Place and Environment Commons^™

Towards An Agreed Definition Of Sustainability: Exploring The Concept Of Sustainability In Amherst, Massachusetts, Babatunde Ajao

Capstone Collection

Many educators agree that to learning about sustainability and discussing it’s implications on values, ethics and the role of humans are essential. With so many moving parts it is difficult to determine a sustainable assessment to encompass the changing world. The time has come for us to ask reflective questions about what exactly sustainability means. How has the term sustainability been used worldwide? What was the goal of sustainability and what is the result? Is there a better alternative to achieving this goal? By identifying the characteristics of best practice for sustainability, we take a step towards understanding the concept …

La Influencia Del Neoliberalismo Sobre Las Ideas De Lo “Natural”: Un Análisis De Las Ideas De La Naturaleza En Urbanizaciones Cerradas Y Grupos Subalternos En Tigre / The Influence Of Neoliberalism On Ideas Of What Is “Natural”: An Analysis Of Ideas Of Nature In Closed-Gated And Marginalized Communities In Tigre, Catherine Fraser

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Since the 1970s, there has been a global increase in neoliberal policy and ideology, marked by privatization, deregulation, and the withdrawal of the state from social programs (Harvey 2005: 2-3). Neoliberalism has manifested itself in Argentina in various forms, notably in the rise of closed-gated neighborhoods. In Tigre, a northern suburb of Buenos Aires, real estate developers fill in wetlands and re-route river tributaries to construct closed-gated neighborhoods around artificial water bodies to create an idealized neighborhood that offers residents a life in contact with “nature”. Seeking to accumulate capital, real estate developers commodify and construct a specific form of …

Paradigmas Del Desarrollo Urbano En Cuenca: Abordando Los Procesos De Segregación, Marginación Y Desplazamiento / Paradigms Of Urban Development In Cuenca: Addressing The Processes Of Segregation, Marginalization And Displacement, Sarah Rothschild

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Cuenca, tercerca ciudad más grande de Ecuador, ha experimento un crecimiento rápido en los últimos años, que ha influenciado en los paradigmas de desarrollo urbano de forma considerable. Los impactos de la urbanización han cambiado las dinámicas y condiciones de vida de la ciudad y de su gente, creando un ambiente urbano que favorece a los sectores más ricos de la población, y al mismo tiempo relegando y segregando a comunidades con menos recursos; si bien, no son tan extremos como en ciudades más grandes como Quito y Guayaquil. Por otro lado, el reciente fenómeno de migración extranjera, también ha …

Life In Hampton Roads Survey Press Release #3: Economics, Social Science Research Center, Old Dominion University

Life in Hampton Roads Survey Report

[Introductory paragraph]

This report examines regional perceptions of economic conditions from the 2018 Life In Hampton Roads survey (LIHR 2018) conducted by the Old Dominion University Social Science Research Center. Data from prior years is also provided when available to show comparisons in responses over time. Responses were weighted by city population, race, age, gender, and phone usage (cell versus land-line) to be representative of the Hampton Roads region. For additional information on survey methodology, and analyses of other issues, please see the SSRC website at www.odu.edu/ssrc.

The Virtualism Of “Capacity Building” Workshops In Indigenous Amazonia, Laura Mentore

Cultural and Philosophical Inquiry Articles

Sustainable development and conservation NGOs in Amazonia often hold workshops in which they task indigenous communities with various activities in the name of “capacity building.” People tend to perform these tasks despite often finding them to be flawed, demeaning, or based on erroneous assumptions about their lifeways and perspectives. Workshop organizers, for their part, tend to view local participation in itself as a straightforward indicator of a successful workshop to the neglect of a more complex picture. These combined tendencies contribute to expectations on both sides being partially fulfilled at best, but due to asymmetrical power distributions, can have disproportionately …

Passing It Along: Experiments On Creating The Negative Externalities Of Climate Change, Alessandro Del Ponte, Andrew W. Delton, Reuben Kline, Nicholas A. Seltzer

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

Climate change is a global social dilemma. Mitigating it is partly a political problem created by inequitable distributions of the benefits of carbon emissions and the costs of climate change; that is, the people who benefit the most are not the same set of people who pay the most costs. Here we use an experimental economic approach to political science to study these inequities. In two experiments, we show that people willingly create climate problems when those problems are passed along to others. Surprisingly, this is not further exacerbated if those others are from another country. We also show that, …

