Advantages And Disadvantages Of Bioprospecting

There is not just one Indigenous culture, instead there is a mixture of current and traditional thoughts, ways and practices.

In “Biotechnology Isn’t the Key to Feeding the World” environmental activist and author Frances Moore Lappe talks about how the distribution of our food is where we need to start instead of the “shortage or the abundance of food”. Lappe argues that there is plenty of food to feed everyone but the problem is that there are government organizations that are not giving the people the resources. The government has a major impact on how the people live. Lappe looks at all of this from a social justice point of view arguing that it is not up to scientists to help save the human population from hunger. Moreover, Lappe says that biotech proponents of today have convinced us that we have reached Earth's limit for food when in act that is not the case.

For many Indigenous people, spirituality is more than simply a belief in a higher being. Spirituality is the holistic belief that all living and nonliving things are interconnected and deserving of the highest respect.  In accordance with Medicine Wheel teachings, the East portion of the medicine wheel is synonymous with spirituality. By recognizing the importance of spirituality and how it helps shape cultural identity, one has the potential to be able to better understand how

Many Alaskan Natives and Native Indians, also known as American Indians, share the same or similar views on health and medicine. Their definition of “traditional medicine” incorporates medicine and religion, various chants and rituals, and being one with Earth (Broome, B., Broome, R., 2007). “In the United States we are challenged to think about health care from our tradition as a cultural melting pot. Therefore, we must address the large range of individual health care needs from populations living the inner-city and suburbia to those in rural environments.” (O 'Brien, Anslow, Begay, Pereira, & Sullivan, 2002). It is important for healthcare workers to understand the views of American Indians in order to integrate their traditional medicine as well as western medicine. Examining areas such as common health conditions, treatments, and attitudes towards health, natural and alternative health will lead to a better capability of providing culturally competent care.

Historians recently have been pushing towards accepting oral histories as valid historical sources and the video I examined of an elder identifying and explain the traditional medicinal uses of plants solidifies the need to continue this movement. The series of videos features Carolla Calf Robe, an elder from Kainai, as a guest speaker in a class identifying medicinal plants and land use of the Blackfoot people, knowledge that was passed down from her own mother. Calf Robe explains this is knowledge every Blackfoot person should know as common household information or as she states the “Indian First Aid Kit”, although whether it is common knowledge is debatable. I will argue how this primary source is an invaluable source with my hope to examine the preservation of traditional medicinal plant as another form of resilience from tireless efforts of assimilation.

The driving factor behind plant biotechnology is “social constructionism”, in which “social values and institutional domains and their culture shape technology” [Goyder chapter 10]. Bioengineering companies might declare social needs as the motive behind pursuing this technology. In reality, these capitalist institutions possess the much needed economic surplus to invest serve their own desires. The social needs they “intend” to solve are: world food shortage, increase agricultural productivity, help the environment by eliminating pesticides, improve nutrition of foods. Opponents of biotechnology, scientists, consumer advocates, environmental protection agencies, do not buy this claim. According to them, these reasons are just the pretence to fulfil “...capitalist’s profit-making via the deployment of technology, [3 Goyder chapter 5]. Most crop developments so far has been “profit-driven rather than need driven” [4, ten reasons why biotechnology will not ensure food security]. In a capitalistic society, patent laws under constitution permits ownership of seeds, living organisms; genes. Patents permit company like Monsanto could monopolize seed’s

Indigenous people partake in various traditional healing processes which include smudging, healing circles, sweat lodge, sun dance, pipe ceremony and potlach, they also have four sacred medicines which

The belief in kinship with creation is widely supported within most indigenous religions. In this way of thinking, there is more importance placed on the concept of “we” than there is on the concept of “I”. Here, the family or village is where strong emphasis lies. In many indigenous traditions, developing and maintaining a respectful relationship with spiritual energy is paramount. This concept doesn’t only apply to humans, but also, in many cases to the immediate natural environment as well. The oneness of the body and the land is vital. Many think of themselves as mere ‘caretakers’ of the earth, and nothing more, who has a duty to nurture and preserve it for future generations. Certain animals are seen as spiritual conduits, just as certain trees are seen to impart herbal healing secrets.

Aboriginals view healing as a journey which a person embarks on to help them reconnect or feed their soul and spirits. Their spiritual and strong connection to their surrounding lands is a key part of their healing journey (Douglas, 2013). In Canada, when an individual is sick we prescribe them with antibiotics or medication to fight the illness. This is our current way of “healing”. Today, we are seeing a push from many Aboriginals to combine traditional and modern medicine into their healing process (Douglas, 2013). To my surprise, some of our current medical practices today steam from our Indigenous roots, such as acupuncture, herbal medicines and naturopathy. Presently, there are more Indigenous communities in Canada who participate in combining traditional healing practices into their healing journey. This

Indigenous populations place value on the social and emotional wellbeing of the Community in which individuals are enabled to achieve their full potential, thereby bringing about the total well-being of their Community (Green, 2010). Indigenous identity, which emphasizes traditional subsistence and practices, respect for land, environment, and tradition, provides crucial elements of both personal and communal healing (Green, 2010). Contrary to the biomedical model, Indigenous health goes beyond the physiological functioning of the body and includes relations with significant others and connection to land. In some circumstances, the disruption of social networks seem to be

Horticulture is defined as "the production of plants using a simple nonmechanized technology" (Nanda and Warms 2006:148), while Webster's Dictionary defines horticulture as the art or science of growing fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, or trees. When most people think of horticulture, they simply think of gardening or farming. Most people do not associate horticulture with culture itself or how horticulture relates to anthropology, or the study human culture. In all actuality, horticulture is a major part of cultural anthropology. The groups that hunt and grow food, and the associated eating rituals or ceremonies associated with food differs by culture or environment. This paper will discuss the subsistence pattern of horticulture as

So, too, related controversies over the benefits and costs, the legality and morality, of biotechnical innovations in reproductive technologies, genetic engineering, and cloning, to say nothing of the ecological consequences of new biological, chemical, and nuclear weaponry that constitute central preoccupations in contemporary society.” (Nature p.234).

Indigenous peoples possess a variety of unique languages and beliefs and hold a strong relationship with the land. These concepts are interrelated and help build a strong Indigenous community and capture a holistic view of Indigenous health. The World Health Organisation (2012) constructs health as a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease.

The main causes of threats to the biosphere revolve around all the no sustainable practices that directly affect our world; more specifically, the immediate and long-term effects of the incorrect disposal of waste.

Welcome to the age of an agricultural revolution as everyday biotechnology continues to bring innovation to human’s most basic needs – food. Food is essential to any living organism, providing energy for our production and nutrients for our protection. Without this fundamental element, life cannot exist. Our lack to produce our own energy, like plants, causes us to become dependent on others for survival. Humans existence is attributed only to the million years of evolution our food source underwent to sustain our survival. Changing the primary nature of our food source, whether it is plant or animal, directs mankind in a dangerous future if our food dependency is permanently hampered. Welcome to the age of an agricultural devolution