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Human-river relationships in the Kat River catchment and the implications for integrated water resource management (IWRM) : an exploraratory studyBirkholz, Sharon Alice January 2009 (has links)
Through out this study ‘relational scenarios’ were seen as the possible outcomes of the expression of human-river relationships in a catchment. Working within Inglis’s (2008, pg. 10) comment that ‘the Human World Relationship is expressed through a person’s views and behaviour towards the natural world, which can be either constructive or destructive’, two relational scenarios were selected to represent these two predicted outcomes of human-environment (or in the case of this thesis human-river) relationships: IWRM, seen as constructive and mutually beneficial to both the social and ecological system, and the Tragedy of the Commons, seen as destructive and parasitic in nature. In respect to this assertion, a conceptual framework or model was developed and used to guide the inductive process of this research. Through a social survey (administered via semi-structured interviews) of stakeholders (water-users) in the Kat River Catchment, Eastern Cape, South Africa, social attitudes towards the Kat River were explored. These attitudes were considered as variables that relate to the expression of ‘Human World Relationships’ namely ‘values and behaviour’ (Inglis, 2008, pg. 10). The findings of this thesis confirm that attitudes are influential components of human-river relationships in the Kat River Catchment. It was observed from the findings that the attitudes individuals have towards the Kat River have the potential to influence the ways people interact with the River and its associated resources, and are in turn influenced by the condition of the River and connections people have or make with the River within their daily lives. Such relationships in turn affect the management of the River and its water resources and influence how individuals approach water-related issues and undertake the associated activities. Given this understanding it was then proposed that attitudes could provide information that enables the prediction of likely ‘relational scenarios’ (IWRM or the Tragedy of the Commons) in a catchment. The findings appear to support this proposal, and three main attitude groups (utilitarian, associative and dissociative) were identified and used to further the discussion into how this knowledge could be used in predicting possible relational scenarios based on human-river relationships. Further exploration of the identified attitude groups suggested that these variables are significantly influenced by environmental ethics and place attachment (present in the community) and a series of guiding frameworks were developed to facilitate the exploration of the attitude groups relative to these concepts. The frameworks were generated from the hypothesis that knowledge of attitude groups in a catchment, in connection with the relative degrees to which moral values and worldviews are expressed, could provide insight into the readiness of a catchment system for the implementation of IWRM and/or the facilitative steps needed to shift the influence of unfavourable attitude groups (i.e. dissociative attitudes). Such steps would most likely involve extensive educational, awareness and capacity building programs. Finally, given the above theoretical frameworks, inductively developed from the findings of the social survey and related literature, the conceptual model was reevaluated and extended to include the thesis findings and hypotheses. It is suggested that in a catchment where there is a balance between the expression of utilitarian and associative attitude groups, then there is a high probability of finding present evidence of mutually beneficial human-river relationships already in play, as well as ‘fertile soil’ for the promotion of IWRM and philosophies and skills that generate such relationships. Alternatively in an area with a strong expression of dissociative attitudes, it is more likely to find evidence of destructive, more parasitic-like relationships being expressed, and a lack of commitment and interest in being involved in changing the status quo. It is likely that where both associative and dissociative attitudes are present there will be an overlap of elements of both scenarios – a situation that is probable in most catchments – depending on the strength of expression of either attitude group the balance will shift (be shifting) between the two relational scenarios.
