Detta självständiga arbete undersöker stridstekniska obemannade luftfarkostsystem (SUAV) och potentiella tekniska system som är motverkande mot obemannade luftfarkoster (CUAS). Nyttjandet av stridstekniska obemannade luftfarkostsystem har ökat kraftigt och har observerats i både Syrien och Ukraina. I den ryska armén har de sett framgångsrik användning i samverkan med befintliga artillerisystem. Syftet med detta självständiga arbete är att analysera och förstå de effekter som tekniken har på militära operationer. I detta arbete används det militärtekniska konceptet ’militär nytta’ Andersson m.fl. (2015) i kombination med Johnsonkriteriet som används för att beräkna räckvidden på infraröda sensorer. Tillsammans med användningen av systemanalys och scenariobaserade metoder, har stridstekniska obemannade luftfarkostsystem och tekniska system som är motverkande mot obemannade luftfarkoster värderats med konceptet militär nytta. Slutsatserna från detta arbete visar att stridstekniska obemannade luftfarkostsystem har en god militär nytta då de används mot en motoriserad skyttebataljon (militär aktör), i förberedelsefasen av en fördröjningsstrid (kontext). Vid värderingen av de två tekniska systemalternativen som motverkar obemannade luftfarkoster; eldvapensystem och robotsystem, har bärbara luftvärnsrobotsystem bedömts ha en bättre militär nytta än automatkanonsystem på grund av dess möjliga användning i avsuttna operationer. / This independent project studies Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and potential Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems. The usage of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems has grown rapidly and has seen use in warfare in both Syria and Ukraine. In the Russian armed forces, they have seen successful use when used in combination with legacy artillery systems. The purpose of this independent project is to analyse and understand the effects that technology has on military operations. In this project, a military-technology concept called ‘military utility’ Andersson et al. (2015) is used in combination with the Johnson criteria which is used to calculate infrared sensor range. Together with the use of systems analysis and scenario-based methods, Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and two identified Counter Unmanned Aerial System alternatives have been assessed with the military utility concept. The conclusions of this independent project show that Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have a good degree of military utility when used against a motorized infantry battalion (military actor), in the preparatory phase of a delay operation (context). When assessing the two Counter Unmanned Aerial System alternatives; gun-based systems and missile air defence systems, man-portable air-defence systems have, because of their possible use in dismounted operations, been considered to have a greater military utility in comparison to autocannon systems.

As Unidades de Conservação (UCs) urbanas vêm sendo pressionadas e ameaçadas por atividades antrópicas, resultando em novos desafios de gestão e governança. Desse modo, buscou-se analisar os procedimentos utilizados para mitigação das principais pressões e ameaças em UCs urbanas e identificar as principais variáveis que interferem no alcance dos seus objetivos. Para tanto, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com as equipes de gestão de UCs urbanas nacionais (Parques Estaduais do Jaraguá e Cantareira, Estações Ecológicas de Ribeirão Preto e Assis) e internacionais (Sítios Natura 2000 Lendspitz-Maiernigg, Sonian Forest e Parque Nacional Zuid-Kennemerland), onde foram avaliadas as principais pressões e ameaças enfrentadas por essas áreas, bem como as ações de conservação que vem sendo adotadas. As entrevistas foram direcionadas por questões adaptadas da Metodologia RAPPAM (Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management) e para a análise dos dados foi utilizada a técnica Análise de Conteúdo. Além das entrevistas, foram analisadas as orientações e melhores práticas propostas pela IUCN (União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza), instituição reconhecida internacionalmente por propor recomendações relevantes para áreas protegidas mundiais. Os resultados indicam uma série de pressões e ameaças comuns aos sete casos de estudos (e.g. desenvolvimento urbano do entorno; estradas e rodovias), bem como pressões e ameaças que ocorrem somente nos casos de estudos nacionais (e.g. incêndios florestais e ocupações ilegais;) e internacionais (transmissão de doenças entre animais silvestres). Também observou-se que todas as equipes de gestão buscaram implementar procedimentos para mitigação em seus territórios, tais como ações de: proteção (e.g. fiscalização e monitoramento); manejo (e.g. controle de espécies exóticas invasoras); operacionalização (e.g. articulação com diferentes instituições); integração (e.g. sensibilização ambiental); uso público (e.g. atividades turísticas de baixo impacto ambiental); e conhecimento (e.g. promoção de pesquisas científicas). As principais variáveis que prejudicam o cumprimento dos seus objetivos são: recursos humanos e financeiros insuficientes, baixa transparência e participação social nos processos de tomada de decisão. Observa-se que