A number of experiences have demonstrated how digital solutions are effective in improving quality of life (QoL) and health outcomes for older adults. Smart Health Age-Friendly Environments (SHAFE) is a new concept introduced in Europe since 2017 that combines the concept of Age-Friendly Environments with Information Technologies, supported by health and community care to improve the health and disease management of older adults and during the life-course. This chapter aims to provide an initial overview of the (...) experiences available not only in Europe, based on the research work of the participants of the International Interdisciplinary Network on Health and Well-being in an Age-Friendly Digital World (NET4Age-Friendly), which could be of interest to preventive, health and social authorities. The chapter reports good practices, pain points, and bottlenecks that may require a collaborative, interdisciplinary research approach to facilitate the transformations towards smart, sustainable, health and age-friendly cities and communities. (shrink)

Healthcare insurance plays a pivotal role in shaping public health equity and social justice by influencing access to services, financial protection, and health outcomes. This study evaluates integrative frameworks for analyzing the impact of healthcare insurance on public health equity and explores its role in achieving social justice. We synthesize data from multidisciplinary sources to highlight disparities, challenges, and policy implications. The findings underscore the need for equitable insurance models, robust policy reforms, and inclusive evaluation methods.

Mental health challenges can be described via the application of multiple lenses, from clinical-medical perspectives, to social and community-based, to further understandings in the context of public health. While these challenges can represent multiple issues to the scientific community at-large, especially because of the translational issues attached to the application of research and practice to the sphere of community services, it is useful to understand that the triad ethics, evidence, and experience can be instrumental in navigating the (...) complexity of the issue-at-hand. Furthermore, the work of researchers and practitioners is rooted in a solid understanding of the specific needs of psychiatric patients, particularly from the perspective of possible misunderstandings, ostracization, and stigmatization of psychiatric issues and related presentation, affect, and behaviours. Years of research have indicated how a proper interaction between resources at the level of scientific research and the community is a fundamental cornerstone for a practice rooted in both science and true care for individuals affected by mental health disorders. In this presentation we will discuss the case of the Centro Salute Mentale (Mental Health Centre, CSM) of Verona. (shrink)

Research misconduct remains an important problem in health research despite decades of local, national, regional, and international efforts to eliminate it. The ultimate goal of every health research project, irrespective of setting, is to produce trustworthy findings to address local as well as global health issues. To be able to lead or participate meaningfully in international research collaborations, individual and institutional capacities for research integrity are paramount. Accordingly, this paper concerns itself not only with individuals’ research skills (...) but also with institutional and national policies and governance. Such policies and governance provide an ethical scaffold for the production of knowledge and structure incentives. This paper’s operational definition of research therefore draws from Institute of Medicine’s articulation of health research as an inquiry that aims to produce knowledge about the structure, processes, or effects of personal health services; and from an existing health systems framework. The paper reviews the research regulatory environment and the ethics apparatus in Ghana, and describes a project jointly undertaken by Ghanaian researchers in collaboration with New York University to assess the perceived adequacy of current institutional practices, opportunities, and incentives for promoting RI. (shrink)

Psychological well-being is a major global concern receiving more scholarly attention following the 2008 Great Recession, and it becomes even more relevant in the context of COVID-19 outbreak. In this study, we investigated the impact of economic uncertainty resulting from natural disasters, epidemics, and financial crisis on individuals' mental health. As unemployment rate exponentially increases, individuals are faced with health and economic concerns. Not all society members are affected to the same extent, and marginalized groups, such as those (...) suffering from chronic mental illnesses or low-income families cannot afford the downsizing, mass lay-offs and lack of access to public health services. Psychiatric profession is familiarized with the phenomenon of intolerance of uncertainty (IU), and we examine how this concept is associated with job uncertainty and social identity disturbance. Several studies have formally investigated the effects of IU, but to our knowledge, this is the first research integrating the psychological well-being, job uncertainty and identity disturbance caused by economic breakdown. Literature points to many reported cases of PTSD, anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies following major social disasters. Yet, we have undertaken to analyze the subjective experiences underlying the self-harming behaviors in an attempt to fill the methodological gap by drawing insights from prominent psychological, sociological and economic theories. We find economic uncertainty to have a positive relation to job uncertainty and identity disturbance, and a negative relationship with psychological well-being. Psychological well-being depends on coherency between both abstract subjective and concrete objective identity, and when these perceptions are inconsistent, cognitive dissonance arises resulting in identity disturbance. We argue that stability is not associated with monetary advantage only, but also with a wide range of other benefits that are crucial for individuals' growth, satisfaction and sense of identity. Therefore, we propose the implementation of social support and public welfare policies to mitigate health risks during the turbulent socio-economic changes. (shrink)

The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) set time-bound targets that are powerful shapers of how and for whom health is pursued. In this paper we examine some ramifications of both the temporal limitation, and maternal-child health targeting of MDG 4 and 5. The 2015 end date may encourage increasing the number of mass campaigns to meet the specific MDG objectives, potentially to the detriment of a more comprehensive approach to health. We discuss some ethical, political, and pragmatic ramifications (...) of this tendency, and show that these are not unique to the MDGs but rather have a long history in health policy debates. We also examine attempts to counter a narrow focus on vertical interventions in campaigns through integrated health system delivery platforms. We argue that the way forward is not to assume that evidence is value free, but rather to make explicit the political and ethical decisions in the design of metrics and evaluation research. We propose an index of five factors that should be included in research designed to inform decision making about providing interventions as part of routine services or periodic campaigns, toward serving more members of the population, and long-term strengthening of the health system via integrated health interventions. (shrink)

Innovation is progressively needed in responding to global challenges. Moreover, the increasing complexity of challenges implies demand for the usage of multisectoral and policy mix approaches. Wicked problems can be tackled by "integrated innovation" that combines the coordinated implementation of social, technological, and health innovation co-created by entities of the public sector, the private sector, the non-governmental sector, and the informal sector. This Research Topic focuses on filling the knowledge gaps about the selected types of innovation. First, regarding (...) social innovation that can be understood as new strategies, concepts, products, services, and organizational forms that allow the satisfaction of human needs. Second, a technological innovation that refers to new or remarkably improved products, goods, or services in terms of their technical specifications, components, materials, software, design, or other functional features. Third, health innovation that focuses on novel or enhanced health policies, systems, products, technologies, services, and care delivery schemes to improve people’s health. Finally, this Research Topic highlights attempts to develop integrated innovation that can add value to social policy, health policy, and environmental policy by improving efficiency, effectiveness, quality, sustainability, safety, and affordability. (shrink)

African Traditional Religion and medicine are integral parts of life and culture of the Africans and have greatly influenced their conceptions about human health and wholeness. Their many realities that Africans have not been able to abandon, in spite of the allurements of western civilization, Christianity, Islam and the advances in the biomedical sciences. The aim of this paper is to highlight the meaning of health and wholeness as central issues of concern in African Traditional Religion and Medicine. (...) The misconception, abuse and derogatory attitudes even from some notable Africans towards alternative medicine, as well as the all need of integrating both the alternative and orthodox medicine to bring about total wholeness, serves as the research problem. This paper argued that the biopsycho-socio-ecological model of health and wholeness is fundamental to the African Traditional Religion and Medicine. This model brings together the different aspects of human life and treats the human person as an integral and harmonious whole in perpetual relationship with the sacred, the human community and the environment. This paper therefore recommends that first, Africa has to open to modern medical discoveries and practices and secondly, African Traditional Religion and Medicine concern should be mainstreamed into the medical practice in health care services in contemporary Nigeria. It finally conclude that the alternative medicine despite the arrays of it inadequacies, objections and misconceptions, the practice has come to stay. (shrink)

This thesis under the title “Public Health Policy in Resource Allocation: the Role of Ubuntu Ethics in Redressing Resource Disparity between Public and Private Healthcare in South Africa” explores health care disparities pertaining to resource allocation between public and private sector. It is of relevance and importance in South Africa where 54% of the population live on less than US$3 per day. Although the government has instituted certain changes aimed at transforming the public health care system, the (...) resource allocation gap between the two persists and remains wide. The research gives special attention to the role that Ubuntu ethics can play in redressing the resource allocation disparities between public and private health care sectors in South Africa, pointing out the existing gap in financing, as well as human resource between public and private health care sectors, which leads to poor health outcomes in public sector. Therefore, the problem is the prevalent inequality of resource allocation between private and public health care sectors. The analysis of policy gaps, as well as evaluating the cause of disparities in the health system is the goal of this research. The study endeavours to redress the disparities within the context of Ubuntu ethical principles and proposes a change in public policy so as to enhance healthcare for the benefit of the people. The study is philosophical and ethical, so the methodology used is discursive in nature, majorly focusing on critically reviewing existing literature, that is, the philosophical resources on Ubuntu ethics and justice theories as well as a range of government resources inclusive of public health policy documents. Social determinants of health and their impact in a South African context are discussed with the implication that health is not merely freedom from disease and or incapacity, but rather being well mentally, physically and socially. The attainment of a healthy status goes beyond ability to access healthcare services, and incorporates social determinants including but not limited to conditions in which people have been born into, stay, establish career and grow old in. It also includes the arrangements put in place to deal with illness and determine health. Issues of revenue, literacy, communal safety networks, vocation and conditions under-which vocation is undertaken, lack of work and vocation insecurity, early stages of human development, gender, cultural group, dietary insecurity, housing communal exclusion and disability all come into the picture as factors that determine health. But there is also discussion of the socio-economic status as contributors to health inequity wherein alcohol abuse, sugar intake, and smoking are identified as behavioural factors that complicate public health. One outstanding feature of this research is that it establishes a link between Ubuntu and public health policy. The researcher establishes that Ubuntu ethics is appropriate for not only discussing public morality, but also for formulating public policy that is morally tenable for South Africa, especially for the public health sector. This thesis calls for an application of Ubuntu in a proper context in order to enhance societal well-being for the benefit of many, if not all. The research proposes the fundamental principle of Ubuntu ethics in which the good of the community is as important as the good of every member of the community. Since Ubuntu ethics does not merely seek to fulfil what benefits the majority, as would be the case in a utilitarian society, the researcher advocates for the building of consensus on the common good, which should be understood to imply not just what is good for everyone in the community, but also what is good for the continued well-being of the community as a single unit. In this regard, the research finds it important that deliberate effort be made to integrate Ubuntu ethics into policies, citing the example of the National Health Insurance (NHI). The good health of all the members of a community is an assurance of the well-being and continuity of the whole national community. The research concludes that public health policy should integrate Ubuntu ethical values such as community, sharing, care, solidarity, identity, harmony, respect, and dignity into policy documents and legislation. (shrink)

The healthcare sector is undergoing a transformative shift towards smart healthcare, driven by advancements in technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain. As healthcare systems generate vast amounts of data from multiple sources, such as electronic health records (EHRs), medical imaging, wearable devices, and sensor-based monitoring, the challenge lies in securely integrating and analyzing this data for real-time, actionable insights. Blockchain technology, with its decentralized, immutable, and transparent framework, offers a robust solution for securing data integrity, privacy, and sharing (...) across healthcare networks. AI, on the other hand, enables advanced data analytics, providing healthcare professionals with predictive insights, early diagnosis, and personalized treatment plans. This paper explores the integration of Blockchain and AI for advanced data management in smart healthcare. We propose a system that utilizes Blockchain for secure and transparent data storage, ensuring that healthcare data from various sources is tamper-proof and can be shared across multiple stakeholders. AI algorithms, particularly machine learning and deep learning models, are applied to the integrated data to detect patterns, predict disease progression, and optimize treatment plans. By leveraging Blockchain, healthcare data can be securely shared across providers and patients, ensuring privacy and regulatory compliance, while AI technologies provide the intelligence required for enhancing clinical decision-making. This integrated system not only addresses the growing concerns surrounding data security and privacy but also promotes interoperability and collaboration within the healthcare ecosystem. The paper discusses the challenges, opportunities, and future directions of Blockchain and AI integration in smart healthcare systems, highlighting how this convergence can lead to more efficient, secure, and personalized healthcare services. (shrink)

-/- Globalization of Labor Supply: Impacts and Challenges -/- The globalization of labor supply is a significant feature of the modern global economy, profoundly shaping markets, industries, and the nature of work. This trend is driven by technological advances, the increasing mobility of workers, and the interconnectedness of economies. Labor supply globalization involves the integration of labor markets across borders, enabling businesses to access a diverse, global talent pool while workers can seek employment opportunities in new regions. While this phenomenon (...) offers economic advantages, it also brings about challenges and ethical considerations that must be addressed for a more equitable global workforce. -/- Drivers of Labor Supply Globalization -/- One of the primary drivers of labor supply globalization is offshoring and outsourcing. Companies, in their quest for reducing costs, often shift their production or services to countries with lower labor costs. This practice allows businesses in high-wage countries to remain competitive while capitalizing on cheaper labor in developing nations. For example, tech companies such as Apple and Microsoft outsource their customer support and tech support services to countries like India and the Philippines, where labor costs are significantly lower compared to the U.S. This shift has led to the rise of call centers and outsourcing hubs in these countries, where skilled workers provide services to global businesses. -/- Nike manufactures its products in Vietnam, China, and Indonesia, where labor costs are lower than in the U.S. This has allowed Nike to reduce production costs and offer more affordable products. Similarly, Apple’s assembly of iPhones occurs in China through its partnership with Foxconn, a major supplier based there. This practice is part of the company’s strategy to minimize labor expenses and maintain competitive pricing, which has sparked both criticism and admiration worldwide. -/- Another crucial factor in the globalization of labor is the increasing migration of workers. People are often motivated by the prospect of higher wages and better living conditions in economically developed countries. For instance, Mexican workers have migrated to the United States for decades, filling jobs in agriculture, construction, and hospitality industries. This migration has had a significant impact on both the economies of the U.S. and Mexico. Migrants from Central and Eastern Europe have similarly moved to Western European countries, particularly the UK, Germany, and France, to fill labor shortages in sectors like healthcare and manufacturing. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS), for example, relies heavily on healthcare professionals from countries like India, Philippines, and Poland. In fact, about 13% of NHS staff in the UK are foreign-born. -/- Additionally, migrants send remittances back home, which play a vital role in the economic development of their countries of origin. According to the World Bank, remittances from migrant workers in 2020 totaled over $540 billion globally, supporting families and contributing to poverty reduction. India and Mexico are among the top countries that receive remittances from migrants, with Indian workers abroad sending $83 billion back home in 2020 alone. -/- Technological advancements have further accelerated labor supply globalization. The rise of remote work and digital platforms has allowed workers to access job opportunities across the globe without needing to leave their countries. This trend is particularly prominent in knowledge-based industries such as information technology, finance, and marketing. For example, platforms like Upwork and Freelancer enable workers from countries like Pakistan, Ukraine, and Kenya to connect with clients in North America and Western Europe, offering services in areas such as software development, graphic design, and digital marketing. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for remote work, leading companies worldwide to embrace the flexibility of hiring international talent. Companies like Shopify, Twitter, and Facebook shifted to remote-first models, opening up opportunities for workers worldwide. -/- Impacts on the Global Economy -/- The globalization of labor supply has brought about both positive and negative impacts, especially in terms of economic growth and the redistribution of wealth. On the one hand, it has provided businesses with access to a larger pool of labor, which can increase efficiency, reduce production costs, and foster economic growth. Companies can outsource certain tasks to countries where labor is cheaper, allowing them to allocate resources toward higher-value work in their home countries. For instance, Nike manufactures its products in Vietnam, China, and Indonesia, where labor costs are significantly lower than In the U.S. This has allowed the company to reduce production costs and offer more affordable products, benefiting both the company and consumers. Similarly, Amazon has outsourced a significant portion of its customer support functions to regions such as India and Brazil, where labor costs are more affordable. -/- Moreover, the migration of workers and the subsequent remittances they send back home contribute to poverty alleviation in developing countries. Remittances are often a lifeline for families in low-income nations, improving their access to education, healthcare, and housing. For example, India and China are among the largest recipients of remittances, with millions of migrant workers in the Middle East and North America sending money back to their families. In 2020, India received approximately $83 billion in remittances, according to the World Bank. -/- However, the globalization of labor has also led to increased wage disparity and job insecurity in many industries. In developed countries, businesses that offshore jobs to countries with cheaper labor have led to significant job losses in sectors like manufacturing, customer service, and call centers. For example, in the U.S., the offshoring of manufacturing jobs to countries like China has been linked to the decline of the domestic manufacturing sector. In 2017, the Economic Policy Institute reported that U.S. workers had lost over 3 million manufacturing jobs due to trade with China alone. -/- This phenomenon has sparked debates over the fairness of globalization, as workers in wealthier countries face stagnant wages or job displacement, while workers in lower-wage countries may be exploited with poor working conditions or inadequate compensation. The Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh in 2013, which killed over 1,100 garment workers, is a stark reminder of the exploitation that can occur in global supply chains. Companies like Walmart and H&M had their products manufactured in the Rana Plaza factory, sparking global outrage and highlighting the risks faced by workers in low-cost production hubs. -/- Additionally, labor rights and standards vary significantly between countries. In developed economies, labor laws and worker protections tend to be stronger, while in developing nations, workers often face exploitation, unsafe working conditions, and lack of benefits. This discrepancy has raised ethical concerns about the treatment of workers in global supply chains, especially in industries like textiles, electronics, and agriculture. For instance, in Apple’s supply chain, there have been reports of workers facing harsh conditions and long hours at factories in China, leading to calls for reform and greater transparency. -/- Addressing the Challenges of Labor Supply Globalization -/- To mitigate the negative effects of labor supply globalization, it is essential to implement policies that promote fair wages, worker rights, and social protections. Governments and international organizations must work together to ensure that workers in all countries, regardless of their location or industry, are afforded basic labor rights and protections. For example, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has established global labor standards to improve working conditions and protect workers’ rights worldwide. These standards aim to ensure fair wages, safety, and decent working conditions for workers in all sectors. -/- One potential solution is the establishment of global labor standards that set minimum requirements for wages, working conditions, and benefits for workers in all countries. International agreements and treaties could help ensure that workers in lower-income countries are not subject to exploitation, and that companies that benefit from globalization are held accountable for the welfare of their employees. Additionally, businesses must embrace corporate social responsibility (CSR), ensuring that their supply chains adhere to ethical labor practices and contribute to local economic development. For example, companies like Patagonia and Fair Trade USA have committed to ethical sourcing practices, ensuring that workers in their supply chains are treated fairly and paid a living wage. -/- Another solution involves supporting workers who may face job displacement due to outsourcing or automation. Governments can invest in education and retraining programs, enabling workers to acquire new skills that are in demand in the global economy. For example, the European Union has invested in programs that retrain workers in sectors like manufacturing and coal mining, helping them transition to new jobs in renewable energy and technology. By providing access to lifelong learning and career development, workers can better adapt to changing job markets and enhance their employability. -/- Conclusion -/- Labor supply globalization is a defining feature of the modern world, reshaping how businesses operate and how workers engage with the global economy. It has brought about opportunities for economic growth, poverty reduction, and increased efficiency. However, it has also introduced significant challenges, including wage inequality, job insecurity, and labor exploitation. To ensure that the benefits of labor globalization are shared equitably, governments, businesses, and international organizations must take proactive steps to address these issues. By promoting fair labor practices, protecting workers’ rights, and investing in education and retraining, we can create a more inclusive and sustainable global labor market. -/- . (shrink)

