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FIGHT AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL TERRORISM IN THE LIGHT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
Get PDFWhen someone is asked about the most urgent challenges that our world would face in current century, there is a high chance they would answer climate crisis and environmental downturn. And that would be totally true; ongoing climate change strongly affects access to and quality of natural resources that are constantly shrinking. Although international community treats seriously the problem of environmental degradation, certain problems related thereto might seems insufficiently tackled, including environmental terrorism – a form of terrorist attacks targeting natural resources. As such attacks have already occurred in the recent past and there is a risk they may be even more frequent in the future, necessary it is to answer a question whether international community disposes of accurate legal framework protecting environment from terrorist attempts. The paper, on the basis of analysis of legal documents (on global and European level) and views of the doctrine, discusses the efficiency of that framework and provides relevant critical commentary. In the light of growing threat from terrorists and decreasing amounts of resources essential for living, an academic voice in the field of environmental terrorism is necessary
EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION FROM SHIPS ON HUMAN HEALTH
Get PDFAir pollution, which has been identified as a global concern, has a significant influence on human health and environment. Human health is affected differently by long and short-term exposure to air pollution causing respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, long-term chronic diseases like cancer and different diseases. Ships emit significant amounts of pollutants into the atmosphere, primarily sulphur (SOX) and nitrogen oxides (NOX), as well as particulate matter (PM). Shipping emissions of sulphur and nitrogen oxides have consistently increased over the last thirty years, despite efforts in lowering emissions from land-based sources. As a result, the purpose of this research is to determine main ship air pollutants, their effects on human health and proposing measures of prevention
CLIMATE CHANGE: THE RELATIONSHIP OF RAINFALL WITH THE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT AND THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND
Get PDFThe greenhouse effect and the consequent changes in weather conditions lead to extreme climate change. In this study we will present a summary of studies, regarding precipitation and how it affects the precipitation of greenhouse gases in the soil, agricultural production, ecological footprint and urban heat island (UHI). The greenhouse effect and the corresponding changes in weather conditions have led to extreme climate change. The theoretical framework of this paper includes a summary of studies regarding rainfall and how it affects the precipitation of greenhouse gases in the soil, agricultural production, ecological footprint and the urban heat island (UHI). The aim of this paper is to highlight how bio-capacity interacts with population and respectively, ecological footprint with GDP, in the 28 countries of the European Union. In addition, the change of Gini index in each country was examined in order to draw useful conclusions about its influence on the aforementioned factors and in particular on GDP and population by taking into account three decades with a base year of 1997. Specifically, data were collected and analyzed for each decade i.e. taking values for years 1997, 2007 and 2017 before the final conclusions were drawn. The paper attempts to show how Gini index has changed over the years in EU countries, compared to changes in GDP and population of each country
CONDITION AND QUALITY OF SOILS IN THE PROTECTED AREA
Get PDFIn 2012, grazing was restored in the Hruby Jesenik Mts. (the Praded National Natural Reserve) in the Praded mountain surroundings. The main aim of the cattle grazing reintroduction was the reinforcement of non-production functions of alpine grasslands with special focus on soil conditions. The climatic characteristic of this locality is 0.9 °C (average annual temperature) and 1 231 mm (average annual precipitation). The experimental area is categorized as an open country according to the present Forest Management Plan. For grassland grazing the suckler cows (the Highland breed), the sheep (the Wallachian breed) and the horses (the Shetland pony breed and the Hucul breed) were used. Soil samples were taken twice a year (summer and autumn) from grazed plots and from control (without grazing) plots too. Labile forms and total contents of selected trace elements (Pb, Zn, Cd) and macroelements (Ca, Mg, K, P, and N) were measured. Soil organic matter parameters such as total organic carbon and humic substances were determined. From the soil point of view, the grassland management with proper grazing should be beneficial and do not pose any environmental risk
RESEARCH FOR NATIVE PARASITES AND PREDATORS OF THE BOX TREE MOTH CYDALIMA PERSPECTALIS, IN NATURAL BOXWOOD FOREST IN FRANCE
Get PDFSince 2007, forests and parks and gardens of Europe are invaded by the pest Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) which is a moth native from Asia, and which negatively affects the boxwood (Buxus sempervirens L., 1753.). The high fecundity of the boxwood moth in addition to its high dispersal capacity allows it to colonize and settle quickly in new habitats. In order to control this pest, it is therefore important to know how the natural environment will react, and in particular the entomofauna. It is possible that some parasites will increase their host spectrum and that predators will adapt to this new prey. The objective of this project funded by Draaf Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, is to find these native potential predators or parasites of the box tree moth. In this context, many insects and spiders were collected by beating method, in various boxwood forest in France. The collected individuals were then morphologically identified and their ecology studied. Our results revealed the presence of several potential parasites and predators of the box tree moth. In terms of parasite, the most found is a Diptera of the Tachinidae family, which represents 22% of the samples. Parasitoid hymenoptera from three different families were also collected: Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and Platygastridae. In terms of predators, beetles’ individuals of the Carabidae family have been found in situ eating the moth. The two most common predator groups found on boxwood are Spiders and Hemiptera. Other insects with varied diets have also been found, in smaller quantities, and include Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Psocoptera and Hymenoptera. The perspectives of this work are to test these various parasites and potential predators, in the laboratory as a first step, to ensure their efficiency on the box tree moth; to ultimately choose the best biocontrol agent
