MacEwan Open Journals (MacEwan University)
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Selling Ourselves Short: A Discussion of Water-Markets in Alberta
No full textThe issue of water management has become one of increasing importance. Any new policy regarding resource management must balance the needs of the environment, the municipalities, and industry. In an effort to reconcile these needs this report will review the best-practices of water policy. Specifically, the reason for undertaking this report is to research policy options available to the Alberta government to provide a framework for improving the Water for Life strategy. One generalization that can be made across the spectrum of privatization models is that whenever a resource is labelled a commodity, the objective to sell it for a profit invariably undermines the aquatic ecology at the source. The report identifies a common practice where industrial entities pay for water on a sliding scale, (if they are made to pay anything at all) with bulk water purchases becoming cheaper as more water is consumed. By applying a conservation-orientated system to industrial users, the minimum amount of water is available, but heavy fees are to be assigned for exceeding the allotment. An industrial system resembling the conservation-orientated approach could also add an extra incentive to recycle water used for industrial purposes. A policy of conservation-orientated charging applied to both municipalities and industry offers the best aspects of water leases and conservation enforcement. Ultimately, the research finds that private ownership of water offers more detrimental than beneficial for the people of Alberta
Who is King of Sarawak’s Rainforest? An insight to Sarawak’s land corruption led by its Chief Minister and his family
No full textMalaysia’s 13th General Elections were hopes of many to be the turning point of change, breaking Barisan Nasional’s (BN or National Front) 56 years of governance. BN in recent years had been plagued with allegations of corruption and cronyism. Land grabs in the state of Sarawak, exposed an intricate and systematic corruption that happens in all levels of government in Malaysia. The perils of the rainforest in Sarawak are uncovered through a corrupt systematic mass deforestation through the governance of its Chief Minister Taib Mahmud. Was Malaysia’s latest election successful in dethroning Taib and his family out of their political powers? Taib holding several portfolios puts him in immense political and economic power. For more than 30 years, Taib has made use of his various ministerial roles to methodically harvest the state’s natural resources and amassing a personal fortune of USD $15 billion. The first family of Sarawak too has their share in Taib’s fortunes. Kickbacks, corrupt land deals, evasion of Malaysian tax and the service economy of corruption were true and evident in the family’s dealings. Taib’s eldest daughter, Jamilah Taib and her husband Sean Murray, well known socialites in Ottawa, Canada play a major role in the slow death of Sarawak’s rainforest and indigenous tribes. One woman, Clare Rewcastle Brown who manages Sarawak Report and Radio Free Sarawak is determined to bring down the supreme rule of Taib and his family. Her media outlets aim “… to provide that platform and to offer an alternative vision of justice, transparency and a fairer future in Sarawak.
Dian Fossey`s controversial \u27Active Conservation\u27 proves useful in increasing Mountain Gorilla Awareness
No full textAs a researcher and advocate of the mountain gorilla, Dian Fossey dedicated her life career to understand, protect, and assist the mountain gorilla by bringing awareness to the complexity of this animal and to the habitat needs required to support it. This paper presents the approach that Fossey used to increase the mountain gorilla awareness: ‘Active Conservation’
The price of development: The importance of preserving local agricultural lands
No full textRegardless of the fact that we have long been warned of the negative impact of industrial farming, rural communities are being wiped out as local producers, like Riverbend Gardens, are put at risk in favour of urban expansion. The industrial food production industry is unsustainable, leading to increased energy consumption and food costs because of the gross use of energy to transport food hundreds kilometres from where it is produced. Toxic chemicals used to combat swarms of pests that are nurtured by acres of single crop farming have lead to the increase of these substances in our environment. The growing disconnection between ourselves and how our food is produced, fostered by diminishing farm communities, allows us to continue as we always have, until our current system collapses. This will have a deleterious effect on our health and our environment. Many of the answers to the problems we face in our food production industry lies in support for our small, local food producers. Located within Edmonton city limits, sustainable, family run, Riverbend Gardens, is at risk of being wiped out if government and consumers do not recognize the importance of small producers and their part in solving the food industry’s failures
Preface
No full textDr. J. W. Grant MacEwan, educator, environmentalist, politician and MacEwan University’s namesake once said… …about the planet “Thou shalt love and cherish the Great World of Nature, God’s House on loan to us for a season. Conscientious tenants should aspire to nothing less the lofty, practical and moral roles of caretakership. Good citizens should be grateful for the privilege and honor of answering to the challenge of those roles commonly known as conservation and environmental protection.” …about the people “Thou shalt despise the sins of extravagance and waste in the lives of both individuals and nations. In a world with limited resources and soaring populations, both breed hunger and misery.” …and, about profits… “Consider well thy regard for money. In the lives of young people, exercises in making and saving money may be good but when wealth becomes a object of worship for wealth’s sake or is accumulated in greedy and dishonest ways, there is not much to be said for it and there are many better shapes for a lifetime purpose. ” Although these assertions were made more than 40 years ago, they could not be more contemporary
