Does Environmental Degradation Influence Migration? Emigration to Developed Countries in the Late 1980s and 1990s*

Objective. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that climate change will intensify during the 21st century. The exact distribution of impacts will likely be complex in nature. Although some areas may exhibit benefits, many areas will likely experience environmental decline. The objective of this article is to answer the following question: What are the potential implications of deteriorating environmental conditions for human migration? This is not an easy question to answer because the full effects of climate change are not yet completely evident. Yet by studying the impact of environmental forces on migration in recent decades, we can offer some insight to this question. Methods. In implementing this approach, we employ theoretical and empirical methods. Our theoretical model suggests that environmental degradation should promote out‐migration from affected areas, all other things being equal. To test this prediction empirically, we conduct a large‐N statistical analysis focusing on the role of several environmental factors in emigration to developed countries. Our empirical sample covers the late 1980s and the 1990s. Results. The empirical results suggest that environmental decline plays a statistically significant role in out‐migration, pushing people to leave their homes and move to other countries. Conclusions. In the conclusions section of this article, we evaluate the policy implications of these findings for developed countries in the context of climate change and national security.     

Communicating the Risks of a New, Emerging Pathogen: The Case of Cryptococcus gattii

The news media are an important channel for communicating public health messages, providing important information about geographic extent, symptoms, and precautionary measures. This function may be particularly important in the case of new and emerging infectious diseases, which are unfamiliar to both the public and health professionals. We conducted a content analysis of the coverage in six Canadian newspapers of two ¨emerging infectious pathogens in British Columbia (BC), West Nile virus and Cryptococcus gattii ( C. gattii ), between 2001 and 2006. C. gattii was first identified in the Canadian Pacific Northwest in 1999, having previously been restricted to tropical and subtropical areas. By summer 2006, C. gattii had killed at least eight people and was responsible for over 150 hospitalizations in the province of BC, as well as significant morbidity and mortality among companion animals. West Nile virus reached Canada in 2001 and has since caused significant morbidity and mortality. It has not, to date, reached BC. Despite the much higher incidence of disease and death caused by C. gattii in BC, West Nile virus received five times more news coverage in the British Columbian and national newspapers examined. Surprisingly, the local newspaper closest to the center of the British Columbia C. gattii outbreak had a much lower proportion of coverage of the disease than other papers in the province. The article discusses possible explanations for these findings, and the implications for public health communication.     

The impact of the Doha trade proposals on farmers’ incomes in China

This paper analyzes the potential impacts of the Doha trade proposals (those of the USA, EU and G20) on agricultural production and incomes of China's farmers by region and income group. By linking a global trade model to a national policy model which itself is connected to a set of disaggregated household data, we are able to assess the effects of the proposed Doha trade liberalizations on households both at the national and regional levels. According to the results of the model, the impacts of a Doha Round agreement on households differ significantly from those of China's WTO accession. China's economy would benefit from the trade liberalization associated with the Doha Round. The overall impacts, however, are relatively minor. Although farmers will benefit at the national level, the gains among farmers vary largely by income group and province. Also, the impacts on households that produce different types of crops differ.     

检验自由主义多元文化论假设——政治哲学规范理论和社会科学的证据

在20世纪90年代的大部分时间里,多元文化主义的学术文献主要出自政治哲学家之手,采用的是政治哲学的规范理论。这些政治哲学家创立了具有显著自由—民主和平等思想的多元文化主义公民身份的理想化理论。这种"自由主义的多元文化主义假说"认为,采用多元文化主义政策,不会危害西方核心价值观:自由、民主。这个观点非常具有影响力,它不仅影响了多元文化主义在哲学领域中的学术讨论,而且广泛地影响其他学术领域,影响公共生活。然而,许多社会科学家却怀疑多元文化主义在现实世界中是否如此无害。考察了加拿大和其他国家及地区的现有证据,用实证的方法检验自由民主观念下的多元文化主义的假设。这些论据将告诉人们:自由—民主理念下的多元文化主义的前景是什么?多元文化政策对自由—民主价值观有什么样的影响?     

从学科教学知识到标志性教学法:高校新任教师专业发展的有效途径

学科教学知识(PCK)和标志性教学法是舒尔曼提出的两个核心概念。学科教学知识注重教师个人的专业发展,而标志性教学法则注重学科专业知识、技能和优秀教师经验的传承。高校新任教师在入职后通常直接进入课堂实施教学,缺乏专业发展和提升教学技能的机会。标志性教学法可以帮助高校新任教师深化对专业知识结构的认识,丰富教师的学科教学知识,弥补高校新任教师在教学技能和教学方法上的短板。在此理论框架下,以英属哥伦比亚大学土地与食品系统学院的助教专业发展项目为例,通过明确和"外化"可持续发展食品系统专业的标志性教学法,从设计、实施和评估等方面探寻促进助教专业发展的有效途径。研究结果表明,以标志性教学法的使用和反思为主要内容的专业发展项目,强调标志性教学法的核心理念,能够以教学实践为中心,赋能助教,在不过多占用课外时间的情况下增进助教对学生学习困难的了解,提高其教学技能,增强助教与任课教师间的合作意识,促进学科专业知识与标志性教学方法的结合,最终达到丰富和完善学科教学知识、提高教学技能、促进教师专业发展的目的。通过建立和加强学科教学知识与标志性教学法的联系,为高校新任教师专业发展提供了新的实践路径。