Desertification

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

Desertification is a process of land dilapidation in arid, as well as semi-arid areas due to different factors which include climatic changes and human activities. In addition, overgrazing, natural disasters and oil spillage are also among the factors which lead to desertification, hence making land less reliable for farming.

The main objective of this report is to provide a summary, explanation as well as recommendations of desertification, and also provide and recommend potential solutions to the issue where appropriate.

1.2 Scope

This report will focus and discuss the impact of desertification within the Las Vegas community. The Las Vegas community is undergoing challenges due to desertification, hence it would be necessary to critically analyse the issue and provide probable ways of addressing it.

2. Summary of the background.

Human activities and climatic changes are the main reasons for desertification within this community. Initially, the area was experiencing normal temperatures and seasons were also normal. Nonetheless, after cutting down of trees in order to create room for industries, the area started experiencing changes. The area became hot and temperatures would be as high as 35⁰c in summer which is high as compared to the early temperatures of 25⁰c before the cutting down of trees (Gaur & Squires, 2018). Similarly, climate changes were also a huge factor, since after cutting of trees, seasons changed, and the area would barely experience rain in the rainy seasons. Availability of water became a critical issue since water is a basic necessity, and without clean water it becomes hard for people to survive.

Desertification is still prevalent in Las Vegas because of continued cutting down of trees and increase in the number of factories in the area. The release of carbon by factories into the atmosphere tends to interfere with the ozone layer thus leading to global warming which in turn leads to an increase in temperature (Gaur & Squires, 2018). High temperatures, and consequently interfere with the climatic changes in the region which leads to less rainfall.

3. Explanation of the impact of Desertification

            There are multiple effects of desertification in different parts of the world which include drought and famine, migration, lack of water, increased temperatures, and extinction of species. Drought and the lack of water are the main effects of desertification, and in such a situation most people tend to lose their lives. Over the years, people in different parts of the world have lost lives due to drought which often leads to scarcity of food in a region forcing people to starve to death (BEHNKE & MORTIMORE, 2016). Moreover, animals also tend to lose their lives owing to the fact that they cannot find arable land to graze. Due to drought most people usually forced to migrate in such food. On the other hand, scarcity of food also leads to increase in food prices which relates to poverty. Desert areas are majorly surrounded by the poor for the reason that the cost of living is high and thus they tend to purchase everything starting with clean water, which could have been otherwise tapped into the house.

Likewise, in Las Vegas things are not as different as the area experiences hotter and drier conditions, wild fires, and lack of water. The region has been experiencing these condition, hence hindering our day to day activities. In a span of a year, the temperature has increased by 2.8⁰c making it difficult for the body to adapt. Additionally wildfires have also been on the rise, with different areas experiencing fires (Gaur & Squires, 2018). Finally, the lack of water in the region has been the most critical issue as it becomes difficult to survive without water.

Increased temperatures often lead to skin diseases which are costly to treat, hence negatively affecting the community. In addition, the lack of water in the region has also slowed down developments, for the reason that investors tend to shy aware from areas which lack basic necessities since they do not favor investments (SIMONS, 2011). Lastly wildfires in the region have also affected the community negatively because, some people have lost their property due to the fire which spreads fast. As a matter of fact, wildfires have led to loss of countable lives and loss of both animal and plant species. Animals caught in the fires tend to die, while indigenous trees have also been burnt down a factor which has led to the extinction of tree and small plants. For that reason desertification has dealt a huge blow to the community as a whole.

5. Recommendations

            These issues can be dealt with through planting of trees, maintenance of soil health and fertility, growing drought resistant plants, and reducing the release of carbon into the atmosphere. In order to protect the soil, it is necessary to practice farming which reduces soil erosion, thus holding the soil to the ground (BEHNKE & MORTIMORE, 2016). In addition, wildfires can be stopped through the removal of undergrowth and litter from the forest depriving a raging wildfire. The release of carbon fire can be controlled through coming up with strict laws against the emission of carbon in the atmosphere by factories. In so doing, factories will control the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere thus reducing the effects of global warming.

Correspondingly, planting drought resistant crops is also good for the reason that it will allow us to plant crops hence having a source of food. Tree planting is also significant because trees help in bringing rain and in improving climate changes. In so doing, the climate will not be harsh hence we will start experiencing rainfalls in the region which will translate into the availability of water. Availability of ran will help improve farming in the area while at the same time kicking out drought.

Conclusion

            As discussed in the report desertification has adverse effects on the community, thus it is necessary to come up with measures of preventing it. In a bid to cub desertification, it is necessary to understand the factors that lead to climate and reasons why the climate changes from time to time. In order to stop desertification, it would be necessary to study climatic trends of a region, and to also come up with possible ways of predicting future climatic trends. Predicting future climatic trends helps in being able to plan for the future and to also stop the factors that may lead to desertification earlier.  

Reference

SIMONS, J. (2011). From Agamben to Žižek: contemporary critical theorists.

Slade, G. (2013). American exodus: Climate change and the coming flight for survival.

In Gaur, M. K., & In Squires, V. R. (2018). Climate variability impacts on land use and livelihoods in drylands.

BEHNKE, R. H., & MORTIMORE, M. (2016). The end of desertification?: disputing environmental change in the drylands. http://public.ebookcentral.proquest.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=4504833.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON LAND DEGRADATION, & ZDRULI, P. (2010). Land degradation and desertification: assessment, mitigation and remediation. Dordrecht, Springer. http://public.ebookcentral.proquest.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=603338.

Contraction and comparison of John Muir and Gifford Pinchot

Muir and Pinchot had different ideas on the matters concerning the environment. Muir was a firm believer that the wilderness should be preserved while Pinchot was a believer of the environment should be conserved.  Muir was a naturalist and an explore who held the belief that the wilderness was supposed to be respects without human intrusions, according to him foresters and conservationist were meddlers and intruders in the natural world.  Pinchot was more interested in conserving forests and was the first American to pursue Forestry as a profession. Unlike Muir he believed that the wilderness could be used as a source of income for the country but only if the resources were handled wisely (Westover, 2016). These two definitely had different opinions on how the public land should be treated, however, they have much similarities than dissimilarities.

The first similarity between these two is that they were both active during the early1900s. These two also aimed to protect the North American wilderness, however, the main dissimilarities is in the way these two protect the wilderness (Westover, 2016). Muir was a preservationist while Pinchot was a conservationist.  Muir believed that nature should be preserved with the intent of protecting its beauty. From an anthropocentric view he believed that nature deserved protection form human interference and from an ecocentrism view he believed that nature needed protection for its inherent value.  On the other hand, Pinchot was a conservationist who was in favor of the use of wilderness resources but in a substantial manner for the present and future generations.  Pinchot shared the utilitarian view; therefore, he was a firm believe that human beings were supposed to utilize natural resources as long as it was for a greater good. When comparing the both of them Pinchot was more anthropocentric than Muir (Westover, 2016).

