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KUL SHAE MIZEAN—MOROCCAN RHETORIC OF RACISM: Obscured Moroccan Racism and Its Effects on Sub-Saharan African Refugees’ Integration in Rabat
Get PDFThis paper aims to examine the overarching rhetoric surrounding racism against the Black
community in Morocco, specifically targeted toward refugees and migrants, and how the presence of racism—and the absence of a public conversation about its manifestation in Morocco—impacts the extent to which Sub-Saharan African[1] refugees feel they have been able to integrate. This is an attempt to find how the blindness of the majority of Moroccans to racism promotes its perpetuation and hinders refugees’ integration, and to understand how, by acknowledging and speaking out against racism, the human rights of refugees can be better advocated for by NGOs and the Moroccan government at large.
The research in this paper is primarily based on interviews conducted with the Ministry in Charge of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs, the UNHCR[2], the UMT[3], AMAPPE[4], refugees living in Rabat, as well as extensive background research on Morocco’s historical relationship with racism, slavery, and nationalism. This work is supplemented by a survey distributed to Moroccans living in Rabat in which I ask about the presence of racism and whether or not the participants see it as an ongoing problem in Morocco and how this diverges from the perspectives of those subject to racism’s effects. Further, as part of my research, I present a rhetorical analysis of King Mohammed VI’s speech on King and People’s Revolution Day last year. In this analysis, I examine how the king’s rhetoric consistently promotes a problematic and inherently racist perspective of “enlightenment,” and recurrently situates Morocco outside Africa, perpetuating a principle of hierarchical racial classification delineating Moroccans and sub-Saharan Africans. The conclusions of this research suggest that, while there is certainly a legacy of anti-Blackness alive and well in Morocco, Moroccan nationalism has dangerously shrouded it—most Moroccans deny the existence of racism, and thus a very essential public dialogue about racism is being neglected both by the Moroccan people and the Moroccan government. Though the interviews were limited in scope, they provide an important narrative that appears common amongst sub-Saharan African refugees: racism in Morocco is present, growing, and inhibiting their integration into the Moroccan workforce and society. In order to improve refugees’ quality of lives in Morocco, this research indicates that the Moroccan government must fight racism; however, it must first start listening to the narratives of sub-Saharan African refugees when they assert that Moroccan racism is, indeed, unquestionable.
[1] The term Sub-Saharan is contested, and that the experiences of Africans from the multitude of countries South of the Sahara cannot be generalized; however, for the purposes of my study which focused on Africans of a similar age and “race,” but no common nationality, the term is useful and more accurate than other possible descriptors.
[2] The United Nations’ Refugee Agency representation in Morocco, located in Rabat.
[3] Acronym for the Union Marocaine Du Travail (Moroccan worker’s union).
[4] Acronym for L’Association Maroncaine d’Appui à la Promotion de la Petite Entreprise. (Moroccan Assocation for the Promotion and Support of Small Business)
Innovation in Digital Music: A Customized Program for Barcelona SAE
Get PDFBarcelona SAE is a third-party study abroad provider that facilitates study and intern abroad experiences for college-age students from around the world. One branch of Barcelona SAE is its Customized Programs Department, which offers over 45 customized programs to students studying everything from public health to the culinary arts to engineering. They currently have a gap, though, in their portfolio of program offerings: they have never offered a program geared toward students studying music. Through interviews with staff members from Barcelona SAE, this paper demonstrates a need for a music-based customized program in Barcelona. Furthermore, it fills this need with a three-week, faculty-led program that exposes students to local culture while walking them through the innovation, creation, entrepreneurship and collaboration in Barcelona’s digital music scene.
Each summer Barcelona hosts two conferences in digital music, both of which focus on innovation and entrepreneurship. These two events, Sonar +D and Primavera Pro, happen within two weeks of each other, and will be a focal point of this program. Both conferences provide a space for entrepreneurs to come together and share their discoveries, and to discuss the direction in which the industry is growing. Students will have the opportunity to network, hear from guest speakers, and sample some of the world’s newest advances in the field of digital music. In addition, students on the Innovation in Digital Music program will visit local businesses in the digital music industry to learn from professionals and see how the digital music business works in Europe.