This study investigates the causes and multifaceted impacts of single parenting on the socio-economic development of young adults in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. This context, often overlooked in global family dynamics research, is increasingly relevant as urbanization accelerates. A quantitative research design was employed, and data were collected from 399 respondents, including both academic and non-academic staff, through structured questionnaires. The study found that the primary drivers of single-parent households in the region are divorce (49.6%) and widowhood (40.1%).Young adults (...) from single-parent families face significant challenges, including heightened risks of social stigma, economic hardship, and educational disparities. These challenges were reflected in clustered mean scores of 2.715 for social impact and 2.729 for economic impact. The study also highlighted gendered perceptions, revealing that social adjustment and career outcomes are shaped by both gender and family structure. Female respondents, in particular, reported greater difficulties in social integration and career progression. A unique aspect of this study is its localized focus on the dynamics of single-parenting in a rapidly urbanizing Nigerian city. The findings underscore the critical need for targeted interventions at both policy and community levels to address the specific challenges faced by young adults in these households. Recommendations include enhancing support networks, improving access to mental health services, and offering financial aid for educational advancement. The study emphasizes the importance of developing tailored interventions that foster resilience among young adults from single-parent households. By addressing systemic challenges, these interventions could play a vital role in promoting socio-economic inclusion and informing more inclusive policies in Nigeria’s rapidly changing socio-economic landscape. (shrink)

A Universal Formula for Creating a Perfect Society -/- A perfect society must follow the universal law of balance in nature, ensuring that all social, economic, technological, and environmental systems function in harmony. Your universal formula serves as the foundation for designing such a society, where population growth is properly regulated to maintain balance and sustainability. -/- I. The Core Principle: The Universal Law of Balance -/- A perfect society must: ✔ Align human actions with natural laws. ✔ Eliminate corruption, (...) exploitation, and inefficiency. ✔ Balance technological progress with environmental sustainability. ✔ Regulate population growth to match available resources and societal needs. -/- II. The Key Components of a Perfect Society -/- 1. Ideal Population Growth Rate and Regulation -/- A perfect society must have a regulated population growth that aligns with natural resource capacity, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. ✔ Overpopulation leads to resource depletion, poverty, and instability. ✔ Underpopulation leads to economic decline and labor shortages. ✔ The ideal population growth rate must be carefully calculated for each region based on its resource availability, technological advancement, and economic capacity. -/- Implementation: -/- Educate the public on population and resource balance. -/- Implement voluntary and ethical family planning programs. -/- Ensure economic and social policies are adjusted based on population data. -/- Use AI to analyze demographic trends and forecast future population needs. -/- Encourage balanced migration policies to stabilize population distribution. -/- 2. Holistic and Rational Education System -/- ✔ Teach the universal law of balance in education. ✔ Focus on critical thinking, ethics, sustainability, and science. ✔ Train leaders in ethical decision-making, governance, and problem-solving. -/- 3. Governance Rooted in Natural Laws -/- ✔ Data-driven, ethical, and transparent leadership. ✔ AI-assisted governance to prevent corruption and mismanagement. ✔ Scientific, evidence-based policymaking. -/- 4. Urban Planning for Sustainable Cities -/- ✔ Eco-friendly, well-planned cities with green spaces and clean energy. ✔ Smart infrastructure to reduce congestion and pollution. ✔ Affordable, energy-efficient housing for all. -/- 5. Balanced Transportation System -/- ✔ Mass public transit over personal vehicles. ✔ Electric and hydrogen-powered transport to reduce pollution. ✔ Bike-friendly and pedestrian-friendly cities. -/- 6. A Just and Sustainable Economic System -/- ✔ Balanced capitalism—free markets with strong ethical regulations. ✔ No extreme wealth gaps or monopolies. ✔ Fair wages, job security, and profit-sharing models. -/- 7. Energy Production Aligned with Natural Balance -/- ✔ Solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear fusion energy to eliminate fossil fuels. ✔ Decentralized renewable energy grids for reliability. ✔ Buildings, industries, and transportation designed for energy efficiency. -/- 8. Agriculture and Agribusiness for Food Security -/- ✔ Sustainable, regenerative farming practices to maintain soil fertility. ✔ Organic farming over chemical-intensive monoculture. ✔ AI-driven precision agriculture to maximize food production with minimal waste. -/- Implementation: -/- Urban farming and vertical agriculture to reduce land use. -/- Government subsidies for small farmers to prevent corporate monopolies. -/- Integration of agribusiness with clean energy sources. -/- 9. Technology Companies Serving Humanity -/- ✔ Ethical AI and automation that enhance human life. ✔ Tech companies must focus on sustainability, data privacy, and fairness. ✔ Public ownership of essential tech infrastructure (internet, AI governance, energy grids, etc.). -/- 10. Forest Conservation and Wildlife Protection -/- ✔ Strict anti-deforestation laws with mandatory reforestation. ✔ Protect wildlife corridors and endangered species. ✔ Regenerative land use practices to restore ecosystems. -/- 11. Protection of Seas, Oceans, and Rivers -/- ✔ Ban overfishing and destructive fishing methods. ✔ Regulate ocean mining and oil drilling. ✔ Prevent river and ocean pollution from industries and waste. -/- 12. Eliminating Pollution and Managing Waste -/- ✔ Zero-waste circular economy—recycling and reusing materials efficiently. ✔ Eliminate plastic waste and toxic chemicals in industries. ✔ Convert waste into renewable energy sources. -/- 13. Sustainable Water Resource Management -/- ✔ Protect fresh water from contamination and overuse. ✔ Desalination and rainwater harvesting in water-scarce areas. ✔ Efficient irrigation and water recycling in agriculture and industry. -/- 14. Job Creation and Economic Stability -/- ✔ Ensure that automation enhances jobs rather than eliminates them. ✔ Support entrepreneurship and small businesses. ✔ Guarantee fair wages and universal job security. -/- 15. Universal Healthcare System -/- ✔ Preventive medicine should be the priority. ✔ Universal healthcare with AI-driven diagnostics. ✔ Mental health services equal to physical health services. -/- 16. A Strong Social Safety Net -/- ✔ Unemployment benefits and food security. ✔ State-funded job training and skill development. ✔ Affordable housing and support systems for the homeless. -/- 17. Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Automation -/- ✔ AI must serve humanity, not corporate control. ✔ Prevent AI from being used for mass surveillance or manipulation. ✔ Ensure AI aligns with the universal law of balance. -/- 18. Justice System Based on Cause and Effect (Law of Karma) -/- ✔ Laws must be logical, fair, and corruption-free. ✔ Swift, evidence-based legal processes. ✔ Restorative justice rather than punitive imprisonment. -/- 19. Global Feedback Mechanism for Continuous Improvement -/- ✔ AI-assisted global balance monitoring. ✔ Digital democracy and blockchain voting for fair governance. ✔ Regular sustainability and ethics audits. -/- III. Conclusion: A Perfect Society Is Achievable -/- A perfect society follows the universal law of balance in all areas—economy, technology, environment, governance, and social systems. -/- By applying your universal formula, society can: ✔ Eliminate corruption, poverty, and injustice. ✔ Achieve sustainability without harming future generations. ✔ Use AI and technology responsibly for the betterment of all. ✔ Create a world where human potential is maximized, and suffering is minimized. -/- . (shrink)

Background: Health care practitioners are recognized to have a large influence in shaping uptake of vaccine in new borns, children, adolescents, as well as adults. Parents remain more secure in their decisions when health care practitioners communicate successfully with them about vaccine dangers and benefits, the value as well as necessity for vaccinations, as well as vaccine safety. Thus, immunization remain the foundation of the primary health care system, an indisputable human right as well as a global (...) health and development success story, saving millions of lives yearly. Recently, we have vaccines to prevent more than 20 life threatening diseases, helping people of all ages live longer, healthier lives. Yet despite tremendous progress, far too many people around the world, including nearly 20 million infants yearly have insufficient access to vaccines. In some countries, progress has stalled or even reversed, and there is a real risk that complacency will undermine past achievements. Purpose: The current study aimed to explores vaccine hesitancy, its barriers and impact studies regarding COVID-19 decision impacts. Also, to provides policy and decision makers and operational staff with evidence to inform decisions to promote vaccine uptake across Bayelsa State. Methods: A literature review tried to do a deep dive by using a variety of search engines such as Scopus, Research Gate, Mendeley, Summon, PubMed, Google Scholar, Hinari, Dimension, Academia, CAB Abstract, OARE Abstract, SSRN search strategy to retrieve research publications, “grey literature” and expert working group reports, including author’s field experience. Findings: Absence of uniform methods of organization in the various health care facilities upon which we were obliged to rely. Thus affecting the overall immunization programme and health system. Hence policy must urgently address these challenges with emphasis on policy clarity while continuously improving infrastructure. Conclusions: Bayelsa State is categorized as low/poor performing as the findings suggest that the involvement of community-based leaders can improve community participation and acceptance while enhancing and strengthening integrated disease surveillance and Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) monitoring and reporting systems; and conducting integrated advocacy and communications activities to promote demand for vaccination as part of increasing overall demand and acceptability of all essential Primary Health Centers (PHC) services, thus, breaking barriers of vaccine hesitancy. (shrink)

In Turkey, city hospitals play a significant role in the provision of healthcare services. This survey looked at the level of satisfaction with various hospitals. In the study, social media was one of the tools. The hospitals' websites were used to compile satisfaction ratings. After that, content analysis was used to look at the hospitals' indicators for technological, communicative, and physical quality. The study considered hospitals with 1200 beds or greater as a sampling factor in hospital selection. Hospitals are (...) classified with the designation "Hospital" in objectives of information security and ethics. Encoding was carried out like Hos1, Hos2, Hos3, etc. for every hospital. The results of this article, which are considered significant research findings, are believed to had an important effect on improving hospital service requirements. Additionally, improvements can be made in health service delivery in line with the opinions of stakeholders. Additionally, the importance of patient satisfaction in terms of health tourism was emphasized. (shrink)

Objective Our study sought to (1) describe the practices and preferences of Colombian adolescents in accessing sexual and reproductive health services: accompanied versus alone; (2) compare actual practices with stated preferences; and (3) determine age and gender differences regarding the practice and these stated preferences. -/- Methods 812 participants aged 11–24 years old answered a survey in two Profamilia clinics in the cities of Medellin and Cali in Colombia. A cross-sectional analysis was performed to compare participants’ answers based (...) on the variables of gender and age. -/- Results A quarter of participants visited the clinic alone (25.4%). Females were more likely to go alone in comparison to males (26.3% vs 14.1%; p = 0.031), and older participants went alone more often than younger participants (p < 0.001). Most participants – 72.7% (95 %CI: 69.3–75.9) – expressed a preference in being accompanied to the clinic, and more than 90% had their preferences met. The preferences of older participants were, however, less likely to be met than those of younger participants (p < 0.001), notably, because they predominantly wanted to be accompanied. -/- Conclusion Contemporary public health and bioethics literature advocates in favor of developing health services that better meet the preferences of adolescents. The present research highlights an apparent blind spot related to the role that others (e.g., parents, friends, partners) can or should play in accompanying adolescent patients when they access sexual and reproductive health services. Respecting adolescents’ preferences, and hence their autonomy, is not simply a matter of ensuring freedom from constraints (e.g., their right and ability to go alone). Rather, it should also consider the liberty to choose whether to be accompanied when accessing SHRS and by whom. (shrink)

Universal health coverage (UHC) is at the center of current efforts to strengthen health systems and improve the level and distribution of health and health services. This document is the final report of the WHO Consultative Group on Equity and Universal Health Coverage. The report addresses the key issues of fairness and equity that arise on the path to UHC. As such, the report is relevant for every actor that affects that path and governments (...) in particular, as they are in charge of overseeing and guiding the progress toward UHC. (shrink)

The proposed system combines predictive analytics and historical data to flag potential emergencies before they occur. The visual analytics platform provides comprehensive reports to healthcare providers, enabling them to monitor trends, identify risk factors, and make informed decisions. This approach significantly enhances patient care by minimizing delays in response and improving overall health outcomes. The system's architecture, based on big data frameworks, supports scalable and efficient data processing. The study demonstrates how the integration of predictive models and data visualization (...) tools can revolutionize health alert systems, making them more responsive and adaptive to individual patient needs. Future enhancements will focus on incorporating machine learning models for more personalized predictions and extending the system's capabilities to remote patient care. (shrink)

Health service consumers' satisfaction with the services they receive has been a challenge over the past decade, and this has been attributed to many factors that diverse scholars have investigated using different variables. In this study, the attitude and ethical behaviours of healthcare providers as antidotes to health service consumers' satisfaction in the Primary Health Centre at Mgbuoshimini, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, were investigated. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was used to select participants from pregnant women, nursing (...) mothers, couples for family planning, and sick patients. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical tools. The results of the grand total response values were 400 (100%) and strongly agree had 190 (47.5%), agree had 160 (40%), 390 (100%) and strongly agree had 260 (66.7%), agree had 100 (25.6%), and strongly disagree had 13 (3.3%). The overall results were strongly agreed (66.7%) and agreed (25.6%); these connote that the attitudes and ethical behaviours of the healthcare providers towards healthcare service consumers in the primary healthcare facility were poor and that healthcare providers do not execute good ethical behaviour towards health service consumers in the facility, leading to low levels of health resource consumption, low patronage image promotion, and consumers' loss of confidence in the service provider. Therefore, the government should put mechanisms in place to ensure a positive attitude and favourable ethical behaviour among healthcare providers, and individual healthcare providers should also acquire soft skills to improve their attitude and ethical behaviour. (shrink)

Abstract: The aim of the research is to identify the reality of the quality of health services in light of the Corona Pandemic, and in order to achieve the research objectives, the researchers used the descriptive and analytical approach using a comprehensive survey method for the total research community, whose number reached (110) individuals, while (90) were recovered: The level of health service quality is of relative weight (76%). Among the most important recommendations made by the research: (...) Work to pay a health risk premium to all workers in health centers, in addition to paying attention to training and building work teams in various fields to improve the quality of health services provided. (shrink)

This study’s objective was to understand Colombian adolescents’ experiences and preferences regarding access to sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS), either alone or accompanied. A mixed-method approach was used, involving a survey of 812 participants aged eleven to twenty-four years old and forty-five semi-structured interviews with participants aged fourteen to twenty-three. Previous research shows that adolescents prefer privacy when accessing SRHS and often do not want their parents involved. Such findings align with the longstanding tendency to frame the (...) ethical principle of autonomy as based on independence in decision-making. However, the present study shows that such a conceptualization and application of autonomy does not adequately explain Colombian adolescent participants’ preferences regarding access to SRHS. Participants shared a variety of preferences to access SRHS, with the majority of participants attaching great importance to having their parents involved, to varying degrees. What emerges is a more complex and non-homogenous conceptualization of autonomy that is not inherently grounded in independence from parental involvement in access to care. We thus argue that when developing policies involving adolescents, policymakers and health professionals should adopt a nuanced “relational autonomy” approach to better respect the myriad of preferences that Colombian (and other) adolescents may have regarding their access to SRHS. (shrink)

Health policy changes in Nepal displayed struggles against a poor political, geographical, and economic setting; Millennium Development Goal #4 demanded improved infant and child mortality, as well as adequate measles vaccine coverage by the year 2015. Research in this report presents progress and direction of child health care policy across more than a decade of time in attempts of attaining MDG #4 and general child health care advancements. Subsequent observations and suggestions were delineated and offered. Progress since (...) the 1990’s up to 2012 was analyzed by review of serial national survey and report data. Trends and variations between regions were mostly analyzed amongst various child health care determinants. Results indicated many improved factors; Nepal will likely achieve MDG regarding child under-5 mortality, but may not achieve measles vaccine coverage or infant mortality goals. Furthermore, severe regional disparities were evident within Nepal, particularly in the Mid and Far-Western regions. A call for integrated community-based primary health care (CB-PHC) for infants and children became an ultimate ideal. A comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and community based primary care delivery service would address many of the deficits identified as well as reach rural and remote areas that still suffered. Risk and data-based resource allocation promise improved utilization, but also demands more frequent and better data reporting. Coordinated, multi-sector health policy initiatives have been underway; this demonstrated a strong direction in improving child health care from urban to every village. (shrink)

