Even with all the knowledge and wisdom we can acquire, combined with the best of collective intentions, it will always be the case, that ultimately we have to balance what’s desirable with what’s possible. But what’s possible always proceeds us, like a carrot in front of our nose. Yet yesterday's dreams, could have been today’s reality... and perhaps todays dreams, can become real tomorrow. “Too often budget restrictions are used as the reason why good design is not possible, but the vernacular demonstrates over and over that fine, low-budget, small-scale design is possible if the designer [builder and inhabitant] cares.” [Wayne Attoe: The Architecture of Ricardo Legorreta] In this case, the project is a new rural family residence for a couple and their son, with an adjacent cottage for their aging parents. With a collective desire to design, build and live in the most ecologically responsible manner possible, the challenge is to integrate as many environmentally beneficial principles as logistics and budget constraints will allow. The result is a collaborative choreography of site, structure, materials selection, and sequence. The appropriate criteria by which a given structural system or material should be specified, is relative to the total system performance and longevity. Optimized performance is achieved through the correct interrelationship of elements, to maximize the greatest cumulative benefit. For example, the high embodied energy and pollution from the manufacture of extruded polystyrene [XPS] insulation is undesirable. However, because of its high R-value, moisture resistance, compressive strength, and dimensional stability, it is currently the best insulation available for below grade applications. Its use makes a living sod roof practical, which may have an enormous overall positive impact, but otherwise might not even be possible. "The most elegant design solutions... those that reduce complexity while solving multiple problems... won't be found by considering each item in isolation." [Alex Wilson and Nadav Malin: Environmental Building News, 10.95] In keeping with the principles and intentions cited earlier, the decision was made to build a [passive solar / straw bale and heavy timber / living roof] home. / Master of Architecture

Denna rapport undersöker logistiska utmaningar och möjligheter för att öka självförsörjningsgraden inom livsmedelsproduktionen i Norrbotten, Sverige. Norrbotten står inför svårigheter på grund av extrema klimat- och geografiska förhållanden, vilket påverkar tillgängligheten till varor och tjänster. Målet med studien var att föreslå åtgärder för att förbättra regionens logistiknätverk och öka självförsörjningsgraden. Genom en litteraturstudie och empirisk datainsamling från workshopen "Arctic Food Arena" analyseras självförsörjningsgraden och logistikutmaningarna i Norrbotten. Resultatet visade att ekonomiska utmaningar för lokala producenter och minskad primärproduktion är hinder för hållbarhet. En betydande minskning av mjölkinvägningen förutspås, vilket kan påverka både jordbruksnäringen och den regionala ekonomin. Dessutom minskar antalet mjölkkor dramatiskt, vilket är oroande för framtiden. Importen av livsmedel som inte kan produceras lokalt utgör en utmaning, men växthusodling har potential att täcka denna efterfrågan. Spannmålsodlingen har minskat betydligt, vilket ökar beroendet av import. Inom logistik och distribution är utsläpp av växthusgaser från mjölkproduktionen en oro, men närodlat är inte alltid den mest effektiva åtgärden för att minska utsläpp. Utmaningar inom paketering, lagring, orderhantering och ekonomi finns inom jordbrukssektorn. Trots möjligheten att outsourca vissa aktiviteter väljer de flesta producenter att behålla kontrollen över processen för att minska kostnader och bibehålla kvalitet. Ekonomiska incitament är avgörande för både jordbrukare och konsumenter, eftersom deras val påverkar konkurrensen inom den regionala jord- och lantbrukssektorn. För att effektivt hantera säsongsbetonade produkter och minska förluster föreslås optimering av lagringskapaciteten genom investeringar i kyl- och fryslager samt användning av externa logistiklösningar. Ökad självförsörjning är en del av ekvationen, men ensam räcker den inte för att minska klimatpåverkan. Det krävs en klimatvänligare produktionsprocess, där en starkt klimatmedveten strategi och investeringar för att minska utsläppen och optimera resursanvändningen på lång sikt. / This thesis analyzes challenges and opportunities connected to logistics to increase self-sufficiency in food production in Norrbotten, Sweden. The northern location and extreme climate contribute to different challenges and difficulties for transportation and production. The aim of this study was to propose actions to improve logistics and self-sufficiency in the region. By a literature review and data collection from the workshop “Arctic Food Arena,” the analysis of the degree of self-sufficiency was made. The results showed challenges in profitability for local producers, and a decrease in primary production was a major issue for sustainability. A continuous decrease in dairy cows and milk production is to be reckoned with in the future, which can affect the regional economy. Another challenge is that due to the cold climate, some food can't be produced locally. Greenhouse farming has proved to be a good alternative in this matter. The grain cultivation has seen a large reduction, which has increased the dependence on imported goods. In logistics and distribution, greenhouse gas emissions from milk production are a big concern, but locally produced food is not necessarily the most effective way to reduce emissions. Packaging, storage, order processing, and finance are other areas where challenges occur. Most producers choose to maintain control by themselves instead of outsourcing these tasks to a third party, even though they are time-consuming and not performed very well. Economic incentives are crucial for both farmers and consumers, as their choices impact competition within the regional agriculture sector. To effectively manage seasonal products and reduce losses, optimizing storage capacity through investments in refrigeration facilities and the utilization of external logistics solutions is proposed. Increased self-sufficiency is part of the equation, but it alone is insufficient to reduce climate impact. A more climate-friendly production process is necessary, involving a strongly climate-conscious strategy and investments to decrease emissions and optimize resource utilization in the long term.

