Suchergebnisse

Der Autor untersucht die Vorbereitung der Regierungskonferenz zur Reform des Maastrichter Vertrags durch die EU-Reflexionsgruppe. Erläutert werden die Vorschläge zur institutionellen Entwicklung der EU, zur GASP, Währungsunion und zur künftigen Rolle der WEU im Rahmen einer gemeinsamen europäischen Sicherheitspolitik. Der Autor kommt zu dem Schluß, daß die meisten Staaten momentan wenig Neigung zeigen, zugunsten einer weiteren politischen Integration der EU auf nationale Kompetenzen zu verzichten. (SWP-SfJ)

The rural sector, defined here as the economic sector that falls under the scope of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water (MAH), the Ministry of Animal Resources (MRA), and the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), is one of the pillars of the Burkina Faso economy. Although its contribution to GDP has decreased in recent times from 35 percent in 1999 to 30 percent in 2011 due to the development of the other sectors of the economy, agricultural activity still employs approximately 86 percent of Burkina Faso s labor force and is the main source of income for poorer populations. Consequently, the rural sector is among the primary beneficiaries of public expenditures by the Burkina Faso government and constitutes one of the pillars of the Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Sustainable Development (SCADD) adopted in 2010. The goals of this agriculture public expenditure review in Burkina Faso are as follows: draw lessons from the past in terms of budget execution in the agricultural sector in order to promote the design and implementation of public expenditure programs that are more efficient and more equitable and have a greater impact; initiate the implementation of the databases and methodology required to conduct similar reviews regularly and thus contribute to the institutionalization of the process; and contribute to establishing the conditions for increased support for the sector while encouraging the harmonization and alignment of support with respect for national strategies.

This article focuses mainly on the five primary case study countries. For forest impacts, the concentration is on forest conversion to other land uses and deforestation, defined as a (temporary or permanent) removal of trees to less than 10 percent crown cover, which is similar to the Food and Agricultural Organization's (FAO's) definition. Selective logging is thus not deforestation but may degrade forests and enable conversion. All of the case study countries are tropical countries that export oil, a choice made for two reasons. First, the macroeconomic 'laboratory' of oil exporters offers a good opportunity to study links between external economic changes and forests. Oil economies often fluctuate dramatically due to heavy reliance on a single export commodity with unstable world market prices. Second, earlier studies provide support for the hypotheses that on average oil- and mineral-exporting tropical countries have more forests left and lose them at a slower rate than non-mineral-exporting countries. The article briefly reviews hypotheses and methodologies and outlines the deforestation data problems and how they were dealt with. It presents empirical results for the five primary case study countries and takes a closer look at three of the key causal linkages in the model. It then examines the role of different policy instruments and finally discusses policy insights that extend beyond the oil exporting countries.

This report concerns two streams of Technical Assistance provided by the World Bank Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) to the Government of Vietnam. They are: strengthening the enabling environment, capacity building systems and evidence-based learning and lesson sharing. Strengthening demand creation and supply chain development together these TAs make up a support program to assist the Government of Vietnam, particularly the Ministry of Health (MOH) in accelerating progress on sanitation under the third National Target Program on Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (NTP3). WSP has supported the government to improve the enabling environment for sanitation service delivery; strengthen rural sanitation supply chains; generate demand for improved sanitation; and inform service delivery models through knowledge and learning. The TAs began in Dec 2012 and are due to end in Jun 2016. This report documents the results and lessons learned from the TA, and makes recommendations for future activities in support of rural sanitation.

This report concerns two streams of Technical Assistance provided by the World Bank Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) to the Government of Vietnam. They are: strengthening the enabling environment, capacity building systems and evidence-based learning and lesson sharing. Strengthening demand creation and supply chain development together these TAs make up a support program to assist the Government of Vietnam, particularly the Ministry of Health (MOH) in accelerating progress on sanitation under the third National Target Program on Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (NTP3). WSP has supported the government to improve the enabling environment for sanitation service delivery; strengthen rural sanitation supply chains; generate demand for improved sanitation; and inform service delivery models through knowledge and learning. The TAs began in Dec 2012 and are due to end in Jun 2016. This report documents the results and lessons learned from the TA, and makes recommendations for future activities in support of rural sanitation.

Situated in a fertile low-lying river delta, Bangladesh combines high vulnerability to floods, tropical cyclones, earthquakes, and climate change with one of the world's highest population densities, with around 159 million people living in less than 150,000 sq. km. With the world's second lowest per capita income in 1975, it was labeled 'the test case for development' in view of the formidable development challenges it faced. Nevertheless, Bangladesh has proven to be remarkably resilient, developing well beyond initial expectations, and has made very good progress with poverty reduction. GNI per capita has grown from around US$100 in 1972 to US$1,314 in 2015, and the country crossed the World Bank threshold for the lower-middle-income group in 2015. As highlighted in the Seventh Five Year Plan background paper on ending extreme poverty, the agricultural labor market in Bangladesh tightened significantly in the decade of 2000s, which led to an increase in the real agricultural wage rate. Three main channels were the primary contributors: (a) relocation of farm labor to rural non-farm sectors; (b) relocation of rural labor to urban activities through the 'pull effects' of urbanization, creating employment opportunities for the extreme poor in labor-intensive construction and transport activities; and (c) jobs for the poor created in the manufacturing sector. Robust inflows of remittances from overseas workers contributed to spurring the creation of non-farm employment opportunities in rural areas.

