Cultural Diversity and Human Rights Development in Asia

Asia is an area filled with vigor and vitality and also conflicts, an area that ＂takes pride in its rich cultures, religions and diversity.＂More and more statesmen and scholars are watching closely the human rights conditions in the changing Asia. Asia is no longer a concept in its economic, cultural and geographical sense. It has become a regional community that has had an important impact on the human rights development in the world. In the 21 st century filled with challenges and hopes, people want to see not only an economically prosperous Asia but also an Asia community with increasing humanistic spirit and pursuit for constitutionalist values.

Is urban development an urban river killer? A case study of Yongding Diversion Channel in Beijing, China

The high population and concrete environment alter urban areas by changing temperature, rainfall runoff, and water resource utilization activities. This study was conducted to investigate the water quality features of the Yongding Diversion Channel in Beijing, China, and its relationship with rainfall and urban development. Monthly water quality data were obtained from April to October of 2004 at monitoring sites of Sanjiadian, Gaojing, Luodaozhuang, and Yuyuangtan. The monthly water quality grades from 2007 to 2011 were also investigated and compared with those of other rivers. Dissolved oxygen and pH showed greater decreases after one or two moderate rainfall events than several light rainfall events. The potassium permanganate index （CODMn）, ammonia nitrogen （NH3-N） and total phosphorus （TP） increased more after several light rainfall events than after one or two moderate or heavy rainfall events. Pollutant concentrations （CODMn, NH3-N, TP） in downstream regions showed greater changes than those in upstream areas after heavy rainfall events. Intense human activities around the channel greatly influenced the water quality of the channel in rainy season because of runoff pollution; however, heavy rainfall had a strong dilution effect on the pollutant concentrations in rivers. Overall, urban development has obviously deteriorated the water quality of the Yongding Diversion Channel as indicated by an increase in the water quality index from 3.22 in 2008 to 4.55 in 2010. The Pearson correlation between monthly rainfall and water quality indices from 2007 to 2011 ranged from 0.1286 to 0.6968, generally becoming weaker as rainfall and rainfall runoff became more random and extreme.

Two Strategic Diversions in the Urban Development of Beijing

In view of a good deal of problems which arise in thespeedy urban development of the Beijing Municipality and demand forprompt solution,this article puts forward two strategic diversions in theurban development of Beijing,i.e.the diversion of the stress of urban de-velopment from the urban districts to the outer suburbs and the diver-sion of the development of urban districts from concentric sprawl tooverall readjustment and transformation.This is also a strategic guidingideology for the revision of the General Planning.The article puts for-ward tentative ideas in detail.

Effects of Waxy Maize Relay Intercropping and Residue Retention on Rhizosphere Microbial Communities and Vegetable Yield in a Continuous Cropping System

Intercropping and residue retention contribute to high yield and quality of crops. However, their coupled effects on rhizospheric microbial communities under a continuous vegetable cropping system have not been adequately addressed. The objective of the present study was to assess the effects on soil microbial community and yields of waxy maize（Zea mays L.） intercropped with or without residue retention in a continuous broccoli（Brassica oleracea L.） cropping system, i.e., relay intercropping of broccoli and waxy maize（B/M-B）, relay intercropping of broccoli and waxy maize with residue retention（B/MR-B）, and broccoli monoculture（B-B）. The biomass yields of spring and autumn vegetables in B/MR-B were 16.3%–32.5% and 30.1%–46.1% higher than those of B-B,respectively. Autumn vegetable economic yields of B/MR-B were 28.2%–40.3% higher than B-B. The average well color development followed the order： B/MR-B ＆gt; B/M-B ＆gt; B-B. The Shannon index, Simpson index, and Mc Intosh index were higher in B/MR-B than under monoculture. A principal component analysis showed that microbial communities of B/MR-B soils differed from those of B/M-B and B-B soils. Carbon（C） sources utilized by the rhizosphere microorganisms were mainly carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, amino acids, and polymers; however, the C sources for the soil microbial community differed between intercropping and monoculture. The communities from B/MR-B preferred amino acids and polymers. Available nitrogen（N）, potassium（K）, and phosphorus（P） had an obvious impact on soil microbial community. Additionally, the C source utilization by microorganisms was significantly affected by p H and available K and P. Cropping system diversification through relay intercropping and residue retention effectively improved the functional diversity of the soil microbial communities and increased the yields of vegetables.