“This is a Montreal Issue”: Negotiating responsibility in global production and investment networks

While geographers have increasingly focused on how global commodity and production networks create new ‘geographies of responsibility’ there has been little empirical work considering how responsibility is worked into management systems and social activism in such networks. Drawing on literature from global production networks, geographies of responsibility and other literatures, this paper explores the dynamic and contested ways in which concepts of responsibility can play a role in network regulation. Both foreign direct investment and commodity networks (here referred to as ‘global production and investment networks’) are subject to complex negotiations and compromises involving corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiatives as well as shareholder activist, human rights, labor, and environmental activism. This is illustrated by reference to conflicts in Canada over Alcan, Inc.’s investments from 1993 to 2007 in the Utkal Alumina Project in Orissa, India. The project involved significant socio-environmental conflict. In Canada, Alcan’s investment was met by civil society campaigns that tested the company’s commitments to sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The case study suggests revising theories of geographies of responsibility. While foreign direct investment can create new relationships between distant others, these are fluid and contingent and not necessarily desirable. Rather than see networks as a source of responsibility we should work to ensure that the relationships that networks foster be structured to ensure our deeper values are respected.     

Limiting hydrochemical factors for sustainability of water resources: The Cisjordanian experience

In Cisjordan, surface- and groundwater flow are either towards the Jordan Valley-Dead Sea-Arava Valley (the Rift) or the Mediterranean Sea. Due to upstream exploitation by riparians to the Jordan River, the historical annual flow, which fluctuated between 250 and 1100 Mm³, has declined to a mere 100-200 Mm³. The remaining flow south of Lake Kinneret is highly polluted and heavily loaded with salts. Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) is one of the major water resources in the area. Annually, between 200 and 700 Mm³ reach the Lake as surface and groundwater flow. The relatively high salinity of the Lake is caused by thermomineral water discharging from springs and seepages located onshore and on the bottom of the Lake. The main factors causing deterioration of the groundwater quality in the Rift are of geogenic character. These are different types of brines, whose outflow and penetration into freshwater aquifers was triggered by overpumpage. Contemporary encroachment of seawater caused by intensive water exploitation in the Coastal Plain is manageable and reversible. However, due to lack of hydrogeological evidence, no such statement can be made about the circulation of seawater beneath the Coastal Plain and into the deep-seated Yarkon-Taninim aquifer or the upflow of brines in the Rift.The flow regimes of the different brine bodies could not be elucidated. Whether each such brine-body flows by its particular hydrological regime or whether the movement of the different bodies is intradependent or interdependent with the regional movement of fresh groundwater, remain open questions. Therefore, sustainable development of groundwater resources is clearly dependent on the elucidation of the relationship between changes in the pressure of the brine with depth and its relationship to the overlying freshwater.The average total annual recharge of all water sources in Cisjordan is 1820 Mm³, which means that the total production of water must be managed within the limits of this annual volume. During drought years, total groundwater extraction exceeds the safe yield, causing drastic lowering of water levels and upflow of saline waters from greater depths.Because of the structural complexity of aquifers and hydrochemical variability of the numerous groundwater bodies, new hydrochemical methods have been developed for the identification of groundwater bodies and for the elucidation of their origins. These methods combine macrochemical, microchemical, and isotopic evidences. By combining distribution patterns of rare earths, yttrium and stable isotopes, a complete picture of catchment lithology and the altitude and latitude of precipitation could be obtained.The area west of the Jordan River is characterized by the occurrence of transboundary surface- and groundwater basins in which fresh and saline water and brines flow across political borders between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. It is very difficult to assess separately the annual safe yield of water resources for each of the two national entities. Neither country may dispose independently of its waters and is usually at the mercy of the other riparian. There is as yet no general multilateral international treaty in force allocating the water resources of international watercourses. At present there are two rules for the management of the waters of an international drainage basin—the rule of Equitable Distribution, and the obligation Not to Cause Significant Harm. The rules of equitable distribution have tended to focus on the issue of quantities of water rather than on quality of water, which is really relevant to the issue of equitable distribution. Future negotiations on the uses of the basin will need to deal with issues of characteristic salinities and geochemical features and on their impact on equitable sharing of water resources.     

玉龙雪山西麓冰碛(水)砾岩的工程地质特性研究

作为滇西北、川西和西藏地区最重要的第四纪堆积物类型之一,冰川堆积物的工程性质及其相关的地质灾害和工程问题研究日益受到工程界的关注。通过对上述地区大量冰碛物和冰水沉积物的现场调查发现,冰碛物和冰水沉积物是一类成分、结构和性质都十分复杂的第四纪堆积物,其工程性质主要与母岩成分和充填胶结物的矿物成分密切相关。发育在石灰岩地区的冰碛物和冰水沉积物因钙质（方解石）的次生胶结,而成为单轴抗压强度达10.94～14.22 MPa的岩石,作者称其为“冰碛（水）砾岩”。结合滇藏铁路滇西北段线路比选和优化工作,对云南玉龙雪山西麓第四纪冰川堆积物的类型和分布特征进行了详细的野外调查;在室内物理力学试验的基础上,着重研究了冰碛（水）砾岩的胶结物成分与胶结作用、水稳性、力学性质、声波速度等方面的特性,这不仅可以丰富现代岩石力学的研究内容,而且对本区铁路工程建设和水力资源的开发具有重要的实际价值。     

