scholarly journals The evolution of the relative position of 15 EU member states regarding organic agriculture

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-143
Author(s):  
Vasilis Bagiatis ◽  
Eleni Oxouzi
Keyword(s):  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Hierarchical Classification ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Factorial Correspondence Analysis ◽  
Agricultural Technologies ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Negative Environmental Impact

The negative environmental impact of modern agricultural practices, the increased use of non-renewable resources and the long-term productivity of high external inflows in cultivation systems has led many governmental and non-governmental organizations to take various initiatives in order to promote the adoption and expansion of more sustainable agricultural technologies such as the organic agriculture. The purpose of this study is to investigate the degree of organic agriculture practices adoption in 15 EU member states during 1998-2008. To succeed in this purpose, the methods of Data Analysis, Factorial Correspondence Analysis and Hierarchical Classification were used. The research results showed that although organic agriculture is implemented in all member states of the EU, there are many deviations among them concerning the degree of adopting. Moreover, findings revealed that Austria, Sweden and Finland were the countries with the highest performance concerning both their degree of adopting organic agriculture practices and the rates of holdings that integrated into the organic agriculture program.

The Green Discourse as a Type of New Left Populism

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
pp. 96-105
Author(s):  
A. Bardin ◽  
M. Sigachev
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
New Left ◽  
New Wave ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Left Wing ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations

The article is devoted to comparative political analysis of environmentalist political parties and movements in the member states of the European Union. The authors study European greens with reference to the new wave of left-wing populism that originated in 2010s, and analyze the main reasons for the growing influence of ecological and left-populist parties and movements in European societies. Case studies of a number of EU member states demonstrate close and multidimensional interdependence between the green and populist discourses. The authors outline the key factors that determine this interrelation and conclude that a general left-green discourse is emerging, based on a common commitment of the corresponding political parties and movements, as well as ecological non-governmental organizations, to a post-industrial, socio-ecological approach to world development. Moreover, this discourse is influenced by the COVID 19 pandemic, which dealt a huge blow to the global and most national economies and, most importantly, to vulnerable social groups. The current “corona crisis” will inevitably deepen the social inequality, which has always served as a breeding ground for populism. The closest example is the rise of populist movements, such as Syriza (Greece) and Podemos (Spain) in the aftermath of the 2008 international financial crisis. The post-crisis reality is likely to be marked by an increasing demand for socially oriented ecologism, with the left-green responding to this request. Therefore, one can expect a new wave of populism, exploiting the inability of many governments to provide effective response to the pandemic. This new wave is likely to be characterized by the convergence of eco-social discourse with left-wing populist and even left-wing radical discourse driven by a common commitment to post-capitalism. The crisis is also likely to attract attention of wider segments of population to global problems, including social and ecological ones. This, in turn, is likely to give an impetus to new models of development, such as “responsible development”, based on the orientation toward non-material production and consumption, intellectual and creative resources, and the use of nature-friendly technologies.

Social, economic and environmental impacts of organic cotton production on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Odisha, India

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Altenbuchner ◽  
Stefan Vogel ◽  
Manuela Larcher
Keyword(s):  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Institution Building ◽  
Cotton Production ◽  
Work Intensity ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Organic Cotton ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Organic Farmers

AbstractCotton is an important source of income for smallholder farmers in India, usually grown very intensively. To counteract negative impacts of cotton cultivation in India, such as environmental degradation and financial dependency due to high input costs, organic cotton cultivation is being promoted by non-governmental organizations in the country. This study examines how the conversion to organic cotton cultivation influences the livelihood of smallholder farmers in rural India. Interviews with organic farmers were conducted in Odisha, India, complemented by expert interviews and observations in the field. Results show that farmers profit from organic agriculture, mainly due to soil improvements, through reduced exposure to toxic chemicals and lower input costs, which in turn reduces dependency on money lenders. Organic agriculture enables smallholder farmers in the study region to improve their livelihood by providing access to training and by organizing in groups. Important social impacts identified in this study were capacity building and strengthened communities, through training and institution building. However, a higher workload, due to the higher work intensity of organic farming practices, was also observed, with this impacting women more than men. Environmental conditions and gender aspects still remain challenging.

scholarly journals The Role of NGOs in Search and Rescue Operations in the Context of the European Union Migration Crisis

