our nation?’† (Wasilewski, 2008) ... (Lutton, 2002) Whether or not the war could have been avoided is a matter of historical debate, but what cannot be argued with are the direct consequences of the American entry into WWII following the Pearl Harbor attack, which unquestionably turned the tide of the conflict and led to the defeat of the fascist military regimes of Hitler, Mussolini, and the Emperor of Japan. I. The Loss of Human Life from Pearl Harbor and WWII: Modern history books paint an evil picture of the Nazi regime of Germany led by Adolph Hitler and the SS, portraying it as one of the most violent and hateful political regimes of all time. Knowing retrospectively the atrocities and genocide of the â€Å"Final Solution† or Holocaust that led to the deaths of over six million Jews in Europe in concentration camps, the public today believe overwhelmingly that World War II was a just war that stopped the threat of fascism globally and allowed the free, democratic societies led by America and Britain to triu mph ideologically, economically, and politically in the aftermath. Yet, the loss of life during WWII in both civilian and military populations makes it the most destructive and deadly conflict ever engaged in by humanity. The following chart lists the total number of casualties on both sides of the war: These statistics, gathered from a multiplicity of governmental and historical sources, suggest that the Axis powers lost approximately 6.5 million military deaths in WWII combined, in addition to nearly two million civilians. (WarChronicle, 2011) The Allied powers are estimated to have lost over 25 million civilians and 14 million soldiers collectively during WWII. (WarChronicle, 2011) While there is no way of knowing how the war could have been avoided or resolved peacefully, the

Acquiring Knowledge Essay Example for Free

Acquiring Knowledge Essay Knowledge means power; the whole world craves for knowledge, to know things, to understand, to make accurate calculations and to make wise decisions. But philosophers since ancient times struggle with the question regarding how knowledge is acquired. Is it through the physical senses – of touch, smell, hearing, seeing, and taste? Is it through reason alone? Three great philosophers tackled this question, they are Descartes, Locke, and Kant and all three of them presented three different methodologies when it comes to acquiring knowledge. The pursuit is serious and intense that a whole body of knowledge is dedicated to finding out the answers. It is called epistemology and these three philosophers will serve as guides in the quest to know the truth about knowledge. Descartes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Rene Descartes is said to be the father of modern philosophy. He attempted to break with the philosophical traditions of his day by rejecting the Aristotelian philosophy of the schools which is the authority of tradition and the authority of the senses (Craig, 1998). He developed a methodology on how to investigate nature by reducing complex problems to simpler ones and then analyzed further using direct intuition (Craig, 1998). Therefore, his main argument is that by mere thinking one can discover solutions to problems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Interestingly Descartes had to die to his old beliefs and everything that he considered truth in order for him to determine once and for all that indeed there is a way to discover truth by mere use of intuition and not the reliance of the senses and traditions handed down from one generation to the next. His first guinea pig was himself, he had to doubt his existence to know the truth, and not simply believe that he exist because society tells him that he does exist. He had what inventors and scientists called a â€Å"eureka† moment or a moment of great insight, when he finally blurted out â€Å"Ego cogito, ergo sum† a statement in Latin famously translated as: I think, therefore I am (Broughton, 2008).   This was the breakthrough that he was looking for and he used it as a foundation from where he would build upon his theory of knowledge acquisition.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Descartes’ idea is cutting edge at that time. He was one of the first to establish the principle of gaining knowledge and studying things that are beyond the capabilities of the five senses. There are many aspects of mathematics that can be ascertained not by using the five senses but by the mere act of intuition. Intuitively man has the ability to know the truth; this is the main argument of Descartes. This is strengthened by the concept of prior knowledge. A good example is the ability of a baby to suck from the mother’s breast the much needed nutrients for survival. A baby is almost blind from birth and yet able to perform such actions. Locke The capability to use the sense of sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste is one major path in gaining knowledge (Hartnack, 2001). It is in fact the ancient way of knowing the environment and the complexities of human interaction such as language and relationships. John Locke is one of the major proponents for this method of knowledge acquisition – that man has the capability of understanding the world around him by observing and utilizing the power of the five senses to harness information. Thus, it can be argued that man can only observe the world through his senses. In this model knowledge is true when it can be measured and observed through the senses. This is also known as empiricism. The