The research covers the taxation and other economic methods employed by the governments of South Africa, Malaysia, Australia and The UK to address the problem of rising pollution, with specific attention to carbon emissions. All four countries provide income tax deductions for environmental expenditure and investments; however South Africa is the only country that does not yet provide income tax allowances for renewable energy technology. In contrast, only the UK has applied a variety of indirect taxes for the purpose of reducing pollution. Even so, if a person considers the emission statistics in comparison to all the taxes, one cannot say for certain that these taxes and incentives have made any significant impact on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions thus far. Nevertheless, the tax initiatives displayed does show promise and the taxes also produce additional revenue for governments. However, a significant finding is that there is a strong correlation between the movements in fuel taxes and the movement in total CO2 emission figures over the past two decades. Moreover, vehicles are considered to be the highest source of CO2 emissions, thus it seems that fuel taxes have made a real impact on the amounts of CO2 emitted. Even so, the issue remains that governments may sway from strict pollution taxation regimes as soon as they are perceived to bear negative economic consequences regardless of the impact on the environment, unless there are clearly quantified targets for the country as well as negative consequences for the government if the country does not reach those targets. University of Pretoria 2008 Please cite as follows Taljaard, G 2008, Taxing pollution : a comparison between South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia and Malaysia , MCom dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-04062009-144901/ > E1273/gm / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Taxation / unrestricted

Numerical Weather Predictions (NWPs) are subject to systematic errors and biases. Hence, the continuous verification of NWP model outputs in order to contribute to model improvement became very important over recent years. Verification results provide numerical measures of how well NWP models perform, in an objective way. It also allows for monitoring of how NWPs improve over time. In the day-to-day operation of weather forecasting one might find biases in either forecasts generated by the NWP model, or biases that result from the weather forecaster’s interpretation of NWP output, or both. The use of verification statistics might help to identify the source of these biases, which might lead to research targeted to improve the scientific understanding of the underlying processes required to improve NWP forecasts. This study investigates the potential of the 20km x 20km resolution Limited Area Model over Africa (Africa LAM) developed by the United Kingdom Meteorological Office (UK Met Office) to be used as supplementary tool to improve weather forecast output to end-users over the Western Sahel (WS) and Nigeria. In the study, Africa LAM T+24h forecasts dataset was verified against daily observed rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature data, of 36 selected meteorological point stations over the WS from January 2005 to December 2006. 12 meteorological point stations were selected across each of the three identified climate zones of the WS, namely (1) Wet Equatorial (WE) climate zone (from the southern coastline up to a latitude of 8.00ºN), (2) Wet and Dry Tropics (WDT) climate zone (between latitude 8.00ºN and 12.00ºN) and (3) Semi-Arid (SA) climate zone (between latitude 12.00ºN and 15.00ºN). The dataset was also stratified into four seasons, namely (1) January-February-March (JFM), (2) April-May-June (AMJ), (3) July-August-September (JAS) and (4) October-November-December (OND). The verification algorithms and measures used in this study are in accordance with the WMO NWP verification standards. The verification results indicate that the Africa LAM model temperature forecasts show skill, more so during the raining seasons (AMJ and JAS) than during the dry seasons (JFM and OND) over the WS. The model rainfall forecasts, however, show more skill during the dry seasons (JFM and OND) than during the raining seasons (AMJ and JAS). The results further indicate that, on a regional basis, the model temperature forecasts show more spatial skill over the WE climate zone than over the WDT and SA climate zones of the WS, while rainfall forecasts show more skill over the SA climate zone than over the WDT and WE climate zones of the WS. Additional results from simple bias corrections and Model Output Statistics (MOS) which are some of the suggested post-processing techniques in this study are presented. These results give a better understanding of the model forecast errors, and also provide the feedback necessary for a possible improvement of Africa LAM forecasts by scientists at the UK Met Office. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MSc / Unrestricted

