Examining the Experiences and Challenges of Haze-Fog Governance in China

With the rapid development of industrialisation and urbanisation, China is facing the challenge of severe HF (Haze-Fog) pollution. This essay compares the advantages and disadvantages of China’s HF management and summarizes the important lessons China can teach the rest of the world about applying this tactic. China’s capabilities in the digital economy, National Innovation Demonstration Zones, and urban innovation systems are examined in this article, along with its shortcomings in information mechanisms and pollution sources. This essay also summarizes China’s achievements, particularly regarding local autonomy. The essay goes on to say, however, that China is probably going to be under more pressure to manage HF in the future, both in terms of long-term solutions and the economy.

Promote the All-round Development of China's Human Right Cause in the New Era——Summary of the Symposium on “Deeply Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and Adhering to the Chinese Path of Human Rights Development”

On November 8, 2022, the symposium on “Deeply Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the 20thCPC National Congress and Adhering to the Chinese Path of Human Rights Development” was held by the China Society for Human Rights Studies in Beijing. Focusing on “the leadership of the CPC and human rights development”, “adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of our times and human rights theories in contemporary China”, “the Chinese path to modernization and the new form of human rights civilization”, “Chinese human rights solutions and global human rights governance”, “making a better China’s story of advancing human rights and constructing human rights discourse system”, and other topics, the participants reached broad consensus after discussion, and the symposium achieved fruitful results.

Evaluating the Relationship between National Park Management and Local Communities’ Perceptions Based on Survey, a Case of Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda

A sustainable management of national park requires collaboration between park staff, NGOs, local organizations and stakeholders, and government intervention. This collaboration promotes community-based welfare and inspires a sense of responsibility, thus promoting more benefits than conflicts. A survey administered to residents surrounding Nyungwe National Park was used to evaluate the relationship between Nyungwe National Park management and local communities. The residents acknowledged a positive attitude towards participating in conservation organizations where there was involvement, while a negative response revealed weak community mobilization. The community’s opinions about protection and tourism progression noted weak conflict resolution, but a positive attitude towards tourism activities in the area since they believed employment was likely as a result. In addition, the residents asked for support from government investments and stakeholders to develop the local private sector, and asked to be involved during the planning process. Approaches including the design of coordination mechanisms and integrated conservation and developments projects are suggested to promote a management structure leading to community involvement in conservation and tourism activities. This will increase visitor numbers and contribute to economic development not only in the region but also in the whole country. Empirical studies along with the factors shaping tourism and conservation activities should be considered as the basis for sustainable decision and policy making for sustainable management, and will contribute to government, stakeholders and park manager collaborations at Nyungwe national park.

The Transformation of Environmental Governance from the Point of the Interaction between Government and National People's Congress

Taking cadmium pollution in X River as an example, the interaction between National People＇s Congress and local government was de- scribed. How the local government transforms its role in environment protection with the help of several deputies to National People＇s Congress was expounded from the angle of social construction, which also enlightened the way to build an environment protection road with Chinese characteristics.

Is the Long-term Economic Decline of the Philippines Unstoppable? Trends, Reasons, Outlook

The Philippines was in the 1960s a model of development in Asia and second to Japan,but occupies presently only the 11th position under South-East and East Asian countries in terms of GDP-per capita.The article explores why this important Asian country with a long colonial past and enormous economic potential still ranks under lower-income countries and has in the last decades let pass by many other Asian countries.In answering this question,the approach of external triggers for accelerated development is being applied.In stark contrast to the success stories of the strongly outward-looking Asian countries like the four Tigers,later of Thailand and Vietnam the Philippines never developed a vision of an open economy connecting pro-actively to the world markets.Trade is hampered by a non-competitive and highly protected national economy.The existing FDI is more oriented to the profitable local markets.Foreign debts were never effectively used and international tourism was never well promoted.Linking these failures to the existing power structures in the country,it seems very much that the backward forces like the big landowners,the local producers and industrialists never wanted and continue not to want to open up the economy to international competition and governments are complacent with these groups.Various indicators demonstrate the long-term decline of the Philippines:Among them the slow growth of the GDP and the continuously high poverty rates.As the alliance of big business and policy holds firm no change in the failing nationalistic economic model can be detected leaving the bleak outlook that the economic decline will continue.

