Suchergebnisse

The current energy crisis has pointed out the need for alternative, non-depletable sources of power. Solar energy would appear to be a likely source of such power for the state of Florida where the average home receives enough of this energy to supply all of its heating and cooling needs during the course of the year. Energy consumption profiles for Florida reveal that almost one-quarter of all energy is consumed within the residential-commercial section for basic heating and cooling. Additionally, the state is, essentially, totally dependent on petroleum and natural gas for its energy supply. Solar energy has been used in many application for hundreds of years, but its proliferation has been prevented by the cheapness and availability of other fuels. This, in turn, has hindered the expansion of solar technology. As a result, there are economic and sociologic problems to be overcome. In an attempt to solve these problems, a comprehensive program of basic research is being funded by the national government. The early studies made by outside researchers and the initial reports issued by the government reveal that solar systems are both economically and technically feasible. However, in Florida, the system must be used for both heating and cooling for it to be economical. Florida is an ideal area for the use of solar energy because of its climate. But, a simple calculation of solar potential shows that it will be at least 40 years before this energy can make a meaningful impact if restricted to basic heating and cooling using existing thermal technology. It is concluded that significant strides in the use of solar power will occur only when it can be converted to electricity. Recommendations are made which could help solve the energy crisis both locally and nationally.

<p><em>Natural resource extraction in Africa has been characterised by conflicts between large scale and small scale miners on the one hand and large scale miners and the communities on the other. In some countries such as Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Liberia, natural resources have bred political instability and civil wars. A great deal of academic discourse on resource conflicts in Africa focuses on greed, corruption, political struggles for state capture and control over resources, economic liberalisation policies for attracting foreign investors and creating conducive climate for them to invest their capital in natural resource extraction, and foreign forces. While recognising the significance of the above approaches in explaining resource conflicts in Africa, this paper aims at explaining resource conflicts as a struggle for space between the communities, artisanal and small scale miners and large scale foreign mining corporations. The paper, therefore, argues that natural resource extraction conflicts in Africa can well be understood if we approach them as a struggle for space. Data for this paper are drawn from secondary sources including academic literature, government reports, media reports and internet sources.</em></p>

Natural resource extraction in Africa has been characterised by conflicts between large scale and small scale miners on the one hand and large scale miners and the communities on the other. In some countries such as Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Liberia, natural resources have bred political instability and civil wars. A great deal of academic discourse on resource conflicts in Africa focuses on greed, corruption, political struggles for state capture and control over resources, economic liberalisation policies for attracting foreign investors and creating conducive climate for them to invest their capital in natural resource extraction, and foreign forces. While recognising the significance of the above approaches in explaining resource conflicts in Africa, this paper aims at explaining resource conflicts as a struggle for space between the communities, artisanal and small scale miners and large scale foreign mining corporations. The paper, therefore, argues that natural resource extraction conflicts in Africa can well be understood if we approach them as a struggle for space. Data for this paper are drawn from secondary sources including academic literature, government reports, media reports and internet sources.

Introduces a symposium on the work of Gerhart Niemeyer. Because his writing spans 60 years, the contributors to this symposium have aimed at highlighting the development of particular themes in Niemeyer's writing.