TRANSHUMANISM IN A PANDEMIC CONTEXT
Abstract
Mankind benefits from the advantages of the scientific
discoveries of the last half a century, making significant
steps towards the posthuman period. An example in this
regard is the discovery of the virus which causes Hepatitis
C, for which the 2020 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded.
This article identifies some of the ideas belonging to
Transhumanism which can be applied during the current
pandemic situation that the world is facing. The article
ends with the urge to put the fundamental purpose of
Transhumanism into practice, namely to improve the
human mind, soul and body.
Keywords: benefits, transhumanism, context, pandemic,
mankind.
PRESENTING A CASE OF PIDGIN ENGLISH AS AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE AND UNDERSTANDING ITS PROBLEMATIC RELATIONSHIP WITH STANDARD ENGLISH
Abstract
This paper examines the initiation and development of
Pidgin English as a contact language in Sub-Saharan Africa
and its controversial relationship with standard English.
The perception of Pidgin English as a second-class language
in comparison to standard English continues to undermine
those who speak it as a primary one. However, its rich
history, significance in the education system and ability to
express all the needs of its speakers provide a strong case
for its legitimization.
Keywords: Colonisation, Communication,
Lexicon, Pidgin, Standard English.
ISOLATION – DOES IT REPRESENT A NEW STAGE OF POSTHUMANISM?
Abstract
The beginning of 2020 represented an amazing change
of paradigm. The individual – who reached the height of
development – is faced with a microscopic entity difficult
to include in the category of beings, but that reached –
through simplification – another development pole. Will
there be any winner or will they be forced to live together?
The violent impact of the new coronavirus on humankind
has rekindled and intensified the posthumanist approaches
which consider that perceiving the Vitruvian man as the
alpha and omega on Earth is inappropriate and even
harmful to the planetary ecosystem. Humanists have to
make one step back as the truly efficient education will be
oriented towards the non-human which will finally get its
well-deserved place. A series of simultaneous events at the
global level seem to further reinforce this approach and to
show that posthumanism has come to fruition. An essential
contribution to using this perspective was made and will
continue to be made by the media.This article is part of a
series of studies which aim at highlighting “the new aspects
of posthumanism triggered by the massive isolation of
individuals.”
Keywords: Covid-19, posthumanism, isolation of inviduals,
media, cyborg.
PANDEMIC MORALITY AND HUMAN SECURITY
Abstract
Morals and morality acquire immense importance in
the conditions of epidemics and pandemics. The current
COVID-19 pandemic is the first pandemic in a number of
future pandemics. Morals and morality are human
creations and qualities that radically distinguish the man
from the animal. They are the basis of the most fundamental
human traits and qualities, regulating human behaviour
and all human activities. Morality, as an active reflection
of morals, is perfected and developed thanks to human
ethics and the individual’s activity within a society. A high
morality is necessary for people in their work, regardless
of their field of activity. They cannot develop and progress
outside of morals and morality. The journalistic and life
activity of all media representatives, politicians, medical
workers of all rank, but also of national and international
organizations and institutions represents no exception.
Keywords: morals, morality, moral duty, organizations,
institutions, educational functions, COVID-19.
POLITICS AND PROPAGANDA IN THE COVID-19 ERA: THE NIGERIAN SITUATION
Abstract
Coronavirus, popularly known as COVID-19, emerged
as one of the pandemics that ravaged the world in recent
times. Governments all over the world were compelled to
employ drastic measures to stem the spread of the
pandemic and control the mortality rate. The Federal
Government of Nigeria declared a lockdown in most
sectors of the nation, including the closure of schools and
the adoption of preventive protocols to be implemented,
which included the wearing of nose masks, social and
physical distancing, avoidance of overcrowding, etc.
Unfortunately, coincidentally the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) declared an indefinite strike to compel
the government to implement the 2009 agreement. The
government later eased the lockdown in some sectors of
the national life while public universities remained closed.
The continued closure of universities generated a lot of
concern and aroused suspicion in the public about the
government’s so-called avowed commitment to the safety
of the lives of Nigerians and the spread of Coronavirus. It
was obvious that the government was engaged in politics
and propaganda, but it used patriotism as a way of
deceiving the public, making it believe that it was interested
in saving the lives of Nigerian students. The study x-rayed
the strategies employed by the government during that
period and the implications of the government’s subterfuge
on the nation.
