La invasión de ambientes de pastizal por especies leñosas implica la adición de un taxón y de una forma de vida nueva o poco frecuente, provocando impactos sobre la estructura y función de estos ecosistemas. El Parque Provincial Ernesto Tornquist (PPET) en la Sierra de la Ventana (Buenos Aires) constituye uno de los escasos relictos de pastizal pampeano en relativo buen estado de conservación. Pinus halepensis (pino de Alepo), especie de origen mediterráneo, ha conse-guido establecerse y avanzar exitosamente sobre diversos ambientes de la reserva y en pastizales aledaños. El impacto asociado a su expansión determinó que se iniciara un plan de control mecánico para el manejo de la especie. En esta tesis se estudiaron aspectos ecológicos clave relacionados al proceso de invasión del pino de Alepo en complemento con el monitoreo de la recuperación luego del control de las áreas afectadas. Los objetivos específicos fueron: (1) analizar as-pectos de la ecología reproductiva de P. halepensis que resul-ten clave para el proceso de expansión, (2) evaluar el efecto del fuego y la presión de propágulos sobre el establecimiento de pinos y (3) describir la recuperación del pastizal luego del control de los pinos y en respuesta a accione complementa-rias de restauración. Mediante la combinación de muestreos a campo y experimentos al aire libre y en laboratorio se deter-minó la edad reproductiva mínima, la producción, liberación y potencial germinativo de las semillas, el período derecluta-miento y la supervivencia de las semillas en el suelo. Se des-cribió la estructura etaria de dos stands de pino con diferente historia de invasión y se reconstruyeron los eventos de co-lonización luego de los incendios que les dieron origen. Se desarrollaron relevamientos de vegetación para caracterizar variables de recuperación de la estructura y composición de la vegetación luego de acciones de corte total y parcial y de acciones complementarias sobre las áreas clareadas(remoción de acículas, disturbio superficial del suelo, agregado de sue-lo). La edad reproductiva mínima fue estimada en cinco años; los picos de liberación de semillas ocurrieron en verano, con un promedio de 103,9 semillas por cono; el porcentaje de germinación fue del 90%, el peso de las semillas de 27,9 mg; la densidad de semillas sanas en el suelo fue de 61,9 semillas/m2 en verano, decreciendo a 10,7 semillas/m2 en primavera y permaneciendo viables en el suelo por menos de un año. Todas estas variables resultaron semejantes a los valores citados para el área nativa de la especie, excepto el peso de las semillas y la densidad de semillas en el suelo, que resultaron mayores en el PPET, reflejando posibles ventajas relacionadas con el éxito de establecimiento y el escape de depredadores naturales. A doce años del incendio de 1987 la densidad de pinos alcanzó 5500 árboles/ha y la estructura etaria del stand mostró un reclutamiento continuo luego del fuego, muy leve durante los tres primeros años y más marca-do en los siguientes. También se observó un reclutamiento continuo de renovales tras el incendio de 2003, donde la distancia a las fuentes de semillas determinó diferencias en la densidad de pinos establecidos. A casi dos años del control de pinos las áreas clareadas exhibieron aumentos en la cobertura total de la vegetación y en la riqueza específica, sin encon-trarse variaciones importantes asociadas a los tratamientos complementarios sobre el suelo. La cobertura de plantas exóticas mostró un pico temporario luego de la tala de pinos pero se redujo luego a expensas del incremento en la abun-dancia de especies nativas. Durante el período de estudio no se pudo observar una recuperación del pH del suelo a los valores correspondientes a pastizales no invadidos. Aún consi-derando el corto periodo de monitoreo, los resultados obtenidos resaltan la capacidad de recuperación espontánea del pastizal pampeano serrano luego del control de los pinos. La implementación de acciones tempranas de control que alcancen la totalidad del área afectada permitiría neutralizar un problema que aparece como una de las principales amenazas para la biodiversidad y los servicios ecológicos de este ambiente. / Invasion of grasslands by woody plants implies not just the addition of a new taxa but also of a new or at least of a formerly scarce life-form, leading to sound changes on ecosystem structure and functioning. Ernesto Tornquist Provincial Park (ETPP) in Ventania Mountains (Buenos Aires) is one of the scarce relicts of pampean grasslands in a relative good conservation status. Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) is a Mediterranean species that has managed to establish and spread over different habitats in this reserve and in adjacent areas. The impact associated to its expansion motivated a management plan based on mechanical control. This thesis covers key ecological features related to the invasion process complemented with the monitoring of the recovery of natural grasslands after the felling of the trees. Specific objectives included: (1) to analyze characteristics of the reproductive biology of P. halepensis that are central for understanding its expansion, (2) to evaluate the effects of wildfires and of propagule pressure on the establishment of pines, and (3) to describe the recovery of grasslands after clearing invaded areas and also under different complemen-tary restoration actions. Field survey and experiments developed both at the reserve and in a laboratory were combined to assess age at first reproduction, seed produc-tion, release and germination potential, the timing of the recruitment and the survival of seeds in the soil. Age structures of two stands with different invasion history were described to understand the colonization process that origina-ted them both after wildfires. Vegetation surveys were conducted to describe the recovery of the structure and composition of plant communities after complete and partial tree clearance, and following different complementary actions (removal of pine needles, mechanical soils disturbance, and addition of top-soil). First reproduction was estimated at five years old; seed release peeked in the summer, with a mean of 103.9 seeds per cone; germination percentage was 90%, seeds weight 27.9 mg; the density of whole seeds in the soil was 61.9 seeds/m2 in the summer, decreasing to 10.7 seeds/m2 in the spring and loosing viability in less than a year time. All these variables were similar to those reported for the species in its native range, except for seed weight and density in the soil that were greater at ETPP, representing potential advantages related to greater establishment success and predators release. Twelve years after the 1987 fire, pines density reached 5500 trees/ha with an age struc-ture showing a continuous recruitment after fire, particularly low in the first three years but increasing in the following ones. A continuous recruitment was also noted after the 2003 fire, with a clear relationship between plant densities and distance from seed sources. About two years after controlling pines cleared areas showed increments in total vegetation cover and in species richness, with no significant differences associated to the complementary restoration actions that were tested. Percentage cover of alien plants showed a temporary peak after felling the trees but this was later reverted by an increase in the abundance of native plants. A recovery in soil pH to figures typical of non-invaded grasslands was not noticeable during this study. Even considering the short monitoring time, the results obtained in this thesis highlight the capacity of spontaneous recovery of mountain grasslands after controlling invasive pines. The implementation of early control actions covering all the area affected by the invasion of alien pines could neutralize a problem that appears as one of the main threats for the conservation of the biodiversity and ecological services of this ecosystem.

