The Decline of Coral Reefs: a Political Economy Approach

Coral reefs provide economic services like job, food and tourism. Yet, within the past decades, there has been an overwhelming decline in the vitality of coral reefs and their ecosystem. Scientist have not be able to set the record straight regarding their scientific argument on biodiversity and ecological wealth of natural environment. Therefore, actions to recover coral reefs from destruction have proved futile. This paper will analyze the economical values, economic valuation, socioeconomics of coral reefs, and propose an approach at the end of the paper by looking through the eyes of the political economist. This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down

Winners and losers of energy sustainability - Global assessment of the Sustainable Development Goals

publishedVersio

Causal effect of environmental factors, economic indicators and domestic material consumption using frequency domain causality test

Economic growth-induced climate change is multifaceted with different dimensions, hence, requires scientific scrutiny. Herein, an assessment of the causal effect of environmental factors, economic assessment and domestic material consumption is presented. We utilized the novel Breitung-Candelon spectral Granger-causality aka frequency domain causality and parameter stability tests to account for the direction of causality. These tests, a resemblance to machine learning algorithm were required to examine the sequential shock of unobserved features of series not reported in traditional Granger-causality tests. The empirical results found a short-run relationship between renewables and economic growth, suggesting a strong effect of wealth on renewable energy consumption. We confirmed a strong and long-term metallurgical coal-controlled metal footprint through steelmaking, and coal-driven energy-based economic structure. The feedback hypothesis was validated between biomass consumption and economic growth. There was evidence that metal ore consumption predicts economic growth, income level and renewable energy consumption while it causes ambient air pollution. From a policy perspective, the study demonstrates that the diversification of the energy mix with renewable energy sources will reduce fossil fuel footprint.publishedVersionUnit Licence Agreemen

Environmental performance, biocapacity, carbon & ecological footprint of nations : Drivers, trends and mitigation options

publishedVersio

Ethics as a Moral Philosophy

We live in a time marked by "culture war". Having lost a dominant moral consensus, we are struggling in our courts, voting booths, and even in our churches to resolve the difficult moral issues that are separating us. Many have decided that the answer is tolerance, open-mindedness and mutual respect. While others are convinced that there is time "to be our brother's keeper". They are certain that we cannot afford to merely abandon the moral values of the past and act as if it doesn't matter what we believe about God, sexual choices, or the life of an unborn child (Martin R. De Haan II), believing that the Bible gives profound insights into difficult issues. At this juncture, one may ask, is it Right or Wrong? This is a case for moral absolutes. In 1903 Mark Twain wrote A New Crime, in which he described a series of murders in which wealthy offenders were found innocent by reason of insanity. Twain's essay concludes that, "insanity certainly is on the increase in the world, and crime is dying out. There are no longer any murders-none worth mentioning, at any rate. Formerly, if you killed a man, it was possible that you were insane-but now, if you, having friends and money, kill a man, it is evidence that you are not responsible." The interpretation is that, our legal system is now in a dilemma. If moral responsibility is, in part, a state of mind, who can say whether a person who commits a crime of passion should be held legally responsible? "What we want now is not laws against crime but a law against insanity. There is where the true lie"-Mark Twain Today's legal system is faced with more difficult problems. This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down

Failure to control economic sectoral inefficiencies through policy stringency disrupts environmental performance

publishedVersionUnit License Agreemen

Electricity access and income inequality in South Africa : Evidence from Bayesian and NARDL analyses

Access to modern energy services including electricity is fundamental to fulfilling basic social needs, driving economic growth and fueling human development, hence, the pathway out of poverty to prosperity. This study examined the impact of income level, inequality in the distribution of income and the control of corruption on access to electricity from 1990-2017 in South Africa, using Bayesian and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) estimation approach. The long-run asymmetric effects of income level reveal a positive impact on electricity access, thus, validating the initial positive symmetric effect. While income inequality has positive effect on accessibility, corruption appears to hinder the roadmap towards achieving energy for all. Even though economic development is crucial to materialize access to electricity, yet, efficient and effective financing and investment climate alone are not enough to warrant energy security, but, right policies, good governance and institutional quality.publishedVersionUnit Licence Agreemen

Psychology and the Bible in Suicide Counseling.

To begin with Psychology and the Bible, Psychology is an academic and applied discipline that involves the scientific study of mental functions and behaviours. The study of psychology in a philosophical context dates back to the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, China, India, and Persia. Historians point to the writings of ancient Greek philosophers, such as Thales, Plato, and Aristotle as the first significant body of work in the west to be rich in psychological thought. As early as the 4 th century BC, Greek physician Hippocrates theorized that mental disorders were a physical, rather than divine nature. In the Origin of Species Darwin wrote: 'In the distant future I see open fields for more important researches. Psychology will be based on a new foundation, that of the necessary acquirement of each mental power and capacity by gradation.' He was right. Evolutionary psychology is now an emerging, but already large field and is still growing. It has provided a framework under which to merge different areas of research and has made profound differences to the way we think about ourselves. One may ask, what is the essence of a Christian view of man? Man's uniqueness from the rest of creation lies in his being created in the image of God. As God's image bearer he shares in a limited form many of the attributes of God. These include his ability to love, to know, and to choose. He is a person. His is an immortal and living soul. Man is a moral being. Man is a rational agent. Man's life has a purpose and his experience of the world is meaningful. At the same time, man is a creature, and shares many attributes with the rest of the created order. Made of the dust of the earth, he is a biological system and has certain needs that are similar to those of other organisms. This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down

Electricity access, human development index, governance and income inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa

publishedVersionUnit License Agreemen

Polluter pays principle

A group presenation to Identify and outline the main features of the polluter pays principle. Show how polluter pays principle (PPP) may be the most effective instrument for 'greening' (rejuvenating) the current global economy, and identify any limitations of the polluter pays principle (PPP). This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down