Paper short abstract:

Many people of West Papua have been struggling for independence since 1963. Their homeland has been over-populated by transmigrants, Indonesian military, loggers, and especially by the American Mining Company, Freeport. This paper reports one attempt to regain control of their land with their own words.

Paper long abstract:

The people of West Papua, a province of Indonesia, have struggled to attain independence since the UN gave this former Dutch colony to Indonesia in 1963. In the villages around Merauke, a group of Marind intellectuals wrote a letter to the local government officials in which they said, ""Over the last few months, a series of meetings have taken place in villages around Merauke to discuss development plans, within the framework of local adat, or customary law. In each one, a resolution has been made, a clear rejection of all investment." The letter explains why development is rejected: "the forest not only is the source of people's livelihood, but also their culture and their identity. When the forest is gone, how can the Malind Amin continue to exist?"

The letter goes on to explain that people do want development, but not the destructive development that they have so far experienced. This paper reviews the many approaches West Papuans have taken to gain support, which is now world-wide and offered from many different organizations and states.

Paper short abstract:

Micronesia is composed of many individual island cultures. Each island culture is concerned about identifying ways for their cultural traditions to survive pressures coming from the introduction of new technologies.

Paper long abstract:

Micronesia is composed of many individual island cultures. Although each island is considered unique from a cultural perspective, these non-industrial cultures share a common link. They are all concerned about identifying and implementing ways for their cultural traditions to survive the internal and external pressures coming from the development and introduction of new technologies. These technologies can provide a disruption to the balance between nature and society. This paper examines the issues related to survival by presenting data collected from several Micronesian islands. An analysis of the past and present situation involving the major issues threatening the survival of the island's cultural traditions will be discussed. The present study also seeks answers to the question of who really owns the responsibility of saving the cultural traditions of these island cultures. What roles in this process should professionals in the fields of cultural anthropology and sociology play in preserving the cultural traditions of indigenous cultures?

Paper short abstract:

The problem of the overexploitation of nature by modern society is of special interest to those studying the procedures of veto and limitation in folk cultures. Ethnological data assigned different motives and procedures to activities in the use of nature that were traditionally used.

Paper long abstract:

Traditionally, relationships in nature - society system are complicated. They are dependent on human concern for activities that support life and specificity of the World's vision. Local vetoes and taboo played important roles in minimizing pressure on flora and fauna in the pre-industrial period. Hunters and fishermen, farmers and cattle-breeders were directly dependent on natural resources. Quite often, the folk veto on the use of nature assisted in preserving local natural resources. Modern society has preserved a global dependency on natural resources. The reducing of biodiversity, the lower fertility of soils and other ecological problems are the result of overexploitation of nature by society. New highly-effective technologies in the use of nature assisted in generating higher profits but led to the unfortunate result of the degradation of nature. New technologies have not led to society's independence from natural resources but has created a regime of overexploitation. Losing a sense of global dependence of society on nature is a real threat for society and for its future. The problem of minimizing ecological threats is urgent for modern society. Using technologies friendly to nature and norms of eco-ethics are important steps in minimizing ecological threats. Discussing the value of some folk experience in the limitation of nature use may be useful for modern society in the context of searching for a way of sustainable development.

Paper short abstract:

This paper aims to contribute to the longitudinal studies of DFDR by presenting ethnographic material from the Zimapán resettlement project in Mexico. The data is analyzed through a lens of anthropological and heritage theories. The role of anthropology in contested projects is also discussed.

Paper long abstract:

One of the most contested and ethically questionable topics in the development industry is development-induced forced displacement and resettlement (DFDR) caused by large infrastructural projects. The fact is that DFDR projects are still not handled well and the consequences for the displaced people are difficult to mitigate.

We have nevertheless made advances and come a long way from the 1980s "at gunpoint option" to an informed local participation in key issues. Anthropologists have been leading in this work pushing for compensation for the resettled people. Particular progress has been made to mitigate the economic impoverishment risks, fewer advances have been made on the risk of social disarticulation and the rebuilding and resilience of a community. Longitudinal studies with ethnographic data covering the whole process are needed.