a IUCN propõem cinco princípios para uma boa governança (i.e. legitimidade e voz; direção; desempenho; responsabilidade e equidade e direitos) e diversas práticas para uma gestão adequada (e.g. promover uma gestão dinâmica, ativa e planejada, seguindo concepções racionais, adaptativas e participativas). Desse modo, conclui-se que os responsáveis pelas UCs urbanas devem promover o empoderamento dos conselhos, para que estes funcionem adequadamente como fóruns de discussão e participação, bem como devem integrar essas áreas com seus territórios, através de legislações e diretrizes específicas. A adoção de práticas de governança e gestão adequadas, exequíveis, dinâmicas e participativas em UCs urbanas, são fundamentais para a manutenção de ecossistemas saudáveis, os quais formam a espinha dorsal de um futuro mais sustentável. Além disso, para o cumprimento das propostas discutidas, entende-se como imprescindível que as autoridades governamentais incorporem em suas legislações a definição de UCs urbanas, reconhecendo a sua importância e garantindo com que estas áreas recebam maiores atenções / Urban protected areas (PAs) have been under pressure and threatened by anthropic activities, resulting in new management and governance challenges.Thus, we aimed to analyze the procedures used to mitigate the main pressures and threats in urban PAs and to identify the main variables that interfere with the achievement of their objectives. Therefore, we did semi-structured interviews with the management staff of national (State Parks Jaraguá and Cantareira and Ecological Stations of Ribeirão Preto and Assis) and international urban PAs (Natura 2000 Sites Lendspitz-Maiernigg, Sonian Forest and National Park Zuid-Kennemerland). We evaluated, together with their staff, the main pressures and threats faced by the PAs, as well as we analyzed the conservation actions they adopted. The interviews were directed by questions adapted from the Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management (RAPPAM) Methodology, and to analyze the data we used the Content Analysis technique. In addition to the interviews, we analyzed the guidelines for best practices proposed by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), an internationally recognized institution for proposing relevant recommendations to global protected areas. The results indicate a series of pressures and threats common to the seven PAs (e.g. urban development and establishment of roads and highways), as well as pressures and threats found only in the national PAs (e.g. forest fires and illegal occupations) and in the international PAs (e.g. transmission of diseases between wild animals). It was also noted that all case studies adopted six types of conservation actions, such as: protection (e.g. surveillance and monitoring); management (e.g. control of invasive alien species); operationalization (e.g. articulation with different institutions); integration (e.g. environmental awareness); public use (e.g. promotion of tourism and recreational activities of low environmental impact); and knowledge (e.g. promotion of scientific research). The main variables that undermine the fulfillment of urban PAs objectives are insufficient human and financial resources, low transparency and social participation in decision-making processes. We observed that IUCN proposes five principles for good governance (i.e. legitimacy and voice, direction, performance, accountability, equity and rights) and various practices for appropriate management (e.g. promote a dynamic, active and planned management, following rational, adaptive and participative conceptions). Thus, we concluded that those responsible for urban PAs should promote the empowerment of their councils, so that they function properly as discussion forums, as well as must integrate these areas with their territories, through specific legislation. The adoption of appropriate, feasible, dynamic and participatory governance and management practices in urban PAs are fundamental to the maintenance of healthy ecosystems, which form the backbone of a more sustainable future. In addition, to achieve the proposals discussed, it is essential that government authorities incorporate into their legislation the definition of urban PAs, recognizing their importance and ensuring that these areas receive greater attention

As Unidades de Conservação (UCs) urbanas vêm sendo pressionadas e ameaçadas por atividades antrópicas, resultando em novos desafios de gestão e governança. Desse modo, buscou-se analisar os procedimentos utilizados para mitigação das principais pressões e ameaças em UCs urbanas e identificar as principais variáveis que interferem no alcance dos seus objetivos. Para tanto, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com as equipes de gestão de UCs urbanas nacionais (Parques Estaduais do Jaraguá e Cantareira, Estações Ecológicas de Ribeirão Preto e Assis) e internacionais (Sítios Natura 2000 Lendspitz-Maiernigg, Sonian Forest e Parque Nacional Zuid-Kennemerland), onde foram avaliadas as principais pressões e ameaças enfrentadas por essas áreas, bem como as ações de conservação que vem sendo adotadas. As entrevistas foram direcionadas por questões adaptadas da Metodologia RAPPAM (Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management) e