Suchergebnisse

The ongoing mobile communication technology intensification had occasioned the inevitable multiplications in the ratio of the radio frequency base service stations which had raised public consciousness over the considerable health hazards of the radioactive emissions from the communication systems. The current paper analysed the sequences of electromagnetic field measurements performed on the selected three states in the North West Nigeria in order to establish the compliance of radiation levels of cellular base stations and wireless fidelity access points with respect to internationally approved recommendations. The measured power densities of wireless fidelity access points are minimal and do not surpass 1% of the level allowed by International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation (ICNIRP). The result confirmed the environmental safety of the RF energy maintained by the telecommunication operators within the general public indicating an insignificant health hazards to the citizens.

The effects of the EU measures and the financial crisis limited the potential growth of the Italian small medium enterprises (in term of loss of productivity, increase of unemployment rate, and decrease of customers purchase power). Together with these two factors, the Italian economic system competitiveness (whose backbone is represented by the SMEs) was negatively affected by the "digital disruption." The purpose of this article is to critically analyse the main causes of this competitiveness loss for Italian SMEs and the role of strategy consultants in helping them to improve their results and their presence in local and international markets. Leveraging on their past industry/service line experience and massive investment in digital transformation (e.g., acquisitions of IT companies, alliances, specialization in software/tools, and internal reorganization), strategy consultants are able to assess, suggest, and implement their clients' digital strategy.

William Shakespeare's Tragedy of King Richard III, written approximately in 1592, is the story of evil acts by the detested and misshapen hunchback, Richard, who plots to sow discontent among his brother, the King, and others, and has his brother murdered along with other wicked deeds in order to gain the throne. It opens with the line, "Now is the winter of our discontent" (p. 111, ed. Wright 1936). "The Winter of Our Discontent" is also the title of John Steinbeck's (1961) novel of a man who trades his moral convictions to reclaim lost family wealth. "Globalization and Its Discontents" is the title of Joseph Stiglitz's (2002) book that critiques rigid adherence by major economic institutions—such as the International Monetary Fund—to economic orthodoxy in the promotion of globalization. (JEL F6, D72, D3, O23, O24, L17, K33)

African elephant populations have declined by more than 50% over the past 20 years. International outrage over the slaughter led to a worldwide ban on ivory sales beginning in 1989, despite the objections of many economists and scientists, and of several southern African countries that have established systems of property rights over elephants. Far from declining, elephant populations in many of these countries have increased to levels at or above the carrying capacity of the ecosystem. This article estimates the determinants of changes in elephant populations in 35 African countries over several time periods. The authors find that, controlling for other factors, countries with property rights systems of community wildlife programs have more rapid elephant population growth rates than do those countries that do not. Political instability and the absence of representative governments significantly lower elephant growth rates.

"This is an important book. We live in a now totally interdependent world. To develop a viable world order demands that its nations work together to address, and learn from each other how best to address, the common problems they face. Unfortunately, many in the West lack knowledge about and consequently have a distorted view of life in Africa. This collection of essays from leading scholars throughout the continent helps to rectify this imbalance. The essays discuss, from an African perspective, issues that pervade the world: climate change, the Covid virus, internal displacement, socio-economic and human rights. The central theme is the need to develop political and legal institutions and practices to address these issues. so as to build societies and a world order that benefit all people. We can all benefit from reading this book." —Thomas Kleven, Professor of Law, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Houston, Texas, USA This book eulogises a personality that has constructed a formidable scholarly and personal legacy that future generations of legal practitioners and socio-legal scholars in Africa should look to for guidance and inspiration. Divided into three parts, the book deals with a longstanding legal practice and scholarship on the role of international law and institutions. Additionally, the book discussed roles of an African scholar and practitioner to advance socio-economic and cultural rights across the continent, through contextualised, progressive adjudication and from a gendered perspective. Finally, the book examined the importance of early-childhood education and legal education alike, the role of the courts in redressing these concerns and the need for greater inclusion of Afro and queer-sensitive pedagogies and perspectives. Contributors to the book address the role of schools in redressing systemic marginalisation—including stigmatisation based on disability—and efforts to translate their rights as prescribed in national constitutions and international legal instruments. The methodology encompasses a TWAIL approach and the call to revisit orthodox approaches to legal scholarship. Azubike Chinwuba Onuora-Oguno is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

"Human rights, environmentalism, and global justice: these transnational movements today face fierce opposition from networks of conservative activists promoting contrary aims. In this groundbreaking book, Clifford Bob analyzes the clashes, proposing a new model of global policy making - and unmaking. This highlights the battle of networks, marked by exclusionary strategies, negative tactics, and dissuasive ideas. Bob first investigates the fight over gay rights, in which a coalition of religious conservatives, the "Baptist-burqa" network, confronts human rights groups at the United Nations and in such countries as Sweden, Romania, and Uganda. Next, he examines conflicts over gun control, pitting firearms enthusiasts against disarmament and safety advocates in the UN, Brazil, and elsewhere. Bob's provocative findings extend beyond the culture wars. With its critical conclusions about norms, activists, and institutions, this book will change how campaigners fight, analysts study international issues, and all of us think about global politics"--