            Both of them can be referred to as the founding fathers of America`s public lands. Despite their contrasting view points on how to manage public land they worked together to convince the president and congress to start protecting public open spaces to preserve and conserve natural resources and the beauty of the land (Westover, 2016).  Despite the fact their philosophies were at odds they have played a huge role in protecting the natural environment. These two philosophies have worked together form dual strategy of preservation and conservation and have been successful for more than a century.

Inconclusion, Muir and Pinchot had different ideas on how to take care of the environment. Pinchot was more interested in conserving forests while Muir was interested in preserving the environment. The two wanted to take care of the environment, however, dissimilarities are found in the way they both aim to take care of public land.

Reference

Westover, H, R., (2016). Conservation versus Preservation? Retrieved from;              https://www.fs.usda.gov/features/conservation-versus-preservation

Wildlife in Danger

Introduction

Wildlife is in danger in all parts of the world due to human activities that include poaching, human encroachment of wildlife areas and global warming. Deforestation, poaching and pollution are some of the main reasons why some wildlife specifies are in danger of extinction. In addition, the encroachment of forests by human beings has also dealt a huge blow to the conservation of wildlife. Deforestation which is encouraged by most factories, since trees are used as raw materials, has seen some wildlife species migrating from one region to another. Similarly, the breeding patterns of some wild animals have also been affected thereby leading to extinction. Therefore everyone knows that the spirit of extinction is surrounding the wildlife nowadays because of human activities. The two potential solutions to this issue is consequently reducing global warming and protecting wildlife habitat.

Reducing Global Warming

Global warming is attributed to the release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which eventually leads to climate changes. Burning of fossil fuels releases fumes to the atmosphere which interfere with the ozone layer thus leading to direct rays from the sun. Global warming can only be reduced through the adoption of new types of eco-friendly fuel, and reduced emission of carbon into the atmosphere by factories (Chrisanne, 2019). It is basically caused when carbon dioxide as well as other air toxins and conservatory gases amass in the atmosphere thus engrossing sunlight and solar radiation that have bounded from the surface of the earth. The main cause of global warming is burning of fossil fuel to produce electricity particularly in developed countries. The amount of carbon released into the atmosphere while burning fossil fuels is huge, thus leading to global warming. Furthermore, factories release harmful gases into the atmosphere, leading to the accumulation of carbon in the atmosphere which results into global warming.

Solution

The main solution to global warming is stopping deforestation and encouraging the planting of trees. Similarly. Illegal logging as well as fishing should also be dealt according to the rule of law. Governments should also enact laws that encourage low carbon emissions by factories into the atmosphere (Attfield, 2010). Finally, encourage people to use renewable energy, which may include the use of solar panels in lighting the house. In so doing the issue of global warming will reduce drastically. Wildlife habitats have been encroached due to overpopulation, which leads to reclamation animal land. Nonetheless, the demand for timber is also another cause, as people are forced to cut down trees thus interfering with the animals’ natural habitat.

Protect Wildlife Habitat

The most effective way of conserving wildlife habitat is through preserving the environs of the animals. This can be done through saving energy, adapting to reusing as well as recycling and avoiding disposing off waste materials carelessly. In addition, the government should also enact laws which protect animals from poaching and deforestation (Huffman, 2019).

Solution

Deforestation is a critical issue when it comes to matters protecting animal habitat. This is so because, forests provide a natural habitat for most animal species. Moreover, cutting down trees leads to climate changes, which eventually leads to migration and extinction of most wild animals. For instance, animals which are adapted to rainy forest cannot survive in semi-arid areas, this would lead them into extinction. Secondly, waste materials should be disposed of correctly, as this may interfere with the breeding animals of fish in the ocean (Chrisanne, 2019). Finally, security should be enhanced in the forests, thus keeping away poachers.

Conclusion

As discussed in the paper, reducing global warming and protecting wildlife can positively impact animal extinction. This is however not as easy as it seems since it requires maximum cooperation between human beings and the authorities in general. Illegal logging being the main cause of animal extinction should consequently be highly discouraged. Furthermore, the government should also come up with strict measures of protecting human encroachment of wildlife habitat. People should also adapt the use of alternative fuel rather than fossils, henceforth reducing the emission of carbon into the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels. In so doing, global warming will be a problem of the past, and wild animals will live peacefully.  

Reference

Chrisanne, G. (2019). On the Road to Function: The New York Times.

Huffman, J. (2019). AMERICAN PRAIRIE RESERVE: PROTECTING WILDLIFE HABITAT ON A GRAND SCALE. Natural Resources Journal, 59(1), 35-58. Retrieved April 22, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/26617803

Attfield, R. (2010). Global Warming, Equity and Future Generations. Human Ecology Review, 17(2), 102-105. Retrieved April 22, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/24707657

Agriculture and policy

Question 1

The primary policy evaluative criteria

  The following are the policy evaluation criteria.

 Effectiveness- effectiveness means that when a policy is proposed, evaluation is done to measure if the policy will achieve the policy objectives (Caputo, 2013). A policy will be considered to be effective if the direct results will contribute to the intended objectives. 

 Efficiency- this means that the proposed policy must be analyzed to see if the resources will contribute to the intended output (Caputo, 2013).  In other words, the costs are measured to ensure that it brings benefits and values.

 Impact- the criterion measures the consequences of the policy (Caputo, 2013). For example, how will the policy affect the economy, environment, and society? The impact is also measured in terms of positive and negative effects and whether they will be the short-term or long-term. 

 Relevance-When a policy is proposed, relevance is measured in terms of to what extent will the policy because meet the needs of the population (Caputo, 2013).  Also, relevance means the usefulness of the policy.  If the policy is relevant at a higher level, what are the development activities?

 Sustainability-Evaluation on sustainability considers whether the policy will offer external support after the implementation, or it will fail (Caputo, 2013).  This means that decision-makers focus on a policy associated with lasting improvements.

Question 2

The primary factors that cause conflict in policymaking

             Interest groups or intergroup conflict- one of the main factors that contribute to conflict in policy-making is the interest groups.  Note that in policymaking, different people participate and individuals or groups want to favor policies or to propose policies that will benefit them (Beheshtifar & Zare, 2013).  Due to the special interest group, conflict may arise and it may contribute to other issues such as administrative bribery and corruption.

 Differing ideas and goals-in policymaking, the policymakers may propose different policies or they may raise different goals concerning a policy (Beheshtifar & Zare, 2013). Even though the difference may help come up with better solutions toward policy making, conflict may arise due to the difference in personality and values.

 Perceptions of individual characteristics- in policymakers, some decision-makers focus on perception rather than conducting a comprehensive analysis of the issue (Beheshtifar & Zare, 2013). By viewing the issue using a personal lens, conflict may arise due to divergent views.

Question 3

Decentralized form of government is not similar to a federal form of government.