The Innovation in Digital Music program features design components from SIT’s Design Concepts & Evaluation and International Education Design & Delivery courses; the courses from which the theoretical foundations of this paper are drawn. The target market for this program is music courses at Berklee College of Music, Juilliard School, University of California San Diego, Jacob’s School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music. These schools all have strong music departments, and a high likelihood of sending their students abroad. As of now, music students from these universities do not have an option for a music-specific customized program in Barcelona, and this program fulfills that need, while diversifying Barcelona SAE’s portfolio and expanding their marketability
ENVIRONMENTALLY-INDUCED MIGRATION AND SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
No full textThis Independent Practitioner Inquiry Capstone is intended to explore the potential relationship between climate-induced migrant communities and socio-environmental entrepreneurship. The challenges that face this demographic of displaced persons are wide ranging, they are social, cultural, economic and physical. Fewer communities are able to sustain living in their geographical location because of environmental degradation and are increasingly looking towards migration as an adaptive strategy for survival. A lot of ambiguity continues to plague the phenomena of Climate-Induced Migration. As such, there is a lack of constructive dialogue within the international community, regarding policies and laws, and how to effectively develop frameworks and guidelines focused on providing the necessary aid to the migrating populations. While the world’s governments continue to debate about who is responsible for the degradation of the environment, these communities need to take immediate action. For some, action involves planned migration and relocation, while others are work relentlessly to build local capacities to stay where they are-though that option is becoming increasingly expensive and indefinite. This paper explores four case studies of affected communities and proposes to explore socio-environmental entrepreneurship as an approach to enhance the communities’ capacities to keep them culturally connected to their heritage, to build social cohesion amongst host communities when necessary, and help them maintain as much independence as possible from unreliable government and international aid
La Militancia, el feminismo y la participación de poblaciones marginales: El estudio de la Asociación Civil Juana Azurduy / Militancy, feminism and the participation of marginal populations: The study of the Civil Association Juana Azurduy
No full textCon frecuencia, es común observar en las calles argentinas gran cantidad de movilizaciones públicas; éste es, sin duda, uno de los signos que evidencian hasta qué punto la militancia forma parte de la cultura del país. A través de una investigación en la Asociación Civil Juana Azurduy, este ensayo se sitúa la militancia feminista dentro de un contexto de marginalidad que existe en la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Se analizan observaciones acerca del funcionamiento cotidiano de esta organización, observaciones de talleres educativos ofrecidos a niñxs, y entrevistas con dirigentes para examinar cómo funciona la militancia feminista en este contexto y cómo se distingue esta militancia de otras.
Often, it is common to observe in the Argentine streets a great amount of public mobilizations; this is undoubtedly one of the signs that show the extent to which militancy is part of the country\u27s culture. Through an investigation in the Civil Association Juana Azurduy, this essay situates feminist militancy within a context of marginality that exists in the Province of Buenos Aires. We analyze observations about the daily functioning of this organization, observations of educational workshops offered to children, and interviews with leaders to examine how feminist militancy works in this context and how this militancy is distinguished from others
Los emprendedores tecnológicos en Buenos Aires: Un análisis de la coyuntura actual y oportunidades para el futuro / Technological Entrepreneurs in Buenos Aires: An Analysis of the Present Situation and Opportunities for the Future
No full textIn today’s world, changes are happening at an ever-increasing pace. Technology is one of the driving forces behind the changes occurring in cities across the world and is affecting everything from the labor market to the way we buy and sell things. While some of this technological innovation is produced by large firms, around the world entrepreneurs are harnessing technology in order to address inefficiencies in today\u27s world and to disrupt industries that have existed for decades, if not centuries. As the capital of Argentina and one of the metropolitan hubs of South America, Buenos Aires is a fascinating city within which to consider the subject of technological entrepreneurs and innovation. As such, the question guiding this work is: what is the current environment for tech entrepreneurs in Buenos Aires and what do these conditions mean for the future of the city and of the country?
