Thesis (M.C.R.P.)--The University of Texas at Arlington, 2007. / Adviser: Jeff Howard. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Texas, Aug., 2007. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.C.R.P.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Thesis (M. Sustainability & Technology Policy)--Murdoch University, 2006. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Arts. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-126).

Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-224). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Anthropology Department, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Enon-Bersheba (E&B) area has approximately 10 200 hectors of pristine communal land that is rare to find in the Cacadu region. This prime communal land is situated in the bank of the Sundays River Valley in the Eastern Cape Province. Enon-Bersheba falls under the jurisdiction of the Sundays River Local Municipality. The Municipal jurisdiction provides easy access to this pristine commonage that presents opportunities for economic development as well as residential opportunities. This study presents the diversity of sustainable livelihood alternatives from the community‟s perspective. This study finds that giving the beneficiaries of land restitution authority over decision-making on land usage is an important contributor to success. Land is a significant asset, and it becomes more valuable and development-worthy if legal institutions are in place to manage the planning and development processes, for its full utilisation. In addition to this, the study provides a community-driven development framework with which potential development partners can interact to enhance revenue generating activities and strengthen the institutional environment through the formation of community-private-public-partnerships. The participatory research process that was undertaken made essential findings. The study validates the use of livelihoods-based approach to poverty alleviation. A bottom-up participatory process was effective in determining how best Enon-Bersheba communal land can be put into effective and efficient use. Likewise, an integrated approach to development planning was proven to be important. This study proved an extra-ordinary belief that the stability and changed value systems within a community often derive from complex social problems that are inherently dynamic. The involvement of the Independent Electoral Commission in the referendum process for Enon-Bersheba‟s legal entity that will manage the land suggests the credibility of the process. The existing information around potential development options of Enon-Bersheba was consolidated and verified by the community. The awareness of community abilities and resources served to enhance community mobilization for social action. The study provides a framework for development policy imperatives and a new vision for Enon-Bersheba.

The aim of this thesis is to gain knowledge and understanding about Marine-Based Ecological Education and then apply this knowledge and understanding to form the vision of an Eco-Camp in Western Australia. This has been done in three stages. Part one is an account of my personal immersion in a grass roots not-for-profit environmental youth organization, Millennium Kids. The most valuable lessons that I learnt during this time came through the Environmental Citizenship program. Initially I was a participant, and then on three other occasions I was a facilitator for the program. It was through these programs that I began to understand the value of facilitating lessons learnt from robust healthy nature. Part two of my research is concerned with marine education centres and uncovering their stories; documenting their ethos, education and public relations. I aim to focus on what each centre does best and how this has enabled them to become the entity that they are today. Through this process I collect information that will inform the culminating vision of this thesis, the Eco-camp. Part three is the vision for an Eco-Camp, which has developed organically from my understandings derived from parts one and two. Through both my research on marine education centres and my personal immersion in Millennium Kids Environmental Citizenship program, I began to realize the value and need for an Eco-Camp. The Eco-Camp will be in remote robust healthy nature and will immerse participants in these environments, attuning them to the rhythm of Gaia.

Children’s literature might be considered the “holy well” providing healing refreshment and a direct path forward for the soul of every child: a troubled youngster, a young person experiencing a life trial, or a student seeking enlightenment. Whether folklore depicting animals congregating at the water hole at their time of need, learning to share and care; or realistic fiction presenting varying “time of drought” scenarios, and the resolution or healing necessary thereto; or even non-fiction revealing humanity’s dependence on clean water, and the knowledge necessary to help budding scientists, one-day, protect water sheds, these literary genres sustain children during their formative years and beyond. Without these literary selections, children founder and do not appropriately climb developmental ladders, in fact regress into unhealthy social, emotional or intellectual states of mind. This paper contemplates three categories of children’s literature carrying the theme of spiritual development /healing and/or intellectual enlightenment: folklore, realistic fiction, and non-fiction. Books carrying themes, images, and symbols associated with the healing and life-sustaining qualities of water will especially be highlighted within these categories to reveal how each title selected for interpretation either: 1) quenches a child’s thirst for the internationalization of a life lesson or moral; 2) provides a means of resolving a problem or healing a wound; or 3) delivers knowledge necessary to the perpetuation of safe drinking water on our planet. Titles selected for examination based in this theory of sustainability, this allusion to the Irish concept of a “holy well,” will be analyzed with regard to their ability to assist children on spiritual and intellectual levels, in a lasting, long-term fashion, providing wisdom, healing, and learning for the well-being of past, present, and future generations.

One of the most important factors for creating the sustainable society is that the individuals in that society behave in an environmentally sustainable fashion. Yet achieving appropriate behavior in any society is difficult, and the challenge is no less with regards to sustainability. Three of the most important factors for determining behavior have recently been highlighted by psychologists: personal efficacy, social influence, and internal standards. Because these three factors play a prominent role in behavior, it is necessary to examine what role they play in creating sustainability and how they may be utilized to achieve optimal behavior patterns. Ultimately, in order to achieve sustainability solutions must focus on individual action, realistic governmental regulation, and sustained, direct encounters with the natural world. While much time and energy has been spent on social influence and personal efficacy, less has been devoted to internal standards and this area needs more attention if there is to be any realistic attempt at creating proper behavior patterns.