1) Brain Scan Technology
The group supports the development brain scan technology and no restrictions should be imposed on research as it serves to understand the nature of humans. They claimed that benefits far outweigh the risks involved and the government should not place limitations and restrictions on the research as it may hamper the development and limit the possibilities that this technology can bring. They mentioned other benefits such as increased funding from biotech companies which boosts the economy. In addition, regulations cannot take effect outside the country and hence impractical. Arguments presented against their stand include the invasion of privacy, and also inaccuracy of this technology as it is still undergoing research and development.
I feel that the arguments presented are weak and do not address the more serious potential problems which brain scanning technology can lead to. They claim that implementing restrictions will only limit the possibilities of this technology. However, certain restrictions are vital as they protect the moral and ethical values that we hold dear. Imagine what ethical and moral catastrophes can happen if scientists are given the freedom to explore the prospects of human cloning. A question which I have is the possible use of this technology to promote discrimination. Will people be denied job opportunities or barred from insurance just because their brain scan profiles show possible criminal intent?
2) Understanding resistance to stem-cell research
Stem cell research, in particular cloning, has been a highly controversial issue for years. The group supports this technology and put forth several arguments which aided their stand. They briefly mentioned economic benefits, extracting embryonic cells to replace damaged organs, and allowing infertile couples to have their own child. They presented a case study of the UK, where cloning research is allowed but strictly monitored by the government. In addition, a license is required for research and all embryos are to be accounted for at the end of the project. Besides, the embryo is not considered a human as it does not have the capacity to think or feel, and the brain is only developed 6 weeks after fertilisation. Also, 50 to 60 percent of fertilised embryos are ejected naturally from the body; therefore wasting embryos in research is equivalent to these naturally aborted embryos.
However, there is no moral guidance involved, and lives are created to be destroyed to save another life, which is akin to murder. Also, embryos have the potential to become human beings; hence the notion that embryos are ‘not human enough’ is just preposterous. Furthermore, there is a high failure rate of extracting embryos, which supporters akin to in-vitro fertilisation.
The counter-arguments against the group’s stand in supporting stem cell research were not developed enough as almost all their counter-arguments were based on ethical points of views. They could have explored the social and medical consequences related to stem cell research, then rebutted them to strengthen their stand.
(Just something I will like to share: The UK’s stand on human stem cell research is extremely surprising, as they had strongly opposed genetically modified food where it was introduced)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Green Chemistry
My group's roundtable discussion is about Singapore's stand in promoting the adoption of green chemistry technologies which are necessary to achieve a sustainable society.
1) One article related to our topic is “promoting sustainability through green chemistry” by Mary M. Kirchhoff. The article mainly talks about the roles that academia, industry and government can play to promote green chemistry. Academia research provides basic knowledge of green chemistry, and products of research can be made into an industry. Moreover, academia equips students with the knowledge they need to advance green chemistry technologies. Industries implementing green chemistry process can lead to multiple benefits such as safer work environments, lower economic costs and reduced production of waste. Government plays a huge role as new technologies will most likely fail without the support of the government. Other than long term researches, government agencies can also work on sustainable technologies to address immediate concerns. Summing up, there needs to be a coordinated effort between academia, industry and government to maximise the efficiency of resources, effort and minimise the time taken for this new technology to gain a foothold among other pressing issues at hand.
2) Another article relevant to our topic is “Why We Need Green Chemistry” produced through a collaborative effort between several agencies at http://www.healthobservatory.org/. The article mainly talks about the benefits of green chemistry. It starts by saying while chemistry has improved our lives tremendously; there are many synthesis chemicals which are toxic or carcinogenic. These chemicals accumulated to deadly amounts as is travels up food chains and circulate around the globe, and green chemistry is the revolutionary technique of designing safe and environmentally friendly chemicals. They touched on the 12 principles governing green chemistry which basically covers the concepts of designing processes which maximise resource efficiency, using safe, environmental-benign substances whenever possible, designing energy efficient processes and minimising the waste products created through chemical reactions. Some benefits green chemistry brings are as such; less wastes, safer products, healthier workplace and communities, protection of human and environmental health, lower economic costs, fewer accidents and also maintaining a competitive advantage.
APA citations:
• Anastas, P. T., and J. C. Warner (1998) Green Chemistry:
Theory and Practice Eds. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK.
