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A Lifetime of Climate Changes: Female Farmers\u27 Perceptions of Climate Change Impacts to Well-Being and Livelihood in Antigua and Barbuda
Get PDFThis capstone project emphasizes the value of smallholder farmers working on small island developing states (SIDS) in an era of climate change—with a particular focus on female farmers in light of the global feminization of agriculture. This research study engaged female farmers living in Antigua and Barbuda, a SIDS in the Caribbean, to capture their perceptions of climate risks and the impacts climate change has had on their well-being and livelihood. Qualitative data was collected via life history interviews (LHI), as well as focus group discussions (FGD). These methodologies addressed the primary questions of this research: (i) How do female farmers in Antigua and Barbuda perceive climate change impacts during their lifetimes? (ii) What barriers exist for female farmers in Antigua and Barbuda and how have women in agriculture established resilience and implemented climate change adaptations to overcome current barriers? And (iii) in light of female farmers’ perception of, and resilience to, climate change impacts in Antigua and Barbuda, how can support agencies (e.g. international aid, governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations) better build capacity to assist female farmers to flourish in an era of climate change? The female farmers interviewed for this project have a lifetime of “everyday” experiences that when examined collectively and as a bigger picture create a mosaic that depicts the ways climate change is impacting the livelihoods and well-being of Antiguans and Barbudans over time. Based on the findings of this project, female farmers in Antigua and Barbuda are a source of untapped potential for improving the nation’s food systems. With improved economic support and increased access to tangible resources, the agribusinesses of women in Antigua and Barbuda have the potential to reduce the country’s import dependency, advance food sovereignty, and help women achieve greater financial security.
Key Words: Climate Change, SIDS, Antigua and Barbuda, Caribbean, Female Farmers, Food Sovereignty, Climate Resilienc
Coffee in Brasil: Sustainability and the Role of Intermediaries
Get PDFABSTRACT
Coffee is traded in a highly complex global value chain where countless sustainability initiatives have emerged to address social, economic, and environmental issues, challenges which persist due to dominance of the market structure by largescale traders and roasters. Specialty coffee and direct trade have emerged as alternative trade arrangements that promote high-quality coffee through the use of sustainable practices, transparency, and a shortened supply chain. This research analyzes the role that intermediaries in the Brazilian specialty coffee supply chain play in the implementation of sustainability initiatives asking what kinds of sustainability practices they implement and why, and how this relates to the larger global coffee supply chain. Results from interviews and questionnaires suggest that intermediaries within Brazil’s specialty coffee industry leverage their proximity with producers to reduce power imbalances through education and access to market information. These processes rely upon the use of technology such as social media, as well as frequent direct communication to foster trust and accountability. Participants’ responses demonstrate a sense of responsibility for furthering sustainability practices and demonstrated investment in climate-friendly agricultural practices and capacity-building for stakeholders along the chain. These data offer insights regarding the importance of social relations for enhancing sustainability in the multistakeholder supply chain of coffee
Maine School of Wonder: Developing a School for Earth Skills and Sustainability in Maine
Get PDFThis research project explores the feasibility of establishing an earth skills and spirituality school in Maine, examining pertinent literature on adult environmental education, contemporary notions of work and leisure, earth-centered spirituality, and sustainable development. The study draws insights from interviews conducted with four distinct organizations across Maine engaged in similar initiatives. These include two farms hosting community events and workshops, alongside two retreat centers dedicated to fostering personal growth and skills development. These interviews provide diverse perspectives on the operational dynamics, required resources, and necessary skills for launching a new school aimed at creating inclusive, engaging, and sustainable learning environments for adults. The findings underscore several key factors critical to initiating such an educational venture: the formulation of a clear vision and mission statement, the pivotal role of community engagement in program development and community-building efforts, and a shared ethos of curiosity to meet evolving community and organizational needs. The research affirms the viability of establishing entities like the Maine School of Wonder or Overland Apiaries Nature Education Center, emphasizing the potential for realization through focused dedication of time, energy, and resources to enhance community integration and organizational diversity
“Njangi never dies”: The Social Impacts and Non-Financial Benefits of Njangis in Batoufam and Yaoundé, Cameroon
Get PDFRotating Credits and Savings Associations (ROSCAs) are present in much of the developing world and are incredibly common in Cameroon. The financial impacts of ROSCAs have been researched extensively, but there has been less research on the social impacts and non-financial benefits. This research aims to fill this gap and add to the discussion of ROSCAs in Cameroon (called njangis), as well as demonstrate how njangis are social institutions. This project is in the specific context of njangis in Batoufam and Yaoundé, Cameroon. Interviews and observations informed the conclusion that there are extensive social impacts and non-financial benefits within the social institutions of njangis in Cameroon
Navigating Intersectional Identities: Mental Health Challenges and Accessibility to Mental Health Care among Sub-Saharan Migrant Women in Morocco
Get PDFSince the beginning of the 21st century, as Morocco transitions from solely being a transit point to Europe to becoming a destination country for Sub-Saharan migrants, policies have been implemented to improve migrant integration. Morocco launched the National Strategy on Immigration and Asylum in 2015 which strives to ensure accessibility to essential services for migrants, such as education, healthcare, and integration into the workforce. In addition, through the 2013 New Migration Policy framework, King Mohammed VI aims to “include avenues for regularization” to help migrants integrate into Moroccan society.
