This study explores the notion of contestation in environmental education. Contestation is a process in which self-interested individuals and groups in a social organisation cooperate, compete and negotiate in a complex interaction aimed at solving social problems. A "framework for critique" is developed, comprising technicist, liberal<interpretive and critical paradigms in each of scientific knowledge, educational innovation, educational research and education itself. This framework forms the basis from which a critique is mounted of contesting perspectives in environmental education at international, national and local levels. The thesis argues, firstly, that contestation takes place in the domains of (a) language or "policy in environmental education; (b) organisational strategies aimed at initiating or improving environmental education; (c) educational practices conducted in the name of environmental education; and (d) within perspectives between these domains. The thesis argues, secondly, that the presently dominant techniqist models of innovation expressed in the organisation of environmental education are part of an hegemonic relationship which acts to "technologise" the innovation: they provide an organisational strategy for establishing environmental and educational progress without offering a theory for self-reflection and ideology-critique. The incompatibility of certain contesting perspectives and practices is masked, thus contributing to continuity, rather than reform. The thesis characterises this "educational problem of environmental education" as a series of theory-practice gaps at all levels, where "theory" is the set of beliefs and assumptions held by individual practitioners, and in. terms of which they understand their educational practices. An educational problem exists because these theory-practice gaps exist; the educational problem continues because these theory-practice gaps exist unacknowledged within the infrastructure of environmental education due to the effects of false consciousness and hegemony. The thesis addresses the issue of which of several contesting forms of educational research offers the most coherent response to the educational problem of environmental education, and argues that, for the time being, approaches grounded in the critical social sciences are both the best justified and most promising approaches . to educational research for environmental education.

This thesis is an examination of how white women in interracial relationships and/or white mothers of biracial children understand race. Through interviews with six self-identified white women who have black-white biracial children, I seek to understand what role racism plays in their lives and whether these women have a heightened consciousness about race as a result of being in an interracial family. Using their narratives and a spatial framework, I explore the concept of white supremacy, whiteness and blackness, representations of white femininity and black masculinity in the media, and how white women in interracial relationships cross the colourline in their everyday lives. I suggest that white women learn about colourlined spaces in public, but that they also learn about blackness and teach their biracial children about antiracism in private spaces. Overall, white women need to negotiate rules and norms within racial hierarchies in order to navigate white supremacy.

This thesis is an examination of how white women in interracial relationships and/or white mothers of biracial children understand race. Through interviews with six self-identified white women who have black-white biracial children, I seek to understand what role racism plays in their lives and whether these women have a heightened consciousness about race as a result of being in an interracial family. Using their narratives and a spatial framework, I explore the concept of white supremacy, whiteness and blackness, representations of white femininity and black masculinity in the media, and how white women in interracial relationships cross the colourline in their everyday lives. I suggest that white women learn about colourlined spaces in public, but that they also learn about blackness and teach their biracial children about antiracism in private spaces. Overall, white women need to negotiate rules and norms within racial hierarchies in order to navigate white supremacy.

This study explored the process of negotiating music therapy in a community based setting known as The Potter’s House. The Potter’s House was established fourteen years ago as the first non-racial shelter for battered and destitute women and their children in the city of Pretoria. Furthermore, the study considers Community Music Therapy as a possible frame for music therapy practice in South Africa. The study was conducted according to a qualitative research paradigm. Three data collection sources were used to gather information about the way in which music therapy was negotiated at The Potter’s House. Data collection was in the form of interviews (conducted with the manager of The Potter’s House and the music therapy participants) as well as clinical session notes. The aim of the interviews was to explore members’ experiences and views of the music therapy process. The clinical session notes include significant information that relates to my own reflections and experiences of the music therapy process. This study seems to highlight certain factors that appear prominent in the process of negotiating music therapy in this specific shelter for battered women and their children. These factors and how they were negotiated seem to emphasize the value of a Community Music Therapy framework in the shelter context. The study further suggests that Community Music Therapy could be utilized more broadly in the South African context. / Mini Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Music / MMus / Unrestricted

