Preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Vulnerability and Threat of Terrorism

The aim of this paper is not to discourage visitors from coming to South Africa, but rather to place the potential threat of terrorism in context. Understandably, South Africa is not on the same level of alertness towards terrorism than countries in other parts of the world, but it is especially this level of comfort, or the common assessment that ‘it will never happen to us’, that contributes to South Africa’s vulnerability as a potential target. While crime and the threat of hooligans are more realistic, South Africa also needs to realise that in being part of the international community places the country in a different threat category than it is normally used to

Atentados suicidas en Argelia, 2007-2008: Al-Qaeda en el Magreb Islámico (AQMI)

Argelia ha sido escenario de 18 atentados suicidas entre 2007 y 2008. A pesar de la devastación causada por esos atentados, ha quedado claro que al-Qaeda en el Magreb Islámico (AQMI) está creciendo en sofisticación, quizá para venderse, cada vez más, como representante de al-Qaeda en la región. El 19 de agosto de 2008, Argelia sufrió su atentado suicida más devastador hasta ese momento, cuando un terrorista eligió como blanco a nuevos reclutas de la policía. A pesar de que al-Qaeda en el Magreb Islámico (AQMI) mantuvo la selección de objetivos del Grupo Salafista para la Predicación y el Combate (GSPC), centrando sus atentados predominantemente en el Estado y sus representantes, aquel atentado dejó traslucir un cambio importante: la elección de reclutas de policía (y civiles) como objetivo recuerda a los devastadores atentados perpetrados contra reclutas de la policía en Irak. Además de esto, la comunidad internacional también está siendo testigo de un aumento del número de atentados cometidos contra representantes extranjeros de Francia, pero también de EEUU y de sus aliados en la guerra contra el terrorismo en Afganistán. Si se tiene en cuenta que los atentados suicidas son de por sí un concepto foráneo para un país que ya lleva dos decenios experimentando las devastadoras consecuencias del terrorismo, ¿qué otras tendencias y evoluciones son evidentes

Suicide Attacks in Algeria: Al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb

Algeria has been confronted by 17 suicide attacks over a period of 16 months. Despite the devastation of these attacks, it is also clear that the Salafist Group of Combat and Preaching (GSPC)/Al-Qaeda in the Land of Islamic Maghreb (AQLIM) grows in its sophistication, possibly to increasingly market itself as al-Qaeda’s representative in the region. On 19 August 2008 Algeria experienced the most devastating suicide attack till date, when a suicide bomber targeted new police recruits. Despite the fact that Al-Qaeda in the Land of Islamic Maghreb (AQLIM) continued with the Salafist Group of Combat and Preaching (GSPC) target selection in predominately focusing its attacks on the state and its representatives, this attack also mirror an important change: the targeting of police recruits (as well as civilians), that takes one back to the devastating attacks against police recruits in Iraq. In addition to this development, the international community also bears witness to an increase in attacks against foreign representatives from France, but also from the US and its allies in their campaign in the War against Terrorism in Afghanistan. Considering the fact that suicide attack itself is a foreign concept to a country that experienced the devastating consequences of terrorism the last two decades, what other trends and developments are evident

Kampala, 11 de julio: ¿atentados contra la Copa del Mundo o expresión de una amenaza regional?

Mientras las selecciones nacionales de España y los Países Bajos jugaban la final de la Copa del Mundo de fútbol, más de 70 personas morían en una serie de actos de terrorismo ocurridos en la capital de Uganda, poniendo de manifiesto la amenaza regional que supone la organización yihadista somalí al Shabaab. Los atentados perpetrados el 11 de julio de 2010 en Kampala, atribuidos a miembros de al Shabaab y en los que intervino algún terrorista suicida, no son por su modus operandi una novedad en el repertorio de violencia de esta organización yihadista basada en Somalia. Pero sí son los primeros que lleva a cabo fuera de este país, en el que pugna por establecer su dominio. Así, lo ocurrido podría indicar que aquella entidad afiliada con al-Qaeda emerge como una amenaza regional. Además, la eventualidad de que militantes extranjeros de dicho grupo retornen a las naciones europeas o norteamericanas de las que partieron constituye una amenaza a la seguridad en el mundo occidental. Ante una situación cuya peligrosidad parece incrementarse, es necesario adoptar un enfoque holístico, que descanse en partenariados estratégicos con actores locales, no desatienda ni a los gobiernos de la región ni a otras contiendas políticas en la misma, mantenga y fortalezca el papel de la Unión Africana (UA) y tenga como finalidad última la de encontrar el modo no ya de contener el avance de los terroristas sino de pacificar Somalia

An exploration of the conceptual relationship between design aesthetics and Aristotelian rhetoric in information visualisation

