This work addresses the historically-read despotism Genesis 1.28 has often received in its subordination of nature for the interests of human enterprise and counters the notion of reading the entire Bible as an anti-environmental, anthropocentric text. In using a combined literary lens of eco-criticism and new historicism, this work examines the Hebrew Bible with particular attention to the books of Genesis and Exodus, offering within the Torah’s oldest literary tradition (the J source) an environmental connection between humanity and the divine that promotes a reverence of natural world and, conversely, a rejection of rampant urbanization and its cultural departure from nature. It is the goal of this research to create a discourse by bridging the gap between religious and green studies and forging a connection with the works of the early biblical writers and environmental thought of the modern world.

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This paper intends to examine animal portrayal in literature with the guidance of three literary works; Charlotte’s Web, The Call of the Wild and The Guest Cat. The overall purpose is to explore the representation of animals in text and see what it possibly could show about our – the humans – view of animals. Through this I investigate what we do when we interpret animals in text and how this portrayal can effect animals, with the help of a moral philosophical angle. I put focus on how the view of animals can be effected depending on if one sees animals as an object or a subject – someone or something. Questions used are: How are animals portrayed in this fiction? What can this portrayal show about our relationship with – and view of – animals? The analysis show consequences of both sides through the thought that both views still can be a sign of power over animals, since we never completely can understand animal’s thoughts or actions. I argue, however, that there still is a value to reflect about the animal in literature because it can demonstrate a shifting animal view and let us reflect not only about the animals in literature ­– but in the reality as well. / Denna uppsats ämnar undersöka djurs gestaltning i litteratur med vägledning av tre litterära verk; Charlotte’s Web, The Call of the Wild och Gästkatten. Det övergripande syftet är att undersöka representationen av djur i text och se vad de möjligtvis kan säga om vår – människans – djursyn. Genom detta undersöker jag vad vi gör när vi tolkar djur i text och hur denna gestaltning kan påverka djur, med hjälp av en moralfilosofisk vinkel. Denna vinkel lägger fokus på hur djursynen kan påverkas beroende på om man ser djur som objekt eller subjekt – någon eller något. Frågeställningarna är: Hur gestaltas djur i denna fiktion? Vad kan denna gestaltning säga om vår relation till – och syn på – djur? Analysen visar konsekvenser av båda sidor genom tanken att båda ändå kan vara ett tecken på makt eftersom vi aldrig helt kan förstå djurs tankar och handlingar. Jag argumenterar däremot att det ändå finns ett värde att reflektera kring djurbilden i litteratur eftersom det kan demonstrera en skiftande djursyn och låta oss reflektera kring djur inte bara i litteraturen – men i verkligheten. ­

This thesis is a study of constructions of reality in visual and textual representations in current exhibitions in the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm with comparisons to the Natural History Museum in Gothenburg and minor excursions to other museums. The study also includes seven giant screen films in Cosmonova: an IMAX theatre which is part of the Swedish Museum of Natural History. The study consists of three parts: I. Historical and theoretical contextualisation: The emergence of museums is understood as an aspect of modernity and nature, and analytical concepts from semiotics, deconstruction and discourse analysis are presented and discussed. This part also includes a discussion of anthropomorphism and andropocentric stereotyping and a study of the emergence of the environmental question in society, science, museums and in the disciplines of sociology and cultural studies. II. Empirical analysis: Starting with questions what stories modern exhibitions in museums of natural history tell and how animals, bodies, humans and the environment are represented in the exhibitions and films I discuss different aspects of the dualism of nature and culture in relation to other dualisms such as animal/human, nature/society and ecology/economy. The dualism nature/culture that is expressed in exclusions of conventional signs for human culture is problematic from an environmental perspective. I pose the question of whether or not the marginalized phenomenon of the cabinet of curiosity that combine both “naturalia” and “artificialia” and displays phenomena classified as abnormal, can provide a key to narratives about co-evolution, environmental issues and variations in morphology and behaviour. III. Discussion: The potential for transcending the dualism of nature and culture, both theoretically-and practically-speaking, and particularly in relation to the environmental question, is discussed, as is the possibility that museums can be(come) reflexive sub-political arenas for dialogues between politics, science and people.

