This study is based on field work done during a period of eight months when I lived in the Japanese farming village described in the paper. The project was carried out under the financial auspices of the Japanese Government. The religion Tenrikyō is what I describe as a 'totalitarian' system. That is, it regulates the lives of its members in all of their roles of life. The values and ideals of the religion emphasize the individual and his struggle to attain salvation. Each believer is expected to devote himself and everything he owns to the final fullfillment of the goals of Tenrikyō. The values and goals in operation in village Japan are in direct opposition to values such as those outlined for the religion. Community solidarity is of utmost importance to a Japanese village. In order to attain this solidarity each member of the village must subject himself to the will of the community. Thus the village too may be described as a 'totalitarian' system. When Tenrikyō entered the village of Sakōdo the meeting of the two 'totalitarian' systems produced a conflict which the village attempted to solve by formally ostracising the converts to the religion. This action was not satisfactory since it resulted in a weakening of the inner strength of the community. The only recourse was to accept the religion and make it dependant upon the village. This action eventually destroyed the 'totalitarian' nature of the religion and strengthened that of the community. This paper is an examination of this conflict and compromise and illustrates the type of reaction which occurs upon the meeting of two 'totalitarian' systems which hold opposing values and ideals. / Arts, Faculty of / Anthropology, Department of / Graduate

This dissertation is a survey and analysis of the ideal of severe asceticism conveyed in early religious Daoist texts. “Severe asceticism” in this study refers to religious practices that entail hardship, suffering and the rejection of basic human needs, along with the beliefs and attitudes that serve as justification and motivation for such practices. The period dealt with in the study is roughly the first six centuries of the common era. The study addresses three basic questions: 1) What specific severe ascetic training methods and ways of behavior were being carried out by Daoists? 2) What attitudes and beliefs served as motivation for such practices? 3) How and to what degree did the severe ascetic practices and the beliefs and attitudes dictating them evolve during the period in question? The study finds that throughout the period discussed, severe asceticism was always an important ideal for Daoists, especially for advanced adepts. The prominent severe ascetic practices included fasting, celibacy, sleep-avoidance, wilderness seclusion and selfimposed poverty. Highly uncommon and generally disapproved of were austeries which harmed and weakened the body with no purpose of ultimately strengthening it. In general, the motives for severe asceticism were (1) the strengthening and transformation of the body, (2) contact and participation in what is sacred and transcendent and (3) disdain and fear of the world and society. However, it is also discussed how during the latter part of the period examined, the emergence of new, partly Buddhist-influenced, soteriological and cosmological beliefs intensified the inherent tension between the two primary sotenological objectives, longevity and transcendence, and may have given justification to austenties which harmed the body and contradicted the archaic ideal of bodily immortality. In order to be able to analyze the phenomenon of severe asceticism in its full integrity, an approach has been taken that emphasizes comprehensiveness. This is because the phenomenon was much too widespread and diverse to be accurately assessed on the basis of one authoritative text. Thus a wide variety of sources have been utilized so that severe asceticism in early Daoist religion can be viewed to its fullest and understood properly based on a broad base of information. / Arts, Faculty of / Asian Studies, Department of / Graduate

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree B.A. Honours in the Department of African Languages at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 1997. / Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuvusa ugqozi lokufuya kubantu. Esikhathini eside abantu balahle amasiko abo , balibala amasiko ezinye izizwe. Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuqwashisa iSintu ukuthi, yize sesingasazi ukuthi kumele sibhekephi, nokho lisekhona ithemba nekhambi elingenziwa. Uma nje besingaba nesineke, sivume ukuqalaza emuva, nokho bezingabuya emasisweni . Lolu cwaningo luzoveza ngokusobala bha ukuthi kwakukhonjwa ngophakathi kwelokhokho. Kuzovela yonke in::okozo yasekhaya ngaphandle kokuwa uvuka , uqhathanisa onsumbulwana. Ingani phela uphokophele ukuthola ukudla okwakha umzimba, njengobisi , amasi nokunye. Lolu cwa.'1ingo luzoveza ukubambisana komndeni ekumiseni insika yawo isibaya. Lolu cwaningo luzoveza isidingo sesibaya emzini womnumzane .

Regardless of a subject's own level of physical appearance, it has been found that both male and female subjects tend to prefer and choose the most physically attractive dating partner from those available (Agoglia, 1969; Walster, Aronson, Abrahams, and Rottmann, 1966). This finding fails to confirm the plausible alternative hypothesis . that subjects would choose a dating partner of about equal physical attractiveness. Why does an individual, regardless of his own physical appearance, tend to choose the most nhysically attractive alternative presented to him (her) for a dating partner?

