MODULE # 4

Human Person Flourishing

in terms of Science and
Technology
HUMAN PERSON FLOURISHING
Everyone else in this world, is aiming to
know what's ―good for your life
Helps you shape yourself to become a
purposeful, goal directed individual
Finding your ultimate good not only
enhances your understanding of yourself,
but the whole world as well
 HUMAN PERSON FLOURISHING
Must continuously search for what is good to
further realize the goals in life.
A human being naturally lives his life to
improve and excel as a human being
Aristotle: the desire to flourish is a natural
human inclination; the actions that we
perform have its end ---to achieve the goal
Must continuously search for what is good to
further realize the goals in life.
A human being naturally lives his life to
improve and excel as a human being
Aristotle: the desire to flourish is a natural
human inclination; the actions that we
perform have its end ---to achieve the goal
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND
HUMAN FLOURISHING
Eudaimonia - to mean good indwelling spirit
Defines the peak of ones happiness or the
process of fulfilling or realizing ones true
nature .
human flourishing
Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, wherein he
discussed that human flourishing ascends as
a result of different components such as
phronesis, friendship, wealth and power.
Ancient Greek society : believe that
acquiring these components will surely bring
the seekers happiness, which in effect allows
them to participate in the greater perception
of what we call the Good;

The western conception is more likely

focused on the individual in contrast to the
eastern which is more community-centric;
Chinese Confucian system and the
Japanese Bushido where they
encourage the study of literature,
sciences and art, not entirely for
ones self but for a greater cause like
establishing a harmonious and well-
ordered society;
THE WESTERN CONCEPTION: grasps
human flourishing as an end and that
humans aim for the ultimate good or
“eudaimonia”
 As time goes by, the basics that makes up human flourishing has changed.

 People found other ways to live more comfortably explore different places
and earn more money and vice versa.
 Because the needs and necessities of people are changing from time to
time, this brought them to develop more refined machines to help them in
their daily lives and endeavors;
 led people to advances in different fields such as education, health, and
communications .
 Man of the world is what humans today expected to become – they are
situated in a global neighborhood, helping each other, together with the
government and different institutions to accomplish a common goal.

 Coordinating with one another has become the new trend and competing
became outmoded.

 Human flourishing should be tackled not just in a single idea but in a global
perspective.
SCIENCE AS METHODS AND
RESULTS
 Science has always been systematic in searching
for things. It roots from objectivity and uses
logical approach on discovering how things
work in the universe, one important aspect of
scientific process is that it only focuses on the
natural world.
 The scientific method (search for the
proponent) is a series of steps followed by
science investigators to find answers for specific
questions.
 THE STEPS OF SCIENTIFIC
METHODS
1.Observation on your surroundings will help you
come up with an idea
2.Question should be made after you observation.
3. Hypothesis comes next.
4.Experiment You should develop a procedure that
states very clearly how you plan to conduct an
experiment.
5. Results include detailed observations and data
6. Conclusion
SCIENCE AS SOCIAL ENDEAVOR
 Philosophers: Paul Thagard, Helen Longino,
and David Bloor, among others, presented an
alternative distinction that explores the social
dimension of science and technology

 The new idea of science and technology aims to

enable a dimension which generally benefits the
society
SCIENCE AS SOCIAL ENDEAVOR
 These tribal people have their own
science but since they remained
untouched for a long time, they do
not refer Asian science as their own.

 Shared knowledge and experiences

that will foster solidarity among
these people across the globe.
 Science as social endeavor is to have
various problems solve, cater various
needs and sustain the development
of the society through the help of
scientific knowledge.
 SCIENCE AND RESULTS
 For people who don't seem to know science, they'll just
completely rely on either superstitious beliefs or divine
providence
 Science is not entirely faultless, it doesn't get 100%
accurate all the time.
 Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration or PAGASA, often blamed for their
imprecise weather reports at times.
 Displays fallibility and limitations of their scope, for they
can't totally tell the exact weather condition for the
following days, as well as the occurrences of some natural
disasters.
SCIENCE DOESN’T MAKE AESTHETIC
JUDGEMENTS
 Science cannot tell us whether a painting is beautiful or awful.
Individuals make those decisions for themselves based on their
own aesthetic preferences.

SCIENCE DOESN'T TELL YOU HOW TO

USE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE
 Science, for example, can tell you how to recombine
DNA in new ways, but it doesn't specify whether you
should use that knowledge to correct a genetic disease.
 Science helps us describe how the world is, and then
we have to decide how to use that knowledge.
 SCIENCE DOESN'T DRAW
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT SUPERNATURAL
EXPLANATIONS

 Do gods exist? Do supernatural entities intervene in

human affairs?
 These questions may be important, but science won't
help you answer them.
 Questions that deal with supernatural explanations are
beyond the realm of what can be studied by science.
 For such questions are matters of personal faith and
spirituality.
 SCIENCE AS EDUCATION
 In the Philippines, numerous science high schools can be found. These schools
offer aspiring students to secure a spot for a competent and high - quality
science and mathematics education anchored on a specialized curriculum

 In STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) offering schools,

the prevalence of the said track is reflected in the number of students taking
up the course. It is no surprise if the numbers favor the STEM track as the jobs
that lies in it are the most in demand in todays society.

 The students must have also thought that enrolling in this science track will
later place them in high-salary jobs and successful career.
 Being proficient alone in science and technology would be inadequate if one
is in pursuit of human flourishing .
 The eudaimonic person denoted by Aristotle is someone who is
knowledgeable not only about science but also on other equally significant
matters .

