...TRANSBOUNDARY WATER MANAGEMENT; ISSUE OF GOVERNANCE LEADING TO A STALEMATE Abstract: In an era of globalization with regional states in Asia growing up to compete against the developed nations, regional powers trying to assert its regional influence over one another is raking up the old issues of control of water. These issues of controls over water had arises from its need to fulfill the growing demand of power shortages and its ambition of supply on upstream and downstream. This paper aims to study the reasons behind the reemergence of this water dispute which had previously had been put through cooperation or arbitration for sharing. Also it will analyze the problem of managing the river transboundary in the South East Asia. INTRODUCTION...
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...universal access of electricity, International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that by 2030 about 171 TWh of Off-Grid electricity will need to be generated for providing power to approximately 210M or 20% of total rural households. This paper focuses on understanding the implementation and impact of three Off-Grid renewable energy systems in three different developing countries. Two of them are successfully implemented and the other is currently under implementation. The fully implemented Off-Grid systems selected for this paper are “Off-Grid Rural Electrification-Ladakh” in India and “Off grid Solar Power System for a rural village” in Malaysia. The system that is currently being implemented is the “Rural Renewable Energy Development Project” in Bhutan. These projects have been selected based on their significant contributions to rural electrification in their respective countries. 1. Introduction: According to the United Nations Global Initiative “Sustainable Energy for All” nearly one in five people around the world do not have access to modern energy services. Approximately three billion people across the globe currently rely on wood, coal, charcoal or...
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...INDIA’S REGIONAL DIPLOMACY: NEW IMPERATIVES “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” -Sun Tzu, The Art of War “Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions.” -Winston Churchill Introduction 1. India's regional policy, like its economic and international policies, has been facing continuous adverse criticism. Without well-defined and transparent national interests, a national aim and a proper doctrine to support these, it has ended up with vague and blurred goals. Besides, it has remained geared to the doctrine of nonalignment- a philosophy based on wishful thinking, self righteousness, a convenient substitute for hard thinking and decisions. 2. The old order based on a bipolar world achieved the objective of peace, or limiting the extent of conflicts after the Second World War. However, justice and prosperity eluded the old order because of international interests of superpowers. Presently, the world is experiencing transition to a New World Order, with no super power as the centre of the power hub. What then will the new order seek, now that ‘geo-economics’ has overtaken geo-politics. It is therefore imperative for us to know as to what is the role of India in Asian context, and how India’s regional diplomacy will affect the overall politico-military role of the country. Background 3. India being the largest democracy and the second most populous nation in the...
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...Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora: A Survey of Human Rights 2011 www.HAFsite.org March 12, 2012 “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” “One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one’s own self. This, in brief, is the rule of dharma. Yielding to desire and acting differently, one becomes guilty of adharma.” “Thus, trampling on every privilege and everything in us that works for privilege, let us work for that knowledge which will bring the feeling of sameness towards all mankind.” Swami Vivekananda, “The Complete works of Swam Vivekananda,” Vol 1, p. 429 Mahabharata XII: 113, 8 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, Article 1 "All men are brothers; no one is big, no one is small. All are equal." Rig Veda, 5:60:5 ...
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...SAARC Ministerial Declaration on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism ***** We, the Foreign Ministers of Member States of SAARC, are deeply concerned about the continuing scourge of terrorism afflicting the region which has caused extensive social disharmony, loss of human life, destruction and damage to property. Terrorism poses a serious threat to peace and cooperation, and friendly and good neighbourly relations. It jeopardises the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of States, while constituting a serious violation of fundamental human rights. We renew our commitment to strengthening comprehensive region-wide cooperation among SAARC Member States to combat and eliminate all forms and manifestations of terrorism and in this context affirm the need to reinforce further the regional legal regime and instituting pragmatic cooperation to address this issue effectively. We also recognise that our cooperation shall proceed on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect and the principles of non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of Member States consistent with the SAARC Charter. As we meet in Colombo, at the Thirty-first Session of the Council of Ministers, we solemnly declare and agree to undertake the following measures of cooperation: 1. We reiterate our commitment to implement measures against organising, instigating, facilitating, financing, fund raising, encouraging, tolerating and providing training for or otherwise...
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...tropical areas or peat lands that considered temperate are much higher. When the area is flooded, the vegetation and soil in these areas will slowly decompose, releasing both carbon dioxide and methane in the process. The actual quantity of emissions depends greatly on site-specific characteristics. However, current estimates suggest that life-cycle emissions can be over 0.5 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour. To put this very simple, the estimation of the global warming life-cycle emissions for natural gas that is generating electricity are between 0.6 and 2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour, while the estimation of coal-generated electricity are between 1.4 and 3.6 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour. Other Renewable Energy Source In the field of renewable energy, hydro and solar powers are considered parts of important technologies to help the society to reduce relying on fossil fuels. These two technologies, the hydro and solar application has gone a widespread in foreign countries, having quite a large-scale generation of facilities and equipments that provides power...
