Greener Journal of Social Sciences最新文献

{"title":"“Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Call for Institutional and Policy Changes”. The Case of Dande Valley in Zimbabwe","authors":"Anyway Katanha, Lizias Kadziya","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2014.2.0204144091","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2014.2.0204144091","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose: Indigenous knowledge Systems is a discipline that has received acknowledgement even from United Nations forums. However, the discussion of Indigenous Knowledge Systems practiced in the Dande valley of Zimbabwe is still hazy and unclear and the concerned citizens like academics ,call for an institutional and policy change has been ignored. Though there has been a ministry of Science and technology in Zimbabwe, its focus was mainly on modern science, even though indigenous knowledge was mentioned ,evidence on the ground shows that indigenous knowledge was given very little consideration. It is also the thrust of this paper to point into perspective the adaptive measures taken by the Dande community against climate change using Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). Issues discussed focused on the role of IKS on plant phenology, health and risk reduction, food and security, art natural resource management as they are understood in the Climate change discourse. Research Design: The study was conducted in the Dande Valley of Zimbabwe which consists of 3 districts of Mashonaland Central Province namely; Mbire, Mount Darwin and Muzarabani. Data for this study were solicited through structured interviews, interviews with indigenous experts, traditional leaders, members of the Dande community; focus group discussion was also used to manipulate the community perception, current practices on adaption to climate change. Information on IKS and climate change was gathered through the participatory approach. The strength in this approach lies in the fact that it involves documenting of real events, recording what people say and observing behaviour.` Findings: Results from the study revealed that many scholars and some academics have a negative attitude towards IKS; however information gathered proved that IKS plays an important role in the Dande community. IKS adaptive strategies against climate change are based on environmental issues like, plant phenology, health and health, and natural resources management. The study established that there is every reason for policy change and implementation in Zimbabwe . To ensure sustainability of the IKS ,the study suggests that institutes of higher learning like Bindura University of Science Education and the Zimbabwe Open University to devise supportive systems that enable collection, analysis, storage information and dissemination of IKS information through a Meta Data base focusing on Dande Valley and other parts of the country rich in indigenous knowledge. Originality/Value: This study will add to the knowledge base of IKS and climate change in fragile environments and of particular note the Dande Valley in Zimbabwe. The study will also enlighten and provide information to policy makers, researchers, academics and general citizens to make informed decisions. It will also help all interested stakeholders to think seriously on IKS and climate change discourse.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126642083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Floods in Pakistan and Proposed Policy Choice: A Literature Review Based Study","authors":"M. S. Iqbal, T. Ali, Shmaila Aziz","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2014.1.240913862","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2014.1.240913862","url":null,"abstract":"This paper focuses on the damages done by the flood in Pakistan during year 2010. Pakistan is a developing country which depends upon its agriculture sector at most. Floods always damaged the economy and population at large scale. The disaster of 2010 monsoon flood was massive which killed more than 1700 persons, affected more than 20 million of population and 20 percent of land and a loss of billions of dollars to the country through damage of crops, livestock, cattle and family lives. Essential infrastructure including roads, bridges, dams and markets were severely damaged and many became useless. The United Nation survey assessed that around 10.1 million people were in need of shelter and humanitarian assistance. Around 3.6 million people require assistance in food, more than 1.1 million houses were completely demolished and crops on approximately 2 million hectares were damaged or lost. Flood had sever affect on people’s homes, livelihood and assets. Most of them do not know when they again will be able to resume the normal life. Finally, I have tried to find out some suggestionsto mitigate the effects of floods in coming years","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"112 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126076792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Opportunities and Threats for Pakistan’s Trade in Textiles and Clothing with European Union (EU27)","authors":"M. S. Iqbal, Sofia Anwar","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2014.1.240913857","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2014.1.240913857","url":null,"abstract":"The study is aimed at the investigation of trade implications for Pakistan in the milieu of European Union enlargement from EU15 onward. By doing so, it intends to trace out the place of Pakistan in the EU market in comparison to its competitors; EU’s major trading partners. The examination lends support to the view that though the EU’s external trade regime is complex, regionalized, discriminatory in nature, and complicated in operation, in practice, it has not retarded trade flows between its most favourable and less favourable trading partners. The study concludes that the pattern of trade preferences EU grants does not necessarily guarantee success in the export performance of the recipients. Verily, various other demand and supply side factors have played an important role in this regard. The empirical evidences, i.e., that the less favourable ones including Pakistan have shown high up export performance as opposed to favourable ones.are supporting this view. This carries both immense potential opportunities and serious threats for Pakistan in the years to come to cope with. The study suggested that augmented competitiveness of firms seems to be the key to success. It is truism that it is firms, not the countries that compete in the changing EU and international trading environment. This calls for the adoption of a properly designed strategy by the government and firms with a clear vision, hope, motivation and passion. So, government is to provide friendly investment/production and exporting air daring firms to compete on the internal and external porticos. And firms to create access, absorb, and adapt new technologies augmenting their competitiveness.