 A true eudaimonic person is aware that in order for someone to flourish, he

must not focus on one facet alone but also must excel in different aspects
such as aesthetics, humanities and linguistics.
THE MODERN CHALLENGES OF HUMAN
FLOURISHING
 In 2015, heads of state gathered in New York to sign United Nations
new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that targets to eradicate
poverty by the year 2030 by establishing global partnership for
development.

 The primary goal to achieve growth for all might be putting our planet
at risk in the long run.
 Growth is the primary indicator of development as supposed by
economists
 Technology has been a significant tool in aiding them to achieve such
goal by making use of natural resources, production of machineries and
industry.

 What is missing here is that the worlds bio-capacity to sustain all these
efforts that will lead to our growth is limited.
 Studies have shown that we're consuming the world's resources rapidly
THE MODERN CHALLENGES OF HUMAN
FLOURISHING
 Developed countries should not push for more growth but rather make
policies where developing countries and the nature can cope up, or
else we'll suffer in the long run.

 Joseph Hickel, suggesting that instead of pushing poor countries to

catch up with the rich ones, the latter should catch down.

 The rapid technological advancements leaves no room for nature to

cope up to the world's growing demand, which may result in
exploitation and permanent damages to nature

 Today, we are experiencing the result of the said exploits as the world
experience climate change, which may hardly affect the planet‗s flora
and fauna .

 We can't just ignore the laws of nature. If we do not act soon, all of our
efforts in combating poverty will be put in vain and we might even put
ourselves in the brink of extinction.
 TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY OF
REVEALING
 The discoveries, success, and advancements in science
surely contribute to human's field of knowledge.
 liking to search for the unknown in this universe may
lead us to uncover more about our existence
 It is in this matter that human flourishing is deeply
interlinked with goal setting relevant to science and
technology.
 Martin Heidegger's statement, “technology is a human
activity that we excel in a result of achieving science”.
Meaning to say, the end goals of science, technology
and human flourishing are associated, wherein the
good is inherently related to the truth.
 TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY
OF REVEALING
 In his essay ―The Question Concerning Technology, he describes
technology and its essence to human. He talked about its effect to man
and its environment. It is also discussed on how man should properly
manage technology.

 He revealed that despite of the benefits that man can have from
technology, it can work against him and bring danger.

 The idea of coal mining and farm cultivation are examples where man
challenges resources; when man challenges nature, he wants the
maximum yield at minimum expense.

 The perception of man to resources is no longer of what they really are;

instead, sees them as ways to fulfill his needs.

 Heidegger used Rhine River, European River, as an example: people

tend to not see it as a huge body of water but instead a hydro-electric
plant. Man does not see its natural tendency but the power he could
benefit from it, and see it as a standing reserve.
 TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY
OF REVEALING
 Humans always have the nature that ―nature should fit
with them, instead of perceiving ―humans fit with
nature
 Humans constantly enframing everything around their
environment and they unconceal the standing reserve.
 As a result, man abuses the Earth's natural resources,
and continuously destroys it for his selfish aim
 Once man continuously enframe without care to the
environment, technology can work against him.
Heidegger states, ―Where enframing reigns, there is
danger in the highest sense therefore, trouble against
man and his environment could arise.
 TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY
OF REVEALING
 According to Heidegger, escaping from the fate of
technology is impossible; however, questioning
technology can save humans from catastrophic events
that it could lead upon .

 We must question how to use technology without

hurting the world around us
 We need to open up the possibility of relying on
technologies while not becoming enslaved to them and
seeing them as manifestations of an understanding of
being.
 WHEN TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY
CROSS
 Robotics and AI (Artificial Intelligence)
 Poses ethical dilemma
 “Humans, limited by slow biological evolution,
couldn‟t compete and would be superseded by
A.I.”—Stephen Hawking, 2014
 AI is our “biggest existential threat,” Elon Musk,
2014
 “I am in the camp that is concerned about super
intelligence, Bill Gates, 2015
 WHEN TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY
CROSS
 These comments have initiated a public
awareness of the potential future impact of AI
technology on society and that this impact
should be considered by designers of such
technology to develop the best design future
intelligent system that will lead to positive
technological transitions on human and society.

 The technologies that surround us take many

shapes and have different levels of
developmental progress and impact on our lives.
 INDUSTRIAL ROBOTS
 These have existed for many years
and have made a huge impact within
manufacturing.

 They are mostly preprogrammed by

a human instructor and consist of a
robot arm with a number of degrees
of freedom (Nof, 1999).

SERVICE ROBOTS
 a robot which operates semi- or fully
autonomously to perform useful tasks for
humans or equipment but excluding industrial
automation applications (IFR, 2017).

 They are currently applied in selected settings

such as internal transportation in hospital, lawn
mowing and vacuum cleaning.
 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
 Software that makes technology able
to adapt through learning with the
target of making systems able to
sense, reason, and act in the best
possible way in recent years, been a
large increase in the deployment of
artificial intelligence in a number of
business domains including for
customer service and decision
support.
 ETHICAL SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
ARISING WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
AND ROBOTS
 Ethical perspectives of AI and robotics should be
addressed in at least two ways
 First, the engineers developing systems need to be
aware of possible ethical challenges that should be
considered including avoiding misuse and allowing for
human inspection of the functionality of the algorithms
and systems

 Second, when moving toward advanced autonomous

systems, the systems should themselves be able to do
ethical decision making to reduce the risk of unwanted
behavior
The following are potential challenges
from future highly intelligent systems
regarding jobs and technology risks:
1. People may become unemployed because of
automation.
 Fewer jobs and working hours for employees could tend
to benefit small elite and not all members of our society.
2. Losing human skills due to technological excellence.
 With the introduction of robots, and information and
communication technology, the need for human knowledge and
skills is gradually decreased.
 This lessens our need to train and utilize our cognitive capabilities
regarding memory, reasoning, decision making etc., this eventually
could have a major impact on how we interact with the world
around us.
3. Artificial intelligence can be used for destructive and
unwanted tasks.

