As the global population continues to increase at an alarming rate, the world, as a whole, now faces the issue of overpopulation. If the world’s natural resource consumption and environmental pollution/destruction continue at their current pace, then the earth will eventually no longer be able to sustain all of its inhabitants. Social change is the only way to prevent this. The world’s religious traditions possess particular motivational qualities with respect to people’s worldviews and behaviors. All of the world’s religious traditions are responding, in some way, to overpopulation. Traditions in isolation, however, do not address the complexities of the current ecological crisis. Overpopulation requires a broader approach that unites the respective responses. This thesis examines the value of responses to overpopulation from certain Buddhist intellectuals in the contemporary religion and ecology discourse concerning overpopulation while also underscoring instances of resonance between those responses and ones from modern Christian thinkers.

Thesis (MTech (Environmental Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019. / Forests are being depleted and the land becoming bare, with little to no vegetation in the Etayi constituency and in Namibia at large. People rely on the resources of forests for different reasons. Areas that had trees years back have turned into a desert-like environment due to deforestation. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact that the cutting of natural forests has had in the Etayi constituency in the Omusati Region, Namibia. This examination has become necessary because forests in the Omusati region have undergone a rapid depletion over the past years. However, it should be noted that these environmentally degrading activities have contributed to the household income in the form of employment to the indigenous people. Forests has an important role to play in terms of the conservation of biodiversity. They also harbour unique and endemic species that are mainly adapted to extreme ecological conditions. They provide vital benefit to the ecosystem, such as wood for fuel, medicine, fodder for animals and tradable goods, like furniture. Furthermore, forests provide the soil with nutrients and reduce wind velocity, thus controlling wind erosion and the retardation of water and moisture depletion. With increasingly uncertain climatic conditions and their related impact across the continent at large, there is a need for new approaches towards the management of indigenous forests that support and promote land-users’ resilience to climatic variability and change. The role of forests in climate change mitigation is important as it sustains the ecosystem. The maintenance of ecological systems has been acknowledged as one of the most important facets of sustainable development. Subsequently, the involvement of several international and local policies and regulations has been established to ensure that natural resources, such as forests, are sustainably utilised. In rural areas/villages, overdependence on wood for fuel has been identified as one of the biggest threats to the forests. This has led to environmental degradation that includes, among others, deforestation, desertification, the extinction of species and soil erosion. Based on the many issues caused by the over-reliance on wood for fuel, this research sought to investigate the impact of the over-exploitation of natural forests in the environment. Ninety-seven (97) respondents, comprising of 51 females and 46 males, were used in this study. Four (4) villages in the Etayi Constituency were chosen for the study. The study employed a qualitative and quantitative approach, which included the following methods of data collection: questionnaires, observation and interviews with respondents in the Etayi community. A quantitative method enabled the researcher to ask questions such as how many and how often? It helped the researcher further to plot the responses into graphs and diagrams. Government representatives from the Constituency Council and Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and Traditional Authorities in the four villages were interviewed. The study identified key threats to the forests as a result of high fuelwood collection. These threats include high levels of poverty, overdependence on the forests, a lack of understanding about the importance of forests for the environment, little or a lack of information regarding other alternative sources of energy and the lack of coordination in the management of fuelwood resources. Apart from fuelwood being used as a source of energy for cooking and lighting, the exploitation of local fuelwood has become commercialised to supplement household income. Since there is a lack of coordination in the management of natural resources, fuelwood resources are not being managed at all. A main argument identified by this study is that forest management must be a combined approach by all stakeholders. The roles of traditional leaders in forest management should be made public. The lack of an awareness campaign on the importance of forests, a lack of management coordination as well as poverty, makes it difficult for the forests policies to be implemented and for the traditional authorities to manage the forests efficiently. The study recommends that educational programmes, proper coordination between key stakeholders and awareness campaigns regarding the environmental importance of forests to residents would alleviate deforestation and over-exploitation of forests resources. Additionally, an emphasis on the relationship between traditional and local governance in the management of forests as sources of fuelwood and the physical environment should receive attention.

