The Social Implications of the Degradation of the Coorong and Lower Lakes

The severe drought that Australia has endured over the past few years has impacted adversely on the environment and is the major cause of the reduction of water levels in the Coorong and Lower Lakes. The over-allocation and over-use of water in the MDB （Murray-Darling Basin） has caused the system to endure the longest period ever of reduced freshwater inflows and levels. The environmental state of Coorong and Lower Lakes is an issue that requires immediate action by governments and the surrounding community. This article will explore current data regarding the social and planning implications of the degradation of the Coorong and Lower Lakes. It primarily focuses on the social impacts that will occur if the Coorong and Lower Lakes area is significantly environmentally degraded. Drawing on Beck＇s risk theory, this paper analyses the adaptive capacity of settlements in the Coorong and Lower Lakes area and how they respond to the stresses and risks caused by environmental degradation. Economic and environmental implications will also be explored to provide an understanding of the interdependencies, This article provides a foundation and theoretical structure for further investigative research to be undertaken.

Mitigating Urban Heat Island Effects: A Review of Innovative Pavement Technologies and Integrated Solutions

In this review paper,we present a thorough investigation into the role of pavement technologies in advancing urban sustainability.Our analysis traverses the historical evolution of these technologies,meticulously evaluating their socio-economic and environmental impacts,with a particular emphasis on their role in mitigating the urban heat island effect.The evaluation of pavement types and variables influencing pavement performance to be used in the multi-criteria decision-making(MCDM)framework to choose the optimal pavement application are at the heart of our research.Which serves to assess a spectrum of pavement options,revealing insights into the most effective and sustainable practices.By highlighting both the existing challenges and potential innovative solutions within thefield,this paper aims to offer a directional compass for future urban planning and infrastructural advancements.This review not only synthesizes the current state of knowledge but also aims to chart a course for future exploration,emphasizing the critical need for innovative and environmentally sensitive pavement tech-nologies in the creation of resilient and sustainable urban environments.

The Ban on Illegal Mining in Ghana: Environmental and Socio-Economic Effect on Local Communities

The study was conducted to assess the effects of small-scale (artisanal) gold mining and its social and economic implications on the people in Amansie West District of Ghana. The artisanal gold mining communities were studied using secondary data from scholarly articles and journals, books, conference papers, research reports, policy documents, working papers, and briefs. Descriptive and systematic analyses were conducted. The result indicated that youth aged between 21 - 30 were most likely to engage in illegal mining operations in the selected study areas. The study revealed that farmland had been destroyed, making farming difficult for the inhabitants. It is evident from the review that dug-out pits from mining serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and death traps for humans. The study, therefore, accentuates the need for illegal small-scale gold mining to be formalised and strategic interventions and policies proposed for the protection of Ghana’s Natural resources. Furthermore, community members should be involved in policy-making and environmental protection issues to help control the menace of landscape destruction. Although the ban on illegal gold mining activity by the government has caused more people to lose their jobs leading to livelihood challenges in mining communities, it is a step in the right direction, as the ban seeks to halt and check the illegal small-scale mining sector. The study recommended alternative livelihood and income-generating projects such as beekeeping, mushroom culture, grasscutter rearing, and agroforestry technologies including the growth of economic fruit trees as alternative livelihood ventures.

Exploring the social,ethical,legal,and responsibility dimensions of artificial intelligence for health-a new column in Intelligent Medicine

This essay is the starting point of a new column in Intelligent Medicine that invites interdisciplinary perspectives on the social,ethical,legal,and responsibility aspects of the use of artificial intelligence(AI)in medicine and health care.Papers in this column will examine the practical,conceptual,and policy dimensions of the use of AI for health-related purposes from comparative and international perspectives.We invite contributions from around the world in all application areas of AI for health,including health care,health research,drug development,health care system management,as well as public health and public health surveillance.The column aims to provide a forum for reflective and critical scholarship that contributes to the ongoing academic and policy debates about the development,use,governance,and implications of AI in medical and health care settings.To launch the column,we first provide an overview of recent approaches that have been developed to identify and address the effects and potential impacts of science and technology innovations on human societies and the environment.These include ethical,legal,and social implications/aspects(ELSI/A)research,responsible research and innovation(RRI),sustainability transitions research,and the use of international standard-setting instruments for responsible and open science issued by the United Nations Educational,Scientific,and Cultural Organization(UNESCO),the World Health Organization(WHO),and other international bodies.In Part Two of this essay,we discuss some of the central challenges that arise with regard to the integration of AI and big data analytics in medical and health care settings.This includes concerns regarding(i)the control,reliability,and trustworthiness of AI systems,(ii)privacy and surveillance,(iii)the impact of AI and automation on health care staffemployment and the nature of clinical work,(iv)the effects of AI on health inequalities,justice,and access to medical care,and(v)challenges related to regulation and governance.We end the essay with a call for papers and a set of questions that could be relevant for future studies.