 Surveillance cameras are useful for many purposes,

but many are skeptical of advanced tracking of people
using artificial intelligence.
 It might become possible to track the movement and
behavior of a person moving in a range of
interconnected surveillance camera and position
information from the user's smartphone.
 Disclosures (e.g., by Edward Snowden in 2013) have
shown that governments can leverage technology in
the fight against crime and terror at the risk of the
innocent being monitored.
4. Successful AI can lead to the extinction of mankind?

 Almost any technology can be misused and cause

severe damage if it gets into the wrong hands.
 It is important that systems have built in mechanisms
to prevent human errors and help to predict risk of
mechanical failure to the extent possible.
SUPPLEMENT
 Artificial Intelligence – refers to the simulation of human
intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like
humans and mimic their actions. The term may also be applied
to any machine that exhibits traits associated with a human
mind such as learning and problem-solving.
 Bushido – (Japanese: “The Way of the Warrior) the code of
conduct of the samurai, or bushi (warrior) class of premodern
Japan. The precepts of Bushido were made the basis of ethical
training for the whole society, with the emperor replacing the
feudal lord or daimyo as the focus of loyalty or sacrifice.
 Confucianism – or the Way of life was propagated by Confucius
in the 6th and 5th century BCE. It has become the substance of
learning, the source of values, and the social code of Chinese.
 Confucianism – or the Way of life was propagated by Confucius in the 6th
and 5th century BCE. It has become the substance of learning, the source
of values, and the social code of Chinese.

 Eudaimonia – in Greek philosophy, it means to achieve the best condition

possible for a human being, in every sense – not only happiness, but also
virtue, morality and a meaningful life.

 Enframe – state of unconcealing or using/utilizing the standing reserve,

abusive and unguarded enframing may lead to exploitation of the natural
resources.

 Phronesis – the habit of making the right decisions and taking the right
actions in context, and relentless pursuit of excellence for the common
good.

 PAGASA – (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services

Administration) is the Philippines’ national institution dedicated to provide
flood and typhoon warnings, public weather forecasts and advisories,
meteorological and astronomical, climatological, and other special
information and services primarily for the protection of life and property
and in support of economic productivity and sustainable development.
 Robot – a machine resembling a human being and able to replicate certain
human movements and functions automatically.

 SDG – (Sustainable Development Goals) are the blueprint to achieve a

better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global
challenges including those related to poverty, inequality, climate,
environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.
 Standing reserve – are the resources nature gives to manufacture to create
or reveal technology.

 STEM – is an educational program developed to prepare primary and

secondary students for college and graduate study in the fields of Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This also aims to foster inquiring
minds, logical reasoning and collaboration skills.
 MODULE # 5
The development of
Information Age
Introduction:
 The Sumerian was the first civilization that invented the first writing system
called cuneiform. It is a set of word pictures depicted in symbols made of
triangular marks around 3100 BC. Pictograms or drawings representing
actual things were the basis for cuneiform writing.
 Sumerian clay tablet was used as a writing medium, especially for writing
in cuneiform. They use a wooden stylus to place simple shapes, lines and
wedge-shaped markings into moist clay, which were then baked until hard.
It contains the Sumerian historical information and culture. It began as
record keeping for trade and evolved into the use of symbols for writing
down laws and stories.
 The Sumerians had enormous libraries of clay tablets containing their
laws, business transactions, and literature.

 Egyptian writing wrote with ink and brushes on paper made of papyrus
reeds; their writing was in the form of pictorial symbols known as
hieroglyphics.
Introduction:
 The oldest known printing press was invented in China
during the Tang dynasty (618-906AD). THE DIAMOND
SUTRA, a Buddhist book from Dunhuang, China from
around 868 A.D. is said to be the oldest known printed
book. Chinese printing relied on blocks cut from wood,
used to print textiles and reproduce Buddhist text. By 10th
century book printing seems to have become established
and was carried in many parts of China. This technique of
woodblock printing was also used in Japan and Korea at the
time and spread throughout Asia. Then later on, a
moveable type, which replaced panels of printing blocks
with moveable individual letters that could be reused, was
developed by Bi Sheng from Hubei, China.
CONTENT:
During Renaissance time, the most important
technological innovation was the invention of the printing
press by Johann Gutenberg. The printing press is a device
that allows for the mass production of constant printed
matter, mainly text in the form of books, pamphlets and
newspapers. By 1400s, movable type was being used in
Europe as began printing the Bible in everyday language.
Soon millions of books were in circulation.
 This invention led to a higher literacy rate
among people, and helped with the spreading of
Renaissance ideas.
 The inventions of mechanical printing press
made possible the dissemination of knowledge
to wider population that lead to a gradually
more egalitarian society and able to dominate
other cultures.
 The worldwide spread of the printing press
meant a greater distribution of ideas among
members of the community and throughout the
world.
In the early 20th century, the electronics industry
was advanced to the point where a complex
device, such as a computer was invented.

 The electronic computer has become one of

the key tools of modern industry.
 Electronics has also been fundamental in
developing new communications devices such
as radio, television, cellphones, laptop and
other devices.
 A computer is an electronic machine that accepts information,
stores, and processes it according to the instructions provided by a
user and then returns the result.

