I worked for one of the largest retail stores in North America for a couple of years. They had field supervisors who periodically visited the stores to assess their performance and grade them. Stores that followed the company policies and met or exceeded the various performance metrics such as safety and sales targets, as well as customer satisfaction, payroll and cleanliness goals were graded as GREEN stores. The stores at the other end of the scale or low-performing stores were graded YELLOW or RED depending on how badly they performed. Over time, stores which consistently received a red rating got a new management team or got closed down altogether.                       

 

I believe the same grading concept is applicable to relationships. Healthy relationships are what I call GREEN RELATIONSHIPS. They are the kind of relationship that can be described (in business terms) as a continuing concern, which means they are assumed to live on forever or at least have the capacity to do so due to their current health or strength. We all know what green relationships look like:

These are the characteristics of a green relationship, and that is what I want every relationship to be. It is the kind of relationship that makes it happily through marriage and beyond – till death. Green relationships are consistently at their best irrespective of the challenges they may face. They are steadily joyful.

                                                        

YELLOW RELATIONSHIPS are a mixed bag. They blow hot and cold. They are not necessarily bad, but they could be better, and both partners are usually aware of this fact. One day it feels like paradise, and the next day it feels like hell. One moment it feels like fun that never should end, and the next moment it feels like a tedious task that you wish you never signed up for. One moment you feel like you are in love, and the next moment you feel like you’d rather be alone. One moment you are arguing fiercely, and the next moment you’re happily riding on each other’s back at the beach. It is the kind of relationship that goes through a rollercoaster of blissful peaks and depressing doldrums. Yellow relationships usually just need a little breath of fresh air, and usually do very well after a good counseling or a peaceful pillow talk. It should be noted that Partners in a yellow relationship love each other, care for each other and are supportive of each other. But they are a little less understanding of each other, which tends to create problems for them.

This is the characteristic of a lot of relationships today. Partners in a yellow relationship don’t feel completely satisfied with their relationships, and yet can’t pinpoint exactly what is ailing it or whose fault it is, and tend to point fingers at each other, resulting in frequent petty arguments. Such partners often have a strong desire to better their relationship rather than end it, but they often don’t know how to compromise on a solution partly because they can’t compromise on what the problem is either, and also because they allow their entrenched beliefs and egos to dictate their behaviors in the relationship. Thus yellow relationships are essentially their own enemies. All they need to stay stronger and become green is to find out what behaviors or actions result in the blissful peaks both partners enjoy and desire, and do more of those behaviors or actions. In other words, these partners need to tap into the positive energy that characterizes the happy moments in the relationship and make it last. They need to focus more on what they have in common and concentrate more on doing what makes each other happy. They also need to put their egos aside and be more understanding and tolerant of each other. They need to compromise more, because that is a necessary remedy for partners in such a relationship. Without these necessary steps, yellow relationships stand the risk of turning red rather than green.

 

RED RELATIONSHIPS are what you can safely call bad relationships. They are relationships whose continuous existence is very much in question. They are (to borrow a business term) a going concern, which means that there is serious doubt that they will live on for long. Such relationships are usually characterized by frequent fights and arguments involving name-calling, physical threats and intimidation, property destruction and physical attacks. They involve less communication or more irresponsible communication such as insults, silent and overt raging, and offensive gestures intended to intimidate the other partner. Red relationships are also characterized by vindictiveness, selfish motives, and apathy. Partners usually feel depressed about such a relationship and see it more as an unpleasant chore than a pleasurable experience. But sometimes these partners find pleasure in the fights and arguments. There is no peace in a red relationship. Partners in such relationships are not happy and usually stay in the relationship for other reasons rather than being in love or wanting a more permanent relationship. The reason could be some material benefit they are getting or the fear of or uncertainty about what might happen to them if they opt out. These relationships, however, eventually die out when the partners begin to recognize the overbearing weight of trying to keep it afloat.

Though a red relationship could be rescued through counseling and other interventions, partners in such relationships are often more pessimistic about a long-term future together and less interested in such interventions.

Red relationships lack excitement and fun. Partners care less about each other and may resort to promiscuity or even start another relationship while they wait for its demise.

 

So what color is your relationship? Green, Yellow, or Red? Go Green!

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Which is funnier: the script or the performer? This old question causes headaches among all HI performers as they search for a script. Do you look for something that is funny as you read it? Should you think about how it would be performed and see if the performance adds any humor? How does timing and characterization affect the funny? All of these questions weigh upon an HI performer. Drama can often be easy to determine whether or not it is a good piece to perform. Did it make you think and arouse the emotions? Yes? Then you have a selection. Humor can be more difficult because everyone’s definition of what is funny, tasteful, or poignant is all different. Thus, most HI performers find themselves looking for a piece that is funny on paper in the hopes that a funny script is the answer to success. Sorry. That philosophy is simply not true.

In the realm of comedy there are numerous ways to get a laugh and ranked well. A script should have built in funny lines, or situations, so as you read you can laugh at the script itself. This is comedy after all. Most often when a script is not amusing on paper it most likely will be less amusing to the audience. There are exceptions, but on the whole if a script has not caused you to even smile it should be tossed.

There are situations where the script itself is “cute” and causes mild laughter but you may be unsure if it is the riot you wish to bring to Forensics. In situations such as this it is good to imagine the performance. What can you do with timing, characterization, voices, popping, etc to bring this to life? Imagine possibilities and think about how the performance factor can turn an okay script into something amazing.

Remember, most scripts were created not to be read but to be performed. The performance factor may be huge. For instance, “Pirates of Penzance” is moderately funny on paper; live, and with capable performers, it can be one of the most delightful comedy, operas you can see.

And if you think that how well you rank is linked directly proportionally to how many chuckles you get you are wrong. There is more to ponder when you begin to perform in HI. Sure, people should laugh at your performance. That’s why you are doing comedy and not drama. However, laughter is not the only factor that is being judged. There are characterization, interpretation, popping, vocals, gestures, how clean your performance is, and more to consider when ranks are involved.

A factor you may not have considered is the substance of the piece. You could be the funniest performer in the round, but if your performance offers little substance you may not win over your judges. You want them to laugh, but you also want to touch their core and move them.

So back to the original question: which is funnier, the script or the performer? It all is a matter of the appropriate balance of both along with the detailing of external variables that affect an HI (interpretation, clean pops, vocals, etc). Every piece will be different based on the material and performer combination. Where one performer may excel another may fall. Know your abilities and style of humor and look for a piece that accentuates them. User discretion is advised.

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For most of the past decade, a number of editorial writers, politicians, members of the clergy, and other pundits have described America as a nation in some sort of crisis. They point to a growing number of people who drop out of high school, who are living on probation, parole, or in prison, who are victims of domestic or criminal assault, who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, who are infected with sexually transmitted disease, who are having abortions, who are giving birth outside of marriage, who are getting divorced, or who are relying on Ritalin, Xanax or Prozac to make it through the day. They maintain these statistics are evidence something has gone terribly wrong with the American way of life.

As a practicing clinical psychologist, I work with people included in these numbers every day of the week. Monday I talk with a man on his way to prison for writing bad checks, a middle-aged mother struggling to quit drinking herself into a stupor every night, and a twenty-something single woman recently diagnosed with herpes. Tuesday I talk with a teenager dealing with an unintended pregnancy, a father court-ordered out of his house after assaulting his son, and a wife conflicted about whether to end her extramarital affair. On Wednesday I meet with an 11-year-old boy who doesn’t cooperate with his teachers, on Thursday with a woman who was devastated by the news that her husband has filed for divorce so he can marry his girlfriend, and, on Friday, with an adolescent who recently attempted suicide.

From this perspective, rather than being numbers, persons included in statistics are living, breathing, human beings. Each has a unique history and set of circumstances as well as very personal thoughts, emotions, ideals, regrets, hopes, and dreams. But despite their differences, all of these individuals have one thing in common—they are all, to some degree, unhappy, discontent, and dissatisfied with life.

Recognizing that all of these people are in some sense unhappy, it is possible to characterize the number of persons in all of the statistical groups referred to by the pundits as a global measure of unhappiness in the United States. Since the total number of people in each of these groups continues to rise, it is reasonable to infer that we are in the midst of an epidemic of unhappiness. Recognizing that this nation was designed to optimize the conditions for the personal pursuit of happiness, this epidemic of unhappiness can be referred to as the current crisis in the American way of life.

Attempts to Cope with the Crisis

One group of opinion leaders offers a simple explanation for, and solution to, this crisis. Presuming illiteracy, probation, incarceration, assault, addiction, sexually transmitted illness, unintended pregnancy, domestic violence, and divorce are consequences of dysfunctional behavior, conservatives maintain that the rising number of people who find themselves with these conditions is the result of poor decision-making. They contend that people could avoid these outcomes by making better choices when managing their personal lives.

Conservatives remind us that the basic structure of the American way of life is a legal system based on a foundation of moral principles—ideas about right and wrong. They cite Founding Fathers, such as John Adams, who, in 1798, wrote, “Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to govern any other.” Or they refer to James Madison, who, in 1778, wrote, “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions . . . upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”

Conservatives point to the fact that, beginning with Colonial America and up until roughly forty years ago, the people of this country generally assumed the moral principles the Founding Fathers inherited from the Judeo-Christian tradition were a set of guidelines for making choices which would lead to real and lasting happiness in this world and the next. They note that since those advocating a separation of church and state began to succeed in removing all reference to religion from public schools there has been an increase in the number of people who are failing to finish high school, living on probation, parole, or in prison, victims of domestic or criminal assault, addicted to drugs or alcohol, infected with sexually transmitted diseases, having abortions, giving birth outside of marriage, getting divorced, and relying on antidepressants and other psychotropic medications. They argue that each of these undesirable conditions could be lessened if Americans, once again, began to act on the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus Christ when making choices in daily life.

On the other side, liberals insist there are several problems with the conservative approach. First, the moral position of the Judeo-Christian tradition is far from clear. Although all believers root their morality in scripture, there are wide differences in how sacred texts are understood. While some Christians maintain using alcohol is a sin, others serve wine in church. Similar differences exist with respect to the Christian positions on gambling, divorce and homosexuality. Liberals point to the fact that people of faith can be found on both sides of abortion, capital punishment, and assisted suicide to demonstrate that religiously based moral reasoning is incapable of effectively dealing with the major moral controversies of our time.

Further, liberals maintain that religiously-based moral reasoning permitted many of the most outrageous injustices of the past. Thousands were slaughtered in the Crusades, tortured during the Inquisition, and died during centuries of European holy war. Many who settled the British colonies in North America were fleeing persecution at the hands of religious authorities intolerant of their beliefs. After the American Revolution, the Bible was used to justify the perpetuation of slavery and the subordination of women. Even today the Ku Klux Klan uses a Christian symbol to terrorize non-white Americans who are simply exercising basic rights.

Liberals also note that the American Revolution was as much a rebellion against religion as it was a military campaign. Instead of relying on the British notion that it was a citizen’s duty to God to obey a divinely enthroned king, the Founding Fathers based their declaration of independence on rational philosophy—the other source of moral authority which has shaped and influenced the course of Western civilization since its beginning in ancient Greece. They went on to establish a government explicitly based on philosophical rather than on religious ideals. Referring to the first amendment of the Constitution and the fact that America has become a nation of many faiths, liberals argue that it is now un-American to base public education or any type of public policy on a set of moral principles which belong to any particular religious tradition.

Beyond rejecting the conservative solution to the crisis, liberals offer a different analysis of the crisis itself. Although acknowledging that failure to finish high school, delinquency, crime, addiction, sexually transmitted disease, unintended pregnancy, domestic violence, divorce, and emotional disorders involve some type of dysfunctional human behavior, they deny these conditions have anything to do with moral reasoning or ideas about right and wrong. Drawing on the theory of human nature generally accepted within contemporary social science, they contend that this behavior is determined by instinctive drives, patterns of prior conditioning, imbalances in brain chemistry, socioeconomic circumstances, or some other, as yet, unidentified factor which involves something other than choice. They believe further scientific research will inevitably discover the causes of this dysfunctional behavior and that the results of this research will eventually lead to a reduction in the number of persons who behave this way.

A Need for a New Approach

Rather than attempting to work together in an effort to find some common ground, today’s conservative and liberal leaders invest their energies in attempting to win hearts and minds to their respective points of view. Their strategies are to affect public policy through opinion polls and the election process. Unfortunately, as the leaders of these ideologies engage in cultural civil war, the epidemic of unhappiness continues and the current crisis in the American way of life endures.

One means of moving beyond this quagmire begins with the realization that crises are events which have a structure and dynamics of their own. Crises occur when people are confronted with undesirable conditions which are unintended and unanticipated. They result from pursuing courses of action based on assumptions which are in some way inaccurate, ineffective, or inappropriate with respect to achieving an intended outcome. Crises persist as long as those attempting to achieve the intended outcome continue doing what they do without realizing their assumptions are in some sense flawed.

Crises are resolved when three events occur. First, the assumptions of those who end up with the undesired outcome are clarified. Next, these assumptions are evaluated with respect to the degree that they are actually accurate, effective, and appropriate with respect to achieving the intended goal. Finally, the results of this evaluation are used to develop a new course of action aimed at achieving the intended outcome based on assumptions which are more accurate, effective, and appropriate for achieving the desired result.

This insight into the structure of a crisis suggests that a resolution to the current crisis in the American way of life could be obtained by identifying the assumptions within the conservative and liberal traditions, evaluating their accuracy, effectiveness, and appropriateness, and then developing a new approach to dealing with the epidemic of unhappiness based on what this evaluation has revealed.

Identifying Existing Assumptions

The conservative approach is rooted in three assumptions about human nature deeply rooted in Western civilization. These assumptions were contained in the writings of British Enlightenment philosophers—Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes, and John Locke—who provided a theory of human nature for those who led the American Revolution and went on to write the Constitution of the United States. Today’s conservatives often make reference to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers who made use of these philosophers’ ideas.

The first conservative assumption is known as a volitional theory of human nature. It asserts that human beings have the capacity to choose between alternative potential courses of action. It also includes the notion that, when confronted with a choice, people are naturally motivated to select the potential course of action they believe is most likely to make them happy in some way.

The second conservative assumption is a moral theory referred to as enlightened self-interest. This theory presumes that moral principles are a set of guidelines for making choices which are essential to obtaining an optimal quality of life. It also presumes that if individuals act on these principles when making choices in daily living they are doing what they can to maximize their potential to achieve happiness, emotional well-being, contentment, and satisfaction with life.

