Small-holdings and sustainable family farming in Galicia and Ireland. A comparative case study

Small-holdings and Minifundios were considered as miniature farms, unable to secure basic sustenance for all the members of the family unit and, ultimately, a source of many evils. This research consists of theoretical and empirical sections. The theoretical part focuses on the analysis of specialized bibliography on minifundismo and family farming. We try to present the theoretical background that allows us to provide new ideas about minifundios and family farms. The empirical part focuses on examining different cases in Galicia and Ireland. We attempt to produce a brief comparative diagnosis of the changes and continuities that cooperative family farming has experienced considering that farm censuses statistics systematically ignore the social and cultural contexts of families that live and work on farms. Our intention is to stress the idea that family farming in Galicia and Ireland is a cultural expression and a life-style that goes beyond capitalist industrial farming. It is a type of farming in itself that has both negative and also positive characteristics

Can we get around rural isolation? Adolescents and mobile telephones in rural areas: a case study in Galicia

This article presents the findings of research examining a group of secondary school students from an agricultural district in ruralGalicia,Spain. Research methods used include quantitative and qualitative techniques such as participant observation. The authors analyze to what degree and for what purpose rural adolescents communicate via mobile telephones and if gender accounts for any significant differences in this usage. Our findings show that rural adolescents are indeed avid users of mobile telephones and suggest that because of this they are getting around the physical inaccessibility and inherent isolation of rural communities.This article is based on research financed by the Department of Innovation of the Spanish government (CSO2009-10894)S

Effectiveness of a Psychosocial Therapy with SMS in Immigrant Women with Different Degrees of Depression

Immigrant women who are forced to adapt to a new cultural context often live in low income situations, have informal jobs, and experience social inclusion difficulties; these women frequently have mental health and social relationship problems. We conducted an experimental investigation with a group of vulnerable immigrant women who were receiving support from public social services. Our goal was to analyze the effectiveness of a bio-psychosocial therapy system with text messages to personal mobile phones. We grouped women by different degrees of depression. We studied psychosocial characteristics from personalized interviews and developed message banks to advise healthy habits and accompany moods. We programmed a remote delivery system, and for 26 days, each woman (n = 44) received four of our messages. We analyzed changes in mood and depression at the beginning and at the end of therapy and observed positive changes. The analysis of the initial and final (Personal Health Questionnaire) PHQ−9 quartile intervals shows that text messages significantly improve the mood and depression symptoms of immigrant women when the initial PHQ−9 value is greater than 5 (moderate depression)This research was funded by Autonomous Government of Galicia-Spain: General Directorate of Social Inclusion and the Postdoctoral Research ProgramS

Analysis of location and spatial distribution of elderly women victims of gender violence

Little is known about abuse and violence against elderly women, as well as prevention and intervention strategies. We present the results of an investigation that has as its objective the elaboration of the Location Map of elderly women victims of gender violence, analyzing their territorial distribution in the specific case of the Autonomous Community of Galicia, Spain, and its relationship with environmental, social, and territorial variables. The results of our research on the location and distribution of the rates of elderly women victims of gender violence show its direct relationship with low demographic density, aging, and dependency, which is associated with disabled people. The mapping resulting can facilitate the territorial planning of social and health services aimed at elderly women in rural areas. The interquartile classification makes it possible to delimit areas of intervention at a spatial level, differentiating those municipalities with the highest and lowest prevalenceS

Alfabetización digital en comunidades marginadas a partir de un SIG. Estudio de caso en Galicia

Sin resume

The present and future of psychosocial therapy for vulnerable people in Spain. The contribution of mobile phones

