Cinetica de cristalizacao e de alteracao pos magmatica de uma chamine basaltica do complexo vulcanico de Lisboa Modelizacao do arrefecimento e do mecanismo de fracturacao em profundidade

The main aim of this work is the study of the solidification, cooling and fracturation processes of sub aerial basaltic rocks with columnar jointing, in order to understand: (1) the fractional crystallization, cooling kinetics and fracturation history and (2) the post magmatic / hydrothermal alterations of a volcanic neck. The Penedo de Lexim outcrop is part of the vertical conduit of an ancient volcanic system of the Complexo Vulcanico de Lisboa (55#+-# 18 Ma) which has achieved a minimum height of 2000 m above the actual erosive level. The tephrite, holocrystalline and porphyritic, presents a regular columnar jointing. It is constituted by phenocrysts of olivine, pyroxene and ulvospinel. In the ground mass there are microcrystals of pyroxene, ulvospinel, plagioclase and olivine while in the meso stasis occurs calcite, apatite, alkali feldspar, plagioclase, analcime, natrolite, chlorite / saponite mixed layer and saponite. The olivine (crysolite), although its crystalline habit, is very altered by the following paragenesis: chlorite/saponite mixed layer+saponite+-calcite. In the outcrop the fracturation is isometric. In one single column several types of fissures were identified, mostly presenting infillings of a rather homogeneous paragenesis: natrolite+analcime+-calcite. The crystallization process of the Lexim lava occurred essentially in three stages: i) slow cooling rate at a small T, leading to an intra telluric crystallization of olivine, pyroxene and ulvospinel phenocrysts, II) high cooling rate due to an ascension episode of the lava, originating typical crystalline habits in olivine and ulvospinel; III) finally, slow cooling rate (practically without lava motion) until the total solidification of the lava. This slow cooling rate allowed the development of regular columnar jointing..Available from Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, Servico de Informacao e Documentacao, Av. D. Carlos I, 126, 1249-074 Lisboa, Portugal / FCT - Fundação para o Ciência e a TecnologiaSIGLEPTPortuga

Women and property rights : a human rights and gender challenge to churches and society in Kenya (reference to the Meru community of Kenya)

In many developing countries like Kenya, issues of gender discrimination are evident in form of unequal inheritance and property rights. While there seems to be numerous campaigns for the advocacy of gender equality and human rights in all aspects, the practicability is something yet to be visualized. In Kenya for instance, customary law is quite dominant hence sabotaging any attempt to promote gender equality. In this paper, it has been noted that due to the impact customary law has especially on property rights, many have the feeling that security is more important than claiming for gender equality. Needless to say, this of course goes hand in hand with the primitive or traditional beliefs and practices that are still adored with high esteem. The question of women rights to property inheritance in Kenya is therefore not without suspicions and mixed feelings. Besides other aspects like poverty and illiteracy among many women, there is the challenge of some traditional beliefs and practices that can be harmful to their lives. Instead of empowering women with the rights to inherit family properties, especially after the death of their spouses, many have the traditional primitive view that a woman needs to be inherited together with other properties of the deceased; after all she too is part of the properties the deceased owned. A lot therefore needs to be done in order to improve the current situation of women’s rights to inherit properties in Kenya. Key words: Gender discrimination, customary law, Traditional beliefs and practices, poverty, and illiteracy