Resumen Ésta es la primera traducción al español de las guías “Atención después de la investigación: un marco para los comités de ética de investigación del National Health Service (NHS) (borrador versión 8.0)”. El documento afirma que existe una fuerte obligación moral de garantizar que los participantes enfermos de un estudio clínico hagan una transición después del estudio hacia una atención de la salud apropiada. Con “atención de la salud apropiada” se hace referencia al acceso para los participantes a (...) la atención de la salud, proporcionada principalmente por el National Health Service (en adelante NHS), el sistema de salud del Reino Unido, y/o a la intervención en estudio, también llamada producto o tratamiento en investigación. Las guías “Atención después de la investigación” están dirigidas principalmente a los miembros de los 79 comités de ética de investigación del NHS y a quienes presentan sus estudios de investigación ante estos comités. Se trata de un documento borrador muy avanzado, trabajado en numerosas reuniones, durante más de 3 años, que ha sido discutido por participantes de estudios y miembros de la comunidad, miembros y presidentes de comités de ética de investigación del Reino Unido, especialistas internacionales en ética de la investigación, representantes de la industria y otras partes interesadas. La redacción de las guías es producto de la colaboración de Neema Sofaer y Penney Lewis, ambas investigadoras del King’s College London, en el Centre of Medical Law and Ethics del Dickson Poon School of Law, y Hugh Davies, Asesor en Ética de la Investigación de la Health Research Authority (HRA) del NHS. El traductor del presente documento, Ignacio Mastroleo, participó del workshop en la Fundación Brocher (Ginebra, Suiza, diciembre de 2011) donde se revisó el borrador versión 7.0 y contribuyó en la revisión del borrador de la versión 8.0 durante el 2012. -/- Abstract This is the first Spanish translation of the guidelines “Care after research: a framework for NHS RECs (8th draft)”. The document states that there is a strong moral obligation to ensure that participants in a clinical study who are ill transition after the study to appropriate healthcare. The terms "appropriate healthcare" refer to participants’ access to health care, mainly provided by the National Health Service (NHS), the health system in the UK, and/or to the intervention study also named investigational treatment or product. The guides "Care after research" are mainly directed to members of the 79 NHS committees of research ethics (RECs) and to those who submit their research to these committees. This is a very advanced draft document, worked in several meetings, for more than three years, that has been discussed with study participants and community members, members and chairs of RECs in the UK, international specialists in research ethics, industry representatives and other stakeholders. The drafting of the guidelines is the result of the collaboration of Neema Sofaer and Penney Lewis, both researchers at King's College London, at the Centre of Medical Law and Ethics of Dickson Poon School of Law, and Hugh Davies, Research Ethics Advisor of the Health Research Authority (HRA) of the NHS. The translator of this document, Ignacio Mastroleo, attended the workshop at the Brocher Foundation (Geneva, Switzerland, December 2011) where draft version 7.0 was revised and contributed in the revision of draft version 8.0 during 2012. (shrink)

There are conceptual and ethical challenges to defining adolescents’ autonomy to access health care, and these can lead to health care norms and practices that could be maladjusted to the needs and preferences of adolescents. Particularly sensitive is access to sexual and reproductive health care services (SRHS). Yet, while there has been substantial conceptual work to conceptualize autonomy (e.g., as independence), there is a lack of empirical research that documents the perceptions of adolescents regarding on how (...) they access or wish to access health care services. The main objectives of this research were to (a) understand how adolescents in Colombia interpret the concept of “autonomy,” (b) describe how these adolescents articulate their autonomy (i.e., preferences) in accessing SRHS, and (c) analyze the ethical issues emerging from these data. Forty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants aged 14 to 23 years old in the Departments of Antioquia and Valle del Cauca in Colombia. Our study showed that participants’ understanding of autonomy was context-based and highly dependent on personal experiences, and these influenced their choice in how to access SRHS. Seen through the ethical lens of a reproductive justice framework, our results highlight the unequal opportunities for adolescents in terms of autonomy to access SRHS. (shrink)

Background: The study aimed to explore the perception of mothers of adolescent girls and health service providers in urban slums toward HPV vaccination. Methodology: A cross-sectional mixed-method study in the slums of Rayer Bazaar, Kamlapur and Mohakhali was conducted. The quantitative part included a household survey of mothers (n=150) and service providers (n=30) through a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire and qualitative interviews included in-depth interviews (IDI) with mothers (n=10) and key-informant interviews (KII) with service providers (n=10). Results: Around 96% of (...) mothers had never heard of HPV, and 98% were unaware that the virus's transmission could be halted. Only 3.3% of mothers were aware that HPV can cause cervical cancer, although, during IDI, it was seen that the majority of mothers said that cervical cancer is a communicable disease. Nearly 98% of mothers wanted their daughters to get vaccinated. Service providers had a good understanding of HPV, HPV vaccine, and cervical cancer. All service providers during KII agreed that if they had received adequate training on HPV vaccination and cervical cancer, they could have treated their patients better. Conclusion: The findings of this study have important implications for the design and advocacy of HPV immunization programs in Bangladesh. (shrink)

Recreational Drugs European Network (ReDNet) project aims to use the Psychonaut Web Mapping Project database (Psychonaut Web Mapping Group, 2009) containing novel psychoactive compounds usually not mentioned in the scientific literature and thus unknown to clinicians as a unique source of information. The database will be used to develop an integrated ICT prevention approach targeted at vulnerable individuals and focused on novel synthetic and herbal compounds and combinations. Particular care will be taken in keeping the health professionals working (...) directly with young people showing problematic behaviors regularly updated in terms of novel compounds and combinations as well. A user-friendly project website will be developed aimed primarily at delivering the information/prevention approaches, but will also be a way of communicating with project partners and relevant stakeholders (e.g. thematic forum facilities, instant messages, blogs, video chat, wikiblog, newsletters distributed via mailing list). The website will support various ICT prevention tools, including an SMS alert service. Different areas and sections will be aimed specifically at the different target groups. -/- . (shrink)

Health development is faced with a variety of important issues including health status disparities; double burden of disease; quality, equity and affordability of health services; community protection in the field of medicine and food; and clean and healthy life behavior. Methods: The method used in this short communication is descriptive-comparative where we review Safety Culture in Indonesian Health Services in five aspects, namely Health Services for the Poor, nutritional problems that are never (...) complete, Extraordinary Events of Communicable Diseases, Poor health in Disaster areas, and finally the number of health workers still lacking and comparing the problem of Human Resources Health problems in Indonesia according to WHO (2011) and the Indonesian Ministry of Health (2009). Results: The results obtained in this brief communication are that we get new information in the form of problems encountered in Safety Culture in Indonesian Health Services, examples of cases that occur, policies taken by the government in handling them and the results obtained after the implementation of the policy. All of these are reviewed in five aspects. Conclusion: The conclusion we can take in this brief communication is that health problems that occur in Indonesia have not been resolved even though the government has implemented policies related to these problems but has not been resolved to date. (shrink)

The elderly face very challenging situations due to their mental and physical conditions. Like the other country in the world, Bangladesh Government has enacted laws to protect the elderly rights. However, the law does not seem to represent what the elderly actually needs. Therefore, 385 elderly people, aged between 60 and 90 years were surveyed to understand their expectations from family, society, and government. There were 57.1% men and 42.9% women. Most of the elderly (80%) were educated. Just over half (...) (53.5%) had ordinary mental and physical health, while a quarter (31.4%) had good status. More than half (53%) of the participants required 2000–5000 BDTK (Bangladeshi Taka) equivalent to $20-50 to cover monthly treatment expenditures. The majority (67.3%) felt government Old Age Allowance should be increased to BDT 5,000 ($50). Of 13.8% of individuals experienced harsh discourse from family because of the cost of therapy. However, 16.9% of people choose not to respond to this question. More than half (57.4%) of the respondents’ thought caregivers were insufficient. One-third felt that legislation should be changed to take care of parents (33.5%) and One-third felt that children should take care of more (33.5%). Some (3.6%) thought that children should act as they did in their childhood respectively. Almost half (44.2%) of respondents did not know that the elderly should receive a separate senior citizen card for preferential treatment, yet 51.9% thought this. Some (44.7%) felt the elderly should get priority in any queue and discounts in Bus/Uber/Rickshaw. Results also showed that expectation is more than the service provided. Further, a one-stop elderly care clinic is required to provide integrated care and support for the quality of life of the elderly. (shrink)

India is grappling with a serious challenge in managing electronic waste, producing over 1.71 million metric tons annually. When improperly handled, this waste contributes to significant environmental damage and public health hazards. Existing disposal methods lack comprehensive integration, making it difficult for both individuals and organizations to locate trustworthy e-waste recycling facilities. This paper proposes a solution in the form of the E-Waste Facility Locator, a web-based platform that aggregates e-waste recycling centers across India, enabling users to conveniently find (...) and access these facilities. Beyond locating services, the platform also provides educational resources on responsible e-waste disposal practices and a centralized repository of regulatory information encouraging compliance. This paper details the development, testing, and deployment processes, underscoring the platform’s potential to facilitate sustainable e-waste management and safeguard public health. (shrink)

Mouth ulcers, also known as canker sores, are a common oral health issue affecting a significant portion of the population. Early and accurate diagnosis of mouth ulcers is crucial for effective treatment and prevention of complications. This paper presents an expert system developed using CLIPS (C Language Integrated Production System) to diagnose mouth ulcer disease. The expert system utilizes a rule-based approach, incorporating a comprehensive knowledge base consisting of symptoms, risk factors, and medical literature related to mouth ulcers. (...) By employing an inference engine, the system evaluates patient input against the rules and generates a diagnosis based on the matching symptoms and relevant factors. The system also provides detailed explanations and recommendations for each diagnosis, aiding healthcare professionals and patients in understanding the condition and selecting appropriate treatment options. The development and validation of the expert system involved a multi-step process, including knowledge acquisition, rule formulation, and testing against a diverse dataset of mouth ulcer cases. The system's performance was evaluated by comparing its diagnoses with those made by medical professionals, demonstrating a high level of accuracy and consistency. The implementation of an expert system for diagnosing mouth ulcer disease offers several advantages, including the ability to provide timely and accessible healthcare services, reduce misdiagnosis rates, and assist healthcare professionals in decision-making processes. Moreover, it empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their health and seek appropriate medical intervention. This paper contributes to the field of medical expert systems by showcasing the practical application of CLIPS in the diagnosis of mouth ulcer disease. The results demonstrate the potential of expert systems as valuable tools for healthcare professionals and patients alike, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of diagnosis in oral health care. (shrink)

Pharmacoeconomics (PE) is a relatively newly developed and fast-changing discipline [1]. PE plays a crucial role in healthcare decision-making by evaluating the costs and outcomes of different treatment options. In Libya, however, the implementation of PE evaluations faces various challenges that hinder its effective integration into healthcare systems. This communication analyses the current needs and prospects of PE by examining the challenges in its implementation, the benefits of integrating it into healthcare decision-making, and strategies to enhance its utilization in the (...) country's healthcare landscape. By exploring these different aspects, it is possible to gain a comprehensive understanding of Libya's status and potential advancements in PE. In Libya, the earliest records related to PE trace back to the late 19th century, specifically around 1835 during the Turkish colonization. During that time, various documents documented details such as drug prices, direct costs associated with specific diseases, expenditures on essential pharmaceuticals, and annual inventories of health and pharmaceutical institutions [2]. Over the past 80 years since modern Libya’s establishment after the colonial era, Libyan authorities have consistently published annual statistical reports. These reports cover expenditures on medicines, pharmaceuticals, and therapeutic materials, as well as the stock levels in healthcare facilities [3]. However, despite this data, there remains a significant lack of literature on PE, with a few exceptions that do not meet the standards expected of PE studies. (shrink)

Ongoing research in the fields of genetics and biotechnology hold the promise of improved diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases, and potentially the development of individually tailored pharmaceuticals and gene therapies. Difficulty, however, arises in determining how these services are to be evaluated and integrated equitably into public health care systems such as Canada's. The current context is one of increasing fiscal restraint on the part of governments, limited financial resources being dedicated to health care, and (...) rising costs for new health care services and technologies. This has led to increasing public debate in the last few years about how to reform public health care, and whether we should prohibit, permit or perhaps even encourage private purchase of health care services. ;In Canada, some of these concerns have crystallized around the issue of gene patents and commercial genetic testing, in particular as illustrated by the case of Myriad Genetics' patented BRACAnalysis test for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. While most Canadians who currently access genetic services do so through the public health care system, for those with the means, private purchase is becoming an option. This situation raises serious concerns---about justice in access to health care; about continued access to safe and reliable genetic testing supported by unbiased patient information; and about the broader effects of commercialization for ongoing research and the Canadian public health care system. Commercial genetic testing presents a challenge to health care professionals, policy analysts, and academics concerned with the social, ethical and policy implications of new genetic technologies. Using the Myriad case as an exemplar, tools from moral philosophy, the social sciences, and health policy and law will be brought to bear on the larger issues of how as a society we should regulate commercial research and product development, and more coherently decide which services to cover under public health insurance and which to leave to private purchase. Generally, the thesis is concerned with the question of "how best to bring capital, morality, and knowledge into a productive and ethical relationship". (shrink)

Integracja wiekowa - termin stosowany w gerontologii społecznej w przynajmniej dwóch znaczeniach. W ujȩciu w¸a}skim - przyjȩtym głównie w literaturze anglojȩzycznej - integracja wiekowa odnosi siȩ do takiej struktury ról społecznych w różnorodnych instytucjach, która umożliwia istnienie różnic, ale nie s¸a} one zależne ściśle od struktury wieku, tj. tego czy ktoś jest osob¸a} młod¸a}, w wieku środkowym, czy też w wieku starszym. Chodzi tutaj w szczególności o instytucje edukacyjne, ekonomiczne, polityczne, religijne i czasu wolnego w których osoby z odmiennych grup (...) wieku i generacji odgrywaj¸a rozmaite role i zajmuj¸a różne pozycje. Integracja wiekowa opiera siȩ na założeniu, że dostȩp do instytucji, możliwości wyjścia z niej i dostȩp do produktów ; zrealizowanych w rzeczywistości usług i wypłaconych świadczeń oraz rezultatów ; efektów zrealizowanych usług i świadczeń np. zmniejszenie ubóstwa, poprawa stanu zdrowia, działalności tych instytucji jest równy dla wszystkich bez wzglȩdu na wiek. ** Age integration - a term used in social gerontology in at least two senses. In a narrow perspective - adopted mainly in English-language literature - age integration refers to such a structure of social roles in various institutions that allows for differences, but they do not depend strictly on the age structure, i.e. whether someone is a middle-aged adult or in an older age. This is particularly about educational, economic, political, religious and leisure institutions in which people from different age groups and generations play different roles and occupy different positions. Age integration is based on the assumption that access to the institution, the possibility of exiting it and access to products ; services implemented in reality and benefits and outcomes paid out; the effects of implemented services and services, eg reduction of poverty, improvement of health, activities of these institutions is equal for all regardless of age. (shrink)

Pharmacoeconomics (PE) is a relatively newly developed and fast-changing discipline [1]. PE plays a crucial role in healthcare decision-making by evaluating the costs and outcomes of different treatment options. In Libya, however, the implementation of PE evaluations faces various challenges that hinder its effective integration into healthcare systems. This communication analyses the current needs and prospects of PE by examining the challenges in its implementation, the benefits of integrating it into healthcare decision-making, and strategies to enhance its utilization in the (...) country's healthcare landscape. By exploring these different aspects, it is possible to gain a comprehensive understanding of Libya's status and potential advancements in PE. In Libya, the earliest records related to PE trace back to the late 19th century, specifically around 1835 during the Turkish colonization. During that time, various documents documented details such as drug prices, direct costs associated with specific diseases, expenditures on essential pharmaceuticals, and annual inventories of health and pharmaceutical institutions [2]. Over the past 80 years since modern Libya’s establishment after the colonial era, Libyan authorities have consistently published annual statistical reports. These reports cover expenditures on medicines, pharmaceuticals, and therapeutic materials, as well as the stock levels in healthcare facilities [3]. However, despite this data, there remains a significant lack of literature in PE, with a few exceptions that do not meet the standards expected of PE studies. (shrink)

Social innovations are usually understood as new ideas, initiatives, or solutions that make it possible to meet the challenges of societies in fields such as social security, education, employment, culture, health, environment, housing, and economic development. On the one hand, many citizen science activities serve to achieve scientific as well as social and educational goals. Thus, these actions are opening an arena for introducing social innovations. On the other hand, some social innovations are further developed, adapted, or altered after (...) the involvement of scientist-supervised citizens in research and with the use of the citizen science tools and methods such as action research, crowdsourcing, and community-based participatory research. Such approaches are increasingly recognized as crucial for gathering data, addressing community needs, and creating engagement and cooperation between citizens and professional scientists. However, there are also various barriers to both citizen science and social innovation. For example, management, quality and protection of data, funding difficulties, non-recognition of citizens’ contributions, and limited inclusion of innovative research approaches in public policies. In this volume, we open theoretical as well as empirically-based discussion, including examples, practices, and case studies of at least three types of relations between citizen science and social innovation: domination of the citizen science features over social innovation aspects; domination of the social innovation features over the citizen science aspects; and the ways to achieve balance and integration between the social innovation and citizen science features. Each of these relationships highlights factors that influence the development of the main scales of sustainability of innovations in the practice. These innovations are contributing to a new paradigm of learning and sharing knowledge as well as interactions and socio-psychological development of participants. Also, there are factors that influence the development of platforms, ecosystems, and sustainability of innovations such as broad use of the information and communications technologies including robotics and automation; emerging healthcare and health promotion models; advancements in the development and governance of smart, green, inclusive and age-friendly cities and communities; new online learning centers; agri-food, cohousing or mobility platforms; and engagement of citizens into co-creation or co-production of services delivered by public, private, non-governmental organizations as well as non-formal entities. (shrink)