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Uppfattningar om att använda kat bland somaliska kvinnor och män boende i SverigeOsman, Fatumo January 2007 (has links)
<p>Kat är en buske vars blad tuggas och saliven som bildas sväljs, för att uppnå stimulans. Den växer i Yemen, Etiopien och Kenya och smugglas till Sverige från Storbritannien via flyg samt bil. Kat-användandet är utbrett bland somalier i västvärlden och har medfört både hälsomässiga och socioekonomiska konsekvenser. För att förstå hur somalier i Sverige har anpassat sina uppfattningar gällande kat-bruk är syftet i denna uppsats att beskriva varierande uppfattningar om användande av kat hos några somaliska män och kvinnor boende i Sverige. Information samlades och analyserades utifrån en fenomenografisk studie design. Data samlades genom intervjuer.</p><p> </p><p>Resultatet visar att kat-tuggande uppfattas både som en föda och som en drog. Största skälet till att kat brukas uppfattas som att den skapar gemenskap och sysselsättning. Den kat som används i Sverige smugglas vilket uppfattas problematiskt för somalier. Som implikation ska</p><p>hälsofrämjande arbete genomföras utifrån det ekologiska perspektivet. Hälsofrämjande aktiviteter ska riktas på både individ- och familjnivå genom att ge information om kat, skapa sysselsättning samt stödja familjen. På samhälls- och organisations/policynivå är det viktigt</p><p>att öka samarbetet mellan de somaliska föreningar och myndigheten samt att problemet kring kat sätts på agendan och diskuteras på nationell- och internationellnivå.</p><p> </p> / <p>Kat is a plant whose leaves are chewed to produce juice and to be swallowed for its stimulating effect. Kat plant grows in Yemen, Ethiopia and Kenya. It is smuggled from Great Britain to Sweden by plane or car. The use of kat is widely spread among Somalis in western countries. This has led to both health and socioeconomic consequences for the users and their families. In order to understand Somalis’ attitudes regarding kat - the aim of this study was to describe variations of perceptions of the use of kat among Somalian men and women living in Sweden. A phenomenographic design was used to collect and analyze data. Data collected through interviews.</p><p> </p><p>The findings show that chewing kat is perceived both as food and as a drug. The biggest reason for chewing kat is to create a feeling of belonging to a social group and to create activity. Kat being chewed in Sweden is smuggled here, which creates problems for Somalis.</p><p>As an implication of this study health promotion activities, based on the theory of the ecological system, should focus on individual and family level for example by supporting and giving information to families on the issues of kat. Health promoting activities should also focus on community and organization/policy level to increase the cooperation between the</p><p>Somali society and the public authority. Finally, the problem regarding kat should be on the agenda to be discussed both on national and international level.</p> / Har redan gått upp med min uppsats. Vill bara att den blir tillgänglig för de som vill läsa.
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Uppfattningar om att använda kat bland somaliska kvinnor och män boende i SverigeOsman, Fatumo January 2007 (has links)
Kat är en buske vars blad tuggas och saliven som bildas sväljs, för att uppnå stimulans. Den växer i Yemen, Etiopien och Kenya och smugglas till Sverige från Storbritannien via flyg samt bil. Kat-användandet är utbrett bland somalier i västvärlden och har medfört både hälsomässiga och socioekonomiska konsekvenser. För att förstå hur somalier i Sverige har anpassat sina uppfattningar gällande kat-bruk är syftet i denna uppsats att beskriva varierande uppfattningar om användande av kat hos några somaliska män och kvinnor boende i Sverige. Information samlades och analyserades utifrån en fenomenografisk studie design. Data samlades genom intervjuer. Resultatet visar att kat-tuggande uppfattas både som en föda och som en drog. Största skälet till att kat brukas uppfattas som att den skapar gemenskap och sysselsättning. Den kat som används i Sverige smugglas vilket uppfattas problematiskt för somalier. Som implikation ska hälsofrämjande arbete genomföras utifrån det ekologiska perspektivet. Hälsofrämjande aktiviteter ska riktas på både individ- och familjnivå genom att ge information om kat, skapa sysselsättning samt stödja familjen. På samhälls- och organisations/policynivå är det viktigt att öka samarbetet mellan de somaliska föreningar och myndigheten samt att problemet kring kat sätts på agendan och diskuteras på nationell- och internationellnivå. / Kat is a plant whose leaves are chewed to produce juice and to be swallowed for its stimulating effect. Kat plant grows in Yemen, Ethiopia and Kenya. It is smuggled from Great Britain to Sweden by plane or car. The use of kat is widely spread among Somalis in western countries. This has led to both health and socioeconomic consequences for the users and their families. In order to understand Somalis’ attitudes regarding kat - the aim of this study was to describe variations of perceptions of the use of kat among Somalian men and women living in Sweden. A phenomenographic design was used to collect and analyze data. Data collected through interviews. The findings show that chewing kat is perceived both as food and as a drug. The biggest reason for chewing kat is to create a feeling of belonging to a social group and to create activity. Kat being chewed in Sweden is smuggled here, which creates problems for Somalis. As an implication of this study health promotion activities, based on the theory of the ecological system, should focus on individual and family level for example by supporting and giving information to families on the issues of kat. Health promoting activities should also focus on community and organization/policy level to increase the cooperation between the Somali society and the public authority. Finally, the problem regarding kat should be on the agenda to be discussed both on national and international level. / Har redan gått upp med min uppsats. Vill bara att den blir tillgänglig för de som vill läsa.
