scholarly journals Design Is How We Change the World! Can We Do It in Socially, Environmentally and Economically Acceptable Ways? Synthesizing Design Tools for This Utopian Concept

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumaraswamy Ponnambalam ◽  
Abbas Seifi ◽  
Jamshid Mousavi
Keyword(s):  
Value Systems ◽  
Social Constraints ◽  
Hard Constraints ◽  
Design For Sustainability ◽  
Creative Solutions ◽  
Global Impacts ◽  
Societal Level ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
Circular Design

Since the beginning, humans advanced their civilization by making better tools to improve their lives. Tools and products for better living were designed considering engineering (manufacturing) issues and cost (time and money as predominant criteria). It has become clear that not considering environment and society, both at local/global levels, has now become a major impediment affecting living conditions of large parts of earth and society. Design methodologies should lead to creative solutions considering engineering and economics for practicality but also environmental and social constraints for longevity. We propose a comprehensive design methodology based on multidisciplinary design for including the knowledge of humanities, and science and engineering and allowing for experts from these areas to provide various necessary inputs. For example, experts in humanities are expected to interact with stakeholders to evaluate their value systems to provide guidance for the design. The methodology that we synthesize is new and combines (i) Societal level impacts at all scales, (ii) Environmental impacts and (iii) Engineering design with economic impacts, including the consideration of uncertainties. The proposed Social-Environmental-Economical-Engineering-based-design Framework (SEEEF) can utilize tools such as circular design, donut economics, design based on environmental life cycle analysis, among others. SEEEF is quantity based and provide steps for evaluating any project or product in an objective manner and will help train engineers in design for sustainability and provide non-engineers a significant role in design and to increase their understanding of the hard constraints of engineering. Ultimately, SEEEF allows society to take an informed decision considering short/long term and local/global impacts much of which are affected by uncertainty.

scholarly journals Design Is How We Change the World! Can We Do It in Socially, Environmentally and Economically Acceptable Ways? Synthesizing Design Tools for This Utopian Concept

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumaraswamy Ponnambalam ◽  
Abbas Seifi ◽  
Jamshid Mousavi
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Value Systems ◽  
Social Constraints ◽  
Hard Constraints ◽  
Design For Sustainability ◽  
Global Impacts ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
Circular Design

Since the beginning, humans advanced their civilization by making better tools to improve their lives. Tools and products were designed for better living considering manufacturing issues, cost and time as predominant criteria. It has become clear that not considering environment and society, both at local/global levels, has now become a major impediment affecting living conditions on a large portion of the Earth and in many societies. Design methodologies should lead to creative solutions with consideration to engineering and economics for practicality but also to environmental and social constraints for sustainability. We propose a comprehensive design methodology based on multidisciplinary design to include the knowledge of humanities, environmentalists, science and engineering, and allowing for experts’ inputs from these areas to provide a holistic approach to engineering design . For example, experts in humanities are expected to interact with stakeholders to evaluate their value systems to provide guidance for the design. The methodology that we synthesize is new and combines (i) Societal level impacts at all scales, (ii) Environmental impacts and (iii) Engineering design with economic impacts, including uncertainty considerations. The proposed design methodology is called Social-Environmental-Economical-Engineering Framework (SEEEF). It can utilize concepts and tools such as Circular Design, Doughnut Economics, design based on environmental life cycle analysis, among others. SEEEF is quantity based and provides steps for evaluating any project or product in an objective manner and will help train engineers in design for sustainability. It also provides non-engineers with a significant role in design to increase their understanding of the hard constraints of engineering. Ultimately, SEEEF allows society to take an informed decision considering short/long term and local/global impacts of the design and the pertinent uncertainties.

Globalisation and Equity Issues in Post-socialist Transition Economies

2004 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-296
Author(s):  
G. W. Kolodko
Keyword(s):  
Transition Economies ◽  
World Market ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Standard Of Living ◽  
Social Constraints ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Equity Issues ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
The Rich

Equity issues in policymaking are difficult to resolve because they are linked not only to the economic situation but also to social constraints and political conflicts within a country. This is even more true in the case of post-socialist economies during their transition to a market system in the era of globalisation. The historical and irreversible process of liberalisation and integration of capital, goods and services, and labour markets into one world market, as well as the gradual construction of new institutions and the process of privatisation cause a significant shift in the income pattern of post-socialist emerging markets. Contrary to expectations, inequality increases affecting the standard of living and long-term growth. While globalisation contributes to the long-term acceleration of economic growth and offers a chance for many countries and regions to catch up with more advanced economies, it results in growing inequality both between the countries and within them. On average, the standard of living increases, but so does the gap between the rich and the poor. Therefore, equality issues should always be of concern to policymakers, especially in the early years of the change of regime in post-socialist transition economies.

