Community Life Research Articles

Military Commitment and Identity as Implicit Religion: A Key to Understanding the Loss of Profundity in the Transition from Military to Civilian Life

This article is based on a rare longitudinal interview study on the transition from military to civilian life in which participants shared their experiences over the course of ten years. The challenges of transition included disconnection from a collective life that had previously offered service members identity, community, camaraderie and purpose – experiences that can be understood as the partial loss of something profound. An abductive analysis was conducted which centred on the integrating foci of commitment and the creation of a military identity derived from implicit religion. When viewed through this lens, the significance or strength of implicit religion and belief, in the context of military commitment, can be described as paramount and sacred – worthy of dying for. The findings offer a novel understanding of the profound experiences related to military communal life, purpose, and identity during active service (that is, the conceptualization as implicit religion) as well as the loss of these implicit religious elements during the transition out of military life, and how the participants have thought about and dealt with this loss in various ways.

Impact of farm mechanization on crop productivity and economic efficiency in central and southern Oromia, Ethiopia

IntroductionFarm mechanization has multi-dimensional impacts on agricultural production systems like economic efficiency and productivity, thereby improving the quality of life in the farming community by reducing work drudgeries. However, these impacts were not studied empirically in Ethiopia. Hence, this research was initiated to estimate the level of economic efficiency, and productivity of wheat and barley, and the impact of farm mechanization on economic efficiency and productivity of wheat and barley.MethodsThe analysis was done for 232 and 257 wheat and barley producer farmers respectively who are selected from the Arsi and West Arsi zones. The stochastic frontier model was used to estimate economic efficiency while augmented inverse probability weighted (AIPW) was used to estimate the impact.Results and discussionBased on the result, it is apparent that farm mechanization has a significant positive impact on wheat productivity while the percentage change in average treatment effect for the barley was not statistically significant. Farm mechanization also affects wheat and barley economic efficiency positively. Hence, we recommended the wider use of farm mechanization to improve economic efficiency and productivity. Therefore, policy design should focus on ways to avail farm machinery easily like establishing farm mechanization service centers and facilitating credit services for mechanization service renders.

Perception of smallholder farmers about climate change and its impacts on crop production across agroecological zones of the Gassera District, Southeastern Ethiopia.

Climate change and variability have threatened rainfed agriculture by affecting the livelihoods of rural communities in Ethiopia. The study area, Gassera District, is among the high-potential crop production areas of the Bale Zone and is severely impacted by recurrent droughts resulting from climate change. This study evaluated smallholder farmers' perceptions of significant climate change and its effects on food crop production across the agroecological zones of the Gassera District. A cross-sectional survey design was employed to collect data from 444 farm households via multistage random sampling techniques. Multiple linear regression (MLR) models were used for the data analysis. The results revealed that 98.5% of the interviewed farmers were aware of climate variability and that 51.6% understood its impact to a reasonable extent. However, over half of the farmers did not perceive climate change as the greatest threat to their livelihood. Most farmers experienced rain becoming more erratic, starting late, and ending early as medium climatic factors (60.4%, 68.1%, and 66.2%, respectively), affecting their crop production. The results revealed that rainfall had a negative and insignificant decreasing trend (2.92mm/year). The annual mean temperature exhibited a positive and statistically significant increasing trend (Ρ < 0.01). Crop production is positively and linearly correlated with the amount of annual rainfall at the Ρ ≤ 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that the greatest crop yield loss was associated with lowland agroecology. The MLR results revealed that farmer agroecology, age, sex, and chemical use had substantial impacts on crop yield loss. We urge farmers to understand the long-term effects of climate change on their livelihoods.

