Assignment 4: Technology is the solution to environmental problems. Xin Ni and He Ying (4C)

[Summarise from Paragraphs 2-4 why ecological modernism believes that technology is the solution to environmental problem.]

Ecological modernism believes that harnessing innovation and entrepreneurship can save the planet. The modernists are pro-nuclear, pro-genetically modified crops, pro-megadams, pro-urbanisation and pro-geoengineering of the planet to stave off climate change. They say they embrace these technologies to give nature room. Modernism hope to do their business through smarter, greener and more efficient technologies. The modernists want to cut the links between mankind and nature and carry out rewilding. With technology, ushering in the return of the wild will be more painless, because more land can be liberated. But without technology, it can only be done by culling humanity.


[Reader Response - Do you think technology is going to help Mankind solve all environmental problems?]

Undeniably, technology has brought about benefits to the environment, however it is not going to help mankind solve all environment problems partly due to the side effects that technology can bring about, and giving rise to more environmental problems. Technology is likely to cause an unsustainable and unstable environment. Take for instance, alternative energy such as the nuclear energy posses an extremely harmful side effect when the nuclear plant melts down. The nuclear disaster in Japan had caused deaths, and the radiation that have caused health problems, and severe environmental problems. This simply shows that we cannot set nature free from the impact of humans, specifically the impact of technology. These impacts are irreversible, and that technology is definitely unable to eradicate them. We may be able to recreate the woolly mammoths, but remaking their habitat is beyond us and what technology can do. These problems have already been made, and it is no easy deal to solve these problems. Going back is a physical impossibility, and hence, my stand is that technology cannot help mankind solve all environmental problems.

Assignment 3: Can genetically modified food feed the world? (Xin Ni and He Ying of 4C)

Summary
One of the main benefits that genetically modified (GM) food have is its ability to help alleviate world hunger. The growth of biotech crops is the fastest growth segment in agriculture. These crops are used for animal feed and biofuel, and also processed foods. It's clear genetically engineered traits make plants and animals more resistant to disease, stay ripe longer, and grow more robustly in a variety of conditions are effective in reducing costs and providing economic benefits to food producers. 
Reader's Response
I do not think genetically modified food alone can solve the problem of hunger in poor nations. Even though it has been said that one of the main benefits of genetically modified (gm) food have promoted is its ability to help alleviate world hunger, however, I beg to differ. GM are cheaper to grow, increase yields, and extend the time food remains edible, it seems reasonable that GM plants should provide more food to a hungry world. However, many of the poorest countries most strongly affected by famine, such as many Africa nations, have set up onerous regulations that prevent the growth and import of GM food and crops. Hence, even with the creation of GM, third world countries do not accept and consume them due to political and social situation. Also, major crop development companies use genetic engineering primarily to improve large cash crops with the most potential for profits, such as corn, cotton, soy, and wheat with. Little investment is put into crops, such as cassava, sorghum, millet, which are more relevant for cultivation in poor nations. From the commercial point of view, production of GM food is for profit, it has helped make many wealthier in the industrialized work. Even though GM food should be able to improve starvation situations in third world country, however, o conclusive evidence was found that GM crops have so far offered solutions to the broader socioeconomic dilemmas faced by developing countries.

Assignment 2: School league tables 'encourage the selling of souls' by Xin Ni (09) and He Ying (13) 4C

Summarise some of the arguments the author raises against School league tables.

120 educationalists from around the world have signed a letter attacking the OECD's Pisa rankings and their undue influence on education systems worldwide. Pisa compared the data without any caveats or explanation, making tests the driving force in teaching and learning and inhibiting learning. Schools are turned from centres of learning into marketing enterprises seeking instant results; students often have nothing to fall back on but a good examination technique which has limited value except for passing tests.  The league tables encourages student to focus on learning a prescribed body of knowledge, to accept that education is all about passing exams. It is a disgraceful yet significant factor in the marketing of many selective and independent schools. Even the 100 global schools questioned the OECD'S Pisa so as to remove the naming or shaming for themselves.

Do you agree with the author that schools should not be ranked? How are these ideas reflected in your society?

Without a doubt, I agree with the author that schools should not be ranked. Ranking of schools can have immediate detrimental effect on the society or in a long run as well. As schools will become results driven, and start encouraging teachers to adhere to a prescribed body of knowledge, usually only what will be tested, often without hesitation or deviation. Students’ curiosity will be smothered; tangential questions are avoided, just as to maximize the marks attained by the student body. Education will then be just about passing exams, and nothing else. Students are often left with nothing to fall back on, other than a good examination technique which has absolutely no value in the in the workforce, despite receiving education since the age of three or four. Important life skills are neglected for schools are only interested in their academic performance on the league table. However, realizing the harmful effects of ranking of schools, the Singapore government had decided to abolish the ranking system in our education. "These include abolishing the nearly decade-old system of banding secondary schools based on their academic results, which has led to keen and sometimes unhealthy competition among schools. Some awards which schools currently get from the ministry for academic achievements will also be scrapped." This was quoted from an article by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Thus, top scorers of the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) as well as ‘O’ Levels were no longer being announced since 2012. Thus, I agree with that author that schools should not be ranked as it comes along with extremely harmful effects. 

Assignment 1: Innate Talent article by Xin Ni (09) and He Ying (13) 4C

SUMMARY:Summarise the main arguments for and against the concept of ‘innate talent

Science is dissolving the myth of innateness, and that talent is a set of developed and acquired skills. Genes are also a part of the developmental dynamic as the new science of gene expression shows that every individual is built with the capacity, to develop in a number of distinctly different ways. Studies 

have now shown conclusively that mindset, time, focus, motivation and other factors all profoundly effect the development of abilities, from the very moment of conception. Distinct physiological brain differences do not create the ability but the opportunity for the ability to develop. Such as when the brain's left hemisphere is severely damaged, it invites the right hemisphere to heavily compensate for the loss. Achievement depends on attitude, resources, and lots of practice. The essential genius of all human beings is that we are designed to adapt.

READER RESPONSE:To what extent do you agree with the writer’s argument that achievement depends on attitude, resources and practice.

I agree to a large extent with the writer's argument. It is widely believed that the possibility of obtaining high achievements depends upon the presence or absence of inborn attributes variously labelled "talents" or "gifts". However, it is insufficient to only be an innate in order to be successful. Brain difference do not create the ability but the opportunity for the ability to develop. Motivational and personality influences as well as previous learning experiences that equip a person with knowledge, attitudes, skills, and self-confidence. Take for example, one might expect musicians who have absolute pitch to be more successful than those who do not, but that is not always true. Hayes found that that all major composers had needed long periods of training at least ten years of preparation are necessary. High levels of accomplishment invariably require lengthy and intensive training, and even people who are not believed to have any special talent can reach. The differences in quality of instruction, effectiveness of practice strategy, and degree of enthusiasm greatly determine the level of achievement one can obtain. Great achievers such asCopernicus,Rembrandt, Bach, Newton, Kant, Da Vinci and even Einstein were not inborn with the talent to achieve great things. Their abilities are developed through the contributions of some factors such as preparatory experiences, encouragement, support, motivation, self-confidence, perseverance and single- minded concentration. Humans are designed to adapt, talent is a bonus to the individual. The role of innate ability assist one on the path to achieving great things but the essential factors are attitude, resources and practice.