para a análise dos dados foi utilizada a técnica Análise de Conteúdo. Além das entrevistas, foram analisadas as orientações e melhores práticas propostas pela IUCN (União Internacional para a Conservação da Natureza), instituição reconhecida internacionalmente por propor recomendações relevantes para áreas protegidas mundiais. Os resultados indicam uma série de pressões e ameaças comuns aos sete casos de estudos (e.g. desenvolvimento urbano do entorno; estradas e rodovias), bem como pressões e ameaças que ocorrem somente nos casos de estudos nacionais (e.g. incêndios florestais e ocupações ilegais;) e internacionais (transmissão de doenças entre animais silvestres). Também observou-se que todas as equipes de gestão buscaram implementar procedimentos para mitigação em seus territórios, tais como ações de: proteção (e.g. fiscalização e monitoramento); manejo (e.g. controle de espécies exóticas invasoras); operacionalização (e.g. articulação com diferentes instituições); integração (e.g. sensibilização ambiental); uso público (e.g. atividades turísticas de baixo impacto ambiental); e conhecimento (e.g. promoção de pesquisas científicas). As principais variáveis que prejudicam o cumprimento dos seus objetivos são: recursos humanos e financeiros insuficientes, baixa transparência e participação social nos processos de tomada de decisão. Observa-se que a IUCN propõem cinco princípios para uma boa governança (i.e. legitimidade e voz; direção; desempenho; responsabilidade e equidade e direitos) e diversas práticas para uma gestão adequada (e.g. promover uma gestão dinâmica, ativa e planejada, seguindo concepções racionais, adaptativas e participativas). Desse modo, conclui-se que os responsáveis pelas UCs urbanas devem promover o empoderamento dos conselhos, para que estes funcionem adequadamente como fóruns de discussão e participação, bem como devem integrar essas áreas com seus territórios, através de legislações e diretrizes específicas. A adoção de práticas de governança e gestão adequadas, exequíveis, dinâmicas e participativas em UCs urbanas, são fundamentais para a manutenção de ecossistemas saudáveis, os quais formam a espinha dorsal de um futuro mais sustentável. Além disso, para o cumprimento das propostas discutidas, entende-se como imprescindível que as autoridades governamentais incorporem em suas legislações a definição de UCs urbanas, reconhecendo a sua importância e garantindo com que estas áreas recebam maiores atenções / Urban protected areas (PAs) have been under pressure and threatened by anthropic activities, resulting in new management and governance challenges.Thus, we aimed to analyze the procedures used to mitigate the main pressures and threats in urban PAs and to identify the main variables that interfere with the achievement of their objectives. Therefore, we did semi-structured interviews with the management staff of national (State Parks Jaraguá and Cantareira and Ecological Stations of Ribeirão Preto and Assis) and international urban PAs (Natura 2000 Sites Lendspitz-Maiernigg, Sonian Forest and National Park Zuid-Kennemerland). We evaluated, together with their staff, the main pressures and threats faced by the PAs, as well as we analyzed the conservation actions they adopted. The interviews were directed by questions adapted from the Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Area Management (RAPPAM) Methodology, and to analyze the data we used the Content Analysis technique. In addition to the interviews, we analyzed the guidelines for best practices proposed by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), an internationally recognized institution for proposing relevant recommendations to global protected areas. The results indicate a series of pressures and threats common to the seven PAs (e.g. urban development and establishment of roads and highways), as well as pressures and threats found only in the national PAs (e.g. forest fires and illegal occupations) and in the international PAs (e.g. transmission of diseases between wild animals). It was also noted that all case studies adopted six types of conservation actions, such as: protection (e.g. surveillance and monitoring); management (e.g. control of invasive alien species); operationalization (e.g. articulation with different institutions); integration (e.g. environmental awareness); public use (e.g. promotion of tourism and recreational activities of low environmental impact); and knowledge (e.g. promotion of scientific research). The main variables that undermine the fulfillment of urban PAs objectives are insufficient human and financial resources, low transparency and social participation in decision-making processes. We observed that IUCN proposes five principles for good governance (i.e. legitimacy and voice, direction, performance, accountability, equity and rights) and various practices for appropriate management (e.g. promote a dynamic, active and planned management, following rational, adaptive and participative conceptions). Thus, we concluded that those responsible for urban PAs should promote the empowerment of their councils, so that they function properly as discussion forums, as well as must integrate these areas with their territories, through specific legislation. The adoption of appropriate, feasible, dynamic and participatory governance and management practices in urban PAs are fundamental to the maintenance of healthy ecosystems, which form the backbone of a more sustainable future. In addition, to achieve the proposals discussed, it is essential that government authorities incorporate into their legislation the definition of urban PAs, recognizing their importance and ensuring that these areas receive greater attention