Finally, conservatives assume that moral principles are a matter of religion. This assumption is based on the belief that individual human beings are limited in their ability to distinguish between those courses of action which only apparently enhance a person’s quality of life and those which enrich it in actuality. Accordingly, conservatives maintain that an all-knowing God revealed this knowledge about how to become and remain happy to specific persons—Moses, the Prophets, Jesus, and the Apostles—and that the rest of humanity can find real and lasting happiness by utilizing this information when making choices in daily life.

The liberal approach to dealing with illiteracy, probation, incarceration, assault, addiction, sexually transmitted disease, unintended pregnancy, domestic violence, divorce, and a variety of emotional disorders is based on a set of assumptions about human nature which began to influence the Western world as the philosophy of the Enlightenment was replaced by a new set of ideas about the nature of human existence. While Enlightenment thinking was rooted in faith in God, a vision of heaven, and a fear of hell, the notions about human nature utilized by liberals developed as an atheistic, scientific worldview emerged.

The first liberal assumption is referred to as determinism. This is the theory of human nature advanced by Sigmund Freud, William James, and John Watson, seminal thinkers who set the foundations for contemporary social science. Determinism consists of the belief that human behavior is caused by instinctive drives, patterns of prior conditioning, genetics, changes in brain chemistry, socioeconomic status or some other process which has nothing to do with choosing between alternative potential courses of action.

Second, liberals assume that moral principles are irrelevant to dealing with dysfunctional behavior. This assumption is based on the belief that rather than religion, the great minds of Western philosophy are the proper source of moral authority and the belief that the French philosopher Auguste Comte, is the great mind Americans should turn to as the appropriate authority on morality. His theory, altruism, maintains that what’s right is that which enhances the welfare of other people, society, or humanity in general. Since altruism insists that moral activity consists of service to others, acting on principle is viewed by altruists as an obstacle to, or restriction on, the personal pursuit of happiness.

Third, liberals assume that religion is not a reliable source of knowledge about life or how to live. This assumption is rooted in their opinion that the quality of human life has improved in virtually every domain of human existence where scientific discoveries have replaced pre-scientific thought. Liberals maintain that it makes more sense to rely on science as a means of trying to figure out how to help people who engage in dysfunctional behavior than referring to religious texts which they view as outdated relics from a bygone era.

Evaluating Assumptions

Clearly, the traditional approaches to dealing with the current crisis in the American way of life involve a set of questionable assumptions about whether people are capable of making choices, as well as the purpose and source of ideas about right and wrong. While conservatives assume that people have the capacity to choose between alternative potential courses of action, that religion is the proper source of ideas about right and wrong, and that acting on moral principle is essential to becoming and remaining happy, liberals assume that human behavior has nothing to do with choice, that morality is irrelevant to the personal pursuit of happiness, and that science, rather than religion, is the appropriate source of knowledge for dealing with the dysfunctional behavior contributing to the epidemic of unhappiness. Now that these questionable assumptions have been identified, each can be evaluated in terms of the degree to which available evidence suggests it is accurate, effective, and appropriate with respect to attempting to resolve the current crisis in the American way of life.

Throughout the course of Western civilization and up until the establishment of social science, roughly one hundred years ago, all educated and thoughtful intellectual leaders recognized that people have the capacity of choice. Since the first philosophers of ancient Greece, every major philosopher in the Western tradition has maintained that, with respect to many behaviors, human beings are able to select between alternative potential courses of action. In addition, every known society has had a legal system based on the notion human beings actually make choices in the course of daily living.

These historical and sociological facts are consistent with observations human beings have made with respect to themselves and one another since the dawn of time. In everyday descriptions of human behavior, people have always regularly made reference to intentions, desires and choices when describing the activities of friends, family members and those whom they deal with in commercial and community affairs. Moreover, we have direct access to the process of choosing between alternative potential courses of action when we decide what to eat for breakfast, what color coat to purchase, and which program to watch on television.

Although the results of some animal studies can be used to argue for a deterministic theory of human nature, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that this is an accurate means of describing many types of human behavior. Over the course of the Twentieth Century, scientists have attempted to identify a number of non-volitional processes such as instinctive drives, patterns of prior conditioning, genetics, changes in brain chemistry, and socioeconomic status which cause people to fail to acquire adequate vocational skills, commit crimes, become addicted to drugs or alcohol, engage in risky sexual behavior, abuse family members or get divorced. At best, these studies have produced only modest correlations. The results of thousands of these studies over nearly one hundred years reveal that although non-volitional processes may play some role in these dysfunctional behaviors, they do not actually cause people to behave in any of these ways. Based on all of this scientific evidence, it is reasonable to conclude that scientists have never been able to prove that human beings lack the capacity of choice.

One way of determining whether moral principles are relevant to the personal pursuit of happiness consists of looking at what research has revealed about the relationship between acting on principle and subsequent quality of human life. Statistics show that there is a correlation between personal reports of happiness, emotional well-being, contentment, and satisfaction in living with people who regularly tell the truth, keep their agreements, and refrain from theft. Research also reveals that there is a correlation between people who report they are unhappy, discontent, and dissatisfied with life and a tendency to frequently lie, cheat, and steal. What’s more, virtually all psychological research on the reasons people describe for acting on principle reveals that the vast majority of individuals who do what’s right act on principle because they believe they will personally benefit as a result.

Assuming that people have the capacity to choose between alternative potential courses of action and that moral principles can enhance a person’s potential for becoming and remaining happy, the next assumption which needs to be evaluated is whether it is more appropriate to assume that religion is the proper source of moral principles or whether to turn to philosophy for ideas about what’s right and wrong. In this respect, both conservatives and liberals assume there are only two sources of moral principles. Neither considers the fact that within the past decade a new source of moral principles has emerged. This source is science and what the scientific method has revealed about the relationship between choices people make and how those choices affect the quality of their lives. Given the fact that these principles were specifically formulated as a means of determining which potential courses of action maximize a person’s likelihood of becoming and remaining happy, scientifically formulated principles of morality provide a more effective means of dealing with the epidemic of unhappiness than continuing to operate on the assumptions about the source of moral knowledge contained in either the conservative or liberal approach.

Scientifically Formulated Principles of Morality

Scientifically formulated principles of morality were developed by following the same logic scientists used to come up with principles for achieving health and physical well-being. Researchers were able to formulate wellness principles by observing a correlation between certain types of voluntary human behavior and a number of serious illnesses. Studies revealed that people who regularly smoke tobacco often end up with cancer, emphysema, or heart disease. It also detected that a lack of exercise is correlated with diabetes, obesity, and stroke. Based on these and other correlations, scientists were able to formulate alternatives to unhealthy patterns of behavior which they then promoted as guidelines for making healthy choices in daily life. These principles for healthy living indicate that when we avoid tobacco, street drugs, and the excessive use of alcohol, obtain adequate amounts of rest and exercise, and eat a high fiber, low-fat diet, we are doing what we can to maximize our potential for becoming and remaining healthy.

Similarly, the search for scientifically formulated principles of morality began by determining which types of voluntary human behavior correlate with a loss of happiness, emotional well-being, contentment, and satisfaction with life. Once these correlations were determined, alternatives to these behaviors were identified. Conceptualized as principles, these guidelines for making choices in daily living maximize a person’s potential for becoming and remaining happy.

Research which led to the development of scientifically formulated principles of morality revealed that there are basic similarities between the voluntary behaviors of the majority of people who become, in one way or another, unhappy as a result of doing what they did. These patterns of behavior are referred to as self-defeating because they undermine a person’s effort at becoming and remaining happy. Research revealed that there are the following seven types of self-defeating behavior which lead to a loss of happiness, contentment, and satisfaction with life.

Heedless behavior consists of pursuing a course of action while knowing it poses a threat to something or someone essential to a person’s overall contentment and satisfaction with life. Examples include smoking cigarettes, using illicit drugs, driving while under the influence of consciousness altering substances and engaging in unsafe sex. Self-effacing behavior consists of regularly pursuing courses of action aimed at enhancing the happiness of others while failing to attend to what is essential to one’s own. Examples include a female adolescent who consents to unprotected sexual relations as a means of pleasing her boyfriend, a husband who constantly defers to his wife’s wishes on decisions which negatively affect his own quality of life, and parents who continue to provide for able-bodied adult children while neglecting what they need to do to prepare for retirement. Non-productive behavior involves spending time and energy on activities which have little or nothing to do with acquiring or maintaining what is required for contentment and satisfaction with life. Examples include teenagers who spend their time watching television, listening to music or talking on the phone rather than doing homework or studying for exams, employees who spend portions of their workday surfing the Internet rather than completing assigned tasks, and spouses who spend virtually all of their time in activities which have nothing to do with nurturing their partners in life. Unfaithful behavior consists of failing to fulfill agreements freely entered into at an earlier point in time. Examples include adolescents breaking curfews, salespersons who fail to honor warranties and married people who cheat on their spouses. Disrespectful behavior consists of pursuing a course of action which violates another person’s basic rights. Examples include physical or sexual assault, theft, or the disclosure of certain types of personal information. Deceptive behavior consists of attempting to create in another person’s mind an image of reality which does not correspond with actuality. It includes creating misleading audio or video recordings, filing falsified reports, or simply telling lies. Ill-considered interpersonal interaction occurs when people pursue a course of action which involves other persons whose behavior is heedless, nonproductive, disrespectful, unfaithful and/or deceptive. Examples include riding in an automobile with an impaired driver, continuing to employ an individual who does not put in a day’s work for a day’s pay, disclosing personal information to an individual who has demonstrated no respect for privacy, remaining in a marriage with a spouse who has an ongoing series of extramarital affairs, and trusting a person who frequently lies.

Once it was determined that these seven patterns of behavior are the ones which correlate with unhappiness, discontent and/or dissatisfaction in life, a set of alternatives was identified. The alternative to heedless and self-effacing behavior as well as ill-considered interpersonal interaction is referred to as self-respect. Self-respect consists of avoiding any course of action which clearly poses a threat to what is required for contentment and satisfaction with life. Industry is the alternative to non-productive behavior. Industry consists of investing the time and energy required to obtain and maintain what is essential for contentment and satisfaction with life. The alternative to unfaithful and disrespectful behavior is referred to as equity. Equity consists of honoring agreements and respecting the basic rights of others. Honesty, the alternative to deceptive behavior, consists of rendering an accurate description of reality. Like wellness principles, these guidelines for making choices only maximize the potential for achieving emotional well-being when they are combined and acted on consistently in the course of daily living. Given this reality, the combination and regular use of the four scientifically formulated principles of morality can be referred to as the formula for happiness.

Prevention and Dissemination

The potential that the formula for happiness has for reducing the epidemic of unhappiness becomes evident when the connection between acting on its principles and a person’s ability to avoid functional illiteracy, probation, incarceration, assault, addiction, sexually transmitted illness, unintended pregnancy, or divorce is clarified.

People who act on the principles of self-respect and industry can acquire adequate skills for competitive employment in today’s post-industrial economy. When those who are inclined to violate the rights of others act on the principle of equity, they avoid probation and incarceration which is frequently a consequence of murder, assault, and various types of theft. When those who are mulling over an opportunity to experiment with illicit drugs act on the principle of self-respect, they avoid future addiction. When people who have become addicted to drugs or alcohol act on the principles of self-respect, industry, and honesty, they enter into substance abuse recovery programs and invest the blood, sweat, and tears required to overcome their dependency. When interested in having casual and unprotected sexual intercourse, people who act on the principle of self-respect avoid sexually transmitted disease and unintended pregnancy. When people act on the principle of self-respect in choosing a spouse, industry for investing time and energy in working on a satisfying marriage, and equity in forsaking all others, there is a reduction in the number of people who live with marital disharmony, domestic violence, and divorce.

Scientifically formulated principles of morality only hold the promise of reducing the epidemic of unhappiness if people become aware of these ideas about what’s right and act on these principles as they go about their daily lives. This means that a reverse in the epidemic of unhappiness requires a general recognition of the value of acting on these principles to the individual and to society at large. Clearly, the most efficient and effective means of achieving this goal is through the process of education.

The first step in teaching a significant number of youth about scientifically formulated principles of morality began with The Facts of Life Seminar which was instituted in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 1993. This program for character development was designed to teach the formula for happiness to teens who are on juvenile probation and to show them how to apply the formula in the course of daily living. All of the adolescents adjudicated delinquent in this county are currently required to complete The Facts of Life Seminar as a one of the conditions of their probation.

In The Facts of Life Seminars students learn that when they act on scientifically formulated principles of morality they get the tangible benefit of improving and maintaining the quality of their lives. Students are provided with mnemonic devices similar to those used in teaching principles of nutrition and health. They are equipped with decision trees and given several exercises to help them learn to recognize a context for principled decision-making and how to systematically employ scientifically formulated principles of morality to figure out which alternatives to pursue. In addition to learning about the principles themselves, students are trained in behavioral techniques such as imaging and self-talk as a means of enhancing self-control when confronted with temptation to engage in a self-defeating course of action.

Since its inception, hundreds of adolescents have gone through Facts of Life Seminars taught by juvenile probation officers, mental health treatment personnel, and a number of teachers in residential placement centers, day treatment programs, outpatient counseling centers, and alternative education schools. Outcome research reveals that of those who complete this program there is a 123% increase in the number likely to refrain from violence, a 92% increase in the number likely to refrain from theft, a 178% increase in the number likely to keep their promises, and a 160% increase in the number likely to tell the truth. In 2006, the Pennsylvania Center for Juvenile Justice Training and Research sponsored the first state-wide program to prepare youth workers to lead Facts of Life Seminars throughout the Commonwealth.

In addition, a number of public school administrators and guidance counselors who learned about The Facts of Life Seminar have expressed an interest in integrating the formula for happiness into classes on decision-making and self-awareness in public schools. They recognize that many of the youth on juvenile probation may have been able to avoid trouble with the law if they learned to use scientifically formulated principles of morality as part of their overall education. As a result of this interest Lessons on The Facts of Life have been developed. This is a set of lesson plans which can be integrated into existing curriculum on decision-making and self-awareness classes in both public and private schools.

When scientifically formulated principles of morality are taught within a public school, influential persons in the community need to be aware of their existence as well as their value in promoting personal responsibility and citizenship. Public meetings provide opportunities for parents and other community leaders to learn about the origin and nature of the formula for happiness as well as why and how it is effective in motivating adolescents to act on principle in daily life. These meetings also equip members of the community with a vocabulary and a set of concepts about right and wrong which they can share with other adults who are dealing with the challenge of character development in youth. This ability to speak a common language enables teacher, school administrators, parents, clergy, and other community leaders to coordinate their efforts in dealing with issues of responsibility and accountability at school, at home, and in the neighborhood. Clearly, this effort can only succeed if those involved in implementing programs for character education based on the formula for happiness are able to enlist support from community leaders who represent both conservative and liberal groups.

