UNIT 1 - THE INTERNET: A DRIVING FORCE FOR CHANGE?

Pros
Communication
One of the main goals of the internet is to connect people. With social media, emails, chats, and other
avenues you can instantly communicate and get to know people from all over the world. This has aided the
world in beginning to bridge the culture gap that exists.
Information
Anything you could ever want to know can be found on the internet, and comically simply. Search engines
such as Google and Yahoo have given people the access to all of the information in the world. This is
greatly beneficial for students, researchers, and anybody seeking to gain knowledge on a subject.
Entertainment
Entertainment is becoming a growing focus for internet users. You can use the internet to play games,
stream videos, listen to music, and even read books. This may be why everyone is so glued to the screens.
Comfort
The internet makes everything convenient. You can purchase just about anything, and communicate with
people without having to leave your bedroom.
New economic methods are made
Another big thing the internet has changed is business. It has become the biggest marketing tool, ever.
People can also make purchases on the internet, meaning that anyone can be a business owner.
Bridging The Culture Gap
Communication has been another incredible by product of the internet. People can connect to people all
over the world with just a few clicks of the mouse. This has resulted in a much better acceptance and
understanding of different cultures around the world.
Jobs, Business, And Marketing
Ever since the commercialization of the internet, the business world has never been the same. The ability to
reach wide spanning markets, collect valuable research on potential customers, and conduct business in
other parts of the country or world, has created a virtual business boom that no one could have for seen.
Along with the business sides of things, people now also have the ability to search and apply for jobs
completely through the internet, which has opened up the world job market to many people with valuable
skills to offer.
New Connections
Dating and other social sites are a booming section of the internet, that has altered the process of finding a
partner for life. Whether it be friends or a spouse, people are making new connections with people that
they may have never met otherwise. It broadens the view of access to meet and mingle with new people.
Cons
Personal Information Compromised
People often put a wealth of their personal information on the internet, without thinking of the
consequences. Identity theft has dramatically risen since the internet made its appearance in a mainstream
setting.
Pornography
There are no limits of what can be put on the internet, it is a tool that is open to anybody and everybody.
Very violent, sexually explicit, and other illegal things can be easily accessed for viewing using the
internet.
Addiction
Social media, online games, and other time consuming things are beginning to take over the youth. They
spend more time in their virtual life than they do in their real ones.
Wide Spread Audience
While this may seem like a pro to many, I consider it a major con. Things can travel astoundingly quickly
on the internet. This provokes people to purposefully danger themselves or other in order to gain some
viral fame.
A Breeding Ground For Illegal Activity
One of the unintended consequences of the internet has been the immense amount of illegal and dangerous
activity that it has harbored and perpetuated. The ease of information has given insight for burglaries,

terrorist attacks, kidnappings, and many other types of crimes. It also sparked a crime of a different sort,
but on a monumental level. This crime is piracy, which is downloading or distributing materials such as
movies or music, without the consent of the person who owns it. It is possibly the most committed crime in
todays society, because people simply do not view it as a true problem. However, artists, software
developers, and producing companies would strongly disagree. Before the internet, if you wanted to hear
the latest album or see the newest movie, you had to go and pay for that privilege, now they can simply be
downloaded for free.
The World Is Becoming Dependent
All of our information is not stored with the use of the internet. This means our medical records, criminal
records, educational records, and finance records are all completely dependent on the security of the sites
that they reside on. Computer viruses are very common and are becoming more and more aggressive. They
are transferred through the communication access of the internet and if one was designed well enough, it
could shut down the economy.
Children Are Vulnerable and Exposed
There is no way to truly verify age on the internet, this is a big concern because there is a wealth of content
that should not be accessed by children. Pornographic material is the most prominent, and children can
very easily stumble upon these types of websites and be exposed to things that they should not be. Along
with finding inappropriate materials online, children are also at a great risk because of how easy it is to
communicate with people. Children every day are persuaded by online friends to meet them or do things
for them that put them at great risk.
Important Facts About The Internet
The country of China has dedicated treatment facilities for people that are addicted to the internet.
There is high speed internet access the entire way up Mount Everest.
The very first website on the internet went live on August 6, 1991.
Over 30% of all websites on the internet are pornography.
On average, a person spends 12 percent of their entire life on the internet.
UNIT 2 - BETTER DEAD THAN COED?
Single-sex schooling
Pros
Some parents dont want their children to be in mixed-gender classrooms because, especially at
certain ages, students of the opposite sex can be a distraction.
Single-sex education enhances student success when teachers use techniques geared toward the
gender of their students.
Some research indicates that girls learn better when classroom temperature is warm, while boys perform
better in cooler classrooms. If thats true, then the temperature in a single-sex classroom could be set to
optimize the learning of either male or female students.
Some research and reports from educators suggest that single-sex education can broaden the educational
prospects for both girls and boys. For example, girls are free of the pressure to compete with boys in maledominated subjects such as math and science. Boys, on the other hand, can more easily pursue traditionally
feminine interests such as music and poetry.
Makes boys less competitive and more cooperative and collaborative
Makes girls feel less pressure as they mature and develop
Increases staff sensitivity and awareness of gender differences
Improves peer interaction
Provides positive same-gender role models
Provides more opportunities to pursue academic and extracurricular endeavors without racial and gender
stereotypes
Is less distracting than co-ed environments
Cons

