Suchergebnisse

Intensive groundwater development is a common circumstance in semiarid and arid areas. Often abstraction exceeds recharge, thus continuously depleting reserves. There is groundwater mining when the recovery of aquifer reserves needs more than 50 years. The MASE project has been carried out to compile what is known about Spain and specifically about the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands. The objective was the synthetic analysis of available data on the hydrological, economic, managerial, social, and ethical aspects of groundwater mining. Since the mid-20th century, intensive use of groundwater in south-eastern Spain allowed extending and securing the areas with traditional surface water irrigation of cash crops and their extension to former dry lands, taking advantage of good soils and climate. This fostered a huge economic and social development. Intensive agriculture is a main activity, although tourism plays currently an increasing economic role in the coasts. Many aquifers are relatively high yielding small carbonate units where the total groundwater level drawdown may currently exceed 300 m. Groundwater storage depletion is estimated about 15 km3. This volume is close to the total contribution of the Tagus-Segura water transfer, but without large investments paid for with public funds. Seawater desalination complements urban supply and part of cash crop cultivation. Reclaimed urban waste water is used for irrigation. Groundwater mining produces benefits but associated to sometimes serious economic, administrative, legal and environmental problems. The use of an exhaustible vital resource raises ethical concerns. It cannot continue under the current legal conditions. A progressive change of water use paradigm is the way out, but this is not in the mind of most water managers and politicians. The positive and negative results observed in south-eastern Spain may help to analyse other areas under similar hydrogeological conditions in a less advanced stage of water use evolution. ...

This paper explores the concept of Web accessibility and how technologies, guidelines and policies have evolved since the turn of the twenty-first century in order to address the ideals of equitable access to online content for all people. The paper discusses the high availability of assistive technologies built into consumer devices and the associated accessibility guidelines for Web sites and content. Through examination of the literature, this paper shows that the accessible design and assessment of Web sites can be complicated, and that social media, corporate and government Web sites are yet to fully realise the goals of an accessible Web. The paper concludes with the view that disability awareness, more than technology and policy, is perhaps the primary obstacle to a more universally accessible Web.

This paper addresses the question "To what extent can job satisfaction be explained as the revenue of social capital?" By conceiving someone's social network as social capital we specify conditions under which social ties do lead to job satisfaction. We inquire into the idea of goal specificity of social capital, which implies that a network with a given structure and content will have different impacts on various aspects of job satisfaction. If the content of the ties and the structure of the network at the job engender material well-being or produce social approval, satisfaction with the corresponding job aspects increases. Data were collected in 1993 using written questionnaires in two Dutch governmental agencies, one with 32 and the other with 44 employees. These workers' networks were charted using nine name-generating questions. Social capital, it turns out, is not an all-purpose good but one that is goal specific, even within a single domain of life such as work. Three effects stand out: First, the structure of the network and the content of the ties do matter. Networks of strategic, work-related ties promote an employee's satisfaction with instrumental aspects of the job, like income, security, and career opportunities. Second, closed networks of identity-based solidarity ties improve an employee's satisfaction with social aspects of the job, like the general social climate at work and cooperation with management and colleagues. Third, a network with a bow–tie structure (i.e., where a focal actor is the link between two or more mutually exclusive cliques) generally has strong negative effects on satisfaction with the social side of the job; although a bow–tie type network of trusting ties does increase satisfaction with the social side. This implies that Krackhardt's hypothesis on the unpleasant feelings produced by bow–tie type networks has to be specified for the content of the ties that constitute such a network. The most important conclusion of our analysis is that goal specificity of social capital ...