Governing The Urban Water Commons : Essays On Collaborative Policy Networks In A Polycentric Ecology Of Urban Water Policy Games., Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Governing social-ecological systems, such as the urban water commons, is a multi-scale and multi-sector (polycentric) human-environment process. This dissertation interrogates this process by situating itself within the Ecology of Games Framework by Norton Long (and updated by Mark Lubell) and the literature on polycentric governance by the Bloomington School of Political Economy. The dissertation’s three essays 1) offer both theoretical and methodological means to enact polycentric public economies within the ecology of games framework, and 2) explicate the conditions under which interoganizational collaboration is fostered within a polycentric ecology of policy games in governing the Middle Rio Grande urban watershed. …

Analyzing Economic And Social Opportunities And Challenges Related To Bison Conservation In Northeast Montana, Jeremy L. Sage

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This report provides a review of the current socioeconomic trends in northeast Montana in comparison to the state as a whole, followed by an economic analysis of the potential impacts of an expanded recreation amenity. The amenity is characterized by a large, intact grassland prairie ecosystem replete with a large bison herd. Results suggest significant latent demand for nonresident visitation to the region. To begin to capture this demand and ensure continued vitality of other economic sectors will require collaborative efforts between conservation proponents, tourism professionals, and the community at large.

Human Migration And Health: A Case Study Of The Chinese Rural-To-Urban Migrant Population, Leah C. Pinckney

Student Publications

Human migration is a complex, ancient process driven by a variety of social, political, and economic factors. Modern migrants and their families are often compelled to migrate voluntarily in pursuit of new opportunities for study or work and, in extreme circumstances, involuntarily for safety and survival. Chinese domestic migrant populations were mobilized with China’s early 1980s economic reform, which enabled rapid economic development largely dependent on urban factories. While this massive influx of young people predominantly from rural locales to urban locales seeking opportunity enabled China’s rise as a world power, their move not only marked changing internal labor patterns …

La Lucha Por Kimsakocha: Resistencia Contra La Minería En Azuay, Ecuador \ The Struggle For Kimsakocha: Resistance Against Mining In Azuay, Ecuador, Lydia Petroske

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

En Ecuador, hay una “reprimarización” de la economía, un fenómeno por el que se produce una creciente dependencia en exportaciones de productos primarios como recursos no renovables. Este fenómeno ha sido acompañado con una retórica estatal sobre pobreza y deuda social. Para el gobierno del estado, la industria extractiva es parte importante de su estrategia y retórica para hacer inversión social y combatir la pobreza, lo cual ha justificado una rápida expansión del sector extractivista. En el sur de Ecuador, la gente de las parroquias de Victoria del Portete y Tarqui ha estado luchando por más de 15 años contra …

Rulers, Religion, And Riches: Why The West Got Rich And The Middle East Did Not, Jared Rubin

Economics Faculty Books and Book Chapters

For centuries following the spread of Islam, the Middle East was far ahead of Europe. Yet, the modern economy was born in Europe. Why was it not born in the Middle East? In this book Jared Rubin examines the role that Islam played in this reversal of fortunes. It argues that the religion itself is not to blame; the importance of religious legitimacy in Middle Eastern politics was the primary culprit. Muslim religious authorities were given an important seat at the political bargaining table, which they used to block important advancements such as the printing press and lending at interest. …

Overpopulation And The Impact On The Environment, Doris Baus

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In this research paper, the main focus is on the issue of overpopulation and its impact on the environment. The growing size of the global population is not an issue that appeared within the past couple of decades, but its origins come from the prehistoric time and extend to the very present day. Throughout the history, acknowledged scientists introduced the concept of “overpopulation” and predicted the future consequences if the world follows the same behavioral pattern. According to predictions, scientists invented the birth control pill and set population control through eugenics. Despite that, population continued to increase and fight with …

To Work More Or Less? The Impact Of Taxes And Life Satisfaction On The Motivation To Work In Continental And Eastern Europe, Orkhan Nadirov, Khatai Aliyev, Bruce Dehning

