scholarly journals Towards an African theological ethic of earth care: Encountering the Tonga lwiindi of Simaamba of Zambia in the face of the ecological crisis

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kapya Kaoma
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Economic Theories ◽  
Creation Care ◽  
The Enlightenment ◽  
Global Christianity ◽  
The Face ◽  
Ecological Catastrophe

The mounting ecological catastrophe and its negative effects on humanity and future generations of life, demand proactive actions. The ongoing crises of deforestation, air and water pollution, land degradation and many other ecological predicaments are critical global moral and justice issues. Although postcolonial Africa’s economic theories undermine the integrity of Creation, Africans are equally responsible. Following Pope Francis’ invitation to Creation care, I argue that the lwiindi [the annual rain-calling ceremony] illustrates ecological concerns and possesses ecological insights that can aid, inform and positively transform Africa’s ecological actions. The article opens with a brief discussion on the growing ecological consciousness in global Christianity and Africa. It employs the lwiindi to illustrate the ecological role of ancestors as guardians of the land. It is from this perspective that the Enlightenment influenced concept of ‘progress’, is examined. The article concludes with some critical reflections on the environment and Tonga culture.

scholarly journals A soundscape analysis for selected parks in Bydgoszcz

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 00097
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Sztubecka
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
City Center ◽  
The City

Areas that are considered human-friendly are green spaces. The existing urban parks are designed to fulfill the role of relaxation, recreation, and entertainment. However, in many cases, these are historic places, which at the time didn't have much of an impact on external factors. Sustainable development issues are related to the quality of life and the usage of the environment and its resources by present and future generations. Noise and noise protection is an issue that is part of sustainable development. The inadequate implementation of the principles of sustainable development and non-inclusion of noise can noticeably lead to negative effects now and in the future. The aim of the paper is to analyze the soundscapes of two Bydgoszcz parks located in the city center. The values of the equivalent sound level for these areas were obtained from the existing Bydgoszcz acoustic plan. Subsequently, the resulting distribution of noise was compared with the results of subjective perception of sounds by visitors. On this basis, conclusions can be drawn regarding the ways of shaping such areas while taking into account the perception of visitors.

"The Whole Earth My Altar": A Sacramental Trajectory for Ecological Mission « La terre tout entière est mon autel » : trajectoire sacramentelle pour une mission écologique "Die ganze Welt ist mein Altar": Eine sakramentale Wegbeschreibung für eine ökologische Mission "La tierra entera es mi altar": Una trayectoria sacramental para una misión ecológica

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-72
Author(s):  
Philip Knights
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Christian Mission ◽  
The World ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
The Face ◽  
Pierre Teilhard De Chardin ◽  
Sacramental Vision ◽  
Ecological Action

