OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open access peer-reviewed journal
A field research on “The social and cultural variables of violence after 25th January, 2011 revolution, Al Fayoum, Egypt”
Eman Nasry Shenouda
Faculty of Arts, Helwan University, Nasr city, 11371,Cairo, Egypt.
Volume 07, Issue 08, Pg. 11-36, 2014.
Abstract: According to the researcher’s empirical observation, the prevalence of violence are related to education as loose morals spread. At the same time, some educational content urging students to be endowed with good manners, cooperation and national belonging, and to pay the due respect to the parents, but the family members and the surrounding people have disappeared from the educational curricula.
The violence whether verbal or physical, such as assault or murder, or psychological violence and abuse others emotionally, these types of violence have a negative impact on the social development process in local communities, because these communities spread violence forms and people will use it till it becomes a part of their daily life. Although, the character of the Egyptian people during the period (25 January until February 11, 2011), was different, they were cooperative and interdependent, all people were working together to protect their properties from the thieves and prison escapees.
The importance of the current study is not only studying the new and updated forms of violence among Al-Fayoum residents which have been imposed in our society, but also identifying the social and cultural changes(media- police- traditions-family ..etc), and variables that developed sustained phenomenon while previous Egyptian focused on the features of committed violence by students in the Egyptian universities (Bayoumi,Amina,2010). Also there was a study on youth violence, it was an attempt at explanation the under-graduates’ violence (El-Qassas,2005).
The main question of the research is: “Did violence types change after the revolution of January 25, 2011 in the province of Al-Fayoum governorate?., and how the people and media dealt with the phenomenon of violence on both individual and community levels?. The researcher referred to social learning theory and the theory of frustration. Two Samples were interviewed in the pre-study and post study in the following districts (center Bandar Al-Fayoum governorate, center Senours, Youssef al-Siddiq, center Tamyah, center Al-Fayoum governorate), the sample total is 35+300 individuals.
Therefore, the researcher sought the assistance of a group of young university student researchers to gather data from the study sample after receiving training on the use of the data collection tool and their roles in the research. The researcher used “social survey sample” method besides using the questionnaire, which was designed to achieve the researcher’s objectives by describing the quality and quantity of the studied phenomenon and collecting codified information about the problem, categorizing, and analyzing them. This method was used with the aim of eliminating this phenomenon after studying all the different aspects of the current circumstances in Fayoum society after the revolution.
Main conclusions: The results of the pretest and the posttest show that the whole research sample does not feel safe after 25 January Revolution. This is due to the absence of police in the streets and the increased and theft, especially after the breaking open of prisons during the revolution, which has further spread fear among people. In addition, thugs have exploited the fear of sectarian strife between Muslims and Christians in committing increased acts of thuggery and violence.A percentage of 75% of the sample in Fayoum governorate were exposed to violence, where 58% were exposed to verbal violence and 68% were exposed to theft. Most of those exposed to theft (73%) chose to ignore the incident justifying their lack of reaction with the thief’s rapid running away. They did not see any benefit in reporting the incident to the police, especially with the prevailing lack of trust in police after the revolution. Also in most cases, community members witnessing the incident did not interfere for fear of increased violence, especially if the thief was armed. A small percentage of the sample reported catching the thief, beating him up, retrieving the stolen goods, and hand him over to the police.
Keywords:, violence, revolution, Al-Fayoum governorate
Resilience, Social support, and stress as predictors of Suicide ideation among Public universities’ students in Egypt
Eman Nasry Shenouda a, Shaimaa Ezzat Basha b
a Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
b Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
Volume 07, Issue 08, Pg. 37-68, 2014.
Abstract: “Gold and Karmur”,2011 found that there is a significant correlation between life stresses such as mutual personal loss like ending a relation with a friend, and legal problems and suicide, as mutual personal loss has been associated consistently with the misuse disorder of psychoactive substances. While the legal problems are more correlated with disorders of thinking, which refers to the importance of interaction between social support, life stresses and suicide ideation when predicting thinking of suicide as can’t be considered as direct predictor for suicide ideation.
Individuals’ lives is always an ongoing series of compatibility operation, it was necessary for the to be flexible and able to adapt with obstacles, so the person who has less flexibility is unable to adapt himself with social situations or life events.
