Consumer protection has become an important issue in many spheres of trade. This fact is borne out by the many consumer protection laws introduced in many countries globally. However, despite these developments Swaziland is lagging behind. Obviously, this state of affairs has left consumers in Swaziland in a totally vulnerable position. Consumers are often exploited in two material respects. They are either subjected to unfair contract terms in the provision of services, or supplied with defective products having the potential of causing serious bodily harm. In protecting consumers the common law has been judicially developed over many centuries to curb these unfair trading practices. The doctrine of freedom of contract has been the driving force in regulating the relations between consumers and suppliers. The import of this doctrine is the unyielding recognition of an individual’s autonomy in the conclusion of consumer transactions. The underlying percepts of this doctrine are privity of contract, which only recognises obligations between contracting parties, and pacta sunt servanda which requires contractual undertakings to be recognised. The operation of contractual freedom in concluding agreements often leads to unfair results against consumers because suppliers usually impose unfair terms as a result of their stronger bargaining power over consumers. In short, problems faced by consumers were twofold; first, they have to battle the issue of potentially harmful goods, and secondly, their economically weak bargaining position is exploited by suppliers through the use of unfair contract terms. Many countries, including the United Kingdom and South Africa, addressed these two consumer issues decisively through statutory reform aimed at protecting consumers against potentially harmful products and unfair contract terms. Swaziland requires statutory reformative measures that will ensure a shift from the current consumer framework regulated by outmoded common law principles towards a modern framework that will comply with international standards. / Thesis (LL.M)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Student Number : 8325808 - M Family Medicine thesis - Faculty of Health Sciences / Childhood protection from the sun affords lifetime protection from skin cancer. This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted on 184 mothers in 4 medical waiting rooms in Gauteng. The purpose of the study was to determine mothers’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards sun protection of their children. Data was collected by means of an anonymous, confidential, self-administered questionnaire. There was a significant correlation between personal behaviour of the mother and behaviour of the use of sun protection on their children. The majority of mothers purchase a sunscreen of SPF factor > 15. Knowledge often does not transfer into behaviour, with many parents still believing that a suntan is healthy. Mothers’ attitudes towards sun protection was positive. Knowing someone with skin cancer does not increase the usage of sun protection. Mothers attain their knowledge of sun protection from magazines and television. Mothers felt they would benefit from more information. Sun avoidance methods need to be taught and the perception of a suntan being healthy needs to be changed in the public media.

La mise en place de nouvelles normes, de plus en plus contraignantes, est un défi pour l’élaboration de nouveaux matériaux résistants à haute température. Le premier objectif de l’étude est de mettre au point un panneau – coupe-feu 2h à base de plâtre. Il devra présenter à la fois de bonnes qualités d’isolant thermique et des propriétés mécaniques suffisantes pour maintenir l’intégrité d’un ouvrage d’art. Le second objectif est de comprendre, d’une part, l’influence de divers paramètres sur le phénomène de prise du plâtre et d’autre part, de déterminer les propriétés thermomécaniques du composite. Ce type de matériau est obtenu par l’association d’eau, d’une matrice céramique composée essentiellement de sulfate de calcium dihydraté et de charges utilisées en tant que renforts thermiques et/ou mécaniques.Dans une première partie, l’étude porte essentiellement sur la matrice pour laquelle une granulométrie permettant d’optimiser les propriétés mécaniques est déterminée. La matrice est ensuite caractérisée chimiquement. Une étude par calorimétrie isotherme de la réaction d’hydratation du sulfate de calcium semihydraté (plâtre) est réalisée afin de comprendre le mécanisme de prise du plâtre et de maîtriser les temps de prise. Pour cela, on étudie l’influence de la taille des grains, de la quantité d’eau, de la composition chimique du plâtre et de la présence ou non d’adjuvants sur la cinétique d’hydratation du plâtre.Dans une seconde partie, les renforts nécessaires à l’élaboration du composite sont sélectionnés. Les relations entre les quantités de charges et les propriétés thermomécaniques (conductivité thermique, module d’Young, dureté Shore C) du système sont étudiées. Ainsi, une modélisation du comportement du composite sous sollicitations thermique et mécanique est proposée. Cette étude a permis de définir une formulation de panneau présentant de très bonnes propriétés thermiques et des propriétés mécaniques suffisantes pour assurer l’intégrité d’un ouvrage d’art en cas d’incendie. La formulation mise au point a fait l’objet d’un dépôt de brevet (n° BIP207506FR00 en décembre 2010). Cette formulation est actuellement commercialisée par la société EXTHA sous forme de plaques. / The increase of prevention and the introduction of more and more restrictive standards are challenges for the development of new materials resistant to high temperatures. The aim of the study is to develop a fire panel with both good properties of thermal insulator (low thermal conductivity, fumes tightness) and mechanical properties sufficient to maintain a structure integrity in case of fire.That kind of material is composed of an inorganic matrix mainly composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate and of additives used as thermal and mechanical reinforcements. The first part of the study is focused on the matrix, especially on the determination of a particle size distribution for which the mechanical properties are optimized. Then, the matrix is chemically characterized. A study by isothermal calorimetry of the hydration reaction of the calcium sulfate hemihydrate (plaster) is conducted to understand the mechanism of hydration and to control setting times. For this, the influence of the grain size, of the quantity of water, of the chemical composition of plaster, of additives on the kinetics of hydration of the plaster is studied. The second part of this work resumes the different steps of the selection of additives. After that, the relation between the microstructure and thermo - mechanicals properties (thermal conductivity, Young modulus, Shore C hardness) of the system is studied.This study has permitted to establish a panel formulation having very good thermal and mechanical properties to ensure building integrity in case of fire. The formulation has been patented in December 2010 (No BIP207506FR00) and it is currently marketed as panels by Extha.