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Katbruk och somaliska ungdomar. En kvalitativ studie om somaliska ungdomar i Malmö och deras förhållande till katAdam Ibrahim, Omar January 2014 (has links)
AbstraktKat är en växt som växer i Östra Afrika och Jemen och används som njutningsmedel. För att uppnå dess optimala effekt tuggar användaren dess blad och stjälkar för att sedan svälja dem. En kattuggarsession kan i genomsnitt pågå i flera timmar. Kat orsakar bl.a. sömnlöshet, euforisk känsla, vanföreställningar och hyperaktivitet. Historiskt sett har kat använts av vissa religiösa grupper, speciellt de som kallas sufier för att meditera och vara vaken i sina ritualer under nätterna. På senare tid har katanvändningen blivit mer vanlig i somaliska samhällen, vilket har lett till att många uttryckt oro över katkonsumtionen. I Sverige är kat narkotikaklassad sedan 1989, dess innehav kan leda till fängelse, böter eller bådadera. Trots det använder många somalier, särskilt män, som bor i Sverige kat dagligen. Bland dessa finns ungdomar under 26 år som också använder kat. Syftet med denna studie är att med hjälp av en kvalitativ metod undersöka hur det kom sig att dessa ungdomar lockats av kat och i så fall vilka de bakomliggande orsakerna är som kan ligga till grund till att de har börjat tugga kat i tidig ålder. Studien innehåller intervjuer med fyra manliga ungdomar där de berättar sin livshistoria, familj, bakgrund och utbildning. Undersökningen visar att det är föräldrars oförmåga samt myndigheter som inte har gjort tillräckligt för att uppmärksamma kattproblematiken som har föranlett att dessa ungdomar blivit offer för katkonsumtion. Föräldrarna har brustit i sin föräldraroll genom att inte upptäcka ungdomars katkonsumtion i god tid men också en bristande kännedom angående var ungdomarna befinner sig och med vilka de umgås med. Myndigheterna har å sin sida misslyckats med sitt ansvar genom att underskatta användningen av kat bland somaliska ungdomar i Malmö samt omfattningen av dess kliniska, ekonomiska och sociala problem. / AbstractKhat is a plant that grows in East Africa and Yemen which has been used as a stimulant for a long time. To achieve its optimum effect users chew its leaves and stems, and then swallow them. A Khat chewing session can approximately last for several hours. Khat causes amongst other things insomnia, euphoric feeling, delusion and hyperactivity. Historically, Khat has been used by some religious groups especially those called Sufis in order to meditate and stay awake during their rituals at night. As Khat use became more common in the Somali communities in recent times its economic and social problems has also become evident. This has led to many expressing their concerns over Khat consumption. In Sweden, Khat has been classified as a drug since 1989. Its possession can lead to imprisonment, fine or both. Nonetheless it is used by many Somalis who live in Sweden, especially males, on a daily basis. Among these are young people under the age of 26 who also use and has been using it for several years. The purpose of my study was through a qualitative approach examine how it was that these young people were attracted by Khat, and if so, what are the underlying reasons that can be the basis for why they have started chewing Khat at an early age. The study contains interviews with four male youth, where they told amongst other things their own life history, family background and education. The result of the study shows that it is the parents' inability and the authorities that have not made enough to pay attention to Khat problems that have led to these young people becoming victims of Khat consumption. The parents have failed in their parental role by not discovering their teenagers´ Khat consumption at an appropriate time. In addition, they knew little of their whereabouts and with whom they were associated with. The authorities have on their side failed in their responsibility by underestimating the use of Khat among Somali youth living in Malmö and the extent of its social, economical and clinical implications.
