Die voorbestaan van die mensdom is nou verweef met die toestand waarin die omgewing verkeer. Menslike aktiwiteite het 'n groot impak op die omgewing, terwyl die omgewing weer die mens se lewensgehalte bepaal. Hierdie studie is dan daarop gemik om deur omgewingsopvoeding, die mens te lei tot omgewingsgesonde gedrag met die oog op volhoubare ontwikkeling. Ten einde hierin te slaag, word die verskillende omgewingsprobleme en die redes daarvoor eers uitgeklaar. Daarna word die faktore wat tot omgewingsagteruitgang kan lei, ondersoek. Hieruit blyk duidelik <lat die wereld en die RSA, in die toekoms digter bevolk, meer besoedel, ekologies minder stabiel en daarom meer gevoelig vir natuurrampe gaan word. Soos uit die proefskrif sal blyk kan omgewingsopvoeding 'n positiewe bydrae tot bierdie omgewingsprobleme lewer. Om daarby uit te kom word daar dus eers 'n kort bistoriese oorsig van omgewingsopvoeding gegee. Die rol en bydrae wat enkele internasionale organisasies tot omgewingsbewustheid gelewer het, word ondersoek. Daar word 'n oorsig gegee van verwikkelinge in die RSA en die invloed van die Aardeberaad op omgewingsopvoeding in die RSA, word ontleed. Ten einde outentieke omgewingsopvoeding te vergestalt word aanvaar <lat die mens met sy geboorte in 'n wereld gewerp word waaraan hy slegs met sy dood kan ontsnap. In hierdie gesitueerdheid in die wereld as leefnrimte, moet hy sin aan sy bestaan gee, terwyl hy ook 'n poging moet aanwend om die omgewing te verbeter, as voorsorg vir die oorlewing van toekomstige geslagte. Met inagneming van die opvoedings- en omgewingsrelasie waarin die mens tot sy omgewing staan, word die essensiele kenmerke van omgewingsopvoeding blootgele, ten einde moontlikheidsvoorwaardes te stel vir outentieke omgewingsopvoeding. Besondere Idem word gele op omgewingsgedrag wat volhoubaarheid nastreef. Dit alles kulmineer in omgewingsgesonde gedrag wat as oorkoepelende doelstelling vir omgewingsopvoeding gestel word. Omdat die mens se gedrag teenoor die omgewing bepaal word deur sy omgewingsetiek, word drie verskillende benaderings tot omgewingsetiek onderskei. Klem word gele op die noodsaak van omgewingsgeletterdheid. Ten einde die mens se optrede teenoor die omgewing te probeer verstaan, word drie omgewingsgedragstyle ontleed. Twee wetenskaplike aardgenese-hipoteses word beskryf vir verdere duidelikheid oor omgewingsgedrag. Aan die einde van die studie, word enkele beginsels gestel wat kan lei tot die ontwikkeling van omgewingsgesonde gedrag met die oog op volhoubare voortbestaan. / Mankind's survival is interwoven with the state of the environment. Human activities have a great impact on the environment, while the environment, again, determines the quality of man's life. This study aims to aid mankind, through environmental education, to environmentally sound behaviour with an eye on sustainable development. To attain this, the different environmental problems and their causes, are sorted out first. Then the factors that can lead to environmental degradation are investigated. From this it is quite clear that in the future, the world and the RSA will be more densely populated, become more polluted, be ecologically less stable and will therefore be more sensitive to natural disasters. Because environmental education can make a positive contribution to this, a short historical survey of environmental education is given. The role and contribution of some international organisations is investigated. Developments in the RSA are surveyed and the influence of the Earth Summit on environmental education in the RSA is analysed. At birth, mankind is thrown into a world from where he can escape only at death. In this world in which he has to stay, he must give meaning to his existence, while also trying to improve the environment to guarantee the survival of coming generations. Bearing in mind the educational and environmental relationship between any human being and his environment, the essential characteristics of environmental education are exposed in order to set possible conditions for authentic environmental education. Special emphasis is placed on environmental behaviour aimed at sustainablility. All this culminates in environmentally sound behaviour that acts as the overall aim for environmental education. Because man's environmental ethic determines his behaviour towards the environment, three different approaches to environmental ethics are distinguished. Emphasis is placed on the necessity for environmental literacy. In order to try to understand man's behaviour towards the environment, three styles of environmental behaviour are analysed. For further clarification of environmental behaviour, two scientific earth genesis hipotheses are also described. In conclusion, this study leads to certain principles that can lead to the development of environmentally sound behaviour aimed at the sustainable survival of mankind. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Filosofie van die Opvoeding)

