Care For Future Generations Research Articles

Demographic implications on Sustainable Consumption: An Indian case study.

Sustainable consumption refers to a mind-set where the consumers adopt environmentally and socially responsible consumption behaviour with the focus on meeting one has needs and simultaneously reducing its impact on society and the environment at large. Literature review suggests that sustainable consumption is a very flexible concept that incorporates various factors and these factors can differ among consumers. As a result, this paper aims to study if consumers with different demographics in India differ in sustainable consumption behaviour. Specifically, consumers of different genders, age groups, and income groups differ in their consumption behaviour due to factors such as Quality of Life, Environmental Concerns, and Care for Future Generations. Quantitative research was undertaken for this study and data was collected through a structured questionnaire from 281 samples selected via a non-probability sampling method. The data was analysed using ANNOVA (normally distributed data) and Mann Whitney U Test/Wallis H test (not normally distributed data). Findings indicate that men and women significantly differ in their consumer behaviour on factors of quality of life, care for the environment, and care for future generations. Quality of life also significantly affects sustainable consumption behaviour among the various income groups and age groups. These findings therefore can in the future support marketers in adopting various sustainable practices according to the importance attached to their target audience.

Community participation among immigrants: A generative journey towards personal growth

Immigrants usually live under oppressive settings and experience social suffering because of the unjust socio-cultural conditions of host societies. Community participation can be particularly beneficial for them as it leads to positive outcomes and the ability to resist oppression. In this article we argue that volunteerism—a specific form of community participation rooted in generativity—not only helps immigrants in handling oppression and social suffering but also leads to positive psychological changes. Combining the liberation psychology and generativity approaches, a qualitative study was implemented based on in‐depth interviews (N = 27) with immigrant volunteers of migrant community-based organizations settled in Milan, Italy. The results highlight how the process of immigrant volunteerism operates. Some immigrants cope with nostalgia for their countries of origin while others cope with social suffering in Italian society. In both cases, their coping is “generative” when connected to volunteerism, that allows immigrants to enact their social responsibility and care for future generations both in their country of origin and in host societies. The sense of mattering (i.e., feeling useful) and psychological sense of community (i.e., the sense of belonging to a group where solidarity is expressed) experienced within this type of organizations are related to paths of personal growth. Practical implications are presented.

LOGICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ESSENCE OF ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION OF FUTURE TEACHERS OF BIOLOGY

The article presents a logical and methodological analysis of the essence of environmental education of future biology teachers. The influence of environmental factors on all spheres of human activity: production and politics, economics and energy, urban planning and development of new technologies, health care and education, and the formation of basic worldviews of modern man. The concept of “worldview”, in particular the biosphere or ecocentric, and “world”. The global functions of the education system are highlighted: neohumanist (orientation of the educational process on the survival and continuation of human development, care for future generations) and ecological (aimed at preserving the biosphere and nature as a whole (Earth and Space), providing favorable environmental conditions). Specific aspects of environmental education are identified. Approaches to solving problems of environmental education in theory and practice are revealed: socio-philosophical, personal-activity, individual-creative, professional, culturological, biological, socio-pedagogical, and systemic. Accordingly, the most important problems of environmental education and its significant shortcomings were identified. A regional program of continuing environmental education has been developed, in which the regional nature of the content of environmental education is preferred, and its three most important components have been identified: natural science, value-normative, and activity. A systematic description of the goals and objectives of environmental education is given, the principles of its construction (scientific, predictive, interconnected disclosure of global, regional and local aspects of ecology, integration, continuity, and system) are identified, leading ideas are identified, and models of environmental education at school are developed. Concepts of real realization of ecological education at all its stages are developed, as well as the conceptual provisions of development of ecological education.
 Keywords: logical and methodological analysis; essence; ecological conditions; worldview; world; biosphere; ecocentric; ecological education; future biology teachers.

Embracing panda—assessing the leisure pursuits of subscribers to China’s iPanda live streaming platform

ABSTRACT This study systematically explores and assesses why the nascent leisure pursuit of following giant pandas on live streaming platforms, which is credited as the dullest yet most mesmerising pastime in the internet age, is being embraced by a fast growing niche fan base. In particular, the concepts of cuteness, relating to the likeability of the pandas, and generativity, epitomised by one’s concern and care for future generations, are introduced to respectively account for the co-effects of recreational and serious facets of this unique leisure genre. Research results from structural modelling conclude that the platform subscribers’ perceptions of cuteness, being mediated by their generative inclinations, affected positively their perceived values of the platform, which, in turn, exerted a positive effect on their behavioural intentions. This study contributes to research on multispecies leisure and serves as practical reference for better realising the ecological and social values of giant panda live streaming in the post pandemic era.