Afghanistan steht nach langem und zunehmend internationalisiertem Bürgerkrieg an der Schwelle zur gesellschaftlichen Desintegration. Eine Einschätzung der Auswirkungen des Bürgerkrieges auf die Region und der Chancen für eine Konflikteindämmung einschließlich der Möglichkeit eines europäischen/deutschen Beitrags dazu erfordern eine Analyse des Konfliktverlaufs sowie der Interessen und Aktivitäten regionaler und externer Akteure. Das schließt neben den zentralasiatischen GUS-Staaten auch Iran und Pakistan ein, nicht nur wegen ihrer Rolle im Afghanistankonflikt, sondern aufgrund ihrer allgemeinen ökonomischen und politischen Bedeutung für die Region. Während die Erdöl- und Erdgasreserven der Region der Hauptgrund für das internationale Interesse an ihr sind, stehen unzureichende Staatskonsolidierung und die Unfähigkeit, tragfähige Kooperationsstrukturen zu schaffen, der Weltmarktintegration entgegen. Eine Stabilisierung Zentralasiens, die zugleich nachhaltige Entwicklung der einzelnen Länder ermöglicht, wird nicht nur durch den Bürgerkrieg in Afghanistan und die prekäre Nachbürgerkriegssituation in Tadschikistan beeinträchtigt, sondern resultiert auch aus grundlegenden Problemen im Verhältnis zwischen Staat und Gesellschaft der zentralasiatischen Länder. Die Entfaltung europäischer/deutscher Interessen wird nach wie vor durch die amerikanisch-russische Konkurrenz in der Pipelinefrage beeinträchtigt. Mit seiner zunehmenden Interaktionsdichte und seinen gleichzeitigen Integrationsschwierigkeiten stellt der zentralasiatische Raum für Europa eine Region mittelbarer Interessen und Gefährdungen (Drogen, organisiertes Verbrechen) dar. An seiner Stabilisierung und Entwicklung muß Europa gelegen sein. + Teil B der Studie enthält Hintergrundanalysen zum Afghanistankonflikt (Taliban, Nordallianz, militärisches Potential), zur Rolle Pakistans, zur Wirtschaftsstruktur und zum ökonomischem Konfliktpotential der Region sowie zur Rolle der USA, Rußlands, Chinas und Indiens. (SWP-Rsn)

AbstractThe International Council on Systems Engineering has long declared a wish to extend the scope of application of systems engineering from its traditional sphere of complex technical systems to more complex sociotechnical systems. The Segura River reclamation project was a successful systems engineering project, involving water treatment and management and environmental regeneration, which falls squarely into the latter category. Taking lessons from this project, the paper sets out to understand the circumstances in which systems engineering can be successful in guiding and managing interventions in nontraditional domains such as transportation, housing, infrastructure, health and environmental systems. This involves an analysis using critical systems thinking. The paper also seeks to suggest how systems engineering must change to ensure success in circumstances that are less propitious for its theory and practice than in the Segura case.

AbstractAccelerated and increasingly complex patterns of international migration are correlated with the emergence of various types of transnational families and an ever-rising number of culturally and ethnically mixed couples. Once a typical emigration country, Turkey has recently been established as a transit and receiving society, where numerous Europeans settle due to emotional ties with Turkish citizens. This paper is based on a qualitative study of 10 mixed European-Turkish families based in Istanbul, carried out through in-depth interviews. The paper is divided into three parts. First, it examines the social characteristics of the research participants. Second, it analyses the reactions of family and friends to the mixed relationship. Third, it discusses four adaptation strategies of foreign partners to Turkish society – namely, integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization.

AbstractPersonal moral responsibility, public ethics and accountability in policy making and governance are the essential ingredients (supported by legal measures) which we need in order to institutionalize respectful dialogue across diverse stakeholders at the local, national and international level. The idea is to ensure that the process supports subsidiarity, namely those at the receiving end of a decision should be party to the decision making process, thereby ensuring that complex decisions can be made that represent the needs of the majority whilst taking into account the needs of the minority whose ideas could be vital for problem solving. By engaging in processes that enhance participatory democracy we can match decisions more appropriately and enable people to have ownership of the ideas. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

AbstractThe Economy of Communion is an experience of social economy sprung from the praxis of the Focolare Movement, an ecumenical and inter‐religious organization with roots in the Catholic Church. This radical social phenomenon is played out in intersecting local and global networks. Businesses operating within the paradigm form communications and 'thought networks' spanning the globe, but function typically within local markets. Within a decade this ideal has spread to 100 countries, attracted some 800 firms, generated almost 100 academic theses, and been accorded significant international recognition through UNESCO and the Council of Europe and through the award of various honorary doctorates by prestigious universities. This paper examines the systemic philosophical, cultural and organizational factors associated with its dissemination. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.