This study explores the conceptual relationship between design aesthetics and Aristotelian rhetoric in the context of information visualisation. Aesthetics and rhetorical theory are traditionally studied as separate discourses, but conceptual links between these fields are identified, specifically in terms of communicative goals and strategies. This study therefore compares selected theories on design aesthetics and Aristotelian rhetoric in information visualisation in order to ascertain whether a combined framework may be feasible. Although information visualisation is traditionally practiced from software engineering disciplines, this study frames the practice within the broader field of information design. The democratisation of the field of information visualisation and the emerging practices that emphasise the aesthetic value of visualisations is explored. In order to understand what is meant by the term ‘aesthetic’, a variety of both classical and contemporary views on aesthetics theory is investigated. Even though the term ‘aesthetic’ is not defined, a broad understanding is created by identifying the main conceptual themes in discourse. A specific focus is placed on understanding aesthetics in a design context, since there are many misconceptions about ‘aesthetics’ in this context. The idea that aesthetics relates to the communication of artifacts is explored, which provides a point of departure in linking aesthetics and rhetorical theory. The communicative nature of information visualisations is thus explored in relation to visual rhetorical theory. Aristotle’s three rhetorical appeals, namely logos, pathos and ethos, form the backbone of the visual rhetorical analysis of visualisation artifacts. The aesthetic and rhetorical theories explored throughout the study are compared by applying them to Charles Joseph Minard’s seminal information visualisation of Napoleon’s march to Moscow. This comparative analysis considers the traditional divide between aesthetics and rhetorical theory but identifies sufficient conceptual links between the discourses to suggest that a combined aesthetic-rhetorical framework for information visualisation may indeed be practical. Lastly, the wider implications and potential value of such a combined framework is considered within a broader design context. CopyrightDissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2012.Visual Artsunrestricte

People against gangsterism and drugs (PAGAD) : a study of structures, operations and initial Government reactions.

M.A.Any organization or structure over time has a historical background, a reason for existence, and an objective. In this sense PAGAD is no exception. The aim of the following discussion is to place the establishment of PAGAD within a broader historical and ideological context. This section will be discussed under the following headings: Broad historical context. The objective of this heading is to state clearly that the establishment of PAGAD was not an one time only decision taken by a few disillusioned members of the community in the Western Cape. Indications are that the establishment of anti-crime forums had been present since the 1950s, each with different members, but always with the same purpose and goals. The main objective of this section is to indicate to the reader that the establishment of PAGAD had had a historical development. Fight against crime as explanatory condition. On the basis of the above-mentioned historical development, this section will be focussing on the socio-economical conditions prevailing in the Western Cape, in order to explain the development of so-called popular justice organizations. Ideological context of the rise of People Against Gangsterism and Drugs. The name of the organization already puts it against the background of tenn "popular justice". This section will attempt to put PAGAD in the framework of Muslim politics in the Western Cape. Division in PAGAD. This section will be focussing on the split in PAGAD during September 1996, on the ground of the ideological divisions in the Muslim community in the Western Cape. Although the split in the ranks of PAGAD occurred very early in the existence of the organization, it is very important to take notice of it, as the split was a result of the manifestation of ideological differences. There will be continuous reference to the said split in the cause of this case study as it altered PAGAD's objectives as well as its modus operandi. Relationship between PAGAD and Qibla and the strategy and objectives of Qibla. The objective of this section is to look into Qibla as such and to study Qibla's alleged role in the actions of PAGAD. Discussion on the aforementioned should not be seen as isolated from each other, but that it should be interpreted as a totality

Egypt: Pharoahs and Fundamentalists?

Africa Insight Vol.33(4) 2003: 78-8

Guided reflection as a tool to deal with the theory– practice gap in critical care nursing students

