Climate change is catchy – but when will it really hurt?

Concern and general awareness about the impacts of climate change in all sectors of the social- ecological-economic system is growing as a result of improved climate science products and information, as well as increased media coverage of the apparent manifestations of the phenomenon in our society. However, scales of climate variability and change, in space and time, are often confused and so  attribution of impacts on various sectors, including the health sector, can be misunderstood and  misrepresented. In this review, we assess the mechanistic links between climate and infectious  diseases in particular, and consider how this relationship varies, and may vary according to different time scales, especially for aetiologically climate-linked diseases. While climate varies in the medium (inter- annual) time frame, this variability itself may be oscillating and/or trending on cyclical and long-term (climate change) scales because of regional and global scale climate phenomena such as the El-Niño southern oscillation coupled with global-warming drivers of  climate change. As several studies have shown, quantifying and modelling these linkages and associations at appropriate time and space scales is both necessary and increasingly feasible with improved climate science products and better epidemiological data. The application of this approach is considered for South Africa, and the need for a more concerted effort in this regard is supported

ABSTRACTS OF PRESENTATIONS

Second International Conference on African Digital Libraries and Archives, abstracts of presentation

Climate change is catchy ? but when will it really hurt?

Concern and general awareness about the impacts of climate change in all sectors of the social-ecological-economic system is growing as a result of improved climate science products and information, as well as increased media coverage of the apparent manifestations of the phenomenon in our society. However, scales of climate variability and change, in space and time, are often confused and so attribution of impacts on various sectors, including the health sector, can be misunderstood and misrepresented. In this review, we assess the mechanistic links between climate and infectious diseases in particular, and consider how this relationship varies, and may vary according to different time scales, especially for aetiologically climate-linked diseases. While climate varies in the medium (inter-annual) time frame, this variability itself may be oscillating and/or trending on cyclical and long-term (climate change) scales because of regional and global scale climate phenomena such as the El-Nino southern oscillation coupled with global-warming drivers of climate change. As several studies have shown, quantifying and modelling these linkages and associations at appropriate time and space scales is both necessary and increasingly feasible with improved climate science products and better epidemiological data. The application of this approach is considered for South Africa, and the need for a more concerted effort in this regard is supported

Tritrophic interactions between crucifers, aphids and hymenopteran parasitoids

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN039003 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Seasonal fluctuations and damage of lepidopteran stemborers of maize in a major agroecozone of Uganda

The distribution and damage of stemborers of maize, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe), Busseola fusca (Fuller), Eldana saccharina Walker, and Sesamia calamistis Hampson, were studied in two locations in Uganda. The species composition of the stemborers was influenced by crop phenology. Distribution of stem borer larvae in the plant was similar at both locations. At 2-3 weeks after plant emergence (WAE), 100% of larvae recovered was from the funnel of the plant with the proportion decreasing as the stem elongated. Busseola fusca and Chilo partellus were more injurious as indicated by the extent of leaf and stem injury. Sesamia calamistis predominantly attacked the maize ears. This phenological relationship of variation in stemborer incidence and damage to crop phenology is crucial in devising management strategies of the pests.La distribution et les degets causes par les insectes terebrants (stemborers) des tiges du mais, Chillo partellus (Swinhoe), Busseola fusca (Fuller), Eldama Saccharina Walker, et Sesamia calamistis Hampson, ont ete etudies dans deux endroits en Ouganda. La composition specifique des insectes terebrants a ete influencee par la phenologie de la culture. La distribution des larves des insectes terebrants dans la plantes s'est revelee semblable dans les deux sites. Deux a trois semaines apres l'emergence de la plante (WAE), 100% des larves retrouvees provenaient de la cheminee de la plante avec une proportion decroissant avec l'elongation de la tige. Busseola fusca et Chilo partellus etaient plus agressives comme l'indiquaient l'etendue de la feuille et la blessure de la tige. Sesamia calamistis attaquait surtout les epis du mais. Cette relation phenologique de la variation dans l'incidence des insectes terebrants sur les tiges et les degets causee a la phenologie de la culture est cruciale dans les strategies combinees du controle des pestes

