The Wolf and the Bloodied Knife: The Self aDestructive Quest for Survival in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

This work examines the circumstance within the Niger Delta tracing the origins of the crises which currently engulfs the region Its causes and acknowledging the injustice meted out to the region It also shows how the activities of groups and individuals have further exacerbated the conditions of its inhabitants as some of the activities being engaged in make it almost impossible to come out of the quagmire or particular note is the effect of oil bunkering vandalization and kidnapping on the region which has led to a seeming state of anomie As to the way forward the issue of education enabling laws such as the Freedom of information bill and a straightening of the electoral system are advocated as measure to bring us out of the conflict -woods we have found ourselves preparing us for a time when we do not have to depend solely on oi

Youth Involvement in Illegal Activities Consequences for Community Development

an by nature and sometimes nurture is a very inquisitive being and this aspect of him can be brought to the fore when he encounters a situation that seems mysterious or which he finds pleasurable or profiting He is therefore open to a wide range of activities which may or may not be socially acceptable Some of such activities which are socially unacceptable may range from those that are simply frowned upon irritable to those that contravene both written and unwritten mores norms and laws In every society therefore human action is always viewed against the backdrop of general acceptability especially when the outcome s could be positive or negative beneficial or not to the majority of those found in that context When the activities voluntarily go against laid down and written laws they are regarded as illegal and therefore a crime For this reason those who engage in such activities in clandestine or covert ways While involvement in certain illegal activities may be suited to certain groups because of particular traits or characteristics such as age physical strength height or gender it is not the exclusive preserve of any group be it male female young or old For the purposes of this paper however our focus will be on youths The question would also arise immediately who is a yout

Exploitation des données de diagnostics en tranchées mécaniques par l’analyse spatiale

National audienceThe archaeological diagnostic consists in assessing the archaeological potential of an area impacted by development. This first phase aims to provide sufficient information -on the nature, extent, chronology and degree of preservation of the sites- to the competent authorities (in France, the Ministry of Culture) in view to prescribe or not an excavation.Beyond the assessment of archaeological potential, they deliver diachronic information on land-use whose exploitation is often restricted. In the case of large areas surveyed, we let’s suppose that the data mining is useful for archaeological interpretation of the site.This paper presents the methods and results of an experiment based on data from a 226 ha archaeological survey performed at Etrechet in Indre (Centre of France). The aim was to evaluate the contribution of spatial analysis, on one hand to read the results of the trial trenching, secondly to understand the land-use in the studied area. The experiment focused on the use of exploratory spatial data analysis. The methods used are both cartographic with the grid analysis and statistic with data clustering. The aim of this methods is to overcome the division imposed by the trial trenches, and consider the whole area.Results show that it is possible to test interpretive hypothesis on the distribution of the remains. Indeed spatial analysis reveals patterns by periods, confronted to the essential archaeological interpretation. The results meet the two objectives of an archaeological assessment. First, they are useful to interpret the remains and to understand the dynamics of land-use. Secondly, as decision-making tool, they provide elements for the authorities to deal with the archaeological sites (excavations or preservation).Les diagnostics archéologiques en tranchées mécaniques sont effectués pour fournir au service de l’État les éléments tangibles d’aide à la décision en vu de la prescription. Les surfaces concernées par ces diagnostics sont considérables et livrent des informations diachroniques sur l’occupation du sol dont l’exploitation est souvent limitée au cadre des fouilles prescrites par la suite. L’article présente les méthodes et les résultats d’une expérience menée à partir des données du diagnostic de la ZAC d’Ozans à Étrechet dans l’Indre. Il s’agissait d’évaluer l’apport de l’analyse spatiale, d’une part à la lecture des résultats du diagnostic, d’autre part à la compréhension de l’occupation sol dans le secteur couvert. L’utilisation de méthodes d’analyse spatiale exploratoire montre que, sans remplacer l’analyse archéologique indispensable, il est possible de tester des hypothèses interprétatives sur la répartition des vestiges en s’affranchissant du découpage imposé par les tranchées. Les résultats obtenus sont utiles à l’interprétation des vestiges et au-delà constituent une aide potentielle à la prescription

