scholarly journals Maputo: Ethnography of a Divided City

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. e1571
Author(s):  
Inge Tvedten ◽  
Fábio Ribeiro ◽  
João Graça ◽  
Bjørn Enge Bertelsen
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Maps ◽  
Research Project ◽  
The People ◽  
Artistic Freedom ◽  
Employment Education ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Norwegian Research Council ◽  
The City

Rapid urbanisation is one of the most dramatic developments on the African continent, often yielding contrasting and shocking images of affluent businesses and residential districts alongside sprawling shantytowns or slums. Urban areas account for an increasing part of the continent’s positive macro-economic development and represent opportunities for employment, education, health, leisure and well-being. However, urban growth is also manifested in emerging conditions of inequality and poverty, rising environmental problems, situations of political instability and riots, as well as persistent high levels of urban crime and violence. This film project seeks to visualise Maputo: one of Africa’s divided cities. It is part of the research project “The Ethnography of a Divided City. Socio-Politics, Poverty and Gender in Maputo, Mozambique” headed by the Chr. Michelsen Institute and funded by the Norwegian Research Council. While the film relates actively to the research project, it approaches the project’s themes from new and original angles and ANIMA has had full artistic freedom in its filmic approach. A focus on the people inhabiting the city’s so-called bairros (districts/areas) provides a privileged view of the way in which symbolic and material boundaries of various urban spaces are contested, negotiated and, ultimately, inscribed onto mental maps of the city. Contributors: Inge Tvedten, Chr. Michelsen Institute, Head of project Fábio Ribeiro, ANIMA - Estúdio Criativo, Production and photo João Graça, ANIMA - Estúdio Criativo, Production and photo Bjørn Enge Bertelsen, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Bergen, Research advisor  

I am the river. The river is me

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Design Solution ◽  
Cultural Importance ◽  
Legal Personhood ◽  
Nature And Culture ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
The People ◽  
Life Force ◽  
The City

<p>Throughout Aotearoa-New Zealand many of our landscape features are deeply connected to whakapapa (genealogy/lineage) and hold grave amounts of cultural and spiritual significance to tangata whenua (indigenous people). One prominent example of this is the Whanganui River. Throughout history being seen as a sacred source, the recent acquisition of legal personhood has witnessed the acknowledgement of its mauri (life force) and future well-being. Being a widely used and respected waterway, the river holds identifiable character and meaning throughout its journey through the Manawatu. </p> <p>With the scope set with the city of Whanganui, something that is lost with the reaches of the urban river environment is the ability to convey these ideas and values to the people of the city. Many significant sites and history are lost to the standardization of the river’s edge. This added with the issue of flooding leaves areas lacking in connection and resilience. With a river surrounded in cultural importance and personhood, how can these ideas be conveyed to people less familiar, but still respect the values of local iwi (tribe) and the river itself? </p> <p>This design-led research aims to explore the ideas and values behind Te awa tupua, and how the contrasting perspectives of nature and culture can be understood and re-thought in regards to the riverside landscape. Focusing on the understanding of values, history, connection and health. The research uses a built framework to guide decision making. While the design solution acts to improve the cultural and spiritual presence along the river’s edge. Utilizing forgotten areas of land along the river’s journey, old Pā sites are resurfaced and reconnected to the city. While the connection the riverside landscape has been rethought to bring the idea of ownership and use, back to the river environment itself. </p>

E Bario Project

2004 ◽  
pp. 115-131
Author(s):  
Poline Bala ◽  
Roger W. Harris ◽  
Peter Songan
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
The People ◽  
The Many

This chapter highlights an initiative by a group of researchers2 from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) to connect villagers in the remote and isolated village of Bario to Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), which include computers, telephones, the Internet, and VSATs. This project has eased the information flow in and out of Bario, affecting the well-being of the people by providing a means to keep in touch with friends and relatives in urban areas. The response of the Bario community has been positive, but the objective of the e Bario project is more ambitious than to just provide access to the Internet, computers and other related technologies. The main objective is to identify opportunities for remote and rural communities in Sarawak to develop socially, culturally and economically from the deployment of the technologies. The results of the initiative are expected to demonstrate the many ways in which ICTs can be used to improve the lives of marginalized groups, specifically, here, the rural and remote communities in Malaysia. However, to ensure that the objectives will ultimately be met, the team has had to search for an appropriate methodology that will ensure the full benefits of the initiative to the community. This chapter describes and discusses the approaches adopted, emphasizing the benefits of a close association between the researchers and the community as well as the adoption of suitable participatory methods for engaging with the needs and opportunities that were discovered.

