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Morteza Aminmansour

May 5,2004

Earthquake Safety Iranian hospitals and Schools: Weeks after the historic City of Bam in the southeastern Kerman province of Iran suffered a devastating earthquake official Government of Iran figures indicated the final death toll were as high as 45,000. National and international relief efforts were focusing on meeting the needs for survival of tens of thousands of families amid cold night temperatures and frequent aftershocks.
The number of people left homeless by the disaster was around 75,000 and at least 30,000 Were injured with large number left disabled.
Rapid assessments indicated that all schools have been completely destroyed or were a non –functional state and left between 20,000-30,000 children and young people without access to schooling, many of whom lost family in the disaster.
According to Iranian authorities a third of all teachers in the City lost their lives in the earthquake. The result of this earthquake: *Children have lost families, homes and possessions *Many Children did not have adequate shelter or access to basic services such as health care, education and sanitation facilities. Growing evidence shows there was number of separated children following the disaster. *Children education has been disrupted for a period of time. Iranian Hospitals and schools need to embark on a frenzy of building and reconstruction that will cost billions of dollars.
For example in San Francisco alone, the new engineering standards established to assure that hospitals and schools will remain upright and functioning after a major temblor will lead to the demolition of the City’s largest medical centers and schools. The construction of new or revamped replacements costing billions of dollars.
In the case of Iranian hospitals and schools the buildings do not meet stringent safety codes. The LAW should requires all acute care hospitals and schools to rebuild, retrofit or close any buildings that are currently deemed at significant risk of collapse in a big quake.

38% of California’s hospital buildings are considered at risk. Because it can take a decade to bring a hospital project from conception to completion, 2003 was shaping up as a crucial year for launching projects that would be finished in time.
Faced with decisions to retrofit or rebuild, many hospitals in Europe and USA are opting down their old structures and plan for new ones that meet demands not only for quake safety, but also for modern medical amenities.
The Cost of hospital reconstruction in Iran is extraordinary, because medical centers not only have to meet stringent quake-safety standards, but they must have unique design and engineering requirements that can drive up the costs.

The Earthquake safety act needs to provide incentives, including grants and tax credits (for private hospitals in under developed regions and provinces) to enhance the safety of hospitals, schools, houses and other structures. The measure should direct the central government to work with citizens, businesses and state and local government (ostandary, farmandary, Bakhshdary) to develop and implement seismic safety measures that will mitigate damage caused by future earthquakes.

In the case BAM the devastating earthquake underestimated the importance of prevention measures to save lives, reduce injuries and prevent the loss of property. A number of hospitals and schools suffered significant structural damage in the earthquake. The significant structural damage caused by this earthquake raised the questions, whether current building code requirements for hospitals, which focus on structure elements, are sufficient to ensure that facilities will continue to function after an earthquake. At the local level, the province level, or government’s office of health planning a development is already reviewing the adequacy of the hospital seismic safety. The health care administration needs to ask the Iranian government For more help to improve its facilities in a case of earthquake.
A sever damage would limit the capacity to provide help in case of emergency after earthquake. In the case of Bam in adequate of communication cost more lives and caused problems for local helper to respond for the severely damaged City. The lack of coordination activities and determination availability at various facilities were visible. Assistance funds needs to be available for replacement, repair, in damaged areas. . The money needed for hardening the projects.

It is vital that the Central government of Iran foster partnerships to make the buildings, schools, hospitals and homes more earthquake resistant, before disaster strikes. In addition to saving lives and preventing injuries, the government of Iran should help to ensure in a critical situation the public facilities such as hospitals, will continue to function after an earthquake. I would like to mention for every dollar spent in damage prevention, at least two dollars are saved in repairs. In the case of a big earthquake (7.0 magnitude or higher) in any of Iranian cities many people could be left homeless, hundreds or thousands killed and thousands of businesses would be damaged or face disruption. I believe that steps to retrofit buildings, hospital, schools, and homes will dramatically reduce huge cost estimates.

Literatures : Preparing for the big one (saving live through earthquake mitigation).
Emergency Statement Iran earthquake. Bipartisan legislation introduced to encourage earthquake safety.(seismic improvements).



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June 28,2004 Morteza Aminmansour Seattle, WA, USA U.S. Oil policy and corrupt regimes in Persian Gulf Countries: Currently, US domestic oil production supplies about 50% of total U.S. consumption. Foreign sources provide the rest, primarily Canada, Venezuela, Mexico and several African countries. The U.S. is strongly committed to production Persian Gulf oil, although only about 10% of oil used in the U.S. is imported from the region. During the cold war, U.S. strategy was primarily aimed at ensuring that Persian Gulf oil did not fall into hostile hands. Persian Gulf oil was and remains important because of its impact on the global economy. U.S. competitors in Japan and Europe depend more on Persian Gulf Oil than the U.S. does. 30% of European oil imports and nearly 80% of Japan’s come from the Persian Gulf. The U.S. exerts significant influence on these countries through control of Persian Gulf Oil. The Persian Gulf corporation council states (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Oman jointly posses 64% of the world’s proven oil reserves. The most important among Persian Gulf states is corrupt Saudi Arabia, which alone controls 27% of the world’s oil supplies. Oil represents the backbone of the Saudi economy. But despite its small population and its oil revenues reaching $45 billion, in the 1990-93 period Saudi foreign domestic debt climbed to $ 70 billion. Most of this was the result of arms purchases, largely from the United States. The rise of opposition forces within Saudi Arabia is linked to this pattern of arms spending as well as the corrupt practices of the monarchy. The stability of this region is baffling and discrimination against Shi’a Muslims has been rampant in several countries such as UAE and Saudi Arabia. Anti government religious militancy has grown .The Persian Gulf political Systems appear an anachronism, the last holdout of this system in a modern