In an era governed by economic crisis, deep recession and lack of funds, the perspective of sustainable development drives local government to a more focused and constant effort to adapt to their daily requirements no...In an era governed by economic crisis, deep recession and lack of funds, the perspective of sustainable development drives local government to a more focused and constant effort to adapt to their daily requirements not only in respect to the central state but also towards the growing needs of the local society. As the need for planning actions in accordance with the principles of sustainable energy remains urgent, municipalities continue to envision and to respond to their role in helping to create a better future for generations to come. Thereupon the vision of the Municipality of Hersonissos, as firstly recorded in its Business Plan for 2011-2014, was, and still is, its＇ development in an Economic, Tourist and Cultural pole by adopting and applying the basic principles of sustainable development. At the same time the Municipality＇s rigid vision, planning, and evaluation, oriented by environmental protection, highlighted the need for networking on European level as although cities are different, their problems are often common. Thus on April 18, 2011, the Municipality of Hersonissos, joined the European Union initiative ＂Covenant of Mayors＂ [1] with the common aim of the fight against climate change. This article presents the significant initiatives taken in this direction in the last decade and their results not only on economical level but also along their social impact. It also aims to point out a municipality＇s vital role in knowledge and technology diffusion within the local society as sustainable energy development can be deployed not only by the private sector but also by the public.展开更多
Eeotourism aims to deliver the philosophy of sustainable development through environmental conservation as well as socio-economic development. Areas with rich biodiversity and scenic beauty, like the Indian Himalayan ...Eeotourism aims to deliver the philosophy of sustainable development through environmental conservation as well as socio-economic development. Areas with rich biodiversity and scenic beauty, like the Indian Himalayan region, have been one of the major destination centers for nature lovers from historical time. In view of conserving the rich biodiversity and natural heritage of the Himalayan region 92 protected areas have been set aside, of these Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve （NDBR） is a well known world heritage site. Over a period of time establishing NDBR has invited conficts between the local people and reserve authorities on the management approaches and utilization criteria of the natural resources, especially banning the traditional bio-resource collection rights of local community, expeditions, trekking, and other anthropogenic activities in the core zones. The present study aims to understand and analyze the various people - park conflicts, and also to suggest ways to mitigate such conflicts in view of biodiversity conservation and improvement of economic status of local people by promoting eeotourism. With this view the study further discusses the various aspects of eeotourism, its pros and cons, and the avenues of developing appropriate strategies for promotion of ecotourism in buffer zone areas of NDBR.展开更多
Kibera is the largest urban slum in Nairobi with over 900,000 inhabitants. This urban slum is plagued by unsanitary conditions, such as high density, dust, mud, squalor, hazards, litter, and smell. As a result of thes...Kibera is the largest urban slum in Nairobi with over 900,000 inhabitants. This urban slum is plagued by unsanitary conditions, such as high density, dust, mud, squalor, hazards, litter, and smell. As a result of these deplorable conditions, Umande Trust, a local non-governmental organization （NGO）, has developed a new educational initiative using biotechnology to turn human waste into gas for cooking. This initiative supports Freire＇s （2000） theory pedagogy of the oppressed, which will serve as the theoretical framework, in which the people who have been oppressed and/or have had to endure the horrible conditions in which they live play an active role in their development to regain their humanity. Jacobson （2004） raised a critical question that will be the focal point of this study regarding development： ＂Who is better suited to help Africa determine her future＂ （p. 75）. Using a qualitative case study design, the answer to this question will be answered in terms of Kibera specifically and its use of bio-technology as a sustainable development initiative. This study will also assess the use of communication in this approach.展开更多
There exists synchronous growth in resources consumption and environment pollution in Kunming urbanization in recent years, which has led to the increasing pressure of urban sustainable development. Considering the en...There exists synchronous growth in resources consumption and environment pollution in Kunming urbanization in recent years, which has led to the increasing pressure of urban sustainable development. Considering the environmental and social benefits in Kunming's water resources sustainable development, the authors provided a research finding the optimal urban population scale in different stages for urban water supply based on the sustainable development groundwater evaluating theoretical model. Through the research on the availability of construction site as well as the risk in underground space exploitation with the extenics theory method, we get a suitable partition map of land for urban construction and a risky partition map of underground space development. The results show that the appropriate population scale of Kunming will be less than 2.96×106 by 2020, and will reach (4.34--2.96)×106 optimized population scale after 2020 under the condition of economic-socially and environmentally sustainable development. It is significant to optimize urban construction land and use underground space under the condition of land resources sustainability in Kunming.展开更多