Analizamos la literatura académica internacional centrada en los teléfonos móviles y las terapias psicosociales. Identificamos los artículos publicados entre 2000 y 2015 en las bases de datos disponibles en Internet; y ponemos en evidencia las escasas investigaciones con personas vulnerables. La literatura especializada en terapias psicosociales muestra interés en las utilidades de los teléfonos móviles en pacientes en general, con mayor producción desde la psicología y en menor medida desde el trabajo social. Destacan las investigaciones desarrolladas en los Estados Unidos y su escasa existencia en España, donde se discuten las competencias del trabajador social en este campo. Identificamos oportunidades y limitaciones en cuanto a la privacidad de los datos, al acceso a los teléfonos móviles y a su uso; para llegar a poblaciones aisladas o de escasos recursos o para facilitar el acceso a los servicios sociales y de salud. Concluimos con posibles orientaciones, hipótesis y objetivos en el diseño de nuevas investigaciones.We analyse international academic literature focused on mobile phones and psychosocial therapies. We identify articles published between 2000 and 2015 and available on Internet databases; and we highlight the scarce number of investigations focusing on vulnerable people. Literature specializing in psychosocial therapies address the usefulness of mobile phones in patients in general, with greater production from psychology and to a lesser extent from social work. We highlight the research developed in the USA and its residualness in Spain, where debates focus on the competences of the social worker in this field. We identify opportunities and limitations in terms of data privacy, access to and use of mobile phones; to reach isolated or poor populations or to facilitate access to social and health services. We conclude with possible orientations, hypotheses and goals for prospective investigation worksS

Sustainable family farming in smallholding systems. A comparative study of cases in Galicia and Ireland

En este artículo presentamos los resultados de un estudio económico, social y cultural de las explotaciones familiares agroganaderas a partir de casos gallegos e irlandeses. La investigación se centró, fundamentalmente, en la elaboración y análisis de los resultados de una encuesta especializada que trató sobre las características sociales, económicas, tecnológicas y culturales de las familias agrarias productoras de leche localizadas en el entorno de los municipios noroccidentales de Galicia y en el sector noroccidental del Condado de Cork en Irlanda. En los dos casos, en mayor o menor medida, se evidencia el cambio social y el proceso de transformación agraria en el área de influencia de las cooperativas lecheras investigadas. Las conclusiones nos permiten afirmar que el mundo rural en Galicia no puede caminar inexorablemente hacia la concentración parcelaria masiva y hacia el desarrollo agrario e industrial ilimitado. No podemos sustituir la práctica cultural minifundista por la implantación de un “latifundio inventado” ajeno a la realidad social, económica y cultural de Galicia. La pluriactividad de las familias minifundistas gallegas es una práctica cultural heredada que debemos preservar. En el campo irlandés dicha práctica cultural heredada ha desaparecido y, hoy en día, hay intentos de recuperar el “estilo de vida” asociado a la agricultura familiar tradicional como fórmula para evitar la emigración y fijar la población en el medio ruralThis essay presents the results of an economic, social and cultural study of family farms based on Galician and Irish cases. We have conducted a specialized survey on the social, economic, technological and cultural characteristics of milk-producing agricultural families located around the North-Western municipalities of Galicia as well as in the North-Western area of the County of Cork in Ireland. The essay is based on an analysis of the main results. To a higher or lesser extent, social change and agricultural transformation can be seen in both cases in the influence area of the milk cooperatives under study. The conclusions allow us to state that rural society in Galicia should not necessarily move towards massive consolidation of fragmented holdings and unbound agricultural and industrial development. Cultural smallholding practices should not be replaced by a “made-up large state” which is alien to the social, economic and cultural reality of Galicia. The Galician smallholding families’ multiactivity is an inherited cultural practice to be preserved. On the Irish countryside, this inherited cultural practice has dissapeared and attempts are now being made to recover the “life style” associated to traditional family farming as a means to avoid emigration and fix population in rural areasS

The influence of mobile phone in shaping the identity of rural teenagers. Case study in Galicia

Presentamos los resultados de una investigación llevada a cabo con un grupo de estudiantes de un municipio de economía ganadera del interior de Galicia. Aplicamos técnicas de investigación cualitativa y de observación participante durante diversas sesiones de trabajo desarrolladas en su centro de enseñanza. Hemos querido comprobar con qué intención se comunican a través de los teléfonos móviles los jóvenes rurales y si hay alguna diferencia significativa que se deba al sexo. Todo apunta a que la incomunicación y aislamiento rural comienza a superarse con la telefonía móvil.We present the results of research carried out with a group of students from a municipality Galician livestock economy. We apply qualitative research techniques and participant observation during several work sessions conducted in their school. We wanted to see how the rural youth communicate through cell phones and if there is any significant difference due to sex. All indications are that the isolation begins to overcome thanks to the spread of mobile telephonyInvestigación desarrollada en el marco del proyecto Sociedad de la Información y Desarrollo Urbano y Regional (Sindur) financiado por el Gobierno de España (CSO2009-10938) y la colaboración de alumnos y profesores del Instituto de Educación Secundaria de Santa Comba en A CoruñaS