world. The region itself is in turmoil. Persian Gulf states are using variety of government’s strategies to promote social order. The Persian Gulf countries are using a combination of several strategies: strong security service; Divide-and rule measures; ideological flexibility; token participation; accommodative diplomacy. These strategies preserve these states of social peace in an area of turbulence. In an era when democracy is the world’s dominant political system, Persian Gulf regimes are traditional autocracies. Political alienation and corruption are widespread. Family members or those close to them dominate all-important positions –those that control spending, internal security, and military. The traditional checks on government authority a free press, an independent judiciary and a strong civil society are either lacking or kept intentionally weak in the Persian gulf states. The alienation of social and economic elites appears to be particularly dangerous. Oil wealth has empowered the ruling families that control the state. Corruption and unaccounted for government spending levels are quite high. Money derived from the sale of oil noted in balance of payment statement often fails to appear in oil revenues reported in the state budget. In recent years, from 18 to 30 percent of the revenue from petroleum exports was not reported in budgets in Persian Gulf countries such as UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. This missing money – billions of dollars a year enriches the ruling families. The Opposition groups frequently criticize the regimes for allowing ruling families mismanage the country (UAE). They are accused of squandering the wealth of the nation. Al SAUD family members are blamed for corruption and contributing to the country’s economic woes. The per capita incomes of many Persian Gulf residents have plummeted. Saudi Arabia has perhaps 20,000 princes and princesses, all of whom received stipends from the Saudi state that range from thousands to millions of dollars a month. Bahrain’s AL KHALIFA, while fewer in member, also maintain an extravagant lifestyle and are perceived to interfere regularly in business for their own enrichment. Al Persian Gulf governments are remarkably skilled at using economic control to ensure their power. Oil wealth allows the states to dominate the economy. In Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, perhaps 90% of citizens work for the government. For the last decade Persian Gulf monarchies have invested higher percentage of oil profits in land, hotels, real estate, factories and other enterprises in the U.S., Japan, Europe. Increasing income of the oil –exporting states is linked to profits from unrelated businesses in oil –importing states rather than from the sale of oil itself. . This gives the Persian Gulf oil States some stake in keeping oil prices moderate. Because they share the financial interests in the oil-importing countries. The diversification also provides the Persian Gulf countries additional leverage to manipulate oil prices and production. The result is that monarchies can manipulate the world oil markets while remaining relatively protected. Despite their high dependence on Persian Gulf oil, neither Europe nor Japan plays a major role in strategic defense of the region. U.S. policy in Persian Gulf ignores some fundamental realities: For example Iranian regime was not isolated forever. European countries, China, Russia, and other countries with interests different from U.S Is all abandoning U.S policy to consider trade with Iran? The attempt to exclude Iran from influencing regional politics is unrealistic. The uncritical U.S support for corrupt Persian Gulf regimes and their human rights abuses have weakened both U.S. Policy and oil countries. The members of the Persian Gulf’s ruling elite have a strong perception that the U.S. is forcing them to buy weapons that they do not need and not allowing them to diversify their weaponry by purchasing arms from Europe. Persian Gulf oil could be protected is economic rather than military means eliminating the military and political costs of dual containment. And could provide more jobs for people. The rulers of UAE and Saudi Arabia are greedy and corrupt, have not trained their people for life after the oil bonanza. Nearly all Gulf Arab men work for their corrupt governments, leaving productive labor almost entirely to foreign labors from East Asia, The Indian subcontinent, and poorer Arab countries. In 1981, the PGCC residents had an average per capita income of $28,000. Today is just $12,000. Meanwhile, the PGCC countries face daunting bills to renovate the infrastructure built during the oil boom. Due to the population explosion and aging Ryiadh has to deliver drinking water to poor neighborhoods with trucks. Cutting back on monarchical privileges would free up money for infrastructure and debt payments. But the corrupt leaders continue to insist that a revived market will save them and in this they are almost certainly mistaken. Only one of the royal family in Saudi Arabia invested $13 billion in foreign companies, because of the financial systems in the PGCC countries, almost none of his wealth -or that of the $800 billion in assets held by PGCC nationals abroad –will come soon. The economics of the Persian Gulf are likely to complicate the politics of the Persian Gulf. Nervous monarchies will be eager to appease the Islamists after all, they’d rather not have a revolution to put down and that in turn, will often run counter to U.S. interests. U.S. protection of Persian Gulf oil supplies should focus on internal threats resulting from the monarchies because of their denial of human rights and political participation and democracy in corrupt countries such as UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. U.S. should consider negotiation with country Iran. U.S. should support and respect Iranian integrity and territorial right of Abu Musa, greater TONB and lesser TONB and policy in fighting aggression of corrupt regime (UAE) for unacceptable behavior after a UAE vessel allegedly entered Iranian waters around a disputed Persian Gulf islands and opened fire at an Iranian fishing boat and detained its crew. Iran had demanded an explanation. Emphasizing defense of the oil states from external threats ignores the more serious problems of domestic instability and political opposition to the corrupt ruling Persian Gulf regimes such as UAE, Saudi Arabia. Certainly Iran differs with the U.S. on many issues as the Middle East process, but Iran can be engaged on other issues such as Persian Gulf security. Western oil companies had no interest in territorial conquest and oil production placed few political demands on rulers and society , while the financial benefits from this industry allowed the state to silence the tribal challenges from the periphery . In some cases , such as Saudi Arabia , the foreign oil company, in the absence of a local entrepreneurial class, helped the state not only to defend itself against external challenge, but also begin a broad effort to modernize and eventually to control its own industry. Literatures : · Daniel .L. Byman and Jerrold D. Green (the enigma of political stability in the Persian gulf monarchies . · Peace and political reform in Persian gulf (the modern Middle east). · Daniel yergin Oil the strategic prize , · Joe Strok , Middle east oil and the energy Crisis . · F. Gregory Gause, oil monarchies. · Micheal Field, inside the Arab world.
