Surrogacy Legalisation in Australia Essay Example for Free

Surrogacy Legalisation in Australia Essay Women usually become a surrogate mother because they receive compensation in one form or another from doing it; others do it because a family member cannot produce a baby of their own. Homosexual couples tend to use surrogacy as an option to have a child of their own, as compared to adopting a child. Due to commercial surrogacy being illegal in Australia, it has driven homosexual couples to other countries such as India where the surrogate mothers are not as healthy as the ones in Australia. Commercial surrogacy should be legalised in Australia so people of all sexualities do not revert to other countries where poor women are exploited and help protect the legal status of children there. (Esther Han, December 9, 2012, Sydney Morning Herald) Through surrogacy, couples of either heterosexuals or homosexuals are able to have a family of their own if they cannot produce one for themselves. There are two types of surrogacy; traditional and gestational. A traditional surrogate is a woman who donates her own egg and then carries out the pregnancy. Their egg is donated from their own body with the sperm of the father or the sperm from a donor. A gestational surrogacy is when the surrogate isnt biologically or genetically related to the child that she is carrying. Through the process of in vitro fertilization, the carrier becomes pregnant. This fertilization is where an embryo or several embryos are created from the eggs and sperm of the intended parents are implanted in the uterus for the gestational period of 40 weeks. As in the grounds of nature it takes a man’s sperm and a womans egg to create a baby, it makes it impossible for homosexual people or couples to conceive a baby of their own and therefore surrogacy is an option for them. In gestational surrogacy, there is no direct genetic impact on the baby from the surrogate mother and there is no DNA from the surrogate mother to the baby. This is because the embryotic sack that the baby is in has already got the DNA from its’ mother and father through the in vitro fertilization procedure. However, if the surrogate mother is not getting enough nutrients in her diet or if she were to drink or take drugs, this would affect the health and development of the baby as if it would a traditional surrogacy. Homosexual couples tend to go for surrogacy as opposed to adoption due to the fact that many homosexual couples want a baby that is created from their own DNA (because they cannot create their own with a woman) and not bring up someone else’s child through adoption. Not only because of these reasons do they tend to go for surrogacy, but also because adoption for homosexuals either in a relationship or not and single people has now become prohibited in almost every country in the world. There are a few concerns that do influence the decision on whether a homosexual couple adopt (if they were able to in that particular country) or apply for a gestational surrogate. Some of the concerns that they have with adoption is that some mothers decide to change their minds at the last minute and keep their baby instead of giving it to the adoptive parents. The costs that are involved with adoption and surrogacy are around the same amount of money to pursue; so many homosexual and heterosexual couples tend to go for surrogacy because even with the slight price increase of surrogacy, the couple would have a baby that is created from their own DNA. For the homosexual couple however, the DNA would come from one of the parents (Janna Herron, Bank Rate, 2013). In Australia, the current laws have stated that commercial surrogacy is illegal. However, there is no current law that states in Australia that non-commercial surrogacy also known as altruistic surrogacy is illegal. According to the Surrogacy Act of 2010, any parties can enter into a non-commercial/altruistic surrogacy agreement regardless of their sex and relationship status. The surrogate mother of the intending parents is not allowed to receive money or any compensation from the intending parents, but are allowed to have any medical expenses that are related to the baby be compensated for by the intending parents. For a homosexual couple, finding a willing surrogate mother in Australia who doesn’t want to be compensated more than what the law states is almost impossible to find, and this therefore leads homosexual couples to apply for surrogacy in other countries such as India. Each year, India produces hundreds of babies through commercial gestational surrogacy to intending parents all around the world. A vast amount of these babies from India go to intending homosexual couples of Australia. Just before Christmas last year, India changed their law for surrogacy to now exclude homosexuals, singles and people of all genders that are in a de facto relationship. This new law has been put into place because there are people who access surrogacy, rather than assisting the surrogates and the way in which surrogacy is done (Janna Herron, Bank Rate, 2013). This new law in India has affected homosexual couples especially because they can no longer apply for commercial surrogacy because they no longer fit in with the new criteria. These laws have been passed because of the controversial issues that may occur and the psychological issues that child may receive from having two parents of the same sex raise them. There are many controversial issues with being in a same sex relationship, including that of same sex rights and children. Children are an important aspect of many people’s lives. One of the issues that have arisen is whether a child who is raised from same sex parents will suffer from psychological abnormalities or development issues. Studies have shown from The American Psychiatric Association that there are no development issues or differences between children who have been raised by either homosexual or heterosexual parents. The child’s intelligence, psychological adjustment, popularity with friends, development of social sex role identity or development of sexual orientation has not been negatively affected or influenced due to their parents’ sexual origin as many stereotypes may point out. Another controversial issue that same sex couples face is the nature vs. nurture theory. Some people believe that if a man and a woman cannot produce a baby of their own, then they should therefore not be having children. This same theory applies to homosexual couples. In the eyes of society, if a homosexual couples cannot produce a baby naturally, than they should not be allowed to participate in the surrogacy scheme. This shouldn’t be the case for anyone, homosexual or not (Surrogacy Controversy, 2009) Controversial issues aside, should the legalisation of commercial surrogacy for heterosexuals and homosexuals in Australia occur? The answer is yes. Homosexuals should be allowed to access commercial surrogacy in Australia because we know the environment the women are living in is much more sanitised and cleaner as opposed to the third world countries such as India where intending same sex parents have had to resort to in order to have a baby. The surrogate mothers of Australia should be allowed to be compensated for the physical hardships and mental discomforts that she may endure. Studies have shown that no mental development issues have occurred from children who have same sex parents and there are no negative effects on the children. Everyone has the right to have a child and by legalising commercial surrogacy in Australia, more people will be able to have the families they’ve always wanted instead of having to meet the new criteria of the Indian laws. And sure, two daddies cannot give a child a mothers’ love but they can definitely give them double daddy love and in the end all that matters to a child is that they are loved by their parents; even if that happens to be two mums or two dads (Rosemary Odgers and Margaret Wenham, Courier Mail, February 10,2010). Reference List; †¢ Esther Han, December 9, 2012, Sydney Morning Herald, accessed Thursday 22nd May, 2013) lt; http://www. smh. com. au/national/call-to-reform-surrogacy-laws-20121208-2b264. htmlgt; †¢ Farlex Inc. 013, The Free Dictionary, accessed Friday 10th May, 2013 †¢ Kerry Brewster, 2013, ABC News, accessed Friday 10th May, 2013 †¢ Professor Jenni Millbank, 2013, ABC News, accessed Friday 10th May, 2013 †¢ Janna Herron, Bank Rate, 2013, accessed Friday 17th May, 2013 †¢ Surrogacy Act of Australia, 2010, accessed on Friday 24th May, 2013 †¢ Surrogacy Controversy, April 2009, accessed Sunday 26th May, 2013 †¢ Rosemary Odgers an d Margaret Wenham, Courier Mail, February 10, 2010, accessed Sunday 26th May, 2013

