Investigator training should focus on the structure of an Essay

Investigator training should focus on the structure of an investigation rather than the skill of the Investigator Examine this statement - Essay Example As a result, investigator training has become a critical component in preparing the investigators for their paramount role and duty in society. However, given the scenario in modern environment, it can be noted that, the role played by investigators will continue to evolve and this particular aspect will greatly affect the level, nature, content, and context of training such investigators should have. Therefore, even as training of investigators remains critical and important, the question being asked is whether the training methodology should put more focus on the structure of an investigation or on the skills of the investigator. Subsequent discussions will try to examine and analyse the statement in a deeper understanding and conceptualization. Investigators have been found to be important professionals in the dispensation of numerous activities in new world (Chandler, 2009). This is so, given that, the modern world is characterized by myriad of issues and challenges. The social world and overall human interaction is no longer at peace, since there are increased reports of terrorism activities, accidents of diverse natures, thefts of different types and magnitudes, frauds of any kind, and all sought of evil activities in society. The occurrence of these activities impacts heavily and negatively on different social institutions, actors, structures, and systems. As a result, there has been the need to identify the various ways to deal with such problems. Part of solution to these problems has been found to lie with investigators. Investigators, in their capacity as professionals, are perceived to have knowledge, skills, and sometimes experience to help other professionals identify, describe, evaluate, and analyze different a ctivities that qualify to be investigated. Michaelides-Mateou and Mateou (2010) study and analyze investigators specializing in aviation

Opening a Business in Switzerland Research Paper

Opening a Business in Switzerland - Research Paper Example Switzerland is a democratic country with good relations with a vast majority of countries across the globe. Swiss workplace is decentralized with respect to power. There is an informal culture wherein employees freely interact with the managers and also expect to be involved in decision making. There is great respect for values and traditions in Switzerland. The opportunities of doing business in Switzerland include low tax rates tax exemptions, and business without licensing in some cases whereas the risks include the need to rely upon imports and the debt crisis that the Swiss banking sector is currently facing. With proper planning of the business and prudent management of resources, there is a lot of room for expansion of business in Switzerland. There is a whole procedure of establishing a new business in Switzerland that includes activities like registering the company, getting the signatures over the application form notarized, obtaining a legal entity, paying the stamp tax at the bank, registering for the VAT, and acquiring social insurance for the employees. II. Country Profile Location and size/population The total area of Switzerland is 41285 km2. Switzerland shares its boundary with Italy, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Austria. There are three main geographic divisions in Switzerland; Alps that covers about 60 per cent of the total area, Middle Land that makes up to 30 per cent of the area, and Jura that 10 per cent of the land (about.ch, 2012). As of July, 2011, the population of Switzerland was 7,655,628 (indexmundi.com, 2012). Topography and climate Almost two-thirds of the total land of Switzerland constitutes forests, mountains, and lakes. About 20 per cent of the Alps are hosted by Switzerland. â€Å"Approximately 100 peaks are close to or higher than 4000 meters (13125 feet) above sea level† (about.ch, 2012). There are many lakes in Switzerland that include the Lake Geneva and numerous little lakes. Glaciers constitute above 3000 km2 of the total area in Switzerland, though they are decreasing with the passage of time. Switzerland lies in the transition zone from the climatic perspective. The Atlantic ocean influences the west. There occurs frequent rainfall in Switzerland because of the moisture brought in with the winds. In the east, continental climate prevails whereas there is a climatic divide at the alps. Towards the alps’ south, the Mediterranean climate prevails. Natural resources Switzerland has almost no mineral resources because of which, most of the natural resources are imported and processed and then used or resold in the form of different kinds of products. The most important part of Swiss economy is services that include but are not limited to tourism, assurances, and banking. A very important part of the Swiss economy is farming. However, despite the country’s dependence on farming, Swiss farmers’ production is insufficient to meet the needs of the population which is w hy Switzerland has to import goods from other countries to meet the demand. Language and religion Switzerland has about four national languages that include French, Romanish, German, and Italian. The largest followed religion in Switzerland is Roman Catholic which is the religion of 47.6 per cent of the population, 44.3 per cent of the people are

On Outdoor Play Children And Young People Essay

