How far have we come?Review of main public policies to reduce landslide impacts in Brazil

During the rainy season in Brazil,landslides can have catastrophic consequences,including loss of life,damage to urban infrastructure and significant economic impacts.Now,more than eight million people in Brazil live in disaster-prone areas.The objective of this article is to present a chronological review of the principal policies and programmes at the national,state,and municipal levels,with an emphasis on their key actions aimed at mitigating the impact of disasters related to natural hazards,particularly landslides.Our analysis was based on official records of public policies from the national,state,and municipal governments.The results show that several initiatives were initially developed at the local and regional level.However,it was not until the late 1980s that a comprehensive organisation of civil protection at the national level emerged as a response measure.It is possible to highlight three phases(understanding,coexistence,and prevention)of institutional action focused on risk management in the face of disasters.Despite the growing knowledge of risk scenarios,disasters continue to occur in Brazil on an annual basis,revealing several obstacles to reducing their impact,particularly given the social and economic disparities between Brazilian regions and the applicability of public policies that must overcome the limitations of each municipality.

Do smart city policies improve energy efficiency?Evidence from China

To address air pollution and offer a convenient and comfortable living environment,the Chinese government launched a smart city pilot(SCP)project in 2012,accompanied by a comprehensive set of environmental and energy-related laws and regulations.Although academic interest in smart cities has surged,there remains a notable gap in empirical research exploring the economic,environmental,and energy effects of such initiatives.Taking 232 prefecture-level cities from 2003 to 2017 as research subjects,this study measures energy effi‐ciency by using energy consumption per unit of GDP and adopts a difference-in-differences(DID)analysis to investigate the impact of SCPs on energy efficiency.The empirical results indicate that SCPs improved energy efficiency by promoting urban technological innovation capabilities and green total factor productivity,and this effect was more pronounced in cities that were more dependent on traditional fossil fuel energy sources and had more developed fiscal and financial levels.Studying the impact of smart city construction on energy utilization efficiency in developing countries,such as China,is not only significantly enlightening for China’s green and low-carbon transition but also provides reference opinions for constructing smart cities and the path to enhancing energy efficiency in other developing countries.The findings provide valuable insights into the global development of smart cities,urban sustainability,and high-quality economic growth.

The Three Principles of Institutional Safeguards for Women's Participation in Legislation in China

The participation of women in legislation is an important aspect and means of safeguarding women’s rights.Feminist theory,based on criticism of both the“citizenship identity theory as rights”and the“citizenship identity theory as responsibilities,”proposes the“citizenship identity theory as subjectivity.”Observing the current practice of women’s participation in legislation in China,two institutional safeguard principles can be summarized:the“minimum proportion”and the“influence evaluation.”However,each of these principles has its inherent limitations.Therefore,it is necessary to supplement them with the principle of“subjective participation”in a reflective manner.This principle requires women to participate substantively in the legislative process as subjects,express women’s needs and demands,input women’s perspectives and experiences,and reconstruct the distribution of rights and responsibilities in the existing legislation.The three principles complement each other and work together to comprehensively constitute the institutional structure of women’s participation in legislation,thereby promoting the reproduction of corresponding action structures.

The Criminal Governance Model of Domestic Violence and Its Legislative Improvement

Domestic violence is a serious threat to the basic human rights of family members,especially victimized women.In order to effectively prevent domestic violence,the criminal law needs to respond in an appropriate and timely manner.However,the traditional criminal governance model suffers from the problem of the lagging involvement of public power.At the same time,the public-private partnership governance model,based on the personal safety protection order system stipulated in the Anti-domestic Violence Law of the People's Republic of China,is also flawed in its institutional design and specific implementation.The criminal governance model for domestic violence should be guided by the view of positive criminal law,and the governance path should be furtheroptimized from two aspects:strengthening the foundation of the public-private cooperation governance model and deepeningthe criminal-civil interface.This will help to fully protect the legitimate rights and interests of victims of domestic violence.

