The potential role of environmental economics in Teagasc - A scoping exercise 2006

End of project reportEnvironmental economics is a new area within the Teagasc vision programme. It is a distinct branch of economics that acknowledges the value of both the environment and economic activity and makes choices based on those values. The goal is to balance the economic activity and the environmental impacts by taking into account all the costs and benefits. The theories are designed to take into account pollution and natural resource depletion, which the current model of market systems fails to do. This (failure) needs to be addressed by correcting prices so they take into account "external" costs. The aim of this project was to look broadly at theses issues in relation to agriculture and natural resource usage in Ireland. In particular it focused on the role that this branch of economics may play in the research agenda of Teagasc in the future. The project was very short in duration (7 months) and was completed on-time (30th November 2006)

United Nations Financing of the Law of the Sea Preparatory Commission: May the United States Withhold Payment?

In this Note, the legal basis of the United States position will be evaluated. After an overview of the events surrounding the controversy, the sources of the General Assembly\u27s budgetary and apportioning authority and the United Nations\u27 budget procedures will be considered. There will follow a discussion of an International Court of Justice advisory opinion upon which both the United States and its opponents rely. Finally, the financial arrangement between the United Nations and the Preparatory Commission (Commission) will be examined in light of the formal relationship between those two bodies

Fiduciary Duties and RUPA: An Inquiry Into Freedom of Contract

The Revised Uniform Partnership Act of 1994 (RUPA) section 404 establishes a comprehensive definition of partnership fiduciary duties and includes an express recognition of the unique position of a partner. The approach taken by RUPA endorses too great an invasion of the principle of freedom of contract among partners, and a change in the language of RUPA is proposed with the goal of expanding freedom of contract without abandoning the requirement of good faith

HST Observations of GRO J1655-40 in Outburst

We examine the results of a coordinated HST-RXTE-CGRO campaign to study the microquasar GRO J1655-40 during its 1996-7 outburst, focusing on interpretation of the overall anti-correlation seen between optical and X-ray fluxes during the early months of the outburst. Our tools include echo-mapping, optical/UV continuum spectral modelling and analysis of spectral variability. We conclude by suggesting one possible interpretation for the anti-correlation.Comment: 4 pages with 11 postscript figures included. To appear in New Astronomy Reviews, as part of proceedings of 2nd Workshop on Galactic Sources with Relativistic Jets. Uses newarcrc.sty (included

Faunistic studies

An update on the work undertaken by the authors, Macan and Hynes, over the past year. Macan provides details of additional work undertaken since his publication of faunistic work on adult animals, including details on additional field data, further developments of the conclusions intially drawn and further comparisons with fauna of the highlands of Scotland. Two histograms are provided showing succession of Corixidae in two separate waterbodies. Habitat conditions are also discussed for this species and a number of locations are mentioned including, Blelham Tarn, Derwentwater and Rusland Moss. An update on stonefly work undertaken by Hynes is provided, specifically stomach contents of nymphs and habitat preference. Details are also given of aquatic insects being breed by the staff for research

Los Alamos studies of the Nevada test site facilities for the testing of nuclear rockets

The topics are presented in viewgraph form and include the following: Nevada test site geographic location; location of NRDA facilities, area 25; assessment program plan; program goal, scope, and process -- the New Nuclear Rocket Program; nuclear rocket engine test facilities; EMAD Facility; summary of final assessment results; ETS-1 Facility; and facilities cost summary

Explaining the non-economic behaviour of farm foresters: The effect of productivist and lifestyle motivations

working paperCurrently rates of planting lag far behind levels that would be expected from a comparison of the returns from farm forestry with competing agricultural alternatives. Previous research has focused on the role of economic factors such as government subsidies, returns from competing agricultural alternatives and structural farm factors in explaining the decision to afforest. By examining the role of farming attitudes and motivations, the aim of this paper is to provide a framework for better understanding farmers’ behaviour in relation to the decision to enter into forestry. The results provide rare quantitative evidence that strong lifestyle and productivist motivations significantly affect farmers’ behaviour. Environmental values and perceptions regarding the extent to which forestry is seen as a component of a natural landscape were two further factors found to affect the probability of participation. We conclude that the design of policies aimed at encouraging changes in farm activities ought to be guided by a better understanding of the motivations and attitudes of farm operators