Organic Farming in Wales 1998 - 2003

In 1998 Ron Davies MP, the then Secretary of State for Wales, established three industry working groups to develop action plans for the dairy, red meat and organic farming sectors in Wales. With the publication of the Organic Sector Action Plan in March 1999, the working group was restructured to form the Organic Strategy Group. In the four years since the publication of the action plan, there has been significant progress in the development of the organic sector in Wales. Organic production has increased, established organic producer groups and processing, distribution and retailing businesses have thrived, and many new businesses and initiatives have been established, bringing a greater business, social and cultural diversity to the organic community in Wales. But there have also been challenges, notably the difficulties faced by milk producers in finding markets for organic milk as a result of the dramatic increase in supplies – this illustrates the need for new initiatives to respond to a dynamic and changing situation as the organic sector develops. This report stands as a record of the achievements of the action plan, and the agencies that have supported its delivery

2001 Consultation of organic farming research priorities in the UK

The following reports a consultation of organic farming research priorities in the UK in 2001. The information was collated by Organic Centre Wales, Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales, Aberystwyth on behalf of MAFF organic farming unit and UKROFS A total of 62 responses received, of which 24 from farmers, 12 from researchers and research organisations and 26 from organic producers and other farming organisations Information on ongoing research was derived from the MAFF 2001 organic farming research review, SERAD listing of organic farming projects and MAFF project OFO171, Review of current European research on organic farming

Chinese Educational Reforms: Transition of an International Powerhouse

It has been almost everywhere in the media: The People\u27s Republic of China has a powerhouse of an education system. Only a few years ago were Americans being bombarded with advertisement campaigns, outlining the vast disparity between American and European or Asian testing scores [AR1] [JP2] in math [AR3] [JP4] and science. Now, there is a new discussion. Although the current Chinese system is effective for producing excellent test scores, many project that the rigidity will eventually only hinder China, that a lack of encouragement and space for creativity in Chinese students’[AR5] [JP6] educational careers will result in a lack of creativity in their working careers, which is seen as a vital need in a growing, changing economy. There are many aspects of the current education system that are contributing to these issues, such as the emphasis on memorization, or the over-use of examination. This paper concludes that the most effective route of improvement will stem from further reforms to the teacher education system, through the consideration of educator relationships to the nature of Chinese education, individual students, and Chinese society as a whole

Hiroshima’s Hibakusha: The Costs of Human Health in a Nuclear Age

At the end of World War II, Japan, as well as the rest of the world, was thrust into a new age of unbelievably destructive possibilities: the first use of nuclear weapons against human beings. Not only could such a bomb flatten an entire city, it could do so in only an instant. The poorly understood scars that were left showed a new level of war that the world needs to come to terms with. By considering the many medical effects of the atomic bomb on the victims of Hiroshima City, which encompasses the initial blast, radiation, and traumatic effects, we can gain a better understanding of the terrible costs of human health in nuclear war

Addressing the Needs of Chinese International Students: A Guidebook to BGSU

This project is intended to address the needs of Chinese international students in the U.S, specifically those studying at Bowling Green State University. The principle goal is to create a guidebook to student life at BGSU, focusing of academic success, lifestyle adjustment, and connections to domestic students. This guidebook utilizes both academic research, as well as individual student input. Furthermore, much of the guidebook’s content is in both English and Chinese, allowing for greater comprehension of the information. In addition, this project includes an accompanying essay in order to better analyze the concepts of the academic research. This essay compares studies observing major issues for international students, such as language barriers, with the steps some Universities are taking to address them. After considering the varying levels of success and failure some University international programs face, conclusions about Chinese international student adjustment are applied to the issues addressed in the guidebook

The liturgical vision of Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin

The aim of this thesis is to argue that Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-1852) was a liturgist who had a liturgical vision. He is commonly regarded as an architect and designer per se, but many believe he had eccentric ideas, was a fanatic for the Gothic style of architecture and that while he was religious, he had little impact on the religious controversy and events of his time. The thesis will bring forward a different picture of him. The reasons put forward to support the claim that he was a liturgist are that he had a particularly definition of liturgy; he studied liturgy for three years; he employed a particular method of writing, which was commonly used by past liturgists; many of his authorities were liturgists and historians, as well as architects and designers, and his sources related to liturgy. Pugin went from attacking Protestants, to defending his views against Roman Catholics. To argue for his views, Pugin employed a particular methodology, which included a vast number of authorities and sources. He offered to England an alternative setting of the Roman rite. The new converts who had seceded from the Church of England to the Church of Rome, including John Henry Newman and his circle, did not support him and this led to a major conflict. Their different views of liturgy became a matter of judgement for the Roman Catholic Church. Pugin was influenced by Continental, particularly French, Roman Catholic scholars and liturgists. The influence of the leader of the liberal Catholics in France, Charles-Forbes-Rene, Count de Montalembert, is also brought to light. The thesis will argue that Pugin sought to implement his views on liturgy in England and had a vision of a future England that could act as an example to the rest of Catholic Christendom, including the Church of Rome. He initially had a measure of success, but finally failed and bowed to the judgement of the Roman Catholic Church

Using the Homes Energy Efficiency Database as a research resource for residential insulation improvements

In devising viable energy efficiency policies that can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of existing dwellings (e.g. UK׳s Green Deal), data are required on current insulation levels and its influences. One such data source is the seldom used UK Energy Saving Trust׳s Homes Energy Efficiency Database (HEED), which this paper investigates using Norfolk UK local authorities as a case study. The HEED׳s reactive and longitudinal data collection strategies contribute to underlying biases, which is the likely reasoning for its differences with the English Housing Survey and UK 2001 Census. These differences had a cascading effect in that they manifested themselves in the indicative financial and carbon assessments undertaken. Similarly, sampling concerns also implicated correlations surrounding influences of current dwelling insulation levels. Providing one is transparent about potential biases and data concerns, the HEED can play a substantial role in guiding policy decisions and understanding dwelling stock characteristics (e.g. what makes dwellings ‘Hard to Treat׳). In particular, its vast (national) geographic coverage yet high resolution enables local context to be explored: a factor that this study shows to significantly shape insulation levels

Passing Away: An Exploratory Study into Physiotherapy Students' Experiences of Patient Death whilst on Clinical Placement

Objectives: Physiotherapy students returning to university following clinical placement commonly reported encountering patient death and often appeared traumatised by the experience. This exploratory study focuses on three main areas: students' experiences of patient death, their feelings and how they coped.Design: A qualitative research design utilised focus groups to explore students’ experiences of patient death. Sessions were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and underwent independent thematic analysis by the authors. Categories and themes were then agreed.Participants: Two consecutive final year cohorts were invited to participate in this qualitative study. This resulted in a purposive sample of 15 Physiotherapy students.Findings: Five overlapping themes emerged: emotional distress, contrasts in reactions, desire to respond professionally, coping strategies and contextual risk factors. Students reported not only descriptions of the patient’s death but also the perceived contrast between their reactions and those of experienced staff. The latter were described as ‘insensitive’ and ‘blasé’. This contrast resulted in a breakdown in communication and a suppression of students’ reactions as they did not want to appear ‘silly’ or ‘unprofessional’.There is increasing recognition that effective management of patient death is an important part of health care. This study suggests that if placement is to be an effective learning environment for this aspect of practice then established healthcare professionals and educators need to be positive role models. Without this the values and skills that are necessary for providing quality end-of-life care may struggle to develop, as well as the culture of openness and transparency that is essential so that students no longer feel they have to hide their emotional distress