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1 – 10 of 33Boris Orlowsky, Pierluigi Calanca, Irshad Ali, Jawad Ali, Agustin Elguera Hilares, Christian Huggel, Inamullah Khan, Raphael Neukom, Arjumand Nizami, Muhammad Abbas Qazi, Carmenza Robledo, Mario Rohrer, Nadine Salzmann and Kaspar Schmidt
Although the importance of climate change is generally acknowledged, its impacts are often not taken into account explicitly when planning development projects. This being due to…
Abstract
Purpose
Although the importance of climate change is generally acknowledged, its impacts are often not taken into account explicitly when planning development projects. This being due to limited resources, among others, this paper aims to propose a simple and low-cost approach to assess the viability of human activities under climate change.
Design/methodology/approach
Many human activities are feasible only within a narrow range of climatic conditions. Comparing such “climate corridors” with future climate projections provides an intuitive yet quantitative means for assessing needs for, and the viability of, adaptation activities under climate change.
Findings
The approach was tested within development projects in Pakistan, Peru and Tajikistan. The approach was shown to work well for forestry and agriculture, indicating positive/negative prospects for wheat in two districts in Pakistan, temperature constraints for maize in Peru and widening elevation ranges for walnut trees in Tajikistan.
Practical implications
Climate corridor analyses feed into the preparation of Local Adaptation Plans of Action in Pakistan.
Originality/value
The simplicity and robustness of climate corridor analysis allow for efficient analysis and communication of climate change impacts. It works when data availability is limited, but it can as well accommodate a wide range of complexities. It has proven to be an effective vehicle for mainstreaming climate change into adaptation planning.
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Purpose – This chapter uses evolutionary theory to determine if certain aspects of political thinkers’ societal visions might comport with human nature…
Abstract
Purpose – This chapter uses evolutionary theory to determine if certain aspects of political thinkers’ societal visions might comport with human nature.
Design/methodology/approach – This chapter summarizes the political views of two thinkers and then applies our evolutionary understanding of altruism/cooperation to determine if their views can in any way be considered consistent with human nature.
Findings – The chapter explores the underlying commonality between individualist anarchism and anarcho-communism. There is a subtle but credible relationship between these two libertarian perspectives through the evolution of cooperation in its several manifestations. It can be said that the key tenets of Max Stirner and Peter Kropotkin are underlain by evolutionary impulses, thus rendering their claims of cooperation and sociality plausible.
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The purpose of this article is expository in the main; critical to a lesser degree. It will attempt to show how Karl Marx, enraged by the imperfections and inhumanity of the…
Abstract
The purpose of this article is expository in the main; critical to a lesser degree. It will attempt to show how Karl Marx, enraged by the imperfections and inhumanity of the capitalist society, “fought” for its supersession by the communist society on which he dwelt so fondly, that society which would emerge from the womb of a dying capitalism. It asks such questions as these: Is it possible to create the truly human society envisaged by Marx? Is perfection of man and society a mere will‐o'‐the‐wisp? A brief analysis, therefore, of the imperfections of capitalism is undertaken for the purpose of revealing the evils which Marx sought to eliminate by revolution of the most violent sort. In this sense, the nature of man under capitalism is analysed. Marx found the breed wanting, in a word, dehumanised. An attempt is, therefore, made to discuss the new man of Marxism, man's own creation, and the traits of that new man, one freed at last from the alienating effects of private property, division of labour, money, and religion. Another question that springs to mind is this: how does Marx propose to transcend alienation?
Sergio Nasarre-Aznar and Héctor Simón-Moreno
This study aims to explore the current situation of universal accessibility to multi-unit buildings in three European countries (Spain, Germany and Sweden), in view of the lack of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the current situation of universal accessibility to multi-unit buildings in three European countries (Spain, Germany and Sweden), in view of the lack of effective European rules on this topic, with the aim to identify which legal frameworks and policies may be useful to favour it.
Design/methodology/approach
The results presented in this work are based on empirical data gathered from three surveys conducted in three representative countries of different housing models (Spain, Germany and Sweden). These surveys addressed the grade of accessibility at each point of the route that a person with mobility difficulties, with a physical deficiency or aged +70, has to do to access to their home from a public street or road.
Findings
The current paper shows that, in the end, there is still a long way to go in terms of universal accessibility to multi-unit buildings in, at least, three European Union Member States as, according to this study’s findings, the percentage of universally accessible multi-unit buildings is limited to 0.6 per cent in Spain, 2.5 per cent in Sweden and 1.5 per cent in Germany. The study also identifies successful legal frameworks and policies among the studied countries that may be useful to achieve a true universal accessibility to flats located in multi-unit buildings.
