Summarizing the current state of knowledge on the links between business and climate change, this timely Handbook analyzes how businesses contribute to and are affected by climate change, looking closely at their centrality in developing and deploying solutions to address this problem. Contributions from a global collection of scholars and practitioners explore a broad range of key industries' impacts and responses to climate change, examining corporate strategy and leadership in the climate economy, functional perspectives and corporate practice, and climate finance. Chapters use diverse case studies to analyze climate-related business issues, including supply chain management, decarbonization, consumer decision-making, and climate-related financial investments. The Handbook delves deeper into how businesses perceive the issue of climate change, how they are affected by and engage with it, as well as the impact they have and what this impact costs. Forward-thinking, it concludes with reflections from the contributors on what the future holds for businesses and climate change. Covering matters relating to finance, economics, marketing, operations, strategy, leadership and communications, this interdisciplinary Handbook will prove invaluable to students and scholars in business management, sustainability and environmental studies, as well as to sustainability officers (and their staff) in corporations. Addressing, as it does, a wide range of climate-related issues from the corporate standpoint, it will also prove to be a useful resource for policymakers concerned with enabling solutions to climate change.

An in-depth analysis of the problems of learning a second language as experienced by a family of learners. This is a study of the phonological development of a group of L2 English learners. It is the first full-length book that focuses on a tightly-knit group of learners' acquisition of phonology over a period of years, and the first book to study both social and linguistic factors across that time period. Jette Hansen analyses this data gathered from actual language learners in terms of recent theory, as well as challenging aspects of current thinking on the subject of second language acquisition. Acquiring a Non-Native Phonology therefore makes an important and original contribution to the field, and provides an in-depth analysis and discussion of the developmental processes in acquiring a non-native sound system which has not previously been presented. The book is aimed at academics interested in second language acquisition, and researchers studying phonology in general.

PCBs have captured the attention of scientists, journalists and the public for three decades, but during most of that time attention was focused on a small number of the 209 possible chlorobiphenyls. Recent work has implicated many of the forgotten and/or unstudied congeners as neuro-endocrine active and potential developmental toxicants. This interest has created a need for information regarding the non-dioxin-like' PCBs. The ortho Side of PCBs: Occurrence and Disposition integrates historical information, analytical interpretations, and global concepts with recent comprehensive residue reports and public health concerns. This condensed source of extensive information provides detailed comparisons of comprehensive data in a consistent format. The data will improve the accuracy of concepts regarding the occurrence and disposition of the 60-100 (rather than 6-10) most important congeners. Actual PCB burdens are shown to deviate from average steady-state profiles through sporadic exposures to unique mixtures characteristic of individual dietary sources. The task of accurate hazard characterization and risk assessment can be overwhelming, especially when sporadic changes are considered. Models and relationships are suggested to facilitate the efficient categorization and evaluation of the more important congeners.

This book ‘plays up’ stories of mostly unknown figures and their journeys through a life affected by movement, and a search for home. It engages with individuals and groups whose passions have carried the subjects through ‘uncharted’ or unhomely territories, here told in a series of ‘tracks’ depicting their roles in community memories and histories. Side A engages with individual journeys, such as Lewis, the American black literature book seller; the civil rights activist, Izzy, an American-Swedish folklorist; Eugene, a black classical pianist; and Pi, the Jew transported to Sweden during WWII. Side B focuses on communal histories and alternative educational and artistic spaces, addressing life writing and memory in German comic books; alternative educational spaces in Israel-Palestine and Africa, and  ‘small press passions’ of zines/newsletter culture. Tellers and their interpreters are mediating identities where nationality, race, and class (and other markers of identity) have influenced selfhood and collective belonging - revealing how individuals and outsider cultures have the power to influence dominant cultures and inspire societal change.

