Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions (3137)

The ¿Dónde Vive la Ciencia en su Comunidad? (where does science live in your community?) photovoice project is a community-based participatory research project that investigates the presence and influence of science within local environments. In collaboration with researchers, science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) educators, and community members from the Latine community in Corona, Queens, the project investigated where science is found in our communities. Community researchers used photography to document their surroundings and identified key themes related to the role of science through technology, community health, safety, and wellness. The photovoice method elevated social justice issues through critical dialog, creating opportunities for change through collective action. Among the critical issues discussed were urban planning, specifically the impacts of gentrification on the local community and the possibilities that greening offered as a site of agency, multigenerational learning, and resistance through ways of knowing. Community researchers examined the dual nature of STEM as both a tool of control and a means for justice, interrogating whose voices and experiences are prioritized in decision-making processes. Establishing shared green spaces emerged as an act of epistemic disobedience and resistance for sustaining community health and cultural identity. The project highlights how collaborative, community-led initiatives promote the reclamation of political power through collective action and disrupt colonizing forces, offering actionable recommendations for policy, research, and practice to guide justice-oriented change. Full article

Studies have shown that the school atmosphere perceived by students can play a key role in promoting their well-being and success in school. No study to date has analyzed whether the students’ perceived school atmosphere might contribute to school refusal (SR), which in turn might reduce students’ engagement and promote underachievement. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 528 Italian high school students (M_age = 16.08, SD = 1.38; 50.8% males, 47% females, and 2.3% not declared), with the aim of assessing the role of the mediation of SR (Anxious Anticipation, Difficult Transition, Interpersonal Discomfort, and School Avoidance) in the association between students’ perceived school atmosphere (Student Relations, Student–Teacher Relations, Educational Climate, Sense of Belonging, and Interpersonal Justice) and school engagement and underachievement. Data were collected using validated instruments, including the SChool REfusal EvaluatioN for school refusal, the Multidimensional School Climate Questionnaire for school atmosphere, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale for school engagement. To evaluate the association between variables, we performed structural equation modeling with latent variables. Mediation analysis indicated that Difficult Transition fully mediates the association between Sense of Belonging and school engagement (β = 0.20, p ≤ 0.05). This study extends the knowledge of school refusal behavior. Full article

In households, waste growth has become a critical global issue. This study aims to extend our understanding of promoting pro-environmental behavior by exploring the role of trust and perceived justice in households’ waste recycling practices. Trust and social justice are context-sensitive; studying them in different contexts provides new knowledge on motivating recycling motivation. The research is based on semi-structured interviews (n = 40) on household recycling practices in Latvia. Research results demonstrate that a lack of institutional trust and perceived social injustice concerning household waste recycling practices appear in several contexts: trust in an individual’s capacity to recycle, trust in their peers’ capacity to recycle, trust in the efficiency of the recycling system, trust in the capacity of the waste management company to recycle, trust in waste management policy, and trust in information on recycling. Lack of trust in waste management is linked to perceived social injustice as waste management policy is criticized for not being accessible and putting too much responsibility on households, and this can serve as a critical barrier to household recycling. This study reveals which elements of the waste management system are related to a higher risk of social injustice and lack of trust in the perspective of households, thus signaling where changes in the system or providing end-users more information are needed to make the waste-sorting process more efficient. The findings of the study indicated a few directions for further improvements in the waste management system: ensuring the financial availability of recycling services, reassessment of the responsibilities of the stakeholders, and working toward raising awareness of the recycling and waste management system. Full article

Offshore wind (OSW) technology has recently been included in California’s plans to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045. As an emerging technology, many features of OSW are changing more rapidly than established renewable options and are shaped by local circumstances in unique ways that limit transferrable experiences globally. This paper fills a gap in the literature by providing an updated technological assessment of OSW in California to determine its viability and competitiveness in the state’s electricity generation mix to achieve its near-term energy and environmental goals. Through a critical synthesis and extrapolation of technical, social, and economic analyses, we identify several major improvements in its potential. First, we note that while estimates of OSW’s costs per MWh of installed capacity have generally documented and projected a long-term decline, recent technical, microeconomic, and macroeconomic factors have caused significant backsliding of this momentum. Second, we project that the potential dollar value benefits of OSW’s greenhouse gas reduction capabilities have increased by one to two orders of magnitude, primarily due to major upward revisions of the social cost of carbon. Several co-benefits, including enhanced reliability, economic growth, and environmental justice, look to be increasingly promising due to a combination of technological advances and policy initiatives. Despite these advancements, OSW continues to face several engineering and broader challenges. We assess the current status of these challenges, as well as current and future strategies to address them. We conclude that OSW is now overall an even more attractive electricity-generating option than at the beginning of this decade. Full article

Legal judgment prediction is a common basic task in the field of Legal AI, aimed at using deep domain models to predict the outcomes of judicial cases, such as charges, legal provisions, and other related tasks. This task has practical applications in environmental law, including legal decision assistance and legal advice, offering a promising and broad prospect. However, most previous studies focus on using high-quality labeled data for strong supervised training in criminal justice, often neglecting the rich external knowledge contained in various charges and laws. This approach fails to accurately simulate the decision-making steps of judges in real scenarios, overlooking the semantic information in case descriptions that significantly impacts judgment results, leading to biased outcomes. In judicial environmental protection, the high overlap and similarity between different charges can cause confusion, and there is a lack of relevant judicial decision labeling datasets. To address this, we propose the External Knowledge-Infused Cross Attention Network (EKICAN), which leverages the robust semantic understanding capabilities of large models. By extracting information such as fact descriptions and court opinions from documents of criminal, civil, and administrative cases related to judicial environmental protection, we construct the Judicial Environmental Law Judgment Dataset (JELJD). We address data imbalance in this dataset using the text generation capabilities of judicial large models. Finally, EKICAN fuses semantic information from different parts with external knowledge to output prediction results. Experimental results show that EKICAN achieves state-of-the-art performance on the JELJD compared to advanced models. Full article