Depuis la réforme économique et l’ouverture de la Chine en 1978, l’économie chinoise s’est développée rapidement. Les investissements étrangers ont joué un rôle essentiel dans le développement économique chinois. La Chine est devenue la deuxième puissance économique du monde. Ce résultat positif est basé sur les avantages fiscaux aux investissements étrangers et la faiblesse du coût du travail. Aujourd’hui, ces avantages sont de moins en moins importants. Un investisseur étranger attache plus d’importance à l’environnement juridique qu’au coût du travail et aux avantages fiscaux. Suite à la perte progressive des avantages politiques et ceux du marché en Chine, la concurrence sur l’environnement de l’investissement, notamment sur l’environnement juridique de l’Etat d’accueil, va devenir une mesure importante pour attirer les investissements étrangers. Aussi l’ajustement du système du droit chinois de l’investissement est nécessaire et urgente. Le droit de l’investissement étranger contient deux aspects: la protection et la restriction de l’investissement direct étranger. Un système parfait du droit de l’investissement implique un juste équilibre entre ces deux aspects. Dans cette thèse, nous voulons nous pencher sur le droit français et le droit international afin d’analyser la relation entre la restriction et la protection de l’investissement direct étranger en droit chinois. Nous ne nous proposons pas, dans cette thèse, de recouvrir tous les domaines du droit de l’investissement en Chine. Nous entendons plutôt préciser l’influence de certains facteurs les plus importants en la matière. / Since the economic reform and opening of China in 1978, Chinese economy continued to grow at a rapid pace. Foreign investment has played an important role in China’s economic development. China has become the second largest economy in the world. This positive result is based on the tax benefits of foreign investment and low cost of labor. Today, these benefits are less important. A foreign investor attaches more importance to the legal environment than labor costs and tax benefits. Following the gradual loss of political advantage and market in China, the competition in the investment environment, including the legal environment of the host country, will become an important measure to attract foreign investment. Also adjusting the system of the Chinese investment law is necessary and urgent. The law of foreign investment has two aspects: the protection and restriction of FIE. A perfect system of investment law implies a balance between these two aspects. In this thesis, we want to study the French law and international law in order to analyze the relationship between the restriction and protection of FIE in Chinese law. We do not propose, in this thesis, covering all areas of the investment law in China. Instead, we wish to clarify the influence of some of the most important factors in the matter.

Avec le développement fulgurant d’internet, les atteintes et les abus concernant les données relatives à notre identité sont des menaces dues à des dispositions législatives insuffisantes et des textes juridiques dépassés. C’est la raison pour laquelle cette étude soutient la thèse de la légitimité de la consécration constitutionnellement d’un droit à la protection de l’identité numérique dont il sera envisagé les fondements, les contours mais aussi les limites / With the lightening development ouf World wide web, the violations and abuses against datas about citizen’s digital identity are threatens due to insufficient legislativs provisions and légal textile outdated. That’s why this study supports the thesis that the légitimity of constitutionnal protection of a rigotte of digital identity which it will be considered the fundments, the outlines but also the limits

