You Eat What You Are: Moral Dimensions of Diets Tailored to One's Genes

Thanks to developments in genomics,dietary recommendations adapted to genetic riskprofiles of individual persons are no longerscience fiction. But what are the consequencesof these diets? An examination of possibleimpacts of genetically tailor-made diets raisesmorally relevant concerns that are analogous to(medical-ethical) considerations aboutscreening and testing. These concerns oftengive rise to applying norms for informedconsent and for the weighing of burdens andbenefits. These diets also have a broaderimpact, especially because food patterns arefull of personal, social and cultural meanings.Diets will change one's food patterns and one'sattitude towards food, and this may implychanges in one's identity. We argue that suchan impact does not necessarily raise moralproblems. Moral concerns are, however, relevantif collective values and shared meanings infood practices are at issue. Therefore, thedevelopment of genetically tailor-made dietsdoes not merely require emphasis on weighingpersonal benefits and burdens and on informedconsent. It also asks for attention to andmoral reflection on the collective valuesinvolved in food practices.     

你能带来改变

根,在大地下舒展、蔓延,形成牢固的基础;芽,虽稚嫩,但为了得到阳光,他们可以破石而出。假如我们这个星球上面临的各种问题,就像那坚硬的砖石;那么成千上万的年轻人,就是成千上万的根与芽,可以冲破这些砖石。你能改变世界!——珍·古道尔     

You Are What You Eat: Genetically Modified Foods, Integrity, and Society

Thus far, the moral debateconcerning genetically modified foods (GMF) hasfocused on extrinsic consequentialist questionsabout the health effects, environmental impacts,and economic benefits of such foods. Thisextrinsic approach to the morality of GMF isdependent on unsubstantiated empirical claimsand fails to account for the intrinsic moralvalue of food and food choice and theirconnection to the agent's concept of the goodlife. I develop a set of objections to GMFgrounded in the concept of integrity andmaintain that food and food choice can beintimately connected to the agent's personalintegrity. I argue that due to the constitutionof GMF and the manner in which they areproduced, such foods are incompatible with thefundamental values and integrity of certainindividual moral agents or groups. I identifythree types of integrity that are threatened byGMF: religious, consumer, and integrity basedon certain other moral or metaphysical grounds.I maintain that these types of integrity aresufficiently important to provide justificationfor political and societal actions to protectthe interests of those affected. I conclude byproposing specific steps for handling GMFconsistent with the moral principles ofinformed consent, non-maleficence, and respectfor the integrity of all members of society.They include mandatory labeling of GMF, theimplementation of a system for control andregulations concerning such foods, andguaranteed provision of conventional foods.     

You are What You Eat: Meat, Novel Protein Foods, and Consumptive Freedom

Animal husbandry has been accused ofmaltreating animals, polluting the environment, and soon. These accusations were thought to be answered whenthe Dutch research program ``Sustainable TechnologicalDevelopment' (STD) suggested a government-initiatedconversion from meat to novel protein foods (NPFs).STD reasoned that if consumers converted from meat toNPFs, non-sustainable animal husbandry would no longerbe needed. Whereas STD only worried about how toconstruct NPFs with a meat bite, this paper drawsattention to the presumed, but problematic, role forthe government in the execution of the STDsuggestions. Although vegetarians take the credo ``YouAre What You Eat' literally and accuse non-vegetariansof being beasts, a different interpretation is morepromising: eating meat has become a leading thread inmany lifestyles and narratives of self-identity. Sincethe freedom to follow your own lifestyle orconsumptive preferences is a core value incontemporary affluent societies, governmentintervention in the formation and satisfaction ofconsumer preferences for meat dishes is a precariousissue. Hence, NPFs might be interesting for a smallfraction of society, but we had better not expect toomuch from a government-initiated conversion from meatto NPFs as the answer to animal husbandry'sproblems.     

如何表示我爱你

丫头把语文卷子拿回家,96分,被扣的4分,在试卷背面的最后——迅速挪到后面看,你可以想象,一个小学一年级学生的家长,拿到卷子时那眼神那心情,跟捏到年终奖的红包差不多,心扑扑跳,多么迫不及待地,想找个没人的地方知道谜底啊。     

“美丽”陷阱，坑你没商量

快节奏的都市生活让忙碌的人们身心憔悴,抹去眼角的岁月痕迹,留住青春远走的脚步,成为诸多都市人尤其是爱美女性可望而不可及的梦想。于是,承载着人们对美丽事业的追求与渴望,美容院应运而生。     

