8411 research outputs found
Sort by
Earth stories: a narrative understanding of farmlife in Pokhara, Nepal
Get PDFHumans love to tell stories. The purpose of this Creative ISP is to collect stories, of the plants and of the earth, render them through quotations and summary, and then discuss and reflect on how these stories could describe the relationship between people and the land. I hope a narrative understanding of our dependence on agriculture can bridge the gap in modern society that separates us so fundamentally from the earth that we live on
The Viability of Traditional Portuguese Olive Groves in the Alentejo Region under a Sustainable Development Framework
Get PDFPortugal became self-sufficient in olive oil production in 2014 and produces 150% of its needs, which makes Portugal the world’s fourth-largest exporter (DeAndreis, 2022). Olive groves in Portugal were once estimated to be 70-80% low-input traditional type, but rapid intensification toward a predominantly intensive mode of agriculture has been extremely fast (Beaufoy, 2001, p. 22; Silveira et al., 2018, p. 248). The Alentejo region, despite its dry Mediterranean climate and a tradition of extensive, multi-functional agricultural systems, is now home to 85% of Portugal’s olive groves and responsible for 77% of the country’s olive oil production (Dawson, 2019; Silveira et al., 2018, p. 248). The traditional farm structure in olive oil production, with a majority of smaller size, unirrigated farms, and a few properties with more than 100 hectares, is therefore shrinking due to rapid change in the industry (Silveira et al., 2018, p. 259). The research objectives of this study are to present insights about the economic viability of traditional Portuguese olive groves utilizing a framework for sustainable development that includes economic, environmental, and social aspects. This research is based on a case study analysis of two semi-structured interviews with traditional olive grove farmers in Alentejo, supplemented with data from relevant literature about the environmental impacts of different types of olive groves in the region, as well as their varying production yields and costs. The main findings of the study were 1) the importance of certified organic production methods for traditional farmers that allow for valuable product differentiation and access to higher-paying consumers, and 2) the degree to which traditional olive producers were open to planting Portuguese varieties with less aggressive intensive methods (but nonetheless more intensive than the traditional olive grove), with the tradeoff of producing a higher quantity of olive oil and a fighting chance to preserve the national history and tradition that accompanies the unique tastes and aromas of native varieties
Surveying the Stigma: How the PLHIV Stigma Index acts as a validated framework to measure healthcare discrimination and how it can be adapted to quantify mental health stigma
Get PDFThe PLHIV Stigma Index is an ongoing, international study conducted by and for people living with HIV to measure the stigmatization that people living with HIV experience. As a model that has been proven successful in translating to targeted advocacy campaigns, this paper theorizes on how this Stigma Index could be broadened to capture other aspects of healthcare discrimination. With a growing demand for mental health support and a critically underdeveloped mental healthcare framework, understanding the stigma and discrimination that exist for people living with depression is a good place to start. Using mixed methods analysis from existing literature and expert interviews, this study dives into the feasibility of and demand for the development of a depression stigma analysis tool. Despite the large number of experimental design based metrics for this, there is a gap in the existing literature that lies in peer-to-peer qualitative analysis. This paper explores the existing model of the PLHIV Stigma Index, depression stigma, the comparison between depression and HIV, the need for a stigma analytical tool in mental health, the ways that the PLHIV Stigma Index could inform such a tool, and the key considerations of this kind of plan. Finally, tentative recommendations for future policy, advocacy and research are made
Caviar of the Pacific: Palolo Fishing Today and its Association with Coral Reef Health
Get PDFPalolo is a traditional delicacy of Samoa. It is the reproductive part of a marine worm that is released twice a year, October and November in Samoa, making palolo season a culturally significant time. Coral reefs, the palolo worm’s habitat, is under a plethora of environmental threats, which is an extremely prevalent concern for Pacific Islanders. Hundreds of palolo harvesters walking on corals twice a year adds extra pressure on coral reefs. Despite these vulnerabilities, prices of palolo are soaring year by year, while there is little to no research about the palolo worm and documentation of current harvesting practices and fishermen’s attitudes.