Research limitations/implications
The legal frameworks and policies identified in this paper in terms of promoting universal accessibility to housing located in multi-unit buildings may provide guidance to other researchers and policymakers when addressing this topic, thus helping them to reach an egalitarian and inclusive society.
Originality/value
This paper goes one step further than previous works as it is based on up to date empirical data concerning accessibility and it identifies successful legal frameworks and policies in a comparative perspective.
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International students face challenges when they attend a university outside their home country. Some of those challenges can be language barriers, expectations of professors…
Abstract
International students face challenges when they attend a university outside their home country. Some of those challenges can be language barriers, expectations of professors, university rules and living situation. All of these can add strain to an already stressful situation of studying abroad. Student integration into a local society can offset some of the anxiety of studying overseas (Mattis, 2019). Students who have made friends are comfortable living within the locale in which they are studying and have reported more satisfaction than those students who have not integrated into a local society (Fischer, 2012). This chapter will study the ways in which students should work to integrate themselves into the local society and how the university and professors can help international students find a way to become familiar and content within the local society. Learning the regional language, culture and social activities help enhance the student’s satisfaction.
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Daiga Kalniņa, Dita Nīmante, Sanita Baranova and Alise Oļesika
Covid-19 forced the entire global education system to adapt to the new circumstances. This chapter continues the worldwide discussion on how student learning on courses and…
Abstract
Covid-19 forced the entire global education system to adapt to the new circumstances. This chapter continues the worldwide discussion on how student learning on courses and programs that were moved partially online due to remote teaching and learning in higher education institutions (HEI) during the Covid-19 pandemic was assured and what opportunities this has brought to higher education. Although there is a tendency in the theoretical literature to focus on the problems, difficulties, and challenges associated with the transition to remote learning in higher education during the pandemic, this study suggests that, contrary to the common belief, students actually identify a great number of positive issues associated with remote learning. The findings of this study highlight that students see both personal benefits and challenges in remote learning. Overall, students are satisfied with the quality of the remote teaching and learning process, and students’ positive assessment of the quality of their studies’ organization increased with age. Stability and routine were important for the students in the study process. These ensure that the study process continues uninterrupted and thus that results can be achieved. The results of this study bring us to the conclusion that the Covid-19 pandemic could be used to speed up changes in HEIs around the globe to find better and more student-centered and innovative solutions in teaching and learning in the future.
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Mit der Veröffentlichung der provisorischen und geschätzten Ergebnisse der touristischen Entwicklung im Jahre 1971 hat die Weltorganisation des Fremdenverkehrs UIOOT in Genf…
Abstract
Mit der Veröffentlichung der provisorischen und geschätzten Ergebnisse der touristischen Entwicklung im Jahre 1971 hat die Weltorganisation des Fremdenverkehrs UIOOT in Genf erneut dargetan, dass der Fremdenverkehr die Bezeichnung «Wachstumsbranche Nummer 1» beansprucht. Auch wenn die registrierte elfprozentige Erhöhung der Einnahmen aus dem internationalen Fremdenverkehr den sechzehnprozentigen Zuwachs im Vorjahr nicht erreichte, haben die Einnahmen des vergangenen Jahres immerhin die Höchstzahl von 19,9 Milliarden Dollar erreicht, bei 181 Millionen Ankünften ausländischer Touristen.
Ronald Soetaert and Kris Rutten
The purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical background for studying rhetoric and narratives as equipment for living. Analyzing a case study on spinning and the spin…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical background for studying rhetoric and narratives as equipment for living. Analyzing a case study on spinning and the spin doctor in recent narratives with a major focus on the Danish TV-series Borgen. Arguing that narratives can be equipment for teaching.
Design/methodology/approach
Introducing rhetorical concepts as tools for an analysis of narratives (based on the work of Kenneth Burke).
Findings
The authors argue for the importance of rhetoric and narrative as tools for meaning-making, illustrate how spinning has become a major topic in recent fiction (and the TV-series Borgen in particular), and focus on how Borgen can be equipment for living from different “terministic screens.”
Originality/value
The authors analyze how a popular narrative as Borgen can be read as equipment for living, focussing on how the spin doctor has become a major character in fiction, and illustrate what the authors can learn from narratives about rhetoric and spinning.