Environmental aftermath of the radiation accident at Tomsk-7

An analysis is presented of the environmental effects of the most serious radiation accident recorded after Chernobyl, which occurred in the formerly secret town of Tomsk-7 in Siberia, Russia, on 6, April 1993. Fortunately, it appears not to have become a major industrial crisis or disaster. The causes of the accident are described. It is argued that a mixture of both objective and subjective prerequisites, including specific human, organizational, and technological factors, were responsible for the explosion or directly facilitated it. The Tomsk-7 accident's ecological, medical, social, and psychological consequences are discussed.     

At the 50th anniversary of the UN

This paper describes how the design by the UN of its institutions for delivering technical assistance and advisory services in respect of mineral resources development have changed over time. UN practices in such fields as mining and minerals development are analysed, as are the gradual and subtle impacts of such practices on changes in UN perceptions of its roles not only in development but also in peace and human rights. The final section examines some of the problems that will confront the UN in the future, as it seeks to incorporate the principles of interdependence and interlinkage among development, peace and human rights into its technical assistance and advisory services in the field of mining and minerals development .     

The world agricultural system and ethical considerations relating to the rural environment: Some perspectives on cause and effect in underdeveloped countries

Food is a basic human need and therefore a basic human right. While food output has increased to a level where there is enough food produced to feed the world, still millions starve. Using the concept of capitalist world economy as a framework, this paper provides a structural analysis of the food production and distribution system within monopoly capitalism and its implications for countries of the underdeveloped world. Focusing on the impact of a dominant world food supply system on indigenous systems (particularly through the rise of science, technology, and monopoly capital), considerations relating to environmental use and food production and distribution are raised. Finally a call is made for a new agricultural ethic.     

Environmental considerations in Swedish Forestry: A study of the administrative process

This report briefly describes the implementation process involving nature conservation considerations in forestry, according to a recently passed law in Sweden. Described are the forestry and political systems in Sweden regarding nature conservation in forestry, as well as of the administrative process involved when a forest is going to be clearcut. Conclusions are based upon the conditions and outcome of two clearcutting cases outlined in this report, and are focused on the interactions and control functions among various agencies and levels of government. The policy on the consideration of nature in forestry is, to a large extent, formed at a very low level in the bureaucracy and is subject to negotiation from case to case. Checkups between different agencies as a form of concurrent government become important means of implementing environmental considerations in forestry, having the split roles and interests of the authorities in mind.     

Methodological considerations in forecasting Saudi Arabian economic growth

The author surveys a number of factors responsible for Saudi Arabian economic growth and concludes that, contrary to popular belief, the petroleum sectors have had more than just a short-run transitory stimulating impact on the domestic economy. It appears that changes in the level of exports (and resulting government expenditures) have a number of impacts on the non-oil sector of the economy which take some time for their full effect to be felt. Government expenditures have become somewhat independent of current oil exports, so the current oil glut and falling revenues for Saudi Arabia are not likely to be translated into slower non-oil income growth.     

Statistical considerations of progressive value and risk in mineral exploration

Financial markets recognise maximisation of expected value (E), in an essentially risk-neutral context, as the main corporate financial objective of private enterprise. This may be valid for large, integrated mining companies. Yet, most junior and middle-size exploration companies behave in a risk-averse fashion when making decisions about progressively more expensive exploration programs. From their perspective, a potential increase in expected value from either an increase in target value or related probability of discovery, or both, may not be a sufficient incentive to embark in an exploration programme if the resultant increase in expected value is accompanied by a significant increase in possible maximum loss. Risk-averse explorers may be unwilling to bear larger, albeit less probable losses, when the cost of successive exploration programmes is taken into account. The paper provides a practical methodology for such explorers to optimise the decision whether to progress to the next stage of exploration or to farm out a risky project. It uses a decision-tree model incorporating the effectiveness of the proposed exploration programme, the explorer's risk tolerance and related utility values and the probability distribution of the possible value of the exploration target.     

