Food security and the commons in ASEAN: the role of Singapore

Conference Theme: Beyond Borders: Building a Regional Commons in Southeast AsiaSince the conception of the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework in 2008, ASEAN member states have taken steps to implement the components and strategic thrusts laid out in the AIFS Framework. These actions can be seen as contributing to the development of a regional “commons” which is based on prioritizing the right of “all people, at all times, [to] have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” (FAO 1996). Although a wide range of conditions exist with regard to this right across the ASEAN member states, as a net-food importing country which imports 90% of its food from a limited number of sources, in this paper Singapore is presented as a case study for the increasing importance of taking a commons perspective on food supply and security. The paper is particularly concerned with actions to diversify food sources, increase local food production and promote food and agro-based industry, research, and development. In the context of a highly urbanized population with limited land and natural resources, the paper argues that those seeming disadvantages can serve to benefit both the local and wider community. Initially part of a design research project to discover, document, and test potential strategies to address Hong Kong’s situation as a net-food importing territory which relies on a limited number of sources -95% of its food is imported and 60% of that comes from Mainland China - this paper traces the recent history of food security policies and actions in Singapore with respect to increasing local production. The paper examines several case studies that demonstrate the application of the AIFS framework, in particular the development of research, technology and community resources for urban agricultural production. The paper concludes with a reflection on Singapore’s role in providing for a food secure future for itself, and by extension, the entire region.published_or_final_versio

Workmen\u27s Compensation

A review of the past year in Workmen\u27s Compensation in Tennessee must of necessity take into account any legislative change in the Compensation Act itself\u27 as well as trends disclosed through the decisions of the courts. The modern development and growth of this new theory, that of liability without fault, make pertinent the inquiry. Although a development of one generation, the theory of Workmen\u27s Compensation is now almost universal in application. Under it, industry bears its fair share of the cost of injuries to workers, without any reference to fault or blame or negligence, where there is a reasonably apparent relationship of the injury to the job. Its adoption was a revolt from the disastrous results to the injured worker in an overwhelming majority of industrial accident cases of a strict application of the common law rules of contributory negligence, fellow servant\u27s negligence and assumption of risk. Faced with more than a century of judicial precedent that one person\u27s liability to another was based on fault or negligence, the courts at first tended to a strict construction of such enactments; but the modern trend is to construe the compensation acts liberally to protect the worker and his dependents. Tennessee courts long ago joined with the majority of courts of other jurisdictions in adopting this rule of liberal construction to effectuate the humane objects of such enactments, resolving in favor of the injured employee any reasonable doubt as to whether the injury to such employee arose out of or in the course of his employment. This approach is evident in several of the recent decisions of the Supreme Court hereinafter referred to

Development of paper-based analytical devices for particulate metals in welding fume

Includes bibliographical references.2015 Fall.Exposure to metal-containing particulate matter places a tremendous burden on human health. Studies show that exposures lead to cardiovascular disease, asthma, flu-like illnesses, other respiratory disorders, and to increased morbidity. Individuals who work in occupations such as metalworking, construction, transportation, and mining are especially susceptible to unsafe exposures because of their proximity to the source of particle generation. Despite the risk to worker health, relatively few are routinely monitored for their exposure due to the time-intensive and cost-prohibitive analytical methods currently employed. The current paradigm for chemical speciation of workplace pollution is outdated and inefficient. Paper-based microfluidic devices, a new type of sensor technology, are poised to overcome issues associated with chemical analysis of particulate matter, specifically the cost and timeliness of exposure assessment. Paper sensors are designed to manipulate microliter liquid volumes and because flow is passively driven by capillary action, analysis costs are very low. The objective of this work was to develop new technology for rapidly measuring Ni, Cu, Fe, and Cr in welding fume using easy-to-use paper devices. This dissertation covers the development of two techniques for quantifying metal concentration: spot integration and distance-based detection. Metal concentrations as low as 0.02 ppm are reported. A method for controlling reagent deposition as well as a new interface for multiplexed detection of metals, is discussed