An Assessment of David Hollenbach\u27s Contribution to the Debate on Human Rights and its Future Promise

The issue of human rights represents what is probably the primary ethical concern in the world today. No human problem transcends national boundaries to the degree that violations of human rights do, not only with regard to their causes, but also in search for human solutions. There are many important philosophers and theologians, from a various philosophical and religious traditions, engaged in an on-going discussion and debate about the meaning, purpose, and limits of human rights language. This study is aimed at assessing the work of one important contributor to this discussion, the prominent Roman Catholic moral theologian, David Hollenbach, S.J. The structure of this study is as follows: First, we present a theoretical account of the origins of human rights and a discussion of the current theoretical debates about rights. We then review Hollenbach\u27s interpretation of the development of human rights in the twentieth century and within Catholic social teaching in view of the fact that the starting point for understanding his contribution to the debate is seen from his extended and systematic presentation of the Catholic tradition. Secondly, we analyze his methodology. We begin with a review of some of the more important methodologies that are or have been used by moral theologians in the twentieth-century and situate Hollenbach\u27s methodological approach in relation to these. We argue that Hollenbach\u27s revisionist/inductive approach is particularly suitable for an age that gives particular emphasis to historical consciousness. It helps him to address postmodern criticisms of universal moral claims, including human rights, thereby mitigating the charge that the latter is necessarily another tool for Western imperialism. Hollenbach\u27s methodology is also consistent with a distinctive emphasis of his work: that wherever you find human beings, there is the need for community and participation. Thirdly, we highlight the major themes in Hollenbach\u27s work, with a particular emphasis on the distinctive contribution Hollenbach makes to human rights debates. A distinct contribution he has made to the debate on human rights is his reconstructed vision of the common good that is expansive in scope. He maintains that human rights are moral claims of all persons to be treated, by virtue of their humanity, as participants in the shared life of the human community. Employing the concept of the common good, human dignity, justice and participation and solidarity, he is able to make the Catholic Church\u27s voice be heard in a pluralistic society like the United States and beyond. The distinctive substance of his writing that is relevant to the global situation of human rights is his emphasis on the link between individual human rights and participation in the common good. His emphasis on participation as integral to the good of the person and the good of the community leads also to an understanding of human rights that goes beyond the traditional liberal emphasis on political rights alone to one that also includes economic and social rights. Finally, we explore the relevance of Hollenbach\u27s understanding of human rights for contemporary challenges now faced in the world. He proposes in his writings a community that is built on the ethics of responsibility, the creation of a society where the structures of sin that dehumanize the person are transformed into those that would enhance the dignity of each person. His passion for the ordering of society toward the common good could inspire renewed efforts in addressing the issues of global warming, environmental degradation, poverty, inequality, marginalization and promote human welfare

Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme in the Context of the Health MDGs – An Empirical Evaluation Using Propensity Score Matching

In 2003 the Government of Ghana established a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to improve health care access for Ghanaians and eventually replace the cashand- carry system. This study evaluates the NHIS to determine whether it is fulfi lling its purpose in the context of the Millennium Development Goals #4 and #5 which deal with the health of women and children. We use Propensity Score Matching techniques to balance the relevant background characteristics in our survey data and compare health outcomes of recent mothers who are enrolled in the NHIS with those who are not. Our fi ndings suggest that NHIS women are more likely to receive prenatal care, deliver at a hospital, have their deliveries attended by trained health professionals, and experience less birth complications. We conclude that NHIS is an eff ective tool for increasing health care access, and improving health outcomes.Health insurance, prenatal care, Millennium Development Goals, Propensity Score Matching

Urban governance and planning for Economic growth

Governance in short is a shift from bureaucratic process to shared power for the people. Governance in the urban areas goes hand in hand with planning. Issues of governance cannot be dealt with completely without proper planning. However, planning in the two largest cities of Kumasi and Accra has seen some major changes over time both spatially and administratively. Spatial, urban planning system has moved from new towns and town expansion to high standards of living. Administratively there has been the frantic effort of merging all law governing land use into one legal document which was not previously the case. But planning for growth and governance are faced with the following weakness; selective restraint, institutional and geographical fragmentation, short termism and power and resources.Governance; Planning; Growth

Globalization and its influence on Economic Growth performance

Globalization is described as a process by which regional economics, societies and cultures have become integrated through a global network of communication, transportation and trade. Different researchers have argued both in favour of and against globalization. Bhagwati claims that globalization has created a direct link to economic fortunes for the poor rural folks in developing countries who are often farmers. He argues that increase in information and information technology has loosened the control of exploitative middlemen whose activities reduce the returns rural farmer receive for their produce. Prystay (2005) provided evidence to this argument. Another argument comes from factor endowment. Argument against globalization is the fact that it has produced unprecedentedly high levels of inequality or hardships to the poor. Evidence from both China and India have reviled that globalization has propelled both countries economically; increase in economic growth from 6.15 to 9.37 percent in the case of China and information technology in the case of India, but the issue of inequality is still important and need to be addressed by individual government.Globalization; Inequality; Growth