ENHANCING BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH CSR: A CASE STUDY OF "BETTER LIVING IN MALAHING” IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF CARROLL'S PYRAMID

This study examines PT PKT's CSR initiative, "Better Living in Malahing," in relation to business sustainability and its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The research underscores the critical role of economic responsibility and profitability in sustaining both social and environmental goals. Using a qualitative case study approach, the study delves into the implementation of the CSR program based on Carroll's Pyramid of responsibilities, encompassing economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic dimensions. Data collection methods include in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis. Findings reveal that the program significantly improved the quality of life for coastal communities in Bontang while simultaneously bolstering the company's reputation. Moreover, a strong correlation between corporate social responsibility and sustainable financial performance is identified. The conclusion emphasizes that integrating CSR into core business strategies is crucial for long-term sustainability. This research contributes by illustrating the necessity of well-structured, enduring CSR initiatives in supporting economic, social, and environmental dimensions of corporate operations.

Awakening Community Resilience: Strengthening Post-Crash Support for Road Traffic Accident Victims through Sarvodaya's Community-Based Initiatives (A Case Study)

Introduction: The provision of crash care presents a pressing health concern globally, with community-based initiatives offering a cost-effective approach to interventions. The objective of this study was to elucidate the potential community-based initiatives to enhance post-crash support for victims of road traffic accidents, specifically focusing on the efforts of Sarvodaya: a non-governmental organization in Sri Lanka.Methods: This case study employed a mixed-method approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative components. Data collection was done using self-administered questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews. Purposive sampling was done to identify informants (n=37) for the questionnaire survey.Results: While the informants had mixed perceptions of Sarvodaya's present initiatives to support post-crash care, the REACT – Community Life Saver initiative garnered majority for its potential to address the needs of the Road Traffic Accident victims. Community engagement was deemed insufficient, underscoring the need for enhanced awareness programs. Collaboration with existing resources, including Community Lifesaver Programs and the Red Cross, was identified as pivotal. Strategies for community-based interventions, including awareness campaigns, first aid training, improved emergency response systems, and victim advocacy, were prioritized for implementation. Implementation challenges such as resource constraints, behavioural issues of both drivers and pedestrians, communication gaps, and policy-legal concerns were highlighted. Addressing these challenges is crucial for the effective support of Road Traffic Accident (RTA) victims at the community level.Conclusion and recommendations: The study concludes that Sarvodaya has the potential to spearhead community-based initiatives aimed at enhancing post-crash support for road traffic accident victims, pending the effective resolution of identified constraints.

Community Perception of Sasi Lompa Fish Culture: A Sociological Analysis of the Negeri Haruku Community

Sasi Lompa fish culture is a cultural tradition that the people of Maluku know well because it has values and meanings that deeply touch the people's lives. It has a positive impact on the survival of the community to defend themselves and continue their lives in situations and natural conditions that are currently loaded with various offers of new values, which can erode the mindset of its citizens so that deviant behavior appears so that it can harm the balance between humans and their natural creations. This study aims to determine the perception of the people of Negeri Haruku toward the existence of Sasi Lompa fish as a cultural tradition. The research was conducted in Negeri Haruku, Haruku Island District, Central Maluku. The study results found that the community's perception of the Sasi Lompa fish cultural tradition is that Sasi Lompa is an ancestral heritage tradition. Sasi Lompa fish is part of natural resource conservation, and Sasi Lompa is an orientation of community life guidelines. Although some people still do not appreciate this cultural tradition, the implementation of Sasi Lompa fish still takes place today. It provides great hope for creating togetherness between communities to increase the community's economy and become a tourism asset. Keywords: perception, community tradition, Sasi culture, Lompa fish Sasi

Local Potential Management for Poverty Alleviation in Maluku

Poverty, as a social problem, has a significant impact on human life. Therefore, various theories have been produced for poverty alleviation, followed by various policies. It is carried out by the governments of sovereign countries, organizations, families, and personal efforts. Nevertheless, poverty still exists and even shows fluctuating numbers, as if poverty cannot be eradicated from the lives of humanity. The Central Bureau of Statistics shows that Indonesia’s population in March 2023 reached 280.73 million people with a poverty rate of 9.36% or 29.9 million people, above the average poor population of the world community. In Maluku, the poverty rate was 16.42% in September 2023, which represents 301.61 thousand people. It is an increase from the previous year, which places the poverty of the Maluku people above the average of the world’s poor and the average of the poor in Indonesia. Through research with a unique sociological approach to system theory by Talcott Parsons with his AGIL, it was found that in rural communities, especially in sago-producing countries, poverty can be alleviated not in a moment but sustainably with the quality of life of the community and the quality of the environment that constantly increases. Through qualitative research conducted, it was found that managing and cultivating sago regularly will have an impact on increasing community income, the emergence of new water sources resulting in the emergence of many aquatic animals, the opening of various business lands, the natural environment becomes cool and fertile, and various other benefits. In this way, poverty can be erased in sago-producing communities, with the quality of community life and the environment continuing to improve. Keywords: local potential, poverty alleviation, Maluku