Conservative Support

Because scientifically formulated principles of morality are based on a volitional theory of human nature and because they are clearly relevant to the personal pursuit of happiness, many conservatives who learn about the formula for happiness recognize its value with respect to reducing the epidemic of unhappiness in the United States. But, since most conservatives believe that morality must be a matter of religion, some have difficulty supporting the idea that scientifically formulated principles of morality should be taught in public schools. They are frequently used to taking a position that it would be more appropriate to either return biblically-based moral principles to the classroom or to take all instruction in moral reasoning and action out of the schools, leaving this aspect of education to parents and to the clergy.

The conservative position that biblically-based morality should be brought back into public schools is rooted in the history of the United States. Conservatives remind us that when the Founding Fathers framed the Constitution they recognized democracy was a very fragile form of government. They knew it had only been tried twice before in the history of Western civilization and that each time it had collapsed into some form of dictatorship. In order to prevent this from happening in America, some of the Founding Fathers advocated for a system of public education so that citizens who are electing public officials would be able to make good choices when it came time to cast their votes. Benjamin Rush, one of the Founding Fathers, and the father of American psychiatry, was a chief architect of public schools in America. He maintained public schools should have two objectives. The first was to teach basic academic skills—reading, writing, and arithmetic. The second was to train students to act on the moral principles contained in the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus.

Based on this mission, for nearly 200 years, public schools in America were one of three institutions which trained successive generations of Americans in moral reasoning and its relevance to daily life. Public school’s functioned in concert with the church and family in presenting an integrated and effective means of acting on principle at home, at school, at work, and in the larger community. History reveals that this combined effort at character development began to unravel when advocates for the separation of church and state were successful in requiring public schools to remove any reference to The Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus. Since most Americans view morality as a matter of religion, public schools rapidly and completely abandoned all formal teaching of moral reasoning based on a concern the school district would become the object of litigation by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Conservatives who cite this history as a means of arguing for a return of biblically-based moral instruction to the classroom can be reminded that given the political strength of those who advocate the separation of church and state, it is unlikely religion will be returned to public school classrooms in the United States anytime in the foreseeable future. What’s more, even if this were to occur, teaching moral reasoning based on scripture will do little to motivate a large number of students to act on principle because many Americans no longer understand the world in terms of Biblical descriptions of reality. Students who have no faith in God, who have no vision of heaven, and who have no fear of hell, have no reason to take seriously what the Bible has to say about life and how to live. Clearly, scientifically formulated principles of morality are much more powerful in motivating public school students who have no religious foundation to make use of them in daily living because these ideas about how to behave are consistent with the scientific worldview which pervades everything else they learn at school.

Those conservatives who maintain moral training should be kept out of public school and left up to the family and the clergy can be reminded that in America today millions of children have never seen the inside of a synagogue or a church. Millions more are being raised by parents who see no value in acting on moral principles in the course of daily living. Since public schools are the only place these children would have an opportunity to receive formal training on how to act on principle, failing to provide this type of education only perpetuates the epidemic of unhappiness in the United States. Persons of faith who have no problems using scientific discoveries which have led to vaccinating virtually all children in America against smallpox, diphtheria, and polio should be encouraged to recognize that teaching the formula for happiness is a means of inoculating children against functional illiteracy, probation, incarceration, addiction, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancy, marital disharmony, domestic violence, divorce, and a variety of problems with their mental health. It makes no more sense to deprive millions of children of the benefit of learning about scientifically formulated principles of morality than it would to limit the availability of vaccinations to the children of persons who believe in God and who take their kids to Sunday School.

Those conservatives who believe that acting on a secular set of moral principles may have a negative effect on fostering faith can be reminded that scientifically formulated principles of morality are in no way hostile to a belief in God or any traditional religion. While letting students learn about the formula for happiness at school, parents and religious leaders can combine this product of scientific research with their approach to religious education. Religious educators can show children how scientifically formulated principles of morality are compatible with many of the ideas about right and wrong contained in scripture as a means of providing further validation for the moral principles found in sacred texts. What’s more, religious teachers can demonstrate how combining Biblical instructions on how to relate to God with scientifically formulated principles of morality enables persons of faith to experience a greater degree of joy than the level of fulfillment people are able to find by simply following the formula for happiness

Liberals

Because the formula for happiness is a product of the scientific method, many liberals find the notion that it can be taught in public school to be an intriguing idea. Since they can also see how training youth to act on scientifically formulated principles of morality will go a long way toward reducing the epidemic of unhappiness, they generally recognize the value of encouraging this approach to teaching decision-making in public schools. At the same time, some liberals have difficulty supporting a program for character development which inspires students to act on principle by an explicit appeal to self-interest. This resistance can subside once these liberals recognize how following the formula for happiness results in a number of benefits to others and to society as a whole.

When an individual acts on the principle of self-respect that person is doing what he or she can to promote his or her overall physical and emotional well-being, thereby relieving healthcare and social service agencies of the need to provide for that individual and making their services available to other needy members of the community. When people acts on the principle of industry, they provide for the material needs of other people in the form of such tangible items as food, clothing, shelter, automobiles, appliance, electronic devices, and countless other meaningful material objects which enhance the quality of human life. When a doctor, nurse, attorney, banker, police officer, auto mechanic, building inspector, or custodian acts on the principle of industry, he or she is serving others by providing quality healthcare, legal representation, financial assistance, security, transportation, or safe and clean buildings, streets and parks, which enhance the lives of other members of the community. When a person acts on the principle of equity, he or she is enabling others to maintain their physical and emotional well-being while, at the same time, contributing to the freedom and security of other members of the community. When a person acts on the principle of honesty, he or she is providing others with accurate information which enables them to make informed and realistic decisions choices when faced with momentous decisions which will have a long-term impact on their future quality of life.

Beyond these benefits which result from acting on specific scientifically formulated principles of morality, persons who behave according to the formula for happiness tend to be those who support institutions which are central to the American way of life. Self-respecting, industrious, equitable, and honest people are those individuals who provide most of the contributions to charitable organizations in the United States. As taxpayers, they also provide service to others through government-funded health and welfare programs.

Self-respecting, industrious, equitable, and honest individuals build better families, neighborhoods, and communities. Working within these networks of interpersonal relationships they develop, support, and maintain quality education, healthcare institutions, libraries, and emergency services. They become politically informed and conscientious voters who support politicians and public policies which balance agricultural, mining and manufacturing interests with environmental concerns. They also support candidates and government officials who are ensuring fair law enforcement, protecting the integrity of the courts, and maintaining military readiness so that all citizens can benefit from a government designed to protect each individual’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Assuming liberals are interested in a program for character development which can provide these benefits to society, it is important for them to recognize that these benefits only materialize when individuals are motivated to act on those principles which yield these results. Since character education based on the formula for happiness demonstrates that it is in the students’ interest to act on principle, this approach to character education is effective in inspiring them to make use of scientifically formulated principles of morality in the course of daily living. As such, teaching the formula for happiness is a much more reliable means of enhancing the welfare of others than simply requiring students in character development programs to engage in public service activities such as serving meals in a soup kitchen, picking up litter along the highway, or baking cookies for the residents of the local homeless shelter.

Resetting the Moral Foundation

In 1776, a group of British subjects declared their independence from royal rule and went on to design a blueprint for a way of life intended to optimize the conditions for the personal pursuit of happiness. Recognizing that the pursuit of happiness depends on individual self-control, they based the Constitution and the Bill of Rights on the assumption that Americans would continue to govern their personal lives with the moral principles they inherited from Judeo-Christian tradition. Although the Founding Fathers were aware that science was making impressive advances even in their day, they had no way of envisioning how that moral foundation would disintegrate when the Christian vision of reality gave way to the scientific worldview which characterizes America today.

“These are the times that try men’s souls” wrote Thomas Paine at the beginning of The American Crisis. Five months after the Continental Congress issued the Declaration of Independence, he wrote this essay to awaken Americans to the fact that the war for winning that independence was not yielding the intended, desired, and anticipated result. He urged the people of this nation to recognize that if they simply went about their daily lives assuming the war would be won without some effort on their part, they were pursuing a course of action which would have disastrous consequences with respect to the future of the American way of life. We now know that those who reevaluated this assumption and devoted themselves to the cause, were eventually successful in establishing the first nation on earth devoted to protecting each citizen’s right to the pursuit of happiness.

Like the Americans of his day, we are currently confronted with a crisis and with a soul-searching choice. One alternative involves continuing to flounder along, arguing about whether choices make a difference in the quality of human life, bickering over whether morality plays a part in the personal pursuit of happiness, and quarreling about whether morality must be a matter of religion or whether it should be based on some philosophy, while each year more and more children move into adult life with virtually no appreciation for the role morality plays in the pursuit of happiness. The other alternative consists of recognizing that the choices we make determine the quality of our lives, acknowledging that ideas about right and wrong are essential to the pursuit of happiness, and doing what we can to promote the notion that scientifically formulated principles of morality are an effective means of restoring moral reasoning and moral action to its proper place at the foundation of the American way of life.

Copyright 2006

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It all boils down to your “self”. Whichever way you look at it, regardless of what transpires in your external environment, none of these would ever hold the slightest meaning in your life if you choose to be dead to all of it. But human as you are, just like everyone else, putting up a barrier between you and the rest of the world for as long as you live is simply not probable. Turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to what is going on around you can be easy during certain instances. However, if you are directly in the line of fire, not getting hurt should life bombard you with troubles, one after another, is a fantasy you would eventually snap out of once you are hit. There would always be a point of breaking, not only for you, but for all of us who thrive in this material world. And the world, unlike humans, is devoid of mercy or consideration at times. When it shows the dark side of its face to you, it does so without any warning or thought of how you might be affected in the process. If it catches you off guard, you might end up crumbling beneath its force, succumbing to your inner demons donning an identity known to everyone as depression and anxiety.

Identifying Your Demons

Characterized as a mental state whereby a person looses his self-worth and interest in his usual activities, depression can literally sap the life out of the person, leaving him at the mercy of himself. As opposed to occasional depressed moods or glum feelings, depression can stretch on for days, intensifying further the longer it prevails.

Anxiety, on the other hand, is characterized as a mood state that strikes a person without any identifiable trigger unlike fear, which is set off by identifiable influences. As in most cases, depression and anxiety are comorbid conditions, going hand in hand once a person gives in to the pressure brought on by his troubles. All of us are susceptible to these two mental demons every time we are confronted with the dark side of reality. The only difference lies with how each one of us manages himself, staying intact even in the face of difficulties.

Bracing Yourself for the Challenge

Falling to your knees in dealing with a strong opponent is an inherent human trait; after all, no man is invincible. Frequent exposure to problems would eventually wear you down, leaving you more vulnerable to breaking as you persist. But in facing challenges, what counts most is your ability to rise up to it and get back on your feet should you fall down. Your capacity to regain your footing is embedded in how strong your sense of self is.

Having a strong sense of self means you are assured of your worth and essence as a person despite external forces. Identifying yourself and your achievements with aspects found in your environment or way of life makes for a weak sense of self. In effect, you become hollow and dependent on them, which in turn renders you vulnerable to depression and anxiety when confronted by adversity. Thus, empowering yourself by strengthening your sense of self would serve as the foundation of your defense against them.

In order to realize the value of your “self”, it is significant to acknowledge the truth that you are an individual worthy of love, attention, and the many blessings life has to offer regardless of your possessions, inherent traits, and accomplishments. Too often a time, people make the big mistake of identifying their nature and self-worth with their possessions or capabilities. What you are as a person depends not on what you have or what you can do. In truth, your abilities and material possessions are dependent on what you truly are from within and not the other way around. Basing your value on external and material influences would only hurl you directly into the gaping mouth of depression and anxiety once your life is devoid of them.