The aim of the study is to examine the mutual relationship between Suicide ideation and resilience, social support, and social stress among universities under-graduates. The sample consisted of 293 Egyptian universities’ students from both males and females between (18-24) years. The researchers used four data collection questionnaire and scales which were: Suicide ideation scale ; resilience scale; perceived stress Questionnaire; and social support Questionnaire.
A descriptive exploratory- correlated study to determine and collect data about the research’s problem. A Social sample survey method was used. The results indicated that there are significant differences between males and females in perceived stress, resilience, and social support, favoring females; no significant differences were found between main scores of males and females in Suicide ideation . A positive correlation exists between males’ and females’ scores in Suicide ideation and their scores on perceived stress. A negative correlation exists between males’ and females’ scores in Suicide ideation and their scores on resilience, and social support. The researchers found out that perceived stress is a significant predictor of Suicide ideation for females, while for males perceived stress and social support are significant predictors of Suicide ideation. Also, there was a relationship between the academic sufferings, social stresses and suicide ideation between females.
Keywords: Group at risk of suicide, Resilience, Social support, stress, Suicide ideation
The Role of virtuous and vicious circles at Sustainable Development in Contemporary Iran A Historical and Interdisciplinary approach
Vahid Shalchi a, Abbas Jong b, Marzieh Azad Armaki c
a Department of Sociology, University of Allameh Tabataba`i, Iran.
Volume 07, Issue 08, Pg. 69-78, 2014.
Abstract: This article concerns the historical circles among economy, culture, politics and ecology in contemporary Iran in order to show how the Iranian contemporary history has been in fluctuation in virtuous and vicious circles. This article is basically influenced by an interdisciplinary theoretical approach by Acemoglu and Robinson. Therefore this article studies the Iranian evolutions in three time periods, 1970-1977, 1989-2006, 2006-2014with a historical approach to show how in different periods moving towards social pervasive institutions leads to an enhancement in life qualities, economical indicators and a healthier environment, vs. challenges in vicious circles despite economical growth or primary social stability results to the decrease of trust and social investment and life quality and the deterioration of economical indicators and even a wide destruction in environment. This article shows there has been an alternative change from moving towards a sustainable development in contemporary Iran or vs. receding from this course, also how there has been an economical, political and environmental relationship.
In these three periods, there is a different relationship between the economical and political institutions and also the environment. Although in the first period of study the pursuit of governmental policies have lead to an economical boom, yet due to the exclusivity of the political and economical institutions, not only there is no sustainable development but ultimately social instability is formed. In the second period the economical institution slowly moved towards inclusivity and the political institution moved to the same path with a few years of delay. It was in the second period that environment was considered as a social concern and became significant in policy. The interaction among economy, policy and environment created a positive trend in social institutions. In the third period, first the policy institution moved towards being monopole, whereas the economy institution despite the primitive significant increase of income and other criterion confronted a wide RENT. In this period the environmental concerns became less important. The result of institutional interaction in this period was crucial environmental situations and also a vast decline in economical criterion.
Keywords: abstractive, historical approach, institutions, inclusive institutions, sustainable development, virtuous circles, vicious circle
Impact of Model United Nations Conferences on India’s Youth
Jaikishan Kundanlal Agarwal a
a Deanery of Humanities, Christ University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Volume 07, Issue 08, Pg. 79-83, 2014.
Abstract: Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the functions and organs of the United Nations system. It involves students taking up the role of diplomats while representing the different member countries of the UN. Model UN has been actively pursued by students in India since the late 1990s and today, India is host to over 200 annual Model UN conferences. Despite its popularity and relevance to the global world, the impact of Model UN on the economic, political and social remains as an unmeasured factor.
India’s Youth, which accounts for over 50% of the entire population, is the driving force which will power India to global prominence in the 21st century. Model UN is an academic exercise which has been embraced by the Indian Youth with open arms and is transforming from the hobby of the elite to the practice of the masses. For the above mentioned reasons, the impact of Model UN on the Indian Youth is vital. This paper will seek to quantify the impact of Model UN on the Indian Youth in three levels viz. Economic Level, Political Level and Social Level.
