Suchergebnisse

This article engages in genealogical inquiry into Zwarte Piet (Black Pete), to gain deeper insight into the multiple semantic layers of this cultural icon. I argue that the 'roetpiet' (soot Pete) or chimney sweep is rooted in at least as solid an iconological tradition as that of the Moorish child slave. I infer some suggestions for non-offensive Sinterklaas celebrations from this historical excursion. While Zwarte Piet in his Moorish guise is indeed a flawed and racist trace of colonial slavery, his chimney sweep connotations may actually be of value to the cultural remembrance of the by now largely forgotten history of child labour that was so crucial to the early industrialization in Europe, and often still is to economies in the Global South.

Businesses face political, economic, environmental, and social pressures to act in a sustainable and circular manner. Circular economy (CE) emerges as an alternative to the linear way of producing goods and services and seems to successfully respond to the current need of companies to generate profits and be sustainable simultaneously. For those companies already established in the market and making use of linear models, the transition means a major challenge. This is especially relevant for the European region, due to its high levels of industrialization. In many cases, the problems that arise during this transition are not identified in advance and in some cases occur without the responsible managers being aware of them. Previous research has focused mostly on the field of industrial ecology, but few studies have analyzed the barriers that companies need to overcome from a managerial perspective. For this reason, the theoretical methodology available to explain, predict and understand challenges and opportunities (C&O) from a manager´s point of view, is limited. In addition, existing literature has demonstrated the central role of digital data technologies (DDT) as enablers in the transition and their potential to create sustainable competitive advantages (SCA) for the respective enterprise.

Rapid urbanization, unregulated industrialization, growing transport intensity and agricultural activities have created a problem of heavy metal (HM) contamination worldwide. HMs are long-term contaminants with the ability to accumulate in soil and plants and have no natural way to be removed. Forests near local contamination sources have been subjected to HMs concentration measurements. Trees are HMs bioindicators capable to record HM concentrations in the environment in the past. In this paper, concentrations of HMs determined in wood trees were compared with phytotoxic, excessive, deficiency and naturally found HM concentrations in plants. Results of our investigation showed that HM concentrations in trees that grew in potentially contaminated areas did not exceed phytotoxic and excessive values of HMs found in plants. Concentrations of HMs in a wood of pines varied: Ni – 0.1– 3.50 mg·kg–1; Cr – 0.1–1.50 mg·kg–1; Cu – 0.25–3.00 mg·kg–1; Mn – 10– 160 mg·kg–1; Zn – 2–75 mg·kg–1, Pb – 0.05–2.80 mg·kg–1 and those for birch ranged: Ni – 0.90–3.20 mg·kg–1; Cr – 0.90–2.50 mg·kg–1; Mn – 40– 130 mg·kg–1; Pb – 1.0–3.50 mg·kg–1. The higher transfer of HMs to wood was associated with higher concentrations of HMs in tree environment (soil and nearby water bodies) and the function of some HMs as elements necessary for tree physiological processes. The values of HM transfer factors for trees were: Ni – 0.001–0.55; Cu – 0.04–0.45; Zn – 0.03–0.6; Mn – 0.001–0.75; Pb – 0.002–0.085; Cr – 0.005–0.11.

Rapid urbanization, unregulated industrialization, growing transport intensity and agricultural activities have created a problem of heavy metal (HM) contamination worldwide. HMs are long-term contaminants with the ability to accumulate in soil and plants and have no natural way to be removed. Forests near local contamination sources have been subjected to HMs concentration measurements. Trees are HMs bioindicators capable to record HM concentrations in the environment in the past. In this paper, concentrations of HMs determined in wood trees were compared with phytotoxic, excessive, deficiency and naturally found HM concentrations in plants. Results of our investigation showed that HM concentrations in trees that grew in potentially contaminated areas did not exceed phytotoxic and excessive values of HMs found in plants. Concentrations of HMs in a wood of pines varied: Ni – 0.1– 3.50 mg·kg–1; Cr – 0.1–1.50 mg·kg–1; Cu – 0.25–3.00 mg·kg–1; Mn – 10– 160 mg·kg–1; Zn – 2–75 mg·kg–1, Pb – 0.05–2.80 mg·kg–1 and those for birch ranged: Ni – 0.90–3.20 mg·kg–1; Cr – 0.90–2.50 mg·kg–1; Mn – 40– 130 mg·kg–1; Pb – 1.0–3.50 mg·kg–1. The higher transfer of HMs to wood was associated with higher concentrations of HMs in tree environment (soil and nearby water bodies) and the function of some HMs as elements necessary for tree physiological processes. The values of HM transfer factors for trees were: Ni – 0.001–0.55; Cu – 0.04–0.45; Zn – 0.03–0.6; Mn – 0.001–0.75; Pb – 0.002–0.085; Cr – 0.005–0.11.

Virtuous situations from the industrial past and some ideas for the ?climatic metropolis? to come (cases of Brussels and Paris)' compiles examples and projections that question the shape given to the city and territory at a moment of paradigm shift.00The rapid evolution of climate change is leading to a clear state of emergency that is going to redefine the values and forms of our society and its territories. Several signs of a gradual paradigm shift have appeared and citizen voices are being raised against a social model that is at odds with the environment. Looking towards the past, a fascinated reading of a city?s ability to transform itself radically when necessary, is proposed.00The change, generated by the race towards industrialization and social emancipation, forced metropolises such as Brussels and Paris to develop new urban functions and logics. This evolution took shape in territories that were not yet highly urbanized, but also within the city itself, in negotiation with the existing context. A series of 23 situations from the industrial age draws a panorama of virtuous examples, illustrating an assumed cohabitation between the urban fabric and the infrastructural, productive and energy needs at a precise moment of radical change in Paris and Brussels.00The development of the ?climatic metropolis? must imperatively be based on design values and principles capable of generating a common vision. In this perspective, we propose some ideas for reflection formalized by projects tied to the built stories from the past, outlining potential situations of a new state to come for the European city.0