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On Puar’s “Right to Maim”: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence as an Instrument of Debility
Get PDFIn enacting war and terrorism, armed combatants frequently and deliberately utilize sexual violence to target civilians. This crime is widespread, systemic, and organized, and its perpetration against vulnerable populations is a haunting reality of warfare. Although scholarship has speculated about the motivations behind conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), no one answer is sufficient to grasp a phenomenon whose constitution is complicated by a multitude of variables. Thus, scholars must continue in their efforts to rationalize why this crime takes place. This article does just that. Drawing from Jasbir K. Puar’s book The Right to Maim (2017), I fashion an intervention to her theory of “debility”—which speaks to the bodily harm wreaked upon those designated available for injury—to demonstrate how a disability framework can unearth new understandings of CRSV. This article advances three main contentions: (1) CRSV is argued to be an instrument of debility wielded by states against their so-called enemies, (2) a link is established between CRSV and disability, and (3) a disability framework is proven to be an effective tool in the study of CRSV
Mushroom Composition Across an Elevational Gradient During the 2024 Wet Season in Mazumbai Forest Reserve, Tanzania
Get PDFMushrooms are key bioindicators that contribute greatly to ecological health, and their diversity is indicative of a healthy ecosystem. However, even with the vital role they play in ecological health, there are few studies which measure the diversity of mushrooms in Mazumbai Forest Reserve (MFR), Tanzania, Africa, and none which focus on diversity along the elevational gradient within the reserve (1300-1900m). This study measures the diversity and equitability of mushrooms growing in six elevational zones within MFR during the rainy season of 2024. A species checklist of mushrooms growing in MFR during the 2024 rainy season was created, tracking the elevation zone, mode of nutrition, edibility, and toxicity of each mushroom species encountered in MFR. Using an opportunistic sampling method, data collection took place over 6 days during the month of April. Mushrooms were photographed, substrate type and elevation were recorded, and added to a geographic database using ArcGIS field maps. Mushrooms were identified using field guides and mushroom identification applications. 515 total mushrooms were encountered across all elevation zones, representing two phyla, five classes, 13 orders, 49 families, 85 genera, and 149 distinct species. Phylum Basidiomycota accounted for 95% of all distinct species and 91% of all distinct species follow a saprotrophic mode of nutrition. The 1500-1600m and 1400-1500m elevation zones had the highest diversity, and the 1300-1400m elevation zone had the lowest diversity. The lowest and highest elevation zones, 1800-1900m and 1300-1400m, had the highest equitability. All data is significant, with a combined P value of 6.12 × 10−16, which is much lower than the chosen significance value of 0.05, for diversity and equitability values. The null hypothesis was rejected, and the hypothesis is supported by the data. This study should be repeated in MFR during a future rain season with a larger sample size, larger research team, and more variables measured
Peace and Justice Themes as Presented Within Select Works of Children’s Literature
Get PDFChildren’s literature serves as a powerful tool for imparting moral lessons, generating dialog, and fostering critical consciousness. Given its role in promoting social values, this research study investigates how of peace and justice themes are reflected in the narrative elements and symbolic representations of the American Library Association\u27s (ALA) Notable Children\u27s Books for younger readers for the years 1994, 2009, and 2024. Rooted in constructivist theory, this study draws from critical theories, critical pedagogy, and peacebuilding theory, exploring how these themes and concepts are woven into children\u27s literature. Through a comprehensive content analysis of 46 texts, this study finds a predominance of individualistic narratives focused on personal transformation and psychological peace, with minimal depictions of collective action or systemic change. Common conflict resolution tools, such as dialog, negotiation, and mediation, are notably absent. These findings emphasize the need for more diverse and holistic representations of peace and justice themes in children’s literature, as well as a deeper cross-disciplinary appreciation for how children\u27s literature can serve as a meaningful vehicle for developing young readers\u27 values and behaviors towards conflict resolution and social justice
Building Resilience: Food and Nutritional Insecurity Among University Students in Buenos Aires, Argentina amidst Inflation and Escalating Poverty
Get PDFThis paper examines how university students (aged 18 and older) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, navigate the challenges of escalating food insecurity amidst food price inflation and poverty. Utilizing a resilience framework, the research explores the coping strategies of these students. The study integrates semi-structured qualitative interviews and questionnaires. The findings reveal that university students in Buenos Aires are affected by food and nutritional insecurity, impacting their ability to manage their academic responsibilities, and leading some students to question their ability to complete their education. To cope, students adopt various strategies: price comparison, reducing out-of-home expenses, altering food purchasing habits, compromising on food quality and seeking alternative income sources. I also argue that pursuing higher education itself serves as a resilience strategy. The study reveals that while social networks and government aid are crucial for building resilience, the latter is often unsustainable, and pervasive stigma surrounds the act of seeking assistance. Addressing the disconnect in understanding the needs of those experiencing food insecurity—often influenced by socio-economic status, and personal biases—is essential to call upon collective action and systemic change. Lastly, the paper highlights the need for enhanced institutional support from universities to ensure students have access to adequate resources, particularly when one’s coping strategies and personal support systems prove insufficient.