On Outdoor Play Children And Young People Essay The following research is to be related to outdoor play and its benefits for children and why outdoor play is not what it used to be. Research done on children stated that it is a myth that children enjoy staying indoors playing computer games and indoor games, a greater number of children prefer to play outside eighty eight per cent would prefer to play at the beach or by a river, seventy nine per cent like to play in the park, seventy nine per cent enjoy riding their bike and seventy six children playing ball games. However parents would prefer that their child stays indoors as they feel it is safer one in four would rather their child play on the computer than climb trees and one in five computer- based games play than letting their children play on fields. (Play England 2011) Children missing out on the great outdoors http://www.playengland.org. Methodology To help with this research project the literature research will be conducted on secondary research from books and articles on the subject and through the internet. It will also examine a range of quantitative and qualitative research. Literature review Research by the Department of the Environment (1973) on children that play outdoors and in the local area of where they live have declined over the past thirty years, a report done on outdoor play in 1973 showed that seventy five per cent of children played in the street as this was found to be the most popular. The study showed that children were more involved in physical activities like walking, running, made their own go-karts and ball games (Department of the Environment 1973). Another Study that was done by Play Board in 1995 had a similar outcome regarding childrens play this was done on two samples of over eight hundred children aged five to fourteen, these children were asked where they would play if they were not at home twenty four per cent of children said playing in the street, eighteen per cent said the play park and seventeen per cent said the garden (Parkinson 1985) Information obtained from a survey done in 2005 stated that only fifteen per cent of children aged between five and fifteen play outside in the street this is due to the quantity of obstacles put in their way of outdoor play (Department of transport 2006). Transport has a big influence on how children play. An ESRC sponsored study in 2000 showed that children thought that traffic is one of the biggest dangers of outdoor play along with gangs, bullies, and strangers (Matthews and Limb 2000). Research done by Savlone and playengland (2011) showed that most parents ventured outdoors as a child, however they now have concerns their children do not have the same opportunities as they did then. Research done with children showed that forty two per cent of children said that they have never made a daisy chain; thirty per cent of children have not attempted to climb trees. Children are aware of barriers to outdoor play as their parents are telling them to keep safe a report done by Young Voice and The Childrens Society in preparation for Playday 2003 stated that parents are always warning their children of stranger danger (Stockdale,Katz and Brook 2003a) Public attitudes toward children spending more time playing outdoors is positive and believe this as being an important part of a childs life it has social benefits play with other children has an impact on how children relate to one another, from being part of a group or part of the local community (Casey 2010) In the street, particularly in the nooks and crannies of the public space not under the watchful gaze of adults, children may thus begin forming a public identity and establish their own selfhood and independence(Spilsbury 2005, p 81). For years research findings has shown the importance of outdoor play and childrens well- being this was recognised in the 1960s when Mead (1966) stated that the neighbourhoods give children the opportunity to discover their environment and learn life lessons. Worpole and Knox (2007) believed that play is important for children; it can build some good friendships and understand the rules of social life. Outdoor play can benefit children in natural surroundings; free play and exposure to nature are vastly recognised as part of a childs healthy development (Moore and Cosco 2009). Studies of research show that daily connections with exposures to the outdoors can improve fitness attention and can lower sickness rates it is also believed that this can give children a sense of freedom. Children that play outdoors learn to navigate their immediate environment and build their self-confidence (Open university 2011). Those children that do not play outdoors will have less confidence and will unlikely be involved in the community (Gleave 2010). When children play out in the natural environment they are likely to enjoy nature as they grow up. Adrian Voce, Co-Director of Play England Said: Most parents know that children are curious about, and love to play outdoors. This is a deeply instinctive part of human nature and a vital part of healthy childhoods. We need to ensure that all children can access local green spaces to play, enabling them to have everyday adventures outside. To do this we need to support parents to help them feel confident to let children play out. (Adrian Voce, Co-Director of Play England) Children missing out on the great outdoors (wwwplayengland.org.uk). A UK survey found that ninety one per cent of adults understood the importance of outdoor play, sixty per cent said that they were worried about the safety of their children play in public places (Mc Neish Roberts, cited in Valentine McKenrick,1997). Beunderman (2010) found evidence that child learn life skills through outdoor play in their communities for example looking out for each other, asking for help. It is argued that having these abilities can offer them a positive outlook on the community gaining trust, feeling welcome and getting to know people in the community