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Assessing the Implications of a Tidal Barrage Power Plant in Hvalfjörður, Iceland
Get PDFAs climate change continues to threaten the future state of our world, we are searching for measures to take for mitigation. Among these measures, the most talked about method is the development of renewable energies. Great amounts of attention is paid to solar and wind power, but relatively little effort is given to researching the possibilities of ocean energy, particularly tidal barrage energy. This study assesses the possibility of a tidal barrage plant in Hvalfjörður, Iceland. This hypothetical power plant in Hvalfjörður would have an installed capacity of 840MWh and could produce 613GWh per year. This is less than 0.01% of Iceland’s annual energy usage. A number of environmental issues have been taken with tidal barrage plants such as sedimentation changes, impacts to the benthic habitat, noise pollution, reduced area of intertidal habitats, a rise in water level, and negative effects to water quality. If we assume that this plant would cost a similar amount to the two largest tidal barrage plants in the world, La Rance and Lake Sihwa, such a barrage plant might cost around 600 million USD. A tidal barrage plant built in Iceland is not advised. The risk to the wildlife of the fjord seems to be too great and the energy output is too low. Furthermore, an overwhelming majority of electricity generated in Iceland is renewable, so there is not enough coal or oil to displace. More feasibility studies in other parts of the world are necessary to examine the true potential for tidal power and other forms of ocean energy
My Body, Their Choice: Childbearing Attitudes and Practices in Jamkhed, Maharashtra
Get PDFUnderstanding the beliefs and practices of women and their families during pregnancy and childbirth is fundamental to the creation of successful public health interventions that target maternal and infant mortality. This study explores the childbearing practices of women in rural Jamkhed, as well as the social and economic factors that influence family planning, reproductive health-seeking, and delivery. Interviews and quantitative surveys were conducted with women in villages that have partnered with the Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP) to examine how and why women access prenatal care during pregnancy. The influence of CRHP’s “Jamkhed Model” on healthcare access is considered in conjunction with other socio-economic determinants of health through the lens of women’s experiences during their childbearing years. Findings suggest that prenatal care is valued and utilized by the majority of childbearing women in the project villages, but that family hierarchies and social dynamics are important in determining the attitudes and practices of new mothers. The present study provides insight into reproductive health practices and motivations with the hope of understanding maternal health outcomes in the Jamkhed area
“Uno Logra Olvidar la Tortura”: Impactos de las Dictaduras Militares y Conversaciones sobre las Secuelas de la Tortura en el Instituto de Terapia e Investigación
Get PDFInvestigué el impacto real de las dictaduras militares, y específicamente cómo las experiencias de tortura continuan marcando las vidas de los sobrevivientes y su habilidad de procesar los eventos de sus propias vidas, compartir sus experiencias con otras personas y hacer conexiones interpersonales. Mis preguntas primarias eran, ¿Cómo la tortura ha marcado la vida a largo plazo de las personas que la sufrieron? ¿Cómo impactan las experiencias de represión y tortura en las formas en que se construyen relaciones sociales y proyectos de vida? Para investigar este tema, entrevisté a personas que han tenido experiencias de tortura o que han sufrido represión de varias formas durante las dictaduras de los 70 y 80. Les pregunté sobre las secuelas de la tortura y la detención, y cómo sus recuerdos de estos eventos han marcado sus vidas. Conduje mi investigación en el Instituto de Terapia e Investigación sobre las Secuelas de la Tortura y la Violencia de Estado (ITEI), un centro de rehabilitación en La Paz, Bolivia que ofrece servicios médicos y psicológicos para los sobrevivientes de tortura de todas las épocas de las dictaduras y las democracias. He visto que es muy difícil hablar de las secuelas de la tortura, posiblemente más difícil que hablar de la tortura misma. El trauma que los sobrevivientes experimentaron durante las dictaduras no terminó cuando fueron liberados, pero continua hasta el día de hoy.
