Thesis - Marburg. / Vita. Bibliography: p. [5]-6.

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In Chapter 1, I posit a hypothesis about the way sensory input, memory, and imagination mingle in the mind, with the result that what we seem to experience is not actually all present in the outside world, but instead a blending of the three. External stimuli invoke, or call to mind, memories of old experiences as well as old imaginings ¡K which bring about newly blended images. Since these blended images are not based entirely on actual experiences but instead on imagined scenes that are often inspired by creative art, they are frequently inaccurate. Nevertheless, the mind does not always make a distinction between what is true and what is merely assumed, leading to synecdochic fallacies and misconfirmed assumptions. I also describe how the initial impression of the Romanies was specifically an intentional image-forging attempt, which would have given settled Europe a favorable impression if some of the Romanies had not been caught breaking the law; as it was, both the favorable and unpleasant sides became lasting elements of the image, developed during the two pioneering decades following the initial meetings in 1417. In the next two chapters, I examine how the processes I describe played out in Western culture, developed in the media of literature, which branched sharply off from reality and took on a stereotypical life all its own. The last chapter demonstrates how this divergence of reality and imagination is today as strong as ever, and also how the two are blended in the perceptions of today's Western mind. The end of the chapter takes all the preceding material into consideration, and proposes some ideas how the Western experience of interacting with the real Romany and the imaginary Gypsy¡Xand my examination of this interaction¡Xcan help us to learn from history, and historical errors¡Xto use the natural processes described to good purpose: to remove the unhealthy and harmful negative (i. e. false) Gypsy image from the Romanies. This sort of action is like removing the stigma of shame from someone who has reformed. Then the public imagination must be engaged, so that the stereotype-gap (one sort of information gap) is filled in with the image of the Romani as a real human group. If this ¡§paradigm shift,¡¨ if it is not too incorrect to term it so, is achieved skillfully, the Roma may soon have a better chance of being related to more fairly, and the Gypsy image, which many have implied is somehow ¡§needed¡¨ by the Western mind as the ¡§epitome of freedom,¡¨ will be seen as a false, though charming, image, and further, confidence tricksters might even be referred to as the criminals they really are, whether or not they are Roma¡Xwithout using the derogatory term ¡§gypsy criminal.¡¨

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M.Sc. / This study focuses on the rehabilitation of borrow pits on linear pipeline projects. In the past there have been many attempts to rehabilitate borrow pits to an ecological acceptable manner. Recently legislation has become more stringent regarding mine closure and rehabilitation. With the introduction of the new Mineral and Petroleum Development Act (MPRDA 28 of 2002), there has been an increase of awareness towards the immediate environment. As this project was a challenge in itself, there were no clear and concise methods in the Act that provide guidelines for final rehabilitation. Normally borrow pits as used on road concessions for material sourcing is left as different landforms like before excavation. The main reason for this is that materials are removed from the pits and not replaced, resulting in areas that are usually lower than their original ground levels. Some unwanted screened material will return to these borrow pits but will not complement what the original level should be. These borrow pits are usually clearly visible as low lying areas filled with water alongside roads. The Vaal River Eastern Subsection Augmentation Project (VRESAP) pipeline borrow pits were unique in the sense that not only material from screening activities were replaced, but also material excavated from the trench were replaced into the borrow pits. What makes this study unique is the fact that an opportunity was presented and clearly stipulated by the standard environmental management plan (SEMP) that borrow pits had to be filled back to their original ground levels or an acceptable level agreed on by the landowner. With this unique project, unique problems arose causing excess material amounting to 327 700 m³, available from the pipeline cavity. External spoil areas had to be promulgated and managed as part of site. This study through its various elements addresses some of the main problems encountered on VRESAP by looking at soil analysis, monitoring regimes, pre and post land use and other mechanisms from literature studies used on similar projects in the mining industry. vii The study also provides recommendations to the reader for future pipeline developments as well as conclusions made by the author. The recommendations made, include ways of rehabilitation planning through trials and errors made on site. Various conclusions were made that would substantiate this study in perspective to user-friendly and practical approaches.

