The aim of this study is to see how physically available preschools are for all children and too see if the children meets limitations, and if so are these limitations holding back the children’s independence. I also want to see what the teachers think of the physical availability for all children in preschool. The questions I have focused on for this study is: • Is the indoor environment physical available for all children in preschool, and if not, does it limit the children´s independence? • Which are the teacher´s views on availability for all children in preschool? In order to answer the questions I have done observations and inventories, I have also interviewed three teachers to back up my results. My conclusion is that there are a few limitations that the children meet on a daily basis. Most of it takes place in the hallway and in bathrooms/baby changing rooms. The analysis shows that the hallway is too small to include all children and to make it completely available for everyone. Also in the bathrooms/ baby changing room there are difficulties to include all children. For example is the changing table to high and the children needs to climb up a stepladder and not all children have that possibility. A thing like this limits the independence for some children. To do this research I have used a phenomenological perspective.

This paper aims to inquire whether Somaliland’s secession from Somalia is morally right considering Buchanans theories regarding secession. The paper analyses the notion of self-determination and secession from the perspective of Somaliland. Further the analysis also discusses the deficiencies when it comes to international law and secession. The analysis also inquires regarding the insubstantial criteria for the right to secede and the unwillingness from the outside world to shed light on the case of Somaliland. The material for this paper consists mainly of literature, published work and research from political scholars. The paper concludes that Somaliland does in fact have a moral right for secession and formal statehood. However, the absence of a negotiating partner (Somalia) and geopolitical location suppresses the chances for international recognition.

Master of Science / Department of Geology / Saugata Datta / Elevated concentrations of arsenic (As) and fluoride (F) have been documented within the volcano-sedimentary aquifers of the Independence Basin Aquifer System in Guanajuato, Mexico which lies in the Mesa Central (MC) physiographic province on the northern edge of the Trans Mexican Volcanic Belt (TVMB). The geogenic sources of these contaminants are not well understood. This study adds to the existing record of the distribution of As and F contamination in the major aquifers of the basin by analyzing 24 water samples from five urban and rural areas. The mean As and F concentrations in the Cuenca Alto Rio Laja (CARL) aquifer on the western side of the basin were ~10 µg/L (median = 36 µg/L) and ~0.5 mg/L (median = 0.8 mg/L), respectively. In contrast, the mean As and F concentrations in the Laguna Seca (LS) aquifer on the eastern side of the basin were ~44 µg/L (median = 11 µg/L) and ~5.8 mg/L (2.6 mg/L), respectively. The high sodium, alkalinity, and low calcium concentrations observed in both aquifers are typical for fractured acid volcanic geothermal systems which have been observed in many Mexican states. Boron, lithium, and groundwater temperature showed positive correlations with As (R2 = 0.47, 0.68, and 0.55) and F (R2 = 0.31, 0.73, and 0.57) concentrations. These trace elements and elevated groundwater temperatures are indicators of water with hydrothermal origins. The drill cuttings from two boreholes ~500 m in depth were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, petrographic, and elemental analysis. This work revealed that the volcanic rocks of the CARL aquifer are primarily comprised of plagioclase, quartz, potassium-feldspar, calcite, volcanic glass, apatite, and iron oxyhydroxides. Additionally, there are layers of volcanic rocks comprised of pyroxene, plagioclase, quartz; amphibole, biotite, and apatite. The sedimentary rocks of the LS aquifer are comprised primarily of plagioclase, potassium feldspar, muscovite, biotite, volcanic glass, apatite, calcite, and quartz. These sedimentary rocks were deposited on volcanic rocks comprised of plagioclase, pyroxene, quartz, calcite, apatite, olivine, amphibole, hematite, chlorite, biotite, and ilmenite. To determine source zones the distribution of leachable F from the drill cuttings of both boreholes was examined through batch reactors. The leached F concentration profile revealed that the upper 140 m and lower 400 m of the western and eastern sides of the basin were the dominant source zones of leachable F. Overpumping in the IBAS has caused water table levels in this aquifer the decline over time. As these groundwater wells continue to be constructed to deeper depths to reach groundwater the release of As and F from these sources and the mechanisms controlling As and F from these subsurface lithologies needs to be understood. The release of both As and F from the rocks of the western and eastern side of the basin at 400 to ~500 m depths were examined through pH-adjusted batch reactors with groundwater from the CARL which contained initial As and F concentrations of ~7.9 µg/L and ~0.8 mg/L; respectively. The dissolution of F-bearing minerals and adsorption reactions with iron oxyhydroxides display a dominant control on the changes in As and F concentrations in the groundwater of the CARL aquifer. At pH 5, the rocks from the 400 – 500 m depth within the CARL aquifer reduced the initial concentrations of As and F to values of ~5.8 µg/L and ~0.5 mg/L, respectively, after 200 hours. Whereas at a pH of 9 these rocks leached F increasing its concentration to ~0.9 mg/L. The As concentration was reduced to ~6.3 µg/L. In contrast to the CARL aquifer rocks, the rocks of the LS aquifer released F at all three pH values as F-bearing minerals dissolved. Alongside F-bearing mineral dissolution, adsorption on to iron oxyhydroxide surfaces could be occurring as F concentrations continuously decreased after 50 hours of reaction. The As concentrations in the rocks from the 400 – 550 m depths of the LS aquifer released minor amounts of As at pH 7 and 9, increasing the concentration slightly until 50 hours of reaction. During the remaining 150 hours of reaction the As concentrations displayed a continuous decrease in concentration. At pH 5, however, As concentrations decreased to ~5.7 µg/L after 200 hours of reaction. The spatial and kinetic leaching patterns observed in this study, combined with the mapping of known As- and F-bearing minerals within major rock aquifer groups on the east and west side of the basin, will suggest initial release or mobilization mechanisms to future researchers. The mechanisms of initial release and transport of As and F through aquifers of the Independence Basin should be studied through a combination of laboratory experiments and reactive flow and transport modeling to determine the migration of As and F from source rocks to groundwater wells.

