scholarly journals Sisters in Solidarity: Resistance and Agency through Urban Community Food Gardens in Pietermaritzburg

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Naicker
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Social Action ◽  
Urban Community ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Ecological Consciousness ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Food Gardens ◽  
Indigenous Wisdom

In this article I explore the solidarity, resistance and agency of a group of women involved in an urban community food garden project in collaboration with the Pietermaritzburg Agency for Community Social Action (PACSA). I explore this initiative through the lenses of African Women’s Theology (AWT) and Oikos Theology and suggest that urban community food gardens represent a cooperation with nature and a resistance to social structures and systems that perpetuate marginalization, inequality, and subjugation of women. AWT provides a means to theorize and theologize women’s suffering and agency, and Oikos Theology recognizes the connection between economy and ecology. I tease out how ecological and indigenous wisdom applied in urban community food gardens results in a mutually sustaining relationship between local communities and the earth. I also show how the development of an ecological consciousness not only serves to mitigate food insecurity but empowers women to resist systems and structures of oppression and to embrace affirming and life-giving traditions.

scholarly journals Philosophical Foundations of Ecological Ethics

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-21
Author(s):  
Hryhorii Vasianovych ◽  
Olena Budnyk ◽  
Hasrat Arjjumend
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Ethics ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Nature Management ◽  
Ecological Ethics ◽  
Human Race ◽  
Ecological Consciousness ◽  
Philosophical Foundations ◽  
The Earth ◽  
World Outlook ◽  
Ecological Thinking

This article substantiates the essence of ecological ethics in the context of modern scientific research. The emphasis lies on the need to develop a strategy and approach of human behavior amid the natural environment, rational nature management, protection and restoration of the surrounding world. The new methodological thinking is characterized by philosophical foundation of ecological ethics (ecological consciousness, ecological thinking, ecological values, ecological activity, etc.). The idea of development of environmental ethics based on principles of Christian and Philosophic noology is introduced. The world outlook is changing rapidly with its positive and negative aspects. It requires humanization of natural environment as well as a human being by forming ecological consciousness. There is a necessity of humanization of technosphere and abandoning technocratic thinking, which is anti-culture itself and, at times, it endangers human race on the Earth.

scholarly journals A journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step – human agency, hydrological processes and time in socio-hydrology

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 14265-14304 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. W. Ertsen ◽  
J. T. Murphy ◽  
L. E. Purdue ◽  
T. Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Action ◽  
Human Agency ◽  
The Other ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Small Step ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Human Decision ◽  
Day To Day Operations

Abstract. When simulating social action in modeling efforts, as in socio-hydrology, an issue of obvious importance is how to ensure that social action by human agents is well-represented in the analysis and the model. Generally, human decision-making is either modeled on a yearly basis or lumped together as collective social structures. Both responses are problematic, as human decision making is more complex and organizations are the result of human agency and cannot be used as explanatory forces. A way out of the dilemma how to include human agency is to go to the largest societal and environmental clustering possible: society itself and climate, with time steps of years or decades. In the paper, the other way out is developed: to face human agency squarely, and direct the modeling approach to the human agency of individuals and couple this with the lowest appropriate hydrological level and time step. This approach is supported theoretically by the work of Bruno Latour, the French sociologist and philosopher. We discuss irrigation archaeology, as it is in this discipline that the issues of scale and explanatory force are well discussed. The issue is not just what scale to use: it is what scale matters. We argue that understanding the arrangements that permitted the management of irrigation over centuries, requires modeling and understanding the small-scale, day-to-day operations and personal interactions upon which they were built. This effort, however, must be informed by the longer-term dynamics as these provide the context within which human agency, is acted out.

Food insecurity, morbidity, and susto: Factors associated with depression severity in Guatemala measured with the Personal Health Questionnaire 9

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110478
Author(s):  
Jonathan Maupin ◽  
Joseph Hackman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Urban Community ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Health Questionnaire ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Depression Severity ◽  
Factors Associated

Background: Depression is the largest contributor to non-fatal health loss globally and the majority of this burden occurs in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, estimates of prevalence rates and severity in these contexts may be uncertain due to limited screening, lack of mental health providers, and stigma around mental disorders which may prevent individuals from seeking care. In Guatemala, estimates of depression vary, due in part to the range of screening and diagnostic instruments used and diversity of sample populations. Most studies emphasize personal experiences with violence as a predictor of depression in Guatemala, although high rates of inequality, discrimination, and resource scarcity in the country potentially play a role. Aims: In this study, we examine factors associated with depression severity categories measured with the Personal Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) among a random sample of women in a small urban community in the Central Highlands of Guatemala. Methods: Participants were recruited through a randomized sample of households in a small urban community. Participants completed a questionnaire which included questions on demographics, illness history, food insecurity, and the PHQ-9. In total, 101 women were included in the analysis. Results: Food insecurity, 2-week symptom reporting, and experiencing susto are associated with higher depression severity categories. Conclusion: This research highlights need for more research on factors related to the prevalence and severity of mental disorders, and the relationship between mental disorders and cultural constructs of distress, particularly in areas like Guatemala with limited mental health services.

scholarly journals Coexistence, co-responsibility and interdependence as categories important to social pedagogy directed towards building local communities

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Naumiuk
Keyword(s):  
Local Communities ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Social Pedagogy

The article analyzes three categories: co-existence, co-responsibility and interdependence in the context of contemporary discussions about the role of social pedagogy in building local communities. New possible approaches arise while using these concepts for addressing contemporary conditions of the communities which result in new tasks of education. There are analysed also the consequences of the transformation from the previous rather static (territorial) view of local communities, that had the aim to root people in existing social structures, towards more dynamic, open and diverse spaces. They are not considered only as physical places anymore but as new local relations that are being developed, based on not stable, however increasingly popular forms of sharing experiences. For these changes the studied concepts match the new realities and in consequence demand pedagogical considerations.