Video gaming has always been a blooming industry. With the emergence of online multi- player video games , this industry’s worth have sky rocketed. Online multiplayer video games store data of player’s credentials, in-game progress, in-game virtual assets and payment details etc. Which mean security threats to these systems are nothing new and securing these games have always meant to protect player’s data from unauthorized breach. Integration of Blockchain technology in online multiplayer video games apart from other amazing features, provides a way to prove digital ownership of virtual assets with their verifiable scarcity. Trade of these in-game virtual assets have always been a goal for online multiplayer gaming companies, but there was none enough trust-able infrastructure available which can be relied on. Blockchain just solved that problem. It provided a platform for these asset’s secure and transparent transaction between players. Topic for our research not only consider the security challenges in online games but specifi- cally blockchain based online multiplayer games. This adaptation is still new and there is need of consideration of new security challenges. In this dissertation we try to bring out some important challenges related to security of blockchain based online multiplayer video games. There are currently no studies around security concerns and challenges of the integration of the online multiplayer video games in the emerging blockchain systems. In order to fill in the gap, this dissertation discusses and identifies two main security concerning questions related to this domain. Also this dissertation provides basic steps for expanding future research and application in this joint domain.

Alla människor vill gå till arbetet utan att känna oro och ängslan samt kunna gå hem från arbetet med en positiv känsla i kroppen. Vissa människor går till arbetet med en klump i magen och kommer hem med minnen om en skrämmande och hotfull situation som uppstod under dagen. Dagens lärare utsätts för kränkningar, hot och våld i sitt yrkesutövande något som är en direkt påverkan på deras person och arbetsmiljö. Nummer tre av de åtta folkhälsopolitiska målsättningarna tar bland annat upp ökad hälsa i arbetslivet, något som vissa lärare möjligtvis går miste om. Syftet med studien var att undersöka i vilken omfattning högstadielärare utsätts för, kränkningar, hot och våld och om detta hade ett samband med sjukskrivningar hos lärare. Kvantitativa data samlades in via enkäter ställda till lärare för högstadieelever i klass 7–9. Data analyserades både deskriptivt och analytiskt för att kunna besvara frågeställningarna i syftet. Ur resultaten framkom att majoriteten av respondenterna utsatts för kränkningar hot och/eller våld samt att nästan hälften av respondenterna uppfattar att elevers bemötande påverkar dem negativt samt att elevers beteende var bättre förr. Lärares utsatthet för kränkningar, hot och våld kunde dock inte kopplas till sjukskrivning. Slutsatsen är att lärare är en utsatt yrkesgrupp som behöver få stöd inom sin yrkesroll och erbjudas funktionella verktyg för att kunna utföra sitt yrke, förslagsvis med Krav- kontroll-stödmodellen, samt att skolan som arena behöver ses över och göras säkrare. / Everyone wishes to be able to go to work without anxiety and to being able to leave work with a positive feeling. Some people go to work feeling troubled and return to their homes with memories of a frightening and threatening situation that arose during the day. Teachers are subjected to violations, threats and violence in their occupation, which affects them both personally and within their work environment. Number three of the eight Public Health policy objectives include, among other things, increased health at work something that some teachers may miss out on. The purpose of the study was to investigate the extent to which high school teachers are exposed, violations, threats and violence and whether this had any connection with teacher’s sick leave. Quantitative data were collected through surveys that were filled in by teachers in 7th and 9th grade at primary-schools. Analysis regarding both descriptive and analytic forms were presented to answer the questions included in the studies aim. The results showed that the majority of respondents were subjected to violations, threats and /or violence and that almost half of the respondents perceived that pupils' treatment affected them negatively and that student behavior was better in the past. However, teachers' exposure to violations, threats and violence, could not be linked to sick leave. The conclusion is that teachers are a vulnerable professional group who need to be strengthened and offered functional tools to be able to carry out their profession with the Requirements Control support model and that the school as an arena needs to be reviewed and made safer.