Landowner Attitudes Toward Conservation Easements: Balancing the Private and Public Interest in Land

Private land conservation provides an opportunity to address problems of habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss caused by an increase in the development and parcelization of private land. Conservation easements (CEs) are used to protect significant natural qualities of private land. In this study, we explore landowner attitudes toward CEs through the implementation of a mixed-mode survey to private landowners in the Whychus Creek Watershed (Deschutes County, Oregon). The results of an exploratory factor analysis suggest there are two dimensions to landowner attitudes toward CEs, an internal dimension and an external dimension. We found that positive external attitudes are primarily influenced by environmental beliefs, whereas positive internal attitudes are influenced by a suite of factors, including financial beliefs and perceived risk to private ownership. Awareness of CEs may also play a role in attitude development. Through this research, we argue that CEs may be beneficial in reintegrating the public good into private property.     

景洪5.1,5.5级地震地下水动态预报启示

本动态追踪了１９９７年景兴５．１、５．５级中强震的孕震－发震的整个过程,异常阶段属性清楚,异常发展层次分明,有动态感,过程清晰完整,表明中强地震亦有孕震过程。震前异常阶段的属性和异常的准同步是地震预测的主要依据。跟踪各类异常,掌握地震孕育发展的进程,把握时机有可能预报一些地震。本是“八五”、“九五”攻关成果运用的结果之一。     

Recursive evaluation of interaction forces and property matrices from unit-impulse response functions of unbounded medium based on balancing approximation

Starting from the unit-impulse response matrix of the unbounded medium, a discrete-time formulation permitting the recursive evaluation of the interaction forces and a continuous-time formulation yielding property matrices corresponding to a model with a finite number of degrees of freedom are discussed. This is achieved using the balancing approximation method which is easily automated, guarantees stability and leads to highly accurate results. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

CFG24型桩机的研制

认述了CFG24型桩机的设计原则，整机结构及工作原理，对该桩机的设计特点进行了重点介绍。     

Spectral Analysis of Nonlinear Drag Forces

The spectral properties of nonlinear drag forces of random waves on vertical circular cylinders are analyzed in this paper by means of nonlinear spectral analysis. The analysis provides basic parameters for estimation of the characteristic drag forces. Numerical computation is also performed for the investigation of the effects of nonlinearity of the drag forces.The results indicate that the wave drag forces calculated by linear wave theory are larger than those calculated by the third order Stokes wave theory for given waves. The difference between them increases with wave height. The wave drag forces calculated by use of hnear approximation are about 5% smaller than their actual values when measured in the peak values of spectral densities. This will result in a safety problem for the design of offshore structures. Therefore, the nonlinear effect of wave drag forces should be taken into comidemtion in design and application of important offshore structures.     

测井技术新进展综述

在过去几年里,测井技术受石油勘探开发需要所推动,并借助现代电子和信息技术的新成就,发展十分迅速.三分量感应和正交偶极声波等新型成像测井仪器的出现,使地层各向异性研究成了热点.网络测井作为新一代测井系统,处于研制和完善阶段.新的裸眼井测井仪器,如新型的满贯组合测井系统、三分量阵列感应测井仪、油基泥浆电阻率成像测井仪等得到进一步改进.新的套管井测井仪器,如过套管电阻率测井仪、新型脉冲中子类测井仪等不断出现并得到改进.随钻测井系列不断增加,如随钻核磁共振测井、随钻地层测试,等等.新的测量工艺技术,如过套管地层测试、井下永久传感器工艺技术等正日趋成熟.新的测井概念,如测井-取心联作、套管外取心、动电测井、套管钻井测井等,给人耳目一新的感觉.对国外测井技术现状和水平进行全面而深入的研究,对于我们当前的科研和生产具有指导和借鉴作用.本文综合评述了近几年测井技术六个方面的重大进展：（1）岩石物理性质;（2）测井地面系统;（3）裸眼井测井;（4）套管井测井;（5）随钻测井;（6）射孔、取心和测试.在深入研究的基础上探讨了测井技术的发展方向,主要结论是岩石各向异性仍将是岩石物理研究的一个重点,测井传感器的物理模拟和数值模拟在测井仪器的设计中将扮演越来越重要角色,测井地面系统的发展主要集中在网络化、综合化的方向上,井下仪器的发展主要体现在集成化和阵列化的发展方向上.从长远看,随着井下永久传感器和施工工艺技术不断发展和完善,套管井测井中的许多项目最终会被取而代之.随钻测井技术仍将迅猛发展,随钻测井必将逐步取代电缆式裸眼测井.     

嵌入式马尔科夫链的地质属性建模与应用

传统的地质统计学所形成的算法理论和方法(如克里格算法)过分依赖样品的数据,变异函数参数众多,给地质模拟造成很大困难。基于马尔科夫链的地质属性建模采用转移概率描述样品区域的各种参数变量,通过转移概率矩阵直接推导地质属性分布比例、平均长度,其简化了地质空间各向异性处理过程,克服了传统地质统计学中参数众多且复杂难以计算和地质体分布过程中存在不对称性等缺陷,使得整个地质属性建模的过程更简洁、清晰,容易理解,且建模的结果可以很好地反映地质体空间分布的复杂性。该文利用马尔科夫链对南京市河西地区的新近地质层进行了地质属性建模,实例应用表明,使用该模型进行地质属性建模可为进一步的数值模拟提供支持。