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Thangka Painting: An Exploration of Tibetan Buddhism Through Art
Get PDFThangka painting is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist art form which depicts Buddhist deities. The deities must be made in very specific proportions, as it is believed that the deities can inhabit the paintings and thus the painting must be of the utmost beauty. Thangkas have a variety of uses, but they are mostly used as a means of gaining merit, in death rituals, during meditation, and in Buddhist ceremonies. In order to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism, I spent two and a half weeks studying thangka painting. I learned the entire process of creating a thangka, from the creation of the canvas to the final painting. I completed one painting of Sakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. In addition, I interviewed four individuals about thangka: a lama, a doctor, a thangka master, and an average Tibetan Buddhist. The objective of this study was to learn how studying the thangka art form can enhance our understanding of Tibetan Buddhism.
Creating this thangka has given me a basic understanding of Tibetan Buddhism and will serve as a way I can share Tibetan culture with others
Sacred Springs: Perceptions of Religion and Water in Village Communities of Uttarakhand
Get PDFThis study explores the rural area of Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand to gain an understanding of the relationship between traditional societies and their natural environment – including perceptions of water in the community, the aspect of religious rituals involving such resources, and the impact that these factors have on the overall health of the community. Originally, the water body of interest was the Ganga, with the complex layers of spirituality surrounding her waters. However, upon visitation to the community, it was discovered that natural springs held a much greater importance to the individual and collective lives in the area. Through personal interviews, observations, and case studies, it became apparent that springs have a larger significant value in the lives of people in the villages – in ways that are functional, spiritual, ritualistic, as well as a combination of these factors. The water from the Ganga is still important in the lives of individuals in aspects of religious rituals and for purification purposes but in Pauri Garhwal, springs are both more accessible and integrated into the lives of the community. The findings of this study include that water in the Uttarakhand region is perceived as a manifestation of god, and natural springs are pure and unpolluted as the water comes untouched from the earth. It is necessary in the village communities that the water be worshipped – in its designation as the only water that can be used for drinking and cooking, its vital role in Hindu religious celebrations and recognition of deities, as well as in important lifecycle events. It was also found that individuals have observed changes in the quality of these natural sources and the relationship the community has with them, touching on issues such as migration, resource conservation, and shifting priorities
The Women of Dho Tarap: Gender Roles, Challenges, and Change in Dolpo, Nepal
Get PDFBy collecting and examining first first-hand accounts of women and men from Dho Tarap, this report illustrates the many challenges that women report facing throughout their lives in Dolpo, offers a conceptual framework for understanding the significance of gender, and highlights women’s thoughts on change. The difficulties that women face appear to be due to cultural concepts that suggest that women are less capable than men, social norms that provide various learning and growth opportunities to men but not to women, and customs that result in women experiencing discriminate treatment in the home and community. Through an analysis of the role of gender, it seems that both women and men internalize concepts regarding female inferiority which resultantly hamper women in various aspects of life. Despite this pattern, it appears that the recent introduction of formal education, both in Dho Tarap and Kathmandu, is facilitating shifts in the perspectives of young people and disrupting the cycle of traditions that have governed gender roles for many generations. Although concepts of women’s empowerment are not currently prevalent within Dho Tarap, both young and elder women are hopeful for change in the future as many wish to see improvements in the status of women
A Comparative Tree Survey of Disturbed and Primary Forest Areas: Ngezi-Vumawimbi Nature Forest Reserve, Pemba Island
Get PDFOff the coast of Tanzania, in East Africa, the island of Pemba was once covered in pristine forest despite having a small, agriculturally-based human population. Beginning around 1840, however, the island began to be deforested on a large scale for colonial plantations of cash crops such as cloves and rubber as well as for small-scale farms and firewood. Ngezi-Vumawimbi Nature Forest Reserve covers about 1,440 hectares and is all that remains of these once vast forests. The reserve was officially designated in 1957 but timber extraction and exploitation there continued until the late 1980s. In the early 1970s, a large section of the reserve was clear-cut and replanted with an exotic tree species that later was revealed to be extremely invasive. Extirpation efforts began in earnest a few decades later but no survey has been done since 2006 to determine the species composition of this section of the reserve. The purpose of this study is to perform a survey of trees in this disturbed area as well as in an adjacent primary forest area of the reserve and to use the collected data to evaluate regenerative progress in the forest. This summary and the subsequent recommendations will then be sent to the government of Zanzibar to aid in their decision making
