Industrial Farming

There are some disadvantages with newer industrial farming then back with the older farms. First is that there are more animal rights activists then before that complain that newer farms aren't treating animals right and killing them brutally.

Another thing is pesticides. To prevent insects from eating the crops, farmers turned to using pesticides. These pesticides are dangerous to people's health. The UN Environmental Programme and the World Health Organization estimate that every year 3 million workers experience severe poisoning from pesticides. Of those 3 million, around 18 thousand die.

In other undeveloped countries, around 25 million workers suffer mild poisoning from pesticides. According to researchers at the National Institutes of Health, licensed pesticide applicators who used chlorinated pesticides were at greater risk for diabetes.

Soy: Healthy or Not?

The US Food and Drug Administration says the soy is a complete protein. Does this mean that soy is healthy for us? That is for you to decide.

Let us first look into the good of soy. Soy contains every amino acid essential to human nutrition. Soy contains Omega-3 fatty acids and isoflavones which help prevent diseases and cancer. There have also been claims that soy can reduce cholesterol.

Now the bad. Soy contains isoflavones which is one source of phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogen has the ability to cause estrogenic effects. Raw soy flour is know to cause cancer in rats. No studies have been done to see if this was true in humans. Soybeans are one of the crops that are genetically modified.

With all the facts it is your turn to choose whether soy is good or bad for you.

6 Steps for Learning Peace and Resolving Conflicts

Step 1: Cool Off
Resolving conflicts is difficult if both people or parties have hot emotions. Take a step back and cool down by taking a deep breath. Gain some distance before trying to talk things out. Think of a couple of things that make you feel better and then you are ready for the next step.

Step 2: Tell What is Bothering You
Start out the sentence by saying "I", this way you don't seem like you are attacking or blaming the other person. By starting of the sentence with "you" closes the door on communication and puts others on the defensive.

Step 3: Restate the Problem
Reflective listening demonstrates that we care enough to hear the other person out, rather than just focusing on our own point of view. It actually fosters empathy.

Step 4: Take Responsibility
When we take responsibility we shift the conflict into an entirely different gear, one where resolution is possible. By taking responsibility, the other person is more willing to come to a resolution.

Step 5: Brainstorm Solutions
Brainstorm a solution that satisfies both people.

Step 6: Forgive and Thank
A handshake, hug, or kind word gives closure to the resolution of conflicts. Forgiveness is the highest form of closure. Just saying thank you at the end of a conflict, or acknowledging the person for working things out sends a message of conciliation and gratitude.

These 6 steps I believe can help resolve conflicts. This method can, in my opinion, work to help resolve conflicts and help us learn peace.

Differnent decision making models

This week we learned about the G.R.E.A.T decision-making model. But there are different types of dicision making models. The first of which is the rational planning model. This model uses the process of realizing a problem, establishing and evaluating planning criteria, create alternatives, implementing alternatives, and monitoring progress of the alternatives. This model has takes a while to use insted of the G.R.E.A.T model. The first step is to verify the problem, then review all possible solutions, choose the best decision, put into process the prefered alternative, and then finally monitor the outcomes. This plan sounds alot like the G.R.E.A.T decision making model. The last model I am going to tell about is the D.A.R.E. decision making model. D.A.R.E stands for Drug Abuse Resistence Education. D.A.R.E also stands for Define, Assess, Respond, and Evaluate. First overview D.A.R.E. Second identify harmful effects of drugs to your body. Third review advertisments of drugs and alcohol and use D.A.R.E. Fourth review friendship qualities and use D.A.R.E. to respond to peer pressure. Fifth put it all together. Finally practice using D.A.R.E.

Childhood Obesity

This topic has always interested me and when I looked it up, I was amazed. Childhood Obesity has been a recent and growing problem throughout the world. In the United States alone, 1 out of 3 children are considered overweight. My opinion on why this is happening is because of junk food and new technology. Children who eat junk food gain an extra 150 calories a day. Children around the ages 11-18 visit a fast food restaurant 2 times a week. Studies show that children consume around 29-38% of their food from fast food places which could add anywhere around 6 pounds! Fast food is not the only reason why children are becoming obese, new video games and t.v. are a big cause. Kids younger than 6 watch around 2 hours of TV a day and teenagers get around 4 hours a day and this is not including the computer and new video games. Some of the risks of being obese can be deadly. High blood pressure, which can cause heart attacks from hypertension, high cholesterol, and asthma are all risk of becoming overweight. Asthma alone kills 11 people every day and 4,000 people die every year. My opinion on this topic is that children should be having more home cooked meals, spend only one hour watching TV a day, and spend at least 2 hours playing outside. Go for a walk, jog, run, play some sports, try to join a school club or team, or just have fun playing with your friends. Now after reading this, go outside and go play!