Abstract The creation of nine provincial governments in 1994 held great promise as a key reform towards meeting the ideals of democracy and inclusiveness, in addition to representing an attempt to make government more efficient and effective. Nine provinces superseded an apartheid-based system of governing that defined the Republic of South Africa as four provinces containing self-governing territories and independent homelands for Africans. In cognisance of emerging arguments that propose that the South African government would operate more efficiently and effectively in the absence of this middle sphere of government, this article seeks to challenge such claims. Undoubtedly, provinces are hampered by a number of challenges, not the least of which relates to their limited abilities to generate sufficient own revenue. At the same time much of the responsibility for the provision of public goods and services rests with the provinces in the manner specified in Schedules 4 and 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. The natural question arising from the latter situation is – if not for Provinces, would either local government or national government be able to fill the void that would be left behind by the exit (partial or otherwise) of provinces? In light of the above-noted arguments and counter-arguments, the right of existence of provincial government(s) is briefly explored.

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

Background As the world population grows to 9.1 billion people, there is a need to feed all of these people. Agriculture will need to produce more food to feed the world. Agriculture is pressured by climate change with droughts and changes in seasonal patterns and needs to adapt to these changes. For nutritionists, there is a need to address non-communicable chronic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. These diseases are highly problematic in the developed parts of the world. Additionally, addressing food security is also an issue as part of the world, a large portion of developing countries, experience hunger and diseases related to not having adequate nutritious foods. Sustainable diets are working to address the issues mentioned above. This idea of having a sustainable diet is not new and dates back to a 1986 commentary by Gussow and Clancy. However, it was later in 2010, that a definition was developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This general definition has provided research with a focus on what a sustainable diet is and which food groups are parts of a sustainable diet. Purpose The purpose of this study was to learn about the current knowledge of sustainable diets through conducting a search of peer-reviewed literature about what sustainable diets are and what foods are included. Finally, this study assessed what nutrition educators know about and what their perceptions are of sustainable diets. Methods A literature search was conducted using several databases, including PubMed and EBSCO Host, yielding a few thousand results. After reviewing the literature, questions were developed for a focus group (n=8 participants), interviews (n=9 participants), and a short survey (n=54 participants). The project participants were from the University of Arizona’s Department of Nutritional Sciences, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program (SNAP-Ed) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Participants were asked to participate in one of the session: focus group, interview, or short survey. Results Participants from the focus group and interviews indicated that there was potential for people to be healthy by participating in sustainable diet activities. There also was concern about cost of sustainable diets. Sustainable diets need to be culturally acceptable to get consumers to practice them. Finally, eating seasonally was important component of a sustainable diet. If nutrition educators were asked to teach sustainable diets to others many felt they need more information or resources on sustainable diets or need to research the topic. Participants in the short surveys indicated concerns about costs, nutritional adequacy and showed mixed results when asked about what foods would be part of a sustainable diet. Educators who took the survey also showed great interest in having more education to learn about sustainable diets. Conclusions Nutrition educators have concerns about sustainable diets, such as being nutritionally adequate and affordable to all people. Educators in the focus group and interviews showed that there is potential for people to be healthy by following sustainable dietary practices, like gardening. However, there seemed to be a need for more education on sustainable diets. Nutrition educators have limited knowledge of sustainable diets. Some have an idea of what sustainable diets are, while others have stated that they have not heard of sustainable diets. Nutrition educators surveyed show a great interest in attending a seminar, if offered, on this topic. In summary, sustainable diets are gaining attention of nutrition educators, especially if sustainability and food become part of the new dietary guidelines. A need for providing sustainable diet education to nutrition educators will be part of the future. Further research on knowledge of nutrition educators on different components of sustainable diets and development of an educational curriculum is necessary.

