title: Secure and defensive forms of national identity and public support for climate policies

authors: Cislak, Aleksandra

abstract: The European Union currently aims to achieve fossil fuels independence and to become the first climate-neutral continent by endorsing the Green Deal policy agenda. In this work, we focus on the role of secure and defensive forms of national identity in shaping citizens’ readiness to support versus oppose public policies aimed at climate neutrality and support for sources of energy perceived as traditional and non-traditional. Namely, we distinguish between national narcissism, which is a belief that one’s national group is exceptional and deserves external recognition underlain by unsatisfied psychological needs, and secure national identification, which reflects feelings of strong bonds and solidarity with one’s ingroup members, and sense of satisfaction in group membership. We hypothesize that in contrast to secure national identification, national narcissism, due to its motivational underpinnings, is related negatively to support for climate-change mitigating solutions. In Study 1 (N = 1134), we show that while secure national identity is positively related to support for developing renewable sources of energy and the Green Deal policy agenda, national narcissism is positively related to support for fossil fuel energy (and vice versa). In Study 2 (N = 1016), we found that allocating funds for reinforcing the green image of a country goes hand in hand with the support for policies aimed at mitigating climate change among those high in national narcissism. We put these findings in perspective by discussing the role of national narratives around the traditional sources of energy in shaping support for climate change mitigating policies.

text: Secure and defensive forms of national identity and public support for climate policies The European Union currently aims to achieve fossil fuels independence and to become the first climate-neutral continent by endorsing the Green Deal policy agenda. In this work, we focus on the role of secure and defensive forms of national identity in shaping citizens’ readiness to support versus oppose public policies aimed at climate neutrality and support for sources of energy perceived as traditional and non-traditional. Namely, we distinguish between national narcissism, which is a belief that one’s national group is exceptional and deserves external recognition underlain by unsatisfied psychological needs, and secure national identification, which reflects feelings of strong bonds and solidarity with one’s ingroup members, and sense of satisfaction in group membership. We hypothesize that in contrast to secure national identification, national narcissism, due to its motivational underpinnings, is related negatively to support for climate-change mitigating solutions. In Study 1 (N = 1134), we show that while secure national identity is positively related to support for developing renewable sources of energy and the Green Deal policy agenda, national narcissism is positively related to support for fossil fuel energy (and vice versa). In Study 2 (N = 1016), we found that allocating funds for reinforcing the green image of a country goes hand in hand with the support for policies aimed at mitigating climate change among those high in national narcissism. We put these findings in perspective by discussing the role of national narratives around the traditional sources of energy in shaping support for climate change mitigating policies.

year: 2023

title: Optimization of Sol–Gel-Formed ZnO:Al Processing Parameters by Observation of Dopant Ion Location Using Solid-State ²⁷Al NMR Spectrometry

authors: Kemmitt, Tim

subjects: chemistry

abstract: We report the discrimination of Al doping sites in sol–gel-formed ZnO powders by solid-state 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry. A degree of control of dopant placement is demonstrated by modifying sol precursors and processing parameters. ZnO powders containing 1–8 at. % aluminum ions were prepared from aqueous citrate-amino-alcohol-based gels calcined at 500 °C. The powders were characterized using ²⁷Al NMR spectrometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Solid-state ²⁷Al NMR spectrometry clearly distinguished between different Al environments and was effective in determining the relative amounts of incorporation of Al dopant ions into the Zn lattice sites in the zincite structure. This allowed a synthesis protocol to be developed to optimize the doping effectiveness. Relatively minor variations in processing conditions could influence the degree and mode of Al incorporation. Optimal conditions were found to include a 90 °C drying step, followed by placement in a preheated (500 °C) furnace for 1 h. An ethanolamine-containing precursor was shown to perform much better than precursors containing alternative amino alcohols.

text: Optimization of Sol–Gel-Formed ZnO:Al Processing Parameters by Observation of Dopant Ion Location Using Solid-State ²⁷Al NMR Spectrometry We report the discrimination of Al doping sites in sol–gel-formed ZnO powders by solid-state 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry. A degree of control of dopant placement is demonstrated by modifying sol precursors and processing parameters. ZnO powders containing 1–8 at. % aluminum ions were prepared from aqueous citrate-amino-alcohol-based gels calcined at 500 °C. The powders were characterized using ²⁷Al NMR spectrometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Solid-state ²⁷Al NMR spectrometry clearly distinguished between different Al environments and was effective in determining the relative amounts of incorporation of Al dopant ions into the Zn lattice sites in the zincite structure. This allowed a synthesis protocol to be developed to optimize the doping effectiveness. Relatively minor variations in processing conditions could influence the degree and mode of Al incorporation. Optimal conditions were found to include a 90 °C drying step, followed by placement in a preheated (500 °C) furnace for 1 h. An ethanolamine-containing precursor was shown to perform much better than precursors containing alternative amino alcohols.

year: 2011

title: Travel writing and the first Marists in New Zealand

authors: Jennings, William

subjects: travel writing

abstract: French Marist missionaries arrived in New Zealand in 1838 and travelled extensively throughout the country during the next two decades. The letters they sent to France, now published in Girard's Lettres recues d'Ocanie (2009), include accounts of journeys that reveal the Marists' different perspectives of New Zealand's landscape and inhabitants. French romanticism and their religious vows emphasised a spiritual connection with the landscape, in sharp contrast with prevailing utilitarian European views. The Marists' status as Frenchmen in a British colony meant they encountered two alterities: British and Maori. Influenced by the noble savage of the French Romantics and by anti-Protestant bias, the Marists portrayed Maori favourably, reserving their more hostile comments for the British missionaries.

text: Travel writing and the first Marists in New Zealand French Marist missionaries arrived in New Zealand in 1838 and travelled extensively throughout the country during the next two decades. The letters they sent to France, now published in Girard's Lettres recues d'Ocanie (2009), include accounts of journeys that reveal the Marists' different perspectives of New Zealand's landscape and inhabitants. French romanticism and their religious vows emphasised a spiritual connection with the landscape, in sharp contrast with prevailing utilitarian European views. The Marists' status as Frenchmen in a British colony meant they encountered two alterities: British and Maori. Influenced by the noble savage of the French Romantics and by anti-Protestant bias, the Marists portrayed Maori favourably, reserving their more hostile comments for the British missionaries.

year: 2010-12