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TV linked to risk of antisocial behaviour | Irish Examiner

March 27, 2013

Peter Singhatey Research Early Education, Education, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

TV linked to risk of antisocial behaviour | Irish Examiner.

The 15% of the age group who watch television for more than three hours a day are at an increased risk of developing antisocial behaviours, such as fighting, stealing, or disobedience.

The research, published in Archives of Disease in Childhood, examined more than 11,000 children in Britain aged five and seven.

The children’s parents were asked to complete a “strengths and difficulties questionnaire” to describe how well adjusted their children were. They were also asked to report how much time their children spent watching television and playing computer games at the age of five.

The researchers found almost two-thirds of five- year-olds watched television between one and three hours a day, 15% watched more than three hours, and less than 2% watched no television at all.

After taking into account variables including parenting and family dynamics, the researchers found watching television for three or more hours a day led to a small but significant increased risk of antisocial behaviours.

Blinded by science: the problems of sorting out identity in Africa – By Keith Somerville | African Arguments

March 21, 2013

Peter Singhatey Articles on Africa Africa, Gambia, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Blinded by science: the problems of sorting out identity in Africa – By Keith Somerville | African Arguments.

The concept of autochthony – that one is entitled to ‘belong’ because of ancestral rights or “this is ours because we were here first” (p. 1) – is in many ways an attractive one when looking at political, economic and military conflict in Africa. Land is and always has been a key factor on a continent where agriculture is still at the heart of most economies and non-urban communities. Bøås and Dunn have chosen it as their focus for looking at issues of identity in Africa and use it to examine conflicts in Liberia, Kenya, the DRC and Ivory Coast. In so doing they appear to consciously reject economic factors other than land in explaining motives for competition and violence and also suggest autochthony is more appealing and applicable than ethnicity because it implies a sense of belonging and of being somewhere first…

iPad use in schools ‘worsens bullying problem’ – Independent.ie

March 18, 2013

Peter Singhatey Irish News Cyberbulling, ipod, Ireland, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

iPad use in schools ‘worsens bullying problem’ – Independent.ie.

While the digital revolution is being welcomed in schools, it will “put weapons in the hands of pupils”, an Oireachtas committee was told.

Cyber security expert Paul C Dwyer said such technology could be used for the wrong reasons, such as taking pictures and using them inappropriately.

“This is like a viral epidemic; you think you have a problem now,” he told the committee on transport and communications.

Mr Dwyer was among representatives from the National Anti-Bullying Coalition addressing the latest in a series of committee hearings on the challenges arising from irresponsible use of social media.

He said there was a need for a holistic approach to dealing with the range of online threats, including cyber predators…

Children ‘collateral’ victims of drink sector sport sponsorship | Irish Examiner

March 15, 2013

Peter Singhatey Irish News Health, Ireland, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Children ‘collateral’ victims of drink sector sport sponsorship | Irish Examiner.

Children are the “unfortunate collateral damage” of sports sponsorship by the drink industry, a seminar on alcohol has heard…

Ms Ryan said alcohol sponsorship was “not altruistic”, but a calculated trade off: “You give us access to the young male markets and in return we give you money. Are we willing to accept this trade off? The unfortunate collateral damage are children.”

She said alcohol had become so normalised in shopping that it was pushed as “just another grocery”.

Prof Barry of Trinity College Dublin said there was a growing view in society that something had to be done, but he added: “There is no evidence to show that is shared by the Government. That’s the worrying matter. Politicians have done very little; they have done a disservice to the State.”

The world’s fastest-growing continent: Aspiring Africa | The Economist

March 4, 2013

Peter Singhatey African Center for Strategic Studies Africa, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

The world’s fastest-growing continent: Aspiring Africa | The Economist.

CELEBRATIONS are in order on the poorest continent. Never in the half-century since it won independence from the colonial powers has Africa been in such good shape. Its economy is flourishing. Most countries are at peace. Ever fewer children bear arms and record numbers go to school. Mobile phones are as ubiquitous as they are in India and, in the worst-affected countries, HIV infections have fallen by up to three-quarters. Life expectancy rose by a tenth in the past decade and foreign direct investment has tripled. Consumer spending will almost double in the next ten years; the number of countries with average incomes above $1,000 per person a year will grow from less than half of Africa’s 55 states to three-quarters.

Africans deserve the credit. Western aid agencies, Chinese mining companies and UN peacekeepers have done their bit, but the continent’s main saviours are its own people. ..

Africa Is More Stable than You’ve Been Led to Think – Jonathan Berman – Harvard Business Review

March 4, 2013

Peter Singhatey African Center for Strategic Studies, Reports Africa, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Africa Is More Stable than You’ve Been Led to Think – Jonathan Berman – Harvard Business Review.

The recent political instability in Mali has cast a cloud of poor publicity over the economic and commercial rise of Africa, one of the few bright spots in the global economy. Press analysis has speculated whether political instability is endemic to Africa and likely to expand in the future. It’s an important point for the many companies, from GE to Unilever, that are turning to Africa for their next wave of growth…

Interesting Facts about His Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI :: Catholic News Agency

February 27, 2013

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized People & Society, peter singhateh, Pope Benedict Leave a comment

Interesting Facts about His Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI :: Catholic News Agency.

…Pope Benedict XVI has a pilot’s license for the papal helicopter and likes to fly from the Vatican to the papal summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, but the pope does not have a driver’s license as he never learned to drive a car…

Taoiseach makes historic apology to Magdalenes

February 19, 2013

Peter Singhatey Irish News Ireland, Magdalenes, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Taoiseach makes historic apology to Magdalenes.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has apologised to the women who spent time in the Magdalene laundries.

In an emotional speech, which was greeted by loud applause, Mr Kenny said: “This is a national shame for which I say again I am deeply sorry and offer my full and heartfelt apologies.”

Opening the Dáil debate tonight on the McAleese report, Mr Kenny said the Magdalene laundries were reserved for what was offensively and judgementally called fallen women.

The women, he added, were wholly blameless.

He added: “I, as Taoiseach, on behalf of this State, the Government and our citizens, deeply regret and apologise unreservedly to all those women for the hurt that was done to them, for any stigma they suffered as a result of the time they spent in the Magdalene laundry.”…