Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Aim And Objectives Of The Landmine Victims Data Collection, A. Aziz Ahmadzai

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The 20 years of war in Afghanistan, beside other legacies, has left over 850 square kilometers of land and approximately 1,500 villages contaminated with landmines. Although official figures are not available, it is estimated that more than 400,000 people have either been killed or maimed by these perilous weapons. The majority of the over 400,000 victims are civilians, many of whom are women and children. Despite these facts, no proper and reliable data on the landmine victims in Afghanistan has yet been collected by any agency or organization. The Mine Clearance Planning Agency (MCPA), with its mandate to conduct landmine-related …

Strengthening Humanitarian Demining And Related Activities Through The Emphasis On Comparative Advantages, Joe Lokey

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

One of the foundations of contemporary economic systems is that expertise can create value. Based on this notion, it follows that economic efficiency results if every person does what he or she does best. Preferences, competencies, and resource capacity in the world of economics and trade drive these choices. In humanitarian pursuits, the trade aspects are less clear, and the financial aspects are less relevant, but the efficiencies gained from applying limited resources to a global crisis are still clear and relevant.

The Future Of Humanitarian Demining, Andy Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

At present, humanitarian demining in most affected areas begins with a United Nations(UN)-led emergency response, which is controlled by ex-pats, who usually have a military background and who are largely paid for by "ear-marked" donations from UN countries. Those donations sometimes take the form of staff and goods. At the same time, as the UN arrives (and sometimes before), the specialist charitably-funded clearance groups, which are funded by an individual government's aid budget or by trusts and donor charities, tend to move into the area. The HALO Trust makes a point of, whenever possible, being in dangerous areas first. The …

Myths, Mines, And Ground Clearance, Andy Smith

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article deals with some common misconceptions about deminers, demining, and demining equipment. It is not an academic paper, but it is rather a discussion prompt. Some of the points are old enough to appear bearded to the field men--sorry about that--but newcomers still need to hear them. A few are contentious. To some extent, I am playing devil's advocate although all of the points raised in this article have arisen during my field work. I believe that they deserve an airing, and I would be interested to hear any well-reasoned, contrary opinions, or any words of support.

And They Killed No Enemy: Taiwan's Landmines, Joe Lokey

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Landmines are a remarkably wonderful little invention...from a military view. Since their systematic introduction to warfare doctrine in the spring of 1862 in the American Civil War, they have been used to deter, route, terrorize and harass opposing forces. Though their moral foundation has been in question since the beginning, little serious thought has been given to the effect of these perfect little soldiers on non-combatants--until recently. Our dark history provides numerous examples of the post-conflict madness inflicted by landmines and the other hubris of war on communities at peace. Rarely, however, do we find a case where landmines planted …

Data Standardization, Thomas Powell

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As the international community has placed increasing emphasis on efforts to identify, classify, neutralize, or remove landmines or other unexploded ordnance (UXO), the need to communicate information concerning the location, description, and hazards associated with these munitions has become apparent. Numerous database structures have been created to store information about the various munitions. However, different organizations, countries, or individuals have adopted their own unique data definitions and database structures, and these differences could affect the kinds of information available through these sources.

Demining Technologies, Qadeem K. Tariq

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Humanitarian mine clearance is a new phenomenon in the world. Therefore, well-coordinated and concrete steps need to be taken at international levels to address this issue. The Humanitarian mine-clearance technology has evolved at organizational, regional, and national levels in various parts of the world. However, at the international level, very little has been done so far to learn from these individual but practical lessons. The current effort s to develop humanitarian mine-clearance technology is either not coordinated or is poorly coordinated with field-level requirements. Efforts are required to organize the humanitarian mine-clearance technology at the international level and to develop …

Biosensor Applications, Henrik Westander

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The biosensor, or artificial dog nose, which identifies mines has now a new and civilian owner, Biosensor Applications Sweden AB, based in Orebro. The company has considerably strengthened its financial resources, currently by 5 million US dollars, and intends to raise further capital on the stock exchange.

