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Exploring Sustainability in the Fashion Industry: A Comparative Study of Melbourne-Based Brands
Get PDFAs the Australian fashion industry continues to grow, the environmental and social consequences of its rapid expansion are becoming increasingly unsustainable. The “fast fashion” model, driven by overproduction, overconsumption, and disposable culture, has led to significant waste, the depletion of natural resources, and the exploitation of workers in developing countries. In response to these issues, sustainable fashion practices have gained attention as a potential solution. This study investigates the sustainability efforts of four Australian fashion brands: Kara Baker Couture, Par Moi, Kuwaii, and Elk the Label. This study focuses on their use of sustainable materials, ethical production processes, and strategies to engage consumers in more mindful purchasing. Through a combination of case studies and interviews with designers, store managers, and employees this research evaluates the impact of these practices, the barriers to broader adoption, and the opportunities for scaling sustainability in Australia’s fashion industry. The findings reveal that while these brands have made significant strides in sustainability, they face challenges such as cost barriers, limited consumer awareness, and the need for better scalability. However, they also show the growing importance of consumer education, industry-wide collaboration, and policy reforms to address these challenges. Ultimately, this research emphasizes the need for collective action among designers, retailers, consumers, and governments to create a more sustainable and equitable future for the fashion industry. Future research should focus on exploring circular economy models, the influence of consumer purchasing behavior, and the potential for integrating traditional craftsmanship with sustainable practices
Madhesi Dalit Women’s Experience with ‘Development’ and its Limitations in Nepal
Get PDFIn the study of development, the thoughts, viewpoints, and overall experience of beneficiaries contribute a humanitarian viewpoint to an often abstracted and speculative realm of study. This research focuses on Dalit women in the Madhesh province of Nepal and their experiences with development, thereby providing context to beneficiaries\u27 and non-beneficiaries expectations and desires regarding development, as well as the unresolved challenges faced by Dalit women despite development efforts. Madhesi Dalit women are the focus of this research as their intersectional identities place them in a uniquely challenging position to attain equal treatment and opportunity, and these women, in particular, are often left out of existing literature and are unfairly generalized under larger umbrellas of social groups such as Dalits or women when in reality Madhesi Dalit women are found to be those most disadvantaged.123 The methodology used for data collection in this research is accumulated through primary sources, including one- on-one interviews, participant observation, and focus group discussions. This research provides context to the relationship that Madhesi Dalit women have to development, revealing that across participant groups ranging from women actively involved in development to those not involved in development there is a general understanding of development as a range of social, political, educational, health, and economic models. This research concludes that monolithic development practices fail to address their needs due to the fact they are socially excluded in multiple aspects of life. As a result, development efforts that fail to address the unique and complex needs of marginalized groups facing triple discrimination—based on caste, region, and gender. Findings emphasize the importance of an even distribution of integrating economic development with social capital, as participants expressed their desire for economic development as a balance to social capital development in order to address the strain caused by poverty in their communities and the social exclusions that exacerbate such poverty. The request for economic forms of development originated from both financial needs and from observation of development occurring outside of their community, creating additional anxiety of being left out of development efforts. This research contributes to the existing development literature, providing beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries insights into development efforts as a recognition that, ultimately, it is the human experiences and wishes that should inform development efforts as organizations whose purpose is humanitarian aid
The Joining of Wisdom and Compassion: Tibetan Buddhist Nuns\u27 Intellectual Agency and Sectarian Identity at Dolma Ling Nunnery
Get PDFHistorically, Tibetan nuns have had limited access to debate-based philosophical study or any formal monastic education, primarily being trained in ritual practices. While debate has been practiced by other sects, it is largely understood as a major component of the Gelukpa study program. This essay attempts to explore the introduction of debate at Dolma Ling, a non-sectarian nunnery, and how the practice of non-sectarianism is reflected in the curriculum, especially in a context where women have historically been excluded from the design of their own curriculum. While Dolma Ling\u27s non-sectarian approach offers a platform for intra-sectarian dialogue, the Gelugpa-centric curriculum and emphasis on debate raise questions about the complexities of navigating sectarian identities. I aim to better understand how contemporary practices of debate among Tibetan nuns reflect and influence the evolving roles of women in Tibetan Buddhism, and the implications these changes have for gender equality, education, and monastic authority within the broader Tibetan community. Ethnographic fieldwork will be conducted at Dolma Ling, where interviews and conversations with nuns will reveal their experiences and challenges in practicing debate. The research will also investigate broader trends toward inclusivity in Tibetan education and the impact of these changes on nuns\u27 roles as social actors within the Tibetan diaspora
