1 Vojtěch Kotecký Czech forestry subsides coherence with environmental policy objectives Abstract: Public bodies in the Czech Republic spend on average about CZK 1.2 billion (€ 44 million) a year on subsidy schemes in forestry. Subsidies are an important instrument of public policy; they also have major environmental consequences and may influence ability of forests to contribute towards ecosystem services. Consistency of forestry subsidies with the government's environmental policy goals in the Czech Republic is investigated in this thesis. Almost half of Czech subsidy budget is appropriated to schemes that have got an element of conflict with environmental policy goals incorporated in their design; thus, a range of environmentally harmful subsidies is potentially identified here. However, a number of schemes - and, in 27% of subsidy expenditure, even the same schemes, also contribute towards the same policy objectives. Farmland afforestation payments, contributing to the government's goal of forest expansion but shown in a statistical analysis to be focused primarily on regions with high forest cover, and involving a surplus of Norway spruce with a deficit of both European beech and silver fir, are an illustration of complex nature of forestry subsidies.

Recent advancements in corrosion-resistance coating technology has reduce the use of environmentally harmful compounds such as Hexavalent Chromium by replacing Hexavalent Chromium in primers and topcoat. However, marking inks were neglected in the process. Products such as Enthone 50 series are still widely used, which contain compounds such as lead, hexavalent chromium, bisphenol A (BPA), Cadmium Sulfide, and more. Excluding catalyst compositions in Enthone, the chemicals in the ink alone contained three reproductive toxicant and numerous carcinogens. Therefore, it was essential to search and validate the performance of potential marking ink that would meet the standards in military applications. Eleven products were tested, and two products were recommended for use: Sherwin Williams MIL-PRF-22750 Type I and Union Ink Uniglaze. Both products contain at most one carcinogen ingredient and no reproductive toxicant. Both products passed MIL-STD 202G Method 215K solvent test, MIL-STD 202G Method 107G thermal shock test, MIL-STD-810G, Method 507.5 humidity test, cleaning system test, ASTM D3359, measure adhesion by tape test.

The earliest refrigerants used were R40, R764, R717, R290 and R600a but these had drawbacks of flammability, toxicity, unpleasant smell as well as a challenge of leakage through the shaft seals of compressors. In 1931, these were replaced by CFCs and HCFCs due to safety and reliabilty concerns. However in 1986, CFCs and HCFCs were confirmed to have an ozone depleting effect and their use discouraged under the Montreal Protocol. Manufacturers responded to this call by introducing HFCs with no ozone depleting effect. Today, there is immense pressure to shift to natural refrigerants after the discovery that emission of these substances to the atmosphere contributes to atleast 20% of the greenhouse gas emissions. The use of synthetic refrigerants has led to the breakdown of strastospheric ozone molecules and emission of greenhouse gases to the atmoshere causing global warming and global climate change. Today, there is increasing pressure from legislators, business partners and consumers to seek for new methods to achieve cooling that does not depend on global warming working fluids.  Therefore, companies are tasked to rethink established solutions  and implement environmentally friendly yet economically sensible technologies to seize their individual eco-advantage.  For that matter, the use of refrigerants free of ozone depleting and global warming characteristics in Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration continues to take a central role in measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This study aimed at investigating the application of environmentally friendly solutions in refrigeration applications of Uganda with major emphasis on natural refrigerants. This was accomplished by ascertaining the current status of refrigeration in the country as well as computer simulation modelling of the available systems and comparison of the results with those of recommended systems. A field study was carried out to assess the current status of refrigeration in the country i.e refrigerants used and the type of systems currently in use. It was found that synthetic refrigerants predominate and the systems currently installed are single stage, vapor compression. Operating parameters of these systems were then measured and models of these systems developed using EES software and their efficiencies determined. Furthermore, models were developed and proposed  for each sector using an appropriate natural refrigerant and efficiencies determined. Comparisons were then made with installed systems and it was found that natural refrigerants offer a promising solution in the refrigeration applications of Uganda and should be adopted for energy, safety and environmental issues. However, for this transition to be realized, there is need to create awareness in industry as well as the government taking the lead in the development of a phase out plan with support from industry and research institutions.

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Thesis (M. of Environmental Science)--Miami University, Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF document. Document formatted into pages; contains [1], iii, 66 p. : ill. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of the present study was to begin development of a psychological profile for environmentally ill patients. Existing psychiatric labels are unable to encompass these patients. Test scores were drawn from a pool of 89 patients whose environmental exposures were verified by the presence of toxins in the blood serum. A Mental Status Exam, a Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised screen, and the Profile of Mood States were administered. Results indicate a primary pattern which is significantly different from test norms consisting of fatigue, reduced mental functioning, and a lack of psychotic or personality disorder indicators. The reported symptoms of environmentally ill patients were objectively verified by current psychological test instruments. The need for a new diagnostic category for people who have been poisoned by environmental toxins is discussed.

This study's aim was to investigate the strength of contextual aspects' influences on environmentally ethical behaviour (EEB). A survey method with a selfadministered questionnaire was used and a cross-section of the Muslim male population of New Zealand was taken. The qualitative interviews and email questionnaires were also utilised to further explain the survey results. The linear regression analyses show correlations between contextual aspects (i.e., social, religious, economic, political, and demographic) and EEB (pre-cycling, re-use and recycling). Results indicate that the contextual aspects are influential on EEB in many ways and degrees. A model describing the relationship was developed. The economic aspect statistically significantly related to EEB the strongest. The qualitative interview and email questionnaire data support the findings of the survey. The relationship was positive, meaning that the more the consumers were influenced by the economic aspect to behave in an environmentally ethical way, the more they were likely to perform EEB. Compared to the economic aspect, white collar workers, number of household occupant, work involvement with the environment, type of house, and age had a weaker statistically significant relationship with EEB. The relationships were positive, meaning that the better the consumers' occupation (i.e., white collar workers), the more household member they had (i.e., 4 and above), the higher their level of work involvement with the environment, and the better their dwelling (i.e., bungalow or semi-detached houses), the more they were likely to perform EEB. However, the relationship between age and EEB was negative, meaning that the younger the consumers the more they were likely to perform EEB. However, the results of this study, from both the survey and the interview methods, indicate that demographic characteristics were not as important as the contextual aspects, particularly the economic aspect, in understanding consumers' EEB. This study shows that the economic aspect was very important in understanding consumers' EEB compared to the other contextual aspects even the political aspect was statistically significantly related to EEB via the economic aspect. Thus, the economic aspect should be used optimally by public and private sector managers to promote EEB.