One of the conditions for effective economic development is the achievement of scientific and technical progress, the expansion of the scope of works associated with the development and implementation of the economic practice of innovation. Therefore, at the present stage of functioning of tourist industry of Ukraine there are no doubts about the necessity of the transition of the tourism industry to innovative model of economic development. In addition, today tourism is an important social phenomenon, which covers a significant portion of the world's population, so the social component of tourist activities is so powerful that accounted for almost all spatial levels. The article considers preconditions and features of innovative development of tourism at the regional level, as well as advanced trends of innovation activity in the tourism sector in terms of socialization of the economy. Described two main approaches to the analysis of innovation activities in the tourism sector – the functional and spatial. Emphasis is placed on the role of spatial development in tourism and its social functions. To coordinate efforts to create a holistic and systematic regional tourism policy in terms of socialization of the economy required is the development social doctrine of the tourism. Analyzes social aspects and selected organizational forms of innovative directions of development of tourism at the regional level that cannot be realized without the effective functioning of the relevant institutional forms, including public authorities and local governments; scientific and educational institutions; local community and other communities; tourism businesses and organizations; institutions of sphere of services, transport and other networks; establishment, maintenance, consulting organization; destination; media, etc. discussed in Detail the mechanisms of realization of administrative management and information directions of innovative development of tourism in the region. ; Однією з умов ефективного розвитку економіки є досягнення науково-технічного прогресу, розширення масштабів робіт, пов'язаних із розробкою і впровадженням у господарську практику нововведень. Тому на сучасному етапі функціонування туристичної галузі України вже не існує сумнівів щодо необхідності переходу індустрії туризму на інноваційну модель економічного розвитку. Крім того, на сьогоднішній день туризм є важливим соціальним явищем, яке охоплює значну частину населення планети, тому соціальна складова туристичної діяльності настільки вагома, що враховується практично на усіх просторових рівнях. У статті розглянуто передумови та особливості інноваційного розвитку туризму на регіональному рівні, а також обґрунтовано перспективні напрями інноваційної діяльності у туристичній сфері в умовах соціалізації економіки. Охарактеризовано два головні підходи до аналізу інноваційної діяльності у туристичній сфері – функціональний та просторовий. Наголошено на ролі просторового розвитку у туристичній діяльності та її соціальній функції. Для координації зусиль щодо формування цілісної і системної регіональної туристичної політики в умовах соціалізації економіки необхідною є розробка соціальної доктрини туризму. Проаналізовано соціальні аспекти та виділено організаційні форми інноваційних напрямів розвитку туризму на регіональному рівні, які не можуть бути реалізованими без забезпечення ефективного функціонування відповідних організаційних форм, серед яких органи державної влади та місцевого самоврядування; наукові та освітні заклади; місцеві громади та інші спільноти; туристичні підприємства та організації; заклади сфери обслуговування, транспортні та інші мережі; заклади технічного обслуговування, консалтингові організації; дестинації; засоби масової інформації та ін. Детально розглянуто механізми реалізації адміністративно-управлінського та інформаційного напрямів інноваційного розвитку туризму в регіоні.

This paper examines possible changes that the society expects in the near future. The changes are mainly in the economic and social spheres of our society. The article in its introductory passages and chapters outlines possible causes of society-wide transformation that it sees largely in the unrestricted application of neoliberal approaches intensified in the last 20-25 years in Europe, which undoubtedly leads to reducing the role of the strong state and a considerable asymmetry of the public and the private sectors, which certainly carries some potential risks. The article, however, attempts to present other ambitions as well - in the context of not only social, but also philosophical and ethical, point out deeper causes of the current much discussed and intractable imbalance. ; Nadějí do budoucnosti se zdá být sociálně šetrný stát rozvíjející se v mírové době vícepolárního světa a to vše při udržení ekologické stability krajiny a přírody. Žijeme ovšem v době, kdy řada expertů poukazuje právě na křehkost rovnováhy na všech úrovních i všech dimenzích. Z hlediska ekonomického se hovoří např. o výrazné asymetrii mezi politikou a ekonomikou, finanční a reálnou ekonomikou, kapitálem a prací, soukromým a veřejným sektorem; z hlediska sociálního jde o sociální disharmonii, rozevírání nůžek, ohrožení střední třídy; řada přírodovědců zase varuje před udržitelností přírodních ekosystémů, změnách globálního klimatu a i člověk jako jednotlivec často nevykazuje známky rovnováhy natož vývoje… Zdá se, že budoucí vývoj společnosti nebude tedy jen otázkou udržitelnosti, ale pravděpodobně zápasem i mezi sociálním a kulturním rozvojem či regresem – cestou dopředu anebo cestou zpět a to zřejmě jak ve světovém kontextu tak i naší společnosti.