Keywords: Coronavirus, Government, politics, propaganda.
DISCOVERING THE DISCOURSE OF ADVERTISING
Abstract
The consumerist world in which we are now living
abounds in advertising messages. This is reason enough to
consider that their understanding contributes to business
success in many ways, otherwise the discourse of advertising
would not exist. Since many professionals have to deal with
advertisements from various perspectives at certain stages
in their careers, it is worth teaching the peculiarities of the
advertising discourse at university level, in an analytical,
creative and interactive way that contributes to the
development of practical skills useful in job-related activities.
Therefore, the present article aims at introducing the genre
of advertising in order to create the premises for identifying
the learning objectives and developing a sequence of five
interactive classroom activities with the purpose of making
students discover the advertising genre and use that
knowledge to create and evaluate advertising messages.
This theoretical and practical framework provides students
with the necessary know-how that helps them investigate
the discourse of advertising into further details.
Keywords: activity, advertisement, genre, learning
objective, students.
INFODEMIC OR MISINFORMATION 2.0
Abstract
The Coronavirus pandemic led to the creation of a
parallel manoeuvring space for mass misinformation,
manipulation and raising symbolic political and financial
capital. Panic and the lack of basic medical knowledge
represented the main elements that the creators of fake
news used in order to build an empire of non-sense with
audience at various types of public, especially the one
within the area of social networks. Under these
circumstances, the medical epidemic is now accompanied
by infodemic or misinformation 2.0, with negative
consequences for the information consumer who has to
become immune to the virulent attack of fake news.
Keywords: infodemic, fake news, misinformation 2.0,
immunization, social listening.
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF TRADITIONAL NEWS MEDIA FOR COVID-19 ENLIGHTENMENT CAMPAIGN IN BONNY L.G.A, RIVERS STATE
Abstract
This study is An Assessment of the use of the traditional
news media for COVID-19 enlightenment campaigns in
Bonny L.G.A of Rivers State. The COVID-19 pandemic is an
infectious disease caused by a new virus which originated
from Wuhan, China in December, 2019. It causes respiratory
illness (like flu) with symptoms such as cough, fever, and
in more severe cases, difficulty in breathing. Thus, the
traditional newsmen, through the assistance of social Health
workers, were able to sensitize and enlighten the rural
populace on the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic, using
mother tongue which is a language familiar to them to
enlighten the ruralites on the dangers of the pandemic.
Through the enlightenment of the traditional newsmen, the
ruralites were taught that regular hand washing for 20
seconds and the use of alcohol based sanitizer can help
prevent the pandemic as there is no known cure for the
COVID-19 virus but clinical diagnosis shows that infected
patients can be given immune boosting therapy and drugs
such as Hydroxy-chloroguin, Azithromycin, Icvemectin and
zinc which can help reduce its effects on the patient. The
ethnographic and survey method of research (use of
personal interviews) aided the study. The perception theory
of the media, formed the theoretical framework of the study.
It was concluded that the traditional newsman should be
exposed to trainings to improve on how to sensitize,
mobilize and enlighten the rural populace, since the rural
areas are bereft of amenities that can be used to better the
lot of the people. It was also recommended that the
traditional newsman should be trained in the art and science
of reporting the rural areas, especially, on issues such as
COVID-19 and other related issues. More proactive measures
need to be taken by the government at all levels in order to
ensure that health-care facilities are provided for the people
as more people will be infected and die if health-care
facilities are left unattended to by the government.
Keywords: Coronavirus, traditional, newsman, COVID-
19, enlightenment, awareness.
THE ONLINE COMMUNICATION IN MEDIATION, A SOLUTION IN THE PANDEMIC CRISIS
Abstract
The paper aims to present the options offered by online
communication, in the sense that they can represent a real
alternative in the mediation process, given the restrictive
measures generated by the existence of a global pandemic
state, which has reshaped many human activities, due to
the requirements that have to be adapted in order to
combat the pandemic. The online mediation variant
presented in this paper derives from the other forms of
conflict resolution, which accept that the people involved
in the dispute are not face to face and can use online
communication facilities to solve their conflict at a distance,
with the help of a specialist, also called mediator.
Keywords: online communication, online mediation,
pandemic crisis, COVID-19.