Comparative Analysis of Household Residential Preferences Across Neighbourhood Densities in Nairobi, Kenya

Rapid urban growth in Nairobi city outstrips demand and provision of adequate housing. The demand for housing in an area is dependent on the satisfaction of the resident’s needs and wants. This paper examines the residential preferences of residents in three residential estates, low, medium, and high densities in Nairobi City, Kenya. Data was collected by use of questionnaires that were administered to 267 households. Primary data was collected for this study. The data collected was analysed using factor analysis and ordinal regression. Data was presented in the form of tables. The results indicate residential preferences among high, medium and low-density areas vary. The most preferred factors for low-density residents were safety and security, open spaces and facilities; while the residents in high-density areas preferred housing diversity, local employment and close proximity to the workplace. The least preferred factor for low-density residents was close proximity to work place since they own cars hence they are more willing to commute while high-density residents prioritize proximity to work to minimize transportation costs. Residential preferences varied by density, age, gender, education and years lived in an estate. Preference for safer neighbourhoods with open spaces and facilities was high for residents in low-density areas while preference for neighbourhoods with housing diversity, local employment and close proximity to workplaces was high among the residents in high-density estates. These insights underscore the importance of addressing the varied needs and preferences of different demographic groups in urban planning and housing policy to create more equitable and livable communities in Nairobi in order to limit housing mismatch. This study contributes to the planning studies by firming up empirical evidence from developing countries that have high populations in urban areas

Sustainable Strategy toward Community Life Satisfaction in Heritage Tourism

This research aims to form a model strategy for community life satisfaction by developing sustainable tourism in cultural heritage sites. This research used mixed method: qualitative method by in-depth interviews with four respondents from local communities, MSMEs, Kawasan Cagar Budaya Nasional (KCBN) Muaro Jambi, government involved in heritage site tourism activities and analyzed using QDA Miner. The quantitative method was by distributing questionnaires using purposive sampling to 200 respondents, and data were processed using SmartPLS to build a holistic model of community life satisfaction in heritage sites. The results of this research are: firstly, social culture and urban landscapes contribute to community satisfaction; secondly, social culture and urban landscape have a significant positive influence on sustainable tourism; thirdly, through sustainable tourism, community life satisfaction will be formed. This research has relevant implications for providing a deeper understanding of the impact of sustainable tourism in improving community life satisfaction in heritage sites by integrating natural values and urban landscape and empowering the local community.

Value Tensions in OpenStreetMap: Openness, Membership, and Policy in Online Communities

The social life and long-term trajectories of online peer production communities are shaped and animated in part by value tensions that arise when distributed, heterogeneous participants are brought together into collaboration. This study of OpenStreetMap (OSM) draws upon values-based approaches to investigate how peer production communities enact their values and navigate tensions between them. We examine how conflicts within the community over the rise of corporate participation in OSM provided a stage for the articulation and enactment of community values, shedding light on the broader dynamics and trajectory of the platform and its participants. The contributions of this work include reflections on how increasing corporate participation in OSM intersects with discourses about the emancipatory potential of emerging mapping technologies, insights into the challenges of scaling membership in peer production communities, and exploring the role of values in understanding the social life and governance of online communities.

