8411 research outputs found
Sort by
Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) conservation: juvenile behavior and diet at a nest near Pijibasal, Darien
Get PDFThe Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja), the largest and most powerful bird of prey in the Americas, is declining throughout its range in Neotropical forests. Hunting and deforestation threaten populations in the most important remaining eagle habitat in Central America, the Darien province of Panama. These eagles may have the longest postfledging juvenile dependency of any raptor, though juvenile behavior during this period is poorly studied. This study monitored an 11-month-old juvenile for 7 days at a nest near the indigenous community of Pijibasal in order to study behavior and diet. Researchers recorded the juvenile’s location and behavior, studied prey remains and wildlife in the area, and witnessed 2 prey deliveries from the parent birds. The juvenile depended on the parents for food, but had begun exploring the area around the nest and practicing hunting motions. No behavioral information on wild H. harpyja at this age has been published, although the findings from this study agree with the hypothesis that juveniles progressively gain independence and disperse from the parental territory during their first 2 years.
The nest-monitoring project began several years prior to this study, involving members of Pijibasal as well as other organizations such as ANCON and Fondo Darién. Interviews were conducted with community members to learn about local involvement and perceptions on conservation. Judging by interviews, tourism and research projects in Pijibasal successfully reconcile local needs with biodiversity conservation. H. harpyja conservation efforts should focus on preserving H. harpyja habitat, studying juvenile dispersal, and involving local communities, particularly given the potential of this flagship species to promote tropical forest conservation by attracting international support
Street Art in Kathmandu as a Tool for Activism and Social Change
Get PDFIn recent years street art has become a popular platform for activism and social commentary in Kathmandu. Both local Nepalis and visiting foreign artists have transformed the streets of the city into their new canvas for art and changemaking. The effectiveness of this unique intersection of art and activism has narrowly been examined through an academic lens. This research intends to understand the specific intentions of street artists and their art in Kathmandu. The effectiveness of this street art as a platform for social change is measured in this research through qualitative interviews and observational techniques. Analysis of the dynamics between the artists’ intentions and the potential reach of their art is used to gauge the impact of street art as a tool for activism. Collaboration between artists and their ideas, audiences, and mediums seems to be the way in which art can successfully act as a tool for change. The lack of this collaboration amongst activist based street art in Kathmandu (i.e. coming from an individual artist and the personal perspective of that artist) results in the art being less relatable for a viewer and thus less effective in terms of activism
Relocation, Resistance and Resilience: Squatter Community Responses to Government Intervention for Urban Development in Kathmandu
Get PDF“Squatting,” or residing on public land illegally, is a modern urban phenomenon in developing countries. This phenomenon is attributed to rapid urbanization due to rural-to-urban migration, which leads to rising costs of living, exclusionary housing markets, a lack of affordable housing and urban inequality. Ultimately, unplanned urban growth encourages the formation and expansion of squatter settlements. These settlements are commonly characterized as slum due to the impoverished living conditions, highly congested spaces and lack of public services (water, sanitation, education, etc.) Without land certificates, squatters are denied their right to adequate housing and land security, which should be protected by the government. The growth of these settlements is not a natural process, but rather a byproduct of ineffective urban planning through weak governance. In Kathmandu, the government frequently attempts to evict and relocate squatters, but squatters resist relocation and demand for land rights. This study is conducted through semi-structured interviews with representatives from government agencies, squatter settlements and development organizations to identify and explain the processes and motives behind government-driven resettlement plans, responses to these plans by squatters and effective community mobilization strategies for urban development. Conflicting perspectives between how government views squatters and how squatters view themselves exemplify how squatter settlements react to government intervention. Through the perspective of squatters, this paper critically analyzes the role of government to build sustainable cities that include and uplift disadvantaged populations, including residents of squatter settlements
Making it work: Supporting contemporary artists in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Get PDFFollowing the country’s political transition to democracy in the 1990s, a generation of Mongolian artists constructed an art movement rooted in the issues of the new society: transitional national identity, corrupt political and economic systems, and a growingly complex relationship with nature. The liberalization of the economy, however, hasn’t nurtured sustainable creative resources or helped artists reach domestic or international markets, pressuring them to find alternative ways to create livelihoods out of their craft. This study considers how emerging multidisciplinary artists sustain themselves through both formal and informal means, and the motivations behind their creative lifestyles.