How Donald Trump laid waste to American politics, culture, and social orderAfter Donald Trump's rise to power, after the 2020 presidential election, after January 6, is American politics past the point of no return? New York Times columnist and political reporter Thomas Byrne Edsall fears that the country may be headed over a cliff, arguing that the election of Donald Trump was the most serious threat to the American political system since the Civil War. In this compelling and illuminating book, Edsall documents how the Trump years ravaged the nation's politics, culture, and social order. He explains the demographic shifts that helped make Trump's election possible, and describes the racial and ethnic conflict, culture wars, rural/urban divide, diverging economies of red and blue states, and the transformation of both the Republican and Democratic parties that have left our politics in a state of permanent hostility.The Point of No Return brings together a series of Edsall's columns, bookended by a new introduction and conclusion, which show how we got to this dangerous point. These dispatches from our new political landscape chronicle the emergence of what Edsall calls "the not-so-silent white majority" and show how Trump deployed fears about race and immigration to appeal to voters. Edsall examines Trump's construction of an alternate reality, discusses why we don't always vote according to our own self-interest, and explores the Democrats' calibrated response. Considering the 2020 election and its violent aftermath, Edsall looks at the Capitol insurrection and warns that American democracy is under siege. The forces behind Trump's election, and the "stop the steal" true believers, have pushed the nation to the brink