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...as much as 70 percent of China GDP by 2005,[4] a figure larger in comparison to many Western nations[citation needed]. From 1978 to 2010, unprecedented growth occurred, with the economy increasing by 9.5% a year. China's economy became the second largest after the United States and is projected to become the world's largest economy by 2025. Natural Resources Land Resources - China has 9.6 million square kilometres land area, accounting for 22.1% of the land area of the Asian continent, and accounting for 6.4% of the world's land area, it is one of the countries which have a vast area of land. China's abundant land resources has two significant geographical features. The share of mountains which have higher elevations and greater volatility (including hill, mountainous and tableland) over the plains (plains and the high plains), as the ratio of two-thirds and one-third. In complex and diverse ecological environment, formed the features of more grassland, limited arable land, low forest percentage and the percentage of land which difficult to use is high. At present, grassland accounts for 37.4% of the total land area of China, farmland accounts for...
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...PAK-INDIA RELATIONS Section I: Introduction It is axiomatic that Pakistan and India share a turbulent and complex, if also short, history. While the dynamics of the relationship may shift from time to time, numerous existential issues remain in place. Characterised by mistrust, contrasting interests and the oft-quoted ‘missed opportunities’, the bloodshed of 1947 has been replaced by a more diverse set of issues that continue to mar the relationship. Kashmir has come to exemplify the classic case of a territorial dispute between neighbouring countries in the modern world composed of nation States. Extended hostile periods have only been sporadically separated by periods of relative peace – interludes that many hoped would prolong into perpetuity. But failures of State, internal conflicts, deep-rooted differences and perhaps unavoidable circumstances have meant that these spells of tranquillity remain mere specks of light in an otherwise dark corridor, at best offering missed opportunities. In studying the Pakistan-India ties, it is simplistic but also convenient to divide them into phases with regard to important junctures in South Asian history. None of the occasions that gave rise to optimism could ultimately become the watershed they were built up to be. The most recent such case was in 2004; following a prolonged period of military standoff, there began a ‘peace process’ led by President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee. This phase was significant since it allowed...
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...Project Selection: A MCDM approach Site Selection for Hydro Power Plant using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Outline: NHPC Limited (Formerly known as National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd.), A Govt. of India Enterprise was established with the objective to plan, promote and organize an integrated and efficient development of hydroelectric power in all aspects. Since its inception in 1975, NHPC has grown to become one of the largest organizations in the field of hydropower development in the country. With its present capabilities, NHPC can undertake all activities from concept to commissioning of Hydroelectric Projects. The Case describes an AHP based approach to evaluate the sites among those identified to potentially set up hydroelectric power plants beyond the XI Plan. Introduction NHPC Limited (Formerly known as National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd.), A Govt. of India Enterprise, was incorporated in the year 1975 with an authorized capital of Rs. 2000 million and with an objective to plan, promote and organize an integrated and efficient development of hydroelectric power in all aspects. Later on NHPC expanded its objects to include development of power in all its aspects through conventional and non-conventional sources in India and abroad. At present, NHPC is a Mini Ratna Category-I Enterprise of the Govt. of India with an authorized share capital of Rs. 1,50,000 Million. With an investment base of over Rs.3,17,000 Million Approx. , NHPC...
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...Bangladesh Development Research Working Paper Series (BDRWPS) BDRWPS No. 6 (May 2009) An Analysis of SAFTA in the Context of Bangladesh Md. Joynal Abdin The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Bangladesh Development Research Center (BDRC) The views and interpretations in this paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the Bangladesh Development Research Center (BDRC). Copyright © 2009 Bangladesh Development Research Center (BDRC) for the overall Working Paper Series. The copyright of the content of the paper remains with the author(s) and/or the institution(s) submitting the content. Bangladesh Development Research Center (BDRC) 2508 Fowler Street Falls Church, VA 22046-2012, U.S.A. Tel. +1 703 532 4893 E-Mail: contact@bangladeshstudies.org http://www.bangladeshstudies.org Rights and Permissions All rights reserved. Text and graphics may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes, provided that credit is given to the source. Reproductions for commercial purposes are forbidden. The Bangladesh Development Research Center (BDRC) disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues in Bangladesh. Our main objective is to disseminate findings and ideas quickly, so we compromise to some degree on quality. The papers are signed by the author(s) and should be cited and referred accordingly. The findings...
