Rosi Braidotti, The Posthuman
review of: Rosi Braidotti, The Posthuman. Malden: Polity Press, 2013, 229 s. [zawiera bibliografię i indeks]. ISBN: 978-0-7456-6997-7 [Kindle Edition]
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review of: Rosi Braidotti, The Posthuman. Malden: Polity Press, 2013, 229 s. [zawiera bibliografię i indeks]. ISBN: 978-0-7456-6997-7 [Kindle Edition]
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The improvement of energy efficiency is one of the main areas of activity in the context of implementing the principle of sustainable development. This need stems from the ongoing environmental and social changes and conditions in the form of limited energy resources and the need to adapt to climate change. The EU undertakes a number of initiatives promoting actions aimed at reducing the energy intensity of the economy. Key solutions are included in the energy and climate package adopted in 2008 and Directive 2012/27/EU, which obliges EU Member States to establish a system to support energy efficiency. Considering these formal requirements, the aim of the article is to diagnose the degree of progress in implementing the assumptions of the energy and climate package in Poland and to present the results of the analysis in the field of the energy efficiency of the Polish industrial sector. The main problem of the study is to indicate trends in the studied phenomenon in the manufacturing, which in 2016 was responsible for 22.6% of final energy consumption. The study uses an analytical and descriptive method. The concept of sustainable development was characterised based on a review of the literature and source documents. The research on the progress in the implementation of the energy and climate package was based on a taxonomic measure using the Hellwig’s multidimensional comparative analysis method, while the ODEX index was used to assess the energy efficiency of the industrial sector. The study covered the years 2005–2016. The conducted research indicates that the Polish economy should fulfil the objective of the energy and climate package in the field of energy efficiency improvement, and manufacturing is the sector in which changes in this area are the fastest.
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The purpose of this work is the evaluation of the level of development of renewable energy industry in Ukraine, with special emphasis on the spatial dimension of its functioning. The authors inquired, among others, the issues of spatial structure of the estimated RES (renewable energy sources) technical potential, spatial diversification of energy production based on renewable sources and policy of supporting investments in renewable energy, and popularising knowledge about RES in Ukraine. The research material comes from available analytical reports, yearbooks and statistical studies published by specialist governmental and international agencies as well as scientific institutions. Primary data were analysed using basic tools of descriptive statistics and spatial analysis methods. As it results from the conducted research, the significance of renewable energy in Ukraine’s energy mix is still negligible. It applies to exploiting the technical potential, the installed power (capacity) and the participation in the structure of the energy production. The spatial distribution of energy production from renewable sources shows a significant diversity as a consequence of the diversification of its potential. In Ukraine, the availability of sources of finances is a substantial condition
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The aim of the article is to present proecological solutions applied in Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne w Krakowie (Municipal Transport Services in Krakow) in order to improve the quality and comfort of city residents’ life. Krakow as a dynamically developing city struggles with the problem of significant air pollution concerning mainly the increased concentration of PM10 dust. The main source of PM10 in European cities is road traffic (compression-ignition engines without diesel particulate filters) as well as the so-called low-stack emission. For years, Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne in Krakow has been trying to enhance activities for the improvement of the state of the environment, implementing year by year ever up-to-date ecological solutions. The enterprise has received numerous awards acknowledging its ecological activity which confirms the effectiveness of these activities. Examples include the EKOJANOSIK award granted by National Ecological Council) and statuette of Public Transport Leader presented in 2018 to the President of Krakow by the Polish Union of Public Transport Employers. For realising the aim of this report, analysis as well as evaluation of the activities of Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne in Krakow in the context of ecology were used, along with critical research of available literature.
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Large investments can have significant impacts on local development, as illustrated by the concepts of the multiplier effect and corporate social responsibility. The subject in this paper is the Volkswagen-Crafter car production plant opened in 2016 in Białężyce near Września (Wielkopolskie Voivodeship in Poland), one of the largest greenfield investments in western Poland since 1990. On the basis of the data obtained from company representatives and local governments, the numerous benefits for local residents and the natural environment resulting from the investment and actions undertaken at Volkswagen have been described. Questionnaires among residents have shown that the main benefits of the plant are the creation of new jobs, new municipal and infrastructure investments, an increase in Września’s prestige, an increase in service sector activity as well as housing for new inhabitants and start-up companies cooperating with Volkswagen. The recognition and reliability of Volkswagen as an employer and large enterprise (along with other factors,e.g. discounts on cars for employees) influence the above-average sales of Volkswagen in Września Poviat.
