A couple of references which may help:
"Uncertainty, Resource Exploitation and Conservation: lessons
from history" by Donald Ludwig et al (Science, Vol 260, 2 April
1993) pp17 and 36
The main points: "the prospect of wealth generates political and
social power that is used to promote unlimited exploitation of
resources"....."..a sequence of good years encourages additional
investment...When conditions return to normal..the industry
appeals to the government for help...The outcome is a heavily
subsidized industry that overharvests the resource..".
Conclusions include: Include human motivation as part of the
system to be studied; act before scientific consensus is
achieved; distrust claims of sustainability; confront
uncertainty.....
For a recent analysis of environmental measures relating to
similar country in the USA see:
http://www.geocities.com/stanhawkman/policyrootsoflanddegradation.txt
Meanwhile Bracks (Premier of Victoria) is proposing to spend
another $100m. on the Commonwealth Games (which I would prefer
to be spent on saving Queensland bush), Howard in response to a
media campaign which is going on in Europe as well as here is
having to defend petrol prices with the motoring organisations
(me and probably you) attacking tax levels (which in the UK,
including greenhouse aspects, make petrol nearly $3 a litre).
In case you missed it OPEC (the organisation of petroleum
exporting countries) is, if not "driving", backing this campaign
with stuff about if you want to cut the cost of petrol, cut the
taxes.
And if you want to understand recent struggles in the islands of
our global region, ignore the press and read what the EU wrote
recently about cutting back on aid in the SE Asian-Pacific
region because many pollies there are on the take in relation to
timber extraction. "Ethnic conflicts" are being fuelled by
money.
Michael Norris
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
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