Child Soldiers in Colombia: The Recruitment of Children into Non-state Violent Armed Groups

Based on in-depth interviews with former child soldiers in Colombia, this article presents the findings from fieldwork conducted among demobilized child soldiers in Colombia. The findings add to the state of knowledge by going in-depth into the circumstances surrounding the processes and mechanisms of recruitment of children and adolescents into armed groups. The former child soldiers had generally joined the armed groups voluntarily. However; one of the challenges with a strong division between ‘voluntary’ and ‘coerced’ recruitment, is that it indicates a sharp dichotomy between two very different situations. This article argues that most cases of recruitment takes place in the grey zone between voluntary and coerced recruitment. However, the demobilization policies work under the assumption that even when the children classify themselves as voluntarily recruited it is considered force due to children’s inability to make a free or conscious choice. This indicates that demobilization programs are based on an assumption that is incorrect. The former child soldiers, both girls and boys, were affected by their involvement in the conflict. They did not, however, constitute a homogeneous group of passive victims, but rather a group of vital agents each one with their choices shaped by their particular experiences and circumstances.

Volume Growth in Quality Food Firms – Lessons and Reflections from Norway

A review of research on growth processes in quality food chains in Norway shows that only a few studies have focused on growth in such chains. Studies look at food businesses as the focal unit and discover many challenges for local firms with growth ambitions. The main issues seem to concern distribution and follow-up sales, where communicating qualities of products to customers is a key challenge. Other challenges observed were developing and maintaining qualities of products to gain premium priced products, the financing of growth, developing the business organisation and establishing cooperation and networks for growth

DDRed in Liberia: Youth Remarginalisation or Reintegration?

This report questions mainstream approaches to the reintegration of youthful ex-combatants. In Liberia, the disarmament and demobilisation was implemented quite effectively, but several questions can be asked about the components of reintegration and rehabilitation in the DDR-process. Most ex-combatants are currently unemployed or underemployed as the programmes initiated first and foremost prepared them for jobs that did not exist. The programmes also worked from the assumption that wartime experiences, networks and command structures had to be broken down as they were seen as counterproductive to peace and reconciliation. Drawing on previous research in Liberia the hypothesis is that reintegration can better be achieved through peaceful remobilisation that allows the ex-combatants to make use of the skills, experiences and networks gained through the war. This is illustrated by the recent experience of a nightwatch patrol in Voinjama in Lofa County that was based on rank and command structure from the war which responded to local community demands and filled a security vacuum. This is an alternative path to reintegration that needs further analysis, and the article argued that this should be based on the premises of a genuine understanding of the background of Liberia’s young ex-combatants and the nature and form of their involvement in violent conflict. Many people were involved in the war, but most only fought for certain periods. The motivations for joining varied, but the collected data from our various studies shows that security considerations were among the most important factors. Most combatants were ordinary people who joined for the sake of protection for themselves, their families and their communities. DDR in Liberia, as elsewhere, is, however, built on the assumption that there is something particularly dangerous and marginalised about the group of people who constituted the rank-and-file of the factions involved in the war. This is, as we have seen, not necessarily the case. DDR is very much a reaction to the notion that these people are unattached to society, set apart in their own world, and therefore needs particular attention. The article will therefore suggests that DDR approaches are in dire need of a rethinking that links them more directly to programmes aimed at social cohesion and societal security.

Good Animal Welfare in Norwegian Farmers’ context. Can both industrial and natural conventions be achieved in the social license to farm?

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Full case study report: Røros Meat - Norway

