ESPIRITUALIDADE E PEDAGOGIA DO DESEJO: UM DIÁLOGO ENTRE PAULO FREIRE E RENÉ GIRARD

A exploração e a manipulação do desejo são algumas das principais marcas da cultura de consumo. Nas sociedades em que predomina essa cultura, o consumo aparece como critério de humanização, e o sentido da vida o núcleo ético-mítico em torno do qual a sociedade se organiza é a busca de acumulação de riqueza para se consumir cada vez mais. Alguns estudos têm demonstrado os aspectos sagrados dessa cultura, que se tornou uma verdadeira religião da vida cotidiana, com suas devoções, espiritualidades, mitos e ritos. Da mesma forma, alguns estudos vêm demonstrando como essa cultura determina os projetos pedagógicos. Esses estudos não são acidentais, pois religião e educação são elementos fundamentais na origem e na manutenção de qualquer cultura e sociedade humanas. Todavia, podem ser também elementos de transformação. Paulo Freire acena com o interesse pela criação de uma Pedagogia do Desejo, compreendendo que este tema é de fundamental importância na luta pela superação da exclusão social, o que infelizmente não teve tempo de formulá-la. A obra de René Girard reforça a tese de que a religião é um processo fundamental para as sociedades humanas, considerando sua real função na origem da cultura. Segundo Girard, a religião é a educadora da humanidade no processo de humanização e socialização. E sua característica mais notável é justamente a de educar o desejo, pois, devido a sua natureza mimética, constantemente é gerador de violência. Nas pesquisas sobre as relações entre Religião/Teologia e Educação, recentemente tem sido realizado o estudo dos pressupostos teológicos e espirituais das propostas educacionais. Há muitos pontos de convergência entre Paulo Freire e René Girard, alguns até complementares. O diálogo entre esses dois autores se mostra muito profícuo na discussão do tema do desejo em relação com a espiritualidade e a educação. Este trabalho é uma tentativa de buscar elementos que favoreçam a elaboração de uma Pedagogia do Desejo a partir das contribuições das Ciências da Religião.(AU)

EDUCAÇÃO E TECNOLOGIA: DESTERRITORIALIZAÇÃO DO CONHECIMENTO E DESCENTRALIZAÇÃO DO SABER NA OBRA DE PIERRE LÉVY

Este estudo apresenta uma pesquisa nas obras de Pierre Lévy, sobre as relações entre educação e tecnologia. A investigação está centrada sobre os conceitos de desterritorialização do conhecimento e descentralização do saber. A temática que o referido autor desenvolve, a respeito dos conceitos de ecologia cognitiva, tecnologias da inteligência e inteligência coletiva, assim como o saber e o conhecimento que permeiam a educação do futuro, é o objetivo central deste trabalho. O objeto de pesquisa é a própria produção do autor. Esses conceitos são problematizados levando em conta duas instâncias: de um lado, o conhecimento acadêmico institucionalizado e de outro lado, a proposta de uma inteligência coletiva, que dá espaço para uma dimensão mais ampla do saber humano. Lévy reconhece que cada ser humano sabe alguma coisa, e que, em função disto, entende que o conhecimento no lugar de estar reservado a espaços específicos, está presente na humanidade na forma de uma inteligência coletiva. Acredita que a popularização do acesso ao ciberespaço através das tecnologias da inteligência e da cibercultura resulta em um espaço antropológico onde as inteligências coletivas produzem um espaço de saber democrático , possível a todos os seres humanos e, um espaço de produção de diferentes saberes. Esta pesquisa considera também as resistências à proposta de Pierre Lévy, e, aprofunda, de maneira crítica, a idéia enunciada acima, de uma educação do futuro.(AU)