Ongoing discussions on creation care and agapeic ethic have paid less attention to the interplay between love, creation, waste management challenges, and mission. This paper, therefore, discusses a missional perspective of agapeic ethic as a ground norm for eco-theology and motivation for eco-care (especially proper waste management). An attempt is made to discuss the concept and dimensions of love and the nexus between love, creation, and missional purpose. This paper adopts a non-participant observation of refuse collection as carried out by refuse collectors, the waste disposal practices of people, and the waste handling and disposal practices of selected churches. This research was conducted across Port Harcourt City, Obio Akpor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Oyibo, and Eleme municipal areas of Rivers State, Nigeria. The churches observed include Protestant Churches (Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Church of Nigeria that is Anglican Communion, and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints); the Roman Catholic Church; Pentecostal Churches (such as Salvation Ministries Worldwide, Redeemed Christian Church of God, and Deeper Life Bible Church); and African Indigenous Churches (namely, the Christ Apostolic Church, Cherubim and Seraphim, and Celestial Church of Christ). The information gathered was critically analysed and used in measuring stakeholders’ disposition to and understanding of the research focus. Ecological liberation hermeneutics was adopted as an interpretative framework, while the eco-justice principles of interconnectedness and purpose were engaged to foreground the underlying issues in this study. This paper argued that Christians’ involvement in proper waste management, keeping both private and public spaces clean, is a morally and divinely imposed duty and a practical testimonial of their love for God, their fellow human beings, and non-human others. This is a fulfilment of the mission where Christian love (agape) serves as an ethical principle of inflicting ‘no harm’ to humans or non-human others. Full article

Integrating Students of Color in school leadership offers ways to remediate the historical exclusion of Students of Color from schooling, develop asset-based educational practices for Students of Color, and offer rich developmental pathways for the students. Efforts to build more participatory leadership systems must consider how the unique assets that Students of Color bring to bear are positioned and leveraged within such leadership systems, the kinds of structures and practices that facilitate the meaningful participation of Students of Color in school leadership, and how the interests of Students of Color are privileged through their participation in school leadership. This paper examines three student cases that analyze the students’ participation in efforts aimed at centering students in conceptualizing, designing, and implementing digital media-integrated school practices. The analysis will show that a diverse set of student assets, such as their families’ political activism, career aspirations shaped by experiences with literature across borders, and experiences with navigating tensions across multiple axes of exclusion, helped the students navigate their emergent roles in school leadership. Such asset-based participation led to the activation/mobilization of such assets towards the students’ broader life and educational goals. Together, their experiences can help inform the ways we build asset-based, racial justice-focused school leadership systems that facilitate the meaningful participation of Students of Color. Full article

The impact of natural hazards on the Puerto Rican electric system significantly affects the well-being of its population, particularly affecting populations in remote areas. The present study aims to identify the most affected geographic regions using a complementary approach that leverages open source governmental data. By harnessing the power of comprehensive data and utilizing a graphical analysis tool—a set of open access dashboards with maps and graphs—positive change can be fostered, providing stakeholders with comprehensive data for informed decision-making. The dashboards facilitate the identification, association, and analysis of different metrics such as customers without services, SAIDI (System Average Interruption Duration Index), SAIFI (System Average Interruption Frequency Index), and CHoLES (Customers Hours of Lost Electric Service). Additionally, the dashboard provides information on the progress of the net metering, demonstrating the rapid integration of PV (photovoltaic) and BES (battery energy storage) systems. Interactive dashboards for stakeholders to analyze key metrics such as SAIDI, SAIFI and CHoLES were designed and built using an interactive data visualization platform. Full article

Uranium mining for the production of nuclear technologies has left visible scars across the United States and perpetuated legacies of extraction that extend beyond material consumption to the exploitation of people and the environment. Influenced by important ongoing conversations in the environmental and energy humanities, posthumanism, and decolonial studies, I analyze how uranium extraction has been conceived of as an “event” within a colonial temporal framework. A critical examination of how religious worldviews have informed the ways that time is conceptualized and understood shifts thinking about extraction away from colonial temporalities and helps reimagine extraction through a decolonial perspective as temporally distributed, enmeshed, and complex. This reframing is imperative to foster an understanding that the radioactive byproducts of uranium created through the nuclear production process are globally dispersed, will persist across generations, and will have transgenerational implications for human and non-human organisms and the health and viability of ecologic systems. Full article

There are calls for the democratisation of higher education in line with the principles of social justice. Collaboration with students offers the potential for creating a more inclusive higher education environment, and open textbook development initiatives can be a vehicle for change. This paper focuses on the experiences of students as co-creators in open textbook initiatives at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Drawing on interviews with 11 open textbook collaborators, this paper utilises Nancy Fraser’s social justice framework to explore students’ perspectives on injustices, challenges of collaboration and co-creation, and power dynamics in student–staff partnerships. The study shows that students experience and navigate various injustices in their classroom contexts related to economic maldistribution, cultural misrecognition and political misrepresentation. It reveals a complex interrelationship between student voice, power dynamics in the classroom, and the power of student–staff partnerships to build confidence and flatten hierarchies in open textbook co-creation. The student views presented here provide powerful evidence of a range of benefits they experience when the traditional hierarchies between student and lecturer are levelled through collaborative open textbook development processes. Results indicate that co-creation activities enabled them to have a voice through the power of publication and own their academic journeys. Full article

Written accounts of cultural festivals often deal with the various activities that comprise those types of events. There is a paucity of analyses that discuss how festivals encourage the status quo of consumption practices, while conjuring their hidden costs on society. This paper analyses how the Hamburg Cruise Days Festival attempted to perpetuate the status quo of the cruising industry. The research answers the following question: What would it take to help change the current “cobalt” color promoted by the organizers of the Hamburg’s Waterfront Cruise Days Festival to a “True Blue”, a symbol of the cleanest sky and harbor waters in Germany, and the best example of sustainable Green and Blue Infrastructure in Europe? The research methods comprised in loco fieldwork participant observation in the tradition of participatory action research. It is argued that, from a governance perspective, festival organizers ought to be required to disclaim, in the fashion of “truth in advertising”, the ecological impacts and sponsors’ progress toward reaching existing environmental standards to eradicate costly social and environmental injustices. Said practice will increase our individual and collective awareness of the invaluable richness of the world’s land- and water-based environment before it is irreplaceably exhausted. The article suggests extending events’ emphasis on sustainable tourism to also encompass three additional measures: (i) the socio-ecological performance of the cruise (and shipping) industry; (ii) in the fashion of a Solomonic approach to justice; and (iii) within a formalized Porto of Call Sister Cities Network. Full article

