Style, experimentation and Jingju (Beijing Opera) as a decentered multiplicity

Jingju (Beijing Opera) is widely considered to be a fundamentally non-naturalistic practice that became known in the West after it caught the attention of western practitioners in 1935 following Mei Lanfang’s performance in Moscow. Given the implication that its importance is largely historical, some non-specialists have implied that Jingju has little relevance to contemporary modes of thinking, particularly the multiplicities of experience as outlined by philosophers such as Deleuze and Guattari. This article seeks to demonstrate the multiplicity of Jingju for a wider readership through both a historical analysis and a deconstruction of the form. It will show how, at the same time that Mei Lanfang was providing a ‘non-realistic’ model for western practitioners eager to displace the dominance of naturalism, realistic settings were becoming an integral part of Jingju performances in Shanghai. The article also engages with the various acting pai/styles that weave Jingju into a complex, multiple form. The article demonstrates how Deleuzian models actually facilitate a greater understanding of Jingju.

Exploiting a hybrid environmental design strategy in the continental climate of Beijing

The built environment in China is required to achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 against the 1980 design standard. A particular challenge is how to maintain acceptable comfort conditions through the hot humid summers and cold desiccating winters of its continental climate regions. Fully air-conditioned sealed envelopes, often fully glazed, are becoming increasingly common in these regions. Remedial strategies involve technical refinements to the air-handling equipment and a contribution from renewable energy sources in an attempt to achieve the prescribed net reduction in energy use. However an alternative hybrid environmental design strategy is developed in this research project. It exploits observed temperate periods of weeks, days, even hours in duration to free-run an office and exhibition building configured to promote natural stack ventilation when ambient conditions permit and mechanical ventilation when conditions require it, the two modes delivered through the same physical infrastructure. The proposal is modelled in proprietary software and the methodology adopted is described. The challenge is compounded by its first practical application to an existing reinforced concrete frame originally designed to receive a highly glazed envelope. This original scheme is reviewed in comparison. Furthermore the practical delivery of the proposal value engineered out a proportion of the ventilation stacks. The likely consequence of this for the environmental performance of the building is investigated through a sensitivity study.

Yield and nitrogen accumulation and partitioning in winter wheat under elevated CO2: A 3-year free-air CO2 enrichment experiment

Fossil fuel combustion and deforestation have resulted in a rapid increase in atmospheric [CO2] since the 1950’s, and it will reach about 550 μmol mol−1 in 2050. Field experiments were conducted at the Free-air CO2 Enrichment facility in Beijing, China. Winter wheat was grown to maturity under elevated [CO2] (550 ± 17 μmol mol−1) and ambient [CO2] (415 ± 16 μmol mol−1), with high nitrogen (N) supply (HN, 170 kg N ha−1) and low nitrogen supply (LN, 100 kg N ha−1) for three growing seasons from 2007 to 2010. Elevated [CO2] increased wheat grain yield by 11.4% across the three years. [CO2]-induced yield enhancements were 10.8% and 11.9% under low N and high N supply, respectively. Nitrogen accumulation under elevated [CO2] was increased by 12.9% and 9.2% at the half-way anthesis and ripening stage across three years, respectively. Winter wheat had higher nitrogen demand under elevated [CO2] than ambient [CO2], and grain yield had a stronger correlation with plant N uptake after anthesis than before anthesis at high [CO2]. Our results suggest that regulating on the N application rate and time, is likely important for sustainable grain production under future CO2 climate.

Washington's growth and opportunity act or Beijing's 'Overarching Brilliance': will African governments choose neither?

Growing criticism of Chinese engagement in Africa centres on the risk to African development posed by China's aggressive export policies and the threat to the Washington Consensus and African governance posed by China's 'non-interference' approach to engagement. This article challenges both these assumptions. The growth of Chinese trade has a wide range of impacts, depending on the sector in question, and the current terms of trade Washington extends to Africa under the auspices of the AGOA do not result in uniformly beneficial effects. With regard to African governance, it is argued that the 'Washington Consensus' has been based on competing and often muddled perceptions of US national interest. This fact tempers the regret felt at Washington's loss of influence over the good governance agenda. Evidence is provided to show that China can work within properly regulated countries and industries, if the African governments in question can provide fair, efficient and transparent environments in which to operate.

Trabajo, educación y salud de las niñas en América Latina y el Caribe: indicadores elaborados en el marco de la plataforma de Beijing

Incluye Bibliografía

The Caribbean subregional review and appraisal report on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action

Includes bibliography

Accelerating gender equality: reports of the Technical Meeting of the National Machineries for Women and Fourth Caribbean Ministerial Conference on Women: Review and Appraisal of the Beijing Platform for Action

Contiene documentos con símbolos LC/CAR/L.29 y LC/CAR/L.1/Rev.1, ingresados en Biblioteca

Indicadores de género para el seguimiento y la evaluación del Programa de Acción Regional para las Mujeres de América Latina y el Caribe, 1995-2001, y la Plataforma de Acción de Beijing

Incluye Bibliografía

Gender indicators for follow-up and evaluation of the Regional Programme of Action for the Women of Latin America and the Caribbean, 1995-2001, and the Beijing Platform for Action

Includes bibliography

Informe regional sobre el examen y la evaluación de la Declaración y la Plataforma de Acción de Beijing y el documento final del vigesimotercer período extraordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General (2000) en los países de América Latina y el Caribe

En este informe se señalan los principales avances de los últimos 20 años a partir de la información aportada por los países de la región sobre la aplicación de la Declaración y la Plataforma de Acción de Beijing, respondiendo a las recomendaciones del documento final del vigesimotercer período extraordinario de sesiones de la Asamblea General (2000) para los exámenes regionales y mundiales que tendrán lugar en 2015, en ocasión de la conmemoración de Beijing+20. Se ha tomado en cuenta, además, el informe subregional sobre el Caribe, que incluye datos de los informes nacionales sobre evaluación de género (Country Gender Assessment) a cargo del Banco de Desarrollo del Caribe, los informes nacionales sobre evaluación de la pobreza (Country Poverty Assessment) y la información proporcionada por la Comunidad del Caribe (CARICOM).

Regional review and appraisal of implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (2000) in Latin American and Caribbean countries

This report indicates the main advances of the past 20 years based on the information provided by the region’s countries on implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, in response to the recommendations made in the final document of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (2000) for the regional and global reviews that would take place in 2015, on the twentieth anniversary of the Beijing Conference (Beijing+20). The subregional report on the Caribbean (ECLAC, 2014c) has also been taken into account, which includes data from the country gender assessments prepared by the Caribbean Development Bank, the country poverty assessments and information provided by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Sesión especial sobre Beijing +20 en América Latina y el Caribe: Declaración

La Sesión Especial sobre Beijing+20 en América Latina y el Caribe se llevó a cabo los días 18 y 19 de noviembre de 2014 en el marco de la quincuagésima primera Reunión de la Mesa Directiva de la Conferencia Regional sobre la Mujer de América Latina y el Caribe, que se realizó en Santiago, del 17 al 19 de noviembre de 2014. En esa oportunidad las ministras y autoridades de los mecanismos nacionales para el adelanto de la mujer aprobaron la siguiente Declaración.

Special session on Beijing +20 in Latin America and the Caribbean: Statement

The Special Session on Beijing+20 in Latin America and the Caribbean took place on 18 and 19 November 2014 in the framework of the fifty-first meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Santiago from 17 to 19 November 2014. On that occasion the ministers and high-level authorities of the national machineries for the advancement of women adopted the following Statement.