Abstract: Globally the dominant economy is linear, which is connected to most environmental problems. A sustainable alternative is a circular economy. To move towards a circular economy, there needs to be focus on the economic, environmental, and social dimension. However, the social dimension is often not included in this transition. A transition lab can fulfil this gap by including the social dimension in the transition towards a circular economy. As a transition lab plays a significant role in this, insight should be created into which criteria are important for the organisation of this lab. To gain insights into these criteria, data was gathered through a qualitative research design that included interviews, observations, and desk research. From the gathered data derived thirteen criteria that should be looked at when organising a transition lab. However, three criteria were mentioned in at least two out of the three categories of Stufflebeam’s evaluation theory and should be prioritised when organising a transition lab. The first criterion is expectation management, for which transparency about the main theories of the transition lab is needed. The second criterion is the selection process of participants because this will build the foundation of the lab. The third criterion is monitoring the transition lab throughout the whole process by an external person, which means this person does not have an interest in the outcomes of the transition lab. Published on 2022-10-18 10:19:59
Abstract: The political, economic, and moral implications of the international industry of voluntourism in Sub-Saharan Africa must be investigated as the sector continues to grow exponentially in Western popularity. This research critically investigates the extent to which the operationalisation of voluntourism is complicit as a form of normalised neo-colonialism and has been disguised as Western aid, then resultantly forced upon African communities. The essay uses a historical overview of the progression from colonialism and missionaries to the expansion of voluntourism to scrutinise the design of voluntourism. Intertwined through this overview is a post-colonial assessment of this instance of gatekeeping African development as a form othering alongside a Wallersteinian world systems investigation of the profit-making industry. The research argues that rather than being a sustainable form of international development in Africa, voluntourism allows the West to believe that they are helping and making reparations to Africa. In actuality, it is an industry that has become integral to Western self-development as a stepping-stone in Western adolescence as this normalisation of tourism in African poverty is seen as a pure and good deed. This essay evaluates the impact of the rhetoric that voluntourism transcends internationally and domestically in both regions, from continuing an international inequal relationship between the two regions as the West profits from Africa’s poverty, whilst domestically in the West it continues symbolic and structural racism and domestically within Africa, the White Saviour and domination of Eurocentric epistemology restricts African youths’ right to their own development pathways. Published on 2022-07-13 11:20:51
Abstract: Dr. Seuss’ vivid picture book The Lorax (1971) depicts the story of how the Street of The Lifted Lorax (setting) came to be. There is an air of mystery about the place as we wonder how the Truffula forest, once teeming with wildlife and the dominant presence of the Lorax (the titular character), grew into such disrepair. The disappearance of the Lorax is a puzzle which is solved as events within the story unfold. With the use of colorful pictures that visually appeal to the young audience, the book attempts to create a sense of responsible use of resources and sustainable development around the imagined world of Truffula trees. Through its perusal, Seuss evokes a sense of eco consciousness in the readers as they empathize with the displacement and helplessness felt by the protagonists. The text, while managing to convey the gravity of the situation, reiterates the urgence to ‘promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems’ as per the Sustainable Development Goal 15. This paper aims to discuss how The Lorax seeks to challenge the anthropocentric point of view by replacing it with a deep ecological stance. This will be done by critically examining the role of the protagonists and analyzing how key incidents of the text compare to the real-life developments and contribute to the present-day scenario, keeping Nature as the focus. Published on 2022-02-14 10:38:23
Abstract: This exploratory research is a contribution to the overall movement which calls for a transformation of educational systems towards value-based and sustainable education learning paradigms. It is an attempt to offer an alternative perspective on school assessments and certification processes by connecting transformative learning and the whole-school approach in an Education for Sustainable Development context. The results of the research are based on secondary analysis of literature, surveys with students and practitioners and a focus group discussion. By deducing six key elements from the data which should be incorporated in assessment tools to stimulate transformative learning on a school level in K12 education, the study results offer ideas on what to incorporate in future school assessments. To stimulate transformative learning in educational institutions whole-school assessment tools should be based on (1) a clear learning paradigm and value framework, (2) should foster relationships and contribute to a sense of community, (3) encourage reflection and introduce a systems thinking mindset, (4) make learning a meaningful experience relevant also for the personal life outside the school, (5) foster dialogue and collaboration inside the school and across institutions, and (6) require action post-assessment. Published on 2021-12-09 10:15:43
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to describe the impact of enforced disappearance on a household’s financial vulnerability, with a particular focus on the Philippines. A qualitative approach was adopted for this study; semi-structured interviews were conducted using triangulation among a sample group of five family members of disappeared persons and three experts working on the issue. Guided by the Household Vulnerability Framework of Leika and Marchettini (2017), it was found that a disappearance increases household financial vulnerability and particularly impacts the households in terms of their liquid assets, income, and living costs. However, the severity of the consequences varies per household and its context. The unique characteristics of every individual disappearance highly influence the type and amount of impact. In addition, the search for the disappeared, loss of opportunity, and the physiological impact on household members had negative financial consequences on a household. In many ways, victims are forced to re-prioritise time and spending. Published on 2021-12-03 11:05:32
