ABSTRACT In 2015, an Agreement was made in Paris at the 21st conference of the Parties of the UN. The purpose of the Paris Agreement was to collectively target climate change and keep the global warming under 2°C. Since then, the strength of this Agreement has been evaluated in numerous ways, optimists and pessimists present arguments for different theories and opinions. While some argue that the agreement is too weak because of its non-binding features and vagueness, others argue that the very same vagueness has opened up a new door. To contribute with a new perspective, the aim of this study is to describe and analyse different conceptions of nature in the Nationally Determined Contributions submitted to the Paris Agreement by Parties who signed it. Based on previous research about different conceptions of nature, an analytical framework is built and used through a text analysis of some of the Contributions. The findings of this qualitative, descriptive case study are meant to create a deeper understanding of the Contributions made to the Paris Agreement, describing if different conceptions of nature are found and whether this affects the way the Parties aim to tackle the climate crisis.

As climate change continues to permeate the current political discourse and its effects becomes increasingly visible, the way countries respond to the situation is crucial for determining the extent of future environmental degradation. The Paris Agreement is an attempt to mitigate and adapt to the situation, however the western values tied to it have been criticised. The effectiveness of democracy in environmental protection has been questioned, especially its ties to capitalism and individualism. This thesis uses the theory of authoritarian environmentalism to investigate this debate and see whether the claims have any legitimacy in the context of the Paris Agreement and the promises made in relation to it.     This thesis is a structured focused comparison which compares the policies and projects in three democratic and three autocratic African countries in close geographical proximity and similar environmental situations, to investigate if and in what way the type of government affects the promises made, and whether they are kept, to the Paris Agreement and its signatories. The indicators used for the thesis include policies and internationally funded projects, due to their accessibility, however it is worth noting that they only give a crude approximation of the activities and ambition in the countries, with several others having important roles.    The quality of the six countries’ Intended Nationally Determined Contributions is investigated and followed up with an evaluation of some of the projects active to examine if the countries are implementing their promised efforts, already in these early, yet important, stages of the Agreement. In addition, the theory is applied to the countries’ efforts and some conclusions are reached, including the overall good quality of the countries’ environmental work and confirming that authoritarian countries can produce quality policies, while still having lacking areas, similar to their democratic counterparts, pointing to the complexity of the topic.

Since the main ambition of the European community is to create a Single Market among the European countries, a unified set of structural design codes recently became mandatory to use. These standards, the Eurocodes, contain Nationally Determined Parameters (NDPs) that have to be fixed by the National Standard Bodies in the various countries. The investigation of the adopted values for Eurocode 2 in seven European States has been carried out i  this thesis for quantifying the differences that arise from the selected values of these parameters. The aim of this investigation was to find out which countries are advantaged or disadvantaged by the choice of the value of these parameters. The analysis has been limited to the Part 1-1 of Eurocode 2 that concerns “General Rules for Buildings” and the most important parts of Eurocode 0 and 1. The investigated countries were Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Even if these countries represent only seven out of 27 EU States, this comparison gives a good view of the European situations since they cover nearly half of the continental concrete consumption. The analysis includes a theoretical comparison of the national choices of all the 170 national parameters as well as their influence on the more important formulas contained in the Code. Five practical case studies concerning the design and the verification of some structural elements have been carried out in order to study the differences in real and common design situations. Through all the work, the different choices have been compared to the recommended values proposed by the Eurocode that have been used as a mean of comparison. Due to the large number of parameters and the complexity of the problem it has not been possible to estimate and quantify general trends of differences for the countries although Finland, France, Italy and the United Kingdom have been found to have, in general, more disadvantageous choices than the other States. Moreover, Denmark and Germany show variable trends (both above and below the recommended values) while Sweden is always close to the recommended values. The results that have been found show that still a lot of work and research has to be done in order to achieve an even set of structural standards for the design of concrete structures. A list of more important national parameters has been presented as well as a proposal to convert some national parameters to fixed ones. The analysis and the results that have been obtained give details and indications about the future works that need to be done for decreasing the differences among the European countries.

Ethiopia is rapidly urbanising. Similar to other urban areas in developing countries, major issues in Ethiopia include a high level of income inequality, lack of formal employment opportunities and deeply rooted poverty, tenure insecurity, poor infrastructure, and limited access to electricity and energy. Frequently settlers end up in impoverished urban squatters and slums which do not offer them even the most basic infrastructure and hence lack to provide them with the perspectives they came for. Onward migration to farer off destinations such as the EU member states thus often remains as sole option for those caught in such urban poverty traps. Although the issue of informal urban settlements is not new to the context of Ethiopian cities, the current rapid urban growth rates are exposing urban rental markets as well as infrastructure and energy supply to considerable pressure. The paper investigates the respective situation in Ethiopia and demonstrates some best practice examples. In the context of Ethiopian cities, energy production and distribution have been highly centralised under state entities and the scope for exploring local/business driven and decentralised systems has been limited. Transitions can be implemented towards sustainability and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals if collective identification and structuring of issues along with collective envisioning of future is provoked or facilitated.

