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Somos tierra floreciendo: El surgimiento de la literatura kichwa como herramienta política y cultural
Get PDFEste proyecto de estudio independiente examina el papel de la literatura escrita en la resistencia cultural y política de los pueblos kichwas de la sierra ecuatoriana. Analiza la manera en que la historia de colonización influye en la expresión cultural y lingüística de los pueblos originarios, en particular la fuerte tradición de oralidad y los niveles bajos de alfabetismo en la propia lengua que caracterizan a la actual producción cultural de la sociedad kichwa. Dentro de esto contexto, discute las implicaciones de adoptar y utilizar recursos y códigos occidentales, como la escritura alfabética, para preservar, fortalecer y revitalizar la lengua y cultura. A través de diálogos con seis escritores kichwas contemporáneos y participación en un festival de poesía en lenguas originarias, explora las consecuencias de usar la literatura escrita como medio de comunicación, enseñanza e interacción con las mismas comunidades indígenas tanto como el mundo occidental. Finalmente, aborda las ventajas y desventajas de la publicación, la traducción y la tecnología digital como medios para diseminar y expandir la literatura kichwa a nivel comunitario e internacional, y el papel de la literatura en construir y promover relaciones verdaderamente interculturales entre sociedades y culturas.
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This independent study project examines the role of written literature in the cultural and political resistance of the Kichwa peoples of the Ecuadorian highlands. It analyzes the way in which the history of colonization influences the cultural and linguistic expression of native peoples, in particular the strong tradition of orality and the low levels of literacy in the language itself that characterize the current cultural production of Kichwa society. Within this context, he discusses the implications of adopting and using Western resources and codes, such as alphabetic writing, to preserve, strengthen and revitalize language and culture. Through dialogues with six contemporary Kichwa writers and participation in a festival of poetry in native languages, he explores the consequences of using written literature as a means of communication, teaching and interaction with indigenous communities as well as the Western world. Finally, it addresses the advantages and disadvantages of publishing, translation and digital technology as means to disseminate and expand Kichwa literature at the community and international levels, and the role of literature in building and promoting truly intercultural relations between societies and cultures
Prey naïveté and predator-prey interactions between Pterois volitans, Pomacentridae, and Tetraodontidae in two reefs in the Guna Yala Archipelago, Panama
No full textThe invasion of Pterois volitans along the Atlantic coast of the Americas is one of the top marine conservation issues of the century. Prey naïveté has been suggested as a mechanism for the success of P. volitans, but conclusive field observations have not been completed. This study tested for prey naïveté in situ by comparing time spent by Pomacentridae and Tetraodontidae in close proximity to P. volitans and a native predator, Cephalopholis cruentata. Difference in time spent by Pomacentridae and Tetraodontidae in the presence of the two predators was observed. The predators P. volitans and C. cruentata were sequentially observed for ten-minute-long periods in the morning and evening on two coral reefs near El Porvenir over the course of a week in November 2017. It was found that Pomacentridae and Tetraodontidae were naïve to P. volitans, spending significantly more time in their presence than C. cruentata (MP = 232.48, SDP = 177.73; MC = 38.21, SDC = 42.05). A new action pattern was observed in which P. volitans appeared to lure Tetraodontidae using their pectoral and dorsal fins. It was also found that cloud cover and presence of Serranidae did not have an observable effect on P. volitans predator-prey interactions (MCloudy = 57.59, SDCloudy = 93.60; MClear = 110.54, SDClear = 142.82). This information supports previous studies on prey naïveté in P. volitans and provides an ecological overview of feeding ecology and behavior
Shift in Icelandic Plant Populations Due to Climate Change: Through the Lens of Natural Dyes
Get PDFNorthern residing plant species are at the highest risk for extinction due to temperature rise related to climate change (Schöb, Manuel, Choler & Veit, 2009). Climate change has also led to a northern shift in the geographic distribution of plant species (Parmesan & Yohe, 2003). This could lead to a necessary alteration in the way natural resources are utilized in arctic countries like Iceland (Lim-Camacho et al, 2017). The purpose of this study is to analyze the way in which Icelandic plant species used in natural dye practices may shift in distribution due to climate change and the potential impact this shift may have on the craft. In this study, six plant species used for natural textile dyeing in Iceland were processed into dyes and applied to Icelandic wool. The dyed wool was then woven into an art piece representative of the findings of this study. Through analysis of previous literature on tundra species used in dyeing, the study concludes that a decrease in species diversity and an increase of invasive plant species will occur due to increased temperatures. An increase of new species could lead to new opportunities in the color palette but the increase of invasive species could lead to extinction of commonly used native species that produce unique colors. While some native species like Rumex longifolius will benefit from climate change, other native species will falter. This means that natural dye practitioners in Iceland will begin to see a decrease in the availability of commonly used native species like Cladonia chlorophaea, Peltigera canina and Alchemilla vulgaris and will have to be more mindful when gathering and using them
A Comparative Study of the Barriers to HIV Self-Management Among Myanmar Migrant and Han Chinese Women in Yunnan, China