and being able to respect and have better relationships with other adults. According to the working paper by Lester and Russell (2010) on the importance of play: Adults should be aware of the importance of play and take action to promote and protect the conditions that support it. The guiding principle is that any intervention to promote play acknowledges its characteristics and allows sufficient flexibility, unpredictability and security for children to play freely. (Lester and Russell 2010: 46) Bishop (2012) stated that 25 per cent of toddlers are lacking vitamin D. The importance of outdoor play is essential for vitamin D as this comes from the sun and is one of the most important vitamins you need for your immune system and bones. Bristol University exposed some new research from the children of the nineties study recording the health of fourteen thousand five hundred children from birth in the 1990s, it shows that the connection among low levels of vitamin D and depression this happens in childhood so children that play outdoor reduce the risk of getting vitamin D deficiency and have a healthy body If you spend your time playing Nintendo or computer games instead of running about outside, riding in a car instead of on a bike, taking the tube / bus instead of walking through the park, thinking you look cool always wearing dark glasses or if you have dark skin to genetically protect you from a hot equatorial sun and you live in northern Europe or north America then you are going to benefit from a vitamin D supplement. A vitamin D deficiency leaves you with a greater risk of a number of different diseases not just bone problems such as rickets. (Yvonne Bishop-Weston 2012) Conclusion It is evident that there is a shortage of outdoor space for children to play with the ever increase of built up areas. Fewer play parks and not enough affordable places for parents to take children so that they can have the freedom to be able playing outdoors. It is also evident that children achieve much better when they are playing outdoors such as physical development, social skills, problem solving and creativity. (http://www.npt.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1639). References Casey, T (2010) Inclusive Play: Practical strategies for children from birth to eight. London: Sage. Beunderman, J (2010) People Make Play: The impact of staffed play provision on children, families and communities. London: Play England. Department of the Environment. (1973). Children at Play: Design Bulletin 27. London: HMSO. Department for Transport (2006). National Travel Survey 2005. Transport Statistics. www.dft.gov.uk Gleave, J (2010) Community Play: A literature review. London: Play England. Available online at: http://www.playday.org.uk/PDF/Community-play-a-literature-review.pdf (Accessed Jan. 2013). Lester, S and Russell, W (2010) Childrens right to play: An examination of the importance of play in the lives of children worldwide. Working Paper No. 57, The Hague, The Netherland: Bernard van Leer Foundation Matthews, H. and Limb, M. (2000). Exploring the fourth environment: young peoples use of place and views on their environment. Stirling: University of Stirling. ESRC. Mead, M (1966) Neighbourhood and human needs, Ekistics, 21, 124-126, in Blakely, K S (1994) Parents Conceptions of Social Danger to Children in the Urban Environment, Childrens Environment, 1, 1, 16-25. Moore, R and Cosco, N (2009) The re-emerging importance of outdoor play in nature, Playrights Magazine, 1, 4-6. Parkinson, C. E. (1985). Where Children Play: an analysis of interviews about where children aged 5 14 normally play and their preferences for out of school activities. Play Board. Open University (2011) Play, learning and the brain. Available online at: http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=397465printable=1 (Accessed Jan. 2013). Spilsbury, JC (2005) We Dont Really Get to Go Out in the Front Yard: Childrens home range and neighbourhood violence, Childrens Geographies, 3, 1, 79-99. Stockdale,D. Katz,A.and Brook,L (2003a) You cant keep me in. London: The Childrens Society, Young Voice Voce, A. (2013). Co-Director of Play England (2013) Children missing out on the great outdoors http://www.playengland.org.uk/news/2011/08/children-missing-out-on-the-great-outdoors.aspx (Accessed Jan. 2013) Yvonne Bishop-Weston (2012) http://nutrition-news.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/uk-children-and-adults-lack-vitamin-d.html (Accessed Jan 2013) Worpole, K and Knox, K (2007) The Social Value of Public Spaces. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Coping with Change, Managing Uncertainty Essay -- essays research pape

Coping with Change, Managing Uncertainty Introduction 'Thirty years ago most people thought that change would mean more of the same, only better. That was incremental change and to be welcomed. Today we know that in many areas of life we cannot guarantee more of the same...