Government Plans Research Articles

Emerging place governance to lost places for communities: Government planning and citizen-driven placemaking in the disaster memorial parks after the 2011 Japan tsunami

Physical destruction, land use management, residential buyouts, and residential relocation following disasters disconnects people and places. Previous studies have revealed the unintended negative effects of residential buyouts and displacements, such as the reproduction of vulnerability, along with social injustice and also suggested that places determine the critical elements of long-term community recovery. We explored how government place-based planning and citizen-driven placemaking transform place identity of lost places after the 2011 Japan tsunami. We selected tsunami reconstruction memorial parks as lost places for local communities, and analyzed government planning reports, interviewed citizen-driven placemakers, and conducted questionnaire survey to clarify residents’ perception of place. Our results showed that the sense of belonging was determined by their sense of place in relation to memorial parks, as “part of the everyday landscape,” “nostalgia,” and “symbol of reconstruction.” We also found that citizen-driven placemaking embodied the concept of disaster memorial parks developed by government planning: requiem, commemoration, symbol of reconstruction. These results suggest that citizen-driven placemaking can potentially serve as a driving force to transform a sense of place that enhances the sense of belonging to lost places. We conclude that local authorities must pay attention to the fluctuation in the meaning of lost places that may influence long-term community recovery. Governments, civic organizations, and locals need to promote collaboration and pursue multi-stakeholder land use governance which can enhance community resilience.

Preparedness and Public Health: an Italian Local Health Authority plan for a mass gathering in 2023

Abstract Issue Mass gatherings represent an important Public Health challenge. The increased number of people present in a specific area puts local health systems under stress (i.e.workload of emergency services, environmental health and food safety) and at the same time it rises the risks of a potential mass casualty incident. Effective planning and disaster preparedness have to be achieved through collaboration among local health authorities(LHA) and other stakeholders (event planners, law enforcement, local transportation services). Problem Every year, for 3 days, the Italian Alpine troops gather in a different city to remember First World War fallen. During those days, the city centre transit is not allowed to car (in specific areas even to emergency vehicles).In May 2023 this event occurred in Udine, a city in the North East of Italy with almost 100.000 inhabitants. For that year at least 300.000 participants were expected. LHA had to reorganize preparing itself to manage a temporary quadrupled catchment area. Results In the previous months, local authorities met local health representatives and other stakeholders in order to define a single emergency response plan. For healthcare services it was decided to: institute first aid points within the city; reorganise patients’ emergency transport system; increase hospitals’ treatment capacity (beds, life support equipment); increase healthcare professional availability; empower drugstores (opening times, drugs procurement); strengthen human and animal health surveillances;activate alternative communication systems. During the event, LHA updated other authorities involved three times a day about hospital and emergency system situation. At the end of the event,a multiprofessional debriefing meeting was held and no critical situations were reported. Lessons Preparedness requires a great commitment in terms of resources and time, but it is confirmed to be essential to guarantee adequate assistance even in extraordinary conditions. Key messages • Mass gathering s events put under stress all the main areas of public health system. • Public health preparedness cannot be effective without a strong involvement of other public and private stakeholders.

Analyzing and forecasting air pollution concentration in the capital and Southern Thailand using a lag-dependent Gaussian process model.

The air pollution problem has now amassed worldwide attention due to its multifaceted harm to human health. Exploring the concentration of air pollution and improving forecast have important consideration worldwide. In this research, we analyze the air pollution concentration of Southern Thailand and compare it with the central region. Also, we proposed a methodology based on the lag-dependent Gaussian process (LDGP), a Bayesian non-parametric machine learning model, with a stable optimization approach, which is a cluster-based multi-starter technique based on the Nelder-Mead optimizer. This model also provides the confidence band for forecasted values. We also used autoregressive deep neural network (AR-DNN), autoregressive random forest (AR-RF), gradient boosting (GB), and K-nearest neighbors (KNN) models. A comparison of the proposed methodology was performed on the daily air pollution data collected from the southern provinces and also from the capital of Thailand from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2022. We used well-established performance evaluation measures to compare the performance of the models. To evaluate the bias due to overfit, we performed a tenfold cross-validation for all the pollutants in each region and compared the models to choose the best one. Moreover, we explored the concentration of air pollution in these regions. Results of descriptive analysis revealed that Bangkok had a much higher concentration of air pollution as compared to the southern region. However, the southern region had higher exposure to PM air pollutants as per WHO recommendations and also had higher exposure to O3 and CO levels. The proposed LDGP model outperformed the other machine learning models for forecasting all air pollutants. Hence, it is recommended to be used by experts for further research and studies with different kernel functions. This research is also expected to contribute to local government planning and prevention and worldwide use of the same methodology for the sustainability of public health.

