Digital Commons Network^™

The Erasure Of Indigenous Populations Within National Geographic's Portrayal Of National Parks: A Digital Zine, Abigail Cook '22

Honor Scholar Theses

No abstract provided.

Five Public Concerns Represented By Environmental Groups In The Development Of Regional Free Trade Agreements: A Case Study Of The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (Usmca), Julian Rodriguez

International Studies (MA) Theses

This thesis explores how the public discourse surrounding the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) negotiations affected the formulation of the free trade agreement (FTA). More specifically, the project set out to determine if North American environmental groups successfully had public concerns addressed and codified in the Environment chapter of the USMCA. By analyzing official statements made in press releases by seventeen prominent Environmental groups operating in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the thesis provides an account of the concerns related to liberalized regional trade prior to the USMCA’s ratification in 2020. The analysis of organization statements regarding public health, climate …

Slow Violence, Cli-Fi, And Opportunities For Change How Bipoc Futurisms Promote Activism, Francisco Baeza

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The threat of anthropogenic climate change is discussed almost exclusively in terms of “scientific” data to the exclusion of the humanities. For some worlds, climate change has already destroyed their ways of life and forced them to adapt. Climate fiction – or cli-fi – written by BIPOC authors is one way we can begin to think of how the planet is not just one world but a plurality of worlds. This project centers authors and world-makers who come from communities that have been left at the margins of the science fiction and cli-fi genres. By looking at fictions from a …

The Privatization Of The Prison System In The United States: A Comparative Study Of Rehabilitative Resources, Wendi Witherell

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Facing high rates of mass incarceration and prison overcrowding, the United States of America seems to believe that the privatization of its prison system could be a viable solution to the aforementioned problems. Despite the increased incarceration rates of the past few decades, the gradual privatization of the prison system is an understudied area. It is therefore important to understand the rationale behind the movement away from the public sector toward the private sector. This cross-sectional study adopted three theoretical approaches—Models of Incarceration Theory, Political Explanation Theory, and Overcrowding Theory—in an attempt to determine such rationale. It was hypothesized there …

Reducing Children's Exposure To Traffic-Related Pollution: Evaluating Policies And Strategies Used By Texas School Districts, Laura Schwanke

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Children are most vulnerable to the effects of traffic-related air pollution because of their developing respiratory systems, amount of time spent outdoors, and faster rates of breathing. As one of the largest states in the U.S. in terms of both total population and number of children, Texas is a particularly important place for studying policies and strategies used by school districts to reduce childrenâ??s exposure to vehicular pollution. No previous study had examined how public school districts in Texas are attempting to mitigate the effects of traffic-related air pollution on childrenâ??s health. This thesis sought to address this knowledge gap …

Equity Driven Data Analysis For Public Transportation Planning, Gerardo Ivan Valenzuela Mendoza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Existing public transportation planning methods use a trip-based approach rather than a user-based approach; a user-based approach is sensitive to a broader range of planning strategies and policies, especially those that affect or take into consideration how users spend their time and resources. Even though transportation planning agencies such as Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are required to strive for environmental and social justice, there is still a gap that needs to be filled. Urban population growth and urbanization with its impact on public planning require continuous research to address the constantly evolving challenges when it comes to transportation. As cities …

Analysis Of Gentrification And Green Spaces In East Austin, Texas, Carly Fordyce

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Gentrification, the urban process that results from uneven development within cities, can cause unjust displacement of traditional, low-income residents in residential neighborhoods, and inequitable access to community services and benefits. Because of the negative social impacts that gentrification can have, many local governments and agencies have been known to attempt to mitigate changes by initiating different types of planning policies. Such policies usually apply changes in housing or zoning rules to enable lower-income residents to have access to housing and community amenities in the area. Another aspect resulting from gentrification that local government will try to rectify is low access …

Rivers As International Borders: A Comparison Of How Social-Political Factors Have Impacted Natural Resources In The Usumacinta River Basin And Rio Grande River Basin Within The Context Of Climate Change, Anna A. Flores

Water Resources Science and Technology Theses and Graduate Research Reports (Archived)

Along transboundary river borders in North and Central America social-political factors such as conservation, militarization, and migration impact natural resources leaving the United States, Mexico, and Guatemala at risk of ecological decline due to the changing climate. I present a qualitative case study comparing the social-political factors and their impact on natural resources in the Usumacinta River Basin (URB) and Rio Grande River Basin (RGRB). A comprehensive evaluation of social-political factors is performed starting from the 19th century to the current era. I contribute to the field of environmental sociology by extending Laako and Kauffer’s (2022) work on eco-frontiers of …

Social (In) Justice, Climate Change And Climate Policy In Western Australia, Naomi Joy Godden, Doreen Wijekoon, Kylie Wrigley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Climate change is a social justice issue, and people who experience disadvantage and marginalisation are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In 2019–2020, the government of the state of Western Australia (WA) held the world’s first inquiry into climate change and health. The Inquiry report, submissions, and hearing transcripts make an important contribution to a small but growing body of evidence that climate change exacerbates and reinforces existing social inequalities in WA in areas such as health, economics, gender relations, and access and inclusion. However, in late-2020, the WA government released its 38-page Climate Policy, with very limited …

