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Digital animal deathscapes: The online circulation of animals killed for conservation
No full textThis paper brings together animals, death, and digital geographies to examine the sharing of dead animal imagery on social media by conservationists in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). It is particularly concerned with two key questions: (1) Why (and how) do dead animals attract support for conservation? (2) How are personal feelings about animal death navigated in the public space of social media? In answering these questions, this paper extends geographical research on animals' affective allures (including online) beyond the realm of the living, and contributes to ongoing conversations around how to live with ‘unwanted others’. I draw on interviews with the leaders of conservation groups about whether, when, and why they post images of dead animals and kill counts, which I collectively refer to as ‘death media’. I show that because some viewers (at times disparaged as ‘precious’) were expected to respond with physical and/or moral disgust, conservationists typically only share death on ‘mainstream’ platforms if it is sufficiently sanitised or incorporated into positive narratives—though more commonly, death is absent from these platforms. Other audiences, particularly volunteer trappers, were described as ‘pragmatic’ or ‘bloodthirsty’; death was shared with these audiences to cultivate affects of hope and solidarity, in a context where killing can affectively feel like success. Yet even those comfortable with both killing and viewing death media at times expressed regret and sadness at the deaths of pests; they simply avoid sharing these feelings online. Death media thus perpetuate the public un-grievability of ‘pests’, despite indications that even those who do the work of killing may experience sadness privately. I conclude by asking: what would be needed for pests killed for conservation to become grievable online, and how could doing so change relationships between humans and ‘pest’ animals
Calcium oxide reduces fermentation losses and improves the nutritional value of brewery-spent grain silage
No full textBrewery spent grain (BSG) is an available beer coproduct used in animal feeding. However, high moisture and high fermentative substrate negatively affect the conservation parameters of BSG silages. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of increasing calcium oxide (CaO) levels on BSG silage fermentation profile, losses, chemical composition, in vitro degradation, and aerobic stability. Ninety-six experimental silos were used in a randomized blocked design to evaluate the following treatments: I) BSG without additives; II) BSG with 10 g/kg dry matter (DM) of CaO; III) BSG with 20 g/kg DM of CaO; and IV) BSG with 30.0 g/kg DM of CaO. CaO linearly increased (P ≤ 0.011) the silage pH and ethanol and acetic acid concentrations. In addition, treatments quadratically affected (P ≤ 0.027) ammonia-N, butyric, and branched-chain fatty acids concentrations. CaO application in BSG silage linearly decreased (P = 0.001) the silage effluent losses and total losses (DM basis). However, treatments showed a quadratic effect (P ≤ 0.012) on gas losses and DM recovery. Intermediary levels of CaO increased gas losses and decreased DM recovery. CaO quadratically affected (P ≤ 0.025) silage DM and organic matter content, and degradation of DM and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). On the other hand, CaO linearly decreased (P < 0.001) silage NDF and acid detergent fiber content. Thus, CaO increases BSG silage pH and DM recovery and improves silage nutritional valu
The factors behind discontinuing Lean Six Sigma deployment in the New Zealand manufacturing sector : A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Master of Commerce and Management at Lincoln University
No full textThe global competition and rapid growth of technology have impacted tremendously to organisations around the world to produce better quality products at reduced cost to address customer expectations and grab competitive advantages. Lean Six Sigma has been one of the main quality improvement approaches since Motorola developed and pioneered Six Sigma in 1987. Lean methodologies were invented with Toyota production systems and are especially appropriate in the New Zealand manufacturing context due to its top-down and bottom-up approach. Many companies have adopted Lean and Six Sigma methodologies and Lean Six Sigma integration methodologies during the last 20 years and benefited greatly.
Although there are many tangible and intangible benefits of applying Lean Six Sigma methodologies, there are some scenarios of discontinuing Lean Six Sigma practices in New Zealand manufacturing organisations due to several causes. This research examined the factors behind discontinuing Lean Six Sigma deployments in the New Zealand manufacturing sector. A thorough literature review was performed by the researcher to identify the reasons behind the failures and challenges to continue Lean Six Sigma practices in the long run.