From a project oriented view point the concept of sustainability concerns a variety of themes. The evolution of any single city brings to light the fact that architecture and town planning have often expressed more th...From a project oriented view point the concept of sustainability concerns a variety of themes. The evolution of any single city brings to light the fact that architecture and town planning have often expressed more than a merely stereotyped conception of ＂style＂, wherever its most significant achievements have responded to structural needs. For ＂sustainable urban development＂ we may assume the necessity of a ＂priority vision＂, according to which economic, ecologic and social potentials should be valued. This paper questions the notion of urban sustainability considering the port of Alexandria and is region at various levels. Today extending for many miles along the sea coast, the city entered a period of crisis in the 1950s when a mass exodus of foreigners followed transfer of the main activities to Cairo, while the surrounding area was subject to reclamation work as part of a plan for national development. An important event occurred in 1989 with the rebuilding of Alexandria＇s world-famous library, bringing with it a hope for revival of the city＇s ecumenical tradition and of the place it formerly held in world culture. While most of its five million inhabitants survive in a variety of unauthorised settlements and the rural areas have suffered severely from the pollution of Lake Maryut Alexandria is expanding by creation of＂gated communities＂, paralleled by intensive building for tourism along the western coast. This growing trend towards the ＂American way of life＂ is destroying any identity of place. Criticizing the unsustainability of the Alexandria of today, this paper focuses on potentials for polycentric development of the city as a vital part of its region and the Nile Delta, also considering that debate is in progress on the accomplishment of important infrastructural projects that may offer fresh opportunities for involving the topography and centuries-old life of the metropolis in designing the future city.展开更多
Micro-finance is providing financial services to poor people, who traditionally lack access to banking and related services. In India, the population of Muslims is about 180 million and the majority of them live below...Micro-finance is providing financial services to poor people, who traditionally lack access to banking and related services. In India, the population of Muslims is about 180 million and the majority of them live below poverty line. The regions where poor Muslims are in majority are marked as negative for providing loans by the banks. Study on interest-free （Islamic） micro-finance for implementation in a country like India can be very helpful in eradicating poverty and developing micro-enterprises together with sustainable development of poor and country as a whole. The primary aim of Islamic teachings （economics） is social justice to all irrespective of caste, creed, race, colour, and religion. Due to this reason, interest （riba） is prohibited not only in Islam but also in Christianity. This paper studies an Islamic micro-finance institution （Anjuman Islahul Muslemeen） situated in Bhopal （Madhya Pradesh）, India. The institution was registered in 1918 by a group of Muslims to help the poor. Today, about 98 years have passed by and all group members have changed but the organization is still growing with the aim of the well-being of poor people, not only Muslims but non-Muslims as well and is serving the humanity.展开更多
Taking a typical active export-oriented region Zhejiang as an example, this paper tries to evaluate its Coordinated Development Degree （CDD） form 1997, focusing on the characteristics of its export-oriented econom〉...Taking a typical active export-oriented region Zhejiang as an example, this paper tries to evaluate its Coordinated Development Degree （CDD） form 1997, focusing on the characteristics of its export-oriented econom〉 and regional environment. The results show that Zhejiang ＇s CDD has kept increasing steadily after its slight drop in 1998. Finally, four measurements are proposed to promote sustainable development, including increasing and equalizing region＇s environmental investment, changing pollution-intensive export structure to avoid restricting the whole industrial structure, restricting simple spatial translocation of high-material consumption, high-energy consumption and high-pollution industries, etc.展开更多
文摘In an era governed by economic crisis, deep recession and lack of funds, the perspective of sustainable development drives local government to a more focused and constant effort to adapt to their daily requirements not only in respect to the central state but also towards the growing needs of the local society. As the need for planning actions in accordance with the principles of sustainable energy remains urgent, municipalities continue to envision and to respond to their role in helping to create a better future for generations to come. Thereupon the vision of the Municipality of Hersonissos, as firstly recorded in its Business Plan for 2011-2014, was, and still is, its＇ development in an Economic, Tourist and Cultural pole by adopting and applying the basic principles of sustainable development. At the same time the Municipality＇s rigid vision, planning, and evaluation, oriented by environmental protection, highlighted the need for networking on European level as although cities are different, their problems are often common. Thus on April 18, 2011, the Municipality of Hersonissos, joined the European Union initiative ＂Covenant of Mayors＂ [1] with the common aim of the fight against climate change. This article presents the significant initiatives taken in this direction in the last decade and their results not only on economical level but also along their social impact. It also aims to point out a municipality＇s vital role in knowledge and technology diffusion within the local society as sustainable energy development can be deployed not only by the private sector but also by the public.
文摘Eeotourism aims to deliver the philosophy of sustainable development through environmental conservation as well as socio-economic development. Areas with rich biodiversity and scenic beauty, like the Indian Himalayan region, have been one of the major destination centers for nature lovers from historical time. In view of conserving the rich biodiversity and natural heritage of the Himalayan region 92 protected areas have been set aside, of these Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve （NDBR） is a well known world heritage site. Over a period of time establishing NDBR has invited conficts between the local people and reserve authorities on the management approaches and utilization criteria of the natural resources, especially banning the traditional bio-resource collection rights of local community, expeditions, trekking, and other anthropogenic activities in the core zones. The present study aims to understand and analyze the various people - park conflicts, and also to suggest ways to mitigate such conflicts in view of biodiversity conservation and improvement of economic status of local people by promoting eeotourism. With this view the study further discusses the various aspects of eeotourism, its pros and cons, and the avenues of developing appropriate strategies for promotion of ecotourism in buffer zone areas of NDBR.