Cette thèse est composée de trois essais liés à la conception de mécanisme et aux enchères. Dans le premier essai j'étudie la conception de mécanismes bayésiens efficaces dans des environnements où les fonctions d'utilité des agents dépendent de l'alternative choisie même lorsque ceux-ci ne participent pas au mécanisme. En plus d'une règle d'attribution et d'une règle de paiement le planificateur peut proférer des menaces afin d'inciter les agents à participer au mécanisme et de maximiser son propre surplus; Le planificateur peut présumer du type d'un agent qui ne participe pas. Je prouve que la solution du problème de conception peut être trouvée par un choix max-min des types présumés et des menaces. J'applique ceci à la conception d'une enchère multiple efficace lorsque la possession du bien par un acheteur a des externalités négatives sur les autres acheteurs. Le deuxième essai considère la règle du juste retour employée par l'agence spatiale européenne (ESA). Elle assure à chaque état membre un retour proportionnel à sa contribution, sous forme de contrats attribués à des sociétés venant de cet état. La règle du juste retour est en conflit avec le principe de la libre concurrence puisque des contrats ne sont pas nécessairement attribués aux sociétés qui font les offres les plus basses. Ceci a soulevé des discussions sur l'utilisation de cette règle: les grands états ayant des programmes spatiaux nationaux forts, voient sa stricte utilisation comme un obstacle à la compétitivité et à la rentabilité. Apriori cette règle semble plus coûteuse à l'agence que les enchères traditionnelles. Nous prouvons au contraire qu'une implémentation appropriée de la règle du juste retour peut la rendre moins coûteuse que des enchères traditionnelles de libre concurrence. Nous considérons le cas de l'information complète où les niveaux de technologie des firmes sont de notoriété publique, et le cas de l'information incomplète où les sociétés observent en privée leurs coûts de production. Enfin, dans le troisième essai je dérive un mécanisme optimal d'appel d'offre dans un environnement où un acheteur d'articles hétérogènes fait face a de potentiels fournisseurs de différents groupes, et est contraint de choisir une liste de gagnants qui est compatible avec des quotas assignés aux différents groupes. La règle optimale d'attribution consiste à assigner des niveaux de priorité aux fournisseurs sur la base des coûts individuels qu'ils rapportent au décideur. La manière dont ces niveaux de priorité sont déterminés est subjective mais connue de tous avant le déroulement de l'appel d'offre. Les différents coûts rapportés induisent des scores pour chaque liste potentielle de gagnant. Les articles sont alors achetés à la liste ayant les meilleurs scores, s'il n'est pas plus grand que la valeur de l'acheteur. Je montre également qu'en général il n'est pas optimal d'acheter les articles par des enchères séparées. / This thesis is made of three essays related to mechanism design and auctions. In first essay I study Bayesian efficient mechanism design in environments where agents' utility functions depend on the chosen alternative even if they do not participate to the mechanism. In addition to an allocation rule and a payment rule the designer may choose appropriate threats in order to give agents the incentive to participate and maximize his own expected surplus; The planner may presume the type of an agent who does not participate. I show that the solution of the design problem can be found by a max - min choice of the presumed types and threats. I apply this to the design of an efficient multi-unit auction when a buyer in possession of the good causes negative externalities on other buyers.\\ The second essay considers the fair return rule used by the European Space Agency (ESA). It ensures each member state of ESA a return proportional to its contribution, in the form of contracts awarded to firms coming from that state. The fair return rule is in conflict with the principle of free competition since contracts are not necessarily awarded to firms with the lowest bids. This has raised debates on the use of this rule: it is well accepted by small states, but larger states with strong national space programs, see its strict use as an obstacle to competitiveness and cost effectiveness. It is easy to believe that this rule is more costly to the agency than traditional auctions. We show on the contrary that an adequate implementation of the fair return rule may cause it to be less expensive to the agency than the traditional auctions of free competition. We consider the case of complete information where firms' technology levels are common knowledge, and the case of incomplete information where firms observe privately their production costs. In both cases we show that adequate implementation of the fair return rule may help take advantage of asymmetries between countries in order to expect a lower cost than with traditional auctions.\\ Finally, in the third essay I derive an optimal procurement mechanism in an environment where a buyer of heterogeneous items faces potential suppliers from different groups, and is constrained to choose a winning list that is consistent with some exogenous quotas assigned to the different groups. The optimal allocation rule consists of assigning priority levels to suppliers on the basis of their cost reports. The way these priority levels are determined is subjective but known to all before the auction. The individual reports induce scores for each potential winning list. The items are then purchased from one of the lists with the best score, provided it is not greater than the buyer's valuation for the items. I also find that it is not optimal to purchase the items through separate auctions, unless the buyer's valuation is sufficiently high or low.