This research, with the main focus on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, was based on data from the literature, and on questionnaire and interview surveys with the main stakeholders: authorities, drug-developers and NGOs/foundations. It revealed the following determinants, which contributed to the occurrence of drug pricing conflicts in Brazil, Thailand and South Africa: governmental constitutional commitments to supply medicines to poor people, the existence of a local pharmaceutical industry capable of producing generic versions of patented medicines and long histories of disease treatment programmes. The research documented the preferred approaches to increase global access to life-saving medicines for the next decade, which were found to be: public-private-partnerships, prevention measures, dedication of >0.5% of GNP to poor countries, and improvement of national healthcare/insurance systems. Those approaches were integrated into a conceptual framework, which could enable country-level organizations to move beyond the conflict mentality via a 'Public-Private-Partnership for gradual Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability Model,' (P3S3). Within this framework, rich countries should invest >0.5% of their GNP to help to alleviate poverty in poor countries. With these funds, national governments should implement programmes to expand implementation of disease prevention measures and improve national - 4 - healthcare/insurance systems and the quality of the medicines involved. Public-private-partnerships should act as 'steering-and-controlling' organizations to guide the process and to minimise corruption. As a positive message to all who currently lack access to these medicines, the thesis author's conclusion is that the use of this model could help to turn the current unsustainable development policies into sustainable ones, and as a consequence, it would contribute to improvements in the quality of life of millions of people in poor countries.

