Crypto Funding Social Projects and Redistribution in a Costa Rican Rural Town

The present article explores the interconnections between North-South relationships, transnational gentrification and crypto funding for community projects in the newly glocal, rural community of San Salvador del Barú in Tinamaste, Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica. Through in-situ observations and semi-structured in-depth interviews, this research seeks to understand the limitations in the use of cryptocurrency donations as well as the possible misuse of them to further reproduce neocolonial global disparities. In doing so, it sheds light on current Costa Rican tourist-migrant-expat phenomenon of land appropriation as well as new socio-cultural relations between locals and foreigners. From a critical Latin American perspective, it offers possible pathways to transforming globalized relationships by tapping into the branch of cryptocurrencies that promises decentralized and accessible funds

The First Criminal Juries in Medieval England

The documented beginnings of the jury’s history can be found in the second half of the 12th-century England, while its prehistory can be traced back to earlier and, according to most researchers, to the European Continent. In this study, the author presents the legal sources and reasons for its development in England, with special attention to the appearance of the first form of this legal institution, the grand jury, in the heroic age of the creation of the English common law, through laws issued by King Henry II. All this gives an insight into the criminal social conditions of the time, the period of transformation of private criminal law to public criminal law and the cooperation of royal justices and local juries in legal trials

The Strategic Position of Chile in Latin America

Chile, a narrow and elongated country on the southwestern edge of South America, holds a prominent position in Latin America due to its unique geographical location, abundant natural resources, and open economic policies. With over 4,300 kilometers of coastline along the Pacific Ocean, Chile enjoys exceptional access to Asian and Oceanic markets, serving as a gateway for international trade in the region. Its extensive coastline and strong maritime connectivity have positioned Chile as a critical hub for the transportation of goods and the expansion of regional and trans-regional trade. Economically, Chile is the world’s largest producer of copper, a resource that secures its vital role in global markets. Copper exports, along with other mineral resources particularly to Asian countries constitute the backbone of the Chilean economy. Membership in trade agreements such as the Pacific Alliance and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has enabled Chile to play a central role in regional and international free trade. Chile’s economic policies focus on free trade, foreign investment, and economic stability, making it one of Latin America’s most successful economies. From a geopolitical perspective, Chile’s position in the Pacific region allows it to act as a bridge between Latin America and Asia. Additionally, Chile is an active member of regional institutions such as the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Pacific Alliance, which aim to strengthen economic integration and regional cooperation. Stable relationships with the United States and the European Union further underscore Chile’s geopolitical significance. In the energy sector, Chile is recognized as a regional leader in renewable energy. Extensive solar and wind energy resources, particularly in the Atacama Desert, have positioned the country as a key player in the transition to clean energy. The development of sustainable energy sources has not only reduced dependence on fossil fuels but also played a critical role in fostering sustainable regional development. However, internal challenges such as economic inequality, social tensions, and reliance on raw material exports remain major obstacles to Chile’s efforts to solidify its strategic position. Recent protests highlight the need for structural reforms to maintain political and economic stability. In conclusion, Chile’s strategic position in Latin America stems from its advantageous geographical location, successful economic policies, and active participation in regional and trans-regional cooperation. Nevertheless, its long-term success depends on its ability to address domestic challenges and strengthen regional and global ties

Research on the Reform of Elderly Care and Education Model under Digitalization: A Case Study of Taizhou City

Under the dual background of aging and digitalization, the needs of the elderly have gradually shifted from being singular to diverse and from basic to advanced. The urgency of bridging the digital divide among the elderly and promoting the coordinated development of aging-related initiatives with socio-economic progress has become increasingly prominent. Currently, elderly education faces issues such as inadequate resource supply, incomplete institutional mechanisms, insufficient funding for running schools, and uneven development. Taizhou has innovatively explored a practice model that integrates digital empowerment into elderly care and education, placing the elderly at the center and using digital means. By involving multiple stakeholders and fully integrating educational and elderly care resources, this model ensures the elderly’s right to integrate into an information-based society, enabling them to enjoy smart living and enhancing their quality of life and life value. This provides practical references for addressing population aging proactively

Feminist Aesthetics in Nigerian Home Movies

This paper interprets two Nigerian films, Danger Signal 1 & 2 (2004), produced and directed by Teco Benson, and Reloaded 1 & 2 (2008) produced by Juan Amechee and Desmond Elliot, as directed by Duwa Imasuen & Ikechukwu Onyeka to reveal the main strong feminist’s ideology presented vis-à-vis the implication for women’s consciousness. The obvious feminist elements are suggested which lead to the recognition and identification of the demystification of patriarchal and hegemonic strands of reasoning. The demystification of patriarchy and hegemony in the two films here is viewed along the backdrop of the global women’s rights movement which brought about new ideas concerning patriarchy. The radical feminist ideology that can be read into the films is the view that patriarchy signifies the cultural and social domination of women by men. Thus, the films question why sexual inequality persisted even after women had won their rights and achieved legal equity. Using radical feminism as the theoretical framework, this paper critiques the two films portraying female characters that have enough education, courage, strength, economic autonomy, and foresightedness to sustain their quest to break through the walls of traditional inhibitions imposed on women. The paper, therefore, is to make a clarion call on film producers and related agencies to make it a duty, using the potency of film as a genre to propagate a desired feminist agenda for gender equity and equality, which negate patriarchy and hegemony