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"73 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132150982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Assessment of the Safety Culture of National Railways of Zimbabwe","authors":"Alick Munzara","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2014.1.102213917","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2014.1.102213917","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of the study was to assess the safety culture of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ). A qualitative research methodology was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling was used to select the study participants and the data was collected through focus group discussions and individual interviews. Twenty three unstructured individual interviews and eight focus group discussions were conducted. The interviews and discussions were guided by five safety culture indicators namely, leadership; two-way communication; employee involvement; learning culture; and attitude towards blame. The findings revealed that NRZ was relatively strong with respect to employee involvement but was very weak in the other four safety culture indicators. The study thus concluded that on the whole NRZ had a weak safety culture.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115276865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Revisiting Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in Fast Track Resettlement Schemes. A Comparative Analysis of Indigenous Knowledge Systems Use In A1 Resettlement Schemes and Communal Areas in Chiredzi and Zaka Districts, Zimbabwe","authors":"Alimos Mushuku","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2014.1.111213961","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2014.1.111213961","url":null,"abstract":"Natural resources play a critical role to societies. Many people in developing countries conform their livelihoods and life style to nature. However, natural resources in resettlement areas of Zimbabwe are increasingly becoming degraded despite their importance. The study sought to assess how the adoption of indigenous knowledge systems for natural resources management in A1 resettlement areas can reduce resource depletion. The study employed a quasiexperimental design in which communal areas of Zaka District and A1 resettlement areas of Chiredzi District were used as experimental groups. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and interviews were used to gather data from traditional leaders and the elderly. In addition, observations were made to complement data from FGDs and interviews. The study found that a variety of indigenous knowledge systems still exist in communal areas and natural resources protected by indigenous knowledge systems were well preserved. However, in A1 resettlement areas where indigenous knowledge systems have been eroded due to the dynamic social, economic and physical environment there is excessive environmental degradation. There is therefore need to adopt and strengthen the use of indigenous knowledge systems in A1 resettlement areas to curb environmental degradation.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"13 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122414984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Investigation into the Relationship between Self- Concept, Academic Achievement of Secondary School Learners by School Type","authors":"I. I. Dambudzo","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2014.1.280913868","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2014.1.280913868","url":null,"abstract":"The subject of low academic achievement appears to gain centre stage. Literature has documented the importance placed by society on high academic achievement. Various reasons have been advanced for the causes of low academic achievement. The list is endless. The study sought to investigate the relationship between school location, type and type of attendance and self-concept and academic achievement. Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient was used to compute the results of a 1281 sample of secondary school learners in different school types and of varying academic ability. Results showed that there was a positive and significant correlation between school type, location and type of attendance with self-concept and academic achievement. The study concluded that school location and type were important considerations whenever placing a child. Furthermore boarding schools appeared to have significant advantages in terms of academic achievement and self-concept development. Further research was needed to uncover the characteristics and practices of schools that yielded positive results for children.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2014-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129772200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Jostling for Clientele in the Wake of a Dollarized Economy in Zimbabwe: A Case Study of the Banking Sector in Masvingo Urban","authors":"N. Lloyd","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.10.100313880","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.10.100313880","url":null,"abstract":"This paper explores the various strategies that banks in Masvingo are using to lure new clients. It is argued in this paper that the hyper – inflationary environment prior to dollarization of the economy had led to a booming business for most banks engaging in illicit activities like money burning. However, adoption of the dollarization of the economy culminated into a partial decomposition and at worst death of some banks as they struggled to adjust to a new economic dispensation. Findings in this study highlight that banks are embroiled in a subtle scramble for clientele as they try to capitalize on the resuscitated client confidence in the banking sector. It emerged that banks have resorted to provision of lucrative loan deal, use of modern ICTs and engaging in various corporate social responsibility activities to improve their corporate image so as to lure new clients. This study was purely qualitative in nature and adopted a triangulation of data soliciting techniques that included unstructured interviews, Focus group discussions, secondary sources and key informant interviews.