The article investigates the phenomenon of communication strategies and tactics that are used in materials Hispanic television programs, scientific studies in approaches to determining the definition of modern media communication strategies and channels, analyzes the problems of Spanish and Latin American media space. Telecasting language is the subject of many linguistic research. Of particular note is the verbal communication as a strategic process, whose base is the best choice of language resources In the speech impact of television programs on various social groups are elected corresponding speech tactics. Talk show - is one of the most popular formats of contemporary of Hispanic television. Its popularity is due, above all, is the illusion of belonging to a virtual audience of dispute. Conflicting and democracy of such programs, depth and relevance of the thematic discourseare contribute to the growth of rankings to this TV shows format. The author states, that the specific communication strategies and tactics of Hispanic talk show, as important components of global media culture, driven by the need to take account of the factor of mass recipient - the viewer. Modern television projects of talk shows format used tactics construction of serious conversation about the most painful problem of our time. The instrument of such communication is the language of television programs and strategies to influence public opinion.

Purpose: The primary objective of the present research is to identify the basic tools and restrictions concerning the protection of privacy and personal data in the EU and China as two fundamentally different cultural systems. Based on the socio-cultural analysis of backgrounds, trends and expert assessments, the research aims to examine whether privacy protection standards, such as those provided by the GDPR in the EU, are sufficiently robust to endure the digital age. Two different cultural frameworks have been analysed in order to understand their influence on practical behaviours regarding the democratic safeguards in privacy rights enforcement in the EU compared with China. This is accomplished by comparing social control in the EU and the social credit system in China. Design/Methodology/Approach: Considering the administrative context, a combined qualitative approach is applied, including normative and dogmatic methods, literature analysis, sociological and historical methods, expert interviews, and comparative and axiological methods. Findings: The results of both theoretical and empirical parts of the research suggest that the stricter regulation in the EU compared to China – in the sense of more consistent protection of privacy and personal data as well as transparency rights – can be attributed to its democratic protection of human rights and more definitive regulations, particularly the GDPR. These major differences seem to create an even deeper gap in the future, to be explored scientifically and in practice. The authors conclude that authorities must actively guarantee the rights related to privacy and personal data protection, or else effective governance will lead to a surveillance society and erosion of individuals' freedom as a valuable civilizational asset. Academic contribution to the field: The research contributes to administrative science by addressing one of the key concepts of modern public governance, namely the collision between the principles of effectiveness and transparency on the ...

To avoid negative outcomes of rising biofuel production and use, and to reduce simultaneously greenhouse gas emissions, the European Commission linked its mandatory biofuel blending requirements to sustainability criteria defined in the Directive on the Promotion of the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources (2009). Several voluntary, private standard initiatives are controlling the compliance along the value chain. Given that little experiences exist as to the certification of a large scale commodity like biofuels, there are many challenges to overcome. One point in question is the participation of small scale farmers in this complex and price bonded process. Is it possible to create methodologies to ensure the participation of smallholders? Additional uncertainties exist as to the implementation of control tools to avoid the jeopardizing of biodiversity or land with high carbon stocks. The objective of this study is to scrutinize the implementation of the sustainability criteria and its effects on crucial aspects as the inclusion of smallholder properties in certification schemes, effects on biodiversity or land use change. In addition, this work examines the possible limits of certification in the context of biofuel production and its claims for sustainable production patterns.