Get PDFHIV has transitioned from high-risk populations to the general population through sexual transmission – now the primary mode of transmission in China – and is currently the biggest public health crisis in China. Those who are not directly involved with commercial sex work (CSW) or intravenous drug use (IDU) are now vulnerable to contraction. Han Chinese women, especially young women, are generally more vulnerable to transmission than their male counterparts, both physically and socially, and the virus affects their lives more deeply. Myanmar migrant women are even more vulnerable, as their migrant status leaves them without support structures or protections for their human rights in both their native countries and in China. The aim of this study was to examine the barriers to HIV self-management for these two populations of women living with HIV (WLHIV) in Yunnan and analyze the trends that hinder their ability to manage their disease. The term ‘barriers to health care’ refers to the political socio-economic factors that prevent one to access suitable health care. Likewise, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website, ‘self-management’ can be defined as the management of a chronic condition in order to live life to the fullest. To achieve this aim, fifteen WLHIV (eight Myanmar migrant and seven Han Chinese women) and three healthcare providers were participated in semi structured in-depth interviews in three cities in Yunnan province about the lives of WLHIV, how WLHIV access care, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic in general. Facilitators of HIV self-management include permanent resident status, family support after disclosure, learning to live with HIV, and antiretroviral therapy adherence. Barriers to HIV self-management include lack of family support system, stigma, discriminatory hiring policy and practices, physical fatigue, and financial difficulty
Tibetan Women’s Experiences with Childbirth: A Comparative Study of Present-Day Shangri-La and Previous Studies in Tibetan Communities
Get PDFWhat are the experiences of Tibetan women living in and around Shangri-La with pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood? In order to explore this topic, one must first understand the context in which this topic exists: Tibetan Buddhism and culture. This paper gives a short background on women and the female body in Tibetan Buddhism, the Tibetan Medical system, and the current accessibility and regulation of hospitals, before entering into the topic of Tibetan women’s experiences with childbirth. The experiences and traditional practices of childbirth are important, as birth is universally significant as well as particularly religiously significant in Tibetan Buddhism, and the idea of cultural preservation is highly relevant to our globalized world, particularly China. Additionally, previous studies on Tibetan childbirth are not located within Yunnan, generally outdated, and do not include new hospital regulations.
My field work was located primarily in Shangri-La, with additional study in three other Tibetan areas within Diqing Prefecture. Observation and contextual study of the areas I worked in and the residents of those areas was crucial to better understanding my topic, which led me to include Tibetan women I observed for extended periods of time within my list of human resources (Appendix A). Officially, I had twelve interviews, but a total of seventeen human resources.
My findings turned out significantly different from how I had originally anticipated, and very different from previous studies on Tibetan birthing traditions. It is because of these differences that this paper is a comparative exploration of different aspects of the birthing process depicted in previous literature and from my own field work. In what ways are my findings different, and why might the discrepancy between my study and previous studies exist
How Anti-Racist Participatory Policy Advocacy Can Change Delaware’s Education System
Get PDFNon-profit organizations fighting for change in the education system are more likely to realize their mission by engaging members of the public, particularly parents and students. However, engaging the public in a meaningful way requires an understanding of barriers to participation in the education system (racism), a shift away from colorblind, liberal ideology typically used to drive non-profit activity, and the undertaking of an anti-racist agenda when working within communities. Here, I offer a set of guidelines which the Rodel Foundation of Delaware can follow to implement anti-racist, participatory policy advocacy. Starting with a review of racism in Delaware’s education system, I offer Rodel a means of adopting an anti-racist agenda internally. Then, I offer a framework by which Rodel can engage parents and students in advocacy that is community-driven and community-owned. Without an explicit focus on dismantling racism in the education system through participatory policy advocacy, education reform efforts will remain incremental and non-transformative
Freedom and Unity: Examining the Individualized, Community-based Process of Restorative Justice in Vermont and What it Can Teach Other States, Through a Trainer\u27s Lens
Get PDFHow can communities and law enforcement embrace a cultural shift to address conflict in a way that restores relationships and makes amends instead of one that punishes and criminalizes certain behaviors and individuals? How can we create spaces where those who commit harm, those who are impacted by harm, and other affected parties can come together with equal voice, have their needs met, and communicate in healthy ways? This Course-Linked Capstone in Training, situated in Brattleboro, Vermont, looks at the power of restorative justice and restorative processes to heal relationships and empower communities to care for one another and address the impacts of harm together. The paper begins the practitioner’s own journey to and through SIT by focusing on the connection between the fields of peacebuilding and social justice training and revisiting key competencies and learnings from training courses. Through an introduction to the philosophy of restorative justice, a brief history of restorative justice in Vermont, an overview of the work of one community justice center in Brattleboro, Vermont, and findings from interviews with restorative justice practitioners from Vermont community justice centers and Vermont Department of Corrections, this paper examines the benefits and challenges of restorative justice, both on a larger level and within Vermont, and what Vermont can teach other states and communities about implementing restorative practices. This paper concludes with a final analysis through a trainer’s lens that connects the fields of restorative justice, peacebuilding, and social justice training
Listening: Projects for the Self and Social Action
Get PDFListening is becoming more of a rarity in this increasingly busy world, especially between those who see a particular issue differently. The question, “By conducting listening projects as trainers, what can we learn about ourselves and social action work?” is explored in this capstone paper to see how listening can benefit us both personally and professionally as trainers. Numerous articles, commentaries, and literature around listening, listening projects, and their meaning are examined in this paper.
