The entire global media was shocked, recently, when news came about a group of scientists trying to plant a dog’s head on a cow’s body. Similarly, continuous nuclear tests by North Korea raised tension throughout the East Asia. These illustrations depict the fact that the world is marching ahead in the field of scientific development. Whether it is the field of agriculture or astronomy, there have been many scientific explorations. Human rockets got victory over the moon in 1969. Earth’s space ships have scaled the mars. Genetically modified food has revolutionised the whole agricultural sector. Rarely a human dies, these days, because of common cold or diarrhoea. Communication and transportation have advanced beyond our expectations. However a question arises, are these advancement really obligatory for the human advancement. It can always be argued that science is required for betterment of life. But we cannot forget those nuclear weapons resulting from the same advancement. Genetics has crossed the ethical line. Whole environment and other creatures are under threat because of continuous research in the name of such advancements.
Science has indeed made our life easier. It used to be day when people had to walk for many days for travelling from one place to another. Pigeons used to be the method of communication. Now the case is different. Modern tools such as aeroplane, bullet trains have simplified the transportation sector. It takes nearly less than 24 hours to physically travel to the United States of America from Nepal. A single tap on keyboard allows two friends to communicate with each other living in two different poles of the earth. Electronic mail allows the message transfer within the interval of couple of seconds. Science has given a lot to us. And we must be thankful for it. The luxury we live today would not have been possible if our ancestors had placed a limit in the scientific developments. So is it rational to ban now? Aren’t we grudging our future generations of a war better life science could offer? If we look from this perspective it is logical to argue that no confines should be placed on the scientific developments.
However we cannot forget that the science has given nightmares too. Advancement in the weaponry sector has intimidated the whole world. Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are being developed day by day. ‘Little boy’, the first atom bomb used against Japanese city, Hiroshima in 1945 caused 68% of the destruction in the city. The radiation is still high in those areas leading to the cases of mutated and still births. Those were the primitive bombs. Present-day bombs are able to destroy the whole world completely.
In addition, the chemical research has produced new types of chemical weapons. The anthrax used against the Americans after September 11 incident is the example of such weapons. Science is day by day building a new way to kill us. So it can be genuinely argued that further research in that sector will do nothing more than eliminate our self from the earth.
Moreover the continuous research in the field of genetics has crossed the ethical line. The day has come when the sex of a child can be foreseen. Parents are choosing the sex of their child before the birth. Recent survey done in a city of India showed that 3 boys were born to a girl. Now a problem arises, if this continues there will be very few women for our future generations to marry. Genetics has created more problems than solutions. If genetics determines everything of a person, then a question arises. What are parents for? What is the god for? This has become a serious issue in the modern time.
Scientific advancements also have their cost. We are sacrificing our natural resources for the research. A single rocket launch takes away tonnes of fuels. A single missile launched penetrates the atmosphere and pollutes it. The valuable non-renewable resources of the earth are plummeting because of this. Moreover, aeroplane, buses run on petroleum. The harmful gases like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide emitted from these vehicles pollute the air and land. Carbon monoxide is a fatal to life if mixed with the haemoglobin of our blood.
Similarly, scientific tests require various tests. Indeed, poor creatures are used to the tests. The rabbits and chimpanzees are often used for testing cosmetics products. No one ever thinks of the physical pain which those creatures bear. Furthermore we keep them in captive. We are indeed exploiting the animal rights for our personal interests.
Science is necessary for the betterment of human race. It will ensure a better future for the generations to come. Our present luxurious life would not be possible if our forefathers had placed limits in the scientific advancements. However, its advancement had major problems too. To on-going trend of weapon research will destroy the life on the earth one day. Genetics is progressing but in negative direction. We are sacrificing the very earth and its creatures for our research. So to ensure that the future world survives and lives a better future, some limits have to be placed in the scientific development.
About Me
- Aman
- Kathmandu, Bagmati, Nepal
- Being born to a nepali family, i am a optimistic boy with great aims and wishes. well talking about my interests i love surfing in net. reading text books...(rarely novels, coz everytime i read them i fell asleep). I am crazy about music specially emotional songs. I am studying at trinity international college right now. If you want to make me as your friend then it will be my pleasure to do so. My email id is:aman2ab@hotmail.com. I will be great to receive your comments and suggestions
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
MONEY HAS RUINED THE SPORTS.
Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been entitled as the highest earning cricket player of the year 2009 with an annual income of $10 million. Similarly, recent news disclosed that England’s soccer star David Beckham earns an annual income of $ 42.7 million. Current English premiere league champion Chelsea spent more than £200 million after the take-over of the club by the new owner. These all examples depict the fact that sports has been highly commercialised. Sports have nearly changed its dimensions. It is not just a form of mere entertainment. It has gained commercial value. A Brazilian soccer star easily earns more than a Bollywood superstar. Sports are not confined within the field, court or a race course. Almost every match is now shown live on ESPN or any other sports channel. The advertising agencies have bloomed up because of it. Players are now financially secured. However, the love for the game has reduced. Cases of match fixings and positive doping results have risen.
Before few decades, a player had to hold another part time job to sustain his livelihood. Now, the cases have been modified. Even today the players hold a part time job but in a different manner. Yuvraj Singh; an Indian left handed all-rounder; who is said to have so called X-Factor, gains more money from endorsing products rather than from his game itself. He gets millions for endorsing products ranging from Gillete to Hair creams. David Beckham has the highest commercial value in the world. Cricket star Sachin Tendulkar is enlisted among the top 50 billionaires of India. They earn a lot and have definitely made their lifestyle easier.
However, because of the continuous effort of players on advertisements, their performance has been affected. As the players get lured by the money amount they get by endorsing the commercial products, they spend more time on it than sports. For instance, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is repeatedly seen endorsing products like ‘Boost’, ‘Dabur Chyawanpras’, ‘Lays’, ‘Sonata Watches’ and ‘Hero-Honda bikes’; was not able to score more than 10 runs in every match during the India tour to Australia 2005, had to give justification to the Indian Cricket Board for his continuous poor performance. The board had accused him of concentrating more on advertisements than on cricket itself.
With plenty of money being poured in sports, the attitude of the players has changed. The players no more play for the thrill and love for the game. The primary motivator is money. They just play to earn. And in case where sports do not provide sufficiently, they are prepared to cross the conventional border of earning. This has given rise to the phenomenon called the match fixing. Many players are and were found to underperform for the alleged sums of money. Hanse Cronje, the former South African Cricket team captain, was guilty in this charge. He gave one of his mediocre performances with Indians for alleged sum of 2 million. Also he was charged of provoking his team mate Hershelle Gibbs for securing less than 20 runs in a match. Cronje had promised Gibbs to give $ 50,000 for this work. In turn, both the players who were found guilty had to face a ban from the South African cricket team. These incidents unswervingly show that money has ruined the spirit of the game.
Moreover, the trend of commercialization has encouraged doping. Since players are forced to win, they involve themselves in using performance enhancing drugs. Tennis star Rogger Federer publicly confessed about the pressure exerted on him for winning the Grand Slam. Apart from the pressure, the money prize which is fixed for a winner by the country leads the player to apply all possible efforts he can to win the match. They even start taking help from drugs. Two years before, Pakistani fast bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif were convicted of the same charge. The positive doping tests showed the traces of ‘Nandrolone’ on their blood samples. Similarly, double gold medallist and Nepali athletes Rajendra Bhandari was found positive in doping tests. Unluckily, he had to strip off both his medals. The fact that the country had promised ten lakh each for the winner of gold medal might be responsible for this.
Nevertheless, commercialisation in sports has also given rise to sledging and conflict in the game. Players are paid and are expected to win. However, they take extra steps of sledging and fighting in the game. They humiliate their opponents and even fight in the pre match press interview. Australian cricketers sledge many of their opponents on and off the fields. A particular individual opponent of the team is selected and sledged. Indian right handed batsman VVS Laxman was a victim of it. Australians openly discussed the vulnerability of Laxman while facing the short pitch balls during the match. They even made fun of him during the match. This creates negative psychological effect on the opponent and because of it their performance vitiates. Players just play to win. This might be a possible negative outcome of commercialisation in sports.