A reestruturação do Setor Elétrico Brasileiro introduziu uma nova categoria de clientes no mercado consumidor. Os chamados Clientes Livres, ao contrário dos Clientes Cativos, podem formalizar a aquisição de energia elétrica para atendimento dos requisitos de seu processo produtivo, através de contratos bilaterais, onde os prazos, os preços e os volumes são livremente negociados entre os agentes. A segmentação imposta pelas reformas do setor promoveu a competição na atividade de comercialização, repercutindo em novas responsabilidades para os agentes setoriais, com oportunidades para a busca de resultados financeiros, mas, por outro lado, com riscos associados que requerem adequado gerenciamento. Conseqüentemente, o estabelecimento de contratos neste ambiente evidencia a importância da adoção de estratégias de hedge adequadas para mitigar os riscos de exposição financeira dos Clientes Livres ao Mercado de Curto Prazo. Sob essa perspectiva, o texto aborda a formação de preços contratuais no curto e longo prazos, propõe critérios de risco para aferir as estratégias mais promissoras, de acordo com o perfil do consumidor, de modo a otimizar a obtenção de energia no Ambiente de Contratação Livre, contemplando, também, o efeito da recente possibilidade da comercialização dos excedentes de energia elétrica, como forma de flexibilização contratual para esta categoria de consumidores. / The power sector reforms in Brazil introduced a new sort of consumers in the electricity market. The Free Consumers are able to choose their suppliers and freely negotiate contractual terms. The restructuring process of electricity industry promoted the competition into the retail sales subindustry. It gave new responsibilities to market participants and also potential opportunities to reduce its energy costs. On the other hands, the Free Customers are requested to manage their own risks. It is important therefore the establishment of contracting strategies to hedge against price risks. As consequence, the purpose of this study is to address a methodology to implement short and long-term contract pricing and evaluate the risks associated with its strategies. Moreover, the work identifies the contracting decisions to optimize electricity costs accordingly to customer´s needs. Finally, it is presented a study on contract flexibility where an opportunity could be given to such kind of consumers, making possible to resell part of their electricity contracts.

A reestruturação do Setor Elétrico Brasileiro introduziu uma nova categoria de clientes no mercado consumidor. Os chamados Clientes Livres, ao contrário dos Clientes Cativos, podem formalizar a aquisição de energia elétrica para atendimento dos requisitos de seu processo produtivo, através de contratos bilaterais, onde os prazos, os preços e os volumes são livremente negociados entre os agentes. A segmentação imposta pelas reformas do setor promoveu a competição na atividade de comercialização, repercutindo em novas responsabilidades para os agentes setoriais, com oportunidades para a busca de resultados financeiros, mas, por outro lado, com riscos associados que requerem adequado gerenciamento. Conseqüentemente, o estabelecimento de contratos neste ambiente evidencia a importância da adoção de estratégias de hedge adequadas para mitigar os riscos de exposição financeira dos Clientes Livres ao Mercado de Curto Prazo. Sob essa perspectiva, o texto aborda a formação de preços contratuais no curto e longo prazos, propõe critérios de risco para aferir as estratégias mais promissoras, de acordo com o perfil do consumidor, de modo a otimizar a obtenção de energia no Ambiente de Contratação Livre, contemplando, também, o efeito da recente possibilidade da comercialização dos excedentes de energia elétrica, como forma de flexibilização contratual para esta categoria de consumidores. / The power sector reforms in Brazil introduced a new sort of consumers in the electricity market. The Free Consumers are able to choose their suppliers and freely negotiate contractual terms. The restructuring process of electricity industry promoted the competition into the retail sales subindustry. It gave new responsibilities to market participants and also potential opportunities to reduce its energy costs. On the other hands, the Free Customers are requested to manage their own risks. It is important therefore the establishment of contracting strategies to hedge against price risks. As consequence, the purpose of this study is to address a methodology to implement short and long-term contract pricing and evaluate the risks associated with its strategies. Moreover, the work identifies the contracting decisions to optimize electricity costs accordingly to customer´s needs. Finally, it is presented a study on contract flexibility where an opportunity could be given to such kind of consumers, making possible to resell part of their electricity contracts.