Trata-se de estudo da força normativa do direito constitucional de todos ao meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado para a construção de uma cultura de equilíbrio ambiental no Brasil, integrante da linha de pesquisa Direito Ambiental e Novos Direitos, área de concentração Direito Ambiental e Sociedade, do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Direito, nível de Mestrado acadêmico, da Universidade de Caxias do Sul (Brasil). O meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado, que é direito transindividual, é bem de uso comum do povo e essencial à sadia qualidade de vida, incumbindo ao Poder Público e da coletividade o dever de defendê-lo e preservá-lo para as presentes e futuras gerações. O novo paradigma constitucional do direito de propriedade privada condiciona o exercício do domínio à função social e à função ambiental da propriedade. Por isso, o Estado não mais defende qualquer propriedade, mas aquela que cumpre a sua função social e ambiental. A democracia participativa ambiental, por meio de seus vários instrumentos, garante às cidadãs e aos cidadãos a participação ativa na construção de uma cultura de equilíbrio ambiental no Brasil. A educação ambiental tem especial importância para criar em todos os partícipes da vida nacional a consciência da vontade de Constituição. A informação ambiental completa a educação ambiental. Tendo presente os pressupostos da força normativa da Constituição (Konrad Hesse), o estudo constata que, quanto ao conteúdo, a Constituição é atual, e quanto à práxis, o direito constitucional de todos ao meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado está tendo força normativa para a construção de uma cultura de equilíbrio ambiental no Brasil. / Submitted by Marcelo Teixeira (mvteixeira@ucs.br) on 2014-06-03T18:03:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Paulo Natalicio Weschenfelder.pdf: 1244233 bytes, checksum: bb6b7d4352b1bbe5ba0e65055e354b37 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-03T18:03:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Paulo Natalicio Weschenfelder.pdf: 1244233 bytes, checksum: bb6b7d4352b1bbe5ba0e65055e354b37 (MD5) / This is a study of the normative force of everyone´s constitutional right to an ecologically balanced environment in order to build a culture of environmental balance in Brazil, belonging to Environmental Law and New Rights research line, main field Enviromental and Social Law, of Post-Graduate Program in Law, for Master degree obtention, University of Caxias do Sul (Brazil). The ecologically balanced environment, which is a transindividual right, is a people´s common use and essential to a healthy quality of life, commissioning the Government and the collectivity to defend it and preserve it for the current and future generations. The new constitutional right to private property paradigm affects the exercise on the field of the social function and environmental function of the property. Therefore, the State no longer maintains any property, but one that fulfills its social and environmental function. Environmental participatory democracy, through its various instruments, guarantees to citizens the right to participate actively in building a culture of environmental balance in Brazil. Environmental education has particular importance for all participants in the national life consciousness of the will of the Constitution. Environmental information completes environmental education. Bearing in mind the assumptions of the normative force of the Constitution (Konrad Hesse), the study notes that, in substance, the Constitution is modern, and what about práxis, the everyone´s constitutional right to an ecologically balanced environment is having normative force for building a culture of environmental balance in Brazil.