Les systèmes d’élevages laitiers herbagers montagnards sont d’autant plus sensibles aux changements de contraintes de production (types de fourrages et niveaux d’aliments concentrés autorisés dans les cahiers des charges AOP par exemple) et aux aléas climatiques que le milieu est contraignant et que le système fourrager repose sur l’utilisation exclusive de prairies permanentes. Une meilleure adéquation entre les dynamiques de besoins des animaux et d’offre herbagère permettrait à ces systèmes d’atteindre un meilleur degré d’autonomie fourragère et alimentaire, et d’être ainsi plus robustes face aux changements. Pour explorer des stratégies contrastées de conduite et comprendre les compromis qu’il est possible d’atteindre entre niveau de production, autonomie fourragère et utilisation durable des prairies, un modèle de simulation déterministe à l’échelle de l’exploitation a été construit, nommé Dynamilk. Ce modèle simule les interrelations entre le troupeau laitier, les ressources alimentaires et herbagères et la conduite du système. Dynamilk est composé de deux sous-modèles biotechniques avec, d’une part, le parcellaire comportant un module de croissance de l’herbe prenant en compte la diversité botanique des prairies, et d’autre part, le troupeau laitier. Un modèle de structure démographique du troupeau simule les différentes catégories d’animaux selon leur âge et leur stade physiologique, et, un modèle dynamique simule l’ingestion et la production pour chaque catégorie d’animaux. La production laitière résulte des besoins énergétiques, de l’énergie offerte par la ration et de la capacité des animaux à mobiliser ou reconstituer leurs réserves corporelles. Le modèle de conduite est composé des éléments stratégiques définissant les objectifs de production et les règles de pilotage des principales pratiques (constitution et gestion des fourrages, alimentation et pâturage du troupeau). Le modèle animal et le modèle global ont été validés sur des données expérimentales ou de référentiels de fonctionnement d’exploitations. Ces deux modèles présentent des résultats et un fonctionnement cohérent. Dynamilk a permis de tester deux systèmes contrastés selon leur dynamique annuelle de production (période des vêlages « groupés de septembre à février » (GA) vs « groupés de mars à mai » (GP)) à chargement (0,94 UGB/ha) et apports de concentrés (1 200 kg/VL/an) identiques. Dans un plan d’expérience virtuel, chaque système a été simulé sur deux séries climatiques, une sans aléa climatique (1993-1999) et l’autre avec (2005-2011), avec une augmentation du chargement et une diminution des apports de concentrés. Les résultats de simulation montrent qu’à faible chargement les deux systèmes sont autonomes pour les fourrages et sous-utilisent les ressources herbagères au pâturage. L’augmentation du chargement améliore l’utilisation de l’herbe pâturée sans pénaliser les performances laitières, mais réduit l’autonomie en fourrages récoltés. Diminuer les apports de concentrés améliore également l’utilisation de l’herbe, mais réduit la production laitière. La production laitière du système GA est plus sensible que celle du système GP à la qualité des fourrages récoltés qui varie selon les années climatiques. Ainsi le système GP, grâce à plus d’utilisation de l’herbe pâturée, serait moins sensible aux aléas. Dynamilk permet d’analyser la réponse de systèmes laitiers herbagers sur des séries climatiques longues et de tester pas à pas des modifications de structure et de pilotage du système dans une démarche de conception de systèmes ex ante. / Dairy systems based on grasslands are sensitive towards environmental variations (climatic events) and production constraints changes. A better match between dynamic of dairy cattle needs and herbage supply could enable the farming system to lean towards a better forage self-sufficiency at farm-scale and to be more resilient to changes. Modeling approach is used to study, over many years, several scenarios with contrasted strategies of biotechnical subsystems management in order to test different calving distributions, cattle and grasslands characteristics, or practices on pastures and meadows. Such a dynamic model, called Dynamilk, has been created and implemented. Dynamilk is focused on relationships among dairy cattle, management and resources. This model is based on a bio-technical approach focused on grassland use by animals. Grassland sub model which consists in biodiversity characteristics and grass growth components has been developed by Jouven (2006). Dairy cattle sub model consists in 2 units: demographic structure unit and intake, milk production and body reserve use unit. This model considers calving period and distribution, dairy cattle characteristics (ability of animals to produce milk and use its body reserve) in order to test the match between animal needs and feed supply. Milk production according to herbage and feed supply is the main output of Dynamilk. Decisional sub-system describe the main practices to rule the production system which are forage system management with mowing practices, forage stores, winter diet, concentrate distribution and grazing management. Validation of dairy cattle sub model and whole model has been carried out by comparison against experimental data and case-study data of real farms. Two systems has been simulated with Dynamilk, the first one based on calving distribution from august to february, called GA, and the second one from march to june, called GP (stocking rate 0.94 LU.ha-1 and concentrate amount 1200 kg.cow-1.year-1). Simulation results have pointed out that both system achieved forage self-sufficiency and grass offer is underused. Several simulations has been accomplished to evaluate impacts of stocking rate increase and concentrate decrease on animal production, herbage utilisation and forage self-suficiency rate. The simulation have indicated that matching animal needs with feed and herbage supply to better cope with climatic events and constraints changes.

