OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open access peer-reviewed journal
Does International Law Address the Concerns of Indigenous Peoples in the Development Discourse?
Vidyaranya Chakravarthy Namballa
School of Law, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.
Volume 06, Issue 02, Pg. 12-27, 2013.
Abstract: Indigenous peoples have a distinctive and profound relationship with their lands and with the air, waters, coastal sea, ice, flora, fauna and other resources. This relationship has various social, cultural, spiritual, economic and political dimensions and responsibilities.
Globalization in recent years has directed industries to expand their activities beyond their own countries. The development of natural resources in places until now untouched was triggered by the liberalization of international markets and technological advances. Thus, it is perceived as an excellent opportunity for the developing countries to attract foreign investments, to accelerate their economic growth and at the same time as an incentive for the private sector to increase its profits. Yet, in the vast majority of these areas, the presence of peoples considered to be indigenous is encountered. Their different and special relationship with their lands and their resources, which often Western societies tend either to ignore or underestimate, makes them adopt a distinctive perception of the development of their natural resources in their traditional lands. Simultaneously, by this increasing development of natural resources projects, indigenous peoples’ awareness of their existence has increased as well as indigenous identity has been strengthened. Therefore, wherever there is a natural resource management and development, conflicts and disputes are almost inevitable. History has shown that their involvement in the developmental activities is limited. According to Daes ‘[t]he expropriation of indigenous lands and natural resources for national development is a growing and severe problem. Development projects are frequently undertaken on indigenous lands and territories without indigenous consent or even consultation.’
Keywords: Globalization, Indigenous People, Liberalization, International Law, Development Discourse, Natural Recourses, Indigenous Lands
Pattern of Housing Expenditure in Ondo State, Nigeria
Olorunfemi Sola
Department of Economics, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko. Ondo State, Nigeria.
Volume 06, Issue 02, Pg. 26-37, 2013.
Abstract: The rate of population growth in different states of Nigeria, Ondo state inclusive, had created severe Housing problems resulting in overcrowding, inadequate dwellings, and to an extreme outright homelessness in most states. There had been great emphasis. on how to reduce the consequences of these problems on the people of Ondo State as result of which there was a lot of research into the demand for housing in Nigeria. The overall goal of this research was to analyze the pattern of expenditure for Housing in Ondo State, while the specific objectives were to; examine the factors that affect demand for Housing, and determine the impact of demographic factors on housing expenditure. Data collected from 988 heads of households, through multistage sampling methods were analyzed using Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) and Standard Almost Ideal Demand System (SQUAIDS). Result showed that the SQUAIDS model was more reliable, as the Wald test{Chi2(5)=1945.03; Prob≥Chi2=0.0000} indicated that lambda coefficients were jointly significantly different from zero and that the quadratic income terms were important, showing the superiority of SQUAIDS model over the AIDS model. The compensated own price elasticities in Ondo for housing (-1.23 and -0.92) were the most elastic, followed by the own price elasticity for health (-1.02 and -0-90) from the AIDS and SQUAIDS respectively. The cross-price elasticities using the QUAIDS model indicated that food had the strongest substitution response for the price of housing (0.247), whereas the consumption of food was not as responsive to the price of housing (0.078). The estimated expenditure elasticities for Ondo State were all positive and statistically significant at the 5% level, indicating that all the good items were normal goods. It was recommended that price intervention programme should be introduced in order to stabilize the fluctuations in housing prices.
Keywords: AIDS, Elasticity, Expenditure, Housing Demand and QUAIDS.
Sustainable Practices in Mexican Housing Projects to Reduce Emissions Effecting Climate Change
Gilberto A. Corona-Suarez a, Kendy E. May-Yam b
a, b Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
Volume 06, Issue 02, Pg. 38-50, 2013.
