Behoort christene en marxiste in Suid - Afrika in dialoog met mekaar te tree?

Should Christians and Marxists enter into dialogue with each other? The question that is posed in this article is whether dialogue between Chr ist ians and Marxis ts in South Africa is desirable or not. Reasons are discussed for entering into a dialogue that was put forward by Christians and Marxists during the East European Christian -Marx is t dialogue, as well as those propagated b y the Christians for Socialism movement in Latin America. Each of these motivations for entering into dialogue is evaluated for its validity. Once the validity of some of these motivations has been proved, a description of the current state of attitudes towards a Chr istian-Marxis t dialogue in South Africa is given. The most popular objections against such a dialogue are discussed and it will be shown that these objections are unfounded. As an alternative approach to this negative attitude towards a dialogue a new approach will be propagated

Die effek van sowjet en Oos-Europese veranderings op kommunistiese en sosialistiese denke in Suid-Afrika

Vie purpose of (his article is lo determine from a philosophical point of view the extent to which socialist and communist organizations in South Africa have been influenced by the changes that have occurred in Eastern Europe. In order to make such an assessment, it is necessary to identify the nature of the events that occurred in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. This aspect is discussed in the first section of this article. Following this it is argued that different socialist and or communist groups have been influenced in different ways by the Easi-bloc events. In order to demonstrate this difference, the way in which three different political groups in South Africa have been influenced will be highlighted. These groups are the AN C (and its partners the UDF and COSATO), the SACP and the Black Consciousness Movements (like AZAPO). In the concluding section a few observations on the implications of the Eastern European changes for the political and economic debate in South Africa are outlined

Beyond Kolpak: EU Law’s unforeseen contribution to the movement of African Cricketers

The movement of professional cricketers from South Africa to England to play in County Cricket has expanded since the late 1960s. It became more attractive during the period of South African isolation and some players saw English cricket as a route to play at Test match level through changing national allegiance. This paper explores the role of law in facilitating movement in two ways. First, in the case of Greig, the attempt to ban players who chose to participate in the new commercial venture, World Series Cricket, was overturned. Second, in the Kolpak case a decision of the European Court of Justice paved the way for South Africans and Zimbabweans to abandon their national side and play in England as domestic players without the usual constraints applied to overseas players. The opportunity was taken by numerous players because of the political upheaval in cricket that was contemporaneously taking place in both South Africa and Zimbabwe. The movement of players caused concern in both South Africa and England and led to a re-consideration of the financial relationships between governing bodies and players

Reconceptualising the standard of care in sport: The case of youth rugby in England and South Africa

Sport is an important area of civil society in both South Africa and England, and this article is broadly concerned with the relationship between sport and personal injury. More specifically, the article compares how rugby is regulated by the tort of negligence in England and delict in South Africa respectively. Regarding liability, for sport there are very specific factors that need to be taken into account. The article is concerned with, firstly, the broader context of sport as an important social and cultural activity, and secondly the specific sporting context that includes the rules of the game as well as the playing culture, with a focus on rugby at junior level. Through a critical and comparative analysis of how the standards of care in sport have been developed in both jurisdictions, the aim of this article is to consider how sport specific elements can be incorporated into the traditional legal principles. This comparative analysis contextualises the various discussions in the light of the differences between the English tort of negligence and the South African law of delict. Our argument is that the context and specificity of rugby should be more explicitly taken into account when evaluating potential liability. To establish a standard of care for sport is complex, with many factors to be taken into account and balanced against one another. The law of negligence/delict therefore needs to be adaptable and flexible to resolve new situations where injuries have occurred. Even in established situations where liability has been previously determined, novel events do occur and knowledge develops that requires a reconsideration of the principles that govern liability. In junior rugby, the risk of very serious injuries is relatively small and the law needs to tread a cautious path through liability, ensuring it is a vehicle that promotes sport rather than creating barriers to its enjoyment and practice. A greater understanding of sport, informed by detailed research, can unearth new areas of potential liability that will need to be considered in the future

A comprehensive approach to the development of thinking skills

The development of independent and innovative thinking entails much more than merely the acquisition of a series of thinking skills. A comprehensive approach based upon inter-disciplinary cooperation between, among others, the disciplines of philosophy, education and pscychology is needed. In such a comprehensive approach to the development of thinking skills the following factors that have a bearing on the acquisition of thinking skills should be addressed:The cultivation of a positive disposition towards the development of thinking.The creation of conditions conducive to the development of thinking.The cultivation of virtues that will dispose a person towards good thinking.An understanding of what good thinking entails.The teaching and assessment of thinking skills.In this article, these various factors and their bearing on the development of thinking skills are explored. A general theoretical framework for the development of thinking skills is proposed that can and should be translated to specific domains of knowledge or to specific human enterprises

The juridification of sport: A comparative analysis of children’s rugby and cricket in England and South Africa