scholarly journals A Multi-Scalar Approach for Assessing Costs and Benefits of Risk Reduction Alternatives for the People and the City: Cases of Three Resettlements in Visakhapatnam, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 5958
Author(s):  
Garima Jain ◽  
Amir Bashir Bazaz
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Asset Accumulation ◽  
Hazard Exposure ◽  
The People ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Development Outcomes ◽  
The City

Resettlement undertaken with the objective of reducing disaster risk often narrowly focuses only on reducing hazard exposure. However, when resettlements are analyzed from the perspective of holistic development outcomes, including livelihood conditions, health implications, social cohesion and employment opportunities, they are often found to be lacking. Apart from this contrast between considerations of disaster risk and everyday socio-economic risks at the household or settlement level, resettlement programs also lack a clear focus on achieving wider regional development goals including poverty reduction, economic growth and environmental protection. This relates to the sectorization of attitudes to disaster risk and the lack of integration with development concerns across multiple actors involved. This paper offers an approach: (1) to systematize costs and benefits; and using these (2) to assess policy alternatives that could maximize the beneficial outcomes for the resettlement intervention as well as improve overall sustainability for the urban areas they are set in. This paper first situates “risks” within a larger context of structural risks, and then uses the framework of asset accumulation to recognize the changes experienced by the people as costs or benefits. For this, it goes beyond the resettlement site to a broader regional perspective of the city and reflects on the long-term historical trends as well as future risks created by the intervention in the context of urbanization processes and increasing climate variability. To illustrate the use of this approach in assessing intervention alternatives, the paper analyzes three empirical case studies representing in-situ, voluntary and involuntary resettlements from urban Andhra Pradesh in India.

scholarly journals Water supply diagnosis in the municipality of Cajazeiras, Paraíba State, Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
José Adalberto da Silva Filho ◽  
Sayonara Costa de Araújo ◽  
Virgínia de Fátima Bezerra Nogueira
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
The People ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Access To Water ◽  
Quality Water ◽  
Policies And Programs

<p>The water supply is a key factor for the development of the population in a region. The mapping areas that are not supplied with drinking water is an important mechanism, once the vulnerable locations are identified, which leads to establish policies and programs to mitigate the problem. Thus, this paper aims at examining areas that present vulnerability in access to water in the municipality of Cajazeiras, Paraíba State, Brazil. In order to carry this research out, data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics were analyzed. The results indicate a disproportion in access to water between rural and urban areas, with the first being very vulnerable to contamination factors. It is necessary environmental education programs for sustainable water use, the development of technologies to ensure good quality water and the well being of the people, by the high risk of water-related diseases caused by the contamination that may occur in capture, transport and storage of water.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p align="center"><strong><em>Diagnóstico do abastecimento de água no município de Cajazeiras – PB, Brasil</em></strong></p><p><strong>Resumo</strong><strong>: </strong>O abastecimento de água é um fator determinante para o desenvolvimento da população em uma região. O mapeamento de zonas que não são abastecidos com água potável é um mecanismo importante, uma vez que são identificadas as localidades que apresentam vulnerabilidade, sendo assim possível estabelecer políticas e programas que amenizem a problemática. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo analisar as zonas que apresentam vulnerabilidade no acesso à água no município de Cajazeiras - PB, por meio de dados obtidos junto ao Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Os resultados indicam uma desproporcionalidade no acesso à água entre as zonas rurais e urbanas, sendo a primeira muito vulnerável a fatores de contaminação. Dessa forma, faz-se necessário programas de educação ambiental para o uso sustentável da água, como também o desenvolvimento de tecnologias que garantam a segurança hídrica e o bem-estar das populações que residem nessas áreas, tendo em vista o alto risco de ocorrência de surtos de doenças de veiculação hídrica devido a contaminação que pode ocorrer na captação, transporte e armazenamento. </p>

scholarly journals Social Media Reveals Urban-Rural Differences in Stress across China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse Cui ◽  
Tingdan Zhang ◽  
Dandan Pang ◽  
Kokil Jaidka ◽  
Garrick Sherman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rural Regions ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Different Sources

