Socio-environmental Perspective Research Articles

El sistema agroindustrial de la piña en Costa Rica

The agro-industrial pineapple system (Ananas comosus var. comosus) in Costa Rica is a productive, dynamic activity of enormous socio-economic importance. Fresh ‘MD-2’ pineapple has established itself as a fruit of great acceptance and exports have maintained sustained growth towards highly competitive international markets with stable prices. It represents great benefit for the economy, generating direct and indirect jobs to people of all levels. The system includes small and large producers and their performance is driven from a socio-environmental perspective, considered as pillars of quality, sustainability and the labour and communal support, with more than 40,000 ha, densities from 60,000 to 100,000 plants ha(‑1), and average production of 100 t ha(‑1). The state trainings in Good Agricultural Practices and Integrated Pest and Pesticide Management are followed to comply with the National and International Regulations regarding maximum residue limits (MRLs). Compliance with these practices reduces the use of agrochemicals, environmental impacts and costs of production while maintaining or even opening new markets. The generation of technology is a product of the efforts of state universities, private entities and commercial houses, along with the production sector and the National Chamber of Producers and Exporters of pineapple, with research oriented to the best use of natural, human and technological resources; with challenges for the proper management of organic waste, harmful pests to third parties and the biotic and abiotic effects related to natural flowering and fruit damage, as well as erosion and soil acidification problems. The production occupies lands formerly devoted to traditional crops or grazing areas and includes different types of soil in different regimes of precipitation, dry periods and temperature; and involves significant drainage canal engineering with or without irrigation. The conventional tillage of the land requires the use of specialized agricultural equipment; it also implements minimum tillage. Blocks of different numbers of beds, drainage canal networks, and main and internal access routes for machinery are formed. The seed is selected by health and classified by type, size-weight, disinfected and distributed on beds for planting. Herbicides are applied and weeds are extracted mainly in organic pineapple operations or where polyethylene cover is used. Nutrition is based on soil and leaf analysis results, granular fertilization is not generalized and foliar fertilization is done with different sources, mixtures, intervals and frequencies, and begins at the month of planting using sprinklers. Pest control is based on integrated pest management (IPM). Forcing is carried out when plants of eight months reach a fresh mass of 2.5-3.0 kg by application of ethylene or derivatives; after about 21 weeks of development premature fruits are treated with ethephon to improve uniformity of external colour and their simultaneous harvest occurs the following week; the fruit is transferred to fresh fruit packing plants or to industrial processing plants for juice and concentrate. Up to three production cycles can be achieved without major quality loss.

Health risk assessment of ‘tiger prawn seed’ collectors exposed to heavy metal pollution in the conserved mangrove forest of Indian Sundarbans: A socio-environmental perspective

ABSTRACTHeavy metals contamination from anthropogenic sources in waterways of conserved mangrove ecosystem (Indian Sundarbans) poses serious health hazard to the economically marginalized ‘tiger prawn seed’ (TPS) collectors. Principal component analysis identifies Pb, Ni and Cd as anthropogenic pollutant in Indian Sundarbans. It is observed that Cu, Fe and Zn concentration increases in monsoon, whereas concentration of Cd and Pb decreases in comparison to pre-monsoon levels at all seven fishing villages. Economic status has been assessed using Wealth Rank Tool, which indicates 16–71% of population is in acute economic stress conditions and 5–70% of populations engaged in unsustainable TPS collection for their livelihood. Focus group discussion shows that collectors are exposed (exposure time (ET)) to contaminated water for 3–7 h/d, and lifetime exposure (exposure duration (ED)) varies from 5 to 20 yr. Using site-specific ET and ED results, cumulative hazard quotient (HQ) dermal is estimated to be higher in female than in male. HQ varies from medium (≥1 to <4) to high (>4) due to Cd pollution (0.1–0.26 mg L-1). The study suggests that promoting alternative sustainable livelihood through group-based organizations (poultry, organic farming, entrepreneurship and transport) could be an effective solution to this problem.

