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Bulgaria’s constitutional drama and the EU Commission’s rose-colored glasses
Get PDFOn 26 July 2024, Bulgaria's Constitutional Court declared a significant part of constitutional amendments enacted in a rush in December 2023 unconstitutional. These amendments were allegedly aimed at the depoliticization of the Supreme Judicial Council and the decentralization of the Prosecutor's Office, and had been praised as progress in the country's latest Rule of Law report by the EU Commission. Yet, a closer look shows that the amendments do not comply with key recommendations by the Venice Commission and could worsen an already dire situation. Sadly, in the case of Bulgaria, the EU Commission has a long history of seeing progress when the rule of law is under assault
Understanding equity access and use in early-stage ventures
No full textThe report examines UK early equity investment during the year prior to survey of 750 UK-based ventures in spring 2023. It is the first large-scale survey of UK first time seeking equity ventures and is based largely on a sample of IUK assisted ventures. Phase 2 of this study in 2024 will seek a non IUK sample to compare findings
The portrayal of Jesus in Islam amongst contemporary Muslims writing to the American public: in what ways do their writings represent continuity and change in relation to formative-classical Muslim understandings?
Get PDFTarif Khalidi, a contemporary Muslim scholar, has observed that the identity of the Jesus of Islam has been changing since the canonical writings of the Qur’an and Hadīth. He has moved from the ascetic saint of formative-classical Islam to lord of nature, miracle worker, healer, and social and ethical model of modern Islam. He says that Jesus has become much more than an argument for the truth of Islam, “he is a living and vital moral voice, demanding to be heard.”1
Inspired by Khalidi’s observation, I analyze the writings of six contemporary Muslim scholars writing to the American public to determine the ways in which their understandings of the Jesus of Islam have evolved from formative-classical Muslim understandings. I identify nine themes demonstrating their movements in understandings of the Jesus of Islam. These themes are organized in five chapters: The Uniqueness of ʿĪsā, The Nature of ʿĪsā as the Word of Allah, Prophet of Hope - Future and Present, Zealot and Martyr, and Object of Personal Appreciation.
I affirm Khalidi’s observation that the Jesus of Islam is evolving, but my objective is to go beyond this observation. It is to identify the ways in which the Jesus of Islam may be evolving within a contemporary American context and determine the direction and degree of change from formative-classical understandings. I conclude that, with one exception, the primary source authors’ understandings of the Jesus of Islam are evolving from formative-classical understandings towards the Jesus of the Gospels understandings to the point of tension or conflict with the earlier understandings. The conclusion of this thesis provides a summary of my findings and raises new questions for future research. The Literature Review identifies a gap in the current body of knowledge regarding the Jesus of Islam, arguing that there is no comprehensive account of Muslim observations on Christ that also takes present day views into account. This research will address this gap
Selecting metrics that matter: a framework to guide practitioners who use jump testing in sport
No full textThis keynote presentation outlined a set of underpinning principles (or framework) by which practitioners working in sport may wish to consider, when trying to establish which metrics they should use during jump testing with their athlete populations, on force platforms
Psychedelics as a tool for a more connected and sustainable world? Considering the importance of rituals, boundaries, and commitment
Get PDFDespite the surge of interest in psychedelic research in the past decade, largely due to the promise of psychedelics for improving mental health outcomes, there has been comparatively little discussion about the social and environmental consequences of psychedelic drug use. While there is growing evidence to suggest psychedelics could foster a greater connection to the natural world and improve social relationships, such positive repercussions are far from guaranteed. In this commentary, we focus on LSD, psilocybin and especially MDMA, and outline three insights we came to see as crucial to creating beneficial outcomes: 1) the importance of setting and rituals, 2) the establishment of boundaries, and 3) understanding the long-term commitment required. These insights are grounded in the history of psychedelics, which is intimately intertwined with ritualised use, yet the process of commercialisation of these substances threatens to strip away important contextual factors. Creating boundaries around when, how and with whom psychedelics are used have been found to protect recreational users from harm and could also be instrumental in steering commercial interests to align with socio-environmental goals. Finally, far from being a ‘quick fix’ for social or environmental problems, the use of psychedelics requires sustained engagement to integrate the insights obtained. Whereas we remain optimistic about the transformative potential of psychedelics for social relationships and the environment, we also emphasise the need for a more cautious, considered approach if we are to harness the benefits and minimise the challenges of psychedelic drug use
The Newham Plays – towards the making of a pro-localist theatre in Newham, East London
No full textThe Newham Plays have achieved results in three research areas:
(1) how to give local youth living in a community usually considered a "cold spot" for arts performance and education, opportunities for creative expression and participating in building a professional theatre show.
(2) how to put a local area and its community spaces on the map for the wider public, benefitting local organisations, raising awareness of Newham's sites/venues and the heritage/history of the borough.
(3) how iconic literary classics and historical drama/biography can be ‘remixed’ and ‘localized’ to reflect a sense of a place, people and culture., e.g., the 'hoodie’(or Canary Wharf) Revolution Farm, the multicultural, East End Alice in Canning Town.The use of public environment as alternative auditoria and ‘mixed economy’ participation to create new writing which
originates from, and is rooted in, a community’s history, culture and people. This presentation/research contends that
a localist and grassroots approach is the most effective way of empowering wider access to the arts. It argues for an
increased emphasis on performance in local spaces rather than in mainstream auditoria. The Newham Plays series
have marked out a distinct territory by making a virtue of the absence of elements most commonly associated with
conventional theatre spaces, e.g. a stage, scenery, lighting, seating. My research contends that non-institutionalized
theatre in community, site-specific and localized environments can offer a greater resistance/indifference to
commodification or mass reproduction than mainstream or commercial performance. It is precisely the evanescence
of this kind of theatre, its ephemerality, that provides or proves its own justification or meaning, without the need to
validate itself by entering the “economy of reproduction” (Phelan 1993).