Objective: To determine the prevalence of frailty and examine its association with gastrointestinal-related quality of life (QOL) among older outpatients in a geriatric hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1042 outpatients (age: ≥65 years) diagnosed using the revised Japanese version of the cardiovascular health study criteria. Data collection was performed by a multidisciplinary team. Results: Of the 1039 eligible subjects (male: n = 460 [44.3%]; mean age: 78.2 ± 6.1 years), 172 (16.6%) had frailty (male: n = 77 [44.8%]; mean age: 80.9 ± 6.2 years). The multivariate analysis revealed that age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.070, p < 0.001), QOL (OR: 0.982, p = 0.009), a history of falls (OR: 1.702, p = 0.029), sarcopenia (OR: 4.708, p < 0.001), steroid use (OR: 3.741, p = 0.001), analgesic drug use (OR: 2.056, p = 0.014), Mini Mental State Examination (OR: 0.915, p = 0.011), Geriatric Depression Scale 15 (OR: 1.101, p = 0.008), fullness-related QOL score (OR: 1.119, p = 0.010), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test (OR: 1.048, p = 0.007), and 10-item Eating Assessment Tool (OR: 1.071, p = 0.009) were related to frailty. Conclusions: The prevalence rate of frailty in older outpatients at a university hospital specializing in geriatric medicine was higher than that previously reported in community-dwelling individuals. Our study clarified that the fullness-related QOL score was related to frailty. Full article

The ongoing existence of health disparities in marginalized communities in India can be attributed to social health determinants such as poverty, caste, gender, and limited access to education and healthcare. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, an iconic figure in Indian social reform and the driving force behind the Indian Constitution, acknowledged the significance of the social determinants of health influencing health outcomes. This paper explores Dr. Ambedkar’s vision of addressing health disparities, with a focus on his contributions to public health policy and the promotion of social justice. Additionally, it analyses the ongoing perpetuation of inequality through the examination of social determinants of health and explores how Ambedkar’s vision can provide guidance for present public health strategies. The analysis highlights the importance of strong primary healthcare systems, recognizing universal healthcare as an essential human right through the vision of Dr. Ambedkar. It also advocates for greater government funding and policy coordination to effectively tackle health disparities. Full article

Urban parks have become more important in residents’ daily lives owing to both rapid urbanization and increasing environmental pressures. Globally, there is growing concern regarding equitable access to urban parks, particularly in densely populated countries such as China. This study focuses on the accessibility and equity of urban parks in Jiujiang using walking route data obtained from an open-source platform through an application programming interface to assess park accessibility. We explored the equity of park accessibility from three perspectives: spatial, opportunity, and group equity. The results indicated that urban parks in central Jiujiang have significantly better accessibility than those in suburban areas. Less than half of the study area was covered within a 1500 m walking distance. There is a large service blind catchment in park accessibility. Similarly, disparities in the equity of park accessibility were observed. The Penpu sub-district has the best accessibility; in contrast, the Qili Lake sub-district benefits from less than 10% of park accessibility. Wealthier communities benefit more from park accessibility than disadvantaged communities. Our study aims to provide strategies for urban planning for policymakers. Strategies such as increasing park entrances, opening gated communities, and creating shared green spaces may help ensure environmental equity. Full article

The article examines Paul’s critique of Jews in Romans, focusing on Romans 1–3. It adopts an approach of reading Paul within Judaism while differing from some interpreters representative of this approach by arguing that Paul is critiquing his fellow Jews and that his critique is relevant to his gentile audience. It argues against the traditional Protestant problematization of “works righteousness”, Sanders’ claim that Paul reasons from solution to plight, and the New Perspective’s problematization of ethnic distinctiveness. Paul’s critique is grounded in Jewish intramural prophetic critique and restoration eschatology, over against Torah-wisdom traditions. Consistent with this perspective, Paul’s fundamental criticism of Jews and Israel is their failure to keep the divine Torah. Central to Paul’s argument is the interplay between Jewish particularity and the universal scope of Paul’s gospel. Israel’s failure is an intermediate but not an ultimate divine purpose. Jewish distinctiveness and Torah reveal the seriousness of sin and affirm the justice of God’s wrath. Thus, Paul’s prophetic critique also implies a prophetic hope for Israel, intertwined with his critique of and hope for all humanity, whom he views as sinners standing under God’s judgment and needing salvation through faith in the Davidic messiah, Jesus. Full article

In today’s highly competitive and complex market environment, enhancing adaptability has become essential for the sustainable development of enterprises. Job crafting, an important strategy for strengthening a company’s core competitiveness, has garnered increasing attention in recent years. However, previous studies have often overlooked its antecedent variables and mechanisms. This study draws on social exchange theory and equity theory to examine how procedural justice influences the cross-level pathways of job crafting. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was employed to analyze data from 76 companies and 1049 employees. The results demonstrate that procedural justice significantly and positively impacts employee job crafting. Additionally, organizational psychological ownership mediates the relationship between procedural justice and job crafting at a cross-level, while high-performance work systems positively moderate the link between organizational psychological ownership and job crafting. These findings reveal a novel pathway for enhancing employee job crafting and offer practical insights for corporate management. Companies should focus on fostering an environment characterized by procedural justice and which promotes organizational psychological ownership to encourage job-crafting behaviors. Moreover, attention should be given to the effectiveness of organizational psychological ownership and to the moderating role of high-performance work systems in this process. Full article

In the field of moral psychology, traditional perspectives often evaluate anger based on its consequences, either validating or condemning it for its perceived benefits or harms. This paper argues for a shift in focus from the outcomes of anger to its moral and psychological foundations. By integrating insights from psychological research, this study posits that the fundamental nature of anger is intrinsically linked to the quest for recognition. Justified anger is defined as an emotional response to the unmet need for fair acknowledgment, while unjustified anger stems from feelings of superiority and the pursuit of higher status. This paper distinguishes between these two forms of anger, providing a more nuanced and intuitive understanding of the emotion. This interpretive framework not only aligns with our experiential understanding of anger but also offers a theoretical bridge to reconcile divergent philosophical and psychological perspectives. This study emphasizes the importance of addressing the underlying issues of recognition and self-esteem, suggesting that anger, when properly understood and managed, can serve as a constructive force for social justice and mutual respect. Full article

The article discusses the ultimate limits of crime proceeds control measures from the perspective of the proportionality principle. The concept of the general illicit enrichment offence (GIEO) is explored as it is considered one of the most radical illicit asset control measures. It is based on two extreme elements: first, it reaches broadly beyond the all-crime proceeds approach and targets any unexplained assets. Secondly, it provides highly intrusive measures, involving both the confiscation of assets and, in addition, criminal sanctions. The advantages and risks of the concept are examined from both practical and basic legal principle perspectives. The author presents recent results from the Lithuanian penal justice system, where the GIEO has been introduced into penal law and practice since the end of 2010. A rich body of case law from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and European Union Court of Justice (EUCJ) serves as the background of the analysis. The author concludes that the concept of GEIO is in conflict with the proportionality principle. Although the Lithuanian Constitutional Court did not find proportionality issues with the GIEO, the prospects of successful challenges with respect to the proportionality principle in the ECtHR and the EUCJ appear promising. Full article