[we] cannot even predict with confidence what will be happening in our own lives.' (Handy, 1991) He differentiates between incremental and 'discontinuous' change, suggesting that the combination of economics and technology form a potent blend in this. We can see that Higher Education (HE) Library and Information Services (LIS), are part of an environment which is subject to both incremental and discontinuous change: Political - increased control from central government Sociological - the information age Educational - the mass HE system Technological - networking, computing and telecommunications Organisational - new structures Economic - increased demand for value for money Cultural - changed norms and values In LIS the move from holdings of information sources in-house to electronic access to remote sources, along with the pressure to provide more services with fewer human and financial resources brings its own kind of change: New structures such as team-working Collaboration with a range of different groups and individuals Additional skills for staff and users Increased management and decision-making Heavier workloads LIS managers and their staff need to adopt positive strategies to cope with these changes: 'Library administrators must become facilitators. They must understand how the world is changing and how the library must change. And they must also learn to be masters at persuasion, since wherever there is change there will be resistance.' (Moore, 1995) Coping with change rests on two struts: understanding change and managing change. Coping with change: understanding Practical steps can be taken to increase knowledge and understanding: SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis TQM (Total Quality Management) exercises Group planning exercises Programmes of visiting speakers Training needs analysis Environmental scanning Electronic discussion lists User surveys Internal staff surveys Away days External seminars, conferences and workshops Shared experience sessions Understanding uncertainty 'Information technology is ve... .... Mowat (eds). Networking and the future of libraries: managing the intellectual record. UKOLN and LA. Corrall, S. (1995 b) Academic libraries in the information society. New Library World, 96 (1120), 35-42. Garvin, D.A. (1994) Building a learning organisation. Business Credit New York, 96 (1), 19. Handy, C. (1991) The Age of Unreason. In: Henry, Jane (ed) Creative Management. Sage Publications, 269-282. Majaro, S. (1988) The Creative Gap. London, Longman. Moore, M. (1995) Impact of the changing environment on academic library administration: conflicts, incongruities, contradictions and dichotomies. Journal of Library Administration, 22 (1), 13-36. Morgan, G. (1991) Emerging waves and challenges. In: Henry, Jane (ed). Creative Management. Sage Publications, 283-293. Riggs, D. (1997) What's in store for academic libraries? Leadership and management issues. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 23 (1). 3-8. Walton, G. and Edwards, C. (1997) Strategic management of the electronic library in the UK higher education sector: implications of eLib's IMPEL2 project at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle. In: Raitt, D. (ed) Libraries for the New Millennium, 169-198.

Laurie Halse Anderson Essay

As Cayla Mills once said, â€Å"You never know strong you are†¦ until being strong is the only choice you have.† People in books, movies, and even in real-life don’t know their true strength until being strong is the only option they have. People will even become stronger and will demonstrate their strength by facing tough decisions and by dealing with their problems. Characters in books frequently demonstrate their true strength by overcoming obstacles in life. Throughout the books Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, characters demonstrate their strength by facing their problems. It is when they learn to speak up for themselves that they find their true strength and become even stronger than they were before. In the story Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Melinda discovers her true strength through her problems with bullying. During the party over the summer, Melinda was raped and had not been able to speak up for herself. After the rape, she called the cops on the guy who had raped her. People had not treated her fairly because they thought she was strange for calling the cops at the party. She had not been able to tell anybody about what had really happened. Throughout the story, Melinda suffers to speak to other people. Since the story is told in first-person, the reader can understand the situations Melinda has suffered through. They feel her pain when Rachel walks up to her during the first day and says to her, â€Å"I hate you.† They also understand her difficulties with speaking up for herself. During the beginning, there are often conversations involving Melinda without her saying a word. When she decides to speak up for herself in the spring, she discovers her true strength and is able to tell Rachel, her ex-best friend, about the rape. Also, because Laurie Halse Anderson used symbolism ef fectively throughout the novel, the reader is able to understand Melinda in relation to a tree. Similar to a tree, Melinda hibernates in the winter and goes dormant, but gains the strength the speak up for herself in the spring. Another example from the story Speak is when Melinda has to protect herself from Andy Evans. When she is attacked once again by Andy Evans in the janitor’s closet toward the end of the book, she is given two options: to let Andy Evans gain control of her and possibly rape her a second time, or to defend herself against Andy Evans, despite her fear. She chooses to stand up against Andy Evans and gains the courage to say â€Å"no† to him, which is what she wasn’t able to say during the rape at the party. When  he assaults her further, she grabs a piece of the broken mirror and uses it to harm Andy Evans, disabling his speaking ability. During the entire first marking period, she tried to hide from mirrors so that she can’t look at herself. When she used the broken mirror to defend herself, it showed that she had the strength to face herself and to see that the rape had not been her fault. Through this decision she has demonstrated her true strength, and shows that she finally has the strength to protect herself from Andy Evans. Throughout the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, Arnold must face both his problems at home and his problems at school in Reardan. At the beginning of the book, Arnold is treated poorly by the