Global civilisation, and therefore population health, is threatened by excessive inequality, weapons of mass destruction, inadequate economic and political theory and adverse global environmental change. The unequal distribution of global foreign exchange adjusted income is both a cause and a reflection of global social characteristics responsible for many aspects of these inter-related crises. ¶ The global distribution of foreign exchange adjusted income for the period 1964-1999 is examined. Using data for more than 99% of the global population, a substantial divergence in its distribution is found. The global Gini co-efficient, adjusted for national income inequality, increased from an already high value of 71% in 1964 to peak at more than 80% in 1995, before falling, very slightly, to 79% in 1999. The global distribution of purchasing parity power income is also examined, for a similar period. Though also found to be extremely unequal, its trend has not been to increased inequality. Implications of the differences between these two trends are discussed. ¶ A weighted time series index of global environmental change (IGEC) for the period 1960-1997 was also calculated. This uses nine categories of global time series environmental data, each scaled so that 100% represents the level of each category in nature prior to anthropogenic change; zero represents decline to a critical point. This index fell from 82% in 1960 to 55% in 1997, and will further decline during this century. ¶ Using evidence from several disciplines, it is argued that the decline in the IGEC correlates with major macro-environmental changes, which, combined with flawed social responses to scarcity and its perception, place at risk the ability of civilisation to function. This could occur because of the interaction of conflict, economically disastrous extreme climatic events, deterioration of other ecosystem services, regional food and water insecurity, and currently unforeseen events. Uncertainty regarding both a safe rate of decline and the tolerable nadir of the IGEC is substantial. ¶ Substantial reduction in the inequality of foreign exchange adjusted income is vital to enhance the development of policies able to reverse the decline in the environmental goods which underpin civilisation, and to promote the co-operation needed to maximise the chance that civilisation will survive.

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Browse selection, intake, utilisation, palatability, quality and production are tightly linked and need to be considered together in trying to improve our understanding of browsing dynamics and the interactions between browsers and vegetation. Such an understanding is necessary in order to re-evaluate determinations of browser carrying capacities and evaluating actual and potential impacts of browsing animals on vegetation composition and diversity. Browser carrying capacity is determined by both the quantity and the nutritive value of forage. The measurement of browse quantity and nutritive value and the matching of browse supply to browser demand are central to sustainable utilisation and the monitoring of vegetation health. South African savannas are poorly studied with respect to tree canopy growth and browse production making it difficult to quantify the available browse biomass on which browsing capacity estimations are based, and consequently difficult to estimate levels of browsing that are sustainable. This study addressed these issues by investigating browse dynamics, broadly aiming to (1) explore factors affecting browse production, biomass and nutritive value; (2) develop models to assess and monitor these parameters across seasons and properties; (3) use the resultant models in improving our understanding of how to determine browser carrying capacities. More specifically, our study sought to examine the effects of plant physiognomy, forage nutritive value, canopy stratum, defoliation, temperature, rainfall and soil nutrient status on the browse production of evergreen (Carissa bispinosa, Euclea divinorum, Gymnosporia senegalensis), semi-deciduous (Spirostachys africana, Ziziphus mucronata) and deciduous (Acacia nilotica, Dichrostachys cinerea) savanna tree species from June 2003 – June 2005 in three sites along the northern Zululand coastline of KwaZulu-Natal. Available browse biomass, during the dry season, of four key savanna tree species (A. nilotica, E. divinorum, G. senegalensis, and S. africana) was estimated through the development of allometric regression equations. Non-linear regression was used to investigate the relation between the leaf dry mass (LDM) and canopy volume (CVol) of each of the four tree species. Exponential regression (y = a + brlnx) of the natural logarithm of CVol data provided the most accurate and precise description of the tree CVol – LDM relation. A study was undertaken to determine which factors may influence browse production in a southern African savanna. Regression tree models for the browse production identified that the dominant factors influencing browse production were CVol (m3), season, species and height to the lowest leaves of the tree canopy (HL) (m). The length of the growing season had a marked effect on the production potential of savanna tree species, suggesting that improved conditions for growth, i.e. greater rainfall, soil moisture content and improved soil nutrient availability result in a longer period of rapid sustained growth. Species was identified as an important contributing factor to differences in browse production rates, suggesting the need for the development of species or species group models. Mean annual browse production of evergreen trees was greater than that of deciduous and semi-deciduous trees. Mean quarterly (three monthly) browse production was highest, for all trees, during the wet season, with the greatest difference between wet and