This thesis focuses on presenting a theoretical and methodological framework that can be used to better understand the ability of different forms of tourism development to meet this key objective of sustainable development. I begin with a presentation of past attempts to grapple with the links that exist between tourism and the development process. It is shown that the theoretical approaches which dominated the tourism literature in the late 1970s and 1980s are unable to cope with the rapid changes occurring in the industry. In particular, these theories struggle to acknowledge and explain the growth of alternative forms of tourism. I then turn to new theoretical approaches epitomized by the work of Aulianna Poon. I argue that these new political economy approaches offer the best (though still far from perfect) way to understand the rise of alternative tourism and the complex interaction of global and local forces that characterize most forms of tourism development. / In its empirical analysis of Grenada's tourism industry, the thesis focuses on market demand, economic impacts and environmental issues. The results reveal that visitors to Grenada can be divided into three separate and distinct market segments: (i) rest and relaxation; (ii) active-water based; and (iii) new-age, soft-adventure types. While the vast majority of visitors come to Grenada for an active water-oriented vacation, the fastest growing segment is the soft-adventurers. The economic impact study shows that only about 29 cents in every dollar spent by the "average" tourists became direct local income in 1992. However, it is clear that tourist using medium-sized or small hotel accommodation consistently generate higher direct levels of income than those using other accommodation types. / This thesis introduces a mixture of innovative and more traditional techniques to analyze the sustainability of different forms of tourism development. The integrated approach also incorporates a Discrete Choice Experiment (market analysis) and then uses Arc/Info GIS to study water demand and pollution issues associated with different forms of tourism development in the Grand Anse beach area. Consistent with the results of the market segmentation analysis, the results of the discrete choice experiment further highlight the importance of the beach-front accommodation located within a semi-isolated setting. The results of the water impact assessment suggest that tourists demand twice as much domestic water per person/day as the local residents. / In conclusion, I discuss the applicability of my theoretical approach and examine the implications of the findings for Grenada's tourism development. It is clear that most tourism theory cannot adequately explain the shifts toward 'non-traditional' forms of tourism development. Since the empirical results indicate that this type of tourism development is best suited to Grenada's needs, it is important to seek alternative theoretical explanations. The empirical analysis reveals that traditional mass tourism development is likely to be the most environmentally damaging and economically disadvantageous tourism option to pursue on the island. The results show that low density, high quality accommodation is both in demand by tourists and is also associated with greater economic linkages and potentially less environmental damage. I conclude with a series of recommendations regarding the island's future tourism development efforts. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

In order for the Vredefort Dome to be declared, and to exist as a World Heritage site, it is imperative that the tourism product owners in the area realise their roles as custodians of this precious site. This proposition leads to the main aim of this study, namely to develop an integrated tourism development strategy for the Vredefort Dome as a proposed World Heritage site. In order to achieve the above-mentioned aim, a thorough literature review was conducted. The goal of the literature study was to investigate the birth and growth of sustainable development based on Agenda 21. This literature review revealed that the three-legged chair of sustainable development has more profound foundations than the obvious economical, social and environmental aspects. Each one of these aspects consists of various elements that are interrelated. In order to formulate a strategy for sustainable tourism development, this interrelation between aspects was analysed and the following conclusions were drawn: Sustainable tourism development is an integrated system Education, poverty alleviation, health and insight into human settlements and demographics are the cornerstones of social well-being Climate change, land resources, deforestation, drought, mountain development, agriculture, biodiversity, freshwater resources, toxic chemicals and waste are central concerns in environmentally sensitive development 0 Institutions involved such as the different levels of Government, as well as aspects such as fair trade, economic enhancement programmes and economic measuring are essential elements of economic sustainability. The custodians of the present generation in the Vredefort Dome should realise their role in this complicated and integrated system and therefore the practices at present were evaluated as well as the future view regarding sustainable practices. In order, then, for sustainable tourism development to realise in the Vredefort Dome, the following strategies were formulated to assist product owners to achieve sustainability: Assisting to alleviate poverty in the VFD with a view to a sustainable future and supporting sustainable livelihoods Improving participation that would be true to the demographic composition in the VFD Protecting and promoting human health in the VFD Promoting education and training in the VFD Promoting sustainable human settlement development in the VFD-area Following an integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources Promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development Conserving the biological diversity in the VFD Acquiring support from national, provincial and local levels of government Establishing a system that guarantees supply that is coherent with fair trade in tourism Establishing an economic enhancement system that will contribute to the well-being of the VFD community Reducing leakage and other purchasing practices. The results of the empirical study indicated that tourism stakeholders are prepared to improve the present situation in the Vredefort Dome and are willing to adjust their businesses practices in the future. These changed practices addressed some strategic issues and the strategies above would give direction to this proposed World Heritage site to become more sustainable. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

The intent of this thesis is to conduct an empirical study of social capital in a single resource dependent fishing community, Petty Harbour, Newfoundland. The community under study, Petty Harbour, has a 335 year attachment to what was its primary fishery, Northern cod (Gadus morhua). This ended in 1992 when the Canadian government implemented an indefinite moratorium on Northern cod. Historically the community has exhibited high levels of activism aimed for the most part at protectionism of its primary economic mainstay, the fishery. Social capital by definition implies available resources embedded in social structures such as informal networks that can be accessed and mobilized by individuals or groups for either personal or communal gain (Coleman, 1988; Putnam, 2000; Krishna, 2002; Onyx, 2005). High levels of social capital can lead to collective activism, which according to some, is the single most important contributing factor to sustainability because without activism, an outcome of social capital, there maybe no hope for recovery and sustainability. My hypothesis is that the extent to which one is socially connected through network ties to close friends and/or family (structural social capital) and the level of trust in neighbors (cognitive social capital) will positively correlate with their involvement with activism. Leadership and sense of ownership are introduced as additional independent variables to further explore explanations for the community's level of collective activism and stewardship of the resource. Treating activism as a dependent variable, I am going to examine social capital indicators, suggesting network ties (weak, strong) as independent variables that can partially explain the historically high level of activism. I am also going to propose that the independent variables leadership and sense of ownership will also positively correlate with activism.

