Governance of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials: Principles, Regulation, and Renegotiating the Social Contract

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 706-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
George A. Kimbrell

How should we oversee new and emerging technologies and their products? What lessons can we discern from existing regulatory examples and from past mistakes? How do these lessons learned translate into informed recommendations for adequate oversight for nanotechnology to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past? The investigators of this interdisciplinary project undertook this endeavor intending to answer these questions among others.In parallel with the project team putting together this symposium, another, very different process on the oversight of nanotechnology took place. An international coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) formed to address the nanotech policy dialogue. The first goal of this NGO group was to agree upon and draft fundamental principles of oversight, which it completed in 2007-08. These principles close with a call for their adoption and/or internalization by all relevant actors and bodies. In effect, they serve a function in the policy dialogue similar to that of this project’s forthcoming recommendations.

Author(s):  
Stanisław Kosmynka

The main purpose of the paper is to analyse the phenomenon of criminal gangs in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It shows mechanisms and manifestations of their activities in these small Caribbean islands as well as the social profile of their members. The article analyses the cultural, social and economic background of the criminal groups and the multidimensional problem of violence in Trinidad and Tobago. The article refers to different aspects of strategy against crime and violence. It shows the most important programes and initiatives implemented by the Trinidadian government and non-governmental organizations now and in the past to face these challenges and create the effective crime prevention.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annelies Van Gunst ◽  
Annet JC Roodenburg

IntroductionConsumers demand healthy food products. While E-numbers are allowed in these products, many consumers have a negative perception. Food companies act on this and communicate on their package about removing E-numbers from their products or using less ‘chemical-sounding’ terms (clean label). Consequently, the question among food experts is how to deal with this perception and the real effects on health.The objective was to study the opinion of food experts about the causes and ways to reduce consumers’ distrust about E-numbers.MethodsThirteen food experts from universities, research institutes, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, food industry organizations, media, The Netherlands Nutrition Centre, Dutch Consumers’ Association and two other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were interviewed with a semi-structured topic list, based on a model of risk perception. Interviews were transcribed, coded by an open coding approach and analyzed.Results & discussionResults indicated that, according to food experts, this distrust of consumers arose from negative communication in the past and nowadays by the (social) media and in books. In this communication, the information source and the reliability of E-number information are important for consumers, according to food experts. Food experts suggested to reduce the distrust by avoiding negative claims on the label such as no/ reduced E-numbers, and to make collective appointments with all parties about a honest and transparent communication to consumers. Food companies need to explain clear and honest why they use E-numbers in food. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport were often mentioned as parties to undertake action, consumers had no confidence in the food industry, according to the experts.


2020 ◽  
pp. 147332502097333
Author(s):  
Chi-Kin Kwan ◽  
Henry Wai-Hang Ling ◽  
Johnson Chun-Sing Cheung ◽  
Ernest Wing-Tak Chui

An evaluation of the role played by the social work profession during the outbreak of COVID-19 is necessary. Although social workers have made efforts to address people’s needs during the pandemic, it is worth examining the role they have played in safeguarding health equality. Focusing on the case of Hong Kong, we found that the profession was generally ill-prepared for the outbreak, and in particular, for confronting the attendant social inequalities. We identified three possible reasons for these findings: 1) non-governmental organizations were caught off-guard by the outbreak, 2) there was no clearly articulated intervention agenda to inform practitioners of the roles they should play in such a large-scale crisis, and 3) having become more formalized and standardized, social work services may have become less flexible in responding to emerging community needs. We conclude this article by suggesting three directions that could allow the profession to better pursue its mission during large-scale crises.


2010 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mildred T. Mushunje ◽  
Muriel Mafico

The unprecedented number of orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe has created an urgent need to create innovative ways to provide for the social protection of these children. Innovative packages consisting of educational, food and psychosocial support are being implemented by non-governmental organizations. However, as the orphan crisis continues to deepen, more needs to be done and, learning from the experiences of other countries, the option of cash transfers for social protection for orphans and vulnerable children offers an attractive option for Zimbabwe. This article explores the possibility of using cash transfers for the support of orphans and vulnerable children and highlights the challenges and strengths of this approach.