As dragagens no Porto do Rio Grande / RS são consideradas potencialmente poluidoras e geram uma crescente instabilidade nos ecossistemas, costeiro e marinho da região, devido à complexidade para efetivar o seu procedimento. Por outro lado, desempenham importante papel para a expansão do setor portuário, o qual contribui intensamente com o crescimento econômico do país. Apesar da existência de uma ampla legislação que versa sobre a proteção ao meio ambiente nas áreas portuárias, ainda são visualizados inúmeros problemas ambientais nessa seara. Diante o fato, esta dissertação responde ao seguinte problema: A aplicação da política deliberativa é a melhor proposta para amenizar as problemáticas ambientais decorrentes das atividades de dragagem no Porto do Rio Grande/RS? O método hipotético-dedutivo foi o abordado. A ênfase foi à analítica, através de levantamento documental com base em fontes legislativas e documentos em geral. O foco principal através da pesquisa bibliográfica foi de selecionar publicações sobre o tema, tais como: livros, artigos científicos e um aprofundamento maior nos autores já utilizados na pesquisa. Como resultado, percebeu-se a necessidade do despertar de uma cidadania ativa em prol da proteção ambiental como a melhor forma para reverter os modelos impostos pelo sistema capitalista, o qual fracassou em sua promessa de vincular crescimento econômico e a proteção da natureza. Portanto, a criação das normas deve ser objeto de deliberação para que seu alcance não abarque apenas os interesses de uma minoria que detêm o poder. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2017-02-16T17:30:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Thais Alves da Silveira.pdf: 1991006 bytes, checksum: 17919b09c347d1053ba01d5781079510 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-16T17:30:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Thais Alves da Silveira.pdf: 1991006 bytes, checksum: 17919b09c347d1053ba01d5781079510 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, CAPES. / The dredging of Rio Grande/RS Port is considered potentially polluting and generate an increased instability on coastal and marine ecosystems in the region due to the complexity to perform its procedure. On the other hand, it plays an important role in the expansion of the sector, which strongly contributes to the economic growth of the country. Despite the existence of a wide legislation, that deals with the protection of the environment in port areas, there are still displayed numerous problems about that topic. For that reason, this dissertation aimed at answering the following problem: Is the application of deliberative politics the best approach to mitigate the environmental problems arising from dredging activities in the Port of Rio Grande / RS? The hypothetical-deductive method was approached. The emphasis was analytical, through documentary review based on legislative sources and documents in general. The main focus through the literature research was to select publications on the subject, such as books, papers with a greater deepening in the most important authors used in this research. As a result, it was cognized that the awakening of an active citizenship in favor of environmental protection is required as the best way to reverse the models imposed by the capitalist system, which failed in its promise to link economic growth and the protection of nature. Therefore, the creation of the standards should be the deliberation subject so that its scope encompasses not only the stakes of a minority in power.

Trata-se de estudo da força normativa do direito constitucional de todos ao meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado para a construção de uma cultura de equilíbrio ambiental no Brasil, integrante da linha de pesquisa Direito Ambiental e Novos Direitos, área de concentração Direito Ambiental e Sociedade, do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Direito, nível de Mestrado acadêmico, da Universidade de Caxias do Sul (Brasil). O meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado, que é direito transindividual, é bem de uso comum do povo e essencial à sadia qualidade de vida, incumbindo ao Poder Público e da coletividade o dever de defendê-lo e preservá-lo para as presentes e futuras gerações. O novo paradigma constitucional do direito de propriedade privada condiciona o exercício do domínio à função social e à função ambiental da propriedade. Por isso, o Estado não mais defende qualquer propriedade, mas aquela que cumpre a sua função social e ambiental. A democracia participativa ambiental, por meio de seus vários instrumentos, garante às cidadãs e aos cidadãos a participação ativa na construção de uma cultura de equilíbrio ambiental no Brasil. A educação ambiental tem especial importância para criar em todos os partícipes da vida nacional a consciência da vontade de Constituição. A informação ambiental completa a educação ambiental. Tendo presente os pressupostos da força normativa da Constituição (Konrad Hesse), o estudo constata que, quanto ao conteúdo, a Constituição é atual, e quanto à práxis, o direito constitucional de todos ao meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado está tendo força normativa para a construção de uma cultura de equilíbrio ambiental no Brasil. / This is a study of the normative force of everyone´s constitutional right to an ecologically balanced environment in order to build a culture of environmental balance in Brazil, belonging to Environmental Law and New Rights research line, main field Enviromental and Social Law, of Post-Graduate Program in Law, for Master degree obtention, University of Caxias do Sul (Brazil). The ecologically balanced environment, which is a transindividual right, is a people´s common use and essential to a healthy quality of life, commissioning the Government and the collectivity to defend it and preserve it for the current and future generations. The new constitutional right to private property paradigm affects the exercise on the field of the social function and environmental function of the property. Therefore, the State no longer maintains any property, but one that fulfills its social and environmental function. Environmental participatory democracy, through its various instruments, guarantees to citizens the right to participate actively in building a culture of environmental balance in Brazil. Environmental education has particular importance for all participants in the national life consciousness of the will of the Constitution. Environmental information completes environmental education. Bearing in mind the assumptions of the normative force of the Constitution (Konrad Hesse), the study notes that, in substance, the Constitution is modern, and what about práxis, the everyone´s constitutional right to an ecologically balanced environment is having normative force for building a culture of environmental balance in Brazil.