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Evaluating people-environment relationships : developing appropriate research methodologies for sustainable management and rehabilitation of riverine areas by communities in the Kat River Valley, Eastern Cape Province, South AfricaMotteux, Nicole January 2003 (has links)
International evidence clearly indicates that water shortages and the enhanced value attached to water and aquatic ecosystems are key concerns faced by many countries. International experience, since the mid-1980s, has emphasised the importance of addressing political, social, environmental and economic issues through active stakeholder participation in riverine and water resource management. These trends and issues are relevant to South Africa, where integrated water resource management (IWRM) is now a cornerstone of water resource policy and the National Water Act (NWA). Apartheid excluded communities in former homelands (racial reserves) from participation in IWRM. The research presented in this thesis was based on the search for philosophies and methods to involve the rural, former homeland people of the Kat River Valley in South Africa in IWRM. Post-modern, humanist and some logical positivist geographical philosophies were used during the research. This research applied Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) philosophy and methods and was influenced by the seminal work of Paolo Freire (1972). In addition, the use of innovative methods for engagement of the oppressed, using theatre methods developed by Augusto Boal (1995, 2000) was explored to add value to PRA. In addition, the application of Action Research ensured that community participants were actively involved in the research being conducted for this thesis. The applied research in the Kat River Valley in South Africa evolved through three key phases. In Phase One quantifiable data on the Kat River Valley and its residents was sought. This investigation did not empower the resident communities of Fairbairn and Hertzog – a lesson that influenced the move to more participatory methods in subsequent phases of the research. Lessons learned from using surveys encouraged exploration of participatory methods to enable participants to become “co-learners”. Phase Two of the research commenced with a series of feedback meetings, in which participants recognised that they faced an environmental crisis. Through a series of participatory workshops, residents came to acknowledge and affirm their environmental knowledge. Residents then committed themselves to gaining a deeper understanding of their environment and their lives. My role changed from that of a researcher to a facilitator. Phase Three of the research and the shift to Action Research commenced after local residents identified the need to personally take charge of their environmental challenges in the Kat River Valley and recognised the need to collaborate at a catchment scale for effective IWRM. This eventually led to the formation of a Water User Association and Catchment Forum. The key theoretical contribution of the thesis relates to the identified relationship between the development orientation and ecological paradigm, and an assessment of the impact this has on the inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes of IWRM. This theoretical contribution is equally valid in other countries, where the tradeoffs are essentially the same, but the framework for making the choices is different because of varying socio-economic and biophysical circumstances
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The role of salinity as an abiotic driver of ecological condition in a rural agricultural catchmentLerotholi, Sekhonyana January 2006 (has links)
The Kat River is an agricultural catchment that drains salt rich geology. Potential salinity impacts on ecological condition of the river were investigated. Monthly salt concentrations and flow discharges were monitored at ten sites along the Kat River below the Kat Dam. Monthly salt loads were computed to relate salinity to land use and ionic data used to assess the toxicity of major salts using the TIMS model. Concentration duration curves for sodium chloride were derived from flow concentration relationships, representing sodium chloride concentrations to which the aquatic ecosystem had been exposed. The ecological condition was assessed at nineteen sites using SASS5 biotic index over four seasons. Finally, the modelled instream salt concentrations and bioasessments were evaluated in terms of the modelled level of species protection afforded at different salt concentrations. Species Sensitivity Distributions (SSDs) were used for this exercise. There was a general downstream increase in salinity with the minimum concentrations recorded at the Fairbain tributary (84 mg/L) and maximum levels at the sewage outfall in Fort Beaufort (1222 mg/L). There was evidence that citrus irrigation upstream of Fort Beaufort increased salinisation. Sodium chloride, and to a lesser extent magnesium sulphate, were the dominant salts in the Kat River catchment, with the latter being more toxic. However these had little or no impact on the aquatic ecosystem. Flow-derived sodium chloride concentrations showed that both the Balfour and Blinkwater tributaries were in a fair/ poor condition. However with regard to ecological condition, it was demonstrated that the river is generally in a good state except for the Blinkwater River and the lower catchment. Degraded habitat condition at the Blinkwater was responsible for poor ecological condition. Integrating SSD derived classes, sodium chloride classes and ecological condition indicated that sodium chloride is a driver of ecological condition at the sewage treatment works and the subsequent site (only two of nineteen biomonitoring sites).
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An assessment of the companion modelling approach in a context of negotiating water allocation strategies : the case of the Kat River Valley, Eastern Cape, South AfricaGumede, Felicity Hlengiwe January 2008 (has links)
This Masters research took place in the Kat River Valley in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The Kat River Valley is a semi-rural catchment that covers an area of approximately 1700km² and is characterized by a complicated history of dispossession and resettlement. Farming is the main activity that is practiced in the area. This includes the farming of citrus at a commercial scale, rangeland stock farming and small-scale vegetable farming. The economy of the catchment is enhanced mostly by commercial citrus farming, which consumes by far the largest amount of water in the river through irrigation. Water allocation is a burning issue among water users in the catchment and needs to be negotiated taking into consideration social, economic and environment impacts. The aim of this study is to describe, discuss and evaluate the Companion Modelling (ComMod) approach, which used a simulation model and a role-playing game related to the model in order to facilitate and develop negotiating skills as well as build capacity in decision-making amongst local stakeholders for water resource management in the Kat River Valley. The ComMod approach, developed by a group of Companion Modellers, is a community-based science approach that emerged in the 1990s. The ComMod approach is used in order to facilitate collective learning, negotiation and institutional innovation in dealing with resource management complexities faced by rural communities. Through ComMod, the model (KatAWARE) and its related role-playing game was developed by having the contact with local stakeholders. The information to feed the model and the role-playing game came from informal interviews, surveys, geographic information systems (GIS), workshops and focus groups. The use of workshops in the implementation of ComMod was a success. Results show that (1) new knowledge was acquired, which allowed stakeholders to have a broad understanding of a catchment system. (2) Awareness was created about complex systems and enabled stakeholders to see an individual action into to the broader system. (3) Strong interrelationships were fostered amongst different water users, which allowed stakeholders to share their view points. The ComMod process was however associated with a number of limitations, many of which resulted from the constraints that were imposed by the socio-economic background of the study area. Nevertheless, the outcome of the study shows that the ComMod process was useful in helping the Kat River Water Users Association (KRWUA) stakeholders develop negotiating skills regarding water allocation strategies for the development of the Catchment Management Plan.
