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Tibetan Vegans in Diaspora
Get PDFDespite the Tsampa (Roasted Barley) eating culture and yak cheese merchandise in the market, the Tibetan culture is widely known as highly dependable on meat eating by non-Tibetans, little is known about the Tibetan Vegans officially known as karkyong. Overall vegetarianism is known and practiced in the Tibetan history throughout the centuries that’s what’s commonly known as vegan diets in modern society. But not known as Vegans in the Tibet then. This study also shed some light on Tibetan vegans in the diaspora and their journey of becoming vegan through interviews with restaurant owners, vegans, monks, nuns, and lay Tibetans in general. An analysis of these interviews explains vegans’ existence in the Tibetan culture and sometimes even challenges the widely held assumptions about the non- existence of Tibetan vegans. This study is part of the Tibetan community growing, changing, and adapting fast in the modern world since its exile under the Chinese occupation. This project will contribute to future research on similar topics
Considerations for Solar Development: Comprehensive Assessment of Solar Production Benefits and Consequences in Portugal
Get PDFIn this paper, the potential for solar energy development in Portugal is explored, with a focus on the Alentejo region of Portugal. The Fernando Pessoa Photovoltaic plant that is approved for construction in the Santiago do Cacém municipality is analyzed. The size of the plant and the location are considered when studying the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the project. The possibility of a centralized solar array in Sines is also explored as an alternative, taking into account the environmental and social impacts on local communities. Additionally, the feasibility and benefits of implementing a decentralized energy grid, utilizing scattered small-scale solar arrays, energy storage systems, and smart grids are discussed. However, significant cost barriers and logistical challenges must be overcome to achieve a transition to a decentralized energy grid. The implementation of government incentives, public-private partnerships, and community engagement strategies can help ensure a sustainable and equitable transition to a decentralized and renewable energy (RE) grid in Portugal
Analyzing stress levels of volunteers hand-rearing juvenile spectacled flying foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus) at the Tolga Bat Hospital, North Queensland, Australia
Get PDFThis study, conducted at the Tolga Bat Hospital in North Queensland, Australia, focuses on analyzing the stress levels of volunteers hand-rearing juvenile spectacled flying foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus). Given the endangered status of this species and the intensive care required for their rehabilitation, the research aimed to understand the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of the volunteers engaged in this demanding conservation work. The study was conducted over a five-day period during the peak pupping season in November 2023, utilizing self-administered questionnaires to assess the well-being and stress levels of volunteers both before and after their nursing sessions. The participants, primarily from various professional backgrounds and countries, provided insights into their experiences at the hospital, including the physical demands of feeding and cleaning tasks, and the emotional and mental impacts of their work. The results indicated varied responses to the tasks, with some volunteers reporting increased well-being and reduced stress levels, while others experienced the opposite. Notably, the study faced limitations due to its small sample size, suggesting the need for caution in generalizing the findings. Despite these limitations, the study contributes valuable insights into the challenges and rewards of wildlife rehabilitation and underscores the importance of supporting the well-being of volunteers in conservation efforts
Evaluating Food Waste Management in Melbourne Businesses & Effects on Food Insecurity Remediation
Get PDFThis research paper aims to understand the presence of sustainable food waste management in food retail businesses, as well as the importance of food donation to the success of food insecurity remediation organizations in the city of Melbourne, Victoria. Intensive in-person, online, and over-the-phone interviews were conducted in two categories: food retail businesses (subcategories being supermarkets and restaurants) and food insecurity remediation organizations. Of the 133 businesses contacted, 16 food service businesses were interviewed, and three food insecurity remediation organizations were interviewed. A survey was utilized for food retail businesses that received a single response in the supermarket subcategory; data from the survey was incorporated into key findings from interviews as the response size was incredibly minuscule. It was uncovered that there is a significant presence of sustainable strategies utilized in food service businesses in both mitigation and remediation of food waste produced. It was also found that there is a presence, albeit limited, of the food waste management practice of food donation. Results cement that the practice of donating food waste is imperative to the success of food insecurity remediation organizations. Further study is required to determine the ease of creating relationships between food insecurity remediation organizations and food retail businesses participating in food donation
Community Resilience and Creating Capacities for Risk Reduction in First Nations Communities, Case Study in Minegoziibe Anishinabe (Pine Creek First Nation)
Get PDFThe colonization of Indigenous peoples in Canada has serious consequences on First Nations, including forced removal and displacement from their ancestral lands, environmental degradation, declining resources and capacities, and human rights violations. First Nations communities are currently facing the amplified effects of human-driven climate change. Sustainability of the environment is not just a concept, but a practiced way of life, that recognizes the interdependence of all living things. This deep respect for Aki (earth) is at the foundation of First Nations cultures and continues to guide their actions to insure better futures for Seven Generations. The community of Minegoziibe Anishinabe (Pine Creek First Nation), located in Manitoba, has recently confronted life-threatening events of wildfires and floods. Like many First Nations, they have also faced the harmful social effects resulting from the legacy of Indian Residential Schools (IRS) and the epidemic of drug and alcohol use (Bombay et al., 2014). The community is creating capacities for risk reduction through taking care of their mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Traditional roles and responsibilities of the Chief and Council, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community members have helped guide mechanisms for emergency response and recovery. The analysis uses a holistic approach to understand community resilience (CR) through decolonized frameworks for disaster risk reduction (DRR).