This paper addresses how intersecting factors of identity can lead to various challenges for Sub-Saharan migrant women when integrating into Moroccan society. The intersection of gender, religion, race, and being a migrant can lead them to face discrimination and exploitation in the workplace and within society which can subsequently affect their mental health. In this paper, I detail which barriers affect access to mental health services for this population. To collect my data, I conducted two in depth interviews with two NGOs, Mujeres en Zona de Conflicta (MZC) and Maroc Solidarité Médico-Sociale (MS2), that both focus on offering various services and support for migrants, specifically Sub-Saharan migrant women victims and survivors of gender-based violence. I interviewed five people in total including two psychologists, two mediators, and one social worker. They inform on which strategies organizations adopt to enhance accessibility and ensure mental health needs are addressed.
The findings show that improving migrants’ social determinants of health, such as increasing financial stability, can indirectly help migrants\u27 mental health as one’s mental health and physical well-being are intertwined. Therefore, NGOs have a multifunctional role in supporting migrant groups as it is essential to address both aspects to ensure the success of the individual. In addition, information sessions can serve to reduce access barriers as many migrants come in not knowing the role of a psychologist or how they can benefit from therapeutic services. NGOs also talk about various therapy services and approaches that they offer which consist of one-on-one sessions and a non-traditional approach: art therapy. Art therapy provides migrants with a creative outlet and form of expression.
The research emphasizes the significance of fostering resilience and helping migrants visualize their future as it empowers them to face adversity, cope in difficult situations, and work toward preventing intergenerational and cyclical trauma. I recommend that NGOs continue to provide access to mental health resources, community support, and art therapy to work toward giving migrants the opportunity to focus on thriving rather than simply surviving. These interventions can serve as an assistance to eliminating mental health disparities
Role-playing and Rentierism: Rethinking Morocco’s Approach to Migration Diplomacy with the EU
Get PDFMorocco’s unique situation as a Mediterranean “gateway” between Africa and Europe makes the country a key strategic partner to the European Union. When it comes to migration diplomacy, however, cooperation between the two actors is hardly a given. This paper studies Morocco-EU migration diplomacy between 2000 and 2020. It provides an overview of the events and agreements that have shaped the relationship, with a focus on Morocco’s rationale. I argue that Morocco makes use of two tools to strengthen its negotiating position and narrow the gap in relative power – role-playing and rentierism. The former is an element of International Socialization Theory, which describes an actor’s superficial adoption of ‘norms’ institutionalized in its international environment. The latter refers to a process by which a state solicits ‘rent’ – in this case financial aid and bargaining power – from ‘external clients’. My analysis is primarily qualitative, and evidence is derived from various national and bilateral migration policies, high-level Moroccan and EU discourse, and a handful of semi-structured interviews with Moroccan academics
¿Fiesta o Protesta? La Marcha del Orgullo en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires en los inicios de la era de Milei Party or Protest? / The City of Buenos Aires Pride March in the Beginnings of the Milei Era
No full textEste proyecto investiga el estado actual de la Marcha del Orgullo de Buenos Aires en el contexto del nuevo presidente libertario de la ultraderecha, Javier Milei. Se explora la eficacia de la Marcha en poder alcanzar su potencial político a través de la revisión de la historia del movimiento LGBTTI argentino. Además, se realizaron cinco entrevistas semi-estructuradas tanto con organizadores de la Marcha como con participantes para entender los objetivos y métodos del evento desde la perspectiva de lxs involucradxs. Usando principalmente las teorías de interseccionalidad y homonacionalismo, con una base en la teoría de la Estructura de las Oportunidades Políticas, este trabajo analiza las entrevistas para investigar cómo lxs militantes de la comunidad disidente en Buenos Aires resisten el ascenso de la extrema derecha. El análisis gira en torno a dos ejes principales, la importancia de la visibilidad y el valor del discurso. Finalmente, el trabajo propone el debate contínuo entre miembros de la comunidad LGBTTI como la manera más efectiva de lograr el potencial político de la Marcha.