Through a combination of literature review, observational fieldwork and interviews, this work aims to come to a better understanding of the question and the possibilities for the future. This essay first examines the existing literature and statistics regarding entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship and then analyses the topic focusing on three main concepts: community, market readiness and the legal framework as they pertain to technology and entrepreneurs in Buenos Aires. The main conclusions are that while there is a strong entrepreneurial spirit and community of entrepreneurs in the city and the current government has positioned itself within a discourse of developing technology and innovation in the city, there are significant roadblocks to the city being a technological hub including: the education system, polarized political ideologies and a general indifference toward technological change by segments of the population. So while there are some Argentine entrepreneurs have had immense success leveraging technology and others who are following in their footsteps, it seems that there is still a ways to go until there is the same startup culture that exists in other cities around the world
Transmitiendo la Identidad: Revalorización Sociopolítica del Kichwa por los Medios de Comunicación \ Transmitting Identity: Sociopolitical Revaluation of the Kichwa by the Media
No full textEste Proyecto de Estudio Independiente considera cómo los medios de comunicación kichwas están involucrados en la conciencia sociopolítica indígena. Establece una historia de la opresión lingüística hacia los kichwa; provee un marco conceptual de los espacios de uso sociolingüísticos en la diglosia; e introduce el tema de los medios de comunicación kichwas, localizados en Otavalo y los pueblos de Imbabura cercanos. Presenta la información primaria sobre los medios de comunicación, obtenida a través de entrevistas, diálogos informales, observación enfocada y participante, y una encuesta pública en Otavalo. Considera el radio, lo audiovisual, y publicaciones escritas, a través de unas organizaciones especificas. Sintetiza cinco aspectos de los medios de comunicación kichwas en la sociedad, con atención a lo político y el uso de los idiomas: 1) la motivación sociopolítica para medios kichwas, 2) la importancia de los medios de comunicación, 3) la producción de las obras, 4) los logros y desafíos prácticos actuales, y 5) la respuesta comunitaria. Afirma la necesidad de medios de comunicación kichwas, con atención a sus objetivos, audiencia, y necesidad de apoyo político, y celebra la autorepresentación kichwa en espacios de uso públicos. Con el apoyo de Profesor Luis De la Torre, yo realicé este proyecto en Otavalo, Ecuador, en la primavera de 2017 cómo parte de SIT Study Abroad y de mis estudios lingüísticos en Rice University, para poder conocer de manera directa los desafíos y logros sociolingüísticos de los pueblos originarios.
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This Independent Study Project considers how the Kichwa media are involved in indigenous sociopolitical awareness. It establishes a history of linguistic oppression towards the Kichwa; provides a conceptual framework of sociolinguistic use spaces in diglossia; and introduces the subject of the Kichwa media, located in Otavalo and the nearby Imbabura villages. It presents the primary information about the media, obtained through interviews, informal dialogues, focused and participant observation, and a public survey in Otavalo. It considers the radio, the audiovisual, and written publications, through specific organizations. It synthesizes five aspects of the Kichwa media in society, with attention to politics and the use of languages: (1) socio-political motivation for Kichwa media, (2) importance of the media, (3) works, (4) current practical achievements and challenges, and (5) community response. It affirms the need for Kichwa media, with attention to its objectives, audience, and need for political support, and celebrates Kichwa self-representation in public use spaces. With the support of Prof. Luis De la Torre, I carried out this project in Otavalo, Ecuador, in the spring of 2017, as part of the SIT Study Abroad and my linguistic studies at Rice University, in order to be able to know directly the sociolinguistic challenges and achievements of the native peoples
Reaching for the Heart: An Analysis of Language as a Weapon of Empathy For Three Capetonians
Get PDFIn this paper, I examine the role that cross-cultural language study plays in the lives of three Capetonians in order to explore its capacity to foster empathy between people of different backgrounds. Framed in the context of South African history and modern academic discourse around language use in educational and public spaces in the country, I present the stories of my three interviewees and analyze particular experiences that they relayed in order to trace trends of empathy and understanding through their language use.