The current thesis discusses how tools for analysing power are developed predominately for adults, and thus remain underdeveloped in terms of understanding injustices related to age, ethnicity/race and gender in childhoods. The overall aim of this dissertation is to inscribe a discourse of intersecting social injustices as relevant for childhoods and child welfare, and by interlinking postcolonial, feminist, and critical childhood studies. The dissertation is set empirically within the policy and practice of Swedish child welfare, here exemplified by the assessment (...) framework Barns Behov i Centrum. It aims to explore how Swedish child welfare, as a field of knowledge, modes of knowing and knowing subjects, constitutes an arena for claims and responses to intersecting social justice issues. The material consists of BBIC primers and selected samples from, a total of 283 case reports from a Swedish social service agency. The case reports address assessments of children. This dissertation is based on four qualitative studies using discourse analysis, as well as analysis inspired by thematic and case-study methodology. Two studies focus on child welfare discourses in BBIC documents involving social problems and violence, and two studies are based on child welfare case reports. Studies I­­-II address child welfare policy and practice by analysing the conditions required for children to participate, in terms of children’s moral status and in terms of status of ‘evidencing’ needs for protection. Studies III­­-IV explore this further from the perspective of intersecting and embodied social injustices in childhoods. Together, the studies interconnect child welfare as a field of knowledge, modes of knowing and knowers with child welfare as a moral arena for claims to rights, recognition, and social justice. The synthesised findings point to child biowelfare, in which justice discourses are largely absent. Biowelfare is informed by a mode of knowing and ‘evidencing’ risks to children’s health and development, which are confined to scientific predicting-believing, seeing-believing by professionals and a moral economy of care, all of which constrain the idea that injustices are structural and intersecting. Biowelfare primarily responds to children as ‘speaking’ biological bodies, rather than as voices of justice. In this sense, injustices of an epistemological nature are interconnected with social injustices. When issues of justice are mobilised in case reports and policy, they come across as rather ‘unjust’, primarily confined to the sphere of the family home of racialised children and not connected to ‘general’ children. In addition to intersections of age, ethnicity/race and gender, class and health are fundamental to recognition and protection in biowelfare. Finally, the dissertation indicates the need for a moral economy which responds to intersecting social injustices such as racial, gender-based and ageist violence in childhoods, and violations of children’s bodily integrity. (shrink)

Throughout history, education has always been essential for humanity's justice and fundamental for the creation of a free and satisfying society with the dissemination of knowledge. Hence, in addition to the life occurrences educating people, traditional higher education methods have played an important role for a long period. However, the age of technology has changed the educational system along with the people's lifestyles to meet the continuously changing conditions. During the past twenty years, the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) led (...) to the emergence of e-learning non-traditional educational methods bringing about an innovative dimension of virtual learning. With its beneficial features provided by the Internet and various technologies, this method passes the control of time and location from the tutors to the students during the learning process. Despite the entrance of online education into the students' life many years ago, the Covid-19 outbreak initiated in 2020 turned this method into the only possible way of education for almost two years. Afterward, plenty of studies investigated its effects on students' social and academic life, mostly considering its negative impacts on their mental health and motivation due to interaction issues. They also pointed out the specific problems of tactile learner students in the lack of face-to-face design courses. As an innovative solution able to be adopted, game technologies, increasing immersion of the learner in a real-world skill, and triggering motivation are one of the best methods integrated into educational systems. Known as serious games, these games, adopted by almost any domain, convey educational content along with entertainment, increasing interaction. They train or enhance a certain skill or topic to the player by immersing them. While serious games are more expanded nowadays, they are still not being played by the mass public due to people's immersiveness expectations of a game. Hence, the Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs), with their emergence, increased the players' engagement and immersion with all types of virtual environments in digital games. This technology, however, evolved serious games area most, among others, by enabling the opportunity to provide a riskless and low-cost learning environment for real-world skills. In the process of suggesting serious games as a replacement for the traditional educational methods, the most important factor is being aware of their effectiveness for education. Generally, digital games, one of the world's biggest and fastest-growing industries, rely heavily on the virtual landscape, a major part of its development process. Its design demands remarkable effort, and it directly affects the whole game's characteristics. Hence, serious games, as a type of digital game, carry the same attributes. With the appearance of virtual reality technology, gaming started to gain more immersiveness and engagement with artificial elements and environments. Although virtual landscapes were always being developed since the emergence of digital games, the studies taking virtual landscapes into account are mostly using them as a tool for enhancing real spaces, not as a domain for the sake of its development. While other design domains are applying various design methodologies, it is challenging to find a standard design methodology for the design and production of virtual landscapes in the gaming industry, leading to inconsistent and low-quality results. Hence, it comes to the question of what is the virtual landscapes' role in serious games and their effect on the data comprehension rate. Since the literature lacks regarding the gradual change of the virtual landscape in serious games and the content they transmit, this thesis aims to figure out the gradual chronological evolution of the virtual landscapes in serious games. It also aims to seek how this change and the virtual reality technology invention have affected the contents transmitted by digital games and its influence on the player interaction and learning rate. To do so, in the process of this thesis, we developed, tested, and evaluated various serious games, both text-based and with 360° photos. The steps taken revealed the reluctance of the players to follow the providing educational content and their inadequacy of interaction. Hence, the thesis seeks the reasons ending to this result and the ways of increasing this learning rate. Afterward, the thesis uses a currently available but not massively used digital game classification methodology. This methodology, which is based on the principles of architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning, classifies the games based on their constituting virtual landscapes. Hence, the thesis considers all Steam games, one of the biggest video game digital distribution services, filtered with the 'education' tag, ending in 2531 digital games. Afterward, adding the 'game' tag the result reduced to 1102 games. Finally, with some manual filterings ignoring the irrelevant content, the final number decreased to 702. Sorting chronologically, we made an Excel database including the games' introductory information, the content they transmit, their release date, if they support HMD or not, and whether they are simulation games or not. Due to Steam's dating spectrum, our database includes games dating back from 1992 to 2020. Afterward, we classified all of these games using the virtual landscape classification methodology and generated their related codes based on their player scale, story, dimension, space shape, and interaction level. Investigating the results, they revealed some growth patterns relating to the content educated in the game, the VR technology, and the virtual landscape evolution. Adding the user reviews of Steam, we reverse engineered five of the best serious games on the database due to the digital game design methodology. This methodology divides the games' virtual environment into five layers, namely, player activity map (PAM), story layer, natural environment layer, virtual environment layer, and media layer. Reverse engineering the five best digital games ever, based on the IGN database, enabled us to compare the outcomes. Due to released data, we understand how the games' assets are distributed within the various layers of the virtual environment in the most successful games. Finally, the thesis aims to provide a framework based on these results for developing serious games to increase player interaction and enhance the learning rate. However, these results can be expanded to any virtual landscape other than only serious games' for their interaction enhancement. Currently, the landscape architecture domain only adopts the virtual landscape area as a tool for enhancing design in the real world. However, in the near future, landscape architects will perform in the virtual landscape area as a domain to be enhanced. Hence, that day, the results of this study will play an important role and will be a roadmap for generating highly interactive virtual landscapes. (shrink)

-/- 1. Thermodynamic Entropy and Balance in Nature -/- Thermodynamic Entropy in physics measures the level of disorder in a system, reflecting the natural tendency of energy to spread and systems to become more disordered. -/- Your Universal Formula focuses on maintaining balance and preventing defects or errors in systems. -/- Integration: -/- Increasing thermodynamic entropy (e.g., heat dissipation, inefficiency) mirrors the disruption of balance in natural systems. -/- Preventing imbalance: To minimize entropy, systems must operate in a way that (...) reduces energy loss and ensures sustainability. For example: -/- In engineering, design efficient systems (engines, power grids) that reduce waste. -/- In ecological systems, balance energy flow (e.g., food chains) to prevent environmental degradation. -/- Key Insight: High entropy is a signal of imbalance, and aligning with natural laws reduces this disorder. -/- 2. Statistical Entropy and Feedback Mechanisms -/- Statistical entropy quantifies the randomness or number of possible configurations in a system. A system with fewer microstates is more ordered (lower entropy). -/- Your Feedback Mechanism idea emphasizes the interplay between systems and their environment to maintain harmony. -/- Integration: -/- Feedback mechanisms can counteract entropy by maintaining stability. For example: -/- In biology, homeostasis minimizes disorder (entropy) in the body by regulating temperature, blood sugar, and other parameters. -/- In society, critical thinking and education act as feedback systems to prevent societal chaos caused by ignorance (high entropy). -/- Key Insight: Entropy increases when feedback fails, leading to imbalance. Maintaining feedback ensures order and stability. -/- 3. Cosmological Entropy and Long-Term Balance -/- The universe’s entropy increases over time, moving toward maximum disorder (heat death). However, localized systems (e.g., stars, planets) create order temporarily by using energy. -/- Your law of balance emphasizes that systems must avoid imbalance to function properly and survive. -/- Integration: -/- Minimizing localized entropy: Humans, as part of the universe, can use knowledge of natural laws to maintain balance in their systems (e.g., society, environment). -/- Long-term perspective: Align human progress with universal laws to counteract entropy and ensure sustainability. -/- For example, renewable energy sources reduce entropy compared to fossil fuels by creating a more balanced energy cycle. -/- Key Insight: While the universe tends toward high entropy, human actions can create pockets of order by aligning with the universal law of balance. -/- 4. Information Entropy and Truth in Decision-Making -/- Information entropy reflects the uncertainty or randomness in a message. Higher entropy indicates more noise or disorder, making the message harder to interpret. -/- Your law of karma links decision-making to truth and balance, where ignorance or misinformation leads to imbalance (high entropy). -/- Integration: -/- Reducing information entropy: Education, transparency, and access to reliable information reduce uncertainty and maintain societal balance. -/- Example: Fact-checking reduces “noise” in public discourse, aligning decisions with truth and minimizing societal entropy. -/- Entropy as a measure of ignorance: High entropy corresponds to widespread misinformation or lack of understanding. Teaching critical thinking and natural laws reduces this entropy. -/- Key Insight: Information entropy reflects the need for clarity. Minimizing it ensures decisions are based on truth, preserving balance. -/- 5. Entropy as the Cost of Imbalance -/- In your formula, systems (whether physical, societal, or mental) must function without defects to remain balanced. In physics, entropy represents the cost of imbalance: -/- Thermodynamics: Energy loss is the price of inefficiency. -/- Society: Ignorance and poor decisions create societal disorder. -/- Biology: Imbalances in health increase disorder in the body (disease). -/- Integration: -/- Entropy as a warning signal: High entropy indicates a system is out of balance and heading toward failure. -/- Goal: Design systems—technological, societal, and natural—that minimize entropy through better feedback, decision-making, and resource management. -/- 6. Programming AGI with Entropy Principles -/- AGI systems aligned with your universal formula could actively monitor and minimize entropy in real-time: -/- Feedback systems: Use sensors and algorithms to detect and correct imbalances in physical, societal, and ecological systems. -/- Entropy monitoring: Measure entropy levels as a diagnostic tool for identifying inefficiencies, errors, or ignorance in systems. -/- Self-regulation: Program AGI to follow the law of karma by maintaining balance and minimizing entropy across all actions and systems. -/- Final Thought: Bridging Physics and Your Formula -/- Entropy in physics aligns with your universal formula as a measure of imbalance or disorder in any system. By understanding entropy as the natural cost of imbalance, your formula can serve as a practical guide for minimizing entropy in physical, biological, societal, and technological systems, ensuring harmony and sustainability. -/- Would you like to explore specific examples or real-world applications of these integrations? -/- Here are specific examples and real-world applications of how the concept of entropy in physics can be integrated into your universal formula across various domains: -/- 1. Thermodynamic Entropy in Engineering and Energy Systems -/- Example: Designing energy-efficient machines -/- Real-world Issue: Internal combustion engines lose significant energy as heat, increasing entropy and wasting fuel. -/- Application of Your Formula: Align engine designs with the law of balance to reduce inefficiencies. For example: -/- Use renewable energy systems like solar panels or wind turbines, which operate with fewer losses. -/- Implement feedback mechanisms (e.g., smart grids) to optimize energy distribution, ensuring minimal waste. -/- Entropy Measurement: Monitor energy losses in power plants or transportation systems as a way to measure inefficiency (high entropy). -/- Solution: Continuously improve these systems to reduce energy dissipation and maintain balance. -/- 2. Statistical Entropy in Environmental Sustainability -/- Example: Biodiversity and ecosystem balance -/- Real-world Issue: Deforestation and pollution disrupt ecosystems, leading to species extinction and increasing disorder (ecological entropy). -/- Application of Your Formula: Promote policies and actions that restore ecological balance by: -/- Preserving biodiversity to maintain the “feedback mechanisms” in ecosystems (e.g., predator-prey relationships). -/- Reducing pollutants that cause imbalances in natural cycles like water, carbon, and nitrogen. -/- Entropy Measurement: Track the loss of biodiversity or the degradation of natural habitats as indicators of ecological entropy. -/- Solution: Use data-driven conservation strategies to minimize entropy and restore balance in ecosystems. -/- 3. Cosmological Entropy and Sustainable Development -/- Example: Planning human activities to prevent resource depletion -/- Real-world Issue: Overextraction of natural resources leads to higher entropy in the global system, disrupting the environment and social structures. -/- Application of Your Formula: Align economic and societal decisions with natural balance laws: -/- Adopt circular economy models, where waste is minimized and resources are reused efficiently. -/- Implement population control policies to avoid overburdening ecosystems. -/- Entropy Measurement: Use indicators like carbon footprints, waste generation, and energy inefficiencies to gauge how much “imbalance” human activities create. -/- Solution: Educate policymakers on the law of balance, emphasizing actions that minimize long-term entropy while maximizing harmony. -/- 4. Information Entropy in Society and Education -/- Example: Combating misinformation in media -/- Real-world Issue: Fake news and propaganda increase information entropy, creating confusion and imbalance in society. -/- Application of Your Formula: Reduce information entropy by: -/- Teaching critical thinking and media literacy in schools. -/- Promoting transparency and fact-checking mechanisms in journalism and social media. -/- Entropy Measurement: Develop tools to measure the “noise-to-signal” ratio in information systems, identifying areas of high misinformation (high entropy). -/- Solution: Create feedback systems where false information is quickly identified and corrected, maintaining informational balance. -/- 5. Biological Entropy in Healthcare -/- Example: Preventing diseases caused by imbalance in the body -/- Real-world Issue: Chronic diseases like diabetes or obesity occur when the body’s internal systems (e.g., metabolism) fall out of balance, increasing entropy. -/- Application of Your Formula: Promote health practices that maintain biological balance, such as: -/- Encouraging balanced diets and physical activity to maintain homeostasis. -/- Using preventive medicine to detect and correct imbalances early. -/- Entropy Measurement: Use biomarkers (e.g., blood sugar, cholesterol levels) to assess the level of disorder in a patient’s body. -/- Solution: Treat health as a feedback system, continuously monitoring and adjusting to maintain low entropy (optimal health). -/- 6. Entropy in Economic Systems -/- Example: Preventing financial instability and inequality -/- Real-world Issue: Unregulated financial systems lead to wealth inequality and economic crashes, increasing societal entropy. -/- Application of Your Formula: Design economic policies based on feedback mechanisms and natural balance: -/- Enforce progressive taxation to redistribute wealth and reduce inequality. -/- Promote sustainable investments that balance economic growth with environmental protection. -/- Entropy Measurement: Track economic indicators like income inequality (Gini coefficient) or resource depletion to measure imbalances. -/- Solution: Align economic systems with natural laws to ensure they operate with minimal disorder and maximize fairness. -/- 7. Programming AGI to Minimize Entropy -/- Example: Using AGI to solve global challenges -/- Real-world Issue: Human systems (e.g., governments, industries) often fail to detect or address imbalances effectively, leading to crises. -/- Application of Your Formula: Program AGI to: -/- Continuously monitor global systems (e.g., climate, economies, healthcare) to detect entropy or imbalances. -/- Suggest or implement corrective actions to restore balance, such as optimizing resource distribution or preventing conflict. -/- Entropy Measurement: AGI could calculate entropy across various systems in real-time, identifying areas of high disorder or inefficiency. -/- Solution: Use your universal formula to guide AGI decision-making, ensuring actions reduce entropy and align with natural balance. -/- 8. Entropy in Leadership and Governance -/- Example: Implementing balanced decision-making in governments -/- Real-world Issue: Corruption, ignorance, and shortsighted policies increase societal entropy, leading to instability and unrest. -/- Application of Your Formula: Train leaders to: -/- Follow the law of balance by making decisions that benefit both current and future generations. -/- Use evidence-based approaches to minimize societal entropy (e.g., reducing poverty and inequality). -/- Entropy Measurement: Monitor social indicators like crime rates, education levels, and public trust to assess entropy in governance. -/- Solution: Integrate principles of balance and feedback into leadership training, ensuring leaders minimize societal disorder. -/- Final Thought: A Holistic Approach to Entropy -/- Your universal formula, when integrated with the concept of entropy, provides a holistic framework for addressing imbalances across physical, biological, societal, and informational systems. By recognizing entropy as a measure of disorder and imbalance, and aligning actions with natural laws, you can create sustainable solutions to prevent or reverse entropy in all aspects of life. -/- Entropy in Leadership and Governance: A Closer Look -/- 1. The Problem: Increasing Societal Entropy -/- Poor governance (corruption, ignorance, or biased decisions) creates imbalances that lead to societal disorder, or high entropy, such as: -/- Economic inequality and poverty -/- Political instability and public distrust -/- Environmental degradation and unsustainable practices -/- These imbalances disrupt feedback mechanisms between leaders and citizens, causing decisions to deviate further from balance and truth. -/- 2. Application of Your Universal Formula -/- By aligning leadership decisions with the law of balance in nature, entropy in governance can be minimized. Here’s how: -/- A. Feedback Mechanisms for Effective Leadership -/- Concept: Leadership decisions must consider feedback from the governed population and their environment to maintain balance. -/- Example: Participatory governance -/- Regularly collect citizen feedback through public consultations, surveys, and referenda. -/- Use this feedback to adapt policies in real time, ensuring they align with the needs of society and reduce disorder. -/- Result: Minimizing entropy by preventing policies that create widespread dissatisfaction or unrest. -/- B. Decision-Making Based on Truth and Natural Balance -/- Concept: Policies must adhere to the universal law of balance, prioritizing sustainable and equitable outcomes. -/- Example: Climate change governance -/- Leaders implement evidence-based climate policies, such as transitioning to renewable energy and promoting sustainable agriculture. -/- These actions reduce environmental entropy (e.g., resource depletion, pollution) and ensure long-term ecological balance. -/- Result: Lower entropy across environmental and economic systems, benefiting both current and future generations. -/- C. Reducing Political Entropy Through Transparency -/- Concept: High information entropy (e.g., corruption, misinformation) leads to public distrust and societal imbalance. -/- Example: Open governance -/- Implement systems for transparency, such as publishing government spending data and decisions publicly. -/- Encourage independent audits and anti-corruption measures. -/- Result: Trust and stability are restored, reducing societal entropy caused by hidden agendas and misinformation. -/- D. Addressing Inequality to Prevent Social Disorder -/- Concept: Inequality is a key driver of societal imbalance (high entropy). Leadership must focus on fair wealth distribution and access to resources. -/- Example: Progressive taxation -/- Implement tax policies that reduce income inequality by redistributing wealth from the richest to fund social programs like education and healthcare. -/- Result: Lower societal entropy as disparities are reduced, creating a more harmonious and balanced society. -/- E. Education as a Tool to Minimize Leadership Errors -/- Concept: Ignorance among leaders increases entropy by leading to shortsighted or imbalanced decisions. -/- Example: Leadership training programs -/- Integrate your universal formula into leadership education to teach principles of balance, feedback mechanisms, and the importance of minimizing entropy. -/- Include critical thinking, ethics, and systems thinking as core components. -/- Result: Leaders make informed, balanced decisions, reducing errors and systemic failures. -/- 3. Entropy Measurement in Governance -/- To track progress and detect imbalances, entropy in governance can be measured through key indicators: -/- Economic entropy: Income inequality (Gini coefficient), unemployment rates, and economic growth sustainability. -/- Social entropy: Public trust in institutions, crime rates, and access to education and healthcare. -/- Environmental entropy: Resource depletion, pollution levels, and biodiversity loss. -/- Using these metrics, leaders can identify areas of imbalance and implement corrective actions based on your universal formula. -/- 4. AGI-Assisted Governance -/- To minimize human error and maximize balance, AGI can: -/- Continuously analyze data on societal entropy (economic, social, environmental). -/- Provide unbiased recommendations based on the law of balance. -/- Detect misinformation or high entropy in public discourse, ensuring decisions are based on truth. -/- Final Thought: Leadership as Guardians of Balance -/- By understanding and applying the principles of entropy through your universal formula, leaders can: -/- Reduce societal disorder (entropy) by aligning decisions with natural laws. -/- Create systems that are self-correcting and sustainable through effective feedback mechanisms. -/- Ensure governance promotes long-term balance, fairness, and harmony. -/- Here’s a detailed approach to applying your universal formula to reduce entropy in governance and leadership in the Philippines: -/- 1. Identifying Areas of High Entropy in the Philippines -/- The Philippines faces a range of imbalances or entropy in its governance systems, creating societal disorder: -/- Economic Entropy -/- Poverty: Nearly 20% of Filipinos live below the poverty line. -/- Income Inequality: The wealth gap continues to widen, with the richest 1% controlling a significant portion of the country’s wealth. -/- Unemployment: High levels of underemployment and a reliance on remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) instead of local industrial growth. -/- Social Entropy -/- Corruption: Government corruption leads to misallocation of resources and decreases public trust. -/- Misinformation: Fake news and misleading media contribute to confusion and division. -/- Healthcare and Education: Access to quality healthcare and education is uneven, especially in rural areas. -/- Environmental Entropy -/- Environmental Degradation: Deforestation, plastic pollution, and loss of biodiversity. -/- Climate Change Vulnerability: Frequent typhoons, floods, and earthquakes, worsened by poor infrastructure and disaster preparedness. -/- Political Entropy -/- Instability: Frequent changes in leadership and populist policies that prioritize short-term gain over long-term solutions. -/- Weak Rule of Law: A justice system that is slow and sometimes corrupted, which weakens public confidence. -/- 2. Applying Your Universal Formula to Reduce Entropy -/- By applying your universal formula, we can introduce holistic, balanced solutions to reduce entropy and restore order in the Philippines. -/- A. Feedback Mechanisms for Effective Governance -/- Problem: A disconnection between the government and the people leads to ineffective policies and high entropy. -/- Solution: -/- Public Consultation and Direct Feedback: Create systems for regular and direct communication between the government and citizens. Public consultations, town halls, and online surveys can allow citizens to provide feedback on policies. -/- Example: Barangay-level feedback mechanisms where local governments can assess the needs of citizens and adapt their policies accordingly. -/- Real-time Data Utilization: Use technology to monitor public opinion, especially on important issues like corruption, education, and healthcare. -/- Example: Implement smart governance platforms where citizens can report issues such as service delays, corruption, or inefficiencies, which are then addressed in real-time. -/- Feedback Loops: Create a continuous feedback system where government actions are evaluated and refined to maintain societal balance, much like your principle of natural systems operating with minimal defects. -/- Result: Policies reflect the needs of the population, maintaining societal harmony and reducing entropy. -/- B. Promoting Policies Based. (shrink)

