Assessing the Impact of Leather Industries on Groundwater Quality of Vellore District in South India Using a Geochemical Mixing Model

Abstract

Deterioration of groundwater quality is one of the most critical issues in twenty-first century. The direct relations of water with all the living beings make it an extremely important commodity. Sources of pollution may be of natural or anthropogenic origin. Nowadays anthropogenic sources of pollution are much more than natural sources. India has 1083 tanneries, in which 577 are in Tamil Nadu which accounts for 44% of the total production of India. Vellore district has an indispensable place in the list. Over the 30–40?years groundwater around tanneries has become seriously polluted.     

The application of matrix organization concepts in managing pacification and rural development

For more than two decades matrix structures have been employed in both private and public organizations. One little known application of the matrix structure was undertaken during the Vietnam war to improve the pacification and rural development program after separate agencies working independently were found to be ineffective. Over a five-year period while the matrix organization was in being to interact with the South Vietnamese, much progress was made in pacification and rural development. While the final result of the Vietnam war negated all of the success attained in pacification and rural development, it is still worthwhile to look at the achievements of this matrix organization for lessons of the future.     

South Africa's political miracle: The international dimension

This article raises some important questions such as does Nepad have what it takes to create change and bring added value amid all the many other development initiatives? Is it sustainable? Does it have the credibility to fly?     

The future Germany and the future of NATO

The events of 1989 have raised questions about NATO's future and purpose. Two different views are held by Germany and the USA. The Germans seek the political and economic unification of the EC, the construction of a European pillar within a demilitarised NATO, and a pan‐European collective security system. In contrast, the Americans seek to preserve NATO as a military alliance responsible for western European security under American leadership and to equip NATO with competences extending beyond the NA TO area. Whilst insisting on greater western European burden sharing and security coordination, the Americans see the roles of the CSCE and the WEU as complementary to NATO's.