OS PROCESSOS RESTAURATIVOS EM CONFLITOS ESCOLARES

A escola é uma instituição inserida na sociedade e, portanto reflete seus sintomas, dentre eles a violência, que de maneira geral vem sendo institucionalizada, sendo percebida como algo natural e imutável, e a maneira com a qual ela vem sendo tratada pela escola apenas a perpetua. Comumente a resolução dos conflitos perpassa por uma noção de justiça vinculada à punição e a obediência, havendo sempre uma relação proporcional ou não, entre o ato e sua sanção, sendo o enfoque no crime, ou seja, a justiça retributiva. A proposta de justiça restaurativa, diferentemente, visa exatamente o oposto, pois se fixa não no castigo e na vingança, mas na restauração das relações e na valorização de todos os envolvidos, por meio dos círculos restaurativos. Estes inserem o facilitador e os participantes. Inicialmente é feita uma apresentação do funcionamento do círculo. Afinal esse modo de organização é envolto de uma aura sagrada, em que todos se preparam para a restituição, pois se deve estar disposto a reconciliar-se. Nos círculos pode-se ouvir e falar por meio do bastão da fala que circula, quem está em seu poder conta sua versão da história sem estigmas de vítimas ou ofensores, ao recontar e ao ouvir o posicionamento do outro, há o estabelecimento de novos vínculos. A partir desta formação os sujeitos podem buscar soluções consensuais a fim de restabelecer as relações, sanar as necessidades individuais e eliminar as disputas conflituosas. A ênfase na responsabilização dos sujeitos em uma sociedade que delega responsabilidades promoveu na pesquisa a necessidade da discussão dos conceitos de culpa e vergonha como agentes reparadores. Tem-se por objetivo relatar experiências analisando o uso de processos restaurativos na promoção da resolução dos conflitos escolares. O estudo consta de uma amostra de quatro casos envolvendo adolescentes em conflitos escolares, que foram analisados qualitativamente, considerando as subjetividades envolvidas nos relatos. Assim, este trabalho mostra que o uso de práticas restaurativas no trato dos conflitos escolares, é uma possibilidade de intervenção que atua na melhora do ambiente e da convivência escolar, promovendo aprendizagens e troca de saberes, valorizando a tolerância ao diferente e a possibilidade de escuta, compreendendo o conflito de maneira positiva, abdicando condutas punitivas, mas principalmente restaurando relações. ões. Neste trabalho foi possível entender que a violência esta institucionalizada, naturalizada e reproduzida na escola, e que rompe essa cadeia ao compreender as causas da violência escolar, promovendo a substituição da violência pelo diálogo e por outras tantas outras respostas possíveis. Entender o conflito como inerente aos relacionamentos e o abordar como possibilidade de aprendizagem, os manejando sob a ótica da justiça restaurativa, promove uma rede multiplicadora de paz, em que os alunos disseminam às suas famílias e comunidade estes novos olhares. Reparar, restituir, reintegrar, restabelecer, recuperar, reconstituir, restaurar. A beleza dessa ideia, desse novo paradigma do qual essa pesquisa se apropria é a capacidade humana de se refazer, de se reinventar. Compreender a oportunidade de reiniciar, satisfazendo necessidades e compensando perdas, é validar a própria humanidade.

