Poop 'r us

Gross, disgusting, nasty, what is that thing? These words come to mind when we see or think about poop. Bio-solids are a semi-solid material that contain a nutrient-rich substance that is left behind from the sewage treatment process. Many of our sustainable agricultural farmers today use this nutrient-rich substance in order fertilize their crops and not to mention complete a natural cycle in the environment. Using bio-solids promotes waste water plants to produce capable high quality bio-solids, a resource farmers should take opportunity of. Recycling bio-solids benefits farmers by reducing production costs, improves soil fertility, stimulate plant growth, and betters the soil structure . I could see why farmers benefit from production costs because according to (Ontario's ministry of agriculture and food) "as a fertilizer equivalent, the nitrogen and phosphorous in bio-solids has an approximate value of $250/hectare". Recycling bio-solids to land is also an environmentally friendly choice because it doesn't promote landfill disposal.

Although, bio-solids do contain pathogens, flame retardants, PCB's, these constituents are in low in

concentrations after the sewage treatment process. Nevertheless, "the use of these materials in the production of crops for human consumption

when practiced in accordance with existing federal guidelines and regulations, presents negligible risk to the consumer, crop production, and the environment" (National Academy of Science). In other words if farmers carefully monitor, apply, and follow the regulations, there will be no risk towards the consumer and environment. Of course there is a possibility that sludge won't get properly processed and could pose a health hazard, but this is all in the hands of the treatment facilities

It is true that when poop is the subject, people automatically turn away and neglect all of the wonders that poop could provide our environment. Bio-solids are sustaining our agriculture, helping our environment, and supporting our farmers through financial problems. Today we already bio-solid grown produce, and we're living proof that there are no health risks from using bio-solids as fertilizer. Hopefully we continue to recycle bio-solids into our land instead of promoting waste diversion.

Sources

Bio-solids: Fertilizer or pollution?, Lynchburg college, 8 June, 2011 <http://www.sencer.net/Outreach/pdfs/DCSymposium08/Posters/LUbiosolids.pdf>

Sewage bio-solids: A valuable nutrient source, Ontario ministry of agriculture, 8 June,2011 <http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/nm/nasm/sewbiobroch.htm>

FAQ - Bio-solids, Canadian water and waste water association, 8 June, 2011

<http://www.cwwa.ca/faqbiosolids_e.asp>

Frequently asked Bio-solids questions, Waste management and processors, 8 June, 2011

<http://www.biosolidsinstitute.com/faqs/page3.shtml>

Comments

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Canada's prosperity through technology

We live in a world where we revolve around technology, hypothetically speaking, but we have come to the point where technology is engraved in our culture, in our daily routines, and our lives. I'm not saying this is a bad thing because I would totally label myself as a hypocrite, but technology makes our lives easier to handle, makes things more compact, and just, makes life all the more fun. With technology rapidly evolving over the past century, we can't help it but to use technology to help us with one of the hardest struggles everyone must face, disease. The new health care technology out there make our physical lives easier through early disease detection, disease prevention, and also through medication/antibiotics. Personally, I've never been stricken with a deadly disease (knock on wood), but if it does come down to it I know I can depend on the health care technology that is available here, in Canada. These include the ultra sound, MRI, CAT scans, ultra sound and the Canadian renowned endoscopic ultrasound technology, each of these having a totally different purpose than the previous. As technology continues to evolve everyday, I hope to see new health care technology that can again, aid our lives through disease.

MRI, short form for magnetic resonance imaging has grown in popularity because of it's ability to be able to see inside the human body without cutting it open. MRI's are ordered by doctors to scan a patients brain and spinal cord, heart and blood vessels, internal organs and bones. Because of how detailed MRI's are it is often used to scan a patient for tumors, cancers, strokes, and

other brain related diseases.

CT scans or X-ray computer topography uses special x-ray equipment in order to take multiple internal pictures of the patient, which can be then examine through a computer. CT scans are ordered for patients to check internal organs in cases with trauma, broken extremities, blood clotting, and signs for abdominal diseases

The endoscopic ultrasound technology used by Mayo clinic in Richmond Hill, Ont is used to accurately examine a patients Gastrointestinal tracts. This can be extremely useful for finding illne

sses related to the gastrointestinal tracts with speed and precision without harming the patient. In Canada, York central hospital is the first hospital in Canada to use this intriguing piece of technology. Although, it do

es seem like the most uncomfortable thing to do to a patient, it gets the job done.

In conclusion, technology is one of the most important things that is going on in our societies and as it continues to advance, humans will continue to live longer and eventually win the fight against disease. Without health care technology it would be almost impossible for a doctor to determine what`s wrong with his/her patient internally without cutting him open. Not only is technology making life more livable, but technology is expanding our knowledge of diseases to such an advanced level that one day we can totally eliminate diseases from our planet. Just imagine that!

