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PERSPECTIVES ON SUSTAINABILITY IN SHORT-TERM FACULTY-LED PROGRAMS
Get PDFSustainability is a relatively new topic to the field of International Education. Despite this, its importance is tantamount for the continuation of the industry for future generations. The industry’s significant negative environmental impacts from international student mobility poses a real barrier to the continuation of the industry due to climate change. This research emerged due to the lack of existing research on sustainability in Study Abroad, especially short-term faculty-led programs, which are currently the most popular modality of Study Abroad. Short-term faculty-led programs currently hold a reputation in existing literature for being the most unsustainable form of Study Aboard with very little data to support it. To unpack this assumption, this research collected data from faculty members that plan, design, and lead these short-term faculty-led programs to understand the realities of sustainability in the modality for future research and the improvement of sustainability in Study Abroad for future students
IDENTIFYING CRITICAL AGING CARE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGH-INCOME COUNTRIES: A CROSS-COUNTRY COMPARISON OF DENMARK, GERMANY, AND THE UNITED STATES
Get PDFDespite the rapid growth in the aging population in the United States, insufficient resources and attention are invested in improving the support systems this population relies on. This discussion explored the question of how the United States as a high-income country fails to operate an aging care support infrastructure that has comparable comprehensiveness, availability, affordability, and overall quality to other high-income countries. Comparing financing structures, long-term care models, and various aging care supports is important for answering this question. This paper approached exploring this question by analyzing specified indicators from publicly available data across the United States, Germany, and Denmark. Moreover, these data were contextualized through historical evaluations of connections between aging care policies and sociopolitical dynamics. By creating a self-defined matrix of aging care system quality factors, this study found that the United States lags far behind Denmark and Germany in areas such as reimbursing family caregivers, supporting people in staying at home, care affordability, and technology adoption that encourages independence. This analysis contributes to the existing body of knowledge by concluding that although it is infeasible to directly implement another country’s model, differences in critical aging care elements highlight opportunities for the United States. These are used to propose politically viable solutions for the United States, while also creating an appreciation of the shared challenge of normalizing discussions around mortality to have end-of-life care outcomes better match end-of-life wishes; this is a critical challenge in improving system quality while also driving down costs, which lies ahead for each country. Moreover, by focusing on systems rather than the quality of care, this paper brings the discussion of aging care into political discourse and imparts upon the reader a sense of urgency for change.
Keywords: aging care, path dependency, health systems, long-term car
The Ethics of Medical Voluntourism: the Conceptualization and Management of ‘Doing Harm’ Within the Business
Get PDFAlthough medical voluntourism programs are rapidly growing in popularity, deep ethical controversies overly the industry. In particular, understanding how the field of medical voluntourism follows a business model sheds insight on the sources of tension and conflicts of interest that can arise within organizations and the sector as a whole. However, understanding the roles of individual motivations and societal pressures in the development of these ethical controversies is relatively unexplored.
Through an inductive thematic analysis of data gathered from literature review and expert interviews, this project investigates these driving factors behind the rapidly growing business, how these driving factors contribute to ethical controversies, and how harm is often inadvertently done through medical voluntourism. This research project shows that the medical voluntourism business is self-serving and often unequally prioritizes the desires of its participants over the needs of the communities it serves. This project also concludes that the lack of an overarching ethical framework leaves the door open for harm to be done both through individual and social channels. The ethical dilemmas that abound the medical voluntourism business do not fully preclude opportunities for mutually beneficial experiences, but further regulation is warranted
“Somos un Pueblo Fumigado”: un análisis de la lucha contra la fumigación y sistema de agronegocios en la provincia de Buenos Aires
No full textEsta investigación estudia el movimiento contra el sistema de monocultivo de soja transgénica, la fumigación con “agrotóxicos,” y los grandes agronegocios en la provincia de Buenos Aires. Con la información de tres entrevistas y una visita a un encuentro de habitantes de pueblos fumigados, examino los diferentes “marcos” que el movimiento tiene para describir las formas en que ellos expresan el problema actual, las soluciones que proponen, sus métodos para motivar a la gente, y la perspectiva del movimiento en general. También, incorporo perspectivas académicas para profundizar el análisis de las diferentes áreas de discurso en el movimiento y definir mejor los “marcos” que el movimiento tiene. El estudio halló que el movimiento destaca la injusticia cuando describe el problema, propone un modelo de agroecología, usa los efectos de los agrotóxicos para motivar a la gente, y el movimiento en general puede ser caracterizado como ecofeminista.
This research studies the movement against the transgenic soybean monoculture system, the spraying of agrotoxins,” and large agrobusiness in the province of Buenos Aires. With information from three interviews and a visit to a meeting of people from fumigated towns, I examine the different frames of the movement to describe the ways in which they convey the current problem, the solutions they propose, their methods for motivating people, and the movement\u27s perspective in general. Also, I incorporate academic perspectives to deepen the analysis of the different areas of discourse in the movement and better define the frames that the movement has. The study found that the movement highlights injustice when describing the problem, proposes a model of agro-ecology, uses the effects of pesticides to motivate people, and that the movement in general can be characterized as ecofeminist
Los impactos del cambio climático en las comunidades Aymaras en Putre, el valle de Azapa y Arica
No full textResearch Question: How is climate change affecting Aymara communities in Putre, the valley of Azapa, and Putre?