Force est de constater l'absence dans les textes de loi d'une définition précise de la réparation intégrale et a fortiori de règles d'évaluation des dommages-intérêts compensatoires. La doctrine tente bien de pallier ce vide en décrivant les différents types d'indemnisation, notamment aux États-Unis. Pourtant, la difficulté reste entière lorsque le préjudice existe mais que son estimation est délicate ou incertaine. En effet, ces questions sont considérées uniquement comme des questions de faits ; les juges du fond restent donc souverains, ce qui débouche sur une grande imprévisibilité pour les parties. Réduire l'imprévisibilité judiciaire du dommage passe par le choix et la définition d'un cadre de travail commun. S'appuyant notamment sur les résultats d'une analyse empirique comparative de centaines de cas de jurisprudence, l'étude formalise des prescriptions à l'intention des parties qui souhaitent améliorer leurs chances de succès dans le recouvrement des gains manqués et de la perte de chance. Elle évoque aussi la nécessité d'améliorer la pratique judiciaire dans l'application du droit actuel à la réparation intégrale. Surtout, elle aboutit à une conclusion normative fondamentale qui consisterait à considérer le préjudice économique et financier, les dommages ­intérêts et le calcul du quantum également comme des questions de droit. Dès lors, il relèverait d'une bonne justice que la Cour de cassation préconisa et contrôla l'usage de telle ou telle méthode d'évaluation. Chaque chef de préjudice économique serait ainsi qualifié juridiquement et la notion de réparation intégrale serait élargie pour indemniser plus complètement le préjudice économique difficilement quantifiable.Il ressort enfin que des barèmes référencés d'indemnisation peuvent être construits à partir de l'observation de précédents jugés d'inexécutions contractuelles. L'introduction de ces barèmes pourrait bénéficier aux chercheurs dans leurs débats académiques, aux parties dans la rédaction de leurs contrats, aux conseils dans leurs échanges précontentieux voire aux juges comme outil d'aide à la décision. Si ces barèmes étaient validés et partagés, ils pourraient donner naissance à des modèles d'intelligence artificielle de type machine learning dont la valeur -notamment prédictive -serait sans commune mesure avec ce qu'on en perçoit aujourd'hui. / Law statutes and codes lack of a precise definition of the « full compensation » principle, and a fortiori they Jack of rules for assessing compensatory damages. The legal doctrine tries to fil] in the blank by describing the different types of damages awarded, notably in the United States. Yet, the issue remains full when the Joss is certain but its valuation remains complex or uncertain. The assessment of the economic Joss and the calculation methodology for damages are considered to be only matters of facts: trial courts and judges thus retain a sovereign power, resulting in great uncertainty for the parties. Reducing judicial uncertainty requires the choice and creation of a common framework. Based on the results of an empirical law and economics analysis of several hundreds of precedent cases, the dissertation formulates simple and practical suggestions for parties looking to improve their chances of success in recouping lost profits and lost opportunities. It also evidences which improvements of the judicial systems are required in order to actually implement the current right to full compensation. More importantly the research reaches a fundamental nonnative conclusion: economic Joss, compensatory damages and hence, the calculation of the quantum granted should be considered, not as mere matters of facts but also as matters of law. Henceforth, it would be logical that the Cour de cassation ( or the highest court) advises and controls the use of calculation methodology. Each head of damages would thus be legally qualified and the principle of full compensation would be extended in order to better compensate the loss when evaluating its quantum is complex. It finally results that referenced compensatory scales can be practically developed from compiling relevant legal precedents. The introduction of such scales would benefit academics in their debates, parties in the drafting of their contracts and counsels in their pre-trial exchanges. Eventually, judges could use them as tools to assist their rulings. If those scales were to be adopted and shared, they would enable the creation of such artificial intelligence as machine learning which value - notably the predictive value - would far exceed what is perceived today.

This work studies constitutional bases of two essential institutions of Collective Labor Law: employer’s obligation to negotiate collectively and facultative arbitration. In relation to the first one, using tools provided bythe Theory of Law, it is argued that the section 28º of Peruvian Constitution establishes a collective negotiation concept as claim (not as permission) so, employers legal obligation of collective negotiation is constitutional. In theother hand, regarding facultative arbitration, it has constitutional support on state’s obligation to promote pacific ways to labor conflicts; even though, it is questioned that a «sub constitutional» rule has restrictively regulated this institution. / En este trabajo se estudian las bases constitucionales de dos instituciones centrales del derecho colectivo del trabajo: la obligación patronal de negociar colectivamente y el arbitraje potestativo. En lo que se refiere a la primera, utilizando las herramientas que proporciona la teoría del derecho, se sostiene que el artículo 28 de la Constitución consagra una concepción de la negociación colectiva como pretensión (y no como permiso), y por tanto, que es constitucional el deber legal de los empleadores de negociar colectivamente. En cuanto al segundo, se afirma que este encuentra sustento constitucional en la obligación estatal de promover formas pacíficas de solución de los conflictos laborales, aunque se cuestiona que la normativa infraconstitucional haya regulado esta institución de forma restrictiva.

