24 research outputs found
A big drain or a river? : attachment and people's engagement
No full textUrban river pollution, generally regarded as being due to rapid urbanization, population growth, and increasing industrial activities, has received considerable attention in reports and the media in recent years. Environmental research has revealed that the Klang River in Kuala Lumpur is one the most polluted of Malaysian rivers. With a view to fulfilling a significant knowledge gap, this paper investigates the ecological values, beliefs and practices of local populations associate with this urban river. Pursuing an interest in sense of place literature, the paper discusses how local people conceptualise river pollution by highlighting the agency of the river and its water in local knowledge production
Reflections on the flow of emotion in environmental research
No full textIn this article I provide a reflexive account of my emotions
both prior to and during fieldwork. I begin with a personal
narrative that explores my motivations for conducting a
study on a pertinent environmental issue – river pollution.
My comparative ethnographic fieldwork in two different
socio-cultural and environmental settings, that of the
Klang River in Kuala Lumpur and the Torrens River in
Adelaide, yielded stories, pictures, and/or a spectrum of
emotions about people’s interactions with the rivers, some
of which resonated with my own. On the one hand, positive
emotions during fieldwork were triggered, for example,
when I observed colourful flora and fauna in certain section
of the rivers. On the other hand, I experienced negative
feelings when I observed floating rubbish and trash racks
installed across the rivers. I describe these personal fieldwork experiences, alongside a discussion about my own
reflections. Finally, and in light of my fieldwork experience, I briefly suggest implications for ethnographic research and methodological practice
Women as defenders of the earth: Voluntary restoration activities with ‘Our Patch’ group in the Torrens River Catchment
No full textBased on an ethnographic study about the Torrens River catchment in South Australia, this paper examines people’s perceptions and responses to river pollution. While the study does not directly deal with the issue of climate change, it is always there in some form. The paper begins, therefore, with an exploration on how freshwater resources worldwide are projected to be impacted by climate change as reported in selected scientific studies. Followed by an overview of a few well-known ‘green goddesses’ in history, specifically on how they have changed environmental thinking and practice both locally and globally. Finally, drawing from ethnographic data, three stories of women volunteers in the Torrens River catchment are presented highlighting their unique knowledge and expertise in river restoration works in which they are so passionately engaged
The meaning of urban river pollution and sense of place: an ethnographic study of Klang River, Malaysia
No full textThis paper is based on a PhD research, which investigates values, beliefs and practices associated with two polluted rivers in urban settings – the Klang River in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the Torrens River, South Australia. However, this paper focuses on the findings from the Klang River ethnographic data. Theoretically, the concept of place is central to this paper. Findings suggest that in the urban setting where rivers have increasingly been polluted and modified, and as a consequence whose water is not suitable for direct contact, the visual faculty plays a prominent role in determining the state of the river. From the perspective of everyday users, what constitutes pollution depends significantly on what can and what cannot be seen with naked eyes. In particular, the colour and texture of water, the decline or abundance of aquatic species in the river are some of the common visual experiences described by the locals indicative of pollution. In conclusion, the concept of place is a useful means to understand and analyse the manner in which people comprehend environmental degradation and more specifically river pollution
Qualitative research design
No full textThis is a half-day qualitative workshop designed for medical practitioners of Paediatrics Palliative Care Unit of USM Kubang Krian. Topics covered in the workshop include stages of qualitative research, data collection techniques, data analysis and report writing
Women as defenders of the earth: voluntary restoration activities with "our patch" groups in the Torrens River catchment
No full textQualitative data analysis
No full text“Bengkel Penyelidikan Kualitatif dan Aplikasi NVivo” (Qualitative Research and Nvivo Application Workshop)” is designed for medical practitioners of the Department of Public Health, School of Medical Sciences, USM. Topics covered in the workshop include stages of qualitative research, data collection techniques and report writing, with a greater emphasis on data analysis
Obstacles to Women’s Adaptation and Capacity- Development in Flood-Affected Areas of Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study
No full textWomen in Bangladesh are disproportionately affected by recurrent flooding events, which have a negative impact on them. Women are more susceptible and less adaptable than males in flood disasters due to socio-cultural barriers perpetuated by society. The objective of this research is to explore the challenges impede women’s ability to adapt and increase their capacity in flood-affected areas of Bangladesh. To accomplish this goal, a qualitative research approach was utilized, including Focus Group Discussions with six unique groups, and conducting In-depth interviews with a total of thirty participants. The research illustrates that women’s susceptibility issues are worsened by rural communities and flood disasters due to their lack of adaptability. This is mostly attributed to the patriarchal culture prevalent in rural Bangladesh, which poses challenges in acquiring the necessary knowledge, skills, resources, and capacity for adaption. Hence, this article argues in favour of the government’s unwavering commitment to effectively utilizing the complete potential of women to enhance their ability to adapt and integrate them into the broader fabric of society, thereby promoting positive societal progress by reducing their vulnerability
Ecological modernization: In Malaysia: A review of Pakatan Harapan's manifesto manifesto during the 14th general election within the context of ecological modernization framework
No full textEcological Modernization theory emerged during the 1980s in
response to other environmental sociology theories that mostly denunciate
industrialization and modernization as culprits of environmental degradation.
The basic view of Ecological Modernization is to find a balance between
development of society and nation as well as environmental protection.
Some scholars believe that this is the best module to develop a country, while
others criticize it as a pro-capitalist concept. As Malaysia is now pushing
its status towards becoming a developed and high-income nation, people’s
wellbeing as well as environmental protection needs to be highly considered.
Taking Ecological Modernization as fresh perspective to view the country’s
development plan, this paper aims to understand whether the essence of
Ecological Modernization was embedded in Pakatan Harapan’s political
manifesto during the 14th general election. As political manifesto serves as
initial policy making guidelines, it is imperative to understand the Pakatan
Harapan future plans for the country
The Double Stage of Working Mothers in Media Company
No full textThe phenomenon of working mothers balancing dual roles as professionals and homemakers is a significant concern within the media industry context, including those working in online media, Kompas.com. This study aims to understand how working mothers in Kompas.com manage these two roles. The research uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. The data was collected through in-depth interviews with three informants from Megapolitan's editorial division. The results show that informants play a professional role at the “front stage” as self-disciplined, target-oriented, and communicative workers, while doubling as homemakers “backstage” who take care of children and the household. An analysis using Erving Goffman's dramaturgy theory shows that they balance these roles and identities by utilizing impression management. This study shows that working mothers in the media industry are active actors who develop social strategies to play their dual roles, highlighting the importance of support for women in both the workplace and the household