Objectives: To understand the effects of climate on communities by 1) describing which environmental problems exist and their impact on agriculture and ranching, 2) understanding the patterns of migration away from the ancestral land, 3) exploring the connections to the social determinants of health that exist with these change, and 4) analyzing the significance of these changes in the agriculture for the communities’ traditions and connection to the land.
Background: Aymara communities have historically inhabited agricultural and ranching lands in Northern Chile and neighboring countries Peru and Bolivia. The Aymara cosmovisión is built on a strong connection and reverence to the land in a more than material sense. In the past several decades, drought, changing temperatures, and contamination have made conditions, especially for farmers, more difficult. Rural Aymara communities are becoming depopulated as more people move to the cities, especially Arica, for opportunities in education and work.
Methodology: 11 semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with participants from a variety of viewpoints including farmers, experts in climate change, and community elders. Observation from two, five-day trips to Putre are included as well as several shorter visits to the valley of Azapa and four months living in Arica. Data analysis was conducted by coding and identifying themes.
Results: the impacts of climate change for the Aymara communities of Putre, the valley of Azapa, and Arica can be seen in the environment, agricultural and ranching challenges, connections with the cosmovisión, and health effects. Interviewees are especially concerned by coldness, lack of water, and unpredictable weather, all of which contribute to smaller, lesser quality, or dead plants. The communities also made connections to increased migration away from the ancestral land, more economic challenges, ethical problems with capitalistic approaches to the environment, and the health threats they face as a result.
Conclusions: The most important takeaway about the environment, agriculture and ranching, the Aymara cosmovisión, migration, and health is that they are connected and interdependent. In contrast to existing literature, it is necessary to consider these topics all together.
Pregunta de investigación: ¿Cómo el cambio climático está afectando las comunidades Aymaras en Putre, el valle de Azapa y Arica?
Objetivos: Entender los efectos del cambio climático en las comunidades por 1) describir cuáles problemas ambientales existen y su impacto en la agricultura, 2) comprender los patrones de migración fuera del territorio ancestral, 3) explorar las conexiones a los determinantes sociales de salud que existen con estos cambios y 4) analizar el significado de los cambios en la agricultura para las costumbres y la conexión a la tierra de las comunidades.
Antecedentes: Las comunidades Aymaras históricamente han habitado la tierra de cultivo y de ganadería en el norte de Chile y los países circundantes de Perú y Bolivia. La cosmovisión Aymara es construida por una conexión fuerte y reverencia a la tierra en un sentido más que materialista. En las últimas décadas, sequía, temperaturas inestables y contaminación han hecho condiciones difíciles, especialmente para los granjeros. Las comunidades rurales Aymaras se están volviendo despobladas mientras más personas se mueven a las ciudades, especialmente Arica, para oportunidades en educación y trabajo. Metodología: Realicé 11 entrevistas semiestructuradas y cualitativas con participantes de una variedad de puntos de vista incluso granjeros, expertos en cambio climático y ancianos de las comunidades. Observación incluyó dos, cinco-día viajes a Putre y varias visitas al valle de Azapa además de cuatro meses viviendo en Arica. El análisis de los datos fue el proceso de hacer y aplicar un libro de código e identificar los temas en las transcripciones.
Resultados: Puede ver los impactos del cambio climático para las comunidades Aymaras de Putre, el valle de Azapa y Arica en el medio ambiente, los desafíos en la agricultura y la ganadería, las conexiones con la cosmovisión y los efectos en la salud. Los entrevistados están preocupados especialmente por el frío, la falta de agua y la imprevisibilidad en el clima, todos contribuyen a plantas más pequeñas, de menos calidad o muertas. Las comunidades también hicieron conexiones al aumento en migración fuera de la tierra ancestral, más desafíos económicos, problemas éticos con métodos capitalistas al medio ambiente y las amenazas a la salud que ellos enfrentan como resultado.
