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The psychological impacts of being environmentally active
Get PDFThere are many psychological impacts that come with being environmentally active. The impacts that people tend to focus more on recently are the negative impacts, such as eco-anxiety or activist burnout. Much less attention is given to the potential positive impacts associated with being environmentally active. Thus, this research aims to look at whether there are positive psychological impacts of being environmentally active, and if there are, what specifically about being environmentally active creates those positive impacts. This is important because, if there are positive impacts of being environmentally active, they could be used to motivate people to become more environmentally active, as well as to prevent or mitigate activism burnout.
For this study, I conducted 19 in-depth interviews and collected 203 surveys over a four week period. I interviewed both dedicated environmental activists, as well as random survey respondents. The results of these interviews and surveys suggested that the psychological impacts of being environmentally active are primarily positive. Factors of being environmentally active that might influence these positive impacts are connection to and more time spent in nature, healthier diet, supportive community, and feelings of meaning and purpose in one’s life. The results also suggest that being environmentally active could possibly mitigate the negative psychological impacts that come with being environmentally aware, and that the positive aspects of being environmentally active may be more motivating for people than the negative aspects. Lastly, in terms of burnout, it appears as though activists combat burnout by creating more balance in their lives between their activism work and self-care. However, the results also suggest that there may be ways to incorporate self-care into activism work so that they are no longer separate entities. Thus, making activists more aware of the positive psychological impacts of being environmentally active could potentially help them find ways to practice self-care within their activism work
The Influence of Gender on Female Business Owners in Ho Chi Minh City
Get PDFHo Chi Minh City is commonly referred to as a developing business hub, largely due to the rapidly increasing number of private enterprises. Since the implementation of the Doi Moi in 1986, Vietnam’s private business sphere has grown tremendously, and women have played a large role in this development. Today, women own just under a quarter of formal enterprises in Vietnam, but this impressive statistic does not consider the many challenges these women have faced.
Through in-depth interviews with female business owners themselves, along with an online survey, this study determines how gender influences these business owners’ professional experiences. Gender norms have shifted drastically in Vietnam’s recent past, and this change has affected females in a variety of ways – sometimes minimally, and other times in a paramount manner. Not only has this adjustment brought potential impacts to the personal lives of women, but also their professional lives. Through the research conducted in this survey, I was able to deduce that gender does tend to have an impact on female business owners’ experiences, but the size of impact depends on many factors. Additionally, this influence comes in a variety of forms, such as treatment from peers, legal issues, and gendered expectations
SWAGriculture: A Qualitative Examination of Women’s Participation in Samoa’s Agriculture Industry as Farmers and Growers
Get PDFThis study is an examination of how women participate in agriculture in Samoa as farmers and growers, what hardships women encounter and how they overcome these, and the organizations that influence people’s experiences. Censuses have historically undercounted the number of women in agriculture in developing countries, largely due to rigid international definitions of what counts as labor, which overlook cultural nuances, and this study aims to fill this gap in research. Data was collected through nine Talanoa-inspired interviews with women involved with farming or growing in Samoa, and overarching themes were analyzed. The themes have been grouped by the specific challenges they present, and how participants overcome these difficulties in order to achieve success in the agriculture industry. These include: cultural perspective, financial difficulties, time constraints, lack of knowledge, market access, health and imported food, and climate concerns. This study attempts to bring attention to important challenges and the many success stories that were reported during this research. Women face a series of challenges as farmers and growers in contemporary Samoa; however, they overcome these through assistance from NGOs, their communities, and their own enterprise
Fictions of Sexuality
Get PDFI conducted a Creative Independent Study Project and wrote two short stories that include themes of women’s sexual desire/pleasure, sexual debuts, masturbation, discoveries, and understandings of one’s sexuality. Because women receive so many messages about keeping their chastity and so few about pursuing the pleasures sex can provide, the opportunities to promote the exploration of women’s sexual desire cannot be missed. To write my stories and answer my research question, I read and watched a variety of both academic and creative materials. I wanted to do this work because these are the stories I needed in high school when I was discovering my sexuality. This creative writing based on theoretical understandings of a topic is something I have wanted to produce for a few years, and which I hope will continue to be a part of my creative writing process. Over the course of this project, I have learned that I am capable of writing multi-layered short stories with an actual plotline, something that was not the case even a few months ago. The more frequently female sexual desires and experiences are placed in a spotlight and given voices, the less taboo they will be and the easier it will be to discuss these topics, which can only be good for everyone
Los vacíos y las ausencias: Una mirada sobre la presencia de los afrodescendientes en las clases de historia nacional en Buenos Aires, Argentina
No full textArgentina, un país donde los presidentes pronuncian frases como “en Argentina no existen los negros; ese problema lo tiene Brasil” y “en Sudamérica todos somos descendientes de europeos,” tiene una tradición de invisibilización y negación de los afrodescendientes. Históricamente, el sistema de educación ha tenido un papel en la reproducción de este discurso hegemónico; la escuela formal, por ejemplo, fue uno de los primeros lugares para la “argentinización” de los nuevos inmigrantes y la construcción intencional de una identidad nacional blanca. Debido a este legado pernicioso, la investigación actual se enfoca en la presencia y visibilidad del afro a dentro de la escuela, en un esfuerzo por comprender el proceso de invisibilización hoy en día. A través de entrevistas con docentes de la historia nacional en escuelas primarias y secundarias, esta investigación concluye que los afrodescendientes no cumplen un gran papel en el diseño curricular oficial. Aunque algunos temas afro a veces sí surgen en clases específicas, este ocurre principalmente como una decisión individual del docente, y a menudo es una inclusión basada en estereotipos. Sobre todo, aunque este estudio revela estructuras más amplias y complejas que pueden inhibir un cambio radical, también saca a la luz el gran poder del docente que –de forma individual- puede crear nuevos conocimientos a nivel micro: un reconocimiento con mucha esperanza.