RELAÇÕES DE SUPORTE E BEM-ESTAR NO TRABALHO EM PESSOAS COM DEFICIÊNCIA

Desde tempos remotos é notória a busca da humanidade para entender e conquistar a felicidade, qualidade de vida, bem-estar e saúde na sua plenitude bio-psico-social. Assim, o objetivo geral deste estudo foi analisar as relações entre percepções de suporte (social, social no trabalho e organizacional) e bem-estar no trabalho (satisfação no trabalho, envolvimento com o trabalho e comprometimento organizacional afetivo) em trabalhadores com deficiência, pois são poucas as pesquisas sobre pessoas com deficiência (PCD). O propósito em abordar o trabalho é por ser um importante elemento de integração social e por constituir um símbolo de reconhecimento social, valorizando a capacidade de estreitar contatos e de estabelecer relações sociais. Deste estudo, participaram 44 trabalhadores com algum tipo de deficiência que atuam em cargos operacionais, técnicos e administrativos. Todos foram escolhidos por conveniência, sendo 24 (54,5%) do sexo masculino e 20 (45,5%) do sexo feminino, com idade entre 18 e 65 anos. Foi possível classificar as deficiências dos participantes em quatro categorias: deficiência nos membros superiores: 9 (20,5%) trabalhadores; deficiência nos membros inferiores: 11 (25%) trabalhadores; deficiência auditiva: 21 (47,7%) trabalhadores; deficiência visual: 3 (6,8%) trabalhadores. Para a coleta de dados foi utilizado questionário de auto-preenchimento, composto de seis escalas que avaliam satisfação no trabalho, envolvimento com o trabalho e comprometimento organizacional, além de suporte social, suportes social no trabalho e organizacional. Foram realizadas análises estatísticas descritivas, testadas diferenças entre médias, bem como calculados coeficientes de correlação entre variáveis. Os resultados apontam que em termos de satisfação no trabalho, não revelam discrepâncias entre estudos realizados com trabalhadores sem deficiências (considerados normais ). Também foi possível observar que as PCD declaram ter orgulho da empresa em que trabalham, além de estarem contentes, entusiasmadas, interessadas e animadas com a organização empregadora. O estudo revelou que as PCD obtêm de sua rede social, ajuda emocional que lhes proporciona sentimento de apoio frente às dificuldades ou carências afetivas, pois provavelmente entendam que podem contar com essa rede para comemorar realizações e sucessos, da mesma forma que receber carinho e consolo quando se frustram ou passam por algum momento triste. É possível afirmar que as PCD percebem que essa mesma rede seria capaz de lhes prover algum apoio prático, como receber informações acerca de sua saúde, talvez reabilitação, também informações para atualização profissional ou até acompanhamento do seu desenvolvimento, inclusive busca de novas oportunidades e desafios para crescimento pessoal e profissional. Os resultados desta pesquisa indicam que as PCD tendem a manter uma forte convicção de que a empresa em que trabalham preocupa-se com seu bem-estar e está disposta a oferecer ajuda diante uma necessidade. Demais resultados sinalizam que as PCD tendem a aumentar o seu vínculo com o trabalho vivenciando mais satisfação na medida em que também aumentam os suportes ofertados pela organização, pela rede social no contexto do trabalho e fora dele. A análise de todo o conteúdo confeccionado é a grande contribuição deste estudo, por ser considerado pioneiro nesta discussão, mas futuros estudos podem vir a confirmar tais resultados e corroborar com mais informações.(AU)

Linkages between ecocentric values and action in expert discourse: the case of genetically modified food in the UK

Attitudes towards the environment can be manifest in two broad categories, namely anthropocentric and ecocentric. The former regards nature as of value only insofar as it is useful to humanity, whereas the latter assigns intrinsic value to natural entities. Industrial society can be characterised as being dominated by anthropocentrism, which leads to the assumption that a majority of people hold anthropocentric values. However, research shows the most widely held values are ecocentric, which implies that many people's actions are at variance with their values. Furthermore, policy relating to environmental issues is predominantly anthropocentric, which implies it is failing to take account of the values of the majority. Research among experts involved in policy formulation has shown that their values, often ecocentric, are excluded from the policy process. The genetic modification of food can be categorised as anthropocentric, which implies that the technique is in conflict with widely held ecocentric values. This thesis examines data collected from interviews with individuals who have an influence on the debate surrounding the introduction of genetically modified foods, and can be considered 'experts'. Each interviewee is categorised according to whether their values and actions are ecocentric or anthropocentric, and the linkages between the two and the arguments used to justify their positions are explored. Particular emphasis is placed on interviewees who have ecocentric values but act professionally in an anthropocentric way. Finally, common themes are drawn out, and the features the arguments used by the interviewees have in common are outlined.

