Resource Triumphalism: Postindustrial Narratives of Primary Commodity Production

2001 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 2149-2173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin Bridge
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Mineral Extraction ◽  
Primary Commodity ◽  
Current Period ◽  
Commodity Production ◽  
Environmental Narratives

It is now commonplace to assert that the contemporary discursive landscape is strewn with an abundance of environmental narratives. Yet these stories about nature seldom speak of the material geographies that link practices of postindustrial consumption to often-distant spaces of commodity supply. A postscarcity narrative in which the availability of natural resources no longer poses a limiting factor on economic growth, therefore, characterizes the current period. In this paper I examine how these narratives of ‘resource triumphalism’ construct the nature of commodities and the places that supply them. Using a range of sources, I illustrate how extractive spaces are constructed through a discursive dialectic which simultaneously erases socioecological histories and reinscribes space in the image of the commodity. The paper advances the claim that, despite their apparent marginality in narratives of postindustrialism, primary commodity-supply zones play a key role within broader narratives about modernity and social life. I draw on Hetherington's reworking of the concept of heterotopia to argue that commodity-supply zones be considered contemporary ‘badlands’, marginal spaces in and through which broader processes of sociospatial ordering are worked out. By examining the geographical imaginaries associated with mineral extraction, I demonstrate how contemporary discourses of commodity-supply space facilitate the material practices through which such ordering occurs.

Norman Uphoff, Milton J. Esman and Anirudh Krishna. Reasons for Success: Learning from Instructive Experiences in Rural Development. New Delhi: Sage Publications, 1998. Paperback. Indian Rs 250.00. 233 pages.

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-307
Author(s):  
Afia Malik
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Rural Poor ◽  
Neoclassical Model ◽  
Rural People ◽  
Small Holders

Given the demographic realities in the developing world, it is not possible to solve the problems of poverty in these countries following the neoclassical model of economic growth. Since the majority of people are ruralites in these countries, the focus should be on rural development directly rather than on waiting for the benefits to trickle down to the rural poor. What is needed is to improve the quality of life and productivity of the small-holders or landless whose livelihood is based on natural resources which are depleting and require urgent attention. More options should be available for the rural people in their own area.

scholarly journals Bisphenol-Free Epoxy Resins Derived from Natural Resources Exhibiting High Thermal Conductivity

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Matthias Sebastian Windberger ◽  
Evgenia Dimitriou ◽  
Frank Wiesbrock
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Polymer Networks ◽  
Sio2 Nanoparticles ◽  
Diglycidyl Ether ◽  
Epoxy Compound ◽  
Inorganic Materials ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Epoxy Amine ◽  
Π Stacking

Polymers commonly have low thermal conductivity in the range of 0.1–0.2 W·m−1·K−1, which is a limiting factor for their usage in the course of continuously increasing miniaturization and heat generation in electronic applications. Two strategies can be applied to increase the transport of phonons in polymers: (i) the embedment of thermally conductive inorganic materials and (ii) the involvement of aromatic units enabling anisotropy by π–π stacking. In this study, the thermal conductivity of resins based on bisphenol A diglycidyl ether BADGE and 1,2,7,8-diepoxyoctane DEO was compared. DEO can be derived from pseudo-pelletierine, which is contained in the bark of the pomegranate tree. The epoxy compounds were cured with isophorone diamine IPDA, o-dianisidine DAN, or mixtures of the both diamines. Notably, isophorone diamine is derived from isophorone of which the latter naturally occurs in cranberries. The formulations were produced without filler or with 5 wt.-% of SiO2 nanoparticles. Significantly enhanced thermal conductivity in the range of 0.4 W·m−1·K−1 occurs only in DEO-based polymer networks that were cured with DAN (and do not contain SiO2 fillers). This observation is argued to originate from π–π stacking of the aromatic units of DAN enabled by the higher flexibility of the aliphatic carbon chain of DEO compared to that of BADGE. This assumption is further supported by the facts that significantly improved thermal conductivity occurs only above the glass-transition temperature and that nanoparticles appear to disrupt the π–π stacking of the aromatic groups. In summary, it can be argued that the bisphenol-free epoxy/amine resin with an epoxy compound derivable from natural resources shows favorably higher thermal conductivity in comparison to the petrol-based epoxy/amine resins.

Social Structures and Spatial Alignments of Agrarian Urbanisation

Urbanisation ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 245574712110165
Author(s):  
K. Sivaramakrishnan
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Urban Sprawl ◽  
Regional Variation ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Regional Patterns ◽  
Rural Landscapes ◽  
Agrarian Society ◽  
Marginalised Groups ◽  
Conservation Projects

Agrarian urbanisation has gathered pace and intensity in the last few decades after economic liberalisation in India. A faster rate of economic growth has exacerbated the extraction of rural natural resources to supply increased urban demands. At the same time, rural landscapes have been transformed by expanded infrastructure, new industrial ventures, conservation projects and urban sprawl. These processes have been mediated by shifting patterns of caste power and political mobilisation. However, they also seem to have exacerbated social inequality while making historically marginalised groups such as Dalits and Adivasis suffer greater dispossession and livelihood precarity. Case studies from different regions of India reveal both the socio-economic dynamics of regional variation in these broad outcomes of agrarian urbanism, and the cross-regional patterns of environmental degradation, exacerbated inequality and difficulties faced by agrarian society in reproducing itself as an integral part of Indian prosperity and progress.