College Entrance Essay: Moving to the US :: essays research papers

University of Washington Admissions Essay The challenging family situation I would like to share with you is our move from Korea to the United States. In 1989, my life was changed when my family immigrated to a new country, hoping for a better future. My life in Korea was hopeless, because I was a failing student with not much interest in school. I spent the majority of my time in Arcades, wasting my coins on video games. Rather than studying with my friends, as I had told my parents I would, I obsessed over the games. The only positive aspect to my life was my private computer programming lessons. Programming in Apple BASIC presented me with an opportunity to create my own world. One day, my parents told me that we were going to move to the United States of America, and I developed a strong feeling that my life soon would change forever. After spending eleven years in Korea, our family moved a totally different environment. This I knew would be my toughest challenge to date. As a fifth grader attending a new elementary school in a new country, I felt left out because of my inability to communicate. Some kids assumed that I did not understand them at all, so they made rude remarks about me. I understood them, maybe not completely, but I knew the intent of their messages. All that I had was my Apple II computer at which I just sat and programmed when I came home from school. At home, my parents pressured me to study all of the time, but I was frustrated and wanted to return to Korea. I wanted to go back and talk freely with my friends and play games with them. My parents often told me that they decided to move here because of the educational opportunities, yet I continued to rebel and refused to listen to what they said. Over time, my English improved. I moved on to regular sixth grade classes; some of which were challenging, but tolerable because of my teachers whom were willing to help. I always enjoyed class trips to the computer lab, where I would start programming on the computer. Other kids would start to gather around and treat me like a genius. Before long, I made more friends and found that I was enjoying school. Thoughts of going back to Korea faded, and my grades rose to a satisfactory level. This pleased my parents who now encouraged me to invite friends to dinner.