• Canadian Green Chemistry Network,
http://www.greenchemistry.ca/index.htm
• Carnegie Mellon Institute for Green Oxidation Chemistry,
http://www.chem.cmu.edu/groups/Collins/
• Green Chemistry and the Consumer Network,
http://www.chemsoc.org/networks/gcn/industry.htm#consumer
• Green Chemistry Institute
• http://www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/acsdisplay.html?DOC
=greenchemistryinstitute%5Cindex.html
• University of Massachusetts Lowell Center for Green
Chemistry http://www.greenchemistry.uml.edu/
• University of Scranton Greening Across the Chemistry
Curriculum, http://academic.scranton.edu/faculty/CANNM1/
dreyfusmodules.html
• US EPA, Green Chemistry, http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/
index.html
• Worldwide Universities Network’s Green Chemistry Partnership,
http://www.wun.ac.uk/greenchem/index.htm
Evaluation:
Article 1 emphasises on the methods to implement green chemistry. This gives great insight on the issue as most articles are like Article 2, where they just focus on the benefits of green chemistry, but the main obstacle is actually convincing nations to undertake this venture. They are reliable as well for they come from reputable sources and their citations are legitimate. Reading these articles have convinced me for the need for green chemistry and Singapore should undergo this venture for the obvious potential benefits that it brings.
Definitions:
Green Chemistry: a chemical philosophy encouraging the design of products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances
Atom Economy: describes the conversion efficiency of a chemical process in terms of all atoms involved
Academia: the milieu or interests of a university, college, or academy
Catalyst: a reagent in a chemical process which speeds of slows down the process and is not consumed why the process.
1) One article related to our topic is “promoting sustainability through green chemistry” by Mary M. Kirchhoff. The article mainly talks about the roles that academia, industry and government can play to promote green chemistry. Academia research provides basic knowledge of green chemistry, and products of research can be made into an industry. Moreover, academia equips students with the knowledge they need to advance green chemistry technologies. Industries implementing green chemistry process can lead to multiple benefits such as safer work environments, lower economic costs and reduced production of waste. Government plays a huge role as new technologies will most likely fail without the support of the government. Other than long term researches, government agencies can also work on sustainable technologies to address immediate concerns. Summing up, there needs to be a coordinated effort between academia, industry and government to maximise the efficiency of resources, effort and minimise the time taken for this new technology to gain a foothold among other pressing issues at hand.
2) Another article relevant to our topic is “Why We Need Green Chemistry” produced through a collaborative effort between several agencies at http://www.healthobservatory.org/. The article mainly talks about the benefits of green chemistry. It starts by saying while chemistry has improved our lives tremendously; there are many synthesis chemicals which are toxic or carcinogenic. These chemicals accumulated to deadly amounts as is travels up food chains and circulate around the globe, and green chemistry is the revolutionary technique of designing safe and environmentally friendly chemicals. They touched on the 12 principles governing green chemistry which basically covers the concepts of designing processes which maximise resource efficiency, using safe, environmental-benign substances whenever possible, designing energy efficient processes and minimising the waste products created through chemical reactions. Some benefits green chemistry brings are as such; less wastes, safer products, healthier workplace and communities, protection of human and environmental health, lower economic costs, fewer accidents and also maintaining a competitive advantage.
APA citations:
• Anastas, P. T., and J. C. Warner (1998) Green Chemistry:
Theory and Practice Eds. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK.
• Canadian Green Chemistry Network,
http://www.greenchemistry.ca/index.htm
• Carnegie Mellon Institute for Green Oxidation Chemistry,
http://www.chem.cmu.edu/groups/Collins/
• Green Chemistry and the Consumer Network,
http://www.chemsoc.org/networks/gcn/industry.htm#consumer
• Green Chemistry Institute
• http://www.chemistry.org/portal/a/c/s/1/acsdisplay.html?DOC
=greenchemistryinstitute%5Cindex.html
• University of Massachusetts Lowell Center for Green
Chemistry http://www.greenchemistry.uml.edu/
• University of Scranton Greening Across the Chemistry
Curriculum, http://academic.scranton.edu/faculty/CANNM1/
dreyfusmodules.html
• US EPA, Green Chemistry, http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/
index.html
• Worldwide Universities Network’s Green Chemistry Partnership,
http://www.wun.ac.uk/greenchem/index.htm
Evaluation:
Article 1 emphasises on the methods to implement green chemistry. This gives great insight on the issue as most articles are like Article 2, where they just focus on the benefits of green chemistry, but the main obstacle is actually convincing nations to undertake this venture. They are reliable as well for they come from reputable sources and their citations are legitimate. Reading these articles have convinced me for the need for green chemistry and Singapore should undergo this venture for the obvious potential benefits that it brings.
Definitions:
Green Chemistry: a chemical philosophy encouraging the design of products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances
Atom Economy: describes the conversion efficiency of a chemical process in terms of all atoms involved
Academia: the milieu or interests of a university, college, or academy
Catalyst: a reagent in a chemical process which speeds of slows down the process and is not consumed why the process.
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