A decentralized form of government is not similar to a federal form of government.  First, it is important to understand that decentralization means different levels of government. If that is the case, central or the federal government is part of the decentralization form of government together with state and local levels of governments (Kim, 2008). It is also important to note that each level of government plays a role in decision making. For example, the federal government is responsible for addressing issues in the public sector.  Another important point to note is that the federal government then divides its power into national and state levels of government to ensure that decisions concerning public services are made effectively. Up to this point, a decentralized form of government is not similar to a federal form of government and the difference occurs in the roles they perform (Kim, 2008). Note that the purpose of a decentralized form of government is to expand power to the central government and give it the power or authority to make decisions. Therefore, as the central government concentrates on sharing power, the decentralized form of government concentrates on improving governance and political democratization.

Question 4

The difference between fiscal and monetary policy

 Fiscal policy measures how the central and local government has spent the revenue.  If the governments have spent higher revenue, it means that there is economic development and if the expenditure is low, the economy is dragging (Langdana, 2002). For example, during the financial crisis from 2007 to 2009, the fiscal and monetary policymakers used the policies as tools to address the economic crisis.  Fiscal policymakers focused on higher government spending and low taxes. In other words, the policymakers focused on expansionary (Langdana, 2002). There were $288 billion tax cuts and $150 billion was spent in areas such as energy and transportation.  On the other hand, monetary policy measures how the central bank is supplying money and interest rates. The purpose of the monetary policy is to set interest rates and increase the supply of money. For example, during the financial crisis in 2008, the monetary policymakers brought changes in the money supply and the funds' rates (Langdana, 2002).  The federal funds are was reduced to 0.25 and this was meant to increase the money supply.

Question 5

The concept of policy legitimation

 During the policy-making process, the concept of policy legitimation means that after the policy is formed after intense negotiation, the people or rather the citizens accept the policy and gives the government the authority to implement (Denhardt & Denhardt, 2009). However, the public recognizes the policy as right if it passes through the legislation process.  Note that the policymakers do not have the last word and therefore citizens are given the power to offer their perceptions and values.  In other words, the public is given the mandate to approve or to pass a bill from a legal aspect (Denhardt & Denhardt, 2009). It is important to note that policy is legitimized through a public hearing and public meetings.  For example, in 1992, the Nuclear Waste Policy Act was not legitimate or in other words, the public or the interest group did not approve the Act (Denhardt & Denhardt, 2009). The lawmakers argued that the public was unwilling to accept the Act. The author states that the lawmakers should ask the interest groups question about the Act before policy implementation.

Question 6

 Focusing on the case scenario, as a U.S Congress who is involved in making a decision concerning a policy problem, I would opt for pursuing a policy based on the ultimate cause.  Note that in solving the problem, I would like to justify the solutions.  In other words, I would like to dig deep and find the root cause or the underlying factors that are contributing to the problem (Dodds, 2020). Note that the role of the proximate cause is to understand the problem at hand. However, the important part is to find the ultimate cause or find out where the problem is arising. Note that the ultimate cause will help formulate solutions and not only solutions but the most efficient solutions (Dodds, 2020).  For example, assume we are treating illnesses.  It is important to treat the main cause of the diseases rather than relying on the symptoms or rather than alleviating the symptoms. Similarly, in solving problems, it is important to move out of the comfort zone or in other words it is important to explore the outside world and conduct a root cause analysis (Dodds, 2020). The latter will help understand the difference between knowledge and assumptions and more importantly, understand the ultimate cause and implement the best solutions.

References

Caputo, R. K. (2013). Policy analysis for social workers. SAGE Publication

 Kim Aehyung. (2008). Decentralized and the Provision of Public Services. World Bank

Publications.

Beheshtifar, M., & Zare, E. (2013). Interpersonal conflict: A substantial factor to organizational

failure. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social

Sciences, 3(5), 400.

Langdana, F. K. (2002). Macroeconomic policy: Demystifying monetary and fiscal policy.

Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Denhardt, R. B., & Denhardt, J. V. (2009). Public administration: An action orientation.

Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth

Dodds, W. K. (2020). The world's worst problems. Cham: Springer.

Nuclear Power

Nuclear power has been responsible for driving high-tech innovations and is responsible for creating jobs for thousands of people. The question of whether nuclear power plants should be banned? Is a frequently asked question, as public awareness has been directed to nuclear power stations with the widely successful HBO miniseries, Chernobyl. The answer to this question should be a resounding no, as nuclear energy is cleaner, safer and more efficient than most of its alternatives, it is also by far the world’s largest source of clean energy.

Nuclear power has given the world a chance to radically decrease its carbon emission as concerns for global warming continue to rise. Nuclear power is produced through nuclear fission instead of chemical burning; therefore, the generation of power does not emit carbon (Rhodes, 2018). The use of nuclear power presents a chance to reduce the emission of carbon which in return will reduce global warming and human-induced climatic changes.

Nuclear power is highly effective and efficient since it can operate at a higher capacity. It's not every day that the sun gets to shine and nor the water passes through the turbines of a hydroelectric dam. Nuclear plants in the US are responsible for producing 20% of the electricity used, power plans have an average capacity factor that is over 90%, this means that nuclear power plants are operational for a total of 336 and are off the grid for maintenance for 29 days, in contrast, hydroelectric power has an average capacity of 38%, operational for 138 days (Rhodes, 2018).  This makes nuclear power more efficient and reliable.

            Despite the advantages brought about by nuclear power, nuclear proliferation has raised alarming concerns (Larsen, & Gravitz, 2006).  The risk of nuclear technologies and fuel falling into the wrong hands would have adverse effects and increase weapon proliferation. The 1986 Chernobyl accident also portrays the deadly health effects if humans are exposed to radioactive materials that are used to produce nuclear power.

Inconclusion, nuclear power is clean and efficient. However, the continued production of nuclear power increases the risk of weapon proliferation and exposure to radioactive material has adverse health effects. Nevertheless, the advantages of nuclear power outweigh the disadvantages.

References

Larsen, T., & Gravitz, A., (2006). 10 Reasons to Oppose Nuclear Energy. Accessed 16^th April     2020 from; https://www.greenamerica.org/fight-dirty-energy/amazon-build-cleaner-     cloud/10-reasons-oppose-nuclear-energy

Rhodes, R., (2018). Why Nuclear Power Must Be Part of the Energy Solution. Accessed 16^th        April 2020 from; https://e360.yale.edu/features/why-nuclear-power-must-be-part-of-the-         energy-solution-environmentalists-climate

Climate Change and Human Health

Climate change poses significant health threats, human-induced climate changes have continued to increase worldwide. Over the last half of a century, human activities to include burning of fossils have increased the level of Carbon Dioxide and greenhouse gases have risen and trapped additional heat in the lower atmosphere thus affecting the global climate (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d).   As a result of an increase in greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere, temperatures are changing, the sea levels are rising, the atmosphere is registering a change in perception and the occurrence of extreme weather has increased.  These climate changes are life-threatening since they affect food and water sources, the air humans breathe in and the weather they experience. As the earth continues to experience human-induced climate changes the risk these changes pose to human health continues to increase.

