tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54741611941390141752024-02-07T21:31:30.980-06:00One Th!ngAnna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-71797589216809322802011-06-04T17:25:00.002-05:002011-06-04T17:29:41.093-05:00LETS Birmingham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_133164623426645"><img border="0" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WgaCWZk58VAAsxY-b3oSGmwlGM2kXRxwsdlpRRmETNJldS_vmsZV3qbJd_UxGbp4tsgujLwny8I2irdqoLMqZhLoKSNqAep632XOGSq42zr4wZwTVBUO3S4IR9GIjLGRosFv1fzLWoY/s200/195818_133164623426645_1328336_n.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<b>L</b>ocal <b>E</b>nergy <b>T</b>ransfer <b>S</b>ystems (LETS) are localized trade systems that occur outside the mainstream economy. They grow from communities seeking to meet their material needs in a truly equal market exchange based on labor-produced credits rather than money. LETS users trade local units of value for goods and labor/services. A LETS credit's value is determined by the community of people participating in the system. LETS systems will change and grow as the community of users grows - essentially it is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomimicry">biomimicking</a> economic system. Research on existing LETS has demonstrated that the system works alongside the mainstream economy and actually increases the value of the dollar. However, I am optimistic that LETS has the potential to serve as a bridge between '<a href="http://envplan.com/abstract.cgi?id=a281763">islands of sustainability</a>' in the future.<br />
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We are now trying to get a LETS rolling here in Birmingham. Zach and Robyn got the facebook page going and we all completed the first round of proselytizing - via 80 or so flyers - this morning at Pepper Place (trial by fire suits us all just fine). The response was pretty positive - people were actually reading the flyers as they headed for the sponsored drum circle! <br />
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For more information on how a LETS works and to participate in how our local system develops, visit the Birmingham LETS facebook page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_133164623426645.">http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_133164623426645. </a> <br />
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[[click for articles on LETS in <a href="http://www.ijccr.net/IJCCR/1997_(1)_files/IJCCR%20vol%201%20(1997)%203%20Williams.pdf">Australia</a> and <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1475-4762.00094/abstract">the UK</a>, a book on <a href="http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=_2_-JQqVkBoC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=local+energy+exchange+system+LETS&ots=D7QdBLcGh9&sig=qVHFRaAqaEM6d_tg0GuKdgiPNow#v=onepage&q=local%20energy%20exchange%20system%20LETS&f=false">LETS and *buzzwrrd* <i>sustainable development</i></a>, and <a href="http://www.gdrc.org/icm/lets-faq.html">LETS FAQs</a>]]<br />
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Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-58595468855669513492011-03-30T22:02:00.000-05:002011-03-30T22:02:09.597-05:00Fukushima Links<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU3AsrJ8Oz0W8h55rPklmnFo2M5QA2Pkr6v2zEz2tq2nAG98DrkxzfVgQSuzG3HDu3xUJrZtU8axS72Q05nuW9zavRWTK0YIW3NZAW5ylQOw3UqMLxfKlVGMyqNuYlFU39Cne9jEqxS4/s1600/BoilingWaterReactorDesign_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU3AsrJ8Oz0W8h55rPklmnFo2M5QA2Pkr6v2zEz2tq2nAG98DrkxzfVgQSuzG3HDu3xUJrZtU8axS72Q05nuW9zavRWTK0YIW3NZAW5ylQOw3UqMLxfKlVGMyqNuYlFU39Cne9jEqxS4/s400/BoilingWaterReactorDesign_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Home from <a href="http://southernanthro.org/annual-meeting/">SAS</a>, will post about it soon. Pressing matters at hand - here are some links to help you get informed:<br />
<ol><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg8_xPbCFs8">Al Jazeera video on Japan's nuclear crisis</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDfAZhhqkCI">Al Jazeera video on total meltdown</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/saigaijohou/syousai/1303723.htm">links to PDFs of radiation studies collected in Japan</a> (the <a href="http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/landing_chrome_mac.html?hl=en">Google Chrome</a> web browser automatically translates to English)</li>
<li><a href="http://radiation.goo.ne.jp/">map of radiation measurements taken in Japan</a></li>
<li><a href="http://climateprogress.org/2011/03/30/japan-nuke-radioactivity/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+climateprogress%2FlCrX+%28Climate+Progress%29">ClimateProgress post on radioactivity releases</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://hastingsnonviolence.blogspot.com/2011/03/military-attacks-earth-peaceful-atom.html">nonviolent philosophy's take on these events</a></li>
