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Russian airstrikes turned the tide of the conflict in favor of the regime of Bashar al Assad. Moscow announced a reduction in its military presence in Syria in March 2016 but has maintained its infrastructure in the country while continuing to build up Assad's forces. The cessation of hostilities achieved through a deal between the United States and Russia has lessened the number of attacks against civilians and curbed fighting, but rebel areas remain under siege. At the same time, Russia has been keen to display its interest in an international, cooperative solution. Regard-less of whether Moscow's intentions are sincere or mere lip service, the peace talks underway in Geneva, could provide Germany and the European Union with means to bolster the ceasefire. They should push for a solution that curbs the security sector and other tools of repression, which are dominated by Assad's Alawite minority, rather than for a mere change of personnel at the leadership level. Without such substantial change, the dynamics prompting the influx of refugees is unlikely to change substantially. (SWP Comments)

At the same time as the Māori people were slowly getting a degree of traction over recognition of their status as indigenous people in New Zealand, it was complicated by the mass immigration of Pacific, Asian and African peoples. It is projected by Statistics New Zealand that by 2026 16% of the New Zealand population will be par t of the Māori ethnic group but 26% will be of Pacific Island or Asian heritage. This population change, and the prospective increased refugee settlement in New Zealand, has significant implications for health, education and social service providers, many of which have benefited from the Government providing resources to lift Māori achievement and lessen Māori deprivation. In recent years a shift has developed from a focus on bi-cultural approaches to one of multi-cultural approaches. This paper argues that these terms are not mutually exclusive, and discusses some of the contentious issues that have crept into the discussion on multi-culturalism, immigration and the worldwide problem of refugees. This article is based on a presentation to the Third International Indigenous Social Work Conference in Darwin 2015. ; Peer Reviewed

Finnlands Landesnatur und Geschichte Die finnische Landesnatur ist einzigartig in Europa. Sie besteht aus einer weiten Ebene aus archaischer - granitischer - Gesteinsbildung. Gesteinsschichten im Alter bis zu 2,8 Milliarden Jahre findet man vor, die Sockel der bis über 10.000 Meter hohen Gebirge während der Erkaltungsperiode der Erdoberfläche. Dieser Schild festerer Erdkruste - Fennoscandia - bewegte sich im Verlauf der Jahrmilliarden über die Erdoberfläche, bis über den Äquator hinaus. Der Felsuntergrund ist nur dünn mit Böden aus verwittertem Gestein bedeckt, und daher tritt er in den Schärenküsten, auf den Anhöhen und besonders in den lappländischen, solitären Bergrücken an die Oberfläche. In geologisch jüngster Zeit war Fennoscandia mit einem 3000 Meter hohen Eispanzer überdeckt, der während der Periode der Abschmelzung das glaziale Finnland hinterließ: das große Becken der Ostsee einerseits, die Rinnen des Finnlands der Tausend Seen - es sind tatsächlich 180.000 - und die über Hunderte Kilometer sich erstreckenden schmalen Hügelketten der Endmoränen andererseits. Ein weiterer landeskundlicher Gesichtspunkt ergibt sich aus der nordischen Lage, die Position des Landes zur Sonne mit den langen Sonnenscheindauern im Sommer und den kurzen im Winter, in Lappland bis zur polaren Nacht. Klimatisch ist Finnland im Sommer so warm wie Mitteleuropa, im Winter bedeckt die Schneehülle das gesamte Land. Die Vegetation besteht unter diesen Bedingungen aus dem borealen Nadelwald der Kiefern, Fichten und Birken. Bodenfunde belegen, dass schon im 4. Jahrtausend v. Chr. Ansiedlungen bestanden. Tacitus berichtet, dass dort weit oben die Finni leben, vermutlich waren die nomadisch lebenden Samen gemeint, die den kälteliebenden Rentieren folgten. Die Zuwanderung der Finnen - Suomi - erfolgte erst im Verlauf der nachchristlichen Jahrhunderte. Man vermutet, dass diese Bevölkerung friedlich fernab der turbulenten politischen Ereignisse in Europa leben konnte. Das Gegenteil ist wahr. Im 12. und 13. Jahrhundert wurde das Land - die ...

This paper explores the productive gap between riding as visual image of power and as a practical skill. By taking Sébastien Bourdon's equestrian portrait of Queen Christina of Sweden as a starting point, I will try to set out the space for challenging (modern) presuppositions readily made about riding skills in pre-modern times. Christina of Sweden proves to be a case in point for a leading figure that used gendered visual imagery to create a complex compound of representational skills, practical competence and media knowledge. Riding, or rather the art of riding and horse-handling as culture equestre, became a most distinctive characteristic of early modern male nobility. Christina's skilful deployment of contemporary political and visual means sets her off as what could be termed a female king. At the same time, riding was in Christina's times surprisingly often the cause of severe accidents and untimely princely deaths. My argument is that these two dimensions of riding – as discursive and visual image of success on the one hand, and as practice competence prone to failure on the other hand – can be brought into fruitful tension.