Central to the study are the following questions: How do emerging artists “make it work” in the transitional economy? How are contemporary artists received in Ulaanbaatar (the nation’s capital)? What are the barriers keeping Mongolian artists from gaining greater public recognition? The study involves 21 participants, including 15 working artists and three curators working in Ulaanbaatar, and three artists who’ve left Mongolia for Europe. They participated in open-ended interviews surrounding their motivations, and perceived support and barriers on a number of dimensions ranging from the government’s contributions to access to studio space to public perception of contemporary art. The artists work in mixed fields of contemporary art including painting, sculpture, video, and mixed media, and more conceptual forms including installation, performance, and land art.
The study’s findings suggest that there are many intersections between the conditions of working artists in Ulaanbaatar and those in more emerged scenes in Europe and the United States given kindred conversations surrounding the demand for space, struggles to stay afloat financially, a lack of validation, and reliance on informal communities for sustenance. The struggle of working artists may be universal, but the conditions in Ulaanbaatar are very particular and require a nuanced look given the country’s recent emergence from seven decades under strict socialist rule, and the tensions of Ulaanbaatar’s shifting cultural and political landscape.
This study is critical for two reasons: (1) Because many emerging contemporary artists work at the vanguard of culture, we can better understand an alternative view of the rapidly-changing city by speaking with those on the margins; and (2) By including artists from the post-colonial world [or post-socialist, in this case] in the popular canon of art history, we can assemble a deeper understanding of art’s historical narrative outside of established, Whitewashed art institutions
Where Women Stand in Rural Electrification Efforts: An Exploratory Study within Gujarat
Get PDFSince its 2003 village electrification scheme, the state of Gujarat has been acclaimed for providing rural households with 24-hour access and farmers with uninterrupted 8-hour power supply. The Government of India has emphasized goals of providing electricity for all of its citizens yet has been unable to address glaring discrepancies across the country. For those in rural areas, which is approximately 60-70 percent of India’s population, a varying degree of connection exists plagued by frequent outages, transmission losses, unreliable billing practices, and poor infrastructure maintenance. Gujarat has been reported to have overcome these obstacles with its bifurcation of electricity feeders, providing quality electricity access to 100 percent of its villages in just a few years.
With the focus of these rural electrification efforts to increase the number of people with access, this paper looks to understand what it means for the women of these households to gain access. Amongst recipients, women are expected to benefit greatly as the primary bearers of household drudgery and work. Through the Gujarat-based rural women’s empowerment organization ANANDI, this study utilized both qualitative and quantitative interviews and surveys to understand how rural women from the Sihor and Umrala blocks of Gujarat engage with electrification and to what extent they perceive its impacts. In doing so, this study is not representative of all rural women yet it provides initial insight into how electricity represents a critical element of their day-to-day lives while traditional power hierarchies remain prevalent even in electricity usage
Sugar and Spice, Not Everything\u27s Nice: Changing Dietary Habits in Bali
Get PDFIn this paper, I will explore the ways in which locals interact with new food options on the island of Bali. Specifically, I will explore dietary behaviors surrounding pre-‐ packaged snacks and ‘fast-‐food’ chains and determine whether the presence of these food options is affecting the Balinese’s relationship with more traditional cuisine. I will use everyday observations and conversations with locals to analyze dietary habits and the various food items that are being consumed while examining the potential dietary differentiation between two age groups. I will also consider health outcomes in Bali and discuss how changing dietary habits may be playing a role in the increasing cases of non-‐ communicable diseases and declining dental health on the island
Creating a Student-Centered Learning Environment
No full textWhat makes a classroom environment warm, welcoming, and a positive place to foster learning? Adrianne will describe the process of transitioning the classroom into a student-centered learning environment by collaborating with colleagues, considering student input, and adapting the physical classroom
Vivas nos Queremos: Feminicidio en Bolivia
Get PDFBolivia uno de los países en latinoamérica que tiene una gran cantidad de feminicidios o mujeres asesinadas por hombres debido a su género y relación afectiva. Hay muchos problemas sobre las violaciones de derechos humanos que sufren las mujeres en razón de género. Con el enfoque de derechos de las víctimas y sus familiares, esta investigación pretende descubrir si ellas, tienen acceso a justicia en el sistema judicial de Bolivia . Específicamente analizando el efecto de antes y después de la ley 348: La Ley Integral Para Garantizar a Las Mujeres Una Vida Libre de Violencia. A través de una serie de entrevistas con profesionales de la ley boliviana y comprensión de los documentos legales de Bolivia, las preguntas relativas a la estructura, leyes como pertenecientes a las víctimas y un testimonio.