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Greening has no alternatives in contemporary world. Yet in Russia another process is taking place – the weakening of environmental consciousness in the conditions of economic backwardness. Our hypothesis is that the only hope is connected with some local breakthroughs and one of them can occur in Irkutsk due to its geographic position. The proximity to the Lake Baikal must influence the mentality of the citizens, which has already been demonstrated once, in the time of Perestroyka. There existed an enormous public activity in Irkutsk with the slogans of closing Pulp and Paper Plant on the bank of Baikal. To analyse this idea, the geographic position is thoroughly considered. Also, a sociological survey was undertaken in the framework of our investigation. This survey showed the high level of Baikal patriotism, as well as some tendencies of forming consumer’s consciousness of the quality of the goods purchased. The market of environmentally-friendly products in Irkutsk was analysed, including the one of food supplements developed by local specialists. This market is in the initial stages of its existence, but it does exist and it is a source of hope.
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Developed legal-organisational solutions are characteristic of the mining industry in Poland. Some of them have been analysed in this article. The research area is delimited by selected legal solutions included in the Act of 9 June 2011 Geological and Mining Law (consolidated text: Dziennik Ustaw of 2021 item 1420 with later amendments) and in the Act of 6 March 2018 Entrepreneurs’ Law (consolidated text: Dziennik Ustaw of 2021 item 162). In the article, the method of the analysis of normative solutions has been applied. The article has two fundamental goals. The first of them is to verify whether the requirements included in article 2 of the Act Entrepreneurs’ Law (this regulation states that everyone can undertake, realise and finish business activity in a free way and on equal rights) have been fulfilled by the obligation of obtaining a concession for the mining activity (see article 21 item 1 of the Act Geological and Mining Law). The hypothesis has been formulated that this obligation fulfils the requirements included in article 2 of the Act Entrepreneurs’ Law, but in limited range, however it does not exceed framework established by the regulations included in the Act Entrepreneurs’ Law. The second goal of the article lies in judging the legal requirements referring to competences of organs of mining supervision and judging legal status of these organs, in particular President of the Higher Mining Office (all these organs have been indicated in article 164 item 1 of the Act Geological and Mining Law). These regulations have been judged from the point of view of whether they secure proper standard of expertness and independence of supervision over mining activity. It has been made the hypothesis about appropriate standard of professionalism and autonomy, which is in this range warranted by the Act Geological and Mining Law. Accuracy of both hypotheses has been confirmed in the article.
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Environmental reporting covers both issues related to the negative impact of the enterprise on the natural environment, but also the presentation of actions taken to protect it. Among the various ecological issues, climate is of particular interest. The aim of the article is to show the importance of information related to reporting on climate-related issues and their inclusion in the non-financial reporting of companies from the oil&gas sector listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. In the article, the author used the analysis of legal acts, literature on the subject and the study of empirical data from reports and websites of listed companies of the WIG-oil&gas index. The practice of oil&gas companies shows that companies listed on the capital market notice the importance of these issues both in terms of the impact of the climate on their operations and the impact of these entities on the climate. However, attempts to report climate-related issues are made by those entities only, that are required to disclose non-financial information. In view of the ongoing climate change and increasing environmental awareness, taking these issues into account seems inevitable.
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When it comes to general climate in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ecological awareness is very low, both of the community and of the political structures - it is evident that they are not well informed about the concept of the environmental protection. The main reasons for the low perception of ecological problems are common to all countries in transition followed by economic crises, reparation of the basic infrastructures, lack of eco-public opinion, eco-education, culture of living and generally conformism and latency of Bosnian community as a whole. Having in mind the crucial problems that had caused low perception of the environmental protection, we must admit that the media, informing the community and creating the public opinion, are also responsible for current state. The role of the media and the community in solving ecology problems is discussed in this text.