Healthy city development: Indonesian government plans to build a new capital city

The urgency of urban health in Indonesia is very worrying because most of Indonesia’s population now lives in urban areas with minimal supporting infrastructure. That prompted this study to analyze the government’s response to the healthy city development plan in the new capital city. This study uses a qualitative approach that focuses on thematic analysis. It helps check official government documents related to healthy city development plans. The relevant documents that were found were in the form of regulations. This regulation is Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 3 of 2022 concerning the National Capital (Ibu Kota Negara, IKN). This official document was coded by maximizing the analysis tool, namely NVivo 12 Plus. This study succeeded in mapping several bare references in the healthy city development plan for the new capital city by the Indonesian government. Some of these primary references include the healthy city model (World Health Organization, WHO), the healthy city strategy (Cardiff), and (Vancouver). All of these primary references aim to improve the quality of life of residents in cities through city development that focuses on health. However, there are several challenges that the Indonesian government may face in the future, including problems with air pollution, environmentally friendly transportation, and the provision of green public spaces, health facilities, universal health services, and other infrastructure. This all requires adequate capacity and budget plans, including ensuring transparency in budget management. This study also encourages collaboration between the government, the private sector, and civil society to support the development of healthy cities that run well and sustainably.

The role of physical and social environments on the loyalty toward urban rail services: A consideration of stations and onboard

Although urban train services have been introduced in various developing countries, ridership for this mode of public transport (PT) remains low. In response, urban planning authorities are seeking ways to boost passenger loyalty to these services. However, the existing literature has scarcely examined the role of physical and social environments in fostering passenger loyalty. Additionally, how loyalty is developed throughout the passenger experience - both at stations and onboard - remains unclear. Addressing this gap, the current study develops a model based on the 'service quality-satisfaction-behavioural intentions' paradigm and the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model to examine how the physical and social environments, both at rail stations and onboard trains, impact passenger loyalty in the context of urban train services. Additionally, this study validates the multi-dimensionality of physical environments and social environments in this context. Data collected from urban rail passengers in Hanoi, Vietnam is analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that the physical and social environments onboard trains significantly influence loyalty towards the urban train services, while the environments at stations do not have the same impact. Furthermore, both satisfaction at stations and onboard trains significantly affect the loyalty, though the influence of satisfaction with the onboard experience is much stronger than that of satisfaction with the stations. Practically, the findings assist PT authorities in evaluating existing systems and devising future PT development strategies. Also, the study informs PT providers of ways to improve passenger satisfaction and loyalty.

Expansion of UK medical student numbers: what are the challenges and opportunities for undergraduate dermatology education?

This correspondence piece addresses the topical issue of the UK government's plan to expand medical school numbers and its implications for undergraduate medical education, affecting both learners and educators. The article summarises the results of a survey of undergraduate dermatology educators, highlighting their concerns about the challenges and impact of increasing student numbers. The article highlights the risk of a reduction in the volume and quality of clinical learning opportunities in undergraduate dermatology as a consequence of student numbers exceeding clinical departmental capacity and resources.

Towards advanced sustainable criteria for choosing the best site for collecting solar energy in cities using multi-criteria GIS

Solar energy has become a prominent and crucial source of clean energy due to the increasing global demand for electricity. There is a prevailing global trend towards the construction of solar farms as a means of energy generation. This study aims to assess multiple criteria encompassing urban, environmental, and social aspects in order to ascertain the optimal site for constructing solar farms. The evaluation primarily focuses on characteristics such as topography, solar radiation, accessibility, land use, and proximity to roads and power stations. In order to acquire the necessary spatial fit model, the data was evaluated utilizing a Geographic Information System (GIS) program, and the criteria were subsequently consolidated into an integrated geographic information system. A comprehensive review of the existing body of literature reveals that environmental factors, specifically solar radiation and aspect, play a crucial role in determining the suitable places for the establishment of solar energy collection projects (Merrouni et al. in Energy Procedia 49:2270-2279, 2013; McKinney in J Student Res Environ Sci Appalac 4:1-14, 2014). Furthermore, other analysis factors such as proximity to built-up regions, closeness to power lines, and proximity to roadways are taken into account (Hott et al. in GIS-based Spatial Analysis For LargeScale Solar Power And Transmission Line Issues: Case Study of Wyoming, U.S. In: Proceedings of the 41st American Solar Energy Society Meeting, 2012; Effat in Int J Adv Remote Sens GIS 2:205-220, 2013). These criteria have an impact on the cost of solar farms. The objective of this study was to assess several aspects influencing the selection of an optimal location for a solar energy farm, taking into consideration the aforementioned criteria. The study was carried out in New Aswan city, utilizing data obtained from the Urban Planning Authority within the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the New Aswan City AuthorityI generated cartographic representations and compiled quantitative data, which informed our selection of places that met the established criteria through the utilization of a Geographic Information System (GIS) software. Upon the conclusion of the study, numerous locations that satisfied the established criteria were selected. The present study focuses on regions with high capacity, and the findings are depicted in the form of spatial and objective maps. One of the primary benefits associated with the utilization of this methodology lies in its versatility, as it can be implemented across several domains. Furthermore, a straightforward adjustment of the criteria facilitates its application in the selection of optimal locations for wind farms.

