Water. In the existence and activities of each individual it is water that (un) consciously essentially defines them. Therefore, water is called the source of life, but nowadays we know it under the ...new concept: blue gold. The reason for such a modern understanding of the role of water lies in the increasing limitations of access to sufficient quantities, which first results in water stress – the situation where needs remain unmet, but water scarcity does not yet interfere with the foundations of the activities of societies. Water stress is thus the first form of threat to water security, especially when deficiency destroys all basic social systems that cannot function without water. The question of the role of water between them is increasingly being raised, as the operation of one system in the area of water consumption or management can mean interfering with the water potential of another system. This confronts us with the effect of the definite quantities of water, although countries with ample water resources and quantity (still) often do not understand or perceive it. Of course, this does not mean that the debate is not necessary; it is, conversely, necessary, and it is only in this way that it is possible to prevent or at least control the situation in which many countries around the world have found themselves and there is a total lack of water resources in the most existential aspects. Under these conditions, water security has become the most essential element of national security of these countries and thus a potential weak link in ensuring security.
The war in Ukraine will have broad implications for the European region and the world as a whole. It has already changed the intricate balance in the world order influencing great power competition ...rendering some geostrategic priorities obsolete while reinforcing others. The biggest geo-economic project of the People’s Republic of China (PRC): the Belt and Road (BRI) initiative, will be no exception. The transport and energy flows of BRI will be disrupted due to the new Iron Curtain descending across Europe in the form of sanctions against aggressors in the war in Ukraine. To balance this in the short term, the PRC will have to reroute much of its BRI cargo and projects into other corridors. In the long term, the PRC will attempt to divert Russian resources from the West to itself within the BRI framework, thus rendering western sanctions ineffective and assuring the longterm success of the BRI.
Soočanje s pandemijo je pred nacionalno varnostne sisteme postavilo nov izziv. Na nevojaško obliko ogrožanja življenj ljudi, se država odzvala skladno z Državnim načrtom zaščite in reševanja ob ...pojavu epidemije oziroma pandemije nalezljive bolezni pri ljudeh. A zlasti v prvem valu so se izkazale številne pomanjkljivosti tovrstnega načrta ob izvajanju nalog na ravni lokalnih skupnosti. Te so se na nevarnost odzivale različno ter se zanašale na veliko mero samoiniciativnosti zlasti zaradi omejenega delovanja Sistema zaščite in reševanja na regionalni ravni. Pomanjkljivosti so bile analizirane in nato v dobršni meri odpravljene ob začetku drugega vala, zato je bila odzivnost bolj usklajena in uspešnejša. Prispevek podrobneje osvetljuje nadgradnjo v delovanju med prvim in drugim valom epidemije COVID-19 v Slovenije skozi prizmo lokalne samouprave v Republiki Sloveniji.
Reflections of Multiculturalism and Patriotism in Slovene Elementary School CurriculaThe paper presents an analysis of the inclusion of patriotic elements in the curricula of elementary school ...subjects which are adapted to a multicultural environment. The legislative framework of the educational system in Slovenia anticipates the modification of curricula when elements of a minority’s identity are in question. The results of the analysis can be summarised in two sets of findings: the method of the inclusion of patriotic elements differs firstly according to the subject’s curriculum (absence of a strategic approach), and secondly depending on the minority in question. It seems as if the integration of patriotic elements in the curricula of both national minorities is coincidental.
Paradigma sodobne energetske varnosti Prebilič, Vladimir; Juvan, Jelena
Dela (Univerza v Ljubljani. Oddelek za geografijo),
12/2014
41
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Nove, netradicionalne grožnje varnosti, ki so vse bolj kompleksne in indirektne, so postale velik izziv vsem nacionalnim varnostnim sistemom. Med njimi je tudi vprašanje energetske varnosti. ...Naraščajoča energetska poraba na eni strani, primanjkovanje resursov za proizvodnjo energije na drugi strani, vodijo v t.i. energetsko odvisnost. Oskrba z energijo je nuja za normalno gospodarsko proizvodnjo in rast, je pomembna za dobrobit narodov ter ima velik vpliv na mnoga druga področja nacionalne varnosti, kot so varnost preskrbe s hrano in pitno vodo, okoljska varnost in trajnostni razvoj.
