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The article comprises an analysis of public opinion surveys concerning the environmental awareness in Polish society concerning natural resources and their protection, which issue has not been presented to date comprehensively in the literature on the subject. To this end, i.e. to present the degree of this awareness, the results of opinion surveys on the following topics have been presented and analysed: environmental protection as a social problem and the sources of knowledge on this subject, climate change, natural resources as sources of energy, attitude to the nuclear power plant construction, and air quality. The study has been based on representative surveys carried out by public opinion polling centres. The above-mentioned analysis has been preceded by terminological findings on such terms as "environmental security", "natural resources", "environmental awareness" and "public opinion", with a proposal for a new definition of environmental awareness, referring to elements of legal awareness. It has been assumed that the knowledge of the degree of public awareness is useful in designing legal solutions conducive to environmentally sound behaviour and in taking decisions on a gradual increase in the extent to which public participation in natural resource management is allowed. The research hypothesis that awareness of natural resources among the Polish population is not optimal but is gradually increasing was confirmed. It has been pointed out that legal measures to promote environmental measures need to be complemented and strengthened by instructional and educational measures. ; W artykule dokonano analizy badań polskiej opinii publicznej dotyczących świadomości ekologicznej polskiego społeczeństwa w odniesieniu do zasobów naturalnych i ich ochrony. Kwestia ta nie była dotąd w sposób zbiorczy prezentowana w literaturze przedmiotu. Dla realizacji celu, tj. przedstawienia poziomu owej świadomości, zaprezentowano i przeanalizowano wyniki badań opinii publicznej dotyczące: ochrony środowiska jako problemu społecznego i źródeł wiedzy na ten temat, zmian klimatycznych, zasobów naturalnych jako źródeł energii, stosunku do budowy elektrowni jądrowej i jakości powietrza. Oparto się na reprezentatywnych badaniach przeprowadzonych przez ośrodki badania opinii publicznej. Powyższe poprzedzone zostało ustaleniami terminologicznymi dotyczącymi takich terminów, jak "bezpieczeństwo ekologiczne", "zasoby naturalne", "świadomość ekologiczna" i "opinia publiczna", przy czym zaproponowano nowe ujęcie świadomości ekologicznej, nawiązujące do elementów konstrukcyjnych świadomości prawnej. Przyjęto, iż poznanie poziomu świadomości społecznej jest przydatne w konstruowaniu rozwiązań prawnych sprzyjających postawom proekologicznym oraz w podejmowaniu decyzji o stopniowym zwiększaniu stopnia dopuszczenia społeczeństwa do zarządzania zasobami naturalnymi. Potwierdzono hipotezę badawczą, zgodnie z którą poziom świadomości społeczeństwa polskiego w zakresie zasobów naturalnych nie jest optymalny, ale ulega stopniowemu podwyższeniu. Wskazano na potrzebę uzupełniania i wzmacniania rozwiązań prawnych sprzyjających działaniom proekologicznym poprzez działania edukacyjne i wychowawcze.

Publikacja stanowi jedyny na rynku wydawniczym komentarz do tekstu ustawy o zachowaniu narodowego charakteru strategicznych zasobów naturalnych kraju. Autorzy poprzedzają analizę tekstu prawnego obszernym wprowadzeniem odnoszącym się do pojęcia zasobów naturalnych, ich kwalifikacji jako dóbr publicznych oraz znaczenia jakie "strategicznym" zasobom naturalnym nadaje podbudowa aksjologiczna, która legła u podstaw wprowadzenia komentowanej regulacji. W komentarzu poddano także analizie kontekst oceny znaczenia zasobów naturalnych z perspektywy funkcji ekosystemów i usług ekosystemowych. ; The Cmmentary is one and the only commentary of the Act on Maintaining the National Character of the Country's Strategic Natural Resources. The authors precede the analysis of the legal text with an extensive introduction referring to the concept of natural resources, their qualification as public goods and the axiological foundation of the commented regulation. The commentary also analyzes the context of assessing the importance of natural resources from the perspective of ecosystem functions and ecosystem services.