From Custom to Courtroom: The Informal and Formal Justice Systems in the Manang and Narphu Valleys
Get PDFThis research paper aims to depict the structure and some of the current changes of the justice system in the Narphu and Manang Municipalities. The new Constitution of Nepal in 2015 mandated the establishment of one judicial committee in each municipality and rural municipality in the entire country. That’s 753 judicial committees. This is just one example of the recent and rapid change that the justice system in Nepal is currently undergoing. These new implementations of government bodies for justice aim to “mitigate the inefficiencies of the formal legal system and bridge the formal/informal justice divide. ” In both Narphu and Manang, 1 informal, or community justice has always existed. Community justice has been the past, but government justice is quickly becoming the future. Now, both of these rural municipalities’ justice systems are shifting, changing with the introduction of government offices and police posts even in villages where roads cannot reach. This report compares and contrasts both the community justice and government justice systems. It examines how each one deals with conflict, who is involved, and analyzes the process and decisions made behind the scenes
A Social History of Hanoi’s Old Quarters: Community Participation in Preserving Hanoi’s Architectural Heritage
Get PDFHanoi’s old quarters are a crucial site when considering the question of urban development alongside cultural heritage preservation. With a history reaching back to the 11th century, its architecture carries stories of village-city craft relations; French colonialism, as well as Chinese and Soviet influences; and most importantly of the desires, hopes and challenges its residents faced throughout the different periods. Today, deteriorating buildings, high population density, lacking infrastructure, and the replacement of houses with modern hotels, restaurants, and tourist offices, pose a threat to maintaining the historical landscape and a challenge to the livelihood of its inhabitants. While several studies have been conducted on the unique history and development of the old quarters, there is limited research on the participation of community members in this process. Using interviews, surveys, and photography, this study hopes to provide insights in residents and shop owners perception and participation in architectural heritage preservation. Findings suggest that while community members see architectural preservation as important, they are not involved in decision making processes and paths for their participation in preservation efforts are unclear. The study also highlights 51 Hàng Bạc Street as a successful example of community engaged preservation, and shows how community members impact the space in informal ways. Through its results, it hopes to provide a foundation for further research and the development of preservation policies/programs targeting community engagement
Street-side Sovereignty: Informal Produce Vendors, Subsistence, and Chosen Interdependencies
Get PDFThis paper summarizes findings from a 2024 survey and interview conducted with street-side produce vendors in Western Samoa. Produce vendors are understood within the informal economy in Samoa and the phenomenon is contextualized through a history of Pacific food regimes. In opposition to the contemporary corporate food regime, produce vendors operate through small-scale, informal operations which demonstrate variability and individual agency. Through the theoretical framework of food sovereignty, informal produce vendors’ survey and interview responses are analyzed to position vendors’ work within both the global and the Pacific food sovereignty movements, with special attention to land access and localized food networks. Findings demonstrate that street-side produce vendors play a key role in developing local distribution networks that connect rural production to urban consumers and supply vendors’ families, as well as broader communities, with fresh, local produce through practices of subsistence, gifting, and variable pricing. Vendor/consumer relationships and tensions between traditional communal values and neoliberal individualism are explored
The Evolution of the Trials of the Last Military Dictatorship in Argentina: the corporate responsibility for crimes against humanity