This paper aims to contribute to the much needed longitudinal studies of DFDR by presenting ethnographic material from the resettlement project Zimapán in central Mexico. I returned in 2013 for a first follow up after more than 10 years. Longitudinal studies demand good baseline data. I have that (Aronsson 2002). The research questions are straight forward: How do people get by? What is the role of heritage as memories and environment? These questions will be discussed through the lens of social disarticulation, routine and dissonance culture and heritage theory. The return also triggered the question on the role of anthropologists in contested projects.

Paper short abstract:

Advanced chemical analysis of archaeological buidings from central Veracruz, Mexico, reveal that the earthen architecture characteristic of the coastal lowlands was probably mixed with dissolved bitumen to make it resistant against the humid tropical climate conditions.

Paper long abstract:

Bitumen occurs naturally on the lowland plains of the Gulf Coast of Mexico, and has been used in the past as paint and caulk. Its use as a dissolved additive has not been reported yet from ethnographic sources but revealed through archaeological research. It would explain the existence of a millenary tradition of earthen architecture on the Gulf coast, originating even before the Olmec culture, in a climate that is obviously adverse to this kind of construction. Thus archaeology can reveal traditional knowledge, even if the original practionners are now extinct, and reconstruct a technique that can be useful as an option of modern low-cost housing in tropical areas.

Paper short abstract:

The author will speak about the influence and introduction of new folk cultures and traditions into Moscow community. The paper will also pay attention to the process of social and cultural migrants’ integration from the point of view of major Moscow indigenous population.

Paper long abstract:

In last two decades Russia and especially its capital Moscow has become one of the leaders of the global migration processes. More and more people with different cultural backgrounds are becoming new Moscow inhabitants. The author will speak about the influence and introduction of new folk cultures and traditions into Moscow community. The paper will also pay attention to the process of social and cultural migrants' integration from the point of view of major Moscow indigenous population.

The problems related to development of cultures are resolved in different ways. A quite new phenomenon for Russia is an association of the particular ethnic group members in ethnic-cultural organizations striving for the development and propagation of cultural and religious traditions of their people. Young people are being actively involved in this process attending special non Russian-language schools. The Moscow City Government runs a goal-oriented policy in support of development of different cultures.

Paper short abstract:

International law recognizes that states have a legal obligation to incorporate indigenous knowledge and technologies in providing education and services to indigenous peoples. There is a debate as to the legal basis for ownership or control of indigenous knowledge.

Paper long abstract:

International law arguably recognizes that a state has a duty to preserve and protect indigenous knowledge. Convention 169 of the UN"s International Labour Organization (1989) specifies that states must provide "education" and "services" to indigenous people and that such education and services "shall incorporate indigenous knowledge and technologies." The United Nations General Assembly, in its Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007), finds that "respect for indigenous knowledge, culture and traditional practices contribute to sustainable and equitable development and proper management of the environment."

International law is frequently called upon to resolve issues related to a state's duty to respect indigenous knowledge and technologies; the alleged right of indigenous peoples to be given notice of and the opportunity to consent to development projects impacting on their way of life; the content of indigenous knowledge; and the question of whether Western concepts of intellectual property are incompatible or can be reconciled with indigenous peoples' cultural identity, communal ownership of land and in such areas as traditional medicine, agriculture and natural resource management. These issues will be addressed in this paper.

Paper short abstract:

Business leaders might have failed to respond to critical environmental issues created by their organization. The lack of environmental knowledge and the race to achieve profitability are among factors that influence leaders’ perceptions and preventing them from making ethical decisions.

Paper long abstract:

Maintaining environmental standards is a challenging task that requires knowledge and understanding of the impacts of unethical decisions on human well-being, especially in developing countries. Lack of knowledge, the race to achieve profitability, and other factors are preventing leaders from making ethical decisions, which could have direct and indirect influence on health, technology, and economy, problems particularly acute in poor and developing countries. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the shared meaning and conscious reality organizational leaders have about environmental management. The population, drawn from Liberian companies in Liberia, consisted of 21 managers with 5 years of experience from different professions, socioeconomic backgrounds, and experiences related to environmental management. Data collection was based on audio recorded interviews to explore the perceptions, attitudes, and lived experiences and finding common themes among participant responses. Moustakas' modified Van Kaam qualitative design was deemed appropriate for the study as the participants' shared meaning and conscious reality were obtained from an in-depth semi-structured interview protocol with open-ended questions. Data were transcribed with Dragon12® transcription software. Transcriptions were subsequently coded for themes and patterns with NVivo8® software. Participants felt leadership should pay attention to the factors that influence their decisions in relation to environmental management and promote employee knowledge and awareness about protecting the environment without compromising organizational goals and profitability. Participants felt many factors exist that influence leaders' decisions including perceptions, knowledge, training, feasibility, ethics, and, in particular, governmental support.