Few educators are formally trained to use gender-specific teaching techniques. However, its no secret
that experienced teachers usually understand gender differences and are adept at accommodating a
variety of learning styles within their mixed-gender classrooms.
Gender differences in learning arent the same across the board; they vary along a continuum of what
is considered normal. For a sensitive boy or an assertive girl, the teaching style promoted by
advocates of single-sex education could be ineffective (at best) or detrimental (at worst). For
example, a sensitive boy might be intimidated by a teacher who gets in his face and speaks loudly
believing thats what boys want and need to learn.
Students in single-sex classrooms will one day live and work side-by-side with members of the
opposite sex. Educating students in single-sex schools limits their opportunity to work cooperatively
and co-exist successfully with members of the opposite sex.
At least one study found that the higher the percentage of girls in a co-ed classroom, the better the
academic performance for all students (both male and female). Professor Analia Schlosser, an
economist from the Eitan Berglas School of Economics at Tel Aviv, found that elementary school, coed classrooms with a majority of female students showed increased academic performance for both
boys and girls. In high school, the classrooms with the best academic achievement were consistently
those that had a higher percentage of girls. Dr. Schlosser theorizes that a higher percentage of girls
lowers the amount of classroom disruption and fosters a better relationship between all students and
the teacher.
The American Council on Education reports that there is less academic disparity between male and
female students overall and a far greater achievement gap between students in different racial, ethnic
and socioeconomic groups, with poor and minority students children faring poorly. Bridging that
academic chasm, they argue, deserves more attention than does the gender divide.
boys and girls develop at different rates which produces differences in their respective teachers often
respond differently to males and females (e.g., favoring males and overprotecting females)
academic learning readiness in the early schooling years
peer attitudes toward the opposite sex also differ in the early years of schooling change with biological
development (e.g., male domination of females, distractions due to the presence of the opposite sex)
Promotes gender stereotyping
Undermines gender equality
Doesnt prepare students for work or family life
Makes exclusion acceptable
Doesnt value diversity
Deprives access to mainstream programs
Doesnt socialize students to be less sexist
Expensive to run two parallel programs
Coeducation
Pros
Develops mutual respect: Co-education allows both the genders to mingle with each other and to know
how to co-exist with respect. By this process of getting mingled under one learning institution, they
develop mutual understanding towards each other. And there is no place of hesitation or partiality among
the genders when it comes to performing activities like cultural, academics or sports. People get to know
how to respect each other and their emotional level. You get to know each others strengths and weaknesses
and develop the ability to accept them as they are.
Helps to overcome the fear of opposite gender: In general there are lot of differences in behaviour of both
the genders which brings in fear and hesitance in striking a conversation, this fear can be for a boy or a girl.
This kind of shyness, hesitation or fear can be overcome when they are put up in a co-education system
where they will be compelled to talk and create a friendly environment where there is no fear. It is very
natural phenomenon where both the genders have to be together to face the world, your senior could be a
male or a female and you would have to create a friendly environment and are at ease with the opposite
sex. Hence, co-education would help them to know the opposite sex better creating a comfort zone where
the communication is easier.

Healthy competition: Competition is always an essential part in any kind of challenges in life be it personal
or professional. And especially in education it is good to have a healthy competition among the peers
which lets you learn how to cope with your failures early in life no matter who the winner is. When it
comes to opposite genders it would be more competitive because of your ego, and this is one good way to
improve the personal standards so that you dont get personal on every failure and are able to face it with
dignity. So, co-education systems nurtures challenges among the opposite genders in a healthy way that
helps you to maintain your dignity and also educates you to face your failures and learn from them rather
than turn them into revengeful act.
Develops self-esteem among the genders: Self-esteem is very essential and has to be built in good way and
the best place to start with it is the learning institutions where you can face all types of personality early in
your life. Co-education learning centres help to lay the early foundation for maintaining dignity and selfesteem. Many institutions give extra attention to students who feel that they are less worthy than the others
and offer counselling sessions that help in building up their personality and making them stronger to face
the world. Co-education helps both the genders to respect each others self-esteem and build a confidence
about their own self helping them to step out in the open without feeling intimidated.
Encourages the survival in future: Survival in future for any of the gender in todays world can happen
only when we learn to co-exist. From working together to making a marriage successful is all about team
work and the effort given by both1male and female. Team building activities in early stages help both the
genders to learn how to co-exist and this can only be provided in the co-educational system. By this way,
co-education is an essential part in education system which pushes the genders to work together and blend
with each other to survive in this brutal world.
Character enhancement: A recent study reveals that children tend to behave very decently in a civilised
manner in the presence of other gender provided they have been in this scenario for long. This is very
essential in an institution setup as well as it will have a huge impact in their personal front for the people of
opposite sex to behave well with each other. Hence, co-education plays an important role in character
building. They emphasize on the fact that they have to respect and listen to the opposite sex as they listen
and respect one from their own.
No space for discrimination: Quarrel among the peers is very common be it at home, workplace or
educational institutions. This may happen due to no proper understanding, misconceptions, misscommunications, uncomfortable, no respect for other sex and ignorance. We hear a lot of news that comes
on the internet, newspapers and television about how the genders are abusing each other at workplace or at
home and this can only be improved when there is a good understanding between the two. This is very
much reduced in a co-education system as they understand better each other and hence, reducing the bad
behaviour and harsh reactions from each other. So, co-education system reduces any kind of discrimination
and increases respect towards the opposite sex.
Resource handling: Be it any country there will be a shortage of lecturers for knowledge if there are
separate institutions or centres right from school to college as there would be huge demand for teachers
which might not be possible to fill in. And it also breeds monetary loss to the government or a private
institution when they invest huge amount for separate lecturers teaching the same thing to students across
institutions. Hence, co-education system has an advantage of proper resource handling.
Promotes a controlled environment: When both the genders are put up in same environment, there are more
possibilities of following good ethics, disciplined use of language, and proper dressing etc. You would
know what the needs are of the opposite sex and how they behave helping you to avoid unfavourable
situations. Co-education supports good decent environment with more value based education emphasising
on respect and love for each other.
Cons
Chances of distractions could be more: Teenage is a very dangerous phase in anybodys life. It is very
common among the teens to undergo psychological changes when they are in company of the other gender
and feel attracted towards them. And especially at crucial stage where they are in a process of defining
their career path, it could cause lot of distractions and might disturb their knowledge gain period. Hence,
parents often wonder if co-education institutions would be right choice for your kin to learn and whether
they should avoid co-education system.

