Tourism sustainability methodologies: A critical assessment

In an era of economic crisis and serious environmental constraints, the transition to sustainability enters dynamically the debate over long-term preservation and welfare at a systemic level. Tourism is a resource- (capital, human and natural) demanding sector; this paper explores the variety and diversity of methodological approaches and tools employed in the evaluation of tourism, and their potential to support sustainability-oriented assessments and practices. Ranging from traditional economics-oriented frameworks to assessments of impact and ecological footprint, this paper discusses the prevailing assessment frameworks of specific tourism dimensions heading towards the integrative approaches for Tourism Sustainability Assessment. The review highlights that despite the widespread acceptance of the concept and the international consensus on the importance of its operationalization, the transition towards tourism sustainability remains still a complicated and rather problematic endeavour. © 2014 IEEE

European Migrations Post WWII; Past, Present and Future?

Dr Paravantes' presentation, " European Migrations post-WWII: Past, Present and Future, " will discuss the history of migrations and migration/refugee policy within the EU, from the beginning of the integration process and the formation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) until the present. The talk will focus on earlier migrations within Western Europe, the rules established to regulate internal and external migration, and the steps which the various iterations of the European Union and its individual members took to deal with them. The overarching objective of this presentation is to place current events, and reactions to them, into the context of European integration and to examine misconceptions about migration policy and borders in the EU

Their ‘Apple of Discord’ or the Apple of Their Eye: How the British Secured Eastern Mediterranean and Western European Security, 1947-1948

This chapter examines the role the British policy in Greece played in the shift in American foreign policy that was manifested in 1947-48, that led directly to these alliances, namely the Western European Union and NATO. To achieve this shift (which also included support of British strategic interests in the Eastern Mediterranean) this chapter argues that the British used Greece, first as a way to draw the United States further into European affairs, and then as a way to anchor the United States in Europe, achieving a guarantee of security for the Eastern Mediterranean and for Western Europe. Drawing on both published and unpublished British and American sources, this chapter will also examine perceptions of the conflicts in and about Greece, and what it represented for Western European and Eastern Mediterranean security, and Western ideas of democracy when confronted with supporting a right-wing Greek government. In so doing, it clarifies how American foreign policy changed from its pre-war focus on non-intervention, to the cold-war politics of containment and intervention

A Survey of Personality Trait Perceptions in Leadership Promotions in the Greek Armed Forces

Army personnel perceives character and personality traits as playing an important role in promoting high ranking officers to leaders. Whether the different categories of army personnel perceive the relative importance of such traits similarly is a question of significance for the morale, cohesiveness and efficiency of the armed forces. This paper addresses the documented scarcity of empirical research on such perceptions. The research literature on leadership traits was reviewed with emphasis on the armed and security forces. An online questionnaire was designed and 2702 responses of Greek armed and security forces personnel were collected, including 947 officers, 534 non-commissioned officers, 531 veterans, 81 security forces personnel, and 609 civil personnel. An 86.3% of respondents felt that leadership promotions failed to consider appropriate character and personality traits such as crisis management, integrity, perception, meritocracy, strategic proficiency, bluntness, and impartiality. Cooperation with the political leadership was considered unduly important. Cluster Analysis confirmed by Discriminant Analysis rendered four clusters: politically non-aligned; religious; authority-oriented conformist; and dissatisfied nonconformist. To maintain the morale and cohesiveness of military personnel, it was advised that the promotion to leaders of the armed and security forces be enriched with distilled elements of wisdom from the perceptions of all personnel clusters. Keywords: Leadership, armed forces, personality traits, Cluster Analysis DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/63-04 Publication date:March 31st 202

A comparative assessment of aggregate car ownership model estimation methodologies

This work examines the implications of advances in time series analysis on car ownership modeling in Greece. Variables include adults population ratio, GDP per capita, car occupancy, bus kilometers, inflation and unemployment. We developed and compared (a) a classical regression model estimated on raw levels, (b) an econometric model estimated on data stationarized using graphical and unit root tests and (c) an "atheoretical" ARIMA model. Although significant methodological implications were noted, all models forecast 48 to 49 private cars per 100 inhabitants by the year 2010, a development of momentous energy and environmental implications

Suprasegmentale phonologische Konstituenten: an der Schnittstelle zur Syntax und Semantik

