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Observational Study of Woolly Monkey Behavior and Vocalizations: Behavioral Time Allotment and Vocalization Habits of a Small Population of Poeppig’s Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha poeppigii) in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Get PDFPoeppig’s woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha poeppigii), a species of primate native to the Amazonian regions of western Brazil, eastern Ecuador, and northeastern Peru, is classified as endangered by the IUCN. These large, frugivorous primates are threatened by habitat loss and climate change as a result of human interference. Deforestation, hunting, petroleum mining, and illegal trafficking are all huge threats to this species. As a result of these pressures, their populations have decreased by at least 30% over the past three generations. However, as keystone seed dispersers, they are essential for Amazonian ecosystem health; without their seed dispersal services, a loss of up to 55% of tree richness could be observed in the Amazon. In response to this dire situation, primate rehabilitation and relocation projects have begun attempting to raise and relocate woolly monkeys to areas where their populations have dropped significantly. One of these projects, called Sumak Allpa, is run on a small island in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador. It currently houses 26 Lagothrix individuals, in preparation for future relocation. These individuals have historically separated into two troops, one composed of juveniles, and the other of adults. This study aims to monitor and document the behavior and vocalizations of both troops, and to analyze interactions between individuals and troops. Data regarding behavioral time allotment, spatial distribution, troop dynamics, and vocalizations was collected. Results showed that troops spend a majority of time (83.3%) foraging in the southwestern area of the island. Observations also revealed that the juvenile and adult troops have continued the eight year trend of increasing time spent in union. Lastly, six different types of vocalizations were observed and analyzed: chirp, whistle, wail, screech, howl, and chatter. The synthesis of this data reveals that Poeppig’s woolly monkey is an exceedingly social animal, and that their social welfare must be prioritized during their relocation process
Comparing the Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV)’s social policies towards refugees and asylum seekers
Get PDFIn 2022, countries and territories across Europe experienced a sharp increase in the number of people seeking asylum, mainly due to the war in Ukraine. Over 3,5000 Ukrainians have sought refuge in the Basque Autonomous Community (BAC) and as of July 2022, over 7,000 Ukrainians have sought refuge in Scotland (“3.587 refugiados de Ucrania”, 2022 and The Scottish Government, 2022). This increase is on top of the over 250,000 foreigners living in the BAC and the thousands of refugees already resettled throughout Scotland (Ikuspegi, Observatorio Vasco de Inmigración, 2022 and “Refugee resettlement”, 2022). Given the large number of refugees and asylum seekers coming into Europe, I chose to explore nationalist-led governments’ social policies towards the refugee and asylum-seeker population. Overall, nationalist parties are viewed as accepting refugees and asylum seekers, and I used case study methods to analyze the social policies of two such nationalist-led governments. Scotland and the BAC both have a history of being ruled by nationalist parties, Scottish National Party (SNP) and Basque Nationalist Party (EAJ-PNV) respectively and have significant control over their own social policies. This paper compares the refugee and asylum-seeker social aid policies regarding the relationship with civil society, housing, adult language instruction, and legal aid that are supported by nationalist parties and passed by these parties while in power in the BAC and Scotland. Through the analysis of government documents and election manifestos and interviews with those familiar with this topic. I concluded that both parties could do more to support refugees and asylum seekers, though I believe these nationalist governments are developing “good” policy towards refugees and asylum seekers that could serve as an example for other governments. This paper ends with policy suggestions for these parties and suggestions for future research
Shifting Relations: How Spain and Morocco’s Bilateral Relationship Affects Violence at the Border
Get PDFMorocco is a key transit country for many migrants trying to reach Europe, due to its shared land border with Spain, and Spain’s initiation into the European Union in 1986. Through informal interviews, current literature, Moroccan and Spanish news articles, and migrants’ stories, it can be seen that the changing bilateral relationship between Spain and Morocco creates violence at the border. Spain and Morocco’s unequal relationship is built upon economic dependency and colonialization. Spain wants to control Ceuta and Melilla border, the physical representation of “othering,” to cling to its “superior” identity, while Morocco hopes to further develop its economy and fight colonialism, using migration as a political leverage against Spain. When there is a cooperation between the two states, uncontrolled violence occurs at the border. The connection between this bilateral relationship and migrant suffering can be analyzed with game theory, specifically the Stag Hunt. While Morocco is challenging Western hegemony in this supposedly post-colonial world, it is doing so in an unethical way