On the Economic level, this paper will seek to establish the relation between Model UN and the Indian youth’s role in the country’s economy. With the surge in the number of economic and financial international organizations being simulated in Model UN, this also will help to reiterate the importance of globalization as well as the importance of the relation between India and the global economy in India’s Youth. In the Political Level, this paper will seek to explain the impact of Model UN on youth’s attitude towards politics and the government. As Model UN involves the representation of governments in an international forum, the youth are compelled to think like the legitimate government and hence there is a greater understanding of the political system of a country. Finally, the Social impacts of Model UN remain one of the most complex aspects of this academic simulation as it greatly influences the society. The concept of Model UN involves an important sociological concept of socialization: role play. When students take up the role of diplomats, they think and react as responsible people of power who represent a country and who think for the benefit of their country over personal gains. This role play instils a sense of public service, selflessness and social responsibility towards the society.
This paper will, hence, seek to establish the importance of Model UN in India and how Model UN will help India achieve sustainable and Good Governance while inculcating social responsibility into India’s future Citizens
Keywords: Global Awareness, Good Governance, India’s Youth, Model United Nations, Social Responsibility
Reconciling Industrial Development And Environmental Sustainability: An Assessment of the Law on Air Pollution
Adekunbi Olukemi Johnson Odusanya
Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria.
Volume 07, Issue 08, Pg. 84-96, 2014.
Abstract: The planet earth as a habitat consists of man and his environment which is the totality of the relationship between the air, land, water, mineral resources, plants, animals and humans. Environmental sustainability has become a major issue of discussion in the international system because it touches upon the very existence and survival of man. Without the environment, life cannot exist or flourish and thus, any damage to the environment is damage to life itself. However, man has used and exploited the environment to a dangerous life threatening level. Most of the acts that have degraded the environment were and are considered developmental activities. The 1986 United Nations General Assembly Declaration on the Right to Development states that development is an inalienable human right and it sees the human person as the central subject of development. Various definitions of the term “development” connote advancement and progress to the exclusion of anything negative. In other words, any development that results into setback in any area either in the present or in the future cannot by any means fit into any definition of the term development and should not under any disguise be accepted as such. Since the industrial revolution, the world has experienced tremendous ‘development’, however, this development became a harbinger of danger in the form of pollution to land, pollution to the waters, emission of all manner of gaseous substances into the air from the numerous factories all over the globe and other different ills culminating into ill health to man and immeasurable danger to the environment. Air especially has been noted as being essential to life not only to man but to all living and non living things. The quality of air as being a global common, a natural resource that does not respect geographical or national boundaries makes it unique and dictates that all hands must be on deck against whatever could cause air pollution, since it is a case of injury to one is an injury to all. This paper discusses at length the definitions of the terms environment, pollution, the right to good environment and sovereignty , it also assesses the international law on air pollution and states that the enforcement of such laws should not be left in the hands of each state alone, air being a resource that the whole world shares in common and concludes that developments are bound to turn awry where the observance of the laws on global commons are not strictly monitored or enforced.
Keywords: Development, Environment, Pollution, Sovereignty, Sustainability.
Constitutional Observance for Sustainable Development; How Far Africa? : A Case Study of Nigeria
Adekunbi Olukemi Johnson Odusanya
Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria.
Volume 07, Issue 08, Pg. 97-105, 2014.
Abstract: It is trite to say that Africa has been battling with the problem of underdevelopment for decades. African countries are often listed in the “Third World Countries”, “Less Developed Countries”, “Low Income Countries” and several other ignoble lists reflecting and depicting underdevelopment. The inability of African countries to achieve sustainable development despite various attempts by successive governments has been ascribed to many factors including bad leadership, corruption and insecurity. However, the non adherence of African governments to the dictates of their constitutions has not really enjoyed the needed academic focus and attention. The various definitions of constitution see it as the body of rules and regulations guiding the affairs of a state. A constitution can either be written or unwritten, rigid or flexible, federal or unitary in nature. A written constitution codifies all the rules and regulations of a state in a single document while an unwritten constitution has more than one document containing the guiding principles of the state. A rigid constitution is difficult to amend while a flexible constitution is easy to amend. A federal constitution shares political power between the central government and other component units of the state while a unitary constitution concentrates power and authority in the central government. Whether written, unwritten, rigid, flexible, federal or unitary in nature, a constitution should be the roadmap to and a sine qua non for national and sustainable development. Thus, if a constitution is well prepared, development should be assured. However, where there is a failure to achieve the desired development, then the level of the observance of the constitution should be called to question. This paper therefore seeks to beam the searchlight of research on the importance of constitutional observance for sustainable development in the African continent. Using Nigeria as a case study, it assesses the level of constitutional observance in Nigeria and its implication for development. It observes that bad leadership, corruption, insecurity and other societal ills characterizing Nigeria and other African nations are consequential to the culture of inattention to and non observance of constitutional provisions. It concludes that constitutions are central to sustainable development and that no matter how well planned a constitution is, it will remain in the realm of the abstract if it is not well interpreted and executed. It thus advocates for a culture of constitutional observance in the African continent.