This article takes as its point of departure the notion of juridification in sport and, in particular, the perspective that the term has previously often been used in sport and law literature in a too narrow and limiting sense. Using the work of Ken Foster as a platform, the article examines a more nuanced notion of juridification. It does this by first unpacking two levels of juridification – the more well-known notion of increased legal intervention is considered before moving on to a more sophisticated application of the idea in terms of its impact upon rules and practices in sport. Foster termed this juridification as domestication. The article then applies these ideas in a practical context by examining two applications of the two children’s sports (rugby and cricket) in England and South Africa. The article concludes as to the future developments that are likely to occur. Despite the economic and cultural differences it seems likely that South Africa will continue to follow England, as is the case with the first level of juridification, and that the rules and their enforcement will themselves become more domesticated. It is likely that coaches and educators will find themselves under increased pressure to conform from both a general fear of litigation and a changing internal regulatory regime of sport codes

Serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in heart valve disease

Serum levels of natriuretic peptides (BNP and NT- proBNP) are known to increase in cardiac failure, and aid in the diagnosis and management of such patients. BNP and NT-proBNP also increase in patients with heart valve lesions, and may contribute to the assessment and management of these patients. There appears to be a general trend towards higher BNP values in more severe heart valve lesions, but the exact implication of a raised BNP or NTproBNP appears to be different for each specific valve lesion. In aortic valve stenosis increased levels of BNP/NT-proBNP correlate with the degree of stenosis, symptoms and prognosis. In addition, the increased natriuretic peptide levels seem to reflect left ventricular dysfunction, as high levels predict poor long-term outcomes in conservatively treated patients as well as post-operative death and poor functional recovery in those who survive the valve replacement procedure. In mitral regurgitation natriuretic peptide levels correlate with the degree of valvular regurgitation, and seem to reflect subclinical left ventricular dysfunction. Serum natriuretic peptide levels are elevated in patients with mitral stenosis, and correlate with the degree of valvular stenosis and increased pulmonary pressure. Serum levels of natriuretic peptides are elevated in other heart valve lesions, such as aortic valve regurgitation, as well as different forms of mixed valvular disease, but very little is known about the relationship between the serum levels of natriuretic peptides and the latter valve lesions. The practical application of our knowledge concerning serum natriuretic peptides and heart valve disease is limited at this stage, and no specific cut-off values to guide patient management have been incorporated into any official guidelines as yet. This review aims to summarise current knowledge on serum BNP and NT–proBNP levels in patients with heart valve disease. The impact of this information on current clinical decision making in patients with different heart valve lesions, as well as evolving concepts concerning its potential future use, will be discussed

Minimally invasive surgery to the aortic arch – endovascular repair combined with debranching: 4 case reports

Traditional repair of aortic arch aneurysms requires cardiopulmonary bypass and a period of profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest - allowing detachment of the head vessels off the aneurysm, and their anastomosis onto the graft. The procedure is safe and reproducible, however morbidity is significant and includes air embolism, stroke, excessive bleeding and acidosis. In addition the procedures are time-consuming, and cardioplegic arrest is also necessary, resulting in the potential for low cardiac output. Aortic arch aneurysms are not typically suitable for endovascular intervention. With improving techniques of descending aortic repair with stent grafts, hybrid techniques, which involve aortic arch debranching - thereby creating a proximal landing zone of adequate length, followed by stenting over the aortic arch are becoming popular. Methods: Four cases are presented. The technique involves initial sternotomy or upper sternal split, detachment of the innominate and left common carotid arteries, and their reattachment to the ascending aorta by separate grafts (debranching procedure). During this time a side clamp is placed on the ascending aorta. The left subclavian is usually left intact for technical reasons, unless there is a dominant left vertebral artery. This is safe as the shoulder has adequate collateral circulation, and stenting over this vessel is therefore well tolerated. The aortic arch is then completely covered with a stent graft which is inserted via the femoral artery. Arteriography was performed at the end of the procedure to confirm stent graft position and exclusion of the lesion. Results: All surgical transpositions were successful, and the patients recovered without neurologic, bleeding or cardiac complications. Surgical conversion for aortic graft was never required. There were no endoleaks. Mean duration of follow up was 53.5 months (range 21-77). Conclusions: Endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta, initially reserved for inoperable patients, is now becoming the accepted initial management. With improved technology and endografts it is now the safest option, especially for traumatic dissection. These techniques have now extended to the aortic arch. Debranching of the aortic arch enables endovascular grafting in this area, thereby avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest. Good pre-operative planning is necessary to make the procedure feasible

Theology in a postmodern culture: ten challenges

The shift from a modem to a postmodern cuhure which is still in the making brings a new understanding of self and the world with it. Theology therefore has to reflect on the implications and compatibility of this new understanding of the self and the world for a Christian understanding of reality as revealed in the Bible and other relevant texts. In this paper I shall describe some dimensions of this cultural shift that is occurring and then reflect on the challenges and opportunities that they offer to theologians. The dimensions of the postmodern culture discussed in the paper are the broader notion of rationality that the postmodern culture proposes, its broader anthropology, the emphasis on the involvement of both expertise and experience in decisionmaking, and finally the reduction of the world to a ‘global village’