Hinduism and ecology: Its relevance and importance

The sustenance of the environment is one of the cardinal teachings of the Hindus tradition and, in this regard, the Hindus tradition points out clearly that a good environment is indispensable for a healthy life. This work seeks to explore some of the fundamental teachings of Hinduism that point to the implications of the relationship between human beings and their environment. For instance, the dharma ecology explains the mechanism for creating respect for nature and the consequences of not doing so. Essentially, this relationship and its corresponding consequence functions in line with the Karmic law of nature. The essence of this paper is to create awareness on the impending disaster that may result from the abuse of the eco-system such as the extinction of the earth’s plants and animal species that may result from the current destruction of forests and coral reefs, and the depletion of the earth’s ozone layer, which will expose life to excessive ultraviolet radiation that is damaging to genetic materials. This work used the qualitative method of research involving secondary method of data collection such as written literature, internet materials, among others. Interestingly, education and sensitization through networking and advertising can be used in enhancing the knowledge on how to relate favourably with the eco-system

HIJAB CONTROVERSIES IN NIGERIA

Over the past decade, and particularly since the September 11th terrorist attack in the United State, the Muslim community in most parts of the world has experienced an increased level of social and religious scrutiny. This unfortunate incident has fundamentally changed the way the mostly dominated Muslim society views Muslims, especially Muslim women who wear the veil or hijab in public. Muslim women have experienced various instances of discrimination including people trying to remove their hijab, and/or name-calling. A unique aspect of Muslim women in Nigeria is that they not only confront the stigma of gender, race, ethnicity, and religion but that which is attached to Islamic dress as well. Despite some of these problems, however, the experiences of Muslim women all over the world remain one of the least researched topics in sociology. The purpose of this work is to explore the controversies surrounding the hijab in Nigeria.

The Morocco-Nigeria BIT: An Important Contribution to Ensuring the Accountability of TNCs for their Human Rights Violations?

Corporate accountability for human rights violations has been at the forefront of the business and human rights debate. This debate has focused on the establishment of binding human rights obligations on corporate entities, particularly following the Human rights Council’s initiative to establish a treaty on business and human rights– a mandate given to the open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights. Joining this debate, this paper briefly comments on relevant provisions of the 2016 Morocco-Nigeria Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) which appears to contain innovative provisions that seek to ensure that investors (who are often corporate entities) are held accountable for their investment activities that adversely impact human rights within their host States. Although the Morocco-Nigeria BIT remains exceptional within the investment treaty framework, it reflects an initiative to ensure that the next generation of BITs encourages greater corporate accountability for their human rights violations

The Morocco-Nigeria BIT: An Important Contribution to Ensuring the Accountability of TNCs for their Human Rights Violations?

Corporate accountability for human rights violations has been at the forefront of the business and human rights debate. This debate has focused on the establishment of binding human rights obligations on corporate entities, particularly following the Human rights Council’s initiative to establish a treaty on business and human rights– a mandate given to the open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights. Joining this debate, this paper briefly comments on relevant provisions of the 2016 Morocco-Nigeria Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) which appears to contain innovative provisions that seek to ensure that investors (who are often corporate entities) are held accountable for their investment activities that adversely impact human rights within their host States. Although the Morocco-Nigeria BIT remains exceptional within the investment treaty framework, it reflects an initiative to ensure that the next generation of BITs encourages greater corporate accountability for their human rights violations

The Morocco-Nigeria BIT: An Important contribution to Ensuring the Accountability of TNCs for Their Human Rights Violations?

Corporate accountability for human rights violations has been at the forefront of the business and human rights debate. This debate has focused on the establishment of binding human rights obligations on corporate entities, particularly following the Human rights Council’s initiative to establish a treaty on business and human rights– a mandate given to the open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights. Joining this debate, this paper briefly comments on relevant provisions of the 2016 Morocco-Nigeria Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) which appears to contain innovative provisions that seek to ensure that investors (who are often corporate entities) are held accountable for their investment activities that adversely impact human rights within their host States. Although the Morocco-Nigeria BIT remains exceptional within the investment treaty framework, it reflects an initiative to ensure that the next generation of BITs encourages greater corporate accountability for their human rights violations

The Effect of Tax Revenue Components from SMEs on the Economic Growth of Nigeria from 1980-2015

The main objective of this study was to examine the relationship between tax policies evidenced by tax revenue and SMEs contribution to economic development of Nigeria from 1980-2015. It was motivated by growing importance of SMEs following the importance they weird in the area of employment, utilization of resources, development of managerial and entrepreneurial skills, linkage effect between sectors, among others. Data for the study were extracted from CBN Annual reports and accounts for GDP which proxy Economic growth and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on tax components. Data extracted were scaled down to 80% of the totals based on SMEs contributors in the past three decades. The analyses were carried out using correlation and regression analysis with results showing standard coefficient of 0.076(PPT), 0.477(CIT), 1.179(VAT), -0.497(ET), -0.316(PIT) and 0.109(CED) respectively. The overall correlation coefficients (r) shows 0.997, coefficient of determination (r2) 0.995, R2 -adjusted 0.994 implying a strong positive relationship between the variables studied. The study recommended that government should create favourable incentives to encourage SMEs participation in tax payment. Keywords: Tax Policies, SMEs, Tax Rates, Fiscal Policie