AbstractThis paper proposes a sacramental vision of the world as both an expression of and an impetus for Christian mission in the face of the current ecological crisis. This is an outworking of Panentheist turns in recent theology and spirituality, although there is much variety in forms of Panetheism and also such emphases have a long Christian history. The paper examines a particular form of sacramental Panentheism as found in two pieces of writing by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin: e Priest and e Mass on the World. In both of these Teilhard de Chardin considers the world around him through the lens of the pattern of the eucharistic liturgy and the role of the priest. The world is offered; the Holy Spirit is invoked; and divine transformation is celebrated. These almost poetic meditations stress the divine compassion for and connection with the material world. Teilhard de Chardin's "eucharistic extensions" suggest seeing the cosmos as both a signifier of the Divine and a location of divine action and energy. Christian mission in this perspective demands: that we discover the truth of where we are; that we experience our location in nature deeply, even spiritually; that we seek the advancement of the world; in particular that it may be fashioned according to its destiny in God. The frame of the Eucharist shapes our perception of the world and utilises the worldly as a vehicle of divine transformation. Our attitudes to the world must be the inspiration for our activity in the world. The sacramental vision demands missional and ecological action. Cet article propose une vision sacramentelle du monde à la fois comme une expression de la mission chrétienne face à la crise écologique actuelle, et un élan de cette même mission pour y répondre. Ceci est une retombée des tournants panenthéistes dans la théologie et la spiritualité récentes, même s'il y a beaucoup de variétés dans les formes de panenthéisme et si de tels accents ont déjà une longue histoire chrétienne. L'article examine une forme particulière de panenthéisme sacramentel rencontré dans deux écrits de Pierre Teilhard de Chardin : Le Prêtre et La messe sur le monde. Dans ces deux textes, Teilhard de Chardin regarde le monde qui l'entoure à travers la lunette du schéma de la liturgie eucharistique et du rôle du prêtre. Le monde est offert ; le Saint Esprit est invoqué ; et la transformation divine est célébrée. Ces méditations quasi poétiques soulignent la compassion divine pour le monde matériel et le lien entre les deux. Les « extensions eucharistiques » de Teilhard de Chardin poussent à considérer le Cosmos comme un signe du Divin et un lieu de l'action et de l'énergie divine. Der Artikel trägt eine sakramentale Weltsicht vor, die sowohl Ausdruck als auch Impuls für die christliche Mission angesichts der gegenwärtigen ökologischen Krise ist. Sie ist eine Anwendung panentheistischer Entwicklungen in der neueren Theologie und Spiritualität, obwohl es eine große Vielfalt an Panentheismusformen gibt und solche Akzentsetzungen eine lange christliche Geschichte haben. Der Artikel untersucht eine besondere Form des sakramentalen Panentheismus, wie er sich in zwei Schriften von Pierre Teilhard de Chardin zeigt: Der Priester und Die Messe der Welt. In diesen beiden Schriften versteht Teilhard de Chardin die Welt um ihn im Sinne einer eucharistischen Liturgie und der Rolle des Priesters. Die Welt wird geopfert; der Heilige Geist wird angerufen; und die göttliche Wandlung wird gefeiert. Diese fast poetischen Meditationen betonen das göttliche Erbarmen und die Verbindung mit der materiellen Welt. Teilhard de Chardins "eucharistische Ausweitungen" schlagen vor, den Kosmos sowohl als Zeichen als auch als Ort göttlichen Handelns und göttlicher Energie zu verstehen. Este texto propone una visión sacramental del mundo como una expresión y un impulso para la misión cristiana de cara a la actual crisis ecológica. Se trata de una elaboración de giros panenteístas en la teología y espiritualidad recientes, aunque exista una gran variedad en las formas de panenteísmo y estos énfasis tengan una larga historia cristiana. El artículo analiza una forma particular de panenteísmo sacramental como se lo encuentra en dos escritos de Pierre Teilhard de Chardin: El Sacerdote y La Misa sobre el Mundo. En ambos, Teilhard de Chardin considera el mundo a su alrededor a través del lente de la estructura de una liturgia eucarística y el papel del sacerdote. Se ofrece el mundo; se invoca al Espíritu Santo; y se celebra la transformación divina. Estas meditaciones casi poéticas enfatizan la compasión divina por y la conexión con el mundo material. Las "extensiones eucarísticas" de Teilhard de Chardin proponen mirar el universo tanto como el significante de lo Divino como la ubicación de la acción y energía divinas.

scholarly journals Job Satisfaction and Problems among Academic Staff in Higher Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4865
Author(s):  
Adam R. Szromek ◽  
Radosław Wolniak
Keyword(s):  
Academic Staff ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
Social Significance ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Employment Conditions ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Face

The role of a scientist in society is undoubtedly extremely important. This thesis was particularly confirmed by the global events of the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century, when the spread of the COVID-19 virus revealed the helplessness of humanity in the face of a pandemic. Only intensive scientific work, having an interdisciplinary character, gives hope to stop the development of the spread of the virus. It turned out that it is scientists who are necessary to reduce mortality and morbidity, as well as the negative effects of a pandemic on the economy and public health. In this regard, it is worth discussing whether the scientific work of scientists is satisfying for them? Nowadays, the scientist is demanded for immediate effects of scientific research, implementation of inventions tailored to the emerging needs, and quick solutions to the problems of a dynamically changing society. However, along with the growing social expectations towards researchers, is their work increasingly appreciated? The aim of this article is getting to assess the level of satisfaction with scientific work among researchers and to identify the factors that influence its level. The article presents the results of research conducted on a random sample of 763 academics from Poland. The conducted scientific studies have established that: (1) The level of satisfaction of researchers concerning their own scientific work depends on employment conditions, as well as the social significance of the research carried out, (2) the level of satisfaction from work is closely correlated with the scientific opportunities of researchers (that is, the possibility of academic and didactic work, contact with students and co-workers) and negatively correlated with the necessity to carry out administrative work, and (3) the majority of Polish researchers are proud of their scientific achievements and treat their profession as a passion or vocation.