June 29 ,2004 Morteza Aminmansour Seattle, WA,2004 Slavery of Children and women in Persian gulf countries: The UAE was one of the 19 countries in the world that the United States blacklisted for human trafficking. The trafficking as a modern form of Slavery leaves no land untouched.. With camel racing heavily patronized by the Use’s oil rich rulers, who have least respect in the legislature , thousands of small children from Indian sun continent face a black and future. Women migrated from Azerbaijan, Iran Kazakhstan, Ukraine, India and Eastern Europe have reported being lured with fraudulent promises of lucrative opportunities, legitimate jobs and then forced into sexual exploitation. Women who dared resist encountered harsh punishment from their employers , including physical assault . Their status as illegal migrants made the women particularly vulnerable to attacks by customers and traffickers alike . UAE has joined the growing global criminal activity of sex trafficking. Exact number of victims is impossible to obtain, but according to an official source in UAE, there has been increase in the number of teen- age girls in prostitution (forced to work from Iran and other countries). The magnitude of the statistic conveys how rapidly this form of abuse Has grown. The popular destinations for victims of the sex slave trade are the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf (UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar). Traffickers target girls between 13 and 17 to send to Arab countries. The number of Iranian women and girls who are deported from Persian Gulf countries indicates the Magnitude of the trade. A measure of Islamic fundamentalists success in controlling the society is the depth and totality with which they suppress the freedom and rights of women. The Islamic fundamentalists in Iran have for example expended tremendous amounts of time and efforts controlling, harassing, and punishing women and girls in the name of Islam. In Tehran, there are an estimated 84,000 women and girls in prostitution, many of them are on the Streets, others are in the 250 brothels that reportedly operate in the City. The trade is also international. Thousands of Iranian women and girls have been sold into sexual slavery abroad. The Sex Slave Trade is one of the most Profitable activities in Iran today. Iranian governments officials are involved in buying, selling and sexually abusing women and girls. One factor contributing to the increase in prostitution and the sex slave trade is the number of female teens who are running away from home. In Tehran alone there are an estimated 25,000 Street Children, most of them girls. Many of the girls come from impoverished Rural areas. Some addicted parents sell their Children to support their habits. . A number of prostitution and slavery rings operating from Tehran that has sold girls and women to Britain, France, and Germany. In Iranian Province of Khorasan, local police report that girls are being sold to Pakistani men as sex slaves. They have passed and enforced humiliating and sadistic rules and punishments of women and girls, enslaving them in a system of segregation. Many Mullahs and officials are involved in the sexual exploitation and trade of women and girls. Women who are arrested for prostitution say they must have sex with the arresting officer. There are reports of police locating young women for sex for the wealthy and powerful mullahs. Some may think a thriving sex trade in a theocracy with clerics possibly acting as pimps is a contradiction in a country founded and ruled by Islamic fundamentalists. I would like to define the slavery as work done without any compensation under the threat Of violence. The modern- day of slavery are forced labor, forced prostitution. Slavery is technically illegal everywhere but they are estimated 27 million enslaved worldwide than ever before, while the moral argument against slavery has been won, the practical struggle to end slavery is by no means over. Camel racing in the Persian Gulf(UAE), for example is known to be slave work only by human rights experts or locals. Until poverty is overcome, some forms of slavery will always exist. Some argue that slave labor built up western capitalist development. One of the fastest growing means by which children are enslaved today is trafficking. Girls as young as six are trafficked to work as maids in UAE and Saudi Arabia. Men and women and children live and work as slaves or in slave-like conditions. The sexual enslavement of children is part of the generation exploitation of children in impoverished parts of the world. Literatures : 1-Slavery by Harry Rosenberg 2-Modern-day slavery iAbolish 3-Sex slavery new face of oppression of women in Iran By Sepehrrad and Hughes.
Morteza Aminmansour Seattle, WA, USA Persian Gulf Economy, Environment, Urbanization: Part I IRAN: With a population of 71 million, and a GDP more than 115 billion, Iran is the second most populous country and the second largest economy in the middle –eastern region. It is also second largest OPEC oil producer and has the world second largest Reserves of gas. In the recent year Iran has given strong and special emphasis to human, social protection. As a result of major investments in the social sector over the last Few years with virtually universal education extensive health coverage, an active distributive strategy through direct transfers and indirect subsidies Iran is now at the closing of the gender gap in education, where the enrolment rate for boys and girls show only small differences. In literacy and in political representation, however, there are development changes. The country suffers from a significant prevalence of poverty and a significant rate of unemployment. Iran does have an extensive social safety net and transfer system that reaches a large number of the poor these include education scholarships and health and social security coverage. Iran’s central position has made it a crossroad of migration. The Population explosion in the countries like Iran and Egypt is experienced . From economical perspective in many countries like(Iran, Persian gulf states) children are viewed as capital goods to help with the labor force . From social perspective children provide security for the aged parents . From cultural perspective children are viewed as gifts from god ( they add to number of following the religion (Islam, Judaism). Because of economical difficulties Iran suffer the lack of : *investment in public health to reduce infant mortality *Improve female education and labor force participation * Family planning(educate the poor about the population problem and provide contraceptive at minimal cost. *Increase employment and income *Improve income distribution: increase income share of the poorest 40% of the population. However ,people may resist family planning because of : *Lack of education and understanding of the population problem *Ideology: overpopulation is a capitalist problem *Religious belief: Contraception and /or abortion are not permitted. Human capital formation is central to economic development. It has been the major factor in explaining rapid and sustained output growth. Human capital formation improve the quality and productivity of labor in the form of : *technical and vocational training *on –the-job training *Formal education at the elementary, secondary and higher levels *Adult education: extension programs in agriculture *Migration: internal (rural-urban – and urban-urban) external(the brain drain) If the Iranian government is not capable of solving the economic problems, the economic problems could ultimately overwhelm the government. Iran’s economy can be called “chronic illness” after two decades of economic mismanagement a widespread sense of urgency has left them increasingly exposed Iranian economy is centrally controlled economy that enjoys little foreign investments. Only one-fifth of Iranian economy is in private hands. The lack of economic security is visible in the Iranian economy sector. Iran is in spite of great achievements in the provision of education opportunities , the quality of education has remained below the desired standards and massive investment In human capital has not fully contributed to Social, economic , and political development . Some of problems include: · Shortage of qualified teachers and