Ubuntu, Zimbabwe and the ethics of intervention

ABSTRACT The profound and extensive nature of difficulties in Zimbabwean current affairs raises a moral dilemma for South Africa: should it intervene in some way, or respect Zimbabwean sovereignty? Is there a plausible ‘middle ground’ theory to resolves this dilemma? This paper argues that there may well be. It further argues that such a ‘middle ground’ account is consistent with at least one version of ubuntu, an indigenous sub-Saharan African philosophy. What does ubuntu have to say about the right (or perhaps even the obligation) of the South African government to have intervened in Zimbabwean affairs? Does it vindicate South Africa for its failure to intervene? This project, whilst not providing a decisive answer to the question of whether intervention in Zimbabwe by South Africa is legitimate on this African world-view, provides one possible approach to evaluating the dilemma from an ubuntu-informed perspective

A pragmatic derivative method to assess the condition of a public health built infrastructure portfolio

The 2006, 2011 and 2017 Report Cards on the condition of built environment fixed infrastructure in South Africa were the product of cooperation between the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE). Their purpose has been to draw the attention of government, and of the public at large, to the importance of maintenance, and to factors underlying the condition of public sector infrastructure. One of the ten public infrastructure sectors assessed in all three report cards was the health sector, comprising hospitals and clinics. This paper describes how the collection and analysis for the 2017 infrastructure report card of health sector condition data was conducted. In particular, it describes how, in the absence of a comprehensive reasonably up-to-date database, and the way, without their interrogation and integration in mind, in which available datasets had been compiled, the CSIR formulated a pragmatic derivative method to assess the condition of the public health built infrastructure portfolio.http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_civileng.htmlConstruction Economic

Meeting sustainable development goals via robotics and autonomous systems

Robotics and autonomous systems are reshaping the world, changing healthcare, food production and biodiversity management. While they will play a fundamental role in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals, associated opportunities and threats are yet to be considered systematically. We report on a horizon scan evaluating robotics and autonomous systems impact on all Sustainable Development Goals, involving 102 experts from around the world. Robotics and autonomous systems are likely to transform how the Sustainable Development Goals are achieved, through replacing and supporting human activities, fostering innovation, enhancing remote access and improving monitoring. Emerging threats relate to reinforcing inequalities, exacerbating environmental change, diverting resources from tried-and-tested solutions and reducing freedom and privacy through inadequate governance. Although predicting future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on the Sustainable Development Goals is difficult, thoroughly examining technological developments early is essential to prevent unintended detrimental consequences. Additionally, robotics and autonomous systems should be considered explicitly when developing future iterations of the Sustainable Development Goals to avoid reversing progress or exacerbating inequalities

Meeting sustainable development goals via robotics and autonomous systems

Robotics and autonomous systems are reshaping the world, changing healthcare, food production and biodiversity management. While they will play a fundamental role in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals, associated opportunities and threats are yet to be considered systematically. We report on a horizon scan evaluating robotics and autonomous systems impact on all Sustainable Development Goals, involving 102 experts from around the world. Robotics and autonomous systems are likely to transform how the Sustainable Development Goals are achieved, through replacing and supporting human activities, fostering innovation, enhancing remote access and improving monitoring. Emerging threats relate to reinforcing inequalities, exacerbating environmental change, diverting resources from tried-and-tested solutions and reducing freedom and privacy through inadequate governance. Although predicting future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on the Sustainable Development Goals is difficult, thoroughly examining technological developments early is essential to prevent unintended detrimental consequences. Additionally, robotics and autonomous systems should be considered explicitly when developing future iterations of the Sustainable Development Goals to avoid reversing progress or exacerbating inequalities