Human Security Implications of Foreign Military Bases in Djibouti

The principles of sovereignty and non-interference have historically shaped China's foreign policy, serving as fundamental tenets to safeguard the nation from external interventions, particularly during and after the Cold War. However, in recent times, there has been a noticeable shift in China's foreign policy as it embarks on an unprecedented expansion of its military presence beyond its borders. This shift is exemplified by the establishment of a permanent military base in Djibouti, situated in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, which China refers to as "support facilities" or "logistical facilities." This marks China's inaugural venture into maintaining a permanent military presence outside its territorial boundaries. This study delves into the motivations behind China's adjusted foreign policy stance and examines the implications of this new approach on human security. While acknowledging the critical human insecurity implications associated with China's military presence in Djibouti, the analysis reveals a multifaceted strategy encompassing economic, political, ideological, and security interests. This strategic move positions China as a significant global player, shaping its role on the world stage

A Critical Appraisal of the Peer Review Performance of the SDGs in Nigeria and Ghana (2015-2019)

As a global poverty alleviation mechanism, the Millennium Development Goals MDGs global performance was considered average. Although, the project's performance with certain of its goals on country to country were great when taking cognizance of its global record. But its achievements differed from country to country and could not hit the main target of ensuring no one is left behind. It therefore failed in the achievement of its very goal of lifting the people all over the world from the scourge of poverty. This birthed the Ssustainable Development Goals whose primary goal is to zero poverty by 2030 and other targets that would ensure political, economic and social wholeness of people. Almost five years now into the new project of the SDGs, an important question to be asked is can the project meet up with the 2030 Agenda in the continent of Africa especially in both countries of study Nigeria and Ghana. Another important question is “Who the right partners for the project are; such partners that would ensure that no one person is left behind at the end of 2030?  What mechanisms have they put in place to ensure that the goals are met by the end of 2030; the supposed target for the end of the project?”  These are some of the questions highlighted in this piece, which serve as guide for a study into the ongoing project of the SDGs in Nigeria and Ghana

Assessment of the Socio Economic and Political Implications of ECOWAS Free Movement

This paper examines the extent the ECOWAS free movement protocol of persons, goods and services contributes to the economic and political growth of Nigeria which is an active member state. The protocol on free movement is often hijacked by criminals from some member states, neighbors and within to perpetrate trans-border crimes such as smuggling of arms, drugs and other forms of crimes. Political development is the heart beat of other development in any country. This is because power rest in political sphere and it is through power that other development such as economic development rest. The system of government in place, the ideals of the government and the stability of the government determine the profitable, societal plus cultural improvement of the nation. The role plays by civil societies, mass media and some section of activists toward the return to democracy in Nigeria are more appreciated and noticeable than that of ECOWAS. This indicates that there is always romance between ECOWAS and West African dictators especially in Nigeria. This unholy relationship might not be far from the fact that most leaders under ECOWAS are once dictators who benefited from the silence of the community or the leaders are mute considering the benefit their individual states get from dictators in Nigeria. The study primarily adopted the desk research design which involves the use of secondary source of data. The analyses of the data were carried out using content analysis. The study revealed that the performance of ECOWAS were undermined by various factors such as lack of political will, fear and mutual distrust, cultural and colonial differences among others. These factors inhibited the full actualization of the protocol among member states. The study concluded that Nigerian government should evaluate her activities in ECOWAS and should ensure that member states contribute their quota to the community as enshrine in the treaty.

Appunti di agricoltura benadiriana : relazione / del dottore Romolo Onor, consulente per le opere agrarie del governo della Somalia italiana

Appunti di agricoltura benadiriana : relazione / del dottore Romolo Onor, consulente per le opere agrarie del governo della Somalia italiana Roma : Tip. nazionale di G. Bertero e C., 1913 62 p., [13] carte di tav. : ill. ; 25 cm In testa al front.: Ministero delle colonie, Direzione centrale degli affari coloniali, Ufficio di studi coloniali Estratto dalla Relazione di s. e. il Governatore della Somalia italiana per gli anni 1911 e 1912 (Atti parlamentari, Legislatura 23., Sessione 1909-912, Camera dei deputati, n. 38 ter

Should companies pursue corporate social responsibility?

