global-emily

[global-emily]

Global Studies Capstone April 30- Gowanus Canal

After years of travelling to sites of wondrous beauty around the globe, I guess it was time for us to interact with some ick. And so I prepared the class for a visit to the Gowanus Canal, explaining that it originated as a series of tidal creeks, but was transformed into its current state when the rise in shipping use required more docking facilities. With the development of the canal came a burst of commercial activity through the opening of a coal gas manufacturing plant, oil refinery, machine shop, chemical plant, cement maker, sulfur producer, soap maker, and a tannery. Following this boom in commercial activity came an increase in residential development. And the increase in these two types of activity required infrastructure to deal with their sewage- but alas there was none. And so the obvious solution was to dump it all in to the Gowanus Canal which led to an obviously undesirable sight and scent and the development of the nickname “lavender lake.” Initial action was taken at that time in 1911, though following the cease in use of the canal following the construction of the Gowanus/Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, all efforts were abandoned and the water was left for 37 years. Attention returned in the 1970s and has continued until recently as efforts have been organized to undo the damage done to the surrounding ecosystem.

One of these efforts is the Sponge Park, a green community space with a dual purpose of also addressing water quality issues. The park employs the use of natural gravel filtration systems that send the water through rocks and gravel of varying size to remove contaminants. The project is far less expansive or exciting than it appeared to be in writing, however, and there is obviously still work to be done. But who should be doing it? There was debate in early stages of organizing to clean the canal over whether the city or state should be in charge, and matters of funding and decision making were affected. Bureaucratic and political disagreements such as these pose as potential barriers to successful action, a trend many of my classmates and I have studied throughout our time in global. In my internship in Costa Rica, for example, the hectic nature of the public sector and its understaffed and underfunded centers made decision making processes quite slow. This is no excuse, however, as the canal has obviously been in need of attention for decades, and its contamination has affected the health of the surrounding ecosystem and human community. What’s left then, is to properly delegate responsibility and find a way to ensure commitment- a regular hurdle in social and environmental action.

[global-emily]

Global Studies Capstone April 23- HPI Design Thinking Workshop

This may have been the most fun field visit of the semester. Following our perilous trek up to the 48th floor, we were greeted with a large, room that wrapped around the entire floor. The section that we concentrated in was occupied by whiteboards, tables, stools, couches, and chairs all on wheels, as well as a copious supply of scrap paper, sharpies, and post-it notes. We later learned that all of this was a key part of the design thinking process- a dynamic workspace. We were introduced to the concept by Joann Halpbern and Suzi Kavenaugh, two enthusiastic women who fed off of each other’s energy marvelously. It was obvious that they were passionate about the process, and as we began to participate, I understood why. After a few hours of the most fun process of brainstorming I’ve participated in, we reviewed the lessons we’d learned and their applicability. It felt silly in the moment to be frantically yelling out things to do with paper clips, but as we reflected on the importance of the activity, it became clearer. It turns out, we learned about listening through the 80-20 interview rule, creativity, and failure. We also had been focusing on a topic very close to our global hearts as we begin to embark on an adventure outside of our global bubble and find where we belong in the process of addressing global issues. I left the session with my mind feeling stimulated and refreshed.

It was during our processing meeting the following week that my understanding of our experience began to shift. We began to question the inclusivity of the process, pointing out its euro-centric roots and applications and its tendency to be implemented in contexts of wealth. We also began to question the value of commodifying creativity as they had done. In a sense, design thinking created a formula to be creative efficiently and quickly in order to remain productive in a corporate environment. We also addressed the fact that the space in which we met was located in Hudson Yards, an area known for being drastically gentrified and newly geared toward wealthy tourists. In all, I think design thinking as an objective concept is valuable, but we can’t ignore the context in which it was developed or is currently implemented. How can we incorporate multi-cultural ideas and make it more accessible and accommodating?

[global-emily]

Global Studies Capstone- Gentrification in the East Village

I was first exposed to the concept of gentrification in my senior year of high school when I was tasked with writing a paper on a social issue for my sociology class. After perusing a list of social issues that I found online, I decided on gentrification because I didn’t know what it was. I found that it was occurring just a county over in Wilmington, North Carolina with the introduction of a large pharmaceutical company. Gentrification as an issue has never seemed as prevalent or obvious as it has here in New York, though.

