Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education

184-191

Authors: Elmond Bandauko, Gladys Mandisvika

This paper seeks to examine the criminalisation of informal sector operations in Harare. The responsible authorities have often viewed the informal sector as being atomistic to the formal economy, a development which has led to the harassment, arrests of informal sector operators in Harare. This phenomenon raises many questions which include, whose city is it anyway? Do informal sector workers have the right to the city? To answer some of these questions, the paper makes use of secondary sources of data such as newspapers, journal articles, magazines, research reports among others. The Government and local authorities should view the informal sector as an integral part of the urban economic system and should thus accommodate it for socially just cities to be created.

198-209

Authors: Gladys Mandisvika

The study assessed the role and importance of Local Economic Development as a means of enhancing urban development paying particular attention to the regulators of Local Economic Development in Harare. Local Economic Development is a process which encourages partners from the community, public sector, private sector and non-governmental sectors to work collectively to create better conditions for economic growth and employment generation with the aim of improving the locality economic future and the quality of life for all citizens. The study was premised on the theory of competitive advantage which puts up that prosperity and wealth creation is determined by microeconomic factors and that prosperity means increasing the standards of living for the local people and ultimately their quality of life. Primary data for the research was gathered through observation and key informant interviews. Data on key stakeholders understanding on the concept of Local Economic Development, how it is being practised and how the current regulatory framework enhance or impinge on local people’s participation in Local Economic Development was collected. Secondary data was also collected from Harare’s 2014 budget, census and existing forward plans. The study revealed that the practice of Local Economic Development in Harare is biased towards the setting aside of land zoned for industrial and commercial uses and implementation of development control parameters. Small to Medium Enterprises and the informal sector have also been identified as the major forms of Local Economic Development that citizens are involved in. However, the study revealed that proper policy frameworks which guide practice of Local Economic Development initiatives were missing.

223-230

Authors: Michael Fuseini Wandusim

All across the world there is a growing interest in interfaith activities especially the one between Christians and Muslims. It has been argued that the nature of the relationship between these two faiths could determine the peace of the world in the future. This essay therefore gives a consideration to the youth of these faiths and contends for a recognition and involvement of these young people in interreligious relations. This contention finds credence in the light of current religious extremist activities especially from the Muslim quarters. These groups do not “view young people as an afterthought." This essay to some extent reflects my personal experience as a young person growing up in a Muslim-Christian family: my father being a Muslim and my mother and siblings being Christians; it also draws data from research I am currently conducting on youth and interfaith dialogue.

104-109

Authors: Elmond Bandauko

This paper provides a review on the role played by civil society organisations (CSOs) in urban planning advocacy in Zimbabwe. To demonstrate this, the article draws on the cases of the residents, associations and other CSOs from Zimbabwe’s major cities and towns namely Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare. CSOs such as Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), Harare Residents Trust (HRT), Gweru Residents Association, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, Mutare Resident and Ratepayers Association (MURA) and Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation and Dialogue on Shelter (ZHPFDS) are instrumental in championing the interests of the urban poor, so that their concerns are represented in the urban development discourse. CSOs are also critical in bringing good urban governance and social justice in cities. Other Civil Society Organisations such as ZHPFDS specialise solely on advocacy for housing land and, within their ambit, work towards ensuring that the housing poor and homeless have a roof over their head. This is an emphasis on the ‘hard infrastructure’ provision. On the other hand, there are CSOs concerned almost purely on the ‘soft infrastructure’ like public awareness campaigns on making city authorities account for their service provision and other related urban governance issues. These groups, like Harare Residents Trust (HRT) often use threat to organise protests and campaigns against bureaucratic injustices and making the resident empowered in informational terms. The paper suggests mutuality and close linkage between CSOs in development and CSOs in the advanced agendas for social justice towards urban sustainability and meaningful governance. Such an approach can be replicated within Zimbabwe, and ultimately across Africa and beyond.

121-127

Authors: Pavel N. Biriukov

The article deals with the enlargement of the European Communities (hereinafter EC). Author outlines key questions of the accession of Spain to the EC. Main attention is paid to the characteristics of the conditions of the accession of Spain to the EC. The article explores the role of public authorities of Spain in the implementation of EC documents in Spain. Author investigates the doctrine of relationship between EC norms and Spanish national law.

135-145

Authors: Jacob Owusu Sarfo, Josephine Cudjoe, Alexander Fosu, Melanie C. Schlatter

One hundred participants, comprising of 50 individuals with Type 2 diabetes (DM2) and 50 control group members were matched on both age and education. Using a battery of behavioural measures, data collection was done at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. The results showed that, depression, anxiety, negative health beliefs, cognitive failures, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility and number of complications / clinical manifestations predicted health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among the overall sample. In addition, depression and negative health beliefs predicted HRQOL among individuals with DM2, while cognitive failures predicted HRQOL among HCG. Findings have implications for clinical management and future studies.