Unethical activities: Crimes have become common when both the genders are put up in the same education
environment. There might be lot characteristic changes among boys and girls. When they mismatch, some
ferocious kids tend to commit various harassments, physical toughness, and emotional stress to people
around. The weaker lot can suffer at the hands of the opposite sex pushing them into depression and other
psychological problems. Hence, people hesitate to support co-education system to ensure that their kids are
in a safe environment and this is especially for the girls.
More involvement in personal feelings: As the saying goes, opposite things attract each other, it applies to
the humanly world also. Attractions among the opposite genders are the most commonly used excuse to
avoid co-education system. It is natural to get physically attracted to the other gender at a crucial age of life
where curiosity takes over your heart. So, parents feel co-education is a risky task to take forward as they
can have an easy access to distractions within the institutions. An emotional involvement at an early stage
can come with lot baggage that can force a child to deviate from their goals.
Unwanted arguments and issues can create unhealthy environment: Both the genders come from different
school of thought and hence contradiction of thoughts is common among boys and girls. If the arguments
are not handled in a proper behaviour then it can sometimes might lead to unwanted arguments and might
divert from their studies. It can lead to lot of complaints and parents making the rounds at the school for
the improper behaviour from their kin. This will also make the teachers get troubled a lot because of their
behaviour and an irritated teacher can never give their 100% towards teaching. This is what worries any
parent when they come to know that the issues in the school are costing his or her kins studies and hence
pushing them to select a convent rather than co-educational institutions.
Reduces the options for schools or colleges for the genders: With schools and colleges dedicated towards a
single gender, creates a lot of shortage for the opposite genders to apply. If the demand for teachers
increases then the demand for institutions based on gender also increases. Establishing an institution is an
expensive affair which may not be a feasible option to implement all over the world. There can be a
scenario where you have more supply of students but less number of institutions to work with it. Dedicated
institutions can also lead to lot of discomfort in handling the other gender when it comes to working in a
professional world creating issues in your career path and growth.
UNIT 3 - WHEN DOES LIFE BEGIN?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex series of procedures used to treat fertility or genetic problems and
assist with the conception of a child.

Pros
It helps infertile couples.
Couples who want a child, but dont want to turn to adoption just yet can look to IVF to help them
conceive. This is the most given reason in favor of the procedure. Prior to IVF, doctors would have to sit
down with couples after having tried various efforts to conceive and tell them its the end of the line. But
with IVF, previously infertile couples have another shot at becoming parents.
It can help prevent birth defects.
Its tough for any parent to have a child born with any defect. This is why those in favor of IVF see it as a
way of developing healthy children by being able to study fertilization and early embryonic development
outside the womb. Those in agreement with IVF also stated that the information gained from IVF would
advance medicine, and in particular, with prenatal care.
Cons
It destroys social structures.
People who disagreed with the procedure have expressed that it might bring an end to the nuclear family.
Its a scene all too familiar for those who have read A Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley where
laboratory breeding would take the place of marriage.
Conservatives have fears that the continued success of the procedure would create different kinds of nontraditional families. Some women have feared that with such technology, the pressure on them to bring
children into the world would be too high. Others have voiced fears over how children born through IVF
would be treated by others i.e. they might be socially ostracized.

 It is viewed as unnatural and wrong.