Argentina, a country where presidents declare phrases such as “in Argentina “los negros” do not exist, this is a problem that Brazil has” and “in South America we are all descendants of Europeans,” is situated in a legacy of negation and invisibilization of afro-descendants. Historically, the educational system has played a large role in the promotion of this hegemonic discourse; the school, for instance, was one of the first sites for the “argentinization” of new immigrants and the definition of a whitened national character. Due to this legacy, the current investigation focuses on the presence and visibility of the “afro” inside of schools (in national history classes) in an effort to understand the state and process of invisibilization today. Through interviews with history teachers in primary and secondary schools, this study ultimately concludes that afro-descendants to not occupy a large role in the official curricular design. While specific classrooms may include content relating to afro-descendants and afro-Argentineans, this representation typically emerges through the decision of individual teachers (not through a larger curricular mandate) and often still takes on a stereotypical form—placing afro descendants both in the past and outside of Argentina. Above all, while this study reveals larger structures that often inhibit radical change, it also highlights the large power of the individual teacher in creating new understandings at a micro level: a recognition that holds much hope for future change
La ciudad versus el campo: la calidad de vida de los adultos mayores aymara entre Arica y Putre
Get PDFThe elderly population in Chile is increasing rapidly. In indigenous villages in the interior of Chile, like Putre, the younger generation is leaving to pursue education and employment opportunities in cities, in this case Arica. In many cases no one stays to take care of the elders. As the elderly begin to grow older and require greater support, the younger generation seeks to move their family members to the city so that they can care for them. While this provides for greater connection to family and access to medical care for the elderly relatives, the elderly loses their connection to their culture and land. This raises the questions of: what are the effects of the two places on the mental health of Aymara elderly? What is their quality of life like in the two communities and how does it change when elderly residents who are from the interior villages move to the cities? The objective of this study is to describe the definition of quality of life in the Aymara culture, compare that definition to the more generalized definitions of quality of life, and to describe the perceptions of quality of life of elderly Aymara individuals between Arica, Chile and Putre, Chile in order to determine the effect of the city versus the village on the quality of life of elderly Aymara individuals who are from the interior. The primary research question of this study is: is there a difference in quality of life for elderly Aymara individuals between the Aymaran village of Putre and the nearby city of Arica? This was a descriptive study completed in the town of Putre, Chile and the city of Arica, Chile during the month of November, 2019. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with elderly Aymara individuals, western and traditional medicine providers, and intercultural facilitators. The interviewees defined quality of life in the Aymara culture as the concept Suma Qamaña, which is defined as the climate of the region, the land of your birth, the food, the community, the work, and death. The study found that the quality of life of the elderly aymara is, in the majority of cases, better in the interior, in their villages, then in the city. The elderly do not want to leave their land of birth and when they do often suffer sicknesses and their quality of life quickly declines.