administrators and materials · Lack of emphasis on critical thinking and analytical skills development · Expansion of educated unemployment and underemployment due to limited labor absorptive capacity of the economy · Increase income inequality since higher education is generally available to the already affluent people · Inability to accommodate foreign educated professionals ,contributing to the brain drain Economic development will take place as a result of structural transformation from a rural-based agrarian to the urban-based industrial economy. Urbanization rate and GDP per capita are positively related . High income countries such as UAE, and Kuwait are more urbanized than the middle-income nations(IRAN, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain)and low – income nations(Egypt, Sudan, Morocco). The Iranian economy seems to be divided into two sectors : Urban(modern or industrial ) and rural (traditional or agricultural ) In Iran the marginal productivity of labor is very low in rural sector . Productive activities in the urban sector results in an increased demand for labor and thus offer a wage rate well above the rural subsistence rate . Such a wage differential attracts the rural labor force to the urban sector . The profit in the urban sector is now quite since the urban wage rate is slightly above the rural subsistence wage rate. Urbanization in the countries like Iran and Turkey has been very rapid grown . People moved from rural areas into urban areas in search for better job and future With higher paying rate and better living conditions . The urbanization has also created major problems in the capital and major coties.\ The problems in these field are : 1) Unemployment and underemployment 2) Congestion and pollution. 3) Insufficient accommodation such as housing and transportation 4) Possibility of political unrest. Iran does have major problem with brain drain large numbers of educated people emigrated to western countries and United States in search of better economical opportunities and socio-political security and freedom . The massive outflow from countries such as Iran . Iranian are typically skilled and semi-skilled workers to make higher wages gain legal resistance . The cost of human capital emigration greater than expected .these resources could be used in educating or training the emigrants. Benefits of their labor are realized be the host country as they participate in economic activities. In some cases the migrant workers commended high wages. The politic of Persian gulf states were to replace Arab migrant workers with workers from south and East Asia since they are willing to work for lower wages and do not interfere in internal political situation of the host country. And do not advocate political change And stay only for a period of time for the contracts , which they are obligated . Iran’s economy, which relies heavily on oil, exports revenues (around 80% of total earnings, 40%-50% of the government budget, and 10% - 20 % of GDP). A rapidly growing, young population with limited job prospects and high levels of unemployment. A significant external debt (including short term debt), high levels of poverty, expensive state subsidies on many basic goods, inefficient public sector and state monopolies which control quarter of the economy. The country is attempting to diversify by investing some of its oil revenues in other areas like petrochemicals. Iran is hopping to attract billions of dollars worth of foreign investment to the country by creating a more favorable investment climate. The variety of measures need to be involved including better constitutional amendments with reduced restrictions and duties on imports Iran holds 90 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. The vast majority of Iran’s crude oil Reserves are located in giant onshore fields in the Khuzestan region near Iraqi border and Persian Gulf terminals. Iran is OPEC’s second –largest oil producer with average crude oil production of 3.6 Million bb/d. (the year 1999). Iran’s productions capacity is estimated as high as 4 million bb/d, but this figure is controversial .In 1974 Iran has produced 6 million bb/d by using methods which have permanently damaged the fields. The 1987 petroleum Law permits the establishment of contracts between the ministry of petroleum, state companies and local and foreign natural persons and legal entities. In 1998 the oil ministry announced invitations to bid on 43 petroleum projects worth some $8 billion in what has come to be known as the “buy back” contract. Several US Firms are reportedly interested in the buy back offers, including Arco, Unocal, and Chevron, mobile. The first major project under the buy back investment became operational in October 1998, when the offshore Sirri an oil field (operated by Total and Petronas began production at 7,000 bb/d), Sirri is now producing more than 20,000 bb/d. As of 2000, Iran had nine operational refineries with a combined capacity of 1,47 million bb/d. In order to meet burgeoning domestic demand for middle and light distillates, Iran imported refined products and is attempting to boost its refining capacity to more than 2 million bb/d. Iran largest non-associated natural gas field is south pars and identified in 1988 and appraised at 128 TCF in the early 1990’s. Although domestic gas consumption is growing rapidly, including use as a motor fuel, Iran continues to promote export markets for its natural gas. Iran is attempting to attract US and European Private investors for planed privatization of the country’s Power Generation industry to break up the state monopoly into competing private companies and reducing large state subsidies. The international atomic agency predicted that Iran would be a major global natural gas supplier in the future, especially to Europe. The environmental issues have become important. Ongoing air pollution in urban areas, which reached a crisis level in Tehran, have highlighted the need to improve Iran’s Environment record .The rush to developed oil and gas resources in the Caspian Sea makes oil pollution in the Caspian a real environmental threat. The huge increase in energy consumption has contributed to pollution levels as Iran’s carbon emissions have tripled over the same time span. Environmental concern has been one of the most debated issues in recent year for the country such as Iran. Hence the search for environmental quality has been uniquely widespread and impassioned. The spread and nature of environmental change has brought a series of environmental problems for Iran . The rapid urbanization has been argued to be the cause of urban environmentally related problems for Iran . The urban population has been grown at double the rates in the last decades and could not sustained by available resources and the needed expansion in public provision. Only a few cities governments in the developing countries are able to provide resources , trained personnel for rapidly increasing populations with land ,services, facilities needed for an adequate human life; resulting in the mushrooming of illegal settlements with primitive facilities increased overcrowding and rampant disease linked to an unhealthy environment as a result of conditions, crime . The rapid urbanization and expansion without effective governance means that in all urban centers a proportion of the population is at risk from natural and made environment hazards which become particularly serious where there is rapid expansion in population with little or no consideration for environmental implications. In studying urban environmental problems , issues on urban housing, urban poverty , Sanitation, energy use, access the impacts of urbanization without adequate public provision in our cities and how the rapid urban growth leads to urban decay and depletion of our urban neighborhoods . Iran is involving of dealing with several firms to do the oil swaps. In order to get around with restrictions. Receiving of Caspian oil to refineries in northern Iran, while the same amount of Iranian oil exported through Persian Gulf terminals. Iran is geographically and economically on the transit route for oil and gas exports. From central Asian countries to the world markets. Iran is in the process of preparing a master plan for the development of Tourism, which is nearly close to completion and