Most introductions to English phonetics and phonology focus primarily on British or American English, which fails to account for the rich diversity of English varieties globally. This book addresses this gap, providing an overview of English phonetics and phonology through an exploration of the sounds of English around the world, including older varieties of English such as American, Canadian, British, and Australian Englishes, as well as new varieties of English such as Indian, Singaporean, Hong Kong, and Kenyan English. It focuses on diversity in vowels and consonants, allophonic variation, and stress and intonation patterns across regional, ethnic and social varieties of English in North America, The Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. Listening exercises are incorporated throughout to facilitate the understanding of different concepts, and the book also has an accompanying website with a wide range of speech samples, allowing readers to hear the phonetics of the varieties under discussion.

The focus of this book is on the impact of politics on language and identity in Hong Kong. The book is the first study to track real time language attitude changes against a divisive political landscape. It is also the most comprehensive study of language attitudes in Hong Kong to date, taking place over four years with over 1600 participants. Through both survey and interview data, a multifaceted portrait of language change in progress is presented, providing a more nuanced and complex view of language and identity than has previously been presented. The book examines the status of Hong Kong English in the light of attitudes towards Cantonese, English, and Putonghua, providing a deeper analysis of the linguistic complexity of Hong Kong; it can be argued that one cannot understand attitudes towards Hong Kong English without fully understanding the status and use of English in Hong Kong today. The book also presents a complex examination of language attitudes in Hong Kong by focusing not only on the what of language attitudes, but also the question of for whom, through an analysis of language attitudes by gender, age, identity, and speaking HKE.

Most introductions to English phonetics and phonology focus primarily on British or American English, which fails to account for the rich diversity of English varieties globally. This book addresses this gap, providing an overview of English phonetics and phonology through an exploration of the sounds of English around the world, including older varieties of English such as American, Canadian, British, and Australian Englishes, as well as new varieties of English such as Indian, Singaporean, Hong Kong, and Kenyan English. It focuses on diversity in vowels and consonants, allophonic variation, and stress and intonation patterns across regional, ethnic and social varieties of English in North America, The Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. Listening exercises are incorporated throughout to facilitate the understanding of different concepts, and the book also has an accompanying website with a wide range of speech samples, allowing readers to hear the phonetics of the varieties under discussion.

The focus of this book is on the impact of politics on language and identity in Hong Kong. The book is the first study to track real time language attitude changes against a divisive political landscape. It is also the most comprehensive study of language attitudes in Hong Kong to date, taking place over four years with over 1600 participants. Through both survey and interview data, a multifaceted portrait of language change in progress is presented, providing a more nuanced and complex view of language and identity than has previously been presented. The book examines the status of Hong Kong English in the light of attitudes towards Cantonese, English, and Putonghua, providing a deeper analysis of the linguistic complexity of Hong Kong; it can be argued that one cannot understand attitudes towards Hong Kong English without fully understanding the status and use of English in Hong Kong today. The book also presents a complex examination of language attitudes in Hong Kong by focusing not only on the what of language attitudes, but also the question of for whom, through an analysis of language attitudes by gender, age, identity, and speaking HKE.

With points of departure in philosophy, logic, social psychology, economics, and choice and game theory, Infostorms shows how information may be used to improve the quality of personal decision and group thinking but also warns against the informational pitfalls which modern information technology may amplify: From science to reality culture and what it really is, that makes you buy a book like this. The information society is upon us. New technologies have given us back pocket libraries, online discussion forums, blogs, crowdbased opinion aggregators, social media and breaking news wherever, whenever. But are we more enlightened and rational because of it? Infostorms provides the nuts and bolts of how irrational group behaviour may get amplified by social media and information technology. If we could be collectively dense before, now we can do it at light speed and with potentially global reach. That's how things go viral, that is how cyberbullying, rude comments online, opinion bubbles, status bubbles, political polarisation and a host of other everyday unpleasantries start. Infostorms will give the story of the mechanics of these phenomena. This will help you to avoid them if you want or learn to start them if you must. It will allow you to stay sane in an insane world of information. "With this brilliant book, we have been warned. It is up to all of us in the world today to be stewards of he common resource that is trustworthy and relevant information". Adam Brandenburger, Stern School of Business, NYU "It is a highly recommended read for social scientists and concerned citizens alike". Christian List, London School of Economics

