8411 research outputs found
Sort by
Ethnobotany and Dai Medicine: Herbal Roots
Get PDFXishuangbanna is home to one of the most biologically and culturally diverse regions in China. Dai medicine from the Dai people has been recognized by China as one of the four major ethnic minority medicines. With over 2,500 years of practice, Dai medicine utilizes the herbs found in the diverse region mixed with principles and theories from Buddhism. There have been over 500 unique herbs used in Dai medicine, each with different properties and functions. As Xishuangbanna continues to develop as a city and expand its rubber and banana plantations, it has large impacts on the environment, living standard, education, and culture, overall, changing traditional Dai medicine and herbal collection. The records and experiences living in different Dai villages learning about herbalism are focused in this paper, documenting the traditional knowledge as well as noting the changing methods, limitations and lack thereof, and impacts development of the region has on Dai herbal medicine
The Future is Non-Binary: Investigating the Genesis of the Non-Binary Movement in Amsterdam and Beyond
Get PDFThis project examines butch and crossdresser communities in Northern Europe in the late 20th century, and their transformation into the non-binary movement of the last ten years. This research investigates the recent trajectory of gender-diverse communities and evaluates the role of the non-binary moment in the history of gender-diverse people in the Western world. Findings come from interviews with Dutch individuals who identify as non-binary, genderqueer, or otherwise outside of the gender binary, as well as periodicals and other materials related to crossdresser and butch identities from the IHLIA LGBT Heritage Archives and the Atria Institute. This study demonstrates that the non-binary movement represents a significant shift in communities of gender variance and an opening for gender liberation. While butch and crossdresser communities transgress binaries in important ways, the non-binary identity allows gender-diverse people in the Western world, for the first time in centuries, to have the freedom to imagine their identities beyond the categories of male and female
Los efectos de la minería en la salud: El movimiento social Aymara en torno al Cerro Márquez
No full textWith the political and social state of Chile’s history, mining has been present for hundreds of years, affecting the land and the indigenous populations in the country. This study asked how mining in the town of Ticnamar would affect the community, what positive and negative results mining activity has, what the most important elements of the social movement against mining are and how all of these elements influence health. The study sought to learn and study the impact of and the motivations that mining could have in the community of Ticnamar, and how it is perceived by the community. More specifically, it investigated the positive and negative consequences of mining activity in Chile and the effects on the health of the people. The study learned about the significance of the customs and culture of Cerro Márquez to the population through interviews and a literature review. Finally, it analyzed the mobilization of the social movements against or in favor of the possible mine in Ticnamar. Chile, with a large percentage of the global total of reserves of copper, has a great dependency and vast quantity of sales of metal and other mining products compared with other areas of the economy. Faced with the large industry of extractive Chilean mining the Aymara and other indigenous groups have lost and could lose their ancestral land, water, and rights as owners of the land. The study investigated the effects not only on the health of the human body or the environment, but also the cultural practices of the community. The methodology consisted of a qualitative and exploratory study, with unstructured observation through travel to the towns around and to Cerro Márquez and interviews in Arica, Chile and the in the mountains to the east of Arica where Cerro Márquez is located. The people most affected by mining in general and the people that work with this issue as representatives of the indigenous population or the community were interviewed. There were many similarities in the stories of the interviewees, including their negative perceptions of the mining companies and opinions about the effects of mining on health and the environment. Through the project, the history of mining activity in the region, the division in the community, and the rupture of their customs and culture was understood. A review of the previous literature was also carried out to compare and contrast the available information of mining in general and in northern Chile. In conclusion, some of the largest effects of mining seen are those that cannot be quantified, but rather affect the greater community and the bonds between the indigenous people of northern Chile.
