Virtual University As a Horizon of Higher Education Modernization

The research aim is to analyze the ontological foundations of virtual education in an information society. Among the methods of research used are analysis, synthesis, abstraction, comparison, interpretation, systematization, classification, conceptualization, structural, functional and prognostic methods. The Virtual University is considered as a networking institution that creates unique opportunities for both spontaneous and purposeful manipulation of human development. It is argued that a virtual university must be built with new values in mind: openness, accessibility, democracy, non-discrimination for people with disabilities and other needs of the individual and society. It is argued that the formation of a new picture of the world, which assumes the responsibility of mankind to himself \herself and to nature, the increase of the value of human life, freedom of choice, is also the reason for the formation of new axiological markers that define the virtual university as an information society phenomenon. The research has fixed that the presence of a virtual knowledge environment, in which the learning process unfolds, gives rise to the need to develop a virtual culture, which is a special form of communication between the education subjects in the process of knowledge production and consumption. Virtual communication is defined as a subspecies of semantic communication, which involves the exchange of both information and knowledge. An information society based on the world information economy (knowledge economy) stimulates the development of a planetary information infrastructure that defines the educational trends of the 21st century. In the information society, economic activity is ensured by the information and communication environment, an integral part of which is education. Along with the virtual economy, the virtual financial system, etc., there are virtual educational phenomena, including a virtual university. Keywords: virtual university, educational space, global informatics, post-material values, innovatio

Relativistic Laser-Matter Interaction and Relativistic Laboratory Astrophysics

The paper is devoted to the prospects of using the laser radiation interaction with plasmas in the laboratory relativistic astrophysics context. We discuss the dimensionless parameters characterizing the processes in the laser and astrophysical plasmas and emphasize a similarity between the laser and astrophysical plasmas in the ultrarelativistic energy limit. In particular, we address basic mechanisms of the charged particle acceleration, the collisionless shock wave and magnetic reconnection and vortex dynamics properties relevant to the problem of ultrarelativistic particle acceleration.Comment: 58 pages, 19 figure

The traditional concept of the family and attempts to change it at the international and national levels: International legal and comparative legal aspects

Objectives: International law contains several provisions on the protection of family and marriage rights of a person. The concept of a "family", though not legally defined, has always been understood in a centuries-rooted way, i.e. as a union of a man and a woman. Recent decades witness aggressive promotion of distorted understanding of a family. Methods/ Statistical Analysis: The analysis of international practices as well as comparative legal instruments on human rights shows that in the 20th century the concept of a family was attacked by the lobbyists of 'LGBT's rights'. The phenomenon that was considered throughout a human history as a deviation is nowadays declared to be a universal value. Findings: The article explores the examples of France, Germany and Russia to show how protection of human dignity comes to an absurd when dignity is found in unnatural relationships and when those not willing to accept such an approach are persecuted, talking about individuals, and heavily criticized, if we speak about states. Application/Improvement: The authors of the article attempt to attract attention to inconsistencies between the obligations had undertaken by states in the domain of family rights of a person and the newest interpretations of these obligations that contract with the nature of the states' commitments

Traditional values and human rights of LGBT under the contemporary international law

Respect for human rights is a fundamental principle of the modern international law, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations Organization. Human rights form one of the three key pillars of the UN activities. Both issues taken into the title of the present paper are at the forefront in the international debates in recent years. Both issues have the potential for strengthening or weakening the effectiveness of international cooperation in the field of human rights. The article considers the contemporary stance of the international law in respect of traditional values and human rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBT), exposes the arguments of the proponents of each in an attempt to enhance the better protection of human rights worldwide. It also reveals the role of the Russian Federation in promoting the protection of traditional values, among which the primary significance belongs to the concept of a traditional family. The paper consists of introduction, literature and methodology review, the discussion part on importance of traditional values in context of the LGBT propaganda, and the part devoted to the efforts and activities undertaken by Russia that is one of the key states contesting the promotion of human rights of LGBT at the expense of traditional values’ protection. © 2015, Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved

Traditional values and human rights of LGBTI in the framework of the UN and council of Europe: International legal aspects

Having started at the universal level with the idea of protecting lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and intersex persons (LGBTI) from violent acts of discrimination, the United Nations Organization (UN) has quietly moved to propagating LGBTI way of life as normal and entitled even to family rights. The Council of Europe (CoE) is committed to promote and ensure respect for the human rights and dignity of every individual. The CoE has adopted a number of texts on combating discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. The article considers the contemporary stance of the UN and CoE law in respect of traditional values and human rights of LGBTI. It also reveals the role of the Russian Federation in promoting the protection of traditional values, among which the primary significance belongs to the concept of traditional family. The paper consists of introduction, literature and methodology review, discussion parts elaborating on human rights of LGBTI and traditional values, respectively, illustrating the arguments and conclusions of the authors and the part, devoted to the efforts and activities undertaken by Russia in the sphere under discussion as one of the key states contesting against the promotion of human rights of LGBTI at the expense of traditional values’ protection. © 2015, Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved

The traditional concept of the family and attempts to change it at the international and national levels: International legal and comparative legal aspects

Objectives: International law contains several provisions on the protection of family and marriage rights of a person. The concept of a "family", though not legally defined, has always been understood in a centuries-rooted way, i.e. as a union of a man and a woman. Recent decades witness aggressive promotion of distorted understanding of a family. Methods/ Statistical Analysis: The analysis of international practices as well as comparative legal instruments on human rights shows that in the 20th century the concept of a family was attacked by the lobbyists of 'LGBT's rights'. The phenomenon that was considered throughout a human history as a deviation is nowadays declared to be a universal value. Findings: The article explores the examples of France, Germany and Russia to show how protection of human dignity comes to an absurd when dignity is found in unnatural relationships and when those not willing to accept such an approach are persecuted, talking about individuals, and heavily criticized, if we speak about states. Application/Improvement: The authors of the article attempt to attract attention to inconsistencies between the obligations had undertaken by states in the domain of family rights of a person and the newest interpretations of these obligations that contract with the nature of the states' commitments

Traditional values and human rights of LGBT under the contemporary international law

Respect for human rights is a fundamental principle of the modern international law, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations Organization. Human rights form one of the three key pillars of the UN activities. Both issues taken into the title of the present paper are at the forefront in the international debates in recent years. Both issues have the potential for strengthening or weakening the effectiveness of international cooperation in the field of human rights. The article considers the contemporary stance of the international law in respect of traditional values and human rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders (LGBT), exposes the arguments of the proponents of each in an attempt to enhance the better protection of human rights worldwide. It also reveals the role of the Russian Federation in promoting the protection of traditional values, among which the primary significance belongs to the concept of a traditional family. The paper consists of introduction, literature and methodology review, the discussion part on importance of traditional values in context of the LGBT propaganda, and the part devoted to the efforts and activities undertaken by Russia that is one of the key states contesting the promotion of human rights of LGBT at the expense of traditional values’ protection. © 2015, Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved

Traditional values and human rights of LGBTI in the framework of the UN and council of Europe: International legal aspects

Having started at the universal level with the idea of protecting lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and intersex persons (LGBTI) from violent acts of discrimination, the United Nations Organization (UN) has quietly moved to propagating LGBTI way of life as normal and entitled even to family rights. The Council of Europe (CoE) is committed to promote and ensure respect for the human rights and dignity of every individual. The CoE has adopted a number of texts on combating discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation. The article considers the contemporary stance of the UN and CoE law in respect of traditional values and human rights of LGBTI. It also reveals the role of the Russian Federation in promoting the protection of traditional values, among which the primary significance belongs to the concept of traditional family. The paper consists of introduction, literature and methodology review, discussion parts elaborating on human rights of LGBTI and traditional values, respectively, illustrating the arguments and conclusions of the authors and the part, devoted to the efforts and activities undertaken by Russia in the sphere under discussion as one of the key states contesting against the promotion of human rights of LGBTI at the expense of traditional values’ protection. © 2015, Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved