8411 research outputs found
Sort by
The Lives of Smart Phones: People’s Relationships with Technology along the Tamor Valley
Get PDFThe way people interact with smart phones and technology in their everyday life can reveal a whole lot about a culture, history and politics of a given place. In the Taplejung district in Northeastern Nepal, the Tamor valley has been a historical pathway for trans-Himalayan trade, business, and commerce (Saxer: 2015). However, it is also considered one of the most virtually and physically remote places in Nepal due to lack of physical and Internet infrastructure that enables all kinds of access. Nevertheless, smart phones have become an essential gadget in most people’s lives in this part of Nepal. In a place with such circumstances, I explore the way people interact with technology in their everyday life, what their relationship is to their phones, and how that reflects a broader aspect of history and culture in the area. It is an anthropological and humanistic account of technology and its interaction with people. Through the methodological approach of photography, studying the pathway and through personal accounts of the people that I encountered, I argue that physical infrastructure development has profound impact on mobility, culture and everyday life along the Tamor valley
Forest conservation and timber management A case study of Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Hoima District, Uganda
Get PDFThe refugee population in Uganda is the largest in Africa, more than 1.3 million in size and growing by 100,000 per year. The demand for cooking fuel and building material results a continuous degradation of Uganda’s forests and protected areas. Refugee settlement which often employ short term management to cater to refugee needs, are hotspots of forest clearing. Forest management and environmental conservation of Kyangwali refugee settlement was evaluated, during a five-week practicum with the Environment and livelihoods department at Action Africa Help. The availability, accessibility and affordability of forest resources using GIS mapping, household surveys, informal interviews and observation. The demand for forest resources was found to be significantly higher than the supply, leading to a high prevalence of illegal encroachment into Bugoma Forest Reserve (Survey, 2018). Limited access to firewood required refugee to spend more than two hours daily on firewood collection. Due to administrative backlash, cases of unethical, behavior by aid workers were observed, leading to a disruption of the refugee-worker relationship. A comprehensive implementation of sustainability initiatives and a reform of organization policy, are necessary to realize the goal of long-term sustainability of forest resources in Kyangwali refugee settlement
An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles: A Study of Insect Species Diversity and Abundance in Mazumbai Forest Reserve Versus Nearby Agricultural Areas
Get PDFThis study investigates how human disturbance of ecosystems alters insect diversity and abundance, specifically exploring how insect communities inside Mazumbai Forest Reserve in Tanzania differ from insect communities in agricultural areas near the reserve. Following methods of previous studies on the effect of disturbance on insect populations (Bellamy et al. 2018; McLaughlin & Mineau 1995; Perry et al. 2016), this research utilizes pitfall traps and yellow bowl traps in multiple locations throughout the two study areas to catch insects, which are then identified to their specific order. The collected data support the hypothesis that insect order diversity and abundance vary per location. Insect communities in agricultural areas are more diverse, likely explained by the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. However, insects are significantly more abundant in the forest reserve than agricultural areas; areas subject to less human disturbance have larger insect communities, an important signifier of a habitat viability
Violence Exposure in Human Rights Defenders\u27 Work
Get PDFThe work carried out by Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) is fundamental for a more just and democratic society. Therefore, the acts of aggression against them, whether committed by individuals, the State, armed groups or corporative interests, constitute an indirect attack against the rights of the whole population. By restricting access to information and limiting political participation, these aggressions impede society from actively engaging in public affairs, something that ultimately takes the power away from the people.
From a perspective empathetic to HRDs, this Independent Practitioner Inquiry Capstone paper (IPIC) explores possible causes of violence exposure in HRDs’ work and its consequences, some of the actions that are being developed to confront this violence and also, potential pathways of how to better address risk in rough contexts. The work is the result of working with the Protection and Defense Program of Article 19 in Mexico City during the summer of 2017 and with the joint project Protection and Welfare at the Time of Reporting implemented by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly (PLA) of Bolivia and the Journalists Association of La Paz (JALP) during the spring of 2018 in La Paz.
