Amazonian soils are almost universally thought of as extremely forbidding. However, it is now clear that complex societies with large, sedentary populations were present for over a millennium before European contact. Associated with these are tracts of anomalously fertile, dark soils termed terra preta or dark earths. These soils are presently an important agricultural resource within Amazonia and provide a model for developing long-term future sustainability of food production in tropical environments. The late Dutch soil scientist Wim Sombroek (1934-2003) was instrumental in bringing the significance of these soils to the attention of the world over four decades ago.

Wim saw not only the possibilities of improving the lives of small holders throughout the world with simple carbon based soil technologies, but was an early proponent of the positive synergies also achieved in regards to carbon sequestration and global climatic change abatement. Wim s vision was to form a multidisciplinary group whose members maintained the ideal of open collaboration toward the attainment of shared goals. Always encouraged and often shaped by Wim, this free association of international scholars termed the Terra Preta Nova Group came together in 2001 and has flourished. This effort has been defined by enormous productivity. Wim who is never far from any of our minds and hearts, would have loved to share the great experience of seeing the fruits of his vision as demonstrated in this volume."

Amazonian soils are almost universally thought of as extremely forbidding. However, it is now clear that complex societies with large, sedentary populations were present for over a millennium before European contact. Associated with these are tracts of anomalously fertile, dark soils termed terra preta or dark earths. These soils are presently an important agricultural resource within Amazonia and provide a model for developing long-term future sustainability of food production in tropical environments. The late Dutch soil scientist Wim Sombroek (1934-2003) was instrumental in bringing the significance of these soils to the attention of the world over four decades ago.

Wim saw not only the possibilities of improving the lives of small holders throughout the world with simple carbon based soil technologies, but was an early proponent of the positive synergies also achieved in regards to carbon sequestration and global climatic change abatement. Wim s vision was to form a multidisciplinary group whose members maintained the ideal of open collaboration toward the attainment of shared goals. Always encouraged and often shaped by Wim, this free association of international scholars termed the Terra Preta Nova Group came together in 2001 and has flourished. This effort has been defined by enormous productivity. Wim who is never far from any of our minds and hearts, would have loved to share the great experience of seeing the fruits of his vision as demonstrated in this volume."

How the rise of computerized decision-making affects every aspect of business and daily life
The bot takeover began with high frequency trading on Wall Street, and from there it spread to all manners of high-level tasks--such as diagnosing illnesses or interpreting legal documents. There is no realm of human endeavor safe from algorithms that employ speed, precision and nuance.
In this fascinating book, Steiner tells the story of how algorithms took over and shows why the "bot revolution" is about to spill into every aspect of our lives. We meet bots that are driving cars, penning haikus, and writing music mistaken for Bach's. They listen in on customer service calls and figure out what Iran would do in the event of a nuclear standoff. On Wall Street, pre-programmed algorithmic deals are executed by machines faster than any human could--leaving human investors at a severe disadvantage.
But what will the world look like when algorithms control our hospitals, our roads, and our national security? Is a stock market controlled by high-speed trading bots worth investing in? And what role will be left for doctors, lawyers, writers, truck drivers, and many others?

Diplomarbeit aus dem Jahr 2005 im Fachbereich VWL - Umweltokonomie, Note: 2, Karl-Franzens-Universitat Graz (Institut fur Finanzwissenschaften und Offentliche Wirtschaft), 23 Quellen im Literaturverzeichnis, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: Das Jahr 2005 wird als das Jahr der Naturkatastrophen in die Geschichte eingehen. Die verheerenden Hurrikane Rita" und Katrina," die Uberschwemmungen in den Alpen und nicht zuletzt die Tatsache, dass zum ersten Mal in der Geschichte der Meteorologie ein tropisches Tief den europaischen Kontinent erreicht hat, belegen, dass der Klimawandel immer dramatischer und schneller wird. Die Industrienationen setzten diesem Wandel bisher auflagen- und abgabenorientierte Umweltinstrumente entgegen. Durchzufuhrende Umweltvertraglichkeitsprufungen, Emissionsgrenzwerte fur Produktionsanlagen, Okosteuern und der vorgeschriebene Einbau bestimmter emissionsvermeidender Technologie scheinen angesichts der aktuellen Entwicklungen jedoch an ihre Grenzen zu stossen. Eine zwar nicht neue, bisher aber selten in die Praxis umgesetzte Moglichkeit fur die Politik stellen marktwirtschaftlich orientierte Umweltinstrumente dar. Ein System handelbarer Verschmutzungsrechte ist eine Moglichkeit, die Funktionsweise der freien Marktwirtschaft fur umweltpolitische Zwecke zu nutzen. Dieses Instrument soll in dieser Arbeit anhand des praktischen Beispiels des RECLAIM-Projekts in Sudkalifornien vorgestellt werden. Diese Abhandlung versucht die Frage zu beantworten, ob der Handel mit Emissionszertifikaten den an ihn geforderten Anspruchen bezuglich okologischer und okonomischer Effektivitat entsprechen kann. Das bereits seit dem Jahr 1994 im Grossraum Los Angeles zum Einsatz kommende RECLAIM-Programm soll auf diese Effizienz hin genauer untersucht werden, um eventuell auch Lehren fur zukunftige Lizenzprogramme, wie sie vom Kioto-Protokoll gefordert werden, ziehen zu konne