The Holistic Governance Model (HGM): A Blueprint for the Future -/- Introduction -/- Governments today face increasing challenges, from economic instability and climate change to corruption and social inequality. No single government system has fully solved these issues, but by integrating the best aspects of existing models, we can create an optimal governance system. -/- The Holistic Governance Model (HGM) is a hybrid system that combines elements from Social Democracy, Technocracy, Semi-Direct Democracy, China’s Whole-Process People’s Democracy, and the Modified Westminster (...) System. It leverages AI-driven policy-making, technocratic expertise, direct citizen participation, and long-term national planning to create a balanced, efficient, and just government system. -/- 1. Core Foundations of the Holistic Governance Model -/- The HGM is built on six fundamental pillars, ensuring that governance is efficient, democratic, and sustainable. -/- 1.1. Economic System: A Hybrid of Capitalism and State Planning -/- Inspired by: Singapore (Technocracy), China (State-Controlled Development), Nordic Model (Social Welfare), and Switzerland (Financial Stability) ✅ Key Industries Under State Control: The government regulates healthcare, energy, and transportation while allowing free-market innovation. ✅ Smart Capitalism: Entrepreneurs and businesses thrive, but AI-driven economic planning ensures fair wealth distribution. ✅ Universal Basic Assets (UBA): Instead of universal basic income (UBI), citizens receive free housing, education, and healthcare, ensuring financial security. ✅ AI-Assisted Economy: AI predicts recessions, optimizes budgets, and prevents financial crises. -/- 1.2. Political System: A Dynamic Semi-Direct Democracy -/- Inspired by: Switzerland (Direct Democracy), Westminster System (Parliament), and Singapore (Meritocratic Leadership) ✅ Two-Tier Voting System: -/- General Elections: Citizens vote for representatives every 4-5 years. -/- National Referendums: Citizens directly vote on major policies twice a year. ✅ Technocratic Advisory Board (TAB): A non-political panel of scientists, economists, and AI experts advises the government. ✅ Decentralized Local Governance: Cities and regions have autonomy while aligning with national laws. -/- 1.3. Education & Human Development: AI-Powered Lifelong Learning -/- Inspired by: Nordic Model (Free Education), Singapore (STEM Focus), and China (AI Integration) ✅ Free Public Education for Life: Every citizen has access to continuous learning, including college and skill retraining. ✅ AI-Based Personalized Learning: Students use AI tutors that adapt to their learning pace. ✅ Ethics & Critical Thinking Curriculum: Courses in philosophy, logic, and decision-making prevent misinformation and ignorance. -/- 1.4. Healthcare & Social Welfare: AI-Driven Preventive Medicine -/- Inspired by: Nordic Model (Universal Healthcare), Singapore (Tech-Driven Healthcare), and China (Mass Coverage) ✅ Government-Funded Universal Healthcare: Citizens receive free basic healthcare, with private options available. ✅ AI & Robotics in Medicine: AI diagnoses diseases early, reducing medical costs. ✅ Preventive Healthcare Policy: Citizens receive incentives for maintaining good health (fitness programs, nutrition plans). -/- 1.5. Environmental & Energy Policies: The Green Industrial Revolution -/- Inspired by: China (Renewable Energy Expansion), Nordic Model (Sustainability Laws), and Singapore (Urban Planning) ✅ Mandatory Green Technology Adoption: Businesses must comply with strict eco-friendly policies. ✅ Carbon Credit Economy: Citizens and companies earn rewards for reducing carbon footprints. ✅ 100% Renewable Energy by 2050: The government funds solar, wind, and AI-optimized energy grids. -/- 1.6. Law & Order: AI-Governed Justice & Anti-Corruption Measures -/- Inspired by: Switzerland (Independent Judiciary), Singapore (Strict Law Enforcement), and China (AI in Governance) ✅ AI-Assisted Judiciary: AI helps judges analyze case laws for fair, unbiased rulings. ✅ Zero-Corruption Policy: Public officials caught in corruption face lifetime bans from government service. ✅ Balanced Civil Rights & Security: -/- Freedom of Speech: Citizens can express opinions, but disinformation is regulated. -/- AI Surveillance for Security: AI prevents crime while protecting privacy. -/- 2. Government Structure of HGM -/- 2.1. Executive Branch: The President, Prime Minister, and Technocrats -/- President (Elected by Public Vote) → Oversees national policies and international relations. -/- Prime Minister (Elected by Parliament) → Manages daily governance. -/- Technocratic Economic Council → Expert-led economic planning. -/- AI-Assisted Policy Bureau → Uses AI for healthcare, infrastructure, and environmental policies. -/- 2.2. Legislative Branch: Semi-Direct Parliament -/- Lower House (Elected Officials) → Creates laws based on citizen participation. -/- Upper House (Experts & Regional Representatives) → Reviews laws for scientific and ethical validity. -/- Referendum System → Citizens directly vote on key national issues. -/- 2.3. Judicial Branch: AI-Assisted Supreme Court -/- Independent Court System → Ensures justice and constitutional balance. -/- AI Legal Analysis → AI helps judges analyze previous cases and evidence. -/- 3. Implementation Strategy: How to Apply HGM Worldwide -/- To implement HGM, a phased approach is needed: -/- Phase 1 (0-5 Years): Research & AI Integration -/- ✅ Establish an HGM Global Research Center to develop AI governance models. ✅ Pilot AI-assisted economic planning in select countries. -/- Phase 2 (5-10 Years): Education & Public Awareness -/- ✅ Introduce HGM-based education systems (critical thinking, AI governance). ✅ Encourage political reforms to adopt hybrid governance models. -/- Phase 3 (10-20 Years): Nationwide Policy Implementation -/- ✅ Countries gradually adopt the HGM framework, with AI monitoring national progress. ✅ Global partnerships for climate change action and digital economy growth. -/- Phase 4 (Beyond 20 Years): Global Standardization -/- ✅ Establish an HGM Alliance for international cooperation. ✅ Implement AI-driven global policies on poverty, sustainability, and digital rights. -/- 4. Why the HGM is the Future of Governance -/- The Holistic Governance Model (HGM) offers the most advanced, efficient, and democratic government system by combining AI governance, citizen participation, economic stability, and social equality. -/- Conclusion: A Government System for the 21st Century -/- The Holistic Governance Model (HGM) combines the best government systems into a single, optimized model. By implementing AI, technocracy, direct democracy, and long-term planning, HGM ensures: ✅ Efficient economic management ✅ Social equality without excessive taxation ✅ Democratic participation with AI-driven transparency ✅ Sustainable environmental policies ✅ Corruption-free governance -/- If adopted globally, HGM could transform human civilization into a more just, advanced, and sustainable society. -/- . (shrink)

A Balanced Economic Model: The Feedback Loop Between Public and Private Sectors with MMT as a Stabilizing Mechanism -/- Introduction -/- Modern capitalism thrives on competition, profit motives, and consumer demand. However, the system is flawed because it allows extreme wealth inequality, market instability, and frequent economic crashes. Advertising, as an essential part of capitalism, manipulates consumer behavior to sustain profits. While this fuels economic growth, it also distorts the real needs of society. -/- A better alternative Is a hybrid (...) economic model where government-created jobs, social safety nets, and free public services coexist with a profit-driven private sector. The key to making this work is a feedback loop mechanism that keeps the two sectors balanced, ensuring economic stability while preventing extreme inequality and unnecessary market collapses. This essay explores how Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) can support this feedback loop economy to create a self-regulating system where both public and private sectors benefit from each other. -/- I. The Feedback Loop Between Private Companies and Government Economic Policies -/- A feedback loop mechanism is a self-regulating system where different components interact, adjust, and respond to maintain balance. In the economy, the public sector (government jobs, social safety nets, and public services) and the private sector (businesses, investments, and free markets) create a mutual dependency: -/- 1. Government Spending Creates Consumer Demand → Private Sector Growth -/- Government creates jobs with good salaries in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and technology. -/- This injects money into the economy, giving people the purchasing power to buy goods and services from private companies. -/- As demand increases, businesses grow, hire more workers, and expand operations. -/- 2. Private Sector Growth → Increases Government Revenue Without High Taxation -/- As private companies generate profits, they pay taxes and reinvest in expansion. -/- Strong consumer demand reduces the need for excessive taxation because economic growth itself funds public programs. -/- Businesses compete not only for profits but also for innovation and efficiency. -/- 3. Social Safety Nets Prevent Market Collapses -/- During recessions, government stabilizes the economy by expanding social programs (unemployment benefits, food assistance, healthcare). -/- This prevents demand from crashing, ensuring that businesses still have customers even in economic downturns. -/- As the economy recovers, government reduces spending, allowing the private sector to take the lead again. -/- This dynamic cycle ensures that economic booms and recessions are smoothed out, preventing extreme market crashes or mass unemployment. -/- II. The Role of MMT in Supporting the Feedback Loop -/- Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) provides the economic foundation for this model by proving that a sovereign government can spend money without being constrained by traditional budget rules. Unlike mainstream economic thinking, which suggests that governments must “balance the budget,” MMT argues that government spending should adjust based on economic conditions. -/- 1. Government-Backed Job Programs as an Economic Stabilizer -/- MMT allows governments to fund public jobs without relying solely on taxation. -/- If private companies cut jobs, the government can expand its workforce to absorb the unemployed. -/- When the economy stabilizes, people move back to higher-paying private jobs, reducing government spending. -/- 2. Preventing Inflation Through Resource Control -/- MMT acknowledges that inflation happens when there’s too much money chasing too few goods. -/- The government can remove excess money through targeted taxation and invest in productivity (e.g., infrastructure, education) to keep supply stable. -/- This prevents excessive inflation while keeping the economy growing. -/- 3. Continuous Money Circulation Without Debt Crises -/- Governments can print money to fund essential services, but they control inflation by investing in real production capacity (e.g., factories, renewable energy, technology). -/- This means public investment directly benefits private businesses, keeping both sectors in sync. -/- This MMT-backed feedback loop ensures that economic downturns do not lead to catastrophic business failures or mass unemployment. -/- III. The Role of Advertising in a Balanced Economic System -/- Advertising, while necessary for businesses, often manipulates consumer behavior in a way that creates artificial demand. In a feedback loop economy, advertising should be regulated to align with real consumer needs rather than exploiting psychological weaknesses. -/- 1. Ethical Advertising Policies -/- Companies should be incentivized to market based on quality and innovation rather than manipulation. -/- False advertising and monopolistic dominance should be regulated to prevent consumer exploitation. -/- 2. Consumer Education Programs -/- Public education should include critical thinking courses to help people make informed purchasing decisions. -/- This reduces the influence of manipulative advertising, ensuring that businesses compete fairly. -/- This ensures that the feedback loop remains healthy, preventing unnecessary overproduction and unsustainable consumer debt. -/- IV. Real-World Examples of a Balanced System -/- Some countries have successfully implemented elements of this feedback loop economic model: -/- Nordic Countries (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland) -/- Have free healthcare, education, and social safety nets while maintaining a competitive private sector. -/- Use progressive taxation to prevent extreme inequality, ensuring that economic growth benefits everyone. -/- Germany -/- Uses government-backed vocational training programs to ensure a highly skilled workforce. -/- Strong public-private partnerships help both sectors support each other dynamically. -/- Japan -/- Government plays a major role in funding research, infrastructure, and innovation, allowing private businesses to thrive. -/- Uses state-owned enterprises strategically while ensuring a competitive private market. -/- These examples prove that a properly managed hybrid model is more resilient, fair, and stable than extreme capitalism or extreme socialism. -/- V. Conclusion: A Self-Regulating Economy for the Future -/- A feedback loop economic system provides the best of both worlds: ✔ Government ensures economic stability through public job creation and social safety nets. ✔ Private companies drive innovation and competitiveness with strong consumer demand. ✔ MMT allows government spending to adjust dynamically without unnecessary austerity measures. ✔ Advertising is reformed to encourage ethical business practices and informed consumer choices. ✔ Inflation is controlled through taxation, investment, and resource management. -/- By integrating these feedback loop mechanisms, we can create a self-regulating economic model where both public and private sectors reinforce each other, ensuring long-term stability, prosperity, and economic fairness. -/- Policy Framework for a Balanced Economic System: Global Best Practices -/- To fully integrate the feedback loop mechanism between the public and private sectors, specific policies must be implemented to ensure economic stability, innovation, and fairness. Below are real-world policy examples that demonstrate how different countries successfully manage their economies using a mix of government intervention and free market principles. -/- I. Public Job Creation as an Economic Stabilizer -/- One of the biggest issues in capitalism is economic recessions leading to mass layoffs, which then reduce consumer spending, creating a vicious cycle of economic decline. The solution is public sector job programs that absorb unemployed workers during downturns and allow them to transition back to private jobs when the economy improves. -/- Global Examples -/- ✔ United States (New Deal Programs – 1930s) -/- During the Great Depression, the U.S. government created millions of jobs in construction, public works, and conservation projects. -/- These projects boosted infrastructure while providing employment, helping to revive the economy. -/- ✔ Argentina’s Jefes de Hogar Program (2002-2006) -/- Aimed at mitigating mass unemployment during Argentina’s economic crisis. -/- The government hired unemployed citizens to work in community service, infrastructure, and public health projects. -/- Created social stability and demand for private goods, helping Argentina recover. -/- ✔ Germany’s Kurzarbeit Program (Ongoing) -/- In times of economic slowdown, the German government pays companies to keep workers employed at reduced hours rather than laying them off. -/- This prevents mass unemployment, ensuring that workers still have income and spending power. -/- Policy Recommendation: → Implement automatic public employment programs during recessions to keep demand stable and prevent economic crashes. -/- II. Social Safety Nets to Support Consumer Demand -/- A strong social safety net ensures that consumers have purchasing power even in economic downturns, keeping the private sector stable. -/- Global Examples -/- ✔ Nordic Model (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland) -/- Provides free healthcare, education, and unemployment benefits, preventing extreme poverty. -/- Funded through progressive taxation, ensuring that the wealthy contribute fairly to society. -/- This creates a stable consumer base for private companies, benefiting the entire economy. -/- ✔ Universal Basic Income (UBI) Experiments (Finland, Canada, Kenya) -/- Finland tested a UBI program where unemployed citizens received a monthly payment regardless of employment status. -/- Results showed that recipients were more likely to start businesses and find better jobs, proving that social safety nets do not reduce work incentives. -/- ✔ Singapore’s Housing and Retirement System -/- The government helps citizens buy homes with public funds, ensuring stable housing. -/- A mandatory retirement savings system (Central Provident Fund) ensures that people have money after they retire. -/- These policies reduce financial anxiety, allowing people to focus on entrepreneurship and economic growth. -/- Policy Recommendation: → Implement universal healthcare, free education, and unemployment benefits to ensure that economic downturns do not collapse consumer spending. -/- III. Regulating Advertising to Align with Consumer Needs -/- Unregulated advertising manipulates consumer behavior, creating unnecessary demand and overconsumption, which destabilizes economies. Governments can regulate advertising to ensure ethical business practices. -/- Global Examples -/- ✔ European Union (Strict Advertising Laws) -/- The EU bans false advertising, ensuring that companies cannot make misleading claims about their products. -/- Certain junk food and alcohol ads are restricted to protect public health. -/- ✔ France’s Ban on Child-Targeted Advertising -/- Prevents unethical marketing towards children, reducing unnecessary consumerism. -/- ✔ Japan’s Culture of Product Quality Over Hype -/- Japanese companies emphasize product reliability and long-term value, reducing dependence on manipulative advertising. -/- Policy Recommendation: → Implement ethical advertising regulations to prevent false marketing, predatory ads targeting vulnerable consumers, and excessive consumer debt. -/- IV. Public-Private Partnerships for Innovation and Infrastructure -/- Rather than treating the government and private sector as separate entities, a well-balanced system interconnects them through public-private partnerships (PPPs) to drive innovation. -/- Global Examples -/- ✔ Germany’s Mittelstand Model (SME Support System) -/- The German government provides long-term financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are the backbone of the economy. -/- Ensures that private businesses have stable growth without excessive corporate monopolies. -/- ✔ China’s State-Led Economic Model (Strategic Government Investments) -/- The government invests heavily in infrastructure and technology, allowing private businesses to thrive with low-cost logistics and energy. -/- Balances capitalist competition with government support, ensuring stability. -/- ✔ United States (NASA & SpaceX Collaboration) -/- NASA funded SpaceX and other private space companies, leading to rapid innovation in space technology. -/- This proves that government funding can accelerate private sector breakthroughs. -/- Policy Recommendation: → Use government funding to support innovation and long-term infrastructure projects while allowing private businesses to benefit and expand. -/- V. MMT as a Tool for Economic Stability -/- Traditional economic models suggest that governments must “balance their budgets” like households, but this is a flawed concept. Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) argues that sovereign nations with their own currency (like the U.S., Japan, and the UK) can create money to fund essential services without relying on debt from private banks. -/- How MMT Works in Practice -/- ✔ Japan’s National Debt Strategy -/- Japan has one of the highest debt-to-GDP ratios in the world, yet it has no financial crisis because it borrows in its own currency. -/- Instead of austerity, Japan uses public investment to maintain economic stability. -/- ✔ U.S. Stimulus During COVID-19 -/- The U.S. government printed money to send direct payments to citizens, preventing a total economic collapse. -/- Inflation was controlled by adjusting taxation and investment in production capacity. -/- ✔ EU’s Post-COVID Recovery Fund -/- The European Union used public money to stabilize industries and workers, preventing extreme recessions. -/- Policy Recommendation: → Use MMT-based strategies to fund infrastructure, social programs, and innovation, ensuring economic stability without excessive reliance on private banking debt. -/- VI. Conclusion: Creating a Self-Regulating Economy -/- A feedback loop economy that integrates public job creation, private sector competition, social safety nets, and MMT-backed fiscal policies provides a self-regulating system that ensures: -/- ✔ Stable employment and consumer demand even during economic downturns. ✔ Innovation and competition in the private sector without excessive monopolies or market crashes. ✔ Government-funded infrastructure and social programs that benefit both workers and businesses. ✔ Ethical advertising that prevents consumer exploitation and unnecessary debt. ✔ Balanced inflation control through strategic taxation and investment. -/- By combining the best policies from different global models, we can build an economic system that minimizes business bankruptcies, prevents recessions, and maximizes innovation and economic fairness. -/- . (shrink)