Keywords: Food Insecurity, Nutritional Disparities, Buenos Aires, Food Price Inflation, Poverty, Resilience Framework, Adaptive Strategies, Higher Education Resilienc
Deconstructing Disability in Malawi: A Multi-Perspective Qualitative Study on Understandings, Policy Development, and Policy Implementation
Get PDFDisability models serve as frameworks to conceptualize understandings of disabilities, influencing the creation of policies and programs. The United Nations, through the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), has established international standards influenced by disability models from the Global North. Despite Malawi’s efforts to adopt the CRPD through numerous measures, people with disabilities still face challenges in accessing healthcare. The effectiveness of current policies in the health sector remains unclear. Therefore, it is crucial to consider local perspectives on disabilities, as well as differences in culture and livelihoods. This research employs thematic analysis to assess the perceptions of disability among policy makers and implementers—government officials, representatives from disability-related organizations, and health workers—in Malawi. It explores their perspectives on how disability policies have integrated international standards and been implemented to meet the needs of Malawians with disabilities. This multi-perspective approach reveals how understandings and perceptions of disability in Malawi are shaped by models from the Global North and various local factors such as type of disability, livelihood, and geographical region. The domestication of the CRPD and implementation interact with several factors, including financial and cultural contexts, knowledge of policies, and attitude differences among implementers, particularly health workers. This research contributes to the global knowledge base on disability perceptions, highlighting approaches to address disability issues and providing insights to inform policy makers in Malawi and other countries facing similar challenges. These insights may guide efforts to address implementation challenges and develop targeted trainings and awareness campaigns for implementers
“¡Que se vayan todos!”: La crisis socioeconómica de Argentina en diciembre de 2001 y el papel del Fondo Monetario Internacional en su desarrollo / “Down with them All!”: Argentina’s December 2001 Socioeconomic Crisis and the Role of the International Monetary Fund in its Development
No full textDesde su inicio en 1944, el Fondo Monetario Internacional (FMI) ha sido objeto de controversia por su participación en algunas de las peores crisis financieras de la historia económica global. La crisis socioeconómica de 2001 que experimentó Argentina tras décadas de apoyo del FMI es uno de sus casos más destacados. A pesar del crecimiento económico explosivo que experimentó Argentina a lo largo del siglo XIX y principios del XX, Argentina cayó víctima de la inestabilidad macroeconómica durante la segunda mitad del siglo XX y finalmente llegó a declarar lo que en ese momento fue el mayor incumplimiento soberano de la historia en diciembre de 2001. Este documento tiene como objetivo arrojar luz sobre el papel del FMI en esta crisis mediante el rastreo de su compromiso con Argentina en condiciones tanto no democráticas como democráticas. Se centra en las negociaciones del gobierno con el FMI que buscaron abordar su creciente deuda soberana en la década de 1980 y 1990, la adopción de políticas económicas neoliberales respaldadas por el FMI y Estados Unidos en la década de 1990, y la acumulación que llevó a la suspensión final del programa argentino del FMI en 2001.
A través de un análisis cualitativo de la investigación existente y los documentos publicados por el FMI, el gobierno argentino y el gobierno de Estados Unidos sobre la crisis, mi objetivo es analizar hasta qué punto las inequidades organizativas del FMI, principalmente su tendencia a prescribir políticas neoliberales de “receta única” y priorizar los intereses geopolíticos de sus mayores contribuyentes financieros, influyeron en los resultados de la crisis de 2001. También exploro cómo el compromiso del FMI con Argentina afectó la propia toma de decisiones del gobierno en la acumulación de la crisis.
Ever since its inception in 1944, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been subject to controversy for its involvement in some of global economic history’s worst financial crises. The 2001 socioeconomic crisis that Argentina experienced following decades of IMF support is one of its most notable cases. Despite the booming economic growth Argentina experienced throughout the 19th and early 20th century, Argentina fell victim to macroeconomic instability throughout the latter half of the 20th century and ultimately came to declare what was then the largest sovereign default in history in December of 2001. This paper aims to shed light on the role of the IMF in this crisis by tracing its engagement with Argentina under both non-democratic and democratic conditions. It touches on the government’s negotiations with the IMF that aimed to address its growing sovereign debt in the 1980s and 1990s, the adoption of IMF-supported and U.S.-backed neoliberal economic policies in the 1990s, and the buildup to the IMF’s ultimate suspension of its Argentine program in 2001.
