Neoliberalism and natural resource management: Agri-environmental standards and the governing of farming practices

Private standards and certification schemes are widely acknowledged as playing an increasingly important role in agri-environmental governance. While much of the existing research concludes that these mechanisms consolidate the global extension of neoliberalism – enhancing the power of corporate actors to the detriment of smaller producers – we argue that this overlooks the complex ways in which standards are used by governments and farmers in the governing of farming practices. Focusing specifically on a process standard – Environmental Management Systems (EMS) – promoted by the Australian government as a way of verifying the ‘clean and green’ status of agricultural exports, we examine how one regional group of producers has sought to use EMS standards in practice. Our analysis of a case study in the state of Victoria appears to confirm that EMS was a successful instrument for the extension of neoliberal governance, reinforcing the production of neoliberal subjectivities and practices amongst farmer participants and enabling the government to compensate for gaps in environmental provision. However, it would be a mistake to interpret the development of this EMS scheme as an example of naïve farmers manipulated by the state. In practice, farmers used the opportunities provided by government funding to undertake actions which expressed their own agri-environmental values and practices. Establishment of an EMS and associated eco-label enabled producers to demonstrate and extend their capacity to act as good environmental stewards. Our research highlights how the local application of environmental standards negotiates and shapes, rather than simply contributes to, neoliberal rule.     

植物样品中无机元素分析的样品前处理方法和测定技术

植物样品中无机元素的分析测定在环境地球化学和生物地球化学的研究中起着重要作用。植物样品中元素含量一般较低,须选用科学合理的前处理技术和灵敏度高、精密度好、检出限低的测定方法。本文针对植物样品前处理方法和无机元素分析测定技术的研究进展、优势与不足进行评述。前处理方法主要根据样品和待测元素的性质进行选择:干法灰化所用试剂少、空白值低,但组织致密型的样品不易灰化完全、高温下易造成元素挥发损失;湿法消解样品消解较为完全,但试剂消耗大、空白值高、操作繁琐;微波消解可以防止部分易挥发元素损失,用酸量少、消解速度快,但称样量相对较小,不适于需要大称样量的样品分析。几乎所有针对元素分析的仪器分析技术都可以用于植物样品分析,主要根据仪器适用的元素、必要的干扰校正以及基体改进等方面进行选择:电感耦合等离子体质谱法可同时测定植物样品中40种以上的元素,高分辨质谱的检出限可达fg/mL;电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法适用于某些植物样品中含量较高的P、K、Na等元素的测定;原子吸收光谱法可分析元素达70余种,是普及程度最高的仪器分析技术之一;原子荧光光谱法与氢化物发生技术的联用,在元素含量较低的植物样品分析中技术优势更加明显;新兴的激光诱导击穿光谱技术已被应用于植物样品分析,无需复杂的样品前处理,操作简单快速,可实现原位、在线、实时、多元素同时检测;其他选择性强、灵敏度高的分析技术,满足了一些特定元素不能用常规分析技术测定的需求。当前主流分析技术的样品前处理方法都存在着缺陷,固体进样技术将成为植物样品分析领域的发展方向之一。     

基于小波包变换的不同强度煤样的声发射特性

为了研究在单轴压缩下不同强度煤样的声发射特征,利用RMT-150C型岩石力学伺服试验系统和CDAE-1型声发射检测仪,对硬煤、中硬煤和软煤煤样进行实验研究。为了解决煤样在声发射实验中存在的各种信号干扰和信号处理方面的问题,运用小波包变换对煤样的声发射信号进行了分解、去噪和重构。研究结果表明：经过处理之后的声发射信号能够更清晰地反映硬煤、中硬煤和软煤煤样在单轴压缩下失稳破坏的变化特征。软煤、中硬煤和硬煤的声发射信号特征各不相同,随着煤样强度的增加,煤样失稳破坏时声发射累计能量和累计计数逐渐减小,煤样在受力过程中声发射能量和计数的峰值也逐渐减小,并且在峰值处释放的能量也逐渐减小。     

Microfacies and diagenesis of older Pleistocene (pre‐last glacial maximum) reef deposits,Great Barrier Reef,Australia (IODP Expedition 325): A quantitative approach

During Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 325, 34 holes were drilled along five transects in front of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, penetrating some 700 m of late Pleistocene reef deposits (post‐glacial; largely 20 to 10 kyr bp ) in water depths of 42 to 127 m. In seven holes, drilled in water depths of 42 to 92 m on three transects, older Pleistocene (older than last glacial maximum, >20 kyr bp ) reef deposits were recovered from lower core sections. In this study, facies, diagenetic features, mineralogy and stable isotope geochemistry of 100 samples from six of the latter holes were investigated and quantified. Lithologies are dominated by grain‐supported textures, and were to a large part deposited in high‐energy, reef or reef slope environments. Quantitative analyses allow 11 microfacies to be defined, including mixed skeletal packstone and grainstone, mudstone‐wackestone, coral packstone, coral grainstone, coralline algal grainstone, coral‐algal packstone, coralline algal packstone, Halimeda grainstone, microbialite and caliche. Microbialites, that are common in cavities of younger, post‐glacial deposits, are rare in pre‐last glacial maximum core sections, possibly due to a lack of open framework suitable for colonization by microbes. In pre‐last glacial maximum deposits of holes M0032A and M0033A (>20 kyr bp ), marine diagenetic features are dominant; samples consist largely of aragonite and high‐magnesium calcite. Holes M0042A and M0057A, which contain the oldest rocks (>169 kyr bp ), are characterized by meteoric diagenesis and samples mostly consist of low‐magnesium calcite. Holes M0042A, M0055A and M0056A (>30 kyr bp ), and a horizon in the upper part of hole M0057A, contain both marine and meteoric diagenetic features. However, only one change from marine to meteoric pore water is recorded in contrast with the changes in diagenetic environment that might be inferred from the sea‐level history. Values of stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon are consistent with these findings. Samples from holes M0032A and M0033A reflect largely positive values (δ¹⁸O: ?1 to +1‰ and δ¹³C: +1 to +4‰), whereas those from holes M0042A and M0057A are negative (δ¹⁸O: ?4 to +2‰ and δ¹³C: ?8 to +2‰). Holes M0055A and M0056A provide intermediate values, with slightly positive δ¹³C, and negative δ¹⁸O values. The type and intensity of meteroric diagenesis appears to have been controlled both by age and depth, i.e. the time available for diagenetic alteration, and reflects the relation between reef deposition and sea‐level change.     