With the world population now at 6 billion, the topic of overpopulation is becoming increasingly important. The planet cannot absorb an infinite number of humans, and steps need to be taken to combat unchecked growth. The thesis begins with a discussion of the problems currently manifesting themselves, including land degradation, water supply loss, farmland appropriation for living space, overfishing, and unequal food distribution. The thesis considers the population policy of China, long criticized by the West for its unusual harshness. In studying its history, though, it can be seen why the Chinese government felt radical steps were necessary. India's policy over the last few decades is also examined. In this case, early excesses on the government's part led to public unpopularity for the whole population control concept. Despite this, positive steps have been taken in several areas. The current availability of food and farmland in both states is studied to determine what environmental and nutritional effects the respective population policies have had. Comparisons are made between the two in an effort to gauge their relative success and to attempt to draw any lessons for either China or India.

The purpose of this essay is to examine the relation between reproductive rights and overpopulation. The main research question is whether the increase of the population size can affect the moral aspects of the reproductive rights. Relying on, and building upon arguments already developed by a number of philosophers, I show that although some restrictions might be justified, these restrictions cannot completely rule out the basic right to reproduction. Based on this, I then proceed with an overview of the possible solutions. In the subsequent discussion, a one-child-per-couple philosophy stands out as the best option. This would be morally justified according to the initial statements, as well as the most effective alternative when it comes to initiating a significant population decline. The one-child-per-couple philosophy is then contested by several problems that could theoretically arise, but none of these problems are, according to my discussion, strong enough to dispute the positive aspects of the theory. The conclusion of this essay is that we, as a species, have a moral obligation to limit our numbers and that we ought to start acting accordingly.

Depuis le début des années 2000, la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme a donné un senset une portée juridique inédits au principe de dignité humaine appliquée à la détention, en se fondant notamment sur l’article 3 de la convention européenne des droits de l’homme qui proscrit la torture et les peines ou traitements inhumains ou dégradants. Cette évolution majeure, lui permettant de faire entrer largement sa jurisprudence dans les établissements pénitentiaires, a contraint le juge administratif français à revoir, de manière très profonde, sa jurisprudence consacrée aux mesures d’ordre intérieur et, sur le fond, à imposer la dignité humaine comme un principe matriciel à l’aune duquel l’ensemble desdroits fondamentaux des personnes détenues doit désormais être appréhendé. Elle a également influencé le législateur sur le vote de lois sur la privation de liberté, telles que la loi pénitentiaire de 2009. Sous inspiration européenne, mais également dans le cadre d’une dynamique interne de promotion générale des droits des administrés, la saisine de la vie en détention par le droit public a, dès lors, contribué au renforcement des droits accordés aux détenus (encadrement des sanctions et des mesures préventives de sécurité – mise à l’isolement et fouilles au corps notamment –, droit à la vie, droit au respect de sa vie privée et familiale, ou encore liberté de conscience et de religion...) et à uneréparation plus aisée des préjudices qui leur sont causés par l’activité pénitentiaire.Toutefois, de nombreux obstacles demeurent à la progression de l’état de droit en prison. En effet, la persistance de conditions de détention indignes et les limites à la mise en oeuvre de ces droits, à leur protection par le juge ou à leur application par l’administration posent la question de leur effectivité et de leur conformité aux standards européens établis par le juge de Strasbourg / As from the early 2000s, the European Court of Human Rights started to give unprecedentedlegal effect and meaning to the principle of human dignity applied to conditions of detention, drawing, when doing so, in particular on Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights prohibiting torture and inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. This major development, which has enabled the Court to have its case law implemented to a significant extent in prisons, has forced French administrative courts to fully review their case law concerning internal measures and, in substance, to impose human dignity as a framework principle in the light of which all fundamental rights of detainees must henceforth be considered. This major development has also influenced the lawmaker when voting on laws concerning the deprivation of liberty, such as the Prisons Act of 2009.Under this European influence, but also as part of an internal movement concerning the general promotion of citizens rights, the referral, to courts of public law, of matters pertaining to prison life, has, since its inception, led to a reinforcement of the rights granted to detainees (framework for sanctions and preventive security measures - solitary confinement and body searches in particular - the right to life, the right to respect for privacy and family life, freedom of conscience and of religion, etc.) and facilitated compensation for damages caused to detainees by a penitentiary authorities.However, many obstacles remain to establishing constitutionality for detainees. Indeed, thepersistence of inhuman conditions of detention, and the limits applied on exercising detainees’ rights, and to ensuring that these rights are protected by a court of law or are implemented by Administration, raise the question of their effectiveness and of their compliance with European standards as set down by the Strasbourg Court

