Progressive Pathways
In Defense of Nature: Listening to Women’s Stories of Resistance Against Extractivism in Southern Ecuador
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Diana García Orellana
What is the crucial role of women in the growing struggles and resistance against extractivism, in their defense of water and territory in the Ecuadorian province of Azuay? What are the underlying motivations that drive women to resist specific mining, water management and livelihood challenges that governments and transnational corporations impose through a discourse of development in the cantons of Cuenca, Nabon and Giron? To identify and examine specific resistance strategies, from a feminist political ecology perspective, data was collected through interviews with women in 5 rural and 4 urban collectives about their participation using the Power and Interest Matrix. Their fight transcends the merely environmental, advocating for a change in the socioeconomic and political system that promotes collective well-being and the protection of natural resources as a priority. Their activism reflects a deep commitment to the preservation of the environment and dignified ways of life for communities.
Ajrakh a Sacred Textile, and Its Transition in Contemporary Times: Defining Cultural Importance through Oral Tradition
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Suman Pandey
Ajrakh, an age-old textile from Sindh, Pakistan, is now predominantly produced in isolated locations in Western India and Eastern Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, Barmer, and Kutchh. Recently, Ajrakh of Kutchh has been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks. Despite a valuable recognition of this textile tradition, the mass commercial exploitation of it is distancing Ajrakh from its original form and diminishing its social and cultural significance. Ajrakh is a cultural heritage deeply embedded in the traditions of its patron communities. These changes have impacted Ajrakh's true identity. This study focuses on the Barmer district of western Rajasthan to understand the reasons behind these changes and the challenges faced by Ajrakh artisans. Employing a participatory research approach, oral narratives, and songs were collected through interviews with the Ajrakh artisans in Barmer, and the printing processes were examined closely. The research highlights the cultural significance of Ajrakh in contrast to its commercialization and addresses the decline of this textile printing tradition along with its current challenges. These challenges are marked by the demand for mass production in the market, the availability of raw materials, the participation of the Khatri block printer community, religious faith, and socio-cultural practices. The study also explores the dichotomy between culturally driven and market-driven crafts, caste, family legacy, economic sustainability, and migration versus labor immigration. This paper provides a comprehensive discussion on these grounds, aiming to highlight the cultural integrity of Ajrakh.
Exploring the Environmental Benefits of Shared Transportation Methods in the U.S.
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Bingdi Chunyu
Due to the non-reliance on fossil fuels, bike-sharing systems contain the potential to reduce emissions. As of December 2016, the global number of public-use bicycles surged to 2.3 million, increased 228% since December 2013, highlighting the critical role of bike-sharing in green transportation. However, the collapse of major bike-sharing companies in China raises concerns about the sustainability and true environmental impact of such systems. This research investigates whether bike-sharing systems effectively reduce carbon emissions in a sustainable manner. Utilizing quantitative approaches and data visualization techniques, we assess whether the emissions reduced by switching to bike-sharing systems are sufficient to offset the carbon emissions generated throughout the bikes' life cycles. Our study focuses on the U.S. bike-sharing market, analyzing data from the seven largest bike-sharing cities, including New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. By constructing a model based on existing studies of bike life cycle emissions, we determine that, on average, it takes approximately 7.8 months for a new shared bike to offset its entire carbon footprint. Notably, Citi Bike in New York achieves this balance in just five months, outperforming other systems. Despite variations across cities, the life cycle of a shared bike typically exceeds three years, indicating that the U.S. bike-sharing market is on a path of sustainable and eco-friendly development. This study underscores the importance of considering both economic and environmental factors in evaluating the effectiveness of shared transportation systems.
