Reference Corporation

Asia Pacific Database

(Available as File 30: Dialog Information Services) (Through mid-2007: 300,000 records; 100,000 fulltext records.) The Asia Pacific Database is a bibliographic and fulltext database that provides area coverage (especially for economic development, investment, trade and technological industries) for Northeast- Southeast Asia, Australasia-Pacific, South Asia-Central Asia, and Middle East-North Africa. The database is designed to provide easy bibliographic and fulltext access to journals, newspapers, conference proceedings, press releases, books, manuals, magazines, and ephemera.

Core area country coverage:

Northeast-Southeast-South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, North Korea, PRC, Sikkim, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Tibet, Vietnam.

Australasia-Pacific: Australia, East Timor, Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Western Samoa.

All Reference databases are constantly expanded and enriched, both with additional records from journals that have been abstracted for many years, but also from new journals, new sources and new books, whether by abstracts or fulltext.

Asia Pacific Database Sample Abstract 1

Phung Thuy Phuong

"Community Involvement in Urban Watershed Management: From the US Pacific Northwest to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam", in Journal of Environment & Development, September 2007. pp. 307-327.

Ho Chi Minh City has a serious water pollution problem, with rivers and canals threading through the city receiving heavy loads of domestic, industrial and agricultural untreated wastewater. In 2003, the US-Asia Environmental Partnership launched an effort to improve water quality in the Tan Hoa-Lo Gom Canal in Ho Chi Minh City, and creating a partnership between Portland State University in Oregon and Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City and the Ho Chi Minh City Environmental Protection Agency.

The United States model of community-based environmental management of urban watersheds, can provide models for urban watershed management in Vietnam despite different cultural, social, economic and political features. Three urban watersheds were the basis of the study: Columbia Slough and Johnson Creek in Portland Oregon, and the Duwamish River in Seattle.

Lessons from the American urban watershed management applicable to Vietnam fall into two categories: Barriers (people believe environmental protection to be the sole responsibility of the government; low environmental awareness in the population; NIMBY syndrome; poverty keeps people from being interested in environmental activities) and Opportunities (volunteerism is widespread; widespread involvement of the poor in forest management might be transferrable to watershed management activities).

Most problems in mobilizing community resources of environmental protection derive from the sparse institutional development in Ho Chi Minh City. Recommendations for Ho Chi Minh City's urban watershed management policies and programs include: opening the process of watershed management to public participation; institutional development to create local organizations that can take a leadership role in communities; considering universities as institutions that can play a lead role in fostering environmental collaboration. [TXT]

Geographic Descriptors: Oregon, USA, Vietnam, Washington

Subject Descriptors: Agriculture, Development Aid, Environmental Planning, FIVIET, Forest Management, Industrial Development, Institutional Development, Local Government, Poverty, River Development, Sewage Systems, Universities, Urban Development, Watershed Management

Corporate Descriptors: US-Asia Environmental Partnership, Tan Hoa-Lo Gom Canal, PSU, Portland State University, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City Environmental Protection Agency

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Asia Pacific Database Sample Abstract 2

"Burma Lifts Barricades, Says Arms Found in Monasteries", in USA Today, October 8, 2007. p. A1.

Burma's military leaders threaten a further crackdown after claiming they found weapons caches in the monasteries of the Buddhist monks who have been leading pro-Democracy protests for weeks. Dozens of new arrests were announced. The United States said it would push for sanctions in the UN Security Council, a move that Russia and China state they will veto.

In Rangoon, police and the army have reduced security measures and have dismantled most barricades. The government reports that 10 people died in clashes and about 1000 remain in detention centers, including at least 135 monks. Some 78 additional people suspected of involvement in the protests are being questioned.

On Sunday, Malaysia called for the Burmese government to hold talks with dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains under house arrest. Britain, France and the United States have circulated a draft statement in the Security Council calling for all political prisoners to be released and for talks between the government and opposition. Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win stated last week that democracy "cannot be imposed from outside".

Geographic Descriptors: Burma, France, Malaysia, Myanmar, PRC, Russia, UK, UK, USA

Subject Descriptors: Buddhists, Diplomatic Relations, Dissidents, International Organizations, Monasteries, Police Agencies, Political Prisoners, Small Arms, Terrorism

Corporate Descriptors: Security Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Myanmar)

Named persons:Nyan Win [Myanmar]; Aung San Suu Kyi [Myanmar]

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Asia-Pacific Database Primary Document

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation; APEC; APEC Secretariat.

Press Release: Fact Sheets: APEC And Climate Change. Singapore: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), APEC-Secretariat, August 21, 2007.

Issued by the APEC Secretariat. Singapore, August 21, 2007. APEC Leaders will consider climate change, energy security and clean development as key themes for their 2007 retreat In Sydney. The use of fossil fuels for transport and electricity production is a major factor in the increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which contribute to climate change and APEC has already launched initiatives, primarily through the Energy Working Group (EWG), to more broadly promote clean and efficient energy production and use. In 2001, APEC developed the Energy Security Initiative (ESI), which comprises short-term measures and long-term policy responses to address the challenges facing the region's energy supply. APEC's key activities aimed at practical outcomes on clean development and climate change include:

(1) Energy Investment and Trade: APEC is developing mechanisms that could encourage banks to more fully consider the savings from Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) investments. Natural Gas Trade. APEC Best Practice Principles for Natural Gas Trade to promote financing and investment, technology transfer, and transparent permitting processes for liquid natural gas (LNG) facilities are being developed. Environmental Goods. APEC is seeking to develop a list of environmental goods that could be updated regularly and used as a reference for regional trade. APEC is also conducting training on environmental goods focusing on renewable and clean energy technologies and water and wastewater treatment. An APEC Energy Trade and Investment Study and Roundtable in 2008 will identify trade and investment barriers to the greater use of cleaner and more efficient fuels and technologies in the APEC region and discuss ways to overcome these barriers.

