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A survey of earthquake disaster mitigation strategies and building principles which could applied in rural areas of the Less Developed Countries. Earthquake vulnerability of traditional buildings and problems of earthquake hazard mitigation in these countries are discussed, along with some strategies that may help reduce the impact of future earthquakes. The performance of rural buildings during past earthquakes is analyzed to have a clear understanding of building behaviour during an earthquake. After the analysis, the research traces various recommendations and safe building techniques that would improve the earthquake-resistance of these buildings. Moreover, the study reviews problems often involved in implementing mitigation measures and in transferring technical information to semi-illiterate and unskilled workers, in conjunction with some methodologies on how to transfer information to the rural population. The study concludes by outlining the urgency for the need of pre-earthquake mitigation strategies and suggests some ideas to help narrow the gap which exists between the available information on earthquake mitigation measures and its application in those countries most affected by earthquakes.

Library's copy imperfect: bibliographical references (leaf 255) wanting. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1996. / Microfiche. / xix, 254 + leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-124). / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / xi, 124 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

This study critically investigated the argument whether intellectual property rights over life forms and processes would ensure food security. It only considered the issue from the perspective of developing countries, as they are the ones who are hardest hit by recurrent drought and food insecurity. Protections within TRIPS (Agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights) and debates underpinning it formed the essence of the research.

The purpose of this paper was to examine the impact that the proliferation of regional trade agreements have had on the Multilateral Trading System and whether by allowing regional trade agreements under the World Trade Organization rules, the members of the World Trade Organization have not unwittingly weakened the multilateral trading system. It also examined the effect the proliferation of regional trade agreements have had on the special and deferential treatment for developing countries within the system.

The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) was adopted to eliminate the illegitimate use of tradedistorting agricultural subsidies and thereby reduce and avoid the negative effects subsidies have on global agricultural trade. However, the AoA has been fashioned in a way that is enabling developed countries to continue high levels of protectionism through subsidization, whilst many developing countries are facing severe and often damaging competition from imports artificially cheapened through subsidies. The regulation of subsidies in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has been a highly sensitive issue. This is mainly due to the fear of compromising food security especially by developed countries. Developing countries have suffered negatively from the subsidy programmes of developed countries who continue to subsidize their agricultural sector. This position of the developing countries in the global trade system which has been described as weak, has drawn criticism that the WTO as it currently operates does not protect the interests of the weak developing nations, but rather strengthens the interests of the strong developed nations. The green box provisions which are specifically designed to regulate payments that are considered trade neutral or minimally trade distorting has grossly been manipulated by developed countries at the mercy of the AoA. Developed countries continue to provide trade distorting subsidies under the guise of green box support. This is defeating the aims and objectives of the AoA. The study examines the regulation of WTO agricultural subsidies from the developing countries’ belvedere. It looks at the problems WTO member states face with trade distorting subsidies, but focuses more on the impact these have on developing states. It scrutinizes the AoA’s provisions regulating subsidies with a view to identify any loopholes or shortcomings which undermine the interests and aspirations of developing countries. This is behind the background that some of the provisions of the AoA are lenient towards the needs of developed countries at the expense of developing countries.

The automotive component manufacturer's (ACM's) operations are not sustainable due to their competitiveness, only determined by price. for ACM's to be competitive, effective government incentives in the automotive industry need to be present. The study was undertaken to provide a blueprint for change required in government incentives.

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No abstract available / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)