El Parque de la Papa y el Centro Internacional de la Papa: un caso de estudio de una colaboración única para la conservación de diversidad biocultural
Get PDFEl Parque de la Papa, un territorio biocultural indígena en Cusco, Perú, es un sitio de conservación in situ de variedades de papas nativas apoyado por la ONG Asociación ANDES. En 2004, entró en un convenio con el Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP) para la repatriación, restauración y seguimiento de las papas bajo el cual 410 variedades de papa fueron devueltas al Parque. El convenio ha formado la base para una relación continua entre CIP y el Parque; han desarrollado capacitaciones, investigaciones participativas e intercambios de conocimientos científicos y tradicionales. La colaboración entre CIP y el Parque es un modelo interesante de abordar los temas de seguridad alimentaria y la conservación complementaria entre ex situ y in situ. Este caso de estudio explora el desarrollo de la relación, enfocándose en la investigación participativa de cambio climático, y las percepciones del convenio que tienen las partes interesadas. La metodología consistió de entrevistas con personas relevantes de CIP, el Parque y ANDES, observación en el Parque del trabajo que realizan actualmente y una revisión de la literatura que existe sobre el tema. Al final, encuentro que la relación no ha sido activa desde la pandemia COVID-19 y por todos lados tienen ganas de renovarlo. No obstante, quedan algunos asuntos de reparto de información y comunicación que deben ser solucionados en el proceso de la renovación del convenio. Además, sugiero que la relación es más bien descrita con la teoría del “middle ground” o término medio (White 1991), caracterizada por un serie de malentendidos creativos que sirven para construir un espacio común diplomático. Este término medio no es negativo, pero debe ser reconocido como la realidad en vez del discurso actual que propone que es una relación fundamentada en la cosmovisión andina
What Makes Mad Honey “Mad”? An Investigation into the Obsession of the Himalayan Wild Cliff Honey
Get PDFMad honey is a rare variety of cliff honey found in the mountainous regions of Turkey and Nepal and has been harvested by Indigenous groups for centuries. In Nepal, it is found on high-hanging cliffs that people risk their lives to face, but what makes this honey so special to cause generations of Nepalis to brave the formidable heights? Through a series of reading primary and secondary sources, watching first-hand accounts of honey hunting, and interviewing honey hunters, filmmakers, authors, and laypeople alike, I work to find the answer to the puzzling question – what makes mad honey mad ? In this paper, I explore this idea from a few different perspectives in an attempt to get to the bottom of the global craze that surrounds the alluring nectar of the Himalayas. From the toxicology perspective, mad honey has unique properties from a neurotoxin, grayanotoxin 1 and 3 that cause the honey to be a deliriant. From a cultural perspective, mad honey is mad because of the extreme methods of harvesting or hunting that Indigenous groups partake in to get the honey which is sometimes used as medicine. Finally, from a more humanistic perspective, perhaps the only thing that makes mad honey mad is the Shangri-la idea that foreigners place on a country that has been a victim of orientalism for centuries
How Survivors of Domestic Violence Seek Legal and Social Support Against Their Abusers in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra State in India: An Exploratory Study
Get PDFThis exploratory study sought to gather detailed information about women’s experiences surviving and rehabilitating from domestic violence. This information was used to identify factors that encourage survivors to stay in their relationships and factors that enable them to seek legal and social support against their abusive partners. Qualitative data was gathered through a series of in-depth interviews and panel discussions with survivors of domestic violence in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra (India). This data was analyzed with guidance from Indian feminist theory, local professionals, and contributing research mentors. Further examination of national survey data, past research on domestic violence in Indian contexts, and broader social critique from native academics and activists were used to determine the social, cultural, and religious forces that have contributed to normalizing and perpetuating domestic violence in India. This study was conducted in conjunction with Snehalaya, a non-government organization based in Ahmednagar primarily assisting underprivileged women, children and LGBT communities suffering from poverty and the commercial sex industry
Manual of Sustainable Urban Practices Towards Long-term Conservation