Climatic changes taking place in the world currently have continued to pose more public threats to humankind. The U.S. has already experienced climate-related increases in temperatures, more severe and extreme weather conditions, degraded water quality, increase in diseases transmitted through food and water disease vectors to include mosquitos (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d). As time passes by the severity of these threats is expected to increase. Climatic induced threats are not predictable and are likely to occur over long periods. The positive impact of climatic changes is limited to several people and specific regions and cannot outweigh the negative impacts of climatic changes. For example, the reduction of cold-related deaths is smaller compared to the increase in heat-related deaths in most regions.  Every American is at risk and is vulnerable to the negative health impacts of climate change. Citizens are exposed to many health threats and as a result of sensitivity and trying to adapt to these changes people become vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change.  When human factors to include demographics, social and economic factors interact with climate changes, existing health challenges are intensified and dire public health challenges are created.

Even when most Americans are at risk of climatic changes some groups are most vulnerable to these changes, these groups include low-income earners, immigrant groups, indigenous people, people living with disabilities and persons with chronic medical conditions (Greenberg, et al., 2015).  The influences of weather and climate on human health are significant and vary across various geographical locations. When individuals are exposed to various climatic conditions simultaneously compounding health impacts can take place. The frequency and severity of weather and climatic conditions to include high temperatures, floods and drought leave behind negative consequences. Areas that are already experiencing health-threatening climatic conditions affect other regions, thus giving rise to new climatic threats (Greenberg, et al., 2015). Climate changes affect human health in two distinct ways; first by impacting how severe and frequently health problems already caused by climatic conditions are and by creating unpredicted health problems where they had not occurred.

A rise in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has led to the extreme temperatures that are being experienced in different locations.  The increase in temperature is expected to increase heat-related deaths and illnesses (Greenberg, et al., 2015). Contrariwise this rise in temperature is likely to reduce, cold-related deaths.  Those vulnerable to these risks include children, the economically challenged and the elderly. Days that are extremely hotter than the average summer temperature or days that are colder than the average temperature in winter increase the number and death and illnesses since the human body cannot be able to regulate its temperatures (Patz et al., 2016). When the human body loses control over its internal temperatures, medical conditions including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and hyperthermia can occur.  Inversely, frostbite can occur in extremely cold conditions. Patients with chronic conditions to include cardiovascular diseases and kidney problems are at greater risk when exposed to extreme temperatures.

According to the World Health Organization, it has been estimated that between 2030 and 2050 climate change is likely to cause over 200,000 deaths per year on a global scale. Also, on a global scale, climate change is expected to adversely affect food production and quality aspects of food, therefore the food system and distribution systems will experience radical changes (World Health Organization, n.d). It has also been predicted that livestock and fish production will also decrease as a result of climatic changes.  The United States might be less affected compared to other countries but it will also face dire consequences as a result of climatic conditions. The food system is directly linked to the health of the citizens, therefore, Americans will be affected in different ways to include, citizens living in native Alaska will encounter food shortages, as food insecurity continues to rise so will the food prices. This will ultimately lead to malnutrition and obesity. Negative impacts of climate change are likely to reduce the nutritional value of soil forcing farmers to use herbicides and pesticides and exposure to such chemicals poses health risks to these individuals (World Health Organization, n.d).

Climate changes make forests vulnerable to occurrence such as wildfires, climate changes have been projected to make various regions in the US vulnerable to forest fires.  It has been recorded that long periods of high temperatures are associated with droughts that contribute to dry conditions that contribute and drive wildfires that are responsible for killing wild animals and destroying natural habitats. Exposure from smoke triggers respiratory and cardiovascular diseases thus causing a hundred deaths annually. Drought is also associated with other hazardous effects to include dust storms and degraded water quality (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d). Degrades air quality has been associated with coccidioidomycosis in areas to include Arizona and California. It has been projected that climate changes are likely to increase the occurrence of wildfires that have major and dire consequences on human health.  The U.S. has experienced heavy perception events that have resulted in flooding in various regions. Floods have been labeled as the second most dangerous weather-related hazards.  The occurrence of flash floods often results in mass deaths. The effects of floods include an increase in waterborne diseases and water intrusion into buildings, thus resulting in the manifestation of molds later.

            The federal and state government recognizes the dire and far-reaching nature of climatic changes consequences.  The United States government has developed and implemented policies that help limit the magnitude of the negative effects of climate change (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, n.d). The federal government has instituted countermeasures to include the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy program that drives the production and usage of clean energy that does not increase the amount of Carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere.  Efforts of the Natural Gas STAR program collaborates with businesses to reduce the emission of harmful gases. Effective federal policies are needed to ensure that there are long term reduction measures that curb the emission of greenhouse gases thus increasing climate resilience. The federal court should also be at the forefront of interpreting existing laws as well as responding to lawsuits presented by citizens and communities to seek a solution to the increased production of harmful gases (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, n.d).

States to include Arizona have implemented policies aimed at reducing the production of greenhouse gases by 50% within the next four decades.  The state of California has a Vehicle global warming law that requires car manufacturing companies to reduce the emission of gases by 30%, this law came into effect in 2016.  The New York state energy plan aims to produce clean energy for the city while observing environmental stewardship (Green, 2019). In 2009, the regional greenhouse gas initiative was implemented with the main aim of reducing the amount of carbon emitted in various states during the production of electricity.  States across the US have state-imposed laws aimed at reducing the emission of greenhouse gases with a focus on reducing the occurrence of human-induced climate changes.  The democratic party in 2016 pushed for the establishment of policies to curb climate changes.

The majority of states in the U.S have joined the Alliance with a focus on pushing forwards the goals of the Paris Agreement, one of these goals being to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by at least 28% by the year 2025 (Green, 2019). Many states are pushing for the reduction of these gases further, for example, the state of California has set a statewide goal of ensuring neutrality by 2045 (Green, 2019). New Mexico has also established a similar goal of reducing GHC emission by 45% by 2030 (Green, 2019).   The state of Nevada has also passed a bill increasing the amount of electricity produced from natural sources to include wind. The State of Minnesota has also passed a bill that proposes the implementation of policies that will push for the production of 100% clean energy in the next five decades.  The country as a whole is pushing for improved energy efficiency which is crucial in reducing climate change. States to include Washington have passed a bill aimed at increasing energy efficiency across homes and commercial buildings in the states.

            The transport sector in the country is responsible for the largest emission of greenhouse gases, to reduce this emission Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission voted that auto manufacturers should manufacture about 5% of electric cars (Green, 2019).  The actions taken by Alliance state members are aimed at reducing the emission of greenhouse gases from various sectors of the economy.  The United States government is implementing policies and programs that are aimed at reducing climate changes with far-reaching effects.