Submitted by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-08-04T11:52:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 VanessaKNC_DISSERT.pdf: 1380444 bytes, checksum: 398c0494a9176b2987e49f440e68afbe (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-04T11:52:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VanessaKNC_DISSERT.pdf: 1380444 bytes, checksum: 398c0494a9176b2987e49f440e68afbe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Companion animals grow geometrically and the lack of proper control favors the increase of these animals in the streets. Neutering is an important alternative for controlling the populations of dogs and cats, contributing to the reduction of abandoned animals, zoonoses, ill-treatment and many diseases with society. However, there is a reluctance of many of the tutors of these animals to castrate them, since they associate sterilization with something negative, such as the emergence of behaviors considered as unwanted. Therefore, the present study aimed to make an analysis of the perception of the population on the behavioral changes of companion animals after the surgical sterilization procedure. The work was carried out on companion animals from the rural communities of Mossoró / RN. A survey of the number of animals from each community was carried out. At the time, a questionnaire was applied and the animals were registered, followed by castration by Surgical sterilization in those animals in which the tutors accepted. After 6 (six) months the questionnaires were reapplied. Through the data obtained with the reapplication of the questionnaires we obtained that the number of sociable dogs changed from 73.30% to 68.10%, whereas the cats were from 80.80% to 72.90%; 53.9% of the dogs had a habit of leaving home, later this value increased to 56, 8%, however the cats changed from 73.9% to 58.9%; 90.5% of the dogs were considered active, at reapplication this value changed to 89.9%, the cats initially presented a percentage of 84.3% and changed to 83.8%. 26.4% of the dogs had a habit of urinating in the corners or in the surroundings of the house, but this value changed to 22.90%, already of the 40% of felines that had this characteristic, only 14.3% maintained it. As for the habit of destroying objects, 31.6% of the dogs had this behavior, but after castration only 12.5% remained with it, for this characteristic cats changed from 22.20% to 6.25%. 20% of the dogs showed aggression, but this percentage changed to 10.8%, while 20% of the dogs were aggressive and only 12.1% continued. We can conclude tutors from the rural communities of Mossoró / RN are formed by a majority of low income financial farmers, who noticed changes in the behavior of dogs and cats, also observing a reduction in the number of cats present in the streets, but did not notice a change in the environmental conditions / Os animais de companhia crescem de forma geométrica e a falta de um controle adequado favorece o aumento desses animais nas ruas. A esterilização cirúrgica é uma alternativa importante e para o controle das populações de cães e gatos, contribuindo para a redução dos animais abandonados, as zoonoses, os maus tratos e muitos agravos com a sociedade. No entanto, existe uma relutância de muitos dos tutores desses animais em castrá-los, pois associam a esterilização a algo negativo, como o surgimento de comportamentos tidos como indesejados. Portanto, o presente trabalho objetivou fazer uma análise da percepção da população sobre as alterações comportamentais dos animais de companhia após o procedimento cirúrgico de esterilização. O trabalho foi realizado em animais de companhia das comunidades rurais de Mossoró/RN, para isso foi feito um levantamento do número de animais de cada comunidade, na ocasião houve a aplicação de um questionário e o cadastramento destes animais, em seguida realizado a castração por esterilização cirúrgica, naqueles animais em que os tutores aceitaram. Após 6(seis) meses os questionários foram reaplicados. Através dos dados obtidos com a reaplicação dos questionários obtivemos que o número de cães sociáveis mudaram de 73,30% para 68,10%, enquanto que os gatos foram de 80,80% para 72,90%; 53,9% dos cães tinham hábito de sair de casa, posteriormente esse valor aumentou para 56,8%, no entanto os gatos mudaram de 73,9% para 58,9%; 90,5% dos cães eram considerados ativos, na reaplicação esse valor mudou para 89,9%,os gatos, inicialmente apresentavam uma porcentagem de 84,3% e mudou para 83,8%. 26,4% dos cães tinham hábito de urinar nos cantos ou aos arredores da casa, mas esse valor mudou para 22,90%, já dos 40% de felinos que tinham essa característica, apenas 14,3% o mantiveram. Quanto ao habito de destruir objetos, 31,6% dos cães tinham esse comportamento, mas após a castração apenas 12,5% permaneceram com ele, para esta característica os gatos mudaram de 22,20% para 6,25%. 20% dos cães se demonstraram agressivos, mas esse percentual mudou para 10,8%, enquanto que dos 20% dos felinos eram agressivos e apenas 12,1% continuaram. Podemos concluir os tutores das comunidades rurais de Mossoró/RN são formados por uma maioria de agricultores de baixa renda financeira, que notaram mudanças no comportamento dos cães e gatos, observando também uma redução no número de gatos presentes nas ruas, mas não notaram mudança das condições ambientais / 2017-07-28