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We live in times of anthropogenic climate crisis. Or do we? This essay shows how “humanity” is a thoroughly modern fetish forged in the bloodbath of militarized accumulation and conquest after 1492. To say that the Anthropos drives the climate crisis implicates a historical actor that does not exist. But the reality is different. Humanity does nothing. Specific groups of humans make history – empires, classes, religious institutions, armies, and financiers. This essay reveals the Anthropocene as more than lousy history – although the flight from world history is crucial. It argues that today’s Anthropocene is one pillar of the Environmentalism of the Rich. It is rooted historically in the Civilizing Project, and, more recently, in post‑1970 “Spaceship Earth” environmentalism. Both Environmentalism and its recent Anthropocene craze have sought to do one thing above all: deflect blame from capitalism as the prime mover of the climate crisis. From the beginning, Environmentalism avoided “naming the system.” Only by identifying the climate crisis as capitalogenic – “made by humans” – can we begin to forge an effective socialist politics of climate justice.
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We live in times of anthropogenic climate crisis. Or do we? This essay shows how “humanity” is a thoroughly modern fetish forged in the bloodbath of militarized accumulation and conquest after 1492. To say that the Anthropos drives the climate crisis implicates a historical actor that does not exist. But the reality is different. Humanity does nothing. Specific groups of humans make history – empires, classes, religious institutions, armies, and financiers. This essay reveals the Anthropocene as more than lousy history – although the flight from world history is crucial. It argues that today’s Anthropocene is one pillar of the Environmentalism of the Rich. It is rooted historically in the Civilizing Project, and, more recently, in post‑1970 “Spaceship Earth” environmentalism. Both Environmentalism and its recent Anthropocene craze have sought to do one thing above all: deflect blame from capitalism as the prime mover of the climate crisis. From the beginning, Environmentalism avoided “naming the system.” Only by identifying the climate crisis as capitalogenic – “made by humans” – can we begin to forge an effective socialist politics of climate justice.
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In this article, attention is paid to the issue of legal responsibility for violation of norms that regulate the public administration of the natural environment in the conditions of a special period. Legal responsibility is characterized by: 1) involvement in legal relations; 2) procedurality; 3) resolution of the issue of responsibility by authorized entities; 4) provision by legislation; 5) occurrence of adverse consequences; 6) adverse consequences are of a personal, property or organizational nature. Administrative responsibility is characterized by the following general features: 1) has a public state-obligatory character; 2) is a means of protecting the established state legal order; 3) is normatively determined and consists in the application of sanctions of legal norms; 4) is a consequence of culpable antisocial behavior; is accompanied by state and public condemnation of the offender and the act committed by him; 5) is related to coercion, with negative consequences for the offender, which he must suffer; 6) implemented in appropriate procedural forms; has a subsidiary value in relation to many other branches of law. It was noted that administrative compliance for violation of norms regulating the public administration of the environment in the conditions of a special period is the activity of public administration bodies regulated by administrative and legal norms to apply administrative penalties to those guilty of administrative offenses in the field of the environment in the conditions of a special period within the limits stipulated by administrative and legal norms. When considering the issue of legal responsibility for violation of norms regulating the public administration of the natural environment in the conditions of a special period, it is impossible to bypass the issue of reparation of the aggressor state. It should be noted that it is extremely difficult to fully assess the damage. First, we do not have access to the occupied territory, and therefore there is no possibility to conduct monitoring. Secondly, the occupation is a long process, and therefore the amounts can change. Thirdly, each of the damage figures named by the researchers is only an approximate indicator. The final amount can only be determined in the course of court proceedings, arbitrations and tribunals.
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Social responsibility, a concept that emerged after the Second World War, with a continuous evolution, proportional to that of the economic environment, represents one of the major concerns of the E.U. Through various directives and programs, this has been placed as a moral obligation to the actors of the economic environment, an important category in their structure having corporations. Stimulating the attention of corporations towards social responsibility through different forms influences, depending on the involvement of each company, its financial results. In the present research paper, I conducted a study on the energy sector, a study in which I followed the existing correlation between ESG factors and financial performance, finally creating a multiple linear regression model. Modeling and data processing in order to create the econometric model was possible with the help of the S.P.S.S statistical program.