The climate crisis, combined with the COVID-19 lockdown measures, exacerbated pre-existing psychological conditions among young people experiencing climate anxiety due to a lack of information and a diffuse sense of powerlessness. The current study aimed to find correlations between the health status of a community, the environmental determinants among youths, and how these affect their vision of climate change and their mental health. An exploratory survey was conducted among people aged between 18 and 33 years old from three continents, with a focus on emotional states related to natural disasters occurring in their regions. The online survey consisted of six questions. The pilot phase results showed that more females from India experienced stressful situations related to climate change, and that respondents aged between 18 and 20 years old were more informed about eco-anxiety. Given its growing frequency among young adults, further studies should be conducted to address the problem and create alternatives and coping mechanisms such as climate action. Full article

The role of the school principal has garnered international significance. When it comes to student learning outcomes, the effectiveness of the principal has been recognized as being more important than the effectiveness of a single teacher. Studies also highlight the role school leadership plays in fostering equity and social justice practices in schools and communities. Yet only a small body of research exists on how to prepare leaders to lead for equity. In this paper, we will describe, analyze, and reflect on the components of one school leadership preparation program’s (SLLP’s) candidate assessment system (CAS), which guided the selection of equity-centered leadership candidates for a cohort program in a university–district partnership. We applied a qualitative content analysis to the documents we utilized to select aspiring equity-centered leaders through the program’s redesigned CAS. Our findings revealed that the content and process of the program’s CAS was aligned with many tenets of equity-centered leadership, specifically in CAS documents and in the involvement of a broad group of constituencies and partners during the design and implementation of CAS. We also uncovered a new finding outside of our framework: an emphasis on instructional leadership in our CAS documents as a key component of leading for equity. This study is likely to inform other SLPPs intending to select leadership candidates who will have the capacity to lead for equity. Full article

Introduction: Child trafficking is a clear violation of human rights, robbing minors of their fundamental entitlements. These encompass the right to personal identity, familial bonds, cultural heritage, access to healthcare and proper nourishment, education, freedom of speech, and the assurance of safety and security. Children and young people, given their inherent vulnerability and limited access to support networks, frequently struggle to safeguard themselves effectively. This predicament presents traffickers with opportunities to exploit and manipulate them. Therefore, it is essential for professionals across various sectors—including education, healthcare, protective and social services, as well as the justice system—to undergo comprehensive training and be integrated into a robust social protection system. This preparation should equip them to conduct screenings, accurately assess needs, and adhere to international guidelines when addressing cases of child trafficking. Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the child-centered anti-trafficking approaches employed by Italy and Turkey, situated along migration pathways in the Mediterranean region and experiencing significant regular and irregular migration flows in recent years. Both nations fall within the classification of southern European welfare regimes. Methodology: This research specifically delves into the social protection policies aimed at children and young victims established by these two countries. Carried out between 1 February 2020 and 20 May 2021, this study employed a semi-structured interview approach, conducting qualitative in-depth interviews in both Italy and Turkey. This research targeted experts from various disciplines engaged in combating human trafficking in both countries, with a total sample size of 46 participants, comprising 15 experts from Italy and 31 from Turkey. Grounded theory formed the basis of the study, with data analyzed using the MAXQDA 2020 Pro Analytics program, employing a multidisciplinary and empowerment approach. Results: The analysis yielded 2942 codes, 17 sub-themes, and four main themes. The study identified four main themes: (i) characteristics of child victims and vulnerable child groups, (ii) services provided to at-risk groups and child trafficking victims within the current national counter-trafficking framework, (iii) challenges encountered in delivering services to children and young individuals, and (iv) recommendations for establishing an effective and child-centered protection system. Discussion and Conclusion: It is imperative to ensure that victims of child trafficking have access to comprehensive social protection measures. It has been noted that both Italy and Turkey offer various services to victims of child trafficking, including in-kind and -cash social assistance, free legal aid, shelter services, access to education and healthcare, as well as prevention, awareness, and advocacy programs. However, there are also differences between the two countries in certain aspects. Recommendations aimed at addressing these differences can be developed by adhering to the minimum standards outlined in the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. Full article

A growing literature within the field of air pollution exposure assessment addresses the issue of environmental justice. Leveraging the increasing availability of exposure datasets with broad spatial coverage and high spatial resolution, a number of works have assessed inequalities in exposure across racial/ethnic and other socioeconomic groupings. However, environmental justice research presents the additional need to evaluate exposure inequity—inequality that is systematic, unfair, and avoidable—which may be framed in several ways. We discuss these framings and describe inequality and inequity conclusions provided from several contrasting approaches drawn from recent work. We recommend that future work addressing environmental justice interventions include complementary “Exposure-driven” and “Socially weighted” metrics, taking an intersectional view of areas and social groups that are both disproportionately impacted by pollution and are impacted by additional health risks resulting from structural racism and consider implications for environmental justice beyond distributional equity. Full article

Through his numerous visits to the Muslim world, and by promoting an ethics of recognition of Islam, Pope Francis built trust and a religious encounter with various Muslim institutions. His dedication to global ethical concerns, such as human brotherhood, the environment, migration, and peace, has made religious leaders throughout the Middle East, particularly in Iraq, Egypt, and the Gulf states, favourable to interfaith co-operation with the Catholic Church for the common good. In particular, Pope Francis has influenced how justice and tolerance are perceived by many in the Muslim world, as evidenced by various Muslim responses to his messages. He was therefore effective in initiating an ethical encounter to overcome injustice and violence, in addition to re-establishing religious diplomacy and communication with Islam. Full article

Human beings are prone to violence of all kinds, and they are generally religious. Violence and religion are also thick, difficult-to-define concepts. Are they related? Two seminal thinkers stand as cornerstones in this modern debate. For Emile Durkheim, religion is both a cohesive social force and potential antagonist, uniting the community around ritual norms at odds with outsiders, against whom violence is routinely justified. For Rene Girard, internal mediation of mimetic desire generates rivalries that are assuaged through the ritual sacrifice of scapegoats to hold off social chaos and anomie. Girard writes from within a Christian tradition he argues overcomes this scapegoat doom loop. While Durkheim is a skeptical empiricist about religion, and Girard is a literary man writing from within the Christian tradition, both conclude that religion reduces violence and does not increase it. Full article