significance of this method can be seen in scientific applications of the use of observation and careful measurements. Scientists, sociologists, and even philosophers from all over the world use this technique and it can even be argued that most people use empiricism without even thinking about it. It is just natural for man to use his senses to understand his environment and the stimulus that he receives every waking moment. Immanuel Kant   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Kant is a central figure in modern philosophy because he was able to synthesize early modern rationalism and empiricism (Rholf, 2010). But this does not mean that Kant was completely successful in reconciling Descartes and Locke’s views concerning the acquisition of knowledge. Kant’s critics even asserted that he had made it more complicated and therefore making it harder to determine the perfect methodology that can help humans master the ability to acquire knowledge.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Nevertheless, Kant’s major contribution can be summed up in two statements: 1) human beings experience only appearances, not things in themselves; and 2) space and time are noting other than the subjective forms of human sensible intuition (Rohlf, 2010). This is an important conclusion because there are things that empiricism and rationalism cannot cover but can only be ascertain if there is complete understanding of everything – this is knowledge gained after using other people’s insights and breakthroughs.   For example ancient people see the sun orbiting around the earth, rationalism and empiricism will not refute that claim until there is already a capability to improve on that knowledge and modify it because now people know more about the movement of heavenly objects. Comparison   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Descartes did not agree that there can only be one method when it comes to knowledge acquisition. The use of the five senses is not enough to know the truth. There are things in this world that can only be understood by accepting the existence of prior knowledge and the use of intuition. There are mathematical equations that proved useful in improving man’s existence but the steps in developing these mathematical equations was not derived by simply observing the world trough the fives senses. These came forth as a result of institution, simply because mathematical truths belong to an abstract world inaccessible by sense of smell, hearing, taste, touch, and sight. In the privacy of thought, a person can apply these mathematical equations and gain knowledge.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another weakness of using the five senses is that it is very subjective. Kant already pointed this out by stating that the five senses cannot be reliable all the time. For example the refraction of light creates optical illusions. The eye communicates to the self and says that the spoon appears to be bent. But the spoon was only perceived to be deformed because of the effect of the action of light when it passes through water. Another problematic aspect of relying on the five senses is its unreliability when human beings are subjected to harsh conditions. For example, a hiker lost in a desert will succumb to the effects of dehydration and begins to see mirage and other images that seem to be real but are not. Even with the obvious weaknesses of the empirical method of acquiring knowledge, it must also be pointed out that the five senses are indispensable tools when it comes to knowledge acquisition. No matter how subjective the five senses may seem to be it must be acknowledge that human beings can live within a community because people understand each other’s languages and respect the rules laid down by the leaders or the elders. This would have been impossible without the use of the five senses. Moreover, the aforementioned weakness of the empirical method can be easily corrected using a third-party that will help verify the information. For example a person hallucinating in the middle of a desert can be rescued by paramedics. And the perfectly healthy rescuers can help the disorientated person to gain his or her bearing. If two people disagree with regards to the exact height of the Statue of Liberty, they need not quarrel, they only need to ask an unbiased participant to measure the statue for them and settle their dispute. Thus, empiricism has only one valid weakness and it is the inability of man to know more than he should and therefore making conclusions without first knowing the big picture or having a complete understanding of the scientific law that governs a particular phenomenon. In this regard Kant’s ideas will be of great help. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Descartes’ view that there is indeed prior knowledge is an important first step in knowledge acquisition. The world is so complex and at the same time working like a well-oiled machine. However, it is not enough to simply say that knowledge can be gained by mere intuition. One has to agree with Locke that the five senses are indispensable tools when it comes to understanding the world. There is a need to observe and to measure in order to know the truth. But even so there are limitations so that it is important to take into consideration what Kant said regarding the inability of the mind to make sense of everything. For example the movement of the earth and sun could never be completely understood by mere intuition or observation alone. There is no perfect methodology in epistemology; there is a need to use each method to know the truth. References Broughton, J. (2008). â€Å"Self-Knowledge.† A Companion to Descartes. MA: Blackwell   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Publishing. Craig, E. (1998). Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. New York: Routledge. Cicovacki, P. (2002). Between Truth and Illusion: Kant at the Crossroads of Modernity. Maryland: Rowman Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Hartnack, J. (2001). Kant’s Theory of Knowledge: Introduction to Critique of Pure Reason. IN: Hacket Publishing, 2001. Rohlf, M. (2010). â€Å"Immanuel Kant.† Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Accesed 27 July 2010. Avaiable from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant/#TraIde