Other opponents of IVF didnt base their misgivings on a particular outcome, but mainly that they view it
as wrong. For them, its unnatural for a child to be created outside the womb. Others viewed it as taking
the Lords work into their own hands.
But this and other negative views have subsided in recent years because theyve seen children conceived this
way grow into happy and healthy beings.
It increases the chances of multiple births.
Some couples only have enough resources for one child, and they find trouble facing them ahead when it is
confirmed that they will be having more than one child. While having more children would be considered a
blessing for some, others just couldnt afford the arrival of two or more kids at once.
UNIT 4 - ECONOMIC MIGHT VS ECOLOGICAL RIGHT
Saving endangered species:
Medicinal value
The drug digitalis, derived from purple foxglove, prevented the death of millions of people. Digitalis is
used to treat congestive heart failure (CHF), fluid retention, irregular heartbeat, asthma, epilepsy,
tuberculosis, headache, constipation, headache, and spasm. It can also heal wounds and burns. Withering
(1785) described the healing properties of the plant as early as the 18th century. This observation means
that if one plant species gets extinct, the potential benefits, such as a source of medicine, will be forfeited.
However, many plants may be nearing extinction without our knowledge. These plants could contain
thousands of important compounds that can lengthen the human lifespan.
Agricultural value
Wild species of plants can be a source of vital genes to improve crops that are grown today. Among those
genes that scientists splice from the DNAs of plants are pest or disease resistance, salt tolerance, and
drought resistance. These properties can help counter the effects of global climate change.
While there are concerns about the products of genetic engineering such as genetically modified organisms
(GMOs), these products helped attain food security. People have had a reliable access to a sufficient
quantity of affordable and nutritious food. For example, genetic material from a wild corn species stopped
a leaf fungus that previously wiped out 15% of US corn crop. Thus, more crop production ensued.
Animals such as gecko and spiders are also important natural pest control agents. Geckos feed on at least
five different kinds of pests while spiders are known to prey on cockroaches.
Ecological value
Just like humans, an individual plant or animal could not live by itself. It has to interact with the other
organisms as well as its environment to survive. Removing one animal or plant species from the ecosystem
will compromise the life of other organisms that interact with it.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, one lost plant species can lead to the loss of 30 other
insects, plant, and other animal species found in the higher levels of the food chain. These individual
species of plant or animal are sometimes called the keystone species. If that species is removed, the whole
ecosystem will be changed drastically.
Examples to illustrate this importance of endangered species and how they link with other organisms are
the following:
northern spotted owl health indicator of the ancient forest of the Pacific Northwest
gray wolf controls the population of the elk
killer whale affects the diet of bald eagles
Bequest value
Leaving out a legacy for the next generation is a desirable value. We would like our children also to enjoy
the benefits that could be gained from wildlife species, not only of their mere existence but for the potential
benefits that they can provide.
How to Conserve Endangered Species
Endangered animals and plants, therefore, must be conserved by all means possible. Doable
initiatives include the following strategies:
reforestation,
rehabilitation of degraded lands,
sustainable harvesting of timber and other natural products,

 pollution reduction and prevention,

waste reduction and management, and
development of innovative strategies to conserve endangered species.
Human development is defined as the process of enlarging people's freedoms and opportunities and
improving their well-being. Human development is about the real freedom ordinary people have to decide
who to be, what to do, and how to live. The human development concept was developed by economist
Mahbub ul Haq.
UNIT 5 - BEYOND DARWIN
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct manipulation of an organism's genome
using biotechnology. It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including the
transfer of genes within and across species boundaries to produce improved or novel organisms.

Pros
Tackling and Defeating Diseases
Some of the most deadly and difficult diseases in the world, that have so resisted destruction, could be
wiped out by the use of genetic engineering. There are a number of genetic mutations that humans can
suffer from that will probably never be ended unless we actively intervene and genetically engineer the
next generation to withstand these problems. For instance, Cystic Fibrosis, a progressive and dangerous
disease for which there is no known cure, could be completely cured with the help of selective genetic
engineering.
Getting Rid of All Illnesses in Young and Unborn Children
There are very many problems that we can detect even before children are born. In the womb, doctors can
tell whether your baby is going to suffer from sickle cell anemia, for instance, or from Down s syndrome.
In fact, the date by which you can have an abortion has been pushed back relatively late just so that people
can decide whether or not to abort a baby if it has one or more of these sorts of issues. However, with
genetic engineering, we would no longer have to worry. One of the main benefit of genetic engineering is
that it can help cure and diseases and illness in unborn children. All children would be able to be born
healthy and strong with no diseases or illnesses present at birth. Genetic engineering can also be used to
help people who risk passing on terribly degenerative diseases to their children.
For instance, if you have Huntingtons there is a 50% chance that your children with inherit the disease
and, even if they do not, they are likely to be carriers of the disease. You cannot simply stop people from
having children if they suffer from a disease like this, therefore genetic engineering can help to ensure that
their children live long and healthy lives from either the disease itself or from carrying the disease to pass
on to younger generations.
Potential to Live Longer
Although humans are already living longer and longer in fact, our lifespan has shot up by a number of
years in a very short amount of time because of the advances of modern medical science, genetic
engineering could make our time on Earth even longer. There are specific, common illnesses and diseases
that can take hold later in life and can end up killing us earlier than necessary. With genetic engineering, on
the other hand, we could reverse some of the most basic reasons for the bodys natural decline on a cellular
level, drastically improving both the span of our lives and the quality of life later on. It could also help
humans adapt to the growing problems of, for instance, global warming in the world. If the places we live
in become either a lot hotter or colder, we are going to need to adapt, but evolution takes many thousands
of years, so genetic engineering can help us adapt quicker and better.
Produce New Foods
Genetic engineering is not just good for people. With genetic engineering we can design foods that are
better able to withstand harsh temperatures such as the very hot or very cold, for instance and that are
packed full of all the right nutrients that humans and animals need to survive. We may also be able to make
our foods have a better medicinal value, thus introducing edible vaccines readily available to people all
over the world

