362 research outputs found
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Fundamentals of ethical trading in poorer countries: overview for the World Bank
As trade further globalizes, social and environmental concerns are emerging, in some cases rather quietly. Dominant market groups are setting a range of standards that their developing country suppliers must meet. For some major European food companies these are proving to be nearly as relevant as concerns for quality and safety. What is this "ethical trading" and how does it impact the development of food production and the value chain in developing countries that seek to export? Can the promotion of ethical trading standards improve a subsector's competitiveness in the marketplace or does it serve more as a catalyst for sustainable production and livelihoods? This paper addresses these emerging standards, their application, their role, and potential implications for governments and development agencies
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Socio-economic case studies: a progress report on the Bay of Bengal Project socio-economic case studies in Bangladesh, 11 - 25 October 1993 (NRI report no. R 2032(R))
Muscle damage and the repeated bout effect in male bodybuilders following unaccustomed resistance exercise
This study investigated muscle damage of bodybuilders who performed an unaccustomed intense resistive exercise bout. Ten male bodybuilders (age: 23 ± 2 y, height: 177.6 ± 6.3 cm, body mass: 85.7 ± 8.1 kg) with a minimum of 4-years resistance training experience performed 17 exercises targeting the pectoral muscles. Eight of the 10 bodybuilders repeated the same exercises two weeks later. Muscle function (bench press throw, maximal isokinetic elbow extension and flexion concentric torque: MVC torque), muscle soreness using a visual analogue scale (VAS: 100-mm), and plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity were assessed before, immediately after and 24, 48 and 72 hours after exercise. Bench press throw peak force decreased immediately (23 ± 20%) and 24 hours after the first exercise bout (9 ± 15%), but, returned to baseline (930 ± 129 N) by 48 hours post-exercise (P\u3c0.05). MVC torque also decreased but, returned to baseline by 48 hours post-exercise. Muscle soreness peaked 24 hours post-exercise (57 ± 22 mm). No significant changes in plasma CK activity were evident after the exercise at any corresponding time point. When compared between the first and second bouts, changes in bench press throw parameters and MVC torque were similar, but muscle soreness was less (P\u3c0.05) after the second (47 ± 26 mm) than the first bout (68 ± 27 mm). Similarly, the magnitude of volume performed was significantly greater in the second bout (11,433 ± 674 kg) as opposed to the first (10,384 ± 670 kg) due to the repetitions to volition failure (P\u3c0.001). It is concluded that bodybuilders still experience minor loss of muscle function lasting for 2 days after unaccustomed exercise targeting the chest muscles, but muscle soreness was relatively severe, and no repeated bout effect was evident for muscle function measures, but minor repeated bout effect was evident for muscle soreness. This may be a due to potential limitations of continual adaptations
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The allocation of labour to perennial crops
The production of perennial crops by smallholders has played an important part in many developing economies, something that is no less true in the stabilization and structural adjustment era today than it was in colonial or post-colonial times. Yet, as this review shows, knowledge about smallholder perennial crop production systems is sporadic and incomplete. This is especially so concerning the non-price related opportunities and constraints which determine under what conditions smallholders are inclined to produce perennial crops. This is a review of material published since the 1940s which shows the factors involved in labour decisionmaking: the interaction of family and hired labour, longand short-term contracts; the effect of different kinship systems; and of gender and age. It also looks at the threats posed by HN/AIDS and natural disasters. The review shows how labour can determine what crops are grown as well as the way crops and seasonality impose their own restrictions on the choice of labour. The conclusions show the importance of taking account of the decision-making process concerning labour during policy planning as well as the limitations labour imposes on perennial crop production. They also identify gaps in current knowledge and suggest areas for further research
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Pastoral groups and cereal storage systems. Report on an exploratory visit to Nigeria (NRI report no. R1999 (S))
Following an extensive literature review (Fowler and Moorehead, 1992) into grain storage and marketing by pastoralists, a first field study was conducted to look at the social and technical aspects of grain storage, marketing and production amongst Fulani pastoralists in Nigeria
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Caught in their own nets: a social study of set bagnet fishing communities in Bangladesh (NRI report no. R2199(C))
The estuarine set bagnet communities are amongst the poorest rural communities in Bangladesh. An already difficult existence has been exacerbated by recent natural disasters and apparent declines in fish stock. In addition, they are socially and politically isolated from the mainstream of rural life, often coming from ethnic minorities and dependent on marketing channels that are dominated by the urban and rural elite. This report presents the findings of a year-long study of three set bagnet communities that arose from planners' fears that intervention in such marginalised communities would exacerbate rather than assist the fisherfolk's situation. The communities are from three different religious and ethnic groups in different parts of eastern Bangladesh. The findings show the intricate web of social and economic factors that hinder economic development. Lack of access to capital is a major issue. Most of the available credit is linked to the marketing of high-value fish during certain seasons. Consequently, external financing is channelled through boat captains and owners, excluding women and poorer men from directly accessing loans. Furthermore, for much of the year, when the value of the catch is insufficient for large traders, credit is unavailable. In recent years NGOs have tried to address this situation, but the results to date are mixed. The study has identified any of the features of the fisherfolk's lives that serve as opportunities and constraints to such outside assistance. It shows that there are no magic solutions, but only slow, persistent and socially sensitive responses which might release some of the present pressures and open up possibilities for the future. The report is primarily intended for use by the ODA Bay of Bengal Post-harvest Fisheries Project, and articles on specific aspects of the study are being published elsewhere. However, the report, and especially its final section (Conclusions), will also be of use to fisheries policy makers and development practitioners who need to increase their understanding of the complexity of coastal fishing communities and the implications for development work
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Cattle and cribs: an inter-disciplinary approach to grain storage amongst pastoralists in Ethiopia and Nigeria
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Social impact of ethical and conventional brazil nut trading on forest-dependent people in Peru
This study compares the impact of conventional and ethical international export of brazil nuts on the livelihoods of forest dependent people in order to identify the potential of ethical trade to improve those livelihoods
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Ethical consumers and ethical trade: a review of current literature (NRI Policy Series 12)
This publication reviews the large number of consumer surveys of ethical consumerism, and describes the different types of ethical consumer, their motivation and concerns, their willingness to pay an ethical premium, and the ways they learn about ethical products. It shows how different survey methodologies affect what we know and do not know about ethical consumerism, and highlights how methodological shortcomings are starting to be addressed.The publication reveals that ethical consumerism is a complex phenomenon, something that those calling for greater consumer awareness of ethical issues need to understand when promoting different forms of ethical trade. The fair-trade and organic movements have been at the forefront of understanding this phenomenon, and their experiences offer lessons for the commercial mainstream, particularly the importance of information and awareness as a prerequisite for action. These lessons are also crucial for international development agencies that need to understand the operation of Northern markets if their investment in ethical approaches to trade in developing countries is to pay dividends
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