Las 432 - Genetically Modified Foods Essay Example for Free

Las 432 Genetically Modified Foods Essay It has been determined that GMO’s are made up of plants, animals, viruses and bacteria that are created in laboratories. Scientist started experimenting with GMO’s in the early 1950’s with investigation of plants DNA. In the 1970’s scientist developed the first genetically engineered organism. By the early 1990’s biotechnology had expanded on production of GM foods to the public, but this brought fourth concerns. There are also those who believe that the laws and regulations that are attributed to genetically modified foods have been influenced through both the media and political aspects. These influences have brought about worries to GM food consumers and they started comparing the similarities and differences in organic foods and GM foods. Consumers want to know what GM food products they have consumed and will be aware of any affects that may be acquired with consumption. Not only are there consumer challenges that must be faced with these technological experimentations, but also the impacts that may be developed environmentally or effects that may incur with nature and wildlife. Some societies are worried about how the rich will prosper and the poorer countries will suffer and possibly go hungry. Some religions and groups protest eating genes and do not want to consume such un-natural foods and other concerns still the unknown effects on human allergies and transfer of antibiotic resistance to intestine bacterial flora or pathogenic bacteria in our bodies. Genetically Modified Organisms in Food Thesis: Consumers today have a right to know if genetically modified foods are harmful to our health, the environment and our economy. In order to be able to answer these questions more research needs to be done. Summary Controversy around genetically modified foods is becoming big news and sorting through volumes of information can be intimidating. The public is asking a lot of questions about GM foods and they are also raising concerns about the effects these foods may have on their health or the environment. There are different advantages and disadvantages of GM foods, although to what extent they can help or harm humans and the environment is a debatable aspect of this technology. The time has come to look at the decisions that we make about genetic engineering in food crops and if it will have permanent consequences on our food production capacity. Are genetically modified foods putting us at a crossroads in terms of the agricultural legacy that we will leave behind for our children and grandchildren? Modern technology has given us the ability to go beyond selective breeding. Organisms can now be modified by moving genes from one species to another and by introducing synthetic genetic material into their genomes. Humans no longer simply select from variations present in the population: they create new variations! Some find our new power exciting. They dream of crops with greater resistance to disease and insect pests, pigs with healthy fats, and a level of agricultural production sufficient to feed everyone on the planet. Others fear that we have crossed an important boundary and are now tinkering with living systems that we understand incompletely. They question our ability to predict the consequences of our actions and are afraid that we may disrupt the delicate natural order. GMO Technology I. What Are GMOs? GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are plants, animals, viruses and bacteria that are created in the laboratory. Their DNA (genes) has been modified through the use of gene splicing techniques in a desire to create â€Å"new† organisms. The technology involves removing the DNA of one species and inserting it into another species, resulting in new and different varieties of plant, animal, viral and bacterial genes which don’t naturally occur in nature or by hybridizing (Smith, 2012, para. 7). Other names for the technology are â€Å"modern technology or gene technology,† genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technology, and biotechnology (World Health Organization (WHO), 2012, para. 2). GMOs are used to create genetically modified plants which in turn are used to create genetically modified crops for human consumption and as animal feed. Developers believe that producers and consumers would be interested in these foods due to their â€Å"built-in† advantages of lower prices, high nutritional value and hardiness. The desire is to achieve crops that are resistant to spoilage, drought, insects and herbicides. At the outset genetically modified (GM) seed manufacturers envisioned their product being used by producers, thus they focused on innovations those farmers, and more