From Now to Next

2021 ◽  
pp. 298-326
Author(s):  
Nicholas Freudenberg

The failure of political and business leaders to protect people against Covid-19 and its economic crisis, police violence and systemic racism, deaths of despair, climate change, and failing democracy has pushed millions into activism. This chapter suggests six broad goals that could unify the now often disparate movements seeking a better world: grow the public sector, strengthen democracy, confront the burdens that systemic racism and sexism impose, transform the conversation on taxes and regulation, focus on cities, and make science and technology public property. It also proposes practical strategies for building a more effective movement. These include making it easy to connect personal and social activism; talking about race, class and gender divisions in ways that highlight their role in weakening movements; and challenging capitalist ideas. Every generation has faced similar daunting challenges. Always some have found ways to organize for a safer future for humanity. Now it is our turn.

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 679-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Gustafson ◽  
Ronald E. Rice

While uncertainty is central to science, many fear negative effects of communicating scientific uncertainties to the public, though research results about such effects are inconsistent. Therefore, we test the effects of four distinct uncertainty frame types (deficient, technical, scientific, consensus) on three outcomes (belief, credibility, behavioral intentions) across three science issues (climate change, GMO food labeling, machinery hazards) with an experiment using a national sample ( N = 2,247) approximating U.S. census levels of age, education, and gender. We find portraying scientific findings using uncertainty frames usually does not have significant effects, with an occasional exception being small negative effects of consensus uncertainty.


2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Umemetu Momoh ◽  
Nkechi Obiweluozor

This study examined principals’ administrative effectiveness in the implementation of quality assurance standards in public secondary schools in Edo and Delta States. To guide the study, three hypotheses were raised. The study adopted the descriptive research design. The population of the study comprised all the principals and teachers in the public secondary schools in Edo and Delta States, Nigeria. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 240 principals and 720 teachers from the schools. Data was collected using ‘Administrative Effectiveness and Implementation of Quality Assurance Standards Questionnaire (AEIQASQ)’ to find out principals’ level of administrative effectiveness in the implementation of quality assurance standards using the Normative mean of 62.5 which was established from the instrument as the benchmark for effectiveness. The findings revealed that principals’ administrative effectiveness was high in the public secondary schools in Edo and Delta States. There was also a significant relationship between administrative effectiveness and implementation of quality assurance standards in the States based on principals’ gender and experience. It was therefore recommended that since principals in public schools are effective, Government should provide them with adequate funds and all necessary support to ensure that quality assurance standards are fully implemented in the schools. Also, experience and gender should be considered in appointing principals among other criteria as experienced female principals were found to be more effective.


Author(s):  
Inmaculada de Melo-Martín ◽  
Kristen Intemann

Current debates about climate change or vaccine safety provide an alarming illustration of the potential impacts of dissent about scientific claims. False beliefs about evidence and the conclusions that can be drawn from it are commonplace, as is corrosive doubt about the existence of widespread scientific consensus. Deployed aggressively and to political ends, ill-founded dissent can intimidate scientists, stymie research, and lead both the public and policymakers to oppose important policies firmly rooted in science. To criticize dissent is, however, a fraught exercise. Skepticism and fearless debate are key to the scientific process, making it both vital and incredibly difficult to characterize and identify dissent that is problematic in its approach and consequences. Indeed, as de Melo-Martín and Intemann show, the criteria commonly proposed as means of identifying inappropriate dissent are flawed, and the strategies generally recommended to tackle such dissent are not only ineffective but could even make the situation worse. The Fight against Doubt proposes that progress on this front can best be achieved by enhancing the trustworthiness of the scientific community and being more realistic about the limits of science when it comes to policymaking. It shows that a richer understanding is needed of the context in which science operates so as to disarm problematic dissent and those who deploy it in the pursuit of their goals.


Climate justice requires sharing the burdens and benefits of climate change and its resolution equitably and fairly. It brings together justice between generations and justice within generations. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals summit in September 2015, and the Conference of Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris in December 2015, brought climate justice center stage in global discussions. In the run up to Paris, Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, instituted the Climate Justice Dialogue. The editors of this volume, an economist and a philosopher, served on the High Level Advisory Committee of the Climate Justice Dialogue. They noted the overlap and mutual enforcement between the economic and philosophical discourses on climate justice. But they also noted the great need for these strands to come together to support the public and policy discourse. This volume is the result.


Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 365
Author(s):  
Dorota Hilszczańska ◽  
Aleksandra Rosa-Gruszecka ◽  
Bogusław Kosel ◽  
Jakub Horak ◽  
Marta Siebyła

While the use of truffles in Poland has a long tradition, for historical reasons this knowledge was almost lost. Currently, truffles and truffle orchards are again receiving public attention. For example, the Polish State Forests supported the establishment of truffle orchards by the Forestry Research Institute. In recent years, knowledge concerning these unique hypogeous fungi has been disseminated systematically through scientific and popular publications, films, and electronic media. This study investigates the awareness of economically and culinary valued truffle fungi (Tuber spp.) among more than 1400 Polish foresters. The results show that 70% of interviewees were familiar with historical and contemporary information about growing and using truffles in Poland. Based on respondents’ age, education, type of work, and gender we attempted to identify whether these elements were associated with the state of knowledge about truffles. The results indicated that younger foresters were better informed about the presence of truffles in Poland and also about their use in the past in Polish cuisine. Environmental education was an important source of knowledge about truffle harvesting and the soils that are conducive to truffle development. Foresters who have provided forest ecology education and who are 36–65 years of age generally possessed better knowledge about truffles than other age cohorts. More than 30% of respondents expressed interest in educational courses to improve their knowledge of truffles. The results point to the need for forestry education concerning truffles and indicate the need for fostering sustainable agroforestry-centered initiatives disseminating this knowledge to the public.