Low-temperature organic Rankine cycle engine with isothermal expansion for use in desalination

Groundwater salinity is a widespread problem that contributes to the freshwater deficit of humanity. Consequently, where conventional energy supply is also lacking, organic Rankine cycle (ORC) engines are being considered as a feasible option to harness readily available low-grade heat (<180°C) to drive the desalination of the saline water via reverse osmosis (RO). However, this application is still not very well developed, and has significantly high specific energy consumption (SEC). Hence, this study explores the isothermal expansion of the ORC working fluid to achieve improved efficiency for driving a batch-RO desalination process, "DesaLink". Here, the working fluid is directly vaporized in the expansion cylinder which is heated externally by heat transfer fluid, thus obviating the need for a separate external boiler and high-pressure piping. Experimental investigations with R245fa have shown cycle efficiency of 8.8%. And it is predicted that the engine could drive DesaLink to produce 256 L of freshwater per 8 h per day, from 4000 ppm saline water, with a thermal and mechanical SEC of 2.5 and 0.36 kWh/m3, respectively, representing a significant improvement on previously reported or predicted SEC values. © 2014 © 2014 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.

The role of wisdom in organisational leadership

This thesis begins with a review of the literature on wisdom models, theories of wise leadership, and existing wisdom measures. It continues with a review of how the concept of wisdom may add value to existing leadership models, highlighting the need to empirically identify the characteristics of wise leaders and develop a wise leadership measure. A nomological framework for wise leadership is then presented. Based on a review of the wisdom and leadership paradigms, a mixed-methods research design is described for three studies to define the characteristics of wise leadership in organisations; identify specific leadership challenges that might require wise responses; and to develop the wise leadership measure comprising of vignettes. The first study involves critical incident interviews with 26 nominated wise leaders and 23 of their nominators, which led to the identification of nine wise leadership dimensions which include Strong Ethical Code, Strong Judgement, Optimising Positive Outcomes, Managing Uncertainty, Strong Legacy, Leading with Purpose, Humanity, Humility, and Self-Awareness. The second study includes critical incident interviews with 20 leaders about organisational challenges associated with the nine dimensions, to elucidate the wise leadership measure. The third study includes the design of 45 vignettes based on organisational challenges that measure the nine wise leadership dimensions. The measure is then administered to 250 organisational leaders to establish its construct validity, leading to the selection of 18 vignettes forming the final wise leadership measure. Theoretical, methodological and practical implications of this research are then discussed with recommendations for future research.

Catalyst design for biorefining

The quest for sustainable resources to meet the demands of a rapidly rising global population while mitigating the risks of rising CO2 emissions and associated climate change, represents a grand challenge for humanity. Biomass offers the most readily implemented and low-cost solution for sustainable transportation fuels, and the only non-petroleum route to organic molecules for the manufacture of bulk, fine and speciality chemicals and polymers. To be considered truly sustainable, biomass must be derived fromresources which do not compete with agricultural land use for food production, or compromise the environment (e.g. via deforestation). Potential feedstocks include waste lignocellulosic or oil-based materials derived from plant or aquatic sources, with the so-called biorefinery concept offering the co-production of biofuels, platform chemicals and energy; analogous to today's petroleum refineries which deliver both high-volume/low-value (e.g. fuels and commodity chemicals) and lowvolume/ high-value (e.g. fine/speciality chemicals) products, thereby maximizing biomass valorization. This article addresses the challenges to catalytic biomass processing and highlights recent successes in the rational design of heterogeneous catalysts facilitated by advances in nanotechnology and the synthesis of templated porous materials, as well as the use of tailored catalyst surfaces to generate bifunctional solid acid/base materials or tune hydrophobicity.

