A proposed methodology for assessing the economic needs of safeguard zones protecting groundwater intended for human consumption within the context of the European Water Framework Directive

This paper describes the gross domestic product and hydrological environment service method for assessing the socio-economic consequences of implementing necessary measures for safeguarding the quality of groundwater for human consumption and eliminating the risk of pollution. This method assesses the positive and negative impacts of designations of protected areas. Economic assets and social goods are the two integrated variables used in analysing the method. The first includes economic impacts on the local gross domestic product of defining protected areas, and the second considers the benefits of this designation in the conservation of water resources, assigning a monetary value to the preserved resources. In addition, tools have been incorporated, such as payment for hydrological services and generation of permissible activities, which reduce negative social impacts through positive economic impacts. These tools can only be used when compliance with conservation requirements for protected areas is demonstrated. The conclusions of this study include an application of the proposed methodology and provide essential and specific assessments that show that this methodology fulfils the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive requirements and that it is an effective tool in the implementation and development of strategies for hydrological planning processes.     

明代对外政策对福建海外贸易的影响探析

明代是我国海外贸易史上的一个重要朝代，它经历了我国海外贸易由盛转衰的主要过程，福建由于地处东南沿海，在明代的海外贸易发展史上占有重要地位。而明代的对外政策对福建海外贸易产生了重要的影响，本文拟从明代对外政策的演变来看福建海外贸易的兴衰，以求得出规律性的启示。 （一）明代福建海外贸易的三个阶段 第一阶段是洪武至永乐年间（１３６８年－１４２４年）的福建海外贸易。明初为恢复残破的社会经济，巩固新生政权，除了对内采取“休养生息”的政策外，对外亦实行了一系列“怀柔”的手段。洪武时期对外政策的总原则是：“海外…     

Beyond suffrage: the role of Cuban women in the state-building years of a failed democracy (1940–1952)

During the first third of the twentieth century, several women joined associations to promote legal reforms. Between 1917 and 1934, the Cuban Parliament passed laws regarding women’s legal status, therefore challenging the traditional relations between state, Church and family inherited from the colonial period. Although the Constitution of 1940 incorporated these measures, Cuban women barely took part in state institutions, but their increasing presence in public affairs marked a turning point in their social status. A few women were appointed as Cuban representatives to international organizations, and political parties set up female auxiliaries. Moreover, several women’s associations worked for peace, demanded improvements in the healthcare system, took action towards enhancing education in rural areas and pushed for effective reform of the Civic Code in order to provide equal rights for men and women. African-Cuban women’s participation in these organizations was limited due to discrimination and they in turn set up their own organizations.     

On the Lawful Rights and Interests of Mentally Retarded Children——A case study of a rehabilitation center in Liaoning Province

Mentally retarded children are the most disadvantaged among disabled children. Since the reform and opening up, with support from the Communist Party of China, the government and the public, the legitimate rights and interests of mentally retarded children have greatly improved. But problems in this respect remain serious, and various levels of government, relevant departments and the public should attach much importance to these     

The Color of Threat: Race,Threat Perception,and the Demise of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902–1923)

Race is understudied in International Relations generally and International Security specifically. To mitigate this omission, this article provides a racial theory of threat perception. It argues that, under certain conditions, racial prejudices embedded in racial identities shape threat perceptions and generate behavioral dispositions. In the first step, racial similarity deflates threat perceptions, while racial difference inflates them. In the second step, deflated threat perceptions facilitate cooperation among racially similar agents, while inflated threat perceptions facilitate discord among racially different agents. Using extensive archival and secondary sources, the article illustrates the explanatory value of the theory in the case of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902-23).     

South African manufacturing industries catching up or falling behind?

This article argues that intra‐industry trade with developed countries is an important source of technology transfer. South Africa has an industrial structure that is suited to such trade, but high costs and weak social capacity to assimilate new technology. Therefore, reintegration into the world economy is likely to reinforce dependence on resource‐intensive industries. In the short run this need not adversely affect economic growth, but unless the quality and quantity of education and training are improved, the prospects for rebuilding the technological capacity and catch up with OECD countries are bleak.     

Celebrating Strait Talk

Cross-Taiwan Straits ties have significantly improved since a landmark meeting 20 years ago On April 27, 1993, Wang Daohan, President of the mainland’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), and Koo Chen-fu, Chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), met in Singapore. Peaceful development An even brighter future     

从民间歌唱传统中看壮泰族群关系——以中国壮族“末伦”和老挝、泰国佬族Mawlum的比较为个案

“末伦”是流传于中国德保、靖西、那坡等县壮族的一种民间曲艺,Mawlum是流传于老挝、泰国佬族民间的一种歌唱艺术.二者读音相近,意义相异.通过分别考察它们与本国民间宗教“末”和Maw的关系,可以发现二者的内在关联.“末伦”和Mawlum的称谓很可能在壮、佬民族分化之前就已存在,是用于指称壮泰族群共有的歌唱传统的.