Accounting Faculty Articles and Research

Using country-level data from 2000-2013, we test the relationship between life satisfaction (measured as how people evaluate their life as a whole rather than their current feelings) and the motivation to work (measured as aggregate hours of work). Our hypothesis is that even after controlling for average labor income tax rates in countries with high and low average hours worked, there is a significant negative association between the motivation to work and life satisfaction. The main findings of this paper are that the increase in the motivation to work per employee comes at the expense of life satisfaction, and differences …

Happiness Index Methodology, Laura Musikanski, Scott Cloutier, Erica Bejarano, Davi Briggs, Julia Colbert, Gracie Strasser, Steven Russell

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

The Happiness Index is a comprehensive survey instrument that assesses happiness, well-being, and aspects of sustainability and resilience. The Happiness Alliance developed the Happiness Index to provide a survey instrument to community organizers, researchers, and others seeking to use a subjective well-being index and data. It is the only instrument of its kind freely available worldwide and translated into over ten languages. This instrument can be used to measure satisfaction with life and the conditions of life. It can also be used to define income inequality, trust in government, sense of community and other aspects of well-being within specific demographics …

Concepts And Measurement Of Vulnerability To Poverty And Other Issues: A Review Of Literature, Tomoki Fujii

Research Collection School Of Economics

This paper reviews the growing body of literature on vulnerability. We first provide a survey of existing studies on the concepts and measurements of vulnerability to poverty by classifying them into welfarist, expected poverty, and axiomatic approaches. We then review a number of empirical studies on vulnerability to poverty in Asia and elsewhere. This review shows that poverty and vulnerability are related, but different, and that key determinants of vulnerability often include education and location. We also briefly review other areas of vulnerability analysis such as vulnerability to climate change and offer various policy implications arising from vulnerability analysis.

Climate Change And Vulnerability To Poverty: An Empirical Investigation In Rural Indonesia, Tomoki Fujii

Research Collection School Of Economics

Scientists estimate that anthropogenic climate change leads to increased surface temperature, sea-level rise, more frequent and significant extreme weather and climate events, among others. In this study, we investigate how climate change can potentially change the vulnerability to poverty using a panel data set in Indonesia. We focus on the effect of drought and flood, two of the commonly observed disasters there. Our simulation results indicate that vulnerability to poverty may increase substantially as a result of climate change in Indonesia.

Communication Network Among Campus Sustainability Influencers, Alexandra C. Freling

Honors Thesis

Systems of all types require efficient communication between its parts and units in order to be successful and e ective. It is thus important to understand a systems units in order to better advance its operations. In this study, we look at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) as a systematic organization in regards to the universitys execution of its environmental sustainability endeavors. This approach allows for the identification of the path by which important environmental sustainability information is communicated, is learned, and is acted upon at LMU. Through various network centrality measurements, I will develop a visual representation of the communication …

Architecture As Artefact, Socialfact, And Mentalfact : On The Hypothetical Works Of Office Of Strategic Architecture (Osa) : Part 2 = 建築作為藝術、社會、精神之平台 : 策略建築局前設工作 : 第二部分, Eka Swadiansa

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 28th July 2016, Eka Swadiansa gave us a lecture at the Third South South Forum on Sustainability. The lecture was titled Architecture as Artifact, Socialfact and Mentalfact: on the Hypothetical Works of OSA .He divided the lecture into six parts:

1. Architecture as Artefact
2. Architecture as Socialfact
3. Architecture as Artefact VS Socialfact
4. Architecture as Mentalfact
5. Office of Strategic Architecture (OSA)
6. Tadao Ando Works: Architecture as Faith Mentalfact (Extended Discussion)

This was the afternoon session of the lecture.

Architecture As Artefact, Socialfact, And Mentalfact : On The Hypothetical Works Of Office Of Strategic Architecture (Osa) : Part 1 = 建築作為藝術、社會、精神之平台 : 策略建築局前設工作 : 第一部分, Eka Swadiansa

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 28th July 2016, Eka Swadiansa gave us a lecture at the Third South South Forum on Sustainability. The lecture was titled Architecture as Artifact, Socialfact and Mentalfact: on the Hypothetical Works of OSA .He divided the lecture into six parts:

1. Architecture as Artefact
2. Architecture as Socialfact
3. Architecture as Artefact VS Socialfact
4. Architecture as Mentalfact
5. Office of Strategic Architecture (OSA)
6. Tadao Ando Works: Architecture as Faith Mentalfact (Extended Discussion)

This was the morning session of the lecture.