generally the food industry, would accept and appreciate (WHO, 2012, para. 3). WHO states that (2012), the initial objective for developing plants based on GM organisms was to improve crop protection. The GM crops currently on the market are mainly aimed at an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of resistance against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses or through increased tolerance towards herbicides† (para. 4). Commodity crops were the First Generation GM crops and included soybean, maize/corn, cotton, canola and sugar beets (Schonwald, 2012, p. 26). GM soybeans and canola have permeated the market and can be found in most processed foods, e.g. , spaghetti, candy Schonwald, 2012, p. 25). There was expectation that with the success of first generation crops, biotech specialty crops (produce) would follow, focusing more on consumer tastes. According to Kent Bradford, director of University of California (UC) at Davis’s Seed Biotechnology Center (2012), â€Å"these crops hadn’t been commercialized since 1998† (Schonwald, 2012, p. 26). The author wondered why, and so enlisted the assistance of Kent Bradford for answers on â€Å"what was going on with bioengineered specialty crops† (Schonwald, 2012, p. 26). Bradford and a collaborator, Jamie Miller, found that research on specialty crops was underway and had never ceased. The research involved input traits that are important to agriculture such as â€Å"disease resistance,† â€Å"insect resistance,† â€Å"adaptability to certain environments† and output traits that â€Å"improve taste and texture and could lead to changes in the dining experience of the future† (Schonwald, 2012, p. 26). Schonwald says Bradford contends that (2012), â€Å"There was research on 46 different species with more than 300 traits being tested† (p. 26. ). So things were going on at the research level, but the results were not moving forward. Bradford found this was due to regulatory controls. Because of the lack of consumer confidence in transgenic breeding the regulatory process for genetically modified foods was much different than for non-GMO foods. In contrast, foods using classic breeding processes were considered safe for consumption. But GMO foods were â€Å"guilty until proven innocent† (Schonwald, 2012, p. 26). Schonwald reports that (2012), â€Å"A genetically engineered crop must pass review by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration before it is commercialized. The cost could range from $50,000 to tens of millions of dollars to win regulatory approval. For every â€Å"transgenic event,† the genetic engineer must show exactly what genes went into the plant and how they function, and then prove how the plant makeup has been altered. That research is costly. So is plant storage. Once a transgenic creation is spawned at the Plant Transformational Facility, it is whisked to the UC Davis Controlled Environment Facility, where it will stay in a tightly secured warehouse. Or it will be airmailed to some other place, where it will live out its life in another intensely biosecure environment. The process is costly and time-consuming, which partly explains why biotech crop development is largely in the hands of the agribusiness giants – the Monsanto’s, Syngentas, and Bayer Crop Sciences of the world—who have the resources to undertake the process. With such high approval costs, big companies have favored commodity crops with market potential for hundreds of millions of dollars to sales, not tens of millions† ( p. 26) According to Bradford, non-governmental organizations – Greenpeace and the Union of Concerned Scientists – were responsible for the stringent governmental handling of the biotech specialty crops. The $20 million organic foods industry labored to stop the proliferation of GMO foods. They did so by launching a campaign against GMOs, inundating the USDA with thousands of letters (â€Å"275,026 to be exact†) expressing anti-GMO sentiments. This led to the non-inclusion of GMO foods under the USDA’s standards of organic produce (Schonwald, 2012, p. 27). U. S. Leads in Biotech AgricultureMore than 170 million acres of biotech crops are under cultivation in the United States, more than twice Brazil’s acreage, which ranks second. Experts credit faster technological advances, more lenient regulations and expanding economic benefits for the U. S. lead. Biotech acreage by Country, 2011| Country| Acres (in millions)| Biotech crops| United States| 170. 5| Corn, soybean, cotton, canola, sugar beet, alfalfa, papaya, squash| Brazil| 74. 9| Soybean, corn, cotton| Argentina| 58. 6| Soybean, corn, cotton| India| 26. 2| Cotton| Canada| 25. 7| Canola, corn, soybean, sugar beet| China| 9. 6| Cotton, papaya, poplar, tomato, sweet pepper| Paraguay| 6. 9| Soybean| Pakistan| 6. 4| Cotton| South America| 5. 7| Soybean, corn, cotton| Uruguay| 3. 