The data were collected through thirteen in-depth semi-structured interviews with managers and supervisors who actively participated in Lean Six Sigma programs and subsequently discontinued, and the external Six Sigma consultants who have experience with Six Sigma implementations and discontinuations in the New Zealand manufacturing sector. The collected data was analysed by following the thematic analysis method under qualitative methodologies, and the inductive approach was applied to identify the factors or the causes of Lean Six Sigma suspension in the New Zealand manufacturing sector.
The fishbone diagram was developed by the researcher with their own definitions under seven main clusters and presented with findings in the final part of the analysis. The factors such as,
• Lack of solid leadership skills
• Lack of employee awareness and recognition
• Lack of capabilities and performance development
• Lack of continuous support from the government
• The traditional way of applying Six Sigma methodologies
• Poor organisational culture
• Inability to identify the real need and purpose
• Poor communication and act as silos
• Literacy and numeracy problems with data integrity
• Lack of prioritization and inability to identify and improve weak links
• Lack of critical position thinking and skilled labour
and the final most important factor of inability to lead the change by “being changed” which drives all the other factors in this Lean Six Sigma journey, are the most vital factors impacted for Lean Six Sigma cessations in the long term. Lean methodologies with simplicity and the involvement of even the shopfloor people by improving the invisible factors, such as soft skills and performance development, will provide more gains with a sustainable future rather than applying the most complex procedures with tools and techniques without any change journey.
The results of the research project will be beneficial for the manufacturing sector in New Zealand to identify the major factors that influence Six Sigma discontinuance and mitigate those causes to achieve near-perfection and a productivity boost in the long run of businesses. Since little research has been carried out relating to the discontinuation of Lean Six Sigma implementation in the manufacturing sector, this paper provides direction to academics and practitioners of Lean Six Sigma and those researchers who are involved in Six Sigma research
Subsoiling combined with winter active Italian ryegrass can reduce nitrous oxide emissions without increasing nitrate leaching: Evidence from lysimeter and field plot trials
Get PDFSubsoiling is a common practice for improving soil structure and has recently been recognised for its potential to reduce nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. However, its impact on nitrate (NO₃‾–N) leaching must also be considered if it is to be used as a mitigation strategy. This study investigated N₂O emissions, NO₃‾–N leaching and grass yield in an Italian ryegrass pasture soil with a compacted subsoil layer using a lysimeter study. Additionally, a separate field study examined mineral nitrogen (N) concentration and the abundance of nitrifying and denitrifying genes. Both studies have four treatments, with non-subsoiling (NS), subsoiling (SS), non-subsoiling and urine (NSU), subsoiling and urine (SSU), and the urine treatments were applied at a rate of 700 kg N ha‾¹. The results showed that 6 months after subsoiling, soil macroporosity in all treatments remained elevated at a depth of 0–20 cm (p < 0.01) compared with all non-subsoiling treatments. This created more aerobic conditions, which suppressed N₂O emissions from denitrification by 20.3% (p < 0.05) during 190 days after urine application (NSU vs. SSU). Additionally, subsoiling had no significant effect on NO₃‾–N leaching in the presence of winter-active Italian ryegrass. Molecular analysis of N-cycling microbial communities revealed that subsoiling had no effect on the abundance of amoA gene-carrying microorganisms involved in nitrification but reduced the abundance of nirS denitrifier genes, indicating that subsoiling primarily affected the denitrification process. These findings suggest that subsoiling can effectively reduce N₂O emissions without increasing NO₃‾–N leaching when combined with winter-active ryegrass
Preface: Technological horizons: Technological skills and knowledge for practitioners within business environment
No full textThe book is a collaborative effort among esteemed contributors, who bring a wealth of expertise to explore technology across accounting realms. The book chapters are encapsulating a holistic view of technological horizon for practitioners in the business environment. The purpose of Technological Horizons is rooted within the emerging markets context
What does “free will” mean?