For this assignment I chose to explore the East Village, a neighborhood previously occupied by punks, artists, queers, addicts, and overall weirdos who had developed a haven of strangeness amongst the ever-changing city. They began to witness this change in their own backyard, however, as small galleries began entering the area, real estate picked up, and the neighborhood was rebranded as East Village from its previous position as just a part of the Lower East Side. This shift didn’t occur without a fight, however, as the neighborhood was no stranger to protest. In the late 1800s Thompson Square Park served as a location for riots against economic inequality, and acted similarly in the late 1900s following the opening of a Gap location, implementation of a curfew, and removal of a homeless community. The wider population continued in their efforts to rebel against gentrification, but their efforts were widely unsuccessful in the long run. The number of households with an income above $75,000 has risen from 12,439 in 2000 to 24,797 in 2015 and the white population has risen while Black and Hispanic populations have decreased (Small, 2017). The atmosphere of the neighborhood has undergone significant change as well.

An uber driver who was taking me from Crown Heights, Brooklyn to East Village explained to me that he much preferred the feel of East Village as opposed both to Crown Heights and to the way East Village was less than 20 years ago. He walked me through some of the shifts he has noticed living in New York, stating that Alphabet City and the Lower East Side used to be areas that people didn’t venture to if they were not a part of the community.

Moss, J. (2017, July). Mourning the Low-Rent, Weirdo-Filled East Village of Old. Retrieved from https://longreads.com/2017/07/24/mourning-the-low-rent-weirdo-filled-east-village-of-old/.

Small, A. (2018, April 28). The Gentrification of Gotham. Retrieved from https://www.citylab.com/life/2017/04/the-gentrification-of-gotham/524694/?fbclid=IwAR0sQOrrtx6YSL8lLhvB2eERhX0tnmfsrZEwBKkF4V9IpdHdBZ3zA_4BPts.

Salamone, G. and Niemietz, B. (2018, Sep 10). Lower East Side ‘already gone’ to gentrification as Marshalls set to open next to Katz’s deli. Retrieved from https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-fea-lower-east-side-gentrification-big-box-20180829-story.html.

Small, Z. (2018, Oct 17). Another Wave of Gentrification Hits the Lower East Side. Retrieved from https://hyperallergic.com/466187/another-wave-of-gentrification-hits-the-lower-east-side/.

[global-emily]

Global Studies Capstone March 29- FCNL, Chuck Schumer, and EPI

Feeling the effects of the packed days prior, we embarked Friday morning to or first visit with minds already filled with information and analyses from previous organizations. We were greeted by a woman with a kind face as we approached the Friends Committee on National Legislation. We followed her inside to a conference room where we seated ourselves and began listening to her story of the organization, learning that it has Quaker roots similar to our own school. We were provided with a roadmap to use during our lobbying appointment with Chuck Shumer’s congressional aide. Upon reflection, the steps outlined in this roadmap would probably be useful in many conversations and conflict resolution, such as beginning the conversation by thanking your peer for something you appreciate. We implemented this with the aide, but I feel like it’s probably a tactic used by any group coming to lobby so it may not be impressive, rather expected. As we reflected on our conversation in Shumer’s office, I noticed that most statements were negative, revolving around what we could do better next time. It seemed like the group enjoyed the experience and was ready to do it again, but that excited energy faded fast as we searched for our next congressional target and realized we were all quite hungry.

With food in our bellies and renewed energy, we made our way to the Economic Policy Institute where we spoke with members of each department. Our talk with Pedro da Costa lifted my spirits in a way I hadn’t expected as he walked us through the professional and life journey that brought him to where he is currently. I have been feeling particularly stressed about matters of the future and my life path, but he reminded me that our paths are not always straight, and finding your passion can happen later in life or change from what it currently is. With regards to EPI, however, I was exposed to another form of political engagement. Rather than lobbying congress in the same way as the FCNL, the EPI creates documents based on research they conduct and presents it to the government. It reminded me that similar to everyone’s different life paths, there are different routes to social change as well.