矿产资源开发与泥石流灾害及其防治对策

由于掠夺式开采以及环境保护滞后于经济发展,我国矿产资源开发利用产生了比较严重的环境问题。本文在分析我国矿山人为泥石流灾害状况的基础上,提出了改善生态环境保护与重建的法治建设环境,加大矿山生态环境保护的监督管理力度,并具体提出了矿山人为泥石流灾害预防和工程治理的措施。     

受载原煤中瓦斯的扩散规律

为研究受载原煤中瓦斯的扩散规律,以原煤煤样为实验对象,利用自主研发的含瓦斯煤热流固耦合实验系统,在恒温的三轴加载条件下,进行了加载-吸附-解吸-再加载直至煤样破坏过程中的瓦斯解吸实验。研究结果表明,受载原煤的解吸量随时间变化规律符合颗粒煤瓦斯解吸的数学模型;在恒温恒围压下,随轴压的增大,受载原煤瓦斯的解吸量呈下降趋势;当轴压大于峰值强度后,瓦斯解吸量随轴压迅速增大;受载原煤煤样压密、线弹性阶段瓦斯解吸-运移速度随应力增大而线性减小;当煤样处于屈服阶段和峰值破坏阶段瓦斯解吸-运移速度随应力增大呈指数式增长。研究成果对瓦斯抽采,瓦斯突出机理研究有一定的理论价值。     

Geochemistry and potential use of groundwater in the Rocca Busambra area (Sicily, Italy)

In the Rocca Busambra area (mid-west Sicily, Italy), from November 1999 to July 2002, 23 water points including wells and springs were sampled and studied for their chemical and isotopic compositions. Two rain gauges were also installed at different altitudes, and rainwater was collected monthly to determine the isotopic composition. The obtained results revealed the Rocca Busambra carbonate complex as being the main recharge area on account of its high permeability value. From a chemical view point, two main groups of water can be distinguished: calcium–magnesium–bicarbonate-type and calcium–magnesium–chloride–sulphate-type waters. The first group reflects the dissolution of the carbonate rocks; the second group probably originates from circulation within flyschoid sediments. Three water wells differ from the other samples due to their relatively high Na and K content, which probably is to be referred to a marked interaction with the “Calcareniti di Corleone” formation, which is rich in glauconite [(K, Na)(Fe³⁺, Al, Mg)₂(Si, Al)₄O₁₀(OH)₂]. In accordance with WHO guidelines for drinking water (2004), almost all the samples collected can be considered drinkable, with the exception of four of them, whose NO₃ ⁻, F⁻ and Na⁺ contents exceed the limits. On the contrary, the sampled groundwater studied is basically suitable for irrigation.     

Problems of soil and groundwater pollution in the disposal of “marble” slurries in NW Sicily

This work deals with disposal of slurries generated during the cutting and polishing processes of slabs of decorative sedimentary carbonate rocks in the north western Sicily. At present, they are used as fillers of dismantled quarries near the sawmills and, as a final step of reclamation, are covered with earth layers. In spite of such inexpensive solution, there is lack of knowledge about the composition of the waste. In order to assess if there is any threat for the environment and to suggest indications for alternative solutions, such as recycling or inactivation processes, the slurries were analysed by XR diffraction, simultaneous thermal analysis, ICP/MS, ionic chromatography, FTIR, UV-Vis, COD and TOC measurements, grain size analysis. Results indicate that the slurries can threaten the groundwater, because of the high chemical oxygen demand; furthermore they can modify the mechanism of groundwater recharge, because of their grain size distribution. Some laboratory tests show that, even in very aggressive conditions, the solid pollutants persist in the waste and slowly release into water the products of their degradation. The slurry therefore should be subjected to inactivation treatment before disposal or, alternatively, recycled as secondary raw material for a suitable process.     

对磺基苯偶氮变色酸分光光度法测定岩石样品中的氟

采用对磺基苯偶氮变色酸分光光度法对岩石样品中氟的含量进行测定。确定的最佳测定条件为:测定波长570 nm,放置2 h后测定,盐酸介质浓度0.84 mol/L,显色剂用量5.0 mL。氟离子浓度在0~1.4 mg/L时符合比尔定律,方法检出限为0.06μg/g。以岩石标准物质代替氟标准溶液制作标准曲线,可有效降低杂质元素的干扰。对国家一级标准物质和日本玄武岩标准物质6次测定的相对标准偏差(RSD)为2.37%~6.32%。     

地质环境容量与评价研究

本文系统总结了当今地质环境容量研究存在的主要问题及发展趋势,应用地质环境容量评价指标体系,初步建立了地质环境容量评价理论框架.在此基础上结合上海市主要环境地质问题,分析其主要影响因素,分层次选取合适的评价指标,对上海市地质环境容量进行实证分析.