1. Inyun Choi 2. Q&A: Free trade zones in Africa 3. Many African countries have got in traps such as a raw material trap and a landlocked country trap which are caused by other developed countries or bad neighbor countries. To get out of those kinds of situations, they have been setting up economic allies which are called Free Trade Zones. A free trade zone is expected to be a symbol of African Union to stand against Neo-Liberalism by multinational corporations. It could be regarded as its own brilliant movement to sort financial problems out. ------------------------------------- What is a free trade zone? Free trade zones, describe an arrangement where different trading entities, usually member countries, agree to cut or scrap taxes in order to lower business costs and remove bureaucracy. They are also known as "special economic zones" and are mostly found in developing economies. The aim is to give a massive artificial boost to trade, especially between raw material producers and manufacturing based economies. These zones are also attractive to foreign investors as it's cheaper for them to do business there. …………………………… Is there any evidence they work? Some critics claim that free trade zones give an unfair advantage to multinational corporations, who are able to manufacture in a low-cost base and export around the world, rather than indigenous firms. These companies are often given other incentives to locate in developing economies, such as grants to help with set-up costs and lax employment legislation, which trade unions and some charities claim are open to abuse. Free trade zones can also take a long time to set up while member countries agree terms. The East African EAC bloc took six years to come into being, even though it was replacing a previous similar arrangement which collapsed in the 1980s. The fear is that the dominant economy will set the agenda for the bloc as a whole - a criticism levelled at the SADC, which contains South Africa, the continent's only G20 member country. But supporters say free trade zones are ultimately one of the fairest ways for developing world economies so that they can begin to compete on a global scale. They could even be extended to encompass other financial unions, such as pan-regional banks and a common currency. --------- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8208254.stm
PLAYA GRANDE, Costa Rica — This resort town was long known for Leatherback Sea Turtle National Park, nightly turtle beach tours and even a sea turtle museum. So Kaja Michelson, a Swedish tourist, arrived with high expectations. “Of course we’re hoping to see turtles — that is part of the appeal,” she said.
But haphazard development, in tandem with warmer temperatures and rising seas that many scientists link to global warming, have vastly diminished the Pacific turtle population.
On a beach where dozens of turtles used to nest on a given night, scientists spied only 32 leatherbacks all of last year. With leatherbacks threatened with extinction, Playa Grande’s expansive turtle museum was abandoned three years ago and now sits amid a sea of weeds. And the beachside ticket booth for turtle tours was washed away by a high tide in September.
“We do not promote this as a turtle tourism destination anymore because we realize there are far too few turtles to please,” said Álvaro Fonseca, a park ranger.
Even before scientists found temperatures creeping upward over the past decade, sea turtles were threatened by beach development, drift net fishing and Costa Ricans’ penchant for eating turtle eggs, considered a delicacy here. But climate change may deal the fatal blow to an animal that has dwelled in the Pacific for 150 million years.
Sea turtles are sensitive to numerous effects of warming. They feed on reefs, which are dying in hotter, more acidic seas. They lay eggs on beaches that are being inundated by rising seas and more violent storm surges.
More uniquely, their gender is determined not by genes but by the egg’s temperature during development. Small rises in beach temperatures can result in all-female populations, obviously problematic for survival.
“The turtles are very good storytellers about the effect of climate change on coastal habitats,” said Carlos Drews, the regional marine species coordinator for the conservation group W.W.F. “The climate is changing so much faster than before, and these animals depend on so much for temperature.”
If the sand around the eggs hits 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), the gender balance shifts to females, Mr. Drews said, and at about 32 degrees (89.6 Fahrenheit) they are all female. Above 34 (93), “you get boiled eggs,” he said.
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For whole article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/science/earth/14turtles.html?_r=1&ref=world
A very down to earth* kind of guy. I'm an environmental sociologist interested in establishing material and organizational sustainability worldwide. I'm always looking for interesting materials/technologies, inspiring ideas, or institutional examples of sustainability to inspire others to recognize their choices now. To be fatalistic about an unsustainable world is a sign of a captive mind, given all our options.