Sources

Source One

Visited: June 1, 2011

Author: Todd A. Gould

Web address : http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/tests-treatment/mri.htm

Source Two

Visited: June 1, 2011

Author: Lawrence M Davis

Web address :http://www.emedicinehealth.com/ct_scan/article_em.htm

Source Three

Visited: June 1, 2011

Author: ASGE

Web address :http://www.asge.org/PatientInfoIndex.aspx?id=380

Source Four

Visited: June 1, 2011

Author: Medicine.net

Web address :http://www.medicinenet.com/endoscopic_ultrasound/article.htm

Comments

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Genetic Diversity in our food

Researching into this topic I realized that Genetic diversity plays a big role in the foods we eat and is affected through the main differences of industrial agriculture and sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture is the procedure all farmers should aim for, as it provides a healthier and Eco-friendlier approach to producing food. Industrial agriculture is the main method of farming around the world as it provides the most efficient and fastest way of producing food, which in turn helps us feed the growing human population. However, the public is unaware of monoculture in our crops and the Genetic diversity in our food that is involved with Industrial Agriculture. An example would be French fries and potato chips (S.E. Smith article), which is commonly made from the Russet Burbank potato. Because of the huge demand from top tier companies in general, farmers are pushed to produce only one type of crop, which in turn hurts the integrity of Genetic diversity in our food. Another reason why the crops we produce and the foods we eat have such low Genetic diversity is because of monoculture. Monoculture is the practice of growing one single crop species over a wide area, maximizing efficiency. This creates a huge area that has virtually no Genetic diversity, which makes it susceptible to environmental catastrophes and a widespread of diseases. Farmers who support sustainable agriculture are the complete opposite, they raise different types of crops which are rotated around the field to help prevent disease and pest outbreaks because of Genetic diversity around the field. If I were to be given the choice of better tasting, healthier, but expensive apple versus a cheap, and unhealthy apple, it's obvious that I would choose the higher quality produce to protect my health in the long run.

From the words of the wise 11 year old Birke Baehr (http://lifemorenatural.com/?p=1155) "you're either going to pay the farmer or the hospital". With this quote I took from this website shows that you're not necessarily paying more for your organically grown produce because you benefit from the long term health from clean, pesticide, and chemical free crops. However, with the efficiency of Industrial agriculture and the healthier, Eco-friendlier benefits of Sustainable agriculture, we need to combine the positive effects from both and combine them in to one type of universal agriculture. This type of agriculture will maximize the benefits of: Cheap and bountiful food, convenience for the consumer, and lastly consumer awareness, while minimizing the negative effects: Environmental damage and costs, health risks from chemicals and pesticides, and inhumane living conditions for livestock. With this type of agriculture we can feed the rising human population without giving up quality. With that being said, there are still many farmers out there that support sustainable agriculture. We as a community need to start purchasing organically grown produce so that the Industrial agriculturist's will realize the rising demand for organically grown crops and take up the practice for growing sustainable crops.

Blogs I commented on...

Cris's bio blog on Genetic Diversity in the food we eat

Daniel's bio blog on It's not Whether they can talk or not but, Whether or not they can suffer

References,,,

http://lifemorenatural.com/?p=1155, Organic vs Industrial agriculture (Allan Warren May 7, 2009), Visited March 06, 2011

http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/concept.htm What is Sustainable agriculture? (Gail Feenstra), Visited March 06, 2011

http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_industrial_agriculture/costs-and-benefits-of.html Hidden costs of agriculture (Union of concerned scientist), Visited March 08, 2011

http://www.small-farm-permaculture-and-sustainable-living.com/advantages_and_disadvantages_organic_farming.html Advantages and Disadvantages of Organic farming (Meg Howe and Graeme young), Visited March 08, 2011

Creating the "perfect child"

What exactly are designer babies?

As genetic technology advances, the human genome is giving up it's secrets, if we can find out how and what our genes do, we can use this information to create the "perfect child". The term "designer babies", used by journalist's is a process where the mothers fertalised eggs are screened and modified to achieve a desired appearance chosen by the parents. Before the rising importance of vanity in our societies, the main purpose for this procedure was to eliminate the chances of genetic diseases by choosing the healthiest embyro, or to choose the desired gender of the baby. Of course there is nothing wrong with having healthy baby or choosing between a boy or a girl, but this procedure has progressed over the years that parents can change the hair colour, eye colour, and even the face of their future "designer baby". Who knows, with the weird minds in our society parents are bound to experiment with their babies.

