scholarly journals SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY AND GENETIC MANIPULATION: Risks, promises and responsibilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Rohregger ◽  
Anor Sganzerla ◽  
Daiane Priscila Simão-Silva

Abstract As a result of the biotechnological advance, synthetic biology has been applied from the improvement of food to the creation of new organisms. This article investigates, from a bioethical perspective, the benefits, risks and threats to life, arising from the production, manipulation and, especially, the creation of synthesized DNAs that do not exist in nature. Bioethics reports from the White House and the Bioethics Committee of Portugal and Spain contributed to the discussion. The progress of technoscience, without the proper ethical capacity for evaluation, can produce results that compromise the social development, environmental preservation, human dignity, and biosphere life in the future. In this sense, the achievements of synthetic biology have been shown to be ambivalent, because hopes are mixed with threats, with unpredictable results to the diversity of life of the biosphere, which makes prudence the virtue par excellence.

Author(s):  
T. Bulakh ◽  
I. Kravchenko ◽  
N. Reznikova ◽  
O. Ivashchenko

The article examines the state and current trends in the social development of the village as a determinant of the mechanism for managing its economic development. His main problems were identified, including those related to demographic processes, migration, availability of jobs, welfare, accessibility to social infrastructure services. The necessity of elaboration and implementation of an innovative model of social development of the village is proved, which implies application of an integrated approach to the solution of existing problems and demands the implementation of transformations in the system and structure of the mechanisms of state regulation by this process both at the central and local levels. Strategic directions concerning overcoming of negative tendencies of social development of village in the context of formation of innovative economy are systematized. In our opinion, strategic directions of further social development of the village should be as following: Not only the creation of new jobs, but places that are especially attractive to young people. Among the latter, there may be rural green, ecological and agro-tourism, the development of which contributes to the creation of new jobs, the preservation of ecological balance, and the restoration of natural and social resources. After all, in order to provide these types of tourism, it is necessary to build a boarding house, a micro-hotel for tourists in a village, which means to activate the construction industry, retail trade, and service life. The formation of the public opinion on the importance and prestige of agrarian labour by guaranteeing an effective system of its social motivation and protection. The comprehensive assistance to the restoration and further development of the social infrastructure of the village, in particular such important areas as: cultural and domestic services, medical care, construction of well-organized and equipped housing. The overcoming of disproportions at the level of service of rural residents. It should be promoted by increasing the solvent demand of the population for social humanitarian services, which necessitates the expansion of the industrial segment of the economy in the village. The enhancement of authorities’ power and the capacity of communities to carry out the process of controlling and stimulating rational resource use in agricultural enterprises of all forms of ownership, attracting investment in the industrial, social and environmental spheres of rural territories. That is, new technologies, new non-standard forms of management, new approaches to the organization of local income distribution and social services must come from the city to the village. The observance of the minimum funding for rural development (at least 1% of GDP). The creation of the fund for support of the social development of the village at the expense of deductions of economic entities of all forms of the ownership in the amount of 1.5% of their income. The introduction of preferential taxation for newly created enterprises in the village in the case of the innovative nature of their production activities, provision of socially necessary services or the implementation of infrastructural provision of these territories, etc.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1388-1400
Author(s):  
Stef Craps ◽  
Catherine Gilbert

Working at the intersection of political science, ethnographic sociology, and contemporary historiography, Sarah Gensburger specializes in the social dynamics of memory. In this interview, she talks about her book Memory on My Doorstep: Chronicles of the Bataclan Neighborhood, Paris 2015–2016, which traces the evolving memorialization processes following the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, their impact on the local landscape, and the social appropriations of the past by visitors at memorials and commemorative sites. She also discusses her new project Vitrines en confinement—Vetrine in quarantena (“Windows in Lockdown”), which documents public responses to the coronavirus pandemic from different sites across Europe through the creation of a photographic archive of public space. The interview highlights issues around the immediacy of contemporary memorialization practices, the ways in which people engage with their local space during times of crisis, and how we are all actively involved in preserving memory for the future.


Author(s):  
Evgenia N. Guseva

On the XIX International Conference “Crimea-2012” and the key theme: “Libraries in the Digital Age: a New Paradigm and a New Role in the Social Development”.