Helps Prevent Genetic Disorders

Many of the diseases today are hereditary or genetic. By manipulating the genes in humans, scientists find
a way to prevent people from suffering from an otherwise hereditary health condition.
Helps Individual Have Better Life
Genetic engineering helps humans have a chance at a healthier, longer life with more desirable physical
characteristics. By altering the genes of fetuses, there is a strong likelihood that future generations will be
taller, stronger, healthier and better looking.
Helps Deepen Understanding of Genes
Promoting genetic engineering is one way of deepening our understanding about human genetics. It helps
scientists find ways to cure or prevent hereditary diseases, most especially.
Allows Parents to Choose Babys Traits
Some parents would want their children not to inherit their less desirable traits, if given the chance. By
modifying the genes of babies, parents have a chance at designing their own babies, according to what
they want gender, color of hair, etc.
Probes into Medical Advancements
There are many areas in science, which continue to be a mystery to even the most learned scientists and
researchers today. Other advancements in the medical field can spring from genetic engineering.
Cons
Is it Right?
When genetic engineering first became possible, peoples first reactions were to immediately question
whether it was right? Many religions believe that genetic engineering, after all, is tantamount to playing
God, and expressly forbid that it is performed on their children, for instance. Besides the religious
arguments, however, there are a number of ethic objections. These diseases, after all, exist for a reason and
have persisted throughout history for a reason. Whilst we should be fighting against them, we do need at
least a few illnesses, otherwise we would soon become overpopulated. In fact, living longer is already
causing social problems in the world today, so to artificially extend everybodys time on Earth might cause
even more problems further down the line, problems that we cannot possibly predict.
May Lead to Genetic Defects
Another real problem with genetic engineering is the question about the safety of making changes at the
cellular level. Scientists do not yet know absolutely everything about the way that the human body works
(although they do, of course, have a very good idea). How can they possibly understand the ramifications
of slight changes made at the smallest level? What if we manage to wipe out one disease only to introduce
something brand new and even more dangerous? Additionally, if scientists genetically engineer babies still
in the womb, there is a very real and present danger that this could lead to complications, including
miscarriage (early on), premature birth or even stillbirth, all of which are unthinkable.
The success rate of genetic experiments leaves a lot to be desired, after all. The human body is so
complicated that scientists have to be able to predict what sort of affects their actions will have, and they
simply cannot account for everything that could go wrong.
Limits Genetic Diversity
We need diversity in all species of animals. By genetically engineering our species, however, we will be
having a detrimental effect on our genetic diversity in the same way as something like cloning would.
Gene therapy is available only to the very rich and elite, which means that traits that tend to make people
earn less money would eventually die out.
Can it Go Too Far?
One pressing question and issue with genetic engineering that has been around for years and years is
whether it could end up going too far. There are many thousands of genetic scientists with honest
intentions who want to bring an end to the worst diseases and illnesses of the current century and who are
trying to do so by using genetic engineering. However, what is to stop just a handful of people taking the
research too far? What if we start demanding designer babies, children whose hair color, eye color, height
and intelligence we ourselves dictate? What if we end up engineering the sex of the baby, for instance in
China, where is it much more preferable to have a body? Is that right? Is it fair? The problems with genetic
engineering going too far are and ever present worry in a world in which genetic engineering is progressing
further and further every day.

Test Failure Leads to Termination of Embryos

Since genetic engineering is not a perfect science, and far from being so, there will be failures along the
way, and this leads to termination of embryos with undesirable gene pool. To some people, this is
tantamount to abortion.
Who Decides the Good and Bad Genes
No one has the right to decide or judge what specific traits are good or bad. With genetic engineering, the
power likely rests on the scientists, the future parents, or the political leader. However, are these people
accountable or responsible when experiments go wrong?
Engineered Babies Could Have Worse Imperfections
When the actual results are not the outcome initially intended, society could have grave issues regarding
the presence of erroneously engineered humans, specifically if they turn out to be mentally ill, psychotic,
abusive, or non-responsive. How does society control these badly designed humans by murder, by further
experimentation or by imprisonment?
It Is Very Expensive
Engineering the genes of animals is already intricate and expensive enough, how much more an entire
human being? It takes a team of skilled geneticists and researchers, plus a topnotch facility, to perform the
experiment. This means that genetic engineering may only be available to the wealthy, furthering the gap in
society.
Reduces the Individuality among Humans
When there is a consensus as to which traits are good or bad, there is a tendency for future generations to
lose their diversity and individuality. There will be no short people because being tall is more desirable.
There will be no fat people because being slender is more desirable. Ultimately, the reduction of
undesirable traits in humans would lead to a generation of pure breeds with very little capability of
adapting to changes in the environment as in the case of pure breed animals, which are prone to disease.
UNIT 6 - TO KNOW MORE ABOUT LESS OR LESS ABOUT MORE
General education pros/cons
Specialized education pros/cons
UNIT 7 - JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS?
Legalizing drugs
Pros
Boost in Revenue.
As governments struggle with decreased revenue and rising costs, they look for creative ways to boost
income to fund projects, such as new parks and road repairs. Now, some people believe that the
legalization of weed could be revenue generator in the form of new taxes applied to its sale and
distribution. For instance, in Colorado, analysts recommend that taxing the drug could raise millions of
dollars each year.
More Effective Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement.
Legalization advocates claim that the move will provide police officers more money and time to go after
criminals committing other crimes, such as violence. They even argue that it would create wiggle room in
the criminal justice system, which allows judges and prosecutors to focus more on violent crimes, while
crowded prisons are freed of space.
Less Money to Support Organized Crime.
It is believed that legalizing recreational weed will cut off a revenue stream for illegal drug traders.
Advocates contend that making the substance less profitable for criminals will result to a decrease in
violence associated with the trade. This would save lives while taking the weight off from law enforcers.
Safety Controls.
When a person buys weed off the street, there is no way he would exactly know what dangerous substances
are cut into it. On the other hand, current legalization efforts create a framework for a safety control
system, which will work to get rid of the risk coming from smoking marijuana.
Wider Access for Medicinal Use.
People inside and outside the medical field argue that marijuana is effective in treating a range of health
conditions, including Crohns disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS) and posttraumatic stress disorder