(2) Energy Efficiency: Mitigating the effects of climate change through increased energy efficiency measures is promoted by APEC in a variety of ways: The APEC Energy Standards Information System (APEC-ESIS) provides government and industry with information on testing standards, minimum energy performance standards and labeling requirements for a range of equipment traded in the APEC region. Increasing highway transport and passenger transport system efficiency is an important issue for the APEC Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation. This includes the examination of a range of policies for improving the fuel efficiency and the analysis of transportation data to track energy efficiency improvements. An APEC Energy Peer Review Mechanism is being developed for APEC member economies to undergo a voluntary progress review, relating to energy policy reforms and implementation of initiatives aimed at attaining energy efficiency goals.

(3) Energy Technology: Technological advances have created opportunities to reduce emissions in a number of areas: The APEC Expert Group on New & Renewable Energy Technologies (EGNRET) designs projects to assess, develop, and promote renewable energy technologies. This includes a sourcebook of hydrogen codes & standards for APEC member economies and projects focusing on developing best practices in energy efficiency and renewable energy in buildings. The APEC Expert Group on Clean Fossil Energy (EGCFE) sponsors studies and training to help expand the use of clean coal technologies and natural gas in electricity generation. Nuclear Power is an important source of low-emission energy generation in the region and APEC Energy Ministers have been active in encouraging relevant economies to ensure the safety, security, seismic, health and waste handling aspects of civilian nuclear energy are adequately addressed.

(4) Transport Emission And Alternative Fuels: Recognizing that the transportation sector contributes large-scale emissions and is the leading sector for oil demand growth in the APEC region, APEC is working with industry to improve fuel efficiency and promote alternative fuel use. APEC Transportation Ministers have directed the Transportation Working Group (TPTWG) to work with experts on sustainable policy approaches to address emissions from aviation operations. A first APEC seminar which developed options to reduce aviation emissions based on mutual consent, was held from 10-11 August in Singapore. The APEC Biofuels Task Force is overseeing projects such as an assessment of biofuel resources and supply potential and establishing guidelines for biodiesel standards in order to enhance APEC biodiesel trade.

(5) Preparedness And Adaptation: Across a broad range of sectors APEC fora are working to increase awareness and preparations for the potential repercussions of climate change, including: The APEC Industrial Science & Technology Working Group (ISTWG) will conduct a project to help member economies reduce negative economic impacts, and protect lives and properties by providing climate prediction information. The ISTWG is also assisting in the development of an early warning system of high impact climate changes. The APEC Marine Resources Conservation Working Group (MRCWG) has developed projects on climate change adaptation to deal with issues that include rising sea levels.

(6) Dialogue With Business Sector: Public-private sector partnerships have become an important ingredient for the success of government policy in addressing the challenges of climate change. APEC provides a forum for government-to-business dialogues including: The Energy Business Network (EBN) was created to provide an industry perspective on the key energy challenges that could be factored into government decision making. This is particularly relevant when considering issues relating to climate change. The 2007 APEC Energy Business Forum enabled Energy Ministers and senior energy industry representatives from a wide range of APEC member economies to discuss ways to deal with the impact of high energy prices and climate change on the efficiency of energy use and options for clean energy supply in buildings, industry, electric power generation, and transportation.

(7) Cooperation With Other Organizations: Cooperation and partnership between international organizations on energy security, climate change and other environmental challenges is essential for each to make a valid contribution through their specific area of expertise. For APEC this includes: The EWG collaborating with the International Energy Agency to build dialogue on energy statistics and indicators, energy technology development and oil security. The EWG will also submit, as a partnership initiative led by Australia and Mexico, a report on "Energy for Sustainable Development: Fostering Regional Energy Cooperation in APEC" to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development.

Geographic Descriptors: Australia, Mexico, Singapore

Subject Descriptors: Banking, Biofuels, Diplomatic Relations, Energy Conservation, Energy Policy, Environmental Planning, International Organizations, Natural Gas, Regional Development, Renewable Resources, Sea Level Rise, Sustainable Development, Technology Transfer, Trade Policy, Transportation

Corporate Descriptors: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, APEC Secretariat, APEC Energy Ministers, ISTWG, APEC-ISTWG, APEC Industrial Science & Technology Working Group, UN Commission on Sustainable Development, APEC Energy Business Forum, MRCWG, APEC-MRCWG, APEC Marine Resources Conservation Working Group, APEC Biofuels Task Force, APEC Transportation Ministers, TPTWG, APEC-TPTWG, APEC Transportation Working Group, ENGRET, APEC-EGNRET, APEC Expert Group on New & Renewable Energy Technologies, EGCFE, APEC-EGCFE, APEC Expert Group on Clean Fossil Energy, ESI, APEC-ESI, APEC Energy Security Initiative, EWG, APEC-EWG, APEC Energy Working Group

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