Through a qualitative analysis of existing scholarship and documents released by the IMF, Argentina government, and United States government regarding the crisis, I aim to analyze the extent to which the IMF’s organizational inequities — namely, its tendency to prescribe “one-size-fits-all” neoliberal policies and prioritize the geopolitical interests of its largest financial contributors — influenced the outcomes of the 2001 crisis. I also explore how the IMF’s engagement with Argentina impacted the government’s decision-making in the buildup to the crisis
Addressing Water Scarcity in Rural Areas of the Souss-Massa Region of Morocco: Comparative Analysis of Desalination, Fog Harvesting, and Wastewater Treatment Methods with Considerations of Technical Viability and Human Rights
Get PDFWater scarcity is one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges worldwide, most notably in arid and semi-arid regions like Morocco. This study conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis of three sustainable water management strategies currently being developed in the Souss Massa region of southern Morocco: fog harvesting, desalination, and wastewater treatment. Drawing upon empirical data, interviews, and existing scientific literature, the research explores the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of each approach. Fog harvesting is a locally driven solution that takes advantage of natural phenomena to collect water, albeit with limitations in reliability. Desalination is promising in addressing long-term water scarcity but requires significant energy consumption and has environmental concerns. Wastewater treatment is a viable option yet faces challenges in rural accessibility and environmental damage. The study discusses the factors shaping water management strategies, revealing the complexity inherent in addressing water scarcity. By approaching the topic through the lens of human rights and social justice, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of sustainable water management practices and the humanitarian crisis connected to it
The Reconfiguration of the Spanish-Moroccan Border Regime: The Impact of the 2021 Diplomatic Border Crisis
Get PDFThe paper focuses on the relationship between Morocco and Spain, particularly those affecting migration control at the border in the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. The research question is: how do the events of May 2021 (the unauthorized opening of the border by Morocco) impact migration control practices in Ceuta and Melilla, and what are the implications for Spanish-Moroccan operational cooperation? The unauthorized opening of the border is conceptualized as a “diplomatic border crisis,” which is also a main contribution of this paper. The study analyzes this incident, which has impacted the border regime and led to changes in border practices. The methodology consists of interviews with experts in the field, bibliographical analysis, complemented by secondary sources provided by organizations and researchers working in the field. This paper contributes to the overall literature on the border regime in these two Spanish enclaves located in the African continent, concluding that the May 2021 “crisis” has led to the reconfiguration of border management in both enclaves, characterized by an increase in strict immigration obstruction on both sides of the border. This new consolidation of cooperation between Morocco and Spain is seen through the deadly events of June 2022. Ultimately, this paper examines how diplomatic border crises are solved through more externalization policies, diminishing the rights of migrant people, which is evidenced through the adoption of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and, in particular, of the Regulation on Crisis and Force majeure situations
Vertebrate diversity in the La Amistad International Park buffer zone, Guadalupe, Chiriqui, Panamá
Get PDFForest fragmentation and increasing agricultural land use are posing threats to the diversity of vertebrates in Panama and across the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Protected areas are crucial for providing connectivity and maintaining vertebrate populations. For endemic species with small native ranges, these protected areas are critical for their survival due to sensitivity of habitat change. Higher species diversity and occupancy has been reported for both birds and mammals in protected and forested areas. This pilot survey of vertebrate species was conducted to determine which species live in a primary forest within the buffer zone of La Amistad International Park near Guadalupe, Chiriqui, Panamá. Camera traps, visual censuses and point-count monitoring were conducted to determine species diversity and abundance. It was predicted that the area of study will have high diversity values (Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index \u3e 3.0, Simpson Diversity Index \u3e 0.80), and recorded avian species diversity will be greater than the species diversity of mammals, amphibians and reptiles. The results found high overall diversity of the four vertebrate groups combined, as well as high species and family diversity for birds. Diversity and abundance were low for reptiles, amphibians and mammals, which was attributed to the study being conducted on the edge and just within the primary forest near agricultural land, as well as due to human error. Large protected areas such as La Amistad International Park are necessary for the survival of many vertebrate species in Panama, and so are long-term monitoring studies for all vertebrate species. Further research is needed to get a better understanding of the biodiversity within and around La Amistad International Park, and to further conservation efforts to protect vertebrate diversity