Organ donation with vouchers

The ever-increasing shortage of organs for transplantation has motivated many innovative policies to promote the supply of organs. This paper proposes and analyzes a general class of deceased organ allocation policies that assign priority on organ waiting lists to voucher holders to promote deceased donor registration. Priority vouchers can be obtained by self-registering for donation or through family inheritance. In an overlapping generations framework, we find that extending the donor priority benefits to future generations can improve the aggregate donation rate and social welfare. In particular, giving higher priority to voucher inheritors who register for donation is always beneficial regardless of the levels of population growth and care for future generations. By contrast, the efficacy of granting priority to nondonors with inherited vouchers depends on these two sociodemographic factors because of potential free-riding incentives.

Sustainable Construction as a Competitive Advantage

Nowadays, sustainable construction (SC) is considered as a measure to support a healthy economy. The SC concept ensures quality of life and helps minimize the negative impact on the environment, human health, and biodiversity. SC fits into the modern sustainable development (SD) concept due to the ability to improve the environment, energy efficiency, and care for future generations. Despite numerous studies dedicated to the SC concept and implementation, practical matters related to SC including the importance of macroeconomic environmental sustainability are still insufficiently explored. The objective of this research is to study the practical issues of SC in the example of developing countries. Moreover, this work is aimed at determining the importance of the sustainable macroeconomic environment in ensuring SC. With the help of correlation and regression analysis effected for the purposes of the study, the direct connection and strong correlation between the GDP growth in the country and the number of large sustainable infrastructure facilities constructed and put into operation in the Russian Federation and China (correlation coefficient comprised 0.9987) were revealed. Within the current study, the experience of developing countries in SC is also discussed. It has been outlined that for emerging countries, the development of the construction industry environment within the framework of SC is possible in a sustainable business environment. The competitive advantages for SC are considered in social, economic, and environmental systems. Moreover, the models of formation and ensuring competitive advantages of the SC enterprise are presented. This paper reveals that the stability of the macroeconomic environment is a key factor in construction industry growth within the SC for developing countries.

PROMOTION OF CULTURAL GENERATIVITY TO SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL AGING IN ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES

The psychological construct of generativity encompasses a person’s motivation to leave a legacy for future generations by investing in acts that will outlive the self (Ericson, 1950). Lewis and Allen (2017) outlined the importance of generativity within AN cultures (caring for the future of our youth) and expanded Erikson’s western-based definition by adding the indigenous cultural generativity component to describe and incorporate Alaska Native specific cultural elements. These culturally based elements involve giving back to family and community including guidance and teaching of future generations (Lewis & Allen, 2017). Generativity within western societies accentuates independent achievements and successes more than the notion to care for future generations. This study is part of a larger community-based, exploratory, study between researchers and communities to explore successful aging that included 42 Alaska Native Elders in the Norton-Sound subregion, 21 Alaska Native Elders from the Aleutian Pribilof Islands, and 26 Elders from the Bristol Bay region. Qualitative interviews explored the participant’s life, influences on aging well, and their aging process. Thematic analysis was used to investigate the impact of generativity on successful aging was used to establish codes and main themes based on the three different cultural regions of Alaska. The findings suggest that generativity promotes successful aging. Elders who live in communities that promote community engagement, support family and school activities, and maintain and/or revitalize culture and traditions reported increased emotional well-being. Results can guide communities to incorporate or support cultural activities that promote generative activities and meaningful engagement which fosters successful aging.

Case Study of R-1234yf Refrigerant: Implications for the Framework for Responsible Innovation.

Safety and care for the natural environment are two of the most important values that drive scientific enterprise in twentieth century. Researchers and innovators often develop new technologies aimed at pollution reduction, and therefore satisfy the strive for fulfilment of these values. This work is often incentivized by policy makers. According to EU directive 2006/40/EC on mobile air conditioning since 2013 all newly approved vehicles have to be filled with refrigerant with low global warming potential (GWP). Extensive and expensive research financed by leading car manufacturers led to invention of R-1234yf refrigerant with GWP<1, which was huge improvement. For the proper understanding of this case it will be useful to refer it to the idea of responsible innovation (RI), which is now being developed and quickly attracts attention. I proceed in the following order. Firstly, I present the relevant properties of R-1234yf and discuss the controversy associated with its marketing. Secondly, I examine framework for responsible innovation. In greater detail I discuss the notions of care for future generations and collective responsibility. Thirdly, I apply the offered framework to the case study at hand. Finally, I draw some conclusions which go in two directions: one is to make some suggestions for improving the framework of RI, and the second is to identify missed opportunities for developing truly responsible refrigerant.

Cultivating Respectful Relations: A Response to Leroy Little Bear

This response to Professor Little Bear's lecture considers the role of language in acknowledging our interdependency with other living beings, and explores the possibilities offered by Indigenous humanities with regard to a deep valuing of the watery commons otherwise known as the planet earth. Questions of reciprocity, historical responsibility, decolonization, solidarity, and care for future generations are raised.