 Today, computers have become part of our everyday activities.

Computers become quickly more powerful.
 By 1970 it became possible to squeeze all the integrated circuits
that are part of a single computer on a single chip called a
microprocessor.
 Personal computer was introduced in 1975.
 The term Wi-Fi becomes part of the computing language and users
begin connecting to the Internet without wires in 1999.
 YouTube, a video sharing service, is founded.
 Google acquires Android, a Linux-based mobile phone operating
system in 2005.
 Facebook gains 1 billion users on October 4, 2012.
The Internet was the work of dozens of pioneering scientists,
programmers and engineers who each developed new features
and technologies that eventually merged to become the
“information superhighway” we know today.

 It started in early 1900 when Nikola Tesla toyed with the idea of a
“world wireless system”. Tim Berners-Lee invented the World
Wide Web in 1990.
 The web served as the most common means of accessing data
online in the form of websites and hyperlinks.
 The web helped popularize the Internet among the public, and
served as a crucial step in developing the vast supply of
information that most of us now access on a daily basis.
 This technology paved way to the emergence of social media
Social media is a modern communication tool started with
computers and internet. It is interactive and collection of
online communications channels or platforms that
facilitate the creation, sharing and collaboration of
information, ideas, interests and other forms of
expression.
 The users engage with their electronic or mobile devices as they
create highly interactive platforms through which individuals,
communities, and organizations can share, co-create, discuss,
participate and modify content posted online via virtual
communities and networks. In business, social media is used to
market products, promote brands, connect to current customers
and foster new business.
 It is also often used for crowdsourcing.
 Customers can use social networking sites to offer ideas for
future products or tweaks to current ones.
SOME OF THE PROMINENT EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL
MEDIA PLATFORMS ARE:
 Facebook/Messenger, YouTube, WeChat, Instagram
 QQ
 Weibo
 Twitter
 Tumblr
 LinkedIn
 LINE
 Snapchat,
 Pinterest,
 Viber
 Wikipedia,
 Tiktok etc.
 Facebook is a free social media networking website that allows registered
users to create profiles, upload photos and video, send messages and keep in
touch with friends, family and colleagues.
 Wikipedia which is the most used platforms especially in research is a free,
open content online encyclopedia.
 While Youtube allows users to upload, view, rate, share, add to playlists,
report, comment on videos, and subscribe to other users.
 Social media sites have grown in numbers by leaps
and bounds. TikTok which is the recent sites is a short-
form, video-sharing app that allows users to create and
share short videos, on any sounds and song snippets,
along with the option to add special effects and filters.
 One of the advantage of social media is that It
provides a free of charge avenue for learning through
conversing with experts, teachers or professionals online
and helps as an effective communication tool for staying
in touch with friends and family, however if there are
pros there are also disadvantages like it can serve as a
platform for misleading information and inappropriate
actions. People might do or say things they wouldn’t in
real life because there are minimal rules for
communication in social media.
 MODULE # 6
Biodiversity and Genetically
Modified Organisms
 The number of species of flora, fauna, and microbial organism,
the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the varied
ecosystems of Earth, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are
all part of a biologically diverse planet and all of which together forms
biodiversity. Not only that it refers to those rare and endangered
forms of life but these also must include those that we're not seen in
the naked eye so to speak with different forms of viruses and
bacteria. All of these species together with the genes they have, and
their environment. Thus, we can consider to have biodiversity into
three levels
1. Genetic level. This refers to the genetic differences between
specific or certain species
2. Species level. This refers to the place in which specific kind of
flora or fauna occur in varying shapes, sizes and color.
3. Ecosystem level. This refers to a place or environment having
number of species which depend on each other
A proper and suitable conservation and sustainable development
strategies attempt to recognize this as essential to any approach to
preserving biodiversity.
Content:
Biodiversity is important in sustaining all forms of life on the
planet. The condition of the natural habitat where we thrive
greatly depends on a lasting diversified and balance environment.
 If there is one species that have been lost in an ecosystem,
then the rest of the species in that particular ecosystem will be
greatly affected by the lost. If a predator is lost in an
agricultural farm then there would be no species who would
eradicate small animals and even pest who eats from the crops
that are found in the area.
 Therefore, biodiversity plays an essential role in ensuring good
harvest and maintain a lasting natural resource. More over
biodiversity safeguards us for a fresh air, enough supply of
water and fertile soil where we can plant our crops.
 ESSENTIALS OF BIODIVERSITY
We may not have realized it but our health highly reliant of
biodiversity. Sustaining food supply, providing us source of
supplements, nutrients, various forms of vitamins and minerals and
a lot of forms of medicines are among the essential reasons why
biodiversity is highly essential to us.

 These are also among the reasons of mankind in supporting the

provisions for fresh water and clean air. Thus, also contributing
to economic and cultural enrichment.
 Undoubtedly it will be difficult for us mankind to achieve a
healthy society without having us to take care or maintaining out
biodiversity. However, there are still threats to biodiversity that
hinders mankind to achieve a universal good health
 Abrupt and slow changes in our biodiversity can cause severe
and unpredictable effects on an overall health of living things to
include mankind.

 Clearing of land to provide additional areas for residential

purpose for instance could be a cause for human to be in closer
contact to species of animals that may spread diseases not only to
humans but also to other animals.

 These may also cause the imbalance for certain ecosystem

reducing the equal distribution of predators that controls disease
carrying organism to be in contact to humans
 BIODIVERSITY AN ESSENTIAL SOURCE OF
MEDICINES AND GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR
MEDICAL RESEARCH
Clearing of land may bring about the loss of plants and other organisms
useful in medical research or that may contain substances used as medicines.