國際貿易實務上，「信用狀」係往來銀行提供信用狀擔保付款之模式，確保跨國貿易之順利完成、加速貿易進行，為當今世界重要付款方式。「信用狀統一慣例（UCP）」係國際商會（ICC）制定之信用狀交易實務慣例，自1933年首次頒布以來，目前已成為全世界公認遵行之信用狀標準處理方針。2007年，國際商會公佈最新修訂版本之第600號出版物“UCP 600”，明定因應銀行及航運實務發展、檢討UCP 500之規範文字及語體、抑制銀行拒絕付款率等為主要修訂目標。 鑑於UCP 600對於未來國際貿易發展之影響力，實有全面且深入研究UCP 600條款內容及規範目的之必要。本文以UCP 600新增定義解釋條款、審查單據條款、及運送單據條款為研究主題，透過闡釋條文涵義、比較與UCP 500之差異、探究新條款影響、檢討修訂目標之成效等，俾使信用狀當事人及相關銀行正確理解及適用UCP 600條款內容。 本文首先介紹信用狀之特性、經濟功能及信用狀統一慣例之定位適用等基本概念；其次從文義解釋、法律性質及當事人間法律關係等觀點切入，闡釋UCP 600本次新增之定義及解釋條款；並研究銀行實務最常發生爭議之審查單據程序，詳盡分析UCP 600規定之審單標準、符合提示、拒付瑕疵單據等重要條款。此外，本文探討UCP 600所規定國際航運常見之提單、多式運送單據、不可轉讓海運單及傭船提單等運送單據條款。最後，本文針對UCP 600條款之重要修訂內容予以彙整，嘗試提出該等條款之修正趨勢及未來發展。 / In international trade practice, “letter of credit”which is the most important type of payment in the world is the means of settlement that an issuing bank independently undertake to honour a complying presentation , and that ensures international trade to successfully completed, and speeded up the transactions.“ICC Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credit(UCP)”is the rules of international letter of credit practice promulgated by the Commission on Banking Technique and Practice of the International Chamber of Commerce(ICC).The 2007 Revision, UCP 600, is the latest of a series of revisions of these ICC rules that date from 1933 and have in their evolution become the universal norm for commercial letter of credit. The introduction of UCP 600 expressly indicated the main revised objective was to address developments in banking and transport industries, to look at the language and style used in UCP 500, and to reduce the rejections of the documents presented under letter of credit. In consideration of the influence of UCP 600 for the development of international trade in the future, it was necessary to generally and deeply research the clauses and provisions of UCP 600 and the revised objective. This paper’s research subjects include the formal definitions and interpretations of UCP 600, the provision regarding examination of documents, and the provisions regarding transport documents. In order to make the parties of letter of credit and the relevant banks correctly understand and apply the UCP 600 clauses, this paper interprets the meaning of UCP 600 clauses, compares the differences between UCP 600 and UCP 500, analyses the influence of new provisions, and look at the achievements of this revision. This paper first introduces the fundamental concepts included the characteristic of letter of credit, the economic functions of letter of credit, and the position and application of UCP 600.The second part is to discuss the formal definitions and interpretations that UCP 600 new formulated from the perspectives of language interpretation, quality of law, and the law relationship of the parties. Then this paper discusses the rules for the examination of documents that most controversial in banking industries, and analyses the important provisions regarding standard for examination of documents, complying presentation, and rejection of discrepant documents. Moreover, this paper is referring to the general transport documents clauses stipulated in UCP 600, including bill of lading, multimodal transport document, non-negotiable sea waybill, and charter party bill of lading. Finally, this paper synthesizes the significant revised provisions, and recommends several suggestions about modifying the relevant provisions in UCP 600 and development in the future.