Social and Labour Issues in Small-scale Mines


Book Description

Income inequalities have been growing significantly within countries over the past two decades or so. This new report presents a timely assessment of this issue, based on new data and economic analysis and with full technical annexes. It looks at the extent of this phenomenon and its sustainability, analysing factors at work and examining the extent to which it may worsen as a result of the ongoing food and financial crises. The report sheds light on the causes of 'excessive' inequality, and in particular the possible role of financial market deregulation. It also examines the extent to which traditional policies and institutions can still address excessive market-driven inequalities, and whether traditional redistribution systems are being eroded as a result of a general trend towards lower taxation on high incomes. In conclusion, the report considers policy reforms that could reduce the risk of rising "excessive" inequalities while at the same time maintaining economic dynamism.




Handbook of African Development


Book Description

This handbook presents an extensive new overview of African development - past, present and future. It addresses key core themes and topics that are pertinent to the continent's development - including sections on history, health and food, politics, economics, rural and urban development, and development policy and practice. The volume draws on the expertise of over 60 of the world's leading scholars to provide a detailed and up-to-date analysis of the key opportunities and challenges that confront Africa, and how such issues are being addressed. Arranged by key themes, the handbook provides not only a historical understanding of the past, but also political perspectives on the future. The chapters provide critically informed analyses of their topics by drawing upon the latest conceptual viewpoints and applied experiences in Africa in the form of case studies to offer a comprehensive examination of the opportunities, challenges, key debates and future prospects. This handbook is an invaluable state-of-the-art overview and reference concerning many different aspects of Africa's development, which will be of interest to academics in all fields of African studies, and also academics and students working in cognate disciplines such as development studies, geography, history, politics and economics.




Sustainable Minerals Operations in the Developing World


Book Description

The sustainable development of minerals, which are non-renewable resources, is a major challenge in today's world. In this regard the true definition of 'sustainability' is a debating point in itself: can such a concept exist with respect to non-renewable resources? Perhaps the ideal sustainability model is one that minimizes negative environmental impact and maximizes benefits to society, the economy and regional/national development. Developed and near-developed economies rely for commodity supplies on developing countries where major mining operations are often a mainstay of the domestic economy. Limited environmental regulation and low wages lead to charges of exploitation. Also, large numbers of people have no alternative to living by informal, often dangerous, 'artisanal' mining. This Special Publication gives examples from developing countries from all scales of mineral extraction. The volume reviews environmental, economic, health and social problems and highlights the need to solve these before sustainability can be achieved. The better solutions require mutual understanding, through full involvement of all stakeholders, education, training and investment so that small-scale and artisanal mines can grow into well-managed operations. At larger scales, most major international mining companies have now improved their practices and are monitoring their progress, although there is no room for complacency in this rapidly changing area.




Natural and Human-Induced Hazards and Disasters in Africa


Book Description

Natural and human-induced environmental hazards are becoming increasingly prominent. The frequency of recorded natural disasters rose markedly during the last century, from about 100 per in the years up to 1940 to nearly 2800 during the 1990s. Africa is the only continent whose share of reported disasters has increased over the past decade. Several factors contribute to Africa’s high vulnerability to disasters. These include the high rate of population growth, food insecurity, high levels of poverty, inappropriate use of natural resources, and failures of policy and institutional frameworks. Despite the huge negative impact of natural and human-induced hazards on Africa’s development, little is done to prevent them. Disaster prevention contributes to lasting improvement in safety and sustainable livelihoods and is essential as part of integrated disaster management strategies. The provision of effective scientific input to policy formulation on various issues related to hazards and disasters is an ambitious undertaking. It requires the collaborative effort of the African scientific community to develop comprehensive long-term strategies and human capacity-building initiatives that will enable science to benefit society. This will further require: a) Building strong research and training institutions in Africa at national and regional levels; b) Facilitating the exchange of scientific information and sharing of ideas across borders; c) Strengthening the link between scientific research and policy making; d) Promoting outreach activities to build resilience to disaster risk; and e) Tapping the knowledge base of rural and urban communities. In this volume, the ICSU ROA has brought together selected African scientific researchers to share their views on policy direction for facing challenges linked to natural and human-induced hazards. The book is intended for policy advisers, environmental scientists, government officials and members of the general public with a special interest in environmental issues.




Prevention of Accidents at Work


Book Description

Prevention of Accidents at Work collects papers presented at the 9th International Conference on the Prevention of Accidents at Work (WOS 2017) held in Prague, Czech Republic, on October 3-6, 2017, organized by the VSB-Technical University of Ostrava. The conference on current issues within occupational safety is organized under the umbrella of Workingonsafety.net (WOS.net). WOS.net is an international network of decision-makers, researchers and professionals responsible for the prevention of accidents and trauma at work. The network aims to bring accident prevention experts together in order to facilitate the exchange of experience, new findings and best practices between different countries and sectors. WOS.net is supported by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). The overall theme is safety management complexity in a changing society, with the motto: Do we need a holistic approach? Underlying topics include: Foundations of safety science: theories, principles, methods and tools; Research to practice: achievements, lessons learned and challenges; Risk management and safety culture: case studies, best practices and further needs; Safety regulation: reasonable practicable approach; Education and training: prerequisite for safety; Complexity and safety: multidisciplinarity and inter-stakeholder views. Prevention of Accidents at Work should be valuable to researchers, policy makers, safety professionals, labor inspectors, labor administrators and other experts in the prevention of occupational accidents.




The Socio-Economic Impacts of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining in Developing Countries


Book Description

The purpose of this book is to examine both the positive and negative socioeconomic impacts of artisanal and small-scale mining in developing countries. In recent years, a number of governments have attempted to formalize this rudimentary sector of industry, recognizing its socioeconomic importance. However, the industry continues to be plagued by




Gold


Book Description

Gold remains a highly prized and impactful resource within the global economy. From the insatiable demand for gold in the electronics that permeate our day-to-day lives to the environmental desolation driven by gold mining in the Amazon, the gold trade continues to touch the lives and livelihoods of people across the world. Bloomfield and Maconachie tell the intriguing story of the yellow metal, tracing the seismic shifts in the industry over the past few decades. They show how huge purchases of gold reserves by BRICS countries mark the shifting balance of power away from the West, and how rising affluence in India and China has led to a surging demand for gold jewellery, calling into question current approaches to make supply chains more responsible. Explaining why gold is so difficult to regulate and why it is only becoming more so, the authors suggest ways we could, collectively, make practices work better for the countless workers and communities who suffer at the producer end of the supply chain. Linking local to global, producer to consumer, and gold’s extraction from the Earth to the financial centres that fuel it, this book offers a probing analysis that reveals who wins and who loses and what this means for the future of gold.







Farmers of the Future


Book Description




IIRA Bulletin


Book Description