The Limits of Domestic Spatiality in the Information Age-A Secondary Publication

The limits of spatiality have blurred in the information age;a phenomenon that can be observed through the socio-spatial implications of Internet use in the domestic sphere.How and why are the use and organization of space-time around the Internet shaping a new domestic spatiality that intertwines the digital space with the production of social space through the practice of habits,presence,and interaction of individuals?What are the repercussions of the superimposition of digital space on human existence?The units of analysis were integrated through the sum of people and middle-class housing in the face of the digitalization process in the city of San Luis Potosi,Mexico.The questionnaire consisted of 35 questions designed from the Likert scale under the thematic order of presence,interaction,and habituality.The data were analyzed using SPSS software.This research contributes to explaining the current period in the history of inhabitable space,dominated by the simultaneous interrelationships between individuals,digital space,and architecture,which result in the detachment and devaluation of physical domestic space,while also highlighting the lack of control and regulation of individuals over the Internet.

Euthanasia controversy in China:do we have the right to die?

This research examines the contentious issue of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the context of China's unique conditions.Historically,the debate over euthanasia has been influenced by moral philosophy and ethics,and euthanasia is illegal in China at present.The research explores the difficulty in making euthanasia legalized across five key dimensions:financial,medical,social,legal,and psychological factors.We conclude that while there is a desire among some terminally ill patients for euthanasia,the current situation in China makes it unsuitable for legalization.The profound question of one's right to die remains a significant moral and judicial challenge,indicating the need for continued dialogue and nuanced understanding of this complex issue.

Palliative care with adequate pain relief challenges the need for euthanasia legislation

Background:In today’s society the ongoing discussion about euthanasia triggers emotionally charged debates surrounding the delicate balance between valuing life and respecting an individual’s autonomy.With the persistence of this debate,there has been the emergence of the concept of the so-called alternative:palliative care.Positioned as a substitute for euthanasia,palliative care aims to alleviate suffering in terminally ill patients without engaging in the ethical dilemmas associated with euthanasia.Methods:This paper explores the facets of palliative care highlighting its core objectives such as providing adequate pain relief as a compassionate alternative to euthanasia.Results:By examining palliative care as a comprehensive approach to end of life support,this study challenges the perceived necessity of euthanasia and advocates,for compassionate and dignified end of life experiences.Conclusion:In conclusion,palliative care emerges as a viable and ethically sound alternative to euthanasia,emphasizing the importance of compassionate end-of-life care and pain management.

论地方立法效益提高之路径

文章对影响地方立法效益的诸多因素进行了较为全面的分析,提出提高我国地方立法效益的几种可取途径:转变地方立法理念、降低地方立法成本、促进地方立法与地方法规实施的协调。

Research on Product Quality Law System

Product quality law refers to the combination of various economical relationships and legal norms in the process of production,circulation and administration.It combines the operation of the market with the state supervision.Studying on the legislation style will be of theoretical and practical significance.

A Study on American Language Policy

The attempt of this paper is to investigate the main characteristics of the American language policy. It is one important part of the project "A study on the Strategy of Spreading Chinese Language in United States of America". This paper firstly explains the concept of language policy and then introduces the two main characteristics of the American language policy.

How Behaviors and Certain Events Influence Legislative Language

Legal language is a pretty formal language.As part of legal language,legislative language has all the basic features of legal language and legislative language has an accurate,plain,solemn,rigorous style.People interprete legislative language and act in accordance with laws.On the contrary,behaviors and certain events also influence the characteristics of legislative language,even trigger some conflicts with it.Confronted with some advantaged influence,legislators have to make some compromises or change the characteristics of legislative language.However,legislators should adhere to remain represantations of laws to resist disadvantaged impacts.As a result,it is need to research how behaviors and certain events influence legislative language.