Constructing Social Environments: The Evolving Relationship between Uses and Management of Urban Greenspace in Stone Town, Zanzibar
Get PDFDespite the overwhelming enthusiasm for urban greenspaces throughout the Global North, discussion around parks in the developing world has scarcely been met with the same vigor. This study aims to bring attention to the unique aspects and strengths of urban greenspaces in East Africa, as well as the ways in which these spaces can be improved. The history, use, and management of greenspace was examined through literature review, observation, and interview. The historical and cultural significance of greenspace throughout Stone Town was found to both influence and run contrary to the current uses. Management of greenspace was convoluted and inefficient due to the Revolutionary Government’s history, and continues to influence the location and design of new greenspaces. The uses and management were often incongruous, and did not allow for flexibility. These target areas provide opportunities to better understand the unique aspects of greenspace in Stone Town as well as the ways in which they can be improved
Sustainability at SIT: a Look at the Past, a Plan for the Future
Get PDFClimate change threatens our world and way of life. Intelligent development and investment could mitigate the worst threats of climate change, while simultaneously providing continuous growth for the global economy. The New Climate Economy proposes efforts to combat this ecological collapse that would result in $30 trillion in new annual economic growth by 2030. Stockholm Resilience Center agrees, giving a framework based on global ecological systems that calls for five critical tasks that can bring growth and stability: Renewable energy
Sustainable local food production
New development models, based on what has worked globally
Reduction of wealth inequity
Education, health, and gender equality The School for International Training can address these issues directly at the local level, benefitting the institution and community while setting new global models for
Sustainability in Education. In 2018, SIT hosted a student-led community garden, supported by the Lessenco Fund.
This project calls for long-term commitment to sustainability, including a look at institutional memory, an assessment of sustainability frameworks, and of the potential benefits of joining the sustainable campuses and educational ecovillages operating globally. Presented here is a 5-year plan for SIT to gradually increase sustainability praxis, start collaborating with local NGOs in land, time and knowledge, building green and grow into an experiential ecology center, hosting permaculture and design programs on sustainable, participatory and interconnected global campuses, climbing to leadership in SD while doing our part to bring about the radical shifts needed to mitigate the incipient climatic disasters and rampant instability predicted for the future
Looking Beyond Primary: A Study of Barriers to Secondary Education in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Uganda
Get PDFThe increase in protracted refugee situations around the world complicates the provision of public services such as education. Accessing secondary school is key to individual and community empowerment for vulnerable refugees through providing higher education and employment opportunities. However, secondary school attainment is often severely lacking in refugee settlements. In Uganda, 58.2% of refugees are enrolled in primary school, while only 11.3% attend secondary school. This study sought to understand the experiences of Ugandan refugees related to barriers to secondary education and its relation to social and economic empowerment, as well as solutions that refugee communities, Implementing Partners (IPs), and governments can execute. Qualitative and quantitative research were conducted through focus group discussions, personal interviews, and surveys with key community stakeholders including students in primary, secondary, and vocational school, secondary school teachers, parents of students, and implementing partners in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement through a partnership with Windle International, Uganda. Barriers revealed can be grouped into two distinct categories: logistical limitations of financial resources of both families and schools, and structural challenges related to community factors such as the under prioritization of girls’ education and challenges at home. Solutions shared include increasing funding prioritization of education by the Ugandan government and implementing partners, community dialogues, and local business initiatives. By interacting with community members, the researcher sought to analyze the relationship between refugee youth, implementing partners, and the Ugandan government to pursue opportunities for stakeholders to work together and fully support refugee education to empower refugee students to create positive change in both their countries of origin and host communities
Schooling Silence: Sexual Harassment and its Presence and Perception at Uganda’s Universities and Secondary Schools