(PTSD). In many states, including Massachusetts, California and New Jersey, it is legal to use medical
marijuana under certain guidelines. This means more people will be free to use the drug for its believed
health benefits.
Medical Benefits for Cancer Patients.
As previously mentioned, marijuana brings about a number of medical benefits. However, the most notable
of them all is the treatment of patients who are undergoing chemotherapy. This is the reason why certain
states, such as California, have implemented initiatives for the legalization of the drug for medicinal
purposes.
Personal Freedom.
By limiting the use of marijuana, we are intruding on personal freedom. Even if the drug is shown to have
harmful effects, it is still the right of every individual to decide what harms him or not. Smoking weed is
generally considered as a victimless crime, where only the user is at risk of experiencing the effects.
However, morality could not be legislated when people disagree about what is considered moral.
Reduced Street Justice Related to Drug Disputes.
Currently, you cannot call the police or any lawyer to litigate if someone in the drug trade screws you over.
Instead, you must settle the dispute yourself, which often leads to a cycle of retaliatory violence. But with
legalization, proper means to settle disputes would be created.
Loss of Business for Drug Dealers (Including Terrorists).
It is quite ironic, but perhaps the worst opponents of weed legalization are drug dealers themselves. Due to
the absence of competition and high street prices, they are making enormous sums of money. But through
legalization, there will be open competition and lower prices, so drug cartels, which might include
terrorists, would lose some or even all of their business.
Cons
Addictive Nature.
Marijuana legalization supporters argue that weed is not as addictive as other harder drugs, such as cocaine
and heroin, but addiction treatment specialists have seen firsthand that long-term use does lead to
addiction. Research found that as many as a tenth of users have developed dependence over time. Like in
other substances of abuse cases, stopping marijuana use will lead to withdrawal symptoms, which range
from anxiety to irritability.
Altered Perception.
Considering that marijuana is a drug, which by definition changes the way the human body works, its use
would lead users to experience a high that alters their perception while under influence. For instance, low
to moderate doses distort perception that is enough to cause traffic accidents. In fact, study shows that
weed is one of the most prevalent illegal drugs found in fatally injured and impaired drivers.
Gateway Drug Status.
Addiction treatment specialists believe that weed is a gateway drug that potentially introduces users to
more serious illegal substances of abuse. Research even suggests that its use might be linked to a higher
risk of prescription drug use. A group of teenage boys who abused weed, along with alcohol and cigarettes,
were found to be 2-3 times more likely to abuse prescription drugs when they become young adults.
Marijuana legalization, then, could increase societal and financial costs for the treatment of those
introduced to heavier drugs by smoking it.
Increase in Stoned Driving and Related Cases.
Contrary to what is stated above, marijuana use cannot be considered a truly victimless crime, knowing
all the crimes that might be committed when users are under the influence. While drunk driving is a major
problem in society, despite all the stiff penalties and education, equally dangerous is driving high, but
this is more difficult to detect, unless the user has been smoking in the car. Other harder crimes, such as
robbery and rape, can also be caused by the lapse in judgment due to smoking weed.
Increased Chances of the Drug Falling into the Hands of Children.
Even unhealthy items that are legal, such as alcohol and cigarettes, are prohibited from being sold to
children. The primary reason for this is because children, in general, do not exhibit the same responsibility,
reasoning and judgment of adults, and their bodies are not as equipped to handle the intake of such
substances. The problem would be even worse for marijuana use, which can deal serious blows to
developing minds and bodies. So, any time marijuana use is made legal, the drugs accessibility to children

will increase. While all too often children and teenagers are getting their hands on cigarettes and alcohol, it
is stressed that authorities should think twice about legalizing this drug.
Danger of Second-Hand Smoke to Bystanders.
The dangers of second-hand smoke from cigarettes are well publicized, so common sense would just tell us
that more widespread use of marijuana will increase the likelihood that other people would suffer the same
damage of inhaling smoke, and this time from a heavy drug. Public places, such as bars, would expose
innocent patrons. Even smoking weed at home will allow the drug to make its way to others, especially if it
is a multi-level apartment complex.
Damage to the Brain.
The humorous stories about pot users having a horrible memory are not an urban legend that is simply put
forward by everyone, from Hollywood films to treatment centers for addiction. In fact, one study has
shown that blood vessels in the brain of a marijuana smoker experience restricted flow, which can continue
even after a month of abstinence.
Poor Lung Health.
While tobacco and cigarettes have a nasty reputation for pumping carcinogens into the lungs, marijuana is
estimated to have levels of carcinogens that are almost double of that from tobacco smoke. This is because
many pot smokers tend to inhale more deeply than cigarette smokers, which increases the amount of time
the lungs are being exposed to chemicals that cause cancer.
Risk of Getting Heart Disease.
Marijuana use raises the heart rate from 20 to 100 percent for up to three hours after it has been smoked,
increasing the risk of getting other health problems, such as arrhythmia, heart palpitations and heart attack.
The effects on the cardiovascular system can make smoking weed a high-risk activity for seniors or for
people with cardiac conditions.
Poor Mental Health.
Research has discovered a link between marijuana use and mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and
depression. Though researchers are not sure yet if the drug really triggered such conditions or if smokers
turned to the drug to mediate the symptoms on their own, but it is clear that smoking weed plays a role in
the picture of mental health.
UNIT 8 - THE RIGHT O DIE VS THE RIGHT TO LIVE
Euthanasia is known as many different things like mercy killing, physician assisted suicide, and the right to
die, but they all mean the same thing. Euthanasia is administering a lethal dosage of a certain medication,
or ending all life support means, and letting a person who is terminally ill pass away at their own will.

