Current Research 1996 97

This document contains many reports comparable in scope and subject matter to those appearing in scientific journals and other serials. Most contributions include an abstract and a bibliographic citation. Subjects include geology, stratigraphy, and geochemistry in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec.

Alcoholism is a disorder characterised by the excessive consumption of and dependence on alcoholic beverages, leading to physical and psychological harm and impaired social and vocational functioning. This book gathers new and important research on this socially and medically destructive disorder. These include addiction issues, forms of treatment, behavioural and clinical studies.

This series provides a fast track for publication of suitable papers from international contributors. The papers are chosen on the basis of abstracts submitted to a selection pannel in the autumn prior to the conference. IN addition to mainstream ergonomists and human factor specialists, contemporary ergonomicswill appeal to all those who have an interest in peoples interaction with their working and leisure environment including: designers, manufacturing and production engineers, health and safety specialists, organisational, applied and engineering psychologists.

Amitai Etzioni argues that societies must find a way to balance individual rights and the common good. This point of balance may change as new technologies develop, the natural and international environments change, and new social forces arise. Some believe the United States may be unduly shortchanging individual rights that need to be better protected. Specifically, should the press be granted more protection? Or should its ability to publish state secrets be limited? Should surveillance of Americans and others be curtailed? Should American terrorists be treated differently from others? How one answers these questions, Etzioni shows, invites a larger fundamental question: Where is the proper point of balance between rights and security? Etzioni implements the social philosophy, “liberal communitarianism.” Its key assumptions are that neither individual rights nor the common good should be privileged, that both are core values, and that a balance is necessary between them. Etzioni argues that we need to find a new balance between our desire for more goods, services, and affluence, particularly because economic growth may continue to be slow and jobs anemic. The key question is what makes a good life, especially for those whose basic needs are sated.