Get PDFAlthough reports indicate that a majority of students in Uganda are sexually abused while in school, sexual harassment and its impact on educational attainment is a rampant yet understudied problem (The Uganda National Strategic Plan on Violence Against Children in Schools, 2015). While harassment in schools by teachers and students is not the only factor leading to high dropout rates among students, the behavior of teachers and students in school, and the lack of discipline towards their actions is an internal contribution to this effect. This study aims to better understand the perceptions on what constitutes “sexual harassment” in Uganda (specifically sexual harassment in schools), if this conversational definition matches up with what the legal definition currently is, and to also assess the effectiveness of reporting systems on sexual harassment and what can be done to improve what is currently inefficient. Through focus groups with secondary school students and university students (n=13), as well as key informant interviews (n=10), participants were asked how they defined sexual harassment, how they came to know about it, and the barriers they saw to speaking up about it. Findings indicate that though the perceptions and definitions of sexual harassment are varied, young people perceive this to be a problem of great concern in schools. Despite this perception, schools themselves effectively foster a culture of silence around the topic of sexual harassment, ultimately resulting in ineffective reporting procedures and an environment that shames and mentally disturbs survivors. Recommendations include comprehensive anti-sexual harassment education mechanisms and the creation of distinct anti-sexual harassment policies that separate this action from other forms of “bad behavior” that violate schools’ codes of conduct
‘Defensoras de la Selva’: Mujeres Indígenas en Resistencia al Extractivismo en la Amazonía de Ecuador / \u27Defenders of the Jungle\u27: Indigenous Women in Resistance to Extractivism in the Amazon Ecuador
No full textEn los últimos décadas el movimiento indígena ha sido un potente actor social en contra de los actividades extractivista en la amazonía de Ecuador. Con el crecimiento de empresas petroleras y mineras en territorios indígenas hay una fuerte respuesta de la comunidad indígena en contra los concesiones que el gobierno otorga en nombre de concepto equivocado de desarrollo. Las implicaciones de extractivismo incluye graves daños ambiental, social y cultural. Estos impactos son exacerbados para las mujeres. Las mujeres indígenas siempre estuvieron presente en todos aspectos de esta lucha, y han tenido un papel importante dentro del movimiento. Las mujeres están en las primeras filas de manifestaciones, voces claves en organización y estrategia. Sin embargo ellas todavía viven en una sistema de machismo y falta reconocimiento por su papel. Este documento espera documentar el papel de las mujeres en el movimiento de resistencia indígena en la Amazonía Ecuatoriana y analizar el poder único que tienen las mujeres en la protección del medio ambiente.
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In recent decades the indigenous movement has been a powerful social actor against of extractive activities in the Amazon of Ecuador. With the growth of oil and mining companies in indigenous territories there is a strong response from the indigenous community against the concessions that the government grants on behalf of wrong concept of development. The implications of extractivism include serious environmental, social and cultural damage. These impacts are exacerbated for women. The indigenous women were always present in all aspects of this struggle, and have had an important role within the movement. Women are in the first rows of demonstrations, key voices in organization and strategy. However, they they still live in a system of machismo and lack recognition for their role. East document hopes to document the role of women in the resistance movement Indigenous People in the Ecuadorian Amazon and analyze the unique power women have in The environmental protection
Abundance, density, and influencing indicators of solid waste accumulation and mitigation solutions along coastlines on Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro Province, Panamá
Get PDFSolid waste accumulation is a significant issue in Latin America where poor infrastructure and management systems are present and with the exponential tourism growth in this region, the abundance of solid waste is also growing. This increase affects environmental, economic, and social factors such as pollution, a decline in tourism, and an increase in negative health effects. This study on Isla Colón, in the Province of Bocas del Toro, in western Panamá sought results on the abundance of solid waste along roadsides and beaches in the most populous and touristic locations. Approximately 2,160 meters squared were studied in Playa Bluff, Bocas del Toro town, and Boca del Drago utilizing quadrants to collect visible solid waste accumulation. 743 items of solid waste were collected, of which 62% were of plastic origin. Of the most prevalent composition of plastic; wrappers, plastic bottles, and unidentifiable fragmented plastics were the most. The mean density of solid waste on the study sites was 25.125 grams per meter squared. Approximately 344 items of solid waste are projected to be found every kilometer of the study sites. Traceability of corporations who produced the items and their production location were difficult to find. A mean of 14% of collected items were identifiable on their location or corporation. A history of the solid waste management system on Isla Colón as well as a history of Cero Basura and their mitigation methods utilized were identified through available literature as well as a semi-structured interview with the leader of the organization. Further research should be conducted on the specifics of the solid waste management system in order to have successful management actions on Isla Colón