Modeling differential stress expressions in urban and rural regions in China can provide a better understanding of the effects of urbanization on psychological well-being in a country that has rapidly grown economically in the last two decades. This paper studies linguistic differences in the experiences and expressions of stress in urban-rural China from Weibo posts from over 65,000 users across 329 counties using hierarchical mixed-effects models. We analyzed phrases, topical themes, and psycho-linguistic word choices in Weibo posts mentioning stress to better understand appraisal differences surrounding psychological stress in urban and rural communities in China; we then compared them with large-scale polls from Gallup. After controlling for socioeconomic and gender differences, we found that rural communities tend to express stress in emotional and personal themes such as relationships, health, and opportunity while users in urban areas express stress using relative, temporal, and external themes such as work, politics, and economics. These differences exist beyond controlling for GDP and urbanization, indicating a fundamentally different lifestyle between rural and urban residents in very specific environments, arguably having different sources of stress. We found corroborative trends in physical, financial, and social wellness with urbanization in Gallup polls.

scholarly journals Comparative study of the role of municipalities in providing health care services

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-200
Author(s):  
Alireza Ahmadi ◽  
Somayeh Hessam ◽  
Shaghayegh Vahdat ◽  
Iravan Masoudi-Asl
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Care Services ◽  
The People ◽  
Macroeconomic Indicators ◽  
Process Factors ◽  
The City

Introduction: One of the most important functions of municipalities as a public institution is to provide, maintain and promote the health of citizens. To improve the health of the community, we need to understand the function of the municipality in countries that affect the health and well-being of the population. Material and methods: This study is a comparative-descriptive study. After searching for databases and authoritative sources and documents, related research was introduced into the study. Considering the performance of municipalities in the provision of health services, 7 countries were selected as statistical samples. Finally, the comparative attitudes of selected countries based on the role of municipalities in providing health services, macroeconomic indicators and health economics were tabulated, compared and compared. Results: The municipalities of the selected countries in the provision of health services have been made in the form of four process factors, context, content and stakeholders, among which the health system infrastructure, government form, the degree of rehabilitation and the council system are considered as effective factors in the provision of health services. Conclusion: Development of cities and disproportionate facilities with the population, providing appropriate health services to the people is not possible except with the participation of all sectors, especially urban management. An overview of the experiences of the studied countries shows that the municipalities also play a key role in the development of the city as well as in the area of health.

scholarly journals Can Electric Bicycles Enhance Leisure and Tourism Activities and City Happiness?

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (23) ◽  
pp. 8144
Author(s):  
Hsiao-Hsien Lin ◽  
Chih-Chien Shen ◽  
I-Cheng Hsu ◽  
Pei-Yi Wu
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Software Interface ◽  
The People ◽  
Bike Sharing ◽  
Search For Information ◽  
Electric Quantity ◽  
The City ◽  
Meizhou City

Using Meizhou City as an example, the aim of this study was to verify whether e-bike sharing systems can improve the convenience of engaging in leisure and tourism activities in cities, and thus increase residents’ well-being. First, quantitative research was carried out to collect data on users’ opinions. Then, qualitative research was carried out to obtain the opinions of experts. Finally, the investigation was conducted using multivariate review analysis. The results of the research showed that e-bikes should be classified based on electric quantity, the rental fee should be charged based on mileage, and the relevant corporate information should be integrated. It is also necessary to develop a software interface with functions for users to rent e-bikes and search for information related to consumption, leisure, and travel activities, and make promotion plans. Finally, people need to be encouraged to cycle to obtain the benefits of leisure and exercise. In this manner, the convenience of participation in leisure and tourism activities can be increased, people’s physical and mental health will be substantially improved, and the happiness index of the people and the city will increase.

scholarly journals Protection of Natural Wetlands through Landscape Design in Kigali City

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahman Tafahomi ◽  
Reihaneh Nadi
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Landscape Design ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The City

The city of Kigali has been experiencing rapid growth in recent years. The city enjoys a variety of natural features such as wetland, valley, hill, and great scenery, however, fast expansion of urban areas and human activities could pose a serious threat to the natural environment, and the ecological sustainability. While wetlands, as nature’s kidneys, bring obvious benefits to both ecology and the socioeconomic environment, they have currently faced several problems in Kigali, such as pollution and the risk of decline in the area. This research is aimed at protection of wetland areas through landscape design, which could have a positive influence on maintaining the natural balance of ecology, as well as citizens’ health and well-being. The site study was Kiyovu wetland as one of large wetlands playing a vital role in the city’s character and spatial structure. The research employed observation, questionnaire, and mapping techniques, and the random sample consisted of 37 residents, workers, passers-by, and young people. Findings revealed that safety, environmental issues, accessibility, recreational activities, and quality of the wetland, were significant factors in order of priority that respondents had stressed over the design of the wetland landscape concept. The proposed concept highlighted recreation areas and the connection with other wetlands and green areas as a whole in the city, and it was derived from survey, mapping the results of questionnaires, and feedback from participants. In conclusion, Kiyovu wetland has an enormous capacity to put the idea of green magnet into effect across the city. However, the protection of wetlands without 1. Site-specific ecological landscape plans representing strategic and design levels in periods of time, 2. Legal requirements, and 3. Public awareness about impacts of wetlands degradation would be far less effective. To set up a campaign and a task force to examine changes can make a huge difference to levels of progress and performance

Solo travellers to city destinations: an exploratory study in Sweden

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeid Abbasian
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regional Tourism ◽  
The People ◽  
City Tourism ◽  
Travel Agencies ◽  
The City ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Insight Into

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to gain more insight into the phenomenon of solo travel to city destinations and attain more knowledge on the topic.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a questionnaire consisting of qualitative and quantitative items. In all, 21 individuals (12 women, 9 men) responded.FindingsThe most important reason for solo travel was their own free choice and in some cases, difficulty finding companions. Their activities at the destinations were mostly visiting attractions followed by visiting friends, shopping, walking, eating at restaurants, learning the language, working, etc. They mostly mentioned advantages but also some disadvantages with solo travelling. Their experiences, especially with the people in the host destinations, have been positive and they show overall satisfaction with their visit. A predominant share of the interviewees showed a kind of loyalty to one or more specific city destinations and wished to revisit them again and again.Practical implicationsThe current study might have some implications for city tourism developers/destination developers, travel agencies, national or regional tourism boards and tour operators in major urban areas and cities. Especially, this study has a practical contribution to the city tourism practitioners and gives them more insight in what values, attitudes, perceptions, expectations and motivations the solo travellers might have before or while they visit their cities. The study also has implications for potential solo travellers seeking more knowledge and information on the issue.Originality/valueThe phenomenon of solo travel to city destinations is an unresearched topic in Sweden. This exploratory study is the first in Sweden to focus on solo travellers visiting city destinations.

E Bario Project

2008 ◽  
pp. 826-839
Author(s):  
Poline Bala ◽  
Roger W. Harris ◽  
Peter Songan
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
The People ◽  
The Many

This chapter highlights an initiative by a group of researchers2 from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) to connect villagers in the remote and isolated village of Bario to Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), which include computers, telephones, the Internet, and VSATs. This project has eased the information flow in and out of Bario, affecting the well-being of the people by providing a means to keep in touch with friends and relatives in urban areas. The response of the Bario community has been positive, but the objective of the e Bario project is more ambitious than to just provide access to the Internet, computers and other related technologies. The main objective is to identify opportunities for remote and rural communities in Sarawak to develop socially, culturally and economically from the deployment of the technologies. The results of the initiative are expected to demonstrate the many ways in which ICTs can be used to improve the lives of marginalized groups, specifically, here, the rural and remote communities in Malaysia. However, to ensure that the objectives will ultimately be met, the team has had to search for an appropriate methodology that will ensure the full benefits of the initiative to the community. This chapter describes and discusses the approaches adopted, emphasizing the benefits of a close association between the researchers and the community as well as the adoption of suitable participatory methods for engaging with the needs and opportunities that were discovered.

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