OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open access peer-reviewed journal
The Values of General Practitioners/Family Physicians Should Be Fostered into Other Clinicians
Xu Han-You a
a Doctor in Charge of Western Internal Medicine.
Department of Internal and Emergency Medicine Clinical Institute, Workers Hospital of Nanyang Textile Corporation, Nanyang City Changjiang RD No.200, Henan Province, China.
China Academy of Management Science, China.
Volume 04, Issue 10, Pg. 12-14, 2012.
Abstract: The paper is to improve the quality of life and health of the peoples of the world by fostering and maintaining high standards of care in general practice/family medicine and other clinicians. By comparing the general practitioners/family physicians with the clinicians of specialities, summarizing the shortcomings of present health care services, the proposals for promoting health care services around the world were suggested. The article initiates that the values of general practice/family medicine should be fostered into other clinicians when all the clinicians take care of the patients in any conditions, critical or ordinary, by adopting to the values of general practice/family medicine. While the clinicians also take into account of their own specialities. In applying these proposals, a healthy world and high quality of life of the peoples of the world will come soon! So the quality of life and health of the peoples of the world can be promoted and enhanced.
Key Words: General Practitioners/Family Physicians; All Clinicians; Quality Of Life; World.
Improving Credit Allocation to Sustainable Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review of Bio-Based Economy Benefits
a Olatunbosun Benjamin
a Bergische University of Wuppertal, Weihenstephaner Steig 22 85354 Freising, Germany.
Volume 04, Issue 10, Pg. 16-26, 2012.
Abstract: Financing of agriculture by commercial and non-commercial institutions in rural Sub-Saharan African in recent years has being relatively constant despite remarkable increase in the number of institutions operating within this area. This development may be attributed to how these institutions rate the business of agriculture and the risks involved. However the slow pace of financing sustainable agriculture such as bio-based economy in the presence of internationalization i.e. Clean Development Mechanism CDM and voluntary carbon market needs to be analyzed. Diverse literatures are used in exploring the potential of “bio-based economy” with emphasizes not just on carbon sequestration but agricultural value added. The results suggest that if financial and non-financial institution re-evaluate and reassess their stands on sustainable farming, development of sustainable agriculture in rural areas is inevitable. Constraint to agriculture financing due to lack of access to credit may be reduced if innovative and sustainable smallholders are identified.
Keywords: agricultural credit, carbon (CER), sustainable agriculture, collateral.
Anchoring And Weighting Knowledge Economy And Knowledge Indices As Improved Measures Of A Country’s Readiness For The Knowledge Economy: A Case Study Of Kenya
Madara Ogot a, Wanjiku Nganga b
a School of Business and Economics, Maseno University, Maseno, Kenya
b School of Computing and Informatics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
Volume 04, Issue 10, Pg. 26-41, 2012.
Abstract: This study sought to develop a set of indices better able to track a country’s readiness for the knowledge economy. The new indices, the Anchored Knowledge Index and the Anchored Knowledge Economy Index are based on the World Bank (WB) knowledge economy framework. The rationale for the introduction, and the procedures to calculate the new indices are presented. The WB indices provide for rank-ordered normalization based on the latest data available for a benchmarking group of countries. The proposed anchored set of indices, however, provides for a relative ordering of the data. Relative-order (weighting) determines by how much each country, along a particular indicator, is better (or worse) than the others. The new indices address the short-coming of rank-order where as long as the relative positions of the benchmarking countries remain the same, the indices do not change even though the gaps between countries could be decreasing (desired) or increasing (cause for alarm). Further, the subject country now appears twice, based on both the latest data available, and a baseline (anchor) from the World Bank Knowledge Assessment Methodology 2009 data. Using Kenya as a case study, a basic scorecard for Kenya is proposed and used for the calculation of the indices for Kenya and five benchmark countries, Singapore, South Africa, Japan, South Korea. The results clearly illustrate the efficacy of the proposed approach in tracking a countries readiness for the knowledge economy.
Keywords: Kenya, Knowledge Economy, Knowledge Index, Knowledge Economy Index
Assessment Of Indigenous Language Competence Of Extension Agents In Ogun State, Nigeria
Fakoya, E O a, Bodunde, H. A. b, Coker, R.O. c., Abiona B.G d
a,c Department of Agricultural Extension & Rural Development
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
b Department of Communication & General Studies
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
d Department of Agricultural Administration
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
Volume 04, Issue 10, Pg. 42-49, 2012.