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CHAPTER ONE1.0 INTRODUCTIONLife styles of people have dramatically changed over the years and this has invariably increased the risk of diabetes and hypertension.1.1 GENERAL PERSPECTIVEThe cause of most disease cannot be enumerated, but factors that enhance the effect of the disease can be typically analyzed. People from different backgrounds have different life styles that can either contribute positively or negatively to their health (Apochi, 2004) A big question is, “How do people manage stress”, and “How often do people eat fruits and vegetable” Stress basically increases the sugar level in blood; sugar are among the basic energy storage molecule in the body (Raven & Johnson 1996). Imperatively, how often do people go for medical check up? Is our environment conducive for living, and have we considered the environmental risk factors responsible for certain ailment like Diabetes and hypertension? Well, Drugs, hectic life style, food type, environmental condition, habits and more could be leading factor linked to high blood pressure, Diabetes and many other infections. Considering Diabetes and hypertension genetics cannot be disregarded as most of such ailment could be inherited (www.bhf.org.uk).A simple questionnaire containing information that will aid a simple statistical analysis which will further “breed” an hypothesis on whether or what  causes Diabetes, hypertension, stress and effect of antioxidant on these issues. Antioxidants basically are found in fruits and vegetable they help in the reduction of oxidative stress, which may also be a link to both hypertension and Diabetes (Health Monitor, 2006). Aim of this data collectionThe data collection is to aid the processing and derivation of information leading to drawing out a hypothesis relating to lifestyle, feeding habit, as related to stress-linked hypertension and diabetes and or genetically inherited diabetes and hypertension plus the effective role of antioxidant or the principle of antioxidant in curbing such issues. Information regarding genetics as conflicted to causes of hypertension and diabetes will be compared to physical data collection and correlation of this data to brood an effective link/cause of both diabetes and hypertension amongst adult workers.Facts were drawn from Victoria Island, Ikeja and Gbagada; Bankers, Traders, Doctors, Nurses, Insurance Company workers, Business men & women and more gave information on their life style as related to their health issues. A little bit controversial, people from both angles (Diabetic, hypertensive and non Diabetic and hypertensive) gave information similarly regarding their life style and living conditions. But, with the help of a statistical analysis we will be able to draw a conclusion and simple hypothesis on this issue.1.2 HYPERTENSIONExperts know that many different factors are linked to high blood pressure, but experts do not still fully understand the exact cause. Factors that are linked to high blood pressure include:AgingDrinking more than 2 alcohol drinks a day for men and more than one alcohol drink a day for women.Eating a lot of sodium saltBeing over weight or obeseHaving high cholesterolNot exercisingBeing under a lot of stress.Eating Diets low in potassium, magnesium and calciumBeing insulin resistant.On the generality of this, blood pressure is the measure of the force that the blood applies to the walls of the arteries as it flows through them. It is normal for blood pressure to increase when you exert yourself, or when you feel stressed or anxious. But if your blood pressure is consistently higher than normal at rest, this is high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Statistics has it that about 3 in 10 adults have high blood pressure in the UK. It is much more common in older people: 7 out of 10 people in their 70s have high blood pressure (www.bpassoc.org.uk). In Gbagada, Victoria Island and Ikeja we will find out the rate at which people have high blood pressure.Blood is pumped normally around the body by the heart carrying oxygen and nutrients. As a result of the pumping action of the heart and the size and flexibility of the arteries that carry blood, the blood is under pressure. This blood pressure is an essential and normal part of the way the body work.High blood pressure will develop if:The walls of your layer arteries lose their elasticity and become rigid.The small blood vessels become narrower (ww.bhf.org.uk)It is important for people to do medical check-up on blood pressure regularly. It is very dangerous if it is not properly controlled. How can it be controlled if you don’t check it up to know your blood pressure status? However, blood pressure is measured with a monitor called Sphygmomanometer. This is a digital box attached to a tube with a cuff on the end. The cuff is placed around the upper arm and inflated to a certain level, then deflated slowly. A sensor in the cuff provides information about the blood pressure or a Doctor or Nurse will listen to the blood flow using a stethoscope. The result is expressed as two numbers such as 120/80 mm GH (“One Hundred and Twenty over Eighty Millimeters of Mercury”).The top figure is the systolic blood pressure: A measure of pressure when your heart muscle is contracting and pumping blood. This is the maximum pressure in your blood system. The bottom figure is the diastolic blood pressure, this is the pressure between the heart beats when the heart is resting and filling with blood. This is the minimum pressure in your blood system. If you suffer from diabetes is even more important that your blood pressure is lower than this- ideally less than 130/80mmh.Types of High Blood Pressure Primary hypertension and Secondary hypertension. Primary Hypertension: More than 9 in 10 people with high blood pressure have what is called “Primary” or essential hypertension. This means that there is no single clear cause of it. Like I said previously the exact cause of high blood pressure is not fully understood. It is known that some factor to do with your life style can contribute (OLayinka, 2003).Secondary Hypertension: Around 1 in 20 people with high blood pressure have “secondary hypertension”. This means your condition can be linked to a recognized cause-in fact, it may be a symptom of another underlying disease or factor such as:Kidney diseaseEndocrine diseaseNarrowing of the aortaSteroid medicinesThe contraceptive pillPregnancy, which can cause pre-eclampsia.You may also need some test to see if high blood pressure is having an effect on the rest of your body. These may include:An analysis of urine (protein in your urine may be the first sign of kidney problem).A blood test, to check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well as the condition of your kidneys.An ECG (Electrocardiogram), which record the electrical changes happening in your heart.Monitoring24hrs Ambulatory monitoring. You may need 24-hours testing to measure your blood pressure over 24-hours.Treatment Slightly raised blood pressure may not be treated so aggressively, but regular monitory is important. If you have a very severe high blood pressure, you may need to go to hospital for treatment. But it is much more likely that you will be cared for by a Nurse. (www.bpassoc.org.uk, www.bhf.org.uk)1.3 DIABETESDiabetes mellitus occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough or any of the hormone insulin, or when the insulin produced doesn’t work effectively. In diabetes, this causes the level of glucose in the blood to be too high. Diabetes can also be viewed from this perspective: Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by persistent hyperglycemia (Dorman, 2004). There are two main common forms of diabetes, these are the type one diabetes and type two diabetes, and these were initially called the insulin dependent diabetes and non insulin dependent diabetes respectively.In Type 1 diabetes the cells in the pancreas that make insulin are destroyed, causing a severe lack of insulin. This is thought to be the result of the body attacking and destroying its own cells in the pancreas – known as an autoimmune reaction. It’s not clear why this happens, but a number of explanations and possible triggers of this reaction have been proposed. These include:Infection with a specific virus or bacteria;Exposure to food-borne chemical toxins; andExposure as a very young infant to cow’s milk, where an as yet unidentified component of this triggers the autoimmune reaction in the body.However, these are only hypotheses and are by no means proven causes. Type 2 diabetes is believed to develop when: The receptors on cells in the body that normally respond to the action of insulin fail to be stimulated by it – this is known as insulin resistance. In response to this more insulin may be produced, and this over-production exhausts the insulin-manufacturing cells in the pancreas; there is simply insufficient insulin available; and the insulin that is available may be abnormal and therefore doesn’t work properly.The following risk factors increase the chances of someone developing Type 2 diabetes:Increasing age;Obesity; andPhysical inactivity.Rarer causes of diabetes include:Certain medicines;Pregnancy (gestational diabetes); andAny illness or disease that damages the pancreas and affects its ability to produce insulin e.g. pancreatitis.What doesn’t cause diabetes?On the cause of this research we will find out what may possibly not cause diabetes and what facilitates diabetes. Many scientists believe that eating sweets or wrong kind of food does not cause diabetes, but obesity instead. However according to our findings obesity is associated with people developing type two diabetes. Further more they also believe that stress does not cause diabetes, although it may be a trigger for the body turning on itself as in the case of Type 1 diabetes. It does, however, make the symptoms worse for those who already have diabetes.Diabetes is not contagious. Someone with diabetes cannot pass it on to anyone else (Hicks, 2004).What causes diabetes? It is believed that some drugs could lead to the cause of diabetes. Drugs such as steroids, Dilantin, and others may elevate the blood sugar through a variety of mechanisms. Certain other drugs, such as alloxan, streptozocin, and thiazide diuretics, are toxic to the beta cells of the pancreas and can cause diabetes. Certain syndromes (for example, Prader-Willi, Down’s, Progeria, and Turner’s) may result in a hyperglycemic state; if this state is prolonged, the result can be permanent diabetes. (Guthrie, 2003).Diabetes resulting in an insulin-dependent state is classified as Type 1 diabetes. While Type 1 diabetes affects only between 5 to10 percent of the diabetic population, its effects on the body can be worse than other forms of diabetes. In the past, Type 1 has been known as juvenile or juvenile-onset diabetes (because it is usually diagnosed in those under thirty), brittle diabetes, unstable diabetes, and ketosis-prone diabetes. People in this classification more frequently exhibit the classic symptoms, usually with ketones present in blood and urine. A blood-sugar level of 800 mg/dl (44 mmol) or more, especially if ketones are not present, indicates a diagnosis of hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome (a state in which the body is extremely dry (dehydrated), the chemicals in the body are concentrated, and the blood sugar is high). As stated before, diabetes is a syndrome or group of diseases (rather than one disease), leading to the prolonged hyperglycemic state. Type 1 is most associated with the killing of the beta cells, most likely by the body’s own immune system. Either the immune system cannot kill an infecting agent, which then kills the beta cells, or the immune system itself goes “wild,” attacking the body’s own tissue and destroying the beta cells. The cells of the islets of Langerhans are inflamed, resulting from an infectious-disease process (for example, mumps) or, more commonly, from an autoimmune (allergic to self) response.The autoimmune process results in the circulation of antibodies that may either cause or be caused by beta-cell death. If it is found that the antibodies cause beta-cell destruction (the body fighting what it now considers foreign to itself), the body’s response to the Type 1 diabetes is much less severe (i.e., easier to control) with treatment. Until then, the outcome is a lack of available insulin. While the onset is said to be sudden, changes resulting in decreased insulin availability may have occurred over a longer period of time. In short, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is an inherited defect of the body’s immune system, resulting in destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas.  (Guthrie and Guthrie, 2003).1.4 STRESS RELATED DIABETESStress, both physical and mental, can send your blood sugar out of whack (Nelson, 2004). It’s hard to dispute that most of us live life at breakneck speed. It’s the nature of a fast-paced society, where numerous family, social, and work obligations can easily overpower your precious time and resources. But for people with diabetes, both physical and emotional stress can take a greater toll on health (Nazario, 2004).This is a simple biological phenomenon that when a person is undergoing stress, the persons blood sugar level rises. During stress hormones like epinephrine (A substance produced by the medulla (inside) of the adrenal gland. The name epinephrine was coined in 1898 by the American pharmacologist and physiologic chemist (biochemist) John Jacob Abel) and cortisol (the primary stress hormone. Cortisol is the major natural GLUCOCORTICOID (GC) in humans) becomes active as their major function amongst others is to raise blood sugar level which, helps to boost energy when needed. Emotional and physical trauma keeps these hormones working as they are designed to aid you when you are stressed. Logically they want to give you energy to fight the cause of such stress, but, the adverse effect becomes eminent. People who aren’t diabetic have compensatory mechanisms to keep blood sugar from swinging out of control. But in people with diabetes, those mechanisms are either lacking or blunted, so they can’t keep a lid on blood sugar, says (David, 2004). When blood sugar levels aren’t controlled well through diet and/or medication, you’re at higher risk for many health complications, including blindness, kidney problems, and nerve damage leading to foot numbness, which can lead to serious injury and hard-to-heal infections. Prolonged elevated blood sugar is also a predecessor to cardiovascular disease, which increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.In diabetes, because of either an absolute lack of insulin, such as type 1 diabetes, or a relative lack of insulin, such as type 2, there isn’t enough insulin to cope with these hormones, so blood sugar levels rise (Richard, 2004).Anything upsetting like going through a breakup or being laid off is certainly emotionally draining. Being down with the flu or suffering from a urinary tract infection places physical stress on the body. It’s generally these longer-term stressors that tax your system and have much more effect on blood sugar levels. Since stress has virtually become a way of life, you may not even notice you’re frazzled. A lot of people will identify stressors such as an illness in the family (something large) but may not recognize the stress of the holidays or a hectic time at work (something smaller or shorter in duration). 1.5 STRESS RELATED HYPERTENSION.Reducing stress can help lower blood pressure. Stress is a normal part of life. But too much stress can lead to emotional, psychological and even physical problems — including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, chest pains or irregular heart beats. When you are exposed to long periods of stress, your body gives warning signals that something is wrong. These physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral warning signs should not be ignored. They tell you that you need to slow down. If you continue to be stressed and you don’t give your body a break, you are likely to develop health problems. You could also worsen an existing illness. (Curtis, 2007)If stress itself is a risk factor for heart disease, it could be because chronic stress exposes your body to unhealthy, persistently elevated levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Studies also link stress to changes in the way blood clots, which increases the risk of heart attack.1.6 GENETICS AND DIABETEStype one diabetes: it is believed that diabetes is likely to be inherited amist the other possible links and cause. In families it is studied that first degree relatives have a higher risk of developing type one diabetes than unrelated individuals from the general population (approximately 6% vs <1%, respectively) (Dorman and Bunker, 2000). These data suggest that genetic factors are involved with the development of the disease. At present, there is evidence that more than 20 regions of the genome may be involved in genetic susceptibility to type one diabetes. However, none of the candidates identified have a greater influence on type one diabetes risk than that conferred by genes in the HLA region of chromosome 6. This region contains several hundred genes known to be involved in 4 immune response. Those most strongly associated with the disease are the HLA class II genes (i.e., HLA-DR, DQ, and DP). IDDM1. The HLA class II genes, also referred to as IDDM1, contribute approximately 40-50% of the heritable risk for T1D (Hirschhorn et al., 2003).Type two diabetes: It has long been known that Type two diabetes is, in part, inherited. Family studies have revealed that first degree relatives of individuals with Type two diabetes are about 3 times more likely to develop the disease than individuals without a positive family history of the disease (Flores et al., 2003; Hansen 2003; Gloyn 2003). It has also been shown that concordance rates for monozygotic twins, which have ranged from 60-90%, are significantly higher than those for dizygotic twins. Thus, it is clear that Type two diabetes has a strong genetic component. One approach that is used to identify disease susceptibility genes is based on the identification of ca n d i d a t e   g e n e s   ( B a r r o s o   e t   a l . ,   2 0 0 3 ;   S t u m v o l l ,   2 0 0 4 ) .   C a n d i d a t e   g e n e s   a r e   s e l e c t e d   b e c a u s e   t h e y   a r e   t h o u g h t   t o   b e   i n v o l v e d   i n   p a n c r e a t i c   ²  c e l l   f u n c t i o n ,   i n s u l i n   a c t i o n   /   g l u c o s e   m e t a b o l i s m ,   o r   o t h e r   m e t a b o l i c   c o n d i t i o n s   t h a t   i n c r e a s e   T y p e   t w o   d i a b e t e s   r i sks (e.g., energy intake / expenditure, lipid metabolism). To date, more than 50 candidate genes for Type two diabetes have been studied in various populations worldwide.However, results for essentially all candidate genes have been conflicting. Possible explanations for the divergent findings include small sample sizes, differences in Type two diabetes susceptibility across ethnic groups, variation in environmental exposures, and gene-environmental interactions. Because of current controversy, this review  w i l l   f o c u s   o n l y   o n   a   f e w   o f   t h e   m o s t   p r o m i s i n g   c a n d i d a t e   g e n e s .   T h e s e   i n c l u d e   P P A R ³,   A B C C 8 ,   K C N J 1 1 ,   a n d   C A L P N 1 0 . S e v e r a l   T y p e   t w o   d i a b e t e s   S u s c e p t i b i l i t y   G e n e s R R   =   r e l a t i v e   r i s k U P P A R ³  ( p e r o x i s o m e   p r o l i f e r a t o r s – a c t i v a t e d   r e c e p t o r – ³)   U .   T h i s   g e n e   h a s   b e e n   w i d e l y   s t u d i e d   b e c a u s e   i t   i s   i m p o r t a n t   i n   a d i p o c y t e   a n d   l i p i d   m e t a b o l i s m .   I n   a d d i t i o n ,   i t   i s   a   t a r g e t   f o r   t h e   h y p o g l y c e m i c   d r u g s   k n o w n   a s   t h i a z o l i d i n e d i o n e s .   O n e   f o r m   o f   t h e   P P A R ³  g e n e   ( P r o )   d e c r e a s e s   i n s u l i n   s e n s i t i v i t y   a n d   i n c r e a s e s   T y p e   t w o   d i a b e tes risks by several folds. Perhaps more importantly is that this variant is very common in most populations. Approximately 98% of Europeans carry at least one copy of the Pro allele. Thus, it likely contributes to a considerable proportion (~25%) of Type two diabetes that occurs, particularly among Caucasians.Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young: An uncommon form of T2D (accounting for <5% of all T2D cases) that generally occurs before age 25 years is MODY. MODY is characterized by a slow onset of symptoms, the absence of obesity, no ketosis, and no evidence of beta cell autoimmunity. It is most often managed without the need for exogenous insulin. MODY displays an autosomal dominant pattern inheritance, generally spanning three generations (Stride and Hattersley, 2002).1.7 GENETICS AND HYPERTENSIONScientists at the University of Virginia and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., have discovered three variants in a kidney gene that indicate the most common type of hypertension. Their findings, the result of “18-year” collaboration between the two schools, are allowing development of the first predictive medical test for high blood pressure, according to an article in the March 19 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The researchers report that these gene variations, either by themselves or through interaction with variations of other genes, are associated with essential hypertension in several populations: Caucasian American, Ghanaian and Japanese. The presence of these gene variants, also called polymorphisms, can be determined by a simple genetic test used to assess an individual’s risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension). The test is based on detection of inherited gene variations that encode for a protein called G protein coupled receptor kinase type 4 (GRK4). GRK4 variations are associated with an inability to eliminate sodium from the body. This discovery has led to a high quality test that should be suitable for screening a large number of patients based on a fluorescent molecular beacon assay, and will aid physicians in their diagnosis of genetic forms of hypertension, (Robin, 2002).The genetic information disclosed by the new test will allow physicians to provide guidance to patients with a family history of hypertension who wish to know if they should modify their lifestyles to help prevent the debilitating consequences such as kidney failure, heart failure, stroke, blindness or high blood pressure, (Felder, 2002).Essential hypertension – a type that classifies 50 percent of hypertension – affects 25 percent of the world’s adult population and is a major risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction and heart and kidney failure. Although scientists have believed this condition to be hereditary, determining the genetic cause of essential hypertension was previously difficult because blood pressure level results from a combination of hereditary and environmental factors.Patients with even a single GRK4 variation have a significant lifetime risk for developing hypertension, said Dr. Pedro A. Jose, professor of pediatrics and of physiology and biophysics at Georgetown University, and senior author of the journal article. We have now identified the genetic abnormalities that cause this error and so we have a better idea of the impact of these gene variations in the development of hypertension in three distinct racial groups.Identification of this leading cause of hypertension should lead to improved medical treatments for the disease but, the belief of these scientists is it really true?1.8 PRINCIPLES OF ANTIOXIDANT IN DIABETES AND HYPERTENSIONVery simply put, an antioxidant is something that prevents or slows down oxidization. This can be very beneficial to the health, for instance the cholesterol in our bodies is not necessarily harmful until it becomes oxidized, which then causes it to start clinging to our blood vessels which as you know can then lead to some serious health related heart problems. Antioxidants can help to prevent this and thus make a very positive contribution to your overall general state of health and physical well being (Gorman, 2003)Have you had your lycopene today? If you ate a green salad with fresh chopped tomatoes, then you not only got a healthy dose of this powerful antioxidant, but you have also taken significant action toward lowering your blood pressure. A recent double-blind study conducted in Israel has confirmed what hearth-healthy Italians have enjoyed for centuries – tomatoes (and tomato sauce) lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease (Paran, 2007). Tomatoes are so effective at lowering blood pressure because they contain lycopene. This potent antioxidant is even the focus of some hybrid tomatoes processed by Tomatoes Company in Nigeria (Gino tomatoes).Long-Term Antioxidant Intervention Improves Myocardial Microvascular Function in Experimental Hypertension (Martin, 2003). Hypertension increases oxidative stress, which can impair myocardial microvascular function and integrity. However, it is yet unclear whether long-term antioxidant intervention in early hypertension would preserve myocardial perfusion and vascular permeability responses to challenge. Pigs were studied after 12 weeks of renovascular hypertension without (n=8) or with daily supplementation of antioxidants (100 IU/kg vitamin E and 1 g vitamin C, n=6), and compared with normal controls (n=7). Myocardial perfusion and microvascular permeability were measured in vivo by electron beam computed tomography before and after 2 cardiac challenges (intravenous adenosine and dobutamine). Basal left ventricular muscle mass was also obtained. Mean arterial pressure was significantly increased in both groups of hypertensive animals (without and with antioxidants, 123±9 and 126±4 mm Hg, respectively, versus normal, 101±4 mm Hg; both P<0.05), but muscle mass was not different among the groups. The impaired myocardial perfusion response to adenosine observed in hypertensives (normal, +51±14%; P<0.05 versus baseline; hypertension, +14±15%; P=0.3 versus baseline) was preserved in hypertensive pigs that received antioxidants (+44±15%; P=0.01 compared with baseline). Long-term antioxidant intervention also preserved subendocardial microvascular permeability responses in hypertension. On the other hand, antioxidant intervention had little effect on the hypertension-induced myocardial vascular dysfunction observed in response to dobutamine. This study demonstrates that the impaired myocardial perfusion and permeability responses to increased cardiac demand in early hypertension are significantly improved by long-term antioxidant intervention. These results support the involvement of oxidative stress in myocardial vascular dysfunction in hypertension and suggest a role for antioxidant strategies to preserve the myocardial microvasculature. (Krier et al, 2003).Most of the food that many people eat, such as fast food and other food sources high in processed carbohydrates sugars and fat, contain very low levels of antioxidants. As well as being low in antioxidants, these items actually increase your cholesterol level; this can lead to some serious health issues that pose serious health risk. (Heath monitor, 2006).1.9 HYPOTHESESH0: Stress is not linked with hypertensionH1: Stress is linked with hypertensionH0: Stress is not linked with diabetesH1: Stress is linked with diabetesH0: Antioxidant cannot curb hypertensionH1: Antioxidant can curb hypertensionH0: Antioxidant cannot curb diabetesH1: Antioxidant can curb diabetesH0: Hypertension is not hereditaryH1: Hypertension is hereditaryH0: Diabetes is not hereditaryH1: Diabetes is hereditaryCHAPTER TWO2.0 MATERIALSThe major materials used were: a comprehensive questionnaire and data analysis software. These two materials are very effective in processing information for statistical analysis. Biological raw data can be mathematically analyzed, computed and intensely verified for effective result. Different people have different believes and tenets, but, such believes have to be reasonable hypothesis and proven.2.1 REVIEW OF HYPOTHESISH0: Stress is not linked with hypertensionH1: Stress is linked with hypertensionH0: Stress is not linked with diabetesH1: Stress is linked with diabetesH0: Antioxidant cannot curb hypertensionH1: Antioxidant can curb hypertensionH0: Antioxidant cannot curb diabetesH1: A    ntioxidant can curb diabetes H0: Hypertension is not hereditary H1: Hypertension is hereditaryH0: Diabetes is not hereditaryH1: Diabetes is hereditary2.2 DATA COLLECTION (QUESTIONNAIRE)Data are research facts that are based on respondents’ answers to questions. There are types of data like parametric and non parametric data; the former is in numerical values while the later is the type I am applying in this research which is nominal or ordinal like sex, age, nationality and more (Oludotun, 2007). Information are processed data while a questionnaire is a form of mechanism for obtaining information, data to be processed and opinions of people about certain issues. Questionnaires have a number of advantages and disadvantages when compared with other evaluation tools. The key strengths and weaknesses of questionnaires are summarized in bullet points below. In general, questionnaires are effective mechanisms for efficient collection of certain kinds of information. They are not, however, a comprehensive means of evaluation and should be used to support and supplement other procedures for evaluating and improving research hence an evaluating soft ware is also utilized in this research as indicated above.2.3 ADVANTAGES OF QUESTIONNAIRES:They permit respondents time to consider their responses carefully without interference from, for example, an interviewer.Cost: It is possible to provide questionnaires to large numbers of people simultaneously.Uniformity: Each respondent receives the identical set of questions. With closed-form questions, responses are standardized, which can assist in interpreting from large numbers of respondents.Can address a large number of issues and questions of concern in a relatively efficient way, with the possibility of a high response rate.Often, questionnaires are designed so that answers to questions are scored and scores summed to obtain an overall measure of the attitudes and opinions of the respondent.They may be mailed to respondents although this approach may lower the response rate.They permit anonymity. It is usually argued that anonymity increases the rate of response and may increase the likelihood that responses reflect genuinely held opinions.The responses are gathered in a standardized way, so questionnaires are more objective, certainly more so than interviews.Generally it is relatively quick to collect questions using a questionnaire. Potential information can be collected from a large portion of a group. This potential is not often realized, as returns from questionnaires are usually low. However return rates can be dramatically improved if the questionnaire is delivered and responded to in time.2.4 DISADVANTAGES OF QUESTIONNAIRESQuestionnaires, like many evaluation methods occur after the event, so participants may forget important issues.Questionnaires are standardized so it is not possible to explain any points in the questions that participants might misinterpret. This could be partially solved by piloting the questions on a small group of people or at least friends and colleagues. It is advisable to do this anyway.Open-ended questions can generate large amounts of data that can take a long time to process and analyze. One way of limiting this would be to limit the space available to students so their responses are concise or to sample the people and survey only a portion of them.Respondents may answer superficially especially if the questionnaire takes a long time to complete.People may not be willing to answer the questions. They might not wish to reveal the information or they might think that they will not benefit from responding perhaps even be open by giving their real opinion. People should be told why the information is being collected and how the results will be beneficial. They should be asked to reply honestly and told that if their response is negative this is just as useful as a more positive opinion.2.5 LOCATION IN VIEWThe locations considered: Ikeja, Gbagada, Victoria Island. These areas are both industrial and residential areas. Majority of people in these areas have different life styles and different ways of attending to health issues.2.6 CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE IN VIEWPeople, who take taxies to work, some take private cars, public buses and even bikes. Many of them spend long time in traffic, and even spend long time at work.    2.7 METHOD OF DATA PROCESSINGThere are so many methods applied in investigation of statistical analysis among these are design and survey which are the two methods used. The software used in the analysis of the data collected from the questionnaire is the statistics package for social scientist (SPSS). Based on the fact that the data collected through the questionnaire are non-parametric, they are first analyzed into percentile, mean, mode and median. Furthermore a correlation is made between related information coined from the data in the questionnaire and chi square test into symmetric measure which shows Pearson’s ranking and spearman correlation to produce an efficient result to test if the null hypothesis is accepted or the alternative hypothesis is accepted.   CHAPTER THREE3.0 RESULTThe questionnaires were collected and analyzed using statistical package for social scientist (SPSS), these were tabulated as percentile, mean and modal information that was further correlated with cross-tabulation, chi square test and symmetric measure. The result shows that stress increases diabetes and hypertension. Antioxidants reduce the effect of diabetes and diabetes and hypertension are both hereditary.3.1 SECTION A: BIO-DATAThe three locations (Gbagada, Victoria Island and Ikeja) were fused together in a tabular form depicting information in quantity (mode) and in percentage. The tables below are results from the fusion of data from Gbagada, Victoria Island and Ikeja based on some related question on the questionnaire.Table 1: Age of RespondentTable 1 shows 56.3% of workers fell in the lower category of age while 43.8% fell in the higher category of age; 18-25 and 26-33 respectively.Table 2: Marital StatusIn table 2, a large number of the respondents are single (94.9%) while the rest were either married or divorced. Table 3: Nature of JobTable 3 shows the kind of jobs the respondents do, there were more people on the white collar jobs.    Table 4: Family History of HypertensionTable 4 shows that many hypertensive people had traces of family members that were hypertensive.Table 5: Family History of DiabetesTable 5, 12% were found to be valid for diabetic traces in their families.Table 6: Distance to Workplace shows 30.4 valid percent of people living very far from their workplaces.Table 7: Conditions of the RoadsTable 7 verifies that 51.7% go to work on bad roads.Table 8: Duration of time spent in Traffic DailyTable 8, indicates that a higher percent of workers spend about 2hours in traffic.Table 9: Transportation system to WorkplaceTable 9 shows that 43.8 go to work on bike, 36.9 go to work in private cars, 1.1 use commercial buses.3.3 Section C: Use of Fruits and VegetablesTable 10: Respondents cook and eat vegetables outside those incorporated into foodIn table 10, 62.5% against 29.5% respondents eat vegetables outside those incorporated into food.Table 11: Respondents eat fruits oftenTable 11 depicts that a high frequency of respondents eat fruits.Correlation/cross-tabulation of parameters closely investigated hypothesis. Samples from the cross relationship showed 13 respondent who were hypertensive out of 35, they spend about 2hours in traffic while 10 out of 34 respondent who were hypertensive spend lesser time in traffic; that is to say stress aggravates diabetes.For diabetes majority of people who spend more time at work did not respond well to treatment. The chi-square test gave 0.508 which is greater than 0.05 this accepts the alternative hypothesis. Results show that antioxidants curb both diabetes and hypertension, 54 respondents, 17 are hypertensive and eat enough vegetable, but 37 people of the 54 respondents are not hypertensive but eat enough vegetables. More respondent have family members that are both hypertensive and diabetic.Table 12: Effect of stress on hypertensive patienceCASESCORRELATED QUESTIONSVALIDMISSINGTOTALNPERCENTNPERCENTNPERCENTTRAFFICADURATION OF TIME SPENT IN TRAFFIC DAILY* ARE YOU HYPERTENSIVE?6939.2%10760.8%176100%BDURATION OF TIME SPENT IN TRAFFIC DAILY* WHEN LAST DID YOU CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE?6335.8%11364.2%176100%CDURATION OF TIME SPENT IN TRAFFIC DAILY* KIND OF MEDICATION(S) USED?5631.8%12068.2%176100%DDURATION OF TIME SPENT IN TRAFFIC DAILY* ANY IMPROVEMENT?3821.6%13878.4%176100%WORKEDAILY TIME AT WORK* HYPERTENSIVE?6838.6%10861.4%176100%FDAILY TIME AT WORK* CHECK OF BLOOD PRESSURE?6436.4%11263.6%176100%GDAILY TIME AT WORK* KIND OF MEDICATION USED5631.8%12068.2%176100%HDAILY TIME AT WORK* ANY IMPROVEMENT?3821.6%13878.4%176100%CHAPTER FOUR4.0 DISCUSSIONThe level of stress back in the days of our fathers compared to the present life style was relatively small.Physical and mental stress increase the blood sugar level which in turn increases the pressure the blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels. When the rate or speed of blood pumping from the heart around the body increases consistently then you are susceptible to high blood pressure (Olayinka, 2003). The primary hypertension is more common; about nine in ten people suffer from that primary hypertension. There is virtually no clear cause of that one. The secondary hypertension is more critical with one person in twenty people suffering from it; its cause could be linked to other underlying diseases (www.bhf.org.uk). We have been able to show that People who spent 10hours at work could trigger or aggravate the incidence of high blood pressure. Unsatisfactory job conditions and long time in traffic also triggered the incidence of hypertension. We could show that about 2% of hypertensive people spent less than and equal to 30 minutes in traffic while about 3% of hypertensive people spent about 2hours in traffic. These facts prove that stress leads to high blood pressure.A large percentage of people with essential hypertension have genetic abnormalities of their peripheral arteries (arterioles) — the small arteries that supply blood to the body’s tissues. This genetic abnormality makes the walls of the arteries stiff so there is greater resistance to the blood flowing through them. (www.medicinenet.com). A higher number of those with high blood pressure had members of their family with high blood pressure (13 out of 21 respondents that are hypertensive have family members that are hypertensive from the result). Genetic factors may contribute to an estimated thirty percent of cases of essential hypertension (high blood pressure of unknown cause). In the United States, high blood pressure occurs more frequently among African Americans than among white or Asian Americans. Adult African American men are most at risk for developing hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The reason remains unknown, especially since non-American adult African men have very low occurrences of hypertension.  One of the relating factors to high blood pressure is sodium salt; this was sited previously. Some scientist believe that the black American adult suffering from high blood pressure can be linked to the time of the slave trade, when they were crossing the see they must have been affected by the high sea concentration of salt. This is just an assumption. (www.webmd.com).Diabetes is mainly in two forms except for other minor but important types like MODY: maturity onset diabetes in youth and more (Dorman, 2004). The insulin dependent diabetes which is also called the type one diabetes is when all the cells responsible for the production of insulin has been totally destroyed by the body’s own immune system; the non-insulin dependent diabetes also called type two diabetes this is when the receptors responsible for the stimulation of the cells that produces insulin fails this is also called insulin resistance. In response to this excess insulin produced, over time the cell loses the ability to produce enough insulin to control the blood sugar. Cortisol and epinephrine are triggered to produce excess sugar for energy when a person encounters stress (health monitor, 2006). When there is not enough insulin to control the sugar level, diabetes is worsened (McElroy, 2007). It was clearly discovered that those undergoing certain stressful life style were diabetic with poor response to treatment which is another major connection between stress and diabetes (1.1% of those who spent hours in traffic do not respond to diabetic treatment against 0.44% of those who spent lesser time in traffic). Stress makes diabetes worse; even if you are doing everything you can to control your condition (Tennen, 2007).At present, there is evidence that more than 20 regions of the genome may be involved in genetic susceptibility to type 1diabetes. The genes strongly associated with the disease are the HLA class II genes (i.e., HLA-DR, DQ, and DP). IDDM1. The HLA class II genes, also referred to as IDDM1, contribute approximately 40-50% of the heritable risk for T1D (Hirschhorn et al., 2003). It was discovered that those that diagnosed their diabetes between the ages 0-20 had more family members with diabetes. It has long been known that “Type two diabetes” is, in part, inherited. Family studies have revealed that first degree relatives of individuals with “Type two diabetes” are about 3 times more likely to develop the disease than individuals without a positive family history of the disease (Flores et al., 2003; Hansen 2003; Gloyn 2003).Antioxidants reduce hypertension as the rate of vegetable consumption increases. Out of 54 people 37 who consume a very high amount of vegetables reported not to be hypertensive anymore against the remaining 17 people. This simple indication shows that these vegetables help the body in the reduction of hypertensive risk.Studies on oxidative stress, antioxidant treatment, and diabetic complications have shown that oxidative stress is increased and may accelerate the development of complications through the metabolism of excessive glucose and free fatty acids in diabetic and insulin-resistant states. However, the contribution of oxidative stress to diabetic complications may be tissue-specific, especially for micro-vascular disease that occurs only in diabetic patients but not in individuals with insulin resistance without diabetes, even though both groups suffer from oxidative stress. Although antioxidant treatments can show benefits in animal models of diabetes, negative evidence from large clinical trials suggests that new and more powerful antioxidants need to be studied to demonstrate whether antioxidants can be effective in treating complications. Furthermore, it appears that oxidative stress is only one factor contributing to diabetic complications; thus, antioxidant treatment would most likely be more effective if it were coupled with other treatments for diabetic complications (www.joslin.harvard.edu). Those workers that indulge in adding extra vegetables to their meal and eating fruits regularly responded to diabetic treatment properly. This only indicates that since vegetables and fruits are good sources of antioxidant, it has positive effect on diabetic patients. Hence the alternative hypothesis is accepted that antioxidants help in curbing diabetes. ConclusionsFinally we can confidently say that, “stress is related to hypertension, stress is related to diabetes, antioxidant can ameliorate the risk of developing hypertension and diabetes. Hypertension and diabetes are both hereditary these indications are possible because, haven tested the strength and direction of variables and observed the effect of one variable on the other; the alternative hypotheses were now accepted. REFERENCESABAHUSAIN M.A., Wright, J., Dickerson J.W., de Vol E.B. Retinol, alpha-tocopherol and carotenoids in diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr, (1999); 53: 630–5. Alberti, K.G.M.M., Zimmett, P., Surwit, R. Definition, diagnosis and classification of  diabetes mellitus and its complications part 1: diagnosis and classification of  diabetes mellitus provisional report of a WHO consultation. Diabet Med, (1998). 15: 539-553. Anjos, S., Polychronakos, C. Mechanisms of genetic susceptibility to type 1:diabetes  beyond HLA. Mol Genet Metab, (2004). 81: 187-195. Barroso, I., Luan, J., Middelberg, R.P.S.,  Candidate gene association study in type 2  Diabetes indicates a role for genes involved in B-Cell function as well as insulin action. PLoS Biol, (2003). 1: 41-55. Brown, B.G, Zhao, X.Q., Chait, A. Simvastatin and niacin, antioxidant vitamins, or the combination for the prevention of coronary disease. N Engl J Med (2001); 345: 1583–92. Collins, F.S., McKusick, V.A. Implications of the Human Genome Project for medical science. JAMA, (2001). 285: 540-544.Curtis, E. M. Hypertension effect on cardiovascular diseases: Ame Issues on Health    (2007). 71: 340-350Czernichow, S., Hercberg, S. Interventional studies concerning the role of antioxidant vitamins in cardiovascular diseases: a review. J Nutr Health Aging (2001); 5: 188–95. Dahlquist, G., Frisk, G., Ivarsson, S.A. Indications that maternal coxsackie B Virus infection during pregnancy is a risk factor for childhood-onset IDDM. Diabetologia, (1995). 38: 1371-1373. Evans, J.L, Goldfine, ID, Maddux BA, Grodsky GM. Are oxidative stress-activated signaling pathways mediators of insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction? Diabetes (2003); 52: 1–8.Facchini, F.S., Saylor, K.L. A low-iron-available, polyphenol-enriched, carbohydrate-restricted diet to slow progression of diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes (2003); 52: 1204–9. Frei, B. Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant vitamins: mechanisms of action. Am J Med (1994); 97: 5S–13S. Janice, S., Dorman, internal arteriole pressure Ame A Ca (2004): 34:430-6JOSHUA , A. S., GEORGE L.K.  Research Division, Joslin Diabetes    Center, Harvard Medical School, www.joslin.harvard.edu Khoury, M.J., Yang, Q., Gwinn, M. An epidemiologic assessment of genomic profilling for measuring susceptibility to common diseases and targeting interventions. Genet Med, (2004). 6: 38-47. Kim, S.H., Ma, X., Weremowicz, S. Identification of a locus for maturity-onse diabetes of the young on chromosome 8p23. diabetes, (2004)|. 53: 1375-1384. Kolb, H., Pozzilli, P. Cow’s milk and type 1 diabetes: the gut immune system deserves attention. Immunol Today, (1999). 20: 108-110. Kyvik, K.O., Nystrom, L., Gorus, F., Gorman, T. The epidemiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus is not the same in young adults as in children. Diabetologia, (2004). 47: 377-384. Robin, A.F., Genetics and Hypertension. March 19 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). (2002)Sinha, R., Fisch, G., Teague, B. Prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance       among children and adolescents with marked obesity. N Engl J Med, (2002). 346: 802-810. Sobngwi, E., Boudou, P., Mauvais-Jarvis, F., et al. Effect of a diabetic environment in utero on predisposition to type 2 diabetes. Lancet, (2003). 361: 1861-1865. Stride, A., Hattersley, A.T. Different genes, different diabetes: lessons from maturity-onset diabetes of the young. Ann Med, (2002).