Happiness, environmental protection and market economy

The manufacturing sector is leaving the West for Asia’s low wages and good working culture. Europe would be better off keeping these manufacturing activities, slowing down wage inflation and what is more, letting a young, cheaper workforce from the East settle down within their borders. This would aid in preserving the diverse economic structure which has been characteristic for Europe.Beside the economic growth there are two more concepts which have turned into the “holy cows” of economics during the last fifty years. One is the need to constantly improve labor productivity and the other is increasing competitiveness of nations. The high labor productivity of some countries, induces severe unemployment in the globalized world. In the other hand it is high time we understood that it is not competition, but cooperation that brings more happiness to humanity.Should we still opt for “happiness” and “sanity”, it is quite obvious that we all should, in economists’ terms, define our individual welfare functions corresponding to our own set of values, staying free from the influence of media, advertisements and fashion. The cornerstone to all this is the intelligent citizen who prefers local goods and services.

Square and compass: Freemasonry's tools for constructing a global civil society

The concept of a global civil society is gaining greater acceptance among International Relations (IR) scholars, yet few studies exist that look at the role of fraternal organizations and their influence in constructing this realm. Freemasonry, one of the oldest fraternal orders, exerts a powerful influence on its membership through its symbolism, architecture and ritual, based on the tenets of mutual respect and tolerance towards all human beings. Such principles helped in creating a body of practices and institutions as early as the eighteenth century which two hundred years later were identified and conceptualized as global civil society. ^ The allegations of anti-Masons and conspiracy theorists offer a continuous account of Masonry's influence on the political scene since its modern founding in 1717 Great Britain. Conspiracy theorists portray the coming of a New World Order, orchestrated and directed by a secret hierarchy of Masons/Illuminati. Even though the lens of conspiracy theories paints a distorted view of reality, it does focus attention to Freemasonry's activities as a major player in politics over the span of three centuries. Not only do such theories challenge the novelty of practices that make up a global civil society, but also the notion that it is an inclusive and growing sector that unites people across the globe. They also provide a valuable critique by pointing out the inconsistencies and discriminatory practices of Masonry as contrasted with the lofty ideals and aims for humanity. ^ The Masonic influence in the social world is perceived as one that reflects the liberal worldview where the nation-state and power structures are in pursuit of human progress, or profit. The symbolism of Masonry, however, carries a message that can be characterized as representing republican ideals. Masonic symbolism and ritual create spaces of meaning where the contradictions between the ideals and the structures of inequality and elitism can be resolved. Freemasonry as a symbolic system proclaiming their inherent republican values does have a global reach. However, the effectiveness of these values is bounded by the constraints that are inherent in a liberal world dominated by nation-states. ^

Representación de la mujer transgresora en la novelística de la Cuba republicana

This dissertation explored the subversive feminine discourse in the most representative novels of the first quarter of the twentieth century in the newly born republic of Cuba. Drawing on the feminist theories of Simone de Beauvoir, Toril Moi and Pierre Bourdieu, these women were analyzed in the context of their time, their class level and their race. Because it is oppressive and theoretically unsatisfactory to reduce women to their general "humanity" or to their "femininity", my purpose was to analyze them as human beings in a "specific situation" and show how they curtailed the laws that patriarchy has prepared for them. The novels studied were: Doña Guiomar, by Emilio Bacardí; A fuego lento, by Emilio Bobadilla; La manigua sentimental, by Jesús Castellanos; Las honradas, by Miguel de Carrión; Las impuras, by Miguel de Carrión, and Ecué-Yamba-O, by Alejo Carpentier. Women will obtain freedom and independence from patriarchal control, symbolic power, symbolic violence, and hypnotic power when they are educated and have obtained a working position in society similar to men or by joining the political struggle in their community, in their country, or in the global organizations.