Claims related to the environment increasingly permeate the domain of human and fundamental rights. It is widely accepted that a direct functional relationship exists between the pursuit of environmental aims generally, and the protection of environmental rights. By and large, this relation compelled 'the environment' to have become a prominent contemporary focus point in legal thought, discourse and adjudication. Since local government operates closer to citizens than any other level of government, it is obvious that it may be expected of it to also play an important role in the management and regulation of matters that affect the environment. In the main, this study questions the extent to which the South African legal framework facilitates local government progress in the decentralised fulfilment of the section 24 environmental right in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Firstly, this thesis provides a theoretical literature review of a number of approaches to, categories of and different perspectives on environmental rights in general. As part of this review a number of generic elements is identified for the fulfilment of constitutional environmental provisions, generally. The literature review attends also to the notions of local environmental governance and 'local politics of pollution', amongst other concepts related to local government. Secondly, this thesis (by employing the comparative research method and by using the generic elements for fulfilment of constitutional environmental provisions as benchmarks) critically considers the Constitution or Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany, 1949 (Grundgesety and relevant developments in Germany with reference to the European context and a local government case study on the municipality of Heidelberg. It considers also the Constitution of Namibia of 1990 and relevant developments in Namibia with reference to the African and Southern African contexts and a case study on the Walvis Bay municipality. The South African position is subsequently analysed, first with a focus on section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, environmental law and related developments, then shifting the focus to the constitutional provisions on local government, local government law, related developments and the case of the Drakenstein Local Municipality. Thirdly, based on the lessons learned from and lacunae identified in all three of the countries considered, this study concludes with a set of recommendations for the South African context. / Thesis (LL.D.) -- North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Claims related to the environment increasingly permeate the domain of human and fundamental rights. It is widely accepted that a direct functional relationship exists between the pursuit of environmental aims generally, and the protection of environmental rights. By and large, this relation compelled 'the environment' to have become a prominent contemporary focus point in legal thought, discourse and adjudication. Since local government operates closer to citizens than any other level of government, it is obvious that it may be expected of it to also play an important role in the management and regulation of matters that affect the environment. In the main, this study questions the extent to which the South African legal framework facilitates local government progress in the decentralised fulfilment of the section 24 environmental right in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Firstly, this thesis provides a theoretical literature review of a number of approaches to, categories of and different perspectives on environmental rights in general. As part of this review a number of generic elements is identified for the fulfilment of constitutional environmental provisions, generally. The literature review attends also to the notions of local environmental governance and 'local politics of pollution', amongst other concepts related to local government. Secondly, this thesis (by employing the comparative research method and by using the generic elements for fulfilment of constitutional environmental provisions as benchmarks) critically considers the Constitution or Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany, 1949 (Grundgesety and relevant developments in Germany with reference to the European context and a local government case study on the municipality of Heidelberg. It considers also the Constitution of Namibia of 1990 and relevant developments in Namibia with reference to the African and Southern African contexts and a case study on the Walvis Bay municipality. The South African position is subsequently analysed, first with a focus on section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, environmental law and related developments, then shifting the focus to the constitutional provisions on local government, local government law, related developments and the case of the Drakenstein Local Municipality. Thirdly, based on the lessons learned from and lacunae identified in all three of the countries considered, this study concludes with a set of recommendations for the South African context. / Thesis (LL.D.) -- North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-07T14:49:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3546022 bytes, checksum: 62eba556b7eb05431ac5a04d832b8bc4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-06-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This study was conducted between November 2011 and January 2012 and deals with the environmental perception of residents, fishermen, tourists and workers linked to tourism services in the city of Baía da Traição-PB; considering anthropocentric, ecocentric and apathy issues, related to different usages (and motivations) of reef environment, saving water and garbage disposal. Adopts perspectives linked to themes as management, development versus environmental preservation and education. Also describes the socioeconomic profile