Regional Sociology Commons^™

Emociones, Semillas Nativas Y Cambio Climático: El Movimiento De Soberanía De Las Semillas En Chiapas, México, Carol Hernández Rodríguez, Hugo Perales Rivera, Daniel Jaffee

Sociology Faculty Publications and Presentations

¿Qué papel juegan las emociones en la definición de marcos interpretativos que permiten a las comunidades responder acertadamente a los retos impuestos por cambio climático? Este artículo explora empíricamente esta pregunta desde la perspectiva de pequeñas comunidades campesinas en la región central de Chiapas, México. Este estudio de caso muestra que los significados espirituales, culturales y materiales que las comunidades campesinas asignan a la milpa y sus semillas nativas, especialmente al maíz, convergen en un conjunto de emociones que permiten a sus miembros reconocer los riesgos de degradación ambiental y cambio climático y movilizarse políticamente en torno a la idea …

Cosechando Justicia: Café De Comercio Justo, Sustentabilidad Y Sobrevivencia, Daniel Jaffee

Sociology Faculty Publications and Presentations

El comercio justo es un mercado alternativo internacional en rápido crecimiento que busca promover una mayor justicia social para los pequeños productores y ofrecer mejores precios para sus productos. Este estudio de los productores de café en México es el primero en analizar detalladamente los beneficios sociales, económicos y medioambientales del comercio justo. Basado en un extensa investigación etnográfica en comunidades indígenas Zapotecas de la Sierra Juárez de Oaxaca, Cosechando Justicia explora vívidamente la vida de los socios de la cooperativa Michiza, cuyo café orgánico es vendido en el mercado internacional de comercio justo, comparándola con la de los productores …

Building Social Sustainability From The Ground Up: The Contested Social Dimension Of Sustainability In Neighborhood-Scale Urban Regeneration In Portland, Copenhagen, And Nagoya, Jacklyn Nicole Kohon

Dissertations and Theses

In response to growing social inequality, environmental crises, and economic instability, sustainability discourse has become the dominant "master signifier" for many fields, particularly the field of urban planning. However, in practice many sustainability methods overemphasize technological and economic growth-oriented solutions while underemphasizing the social dimension. The social dimension of sustainability remains a "concept in chaos" drawing little agreement on definitions, domains, and indicators for addressing the social challenges of urban life. In contrast, while the field of public health, with its emphasis on social justice principles, has made significant strides in framing and developing interventions to target the social determinants …

Understanding Sand Mining On The Maha Oya: The Conflict Between Economic And Environmental Survival, Meredith Corea Talbert

Dissertations and Theses

River sand mining from the Maha Oya is the main source of income and a force that drives economic activity for residents along the river. This study takes place in Sri Lanka, there are three villages included in this project: Jambugaswatte, Janituspuraya and Thoppuwa. In Sri Lanka, sand serves as the main building material. It is used to make bricks, tiles, asphalt and concrete, therefore demanding a high market value. However, the over-extraction of sand comes along with significant environmental problems. These communities depend on the river in many ways and the health of the river directly corresponds to the …

Gangs And Gang Activity In America: A Prevention Report, Portland State University. Criminology And Criminal Justice Senior Capstone

Criminology and Criminal Justice Senior Capstone Project

This report covers information on gangs, gang activity, and gang prevention. The report reveals information such as the history of gangs in the U.S., the definition of “gang,” data on prevalence, persons affected by gang activity, demographics of gangs and their members, criminal activity committed by gangs, gang hierarchical structure, prevention strategies, and effectiveness of gang prevention programs.

“Where Girls Will Be Boys And Boys Will Be Girls”: The Spatial Perceptions And Place-Bound Identity Of The Drag Community In Portland, Oregon, Courtney Sullivan Villegas

Dissertations and Theses

Space is socially and culturally constructed. As such, experiences in and perceptions of the environment vary on the basis of culture and position in society. These perceptions influence the creation of places, especially places designed to make people feel accepted and at home. The building of such places and of community networks between these places is most important among groups who find themselves outside of societal norms.

This research examines these notions of space and place through a focus on the drag community in Portland, Oregon in order to determine whether spatial perception contributes to the construction of a place-bound …

Diy, Community, And Technology: The Impact Of Technology On Community Cohesion In The Portland Indie Rock Production Culture, Jeffrey Ross London

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether differences exist between those steeped in the practice of the use of the computer in music production and those reared in a mostly analog environment. In addition, this study aimed to develop theory concerning who may be in or out of the technology revolution in music. The areas of inquiry included the artists' situated perceptions of the quality, production aesthetic, and community role of the computer.

Subjects were selected using a snowball sample of those producers with an interest in the topic area. As the research developed, subjects were chosen …

The Diffusion Of A Controversial Innovation In The Alsea, Oregon Area, Steven K. Worden

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is a report of an empirical investigation into the twin processes of adoption and rejection as they operate in the diffusion of a specific controversial technological innovation. The innovation, the aerial application of phenoxy herbicides, and its pattern of diffusion throughout the Alsea, Oregon area are examined. The processes involved are analyzed utilizing as a theoretical framework the Classical Diffusion of Innovation Model. This model is discussed in detail with particular attention being called to the social, economic, and political factors that contributed to its development and popularity. This specific model was utilized in this study for two …