Intersectoriality, social and environmental determinants and health promotion

The study seeks to analyze intersectoriality from the socio-environmental perspective on health promotion. Qualitative research was conducted in six municipalities in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The data were obtained from the mapping of health promotion experiences considered successful by municipal managers, interviews with coordinators, professionals and participants and observations of participants of the practices. The data were subjected to thematic content analysis. Intersectoriality was revealed as a premise for the political definition of the majority of the practices. At the normative program level, the social assistance sector has shown greater potential to develop intersectorial practices and centrality in the implementation grid due to its involvement with the social and environmental determinants. The results indicate that there is a gap between the intention to practice intersectoriality, witnessed by the political decisions in the municipalities, and effective intersectorial action in everyday life. The conclusion reached is that there is potential for intersectorial interventions on the social and environmental determinants in favor of health promotion, but the lack of consistency between what occurs in practice and the political aspects reveal a challenge to be overcome.

Analysis of CSR in Midsize Retail: Application of the Quazi Aand O’brien Model

Originally a response to environmental pressures, the paradigm of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a socioenvironmental strategy. The study was centered around the question: according to the two-dimensional model of Quazi and O’Brien, what is the socioenvironmental perspective of the midsize retail supermarket industry in Fortaleza? The study design was exploratory and quantitative. Information was gathered from the managers of 14 midsize supermarkets in Fortaleza using a closed structured questionnaire containing 25 items based on the model of Quazi and O’Brien. Using exploratory factorial analysis, the sampled companies were found to be clustered in the “modern view” quadrant of the model.

Análise da relevância de indicadores financeiros e não financeiros na avaliação de desempenho organizacional: Um estudo exploratório no setor brasileiro de distribuição de energia elétrica

This article aims to analyze the relevance of financial and nonfinancial ratios in the evaluation of organizational performance of companies in the Brazilian electricity distribution sector. In this regard, an exploratory study was conducted, using Delphi and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques. The results show that, in relation to the financial perspective, the most important indicator is the Interest Coverage, followed by Return on Equity and Debt Profile. Those three major ratios represent approximately 60% of the total importance of the financial perspective. In the operational perspective, a balance between the ratios is observed, with a slight advantage for the EBITDA margin, FEC e DEC ratios. Finally, the analysis of socioenvironmental perspective shows that the Environmental Commitment Rate and the Aggregate Profitability of Investments are, respectively, the two most important ratios, which, together represent approximately 62% of all social and environmental perspective importance.

The research reported in this article was conducted from a socio-environmental perspective on learners’ school readiness when entering Grade 1, as well as their school performance in Grade 1 and again in Grade 4. The relation between school readiness and

The research reported in this article was conducted from a socio-environmental perspective on learners’ school readiness when entering Grade 1, as well as their school performance in Grade 1 and again in Grade 4. The relation between school readiness and performance in Home Language and Numeracy in Grade 1, and performance in the same learning areas in Grade 4 were investigated by means of a longitudinal quantitative study. One school in the Free State province was purposefully selected. The Aptitude Test for School Beginners (ASB) was implemented to capture school readiness, including school maturity and levels of development in physical, cognitive, emotional, social and normative domains. Results confirm that school readiness significantly correlated with academic performance of the respondents in Grade 1 as well as with their school performance in Grade 4.

In the Spirit of Selden Bacon: The Sociology Of Drinking and Drug Problems

In 1943, the sociologist Selden Bacon proposed studying drinking behavior from a "sociologic" perspective. Since then, a problem-oriented approach - a sociology of problem drinking and problem drug use, not a sociology of drinking and drug use behavior - has dominated the literature on alcohol and other drugs. However, a review of the literature reveals a sociology of drinking and drug problems in the spirit of the research that Bacon proposed. This article suggests that the sociology of drinking and drug problems can be regarded as a multidisciplinary field of study and usefully divided among three primary perspectives: (1) a sociocultural perspective that considers social change, modern society, and cultural influence; (2) a socio-environmental perspective that explores social learning, social setting, and alienation; and (3) an ideological perspective that examines cultural, institutional, and professional ideologies. The sociology of drinking and drug problems exposes the considerable influence of "sociologic" factors on problem drinking and problem drug use across scientific disciplines and, in particular, that problem drinking and problem drug use, from a multidisciplinary standpoint, are not caused exclusively by biologic traits. However, the sociology of drinking and drug problems is limited by the problem-oriented approach. More research needs to analyze the normal use of alcohol and other drugs to better understand the connection between substance use and social life.