Comma ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2020 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 139-150
Author(s):  
Romain Ledauphin ◽  
Claudia Josi ◽  
Rahel Siegrist

Records and archives containing information relating to grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law represent a fundamental source for, and can become trustworthy documentary evidence within, Dealing with the Past (DWP) processes including truth commissions, criminal tribunals, reparation programs, vetting processes and outreach projects. Those intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) working in the fields of human rights and peace and security are themselves important observers and actors in DWP processes and hence their records and archives are highly relevant to DWP initiatives. Such organizations should therefore be transparent and be able to facilitate DWP processes by granting access to their records. Given the International Council on Archives’ definition of “access” as relating to “… the availability of records for consultation as a result both of legal authorization and the existence of finding aids”, and the experience of swisspeace in advising DWP initiatives on collecting evidence and improving records management capacity, swisspeace together with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs developed a roadmap which centres on the development of an “archives accessibility maturity model”. This tool will not only improve hands-on access in practice, but will ultimately improve knowledge about the multi-layered complexity of archives’ accessibility, strengthening the capacity of IGOs, INGOs and DWP initiatives to design and implement their access regulations, and thereby improving DWP initiatives’ ability to make successful access requests.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 47-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
VIRGÍNIA TALAVEIRA VALENTINI TRISTÃO ◽  
JOSÉ AMÉRICO MARTELLI TRISTÃO

Abstract Environmental education practiced by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) presents itself as a new teaching method directed at changing habits, attitudes and social practices seeking solutions for the social-environmental degradation afflicting the contemporary world. This work seeks to identify the perception and expectations of stakeholders regarding the contribution of NGOs in environmental education. The research was guided by the Delphi method and, as a result, verified that the involved stakeholders understand that environmental education practiced by NGOs must be ample, free, professionalized and directed towards all the segments of society via partnerships with public and private sector organizations.


Author(s):  
Magdalena Dąbkowska-Dworniak

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are institutions that belong most often to the social service sector, whose goals are to meet the specific needs of people that are not being met, or not being met adequately, by commercial organizations or state administrations. Such NGOs work to help citizens develop and to improve themselves and their life situations. This article presents an overview of the role played by NGOs in Poland and how they are funded.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystyna Popowska

Research was conducted to find out about the parents’ opinions on the intellectual potential of their children with Down syndrome and diagnosed intellectual disability studying in 4–8 grades of common, integration and special schools. Additionally, the factors determining the respondents’ opinions were analyzed. The paper uses the author’s questionnaire was placed on groups for parents of children with Down syndrome on the social network site Facebook. In addition, surveys were sent by e-mail to the primary school districts and non-governmental organizations that help children with Down syndrome. Fifty two questionnaires were collected. The results indicate that, despite intellectual disability, parents recognize the intellectual potential of their children. It can be assumed that assessments of the intellectual potential of students with Down syndrome and diagnosed intellectual disability are determined by their siblings in the intellectual norm, gender, using verbal speech, communication skills, social skills and opinions of their parents about their successes in school and progress as a result of the therapy. 


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gergely Horváth ◽  
Gábor Csüllög

AbstractIn the past years, many geoparks have been established all over the world, based mainly on the geoheritage, and partly on the cultural heritage, of the regions. Their main aim is to promote the spatial development of certain regions, especially by the development of tourism, including geo- and ecotourism. One of the newest geoparks is the Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark along the border of Slovakia and Hungary, which, having a high status, belongs to the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. What is remarkable about it is that it was the very first cross-border geopark. Because of historical elements and due to political intentions, borders often play a more disjunctive than connective role, and the changes of the borders in the 20th century often distorted the spatial structure and turned former peripheries into flourishing regions. This was characteristic also of the regions where the Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark was established. Beyond the perspective for the spatial development of these regions, this cross-border geopark forces directly the local authorities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on both sides of the border to maintain tighter contacts for co-operation, promoting by this means also better connections between the two countries.


Author(s):  
Ruth Sabrina Rojas Dávila

The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) require human resources to carry out their activities. This includes both the professionals who are paid and the volunteers. The capture of this resource acquires as much importance as the implementation of the social goals that these organizations promote. It can be said then that just as the commercial or cultural sectors are approached from the field of communication and design, it is valid to make an academic approach to this social problem. Fundraising was born as a strategy applied in NGOs with the purpose of generating resources for them to be able to sustain themselves through time.


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