2| Soybean, corn|. Source: Clive James, â€Å"Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2011,† International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, 2011, p. 2, www. isaaa. org/purchasepublications/itemdescription. asp? ItemType=BRIEFSControl=IB043-2011| (McClure, 2012, p. 724) Below is a list of tips on how to say no to GMOs: Tip #1: Buy Organic Certified organic products cannot intentionally include any GMO ingredients. Buy products labeled â€Å"100% organic† â€Å"organic,† or â€Å"made with organic ingredients. † You can be doubly sure if the product also has a Non-GMO Project Verified Seal (see next tip). Tip #2: Look for Non-GMO Project Seals Products that carry the Non-GMO Project seal are independently verified to be in compliance with North America’s only third party standard for GMO avoidance, including testing of at-risk ingredients. Tip #3: Avoid At-Risk Ingredients Even if it’s not labeled organic or verified non-GMO, you can still avoid products made with ingredients that are likely derived from GMOs. The eight most common GM food crops are: *Corn (as in corn oil, cornmeal, cornstarch, and other corn-based ingredients) *Soybeans (as in soybean oil, soy protein, soy lecithin, soy milk, tofu, and other soy-based ingredients). *Canola (as in canola oil) *Sugar beets (the â€Å"sugar† listed on food labels is almost always derived from sugar cane and GM sugar beets) *Most Hawaiian papaya *A small amount of zucchini and yellow squash *Also, beware of dairy products, which may come from cows injected with GM bovine growth hormone, and meats from animals (including farmed fish) that have been fed GM foods. [Instead] look for dairy products labeled No rBGH or rBST, artificial hormone-free, or organic; wild-caught fish; and meat labeled organic or 100% grass-fed. Tip #4: Use Non-GMO Shopping Guides. Download either the new Non-GMO Shopping Tips brochure or Non-GMO Shopping Guide at www. nongmoshoppingguide. com; in order to help identify, avoid GM foods and find hidden GM ingredients on food labels. If you have an iPhone, download the ShopNoGMO guide for free from the iTunes store. Copyright of Better Nutrition is the property of Active Interest Media, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder’s express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use (Smith, 2012, p. 14). II. Scientific Techniques and Experiments Various techniques are used to transfer DNA genes into the host cell. Researchers have been perfecting these techniques over the past 40 years. In one technique, target cells are bombarded with heavy metals coated with the gene transferred have been bombarded. Yet another technique transfers genes by using a naturally occurring bacterium along with a pulse of electricity to introduce genes into the targeted cell (McClure, 2012, p. 720). According to McClure (2012), Opponents of GM foods argue that the public should be informed of the techniques used in gene-transferring (p.720). At the Plant Transformation Facility at the UC, Davis more than 15,000 transgenic events have occurred. Transgenic event is the molecular biologists way of describing the blasting of DNA from one life form into another. This building, a short distance from the student union, houses thousands of Petri dishes of microscopic plantlets bathing in pink and fluorescent blue lights. Here biologists use a gas-pump-like tool called the Helium Particle Delivery system to mix sexually incompatible species together. They use gold bullets (literally) to fire genes from one species into another in a bombardment chamber. As a result the â€Å"Davis lab has birthed grapes spiked with jellyfish, tomatoes spiked with carp, transgenic squash, transgenic carrots, and transgenic tomatoes† (Schonwald, 2012, p. 25). In Changing Genes to Feed the World, David Pimentel takes a look at one molecular biologist’s account of plant breeding and the field of genetic engineering of crops. In her book, Mendel in the Kitchen, author Nina Fedoroff compares the contributions of genetically engineered plants with that of early plant breeding research, e. g. , development of hybrid corn, achieved through the transfer of genes within the confines of crop species. This method contributed greatly to the growth of crop yields during the Green Revolution. Specifically, according to Fedoroff (2004), traditional methods of cross breeding were responsible for, â€Å"40 percent of the increase in yields. The remaining 60 percent was due to greater inputs in fossil-fuels energy, fertilizers and pesticides† (Pimentel, 2004, paras. 1-2). Crop yields increased greatly during the years 1950-1983. Globally, 80 percent of the calories consumed by humans came from grains, making the Green Revolution an important feeding mechanism for billions of people around the world (Pimentel, 2004, para. 2). Though the use of traditional breeding methods greatly increased the yield and quality of crops, these methods were quite slow, in comparison to the advances being made in the field of molecular biology and genetic engineering. Before, breeders were required to manually manipulate genetic material within a specific crop to increase yields. Now, through genetic engineering, genes can quickly be transferred from one plant species to another and brought into crops (Pimentel, 2004, para. 3). As more and more genetically modified foods are being integrated into our food systems, there is a need to be able to detect their presence in food products in order to determine if food manufacturers are in â€Å"compliance with labeling requirements† (Yi, Yien-Chian, Foo-Peng Lee, and Nam-Trung, 2009, para. 1). There is a method that allows for the rapid detection of the presence of GMOs in foods and it is called ferrofluid-driven PCR microchip. â€Å"The microchip was fabricated in polymethyl methacrylate by CO? laser ablation and was integrated with three temperature zones. PCR solution was contained in a circular closed micro channel and was driven by magnetic force generated by an external magnet through a small oil-based ferrofluid plug. Successful amplification of genetically modified soya and maize were achieved in less than 13 minutes. This PCR microchip combines advantages of cycling flexibility and quick temperature transitions associated with two existing microchip PCR techniques, and it provides a cost saving and less time-consuming way to conduct preliminary screening of GMOs† (Yi, Yien-Chian, Foo-Peng Lee, Nam-Trung, 2009, para. 1). History of GMO’s I. Biotechnology Chronology â€Å"1950s – 1960s: Scientists identify genes and begin investigating the role of DNA in plant development. 