Con el estado político y social en la historia de Chile las actividades mineras han sido una gran presencia para cientos de años, afectando la tierra y las poblaciones indígenas en el país. Este estudio preguntó cómo afectaría la presencia de una mina y afecta la minería a la comunidad del pueblo Ticnamar, qué resultados negativos y positivos tiene la actividad minera, cuáles son los elementos más importantes del movimiento social en contra de la minería y cómo todos estos elementos influye la salud. El estudio trató de conocer y analizar el impacto de y las motivaciones que tendría la minería en la comunidad de Ticnamar, y como se lo percibe desde la perpectiva de la comunidad. Más específicamente, investigó las consecuencias negativas y positivas de la actividad minera en Chile y los efectos en la salud de la gente. El estudio conocía el significado de las costumbres y la cultura del cerro Márquez a la población a través de las entrevistas y una investigación en la literatura. Finalmente, analizó la movilización de la gente en contra o a favor de la posible mina de Ticnamar. Chile, con un gran porcentaje del total reservas de cobre mundial, tiene una mayor dependencia y enorme cantidad de ventas de metal y otros productos mineros comparado con otras áreas de la economía. Frente a la masiva industria extractiva minera chilena, los Aymara y otros pueblos indígenas han perdido y podrían perder sus tierras ancestrales, el agua y sus derechos como dueños de su territorio. El estudio investigó los efectos no solo en la salud de cuerpo humano ni el medioambiente, pero también en sus prácticas culturales de la comunidad. La metodología consistió en un estudio cualitativo y exploratorio, con observación sin estructura a través de un viaje de los pueblos en la región y alrededor del Cerro Márquez, y con entrevistas en Arica, Chile y el altiplano donde se ubica Cerro Márquez. Las personas más afectadas por la minería en general, la gente que trabaja en el tema como un representante de la población indígena o por la comunidad eran entrevistada. Había varias similitudes en las historias de las entrevistadas incluyendo sus percepciones negativas de las empresas mineras, y sus opiniones de los efectos de la minería en salud y el medioambiente. A través del proyecto, se escuchó y se entendió la historia de la actividad minera en la región, la división en la comunidad y la ruptura en sus costumbres y cultura. También se realizó una revisión previa de la literatura a comparar y contrastar la información disponible de la minería en general y en el norte de Chile. De concluir, algunos de los mayores efectos visto de la minería son los que no se pueden cuantificar, sino que afectan a la mayor comunidad y los vínculos entre los pueblos indígenas del norte de Chile
El Otro Mundo Posible en el Horizonte: el Imaginario Político y la Política Prefigurativa de lxs Estudiantes de las Protestas de Otoño 2019
No full textOctober 2019, mass mobilizations erupted across Chile in a widespread rebellion against the neoliberal system of economic austerity and the current government. In such a powerful historical moment undoubtedly decisive for the direction of the country, this paper seeks to examine how student participants, an increasingly strong voice of radical dissidence in recent years of social movements, imagine a better Chile. Engaging with classic and contemporary theories of social movements, this paper analyzes the methods of organization and action utilized by the protesters and how they are influenced by institutional structures and the political opportunities available. Through interviews and the review of political flyers distributed by at the protests, the study establishes the common goals of the movement as a whole and the visions the protesters harbor for different future of the country. Under the concepts of prefigurative politics and alter-activism, the paper explores how the movement manifests their desired futures through their present actions and thus begins the construction and realization of a better world today.
This study found that students organize primarily in assemblies and university federations open to all while also participating in a diverse array of territorial non-university organizations. Marches and protests to occupy public space and disrupt daily life have become a vital form of political collective action, but recent mobilizations have also seen the rise of new forms of protest, such as dances, songs, and performances, that utilize creativity to call attention specifically to the movement’s demands. Centered on the call for a new constitution and a citizen assembly, the protests envision a more equal, just Chile in economic terms, but they also focus on securing policies of reparation and social justice to combat the history of repression in the country. The scale of action and the multitude of causes represents a questioning of the existing system that has spurred widespread citizen self-organization and deliberation of necessary reforms on local, regional, and national levels. The community’s developing mechanisms of self-management facilitate the construction of popular self-governance of the movement’s demands and signify the people’s assumption of control over the country’s changes and future
Los Efectos de la Socialización Política en las Percepciones sobre los Migrantes Centroamericanos
No full textSince early 2018, xenophobic attitudes towards Central American Migrants have spiked among Mexican adults. However, it is largely unknown if youth in Mexico feel the same way. This research explores xenophobia among university students through the lens of political socialization, which is the process of developing political opinions, attitudes, and behavior. This study sought to discover what agents of socialization (family, social media, traditional media, and a university education) are most prominent among Mexican youth and what effects these agents have on student perceptions of Central American migrants and migration. To address these questions, a sequential explanatory mixed methods design, using a 25-question survey and follow up interviews, was employed in Oaxaca, Mexico. Results were analyzed through descriptive statistics as well as the “Kendalls Tau” Rank correlation test to determine the effects the various agents of socialization had on student perceptions. Results revealed that social media and a university education were the most important agents to the political socialization of Mexican youth. Although, the simple presence of these factors has no statistically significant effect on perceptions of Central American migrants, positive rhetoric and representation of migrants in the home and online do. It was also determined that heavy use of traditional media, such as TV news programs and newspapers, could be linked to a more negative perception of Central American migrants. To begin mitigating xenophobia among youth in Mexico, independent news organizations should promote positive depictions of migrants, limiting focus on the crime, violence, and corruption in Central America.