Pros
An End To Suffering
People that are living with a terminal illness, or that are in an irreversible coma, are suffering. This is
especially true when you look at the end of their battle. The pain can be debilitating, and the only option
for these people are to take copious amounts of drugs and painkillers to help numb the pain even just a
little bit. The quality of life is extremely low. Euthanasia gives these people a way to stop theirs and their
familys suffering.
Death With Dignity
A person that is bed ridden and sick is at the mercy of nurses, medical staff, and family for things like
eating, using the restroom, changing clothes, and bathing. This can be very degrading for a person, and
many do not want to be a burden or remembered by their family in such a way. Giving them the
opportunity to choose when they die and how they die lets them take control of their own life, and the
ability to say what they want to say or do for their family before their death.
Frees Up Funds And Equipment
Terminally ill patients, or people that are in irreversible comas, use a large portion of the medical funding
available. This is also true for space that is available in the hospitals and care facilities. While this is by no
means a good way to look at it, it is simply an added benefit of euthanasia. These people, instead of
spending weeks, months, or even years using these resources, could die in peace all while saving money
and space for the hospitals.

The Freedom To Choose

Nobody wants to be at the mercy of anybody else, especially not a disease or sickness that has controlled
your life for so long. The biggest benefit of euthanasia is simply having a choice. It puts people back in
control of their own life, when it matters the most. This gives people a great sense of peace and hope for
their family.
People should be allowed to choose there could not be a more fundamental issue of individual liberty
than the right to decide whether to live or to die. Control over one's own body should be a fundamental
right.
Euthanasia can reduce or prevent human suffering by relieving people who are suffering extreme pain.
Forcing people to suffer against their will is wrong.
It can also relieve suffering where someones quality of life has become drastically low.
It can free up health care resources to help someone else who is severely ill.
Modern medicine can often keep people alive indefinitely, even if they are not conscious, it is therefore
imperative that rules for when it is right to end a life are explored, rather than a blanket ban on termination
under certain circumstances.
Euthanasia does not mean a lack of caring or compassion, on the contrary, the patient's needs are put first.
Allowing living wills opens up the possibility of people determining themselves whether their life is
artificially extended after encountering serious illness or health issues.
Cons
Devalues Human Lives
By allowing our doctors to actively kill people, they will begin to see euthanasia as a solution and it will
begin to be misused. This also gives the impression to other places and young children that the human life
has a lesser value.
Religious and Ethical Problems
One of the most common brought up topics in the euthanasia debate is that of religion. The majority, if not
all, religions have very strict views on taking lives, especially your own. It is viewed as one of the ultimate
sins against God. The view that taking a life in general is also popular, even without the mention of
religion.
Corruption Of The Worst Kind
There are tremendous costs involved in the care of terminally ill patients or patients that are in a coma.
These valuable resources are saved in a great amount if a person chooses to participate in physician
assisted suicide. This could prompt hospitals and doctors to begin using euthanasia as a means of money
saving, which could result in people that have not agreed, being killed.
The idea that every human life is precious and has value is undermined by euthanasia.
Most medical professionals do not want to be involved with killing patients, as it is the total opposite to
what they see as their purpose, which is healing people and saving lives.
There is a danger that euthanasia could be used to control health care costs, with the patients needs and
wishes taking second place.
Whatever the theory, disputes over mercy killings can often be very difficult in practice, as it is not always
clear what the patient wants, or is in their interests. It is likely that more euthanasia requests would result in
more extended legal battles. Take, for instance, the case of the Florida woman, Terri Schiavo, who was in a
coma for years. Her husband wanted the hospital to remove her feeding tube and her parents fought a legal
battle to try to stop that happening.
If voluntary euthanasia is allowed, then there is a danger of it developing into a slippery slope situation
where say, sick elderly people end up having their lives terminated because selfish relatives dont want to
look after them, or out of greed for inheritance money.
Euthanasia has a dark history and was used in Nazi Germany for the extermination of children and adults
that the government found undesirable, such as the disabled. Keeping it illegal means that no government
can ever use it for political means.
Important Facts About Euthanasia
The term euthanasia is from the Greek language, and it literally means good death.

New Mexico, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont are the only United States states that allow
physician assisted suicide.
Anyone who wishes to be euthanized must be over the age of 18 years old.
Dr. Jack Kevorkian, also known as Dr. Death, was one of the first doctors to actively pursue physician
assisted suicide for his patients.
UNIT 9 - THE GLOBAL VILLAGE
Globalisation is the process of international integration arising from the interchange of world views,
products, ideas, and other aspects of culture.