文摘Kibera is the largest urban slum in Nairobi with over 900,000 inhabitants. This urban slum is plagued by unsanitary conditions, such as high density, dust, mud, squalor, hazards, litter, and smell. As a result of these deplorable conditions, Umande Trust, a local non-governmental organization （NGO）, has developed a new educational initiative using biotechnology to turn human waste into gas for cooking. This initiative supports Freire＇s （2000） theory pedagogy of the oppressed, which will serve as the theoretical framework, in which the people who have been oppressed and/or have had to endure the horrible conditions in which they live play an active role in their development to regain their humanity. Jacobson （2004） raised a critical question that will be the focal point of this study regarding development： ＂Who is better suited to help Africa determine her future＂ （p. 75）. Using a qualitative case study design, the answer to this question will be answered in terms of Kibera specifically and its use of bio-technology as a sustainable development initiative. This study will also assess the use of communication in this approach.
基金Supported by projects of the National Science Foundation of China ( Nos. 0872170,40902077)
文摘There exists synchronous growth in resources consumption and environment pollution in Kunming urbanization in recent years, which has led to the increasing pressure of urban sustainable development. Considering the environmental and social benefits in Kunming's water resources sustainable development, the authors provided a research finding the optimal urban population scale in different stages for urban water supply based on the sustainable development groundwater evaluating theoretical model. Through the research on the availability of construction site as well as the risk in underground space exploitation with the extenics theory method, we get a suitable partition map of land for urban construction and a risky partition map of underground space development. The results show that the appropriate population scale of Kunming will be less than 2.96×106 by 2020, and will reach (4.34--2.96)×106 optimized population scale after 2020 under the condition of economic-socially and environmentally sustainable development. It is significant to optimize urban construction land and use underground space under the condition of land resources sustainability in Kunming.
文摘From a project oriented view point the concept of sustainability concerns a variety of themes. The evolution of any single city brings to light the fact that architecture and town planning have often expressed more than a merely stereotyped conception of ＂style＂, wherever its most significant achievements have responded to structural needs. For ＂sustainable urban development＂ we may assume the necessity of a ＂priority vision＂, according to which economic, ecologic and social potentials should be valued. This paper questions the notion of urban sustainability considering the port of Alexandria and is region at various levels. Today extending for many miles along the sea coast, the city entered a period of crisis in the 1950s when a mass exodus of foreigners followed transfer of the main activities to Cairo, while the surrounding area was subject to reclamation work as part of a plan for national development. An important event occurred in 1989 with the rebuilding of Alexandria＇s world-famous library, bringing with it a hope for revival of the city＇s ecumenical tradition and of the place it formerly held in world culture. While most of its five million inhabitants survive in a variety of unauthorised settlements and the rural areas have suffered severely from the pollution of Lake Maryut Alexandria is expanding by creation of＂gated communities＂, paralleled by intensive building for tourism along the western coast. This growing trend towards the ＂American way of life＂ is destroying any identity of place. Criticizing the unsustainability of the Alexandria of today, this paper focuses on potentials for polycentric development of the city as a vital part of its region and the Nile Delta, also considering that debate is in progress on the accomplishment of important infrastructural projects that may offer fresh opportunities for involving the topography and centuries-old life of the metropolis in designing the future city.
文摘Micro-finance is providing financial services to poor people, who traditionally lack access to banking and related services. In India, the population of Muslims is about 180 million and the majority of them live below poverty line. The regions where poor Muslims are in majority are marked as negative for providing loans by the banks. Study on interest-free （Islamic） micro-finance for implementation in a country like India can be very helpful in eradicating poverty and developing micro-enterprises together with sustainable development of poor and country as a whole. The primary aim of Islamic teachings （economics） is social justice to all irrespective of caste, creed, race, colour, and religion. Due to this reason, interest （riba） is prohibited not only in Islam but also in Christianity. This paper studies an Islamic micro-finance institution （Anjuman Islahul Muslemeen） situated in Bhopal （Madhya Pradesh）, India. The institution was registered in 1918 by a group of Muslims to help the poor. Today, about 98 years have passed by and all group members have changed but the organization is still growing with the aim of the well-being of poor people, not only Muslims but non-Muslims as well and is serving the humanity.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40671062)the third stage of Knowledge In-novation Project of Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS.
文摘Taking a typical active export-oriented region Zhejiang as an example, this paper tries to evaluate its Coordinated Development Degree （CDD） form 1997, focusing on the characteristics of its export-oriented econom〉 and regional environment. The results show that Zhejiang ＇s CDD has kept increasing steadily after its slight drop in 1998. Finally, four measurements are proposed to promote sustainable development, including increasing and equalizing region＇s environmental investment, changing pollution-intensive export structure to avoid restricting the whole industrial structure, restricting simple spatial translocation of high-material consumption, high-energy consumption and high-pollution industries, etc.