El minifundio sostenible como un nuevo escenario para la economía gallega

Texto dispoñible en galego e españolOs obxectivos perseguidos a través da nosa investigación son, en primeiro lugar, poñer en evidencia os cambios sociais, económicos e culturais experimentados polo minifundio e pola explotación agraria familiar en Galicia e, en segundo lugar, tratar de definir en positivo o concepto de minifundio en relación coa agricultura familiar enmarcada na nova Política Agraria Común europea. A área de estudo foi definida pola área de influencia da empresa cooperativa Feiraco que engloba a 10.000 pequenas explotacións agrarias familiares. Entrevistamos 325 explotacións a través dunha enquisa con 315 preguntas, en 27 municipios e en 115 parroquias galegas. Podemos concluír que o minifundio pode chegar a ser sostible a partir da modernización e cualificación das explotacións agrarias familiares en réxime de cooperativa. É necesario definir un limiar de produtividade para o minifundio sostible que asegure a calidade de vida das familias rurais e conserve o seu estilo de vida e práctica cultural herdada vinculada ao policultivo e á economia multifuncional. O minifundio entendido como un sistema de agricultura familiar de pequenos propietarios debe ser concibido como un estilo de vida de características culturais propias que debemos respectar no contexto da uniformización cultural que promove a globalizaciónThe objectives through way of our investigation are, firstly, to show evidence of social, economic and cultural changes felt by smallholdings and family-run farming in Galicia and, secondly, to attempt to define positive concepts of smallholdings in relation to family-run farming encompassed by the new European Community Farming Policy. The area of study has been defined as an influential area of the Feiraco Co-operative Company. Feiraco takes in 10,000 small family-run farming businesses. We have interviewed 325 businesses through way of a 315 question survey in 27 Galician townships and 115 Galician parishes. We can conclude that smallholdings can reach a sustainable level with modernisation and qualification as a family-run farming co-operative. It is necessary to define the productivity threshold for sustainable smallholdings in order to assure the quality of life for rural families so that they are able to maintain their lifestyle and continue their inherited culture. This smallholding is understood as a family-run farming system for small proprietors which must be undertaken as characteristics of a unique lifestyle which must be respected in the context of cultural uniformity that Globalisation is pushingLos objetivos perseguidos a través de nuestra investigación son, en primer lugar, poner en evidencia los cambios sociales, económicos y culturales experimentados por el minifundio y por la explotación agraria familiar en Galicia y, en segundo lugar, tratar de definir en positivo el concepto de minifundio en relación con la agricultura familiar enmarcada en la nueva Política Agraria Común europea. El área de estudio fue definida por el área de influencia de la empresa cooperativa Feiraco que engloba a 10.000 pequeñas explotaciones agrarias familiares. Entrevistamos 325 explotaciones a través de una encuesta con 315 preguntas, en 27 municipios y en 115 parroquias gallegas. Podemos concluir que el minifundio puede llegar a ser sostenible a partir de la modernización de las explotaciones agrarias familiares en régimen de cooperativa. Es necesario definir un umbral de productividad para el minifundio sostenible que asegure la calidad de vida de las familias rurales y conserve su estilo de vida y práctica cultural heredada vinculada al policultivo y a la economía multifuncional. El minifundio entendido como un sistema de agricultura familiar de pequeños propietarios debe ser concebido como un estilo de vida de características culturales propias que debemos respectar en el contexto de la homogenización cultural que promueve la globalizaciónS

Los fundamentos teóricos del renacimiento rural en la sociedad postindustrial

Determinados espacios rurales del mundo desarrollado están experimentan­do un renacimiento que coincide en el tiempo con el declive de antiguas ciu­dades industriales . Este fenómeno se relaciona con los avances de la tecno­logía de fin de siglo y la superación de la Sociedad Industrial. El auge de las filosofías verdes, el gusto por el hábitat individual, el ecoturismo, los avan­ces de las telecomunicaciones, la nueva división internacional del trabajo, el interés por el medio ambiente, la industrialización rural y el desarrollo en­dógeno, la universalización del automóvil, etc., son factores que inciden en el cambio urbano-rura