Nowadays, the consequence of quick access to information has lead to the spread of fake news, which has a strong damaging impact on democracy, justice, and public trust. Thus, it is crucial to analyze and evaluate detection methods for fake news. This paper focuses on the detection of Romanian fake news. In this study, we made a comparative analysis of machine learning algorithms and Transformer-based models on Romanian fake news detection using three datasets—FakeRom, NEW, and both FakeRom + NEW. The NEW dataset was build using a scrapping algorithm applied on the Veridica platform. Our approach uses the following machine learning models for detection: Naive Bayes (NB), Logistic Regression (LR), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). We also used two Transformer-based models—BERT-based-multilingual-cased and RoBERTa-large. The performance of the models was evaluated using various metrics: accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The results revealed that the BERT model trained on the NEW dataset consistently achieved the highest performance metrics across all test sets, with 96.5%. Also, Support Vector Machine trained on NEW was another top performer, reaching a very good accuracy of 94.6% on the combined test set. Full article

This article for the first time examines the activities of transnational information campaigns initiated by young Shiʿa Muslims across European, Russian, and Armenian cities. These campaigns aim to disseminate knowledge about Imam Hussain and his mission to non-Shiʿa audiences. The campaigns serve as vivid examples of the struggles faced by Muslims in relatively hostile contexts as they seek integration and acceptance as law-abiding and peaceful citizens. They also represent new avenues of Islamic activism, focusing on dismantling stereotypes and correcting “misunderstandings” within host societies. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and an analysis of campaign handouts and social media content between 2018 and 2024, this study explores how campaigners adapt the narrative of the Karbala tragedy—widely regarded as the metahistorical cornerstone of Shiʿa identity—to make it accessible and relevant to external audiences. These strategies enable campaigners to engage with out-group communities, testing and refining effective methods for presenting this pivotal historical event. The findings reveal that, through this process, the Karbala narrative undergoes both content-based and linguistic modifications, while the concept of justice—central to the commemoration of this tragedy—is reinterpreted in new contexts. This research contributes to the understanding of transnational Islamic activism and highlights the importance of strategic communication in fostering intercultural dialogue and promoting mutual understanding in diverse societies. Full article

Currently, women make up only 5% of the prison population, with 3604 women in prison in the UK compared to 74,981 men. Risky drinking is highly prevalent in both the male and female prison population, however, significantly more females drink in a risky way prior to prison (24% compared to 18% of men). In addition to risky drinking, those entering the criminal justice system (CJS), particularly women, are more likely to suffer from inequalities in society. Such inequalities can be linked to the pains of imprisonment for women. The overall research methods discussed in this paper are qualitative interviews. The interviews were designed after two systematic reviews exploring: the gendered pains of imprisonment and the feasibility and acceptability of women and alcohol brief interventions (ABI) were conducted. Interviews were conducted in an open prison setting, with both female residents and relevant staff and stakeholders. To date there is a dearth of evidence in relation to delivering ABI’s in prison, specifically with women. This research explored the feasibility and acceptability of delivering ABI to women in prison and found that when delivering ABI’s in a prison setting, by underpinning the research with criminological theory, could help women capitalise on the “teachable moment” necessary to induce behaviour change. The findings of the interviews found the intervention was both feasible and acceptable and identified five themes highlighting the women’s journey through prison chronologically to enable a more holistic ABI to be developed in future. Full article

This study examines the crucial role architecture plays in fostering inclusive and equitable experiences on college campuses, focusing on how physical spaces communicate implicit messages of access and belonging. Drawing on interdisciplinary feminist spatial justice frameworks and intersectional analysis, the research critiques traditional top-down design practices that may overlook the identity-based needs of diverse users. Through a case study approach, the paper highlights the disconnect between architectural intentions and lived experiences, illustrating how design choices can unintentionally reinforce social hierarchies. The study advocates for participatory architectural approaches that prioritize the voices and experiences of campus community members, promoting radical inclusivity in the design process. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on integrating feminist and intersectional approaches into architectural education and practice, emphasizing the importance of creating more just and inclusive spaces. Full article

Humans and more-than-humans experience injustices related to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Nurses hold the power and shared Responsibility (Note on Capitalization: Indigenous Scholars resist colonial grammatical structures and recognize ancestral knowledge by capitalizing references to Indigenous Ways of Knowing (Respect, Relations, and Responsibilities are capitalized to acknowledge Indigenous Mi’kmaw Teachings of our collective Responsibilities to m’sit no’ko’maq (All our Relations). Respect for Land, Nature, Knowledge Keepers, Elders, and the names of Tribes, including the Salmon People and sacred spaces, such as the Longhouse, are also denoted with capitals)) to support the health and well-being of each other and Mother Earth. The heart of the Planetary Health movement to address these impacts centers on an understanding of humanity’s interconnection within Nature. As nurses, we seek partnerships with more-than-human communities to promote personal and collective wellness, Planetary Health, and multispecies justice. This article introduces a longitudinal, collaborative autoethnography of our initial engagement with more-than-human communities. In this research, we utilize reflexive photovoice and shared journals to describe our early conversation about this interconnection with three waterways across diverse geographies. This work acknowledges the importance of relational and embodied Ways of Knowing and Being. We invite nurses to embrace the heart of the Planetary Health movement and share these stories with their more-than-human community partners. Full article

Digital evidence plays a crucial role in cybercrime investigations by linking individuals to criminal activities. Data collection, preservation, and analysis can benefit from emerging technologies like blockchain to provide a secure, distributed ledger for managing digital evidence. This study proposes a blockchain-based solution for managing digital evidence in cybercrime cases in the judicial domain. The proposed solution provides the basis for the development of a new model that leverages a consortium blockchain, allowing secure collaboration among judicial stakeholders, while ensuring data integrity and admissibility in court. An extensive literature review demonstrates blockchain’s potential to create a more secure, efficient evidence management system. The proposed model was implemented in a test environment using a localised blockchain for developing and testing smart contracts, as well as integrating a web interface, with off-chain storage for managing evidence data. The system was subsequently deployed in both the Polygon and Ethereum test networks, simulating real-world blockchain environments, revealing that the operational cost in the Polygon network is reduced by 99.96% compared to Ethereum, thereby offering scalability without compromising security. This study underscores blockchain’s potential to revolutionise the chain of custody procedures, improving dependability and security in evidence management and providing more sustainable solutions within the criminal justice system. Full article

This paper will focus on illustrating through qualitative personal narratives the lived realities of three South Asian Indian women in academia across the continuum of their experiences personally, professionally, and as academics within the field of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). The authors will speak to their South Asian identity, their acculturation experiences as Asian Indian women in the US professional and academic context, their different generational experiences in immigration journeys, their different academic and clinical journeys, and other contextual variables such as age, solidarity with other South Asian women in academia, peer mentorship experiences, and finding their own voices and empowerment through connections with other women with similar experiences. In addition to the lack of formal academic mentorship, the authors will describe how they as South Asian Indian women have grappled with the challenges of systemic gender and racial biases that undermined their development as academics and hindered their progress toward gender and racial equality in academic and clinical settings. The authors will situate their personal narratives within the frameworks of feminist solidarity and social justice through describing their mentorship experiences, as mentors and mentees, and how they still were able to establish their professional identities as professional, academic, South Asian women of color. Full article