Global Financial Crisis And Challenges : Discussion = 全球金融危機與挑戰 : 討論, Tak Hing, Erebus Wong

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 27th July 2016, at SSFS 3, Erebus Wong gave a presentation titled "More Science or Ethnics in Economics and Finance?".

Contra Hegemony : Part 2 : Post Capital Business Planning And Its Global Market Potencies = 逆反霸權 (2) : 後資本主義商業計劃及其全球市場潛力, Eka Swadiansa

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 27th July 2016, at the Third South South Forum on Sustainability, Eka Swadiansa delivered the second part of his presentation on Contra Hegemony. The title of this session is Contra Hegemony (Part 2): Post Capital Business Planning and its Global Market Potencies.

Contra Hegemony : Part 1 : Conscious Regional Planning And Its Adaptive Development Policies = 逆反霸權 (1) : 有意識之區域規劃及其靈活之發展政策, Eka Swadiansa

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 27th July 2016, at SSFS 3, Eka Swadiana delivered the first part of his talk on Contra Hegemony. This session is titled Contra Hegemony (Part 1): Conscious Regional Planning and its Adaptive Development Policies.

This presentation talked about recent Indonesian government policies launched under the leadership of the currently in power President Joko Widodo; in the discourse to his very limited fiscal gap, the dream of undergoing vast development, and the blue print of national development formulated by taking the long forgotten Indonesian local wisdom to envision a foreseen optimistic future. Some insights on both state and privately owned …

Latin America : Exhaustion Of Post-Neocapitalist Experiences? How To Think Our Future? = 拉丁美洲 : 後新資本主義耗盡的經驗? 怎樣思考我們的未來?, François Houtart

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 26th July 2016, François Houtart delivered a lecture on Latin America, which was titled Latin America: Exhaustion of Post-Neocapitalist Experiences? How to Think Our Future?.

Delirious New World : Static City And The Engineering Of Collective Spaces Of Otherness = 瘋狂新世界 : 靜態城市與異態集體空間, Eka Swadiansa

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 25th July 2016, Eka Swadiansa gave us a talk titled Delirious New World: Static City and the Engineering of Collective Spaces of Otherness.

中國建築與城市主義 = Architecture And Urbanism : The Case Of China, Aibin Yan, Huizhong Bin

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 25th July 2016, Bui Huizhong and Yan Aibin gave a presentation based on the topic: Architecture and Urbanism: the Case of China.

中國金融資本主義與三農問題 = Financial Capitalism And The Agrarian Question In China, Xiaohui Yan, Ping Wang

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 25th July 2016, Yan Xiaohui and Wang Ping talked on Financial Capitalism and the Agrarian Question in China.

The Agrarian Question In Asia = 亞洲三農問題, Chantana Banpasirichote

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 25th July 2016, at SSFS 3, Chantana Banpasirichote gave us a lecture on the Agrarian Questions in Asia.

Latin America : Agrarian Question : Agriculture Vs Capitalist Modern Agriculture : Land, Water, Forests = 拉丁美洲 : 三農問題農業 Vs 現代資本主義農業 : 土地、水、森林, François Houtart

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 25th July 2016, at SSFS 3, François Houtart gave us a lecture on Latin America: Agriculture vs Capitalist Modern Agriculture: Land, Water, Forests.

No Fire Zone : The Killing Fields Of Sri Lanka : Discussion = 無戰火地帶 : 斯里蘭卡之殺戮戰場 : 映後座談, François Houtart, Jude Lal Fernando

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 24th July 2016, François Houtart and Jude Lal Fernando showed us a documentary called "No Fire Zone — the Killing Fields of Sri Lanka". This is the discussion session.

Popular Movements In Southeast Asia = 東南亞民眾運動, Surichai Wungaeo

South South Forum 南南論壇

On 24th July 2016, Surichai Wungaeo gave us a talk titled Popular Movements in Southeast Asia.