Big Box Backlash: The Stealth Campaign at the World Trade Organization to Preempt Local Control Over Land Use

As communities across the United States and elsewhere are increasingly successful in their effort to limit "big box" store expansion and destructive retail practices through transparent and accountable measures at the local level, Wal-Mart and other retailers have pursued rules at the World Trade Organization (WTO) which threaten to preempt, or at the very least chill, these local laws. These rules are part of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). In 1994, the United States committed retail and wholesale distribution, as well as the hotel and restaurant sectors, to the terms of the GATS, one of 17 Uruguay Round agreements enforced by the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO). The GATS expansive "market access" rules are geared toward facilitating the entry of foreign service providers into the U.S. market by incorporation or acquisition of U.S. firms. These GATS rules forbid limits on the number of services suppliers, as well as measures that would reduce the value of a service transaction or limit the number of employees. Policies containing economic needs tests, like that in the city of Los Angeles for very large retail operations, are explicitly forbidden. Unless the United States takes action to fix this problem in the current round of negotiations, local governments could see challenges to state and local land use laws brought before WTO tribunals, which are empowered to authorize trade sanctions against countries that refuse to conform their domestic policies to WTO dictates. Across the country, state and local officials are working to put laws in place to protect their communities, their environment, their wage base and tax dollars by putting land use limits on "big box" retailers, as well as retail chains and other development projects they deem destructive to the community or the environment or out of step with local needs and planning

Impact of a mentally retarded child on the family

This paper is concerned with the personal adjustment problems of the parents of mentally retarded children and the family upsets that are caused by the presence of a retarded child. Most parents experience emotional upset and anxiety as the result of the birth of a retarded child. The presence of a retarded child in the family also tends to have a disrupting effect on family life

Perceptions of Preceptor Training in the Dietetic Supervised Practice Experience

Preceptors are critical in the education of dietetic students and over the years, interest in preceptor training has grown. As a result, the American Dietetic Association recently established a task force to develop and implement a Preceptor Training Certificate Program. There is, however, limited information with regard to formal preceptor training currently being offered by dietetic internships and the affect it may have on programs. Because of the lack of knowledge concerning this topic, a qualitative collective case study was conducted at three university-based dietetic internships with the intent of adding to the body of knowledge regarding formal preceptor training in supervised practice experiences. The data collected included observations of preceptor training, reviews of pertinent documents, and interviews with program directors, preceptors, and interns. Findings indicated the content of formal training varied significantly. While the goal of one training program was to distinguish the unique role of the preceptor and offer suggestions for appropriate learning experiences, another focused on personality types and motivational techniques, and the goal of the third training workshop was to simply convey the expectations of the internship. The degree of priority given to training was largely influenced by the program directors, and although the motives for formal preceptor training varied, across cases, training was viewed as a benefit by both directors and preceptors. Through content analysis, three themes emerged from the data. Preceptor training helped express the personality or philosophy of internships, helped diminish role confusion amongst internship stakeholders, and lead to a greater degree of commitment in two of the respective programs. Additionally, the leadership approach of program directors was reflected in training programs and also influenced the personalities of the supervised practice programs. Participants from each internship found value in formal preceptor training and supported continued training for their respective programs

The work of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University, 1929. This item was digitized by the Internet Archive

An evaluation of the teacher-training curriculum of the Bouvé-Boston School.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Monitoring Success in Choice Neighborhoods: A Proposed Approach to Performance Measurement

Offers a framework and tools for performance management in the initiative to transform poor neighborhoods into revitalized, sustainable mixed-income communities. Proposes system components, logic model, management reports, and performance indicators

Building Environmentally Sustainable Communities: A Framework for Inclusivity

Reviews literature on past inequitable and unsustainable urban development and visions for linking sustainability, opportunity, and inclusion. Analyzes possible metrics for measuring sustainability and access as well as next steps for policy