The Key Technical Points and Main Characteristics of the New National Standard of Magnitude

The New Magnitude National Standard of General Rules for Earthquake Magnitude( GB17740-2017) is the state mandatory standard. It was released on May 12,2017,by the General Administration of Quality Supervision,Inspection and Quarantine of the Peoples Republic of China and the Standardization Administration of the Peoples Republic of China. This paper introduces the necessity of revising the national standard of magnitude,and the main contents,technical points and primary features of the new national standard of magnitude,so that it can be applied better in practice.

Comparison of the local pivotal method and systematic sampling for national forest inventories

Background:The local pivotal method(LPM)utilizing auxiliary data in sample selection has recently been proposed as a sampling method for national forest inventories(NFIs).Its performance compared to simple random sampling(SRS)and LPM with geographical coordinates has produced promising results in simulation studies.In this simulation study we compared all these sampling methods to systematic sampling.The LPM samples were selected solely using the coordinates(LPMxy)or,in addition to that,auxiliary remote sensing-based forest variables(RS variables).We utilized field measurement data(NFI-field)and Multi-Source NFI(MS-NFI)maps as target data,and independent MS-NFI maps as auxiliary data.The designs were compared using relative efficiency(RE);a ratio of mean squared errors of the reference sampling design against the studied design.Applying a method in NFI also requires a proven estimator for the variance.Therefore,three different variance estimators were evaluated against the empirical variance of replications:1)an estimator corresponding to SRS;2)a Grafström-Schelin estimator repurposed for LPM;and 3)a Matérn estimator applied in the Finnish NFI for systematic sampling design.Results:The LPMxy was nearly comparable with the systematic design for the most target variables.The REs of the LPM designs utilizing auxiliary data compared to the systematic design varied between 0.74–1.18,according to the studied target variable.The SRS estimator for variance was expectedly the most biased and conservative estimator.Similarly,the Grafström-Schelin estimator gave overestimates in the case of LPMxy.When the RS variables were utilized as auxiliary data,the Grafström-Schelin estimates tended to underestimate the empirical variance.In systematic sampling the Matérn and Grafström-Schelin estimators performed for practical purposes equally.Conclusions:LPM optimized for a specific variable tended to be more efficient than systematic sampling,but all of the considered LPM designs were less efficient than the systematic sampling design for some target variables.The Grafström-Schelin estimator could be used as such with LPMxy or instead of the Matérn estimator in systematic sampling.Further studies of the variance estimators are needed if other auxiliary variables are to be used in LPM.

Re- Thinking Classic Marxist Writers＇ Explications on Nationalism： on the ＂Difficult Dialogue between Marxism and Nationalism＂

Both Marxism and nationalism are among the most far-reaching thoughts in modern times.On dealing the ideological collision between Marxism and nationalism, "Difficult Dialogue" universally exists in the academic circle.Many scholars evaded,ridiculed or even negated classic Marxist writers' explications on nationalism.Though basically,classic Marxist writers criticize nationalism,it doesn' t mean that Marxism and nationalism inevitably oppose to each other.It is highly necessary to analyze the causes of the "difficult dialogue between Marxism and nationalism" and re-thinking classic Marxist writers' explications on nationalism.

1944-1949 in the North East of Latvia： Soviet Myths and Reality

The scientific work on collecting and studying life stories started in Latvia in late 1980s, and mainly was devoted to creation of a multi-voiced counteraction to Soviet-era history. In this article, a life story and associated discourse units illustrate not only a point about the speaker, but also about the facts and notions that are common to the post-war Latvia. Post-Soviet society still use to give different accounts of the same facts and of the reasons why they happened. Studying multiform social memories that are forming Latvian collective memory is a way to perceive the processes by which these common-sense notions are constructed. The article demonstrates how to use the life story as a source for local history research and at the same time for people self-awareness research. This article is devoted to the analysis of eye-witnesses＇ （materials gathered from 12 neighboring farmer families） narratives about the post-war reality, comparing the main presumptions of Soviet ideology, existing in Latvia and all other Baltic states, to real life. Provided those presumptions being myths--the term being understood in political science as deceit as a falsifying construct, the author analyses true life stories to show the real danger of intention to exist in some irrational, mythical sphere.