Montréal’s Griffintown is a neighbourhood facing multiple transformations. Formerly a working class district gathered around warehouses and industries based along the Lachine Canal, it is home today to various avant-garde artistic groups. It is simultaneously under pressure of rampant condominium redevelopment. This thesis explores a means of reinforcing the identity of the area based on the re-use and celebration of existing, industrial artifacts. Existing infrastructure is examine as a potential host for related programs of renewable energy, recycling, waste treatment, and urban agriculture, thus Acting as a means to regenerate a public engagement with public utility processes. The rail viaduct in particular is explored as a means of incorporating both a new public utility as well as remaining an existing means of public transportation. The architecture of this new urban armature extends to engage with two buildings of great heritage and cultural value, both in need of being preserved and valorized before it is too late. These buildings have the potential to become urban anchors and community landmarks, particularly in conjunction with development of adjacent urban plazas and landscapes.

No description available.

The population growth and sophisticated demands of present day lifestyle place tremendous pressure on organisations resulting in industrialisation and diminishing the planets natural resources. Sustainability of the environment for both the present and future generations calls for a paradigm shift of stakeholders especially business organisations to take measures to curb wastage and become more environmentally conscious. A business's survival depends on the strategy it pursues in conjunction with the demands it faces in its operating environment. This thesis has evaluated Total's business using the tools of strategic management and studies the sustainable development strategies and initiatives adopted by this multinational corporation. The study is exploratory and links Total's business strategy to sustainable development. An in depth literature review was carried out on the theoretical aspects of strategic management and sustainable development. These included the strategic process, macro; industry; and internal environments, Porter' five forces model, core competencies, strategic intent, and the evaluation of strategy using the criteria of suitability, acceptability and feasibility by Johnson and Scholes. This followed through with a discussion of the major landmarks on sustainable development including the World Conservation Strategy, Brundtland Report, evolution of sustainable development, evaluation criteria, indicators, and the development of a model that was used in chapter four. The case study of Total is also presented discussing historical, financial, strategic and sustainable development material both at Total's international operations in France and the South African subsidiary. The research findings indicate that Total is a world-class company demonstrating success in the business, environmental and social arenas. It committed resources to both sustainable development and business development, producing good results in 2003. The company acceded to the requirements of Agenda 21, which called on countries to reduce pollution, emissions and the use of precious natural resources. Governments need to lead this change but emphasises that everyone can play their part in tackling non-sustainable practices. In this way, local actions can lead to the solution of global problems. Successful realisation of sustainable development involves a change in both ideas and actions. Globally sustainable development has gained prominence and hence it is time that it became an integral component of the strategy development process. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2005.

In May 2003, the first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was identified in Alberta, and the impact was immediately devastating on farmers and rural communities across Canada. Not only were farmers faced by the impacts of BSE, they were also contending with record low farm incomes, changing commodity prices, and overall rural depopulation. One grassroots adaptation to this rural crisis is the adoption of Holistic Management (HM) by farmers in western Canada. Although growing in popularity, HM has yet to be systematically assessed in the literature. The overall objectives of this study were to characterize HM; to assess to what degree it simultaneously addresses environmental, economic, and social priorities; to examine the impacts caused by the BSE crisis on HM and non-HM producers; and to explore the potential of HM for adapting and dealing with future crises. This was carried out through a questionnaire that was mailed to 784 HM producers across western Canada. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of survey data showed that HM allowed producers to systematically address all three pillars of sustainability (environment, economic, and social). In particular, the social aspect emphasized in the practice of HM was unique compared to other approaches to agricultural sustainability that focus on economic and/or environmental priorities. When comparing HM producers to non HM producers, the HM producers were less impacted by the BSE crisis. Indeed, holistic managers described how the occurrence of BSE and subsequent consequences to the entire industry actually made them more resilient. The key factors that helped HM producers adapt to the BSE crisis were community involvement, within the family and larger community, and farm management. New farm practices, such as rotational grazing, and the HM clubs to support these new farm innovations/practices also aided producers in adapting to the BSE crisis. The results of this study demonstrate the value of alternative community based approaches that address agricultural challenges in a truly holistic and sustainable manner.