2020 ◽  
pp. 0143831X2094368
Author(s):  
Julie Prowse ◽  
Peter Prowse ◽  
Robert Perrett

This article presents the findings of a case study that aimed to understand the specific leadership styles that are valued by women and men lay representatives in the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and to determine the gendered implications for increasing women’s leadership and representation in trade unions. Survey responses from PCS lay representatives (reps) show the majority of women and men agreed that the leadership style they value, and that makes a good union leader, is post-heroic (communal) leadership. This approach is associated with leadership characteristics such as being helpful, sensitive and kind and are generally practised by women. This contrasts with male union leaders who are associated with a traditional, heroic (agentic) leadership style characterised by confidence, self-reliance and decisiveness. Although some differences exist that highlight gender issues, both women and men lay reps have positive attitudes towards increasing women’s representation and participation in union leadership.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Kardoyo . ◽  
Ahmad Nurkhin ◽  
Muhsin . ◽  
Hasan Mukhibad ◽  
Fatmala Dewi Aprilia

This study aims to examine the effect of knowledge, promotion, and religiosity on the interest in using Islamic banking services. The purpose of the next research is to examine the effect of knowledge on religiosity. In addition, this study also examines the effect of educational background and age on saving interest in Islamic banks. The population in this study are customers of Bank Syariah Mandiri, Brebes, Central Java, Indonesia. Ninety-nine research samples were obtained. The data collection method used was questionnaires. The data analysis method used was SEM-PLS. The results showed that only promotion proved to have a positive and significant effect on interest in using the services of Islamic banks. Knowledge and religiosity have not been proven to have a significant effect on interest in using services of Islamic banks. Likewise, background and gender do not have a significant effect. The next research result is that there is a positive and significant influence of knowledge on religiosity; there is also a positive and significant influence on the promotion of knowledge. This study recommends the importance of continuing socialization and education from Islamic banking stakeholders in Indonesia to continue introducing Islamic banks to the public.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Jevtic ◽  
C Bouland

Abstract Public health professionals (PHP) have a dual task in climate change. They should persuade their colleagues in clinical medicine of the importance of all the issues covered by the GD. The fact that the health sector contributes to the overall emissions of 4.4% speaks to the lack of awareness within the health sector itself. The issue of providing adequate infrastructure for the health sector is essential. Strengthening the opportunities and development of the circular economy within healthcare is more than just a current issue. The second task of PHP is targeting the broader population. The public health mission is being implemented, inter alia, through numerous activities related to environmental monitoring and assessment of the impact on health. GD should be a roadmap for priorities and actions in public health, bearing in mind: an ambitious goal of climate neutrality, an insistence on clean, affordable and safe energy, a strategy for a clean and circular economy. GD provides a framework for the development of sustainable and smart transport, the development of green agriculture and policies from field to table. It also insists on biodiversity conservation and protection actions. The pursuit of zero pollution and an environment free of toxic chemicals, as well as incorporating sustainability into all policies, is also an indispensable part of GD. GD represents a leadership step in the global framework towards a healthier future and comprises all the non-EU members as well. The public health sector should consider the GD as an argument for achieving goals at national levels, and align national public health policies with the goals of this document. There is a need for stronger advocacy of health and public-health interests along with incorporating sustainability into all policies. Achieving goals requires the education process for healthcare professionals covering all of topics of climate change, energy and air pollution to a much greater extent than before.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
Aaron C. Sparks ◽  
Heather Hodges ◽  
Sarah Oliver ◽  
Eric R. A. N. Smith

In many public policy areas, such as climate change, news media reports about scientific research play an important role. In presenting their research, scientists are providing guidance to the public regarding public policy choices. How do people decide which scientists and scientific claims to believe? This is a question we address by drawing on the psychology of persuasion. We propose the hypothesis that people are more likely to believe local scientists than national or international scientists. We test this hypothesis with an experiment embedded in a national Internet survey. Our experiment yielded null findings, showing that people do not discount or ignore research findings on climate change if they come from Europe instead of Washington-based scientists or a leading university in a respondent’s home state. This reinforces evidence that climate change beliefs are relatively stable, based on party affiliation, and not malleable based on the source of the scientific report.


2021 ◽  
pp. 147490412110056
Author(s):  
Lovisa Bergdahl ◽  
Elisabet Langmann

The paper offers a pedagogical response to the complexity of sustainability challenges that takes the existential and emotional dimensions of climate change seriously. To this end, the paper unfolds in two parts. The first part makes a distinction between ‘public pedagogy’ as an area of educational scholarship and ‘pedagogical publics’ as a theoretical lens for identifying certain qualities within educational environments, exploring what potential this distinction has for rethinking public pedagogy for sustainable development. Turning to Bonnie Honig (2015) and her call for creating ‘holding environments’ in the public sphere as a response to the democratic need of our time, the second part translates her political notion into an educational notion asking what fostering pedagogical publics as holding environments might involve. In relation to sustainability challenges, it is suggested that an environment that ‘holds’ people together as a pedagogical public has three main qualities: a) it makes room for new rituals for sustainable living to be developed in order to offer a sense of permanence; b) it invites narratives that can frame sustainability challenges in more positive registers; and c) it reinstates an intergenerational difference that serves to give back hopes and dreams to adults and children in troubling times.


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