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This thesis is a microeconomic market analysis of healthcare systems. Different countries use various forms for financing and providing healthcare, and the effects of market forces on the quality, access and economic efficiency of these divergent healthcare markets is the primary subject. The purpose of this thesis is to describe the forces working in the healthcare market. Free-market healthcare systems allow medical providers to become price-setters. Price-setting by medical providers creates an economically inefficient system which decreases public access to healthcare but creates a high quality system. Single-payer systems make government the price-setter which creates a system in which medical providers are price-takers. Government price-setting guarantees access but quality and economic efficiency vary drastically between countries. Universal single-payer systems tend to set prices higher than the theoretically necessary price which creates a high quality, economically inefficient system. Socialized single-payer systems tend to set prices lower than the theoretically necessary price which creates government savings, wait-lists and poorer quality. The quality, economic efficiency, and equity of the healthcare system are determined by the form of the market used in the country. Ultimately, this market determines price. In a free-market system price is determined by providers of healthcare, in a socialized market price is determined by government, and in a universal healthcare system price is negotiated by both healthcare providers and government. Price negotiation in a universal system creates the greatest access to healthcare, and quality of healthcare. Socialized systems can be more economically efficient than a universal system, but quality and access can be limited. Price negotiation in a universal healthcare system fixes the problems of price negotiation inherent in the healthcare market.

No / The trust in the relations between Islam and Great Britain has been strained since the attacks on the London public transport network. The attack was committed in the name of Islam. The documentary about Muslims in Great Britain describes the joint history since the 16th century, the arrival of the first Islamic immigrants. For the presenter, the British Muslim Anila Baig, tolerance between the cultures and the religious communities is the only way to a peaceful Great Britain. Unconventional and very entertaining.

This thesis describes and discusses the application of System Dynamics methodology as a basis for formulating diversification strategy and control policies of the largest diversifying cement company in the 'United Kingdom. The problems of the industry such as stagnant growth, cyclic and seasonal variations in cement demand, and overcapacity are described. The formulation of a SD model of the situation which captures these problems together with its equations system are presented. The model also simulates the planning and control processes for the selection, initiation and completion of both expansion and diversification investment projects. It is argued and demonstrated that the fact that these processes consist of feedback loops should and could be utilized for understanding these processes, advancing complementary theoretical concepts, and designing and formulating more 'effective systems and decision rules. An intensive analysis of the model in SD frameworks further supports these arguments. These analyses reveal the nature of the system's dynamic properties and its likely developments, the dynamic and situational nature of diversification effectiveness, and the importance of several diversification decision factors. These analyses also show how complex the formulation of a thorough and effective diversification strategy may become together with the ways and means of dealing with these complexities.. It is concluded that the thrust of an effective diversification lies with the broadening of the conventional theoretical concepts and analysis to include the dynamic characteristics of the system. It is also concluded and shown that System Dynamics methodology can provide a strong analytical basis for achieving these ends.

no / Research into the contours of hate crime has gone through several ebbs and flows over the last twenty years. At times, acts of horrific brutality have brought the issue of hate violence into the public imagination; sometimes leading to legislative changes, education programs and the funding of community organisations to manage the harms caused by this unique form of violence. The Stephen Lawrence murder in the UK in April 1993, and the Matthew Shepherd murder in the USA in October 1998 both led to major policing and legislative changes, including the introduction of penalty-enhancement measures, which were thought to more adequately ameliorate the additional harms generated from targeted violence, and to create the conditions for good citizenship in diverse societies. However, this legislative and policing transformation of hate crime regulation is not universal, even in Western democratic states. The Australian Federal government has not responded in comparable ways; preferring instead to abrogate much of its responsibilities under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and International Convention on Civil and Political Rights to state governments¿particularly, in relation to gay men and lesbians¿ social citizenship rights. In relation to hate violence, contemporary Australian research has begun to address the inconsistent application of law, public policy and policing practice. However, the issue of `hate speech¿ has remained largely uninterrogated. Equally, research has tended to focus on the unique characteristics of specific forms of hate violence, rather than assess the conditions of exclusion shared by disparate groups. This book remedies both of these deficiencies by providing a critical analysis of the role of hate speech in hate violence, and offering a comparative investigation of antisemitic and heterosexist violence.

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Yes

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