McCulloch, Scrope, and Hodgskin: Nineteenth-Century Versions of Julian Simon

2003 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
William S. Kern
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Natural Resource ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Limits To Growth ◽  
Economic Progress ◽  
Natural Resource Scarcity ◽  
Growing Population

In The Ultimate Resource (1981, 1996), and in many other publications over the last several decades, Julian Simon put forth controversial views regarding the connection between natural resource scarcity, population growth, and economic progress. Simon argued, in contrast to those espousing the limits to growth, that natural resources were not getting scarcer, but more abundant, and that a large and growing population was an asset rather than a liability in the pursuit of economic growth.

Asta-Ja Framework: A Peaceful Approach to Food, Water, Climate, and Environmental Security Coupled with Sustainable Economic Development and Social Inclusion in Nepal

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Durga D Poudel
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
Environmental Security ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Sustainable Conservation

Sustainable conservation, development, and utilization of natural and human resources is necessary for accelerated economic growth and fast-paced socio-economic transformation of Nepal. Asta-Ja Framework, which is a theoretically grounded grassroots based peaceful and self-reliant planning and development approach, offers practical strategies for sustainable conservation and development of natural and human resources enhancing food, water, climate, and environmental security, accelerated economic growth, and socio-economic transformation of Nepal. Asta-Ja includes interconnected eight resources in Nepali letter, Ja, – Jal (water), Jamin (land), Jungle (forest), Jadibuti (medicinal and aromatic plants), Janashakti (manpower), Janawar (animal), Jarajuri (crop plants) and Jalabayu (climate). Asta-Ja Framework is a unifying framework for planning and resources development and has a strong footing on science, business, and eastern philosophy. While providing practical guidelines for achieving food, water, climate and environmental security, this article presents Nepal Vision 2040, which is developed considering challenges that Nepal is currently facing and its available Asta-Ja resources, envisioning that Nepal’s economic development reaching at the par of developed nations by 2040. Key strategic sectors identified in Nepal Vision 2040 include smallholder mixed-farming system, agro-jadibuti industrialization, protection of drinking water sources, climate change adaptation, environmental pollution control, conservation of natural resources, infrastructure, tourism, renewable energy, alleviation of inequalities, and good governance. This article demonstrates strategies for addressing social discrimination and inequalities through the process of Asta-Ja community capacity-building and self-reliant development. Ecological balance of Asta-Ja resources is necessary for sustainable natural resources, economic development, and community resiliency. The Government of Nepal is suggested to adopt Asta-Ja Framework as its national planning and development framework for sustainable economic growth and fast-paced socio-economic transformation of the country.

Chinese "Cancer Villages"

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajiang Chen ◽  
Pengli Cheng ◽  
Yajuan Luo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Sociological Analysis ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
The Relationship

The phenomenon of "cancer villages" has emerged in many parts of rural China, drawing media attention and becoming a fact of social life. However, the relationship between pollution and disease is often hard to discern. Through sociological analysis of several villages with different social and economic structures, the authors offer a comprehensive, historically grounded analysis of the coexistence between the incidence of cancer, environmental pollution and villagers’ lifestyles, as well as the perceptions, claims and responses of different actors. They situate the appearance of "cancer villages" in the context of social, economic and cultural change in China, tracing the evolution of the issue over two decades, and providing deep insights into the complex interactions and trade-offs between economic growth, environmental change and public health.

scholarly journals The Impact of Turning Jordan into an Economic Free Zone on the Flow of Foreign Investments

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Ahmad Y. Areiqat ◽  
Hanan Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Civil Wars ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Foreign Investments ◽  
Investment Environment ◽  
Free Zone ◽  
Governmental Institutions ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to show that turning Jordan into an economic free zone will lead to a significant increase in foreign investments. This increase, in turn, will lead to an economic growth and to a reduction in the unemployment rate. Jordan is a developing country and any successful investments in the economy sector will have a positive impact on the quality of the social life of its people. This is particularly important now in view of the economic pressure that Jordan is going through as a result of the presence of a huge number of immigrants who have fled the civil wars in neighboring countries.  Methodology: This study has utilized the relevant literature by way of evaluating the benefits of establishing economic free zones in Jordan. Many of the findings are based on analyzing statistical information published by governmental institutions in Jordan. Findings: Jordan offers an attractive investment environment due to the security and stability it enjoys compared with other countries in the Arab region. As such, it has succeeded in establishing new economic free zones through partnership with foreign investors. This has led to a significant increase in the flow of more foreign investments in Jordan. The present study shows that turning the whole of Jordan into an economic free zone will lead to yet a further increase of foreign investments, and hence to more empowerment of the economic sector. Limitations:  The quantitative data available is limited to the years 1999-2007. Value: The findings of this study can be a point of departure for researchers and economic decision-makers in Jordan to prepare economic plans with the purpose of attracting foreign investments and hence promoting economic growth in the country.

scholarly journals Mechanical Properties and Microstructural Features using Stone Dust as a Partial Replacement of Sand

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 5232-5237
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Compressive Strength ◽  
Flexural Strength ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Strength Test ◽  
Partial Replacement ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Stone Dust

Today’s world is always leads to development in technology as well as the economic growth though sometime these will affect the environment badly. That’s why world environmental commission coined the termed called sustainable development where development takes place without hampering the others’ needs. Concrete industry is rapidly growing industry in India which consumes lots of natural resources during the production of concrete. Here Stone dust is used as a sustainable material in place of sand partially. M25 grade of concrete has been chosen for the experiments. Different mechanical properties of concrete like compressive strength, Split tensile, flexural strength etc. and Microstructural features like SEM, EDX have been included in this study. Compressive Strength and flexural strength test results shown the increase in the strength. Sulphate Resistance Properties have been tested by curing the cubes in the MgSO4 solution and increase in weight has been observed. Similarities are found in the SEM pictures

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