The paper will examine the theory of the interoperability of armed forces through the case of he Slovenian Independence War of 1991. Although defense system interoperability is a well-established ...concept, there are many obstacles to its implementation. Some defense systems do not deliberately support the idea of interoperability. One such example is the total defense system in SFR Yugoslavia, which is comprised of two defense components: the Yugoslav People’s Army (YPA) and territorial defense structures organized by the federal republic. The question of interoperability is highly relevant since the war was fought between the YPA and the defense forces of the newly proclaimed independent state, Slovenia, who were partners in the total defense concept. Due to the clear asymmetry, interoperability offered a great advantage in the independence war. The Slovenian defense forces were combined into three structures: the former militia as an internal security element, the territorial defense as a military component, and the national protection forces as a “civil” defense element. Although each structure had its own command and organizational structure, during the Slovenian War they were combined into a well-structured and organized defense element that achieved victory against a much stronger, better equipped, and better supported army.
Governing by slogans Sardoc, Mitja; Prebilic, Vladimir
Policy Futures in Education,
10/2023, Volume:
21, Issue:
7
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Throughout recorded history, slogans have been an important part of our public life. From political rhetoric and propaganda, to social movements and awareness-raising campaigns, their usage has ...overcome historical periods, cultural barriers, ethnic affiliation, political systems, party allegiance or personal taste. Arguably more than any other linguistic ‘device’, slogans deliver a clearly recognizable message with as little complexity as possible. Nevertheless, despite their rhetorical ‘economy’, the narratives provided by slogans have also been associated with a simplified or even reductionist portrayal of otherwise complex or controversial phenomena. This article aims to address a range of previously neglected aspects associated with slogans and governmentality. The introductory part provides a genealogy of discussions over slogans and the main shortcomings the use of slogans has been associated with. The central part takes a closer look at zero tolerance, a flagship policy associated with the neoliberal logic of governance. The concluding part of this article outlines the subversive character associated with the mechanism of sloganization.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The escalating challenge of waste management demands innovative strategies to mitigate environmental impacts and harness valuable resources. This study investigates waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies ...for municipal waste management in Kočevje, Slovenia. An analysis of available waste streams reveals substantial energy potential from mixed municipal waste, biodegradable waste, and livestock manure. Various WtE technologies, including incineration, pyrolysis, gasification, and anaerobic digestion, are compared. The results show that processing mixed municipal waste using thermochemical processes could annually yield up to 0.98 GWh of electricity, and, separately, 3.22 GWh of useable waste heat for district heating or industrial applications. Furthermore, by treating 90% of the biodegradable waste, up to 1.31 GWh of electricity and 1.76 GWh of usable waste heat could be generated annually from biodegradable municipal waste and livestock manure using anaerobic digestion and biogas combustion in a combined heat and power facility. Gasification coupled with a gas-turbine-based combined heat and power cycle is suggested as optimal. Integration of WtE technologies could yield 2.29 GWh of electricity and 3.55 GWh of useable waste heat annually, representing an annual exergy yield of 2.98 GWh. Within the Kočevje municipality, this amount of energy could cover 23.6% of the annual household electricity needs and cover the annual space and water heating requirements of 10.0% of households with district heating. Additionally, CO2-eq. emissions could be reduced by up to 20%, while further offsetting emissions associated with electricity and district heat generation by 1907 tons annually. These findings highlight the potential of WtE technologies to enhance municipal self-sustainability and reduce landfill waste.
The premise of our research paper is that large (by the size of the population) municipalities are more complex to govern and manage, and this, in turn, calls for a more professional and apolitical ...local government. Using data from the largest European survey of mayors, we analyzed the influence of mayors and chief administrative officers in Europe and checked for correlations with the size of the local government. We present empirical evidence to support that the perceived influence of mayors varies with the size of the municipality regardless of the institutional configuration of power relationships. We found that very large municipalities (80,000 or more inhabitants) had weaker mayors. The presumption that a larger, more complex local (urban) environment calls for more professional leadership has been addressed in numerous publications; however, the answer was usually beyond the reach of the empirical tests.
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Patriotism needs understanding as a positive feeling that in its narrowest sense determines the relationship towards one's country as basic living space of family members and, at the same time, ...represents the foundation for a variety of actions by individuals. A high level of patriotism amongst members of a state's security system who are consequently providers of national safety is to be expected, and the members of the armed forces have perhaps the highest level of patriotism. Since its beginnings in June 1991, the Slovenian Armed Forces have been going through various reform processes and transformations. These developments have included changes in staffing the armed forces and a simultaneous constant reduction of the defence budget, both of which undoubtedly affect the satisfaction of each service member about their attitude towards the motherland and the system to which the service belongs. This analysis offers the results of a study of the members of the Slovenian Armed Forces that, first, identifies the level of patriotism amongst those members and, second, establishes their attitudes towards patriotism.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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