Transnational variation in residents’ quality of life in Nigeria-benin republic border communities

Transnational variation in residents’ quality of life in Nigeria-benin republic border communities

Contribution of wildlife tourism in improving local communities’ livelihood in Burunge Wildlife Management Area in Tarangire Manyara Ecosystem, Tanzania

The overall objective of this study was to assess the role of wildlife tourism in improving the livelihood of communities in Burunge Wildlife Management Area (BWMA) by focusing on the economic and the socio-cultural roles. Data were obtained through household questionnaire, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews in three study villages. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26 and Microsoft Excel. The findings revealed that wildlife tourism operations in the three villages associated with BWMA have generated significant benefits. Several economic and socio-cultural livelihood indicators in the study villages were significantly impacted by wildlife tourism activities. Wildlife tourism appears to have a considerable impact on increasing household incomes, but a relatively lesser impact on reducing agricultural production, which is the economic mainstay for many households in the Babati district. In terms of socio-cultural livelihood indicator, wildlife tourism operation seem to have a significant (x2 = 191.613, df = 8, N = 117 and p < 0.0001) impact in raising the profile and fame of the villages, while having a lesser impact on the erosion of local customs and culture, as most of the villagers continue to uphold their cultural practices. These findings suggest that wildlife tourism in the WMAs can improve people's standard of living and strengthen cultural values. The study recommends full consideration of socio-economic and cultural values of the communities at individual level by the potential stakeholders including policy makers. This will enhance the achievement of sustainable conservation in WMAs and community development through wildlife tourism activities.

The policy of territorial reorganization of church parishes in the Olonets region in the second half of the 18th – early 19th century

The article presents the results of the study of the reasons and the realization of the policy of territorial reorganization of parishes in Olonets uyezd, the goals and basic principles of which were formulated at the legislative level in the XVIII century. The effort to support the clergy of the tiny “monastic” parishes that emerged after the secularization reform of 1764 prompted the diocesan authorities to closure small parishes and reorganize parishes with large number of households. The reorganization of parishes that had taken in the late 1760s and 1810s were not systematic, however had ambivalent effects. On the one hand, the bishops began to solve ongoing problems on the delimitation of a group of vast parishes boundaries. On the other hand, they could not attain improvements in the welfare of the clergy and the maintenance of churches at the proper level. Furthermore the liquidation of economically incapable parishes without proper attention to the spiritual life of local communities resulted in the flourishing of the popular orthodoxy and the strengthening of the Old Believers positions.

THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY IN PROTECTING AND PROMOTING THE CULTURAL VALUES OF THE SAN DIU ETHNICITY OF SON DUONG DISTRICT TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF TUYEN QUANG PROVINCE

The role of the community in protecting and promoting cultural values has always been studied by managers and scientists. Identifying and properly assessing the role of the community in protecting and promoting ethnic minority values requires an objective and comprehensive view, based on sound scientific arguments. The traditional culture of the San Diu people is the glue that binds the members of the community, creating a strong and united community. However, the socio-economic development in the years of renovation and the process of industrialization and modernization has had a strong impact on the culture of the San Diu people. Cultural changes are taking place in many directions, affecting community life. The current problem with state management agencies and the community in managing, protecting and promoting cultural values of the San Diu people is how to make heritage values permanent and develop. value in contemporary life.

Towards a new ontology of economics

The article attempts to look at the ontology of economic science from the standpoint of the dual nature of the human personality, which combines two principles – individualism and collectivism. The purpose of this study is to identify the true nature of man, who is not a one-dimensional individualist, but also has features of collectivism, i.e. the desire and ability to live in society. The author puts forward and seeks to prove the following hypothesis: individualism and collectivism are simultaneously inherent in the human personality and inevitably manifest themselves in its vital interests, including economic ones. The research methodology, based on taking into account the objective and subjective factors of economic life, allows us to identify the genesis of public interests as a continuation of the collectivist principle in man himself, as well as to characterize and typologize public goods in their combination with private goods. Based on the analysis, the one-sidedness of methodological individualism is shown, which takes into account only the egoistic nature of man and not his collectivist principle. The overwhelming majority of society, with the help of the state, forces the disobedient minority to obey the rules of community life, without which social life is impossible. As a result of the study, the main conclusion is made about the need to replace methodological individualism with the principle of methodological dualism, postulating a dialectical combination of individualistic and collectivist inclinations of people.