Review of preventive and constructive measures for coal mine explosions:An Indian perspective

Firedamp and coal dust explosion constitute a lion’s share in mine accidents in a global mining scenario.This paper reports a list of mine explosion disasters since last two decades,a critical review of the different prevention and constructive measures,and its recent development to avoid firedamp and coal dust explosion.Preventive legislation in core coal-producing countries,viz.China,USA,Australia,South Africa,and India related to firedamp and coal dust explosion are critically analysed.Accidents occurred due to explosion after Nationalisation of Coal Mines(1973)in India are listed.Prevention and constructive measures adopted in India are critically analysed with respect to the global mining scenario.Measures like methane credit concept,classification of mines/seams with respect to explosion risk zone,deflagration index;installation of automatic fire warning devices,canopy air curtain technology,explosion-prevention measures,such as fire-retardant materials,inhibitors,extinguishing agent,dust suppressor,and active explosion barrier are discussed in detail to avoid explosion and thereby adhering to zero accident policy due to coal mine explosion.

Renewable Energy Legislation in China:Politicaland Institutional Strategy for EffectiveImplementation

Over the past decade, the Chinese government has developed several plans regulations and policy measures related to the development of renewable energy technologies and has implemented a series of pilot projects. Chinese policymakers have spent several years studying how renewable energy policy models that have been used internationally could be implemented in China. Programs are currently underway to implement pilot renewable portfolio standards, or mandatory market shares (MMS) for renewable energy, in several provinces. This paper examines the primary institutions that are involved in promoting renewable policies in China, the structure of the policies that currently are being drafted, and the status of the complementary, national-level renewable energy law being drafted to provide a legal basis for ongoing local and national-level policies. It then examines the legal requirements for promoting renewable energy legislation under the Chinese law-making system. Finally, it provides recommendations

Comparison of international mine reclamation bonding systems with recommendations for China

Mine reclamation bonds are used in countries with mineral mining to ensure that reclamation of the mined area is completed. The United States, Canada, and Australia are countries with established mine reclamation bond programs, with the United States coal system having been in place since 1977. China implemented a bonding system in 1998 and by 2013 all 31 provinces had established a system. An effective bonding system must be conditioned on fair and enforceable nationwide reclamation standard, stimulate companies to conduct reclamation by forming economic incentives rather than penalties that become a liability, and allow for full public participation. Based on these principles, this paper compares seven important factors for a successful reclamation bonding system： laws and regulations, administrative authority, bond types, bond size, calculation method, bond release, and public participation. The results show variation in policies and procedures for bonding among countries. Using principles and policies primarily from the United States, China should establish a national reclamation bonding system with legislation that forms a national authority to oversee and enforce reclamation standards and bond requirements. In addition, China can expand bond financial types and strategies, set the size of reclamation bonds at the level of a third-party reclamation cost, and set unified standards for calculation. Phased bond release should be established with specific reclamation criteria for each phase of release. Finally, bonding regulations should clearly identify opportunities for full public participation in the process.

Impact of Smoke-Free Legislation on Acute Myocardial Infarction and Subtypes of Stroke Incidence in Shenzhen,China,2012-2016:An Interrupted Time Series Analysis

Objective This study assesses the impact of smoke-free legislation on the incidence rate for acute myocardial infarction(AMI)and stroke in Shenzhen.Methods Data on ischemic(n=72,945)and hemorrhagic(n=18,659)stroke and AMI(n=17,431)incidence covering about 12 million people in Shenzhen from 2012 to 2016 were used.Immediate and gradual changes in incidence rates were analyzed using segmented Poisson regression.Results Following the smoke-free legislation,a 9%(95%CI:3%-15%)immediate reduction was observed in AMI incidence,especially in men(8%,95%CI:1%-14%)and in those aged 65 years and older(17%,95%CI:9%-25%).The gradual annual benefits were observed only in hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke incidence,with a 7%(95%CI:2%-11%)and 6%(95%CI:4%-8%)decrease per year,respectively.This health effect extended gradually to the 50-64 age group.In addition,neither the immediate nor gradual decrease in stroke and AMI incidence rates did not show statistical significance among the 35-49 age group(P>0.05).Conclusion Smoke-free legislation was enforced well in Shenzhen,which would generate good experiences for other cities to enact and enforce smoke-free laws.This study also provided more evidence of the health benefits of smoke-free laws on stroke and AMI.