No / The arrest and prosecution in March 2006 of the former Liberian warlord-President Charles Taylor by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, for war crimes including the recruitment and use of child soldiers, and the arrest and prosecution of the Congolese warlord, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, by the International Criminal Court, accused of enlisting child soldiers in the DRC war, have raised expectations that finally international conventions and customary international laws protecting children in conflict zones will now have enforcement powers. But why has it taken so long to protect children in conflict situations despite the volume of international treaties and conventions? What do we know about the phenomenon of child soldiering, and why are children still routinely recruited and used in Africa's bloody wars? This article argues that against the background of unfolding events relating to prosecution for enlistment of child soldiers, the international community is beginning to wake up to the challenge of enforcing its numerous 'paper protection' instruments for the protection of children. However, a range of challenges still pose serious threats to the implementation and enforcement of the international conventions protecting children. Extensive research fieldwork in Liberia and Sierra Leone over three years reveals that the application of the restrictive and Western-centric definition and construction of a 'child' and 'childhood' raises inherent difficulties in the African context. In addition, most war-torn and post-conflict African societies are faced with the challenge of incorporating international customary laws into their domestic laws. The failure of the international community to enforce its standards on child soldiers also has to do with the politics of ratification of international treaties, in particular the fear by African governments of setting dangerous precedents, since they are also culpable of recruitment and use of child soldiers.