A exploraÃÃo de Ãreas de emprÃstimo para obtenÃÃo de materiais para obras civis tem resultado na degradaÃÃo ambiental, muitas vezes, com sÃrios impactos nos meio fÃsico e biÃtico. Assim, os impactos ambientais de Ãreas de emprÃstimo devem ser identificados, para que sejam propostas e executadas medidas visando à sua recuperaÃÃo. Neste trabalho, procurou-se avaliar a eficÃcia das medidas mitigadoras propostas nos estudos de impacto ambiental dos aÃudes pÃblicos Aracoiaba e SÃtios Novos, no estado do CearÃ, para a recuperaÃÃo das Ãreas degradadas durante a obtenÃÃo de matÃria prima para suas obras civis. A pesquisa teve inÃcio com o levantamento dos EIA/RIMA dos AÃudes PÃblicos Aracoiaba e SÃtios Novos, com Ãnfase na anÃlise dos impactos identificados como possÃveis de ocorrerem nas Ãreas de emprÃstimo dos dois empreendimentos. Foram tambÃm levantadas as medidas mitigadoras propostas para recuperaÃÃo das Ãreas de emprÃstimos dos dois reservatÃrios. A partir de pesquisas de campo foi realizado levantamento das medidas mitigadoras efetivamente implantadas para recuperaÃÃo das Ãreas de emprÃstimo. A pesquisa permitiu a realizaÃÃo de estudo comparativo entre as medidas propostas e as efetivamente implantadas nas Ãreas de emprÃstimo dos dois aÃudes. Constatou-se que vÃrias medidas propostas nÃo foram implantadas, principalmente nas Ãreas de emprÃstimo do AÃude SÃtios Novos, resultando na existÃncia de Ãreas ainda degradadas, necessitando de recuperaÃÃo. Ao final, propÃe-se a adoÃÃo de aÃÃes visando mitigar a degradaÃÃo ambiental resultante dos dois aÃudes, nas suas Ãreas de emprÃstimo. / Exploitation of borrow areas to obtain materials for civil works has resulted in environmental degradation , often with serious impacts on physical and biotic environment . Thus , the environmental impacts of borrow areas should be identified , to be proposed and implemented measures aimed at their recovery . In this study, we sought to assess the effectiveness of mitigation measures proposed in the environmental impact studies and public dams Aracoiaba Novos , in the state of Cearà , for the recovery of degraded areas for obtaining feedstock for its civil works . The research began with a survey of the EIS / EIR for Public and Sites New Dams Aracoiaba , with emphasis on the analysis of the impacts identified as possible to occur in the areas of loan of two developments . Were also raised proposals for the rehabilitation of the two reservoirs loans mitigation measures . From field research was conducted survey of mitigation measures effectively implemented for the rehabilitation of loan. The survey allowed for a comparative study between the proposed measures and effectively implemented in the areas of borrowing of the two dams . It was observed that several proposed measures were not implemented , mainly in the areas of loan Novos Dam, resulting in the existence of yet degraded areas needing recovery . At the end, we propose the adoption of actions to mitigate environmental degradation resulting from the two dams in their lending areas.

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I investigated if constructed wetlands provide breeding habitat for the Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) in northwest Alberta. Over two years, I conducted bird surveys of 201 borrow-pits (ponds created during road construction) and 18 natural wetlands and collected data on local habitat and landscape features. For subsets of ponds, I also collected water chemistry and invertebrate data, and conducted stable isotope analysis. Grebes occurred on 36% of borrow-pits and produced chicks on 61% of occupied sites in 2007 and 81% in 2008. Grebes occurred more frequently on larger ponds, with more emergent vegetation, and avoided forested ponds that supported beaver activity. Horned Grebes are generalist foragers that did not select nesting ponds based on food-web structure. Twenty-six other bird species used borrow-pits, with distinct assemblages occurring on agricultural versus forested ponds. My study indicates that wetland construction offers a viable method for creating habitat for Horned Grebes and other species. / Ecology

This research investigates cases of learning pathways for improving rehabilitation practices for key occupations in the mining industry. The study is set up as a partnership research programme between Rhodes University Environmental Learning Research Centre in South Africa, and the South African Qualification Authority, focussing on workplace learning and sustainability practices. This research programme seeks to understand the implications of the move to a knowledge society, with its emphasis on knowledge building over time, particularly in and for the environmental sector. The research was conducted as a qualitative case study that made use of semi-structured interviews, document analysis, visual photographs and observations as instruments of data gathering. Participants were sampled from two case studies, one in Limpopo province and the other one in Mpumalanga Province, who are directly involved in rehabilitation practices and related education and training programmes. The study makes use of career stories from the key occupations to provide insight into workplace learning pathways to inform education and training in the mining industry. A series of analytical statements captures some of the main findings on early education histories, career choices, learning pathway decisions and experiences related to sustainable practices and some complexities related to learning pathways. Environment and sustainability education is a cross-cutting issue in the NQF; and it pertains to the mining sector, especially to rehabilitation practices, which form the focus of this study as little is known about learning pathways associated with these sustainability practices. Insights from the study should enable the sector to enhance rehabilitation training for key occupations and at the same time encourage lifelong learning contributing towards sustainable development.