Magistro darbo problema yra susijusi su situacija, kuomet nedidelė valstybių tarpusavio priklausomybė ir nenoras riboti savo suverenitetą lemia globalių aplinkosauginių režimų neefektyvumą. Tuo tarpu regioninis bendradarbiavimas, sąlygojamas valstybių tarpusavio priklausomybės, leidžia efektyviau spręsti kylančias problemas. Regionai, siejami iniciatyvų įveikti specifines ekologines grėsmes, gali būti ypatingai suinteresuoti bendradarbiauti ir kurti ekologinio saugumo kompleksus. Todėl bendradarbiavimas ekologinėje srityje gali skatinti tolesnę regiono integraciją. Tyrimo objektu darbe laikomas dėl ekologinių grėsmių vykstantis regioninis bendradarbiavimas bei institucionalizuotos jo formos. Darbe keliamas klausimas, kokiomis sąlygomis ekologinės grėsmės skatina regioninį bendradarbiavimą? Taip pat keliamas šalutinis klausimas, kokie faktoriai riboja ekologinio bendradarbiavimo procesus? Tiesioginio ryšio tarp ekologinių grėsmių ir regioninio bendradarbiavimo nėra užfiksuota, o tai leidžia teigti, jog ekologinės grėsmės gali skatinti regioninį bendradarbiavimą tik egzistuojant tam tikroms sąlygoms, kurių identifikavimas ir analizė yra pagrindinis darbo tikslas. Darbe keliama prielaida, kad ekologinės grėsmės skatina regioninį bendradarbiavimą, egzistuojant trims būtinoms sąlygoms: - ekologinės grėsmės regiono valstybių yra suvokiamos kaip gyvybinės; - bendradarbiavimas ekologinėje srityje sukuria potencialą regiono ekonominei plėtrai; - regionas patiria išorės jėgų įtaką... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Relatively weak interdependence of the states and unwillingness to limit one’s sovereignty determines inefficiency of global environmental regimes. This fact forms the main problem of the MA thesis. The MA thesis is based on the presumption that regional cooperation which is determined by the interdependence of the states allows to resolve current issues easier. Certain regions which have intentions to cope with common environmental threats may be especially interested in cooperation and establishment of environmental security complexes. Therefore, cooperation may encourage the further integration. The key question of the MA thesis is when and in what circumstances the environmental threats encourage regional integration? The additional question is what factors restrict the processes of regional cooperation on the basis of the environmental threats? The analytical parts encompass the analysis of cases of Nile and Mekong regions. The object of the research is the regional cooperation and its institutionalized forms, as a consequence of the environmental threats. The aim of the analytical parts of the thesis is to examine whether the environmental threats encourage the regional cooperation on three main conditions: - the environmental threats are regarded as existential issues by the states of the certain region; - cooperation in the environmental field creates an opportunity for the economic development of states; - the regions are influenced by the external actors, which... [to full text]

The Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor) is assumed to be declining over much of its range, largely due to introduced predators. Anecdotal evidence suggests that one of the areas of declining population is the West Coast of the South Island. The purpose of this study was to determine the reasons for the assumed decline of blue penguins in South Westland. This was done by studying breeding ecology at several blue penguin colonies to assess the importance of breeding success and adult mortality on the penguin population. Three blue penguin colonies in South Westland, at Five Mile and Three Mile beaches south of Okarito, and at the Wanganui River mouth near Harihari, were monitored throughout the 2008/09 breeding season. During each burrow visit the number of eggs and chicks were recorded as well as the date of laying, hatching or fledging. Five colonies of blue penguin were also monitored in Buller over the same breeding season in a study conducted by the West Coast Blue Penguin Trust, a community trust based on the West Coast. The results of both studies were compared to determine the effect of predator control on breeding parameters, such as breeding success. Of 137 eggs laid in South Westland, 108 chicks survived until fledging, giving an overall breeding success of 78.8%. In Buller, 64 chicks survived to fledging from 101 eggs laid, resulting in an overall breeding success of 63.4%. Breeding success was significantly higher at penguin colonies in South Westland, compared to the Buller colonies. There was no evidence that predator control had an effect on breeding success in South Westland or