Category Archives: Updates

Welcome Fall 2016 Students!!!

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Taft Hall 120 (TH 120)

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:00-10:50 am

This course Introduces students to fundamental principles, interdisciplinary approaches, historical trends, policies and planning programs that promote sustainability in urban regions. It is a general education course and falls under  “US Society” course.

We look forward to your blog assignments/posts and comments on each other’s work.  Be creative and innovative in your work, and always respectful and thoughtful to others.

Elizabeth Kocs

Syllabus will be updated throughout the semester.

INFORMATION FOR THE COURSE CAN BE FOUND ON THIS COURSE WEBSITE AND IS UPDATED ON A REGULAR BASIS.  PLEASE KEEP IN MIND TO CHECK THE WEBSITE REGULARLY.

GMO’s Threat

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Any new science and technology have its two sides. Development of nuclear energy use in humans provides a large amount of nuclear energy and build on humans with great destructive nuclear weapons; GMO food had been helping us producing more food per unit soil and had been extremely effective in producing crops with gene-embedded pest control ability. However, there has always been some suspicion about the potential damage GMOs could bring to the environment and become a health hazard, the following research had shown some possible negative effect brought by GMO.

Scientists found that some genetically modified organisms may contain toxic substances and allergens, will adversely affect human health, serious and even cause cancer or cause some genetic diseases (Grove-White 19). Although so far no convincing research report shows that the improved varieties toxic, but some researchers believes that might be within the reach of some people want to achieve the effect, at the same time, also increased and the accumulation of food in trace amounts of toxins to refine and add artificial gene. The accumulation of this toxin is a rather long process, but it is indeed possible, so there is no guarantee that these improved varieties are not toxic. Puszta, a British scientist, said the study, which had been genetically engineered to cause damage to the liver, stomach and immune system in mice (Holst-Jensen 179). Although his experimental results need to be further confirmed, but can still suggest that people genetically modified foods may be detrimental to human health. Followed by an allergic reaction, people who have a food allergy sometimes have an allergy to food that has not previously been allergic to them. The reason is that it contains proteins that cause allergies. For example, scientists will be a part of the gene into the corn, wheat and shellfish genes in animals, and then, before eating corn allergies may be on the walnut, wheat and shellfish food allergies.

American is a nation that’s built on GMOs and the broader use of this technology could seriously harm the sustainability development thus should be treated seriously.

 

Works Cited

Grove-White, Robin, et al. “Uncertain world: Genetically modified organisms, food and public attitudes in Britain.” (1997).

Holst-Jensen, Arne, et al. “Detecting un-authorized genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and derived materials.” Biotechnology advances 30.6 (2012).

Blog Assignment 1 – My Sustainability Impact

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Due 09/04  UIC

There are approximately 27,000 students who attend University of Illinois at Chicago, and urban research university. Such a large number of students are bound to have some impact on the campus.

How have you, as an individual and UIC student, made any sustainable and unsustainable impacts on the UIC campus or in your community (if you are new to UIC)?

Of these impacts, discuss any outside factors or any visible patterns of behavior, and consider your personal habits, the forms of transportation you use, and your overall perspective.

See Assignment Sheet for full details and instructions.