New Public Management and Efficiency in Nigeria: Evidence from Nigerian Railway Corporation, Lagos

This study examines the influence of New Public Management (NPM) reforms on the efficiency of public sector organizations in Nigeria, focusing on the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in Lagos. NPM, characterized by market-driven principles, decentralization, performance measurement, and public-private partnerships, has been widely adopted in public sector reforms globally to enhance efficiency and service delivery. Using the NRC as a study, the research investigates how these principles have been implemented and their impact on organizational performance. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative data from questionnaires from NRC officials and quantitative data from operational and financial reports. Key findings reveal that while NPM reforms, such as outsourcing and privatization, have led to some improvements in infrastructure, service delivery, and revenue generation, challenges such as inadequate funding, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and political interference continue to hinder their full effectiveness. The research concludes that although NPM reforms have potential to improve efficiency in public sector organizations like the NRC, their success depends on addressing systemic issues such as corruption, poor governance, and a lack of skilled personnel. Recommendations include enhancing regulatory frameworks, strengthening accountability mechanisms, and fostering a culture of performance-driven management to ensure sustainable improvements. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on public sector reforms in developing economies, offering insights for policymakers on optimizing the application of NPM principles in Nigeria

Étude sur les Limites de ChatGPT dans la Traduction des Textes politiques selon les Critères de « Fidélité, Clarté et Adéquation »

La technologie de l’intelligence artificielle a connu un développement fulgurant au XXe siècle. À l’heure actuelle, l’IA a un impact majeur sur divers secteurs d’activité. L’application de l’IA en tant qu’outil de traduction attire beaucoup d’attention dans le domaine de la traduction. La traduction des textes politiques chinois exige une plus grande précision que celle des autres types de textes. Vu les spécificités des textes politiques, il est nécessaire d’évaluer la performance de l’intelligence artificielle dans ce domaine. Nous prenons le Rapport au XXe Congrès du Parti communiste chinois comme objet de recherche. La traduction est effectuée par le modèle le plus récent, ChatGPT-4o mini. En nous référant à la traduction officielle, nous évaluons la traduction générée par ce modèle selon les critères de « Fidélité, Clarté et Adéquation ». Les résultats de l’étude révèlent que malgré une qualité dans l’ensemble acceptable, la traduction générée par ChatGPT ne respecte pas ces trois critères dans certaines parties. Vu ces limites, ChatGPT ne constitue pas encore une menace fondamentale à la traduction humaine. En particulier, en ce qui concerne les textes politiquement sensibles, la traduction humaine est indispensable. Cela dégage un axe clair pour l’enseignement de la traduction : développer les compétences en édition post-traduction basées sur la traduction assistée par ordinateur, une approche conforme aux tendances contemporaines en traduction

Current Situation and Countermeasures of Personnel Management System of Colleges and Universities in the Context of Legalization

Personnel management is a fundamental aspect of the administrative management system in higher education institutions, essential for the orderly development and healthy functioning of higher education, scientific research, party politics, logistics, and other administrative tasks. To achieve sustainable development, Colleges and universities must innovate their personnel management system. This article explores the connotation of personnel management in colleges and universities, clarifies management philosophies, and adheres to the management principle of “rule by law.” It clarifies the main features of the personnel management system in colleges and universities and proposes strategies for innovation. These strategies aim to maximize the role of personnel management in enhancing teaching and research standards, thereby supporting the long-term development of higher education institutions

The Effect of Currency Redesign on Vote Buying in Yewa South Local Government of Ogun State

Elections in Nigeria, a democratic country, are seen as contests for control over the state’s resources, which are considered the most valuable assets in any society. Given the significant consequences, politicians will employ any means, whether legitimate or immoral, to secure public offices. The descriptive survey research design was employed in this study. The population of the study consists of eligible voters who have completed the necessary registration process with the Yewa South Local Government. The research population was used to obtain a sample of 389 respondents using the Taro Yamane formula. The findings suggest that the new currency design in Yewa South Local Government has an impact on the act of buying votes. The study findings indicate that the act of vote buying remains a substantial threat to the integrity and trustworthiness of Nigeria’s democratic system. Despite the government’s attempts to mitigate the act by implementing new electoral forms in the weeks leading up to elections, occurrences of voter manipulation and vote buying persisted, prompting politicians to seek alternate tactics in order to ensure electoral success. The study proposed several recommendations, including enhancing voter education, improving electoral institutions to combat vote buying, and intensifying election security operations to catch and report vote sellers and buyers to the appropriate authorities for legal proceedings

Construction of Primary School Logistics Management System From the Perspective of Home-School Cooperation

Logistics management in primary school is an important support for school operation, which is closely related to the quality of study, work and life of teachers and students, and has a basic guarantee role for the smooth development of education and teaching activities. Building a scientific and efficient primary school logistics management system from the perspective of home-school cooperation can not only improve the school management efficiency, but also optimize the rational distribution of educational resources. From the perspective of home-school cooperation, this paper discusses the construction path of primary school logistics management system based on overlapping influence threshold theory and synergy theory, in order to provide reference for the high-quality development of basic education