怀念你年轻时容光焕发的仪容

2011年5月10日,南京云锦博物馆,云锦邮票举行了盛大的首发仪式,这是中国织锦业的盛事,联想到2009年少林方丈的云锦袈裟引起国人讨论;2010世界名城论坛市长们着云锦礼服吸引世界目光;论虎年春晚上主持人集体着云锦出镜的惊艳——云锦每一年都会引起话题,     

我们只有一个地球

2010年《地球生命力报告》和《中国生态足迹报告2010》近期先后公布,有专家据此提醒,人类生态耗竭已超五成,如果继续以超出地球资源极限的方式生活,到2030年,人类＂将需要两个地球来满足需求＂。     

传统戏剧之坠之戏在戏曲的星空下找到你

错黑的天,刚生出第一窝星崽儿,女房东小桂子便咚咚上楼来了：“喝罢汤了？”（河南农村对晚饭的称谓）     

Love You to Death: Tale of Two Japanese Seals

The recent two cases related to seals in Japan illustrate the nature of the “values” created for animals in today’s societies: one that appeared in a river in Tokyo and gained a national pop star fame, the other supposedly extinct Japanese seal re-gaining an endangered status. This paper argues that the contrast of these cases exemplifies the images and values of nature are created, and the “wilderness” becomes over-romanticised and idealised as societies become further removed from the biosphere. This questions the meaning of the intrinsic value of nature—can it be totally free from our social needs and vested interest; is a truly bio-centric perspective possible? The paper suggests the irrelevance of the eco-centric- anthropocentric dichotomy to today’s social contexts where complex socio-cultural, economic, political issues are interwoven.     

年终总结是“结”还是“劫”,看你的!

岁末年初,新旧更替。在职场年终总结被一些人视为＂鸡肋＂之时,一些另类总结也浮出水面,诸如老公写给老婆的年终报告、年度生活报告……不论被动还是主动,     

“新法”实施 你准备好了吗?

《循环经济促进法》已于2009年1月1日正式实施。日前,安徽省十届人大常委会委员、安徽大学法学院教授华国庆在接受本刊记者专访时,详细阐述了该法的立法宗旨、特点以及不足之处。     

EIA as Regulation: Does it Work?

Since its introduction into Danish planning in 1989, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been widely discussed. At the centre of the debate the question has been whether EIA has actually offered anything new and there has been a great deal of scepticism about the efficacy of the instrument. Although, in principle EIA offers a holistic and proactive methodology, it does not seem to lead to a more holistic and proactive regulation which covers more ground than traditional planning and environmental regulation. In an evaluation of Danish experiences, this study has looked more closely at the effects of EIA. Three types of effects on projects have been examined: changes occurring prior to the formal application; changes during the EIA process; and the mitigation measures that are demanded of projects. The general conclusion is that EIA does generate a significant number of changes to projects. In approximately half of the cases studied, modifications are made prior to the formal application. During the formal EIA process, modifications were made in more than 90% of the cases. However, most of these could be considered as minor. EIA is characterized by being based upon a broad concept of the environment. It was found that a progressive narrowing of the concept of environment takes place during the course of the EIA process.     

Critical habitat designation: Is it prudent?

The critical habitat provision of the US Endangered Species Act was believed by many to be a key feature of the Act. It was believed that this provision would benefit federally listed endangered and threatened species. However, only 23% of the listed species in the United States have their critical habitats designated. The current trend is to forego critical habitat designation because the federal government believes that the Endangered Species Act can protect most listed species without resort to the critical habitat provision. Required publication of critical habitat locations in theFederal Register may draw vandals and collectors to rare species. In other cases, existing habitat protection already provides adequate protection for species. In a few instances critical habitat changes over time and is difficult to delineate. Lastly, designating critical habitat is time consuming, delays species listing, and is controversial, detracting from the positive image of the Endangered Species Act.     

传统音乐之徽州民歌:良辰美景,听你唱出荣辱身世

[童声群体朗诵,渐强]前世不修,生在徽州;十三四岁,往外一丢……前世不修今世修,苏杭不生生徽州;十三四岁年少时,告别亲人跑码头。前世不修来世修,转世还要生徽州;十三四岁年少时,顺着前辈足迹走。徽州徽州梦徽州,多少牵挂在心头,举头望月数星斗,句句乡音阵阵愁。徽州徽州好徽州,做个女人空房守,举头望月怜星斗,夜思夫君泪沾袖。前世不修来世修,转世还要嫁徽州;书香门第也富贵,忠烈孝节美名留。前世不修来世修,转世还要嫁徽州;多少辛酸多少泪,悲欢荣辱也轮流。[童声群体朗诵](重复三遍,渐弱)前世不修,生在徽州;十三四岁,往外一丢……