Assessment of Sustainability for Small Municipalities

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Schmid ◽  
Andrew McGuire ◽  
Erin Fulton ◽  
Mark Archibald
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Small Region ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Local Municipalities ◽  
Energy Flows ◽  
Common Unit ◽  
Emergy Accounting

A method for assessing sustainability of local regions and small municipalities is presented. Such a tool is needed as decisions made at the local level can have significant effects on the sustainability of a region when applied to multiple small municipalities. Quantitative and objective measures for evaluating regional sustainability should provide guidance and direction for improvement, and should help direct public policy. The ecological footprint method distills a complex system into a single parameter — the land area required to support the region under study. While this method provides a metric that is easily understood by both the public and policy makers, it is difficult to apply on the scale of many local municipalities. The method gives an overall indication of a region’s sustainability, but it can be difficult to determine specific actions that will lead to improvement, and hence has limited value as a guide to policy. The emergy accounting method is scalable and can indicate specific areas needing improvement. All energy flows are transformed into a common unit, the solar emjoule, allowing equitable assessment of sustainability within a system comprised of a broad spectrum of human, natural, and industrial resources and processes. Obtaining data for a study of any scale can be challenging; however, it is particularly so for small regions in which data may not be readily available. Adjustments in data collection methods appropriate to small regions and municipalities are evaluated. The adjusted method was applied to the analysis of a small rural municipality in western Pennsylvania. The study boundaries were defined by the borough limits — an area encompassing 2.7 square miles and 8300 residents. This study primarily treats data collection for an emergy accounting analysis of a small region. Full results of the analysis will be presented in a follow-up paper.

Framing and Exposing Community Issues through Video Participatory Research

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-53
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Mathews ◽  
Maria K. Lovett
Keyword(s):  
Participatory Research ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Visual Methods ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Crisis Of Representation ◽  
Community Issues ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Perspective Analysis

Video participatory research (VPR) is an emergent methodology that bridges visual methods with the epistemology of participatory research. This approach is motivated by the “crisis of representation” or “reflective turn” (Gubrium & Harper, 2013) that promotes research conducted with or by participants, conceptualizing research as praxis (Lather, 1991). In this manuscript, the authors argue that VPR can be used to explore issues directly impacting individuals involved with adult education and vocational training. Primary investigators work with community co-researchers to document issues in the community, analyze this audio-visual material, and produce and distribute video projects, exposing policy makers and key stakeholders to a community's concerns. When implementing the VPR process research teams account for intentionality of form and content, apply a multi-perspective analysis to the complex layers of data produced by video, and plan for distribution of work on the personal and local level as well as in the public sphere (i.e., at the micro and macro level).

scholarly journals Decision Making at the State and Local Level: Does Science Matter?

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (01) ◽  
pp. 21-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan G. Mason
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
The State ◽  
Public Officials ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Policy Decision Making ◽  
State And Local

ABSTRACTScience is believed to be an important part of public policy decision making because of its inherent characteristics of measurability, rigor, objectivity, replication, and peer review. The purpose of this research was to explore the linkage of science to public policy decision making. The research explores what state and local public officials know about science and how much they actually use science in their decision making. Interview results with public officials in the State of Idaho demonstrate that policy makers ultimately see science as only one element in the mix. Findings suggest that equal attention and debate should be given to how science interacts with all of the other factors that affect the public policy making process.

scholarly journals PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT USING VOLUNTEERED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (VGI): CASE OF UAE

2015 ◽  
Vol II-2/W2 ◽  
pp. 241-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Yagoub
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Global Positioning System ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Volunteered Geographic Information ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
Social Media Tools

The number of smart phones that are supported by location facility like Global Positioning System (GPS), Camera and connected to the internet has increased sharply in UAE during the last five years. This increase offers a chance to capitalize on using these devices as resources for data collection, therefore reducing cost. In many cases specific events may happen in areas or at time where there may be no governmental departments to collect such unrepeated events. The current research will showcase various studies that had been conducted on Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) debating various aspects such as accuracy, legal issues, and privacy. This research will also integrate Geographic Information System (GIS), VGI, social media tools, data mining, and mobile technology to design a conceptual framework for promoting public participation in UAE. The data gathered through survey will be helpful in correlating various aspects of VGI. Since there are diverse views about these aspects, policy makers are left undecided in many countries about how to deal with VGI. The assessment of the UAE case will contribute to the age-long debate by examining the willingness of the public to participate. The result will show the public perception to be as sensors for data collection. Additionally, the potential of citizen involvement in the risk and disaster management process by providing voluntary data collected for VGI applications will also be explored in the paper.

scholarly journals Control ciudadano a la gestión de las regalías: ¿nuevas condiciones de gobernanza en el sector petrolero colombiano?