Data-Driven Framework For Understanding & Modeling Ride-Sourcing Transportation Systems, Bishoy Kelleny

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Ride-sourcing transportation services offered by transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber and Lyft are disrupting the transportation landscape. The growing demand on these services, along with their potential short and long-term impacts on the environment, society, and infrastructure emphasize the need to further understand the ride-sourcing system. There were no sufficient data to fully understand the system and integrate it within regional multimodal transportation frameworks. This can be attributed to commercial and competition reasons, given the technology-enabled and innovative nature of the system. Recently, in 2019, the City of Chicago the released an extensive and complete ride-sourcing trip-level data for …

Home/Sick, Elizabeth P. Fontenot

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This paper is a supporting document that discusses the conceptual and technical aspects of the artworks in the accompanying exhibition, HOME/SICK. The work in the exhibition consists of selections from different series of work that are inspired by related subject matter. The content driving the work responds to anecdotal experiences of people living in communities near oil refineries and chemical processing plants and how events at these facilities affect their way of life. Many times, these are communities of color which strive to voice concerns and protect homes from harmful toxins. In one series, original and appropriated imagery serves as …

Addressing Energy Efficiency In Rental Units: A Preliminary Cost Assessment Of Minimum Energy Standards And Policy Alternatives For Rochester, Ny, Bryn Stricker

Theses

With the rising concern for climate change and energy consumption, global, national, and local policies attempt to reduce carbon emission and energy usage. Starting in 2010, the city of Rochester established a climate action plan which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in the year 2030 (City of Rochester, NY, 2017). The city recognizes rental homes are a promising source to mitigate energy consumption and carbon emissions, a type of greenhouse gas. Minimum energy standards for rentals (MESR) are a relatively new type of policy which can help achieve energy and carbon reduction goals. By using an existing …

Unpacking The Environmental Movement In Megacity Dhaka: How Does The Resource Mobilisation Theory Explain Local Urban Complexity?, Saleh Ahmed

Global Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the Global South, urban policies are heavily influenced by colonial heritages, and people often experience citizens-detached urban development initiatives. The environmental movement is seen as a new addition that might contribute to society’s efforts to achieve equal urban environmental opportunities. The geographical focus of this article is the megacity Dhaka, which is the social, political, and economic capital of Bangladesh. Unfortunately, this hyper-urbanised megacity suffers from a large poverty-stricken population, leading to a gap in environmental services between the poor and rich. In recent years, Dhaka has experienced a growing momentum with the environmental movement, demanding environmental rights and …

Environmental Repercussions Of The Strange Fruit: The Implications Of Our Enslavement On Modern Black Experiences With Nature, Indya Woodfolk

Honors Theses

When I was nine years old my dad often took me hiking at “Rosaryville State Park” in Maryland. Sometimes we would ride bikes, other times we would walk the trail and become mesmerized by the sounds and sights of nature. We would run down the path, play iSpy, or tell stories and sing songs. The trail led to an open field with acres of land in the distance. The only presence there was my dad, the trees, and me. We would take out our 7/11 sandwiches, sit on the ground, and enjoy our time together. It wasn't until I was …

Vol.49 N.40 April 28th 2022, Voice Media Ventures

Black Voice News

No abstract provided.

Conquer And Prevail Issue 109 April 28 2022, Wofford College. Office Of Marketing And Communications

Conquer and Prevail Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Non-Fungible Tokens: Accessible Investment For All, Or A Bubble?, Franco Raimondi, Ian Mcmillan, Patrick Malone

Symposium on Research and Creative Expression (SORCE)

NFTs have complex direct and indirect consequences on the modern economy, making the average, rational individual’s use of them prone to higher risk. Just as professional, educational, and social institutions progressed through the COVID-19 pandemic using technological tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, the world’s economy has also become more intertwined with technology than ever before. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs), through Web 3.0, have played a major part in this intermingling of public markets and technology. On a surface level, NFTs can seem like a trend or Ponzi scheme put forth by the young “influencers” of social media. Additionally, the …

Mending The Clay Pot: Katsi Cook’S Use Of Indigenous Midwifery As An Act Of Sovereignty In The United States And Canada, 1970-2020, Nicole Keegan

Undergraduate Library Research Awards

No abstract provided.

Celebrating Faculty Scholarship 2021/22, Smith College Libraries

Celebrating Faculty Scholarship: Bibliographies

Scroll down to view the bibliography of selected scholarly and creative work produced by Smith College faculty and submitted by faculty for the 2022 celebration which took place in the Neilson Library Skyline Reading Room, Smith College on April 27, 2022.

April 27, 2022, Faculty, Illinois Wesleyan University

2021-2022

No abstract provided.