For my ISP I researched the ongoing impact of the military dictatorships in modern Bolivian society, and specifically how experiences of torture continue to mark the lives of survivors and their ability to process the events of their own lives, share their experiences with others, and build strong interpersonal connections. My primary questions are, how has torture marked the lives of survivors, long-term? How have experiences of repression and torture impacted the ways in which people relate to others and to their own lives? To research this theme, I interviewed people who were tortured or suffered various forms of state violence during the dictatorships of the 1970s and 80s. I asked them about the aftermath of their torture and detention and how their memories of those events have marked their lives. I conducted my investigation in the Instituto de Terapia e Investigación sobre las Secuelas de la Tortura y la Violencia de Estado (ITEI), a rehabilitation center in La Paz, Bolivia that offers medical and psychological services for survivors of torture from the eras of both the dictatorships and democracies. In my interviews I saw that it is very difficult for survivors to talk about the aftermath of torture; often even more difficult than talking about the torture itself. The trauma that survivors experienced during the dictatorships did not end when they were freed, but continues on to this day
Forjando un feminismo (no) transgeneracional: Una examinación de la memoria y la construcción de identidades en el movimiento estudiantil feminista del 2018-19
No full textThe student feminist movement of 2018-19 was dubbed Chile’s “third wave” of feminism. Media outlets framed it not only as a push to address violence against women and establish a non-sexist education system, but as a revolt against the neoliberal system that generates gender-based inequality – a legacy of the military dictatorship. This paper sought to investigate the processes by which the activists of the 2018-19 student feminist movement constructed a transgenerational movement through the mobilization of memory, as well as to interrogate the intergenerational perspectives surrounding the effectiveness of this mobilization, recognizing feminism’s continuities and the importance of remembering feminist activist histories as a form of reviving forgotten resistance narratives. Drawing on sociological theories of generations, processes of collective identity formation and collective memory, complicated with feminist critiques from both Western and Chilean authors, I examine memory’s potential in building a collective identity, as well as wider strategies that generated collective identity in the protests. This investigation was built on the perspectives and lived experiences from my interviews with Chilean student and women activists active in the 2018-19 movement, as well as archival documents and online research to establish historical context on feminist and student movements since 1930.
I encountered a wide variety of perspectives that demonstrated the mobilization of memory in the student feminist movement was minimal, and mainly based in acknowledgement of a feminist activist legacy rather than actual engagement with visual or commemorative actions. Moreover, rather than transgenerational collaboration, the student activists chose to distance themselves from “second wave” feminism and feminists, deciding to project a more inclusive and intersectional new feminism. Within older generations, there was a sense of ignorance within the students about the country’s feminist history and anger that their interests were not represented. Rather than work transgeneracionally, the students focused on developing solidarity within the “student” identity. More research should be done on the role of memory in constructing collective movement identities, and future study should try to involve more figures from Chilean memory organizations
The Inclusion of Displaced Women in the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda
Get PDFOn October 31, 2000, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1325, which stresses the importance of women’s involvement during times of conflict as decision-makers in peace-building processes. While this resolution and the broader Women, Peace, and Security agenda are dedicated to including women in important post-conflict reconstruction processes, the international community; comprised of states, international organizations, and civil society; has been criticized for its failure to implement this agenda. Further, it is evident that displaced women are a large population whose voices are widely left out of the post-conflict reconstruction processes. Within the discourse regarding the experience of displaced women during conflict, displaced women have been widely depicted as victims, contributing to their inability to exert their agency within decision-making processes. This research analyzes the National Action Plans of Afghanistan and Lebanon, two countries affected by conflict with high numbers of women displaced within their borders, to contribute to an understanding of the extent to which the needs of displaced women are incorporated into the implementation of Resolution 1325 and the wider Women, Peace, and Security agenda. Further, this research seeks to address the extent to which cooperation among the international community, with a strong emphasis on the role of civil society, works to promote the inclusion of displaced women’s voices in conflict management and post-conflict reconstruction processes
Mining’s Impact on Environmental and Human Health: A Case Study of Ramba County’s Gold Mine
Get PDFThis research project aims to gain a greater understanding of the health implications that Ramba County’s goldmine has on miners, their families, and the environment. While this study observes the community-at-large, inclusive of visiting miners and extended family members of workers, it will focus on women who engage in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Millions of people in the developing word depend on ASGM for their livelihood, evident in this case study in Ramba County. However, while gold is associated with wealth, there is great irony in the fact that those working within the mining industry are being exploited and live in extreme poverty that spurs additional health problems. The physical nature of this job is dangerous, specifically the exposure that workers have to mercury, an element used in the ASGM process. Women face the highest burden of negative health outcomes as a result of the gold mining process. Despite long hours of tiresome work, while also taking care of their children and daily house chores, the unpredictability of the job has put many women in Ramba County in great economic stress. Their low socioeconomic status exacerbates health problems that stem from their job, worsening the cycle of poverty that she and her family are already in. Additionally, the environmental impact the mine has had on existing farmland and the livelihood of farmers has impacted output, and therefore driven prices of staple foods. This strengthens the existing barriers that women miners in Ramba County experience when it comes to accessing affordable and healthy food for themselves and their children. A low-nutrient diet spurs poor health outcomes, worsening the cycle of poverty. Through conducting one-on-one interviews with various stakeholders, personal narrative is used as a tool for understanding the gold mine’s direct and indirect effects on health. Clear patterns have emerged that align with various other gold mine case studies that highlight this industry’s exploitative practices that disproportionately impact women. While the cycle of poverty and ill-health is difficult to break, miners have provided a few recommendations that may serve as catalysts for a healthier generation
