The contours, dynamics and impacts of African football migration to South Africa

Thesis (MA (Political Science. International Studies)--Stellenbosch University, 2008.This study explores the contours, dynamics and impacts of African football migration to South Africa. It argues that there has been a change in the international political economy of sport, and that this change is affecting world football migration. In addition to the study’s primary focus on African football migration, it also reviews substantial parts of the literature concerning the phenomenon of football migration, in order to explain which dynamics characterise football migration. The thesis also accounts for the incentives that motivate African football migration to South Africa, and the impact such players have on the South African domestic elite league. The study identifies which incentives exist for promoting football cooperation in the context of Southern Africa, and how football migration patterns correlate or contrast with general migration patterns to South Africa. The study makes use of two theoretical frameworks, by Paul Darby and Joseph Maguire, to understand and explain player migration. These frameworks provide an understanding of the different aspects and structures shaping player migration, and should be interpreted as complementary and not contrasting approaches. The examination of the frameworks’ theoretical deficiencies and implications provides the basis for further research in the conclusion. The conclusion argues that there exists a need to create a new theoretical framework within which future studies can be concluded. The study is motivated by the general lack of academic research on the specific subject and migration to South Africa. The latter is suggested by the body of literature, concerning African migration to South Africa, which argues for more research on the issue to get a better understanding of the current situation. This study is based on both primary and secondary sources, the latter being represented by e.g. academic journal articles and books. In addition it was necessary to conduct fieldwork to provide answers to the research questions. The study makes use of exploratory qualitative methods in order to provide a conclusion, and to answer the research questions. It can be characterised as exploratory because it will offer new insights into a specific issue which, until now, has not been researched extensively. The analysis of the data and desktop research revealed certain trends, and provides a basis for answering the research questions. The study concludes that football migration, like conventional migration, is very complex and influenced by several interwoven factors. Hence a broad scope is crucial to understand the phenomenon correctly and not exaggerate the importance of some factors above others. In the conclusion the current position of the PSL is explained in relation to the two theoretical frameworks and the work of Pierre Lanfranchi and Matthew Taylor. It is argued that the PSL, unlike most other African leagues, has managed to cope with the ‘enduring problem of African football’, and has transformed into a commercialised, commoditised league heavily influenced by corporate interests

The UNEP Global Mercury Assessment: Sources, Emissions and Transport

Global Mercury Assessments (GMAs) have been produced as part of the UNEP Mercury Programme upon the request of UNEP Governing Council since 2001. The first GMA concluded that there is sufficient evidence of significant global adverse impacts from mercury and its compounds to warrant further international action to reduce the risks to human health and the environment from the release of mercury and its compounds to the environment. The follow-up “Global Atmospheric Mercury Assessment: Sources, Emissions and Transport” was delivered to the UNEP Governing Council in 2009. These reports formed the basis for the UNEP Governing Council policy decisions that have resulted in the ongoing (INC) process to establish a global legally binding instrument on mercury by 2013. UNEP is currently updating the 2008 “Global Atmospheric Mercury Assessment: Sources, Emissions and Transport,” for presentation to the UNEP Governing Council in early 2013. The updated report will present a new inventory of anthropogenic atmospheric mercury emissions for all countries, based on best available data from 2008-2010, including an analysis by sector and region. This part of the report is being developed by a joint AMAP/UNEP expert group. The report will also present updated information on atmospheric transport and deposition and – as a new addition – information on aquatic releases of mercury and on mercury fate and transport in aquatic environments. These parts of the report will be delivered by the UNEP Partnership Area on Mercury Fate and Transport. An outline of the methodology used to develop the report, and preliminary scientific results will be presented

The UNEP Global Mercury Assessment: Sources, Emissions and Transport

Global Mercury Assessments (GMAs) have been produced as part of the UNEP Mercury Programme upon the request of UNEP Governing Council since 2001. The first GMA concluded that there is sufficient evidence of significant global adverse impacts from mercury and its compounds to warrant further international action to reduce the risks to human health and the environment from the release of mercury and its compounds to the environment. The follow-up “Global Atmospheric Mercury Assessment: Sources, Emissions and Transport” was delivered to the UNEP Governing Council in 2009. These reports formed the basis for the UNEP Governing Council policy decisions that have resulted in the ongoing (INC) process to establish a global legally binding instrument on mercury by 2013. UNEP is currently updating the 2008 “Global Atmospheric Mercury Assessment: Sources, Emissions and Transport,” for presentation to the UNEP Governing Council in early 2013. The updated report will present a new inventory of anthropogenic atmospheric mercury emissions for all countries, based on best available data from 2008-2010, including an analysis by sector and region. This part of the report is being developed by a joint AMAP/UNEP expert group. The report will also present updated information on atmospheric transport and deposition and – as a new addition – information on aquatic releases of mercury and on mercury fate and transport in aquatic environments. These parts of the report will be delivered by the UNEP Partnership Area on Mercury Fate and Transport. An outline of the methodology used to develop the report, and preliminary scientific results will be presented

UNEP Demonstrations of Mercury Emission Reduction at Two Coal-fired Power Plants in Russia

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) partnership area “Mercury releases from coal combustion” (The UNEP Coal Partnership) has initiated demonstrations of mercury air emission reduction at two coal-fired power plants in Russia. The first project has modified the wet particulate matter (PM) scrubber installed in Toliatti thermal plant to allow for addition of chemical reagents (oxidants) into the closedloop liquid spray system. The addition of oxidant resulted in significant improvement of mercury capture from 20% total mercury removal (without the additive) up to 60% removal (with the additive). It demonstrates the effectiveness of sorbent injection technologies in conjunction with an electrostatic precipitator (ESP). ESPs are installed at 60%, while wet PM scrubbers are installed at 30% of total coal-fired capacity in Russia. Thus, the two UNEP Coal Partnership projects address the majority of PM emission control configurations occurring in Russia

Options for mercury reduction from coal combustion

The UNEP coal combustion partnership area has been established to contribute to significantly reduce global mercury emissions mainly though existing multi-pollutant reduction approaches. As part of this, the partnership area has been assisting participating governments in developing mercury inventories and providing technically sound information on cost effective approaches for enhancing reductions of mercury emissions. Guidance material has been produced for developing nations and countries with economies in transition. Activities are ongoing in China, India, Russia and South Africa, and new projects are being planned in Southeast Asia

Options for mercury reduction from coal combustion

The UNEP coal combustion partnership area has been established to contribute to significantly reduce global mercury emissions mainly though existing multi-pollutant reduction approaches. As part of this, the partnership area has been assisting participating governments in developing mercury inventories and providing technically sound information on cost effective approaches for enhancing reductions of mercury emissions. Guidance material has been produced for developing nations and countries with economies in transition. Activities are ongoing in China, India, Russia and South Africa, and new projects are being planned in Southeast Asia