dry season production being observed in deciduous forms. Evergreen forms showed continuous growth over the whole study, with enhanced growth over the wet season. Deciduous forms, on the other hand, concentrated growth in spurts, when environmental conditions became favourable, with most production occurring during a short growing season. Browse nutritive value was found to be greatest during the wet season, when growth and photosynthesis are at their greatest. Further, browse nutritive value was greatest in deciduous species. Evergreen trees were found to have greater acid detergent fibre (ADF) concentrations than both the deciduous and semi-deciduous trees. By contrast, crude protein (CP) concentrations were greater in semi-deciduous and deciduous species than in evergreen species. The daily CP requirements for maintenance for an adult impala (45 kg) were met by all species over all three study areas and all seasons. Daily CP requirements for growth and lactation, however, were only ever met by deciduous and semi-deciduous species, though this result was not consistent over study areas and seasons. Predictive models for the production of browse on deciduous, semi-deciduous and evergreen trees in northern Zululand were developed using multivariate adaptive regression spline functions. The best predictors of growing season browse production in all three tree guilds (defined here as a group of trees having a characteristic mode of living) were primarily measurable tree dimensions, while the prevailing environmental conditions had little impact. Differences in the production, nutritive value and available browse biomass between the different tree forms and seasons have a profound effect on the determination of browser carrying capacities and need to be incorporated into any game or conservation management plan. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

The way people view development is changing. The world now advocates for a development that also considers future generations. There is a paradigm shift towards sustainable development - a development in today's lifestyle without destroying the resources for tomorrow generations. Sustainable development is a broad concept that addresses how human activities impact on the economic, environmental and social well-being of an ecosystem; however, practical application of the sustainability concept is complex because its objective assessment is elusive. It is often said that the effect of technology on society has never been more profound than today. As mankind develops in science and technology to improve on his well-being, certain impacts are made on the systems that support human existence. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology, like gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology, is a latest innovation conceived to 'fight' the problem of gas flaring, and help contribute to the social and economic growth of the people; but it is necessary for man to know if these contemporary technologies are sustainable. This dissertation critically appraises the impact of the LNG project on the community of Bonny Island in Nigeria from a holistic perspective. The approach to the research work is three-fold: an appropriate sustainability framework is selected based on certain criteria; sustainability indicators are developed from the chosen framework; and the sustainability indicators are used to assess the impact of the project on the flora and fauna of the community. To have a clear picture of the impact of Nigeria LNG on its host community, Epe-Waterside is chosen as a control community because of its similar socio-geographical outlook to Bonny Island community. The control community is then subjected to the same set of sustainability indicators for a comparative analysis. The outcome of the research work shows that, though the economic and social conditions of Bonny Island seem much better, its environmental status remains a challenge. In other words, it can be concluded that the present approach to the operation of the LNG technology is not sustainable. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The way people view development is changing. The world now advocates for a development that also considers future generations. There is a paradigm shift towards sustainable development - a development in today's lifestyle without destroying the resources for tomorrow generations. Sustainable development is a broad concept that addresses how human activities impact on the economic, environmental and social well-being of an ecosystem; however, practical application of the sustainability concept is complex because its objective assessment is elusive. It is often said that the effect of technology on society has never been more profound than today. As mankind develops in science and technology to improve on his well-being, certain impacts are made on the systems that support human existence. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology, like gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology, is a latest innovation conceived to 'fight' the problem of gas flaring, and help contribute to the social and economic growth of the people; but it is necessary for man to know if these contemporary technologies are sustainable. This dissertation critically appraises the impact of the LNG project on the community of Bonny Island in Nigeria from a holistic perspective. The approach to the research work is three-fold: an appropriate sustainability framework is selected based on certain criteria; sustainability indicators are developed from the chosen framework; and the sustainability indicators are used to assess the impact of the project on the flora and fauna of the community. To have a clear picture of the impact of Nigeria LNG on its host community, Epe-Waterside is chosen as a control community because of its similar socio-geographical outlook to Bonny Island community. The control community is then subjected to the same set of sustainability indicators for a comparative analysis. The outcome of the research work shows that, though the economic and social conditions of Bonny Island seem much better, its environmental status remains a challenge. In other words, it can be concluded that the present approach to the operation of the LNG technology is not sustainable. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Syfte: Mot bakgrund kring en ökad turism i europeiska storstäder (Statista, u.å.) har syftet med studien varit att studera Barcelona som exempel för att bidra med en djupare förståelse kring hur turister och lokalbefolkning uppfattar varandra i stadsmiljöer med högt turistantal. Samt undersöka hur turismen har förändrat stadens stadskärna och miljö (Duran, 2005). Metod: I studien har ett kvalitativt tillvägagångssätt applicerats i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer och insamling av vetenskapliga artiklar till empirin. Tolv personer som har intervjuats som har koppling till Barcelona och det sammanfattas i empirin, tillsammans med de vetenskapliga artiklarna. Slutsatser: Den här studie har undersökt Barcelona som exempel för att belysa massturism som är ett omfattande problem som även går att finna i andra europeiska storstäder. Genom de insamlade intervjuerna och de vetenskapliga artiklar påvisades det att Barcelona har fått både positiva och negativa effekter av den massiva turism som finns i staden. Utifrån de insamlade intervjusvaren kunde slutsatsen dras att den sociala aspekten har störst negativ inverkan på lokalbefolkningen i staden. / Purpose: Against the background of increased tourism in European metropolitan areas (Statista, u.o.), the purpose of the study has been to study Barcelona as an example to contribute a deeper understanding of how tourists and locals perceive each other in urban environments with a high tourist number. As well as investigating how tourism has changed the city's city center and environment (Duran, 2005). Methodology: In this study, a qualitative approach has been applied in the form of semi-structured interviews and the gathering of scientific articles of empirical data. Twelve people interviewed who are connected to Barcelona and this is summarized in empirical section, along with the scientific articles. Conclusions: This study has explored Barcelona as an example to illustrate mass tourism, which is a major problem that can be found in other European cities. Through the collected interviews and the scientific articles, it was demonstrated that Barcelona has had both positive and negative effects of the massive tourism that exists in the city. Based on the collected interview answers, it could be concluded that the social aspect has the most negative impact on local people in the city.

Les habitats côtiers à fonds meubles sont essentiels dans le cycle de vie de nombreuses espèces de poissons. Ces habitats ont pour caractéristique d’être peu étendus mais sont aussi très productifs et jouent à ce titre un rôle de nourricerie pour les juvéniles de poissons bentho-démersaux. Les fortes abondances de proies semblent être l’une des raisons principales de la présence des juvéniles au sein de ces habitats. Bien que déjà étudié, le caractère limitant de la nourriture disponible fait toujours l’objet de débats dans la communauté scientifique. Une des raisons principales est que l’étude des milieux côtiers est rendue complexe par la diversité des facteurs entrant en jeu dans le développement des jeunes stades de poissons. A partir du cas d’étude de la baie de Vilaine, une des nourriceries les plus productives du golfe de Gascogneles recherches menées dans cette thèse visent à définir le rôle du facteur alimentaire dans l’organisation de la nourricerie et dans sa capacité à soutenir le développement des juvéniles de poissons. Le fil conducteur de cette thèse est donc de déterminer si le facteur alimentaire limite la production de juvéniles. Les résultats montrent une forte exploitation de la production alimentaire ainsi qu'une superposition spatiale entre les densités de juvéniles de poissons et de leurs proies. La cohérence de ces résultats tend à soutenir l'hypothèse que la capacité d'accueil de la baie de Vilaine est atteinte et donc que le facteur alimentaire est limitant. Les implications de ce mécanisme de régulation sur la dynamique des populations nourricer / Soft sediment coastal habitats are essential in the life cycle of numerous fishes. These habitats are spatially-limited but very productive, and play a key role of nursery for the juveniles of benthic and demersal fishes. High abundance of prey seems to be one of the main reasons of the presence of juvenile fish within these habitats. Although widely studied, the limiting aspect of the feeding factor is still debated in the scientific community. One of the main reasons is that studying coastalhabitats is complex because numerous factors influence the development of the first life stages of fish. From the study case of the Bay of Vilaine, one of the most productive nurseries of the Bay of Biscay, research conducted in this thesis aims to define the role of the feeding factor in the organisation of the nursery and in its capacity to support the development of juvenile fish. The common thread of this thesis is thus to determine if the feeding factor limits the juvenile fish production. The results show a strong exploitation of the food production by the juvenile fish community and a spatial match between the densities of juvenile fish and their prey. The consistency of these results tends to support that the hypothesis that the carrying capacity of the Bay of Vilaine is reached, and that the feeding factor is limiting. The consequences of this regulation process on the dynamics of nursery-dependent fish populations are discussed.