Keywords: First Nations, Indigenous, land-based knowledge, Medicine Wheel, community resilience (CR), disaster risk reduction (DRR
Understory Epiphyte Hydrology: Analyzing water storage capacity of epiphytes along an elevational gradient in western Ecuadorian cloud forest
Get PDFEpiphytes are defined as plants that grow on a host, often another plant, and acquire their nutrients and water from the atmosphere. As such is true, epiphyte composition is largely dependent upon atmospheric and thus climactic conditions. Due to high levels of atmospheric water availability that results from the frequent presence of mist, clouds, and high humidity, epiphytic plants grow and thus store water within the above ground region of the Andean cloud forest at levels higher than in any other ecosystem found in Ecuador. This study was done in hopes of revealing any trends of epiphytic water storage capacity along an elevational gradient within the western Ecuadorian cloud forest of the Santa Lucia Reserve. Individual trees were analyzed at 5 different elevations along an altitudinal gradient that spanned 1650 to 2270 meters. Within each analyzed tree, data was collected between approximately 5 and 7 meters above the ground. Vascular individuals were recorded to the family level, and moss coverage and moss thickness were estimated. Epiphytic growth was sampled from a standard 2500 cm2 region of each tree, and from this sample, water capacity (g/m2) was extrapolated. It was found that water capacity of mosses and other non-bromeliad epiphytes increased with elevation. Moss cover was also seen to increase with elevation, and moss thickness was seen to peak at roughly 2040 meters. An increase in water storage capacity was correlated with both an increase in moss cover as well as number of vascular epiphytes present within sampled trees. Changes in moss composition appeared to influence both vascular epiphytes and vascular individuals more generally. An increase in moss cover was correlated with an increase in number of vascular epiphytes, and an increase in moss thickness was correlated with an increase in number of vascular individuals, including climbers and epiphytes. It was speculated that as the level of water associated with moss is dependent upon how much is available in the surrounding environment, the change in moss composition that is correlated with a change in water capacity is due to climactic conditions that vary with elevation
Common-Pool Resource Management and Conflict Resolution: A Case Study of Two Self-Governed Irrigation Schemes in Ntcheu, Malawi
Get PDFContrary to conventional common-pool resource (CPR) theory – where it is presumed that strong central states must be the primary actors in regulating the commons – self-governed CPR theory is a method that enables the appropriators themselves to be the primary actors in designing and managing a given CPR. Irrigation systems are one on the most common examples of CPR sharing. Using Elinor Ostrom’s theory on self-governed CPR management and her Eight Design Principles, I examine the mechanisms by which two neighboring small-scale irrigation schemes in rural Malawi manage and govern common-pool water resources to contrast intra-scheme functions and the presence or absence of inter-scheme conflict and collaboration. I discuss how Elinor Ostrom’s design principles should be critically examined, especially in contexts where CPR arenas have limited to no coordination or oversight from external authorities. I elaborate how these schemes have a top-down governance approach, thus, local agriculture offices should organize schemes to introduce more democratic bottom-up reforms. Even in these setting where appropriators are generally homogenous, I demonstrate how appropriators from both schemes often avoid conflict and collaboration. Ultimately, this study demonstrates the coordination opportunities amongst neighboring schemes and local external authorities; specifically, in market integration, crop diversification and joint-scheme capacity building so other self-governed irrigation schemes can be more resilient to climate change, combat food insecurities and have enhanced conflict-resolution tools for self-governed water systems in rural Malawi
Unveiling the Impact: Mexico\u27s Decree on Genetically Modified Corn and its Ramifications on Food Security