Get PDFRobert Sapolsky argues that free will requires complete independence from uncontrollable influences. We claim this criterion is overly demanding and misaligned with ordinary understandings of free will. To assess folk intuitions, we presented 197 American participants with five scenarios in which a person's behavior was shaped by uncontrollable factors. In four cases—preferences, genetic traits, brain function, and advertising—most participants judged the person to possess free will. A fifth scenario involving a compliance drug served as a control; here, most participants denied free will. These findings suggest that laypeople consider free will compatible with certain external influences. Thus, Sapolsky's conception diverges from common usage. While his strict definition may rule out free will, our results support the viability of a more moderate and widely endorsed conception. Any attempt to refute free will must first demonstrate that the definition used captures its common meanin
Examining the value realisation of ecological agricultural products in China: A tripartite evolutionary game analysis
No full textAgricultural products are essential for nutrition and food security, particularly in China where agricultural production capacity is growing steadily. Despite the benefits of Ecological Agricultural (EA) products, including environmental protection and enhanced consumer utility, their widespread adoption and maximization of value are impeded by various factors. This study explores the intricate tripartite relationship – government, agribusiness, and consumer, in the value realization of EA products in China by establishing an evolutionary game model. The purpose is to illuminate the evolution of system equilibrium strategies across various scenarios and examine how significant external factors influence these strategies, thereby summarizing the evolutionary process of EA products' value realization and providing guidance for stakeholders' decision-making processes. The results indicate that with increased government regulatory efforts, technological advancements and scale expansion in agricultural enterprises, as well as the refinement of market mechanisms, the production cost of EA products decreases, leading to a steady rise in EA product prices and economic benefits for consumers purchasing them. Ultimately, the value of EA products was primarily realized through market forces. Simulation analysis using Matlab further validated the model's effectiveness and precision, highlighting the influence of government regulatory measures, consumer green sensitivity and preferences, and product base value on system equilibrium strategies. These conclusions provide insights for policymakers to facilitate the realization of EA product value and promote green and low-carbon agricultural development
Tourism development and women’s empowerment; the impacts of tourism on women in Gizo island , Solomon Islands | Tuarism divelopment an hao hemi save mekem oloketa mere for usim paoa blo oloketa; hao tuarism hem afektim oloketa mere wea stap lo Gizo aelan, Solomon Aelans.
Get PDFThe empowerment of women has been a long-standing and significant concern worldwide, generating a substantial body of literature across disciplines (Reshi & Sudha, 2022b). The concept of women’s empowerment is broad, multifaceted, and context dependent, with a growing literature recognising tourism as a platform for empowering women, especially in a developing nation context. Previous studies have also shown evidence of tourism empowering women. However, most of the studies which have been carried out on the impacts of tourism on women’s empowerment focused largely on other contexts, and there have been little published data in the Pacific region. So far, there has been little known about how tourism empowers women in Gizo, Solomon Islands (SI), hence the central objective of this study.
Adopting an interpretive qualitative research approach, this study aims to understand the link between tourism and women’s empowerment in Gizo. The six dimensions used to measure and analyse women’s empowerment for this study were derived from the empowerment framework developed by (Scheyvens & van der Watt, 2021). Online interview was used as the tool to collect empirical data from thirty participants, both men and women living in Gizo from the month of May-September 2021. The key finding of the study suggested that the women’s motivation to engage in tourism is a derived motivation. To obtain money was the women’s primary motivation to engage in tourism. Tourism is only a means to an end; it is a tool for the women to earn an income. The women’s levels of empowerment were initially facilitated by tourism income which economically empowered the women. When the women were empowered economically, it creates opportunities to become empowered in other dimensions. Secondly, the motivation to earn an income offered a platform for women to engage in tourism, and because of the special characteristics of tourism as a special import, the consumer (tourists) come to the producers (hosts), enabling social interactions between the tourists and the women. Through these host-guests’ interactions and socialisations, the women acquired the English language, resulting in psychological empowerment. In addition, the women were able to acquire environmental conservation information from tourists, which is a marker for environmental empowerment. However, this was not the principal reason for women to participate in tourism, they did not anticipate this outcome prior to participation. Their goal was to advance economically.