It has been collectively agreed by many economists across a political spectrum that the implementation of a market-based approach could go a long way to reduce the emission of harmful gases, every climate strategy should be based on this approach (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, n.d).  All the government branches in the United States play an important role in reducing the emission of harmful gases.  Congress should address and fund relevant programs aimed at reducing the impact of climate change.  For example, the Clean Air Act provides a base for which many economy-wide policies exist, for a market-based approach to climate to work the congress would have to establish new legislations.

Inconclusion, human-induced climate changes have far-reaching impacts on human health. As a result of human activities, greenhouse gases to include Carbon Dioxide have been trapped in the atmosphere thus causing climate changes to include rising temperatures and sea levels as a result of global warming.  The effects of climate change have negatively impacted the United States, these negative effects include floods that cause flooding, high temperatures causing wildfires and dust storms. Climate changes account for thousands of deaths across the U.S. Policies have been implemented at the federal and state level to curb climate changes. Future policies could focus on making strategies based on the marketing approach to reduce climate change.

References

Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (n.d). Federal Action on Climate. Retrieved from;             https://www.c2es.org/content/federal-action-on-climate/

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d). Climate and Health. Retrieved from;             https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/precipitation_extremes.htm

Green, C., (2019). 7 Ways U.S. States Are Leading Climate Action. Retrieved from;             https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/7-ways-u-s-states-are-leading-climate-action/

Greenberg, E. S., & Page, B. I. (2015). The struggle for democracy.

Patz, J. A., & Frumkin, H. (2016). Climate change and human health. Environmental health:        From global to local, 275.

World Health Organization. (n.d). Climate change and human health. Retrieved from;             https://www.who.int/globalchange/summary/en/index2.html

References

Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

Summary of Environmental Aesthetics: Aesthetic Appreciation of Nature and Environmentalism

The beauty of nature is an important aspect of protecting the environment. The theory of art and picturesque are the traditional aesthetics of nature and the two developments that help to understand the relationship between Aesthetics and environmentalism. The picturesque origins are from the eighteenth century and believe that nature is the right piece of aesthetic experience. Its appreciation is divided into three forms which are beautiful, sublime and picturesque. According to John Conron, the beautiful form is delicate, smooth, and small and has a fair color. The sublime form is powerful, huge, and fierce contrary to the beautiful form. The picturesque form neutralizes the other two forms because it is uncommon and complicated, rich, vibrant and not regular. Picturesque which means pictures like had a great impact on nature and even attracted tourists. It continued to be popular even in the twentieth century when the theory of art was developed. Clive bell developed the theory which is about the nature of art that makes the work of art beautiful by a combination of colors, lines, and shapes. He also had in mind how nature would look in landscape paintings done by artists. Despite the theory of art and picturesque having different artistic traditions, both have combined features that add up to the traditional aesthetics of nature.

The traditional aesthetics of nature had limitations and for aesthetic appreciation of nature to keep up with the environmentalists, the aesthetic worth has to be in line with environmental values. According to environmental thinkers, traditional aesthetics had five major failings in terms of nature appreciation being anthropocentric, having lots of sceneries, superficial, morally vacuous and subjective. The solutions for the failings are appreciation that is acentric, focuses on the environment, seriously engages morally and is subjective.

Contemporary aesthetics of nature are classified into two types which are non-cognitive or cognitive. The first type includes emotional and feeling related responses such as affection, engagement, mystery, motivation, and admiration. The second type which is contrary to the first includes the awareness of objects of appreciation which is a requirement of their proper aesthetic appreciation. In the cognitive approach, engagement is the fully developed aesthetic and rejects most of the traditional aesthetics of nature. Scientific cognitivism stresses that nature must be appreciated as nature and no as an art. Aesthetics of engagement and cognitivism are both superior compared to the traditional aesthetics of nature in terms of acentrism, focus on environmentalism and seriousness, engagement, and objectivity respectively.

           In the moral dimensions of natural beauty, the aesthetics judgments of natural beauty are like moral judgments. They express a character towards action on the part of the person making the judgment. In environmental cognitivism, the acknowledgment that the judge of natural beauty is a human being, part of nature has already been involved in the issues of its health and preservation. It is the link between aesthetic judgment and moral obligation. Also important is the acknowledgment that in natural beauty judgments, many of the objects that are judged are living things. Treating the natural world properly leads to the recognition of many of the objects we find attractive will not be available for the generations to come. Non-cognitive factors indicate that not all aesthetics of nature interprets into moral respect. Patterns, contracts, and harmonies experienced in nature may mean the different forms of arranged choices developing a good life. According to Plato, lessons of living a good life could be gotten from the perceived patterns of balance and harmony. Imagination according to Emily Brady is another part of aesthetic appreciation of natural beauty since it recognizes patterns of association between elements. Moral maturity is the reflection of a person’s place in the world being part of nature and also being apart from it.

 Strong aesthetic preservation is the idea of saving natural areas or things from being destructed. Weak aesthetic preservation is the idea of saving things and areas only when they are threatened by human actions. The whole idea of preservation is that it can be enjoyed by other people. Before the preservationist decides to preserve an area, she first points out the aesthetic value of the area. The strong and weak preservation aesthetics and weighing the aesthetic value topics emphasize the need to know the aesthetic value of an area before preserving it.

Op-Ed on Ocean Fertilization to Avert Climate Change

Glaciation, global warming and radical weather patterns are some of the earliest signs of climate change affecting the world. Scientists have continued to argue that the effects of climate change will continue to be felt by the world over the next century unless global leaders address the situation succinctly. Researchers have proposed various ideas to curb climate change; some of which range from genetic engineering to regulation of industrialization (Patz et al., p.1571). In my own opinion, climate change should be tackled through the development and implementation of scientific measures to include increasing community concentration of phytoplankton which store high amounts of carbon.

Climatologists cite high temperatures in the coastal and tropical areas as the direct result of increased carbon concentrations in the atmosphere. My proposal centers around the only organisms that use up carbon to provide oxygen to us: plants (Patz et al., p.1572)  Rather than concentrating on fighting fierce battles with multinational corporations (MNCs) in court, or asking people to reduce their meat intake, shouldn’t we concentrate on increasing the number of photosynthesizing organisms in the world? Although advocating for afforestation, reforestation and agroforestry are viable ideas, because of the rapidly growing population and the shifting economy it is entirely impossible to direct all our efforts towards planting trees. Thus, we should focus on phytoplankton. This is because Phytoplankton accounts for 70% of the oceans’ organism population, support life in the sea and multiply rapidly through blooms.

The ocean covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface, therefore, through extrapolation, it is clear that our efforts should concentrate on the most population organisms for aid in averting climate change. Since man has no will to help and industries continue to cause pollution, phytoplankton remains the best alternative at hand. The use of phytoplankton is viable through the nitrification of the oceans (Williamson et al., p.478). Scientists have concluded that phytoplankton accounts for over 80% of oxygen in the atmosphere. It means that to increase the supply of oxygen, we must use the process of nitrification to cause phytoplankton to generate more rapidly. They will absorb more carbon from the air and convert it to oxygen; thus, reversing the adverse effects of ozone layer blanketing.