[global-emily]

Global Studies Capstone March 27- Search for Common Ground, Bank Information Center, and the Inter-American Development Bank

I think we all left our meeting with Search for Common Ground with a sense of hope and a spark of passion. The CEO Shamil Idriss took time from his day to speak with us personally and share the mission and work of his organization. His words were obviously carefully chosen and rehearsed, and his public speaking skills were impressive. I think we as global students are trained to be aware of how information is presented to us and by whom, and while the message seemed practiced and refined, I believe we also felt that there was a true, positive impact that the organization was making.

The Bank Information Center was supposedly the first stop on our tour of banks, a joke within the group since there was an impression we were visiting many, but I feel that it’s safe to say that we were all pleasantly surprised. The woman we spoke with, Katelyn Gallagher, was young, energetic, and obviously passionate about her work and that showed and transferred to us. While we enjoyed some wonderful falafel, rice, and veggies, we learned about the watchdog role that BIC plays in monitoring the work of the Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank. I admired the way she and the organization recognized that the banks have far-reaching power and task themselves with maintaining the integrity of the use of that power. The conversation was also helpful in preparing us for our next meeting with the IDB.

Our visit with the IDB was definitely very interesting. It was a rehearsed, planned, polished presentation from four different individuals. The first man gave us a history of the IDB, the next two women provided us with info about internship opportunities, and the final woman told us about one branch of the bank and how progressive they are with gender equality. None of us appeared very wooed by their attempts to recruit or impress us, as we were all skeptical to begin with, though especially so after our talk with BIC. It was really quite disappointing to think about an organization meant to be working to support those in need ending up prohibiting real, positive change.

[global-emily]

Global Studies Capstone March 26- Museum of the American Indian

I didn’t know exactly what to expect of this visit to the Museum of the American Indian. Jocelyn’s description of the incredible red dress exhibit gave me some hope, but given the way Native American history is presented in mainstream society, education, and media, I still felt cautious. We gathered first in an open space in the center of the building with a ceiling that reached up, up, up to the top floor. Here our visit was framed a bit and I learned that the executive committee is comprised of actual Native people, which was definitely promising. As I made my way through as much as I could visit in our limited time, I came to understand the true value and insight that the information in the exhibits provided. I travelled first to the exhibit titled “Our Universes” which explored traditional knowledge. The dimly lit atmosphere provided a calming ambiance that paired incredibly with the sound effects emitting from each section that explored a different tribe and their creation story, life milestones, and values among other aspects. It felt like a small yet deeply personal look into the belief systems of these groups. In writing that sentence, I feel very aware of my position as an outsider, and feel thankful that I had the opportunity to be exposed to it from the mouths of those I’m learning about.  It brought me back to reflecting on the way I’ve been taught through Global to remain aware of how information is presented to me.

[global-emily]

Global Studies Capstone March 19- The Man Question

The reading for this week was definitely my favorite thus far in the semester. Cecilia Ridgeway’s Framed by Gender offered a riveting gendered lens through which to view our current world, and a theoretical framework through which to analyze it. I’ve been reflecting recently and wishing I had incorporated more gender studies into my research since I find the theorizing so interesting, so I enjoyed this work. She eloquently and creatively illustrated our current context as a delicate social dance in which we use gender to orient ourselves through categorization. I’ve read much about social identity theory through my research, and this relates directly to our inclination to categorize ourselves to better understand what we are and aren’t. I agree with Ridgeway, however, that our emphasis on gender as a categorizer has far exceeded what it needed to, and has developed into systemic inequality. I had recognized before that this inequality exists and has deep roots, but had never heard of the status beliefs she introduced in her writing that explain the way we have grown to believe that males are more competent tan females.

I had been looking forward to this week’s workshop with The Man Question since I’ve heard so many wonderful things about the directors as individuals and facilitators. The experience did not disappoint. I am currently interning with The Angle Project which is a community-building theater initiative with a current focus on identity, so I noticed a lot of parallels in the work I participated in with The Man Question and the activities I help facilitate with The Angle Project. I brought this up to Emma B., following the class, and she told me that The Man Q and TAP have worked together in the past and that her supervisor went to applied theater school with my supervisor.