2020 ◽  
pp. 77-91
Author(s):  
U. Stoliarova
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Search And Rescue ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Migration Crisis ◽  
Immigration Issue

In the early 2010s due to the aggravation of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, the European Union faced an unprecedented escalation of the migration problem, which put serious pressure on many EU mechanisms. The article analyzes Brussels’ response to the increase in the number of victims in the Mediterranean Sea during the migration crisis, which peaked in 2015. The adoption of new initiatives that were aimed at easing the immigration issue did not lead to the expected results. The EU struggled to cope with a rise in the number of migrants who sought to reach European shores. The real challenge for the arriving migrants was crossing the Mediterranean Sea. Amid the increase in unmanaged flows of refugees and regular shipwrecks that led to the death of many migrants, non-governmental organizations stepped out. The organization and conduct of search and rescue operations (SARs) by NGOs led to the emergence of a new type of SARs, non-state ones, since even large NGOs began to conduct such operations for the first time. The article examines the contribution of European non-governmental organizations to the provision of search and rescue operations, as well as analyzes the main problems and challenges that these NGOs faced while implementing such activities from 2014 to 2020. It is concluded that European non-governmental organizations have saved tens of thousands of lives of migrants and refugees, thus becoming an important element in the EU’s migration crisis settlement. At the same time, they faced a number of problems and challenges, including criticism from some EU member states, which considered the activities of NGOs as a pull-factor for new migrants.

scholarly journals Agricultural Certification Programs Implemented inTurkey and the Extent of their Contributions to Environmental Sustainability

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Hasdemir ◽  
Füsun Zehra Özkan
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Iso 14001 ◽  
Agriculture Sector ◽  
Certification Programs ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
International Regulations ◽  
Negative Impacts

The negative impacts of global-scale developments and consumption habits on the environment are increasing each day. In this context, studies are conducted worldwide by many institutions and non-governmental organizations to support environmental policies. Additionally, certification programs are being executed by conformity assessment bodies to mitigate the impacts of production processes on the environment. These management systems or certification programs are either used on a voluntary basis or made mandatory by company policy, national or international regulations. The certification programs were firstly started to be used in industry and service sectors and are currently being used in agriculture sector. The certification programs used in agriculture sector aim to ensure an environmentally-friendly agricultural production process and improve consumer trust and satisfaction. This study aims to address the extent to which implementation of ISO/IEC 17065 Standard based organic and good agricultural practices and GLOBALG.A.P. certification programs and ISO 14001 Management System Standard have contributed to environmental sustainability in Turkey.

TRANSFORMATION OF LOBBYING INSTRUMENTS FOR ECONOMIC STAKEHOLDERS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (5) ◽  
pp. 78-90
Author(s):  
Stanislav SOKUR ◽  
Keyword(s):  
State Level ◽  
International Standards ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Member States ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Total Growth

The article examines current developments of lobbying institutionalization on the state level in European countries from 2014 to 2021, in particular, the definitions of lobbying and lobbyists, their goals, the availability of lobbying registers and the available ways for lobbying by economic stakeholders. Recent legislation on lobbying of Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania and the United Kingdom is analyzed. The dynamics of the adoption of laws on lobbying in European countries in recent years is demonstrated, given the specifics of the legal regimes of these countries. The article also shows examples of lobbying by economic stakeholders and lobbyists' reporting in accordance with the current legislation of the countries concerned. It has been proven that today the field of lobbying is on the rise, since in the last seven years eight countries in Europe have adopted laws regulating lobbying. Thus, the total growth of countries adopted lobbying regulation by European OECD member-states for the period of last 7 years constituted 67% of overall lobbying regulation by OECD member-states for the previous 75 years. These impressive numbers are expected to increase in the coming years, and it is very important that such lobbying rules to be adopted in accordance with international standards for lobbying regulation. The article also shows practical cases of lobbying and demonstrates that the range of lobbying targets in the modern world is incredibly wide. International organizations such as the United Nations, the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, etc. influences transparently policy-making in European countries. Regulation of lobbying legislation allows to influence decision-making to both non-governmental organizations and representatives of the private sector. Thus, there is an articulation and aggregation of interests in societies, which improves the quality of decisions made by public authorities.

