Economic sanctions have frequently been used as a foreign policy tool against the Islamic Republic of Iran since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The consequences of these sanctions have been...Show moreEconomic sanctions have frequently been used as a foreign policy tool against the Islamic Republic of Iran since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The consequences of these sanctions have been investigated for instance in the context of basic human rights. However, the quality of life for Iran’s local communities is also largely defined by trends of environmental change, particularly those relating to water, such as more frequent droughts and flooding. As economic sanctions have, directly or indirectly, led to diminished resources at the national and local level, the capacity of local communities to adapt to environmental change is also hindered. An analysis of these international-national-local relations through the lens of environmental justice suggests that such community-level indirect effects should be better taken into account in evaluating the consequences and justification of economic sanctions.Show less
“The struggles for water between hegemons and subordinates are set within the framework of hydro-hegemony and include the concept of power. Hegemonic and counter-hegemonic strategies drive changes...Show more“The struggles for water between hegemons and subordinates are set within the framework of hydro-hegemony and include the concept of power. Hegemonic and counter-hegemonic strategies drive changes at the international level allowing different states to shift their perceived power. Their positions actively affects the discourse, influencing processes like agenda-setting, policy-making and hydropower plans. This paper analyses the struggle between Egypt and Ethiopia within the hydro-hegemonic framework assessing the different practices employed by Cairo to (re-)assert its position as the most powerful player in the Nile River Basin complex, the hegemon.”Show less
This BA-thesis focuses on cisterns in early modern Amsterdam, building upon the research conducted by Gawronski and Veerkamp in 2007. In their research, a number of topics are treated, such as...Show moreThis BA-thesis focuses on cisterns in early modern Amsterdam, building upon the research conducted by Gawronski and Veerkamp in 2007. In their research, a number of topics are treated, such as cistern sizes and capacities. However, little attention is spent to different functional applications of cisterns. Furthermore, spatial dispersion of cisterns in Amsterdam is completely left out. Therefore, in this thesis functional application of cisterns, divided into seven categories of context, and their spatial aspects are focused upon. Data was retrieved from the Amsterdamse Archeologische Rapporten (AAR), in which ninety-one cisterns are documented. This thesis has emerged clear differences and relations between size and capacity, and different categories of context of cisterns. These differences are explained both by functional application of the cistern, as well as wealth of its owner. Spatially, clear clusters of cisterns are recognised in post-17th century neighbourhoods, such as the Jordaan, canal belts and the islands of Marken and Oostenburg. Even in pre-17th century neighbourhoods, many cisterns are located in association to newly built 17th-18th century structures. In order to make more detailed conclusions about the use and dating of cisterns, more extensive documentation, and new dating methods are needed.Show less
Since 1995, the World Bank is the most dominant world actor in the international water sector through their large influence on policy making and contribution to financial aid for water projects....Show moreSince 1995, the World Bank is the most dominant world actor in the international water sector through their large influence on policy making and contribution to financial aid for water projects. Such financial aid comes with economic reform, including the privatization of key industries such as the water supply. In the 1980s Bolivia took a loan from the Bank, which meant that they had to adhere to such economic reform and privatized their water supply in Cochabamba. The World Bank has a water policy to which they should adhere. However, with the implementation of the privatization several instances of organized hypocrisy were highlighted. This hypocrisy created instances of corruption during the privatization of the water supply in Cochabamba in the period of 1999-2002.Show less
Determining the UV photostability of organic molecules is key to understanding the recent detection of such molecules on comets. We used in situ spectroscopy measurements of glycine in both argon...Show moreDetermining the UV photostability of organic molecules is key to understanding the recent detection of such molecules on comets. We used in situ spectroscopy measurements of glycine in both argon and water ice to investigate the photolysis reactions of glycine, and determine the dependence of the VUV-photostability of glycine on the thickness of the water matrix at both 10 K and 100 K. We directly observed the photodissociation of glycine into methylamine and carbondioxide inside the argon matrix, and we found compelling evidence that the water matrix provides a protective environment for the glycine against UV dissociation.Show less