Through my discussion of this qualitative data, I reach the conclusion that language can be an effective tool to promote cross-cultural understanding and empathy, particularly when the multilinguist engages continually in the use of their language skills and the exploration of cultural contexts associated with such languages
Equity and Community-Based Health Insurance: How does insurance coverage affect health seeking behavior among disadvantaged groups in India?
Get PDFThe objective of this study is to examine how Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) can promote equity by improving health seeking behavior across gender and geography. Using a CBHI scheme from the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) as a case study, trends in claims filed between October 2016 and March 2017 are compared to the distribution of memberships in order to investigate whether health insurance coverage positively impacts health seeking behavior among disadvantaged groups, and what barriers to access exist when the burden of medical costs are reduced. This study concludes that the number of male and female claims in the sample is consistent with the distribution of gender in memberships. The average estimated cost of medical treatment is similar in size for males and females, as is the average percent of cost approved for reimbursement. Among patients below eighteen years of age, male members have a substantially higher hospitalization rate than female members. The number of claims filed from urban versus rural areas is consistent with the geographical distribution of memberships. However, urban members heavily outnumber rural members, and rural members tend to seek more expensive treatment and receive a lower percentage of treatment cost as a payout
Agrarian Reform in Sumber Klampok
Get PDFAgrarian reform in Indonesia is part of a movement beginning after independence was gained in 1945. Farmers have been fighting to obtain rights to their land from a government that has a history of violence, repression, and corruption for decades. Environmental, indigenous peoples’, peasant, and agrarian movements were given a legitimate, legal framework to work within after 1960 when the Basic Agrarian Law was passed, protecting the rights of the people to their land. However, during both the Old Order and especially New Order regimes, the law was often ignored by the government, and many grassroots organizations had to work under secrecy, as land reform movements were often associated with the Indonesian Communist Party, members of whom were killed after the transition from the Sukarno to Suharto presidency. After the fall of Suharto, agrarian movements were able to openly come together to begin strategizing and forming organizations that still exist and are very influential today. One of these organizations is Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria (KPA), an Indonesian NGO based in Jakarta that works on agrarian issues. The head of KPA Bali, a sub-division of the KPA, lives in Sumber Klampok village in the Buleleng regency. She works diligently with the special committee of the village on a variety of land rights issue, especially to obtain certificates for the villagers that give them legal land ownership. The history of Sumber Klampok begins in 1922 when it was made into a slave plantation by Dutch companies. The people who have inhabited the area have never had rights to the land since this happened. Sumber Klampok now is a well-developed, rural, agricultural village with only 849 families. This village is a good example of what many Indonesian farmers and indigenous people have endured at the hands of the government, and also the uncertainty that many of them face in the future regarding their land rights
Eco-Anxiety at University: Student Experiences and Academic Perspectives on Cultivating Healthy Emotional Responses to the Climate Crisis
Get PDFThis research looks at the overall question of how planetary health impacts mental health and psychological welling. The central focus is eco-anxiety—mental distress caused by climate change and environmental degradation—and how it manifests in university students. In order to gather data for this research I collected 114 student survey responses, interviewed seven young adults (ages 20-25), and interviewed seven experts in the fields of psychology and environmental studies.
They survey results show high levels of general stress and anxiety, high levels of stress and anxiety related to climate change and the state of the world, and a very high level of importance placed on nature connection in terms of mental health and psychological resilience. Most students also reported feeling that environmental studies classes psychologically prepare them poorly—moderately well for the information they receive.
The young adults and experts interviewed comment on their own experiences with eco-anxiety, the important role media plays in influencing public opinion, their distrust of most mainstream media sources, their perceptions of how climate change is represented in academia (both what’s working and what isn’t), the psychology of climate denial, the process of empowering young adults, and the importance of both nature and community connection. They also provide recommendations for students, universities, organizations, and psychologists on how to best integrate a greater focus on mental health and wellbeing as we move forward with the fight against climate change