[global-emily]

Global Studies Capstone Feb 19- Weeksville Heritage Site

I believe the opening discussion this week was my favorite thus far. The way the leaders synthesized the information from the readings and posed questions to us was stimulating and carried through to the site visit as we explored Weeksville. They prompted us to consider the way information is presented to us, how it is presented, and how we digest it. This has been in line with discussions we’ve had before and after other field experiences, specifically museums. I felt as though our guide Alfons provided us with a concrete foundation of understanding of the history of the neighborhood, and the young man we talked with about oral histories was a wonderful segway from our initial class discussion. The reading, “Uncovering, Recovering, and Discovering” addressed the way New Yorkers were confronted with their past upon the uncovering of burial grounds filled with the remains of former slaves. The experience challenged previous understandings of the role slavery played in the development of New York, uncovering that slavery was more present than many liked to remember. I feel as though Weeksville worked to maintain a careful balance between acting as a reminder similar to the uncovering of the burial ground that there was black presence in New York and that the black experience was complex and worthy of discussion and attention, while also maintaining the original purpose of the site as a center for black freedom and livelihood. The man we spoke to following our tour, whose name I don’t remember, discussed the work he’s doing with narrative storytelling in order to piece together to history and implications that this space had on residents. In all, the trip was impactful and illustrated the importance of allowing space for stories from all points of view to be shared.

[global-emily]

Global Studies Capstone Feb 12- Ellis Island

As we exited the ferry, we were greeted with cold, stinging slaps of freezing rain wedging its way through the gaps in our scarves and stitches in our hats. As we looked upon the museum, imagining the warmth and shelter that it would provide, I thought of what must have gone through each individuals mind as they took those same steps from the boat and gazed upon the same building. These thoughts continued as I sat on the original benches is the registration room and listened to the audio tour replicate the bustling noise of high energy workers and immigrants all speaking together. I proceeded to hear about the “processing,” of migrants and began to further consider the brief conversation that had started on the boat about the implications of that word, as though immigrants were nothing more than meat or a product to be processed. I developed mixed feelings as I made my way through this first set of exhibits, surprised at the stories of helpful workers who went out of their way to ensure the safety on immigrants who didn’t speak english on their journeys elsewhere in the country, the quality of the food and china in the dining hall, and the steps taken to make females feel more comfortable while they go through their medical examination. Despite these indications of kindness and positivity, however, I kept remembering the fact that the individual immigration center employees as well as the federal government employees were all descendants of immigrants themselves, and the native peoples who lived on the land when their ancestors arrived, were not respected or given the authority to decide who to accept and who to deny as the more modern day individuals were here at Ellis Island.

I found the contrast between one sentiment where the United States not only welcomed, but encouraged immigration and the later one where they vehemently opposed it interesting. Advertisements for steamboats to the United States could be found in coffee shops and posters depicting the US as a land of peace and prosperity compared to Europe indicate that the US encouraged immigration. Later posters with phrases such as “America for Americans!,” however, show a striking difference in attitude. Earlier generations welcomed immigrants who then participated in the development of the country that later generations had the privilege of enjoying while denying entry to the next generations of immigrants on the grounds that they didn’t deserve it as true Americans did. The museum did address, however, that the white populations living in the United States weren’t true Americans, either, as they themselves descend from immigrants and are simply refusing to look back in history. In addition, the museum included an image in which bodies of many ethnic populations made up an image of a face to represent the role everyone played in the success of the Untied States. I appreciated these pieces, though they were small, but still feel uncomfortable with the representation of other issues such as the “Peopling of America” exhibition on the first floor. Though I didn’t have time to explore the inside of this section, my perusal of the timeline outside didn’t sit well with me as they very, very briefly touched on the existence of conquest but still referred to the process of colonization as ‘peopling’ as if the populations already living on the land weren’t people.