УСТОЙЧИВОЕ РАЗВИТИЕ КАЗАХСТАНА: РОЛЬ ЗЕЛЕНОЙ ЭКОНОМИКИ

The article provides an overview of the current state of the transition to a "green economy" with an emphasis on the development of renewable energy sources, eco-friendly construction, clean transport, waste management, organic agriculture with an emphasis on sustainability and efficiency, as well as the rational use of water resources. Special attention is paid to the main risks, problems and barriers that hinder the development of the "green economy" in Kazakhstan, as well as recommendations and measures to overcome existing difficulties are proposed. The article discusses the methods by which the government plans to make the transition to a "green economy", as well as the tasks associated with the implementation of this large-scale project. The material can be useful for everyone who is interested in sustainable economic development, including government agencies, energy companies, investors in renewable energy sources and society as a whole.

On the issue of finding a balance of private and public interests in establishing a zone of integrated development of the territory

Since 2021, the integrated development of the territory has been a key area of urban development designed to ensure the renewal and efficient use of territories, and represents a unique mechanism that includes many measures aimed at stimulating the activities of investors, citizens and authorities, allowing for a significant acceleration of the construction process, economic development, including through attracting private investment. The effectiveness of the implementation of the CRT is achieved solely by ensuring a balance of private and public interests. The article examines the grounds and consequences of establishing a zone of integrated development of the territory in the absence of the necessary legal regulation of the fact determining the moment of the beginning of the implementation of integrated development of the territory. The establishment of a zone of integrated development of the territory determines the formation of a special urban planning regime, the essence of which is revealed by the author. An analysis of legislation and judicial practice indicates that the establishment of a zone of integrated development of the territory significantly limits the variability of actions of right holders of land plots that fall into the zone of the KRT, and enters into dissonance with the purpose of the KRT, which involves attracting extra-budgetary sources of financing for the renovation of built-up areas. The need to improve the CRT mechanism has been identified, taking into account the needs of all stakeholders in ensuring sustainable and harmonious development of territories.

The Speech Act of Criticism Strategy Analysis on the Hashtag #Wadasmelawan

The study aims to describe the function of the hashtag #WadasMelawan and the criticism speech act strategy in voicing social justice for Wadas residents. Wadas is a village in the Central Java Province of Indonesia that is projected to be developed as an adhesive mining site—a government plan that the local Wadas villagers reject. The data in this study were collected on February 8 and 9, 2022, and processed using NVivo software. A total of 1550 tweets were analyzed using the hashtag function (Simpson, 2018) and the speech acts of criticism strategy (Nguyen, 2005). The results indicated that the #WadasMelawan has functions in expressing victimhood, solidarity, integration (victimhood and solidarity), and hashtag alone (expressing either solidarity or empathy). The speech acts of criticism strategy are negative evaluation, disapproval, disagreement, statement of difficulty, and consequences. In addition, indirect strategies are correction, indicating standards, preaching, demand for change, advice on change, uncertainty, asking, sarcasm, and the use of emojis or pictures. The #WadasMelawan and criticism strategy involved the media voicing justice for Wadas on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Labour's care policy priorities

CoramBAAF's James Bury analyses the government's plans for kinship care, adoption and fostering

Natural Hazard Induced Coastal Vulnerability in Indian Sundarbans: A Village-level study by using Geospatial and Statistical Techniques