The key themes in this article relate to policy observation and analysis of social aspects of the functioning of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP). The multiethnic Visaginas community is socially, economically and culturally excluded from other areas of Lithuania as the majority of economic activities in the region is oriented towards the INPP. The following interrelated questions are considered in the article: the social costs of decommissioning of the plant, the integration policies and their operation in reducing social and economic disparities in the region as well as the access to citizenship and education benefits of the INPP residents. As the challenges confronted today by the second generation non-Lithuanians in the region are still ignored there are some specific questions about the growing social, cultural and economic divide between Lithuanians and non-Lithuanians in the INPP region addressed in the article. ; Šiame straipsnyje analizuojamos Ignalinos atominės elektrinės uždarymo socialinės pasekmės. Ignalinos atominės elektrinės regionas apibūdinamas kaip izoliuotas nuo kitų Lietuvos vietovių. Jame daugiatautės rusakalbių gyventojų bendruomenės ekonominė veikla, užimtumas bei socialinė gerovė tiesiogiai priklauso nuo Ignalinos atominės elektrinės funkcionavimo. Straipsnyje aptariami šie tarpusavyje susiję socialiniai Ignalinos AE funkcionavimo aspektai: elektrinės uždarymo socialinės pasekmės, gyventojų socialinė integracija bei su ja susiję socialinės politikos veiksniai. Straipsnyje konstatuojama, kad Ignalinos AE poveikis socialinei aplinkai, tai daugiatautės Visagino miesto bendruomenės socialinė, ekonominė, kultūrinė ir politinė atskirtis, kuri socialinės politikos darbotvarkėje išlieka išoriškai nematoma ir paslėpta problema. Straipsnyje glaustai nušviečiama Lietuvoje dar neanalizuota problema: emigrantų iš buvusiųjų Sovietų Sąjungos respublikų palikuonių (vadinamųjų antrosios kartos rusų) struktūrinė integracija, aktualizuojant jų patiriamus sunkumus, įgyvendinant savo pilietines teises, susijusias su įsitraukimu į švietimo sistemą bei darbo rinką. Straipsnyje daroma išvada, kad, nepaisant plačių pilietybės, kalbos vartojimo, švietimo, kultūros teisių ir laisvių, rusakalbiai gyventojai Ignalinos AE regione išlieka socialiai pažeidžiama grupe.

The Covid-19 pandemic hit another grim milestone on as worldwide deaths from the disease exceeded 100,000. Many countries have enforced social distancing rules and even lockdowns in an effort to contain the spread of the virus. Malaysian Government, in almost daily bases proposed initiatives and efforts to uphold Malaysia social, economic and national stability. This article deliberates an analysis on social media sentiment index by topics mentions in Malaysian government. The Malaysian government Covid19 major initiative discuss within this article is the proposition to reopening selected business sectors during Movement Control Order (MCO). This analysis was conducted using Social Media Engagement Growth components such as likes, comments and shares. The social media platform mentions in this study include all mentions or discussion of the initiatives across all public social media, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Forums and blogs.

As the world's population increases every day, so does their need for food. Most of the world's population lives in urban centres away from food production sites. To reduce food dependence, the urban population turns to food production within the city, urban agriculture (UA). Attention to urban agriculture has increased rapidly during the last couple of decades. Enthusiasm for UA is growing on an international and domestic level, also with the scholar community. Still, there are policy makers that struggle to implement UA with city planning. Over time, various forms of agriculture production in the city have evolved, divided into three main categories: urban agriculture, peri-urban agriculture, and urban farms. In addition to its multiple impacts (economic and ecological), UA has a significant holistic approach. It appears differently depending on the context. Some of the social effects of urban agriculture can be: fostering activism, gender equality, social cohesion and social inclusion, education, and preservation of cultural heritage. There are many examples of urban agriculture in the world, often with an economic or environmental role as the primary one. However, in this paper, firstly, we analyse various social aspects, and secondly, we present examples from Croatia, where the primary purposes are social benefits. ; Kako se svjetsko stanovništvo svakodnevno povećava, tako se povećava i njihova potreba za hranom. Većina svjetske populacije nalazi se u urbanim središtima daleko od mjesta proizvodnje hrane. Kako bi se smanjila ovisnost o hrani, gradsko se stanovništvo okreće proizvodnji hrane u gradu, odnosno gradskoj poljoprivredi (GP). Naklonost prema gradskoj poljoprivredi povećava se u posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća. Oduševljenje GP raste na međunarodnoj i domaćoj razini, ali i u znanstvenoj zajednici. Nažalost, političari na lokalnoj razini teško se odlučuju za implementaciju GP u urbanističko planiranje. Razvojem poljoprivredne proizvodnje u gradu, pojavili su se različiti tipovi GP, podijeljeni u tri glavne kategorije: gradska poljoprivreda, prigradska poljoprivreda i gradski uzgoj. Osim višestrukih utjecaja (ekonomskih i ekoloških), GP ima značajan holistički pristup. Pojavljuje se na različite načine, te je izrazito lokalnog karaktera. Neki od društvenih učinaka GP mogu biti: poticanje civilnog aktivizma, ravnopravnosti spolova, društvena kohezija i socijalna uključenost, obrazovanje i očuvanje kulturne baštine. U svijetu postoji mnogo primjera gradske poljoprivrede, često s ekonomskom ili ekološkom ulogom kao primarnom. Međutim, u našem radu navodimo primjere iz Hrvatske s primarnom društvenom ulogom, te zaključno iznosimo perspektivu razvoja navedene uloge gradske poljoprivrede.