Get PDFThis research delves into the repercussions of Mexico\u27s presidential decree in late 2020, which imposed a ban on the human consumption of genetically modified (GM) corn by January 2024. In a trade dispute under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the decree has sparked tensions between Mexico and the United States, particularly concerning the disruption of GM corn exports. Beyond trade dynamics, the study aims to address the broader impact on Mexico\u27s food security landscape, exploring the intricate connections between the ban and various factors, including agricultural practices, economic implications, and shifts in the corn market dynamics. This research seeks to bridge the communication gap between policymakers and agricultural stakeholders in Mexico and the United States, focusing on the input of smaller producers in Oaxaca, Mexico. By addressing existing knowledge gaps, the research aims to provide a nuanced analysis of economic, agricultural, and cultural factors shaping the trajectory of food security in Mexico. The intention is to inform policymakers, agricultural stakeholders, and the broader community about the potential challenges and opportunities arising from Mexico\u27s stance on GM corn and its implications for the nation\u27s overall food security. The synthesis of findings suggests that the ban on genetically modified seeds has the potential to bolster food sovereignty in Mexico, safeguarding the food security of rural populations reliant on sustenance and traditional farming practices
El vínculo entre el arte, la política y el espacio público: Una investigación de Colectivo El Muro Cusco y su resistencia contra poder estatal y la censura del espacio
No full textEl Colectivo El Muro Cusco es un colectivo libertario y autogestionado dedicado al apoyo a las luchas sociales y al intercambio de información alternativa. Activo durante los últimos 20 años, El Muro,1 como se le conoce coloquialmente, ha sido un proveedor de la verdad en Cusco, utilizando el arte y la protesta para expresar descontento con las injusticias perpetuadas por el gobierno peruano. Utilizando el muro del Paraninfo Universitario de la UNSAAC ubicado en la Plaza de Armas de Cusco como su centro focal, el Colectivo utiliza el espacio como galería de arte y lugar de exposición, pero también como espacio de discusión y protesta. Además de ser una organización de artistas con conciencia socio-cultural y política, El Muro está profundamente interesado en el uso del espacio público en su activismo. Aunque el Colectivo siempre se ha pronunciado en contra de la violencia y la corrupción patrocinadas por el estado, en los últimos meses, se han enfrentado a una nueva amenaza que ha prohibido las protestas y el acceso al muro. En diciembre de 2022, la actual presidenta Dina Boluarte tomó el control después de un autogolpe fallido del ex-presidente Pedro Castillo; desde que asumió el poder, al menos 49 ciudadanos han muerto a manos de las fuerzas del orden, lo que provocó protestas en todo el país que han cerrado aeropuertos, carreteras y comercio. En respuesta a esta movilización masiva del pueblo, la policía de Cusco ha tomado el control del muro, prohibiendo el acceso al Colectivo para ejercer su derecho a protestar –este ha sido el caso desde al menos junio.
Teniendo en cuenta este contexto, y utilizando la teoría de Foucault para entender el poder, este proyecto de investigación busca analizar lo siguiente: las formas en que el arte y la política están intrínsecamente vinculados dentro de El Muro; su uso del espacio público para entender su importancia; y explorar las relaciones de poder que se construyen como resultado. La metodología consistió en 10 entrevistas con académicos, artistas y periodistas involucrados en el Colectivo o en torno a él, así como observaciones del muro mismo, y un análisis de la literatura escrita sobre arte, política, poder y espacio público. Mis resultados mostraron que los objetivos principales de El Muro son informar y compartir la verdad, que no somos seres apolíticos y por lo tanto nuestro arte tampoco puede serlo, y que el espacio público es fundamental para el cambio social. También descubrí que existen relaciones de poder tanto externas –entre la policía y el Colectivo– como internas –en y entre los miembros del Colectivo. Por último, y quizás lo más importante, encontré que entendernos a nosotros mismos como seres relacionales permite un mejor entendimiento de las dinámicas del poder y el espacio.