Publikacja stanowi jedyny na rynku wydawniczym komentarz do tekstu ustawy o zachowaniu narodowego charakteru strategicznych zasobów naturalnych kraju. Autorzy poprzedzają analizę tekstu prawnego obszernym wprowadzeniem odnoszącym się do pojęcia zasobów naturalnych, ich kwalifikacji jako dóbr publicznych oraz znaczenia jakie "strategicznym" zasobom naturalnym nadaje podbudowa aksjologiczna, która legła u podstaw wprowadzenia komentowanej regulacji. W komentarzu poddano także analizie kontekst oceny znaczenia zasobów naturalnych z perspektywy funkcji ekosystemów i usług ekosystemowych. ; The Cmmentary is one and the only commentary of the Act on Maintaining the National Character of the Country's Strategic Natural Resources. The authors precede the analysis of the legal text with an extensive introduction referring to the concept of natural resources, their qualification as public goods and the axiological foundation of the commented regulation. The commentary also analyzes the context of assessing the importance of natural resources from the perspective of ecosystem functions and ecosystem services.

The article analyzes the impact of plant production on the protection of biosphere resources. Agriculture significantly affects the quality of resources and natural environment assets and shapes their character. The quality of environmental resources determines the size and directions of agricultural production, and agriculture changes ecosystems, shapes the landscape, affects the quality and quantity of natural resources. European integration has influenced the relationship between agriculture and the environment in many directions. EU legislation and the formulation of development strategies and economic programs contribute to the greening of agricultural land use and the protection of biosphere resources. The assessment of these activities is definitely positive due to the creation of conditions for conflict-free coexistence of the protective function and the agricultural function. ; Artykuł zawiera analizę wpływu produkcji roślinnej na ochronę zasobów biosfery. Rolnictwo w istotny sposób wpływa na jakość zasobów i walorów środowiska przyrodniczego oraz kształtuje ich charakter. Jakość zasobów środowiskowych determinuje wielkość i kierunki produkcji rolniczej, a gospodarka rolna zmienia ekosystemy, kształtuje krajobraz, wpływa na jakość i ilość zasobów naturalnych. Integracja europejska wielokierunkowo wpłynęła na relację rolnictwo – środowisko. Legislacja unijna oraz konstruowanie strategii rozwojowych i programów gospodarczych przyczyniają się do ekologizacji użytkowania gruntów rolnych i ochrony zasobów biosfery. Ocena tych działań jest zdecydowanie pozytywna ze względu na tworzenie warunków do bezkonfliktowego współistnienia funkcji ochronnej i funkcji rolniczej.

To sum up all the foregoing considerations, it can be stated that a limited degree of social identification, together with political elites, constitutes an indispensable element of the functioning of political systems and those democratic ones, as well. Unfortunately, Africa is still a place of alienation tendency, manifested by political elites, which constitutes a basis prone to social conflicts. However, Africa has to encounter difficulties resulting from long-term colonial oppression. The problem also concerns various religions, from Muslims, Christians to the faith in traditional tribal gods. All this is a consequence of historical past. In order to make the plans for its development work, Africa has to defeat its biggest enemies first – the problem of famine, constant conflicts and dozens of wasted opportunities to stabilize the continent. Africa is abundant with such natural resources that no other country has them. " In the moment of creation of the world God felt tired with the creation process, so he sat down and fell asleep. When he set off to continue his journey, he noticed that he had left a bag full of natural resources, which had been destined for other continents. That is why we have all the natural resources from the periodic table, such as: copper, uranium, cobalt, gold, diamonds, bauxite and oil," said Isidore Mavambu Matumona Charge d'Affaires of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. What is also paradoxical, is the fact that Africa is the poorest continent of all, with civil wars, genocide, famine, lack of water and spreading disease, such as AIDS and malaria, which are considered to be world's plagues. The solution to these problems lies in incorporating full stabilization in the continent. The interest in Africa is slightly smaller than directly after decolonization and the famous year 1960. The Fall of the Berlin Wall, changes in the countries of Middle East Europe in 1989 and the collapse of USSR directed the interest towards Europe. Africa appears in the public eye, only when it comes to events such as those in Sudanese Darfur, Ruanda or Somalia.

Support of African geological surveys by their European partners in the context of the Polish initiatives.A b s t r a c t. African countries in the 1960s began to recover their independence. These facts coincided with the good results in raw materials findings of the Polish geologists and geophysicists. Therefore, in the 1960s and 1970s, geologists of the Polish Geological Institute and other companies indicated their presence in the research works in several countries of the African continent. Nowadays, the EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) members with the support from the Organization of African Geological Surveys (OAGS) prepared a strategy for sustainable strengthening of African countries' geological administrations. The strategy focuses on natural resources governance, enforcing sustainable mineral resources exploitation as well as preventing and mitigating natural disasters by establishing long-term strategic cooperation relationships in these areas. EGS, on behalf of the European Commission's DG Development and Cooperation (DEVCO) and with the support and additional supervision of DG ENTR, was requested to cooperate with the OAGS to develop, over a period of about twelve months, a feasibility study focusing on one key priority of the EU-Africa Strategy Action Plan 2011–13, which is to "foster further co-operation between African and European geological surveys". As the result of this cooperation the identification of the Africa's challenges in geological knowledge and skills has been done, that emerged by analysis of targeted information derived from questionnaires distributed via OAGS to their members.

