New Humanitarianism: Does It Provide a Moral Banner for the 21st Century?

There is a 'new humanitarianism' for the new millennium. It is 'principled', 'human-rights based' and politically sensitive. Above all it is new. It marks a break from the past and a rejection of the traditional principles that guided humanitarianism through the last century. New humanitarians reject the political naivety of the past, assess the long-term political impact of relief and are prepared to see humanitarian aid used as a tool to achieve human rights and political goals. New Humanitarianism is compelling, in tune with our times and offers a new moral banner for humanitarians to cling to as we enter the new millennium. Or does it? After outlining the key elements of new humanitarianism, including the human rights approach and developmental relief, the paper spells out some of the dangers. The author claims that new humanitarianism results in an overt politicisation of aid in which agencies themselves use relief as a tool to achieve wider political goals. The paper shows how this approach has spawned a new conditionality which allowsfor aid to be withheld and has produced a moral hierarchy of victims in which some are more deserving than others. The paper concludes with a plea for a revival of the principle of universalism as the first step to a new set of principles.     

近40年阿克苏河流域径流变化特征及影响因素研究

利用1961—2000年近40a的气温、降水、冻土深度等逐月资料及年蒸发量资料和20世纪50年代初或中期建站起到90年代中期径流逐月实测资料．分析20世纪下半期阿克苏河流域径流变化特征及其与气候变化的关系．同时分析人类活动对径流变化的影响作用。研究表明：阿克苏河流域普遍存在升温的变化趋势，尤其是冬季升温明显；同时导致冻土层温度的升高和冻土退化；流域内降水增加趋势明显。1990年以后径流增加趋势更加明显．从年内变化分析来看。流域内各水文站春、夏季径流有明显的增大趋势；秋、冬季径流减少明显；分析径流的变化特点．主要还受到流域地表状况变化、大面积开荒及上游水库调节等人类经济活动作用的影响。     

喀斯特地区供水水库营养演化历史重建

利用²¹⁰Pb-¹³⁷Cs年代学方法，结合洪水事件沉积层，综合建立了红枫湖沉积岩芯准确的年代学模型.在此基础上，通过测定沉积物多种地球化学指标（LOI、TOC、TN、C/N比、δ¹³C_org、BSi），结合历史文献记录和已有的水质监测数据，重建了1960~2016年红枫湖营养状态变化历史.结果表明，建库以来红枫湖水体经历了多次营养状态的显著转换.其中，1991年开始水体逐渐从中营养转向富营养化状态，主要是人类活动引起的内、外源营养物质输入显著增加所致，特别是网箱养鱼活动可能起到重要作用；2000年开始，水体逐渐转向中营养化，主要是一系列保护和治理措施的实施；2004年开始，水体再次逐渐恶化，转向富营养化状态，主要是外源污染物输入增加，加上内源底泥营养物质的重新释放；2009年以来，水质逐渐改善，处于中营养化状态，主要是外源污染得到有效控制，但表层营养物质含量较高，现阶段在减少外源污染物输入的同时，应重点加强底泥污染物的治理工作.     

城市化进程监控：从“人口规模论”到可持续人居环境度

本文论述了运用人居环境可持续发展来监控城市化进程的可能性，并提出了一定的方法。     

地下水污染与人类健康

现代化的社会对地下水的污染问题是十分关切的。本文旨在介绍一些在地下水污染的控制和治理以及地下水污染所至的健康风险评价等方面的技术。     

生态系统服务价值与人类活动强度关联性分析及权衡——以淇河流域为例

以淇河流域为研究对象，利用2000~2015年土地利用/覆被数据，结合当量因子法修正中国陆地不同生态系统服务价值当量表，采用双变量相关分析法和生态系统服务权衡模型分析生态系统服务权衡协同关系，引入人类活动强度指数评估模型分析人类活动影响空间特征，运用空间自相关探讨人类活动影响与生态系统服务价值的空间关联性及LISA聚类分析.结果表明：（1）2000~2015年淇河流域生态系统服务价值呈下降趋势，2010年生态系统服务最低（19.29亿元），废物处理平均价值最大（3.68亿元），娱乐文化平均价值最小（0.81亿元）；（2）从生态系统权衡协同关系来看，两种相关性分析均表明研究区生态系统服务以协同关系为主，由线性关系发现供给服务、调节服务与支持服务呈现为互为增益的协同关系，文化服务与支持服务、供给服务、调节服务分别表现为此消彼长的权衡关系，生态系统服务权衡协同度表明土壤保持和原材料及土壤保持和生物多样性协同度最高（4.4），权衡度最高（-5.2）为水源涵养和原材料、水源涵养和生物多样性；（3）淇河流域人类活动强度空间分异显著，流域下游人类活动影响强度明显高于上游地区，人类活动强度与生态系统服务价值空间相关性由正相关转向负相关.     

