Ting Fa Margherita Chang

In the first section we recall Bak Sneppen model and its evolutions. In this paper we wish to present some simplified cases in which explicit computations via Markov chains are possible, hence reaching a better understanding of some rather hidden phenomena of the general case: in particular “avalanches” can be read in terms of average return times and in terms of transitions between structures. A short comparison of the behaviour of different model of graphs of interaction is contained in section 2. The simple models allow us to introduce new frames that do not seem to have been considered in the previous literature, namely the case of partitioned Bak-Sneppen frames, that appear more realistic from the point of view of speed of evolution and do not present a unique criticality level, but a staircase tending towards a final equilibrium level. This is the object of section 3, while section 4 shows how this model clearly explains the overtaking of competitors with respect to species th...

Wonderland in the Landscape-Cultural Mosaic: Idea, Image, Illusion. We cannot deal with Wonderland without recalling the names of Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) and his little friend Alice Liddell. Dodgson as a mathematicians showed us that wonderland requires some breakdowns of logical and physical laws, but we must stop before their complete destruction, otherwise only randomness would survive. Wonderland is thus born from an idea; if the idea evolves into a project and the project is achieved we are confronted with an image: pictorial, physical, kinesthetic. But the image should never be fully understood, so that space is left for the illusion. The creation of Wonderland often leads to something excessive and to that overdetermination that is typical of kitsch. But people usually stand it without objections, and enjoy it. Consider Disneylands’ castles and remember that in Neuschwanstein the most archetypical example actually exists in its full fantasy and folly.

Sweet mobility: Dream or Actual Opportunity? By absolute sweet mobility we mean mobility without motor vehicles, by sweet mobility we mean mobility not using private car as a driver. We analyse people movements when they go to work, The most likely conversion towards sweet mobility can happen in the interior of cities and minor towns when travel time by car is less than 15 minutes. Commutation between different minor towns seems to require the use of private car and represents a relevant part (18%) of the total, and cannot easily be converted into sweet mobility. Finally we use shift and share technique for estimating more or less ecological regions and provinces. La conversione più probabile verso la mobilità dolce (in assoluto, ossia senza mezzi a motore) è quella a partire da brevi tragitti in automobile: il censimento fornisce i dati necessari per valutare le possibilità. In questo lavoro abbiamo anche valutato le grandi sacche di resistenza costituite dai movimenti che si svolg...

Nel corso di tre decenni (1970-2000) la superficie delle aziende agricole attive si è ridotta di 53.734 Kmq pari alla somma delle esten-sioni territoriali di Lombardia, Piemonte e Friuli Venezia Giulia (ISTAT 1990 A e B). In particola-re si è determinata una riduzione pressoché uniforme (circa 10.000 Kmq) nei decenni 1970-80 e 1980-90, mentre in quello 1990-2000 si è verificata una accelerazione che ha condotto più che a triplicare il suolo abbandonato (Iseppi et Al., 2005, pp. 103-104). Se infatti nel 1970, l'83% della superficie territoriale italiana era costituita da suolo gestito dalle aziende agri-cole, questa quota si è ridotta al 78% nel 1980, al 75% nel 1990 e al 65% nel 2000. Ciò signi-fica che in trent'anni il 18% del territorio è uscito dalla gestione attiva delle aziende agri-cole (Chang et al., 2001). Le destinazioni d'uso dei suoli che nell'ultimo decennio hanno maggiormente subito l'abbandono sono quelle relative ai Boschi e ai Prati permanenti e p...

Abstract. According to the Physiocratic school that prevailed in France in the XVIIIth century, economy is based on nature. In fact, Physiocracy means “domain over nature”. Therefore the physiocrats believed that economy was ruled by a natural order and that nature alone (land, mineral quarries, etc) was the source of wealth. Francois Quesnay, the main representative of the physiocratic school, retained in his famous Tableau économique that only land was productive and therefore that only land owners had the rights to the net profit. In fact the only kind of profit that Physiocracy admits is the income of natural goods, while it denies any other type: the capitalist’s gain and the workers salary (Ricossa 1982, p. 197). For what concerns labour, physiocrats thought that it did not produce a net profit, but only a part of the production (gross income) necessary for the biotic consumption of the worker and of his relatives, that is the part necessary for the survival and reproduction o...

IPSAPA/ISPALEM conference of 2013 was devoted to Utopias and Dystopias in Landscape and Cultural Mosaic. This article explains the conceptual reasons why a selection of papers connected with the conference and not yet published, is collected under this suggestive title that highlights two conceptual frameworks where utopia plunges its roots. Like previous ones the conference aimed to stimulate critical reflection and debate, by drawing not only on the dreams of beautiful projects but also on the disappointment of unrealised ones and on the

Among the phenomena of transition from useless to useful in the landscape-cultural mosaic is that of the farmers' changing perceptions of the environment and the creation of externalities to their micro-chain underlying business, or those of others. The objective of this study is to verify whether there is a connection between those perceptions and the management classes of their farms, in regards to both environmental aspects and to their participation in joint initiatives. From the statistical analysis of 30 FVG micro-chains, it was found that multi-active advanced farms perceive most of the improvements that are derived from their activities or the activities of others. Additionally, their willingness to engage in joint-initiatives is significant in certain aspects. Whereas amateur farmers are sceptical about their ability to positively affect the landscape and the environment, conventional farmers are much more confident that their own actions are more effective than those o...

Historically the Nile constituted the major source of life for million of inhabitants within its basin. Its basin has been the cradle of ancient and prosperous civilizations. The Nile basin is rich in natural tangible and intangible resources which are witnessing massive processes of grabbing in the recent decades. Resource grabbing is a complexity directly associated with the ownership and foreign direct investments. It is a challenging issue for the international juridical system in terms of transparency, accountability, fight against corruption, money laundering, human rights and national sovereignty, international development cooperation and humanitarian integrity. Sometimes, the emphasis on land or water grabbing alone might be generalized, bloated and exaggeratedly over reported, and the actors behind it might be misleadingly described. But, when we consider the overall and the complex impact and implications of realistic and dystopian outlook of resource grabbing and future p...

... 10 In letteratura, vi sono molti recenti importanti contributi, sulla realizzazione dell'UEM e sull'introduzione dell'Euro, alcuni dei quali richiamati nella documentazione bibliografica. Fra gli altri, si rimanda a Kenen PB (1996), Jossa B. (1996), Currie D. (1997) e Secchi C. (1998). ...

Tratturi's Network as Landscaping and Environmental Mosaic and Opportunity for Ecoturism. This paper deals with the topics of ecotourism as a new opportunity for rural areas of southern Italy either for protection of natural and cultural resources rather than for economic ...