[global-emily]

Global Studies Capstone Feb 5- Spikard Reading Response

Spikards Almost All Aliens explores the immigration history of the United States through comparison of major organizational models and weighing them against one another. He introduces first a classic understanding of American history which he deems the Ellis Island or assimilation model. He outlines that this model seems to ignore the fact that aside from the Native Americans, all US inhabitants throughout history were migrants, even those which were English speaking and Western European. He states that history has seemed to forget that fact, instead “treat[ing] English Americans as quintessential natives, not as immigrants.” The second model he introduces is referred to as the Melting Pot model and is another well-understood and often-mentioned model of thinking. In this model, the expectation is that ““Out of the melting pot will come a proportional bend of all the peoples who make up America…It promises respect for every individual and group. It promises everyone who comes to America will change, and all will change together.” In fact, however, the melting pot is more of a “transmuting pot” that promotes Anglo-conformity and assimilation through a one-way street. Spikard explains that he is doubtful that a melting pot with a genuine two-way street can occur. Next, Spikard introduces a model he calls the transnational model or Diasporic Process in which “for almost every American immigrant group, there has been a coming and going, a continuing connectedness with the homeland, and also with other places to which migrants from one’s homeland have gone, “which has since been expanded due to the growth of internet and mobile communications.” This model proves to be far more complex than the first two, and includes a variety of push and pull factors affected by the global economy. Finally, he explores the Panethnic or Racial Formation Model in which ethnic identity is transformed after coming to the United States through the formation of “larger ethnic collectives” in which formerly separate groups are lumped together in one.

[global-emily]

Global Studies Capstone Jan 29- Museum of the City of New York

As we embarked on our first group adventure in the city, I braced myself for the chaos and confusion that is usually accompanied by traveling in a large group, and could only imagine the miscommunications and misunderstandings that could arise in this maze of a city. To my surprise, however, we managed ourselves well and maintained a fairly tight cluster as we made our way through the subways and streets. In fact, we only got separated on opposite sides of intersections once. Upon entering the museum and congregating in one corner so as to be as far out of the way as possible, we reviewed our goals for the trip and the current exhibits we had the option of exploring. I did not decide on my which exhibit I wished to explore prior to entering, but I ended up in a section named “Interior Lives: Photographs of Chinese-Americans in the 1980s by Bud Glick.” This exhibit showcased images from three different photographers who sought to explore different topics within the Chinese-American experience.

Through his installation, Thomas Holton explored life in Chinatown, an area with which he had a complex relationship. As stated in his bio, “although I am half Chinese, I never experienced a bond or connection to the neighborhood or to the culture; I always felt like a visitor” despite the fact that his grandparents had resided there. Through his investigation, Holton found himself beginning “to understand the Chinatown life I never had and never will.” These statements articulate that in interacting with the family he photographed over the years, not only did he experience intimate pars of their lives, but he began to grapple with his own identity and sense of place in his community. His photos of the family and their home suggest that they too are living in a liminal space in which their lives exist in a balance between practices from China shown through the Chinese newspapers spread as tablecloths and plastic cutlery and American brand snack foods and an LA Dodgers jersey. His presence in the family’s life throughout the years allowed Holton to consider his identity while exploring and presenting the family’s.

An Rong Xu’s installation focuses on the populations of Chinese Americans whose ancestors came to the united States temporarily but never ended up leaving. She prefaces her work with the statement that Chinese-Americans are “regarded as the perpetual foreigner regardless of how many generations passed and the countless contributions to American history they made.” In her brief statement about Chinese populations’ role in the United States, she mentions the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad followed by the Chinese Exclusion Act. I linked the American sentiment of wanting the Chinese as bodies for labor but not as people to the Panamanians want for Jamaican bodies for labor to build their railroad but not as people as well. In following An Rong Xu’s photos through the exhibition, I noticed she presented the subjects and topics through a much more personal lens that contrasted with the broadness of the initial description.

Annie Long explored the residents of 81 Bowery, a living space in which Chinese immigrants occupied 64 square foot cubicles as they worked in the United States. She highlights the “sacrifices made by individuals who put the welfare of their families above their own” as they work in the US to provide for their family at home. She also points out the irony in the way that immigrant come to the land of opportunity that is the United States only to be put in poor living conditions and later fall victim to gentrification. Within the scope of this broad issue, however, Long’s photos present the everyday lives of these people, showing objects and scenes such as laundry, water bottles, slippers, cigarettes, and fire extinguishers as well as images of the living conditions. In this way, Long addresses both a large issue of gentrification while highlighting the humanity of the people affected by it so as to avoid generalization and depersonalization. My internship with the Angle Project has a similar goal in their workshops and performances with migrants and refugees who wish to tell their personal stories instead of simply existing as a statistic in a large issue.

