Why social values cannot be changed for the sake of conservation

The hope for creating widespread change in social values has endured among conservation professionals since early calls by Aldo Leopold for a “land ethic.” However, there has been little serious attention in conservation to the fields of investigation that address values, how they are formed, and how they change. We introduce a social–ecological systems conceptual approach in which values are seen not only as motivational goals people hold but also as ideas that are deeply embedded in society's material culture, collective behaviors, traditions, and institutions. Values define and bind groups, organizations, and societies; serve an adaptive role; and are typically stable across generations. When abrupt value changes occur, they are in response to substantial alterations in the social–ecological context. Such changes build on prior value structures and do not result in complete replacement. Given this understanding of values, we conclude that deliberate efforts to orchestrate value shifts for conservation are unlikely to be effective. Instead, there is an urgent need for research on values with a multilevel and dynamic view that can inform innovative conservation strategies for working within existing value structures. New directions facilitated by a systems approach will enhance understanding of the role values play in shaping conservation challenges and improve management of the human component of conservation.     

The forgotten pillar: a definition for the measurement of social sustainability in American cities

This article provides a timely review of the interdisciplinary and disjointed literature on social sustainability and identifies some readily available measures of this concept for American cities. Based upon a comprehensive review of the literature, four broad dimensions are identified as being reflective of social sustainability: equal access and opportunity, environmental justice, community and the value of place, and basic human needs. Breaking these four dimensions into measurable indicators, this research provides a method for researchers and for American cities to begin to evaluate and to assess social sustainability efforts within their jurisdictions.     

Equity in neighbourhood walkability? A comparative analysis of three large U.S. cities

This study examines the spatial and statistical relationships between social vulnerability (SV) and neighbourhood walkability across three large U.S. cities with different urban typologies and development patterns: Charlotte, NC (a low-density, fast-growing “Sunbelt” city); Pittsburgh, PA (a moderate density, shrinking “Rust Belt” city); and Portland, OR (a progressive West Coast city known for its sprawl-containment policies). Binary logistic regression, independent-samples t-tests, and mapping techniques are employed to determine whether neighbourhoods with high SV (i.e. older populations, higher poverty rates, more service occupations, lower educational attainment, and a higher proportion of minorities) are as likely as those with low SV to exhibit a high degree of walkability. The publically available Walk Score® metric, based on proximity to amenities, street network connectivity, and density, was used as a proxy for neighbourhood walkability. The results indicate significant variability among cities, with Charlotte exhibiting the greatest potential for inequitable access to walkable urban environments and the most prominent concentration of “walk-vulnerable” block groups (BGs) with high SV and low walkability. Both Portland and Pittsburgh exhibited more equitable access when comparing BGs with high and low SV; however, they each presented unique spatial patterns, visualised using a series of maps.     

Some happy,others sad: exploring environmental justice in solid waste management in Kinshasa,The Democratic Republic of Congo

This paper explores the concept of environmental justice (EJ) in solid waste management (SWM) in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It evaluates the extent to which EJ occurs in SWM and discusses the factors accounting for this state of affairs. The paper examines the relevant theoretical framework(s) and mechanisms that would facilitate the attainment of EJ in Kinshasa. It is argued that solid waste (SW) often ends up in the poorest and least powerful communities in the cities of the DRC. A qualitative research methodology, which includes exhaustive critical review of the literature, system analysis, reflections from best practices through case studies and discussion with stakeholders, was used for this study. Findings revealed that SWM in Kinshasa is a duty entrusted to publicly-funded municipal authorities. There are evidences of a clear divide between the rich and poor neighbourhoods in the manner SW is managed. This is an inequality that has only recently begun to be recognised as injustice practices in SWM. It is argued that a politico-cultural mechanism on remedying SWM inequities could enable changes that will address EJ in Kinshasa. Such a solution will go directly against the prevailing notion “some happy, others sad”.     