Critical care nursing students experience inconsistencies between the theoretical content they have learnt and what is expected from them in practice, which retards the learning process. This has been described as the theory–practice gap. There seems to be no single solution to address the integration of theory and practice. In an attempt to bridge this gap, a study was done to establish the influence of guided reflection on critical care nursing students in dealing with their theoretical and practical experiences. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was followed. An instrument for guided reflection was designed which was used during semi-structured interviews during the data collection process. Field notes and narrative descriptions were also used as means to collect data. Themes that emerged from the data included a description of incidents experienced, critical analysis of knowledge, critical analysis of feelings and changed perspective experienced. Theory–practice integration occurred to an extent in some of the categories; conversely, the inability to apply theory to practice evoked responses such as feelings of guilt and incompetence. Guided reflection appeared to have assisted the participants in clarifying theoretical and practical experiences, and in reaching a changed perspective by understanding the link between theory and practice. Guided reflection ought to be incorporated in the education of nurses from their basic training in theory and practice so that student nurses will be aware of their own competencies in order to provide optimal patient care. Opsomming Kritiekesorgverpleegstudente ervaar teenstrydighede ten opsigte van dit wat hul geleer word en wat van hul in die praktyk verwag word wat weer die leerproses vertraag. Dit word as die teorie–praktykgaping beskryf. Daar blyk geen enkelvoudige oplossing te wees vir die integrasie van teorie en praktyk nie. In ’n poging om die gaping te oorbrug, is ’n studie oor die invloed van begeleide refleksie op kritiekesorgverpleegkundige studente se teoretiese en praktiese ervaringe gedoen. ’n Kwalitatiewe, verkennende, beskrywende en kontekstuele navorsingsontwerp is gevolg. ‘n Instrument vir begeleide refleksie is ontwerp wat gebruik is tydens semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude in die data-insamelingsproses. Veldnotas en narratiewe beskrywings was ook middele ten einde data in te samel. Tema’s wat uit die data na vore gekom het was ‘n beskrywing van ervaringe, kritiese analise van data, kritiese analise van gevoelens en ‘n veranderde perspektief met betrekking tot ervaringe. Teorie–praktyk integrasie het tot ‘n mate in sommige kategorieë plaasgevind het. Daarinteen het die onvermoë om die teorie in die praktyk toe te pas response tot gevolg gehad, soos skuldgevoelens en gevoelens van onbevoegdheid. Dit wil voorkom asof begeleide refleksie die deelnemers gehelp het om duidelikheid en ’n veranderde perspektief ten opsigte van hul teoretiese en praktiese ervaringe te verkry. Begeleide refleksie behoort reeds vanaf basiese opleiding in verpleegkundiges se teoretiese en praktiese opleiding geïnkorporeer te word sodat verpleegkundiges bewus sal wees van hulle eie vaardighede om sodoende optimale pasiëntsorg te kan lewer

Stellenbosch Media Forum 2005

Stellenbosch Media Forum is an annual publication written and produced by the BPhil (Journalism) class of that specific year in the Department of Journalism, Stellenbosch University."Journalists see change nowhere as evident as in journalism itself," skryf Mitchell Stephens in A History of News (1988). Dit het ons ook vanjaar in die Suid-Afrikaanse media-landskap gesien. Die "wulpse sussie" het 'n nuwe fase van haar lewe bereik en is nou die flavour of the week. Sy's juicy, sexy, toeganklik en tog so provocative. Baie wil haar koop, want sy's hot property, my bru. Ja, die onderwerp is tabloids - vanjaar die vuurwarm besprekingspunt, nie net in mediakringe nie - oral. Veral onder sekere sedebewakers. Ook in Stellenbosch se joernalistiekklas was daar besondere belangstelling in hierdie nuwe medium. Gassprekers en dosente is dikwels - nog voor daar geleentheid vir vrae gegee is - hieroor gekonfronteer. Koos Bekker, besturende direkteur van Naspers, wou weet of ons dan nie vrae oor werksmoontlikhede het nie. Die antwoord: "ons wil eintlik meer van die tabloids weet!" Langenhoven sou trots wees op hierdie klas. Hy het nie verniet gese 'n mens moet weet waar jy vandaan kom om te weet waarheen jy oppad is nie. Dit is presies wat ons met die publikasie wil doen. Ons kyk na waar tabloids vandaan kom. En uiteraard waarheen hulle oppad is. Hoe word die huidige medialandskap beinvloed? En seker die belangrikste: watter kwessies ontstaan in die proses? We spoke to the people, got their opinions and ironically, let the facts not stand in the way of a good story. It is no rumour that tabloids have made an enormous impact on the market and are even outselling established traditional daily broadsheets by the thousands. And they have readers by the millions. It is also no rumour that the journalistic approach and principles, or lack thereof, that some of these tabloids follow, have an impact on journalism and its development. Our SMF team found strong arguments against this latest addition to our newsstands, but also strong arguments in support of the valuable role that these papers play in some communities. Ek dink die antwoord le nie daarin om die groeiende tabloid-bedryf te stuit nie, maar eerder om plek te maak vir 'n meer diverse medialandskap. Dr. Jakes Gerwel, voorsitter van die Raad vir Geesteswetenskaplike Navorsing, skryf in sy voorwoord tot redakteur Adrian Hadland se Changing the Fourth Estate - Essays on South African Journalism, gepubliseer deur HSRC Press: "Kwaliteitjoernalistiek verwys egter nie net meer na die gewone kenmerke van knap skryfwerk en evokatiewe klankgrepe nie." Dit "vereis 'n media wat divers is, die verhale vertel van mense wat op 'n miljoen verskillende maniere bydra tot die opbou van 'n nuwe land". So, wie weet, met 'n bietjie leiding kan die "wulpse sussie" dalk gou volwasse raak en haar plek volstaan in 'n opwindende medialandskap wat in alle opsigte inlig, opvoed en vermaak