Agriculture and Human Values Essay - 1650 Words

Agriculture and Human Values (Essay Sample) Content: Name InstitutionCourseDateAgriculture and human valuesIntroductionThis paper explores the agricultural and human values to show that people need the knowledge and values that lead them to meaningful perspectives since it promotes democratic culture. It enhances pluralism supported by rational discourse, openness to new perspectives, willingness to negotiate differences and critical reflection. There is a lot of attention to sustainability and issues of justice in the agri-food industry (Virchow 8). This paper points out that alternative mechanisms in agriculture have flourished and increased traction in the food production industry. Industry association and corporation have protected their interests by undermining efforts of alternative governance mechanism; develop competing standards, and weakening enforcement of the alternative agri-food practices (Gray 6). Therefore, efforts should be geared at strengthening markets as a central institution, enhancing respect for individual rights, and encouraging free trade (Henson 4). This paper provides governance mechanisms that are essential in championing for alternative agri-food to enhance science-based approaches to food production.Previous researchesHenson, Spencer. Private agrifood governance: conclusions, observations and provocation. Brighton: University of Sussex, 2011.According to the writers, food safety and environmental protections are key issues that firms are engaging in developing governance structure and the codes of conduct. This is critical in the industry self-regulation mechanisms (Henson 9). The changes reflect the globalization of agri-food systems, evolving consumer expectations and transforming nature of the regulatory systems. Many firms have adhered to NGOs demands in supply chain management. This allows the firms to share market gains and profits with the society and enhance healthy competition. The concerns of private companies are nature of market competition, legitimacy in relation to democratic standards and its effect on the market. Inherently, globalization plays a critical role in changing nature of private governance in the agri-food industry. They found that public regulations are viewed as legitimate since they have established decision-making mechanisms that are democratic. In essence, this means that the process of decision making respects the rule setting, enforcement, and implementation (Henson, 8). The article state that there has been a reduction of states' support for the agricultural sector, thus making small-scale farmers vulnerable to unscrupulous companies. Gray, Antoinette Pole Margaret. Farming alone? What's up with the C'' in the community supported agriculture? New York: Springer, 2012.The article asserts that Community Supported Agriculture plays a critical role in consumption and production of local food as it stresses the need for environmental friendly and organic farming practices. The scheme entails a cooperative agreemen t between the members and farmers. The policy was designed to enhance good relations between farmers and members. They established a center proximate to the farmer to facilitate easier collection of goods(Gray, 7). The policy was characterized by peripheral advocates that promote communitarian farming principles. The Community Supported Agriculture is a viable economic model since farmers do not engage profit maximization behaviors. Moreover, unity and cooperation is fostered by holding events, planning activities, and volunteering. Members join the movement to secure local, fresh, and seasonal produce. This is attributable to the fact that food is personal hence teaching about it enhances meaningful learning. In essence, meaningful learning is enhanced when student relates new insights with known ideas. Learnt knowledge is based on feelings, actions, and thoughts that enhance self-control and awareness. Food security is critical in equal distribution of resources and equity in soci ety; more so, it ensures that there is peace and stability in the world. Maki Hatanaka, Jason Konefal and Douglas Constance. A tripartite standard regime analysis of the contested development of a sustainable agriculture standard. Texas: Sam Houston State University, 2011.The authors suggest that social organizations should initiate measures to increase the institutional backing for alternative agricultural practices. Much of the efforts are geared on research, public policy, and government support. The measures are aimed at embedding non-economic values such as equity, justice, democracy, and sustainability. Moreover, they will ensure that they redistribute surplus value and de-emphasize profit-oriented businesses. They state that the movement has enhanced adherence to paying fair wages, environmental friendly practices, and prohibit bad practices. Experts have questioned the current ethics of industrial agriculture and environmental sustainability policies. Many have sought to est ablish forms of agriculture that are just, sustainable, and democratic. The proposed forms of agriculture such as the urban garden, chemical free agriculture, community supported agriculture, and promotion of the local market have been fronted. The notion that private sector control of agriculture can enhance global food security is misinformed. This is because their power on agricultural processing and trade contributes to oligopoly, hence the market failures. Therefore, the authors assert that markets should enhance fairness and reduce unfair trading practices.de-emphasizing on profit oriented business models will ensure that corporations do not steal from the poor.Ryan Galt, Damian Parr,Julia Soelen,Jessica Beckett, Maggie Lickter and Heidi Ballard. Transformative food systems education in a land-grant college of agriculture: the importance of learner-centered inquiries. California: University of California, 2012.According to the authors, the social constructivist theory asserts that individuals create new knowledge by building on theoretical understanding. The theory maintains that effective learning is achievable through interactive social setting. In essence, the students can be able to place together the developmental levels together. The setting allows the deliberating and experiencing of varied perspectives in an open discussion. Moreover, the setting enables judgmental comparisons of learners. It creates an understanding of self on values and motivations. Open deliberations are fostered in a collaborative and democratic learning environment. They claim that participation creates an environment that validates students questions, perspectives, and contributions. Meaningful learning can be enhanced by building inquiry process through exams, lectures, and assignments. This will enable the students to comprehend critical issues that food industry face. For instance, they will understand that the problems facing the industry are poor distribution of resour ces and poor governance. This is true for many developing countries have the skills, resources, and ability to produce food, yet they cannot feed their own people. Virchow, Tina D. Beuchelt and Detlef. Food sovereignty or the human right to adequate food: that concept serves better as international development policy for global hunger and poverty reduction? Stuttgart: University of Hohenheim, 2012.The article says that food sovereignty is a new concept that refers to the rights of people, communities, and states in formulating their agricultural and food policies. It is critical in enhancing rural development, food security, and type of food production. The concept is emphasizing on strengthening of small farmers that aims at enhancing food security, rural development, and reducing poverty and hunger. They affirm the approach provides the peasant with a voice in the national politics. The concept forms a discourse and debates into international forums as social movements, NGOs, and civil societies have integrated the concept in their terminology. The abandonment of small-scale farmers in the discussion on issues that affects them has contributed to the poverty and hunger in society. The industry has been associated with structural adjustment measures that led to privatization. The poor conditions of food production are attributable to economic liberal...

