Chasing the Green Buck? Environmental Activism in Post-communist Baltic States

The paper investigates the dynamics and volution of issues on the agenda of Baltic environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) since the collapse of communism. The past research on Baltic environment activism suggests that these enjoy high visibility because they tapped the core societal views of natural environment as a crucial asset of a nation. As we demonstrate in this paper, the changes in agendas of Baltic environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) make clear that the rhetorical toolbox of ‘national environment’ is often used to mainly achieve greater financial gains for individual members, rather than for society at large. We illustrate how the dearth of economic opportunities for domestic public has impacted perceptions of ‘nature’ advocated by the environmental activists, focussing specifically on national perceptions of ownership and the resulting actions appropriating ‘nature’ as a source for economic development, only tangentially attaining environmental outcomes on the way. The vision that the ‘environment’ is an economic resource allowed ENGO activists to cooperate with the domestic policymaking, while tapping international networks and donors for funding. Throughout the past decades they worked to secure their own and their members' particularistic economic interests and, as we demonstrate, remained disengaged from the political process and failed to develop broader reproach with publics.

Bridging the Gap: Developing a Palliative Approach to Care for Young Adults with Life Limiting Conditions

Bridging the Gap: Developing a Palliative Approach to Care for Young Adults with Life Limiting Conditions

More young adults (YAs) with life limiting conditions (LLC) are surviving into adulthood as earlier diagnosis and improved medical management in pediatric care lead to higher rates of survival for cancer, congenital heart and neuromuscular conditions. When these YAs leave pediatric care, they leave behind comprehensive and coordinated health, social and education services for uncoordinated adult systems, with limited access to palliative services they received in pediatric care.

YAs with LLCs will benefit from a public health palliative approach to care. This approach better matches their chronic disease trajectories of a series of declining plateaus over a period of months to years, punctuated by unpredictable periodic crises. Public health palliative care is a blended provision of health care and community services based on evidence that health care is most effective and least expensive when offered in conjunction with a complement of services that reflects social determinants of health and well-being. For YAs with LLCs, these resources will support their health, social, vocational, independent living, and educational goals to maximize their opportunities in an abbreviated time frame.


The objectives of this workshop are to:

1. Provide an overview of the young adult population with palliative care needs.
2. Discuss current care of this population.
3. Highlight results from three recent projects to examine and address needs of this population.
4. Dialogue with audience about other programs, initiatives, or ideas to address the needs of this population.

We look forward to robust conversations and ideas from your practice and research.