As dragagens no Porto do Rio Grande / RS são consideradas potencialmente poluidoras e geram uma crescente instabilidade nos ecossistemas, costeiro e marinho da região, devido à complexidade para efetivar o seu procedimento. Por outro lado, desempenham importante papel para a expansão do setor portuário, o qual contribui intensamente com o crescimento econômico do país. Apesar da existência de uma ampla legislação que versa sobre a proteção ao meio ambiente nas áreas portuárias, ainda são visualizados inúmeros problemas ambientais nessa seara. Diante o fato, esta dissertação responde ao seguinte problema: A aplicação da política deliberativa é a melhor proposta para amenizar as problemáticas ambientais decorrentes das atividades de dragagem no Porto do Rio Grande/RS? O método hipotético-dedutivo foi o abordado. A ênfase foi à analítica, através de levantamento documental com base em fontes legislativas e documentos em geral. O foco principal através da pesquisa bibliográfica foi de selecionar publicações sobre o tema, tais como: livros, artigos científicos e um aprofundamento maior nos autores já utilizados na pesquisa. Como resultado, percebeu-se a necessidade do despertar de uma cidadania ativa em prol da proteção ambiental como a melhor forma para reverter os modelos impostos pelo sistema capitalista, o qual fracassou em sua promessa de vincular crescimento econômico e a proteção da natureza. Portanto, a criação das normas deve ser objeto de deliberação para que seu alcance não abarque apenas os interesses de uma minoria que detêm o poder. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, CAPES. / The dredging of Rio Grande/RS Port is considered potentially polluting and generate an increased instability on coastal and marine ecosystems in the region due to the complexity to perform its procedure. On the other hand, it plays an important role in the expansion of the sector, which strongly contributes to the economic growth of the country. Despite the existence of a wide legislation, that deals with the protection of the environment in port areas, there are still displayed numerous problems about that topic. For that reason, this dissertation aimed at answering the following problem: Is the application of deliberative politics the best approach to mitigate the environmental problems arising from dredging activities in the Port of Rio Grande / RS? The hypothetical-deductive method was approached. The emphasis was analytical, through documentary review based on legislative sources and documents in general. The main focus through the literature research was to select publications on the subject, such as books, papers with a greater deepening in the most important authors used in this research. As a result, it was cognized that the awakening of an active citizenship in favor of environmental protection is required as the best way to reverse the models imposed by the capitalist system, which failed in its promise to link economic growth and the protection of nature. Therefore, the creation of the standards should be the deliberation subject so that its scope encompasses not only the stakes of a minority in power.