李艷紅. / "2000年6月" / 論文 (哲學碩士)--香港中文大學, 2000. / 參考文獻 (leaves 140-147) / 附中英文摘要. / "2000 nian 6 yue" / Li Yanhong. / Lun wen (zhe xue shuo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2000. / Can kao wen xian (leaves 140-147) / Fu Zhong Ying wen zhai yao. / Chapter 第一章： --- 導論 --- p.1 / 從一宗訴訟說起 --- p.1 / 當代中國消費者權益運動與新社會運動 --- p.3 / 理論背景：當代中國的國家與社會關係及制度變遷 --- p.7 / 媒介與話語運動 --- p.11 / 論文的基本結構及研究方法說明 --- p.17 / Chapter 第二章： --- 從“消費者保護運動´ح到“消費者維權運動´ح --- p.28 / Chapter 第三章： --- 背景：當代中國的媒介變革與“消費欄目´ح的出現 --- p.35 / Chapter 第四章： --- 身体、故事、表演：媒介與“集体行動框架 --- p.43 / 媒介的´ب´ب焦點轉移´ح --- p.44 / 身体、受難故事與非正義框架 --- p.46 / 維權故事、個体能動性與“消費者運動´ح的公共身份 --- p.61 / 重新發現“消費者´ح --想象的社區，苦難的受害者 --- p.80 / Chapter 第五章： --- 表達、象征性“表達´ح與議程建构 --- p.93 / 《醫療事故處理辦法》進入公共議程 --- p.93 / “電信价格政策´ح進入公共議程 --- p.104 / 議程建构：表達與互動、象征表達與象征互動 --- p.113 / 媒介的行動者角色 --- p.116 / Chapter 第六章： --- 結論與討論 --- p.123 / 參考文獻 --- p.140

This study has covered the duty to provide pre-contractual information and the right of cancellation, the two important key areas of consumer protection in distance selling contracts. These two protection models are invented to rebalance the distance contract in favour of the consumer albeit differently. The duty to provide information rebalances the contract in terms of information, and the right of cancellation provides the distance consumer with an opportunity to rethink the decision about the contract. The study has looked at pertinent laws of distance selling contracts in England and Iraq. In doing so, the study has followed comparative and analytical methodology, whereby strengths and weaknesses, similarities and dissimilarities between the selected laws under a chosen theme are addressed. The aim is to explore problems and loopholes, which may need future amendments, including legal gaps, ambiguity, and incomplete treatment. During the study, specific challenges related to the theme of study are critically analysed. Apparently, the quantity and type of information required, the time and manner of sending information, and the remedy available at the breach are challenges of the information requirements. Challenges of the right of cancellation are the conditions and effects of using the right. The study has concluded that many aspects of protection under both laws need further improvements. The need for changes is more obvious with Iraqi Law than English Law, where distance selling protection has not been recognised yet.