La población de adultos mayores está aumentando en todo Chile. En los pueblos indígenas, como Putre, las personas jóvenes van a la ciudad, como Arica, para buscar trabajo. Entonces, en muchos casos ninguna se queda para cuidar a los adultos mayores. Si los padres se mudan a las ciudades para vivir, los hijos pueden cuidar a sus padres y los padres tienen más acceso al sistema de salud. Sin embargo, en este caso, los padres pierden su conexión con su cultura y su tierra ancestral. Esto plantea las preguntas: ¿Cuáles son los efectos de los dos lugares en la salud mental de los adultos mayores aymara? ¿Cómo es su calidad de vida en las dos comunidades y cómo cambia cuándo los residentes de edad avanzada que son de los pueblos interiores se mudan a las ciudades? El objetivo de este estudio es describir la definición de calidad de vida en la cultura aymara, comparar esa definición con las definiciones más generalizadas de calidad de vida, y describir las percepciones de calidad de vida de los ancianos aymara entre Arica, Chile y Putre, Chile con el fin de determinar el efecto de la ciudad frente al pueblo en la calidad de vida de las personas aymara de edad avanzada que son del interior. La pregunta de investigación de este estudio fue: ¿Hay una diferencia en la calidad de vida de los adultos mayores aymara entre el pueblo aymara, Putre y la ciudad más cercana, Arica? La investigación fue exploratoria. Los datos se recopilaron a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas en el pueblo de Putre y la ciudad de Arica durante el mes de noviembre. Los participantes incluyeron adultos mayores aymara, proveedores de medicina occidental y tradicional para los adultos mayores aymara, y facilitadores interculturales dentro del sistema de medicina. Los entrevistados definieron la calidad de vida en la cultura aymara como el concepto suma qamaña, que se basa en el clima de la región, la tierra de su nacimiento, la comida, la comunidad, el trabajo y la muerte. El estudio encontró que la calidad de vida de los adultos mayores aymara es, en la mayoría de los casos, mejor en el interior, en sus pueblos, que en la ciudad. Los adultos mayores no quieren dejar su tierra de nacimiento y cuando se van sufren de enfermedades y su calidad de vida disminuye rápidamente
¿Historia y Cultura al Viento? Los efectos de la construcción del aeropuerto internacional de Chinchero en el patrimonio arqueológico circundante
No full textDurante los últimos 40 años, el gobierno del Perú ha hablado de construir un nuevo aeropuerto internacional en Chinchero, Perú. Chinchero es una ubicación perfecta debido a su proximidad a numerosos sitios turísticos y su gran cantidad de tierra que tiene el potencial de servir como un sitio de construcción. Sin embargo, Chinchero también es conocido por su riqueza en historia, belleza natural y ruinas arqueológicas del imperio inca. Con la construcción de un nuevo aeropuerto internacional en Chinchero, el patrimonio cultural y la integridad de la arqueología allá están en peligro. Se dice que el aeropuerto atraerá más turistas y, por lo tanto, más dinero a la economía de Chinchero y las ciudades cercanas. Sin embargo, junto con la arqueología de la ciudad, es probable que la vida cotidiana y el medio ambiente de los habitantes de Chinchero cambien drásticamente. A través del análisis de artículos y 9 entrevistas con varios actores clave, llegué a la conclusión de que la gran mayoría de los habitantes de Chinchero y el gobierno no están preparados para lo que vendrá. A partir de mis observaciones y la información que he reunido, parece que si bien el bienestar físico de la arqueología puede no estar en riesgo, la integridad de los sitios es amenazada, debido a todos los sonidos del tráfico aéreo que afectarán los sitios y la ciudad diariamente. También he concluido que, aunque se espera que el aeropuerto genere más ingresos para la ciudad de Chinchero, es mucho más probable que las áreas circundantes realmente cosechen los beneficios. En lugar, Chinchero tendrá que enfrentar nuevos problemas, como un aumento en robo, drogas, alcohol y crimen en general y otros problemas difícles de predecir.
During the last 40 years, the government of Peru has talked about building a new international airport in Chinchero, Peru. Chinchero is a perfect location due to its proximity to numerous tourist sites and its large amount of land that has the potential to serve as a construction site. However, Chinchero is also known for its rich history, natural beauty and archaeological ruins of the Inca empire. With the construction of a new international airport in Chinchero, the cultural heritage and integrity of archeology there are in danger. The airport is said to attract more tourists and, therefore, more money to the economy of Chinchero and the nearby cities. However, along with the archeology of the city, it is likely that the daily life and environment of the inhabitants of Chinchero will change dramatically. Through the analysis of articles and 9 interviews with several key actors, I have come to the conclusion that the vast majority of the inhabitants of Chinchero and the government are not prepared for what will come. From my observations and the information I have gathered, it seems that while the physical well-being of the archeology may not be at risk, the integrity of it is, due to all the sounds of air traffic that will disrupt the sites and the city daily. I have also concluded that, although the airport is expected to generate more revenue for the city of Chinchero, the surrounding areas are much more likely to really reap the benefits. Instead, Chinchero will have to face new problems, such as an increase in theft, drugs, alcohol and crime in general
Life Events which Motivate Youth to become Climate Activists in Sydney and Canberra
Get PDFClimate activism is the tool of young people to rise and fight for their future and the future of the planet. Today it is necessary that young people engage as climate activists. My research asks what life events motivate youth to become climate activists. I looked into the initial life events which spark the motivation of young people to understand their initial motives for joining the climate movement. I looked into where the motivation came from, a concern for nature, a concern for social justice or the interconnectedness of the two. I also looked into the life events of individuals to see what sparked the initial motivation. My research creates an understanding of the motivations of youth climate activists so the movement will grow and strengthen through understanding the commonalities found between activists and activist groups.
