Disaster preparedness, adaptive politics and lifelong learning: a case of Japan

Preparedness for disaster scenarios is progressively becoming an educational agenda for governments because of diversifying risks and threats worldwide. In disaster-prone Japan, disaster preparedness has been a prioritised national agenda, and preparedness education has been undertaken in both formal schooling and lifelong learning settings. This article examines the politics behind one prevailing policy discourse in the field of disaster preparedness referred to as ‘the four forms of aid’ – ‘kojo [public aid]’, ‘jijo [self-help]’, ‘gojo/kyojo [mutual aid]’. The study looks at the Japanese case, however, the significance is global, given that neo-liberal governments are increasingly having to deal with a range of disaster situations whether floods or terrorism, while implementing austerity measures. Drawing on the theory of the adaptiveness of neo-liberalism, the article sheds light on the hybridity of the current Abe government’s politics: a ‘dominant’ neo-liberal economic approach – public aid and self-help – and a ‘subordinate’ moral conservative agenda – mutual aid. It is argued that the four forms of aid are an effective ‘balancing act’, and that kyojo in particular is a powerful legitimator in the hybrid politics. The article concludes that a lifelong and life-wide preparedness model could be developed in Japan which has taken a social approach to lifelong learning. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

The Persistence of Torture: Explaining Coercive Interrogation in America’s Small Wars

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-08

Copying to be Different: Violent Dissident Irish Republican Learning

While the impact of the Troubles retains centrality within much of Northern Irish political life, the spectre of almost daily violence is becoming a more distant memory. Peace has come to the region. In spite of this, however, there are those who wish to maintain the utility of violence to achieve their stated aims. Most dominant amongst these are the violent dissident republican groups. No longer is their existence solely defined by their desire to bring about a united Ireland. In order to have any opportunity of longevity, they must first legitimise their continued existence, and in turn distance themselves from their former Provisional comrades. This paper assesses how groups, such as the Continuity IRA, Óglaigh na hÉireann and the IRA/New IRA utilise the lessons learned from their Provisional history to differentiate themselves from the politicised dominance of Sinn Féin. This evaluation is carried out through the analysis of interviews with leadership and rank and file members of both political and paramilitary dissident groupings, which is complimented by the analysis of the Violent Dissident Republican (VDR) events database. These sources are supplemented with the assessment of organisational statements, from 2007 to the present day. The article focuses on violent, and non-violent, learning.

Trafficking in human beings for for forced labour in domestic and international law: a comparative legal study of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom

This thesis examines the effect of combating of human trafficking as a crime. Special emphasis has been placed on forced labour and the rights of trafficked victims and their protection. The study explores various legislations undertaken at regional, national and international levels and considers rights of trafficked victims under international human rights and Islamic rights. The aim of the thesis is to provide a critical and comparative analysis of the legal systems of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Kingdom (UK) in terms of human trafficking. The thesis consists of eight chapter; each covering a different aspect of the study. It begins by providing background information regarding the issue of human trafficking and proceeds to examine developments of legal frameworks across the two jurisdictions to combat this crime and penalize the criminals. It seeks to examine the legal system pertaining to human trafficking for forced labour and analyse the three distinct platforms, that is, prevention, protection, and punishment, by comparing the legal systems of the KSA and the UK. The examination of both countries aims to identify the strength and weaknesses of the KSA system as compared to the UK system. Thus, it concludes that the KSA can improve its ranking from Tier 2 watch list to Tier 1 if reforms are introduced in the legislation and enforcement domains. The study also demonstrates how the UK and the KSA portray ‘human trafficking’ in their regional laws. A problem often faced during the information-gathering and investigation stages is the lack of available evidence against traffickers, a particular issue in the KSA. The thesis concludes that the transnational aspect of this phenomenon makes it necessary to establish a thorough and comprehensive legal framework to cover all matters pertaining to this crime, including the protection of victims and punishment of criminals in the KSA and the UK, including immigration and ‘kafala’ strategies that may be of value in future researches.

Spanish monarchy and the Portuguese Republic: two routes to democratization

From 1974 to 1986 the Iberian Peninsula was the arena of major political changes. The process then undertaken was characterized by the transition from two Iberian authoritarian regimes to two democracies, which enabled both countries to join the European Economic Community (EEC) on 1 January 1986. However, the political vicissitudes until full membership of what became the European Union (EU) was achieved were very different and were decisively, although not exclusively, influenced by the fact Portugal was a republic and Spain a monarchy. In Portugal the 1974 revolution took place with consequent shift of the head of state while in Spain the engine of change was precisely the head of state: King Juan Carlos I. It is also true that despite the dangers to democracy (terrorism in Spain and some radicalism in Portugal) both societies supported the political parties committed to the democratic process in elections, which helped avoid tensions that could have defeated the process. Likewise, it is possible to argue that in Spain a plan to achieve democracy within the rule of law (an archetypal transition) was designed by the head of state, while in Portugal there was no pre-established plan – the programme of the Armed Forces Movement (Movimento das Forças Armadas [MFA]) was a weak and precarious compromise between different visions of the road to follow, enabling an intense political struggle that almost led to civil war and a dangerous state of crisis.

As doenças infeciosas e a história dos antibióticos

O presente trabalho aborda a história das principais doenças que assolaram a Europa desde a época medieval à época contemporânea, incluindo a referência às origens, às manifestações e ao tratamento. É igualmente abordada a questão do isolamento das substâncias ativas nas plantas medicinais e farmacológicas até à descoberta do primeiro antibiótico identificado pelo homem – a penicilina, por Alexandre Fleming – e a sua enorme importância no combate aos micro-organismos.

New challenges for the EU internal security strategy

In recent years, the EU and its member states have experienced a number of changes, as well as challenges, in the areas of politics, economics, security and law. As these areas are interconnected, changes and challenges to any of them have implications for the others, as well as implications for the populations and institutions of the EU or those coming into contact with its international power and influence. This edited collection focuses primarily on security and law, particularly the EU’s internal security strategy. The EU’s Internal Security Strategy, adopted by the Spanish presidency early in 2010, followed the Lisbon Treaty in 2009, building on previous developments within the EU in the Area of Freedom Security and Justice (AFSJ) policy. The focus of the EU Internal Security Strategy is to prevent and combat “serious and organised crime, terrorism and cybercrime, in strengthening the management of our external borders and in building resilience to natural and man-made disasters”. The Internal Security strategy intersects and overlaps with the European Union’s Counter-terrorism strategy, the Strategy for the External Dimension of JHA, and the EU’s Security Strategy. The role of and interaction between these strategies, their supplementing documents, and their implications for crime, victims, the law, political relations, democracy and human rights, form the backdrop against which the chapters in this collection are written. Building on original research by its contributors, this collection comprises work by authors from a wide variety of academic and professional areas and perspectives, as well as different countries, on a variety of areas and issues related to or raised by the EU’s Internal Security Strategy, from intelligence-led policing to human trafficking and port security. This book examines, from a wide variety of disciplinary perspectives including law, geography, politics and practice, both this further refinement of existing internal provisions on cross-border crime, and the increasing external relations of the EU in the AFSJ.

Collection of waste batteries in Portugal and Brazil

Selected papers from the 3rd Edition of the International Conference on Wastes: Solutions, Treatments and Opportunities

Processo de Abertura de Conta Bancária - Início da Relação entre Clientes e Instituições Bancárias

Mestrado em Contabilidade e Gestão de Instituições Financeiras

Um olhar sobre a lei Maria da Penha no Paraná: avanços e desafios

This study aims to analyze the process of implementation of Maria da Penha Law in Paraná from the perception of persons directly involved in combating violence against women in that state. To achieve this goal, the implementation in Curitiba was taken as the main reference, due to its status as capital, being the headquarter of the political powers and the place where are some feminist social movements. We have chosen qualitative approach of interpretative nature as research methodology, because it is a method that allows the analysis of the responses and as a data collection technique. We also have chosen the individual semi-structured interview as interview mode, because it gives greater freedom to the interviewee to discuss the matter, but it is delimited to the study objectives. The research included nine persons, including members of the Judiciary and Public Ministry, public servants and activists. The importance of the study stems from the relevance of the numbers of violence against women in Brazil, and more specifically by the significant occurrence of this kind of acts in the state of Paraná, which currently occupies the 3rd place in the ranking for the most violent states. The paper also discusses gender relations by understanding that violence against women is the result of an asymmetrical power relationship between men and women; human rights because violence is a blatant disregard of women's human rights; on public policies and technologies to confront this form of violence. Among the policies, the Maria da Penha Law is highlighted as one of the most striking examples of public policy for combating violence against women. The research found out which was the participation of Paraná in the discussion and implementation of Maria da Penha Law, identifying relevant facts and people and also what was the repercussion obtained by this law. As for the implementation in Paraná, it was possible to determine progresses, difficulties and challenges of the process. The greatest advances obtained so far are the facilities of: Court of Domestic and Family Violence against Women in Curitiba, Maria da Penha Patrol and Women's Special City Office of Curitiba. As for the difficulties, they are related, among others things, to the physical structure, training of agents, political will, and even cultural issues, which are directly linked to gender issues. Thus it was found that the law is implemented in the state, but there are still several challenges to be achieved, which consist, mainly, of the structure increment for combating violence; awareness and change of mentality of public officials; training of service agents and a greater social participation in combating violence. We concluded that the need for change in gender relations, which is an educational and social evolutionary process and therefore time consuming, is also a challenge.