Ecological Crisis and Climate Change: From States of Emergency to “Fortress World”?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ecological Crisis ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
States Of Emergency ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
The Face ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Military

This chapter looks at the possible futures associated with climate change, in particular the ecological crisis it will bring for many people around the planet. It does this with a special focus on the political challenges that will accompany this crisis, especially as they relate to democratic politics. It asks how states will manage, and in some cases even survive, in the face of a very serious or catastrophic social-ecological crisis. Toward this end, it examines the long history of a crisis orientation in environmentalism generally, with an emphasis on climate change as the example par excellence. It then examines the worst-case scenarios, including the concept of “fortress world.” It concludes with a discussion of environmental security, the role of the military during the crisis, and the politics of “survivalism.”

اليقظة في مكان العمل ودورها في الحد من الآثار السلبية لنفخ الصافرة- دراسة تطبيقية على شركة توزيع الكهرباء بالمحافظات الجنوبية

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 387-422
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Electricity Distribution ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Strong Positive Relationship ◽  
The Face ◽  
Distribution Company ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Level Of Significance

ملخص: هدفت الدراسة إلى التعرف على دور اليقظة في مكان العمل (الانشغال في مواجهة الفشل، والالتزام بالمرونة، والرجوع لذوي الخبرة) في الحد من الآثار السلبية لنفخ الصافرة من وجهة نظر العاملين في الجهات الإشرافية بشركة توزيع الكهرباء بالمحافظات الجنوبية. واستخدمت الدراسة المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، وتكون مجتمع الدراسة من جميع العاملين في الجهات الإشرافية بشركة توزيع الكهرباء بمحافظات غزة، وتم اختيار فرع الإدارة العامة للشركة بغزة وبلغ عدد العاملين في الجهات الإشرافية (71) عاملاً. واستخدم الباحثان أسلوب الحصر الشامل نظراً لصغر حجم المجتمع، حيث تم توزيع الاستبانات على جميع أفراد مجتمع الدراسة، وتم استرداد (63) استبانة، أي ما نسبته (88.7%) من مجتمع الدراسة. وقد أظهرت النتائج وجود علاقة طردية قوية بين أبعاد اليقظة في مكان العمل والحد من الآثار السلبية لنفخ الصافرة، وأكدت أنه لا توجد فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية عند مستوى دلالة (α≤ 0.05) بين متوسطات إجابات أفراد العينة حول مدى توافر أبعاد اليقظة في مكان العمل والحد من الآثار السلبية لنفخ الصافرة في شركة توزيع الكهرباء بالمحافظات الجنوبية تعزى للمتغيرات الديمغرافية. وأن معامل الارتباط يساوي (0.995)، ومعامل التحديد يساوي (0.991) مما يلاحظ بأن هناك أثراً ذا دلالة إحصائية عند مستوي الدالة (α≤.05) لتوافر أبعاد اليقظة في مكان العمل (الانشغال في مواجهة الفشل، الالتزام بالمرونة، والرجوع لذوي الخبرة) والحد من الآثار السلبية لنفخ الصافرة. وأوصي الباحثان بضرورة مكافأة من يبلغ عن المخالفات بالعمل وتعزيز عملية الاتصال والتواصل بين الإدارة العليا والعاملين في الشركة حتي يكون هناك اطلاع دائم ومستمر على سير العملية لتصحيح أية انحرافات قد تحدث بقصد أو بدون قصد. الكلمات المفتاحية: اليقظة في مكان العمل، نفخ الصافرة، شركة توزيع الكهرباء بالمحافظات الجنوبية. Abstract The study aims to find out the role of workplace vigilance (preoccupation of facing failure, commitment of flexibility, and referring to experienced) in reducing the negative effects of blowing the whistle from the viewpoint of workers in the supervisory authorities of the Electricity Distribution Company in the Southern governorates. The study uses the descriptive and analytical approach, and the study population consists of all workers in the supervisory authorities of the Electricity Distribution Company in Gaza governorates. The company’s general administration branch is chosen in Gaza, and the number of workers in the supervisory authorities reaches (71) workers. The researchers use the comprehensive enumeration method due to the small size of the community, as the questionnaires are distributed to all members of the study population, and (63) questionnaires are retrieved, i.e.) 88.7%) of the study population. The results show a strong positive relationship between the dimensions of vigilance in the workplace and the reduction of the negative effects of blowing the whistle. The study confirms that there are no statistically significant differences at the level of significance (α≤ 0.05) between the averages of the responses of the sample members about the availability of the dimensions of vigilance in the workplace and the reduction of the negative effects of blowing the whistle in the Electricity Distribution Company in the Southern governorates due to the demographic variables. And that the correlation coefficient is equal to (0.995), and the coefficient of determination is equal to (0.991), which is noted that there is a statistically significant effect at the level of the function (α≤.05) for the availability of dimensions of vigilance in the workplace (preoccupation in the face of failure, commitment to flexibility, and return to experience). And reduce the negative effects of blowing the whistle. The researchers recommended the necessity of rewarding those who report violations with work and strengthening the process of communication and communication between the senior management and employees of the company so that there is a permanent and continuous knowledge of the progress of the process to correct any deviations that may occur, intentionally or unintentionally. Keywords: Work Mindfulness, blowing the whistle, and Electricity Distribution Company in the Southern governorates.