2010 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carolina González Espinosa
Keyword(s):  
Local Level ◽  
Social Accountability ◽  
New Governance ◽  
Accountability Standards ◽  
The Public ◽  
Palabras Clave ◽  
The Social ◽  
New Type ◽  
Oil Sector

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la introducción de criterios de transparencia y rendición de cuentas en la gestión de las regalías petroleras en Colombia. A través del estudio de los Comités de Seguimiento y Evaluación a la Inversión de Regalías (CSIR), se intenta indagar si los dispositivos de control ciudadano implican nuevas condiciones de gobernanza en el sector petrolero. Para ello, se presentan primero los argumentos que facilitan la inscripción de la gestión local de las regalías como un tema problemático en la agenda pública. Posteriormente, se describe el surgimiento de los CSIR en respuesta a dicho problema, se analizan los factores que permiten su desarrollo y el nuevo tipo de interacciones Estado-Sociedad que genera su implementación en el ámbito local. En el último aparte, se presentan las inquietudes que suscitan estas nuevas condiciones de gobernanza en términos de su contenido democrático y de sus alcances. Palabras clave: gobernanza, gestión de regalías petroleras, accountability social, democracia local, Colombia. ABSTRACT: This article aims at analyzing the introduction of transparency and accountability standards for oil royalties’ management in Colombia. Through the study of the Royalties’ Investment Evaluation and Follow-Up Committees (CSIR), the article intends to understand if the social accountability mechanisms create new governance conditions in the oil sector. The first part presents the arguments that support the positioning of royalties’ management as a problematic topic on the public agenda. Then, the emergency of CSIR is described as a response to such problem, analyzing the elements that make possible its development and the new type of State- Society interactions engendered through its implementation at the local level. Finally, the article presents some questions about the democratic content and the real scope of these new governance conditions. Key words: governance, oil royalties’ management, social accountability, local democracy, Colombia.

Citizen Relationship and Grievance Management System (CiR&GMS) through Multi-Channel Access for e-Government Services

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-67
Author(s):  
Velamala Ranga Rao
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Management System ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Single View ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Public ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
State And Local

Citizens are demanding greater access to interaction with government through their preferred channels or devices. The private sector uses different channels for their services, citizens except same level of services from the public sector. Therefore public sector needs to focus on creating multiple delivery channels (Traditional such as face to face, Telephone and Modern channels such as Website, E-mail, SMS), so that citizens can have ‘channels of choice', depending on specific needs, demands and preferences in order to increase citizens' participation and satisfaction. For this reason, the paper's purpose is 1) To understand multi-channel architecture, Integration, Management and its Strengths & Weakness 2) To develop a frame work for Citizen Relationship and Grievance Management System (CiR&GMS) for a single view 3) By applying proposed framework, To identify what types of channels are providing to access public services at National, State and Local level governments in India as a case study 4) To find out challenges and issues in implementation of multi-channel service delivery. The key findings of the case study are: a) There is no declining in providing traditional channels after introducing modern channels b) Many departments are offering mixed channels c) Usage of Mobile/SMS, Social media and Wi-Fi hotspots based channels are in initial stage d) t-Government channel is not yet initiated in any department e) Multi-channel integration and management is not yet initiated by many departments, these departments are managed channels as separate silos. The proposed framework may provide some guidance to the decision and policy makers in the public sector. However, such initiatives have many challenges to the developing countries like India.

Local Drug Use Epidemiology: Lessons Learned and Implications for Broader Comparisons

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 447-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane A. Buxton ◽  
Azar Mehrabadi ◽  
Emma Preston ◽  
Andrew Tu ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Current Concerns ◽  
Major Drug

The Canadian Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (CCENDU) Vancouver-site committee is comprised of representatives from national/provincial/local health and enforcement agencies. It collects, collates and interprets recent local data relating to major drug use to produce regular reports exploring Vancouver data with provincial and national comparisons. Meetings of committee members allow identification of current concerns, inform the data and broaden the context for the members. The seventh Vancouver site report since 1996 was published in July 2007. Data trends are explored with input from committee members; changes in data collection and definitions are clarified. The committee strives to share the knowledge with health authorities, policy makers, agencies and the public.