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At the end of the sixteenth century, London was grappling with an unprecedented environmental crisis: rapid population growth produced rampant pollution, land mismanagement, and epidemic disease; entire species of fish disappeared from the Thames; and the city’s growing demands for food and fuel depleted the nation’s natural resources. This dissertation locates innovative responses to these new environmental pressures on the early modern stage. Shakespeare and his contemporaries, I argue, shaped early attitudes and expectations about the ecology of London and its sustainability. Each chapter of “Urban Ecology” focuses on a different resource problem plaguing early modern London—food scarcity, decayed waterways, air pollution and a shortage of space to bury the dead—and shows how groups of plays addressed them using the material and imaginative resources of dramatic form. In constructing stories in which these ecological issues figure prominently, and in offering their own creative responses to these problems, early modern playwrights display a nuanced understanding of London’s environment as a co-fabrication between human and nonhuman forces, even before the terms “ecosystem” or “ecology” had emerged in scientific discourse. To make this co-fabrication visible, “Urban Ecology” reads early modern plays alongside a rich archive of archaeological evidence that re-situates the theater industry as a both a product of and active participant in the London ecosystem. I show how playing companies contributed to urban air pollution by burning noxious sea coal to produce spectacular effects that attracted paying customers; the Bankside playhouses, located on reclaimed marshland, were vulnerable to the Thames and its patterns of tidal flooding; and food sourced from both local and global supply chains was regularly sold during performances. By reconstructing this complex interplay between drama and its environment, this dissertation begins to center the early modern theater industry in the history of ecological thought.

This thesis analyzes the beliefs of population theorist Julian L. Simon through the creation of a harm principle. It specifically analyzes his argument that we value our freedom to choose how many children we want above all other values in the context of overpopulation and environmental destruction. The developed harm principle is meant to give us a method to decide how to balance our personal freedom with our security-survival. I begin with an overview of Simon’s work, as well as an exposition of other prominent population theorists. I then propose a principle that is a utilitarian alternative to John Stuart Mill’s Harm Principle. I apply the principle to the situation wherein overpopulation causes such great environmental damage that we must choose between upholding procreative rights and our continued survival. I conclude that in most cases we will accept limitations on our procreative freedom in order to maintain our planet and ensure our security-survival.

Because infants are the most vulnerable members of a community, their deaths – and the resulting infant mortality rate (IMR) – are said to signal more fundamental problems that are likely to affect the general health of a community. However, a focus on proximate- and intermediate-level risk factors in epidemiological analyses presents a decontextualized picture and ignores the role of larger forces on health, disease, and illness. In response to this trend, this project will contribute to a revitalization of the use of infant mortality as an index of larger social problems by tempering statistical analyses with critical reflection regarding the effects of the liminal position of Malta within the British imperial system, prior to the Second World War. In addition, by bringing together several analytic approaches which often proceed in parallel, rather than in dialogue – historical epidemiology, social history, and the analysis of colonial discourse – this dissertation highlights the problematics of knowledge production at both the theoretical and methodological level. As a result, my work is not just about Malta, one moment in history, the calculation of infant mortality rates, or the disentanglement of various determinants of infant mortality in this context; it is about the dynamics and repercussions of power differentials and of social, economic, and political inequalities, as they define and structure health outcomes and experiences. Specifically, I will show that fluctuations in international tensions affected Malta’s population on a number of levels because of the island’s importance as a British military and naval base and its location in the middle of the Mediterranean. I will demonstrate how Malta’s “strategic position” restricted political and economic development in the island and articulated with colonial perceptions of the Maltese as “Other” and Malta as “overpopulated.” Finally, I will argue that international tensions, Malta’s location within Empire, and perceptions of the island and its inhabitants in the early twentieth century affected the ways in which infant deaths were explained and understood and the strategies of intervention initiated in the island to curtail infant mortality – all of which had a tremendous impact on the rates at which infants in Malta died.