Five different types of listening projects are explored through listening sessions: Oral histories, Oral artistries, ‘Button-pushing’ challenges, Single-issue testimonies, and Life stories. With the exception of ‘button-pushing’ challenges, which comes from the Training for Social Action (TSA) class, the types of listening projects come from Hugo Slim’s Listening for Change and were all studied during the TSA class. Building upon and deepening learnings from best practices and studies in TSA; themes for the listening sessions were determined by the author’s own experiences which prompted this personal journey in listening to ten people, their lives, and their perspectives. For each type of project, two participants were selected. A total of ten participants were listened to: five who the inquirer previously knew and five who were strangers.
Best practices are determined for listening projects as a whole; best practices for individual types of projects, similarities, and differences are also suggested. Key learnings are shared about the act of listening, listening projects, the self, and how all of these concepts can enhance training. Further connections are made in how listening lands within the realm of social action. Both training practitioners and their work can benefit from slowing down and listening. As is found by both the author and the literature: – “Listening is social action.
Ndoto Au Ota: Jifundishe\u27s Strategic Planning Process: A Case Study of an Appreciative Approach to the Strategic Planning Process for a Small NGO
Get PDFIn January 2017, Jifundishe, a small, local nonprofit organization based in Ngongongare, Tanzania undertook its first strategic planning process. I was asked to design and lead this initiative for the organization, finding a way to introduce tools and resources so that they, or a similar organization, could replicate the process in the future. To better reflect the values, culture, and constraints of Jifundishe, the methodology selected to drive the process was Appreciative Inquiry (AI). AI is a change model focused on strengths, and an appreciative strategic plan looks to take the best of what you already have and work to develop that further. This Independent Practitioner Inquiry Capstone (IPIC) seeks to identify how AI was used in the strategic planning process, examining what tools and approaches were chosen and how they were implemented. And then to present how those who participated in the process experienced it. Through a series of portraits, it became evident that using appreciative inquiry as an approach to the strategic planning process allows for the participants to participate in an inclusive, positive way and to dream big. This study highlights the importance of using a tailored approach to strategic planning grounded in AI methodology
Is Restorative Justice Doing Enough To Address The Power Imbalances Caused By Systems of Privilege and Oppression
Get PDFRestorative justice is an ever growing philosophy which is causing a paradigm shift in the way society understands and responds to crime, punishment and victimization. The State of Vermont has become a pioneer and an example of how to implement restorative practices into the official criminal justice system, developing an alternative process to traditional punitive approaches. However, it is now more important than ever to ensure that there is not a false sense of success or a level of complacency in the further development of restorative practices. It is time to critically analyse the current restorative process and explore the difficult question of whether these practices are doing enough to address the power imbalances caused by systems of privilege and oppression.
This study conducts an Oppression Theory based analysis of the restorative practices taking place at a Vermont Community Justice Center and a Vermont High School. The analysis breaks down the impacts of systems of privilege and oppression at the micro and macro level. At the micro level, it explores how conferred dominance and learned societal behaviours that are dictated by an individual’s social identity groups, can impact their willingness and ability to meaningfully engage in restorative practices. At the macro level, it explores the concept of a societal disequilibrium and the danger of restorative practices perpetuating systems of inequality and oppression.
This study finds that several individuals engaging in the restorative practices it explored did not acknowledge the impacts that systems of privilege and oppression can have of the restorative process. Those who were able to identify the negative effects that inequalities can have on restorative practices, did not appear to have the knowledge or resources to address such issues. Therefore, the author of this study designed “A Restorative Justice Course: Understanding Privilege and Oppression” (pg. 28-49), which is a practical Oppression Theory based framework to help restorative practitioners better understand the impacts of societal inequality. It is an easily accessible, adaptable and implementable framework which can be used to further develop restorative practices and to ensure those who engage in restorative processes do so in a more socially conscious way