Selection of an internet content filtering solution using the analytic hierarchy process

This talk describes the selection of an Internet Content Filtering solution suitable for the specific requirements of the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec). Product data was collected from a variety of sources including: vendor product datasheets, industry benchmark tests, the experiences of other institutions and the academic literature. The available solutions were compared using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (Saaty 1980), a multicriteria decision support tool, using the above data and priority weightings determined for each criterion

Isotopic evidence for changes in the zinc cycle during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (Late Cretaceous)

Widespread deposition of organic-rich shales during the Late Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2, ca. 94 Ma) occurred during a period of significant global paleo-environmental and geochemical change. It has been proposed that an increase in nutrient input to the ocean during OAE 2 was the key mechanism that generated and sustained high rates of organic-matter burial over time scales of 103–105 yr. Zinc is a bio-essential micronutrient and the proportion of Zn burial in oxic sediments relative to burial in organic-rich continental margin sediments is reflected in its seawater isotope composition. The first Zn-isotope records dating from the Cretaceous are presented here from three coeval carbonate successions: two from Europe (southern England and southern Italy) and one from southern Mexico. The new data show reproducible stratigraphic Zn-isotope patterns in spatially and lithologically diverse carbonate successions. Excursions to lower Zn-isotope values may be linked to the input of magmatic Zn, changes in the proportion of Zn burial into organic-rich sediments, and the liberation of previously buried Zn during an episode of widespread seafloor re-oxygenation during OAE 2 (the Plenus Cold Event)

