scholarly journals An Investigation of the Socio-Economic Benefits of Small-Scale Gold Mining in Malawi

Mining ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-34
Author(s):  
Tiyamike Haundi ◽  
Gift Tsokonombwe ◽  
Steven Ghambi ◽  
Theresa Mkandawire ◽  
Ansley Kasambara
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Gold Rush ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
The Government

In the recent years, there has been a surge in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in various districts of Malawi. Reports of a gold rush have emerged in various districts, including Mangochi, Lilongwe, Balaka, and lately in Kasungu. There has been persistence by many indigenous communities participating in ASGM activities, yet little is being done by the government to formalize and support the sub-sector. The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of artisanal small-scale gold mining in Malawi and expose the shortfalls so that key stakeholders and policy makers are well informed. A quantitative approach which used semi-structured questionnaires was used and the data was analyzed using Microsoft excel and Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The study shows that ASGM is characterized by people with low literacy levels, who use traditional tools (low-tech) and use methods fueled by lack of capital, and deficiency of basic knowledge of mining and geology. The study found that the government could achieve substantial socio-economic development from the sector by: (1) revising the current artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) legislation so that it embraces the customary practices whilst safeguarding the environment and improving the tax collection base; (2) providing support in form of mining related training and education to these communities; (3) leading in transfer of modern technologies for improved extraction; (4) supporting ASM cooperatives in securing credit facilities from financial institutions; and (5) closing the existing knowledge gap for ASM related issues through introduction of mining desk officers in district councils.

scholarly journals Socio-Economic Conditions of Small-Scale Hilsa Fishers in the Meghna River Estuary of Chandpur, Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12470
Author(s):  
Maruf Ahmed ◽  
Sabrina Jannat Mitu ◽  
Petra Schneider ◽  
Masud Alam ◽  
Mohammad Mojibul Hoque Mozumder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
River Estuary ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Fishing Community ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Fishing Activity ◽  
Low Incomes ◽  
The Government ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

Hilsa fish (Tenualosa ilisha) have become an essential factor behind the well-being of the fishing community, giving fishers their identity as a source of cultural heritage. A field survey was conducted to understand the socio-economic conditions of hilsa fishers at the Meghna river estuary of Chandpur District using well-structured questionnaire interviews (N = 250) with hilsa fishers. The survey revealed that fishers’ livelihoods and living conditions were still below average due to low literacy levels, lack of professional skills, and low incomes. More than two-thirds of the fishers were entirely dependent on hilsa fishing, while more than one-third had between 11 and 20 years of fishing experience. More than two-thirds of the fishers did not have an alternative occupation during ban periods, and the incentives provided by the government were not adequately received by half of the fishers. Fishers were divided into three groups according to their dependence on hilsa fishing. Significant differences were found between these groups in terms of the age of fishers, annual income from fishing, and annual fishing activity days. Therefore, the government, Fisheries cooperatives, NGOs, and other relevant organizations must unite to support fishers for sustainable management.

Impacts of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining on Water Quality in Mozambique and Zimbabwe

2015 ◽  
pp. 101-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Never Mujere ◽  
Manuel Isidro
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Mineral Exploration ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Aquatic Life ◽  
Land Disturbance ◽  
Research Findings

Artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) is an informal economic activity. ASGM is the process of extracting gold ore from the ground in the absence of land rights, mining license, exploration or mining mineral exploration permit or any legitimate document that allows the operation. Its haphazard nature, location close to and dependence on water have negative effects on the physical, chemical and biological composition of water. The socio-economic benefits of small scale mining, which include employment and income generation, are seriously outweighed by devastating environmental costs and impacts. The objective of this chapter is to examine effects of ASGM on water quality in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Findings show that ASGM causes land disturbance, loss of biodiversity, deforestation and depletion of water resources, increased levels of siltation, turbidity and heavy metal content and the disturbance of aquatic life and its habitats. ASGM also negatively effects the health of people and animals. Based on the research findings, it is important to support and formalize, as much as possible, the mining operations so that it becomes environmentally friendly and sustainable.

scholarly journals Managing Female Foreign Domestic Workers in Singapore: Economic Pragmatism, Coercive Legal Regulation, or Human Rights?