This study assessed heavy metal contamination in industrial solid waste (S1, S2, S3, and S4) from the Yangtze River Delta region, employing nine risk assessment methods including total content indices (e.g., Igeo, CF) and speciation indices (e.g., ICF, GCF). Four types of industrial solid waste not classified as hazardous but containing heavy metals were analyzed. Key findings revealed significant variability in risk assessments based on chemical speciation versus total content. For example, while S1, S3, and S4 exceeded background levels, S4 showed higher mobility of Pb, Cr (VI), Cu, Ni, and As despite lower overall content. Elements like Cd and Cr (VI) exhibited discrepancies between total content and speciation-based assessments due to low background values and high toxicity. Multi-element indices (DC, RI) indicated higher pollution degrees compared to speciation indices (GCF, GRI). These results underscore the need for integrating multiple assessment methods to accurately evaluate environmental risks in judicial practices. Full article

This project studies how to raise awareness of the environment and sustainability among secondary school students. The goal is for them to become aware of their role in transforming the world, in order to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into students’ daily educational environment. The goal is to attain the highest possible level of diversity in terms of age, possible knowledge of the SDGs, and environmental awareness. Another important factor is geographical distribution, with the inclusion of students from rural and urban schools. The study was developed within the framework of Forest and Sustainability, a project designed for secondary schools in Catalonia, using interactive learning tools. Survey participants (a total of 1106) are asked to choose and prioritize five SDGs. To obtain information on the trends in the responses, the program Minitab Statistical Software (v.22) was used. The SDGs with the highest score are SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The humanitarian and health factors concern members of the sample group most, with very interesting results when comparing the responses by gender, educational level, and rural or urban schools’ participants. Full article

The environmental justice (EJ) movement has evolved over five decades, encapsulating diverse theories, principles, frameworks, and practices. Despite considerable advancements in this field, the nuances of EJ in the Anthropocene era, along with its monitoring and evaluation, remain ambiguous. This paper endeavors to bridge this gap by amalgamating more than 200 review and empirical articles and theoretical literature to delve into a comprehensive exploration of the EJ discourse to date, utilizing the Planetary Justice Research Framework (PJRF). First, we build on the existing knowledge by using three dimensions of EJ from the PJRF, acknowledging historical legacies, and explaining them with practical examples. Second, we create a comprehensive framework to evaluate (in)justice in real-world applications, highlighting the contextual relationships (intra-, inter-, and transdisciplinary) and the role of spatial, temporal, and contextual factors. Finally, we explore the complex connections between living beings and non-living components, showing how (un)just actions impact the balance within and between planetary systems. Consequently, the newly devised monitoring framework highlights potential instances where questions of (in)justice may arise in practical settings, thereby guiding the formulation of measuring indicators and procedural methodologies. Full article

Poverty is a reality worldwide, impacting individuals, communities, and systems. However, poverty is by no means a simplistic concept and its complexity therefore needs to be highlighted as it varies from continent to continent. The Church and pastoral theology can contribute to constructively addressing poverty and the need to develop a theological understanding of poverty. In endeavoring to engage with this reality, this contribution attempts to argue that constructive dialogue creates opportunities for pastoral theology and the Church to change the conditions of the poor. It will also indicate how the Dialogical Intergenerational Pastoral Process (DIPP) as a pastoral approach to poverty, vulnerability, and vulnerance can be relevant to addressing poverty. The aim is further that this contribution will create opportunities for the poor to change pastoral theology and the Church. Full article

This study aims to examine how interdisciplinary urban interventions within architectural education can effectively address social justice issues. Motivated by the growing need for inclusive and equitable urban spaces, this research explores the potential of collaborative design and participatory research methods to foster social awareness and community engagement. Focusing on student-led projects in cities such as Houston, San Diego, and Amsterdam, this study addresses social justice challenges across themes like Art Activism, Tactical Urbanism, environmental justice, and gender equity. Using case study analysis, digital mapping, and poster creation as core methodologies, the research demonstrates the value of multi-scalar, interdisciplinary approaches in tackling complex urban problems. The key findings highlight that integrating these approaches into architectural education promotes critical engagement with social justice issues, equipping students with practical skills for future professional challenges. The implications suggest that expanding this framework to diverse urban contexts could enhance its impact, offering a foundation for further studies on interdisciplinary design as a tool for urban equity. Full article

Community-engaged research (CER) is a justice-oriented research paradigm that emphasizes equitable and reciprocal knowledge co-production with community members and organizations, sharing power, benefits, contributions, and responsibilities among all participants. This study explores nine teachers’ cases of facilitating CER projects in their respective school settings, aimed to support students’ critical consciousness and action for environmental issues and injustices. This study contributes to educational research by adapting an existing framework for CER for environmental justice that can guide K-12 teaching and research on it. By analyzing data from teacher community meetings and individual interviews in the CER framework, this study articulates classroom practices that addressed the Distribution, Procedure, Recognition, and Transformation dimensions of CER, as well as the positive impacts and challenges of these implementations. The findings report teacher practices categorized by the CER dimensions they addressed (the what of the practices) and the instructional strategies they employed (the how of the practices). The findings also compare the frequency of these practices as an indicator of variation in teacher practices and illustrate this variation through three teachers’ CER cases. The findings also document the positive outcomes of CER in student empowerment, as well as the challenges related to time, resources, assessment, and stakeholder skepticism, underscoring the need for systemic support to enhance CER in school settings. The discussion focuses on the implications of these findings and ways to address the identified challenges through future research and institutional efforts. Full article

Sōka-gakkai (also known as Soka Gakkai International or SGI) is a new religious movement that originated in Japan in 1930. For more than a half century, the religion was led by its president Daisaku Ikeda, who played a significant role in its growth from 1960 until his death in 2023. Although SGI is one of the largest new religions in the world—it claims to have over 12 million members in 192 countries—there has to date been very limited scholarly attention paid to the religion and Ikeda’s religious thoughts. The latter is particularly important given the fact that Ikeda has written extensively on the applicability and implications of the doctrines of the SGI in many global issues of the day, including peace, education, environment, and interreligious dialogue. Among a wide variety of issues which can be examined, the paper focuses on the following question: What are Ikeda’s religious thoughts, particularly his stance on religious pluralism and interreligious dialogue? In view of this question, this paper examines how his religious ideas are not immersed in any specific religion, but emphasizes the importance of pursuing interreligious dialogue while acknowledging other religions and cultural traditions. This paper also critically assesses whether Ikeda’s call for interfaith dialogue and collaborations with various religious groups is indeed taking place in the SGI’s commitment to fostering a culture of peace and understanding. It is hoped that the examination of Ikeda’s stance on religious pluralism and interreligious dialogue indirectly allows for the exploration of a religion that is largely unknown and misunderstood. Full article