La protection des droits de l’enfant victime des conflits armés est une problématique récente et actuelle qui s’appuie sur l’évolution des droits de l’homme et sur la mutation de la nature des conflits. Elle pose la question de l’existence d’un cadre normatif international consistant, apte à assurer protection et assistance à l’enfant en proie à des hostilités. Sur ce point, il apparaît que le droit international prévoit un ensemble de mécanismes juridiques applicables à l’enfant, qu’il soit victime directe ou indirecte des conflits, ou qu’il participe directement aux hostilités. Aujourd’hui encore trop d’enfants meurent chaque jour à cause de conflits, de maladies, de Malnutrition beaucoup trop sont exploités et n’ont pas la possibilité de suivre des cours dans une école, voyant ainsi leur avenir leur échapper tous les jours un peu plus. Cependant, l’examen de ces instruments montre qu’ils se caractérisent souvent par la généralité de leurs dispositions qui ne sont pas toujours adaptées à la prise en compte de la spécificité de l’enfant. De plus, ils soulèvent parfois des questions d’applicabilité. Ainsi, si l’on ne peut pas leur nier toute effectivité, celle-ci reste, à bien des égards, partielle. L’adoption de mécanismes juridiques spécifiquement applicables à l’enfant, avait d’ailleurs pour objet de remédier à cette inadaptation et d’établir l’exhaustivité du cadre juridique. Ce respect les oblige à protéger les enfants afin de leur offrir la possibilité de bénéficier des programmes d’aide mis en place sur le terrain par de nombreuses organisations humanitaires clamant haut et fort que tout le monde doit agir, d’une manière ou d’une autre, pour permettre le développement d’actions de plus en plus variées et de plus en plus efficaces malgré les difficultés. La persistance des violations fait, cependant, prendre conscience des insuffisances normatives et impose une redéfinition de l’objectif de protection. Dans ce contexte, l’implication grandissante du Conseil de sécurité, mais aussi la criminalisation des violations commises lors des conflits armés, définissent une nouvelle approche de la responsabilité de la communauté internationale en la matière. Cette intervention a, en effet, permis de rappeler aux Etats leurs obligations et d’adopter des sanctions à l’encontre d’individus contrevenants. De même, les condamnations prononcées par la Cour pénale internationale et le Tribunal spécial pour la Sierra Léone pour crimes de guerre consistant au recrutement et à l’utilisation d’enfants soldats marquent la fin d’un déni de justice. / The protection of children's rights a victim of armed conflict is a recent and current problem which is based on the evolution of human rights and the changing nature of conflicts. It raises the question of the existence of an international legal framework consisting capable of providing protection and assistance to child plagued by hostilities. On this point, it appears that international law provides a set of legal mechanisms applicable to the child, whether direct or indirect victim of the conflict, or participate directly in hostilities. Today too many children die each day due to conflict, disease, malnutrition too are exploited and do not have the opportunity to take classes in a school, seeing their future away from them every day a little more. However, examination of these instruments shows that they are often characterized by the generality of their provisions which are not always adapted to take account of the specific nature of the child. In addition, they sometimes raise questions of applicability. So, if we can not deny them any effectiveness, it remains, in many respects, partial. The adoption of legal mechanisms specifically applicable to the child, had also intended to remedy this inadequacy and the completeness of the legal framework. This respect the obligation to protect children and offer them the opportunity to benefit from support programs implemented in the field by many humanitarian organizations claiming loudly that everyone must act in one way or another, to enable the development of actions increasingly diverse and increasingly effective despite the difficulties. Continuing violations did, however, become aware of the normative gaps and requires a redefinition of the objective of protection. In this context, the growing involvement of the Security Council but also the criminalization of violations committed during the armed conflict, define a new approach to the responsibility of the international community in this regard. This intervention, in fact, served to remind States of their obligations and adopt sanctions against individuals offenders. Similarly, sentences imposed by the International Criminal Court and the Special Court for Sierra Leone for war crimes of recruitment and use of child soldiers mark the end of a miscarriage of justice.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / This study traces the political economy of the social protection policy processes in the two country case studies of Zambia and Zimbabwe. It focuses on the role of global actors/external agencies (bilaterals, multilaterals and IFIs), national actors (government, parliament) and local actors (beneficiary communities, INGOs, CSOs) in social protection policy evolution. It looks at the power dynamics within the policy space: who is more powerful and who is less powerful, who voices and whose voice matters, who makes decisions and who follows decisions, who drives the policy and who follows, who has the money and who follows the money, who consults and who is consulted, and whether the rural communities (perceived beneficiaries) are active participants or ‘passive’ recipients. Therefore, the study is based on key informant interviews with officials from government, external agencies, INGOs and CSOs as well as focus group discussions with the communities. What emerges is that social protection is a policy contestation between the external agencies themselves; between external agencies and the government; between personnel of the same external agency; and within the government itself. Despite being driven by a common goal to fight poverty, external agencies have different global social protection policy positions and each would ‘push’ for the adoption of that policy position over the rest. Contestation between external agencies and the government reflect that government priorities differ from those of the external agencies. While external agencies pushed for social protection, the government would prefer agricultural subsidies to support the productive capacity of the people. Intra-government ‘struggles’ relate to the contest over which ministry is best placed to coordinate social protection and Ministry of Finance’s ambivalence over budgetary commitment to social protection. The study therefore underscores the primacy of politics in social protection.

The object of this thesis is to provide, through a thorough analysis of human perception and interaction with aesthetics and landscape quality, a comprehensive basis on which to develop a credible methodology for the large scale assessment of perceived landscape quality. The analysis of human perception and interaction with aesthetics and landscape quality is gained by inquiring in depth into a range of theoretical constructs from key disciplines, cultural aspects, and empirical studies covering : 1. the contribution of philosophers to aesthetics 2. the psychology of perception and colour 3. the contribution of Gestalt psychology to aesthetics 4. the psychoanalytical construct of human responses to aesthetics 5. the influence of culture on landscape preferences, tracing the changing perceptions of mountains, the portrayal of landscapes in art, and the design of parks and gardens 6. a review of over 200 surveys of landscape quality in the late 20th century, including typologies and theories of landscape quality Based on the analysis of these and the knowledge gained, an empirical study is formulated and conducted, comprising a study of landscape quality of South Australia, an area of nearly 1 million km - 1. This involves, firstly, the acquisition of data covering the delineation of landscape character regions for the State, photography of these landscapes, derivation of a set of representative slides, and rating of these by groups of participants. Secondly, these preference ratings are comprehensively analysed on the basis of the attributes of the scenes covering land form, land cover, land use, water bodies, naturalism, diversity and colour. Thirdly, the results are applied as follows: 1. a map of landscape quality of South Australia is derived 2. the results are used to predict the effect that changes in land use ( e.g. clearance of trees ) will have on landscape quality 3. the theoretical constructs of landscape quality are evaluated on the basis of the preference ratings 4. a protocol is detailed to guide the undertaking of large - scale landscape quality assessment. The thesis thus fulfils the objective of conducting a thorough analysis of human perception and interaction with, aesthetics and landscape quality, to provide a basis for developing a credible methodology for the large - scale assessment of perceived landscape quality. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Social Sciences, 2000.