• Title/Summary/Keyword: Health care cost

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Functional Magnetizing Treatment of Natural Quartz and Volcanic Lava Scoria (내추럴 퀄쯔와 화산암재 스코리아의 기능성 마그네타이징 처리)

  • 소대화;소현준;배두안;김정희
    • Journal of the Speleological Society of Korea
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    • no.63
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    • pp.1-8
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    • 2004
  • The non-magnetic materials with non-conductive showing high structure dispersity were developed on the base of natural quartz and lava-scoria which was collected from Je-ju island in Korea, and treated by methane-chemical technology those were obtained novel properties of magnetization through the analyzing. Depending on the processing conditions and subsequent applications the materials produced by strong methane-chemical reaction (MCR) in alcohol solution showed concurrently magnetic, dielectric and electrical properties. The obtained magnetic-electrical powders classified by aggregate complex of their features as segnetomagnetics, containing a dielectric material as a carrying nucleus, particularly the quartz on that surface one or more layers of different compounds were synthesized having thickness up to 10~50 nm and showing magnetic, electrical and other properties. It was confirmed in magnetizing process that powders of quartz and lava-scoria produced by MCR were better oil adsorbent as of oleophilic and floating matter on water surface although their specific gravities are comparably more than 1 in quartz or less than unity, as that of water, in lava-scoira. Therefore, it will be Possible and very useful to remove low density and light gravity oil spillage in difficult recovery from sea and inland water contamination spread on water surface, by marine accident and ship sinking accident occurring frequently in recent years, by way of magnetic adsorbent conveyer system in continuous, if it could be built up the mass Production system of water-floating magnetizable oleophilic adsorbent materials with use of iow cost and good Qualify lava-scoria spread on volcano district in Je-ju island. And, there will also be urgent advent of necessity with strong possibility to develop useful applications of various magnetic functional materials include oleophilic adsorbent for removal of sea oil-contaminants and maritime pollutants, and other kinds of various utilities in industrial applications and practical uses of novel functional materials in the fields of environments and health care applications with in deep expectation.

How to Reflect Sustainable Development, exemplified by the Equator Principles, in Overseas Investment (해외투자(海外投資)와 지속가능발전 원칙 - 프로젝트 파이낸스의 적도원칙(赤道原則)을 중심으로 -)

  • Park, Whon-Il
    • THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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    • v.31
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    • pp.27-56
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    • 2006
  • Today's financial institutions usually take environmental issues seriously into consideration as they could not evade lender liability in an increasing number of cases. On the international scene, a brand-new concept of the "Equator Principles" in the New Millenium has driven more and more international banks to adopt these Principles in project financing. Sustainable development has been a key word in understanding new trends of the governments, financial institutions, corporations and civic groups in the 21st century. The Equator Principles are a set of voluntary environmental and social guidelines for sustainable finance. These Principles commit bank officers to avoid financial support to projects that fail to meet these guidelines. The Principles were conceived in 2002 on an initiative of the International Finance Corporation(IFC), and launched in June 2003. Since then, dozens of major banks, accounting for up to 80 percent of project loan market, have adopted the Principles. Accordingly, the Principles have become the de facto standard for all banks and investors on how to deal with potential social and environmental issues of projects to be financed. Compliance with the Equator Principles facilitates for endorsing banks to participate in the syndicated loan and help them to manage the risks associated with large-scale projects. The Equator Principles call for financial institutions to provide loans to projects under the following circumstances: - The risk of the project is categorized in accordance with internal guidelines based upon the environmental and social screening criteria of the IFC. - For Category A and B projects, borrowers or sponsors are required to conduct a Social and Environmental Assessment, the preparation of which must meet certain requirements and satisfactorily address key social and environmental issues. - The Social and Environmental Assessment report should address baseline social and environmental conditions, requirements under host country laws and regulations, sustainable development, and, as appropriate, IFC's Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines, etc. - Based on the Social and Environmental Assessment, Equator banks then make agreements with borrowers on how they mitigate, monitor and manage the risks through a Social and Environmental Management System. Compliance with the plan is included in the covenant clause of loan agreements. If the borrower doesn't comply with the agreed terms, the bank will take corrective actions. The Equator Principles are not a mere declaration of cautious banks but a full commitment of lenders. A violation of the Principles in the process of project financing, which led to an unexpected damage to the affected community, would not give rise to any specific legal remedies other than ordinary lawsuits. So it is more effective for banks to ensure consistent implementation of the Principles and to have them take responsible measures to solve social and environmental issues. Public interests have recently mounted up with respect to environmental issues on the occasion of the Supreme Court's decision (2006Du330) on the fiercely debated reclamation project at Saemangeum. The majority Justices said that the expected environmental damages like probable pollution of water and soil were not believed so serious and that the Administration should continue to implement the project seeking ways to make it more environment friendly. In this case, though the Category A Saemangeum Project was carried out by a government agency, the Supreme Court behaved itself as a signal giver to approve or stop the environment-related project like an Equator bank in project financing. At present, there is no Equator bank in Korea in contrast to three big banks in Japan. Also Korean contractors, which are aggressively bidding for Category A-type projects in South East Asia and Mideast, might find themselves in a disadvantageous position because they are generally ignorant of the environmental assessment associated with project financing. In this regard, Korean banks and overseas project contractors should care for the revised Equator Principles and the latest developments in project financing more seriously. It's because its scope has expanded to the capital cost of US$10 million or more across all industry sectors regardless of developing countries or not. It should be noted that, for a Korean bank, being an Equator bank is more or less burdensome in a short-term period, but it must be conducive to minimizing risks and building up good reputation in the long run.

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