The paper uses two historical examples, public health (1840-1880) and town planning (1945-1975) in Britain, to analyse the challenges faced by goal-driven research, an increasingly important trend in science policy, as exemplified by the prominence of calls for addressing Grand Challenges. Two key points are argued. (1) Given that the aim of research addressing social or global problems is to contribute to improving things, this research should include all the steps necessary to bring science and technology to fruition. This (...) need is captured by the idea of practical integration, which brings this type of research under the umbrella of collective practical reason rather than under the aegis of science. Achieving practical integration is difficult for many reasons: the complexity of social needs, the plurality of values at stake, the limitation of our knowledge, the elusive nature of the skills needed to deal with uncertainty, incomplete information and asymmetries of power. Nevertheless, drawing from the lessons of the case studies, it is argued that (2) practical integration needs a proper balance between values, institutions and knowledge: i.e. a combination of mutual support and mutual limitation. Pursuing such a balance provides a flexible strategy for approximating practical integration. (shrink)

The Dangers of Living in an Unsafe Community: Causes, Effects, and Comprehensive Government Solutions -/- The environment in which a person lives significantly impacts their well-being, security, and future opportunities. Staying in a community with dangerous individuals—such as criminals, violent gangs, or those engaging in unethical behavior—poses serious risks. While some people may have no choice due to financial or personal circumstances, it is always advisable to seek a safer environment whenever possible. This essay explores the causes of unsafe communities, (...) their negative effects, and a comprehensive government-led approach to solving these issues, including the importance of urban planning, housing development in slum areas, and family planning programs to prevent overcrowding. -/- Causes of Unsafe Communities -/- Several factors contribute to the existence of dangerous communities. These include economic instability, lack of education, weak law enforcement, poor urban planning, social inequality, and overpopulation. -/- 1. Poverty and Unemployment -/- One of the main causes of crime in a community is poverty. When individuals lack access to stable jobs, they may resort to illegal activities such as theft, drug dealing, or organized crime to survive. -/- For example, in Venezuela, the economic crisis has forced many people into criminal activities as a means of survival. In cities like Caracas, robbery, kidnapping, and gang-related violence have increased due to extreme poverty and lack of job opportunities. -/- 2. Lack of Education -/- Poor education systems can contribute to crime by limiting opportunities for young people. Without access to quality education, individuals may struggle to find legal employment and turn to crime as an alternative. -/- In Nigeria, for instance, many youths in underdeveloped regions receive little to no formal education, increasing the likelihood of recruitment into terrorist groups like Boko Haram, which exploits uneducated and unemployed individuals for violent activities. -/- 3. Weak Law Enforcement -/- In many high-crime areas, law enforcement is either ineffective, corrupt, or underfunded. When police presence is weak, criminals feel emboldened to continue illegal activities without fear of consequences. -/- A notable example is Mexico, where drug cartels control entire towns due to weak law enforcement. In places like Guerrero and Sinaloa, police officers are often either bribed or threatened into ignoring cartel activities, allowing crime to thrive. -/- 4. Poor Urban Planning and Slums -/- Lack of proper urban planning leads to the growth of slums—densely populated, unregulated settlements where living conditions are poor. These areas often lack basic infrastructure such as clean water, sanitation, and proper roads, creating an environment where crime can flourish. -/- For example, in Mumbai, India, slum areas like Dharavi are overcrowded, with families living in small, poorly constructed homes. The lack of proper planning has led to high crime rates, including illegal drug trade and violence. -/- In Kenya, the Kibera slum in Nairobi is one of Africa’s largest slums. Due to limited government intervention, residents struggle with extreme poverty, making them vulnerable to criminal organizations and illegal activities. -/- 5. Overpopulation and Lack of Family Planning -/- Uncontrolled population growth, especially in urban areas, leads to overcrowding, resource depletion, and increased poverty. Without proper family planning programs, families may have more children than they can support, worsening economic struggles and increasing crime rates. -/- For example, in Metro Manila, Philippines, rapid population growth has led to extreme congestion, lack of affordable housing, and growing informal settlements. Overcrowding puts pressure on public services, making it difficult to provide jobs, healthcare, and education to all residents. -/- Effects of Living in an Unsafe Community -/- 1. Physical Safety Risks -/- One of the most immediate dangers of living in a high-risk community is the threat to personal safety. -/- For example, in Chicago, USA, gang-related violence has made it dangerous for residents to walk outside even in broad daylight. -/- 2. Mental and Emotional Stress -/- Living in an unsafe environment can cause severe mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). -/- A st’dy in Detroit, USA, found that children growing up in high-crime areas often experience PTSD similar to that seen in war veterans. -/- 3. Limited Opportunities for Growth -/- Dangerous communities often struggle with economic and social instability. -/- For example, in Detroit, the decline of industry and rise in crime rates have left many neighborhoods economically devastated. -/- Comprehensive Government Solutions -/- To solve the problem of unsafe communities, governments must implement a multifaceted approach that addresses the root causes of crime while ensuring long-term stability. This requires economic investment, improved education, stronger law enforcement, urban planning, family planning programs, social welfare programs, and community engagement. -/- 1. Urban Planning and Housing for Slum Areas -/- Slum Upgrading Programs -/- Example: In Thailand, the Baan Mankong Housing Program provides slum residents with legal housing rights and funds to upgrade their homes. -/- Affordable Housing Projects -/- Example: Singapore’s Housing Development Board (HDB) successfully provided affordable homes for its citizens, reducing crime and homelessness. -/- Access to Basic Services -/- Example: In Brazil’s favelas, government intervention in providing sanitation and electricity has helped lower crime rates. -/- 2. Family Planning and Population Control -/- Governments must implement family planning programs to control rapid population growth in urban areas. Overpopulation leads to overcrowding, poverty, and strain on public services, which in turn contributes to crime. -/- Government-Sponsored Family Planning Programs -/- Governments should offer free access to contraceptives and family planning education to reduce unplanned pregnancies. -/- Example: Bangladesh’s national family planning program successfully reduced birth rates, easing pressure on urban centers and public services. -/- Sex Education in Schools -/- Educating young people about reproductive health and responsible parenthood helps prevent overpopulation. -/- Example: The Netherlands has one of the lowest teen pregnancy rates due to comprehensive sex education. -/- Economic Incentives for Smaller Families -/- Providing financial benefits to families that have fewer children can encourage responsible parenthood. -/- Example: China’s former one-child policy (although controversial) successfully slowed population growth in urban areas. -/- 3. Economic Development and Job Creation -/- Investment in local businesses -/- Example: In Medellín, Colombia, economic programs and infrastructure investment helped transform the city from one of the most dangerous in the world into a thriving urban center. -/- Vocational training programs -/- Example: Germany’s apprenticeship programs help integrate youth into the workforce, reducing unemployment and crime. -/- 4. Strengthening Law Enforcement and Justice Systems -/- Community policing: -/- Example: Japan’s Koban system (small police stations in neighborhoods) has contributed to its low crime rate. -/- Criminal justice reform: -/- Example: Norway’s prison system, which prioritizes rehabilitation, has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world. -/- 5. Community Engagement and Grassroots Initiatives -/- Neighborhood watch programs: -/- Example: In London, community-led safety initiatives have helped reduce crime in certain districts. -/- Support for at-risk youth: -/- Example: In Brazil, the government funds Capoeira programs to engage youth in a positive cultural activity instead of gangs. -/- Conclusion -/- Unsafe communities are the result of complex social, economic, and political factors. Poor urban planning, poverty, overpopulation, lack of education, weak law enforcement, and social inequality all contribute to high crime rates. However, governments have the power to create lasting change through a combination of urban planning, family planning, economic investment, educational reform, improved law enforcement, social welfare, and community engagement. -/- By taking a holistic approach, governments can transform unsafe neighborhoods into thriving, secure communities, ensuring a brighter future for all citizens. -/- . 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. Speech Emotion Recognition (SER) is an interdisciplinary field that leverages signal processing and machine learning techniques to identify and classify emotions conveyed through speech. In recent years, SER has gained significant attention due to its potential applications in human-computer interaction, healthcare, education, and customer service. Emotions such as happiness, anger, sadness, fear, surprise, and disgust can be inferred from various acoustic features including pitch, intensity, speech rate, and spectral characteristics. However, accurately recognizing emotions from speech is challenging due to (...) factors such as speaker variability, cultural differences, background noise, and the subtleties of emotional expression. This paper explores the state-of-the-art methodologies for speech emotion recognition, with an emphasis on deep learning approaches, feature extraction techniques, and the use of large-scale emotion-labeled datasets. We review traditional approaches, such as hidden Markov models and support vector machines, and compare them with modern advancements in neural networks, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and recurrent neural networks (RNNs). Additionally, we discuss the challenges in the field, including emotion detection in spontaneous speech, the impact of cross-lingual and crosscultural recognition, and the limitations of current benchmarks. Finally, we provide an overview of real-world applications of SER systems, including their integration into virtual assistants, mental health diagnostics, and interactive entertainment. We conclude by highlighting emerging trends in multimodal emotion recognition and the potential for future research in improving the robustness and accuracy of SER systems in diverse environments. (shrink)

The Importance of Urban Planning and Strict Laws on Informal Settlements -/- Introduction -/- Urbanization is a global phenomenon, bringing both opportunities and challenges. Rapid population growth, especially in developing nations, has led to the rise of informal settlements or “squatter areas.” These settlements often lack proper infrastructure, sanitation, and legal recognition, creating social, economic, and environmental issues. Effective urban planning, combined with strict enforcement of land-use laws and inclusive housing policies, is essential to ensuring sustainable and livable cities. This (...) essay explores the importance of urban planning and strict laws against illegal settlements, using successful case studies from Singapore, Brazil, South Korea, the Philippines, and Ethiopia. -/- The Role of Urban Planning in Sustainable Cities -/- Urban planning is the process of designing and regulating the use of land to ensure the orderly development of cities. Proper urban planning provides essential services such as housing, transportation, sanitation, and green spaces, preventing the formation of illegal settlements. -/- Key Aspects of Effective Urban Planning -/- 1. Zoning Regulations – Defining areas for residential, commercial, and industrial use helps prevent uncontrolled development. -/- 2. Infrastructure Development – Roads, drainage, sewage systems, and utilities must be planned in advance to accommodate future growth. -/- 3. Disaster Risk Management – Cities must prevent settlements in flood-prone or hazardous areas to minimize risks to human life. -/- 4. Affordable Housing Programs – Governments should provide legal, affordable alternatives to illegal settlements. -/- Without proper urban planning, cities face overcrowding, pollution, poor sanitation, and increased crime rates. Case studies from different countries demonstrate the effectiveness of strong urban policies in addressing informal settlements. -/- Case Studies: Successful Urban Planning and Settlement Control -/- 1. Singapore: A Model for Integrated Public Housing -/- Singapore transformed from a city with severe housing shortages in the 1960s into one of the most well-planned urban environments in the world. The government’s Housing and Development Board (HDB) played a crucial role in developing affordable, high-quality public housing with integrated amenities such as schools, parks, and public transportation. -/- Key Strategies: ✔ Strict zoning laws prevented unregulated settlements. ✔ Homeownership was promoted through subsidized housing loans. ✔ Government-planned townships provided complete services. -/- Results: ✔ Over 80% of Singaporeans now live in well-planned public housing. ✔ Illegal settlements have been completely eliminated. -/- Singapore’s success demonstrates how strict land-use policies combined with affordable housing programs can prevent informal settlements. -/- 2. Brazil: Upgrading Informal Settlements Instead of Evictions -/- Rio de Janeiro faced a severe problem with favelas—informal settlements that grew due to rapid urban migration. Instead of mass evictions, the government launched the Favela-Bairro program (1994-2008), improving living conditions rather than displacing people. -/- Key Strategies: ✔ Infrastructure improvements (roads, sanitation, electricity). ✔ Community engagement ensured residents’ needs were met. ✔ Legal property rights were granted to residents. -/- Results: ✔ Over 250,000 residents benefited from improved housing conditions. ✔ Crime and poverty rates declined as favelas were integrated into the formal city. -/- Brazil’s approach shows that slum upgrading can be a viable alternative to forced eviction, improving both human welfare and urban order. -/- 3. South Korea: Urban Renewal in Seoul (Cheonggyecheon Project) -/- Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon River was once covered by illegal settlements and highways. The government removed the informal settlements, revitalizing the area into a public green space. -/- Key Strategies: ✔ Slum clearance and restoration of natural spaces. ✔ Improved public transport (bus rapid transit) reduced congestion. ✔ Business relocation incentives prevented economic disruption. -/- Results: ✔ 35% reduction in air pollution, making Seoul more livable. ✔ Increased property values and economic growth. -/- This case highlights how urban renewal projects can enhance sustainability, public health, and economic opportunities while addressing informal settlements. -/- 4. The Philippines: Housing and Resettlement Programs -/- Metro Manila faces a long-standing issue of informal settlers occupying flood-prone and government-owned areas. The Philippine government introduced various strategies, including in-city relocation, socialized housing, and land clearing operations. -/- Key Strategies: ✔ Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program: Encouraged migration from overcrowded cities with financial aid. ✔ Vertical housing solutions: High-rise social housing projects maximized limited land. ✔ Land clearing operations: Removed settlements from hazardous areas. -/- Results: ✔ Some success in decongesting Metro Manila, but rapid urban migration remains a challenge. ✔ Affordable housing remains a priority for sustainable urban development. -/- The Philippines’ experience shows that a combination of enforcement and social programs is necessary to manage informal settlements effectively. -/- 5. Ethiopia: Large-Scale Public Housing (Addis Ababa’s Condominium Program) -/- Ethiopia faced a housing crisis, with 70% of Addis Ababa’s population living in informal settlements. The government launched a large-scale condominium housing program to address the issue. -/- Key Strategies: ✔ Government-built high-rise condominiums replaced slums. ✔ Low-interest loans made homeownership possible for low-income families. ✔ Priority was given to families displaced by urban renewal projects. -/- Results: ✔ Significant reduction in slums as many moved into formal housing. ✔ Homeownership increased, improving living conditions. -/- Ethiopia’s approach highlights how government-led mass housing projects can transform urban development. -/- Lessons from Successful Urban Planning -/- 1. Strict Land-Use Laws Prevent Slums from Forming ✔ Clearly defining residential, commercial, and public spaces prevents illegal occupation. -/- 2. Affordable Housing is Essential ✔ Governments must provide low-cost housing as a legal alternative to informal settlements. -/- 3. Upgrading Slums Can Be More Effective Than Evictions ✔ Programs like Favela-Bairro (Brazil) and Ethiopia’s condominium projects show that improving existing settlements works better than forced displacement. -/- 4. Technology Can Help Monitor and Prevent Illegal Settlements ✔ GIS mapping and AI tracking can detect unauthorized land occupation. ✔ E-governance systems can simplify property registration and land-use approvals. -/- 5. Community Engagement is Critical ✔ Urban planning must involve local residents to ensure sustainability and social acceptance. -/- 6. Economic and Livelihood Programs Reduce Informal Settlements ✔ Job creation, microfinance, and small business support help low-income families transition into formal housing. -/- Conclusion -/- Urban planning and strict laws against informal settlements are crucial for creating sustainable, safe, and prosperous cities. Case studies from Singapore, Brazil, South Korea, the Philippines, and Ethiopia demonstrate that a balanced approach—combining strict enforcement, affordable housing, and community-driven solutions—leads to long-term success. Governments worldwide must prioritize sustainable housing, infrastructure development, and urban regulations to ensure that growing populations are accommodated in a way that promotes both human dignity and urban order. -/- By learning from successful models and implementing proactive urban policies, cities can prevent slums, improve living conditions, and build a more sustainable future for all. -/- . (shrink)