Framing and Exposing Community Issues through Video Participatory Research

2021 ◽  
pp. 747-760
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Mathews ◽  
Maria K. Lovett
Keyword(s):  
Participatory Research ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Visual Methods ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Crisis Of Representation ◽  
Community Issues ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Perspective Analysis

Video participatory research (VPR) is an emergent methodology that bridges visual methods with the epistemology of participatory research. This approach is motivated by the “crisis of representation” or “reflective turn” (Gubrium & Harper, 2013) that promotes research conducted with or by participants, conceptualizing research as praxis (Lather, 1991). In this manuscript, the authors argue that VPR can be used to explore issues directly impacting individuals involved with adult education and vocational training. Primary investigators work with community co-researchers to document issues in the community, analyze this audio-visual material, and produce and distribute video projects, exposing policy makers and key stakeholders to a community's concerns. When implementing the VPR process research teams account for intentionality of form and content, apply a multi-perspective analysis to the complex layers of data produced by video, and plan for distribution of work on the personal and local level as well as in the public sphere (i.e., at the micro and macro level).

scholarly journals Politisering av religion i norske kommuner? En undersøkelse av religionens rolle i lokale feiringer

Politik ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pål Ketil Botvar
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Public Sphere ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Local Politics ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Multicultural Society ◽  
Religious Groups ◽  
The Public ◽  
Local Municipalities ◽  
The Public Sphere

In this article I will take a look at how local municipalities deal with religion when the topic is brought up in local politics. e development towards a multicultural society leads to religion having a more prominent place in the public sphere. During the last 10 years religion has become a theme in public policy at the local level. Such examples are the provision of special rooms or buildings for religious groups to have their ceremo- nies. School children visiting church sermons during school hours is another issue that leads to controversies. In this article I will focus on how representatives for the local community deal with topics related to religion in local festivities and celebrations. e data material relates to how municipalities organize the national day celebration and interact with civil society actors in the preparation of this celebration. 

scholarly journals Analisis Implementasi Kebijakan Work From Home Pada Kesejahteraan Driver Transportasi Online di Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-85
Author(s):  
Retnowati WD Tuti
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Data Processing ◽  
Online Media ◽  
Press Conference ◽  
Work Study ◽  
The Public ◽  
Work From Home ◽  
New Type ◽  
Library Method

Work from home or work from home which is currently being carried out is a follow up to President Joko Widodo's appeal at a press conference at the Presidential Palace, calling for minimization of the spread of the new type of corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes Covid-19, the public is asked to work, study, and worship from home, one of which creates a system of working from home. the purpose of this study was to analyze the Implementation of Work From Home (WFH) Policy on the Welfare of Online Transportation Drivers. The method used in this study uses a library method or approach. Data collection in this research was carried out by exploring journals, books and online media. And data processing using Nvivo Plus 12. The results of the study showed that the WFH policy reduced the level of welfare of the online transportation drivers, it can be seen from the level of their needs that were still unfulfilled. Even physiological needs which should be basic needs for everyone, the need for it cannot be fulfilled because their income has decreased dramatically since the enactment of this WFH policy.

Practices and Perceptions of Local Health Officers/Commissioners Regarding Tobacco 21 Policy Advocacy

2021 ◽  
pp. 152483992198927
Author(s):  
Ruben Juarez ◽  
Salma Haidar ◽  
Jodi Brookins-Fisher ◽  
Heidi Hancher-Rauch ◽  
Mallory Ohneck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public

Progress has been made in reducing adolescent cigarette smoking. However, the popularity of vaping products has increased concerns regarding tobacco use. One policy recently passed at the national level is Tobacco 21 (T21), which aims to reduce adolescent’s access to tobacco products. Since local health officers/commissioners play a crucial role in the development of policies that protect their respective communities from the harms of tobacco, it is important to characterize their views on the T21 legislation and advocacy activities among them. This was a cross-sectional pilot study of three Midwestern states taken prior to a number of key tobacco-related events in 2019. Results show almost 70% of respondents had high interest in influencing public policy, more than 80% thought the public policy makers’ actions regarding T21 were highly important to the health and well-being of the public, and 89% had in some capacity acted to support a T21 initiative. Involvement with legislative efforts was not high, despite evidence showing high popularity of the measure among the public. The top perceived benefits included a decrease in tobacco use among adolescents, improvements to community or state health, and delay in tobacco use initiation. Top barriers listed were issues with enforcement, lack of money or resources, competing health priorities, and policy makers’ attitudes and values. Respondents overall had significantly lower confidence in performing activities at the state versus local level. Findings suggest there may be a need for more advocacy training on effective advocacy strategies in changing health policy.

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