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Introduction

It has been viewed by some Eurocentric writers that pre-colonial West African economy was stagnant, subsistence and that it lacked real market status before British colonization. This argument stems from some anthropological perceptions (substantivist stand point) that the main sector of this economy was basically subsistence agriculture, which had been made stagnant as a result of application of simple technology without organized specialization. Production target is said to ensure human existence with little or no exchange as a result of limited output1. To this view, simple and non-industrial region, such as pre-colonial West African societies lacked certain necessary prerequisite for market economy and as such economic terms and theories should not be applied to explain their economic structure2.

The study therefore intends to unravel the pre-colonial Nigerian indigenous economy both in scope and structure and attempts to establish that it was dynamic and that it possessed real market status of high standard, given its characteristics. The study is divided into three major segments – general features of an economic system, structure of pre-colonial Nigerian economy and justification of pre-colonial Nigerian economy as a dynamic and market oriented economy. A market economy is the one in which decision-making is decentralized, that is market issues are mainly determined by market forces; that is, demand and supply. This is unlike command economy in which decision making is decentralized and controlled by an authority 3. In every economic system, there are three basic economic functions, no matter the nature, type and level of the government or economy4. These are, what and how much to be produced, how will it be produced, and for whom will it be produced. These implies that every economic system takes care of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. Every economy system is tied to a political system through which people decide what their society desires.

A vital role of any economic system is co-ordination. It must see that individuals’ decisions about what they do are co-ordinated with the society’s wants and with what other individuals do. This co-ordination also includes, moral, social and political values, an economic integration which ensures that what an individual wants will not exceed what are available in the society5. This partly explains why there is no economic system that can easily operate successfully outside the socio-cultural context of its indigenous environment.

Given this background, it would be gainful to examine the structure and scope of pre-colonial Nigerian economy. The main spring and life-wire of any society are mostly referred to as its economic and human potentials. Nigeria does not take exception to this universal rule. The kingdoms, states and empires that existed in pre-colonial Nigeria were great and prosperous not only because of their sound socio-political institutions, but also as a result of the natural resources such as bountiful agriculture, trade and crafts. A close observation of the Nigerian terrain and climate reveals the diversity of its natural potentials which gave rise to economic viability and a variety of occupations. The structure of pre-colonial Nigerian economy rested basically and extensively on the nature of vegetation, household labour and the main components being agricultural activities, crafts, trade, and its transportation system.

 

Agriculture          

Agriculture is a primordial economic activity in Nigeria which formed the means of livelihood of the peoples and a strong factor for the rise of states and empires just as the case everywhere in the world. From the words of Evans – Pritchards “the first evolution that transformed human economy gave man control over his own food supply, man began to plant, cultivate and improve by selection of edible grasses, roots, and trees”6. This economic advancement has been described as “neolitic revolution”. Like in modern time, in pre-colonial Nigeria , a major determining factor for the choice of settlement was availability of favourable climate, free of epidemics, fertile land suitable for cultivation and grazing, congenial littoral environment for fishing and security such as absence of war and other natural and supernatural disasters. When these factors were lacking, people resorted to migration in search of comfortably habitable areas. Considering these phenomena, the reasons for shifting cultivation in planting in agriculture, normadism in grazing and itinerancy in fishing could be understood. In other words, ecological factors play decisive roles in human settlement7.

The form of agriculture practised and the crops planted were determined by the nature of soil and the terrain of the region. Shifting cultivation and crop rotation characterized agricultural practices in pre-colonial Nigeria , owing primarily to land tenure practice and lack of knowledge of highly mechanized farming. There were natural problems such as erosion, drought, pests and diseases. These problems were tackled locally, depending on individual communities. For instance, traps were set to catch birds and destructive animals in the farms and gutters were also dug to drain away water in order to check flood. Wetting of farms during drought had been an ancient agricultural practice among Nigerians. All these practices were not necessarily influenced by conservation as viewed by some western observers but the most effective and correct maintenance of soil fertility and assessment of the prevailing economic situation of the period8

In pre-colonial Nigeria , farmers depended on implements such as digging stick, hoe, cutlass and sickles. The common crops produced based on territorial specialization included, yam, okra, vegetables, maize, cocoyam, cassava, plantains, bananas, kolanuts and oil palm9. The independent growth and antiquity of agriculture in Africa and Nigeria in particular has been strongly proved by some African economic historians. Among them was Murdock, an ethnographer who argued that agriculture began in the upper Niger area among the Mende-speaking peoples in about 5000BC10 basing his research on yam cultivation in this region. While one cannot doubt the great antiquity of agriculture in Nigeria , we must, on the same note not rule out the possibility of cultivation of yams or other crops earlier than or around the period, (5000BC), in other parts of Nigeria . It is interesting to note that the diffusionist theory and hamitic hypothesis which tend to hold that all developments in Africa are imported have been proved wrong by the nature of agricultural development in the sub-regions11. While it is undeniable that some crops were introduced from other areas to Nigeria , it is evident that agriculture in Nigeria developed naturally and independently without foreign mechanism12. Whatever that was later introduced to it was supplementary to the existing system.

 

FISHING, HUNTING AND PASTORALISM

 

Fishing                                            

Fishing is an ancient economic activity in Nigeria . Its activities cover both the coastal and inland waterways and it was of tremendous economic value to the pre-colonial Nigerians13. Fish was one of the major articles among Nigerian commodities of trade. Fish of various kinds were either dried in the sun or smoked in order to preserve them for long or short distance market14. Fresh fish were said to be marketed mostly in short distance areas owing to the perishable nature and problem of storage facility. Professional fishing is characterized by craftsmanship and special skills, such as boat, canoe, paddle, float, buoy and net construction coupled with invention of a variety of indigenous fishing techniques and gear. Fishing in pre-colonial Nigeria till date engenders migration as many of its practitioners would have to leave their original settlements for better prospects elsewhere15. Fishing of the migratory type was very prominent among the Ilaje, Izon, Itsekiri, Efik, Jukun, Ijebu, Awori etc. From the pre-colonial period to date, the Ilaje are said to have been the most migratory, famous and professional both in inland and deep sea- fishing not only in Nigeria but in West and Central Africa16 . Around the early 16th century, fishing is said to be practised with rudimentary techniques and tools such as raffia materials, wood, and grasses ad with very limited scope17. By the late 18th century to early 19th century, most Nigerian fishermen had started developing improved fishing gear and techniques such as clapnets, castnets, ita, egho, asuren, ojijon, agada, ighee, iyanma, ekobi ufo, riro, 18 etc. Nigerian fishing economy was in this progressive stage of development on the eve of British colonization.