PCBs have captured the attention of scientists, journalists and the public for three decades, but during most of that time attention was focused on a small number of the 209 possible chlorobiphenyls. Recent work has implicated many of the forgotten and/or unstudied congeners as neuro-endocrine active and potential developmental toxicants. This interest has created a need for information regarding the non-dioxin-like' PCBs. The ortho Side of PCBs: Occurrence and Disposition integrates historical information, analytical interpretations, and global concepts with recent comprehensive residue reports and public health concerns. This condensed source of extensive information provides detailed comparisons of comprehensive data in a consistent format. The data will improve the accuracy of concepts regarding the occurrence and disposition of the 60-100 (rather than 6-10) most important congeners. Actual PCB burdens are shown to deviate from average steady-state profiles through sporadic exposures to unique mixtures characteristic of individual dietary sources. The task of accurate hazard characterization and risk assessment can be overwhelming, especially when sporadic changes are considered. Models and relationships are suggested to facilitate the efficient categorization and evaluation of the more important congeners.

The Culture of Strangers explores the relationship between the development of commercial societies and cultural values. Using a phenomenological approach, G. Eric Hansen presents an evolutionary model of social development, which describes the ways in which economic relations and values interactively change as societies evolve in terms of such elements as demography and technology. Using the insights of the social sciences and history in particular, Hansen proposes that the development of commercial societies and market values relate to the parallel development of other key cultural values. He holds that only Western societies have fully developed these commercial values and attributes of personality and that the forces of globalization have advanced and advantaged these societies while disadvantaging others.

Impulse fur eine europaische harmonisierung DES Urheberrechts Urheberrecht im deutsch-franzoesischen Dialog Die Harmonisierung des Urheberrechts in Europa wird auch in den kommenden Jahren eine Herausforderung bleiben. Die Rechtsordnungen der Mitgliedsstaaten weisen gerade in diesem Rechtsgebiet erhebliche Unterschiede auf. Will man eine moeglichst breite Beteiligung der Mitglieder an diesem Prozess erreichen, so mussen ihre verschiedenen Ansatze bei der Harmonisierung Berucksichtigung finden. Dazu bedarf es zunachst einer grundlichen Analyse der Besonderheiten der jeweiligen Regelungssysteme. Vor diesem Hintergrund erscheint ein Vergleich des deutschen und des franzoesischen Urheberrechts besonders lehrreich. Zudem zeigt die Erfahrung, dass die Punkte, in denen das "deutsch-franzoesische Tandem Einigkeit erzielen konnte, oftmals einen Sogeffekt auf die Gemeinschaft ausgeubt haben. Aus diesem Grund haben das Max-Planck-Institut fur Geistiges Eigentum und das Institut de Recherche en Propriete Intellectuelle Henri-Desbois beschlossen, gemeinsam von einem deutsch-franzoesischen Standpunkt aus die Perspektiven eines Urheberrechts auf europaischer Ebene auszuloten. Von September 2004 bis Januar 2006 fand eine Vortragsreihe im Wechsel in Munchen und Paris statt, in deren Rahmen namhafte Urheberrechtexperten beider Lander zentrale Fragen des Urheberrechts diskutierten. Ziel der gemeinsamen UEberlegungen war es, dem europaischen Gesetzgeber auf unabhangigem Wege Loesungsmoeglichkeiten fur eine Harmonisierung aufzuzeigen. Den Abschluss bildete ein Symposium, auf dem die gemeinsam erarbeiteten Thesen diskutiert wurden. Die ideenreichen Beitrage dieser Vortragsreihe sind im vorliegenden Band abgedruckt. PERSPECTIVES D'HARMONISATION DU DROIT D'AUTEUR EN EUROPE Rencontres franco-allemandes L'harmonisation europeenne du droit d'auteur reste un enjeu majeur pour les prochaines annees, tant different dans ce domaine les traditions juridiques des differents Etats membres. Afin d'entrainer une large adhesion de la part de ces pays, ces differentes conceptions doivent etre prises en compte dans le processus d'harmonisation, ce qui necessite qu'une analyse de ces particularites soit conduite au prealable. Dans cette perspective, la comparaison des systemes francais et allemand du droit d'auteur est tres riche d'enseignements. De plus, l'experience passee a demontre que les points communs degages par le fameux " axe franco-allemand " ont souvent eu un grand effet d'entrainement au sein de l'Union europeenne. C'est pour cette raison que l'Institut Max-Planck pour le droit de la propriete intellectuelle et l'Institut de Recherche en Propriete Intellectuelle Henri-Desbois ont decide ensemble de conduire une reflexion sur l'avenir du droit d'auteur a l'echelle europeenne, dans une perspective franco-allemande. Avec pour ambition de proposer, de maniere independante, des pistes a suivre au legislateur communautaire, une serie de conferences traitant des principales questions du droit d'auteur et reunissant de prestigieux experts francais et allemands a ete organise de septembre 2004 a janvier 2006 successivement a Munich et a Paris, cloture par une conference finale durant laquelle ont ete discutees les differentes idees degagees lors des rencontres precedentes. C'est ces riches contributions qui ont ete reproduites dans le present ouvrage.

