Suchergebnisse

This article examines how social policy influences social cohesion within a London borough. The focus is on the degree to which civil society organisations facilitate the representation of migrants within the public sphere. The policies considered are those introduced by New Labour and the current Coalition government. The theories adopted in this article are based on social cohesion and the public sphere, and the research is based on grey literature and interviews with civil society practitioners. The study concludes that, although the previous government gave visibility to migrants, the conditions imposed for their access to social provision have contributed to the demotion of cohesion. The Coalition's reforms have reinforced social divisions and given rise to two identities within civil society: the insiders, who are in dialogue with the authorities, and the outsiders, who have no contact with the decision makers.

Social investment policy assumes that inequalities are unavoidable and focus on the reduction of new social risks within segments of the population. This requires the participation of Organised Civil Society (OCS) close to those at risk. With the economic downturn, inequality within the EU has become acute. Negative attitudes towards the vulnerable are increasing, while their participation in public life is weak. This article attempts to understand to what extent inequality influences the participation of migrants at risk and the scope of OCS actors to co-engage with them. The text is illustrated with data and responses from OCS actors based in a Barcelona district. The article suggests the link between participation and access to welfare, and how unequal access encourages stigmatised views among some actors. In conclusion, it argues that, to achieve greater participation, it is necessary to have a system that promotes solidarity and inclusion through redistributive policies.La política de inversión social asume las desigualdades como inevitables y focaliza en la reducción de nuevos riesgos sociales en segmentos de la población. Esto requiere la participación de la sociedad civil organizada (SCO) próxima a aquellos a riesgo. Con la crisis europea, la desigualdad se ha hecho aguda y las actitudes negativas hacia aquellos en situación de riesgo van aumentando, mientras mantienen una participación débil en la vida pública. El artículo intenta entender como la desigualdad influye en la participación de estos inmigrantes y la predisposición de la SCO en coparticipar con ellos. El texto contiene data y respuestas de actores de SCO de Barcelona. Sugiere una relación entre participación y acceso a la protección social y sostiene que el acceso desigual estimula opiniones estigmatizadas. Argumenta que, para mayor participación, es necesario contar con un sistema que promueva la solidaridad y la inclusión a través de las políticas redistributivas.

Soybean biomass for biodiesel, produced in Argentina amongst other places, is considered by some to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change when compared with fossil fuel. To ensure that the production of biofuels is 'sustainable', EU institutions and national governments are currently designing certification schemes for the sustainable production of biomass. This paper questions the validity of proposed environmental standards, using the production of Argentine soybean as a case study. The production of soybean production is associated with profound environmental impacts. The use of pesticides induces resistance in weeds, leading to an increase in the quantity and variety of pesticides used. Soil fertility is declining due to intense production and soil demineralisation is addressed by the use of synthetic fertilisers, whose production is energy intensive and whose use generates emissions of N 2 O. The large quantity of substances, sprayed by terrestrial and aerial means, has negative impacts on biodiversity, water, soil, and human and animal health. The intensive production of soybeans also leads to social impacts, including loss of livelihoods and food sovereignty, and a rural exodus. Ultimately, the high demand for soybean is a driver of deforestation and the loss of native habitats that are vital to climate stabilisation. In addition, several studies relate deforestation to the outbreak of vector borne diseases which affect human populations. Emissions from soils have been demonstrated in several studies, but the atmospheric impact of soybean cultivation has not been tested in situ . Some of the models for climate impact (N 2 O emissions etc) are based on in vitro studies, while field data are scarce. The situation, which is outside the control of the EU, has not been sufficiently researched. Furthermore, there are serious questions regarding the enforcement of environmental legislation in production countries, particularly now EU countries are adopting mandatory blending of fuels. The study considers that a certification system will not create the conditions for environmental sustainability. This is exemplified by soy, whose cultivation undermines the climate benefit claimed for soy-based biodiesel. This paper concludes that to certify soy monocultures as sustainable would exacerbate existing climatic and environmental problems.