*(If "earth" is defined in a planetary sense, concerning comparative historical knowledge and interest in the past 10,000 years or so anywhere...) See both blogs.
1. Inyun Choi
ReplyDelete2. Q&A: Free trade zones in Africa
3. Many African countries have got in traps such as a raw material trap and a landlocked country trap which are caused by other developed countries or bad neighbor countries. To get out of those kinds of situations, they have been setting up economic allies which are called Free Trade Zones. A free trade zone is expected to be a symbol of African Union to stand against Neo-Liberalism by multinational corporations. It could be regarded as its own brilliant movement to sort financial problems out.
-------------------------------------
What is a free trade zone?
Free trade zones, describe an arrangement where different trading entities, usually member countries, agree to cut or scrap taxes in order to lower business costs and remove bureaucracy. They are also known as "special economic zones" and are mostly found in developing economies. The aim is to give a massive artificial boost to trade, especially between raw material producers and manufacturing based economies. These zones are also attractive to foreign investors as it's cheaper for them to do business there.
……………………………
Is there any evidence they work?
Some critics claim that free trade zones give an unfair advantage to multinational corporations, who are able to manufacture in a low-cost base and export around the world, rather than indigenous firms.
These companies are often given other incentives to locate in developing economies, such as grants to help with set-up costs and lax employment legislation, which trade unions and some charities claim are open to abuse.
Free trade zones can also take a long time to set up while member countries agree terms. The East African EAC bloc took six years to come into being, even though it was replacing a previous similar arrangement which collapsed in the 1980s.
The fear is that the dominant economy will set the agenda for the bloc as a whole - a criticism levelled at the SADC, which contains South Africa, the continent's only G20 member country.
But supporters say free trade zones are ultimately one of the fairest ways for developing world economies so that they can begin to compete on a global scale. They could even be extended to encompass other financial unions, such as pan-regional banks and a common currency.
---------
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8208254.stm
PLAYA GRANDE, Costa Rica — This resort town was long known for Leatherback Sea Turtle National Park, nightly turtle beach tours and even a sea turtle museum. So Kaja Michelson, a Swedish tourist, arrived with high expectations. “Of course we’re hoping to see turtles — that is part of the appeal,” she said.
ReplyDeleteBut haphazard development, in tandem with warmer temperatures and rising seas that many scientists link to global warming, have vastly diminished the Pacific turtle population.
On a beach where dozens of turtles used to nest on a given night, scientists spied only 32 leatherbacks all of last year. With leatherbacks threatened with extinction, Playa Grande’s expansive turtle museum was abandoned three years ago and now sits amid a sea of weeds. And the beachside ticket booth for turtle tours was washed away by a high tide in September.
“We do not promote this as a turtle tourism destination anymore because we realize there are far too few turtles to please,” said Álvaro Fonseca, a park ranger.
Even before scientists found temperatures creeping upward over the past decade, sea turtles were threatened by beach development, drift net fishing and Costa Ricans’ penchant for eating turtle eggs, considered a delicacy here. But climate change may deal the fatal blow to an animal that has dwelled in the Pacific for 150 million years.
Sea turtles are sensitive to numerous effects of warming. They feed on reefs, which are dying in hotter, more acidic seas. They lay eggs on beaches that are being inundated by rising seas and more violent storm surges.
More uniquely, their gender is determined not by genes but by the egg’s temperature during development. Small rises in beach temperatures can result in all-female populations, obviously problematic for survival.
“The turtles are very good storytellers about the effect of climate change on coastal habitats,” said Carlos Drews, the regional marine species coordinator for the conservation group W.W.F. “The climate is changing so much faster than before, and these animals depend on so much for temperature.”
If the sand around the eggs hits 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), the gender balance shifts to females, Mr. Drews said, and at about 32 degrees (89.6 Fahrenheit) they are all female. Above 34 (93), “you get boiled eggs,” he said.
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For whole article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/science/earth/14turtles.html?_r=1&ref=world