Indo-Afghan relations are developing with accelerated pace post 9/11. Indian increasing involvement in Afghanistan is a matter of grave concern for Pakistan. Indian investment in Afghanistan aims; to minimize Pakistan's influence in Afghanistan, to create a soft image of India in Afghanistan and to access Central Asian Republic's markets through Afghanistan. India is so far being successful in all of its objectives. India is investing in political, economic and social sectors in Afghanistan and successful in creating a soft image of Indians in Afghans heart. Keeping in view this scenario, study of this situation was a good case. India, Pakistan and Afghanistan all three have many observations regarding each other and none of them accept it. Due to the physical presence of United States in Afghanistan for more than a decade, peace in the area is still a dream come true. Therefore, it was an interesting study to understand the dynamics of Indo-Afghan relations and its implications for Pakistan. Neo realism theory is applied in this study.

Indo-Afghan relations are developing with accelerated pace post 9/11. Indian increasing involvement in Afghanistan is a matter of grave concern for Pakistan. Indian investment in Afghanistan aims; to minimize Pakistan's influence in Afghanistan, to create a soft image of India in Afghanistan and to access Central Asian Republic's markets through Afghanistan. India is so far being successful in all of its objectives. India is investing in political, economic and social sectors in Afghanistan and successful in creating a soft image of Indians in Afghans heart. Keeping in view this scenario, study of this situation was a good case. India, Pakistan and Afghanistan all three have many observations regarding each other and none of them accept it. Due to the physical presence of United States in Afghanistan for more than a decade, peace in the area is still a dream come true. Therefore, it was an interesting study to understand the dynamics of Indo-Afghan relations and its implications for Pakistan. Neo realism theory is applied in this study.

Economic, financial and political development has strongly influenced on the textile industry, which accelerated the pace of change. In order to catch the pace it is necessary to take certain steps now or in the near future. The Far East countries record high economic growth, while other, mostly developed industrial countries growth has considerably declined. Consumer behaviour tends to restrain from purchasing of clothing products, raw material prices are growing and lack of raw materials on the market is noticeable. These trends are causing a certain amount of restlessness in the textile industry. The textile and clothing industry have their distinctive features visible in a manufacturing sector which dominantly depends on brand name firms that spread their business all over the world. Production mainly takes place in developing and fast growing countries, since their production destinations, working conditions and wages are most affordable. For example, about 90% of clothing items sold in northern countries are produced in Eastern Europe or at the Far East. At the same time, in the northern countries, where most of clothing products are sold, manufacturing facilities of the clothing industry almost doesn't exist.

If we as scientists cannot decide upon what research, monitoring and technical tools should be used as a basis for policy making and management within the European context, then the politicians and other decision makers will continue to follow the line of 'weak' sustainability (applying monetary substitution rules to natural capital) instead of 'strong' sustainability (applying alternative rules such as the precautionary principle). Suitable integral indicators or indices matching the 'ecosystem approach' (EA) and thus covering ecological as well as socio-economic aspects are required. There is, however, a clear friction between what can be delivered in terms of useful '(integral) indicators' and what decision makers require us to deliver in terms of 'simple, cheap, easy to understand' while the real situation is extremely complex. This social, economic and ecological complexity has been an important impediment to the realisation of an EA that should guarantee 'sustainability'. What is missing since the publication of the Brundtland report is technical co-operation between the decision makers and the natural and social scientists. To achieve development of integral indicators we propose to make the Odum food web concepts functional by the application of ecological network analysis (ENA) and at a scale where socio-economic and ecological information can be integrated, which is the 'habitat' level. At the habitat level ecological functioning (natural compartment), human activities (economic compartment) and ecosystem functions to humans (socio-ecological compartment) can be designated and measured. This process can further be facilitated by the use of the Driver-Pressure-State change-Impact-Response (DPSIR) approach. To facilitate weighing and decision making multi-criteria techniques can be used.