of each class. The main objective is to meet environmental perception of social actors involved and get grant for construction of a shared sustainable management plan. For this to realize, we interviewed 967 people randomly and 50.6% of them was male and 49.4% was female, during the high season (November 2011 to January 2012). The results show that the most representative class of individuals have between 21 and 30 years, with schooling corresponding to the high school and monthly income around 1 minimum wage. In all categories, most respondents said the coastal reefs from the city are important because they carry protection from high tides, but agree with tourism access to the environment. Residents and workers attend the reef environment for reasons such as sports and contemplation. In general, respondents think that environmental management should be a responsibility of all those who use the environment; declared conserve water in their household activities because they think it s better to future generations, but do not separate the waste produced at home mainly because there is no selective collection in where they live. Do not agree that tourism development is more important than the preservation of the environment, and almost unanimously consider environmental education as an important tool for environmental preservation and improving the quality of people s life. Residents and workers established an ecocentric relationship with the environment as fishermen and tourists are anthropocentric. The information obtained in this study provides indicatives that enable adoption of Public Policies, based on the construction of an environmental management plan which considers environmental resources usage in a sustainable manner and quality of life. / Este estudo foi realizado no período entre Novembro de 2011 e Janeiro de 2012 e trata da percepção ambiental de moradores, pescadores, turistas e trabalhadores vinculados aos serviços turísticos do Município de Baía da Traição PB; considerando questões de natureza antropocêntricas, ecocêntricas e de apatia, relacionadas a diferentes usos (e motivações) do ambiente recifal; economia de água e destino do lixo doméstico. Adota perspectivas ligadas ao tema como gestão, desenvolvimento versus preservação e educação ambiental, além de traçar o perfil socioeconômico de cada classe. Tem como principal objetivo conhecer a percepção ambiental dos atores sociais envolvidos e obter subsídio para construção de um plano de gestão sustentável e compartilhada. Para sua realização, foram entrevistadas 967 pessoas abordadas de forma aleatória sendo 50,6% masculino e 49,4% feminino, durante o período de alta estação (Novembro de 2011 a Janeiro de 2012). Os resultados obtidos revelam que a classe mais representadas dos indivíduos tem entre 21 e 30 anos, com instrução escolar correspondente ao nível médio e renda mensal em torno de 1 salário mínimo. Em todas as categorias a maioria dos entrevistados declararam que os recifes costeiros da cidade são importantes porque exercem proteção contra marés elevadas, mas concordam com o acesso turístico ao ambiente. Moradores e trabalhadores frequentam o ambiente recifal por motivos como: prática de esportes e contemplação. De forma geral, os entrevistados pensam que a gestão do ambiente deve ser de responsabilidade de todos os que utilizam o ambiente; declararam economizar água em suas atividades domésticas porque acham que é melhor para as gerações futuras, mas não separam o lixo produzido em casa principalmente porque não existe coleta seletiva no Município. Não concordam que o desenvolvimento turístico é mais importante que a preservação do ambiente, e de forma quase unânime, consideram a Educação Ambiental como uma ferramenta importante para a preservação ambiental e a melhoria da qualidade de vida das pessoas. Moradores e trabalhadores estabelecem uma relação ecocêntrica com o ambiente, enquanto pescadores e turistas mostraram-se antropocêntricos. As informações obtidas nesse estudo fornecem indicativos que possibilitam a adoção de políticas públicas baseadas na construção de um plano de gestão que considere o uso dos recursos ambientais de forma sustentável e a qualidade de vida da população.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:46:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Eugenia_Antunes_Dias_Dissertacao.pdf: 1199049 bytes, checksum: fa96405be1759a59bd958cfcb59b360d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-08-27 / Permanent Preservation Areas (APP s), specially in Brazil s coastal region, have been constantly occupied and degraded by anthropic activities which thrive on the hegemonic model built and consolidated trough a social-historic process that constitute the current relationship between Nature and human society an exteriorization of Nature and its submission to mostly economic interests the anthropocentric view of Nature. In its essence, the juridical field, including environmental law, is a form of softened anthropocentrism that contributes to the annihilation of other kinds of relationships between humans animals and Nature, among them the ecocentric view defended by the environmental movement. This qualitative study focused on unraveling and understanding the vision of Nature s privilege in the juridical practice of the Court of Justice of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (TJ/RS) based on the analysis of decisions and general manifestations of agents of the Judiciary Power when solving conflicts between commercial occupations in APP s and the local Executive Power at Laranjal Beach, Municipality of Pelotas, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. To exercise its obligation of fulfilling the fundamental right of an ecologically balanced natural environment, the local Executive Power, from 2001 onwards, initiated the process of administrative regularization of the area. This study revealed that the TJ/RS reverberated the anthropocentric view of Nature when pronouncing the custody of APP