Some believe that the loss of traditional values lead to a lack of respect for the environment, but it seems to be a lack of awareness about the topic. This study is a document of the current societal pressures on the palolo worm and its coral reefs. The themes that stood out are: people opting out from traditional practices for convenience, a shift towards western paradigms over traditional knowledge and values, people being unaware of the harm they are doing by stepping on corals, people not being able to acquire tools that would prevent coral damage (eg. paopao, flashlights), and a preference towards buying over fishing, leading to higher demand with no increasing supply
Born A Foreigner: Tibetan Statelessness in India
Get PDFA majority of the Tibetans in India are stateless, meaning that they have citizenship to no internationally recognized country. India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and has no national refugee framework. Therefore, residents of India are either designated as foreigners or citizens. Tibetans—including those that were born in India—are labeled as “foreigners” in India. Stateless Tibetans in India have no permanent legal status, making them vulnerable to detention and deportation. Furthermore, stateless Tibetans can’t buy property, have limited educational and career opportunities, and constantly have to renew documentation in order to reside in India. While a significant number of Tibetans are not eligible to apply for Indian citizenship, many have chosen to remain stateless in order to protect the Tibet struggle. Despite the many difficulties that come with statelessness, Tibetans have found ways to thrive and preserve Tibetan culture
Impact Of Mentoring Amongst Indigenous Young Adults In Sabah, Malaysia
Get PDFMost indigenous communities in Malaysia live in poverty and this has limited their access to education and decent employment. This study examines how mentoring relationships may aid indigenous young adults (19-24 years old) in Sabah, Malaysia in overcoming socio-economic barriers and securing stable employment. To explore this, several data sources were used that derived from interviews with mentors, a mixed method online survey with the mentees followed by telephone interviews with selected mentees from the responses. Findings indicate that the family’s influence, language proficiency of the young adult, development of soft skills and financial literacy were factors that influence an indigenous young adult’s employability, job security and stability. The findings also demonstrate that mentoring provides benefits such as increased positive character values, career advancement opportunities, preparedness of work, skills development and employment opportunities. Mentoring, if paired with an understanding of indigenous culture, may be an effective intervention tool especially in the development of Sabah’s indigenous young adults towards human capital growth in Malaysia
The Labyrinth of Data Collection for Humanitarian Project Funding and Implementation
Get PDFMy research concentrates on four NGOs: IOM, IDMC, JIPS, and OCHA which use different tools to collect data and translate the information into evidence for data-driven decision making (DDDM) for the implementation of humanitarian assistance projects. I focus on the importance, advantages, and various data collection tools which help ameliorate the humanitarian sector since it does not have a current professionalized path to enter the workforce. I incorporated four interviews, attended two conferences and analyzed multiple online sources during my project
Cape Town Cartographies: Which spaces can the youth access? Mapping the mobilities of 11 University of Cape Town (UCT) students
Get PDFSouth Africa went through a gruesome system of segregation known as apartheid, from 1948 until 1994 which enforced spatial and racial divisions through limiting access to spaces, places and (im)mobilities. Despite the formal ending of apartheid in 1994, and some changes it brought to the divided and wounded country, the neo-apartheid spatial structure of the regime lives on in some form or other, particularly in Cape Town. This research paper sought to explore the racial segregation in the mother city further, by examining the daily movements of students from the University of Cape Town (UCT), who are part of the so-called ‘born free’ generation, which in the South African context includes anyone born after apartheid into “freedom”. Through a series of mapping and semi-structured interviews, I investigated student mobilities and their access to spaces, to answer the question: do young people of different racial groups access spaces and the city equally in present-day Cape Town? I hypothesized that, although these people are mobile physically, their movements and access to spaces are bounded by politics and history and are unequal; hence, some are ‘immobile’ relative to others around them. The maps and interviews revealed that most female participants had limited access and avoided places purposefully because of safety, particularly from men. However, all students who were white, had a car, or originally from or grew up in Cape Town were more likely to access spaces way beyond the southern suburbs than those who didn’t. Therefore, one’s mobility and access to space were most dependent on their race, class, gender as well as birthplace. These maps were able to shed light on the hidden barriers of race, class, racism, and crime, which remain tied due to the lingering effects of apartheid. Access is no longer bounded by law, as it was during apartheid, yet it’s still bounded by geography, class, race, and gender. The research project revealed that inequality of access and mobility are just a microcosm of larger social inequalities still present in Cape Town
First-Year Teacher Training Programs: Examining the Structure of Support
Get PDFWith the teacher turnover rate at an alarmingly high incline in the United States, this project seeks to reveal the lack of support that first-year teachers experience during their first year of teaching in the United States. First, this paper examines the history of teacher training in the United States and how the historical context has shaped teacher training today. By investigating current first-year teacher training programs, it is evident that programs designed to support first-year teachers throughout their first year of teaching are less numerous than programs that prepare teachers prior to their first year of teaching. Additionally, this project reviews an anonymous survey about teachers’ support during their first year of teaching. Lastly, I offer ways in which first-year teacher training programs could improve to best support the needs of first-year teachers. The relevance of this topic hinges on the importance of the field of education; without teachers, what would the field of education be
IMPROVING RECYCLING IN JORDAN: USING SURVEYS AND CASE STUDIES TO PREDICT THE SUCCESS OF PROJECT TADWEER
Get PDFGlobally, the mismanagement of municipal solid waste continues to be an environmental, human health, and economic hazard, especially in developing countries. In Jordan, solid waste production is rapidly increasing as their population continue to grow. Unfortunately, only 6 to 10% of this waste is recycled with most of it landing in landfills or open dumpsites. Because of this, project TADWEER (“recycle” in Arabic) was launched by the Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan’s (JREDS’) Eco-School program and will attempt to achieve zero waste in 10 selected schools in Al-Zarqaa and Irbid for the 2021-2022 school year. The project also plans to influence recycling behavior in surrounding communities and ultimately the nation. An aggressive plan was put together to achieve this, but only time will tell to see how successful the program will be. To predict the success of project TADWEER, numerous case studies of successful school recycling programs were examined for comparing their action plans to project TADWER’s plans. In addition, 102 surveys were conducted within two malls to receive up-to-date information on recycling practices and attitudes in Jordan, and to see how responders might be influenced by the project. From the surveys, it was noted that poor recycling practices still exist in Jordan, but Jordanians view that it is important. It was also noted that people want recycling to become more convenient. From past project comparisons, it was observed that the action plans of previous successful recycling programs aligned with that of project TADWEER’s. Together, the results of the surveys and case studies support that project TADWEER will be successful. The project will be able to help increase recycling rates by making it more convenient and by educating students and people of the dangers of mismanaged waste. The TADWEER project is also engaging, important, and proactive. Predicting the success of an environmental program is key to improve the planning of future projects used for forecasting. If the prediction is right, the same technique could be used to predict others