Indirect and Direct Characterization on To Kill A Mockingbird - Free Essay Example

The novel titled, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a story set in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the depression in the 1930s. The story is told by a little six-year-old girl, Jean Louise Finch nicknamed Scout. She is a rebellious girl who has tomboy tendencies. Scout lives with her elder brother Jem, and her father, Atticus, who is widowed. The book follows the family for three years where it discusses the arrest and eventual trial of a young black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a white woman. It also mentions how Scout and Jem befriend a boy named Dill who becomes fascinated with the spooky house on their street called the Radley Place. The house is owned by Mr. Nathan Radley, whose son Arthur (Boo), has lived there for years without venturing outside. To Kill A Mockingbird depicts discrimination against race and gender by showing examples of each of these in the everyday lives of the Finches and reveals why the novel is still relevant today. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee illustrates discrimination against race by displaying many examples throughout the book, in the lives of the Finch family. One example of this is when Scout is at Finchs Landing for Christmas. During her visit one of her cousins named Francis approaches her and says, I guess it aint your fault if Uncle Atticus is a nigger-lover besides, but Im here to tell you it certainly does mortify the rest of the family (Lee 83). This is one instance of race discrimination because it shows how people are now hating on Atticus for defending black man. So, this goes to show that even Atticus own family is talking bad about him just because his client is colored which is extremely racist. Another example of this is when after Tom Robinson was named guilty and Atticus had to explain to Jem how in the world that could be possible and said, In our courts, when its a white mans word against a black mans, the white man always wins (Lee 220). This shows race discrimin ation because even the courts back then would favor white men over people who were colored. This was not okay because if its a matter of life or death people shouldnt have to die just because of the color of their skin. Finally, race discrimination is one of many types of discrimination that occurred in the Finches lives. In the book, Harper Lee reveals many instances of gender discrimination and how it affects the everyday lives of a specific family during the 1930s. When Dill and Jem wanted to look through the shutter of the Radley place Scout began to protest this idea and Jem said, Scout, Im tellin you for the last time, shut your trap or go home I declare to the Lord youre gettin more like a girl every day! (Lee 51). Here, through gender discrimination Jem uses it to get his way to insult Scout about her acting like a girl. Whenever she does something he does not like he gets away with bringing up the whole girl stereotype argument by calling her a girl. I doubt if wed ever get a complete case triedthe ladiesd be interrupting to ask questions (Lee 220). This is another example on how the author demonstrates gender discrimination in To Kill A Mockingbird because the polite fiction of the South is that women are delicate and need to be protected. Maybe the men are really just afraid that women woul d use power in a way that men wouldnt like. Thus, Harper Lee shows multiple examples on race and gender discrimination through the life of Scout. The novel also reveals effects of race and gender discrimination today by describing examples that are still relevant. In an article titled, Racism and its effects on society on be-utd.org it talks about how still to this date there are Families of a certain color or racial group living in poverty and poor conditions, unable to rise out of their disadvantaged state through the prejudice of employers which keeps them in low-paid positions. (be-utd.org 2018). This connects with the book because during the book they talk about the place where the colored folk live and how they live in poverty and have very little money. This important because it demonstrates how there are still some forms of racial discrimination happening in our world today. In another article titled, Gender discrimination comes in many forms for todays working women on pewresearch.org they talk about how, one-in-four working women (25%) say they have earned less than a man who wa doing the same job (pewresearch.org 20 18). Although, in the 1930s it was not very popular for women to work at all, still today women are having trouble being paid the same as a man. This proves that there is still such thing as gender discrimination in our world today. In conclusion, To Kill A Mockingbird depicts discrimination against race and gender. It does this by showing examples of each of these in the everyday lives of the Finches and reveals why the novel is still relevant today. The novel has many examples of race and gender discrimination however we need to be aware that this still continues today. The discrimination may not be as bad as the 1930s but it is still important and needs to me diminished. People should not have to feel less important or valued because of their race or gender. Sooner or later we must realize that we must develop a tolerance or undertsaninf for those who are different fromourselces. We must raise anew generation of tolerant indivisulas who embrace diversity and value all members of society equally.