Sustainable agricultural mechanization and commercialization for widespread adoption of conservation agriculture systems in Africa.

2022 ◽  
pp. 382-401
Author(s):  
Josef Kienzle ◽  
Brian Sims ◽  
Weldone Mutai
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Agricultural Technologies ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Agricultural Mechanization ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Public And Private Sector

Abstract To confront the situations of climate crisis, natural resource degradation and rising populations, farmers need access to modern sustainable agricultural technologies, especially Conservation Agriculture (CA) and sustainable agricultural mechanization (SAM). Without such access, the UN's SDGs will not be met in their entirety. The implications of mechanizing CA are discussed for both smallholder and larger-scale farmers. Constraints, issues and options are reviewed and the need for commercial, private sector, CA mechanization service provision for smallholders is identified. The Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization for Africa (SAMA) is a key pillar for achieving Aspiration 1 (a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development) of the African Union's (AU) Agenda 2063; and SDG 2 (ending hunger and achieving food security). The move towards commercialization of smallholder agriculture in Africa is seen as an inevitable reality in the medium term. It is also a necessary prerequisite for the adoption of SAM, which is being actively promoted in Africa, both at the level of the AU and by national governments, research centres, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private-sector agricultural machinery companies. The policy dimensions of promoting SAM are discussed from the public and private-sector perspectives. A forward look identifies novel business models for sustainable mechanization services, an increasing application of information technology (IT) and the (longer term) potential for drones and robotics. The conclusion is that CA and SAM are essential ways forward to answer Africa's needs for sustainable food production while engaging young entrepreneurs in the provision of mechanization services using IT, digital tools and precision equipment.

scholarly journals How Ecocentrism and Anthropocentrism Influence Human–Environment Relationships in a Kenyan Biodiversity Hotspot

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 8213
Author(s):  
Jana Rülke ◽  
Marco Rieckmann ◽  
Joslyn Muthio Nzau ◽  
Mike Teucher
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Surrounding Environment ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Taita Hills ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Methods

Protecting nature and securing human livelihood needs are very conflicting especially in biodiversity-rich areas of the Global South. The Taita Hills Cloud Forest (THCF) in Kenya remains one of the top biodiversity hotspots worldwide. Environmental data for the area has been studied for decades. Sociodemographic analyses on inequality have been conducted by governmental and non-governmental organizations. Little has been done yet to correlate them to investigate their relationships. A lot of attention has been paid to the connection between agricultural practices and impacts on the environment, but human–environment relationships are much more complex, especially in Kenya’s biodiversity-rich areas. This paper assesses the local population’s perception of its surrounding environment and investigates their understanding of nature conservation. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, 300 survey respondents were classified concerning their nature ethical views (particularly anthropocentrism and ecocentrism). By using grounded theory, data were regularly reviewed during the entire research, to assemble an evaluable and comparable dataset. Our study reveals that gender has a distinct impact on whether the interviewees have an anthropocentric or ecocentric perspective of nature and conservation. Moreover, there is a strong need for an intermediate bridge between anthropocentrism and ecocentrism.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

1955 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 552-561
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Director General ◽  
Executive Board ◽  
Member States ◽  
United Nations Educational ◽  
Cultural Organization ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Fundamental Education ◽  
Set Up

Executive Board37th Session: The 37th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Executive Board was held in Paris from March 10 to April 9, 1954, under the chairmanship of Sir Ronald Adam. At its opening meeting, the Board heard oral reports from the chairman, Professor Oscar Secco Ellauri and the Director-General on a visit they had made to member states in Asia. The report of the Director-General on the activities of UNESCO in 1953 was considered by the Board in conjunction with the draft program of work and budget estimates for 1955–1956 prepared by the Director-General and the preparation of recommendations to the General Conference. The Board approved comments to be made in communicating the report of the Director-General to member states, and also a report on its own work during 1953. Various modifications in the Director-General's draft program and budget estimates for 1955–1956 were recommended by the Board, which decided to prepare its recommendations to the eighdi session of the General Conference at its 38th session, on the basis of the revised draft to be presented at that time by the Director-General. The Board approved reports from the Program Commission on Fundamental Education Centers and the special committee set up to study questions relating to subventions to non-governmental organizations.

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