Futures ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 51-68
Author(s):  
Sandra Kemp

This essay analyses the role of museums in the creation of futures imaginaries and the ways in which these are embedded in socio-political narratives over time (narratives of nation, empire, power, consumption, and home). The essay tests its hypotheses through charting the evolution of the nineteenth-century phenomenon of the soirée—exhibitions and events showcasing technological, scientific, and cultural innovations of the future—from their heyday in the mid nineteenth century to their demise in the early twentieth century. In particular, the essay explores the social, spatial, and temporal organization of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century soirée display spaces as carriers of future worlds. It argues that the creation of futures imaginaries depends on interrelationships between people and objects across space and time, and that the complex web of relations established between words, objects, spaces, and people in exhibitions provides catalysts for ideas, ideologies, and narratives of the future.


Author(s):  
Peter Øhrstrøm

<p>The HANDS (Helping Autism-diagnosed teenagers Navigate and Develop Socially) research project involves the creation of an e-learning toolset that can be used to develop individualized tools to support the social development of teenagers with an autism diagnosis. The e-learning toolset is based on ideas from persuasive technology. This paper addresses the system design of the HANDS toolset as seen from the user’s perspective. The results of the evaluation of prototype 1 of the toolset and the needs for further development are discussed. In addition, questions regarding credibility and reflections on ethical issues related to the project are considered.</p>


Author(s):  
Guillermo Darriba Fraga

Taking into account basic premises such as the creation of new family entities and the citizens’ awareness of the fact that, in a democratic system with inalienable values and principles such as the respect of human dignity, the resolution of interrelational problems, specially those which affect the most intimate sphere, can be, and are perfectly undertaken, overcome and solved without the need of state guardianship; the author makes an approach to family mediation as a procedure, encouraged today but not always with a fortunate approach by the different legislative powers. Family mediation not only gives a breath of fresh air to the ways of directing and solving conflicts but also satisfies the urgent need in the reform of the Administration of Justice, as well as satisfying a citizens’ right and duty to become directly involved in the social life assuming the responsibilities of composing their disputes.


Author(s):  
Danilo Piaggesi

The advances and diffusion of information and communication technology (ICT), combined with the growth of the Internet have led to deep transformations in economic, social and institutional structures. ICT affects the performance of businesses and the efficiency of markets, fosters the empowerment of citizens and communities as well as their access to knowledge, and contributes to strengthening and redefining governance processes at all institutional levels. ICT is at the same time creating enormous opportunities and posing daunting challenges. On one hand, it has the potential to increase productivity and wealth, generate new activities, products and services, and improve the well-being of the population. On the other hand, the uneven distribution of such opportunities can lead to further alienation of marginalized communities and an exacerbation of existing socioeconomic inequalities. This article presents some of the best ICT practices aiming at boosting the social development of the Majority contributing to the creation of a wireless and inclusive Knowledge Society.


2014 ◽  
Vol 986-987 ◽  
pp. 537-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi Wei

The concept of Smart Grid is created this century, with the focus of whole world. With the social development, the requirement of power security is growing fast. China, as a great power towards to industrialized country, its requirement is more intense. This paper introduces the generation of the concept ‘smart grid’, as well as the inevitable trend of future development, plans of China for smart grid construction and some achievements, finally explains the advantages of China's smart grid development and prospects of the future.


Author(s):  
Danilo Piaggesi

The advances and diffusion of information and communication technology (ICT) combined with the growth of the internet have led to deep transformations in economic, social, and institutional structures. ICT affects the performance of businesses and the efficiency of markets, fosters the empowerment of citizens and communities as well as their access to knowledge, and contributes to strengthening and redefining governance processes at all institutional levels. ICT is at the same time creating enormous opportunities and posing daunting challenges. On one hand, it has the potential to increase productivity and wealth, generate new activities, products and services, and improve the wellbeing of the population. On the other hand, the uneven distribution of such opportunities can lead to further alienation of marginalized communities and an exacerbation of existing socioeconomic inequalities. This chapter presents some of the best ICT practices aiming at boosting the social development of the majority contributing to the creation of a wireless and inclusive knowledge society.


2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 476-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuke Mori ◽  
◽  
Go Yoshizawa ◽  

Studies on synthetic biology have been promoted in many countries to find a solution to the proposition “what is life?”; this is done not by analytical but by constructive methods, or to create the systems of living organisms for human use. Synthetic biology is supposed to be a useful tool for solving various problems that humans have; however, it could lead to many ethical challenges, particularly problems in terms of disaster prevention, such as the question whether the artificial creation of life is right or wrong and concerns about the creation of organisms that may be harmful for humans and the environment. This paper summarizes the social and scientific trends in the field of synthetic biology, especially in Japan, for clarifying the related social problems and bringing these problems to the attention of the stakeholders and public.


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