The Effects Of Fresh And Thermoxidized Palm Oil Diets On Some Haematological Indices In The Rat

The effects of fresh and thermoxidized palm oil diets on some haematalogical indices in the rat were investigated in albino rats (Wistar strain). The animals were divided into three groups namely, the first group fed on thermoxidized palm oil (TPO) diet, a second group fed on fresh palm oil (FPO) diet and a third fed on normal rat feed (control) only respectively for 14 weeks. Each of the palm oil diets contained 15% (w/w) thermoxidized or fresh palm oil. The packed cell volume (PCV) of the TPO group (44.87 ± 0.8%) was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than that of the FPO group (52.50 ± 0.4%) and control group (54.75 ± 1.3%). The haemoglobin (Hb) concentration of the TPO group (11.66 ± 0.8g/dl) was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than that of control group (13.14 ± 0.4g/dl) and the FPO group (12.88 ± 0.8g/dl). The red cell count (RBC) of the TPO group (6.06 x 106 ± 0.4 x 106 per mm3 of blood) was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than that of control group (7.28 x 106 ± 0.4 x 106 per mm3 of blood) and the FPO group (7.19 x 106 ± 0.2 x 106 per mm3 of blood). The white blood cell count (WBC) of the TPO group (3.42 x 103 ± 0.1 x 103 per mm3 of blood) was significantly (p< 0.001) higher than that of control group (2.39 x 103 ± 0.1 x 10 per mm3 of blood) and FPO group (2.51 x 103 ± 0.1 x 103 per mm3 of blood). There were no significant differences between the heamatological indices of the fresh palm oil (FPO) and control groups. Our results suggest that chronic consumption of thermoxidized palm oil diet may result in anaemia and leucocytosis in the rat. Key words: Fresh palm oil; Thermoxidized palm oil; RBC; WBC; Hb; PCV. Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences Vol.19(1&2) 2004: 86-9

The effects of pain sensitivity behaviour on Swiss White Mice administrated with Chloroquine Phosphate

This study evaluates the effects of Chloroquine phosphate on pain sensation in mice considering the fact that Chloroquine as s chemotherapic agent is known for its neurotoxicity effect. The mice were divided into three groups of 10 mice each. While group 1 as the control, 2 and 3 as the test groups and group 1 received 0.2ml physiological saline i.p. while test groups 2 and 3 received 10mg/k (human therapeutic dose) and 20ml/kg (pharmacological  dose) of Chloroquine respectively. The tail flick and formalin tests were used to assess pain sensation. In the tail flick test, the latency of tail flick in group 2 and 3 were significantly lower compared to the control group in both phases, thus, showing an increase in pain sensation. In formalin tests, the frequency of right hind paw lick in group 2 was significantly higher compared to the control, representing an increase in pain sensitivity. The duration of hind paw lick was not significantly different among the groups. However, in phase 2, the duration of hind paw lick in group 2 was higher than control, showing an increase in chronic pain sensitivity. Our results suggest that, Chloroquine phosphate increases pain sensation in mice.Keywords: Neurotoxicity, Chloroquine phosphate, pain sensation, tail flick tests, formalin tests

The Comparative Effects Of Chronic Consumption Of Kola Nut (Cola nitida) And Caffeine Diets On Locomotor Behaviour And Body Weights In Mice

Summary: The comparative effects of chronic (28 days) consumption of kola nut and its active constituent, caffeine diets on locomotor behaviour and body weights in mice were investigated. 30 adult Swiss white mice (15-30g body weight), were used for the study. The open field-maze was employed for the evaluation of locomotor behaviour. Mice in the control group (n = 10) were fed normal rodent chow, mice in the kola nut-fed group (n = 10) were fed kola diet (25% wt/wt of rodent chow) while those in the caffeine-fed group (n = 10) were fed caffeine diet (0.66% wt/wt of rodent chow) for 4 weeks. All animals were allowed free access to clean drinking water. Daily food intake, water intake and body weight change were also measured. Daily food intake in the kola nut and caffeine-fedgroup of mice was significantly (

Effect of occupational exposure to local powdered tobacco (snuff) on pulmonary function in south eastern Nigerians

The effect of occupational exposure to local powdered tobacco (snuff) on pulmonary function was studied. Snuff industry workers in Onitsha and Enugu markets were studied and compared with age-, weight-, and height-matched control not exposed to any known air pollutant. The pulmonary indices studied include; forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and ratio of FEV1/FVC as percentage using a vitalograph spirometer and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), using a mini Wright Peak Expiratory Flow Meter. The respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms frequently associated with these workers were also analyzed and dust sampling in both test and control environments was also done. The mean anthropometric parameters, (age, height and body weight) between the two groups were not statistically different. The results obtained showed statistically significant impairment of lung function of workers chronically exposed to snuff. FVC, FEV1 and PEFR in the exposed (test) subjects were significantly decreased in comparison with the control subjects (