Technologies used

Advanced reproductive tehcniques involve IVF or In-vitro fertalisation to fertalise the mothers eggs inside a test tube with sperm outside the mothers body. The eggs are removed from the womans ovaries and placed in a test tube along with chosen male sperm to control the fertilisation. This technique allows parents to highly reduce the risk of the baby being born with a genetic disease. Today, there are only two types of legal reproductive technologies to be used on humans. The first technique is choosing the sperm the fertalises the womans egg, this determines the gender and what kind of genes inherited from the parents the baby will be born with. In-vitro fertalisation is similar to the second technique, but instead, mutliple eggs are fertalised. These fertalised eggs are screened and modified to check for imperfections and genetic disorders before choosing the healthiest embyrios to implant back into the mothers womb.

Is it Ethical?

Designer babies brings up many arguments to the table whether or not this is ethically correct.The problem with tinkering with the genes in sperm and the egg cell is that we give someone the ability to pass on new genes that have never been present in human beings and pass it on for generations to come. This gives us the power to completely change the human race. Although, there is no gaurantee that a child will be happy and successful in the future, this technology gives them that increased probabilty, but if you think about how much money our parents are willing to spend for increased success and happiness in the future, they will be willing to spend a fraction of that money to increase their childs success and happiness in the future by using genetic engineering. However, with the expense of genetic engineering means only the rich class can buy disease free super babies, while the poor class are stuck with the diseases and abnormalities. This difference can totally split the human race into two seperate breeds (Lee Silver).

Here could be a possible scenario in the future; A boss has two job applications, one applicant is a super modified human and the other applicant is a regular non modified person, which would you hire? Obviously this would create conflict. There is also a case where genetic enginearing was used to create a baby with hearing problems for a deaf lesbian couple, where the couple chose a male sperm donor with deafness in his family history. Who would ever want to be born deaf? This technology is ethical to an extent, but the only way to protect our societies from the ability of genetic engineering is public awareness and basically drawing the line on how far we want to go.

My thoughts

Well in my oppinion genetic engineering is useful to an extent. As a catholic I draw the line on changing the appearance on the babies, removing diseases, choosing child gender, and removing genetic disorders is ethical, but using this technology for something so pointless as changing looks? Is something we all need to draw bounderies on.

References

Reference One
Reference Two
Reference Three

Reference Four

Comments

Felix's Bio blog

Mark Natal's Bio blog

Polar bears, nearing extinction?

One of the many rising problems in today's society is the low population of the Polar bear. During 2008 the United States declared the status of the Polar Bear under the "Endangered Species Act". Approximately 22 500 Polar bears live throughout the "Five Polar bear nations", 60% living in Canada. Russia, Alaska, Greenland, and Norway being the four other Polar bear nations, harboring the 40% of the Polar bear population. With the increase of carbon emissions over the past 50 years, climate change is and has become one of the biggest issue to Polar bear preservers around the world. Polar bears depend on ice for hunting their main diet of seals, breeding, and denning. With Canada's Hudson's bay melting almost 4 weeks earlier in spring than it did 25 years ago, the hunting time for the Polar bears is severely reduced and without the right amount of nutrition in the Polar bears diet, female bears give birth to fewer cubs, and the Polar bears are smaller in stature. Although, the invasive nature of humans has caused the population of Polar bears to decrease, the growth and the continuing survival of the species today would not be possible without Human interaction. Polar bears are protected throughout the five polar bear nations because of WWF and the Polar bear specialist group and many other organizations. Polar bears are renowned for their symbolism for strength and one of the many beauties of the arctic.

The main concern for the Polar bears is their habitat, the ice that is needed for them to survive. WWF, the leader for Polar bear conservation, works to fund field research by the worlds experts on Polar bear condition and figure out the long term effects of climate change towards the Polar bears. WWF works with governments to reduce green house gas emissions and also to protect critical habitat such as; movement trails and denning habitat. Lastly WWF prevents or removes industrial threats from oil development and promote equal/sustainable consumption of the Polar bears.

Ever since the WWF's impact on Polar bears, native tribes surrounding the five Polar bear nations has promised to keep a quota on their Polar bear hunting until the Polar bear population increases. Other Polar bear conservation groups such as the Polar bear specialist group also work for the well being of the Polar bears. Ever since the beginning of the struggle to preserve the Polar bears, Inuit elders over in Nunavut have seen a higher amount of Polar bears roaming the land over the years, showing signs that Polar bear populations are rising. Nevertheless, this is just the first step to the growth of the Polar bear population thanks to the efforts of many people who are willing to make a difference and interact with these symbolic creatures. However, this poses as a wake up call to all of us and to reduce our green house gas emission because we are not only harming ourselves in the process, but also the biodiversity the makes up the beauty of earth.

References

Reference One - Date visited: October 20th 2010

Reference Two- Date visited: October 20th 2010

Reference Three- Date visited: October 20th 2010

Reference Four - Date visited: October 20th 2010

Reference Five - Date visited: October 20th 2010

Comments

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