The Colectivo El Muro Cusco is a libertarian, self-managed collective dedicated to the support for social struggles and the sharing of alternative information. Active for the last 20 years, El Muro, –as it’s colloquially known– has been a purveyor of the truth in Cusco, using art and protest to express discontent with the injustices perpetuated by the Peruvian government. Using a wall from the UNSAAC’s university auditorium located in the Plaza de Armas (Central 1 Usaré ‘muro’ para referirme al espacio físico y ‘El Muro’ para referir al Colectivo. Gould, 3 Plaza) of Cusco as its focal location, the Collective uses the space as an art gallery and place of exhibition, but also as a space for discussion and protest. In addition to being an organization of artists with socio-cultural consciousness and political awareness, El Muro is deeply interested in the use of public space in their activism. Although the Collective has always been vocal in speaking out against state-sponsored violence and corruption, in the last several months, they have faced a new threat that has prohibited protest and access to the wall. In December of 2022, current president Dina Boluarte took control after a failed self-coup by former president Pedro Castillo; since her time in power, at least 49 citizens have died at the hands of law enforcement sparking naton-wide protests that have shut down airports, main roads, and commerce. In response to this mass mobilization of the people, Cusco police have taken control of the wall, prohibiting access to the Collective to exercise their right to protest –this has now been the case since at least June.
Taking this context into account, and using Foucault’s approach to understanding power, this research project seeks to analyze the following: the ways in which art and politics are intrinsically tied within El Muro; their use of public space to understand its importance; and to explore the relations of power that are constructed as a result. The methodology consisted of about 10 interviews with academics, artists, and journalists involved in or around the Collective, as well as observations of the wall itself, and an analysis of the literature written about art, politics, power, and public space. My findings showed that El Muro’s main objectives are to inform and share the truth, that we are not apolitical beings and therefore our art cannot be either, and that public space is fundamental to social change. I also discovered that relations of power existed both externally –between police and the Collective– and internally –in and amongst members of the Collective. Lastly, and perhaps most significantly, I found that understanding ourselves as relational beings allows for a better understanding of dynamics of power and space
Los Porteadores Del Camino Inca: Conversaciones y Perspectivas Sobre los Efectos del Turismo
Get PDFEste estudio investiga las condiciones de trabajo, experiencias y percepciones sobre el turismo de los porteadores del Camino Inca. Para ello, se realizó trabajo de campo y entrevistas en profundidad a los porteadores. También se entrevistó a guías y ex-porteadores con el objetivo de conocer sus condiciones laborales: seguros, salarios, peso transportado, nutrición, equipamiento, oportunidades de empleo, sensación de trato justo e impacto sociocultural. En este trabajo se sostiene que todas las partes implicadas: el gobierno peruano, las agencias de turismo y los propios turistas, tienen una clara responsabilidad de mejorar las condiciones de estos trabajadores. La investigación ha puesto de manifiesto las contradicciones entre la imagen proporcionada por las agencias y la propia percepción de los trabajadores. Mientras que las agencias inciden el carácter glamuroso del puesto de porteador y lo promocionan como una experiencia laboral perfectamente justa y ética, los porteadores no comparten este mismo sentimiento.
This study investigates the working conditions, perceptions and experiences of Inca Trail porters regarding tourism. For this purpose, fieldwork and in-depth interviews were conducted with porters. Guides and former porters were also interviewed in order to learn about their working conditions: insurance, wages, weight carried, nutrition, equipment, employment opportunities, sense of fair treatment, and sociocultural impact. This paper argues that all parties involved: the Peruvian government, tourism agencies and the tourists themselves, have a clear responsibility to improve the conditions of these workers. The research has revealed contradictions between the image provided by the agencies and the workers\u27 own perception. While the agencies emphasize the glamorous nature of the porter\u27s job and promote it as a perfectly fair and ethical work experience, the porters do not share the same sentiment