1953-American biochemist James Watson and British biophysicist Francis Crick describe the structure of DNA, setting the stage for mapping the genetic code. 1967-Lenape potato, a new variety bred for making potato chips is withdrawn from experimental production after high levels of toxin are found. 1970s – 1980s: Scientists begin experimenting with genetic transformation of plants and animals. 1973-Scientists create first genetically engineer organism. 1983-Researchers transfer new DNA into plants, leading to the creation of genetically modified crops. 1989-Calene Inc. receives U. S. patent for gene sequence in GM Flavr Savr tomato. 1990s: Biotech foods are marketed to the public despite environmental and health concerns. 1992-FDA decides not to require labeling of most GM foods, sparking mistrust of the technology. 1993-FDA allows cows to be injected with bovine growth hormone (rBGH) made from genetically modified bacteria, setting off consumer protests. 1994-FDA approves Flavr Savr tomato, first GM food approved for sale to consumers. 1996-Monsanto introduces Roundup Ready soybeans, first of several popular herbicide-tolerant or insecticide-producing crops. 1998- European Union (EU) halts approvals of new GM crops in what is termed an â€Å"unofficial moratorium. † 2000s: Genetically engineered foods face continued criticism despite growing scientific consensus that they do not pose greater safety risks than conventional crops. 2000-Bowing to international demands, U.S. officials agree to label GM commodities for export†¦. Weeds resistant to Roundup discovered in Delaware†¦. Friends of the Earth, a major environmental group, reports that genes from StarLink corn, a GM crop approved only for animal consumption, have been discovered in taco shells. The discovery prompts recalls of corn products and lawsuits, but researchers are unable to document any human health effects†¦. Centers for disease Control study concludes StarLink did not cause allergic reactions claimed by 28 people. 2002-National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy finds that GM crops in the United States produced four billion pounds of additional foods and fiber on the same acreage, improved farm income by $1. 5 billion and reduced pesticide use by 46 million pounds†¦. Monsanto announces it will delay introduction of GM wheat amid concerns from farmers that it will harm exports. 2003-Bollworms resistant to the Bt toxin, an insecticide produced by GM cotton, discovered in the South. 2004-Under U. S. pressure, EU drops de facto ban on GM crops but institutes mandatory labeling; many European stores won’t stock GM foods because of consumer fears. 2008-Monsanto sells unit that produces rBGH, as major grocers including Wal-Mart, Publix and Kroger decline to sell milk from cows treated with the product. 2010-After approving the sale of GM eggplant, India’s environment minister declares a moratorium on the product because of public outcry. 2011-GM crops are grown on 395 million acres of farmland globally, though more than 90 percent is in just three crops: soybeans, corn and cotton. 2012-Anti-GMO groups file petitions containing more than 1 million signatures demanding that the FDA require GM foods to be labeled†¦. Californian vote scheduled for Nov. 6 on ballot initiative requiring labeling for GM foods† (McClure, 2012, p. 727). II. Advantages and Disadvantages The people of the United States (U. S. ) have been unknowingly consuming GMO foods since the 1990s. The Food and Drug Administration scientists warned that these new foods had the capability to produce new allergens and toxins and advised that more thorough testing was needed. But the U. S. government’s position was that GM foods were equivalent to non-GMO foods and failed to require labeling and testing (Smith, 2012, para, 9). According to the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM), eating GMO foods contributes to a number of health risks (Smith, 2012),â€Å"including infertility, immune system issues, accelerated aging, disruption of insulin and cholesterol regulation, gastrointestinal issues, and changes in organs† (para. 9). AAEM reported that doctors most likely are seeing negative health effects in their patients and may not realize that GMO foods are the culprit. Doctors are urged to prescribe non-GMO diets for all of their patients (Smith, 2012, para. 9). The environment is not exempt from the risks of GMO foods. There is the threat of GMO seeds contaminating nearby fields of organic and non-GMO crops. Pesticide usage has dramatically increased over the first thirteen years since the GM crops were introduced. Further, high amounts of herbicide usage on GM herbicide –resistant crops have caused the development of â€Å"superweeds† that adapt to and withstand your typical herbicides (Smith, 2012, para. 10). On the positive side, genetic engineering offers a wonderful solution to farmers, especially those in developing countries, and that is the opportunity for developing perennial grains. As most grains are annual crops, tilling and replanting of the soil is required every single year. This involves an enormous amount of energy each year, including fossil and human energy and strength. Annual tillage