scholarly journals Tracking the global reduction of marine traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David March ◽  
Kristian Metcalfe ◽  
Joaquin Tintoré ◽  
Brendan J. Godley
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Human Mobility ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Marine Traffic ◽  
Human Movements ◽  
Exclusive Economic Zones ◽  
Global Impacts ◽  
Economic Zones

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unparalleled global impacts on human mobility. In the ocean, ship-based activities are thought to have been impacted due to severe restrictions on human movements and changes in consumption. Here, we quantify and map global change in marine traffic during the first half of 2020. There were decreases in 70.2% of Exclusive Economic Zones but changes varied spatially and temporally in alignment with confinement measures. Global declines peaked in April, with a reduction in traffic occupancy of 1.4% and decreases found across 54.8% of the sampling units. Passenger vessels presented more marked and longer lasting decreases. A regional assessment in the Western Mediterranean Sea gave further insights regarding the pace of recovery and long-term changes. Our approach provides guidance for large-scale monitoring of the progress and potential effects of COVID-19 on vessel traffic that may subsequently influence the blue economy and ocean health.

scholarly journals Housing adaptations and housing accessibility problems among older adults with long-standing spinal cord injury

2020 ◽  
pp. 030802262097951
Author(s):  
Lizette Norin ◽  
Björn Slaug ◽  
Maria Haak ◽  
Susanne Iwarsson
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injuries ◽  
Occupational Performance ◽  
Environmental Barriers ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Societal Level ◽  
The Individual

Introduction Adults with spinal cord injuries are living longer than previously, and a majority are living in ordinary housing in the community. Housing accessibility is important for maintaining independent occupational performance for this population, but knowledge in this area is insufficient. We investigated housing adaptations and current accessibility problems among older adults with long-standing (>10 years) spinal cord injuries. Method Data from home visits among 122 older adults with spinal cord injuries in Sweden were used. Housing adaptations and environmental barriers were descriptively analysed. Findings Kitchens, entrances, and hygiene areas were common locations for housing adaptations and environmental barriers that generated accessibility problems. The most common adaptations were ramps, wheelchair-accessible stovetops, and ceiling-lifts. Wall-mounted cupboards and high shelves (kitchen), inaccessible storage areas (outside the dwelling), and a lack of grab bars (hygiene area) generated the most accessibility problems. Conclusion Despite housing adaptations, there are considerable accessibility problems in the dwellings of older adults with long-standing spinal cord injuries in Sweden, indicating that long-term follow-up of the housing situation of this population is necessary. Focusing on accessible housing as a prerequisite for occupational performance is at the core of occupational therapy, deserving attention on the individual as well as the societal level.

scholarly journals Social Environmental Moderators of Long-term Functional Outcomes of Early Childhood Brain Injury

2016 ◽  
Vol 170 (4) ◽  
pp. 343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shari L. Wade ◽  
Nanhua Zhang ◽  
Keith Owen Yeates ◽  
Terry Stancin ◽  
H. Gerry Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Functional Outcomes ◽  
Social Environmental

scholarly journals The effects of electronic games on the behaviors of students in elementary stages، their social states and their academic achievements

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul Rahman Saad Al-Shihri
Keyword(s):  
Real Life ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Aggressive Child ◽  
Creative Solutions ◽  
High Knowledge ◽  
Practical Reality ◽  
Personal Level ◽  
Electronic Games ◽  
Two Sides

    The most interesting in electronic games by children let psychologists and experts to study these games and their impact on their users from different perspectives. It has two sides of effects. They have positive aspects that appear in many aspects of the child's life. Besides the education that the child acquires through increasing the concepts، information and skills development، they develop intelligence and speed of thinking. Many games contain puzzles and need mental skills to solve them. On the planning and initiative، and saturation of the imagination of the child in an unprecedented manner، and increase its activity and vitality، and become a high knowledge of modern technology، and good to deal with and use and dedicated to his benefit. It also encourages children to devise creative solutions to adapt to and adapt to the conditions of the game، and extend their impact to the practical reality; it enables him to apply some of the skills he gained through playing on the ground in real life. But on the personal level it develops the child's violence and the sense of crime because the large proportion of these games depends on the child's amusement and enjoyment of killing others، and teach adolescents methods and methods of committing the crime and tricks، As they develop in their minds violence and aggression through the frequent exercise of such games، the result is a violent and aggressive child. These games also make the child live in isolation from others، and the ultimate goal is to satisfy his desires to play. Thus، the child's self-centered personality، self-love and introversion are formed and affected the communities that are widespread. The rate of murder and theft has increased As well as moral crimes، and these games have also been shown to affect the general health of the child in the long term; it leads to the injury of many health diseases and mental disorders، and playing for long periods of the child has the behavior of alcoholism Aloswasi.    

scholarly journals Foresters and the Challenge of Integrated Resource Management

1970 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. W. Jeffrey ◽  
C. S. Brown ◽  
M. Jurdant ◽  
N. S. Novakowski ◽  
R. H. Spilsbury
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Land Resources ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Integrated Resource Management ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
Wildland Management ◽  
Political Economic

Increasing public pressure on Canada's land resources to produce a greater variety of social values indicates an urgent need for integrated resources management. This, in turn, requires a reorientation in the traditional "single resource" thinking of foresters and others. However, it is believed that the current major impediments to developing integrated resource management are to be found in the attitudes and opinions which prevail in the administrative centres of government in respect to social, political, economic, legal, and other matters. Integrated resource management is fundamentally a social concept and a prerequisite to long-term progress in this area is a better knowledge and awareness of the social-environmental needs of society on the part of all resource personnel. Foresters are closely identified in the public mind with responsibilities in wildland management and should be actively concerned with integrated resource management.

