Convergence of Culture, Ecology, and Ethics: Management of Feral Swamp Buffalo in Northern Australia

This paper examines the identity of Asian swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) from different value orientations. Buffalo were introduced into Northern (Top End) Australia in the early nineteenth century. A team of transdisciplinary researchers, including an ethicist, has been engaged in field research on feral buffalo in Arnhem Land over the past three years. Using historical documents, literature review, field observations, interviews with key informants, and interaction with the Indigenous land owners, an understanding of the diverse views on the scientific, cultural, and economic significance of buffalo was obtained. While the diverse stakeholders in buffalo exploitation and management have historically delivered divergent value orientations on the nature of the human–buffalo relationship, we argue that over time there is the possibility of values and ethical convergence. Such convergence is possible via transdisciplinary and transcultural agreement on the value stances that constitute the construction of the being or identity of buffalo in the face of the overwhelming need to manage population density and gross numbers.     

Choosing a Food Future: Differentiating Among Alternative Food Options

This article examines the diversity of food networks that fit within the alternative food system of the United States. While farmers’ markets, community supported agriculture schemes, and corporate organic food markets all fit within the alternative food system, they differ greatly in the conventions and beliefs that they represent. The alternative food system has divided into two movements: corporate, weak alternative food networks; and local, strong alternative food networks. The weak corporate version focuses on protecting the environment; however, it neglects issues concerning labor standards, animal welfare, rural communities, small-scale farmers, and human health. Local, strong alternative food networks not only assure environmental protection, but they also address the issues that weak alternatives neglect. Using three case studies from the Washington, D.C. metro area, the author explains that strong alternative food networks are better suited to create social and political change because they challenge the foundations of the conventional food system: standardized and generic products, price-based competition, consolidated power, and global scale. To affect true social and political change in the United States, the author recommends supporting strong alternative food networks by creating the requisite cultural and political space for them to succeed.     

The Flood Myth in the Age of Global Climate Change

When released, The Day After Tomorrow was widely described by critics and the movie's creators as a pro-environmentalist film. This essay argues that The Day After Tomorrow articulates a variation of apocalyptic discourse identified as a flood myth. The authors conclude that this version of the flood myth largely undermines contemporary environmental discourse that attempts to generate public activism in addressing ecological problems, by replacing an emphasis on human efficacy with symbolic vindication and exchanging collective effort for individual survivalism. The film thus serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of contemporary mythic discourse presented as supporting environmental activism.     

Science–policy interface for addressing environmental problems in arid Spain

Science–policy interfaces are avenues for finding solutions for environmental challenges through strengthening collaborations between research disciplines and public administrations. Here we present a methodology for the conduct of science–policy interfaces between scientists and policymakers for addressing day-to-day environmental problems in the southeastern Spanish drylands. A knowledge brokering approach based on six consecutive workshops was used to facilitate mutual understanding and trust between scientists and policymakers. Water policy and biodiversity loss were identified as major environmental concerns in the region, and 12 final environmental problems were agreed as priorities. A graphical tool was used for diagnosing each environmental problem according to the available scientific knowledge, the current regulatory capacity of administrations, and the level of public engagement necessary for addressing the problem. The use of the graphical tool also allowed for (a) the clarification of roles involved in problem solving, and (b) the promotion of a culture of shared responsibility for the implementation of management actions based on collaborative work. We discuss lessons learned and propose recommendations for future experiences.     

Pathways of system transformation: Strategic agency to support regime change

There is a well-recognised need to transform existing systems of production and consumption towards a more sustainable orientation. However, there is much uncertainty about how to achieve sustainability transitions in practice, and what transition advocates and actors can do to catalyse and steer regime transformation. We therefore need evidence of how transitions are operationalised, in order to better understand the on-ground dynamics of regime change. To address this gap, this research paper examines three contemporary cases of transformational change in the Australian urban water sector and the dominant strategic approach to change adopted in each city. It focuses on the strategic behaviour of actors, in particular examining how agents navigate and respond to the opportunities and constraints of their context, and what initiatives (or combination thereof) can facilitate innovation diffusion and regime transformation. The results reveal three distinct patterns of change, each of which favour particular strategic interventions by transition proponents.In order to incubate transformational change, the results suggest that actors may be best served by initially employing strategies that are immediately compatible with their existing context. However, examination of the strengths and weaknesses of each pattern confirm that no single strategic approach is in itself sufficient, and in order to embed a novel innovation and bring about regime change, actors will eventually need to broaden the range of interventions used. The results also reveal the possibility of a ‘pattern-dependence’ that actors need to deliberately work to overcome in order to fully mainstream the desired change. These findings therefore provide insight into the links between regime transformation, patterns of change and actor strategies while also offering practical guidance that can be used to inform the design and implementation of regime transformation agendas and programs.     

“马坝人”与“石峡文化”──纪念“马坝人”头骨化石发现40周年

本文以科普形式介绍在广东曲江马坝镇发现的“马坝人”古人类头骨化石和附近新石器时代“石峡文化”情况。并探讨二者承前启后关系。     

运用“12345”安全文化系统工程追求长久的安全效应

通过安全生产的理论和实践活动相结合 ,笔者从一个行业出发 ,阐述了安全文化系统工程 ,概括、总结并创建了以“1个严为特征、2个抓为重点、3项工作为途径、4个规范为核心、5个开展为动力”的“12 345”安全文化系统工程 ,以系统思维、以人为本、科学管理的思想 ,论述了“12 345”安全文化系统工程的形成过程 ,为安全工作系统化、科学化、规范化和丰富安全文化的内容 ,追求长久的安全效应 ,提供了新的思路和方法。     

Q.E.&OSH管理体系的交融与整合——浅谈跨世纪的安全科技文化大安全观

从世界标准化组织制定 ISO标准发展的趋势 ,从世界经贸组织 (WTO)与 ISO的协同 ,从好的管理的共同原则 ,从可持续发展战略 ,从科技进步与文明生产 ,从安全与减灾的理论与实践 ,从 2 1世纪面临的挑战 ,从人类追求的崇高目标等方面 ,讨论了质量、环境、职业安全卫生 (Q.E.&OSH)及其管理体系的交融与整合的必然性 ,阐明了在 2 1世纪 ,人人都必须树立崭新的安全科技文化的大安全观。     

中国安全文化建设仍任重道远

加大安全文化建设的宣传力度，使安全文化在国家有关法规和标准中，在国家决策领导人的思想中，占有重要地位，近两年来已取得初步进展。但倡导、弘扬和宣传安全文化要成为全民的自觉行动，还需做大量工作。中国的安全文化建设仍任道道远。     

英汉对比与文化差异--浅谈跨文化交际中的语言差异引起的误译

文化差异会使得跨文化交际产生困难、误解和矛盾.对文化差异必要的了解在成功地进行跨文化交际中起到重要的作用.本文归纳分析了文化差异在语言使用中的表现及造成误解和误译的原因,提出了进行跨文化交际应具备的基础.