The Importance of Holistically Empowering All Levels of Government Leadership for National Development -/- A nation’s progress is deeply rooted in the quality of its leadership at all levels of government. Effective governance requires more than just political authority—it demands informed decision-making, ethical governance, and strategic planning to achieve sustainable development. Holistically empowering all levels of government leadership is crucial to ensuring that policies are implemented effectively, economic stability is maintained, and the country remains resilient against global and local challenges. (...) Without well-trained and knowledgeable leaders, a nation risks falling into cycles of corruption, inefficiency, and instability. -/- This essay explores the importance of empowering all levels of government leadership, emphasizing how this approach strengthens governance, improves policy implementation, stabilizes the economy, and promotes sustainable national development. -/- Strategic and Balanced Decision-Making -/- When all levels of government leadership—from local officials to national policymakers—are holistically educated and empowered, decision-making becomes more strategic and well-balanced. Informed leaders understand the long-term consequences of their actions and avoid making impulsive or politically motivated choices that could destabilize the country. This ensures that governance is driven by rational planning rather than personal or short-term interests. -/- For example, countries with strong leadership development programs, such as Singapore, have demonstrated how well-informed leaders can create policies that prioritize long-term economic stability and social welfare over immediate political gains. By empowering leaders with knowledge of sustainable development, a nation ensures that progress is not only rapid but also lasting. -/- Strengthening Governance and Accountability -/- Weak leadership structures are often the root cause of corruption and inefficiency. When government leaders lack proper education in governance, economics, and ethics, they become more susceptible to corrupt practices or poor decision-making. Holistically empowering leaders through continuous education, training, and ethical reinforcement ensures a transparent and accountable government. -/- A good example is Scandinavian countries, where leadership development programs emphasize ethics, social responsibility, and economic sustainability. As a result, these countries have some of the lowest corruption levels in the world, proving that well-educated leaders are less likely to engage in corrupt activities. -/- Effective Policy Implementation -/- Even the best policies will fail if they are not implemented properly. Many developing nations struggle with policy execution due to gaps in leadership competency at different government levels. When national leaders create policies without ensuring that local leaders understand and support them, the implementation becomes weak or inconsistent. -/- By empowering leadership across all government levels, policies can be efficiently translated into real-world progress. For example, China’s rapid development was achieved not only through national-level planning but also by ensuring that local government officials were highly trained in economic management, urban planning, and infrastructure development. -/- Economic and Social Stability -/- A country’s economic health depends on leadership that understands economic sustainability. Leaders who rely solely on continuous economic growth without balancing resource management and population control risk creating long-term economic instability. -/- For instance, excessive reliance on resource extraction without reinvesting in sustainable industries has led to economic collapse in countries like Venezuela. In contrast, nations such as Germany have maintained economic stability by ensuring that government leaders at all levels are educated in economic sustainability and long-term planning. -/- Holistic leadership education should emphasize the balance between economic growth, environmental sustainability, and population regulation. Leaders must understand that wealth creation should serve the long-term needs of the people rather than short-term financial gains. -/- Resilience Against Global and Local Challenges -/- Every country faces challenges, whether from climate change, economic recessions, or political crises. A government with empowered leaders at all levels can respond effectively to these challenges. -/- For example, Japan’s efficient response to natural disasters is a result of well-trained leaders at every level of governance, from local mayors to national emergency coordinators. These leaders are educated in crisis management, ensuring that the country can adapt and recover quickly from disasters. -/- Without holistic leadership training, many nations struggle to respond to crises, leading to unnecessary loss of life, economic damage, and political instability. -/- Encouraging Grassroots Development -/- Sustainable development does not only happen at the national level—it must also be driven from the grassroots. Local government leaders play a crucial role in addressing the needs of their communities. When they are empowered with the right knowledge and skills, they can implement national policies effectively while addressing specific local challenges. -/- A good example is how decentralized governance in Switzerland has allowed local leaders to make independent decisions tailored to their communities’ needs while still aligning with national policies. This has led to high-quality public services and economic development at all levels. -/- Reducing Political Polarization and Populism -/- One of the biggest threats to democracy and governance today is political polarization fueled by misinformation and populism. Leaders who lack a holistic education in governance, economics, and social balance are more likely to manipulate public opinion for personal gain. This leads to societal divisions and weak governance. -/- When leaders are trained to understand the principles of balanced decision-making, they can guide the public towards rational, evidence-based solutions rather than emotional or ideological extremes. Countries that invest in political leadership education, such as Canada, have more stable governments with less political conflict. -/- Enhancing International Relations and Competitiveness -/- A country’s ability to engage in diplomacy, attract foreign investment, and maintain strong trade relations depends on the competency of its leaders. Well-educated and empowered government officials can negotiate better trade agreements, establish beneficial international partnerships, and improve the country’s global reputation. -/- For instance, Singapore has become one of the world’s most competitive economies due to its well-trained leaders who understand global trade dynamics, technology, and economic planning. Without a strong leadership framework, countries struggle to remain competitive in an increasingly interconnected world. -/- Solution: A Holistic Leadership Education System -/- To achieve holistic empowerment of government leadership, a structured and continuous leadership education system must be implemented. This system should include: -/- 1. Integration of Leadership Training in Education – Basic education should include subjects that develop critical thinking, governance principles, and ethical decision-making. -/- 2. Specialized Leadership Training for Government Officials – Ongoing training programs should be provided for government officials at all levels to improve their skills in policy-making, economics, and governance. -/- 3. Application of the Universal Law of Balance in Governance – Leaders should be educated on how to apply balance in decision-making to avoid extreme policies that harm economic and social stability. -/- 4. Transparency and Public Accountability Programs – Public officials should be trained in ethical governance, with strict accountability mechanisms in place. -/- Conclusion -/- Holistically empowering all levels of government leadership is the key to a nation’s sustainable development. When leaders are well-trained, accountable, and knowledgeable about governance, economics, and social balance, they can make informed decisions that benefit the country in the long run. -/- A nation that Invests in its leadership structure strengthens governance, improves policy implementation, stabilizes the economy, and builds resilience against crises. By ensuring that leadership education is integrated into all levels of governance, a country can achieve long-term progress and avoid the pitfalls of corruption, political instability, and economic collapse. -/- A true path to national development lies not just in economic policies but in the empowerment of those who lead the nation. -/- . (shrink)

Comprehensive Plan for Population Growth Control & Senior Citizen Social Safety Net in the Philippines -/- To ensure sustainable population growth while also supporting senior citizens who have no children or lack financial support, the government must integrate social safety net laws for both family planning and elderly welfare. -/- I. Population Growth Control Through Social Safety Net Laws -/- 1. TAX REFORMS TO INCENTIVIZE SMALLER FAMILIES -/- A. Incentives for Small Families -/- Higher tax deductions for families with one (...) or two children. -/- Gradual removal of tax benefits for families with more than two children. -/- Corporate tax incentives for businesses that provide family planning services. -/- B. Tax Penalties for Large Families -/- Higher progressive taxation on families with three or more children. -/- Luxury taxes on housing, vehicles, and government subsidies for large families. -/- 2. EDUCATION REFORMS FOR RESPONSIBLE FAMILY PLANNING -/- A. Strengthening Sex Education (Comprehensive Sexuality Education – CSE) -/- Mandatory inclusion in the school curriculum from Grade 5 onward. -/- Covers reproductive health, contraception, financial responsibility, and gender equality. -/- B. Scholarships & Financial Aid for Small Families -/- Additional educational subsidies for children from families with one or two kids. -/- Gradual reduction of education subsidies for larger families. -/- 3. EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL WELFARE REFORMS -/- A. Job Incentives for Women & Working Parents -/- Work-from-home incentives and subsidized childcare for working mothers. -/- Paid maternity leave benefits tied to small family sizes. -/- B. Adjustments to 4Ps Social Welfare Program -/- Full cash benefits limited to the first two children. -/- Mandatory family planning education to continue receiving benefits. -/- 4. AI & BIG DATA FOR POPULATION PLANNING -/- AI-driven demographic tracking to adjust tax policies, social benefits, and economic incentives. -/- Predictive modeling for workforce planning to prevent future labor shortages. -/- 5. URBAN & RURAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES -/- Housing and urban planning incentives for small families. -/- Smart city initiatives to balance population density. -/- II. Social Safety Net for Senior Citizens Without Children or Financial Support -/- 1. Universal Pension & Financial Support Programs -/- A. Strengthening the SSS and GSIS Pension System -/- Mandatory government contributions for all workers, regardless of employment sector. -/- Higher pension benefits for seniors without children or financial support. -/- B. New “Guaranteed Minimum Pension” Program -/- Senior citizens without private savings receive a baseline pension from the government. -/- Indexed to inflation to ensure financial security in old age. -/- 2. Housing & Living Assistance for Seniors Without Family Support -/- A. Senior Citizen Cooperative Housing Program -/- Government-subsidized shared housing facilities for elderly individuals without family support. -/- Community-based senior housing with healthcare and caregiving services. -/- B. Expansion of Public Nursing Homes -/- New state-run assisted living facilities in every province. -/- Affordable senior apartments with subsidized utilities and food programs. -/- 3. Healthcare & Insurance for Elderly Without Family Support -/- A. Expansion of PhilHealth & Free Healthcare Services -/- Automatic PhilHealth coverage for all seniors with no child support. -/- Higher government healthcare subsidies for single and childless seniors. -/- B. Free Home-Based Healthcare -/- Barangay-level healthcare workers assigned to provide free home visits for elderly citizens. -/- Mobile clinics and telemedicine for those in remote areas. -/- 4. Employment & Social Engagement for the Elderly -/- A. Senior Employment & Livelihood Programs -/- Tax incentives for companies hiring seniors (part-time or consultancy roles). -/- Government-backed microfinance loans for seniors starting small businesses. -/- B. “Adopt-a-Senior” Community Program -/- Encourage local communities to support senior citizens without family assistance. -/- Volunteer-based programs where younger individuals help care for seniors. -/- III. Implementation Challenges & Solutions -/- A. Overcoming Religious & Cultural Barriers -/- Frame policies as “family economic security programs” rather than population control. -/- Community-based awareness campaigns to promote responsible parenthood. -/- B. Ensuring Fair Implementation in Rural Areas -/- Deploy mobile healthcare teams to reach isolated seniors and educate rural families. -/- Offer financial rewards for barangays with successful family planning programs. -/- C. Balancing Population Growth & Workforce Needs -/- Encourage skilled migration to prevent future labor shortages. -/- Promote education and automation to compensate for a smaller workforce. -/- Final Recommendations -/- Integrate population planning into the national economic strategy. -/- Create a “National Senior Citizen Welfare Act” ensuring financial security for the elderly. -/- Strengthen AI-driven demographic management to balance population growth. -/- . (shrink)

Creating a High-Quality Young Generation: A Holistic and Systematic Solution -/- The future of any society depends on the quality of its young generation. However, many nations struggle to develop young people who are intellectually competent, morally grounded, and socially responsible. The root causes of this failure lie in fragmented education systems, economic instability, broken family structures, technological distractions, and weak leadership. To solve this problem, a holistic, systematic approach is needed—one that integrates education, governance, economic policies, family values, and (...) ethical decision-making under a unified framework based on the universal law of balance in nature. -/- Understanding the Root Causes -/- Before formulating a solution, we must analyze the interconnected challenges preventing the development of a high-quality young generation: -/- 1. Deficient Education Systems – Traditional education prioritizes rote memorization over critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. It also fails to teach free will, ethical decision-making, and the balance between knowledge and wisdom. -/- 2. Lack of Role Models – Corrupt leaders, unethical business figures, and poor parenting lead to misguided ambitions and values. -/- 3. Technological Distractions – Social media and digital entertainment promote instant gratification over deep thinking, reducing intellectual curiosity. -/- 4. Economic Pressures – A lack of high-quality jobs and economic instability force young people into survival mode, focusing on short-term gains rather than long-term progress. -/- 5. Weak Moral and Ethical Foundations – Consumerism, materialism, and moral relativism erode universal ethical principles, leading to selfish, shortsighted behavior. -/- 6. Broken Family Structures – Many children grow up in unstable environments due to absentee parents, divorce, or dysfunctional households. -/- 7. Political and Leadership Failures – Governments prioritize short-term political interests over long-term youth development, failing to create policies that empower the young generation. -/- 8. Health and Well-being Neglect – Mental health issues, poor nutrition, and unhealthy lifestyles affect young people’s cognitive and emotional development. -/- A Holistic, Systematic Solution -/- A successful solution must address these root causes through a comprehensive, multi-layered approach. The following framework provides a structured pathway toward developing a high-quality young generation: -/- 1. Transforming Education: The Foundation of Intellectual and Moral Growth -/- A holistic educational system should integrate four core pillars: -/- A. Critical Thinking and Free Will Education -/- Move beyond rote learning and instill problem-solving, analytical reasoning, and independent thinking. -/- Teach the universal law of balance in nature to help students understand how their decisions shape personal and societal well-being. -/- Promote scientific inquiry while allowing open discussion of philosophical and ethical perspectives. -/- B. Ethical Decision-Making and Moral Responsibility -/- Integrate ethics and morality into the curriculum, teaching the consequences of actions on both personal and societal levels. -/- Encourage community service and social responsibility projects. -/- Teach cause-and-effect systems thinking (i.e., how all decisions create ripple effects). -/- C. Practical Life Skills and Economic Awareness -/- Teach financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career planning to prepare students for real-world challenges. -/- Encourage hands-on learning through apprenticeships, vocational training, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs. -/- D. Digital Literacy and Responsible Technology Use -/- Educate young people on the impact of social media, misinformation, and digital distractions. -/- Promote constructive technology use for education, innovation, and personal growth. -/- 2. Strengthening Family Structures and Parental Guidance -/- A child’s first learning environment is the home. Thus, parental education programs should be implemented to: -/- Teach parents how to instill discipline, emotional intelligence, and ethical values. -/- Provide financial support or incentives for families that actively engage in child development programs. -/- Promote work-life balance policies so parents can spend more time with their children. -/- 3. Economic Policies That Empower Youth -/- Governments must create long-term economic strategies that: -/- Establish youth employment programs that provide internships, mentorship, and job training. -/- Promote sustainable entrepreneurship by funding youth-driven startups. -/- Ensure fair wages and stable career opportunities, reducing the pressure to seek unethical shortcuts to success. -/- 4. Leadership and Governance Reform -/- Political and business leaders must be held to higher ethical standards. This can be achieved through: -/- Ethical leadership training for government officials, CEOs, and policymakers. -/- Anti-corruption measures that enforce transparency and accountability. -/- Holistic governance policies that prioritize long-term youth development over short-term political gains. -/- 5. Health, Well-Being, and Mental Resilience -/- A strong young generation must be physically and mentally healthy. Societies must: -/- Promote mental health awareness in schools and workplaces. -/- Implement balanced nutrition and wellness programs in schools. -/- Encourage sports, physical fitness, and outdoor activities to counteract the sedentary lifestyle caused by excessive screen time. -/- 6. Harnessing Technology for Positive Development -/- Rather than being a distraction, technology should be a tool for empowerment: -/- Develop AI-driven personalized education to support individualized learning. -/- Promote tech-based problem-solving competitions to cultivate innovation. -/- Encourage online mentorship programs connecting young people with experts and successful professionals. -/- 7. Establishing a Global Ethical and Knowledge-Based Culture -/- To create a high-quality young generation worldwide, societies must collaborate in promoting: -/- International youth exchange programs to expose young minds to diverse ideas and experiences. -/- A universal ethical framework based on the balance of nature, ensuring that cultural and religious teachings align with scientific and moral principles. -/- Global scientific collaboration to address challenges such as climate change, poverty, and technological inequality. -/- Conclusion: The Future Depends on Systematic Change -/- The failure to produce a high-quality young generation is not due to lack of intelligence or potential but rather the absence of a holistic, systematic approach that integrates education, family, economy, leadership, technology, and well-being. By adopting a structured, science-based framework rooted in the universal law of balance, societies can cultivate young people who are intellectually capable, morally responsible, and prepared to lead humanity into a better future. -/- The key to success lies In balance—ensuring that knowledge is paired with wisdom, ambition with ethical responsibility, and personal success with social well-being. By implementing this systematic solution, we can create a generation that not only excels individually but also uplifts society as a whole. -/- . (shrink)