A non-corrupt judiciary is a fundamental condition for the endorsement of rule of law and the ability to guarantee basic human rights in society. The judiciary must therefore be an independent and fair body that fights corruption, not the other way around. This essay systematizes different binding and non-binding international, and to some extent regional, norms and standards regarding corruption in the judiciary and judicial independence, and presents potential factors and effects of judicial corruption, through an inventory of documents recognized by organizations such as the United Nations and the Council of Europe. Further, the essay presents different anti-corruption strategies and the dilemma of implementing such strategies with regard to judicial independence. The advantages and disadvantages of different anti-corruption strategies are reviewed through the study of some successful and unsuccessful examples. There are several definitions of corruption, this essay emanates from the definition of ‘abuse of office for personal or private gain’, a definition that is wide but yet well recognized. The factors of judicial corruption are many and often overlapping, but they vary from state to state and must hence be analyzed individually to find the factual reasons for what generates corruption. The effects are detrimental and break down the very core of rule of law and corrupt judges neglect fundamental principles such as equality, impartiality, propriety and integrity. With regard to the different factors and effects, the norms and standards, and the anti-corruption strategies, a discussion follows about how to rid the judiciary from corruption with preservation of the respect of judicial independence. The discussion also raises the predicament that malpractice of various fundamental principles e.g. judicial independence can occur and further distort unhealthy judiciaries. The main conclusion regarding anti-corruption strategies is that they must be carefully weighed against the principle of independence.

Magister Legum - LLM / South Africa

Topical issues of the financial independence of the European Central Bank The thesis aims to introduce the role of the European central bank during the financial crisis, including the legal aspects and risks related to conduct of non-standard measures of monetary policy, and to analyse concerned case law of the European court of Justice. Accordingly, this thesis attempts to point to the shortcomings and uncertainty of the interpretation of the primary law and to summarize the historic development of this legal issue. For this purpose the author draws on the historic context of the conduct of monetary policy of the European central bank and in particular on European court of Justice decisions. The thesis attempts to link the legal aspect with the economic aspect, which the author perceives as an essential attribute for a correct understanding of the whole issue. Key words: monetary policy, ECB, financial independence