Ice jamming is the primary mechanism that can generate overland flooding and recharge the isolated basins of the Peace–Athabasca Delta (PAD), a valuable ecosystem of international importance and the ancient homeland of the Indigenous Peoples of the region. Focusing on the regulated Peace River and the Peace Sector of the delta, which has been experiencing a drying trend in between rare ice-jam floods over the last ~50 years, this study describes recent notable breakup events, associated observational data, and numerical applications to determine river discharge during the breakup events. Synthesis and interpretation of this material provide a new physical understanding that can inform the ongoing development of a protocol for strategic flow releases toward enhancing basin recharge in years when major ice jams are likely to form near the PAD. Additionally, several recommendations are made for future monitoring activities and improvements in proposed antecedent criteria for early identification of “promising” breakup events. Full article

The Doctrine of Christian Discovery is a series of fifteenth-century papal bulls that served as the theological and legal justification for the colonization of the world and the enslavement of the Original Free Nations, starting first on the African continent before spreading across the globe. In the 1800s, these bulls and other documents like The Requerimiento and colonial charters would be codified and enshrined together in U.S. law as the Doctrine of Christian Discovery, becoming the foundation of property law and international law. Also, considering what Peter d’Errico calls Federal Anti-Indian Law, we will trace and document how this framework of domination began with the Catholic crowns of Europe and transformed into the dominion theology found within Christian nationalist theologies today. Our research highlights how the Doctrine became enshrined and encoded within Protestantism and the imagined “secular” of the U.S. and Canada, countries who rhetorically espouse separation of church and state while justifying land theft, treaty violations, and the abuse of Indigenous nations and peoples through the Doctrine. We craft a genealogy of Christian domination by carefully analyzing primary sources, especially the colonial charters. We will conclude by juxtaposing the domination framework and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s principles of the Gayanashagowa (Great Law of Peace). Full article

Groundwater is a vital drinking water source, especially in arid regions, sustaining both urban and rural populations. Its quality is influenced by natural (hydrogeological) and human-driven (demographic, policy) factors, which may pose significant public health risks, especially for communities relying on unregulated water supplies. This study addresses critical gaps by examining groundwater vulnerability and contamination disparities, emphasizing their implications for public health and equitable resource management. It analyzes the impact of socio-hydrogeological factors on arsenic and nitrate levels in groundwater-supplied systems in Arizona, U.S. Methods include spatial analysis, ANOVA, multivariate regression, and cluster analysis. Significant disparities in arsenic and nitrate contamination, including exceedances of regulatory limits, were observed across supply types, aquifer characteristics, jurisdictional oversights, and groundwater management areas. Domestic wells and community water systems showed distinct contamination risks. Groundwater vulnerability was influenced by geological differences (karst vs. alluvial aquifers) and regulatory oversight, with Tribal and State systems facing unique challenges and resource needs. Socioeconomic disparities were evident, with minority communities, institutional facilities, rural areas, and specific housing types disproportionately exposed to higher contaminant levels. These findings unveil the intersection of race, socioeconomic status, and public health risks, offering an adaptable framework for addressing similar groundwater challenges in arid and semi-arid regions globally. This study is innovative in its focus on policy distinctions between private and regulated wells, karst and alluvial aquifers, and State and Tribal jurisdictions. It emphasizes the need for targeted vulnerability assessments and remediation strategies that integrate geological, hydrological, and regulatory factors to address risk disparities in vulnerable communities. These environmental inequities underscore the urgent need for stronger regulations and strategic resource allocation to support marginalized communities. The study recommends enhancing monitoring protocols, prioritizing resource distribution, and implementing targeted policy interventions to ensure equitable and sustainable access to safe drinking water in arid regions. Full article

From 2020 to 2023, I spent 3 years as the Prior of the Community of St Cuthbert based at St Nics Church in central Durham. St Nics is a classic UK evangelical city-centre church with a beloved history of Bible teaching, market-square engagement, and mission. In 2019 the church leadership discerned an opportunity to refresh the church’s (and wider) practice of discipleship by launching the Community of St Cuthbert, and I was recruited as its Prior. This article gives an account of some of the strengths and weaknesses of this endeavour, focused particularly on four issues: the importance of a clear, positive and upbuilding ‘rule of life’ statement; the core issue of how a Rule of Life can facilitate widespread missional discipleship in a dispersed community model; the importance of a clear marker of membership in the Community (and the difficulties around developing one); and the potential (albeit largely unrealised) to use the Community of St Cuthbert model as a way of establishing new worshipping communities. My own retrospective reflection as Prior concludes with two convictions that may be of relevance to those considering such a ‘Community’: the nature and challenge of keeping the focus on God rather than on policing practices; and the ways in which such a re-energising of discipleship can offer an evangelical contribution to the life of the whole church, rather than being limited to self-described evangelical churches. Full article

The EAT–Lancet “Planetary Health Diet” (PHD) proposes dietary recommendations to address health and environmental concerns, including reducing meat consumption. However, in Brazil, where meat holds cultural significance, the feasibility of these recommendations is questionable. This study aimed to examine meat consumption across the five Brazilian regions through the lens of the PHD, considering regionalisms and social inequalities. Using data from the 2017–2018 Household Budget Survey (POF), we estimated meat consumption. A multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association between excessive meat consumption and sociodemographic factors, such as region of the country, sex, per capita income profile, and level of Food and Nutrition Security (FNS). Our results reveal that meat consumption exceeds recommendations in all Brazilian regions. To effectively promote healthier and more sustainable diets, public health interventions must consider regional disparities and the cultural significance of meat. Policies should prioritize food justice and address the underlying social and economic factors that drive meat consumption. Full article