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Actualizing the Sustainable Development Goals in many countries have been met with many challenges and problems, hence this study is an attempt to examine Social Studies students awareness level of value education and then relate it with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Five hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05level of significance. Correlational Research Design was used for the study. A sample size of 880 Basic 8 students from 36 secondary schools were drawn from a population of 48.095 Basic 8 students in Edo and Delta states in Nigeria. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to sample the schools and respondents respectively. The instrument of data collection was a researcher’s constructed and validated questionnaire titled “Students Awareness of Value Education and Actualizing the Sustainable Development Goals Questionnaire” (SAVEASDGQ). The reliability of the instrument was established with Cronbach-alpha reliability technique, with a reliability coefficient index of 0.75. After the collection of data, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used to test all hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The following results/findings were reported, there was significant relationship between awareness of value education on the one hand and “clean water and sanitation”; “responsible consumption and production”; “decent work and economic growth”; “sustainable cities and communities” and “affordable clean energy” on the other hand. Following these findings, the researcher recommended that value education should be adopted as a powerful tool for empowering young Nigerians at the Basic School level, on cultivating environmental friendly and responsible values, behaviours and attitudes towards the environment as this can assist in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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The African continent is rich in oil and natural gas resources, much of which is still not fully explored. The reasons for this are climatic and geological conditions, the colonial past, which overlaps with the uneven economic development of the countries in the region, political, economic, and security problems. This article looks at the prospects for expanding gas infrastructure from Nigeria through the Maghrebi-Sahelian region towards the EU. Two gas pipelines will be analyzed – the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline (Nigeria-Algeria) and the Atlantic gas pipeline (Nigeria-Morocco). Due to the fact that two projects are competitive, the question arises which of them has the greater chance of implementation? The main purpose of this article is to investigate whether the construction of new gas pipelines from Africa to the EU is justified, taking into account the processes of transformation of European energy markets and whether the projects of the above-mentioned gas pipelines are economic or political nature. To what extent can these two gas pipelines constitute a strategic interest in terms of natural gas supplies for the European Union and how important will they be in the diversification process compared to other suppliers? Moreover, it is very important to assess whether natural gas resources and capacity will be sufficient to transport gas to the EU, taking into account the demand for this natural gas also in transit countries. The article will analyze the potential and energy infrastructure of Algeria and Nigeria as key exporters of natural gas to the EU from the African region. It will be no less important to find an answer to which role and importance of Morocco, which is a net importer of energy resources but occupies a strategic geographic location, which makes it an important transit country. During an in-depth analysis of all the factors influencing the implementation of two projects, their strengths and weaknesses will also be indicated, and how their implementation may affect the geopolitical situation in the Maghrebi-Sahelian region and relations between countries.
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The article analyzes the administrative and legal powers of forest protection and hunting service within the system of state management bodies in the field of forest protection and hunting. The relevance of the research topic is due to the processes of general reform of the forestry industry of Ukraine and the need to clarify the law enforcement powers of officials in this industry. The purpose of the study is to highlight the problems of law enforcement in the forestry industry; clarifying the powers of law enforcement entities, directions for reforming forestry law enforcement agencies, and prospects for improving their activities. The object of the study is the legal regulation of security activities aimed at ensuring law and order and legality in the forestry industry. The research is based on the use of general scientific and special methods. With the help of the dialectical method, internal contradictions in the activities of law enforcement agencies in the forestry industry were revealed. The analysis method is used to identify gaps in legislation regulating the powers of supervisory bodies, etc. Formulated conclusions are aimed at practical use. Thus, it is proposed: definition of the concept of «huntsman»; separation of the management function and state control in forestry enterprises; transfer of the control function to the level of territorial bodies of the State Forestry Agency. Thus, at the enterprises of the State Forestry Agency system and other permanent forest users, the functioning of forest protection will remain without the status of a law enforcement body, but with the right to draw up protocols and the limited right to consider cases of administrative offenses in the field of forest protection.