Abstract: The study was conducted to assess the indigenous language competence of extension agents and examine the influence of their personal characteristics on their indigenous language competence. A total of 84 Extension agents were randomly selected from the list of extension agents of Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP). Experimental procedure was adopted to assess the fluency and translation abilities of Extension agents. Data was also collected on their personal characteristics. The data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that majority (64.3%) of Extension agents were highly competent in the indigenous language and the results from fluency test showed that average talking speed of extension agents was 134 words per minute (wpm), which falls in the high competence category. However, translation test to measure competence in translating English Language to Yoruba Language (indigenous language) showed that certain technical concepts were problematic for the Extension agents to correctly translate. It was also discovered that none of the personal characteristics of extension agents had any influence on their indigenous language competence. Characteristics such as: age (r = 0.03, p>0.05); experience (r = -0.08, p>0.05); sex (χ2 = 0.02,p>0.05); WAEC score in Yoruba (r =5.62, P>0.5). The study recommends that technical, complex terms and concepts utilized in agricultural messages are to be compiled in order to effect a uniform translation of such into the indigenous language. Such terms are to be taught extension agents to enhance their message delivery competence
Keywords: indigenous language, competence, extension agents
Assessment of Dialect Use in Agricultural Message Dissemination in Ogun State, Nigeria
Fakoya, E O a, Bodunde, H A b, Coker, R.O a
a Department of Agricultural Extension & Rural Development
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
b Department of Communication & General Studies
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
Volume 04, Issue 10, Pg. 50-60, 2012.
Abstract: The study was conducted to assess the use of dialect in agricultural message dissemination in Ogun State; and examine farmers’ understanding of language as currently used by extension agents. A total of 84 extension agents and 140 farmers were randomly selected from a list of extension agents and farmers provided by the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP). Experimental procedure was adopted to assess extension agents’ use of dialect during agricultural message delivery. Data was collected on personal characteristics of all respondents; extension agents’ perception of essentiality of dialect use; as well as farmers’ understanding of extension agents’ language use. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that all but one of the extension agents did not use dialect in message delivery. However, majority (71.4%) of them were in positive agreement as to the essentiality of knowledge of dialect to effective agricultural message dissemination. Results further revealed that a large proportion (91.4%) of farmers have high understanding of language as currently employed by extension agents. The study recommends that the Extension Department of Agricultural Development Programme should identify, compile and teach peculiar technical dialect terms of agricultural interest, in common use in each linguistic community area. This will enhance easy interactions with farmers and ensure easy and quick understanding of agricultural messages, while extension agents are encouraged to speak the dialects of their target farmers, if only to demonstrate their identification with the farmers and improve ease of acceptance by the farmers.
Keywords: Dialect use, Agricultural message, Dissemination
Energy Efficiency as an Enabler of Energy Access for All for Sustainable Development
I-Chun Hsiao a
a United Nations Foundation, Energy and Climate team,
1800 Massachusetts Ave. NW Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036 USA
Volume 04, Issue 10, Pg. 60-67, 2012.
Abstract: Energy efficiency (using advanced technologies to provide better quality energy services with the same or a lesser amount of energy) and energy access (increasing the consumption of modern energy services) are sometimes seen as topics incompatible with each other. As a result, energy efficiency has largely been ignored as countries sought to achieve greater energy access. This paper will dispel this misconception by highlighting areas where energy efficiency is an enabler of energy access. In doing so, it will also highlight the importance of the availability, accessibility, and affordability of clean and efficient products. The so-called “3-A’s” is critical because the problem is not a lack of solutions, but making them widely available and affordable in the most underserved and impoverished regions of the world. It is hoped that a wide dissemination of best practices in energy efficiency and energy access will kick-start the the transformation towards sustainable development.
Keywords: captive generation, energy access, energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable development
Extra-Legalism, Gender Land Relations and Livelihoods: Challenges and Opportunities from Northern Uganda.
David Ross Olanya a
a Department of Public Administration and Management, Gulu University, P.O. Box, 166, Gulu, Uganda
Volume 04, Issue 10, Pg. 67-83, 2012.
Abstract: Women’s access to land is critical for sustainable livelihoods of vulnerable households. The majority of women in Uganda depend on customary agricultural land as the only main source of livelihoods. In Northern Uganda customary ownership is often regulated by marriage regimes which are not legally registered, but determine access and inheritance rights to property, which are unethical in the sense of promoting gender justice and violating the fundamental rights of women to own landed property. It is mainly through marriage that women acquire user’s rights to land. Furthermore, the dynamics of access are changing in the region where most women were left as widowed with orphans after a protracted conflict, which even weakened customary practices that used to guarantee access rights to women. With the changing socio-economic conditions including increasing land values, male relatives are claiming land over which, women, especially widowed have had rights. Based on the observable gap in de jure and de facto land rights for women, this study suggests for the harmonization in statutory and customary regimes. Statutory law recognizes women’s rights to own property and protection of their rights to inherit property, but also retains customary provisions. The marital property and inheritance rights remain discriminatory, recognizing men as head of household, and therefore the rightful authority over land. This paper analyzes gender justice in an extra-legal patrilineal society of northern Uganda, looking at the dynamics of women’s access to land, insecurity and resource conflict, livelihoods and the importance of harmonizing the statutory and customary regimes.