Keywords: constitution, development, government, observance, sustainable development.
Cogeneration of Biochar and Heat from Rice Hull:Its Application in the Poultry Industry
Ricardo F. Orge and John Eric O. Abon
Philippine Rice Research Institute
Maligaya, Science City of Muňoz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines.
Volume 07, Issue 08, Pg. 106-115, 2014.
Abstract: A lot of studies worldwide show that biochar is a powerful tool to address some of the most urgent environmental problems of our time: global warming, soil degradation, water pollution by agro-chemicals, and waste management. In the Philippines, biochar from rice hull is commonly used as soil conditioner and as main ingredient in the production of organic fertilizers. To popularize the use of biochar in the farm and improve the system of producing it, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) developed the continuous rice hull (CtRH) carbonizer in 2010. As its name implies, it operates in continuous mode with almost smokeless emission. The heat generated during its operation is recoverable for use as energy source in various farming operations. This action research was conducted in response to the need of a farmer/poultry grower for cost-reducing and environment-friendly technologies for his farm. Specifically, it aims to integrate the CtRH carbonizer in the poultry operations in order to accomplish two things: (a) make use of the carbonizer-generated heat for brooding chicks to replace the conventionally-used liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and (b) production of biochar as ingredient of organic fertilizer together with the chicken manure. The study involved overcoming challenges of retrofitting the CtRH carbonizer into the automated heating system of a modern tunnel-type poultry house (capacity of 35,000 chickens) that has to comply with the standards set by the broiler integrator whom the farmer was in contract with. Results of the performance test trials showed that the CtRH carbonizer, equipped with heat recovery attachment, can substitute the existing LPG heater to provide the needed heat for brooding chicks, saving 5 to 6 tanks of LPG (50kg/tank) for every one heater replaced. At the price of rice hull and LPG of Php 0.20/kg and Php 70/kg, respectively, a net savings of Php 69,958 per growing period or Php 489,706 per year could be realized per building for brooding. Additional income is expected from the coproduced biochar (1,300kg) which, together with the chicken manure (13,300 kg), can be processed into organic fertilizer. Moreover, with the integration of the CtRH carbonizer in the poultry operations, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of around 23 tons CO2e per building per year could be prevented.
Keywords: biochar; carbonizer; heat; poultry; rice hull
Informing The Misinformed: A Critical Analysis Of Common Misconceptions Of Open And Distance Learning Among Conventional University Teachers In Nigeria
Olojede, Adeshina Abideen a, Ojokheta, Kester O. b
Department of Continuing Education and Community Development,
Faculty of Education and Arts,, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University,
Lapai, Niger State, Nigeria
Department of Adult Education, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Volume 07, Issue 08, Pg. 1-14, 2014.
Abstract:
Despite the fact that distance education has been integrated into the mainstream of Nigeria’s educational system (thousands of those denied in the conventional education were adequately offered admission through the distance learning), this mode of educational delivery is still increasingly misconceived especially by university teachers who were trained through the conventional mode. This study was, therefore, carried-out to ascertain the common misconceptions associated with open and distance learning by university teachers in Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive research design of the ex-post facto type. The population comprised all the university lecturers at Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, University of Ibadan, Ibadan and Lagos State University, Nigeria. The sample size comprised one hundred and thirteen (113) lecturers selected through the purposive sampling technique while simple random sampling techniques was used to select fifteen (15) departments (seven from faculties of Education, four from Social Sciences and four from Arts). For participants to qualify for selection, they must have been teaching at least for three years in the distance learning programme, and must have had minimal understanding of the philosophy and modus operandi of open and distance learning. Common misconception of open and distance learning questionnaire (CMODLQ) r=84 was used to collect data which were analysed through simple percentages and cross tabulation. Findings showed that (87 per cent) perceived ODL as a debased form of learning with so much emphasis on individualized rather than group learning. (90 per cent) conceptualised it as less vigorous since the content of learning cannot be adequately covered within short period of face-to-face contact while (70 per cent) claimed that evaluation of learning in ODL is less vigorous due to the consideration accorded the competing demands of learners. These results revealed that much is still needed to be done in order to create enabling environment where ODL programmes would be favourably perceived by university lecturers. Based on these findings, the strategies that can be used by open and distance learning institutions to promote its acceptability as a standard and alternative educational component especially by university lecturers include improved teacher-students contact for adequate learning process; joint semester examination for both conventional and ODL students; regular and adequate training for conventional university teachers on ODL operations be taken as a matter of priority were suggested. The paper also advocated for adequate quality control measures to be taken by an independent body like National University Commission (NUC) so as to encourage patronage of ODL in Nigeria and competencies of the students in the ODL programme.