initiating its implementation. That is one of the main objectives is sustainable development of tourism in the country. The tourism development and Management Master plan for Iran targets the sustainable development and management of tourism, and its impacts in some major areas like: In terms of the natural environment, the master plan addresses its sustainable development through development of an appropriate legal framework, improved management planning approach, greater local community participation and world heritage listing of prime sites. In the terms of socio-cultural environment, the master plan stresses its sustainable development by strengthening the application of sustainable principles and practices in the planning development and operation of cultural sites. Public awareness and host awareness programs are included in the plan. The tourism master plan also addresses the economic environment and its sustainable development through strategies to reduce imports, increase information on local suppliers, promoting decentralization of tourism products and services, creating better climate for investment through review visa facilitation and E-visa and improved custom Laws. The responsibility of the relevant ministries in terms of public sector is also developing infrastructure, resources, facilities and services and the institutional framework. The strategies at the highest level are framed its development in the line with national policy plan and spreading the economic and social benefits of tourism to the grass root level. Iran is on of the first five countries in the world in its range of Biodiversity, But the particular concern to us is deteriorated Coastal areas in the Caspian sea, inappropriate tourism development has exacerbated beach erosion and amenity loss, while on the Persian gulf the impact of the war, and ongoing oil mining transport and processing activities has exacted its roll on this precious coastal environment. With the expansion of tourism activities into the desert, mountain, lakes and river regions of Iran, there is the concern that the potential threat to these environment Will increase unless sustainable development and management principles and processes are adopted towards their use. From economical perspective the economic environment is not prepared in terms of the services and markets approach for tourism related activities. A comprehensive platform for the promotion of eco tourism is needed to develop and manage this industry. In the field of natural, socio-cultural and economic environment the new regulation and Laws needed to be anchored and the importance of these factors can not be undermined .A solid and stable foundation for tourism is required to promote Economy on international level despite the difficulties and lack of experiences in Iranian Society and the new motion must be set for better use of opportunities. References : *Population growth and employment Dr: Grammy *Asia –pacific ministerial conference (Maldives- 2002) *Iran at the glance UNPD *Gulf news- 2004 *EIA country analysis briefs *Iran Beauty and majesty *Urbanization as a cause of urban environmental problems
June30,2004 Morteza Aminmansour Seattle, WA, USA Pollution Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf is a 600 – mile body of water. Persian Gulf is the most strategic waterways in the world due to its importance in the global oil transportation. Due to the war and high rate of water evaporation, extended drilling and oil extraction, pollution of the water has increased alarmingly. The Persian Gulf is now one of the sensitive marine ecosystems. The Persian Gulf is the presence of coral colonies and plant spices and need clear protection because of its crucial role in the earth’s life supporting phenomena. The effects of industrial pollution, oil spills on the marine environment is forcing us to focus on the problem and the need for coastal conservation. The Avecina and mangroves plants are among the sea resources that provide an ideal living environment for shrimp. The plants living on the seabed near the shore are supporting the marine life such as dugongs and turtles. The extraction of oil from coastal areas is causing the most important problem such as pollution. The eight-year Iraq imposed war against IRAN and KUWAIT inflicted serious damage on Persian Gulf and its biological resources. Many sea birds and other spices of marine life have perished because of entering millions tones of crude oil into the Persian Gulf. Because the ecosystem in the Persian Gulf is Vulnerable, regional cooperation among the states is strongly recommended. The formation of regional organization for protection the coastline and the marine environment are required. The protection of environment cal benefits all countries among the Persian Gulf. I would like to suggest the monitoring the biodiversity, the marine life of the Persian Gulf. We experienced serious environmental damage in 1991 Gulf war. The world largest oil spill, estimated 8 million barrels. The gulf waters in coastal areas of IRAN, KUWAIT, and SAUDI ARABIA were fouled. The Saudi Arabia had the worst damage. Because the animals and plants of the seafloor are the basis of the food chain, damage to the shoreline consequences for the whole shallow- water ecosystem. The impact of the damage affected the multimillion-dollar Saudi fisheries industry and surrounding area including Medina al Jubayl. The spill threatened industrial facilities in Al Jubayl . The greatest pollution was experienced in Abu Ali Island. The large number of marine birds, such as grebes, cormorants, and auks were killed. Beaches along the entire Al Jubayl coastline were covered with tar balls and oil. The exploding and burning of 700 miles oil wells in Kuwait created staggering levels of atmospheric pollution. The produced lakes of oil in the Kuwaiti desert equal in volume to twenty times the amount of the oil that poured into the Persian Gulf. The soot from the Kuwaiti fires was found in the snows of the Himalayas and in rainfall over Iran and former Soviet Union countries, Turkey and Oman. The oil spill and oil fires have affected the water quality, Vegetation, human health as major sources of environmental damage including toxic materials. The amount of oil leaked into the Persian Gulf waters during 1991 Gulf War was estimated in November 1991 between Six and eight million barrels. In 1998 the accident involved a barge laden with crude oil from Iran that was being towed by a Dubai-registered tugboat. The 11,000-ton barge was sinking some eight kilometers of the UAE’s northern coastline. Some 4,000 tons of leaking crude oil has polluted the sea along the emirates of Ajman, posing a threat to its water supply. The Gulf region has scare fresh water sources and depends on desalination plants that purify uncontaminated seawater into drinking water. The Ajman desalination plant was shut down as a precautionary measure due to the oil slick that threatened the region. The Persian Gulf’s waters are the home to diverse range of marine and bird life including five types of turtles, dugongs and dolphins. Oil spills are a nightmare in the Persian Gulf, the world’s busiest oil channel. In July 1997, adiesel-carring barge ran aground and spilled more than 5,000 tons of diesels of the UAE emirate of SHARJAH, contaminating the local water supply. The worst oil spill in UAE was in 1994 when two super tankers collided of the coast of Fujairah, resulting in the leakage of some 16,000 tons of crude. The tanker collisions, tanker washout is among the most illegal activities in the Persian Gulf. The conservation of the marine environment of the Persian Gulf is highly recommended. The Major sources of pollution are: 1) Pollution from ships 2) Pollution from Land-based sources 3) Pollution caused by dumping from ships and aircraft 4) Pollution resulting from exploration and exploitation of the bed of the territorial sea, the continental shelf and the sub-soil thereof. 5) Pollution from other human activities The literature : J. Mike Williamson(principal investigator-Whale Net , Britain –endangered seas). Pilot Whales beaches Stainislav Patin, Environmental impact of the offshore oil and gas industry. Snehalatha, Protecting the Persian gulf . Xinhua news agency, Gulf oil pollution threatens mangroves . Saudi Arabia ,The environment and the 1991 Persian Gulf.