Bolivia is one of the many countries in Latin America with large quantities of femicides or the killing of women by men because of their gender. It is plagued with issues pertaining to human rights violations, where women predominantly suffer the consequences because of their gender. With the focus on the rights of victims and their families, this research aims to discover if they have access to justice within Bolivia’s judicial system. Specifically analyzing the presence femicides before and after the Law #348: The Internal Law to Guarantee Women a Life Without Violence. Through a series of interviews with Bolivian professionals familiar with the law and understanding of the legal documents of Bolivia, questions concerning the structure, laws as belonging to the victims, and a testimony
An Introductory Online Interactive Training to Disability Etiquette and Protocol to Promote Inclusion
Get PDFStudy abroad is a privilege and an opportunity of a lifetime that not many individuals take full advantage of. Many factors can contribute towards a student’s decision to not study abroad, including but not limited to: finances, academic coursework, family concerns, and not being able to graduate on time. A topic rarely discussed is disclosing medical information. While the amount of students studying abroad is increasing every year, a significant amount of underrepresented minorities desire to embark on that journey of study abroad as well. Unfortunately, advisers are not always well equipped with adequate knowledge of resources. Outdated terminology and language can unintentionally ostracize and even further exclude students, especially students with disabilities. Faculty, staff, and students around the country have contacted our organization about inclusive practices, what terminology to use to advise better, and how to make their own materials more accessible to everyone.
Literature reviews, personal experience, and online scholarly research has shown that the following can increase underrepresented minorities participation in study abroad: self confidence, preparation, a positive attitude, flexibility, patience, cultural understanding, willingness to learn and being uncomfortable. These factors can help students (with and without disabilities) take that leap of faith to pursue study abroad to further educate themselves personally and professionally. This capstone paper outlines a need for a Moodle designed online interactive training not only to promote inclusive practices, but to help study abroad advisers be more open minded to change and indirect with students to help them gain a basic understanding for the need of international and cultural educational exchange
Movements, Moments, and Movement-Moments: Generational Approaches to Organizing for Social Change
Get PDFDue to a recent upswing of college protests, and generational theory authors positioning Millennials as powerful players in building a new left to shift American politics, this research seeks to understand how different generations of organizers for social change approach their work. Emerging literature on social movements, political efficacy, and generational frameworks, combined with an analysis of the current political climate, illustrate the strong possibility of this new left being built.
This study asked participants of multiple generations about their experiences in the field to uncover perceptions of their role in the movement, differences in collective and external efficacy, and how organizers cope with organizing in the world as it is while aspiring for deeper, more structural change. To conduct this research, a survey was sent out to organizers in the field that yielded results from six members of the Baby Boomer generation, five members of Generation X, three organizers who identified as Generation Y, and sixteen Millennials. In addition, five in-depth interviews, three with Millennials, and two with non-Millennials, and a focus group with two Millennials and two non-Millennials were carried out.
The experiences of these organizers, while not representative of their entire generations, showed that while there were many common threads, the formative experiences of generational cohorts deeply affect the way they frame the work. Defensive or “SOS” organizing and a focus on electoral work and winnable initiatives seem to have had an impact on the overall efficacy of older organizers, while Millennials point to Occupy, the Bernie Sanders campaign, and Black Lives Matter as inspiration to escalate the movement… or the moment? The separation of the movement and the moment, and how to balance the two, emerged as an ongoing question that will have profound implications on the potential of organizers to build the new left