Enforcing Environmental Regulation: Implications of Remote Sensing Technology

We review economic models of environmental protection and regulatory enforcement to highlight several attributes that are particularly likely to benefit from new enforcement technologies such as remote sensing using satellites in space. These attributes include the quantity and quality of information supplied by the new technologies; the accessibility of the information to regulators, regulatees, and third parties; the cost of the information; and whether the process of information collection can be concealed from the observer. Satellite remote sensing is likely to influence all of these attributes and in general, improve the efficacy of enforcement.

PREPARATION OF ACTION PLAN FOR PROTECTION OF LAND IN ALBANIA

The degradation of Albania's land resources is a serious impediment to the welfare of the people of Albania as well as that of future generations. Resolving land degradation requires the concerted action of governmental and nongovernmental agencies. The purpose of this paper is to describe how a Land Protection Action Plan could be developed. There are three general types of land degradation which this Land Protection Action Plan would attempt to solve: excessive soil erosion, contamination of surface and ground water, and unguided urbanization on high-quality agricultural land. The paper goes on to describe the steps to be taken to prepare the action plan, including documenting problems, identifying high-risk areas, identifying and carrying out needed research, designing educational programs, reviewing and preparing legislation, developing an investment program for land protection, and monitoring the evolution of different types of land degradation. The paper also describes the implementation of such an action plan.Agricultural conservation -- Albania, Land use -- Albania -- Planning, Land degradation -- Albania -- Prevention, Land Economics/Use,

Tax administration in developing countries : strategies and tools of implementation

Developing nations should adopt less sophisticated taxes (such as taxes on goods and services) to broaden the tax base and use more efficient administrative techniques. This could be achieved through a system of income withholdings (for all components of income) and through computerization. This could simplify withholding and collection by giving each taxpayer a number in a master file. Computers could also facilitate information gathering, cross checking, and audits. At present, potential tax bases are often not exploited because the application of existing laws is not possible. Because of this, administrators face major problems: a large portion of the economy is at a subsistence level and does not keep records. Where records are kept, accounting is not reliable. Taxpayer cooperation is also low for a variety of reasons: shortage of trained officials, a tradition of corruption, and because taxes are not often seen to produce better government services.Public Sector Economics&Finance,Environmental Economics&Policies,Banks&Banking Reform,Economic Theory&Research,Tax Policy and Administration

Sub-regional Meeting on Disability Legislation: Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities in Asia, UN Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand, 23-24 June 2008

The Sub-regional Meeting on Disability Legislation, jointly organized by the ILO and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), took place in the framework of a technical cooperation project, “Promoting the Employability and Employment of Persons with Disabilities through Effective Legislation (PEPDEL)”, funded by the Government of Ireland. The meeting aimed to provide participants with an appropriate platform for discussion regarding the main legal issues in the field of employment discrimination law relating to disability and to sensitize them to key concepts in disability discrimination law and specifically the CRPD. Participants examined good practices in implementing disability discrimination legislation, with a view to facilitating the implementation of the CRPD in the Asian region. The meeting also provided participants with an opportunity for networking withlegal and other experts in Asia and beyond

Negotiating Contract Language on Health & Safety: A Union Guide to Planning, with Sample Clauses

[Excerpt] Rather than representing the final word on the subject, we hope this manual will represent the first step in an evolutionary process of increasingly effective and comprehensive health and safety contract language guidance. This can only succeed if labor leaders communicate with us concerning critical failures and successes in utilizing or obtaining contract language related to the work environment. We look forward to hearing about your experiences

Sustainable Fisheries & Coastal Zoning in Montserrat: Legal & Institutional Assessment of Authorities & Approaches

In February 2015, the Government of Montserrat and the Waitt Institute signed a memorandum of understanding to launch Blue Halo Montserrat, a comprehensive ocean and coastal management project with a goal of sustainable management of Montserrat's ocean and coastal waters. BHM seeks to develop a Montserrat Sustainable Ocean Policy that will ensure long-term health of Montserrat's waters through ocean zoning, protected areas, and fisheries reforms. This Report is an evaluation of Montserrat's laws and institutions to support the design and implementation of a comprehensive ocean zoning and management system in the country as part of the Blue Halo Initiative. The Report identifies existing authorities to achieve a comprehensive ocean zoning system in the waters surrounding Montserrat, evaluates potential options for ocean planning and management implementation, and provides recommendations for ways to develop a comprehensive ocean management system for Montserrat. The Report recognizes that comprehensive ocean management should build from the existing legal system, take pragmatic steps given anticipated capacity and funding, and provide effective incentives and requirements to ensure compliance and long-term sustainability of ocean resources