 Biodiversity loss can impact greatly on traditional medicinal practices that

utilize wild animals and plants.

 Some modern drugs are also derived from wild species like inter alia pain
killers like Zincinitide from cone snail toxins, anticancer drugs like Taxol from
Taxus trees and treatment for diabetes drugs like Exanitide from Heloderma
lizards and many other potentially important species that has yet to be
investigated.

 Studies of wildlife anatomy, physiology and biochemistry can lead to

important developments of human medicine.
 People around the globe is now facing a great challenge on maintaining a
healthy environment and society for mankind due to the loss of biodiversity and
these situations has greatly affect the supply of food and medicines and to
include cultural and religious values of many tribe and various nations around
the globe.

 Statistics have shown that there have been apparently 80% or majority of the world's
population from developing countries is directly dependent on plants as their main
source for traditional medicine.

 Furthermore 25% of prescriptions dispensed by doctors were using plant extracts as

active ingredient for medications they prescribed.

 Agriculturally speaking crop varieties have been largely reduced over the past half of the
century.

 Having known that majority of the calories used by humans came from the different
variety of crops, mankind's diet has been modified genetically and more preservatives
we're used in creating food to prolong its shelf life.

 This has turned out to create nutrition related diseases to increase with obesity and
diabetes in include among those lists. All of these things which in some way or another is
all associated to the disturb or loss of biodiversity.
 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
IS IMPORTANT FOR CLIMATE
CHANGE ADAPTATION
It is now also widely recognized that biodiversity loss
and climate change are mutually reinforcing: the loss of
biodiversity hastens climate change, which in turn
threatens biodiversity. This has a negative impact on
human health as we struggle to adapt to the impact of
both these environmental challenges.

A climate resilient human community will have access to

protected ecosystem services, and biodiversity is an
essential component of any climate change adaptation
strategy.
 BIODIVERSITY BRINGS FOOD SECURITY,
DIETARY HEALTH AND LIVELIHOOD
SUSTAINABILITY
The differentiation or modification of genes in foods that we process
provides as a basis in improving crops and secures production of enough
amount of food crops and food products.

 Thus, modification of crops can also make it resists or combat varying

environmental conditions like marginal soil, drought, flood, presence of
pests and super weeds.

 Food and nourishments based on varied food species can promote good
health thus assisting in protecting us from diseases associated with
unhealthy diets. Through eating nutritious food vitamin deficiency
problems and recommended dietary supplements can now be obtained.

 Agricultural biodiversity indeed can be a threat to man's health, food

security, and livelihood maintenance if it is destructed or loss.
 BIODIVERSITY REGULATES AND
CONTROLS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The loss of diversified species and the changes that may occur in
the environment can largely increase the spread and the hazards of
infectious diseases in many species of flora and fauna to include
humans and species of livestock that are being consumed largely by
majority of the populations.

 SARS,
 avian influenza,
 swine flu,
 Ebola,
 Malaria
 and COVID - 19
 and a lot more are only among those contagious diseases that can
risk the lives of many people around the globe which are associated
to loss of biodiversity due to human activities, illegal wildlife trade
and unmanageable land use change and modifications.
 ECOSYSTEM CAN REDUCE DISASTER RISK
AND SUPPORT RELIEF AND RECOVERY
EFFORTS
Healthy ecosystem and the diversified species in it can provide important natural buffer
against natural disasters like flood landslide and drought.

 Habitat loss due to different reasons is also a contributory factor in desertification and dry
land salinity impacting on livelihoods community stability.

 Poor communities or those who are sick and who experience low levels of livelihood
security are likely to be at greatest risk of such events.

Many rural and poor communities are typically more dependent on ecosystem for
their livelihood security and well - being therefore they are the most vulnerable to impact
of disasters if these ecosystems are compromised before by disaster impacts.

 People who have been displaced by disaster or conflict may be more susceptible to illness
and more dependent to ecosystem services for their supply of food, shelter, medicine and
other primary needs.

 Through maintaining a sustainable biodiversity, we can help to provide important

resources for promoting health and rebuilding livelihoods in post crisis situations.
 ECOSYSTEM CAN REDUCE DISASTER RISK
AND SUPPORT RELIEF AND RECOVERY
EFFORTS
While it is important for us to fully understand how biodiversity
works and the threats it may lead when it is loss.

 We can now reflect and cherish all these resources for they can be
loss and at stake at a glimpse without us knowing how these
situations on biodiversity loss can greatly affect our lives in many
ways.

 We can now prepare contingency plans on maintain and protecting

biodiversity and create healthy societies at all time.

 Unending hard work, labors and effort must be provided in

protecting, revitalizing and understanding biodiversity in its
smallest and largest scale so mankind can feel its instantaneous and
long-lasting benefits.
 ECOSYSTEM CAN REDUCE DISASTER RISK
AND SUPPORT RELIEF AND RECOVERY
EFFORTS
HERE ARE SOME WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN PROTECT AND RESTORE
BIODIVERSITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF A HEALTHY SOCIETY;
 Continue learning and knowing the different threats to
biodiversity nowadays and educate others on how to control or
avoid biodiversity loss.

 Support local brands as often as possible, these does not only

avoid biodiversity loss but also help local farmers.

 Promote good health and protect the air by walking or riding a

bicycle .

 Reduce carbon gas emission by using your car less often or by

taking public transportation
 COVID – 19 BASIC INFORMATION
(DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FAQS)

We are facing a global health crisis - one that kills people, spreads human suffering and
put off people's lives. However, this is much more than just a health issue.