This project investigates the current state of the Buenos Aires Pride March in the context of the new far-right president Javier Milei. The effectiveness of the March in achieving its political potential is explored through a review of the history of the Argentine LGBTTI movement. Additionally, five semi-structured interviews were conducted with both March organizers and participants to understand the goals and methods of the event from those involved. Using principally the theories of intersectionality and homonationalism, along with a basis in the theory of political opportunity structure, this work analyzes the interviews to investigate how militants of the Buenos Aires disidente community are resisting the rise of the extreme right. The analysis rests on two main axes, the importance of visibility and the value of discourse, and ultimately proposes continuous debate among members of the community as the most effective way to achieve the March’s political potential
Los Determinantes Sociales y el Acceso a la Salud de las Mujeres Migrantes: Desde la Perspectiva de las Usuarias y los Trabajadores de Salud
Get PDFFor the past few years, Chile has developed laws and programs, such as the Program for Access to Healthcare for Immigrants, Decree N° 67, and recently Law N° 21.235, to improve the access that migrants have, however, there has been a failure to comply with these regulations. In this qualitative and descriptive investigation, the main objective is to find out how accessible, adequate, and effective the health resources offered by clinics are for migrant women. In order to carry out the investigation, eight semi-structured interviews were held with five primary healthcare workers who frequently work with the migrant population and three migrant women. Despite the changes that have been made at the municipal level to improve the access and quality of the resources for migrants, the results of the investigation showcase that there is still more that needs to be done. The majority of the interviewees thought the resources that the health clinics offer are not adequate, sufficient, or effective. It was also revealed that migration status of migrant women can facilitate or impede her ability to access healthcare services, as it impacts the job she gets, her income, her housing situation, and the access she has to information. To be able to resolve or improve the access to healthcare resources, based on what the interviewees mentioned, there has to be a betterment of the quality and speed of medical attention in the clinics and the distributions of resources at the municipal level. These results demonstrate that in order to resolve these issues of the resources accessibility, adequacy, and effectiveness, the collaboration between locals, healthcare workers, and the municipality is essential. Additionally, observing the great impact that the social determinants have for that access that migrant women have indicates that the ability to resolve these issues found in the healthcare system, implies the need to solve issues in other Chilean systems.
En los últimos años en Chile se ha visto el desarrollo de leyes y programas para mejorar el acceso que los migrantes tienen como El Programa de Acceso a la Atención de la Salud a Personas Migrantes, el Decreto N° 67, y recientemente la Ley N° 21.235, pero se ha visto el incumplimiento de las normativas. En esta investigación cualitativa y descriptiva, el objetivo principal es averiguar cuán accesibles, adecuados, y efectivos son los recursos sanitarios ofrecidos por los centros de salud para mujeres migrantes. Para poder realizar la investigación, se llevaron a cabo ocho entrevistas semi-estructuradas con cinco trabajadores de salud de Atención Primaria de Salud quienes trabajan frecuentemente con población migrante y tres mujeres migrantes contactadas a través del Servicio Jesuita Migrantes. A pesar de los cambios hechos a nivel municipal para mejorar el acceso y la calidad de los recursos para migrantes, los resultados de esta investigación demuestran que todavía son insuficientes. La mayoría de los entrevistadas(os) pensaron que los recursos que ofrecen los centros de salud son inadecuados, insuficientes o inefectivos. Además, se reveló que la situación migratoria de una mujer migrante impacta en la facilidad o dificultad que puede tener para acceder a los servicios sanitarios, ya que la regularidad migratoria puede impactar el trabajo que obtenga, los ingresos, la vivienda y el acceso a información que tiene. Con el fin de poder resolver o mejorar el acceso a los recursos, basado en lo que los entrevistadas(os) mencionaron, se necesita mejorar la calidad y rapidez de atención médica en los centros de salud y la distribución de recursos a nivel municipal. Estos resultados sugieren que para resolver problemas de accesibilidad, adecuación, y efectividad de los recursos, la colaboración entre las personas locales, los trabajadores de salud, y el municipio es esencial. Además, observando el gran impacto que tienen los determinantes sociales para el acceso de las mujeres migrantes indica que el poder de resolver los problemas en el sistema de salud, implica solucionar problemas en otros sistemas en Chile
Identidad bajo amenaza en Chinchero, Perú: El megaproyecto del Aeropuerto Internacional plantea la cuestión: ¿Cuál es más importante para el Estado Peruano—el turismo o el patrimonio?