Get PDFLos juicios de lesa humanidad en Argentina han cambiado mucho desde su comienzo en el año 1985. Esta evolución incluye los juicios a las juntas militares, los juicios a los civiles, los juicios por la verdad y los juicios de responsabilidad empresarial. Esta investigación analiza el papel de la responsabilidad empresarial en los crímenes de lesa humanidad durante la dictadura y los juicios de los empresarios que colaboraron con la dictadura por motivaciones económicas. Investiga la evidencia contra las empresas a través de los testimonios de las víctimas y los testigos. Los juicios a las grandes empresas sirven para mostrar las continuidades y diferencias entre los primeros juicios a los militares y los juicios más recientes de las empresas. Las similitudes señalan la dedicación a la justicia, la verdad y la memoria para la gente de Argentina. Las diferencias además muestran la importancia de condenar a toda la gente que ayudaba a la dictadura, incluidas las empresas multinacionales
Understanding how vegetation and container availability relates to the spatial distribution of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes: Implications for disease transmission risk in Bethania, Panama City, Panama
Get PDFAedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the two most dangerous vectors of dengue virus (DENV) worldwide, posing substantial threats to global public health. This study aimed to investigate how vegetation density and container availability influence Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus distribution and co-existence in Bethania, Panama City, Panama. Additionally, it aimed to assess the implications of this study for DENV transmission prevention and risk. Ovitrap and active surveillance (Bugzooka vacuuming, active larvae search) methods were utilized at six houses over two environmental conditions: high vegetation density and low container availability (Condition 1) and low vegetation density and high container availability (Condition 2). A total of 556 mosquitoes were collected, including 289 Ae. aegypti and 244 Ae. albopictus. Co-existence was observed in 33.33% of sites, exclusively within condition 2, while condition 1 had only one species per site. Statistical analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the relative abundance of the species between conditions (Chi squared test, p \u3c 0.0001) with higher container availability correlating to species co-existence. A Mann-Whitney U test showed statistically insignificant results when comparing the proportion of mosquitoes collected in two conditions, likely due to small sample size. These findings suggest that container availability could be an important driver of species co-existence, likely decreasing larval competition within sites. This highlights the need for targeted vector control strategies, as well as more efficient and effective trash management systems within Panama and the world. Further research employing a larger sample size and study period is recommended as this is a pilot study warranting further research
Wheat Landraces, Small Farmers and Urban Consumers: Revival of Einkorn in Turkey
Get PDFCultivated for more than 10,000 years, wheat (Triticum) is one of the world’s most widely grown and important crops. Wheat has sustained humans for thousands of years in a multitude of ways. In recent years, there has been a global movement to revive wheat landraces. Landraces are typically adapted to a local area and to traditional farming systems. This article examines the revival of wheat landrace, einkorn (Triticum monoccoccum L. subsp. monoccoccum) through a case study of Turkey. There is limited literature examining the interaction of actors in decision-making processes that balance subsistence and market motivations. The article examines the role of collective action to revive agricultural biodiversity, and it contributes to interdisciplinary studies on sustainable management of agricultural biodiversity
Assessing the Relationship Between Intercultural Competence and Inclusion Competence: An Empirical Study of Faculty at Higher Education Institutions in the United States
Get PDFThis dissertation explores the relationship between faculty’s intercultural competence and their inclusion competence within the context of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the United States. The construct of intercultural competence refers to effectiveness in engaging people across cultural differences, while inclusion competence focuses on competences critical for effective performance related to inclusive behavior. Studying these two constructs together provides insight into the potential of intercultural education to contribute to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts at US HEIs, especially in terms of fostering inclusive learning environments. Drawing from data collected using two psychometric assessments – the Intercultural Effectiveness Scale (IES) to measure intercultural competence and the Inclusion Competencies Inventory (ICI) to measure inclusion competence - this study addresses the following research questions: What is the relationship, if any, between faculty members’ intercultural competence and their inclusion competence? To what extent, if any, do faculty members’ demographic characteristics interact with their intercultural competence to predict their level of inclusion competence?
The study\u27s findings reveal a strong positive relationship between intercultural competence and inclusion competence, providing empirical evidence to support the idea that intercultural learning can be a useful tool in facilitating the goals of inclusion (J. M. Bennett, 2013). Though the results do not provide evidence of a causal relationship between intercultural competence and inclusion competence, understanding the relationship between the two constructs may help institutions consider which types of faculty training and professional development opportunities are likely to contribute to creating inclusive learning environments at HEIs in the US