 It is a crisis that greatly affects individuals, family, economy and the society. With the
heavy option of choosing between to preserve lives while staying at home as a
preventive measure of the government to control the spread of the virus and suffer
from the impact of the lockdowns to our workforce and the negative effect to our
economy or let people freely mobilize, continue with daily life but with a huge risk
of contracting the stern virus and transferring it to their close contacts.

 This virus causes detrimental effect to the employment status of the majority of our
workforce which has recorded the highest adult unemployment rate of 45.5% in July
of 2020.

 Almost all sectors were greatly affected, even the Oversees Filipino Workers who were
forced to return to the country because of the effect of the pandemic in the countries
where that are working. Also, the following industries are extremely blown by the
effects of the pandemic, industries such as Travel and Tourism (Hotels, Resorts,
Travel agencies and tour guide services), Entertainment (Sports, Performing arts,
Movies and Television), Service industry (restaurants and bars), Clothing industries
and Transportation.
 THE FOLLOWING FACTS ABOUT COVID-19 WHICH IS
BASED ON THE WEBSITE OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
ARE AS FOLLOWS:
 Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses causing a range of
illnesses, from the common cold to more serious infections such as
those caused by Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related
Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-
related Coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Coronavirus can also cause a
variety of diseases in farm animals and domesticated pets.

 The novel coronavirus is a new strain of coronavirus that has not

been previously identified in humans. The novel coronavirus has
caused severe pneumonia in several cases in China and has been
exported to a range of countries and cities. Last February 12, 2020,
the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the novel
disease is officially called Coronavirus Disease 19 or COVID-19, and
the virus infecting it is referred to as COVID-19 virus.
 Incubation period is the period between exposure to an infection
and the appearance of the first symptoms. According to the WHO,
the current incubation period of COVID-19 ranges from 1-12.5 days.
These estimates can change as new information is being shared
with the Department of Health (DOH). Based on what we know
about other coronavirus diseases, such as MERS and SARS, their
incubation period reaches up to 14 days. With COVID-19, WHO
recommends to monitor contacts of confirmed cases for 14 days.

 COVID-19 is transmitted from person to person via droplets,

contact, and fomites. It is transmitted when one individual talks,
sneezes, or coughs producing „droplets‟ of saliva containing the
COVID-19 virus. These droplets are then inhaled by another
person. COVID-19 transmission usually occurs among close
contacts -- including family members and healthcare workers. It is
therefore important to maintain a distance of more than 1 meter
away from any person who has respiratory symptoms.
 According to WHO, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are
fever, tiredness and dry cough. Few patients experience aches and
pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.
Patients usually have mild symptoms that start gradually. Most
patients recover without needing any special treatment. Only
around 1 of 6 patients manifest with difficulty breathing and
become seriously ill.

 COVID-19 could be fatal, but this happens rarely. According to

WHO, 82% of infected patients will have mild presentations, 15%
will have severe manifestations, and only 3% will be critical. As
mentioned before, older people, people with compromised
immune systems, and people with pre-existing medical conditions,
such as diabetes and heart disease, are more prone to fall severely
ill with the virus. Around 2% of people infected with the disease
have died.
 As a member of this society, we should adapt and
move forward to the changes brought by the pandemic.
Make sure to safeguard yourself holistically.

 Increase occurrence in the mental health problems are

also evident during these days of uncertainty. Let's
follow the health protocols set by the Inter-agency task
force to ensure the safety of our family which can
contribute for the success of our country as a whole.

 Collaboration and active participation are pivotal while

waiting for an effective and efficient medication and
vaccine that is significant to address the issues of Covid-
19. United we stand, divided we fall.
 Lesson 2:
Genetically Modified Organisms:
Science, Health, and Politics
 INTRODUCTION:

The dawn of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) started after

Watsons and Crick described the structure of DNA paving the way to genetic
engineering studies.

 Since then, scientists have experimented with many types of genes,

some from animals, some from other types of plants. They used a
variety of mechanisms including mutation, insertion or the deletion
of genes within an organism.

 While others view genetically modified organisms as a promising

innovation, there is controversy about their use. In this lesson, you
will be introduced to the concept of genetically modified organisms.

 You will participate in an activity equipping you with the ability to

analyze the ethical implications of GMOs and potential future
impacts
 USES AND IMPLICATIONS OF GENETICALLY
MODIFIED ORGANISMS

 Pest Resistance
Some crops such as corn, cotton and soy beans have been
genetically engineered to produce a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) that is poisonous to insects or pests that damages crops,
resulting in devastating financial loss for farmers. If plants could produce a
shield against pests or insects, farmers no longer have to use insecticides
and pesticides to control insect problems.
 USES AND IMPLICATIONS OF GENETICALLY
MODIFIED ORGANISMS

 Virus Resistance
In 1980, University of Hawaii developed the genetically modified
papaya resistant to Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV). These new transgenic
papaya plants are no longer susceptible to infection, allowing farmers to
cultivate the fruit even when the virus is widespread.
 USES AND IMPLICATIONS OF GENETICALLY
MODIFIED ORGANISMS

 Herbicide Tolerance
Herbicides are weed killers often spray by farmers for increased and
quality production. Glyphosate is an example of herbicide widely used to
kill weeds. However, herbicides do not have the ability to identify plants
that are crops or weeds. Therefore, spraying herbicides are often time
consuming and expensive because the agricultural system can only use
“selective herbicides” which are not effective at removing all types of
weeds.
 So, tolerance to the herbicide was genetically
engineered into agricultural crops, such as soybeans and
corns, allowing farmers to broadly spray (Broad-spectrum
or non-selective herbicides) their farms without killing the
crops.