also results in soil erosion. Planting perennial grains would mean that farmers would only need to till and replant every five or six years. This would be a major benefit for farmers in developing countries, as tilling for them involves 400 hours per hectare, hand-tilling their fields prior to planting their crops. As such, according to the author, â€Å"plant breeding and genetic engineering will continue to make a tremendous contribution to our food supply† (Smith, 2012, para. ). Other advantages of GM foods include disease resistance, cold tolerance, drought resistance, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and phytoremediation (Whitman, 2012, pp. 2-4). Legal and Political Issues I. Regulations and Laws There have been an abundant number of studies done in the past on American health and safety standards that have demonstrated the inconsistencies of risk assessment. Some standards are rather strict and offer few or no benefits in savings lives, preventing diseases or injuries; while other standards have been negligent and have placed a considerable amount of lives at risk or harm. It is essentially due to the passage of these standards for which the American regulatory policy making has been implanted. In the past, both Congress and the political appointees who head regulatory agencies have been very susceptible to public opinion and public pressures. As a result, the more the American public is prone to worry about a particular risk, the more meticulous American policy-makers are likely to regulate it. â€Å"Therefore, many of the American regulatory policies, especially those between the mid 1960s through the mid 1980s, were characterized by the triumph of passion over sound science. (Vogel, 2001). In 1984, the Federal Government established a formal policy that is referred to as â€Å"The Coordinated Framework for Regulation of Biotechnology†. This policy describes the Federal system for evaluating products that have been developed using modern biotechnology. â€Å"The Coordinated Framework is based upon health and safety laws developed to address specific product classes and involves the cooperation of three federal regulatory agencies; the EPA, the USDA, and the FDA. The U. S. Government has written new regulations, policies and guidance to implement these laws for biotechnology as products have developed† (United States Regulatory Agencies Unitied Biotechnology Website, 2012). EPA Regulation â€Å"Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the EPA regulates the use of intergeneric microorganisms in commerce or commercial research. The EPA considers intergeneric microorganisms to be those formed from organisms in different genera (genera is the plural of genus, which is a level in a taxonomic classification system based on the relatedness of organisms) or those microorganisms formed with synthetic DNA not from the same genus† (Biotechnology Program under the Toxic Substances Control Act, 2012). â€Å"The EPA believes that inter generic micro organisms have a sufficiently high likelihood of expressing new traits or new combinations of traits to be termed new and warrant EPA review. The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Biotechnology Program conducts a screening program for new microorganisms under section 5 of TSCA. In 1997, the EPA published regulations that fully implement its pre-manufacture program for microorganisms under TSCA section 5. Prior to 1997; the EPA operated its biotechnology program in accordance with the 1986 Policy Statement† (Biotechnology Program under the Toxic Substances Control Act, 2012) USDA Regulation. | â€Å"USDA supports the safe and appropriate use of science and technology, including biotechnology, to help meet agricultural challenges and consumer needs of the 21st century. USDA plays a key role in assuring that products produced using biotechnology are safe to be grown and used in the United States. Once these products enter commerce, USDA supports bringing these and other products to the worldwide marketplace† (Bitechnology, 2012). | â€Å"The Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21) was originally established in February, 2003 and first met in June, 2003. Under its Charter, the committee is charged with examining the long-term impacts of biotechnology on the U. S. food and agriculture system and USDA, and providing guidance to USDA on pressing individual issues, identified by the Office of the Secretary, related to the application of biotechnology in agriculture. The AC21 is a broad-based committee representing a wide range of interests and agricultural expertise† (USDA Advisory Committee on Biotechnology 21st Century Agriculture (AC21), 2012). FDA Regulation â€Å"In the Federal Register of May 29, 1992 (57 FR 22984), FDA published its Statement of Policy: Foods Derived from New Plant Varieties. The 1992 policy clarified the agencys interpretation of the application of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to human foods and animal feeds derived from new plant varieties and provided guidance to industry on scientific and regulatory issues related to these foods (Genetically Engineereed Plants for Food and Feed, 2012). The 1992 policy applied to all foods derived from all new plant varieties, including varieties that are developed using recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) technology. This site refers to foods derived from plant varieties that are developed using rDNA technology as bioengineered foods† (Genetically Engineereed Plants for Food and Feed, 2012). â€Å"In the