Suchergebnisse

Environmental disruption in the 20th century is described, focusing on freshwater & energy, two components relevant to security concerns. Irrigation, the main usage of freshwater, decreased in the 20th century while industrial use of water increased. The increase in energy use in the 20th century has been the primary cause of tumultuous environmental changes. The propositions that environmental change may create security problems or that resource competition may provoke war are analyzed. A third proposition -- the lack of security affects environmental change -- is advanced. Environmental changes are likely to play a greater role in security in the future because environmental resources like water & energy are scarcer than in the past, provoking more competition & population migration. 3 Tables. M. Pflum

Arguing that transborder environmental problems can foster conflict in the Caspian Sea, threats to biological resources & environmental stability are delineated. The sea's biodiversity is at high risk, but the principal imperiled biological resource is the sturgeon; drops in sturgeon hauls are described as catastrophic. This has led to a rise in criminal structures around the fishing of sturgeon, & because the legal status of the Caspian Sea remains unresolved, no progress has been made on preservation & use of the sturgeon. The deleterious economic impact of oil & gas development on Caspian fishing is well into the billions of dollars. Attention turns to the environmental problems confronting the region, focusing on the degradation of the water ecosystems particularly in terms of chemical & biological pollution. This is compounded by sea level fluctuations & natural regional seismicity. The pursuit of an acceptable agreement on the Caspian Sea's legal status is touched on, & some directions for Russian efforts at ensuring environmental security are suggested. J. Zendejas

Analyzes 738 Spanish environmental protest events as reported in El Pais, 1988-1997. An increasing level of protest is evident over the decade, with large demonstrations numerous although decreasing in number over the decade, indicating a change in the type of protest; local conflicts are seen to be spreading across the country. The most contentious environmental issues are identified as waste facilities, water policy, & nuclear energy & are viewed in the shifting context of diverse policy areas. The degree to which reported protests can be related to broader debates over policy approaches is then considered. Attention turns to describing the political repertoires of protesters & conflict scenarios, noting the moderate nature of Spanish environmental protest & examining the link between protest repertoire & issue categories. The leading & other organizations involved in environmental protest are scrutinized next in terms of their nature, network interactions, & key characteristics. It is concluded that, in light of a lack of ministerial response, the potential for the environment to consolidate as a policy subsystem is low. 9 Tables, 7 Figures. J. Zendejas

The significant role that performance management plays in the success of environmental programs is examined. An overview of the Clean Charles 2005 initiative, designed to drastically improve the water quality of the Charles River in MA, is presented, illustrating the utility of performance management measures. An analysis of the initiative's performance goals revealed that clearly stipulated objectives motivate staff & facilitate the achievement of required action. Several characteristics of the initiative's principles for measuring project progression are discussed to demonstrate their efficacy. After considering various strategies for capturing the interest of the public, local governments, & other parties, the project management team's rationale for deciding to heighten media coverage of the program's progression is explained. Various problems previous environmental initiatives have had in securing project accountability are also covered, eg, holding managers personally responsible leads to conservative strategies; with these problems in mind, a performance-focused paradigm for ensuring accountability is offered. The question of whether the Charles River 2005 initiative can be integrated into the existing national environmental protection system is considered. J. W. Parker

Analyzes 738 Spanish environmental protest events as reported in El Pais, 1988-1997. An increasing level of protest is evident over the decade, with large demonstrations numerous although decreasing in number over the decade, indicating a change in the type of protest; local conflicts are seen to be spreading across the country. The most contentious environmental issues are identified as waste facilities, water policy, & nuclear energy & are viewed in the shifting context of diverse policy areas. The degree to which reported protests can be related to broader debates over policy approaches is then considered. Attention turns to describing the political repertoires of protesters & conflict scenarios, noting the moderate nature of Spanish environmental protest & examining the link between protest repertoire & issue categories. The leading & other organizations involved in environmental protest are scrutinized next in terms of their nature, network interactions, & key characteristics. It is concluded that, in light of a lack of ministerial response, the potential for the environment to consolidate as a policy subsystem is low. 9 Tables, 7 Figures. J. Zendejas

The author argues that sustainability of a global environment depends on implementation of current knowledge & capacities to manage the transition to a sustainable future. A historical account of a paradigm shift away from Baconian attitudes about nature is evidenced by international environmental conferences, but evidence shows that human's increased capacity to manage the environment has not been matched by the will to do so. The author argues that governance is our greatest challenge to manage issues such as water & food security, & that all expert sources need to adopt systemic, integrated & multi-disciplinary approaches for the transition to sustainability. Suggestions are offered for a system of governance advocating greater involvement of civil society, & the role of the UN in global commons issues. References. J. Harwell

The authors trace the history of the depletion of soil fertility in Europe & North America from 1830 to 1870 & expand to current concerns about the effect of synthetic fertilizers on the environment. Nations searched throughout the world for sources of natural fertilizers such as guano, developed a soil science, introduced synthetic fertilizers, & saw the rise of environmental groups who demanded sustainable methods. The development of the fertilizer industry & the intense use of synthetic fertilizers in the mid-20th century appeared to solve the fertility problem until people became aware of the ecological damage these fertilizers were causing. Current problems include the huge amounts of energy required to produce, ship, & apply fertilizers; pollution of groundwater & surface water by synthetic fertilizers; the mixture of industrial pollutants with potentially helpful urban sewage sludges; lack of crop rotation; the cruel, unhealthy conditions under which animals are raised; & environmental damage caused by the mining of nutrients. The need for an ecologically sound relationship between people & the soil is recognized. L. A. Hoffman

The author asserts that current changes in the agricultural structure have abandoned the internal resources practices of previous decades & are leading toward an environmental crisis. As farms have been absorbed into the international economy, the need for crop rotation & recycling of matter has been replaced with large-scale use of pesticides & synthetic fertilizers. Crop monocultures are creating vulnerable ecosystems that need high chemical input. Environmental problems could be described as arriving in two waves. The first, the overuse or improper use of pesticides & synthetic fertilizers has damaged soil & water, & public health has been impacted. The second wave involves the use of biotechnology, which supposedly will genetically modify plants to reduce the need for chemicals. Potential problems include worldwide single products that reduce genetic diversity; the possible transfer of genetic changes to plant relatives to create super weeds; pests developing resistances to the genetically engineered protections; & the unintentional damaging of beneficial insects. The author suggests alternative practices for insect control & fertilization, acknowledges the barriers to implementation of these practices, & encourages change. L. A. Hoffman