Pros
Free Trade
Once upon a time, nations were not able to trade freely with one another, due to all of the barriers that
stood in their way. Companies in varied nations across the world are now able to trade with another, thanks
to reduction of restrictions on importing and exporting.
The Consumer and Economy Benefit
Consumers are able to lower their costs and enjoy a much wider selection of products to choose from. Now
that foreign companies can reach those who do not reside in their country, they are able to tap into markets
that they were unable to reach before.
Competition Between Countries Drives Prices Down
The companies have greater access to more countries, which allows them to sell their goods and services to
wholesale retailers all around the world.
Gives Other Nations Opportunity
A nation the opportunity to hone in on their strengths, while ignoring their weaknesses. A country that is
rich in oil, but possesses a scarcity of suitable farm land is free to focus on exporting their plentiful oil
supply. Because they do not have to worry about importation restrictions, they can easily purchase
wholesale amounts of fresh foods from other countries.
Labor Can Move More Freely
Workers can move from country to country with relative ease and market their skills, goods and services to
the highest worldwide bidder. Countries no longer have to suffer with gaps in their labor structures. A
nation that is struggling to produce doctors can simply import them from another country. Shortages of
labor are no longer an issue on a local level. Thanks to the increased ease of communication and the
reliability of the Internet, a person can be trained to work at a job in a foreign country without actually
being present.
Improving The Global Economy
One of the most significant changes that has been brought on by globalization is the access to international
sale and business. The market that companies can reach is huge and rapidly expanding everyday. This has
helped to breach the opportunity gaps between many countries.
Expanding Knowledge Of Foreign Cultures
People from all over the world now have the access to communicate freely with one another. This is
helping to break down cultural barriers that have hurt the integration of countries for centuries. Gaining a
better understanding of how people around the world live is a key point of globalization.
Decisions For The World, Not The Country
Political powers and governments are joining together all over, one great example of this is the European
Union. This promotes for political and economical decisions to be made that are good for a global benefit,
instead of only focusing on local areas.
Free Trade Makes A Happy Economy
Through globalization, the idea that all trade barriers would be lifted is very real. Having no restrictions or
crazy taxes to purchase and sell goods all over the world would help to grow the struggling economy. This
would also help to improve poverty and unemployment rates all over the world.
Movement of Labor
Another thing much discussed is the free movement of labor all over the world. If workers could move
from country to country, they would be able to market themselves in areas that need people with their

skills. This would even further help the economy and provide much needed workers to certain areas of the
world.

Cons
Smaller Countries Suffer the Most
While there are a variety of benefits, countries have struggled with certain globalization concepts. Certain
nations benefit greatly from the current landscape, as others suffer. Smaller, less developed countries do
not typically benefit from the level playing field that globalization provides.
Leaving Developing Countries Behind
Economists have argued that developing countries are at increased risk of being left behind. Globalization
encourages free trade, which does not provide a developing nation with the protection that they need in
order to grow.
Strain Among Job Markets
The free movement of labor also has its downsides. When workers can move freely from one nation to the
next, countries that have a dearth of job opportunities often struggle. Skilled employees do not often stay in
countries without a strong job market, which can cause a labor drain.
Inability to Recoup Investment
For countries that rely on public funding for their secondary educational system, this can be disastrous.
Residents of the country utilize publicly funded colleges to bolster their skills for the job market, then take
their talents to other countries. This leaves their home country with very little recourse to recoup their
considerable investment.
Companies Seeking Personal Gain
Larger companies have learned how to leverage globalization for their own personal gain. Companies now
have the ability to trade with countries that they are not based in. This allows them to exploit certain tax
loopholes and hide money in places like Ireland and Hong Kong. When this happens, the countries that
they are based in lose out on billions of tax dollars. The consumer is then squeezed by increased taxes on
their goods, services and property. A nation typically has zero control over larger corporations registering
in other countries to avoid taxation.
Negative Impact on Environment
The environment impact of globalization is considered to be negative by most experienced observers. The
increased consumption of a wide variety of products leads to increased production which causes an uptick
in pollution. Simply put, the environment is under added strain, which can have devastating long term
effects on the planets environmental stability.
Loss of Cultural Identity
Greater cultural hegemony is benefit, but countries are beginning to lose their identities due to immigration
that is taking place on a progressively larger scale. As globalization becomes the new way of the world,
more and more countries are at risk of losing their cultural identity.
Not Good For The Underdogs
If all countries where free to trade with one another, then the entire world would be put at an even playing
field. Early developing or under developed countries would not be able to compete with the larger
economies of the world and would likely crumble underneath the competition.
Makes the Rich, Richer
Globalization is a great thing for owners and managers, but it is detrimental to workers and laborers. The
competitive nature of this idea puts people that are already rich, in very successful situations. They often
exploit workers, children, and prisoners to keep up with demand.
The Labor Drain
Everyone wants to make money and be able to live a successful and comfortable life. With globalization,
you are able to move freely from country to country in order to find work. People would flock to areas
with higher paying jobs, and leave poorer countries to fend for themselves. They would sufficiently drain
the country of all of their workers that keep things up and running.
A Loss Of Cultures
With globalization, eventually, every country would run and function the same way. The deep rooted
cultures of these countries would be lost due to mass migration and western influences. This is a scary

thing for many people. Arguers of globalization believe that cultural barriers are necessary in order to have
culture.

Important Facts About Globalization

Americans spend over 400 billion dollars a year on products that where made in China.
The U.S. is losing half a million jobs a year to nations overseas.
The 3 countries with the richest economies have more money than the economies of all developing
countries combined.
Over 2/3 of all international trade is done by the same 500 companies.