Militarism and Human Rights

Through an analysis of the impact of military spending on economic growth, the author argues that militarism and human rights are incompatible. Implementation of the economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights set out in the International Bill of Human Rights requires national mobilization of economic resources. If limited national capital is consumed in excessive military expenditures the feasibility of rights fulfilment diminishes. The article outlines initial public policies designed to limit militarism and to allow international human rights to serve as the cornerstone of domestic and foreign policy.     

Human geography without scale

The concept of scale in human geography has been profoundly transformed over the past 20 years. And yet, despite the insights that both empirical and theoretical research on scale have generated, there is today no consensus on what is meant by the term or how it should be operationalized. In this paper we critique the dominant – hierarchical – conception of scale, arguing it presents a number of problems that cannot be overcome simply by adding on to or integrating with network theorizing. We thereby propose to eliminate scale as a concept in human geography. In its place we offer a different ontology, one that so flattens scale as to render the concept unnecessary. We conclude by addressing some of the political implications of a human geography without scale.     

Salt in Human History

Abstract

Traditionally, the study of man has been based on the study of his tools and artefacts, ideas and religion. Such an approach, tbough useful, is often inadequate, for it can fail to take into account items essential to man' survival which consequently play a major role in his history. Such an item is salt. The establisbment of early settlements, the rise and fall of populations, wars, large demographic shifts and the development of agriculture have in the past been intimately related to the absence or presence of salt. Power to control a population's salt supply was power over life and death. Much of our present civilization and habits are based on the ready availability of salt. Yet little attention has been paid to its importance in our lives, and little preparation has been made for a time when it may not be so easily accessible.     

寻找人类的足迹

在尼日尔中部古老的商旅小镇阿加德兹以北不远的地方,延伸着一片炭灰色高地,它从撒哈拉大沙漠冒出来,就像漂浮在奶油海洋中的一叶装满煤炭的小舟：这叶“小舟”就是阿伊尔高地。阿伊尔的山峰和高原历经漫长岁月的雕琢逐渐成形,由一系列种类复杂的岩石混合而成,包括岩浆环状岩墙、花岗质侵入岩、古生代砂岩和近代的熔岩流。不过,阿伊尔高地给人的总体印象不需要地质学术语就能表达：山很大、很干、很黑、很陡。高地中的峡谷（当地人称之为“考利”）是由流水冲刷出来的,可是到了干旱季节,充盈其间的却只有沙子。     

Human thermal climates of Australia

Apart from early studies by Griffith Taylor, very little work has been carried out to describe the variety of thermal environments experienced by man in Australia. Previous studies are reviewed and new models are developed to quantify energy exchanges at specific times of the year within a continuum of possible responses to maintain homeothermy. Maps are presented of cold and heat stress to naked man, of work rates to achieve neutrality, and of clothing insulation requirements. Estimates are also made of primary energy inputs necessary to reach comfortable indoor temperatures by space heating and cooling within standard housing. It is further suggested that the success of settlement is associated with the relevance of human responses to the thermal environment.     

Human remains in marine archaeology

Abstract

This paper deals with human remains in marine contexts, both from the intertidal zone and from below low water mark. Some of the legal and ethical aspects pertaining to human remains are discussed, with an emphasis on the English experience. Survival of human remains in marine environments is considered, and recovery procedures in fieldwork projects are discussed. Finally, drawing upon work from Britain and from other parts of Europe, particularly on remains from wreck sites, attempts are made to discern some of the more important directions for research on human remains from marine archaeological contexts.     

Human societies as corporate entities

M. G. Smith. Corporations and Society: The Social Anthropology of Collective Action. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Co., 1975. 383 pp. Tables, bibliography and index. $17.50.     

人类活动制低点

我在纽约参加国际野生生物保护学会（WCS）培训的时候,曾看到WCS在2003年发表的世界人类足迹地图。WCS和哥伦比亚大学的学者们选用四种人类活动指数——人口数量分布、土地转型状况、人类获取资源所用的通道、电力设施,对全球人类足迹分布进行了计算。     

Human Activity and Social-Geographic Regions

A classification of social-geographic regions is proposed. Functional regions, which specialize in particular types or stages of human activity, break down into two classes: (1) naturogenic regions, determined by differences in physical conditions and natural resources, and (2) positional regions, determined by distance from a particular object. Complex regions are those in which the complete cycle of a particular process is realized. Nodal regions arise around management or service centers. A hierarchy of regions takes shape wherever a stage-by-stage collection or distribution occurs. An optimal organization of a territory would involve a hierarchy of regions that are both functional and nodal in character.