Buller. The mean number of chicks fledged per pair that produced eggs was 1.55 in South Westland and 1.16 in Buller. The overall proportion of occupied breeding burrows compared to the total number of suitable burrows at the South Westland sites was 73.8% (n = 103). At the Buller sites, only 60.3 % (n = 151) of the total number of burrows was occupied. Road kills are a major threat to blue penguins in Buller due to the proximity of colonies to the state highway. Fortunately, incidences of road death in South Westland are rare and due to the distance from roads, do not pose a significant threat to South Westland blue penguins. Further study of blue penguin colonies in South Westland is needed to learn more about annual variation in breeding productivity and to determine if breeding success is consistently high over an extended time period. If this is the case, then the cause of blue penguin decline on the West Coast is unlikely to be due to problems with breeding as the breeding success during this study is one of the highest recorded for blue penguins. Although there was no apparent effect of predator control on breeding productivity during this study there is evidence from other locations that predators, in particular stoats, have contributed to the decline of blue penguin populations. More research into the impact of predators on penguins over a longer period of time is needed on the West Coast before a change is made to how predators are managed.

Thesis (Master of Military Studies)-Marine Corps Command and Staff College, 2008. / Title from title page of PDF document (viewed on: Feb 2, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka den svenska utrikes- och säkerhetspolitiken i skenet av ett allt mer spänt omvärldsläge. Vi vill undersöka de bakomliggande faktorerna till den svenska alliansfria hållningen i perioden 2008-2017, där Sverige ingår militära samarbeten och gör tydliga solidaritetsförklaringar men samtidigt stint håller fast vid alliansfriheten. Vilket ger två forskningsfrågor. Hur har svensk syn på militära samarbeten och allianser i utrikes- och säkerhetspolitiken utvecklats i perioden 2008-2017? och Hur förklaras å ena sidan Sveriges officiella och strikta militära alliansfrihet samt å andra sidan Sveriges ökade militära samarbeten? För att finna svar på forskningsfrågorna har vi genomfört en enfallsstudie där fallet utgörs av allianspolitik och analysenheten är Sverige. Undersökning är gjord i två steg med beskrivande analys av det empiriska underlaget och en förklarande analys som är hypotesprövande. De hypoteser som prövas är två realistiska hypoteser ur teorier kring makt- och hotbalansering samt en socialpsykologisk hypotes ur teori kring perceptioner. Undersökningsmaterielat är avgränsat till utrikesdeklarationer samt debattartiklar, tal, uttalanden och pressmedelande från sittande regerings stats- utrikes- och försvarsminister i perioden 2008-2017. I undersökningen har vi kommit fram till att farhågan att tappa sin handlingsfrihet och sin oberoende röst i världen gör att Sverige gärna ingår militära samarbeten, men fortsätter kalla sig alliansfria. / The purpose of this essay is to analyze the Swedish foreign and security policy in the light of an increasingly tense regional situation. We want to analyze the underlying factors for the Swedish alliance-free stance in the period 2008-2017, where Sweden is part of military cooperation and makes clear statements of solidarity, while at the same time maintaining the freedom of alliance. Which gives two research questions. How has Swedish view of military cooperation and alliances in foreign and security policy developed in the period 2008-2017? and How is Sweden's official and strict military alliance freedom and Sweden's increased military cooperation, on the one hand, explained? To answer the research questions we have conducted a single case study where the case is alliance policy and the analysis unit is Sweden. Analysis is divided in two steps with descriptive analysis of the empirical basis and an explanatory analysis that is hypothesis testing. The hypotheses being tested are two realistic hypotheses from theories of power and threat balancing, as well as a social psychological hypothesis from the theory of perceptions. Investigation material is limited to foreign declarations, as well as debate articles, speeches, statements and press releases from the seat minister of state, foreign affairs and defense in the period 2008-2017.In the study we have come to the conclusion that daring to lose its freedom of action and its independent voice in the world makes Sweden happy to join military cooperation, but continues to call itself alliance free.