Scientific field experiments show evidence of increasing nucleation of cloud formation processes through ocean fertilization. The addition of iron and other growth elements into the water promotes reproduction and results in increased diatom biomass (Williamson et al., p.479). Although the aspect of biomass increase is far-fetched, its compounding effects are worthwhile. Studies by Oceanographers and Marine Biologists show increased accumulation of dimethyl sulfide when phytoplankton blooms occur; and increased clouding leading to rains (Williamson et al., p.479). Since rains have a direct effect of lowering temperatures, ocean nitrification is potentially useful in reversing climate change.

Although I find some semblance of sense in my opinion, I agree with critics who might term my proposal ‘inadequate’. Some scientists argue that the effects of algal blooms in the ocean are currently a cause of concern, and exacerbating the impacts through nitrification will aggravate the situation. I agree that algal blooms create dead zones in the ocean and cause red waters which have health effects on human health (Strong, et al., p.244). However, I ask, do the effects of itchy skin and unsuitable ocean water for swimming in some parts of the ocean compare to the adverse effects of climate change? Although I agree that ocean fertilization is not entirely risk-free, it is important to consider that the alternative is worse. In conclusion, we would rather take precaution and institute the processes rather than risk an uncertain future.

Works Cited

Patz, Jonathan A et al. “Climate change: challenges and opportunities for global health.” The Journal of the American Medical Association, (Oct. 2014), vol. 312, no. 15, pp. 1565-80. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.13186.

Strong, Aaron L., Cullen, John J. and Chisholm, Sally W. “Ocean Fertilization: Science, Policy, and Commerce.” Oceanography, (Oct. 2015), vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 236-61.

Williamson, Phillip, et al. “Ocean fertilization for geoengineering: A review of effectiveness, environmental impacts and emerging governance.” Process Safety and Environmental Protection, (Nov. 2012), vol. 90, no. 6, pp. 475-88.

 Methods of preventing excessive air pollution from factories

Introduction

            Excessive air pollution from factories is caused by the emissions the factories emit when goods are being processed. The emissions cause air pollution and can be harmful to plants, buildings, human and animal health hence the need of prevention. Some of the main pollutants are liquid, solid, and gaseous.

             The methods of preventing excessive air pollution from factories differ because different factories produce different pollutions depending on whatever item the factory is producing and whatever chemical is being used during the processing.

            Some factories produce smoke when processing and this could be prevented by the use of environmental friendly materials so that even when it is released in the air it is not harmful. Air non thermal plasmas are also used for air pollution prevention. The non-thermal plasma is used in factories to clean dust and air hence preventing the excess air pollution.

            Managing and checking the process being used for production in a factory too can help reduce and control the emissions and keeping the pollutants at a minimal level thus preventing the excessive air pollution.

            Computer applications such as Geographical information systems are also used in managing and controlling the air quality. This application helps in identifying and monitoring of air pollutions and emissions from different sources and also in handling large amounts of data.

           A technique known as Conventional gas chromatography is used to separate and analyze the harmful compounds that are used in factories due to its high resolving power. The gas chromatography has a purifier and a drier which is able to clear vapor and pollutants from samples which makes the method effective for the prevention of excessive air pollution. Current Air Quality Issues. (1900). S.l.: InTech.

Leakages in factories which are as a result of friction, pressure, corrosion and heat could be prevented by proper installation and maintenance of the appropriate equipment, for example rapture discs and the different types of valves.

Oil water effluent systems are used to collect and separate wastes and remove the pollutants before being discharged. The systems control the emissions by properly maintaining, isolating and treating the wastes at their source. Practical Guide to Industrial Safety. (2000). N.P. :Cheremisinoff.

Conclusion

The methods of preventing excessive air pollution from factories would become more effective if the correct equipment is installed and used in the proper way and maintenance done at the right time.

References

 Current Air Quality Issues. (1900). S.l.: InTech.

 Practical Guide to Industrial Safety. (2000). N.P. :Cheremisinoff.

Deforestation

Abstract

 Deforestation is an issue of concern in that the rate at which people have converted forests to non-forested area is high. Many developing countries have turned forests into agricultural land due to factors which the paper will explain.  The purpose of this article is to study deforestation in a wider manner by looking at the driving force toward deforestation. The paper will also find the best ways or measures to stop deforestation from protecting the environment and re-establish the forest.  Since people view deforestation in a negative lens, the paper will address both the benefits and risks of deforestation and weigh both sides to evaluate the impact of deforestation.

Introduction

Deforestation is a human activity of transforming the forest into land use.  In the past, the U.S, Europe, and other parts of the world were thickly forested, but human activities have turned the forest into non-forested land by clearing trees. Today, deforestation has increased since the global population wants areas for agriculture, mining, among other activities.  Countries such as Brazil, Asia, Latin America, Mexico, the Philippines, and Indonesia have a higher rate of deforestation. It is essential to understand that economic forces is the primary factor driving deforestation since many countries focus on agricultural commodities to sustain livelihood and gain revenue. Economic factors are not the only drivers, and therefore, it is important to focus on other drivers in order to end deforestation. Note that  if measures to end deforestation are not implemented, there will be more  broader and challenging   impacts  such as   loss  of rainforest, soil erosion which will increase farming problems, desertification which will lead to loss of life,  greenhouse gas  which affect the climate, and biodiversity losses which will lead to loss of  beauty of the nature. Therefore, it is high time to end the rampant deforestation and preserve the earth's resources. Deforestation is caused by many factors, and the government needs to pay attention to this issue by creating and implementing rules and policies and ensure that the local community finds employment so that they can stop polluting the environment to gain income.

Pros and cons of deforestation

 Carrasco et al. (2017) assert that deforestation is associated with economic benefits in that when the forest is turned in a non-forested area, people find areas for agriculture where they ultimately yield high-value crops.  The research finds that people use the cleared land to cultivate crops such as banana, cocoa, cotton, maize, rice, sugar cane, and other crops.  They also use the land for cattle production, and they sell logged timber.  In general, deforestation is a source of employment in that when the land is made for agriculture use; people gain job opportunities in the farm and industry sector (Carrasco et al. 2017). People do not only benefit from farming yields, but deforestation is also a source of revenue since people engage in activities that bring profit.

On the cons of deforestation, Carrasco et al. (2017) state that people enjoy the agriculture benefits and ignore the consequences associated with the activity, such as environmental cost and the loss of the ecosystem. The article states that the forest ecosystem is the source of food, water, good climate, and survival.  Note that when turning the forested area into the non-forested area, the greenhouse gases are not absorbed, and therefore, they accumulate in the atmosphere and cause climate changes, including global warming (Carrasco et al. 2017). The latter increases drought and limited resources since the soil nutrients that could be used to grow cash crops is reduced. It means that farmers will only enjoy the marginal benefit for a short time since deforestation will affect the water flow, and they will not be able to generate income. The research also finds that deforestation will not only affect the economy, but it will cause soil erosion, climate change, and lack of nutrients as a result of damage to the ecosystem (Carrasco et al. 2017).

