Month: December 2012

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT OF TOYOHASHI CITY: AN ANALYSIS BY ENVIRONMENTAL KUZNETS CURVE

Nahid Hossain

Graduate School of Environmental and Life Engineering

Toyohashi University of Technology, Japan

Department of Socio-Economic Planning, Toyohashi University of Technology, Hibarigaoka 1-1, Tempaku Cho, Toyohashi City, Aichi, Japan 441-8580, Tel. +81-532-47-0111.

e mail: nahid453@gmail.com

and

Yuzuru Miyata

Graduate School of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Toyohashi University of Technology, Japan

Department of Socio-Economic Planning, Toyohashi University of Technology, Hibarigaoka 1-1, Tempaku Cho, Toyohashi City, Aichi, Japan 441-8580.

Tel. +81-532-47-0111. e mail: miyata@hse.tut.ac.jp

Abstract:

Agglomeration of economic activities and decline in rural population are expanding city size in Japan. Chubu region is developing as a center for manufacturing and seaport related economic activities and Toyohashi, a mid-sized city in the region, is becoming a successful area for manufacturing and trading. As a result, alike other cities of Japan, the city is growing vertically and substantial daily output of waste by city dwellers is creating difficult situation to endorse proper processing technology and space for landfill. Mid-sized cities are facing difficult situation to combat such waste as the trend of generation, composition, and relevant management remain complicated. This paper provides an overview of municipal solid waste situation in Toyohashi city and estimates effectiveness of central and local level initiatives to manage the dilemma. The results of the study show that from 1980 to 2005, increase in municipal solid wastes generation can be explained by the growth in per capita EL. Evidences from Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) analysis reflect the effectiveness of governmental initiatives. The study also finds that technology of waste to power is effective even in a mid-sized city. The shortcoming of the study can be described as the limitation in research sample and data influence on the results coming out from market orientation. Technology mix and variety in direction toward the waste generation, disposal and economic benefit analysis was not taken care of by the study.

NETWORKED SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION INEQUALITIES IN BORDER AREAS

Vassileios Vescoukis

School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University Athens,

Heroon Polytechniou str. 9, Zographou Campus, 15780 Athens

v.vescoukis@cs.ntua.gr

and

Anastasia Stratigea

School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University Athens,

Heroon Polytechniou str. 9, Zographou Campus, 15780 Athens

stratige@central.ntua.gr

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on network integration issues and their potential to support the development of ICTs applications in education in border and peripheral areas. The paper elaborates on the concept of ‘networked school’ as the core of educational applications in such areas, considered as a ‘gate’, through which they can get access to knowledge stock and information outside their frontiers. Such developments can complement traditional educational processes at the primary and secondary school level, but also enhance vocational training prospects in less privileged regions.

AGRI-FOOD TRADITIONAL PRODUCTS: FROM CERTIFICATION TO THE MARKET – PORTUGUESE RECENT EVOLUTION

Luís TIBÉRIO

PhD researchers at CETRAD and Lectures at Department of Economics, Sociology and Management/University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Av. Almeida Lucena, 1. 5000-660 Vila Real – Portugal.

and

Diniz Francisco

PhD researchers at CETRAD and Lectures at Department of Economics, Sociology and Management/University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Av. Almeida Lucena, 1. 5000-660 Vila Real – Portugal.

Correspondent Author, fdiniz@utad.pt, Tel.: +351 2593092200, Fax: +351 2593092249

Abstract

(EC) Regulations 2081/92 and 2082/92, replaced by Council Regulations (EC) 510/2006 and 509/2006, respectively, are an important contribution to establishing the foundations of European Policy on agri-food quality. They include the protection of agricultural as well as food product designations at European level, particularly those which bear a close relationship with their production area and which, due to their geographical origin and/or specific modes of production, present distinctive characteristics. Under those regulations a thousand designations are estimated to be protected within the European Union, of which about eight hundred are regularly present in the markets, accounting for a 14.2 billion Euro turnover. Portugal alone has 120 protected designations (15% of all European designations) which originate a seventy million Euro turnover (0.5% of the turnover generated by the PDO/PGI at European level). Fifteen years after the first PDO/PGI products have appeared on the national market, we believe it is important to look into the state of the art of these products in Portugal. The main goal of the present paper is to provide an overall view on the main trends of the PDO/PGI products sector at national level. The methodology used consists of a descriptive analysis of a set of specific indicators regarding three main variables: Production; Prices and Commercialization. Globally, this type of products is not very commercially widespread, despite the positive sustained evolution registered by some. As a rule these products have a poor productive dimension, which in a way may explain the lack of internationalization of the sector.