Acknowledgement, Education, Memory: Reframing The Cemetery Landscapes Of The Enslaved, Aubrey L. Phillips

LSU Master's Theses

The landscape holds onto the nearly imperceivable cemeteries of the formerly enslaved population that have been erased through time, development, and censure of historical narratives in Louisiana. Immediate action is necessary to retie censured chronicles of enslavement to the landscape, educating the public on deep-rooted systemic racism in the contemporary environment. This thesis aims to provide reparations to the Black and descendant communities of southern Louisiana. This work acknowledges the remaining cemetery fragments, reframing and knitting them together as a network of spaces that uphold a more holistic memory of the past.

The role of landscape architecture extends beyond site …

The Correlation Between Poverty And Reading Success In Children's Early Years, Claudia T. Watts

The Reading Professor

It is important that young children from low-income families and who are also categorized as being from a low socioeconomic status, acquire the early literacy skills that support their development. These skills should enable them to transfer their learning as they progress through succeeding grades. Research indicates that young children will be more successful at reading if they have access to quality learning materials and enriching literacy programs. The purpose of this article is to better understand and briefly discuss how poverty negatively influences early reading success. Children from low-income families often have significantly lower pre-academic skills, infrequent interactions with …

An Educational Framework For Equity And Inclusion In Planning, Jacob Schlange

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

As societal discourse about equity has increased, so has the need for planning practitioners to be educated about equity-related issues. This study examines the planning curricula of the 22 land-grant institutions accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) to assess whether these programs align with the new emphasis on equity in the most recent PAB accreditation standards. Finding a notable lack of required courses explicitly addressing the topic among most of the programs surveyed, this thesis goes on to propose a framework for developing a course on equity in planning, using existing literature on planning education and guidance from the …

Effectiveness Of Regional Alternative Food Systems On Food Inequality, Kirsten M. Rydzewski

Masters Projects

Alternative food systems have become a popular response to conventional food systems both agri-business and emergency food assistance charities. Common alternative food systems, like farmers markets, food co-ops, and community supported agriculture, are market-based strategies which emphasize environmental concerns. They are often dominated by white people who deem their emphasis on “local, healthy food” to be universal. While food justice issues are incorporated into some alternative food organizations, not all organizations seek input or engagement with the local BIPOC, Indigenous, and low-income people they serve. This study conducts an analysis of the efficacy of the growing food justice movement’s alternative …

Climate Without Context: Why Climate Change Journalism Is Losing Its Effect, Amanda L. Valentine

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

Despite the growing frequency and severity of climate disasters, the news coverage of these events hardly shocks the public like it used to. Environmental journalism has become more “voluminous,” but less complex, ultimately sacrificing quality over quantity to cover as many climate-related events as possible. By analyzing the word choice, key frames, and contexts of climate articles featured in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times over the past five years, this study finds that the frequent decontextualization of climate events and a focus on political actions has banalized climate journalism and rendered it ineffectual.

2022 Schedule Of Events, Seton Hall University

Petersheim Academic Exposition

No abstract provided.

Our Air: Determining Ideal Locations For Tree Planting In Richmond, Va In Order To Deter Inequalities In Temperature, Nina Vanatta

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

With the ever increasing effects of climate change, it is pertinent that an effective, efficient, and economic solution be reached in order to mitigate the extremity of urban heat islands. Since heat can contribute to a variety of health problems, it is very important that the unequal distribution of heat be minimized in order to promote the equal well-being within a city. One substantial and popular method of doing so is through the planting of trees, as there is research done to show that they reduce air pollution on top of reducing overall surface temperatures. This paper explores how and …

Transcript, Zulene Mayfield, Carol Kazeem, Kearni Warren, Kyle Powis Whyte, Ana Baptista, Jacqui Patterson, Dorcas Gilmore

Panel III: Moving Forward

No abstract provided.

Park Equity In Action: Envisioning, Utilizing, And Writing Outdoor Spaces With New Mainer Girls, Claire Kim, Robby Sheils, Sophie Stein

Community Engaged Research Reports

As it is deeply rooted in young immigrant women’s experiences in nature in the Lewiston area, this project centers around underprivileged voices and strives for equity within public parks in their home city. In Lewiston, and throughout cities across the entire nation, public parks are extremely valuable for the children growing up around them. In urban environments, green spaces are few and far between, and the accessibility to public parks for Black, Asian, Latinx, and Indigenous communities is noticeably lower than it is for White communities. In working closely with Maine Community Integration, our project aimed at rewriting the typical …

Unfair: Investigating The Links Between Richmond’S Air Quality Issues And Environmental Racism, Charles Miller

Environmental Studies Senior Seminar Projects

With breathable air being a resource inequitably distributed among populations based on race and socioeconomic status, this study’s objective was to analyze heat and air quality distributions in Richmond, Virginia and provide recommendations for minimizing its effects throughout the city. Richmond provided an ideal subject for this analysis as it has a lengthy history of racial segregation and discrimination and is one of the worst ranking cities for Asthma sufferers. Background was given on environmental racism as a means of systemic disproportionate pollution distribution to minorities, urban air pollution( via Fine Particulate Matter/PM 2.5) and the historical housing segregation process …