Profile Of Intersos Activity In Humanitarian Demining, Salvatore Camboni, Steffano Calabrett

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

InterSOS is an Italian-based Humanitarian Non-profit Organization working in emergency aid in several countries of the world in cF1048ritical situations, such as Bosnia, Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia and Albania, in collaboration with specialized UN Agencies, the European Union and the Italian Government.

Monitoring Elections In El Salvador And Nicaragua, Jack Spence

New England Journal of Public Policy

I observed the February 1990 elections in Nicaragua as a member of both the Latin American Studies Association observation team and that of Hemisphere Initiatives, a group with which I have worked. In El Salvador I headed the Hemisphere Initiatives team. I visited Nicaragua five times during the electoral period, and for El Salvador, for once my academic calendar coincided with Salvadoran history. A sabbatical in the last academic year allowed me to be there during the electoral period.

I should say by way of comparison with Fred Gamst's presentation about Ethiopia that Nicaragua and El Salvador are ethnically and …

Editor's Note, Padraig O'Malley

New England Journal of Public Policy

This is the next to last issue of the New England Journal of Public Policy before we usher in the new millennium. In the coming year the word itself will go through many uses, many permutations of meaning, be subject of so much tendentious punditry, idiotic speculation, inane commentary, and pompous prognostications that it will have been sucked dry of meaning, and we will be left with a plethora of "millennium specials" and "the top one hundred of the millennium" in everything from cat food to human diet fads, and of course your perennial millennium "special sales" and "personalities of …

Snapshots From Jerusalem, Ellen Weiss

New England Journal of Public Policy

This article is about the author's visit to Jerusalem during her sabbatical. She discusses the history of as well as the modern ethnic tensions in the city and what this means for daily life there. Weiss also explores both the Israeli and Arab elements of the city, and provides cases in which both groups are coming together to work and live together peacefully.

Trends. The Jericho Casino And Terrorism: A Gamble Or A Sure Thing?, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the psycho-social impact of a casino being built in Jericho in the West Bank.

Strategic Vision For International Security Affairs: Sine Qua Non, Anon, Or Non?, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article explores some of the weaknesses in the common assumption that a strategic vision is necessary in identifying and managing international security threats and opportunities.

Trends. National Security Policy And Toleration For Ambiguity: Israel, Northern Ireland, North Korea, And The World, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses one of many dichotomies comprising the development, implementation, and evaluation of security policies that is between clarity and ambiguity.

Determinant Criteria In The Ocean Carrier Selection Process, R Stephen Parker, John L. Kent

Journal of Transportation Management

This study examines key determinant criteria used by import and export shippers when selecting an international containership carrier. A sample of import and export shippers were asked to evaluate eighteen service characteristics based on whether or not the characteristics were required by their international containership carriers. The results of Pearson chi-square tests indicate a significant difference between import shippers and export shippers on three of the eighteen service characteristics. Import shippers were more demanding of their carriers by requiring door-to-door transportation rates, shipment expediting, and shipment tracing services.

Understanding The Debate Over The Privatization Of Social Security, Eric R. Kingson, John B. Williamson

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Serious consideration is being given to the merits of privatizing Social Security. Debate over privatization and the future of Social Security gives expression to two differing value systems: the community-enhancing values of the program's defenders versus libertarian values of its critics. This article examines the implications of the debate. Areas of agreement among advocates and opponents of privatization are discussed. Special attention is paid to conflicting views about privatization and to the distributive implications of proposals to address the program's projected financing problem. In shifting much risk from government onto individuals, privatization would undermine basic Social Security protections. And it …

Automatic Replenishment: The Relationship Between Resource Commitment And Program Performance, Alexander E. Ellinger, Patricia J. Daugherty, Chad W. Autry

Journal of Transportation Management

Some firms have adopted a new approach to order fulfillment, i.e., automatic inventory replenishment. With automatic replenishment programs (ARPs), sellers replenish or restock inventory based upon actual product usage and stock level information provided by buyers. This paper reports on a recent survey of logistics professionals regarding .ARP involvement. In addition to providing a profile of current usage, the research also examines the relationship between investment in automatic replenishment related resources and .ARP performance. Firms making a greater commitment to ARP (in terms of resource allocation) reported enhanced day-to-day operational performance and greater success in the overall performance of the …