The article is about transatlantic cooperation between Poland and US for energy security. Energy sector is dependent on government strategy. Policy should crate protection for society and business. Global energy consumption is still growing. Developing industry especially needs natural resources to produce energy. The climate is changing and global warming is said to cause greenhouse eff ect resulting in droughts or floods. The major energy sources consumed in the United States are petroleum (oil), natural gas, coal, nuclear, and renewable energy. In the last years shale gas has been taken the most important place in the economy. US policy on energy security focuses on research and development. The main objective is to provide access to energy resources in the lowest price. Polish energy policy strategy on the diversifi cation of routes and sources of energy. The political environment supported a few projects: shale gas sectors, nuclear energy and coal sector. At present, the amount of gas deposits in Poland is being estimated. This paper consists of three sections, an introduction and conclusions. The fi rst chapter presents the energy sectors in Poland and US, and the prospects of its development. The second analyzes the nature of the areas of transatlantic cooperation Polish-American. While the third part shows the eff ects of transatlantic cooperation between the EU and the U.S., for Polish, as a member of the Community. This paper is complemented by tables, graphs, and bibliography.

The article analyses the Jordanian foreign policy with a primary focus on Jordan's status as a buffer state. This characteristic can be regarded as a key determinant of the foreign policy, which not only defines vital interests of the monarchy, but also shapes its behaviour in the international arena and impacts on its domestic scene. Consequently, main trends in the Jordanian foreign policy are explored: moderation, quest for regional modus vivendi and long-standing alliance with the West. The author also indicates that with a relative scarcity of natural resources and weak economy, foreign policy becomes a strategic national asset of Jordan, a tool of domestic legitimacy for the political regime, and evidence of interlinked state interests and dynastic ambitions of the Hashemite family. The article concludes that despite regional turmoil in the wake of the Arab revolts, Jordan remains relatively stable and is skillfully playing its diplomatic card in order to gain leeway on the domestic front. ; Artur Malantowicz

Analyses show that the mutual relations between the EU and Russia are marked by profound pragmatism on the one hand (in Russia) and a certain complex of a powerful neighbor and the fear of political turmoil on the other (in the EU). Russia tries to take advantage of these fears in order to maximize her profits and skillfully oscillates between the policy of the USA and that of EU which both count on the benefits to be obtained from the opening of the Russian market. However, the recently popular Russian alliance with China does not pose an actual alternative for the commercial exchange with Europe. This is due to the abundance of Chinese natural resources and expanding Chinese economy that is looking for sales markets rather than offering its purchasing market. In the long run the Russian alliance with the EU will have to be based on new principles that will restrict financial support by the United Europe that will be required to finance its new members.

The confl ict in Chechnya, was not only a threat to the territorial integrity of Russia but also to its energy security. Energy issues were one of the main means of pressure which Russia has used in relation to Chechnya. The ultimate goal of Russia's actions was to transform Chechnya from an exporter of oil on one completely dependent on Russian energy sources. The article is an attempt to defi ne the importance of natural resources for Russia and Chechnya. The author concludes that the mere extraction of resources was more important for Chechnya, while insuring the security of supply and activity in the Caspian Sea made Chechnya very important for Russia. ; Konflikt w Czeczenii stanowi zagrożenie nie tylko dla integralności terytorialnej Rosji, ale również dla jej bezpieczeństwa energetycznego. Kwestie energetyczne były jednym z głównych środków nacisku, który został zastosowany przez Rosję w stosunku do Czeczenii. Punktem docelowym działań Rosji było przekształcenie Czeczenii z eksportera ropy, w całkowicie uzależnionego od Federacji Rosyjskiej odbiorcę energii. Artykuł stanowi próbę określenia znaczenia surowców naturalnych i bezpieczeństwa energetycznego dla Rosji i Czeczenii. Autorka stwierdza, że chociaż samo wydobycie surowców miało większe znaczenie dla Czeczenii, to zapewnienie bezpieczeństwa dostaw i rozgrywka o surowce Morza Kaspijskiego sprawiły, że Czeczenia stała się dla Rosji szczególnie ważna.