Abstract: Construction has been identified as a major contributor to climate change due to the great amount of resources this industry requires. The impact of construction projects on the environment is defined throughout the different phases of a project, but mostly during planning and design. Sustainable practices should be implemented through this phases in order to prevent or reduce impacts on the environment. Construction agencies from different countries have delivered a number of codes and guidelines in order to disseminate sustainable practices to construction practitioners. Sustainable construction in Mexico has been mostly focused on housing construction because, in developing countries, it is a relevant factor for the attainment of sustainable development. For instance, the National Housing Board has delivered Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Housing, while the Institute of the National Fund for Workers´ Housing has implemented the Green Mortgage Program in order to contribute to the efficient use of natural resources and to environmental protection. In this context, however, very few information regarding sustainable practices implemented in housing construction has been reported. The study described in this work attempted the assessment of the extent to which sustainable practices are implemented in housing construction. Because of its global relevance, climate change is of particular interest when discussing sustainable practices in construction and, therefore, this study focused on assessing practices which aim is reducing emissions causing climate change.
The climate change-related practices used in this study were sourced from four existing and proved sustainability assessment systems: Guidelines for Sustainable Housing Building in the Basque Country (Spain, 2011), Code for Sustainable Homes: Technical Guidance (United Kingdom, 2010), Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Housing Developments (Mexico, 2008), and the Handbook for Designing Sustainable Housing Developments (Mexico, 2010). Considering local applicability, 53 practices were selected from such four systems and categorized according to seven action areas, which include: Reduction of energy demand (14 practices), Improvement of energy performance (5), Use of renewable energy sources (3), Other energy saving practices (14), Transporting of materials and products (6), Pollution of the atmosphere (6), and Public Transit availability (5). Action Areas refer to project-related aspects in which human beings are able to intervene in the search of reducing Green House Gases that cause climate change. Most of these selected practices (27) should be implemented during the design phase of the project and the rest of them during the construction (12), operation or use (10), and planning (4) phases.
These selected practices were integrated into a system that was used to assess the degree (in percent) with which such practices are implemented in housing construction projects. The implementation of each practice was assessed as a percent value (i.e. from 0 to 100%). In addition, based on the original sources from which the practices were selected, each practice was weighed using a scale from 1 to 5 in order to represent the relevance of the given practice on the prevention of climate change. The assigned weight was then applied to weigh the implementation percent value of the practice. A degree of implementation was obtained for each of the seven action areas by summing the weighed results of every practice within an action area and dividing this by the maximum possible result for the area.
Six housing projects in the state of Yucatan, Mexico, on construction at the time of this study, were selected as case studies. These projects featured typical construction methods and materials but were aimed at clients from different socio-economic levels: low, medium, or high; two projects for each level were studied. The assessment of the selected practices was primarily based on the review of the project documents, including drawings, specifications, codes and regulations. However, direct observation to construction sites and interviews to personnel were carried out for practices which assessment was unfeasible with the information contained in the project documents.
The average implementation degree was 27.50% in the low-level projects, 37.08% in the medium-level projects, and 39.17% in the high-level projects. The results in the six projects agreed that the action areas with the lowest implementation degree include Use of renewable energy sources (average of 0.0%) and Transporting of materials and products (average of 15.15%). On the other hand, the areas with the highest performance include Public Transit availability (average of 50.00%) and Improvement of energy performance (average of 45.66%). The high level projects excelled in Pollution of the atmosphere and Reduction of energy demand (averages of 64.71% and 62.96% respectively).
The results evidenced housing projects developers in this context should increase their focus on the use of renewable energy sources; however, it should also be recognized that this kind of technology is still not available in Mexico. Transporting of materials during construction also represents another opportunity to reduce emissions causing climate change; improving the planning of logistics could be attempted in this case.
Keywords: Sustainable practices, Housing projects, Climate change, Mexico,
Empirical Study of Sustainable Community Development in South Korea: A Special Focus on Village Community
TaeJeong Park
Department of Social welfare, Seoul Cyber University, Seoul, South Korea.
Volume 06, Issue 02, Pg. 50-54, 2013.