Assessing The Impact Of The Shortage Of Aviation Maintenance Technicians On Air Transportation, Blaise P. Waguespack Jr., Aleksandar Savic Jr., James S. Baker

Journal of Transportation Management

Global aviation activity is poised for a decade of sustained growth. While economic difficulties are a fact of life in the aviation transportation industry, the future demand for aviation transportation services is promising. One factor that may greatly dampen this projected growth may be the lack of qualified aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) necessary to keep the air transport fleet flying. This investigation examines the future of global aviation activity while presenting factors impacting the corresponding lack of growth in the AMT population that threaten the future of air transportation.

Twenty Years Of Airline Deregulation: The Impact On Outlying Small Communities, J Richard Jones

Journal of Transportation Management

Many rural communities over the years have had to endure reduced levels of scheduled transportation services to the point that some have indeed experienced a cessation of services. Accompanying the deregulation of airlines in 1978 was the expressed fear that transportation services would continue to spiral downward and various communities would lose their population bases. This study investigates the two decades of airline deregulation and the impact that that 1978 legislation has had on small communities that are situated 100 air miles or more from any hub airport. Chief among the findings are: (1) that service levels have indeed deteriorated …

Mergers And Alliances In The Liner Shipping Industry: An Historical Perspective, David A. Menachof, Anthony Damian

Journal of Transportation Management

This article chronicles the history of mergers and alliances in the liner shipping industry during the past century before focusing on the latest wave of mergers to hit the industry Each merger wave in the liner shipping industry generally coincided with merger waves from the general industrial world. The incentive for each wave of mergers seemed to be different, with the most recent wave focusing on synergy between the merging companies. The reduction of competing firms through mergers has implications for the shipper and these are also examined.

Public Perception Of Risk Management In Environmental Controversies: A U.K. Case Study, Maria Simosi, Peter T. Allen

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Drs. Simosi and Allen focus on issues arising from an environmental dispute in the U.K. Their case study findings are discussed in the context of existing environmental decision-making procedures in the U.K.

Public Participation In Resolving Environmental Disputes And The Problem Of Representativeness, Peter T. Allen

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Dr. Allen, the symposium organizer, reviews recent .efforts to increase public involvement in environmental disputes.

Implementing Structured Participation For Regional Level Waste Management Planning, Elke Schneider, Bettina Oppermann, Ortwin Renn

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

The authors present a case study example of a well-structured public participation project that was incorporated into the formal decision-making process in Germany.

From Winning Hearts And Minds To Shaping Behaviors: Nation-Building As A New Psychology Of Antiterrorism, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes a qualitative change in the psychology of antiterrorism through nationbuilding activities.

Political Denial As A Counterintelligence Vehicle To Counter Counterterrorist Operations: The Sudan, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes the political denial that is implemented by terrorists and supporters of terrorists after an adversary counterterrorist operation and that is intended to impede future operations. Sudanese-sponsored and supported terrorism and United States Government counterterrorist operations are used as an example. The analysis is predicated on the assumption that there is incontrovertible intelligence data supporting the belief that Shifa Pharamceutical Industries in Sudan was engaged in the development and/or transshipment of the chemical warfare agent VX--an assumption based on the alleged detection of a VX precursor that allegedly has no legitimate business or industrial use. (IBPP Note: As …

Trends. The Omagh Bombing: Ireland And The Psychology Of Walls, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the psychological aspect of walls in relation to peace efforts in Northern Ireland.

Terrorist Explosions In Nairobi: How Secondary Goals Become Primary Ones, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes a psychology of terrorism whereby achieving secondary goals can ineluctably lead to achieving primary ones.

Trends. Terrorism And Sanctions: A Problem With Iran, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the three kinds of activities, Iran continues to be engaged in, that preclude closer cooperation with the US and the sanctions that have been declared against Iran.

Terrorist Explosions In East Africa And Embassy Security: Successful Antiterrorism As Successful Terrorism, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article posits that security upgrades at embassies to effect successful antiterrorism may necessarily contribute to achieving the political goals of terrorists.