Social networks as social capital for eco-tourism in Malaysia : a preliminary sociological study of the Langkawi Geopark

Theoretically and empirically, the transformation of social networks into social capital is made possible by the interplay between social relationships, social interactions, shared network values, some similarities, network norms, network sanctions and benefits primarily at the informal level between social actors who are connected and collectively involved in the tourism activities. In other words, the networks based on shared values and some similarities as well as normative principles of reciprocity and mutuality will become a form of capital to the actors concerned if their networks while in operation during eco-tourism activities generate monetary and non-monetary benefits for them. Through some empirical findings obtained from a preliminary social network analysis of particular social actors who have been and still are actively and collectively involved in eco-tourism activities in two villages in Langkawi, this study examines the hypothesis that social networks play an important role in the development and success of eco-tourism in Malaysia in the form of social capital. The case examined was Langkawi archipelago of islands in Kedah, a northern state in Peninsular Malaysia where tourism, particularly ecotourism, is the key driver of Langkawi’s socio-economic development, more so after it was declared a geopark in 2007 by Global Geopark Networks (GGN), an initiative under UNESCO. The empirical findings demonstrate that the hypothesis is largely substantiated in the case of Langkawi, that is, the significance of sociological ideas in deriving an alternative, if not better, understanding of the development and success of eco-tourism in Langkawi. The sociological value lies in its emphasis on the “social factor” (i.e. social networks and social capital) as a driver of an economic activity, i.e. eco-tourism activity

Prison gangs for prison life survivability: exploring the reasons for prison gang formation in Kiri-Kiri Maximum security prison

Prison conditions in Kiri-Kiri Maximum prison are harsh due to overcrowding, poor hygiene and outdated prison amenities; however, prisoners survive and endure life in prison because of prison gangs. This study sought to explore the reasons why prisoners form prison gangs and eventually for prison life survivability in Kiri-Kiri Maximum Security Prison. This study made use of a qualitative case study approach to collect data from 34 informants who comprised 2 prison staffs and 32 prison gangs purposively selected. The results from this study discovered that the reasons for prison gang formation were the need to cope, to fulfil the prison authority's needs, for prosocial support and the need for rehabilitation. On the need to cope since the conditions in prison were harsh prison gangs assisted in the maintenance of the prison environment, thus enabling survivability in prison. For fulfilling the prison authority's needs, findings suggest that some of the prison gangs were formed solely to assist the prison authority with menial works. Furthermore, for prosocial support prison gangs provided mutual support to members, thus helping to ease some pains of incarceration. For rehabilitation through vocational workshops, prison gangs are impacted with the life skills needed to survive. The implication of the study is that prison authorities should pay more attention to prison gangs as a way to run the prison effectively

The culture of heritage conservation in Malaysia: a study of eco-tourism in Langkawi

Conservation of heritage resources requires immense human effort; more so now if it has become a neccesity for socio-economic development and ultimately human survival. However, humans can no longer work in silo and social isolation for conservation. Instead, they have to work together to conserve natural and cultural resources as much as they can, as hard as they can. However, as rapid urbanisation and modernisation can create challenges in heritage conservation despite technological advancement, more human effort is required than before. Humans can get back to age old efforts that have withstood test and time, i.e. efforts that are cultural and social in nature. The creation of a culture of heritage conservation is one such effort. Shared values, shared norms and cultural practices are common denominators for a culture of heritage conservation. Amongst various forms of cultural practices, social networking as a form that is common to all societies. Social networking that is based on social relationships is an inevitable fact of everyday social living in any society. Malaysian society is no different from any society in this sense, more so with valuable natural and cultural heritage resources to conserve. This article presents and discusses some findings from an empirical research on the presence of a culture of heritage conservation that facilitates a socio-economic activity, i.e. eco-tourism, in some parts of Langkawi. Langkawi which is acknowledged as a geopark by UENSCO is an archipelago of islands that is situated in the north of Peninsular Malaysia. The research found that the culture is based on particular shared values and shared norms that have been contributing to the growth of eco-tourism in the main island of Langkawi. The values and norms become the foundation of particular social networks among stakeholders involved in the eco-tourism. That networks eventually sustain and faciliate their social networking process. Hence, social networks are confirmed a key element in the cultural practice of social networking for organising and mobilising stakeholders to work together so that future generation can continue to reap the benefits of heritage conservation through ecotourism while sustaining heritage resources

A three-dimensional multidimensional gas-kinetic scheme for the Navier-Stokes equations under gravitational fields

This paper extends the gas-kinetic scheme for one-dimensional inviscid shallow water equations (J. Comput. Phys. 178 (2002), pp. 533-562) to multidimensional gas dynamic equations under gravitational fields. Four important issues in the construction of a well-balanced scheme for gas dynamic equations are addressed. First, the inclusion of the gravitational source term into the flux function is necessary. Second, to achieve second-order accuracy of a well-balanced scheme, the Chapman-Enskog expansion of the Boltzmann equation with the inclusion of the external force term is used. Third, to avoid artificial heating in an isolated system under a gravitational field, the source term treatment inside each cell has to be evaluated consistently with the flux evaluation at the cell interface. Fourth, the multidimensional approach with the inclusion of tangential gradients in two-dimensional and three-dimensional cases becomes important in order to maintain the accuracy of the scheme. Many numerical examples are used to validate the above issues, which include the comparison between the solutions from the current scheme and the Strang splitting method. The methodology developed in this paper can also be applied to other systems, such as semi-conductor device simulations under electric fields.Comment: The name of first author was misspelled as C.T.Tian in the published paper. 35 pages,9 figure

Understanding General Activity Motivation for Persons with Stroke—A Reversal Theory Perspective

Introduction: Motivation is the barrier identified for clients with stroke to reintegrate community living. Reversal Therapy may help to understand the pattern of bipolar variations of motivational factors. This study analyzed the general activity motivation of clients with stroke and their relationship with community participation and mental wellbeing. Methodology: Sampling of 115 subjects including 30 stroke clients and 85 normal subjects. Measurements included the validated Chinese version of General Activity Motivation Measure (GAMM), Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) & Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS). Results: In GAMM, the normal group scores (Mean 50.09 SD 5.79) higher then clients with stroke (Mean 46.09; SD 8.00) (p < 0.05). GAMM correlated positively with CIQ and SWEMWBS (p < 0.05). Four factors identified under GAMM namely Means-end, Relationship, Rules and Transactions that identified with Reversal Theory. Reversals between poles of each domain evidenced between two groups. “Acquiring new experiences” was strong predictor for community integration. Conclusion: Reversal Theory is useful to explain motivational changes among clients with stroke. To develop chances of “new experiences”, “feel accomplishment every day”, “get out of house regularly” and “to do the things that they can enjoy” at “their own pace” are the motivators for reintegrate into community living