No / The title asks, but inside, these historians and political scientists from Africa and Europe assert that all across Africa the problems, challenges, and implications posed by civil militias¿Sudan's Janjaweed currently most in the news¿have elevated them into the continent's intractable security menace. Between discussions of a theoretical construction of the militias as a social phenomenon, and of international experiences and implications, they cite examples. Among these the Kamajor in Sierra Leone, a comparison of Nigeria and Indonesia, threats to national and human security in West Africa, Darfur of course, anti-gang militias in Cameroon, and Uganda since 1986. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Between 1991 and 2000, Sierra Leone experienced massive state and economic decline amidst a brutal civil war. In a country that is minerally wealthy, but ruled by a corrupt and predatory government, a `revolutionary¿ movement known as the RUF emerged, terrorising the civilian population and profiting from the unsecured diamond industry. The classic causes given for Sierra Leone¿s state collapse and consequent civil war have in large centred around the adverse effects of colonialism, civil unrest due to rampant governmental kleptocracy, and regional conflict spillover. However, the multiplicity of actors in Sierra Leone and the complexity of the environment demonstrate that the ten year civil war revolved predominantly around the country¿s highly lucrative diamonds. Indoctrinated in Qadafi¿s Libya and trained by Taylor¿s NPFL rebels in Liberia, the RUF insurgency created links through Charles Taylor to international criminals such as weapon¿s dealer Victor Bout, and international terrorists including al Qaeda. In just a few years Sierra Leone attained the dubious distinction of being one of the most globalised informal and illegal economies in the world. To the backdrop of Sierra Leone¿s collapsed state, economic vacuum and brutal civil war, and within the context of contemporary economic globalisation and an international `War on Terror¿, this paper discusses the local, regional and international levels of economic exploitation throughout the wartime period, and highlights how informal economies are inherently prone to large scale criminal predation.

yes / How economies of countries at war (war economies) transform in `peace¿ is a critical new area of research in political economy and war and peace studies. The dynamics that affect the way war economies perpetuate or mutate after a peace agreement is signed is the context for this examination of non-state actor roles ¿ normally attention is on state and international organisations ¿ in the problems of peacebuilding. Here the focus is on diaspora networks, what might be described as national or transnational civil society groupings whose role is autonomous but carried considerable potential to assist reconstruction of the war-torn homeland.

Yes / This paper is a preliminary consideration of the question of how Diaspora from Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sierra Leone could contribute to peace building in their home states. Often Diasporas are regarded as obstacles to peace building, so it is not the assumption of this scoping paper that the relationship between Diasporas and peace building will always be positive. That being said, neither does the paper make the assumption that the Diaspora are homogenous groups that behave in consistent and coordinated ways. The aim is to consider what scope there is for tapping into more positive elements of Diaspora relations with their homelands as they emerge from conflict.

yes / Various research has concluded that economic life did not die out during the conflict in Sierra Leone, but took on different forms. Different stakeholders at all levels were engaged in economic activities during the war. The specific roles of women in the shadow economy are under-researched with the result that most analysis and policy-options are inadequate. While some of Sierra Leone¿s Market Women strategically participated in war economies to `do well out of war¿, most did so out of the need to survive. With the end of the war, market women have been able to make a successful transformation to peace economies through micro-credit assistance.

The use of child soldiers violates human rights and international norms, yet children continue to be abused as soldiers, human shields, and they are forced to participate in armed conflicts worldwide. This is shown to impact the children in many ways and therefore they need extra help when leaving the armed groups. The reintegration process is often part of countries' Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) programs and is crucial for both the children's and the country's future. This study aims to examine the reintegration of former childsoldiers in Sierra Leone and northern Uganda. By comparing and analyzing the processes and outcomes in these two countries using existing materials, this study highlights key aspects of reintegration. By using the social integration theory and focusing on the factors of family, school, and religion, this study compares and analyzes the two cases. The results indicate that while both Sierra Leone and northern Uganda have engaged in the reintegration of childsoldiers, their approaches differ. Sierra Leone has demonstrated a more effective process concerning school and family reintegration, whereas northern Uganda has placed greater emphasis on the role of religion, despite efforts to provide both educational opportunities and familial connections for the children.