Despite obtaining some levels of empowerment, the experiences of the women suggested variations in the level of empowerment within the six-empowerment dimensions. There are some women from the study who are yet to fully achieve certain levels of empowerment. The study’s outcome also discovered some factors which continue to hinder the women from achieving full empowerment. These elements include the persistence cultural norms embedded within the society and the women, structural and personal constraints. Nevertheless, the study findings also reveal the women utilised some strategies to mitigate the impediments and navigate their journey through the process of empowerment.
To understand the nuances from the current study and its implications to empowerment, a model on the process of empowerment is derived from the women’s experiences in Gizo. The model emphasises the process of empowerment starts with an entry point which varies with individuals and is influenced by several other factors. Secondly, empowerment is an intrinsic and ongoing process which can be facilitated by external change agents. However, the ‘power to’ to create change must first be enacted by the individual. The third component of the model indicate, one key empowerment dimension leads to other forms of empowerment, otherwise empowerment dimensions can be directly achieved through interactions with an external actor(s). Finally, empowerment is a relational process concept with a complex interplay of powers which act as barriers and enablers. For empowerment to be realised and obtained, these elements must be navigated and considered from within each context
Dynamic adaptive pathways planning for adaptation: lessons learned from a decade of practice in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textThere is a climate change adaptation implementation gap. We have information about the likely impacts and implications, but concrete pre-emptive action is elusive. Key to addressing this are alternative planning approaches that enable decision makers to anticipate impacts and design alternate pathways depending on how conditions change, in time for adaptation actions to be implemented. Over the last ten years, dynamic adaptive pathways planning (DAPP) has been applied in Aotearoa New Zealand (A-NZ) to assist in such circumstances. Pathways planning has now been applied in diverse decision settings and has motivated the use and development of complementary methods and tools for evaluating adaptation options and pathways. Different governance and engagement models have emerged, tailored with and for different communities. DAPP research and practice in A-NZ has advanced the design of monitoring systems, decision signals and triggers, staging managed retreat over time, and serious games to prime decision makers for dealing with uncertainty. Māori (the Indigenous people of A-NZ) worldviews, knowledge and values have intersected and informed DAPP applications, but significant untapped opportunities exist. This paper presents lessons learned from these applications and further research needed. Opportunities for supporting and extending the DAPP process for adaptation decision making through governance, engagement and indigenous knowledge and values are suggeste
An economic model evaluating competitive wheat genotypes for weed suppression and yield in a wheat and canola rotation
No full textRecurrent selection for early vigour traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has provided an opportunity to generate competitive biotypes to suppress agronomically important weeds. Quantifying the potential benefits of competitive genotypes, including yield improvement and reduced frequency of herbicide application when incorporated into a long-term rotation, is vital to increase grower adoption. In this simple economic model, we evaluated a weed-suppressive early vigour genotype utilising on-farm experimental results and simulation analysis to predict gross margins for a seven-year wheat-canola rotation in southeastern Australia. The model applied a local weather sequence and predicted wheat production potential, costs and benefits over time. An early vigour wheat genotype was compared to commercial wheat cultivars for weed control, yield and actual production cost. With respect to weed control, three scenarios were evaluated in the model: standard herbicide use with a commercial cultivar (A), herbicide use reduced moderately by inclusion of an early vigour wheat genotype and elimination of the postharvest grass herbicide (B) or inclusion of an early vigour wheat genotype and withdrawal of both postharvest grass and broadleaf herbicides (C). Cost savings for the use of a competitive wheat genotype ranged from 12 AUD/ha in scenario B to 40 AUD/ha in scenario C, for a total saving of 52 AUD/ha. The model generated annual background gross margins, which varied from 300 AUD/ha to 1400 AUD/ha based on historical weather conditions, production costs and crop prices over the 30-year period from 1992 to 2021. The benefits of lower costs for each of the three scenarios are presented with rolling seven-year average wheat–canola rotation gross margins over the 30-year period. The limitations of this model for evaluation of weed suppression and cost benefits are discussed, as well as relative opportunities for adoption of early vigour traits in wheat