The Sundarbans, an area with a history dating back to the dawn of civilization, has faced numerous environmental hazards that have remarkably affected the lives and livelihoods of its natives. Strom surge and Tropical cyclones are the most substantial natural hazards, causing severe damage to local communities by affecting food security, the economy, shelter and health. By defining vulnerability as a function of exposure, sensitivity, and resilience capacity, we calculated a composite vulnerability index (CVI) using equal weight method (EWM) to assess the vulnerability of mouzas (small administrative units) to natural hazards in the Sundarbans, India. The vulnerability map has been drawn based on composite value of CVI which shows 30.50% of villages falling into the high vulnerability category and 12.06% in the very high vulnerability category. The mouza-level analysis also indicates that 22.62% of Sundarbans’s villages are highly exposed to natural hazards and 19.70 % of villages are classified as being at Very high sensitive. Only 7.07% villages have very high adopted capacity against these natural hazards. Villages in the southern parts and along the coast were found to be more vulnerable to storm surges. Conversely, those situated at higher elevations in the central area exhibited lower vulnerability. In the northern part of the region, several villages faced high to very high vulnerability due to low-lying, waterlogged wetlands. This study offers vital insights for decision-makers, government planners, and disaster management professionals, assisting in the identification of high-risk populations and areas that require immediate preservation efforts.

Amplified psychological reaction to civil unrest among Holocaust survivor descendants.

The evidence regarding the intergenerational effects of the Holocaust points to a heightened sensitivity to traumatic and stressful events, as well as to threats. These effects were found across at least three generations: the survivors themselves, their children, and their grandchildren. More specifically, this sensitivity is manifested in increased psychological reactions to adverse circumstances, especially when such situations trigger associations with the Holocaust. During 2023 Israel has experienced unprecedented civil unrest and protests following the government's plan to promote a judicial overhaul. Many expressed fears for Israeli democracy and the integrity of the social fabric in Israel. The current study examined how Holocaust descendants (i.e., children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors) experienced this prolonged social unrest. A web-based random sample of 706 Israeli Jews born after World War II completed questionnaires several months before the unrest began (Wave 1, 2022) and seven months into the unrest (Wave 2, 2023). Supporting most of our hypotheses, Holocaust descendants reported higher civil unrest salience (i.e., more preoccupation with the political and social upheaval) relative to comparison descendants (i.e., children and grandchildren of those not directly exposed to the Holocaust). Relative to comparison descendants, Holocaust descendants were also at a greater risk of reporting exacerbation in anxiety since the judicial overhaul was introduced, but not in depression or somatisation symptoms. Results remained significant after controlling Wave 1 distress level, background characteristics, level of engagement in civil unrest, and participants' viewpoint on the judicial overhaul. The findings further corroborate unique reactions to stress among Holocaust descendants, this time by highlighting increased preoccupation and increased exacerbation in anxiety during a period of prolonged political and social turmoil.

Unraveling the Sustainability Footprint: A Descriptive Analysis of Co-firing Technologies for Advancing Energy Transition in Indonesia

Abstract Indonesia has ambitious renewable energy goals of achieving 23% utilization of renewable energy in primary energy mix by 2025 and 31% by 2050. To reduce emissions, the government plans to phase out Coal-Fired Power Plants (PLTU) by 2030 and adopt co-firing technology to decrease coal usage. Co-firing involves burning renewable materials alongside fossil fuels to reduce carbon emissions. However, concerns have arisen regarding this method’s sustainability, considering the environmental impact of various biomass sources. This research utilizes a descriptive analysis method to examine and assess the critical sustainability factors related to co-firing in Indonesia. While biomass can help mitigate GHG emissions, a comprehensive assessment of net emissions from the biomass process is crucial. Careful planning and policies for co-firing implementation are essential to mitigate negative effects and promote a greener future for Indonesia.

Analysis of Parents' Perception of Education and Care Policies Vis-à-Vis the Government's Plan to Reverse the Low Birth Rate Trend

Analysis of Parents' Perception of Education and Care Policies Vis-à-Vis the Government's Plan to Reverse the Low Birth Rate Trend

Challenges in Community Participation for Village Governance Planning

General Background: Community involvement is vital in Indonesia's local governance, particularly through village deliberations. Specific Background: Kemiri Village in Sidoarjo faces challenges in effectively utilizing Musyawarah Desa due to limited participation and knowledge among decision-makers. Knowledge Gap: While previous studies indicate low engagement, few address specific barriers in Kemiri's context. Aims: This research explores the role of Village Deliberation in formulating the Kemiri Village Government Work Plan, focusing on community needs. Results: Findings reveal that while Musyawarah Desa facilitates discussions, issues like low attendance and inadequate decision-maker knowledge impede effective planning. Novelty: The study applies Mintzberg’s theoretical framework to analyze village deliberation dynamics, offering new insights into rural governance. Implications: Enhancing community participation and decision-maker competency is crucial for effective local governance and sustainable development in Kemiri Village. Highlights: Importance of Community Engagement: Active participation in Musyawarah Desa is crucial for effective local governance and addressing community needs. Barriers to Participation: Limited knowledge among decision-makers and low community attendance hinder optimal planning outcomes in Kemiri Village. Theoretical Framework Application: The study employs Mintzberg’s framework to analyze the dynamics of village deliberation, providing new insights into rural governance. Keywords: Village Deliberation, Community Participation, Local Governance, Work Plan