156-165

Authors: Evgeniya V. Vidishcheva, Dmitriy S. Ageenko

This article features an analysis of the world experience and of the characteristics of transport servicing of large-scale world soccer tournaments, conducted with a view to identifying potential bottlenecks in transport infrastructure, determining the necessary amount and types of transport vehicles engaged in transporting World Cup visitors and participants, proposing recommendations on transport servicing, and helping to take timely measures to make relevant adjustments as part of staging a portion of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the city of Sochi. The experience of staging the Sochi Winter Olympics will help use the city’s existing transport infrastructure as effectively as possible. Among some of the most crucial conditions for the success of staging a large-scale event are the availability of sufficient territorial space for the unimpeded and safe movement of large masses of people around the stadium and the stadium’s proximity to the key elements of transport infrastructure, as well as to hotels and the heart of the city’s social and commercial life. What complicates the transport planning of major soccer events is the tough-to-predict nature of transport traffic due to the movement of both the national teams and the fans and the highly uneven volumes of passenger and freight traffic during the event. This provides a rationale for instituting additional requirements for the traffic capacity of transport infrastructure, its reliability, safety, and efficiency on the whole.

13-24

Authors: Susanna D. Bagdasaryan

The article is devoted to the formation of the historical school for the study of the region of the city-resort of Sochi. Regional history is an integral part of the formation of the historical area of the country, dictates the internal processes of registration of statehood, imposes the specifics of the internal and external policy of the state. Sochi as an object of scientific study is the result of the efforts of the last two decades scientists Sochi State University, which raised the question of the transition from the level of regional studies, local journalistic literature to the theoretical approaches of historical analysis using the apparatus of the scientific method. The city of Sochi – the capital of Winter Olympic Games of 2014, leading to interest from foreign historical schools, researchers. This provides a historiographical analysis of the history of Sochi and makes for international studies focus on the role of regional historians, in light of the historical processes which took place on the Northern Black sea region in different periods of historical time.

31-35

Authors: Irene Botchway, BrenyaWiafe-Akenteng, Ethel Akpene Atefoe

Health consciousness is a determinant of healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle in effect is a necessary condition for academic success. The study was conducted to examine the relationships that existed between health consciousness and eating habits. A sample of one hundred and fifty (150) students from the University of Ghana comprising of all four levels in the undergraduate programme were selected through a convenience sampling technique for the study. Data was collected through self- administered questionnaires which included questions that captured demography, health consciousness and eating habits of the respondents. The age range of the respondents was between 17 and 25 years. Results revealed a significant positive relationship between health consciousness and eating habits (p < 0.05). Findings and limitations as well as conclusions are discussed.

46-53

Authors: Elena Yu. Litsareva

The article examines some reasons of the “Russia’s pivot” toward Asia at the turn of the XX-XXI centuries. The Asian policy of the Russia was starting to change at the second half of the 1990s. Russia conducted its policy at the East Asia in a view of the changed balance of national interests, regardless of the ideological considerations and attached a special importance to the economic cooperation. Developing the external political concept and determining the priority areas for development, Russia has had to reckon with the objective processes, occurring in the world. Russia, as the "Eurasian" power, building relations with the Asia-Pacific countries, was to have a vital task - to raise the political and economic cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region to the level, achieved by Russia in Europe. Gradually, the East Asia has become the priority strategic direction of the Russia positioning in the world. For a long time it was thought that using its geostrategic position, Russia could be an important factor in the global political and economic system, linking Europe and Asia-Pacific markets. Russia Federation supported the East Asia countries in ensuring regional security and stability. Analysis of the Asia-Pacific regional political situation shows that there are significant changes here and these changes are largely connected with the significant changes in the global balance of powers. In the course of the Ukrainian events (spring 2014) and entering the West economic sanctions against Russia in connection with the accession of the Crimea, Russian “pivot” toward Asia, in particular the East Asia, looks entirely justified and reasonable.

58-73

Authors: Austin O. Omomia

Nigeria is commonly adjudged as the “Giant of Africa”. No doubt, the African continent has witnessed drastic socio-political transformation between the periods 1960 to date. Ironically, since Nigeria became an independent nation on October, 1st 1960, she has been confronted with myriad of socio-political challenges. Notable among these, is religious fanaticism. This, in recent times, is encapsulated in grave religious insurgency, manifested in the “Boko Haram” challenge. This paper therefore addresses the relationship between religious fanaticism and security, how they affect each other (positively or negatively). It also examined the present security challenge in Nigeria, and attempts to advance some panaceas in achieving true security. Thus, articulating the benefits of security as genuine precursors for sustainable development of Nigeria. The paper applied historical and sociological methodology in its investigation. It is recommended among others, that the adherents of the different religions should embrace dialogue and tolerance. The government should also pursue the challenge posed by youth unemployment with the right vigour.

86-91

Authors: Aleriza Marya L. Trias, Pearly P. Lim

The aim of this study is to obtain information about graduating students’ self-concept and variables related to preparedness for dental practice. A self-constructed questionnaire which was first validated by 26 administrators, selected faculty and students of the School of Dentistry of Centro Escolar University, Manila, were personally given to the graduating students. The respondents were the 198 graduating students for March 2014. Foreign students were also included in the study. Using a 5-point Likert scale, the questionnaire assessed the self-concept and variables related to preparedness for dental practice self-perceived preparedness. Statistical tools that were used for the study are percentage, frequency, standard deviation, weighted mean, t-test and analysis of variance. The data gathered were interpreted as very large extent, large extent, moderate extent, little extent, very little extent. Based on the findings of the study, most of the graduating students see themselves prepared to a large extent for dental practice. However, the clinical infirmary ranked the lowest in its group with number of module units available, safety, cleanliness and orderliness of the infirmary and modernity of equipment giving the results of to a moderate extent. Moreover, the lack of training dental emergencies as well as Orthodontics and Periodontics will need to be addressed by program enhancements such as additional hours in subjects, workshops and seminars.