Indians on the rez for being bold enough to leave the rez and to go to Reardan. Arnold is also treated unfairly by the white people at Reardan for being the only Indian at the school. Toward the end of the book, however, Arnold gains the strength to start making new friends at Reardan. Even when his grandmother is, ironically, hit by a drunk driver and killed, he is able to demonstrate the strength he has gained from these new friends and from the hard choices he has made. At the beginning of the book, Arnold is faced with two options: to either stay on the rez and face his drunken father along with the rest of the drunken Indians, or leave the rez to go to Reardan. It would have been easier to stay on the rez, knowing that he would not be treated the same by the Indians after leaving, but he chose to go to Reardan. Arnold was bold enough to leave the rez to go to Reardan, where he had decided that he would be able to get a better education. Arnold is certainly not treated the same by the Indians after leaving, nor is he treated fairly by the students at Reardan. On the rez, he is frequently called an â€Å"apple,† meaning that he is white on the inside on red on the outside. By facing his problems head on, he is able to demonstrate true strength and is ultimately able to gain the trust of many students at Reardan. Cayla Mills once said, â€Å"You never know how strong you are†¦ until being strong is the only choice you have.† The quote describes how you never know how strong you really are, until the times in life that you must be strong. By facing one’s problems, it is possible to demonstrate true strength. In many real life situations and in books, the strongest characters find their true strength through suffering and often don’t know how strong they are until faced with difficult decisions.

Genetically Modified/Engineered Foods Essay

Genetically modified food products first emerged in the commercial markets some time around the mid 1990s and were a hot topic among producers and potential buyers alike. A decade has passed ever since and the debate around genetically engineered foods shows no signs of retreat. Initially, there was much enthusiasm to these foods due to the many advantages expected from these modified food crops, such as resistance to pests and the use of herbicides for the control of weed production in addition to the high nutritional value. Proponents of this new technology of food production were confident that its employment would yield extremely positive results including improved crop yield, agrochemical use and the production of highly nutritious food crops even in nutritionally drained soils. However, as time elapsed, research and study began to be conducted on these foods and it was soon brought to light that these foods are not safe for consumption, resulting in a backlash against the use of these foods. Opponents argue that the dangers associated with genetically engineered foods far outweigh the few benefits. The methods of production of foods due to gene slicing biotechnological are new and hence, the products obtained from them cannot be appropriately tested by the old methods. There is also a growing concern that genetically modified foods would create a monopoly of food supply in the hands of a few large companies which would cause tremendous harm to smaller farmers and agriculture businesses. The matter has become a political issue in many countries due to this fast, which has the power to influence the lives of millions of farmers across developed countries. The paper attempts to analyze both sides of the argument by highlighting some of the advantages and disadvantages of genetically modified foods. The primary worry is of course the danger and risk to the original composition of crops which would be substantially modified by the new techniques. The debate regarding genetically modified or engineered foods is getting more serious as there are numerous concerns regarding the environmental and health risks of food produced from this new technology. The primary causes of problems are believed to rise due to the antibiotic resistant genes used in the crops which are altered and modified. The production process also includes increased use of pesticides while planting the many varieties of modified plants (CFS 2000, 2004). Some authors have stated that genetic modification of foods is the new technology in agriculture which is â€Å"here to stay† (Schmidt 2005) ignoring the possibility of allergens which have the potential of triggering allergies in people due to the consumption of genetically engineered species of crops and agricultural products is a cause of concern. The growing episodes of food contamination prove that genetically modified foods are not absolutely safe to consume. The contamination of food due to the altered species of corn termed as ‘Starlink’ was the cause of contamination in numerous food products and due to which the company Aventis had to suffer huge losses to pay one hundred and ten million dollars in order to compensate the losses of farmers, food processors and grain handlers (Harl 2003; Jacobs 2003). There have been other contamination incidents which have resulted in severe health and financial problems to the biotech industry. Gillis (2002), Nichols (2002), and Greenpeace (2005). Besides, researchers are apprehensive of the testing methods of the FDA due to the alterations in the composition of these modified foods which subsequently results in changes of â€Å"toxicological, immunological, or nutritional concern† (Schenkelaars, 2002). The testing techniques of genetically modified foods by the FDA has attracted severe criticism for by top level scientists who are opposed to the process of gene alteration in food production and agriculture (Alliance for