Abstract: South Korea is one of outstanding country that has made great success on economic growth. However, they have been faced on matter from unbalanced development. The reason why they have been encountered that problem goes way back to the 1950s. After Korean War in 1950s, South Korean government had started to focus on economic development; as if it could be the best method to escape urgent poverty and overcome social problem. While they ignored the imbalance between economic growth and sustainability, almost every resource was poured out superficial socio-economic development. Moreover, from 1960s to mid-1980s, they were under dictatorship and suffered undemocratic regime. People, who had been repressed under these circumstances, finally rose up against the regime in late 1980s, and then it helped them to become democratic. Nevertheless, inequalities, poverty gap and immature citizenship have remained unsolved. Being encountered with the financial crisis in mid 1990s, almost every social policy was insufficient in treating it. While South Korea has had great success in economic development, its social safety network was not well equipped to respond such a serious problem. This issue was also closely associated with the policy based on the growth-first ideology of government-led development, which was far from inclusive. Consequently, most communities are characterized by serious imbalances, which become major constraints on sustainable development. In these circumstances, the existing conglomerate-centered economic system that puts priority on growth is dimming after being hit by a bomb of low growth. They need of a new system, what is called as ‘alternative development strategies’.
While they seek to create new system, “village community” gets important initiatives about alternative way to promote sustainable development. Especially, because it is based on social economy, which lies in its stable management and continuous growth, thus attracting more attention in a low-growth era, it is regarded as method of promoting the rights and benefits of its members. Nowadays, “village community” rapidly spreads over the whole country.
This study explores case study of village community in Seoul in order to investigate the true meaning of urban community for sustainable development. In this context, the present paper has three objectives. First, features of “village community” is analyzed, especially focus on socio-economic situation surrounding it. Second, it compares “village community” with the social development, which seeks to harmonize social and economic processes for vulnerable populations. Finally, using case studies, I try to illustrate how “village community” is initiated social change at local and community level and generated community development for better social services.
Keywords: community, social development, sustainable development, village community
Self-Governance on Indigenous Community for Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Tayal Community in Taiwan
Ai-Ching Yen a, Yin-An Chen b
a Department of Land Economics, National Chengchi University, Taipei City,Taiwan (R.O.C).
b Department of Ethnology, National Chengchi University, Taipei City,Taiwan (R.O.C).
Volume 06, Issue 02, Pg. 56-72, 2013.
Abstract: Self-governance is an approach for preventing community resources overuse and degradation for a sustainable future. Ostrum (1990) proposes a concept of self-governing organisation for people whom collectively act on common pool resources (CPRs) governance. In this model, participants can make force and constraint contrasts that supplementary choices bring into new game theory framework which makes the primary control of outsiders transiting to negotiation between two participants. Hence, whilst negotiation is reached and participants cooperate with each other, the paying entire cost is far lower than the cost of central control (Ostrom, 1990).
Forestry, farming landscape are sort of CPRs in many Taiwan indigenous high mountain communities, and so does Cinsbu community. Self-governance is an urgent mean to adapt to such limited living space. For indigenous community’s sustainable development and self-governance, this study takes Maqaw Industrial Group (Tayal indigenous people, belongs to Cinsbu Community in Hsinchu, Taiwan) for an instance. This group was organised in 2005, which maintained Tayal’s culture (ex. Gaga, ancestor’s words or advice, usually understood as “disciplines and taboos”) and opposed outside corporation’s control over local industries as their calling. Besides, this group emphasises community development is based on economy, which is also necessary to protect natural resources and preserve Tayal traditional culture. For this reason, Cinsbu community members and B & B operators cooperate with each other to promote community economy, ecology, and culture. In recent years, Maqaw Industrial Group has transformed from conventional farming to natural farming for depending upon chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
In order to make agriculture matching up local mountain landscape, special agroforestry cultivation is a good case for explaining adaptation onto Cinsbu’s high mountainous landscape. Indigenous farmers do not chop the trees next to farmland. Instead, ancient wisdom told them to preserve trees for preventing the loss of topsoil by rainfall. Meanwhile, Tayal people know that trees stablise slopeland and water, and they keep grass as food or natural pesticides (ex. bitter or spicy plants keep insects away) for pests. The most interesting one is that “stone” is very useful in Tayal traditional cultivation. They do not eliminate stone but keep in field for faster drainage. Moreover, under solar power, stone’s temperature raise to keep crops warm from chilling injury.