The tourism industry is one of the fastest growing economic branches in the world. Because of a multiplication effect, which is one of it's important characteristics, it creates suitable conditions for increasing an economic and socio-cultural value of a region. Nevertheless, this value increasing depends on a development level of a region, it's potential to develop tourism and a co-ordination of activities which ensure the potential development. Research was mostly focused on economic impacts of tourism development in regions. But it's impacts on socio-cultural environment are very important as well. If tourism development is managed responsibly in a region it can generate considerable positive effects on local communities (first of all an improvement of living standards, development of public facilities etc.). In the opposite case it can generate irretrievable negative effects, especially changes of local community lifestyle , changes in local social and cultural values or changes in physical environment. On one hand tourism contributes to keep cultural diversity in the world and mediates cognition and interaction between different people and cultures , on the other hand it transmits negative aspects of globalization which tend to affect traditions and specific cultures of particular regions in a destructive way. So the aim of the diploma thesis is to point out psychological and sociological aspects of tourism, it's relation to culture and cultural identity and it's impacts on local communities. The analysis is focused on Prague characteristics and tourism impacts on it's socio-cultural environment.

Orientador: Rosely Ferreira dos Santos / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T16:46:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Britto_PedroDultra_M.pdf: 4022364 bytes, checksum: a2a36ac1c1293d260a305103591dd335 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: Estudos sobre capacidade de visitação são necessários para o planejamento e gestão da visitação pública em Unidades de Conservação. O uso destas áreas naturais para visitação pode acarretar impactos indesejados, e o equipamento mais comum utilizado nesta atividade é também o que mais fragiliza o meio conservado: a trilha. As metodologias disponíveis atualmente, e utilizadas para este tipo de avaliação em trilhas de UCs brasileiras, são, normalmente, estrangeiras e extemporâneas. Considerando que isto pode ser uma inadequação para as características bastante diversificadas das UCs brasileiras, quais critérios são válidos para a escolha de uma, ou várias, metodologias de avaliação desta capacidade ou dos impactos advindos da visitação pública? Este estudo aborda várias metodologias, notadamente as três mais utilizadas, sob a perspectiva de uma trilha brasileira que possui intensa visitação pública: A Trilha do Castelinho, localizada no Jardim Botânico de São Paulo, dentro do Parque Estadual Fontes do Ipiranga. Ele também pretende estruturar, a partir da abrangência destas três metodologias, a formulação de uma nova, híbrida, que responda satisfatoriamente a uma realidade brasileira / Abstract: Studies about carrying capacity are necessary for the planning and management for visitor in environment Conservation Areas. Visitor in these areas can cause undesirable impact, and the main apparatus in this activity is the most fragile in the Conservation Area: tracks. The methods available to evaluate this impact in Brazilian Conservation Areas are normally foreign considering that this might be inadequate for the diversity of the Brazilian Conservation Areas, which criterions are valid in the choice of one or more evaluate methods in carrying capacity or visitor? This study analyzes three different methods that are the most used in one tracks that has visitor: The "Trilha do Castelinho" in the São Paulo Botanic Garden , in Fontes do Ipiranga State Park . This study also intend to develop a new method, from these three that correspond to the Brazilian reality / Mestrado / Saneamento e Ambiente / Mestre em Engenharia Civil

This diploma thesis deals with the comparison of design method of concrete constructions according to currently valid European standard EN 1992 and American standards ACI 318. For comparison was selected parts of the office building. In this work was assessed locally supported slab, columns and staircase.