The leadership literature suggests that a servant leadership style can reduce negative employee outcomes, even in challenging work environments such as the educational sector, where teachers play a key role in social development. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of servant leadership on work happiness and organizational justice. An explanatory study was carried out including 210 men and women who declared that they perform teaching activities, aged between 21 and 68 years (M = 38.63, SD = 10.00). The data were collected using a self-report scale of servant leadership, work happiness and organizational justice, obtaining an adequate measurement model (α = between 0.902 and 0.959; CR = between 0.923 and 0.963; AVE = 0.604 and 0.631; VIF = between 1.880 and 2.727). The theoretical model was evaluated using the Partial Least-Squares PLS-SEM method. According to the results, the hypotheses were confirmed, demonstrating that there is a significant positive effect of servant leadership on work happiness (β = 0.69; p < 0.001) and organizational justice (β = 0.24; p < 0.001) and a positive effect of work happiness on organizational justice (β = 0.61; p < 0.001). This research provides valuable insight for educational leaders seeking to improve perceptions of happiness and justice in their organizations and promotes servant leadership to achieve this goal. Full article

Worldwide, social work educators’ teaching and learning practices are founded on social justice principles and recognised for their evidence-based, interpersonal, cross-cultural, and problem-solving approaches. Placements are integral to social work education preparing students for practice. Learning experienced on such placements, particularly those involving research, can assist students to develop a broad understanding of diversity, inequality, and anti-oppressive practice in local, national, or international contexts. Technology-enhanced, online research opportunities have revolutionised research placements. This article offers a reflective dialogue on the insights gained from two transnational, technology-enhanced social work research-based placements. The first example reviews three student-led, rural-focused inquiries completed in Australia and Ireland; the second pertains to students physically situated in Ireland and who engaged in collaborative online projects while completing their USA-based social work placements online. The authors reflect on the experiences and the skills the students developed and how the application of technology helped meet an increasing need for environmentally sustainable practices in teaching, learning, and research on placement. Publicly available student reflections on significant knowledge and practice benefits gained from their transnational experiences are considered. The study highlights how reflective practice assisted in the enactment of research in online contexts. Full article

Background/Objectives: Public health administrators are entrusted to oversee the fair and efficient implementation of public health policy. Professional standards rooted in social justice add an additional ethical standard beyond what is required by procedural equality, reinforcing a service culture of creativity and doing more with less when resources are restrictive. This study explores this phenomenon within the context of government-subsidized opioid use disorder programming in Pennsylvania. Methods: Twenty-three agencies responsible for opioid treatment referrals in Pennsylvania were surveyed about the effects of meeting social equity needs on their operational and procedural outcomes. Univariate frequencies, cross-tabulations, and percentage comparisons were employed in a descriptive–analytic induction approach to analyze the online survey responses. Results: The survey results showed that 91.4% of administrators identified transportation equity as an important programmatic concern, with 91.3% developing transportation support for their clients although not required or funded by the grant program. Conclusions: Equity-focused interventions necessitated operational creativity and sacrifice to maintain compliance while meeting the unique needs of populations, especially when taking geographical differences into account. Full article

This article explores the role of discursive practices and epistemological obstacles in shaping educational knowledge and power dynamics within schools. Drawing on critical pedagogy and the works of McLaren, Foucault, Gramsci, and Bachelard, it examines how schools act as sites where hegemonic Discourses are either reproduced or resisted. Discourses, understood as integrated social practices encompassing language, actions, beliefs, and values, deeply influence how students form their social representations of the world. The article highlights the need for educators to challenge traditional curricular theories that prioritize technical knowledge, often presented as neutral, while masking underlying power relations. Through the analysis of Bachelard’s epistemological obstacles, such as simplification, generalization, and depersonalization, the article discusses how these barriers impede students’ ability to critically engage with complex social phenomena. Multiperspectivity is proposed as a key educational approach to foster critical thinking and empower students to challenge social injustices. The discussion calls for systemic educational reforms, emphasizing the importance of teacher training that encourages the identification and questioning of dominant ideologies. By adopting a critical, social justice-oriented pedagogy, educators can help students not only understand but also transform their social realities, promoting an equitable and democratic educational environment. Full article

This research provides a comprehensive view of the geolocation of physical health assets in the city of Tarragona (Spain) and how these assets are used and recommended by healthcare professionals to promote healthy lifestyles. Focusing on the distribution and accessibility of sports facilities, such as outdoor gyms or football and basketball courts, this study highlights the importance of these assets in leading a healthy life and preventing chronic diseases. This article investigates the availability of these assets and their prescription by healthcare professionals to improve people’s quality of life through surveys and fieldwork. It evaluates both the knowledge healthcare professionals have about these available assets in the area and the types of physical activity they prescribe. The results show significant variability in the availability of physical health assets across different neighbourhoods. However, most residents have good walking access to these assets, especially in the central and western parts of the city. This study concludes that while physical health assets are an underutilised resource for healthcare professionals, enhancing the awareness and prescription of these assets could improve public health outcomes, particularly for older adults. Full article

Transforming the course of protracted and bloody conflicts requires changing the behaviors and minds of society members who take part in these conflicts. While studies examining the psychology of such societies point to the barriers that conflict-supporting narratives create for changing minds and behavior, a novel psychological intervention offers a new direction to facilitate openness for attitude change based on the Information Process Model (IPM). Previous studies indicated the effectiveness of this intervention in creating an unfreezing of conflict attitudes and increasing support for peace negotiation in different conflict areas. However, since the psychological process underlying its effectiveness remains underexplored, the aim of the current research is to examine the experiences of participants exposed to IPM-based messages and the role of cognitive and emotional ambivalence in facilitating the unfreezing of conflict-supporting narrative and contemplating alternative beliefs. The first study (n = 234) examines how IPM (vs. control) videos increase engagement with and ambivalence towards conflict-supporting narratives using quantitative and qualitative analysis of written Decisional Balance responses. The second study (n = 24) delves into the expressions of cognitive and emotional ambivalence following exposure to different segments of an IPM video using semi-structured interviews, and further assesses their potential influence on facilitating contemplation with newly provided information. Full article

This paper reexamines climate justice through the framework of environmental sociology, offering fresh perspectives on the intersection of social and ecological systems in the face of escalating global climate crises. It emphasizes that inequality lies at the heart of global climate politics, often obstructing pathways toward achieving a true climate solution. Drawing from established traditions within environmental sociology—such as the new ecological paradigm, the post-growth society, and the environmental justice paradigm—the paper advocates for profound systemic and structural reforms in political and economic systems to tackle entrenched inequalities. By integrating these frameworks, the paper proposes a comprehensive model of climate justice, encompassing material, procedural, compensatory, and transformative dimensions of justice. This holistic approach not only addresses environmental sustainability but also prioritizes social equity, ensuring that marginalized communities are included in the global response to climate change. The paper thus positions this model as a critical component of broader environmental and social transformation. Full article