  Hunting                  

Hunting could be regarded as one of the earliest economic activities in pre-colonial Nigeria . It was very significant because, many people depended on it for economic survival at a stage of economic development. However, as time went on, hunting became a relevant supplement to agriculture19. Hunting in Nigeria during this period was of various levels. At lower level, hunting included setting of snares for birds, young animals, such as squirrels, monkeys, grass cutters, alligators, etc. Another level was hunting for larger animals such as crocodile, elephant, wild pig, antelope, etc. It was and perhaps, still, a belief in most local communities in Nigeria that hunting, especially at higher level, apart from special skills involves the use of charms and possession of supernatural powers20. Hunting was a reliable source of meat and animals skin for cloth, shoe and drum making. In addition to its economic value, it was a means by which foot paths and settlements were created before the advent of the European mode of road construction and town settlement. Consequently, these paths and hamlets later developed into roads, towns and villages. Hunters served as security agents by protecting people from attack of enemies or wild animals. Hunters also supplied animals and their special parts which have medicinal value among indigenous medicine practitioners21. Supplementary to hunting was fruit gathering. Collection of variety of fruits from the forest was an economic venture by some people, especially women in the pre-colonial Nigerian societies. Fruits and spices are important for food and herbal medicine hence, their demand was and is still high till date in Nigerian local market places22.

 

 

Pastoralism               

This was another economic practice in pre-colonial Nigeria . This is the rearing of animals, especially cattle, goats and sheep in commercial quantity by moving from one fertile land to another. As a result of infestation of the forest region by tsetse fly and scarcity of open land in the south, couple with the marshy nature of the plains, presence of rivers and creeks in the coastal region and the presence of open land in the north, pastoralism was mostly practised by the Fulani in the savanna region of northern Nigeria22. Both pastoralism and hunting are related to crop farming since they all directly and indirectly deal with animals. Though, mixed farming was not widespread, some form of symbiosis existed between the crop farmers and the postoralists. For instance, the droppings of the cattle formed manure to the soil which in turn supported the growth of crops while the postoralists depended on food crops of the farmers. Moreover, the production of cattle was a source of beef for the forest dwellers, the leather workers demanded the skin for production of shoes, bags, shield for war, quivers for arrow, harness for horses23 etc. Kano in northern Nigeria was famous for such skills. Pastoral activities were of immense economic value in pre-colonial Nigeria .     

 

Crafts     

A discussion of the development of crafts among pre-colonial Nigerians requires a description of their arts and industries at various levels. The major arts and craft works in which Nigerians were famous included; salt extraction, soap production, metal work, woodwork and weaving activities. This enormous development reminds us of the extent to which indigenous technology had progressed in Nigeria in pre-colonial period. It is evident that iron technology had developed considerably in pre-colonial Nigeria and this revolutionalized crafts and manufactures in Nigeria and indeed Africa24 .

Salt production was one of the mineral extractions, which was not available in most areas, but an important locally needed product and an import commodity of foreign merchants25. In pre-colonial Nigeria , production of salt at large quantity was naturally restricted to the coastal areas owing to the availability of raw material such as salt water. The method of production was by evaporation of seawater either by boiling or sunning. Among the coastal settlers in Nigeria, especially the Ilaje, Itsekiri and Ijaw, the process was by collecting seawater in a large clay pot, cooked it till it was dry, leaving white and solid substance at the bottom. This would be scooped, using a small basket to filter the dirt26. What remained was salt which could be to a large extent free of impurities. This industrial activity enhanced the growth of trade between the coastal and inland dwellers in pre-colonial Nigeria . In the inland region too, salt is said to be produced in perhaps relatively small quantity especially among the Jukun of the Benue region and the Igbo of the eastern Nigeria27.

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INTRODUCTION

Science and technology are important tools in man’s attempts to exist, develop and take charge of his environment. Ever since the discovery of science and its application man has consistently made efforts to develop various technologies in order to conquer nature, recreate the world for his simplicity and benefits. Right from the primitive times, man invented bow and arrow, fire, hoes, knives, cutlass and so on, in order to deal with the existential problems nature possesses. Even in the present world, the efforts of man are in totality geared towards the provision of food, clothing and shelter and other basic amenities for his survival.

 

Essentially, man is able to maneuver his way around the cosmos and come up with scientific discoveries because of his natural endowments. Man is naturally endowed with intelligence. He has the mental and natural ability to forge ideas and the capacity to invent. The capacity to invent makes him a creator or an inventor. Thus, the application of science to everyday life manifests in the various inventions of man vis-à-vis the technological developments in human society. Science and technology, therefore, are artificial inventions of man basically put to use for his benefits.

 

MAN, HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

It is pertinent to mention that science does not exist outside the social cultural environment of man. Man is the creator of science and the inventor of technology. In fact, man could be regarded as the highest expression of his environment. The development of science and technology is usually aimed at finding solutions to certain existential problems or difficulties of nature within a particular socio–cultural environment. Although the nature of science suggests an objective application to universal problems and conditions, which is a deductionist approach to science; we cannot, however, deny the fact that it is at first targeted at dealing with particularistic instances within a given environment.

 

Historically, man has played a key role in the development of science and technology. The human society, no doubt, has gone through a series of evolutions, transformations and as well as revolutions at every stage of its development. In the early Greek period, for instance, philosophy, art and science attracted most wide spread attention. Science and art were part of philosophy. What existed however was speculative science. This was the period where Thales lived. He regarded as the first notable philosopher and scientist in the western world. He was the first person to predict an eclipse of the sun, which eventually took place in 585 B.C. His pupil, Anaximander, was the first evolutionist scientist in the western world. He held that all living things originated from the sea and began to develop in the course of time into various forms by means of adaptation to their environment. He held that man evolved from the animals. Anaximander also held that the earth was not flat but like a cylinder in shape and is known to have made the first map in history. Pythagoras the mathematician, Democritus the atomists and Aristotle the greatest scientist in Ancient Greece, all lived at this period.(Omoregbe 2002, 177)

 

Religion and theology took the centre stage and became the focus of interest in the middle ages. Ethics, literature and art characterized the renaissance age. However, at the emergence of Francis Bacon who laid the foundation for inductive model of science, the modern period witnessed the development of empirical and experimental science. This was the period where two notable doctrines emerged namely, the Rene Descartes led Rationalism and the John Locke led Empiricism. But in the contemporary period the centre of interest has progressively shifted to science and technology. (Fadaunsi 1997, 58).

 

It is fundamental to mention that the internal factors and as well as man’s non complacency and his quest for knowledge in each of the periods in the history of society informed the shifts in the emphasis for development.

 

Technology is what we know as applied science. It is the “systematic study of techniques for making and doing things” (Gordon 1942, 20). In a like mind manner, D.P Lauda and R.D Ryan (1971: 53) see technology as:

Man’s effort to cope with his physical environment both that provided by nature and t9hat created by man’s own technological deeds, such as cities and his attempts to subdue or control that environment by means of his imagination and ingenuity in the use of available resources.

 

Technology is the application of the discoveries of science to improve the conditions of human life. It is this application that results in inventions to improve human welfare in various sectors of human life. Disciplines like Engineering, Medicine, Information Technology, Electronics, Architecture, etc. are applied sciences.(Omoregbe 2002, 179).

 

The history of technology extends as far as the ancestors of man. Technology grows and develops hand in hand with science. Both of them compliment each other. The development of various tools when man was at the primitive stage in the history of society is recorded to be the first technological revolution. By the time of the Neanderthal Man, a degree of specialization in tool making had been achieved. The Cro–Magnon homosapiens mastered some mechanical principles in pottery making and by the period of the Neolithic Man, man had fairly advanced in tool making crafts.(Ndubuisi 2002, 132).

 

By the 16th century, Francis Bacon advocated experimental science and suggested that scientists should study the methods of craftsmen. Technology continued to grow with development of iron bridges, steam engines and textile machinery. This period witnessed the complimentary roles of science with technology. For instance, Edison, the inventor of the first practical lighting used the scientific ideas of Faraday and Henry, who had earlier experimented on electricity. Bell, the inventor of the telephone also developed it on the scientific ideas of Helmholtz.(Ndubuisi 2002, 133).

 

ENHANCED PRODUCTIVITY

There is no gainsaying the fact that the revolution that takes place in science and technology in human society is by no mean feat. With the aid of technology, man has been able to put to use his ideas of almost a perfect, seamless society with the aid of various gadgets he develops for his benefits. The world today, particularly in this 21st century, experiences economic and political growths as a result of scientific and technological advancements. There are advancements and breakthroughs in the areas of power and energy, transportation, communication, medicine, architecture, agriculture, industry, military technology, computer, space shuttles, biotechnology etc.

 

That advancement in science and technology has contributed to the enhancement of productivity and increased economic growth in human society is an understatement. The fact is evident that science and technology has a large interaction to productions in all sphere of human society. The industrial revolution which occurred in Europe in the 18th century marked the beginning of an economic growth and revolution. This industrial revolution showed a massive social, economic, and technological change, which commenced with the introduction of steam power, fuelled primarily by coal. The technological and economic progresses recorded of the industrial revolution gained momentum with the introduction of steam powered ships, boats and railways. However, at the turn of the 19th century, the revolution spread throughout Western Europe and North America, and eventually impacting the rest of the world. (Wikipedia)

 

The events following the enhanced productivity of labour characterized by the industrial revolution which had spread across the world led to the ‘second industrial revolution’ beginning around 1870. This second industrial revolution gradually grew to include “the chemical industries, petroleum refining and distribution, electrical industries and the automotive industries”.(Ndubuisi 2002, 151). In fact, the increasing availability of economic petroleum products also reduced the usage of coal to the potential for industrialization.

 

It is therefore important to mention that these industrial revolutions, which led to the formation of various giant industrial corporations with often nearly, globalize international operations and interests, paved the way for the successive scientific technological revolution that emerged in the 1940s and 1950s. This scientific and technological revolution is thus evident in some countries, like the disintegrated Soviet Union and the United States of America, visit to the moon during this period. Today, other countries are following suite. In September 2008, China launched her space shuttle and sent a 3 man one week space delegation to the moon.

 

It can be seen from the foregoing that the indelible mark made by the revolutions in science and technology has influenced the way man, of the modern age, perceives the world. The scientific and technological revolution that has taken the world by storm today stemmed from the industrial revolution of the 18th century. Kolawole Ogundowole (2003: 134) notes that:

In the first half of the twentieth century especially during the 194s and 195s there were fundamental shifts in the structure of most sciences and in the scientific activity as a result of major scientific and technical discoveries. This in turn led to an increase interaction of science with technology and production. Precisely, it was during that decade that mankind entered the period of scientific and technological revolution.

 

Today, the scientific and technological revolution is enhancing productivity of labour. It is changing the entire face of social material production. It evidently has a positive change over the nature, conditions and contents of labour as well as the composition of productive forces, the social division of labour, and the sectional and occupational structure of society.

 

In his perception, Dryakhlov (1984: 55) defines scientific and technological revolution as:

The radical qualitative transformation and production forces completed as a result of the merger between the scientific and technological revolutions and the conversion of science into a direct productive force.

 

This implies that as one of the basic principles and laws of dialectics, there exists in human developmental processes, quantitative and qualitative changes. This affirms the materialist assertion that everything develops from the transformation of quantity into quality. Thus, scientific and technological revolution is a special phenomenon connected with the conversion of science into direct productive force of the society, “the radical qualitative transformation of the structure of productive forces and the changes in the character and content of human labour”. (Ogundowole 2003, 138).

 

With the evolution and development of science and technology, it has become evident that this revolution has increased production and consumption, particularly in the developed countries of the world, beyond all expectations of the past. It is thus possible that poverty, hunger, and even unemployment on a large scale would be a phase of history. This is why V.G Afanasiev (2003: 139) notes that:

Science is the generator of ideas: technology is their material, substantive embodiment; while production is the area where the functioning of technology occurs, where people use scientific and technological achievements to obtain their necessary material wealth.

 

At this juncture, it is pertinent to mention that the rate of development of science and technology and its startling achievements in almost every sphere of human life, particularly as it enhances productivity in human society, is not without its side effects. Karl Marx was one of those who pointed it the evil inherent in the industrialization process. Marx was not, however, against the development of technology. But Marx believed that the industrialization process was the evil in the dialectical progression of feudal economic modes, which led to the full development of capitalism. Marx admitted that the industrialization of the society occurred, but it only led to the polarization of society into two main classes. Marx did not deny this industrialization, but was annoyed at the exploitation that existed between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. According to Marx (1972: 183):

Industrialization engenders the polarization of societies into two classes, the bourgeois those who own the means of production, i.e. the factories and the land, and the much larger proletarian working class who actually perform the labour necessary to extract something valuable from the means of production.

 

As a direct effect of the scientific technological revolution, Marx opined that rapid advancements in technology left many skilled workers unemployed, as one agricultural and manufacturing task after another was mechanized. Again, Marx pointed out that there were flights of millions of unemployed people from rural areas or small towns to the large cities as a result of the search for white collars jobs. Thus, there was the development of large urban population centers, which actually led to unprecedented conditions of poverty in the slums that housed workers for the new factories. At the same time, the bourgeoisie class, at only a small fraction compared to the proletariat’s size became exceedingly wealthy.

As a solution to this situation of unequal distribution of wealth and sheer exploitation of the capitalist system, Marx asserted that the dialectical progression, itself, is a necessary precursor to the development of socialism and eventually communism. Marx (1972: 209) believed that:

The industrial proletariat will eventually develop class consciousness and revolt against the bourgeoisie, leading to a more egalitarian socialist and eventually communist state where the workers themselves own the means of industrial production.

 

Marx may not be right with his belief that capitalism, which developed as a result of the industrialized technological advancements, would collapse and give way to socialism and eventual communism. The reality in our world today shows that capitalism, as against socialism, strives and technology is advancing. But events in recent time show that advancement in technology has not solved most of the existential problems in our world. Advancements in food/agricultural technology, for instance, have not halted the shortage of food. Taken that famine is prevalent in most developing countries, citizens of the technological advanced countries are also crying fowl with the high cost of food items in their society. In fact the United Nations Organizations, early in the year 2008, announced that the entire world was going through a huge food crisis.