浅谈再生资源服务中心助力两型社会建设

围绕武汉城市圈“两型社会”建设综合配套改革试验区的现代社会组织体制建立过程中的热点问题,阐述了现代社会组织暨再生资源服务中心的基本特征;强调了以民主促民生的制度建设的必要性：分析了现代社会组织助力“两型社会”建设的可行性;概述了以华中资源循环利用服务中心为例的创新型现代社会组织市场化运作公共服务项目的工作思路。     

The science of corporate social responsibility (CSR): Contamination and conflict in a mining project in the southern Ecuadorian Andes

In this article, I explain the role that scientific studies play in shaping collaboration and conflict over mining exploration in the Ecuadorian highlands. Toronto-based IAMGOLD conducted water quality studies to simultaneously fulfill legal obligations and secure support for drilling in an environmentally sensitive zone. With these studies, IAMGOLD generated collaborative relations with local authorities and university scientists. However, water quality studies were also used by dairy farmers to establish new connections for an opposition movement. The scientific studies enabled IAMGOLD and the dairy farmers to make competing claims about the responsibility for contamination of an important watershed. This article analyzes the conflict that resulted and challenges conventional wisdom that distinguishes a corporation's legal obligations from its voluntary CSR programs.     

我国城镇居民环保事务参与的性别差异分析

从行为参与、管理参与和环境意识三个方面阐述了当前环保事务参与中存在的性别差异问题;从社会结构的视角分析了性别化对环保参与现状的影响。针对存在的问题和制约因素,从社会系统、社会资源和环境意识三个方面提出发展建议。     

秦皇岛市“创模”对策研究及效益分析

介绍了秦皇岛市创建国家环境保护模范城市的意义,重点阐述了完成创模任务的主要对策,包括:构建以旅游业为中心、特色产业互融互促的现代产业体系;加快城乡一体化建设;提升城镇发展质量和水平;加强重大基础设施建设;积极推广清洁能源,深入开展工程节能;积极推进循环经济发展等。秦皇岛市创建国家环境保护模范城市,将会在环境、经济和社会三方面产生明显的综合效益。     

城市社会体育志愿者组织建设的实践性研究——以秦皇岛市社会体育志愿者组织为例

应用文献资料法、问卷调查法、实证研究法,探讨了城市社会体育志愿者组织建设的方法策略,即以高校社会体育专业成立志愿者分队为基点,依托当地已有的志愿者组织平台,融合吸纳更多的社会体育志愿者加入社会体育志愿者大队。通过社会体育志愿者分队的组建及服务项目的实施,为政府落实《建立全民健身志愿服务长效化机制工作方案》提供参考意见,同时也为提高社会体育专业学生的专业能力和人文素养搭建平台。     

交叉上市公司社会责任缺陷披露的市场反应——基于紫金矿业突发渗漏环保事故的案例研究

伴随着工业化进程加快,社会责任缺失现象日益严重,各类企业违法违规事故层出不穷,其中不乏国有大型控股公司,这种现象引起了投资者、监管机构等利益相关者的广泛关注。在此背景下,研究资本市场对上市公司社会责任缺陷披露的反应具有重要的理论意义和现实意义。本文以交叉上市的紫金矿业为例,采用事项研究法,检验了A股和H股市场对紫金矿业集团股份有限公司发布的一系列有关紫金山铜矿湿法厂污水池突发渗漏环保事故重要公告的市场反应,并比较了两地市场对同一公告的反应差异。研究发现:两地市场对重大事故公告均提前预知并呈负面反应,在公告前A股市场反应程度大于H股市场,公告发布后H股市场投资者更加敏感;两地市场对董事会(临时)决议公告呈正面反应,但H股市场投资者更加谨慎;对处罚公告两市反应不同,A股市场未对处罚公告作出反应,H股市场对处罚公告呈负面反应;总体而言,H股市场与A股市场反应程度存在显著差异。