Right to food,right to mine? Competing human rights claims in Bangladesh     

《Geoforum》2015

The right to food is increasingly evoked by a range of actors, but there is not sufficient critical analysis of distinct interpretations of what this right means in practice. Through examination of a mineral extraction project with agricultural implications, this article explores diverse human rights narratives and illuminates associated corporate efforts to minimize recognition of food as a fundamental right. A British mining company proposes the Phulbari open pit coal mine in an agriculturally important region of Bangladesh. Highly contested by affected populations, clashes in 2006 between the police and protestors turned deadly in the area. In February 2012, a group of UN Special Rapporteurs cautioned the Government of Bangladesh regarding human rights violations associated with the planned mine. They warned that the project would displace hundreds of thousands of people, while destroying fertile agricultural land. In contrast, an ongoing publicity campaign by the corporation attempts to promote their intervention as a positive step, fully compliant with international human rights and corporate social responsibility standards. Taking this case as an exemplar, the article illuminates the pursuit of mining profit and the distinct use of human rights narratives by corporations and UN Special Rapporteurs. These diverse actors represent the layering of voices weighing in on mineral extraction and associated right to food concerns. Collectively, these layered narratives represent a new terrain for the promotion and contestation of mining and highlight the need to scrutinize mining practices in light of social responsibility and human rights claims being voluntary and self-regulated.  相似文献   

Evaluation of the “fishing down marine food web” process in the north-west of Persian Gulf(Khuzestan Province) during the period of 2002–2011     

MASHJOOR Sakineh  KAMRANI Ehsan 《海洋学报(英文版)》2015,34(10):103-110

The worldwide increase in commercial fisheries and its impact on ecosystems as well as inefficient fishery management have led to overfishing and frequent breakdown of traditional fish stocks.In this context,an analysis of Khuzestan inshore fisheries data covering the years 2002–2011,was conducted in reliance on testing for occurrence of the fishing down marine food webs(FDMFW) phenomenon in the North of Persian Gulf Large Marine Ecosystem(LME).In this study,the mean trophic level(m TL) and the fishing-in-balance(FIB)-index of Khuzestan landings during this period of time were estimated using the trophic level of 47 fishery resources.Increase in total landings(Y) was observed,which explained the high fishing yield in major fishery resources(especially demersal).Moreover,the moderates decreasing trend in m TL per decade,and the increasing trend in FIB-index were observed.The status of fishery resources in Khuzestan inshore waters(under exploited but not overexploited),the rise in Y,FIB and slightly drop in m TL can be considered as indirect indicators of the fishing impacts on the trophic structure of marine communities.Based on this result,probability occurrence of FDMFW process in Khuzestan inshore waters is low to some extent.However,we suggest that the goal of management programs in Khuzestan inshore waters should prevent the continuance of this trend in the long-term using an ecosystem-based approach.  相似文献   

1998-2012年中国耕地复种指数时空差异及动因   总被引：7，自引：0，他引：7  

谢花林  刘桂英 《地理学报》2015,(4)

从国家、区域和省级三个层面上分析了1998-2012年间中国耕地复种指数的变化趋势,并基于Theil指数探讨了中国耕地复种指数的时空差异,利用计量经济学模型从人文视角探讨了耕地复种指数变化的影响因素。结果表明:1在全国尺度上,中国耕地复种指数总体上呈逐年增长的趋势。2在区域尺度上,复种指数最高的为中部地区,最低的为东北地区;而复种指数增长最快的是东北地区,最慢的是中部地区,东部地区呈下降趋势。3中国31个省份复种指数各不相同,且差距大,复种指数增长最快的是新疆、宁夏和云南。4由Theil指数值的大小可知,中国耕地复种指数的差异呈缩小态势,其主要原因为四大区域间的差异。5人口非农化比重对耕地复种指数产生了显著负向作用,产业非农化比重、农业政策、人均经营耕地和农村家庭人均经营纯收入对耕地复种指数产生了显著正向作用。最后,本文认为转移农村剩余劳动力,提高农民的经营性收入水平,促进土地流转,形成土地规模化经营,以及进一步加大对欠发达地区及粮食主产区农业发展的惠农扶持力度,充分发挥国家惠农政策的诱致作用,有利于全面提高中国耕地复种水平。  相似文献   

Temporal-spatial Distribution of Suitable Areas for Major Food Crops in China Over 60 Years     