scholarly journals Oral Traditions: An Analysis of Story Telling and Performance in Paule Marshall’s Praisesong for the Widow

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhanashree Thorat ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Oral Tradition ◽  
Oral Traditions ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Story Telling ◽  
The Face ◽  
Critical Understanding ◽  
And Performance

Dorothy Noyes, in her essay "Tradition: Three Traditions," notes that the word "tradition" implies "handing over" or "delivery" (Noyes 233). Furthermore, tradition is identified as a communal belonging that involves "the transfer of responsibility for a valued practice or performance" from one generation to the next (233). This essay will apply the characteristics and role of "tradition," outlined by Noyes and others, to develop a critical understanding of two acts of oral tradition pivotal to the spiritual transformation of Avey Johnson, the protagonist of Paule Marshall's Praisesong for the Widow. These two interconnected acts, the story of Ibo Landing and the ritual of Beg Pardon, are instances of oral memory that are shared and transmitted between peers and to future generations through story telling and performance. Among other purposes, the oral traditions in Praisesong for the Widow give Avey a sense of belonging to the African diasporic and African American community, help her recreate and reclaim her cultural heritage, and finally, preserve the experiences of the enslaved Africans and their descendants in North America. In the novel, Marshall also sounds a warning to her readers about the need for vigilance in protecting oral traditions in the face of materialism.

Can trust become a factor of economic growth? Dynamic changes in the level of trust of Russian youth

2020 ◽  
pp. 92-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. I. Bakhtigaraeva ◽  
A. A. Stavinskaya
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Dynamic Changes ◽  
Generalized Trust ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
The Future ◽  
Analysis Of Dynamics

The article considers the role of trust in the economy, the mechanisms of its accumulation and the possibility of using it as one of the growth factors in the future. The advantages and disadvantages of measuring the level of generalized trust using two alternative questions — about trusting people in general and trusting strangers — are analyzed. The results of the analysis of dynamics of the level of generalized trust among Russian youth, obtained within the study of the Institute for National Projects in 10 regions of Russia, are presented. It is shown that there are no significant changes in trust in people in general during the study at university. At the same time, the level of trust in strangers falls, which can negatively affect the level of trust in the country as a whole, and as a result have negative effects on the development of the economy in the future. Possible causes of the observed trends and the role of universities are discussed. Also the question about the connection between the level of education and generalized trust in countries with different quality of the institutional environment is raised.

Questions on the role of biofilms for the adaptation of microorganisms to unfavorable environmental factors by the example of P. aeruginosa

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-383
Author(s):  
Vasily N. Afonyushkin ◽  
N. A. Donchenko ◽  
Ju. N. Kozlova ◽  
N. A. Davidova ◽  
V. Yu. Koptev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Antagonistic Activity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Main Function ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
The Face

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a widely represented species of bacteria possessing of a pathogenic potential. This infectious agent is causing wound infections, fibrotic cystitis, fibrosing pneumonia, bacterial sepsis, etc. The microorganism is highly resistant to antiseptics, disinfectants, immune system responses of the body. The responses of a quorum sense of this kind of bacteria ensure the inclusion of many pathogenicity factors. The analysis of the scientific literature made it possible to formulate four questions concerning the role of biofilms for the adaptation of P. aeruginosa to adverse environmental factors: Is another person appears to be predominantly of a source an etiological agent or the source of P. aeruginosa infection in the environment? Does the formation of biofilms influence on the antibiotic resistance? How the antagonistic activity of microorganisms is realized in biofilm form? What is the main function of biofilms in the functioning of bacteria? A hypothesis has been put forward the effect of biofilms on the increase of antibiotic resistance of bacteria and, in particular, P. aeruginosa to be secondary in charcter. It is more likely a biofilmboth to fulfill the function of storing nutrients and provide topical competition in the face of food scarcity. In connection with the incompatibility of the molecular radii of most antibiotics and pores in biofilm, biofilm is doubtful to be capable of performing a barrier function for protecting against antibiotics. However, with respect to antibodies and immunocompetent cells, the barrier function is beyond doubt. The biofilm is more likely to fulfill the function of storing nutrients and providing topical competition in conditions of scarcity of food resources.

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