Les exploitations mixtes d'agriculture-élevage sont le pilier des systèmes agricoles des pays en développement. Dans les hauts plateaux de Madagascar, les exploitations familiales d'agriculture-élevage sont basées sur l'association riz et élevage bovin. Les bovins ont un rôle central dans l'économie et la reconnaissance sociale de ces exploitations malgaches. Cependant ces exploitations sont souvent confrontées à des problèmes de faibles productivités liés à la dégradation de la fertilité des sols et à un accès limité aux intrants. Dans ce contexte, les exploitants doivent gérer les ressources végétales pour trouver un compromis entre alimentation humaine, alimentation animale et retours aux sols. Certaines pratiques de gestion des biomasses peuvent aggraver les phénomènes de dégradation de la fertilité des sols et remettre alors en cause la durabilité des exploitations. L'objectif de cette thèse est de montrer que la diversité des pratiques de gestion des biomasses au sein des exploitations familiales d'agriculture-élevage des hauts plateaux de Madagascar conditionne la durabilité des systèmes en termes de fertilité des sols, de recyclage des éléments nutritifs, de revenus et de sécurité alimentaire. Pour cela, il a été nécessaire de : i) caractériser au préalable la diversité des exploitations familiales d'agriculture-élevage du Vakinankaratra et de comprendre le fonctionnement de ces exploitations mixtes ; ii) étudier les effets des pratiques de gestion des parcelles sur la variabilité de la fertilité des sols des exploitations ; iii) évaluer la durabilité des exploitations d'agriculture-élevage et tester l'impact d'améliorations des pratiques d'alimentation animale, de gestion des effluents et de fertilisation sur la durabilité des exploitation. Quatre exploitations d'agriculture-élevage du Vakinankaratra, sélectionnées à dires d'experts, ont été enquêtées par immersion. Une étude typologique des exploitations d'agriculture-élevage du Vakinankaratra a été effectuée. Des prélèvements de sol ont été effectués pour l'ensemble des parcelles des quatre exploitations d'agriculture-élevage étudiées. Un outil de calcul des flux d'azote au sein des exploitations a été élaboré, puis a été associé aux matrices du Network Analysis afin de générer des indicateurs environnementaux, sociaux et économiques. Cet outil a été utilisé pour simuler les options d'améliorations des pratiques d'alimentation animale, de gestion des effluents et de fertilisation.L'étude typologique a identifié six types d'exploitations d'agriculture-élevage au Vakinankaratra. L'étude du fonctionnement des exploitations sélectionnées a mis en évidence d'une grande diversité des pratiques d'alimentation des animaux, de gestion des effluents d'élevage et de fertilisation. Une hétérogénéité de la fertilité des sols induite par les pratiques de gestion des parcelles a été révélée. Pour les quatre exploitations étudiées, l'amélioration des pratiques d'alimentation du troupeau bovin laitier associée à l'amélioration des pratiques de gestion des effluents d'élevage a permis d'améliorer la durabilité environnementale (efficience azotée globale, recyclage de l'azote, bilan azoté du sol), économique (marge brute agricole) et sociale (autosuffisance alimentaire).Ce travail a permis de caractériser la diversité des exploitations d'agriculture-élevage du Vakinankaratra, la diversité des pratiques et leurs effets sur la fertilité du/des sol. Cette étude s'est avérée être une approche intéressante pour évaluer des options d'amélioration de la durabilité des exploitations d'agriculture-élevage dans un contexte peu documenté. / Mixed crop-livestock systems constitute the backbone of agriculture in developing countries. In highlands of Madagascar, crop–livestock systems are based on rice and cattle. Cattle play a major role in the economy and the social recognition of these smallholder farms. Smallholder farms used to face with low crop productivity related to soil fertility degradation and to low access to inputs. In this context, smallholders have to manage plant resources in order to find a trade-off between food, feed and soil returns. Some biomass management may increase soil fertility degradation and then compromise farms sustainability.The objective of this thesis is to show that the diversity of biomass management on smallholder crop–livestock systems of highlands of Madagascar determines the sustainability of farming systems in terms of soil fertility, nutrients recycling, incomes and food security. For this, it was necessary to: i) characterize the diversity of crop-livestock systems in the region of Vakinankaratra and understand how smallholder farms are managed; ii) study the effects of soil management on the soil variability; iii) assess the farms sustainability and explore improvements of feeding, manure management and fertilization.Four crop-livestock farms of the Vakinankaratra (selected with local experts) were surveyed using participant observation methodology. A typology of crop-livestock farms was performed. Topsoil samples were collected in all plots of the four cases studies. A nitrogen flows calculating tool was developed and has been associated with Network Analysis matrices to generate environmental, social and economic indicators. This tool was used to simulate improvements in feeding, manure management and fertilization.The typology identified six farm types of crop-livestock systems in the Vakinankaratra. The farms study revealed a great diversity of animal feeding practices, manure management and fertilization. Heterogeneity of soil fertility induced by farmer management was shown. For the four case studies, improved feeding practices on dairy combined with improved manure management have increased environmental (farm nitrogen efficiency, nitrogen recycling, soil nitrogen balance), economic (agricultural gross margin) and social (food self-sufficiency) sustainability.This study characterized the diversity of crop-livestock farms of the Vakinankaratra, the diversity of practices and their effects on soil fertility. It proved to be an interesting approach to explore options for improving sustainability of crop-livestock farms in context of data scarcity.

The present thesis focuses on the use of community interpreting in public services, with particular focus on Labour Offices. It builds upon the project Development of Labour Office counselling for foreigners carried out by the Fund of Further Education between November 2013 and November 2015. Pilot testing of community interpreting at selected branch offices of the Labour Office of the Czech Republic took place in the framework of the project. The theoretical part presents a brief overview of community interpreting and the specifics of its use in communication with public authorities. Then follows a panorama of the situation of community interpreting in selected countries of the European Union. The aim of this panorama is to describe how Labour Offices in these states work with people with limited knowledge of the country's official language. The empirical part analyses outcomes of in-depth interviews with Labour Office employees carried out for the purpose of a project evaluation study. Apart from that, we analyse outcomes of a survey conducted among interpreters who took part in the project. The results of both analyses helped create a comprehensive overview of the project. Finally, based on our findings, we suggested a set of good practice recommendations that could improve efficiency of...