China In Africa – An Opportunity Or Neo-Colonialism In The Xxi Century? Selected Aspects Of The Chinese Presence On The ContinentChina's policy towards African countries undergone a significant transformation since the 50's of the XX century, and changed dramatically in the last decade, given the scale of the Middle Kingdom economic engagement on the continent. Africa is nowadays an important source of natural resources and huge market for Chinese products. The same time for non democratic regimes, China eases tensions in the Africa-USA and Africa-EU relations. Chinese aid and investments, are well recognized in Africa, as they are unconditionally realized. Although both parties derive commercial and political benefits from cooperation, Chinese policy is characterized by pragmatism and willingness to achieve their own objectives. If Chinese interests increasingly depend on local leaders' policy, will it be possible to maintain in future decades "non-interference" ability towards African's internal affairs? To which extend Chinese presence benefits in building of political, economic and social governance in Africa, and how far it is a scenario of taking advantage in a "neo-colonial" style?

Increasing conflicts between Russia and Europe, mutual economic and commercial sanctions due to conflicts with its neighbours may in the future lead to supply constraints and access to natural resources in the Russian Federation. Through the complete control of transmission channels on European territory, acquisition of a majority interest or full control of distributors in neighbouring countries and the European Union's full dependence on Russian energy and environmental impacts, Russia wants to gain a dominant position not only in the region but in the international arena (global).Developing unconventional methods of extracting oil, as well as taking over the largest Russian energy corporations overseas refineries, the latest technology, knowledge and skills allows the Russian Federation to pursue a policy of expansion into new territories rich energy resources, such as the Arctic and the restoration of the lost positions superpower using energy resources. The conflict in Ukraine, the crisis in the Crimea and the ensuing superimposed on each other sanctions require serious approach to the issue of energy security in the European Union. ; Publikacja recenzowana ; Narastające konflikty miedzy Rosją a Europą, wzajemne sankcje ekonomiczne i gospodarcze wywołane konfliktami z sąsiadami mogą w przyszłości doprowadzić do ograniczenia dostaw i dostępu do surowców naturalnych z Federacji Ro-syjskiej. Poprzez pełną kontrolę kanałów przesyłowych na terytorium Europy, przejęcie większości udziałów lub pełną kontrolę dystrybutorów w państwach sąsiadujących oraz pełne uzależnienie Unii Europejskiej od rosyjskiego czynnika energetycznego Rosja chce uzyskać dominującą pozycje nie tylko w regionie, lecz na arenie międzynarodowej (globalnej). Rozwijanie niekonwencjonalnych metod wydobycia ropy naftowej, a także przejmowanie przez największe rosyjskie koncerny energetyczne zagranicznych rafinerii, najnowszych technologii, wiedzy i umiejętności pozwala realizować Federacji Rosyjskiej politykę ekspansji na nowe terytoria bogate w surowce energetyczne, takie jak Arktyka, oraz odbudowę utraconej pozycji supermocarstwa przy pomocy surowców energetycznych. Konflikt na Ukrainie, kryzys na Krymie i związane z tym nałożone wzajemnie na siebie sankcje nakazują poważnie podejść do kwestii bezpieczeństwa energetycznego w Unii Europejskiej.

Perspectives of the world oil market areclosely related to the possible tendencies of price ruling of that natural resource. To describe it, the author constructs a system considering all the main elements subject to changes in time, which are essentially related to the ruling of oil prices. Pricing strategies of the oil states are adopted as the initial variable. Its variants can be specified on the grounds of the formulated subsystems of independent and dependent variables. The first of subsystems comprises features relatively unchanged over time and common for all the states-producers of oil. The maeroeconomic target of the oil states economies is considered here as well as the long-run target in their export sectors and stimulating functions of price variables. This subsystem is supplemented by the conditions limiting free price-ruling within the framework of certain stimulating functions. The second subsystem considères the effect of three categories of determinants: internal (relations of export incomes to expenditures of the oil states, acquired level of productive forces in those states, conditions for realization of the accelerated economic development, freedom to "manipulate" resources), external ones (relation of demand to oil supply) and correcting (quality of oil, transport distance, extra economic factors, the volume of demand aparat of main oil importers). They constitute proper criteria of variating procedure. Defining the probability of appearance of one of the presented variants in practice and its effect on the level of oil prices requires a permanent observation of changes in the respective analysed factors and taking account of them. And that is the premise adopted by the author of the article. ; Digitalizacja i deponowanie archiwalnych zeszytów RPEiS sfinansowane przez MNiSW w ramach realizacji umowy nr 541/P-DUN/2016