With a lot of money being poured in sports, many changes have been brought. No game is now limited within the playing court or a field. Whole world can watch every matches live. The players as well as sponsoring companies have benefitted. But, the thrill and love for the game has lessened. Now, the primary motivator for any sports is just money. Players play to win; not to get entertained. As a result, cases of doping, match fixings, sledging and even fighting have resulted. All in all, money has ruined the name and fame of the sports.
By: Aman
Before few decades, a player had to hold another part time job to sustain his livelihood. Now, the cases have been modified. Even today the players hold a part time job but in a different manner. Yuvraj Singh; an Indian left handed all-rounder; who is said to have so called X-Factor, gains more money from endorsing products rather than from his game itself. He gets millions for endorsing products ranging from Gillete to Hair creams. David Beckham has the highest commercial value in the world. Cricket star Sachin Tendulkar is enlisted among the top 50 billionaires of India. They earn a lot and have definitely made their lifestyle easier.
However, because of the continuous effort of players on advertisements, their performance has been affected. As the players get lured by the money amount they get by endorsing the commercial products, they spend more time on it than sports. For instance, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is repeatedly seen endorsing products like ‘Boost’, ‘Dabur Chyawanpras’, ‘Lays’, ‘Sonata Watches’ and ‘Hero-Honda bikes’; was not able to score more than 10 runs in every match during the India tour to Australia 2005, had to give justification to the Indian Cricket Board for his continuous poor performance. The board had accused him of concentrating more on advertisements than on cricket itself.
With plenty of money being poured in sports, the attitude of the players has changed. The players no more play for the thrill and love for the game. The primary motivator is money. They just play to earn. And in case where sports do not provide sufficiently, they are prepared to cross the conventional border of earning. This has given rise to the phenomenon called the match fixing. Many players are and were found to underperform for the alleged sums of money. Hanse Cronje, the former South African Cricket team captain, was guilty in this charge. He gave one of his mediocre performances with Indians for alleged sum of 2 million. Also he was charged of provoking his team mate Hershelle Gibbs for securing less than 20 runs in a match. Cronje had promised Gibbs to give $ 50,000 for this work. In turn, both the players who were found guilty had to face a ban from the South African cricket team. These incidents unswervingly show that money has ruined the spirit of the game.
Moreover, the trend of commercialization has encouraged doping. Since players are forced to win, they involve themselves in using performance enhancing drugs. Tennis star Rogger Federer publicly confessed about the pressure exerted on him for winning the Grand Slam. Apart from the pressure, the money prize which is fixed for a winner by the country leads the player to apply all possible efforts he can to win the match. They even start taking help from drugs. Two years before, Pakistani fast bowlers, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif were convicted of the same charge. The positive doping tests showed the traces of ‘Nandrolone’ on their blood samples. Similarly, double gold medallist and Nepali athletes Rajendra Bhandari was found positive in doping tests. Unluckily, he had to strip off both his medals. The fact that the country had promised ten lakh each for the winner of gold medal might be responsible for this.
Nevertheless, commercialisation in sports has also given rise to sledging and conflict in the game. Players are paid and are expected to win. However, they take extra steps of sledging and fighting in the game. They humiliate their opponents and even fight in the pre match press interview. Australian cricketers sledge many of their opponents on and off the fields. A particular individual opponent of the team is selected and sledged. Indian right handed batsman VVS Laxman was a victim of it. Australians openly discussed the vulnerability of Laxman while facing the short pitch balls during the match. They even made fun of him during the match. This creates negative psychological effect on the opponent and because of it their performance vitiates. Players just play to win. This might be a possible negative outcome of commercialisation in sports.
With a lot of money being poured in sports, many changes have been brought. No game is now limited within the playing court or a field. Whole world can watch every matches live. The players as well as sponsoring companies have benefitted. But, the thrill and love for the game has lessened. Now, the primary motivator for any sports is just money. Players play to win; not to get entertained. As a result, cases of doping, match fixings, sledging and even fighting have resulted. All in all, money has ruined the name and fame of the sports.
By: Aman
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