PRODUCTION AND CIRCULATION PROCESS IN THE AVOCADO VALUE CHAIN – A CASE STUDY IN BAO LOC CITY, VIETNAM
Get PDFThis study aims to analyze the avocado value chain in Bao Loc city to find out the existing challenges weakening the value chain. From there, answer how to enhance long-term, sustainable competitive position for the avocado value chain in Bao Loc city and maximize value and benefits for chain actors. Applying Michael Poster\u27s value chain model, Kaplinsky, and Morris\u27s analytical method and collected data, the study has exhaustively identified the actors involved in the chain and described the avocado value chain in detail. Research results have found four main market channels of the avocado value chain. To grow 1 hectare of avocado, the farmer has to invest a cost of 6,145.75 USD. Avocado was produced that reach the final consumer need to go through an intermediary stage, a collector. Traders who collect avocados from farmers needed an average money requirement of 8,847.82 USD/spell. This result showed that collectors are an essential player in the current avocado value chain
DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE SOFT SKILLS ASSESSMENT BATTERY (SSAB)
Get PDFSoft skills are very important in several aspects of human life, including the workplace and education, and are anticipated to play an even more important role in the future. Organizations, employers, employees and students demand soft skills since they are considered important predictors of career success. The present study reports the development of the Soft Skills Assessment Battery (SSAB), a measure developed to assess some of the most important soft skills, namely adaptability, collaboration, creativity, persuasion, and time management. Initially, 100 items per scale were developed and administered to a sample of 2122 participants (approximately 400/scale). Next, using EFA, a series of unidimensional models were tested, resulting in the retention of 75 items (15x5). In the next step, the factor structure of the new scale was examined via CFA, using a new sample (N=224). Four different models were contrasted: a one-factor, a five-factor, a hierarchical (second-order), and a bifactor model. Results showed that the five-factor and the bifactor models provided a good model fit. Based on the principle of parsimony, the five-factor model was preferred to represent the dimensional structure of the SSAB. Composite Reliability using omega index showed that all scales presented acceptable internal consistency estimates, with values ranging between .851 (Adaptability) and .911 (Creativity). Finally, using the Fornell-Larcker criterion, convergent validity (i.e., all items within each scale are correlated well) and discriminant validity (i.e., the extent to which scales are distinct and uncorrelated) were demonstrated. Consequently, using indices such as the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) and the Composite Reliability (CR), we provided evidence supporting the construct validity of the SSAB
IF THE CURRENT PANDEMIC REMAINS A HEALTH COMMUNICATION ISSUE FROM AN INFORMATION POINT OF VIEW
Get PDFCOVID-19 is not only a virus that attacks our bodies and lives, but also a political information subject/object navigating global networks and shaping the new configurations of our political lives. Thus, the biological spread of the virus is, in a sense, mirrored by its mediatized dissemination. This article examines the information problems connected with COVID-19 within the larger analytic framework of “health communication.” It takes the latter in its classical version, which relates to “normal” times, in so far as we can ever speak of normal times in the health sector, but certainly of late we have been experiencing an exception to these times. The article attempts to re-interpret the more or less consolidated models and variants of the doctor/patient relationship, which have become topical once more, ever since the pandemic brought health communication and its possible modalities to the forefront of the global political agenda. Today, the world’s population in its entirety finds itself in the position/condition of ‘patient,’ a patient who must follow the doctors’ orders, imposing a mass treatment, which has significant repercussions on the management of communal freedom. Confronted with this configuration, the study investigates whether it is possible to hand back a modicum of centrality to the patient/citizen, one that is the calibrated capacity of participation in the management of health within the public political spectrum that the health issue in question has recently raised
ELEMENTS OF NEW TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Get PDFResearch on new technologies have been closely linked to significant technological developments in the 20th century. Technology as an object and concept has thus been known and researched for a long time, so this paper starts from the side of a classical conceptual approach in order to place the topic. Our comprehensive research addresses the effects of new technologies on value creation. As part of this research program, the aim of the present research is to explore state-of-the-art research areas of new technologies, building on the identification of the most researched areas. The technological approach of some of the leading industrial reports is also highlighted. The current paper approaches the process of introducing technologies from this side, as defining the elements built around the most researched topics. As a conclusion of the publication, an application-based technology research map is defined, and a three-level approach is generalized
COVID-19: GLOBAL SHOCK AND NEW SCENARIOS FOR THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY
Get PDFIn the history of mankind, the great epidemics have always been characterized not only by a dramatic number of victims, but also by devastating impacts on the economy and social development. It is probably still too early to draw up an accurate balance sheet of the actual weight that the pandemic will have on the economic system and, in particular, on the world of insurance. However, even today, at the height of the emergency, some aspects are well defined: we can undoubtedly state that, in the insurance sector, we are witnessing a global, total and radical shock. The negative impact of "Business Interruption" or "Cyber Risk" is also strong for specialized sectors such as insurance; for the latter, for example, the great use of smart working from home implies a significant increase in the risk of claims resulting from the loss of sensitive data or caused by criminal intrusions, events facilitated by less robust and more easily permeable home security protocols compared to corporate firewalls and Information Technology structures normally operating in offices. To understand how widespread the shock due to Covid-19 is in the insurance industry, it is sufficient to analyze what is happening in a particular sector such as Aerospace. The work presented intends to investigate and deepen these aspects, as well as the response in terms of insurance policies that the market is offering