</ol><div>These will help you stay informed:</div><ol><li><a href="http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/tsunamiupdate01.html">International Atomic Energy Agency</a> Fukushima update log</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ecosurvivor.com/2011/tracking-japans-radioactive-fallout-worldwide/">Ecosurvivor - tracking Japan's nuclear fallout worldwide</a></li>
<li><a href="http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/30/fukushima-technical-discussion-open-thread/">BraveNewClimate technical discussion open thread</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_I_nuclear_accident">Wikipedia Fukushima current event page</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/tsunamiupdate01.html">World Nuclear News Fukushima update portal</a></li>
</ol>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-48098078416446108052011-03-16T03:48:00.004-05:002011-03-16T04:17:59.460-05:00Happenings 16 March<div>Some tidbits from around the web...</div><ul><li>The U.S. House Energy and Commerce committee has passed a <a href="http://www.opencongress.org/articles/view/2233-Committee-Passes-Bill-Declaring-Greenhouse-Gases-Not-Air-Pollutants-?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+OpenCongressCongressGossipBlog+(Open+Congress+Blog)">bill</a> stating that greenhouse gases are not pollutants and therefore cannot be regulated by the EPA... this is a huge step backwards in regards to climate change... the bill places the ethical decision in the hands of corporations whose priorities are profit rather than environmental safety... the bill also demonstrates that the majority of our Republican-controlled House of Reps have <a href="http://climateprogress.org/2011/03/15/gallup-poll-global-warming-gains/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+climateprogress/lCrX+(Climate+Progress)">absolutely no understanding</a> of the nature of <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/content/306/5702/1686.full">anthropogenic climate change</a> (<a href="http://climateprogress.org/2010/11/15/year-in-climate-science-climategate/">see this also</a>)... as the committee's <a href="http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h909/show">"Roadmap for America's Energy Future</a>" indicates, Republicans are pushing for more offshore drilling and the construction of nuclear power plants, even though the one year anniversary of the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/bp-oil-spill">Deepwater Horizon tragedy</a> looms from the other end of Spring, and Japan is suffering the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/15/japan-earthquake-2011-505_n_835888.html">catastrophic effects</a> of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/japan-nuclear-crisis">three leaking nuclear power plants</a> and over 15,000 people are dead from the recent earthquake.</li>
<li>On a lighter note, <a href="http://savageminds.org/">Savage Minds</a> discusses <a href="http://savageminds.org/2011/03/15/share-anthropology/">new initiatives</a> to get anthropology information to students and the public, a link to a <a href="http://kotaku.com/#!5772286/the-bleak-despair-of-abject-poverty-in-video-game-form">Kotaku post </a>about a video game about poverty in which players must survive on $1,000/month, and a link to <a href="http://www.tsimane.org/index.html">TAPS</a> - an awesome example of what is possible when researchers collaborate online and perhaps a glimpse at the future of research... imagine... multidisciplinary teams working together from global locations via an online catch-all for data, publications, and info for the public and K-12 institutions. <a href="http://middlesavagery.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/the-dorothy-garrod-photographic-archive/">Middle Savagery</a> features archival photos from the work and life of archaeologist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Garrod">Dorothy Garrod</a> - the first female professor at Cambridge, and a <a href="http://middlesavagery.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/time-lapse-excavation-at-hammerfest-norway/">nifty time lapse excavation video.</a>.. another fantastic idea for communicating anthropology to the public.</li>
<li><a href="http://astroblogger.blogspot.com/">Astroblog</a> talks about <a href="http://astroblogger.blogspot.com/2011/02/aboriginal-stonehenge-and-indigenous.html">indigenous constellations</a> of Australian Aborigines.</li>
<li><a href="http://hastingsnonviolence.blogspot.com/2011/02/baking-smaller-pie.html">Dr. Hastings</a> posted a <a href="http://www.warresisters.org/files/FY2011piechart.pdf">pie chart</a> from the <a href="http://www.warresisters.org/">War Resisters League</a> documenting how income tax money is spent in the U.S... depressing preview: 48% are used for military spending.</li>