Retrospective review of total neoadjuvant therapy

BACKGROUND Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(nCRT)followed by resection and postoperative multi-agent chemotherapy(maChT)is the standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer.Using this approach,maChT administration can be delayed for several months,leading to concern for distant metastases.To counteract this,a novel treatment approach known as total neoadjuvant therapy(TNT)has gained popularity,in which patients receive both maChT and nCRT prior to resection.We utilized the National Cancer Database to examine temporal trends in TNT usage,and any potential effect on survival.AIM To study the temporal trends in the usage of TNT and evaluate its efficacy compared to neoadjuvant chemoradiation.METHODS We queried the National Cancer Database for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer,Stage II-III,from 2004-2015 treated with nCRT or TNT.TNT was defined as maChT initiated≥90 d prior to nCRT initiation.Overall survival was calculated from the date of diagnosis to the date of last contact or death using Kaplan-Meier curves to present the cumulative probability of survival,with logrank statistics to assess significance.Multivariable cox regression was used to identify predictors of survival and propensity score analysis accounted for bias.RESULTS We identified 9066 eligible patients,with 8812 and 254 patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by maChT and TNT,respectively.Nodal involvement,stage III disease,and treatment in recent years were predictive of TNT use.There was greater use of TNT with more advanced stage,specifically>1 node involved(odds ratio[OR]=2.88,95%confidence interval[CI]:2.11-3.93,P<0.01)and stage III disease(OR=2.88,95%CI:2.11-3.93,P<0.01).From 2010 to 2012 the use of TNT increased(OR=2.41,95%CI:1.27-4.56,P<0.01)with a greater increase from 2013 to 2015(OR=6.62,95%CI:3.57-12.25,P<0.01).Both the TNT and neoadjuvant chemoradiation arms had a similar 5-year survival at 76%and 78%respectively.Multivariable analysis with propensity score demonstrated that increased age,high comorbidity score,higher grade,African American race,and female gender had worse overall survival.CONCLUSION Our data demonstrates a rising trend in TNT use,particularly in patients with worse disease.Patients treated with TNT and nCRT had similar survival.Randomized trials evaluating TNT are underway.

The Problems of Sustainable Development in a National Level

The goal of the paper is to discuss the explanation of commonly accepted goal of economy in a national level and the problems which threaten the goal. Though the leading economists of the 20th century have strictly supported the necessity of close link between economics and morals, the mainstream economics mostly has regarded it as a problem of secondary importance. The paper discusses the deepest meaning of the generally accepted objective of economy--sustainable development, which necessarily should take into consideration the social dimension along with the economic and environmental. The different understandings of the wellbeing concept are considered and discussed, as it lies on the basis of the explanation of the goal--not any development, but development, which makes people happier. Next follows the discussion on the concepts of sustainability and its link with environment in a broader sense. It is followed by the discussion on the manipulations with human minds. The problem of the global and local economies is considered as a part of the discussion about the sustainability of economies of all levels. This leads to conclusions that social economics should be integrated in economic science as a substantial part. The idea of local economies is considered as an alternative to the present economic paradigm. The methodology of the conclusion making is based on qualitative historical analysis and empirical evaluation of the standpoints of the scientific discussion. The paper is mainly library-based. The ideas of world famous economists are taken from their own books in a printed form or that can be found in Internet. Conclusions are based on mainly qualitative comparison of the facts that arise from the theoretical discussion and empirical evidence of the study object manifestations in real life. Quantitative methods, briefly used, are basic econometrics--conventional correlation analysis, based on the statistic data of the World Bank. The scientific discussion has been approbated in students＇ audience in the study course of macroeconomics in BA School of Business and Finance, Riga, and Ventspils University College, and has been discussed in the fifth International Conference of Latvian Economic Association and Latvian Academy of Sciences.