Vulnerability and Adaptability of Mangrove Forests on Misali Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Get PDFAs climate change threatens to cause heightened sea levels and decreased rainfall patterns in the Indian Ocean, mangrove forests are forced to adapt or suffer. This study aims to analyze the persistence of four prominent mangrove forests on Misali Island based on vulnerability and adaptability. The study focuses on three types of forests: overwash, coastal fringing, and scrub. Forest A, an overwash forest, was the main site of study and was surveyed for species type and seedling/sapling counts using ten transects which ranged from 40 to 91.7 meters in length. Data was analyzed in order to determine biodiversity, zonation, and reproductive success of the forest as a whole. Each factor was ranked on a scale of vulnerability to adaptability based on corresponding numerical values. Results showed the presence of seven species in Forest A with a high biodiversity. The forest was split into four zones which displayed strong zonation, as certain species prefer more inundated niches while others prefer drier niches. Overwash forests were found to be more adaptable than both coastal fringing and scrub forests and will likely persist the longest on Misali Island
English Corner: a guide for teachers
Get PDFThroughout China, in both private and public schools, from kindergarten to university, there is a ‘class’ called ‘English Corner.’ In some places, ‘English Corner’ is supposed to be an informal, loose environment for people to communicate in English. In other places, ‘English Corner’ is a monthly event with a stage show, singing, dancing, and even a speech competition. ‘English Corner’ can be held in parks, libraries, university campuses, bars, cafes, or even in private homes. For many teachers in China, this ill-defined class can be their most dreaded lesson of the day, a class where at the worst of times, it can be a teacher surrounded by a mob of people yelling out questions; at the best of times a discussion where 2 or 3 out of a dozen students have a conversation with the teacher about mundane topics like if the teacher can use chopsticks or if they have a Chinese spouse. In this paper, I will look into the history and rationale of ‘English Corner’ to understand this phenomena. I will describe some of my past experiences facilitating English Corners. I will also describe the English Corner classes that are offered in my context and the strategies I’ve used to optimize and overcome this often frustrating class format
There She Blows: Public Perceptions of Mt. Merapi and Mt. Agung
Get PDFSince Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the archipelago is repeatedly affected by tsunamis, landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Indonesia has the most active volcanoes of any country in the world due to subduction zones between the Eurasian and Indo-Australian plates. The last major eruptions were in 2017 (Mt. Agung in Bali) and 2010 (Mt. Merapi in Central Java) which both required thousands of people to be evacuated from their homes. Since volcanoes have such a geological presence in the country, I was interested in investigating how aware the public is of volcanoes and their associated risks. Where and how do they get their information about them? How much of their knowledge is religiously, culturally, a/o scientifically rooted? Furthermore, I wanted to understand the dynamics between communities, government organizations, and academia when it comes to volcano monitoring, disaster mitigation, and rehabilitation efforts.
I believe it is important to understand public perceptions of volcanoes because that information can be used to modify disaster mitigation policies and practices. However, the purpose of this study was not to pass personal judgement, but rather gain insight into the various dynamics at play in areas frequently impacted by natural phenomena. Volcanoes have been pivotal in shaping Indonesia’s geological and socio-cultural history from its inception until now
Islands in a Sea of Aaruul: Globalization and Mongolian Cheesemakers
Get PDFDespite being a sparsely-populated country with less than 2% of its land arable, Mongolia has developed a rich and complex food culture, notably for its meat and dairy products, which could soon be at an historic high thanks to the tens of millions of animals on Mongolian pastureland. Many Mongolians and non-Mongolians view the countryside as a sea of milk that is currently being underutilized for economic exploitation. Various projects, whether funded and organized by international NGOs, the Mongolian government, or private companies, have tried to use Mongolian’s dairy resources to fill Mongolian demand, with more recent private ventures also pursuing exporting Mongolian dairy products to other countries. European-style cheese is a new but popularizing food item mostly produced by three artisanal Mongolian cheese companies. This paper analyzes the history, present, and planned futures of the artisanal Mongolian cheese company business models to ask how globalization is altering the Mongolian food sector, and the challenges Mongolian cheesemakers face trying to join the global market using their vast dairy resources and network. The main barrier for Mongolian cheesemakers is currently the inability to access the international market due to a lack of export licensing, stemming from health and standardization concerns. The Mongolian cheese industry has been partially globalized at every step of the cheese production and consumption process, with global standards covering everything from starter cultures to demand for luxury wines and cheeses. A globalized cheese industry is shown to be very helpful to cheesemakers from an economic and social standpoint, but has underlying risks of erasing the complex tradition of Mongolian dairy products, both culturally and nutritionally