Life and death in the forest: Landscape agency during the Holocaust

To escape certain death during the Nazi regime, approximately eighty thousand terrorized and persecuted Eastern European Jews sought refuge in the forests surrounding their communities. Most often, their forest deaths were the result of Nazi-sponsored activities such as ghetto deportations and hunts for Jewish escapees. However, anti-Semitic partisans, partisan combat, hostile peasants, and environmental elements were also factors contributing to an estimated ninety percent fatality rate. This dissertation explored the role and meaning of forests to these Jewish fugitives. It investigated the bodily and social practices they developed to enhance their odds of survival in the forest landscape. I develop the concept of landscape agency as a response to my research question: What was it like to live and survive (or die) in the forest during the Holocaust? Moreover, it is an approach to theorizing about the humanity of space. Landscape agency builds upon a phenomenological approach to space and place that links landscape and action through bodily practices. This dissertation analyzed the fugitives' actions as functions of various forms of capital, namely economic, cultural and social. The sample included thirteen individuals who were themselves forest fugitives during the Holocaust. Face-face qualitative interviews were conducted from 2004 to 2006. Primary data from these interviews was used extensively to demonstrate the practices utilized in the fugitives' experiences with life and death in the forest. This study concluded that the odds of survival for forest fugitives were enhanced by use of landscape agency.

Representation of people of color in the nineteenth century slavery novel in Cuba and Brazil

This dissertation explores the similarities and differences which characterize the depiction of people of color in certain representative nineteenth century Cuban and Brazilian slavery novels as a function of the authorial approach of each territory's literary tradition toward the issues of slavery, racial prejudice, and people of color. The selected texts, derived from the peak periods in slavery literature of each territory, include Francisco , by Anselmo Snárez y Romero; Sab, by Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda; Cecilia Valdés , by Cirilo Villaverde; A escrava Isaura, by Bernardo Guimarães; O mulato, by Aluísio Azevedo; and Bom-Crioulo, by Adolfo Caminha. While the present study explores the enslavement, abuse, and discrimination of people of color as a consequence of a deep-seated discourse of power, privilege and racial superiority, it focuses more extensively on the representation of people of color, particularly in their capacity to constructively appropriate the cultural values of the white dominant group and recognize their identity as ambiguous. ^ Said's theories of Orientalist discourse and geography and formation as well as Dube's perspective on subaltern-oriented studies provide a theoretical framework for exploring the response of slavery writers whose common exposure to slavery but dissimilar socio-political contexts generate some startling findings. Crafted within a period of political repression, fear of black revolt, factional in-fighting as well as strong socioeconomic ties to the slaveholding class, the Cuban texts generally fashioned an approach to slavery as one marked by moderation, reform, and cultural counter discourse and consequently depict people of color with a more passive but culturally authentic outlook. On the other hand, the Brazilian response to the issue of slavery, steeped in an ideological amalgam of liberalism, positivism, republicanism, and abolitionism, is characterized by overt opposition to slavery and a representation of people of color that is less concerned with cross-cultural input but reclaims their humanity as highly educable and socially mobile persons in search of greater freedoms. Ultimately, there is a shared message of higher significance couched in the worthwhile mission of raising slaves to the level of men. ^

Surprises and Insights from Long-Term Aquatic Data Sets and Experiments

long-term research on freshwater ecosystems provides insights that can be difficult to obtain from other approaches. Widespread monitoring of ecologically relevant water-quality parameters spanning decades can facilitate important tests of ecological principles. Unique long-term data sets and analytical tools are increasingly available, allowing for powerful and synthetic analyses across sites. long-term measurements or experiments in aquatic systems can catch rare events, changes in highly variable systems, time-lagged responses, cumulative effects of stressors, and biotic responses that encompass multiple generations. Data are available from formal networks, local to international agencies, private organizations, various institutions, and paleontological and historic records; brief literature surveys suggest much existing data are not synthesized. Ecological sciences will benefit from careful maintenance and analyses of existing long-term programs, and subsequent insights can aid in the design of effective future long-term experimental and observational efforts. long-term research on freshwaters is particularly important because of their value to humanity.

Globalization and the Marginalization of Educational Purpose: Preparation of Workers and Citizens for the 21st Century and the Vision of Sustainable Futures

Human capital development remains a primary goal of modern schooling. This paper raises questions concerning the link between global economic needs and school-based human capital development. The primary mission of preparing students for the workplace may weaken other educational missions vital in achieving a more sustainable future for humanity.