Gender Equity and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Philosophical Perspective

Gender equity is a sine qua non for sustained national development at all times. The paper maintains gender equity should be enthroned by all especially at the basic social unit in society – the family from where it will translate to society. The paper further examined gender equity from the perspective of philosophy; it further examines challenges to gender equity and sustainable development

John Locke‟s Epistemology and Teachings

This paper examines the contributions of John Locke to philosophy especially his epistemology and his idea of the primacy of experience as the basis of all knowledge. For Locke, there is a clear distinction between simple and complex ideas. The paper also examines the concept of primary and secondary qualities, his championship of utitilerian values, features of his teachings and the implications of his practical work of teaching on child curriculum and education generally

Mesoscale cyclogenesis over the western North Pacific Ocean during TPARC

Three cases of mesoscale marine cyclogenesis over the subtropics of the Western Pacific Ocean are investigated. Each case occurred during the THORPEX Pacific Asia Regional Campaign and Tropical Cyclone Structure (TCS-08) field phases in 2008. Each cyclone developed from remnants of disturbances that earlier showed potential for tropical cyclogenesis within the tropics. Two of the cyclones produced gale-force surface winds, and one, designated as a tropical cyclone, resulted in a significant coastal storm over eastern Japan. Development was initiated by a burst of organized mesoscale convection that consolidated and intensified the surface cyclonic circulation over a period of 12-24 h. Upper-tropospheric potential vorticity anomalies modulated the vertical wind shear that, in turn, influenced the periods of cyclone intensification and weakening. Weak baroclinicity associated with vertical shear was also deemed important in organizing mesoscale ascent and the convection outbreaks. The remnant tropical disturbances contributed exceptional water vapour content to higher latitudes that led to strong diabatic heating, and the tropical remnants contributed vorticity that was the seed of the development in the subtropics. Predictability of these events more than three days in advance appears to be minimal

Data-driven nonparametric Li-ion battery ageing model aiming at learning from real operation data – Part A : storage operation

Conventional Li-ion battery ageing models, such as electrochemical, semi-empirical and empirical models, require a significant amount of time and experimental resources to provide accurate predictions under realistic operating conditions. At the same time, there is significant interest from industry in the introduction of new data collection telemetry technology. This implies the forthcoming availability of a significant amount of real-world battery operation data. In this context, the development of ageing models able to learn from in-field battery operation data is an interesting solution to mitigate the need for exhaustive laboratory testing

The Uniqueness of African Philosophy

To Western scholars, Africa has no history no philosophy and as such do not possess the cognitive power of philosophizing. This falsehood has relegated Africa to the backdoor of world development and history. However, the history of world development reveals Africa as the cradle of world civilization. It becomes more glaring when we view development as multi-dimensional. In all facets of development, Africa and Africans have made tremendous contributions. Africans through their reflective attitudes to society, environment and nature have helped to add value to African societies and the world at large. This paper therefore, attempts at reflective activities (philosophy) thus adding value to our society (development). It also attempts to establish a historical foundation for its existence and how it has furthered development in various facets of human existence

Exploitation minière du cuivre dans la région de Nioro-du-Sahel (Mali) à l’époque des grands empires soudanais

Introduction Le cuivre est présent massivement dans les sites archéologiques de l’Afrique de l’Ouest durant la période des grands empires soudanais. Les textes arabes et la caravane perdue du Ma’den Ijâfen découverte par Théodore Monod (Monod 1969) attestent que ce cuivre est parvenu du Maghreb massivement en Afrique subsaharienne par voies transsahariennes (fig. 1). Toutefois, les ressources en cuivre de cette région ont, elles aussi, été exploitées : la recherche archéologique menée par Ni..