Career technical education plays an important part in the mission of community colleges – providing educational opportunities needed by members of their communities. Career technical programs prepare students for entry into the workforce. Accountability standards for career technical programs, from local, state, and federal bodies, monitor placement of career technical graduates in jobs related to their field of study. To help these students become more competitive in the job market, curricula are being aligned with national certifications to help students graduate from career technical programs with stackable credentials. Stackable credentials refer to the idea of “stacking” degrees, certifications, and credentials along the way to an education in a particular field of study. Some of these credentials can be costly, though, requiring career technical program administrators to question whether implementing this stackable credential structure is truly beneficial for the students. The purpose of this study was to examine survey results of industry representatives who serve on advisory committees for career technical programs at a rural community college to ascertain whether earning stackable credentials in career technical programs at a rural community college does increase opportunities for employment. Data were obtained from an Industry Input Survey conducted at a rural community college. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results of this study indicate that while entry-level employment requirements focus more on a high-school diploma or high school equivalency exam and an earned Associate of Applied Science degree, the majority of participants did indicate that holding a national certification would give a potential employee hiring preferences. Results of the analysis are presented in narrative and table form. Conclusions and recommendations for future research follow discussion of analysis.

"Our Minorities (later Our Boundaries), an interwar magazine supporting Czech minority in nationally mixed regions of Nord-East Bohemia" presents for the first time a longer embracive characterization of a First Republic periodical, seated in Malé Svatoňovice, and published between 1920-1938 (XVII and XVIII volumes already as Our Boundaries). This thesis uses a method of historical analysis and besides of information about publishing, personalities connected with this monthly paper (particularly J. M. Vlček) and contents of sections, recognizing how this already not very known regional serial wanted to support Czech minorities in a mainly German speaking borderline area.

Climate change is a critical threat to all the countries of the world today, not least because of the severe human rights infringements it may well lead to. However, although climate change is a collective, global challenge, there are considerable inequalities regarding contribution to cause and burden of the effects. Those suffering the most from the effects of climate change tend to be least responsible for the emissions causing it. The theoretical concept of climate justice aims to address these injustices, between different countries as well as societal groups and generations. To contribute to the understanding of how this concept is present in the global climate debate today, this thesis examines a selection of the Paris Agreement parties’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) from a perspective of climate justice. The analysis is based on a theoretical framework developed by Andrea Schapper, focusing on three dimensions of climate justice – international, intra-societal and intergenerational. Through this framework, a total of 36 NDCs are studied, the top and bottom three countries for each world region based on levels of cumulative CO2-emissions. The aim of the case selection has been to obtain a variation regarding development status, vulnerability to the effects of climate change, levels of greenhouse gas emissions and geographical location of the studied countries. The results of the study show that all the dimensions are present in at least some of the studied NDCs, but to a very different extent. Primarily, the parties discuss the issue of international justice. Intra-societal justice is touched upon quite frequently but very few bring up the matter of intergenerational justice. Moreover, all three dimensions are predominantly handled by countries classified as ”developing” (according to the UN statistics division).  This implies that climate justice is a higher priority for the most vulnerable to and least responsible for climate change, which is problematic for many reasons. Above all, it indicates that rich, industrialized countries are reluctant to take responsibility for their current and historical emissions, as well as the effect those emissions have on others.

Abstract:Today, there are great opportunities for students in high school to be able to combine their elite investment in sports with their studies in high school. This education is called NIU and RIG. In the Equestrian world we often talk about equestrian feel, it is a word that is often used in the training of riders. Equestrian feeling is a term that can be defined as a speechless communication between horse and rider (Game,2001).This master thesis in science of Education has as a study area to gain a greater understanding of how equestrian feeling fits into the subject of sports specialization and how students experience getting grades in riding. This study builds on Antonovsky (2005) theory about KASAM ‘’Feeling of context’’. and how the KASAM concept is seen in relation to equestrian feeling and students' experience of getting grades in sport- specialization Sports does not only influence the schools agenda through norms, cultures and unwritten rules - but also the grade assessment themselves in comparisons made between athlete and results within the sports specialization. (Ferry, 2014; Hedberg, 2014; Larneby, 2020).Students and teachers alike believe sports specialization as an education lacks clarity in its assessment criteria. This is evident in the students who seem unable to distinguish whether they are being judged on the basis of their performance or their personality. The results of this study shows that stronger guidelines from the school system, and sports federations are needed on how these assessments should be undertaken. For the moment the experience (shared by coaches, teachers and students) that grading is too fluid endures. The meaning of the term equestrian feeling, on the other hand, do not have a great impact on the assessment in the subject, according to the teachers who were interviewed.The students' experience of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness become important components to take into account in the assessment in Sports Specialization. Their4sense of connection in the relationship, riding and school, is important for the student's elite commitment and further education.Keyword: Equestrian Sport, Equestrian feel, Nationally approved sports (NIU), Sport specialization