I interviewed twelve university students between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five years old in Sydney and Canberra coming from four universities. I asked each participant to share the events in their lives which motivated them to become climate activists. From these interviews, the trend for concern for the environment as an initial motivator to join the climate movement appeared from the data. The trend went from concern for the environment to concern for social justice as the participants grew.
Four themes emerged as youth climate activists answered the question on life events which motivate action. The four themes, nature connection through outdoor experiences, family influence and mentorship, seeing injustice in the community and world, and peer-to-peer learning, became clear categories of the life events that sparked motivation for the young people. The final theme of initial motivation, peer-to-peer learning appear most frequently. Young activists coming together to create change for a better future empowered the participants to feel useful and join the climate movement. This study of the life events works to understand the ways youth climate activists are similar, to engage future generations to join in the movement through discovering the initial motivations and inspiration of youth climate activists
The influence of location, positioning, and seasonality on feeding behavior of the Sydney Oyster (Saccostrea glomerata) in New South Wales, Australia
Get PDFOysters are hard shelled bivalves that aggregate over time to create structures in estuarine systems, known as oyster reefs. These reefs are important for the promotion of estuarine biodiversity by supporting many species of fish, invertebrates, and plants. They also act as a key contributor to water health by using active suspension feeding mechanisms and selective feeding to remove nutrients and water borne pollutants from estuarine systems. They have been touted as possible bio-remediators. They also effect rates of sedimentation in estuaries.
Oyster reefs have historically been threatened by anthropogenic influences such as overharvesting, destructive fishing practices, water pollution, CO2 emissions and sediment runoff, prompting focus on efforts to restore and rehabilitate oyster reef ecosystems to restore their natural processes. This study aims to investigate how location, positioning and seasonal variation affect selective feeding behavior of the Sydney Oyster (Saccostrea glomerata) in New South Wales, Australia. Video of oysters on the edge and centre of Port Hacking (n=39), and Towra Point (n=30), as well as the centre of Hunter River (n=7) were taken in order to observe feeding behavior in these locations. Observations of the length of time each oyster occupied 2 states, open or closed, were used to determine differences between oyster sites and locations. Data from Port Hacking was used to examine seasonal variation of oyster feeding behavior.
Oysters spent significantly more time feeding on the edge of a given reef, however this difference did not depend on whether an oyster was found on Port Hacking or Towra Point. This is likely due to the physiological differences between the reef edge and centre. Oysters located at Hunter River spent significantly less time actively feeding than oysters at Port Hacking and Towra Point. This is likely due to the physiological differences between the sites, such as higher speed of water flow, and larger concentrations of suspended sediment at Hunter River.
There were significant differences in feeding behavior at Port Hacking based on month. The month of March experienced 7x more rain than April, and more than 2x the rain of August. These precipitation differences likely increased nutrient runoff to Port Hacking, increasing algal concentrations which would have decreased the amount of time oysters needed to spend actively feeding
Salud mental comunitaria: Implementación en Chile actual
No full textThis study explores how familiar community mental health organizations in Valparaíso follow an established model of community mental health, derived from a variety of essays, books, and reports on the topic. Additionally, it serves to present the effect of this relationship on the contemporary social revolution in Chile. The present social and political unrest, manifesting itself in massive protests throughout the country, presents a unique moment in which these themes can be examined. Additionally, Chile encounters high rates of psychological disorders among its population, a lack of protection for the mental health of children and adolescents, and a lack of research about daily mental health support for Chileans, which emphasizes the relevance of investigating to what extent mental health resources and those for families, specifically, adhere to the model. The community mental health model accumulated from a variety of sources outlines several characteristics as goals for community mental health in Chile: a biopsychosocial approach, a focus on prevention, an emphasis on the rights of users as patients and as community members, and respect for diversity. However, currently, no extensive research has not been carried out to determine whether or not this model is implemented, and the research that is available suggests that it is not.
Thus, through a qualitative and exploratory research design using conversations with mental health professionals, a variety of literary sources, and observation, these themes are investigated. Via this methodology, a series of findings are presented regarding interviewees’ perception of the ideal model of community mental health, its implementation, and how this relationship affects the current social movement in Chile. The results suggest that, in Valparaiso, community mental health organizations tend to have a clinical, rather than societal, focus and often prioritize mercantilism over users’ rights and the acceptance and accommodation of diversity. Additionally, the system operates within municipalities, and therefore, organizations vary greatly in the resources they have to offer. It can be concluded that the definition provided by interviewees in this study corresponds with the established definition of community mental health and does not correspond with its implementation. Additionally, this theme is present in the current social revolution in Chile, though the movement is much broader and rooted in a rich socio-historical context which cannot be neglected