Soaring to green heights: The current sustainable initiatives in the commercial airline industry
No full textThe air travel industry is changing. The needs of the environment are being considered and research into ways of improving the industry is being explored. This paper explores the current climate in the commercial airline industry, paying special attention to the ways in which Boeing and Airbus are ensuring the developments of greener technologies. Included is an examination of a diverse range of the research and literature available on the aviation industry and the impacts it poses on the environment in its current state. With that, the question of corporate social responsibility is acknowledged along with a deeper look into the sustainable practices in the industry. Additionally, the paper compares the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to the Airbus A380, two of the most eco-friendly commercial wide-body aircrafts on the market. Ways in which the industry utilizes the PRME principles are also mentioned
A Stakeholder’s Perspective on the Implications of IFRS and Fair Value Accounting on Valuation of Securities
No full textDue to the complexity of modern financial instruments, accurate valuation can prove difficult even in optimal market conditions. Traditionally International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) have allowed securities to be valued based on their historical cost, which results in financial instruments being held on the books at the initial cost paid, until the point at which they are sold. However, this practice may be viewed as problematic when the market value of the financial instrument has not appreciated. Furthermore, market valuation becomes even more difficult to substantiate in illiquid markets, as it may oftentimes be difficult to secure a buyer at any price. Opponents of the historical cost methodology argue that in these circumstances it is unreasonable to allow firms to continue to hold their financial instruments at historical cost, and advocate for a valuation framework that requires the holders of securities to mark their book value to the best estimate of fair market value available. This viewpoint is countered by those who believe that in illiquid markets or markets in crisis, marking to market value is unfair as no functional market exists. In light of the subprime mortgage crisis the new iteration of IFRS requires the use of fair value accounting and marking to market for investment products of all types, with the exception of those held to maturity (bonds). Through a review of current literature, we sought to determine the optimal method for valuation of investment products. Our goal was to determine a reliable and representationally faithful method of valuation that will balance the needs and requirements of all stakeholders and provide transparency in accounting
Sustainability through Urban Gardening
No full textThree visions of attaining sustainability through urban gardening – at the individual, community, and city level – are explored visually by MacEwan University Design Studies students–Molly Kassian, Nick Larson, and Sherece Burma–in their final project for Visual Communications Photography (VCPH) 340, Documentary Photography. This article emphasizes the process through which these students decided upon their project, located and interviewed their subjects, and created their visual composition. It also outlines the students’ increased awareness of, interest in, and ease with which urbanites and suburbanites can find or grow their own food
Collaboration
No full textInterdisciplinary collaboration is critical to voicing sustainable change. Earth Common Journal: e3 = earth education economics Vol. 3 No. 2 collaborated with faculties, programs, departments, and students to develop its Special Issue. Read about the top six student conference papers that were presented at the 1st PRME Canada Regional Meeting that was hosted by the MacEwan University School of Business
Modern Nationalism in India and the Philippines: Lessons for Building Nation-State Legitimacy
No full textWhy do some governments succeed in creating a greater sense of legitimacy for their nation-state than other governments? Although modernization was a part of their respective governments’ plans for both India and the Philippines upon independence, modern nationalism offers different routes to reach the objective. The Indian National Congress party under Jawaharlal Nehru went out of its way to gain as much support as it could among the masses and parts of the elites. Nehru’s plan was to use protectionism and let India’s economy develop until it was ready to compete globally, while trying to help women, the poor, and those most badly affected escape the worst excesses of capitalism. In other words, he offered something to all the classes of India. Even after Nehru’s death, his vision was more or less embraced by almost all of his successors. The same could not be said about the Philippines. It has been argued that landholding classes largely made up the small oligarchy that dominated the Philippines, and this group was only interested in benefitting itself. When the political parties were not competing democratically, there was something much worse in place, the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. This implies that the way nationalism develops pre- and post- independence radically influences development and legitimacy