中國加入WTO之後，大陸經濟體制轉型。從早期的計劃經濟到現在的市場經濟。投資政策也趨向「引進來，走出去」，此外，有鑑於大陸具有廉價的勞工和市場潛力，外資紛紛從所謂綠地投資或藉由合格境外投資者等間接投資方式轉為合併或收購為主的直接投資為取向。然而，面對上市公司因為涉及中國大陸特有的「股權分置」現象，使外資於併購上有一定困難度。再者，中國大陸特有的「民族情感」因素，使行政機關常常藉由「國家安全」等不確定法律概念而否准外資併購。 本文主要針對外資併購上市公司經常適用之法令作整合及研究，並論及外資併購上常運用之契約條款進行分析。此外，針對外資併購常遇到之問題提出淺見並針對外資併購中債權人及中小股東之保護提出論述，以供外資於併購中如何在外資獲利及中小股東權益保障獲得平衡點。 / Since China has become the members of WTO, the economic structure has transformed. From the early plan structure becomes to market structure. The policy of investments is tend to be “attract in and walk out”, besides, because of the cheaper workers and marketing potential of China, the foreign investor’s investment policy is going to be from the indirect investment of green island investment or QFII to the direct investment of Merger & Acquisition. However, in face of the especially system phenomenon of “delaminate of stock rights”, makes the merger& acquisition by foreign investors difficultly. Moreover, because of the especially factor of “the nationality of friendship”, makes the administrative organizations often refuse the permition of foreign investors by “national security”. In this essay, be focus on the research the merger& acquisition by foreign investors in common use of the authority laws and decrees, and analyzing the common use of the contracts articles. Besides, to be aimed at the problems of the merger& acquisition by foreign investors and the protection of shareholders and creditors, I try to supply some suggestions in order to make the balance of the merger& acquisition by foreign investors and the protection of shareholders and creditors.

Syfte: Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur elever på den nationellt godkända idrottsutbildningen (NIU) motiveras till sin idrott i enlighet med Self-determination Theory och Organismic Integration Theory, med hjälp av en modifierad Sport Motivation Scale (SMS-6). Vidare syftar studien till att undersöka om elever på den nationellt godkända idrottsutbildningen (NIU) upplever utbrändhet, med hjälp av Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Till sist ämnar studien att undersöka om det föreligger något samband mellan elevernas motivation och utbrändhet. Tidigare studier beskriver att elitidrottare har visat sig vara en särskild utsatt population gentemot utbrändhet. Detta på grund av en långvarig press och stress i samband med elitidrott.  Metod: Datainsamlingen erhölls med mejlkonversationer mellan författare och NIU gymnasieskolor i Stockholm. 15 NIU gymnasieskolor kontaktades på mejl och 7 av dessa gymnasieskolor deltog i studien. 131 elever som betraktas som elitidrottare deltog i studien genom att besvara ett frågeformulär bestående av 39 påståenden med hjälp av en 7 gradig Likertskala. 24 påståenden utgjordes av SMS-6 och 15 påståenden utgjordes av ABQ. Resultat: De tre högsta noterade medelvärdena utifrån SMS-6 var integrated motivation (M = 5,7), identified motivation (M = 4,9) och introjected motivation (M = 4,7). ABQ medelvärde noterades till (M = 3). De två främsta fynden i studien var en negativ signifikant korrelation mellan integrated motivation (-0,18) och utbrändhet och en positiv signifikant korrelation mellan amotivation och utbrändhet (0,37). Slutsats: Utifrån studiens resultat så verkar det som att höga nivåer av självbestämd motivation motarbetar symptom av utbrändhet. Det verkar också som att låga nivåer av självbestämd motivation framhäver symptom av utbrändhet. / Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how elite athlete students in Swedish high schools are motivated towards their sports by Self-determination Theory and Organismic Integration Theory, regarding the Modified Sport Motivation Scale (SMS-6). The study further aims to investigate if elite athlete students had developed symptoms of burnout, regarding the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Finally, this study aims to investigate if there exist any correlations between student’s motivation and symptoms of burnout. Studies have reported findings of elite athletes as a special vulnerable group towards symptoms of burnout. Elite athletes train close to their limits, strain themselves to highest achievements. They are also part of that special vulnerable population who may experience symptoms of burnout due to a prolonged stress and pressure associated with elite sports.  Methods: Data collection was obtained by emails between the investigators and high schools in Stockholm. 15 sport high schools were contacted by email and 7 of these high schools participated in the study. 131 elite athlete students participated in the study by answering a questionnaire which contained 39 items, specifically 24 items by SMS-6 and 15 items by ABQ. The questionnaire were answered by a 7 point Likert scale.  Results: The three highest scored means by SMS-6 was the integrated motivation (M = 5,7), identified motivation (M = 4,9) and introjected motivation (M = 4,7). ABQ measure of burnout was (M = 3). The two major findings in the present study was a negative significant correlation reported for integrated motivation and burnout (-0,18) and a positive significant correlation reported for amotivation and burnout (0,37).  Conclusion: By the results in the present study it seems as high levels of self-determinated motivation counteract symptoms of burnout. Thus it also seems as low levels of self-determinated motivation may contribute to symptoms of burnout.