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Der intellektuelle Witz im Comic : George Herrimans Krazy Kat /Kaufmann, Daniela. January 2008 (has links)
Zugl.: Graz, Univ., Diplomarbeit, 2006 u.d.T.: Kaufmann, Daniela: Der intellektuelle Witz im Comic am Beispiel von George Herrimans "Krazy Kat"
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Kontroversialiteit as tematiese lokmotief in Barrie Hough se My kat word herfs, Droomwa, Vlerkdans en Skilpoppe.Venter, Sanet 07 December 2007 (has links)
This dissertation explores controversial themes in the youth literature of Barrie Hough. The novels under discussion are My kat word herfs (1986), Droomwa (1990), Vlerkdans (1992) and Skilpoppe (1998). My kat word herfs was translated as My cat turns Autumn, Droomwa as Dream Chariot and Vlerkdans as In full Flight. Afrikaans youth novels historically centered around naive themes such as the idyllic life on the farm or at boarding school. However, young people found it increasingly difficult to identify with these naive storylines and during the nineteen eighties and nineties the Afrikaans youth novel experienced a renewal. Barrie Hough was one of the pioneers, writing about controversial issues like aids, homosexuality, teenage sex, suicide, drug abuse, divorce and single parenthood. The aim of this dissertation is to explore the liberation of Afrikaans youth literature and the role that controversial themes play in this regard. These themes enable the reader to identify with the story and serve as an allurement to draw the reader into the world of the text. Furthermore, the writer is given the opportunity to experience a sense of liberation while he narratively confronts events of his past. This liberation process allows the writer to deal and come to terms with his own past. At the end of each novel both the reader and writer go through a process of purification and liberation, facilitated by the therapeutic process of writing or reading a story. / Dr. M.P. Beukes
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Identification of Non-histone Acetylation Targets in Saccharomyces cerevisiaePourhanifeh-Lemeri, Roghayeh 06 June 2012 (has links)
Lysine acetylation is a conserved post-translational modification (PTM) which was traditionally believed to be limited to histones and the regulation of gene expression. However, recent proteomic studies have identified lysine acetylation on proteins implicated in virtually all cellular processes indicating that this PTM plays a global regulatory role. Indeed, in humans, aberrance of lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) activity is associated with various pathogenesis. To date, over 2500 human proteins are known to be acetylated in vivo, but very few acetylations have been linked to specific KATs. Hence, to understand the biological relevance of KATs and acetylation in human pathology, it is important to learn about the mechanism regulating KAT activity and the identity of their in vivo targets. This is a complex task and will require the use of model organisms and system biology approaches. The work presented here explores the significance of self-acetylation in regulating KAT function by focusing on the highly NuA4 lysine acetyltransferase in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae or budding yeast. Using genetics and biochemical assays I have identified NuA4 subunit Epl1 as a novel in vivo NuA4 substrate. I have also shown that Epl1 acetylation regulates NuA4 function at elevated temperatures. In an attempt to identify new biological processes regulated by yeast KATs and putative novel substrates, I have also performed a genome-wide synthetic dosage lethality screen with six non-essential yeast KATs; Hat1, Rtt109, Hpa2, Sas3, Sas2, and Elp3. My screen identified largely distinct sets of genetic interactions for each KAT suggesting that each KAT has specific cellular functions. Together, this study demonstrates the importance of auto-acetylation in regulating KAT function and the diversity of cellular processes impacted by KAT activity in vivo.
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