Cause and effects of deforestation

 Culas (2014) asserts that tropical deforestation is a global concern since it poses serious problems to the environment.  Deforestation is among the activities that cause emission of greenhouse gases and deforestation alone is responsible for emission of 25%.  Note that tropical rain forest which maintains the ecosystem is 41%   and the rain, as well as the ecosystem, are affected by deforestation (Culas, 2014). The latter occur in developing countries where citizens struggle with poverty.  People in low-income countries are forced by economic pressures to clear trees and use the land for cultivation. The authors refer to the causes as ‘direct causes,' which are; there is an increase in the use of forest products such as timberlands for building, and people want to use the forest as cropland (Culas, 2014).  Developing countries depend on exports of products, and therefore they export land-based products which are cultivated in the forest area.  Another point is that the export price is high in that the developing countries export different products to many countries, and this means that the demand for export products is high and, therefore, economic growth (Culas, 2014).  The second factor, which is cropland, occurs when the population is high, and farmers are forced to use the forestland for cultivation. The research shows that deforestation is high in developing countries. These include Brazil, Nigeria, Mexico, Argentina, and others. Population growth in these countries is high, and this is the reason behind deforestation.

 The species in the ecosystem are affected by deforestation in that when forest is cleared due to human activities, the species lose their habitats, and this leads to species extinction. Note that many species depend on these habitats to main their life and once the habits are destroyed, the species dies. Animals that have specific habitats are left in isolated areas, and they are unable to adapt to the secondary habitats (Culas, 2014). They become vulnerable to predation, and direct exposure to disasters and threats which increased human-wildlife conflict. Animals die in that they are forced to live to inhabitat fragments where they lack food and water. Deforestation lands to climate change in that greenhouse gases are emitted in large quantities. When carbon dioxide and other gases are emitted, they increase global warming.

How can we stop deforestation and the benefits of stopping?

Carrasco et al.  (2017) talks about deforestation and market failure by asserting that the commercial loggers do not care about the effect of deforestation. This means that the nation is not controlling the economy, and there is no global environmental benefits. For example, the government may ask for taxation from human activities. This will increase deforestation since the commercial loggers will contribute to exploit and many ill compete for the forestlands. Delacote & Angelsen (2015) assert that agricultural expansion in forestland will increase in developing countries.  Thus, solutions to stop deforestation should focus on agricultural expansion and illegal harvesting. To curb these activities, the government should implement a pay ecosystem service (PES Scheme). This means that people who use the forest as cropland should pay a fixed price to compensate for the environment. On illegal harvesting, the government should fine those who engage in illegal harvesting, and this will minimize excessive harvesting (Delacote & Angelsen, 2015). Organizational and communities should also be in the forefront to support ‘zero deforestation' and prevent human activities from producing forest products as timber.  Preventing deforestation is beneficial in that the emission of greenhouse gases will be reduced and thus reduce global warming. The animal species will find their habitats, and the developing countries will not live in poverty since there will be enough food and water.

Conclusion

 Almost all global forests have been turned into non-forested areas, and this has posed major risks to the human, wildlife, and environment. The research paper has found that the major cause of deforestation is conversion to agriculture or the demand for food influences people to use the forest as croplands. In addition, people are also improving their livelihood by harvesting wood. These activities are mostly done in developing countries where the level of poverty is high, and also the population is growing.  In developing countries, deforestation has contributed to the negative impact, and this is an issue to take into account to prevent further deforestation and protect the environment. The research shows that the government needs a serious commitment to ending deforestation. It should come up with effective policies that support the need to value natural resources.

References

Carrasco, L. R., Webb, E. L., Symes, W. S., Koh, L. P., & Sodhi, N. S. (2017). Global economic

trade-offs between wild nature and tropical agriculture. PLoS biology, 15(7), e2001657.

Culas, R. J. (2014). Causes of deforestation and policies for reduced emissions (REDD+): A

cross-country analysis. IUP Journal of Applied Economics, 13(4), 7.

Delacote, P., & Angelsen, A. (2015). Reducing deforestation and forest degradation: leakage or

synergy?. Land Economics, 91(3), 501-515.

 Establishing Chia Seeds as a staple crop

Introduction

Salvia Hispanica (Chia) is an herbaceous plant that belongs to the Labiatae family and grows annually where seedlings develop during summer and grow to produce a lush green foliage. This stage is followed by the emergence of purple flowers which eventually transform into seed pods containing the Chia seeds which often takes place during winter. The plant was originally grown in Mexico and Central America but its popularity has spread to different regions such as Latin America and Australia.

Statement of problem

            Despite the various benefits that can be achieved if Chia seeds were identified as a staple food, the crop is yet to be utilized due to the dominance of other staple foods such as rice and wheat. The underutilization of Chia as a staple food has led to underdevelopment of technology and farming methods that could be utilized to achieve better produce from the crop.

Background

            The use of Chia as a staple food could be traced back to as early as the pre-Columbian times where Aztecs would use the crop as a staple food. Their use has however spread to regions such as Guatemala and Mexico where the crop is grown in small scale and also for commercial use in Central and South America. Despite its existence in different parts of the world however, Chia seeds are yet to get the popularity associated with cereals like maize despite all their various benefits.

Methodology

The research will employ the use of qualitative data analysis to collect information regarding Chia, how it is grown, its use and how it can serve as a substitute for popular staple foods like wheat, rice and maize. The research will collect data from books, online sources, newspapers and government publications to give a better insight on how Chia can be used as a staple food.

Analysis

Chia seeds can serve as a staple food due to the various properties they possess. The paper will therefore focus on discussing the various advantages and limitations that Chia seeds have over other staple foods and why they can act as ideal substitutes.

Results and findings

            Chia plants are relatively easy to grow and the process from seed to sprout takes about two to three days. The plant however requires plenty of sunlight and should be planted in well-drained soil. After about 12 days, the flower stalks begin to dry and slowly lose their petals, indicating the most ideal time to harvest the chia seeds (Bertoli 1). The advantage that chia seeds have over other staple foods lie in their ability to be used alongside other staple food. They also have multiple uses and this makes them an ideal staple food. Although they are small in size, chia seeds have high nutritional content (Bertoli 1). They also provide healthy fats, iron, calcium, vegan protein and fiber. They can also be consumed alongside other foods and beverages such as smoothies, salads, and oatmeal.

An ounce of chia seeds provides 137 calories to the body and also provides a gram of digestible carbohydrates. The fiber contained in the chia seeds ends up being converted t calories that are used up by the body leaving 101 calories per every ounce of chia seeds and this makes them one of the best sources for nutrients in the body (Ada 1). An added advantage is that the chia seeds are grown with no genetic modification and this makes them a healthier option, not to mention that they are gluten free.