Myrninerest: The Outside/Inside Life of Madge Gill
No full textMadge Gill (1882-1961) was one of the foremost British Outsider artists.* She felt an instinctive compulsion to create, resulting in an outpouring that flowed effortlessly and spontaneously from an altered state of consciousness. Working under the control of Myrninerest, her spirit guide, Madge Gill’s art remains an enigma.
She was born in the East End of London, and lived in Plashet Grove, Upton Park. After her death, her only surviving son Laurie gathered hundreds of pieces of Madge’s work which were stored around the house, stuffed into drawers and cupboards and under the bed. He donated most of the works to East Ham Council and are now owned by Newham Council.
Myrninterest: The Outside Life of Madge Gill is the sixth instalment in The Newham Plays, a critically acclaimed series of site-specific, localist-driven plays shows rooted in Newham's history, culture, and people. Created and written by James Kenworth, the plays are a unique collaboration between a professional creative team working alongside students from Newham schools and young actors from local youth groups/theatres
Examining the impact of competitiveness influencers on destination competitiveness: an investigative study of the destination competitiveness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as an accessible tourism destination
No full textDestination competitiveness is a crucial and demanding aspect of the current tourism market. The stiff competition and increasing number of tourist destinations worldwide have pushed countries to provide high-quality tourism experience to travelers. Recent advancements in technology and infrastructure have led to a surge in the accessibility to tourism destinations. Consequently, the global travel and tourism industry has experienced significant growth and an ever-expanding range of destinations has become accessible for exposure. Liasidou et al., (2022), defined ‘accessible tourism’ as an inclusive tourism that enables people with disabilities, senior citizens and individuals with other access requirements, to travel and participate in tourism activities with the same level of convenience, safety and enjoyment as any other normal traveler. The issue of inclusivity has come to the forefront of the tourism industry, with the need to cater to diverse requirements becoming increasingly important for creating truly accessible tourism experiences. To meet this end, several studies have been conducted to evaluate and analyze the competitiveness of destinations from an accessible tourism perspective. Previous attempts were mainly aimed at assessing the competitiveness of destinations; thus, empirical research focusing on accessible destination competitiveness has so far been scarce. However, current research on this topic has primarily focused on destinations that are already well-established and developed, which may not necessarily be indicative of the challenges faced by developing destinations. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a destination visited by millions of travelers each year and it is ranked as the 35th most visited global destination. However, accessible tourism remains an area that has received little attention in academic research. Thus, the main aim of this study is to assess the current status of Saudi Arabia as an accessible tourism destination, examining the impact of destination competitiveness influencers on its competitive performance.
To fill the aforementioned gap, the present study extends Domínguez Vila et al., (2015) model by adding a customer satisfaction variable and measuring Saudi Arabia’s destination competitiveness from an accessible tourism perspective. Based on empirical analysis, the current study draws on the responses of 316 local and international tourists, who visited the main destinations of Saudi Arabia at least once in the last four years. It is important to note that the sample population was not limited to people with specific access requirements, rather it was inclusive of all tourists, regardless of the presence or absence of any disabilities. Variables such as core attractors and resources, supporting factors and resources, qualifying and amplifying determinants, destination planning and management and customer satisfaction were tested based on the level of accessible destination competitiveness. The results confirmed a significant positive effect of customer satisfaction and the variables of Domínguez Vila et al., (2015) model on accessible destination competitiveness, except for supporting factors and resources. It is evident that some of the determinants of destination performance be more influential than others; therefore, Saudi Arabia should place considerable emphasis on resources and attributes that are likely to have a strong effect on destination performance. The findings of this study hold significant implications for destination management organizations and destination planners in gaining a better understanding of the distinct advantages and challenges of the accessible tourism market. By identifying and highlighting the key factors necessary for policymaking. This research aims to facilitate the formulation of effective strategies to manage shortcomings and capitalize on destination strengths. Additionally, this study aims to serve as a cornerstone for future research by providing a baseline for further investigating the accessibility of destinations in Saudi Arabia
Positive LGBT+ identity, interpersonal discrimination, and satisfaction with life: a cross-national comparison between LGBT+ people in the UK, Italy, and Turkey
Get PDFThe present study explored how identity authenticity and LGBT+ community connectedness may mediate the effects of interpersonal discrimination on life satisfaction in a sample of LGBT+ participants across three counties. We used a cross-sectional online survey to collect data and paper questionnaires. Participants were 723 LGBT+ people (56.6% females): 308 (42%) of participants were from the UK, 245 (34%) from Italy, and 170 (24%) from Turkey. Participants’ age ranged from 18–60 years (M = 33.83, SD = 11.55). Analysis of variance and multigroup mediation models implemented through path analysis were performed. The associations of interpersonal discrimination with identity authenticity and connectedness to the LGBT+ community showed cross-country variations. The association between interpersonal discrimination and identity authenticity was stronger in Italy than in the UK but non-significant in Turkey. Interpersonal discrimination showed a negative association with connectedness to the LGBT+ community in Italy and the UK, with Italy exhibiting the strongest effect. Conversely, this association was positive in Turkey. Irrespective of the country, life satisfaction showed a negative association with interpersonal discrimination and positive associations with identity authenticity and connectedness to the LGBT+ community. This study provides valuable insights into the differences and similarities between the experiences of LGBT+ people in the UK, Italy, and Turkey. The social and policy implications that emerge from the study highlight the relevance of addressing structural stigma in different cultures and emphasize the need for targeted interventions and supportive policies at the supranational level to improve the quality of life of LGBT+ individuals