They Retain Their Beauty:Christianity and Local Cultures in the Global Era

The article examines a variety of local cultures in their relationship with modern Christianity as a global institution.The review summarizes three case studies conducted by the author in Israel and Canada over the past decade.These studies,reviewed in the article through various lenses and considered as three different sociocultural narratives,tell the reader how music,consciously or unconsciously,determines the contours of the cultural and religious identity of the groups whose members are natives or resettled residents of the Holy Land,Old and New Worlds,China and Australia.An updated analysis of ethnographic data points to local cultures as the true indicators of global change.

Local Identity in Palestine in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries--- Challenging Dominant Methodologies

By using top-down methods, periodizing exclusively along the Arab-Zionist conflict and basing on either Hebrew or Arab primary sources, leading scholars tend to ignore the existence of popular local identity shared by Jews and Arabs in center Palestine during late 19th-early 20th century. To explore this identity this paper suggests using history from below methods i.e. history of average citizens that looks into many individual＇s multi-dimensional life-experiences, particularly in Palestine mix areas, and based it on both Hebrew and Arabic sources. Through history from below this paper shows that joint Jewish-Arab local identity prevailed prior to the establishment of Jewish or Palestinian national movement and afterwards existed along with them till it was defeated by the escalating national conflict.

Gendered Perceptions of Climate Variability and Change among Lo­cal Communities Living around Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda

Climate change affects both men and women which,in turn,shapes their varied and contrasting perceptions of climate variability and change.This paper examined the gendered perceptions of climate variability and change among local communities in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.The objectives are threefold:-identify climatic shocks faced by the local communities;examine the perceptions of men and women of climate variability and change;and to compare their perceptions with empirical meteorological data.This study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods,with data collected from 215 respondents using survey,interviews and focused group discussions.From the findings,indicators of climate variability and change included reduced flooding events,occurrence of human diseases,increasing crop pests and diseases,dry spells and intensity of rains.There was increasing significant temperatures while rainfall was declining.Both male and female significantly associated with increasing temperatures and reduced flooding events.While climatic shocks affected both males and females,the impact was more pronounced depending on distinct livelihood activities and roles and responsibilities undertaken.The study concluded that people’s perceptions of climate change should be taken on by the government and integrated in the national climate programs that support people’s livelihoods and survival mechanisms.

团结奋斗精神的理论逻辑、历史逻辑及实践路径

团结奋斗精神是人类社会发展的重要动力,并随社会实践的变化不断增添新的时代内涵。团结奋斗是马克思主义政党的内在特质,是无产阶级实现自身解放和人类解放的内在要求,是马克思主义政党践行群众史观和历史合力作用的必然结果。依靠团结奋斗,中国共产党在新民主主义革命时期实现了民族独立和人民解放;在社会主义革命和建设时期稳定了新生政权;在改革和社会主义现代化建设时期促进了国家经济社会快速发展;在中国特色社会主义新时代创造了新的伟业。要深刻把握团结奋斗精神的实践要求,必须坚持党的全面领导不动摇,坚持锚定目标任务不放松,坚持凝聚最大合力不懈怠,坚持接续奋斗不松劲,从而以新的更大的团结奋斗汇聚民族复兴的磅礴伟力。

习近平文化思想视域下坚守中国哲学社会科学之“魂脉”——关于哲学社会科学与中国特色意识形态问题探讨

“加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学”重大论断提出以来,在理论研究和实践探索方面都取得了众多成就,但也存在研究持续性和稳定性不足、问题导向不够明确、“中国特色”全面形成进程缓慢等问题。习近平文化思想为加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学提供了科学理论指南和根本行动遵循。马克思主义“魂脉”与中华优秀传统文化“根脉”,分别形成了加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学的意识形态和文明形态。中国特色哲学社会科学的“魂脉”就是对具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态的牢牢把握与坚守。中国共产党一贯重视哲学社会科学和意识形态工作。改革开放以来,意识形态领域长期面临风险挑战。党的十八大以来,意识形态形势发生全局性、根本性转变。加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学,要准确把握意识形态工作形势与工作定位,在坚持哲学社会科学“中国特色”的基础上,理直气壮、旗帜鲜明地批判“非意识形态化”“意识形态终结论”等错误思潮,以社会主义意识形态引领哲学社会科学、以哲学社会科学巩固社会主义意识形态。习近平文化思想为建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态和加快建构中国特色哲学社会科学提出了具体的谋划和部署,包括健全党的创新理论工作体系、全面落实意识形态工作责任制、推动理想信念教育常态化制度化、广泛践行社会主义核心价值观、加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学、打造全媒体主流传播格局、健全网络综合治理体系七个方面,要从广义意识形态层面加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学,坚守好中国特色哲学社会科学的马克思主义“魂脉”,提升与我国综合国力和国际地位相匹配的中国特色哲学社会科学话语权。

