Challenges to liberalism: The case of Australian energy policy

This paper considers liberal and nationalist economic policy approaches to the ownership and development of Australian energy resources (oil, gas, coal and uranium). In the two decades prior to 1983, Australia pursued economic policies in relation to its energy resources which could broadly be described as ‘nationalist’. Governments of the day intervened in development decisions in an effort to enhance the ‘national interest’. From 1983, along with the deregulation of the Australian economy as a whole, policy relating to energy resources was liberalised. Development of energy reserves henceforth occurred according to the dictates of the market. This paper argues that recent Australian energy policy initiatives reflect an increase in nationalist influences and a retreat from the liberalisation agenda that dominated energy policy making in the 1980s and 1990s. Three examples are discussed where policy has been influenced by a nationalist framework: (1) the domestic gas reservation policy in Western Australia; (2) Australian government efforts to promote a ‘value adding’ nuclear processing industry and (3) Australian Labor Party policy giving preferential financial incentives for gas to liquids projects. The re-emergence of nationalism in Australia is occurring either because policy makers now favour it as a path to energy security or in some cases because they believe that appeals to nationalism will generate political support.     

Adsorption of phenol and its derivatives from water using synthetic resins and low-cost natural adsorbents: a review

In this article, the technical feasibility of the use of activated carbon, synthetic resins, and various low-cost natural adsorbents for the removal of phenol and its derivatives from contaminated water has been reviewed. Instead of using commercial activated carbon and synthetic resins, researchers have worked on inexpensive materials such as coal fly ash, sludge, biomass, zeolites, and other adsorbents, which have high adsorption capacity and are locally available. The comparison of their removal performance with that of activated carbon and synthetic resins is presented in this study. From our survey of about 100 papers, low-cost adsorbents have demonstrated outstanding removal capabilities for phenol and its derivatives compared to activated carbons. Adsorbents that stand out for high adsorption capacities are coal-reject, residual coal treated with H3PO4, dried activated sludge, red mud, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-modified montmorillonite. Of these synthetic resins, HiSiv 1000 and IRA-420 display high adsorption capacity of phenol and XAD-4 has good adsorption capability for 2-nitrophenol. These polymeric adsorbents are suitable for industrial effluents containing phenol and its derivatives as mentioned previously. It should be noted that the adsorption capacities of the adsorbents presented here vary significantly depending on the characteristics of the individual adsorbent, the extent of chemical modifications, and the concentrations of solutes.     

美国对石油天然气勘探开发中废物的环境监管

石油天然气勘探开发及生产过程中会产生大量的废物,对这些废物的管理目前受到各国高度的重视。文章介绍了美国石油和天然气勘探开发中废物的监管机构、监管要求和管理实践,以期对我国油气行业勘探开发废物的环境监管有所启示。     

自然资源利用权的双重物权属性及环境保护价值

自然资源利用权从产生的途径上看应属于特许物权,从内容和功能上看应属于准用益物权,两种物权属性并不相互排斥。自然资源利用权的双重物权属性符合环境保护的价值取向和价值选择。     

电厂对珍禽保护区的环境影响评价实例探讨

以位于自然保护区边缘的火电厂建设项目环境影响评价为实例,阐述了火电厂生态环境评价中对自然保护区珍稀鸟类的保护方法,以供类似项目的生态环境影响评价借鉴。     

城市家用天然气安全管理的研究

通过对100家广州市天然气家庭用户使用情况进行调查,主要针对天然气使用、燃气设施保护和安全意识等诸多问题,运用事故致因理论,分析其成因规律,提出从事故发生的根本原因入手,运用"预防为主、善后为辅"的积极、主动的方法,把事故消除在起始或孕育阶段。调查结果显示:造成城市燃气应用系统事故的原因主要包括:用户燃具不正确的选择、燃气设备安装不当、燃气安全知识水平不高、安全意识不强、燃具产品和服务质量良莠不齐等。并以事故预防控制理论为指导,提出广州市天然气应用预防与安全管理应采取的技术、教育、强化等3方面对策。     

我国城市灾害风险应对现状及对策研究

阐述了城市灾害的分类;从城市灾害预防与控制,应急反应与救援等方面分析我国在城市灾害风险控制与应对上的不足;提出8个方面的对策。该对策研究包括:建立城市安全规划、风险防范和危机管理法律体系;实施城市防灾减灾规划并融入城市规划中;完善城市灾害风险决策支持系统和信息管理系统;实行安全规划风险评价机制;加快防灾减灾综合管理机构建设;建立科学、完善的应急救援体系;加强安全教育和防灾减灾宣传;加强城市安全科学研究与交流。该研究结果对如何提高我国城市灾害风险预防与控制能力及应急救援水平具有重要的借鉴和指导作用。     

2007年中国安全生产事故与自然灾害状况

综述了2007年中国安全生产事故状况和自然灾害情况.2007年中国共发生各类安全生产事故506 376起,死亡101 480人,同比分别减少19.3%和10.1%.非煤矿山共发生伤亡事故1 861起、死亡2 188人,同比分别下降0 6%和3.9%.火灾发生15 9万起,死亡1 418人,受伤863人,直接财产损失9 9亿元.共发生森林火灾9 260起,草原火灾248起.2007年各类自然灾害共造成39 777 9万人(次)不同程度受灾,因灾死亡2 325人; 农作物受灾面积4 899万hm2,上升19 2%,其中绝收面积575万hm2,上升6.2%.因灾直接经济损失2 363亿元,比2006年下降6.5%.安徽、四川、河南、湖南、云南、重庆、浙江、陕西等地受灾较为严重.全国因气象灾害共造成经济损失约2 342亿元.2007年共发生风暴潮、海浪、海冰、赤潮和海啸等灾害性海洋过程163次,造成直接经济损失88 37亿元,死亡(含失踪)161人.地质灾害共发生25 364起,死亡598人,造成直接经济损失24 75亿元.大陆地区共发生5级以上地震17次,地震灾害造成死亡3人,直接经济损失20.19亿元.结果表明,2007年中国安全生产事故的发生较2006年有所缓和,自然灾害状况也较2006年轻.     

城市天然气管道风险特征与肯特法的改进

根据城市高压天然气管道特点,将适合于城市天然气管道风险分析的肯特评分法加以改进,包括调整评分项目和事故因素权重,使其成为适于城市天然气管道的风险分析法。将改进后的肯特评分法应用于常州21km高压天然气管道的风险评价,得出8个相对高风险管段,其分析结果可作为安全管理人员合理分配维护资源的理论依据。工程应用实例证明:改进后的肯特法具有较强的可行性,是城市高压天然气管道风险评估的有效工具。     

家居室内设计及新进展的思考

在对传统室内设计基本观点阐述与理解的基础上分析其整体性、可持续发展,并着重探讨在物质文明和精神文明高度发展的今天,现代室内设计在个性化、自然性、现代性、艺术性等方面发展的新趋势.通过对现代室内设计特点和发展趋势的分析,创造出一个适合人们现代生活的理想空间.