No description available.

Legal aspects of customs duty The aim of my diploma thesis is to define the concept of customs duty, describe and analyze the current legal regulation of customs duty in the Czech Republic and European Union, to explain the process of determining the customs debt and to answer the question if customs duties and customs authorities are important today or not. The thesis is divided into five chapters. The first chapter is divided into three subchapters, which are focused on the characteristics and definition of custom duty, its functions and its types from a theoretical perspective. The second chapter deals with the history of customs duty and presents a brief description of its development in the present Czech Republic. It is divided into two subchapters; the first is dedicated to the development of customs duty until the establishment of Czechoslovakia, the second focuses on its development until the establishment of the independent Czech Republic. The third chapter focuses on the current customs legislation and also mentions some legislation that will become applicable in the future. It is divided into three subchapters. The first subchapter is devoted to the sources of customs law at the international level and also mentions some major international organizations. The second describes legislation...

This research investigates particular ways that memorialising and mourning can be made manifest through public commemorative objects and spaces such as memorials and through smaller scale personal mementos. It also examines ways that these physical reminders can act as repositories and markers for memory, and as metaphors for identity. In particular the research is focussed on Traditional Southern Italian customs, reflecting on the ways that keepsakes and the cenotaph can provide allegories for declining cultural practices of Southern Italian migrants in Australia. The data collected for this thesis is based partly on participant observation, and on informal conversations with migrants from Southern Italy, regarding their funerary practices and stories told about the rural areas left behind in Italy. Research of visual and published material in the area of memorialising and memorial object are examined in order to gain an understanding of the language of death. The thesis also examines the use of Catholic religious objects in what anthropologist Per Binde has coined 'transactional acts', during supplication and remembrance and during times of mourning. An exploration of memorial and memento objects, by contemporary practitioners including Christian Boltanski, Lindy Lee, Julie Blyfield and Maya Lin has also been included. Inclusion of contemporary artists reflects on how memorials continue to play an important role in today's society as well as being integral in reflecting identity and maintaining connections with the past. Investigation of this genre is expressed through the research document and a body of studio-based research connected to the traditions of Memorialising. The studio research is expressed in the exhibition 'In Black' through the language of Catholic religious objects, memory boxes, personal mementos and cultural signifiers in wax, metal, and installation. These works, as time capsules are filled with significant representations of individuals and events that evoke memories through depictions of life, significant places and words descriptive of time and place.