            Another reason why chia seeds would make excellent substitutes for maize rice and other cereals is the fact that they could help promote weight loss. Chia seeds contain a soluble fiber that is able to absorb a significant amount of water, causing it to expand while in the stomach. This makes the stomach full and slows down further absorption of food (Ayerza & Coates 37) The chia seeds further contain a protein that is responsible for reducing someone’s appetite, and thus the need for more food. Eating chia seeds for breakfast was found to have a short term effect in helping to cut weight as it was responsible for increase in satiety which greatly helped to reduce daily food intake (Bochicchio 1). While chia seeds alone cannot help to reduce weight, their health benefits can have a significant impact especially when the chia seeds are consumed alongside other healthy food options.

Limitations

The major limitation lies in the lack of information regarding the benefits of Chia seeds compared to other food crops. This makes it difficult for the crop to gain the attention it needs to be recognized as an acceptable staple food. People’s purchase decision is often influenced by the existence of information regarding the product the customer intends to buy (Boone 50). Since there is a lot of information regarding cereals like beans, maize and rice, people are more likely to buy them since they know more about the cereals already in the market. The advertisements aired further influence their popularity especially when they discuss the various benefits and use of the cereals already in popular use.

Chia seeds on the other hand are just gaining recognition and people are yet to discover their full benefits. While there is significant information about their origin and how the plant is grown, not enough research has been conducted to inform the public about chia seeds and their various uses and benefits (Li & Siddique 1). Convincing people to switch from an acceptable norm and get them behind the idea of chia seeds as a staple food that will compete with the likes of maize and rice will require a great deal of research and sharing of information to educate the public on all its benefits and why chia seeds should be considered as a new staple food.

Lastly, people are somewhat resistant to change and most are yet to accept chia seeds as a reliable staple food. The tendency to stick to the norm is likely to slow down adoption of chia seeds despite the efforts made to inform the public of their benefits. A lot of marketing and customer awareness programs will be required before people learn of the full benefits of chia seeds. The effort will however bear positive results as people are more likely to choose products that they know of (Ada 1). In addition, the lack of knowledge regarding chia seeds can be used as an advantage and organizations that decide to sell the seeds in whole sale can market them as a new product in the market. There is however need to conduct more research on the crop so as to have all the data needed to design strategies that will influence people to make the shift from the current options for cereals and opt for chia seeds instead.

Conclusion

            Chia seeds are slowly becoming a popular food of choice due to the various nutritional properties and use the plant has. Other than being consumed alongside other staple foods, the crop can be eaten on its own. There is however a need to create awareness on the benefits of Chia and this is what the paper seeks to accomplish. When people learn about the benefits of chia seeds, or that they can be used as a substitute for the common various staple food, they will be more inclined to invest in ways to maximize the benefits presented by the use of chia seeds. The renewed interest in the use of chia seeds as a staple food will drive innovations that seek to come up with better ways to plant the plant, harvest it and use it as substitute for the various cereal products in the market.

Work cited

Adda, “Chia seeds 101: Nutritional facts and health benefits” Healthline, 2019, retrieved from,             https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/chia-seeds

Ayerza, R., & Coates, W. Chia: Rediscovering a forgotten crop of the Aztecs. Tucson:      University of Arizona Press. 2005

Bertoli A, “Chia plants: How to grow and harvest chia seeds” 2019, retrieved from,             https://insteading.com/blog/chia-plant/

Bochicchio R. et al. “Innovative Crop Productions for Healthy Food: The Case of Chia             (Salvia     hispanica)” Springer, 2015, retrieved from,              https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-16357-4_3#citeas

Boone, L. Chia: Superfoods for Life. Rockport, United States: Fair Winds Press. 2014

Li, X., Siddique, K. Future smart food: Rediscovering hidden treasures of neglected and   underutilized species for zero hunger in Asia. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2018

Work cited

Adda, “Chia seeds 101: Nutritional facts and health benefits” Healthline, 2019, retrieved from,             https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/chia-seeds

Ayerza, R., & Coates, W. Chia: Rediscovering a forgotten crop of the Aztecs. Tucson:      University of Arizona Press. 2005

Bochicchio R. et al. “Innovative Crop Productions for Healthy Food: The Case of Chia (Salvia    hispanica)” Springer, 2015, retrieved from,          https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-16357-4_3#citeas

Boone, L. Chia: Superfoods for Life. Rockport, United States: Fair Winds Press. 2014

Li, X., Siddique, K. Future smart food: Rediscovering hidden treasures of neglected and   underutilized species for zero hunger in Asia. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2018

Importance of a safe farming environment

All activities engaged in on our farm are conducted in such a way that they promote safe working environments for everyone.  Various improvement activities have been adopted to ensure that the farm is safe as well as to ensure maximum production and exploitation of any opportunities present.  A good example of the safety measures implemented is the adoption of new farming technology.  The firm has made a switch from hand labor and have substituted to using mechanical harvesters and box loaders during production.  By assigning most duties to machines, we hope to reduce risks brought about by human error.  Machines are not as prone to mistakes as human beings and are therefore capable of increasing the quality of production without increasing risks or production cost.

Machines also have an added advantage in that they are not prone to fatigue.  Other than reducing the mistakes that originate from human mistakes, machines also help to maintaining n a steady flow of production.  Their ability to work continuously if well maintained helps to enhance efficiency and create a conducive working environment. This is especially because the workers are not pushed to their limits or forced to work when fatigued in order to meet the set objectives. The provision of machines to assist with the difficult duties makes the working environment safer because they take on more risks and since they are designed to make the least mistakes possible, accidents rarely occur.

 The firm also tries to minimize the duration in which farmers are exposed to harmful substances such as pesticides. The work schedules are planned in such a way that those in tobacco plantations do not stay too long in the damp environment to reduce the occurrence of Green Tobacco sickness. Creating a safe environment for workers is a priority as they are the ones to help meet the objectives set. To ensure that only appropriate measures are implemented, farmers are frequently consulted and encouraged to share ideas on what can be done to make the working environment safer.

Other than implementing policies to enhance safety at the farm, it is also important to ensure that the guidelines set are adhered to. There is a zero tolerance policy in the farm to ensure that workers and anyone with access to the farm does not violate the safety measures put in place to safeguard the well being of everyone in the farm. Workers are also trained on a regular basis where they are equipped with the skills needed to operate the new forms of technology incorporated in the production process. They are also taught on the importance of engaging in safe practices when performing their duties. The training helps all workers to understand the importance of a safe working environment and in doing so, teaches everyone the importance of a safety first mindset.

The emphasis on safe farming is due to the role that workers play in ensuring that desirable results are achieved. The workers ensure that the farm is well taken care of and that the produce is well handled. Due to the perishable nature of the crop cultivated, maintaining a good working environment motivates workers to take the farms interest as their own and ensure that the actions they engage in are geared towards meeting these objectives. A safe farming environment will therefore be ideal as it not only improves the quality of production, it also helps get workers invested in the farm’s overall objectives.