s and judging in contumacy of the protective law. The anthropocentric view of Nature is difficult to overcome, since its symbolic power and practical utility are strongly impregnated in contemporary societies. Despite the fact that the application of Environmental Law can secondarily protect Nature without the appraisal of utilitarian values, in practical terms the verified motivations reject this possibility. / Áreas de Preservação Permanente (APP s), sobretudo na Zona Costeira Brasileira, têm sido constantemente ocupadas e degradadas pela atividade antrópica, baseada no hegemônico modelo de relação da sociedade com a Natureza, construído e consolidado num processo histórico-social de exteriorização da mesma e de sua subjugação aos interesses, especialmente econômicos, dos animais humanos, consubstanciando a visão antropocêntrica de Natureza. O campo jurídico e o próprio Direito Ambiental, este notadamente nomeado pela luta do movimento ambiental, majoritariamente refletem o antropocentrismo amortecendo e, por vezes, aniquilando outras formas de relação dos animais humanos com a Natureza, como a visão ecocêntrica defendida pelo movimento ecológico. Esta pesquisa qualitativa objetivou desvelar e compreender a visão de Natureza privilegiada na prática jurídica do Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (TJ/RS). Tal objetivo foi perseguido através da análise de decisões e manifestações diversas dos agentes do Poder Judiciário, quando chamados a dirimir o conflito entre ocupações comerciais em APP s, no Balneário Laranjal, Município de Pelotas (RS), e o Poder Executivo local. Este, a partir de 2001, no exercício de seu poder-dever de efetivar o direito fundamental ao meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado, iniciou processo de regularização administrativa da área. O estudo demonstrou que o TJ/RS reverberou a visão antropocêntrica de Natureza quando do pronunciamento pela tutela das APP s, bem como nos casos em que julgou a revelia da legislação protetiva, posto que a força simbólica e a utilidade prática de tal visão estão dominantemente impregnadas nas sociedades contemporâneas e suas instituições, dificultando sua superação. Embora, secundariamente, através da aplicação do Direito Ambiental a Natureza não humana possa ser protegida sem fins utilitários, as motivações verificadas rejeitaram esta possibilidade que informa a visão de cunho ecocêntrico.

1 online resource (181 leaves) / This study relies on ecocriticism as the discipline benefitting the analysis of the imagery of nature in Konstantin Paustovsky’s prose. The objective of this approach is to demonstrate that Paustovsky’s prose goes beyond of what was expected from a Soviet writer by the socialist realist dogma. This thesis attempts to prove that an ecocritical approach validates his prose as being universal in its message and thus relevant to contemporary readers. Scholars of ecocriticism ask the following questions when analysing a nature-orientated prose: what values are expressed in nature-orientated literature, does the portrayal of nature reflects the cultural values of a nation as well as the way in which a person’s interaction with his natural environment enhances or hampers his spiritual development. The timeframe, within which Paustovsky wrote his prose, should be taken into account, because it coincides with the Lenin and Stalin regimes, when any criticism of the government including its nature conservation policies was impossible. The analysis of attitudes of the Russian people towards nature in Paustovksy’prose demonstrates that it evolved from the acceptance of the official stand to the one of criticism. This research resulted in the following conclusions: Firstly Paustovsky’s view with regard to ecological problems and his solutions to these problems are on par with those of modern ecologists. The writer, for example, proposes a holistic way to undertake nature conservation, such as replacing ruined forests by the same type of trees, not interfering in the cycles of nature and stresses the importance of scientific information on how to care of the natural environment. Secondly, it is through his presentation of nature that the author familiarises the reader with the essence of the Russian culture, which is totally intertwined with the manifestations of Russian nature, such as folklore, superstitions, cultural traditions and values attached to certain animals and trees Thirdly, it has been established that the ‘external’ natural landscape of a person namely his environment, undoubtedly influences his ‘internal landscape’, his psyche. This implies that the natural environment of a person will have an influence on his psychological make-up. It is assumed that this study, in particular the use of ecocriticism as a tool to analyse literature where nature plays a role, will shed new light on the role of nature in Russian prose. This is especially the case with regard to the way in which ecological issues such as nature conservation are treated. / Classics & World Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (Russian)

This thesis provides an analytical interpretation of the critique Dutch nineteenth-century statesman-cum-historian Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer (1801-1876) articulated of French revolutionary ideology. It achieves an original reading of Groen's thought as Protestant right-order theory. This reading achieves a clarification of the functions that Scripture, 'nature', and 'history' have in his thought, and connects his thinking to that of a small group of contemporary British-based political theologians, notably Oliver and Joan Lockwood O'Donovan, and their minority view on the ontological grounding of justice. Our comparison of Groen's argument of 'history' with that of Edmund Burke achieves original critical leverage on their concepts of 'history', and draws out that Burke's critique of the Revolution purposes to re-affirm English common law, while Groen's is an apologia for Christianity.