Esta investigación explora xenofobia entre estudiantes universitarias a través de la lente de la socialización política, que es el proceso de formar opiniones, actitudes, y comportamientos políticos. Intenté de descubrir cuales factores de la socialización (la familia, las redes sociales, los medios tradicionales, y una educación universitaria) son más prominentes entre los jóvenes mexicanos y que efectos tienen estos factores en las precepciones de los estudiantes sobre los migrantes y la migración de Centroamérica. Para abordar estas preguntas, utilicé un diseño de métodos variados explicativo secuencial, usando una encuesta de 25 preguntas y entrevistas de seguimiento. Los resultados fueron analizados con estadísticas descriptivas además de la prueba de correlación, “Kendalls Tau” para determinar los efectos que tienen los factores de socialización en las percepciones de los estudiantes. Mis resultados revelaron que las redes sociales y la educación universitaria son los factores más importantes para la socialización política de los jóvenes adultos mexicanos. Sin embargo, la presencia sola de estos factores no tenía un efecto estadísticamente significativo en las precepciones de los migrantes centroamericanos, pero retórica y la representación positiva de los migrantes en la casa en las redes sociales tienen un efecto. También, se determinó que el uso intenso de los medios tradicionales, como los programas de noticias y los periódicos, podría estar relacionado con una percepción más negativa de los migrantes centroamericanos. Sugiero que las organizaciones de noticias independientes promuevan representaciones positivas de los migrantes, limitando el enfoque en el crimen, la violencia, y la corrupción en Centroamérica. Además, las universidades deberían animar a sus estudiantes a hablar sobre la política en sus clases, entre sus amigos, y en la casa
Climate-Smart Agriculture: Building Resilience for Women Farmers in Kalchebeshi, Nepal
Get PDFThis case study outlines women’s involvement in climate-smart agriculture and key climate adaptation strategies which are being implemented in the town of Kalchebeshi, Nepal. Kalchebeshi is considered a Resilient Mountain Village because of the town’s integrated approach to addressing climate change and building resilience for farmers. Key findings examined gender differences in farming responsibilities and the significance of farmers’ groups in women’s overall decision making and community involvement. Additionally, changes in water management and pesticide use have been shown to have a positive impact on the lives of women farmers in Kalchebeshi. This paper reinforces the importance of involving vulnerable groups of people in the process of implementing climate adaptation and resilience building programs. The case study suggests that climate-smart agriculture can be an effective way of addressing women’s’ vulnerability to climate-change. Data was collected through interviews with women farmers and detailed participant observation
The Female Worker: An Analysis of Women Residing along the Moroccan-European and U.S.- American Borderlands
Get PDFMy independent research project is a comparative study focusing on women experiences among the Mexican-U.S. borderlands and Moroccan-European borderlines. For the Mexican-U.S.American context, I will focus on females maquiladora workers and stay-at-home wives. For the Moroccan-European context, I will focus on the mujeres mulas – women mules. My paper will discuss the ways in which society and governments run under a male-dominated lens contributing to the placement of women in vulnerable positions
The Impacts of Tourism on Subak, Sawah, and the Environment
Get PDFIn this paper I wish to explore the topic of Sawah, Subak, and the impact tourism has on both of these important parts of Balinese culture. By starting with the history of subak, moving into the Green Revolution, then into the start of mass tourism, and coming all the way up until today, I would like to see how subak has changed and developed or how it hasn’t. I would also like to get a sense of what people see for the future of farming in Bali. To go about this, I talked with rice farmers, who are being directly affected, with tourists, to see if they understand their impact, with experts on business, to see what they feel are the issues, and with people from an NGO who are working to help right the wrongs that have been caused by the factors of tourism like pollution, issues of water and even natural disasters. Above all else, I wanted to gain a deeper understanding as to why this is happening, and to also understand it from an economic aspect because while it is easy to focus on the negative, there are also many positive impacts from tourism
Social Support and Discrimination: The Experiences of Recovering Heroin Addicts in Kunming, China
Get PDFOpioids have had a long, complex position in Chinese society, dating all the way back to the Ming dynasty. In 1949, 5% of the overall Chinese population and 25% of the population in Yunnan smoked opium regularly, which led to societal collapse and economic downturn. Since then, the Chinese government has used many different methods to attempt to control drug use and trafficking, including registering all users, executing traffickers, and using Compulsory Rehabilitation Centers. Starting in 2008, the government switched to a harm reduction approach and began to invest in methadone clinics, community support groups, and needle exchange programs. Because not much research exists on the effectiveness of peer support in China, this aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of peer support groups and other natural social support systems and also determine Chinese society’s perceptions of drug use and whether this affects the recovery experiences of people who use drug.
Nineteen former drug users, sourced from a methadone clinic in Kunming, were interviewed concerning peer support services, their natural support systems, and perceived discrimination. One hundred and twelve responses were also received from an online survey sent out to the Chinese public aimed at understanding the stigma and discrimination against people with drug addictions. From analyzing these responses, this study came to a couple main conclusions. First, peer support groups for those recovering from addiction in Kunming are not widely used and limited in their effectiveness. Instead many participants in this study relied on familial support and distancing themselves from others with drug histories. Furthermore, discrimination and stigma against people with drug addictions are very high and make reentry into society difficult for many. China has come a long way in its handling of its narcotic abuse problem, but there still remain many gaps in social support
An Assessment of Coral Bleaching near Misali Island, Tanzania
Get PDFCoral bleaching and reef health were studied in fringing reefs around Misali Island, Tanzania. Over a 28-day period, 1,329 coral colonies were surveyed along 31 transects. For each colony, data was collected on growth form and bleaching severity. No significant differences in bleaching frequency or intensity were observed between the resource extraction and non-extraction zones protected under the Pemba Channel Marine Conservation Area (PECCA). Bleaching was observed to be extensive across all coral growth forms and was found to collectively increase over the study period in frequency and intensity. This study indicates the vulnerability of Misali coral reefs to bleaching and reef degradation and draws attention to the ecological instability caused by global change and anthropogenic impact