Seeing land deals through the lens of the ‘land–water nexus’: the case of biofuel production in Piura,Peru

ABSTRACT

This contribution examines two large-scale land acquisitions on Peru’s northern coast, using a ‘land–water nexus’ approach. The establishment of large sugarcane monocultures resulted in a massive transfer of land and water rights from smallholders to biofuel companies. Using Ribot and Peluso’s theory of access, we demonstrate that this transfer of rights was enabled by the convergence of neoliberal land and water reforms and the presence of the two investors. This constellation (1) altered smallholders’ bundles of rights; and (2) created sharp imbalances that radically changed access to land and water, not only through changing bundles of rights, but also, and maybe more significantly, through widening the gaps between smallholders’ and biofuel companies’ bundles of powers. Using Hall et al.’s powers of exclusion approach, we identify the processes both underpinning and resulting out of the changing access relations analyzed in this study. Changes to Peru’s water governance may accentuate power asymmetries between investors and smallholders, constraining locals’ access to increasingly scarce water.     

Human-provided waters for desert wildlife: what is the problem?

Conflict persists in southwestern deserts of the United States over management of human-constructed devices to provide wildlife with water. We appraised decision processes in this case relative to the goal of human dignity and by the standards of civility and common interest outcomes. Our analysis suggested that conflict was scientized, rooted in worldviews, and aggravated by use of inflammatory symbols such as “wilderness” and “bighorn sheep.” Contested problem definitions, framed as matters of science, advanced factional interests largely by allocating the burden of proof and failing to disclose private concerns about well-being, affection, respect, skill and power. Decision processes were shaped by precepts of scientific management, and thus largely failed to foster civility, common ground, and a focus on common interests, and instead tended to exacerbate deprivations of dignity and respect. If the status quo continues, we foresee further erosion of human dignity because there are likely to be increases in system stressors, such as climate change and human population growth. The prognosis would be more hopeful if alternatives were adopted that entailed authoritative, equitable, and collaborative public decision-making processes that took into consideration national-level common interests such as the U.S. Endangered Species Act.     

西方国家水利的社会管理与公共服务职能变革分析

20世纪80年代以来,在英、美等西方国家兴起了以治道变革为特征的新公共管理运动,其目标是为了应付一系列政府管理中出现的问题。发达国家水利的社会管理与公共服务职能的变革是新公共管理运动的一项重要内容。水公共产品作为一种以政府为主导提供的特殊公共产品,在以新公共管理理论为指导的政府改车过程中,水利的社会管理与公共服务职能的作用日益重要起来。本文通过对西方国家水利的社会管理与公共服务职能变革的背景、理论和实践的考察,提出对中国水利的社会管理与公共服务的借鉴意义。     

水环境与水资源流域综合管理体制研究

水资源具有生态价值和经济价值双重属性.又具有系统性和整体性的特点,这决定了水资源开发、利用和保护必须以流域为基础,走水环境管理与水资源管理相结合的道路.为实现水资源可持续利用,缓解水资源短缺的压力.必须对我国现行的水环境管理与水资源管理并行的双重管理体制进行改革,建立水环境与水资源流域综合管理体制.     

构建南水北调中线工程水源区生态补偿机制

南水北调中线工程水源区担负着缓解我国北方水资源短缺和生态环境恶化、促进水资源整体优化配置的重大战略性任务,但目前面临着地方财政资金困难、当地经济发展受限、水源保护任务艰巨等急需解决的问题。建立生态补偿机制,提供法律和政策保证,适当运用公共财政手段和"水权有偿转让"等市场手段,内部补偿和外部补偿相结合构建双向"造血"机制,强化管理和监管,体现公平原则、维护水源区权益,以保证南水北调工程顺利实施。     

水面使用权的法律规制

水资源对人类的存在、发展有着积极的、不可或缺的作用,我国水资源分布南方多、北方少,在开发利用中,需水最急剧增加,供需矛盾日渐突出;水的利用率偏低,又因水源污染严重,加剧了缺水危机等,面对水资源有限和浪费的现状,设计合理的水市场成为重新配置水资源有效机制的必需,解决的途径是完善现行立法,合理规制水面使用权的取得、转让、终止及水面使用权人的权利与义务等内容,建立水权制度,进而揭示水面使用权保护机制对于我国民事立法所具有的创新意义.     

Evaluation of Nile Red‐Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Developing Water‐Soaked Fingerprints on Thermal Paper

Nile red has been an alternative reagent for detecting latent fingerprints on wetted substrates. However, the presence of methanol in nile red solution could make injury to handlers and destroy the traces on surfaces, such as texts on thermal papers. A novel small particle reagent formulation constituting of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) based on nile red was prepared to overcome the problem. Compared with the conventional reagents Oil Red O or nile red solution, the nile red‐loaded MSNs are highly selective to lipid residues of fingerprints and showed a greater ability to develop clear, sharp, and detailed fingerprints on thermal papers after these were immersed in water. In addition, it can retain texts on the thermal papers well and use only water as a solvent. These suggested that nile red‐loaded MSNs are a safe, efficient, and convenient method to develop latent fingerprints on wide range of substrates of forensic importance.     

广西中越国际河流区水资源承载力评估分析

广西中越国际河流区的水资源开发利用,越来越成为关系到广西边境地区经济社会发展的重要问题,成为关系到中越两国边境和睦与边境和谐的大问题.进行边境地区水资源承载力评估分析,有助于为边境地区水资源的可持续利用、实施水资源安全战略提供参考依据     

我国流域立法模式的合理选择与实现路径

改革开放后,随着我国法律制度的不断健全与完善,涉水立法也是活跃和不断发展的。但是,从总体看,我国以流域为尺度的立法相对薄弱。通过分析我国流域立法存在的问题,提出了"结合式"流域立法模式的概念,分析了这种立法模式面临的主要困难及其突破,探索了这种立法模式的实现路径。流域立法模式研究旨在推进和完善流域立法,使我国的水资源得到更好的保护和利用。     

Prediction of Projectile Ricochet Behavior After Water Impact*

Abstract: Although not very common, forensic investigation related to projectile ricochet on water can be required when undesirable collateral damage occurs. Predicting the ricochet behavior of a projectile is challenging owing to numerous parameters involved: impact velocity, incident angle, projectile stability, angular velocity, etc. Ricochet characteristics of different projectiles (K50 BMG, 0.5‐cal Ball M2, 0.5‐cal AP‐T C44, 7.62‐mm Ball C21, and 5.56‐mm Ball C77) were studied in a pool. The results are presented to assess projectile velocity after ricochet, ricochet angle, and projectile azimuth angle based on impact velocity or incident angle for each projectile type. The azimuth ranges show the highest variability at low postricochet velocity. The critical ricochet angles were ranging from 15 to 30°. The average ricochet angles for all projectiles were pretty close for all projectiles at 2.5 and 10° incident angles for the range of velocities studied.