Efficacy of different insecticides for the management of stemborers of maize in Uganda

Evaluation was made of the efficacy of commonly available insecticides for control of stemborers on maize. Insecticide application influenced the occurrence and extent of stemborer damage on maize. In the early stages of crop development, the lowest stemborer incidence was recorded on Furadan treated plots, although its efficacy decreased with time. Overall, Sevin treatments effected better control compared to other treatments. A well timed granular application of Sevin could fit well in the integrated stemborer management system and reduce maize yield losses caused by these pests.L'efficacite des insecticides communement disponibles dans la lutte contre les insectes terebrants des tiges du mais a ete evaluee dans la presente etude. L'application de l'insecticide a influence l'existence et l'importance des degets causes par les insectes terebrants sur le mais. Au cours des premiers stades de developpment de la culture, la plus faible incidence de l'insecte terebrant a ete enregistree sur les parcelles traitees avec du furadan, bien que son efficacite ait diminue avec le temps. Dans l'ensemble, les traitements avec du sevin ont produit un meilleur control par rapport a d'autres traitements. Une application granulaire du sevin mieux chronometree conviendrait mieux dans le systeme integre de la gestion de l'insecte terebrant et reduisait les pertes de la productivite du mais causees par ces pestes

Investigation into the slimes dams, mine dumps and landfills (residue deposits) as environmental constraints to low-cost housing projects in Gauteng, South Africa

Paper presented at the XXXIII IAHS World Congress on Housing, 27-30 September 2005,"Transforming Housing Environments through Design", University of Pretoria.Gauteng is the most industrialized province in South Africa, and one of the most industrialized regions in Africa. The conflict between sustaining an ideal healthy living environment and land uses such as industry and mining is a serious concern in Gauteng. It is possibly more pronounced here than in any of the other provinces. Mining is a major activity in Gauteng and as a result the province has a large number of slime dams, mine dumps, and landfills in areas earmarked for low-cost housing projects. The paper identifies and describes residue deposits constraining low-cost houses. It examines the potential health and safety hazards associated with residue deposits, and briefly reviews the current environmental legislation and its flaws regarding environmental management of mining activities. Possible rehabilitation or mitigation measures are also prescribed.Authors of papers in the proceedings and CD-ROM ceded copyright to the IAHS and UP. Authors furthermore declare that papers are their original work, not previously published and take responsibility for copyrighted excerpts from other works, included in their papers with due acknowledgment in the written manuscript. Furthermore, that papers describe genuine research or review work, contain no defamatory or unlawful statements and do not infringe the rights of others. The IAHS and UP may assign any or all of its rights and obligations under this agreement

Seasonal fluctuations and damage of lepidopteran stemborers of maize in a major agroecozone of Uganda

(African Crop Science Journal, 1997 5(4): 385-394

Gender and changing patterns of political participation in sub–Saharan Africa: Evidence from the five waves of the Afrobarometer surveys

We used five waves of the Afrobarometer survey data to examine gender differences in political participation in the selected sub-Saharan Africa countries. The results showed that while the odds of voting have actually declined slightly over the time covered by the surveys, overall women were only about two-thirds as likely to vote as men with the gender gap in voting varying widely across countries and time. Also, the gender gap was narrowing by about 3.7% per survey round, with people in rural areas, more educated people, older people, employed people, people who belonged to a religious group, and people who expressed more interest in public affairs being more likely to vote. With regard to collective action, although it was increasing, the gender gap in collective action remained constant. In most regards, with its effects paralleling those for voting in that collective action was higher in rural areas, among older people, more educated people, people who were more interested in public affairs, poor people and members of religious groups. Results imply that civic education and other mechanisms are needed to encourage more female participation in all aspects of the political process