Revolution through electronic purchasing

Automation is finding its way in the world of purchasing. This development could evoke dramatic effects in the long term, not only on purchasing but even on the market place itself. Nowadays, EDI and CD-ROM are examples of automation applications that purchasing departments use frequently. Internet and other global communication systems are not yet perceived as major added value applications for purchasers. Nevertheless this medium could change purchasing in a revolutionary manner, provided that the information such global media present, is structured in an easily accessible way. At that point major elements of traditional purchasing will be automatically shifted to the end user. As a consequence the marketplace for these products will become completely transparent, creating a new fundamentally different reality. This will allow new competitors to enter and will demand new services to be rendered

Irvine Welsh's Porno: A Translation Quality Assessment

none1All varieties of languages are subject to constant change, but the restricted language codes used by youth today seem to have speeded up in their transitivity, aided by global communication systems. This tendency to rapid change is the greatest challenge a translator faces when working on young people's language. In Welsh's novel 'Porno', the various charachters are distinguished by their particular idiolect. The paper examines the problems this poses for the translator.openCOLES R.Coles, Rowen

Intercultural Communication Systems and Discourses of Cultural Identity

The analysis of intercultural communication, which is adopted in mainstream applied linguistics and communication studies, aims to explain the meaning of cultural differences and identities in the present global world. The present analysis of intercultural communication is based on theories of cultural variability, which highlight the basic distinctions between values determining cultural differences and identities. Some studies in applied linguistics observe cultural variability as a discursive construction based on a form of epistemological essentialism, produced in the Western part of the world to give meaning to its hegemony. However, these studies share some epistemological foundations with theories of cultural variability. This paper proposes a theorization of intercultural communication, which explains cultural differences and identities as constructed in communication systems and based on their particular structural presuppositions. In this perspective, the hegemonic structure of intercultural communication is ethnocentrism, including the presuppositions of Us/Them basic distinction, positioning of individuals as members of cultural groups and normative expectations about displays of We-identities. This theorisation also provides an explanation of the discursive construction of new hybrid forms of identity, which are observed as a result of globalisation, and of the interdependence between local and global communication systems. Finally, this theorization leads to explain the meaning of intercultural dialogue, which is presented as an alternative to ethnocentrism. The open question regards the explanation of dialogue as either a new discursive construction of hegemonic Western culture or a new structure, introducing equality in participation, sensitivity for participants’ personal expressions and expectations of participants’ empowerment in local and global communication systems

On the need for a global engineering initiative to mitigate climate change

There is growing scientific evidence that the continued emission of greenhouse gases will eventually lead to catastrophic irreversible climate change and that, therefore, a global effort needs to be started to transition to a fully renewable economy. In this article, the engineering challenges of converting to emission-free power generation are reviewed and the feasibility of two proposed solutions, i.e. the ‘wind–water–solar’ and the ‘energy ship’ proposals, are discussed. It is concluded that a well-conceived and executed engineering effort needs to be initiated and guided by a Global Engineering Council for the purpose of examining and ranking various proposals and making specific recommendations

The challenges of participatory research with 'tech-savvy' youth

This paper focuses on participatory research and how it can be understood and employed when researching children and youth. The aim of this paper is to provide a theoretically and empirically grounded discussion of participatory research methodologies with respect to investigating the dynamic and evolving phenomenon of young people growing up in networked societies. Initially, we review the nature of participatory research and how other researchers have endeavoured to involve young people (children and youth) in their research projects. Our review of these approaches aims to elucidate what we see as recurring and emerging issues with respect to the methodological design of involving young people as co-researchers. In the light of these issues and in keeping with our aim, we offer a case study of our own research project that seeks to understand the ways in which high school students use new media and network ICT systems (Internet, mobile phone applications, social networking sites) to construct identities, form social relations, and engage in creative practices as part of their everyday lives. The article concludes by offering an assessment of our tripartite model of participatory research that may benefit other researchers who share a similar interest in youth and new media

THE RELEVANCE OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE FOR DURABLE DEVELOPMENT. CHALLENGES FOR ROMANIA

This article aims to approach the topic of the electronic commerce considering the context of the durable development, without exclusively limiting to the economic dimension of sustainable development. This paper aims to offer a vision on the e-commerce based on an optimistic approach of the reconciliation between economic growth and durable development, but moderate by the current realities (digital divide between countries/regions, economic crisis etc). Furthermore, by identifying some of the problems that Romania encounters concerning the construction of a competitive information society, the article presents also the possible solutions that can help our country to benefit of the advantages of the e-commerce.electronic commerce, durable development, economic growth, digital divide, Information and Communication Technology (IT&C), information society.

A tale of two anomies: some observations on the contribution of (sociological) criminological theory to explaining hate crime motivation

This paper argues that hate crime is simply an inherent and normal component of contemporary society. Regardless of a concerted intervention – legislative, situational and social crime prevention – against this significant social problem in the USA and Europe in recent years, there remains a ubiquitous, albeit often latent, continued existence of hate motivation throughout society which remains at a considerable and increasing risk of actualisation as individuals come into contact with other likeminded individuals. This is particularly an issue in the information age which has greatly enhanced the spatial proximity of these hate-minded people to each other. It is shown that an established body of sociologically informed criminological theory – in particular that founded on the European and US anomie traditions – can be adapted to explain and understand the existence and persistence of hate motivation at all levels of the social world. This provides the basis for an extensive educative - and thus preventive - programme to tackle pervasive cultures of hate

Effects of Economic Globalisation on Employment Trend and Wages in Developing Countries: Lessons from Nigeria Experiences

Since 1986, Nigeria has gradually been integrating with the global economy. This paper examines the effect of globalization on employment and wages in Nigeria. The effects of globalization have been difficult to isolate and evaluate theoretically and empirically due to it multi-faceted nature, but this study attempt to analyse the effects on employment and employeesâ wages by looking at what happened before, during and after globalization in Nigeria. Information and data were mainly gathered through secondary sources, The results of the analysis shows that globalisation of the Nigeria economy through various economic reforms, deregulation and privatisation has led to downsizing of employment in civil service thereby compounding the widespread job queuing in Nigeria. The collapse of some of the private sector firms has also led to retrenchment of workers following stiff competition from import after libralisation thereby increasing both rural and urban unemployment in Nigeria. Also revealed is the problem of increase in income inequality in the country. There appeared to be a wide gap between earnings of the skilled and unskilled workers in the country. Many less skilled workers and experienced worker have also lost their jobs as a result of globalisation. On the positive side, globalisation has led to high employment creation in the informal sector compared with the job lost in the formal sector due to the increasing number of private firms. Most of the jobs created in informal sectors are insecure despite there higher pay compared to wages in the formal sector. There is the need for training and re-training of employee in order to assist them in maintaining their jobsglobalization, labour market, employment, wages, developing countries and Nigeria, International Relations/Trade, Labor and Human Capital,