基于位置大数据的村域尺度多功能性评价——以苏州市为例

村域尺度的多功能性评价对于揭示乡村空间由同质性向异质性分化发展具有重要意义。研究将探索乡村空间行为主体的活动变化作为多功能性评价的新思路,基于位置大数据反映的人类活动规律,构建了乡村空间居住、就业和消费三大功能指数,并就苏州市以农业和生态用地为主的陆巷村和众安桥村、建设用地为主的集善村和周泾村进行了实证分析。结果显示：具有相似区位条件和地域特征的乡村空间在工作日、双休日、节假日表现出不同的主导功能,可进一步划分为农旅结合型、兼业竞争型,以及现代园区型、城镇生活型。作为大数据方法在乡村地理学领域的一次有益尝试,研究结论可为乡村振兴战略提出的分类推进乡村发展提供科学借鉴。     

Fetal surgery for severe lower urinary tract obstruction

Fetal interventions have been proposed for treatment of severe lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO), as this condition is associated with high rates of perinatal mortality and postnatal renal impairment. The rationale for in utero treatment for those cases is based on the possibility of relieving the obstruction, improving the amniotic fluid volume, and preventing renal and bladder damage. Candidates for fetal intervention should be rigorously selected based on the confirmation of severe LUTO (dilated bladder and bilateral hydronephrosis), oligohydramnios or anyhydramnios and ‘favorable’ fetal urinalysis (dependent on gestational age). Nowadays there are two different therapeutic options with specific technical approaches. Vesico-amniotic shunting is an easier procedure, but with a higher frequency of related complications. Fetal cystoscopy can be used for diagnostic purpose and for treatment of posterior urethral valves, with suggestive advantage of allowing a more physiological release of the obstruction. According to the literature, estimated survival rates and postnatal normal renal function frequencies are approximately 40 and 50% after vesico-amniotic shunting and 75 and 65% after fetal cystoscopy, respectively. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Climate Change Impacts and Human Settlements in Africa: Prospects for Adaptation

Climate change impacts on African human settlements arise from a number of climate change-related causes, notably sea level changes, impacts on water resources, extreme weather events, food security, increased health risks from vector home diseases, and temperature-related morbidity in urban environments.Some coastlines and river deltas of Africa have densely populated low-lying areas, which would be affected by a rise in sea level. Other coastal settlements will be subjected to increased coastal erosion. Recent flooding in East Africa highlighted the vulnerability of flood plain settlements and the need to develop adaptive strategies for extreme weather events management and mitigation. In the semi arid and arid zones many settlements are associated with inland drainage water sources. Increases in drought will enhance water supply related vulnerabilities. Inter-basin and international water transfers raise the need for adequate legal frameworks that ensure equity among participating nations.Similarly, water supply and irrigation reservoirs in seasonal river catchments might fail, leading to poor sanitation in urban areas as well as food shortage. Hydroelectric power generation could be restricted in drought periods, and where it is a major contributor to the energy budget, reduced power generation could lead to a multiplicity of other impacts. States are advised to develop other sources of renewable energy.Temperature changes will lead to altered distribution of disease vectors such as mosquitoes, making settlements currently free of vector borne diseases vulnerable. Rapid breeding of the housefly could create a menace associated with enteric disorders, especially in conditions of poor sanitation.The dry savannahs of Africa are projected as possible future food deficit areas. Recurrent crop failures would lead to transmigration into urban areas. Pastoralists are likely to undertake more trans-boundary migrations and probably come into conflict with settled communities.Adaptive measures will involve methods of coastal defences (where applicable), a critical review of the energy sector, both regionally and nationally, a rigorous adherence to city hygiene procedures, an informed agricultural industry that is capable of adapting to changing climate in terms of cropping strategies, and innovations in environment design to maximise human comfort at minimum energy expenditure. In the savannah and arid areas water resource management systems will be needed to optimise water resource use and interstate co-operation where such resources are shared.Climate change issues discussed here raise the need for state support for more research and education in impacts of climate change on human settlements in Africa.