The effects of climate and environmental change are likely to exacerbate water stress in Africa over the next five decades. It appears obvious, therefore, that large river basins with considerable total renewable water resources will play a prominent role in regional cooperation to alleviate the pressure of water scarcity within Africa. However, managing water resources in the large river basins of Africa involves problems of data paucity, lack of technical resources and the sheer scale of the problem. These river basins are located in regions that are characterized by poverty, low levels of economic development and little food security. The rivers provide multiple goods and services that include hydro-power, water supply, fisheries, agriculture, transportation, and maintenance of aquatic ecosystems. Sustainable water resources management is a critical issue, but there is almost always insufficient data available to formulate adequate management strategies. These basins therefore represent some of the best test cases for the practical application of the science associated with the Predictions in Ungauged Basins (PUB). The thesis presents the results of a process-based hydrological modelling study in the Congo Basin. One of the primary objectives of this study was to establish a hydrological model for the whole Congo Basin, using available historical data. The secondary objective of the study was to use the model and assess the impacts of future environmental change on water resources of the Congo Basin. Given the lack of adequate data on the basin physical characteristics, the preliminary work consisted of assessing available global datasets and building a database of the basin physical characteristics. The database was used for both assessing relationships of similarities between features of physiographic settings in the basin (Chapters 3 and 4), and establishing models that adequately represent the basin hydrology (Chapters 5, 6, and 7). The representative model of the Congo Basin hydrology was then used to assess the impacts of future environmental changes on water resources availability of the Congo Basin (Chapter 8). Through assessment of the physical characteristics of the basin, relationships of similarities were used to determine homogenous regions with regard to rainfall variability, physiographic settings, and hydrological responses. The first observation that comes from this study is that these three categories of regional groups of homogenous characteristics are sensible with regards to their geographical settings, but the overlap and apparent relationships between them are weak. An explanation of this observation is that there are insufficient data, particularly associated with defining sub-surface processes, and it is possible that additional data would have assisted in the discrimination of more homogenous groups and better links between the different datasets. The model application in this study consisted of two phases: model calibration, using a manual approach, and the application of a physically-based a priori parameter estimation approach. While the first approach was designed to assess the general applicability of the model and identify major errors with regard to input data and model structure, the second approach aimed to establish an understanding of the processes and identify useful relationships between the model parameters and the variations in real hydrological processes. The second approach was also designed to quantify the sensitivity of the model outputs to the parameters of the model and to encompass information sharing between the basin physical characteristics and quantifying the parameters of the model. Collectively, the study’s findings show that these two approaches work well and are appropriate to represent the real hydrological processes of Congo Basin. The secondary objective of this study was achieved by forcing the hydrological model developed for the Congo Basin with downscaled Global Climate Model (GCMs) data in order to assess scenarios of change and future possible impacts on water resources availability within the basin. The results provide useful lessons in terms of basin-wide adaptation measures to future climates. The lessons suggest that there is a risk of developing inappropriate adaptation measures to future climate change based on large scale hydrological response, as the response at small scales shows a completely different picture from that which is based on large scale predictions. While the study has concluded that the application of the hydrological model has been successful and can be used with some degree of confidence for enhanced decision making, there remain a number of uncertainties and opportunities to improve the methods used for water resources assessment within the basin. The focus of future activities from the perspective of practical application should be on improved access to data collection to increase confidence in model predictions, on dissemination of the knowledge generated by this study, and on training in the use of the developed water resources assessment techniques.

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies / See the attached abstract below

MESMEG / Department of Mining and Environmental Geology / See the attached abstract below

Cultural tourism is a fast-growing sector in many countries. In South Africa, it is a key growth segment of local economic development (LED). South Africa is home to many cultural institutions such as museums, art galleries, theatres, monuments and festivals that – thanks to a growing number of international and local interests – encourage entrepreneurship and help generate local business growth and employment opportunities. South Africa’s Limpopo Province is predominately known for its wildlife and hunting tourism. However, it is endowed with many cultural institutions that are contributing significantly to the regional economy – specifically in the metropole of Greater Polokwane. As yet, no study has researched the size and impact of this cultural contribution on the local economy vis a vis more well-known tourism activities. This study sketches the size and nature of the cultural tourism industry in Greater Polokwane. In the first phase of the study, a database of formal cultural institutions in Greater Polokwane was created. In the study’s second phase, interviews with staff members of these institutions using both quantitative and qualitative methods, were conducted. The data revealed that most employees, including senior managerial staff, are local Black Africans. None of these cultural institutions are state funded; they all operate privately, but some are located on state-owned land. Thus, government support for cultural tourism in this region is minimal. Insufficient funds and resources inhibit the growth of this sector. Some employees expressed dissatisfaction with their working conditions and remuneration. Nonetheless, these cultural institutions generate local economic growth and employment opportunities. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management

This dissertation is about economic resilience of local governments to natural disasters. Specifically, the dissertation investigates resilience on regional level. Moreover, the dissertation also investigates growth in the green job sector in local governments. The findings indicate that local governments working with each other helps green job creation. In addition, the dissertation finds that green jobs, following disasters, experience three percent growth. This dissertation is important because it investigates the relationship between climate- related disasters and green jobs, which is an area that is under-investigated.