This thesis examines the motivations for adopting multiculturalism. To this end, it examines a phenomenon that is commonplace in everyday life but is curiously absent from the academic literature: power. I argue that power provides a better causal explanation for the adoption of multiculturalism than previous explanations, such as desecuritization, and renders justifications for multiculturalism based exclusively on moral grounds insufficient and impractical in the world of politics. I divide the analysis into two parts: power acquisition as a factor that prompts dominant groups to enact multicultural policies, and power as a factor that enables non-dominant groups to mobilize for greater rights. In the process, I examine the structure of power in the modern nation-state, and claim, in short, that it is not only a network of boundaries, rules and institutions, but also an instrument used to delimit independence. I also claim that dominant groups will be most amenable to accepting multiculturalism if it does not alter the existing power praxis, and even reinforces the authority of the bearers of power. In areas of the world where multiculturalism is perceived as granting minorities too much power, it has been and will continue to be outright rejected. Moreover, I contend that minorities are not powerless and can effectively mobilize to acquire greater rights by engaging in ‘counterpower’. Ultimately, I conclude that the realistic prospects of diffusing multiculturalism, in light of the analysis of power, are poor, since in many areas of the world, authorities have too strong a grasp on power, and the counterpower of the masses is concordantly too weak. In this respect, a focus on the concept of power with regard to the adoption of multiculturalism reflects the political reality.

Purpose: Toileting is an activity of daily living that is often difficult to perform independently for rehabilitation patients, which can be detrimental to the patient’s self-esteem and hygiene. Technology-Assisted Toilets (TATs) are commercially-available toilet seats which clean the user with a stream of water, and have a fan for drying. TATs are operated by a wall-mounted remote control. This thesis investigated whether TATs could improve stroke and geriatric rehabilitation patients’ ability to clean themselves independently after a bowel movement, and improve psychosocial outcomes when toileting. Methods: Stroke rehabilitation participants answered the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scales (PIADS) to assess the psychosocial impact of their regular toileting, then used the TAT for a bowel movement on three occasions. In geriatric rehabilitation, participants completed two bowel movement trials; one using regular toileting and one using the TAT. In both studies, participants answered the PIADS and were visually assessed for cleanliness after each trial. Results: Stroke rehabilitation patients had significantly higher PIADS when using the TAT. TATs cleaned participants completely in 73% of BM trials. In geriatric rehabilitation, participants gave TATs higher PIADS scores than regular toileting, but the difference was not statistically significant. Cleanliness level was equal between TAT and regular toileting. Conclusions: These pilot studies show that TATs have the potential to be useful assistive devices for stroke and geriatric rehabilitation patients who have difficulty cleaning themselves independently in the bathroom. PIADS scores in both studies suggest that participants would be unlikely to abandon using TATs.

The theme of this thesis is position of Kosovo in international relations. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008 and belongs to the failed states. In this thesis I will examine the main causes of the dysfunction of Kosovo, and how it is reflected in Kosovo current position.

Since the early 1980's, the Punjab state of India has been in turmoil as a result of a separatist movement that developed among elements of the Sikh community. Political tensions not only characterized the relationship between the Punjab and New Delhi/ but also between Sikhs and Hindus and among different segments within the Sikh community itself. The most important attempt to end the conflict in the state has been the Rajiv Gandhi-Sant Longowal Accord signed on July 24, 1985. However, the Accord failed and by mid-1987 the Punjab was once again racked by political violence. This thesis focuses on the events that led to the signing of the Accord and the forces that caused its demise. Bargaining theory provides the general theoretical framework against which the data are analyzed. This thesis highlights the fact that political bargains in Third World weakly-institutionalized states are often the result of particular configurations of political power which are short lived. The corollary of this is that once the configuration of political forces changes, the chances of success for the previously reached political bargain are weakened. In the particular case of the Punjab Accord, there was a change, beginning in late 1985, in the relative political power of the participants in the bargain. Also, the terms of the bargained Accord unleashed forces on both sides which undermined its implementation. Third World leaders should draw two major lessons from this. First, they should be careful not to have exaggerated perceptions of their power since this may be counterproductive in the future if they cannot deliver what they have promised. Second, these leaders should attempt to consult all interests with a stake in the bargained settlement as a way to prevent opposition to it. / Arts, Faculty of / Political Science, Department of / Graduate