The convergence of alternative food networks within “rural development” initiatives: the case of the New Rural Reconstruction Movement in China†

Rural sociologists and geographers have conceptualised different rural development trajectories including “the agri-industrial model”, “the post-productivist model” and “the rural development model”. Alternative food networks (AFNs) are increasingly recognised as a “forerunner” and a critical component of the emerging “rural development model” in the West. Meanwhile, Marsden and Franklin [2013. Replacing neoliberalism: theoretical implications of the rise of local food movements. Local Environment, 18 (5), 636–641] pointed out that there is a “local trap” in the current conceptualisation of AFNs that overemphasises their local embeddedness and heterogeneity. This “local trap” marginalises AFNs and, therefore, hinders their potential for transforming the industrialised conventional food system. The convergence and scaling-up of fragmented AFNs have been recognised as important ways to address this marginalisation issue and thus have attracted considerable attention. However, current studies of the convergence of AFNs focus mainly on the role of food-centred organisations without recognising the role of the emerging “rural development” initiatives in the convergence of AFNs. Based on in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and analysis of secondary data, this paper uses the New Rural Reconstruction Movement (NRRM), an emerging alternative rural development movement in China, as an example to illustrate how the NRRM opens up a novel space for the convergence of AFNs. We argue that the interrelationship between AFNs and rural development is indeed reciprocal. The NRRM, following the “rural development” trajectory, functions as a hub for the convergence and scaling-up of various alternative food initiatives. Strategies for achieving convergence include constructing a “common ground” for these initiatives, establishing national alliances and organisations, sharing knowledge and exchanging personnel among them.     

Exploring barriers to home gardening in Ohio households

Scholars have noted that race and ethnicity, socio-economic status (SES) as well as other socio-demographic factors may limit participation in local food systems based on the historic and structured patterns of inequalities that remain in communities promoting alternative agriculture and food (agrifood) activities. However, few empirical studies have examined the barriers which prevent people from participating in local food system activities. This paper uses survey data from the 2008 Ohio Survey of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Issues to consider whether barriers such as interest, time, financial resources, geography and space impact the participation of households in home gardening. Results from logistic regression show that SES, the availability of space and housing type are important factors which limit or enable household participation in home gardening. This paper contributes to our understanding of the barriers that prevent households from participating in home gardening, a form of food system localisation that, while a potentially powerful way to transform the agrifood system, has been underexamined in its own right.     

山西煤炭经济替代产业探索——兼论重点旅游景区拉动地区经济发展之路径

以煤炭业为绝对支柱产业的经济结构使山西陷入了环境污染重,社会缺乏创新和活力,经济发展迟缓,政治易生腐败等困境,尤其是山西的经济增长表现出受煤炭需求变化而大起大落的无奈特征,因此以前途黯淡和负面作用过大的耗竭性能源工业为支撑的山西经济,必须选择潜力大、对环境损害小或有贡献意义的替代产业。通过与在山西被认为有前景的装备制造业的收入、增加值的数据比较,以及旅游业收入、增长率与山西GDP及其人均值和增长率、可支配收入的各项指标排名的较量分析,结果表明:1从实际数值、依赖资源和条件、成长环境看,山西旅游业发展和替代优势远大于装备制造业;2山西旅游业发展及其增速水平要明显高于山西各项经济指标在全国的横向地位;3旅游业在山西具备产业比较和煤炭替代产业优势。根据山西资源条件及旅游业薄弱环节,构建以重点景区为基点的推动地区经济增长的循环路径模式,主要包括:1空间上,开发和充分利用重点景区周围地带,促使旅游业拓展、联盟、聚集和渗透,展现重点景区附近煤矿旅游资源怀旧、休闲、奇特和典型山西风格之价值;2重点景区周边环境经营成具有交友、聚首、消遣娱乐等多项享受时光、集人气活动和功能的场所,针对的消费群体应该多元化;3产业链上开发和表现的重点环节是购物和表演,购买品要以小巧别致的面目印染上山西的文化符号,优先发展消耗型特产。表演要成为以地方曲艺、方言等形式表现山西民俗生活百态的普遍存在。     

中国海洋微塑料污染现状与防治建议

微塑料作为一类新型的塑料污染物,广泛存在于全球海洋环境中,已经成为国际社会普遍关注的热点环境问题,管理不善的废物是海洋污染的重要来源.本文简要分析了全球塑料垃圾和微塑料污染形势以及微塑料的来源,探讨了巴塞尔公约所涉及塑料废物附件修订的最新进展,同时总结分析了我国沿海、河口以及内陆水域微塑料的粒径大小、含量、分布和来源.提出未来应建立健全我国塑料和微塑料管理体系,加强对重点行业向海洋中排放塑料和微塑料的研究和监管,建立微塑料对海洋生态系统影响的风险评价体系、加强宣传和教育、积极参与国际环境公约履约谈判以推动全球治理     

Classification of the Substances on the Basis of the Acute-Toxic-Class Method (ATC)

The acute-toxic-class method (ATC) is an alternative to the classical LD₅₀ test. Four substances were tested with an ATC testing procedure. The results were compared with LD₅₀ data obtained from the literature. Great importance was attached to the observations of toxic signs following administration. The results of this study have shown that the ATC method allows allocation to toxicity classes in the same manner as on the basis of the classical LD₅₀ tests. The ATC method uses fewer animals and yields the same information on toxic signs. Introducing the ATC method into the quality system allows estimating the acute oral toxicity of chemicals according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD; OECD, 1992, 1996).     

国外热防护服装性能测试技术标准研究

热防护服是热环境下人体安全防护的主要装备,其标准的科学性和系统性对热环境下的人体安全防护具有重要的支持作用.国外对热防护服相关的技术标准予以充分重视,以性能测试技术方法为主体,建立了较为科学、完善的标准,并体现出新的发展趋势.通过对国外热防护服技术标准的调研,总结性能测试标准的共性内容,包括主要性能测试方法、实验设备、实验步骤、烧伤评估、人体模型和测试报告等.整套防护服装的性能测试技术及标准是研究的重点,出汗暖体假人将在防护服装性能测试领域被更为广泛的应用.最后,提出我国研制热防护服性能测试技术标准的建议.     

天津市危险废物的现状及管理研究

本文介绍了天津市危险废物的种类、数量等现状,分析了管理过程中存在的问题。通过对天津市危险废物处理处置状况的研究,希望能为今后的研究者和相关管理者提供有益的参考。     

富营养浅水湖泊的退化与生态恢复

初步讨论了富营养浅水湖泊的退化现象的造成退化的主要原因，对湖泊生态恢复的目标和对策等问题也作了探讨，以武汉东湖为例，提出以水源保护地为主要功能的富营养浅水胡泊的恢复和整体优化对策，即恢复沉水植被、建立控制面源污染的半自然的人工湿地生态系统，优化水产养殖结构和恢复湖泊生物多样性等。对生物操纵在长江中下游富营养浅水湖泊恢复中的作用也进行了讨论。     

四川省秸秆综合利用困局及对策建议

以四川省为例,分析了秸秆综合利用中5个方面的问题,提出了相应的3点对策和建议。     

关于钢铁企业建设生态工业园的思考与建议

生态工业园是一种新型工业组织形态,是根据循环经济理论和工业生态学原理建立的一种与生态环境和谐共存的新型工业园区。论述了钢铁企业在搞好企业内部循环经济的基础上,向生态工业园发展的必要性;提出建设以钢铁企业为核心的生态工业园的三种模式;并对钢铁企业如何适时有效地发展生态工业园提出建议。