Aglomeração industrial e meio ambiente em debate: o caso do segmento têxtil-vestuarista da microrregião do Alto Vale do Itajaí – Santa Catarina DOI:10.5007/2175-7984.2010v9n16p225

This article looks at the genesis of and transformations within the textileclothing industry in the upper Itaja&iacute; Valley micro-region, state of Santa Catarina, during the 1990s. We attempt to describe and evaluate its major forms of social and environmental impact. Our research employs both qualitative and quantitative approaches, combining semi-structured interviews with question forms applied to the key-actors. Results show that this industrial clustering is informal in nature and characterized by low levels of inter and intra-firm cooperation. Further findings reveal the limitations of the industry&rsquo;s engagement with social and environmental issues, and with the long term, in general. From a socio-environmental perspective, the industry&rsquo;s activity within this region has propagated numerous biophysical and social effects. Nonetheless, there is also some indication of actions suggesting a gradual internalization of social-environmental issues on the part of local actors. Keywords: Sustainable territorial development, industrial clustering, social and environmental impacts.

Disparities in fruit and vegetable supply: a potential health concern in the greater Québec City area

The present study explores the spatial distribution and in-store availability of fresh fruits and vegetables from a socio-environmental perspective in terms of the type of food store, level of deprivation and the setting (urban/rural) where the food outlets are located. Seven types of fresh fruit and vegetable stores (FVS) were identified then visited in six districts (urban setting) and seven communities (rural setting). The quantity and diversity of fresh fruits and vegetables (F&V) were also assessed. Québec City, Canada. The FVS spatial distribution showed differences between the two settings, with accessibility to supermarkets being more limited in rural settings. The quantity and diversity of fresh F&V in-store availability were associated with the type of FVS, but not with setting or its level of deprivation. Greengrocers and supermarkets offered a greater quantity and diversity of fresh F&V than the other FVS. The results suggest that inequalities in physical access to fresh F&V across the region could have an impact on public health planning considering that supermarkets, which are one of the excellent sources of F&V, are less prevalent in rural settings.

Community Health Clinical Education in Canada: Part 1 - "State of the Art"

This paper presents the findings of a survey of community health clinical education in twenty-four Canadian pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing programs. A qualitative research design was used, involving a content analysis of Canadian course syllabi and supporting documents for community health courses. This study afforded a cross-sectional understanding of the "state of the art" of community health clinical education in Canadian schools of nursing. Clinical course conceptual approaches, course objectives, types of clinical sites, format and number of clinical hours, and methods of student evaluation are identified. The findings suggest the need for a national dialogue or consensus building exercise regarding curriculum content for community health nursing. Informing this dialogue are several strengths including the current focus on community health (as opposed to community-based) nursing education, and a solid socio-environmental perspective informing clinical learning and practice. The national data set generated by this study may have relevance to nursing programs globally.

Wood fuel use in the traditional cooking stoves in the rural floodplain areas of Bangladesh: A socio-environmental perspective

Abstract A study was conducted, using a multistage simple random sampling design, to determine the structural characteristics of the traditional cooking stoves, amount of wood fuel consumed in the rural floodplain areas in Bangladesh, and also to figure out the socio-economic and environmental consequences of wood fuel usage in the traditional cooking stove. The study showed that family size, income, amount cooked and burning hours significantly affected the amount of wood fuel used per family per year. Taking into account different family sizes, the study observed that 4.24 tonne fuelwood were consumed per family per year. The study showed that 42% of families used only biomass fuel, 5% used liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and 53% used kerosene along with biomass fuels. The main source of biomass fuel was homestead forests (40%). It has been figured out that the incomplete combustion of biomass in the traditional cooking stove poses severe epidemiological consequences to human health and contributes to global warming. The study also showed that 83% of the respondents would prefer improved cooking stoves over traditional cooking stoves.

Developing health-promoting practice with families: one pedagogical experience.

As the significance of social determinants of health has been revealed and the socio-environmental perspective of health promotion has become prominent, family nurses have attempted to move away from disease-treatment models of practice towards emancipatory, health promoting practice. This paper describes a multidisciplinary team's pedagogical experience of developing emancipatory family health promoting practices. The discussion includes a description of the significant educational processes that supported the development of health promoting family practice and an outline of the transformative changes the team members experienced as they evolved their health promoting practices.