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In their recent book, economists Ali Douai and Gaël Plumecocq consider the absence of value theory as a major lack, both political and scientific, of current ecological social economics. The author disagrees with this position and explains the reasons why. He suggests to found the interdisciplinary conversation in "ecological social economics" on the absence of any a priori definition of value, to enable researchers to fully take into account the plurality of ways people attribute a value to their environment or to natural entities. In order to illustrate the interest of this methodological twist, the article highlights two complementary approaches: the "conventionalist" stream in sociological economics and the work of Joan Martinez-Alier on the environmentalism of the Poor. They provide precious tools to help researchers study the social processes of valuing nature and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on the critical reading and cross-comparison of three recent books published in the field of social ecological economics. We first start by briefly presenting the general architecture and main goals of the three books. We then highlight the main differences in the approaches developed by new resource economists, new environmental pragmatists and social ecological economists. Finally, we present in greater detail the perspective developed by social ecological economists, from an ontological, epistemological and methodological viewpoint. This perspective involves several topics that structure the debates and currently ongoing controversies in the field of ecological economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: Les schistosomiases sont sans doute l’une des maladies hydriques à qui profitent le plus les modifications environnementales et comportementales induites par la mobilisation des ressources en eau superficielle dans les pays sahéliens, comme le Burkina Faso. Des études ont établi l’existence des schistosomiases humaines à la vallée du Kou, l’un des plus anciens hydro-aménagements du pays. Cependant, le rôle des comportements de la population dans le schéma de transmission de cette pathologie et son impact socioéconomique dans cette vallée sont peu connus. C’est pour répondre à ces questions que cette étude a été entreprise. Elle avait pour objectifs de recenser les activités qui exposaient le plus la population de la vallée à l’infection bilharzienne, et contribuer à l’amélioration des connaissances disponibles sur les conséquences de cette pathologie. L’étude s’est déroulée en saison sèche froide dans la vallée du Kou, située dans le domaine sud-soudanien du Burkina Faso. Elle a adopté la stratégie de l’observation directe pour l’examen des rapports hôtes–parasites. L’étude des conséquences socioéconomiques de la parasitose a consisté d’abord en l’identification de sujets effectivement porteurs du parasite par un dépistage systématique de la population par la méthode Kato–Katz. Ces derniers ont ensuite été soumis à un questionnaire. Les données ont été analysées à l’aide du logiciel Epi Infos 6.04. Ce travail a révélé six activités présentant des risques d’infection pour les résidents de la vallée, avec un facteur de risque accru pour la riziculture, les activités domestiques et la baignade. Au regard de ces activités, les femmes et les jeunes semblent être les groupes les plus exposés à l’infection. Cette pathologie induit d’importantes pertes économiques en fonction des catégories socioprofessionnelles des personnes infectées. Des efforts devraient être orientés vers des études sur les contacts hôtes–parasites couvrant toute l’année, afin d’établir une liste exhaustive des activités à risque, les périodes de transmission potentielle et les groupes à haut risque d’infection dans les foyers bilharziens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of urban riots reappeared in France in the late 1970s, it took root in the 1990s, and in 2005 it experienced an unprecedent generalization. It continues locally since then. With few exceptions, it is always triggered by the death of young people in connection with a police operation. This article provides a summary of research on urban riots conducted in France in recent years and aims at drawing a comprehensive framework for the analysis of this phenomenon by articulating its economic, social and political dimensions. It highlights the process of ghettoization, the failures of state regulation and the lack of political representation of slum dwellers. It finally analyzes the riots as a «basic form of political protest.» [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research analyzes the changes in extreme events in the Ouémé River basin and their impact on the socio-economic populations Basin to Ouémé Bonou. The methodology used consists of technical statistical data of the rainfall series 1951-2000. On this series, the maximum depth of precipitation in 24 hours was determined by the theory of large numbers. From the series of maximum depth rainfall indices such as average and the deviation from the mean were determined. Moreover, the vulnerability of human settlements to the maximum rainfall was assessed as a result of field investigations and use of the matrix of Leopold et al, 1971. Analysis of these data shows that the watershed of the river Ouémé had on the series 1951-2000 rainfall variability, marked by a high occurrence of extreme events. This situation leads to increased frequency of floods that cause major damage like ecosystem degradation, loss of crops and the decimation of livestock products box (poultry, goats, pigs). This weakens the economic fabric of the basin and therefore creates a context of food insecurity. In situations of extreme rainfall, people adopt proactive strategies and reactive, like early harvests, temporary migration of the crops to non-flooded plateaus and summary accommodations for the crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of mutual health insurance systems is one of the priorities of the Rwandan government. Pilot studies have been conducted in three districts of the country. Nonetheless, after 4 years of implementation (1999–2003), the population coverage by these insurance systems remains relatively low. A cross-sectional study of 1042 households in the Kabutare health district allowed for a comparison of socio-economic and demographic variables, and the medical, surgical, gynaecological, and obstetrical history of health insurance scheme members and non-members. The results of the study demonstrate that the distribution of members and non-members is similar in terms of sex, marital status, professional status and medical history. However, larger households (more than five members) and those having a relatively higher income (more than US$230 per annum) are more likely to be insured than other households. Members of the mutual health insurance use more the health services than non-members, spend less on health care and increasingly maintain membership. The study emphasizes the relevance to further promote mutual health insurance, but also points to the need for mechanisms to ensure financial access for the poor rural population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family ecology aims at studying the relationship between Man and his immediate environmental surroundings, together with the domestic activities taking place within the family ecosphere, ecological space in all its differing dimensions and then aims at relating these factors to considerations and actions of our future of our ecosystems. For biosocial reasons, the family represents a fundamental ecological unit: genetic and affective links between family members, shared cultural background, social structure, a place where decisions are taken, a place for handing down knowledge and helping young family members to grow... characterised by shifting structures and functions of varying complexity. The family ecosphere is a place in which immediate environmental surroundings and converted habitation spaces are almost permanently created or modified. The family ecosphere is also a cause of larger scale environmental changes. As a part of human ecology, family ecology is a closely linked complement to Industrial ecology. A large range of applications of this knowledge can be envisaged by the numerous socio-economic partners concerned by the family unit in general. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

THE MIGRATIONS of the moulders coming from the St. Maurice Forges must be situated in a context of labour market segmentation under the dual pressure of the industry's growth and geographical expansion, and the development of unionism. Because of the blast furnaces decline and the concomitant blossoming of urban foundries, these workers went to Montréal and other Québec cities. They also gradually moved to the industry's geographical center, attracted by better working conditions: the cities of south Ontario and the north-east of the United States. The community migratory network was an important tool for their travels. But many moulders also joined the Iron Moulders International Union, and used the union's migratory network, to get into the section of the labour market under the organization's control. These types of movements reveal the constraints, but also the ingenuity of workers, in a context of important socio-economical transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]