June 30 ,2004 Morteza Aminmansour Seattle , WA, USA Ecosystem and environment Caspian Sea The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed water body in the world and it is located on the border of Asia and Europe .Its shoreline extends for 5360 km. Caspian Sea is divided between the independent countries of IRAN, KAZASTAN, AZARBAIJAN, RUSSIA, TURKMENISTAN and home to myriad ecosystem. The coastal wetlands of the Caspian basin include many shallow, Saline pools, which attract a variety of bird life and biodiversity. Over 400 species are unique to the Caspian. The Sturgeon is famous the world around for the roe is produces. Approximately 90% of the world’s Caviar comes from Caspian Sea. The region is booming more important from strategic point of view. In the mid-1990s oil and Gas brought an influx of foreign investment in energy Development in the region. Petrochemical and refining complexes ion the Absheron peninsula in Azerbaijan are major sources of land –based pollution and discharges and spills from oil and gas drilling in the Sea and onshore have serious impacts on the environment. The former soviet Republics are trying to attract more investors in the oil and gas sectors. This leads to the beginning of extraction works to the ecology of the Caspian basin. Oil and gas extraction, along with transportation and industrial production has been the source of soil, air and water pollution in the Caspian region. The contamination from phenols, oil products particularly oil extraction and pipeline construction has contributed to the pollution of about 30,000 hectares of land. Due to the use of outdated technology, malfunctioning equipment and pollution from oil fields and refineries continues at a high rate in the former soviet republic. In Kazakhstan the cases of blood disease, tuberculosis and other diseases are four times more common in the Caspian area than the rest of the country’s average. Water, which has been contaminated by oil products in Kazakhstan, is still used for drinking water. This contamination is cited as a reason for intestinal infections in Kazakhstan’s coastal areas. There is no doubt that development of the oil and gas industry does have the significant impacts to the environment. The untreated waste from the Volga River –into which half the population of Russia and most of its heavy industry drains its sewage-empties into the Caspian Sea. The Chemicals and Pesticides are threats to the flora and fauna. Since 2000 due to the pollution thousands of seals died in the Caspian Sea. The pollution has weakened their immune systems. The Caspian sturgeon and Caspian seal, one of two freshwater spices in the world, have been dying in large number as a result of polluters and poachers since the collapse of the former Soviet Union. As recently in 1980’s and beginning 1990’s Iran and former Soviet countries fishermen took more than 30,000 tons of sturgeon. The Caspian is a self-contained body of water into which the Volga River drains after passing through Russia’s industrial heartland. 130 large and small rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, nearly all of which flow into the north or west coast. Volga River the largest splits into a thousand smaller streams as it flows through a largely uninhabited delta feeding into the Caspian Sea. The Ural, Kura and Emba Rivers also empty contaminations into the Caspian from industrial pollution, municipal wastes and agricultural runoff. The Caspian is an ecosystem under stress. Existing pollution has damaged marine terrestrial communities. The entry of international oil firms into the Caspian region to exploit oil and gas reserves holds the prospect for improved environmental protection. A World Bank report says that the great sturgeon has lost 99 percent of its spawning grounds and the Russian sturgeon, 80 percent, because of dam construction on the river that feed into the Caspian. Contamination by DDT used in agriculture could be another factor contributing to the disappearance of the Caspian sturgeon because it could be a cause of infertility in the fish. The over fishing of Sturgeon has caused a dramatic decline in fish stocks. The number of commercial fish has considerably been reduced. Some fish species Have been included into the red book. The Zander and the Caspian thorn fish have disappeared. The Caspian seal is the smallest seal is native to the Caspian is classed as Vulnerable by the international Union for the Conversation of Nature. They are 17 spices in the red book of Azerbaijan. There are 120 species of fish in the Caspian with greatest commercial value (Sturgeon, salmon, sprat, shad, carp). The fishery industry is very important to Azerbaijan economy. A lack of regional cooperation, highlighted by the still unresolved legal status of the Caspian Sea. Weak environmental laws and regulation and the ability to enforce them is affecting efforts to protect the Caspian’s environment. Polluted beaches and coastlines mean that swimming in most areas of the Sea is hazardous. The higher rate of cancer is recorded in the area .In order to improve the environment in and around Caspian Sea the countries like Iran, Russia, and other need to work together and implementation of modern technology is required. The Caspian Sea still has miles of undeveloped Coastline. Along the shore in Turkmenistan Kazakhstan. The south end of the sea is deep, dark and polluted From sewer pipes and factories drain from five littoral states. The air pollution from Tehran due to the old cars that lack catalytic converters falls out in the Caspian when the wind blows the smog north from Iran, contributing to pollution in the Caspian problem. It is estimated those one million cubic meters of untreated industrial wastewater Is discharged into the Caspian annually. In the Azari coastal City of Sumgayit during the Soviet era the environment was subjugated to industrial goals. Hundreds of thousands of tons toxic wastes each year released into the atmosphere or dumped into a creek that fed into the Caspian Sea. Now the pollution overwhelmed the sea around Sumgayit and Baku, creating a virtual dead zone. The area witnessed a dramatic rise in stillbirths and miscarriages. The untreated sewage is still dumped into the Caspian Sea. Because of inadequately stored wastes the ground water is contaminated and the leakage into the Caspian Sea is likely. An important of Caspian Sea is its great diversity in different parts of the lake. In some parts practically those adjoining river deltas, the lake water is fresh. Biodiversity of the Caspian Sea increased after building the Volga-Don Canal opened in 1954. Fish and Crustacean in the Caspian Sea have the largest numbers of species, with 63% off all modern species. Since 1978 the sea level has risen almost 7.4 feet. Unexpected flooding has caused lot of damages to residential areas. Due to the rise of water in Turkmenistan, the town of Darwish, which is detached from the western part of the mainland, is turning into an island and Cheleken and Karakul are sinking into the water as well. A six miles sewage pipeline in the Azeri coastal district of Azizbayov has been Partially submerged by the rising water, causing the pump station they’re to malfunction and allowing sewage from the area to be discharged directly into the Sea. Up to 100,000 people in Coastal the spread of toxic wastes, contamination of water supplies, and loss of infrastructure due to the rising sea level have affected cities and towns in Azerbaijan alone. In August 2001,Tengizchevron, the Chevron Texaco-led consortium developing the giant Tengiz oil field in western Kazakhstan, was fined $75 million for ecological damage. Now in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan new development projects are required to carry environmental insurance. In the past the Kazakh government fined polluters but now it is prepared to make sue that criminal charges are brought against the management of the enterprises, which break the country’s environmental protection legislation. The countries of the region have begun to take measures to prevent pollution. The lack of regional cooperation among the Caspian Sea countries continued to undermine individual state efforts to protect the sea and surrounding region. The challenge of protecting the Caspian’s environment will become more difficult. Without increasing cooperation by the littoral countries, the country of the environment in the Caspian Sea and surrounding areas will remain threatened. *Sustainable Development and international economic cooperation on Jan 27,1996: Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russian federation to the United Nations secretary-General. The talks were held in Tehran about: 1) The problems of the legal status and regime of the Caspian Sea, 2) Mutual relations between the coastal states in the Caspian Sea region. 