Glyphosate- resistant soy bean and glyphosate- resistant

corn, commonly called “Roundup Ready”, are examples
of engineered crops to be glyphosate resistant.

These were first introduced by Monsanto Company, a

multinational agrochemical and agricultural
biotechnology corporation in the U.S.
 USES AND IMPLICATIONS OF GENETICALLY
MODIFIED ORGANISMS

 Biofortification
Biofortification is a process to increase the nutritional value of a
crop through breeding or generic engineering. It is a strategy to eliminate
micronutrient deficiencies, including vitamin A, zinc, and iron that have
greatly affected the developing world.

An example is the Golden rice which was developed to address

dietary vitamin A shortages. Vitamin A deficiency if not resolved can
cause visual impairment which could lead to blindness.
 USES AND IMPLICATIONS OF GENETICALLY
MODIFIED ORGANISMS

 Production of Human Insulin

 Insulin is a hormone made by pancreas that regulates the amount of
glucose in the blood which is important for metabolism and utilization of
energy.

 People suffering from diabetes are not capable of producing the necessary
amount of insulin. So, there arises a need for such people to take a
manufactured version of insulin.

 With the help of genetic engineering, the human gene is attached to the
DNA of the bacteria E. coli or baker‟s yeast for insulin production. This is
called GMO insulin.
 USES AND IMPLICATIONS OF GENETICALLY
MODIFIED ORGANISMS

 Use in Gene Therapy

 Gene therapy is a technique to introduce genetic material into cells to
replace or inactivate abnormal gene or to add a new gene in an attempt to
cure or prevent genetic disease.

 The GMOs like some viruses are used in gene therapy.

 Scientists focused on the treatment of various genetic disorders and

diseases like sickle cell anemia, muscular dystrophy, thalassemia,
hemophiliac and cystic fibrosis.
MODULE # 7
Climate Change
The Earth's climate has changed throughout history.

 Just in the last 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of glacial advance
and retreat, with the abrupt end of the last ice age about 7,000 years ago
marking the beginning of the modern climate era — and of human
civilization.

 Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in

Earth’s orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet
receives.
Earth is a very special planet – its orbits close enough to the sun to receive a lot
of energy, but far enough away not to be scorched.

 To help keep these conditions constant, our planet is wrapped in a layer of

greenhouse gases. This layer acts like a blanket, keeping the earth warm and
shielding it from the cold of universe.
 Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns
when that change lasts for an extended period of time (i.e., decades to millions of
years).

 Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment.

 Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and
animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner.
Effects that scientists had predicted in the past would result from global
climate change are now occurring:

 global temperature rise, shrinking ice sheets or loss of sea ice, accelerated sea
level rise and longer, more intense heat waves, water acidification and extreme
events.
Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over
the past century are very likely due to human activities, and most of the leading
scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this
position.

 One manifestation of climate change is global warming.

WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING?
Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of
the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected
continuation. In common usage the term refers to recent warming and
implies a human influence. Most of the observed increase in globally
averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the
observed increase in greenhouse gas concentrations," which leads to
warming of the surface and lower atmosphere by increasing the
greenhouse effect. Natural phenomena such as solar variation combined
with volcanoes also produced greenhouse effect.

WHAT CAUSES CLIMATE CHANGE?

Human activities like mining, wrong practices in agriculture, illegal
logging, burning of fossil fuel, deforestation, too much car that emits
carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and producing industrial waste are
believe to be the sources of greenhouse gasses that in the long run cause
the climate change.
THE GREENHOUSE GASES AND EFFECT;
 Small amounts of heat trapping gases such as water vapor(H2O) , carbon dioxide
(CO2) , ozone (O3), methane CH4 , nitrous oxide (N2O) and chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs,
and water vapor) play a key role in determining the earth’s average temperature and
thus its climates.

 Together, these gases, known as greenhouse gases. They allow light, infrared
radiation, and some ultraviolet radiation from the sun to pass through the
troposphere. The earth’s surface then absorbs much of this solar energy and degrade
it to longer wave infrared radiation ( that is heat), which then rises into the
troposphere, some of this heat escapes into space, some is absorbed by molecules of
greenhouse gases, warming the air. This natural trapping of heat in the troposphere is
called greenhouse effect.

 The greenhouse effect first proposed by Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius in 1896,
has been confirmed by numerous laboratory experiments and atmospheric
measurements.
 Significance: the earth would be a cold and lifeless planet with an average
surface temperature of –18 °C.

 Measured atmospheric levels of certain greenhouse gases – CO2, CFCs, methane, and
nitrous oxide – have risen substantially in recent decades – caused by human
activities : burning fossil, fuels, agriculture, deforestation, and use of CFCs.
CARBON DIOXIDE CONCENTRATION –
Carbon dioxide is responsible for 50-60% of the global warming from greenhouse
gases produced by human activities since pre- industrial times. The main sources are
fossil fuel burning: coal, oil and natural gas (75%) and land clearing and burning (25%).
Carbon dioxide (CO2 is nevertheless the main driver of the greenhouse effect. Because of
this the layer of greenhouse gas is getting thicker, which is in turn making the Earth
warmer.
CHLOROFLOUROCARBON –
Contribute to global warming in the troposphere and deplete ozone in the
stratosphere. The main sources are leaking air conditioners and refrigerators, evaporation
of industrial solvents.
METHANE CONCENTRATION –
Methane is produced when anaerobic bacteria break down organic matter in moist
places that lack oxygen. These areas include swamps and other natural wetlands, rice
paddies and landfills, intestinal tract of cattle, sheep, and termites.
NITROUS OXIDE CONCENTRATION –
Nitrous oxide can trap heat in the troposphere and deplete ozone in the stratosphere.
It is released from nylon production, burning of biomass and nitrogen fertilizers in soil,
livestock wastes.
 WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS
ABOUT FUTURE GLOBAL WARMING AND
ITS EFFECTS?