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The paper addresses the energy situation of the EU, as well as elucidates some possibilities for overcoming the energy crisis that has gripped the whole of Europe. The study focuses on the assessment of the EU’s energy efficiency strategy as well as the review of the EU’s strategic priorities in overcoming the energy crisis. Thus, the paper aims at the evaluation of the dynamics of electricity consumption in the EU countries, as well as the elucidation of the share of renewable energy in each of the EU countries. At the same time, special attention was directed to elucidating the dynamics of greenhouse gas emissions at the EU level as well as its sources. Another side of the research was aimed at identifying the trend of the evolution of electricity prices in the EU states, but also the measures that were taken by the states in order to provide electricity. The research methodology focused on the use of the following methods: analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, abduction, documentation, comparative analysis, scientific abstraction. In conclusion, we can note that the EU countries faced an unprecedented crisis, which disrupted the entire activity of the member states. The crisis changed the priorities, reshaped the electricity insurance systems, redefined the policies of the member states, a fact that allowed them to adapt quickly and identify solutions to overcome the crisis. Thus, we can note that increasing investments in alternative energy sources, concluding international agreements to increase energy efficiency, represent only a few solutions that can help member states overcome the EU’s energy crisis.
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Türkiye is dependent on imports of energy resources from abroad, but its current economic strategy is based on the diversification of supply sources, which will make it less susceptible to possible manipulation by suppliers. The government’s energy policy focuses on increasing the share of renewable energy resources and domestic energy. Despite the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine, Türkiye has not given up on energy cooperation with Russia, trying to balance between East and West. The main reason was the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced Ankara to intensify economic and energy contacts with Moscow again. The aim of the article is to present the challenges that Türkiye is currently facing in the sphere of energy security. The authors of the article will try to answer the following research questions: What is the primary objective of Ankara’s economic strategy? Does Türkiye have alternatives to energy cooperation with Russia? The role of Ankara in the NATO Alliance is crucial as well as its position in the international arena. For this reason the research on Türkiye must be carried out.
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According to reports by the Environment Agency (EEA), water deficits caused by climate change is a priority issue in Europe, including Poland, and requires comprehensive legal and organizational solutions. This paper aims to examine the legal status and administrative-legal instruments that address climate change and water deficits in both the EU and Poland. These include measures outlined in the EU’s environmental and energy policy, the Europe-an Green Deal, the Circular Economy, the Right2Water initiative, the EU Treaties, the Water Framework Directive, and the Directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption, as well as Poland’s environmental policies and Water Law Act of 2017. The main goals of the analyzed documents and legislation are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote a resource-efficient economy and adapt to climate change. In terms of addressing water scarcity, legislative actions focus on protecting available water resources for municipal purposes, reviewing the level of water resources and balancing supply and demand, and preventing droughts. Essential tools for managing water resources include proper planning, permit systems, and oversight. Despite these efforts, significant challenges remain in achieving environmental objectives and addressing water scarcity. Legal instruments alone are insufficient, and a more comprehensive, resource-efficient management approach is needed, including changes to resource management, production technologies, and public awareness.
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Ecological security is an integral area of research and practical activities within nationaland international security. The system change that occurred after the breakdown of the bipolarsystem has caused increasing interest in non-military areas of security. It has converged on anincreasing ecological awareness, which is connected with the growing ecological crisis. This crisishas a multifaceted character and considers both the natural environment as well as the economic,social and political dimensions. Ecological threats come not only from the sphere of nature but alsoincreasingly result from human actions. Especially worrying are the results of irresponsible humanactivities and some nations which are motivated in a careless way by the willingness to achieve short-term benefits and resort to ecological violence. The results of this are painfully felt both by natureand by mankind itself, especially by the local communities that are more directly exposed to theharmful effects of these actions. Within international and national initiatives, one can observe moreand more activities that result in legal acts classified as so-called soft laws and cause changes both inan institutional scope and in the level of public awareness. The aim of the article is to point out theincreasing importance of ecological security in the security discourse and to take into account theinterdisciplinary approach. The assumption has been made about the dominant role of the state in thesecurity architecture on the basis of the analysis of literature sources. The article has paid attentionto the necessity for active ecological politics of the state and the necessity of changing the approachto the process of management by referring to the socioeconomic approach of ecological economics.The change that gives hope for reversing the self-destruction of mankind requires a reorientationof thinking about the management process. It should have a character of activities focused aroundthe integrated security concept (the superior needs and values are persistence, survival and human development in harmony with the surroundings by maintaining the primality of anthropocentrism).
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