Attractive, cynical hooker, Liz, with a profession in which women are held in hostage relationships with their brutal pimps, begins to dream that she is a follower of Jesus before and after the crucifixion. Her dreaming is progressive and she tries to run from her self defeating life style. She falls deeply in love with a gentle pastor, who falls in love with her. They marry. The brutal confrontation with the "Committee" of pimps and the ensuing drama makes a poignant play on the morality of our times. The Dream reveals to us that everyone of us is capable of love, dignity and extraordinary acts of courage. There is indeed a hero lurking inside of each one of us.

Current speech recognition systems tend to be developed only for commercially viable languages. The resources needed for a typical speech recognition system include hundreds of hours of transcribed speech for acoustic models and 10 to 100 million words of text for language models; both of these requirements can be costly in time and money. The goal of this research is to facilitate rapid development of speech systems to new languages by using multilingual phoneme models to alleviate requirements for large amounts of transcribed speech. The GlobalPhone database, which contains transcribed speech from 15 languages, is used as source data to derive multilingual phoneme models. Various bootstrapping processes are used to develop an Arabic speech recognition system starting from monolingual English models, International Phonetic Association (IPA) based multilingual models, and data-driven multilingual models. The Kullback-Leibler distortion measure is used to derive datadriven phoneme clusters. It was found that multilingual bootstrapping methods outperform monolingual English bootstrapping methods on the Arabic evaluation data initially, and after three iterations of bootstrapping all systems show similar performance levels. Applications of this research are in speech recognition, word spotting, information retrieval, and speech-to-speech translation.

In this pioneering study of the phonological development of a family of L2 English learners, Jette Hansen analyses data from actual language learners to examine the developmental processes involved in acquiring a nonnative sound system.This is a pioneering study of the phonological development of a family of L2 English learners. It is the first full-length book that focuses on a tightly-knit group of learners' acquisition of phonology over a longitudinal timeframe, and the first book to study both social and linguistic factors across that time period. Jette G. Hansen analyses this data gathered from actual language learners in the light of recent theory, as well as challenging aspects of current thinking on the subject of second language acquisition. Acquiring a Non-Native Phonology therefore makes an important and original contribution to the field and provides an in-depth analysis and discussion of the developmental processes in acquiring a non-native sound system, presented here for the first time. The book is aimed at academics interested in second language acquisition, and researchers studying phonology in general.

Game Theory: 5 Questions is a collection of short interviews based on 5 questions presented to some of the most influential and prominent scholars in the field. We hear their views on game theory, its aim, scope, use, the future direction of game theory and how their work fits in these respects.