MOBILE PASTORALISM AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AMONG RURAL FULANI COMMUNITIES IN KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

This study makes a spatial analysis of mobile pastoralism and socioeconomic problems among rural Fulani communities in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study assesses the socioeconomic characteristics of mobile pastoralists; identify the length of stay of mobile pastoralists in their host communities and identify socioeconomic problems confronting Fulani herdsmen in their economic activities. A multistage sampling technique was employed to sample 740 Fulani herdsmen from twenty Fulani settlements and from four adjoining villages. Descriptive statistical techniques such as tables cross tabulations, percentages and graphs were employed to analyze the demographic characteristics of the pastoralists, length of stay in their host communities and other sources of income. Matrix scoring was used to rank the socioeconomic problems identified. The results revealed that the mean average age of sampled respondents was 44.8years, 83.8% married and average household size of 11people. Dwindling pasture, land degradation and drought were the most pressing socioeconomic problems identified. The study concludes by recommending adult education for the Fulani pastoralists as this will assist in enhancing and improving the socio-economic life of the mobile pastoralists.

Self-assessment of attitudes towards conditions to provide safe abortion among new medical graduates in Thailand, 2018: an application of cross-sectional survey with factor analysis

Background Unsafe abortion is one of the major public health problems in Thailand. Although the penal code of Thailand and the Thai Medical Council permit doctors to perform safe abortion in certain conditions, little is known about the attitudes that new medical doctors have towards abortion. The objectives of this article are to explore the attitudes towards abortion in certain conditions among new medical graduates and to identify factors related to those attitudes. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2018 among 2017 medical graduates who attended the annual workplace selection forum. The participants came from the two main tracks of admission to Thai medical schools: normal track and special track physicians, namely, the Collaborative Project to Increase Production of Rural Doctors (CPIRD). Of these 2017 graduates, 926 returned the questionnaire with complete information. Descriptive analysis, factor analysis, and multi-variable regression analysis were performed. Results We found that most physicians agreed to perform abortions in the context of life-threatening conditions for mothers and children, but not under conditions directly related to physical health (such as pregnancy with socioeconomic problems or pregnancy in adolescents). CPIRD doctors were less amenable than normal track doctors in providing abortions if the reason for the termination of pregnancy was related to socioeconomic problems. Conclusion The study suggests that a proactive campaign for new medical graduates to raise awareness and mutual understanding of abortion services should be exercised. The CPIRD curricula relating to safe abortion should enhance the capacity of medical graduates to deal with pregnant women who face not only a physical health-related problem, but also socioeconomic difficulties and well-being as a whole.

Overcoming Socio-Economic Problems in Crisis Areas through Revitalization of Cittaslow Towns. Evidence from North-East Poland

The revitalization of small towns is connected with an attempt to find multidirectional solutions to numerous social, economic and spatial problems. It is possible to remove degraded areas and areas with a high risk of social exclusion through coordinated and skillfully planned activities consisting of corrective interventions within these areas and, indirectly, in the whole structure of a small town. There are many studies on improving the quality of life of inhabitants at risk of exclusion in large cities. At the same time, there is a gap in the analyses of this phenomenon in small towns. In this article, we present the results of our observations on changes in the quality and living conditions of residents as a result of social projects implemented as part of the revitalization of marginalized areas in cities associated with the Cittaslow movement. The starting point is to identify the main socioeconomic problems and relate them to the effects of the revitalization activities carried out under the Supralocal Revitalization Program (SLRP). The study analyzed all projects that were a response to social problems in fourteen cities in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (Poland). It was based on a quantitative assessment of the selected socioeconomic indicators and a qualitative assessment based on interviews with local experts. The results of the research indicate a reduction in unemployment in all the cities covered by the study. On the other hand, the results of the expert interview show that it is not directly influenced by the implemented revitalization projects. According to experts, after revitalization, the crime rate decreased insignificantly and the educational and professional involvement of residents from marginalized areas is still low. The results may give rise to the creation of scenarios to deal with the socioeconomic problems of the analyzed examples and recommendations for the revitalization of other Cittaslow towns in the region as well as small towns in Europe and the world.

Pro-Cure or Faux-Cure? A Comparative Analysis of Aboriginal Procurement Initiatives

In this paper, I seek to answer whether Aboriginal procurement initiatives are valuable to governments and Indigenous businesses. I posit that Aboriginal procurement initiatives are partially effective because they provide opportunities to some Aboriginal businesses, however they are imperfect because not all Aboriginal businesses are able to benefit from them. I present a brief literature review, a jurisdictional scan of these initiatives in Canada and Australia, and a comparative analysis. I find that these initiatives are not meeting the needs of businessowners, especially in building capacity. Aboriginal procurement initiatives are adequately providing employment and capacity-building opportunities for established Aboriginal businesses through experience and networking but are not supporting growth or development of new Aboriginal businesses that lack capacity. Future initiatives should consider working to better address the needs of Aboriginal businesspeople and their communities and addressing the underlying socioeconomic problems that create the economic disparity that necessitates these initiatives.