CONSONANCE AND RESONANCE IN KANDINSKY AND ODOBLEJA’S WORKS
Abstract
The subject itself belongs equally to the fields of
psychology, art and philosophy. The conceptual boundaries
must be established from the onset by defining the two key
words included in the title of this paper. The analysis of
consonance and resonance in Kandinsky and Odobleja’s
works emphasizes the fact that the need for coherence
brings them towards searching for a grammar, a language
to decode art using the same concepts, by apparently
simple means of expression that are in fact complex. The
structure and content of the two works we shall refer to,
respectively Wassily Kandinsky’s “Concerning the
Spiritual in Art” and Ştefan Odobleja’s “Consonantist
Psychology”, include similar ideas, resemblances which
create the framework of the topic discussed. We highlight
certain unique, unusual hermeneutic inquiries concerning
art, along with innovative multidisciplinary scientific
perspectives. We try to create a virtual, symbolic setting in
which to bring the two authors to the attention of the
contemporary literature, almost a century later, by means
of consonance and resonance.
Keywords: art, aesthetic laws, consonance, harmony,
resonance.
FLATTENING THE CURVE OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) USING COMMUNICATION APPROACHES
Abstract
At one time or the other, the world is confronted with
one kind of global calamity or the other, thereby posing
serious concern for mankind with the attendant ravaging
implications for humanity to contain with. Unfortunately,
society is caught napping with little or no resources in place
to contain the ugly situation. The situation is becoming even
worse because of the fact that most national budgets are
barely adequate to carter for the basic essentials of their
citizens, let alone provide for emergencies or to take care of
diseases and natural disasters, which represent unanticipated
phenomena. Though, the world is making continuous
efforts to curtail further spread of the disease and deaths.
Unfortunately, such efforts have not led to the desired
result, as more and more people get infected and deaths are
recorded based on the global statistical index. The main
objectives of the study are to identify the communication
approach employed by the government and other relevant
agencies to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria; to
ascertain the effectiveness of communication approaches in
curbing the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria; to identify the
communication challenges associated with the COVID-19
control measures in Nigeria; to recommend measures that
would enhance the effectiveness of COVID-19 and of other
similar campaigns in the future.
Keywords: Coronavirus, COVID-19, communication.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT AS A DETERMINANT OF HEALTH INTERVENTION OUTCOMES: THE VARIED MESSAGES COMMUNICATED DURING HIV AND AIDS INTERVENTIONS IN KISII COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Introduction. The management of stakeholder
relationships, a key feature and function of communication,
determines the outcomes of health interventions. This study
sought to establish how stakeholder involvement and
stakeholder relationship management were influencing the
outcomes of the interventions against HIV and AIDS in Kisii
County, Kenya. Materials and methods. Data was collected
from 89 respondents drawn from 14 high volume hospitals
in the county. These hospitals were purposively selected.
The respondents comprised of health care staff,
representatives of bodies involved in HIV and AIDS
interventions in the county. These were selected purposively.
Female sex workers and men who have sex with men were
selected using convenience sampling technique. Data was
collected from these respondents using interviews and focus
group discussions. Additional data was collected from
county and national strategic plans and policy documents
selected purposively. Results and discussion. The key
findings were that effective strategies of targeting, engaging
and managing relationships with PLHIV and FSWs were
employed. However, the strategies were effectively
implemented in very few hospitals. There were no clear and
consistent strategies and messages targeting and engaging
the general population, men, young people, and victims of
GBV in HIV and AIDS activities. Furthermore, the
effectiveness of all the strategies employed in stakeholder
relationship management was being undermined by lack of
consultation with and involvement of health care workers
by donor agencies and the relevant county government
authorities in making critical decisions. Conclusions:
Without proper stakeholder mapping, engagement and
relationship management, the HIV and AIDS interventions
may not be useful in achieving sustainable behaviour change.
Keywords: stakeholders, involvement, consultation,
relationship management, behaviour change.
COMMUNICATION, INTERPERSONAL AND INTERCOMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Abstract
This article aims at identifying and analysing the causes
and factors which influenced and continue to influence
communication as well as interpersonal and intercommunity
relationships during this period dominated by the COVID-
19 pandemic. At the same time, based on the conclusions
resulted from the analysis of the causes and effects
generated by the COVID-19 pandemic on humanity, I offer
some proposals for the normalization and improvement of
communication and of interpersonal and intercommunity
relationships.
Keywords: faulty communication, effective communication,
interhuman communication, intercommunity communication,
COVID-19, interpersonal relationships, intercommunity
relationships .