Conclusiones: La más importante moraleja reconocer sobre el medio ambiente, la agricultura y la ganadería, la cosmovisión Aymara, la migración y la salud es que son independientes
The Influence of a Company\u27s Inherent Values on its Sustainability: Case Study of Portuguese Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
Get PDFSMEs are a significant portion of global corporations and, while individually might not compare to larger corporations in total emissions, holistically have significant impact. Therefore, understanding how a company\u27s inherent values influence its ability to be sustainable is necessary to help inform the field. Thus, the project was focused on the influence of social, environmental, and economic values on the sustainability of a company. The study compared founder and company profiles generated from an interview with the founder and triangulated through secondary sources. The study found that the inherent values of Veganism, Ethical Drive, and Ecological Consciousness influenced mainly the environmental and economic aspects of the company to be more sustainable. Further, the inherent values were found to influence environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The translation of value to practice will help to contribute to both scholars and practitioners in their efforts to create sustainability in the private sector
The Future of Architecture: Measuring the Sustainability of Paradigm Shifting Architectural Interventions
Get PDFSustainable development in the built environment seems paradoxical given that the architecture, construction, and buildings sector is one of most polluting, wasteful, and inefficient industries. Despite this notion, the role of the architect is evolving and their influence on design is expanding beyond ideas for physical structures and into designing interactions between the built environment and components such as policy, material usage, sustainability, and urban regeneration. Architects that are able to implement paradigm shifting design ideas that improve the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability can be catalytic for systemic change and act as a vehicle to move away from linear systems and into circular models. This study aims to review international building sustainability assessment methods (BSAM) used by architects to assess the extent that sustainable building criteria are being fulfilled. The study will then address the limitations that these models have in measuring sustainability criteria through a process-based lens. The paper presents specific modifications to the Simplified Method for Evaluating Building Sustainability (SMEBS) which was also created to address limitations in BSAM. Modifications to the SMEBS model will be implemented through the context of Lisbon’s historical and current sustainability initiatives
Declining Career Interest in Primary Care in Switzerland and the United States
Get PDFPrimary care (PC) lies at the center of modern healthcare systems as the primary point of contact between the general public and quality health care. Primary care physicians (PCPs) are known to provide high quality basic care to members of their surrounding community without consuming a large budget, and thus should be a priority for health sector investments. However, the proportion of medical students becoming PCPs is declining across the world, thus putting affordable global health at risk. The U.S. and Switzerland, even with their high health expenditures and advanced healthcare technologies, are no exception to this trend. Analysis of existing literature accompanied by personal communications with medical practitioners and medical students in both countries illustrate various similarities and differences in reasons why PC is declining. Students in both countries are often discouraged by financial reasons, perceived PC prestige and lifestyle, and intrinsic career motivation misalignments with PC. No single approach to resolve this phenomenon has stood out, but literature review and interviews with key informants have suggested some strategies that could prove effective in revitalizing PC
The Politics of Water: The Jordanian Water Crisis and the Future of Refugee Migration in the Middle East
Get PDFThe rise of water-related conflicts around the world has challenged the norms of international relations as environmental developments have transboundary effects that threaten the security of sovereign states and have the potential to destabilize regions. Furthermore, water-related conflicts are more dangerous in countries like Jordan that suffer from extreme water scarcity and have high populations of refugees as a consequence of political instability in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region. The following research investigates the role of water in relation to geopolitical factors such as refugee migration, Israel’s diversion of the Jordan River, and the construction of Syrian dams on the Yarmouk River. In doing so, the research determines the extent to which refugees play a decisive role in the water crisis, the possibility of war with Jordan’s neighbors, and the future of Jordan’s refugee and regional water policy
Hacia un Contra-Archivo Radical y Queer: El Archivo de la Memoria Trans y la [Re]Construcción de la Memoria Colectiva Sobre la Violencia Institucional en Argentina
Get PDFEsta investigación analizará algunos procesos vinculados a la producción de la memoria travesti y trans* en Argentina a partir de la experiencia del Archivo de la Memoria Trans (AMT). Reconociendo el espacio de la memoria en Argentina como un espacio de lucha política, compuesto por diferentes interpretaciones y narrativas, el relato ofrecido por el AMT se estudiará como la adición de una nueva dimensión de complejidad al campo de la memoria en torno al terrorismo de Estado, específicamente en relación con la identidad de las víctimas. En este trabajo, propongo un análisis de la manera en que el AMT se articula en busca de una ley que repare a travestis y mujeres trans* por la violencia y violaciones a los DDHH ejercidas por el Estado argentino, tanto en democracia, como en dictadura. Para ello voy hacer un análisis de la exhibición más reciente del AMT, titulada “Nuestra Historia,” en contrapunto con el relato histórico “oficial” proporcionado por el Espacio de la Memoria y Derechos Humanos de La Ex-Escuela de Mecánica de la Armada [Ex-ESMA]). Este análisis subrayará dos metas fundamentales del AMT: (1) humanizar y dignificar las vidas de víctimas travestis y mujeres trans* a través de una memoria narrada en primera persona, y (2) utilizar el archivo como herramienta política para articular demandas al Estado y recibir reconocimiento. A partir de identificar estas metas, este análisis explora cómo se llegan a cumplir al menos tres oposiciones al libreto tradicional de la memoria oficial. Esta confrontación tiene que ver con (1) la temporalidad de la violación de los derechos humanos por el Estado de manera sistemática, (2) el universo de las víctimas de esa violencia, (3) la asociación entre la democracia y el respeto a los derechos humanos. En conjunto, estos desafíos a la narrativa “oficial” ponen en evidencia la existencia de problemas que es debido reparar a través de una ley de reparaciones2. A partir de esta investigación, proporcionaré mi propia crítica de la articulación de este proyecto histórico