Federal Register of January 18, 2001 (the premarket notification proposal; 66 FR 4706), FDA issued a proposed rule that would require that developers submit a scientific and regulatory assessment of the bioengineered food 120 days before the bioengineered food is marketed. In the premarket notification proposal, FDA recommends that developers continue the practice of consulting with the agency before submitting the required premarket notice† (Genetically Engineereed Plants for Food and Feed, 2012) The chief statutes under which the above agencies have been given regulatory or Review authority comes from the following Act’s: * The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (EPA); * The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (EPA); * The Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act (FFDCA) (FDA and EPA); * The Plant Protection Act (PPA) (USDA); * The Virus Serum Toxin Act (VSTA) (USDA); * The Public Health Service Act (PHSA)(FDA); * The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) (FDA) * The Meat Inspection Act (MIA)(USDA); * The Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (USDA); * The Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (USDA); and * The National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA)(Guide to U. S. Regulations of Genetically Modified Foods and Argricultural Biotechnology Products, 2001) II. Current Political Issues Genetically modified foods have been a concern for many people around the world. In the past Europeans have been the most vocal in their resistance to GM foods and crops, to the point that they have implemented strict labeling requirements for any genetically modified foods sold. In the absence of stronger health and safety data, many national governments across the world have taken steps to lessen the existence of GE food within their borders. â€Å"In Europe, six nations (Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, and Luxembourg) have enacted bans on the cultivation and import of GE products, and nearly 50 nations worldwide require that all GE foods be labeled as such† (Dahl, 2012). To date in the United State there have been no mandatory labeling requirements for genetically modified foods. However this may soon change, Americans are now starting to ask questions about what they are eating and suspicions about the health and environmental effects of biotechnology is now behind the demand that foods from genetically modified crops be labeled. The most recent labeling effort that has come to the fore front is the California ballot initiative Proposition 37 called â€Å"The Right to Know†. What is Proposition 37? The California â€Å"Right to Know† Genetically Engineered Food Act is easy: The initiative would basically require food that is sold in retail outlets to be labeled if it is produced through genetic engineering, and would not allow these products to be labeled as â€Å"natural. † Prop 37 allows companies 18 months to change their product labels, and allows for the GMO disclosure to appear wherever they choose on the packaging (Facts Yes on Prop 37, 2012). If this initiative passes, California will be the first state to require all foods that have genetically modified crops in them to be labeled. However, there is an opposing side to this Proposition. Those that are against Proposition 37 feel that by having to label all foods with genetically engineered crops would mean higher food prices due to the cost of re-package existing foods, recordkeeping, or companies being forced to switch to higher priced non-GM foods. The opposing side also states that it would add more government bureaucracy and taxpayers cost, and create frivolous lawsuits (Stop the Deceptive Food Labeling Scheme, 2012). This is one political debate that will have everyone on the edge of their chairs. III. What are the Possible Health Effects of GM Foods? With so many of our foods today now coming from GM crops, questions are now being asked if there is a health risk from GM foods. The problem is that unlike the safety evaluations that are required for the approval of a new drug, the safety evaluations of genetically engineered foods for human consumption has not been as strict. So what is known about possible health issues from the consumption of GM foods? Scientists from around the world have been complaining that a majority of the research that is being done about the possible side effects of GM foods for human consumption is being conducted by scientists that are associated with the biotechnology companies; the same companies that are selling the crops seeds. That and the fact that these studies are being done by the biotechnology companies tend to show that there are no health problems associated with eating GM foods. The problem is this is a one sided research study. One of the biggest problems that independent researchers are facing is that it is extremely hard to get GM seeds in order to conduct any type of research. These seeds can only be purchased through a licensed seed dealer and a technology licensing agreement must be signed stating that no research will be done on the seed; this includes any research attributed to health and environment. Scientists who have managed to do research on the health impacts of the GM seeds are often harassed, intimidated, and defamed by those with a strong interest in the GM technology. Even with these challenges researcher have managed to conduct medical research on the health effects of GM seeds; of these tests the most obvious concern has been the risk of allergic reactions.