There has been a long - standing argument on whether or not companies should be socially responsible. This is so because the primary objective of every company is to maximize profit for its shareholders, corporate social responsibility is therefore seen as a distraction. According to the leading proponent of this view Milton Friedman, 'the social responsibility of business is to increase its profits'i, but does society today stand to maximally benefit if the only concern of companies is to make a profit? Supporters of this view posit that companies involvement in projects not directly aimed at maximizing profit for its shareholders like corporate philanthropy and community development are unnecessary. They insist that issues like these should be left to the government and charities. On the contrary, society's present expectation of business covers a lot more than profit maximization; companies' involvement in corporate social responsibility is therefore the only way these expectations could be harnessed. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is not only about philanthropy as some think, it involves the myriad ways firms integrate social, environmental and economic concerns into the day to day running of their companies. This essay stresses the need for companies' involvement in corporate social responsibility; it seeks to show that a socially responsible company does not only bring environmental and social benefits to the society at large, but also attracts financial benefits for the company involved. It goes further to suggest strategies that could be used to make companies more responsive to social needs than they presently are. The first chapter answers the question, what is corporate social responsibility? Many people and organizations have attempted defining this concept, but more often than not their views do not entirely reflect what corporate social responsibility is about because of the wide spectrum of issues it covers. To some people, corporate social responsibility is all about corporate philanthropy, to others it is more encompassing than that and is closely linked with principles of sustainable development. Although people look at CSR from different perspectives, what is generally agreed by all advocates of corporate social responsibility is that the management of companies should not only consider the interests of shareholders when running the company, but should take into account the welfare of other company stakeholders. Sustainable Development is defined by the United Nations Brundland Commission as 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'.ii The fact that CSR is voluntary leaves companies with discretion to be socially responsible or not. It is the voluntary nature of CSR that makes some people view CSR as basically corporate philanthropy. Those who see CSR as broader than philanthropy and linked with the principles of sustainable development argue that while philanthropy is absolutely discretionary,CSR is sustainable. While philanthropy involves how companies' profits are spent on deserving causes, CSR is concerned with how these profits are made in the first place. Proponents of CSR as an intrinsic part of sustainable development further argue that it is only when social accountability becomes an integral part of corporate conduct rather than a philanthropic add on, that the economic development of the private sector will move forward within an acceptable framework of public purposeiii This is my preferred notion of corporate social responsibility. Chapter one outlines the various definitions of corporate social responsibility. It looks at the relationship between corporate social responsibility and corporate governance and also gives an overview of the background influences of CSR. Chapter two examines the criticisms of corporate social responsibility and counters them. Chapter three presents the business case for corporate social responsibility; it seeks to show that socially responsible companies are not disadvantaged but enjoy numerous financial benefits. Chapter four suggests strategies that could be used to make companies more responsive to societal needs. Flowing from the fact that CSR is voluntary and some companies remain unresponsive to societal needs, regulation of aspects of CSR that cannot be left at the mercy of companies remains a way socially irresponsible companies would be compelled to comply. This chapter presents the arguments for and against legislation of CSR and suggests a balanced regulatory approach to corporate social responsibility

United States Africa command and human security in Africa.

Ph. D. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2016.Since 2005, the United States (US) has shifted its justification for the militarization of the African continent to the more humanitarian security-development discourse. This apparent paradigmatic shift presents the United States African Command as more benign than it may be. However, the response to the emergence of United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has ranged from wholesale condemnation to selective criticism of US policy. Skeptics of AFRICOM cite previous US military forays in Africa which led to a disproportionate development of military institutions relative to instruments of civilian rule. Others see AFRICOM as a naked attempt to exert American control over Africa’s valuable natural resources (Taguem, 2010, Esterhuyse, 2008, Isike, Uzodike and Gilbert, 2008, 2009). On 11th July 2009, while addressing Ghana’s Parliament, President Barack Obama remarked that Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at war but nonetheless, for far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun. He reiterated that America has responsibility to ameliorate the deplorable human security condition of Africans not just in words, but with support that strengthens Africans’ capacity (President Obama’s address to Ghana’s Parliament July 11, 2009). In his 2010 National Security Strategy (NNS), President Obama called for partnership with African nations as they grow their economies, and strengthen their democratic institutions and governance. In June 2012, he approved Presidential policy directives that outline his vision for sub- Saharan Africa. The stated pillars of US strategy towards Africa are to strengthen democratic institutions, to spur economic growth, trade and investment, advancement of peace and security, and the promotion of opportunities and development by promoting food security and transforming Africa’s public health system (US.Strategy toward Sub-Saharan Africa, 2012). The achievement of these stated goals is incumbent on the third goal which AFRICOM is expected to spearhead. Africans predominantly see Washington’s profession of concern for development and security as transparent cover for hegemonic assertions of “Imperialist power” (Stevenson, 2011:28). However, these debates have been based on conjectures informed by a historical review of major power involvement with Africa. There is a need to move from these conjectural debates to provide empirical details of AFRICOM activities and their consequences for human security in Africa. This study therefore contributes to this debate by investigating AFRICOM’s activities since its formation in 2007. The series of activities by AFRICOM on the continent and its intervention in security situations in Libya, Mali, Nigeria and Somalia makes this study very promising in light of the study’s engagement with the strategic possibilities of AFRICOM through a critical review of the objective security conditions in Africa within a changing global security context. The research identifies the nexus between AFRICOM and human security in Africa. By doing so, it articulates the security concerns of African States and contributes to discussions on, and practices of, alternative ways of providing human security to African people(s). This study argues that the lopsided power relationship between the United States of America and Africa engendered the imposition of AFRICOM on Africans without due consultation with the African Union (AU), while the multi-faceted challenges of poverty, inter-ethnic conflicts, religious intolerance, trans-border crimes and terrorist attacks in Africa induced the US government to categorize the continent as zone of conflicts from whence threats to US stability emanate. The thesis also argues that the successful securitization of these threats by United States government engendered the creation of USAFRICOM. The study constructs the above arguments on historical, exploratory, descriptive and critical foundations. The research contains a substantial amount of fieldwork data on which it bases an empirical evaluation and analysis

