战略环评与都市圈建设

都市圈的建设越是火热,越需要冷静的思考。目前都市圈建设面临的重要问题是环境保护,战略环评的缺位造成的损失难以在短时间内克服,只进行建设项目的环境影响评价是不够的,需要正确认识并切实推行战略环评。     

国外有关网络环境下知情权的立法现状及借鉴意义

网络环境下的知情权是传统知情权在网络这一特殊社会环境下的表现形式.在网络环境下,知情权的行使日益多样化,更加便捷高效,充分体现出公共参与性.美国、欧盟和亚洲国家针对网络环境下的知情权展开了积极的立法实践,而我国的相关立法仍处于缺位状态.应借鉴国外立法的先进经验,根据本国的宪政路径来选择知情权的立法模式,消除网络环境对传统法律制度造成的障碍,并结合网络环境下知情权的特点对立法进行制度设计.     

建立和完善大学生社会主义荣辱观教育的环境育人机制

社会主义荣辱观教育是当前大学生素质教育的基础和思想道德教育的重要内容,是一项具有复杂性、艰巨性、长期性的系统工程,更是一项牵动国民教育全局、关系到社会整体发展进程的系统的基础工程,需要调动和协调方方面面的力量, 发动社会各界齐抓共管,形成强大的教育合力.因此,建立和完善学校、家庭、社会"三位一体"的环境育人机制则成为大学生荣辱观教育长效机制实现的重要保证.     

宁夏人口与生态环境面临的问题及对策

宁夏是少数民族地区,较为宽松的生育政策。导致人口快速增殖。由于宁夏所处的地理位置和历史遗留的生态债务使得境内生态环境十分脆弱。尤其是人口过度增殖已超出了刚性土地资源的有效容纳力。这不仅给环境造成了巨大压力,也进一步加剧了生态环境的恶化。本文通过大量统计数据和实地调研。分析了近年来宁夏人口与生态环境之间存在的亟待解决的矛盾和问题。分析表明,当前宁夏尤其是宁南山区人口数量与人口素质、人口数量与生态存量和生态消费之间表现出了明显的此长彼消的关系。在分析的基础上．提出了人口与生态环境建设方面的政策建议。     

Community-Based Services and Depression from Person-Environment Fit Perspective: Focusing on Functional Impairments and Living Alone

ABSTRACT

Guided by the Person-Environment Fit perspective, we investigated the extent to which personal and environmental factors influence depression among community-dwelling adults. The data came from the special section about community-based service utilization in the 2012 Health and Retirement Study (N=1,710). Although community-based service was not significantly associated with depression after controlling for covariates, respondents with functional limitations and living alone were less likely to be depressed when using community-based services. This study demonstrates the different associations between community-based services and depression depending on personal needs. It discusses the importance of community-based services for aging-in-place policy, particularly among vulnerable populations.     

A transnational networked public sphere of air pollution: analysis of a Twitter network of PM2.5 from the risk society perspective

ABSTRACT

Drawing on digitaltrace data, publicly accessible government documents, and journalistic reports, this research integrates Beck’s risk society theory with digital media theories to examine the mediated process of risk definition and assessment of PM2.5 (particulate matters with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers) in a networked public sphere. Network and content analysis of a PM2.5 Twitter network shows that political and professional elite remained the most powerful producers of risk definition. Established media played a key role, yet faced challenges from a variety of actors who disseminated and filtered information. Laypersons, while peripheral, actively interacted with elite and established media. The blurring geographic boundary in the PM2.5 Twitter network revealed an emerging transnational public sphere, which, however, was segregated by language. This research advances a layered understanding of the contingent, paradoxical media impact for social changes in a risk society.     

Multi-ethnic school environment from the school leader’s perspective: challenges and approaches to improve multi-cultural competency among teachers in Malaysia

This study aims to identify the challenges and approaches to improve a multicultural competency among teachers in multi-ethnic schools environment based on school leaders’ perspective. Data collection method used in this study is qualitative method. A total of nine school leaders from the states of Kedah, Penang, and Perak were included in the interview session. The results of this study show that the challenges faced by teachers in practicing the multicultural competency are lack of experience toward cultural diversity. A late exposure to cultural diversity makes it difficult for teachers to accept and adapt in a multi-ethnic school environment. The approaches suggested by school leaders to improve the multicultural competency are as follows: (1) Courses on cultural diversity should be organized to enhance the knowledge about cultural diversity; (2) the development of more open and better policy for education system in Malaysia in order to prepare teachers with a higher multicultural competency for teaching students from diverse ethnic and cultural groups; (3) an early exposure to cultural diversity in order to increase the multicultural competency, especially during teaching practicum.     

Home Environment and Its Relation with Quality of Life of Older People

In this cross-sectional study, we tested the relationship between sociophysical environment, quality of life (QOL), and perceived social support among elderly in Iran. The sample includes 128 participants recruited in the city of Shahrekord, Iran. We measured Evaluation of Older People Living Environment (EVOLVE); Control, Autonomy, Self-realization and Pleasure scale (CASP-19) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) tools respectively, through home-based observation and interview. A significant relationship was found between several domains of home environment, QOL, and perceived social support. The interaction effect of the home environment and gender in relation to QOL and perceived social support was statistically significant. Our results support that the home physical environment may not be considered a strong predictor of QOL among the Iranian elderly.     

The Impact of the Physical Home Environment for Family Carers of People with Dementia: A Qualitative Study

Background: The majority of people with dementia are cared for by their families at home. This study aimed to elicit family carers' perceptions on home environmental aspects and strategies with the view to identify barriers and facilitators when caring for a person with dementia at home.

Design and methods: Thirteen co-resident family carers were engaged in semi-structured in-depth walking interviews. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Home environments can pose a number of challenges and opportunities. Aspects of the architectural and interior environment (e.g. size, condition, layout and accessibility, familiarity) are perceived as important (Theme 1) as well as a plethora of environmental strategies that encourage independence and comfort at home (Theme 2). Carers' scepticism, timing, costs, property characteristics and mistrust to services are some barriers to implementing environmental strategies (Theme 3).

Conclusions: Carers improvised solutions via trial and error and need further education on strategies to create an enabling and comfortable home environment.