scholarly journals Temporal Dynamics and Motivations for Urban Community Food Gardens in Medium-Sized Towns of the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Land ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sky Roberts ◽  
Charlie Shackleton
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Urban Agriculture ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Urban Community ◽  
Community Gardens ◽  
Spatial Dynamics ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Community Gardening ◽  
Food Gardens

Urban agriculture is said to be increasing with global urbanization. However, there is little examination of the temporal or spatial dynamics of urban agriculture. We investigated the benefits and challenges experienced by community gardeners in four towns in South Africa, along with GIS analysis of the number, area, and location of urban food community gardens over the last three decades. Common reasons for practicing community gardening were cash poverty (37%) and the need to grow food (34%). The most common benefits reported by respondents were a healthy lifestyle (58%) and consumption of the food produced (54%). Theft of garden infrastructure or produce was a noteworthy challenge to continued motivation and engagement in urban community gardening. There were declines in the number and area of urban community gardens, and more central location over the last three decades. Only 16% of the gardens present in the 1980s were still operating in the 2000s. Clearly community gardening is temporally and spatially dynamic, which requires context-sensitive policy initiatives.

Moving in Circles: Kinetic Elite and Kinetic Proletariat in ‘End of the World’ Films

2018 ◽  
pp. 183-198
Author(s):  
Ewa Mazierska
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
End Of History ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The World ◽  
The End Of History ◽  
End Times ◽  
Near Future

This chapter considers two science fiction films, Elysium (2013) by Neill Blomkamp and Snowpiercer (2013) by Joon-ho Bong, which  utilize the motif of journey and take us to the near future. What is specific about them is that the journeys take place on Earth or near the Earth. In the future they present there is no escape from our planet; the Earth appears to be a limit even for the privileged. They convey a sense of the end of history, when there is nothing new to discover or conquer and the conflict is around finding the best place within the existing economic and social structures.  This investigation draws on the concepts of the ‘end times’, and ‘fast and slow lanes of social life’ and ‘kinetic elite’ to examine how mobility reproduces and exacerbates social inequalities caused by the hegemony of neoliberalism.

scholarly journals UPAYA MASYARAKAT LOKAL DALAM MENJAGA KEAMANAN DAN KENYAMANAN WISATAWAN DI DESA ADAT UBUD (Studi Tindakan Sosial dalam Pariwisata)

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
I Wayan Cahya Suputera ◽  
I Gst. Agung Oka Mahagangga
Keyword(s):  
Social Action ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Coordination Systems ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive

Ubud traditional village is a tourist area which is located in Gianyar regency. If the tourist want know the culture of Bali they must come to Ubud. However, many issues and problems arise associated with security and  tourists comfortness. Based on it, this research was conducted to analyze the Local Community Efforts in Maintaining Security and Tourists Comfortness in Ubud Traditional Village.The method used in this research is a research method with qualitative descriptive analysis technique to analyze the efforts and actions of local communities. Sources of data derived from primary data and secondary data. Data collecting technique using in-depth interviews, observation and study of literatures. Determination of informants from local communities in this study using purposive sampling technique. This study is limited by the analysis of the social action theories and coordination systems. The results of this research obtained that local community efforts in maintaining security is the assignment of trepti unit who participate in keeping any tourism activities..

Applying Anthropology in Brazil: Professionalism and the Commitment to Social Action

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 2-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Forline
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
Social Action ◽  
North American ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Applied Anthropology ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Political Advocacy ◽  
History Of ◽  
Per Se

The practice of anthropology in Brazil has a long history of engagement with local communities, development projects and political advocacy. While the practical aspects of the discipline do not fall under any special rubric of "applied," per se, Brazilian anthropologists have been actively involved in lobbying, policy formulation, community development, and advocacy. These activities are often embraced as a distinct subfield of the discipline of anthropology by their North American counterparts. However, although they are quite evident in Brazil, these activities have never been termed as a special component of Brazilian Anthropology. Thus, while unnamed, applied anthropology in Brazil has been part and parcel of the profession almost since its inception.

scholarly journals Challenging the Levels: The Catholic Church as a Multi-Level Actor in the Transition to a Climate-Compatible Society

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3770
Author(s):  
Jochen Ostheimer ◽  
Julia Blanc
Keyword(s):  
Social Action ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Ecological Awareness ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

Climate compatibility is a cornerstone in the ecological transformation of modern society. In order to achieve sustainable development in all areas of society, numerous social actors must participate. This article examines the potential for the Catholic Church in German-speaking countries to contribute to such change. To this end, in contrast to most current studies, the Church is conceptualized as a multi-level actor instead of focusing only on the top of the hierarchy. Case studies are used to explore how various Church actors in different fields of social action evoke ecological awareness among members and non-members alike or participate in changing social structures.

scholarly journals Social structures to tackle poverty in Greece: A quantitative interpretation

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Stavros Pantazopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
The Other ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Quantitative Interpretation ◽  
The Social ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

The present article focuses on the Social Structures to Tackle Poverty in Greece (hereinafter under the term “SSTPG”) and their implementation during the period 2012-2017. On the one hand, the article sheds light on the results of the quantitative research conducted and, on the other hand, on the evaluation of the performance indicators of the program. The question that arises concerns the impact of SSTPG on the immediate beneficiaries, still also the degree to which the intended goals of the program were successfully met. The main conclusion reached in this article is that the SSTPG’s contribution to the local communities of the respective Municipal areas has been significant. This fact alone is further justified via the evaluation of the indicators as well as through the genuine answers provided by the beneficiaries themselves, in the context of the quantitative research.

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