<li><a href="http://climateprogress.org/">Climate Progres</a>s features <a href="http://climateprogress.org/2011/03/05/climate-video-games/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+climateprogress/lCrX+(Climate+Progress)">climate-challenge video games.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://permaculture.tv/d-acres-new-hampshires-permaculture/">Free permaculture videos</a>!! And <a href="http://permaculturepathways.blogspot.com/">Permaculture Pathways</a> proposes a new paradigm in food justice by using the phrase <a href="http://permaculturepathways.blogspot.com/2011/02/food-security-vs-food-sovereignty.html">"food sovereignty" instead of "food security.</a>" (I am also currently working on a post on the topic of permaculture - look for it soon).</li>
</ul>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-30231559356816862742011-03-01T11:02:00.001-06:002011-03-01T11:03:22.929-06:00Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice - Upcoming MeetingDetails below:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs076/1102992251222/img/67.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ACIJ logo" border="0" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.67" src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs076/1102992251222/img/67.png" vspace="5" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #00cc00; font-family: 'courier new', monospace; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5474161194139014175&postID=3023155935681686274" name="12e6e11823b1642c_LETTER.BLOCK14" style="color: #00cc00;"></a></span><br />
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Alabama's own Arizona-style immigration bill, HB 56, has been filed and is now available for viewing on ALISON, the state legislature's online database. You can view the bill by searching HB 56 <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=wkgmxhdab&et=1104679683735&s=1139&e=001pz10gwldfCUVfI5c2NdJJv5fFbX2XhBn3Elmt6LqL_oB0FpQMCNWWs-IBUWaUsEVutkHKKLSPlY-8po8_ZnoF2VJR5IeFsWNljtd7N7sZ9DLsI9AyfEjphBWYfLH_AKPunovi20oGlaoH875KgzCL9PUsk6-uF0FsKYQD3tNRMg=" shape="rect" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">here.</a><br />
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There will be a <strong>public hearing</strong> on the bill this <strong>Wednesday, March 2 at 9:00am in the Alabama State House.</strong><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This Thursday, March 3, the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice will meet to go over the details of this bill and to lay out an action plan for advocating against the bill. </span></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice Meeting </strong></span></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Thursday, March 3rd </strong></span></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>5:30-7:30pm </strong></span></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Homewood Public Library </strong></span></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>1721 Oxmoor Rd. </strong></span></div><div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Birmingham, AL 35209 </strong></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you have questions or need talking points, more information, etc. please contact Zayne Smith or Shay Farley at Alabama Appleseed (334-263-0086) or Caitlin Sandley at ¡HICA! (205-942-5505).</span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">¡ADELANTE!</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-83881787077381153862011-02-23T16:07:00.001-06:002011-02-23T16:09:53.877-06:00veritas gratisAnyone with the link can now access <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/dolphinascendant/">dolphin ascendant, our ramshackle online library</a>. If you would like to contribute, let us know.<br />
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(click <a href="http://onethingcampaign.blogspot.com/2011/01/dolphin-ascendant-launch-announcement.html">here</a> to view previous related posts)Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-41310104280622185442011-02-22T13:07:00.000-06:002011-02-22T13:07:04.066-06:00UAB chapter of Alabama Citizens for Consitutional Reform upcoming meeting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQbrIuwPUun20oXw4fgBy-Oz7ZjYTDWkWoDAau3Sm6PEJQpjPLiV02i95IdnBF2xSFJAQ7NfD7nB2qg2xEyuY8-1WYW4ycAf6OQekmTYXJkx0Q0pK9n7ukZL5jiWEnUdLCutITNb4pJE/s1600/imgres.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQbrIuwPUun20oXw4fgBy-Oz7ZjYTDWkWoDAau3Sm6PEJQpjPLiV02i95IdnBF2xSFJAQ7NfD7nB2qg2xEyuY8-1WYW4ycAf6OQekmTYXJkx0Q0pK9n7ukZL5jiWEnUdLCutITNb4pJE/s320/imgres.