Transnationale Netzwerke osteuropäischer Arbeitsmigranten

1 Introduction 2 2 Migration networks revisited 5 2.1 Micro-economic approaches 6 2.2 Rational choice approaches 8 2.3 Social network hypotheses 11 2.4 Social network theory 14 2.5 Systemic approaches 18 2.6 Transnational perspective 22 2.6.1 Transnationalism 22 2.6.2 Transnational spaces 24 2.6.3 Critique of transnationalism 26 2.6.4 Transnational migration networks 29 2.7 Migration networks called into question 33 3 Migration from Eastern Europe 36 3.1 Historical perspective 37 3.1.1 Poland 37 3.1.2 Romania 39 3.2 EU accession 41 4 Research interests 42 5 Methodology and methods 45 6 Relatedness of articles 47 7 Migration patterns and networks 50 7.1 New opportunities? 50 7.2 Theoretical clarifications: Migration patterns and networks 51 7.3 The case-studies: Two communities in rural Poland 53 7.4 Migration patterns before 2004 56 7.5 Migration patterns after 2004 59 7.6 Possible explanations: Persistence and change in migration patterns 61 7.7 Hidden versus visible migration 66 7.8 Conclusion 68 8 The interplay of migration networks and migration policies 70 8.1 Failing migration policies? 70 8.2 Social interaction and policy changes 71 8.3 Policies and networks in Romania and Spain 74 8.3.1 Romanian (e)migration policies 74 8.3.2 Spanish (im)migration policies 75 8.3.3 Schengen convention 76 8.4 The two migrant communities 77 8.5 Analysis and discussion 80 8.5.1 Regularisations 80 8.5.2 Bilateral agreements 83 8.5.3 Visa-free entry into the Schengen space 86 8.5.4 EU enlargements 87 8.6 Conclusions 89 9 Transnational migrants in the destination context 91 9.1 Data and methodology 93 9.2 Development of the migration patterns 94 9.3 Regulatory frameworks 96 9.4 Agents and migrant networks 97 9.5 Brokerage as business 100 9.6 Brokerage business at work 100 9.7 As time goes by 105 9.8 Beyond matching labour demand with labour supply 107 9.9 Conclusions 109 10 Transnational migrants in the origin context 111 10.1 An emerging culture of migration 112 10.2 Interviews in rural Poland: the case studies Wilków and Nowy Korczyn 114 10.3 Migration patterns 115 10.3.1 The community of Nowy Korczyn 116 10.3.2 The community of Wilków 116 10.3.3 Comparison of migration patterns in the two communities 117 10.4 Consequences of migration for the origin communities 118 10.5 Conclusions 126 11 Concluding remarks 129 12 References 133 13 Appendices 151 13.1 Acknowledgements 151 13.2 Abstract 152 13.3 Zusammenfassung 153 13.4 Erklärung 154 13.5 Enthaltene Zeitschriftenaufsätze 155The volume of internationally recognised migration is now at its historical peak. More than 191 million people are on the move, of whom the vast majority are labour migrants. At the same time, migration scholars have been observing a reduction in ‘traditional’ immigration in favour of transnational forms of migration, i.e. processes by which migrants maintain close social relations in both their origin and destination contexts (cf. Glick Schiller et al. 1997). One of the basic preconditions for the appearance of transnationalism is, besides technological advancement in travel and communication, the establishment and persistence of migration networks that span nation-states (cf. Portes et al. 1999). This dissertation focuses on enhancing insights into the structure and functioning of these transnational migration networks. Although the concept of migration networks is often used in studies of transnational migration, the theorising of these networks remains underdeveloped. Thus, in this work I scrutinise the construct of migration networks based on the various approaches applied thus far in the disciplines of sociology, anthropology, economics and geography. The theoretical advancement of migration network theory in this dissertation is based on the changes in migration processes between Eastern and Western Europe that have been taking place since the fall of the ‘iron curtain’ in 1989. The transition from mainly closed, socialist regimes to open, democratic ones in Eastern Europe has allowed for the analysis of emerging and changing migration networks. Furthermore, the examples of Poland and Romania enable me to study the possible alteration of these networks in the context of their accession to the European Union (EU), which enhanced opportunities for the free movement of their workers within the EU. In this dissertation I offer the following insights on the structure and functioning of transnational migration networks: (I) migration networks can be theorised as aggregated social networks, which sheds light on individual agency in these networks; (II) employing a definition of migration networks that goes beyond mere positive relations to take into account the ‘migration industry’ (cf. Salt 2001), here understood as professional brokers and agents, creates a better understanding of the way in which they function; (III) migration networks and migration policies influence each other mutually, with both negative and also positive outcomes; and (IV) migration networks have social and cultural influences on the origin communities, beyond the economic remittances’ impact that mainly has been the focus of studies to date.Der Umfang internationaler Migration hat mit mehr 191 Millionen wandernden Menschen, von denen die meisten Arbeitsmigranten sind, derzeit seinen historischen Höhepunkt. Gleichzeitig beobachten Migrationsforscher ein Schrumpfen „traditioneller“ Immigration zugunsten transnationaler Migrationsformen, d.h. von Prozessen, in denen Migranten enge soziale Beziehungen zwischen und in Herkunfts- und Zielkontexten halten (cf. Glick Schiller et al. 1997). Eine der grundlegenden Voraussetzungen für das Auftreten von Transnationalismus ist, neben dem technologischem Fortschritt im Reiseverkehr und in der Informations- und Kommunikationstechnik, das Etablierung und Dauerhaftigkeit von Nationalstaaten überspannenden Migrationsnetzwerken (cf. Portes et al. 1999). Die vorliegende Arbeit legt den Schwerpunkt auf die Erweiterung des Wissens zu Struktur und Funktionsweisen eben dieser transnationalen Migrationsnetzwerke. Obwohl das Konzept „Migrationsnetzwerk“ in Arbeiten zu transnationaler Migration häufig Eingang gefunden hat, blieb die tatsächliche Theoriebildung zu diesen Netzwerken unterentwickelt. In dieser Arbeit wird daher das Konstrukt „Migrationsnetzwerk“ hinterfragt, wobei die bestehenden Ansätze der Fachbereiche Ethnologie, Soziologie, Ökonomie und Geographie Ausgangspunkt für die Weiterentwicklung bilden. Die theoretische Fortentwicklung der Theorie zu Migrationsnetzwerken gründet in dieser Arbeit auf den empirischen Veränderungen im Migrationsgeschehen zwischen Ost- und Westeuropa nach dem Fall des „Eisernen Vorhangs“ im Jahr 1989. Der Übergang von überwiegend geschlossenen, sozialistischen Regimes zu offenen, demokratischen Staaten in Osteuropa eignet sich besonders für die Analyse entstehender und sich verändernder Migrationsnetzwerke. Darüber hinaus erlauben die Beispielländer Polen und Rumänien eine Veränderung dieser Netzwerke im Zusammenhang mit dem Beitritt dieser Länder zur Europäischen Union (EU) zu beobachten, da sich die Möglichkeiten von Arbeitsmigranten dieser Länder im Zusammenhang mit der von der EU garantierten Freizügigkeit potenziell erweiterte. Diese Arbeit bietet darauf aufbauend die folgende Erkenntnisse zu Struktur und Funktionsweisen von transnationalen Migrationsnetzwerken: (I) Migrationsnetzwerke können theoretisch als eine Art „soziale Netzwerke“ verstanden werden, was erlaubt die Akteursperspektive besser ausleuchten zu können; (II) sofern Migrationsnetzwerke und deren inhärente Beziehungen nicht nur als positiv konnotiert angesehen werden, können die Prozesse der „Migrationsindustrie“ (cf. Salt 2001), hier im Sinne von berufsmäßigen Vermittlerrollen verstanden, besser analysiert und nachvollzogen werden; (III) Migrationsnetzwerke und Migrationspolitiken beeinflussen sich gegenseitig mit negativen, aber auch positiven Folgen; (IV) Migrationsnetzwerke beeinflussen auch das soziale und kulturelle Gefüge in den Herkunftsregionen jenseits ökonomischer Rücküberweisungen, die bisher im Fokus vieler Studien standen