This thesis deals with the European Union's food self-sufficiency. The aim is to try to assess the impact of EU agricultural policies on food sovereignty of Member States and countries outside the EU. The work will evaluate the production of food self-sufficiency in the European Union and the EU for different types of production. The work will assess the impacts of agricultural policies on the Union's agricultural production and international trade. International trade can be used to ensure self-sufficiency, so it is also included in the work. The work will also focus on the restrictions under the WTO and trade between the EU and the rest of the world. In addition to assessing the impact of the policies the work will also deal with future developments.

The thesis is focused on the service of the social therapeutic workshop as one of the possible support for the integration of persons with intellectual disabilities into the normal life. In the first part of my thesis I summarize the theoretical knowledge regarding characteristics of mental disability. The next chapter deals with the integration of people with mental disabilities, their needs and rights, including the possible disadvantages in some spheres of everyday life. Followed by defining services to socialy therapeutic workshops. At the conclusion of the theoretical part is devoted to the support of individual areas. The aim of the empirical section is to characterize the role of social therapeutic workshops in the integration of people with mental disabilities into the normal life. From the results obtained it follows that the socially therapeutic workshops may have for the user a positive contribution in the various areas of their life and this also could theoretically lead to easier integration into the life of ordinary society. However this benefit is highly dependent on the individual abilities of each individual and also depends on the degree and depth of thein disability. Some users therefore can achieve optimal levels of autonomy and improve their social as well as professional application....

The purpose of this research project was to determine an appropriate intervention to assist in bringing transformation to the poverty-stricken community of Langa, Cape Town, South Africa. Intense poverty is a fact of life for almost 3 billion people in the world, a figure which includes approximately 50 per cent of the South African population. The Bible gives clear instruction mandating care for ‘the poor’. Therefore, those claiming to follow the teaching of Scripture must make poverty alleviation a priority. Phambili ngeThemba began as an intervention in the Langa Township community to discover ways to engage with issues around poverty. Research facilitated by Learn to Earn, a non-profit organization offering skills training and job creation, was done to understand if individual and community development was necessary and, if so, how it could be structured as a method to alleviate poverty in the Langa Community. Both quantitative and qualitative research was undertaken. Through random proportionate sampling in a thorough needs analysis of the businesses in and around Langa, the ideal character qualities desired by local business for the workforce were elicited. These were traits that could be developed in unemployed people. Use of basic questionnaires and oral feedback by three selected focus groups comprised of Langa residents enabled evaluation of local human service resources and identification of the felt needs in the community. The Priority Index (P-Index) research technique distinguished between the actual needs of the community and their perceived needs or wants. The results became the training foundation for the Zanokhanyo Training and Resource Centre, providing holistic development for the unemployed to equip them for placement in the workforce. Copyright / Dissertation (MA(Theol))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

The aim of this diploma thesis is a detailed analysis of tax incomes of municipalities and regions with focus on four particular municipalities and one region in a practical part. From the year 2001 to 2015 the share of tax incomes and their development are evaluated as a part of total incomes. The theme is highly topical due to ongoing discussions among lawmakers on the subject of budgetary allocation of taxes. The law determining the budgetary allocation of taxes is modified frequently, that is why knowing the impact of changes on particular municipalities or regions is helpful. This knowledge can be useful base for planning new adjustments of budgetary allocation of taxes. In the theoretical part there are mentioned expert opinions on financial management of municipalities and regions that arise from their functions and positions. The emphasis is put on incomes of municipalities and regions, especially on tax incomes. Particular changes from 2001 to 2015 in law regulating budgetary allocation of taxes are described here with their impacts on municipalities and regions. Incomes and management of selected municipalities representing various size categories and Liberec region are analysed in the practical part. Financial self-sufficiency is evaluated here. In general municipalities are more financial self-sufficient than regions. This thesis is further dealing with individual tax incomes and impacts of changes in budgetary allocation of taxes on their size. Making models of theoretical incomes is used to simulate effects of diverse law adjustments. Results of the analysis show that tax incomes of municipalities and regions are generally increasing. During the observed period there was tendency to lower the growth of tax incomes of large cities, to increase the growth of tax incomes of small municipalities and to straighten the level of tax incomes of medium municipalities thanks to changes in budgetary allocation of taxes. Tax incomes of regions were increased thanks to changes in budgetary allocation of taxes despite of partial decrease in particular segments of tax incomes after 2012.