Get PDFThis paper analyzes how urban living and design can be detrimental to the surrounding ecosystems and how it is directly affecting the biodiversity loss of an area. To answer this question, I first did extensive background research on urbanization, climate change, and biodiversity loss as it relates to urban ecosystems. Then, the public’s perceptions were collected through surveys and interviews in order to make meaningful suggestions in the construction of an interactive, biological corridor map. The results showed that increasing the biodiversity of an urban area can help to mitigate many of the common environmental challenges associated with living in an urban environment, such as lowering temperatures, boosting overall well-being of the residents, decreases in frequency of extreme weather events, and much more. The results of the surveys showed that the majority of the public did not fully understand what mitigation tools such as green infrastructures like green roofs and pollinator gardens, can do for the public. Thus, leading to the conclusion that the best way to mitigate such challenges is through educating the public on how to take action by increasing the biodiversity in easy ways. This led the type of information that would be released to the public. From an environmental perspective, it was surprising to learn how much of a difference increasing the biodiversity of an urban space can make. Additionally, the results of the surveys and interviews were unexpected because of how the willingness to change their lives for a better environmental future switched after gaining the education necessary to fully understand the challenges in this urban situation
The Future of Multinational Accountability within the Environmental Policy Nexus
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to examine current international environmental policy shortcomings regarding multinational accountability, explore future legally binding options, and offer a resolution towards effective accountability mechanisms. To do so, it uses a two-part methodology composed of a comprehensive engagement with existing secondary sources from the academic literature and four interviews with experts in the field. The paper builds out considerations in seven key areas for normative consideration regarding the future of legally binding environmental policy. These considerations are hard law considerations in: International Law, International Human rights law, International Humanitarian Law, and International Environmental Law and procedural options through domestic, regional, and international accountability mechanisms. It concludes that through integration and harmonization of hard law policies in all four legal regimes and an employment of procedural enforcement through exhaustion of local remedies that includes both home and host binding policies that Multinational Corporations will face legal accountability through effective means
Improving the Longevity of Dairy Cattle: An Important Initiative for the Swiss Dairy Industry
Get PDFSwiss dairy cattle rarely live a productive life of longer than 5 years- sometimes even less, and therefore fail to reach their maximum lactation potential. They are often prematurely culled due to udder diseases, fertility problems, lameness, or the farmer’s need to make room for a calving heifer. However, farmers rarely record the real reasons for removing a cow from the herd, due to a sense of pressure and obligation to produce and a lack of universal standards regarding longevity to assist in this decision. This is a monumental problem, from both an environmental and animal welfare point of view, especially because dairy is widely consumed in Switzerland. Therefore, this paper seeks to find ways to improve longevity and to investigate if the methods on both a Bio Suisse and Biodynamic farm, as opposed to an intensive, high-producing farm, assist in lengthening the life of a dairy cow. This study was done using a wide variety of existing gray and academic literature, and personal interviews with a cattle health researcher and Swiss dairy farmers. It was found that there was no direct correlation between organic farming and the increased longevity of dairy cows, due to a lack of previous research and data. However, there is a likelihood that the prioritization of animal welfare and environmental sustainability on organic farms contributes and supports a longer productive life for dairy cattle
Irregular Migration in Morocco: A Case for Constructionism
Get PDFSeparated by only 14 kilometers of water from Spain, Morocco has become a common destination for many sub-Saharan irregular migrants trying to reach Europe. With a large population of these migrants, Morocco has had to make important decisions on how to manage its irregular migrant population. However, the terrible conditions and regular violations of human rights that irregular migrants in Morocco are subject to lead one to ponder the role that international relations has and the extent to which human rights is a consideration in the policymaking of irregular migration. Applied to the three primary theories of international relations, liberalism, realism, and constructivism, I come to the conclusion that the latter has the greatest explanatory value when applied to the case of irregular migration in Morocco