2010 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene KB Tan
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Domestic Workers ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
International Marriages ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Promotional Efforts ◽  
Foreign Domestic Workers ◽  
The Government ◽  
Permanent Residents

Singapore's immigration discourse is deeply influenced by its need to “right-size” its population. As a society that has and remains in need of immigration, contemporary immigration and globalization have rigorously challenged the conventional thinking and understanding of citizenship, as well as notions of who belongs and who does not. Nevertheless, international marriages and pervasive in-and out-migration for purposes of employment, study, and family, conspire to make more pronounced the decoupling of citizenship and residence in Singapore. This transnational dimension sits uncomfortably with the policy makers' desire for, and the imperatives of, state sovereignty, control, and jurisdiction.Although one quarter of people living in Singapore are foreigners, concerns of human rights and justice are largely peripheral, if not absent from the immigration discourse. This is seen most clearly in employment issues pertaining to foreign female domestic workers (FDWs), most of who come from other parts of Southeast Asia. ‘Rights talk’ is largely absent even as activists seek to engage the key stakeholders through the subtle promotion of rights for such workers.The government, however, has resisted framing the FDW issues as one of rights but instead has focused on promotional efforts that seek to enhance the regulatory framework. This dovetails with the reality that immigration law also functions as quasi-family law in which the freedom of FDWs and other foreign menial workers to marry Singapore citizens and permanent residents are severely restricted. As such, the immigration regime's selectivity functions as a draconian gatekeeper. Justice and human rights are but tangential concerns.

scholarly journals CHALLENGES IN COMBATING CHILD LABOUR IN SMALL-SCALE GOLD MINING COMMUNITIES IN SHINYANGA REGION, TANZANIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 12-25
Author(s):  
Martin K. Malima
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Child Labour ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Governmental Organization ◽  
Mining Communities ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
The Government

Combating child labour in Tanzania is a challenging endeavour especially in small-scale gold mining communities. Studies on child labour in Tanzania indicate that the government in partnership with international actors has undertaken several intervention actions to control and eliminate child labour in the country. Yet, child labour continues to be dominant in virtually all economic sectors including small-scale gold mining for reasons not sufficiently known. This research sets out to explore the challenges that face anti-child labour actors in their efforts to control and reduce child labour in Kahama district in Shinyanga region. The study uses a qualitative methodology in order to gain an in-depth insight of the context, cultural realities, community members’ views and experiences relating to child labour in small-scale gold mining communities. A sample size of 38 participants was drawn from among regional and district government officials, non-governmental organization (NGO) workers and community-based organization (CBO) activists responsible for combating child labour, small-scale gold miners, parents and children in Shinyanga region. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and documents review. Findings revealed seven challenges facing anti-child labour actors in their efforts to combat child labour in small-scale gold mining communities all arising from within the household, local community and government contexts. The study recommends that the government, policy makers and other stakeholders should develop policy interventions that effectively address these challenges in order to eradicate child labour in small-scale gold mining communities in the country. Keywords: Child Labour, Small-Scale Gold Mining, Anti-Child Labour Actors, Challenges.

scholarly journals Fried eggs and all-women gangs: the geopolitics of Chinese gold mining in Ghana, bodily vulnerability, and resistance

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-73
Author(s):  
Heidi Hausermann ◽  
Janet Adomako ◽  
Maya Robles
Keyword(s):  
Teen Pregnancy ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Gold Rush ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Monetary Policies ◽  
Feminist Geopolitics ◽  
Supportive Interventions ◽  
Pregnant Teen ◽  
Political Economic

Between 2008 and 2016, more than 50,000 Chinese citizens migrated to Ghana to mine gold on small-scale concessions. This is particularly surprising given that small-scale mining is an activity reserved for Ghanaian citizens. Foreign gold mining is mediated by various intersecting political economic and geopolitical shifts, including unprecedented gold demand, economic crisis, and informal conditions to Chinese loans. Based on long-term, mixed-methods fieldwork, and drawing from feminist geopolitics research, we argue Ghana’s recent gold rush portends gendered implications for bodies in rural areas. We center our discussion on bodies to demonstrate the ways extractive practices increase vulnerability among women and children, including teen pregnancy and mercury exposure. Yet, women also contest foreign mining and its myriad implications (e.g., refusing to sell land and entering sites while menstruating despite being “forbidden” to do so). A feminist geopolitics perspective allows the tracing of specific political economic processes (Chinese monetary policies, informal loan conditions) to other sites (Pokukrom, the pregnant teen), thereby enabling a clearer understanding of how supportive interventions might occur.

