Mediterranean Diet a Potential Strategy against SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Narrative Review

Mediterranean Diet represents the traditional eating habits of populations living around the Mediterranean Sea, and it is associated with a lower risk of overall mortality and cancer incidence and cardiovascular diseases. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a new pandemic, and represents a significant and critical threat to global human health. In this study, we aimed to review the possible effects of Mediterranean Diet against the risk of the coronavirus disease 2019. Several vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and phytochemicals with their potential anti-COVID-19 activity are presented. Different risk factors may increase or reduce the probability of contracting the disease. Mediterranean Diet has also a positive action on inflammation and immune system and could have a protective effect against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Further studies are needed to corroborate the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet protective role on infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Integrating Sustainability-Oriented Ecologies of Practice Across the Learning Cycle: Supporting Transformative Behaviours in Transgenerational, Transnational and Transdisciplinary Spaces

The article examines the complexities associated with effectively and comprehensively tackling the climate change crisis. Focusing on the need for education, the authors discuss a model of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) that supports the development of competencies, coalition building and the capacity to support and maintain positive action. Drawing upon principles highlighted by the United Nations, the paper outlines the breadth and depth of knowledge required to support transformative ESD. Firstly enhancing comprehensive knowledge that develops cognitive, affective and axiological dimensions and proficiency. This enhances critical engagement with information and enables individuals to act responsibly and align with others in coalition building. The second element refers to collaborative partnership that is crucial for changes to be effective. This has been one of the most challenging barriers preventing positive action on the catastrophe pf climate change. Finally, the paper emphasizes the need to develop the competencies for supporting collective action, which will enable sustained action across transnational, transdisciplinary and transnational boundaries.

The COVID-19 Saga: Myths, Allegories and the Aftermath for Contemporary and Future Practice

The mythical fight of Heracles against the Hydra presents an allegory to the fight of humanity against the COVID-19 pandemic. The rational interpretation of the myth can help people understand the intricacies of the management of healthcare crises. Combined with this, the myth can also create respect for healthcare workers and inspire individuals to take positive action in the fight against COVID-19. Although myths have been regarded as a threat to public health, mythological elements and allegories can become potent tools of health promotion.

Challenges for Society

The theories laid out step by step in the preceding chapters are not only of intrinsic scientific interest; they are also potentially of great practical use. Using the UK government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic as an example, this chapter begins by exploring various ways in which attention to our three kinds of interacting landscapes might enable us to tackle various collective action problems more effectively. It then considers how insights from the study of imagistic group bonding could be used to prevent or resolve intergroup conflicts, whether by defusing groups bent on violence or by rechannelling their extreme loyalty to the group in more peaceful and consensual ways. Moving from this to the problems posed by populism and polarization in large groups, attention then turns to the role of the doctrinal mode in fuelling dissent and the breakdown of cooperation, but also its potential to help us coordinate positive action on global issues, such as the climate crisis, more effectively than ever before.

Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Discrimination

Any attempt to address discrimination through litigation must be combined with efforts to prevent discrimination from happening in the first place and promoting equality. Articles 5, 10–13 RED and Articles 7, 12–14 EED are key here. Chapter 6 looks at the role played in this context by state authorities, Equality Bodies, and civil society organizations. As well as the possibility of taking positive action, state authorities have an obligation to disseminate information and raise awareness about legal rights and existing redress mechanisms. Research shows that awareness-raising activities are superficial, insufficient, and are not considered to be high priority by the Member States. This is an unacceptable situation in light of the low level of awareness in particular of support structures in place in the different countries. The task is sometimes (by law or in practice) delegated to Equality Bodies, which also have to fulfil an advisory role to the government. In countries with a predominantly tribunal-type Equality Body, these bodies, faced with financial constraints, tend to prioritize their decision-making function. When it comes to the dialogue with civil society organizations, a state obligation under the Directives having the purpose of increasing the effectiveness of national policies and awareness raising, the research has shown that the opportunities for NGOs to engage in a constructive dialogue with state authorities and to be meaningfully involved in law and policy making are shrinking. The chapter closes with indicators to measure the level of implementation of the respective provisions of the Directives.

The Socio-Ethical Outlook on the Concept of Human Aggression and a Concept of Good Society—Towards New Socio-Religious Approaches for Human Morality—Theoretical Debate

The authors analyze the concept of human aggression and the concept of a good society as they are both perceived in the sociological and interdisciplinary domains. They debate the issue of human aggression observed in contemporary societies, which hampers general social development worldwide, the expedition of socio-religious morality, and the positive action of good behavior. Both concepts have a long record of sociological research, although the exploration of the concept of a good society was most popular in the sociological research of the 1970s. At present, a substantial increase in the levels of human aggression among and particularly towards religious communities in societies during peacetime is seen as the most complex impediment to the preservation of good societies, regardless of their structural endeavors. The authors analyze the available data, including empirical data, concerning their researched theme to identify a theoretical framework of linkages that would allow them to perform further research and take stock of the scientific efforts made so far to perceive morality as a platform connecting good society models with the potential for the reduction in aggression.

Infodemics and Deadly Racist Viruses: covid-19 Response in the Chinese-Filipino Community

In the last decade, the Philippines has experienced an escalation of anti-Chinese sentiment due to many factors, founded and unfounded. The growing presence of illegal immigrants and crimes associated with them; an increase in the number of Chinese workers, who are perceived as competing with Filipino workers; an increase in Chinese businesses, especially in retail, some operating without permits; the continuing dispute between China and the Philippines over the islands in the West Philippine Sea; President Rodrigo Duterte’s China pivot policy and what has been deemed as favoring China to the detriment of the Philippines. This confluence of events has served to worsen the image of China. The covid-19 pandemic and the way the government responded to it worsened the sinophobia directed at anyone considered “Chinese,” including Filipinos of Chinese ancestry. This paper explores the racism vented against the Chinese and how the local Chinese-Filipino community has responded with positive action to help mitigate the anti-Chinese wave.