综合开发儋州市农业资源的建议

本文结合儋州市第二期农业综合开发的实践，客观地总结了该市所取得的成绩，较详细地剖析了成功的原因，并提出了综合开发儋州市农业的建议．     

Practical and ethical considerations of agricultural research assistance for the Third World

The right to eat and to an adequate standard of living for everyone motivates agricultural research assistance to developing countries with the primary objective of assuring sufficient food supply. This article focuses on aspects of food production and related agricultural research with specific examples from animal production. It discusses ethics of agricultural research in light of the utilitarian theory and compares livestock production in developing and developed countries. Major reasons for low outputs of animal production in developing countries are identified, and the potential for increasing the productivity of original, extensive production systems is evaluated. The article reviews the current status of biotechnology in developing countries and discusses several advanced animal technologies. The conclusions emphasize the need to involve local professionals in all phases of research and technology transfer in developing countries, avoidance of research that may worsen the situation of the recipients, sustainability of production systems, and the need for detailed assessment of potential impacts of technology on recipients.     

Some observations on the terminology in co-operative environmental management

The notion of managing resources in partnership flourishes in natural resources literature. The terms partnership, collaboration, and co-management are associated with co-operative environmental management. Examining issues of definition reveals similarities, differences and, at times, imprecise use of the three terms. The potential for clarity prompts the proposal of a multi-dimensional model of co-operative environmental management. The model consists of three key dimensions. The first dimension reflects the extent power is shared among the actors and agencies involved in the agreement. The second dimension delineates who is involved in the management regime. Process, the final dimension, reflects the variety of ways in which co-management may function or proceed. The presented model highlights dimensions requiring attention by those working within co-operative environmental management. The model is valuable as it reflects the complexity and range of such arrangements in practice.     

《民用建筑工程室内环境污染控制规范》国家标准的部分内容值得商榷

针对《民用建筑工程室内环境污染控制规范》GB50325—2001（2006年版）中苯、总挥发性有机物的进样方法、“甲醛仲裁检测”的提法及室内环境污染物浓度限量值等问题,结合实际工作情况,进行了分析探讨,并阐述了相应的修改意见。     

Some economic aspects of the world coal market

The basic intention of this paper is to present some new economic results pertaining to the world coal market. These results deal principally with the effect of devaluations on production; the effect of ‘volume’ and depletion on the calculation of marginal cost; and price formation in a stock flow market. Observations are also made in the paper concerning the use of combined cycle technology in coal based power plants, and present supply-demand trends in the world coal market, to include the development of (sea) freight rates.     

现行资源税设置中存在的问题及对策

对资源征税的意义不仅在于增加财政收入,更重要的是促进资源的有效管理,为国民经济持续、稳定的发展提供可靠保证。从这个目的出发,就资源税设置中存在的一些问题进行了深入探讨,以期使资源税的征管工作能在国民经济运行中发挥更大作用。     

生态旅游发展策略及有关问题探讨

本文综合现有文献资料,在确定“生态旅游”的概念和特征的基础上,结合近年我国自然保护区生态旅游实践,指出目前在生态旅游发展过程中存在的主要问题,并提出了开展生态旅游应遵循的原则和生态旅游资源的保护对策。     

对开发三峡库区旅游文化资源的思考

运用旅游文化学理论 ,并结合三峡旅游的实际 ,对三峡库区旅游文化资源进行了深入分析和研究 ,提出了开发的原则和措施。     

对淮河水污染防治问题的思考?

淮河水污染治理始于1994年，是我国“三河三湖”水污染防治的第一战役，从此揭开了我国大规模向水污染宣战的序幕。党中央国务院高度重视，洽淮十年来，沿淮四省采取了结构调整、工业污染防治、污水处理厂建设、农业面源污染治理等一系列措施。总体上看．沿淮四省在经济快速增长的情况下，淮河流域排污总量有所下降，水质有了一定程度的改善，过去淮河流域高速度的污染趋势得到初步遏止．十年淮河治污成效明显。