Υπάρχει άμεση σύνδεση μεταξύ φωνολογίας και σύνταξης/σημασιολογίας. Η ομιλία είναι κάτι περισσότερο από την παράθεση λέξεων. Ο ομιλητής οργανώνει τις λέξεις σε συστατικά στοιχεία που είναι απαραίτητα για την κατανόηση, και ο ακροατής κάνει το ίδιο με αυτό που ακούει. Στην εργασία εξετάζεται, πώς επιτυγχάνεται αυτή η οργάνωση και πώς μεταφέρονται πληροφορίες σχετικά με τη δομή των εκφράσεων στην προφορά τους.Zwischen Phonologie und Syntax/Semantik besteht ein direkter Zusammenhang. Sprache ist mehr als eine Aneinanderreihung von Wörtern. Der Sprecher organisiert die Wörter in Komponenten, die für das Verständnis notwendig sind, und der Zuhörer tut dasselbe mit dem Gehörten. Das Papier untersucht, wie diese Organisation erreicht wird und wie Informationen über die Struktur von Ausdrücken in ihrer Aussprache vermittelt werden

A comparative assessment of aggregate car ownership model estimation methodologies

This work examines the implications of advances in time series analysis on car ownership modeling in Greece. Variables include adults population ratio, GDP per capita, car occupancy, bus kilometers, inflation and unemployment. We developed and compared (a) a classical regression model estimated on raw levels, (b) an econometric model estimated on data stationarized using graphical and unit root tests and (c) an "atheoretical" ARIMA model. Although significant methodological implications were noted, all models forecast 48 to 49 private cars per 100 inhabitants by the year 2010, a development of momentous energy and environmental implications

Energy Security and Renewable Energy: A Geopolitical Perspective

This chapter examines the role of renewable energy in shaping energy security against the backdrop of global geopolitical, socioeconomic, and technological uncertainties. The evolving definition of energy security during the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries is discussed initially. The dimensions, components, and metrics of energy security are reviewed, including the 4A definition of energy security that comprises physical availability; economic affordability; accessibility from a sociopolitical standpoint; and environmental acceptability. A novel energy security index is proposed, with the following components: physical availability; technology development; economic affordability; social accessibility; governance; unconventional threats; and natural environment. Of these, physical availability followed by technology development, economic affordability, and governance was rated as the most important, and the environment was rated as the least important by a small panel of experts. The roles of wind and solar energy are highlighted, with an emphasis on the social acceptance of renewable energy in an energy security context. Other energy security indexes are discussed, focusing on sustainability and renewable energy. Denmark, Germany, China, Russia, and the United States are examined as case studies that help understand the transition to renewable energy in the context of coopetition among states. As these countries face different political concerns, geopolitical realities, and energy security issues, they consider different policy approaches to address them

Energy Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emissions of a Suburban Coastal Transport System

This paper explores energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of a coastal transport system envisioned as a substitute for road transport. Past work investigating the economics of coastal passenger transport via high-speed small passenger dolphin-type ferries has shown that the most profitable sea itinerary is achieved when fewer mid stops and the highest ticket price is applied. Road and maritime distances, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions were calculated for typical passenger cars and marine vessels. Although a ferry is a massive consumer of energy and emitter of CO2 compared to a single passenger car, the capacity of a ferry is much larger. The reduction that must be achieved in the number of cars per ferry trip in order to overcome the increase in CO2 emissions due to the ferry was estimated for various occupancy levels up to a capacity of 250 persons. Depending on the number of mid stops, high occupancy levels of the ferries must be achieved in order to realize a negative CO2 contribution to the atmosphere

Energy Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emissions of a Suburban Coastal Transport System

This paper explores energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of a coastal transport system envisioned as a substitute for road transport. Past work investigating the economics of coastal passenger transport via high-speed small passenger dolphin-type ferries has shown that the most profitable sea itinerary is achieved when fewer mid stops and the highest ticket price is applied. Road and maritime distances, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions were calculated for typical passenger cars and marine vessels. Although a ferry is a massive consumer of energy and emitter of CO2 compared to a single passenger car, the capacity of a ferry is much larger. The reduction that must be achieved in the number of cars per ferry trip in order to overcome the increase in CO2 emissions due to the ferry was estimated for various occupancy levels up to a capacity of 250 persons. Depending on the number of mid stops, high occupancy levels of the ferries must be achieved in order to realize a negative CO2 contribution to the atmosphere