Abstract: This paper explains the effective use of guiding principles to foster transformative online collaboration (TOC). TOC describes the ability of an online network to collaborate with a vision of creating and mapping planetary well-being, ecological sustainability, and social equity, in an emergent and open-hearted way. The network research is conducted in the Transformation Systems Mapping and Analysis Working Group (TSM&A WG). The study triangulation includes focus group discussions, interviews, and a social system map analysis of the network. The evaluation is done with the GUIDE framework regarding the principle’s guidance, usability, inspiration, development, and evaluation. The behavior approach for TOC roots in concepts like Theory-U and Spiral Dynamics.The results show the critical importance of shared principles and their enactment for safe and open collaboration. They facilitate deeper online collaboration in the field of Transformation-Systems (T-Systems). Findings further include the future development of the members’ value framework and ways to enact and integrate the principles in the network. Supported by literature, the principles are evaluated for change and modification. The paper offers a complete set of guiding principles for TOC, created after adopting new overarching and operational values. Further, the study proposes and discusses new implementation practices to enhance the members’ principle embodiment for TOC. Published on 2021-10-19 10:41:55
Abstract: This study identified the needs of at-risk menstruating adolescents in rural Mashonaland Central, Zimbabwe, regarding menstrual health in order to contribute to enhancing the menstrual experience of at-risk menstruating adolescents. The study used an exploratory qualitative research design. The main data collection method consisted of semi-structured interviews with 11 experts and key informants in menstrual health in Zimbabwe and other low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, five at-risk menstruating adolescents from rural Mashonaland Central were interviewed using a qualitative questionnaire. Through these interviews, the four themes of knowledge, economic environment, physical environment, and confidence, derived from the integrated model of menstrual experience by Hennegan et al. (2019), were analysed to identify the needs of menstruating adolescents regarding menstrual health. The study showed the importance of including the entire ecosystem around the menstruating adolescent. This should be taken into account in any menstrual health intervention aiming to provide education and support. Menstruating adolescents need to have access to a choice-oriented approach in the provision of menstrual products and have access to basic water, sanitation, and hygiene facility standards such as clean water and privacy in gender-segregated lavatories. The study recommends conducting further research in the local contexts of Mashonaland Central, Zimbabwe, and other rural areas, and designing interventions using a bottom-up approach, integrating the target population and community in all steps of designing a menstrual health intervention, taking into account the local environment, cultural beliefs, and context. Published on 2021-07-27 09:46:59
Abstract: The number of companies publicly reporting in line with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), a framework introduced in 2015 aiming to improve and increase the reporting regarding climate-related financial information, is still relatively low. In 2019, 42% of corporations with a market capitalization greater than $10 billion disclosed information in line with the TCFD to some extend (TCFD, 2020c). Previous research has shown that economic, political, and institutional factors impact the disclosure of climate-related information. This paper explores the determinants influencing the level of disclosure in line with the TCFD recommendations, across different sectors with a major focus on publicly listed companies in the global North. The study contributes to a better understanding of the approach needed to increase the number of companies reporting in line with TCFD.The research was executed in both quantitative and qualitative methods. The empirical research methods are based on a throughout literature review on climate-related risk disclosure, which is based on scientific literature, reports, and websites of official institutions. An online survey was published to be filled in by professionals with insights into environmental, social, and corporate governance-related topics within their company. Also, eight interviews were conducted with sustainability experts from companies, consultants, policy makers, and investors with a background in climate-related risk disclosure. The interviewees were chosen based on their work experience regarding TCFD disclosure. The research aim was to answer the following question: What are substantial factors that influence whether a company is disclosing information in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures'Overall, ten determinants have been identified, as they have occurred repeatedly throughout the empirical data collection. They can be divided into factors that derive out of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The others emerge from the given characteristics of corporations. Policy and legal reforms, the aim for strategy adaption, the availability of data, and the alignment of other sustainability initiatives with the recommendations of TCFD, were mentioned the most as determinants on the level of disclosure in both the survey and the interviews. Further research might investigate how the identified factors differ in importance across diverse industries. Published on 2021-03-08 10:00:55
Abstract: Food is an integral part of everyone’s life, but the food sector also hugely contributes to harming the environment. Education is the best tool to bring the topic closer to the youngest generations by integrating sustainable food and nutrition into their educational institutions. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address this challenge through multiple SDGs, for example, through SDG 12 on sustainable consumption and production. This research was conducted for the KMGNE, a Berlin-based research educational institute. This research explores criteria that can be used to incorporate the topic of sustainable food and nutrition in German secondary schools. Through a mix of qualitative methods, the concept of shaping competences, outcome-based learning was explored, and based on the research results, a set of criteria were determined. The research shows that transformative learning changes behaviour, as it allows internal change about assumptions and beliefs in students. This is why transformative learning works best to bring a change in behaviour. It is essential that schools not only teach about sustainable food and nutrition but also teach by example through the food they offer. Practitioners need to receive training to integrate sustainable food and nutrition-related topics into their lessons. External partners and learning environments should be included in education for sustainable food and nutrition to add authenticity as they can tell personal stories or show food production. The research was conducted in Germany; however, it is possible to use the determined criteria in different educational settings and countries. Published on 2020-12-04 10:41:05
Abstract: Venezuela has been experiencing a food crisis for almost a decade. Rampant undernourishment of the population, coupled with empty shelves in the market, is gaining international attention as a humanitarian emergency. However, the causes of the crisis remain divided into two major arguments posited by the government and the opposition in a “blame game”. Both factions have made serious contributions to the outbreak of the food crisis. Through analysis of various data sources, this study was able to identify five major causes of the food crisis: (1) dependence on oil, (2) poor political infrastructure, (3) political power over welfare, (4) hoarding and reselling of goods in the black market, and (5) U.S. sanctions in the Venezuelan economy. Published on 2020-06-24 10:31:52
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