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The newly formed UAB chapter of <a href="http://www.constitutionalreform.org/">ACCR</a> is holding its second meeting this week. The ACCR is a group of citizens united in advocacy for a reformed state constitution. Our allegedly "sweet" home's constitution is thick and sticky with racist, outdated laws, including the foundations of a tax system that regressively and negatively impacts the poor and a stipulation that mandates that statewide votes be counted in order to change legislation. The student film "<a href="http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/05/21/lewis-lehe-talks-about-its-a-thick-book/">It's a Thick Book</a>" demonstrates both the structural violence carried out against already marginalized populations because of our constitution and also the irrelevance of our constitution to the reality of our biologically and culturally diverse state. Watch the film for free <a href="http://www.aptv.org/VIDEOROOM/viewprogram.asp?FileID=900">here</a>, or <a href="http://www.constitutionalreform.org/IATB.shtml">here</a> with a free teaching guide. Details about the UAB ACCR meeting are below:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'courier new', monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Hello everyone!<br />
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I hope you are all having a great Spring semester and enjoying this gracious weather. As you will read on the attached flier, we are having our first ACCR event of the semester this <b>Thursday</b> night at <b>7pm</b> in <b>HHB 106</b>. This meeting is not only for UAB students, but for the surrounding community as well. We want these meetings to provide an open forum for discussion and encourage positive action within our city. Would you mind forwarding the event flier out to friends, students, faculty, staff, and anyone that you think would be interested in actively supporting our struggle for a new state constitution?<br />
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We will be viewing a short film, <a href="http://www.constitutionalreform.org/opensecret.shtml">Open Secret</a>, which I had the pleasure of viewing at the American Association of University Women conference this fall. Using the actual transcripts from the 1901 Constitutional Convention as the basis of script, the film very adequately illustrates the cultural, racial, and political biases that comprise the legislative foundation of our great state. We will also be discussing the next step in solidifying ACCR's presence on UAB's campus.<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'courier new', monospace;">Thank you for your support, and I hope to see you all there!</span> </span><br />
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</span>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-14943806032540855222011-02-20T18:48:00.003-06:002011-02-20T18:51:52.345-06:00News and upcoming events from around UAB<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. The next UAB </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/uabanthropology/">AnthroClub</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> meeting will be Tuesday, March 1 at 3:30pm in HHB 225. We will discuss the upcoming Earthweek festivities (post coming soon) and other plans for club activities this semester.</span><br />
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<div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2zl4FqZTgftpps44zfB7i5LvWUyUhAM_liNWmmPjE5tqO2yeMmY33LmkKPtMDobT0Yl95zLy_vsFVN2_AyBFOrGkvjyLxOYjy775oJ_6Ca787RkcC4EUWW-11kqODkmbw50kXlgQ1uU/s1600/Logo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2zl4FqZTgftpps44zfB7i5LvWUyUhAM_liNWmmPjE5tqO2yeMmY33LmkKPtMDobT0Yl95zLy_vsFVN2_AyBFOrGkvjyLxOYjy775oJ_6Ca787RkcC4EUWW-11kqODkmbw50kXlgQ1uU/s400/Logo.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. UAB events:</span><br />
<div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/students/life/leadership/33639/" target="_blank">Should religious leaders be held to a higher moral standard?</a><br />
The next Free Food for Thought meeting, to be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23 in HUC 412, will focus on the moral standards of our religious leaders. Free Food for Thought is designed to promote the use of dialogue on a diversity of topics. With the variety of cultures, lifestyle, and personalities at UAB, learning from one another through discussion helps us understand the ideas, and opinions of others. In exchange for your opinion, we will provide free food.</span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/students/life/leadership/33626/" target="_blank">Sister Souljah to present Black History Month lecture Feb. 24</a><br />
Sister Souljah, author of <em>The Coldest Winter Ever</em>, will discuss the rise and decline of African-American leadership at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24 in Volker Hall Lecture Room A. Free tickets are available. Information about this and other Black History Month events is available from the Office of Student Involvement at 934-8225.</span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/uabnews" target="_blank">Henry is going the distance for hunger </a><br />