On Sept. 11, 2001, three planes crashed into the upper floors of Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It was an apparent terrorist¡¦s attack on U.S.A. The terrorist¡¦s attacks have caused thousands of people¡¦s death. The world-wide aftermath of this catastrophe has also brought about massive changes in the way of life. Many countries have further acknowledgement of the importance of society¡¦ security and country¡¦s border control. This is especially true in the perception of social security and people¡¦s privacy. Customs is a symbol of sovereignty and a country¡¦s border control. It not only takes charge of duty collection and smuggling interdiction, but also protects national security and social stability. Furthermore, Customs executes trade policies, curbs counterfeit goods, and enforces environmental protection policies. At the beginning of the new millennium, the global village has gradually formulated a mainstream concept that international interactions will be more and more pervasive. In the future, Customs will play an even greater role in national financial administration. ¡§International Regime¡¨theory is a very important point at international relation issue, ¡§International Regime¡¨can be defined as a set of implicit or explicit principles¡Bnorms¡Brules¡Band decision-making procedures in which actor¡¦s expectations converge in a given area of international relations. ¡§World Customs Organization¡¨is the best symbol to reveal International Regime theory and the function of Customs. The missions of World Customs Organization (WCO) are as follows: 1. WCO establishes, maintains, supports and promotes international instruments for the harmonization and uniforms application of simplified and effective Customs systems and procedures governing the movement of commodities, people and conveyances across Customs frontiers. 2. WCO reinforces its¡¦ members¡¦ efforts to secure compliance with their legislation, by endeavoring to maximize the level of effectiveness of members¡¦ co-operation with one another and with international organizations in order to combat Customs violations and other transnational offences. 3. WCO assists its¡¦ members in their efforts of meeting the challenges of the modern business environment and efforts of adapting to the changing circumstances. WCO also promotes communication and co-operation among members or with other international organizations. It can effectively foster integrity, human resource development, Customs transparency, management improvements and working methods. This thesis is to conduct a comparative analysis on Taiwan Strait, both sides¡¦ Customs legal base, organization level, clearance & revenue collection, anti-smuggling, anti-terrorism, and other subjects. The analysis is based from 1949, the year of dividing sovereignty across the Taiwan Strait. For years, the two Customs administrations across the Taiwan Strait have enforced their own different systems under the authority of their respective government. Although reciprocal contacts and communications have been slow and symbolical in the past, both sides still have the same language and same race. Most of all, both Customs authorities have the sameness: the major and concurrent missions of duty collection, anti-smuggling and anti-terrorism etc. Therefore, by utilizing international regime¡¦s cooperation institute system, Customs between Mainland China and Taiwan can construct pragmatic and existing institutes for mutual benefits. In order to meet the rules after both sides¡¦ entering WTO in 2002, both sides Customs will review their organization with new administration. Under norms of international Customs practice, we will progressively reform Customs operation, enhance administrative efficiency and upgrade the quality of service to achieve our goals of barrier-free clearance, and to facilitate our national economic growth. Depending on international trade, economy norms and Customs function- co-operations, both sides shall be establishing systematized rules and bilateral mechanism in the near future. Moreover, both sides will be able to reach a consensus so that a win-win situation can be created. This thesis is written to be expected for the contributions as below: 1. We will acknowledge that Customs is a symbol of sovereignty and an organization of a country¡¦s border control. After USA 911 disaster, anti-terrorism and anti-smuggling of illegal articles on border have become the focus of Customs missions. 2. World Customs Organization (WCO) is an essential institution at international trade and economy relation issue. It could frame a norm basis to facilitate two sides¡¦ Customs cooperation. 3. Across the Taiwan Strait, two sides¡¦ Customs should shoulder the bridge role of economy cooperation and provide mutual smuggle information to each other so as to combat drug smuggling and illegal activities. 4. Customs could be a frontier of country diplomacy. When Mainland China & Taiwan¡¦s diplomacy relations can¡¦t make a breakthrough in difficult situations and positions, Customs may assist government in playing a role of negotiator on trade and economy matters. 5. As the work of ¡§Three Links¡¨ is related as closely as to the Customs business, constructing Interactive Mechanism of Customs between Mainland China and Taiwan is an absolute necessity.

This research investigates particular ways that memorialising and mourning can be made manifest through public commemorative objects and spaces such as memorials and through smaller scale personal mementos. It also examines ways that these physical reminders can act as repositories and markers for memory, and as metaphors for identity. In particular the research is focussed on Traditional Southern Italian customs, reflecting on the ways that keepsakes and the cenotaph can provide allegories for declining cultural practices of Southern Italian migrants in Australia. The data collected for this thesis is based partly on participant observation, and on informal conversations with migrants from Southern Italy, regarding their funerary practices and stories told about the rural areas left behind in Italy. Research of visual and published material in the area of memorialising and memorial object are examined in order to gain an understanding of the language of death. The thesis also examines the use of Catholic religious objects in what anthropologist Per Binde has coined 'transactional acts', during supplication and remembrance and during times of mourning. An exploration of memorial and memento objects, by contemporary practitioners including Christian Boltanski, Lindy Lee, Julie Blyfield and Maya Lin has also been included. Inclusion of contemporary artists reflects on how memorials continue to play an important role in today's society as well as being integral in reflecting identity and maintaining connections with the past. Investigation of this genre is expressed through the research document and a body of studio-based research connected to the traditions of Memorialising. The studio research is expressed in the exhibition 'In Black' through the language of Catholic religious objects, memory boxes, personal mementos and cultural signifiers in wax, metal, and installation. These works, as time capsules are filled with significant representations of individuals and events that evoke memories through depictions of life, significant places and words descriptive of time and place.

The Master's thesis is focused on organization of customs procedures at Siemens, s.r.o. The goal is to design efficient organization of in-house customs declaration, to suggest variants of implementation of customs software SIECUS while taking into consideration also possibility of SIECUS implementation in other Siemens companies in Czech Republic and to compare consequences of these variants with the current state. The first part of this thesis describes customs regulations and focuses on electronic customs clearance and simplifications that can be granted by customs authorities. The second part compares internal and external organization of customs clearance which forms a basis for recommendations for Siemens management. Possibility of using in- house customs declaration by other Siemens companies in Czech Republic is also reflected and its consequences are described in this thesis.