Impact of a multimodal rehabilitative intervention on demented patients and their caregivers

Alzheimer's disease is becoming a social, political, and economic issue as a result of both the growing number of people affected and the enormous economic, social, and emotional costs involved in caring for Alzheimer's patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a multimodal intervention program for patients with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. The study was conducted on a sample of 32 subjects: 16 Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers. The results obtained after the multimodal rehabilitation program showed that the Alzheimer's patients had a more stable cognitive status and improved mood. Regarding the psychoeducational program, the results demonstrate the efficacy of such interventions in terms of increasing and preserving the caregivers' coping skills and enhancing their perception of the value of support groups

Influence of environmental and anthropogenic parameters on thallium oxidation state in natural waters

The abandoned mining area of Valdicastello Carducci (Tuscany, Italy) is characterized by the massive presence of thallium in the acid mine drainages and in the valley stream crossing the region. We previously found that Tl(III), generally considered the less stable oxidation state of thallium, is present both in the stream and in tap water distributed in the area, whereas acid mine drainages only contain Tl(I). These findings posed some concern related to the reactivity and dispersion of this toxic element in the environment. Since the valence state of thallium determines its toxicity, distribution and mobility, the study of thallium redox speciation appears crucial to understand its environmental behaviour. In this work, water samples collected from the mine drainages and the contaminated stream were adopted as model to study the distribution of aqueous Tl(I)/Tl(III) as a function of light exposure and solution properties and composition. The influence of three light sources and organic acids was evaluated. Thallium speciation was also assessed in tap water after treatment with common oxidizing agents, and in the rust crust collected from the public waterworks

Comparative Outcomes of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation and Osteochondral Allograft Transplantation with Patellar Realignment for Patellar Instability with Associated Cartilage Defects

Abstract Background: Articular cartilage pathology can stem from a spectrum of etiologies including osteochondritis dissecans, avascular necrosis, degenerative joint disease, and injury resulting from recurrent instability of the patella. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in clinical and functional outcomes in patients treated with either ACI or OCA transplantation for chondral defects with concomitant MPFL reconstruction and tibia tubercle osteotomy. Study Design: Retrospective Cohort Study Methods: A retrospective review identified patients who underwent autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) or osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation with concomitant medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction and tibia tubercle osteotomy (TTO). Outcome measures included the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS JR), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) evaluation, and Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) physical scores, all collected a minimum of 2 years after surgery. Defect location, size, complications, and rate of subsequent surgery were determined. Results: Eighteen patients (11 ACI and 7 OCA) were included in this study to analyze clinical and functional outcomes following surgical correction of 23 chondral defects (ACI n=12, OCA n=10). Defects had comparable baseline characteristics in each group including size measured during index arthroscopy (3.34 cm2 vs 4.03 cm2, P = .351), Outerbridge classification (54.8% grade 4 vs 60.0% grade 4, P = 1.000), and AMADEUS score (47.1 vs 58.6, P = .298). Postoperative outcomes were comparable including revision rate (15.4% vs 10.0%, P=1.000) and 2-year IKDC scores (74.2 vs 51.2, P = .077). However, ACI did have significantly higher 2-year KOOS JR (85.1 vs 63.7, P = .031) and SF-12 scores (54.1 vs 42.6, P = .007) compared to OCA. Conclusion: ACI or OCA transplantation for chondral defects with concomitant MPFL reconstruction and TTO can be safely performed in an outpatient setting with functional and clinical outcomes being comparable. Functional scores including KOOS JR and SF-12 were shown to be significantly higher at 2-year follow-up in the ACI cohort, however, postoperative IKDC scores, rates of revisions, and clinical evaluations were comparable between cohorts