Also, group members develop the term “Cinsbuology” for outsiders (esp. tourists) to realise the function, beauty of the forestry, and environmental conservation in this community. The idea is that people can learn anything from forest, indigenous people’s farm, and any place without school classroom in Cinsbu. Not only the environment, indigenous people, and their Tayal culture form community landscape, but also tourists’ observation, learning, involvement to mold into “Cinsbu” and knowledge of “Cinsbuology”.
This study applies literature review, in-depth interview, participatory observation, and workshops for data collection. We found three factors that composed indigenous collectively self-governing action on CPR: 1. Tayal people establish their basic idea by traditional “Gaga”; 2. regarding indigenous people as a main constituent for resource governance; 3. legislating fair and transparent regulations. We conclude this study that Maqaw Industrial Group adequately use local natural resource for tourism without valuing the seriousness of resource degradation in the beginning. Later members retrospected their way of life, and try to cultivate organically in agroforestry. Besides, tourism is an important industry in Cinsbu. However, it is a pity that tourists come and go and never learned something relevant to indigenous culture. Group members therefore created “Cinsbuology” for tourist to actually experience indigenous people’s life and their idea towards the nature in their community. Group members establish a fully self-governing organisation by their willingness and help Cinsbu community to build up self-governing ability towards conservation and economic development, which start a positive effect for a sound and harmonious community.
Keywords: Agroforestry, Commons, Maqaw Industrial Group, Self-governance, Sustainable Development,
Growth and Reproductive Performance of Pigs Fed with Raw and Differently Processed Velvet Beans
(Mucuna Pruriens) as Partial Replacement for Soya Bean Meal
Murisiku Adegbemi Onigemo a, Olugbenga Adekunle Anjola b
a, b Department of Production and Fisheries, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Nigeria.
Volume 06, Issue 02, Pg. 72-78, 2013.
Abstract: The increasing competition for the conventional plant protein sources for food, feed and other industrial uses necessitated researches into potential feed resources that are relatively underutilized. Velvet beans (Mucuna pruriens) is a leguminous plant that is widely available in most tropical, subtropical and temperate region. In Nigeria, it grows luxuriantly uncultivated and is often used as browse plant for ruminants, but it use in non ruminant feed is limited by its high contents of anti-nutritional factors. Thermal and chemical processing methods are known to reduce the levels of anti- nutrients in crops. Thirty-eight weeks experiment was conducted to determine the effect of differently processed velvet beans on the growth and reproductive performance of gilts. The velvet beans were boiled, toasted and soaked in Potassium Carbonate (K2CO3) and thereafter subjected to proximate analysis. The raw and the processed velvet bean seeds were included at 20% levels of inclusion representing 80% replacement value of the protein contribution of soya bean meal. Thirty growing gilts of average initial weight 28.08±0.06 Kg were randomly allotted to five dietary treatment with each treatment replicated three times in a randomized complete block experiment. Diet 1 contained soya bean meal included at 25% (Control), while diets 2, 3, 4, 5 contained raw, cooked, toasted, and K2CO3 treated velvet beans respectively. Data collected included average feed intake (AFI), average weight gain (AWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), Average conception rate (ACR), average gestation period (AGP), average litter size (ALS), average weaning rate (AWR), average birth weight (ABW) and average weaning weight (AWW). All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test. Result revealed that the different processing methods significantly (P < 0.05) increase the percentage Crude Protein (C.P) and Gross energy (G.E) of velvet beans while L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) was significantly depressed. The C.P and G.E ranges from 30.02 – 34.36 % and 3666.95 – 3838.80 Kcal/Kg respectively. The different processing methods significantly (P < 0.05) improve the AWG, FCR, ALS, AWR and AWW of the pigs. Thus the growth and reproductive performance of pigs fed with the differently processed velvet beans were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those fed with the raw seeds and were comparable to the soya bean control. Pigs fed with toasted velvet beans had the best performance. Hence processed velvet beans can be used to replace 80% of soya bean meal in the diets of pigs without any deleterious effect.
Keywords: Growth; Pigs; Processing; Reproductive; Velvet beans.
Agricultural Productivity and Rural Sustainability
Nagashree S.N. a, Nithyananda b
a Department of Economics, Government Pre-University College, Karnataka, India.
b Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirappalli, India.
a Corresponding author: nagashriraj696@gmail.com
Volume 06, Issue 02, Pg. 78-84, 2013.
Abstract: Mango cultivation is best suit for a tropical climate it is known as ‘King of Fruits’. India is a leading producer of mangoes. Though production is high, productivity is low. A well nurtured plant yields fruit for about 40-60 years producing anything between 5 tons/ha to 10 tons/ha. Indian mangoes are grown for local consumption and export. A diversified direction of exports can be seen. India has great potential to extend the market as well as increase production. It is not just the fruit and raw mangoes are consumed but various processed products of mangoes are exported. Indian mangoes are priced better in the international market. The lean season is compensated by inter-cropping. Break even is achieved in three years.
Keywords: tropical fruit, production, productivity, export, inter-cropping and break even.
Excluding the Excluded: The Challenges of Sustainability in Government-Driven Re-Construction and Development Policy and Practice in South Western Nigeria
Isaac Adekeye Abiona
Department of Adult Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Abstract: In recent times, governments in various states in south western Nigeria had embarked on massive re-construction of strategic areas in different parts of the cities through a policy tagged urban renewal development programme. This programme has led to demolition of structures which served as the means of livelihood of majority of self-employed citizens. However, government did not consider or develop a rehabilitation or re-settlement policy for the affected citizens. The programme appears to have achieved its intended objectives at the expense of the welfare and economic interest of the people. The already excluded citizenry from the scheme of governance are being further excluded by the programme as the citizentry are alienated and excluded from participation and the decision making process concerning their lives. This study, therefore, examined the future challenges and sustainability of the urban renewal development policy after the expiration of the tenure of the governments. The study adopted the descriptive research design and the population consisted different categories of respondents ranging from affected citizens, self-employed, civil servants, teachers, market women associations in two urban cities. 800 respondents were altogether selected from these different categories through proportionate and simple random sampling techniques. Future challenges of urban renewal development programme questionnaire (FCURDPQ) r=84 was the major instrument constructed for data collection based on three objectives formulated for the study. Findings obtained showed that there was no significant difference in the opinion of respondents (X2 = 3.84 < 0.1518) that were strongly dissatisfied with the policy, objectives and mode of implementation of the programme that they were not involved in the policy decision and implementation. Similarly, there is significant relationship between the policy implementation and poverty as the poverty level of the people has increased since majority of the self-employed citizens have been disposed of their means of livelihood. They argued that it was contrary to poverty alleviation policy of the governments. Lastly, 79% of the respondents contended that the sustainability of the programme remains extremely low as it will become the cardinal political decision point in future electioneering campaigns. Based on these findings, this study recommended that the first parameter for determining the worth of a project or programme is its sustainability which can only be ensured through adequate and massive education of the citizens on the need of such development. Furthermore, to ensure the sustainability of the programme, the people who are the beneficiaries of development should be included and participate in decision making process in matters affecting their life. Moreover, the Government-Driven and Re-construction Policy should not be a political issue, otherwise, if another political party comes to power, it might jettison the development policy, thereby, the sustainability is jeopardized.
Keywords: Excluding the excluded, challenges of sustainability, government-driven re-construction and development policy and practice, citizen participation
Sexual Behaviors of Students at Albanian Universities
Mirton Mete a, Brunilda Leka b
a Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Aleksander, Xhuvani , Albania.
b Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Aleksander, Xhuvani, Albania.
Volume 06, Issue 02, Pg. 94-102, 2013.