Importance of Internet Essay

Books and libraries have long held a position of esteem and regard within civilized societies. Books are the stoic, unchanging witnesses of our past; ghosts in our social conscience; memories of dreamers and the pale laughter from jestered spirits of discontent and revolutionary ideas. Books are the intimate lovers of readers everywhere, beguiling and beckoning travel to places and situations that open the mind and create a foundry of glowing, shiny alloys melded with the brittle iron of the present. Books have the power to lift us from poverty, shift our thinking and empower the powerless with knowledge. This, of course, is why they must be burned, banned and limited to only the privileged. Book burning  has a lot of negative connotations that make many uncomfortable. Burning a book just any ol’ book, serves little purpose. In order to be effective libricide, or biblioclasm, must be supported with thoughtful selection, social responsibility and a healthy dollop of justice and righteous indignation. Before one starts brainstorming and making a list of books to burn for a Church agape group or disciple project, consideration of the recommended code of conduct from international  Memory Hole  experts is helpful. Quote:Are Teachers Becoming Obsolete? How the Internet is slowly replacing formal education By Scott Ijaz From good-natured websites that provide free medical advice, to disturbing ones that explain how to build a firework bomb out of an onion and tin foil, digital dilettantes can learn all sorts of things by surfing the Web. Students often use the Internet’s broad array of information to educate themselves. By presenting course material as a teacher would, websites cater to students who prefer teaching themselves by simplifying the self-education process. Selfscholar. com organizes and connects students with academic tools and resources. The website provides links for free downloadable textbooks, assembles learning communities comprised of students from all over the world who are interested in learning the same topic, and even has a section that teaches languages. Selfscholar. com also has a feature that allows its â€Å"students† to instant message a live tutor. Mike Spuzzilo, a second year mechanical engineering major, said about the site, â€Å"Everything you need is in one spot. If I come across a tough homework problem, I can type it into YouTube,† he said, adding, â€Å"A digital teacher will appear, taking me step by step with a similar problem.Spuzzilo remarked that the process makes more sense to him. â€Å"I learn easier that way,† he said. He notes that the Internet better meets his needs. â€Å"[The resources online] are accessible whenever you can get an Internet connection. University teachers can only help out as their schedule permits. It is much more convenient,† Spuzzilo said. Top tier schools like The London School of Economics, MIT and Yale embrace the advent of self-educational websites through Open Course Software. Open Course Software streams recorded lectures from the classroom into the audience’s room. The Internet viewer who doesn’t drop a dime experiences the same explanations as the students in the classroom who pay high-end tuition dollars. Nathan Shubick, a second year student studying  physics, better comprehended the online explanation than the classroom’s. â€Å"I went to the oyc. yale. edu, and listened to one of their teachers explain the same material on a podcast,† remarked Shubick. Shubick favored the Internet source over his classroom teacher. â€Å"Turns out, the Yale professor authored the textbook which my university teacher refers to in class. It was easier to learn coming from the horse’s mouth,† he said. With such an ample and diverse array of resources, students question emptying their pockets to pay for university tuition if the same material is accessible on the Internet without charge. Karen Diaz, the librarian at OSU responsible for managing online courses, emphasized the advantages of university schooling while pinpointing the shortcomings of an online education. Diaz stressed the importance of learning in person. â€Å"First-hand experience are things you cannot experience in a free online environment,† she said. Whereas the classroom is geared toward meeting individual’s needs, the Internet tries to accommodate the larger population. Supporters of formal education believe that student peers and mentors improve the structure of the overall learning environment. â€Å"You have the chance to interact with the instructor, ask questions, seek clarification or alternate explanations, and seek out help outside of class,† Diaz said. State-of-the-art facilities add another important dimension to the educational setting by applying what a student learns into everyday life. â€Å"There is a big difference between knowing how to do a lab involving a titrate and actually doing it,† Diaz said. The large quantity of online information doesn’t necessarily ensure its quality.

The Diary Of A Warrior - 1918 Words

Diary of a Warrior It was just any other day in the office that I work at. I got a call from my assistant at the front desk saying there was a student here and he wants to see me. I ask her what he wanted to see me for and she said he found an old war Diary of a warrior in Alexander the Greats army. When I heard this i didn’t believe it but I told my assistant to bring the student up. I heard a knock on the door and when I opened it, there was a kid holding a book that looked very old and ancient like. He handed me this book and asked me what I thought about it. I looked over it and saw that this diary was over a middle aged man during the classical Greece era who was in the army of Alexander the Great. I couldn’t believe what I was†¦show more content†¦Entry 2 I knew my mother would not like the fact that I would be going off to war but my father knew it was the right thing for me to do. My father knew it was the right thing for me to do because he knew I would be a great infantry man in the army. Because my dad thought this I did not want to let him down so I knew right there and then that I was going into the army and fighting for King Philip. Entry 3 Out of the blue we all got word that king Philip was assonated, when we heard this we all didn’t know what would happen. Then we learned that his son Alexander took over and he was going to lead people into war. So when I got called on to go into the army I did and we started to train. The training was very intense. It was nothing like I have experience before, right off the bat they told us if we did not die in batter we better be wounded because if not then we did not fight hard enough. Another part of our training was how to wield a sword and fight with a sword and shield. I have never done this before and I was super excited. I remember how heavy the sword and shield was and how easy it was to swing when you had the momentum going with it. After training for a couple of months we were ready to go into war and fight. Entry 4 In the spring of 334 B.C.E we entered the Asia Minor to attack and by the following spring we had conquered the entire western half of AsiaShow MoreRelatedLittle Rock Nine794 Words   |  3 PagesBeal’s Warriors Don’t Cry provides about the integration of Little Rock Central High School is the emotional toll that the integration brought on the students and their community. This is the most important piece of historical information provided by Warriors because it is told from a first person point of view, and it reveals how difficult it was for blacks and whites to accept integration and how far they were willing to go to put an end to it. 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