Sustainability Reporting Trend in Indian Companies as per GRI Framework: A Comparative Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anurodh Godha ◽  
Prerna Jain
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Environmental Care ◽  
Reporting Framework ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Social Environmental

Sustainable development implies development that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. As a result of the global upsurge of interest in sustainable development, the sustainability reporting system has emerged. Sustainability reporting enables the creation of long-term value for organizations. It is forward-looking and includes quantitative and qualitative reporting measures. It is a key platform for communicating the organization’s economic, social, environmental and governance performance, reflecting positive and negative impacts. It can be undertaken by all types, sizes and sectors of organizations. Through the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Framework, the GRI works to increase the transparency and exchange of sustainability-related information. The present study conceptually reviews sustainability reporting and its benefits for the entities. Here, an attempt has been made to examine the development in the Indian regulatory environment for sustainability reporting along with finding out trend, application level and status of the sustainability reporting practice of Indian entities as per the GRI reporting framework. The findings reveal that the development of the corporate governance standard is maturing in India. Amendments in laws and changes in the regulatory mechanism are creating pressure on entities to respond to and communicate for their sustainability concerns. With globalization, Indian companies are increasingly realizing that they have much to lose by not following sustainability reporting. In fact, many respected companies already get their sustainability reports audited by a third party to ensure its credibility. Sustainability reporting is therefore a vital step of managing change towards a sustainable global economy—one that combines long-term profitability with environmental care and social justice.

scholarly journals Constraints and flexibility in mammalian social behaviour: introduction and synthesis

2013 ◽  
Vol 368 (1618) ◽  
pp. 20120337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter M. Kappeler ◽  
Louise Barrett ◽  
Daniel T. Blumstein ◽  
Tim H. Clutton-Brock
Keyword(s):  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
50Th Anniversary ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Social Constraints ◽  
Behavioural Flexibility ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Current State ◽  
Main Components

This paper introduces a Theme Issue presenting the latest developments in research on the interplay between flexibility and constraint in social behaviour, using comparative datasets, long-term field studies and experimental data from both field and laboratory studies of mammals. We first explain our focus on mammals and outline the main components of their social systems, focusing on variation within- and among-species in numerous aspects of social organization, mating system and social structure. We then review the current state of primarily ultimate explanations of this diversity in social behaviour. We approach the question of how and why the balance between behavioural flexibility and continuity is achieved by discussing the genetic, developmental, ecological and social constraints on hypothetically unlimited behavioural flexibility. We introduce the other contributions to this Theme Issue against this background and conclude that constraints are often crucial to the evolution and expression of behavioural flexibility. In exploring these issues, the enduring relevance of Tinbergen's seminal paper ‘On aims and methods in ethology’, with its advocacy of an integrative, four-pronged approach to studying behaviour becomes apparent: an exceptionally fitting tribute on the 50th anniversary of its publication.

scholarly journals Índice de Vulnerabilidade Socioambiental na Área da Gleba “C” da Universidade Federal do Pará, no Município de Belém

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 2322-2337
Author(s):  
Maria Carolina Chaves de Sousa ◽  
Peter Mann de Toledo ◽  
Filipe Gomes Dias
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
The State ◽  
Environmental Vulnerability ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
The Right

At the beginning of the 20th century, urbanization and occupation of privileged spaces at the expense of “lowland” spaces and close to a floodplain. The “lowlands” were occupied by a population, mostly with socioeconomic needs, forming housing groups susceptible to flooding and flooding. To bring the recognition of rights to these occupants, a land regularization work was carried out by the Federal University of Pará - UFPA, together with public entities from the State and the Union. The article aims to present and compare the degree of socio-environmental vulnerability in the area of land C of UFPA in the municipality of Belém, object of land regularization activity, applying indicators and indices related to social, economic, legal and environmental issues. The results show that the degree of vulnerability is high in the years surveyed, concluding that the legal regularization work carried out in the area was only patrimonial, in order to transfer responsibilities for land use to the beneficiary residents and the recognition of the right of that title by law. . Effective land regularization work should involve a set of bodies responsible for the social, environmental, urban and land areas so that, in a concatenated and long-term manner, the work carried out is carried out so that the results are captured by the indicators and that the data decrease the degree of socio-environmental vulnerability in the studied area.

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