Latest news with #SOR
Hans India
14-05-2025
- Hans India
Birdwatching can promote environmentally responsible behaviour, says IIM Lucknow study
Hyderabad: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow is conducting research that explores the consequences of avi-tourism (birdwatching) experiences on tourists and examines whether these experiences can promote Environmentally Responsible Behaviour (ERB). This study, published in the prestigious journal Tourism Recreation Research, was co-authored by Dr Anirban Chakraborty, Associate Professor of Marketing at IIM Lucknow, and Dr Debankur Saha, Assistant Professor at IFMR Graduate Business School, Krea University. It investigates how birdwatching creates an immersive experience in nature, motivating individuals to act in an environmentally conscious manner. The research is vital for stakeholders aiming to design policies that promote sustainability and environmental stewardship. The key research findings of the study claim that birdwatching activities allow tourists to witness the beauty of avian species in their natural habitats, creating lasting and memorable impressions. The sense of adventure within serene natural environments, combined with the joy of spotting rare bird species, contributes to immediate feelings of discovery, happiness, and contentment. This positive emotional state encourages individuals to recognise the value of the natural environment and fosters a moral obligation to preserve it for future generations. 'However, the quality of the birdwatching experience – including guidance, informativeness, and service – directly relates to the motivation for exhibiting ERB,' the study says. Thus, well-informed guides, who can explain the intricate interconnectedness of local ecosystems, are essential for delivering an impactful experience. The presence of eco-friendly and comfortable hospitality facilities enhances the overall experience for tourists. To arrive at these findings, the research team utilised the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) framework to develop a conceptual model and analyse the responses of over 300 birdwatching tourists. Commenting on the significance of this study, Prof Anirban Chakraborty stated, 'India is home to more than 1,300 species of birds, representing over 12 per cent of the world's total bird diversity. This presents tremendous potential for avi-tourism. The growing interest in experiential tourism can be leveraged to promote this sector. A sustainable and eco-friendly approach to tapping this potential will generate funds necessary for the conservation of these often-neglected habitats. A well-designed avi-tourism encounter can provide a transformative experience for participants, fostering appreciation for complex ecosystems and empathy towards local communities. Even if a small fraction of these avi-tourists become environmental advocates, the wider societal interests will be served. The proposed framework offers valuable guidance for tourism operators seeking to enhance tourist experiences, resulting in more environmentally conscious visitors. Additionally, these insights can assist policymakers in designing tourism activities and policies that promote environmental sustainability, ultimately contributing to the overall welfare of society, the study said.
Fox News
24-02-2025
- Health
- Fox News
My state is conquering the opioid crisis. Other states need to do the same
Most people understand that our country is facing a crisis of opioid addiction and deaths. To combat this, you need proven solutions and resources. Yet, a lot of the money that is supposed to be spent combating that crisis is instead sitting idle in government bank accounts. This isn't taxpayer money; it's part of a legal settlement that companies who were accused of recklessly fueling the opioid crisis agreed to pay to provide some relief to those communities ravaged by addiction. In late January, Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family agreed to increase the amount they're paying to $7.4 billion. But many states and localities are sitting on millions that they seem oddly hesitant to spend. Every state has money to distribute. Since 2021, companies involved in manufacturing and distributing legal opioids, along with some pharmacies, have agreed to pay approximately $50 billion in total settlements. I was governor for eight years in New Hampshire, and the smartest thing to combat this crisis was to not hesitate. We don't have all the answers regarding addiction, but we've made progress with the rest of the country has stalled. When I took office in 2017, we had the second-highest opioid overdose death rate in the country. Since that time, our overdose death rate has dropped over 30%, while the national average continued to climb. We now rank twenty-second, and we have the lowest overdose death rate in New England. (Recently, for the first time in years, the national opioid death rate has begun to decline.) When I took office, heroin and opioid pills were cheap; those who tried to recover couldn't get help. Waiting lists for treatment were more than six weeks long. I went right to the people on the front lines of the crisis to find the answers. They knew that addicts could best be reached right after an overdose. If there was no readily available treatment, their patterns would just continue. Two essential changes helped us lower our rate. We changed our approach to treatment beginning in 2019 through what we call The Doorway program. This new system design was founded on one critical thesis, rural access to care was the greatest barrier to functional addicts. Addiction rates were far greater in rural areas than anything seen in our small cities, but all the resources and treatment programs were located in the cities and out of reach of the average citizen. With nine regional Doorway locations, help is always within an hour's reach for anyone in the state. The program is funded primarily through the federal State Opioid Response (SOR) grant, and has let us expand the use of medicine, peer support and techniques for prevention. In the first six months, more than 3,200 people sought help through the Doorway, and monthly client numbers continue to rise. By destigmatizing addiction and simplifying the process for seeking help, the program helped cut the numbers of overdoses and deaths. Police officers and treatment experts can't be everywhere all the time, so we also invested over $3 million to put naloxone, which can reverse the effects of opioids in someone who has overdosed, just about everywhere we could. Early in my administration, we decided that if our streets were to be flooded with deadly drugs like fentanyl, we needed to flood them with life-saving opioid reversal medicines. We then changed our laws to ensure that all first responders, whether they be fire or police, could administer life-saving naloxone, without fear of unnecessary training or liability concerns. When I took office in 2017, we had the second-highest opioid overdose death rate in the country. Since that time, our overdose death rate has dropped over 30%, while the national average continued to climb. New Hampshire also became the first state to install NaloxBoxes in public spaces, for first responders, but also anyone who might overdose. Our Good Samaritan laws also allowed numerous instances where naloxone was administered by bystanders before emergency services arrived and directly saved lives. Ken Trogdon, whose nonprofit HarborPath works with states and organizations to distribute naloxone where it's most needed, emphasizes its importance. "As a nation, we need to get this life-saving drug within arm's length of everyone who might potentially need it. Unfortunately, that means we basically need it everywhere," he says. To date, states have received approximately $6 billion of the $50 billion they are slated to receive from opioid settlements. Yet reports suggest that as much as a third or even half of these funds remain unspent. That's not good enough. I implore governors and mayors across the country to not hesitate, think creatively, and find results-driven solutions similar to what we put here in New Hampshire to increase access to life-saving care. The strategies we've implemented are working, and no one across America can afford for this fight to be halfhearted.