Elected leaders' perceptions of agricultural biotechnology issues can be influenced by their information sources prior to the legislative process. This study examined information source trustworthiness, bias, and fairness in communicating agricultural biotechnology issues, as perceived by Texas' legislators. Thirty-six House and Senate legislators perceived university scientists/researchers as trustworthy, unbiased, and fair in communicating agricultural biotechnology issues; activist groups were viewed as untrustworthy, completely biased, and unfair on the same issues. Texas' legislators were most concerned about the economic implications of agricultural biotechnology. They held negative attitudes toward public participation in making scientific decisions, regardless of people's knowledge of the issues involved. A positive association existed between legislators' attitudes toward democratic processes in science and 1) concerns about agricultural biotechnology issues, and 2) trust in the Internet. Texans who work with or are affected by agricultural biotechnology issues should become active participants in the legislative processes for these issues. Elected leaders and their constituents should continue to examine their information sources in terms of trustworthiness, bias, and fairness in reporting agricultural biotechnology issues, and how those sources may impact future agricultural biotechnology policies.

The danger with the DTI's Energy Review is that it will give the wrong answers to some questions that do not need answering, and fail to address those that do need answers. Nuclear is a case in point. The prime question here is whether nuclear has a role to play in reducing carbon emissions. The Prime Minister seems to have decided that the answer is yes. And he must be right. Faced with a global warming crisis it would be extraordinary folly to rule out one possible avenue. But the critics, not excluding some respected bodies and individuals, are effectively saying that a choice has to be made by the government between nuclear and renewables, and nuclear should be ruled out. The argument runs that renewables are capable of solving the problem; that no nuclear capacity will be available until 2016 at the earliest, and so it is not worth embarking on a new nuclear programme; and that we cannot manage the pursuit of both renewables and nuclear at the same time – a new nuclear programme would crowd out renewables.

AbstractThis essay proposes a critical investigation of the notion of suffering as a premise and warning for the Social and Political domains. Drawing from the writings of the contemporary French philosophers Levinas, Marion, Ricœur and Blanchot, comprising a corpus I refer to as "The Ethics of Suffering", it treats this issue in four stages of analysis: terminological, phenomenological, ethical and political. The phenomenological analysis first reveals the tension resulting from the double nature of "Suffering", defined both as a feeling and a long lasting condition with its six fundamental components. This duality leads then to question our social ability to simply apply suffering based on the fact that it is widespread and known to all, showing that the lack of a permanent substance or single essence causes its political prevention or propagation to remain totally arbitrary. On this account, the positive outcome of the ethical and phenomenological investigations consists in offering a standard ground for bridging between individual and social suffering while sustaining the tension coming from its dual nature. At the same time, their definition of suffering as a basis for solidarity (

Micro-finance has proved its importance in relation to poverty eradication, financial development, rural finance, banking and financial services in India. Though the India had philanthropic philosophy to help each other and grow together, micro-finance helped the same in a more institutional and organized manner. India is a diverse country in every aspect of human life which applies to its poverty too. Each region of India has its own language of poverty. Micro-finance also puts forward the movement of financial inclusion of women across the community. Micro-finance has come forward as a ray of hope for the women who are supposed to be equally participating in financial inclusion. The impact of micro-finance in the area of women empowerment in India is still neglected and less documented concept especially in the spectrum of research. The present article is an outcome of literature review which clearly indicates the impact of micro-finance movement in the process of women empowerment. The article has utilized qualitative as well as quantitative aspect to explore the impact of micro-finance in the process of women empowerment.

This work shows the historical development of one of many city families in Dubrovnik which, according to Dubrovnik genealogies, during the middle ages arrived from Serbian countries. The focus is on the family Gradojević - Bratutović, whose founder moved from Trebinje, from Dukats of St. Sava to Dubrovnik in the thirties of the 15th century and soon became full-fledged citizen of Dubrovnik. The founder of the family, Bratut Gradojević was a clothier, he produced and sold clothes. He cooperated with other traders and his business was creditworthy. As a prominent merchant, he gained fortune and became a member of prominent Antunin association, which gathered the richest class of citizenry from Dubrovnik. His descendants proceeded with the same practice and thus enlarged family capital. Apart from Dubrovnik, family members also owned land in Primorje in the settlement of Visočani. They had possession in Konavle where they grew various cereals. Family Gradojević - Bratutović lasted over 200 years in Dubrovnik. This family derived a prominent dragoman Vicko Bratutović, an excellent expert of oriental languages, who worked as an interpreter for emperor Ferdinand III. Later he worked on the Spanish court where his life ended.