Environmental regulatory and policy framework in China: an overview

China has developed one of the most comprehensive environmental regulatory and policy framework in the world. This paper provides a description of the main institutions for environmental management in China, and overviews the regulatory and policy framework in place.

Indian task force for celiac disease:Current status

There are limited data on celiac disease(CD) from India.The limited knowledge about CD in India might be attributed to several factors.The fi rst meeting of the Indian Task Force for Celiac Disease was held in the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology,Hyderabad,India in December 2008.The objectives of the meeting were to focus research on prevalence of CD in the wheat-eating Northern vs the rice-eating Southern Indian population,low-budget serological assays to study the underprivileged population,to involve other medical subspecialties in CD,to suggest proper legislation regarding wheat food labeling,and to organize affordable food substitutes for patients with celiac disease.

Investigation on end-of-life electric and electronic equipment recycling and disposal system in China: legislation, education and dissemination

The Chinese obsolete electric and electronic equipments (EEE) recycling and disposal system on the point of view of legislation, education and dissemination were discussed, because of the highly increasing volume of electric and electronic products and that of its obsoletes today in China. The legislations and responsibilities of go- vernment, industry and consumer were discussed based on the balance of benefit and responsibility depending on the realization of their benefits in the whole life cycle of products and its status in the whole value chain. Not only the legislation and establishment of the so called “compulsory discarding system” will be a possible and effective solution to the difficulty of the obsolete collection and recycling for obsolete electric and electronic reclaiming industry, but also the education and dissemination. Education and dissemination were discussed as an important role which will emphasize the adjusting of policy and law on the development of electric and electronic industry production and its reclaiming. The education of stockholders’ environmental responsibility and the advocating of responsibility sharing should be implement for industry and consumer. Chinese EEE industry should emphasize the control of natural source, and should implement the environmental benign design in their production, such as design for dismantling, no dismantling, thermal treatment and green design. The perspectives for the way to advocate a harmonic society for Chinese people were described.

完善儿童权益保护之探析——以设立虐童罪为视角

少年之于国家的重要性是不言而喻的,我们理应保证未成年人有一个健康安全的成长环境,然而近年来越来越多虐待儿童事件的爆发,引起了人们对于儿童健康成长的强烈关注。目前,我国尚未设立虐童罪,然而调查表明90%的人支持设立虐童罪。随着虐童事件的发酵,关于虐童罪的讨论成为最受关注的话题之一。鉴此,分析虐童现象及其产生的原因,通过立法增设"虐童罪",无疑是遏制虐童现象的重要举措。

On "China-measures related to the exportation of various raw materials" case in terms of DSB's interpretations

The Appellate Body report in January 2012 had supported the decision of Panel in the"China-measures related to the exportation of various raw materials"case(WT/DS394,395,398)and affirmed that China's restrictions(such as tariffs and quota measures)on the exportation of raw materials violated rules put forth by the WTO,which were required to be modified.In this case China's right to invoke Article 20 of GATT1994("general exception")to justify its exemption from the guidelines in Article 11.3 of the WTO Accession Protocol was denied by the Panel and the Appellate Body.This was due to the fact that the phrasing in Article 11.3 of Protocol failed to mention"GATT."This was the consequence of the two interpretation approaches the Dispute Settlement Body(DSB)adopted-a narrow textual interpretation and a subjective presumption of"legislative silence."The inappropriate use of the two methods of interpretation lead to an imbalance between the right and obligation of China under the additional obligations that were imposed upon China by the WTO,which create a negative impact on China's rare earth case and the protection of domestic natural resources.