Keywords: Customary Laws, Gender Perspective, Livelihoods, Patrilineal and Resource Conflict
Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) Approach for the Achievement of a Sustainable Rural Development: Lessons Learned from a Pilot Roll-Out (PRO) Project in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, Indonesia
Istriningsih a, Nurul Hilmiati b, Erizal Jamal c
a Indonesian Center for Agricultural Technology Assessment and Development
b Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, Indonesia.
c Indonesian Center for Agriculture Socio Economic and Policy Studies.
Volume 04, Issue 10, Pg. 84-90, 2012.
Abstract: Indonesian agricultural research centers have generated numbers of technologies. Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology (AIAT) has responsibilities to assess and adapt technologies from research centers to suit prevailing farm condition, and to communicate them into farmers. Transfer of technology approach has been used to facilitate these processes. However, the effectiveness of this approach in the technology assessment projects of AIAT for delivering more impact on farmers’ livelihood is questionable as numbers of technologies produced by research centers are not (yet) widely adopted by farmers. This paper aims to show how the participatory learning and action (PLA) approach can enhance the impact of technology assessment projects on farmer’s livelihood. A study was conducted in August-September 2010 to evaluate an agricultural research for development (RfD) project in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province implemented PLA approach. The study used interviews, focus group discussion and document review. It was shown that active participation of all key stakeholders in the whole processes, farmers play central role and no longer seen as passive receivers of the project, and knowledge exchange processes could contribute to create sense of ownership over the issue, the process and the outcomes of the project. The lessons learned from the implementation of PLA approach were: a people-centered approach in agricultural RfD project has created a greater sense of ownership, active participation of stakeholders involved created collective ownership, farmers active role in the whole processes has empower them gaining new skills, knowledge and self-decision making which are important for a sustainable rural development.
Keywords: PLA approach, participation, ownership, empowerment, sustainable rural development
The United New Politics Theory Could Cure the Mankind and Safeguard the Health World
Xu Han-You a
a Department of Internal and Emergency Medicine, Clinical Institute,
Workers hospital of Nanyang Textile Corporation, Henan province, China.
Volume 06, Issue 10, Pg. 89-94, 2012.
Abstract: The mankind is striving for peace and health. Because the social and politic influence can cause diseases. The unstable world has been causing bad impact on the health level. The differences of philosophy have been bringing out the unstable world and bad health. There is a new breakthrough politics theory, all the countries are communism beded, was first concluded by the author. The new theory is being supported by lots of facts. The new theory may prevent worldwide war and bleeding and promote health, peace and development around the world. The world has been being divided and confronted by communism and capitalism. It is known to all that the politic system of China is so called mainly communism. But lots of facts indicate that the Americans led developed countries have been behaving communisms. The new breakthrough politics theory can pave the way for peace and development around the world and prevent worldwide from war and bleeding. If we adopted to the new politics theory. The world would be better and better. The constantly bad social and politic influence on health of mankind could be prevented and cured. The united new politics theory could cure the mankind and safeguard the health world. The author is urging the policymakers, politicians around the world adopt the united new politics theory, cure the mankind!
Keywords: Communism; Americans; Developed countries; Peace; Politics theory; Health promotion; World.
Society and Medicine in China: a Special Case Study
Xu Han-You a
a Department of Internal And Emergency Medicine, Clinical Institute, Workers Hospital of Nanyang Textile Corporation, Henan province, China.
Volume 04, Issue 10, Pg. 95-100, 2012.
Abstract: In China, there is a special case that a man has been suffering from lots of in his life. But accompanying his suffering, there are lots of other people are live in un-normal life. The sufferings to the man has been causing un-peace and un- harmonious society In all his life time, his brain thinking has been being communicated to others all the time. Even though he is a Communism pursuer. But the most important suffering is that he was expelled from Cancer Institute, graduate school of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College(CAMS/PUMC) as a postgraduate student just before graduating and just before getting his graduate certificates in November, 1990 without any right lawful support by the CAMS&PUMC. The most heavy suffering is that his brain thinking has been being communicated to others all the time. In order to take care the special social sufferings, the roots of the sufferings of the man should be cleared. So that the suffered society can be cured. It is caused by social competitions. Up to now, China has not pay attention to it. The treatment of the special social sufferings may need international cooperation. In order to promote better and harmonious society and promote better public health, the special case of problem must promote and enhance the reformation and correcting its policy of public health in China. The reformation and correction can be referenced by other countries.
Keywords: Public health; China; society and medicine; International; Social competition.