WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR FLOOD RISK REDUCTION AND ITS DETERMINANTS IN JAPAN1

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to clarify public preferences for flood control measures in Japan, willingness to pay (WTP), and the main factors involved in WTP by applying the contingent valuation method. Findings showed that most residents surveyed expected some flood control measures, and revealed a diversity of interest in river management. WTP levels for different measures ranged from a mean of ¥2,887 to ¥4,861 and from a median of ¥1,000 to ¥2,000. However, WTP for additional flood risk reduction beyond initial levels was found to be zero. This was considered to be because WTP for flood risk reduction must be determined within a multi‐risk context. WTP for flood control measures may increase with per capita income, individual preparedness, and/or experience with flooding, but may decrease with distance from a river, acceptability of flood risk, and provision of environmental information. Furthermore, perception of flood risk may increase WTP, while perception of other risks may decrease it. Methods of dealing with environmental risk that were proposed in the survey may have affected WTP levels.     

A research agenda for increasing safety belt use in the United States

On November 13-14, 2003, a symposium on high-visibility safety belt use enforcement in Raleigh, NC: (a) celebrated the 10th anniversary of North Carolina's Click It or Ticket program; (b) documented current knowledge regarding safety belt use; (c) proposed strategies to increase use further; and (d) discussed research to support these strategies.     

Questionable accountability: MSF and Sphere in 2003

This article examines the relationship between Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Sphere Project. Prior to revisiting the concerns MSF had with the project, it looks at factors that give rise to differences between NGOs and cites some reasons for why an organisation such as MSF would not embrace such a project and clarifies some key elements of MSF-style humanitarianism. The author revisits the original concerns and arguments presented by MSF when it decided not to participate beyond assisting with the establishment of technical standards and key indicators for the handbook. This is followed by a critical discussion examining these concerns and counter-criticism with reference to experiences a few years after the inception of Sphere. It concludes with MSF's perceptions and stance regarding Sphere and accountability in 2003.     

谈"动态对等"的缺陷

美国著名翻译理论家Nida提出的"动态对等"原则是对翻译理论界的一大贡献.笔者在承认这个原则的同时,从它概念的几个关键词入手,指出这个概念中几个值得商榷的地方,认为它的理论基础不牢靠,并分析了它所忽视的翻译所涉及的几个要素,由此表明,翻译这种涉及到许多因素的复杂活动不能依靠一种理论来指导.     

区域资源开发的系统转换理论

作者在分析资源与资源功能的基础上,以区际资源功能互补转换和区内资源结构对应转换为主题,论述了有关“区域资源开发的系统转换理论”的新思想。     

UASB-CASS-接触氧化工艺处理玉米酒精废水

介绍了采用UASB-CASS-接触氧化工艺处理玉米酒精废水的工程应用。实际运行表明玉米酒精生产工艺在采取清洁生产措施条件下,酒精生产装置混合生产废水CODCr、BOD5、SS分别控制在8000mg/L、3200mg/L和1500mg/L以内,经过UASB+CASS+接触氧化工艺处理后,外排废水可以达到《污水综合排放标准》(GB8978-1996)一级标准。同时,对废水处理过程中污泥和沼气利用途径进行了探索,为解决废水二次污染问题提供了可借鉴的实践经验。     

同分异构体喹啉和异喹啉的缺氧降解性能比较

研究了同分异构体的含氮杂环化合物喹啉和异喹啉在缺氧条件下的降解情况,发现两者表现出不同的缺氧降解特性。喹啉可以在缺氧条件下得到有效降解,其缺氧降解的最佳碳氮比为8。在最佳碳氮比条件下,喹啉的缺氧降解过程符合一级动力学规律,在其降解过程中首先以硝酸盐为电子受体,当硝酸盐氮浓度为零时,亚硝酸盐氮浓度达到最高,此后喹啉的降解主要以亚硝酸盐为电子受体,并和亚硝酸盐氮同时达到最低浓度。异喹啉对硝酸盐的利用甚微,其降解主要表现为厌氧降解特征,降解过程符合零级动力学规律。     

Safe storage of selected fuels with regard to their tendency to spontaneous combustion

European standard EN 15188 is dedicated to the assessment of the tendency of solid flammable substances to spontaneous combustion. Fossil fuels and biofuels that substitute them are a frequent reason of fires caused by spontaneous combustion. Even though having different properties, both types of fuels can be assessed according to this standard by the method of the determination of the dependency of self-ignition temperature against the ratio of volume to surface area of geometrically exactly defined solid body, or based on the theory of thermal explosion according to Frank-Kamenetskii. The comparison of calculated values confirmed the agreement of both methods results, and the tendency of fuels to spontaneous combustion can be assessed by them.     

Inclusive development,oil extraction and climate change: a multilevel analysis of Kenya

There has been considerable research on North–South issues on climate change; however, little work has been done on how the recent discovery of oil in some developing countries could affect North–South relations, the prospects for development for the South, climate change and local socio-environmental issues. Using the theory of inclusive development, the concept of the Right to Development, and their relation to stranded assets, this paper addresses the question: what does inclusive development imply at the national and global level in dealing with oil extraction in the context of climate change? Based on a literature review and a layered case study of Kenya, this paper concludes that (a) Kenyans argue that Kenya has a right to extract and use oil resources and that rich countries should reduce their extraction and use; (b) such a claim could be integrated in an appropriate emissions trading scheme; and that (c) Kenya should also account for the national and local socioecological aspects to reduce potential local conflict, yet the conditions favoring inclusive development are not yet established. However, such an argument may also lead to perverse results. If addressing climate change requires phasing out fossil fuels, this argument may lead to stranded assets in both developed and developing countries, and may ironically leave developing countries poorer off as stranded assets are possibly more expensive than having stranded resources.