From the Big Five to the Big Four? Exploring Extinction Accounting for the Rhinoceros

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore a possible framework for extinction accounting which builds on but also extends significantly the existing GRI guidelines relating to species identified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List as under threat of extinction. Design/methodology/approach The paper analyses disclosures relating to rhinoceros conservation and protection produced by top South African-listed companies in order to assess the current state of “extinction accounting”. Following this analysis, the authors explore and discuss a potential framework for extinction accounting which may be used by companies to demonstrate their accountability for species and disclose the ways in which they are working alone, and in partnerships, to prevent species extinction. Findings Corporate disclosures relating to rhinoceros may be interpreted as emancipatory. The authors identify several disclosure themes dealing with rhinoceros in integrated and sustainability reports of large South African companies and on their websites. Contrary to initial expectations, there is evidence to suggest corporate awareness of the importance of addressing the risk of this species becoming extinct. Research limitations/implications The authors have relied on public corporate disclosures and would like to extend the work further to include interview data for a further paper. Practical implications An extinction accounting framework may be applied to corporate accounting and accountability for any species under threat of extinction. The framework may also be considered for use as a tool for institutional investors as well as NGO engagement and dialogue with stakeholder companies. Social implications The rhinoceros has, from the analysis, significant cultural, heritage, eco-tourism and intrinsic value. Developing and implementing an emancipatory extinction accounting framework to prevent extinction will have a substantial social and environmental impact. Originality/value This is the first attempt to the knowledge to explore accounting for extinction and a possible extinction accounting framework. It is also the first attempt to investigate accounting and accountability for the rhinoceros

Deflection and frequency monitoring of the Forth Road Bridge, Scotland, by GPS

Permission is granted by ICE Publishing to print one copy for personal use. Any other use of these PDF files is subject to reprint fees. Copyright © 2012 Thomas Telford Ltd.The use of carrier phase kinematic GPS (global positioning system) has evolved into a reliable technique to measure both the three-dimensional magnitudes and frequencies of movements of structures. Techniques have been developed that tackle errors caused by multipath, tropospheric delay and issues relating to satellite geometry. GPS-derived movements compare well with data from both design predictions and structural models. Results from field trials carried out on the Forth Road Bridge are presented. This paper brings together key results that outline the procedure as well as a series of new data that indicate other potential applications. GPS data were collected continuously over a period of 46 h at a minimum rate of 10 Hz. During the trials wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity and temperature were also recorded. Frequently there was very heavy traffic flow, and at one point a special load (a 100-t lorry) passed over simultaneously to the heavy daytime flow of traffic. Data from a planned load trial during a brief bridge closure are reported and compared with the limited results available from a finite element model. Measured vibration frequencies are also computed from GPS data and compared with those given in the literature. In addition, results indicating the change in structural characteristics are also presented – in particular changes of mass associated with changes in traffic loading are observed. The results show the performance of GPS as it has developed in recent years, and that it can now reliably be used as a significant part of structural health monitoring schemes, giving both the magnitude of quasi-static deflections in known time periods and hence the frequency of dynamic movements of structures.Forth Estuary Transport Authorit

The president's social security plan: How much would you pay to participate? Working paper series--05-07

President Bush is in favor of using private retirement accounts to partially replace the current pay-as-you-go social security program. We use a simple life-cycle model to analyze whether or not private accounts would benefit workers. "Cash equivalents" are calculated under different assumptions to see how much a worker would be willing to pay to participate in the private account program. In most circumstances, workers would benefit from the private account program. Only when market rates of return are very low or a person expects to live for a very long time does the current pay-as-you-go system give a greater present value to a worker