Xiaoju Ning  Lijun Zhang  Yaochen Qin  Kai Liu 《地球科学进展》2019,34(2):191-201

Simulating the temporal-spatial distribution of areas suitable for crops is an important part of analyzing the effects of climate change on crop growth, reducing the vulnerability of crop growth, and assessing the adaptability of crop growth to climate change. This study selected climate factors that affect the growth of wheat, maize and rice, and it combined surface soil and ground elevation factors as environment variables, as well as data from agricultural observation stations as species variables. The MaxEnt ecological model was used to identify suitable areas for these three crops during the period of 1953-2012. The areas suitable for the three crops were analyzed to determine the temporal-spatial distribution of major food crops and to estimate the difference in crop growth adaptability under climate change. The results showed the following: \mathrm{①} The response to climate change of the areas suitable for food crops could be ranked from strongest to weakest as follows: wheat, rice, and maize. \mathrm{②} On the same space-time scale, for the growth of wheat and rice, the southern agricultural regions, mountainous areas and plateaus were relatively unsuitable for a wider variety of crops than the northern agricultural regions, plains and basins. \mathrm{③} The adaptability of wheat increased in the major agricultural regions slightly. The adaptability of maize increased in the northern agricultural regions and decreased in the southern agricultural regions, respectively. The adaptability of rice was stable in the southern agricultural regions, and it decreased in the Huang-Huai-Hai region and increased in the northeastern region. \mathrm{④} Over 60 years, the ability of the major food crops to adapt to climate change increased in the northeast region, Gansu-Xinjiang region, Southwest region and Loess Plateau region, but the adaptability of major food crops decreased in the Huang-Huai-Hai region and the Mid-and-Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River. \mathrm{⑤} The suitable areas of maize and rice were significantly correlated with planting areas and yields, respectively, which provided feasibility for simulating the distribution of suitable areas on maize and rice in different climate scenarios in the future. The suitable area of wheat is not significantly related to the planting area and yield. In the future, we will take more factors to model the suitable area of wheat accurately.  相似文献   

Food web structure within kelp holdfasts (Laminaria): a stable isotope study     

Gauthier Schaal  Pascal Riera  Cédric Leroux 《Marine Ecology》2012,33(3):370-376

Kelp holdfasts are highly reticulated structures which host a large diversity of small fauna. These microhabitats have been reported to play a crucial role in the biodiversity associated to kelp forest ecosystems. This study aimed at identifying trophic links and the main food sources sustaining food webs within communities associated with kelp holdfasts, through a stable isotope (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) approach. Sampling of the main invertebrates inhabiting Laminaria digitata holdfasts, and of their potential food sources, took place in February and May 2007. Stable isotope results reveal that most of the primary consumers, including filter-feeders and deposit-feeders, rely on the particulate organic matter sedimented within kelp holdfasts. Only three grazers departed from this general pattern. The correspondence between the stable isotope ratios of predators and sediment consumers indicated that this source is at the base of the main pathway through which energy and matter transit in the food web. δ¹⁵N ranges found for consumers revealed that the food web associated with kelp holdfasts is composed of 3.5 levels. In spite of the low diversity of food sources at the base of the food web, these microhabitats can therefore be considered micro-scale ecosystems, from a functional perspective.  相似文献   

Tackling illegal, unregulated, and unreported trade towards Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) recovery in Sabah, Malaysia     

Tun-Min Poh  Lucia M. Fanning 《Marine Policy》2012,36(3):696-702

The live reef food fish trade (LRFFT) has caused severe depletion of the Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) populations globally, a species considered endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. In 2010, signatories to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora recognized that illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) activities in the LRFFT were undermining the efforts to protect this species. Management recommendations have yet to be effectively implemented at national and local levels where the fish is harvested. This paper analyzes the threats to, and socio-economic impacts of, Humphead wrasse recovery in Sabah, Malaysia, and offers both short- and longer-term recommendations for the local recovery of the species. Key issues addressed centre around understanding the threats to recovery, specifically the role of IUU and the context-specific considerations, including the socio-economic aspects of the IUU trade in Sabah. The analysis confirms that deliberate management planning and action at multiple levels are required to prevent local-scale extinction. Lessons for other species and countries involved in the LRFFT suggest that to be effective, broad management frameworks must be tailored to local situations and must focus on gaining support and participation of fish harvesters if the recovery and long-term sustainability of both the Humphead wrasse and the LRFFT are to be achieved.  相似文献   