No full textEl megaproyecto del Aeropuerto Internacional de Chinchero inicialmente fue propuesto hace 46 años, así que ha sido un símbolo del futuro del distrito durante casi cinco décadas. Ubicado a sólo una hora de distancia de la ciudad de Cusco, el pueblo de Chinchero es conocido por su hermoso paisaje, tradición e impresionantes ruinas incas. De todo el mundo, los turistas desembarcan en el aeropuerto de Cusco y pasan por Chinchero de camino al valle sagrado y Machu Picchu. Desde el inicio de la construcción en 2017, el sitio del nuevo aeropuerto es visible desde casi cualquier lugar de Chinchero, como si fuera una parte natural del paisaje. Aunque el gobierno ha prometido desarrollo urbano y económico, muchos interesados se han opuesto al proyecto por los impactos negativos que tendría en el sitio arqueológico, medioambiente e integridad cultural de Chinchero. Las comunidades indígenas locales de Ayllopongo, Cúper y Yanacona—algunos de cuales se tuvieron que reubicar para hacer espacio para el sitio de construcción—se han estado afectado fuertemente por el proyecto. El enfoque principal del trabajo ha sido determinar la opinión de los Chincherinos frente al proyecto, y las perspectivas hacia el futuro, luego de la puesta en marcha del aeropuerto. Se hizo una revisión de la literatura, y entrevistas a pobladores de Chinchero, y otros stakeholders. El resultado más sorprendente fue el hecho de que las opiniones opuestas sobre el aeropuerto cayeron en una división de género. Otros resultados resaltantes fueron la desconfianza en el gobierno, la acumulación del resentimiento entre las comunidades y la percepción de cambios en el paisaje cultural. Basado en los usuarios priorizados del sitio arqueológico, se intentó evaluar de quienes serán los usuarios y beneficiarios del aeropuerto. En conclusión, se propone que el caso de Chinchero—donde entran en conflicto la protección del patrimonio de un lado, y el desarrollo económico de otro—es sólo un ejemplo de cómo la globalización está cambiando al Perú contemporáneo.
The megaproject of the International Airport of Chinchero was first proposed 46 years ago, so it has functioned as a symbol of the district’s future for almost five decades. Located just an hour outside of the city of Cusco, the town of Chinchero is known for its beautiful natural landscape, ancient textile traditions, and impressive Incan ruins. Tourists from all over the world land at the Cusco airport and pass through Chinchero on their way to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Since the start of the construction in 2017, the site of the new airport has been visible from almost anywhere in Chinchero, as if it were a natural feature of the landscape. Although the government has promised urban and economic development, many stakeholders have staunchly opposed the project on the grounds that it will negatively impact the archaeological site, environment, and cultural integrity of Chinchero. The local indigenous communities of Ayllopongo, Cúper, and Yanacona—some of whom were relocated to make space for the construction—have been particularly affected by the project. The main objective of this study was to determine the opinion of the residents of Chinchero regarding the project, as well as the prospects for the future, once the airport is operational. A review of the literature was carried out, and 22 interviews were conducted with residents of Chinchero, and other stakeholders. The most surprising result was that opposing opinions about the airport fell along a gender divide. Other notable results were a general distrust in the government, built-up resentment between communities, and a perceived shift in the cultural landscape. Based on the prioritized users of the archaeological site, an attempt was made to evaluate who the users and beneficiaries of the airport will be. In conclusion, it is proposed that the case of Chinchero—where the protection of heritage on the one hand, and economic development on the other, come into conflict—is just one example of how globalization is changing contemporary Peru
Avian diversity and abundance among agricultural land, forested land, and their ecotone in Guadalupe, Cerro Punta, Chiriquí Province, Republic of Panamá.
Get PDFAs the human population increases, finding the balance between modifying land use for resources and protecting areas to preserve species that are threatened by anthropogenic disturbance is an ever growing problem. Guadalupe is a town in the Western Highlands of Panamá that struggles in this balance as its primary income source is agriculture, but it is located on the border of two protected areas, Parque Nacional La Amistad and Parque Nacional Volcán Barú. By understanding the unique ways in which avifauna utilize distinct vegetative landscapes, recommendations can be made for management styles of farms in Guadalupe to implement practices that promote conservation. The purpose of this study is to quantify the different contributions to avian diversity of agricultural land, forested land, and the border between the two. Stationary point counts were used in three different sites (forest, forest edge, and cultivated land) within the town of Guadalupe to measure avian diversity and abundance. It was hypothesized that the forest edge would have the highest diversity and abundance followed by the forest and the cultivated land last. Analysis revealed no significant difference in abundance between the three sites but significantly higher Shannon-Wiener and Simpson’s biodiversity indices in both the forest and forest edge sites when compared to the cultivated land. No significant difference was found between the forest and edge sites. Sorenson’s coefficient of community found the highest similarity to be between the forest and edge sites. A high number of endemic species were found in the forest and edge sites compared to the cultivated site. These results show the forest and forest edge hold the highest conservation value and that the forest edge on agricultural land preserves a high percentage of the biodiversity within natural forests. Thus, conservation efforts in Guadalupe should prioritize the interface between forest edge with cultivated land, preservation of forests, and reforestation. Further recommendations include increasing tree cover throughout agricultural plots to increase connectivity in these fragmented landscapes