Eventos Terroristas e Redes Sociais

Este estudo pretende ser um contributo para explicar de que forma a experiência dos utilizadores da internet influência a curiosidade e a atenção que os mesmos têm pela leitura de notícias online sobre eventos terroristas. Analisa-se também a forma como a experiência dos utilizadores da internet influência duma forma direta e indireta a receção de mensagens eletrónicas (eWOM – electronic word-of-mouth). Foi utilizada uma amostragem de 200 inquiridos, maioritariamente Portugueses. Os dados foram analisados recorrendo aos softwares estatísticos SPSS 21 e Lisrel 8.8.Os resultados realçam a importância do consumo e o encaminhamento de notícias sobre eventos terroristas e, surpreendentemente a influência negativa do eWOM sobre a partilha de notícias na internet. Futuramente, as organizações devem aumentar e dar maior notoriedade à credibilidade das informações sobre eventos terroristas, isto terá implicações positivas na atenção e na curiosidade prestada pelos consumidores acerca de conteúdos sobre terrorismo.

A relevância dos exercícios físicos para indivíduos de 30 a 50 anos de ambos os sexos portadores da Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida (HIV/AIDS) com Lipodistrofia causada pelo uso de anti-retrovirais

Introdução: Neste estudo será apresentado experimento sobre um programa de atividades físicas para diminuir os efeitos metabólicos da lipodistrofia, causada pela prescrição dos anti-retrovirais, medicamentos utilizados por portadores pelo vírus HIV\AIDIS. Objetivo: Investigar os benefícios dos exercícios físicos para indivíduos portadores do HIV\AIDS e combatendo doenças causadas pela lipodistrofia proveniente da terapia com anti-retrovirais. Metodologia: Foram 40 sujeitos divididos em grupo de exercício e grupo de controle. Os sujeitos participaram de palestra, exames e testes, tendo o grupo de exercício participado num programa de exército com duração de 24 semanas. As variáveis estudadas foram composição corporal, parâmetros bioquímicos e hemodinâmicos, e aptidão física e o questionário CEAT-VIH, versão em português do Brasil. Resultados: O programa de exercício apresentado foi positivo na composição corporal, parâmetros bioquímicos e hemodinâmicos e no questionário, CEAT-VIH, versão em português do Brasil. Na aptidão física o programa de exercício não obteve a resposta que esperávamos. Conclusão: O programa de exercício aplicado permitiu obter uma redução na massa corporal, IMC, glicose e colesterol, e melhoria ao nível da flexibilidade. Permitiu igualmente aumentar o cumprimento do seguimento da farmacologia prescrita pelos médicos; The Relevance of Physical Exercises for Individuals 30 to 50 years of Both Sexes Bearers of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV \ AIDS) with Lipodystrophy Caused by the use of Anti-Retroviral. Summary: Introduction: In this study will be presented experiment on a physical activity program to decrease the metabolic effects of lipodystrophy, caused by the prescription of anti-retroviral drugs used by patients with HIV \ AIDIS. Objective: To investigate the benefits of exercise for people living with HIV subjects \ AIDS and combating diseases caused by lipodystrophy from therapy with antiretrovirals. Methods: 40 subjects were divided into exercise group and control group. The subjects participated in lecture, exams and tests, and the exercise group participated in an army program of 24 weeks duration. The variables studied were body composition, biochemical and hemodynamic parameters, and physical fitness and the CEAT-HIV questionnaire, version in Portuguese of Brazil. Results: The submitted exercise program was positive in body composition, biochemical and hemodynamic parameters and questionnaire, CEAT-HIV, version in Portuguese of Brazil. Physical fitness exercise program did not get the answer we expected. Conclusion: The applied exercise program yielded a reduction in body weight, body mass index, glucose and cholesterol, and improved level of flexibility. It has also increase compliance of following the prescribed pharmacology by doctors.

Polio eradication efforts in regions of geopolitical strife: the Boko Haram threat to efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.

The World Health Organization aims to eradicate wild poliovirus worldwide by the end of 2018. Cameroon and Nigeria, neighboring countries, have been affected by the terrorist and militant activities of the Islamist sect Boko Haram. Impacted regions are mainly the far North of Cameroon and Northern Nigeria. Targets of Boko Haram aggression in these zones include violence against polio workers, disruption of polio immunization campaigns, with consequent reduced access to health care and immunization. In addition to this significant problem, Northern Nigeria has historically seen rejection of polio virus vaccine initiatives. It remains to know how health systems can continue operations against polio in areas where Boko Haram operates. If appropriate measures are not urgently taken, it will be not possible to meet the 2018 goal of polio virus eradication. The response should include specialized immunization activities in conflict zones, will engagement of leaders. Countries should also explore immunization activities by soldiers and military personnel.