Six decades of agricultural land use change in Bangladesh: Effects on crop diversity,productivity, food availability and the environment, 1948–2006     

Sanzidur Rahman 《Singapore journal of tropical geography》2010,31(2):254-269

This paper provides a detailed analysis of agricultural land use change in Bangladesh over a 59‐year period (1948–2006) and examines how these have impacted crop diversity, productivity, food availability and the environment. The key findings of the analysis are: first, land use intensity has increased significantly over this period, mainly from the widespread adoption of a rice‐based Green Revolution technology package beginning in the early 1960s; second, contrary to expectation, crop diversity too has increased; third, although land productivity has increased significantly, declines in the productivity of fertilizers and pesticides raise doubts over sustaining agricultural growth; fourth, food availability has improved, with a reversal in the dietary energy imbalance in recent years despite a high population growth rate; and finally, the production environment has suffered with widespread soil nutrient depletion experienced in many agroecological regions. The policy implication points towards crop diversification as a desired strategy for agricultural growth to improve resource economy, productivity and efficiency in farming in Bangladesh.  相似文献   

基于空间模型的全球粮食安全评价   总被引：7，自引：1，他引：6  

吴文斌  唐华俊  杨鹏  周清波  陈仲新 《地理学报》2010,65(8)

在综合考虑自然、社会和经济等因子对粮食安全影响的基础上,选择了人均粮食占有量和人均GDP两个指标空间显性评价全球粮食安全状况。为此,本研究构建了3个模型,即空间EPIC模型、作物选择模型和IFPSIM模型,分别模拟作物单产、作物播种面积和作物价格。利用构建的评价框架和模型,以网格大小为6分弧度的地理单元为评价对象,选择水稻、玉米、小麦和大豆等4类全球主要作物类型,以2000年为初始年份,对未来2020年的全球粮食安全状况进行了评价。结果表明,到2020年,多数南亚国家和非洲国家,由于其人均粮食占有量和人均GDP两个指标值都显著降低,粮食供应不足和贫困一起将可能导致该区域存在粮食危机和饥饿风险。对于其他区域,日益增长的粮食需求可以通过本区域的粮食生产自给予以满足,或通过外部购买或粮食进口得到满足,总体上不存在粮食安全问题。为保障未来粮食安全,一方面要保护耕地数量和质量、防止土壤退化、增加资本投入、进行技术创新和升级,提高粮食综合生产能力,保障粮食的有效供给;另一方面加大农业补贴,切实提高农民收入,保障农民利益,增强农业购买力。同时,大力改善粮食流通和农产品贸易体制,通过外部市场来调节粮食供给;积极应对气候变化,提高农业生产对气候变化的适应能力,保证粮食生产的稳定。  相似文献   

基于粮食安全的区域耕地压力研究——以辽宁省为例   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

范秋梅  蔡运龙 《地域研究与开发》2010,29(5)

运用"最小人均耕地面积"及"耕地压力指数"的概念和计算模型对辽宁省1997—2007年间耕地资源动态变化进行了定量分析,应用灰色系统GM(1.1)预测模型对未来15年耕地压力变化进行了预测,据此提出了耕地利用和保护对策。研究结果表明:辽宁省工业大发展以来,特别是老工业基地的振兴和城市化进程的加快,虽然占用了一些耕地,但耕地压力指数不仅没有加剧,反而呈现下降趋势,主要原因是耕地生产力在不断提高。科技进步以及生态建设的完善是未来减轻耕地压力、保障耕地、人口和粮食可持续发展的重要途径。  相似文献   

非洲粮食问题的时空演化研究   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

杜志鹏  赵媛 《世界地理研究》2012,(2):47-55

非洲粮食生产与发展面临着诸多的困难与挑战,其粮食问题一直是国际社会关注的热点之一。本文研究的非洲粮食问题主要是指其粮食生产、消费及其自给能力方面存在的问题,从时间与空间视角对非洲粮食此类问题的演化过程和成因进行了初步探讨。时间视角上,考虑到20世纪90年代中期到21世纪初期非洲粮食问题表现较为典型,同时限于相关数据获取因素故,仅研究了1994-2007年,非洲粮食生产量、粮食消费量及生产性粮食缺口量的演化;空间视角上,从整体与区域两个层面,探讨了非洲不同粮食自给类型国家的空间差异及演化。最后提出解决非洲粮食问题的相关对策与建议。  相似文献