Keywords: Violence, human rights, journalism, activism, risk, security
Repatriation of Rwandan Returnees In Kigali: Integration of those Born and Raised on Exile as a Result of the 1959 Violence Wave
Get PDFThis study explores the repatriation process of millions of Rwandans that returned to Kigali after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, focusing on those that were born and raised in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi as a result of the ethnic violence in 1959 and its aftermath. To complete this project, both theoretical and empirical research was conducted, including academic perspectives, numerical data analysis, and one-on-one interviews on the field. By examining the previous living conditions in the host countries, alongside the process of return and resettlement once in Rwanda, this study presents the physical and emotional integration of a young generation of Rwandans that returned their country of origin in which they had never resided
Patrones de depredación de orugas con colores crípticos y aposemáticos / Caterpillar depredation patterns with cryptic colors and aposematics
No full textLas orugas o estadios tempranos de las mariposas, tienen múltiples formas de defensa contra sus depredadores naturales. Investigaciones han demostrado que algunas defensas de orugas son funcionales contra depredadores específicos. Esta investigación permite dar a conocer el éxito de las defensas de orugas en el ecosistema de la Amazonia ecuatoriana. Los efectos de la coloración del cuerpo de la oruga en la tasa de depredación fue examinado en bosques primarios y bosques secundarios cerca del Rio Napo. Orugas de plastilina fueron colocadas en varios lugares (i.e., troncos, hojas), tanto como orugas solitarias o en grupos como orugas gregarias. . Los patrones de depredación de orugas fueron documentados de forma separada, durante el día o la noche. Esta investigación encontró que los depredadores más activos durante el periodo de este estudio fueron las hormigas, arañas, saltamontes, y ratones. En total, las orugas resultaron más susceptibles a ataques si su coloración era criptica. Además, este tipo de orugas se encontraban en más riesgo durante horas de la noche, cuando la mayoría de sus depredadores se encontraban activos. El depredador más activos durante el periodo de este estudio fue las hormigas, quien no tiene una preferencia específica por coloraciones cripticas o aposemáticas. En el caso del gregarismo, fue efectivo en prevenir la depredación, sin importar el color.
/
Caterpillars possess many forms of defenses against their natural predators. Studies have shown that certain caterpillar defenses are often functional against specific predators. This study aims to assess the overall success of caterpillar defenses against predators in. The Ecuadorian Amazon. The effects of body coloration on rate of predation was assessed in a primary and secondary forest near the Rio Napo. Model caterpillars were placed in various locations (i.e. logs, trees, leaves), both solitary and alongside gregarious Caterpillar groups. Caterpillar predation patterns were recorded separately during the nighttime and during the daytime. This study found that the most active predators of caterpillars are ants, spiders, grasshoppers, and rats. Overall, caterpillars were more likely to be attacked if they were cryptically colored. Additionally, cryptically colored caterpillars were at more risk at night when many of their main predators are most active. The most active predator during the period of this study was ants, which showed no preference for any specific body coloration. Gregarious caterpillar groupings were effective in preventing predation, regardless of the caterpillar coloration
Three Land Use Proposals for Geldinganes Framed by the City of Reykjavik’s Municipal Plan and Climate Neutrality Goals
Get PDFWith global CO2 levels rising every year, climate change is becoming a larger, looming threat. Cities around the world have an important role in reducing the negative impacts of climate change through strategic and sustainable urban planning. The purpose of this study is to conduct an introductory analysis of Geldinganes island and its potential and capacity for land development that will support and expand upon the city of Reykjavik’s 2010-2030 municipal plan and 2040 climate neutrality goals. Within this study three proposals for Geldinganes are considered, the current proposal and two new proposals. The lowest development impact proposal for Geldinganes is leaving it as it currently exists, preserving it as a green space with the potential for adding minimal infrastructure to increase public accessibility to the island. This is the plan for Geldinganes within the current municipal plan. The second proposal of medium development impact is to forest the island with native birch trees. This plan simultaneously preserves the area as a green space and provides a carbon sink for the city. Lastly, the highest impact plan considered is to develop a wind turbine farm on Geldinganes, creating an additional renewable energy source for the city to help it meet its increasing energy demands with the potential to support a growing electric transportation industry