The Challenges of Inclusive Education in Developing Countries in South East Asia

2022 ◽  
pp. 202-219
Author(s):  
Henriette van Rensburg ◽  
Betty Adcock
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Equity In Education ◽  
Education Professionals ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
The Government

This conceptual chapter presents an overview of the current developments in special education, specifically in inclusive education, and focuses only on the barriers experienced by the different stakeholders in developing countries in South East Asia. To support inclusion and equity in education, governments need to influence public opinion, implement legislation and policy regulations, and provide financial resources. The three key stakeholders are the government, educational professionals, and families. There are also others including instructors and other education professionals, teacher trainers and researchers, national, local, and school-level administrators and managers, policy-makers and service providers in other sectors, civic groups in the community, and members of minority groups who are at risk of exclusion. Awareness of the value of inclusive education should be raised amongst all stakeholders to develop a network of support for all learners.

Developing Rural Tourism with the Participation of Related Parties in Bac Kan Province

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
Le Ngoc Nuong ◽  
Ngo Thi Huyen Trang ◽  
Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang ◽  
Nguyen Tien Lam
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Rural Tourism ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
The People ◽  
The Government

Tourism development policy will pay attention to stakeholders, especially the people, who play an important role. However, in reality, when people participate in rural tourism development, they are not equipped with basic knowledge and skills in managing and serving tourists. Because the benefits between stakeholders are still not clear, the participation of people in rural tourism development is currently only passive. Active participation need to be directed from the Government and local authorities because the concept that rural tourism development is not only about creating economic benefits but also associated with conservation and preservation, together with keeping and promoting cultural - historical values in rural areas.

Deforestation and forest regeneration following small-scale gold mining in the Amazon: the case of Suriname

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry D. Peterson ◽  
Marieke Heemskerk
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mining ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Gold Rush ◽  
Forest Recovery ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Mining Sites ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Old Growth Forest

Despite scientific concern about Amazon deforestation and the impacts of the Amazon gold rush, few researchers have assessed the long-term impacts of small-scale gold mining on forest cover. This study estimates deforestation from gold mining and analyses the regeneration of abandoned mining areas in the Suriname Amazon. Fieldwork in December 1998 included observations and ecological measurements, as well as qualitative interviews with local miners about mining history and technology. Vegetation cover of abandoned mining sites of different ages was compared with that in old-growth forest. By present estimates, gold miners clear 48–96 km2 of old-growth forest in Suriname annually. Based on different assumptions about changes in technology and the amount of mining that takes place on previously mined sites, cumulative deforestation is expected to reach 750–2280 km2 by 2010. Furthermore, the analysis of abandoned mining sites suggests that forest recovery following mining is slow and qualitatively inferior compared to regeneration following other land uses. Unlike areas in nearby old-growth forest, large parts of mined areas remain bare ground, grass, and standing water. The area deforested by mining may seem relatively small, but given the slow forest recovery and the concentration of mining in selected areas, small-scale gold mining is expected to reduce local forest cover and ecosystem services in regions where mining takes place.

scholarly journals Agricultural co-operatives participating in supply chain integration in China: A qualitative comparative analysis

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0250018
Author(s):  
Jiacheng Zhang ◽  
Jianli Luo ◽  
Jia Li
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
Academic Implications

Agro-food supply chain integration (ASCI) plays a growingly important role in the stable and sustainable development of agriculture. However, it is challenging for core firms to integrate the small-scale and scatted farmers due to complex transaction processes and volatile relationships in China. Agricultural co-operatives are organizations that unite farmers’ power and help them achieve economic benefits. Our research focuses on ASCI from the perspective of co-operatives. A comprehensive cooperative framework, including trinity co-operatives and trinity federations, is conducted to figure out the position and process of agricultural co-operatives in ASCI, while QCA provides detailed collaborative patterns for agricultural co-operatives to adopt. Results show that agricultural co-operatives can achieve high economic and social/environmental performance when participating in ASCI. This study further completes the ASCI literature and offers many managerial and academic implications to co-operatives’ members and policy-makers.

scholarly journals Developing Rural Tourism with the Participation of Related Parties in Bac Kan Province

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-79
Author(s):  
Le Ngoc Nuong ◽  
Nguyen Tien Lam ◽  
Dinh Tran Ngoc Huy ◽  
Ngo Thi Huyen Trang ◽  
Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
Active Participation ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Rural Tourism ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
The Government

Tourism development policy will pay attention to stakeholders, especially to people, who play an important role. However, in reality, when people participate in rural tourism development, they are not equipped with basic knowledge and skills in managing and serving tourists. Because the benefits between stakeholders are still not clear, the participation of people in rural tourism development is currently only passive. Active participation need to be directed from the Government and local authorities because the concept that rural tourism development is not only about creating economic benefits but also associated with conservation and preservation, together with keeping and promoting cultural - historical values in rural areas.

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