Methodological approach to assessing the digital infrastructure of the northern regions of the Russian Federation

The northern territories of Russia need high-quality strategic digital changes in the structure of the regional economy. Digitalization and the introduction of digital technologies in the medium term will be able to transform economic relations in the old industrial and raw materials regions of the North, improve the quality of life of local communities. The growth of digital inequality among the regions under study leads to disproportions in their socio-economic development. The purpose of this study is to develop and test a methodology for assessing the level of development of the digital infrastructure of the Russian northern regions, including classification of an indicators system for each level of digital infrastructure, calculation of an integral index and typology of the territories under study. The objects of the study were 13 northern regions of the Russian Federation, the entire territory of which is classified as regions of the Extreme North and equivalent areas. The methodology made it possible to determine the level of technical, technological and personnel readiness of the northern regions for digitalization, to identify regions with the best solutions at each level of digital infrastructure development. The analysis of the results in dynamics helped to assess the effectiveness of regional policy for managing digitalization processes. As a result, the authors came to the conclusion that increasing the competitiveness of northern regions in the era of rapid digitalization is possible through investments in human capital and the creation of a network of scientific and technological clusters. The presented approach to assessing the development of individual levels and elements of digital infrastructure will allow for the diagnosis of priority needs of territories under study in the field of digitalization. The results of the study can form the basis for regional policy in the field of sustainable digital development of Russia.

Long-term alfalfa planting mediates the coupling of soil water and organic carbon storage in a semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau, China.

The key to restoring arid and semi-arid ecosystems is maintaining soil water and organic carbon contents. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a high-yield perennial forage crop and performs ecological functions as a drought-resistance leguminous herb. It has been widely planted for reconstruction of degraded soils in the Loess Plateau in northwestern China, but long-term planting may affect soil carbon-water coupling and lead to crop yield reduction. To maximize the benefits of reconstructed grassland, this study explored the couplings of soil water, organic carbon, and alfalfa productivity along a reconstruction chronosequence in a semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau. Space-for-time substitution approach was used to select different-aged stands of reconstructed grassland (1, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30 years old). Alfalfa above-ground biomass (AGB), soil water storage (SWS), organic carbon storage (SOCS), and carbon-water coupling coordination degree (D) were measured in the 0-100 cm soil profile. Alfalfa AGB reached a peak in the 7th year, and the degradation began in the 10th year. Both SWS and SOCS varied nonlinearly with stand age. The greatest loss of SWS occurred in the 15th year (80-100 cm depth), whereas the largest increase of SOCS occurred in the 30th year (0-20 cm depth). There was a negative feedback relationship between AGB and SWS over the 30-year study period (Pearson r = -0.835, P = 0.098). AGB and SOCS initially showed a trade-off within the first 10 years (Pearson r = -0.7431, P = 0.2569), in contrast to their positive feedback in the 20-30th years (Pearson r = 0.9978, P = 0.0421). A decoupling between SWS and SOCS (D < 0.6) was observed after 12 years of alfalfa planting. For agricultural production, a greater supply of water and organic fertilizer is required from the 7th year of alfalfa planting, and reseeding may be needed around the 10th year to prolong the life of alfalfa community. Alfalfa should be planted for no more than 12 consecutive years in the study area for ecological protection.

Optimization of Water Purification Infrastructures in Supiori Regency

Clean water is one of the important aspects that must be prioritized in urban planning. The higher the standard of living of the community, the need for clean water will also increase. However, the fulfillment of adequate clean water needs in Supiori Regency is still not optimal. Based on the Minister of Public Works Regulation No. 14/2010, the coverage of drinking water services in Supiori Regency is classified as poor, with a clean water service level of less than 50%. Optimization efforts are needed to optimize and distribute clean water services in Supiori Regency meet the target of clean water services and create a sustainable community life. The research method uses three types of analysis. First, the ratio of clean water services in the settlements of Supiori Regency was analyzed using a calculation method that refers to the standard of clean water needs and availability. Second, the analysis of clean water services was conducted based on community perceptions. Third, this study analyzed the factors that influence clean water services using multiple linear regression. Descriptive analysis was used to identify optimization steps. The results showed that the ratio of clean water services in South Supiori District only reached 30.38%, while in East Supiori District, it was lower, at 19.78%. Based on community perceptions, 93% of the population in South Supiori District and 75% in East Supiori District have not used the Water Supply System. Regression analysis shows that in Supiori Selatan District, factors affecting clean water services include pipe distance, community participation, and number of family members. In East Supiori District, the influencing factors are pipe distance, management, and maintenance of clean water. So, there are optimization efforts that can be done, among others, through mapping services based on regional conditions. For areas that are difficult to reach by SPAM services, the community can utilize the nearest water source to meet their clean water needs independently.