Biointegrity 2004). The general public too is apprehensive over the techniques used in the manufacture and production of genetically engineered foods (Schmidt, 2005). Schmidt (2005) explains that biotechnology enables scientists to employ methods for combination of genes from unrelated species of plants, animals and microorganisms for which many methods are used. The genes can be artificially combined using natural techniques to allow bacterial and viruses to â€Å"penetrate cells† or electric shocks â€Å"to destabilize the cell membranes† which would help in making the cell membranes â€Å"permeable†. All these artificial techniques facilitate the permeability of the cell membrane which otherwise evades the entry of any foreign genes or DNA from entering the original structure of the cell (Schmidt, 2005). Genetic engineering would mean going against nature for the creation of new substances, the validity of which remains an unanswered question. What is worse is the fact that the natural boundaries of the entire animal and plant kingdom will be at potential risk, since genetic engineering provides scientists with the ability to combine the genes of any existence on the face of the earth. The gene of a potato can be combined with the gene of a fish by introducing the former into the latter or vice versa. This scientific manipulation of foods is a growing concern among many scientists who feel that genetic alteration by humans can increase the levels of natural toxins in plants or allergens in foods. Genetic modification also increases the potential to enable plants and natural foods of â€Å"switching on genes that produce poison† (Shan, 2006). Other dangers of engineered foods include â€Å"antibiotic resistance† among foods, â€Å"increased pesticide residues†, â€Å"genetic pollution† and damage to soil fertility and the beneficial insects which would all subsequently cause â€Å"socio-economic hazards and ethical hazards to the entire human community† (Cummins 1999). Additionally, injection of chemical hormones like the IGF-1 in animals such as the cow increases the risk of serious diseases like cancers of the breast, colon and the prostate among consumers (Cummins 1999). Proponents of genetically engineered foods argue that these foods grown without the use of chemical additives are â€Å"superior†. The addition of food colors such as Para Red and Sudan III to naturally grown foods have resulted in several hazardous incidents as reported by the BBC News (2005) and since genetically produced foods are grown and stored without the use pesticides or fertilizers and any kind of artificial additives, supporters advocate its use. Reports regarding the growing cases of diseases such as asthma (Salam et al 2004), cancers (Muir 2005) and other harmful diseases caused due to farming techniques and pollution is a prime concern to the proponents of genetically modified foods. Heaton (2001) affirms the many health problems which occur due to the growing use of pesticides in natural foods including hormone disturbances, repression of the human immune system and other neurological damages. The chemicals used as pesticides in naturally produced foods include the likes of DDT which has been banned by most of the developed nations, and others such as lindane and astrazine (Shan, 2006). The pesticide residues such as organophosphates found in foods have been associated with hazardous effects such as reduced male fertility, cancer, abnormalities of the fetus, and even Parkinson’s disease (BMA 1992 and Robbins 1991). Additionally, high exposures of the farmers to pesticides have also enormously increased the risks of these farmers to cancers and other harmful diseases associated with them. (Schreinemachers, 2000; Alavanja et al. ,2003). Nutritionally too, genetically modified foods are believed to fare better than their natural counterparts. Research confirms that the nutritional value of genetically modified and grown foods is more than naturally grown foods. Worthington (2001) affirms that organic crops contain far more vitamins, minerals and other nutrients which are beneficial for the functioning of a healthy body. Besides, organic foods are believed to contain much less percentages of nitrates than naturally produced foods (Williams, 2002). The report by the Soil Association compares the nutritional value of genetically modified foods and naturally produced foods (Heaton 2001). Since many food products contain less water, which is why they shrink on storage, genetic engineering of foods tends to alter the structure of the plants so that the ability to retain more water in increased. This would also prevent the food from shrinking on being cooked. Genetic farming and modification of foods also restrict the use of drugs, especially in animals which reduces the risk of infections to humans. Besides, genetically engineered foods and products have higher levels of flavonoids, which act as a natural defense mechanism against the pests feeding on them (Shan, 2006). Flavonoids also play a crucial role in the prevention of cardiac problems and fatal diseases such as cancer. These foods also tend to have greater ant oxidation properties, due to the antioxidants like lycopene and phyto-nutrients like tannins present in them (Shan, 2006). Genetically modified foods have been an issue of debate over the possible advantages and disadvantages they may have on the health of humans. Thus, while it is important to adopt new technologies and procedures to better human life, the health and quality should not be compromised. It is the responsibility of regulatory authorities to adopt means and measures for appropriate testing of foods so that the general public gets maximum benefits from advancing technological processes without having to compromise health and wellbeing.