Røros Meat is a local meat processing company emphasizing local and traditional products. Since 2011 the company has produced organic products to the retail chain Rema 1000. Before and today the main activity is processing non-organic and traditional 3 products for the HoReCa (Hotel, Restaurant and Catering)-market in the region. Røros Meat is located in Os, a neighboring municipality of Røros. Despite the fact that the two locations belong to different counties; they are located in the same mountain region of the eastern parts of Southern Norway. The reason for using the name Røros in their business name is the already established value of this name/brand due to Røros status as a historical mining town on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, and Røros is a well-known name and travelling spot for both national and international tourism. Beside traditional economic activities such as agriculture and forestry, tourism is a very important activity for the town and the district. Røros Meat, established in 2003, took over another meat processor company, which had a low performance. Regional organic farmers were decisive in establishing the meat processing company just as they were for Røros Dairy. They wanted a local milk- and meat processing opportunity for their organic productions. The regional organic farmer cooperative, Økomat Røros BA, was a driving force for starting the company. Five private actors, the organic cooperative Økomat Røros, and Røros Dairy came in as shareholders. Røros Abattoir was one of the owners. In 2007 they bought new shares in the company and they now own about 60 % of the shares. The abattoir has two persons in the board of Røros Meat, where one of these are the chair of board. From 2014 the General Manager of Røros Abattoir now also hold this position in Røros Meat. The plan is to merge the two companies. The main reason why we wanted to study the value chain of Røros Meat as part of the Healthy Growth project is their production of organic products for the supermarket chain REMA 1000. REMA 1000 is a typical discount chain in Norway and until recently organic food has not been a focus. We have not studies the value chain of Røros Meat in depth according to the template developed for the Healthy Growth project, rather we mainly shed light on the cooperation with REMA 1000 as part of a growth strategy of the company. 4 Figure 1: Map of Norway and Røros Røros Dairy is the only organic dairy in Norway, established in 2001. It has experienced a steady growth since established and has today 20 employees and a turnover of 45.5 mill NOK (5,5 mill EUR) in 2013. There have been periods of economic struggles, but today the dairy is profitable and perceived as one of the most successful organic firms and value chains in Norway. Their success in combining growth with organic and other product qualities is the reason why we selected the dairy and its value chain as a case in the Healthy Growth project

State of the art review (WP2). On healthy growth initiatives in the mid-scale values-based chain of organic food

The Core organic II project HealthyGrowth assumes that present organic value chains seem either to operate in local markets with direct sale or in conventional retail chains where organic qualities are not properly communicated (HealthyGrowth (HG) proposal 2010). Within this statement lies an observation from previous research that local organic market chains have inherent problems in moving from niche to volume and mainstream large-scale market chains have inherent problems in securing and advancing organic values. Therefore, the aim of the HealthyGrowth project is to investigate a range of successful mid-scale organic value chains in order to learn how they are able to combine volume and values. Before the participants of the project start collecting data on such chains, the first major step was to develop a state-of-the-art review of research on successful mid-scale values-based chains (ibid.). The objective of WP2 in HealthyGrowth is to compile the most current research on organic markets and value chains in a state-of-the-art review. The main focus has been on studies of mid-scale value-based food chains and growth processes in the organic food sector. The aim of the review is to learn more about growth processes with its challenges, options and risks. Moreover, the review is supposed to point out main mechanisms and organizational principles underlying the successful development of businesses or initiatives, and identify the theories and methodologies most commonly used in the field (HG proposal 2010). This report is based on national state-of-the-art reports from the participating countries of the HealthyGrowth project, consisting of research on successful mid-scale values-based chains in the ten HealthyGrowth countries Germany, Denmark, Slovenia, Lithuania, Austria, France, Sweden, Finland, Turkey and Norway. Additionally, a review of research from other countries is carried out. This report presents an analysis and summary of these reviews

Healthy growth: From niche to volume with integrity and trust. State of the art: National report Norway

The working paper gives an overview over organic production, consumption and studies of growth in mid-scale values based food chains in Norway

Alcohol and drugs in post-war Sierra Leone

The kind of social stress that a civil war expose the population to makes it easy to assume that an increased level of alcohol and drug abuse should be observable in post-war Sierra Leone. This is, however, not the case. As this study reveals, the pattern of alcohol and drug consumption in Sierra Leone. This is, however, not the case. As this study reveals, the pattern of alcohol and drug consumption in Sierra Leone is the same as we find in other African countries that has never experienced civil war. The majority of the population do not drink very much or use drugs at all, but there is a small minority that are frequent drinkers and use drugs. These findings are based on a survey in Sierra Leone and explore who the drinkers are, how many people drink and what characterises drug users in Sierra Leone

1. og 2. Klemensbrev og fremveksten av den nytestamentlige kánon : et bidrag til debatten om Campenhausens tese

Master's thesis in Theology. School of Mission and Theology, December 200