 

In the same vein, advancements and revolution in science and technology did not stop the economic recession that occurred in the United States of America in 2008. Despite its enhancements of productivity, scientific and technological revolution did not stop this economic recession in the U.S which led to the loss of over 800 thousand jobs between January and September, 2008. The 700 billion dollars economic bail out plan sent by the erstwhile U.S president Bush and approved by the legislature in October 2008 remains to be seen in helping the economic turn around of the country. Even the stimulus plan by the current US president Obama has not made significant contribution to the US economy.

 

Similarly, the revolution in science and technology has not stopped the death of a number of little children in China over the melamine contamination of the baby milk and other diary products. Hence, despite its potentials in enhancing productivity, its effects on labour, human life, job loss, could sometime be devastating.

 

CONCLUSION

We cannot deny the good that the advancements in science and technology have done to man in virtually every aspect of his life. We cannot also rule out the fact that man is the instrument of change in the scientific technological revolution. In order words, science and technological developments cannot be made possible without man being at the centre of its creation and inventions. This makes B.M Kedrov and S. Shukhardin (2003: 139) consider that “scientific and technological revolution is an integral phenomenon encompassing the whole ‘man–science–production’ system”.

 

We must however emphasize that science and technology is like a double–edge sword. It has both positive and negative sides. While its success has tremendously improved the quality of human life, its negative side is highly devastating to human life.

 

Man faces serious danger of the destructive side of technology in the areas of air pollution, pollution of seas and rivers, the depletion of the ozone layer, toxic waste, etc. The destructive effects of technology on mankind could also be seen in the areas of the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction, in particular the manufacture of chemical weapons, atomic bombs, biological and nuclear weapons.(Omoregbe 2002, 181).

 

The history of modern world has shown that powerful countries that have developed these weapons of mass destruction are usually tempted to use it on weaker countries. The atomic weapon of mass destruction used by the United States of America, during the Second World War, over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan is still fresh in our memory. This is why presumably most other countries, like Iran, Korean, India etc., are developing nuclear weapons for themselves in order to protect themselves and wade off the threat of attack.

There are various other threats that the advancements and revolution in science and technology pose to mankind, but these destructive elements of science and technology are not enough excuses to deny the obvious that almost everybody anywhere in the world has benefited positively from it. It has improved man’s condition of life by making the necessities of life, like food; shelter; clothing; transportation; communication; health; etc., more easily available.

 

It is therefore our position that the positive elements that can be derived from the science and technology are of great importance to man. Man must therefore ensure that science and technology must be to his service and oriented towards human affairs. Man must avoid the wrong usage of technology as this may lead to his self destruction. The wrong usage of science and technology poses more serious threats to world peace which man has been trying to attain since the beginning of the world.

 

 REFERENCES

Afanasiev V,G, quoted from Kolawole Ogundowole (2003), Nature of Man: 

                               History and Philosophy of Science in 10 Modules, Lagos,

                               Correct Counsels Limited.

Dryakhlov N.,(1984), The Scientific and Technological Revolution: Its Role in

                               Today’s World, Moscow, Progress Publishers.

Fadaunsi Ayo, (1997), Science and Technology as Promises and Threats to

                               Societies” in The Nigerian Journal of Philosophy,

                               Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos.

Gordon G., (1942), What Happened in History, London, Oxford University Press.

Kedrov B.M and Shukhardin S. quoted from Kolawole Ogundowole (2003), 

                             Nature of Man: History and Philosophy of Science in 10   

                             Modules, Lagos, Correct Counsels Limited.

Lauda, D.P and Ryan, R.D, (1971), Advancing Technology, Iowa, W.M.C. Brown

                              Company Pub,ishers.

Marx Karl, (1972), Economic, Class and Social Revolution, London, Nelson

                              Publishers.

Ndubuisi Friday,(2002),  “The Rise and Development of the Various Areas of

                              Technology” in Kolawole Ogundowole (ed),  Man, History

                              and Philosophy of Science: A Compendium of Readings,

                               Lagos, Obaroh and Ogbinaka Publihers Limited.

Omoregbe Joseph, (2002),  “Science and Technology in the Service of Man” in

                               Kolawole Ogundowole (ed),  Man, Historyn and

                               Philosophy of Science: A Compendium of Readings,

                               Lagos, Obaroh and Ogbinaka Publihers Limited.

Wikipedia, “Industrial Revolution”, http.www.thefreeencyclopedia.htp

 

 

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The person who makes speeches in the public is called the speaker.   From the response given by the public, the person will be characterized as, whether he is a good or bad speaker. A motivational speaker is a professional speaker who makes use of certain techniques to grab the attention of the audience.  They are the ones, who inspires and motivates the audience through their speech.Guidance to emerge as a motivational speaker:Only the persons, who have spoken up in numerous public meetings and who do not have any stage fear could become a motivational speaker. So to become a motivational speaker, you should have spoken a lot in the public.  The following are some of the guidelines which guide you to become an inspirational speaker.1.    Share your life experience: First, speak about your own life.  List down the goals you have achieved in your life starting from college graduation, job, to come over bad habit or achieving some lifelong dream.  Sharing your life experience with others shall be an inspiration for others.2.    Identify what you have to deliver:  It’s actually a fact that people listen to the life of only famous personalities.   Even a common man can deliver an excellent speech, but the people should be ready to listen to it, for which you have to find out, how far your speech helps people in solving problems, to achieve their goals and to enhance their life condition.3.    Choose a leadership: Using an example to explain things works out in many places.  So, while giving speech, try to choose some leadership as example, because people like to hire experts.4.    Get to know about your audience: First get to know about your audience and then you can deliver your speech.  The audience can be characterized on the following categories such as age, gender, interests or any other traits that distinguish one group from other.  So, once when you go to know about your audience, you shall start to deliver your speech.5.    Before making out speech, it is always good to write down your speech.  Confidence, credibility and enthusiasm are the some of the characters which help you to succeed as a powerful speaker.  Prepare and publicize materials through which you can promote your speech.  You can invite some potential employers to see you speak or you could send them your materials.  So, that after listening to your speech, the employers might approach you.  When you promote your speech through materials, some companies can seek you to work for them.Duties of a motivational speaker:-    Educate the listeners.-    Conduct seminars and workshops, encourage people to achieve their goals.-    Helps people to surpass their goals.-    Create and develop keynote speech to develop in a variety of venues.-    They make visit to schools, companies and to many organizations to deliver speech and talk.  On the whole, they will motivate and inspire people.

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Introduction

The Chicago fire occurred on 8th in the month of October during the year 1871. It left property worth millions destroyed. Besides this there were plenty of people who lost their lives while others had no place to call home. How the fire started

The fire originated at the barn yard of a couple; Mr. and Mrs. O’ Leary. Numerous suggestions have been made about possible causes of the fire, some of which were dismissed later. Investigations were made into causes of the fire by some Fire Commissioners and the Board of Police. After conducting interviews (they questioned fifty people) and looking at evidence surrounding the case, this Commission was still unable to determine what had caused the fire.

However some people had suggested that there was a spark blown by wind up a chimney and this started of the fire which spread through the City. Others have suggested that it had been caused by Mrs. O’ Leary by claiming that an animal at her barnyard kicked a lantern that set the whole place ablaze. Mrs. O’ Leary was acquitted off any charges after giving her testimonies. Others have also suggested that the fire could have been as a result of malice by some agency. Evidence to back all these claims was insufficient to get a culprit. [1

Chicago before the fire started

Source: Helmer, B. (1996): The Conflagration, retrieved from http://www.chicagohs.org/fire/ruin/index.ht

Chicago was a strategically located City within the US. It acted as a link between two parts of the American economy; that is agriculture which was mainly conducted in the Western part. It was also a converging point for all activities related to industries as was characterized by the Eastern region. The City's economy was represented by the numerous economic activities. There were ten railway lines. There was a busy river connecting to the lake. It was also characterized by over one thousand factories. The City was buzzing with activity as people were constantly trading goods, exchanging information and building their economy. [2

Conditions before the fire started

The City of Chicago had a lot of conditions that favored the spread of the fire. The first being that most of the buildings in the City were made up of materials that were conducive for the spread of the fire. It was mostly composed of wood. Besides this, the City had suffered from a drought and this greatly increased the chances of poor control in case a fire struck. Prior to that fateful day of 8th October, there had been a fire that had already exhausted fire fighters and drained some of the resources to be used in firefighting. This was also backed up by the fact that there were strong winds within the City from the North Eastern part of the region. All these factors formed fertile ground for the spread and subsequent destruction of the fire. [3

The Spread of the fire and why it took so long to die out

The Fire began at Mrs. O'Leary barn yard in Illinois during the evening hours on Sunday. It started spreading quickly and was reported to the fire department at around nine pm. However, the attendant left at the Fire Department simply dismissed it as part of the flames that had been witnessed during the previous day. He assumed that those flames were dying out. Some time later, the fire department attendant realized that it was actually a different fire from yesterdays. This was the point at which he deployed firefighters to that region. However, there was a misunderstanding between the fire alert and the firefighters as they did not trace the place immediately. More time wastage by the fire department meant that more property was getting destroyed. By the time the fire department got there, the fire had spiraled out of control. []It was blown towards the northeastern direction by strong winds. This facilitated its quick spread. It reached a tall building at the western part of the City’s river. The winds were getting stronger at this point because they acquired extra energy from the fire’s heat. This tall building gave the fire leverage to spread into a branch of The Chicago River. What made things worse was that a large portion of the structures alongside the River and within it were made of flammable items. There were ships found along the river’s shore; they were largely composed of wood. There was also a lot of timber transported through the river. On top of this, the City’s roadsides were surrounded by wooden enclosures. Things were worsened by coal manufacturers nearby. [5

The fire kept getting bigger and fiercer. By this time, it had already become self propellant: The spread relied on winds generated by the fire itself. The city's firefighters were overwhelmed and exhausted so they asked for help from other Cities. However, this was a case of too little, too late. The fire had now reached the City's water plant meaning that there was no more water to fight off the fire. All stakeholders in the firefighting exercise left the fire after realizing that there were immobilized. Residents sought refuge in the Lake connected to the Chicago River. Others used a park located away from the City's business district. The latter had now become a shell of itself after factories, stress and entertainment centers were destroyed.

Only five buildings were spared during this raging inferno. The City decided to institute martial law such that relief efforts could be coordinated. On the second day, the strength of the winds propelling the fire had diminished and there was also some rain. It died down on a Tuesday during the morning hours leaving many injured, dead and distraught. [

How many people died, the aftermath and financial impact

There were around three hundred lives that were lost. But the actual bodies found reached one hundred and twenty five. Although many argue that this number was not as high as some of the other strategies that struck the City, it still affected bereaved families.

Statistics showing the level of destruction caused after the Great Chicago Fire

Type of loss

Amount or number

Road destruction

73 miles

Side walk destruction

120 miles

Lamp posts

2000

Destruction of buildings

17,500

Homeless people

90,000

Overall property destruction

$222, 000,000

Length of land destroyed

4 miles

Width of land destroyed

¾ miles

[7

Rebuilding the City

The City's rebuilding process began as soon as the fire died down. This exercise was one of the factors that catapulted the economy of the country because new structures were erected. The City got assistance from other parts of the country. They brought with them a range of materials to be used for constriction. This was also in addition to some supplies for immediate use. They included household items like furniture, basic items like food and clothes. They also brought with them some lumber for construction. [

A case in point is the famous Palmer House hotel. Prior to the fire, the Hotel had been in operation for a period of less than two weeks. However, after the fire, it was completely destroyed. This was not a deterrent to him as he embarked on a new project that saw the construction of the first building in the City to withstand fire.

The City also realized that their fire department was severely lacking in terms of skill. It therefore built an Academy to train firefighters and to prevent future inadequacies as witnessed in that great horror. This Fire Academy was started at the residential areas of Mr. and Mrs. O' Leary. Ironically, their home survived the consuming flames due to the fact that they were located in the opposite direction of the winds that were propelling the fire.

The City was born afresh after the fire and is now the epitome of development in the United States. [9

Conclusion

The Chicago fire was started on a Sunday evening but died down on a Tuesday morning. The fire was one of the worst in the City because it took a very long time and had great magnitude. The reason why the fire was this severe was because of inadequate resources by the fire department, unfavorable weather conditions like winds, presence of flammable material in most structures within the town and lack of immediate response by residents of the City. But the people of Chicago were quick to recover from this disaster through reconstruction. They now boast of some of most well constructed structures in the Country. [10

Reference

Bales, R. (2004): A New Look at the Cause of the Great Chicago Fire, retrieved from http://www.thechicagofire.com/cause.ph, accessed on 27th February 2008

Sheahan, J. and George P. (2004): The Great Conflagration; Northwestern University Press

Cromie, R. (1999): The Great Chicago Fire; Rutledge Hill Press

Helmer, B. (1996): The Conflagration, retrieved from http://www.chicagohs.org/fire/ruin/index.htm

2008

DeBartolo, A. (1997): Who Caused The Great Chicago Fire? A Possible Death Bed Confession

http://www.hydeparkmedia.com/cohn.htm accessed on 27th February 2008

Morris et al (1992): The Life and Wars of General Phil Sheridan; Crown Publishing,

Goodspeed, E. (2002): History of the Great Fires in Chicago and the West; University of California Publishers

PBS (2006): People and Events: The Great Fire of 1871, retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/chicago/peopleevents/e_fire.htm accessed on 27th February

Colbert E. and Chamberlin, E. (2003): 1871 Chicago and the Great Conflagration; Northwestern University Press

[1] Bales, R. (2004): A New Look at the Cause of the Great Chicago Fire, retrieved from http://www.thechicagofire.com/cause.ph, accessed on 27th February 2008

[2 Helmer, B. (1996): The Conflagration, retrieved from http://www.chicagohs.org/fire/ruin/index.htm

[3 PBS (2006): People and Events: The Great Fire of 1871, retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/chicago/peopleevents/e_fire.htm accessed on 27th February

[4] DeBartolo, A. (1997): Who Caused The Great Chicago Fire? A Possible Death Bed Confession

http://www.hydeparkmedia.com/cohn.htm accessed on 27th February 2008

[] Morris et al (1992): The Life and Wars of General Phil Sheridan; Crown Publishing

6] Goodspeed, E. (2002): History of the Great Fires in Chicago and the West; University of California Publishers

[7Goodspeed, E. (2002): History of the Great Fires in Chicago and the West; University of California Publishers

[8 Colbert E. and Chamberlin, E. (2003): 1871 Chicago and the Great Conflagration; Northwestern University Press

[9 Sheahan, J. and George P. (2004): The Great Conflagration; Northwestern University Press

Cromie, R. (1999): The Great Chicago Fire; Rutledge Hill Press

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