Structuring Transnational Spaces of Identity,Rights and Power in the Niger Delta of Nigeria

This paper critically examines the ways in which global–local flows interpenetrate each other and mesh, simultaneously undermining and empowering the forces of local resistance, using the Niger Delta as a case study. It explores the response of local resistance groups to ‘globalization from below’, by appropriating global structures and tapping into transnational networks to empower their identity, rights, and claims in the oil-rich, but impoverished Niger Delta. Space is conceptualized as the transnational multiscalar social terrain of power, which is critical both as a site of struggle and as expression of the global logic of oil capital. Applied to an explanation of the globalization of extraction and resistance in the oil-rich Niger Delta, this article posits that a lot will depend on the balance of power between the social forces in the region, the oil multinationals, and the Nigerian state, and the capacity of the forces of resistance to tap into and creatively use existing transnational space(s) and discourses to push an agenda of social emancipation and grassroots democracy.

Este artículo examina las maneras como los flujos locales y globales se interpenetran entre sí y engranan, debilitando y fortaleciendo simultáneamente a las fuerzas de la resistencia local, usando el Delta del Níger como estudio de caso. El mismo explora la respuesta a la resistencia de los grupos locales a la ‘globalización desde abajo’, mediante la apropiación de estructuras globales y sacando provecho de las redes transnacionales para fortalecer sus identidad, derechos y demandas en el Delta del Níger, rico en petróleo, pero empobrecido. El espacio se ha conceptualizado como un terreno de poder social trasnacional y multiescalar que es crítico para ambos sitios de conflicto y como expresión de la lógica global del capital del petróleo. Este artículo hace referencia a una explicación de la globalización en la extracción y la resistencia del Delta del Níger, rico en petróleo y postula que mucho depende del equilibrio del poder entre las fuerzas sociales de la región, las multinacionales del petróleo y el estado de Nigeria, y la capacidad de las fuerzas de resistencia de beneficiarse y creativamente usar el(los) espacio(s) y tratados para promover la agenda de emancipación social y democracia de base.

     

The decline of intelligence: A methodological note

The author discusses some of the conclusions reached by Mrs Bernadelli in her recent study of intelligence in New Zealand     

Reflections upon the treatment of sexual disorders by the behavioral clinician: An historical comparison with the treatment of the alcoholic

In a longitudinal psychoendocrine follow‐up study, six males were treated for idiopathic panhypopituitarism from teenage until age 25 to 35 years. All six were short statured and failed to attain full pubertal virilization. All six were chronically juvenilized by other people. Self‐report data showed low frequencies of erection, ejaculation, masturbation, erotic fantasy, and sexual intercourse, and low frequencies of socializing, friendships, dating, necking, petting and the pair‐bonding of falling in love. Falling‐in‐love impairment may have been secondary to neural impairment that parallels impairment of the brain's hypothalamic governance of pituitary function.     

How Pervasive Are Abuses in Fundraising Among Nonprofits?

This article explores selected fundraising information for charitable nonprofits, asking whether widespread abuses might exist in this sector. After examining the pervasiveness of fundraising and its relation to mission, we show that a few nonprofits raise a majority of sector charitable revenues, and we present the ratio of funds raised to funds spent on fundraising by mission categories. We find that 72 percent of charitable nonprofits do not report direct fundraising expenditures, 5 percent of the active fundraising nonprofits obtain 90 percent of total funds raised, mission is related to a nonprofit's ability to raise funds, the median nonprofit spends about 9.6 percent of total raised funds for fundraising, and only one in five nonprofits hires a professional fundraiser. At least in terms of the measures used in this report, widespread abuses are not obvious.     

Informal caregivers' leisure time and stress

This article explores the disruption informal caregiving creates in the caregiver's family life and the relationship between leisure and stress caused by caregiving. The study finds that the caregiving setting, caregiver's sociodemographic characteristics, and economic variables (i.e., wage rate, nonwage income, and Medicaid coverage) significantly affect the caregiver's leisure. Additionally, reducing leisure leads to emotional and physical stress and less satisfaction with life overall. The article concludes with implications for public policy. Her research interests include long-term health care and medical service utilization for minority populations. She holds a doctorate from Northwestern University. He has published extensively in the areas of health services research and nonprofit organizations. His doctorate is from the University of Virginia.     

A note on accounting during inflation

The paper suggests that the extensive debate over the question of whether to use a consumer price index or a specific index (or replacement costs) to adjust historic accounts is approaching the problem in the wrong way. There are several relevant concepts of income which should be reported and the relevant index differs according to the income concept reported. It is proposed that companies should publish figures for four different concepts of income and that, where specific indices are required, these should be specific to each company.     

Nest design in a changing world: Great tit <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parus major</Emphasis> nests from a Mediterranean city environment as a case study

Investigations of urbanization effects on birds have focused mainly on breeding traits expressed after the nest-building stage (e.g. first-egg date, clutch size, breeding success, and offspring characteristics). Urban studies largely ignored how and why the aspects of nest building might be associated with the degree of urbanization. As urban environments are expected to present novel environmental changes relative to rural environments, it is important to evaluate how nest-building behavior is impacted by vegetation modifications associated with urbanization. To examine nest design in a Mediterranean city environment, we allowed urban great tits (Parus major) to breed in nest boxes in areas that differed in local vegetation cover. We found that different measures of nest size or mass were not associated with vegetation cover. In particular, nests located adjacent to streets with lower vegetation cover were not smaller or lighter than nests in parks with higher vegetation cover. Nests adjacent to streets contained more pine needles than nests in parks. In addition, in nests adjacent to streets, nests from boxes attached to pine trees contained more pine needles than nests from boxes attached to other trees. We suggest that urban-related alterations in vegetation cover do not directly impose physical limits on nest size in species that are opportunistic in the selection of nesting material. However, nest composition as reflected in the use of pine needles was clearly affected by habitat type and the planted tree species present, which implies that rapid habitat change impacts nest composition. We do not exclude that urbanization might impact other aspects of nest building behaviour not covered in our study (e.g. costs of searching for nest material), and that the strengths of the associations between urbanization and nest structures might differ among study populations or species.     

Can Target Costing and Whole Life Costing be Applied in the Construction Industry?: Evidence from Two Case Studies

Building on the results of a far‐reaching action research project we discuss an attempt to introduce target costing in the UK construction industry. After examining some of the issues facing the UK construction industry, we examine the case for using target costing as a way of supporting supply‐chain integration in view of an improvement of the level of profitability and quality of the industry. After presenting evidence from two pilot projects we propose some considerations on target costing and its applicability to the UK construction sector and derive directions for future research.     

The use of detailed statistical data in customs reforms: The case of Madagascar

To carry out their various missions—collecting revenue, facilitating trade and ensuring security— many customs administrations have established a risk management unit. In developing countries, however, because of the lack of dedicated human and material resources, intelligence and risk analysis remain insufficiently developed. In view of the lack of resources, this article proposes a simple methodology aiming at detecting risky import operations. The mirror analysis first helps to identify and target products or sectors with the greatest risk. Based on the examination of customs declarations patterns (data mining), it is then possible to identify and target higher risk economic operators (importers and customs brokers). When implemented in Madagascar, this method has helped to reveal probable fraud cases in the context of current customs reforms.