Words: 414
Keywords: Common Misconceptions, Critical Analysis, Informing the Misinformed, Open and Distance Learning, University Teachers.
Total Factor Productivity in the Bogota Manufacturing Industry, 1985-2005
Raul Alberto Chamorro-Narvaez
Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, Colombia.
Volume 07, Issue 08, Pg. 151-160, 2014.
Abstract: The objective of this article is to measure and to analyze total factor productivity –TFP- growth in the Bogota manufacturing industry over the period 1985-2005. From the early 90s Colombia applied several policy actions aiming at increasing trade openness of its economy. Taking this into account, this article analyzes performance of several subsectors of the Bogota manufacturing industry before and after trade liberalization. TFP growth is measured by using Harberger’s Two-Deflator Method, which although it is a robust method, is not difficult to use, and the amount of data needed for calculations is easier to handle with, compared with traditional methods. The results of the paper show most of the subsectors analyzed had positive TFP growth rates during the period 1990-2005, which corresponds to a period of more openness of the Colombian economy, compared to eight out of the twenty subsectors with negative TFP growth rates in the period pre – trade liberalization, 1985-1990. On this basis, the results suggest a possible positive effect of trade liberalization of the Colombian economy on TFP of manufacturing industry of Bogota.
Keywords: Economic Growth, Growth Accounting, Manufacturing Industry, Total factor productivity, Two-Deflator Method.
A Functional Classification of Government Spending and Economic Growth in Latin American Countries
Raul Alberto Chamorro-Narvaez a
a Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, Colombia.
Volume 07, Issue 08, Pg. 125-151, 2014.
Abstract: The objective of this article is to determine the effects of different components of government spending on the per capita economic growth rate in a set of Latin American countries over the period 1975 – 2000. Within the neoclassical framework (Solow, 1956; Swan, 1956), government spending, and public policy in general, has no role in determining the long-run economic growth rate, since this is determined by the exogenous population growth and technological progress rates. On the other hand, in some endogenous growth models developed mainly since the early 1990s, such as Easterly (1990), Barro (1990), Barro and Sala-i-Martin (1992, and 2004), Cashin (1995), Bajo-Rubio (2001), and Milbourne et al. (2003), fiscal policy affects the long-term growth rate through decisions on either taxes or expenditures.
The empirical literature tends to reject the prediction of the neoclassical model of no role of fiscal policy in determining the growth rate in the long term. However, results are far from conclusive. As long as theoretical models about the influence of public spending on growth is concerned, some of them such as Barro (1990), Cashin (1995), Bajo-Rubio (2000), and Milbourne et al. (2003) predict that a positive effect is expected to be found in countries where the size of government is smaller than a certain threshold, and a negative one in countries where the size of government is bigger than that. Therefore, since generally speaking, with few exceptions, one finds very large public sectors only in developed countries (DCs), studies evaluating the impact of public expenditure on growth should analyze DCs and less developed countries (LDCs) separately. Within the recent growth literature framework, the study uses a generalized method of moments, as suggested by Arellano and Bond (1991), to obtain consistent and efficient estimates for a dynamic model, such as an economic growth model.
Some literature finds growth promoting effects of government spending on education and health, which have been associated with spending on human capital. Nevertheless, these effects were not found in this study. The findings suggest that the only component of government spending significantly correlated with growth is that on transport and communications. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the composition of government spending does matter for growth in the set of Latin American countries considered here.
Keywords: Economic growth, Endogenous growth, Generalized method of moments, Government spending, Less developed countries