国家重点产业规划、地方政府博弈与市场分割

国家重点产业规划是政府协调资源配置的重要“指挥棒”,但实施过程中地方政府的同质化竞争可能会给建设全国统一大市场带来市场分割的威胁。本文基于新经济地理学的建模思想,引入博弈论的分析范式,建立了在国家重点产业规划下地方政府间策略选择的竞争模型,并对博弈假设、核心结论和机制进行检验。研究发现:地方政府对国家重点产业规划的盲目追随会引发地方政府间的同质化竞争,进而可能加剧市场分割;设置“高墙”是地方政府的绝对占优策略,能否形成合理的产业分工格局与区域间技术交流及交易成本密切相关;地方保护与本地整体产能间呈现倒U形关系,持续高涨的区域壁垒不利于产能红利的释放。

国家叙事与地方表达——论武陵山区民族村寨建设中的文化主体性价值

民族村寨建设是巩固中华民族文化主体性的国家叙事和地方表达。通过考察武陵山区民族村寨建设中文化自觉、文化惯性和文化生产过程,从文化主体的适应性、因应性和回应性中重新认识民族地区现代化过程中文化主体性建设的三重价值维度;面对国家政策设计和地方实践表达中的话语矛盾与冲突,从匠作技术传承、民族文化传播和地方性空间生产中分析民族村寨建设中的主体实践挑战;最后,从主体回归、实践赋权和空间活化三个层次提出我国民族村寨文化主体性建设的价值面向。文化主体性建设是全面推进乡村振兴的迫切要求,为保障中国式现代化过程中民族地区生活水平的实质性改善和可持续发展提供了重要理论支撑。

习近平文化思想的理论特质与时代价值

习近平文化思想作为习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要组成部分,承继马克思主义文化理论,汲取中华优秀传统文化精华,吸收人类一切文明优秀成果,植根党领导新时代文化建设的伟大实践,具有鲜明的人民性、时代性、开放性、创新性和实践性,彰显了坚持人民至上、自信自立、开放包容、守正创新、问题导向的理论特质。习近平文化思想在丰富和发展马克思主义文化理论、巩固中华民族文化主体性、推动建设中华民族现代文明、促进世界文明多样性等方面发挥着重要作用,具有鲜明的时代价值。

超大规模市场:作为一种战略资源及其辩证利用

大国的经济发展具有独特的优势,其拥有的超大规模市场可以成为经济发展的战略资源。像中国这样的发展中大国所具有的超大规模市场既可以为我所用,也可能为竞争对手所用,特别是在开放条件下的辩证利用需要深入探讨。超大规模市场优势的发挥并不是外生给定的,而是需要国家内生的创造。本文对超大规模市场优势的概念进行学理辨析和界定,在此基础上论证其作为一种国家推动经济发展的战略资源,对其辩证利用的三重意涵进行阐释:一是超大规模市场利用种类繁多的市场节点培育消费需求,促进内部分工深化,通过产业间的互为供求培育本土企业的创新能力;二是超大规模市场亦可使本土企业倚仗巨大的市场规模而产生懈怠心理,削弱企业家精神;三是超大规模市场如果被外国企业利用,则会阻碍本土企业的创新与发展。因此,发挥好中国超大规模市场优势,需要充分发挥消费者的力量,同时也要积极培育具有全球竞争力的本土企业并制定符合中国国情的对外开放战略。