Black Gold in a Changing World: An examination of Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil and the possibility of a solar energy transition
Get PDFThis paper examines Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil, considering the profound effects that the resource has on the domestic, socioeconomic, and international affairs of the Kingdom. It is determined, after examining the economic and environmental factors that make it necessary, that Saudi Arabia must reduce its dependence on oil and diversify its economy, ideally by pursing solar energy. This conclusion is reached by considering Saudi Arabia’s domestic challenges, which include unemployment and rising domestic energy demand, as well as factors such as the price volatility of oil and changing global energy trends. A Saudi transition to solar power is determined to be both plausible and beneficial for the Kingdom, although not without its challenges. This paper also emphasizes the importance of the Kingdom to increase the role of the private sector and attract foreign investment, which is necessary for the diversification process. The current development plan, Vision 2030, is critically assessed as ambitious-looking but somewhat limited, and next steps are recommended for Saudi Arabia to take in order to lay a sound foundation for diversification. Finally, it is concluded that whether or not Saudi Arabia will actually go through with this process depends on the ability of oil to continue providing the Kingdom with power and money
Women’s Movement: Traveling Nepal
Get PDFNepal is a country formed by the highest peaks in the world, numerous unique cultures and ethnicities, religious pilgrimage sites for both Buddhist and Hindus, and more festivals than days in the year. For Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2017, Nepal was deemed the world’s “Best Value Destination”. Tourism plays a vital role in Nepal’s economy, but its inds is heavily aimed towards the international market. Nepalis in the hospitality industry, scholars, and economists have argued that domestic tourism could be a key component for overall socioeconomic and cultural changes in their society1.
There has been a surge of domestic tourism in recent years, opening new doors for the economy of rural Nepal and the imaginations of the travelers themselves when they bring their experiences back home.
A special component of these travelers are women traveling solo. The idea of a woman traveling on her own for the purpose of exploration and learning, rather than pilgrimage or to visit family, is a radical one in Nepali society. The travel community Nepali Travellers facilitates the “Women Solo Travel Challenge”, which provides grants to accepted applicants to plan, prepare, and complete an extended travel period to destinations throughout their country. The long term goal of the challenge is to change the narrative around young Nepali travel, especially for women. In the following paper, these women’s stories of travel, from the perceptions they challenged, to the reactions they got, and what they learned, will be told.
1 “Internal tourism in Nepal”, Glorious Himalaya Trekking, http://glorioushimalaya.com/hello-world/
Connecting Beyond The Circle: A Restorative Approach in Co-Creating a Safe Space for Social Justice Education at UTEC
Get PDF“Social justice is both a process and a goal. The goal of social justice education is full and equal participation of all groups in a community that is [co-created] to meet the members’ needs. Social justice includes a vision of a community that is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure” (Adams, Bell, & Griffin, 2007, p. 1). In the process, one is used to going straight to issues of social justice before connecting by building trusts and relationships. This Course-Linked Capstone in Training focuses on SIT Graduate Institute coursework from Training Design in Experiential Learning and Training of Trainers: Ethics & Intercultural Design, presenting challenges in designing and facilitating social justice education workshops for young adults impacted by the criminal justice system and trauma, as well as the adults who want to support them. Workshops occurred bi-monthly over a 20-month period at UTEC in Lowell, Massachusetts. The non-profit organization’s population and staff are diverse in race but not in structural power. This impact in implementing social justice education workshops within the organization is examined. Methods include data of target participants, observational research, and reflective analysis of theory-to-practice experiences through storytelling to portray use of needs assessments, power dynamics, and triggers and bias from identities as a social justice educator. A restorative process model connected by circle processes and experiential learning towards the goal of social justice education is presented. Conclusions include ethical implications, lessons learned, and competency building as a reflective training and social justice practitioner.
Keywords: training, facilitation, design, experiential learning, social justice, restorative, education, ethics, power, bias, identity, race, trauma, young adult