Broadside with a message from Vermont Governor William A. Palmer after he was elected in 1831; mentions the militia and the subject of a national bank. ; GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE, Gentlemen of the Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: Being again called to the office of Chief Magistrate of the State, by a majority oi the suffrages of the General Assembly, I accept the trust confided to me, and will use ray best endeavors to discharge the duties incumbent on me, for the good of the State, and the interests of the people, The Constitution enjoins upon the Governor and Council to take care that the laws be faithfully administered, and to carry into execution such measures as may be resolved upon by the General Assembly. Very few of the Executive powers of our Government are entrusted solely, to the Chief Magistrate; but, on the contrary, are entrusted to certain officers, who, from their appointment, and the nature of their duties, appear to be exempted from executive direction or censure. In the financial department, a vigilance in the executive over subordinate officers, who may be in any way, employed in receiving and paying over public monies, seems more important. The necessity of any particular attention to this, by the Executive, is however superceded by the laws already in force, by which it is made the duty of all subordinate officers, connected in any way with the collection of the revenue, to make annual settlements with the head of the treasury department. An annual settlement is also to be made with the treasury department, with a full and fair statement of the accounts, together with the balances due, to be laid before the General Assembly at their October session. By the foregoing provision in the law, any call of the Executive on the Treasury department, for the information of the General Assembly is rendered unnecessary. Some attention to this subject* by the Legislature may be attended with beneficial results. Our duty as Legislators is to provide wholesome laws for the promotion of virtue, happiness and prosperity among the people, upon whom the laws are to operate. One of the important ends of all government, is> to teach each individual of the community the necessity of self-government. When we reflect on the vast influence of the laws in moulding and fom^g the manners, habits and virtues of a people, and that this influence, in our own case, is to exert itself on IiLile leGs than three hundred thousand individuals, the business entrusted o us assumes an importance demanding our highest efforts to render such influence salutary in its operation. That such has not been the case in all countries, has arisen from the irresponsibility with which the powers of government have been exercised by their rulers—an irresponsibility growing out of the mistaken and anti-republican doctrine that those powers were exersised by men in der such circumstances is it to be wondered at that the laws, instead of being calculated to promote the general welfare, should be wrested to the purposes cf individual aggrandizement ? Our government is happily so organized that the duty and interests of the lawgiver are necessarily identified with the rights and interests of the community, and under such circumstances of responsibility, as to compel him to feel less sympathy for the ruler than the ruled. From these considerations it would seem that nothing but a great degree of ignorance or depravity could induce those who are employed in making and executing the laws, to be forgetful of the rights and interests of their constituents, and it behoves us, in the prosecution of our important duties, to keep these great principles of republican freedom constantly in view, and not to flatter ourselves that the people have become, cither so ignorant or disregarded of their just rights as to sanction or submit to any attempt to impose upon their ignorance or credulity. The sentiments, in regard to public worship, religion, and morality, interwoven with our constitution, as far as our limited knowledge can extend, have had great influence on the people! These circumstances, under our established form of government, excluding as it does all persecution and intolerance in matters of religion and modes ot worship, give to our state an I honorab 1 e station in the view of the enlightened part of the world. The principles and precepts of the gospel, if improved for religious and moral purposes only, will always make good men, and by consequence, good j citizens. Upon the religious and literary institutions of the State, our happiness as a people, essentially depends. While therefore, that freedom of opinion, and those rights of conscience, which are recognized in our constitution, are sacredly maintained, the Legislature will not fail to give every suitable, encouragement to their support. Permit me again to call your attention to the subject of the Militia. Unprepared to enter into details, my observations must be general. However some may esteem it, the Militia is the great depository of our liberty and independence-—it is the first and last hope of our country. Let the Militia become and remain inefficient and our transition to despotism will be gradual perhaps, but inevitable. Previous to the Revolution, the greatest care was taken to keep the militia in an unorganized and inefficient state. In most of the then British Provinces, patriotic exertions were made, but with little effect, to counteract this slavish policy; the Provincial Governors, generally opposed to the interests of the people, iheir own right, and not in the right appointed the Militia officers subser- and for the good of th® people, Un- || vient to their own view?. When? how ever, war with the mother country became inevitable, one of the first and most important measures adopted, was the reorganization of the whole body of the militia, and since that period most of the States have paid a marked and laudable attention to the subject. The result has, in many instances done honor to the Government ; the measures adopted have excised a martial spirit which merits every attention and encouragement. The materials composing the militia are independent and aspiring citizens, whose fearless spirit never was, and, with confidence it may be said never will be subdued by foreign domination. They will sooner, by far, nobly perish on the field of battle-, than surrender their beloved country—the birthright of themselves and those most dear to them, to an inexorable and haughty invader. Such materials for soldiers are not exceeded in any other country, and is j it proper or expedient to let them remain unimproved, when they are so vitally important to our existence as a free people? And is it sound policy to continue to neglect the discipline of the militia—suffer the military ardor heretofore existing among the yeomanry, which has given us a name aaiong the nations, to languish and expire ? Or shall an effort be made to secure a proper organization of the militia and foster a military spirit among the people ? 1 therefore earnestly recommend the subject to your careful consideration and control, but hope that the present session will not pass without the adoption of some measure calculated to promote the object in view. During the past year there has been much agitation on the subject of the United States Bank, and the measures of the national executive in relation to it. The questions of principle involved in the controversy are of vast importance to the interests of the nation, and require to be discussed and decided with reference both to the present convenience and necessities of the people, and also to their influence upon the future destinies of the country. An institution, like that of the Bank of the United States, necessarily possess powers, which, if exercised for good, as they ever should be, are most beneficent in their ope- railons, and, if exerted for evil, are of a nature the most pernicious. If such an institution, therefore, be demanded to meet the wants of the community, the utmost caution should be observed in framing the provisions of its charter—the most effectual checks placed upon its power—and the most waichful vigilance exercised with regard to its conduct. That a National Bank, with proper powers and restrictions, is both necessary and constitutional, 1 do not doubt. I deem, however, the charter o^'he present Bank exceptionable in several of its provisions, and am opposed to its renewal in its present form. Its conduct, in some respeGts, I consider justly liable to censure ; yet, I cannot regard that, as furnishing any justification of the executive proceedings in relation to it, some of which I deem pernicious in their consequences and altogether unwarrantable. The public mind has been much agitated in relation to certain abuses and assumptions of power on the part of the national executive. It will be sufficient for me to say, in connexion with this subject, that too much vigilance cannot be exercised, either on the part of the people or the state legislatures, with respect to his patronage and power. A manifestation by him of the least, disposition, either to overstep the bounds of the constitution and laws, or to exercise those powers which he legitimately and constitutionally possesses, for purposes not within the scope of his duties, should be met and resisted, on the threshhold, as the beginning of tyranny. At the last session of the General Assembly a resolution wras passed, requesting me to renew the correspondence with the Governor General of the Brinsh Provinces, upon the ^subject of obstructions at the outlet of the waters of Lake Champlain, and to solicit, that a commissioner or commissioners be appointed, on the part of that government, to act in conjunction with commissioners appointed on the part of this State, to ascertain, if practicable, the true cause, or causes, of the overflowing of the lands in this State, on the margin of Lake Champlain and its tributary streams, and the extent of the evils complained of. In pursuance of the request expressed in that resolution, in February last, I addressed a letter to the Governor General of the British Provinces in North America, on that subject, requesting the appointment of commissioners on the part of the government of Lower Canada, to meet such as were appointed on the part of this State, for the purpose of carrying the object referred to into effect, but have received no answer from the Governor, or any of the authorities of that government. At a period of uncommon agitation and embarrassment, it is among the important duties required of us to soar above local and partial views—-to cherish and inculcate a disinterested spirit, and to secure, by every possible means, the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. It only remains with me to assure you that I shall, in all things, heartily co-operate with you, in the necessary measures to promote and ensure the general welfare, W. A- PALMER. Montpslier, Oct, IS, 1834