Socio-Economic Profile and Vulnerabilities Assessment in Small-Scale Fisheries of Lower Gangetic Flood Plain Wetland: An Initiative Towards Achieving Wetland Ecosystem Sustainability and Community Well-Being

ICAR-CIFRI has been continuously working to develop wetland fisheries in a transdisciplinary knowledge-to-action mode to upscale the livelihood of vulnerable small-scale fishermen communities. The integrated development approach was initiated in different lower Gangetic floodplain wetlands of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India, to increase the fish production and socio-economic development of small-scale fishermen communities of the wetlands. Duma is one of the most extensive horseshoe-shaped wetlands in Asia. To augment the fish production from this wetland, the pen culture system was adopted by the fishers under the supervision of ICAR-CIFRI in 2021. Within a year, they received 15 tons of commercial fish, valued at around 30 lakhs apart from the small indigenous fish. It has recently been advised that auto-stocked, high-value minor carp in the wetland be adopted to improve income and conserve small indigenous species. In this article, SDG 14 (Life below water) addresses sustainable ecosystem management and livelihood enhancement for the wellbeing of the local people (SDG 3). Nutritional security of the local people is maintained through the small indigenous fish species which is crucial for addressing ‘No hunger’ as per SDG-2. The research also proves that women can play a crucial role in small-scale fisheries and they can economically stand alone, which is the main aim of SDG-5 (gender equality). However, significant issues such as lack of jurisdictional coordination, ecological changes, inequitable distribution of benefits, and income reduction persist in wetland management. The need for urgent reformation of policy and resource management systems is crucial to boost the economic efficiency of the SSF in the wetland. Training for more knowledge on fishing and fish farming, acquiring alternative livelihood and education on financial management should be brought to the fishermen’s communities. These could develop a resilient community that is more equipped to respond to future crises.

Extremely rapid, yet noncatastrophic, preservation of the flattened-feathered and 3D dinosaurs of the Early Cretaceous of China

Northeast China's Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation preserves spectacular fossils that have proved extraordinarily important in testing evolutionary hypotheses involving the origin of birds and the distribution of feathers among nonavian dinosaurs. These fossils occur either flattened with soft tissue preservation (including feathers and color) in laminated lacustrine strata or as three-dimensional (3D) skeletons in "life-like" postures in more massive deposits. The relationships of these deposits to each other, their absolute ages, and the origin of the extraordinary fossil preservation have been vigorously debated for nearly a half century, with the prevailing view being that preservation was linked to violent volcanic eruptions or lahars, similar to processes that preserved human remains at Pompeii. We present high-precision zircon U-Pb geochronology from cores and outcrops, demonstrating that Yixian Formation accumulation rates are more than an order of magnitude higher than usually estimated. Additionally, we provide zircon provenance and sedimentological data from 3D dinosaur fossils, which imply that their death and burial occurred in collapsed burrows, rather than via a catastrophic volcanogenic mechanism. In the studied area, the three principal fossil-rich intervals of the Yixian occur as a cyclic sequence that correspond to periods of high precipitation. Using Bayesian-Markov Chain Monte Carlo approaches, we constrain the total duration of the sequence to less than ~93,000 y and suggest that climatic precession paced the expression of these cyclic sediments. Rather than representing multiple, Pompeii-like catastrophes, the Yixian Formation is instead a brief snapshot of normal life and death in an Early Cretaceous continental community.