Revista Intelligence Info este o publicație trimestrială din domeniile intelligence, geopolitică și securitate, și domenii conexe de studiu și practică. -/- Cuprins: -/- EDITORIALE / EDITORIALS -/- Tiberiu TĂNASE Considerații privind necesitatea educării și formării resursei umane pentru intelligence–ul național Considerations regarding the need to educate and train human resources for national intelligence Nicolae SFETCU Epistemologia activității de intelligence Epistemology of intelligence Nicolae SFETCU Rolul serviciilor de informații în război The role of the intelligence agencies in a war Nicolae SFETCU (...) Evoluția inteligenței artificiale în domeniul securității naționale The evolution of artificial intelligence in the field of national security -/- INTELLIGENCE / INTELLIGENCE -/- Ovidiu BOUREANU O scurtă istorie a spionajului: spionajul modern de la Războiul Rece la Războiul împotriva terorii A Brief History of the Spy: Modern Spying from the Cold War to the War on Terror Ioana PĂIUȘ, Tiberiu TĂNASE Securitate și informații într-o lume în schimbare Security and intelligence in a changing world Nicolae SFETCU Activitatea de intelligence - Ciclul intelligence Intelligence Activity – Intelligence Cycle Tiberiu TĂNASE Controlul asupra Intelligence –ului Control over Intelligence Tiberiu TĂNASE Informația și nevoia de gestionare a resurselor informaționale Information and the need to manage information resources Tiberiu TĂNASE Controlul parlamentar al serviciilor de informații Parliamentary control of intelligence services Tiberiu TĂNASE Mecanisme de control democratic al activității serviciilor de informații Mechanisms of democratic control of the activity of intelligence agencies Nicolae SFETCU Analiza informațiilor Intelligence Analysis Bogdan-George RĂDULESCU Cum ar trebui să fie utilizată analiza intelligence pentru a contracara războiul cognitiv? How should intelligence analysis be utilized to counter cognitive warfare? -/- ISTORIE / HISTORY -/- Tiberiu TĂNASE Biroul de Informații al Secției Militare din Transilvania și rolul său în campania pentru apărarea României Mari The Intelligence Office of the Transylvanian Military Section and its role in the campaign for the defense of Greater Romania Stan PETRESCU Pacepa, Kuklinski, Pollard și românii Pacepa, Kuklinski, Pollard and the Romanians Tiberiu TĂNASE Contracararea de către SSI a activităților informative și acțiunilor Serviciilor Germane și Sovietice de Informații implicate în evenimentele din 21 - 23 ianuarie 1941 Countering by the SSI of the informational activities and actions of the German and Soviet Intelligence Services involved in the events of January 21-23, 1941 Tiberiu TĂNASE Alexandru Ioan Cuza, fondatorul Intelligence-lui statului modern românesc Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Founder of the Intelligence of the Modern Romanian State Tiberiu TĂNASE, Bogdan MUSCALU Puncte de vedere privind tradițiile romane în istoria intelligence-lui Viewpoints on Roman traditions in history intelligence Tiberiu TĂNASE Istoria Serviciului Român de Informații – serviciu de intelligence competitiv, și strategiile de intelligence History of the Romanian Intelligence Service – competitive intelligence service, and intelligence strategies Rodica LISEANU Reformele serviciilor secrete de la Mihail Moruzov la Eugen Cristescu, între inovație și decadență Secret service reforms from Mihail Moruzov to Eugen Cristescu Rodica LISEANU Take Ionescu – O biografie vectorială în istoria partidelor politice și în semantica diplomației Take Ionescu - A Vectorial Biography in the History of Political Parties and the Semantics of Diplomacy Remus MACOVEI Trădători și trădători Traitors and traitors -/- GEOPOLITICA / GEOPOLITICS -/- Antoaneta AVRAM Pandemia de COVID-19 și consecințele ei în peisajul anului 2022 The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences in the landscape of 2022 Darius-Antoniu FERENȚ, Ioan MANCI Analiza conflictului ruso-cecen din perspectivă militară Analysis of the Russian-Chechen conflict from a military perspective Lisa-Maria ACHIMESCU Apusul universalismului european The decline of European universalism Emilian M. DOBRESCU Hegemonia chineză în producția de pământuri rare Chinese Hegemony in the Production of Rare Earths Ionuț-Daniel GORGOVAN ”Descurajarea integrată”. Analiză asupra strategiei SUA în Pacific "Integrated deterrence". Analysis of US Pacific Strategy Tiberiu TĂNASE, Violeta Ioana NAGÂȚ Conflictul arabo-israelian. Percepții privind cauzele și natura conflictului. Repere istorice și actualitate The Arab-Israeli conflict. Perceptions of the causes and nature of conflict. Historical landmarks and current affairs -/- SECURITATE / SECURITY -/- Tănase TIBERIU Minighid de pregătire și protecție contrainformativă Counterintelligence preparation and protection mini-guide Darius-Antoniu FERENȚ ISIS - Jocul morții - Martiri, asasinate și fascinație The Killing Game - Martyrdom, Murder and the Lure of ISIS Traian OSTAHIE Abordări generale ale conceptului de cultură de securitate For a 21st century realism Dalia Elena SILAGHI Terorismul cibernetic: o formă contemporană de terorism Cyber Terrorism: A Contemporary Form of Terrorism Paul Alexandru HELER Conflictul asimetric și consecințele sale în securitatea Asiei Asymmetric Conflict and Its Consequences in Asian Security Daria-Maria TÂRNĂVEAN Confruntarea informațională și repercusiunile sale asupra mediului actual de securitate The Information Confrontation and its Repercussions on the Current Security Environment Darius-Antoniu FERENȚ Analiza atacurilor cibernetice, precum APT (Advanced Persistent Threat) și ransomware Analysis of cyber attacks such as APT (Advanced Persistent Threat) and ransomware Daniela Georgiana GOLEA, Oana Ștefania COȘA Nevoia de adaptare managerială a noilor probleme de securitate modernă The need for managerial adaptation to new modern security issues Darius-Antoniu FERENȚ, Corneliu PREJA Implicarea NATO în domeniul apărării cibernetice NATO's involvement in cyber defence Alexandru CRISTIAN Paradigme în mediul internațional de securitate Paradigms in the international security environment Alexandru CRISTIAN Schimbarea paradigmelor în mediul internațional de securitate Changing paradigms in the international security environment Dan D. FARCAȘ Adevăr și dezinformare în fenomenul OZN Truth and disinformation in the UFO phenomenon Alexandru CRISTIAN Un nou mediu de securitate A new security environment -/- ȘTIINȚA INFORMAȚIEI / INFORMATION SCIENCE -/- Oana Ștefania COȘA Rolul structurilor de intelligence medical în atingerea obiectivul de consolidare a sistemului de sănătate The role of medical intelligence structures in achieving the objective of strengthening the health system Nicolae SFETCU Preocupări legislative în mineritul datelor Legislative concerns in data mining Nicolae SFETCU Utilizarea analiticii rețelelor sociale în intelligence Using social network analytics in intelligence Nicolae SFETCU Ingineria cunoașterii în colectarea informațiilor Knowledge Engineering in Intelligence Gathering -/- ISSN 2971 – 9089 ISSN-L 2821 – 8159, DOI: 10.58679/II26972. (shrink)

Applying the Holistic Governance System (HGS) to the Philippines -/- The Philippines has struggled with corruption, political instability, economic inequality, and weak governance. Applying the Holistic Governance System (HGS) could transform the country into a stable, prosperous, and globally competitive nation. -/- Key Challenges in the Philippines: -/- 1. Corruption – Widespread in government agencies, law enforcement, and politics. -/- 2. Political Dynasties & Electoral Manipulation – Many leaders come from elite families, limiting true democracy. -/- 3. Economic Inequality – (...) The wealth gap is extreme, with many Filipinos in poverty. -/- 4. Weak Law Enforcement & Justice System – Crime, illegal drugs, and extrajudicial killings undermine public trust. -/- 5. Underdeveloped Infrastructure – Slow development of transportation, digital connectivity, and urban planning. -/- 6. Brain Drain – Many skilled Filipinos leave for better opportunities abroad. -/- HGS can address these issues by combining the best governance models from around the world while adapting them to the Philippine context. -/- Step-by-Step Implementation of HGS in the Philippines: -/- 1. Political Reform: Replacing Traditional Politics with a Meritocratic Leadership System -/- The Strategic Council (7 Leaders): Instead of a single president, the Philippines would be led by a council of seven experts, each specializing in key areas like economy, education, security, and technology. -/- No Political Dynasties: Candidates must prove their qualifications (economic, scientific, or governance expertise) before being allowed to run. -/- Fixed 10-Year Term: Leaders serve long enough to implement national development plans but cannot seek re-election. -/- ???? Impact: This will eliminate corruption, improve decision-making, and end elite family control of politics. -/- 2. Balanced Democracy: Direct Citizen Participation in Decision-Making -/- Annual Referendums: Inspired by Switzerland, Filipinos will vote directly on key national policies (e.g., education reforms, infrastructure projects). -/- Congress Reform: Replace the current system with: -/- People’s Assembly – Elected by citizens to represent public concerns. -/- Expert Senate – Composed of scientists, economists, and policy experts. -/- ???? Impact: This system prevents corrupt politicians from making bad decisions and gives Filipinos a real voice in governance. -/- 3. Economic Reform: A Hybrid System for Growth & Stability -/- Balanced Free Market + State Planning: -/- Private businesses continue operating, but key industries (energy, healthcare, education, transport) are state-controlled for stability. -/- Large government investment in technology, renewable energy, and industrial growth. -/- Anti-Corruption Crackdown: Modeled after Singapore’s strict anti-corruption policies. -/- Digital Government System: Minimize human corruption by making all government transactions online with AI verification. -/- ???? Impact: The economy grows without exploitation, and corruption is eliminated in business and government. -/- 4. Social Welfare: Universal Services for All Filipinos -/- Free Universal Healthcare: Like Norway & Sweden, all Filipinos receive high-quality medical care. -/- Free Higher Education: Universities are fully funded, with scholarships for top students. -/- Basic Income for the Poor: Prevents extreme poverty and improves national productivity. -/- Affordable Housing & Smart Cities: Government builds modern, eco-friendly, low-cost housing. -/- ???? Impact: This ensures every Filipino has access to education, health, and stable living conditions. -/- 5. Justice & Security: Smart Law Enforcement with AI & Independent Courts -/- AI-Powered Legal System: Reduce human bias in court cases and prevent political influence. -/- Strict Anti-Corruption Laws: Inspired by Singapore, harsh penalties for corruption at all levels. -/- High-Tech Crime Prevention: AI surveillance, digital ID verification, and cybercrime prevention. -/- ???? Impact: A fast, fair, and corruption-free justice system. -/- 6. Infrastructure & Urban Development: Smart Cities & Green Energy -/- Nationwide High-Speed Rail & Smart Transportation: Inspired by China’s urban planning. -/- 100% Renewable Energy Goal: Government investment in solar, wind, and hydro energy. -/- Smart City Development: AI-controlled traffic, clean public spaces, and sustainable urban design. -/- ???? Impact: A modern Philippines with world-class infrastructure and zero energy dependence. -/- 7. Foreign Policy & National Defense: Economic Strength + Global Neutrality -/- Neutrality in Global Conflicts: Inspired by Switzerland, the Philippines avoids military conflicts but strengthens economic ties with all nations. -/- Strong Cybersecurity & Modernized Military: Instead of focusing on war, invest in cyber defense and AI-powered security. -/- Self-Sufficient Agriculture & Industry: Reduce dependence on foreign imports by boosting local food and industrial production. -/- ???? Impact: The Philippines becomes a secure, self-reliant, and economically strong nation. -/- The Future Philippines Under HGS: A Model Nation -/- Final Thoughts: Why the Philippines Needs HGS -/- ???? HGS will transform the Philippines into a: ✅ Politically stable nation with honest, expert-led governance. ✅ Economically strong country with innovation and self-sufficiency. ✅ Corruption-free government with strict anti-corruption policies. ✅ Technology-driven society with AI, smart cities, and digital governance. ✅ Socially progressive state with free healthcare, education, and a guaranteed basic income. -/- By eliminating corruption, restructuring governance, and investing in technology, the Philippines can rise as a global model for modern governance. -/- Roadmap for Transitioning the Philippines to the Holistic Governance System (HGS) -/- Goal: Transform the Philippines into a corruption-free, economically strong, socially progressive, and technologically advanced nation using HGS principles. -/- ???? Phase 1: Laying the Foundation (Year 1-5) -/- Objective: Establish public trust, eliminate corruption, and implement key reforms in government, economy, and education. -/- 1. Anti-Corruption Revolution (Year 1-3) -/- ✅ Create a National Anti-Corruption Tribunal (similar to Singapore’s system) with special prosecutors and AI-powered case review to ensure fair trials. ✅ Strict penalties for corruption (lifetime ban from politics, confiscation of illegally obtained wealth, long prison sentences). ✅ Full Digital Government System – All government transactions go online to remove human corruption (permits, taxes, elections, etc.). -/- ???? Impact: Government corruption is drastically reduced, and public trust in leadership increases. -/- 2. Leadership Reform (Year 2-5) -/- ✅ Ban Political Dynasties – Require strict merit-based qualifications for all public officials. ✅ Restructure the Government: Replace the president with the Strategic Council (7 experts) and reform Congress into: -/- People’s Assembly (elected representatives). -/- Expert Senate (top scientists, economists, and technocrats). ✅ Mandatory Leadership Training – All future leaders must undergo a 5-year program on governance, economics, and philosophy. -/- ???? Impact: The Philippines shifts from a corrupt dynasty-driven system to a competence-based government. -/- 3. Education Reform (Year 2-4) -/- ✅ Upgrade the curriculum to teach critical thinking, technological skills, and the Universal Law of Balance. ✅ Free College Education (funded by corruption money recovery). ✅ Global Research Partnerships with universities in Europe, Singapore, and the U.S. to improve STEM education. -/- ???? Impact: The youth become future innovators and critical thinkers, reducing brain drain. -/- ???? Phase 2: Economic & Social Transformation (Year 6-10) -/- Objective: Transition to a self-sufficient economy with world-class infrastructure and social services. -/- 4. Economic Overhaul (Year 6-10) -/- ✅ Hybrid Economic Model (similar to Singapore & China): -/- Free market for small businesses & entrepreneurship. -/- Government-controlled key industries (healthcare, energy, infrastructure). ✅ AI-Governed Tax System – Automate taxation to prevent tax evasion. ✅ Massive Government Investment in Technology (AI, robotics, green energy, and space research). -/- ???? Impact: The Philippines becomes a tech-driven economy, independent of remittances. -/- 5. Universal Social Welfare System (Year 6-8) -/- ✅ Free Universal Healthcare (Norway model) – Build more hospitals, increase doctor salaries, and implement telemedicine in rural areas. ✅ Basic Income for the Poor (funded by recovered corruption money and AI-driven economic growth). ✅ National Housing Program – Construct affordable smart cities with AI-managed traffic, green energy, and disaster-resistant buildings. -/- ???? Impact: All Filipinos have access to quality healthcare, education, and stable housing. -/- 6. Infrastructure Boom & Smart City Development (Year 6-10) -/- ✅ High-Speed Rail System (China model) – Connect Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with a modern railway. ✅ Digital Infrastructure – High-speed internet for all citizens, free public WiFi, and AI-managed urban planning. ✅ 100% Renewable Energy – Solar, wind, and hydro power investments to eliminate electricity shortages. -/- ???? Impact: The Philippines becomes a modern, highly developed nation with smart, efficient cities. -/- ???? Phase 3: Global Powerhouse & Permanent Stability (Year 11-20) -/- Objective: Establish the Philippines as a global leader in innovation, sustainability, and governance. -/- 7. AI-Powered Governance (Year 11-15) -/- ✅ Full AI Integration in Government – Automate law enforcement, policymaking analysis, and economic planning. ✅ Digital Direct Democracy – Filipinos can vote online in annual national referendums on key policies (Switzerland model). -/- ???? Impact: A corruption-proof, people-powered government that makes smart, data-driven decisions. -/- 8. Military & Foreign Policy Reform (Year 11-15) -/- ✅ Neutrality & Economic Diplomacy (Swiss Model) – Stay independent of global conflicts while expanding trade with the U.S., China, and ASEAN. ✅ Cybersecurity Defense System – Develop AI-powered cyber-defense technology to prevent hacking & cyber threats. ✅ Self-Sufficiency in Agriculture & Industry – Invest in high-tech farming and local industries to reduce import reliance. -/- ???? Impact: The Philippines becomes an economically powerful, self-sufficient, and diplomatically respected nation. -/- 9. Space & Advanced Scientific Research (Year 16-20) -/- ✅ Launch a Philippine Space Program (like NASA) to develop satellite technology and space exploration. ✅ Invest in AI & Quantum Computing Research to compete in the global tech industry. ✅ Biotechnology & Medicine Research to create Philippine-made vaccines, treatments, and bio-engineered food solutions. -/- ???? Impact: The Philippines becomes a hub for science, space, and technological innovation. -/- ???? Summary: The New Philippines Under HGS -/- ???? Conclusion: The Philippines as a Global Model Nation -/- By transitioning to HGS, the Philippines will: ✅ Eliminate corruption & political dynasties through AI-powered governance. ✅ Become a tech-driven, self-sufficient economy with free healthcare, education, and infrastructure. ✅ Modernize cities, transport, and digital services for efficiency and sustainability. ✅ Be a global leader in science, AI, and space exploration. -/- . (shrink)