Philanthropy or solidarity? Ethical dilemmas about humanitarianism in crisis afflicted Greece

That philanthropy perpetuates the conditions that cause inequality is an old argument shared by thinkers such as Karl Marx, Oscar Wilde and Slavoj Zizek. I recorded the same argument in conversations regarding a growing humanitarian concern in austerity-ridden Greece. At the local level a number of solidarity initiatives provide the most impoverished families with humanitarian help. Some citizens participate in such initiatives wholeheartedly, while some other citizens criticize solidarity movements drawing primarily from Marxist-inspired arguments, such as, for example, that humanitarianism rationalises state inaction. The local narratives presented in this article bring forward two parallel possibilities engendered by the humanitarian face of social solidarity: first, its empowering potential (where solidarity initiatives enhance local social awareness), and second, the de-politicisation of the crisis and the experience of suffering (a liability that stems from the effectiveness of humanitarianism in ameliorating only temporarily the superficial consequences of the crisis). These two overlapping possibilities can help us problematise the contextual specificity and strategic employment of humanitarian solidarity in times of austerity

Mediterranean conundrums : pluridisciplinary perspectives for research in the social sciences

This paper has two purposes. First, it summarises the various papers presented at a Pluridisciplinary Conference on the Mediterranean treating the region from a variety of perspectives, a selection of which are published in this issue of History and Anthropology. Second, it attempts to explore some of the tensions between historians and anthropologists, and political scientists and geographers, in the treatment of the region.peer-reviewe

Fragmented in space: the oral history narrative of an Arab Christian from Antioch, Turkey

This study uses the case of Can Kılçıksız, an Arab Christian refugee youth from Antioch, Turkey, to argue that globalization may result in fragmented families and subjectivities and can also accelerate processes initiated by modernity and the construction of national identities. Can Kılçıksız and his siblings now live in Turkey, Germany, France and Finland. His life story suggests that males of Arab Christian origin from Antioch who had access to schooling are more likely to be involved in politics whereas females tend to be drawn to evangelical Christian organizations. The case also suggests that sibling ties might prove more durable in the course of transnational migration than conjugal ties. The case of Can Kılçıksız shows that the time/space linked to childhood through memory can play an important role in identity construction of subjects circulating in transnational space

Iphigenia’s sacrifice: generational historicity as a structure of feeling in times of austerity

Iphi, an unemployed actor in austerity-ridden Greece, imagines a theatre adaptation of a classic tragedy, Iphigenia at Aulis, in which the heroine is sacrificed on the altar of austerity by politicians. While writing her play-script, Iphi has a dream: she is taken to the sacrificial altar, not by politicians, but by her own parents, the generation who lived through the affluent years before austerity. Iphi’s generational-analogical thinking introduces a politically inspiring historicity, which offers insights into the accountability of austerity. It also allows us to reassess the notion of generations as a local category and an anthropological analytical construct. The article indicates the emergence of an as yet not fully articulated generational awareness—a new structure of feeling—about austerity, which is outlined here as it develops in an incipient form. I argue that the emerging generational historicity communicates a critical message, but also hides from view less visible inequalities

Highly dispersed catalysts for coal liquefaction

The objectives of this project are to study the effect of pretreatment methods on the two-stage liquefaction process. In particular, the effects of dispersed catalysts and carbon monoxide atmospheres on a coal liquefaction process. The project is divided into three technical tasks. Task 1 and 2 deal with the analyses and liquefaction experiments, respectively, whereas Task 3 deals with the economic impact of utilizing the pretreatment methods. This quarter we concentrated on Tasks 1 and 2, which are summarized. In this support task, the fractionated products from the coal liquefaction experiments conducted in Task 2 were analyzed for C, H, and N content. A very low H/C ratio for these products was found, and is most likely due to the low H/C ratio of the Black Thunder recycle solvent used in these liquefaction experiments. Also, during this quarter an on-line gas chromatograph was integrated into the autoclave system. We also conducted some experiments to determine the ease of activation of potential coal liquefaction catalysts. For these experiments the technique of NO chemisorption was used to determine the active catalytic MoS[sub 2] sites on coals impregnated with organometallic Mo precursors. We found that these organometallic Mo clusters easily activated to MoS[sub 2] sites. We continued our base-line screening experiments in the 300 mL autoclaves. Last quarter iron oxide and iron carbonyl catalysts were compared using an atmosphere of hydrogen with 3% H[sub 2]S. This quarter we included a comparison of liquefaction with iron oxide where we added an additional atmosphere of 20% carbon monoxide and found that this addition increased the conversion yields to soluble products. All of the carbon monoxide was accounted for as either unconverted carbon monoxide or as carbon dioxide. No evidence of conversion of the carbon monoxide to methane or Fischer-Tropsch type reactions were observed

Highly dispersed catalysts for coal liquefaction

The objectives of this project are to study the effect of pretreatment methods on the two-stage liquefaction process. In particular, the effects of dispersed catalysts and carbon monoxide atmospheres on a coal liquefaction process. The project is divided into three technical tasks. Task 1 and 2 deal with the analyses and liquefaction experiments, respectively, whereas Task 3 deals with the economic impact of utilizing the pretreatment methods. This quarter we concentrated on Tasks 1 and 2, which are summarized below. Samples of Black Thunder Subbituminous coal and the corresponding recycle solvent were received from Wilsonville. These particular samples were obtained from run [number sign]263. The samples were analyzed for a proximate and ultimate analysis, as well as heat content. We have also received samples of the iron oxide used in the Wilsonville coal liquefaction runs as well as Shell 324 and molyVanL for use in future runs. Base-line screening experiments were conducted in 300 mL autoclaves using 2.5 parts by weight of recycle solvent to 1 part Black Thunder coal at 425[degree]C for one hour. In preliminary results for the comparison of iron oxide and iron carbonyl, the iron carbonyl appears to give higher yields to soluble products