Environmental Ethics - Essay Example

Environmental ethics affiliation Environmental ethics An inherent value is caused by an intrinsic value or wants by a person based on influences in their internal want or need. An inherent value is also defined as an instrumental value that is generated by an intrinsic want or value by a person. An inherent value is influenced by factors affecting the intrinsic value and wants in a person. The main controversies on GM crops are based on the significance of human created crops rather than the conventional crops (Greif & Merz, 2007). The controversies are also influenced by arguments for and against other uses of genetic engineering. Controversies on GMOs dictate the position of the involved stakeholders involved in the technological process (Kernohan, 2012). The controversies as seen in Greif and Merz’s argument (2007) revolve around consumers, scientists, biotechnology companies, the government and non-governmental organizations. Past controversies were based on the ethical nature of the process and the significance of the process in helping the needy. According to Key, Ma and Drake (2008), the launch of GMOs brought up criticism on the safety if the products on human health. Many stakeholders questioned the appropriateness of GMOs in terms of generating safe organisms of food. Modern controversies on GMOs mainly address the question on if the process is effective enough to curb the food pandemic across the globe. Additionally, modern controversies also address the issue on human healthy safety after consumption of GMOs (Kernohan, 2012). Modern controversies also question the role of government regulators in shaping the manufacturing, supply and consumption of GMOs. Modern anti-biotechnology activists have summoned governments to be more responsible in terms of protecting its citizens from excess of harmful consumption of GMOs. There is a great difference between naturally occurring organisms and GMOs. Naturally occurring life is free from chemical ingredients used for organism generation. Natural life is an easier mode of reproduction compared to GMOs which relies on human accuracy for development. In an argument by Kernohan (2012), human created life is created in regards to human imagination. On the other hand, natural life occurs devoid of discrimination based on human perception. This makes natural life more appealing and environmental friendly than human created life. Natural life also does not have perishable and unreliable microorganism crating life. This makes the lifespan of natural life lengthier that human created life. In terms of safety, it is an obvious assumption that natural life if human health friendly since there is no incorporation of substances that may alter normal functioning of the body. Long term effects of GMOs are proven as long term effects on consumption of biotechnology developed organisms and commodities. The long terms effects are categorized as harmful chemicals that help generate artificial life. Long term effects of consumption of GMOs are infertility problems, immune problems, faulty insulin regulation, and failure in the organ system and accelerated ageing. According to Kernohan (2012), these effects are caused by elements used in the generation of artificial life. The author further points out that elements used in life generation are harmful enough to cause long term changes in the normal functioning of the body (Kernohan, 2012). Any organism that is not naturally created bears elements and chemicals that significant alter normal human body functioning. Generation of GMOs has been more significant in the generation of modified tools. Creation of modified food is based on the success of a proven scientific experiment in the creation of modified food. The process used in GMOs is highly borrowed to create modified tools. Modified tools are created from genetically modified elements, which are used to determine the success of a biotechnology process or GMO. In the modern century, genetically modified food is reliable source of food. With a global food shortage, modified food is created to help with the feeding increasing human population with lack of adequate food. In an argument by Kernohan (2012), genetically modified food is important in the current human life since it helps develop a significant growth in the global creation of food. However, this role of defining life is criticized by the fact that if diminishes and reduces the lifespan of human life. However, with lesser amounts of modified food there ought to be a global food shortage that would lead to severe food pandemics. Additionally, humans have become greatly reliable to modified food to a point that they have become a compulsory component of human diet (Kernohan, 2012). With the fact that development of GMOs will be continuously produced people rely on government bodies and regulatory systems to govern the depth at which GMOs are used in society. Improving government policies on the production, supply and consumption of GMOs may address all the GMOs related issue generated in this chapter. References Greif, F., & Merz, J. (2007). Current controversies in the biological sciences: Case studies of policy challenges from new technologies. Cambridge: MIT Press. Kernohan, A. (2012). Environmental ethics. London: Broadview Press. Key, S., Ma, J. & Drake, P. M. (2008). Genetically modified plants and human health. J R Soc Med.,101(6), 290-8. Read More