Pro-Cure or Faux-Cure? A Comparative Analysis of Aboriginal Procurement Initiatives

In this paper, I seek to answer whether Aboriginal procurement initiatives are valuable to governments and Indigenous businesses. I posit that Aboriginal procurement initiatives are partially effective because they provide opportunities to some Aboriginal businesses, however they are imperfect because not all Aboriginal businesses are able to benefit from them. I present a brief literature review, a jurisdictional scan of these initiatives in Canada and Australia, and a comparative analysis. I find that these initiatives are not meeting the needs of businessowners, especially in building capacity. Aboriginal procurement initiatives are adequately providing employment and capacity-building opportunities for established Aboriginal businesses through experience and networking but are not supporting growth or development of new Aboriginal businesses that lack capacity. Future initiatives should consider working to better address the needs of Aboriginal businesspeople and their communities and addressing the underlying socioeconomic problems that create the economic disparity that necessitates these initiatives.

Visualizing the regional patterns of two crises: The COVID-19 outbreak and decreasing MSME sales during three different phases of 2020 in Korea

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused various socioeconomic problems as well as deaths. The featured graphic depicts the COVID-19 outbreak and the accompanying decrease in sales of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from week 2 to week 53 in 2020 as well as its regional patterns during three different phases in Korea. The geovisualization shows that the MSMEs’ economic crisis occurred during the COVID-19 outbreak period. The COVID-19 crisis witnessed the emergence of pandemic management strategies, including mitigation and reinforcement of lockdowns repeatedly, which weakened the effectiveness of policies for controlling the spread of infectious diseases. This research sheds further light on the prioritization of policy-related decision making for controlling infectious diseases by utilizing economic shutdowns.

ПРАВОВОЕ РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЕ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИХ ОТНОШЕНИЙ В АРКТИЧЕСКОЙ ЗОНЕ

nomic progress of society. In this case, legal regulation creates favourable conditions and protects the rights of small indigenous northern peoples, that is, the local population, who live permanently in the Arctic zone. Separately, on the basis of this concept, the development of the economy and social sphere of the Arctic bloc as a whole is considered. The main strategic directions for the development of the Arctic and the current regulatory framework of the Russian Federation are being investigated. The author proposes to solve issues related to the socioeconomic problems of the Arctic through the adoption of comprehensive concepts and regulatory legal acts. The main conclusion of the work is to improve the regulatory framework through the adoption of a separate codified act.

The Strength of Sociopreneurs in Nurturing the Rural Socioeconomic Conditions

Maintaining the resilience and community life in rural areas with facing various socioeconomic problems especially the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic make social entrepreneurship is very urgent. Social entrepreneurship sees the problem as an opportunity to form a new business model. The results achieved are not only material benefits, but how the ideas put forward can have a good impact on society at large. In doing so, nurturing the rural socioeconomic problems it requires the presence of socio-preneurs who are able to bridge social needs and current services. This study aims to analyse how the strength of Socio-preneurs in nurturing the rural socioeconomic conditions with community empowerment programs in the fields of education, economics, agriculture and environment which is based on four elements, namely: social value, civil society, innovation, economic activity. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative through field research. The results show that the strength and capacity of Socio-preneurs are very important because they act as agents of change for the environment, improve systems, find new approaches and create solutions as part of sustainability development goals (SDGs) especially in dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic for sustainability better life.

DEMOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PANDEMIC COVID-19: CHALLENGES FOR THE ECONOMY

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to serious shifts in the trajectory of demographic development in the world, including Russia. These shifts not only affect the reproduction of the population, but also lead to the exacerbation of many socioeconomic problems. The article analyzes the sharp increase in morbidity of people and mortality, the decrease in birth rate and life expectancy at birth, and changes in other demographic parameters. The assessment of the scale and specificity of these demographic changes, including in gender and age dimensions, are presented.

Nodas. Launeddas at the time of crisis

Dating back to 3000 years ago, Launeddas are a wind instrument from the Nuragic civilisation (Sardinia, 18th century BC/2nd century AD) bearing the marks of contaminations from all over the Mediterranean Sea and beyond. Nearly vanished between the 1960s and 1970s, Launeddas are extraordinarily alive and ever more widespread today. In today’s "time of crisis", they found levels of artistic excellence that just some decades ago looked no longer attainable. This documentary portrays five talents from the new generation of Launeddas players, exploring through their eyes the interstitial spaces between folklore and ethnicity, traditions and experimentation, identity and globalization. At the same time, the film exposes a harsh (but not resigned) aperture on the conditions of an entire generation, in an island such as Sardinia – among the poorest regions in Europe - which struggles with structural socioeconomic problems, whose solutions are still far away.