Abstract: Since ‘70s major studies were carried out in the Western Europe on impact of young people’s sexual behaviors on sexual revolution. Perception of a sexual revolution is hard due to absence of studies of this kind in Albania, although radical socio-cultural changes have occurred during the last two decades. Again, we do not have a clear overview of sexual behaviors and attitudes of the Albanian young people. Currently, there is a belief that young people adopt an open attitude to sexuality and sexual behaviors as they have different communication channels to receive information about sexual intercourse and other related components. About 20 years ago, as an isolated country under a dictatorial system, Albania had prohibited every sexual behavior. Sex-oriented conversations, sexual preferences and so on represented a social threat at that time as those actions were deemed immoral, deviant or taboo. At that time women’s career support was a demagogical approach but in the meantime family planning due to ambitions and career constituted an immoral act. Unmarried women or those who chose a late marriage were labeled by offensive terms and were isolated from the society. Open conversations about sex and sexuality, even with the partner, were forbidden. Similar conversations might prejudice the honor of Albanian women. Kisses and caresses in the public were not common at all and they even did not occur, otherwise the Youth Committees of the Party in power launched disciplinary measures against the young people who infringed such a moral rule. On the other hand, female’s virginity was a veil of honor per se which everyone should have until the day of her marriage. Presently, Albania is an utterly different country under radical social changes which cause ambiguity to someone to raise questions if we are at the eve of a social and sexual revolution or degradation. This work aims to analyze the sexual reality of Albanian young people, their sexual attitudes and behaviors and to understand if they constituted a sexual revolution. Through an empirical and theoretical analysis, the study will be focused on attitudes of the students from public universities to contraceptive use, career women, marriages at an increasingly later age than before, as well as sexual rights and freedoms. The research methodology of the present study will be quantitative one, where through a random and stratified sample about 200 persons will be interviewed, to be students of public universities in the capital. The data obtained from this sample will be analyzed through SPSS statistical program, where the mean, standard deviation and frequencies will be realized to measure the variables defined for the study. The hypothesis testing will be realized through Chi-square (χ2) tests, which determines the level of certainly at a value of p < 0.05 (5%). The study is closed with conclusions obtained from empirical and theoretical data.
Keywords: college, sexual revolution, sexual behavior, students, young people
Biofuel Legislation for Sustainable and Social Development: A Review
Pallavi Roy
Environmental Applied Science and Management, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.
Abstract: Biofuels or energy derived from plant matter has been grabbing attention of the world due to rising oil prices and urgent need to reduce emissions. This has made biofuels a hot legislative and policy making topic for most nation states of the world. In order to ensure that socio-economic and environmental sustainability issues are taken into account during production and use of biofuels, there is a need for suitable regulatory and legal frameworks.
This study looks at the development of biofuel legislation, policies and institutions in three case studies, Brazil, United States of America and Canada. As world leaders in production and consumption Brazil and the United States of America have a huge body of legislation dealing with various aspects of biofuel production and consumption. Canada on the other hand has recently begun looking at biofuels as an alternate source of energy and an industry on its own right and is in its infancy in terms of biofuel legislation. This study looks at some salient legislation and bodies which regulate biofuel in these three countries aimed at sustainable development of this sector. Interesting programs to develop cellulosic biofuels and remove the burden from food crops and environmental programs have also been mentioned. This study ends with a comparison of biofuel strategy in the three cases and recommendations for development of future biofuel legislation and regulation.
All the relevant literature reviewed was from academic and technical publications – magazines and journals –regarding biofuel/bioenergy regulations and legislation. e.g. UNEP publications on bioenergy and also papers published in international and national conferences on biofuel/bioenergy law and policy were sources of relevant literature.
The increased competition over agricultural crops for bioenergy purposes instead of food production has been highlighted as a concern for food security. Competition over the use of land and water resources for bioenergy production and for agricultural purposes increases pressures on these resources at a time where global water reserves are dwindling and potentially greater effect are feared on indigenous and local communities and small-holder farmers. All countries that have or are planning to develop a biofuel industry need to pay attention to these issues while forming biofuel legislation.
Governments see the potential for multiple benefits from domestic biofuel production programs. In addition to invigorating rural economies and increasing energy security by reducing imported oil, efficient biofuel production could contribute to goals for reducing green house gas emissions. This would also support development of the rural economy especially small scale farms producing cellulosic feedstock. (426 words)
Keywords: Biofuel Legislation, rural development, small business development, social development, sustainability