[global-emily]

Global Studies III- BLOG POST 9

This week’s experience in Tweed Heads provided me, and I’m sure other classmates as well, with an insight we are not often exposed to. There is a large amount of attention and discussion geared toward sexual harassment, assault, and violence toward women, but a distinct lack of deep consideration of thoughts and meaning behind such actions at the hands of men. This has to do with the patriarchal system in which we currently live. In this atmosphere, the expression of vulnerability or pain of a male is deemed abnormal and treated as such, and the expression of emotion through violence is, whether consciously or subconsciously nowadays, encouraged. The organization we visited in Tweed Heads is doing its part to deconstruct the patriarchy and provide support for male perpetrators of domestic violence in an attempt to prevent further instances on an individual level.

We entered the room and it instantly reminded me of the offices in the therapy clinic my mother works in. There is always an effort to make the atmosphere comfortable to promote easier conversation and trust, but there’s also always a sense of awareness that technically it’s still therapy. This idea of therapy acts as a barrier to many, but the group leader did a wonderful job of making us understand his level of passion and interest in what he’s doing. The interaction between him and us was genuine and he spoke of difficult and rather heavy topics.

I had never been exposed to a program geared toward male perpetrators of domestic violence, though now that I consider it, there is clear value to the concept. We have an admittedly long ways to go in the process of deconstructing the patriarchy and creating a safer and more supportive atmosphere, but it was inspiring to see an organization taking that initiative and making a dent.

[global-emily]

Global Studies III- BLOG POST 7

This week provided us with a personal insight into a vast global issue: the refugee crisis. I find relating broad concepts to their effects on individual people so enlightening and clarifying, and I deeply appreciated the opportunity to learn from our speakers. The timing for this topic was quite interesting as I had just been researching issues revolving around the refugee crisis in an attempt to decide on a topic for my Snapshot, so I had a little background at the front of my mind when approaching this week’s trip. Still, the experience was more than I imagined in the raw, genuine, emotion we felt from each individual who shared their story.

Though I would consider myself very generally aware of at least some of the many causes and implications of the refugee crisis, I had never before been exposed to specific resources and organizations in Australia. It was interesting to hear the presentations about governmental and local approaches to responding to the issue. I enjoyed the local organization’s dedication to each of the individuals or family’s they assisted, and it was obvious that they viewed them as people rather than statistics within a larger issue. I find this mindset so valuable, and am often put-off by governmental programs’ distance from the issue and those it affects.

[global-emily]

Innovative Encounters with Nature & Knowledge- BLOG POST WEEK 13

This week provided a much appreciated change in scenery. It was here that for the first time, I was moved to tears by the sight of a landscape so overwhelmingly beautiful. Driving through the mountains and gazing down at a small creek in a valley scattered with yellow and purple flowers accompanied by wandering sheep, then shifting my gaze upward to the snow-tipped mountains towering above, I was overcome with a sense of awe and appreciation. This feeling only continued through the rest of the drive, and was perpetuated further throughout our first hike. As I sat in the creek on top of the mountain we had just worked to climb and scanned the horizon filled with ranges of green, blue, and white, I felt full.

The IENK presentations at Rotoiti Lake somehow worked perfectly to exemplify my feelings following exposure to this new environment. The water group prompted us to be considerate of where our drinking water comes from and where our tainted water goes. The Earth group reminded me of my connection to this world, and the relationship I’m trying to work to maintain. I recognize my growth over the semester regarding the outdoors and my increased appreciation for all it encompasses, but I also recognize the current extent of that appreciation and the past attitudes I still need to overcome. These projects worked very well to remind me of this.

It’s a strange sensation being in a new place and seeing aspects of it that remind you of somewhere specific you are more familiar with. I find it’s been a pattern amongst the students to recognize these reminders and connect them to their home or past travels. Thus far in New Zealand, many of the landscapes have reminded me of where I was born in upstate NY and where my family still lives. In a way, that connection has provided me with a sense of comfort in a new place.