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...development agenda due to the recognition of their contribution in fostering growth, sustaining global economic recovery, generating employment and reducing poverty (OECD, 2004). But this sector is facing severe problem in financing, regulatory aspects, access to non-financial inputs. Some recent trends show that Government policies have discriminated against small-scale enterprises. There is nothing wrong with a situation in which inexperienced entrepreneurs are unable to get institutional credit (Little, 1987). It shows that the relative decline of small-scale enterprises in most developing countries has been accelerated by the industrialization policies adopted in these countries. Protection, regulatory constraint, investment incentives, credit control, and the promotion of industry in the public sector have all discriminated against the small. The common idea that the cost of capital is very high for small enterprises is overly simple (Little, 1987). From A research of World Bank suggests the existence of financial constraint because formal banks do not lend to the smallest firms in most countries. It has also severe impact on the smallest firms (Levy, 1993). In Bangladesh, small and medium enterprises have been facing multifarious problems related to raw materials, power, land, marketing, transport, technical facilities and finance (Ranjit & Rashid, 1996). Due to their weak capital structure and other regulatory constraint, it is getting more difficult for small & medium...
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...Champions of the Earth it hopes will inspire wider protection of the planet. The winners include an Inuit activist, South Africa's president, and Bhutan's King Jigme Singye Wangchuk. The head of the Orthodox Christian Church, Patriarch Bartholomew, is cited for preaching that God wants the planet's future safeguarded. The winners will receive trophies sculpted from recycled materials. The presentation will be made at a ceremony in New York next week. Unep hopes the various projects recognised will be imitated around the globe. 'Set the agenda' The seven winners each represented a region of the world. President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa is honoured for his government's commitment to providing clean water and sanitation. The king and people of Bhutan are rewarded for helping preserve more than 70% of its forest cover. Canadian Inuit activist Sheila Watt-Cloutier was recognised for fighting global warming and persistent organic pollutants in the Arctic ecosystem. Unep Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said the seven had "to a large extent, set the environmental agenda and laid the foundations for the many areas of progress we are able to see and celebrate today". The other winners were Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, former Mexican Environment Minister Julia Carabias Lillo, and Zhou Qiang of the All-China Youth Federation....
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...11. Understanding Development Theory In the Context of Social and Community Change by Michel Adjibodou[1] I. INTRODUCTION If you are fortunate enough to have walked the land and worked with the people of South Central Los Angeles in California, the mountains of Chiapas in Mexico, the plains of Tanga in Tanzania, the hills of Save in Benin, the streets of Hartford, Dorchester and Roxbury, the hills of Funyula in Western Kenya, one common characteristic you probably noticed is the resolve and resilience of those communities. Despite the daily challenges and stresses on their health, income, environment, land, and physical security, the residents are determined to improve their communities and create greater opportunities for their children. Many of us who chose to work in “development”, or who accidently ended up doing this work, must learn how to work in communities which face horrendous challenges. Engaging people in improving their own communities and, perhaps, working on broader issues demands that we develop great skills and knowledge, not to mention a certain attitude, some character, plenty of courage, and listening skills. Most of us simply behave like backpackers on our way to solve the world’s problems and save humanity from itself. Mistakes are made along the way, success stories abound, lives are damaged and rebuilt, hopes restored, and life goes on. Many practitioners working in communities around the world, and people who want to become...
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...Final Draft PERSPECTIVE PLAN OF BANGLADESH 2010-2021 ____________________________ MAKING VISION 2021 A REALITY General Economics Division Planning Commission Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh April 2012 Contents ABBREVIATIONS ...............................................................................................................................v PREAMBLE of the Perspective Plan (2010-2021) ............................................................................ 1 I. ............................................................................................................... Context of the Perspective Plan .................................................................................................................................................................. 1 II. .......................................................................................... Current state and Development Perspective .................................................................................................................................................................. 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER 1: VISION FOR A PROSPEROUS FUTURE........................................................................ 10 1.1 The Vision ..........................................................................................................
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...Sustainability 2010, 2, 3436-3448; doi:10.3390/su2113436 OPEN ACCESS sustainability ISSN 2071-1050 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Review What is Sustainability? Tom Kuhlman 1,* and John Farrington 2 1 2 Agricultural Economics Research Institute, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 29703, 2502LS The Hague, The Netherlands Institute for Rural Research, Geography and Environment, University of Aberdeen, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen AB24 3UF, Scotland, UK; E-Mail: j.farrington@abdn.ac.uk * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: tom.kuhlman@wur.nl; Tel.: +31-70-3358-232; Fax: +31-70-3615-624. Received: 17 September 2010; in revised form: 15 October 2010 / Accepted: 19 October 2010 / Published: 1 November 2010 Abstract: Sustainability as a policy concept has its origin in the Brundtland Report of 1987. That document was concerned with the tension between the aspirations of mankind towards a better life on the one hand and the limitations imposed by nature on the other hand. In the course of time, the concept has been re-interpreted as encompassing three dimensions, namely social, economic and environmental. The paper argues that this change in meaning (a) obscures the real contradiction between the aims of welfare for all and environmental conservation; (b) risks diminishing the importance of the environmental dimension; and (c) separates social from economic aspects, which in reality are one and the same. It is proposed instead...
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