LLM / Department of Public Law / Human rights are those inalienable rights of an individual by virtue of being a human being. They are guaranteed by various domestic and international instruments. This research argues that despite the existence of these instruments and wide acceptances of international human rights standards that seek to protect the right to healthcare, the people infected with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) are victims of a wide range of constraints to their right to healthcare as a result of the failure by the governments of the respective nations where the impacts of the EVD are mostly felt to discharge their obligations under those instruments. The rights of the people infected with EVD are often violated because of their presumed or known EVD status, causing them to suffer both the burden of the disease and the social burden of discrimination and stigmatisation which could deter the infected persons from accessing available treatment. This would invariably contribute to the spread of the disease. The research further exposes the dilemma posed by the EVD to the healthcare system, where healthcare providers are caught between the rock of selfpreservation from a highly virulent disease and the hard place of discharging their Hippocratic Oath which prescribes ethical guidelines for the discharge of the duties of the medical profession. The present research, which is novel in the field of medico-legal research, seeks to proffer answers to this conundrum.

La littérature moderniste est musicale par essence. Elle souhaite éveiller des sensations chez le lecteur : le recours à la musique, art suggestif par antonomase, crée l’allusion. Comment sertir la musique dans la littérature ? Stéphane Mallarmé propose de « précéder les effets de la musique en redéfinissant celle-ci ‘d’où elle point’ » . Si l’art musical est naturellement porté par le poème, qu’en est-il de la prose ? En Espagne, Ramón María del Valle-Inclán offre un exemple probant de prose musicale dans ses Sonatas. Est-ce là tout ? Le projet mallarméen n’a-t-il pas rencontré d’écho parmi d’autres prosateurs espagnols ? Certes, l’intention y est ; les histoires de la littérature le confirment mais ne s’y attardent pas. Notre travail est donc double : il s’agit d’abord de retrouver des œuvres en prose modernistes espagnoles puis de les analyser par le prisme musical pour voir comment est saisi ce projet de fusion des arts. L'étude révèle que la musique de la prose, parfois imperceptible, raffine les sensations et sensibilise le lecteur à l’élégance, au rythme ou au phrasé d’un syntagme. En somme, la musique intérieure devient une propédeutique à l’ineffable. En creux de ce projet se dessine le rôle du poète dans la société. Celui-ci se présente comme un prêtre des temps modernes. Pourtant, le mythe auquel il tente de souscrire semble désincarné : sensible aux réalités de son époque, en quête d’un public féru de naturalisme, l’écrivain espagnol ne s’engage pas pleinement. Sa prose, hésitante, est souvent mièvre : cela explique qu’elle soit passée inaperçue aux yeux de l’histoire. / Modernist literature is by essence musical. It is meant to arouse the reader’s senses: the use of music, a suggestive art by excellence, creates the allusion. How can one insert music in literature? Stéphane Mallarmé suggests to precede the effects of music by redefining it from its origin. If the art of music is naturally expressed through a poem, how about through prose? In Spain, Ramón María del Valle-Inclán offers a prime example of musical prose in his Sonatas. Is this all that can be expected? Has there been no other echo of Mallarmé’s project in Spanish prose? Certainly the intention to do so exists; histories of literature confirm this intention but nothing more. Our work is going to be twofold: first we need to find Spanish modernist prose works, and then analyze these works through the prism of music in order to understand how the fusion of these arts (music and prose) is realized. The analysis reveals that the music of the prose, sometimes imperceptible, sharpens the senses and makes the reader more sensitive to the elegance, to the rhythm and the phrasing of a syntagm. In other words, the inner music paves the way to the ineffable. The poet’s role in society is described within this project. He presents himself as a modern times priest. Yet the myth to which he tries to subscribe lacks substance: sensitive to the realities of his time, in search of an audience keen on naturalism, the Spanish writer is not fully implicated. His prose is hesitant, often corny: this explains why it has passed unnoticed in history.