[global-emily]

Innovative Encounters with Nature & Knowledge- BLOG POST WEEK 12

This week’s activity was experiential and hands-on in a different way than past weeks, and I appreciate the feeling of pride I know we each felt knowing we made at least some physical difference. I feel as though we all experience a sense of guilt in our hypocrisy learning about sustainability ans change, yet contributing so greatly to harming the environment. Though the logic behind partaking in this activity had other purposes as well, I can at least speak for myself when saying it worked to help with the fault I feel and show me how accessible opportunities to help are.

Though we didn’t get a chance to discuss the readings, I found several connections between the content and other concepts we’ve discussed in other courses. First, the ideas presented in the case studies of the Environment Defenders Office’s Environmental Justice Project (2012) tracing environmental effects on communities simply based on their geographical location related to my findings in research I did on the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land. Their homes happened to exist on valuable minerals and their poor luck in this sense as well as the values of the government and their disregard for the ownership and connection to land resulted in their displacement in favor of mining. There was no consultation with those who lived there, nor is any such consultation required by law. The significance of the numerous interactions such as this between indigenous peoples and the government illustrate the importance in the expansion of the definition of environmental justice to include the relationship between humans and the non-human world as described in David Scholsberg’s “Theorizing Environmental Justice” (2013). This idea of the importance of such relationships in many cultures has been a focus this semester, and it’s time law evolved to recognize this.  

 Works Cited

Schlosberg, D. (2013). ‘Theorising environmental justice: the expanding sphere of a discourse’. Environmental Politics, 22(1), 37-55.

Environment Defenders Office (Victoria) Ltd. (2012). Environmental Justice Australia Final Report. Retrieved from www.edovic.com.au; accessed 28th August 2017.

[global-emily]

Global Studies III- BLOG POST 10

This week’s topic and class discussion, in addition to last week’s field experience, revolved around the extremely prevalent and deserving discoursed subject of gender inequality. We discussed the implications of this inequity and the role the patriarchy plays in our everyday lives, considering its effects through each of the four lenses. This issue is one I am familiar with and have done a few other assignments on in the past. Our discussion of the patriarchy and the reading by Bell Hooks were similar in ideas to a declaration of independence from the patriarchy I wrote in high school. Though I consider myself familiar with many of the ideas and concepts covered, it was interesting being exposed to statistics and organizations specific to Australia, as opposed to the US. In addition, I feel as though conversation and debate are two crucial aspects of change. We discussed the current discourse, bringing in contemporary examples of movements and critiquing or commenting on them. I feel as though verbalizing issues revolving around gender inequality realizes them and creates a more concrete understanding in the minds of those discussing. I often find myself getting sucked into the ‘hate all men,’ ‘kill the patriarchy’ anger mindset, but outlining the ways in which men are also disadvantaged by the patriarchy adds an important dimension to consider.

I found several aspects of the various readings interesting, particularly those which related to health and the ways disadvantage is linked to poor health through lack of access to resources and overall discrimination. In addition, I was interested in the trends in the lives of abusers and those abused.

I enjoyed the different focuses we discussed as we viewed the issue through different lenses, and the discussion method of splitting into smaller groups then coming back together. Though I was happy to be placed in the culture group because I had so much to contribute, I deeply appreciated hearing the input of other groups with which I was less familiar.

[global-emily]

Innovative Encounters with Nature & Knowledge- BLOG POST 10

Though I was informed ahead of time that bushcamp would be different than our first trip, I was nowhere near prepared for the weekend. Considering that it began with moving houses for a second time which meant packing, cleaning, throwing away food, and moving in addition to feeling under the weather physically and knowing about predictions of rain, I approached the trip with a rather grouchy attitude. And it greeted me right back the same way. In all honesty, however, though at times when I was cold and wet and thinking about how soggy our tent was and overall letting myself spiral into negativity, an experience is an experience and bushcamp was one I don’t regret. Our experience with Uncle Lewis was so incredibly valuable, and I do think I underestimated that in the beginning. Our meeting with him the first day and night was powerful. Hearing him recall stories from memory, relate information about the plants with ease, and demonstrate dances for us was an experience I appreciate deeply. Though I didn’t participate in the full walk, his dedication to sharing his knowledge was obvious and I feel lucky to have been a part of even the beginning. The bus ride home provided me with the bigger picture of the weekend, and I do regret allowing myself to miss out on the possibility of more magical moments, but, as they say, hindsight is 20/20.