 According to IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate

Change) the earth’s mean surface temperature will rise
1-3.5 °C between 1990 and 2100.

The northern hemisphere should warm more and faster

than the southern hemisphere because the latter has
more heat absorbing ocean than the land and because
water cools more slowly than land.
 SOME POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF A WARMED WORLD
A WARMER GLOBAL CLIMATE COULD HAVE A NUMBER OF
POSSIBLE EFFECTS:

 Changes in food production; reduce water supplies

 Change in the makeup and location of many world’s forests.
 Can cause massive wild fires
 Reduction in biodiversity due to loss of habitat; destroying the coral reefs
 Water in the oceans would expand and lead to rise in sea level.
 Warming at the poles caused ice sheets and glaciers to melt , the global sea
level would rise far more; melting of polar ice caps
 Weather extremes are expected to increase in number and severity
 Poses threats to human health, affects the respiratory tract increasing air
pollution in winter months
 Drought
 Lead to a growing number of environment refugees. Causing social disorder
and
political instability.
 HOW CAN WE LOWER DOWN THE POSSIBLE
OUTCOME OF GLOBAL WARMING?
- Get involved----cut fossil fuel use in half
- improve energy efficiency; switch off light when not in use
- shift to renewable energy resources
- reduce deforestation
- use sustainable agriculture
- slow population growth
- remove carbon dioxide from smoke stack and vehicle emissions
- plant and tend trees; green your community
- trim production of industrial waste; encourage practices of 3R’s
- Full implementation laws
 10 FACTS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE TODAY (2020):
1. NASA data show that average global temperatures in 2019 (second warmest year
on record) were 1.8 degrees F (0.98 degrees C) warmer than the 20th century average.
In fact, the five warmest years in the 1880–2019 record have all occurred since 2015.

2. Eleven percent (11%) of all global greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans
activities such as deforestation (creates about 6 billion tons of CO 2 per year)
comparable to the emissions from all of the passenger vehicles on the globe.

3. Nature is an available solution (Tropical forests are incredibly effective at storing

carbon, providing at least a third of the mitigation action needed to prevent the worst
climate change scenarios. Yet nature-based solutions receive only 3% of all climate
funding).

4. Fight climate change (improve livelihoods naturally) such as restoring degraded

forest could create as many as 39 jobs per million dollar spent. This job creation
rate is more than six times higher than the oil and gas industry.

5. About 800 million people (Eleven percent) of the world’s population is currently
vulnerable to climate change impacts such as droughts, floods, heat waves,
extreme weather events, and sea-level rise.
 10 FACTS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE TODAY (2020):
6. About 800,000 hectares of mangroves lost every year, if we continue to lose
mangroves at this rate, they may disappear within the next century. This loss,
removes an important buffer from extreme weather for coastal communities and
releases immense amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

7. Save nature (It’s cheaper). Conserving ecosystems is often more cost-effective than
human-made interventions. In the Maldives, preserving the natural coral reef is four
times cheaper than building a sea wall for coastal protection, even after 10 years of
maintenance costs.

8. One hundred eighty-nine (189) countries have ratified the 2015 Paris Agreement,
agreeing to limit global warming and adapt to climate change, partly by protecting
nature.

9. Heat waves caused by global warming present greater risk of heat related illness
and death, most frequently among people who have diabetes who are elderly or
are very young.

10.Since 1870, global sea levels have risen by about 8 inches.

Many researchers worldwide are developing nanomaterial
(Efficient Catalyst and Mostly Recyclable) that resourcefully
convert too much greenhouse gases similar to carbon dioxide
from air, capture toxic pollutants from water, and degrade solid
waste into more valuable products.

Nanotechnology and its nanoparticles have a big

potential to resolve ecological alarm but we have to be
strictly cautious in using it, especially about society’s
health and its negative impacts to the environment
because long term effect of using its nanomaterial's
have not been evaluated yet.
 WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO REDUCE
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION:

 In June of 1992 Earth summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, 106

nations approved Climate Change Convention, which in turn led to
the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Members of the
developed countries committed themselves to reducing their
emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases.

 Kyoto protocol also known as Kyoto accord. In December 1997

representatives of 160 nations met in Kyoto, Japan to negotiate a
new treaty to help slow global warming. The resulting treaty would
require developed or industrialized countries to cut greenhouse
emissions by the average of 0.2% below 1990 levels between
2008-2012 ; allow emission trading, in which a country that beats
its target goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions can sell its
excess reductions to countries that failed to meet their reduction
goals
 WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO REDUCE
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION:

 The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate

change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12
December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016. Its main
goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees
Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. To achieve this long-term
temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse
gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate neutral world by
mid-century. The Paris Agreement is a landmark in the multilateral
climate change process because, for the first time, a binding agreement
brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to
combat climate change and adapt to its effects.

 The Greenpeace is an independent, non-profit, global campaigning

organization that uses non violent creative confrontation to expose
global environmental problems and their causes. Their goals is to ensure
the ability of Earth to nurture life in all its diversity