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"66 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131712088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Peri- Urban Livelihoods Strategies and Survival. River Sand Extraction in Mucheke River And Livelihoods Security in Masvingo Urban, Zimbabwe","authors":"G. T. Mutangi","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.10.102913938","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.10.102913938","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of the paper was to asses the contribution of river sand extraction to the livelihoods of the urban dwellers as well as the challenges which the extractors face in the activity. The paper was mainly grounded in qualitative methodology using such data gathering instruments as unstructured interviews, Focus Group Discussions and transect walks. The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach was used as a conceptual framework to understand the livelihoods of the urban poor. The paper reviewed that there are a lot of factors that have forced the urban poor to rely on river sand extraction as a livelihood strategy among these are low uptake of labor by the formal employment sector, dollarization of the economy and negative impacts of international policies. The extractors reviewed that they have resorted to the environment or natural resource use as the only form of the natural capital which they have and this has helped them to meet the day to day needs of urban life such as rent, electricity, water bills, payment of school fees and to buy food at household level. The paper reviewed that although the urban dwellers have used the activity to meet their basic needs, the business has its own challenges as those alluded to by the extractors. The issue of accessibility and gaining entry into the farm as well as constraints by the highway police were cited as the major constraints to the activity. However it was interesting to note that the extractors have not only sat down and relax but rather have devised different ways for them to meet their needs and among these strategies are the issue of social networks with the police as well as the school authority at Gokomere High School. Conclusions were drawn that the local authorities must find ways to integrate the activity into the mainstream development process because it is proving to be of paramount importance to the development process.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"113 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116705990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of Corpers Perception and Attitude towards Community Development Service of the Nigeria NYSC in Abia State","authors":"O. Adesope, O. Jike-wai, L. C. Opurum","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.10.082013792","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.10.082013792","url":null,"abstract":"The need for corp members’ absolute commitment to Community Development Service (CDS) of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) is of immense importance. This study assessed corp members’ perception and attitude towards community development service of the Nigeria NYSC in Abia State, Nigeria. Structured and unstructured instruments were administered to 117 randomly selected corp members in the state. Data collected were analyzed using percentage, frequency and mean. Findings of the study revealed that more (49.52%) of the respondents were of western origin, female respondents were of majority (54.70%) and 41.88% of the respondents had a university degree and 35.89% had polytechnics awards. Corp members perceived that CDS is not effective due to the fact that there is no fund allocated to it by the NYSC scheme (mean score 3.22) and that they see it as a waste of time and energy (mean score 3.16). Constraints to the smooth operation of the community development service were inadequate sensitization on CDS operation/functions (mean 3.02), problem of CDS leadership (mean 3.09), lack of CDS operational funds (mean 3.22), fear of area boys attack/kidnapping (mean 2.87). The findings revealed that corp members were not effective because they disliked their CDS group (mean 2.90).","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129506150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors in Academic Achievement: Do Moderator Variables Account for any Significant Differences in Emotional Self-Concepts and Academic Achievement of Adolescents in Secondary Schools?","authors":"I. I. Dambudzo","doi":"10.15580/GJSS.2013.9.280913866","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.15580/GJSS.2013.9.280913866","url":null,"abstract":"Low academic achievement and the need to search for factors influencing performance, explanations such as poor teacher quality, resources, low level of teacher motivation and commitment, poor supervision, discipline, political interference, lack of parental support have been advanced. Little if any attention has been given to personality factors such as self-concept. Previous research has demonstrated a positive and significant correlation between emotional selfconcept and academic achievement and that of emotional self-concept and school type, location and type of attendance. It was the objective of this study to investigate the possible contribution of moderator variables-gender, age, grade/form, and school location type, type of attendance to learner academic achievement in secondary schools. In particular the study sought to find out the extent to which the moderator variables contributed to differences in learner emotional selfconcepts and academic achievement in secondary schools. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies were used for the study involving 1281 high and low performers in secondary schools. Results showed that age, school type and type of attendance accounted for significant differences in both academic achievement and emotional self-concepts. School location and grade/form contributed to difference in emotional self-concepts only while gender accounted for no differences at all. The study concluded that the current practice by some parents to send their children to boarding schools and transfer from one school to the other better school was wise and beneficial for the academic and emotional welfare of their children. Instilling better attitudes towards school work at an earlier age was likely to have long term benefits for the child’s education. Gender accounted for no differences in either emotional self-concepts or academic achievement. Further research is required in different subjects and overall with a larger sample in different locations.","PeriodicalId":145745,"journal":{"name":"Greener Journal of Social Sciences","volume":"117 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2013-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117300038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}