Russian airstrikes turned the tide of the conflict in favor of the regime of Bashar al Assad. Moscow announced a reduction in its military presence in Syria in March 2016 but has maintained its infrastructure in the country while continuing to build up Assad's forces. The cessation of hostilities achieved through a deal between the United States and Russia has lessened the number of attacks against civilians and curbed fighting, but rebel areas remain under siege. At the same time, Russia has been keen to display its interest in an international, cooperative solution. Regard-less of whether Moscow's intentions are sincere or mere lip service, the peace talks underway in Geneva, could provide Germany and the European Union with means to bolster the ceasefire. They should push for a solution that curbs the security sector and other tools of repression, which are dominated by Assad's Alawite minority, rather than for a mere change of personnel at the leadership level. Without such substantial change, the dynamics prompting the influx of refugees is unlikely to change substantially. (Autorenreferat)

Cyberbullying is a relatively new phenomenon associated with the widespread adoption of various digital communication technologies, including the internet and mobile phones. As of 2013, nearly 20% of youths in grades 9–12 in the US reported being traditionally bullied in face-to-face encounters while almost 15% reported being cyberbullied (Kann et al., 2014). Bullying victimization is associated with a variety of behavioral and psychological effects, from becoming bullies
themselves (i.e., bully-victims), to poor academic performance, depression and suicidal ideation (Nansel et al., 2001; Wang, Nansel, & Iannotti, 2011; Willard, 2007). Research on these phenomena has focused primarily on white youth, leaving a void in our understanding of how cyberbullying has affected youth of color. This narrative literature review addresses this oversight by providing an overview of recent cyberbullying research that focuses on Hispanic, Asian and black adolescents (k=15). We found that youth of color appear to be less likely to experience cyberbullying than
white youth but they experience suicidal ideation and attempts at about the same rates when they do experience cyberbullying. (author's abstract)

The Italian case is an interesting one for the study of the effects of the economic crisis on the attitudes of political elites. The crisis has been an important intervening factor in the process of domestic party system change. The responses to the challenges of EU-led austerity measures have been at the core of the discussion preceding the 2013 elections, whose results marked a turning point for the Italian political system, with protest votes peaking and new populist parties emerging. This article shows that, despite the domestic political turmoil, most of the markers of the traditional support of the Italian political elites for European integration are still unequivocal. These elites appear much more pro-European than the Italian public; even the representatives of the populist parties do not hold radical views that may reverse the past Italian history within the EU. At the same time, however, multivariate analyses of the determinants of elite attitudes show significant party variations. This brings us to speculate on some possible scenarios of gradual departure from the classic elite posture of acquiescence towards the EU.

Intercultural communication is a well-established interdisciplinary field of research on an in-ternational level. For many scholars, however, intercultural communication represents a paradigm that is hopelessly stuck in essentialist and culturalist worldviews - a model that transforms its object for the worse, rather than for the better. At the same time, the discipline is frequently criticized for its lack of innovation: Some new ideas may appear on the horizon, but communication scholars often refuse to consider them as potential future paradigms. Why isn't the discipline making a more serious attempt to overcome its old conceptual challenges? This article will discuss some potential answers to this question by examining the potential contributions of convivialism, interculturalism, and cosmopolitanism, three recently developed approaches in social theory. This paper argues that researchers of intercultural communication have long faced the challenge of earning respect and acceptance for their work in the eyes of more traditional academic disciplines. Innovative concepts such as cosmopolitanism, on the other hand, display clear ideological commitments and promote a vision of how cultural policy should be designed. This article will discuss the potential of overcoming this dichotomy.

The object of this paper was to discover if there was a relationship between the age of music teachers in compulsory secondary education (ESO) and the development of the Andalusian ICT school program Escuela TIC 2.0 [ICT School 2.0]. For this investigation a sample composed of 207 secondary education music teachers participated fulfilling a questionnaire on the different aspects of the program in connection to their area, such as their training in ICT, the technology available in the classrooms, the attitude towards ICT and competencies, digital resources and the ties between the families and the ICT School. This questionnaire was subjected both to a statistical validation of its principal components and at the same time to a validation by judges, and to reliability procedures using Cronbach's Alpha and the Split-half methodology. A contingency analysis was applied and the results showed that the lower the age, the higher was the use and the evaluation of ICT, and vice versa. This study demonstrated that the age of music teachers in secondary schools in Andalusia is directly related to the determination to incorporate ICT and to the development of the Escuela TIC 2.0 program.

In the two years since its "Revolution of Dignity" - also known as Euromaidan - Ukraine has launched important reform initiatives. Most of them are still in the inception phase, however, and much remains to be done to ensure their sustainability. The past two years have made clear the enormity of the challenge Ukraine faces in its transformation. At the same time, it has also shown unprecedentedly strong determination on the part of new reform-minded actors to overhaul the old system. Ukraine today can best understood as a battlefield: the old system and its structures are fighting for their survival, as new actors - from both within the system and outside it - push for a new social contract. This struggle is taking place on an everyday basis at different levels, national and local, in a number of different reform areas. External actors can best contribute by giving stronger support to reformers while promoting development of institutions that limit the space for vested interests to persist. Special attention should be paid to enforcing and implementing already adopted decisions and new laws that change the rules of the game.