3) The strategic interests in the Caspian Sea. 4) All issues relating to the Caspian Sea. The future cooperation among the Caspian coastal states. Literature: Joint Russian –Iranian Statement on the Caspian Sea. Oil Boom puts Caspian Sea ecosystem at risk Caucasus Environment Outlook Caspian World Kazakhstan Caspian Sea Region: Environmental Issues.
Intermodalism in the world, Intermodality is a concept that can be thought of as a process of transporting freight and passengers by means of a system of interconnected networks, involving combination of modes of transportation, in which all the component parts are seamlessly linked and efficiently coordinated. Intermodal transportation is rapidly gaining acceptance as an integral component of system approach to conducting business in an increasingly competitive and interdependent global economy. This system referred to as logistics management, involves the integration of Finance, Distribution, Production, Supplier functions to achieve efficient business activities. The Innovation in Information technology and Telecommunication have served as the coordination tool. Development in logistics management and traveler mobility and intermodal transportation Is not the sole concern of the business community? Governments always can play an important role in increasing the ability of private-sector firms to provide integrated logistics services and ability of their employees to easily make Work –related trips and to commute to /from their places of residence. Since private sector and their employees are customers of governments provided infrastructures, transportation agencies of all levels of government around the globe are finding it necessary to rethink their traditional ways of doing business. Since we are interested in governmental strategic and actions that take a systems approach to the provision of transportation infrastructure, the investigation of both multimodal and intermodal shows that multimodal practices refer to process of collectively addressing all modes of transportation, whereas the intermodal practices refer to a process of addressing the Linkages interactions and movements among modes of transportation. The competition between the modes has tended to produce a transport system that is unintegrated and segment. As a matter in fact each mode has sought to exploit its own advantage in terms of service, cost, safety, reliability. The lack of integration between the modes has been accentuated by public policy that has frequently barred companies from owning firms in other modes. Within the last forty years major efforts have been made to integrate separate transport systems through intermodalism . Intermodality enables economies of scale within a transportation system where modes are used in the most productive manner. Techniques for transferring freight from one mode to another have facilitated intermodal transfers. While handling technology has influenced the development of intermodalism, the most important factors have been the changes in public policy and development in information technology . The most important feature of intermodalism is the provision of a service with one ticket (for passengers) or one bill of landing (for freight). At the heart of modern intermodalism are data handling, processing and distribution systems that are essential to ensure the safe, reliable and cost effective control of freight and passenger movement being transported is several modes. They are two different conceptual perspectives that can be considered in transportation system. Intermodal transportation network as a logistically linked system using two or more transport modes and permitting freight or people to be transferred between modes during a movement Between an origin and a destination. Multimodal transportation network as a transport modes offering connections between original and destinations. The limit of intermodality are imposed be factors of space, form , time , the number of modes and linkages and the type and characteristic of the vehicles and terminals. Intermodality can be conceived as the transition from one mode of transportation to another, and is origanized around the following concepts : *The value of the commodities and the frequencies of the shipments. *The origins and destinations *The modes of transportation being used. *The nature and quantity of the transported commodities. Across the European Union member countries have sought to regulate transportation services and privatize state –owned transport enterprises to provide competition and increase efficiency Within the transportation sector. Transportation services are linked to sustainable economic development. The integration of transportation modes is considered the best means of achieving this goal. The EU has provided incentives to national governments for the development of multimodal and intermodal transportation. Primarily multimodal /intermodal technological research and pilot projects have been subsidized with governmental funding. This funding is largely derived from taxes charged on agricultural products imported into the EU; levies on sugar company’s customs duties on trade with countries outside the EU. France has developed two different and independent types of public transportation distribution hubs, road haulage centers and intermodal terminals. Haulage centers have been panned and Financed by a combination of public and private entities such as regional and local authorities, construction companies and local chambers of commerce. Despite governmental resistance to privatization, the private sector continues to play a significant role in the development of the country’s infrastructure. This involvement is partially due to a long tradition delegated management in France. Germany: Reunification of east and West Germany is the key issue in German transportation policy in the 1990s. Under investment during the communist administration of former East Germany have left that region with transportation infrastructure far inferior to that of former West Germany. The need to bring eastern infrastructure up to western standards has encouraged massive investment programs in the east. Complementing the current north-south orientation of German rail lines with east-west lines is a particular concern, as is the creation of links across the former border between east and west. To integrate its transportation system successfully both within its national borders and internationally. The opening of eastern European economies has exacerbated this situation. Part of Germany’s response