Wife Battery: A Divine Command from the Garden of Eden or a Gene Disorder in Men? Ethical Perspectives

In the past, women in the Ghanaian traditional societies were mostly not actively involved in issues relating to decision-making, leadership, and public engagement in the company of men. Their place was the kitchen. That is, their responsibilities were to prepare meals, nurture the children, and tidy up the home. Besides, they were regarded as a man’s bought property. In this sense, women could be subjected to any form of inhumane treatments. One of such inhumane treatments that have caught the attention of scholars, human rights activists and some NGOs is wife battery. From an ethical perspective, we raise the question, what are the ethical bases for the reasons why men subject their wives to battery? Could it be a divine command from the Garden of Eden, a gene disorder in men or what? Using the descriptive research design of the qualitative methodology, this paper from an ethical perspective examines the act of wife battery and its effects on the family and the victim (woman). The paper argues, wife battery is neither a dictate from the Garden of Eden nor a gene disorder in men, however it is rather an erroneous socialisation of men towards how they should treat women. Further to note, wife battery in its essence is an unethical behaviour. This is because the act is unjust, maleficent, reduces the worth and dignity of women, dehumanises, and alters the physical and psychological framework of women. Keywords: Battery, wife battery, ethics, Ghana, divine command, gene, Garden of Eden, disorder, erroneous socialisation DOI: 10.7176/JPCR/42-03 Publication date:March 31st 201

The Myths Surrounding the TRↄMO (The Bongo Antelope--Tragelaphus Eurycerus) and Fauna Conservation Among the Akan of Ghana: A Critical Analysis

Despite recent interest in indigenous religio-cultural studies on environmental conservation, only few studies have delved into how these indigenous beliefs and practices particularly those based on myths and rituals can assist in the conservation of some endangered fauna species. Through an ethnographic research project conducted in regions inhabited by the Akan ethnic group in Ghana, we examined the environmental and resource conservational values embedded in some of these religio-cultural beliefs and practices.  In doing so, we focused especially on one particular animal, trɔmo (the bongo antelope), an endangered species about which there are many myths related to its huntability. Although we conclude that the bongo antelope is huntable by the Akan, the data shows that its hunting is not frequent as compared to other animals due to the fear embedded in the myths surrounding it. This fear helps in the conservation of bongo antelope species in the study areas. Keywords: Worldview, Myths on animals, Rituals, Conservation, Akan, Trↄmo (bongo antelope) Sasaduro (anti-sasa Medicine)

University Scholars Day

This paper discusses research on the geography of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in Texas

University Scholars Day

This paper discusses research on the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Texas in ages 25-49

Globalization and its influence on Economic Growth performance

Globalization is described as a process by which regional economics, societies and cultures have become integrated through a global network of communication, transportation and trade. Different researchers have argued both in favour of and against globalization. Bhagwati claims that globalization has created a direct link to economic fortunes for the poor rural folks in developing countries who are often farmers. He argues that increase in information and information technology has loosened the control of exploitative middlemen whose activities reduce the returns rural farmer receive for their produce. Prystay (2005) provided evidence to this argument. Another argument comes from factor endowment. Argument against globalization is the fact that it has produced unprecedentedly high levels of inequality or hardships to the poor. Evidence from both China and India have reviled that globalization has propelled both countries economically; increase in economic growth from 6.15 to 9.37 percent in the case of China and information technology in the case of India, but the issue of inequality is still important and need to be addressed by individual government

Globalization and its influence on Economic Growth performance

Globalization is described as a process by which regional economics, societies and cultures have become integrated through a global network of communication, transportation and trade. Different researchers have argued both in favour of and against globalization. Bhagwati claims that globalization has created a direct link to economic fortunes for the poor rural folks in developing countries who are often farmers. He argues that increase in information and information technology has loosened the control of exploitative middlemen whose activities reduce the returns rural farmer receive for their produce. Prystay (2005) provided evidence to this argument. Another argument comes from factor endowment. Argument against globalization is the fact that it has produced unprecedentedly high levels of inequality or hardships to the poor. Evidence from both China and India have reviled that globalization has propelled both countries economically; increase in economic growth from 6.15 to 9.37 percent in the case of China and information technology in the case of India, but the issue of inequality is still important and need to be addressed by individual government