Paper short abstract:

Taiwan’s mountains provide an ecological niche to mammals, and to indigenous people who hunt. We explore Seediq hunting practices/knowledge. What knowledge do they possess about mammals? How are norms about hunting encoded into customary law? Can this knowledge contribute to wildlife sustainability?

Paper long abstract:

Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity calls on contracting parties to respect, preserve and maintain indigenous knowledge relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Taiwan, although not a party to the Convention, does attempt to meet its norms in the management of biological diversity. Taiwan, moreover, is home to 14 officially recognized Austronesian tribes, who possess rich hunting traditions and in-depth knowledge about wild animals. The rugged mountainous terrain of Taiwan has provided an ecological niche to a wide variety of mammals; but also to indigenous peoples who have learned over centuries to sustainably hunt game. Their experience is thus food for thought about the implementation of Article 8(j) and sustainable management of wildlife.

This paper, based on ethnographic research with the Seediq and Truku since 2004, looks at hunting practices and knowledge about their most important game mammals: the Formosan Wild Boar (Sus scrofa taivanus), the Formosan Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor swinhoei) and the Reeve's Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus). Seediq and Truku hunters, by tracking animals through the forests and observing their behaviours, know the animals and their habitats intimately. What special knowledge do the Seediq and Truku possess about these animals, their reproductive cycles, and environments? How have Seediq and Truku cultural norms about hunting, including the ancestral law of Gaya, encoded this knowledge into customary law? How can this knowledge contribute to effective management of wildlife resources? What lessons does their experience offer to the management of game animals in other contexts?

Paper short abstract:

Seeds sustain civilizations. This paper recounts the history of the landrace "Turkey" wheat and a developing model for future seed savers. The paper documents attempts to make a biological open source license to preserve seeds and indigenous knowledge for future generations.

Paper long abstract:

This paper examines seeds' role in sustaining civilizations and asserts that the basis for food security is seed saving. It follows the history of wheat and peoples, focusing on personal experience growing landrace "Turkey" wheat. The Turkey Red story of 140 years ago has been called a myth. It is part of a developing business model for future seed savers that encourages diverse and locally-saved seed supplies. That model is being threatened by patenting seeds today, which limits the availability of seed and the role of seed savers. The paper documents attempts for the development of a biological open source license. The license would work toward preservation of seeds and an indigenous knowledge base for future generations.

Paper short abstract:

We explore indigenous traditions in the public baths in Russian cities today, study the social relations, motivation. Traditions, customs, taboos, which we observe in the public baths, help to analyze aspects of spiritual life of the citizens, reveal components of the modern world in everyday life.

Paper long abstract:

This paper has the task of exploring indigenous traditions in the public baths in Russian cities and towns today, study the social relations of its visitors, their motivation (mental and physical health, beauty procedures and internal bath communications). Traditions, customs, taboos, which we observe in the public baths, help to analyze one of the aspects of spiritual life of the citizens, reveal one of the components of the modern world in everyday life. City bath solves a set of problems facing modern metropolis inhabitant: the treatment of several diseases, stress relief, maintaining wellness and positive communication. Such popular in the past in private baths functions such as: space for divination, part of the wedding ceremony cycle, place of birth and place of residence of inferior beings from Slavic mythology has never been characterized for the public baths till today. However selected elements of indigenous beliefs still alive: observance of Maundy Thursday, number of taboos, use of special herbs etc.

Culture conserve the things that truly demanded and makes sense for its representatives. Thus, public bath, losing its main function - hygienic in the twentieth century, remains popular in the XXI century. For the researcher is very important to understand the reasons of the attractiveness of a bath and its functions in a modern urban environment. The question is how relevant are the old ethnic and cultural traditions of the inhabitants in the modern metropolis.