to high-traffic volumes has been a comprehensive privatization program of transport enterprises. The German government has privatized air-traffic safety services and is selling shares in Germany’s airports. The German railway, Deutsche Bahn AG, has been reorganized in order to pursue commercial objectives and adapt a competitive, market- oriented approach to the provision of rail Transport services and is to be privatized in 1998. It is hoped these changes will increase efficiency in these sectors and will make rail a more attractive transport option. Germany is focusing on the development of a network including an intermodal terminal. Germany is developing the network in order to shift from road to rail and reduce urban congestion through coordination of the delivery of goods to the city. United Kingdom: This country is currently in a process of transition regarding transportation policies. Reconstruction of the policies (in Department of transportation) in the Kingdom was in 1997. The government has issued several policy documents outlining the rationale for encouraging Intermodal transportation development. To coordinate intermodal transportation in the UK an integrated transportation plan was issued to help private sector and government to work together. The British government has begun to decentralize the transportation planning process, giving regional authorities greater responsibilities. These types of regional initiatives are better suited to guide integrated planning, which involves diverse infrastructure facilities and regulations. The Middle east is re-emerging a vital center of distribution and trade. In spite of many recent logistics improvements, intermodalism at least in the western sense of moving goods by more than one mode of conveyance has to find its way into the region’s many different dialects. The Middle East also has been a major transshipment hub for Air Sea moves. A recently completed expressway between the jabel Ali free port and the Dubai international Airport’s cargo Village has cut the overland transit time to as four hours. Most of the air sea cargo includes high-value, time – sensitive, or perishable item- computer components, the paper and waste replaced general cargo as the leading boxed U.S exports to the region. Demand is also driven by transshipment activity to Iran and parts of the former Soviet Union. UAE the national air carrier of the country is active at the Dubai Cargo Village. The airline uses the facility as its Middle Eastern HUB, operating in import and export. The Shipping line executive have criticized the high cost, long delays and inefficient operation of the Saudi Arabian port of Reddah, one of the most import in the region. Other ports, such as Aden, are appealing alternatives for the Future. but for now lack the infrastructure to be major ports. Canada: Domestic and international intermodal traffic continues to be the biggest growth area of Canadian pacific Railways(CPR) business . The reliability is the key to the intermodal business . Two major factors are the improvement and reduction in service . These include the investment in a new fleet of locomotives employing alternating current technology, expanding and building new intermodal terminals upgrading track infrastructure, Deploying a new generation of computer applications. These strategic investments made possible by cost reduction and higher profitability. Canadian pacific Railway continues to make gains in transpacific container traffic over its Vancouver corridor, CPR has invested $48 million to expand Expressways an innovative short-haul intermodal freight system that allows CPR to partner with tracker to deliver Shipments quickly and cost effectively . With new railway equipment and the construction of three new terminals(in Milton near Toronto; Montreal; Detroit the unique service is poised for full service between Montreal and Toronto , as well an extension to Detroit . CPR is a North American carrier serving ports on both coasts of Canada and all regions in between, as well as the Midwestern U.S. Northeast . CPR’s western corridor is the shortest rail route for commodities moving from key producing areas in western Canada to the port of Vancouver. Through its southern corridor, CPR moves freight from Vancouver to Chicago direct over its own rail line. Turkey: intermodalism has been increasing in Turkey due to the demand and supply side developments in transport industry .This country has great potential in terms of Intermodal transportation owing to its privileged geographical position amid European, Central Asia and Middle eastern countries, Mediterranean, the black sea , the CIS countries and central Asia implies new intermodal networks leading to rising demand for intermodal transport. The Mediterranean share of the world container traffic is increasing very quickly. New transport corridors in the region has been planned . Industrial activity has been in CIS accelerated. The technical development have forced Turkey to take further steps towards improving its transport infrastructure to benefit from its geographical position. Many developing countries are not able to provide the full transport and communications infrastructure for a intermodal system. In these countries a multimodal system , which can be seen as an interim stage on the way to full intermodalism . The major objectives of intermodalism are to increase the speed of cargo distribution and reduce the amount of inproductive capital , whether in inflated inventory levels. Inactive rail-cars or vessels delays at ports. The concept of intermodalism provides rational Cargo handling ,Safe storage , quicker turnarounds of ships ,rail wagons trucks and cargoes and prevention of loss, contamination and pilferage . It also increase productivity in the ports and other nodal points, an efficient cost effective transport network , thereby promoting the growth of international trade. Production and customer driven need for an integrated transport chain has led the country to intermodalism . Solutions means making the correct trade-offs between costs and performance as an offer for intermodal transport system. The market and the plan for the future is as strong trends at present . **Expected benefits for the country intermodal transport: *Development of a new product and entering of new markets(earnings& employment). *better access to market, opening up of new markets, more transport opportunities *Improved economics, greater flexibility for crew operations(within constrains of prevailing driving and resting regulations). *lower transport costs, more transport opportunities/alternatives , greater reliability and safety . Intermodality is a quality indicator of the level of integration between different modes. More intermodality means more integration and interconnectivity between modes, which can also provide scope for more efficient use of the transport system. The Major trend in transportation and logistics are increasing demands for integration of modes along the logistics chain. The economic basis for intermodality is that transport modes that display favorable economic and operational characteristics individually can be integrated into a door to door transport chain in order to improve the overall efficiency of the transport system. The system on intermodal transport replace the conventional fragemented transport system by an integrated system .The development of special ships , ports, railway terminals road infrastructure can led to better service the needs of the intermodal infrastructure. The central part of the intermodal concept is also Containerization and requires heavy capital investment for the development of an intermodal transport system.