A public health approach to understanding and preventing violent radicalization

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Very recent acts of terrorism in the UK were perpetrated by 'homegrown', well educated young people, rather than by foreign Islamist groups; consequently, a process of violent radicalization was proposed to explain how ordinary people were recruited and persuaded to sacrifice their lives.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Counterterrorism approaches grounded in the criminal justice system have not prevented violent radicalization. Indeed there is some evidence that these approaches may have encouraged membership of radical groups by not recognizing Muslim communities as allies, citizens, victims of terrorism, and victims of discrimination, but only as suspect communities who were then further alienated. Informed by public health research and practice, a new approach is proposed to target populations vulnerable to recruitment, rather than rely only on research of well known terrorist groups and individual perpetrators of terrorist acts.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This paper proposes public health research and practice to guard against violent radicalization.</p

Career transitions: an empirical examination of second career of military retirees

We examined the prospects of successful career transition from the defense forces and into the dynamic and turbulent civilian career, focusing on possible antecedents for success in the second career. Based on a sample of 202 high level retirees from military and civilian defense organizations in Israel, our results indicate that preparations for retirement, social capital, perception of organizational politics in the new working place and work-family conflict are related to the dependent variables and affect the retiree’s success in their second career. In addition, organizational commitment was found to serve as a mediator in these relationships. Implications for theory of career development and change, as well as practical implications and recommendations for future studies, are discussed

WESTCARB afforestation pilot projects in Shasta County, California

Afforestation was identified in Phase I of WESTCARB as a significant terrestrial carbon sequestration opportunity, both in Shasta County and at the state level for California, Oregon and Washington. This report summarizes work done under WESTCARB Phase II (2006-10) by Winrock International and its Shasta County partners, primarily the Western Shasta Resource Conservation District and WM Beaty and Associates, to implement afforestation pilot projects. Activities included refining land classification for afforestation potential; landowner outreach and formal surveys; setting criteria for selection and distribution of pilot plantings; developing site-specific planting and maintenance plans; negotiating landowner agreements; sourcing seed and growing seedlings in nurseries; taking baseline carbon stock measurements; collecting data on operational costs; conducting site preparation, planting and early maintenance; and modeling carbon accumulation. A total of twelve afforestation projects were implemented, totaling 476 acres. Initial survival rates were determined, and future growth and carbon stocks were modeled over a 100-year period

WESTCARB afforestation pilot projects in Shasta County, California

Afforestation was identified in Phase I of WESTCARB as a significant terrestrial carbon sequestration opportunity, both in Shasta County and at the state level for California, Oregon and Washington. This report summarizes work done under WESTCARB Phase II (2006-10) by Winrock International and its Shasta County partners, primarily the Western Shasta Resource Conservation District and WM Beaty and Associates, to implement afforestation pilot projects. Activities included refining land classification for afforestation potential; landowner outreach and formal surveys; setting criteria for selection and distribution of pilot plantings; developing site-specific planting and maintenance plans; negotiating landowner agreements; sourcing seed and growing seedlings in nurseries; taking baseline carbon stock measurements; collecting data on operational costs; conducting site preparation, planting and early maintenance; and modeling carbon accumulation. A total of twelve afforestation projects were implemented, totaling 476 acres. Initial survival rates were determined, and future growth and carbon stocks were modeled over a 100-year period