Empirical Analysis on the Mechanism of Industrial Park Driving Urban Expansion: A Case Study of Xining City

Taking Xining City as an example, this article analyzes the mechanism by which industrial park construction drives the expansion of urban population size and built-up area, based on a review of the process of industrial park development and urban population growth. It also discusses future urban governance models in light of urban development trends. The research finds: (1) In the process of urban development, industrial park construction is often the initial factor in the cumulative and cyclical development of a city; (2) As the level of development improves and the mode of economic growth changes, the government should timely adjust its strategies, shifting from the expansion of industrial park construction towards structural optimization and quality improvement. The most significant difference from previous research is that this paper emphasizes the importance of government planning. This study can not only demonstrate the general process of industrial parks promoting urban expansion, but more importantly, it explains the fundamental reasons for the transition of urban expansion to adjustment from a mechanism perspective, thereby eliminating the drawbacks of simply predicting urban scale evolution through data models.

Large-scale forest protection: the successful case of the Kayapo people in the Brazilian Amazon

Forest conservation is essential for action on climate change and biodiversity loss. Forest loss and degradation are increasing around the world, including in the Amazon. It is widely reported that Indigenous communities can be effective in forest protection, but less attention has been paid to explaining how they are able to do this in the face of severe threats. This article investigates what can be learned from the success of the Kayapo Indigenous communities and their organizations in protecting more than nine million hectares of primary forest in one of the most highly degraded and deforested areas of the Brazilian Amazon. We use geographic information system analysis to demonstrate the extent of forest protection, along with field work to examine the crucial alliances with conservation NGOs from governance and planning perspectives. Our interdisciplinary analysis is guided by the three-pillar framework for integrated landscape management and is informed by interviews conducted with Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff working for the Kayapo NGOs. Based on this data and the experience of the Kayapo people, we identify the main factors that facilitated large-scale forest conservation. Our research also reveals that the work of the Kayapo NGOs aligns with the principles of strong governance and effective planning. Lastly, we discuss key lessons and critical considerations to ensure the continued viability and ongoing success of the Kayapo NGOs in achieving their objectives.

Enhancing seniors' dental care access: Analyzing the impact of government insurance in Canada.

A crucial policy question for the government is whether publicly funded insurance programs effectively improve access to care. Using 2015 and 2018 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data, we first estimated the effect of government dental insurance for seniors on promoting regular care access and lowering cost barrier. When controlling for individual heterogeneity, we found that having government coverage is associated with significantly lower probability of reporting avoidance of dental care due to cost compared to having no coverage. This effect is comparable with other types of insurance. However, the impact of the government program on regular access to dental care is modest. Secondly, using a portion of data collected in Alberta, we found that the government plan does not increase the overall coverage rate. Moreover, switching from an employer-based plan to government-provided coverage for seniors reduces the probability of regular access to care and increases the probability of experiencing cost barrier. This finding indicates that without expansion of overall coverage rate, the current government dental program may not be generous enough to offset the negative impact of leaving the employer-based plan.

Linguistic landscape as a way to construct multiple identities in the context of globalization: the case of an ancient town in China

ABSTRACT This article explores the linguistic landscape (LL) of Wuzhen, an ancient town with a history of more than 2,000 years and became the permanent venue for the World Internet Conference in 2014. The LL of Wuzhen is influenced by various factors, including globalization, urbanization, the tourism industry, heritage conservation, and government planning. In light of this, the study has made several field investigations into Wuzhen, examining the LL of four different areas and capturing 1602 photos of signs. Simultaneously, semi-structured interviews are conducted with residents to discuss their perceptions of the local LL and identity. The findings indicate that Wuzhen reshapes its local public space through various semiotic practices, constructing multiple identities that integrate traditionality, modernity, and internationality. It has also been found that LL should be regarded as a crucial semiotic resource anchored in sociocultural and historical space, whose mobility in the context of globalization and urbanization provides more possibilities for identity construction and reconstruction in peripheral regions.