Six days and 150 miles later, through some of the coldest temperatures yet this winter, UAB employee and alumnus Joe Henry continues his run to Canada to raise awareness for Universities Fighting World Hunger. Learn how Henry prepared for this Hunger 500 journey and why this cause means so much to him in this week's BlazerCast at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/uabnews" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/uabnews</a>.</span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188072077893616" target="_blank">Get your questions answered at the USGA spring student forum </a></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188072077893616" target="_blank"></a>Ask questions and get answers from President Carol Garrison, Provost Eli Capilouto, deans, department chairs and administration from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24 in Blazer Hall RLC.</span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://studentorgs.uab.edu/sga/?p=296" target="_blank">Commons Chat begins Feb. 28</a></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://studentorgs.uab.edu/sga/?p=296" target="_blank"></a>The USGA and the Office of the Provost are starting a new program, Commons Chat. Beginning Feb. 28 — and continuing the fourth Monday of every month — there will be an informal lunch with Provost Eli Capilouto, Vice Provost Suzanne Austin and Vice Provost Harlan Sands at noon in the Commons side room. </span></div><div align="left" style="font-size: 14px; margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left" style="font-size: 14px; margin-left: 15px;"></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. Exciting news: a new Undergraduate Journal for student ethnographers - details below:</span></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'courier new', monospace; font-size: 13px;">We are excited to announce the formation of a new online journal for research conducted by undergraduates. The Journal for Undergraduate Ethnography (JUE) seeks to distribute original student-produced work from a variety of disciplinary areas. Our goal is to bring readers, especially other undergraduates, insights into subcultures, rituals, and social institutions. We expect crossovers with anthropology, sociology, American studies, urban studies as well as programs in education and marketing.<br />
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The JUE encourages current undergraduates or those who have graduated within the past twelve months to submit original ethnographic manuscripts for consideration. Manuscripts may include research on any subject. We also encourage faculty to recommend promising student work.<br />
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Submissions are now welcomed. The deadline is April 15th, 2011. Please check out our website (<a href="http://undergraduateethnography.org/" target="_blank">undergraduateethnography.org</a>) or our Facebook page for details.<br />
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For more information contact Jason Patch at <a href="mailto:editor@undergraduateethnography.org">editor@<wbr></wbr>undergraduateethnography.org</a>.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'courier new', monospace; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. Birmingham Archaeological Society Monthly Meeting info:</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: black;">The next Birmingham Archaeological Society meeting will be held at <a href="http://www.mcwane.org/">McWane Science Center </a>on <u>Tuesday, </u></span><u>March</u><u> </u><u>8</u><u>th at 7PM.</u> </span></div></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><div><div><div style="color: #00cc00; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: black;">The evening program will be led by <u>Karen Utz, Curator - Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark and Adjunct History Professor, UAB.</u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #00cc00; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="color: black;">Program topic:</span></b><span style="color: black;"> <em><u>“</u></em><u>Sloss Furnaces: The History of Birmingham's Iron Plantation"</u></span></span></div><div style="color: #00cc00; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: black;">Birmingham Archaeological Society monthly meetings are held on the <b>2nd Tuesday </b>of each month at McWane Science Center and are always open to the public. Meeting attendees should park in the deck on <b>"Level C" </b>and enter the doors labeled "Special Events Center." The business meeting begins at <b>7:00 </b>and is followed by the monthly program. Parking for attendees is free.</span></span></div><div style="color: #00cc00; font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAStXhQk1FG1MURQh6QTf73YXoUP4cjkzeWt2KnKwCkBhLe989cDTaFPLlJ-WpjMeHK7VOeYtdMxvNZFieP8JE452WPI64VoRY8r4Fa3d9EJr_k2q2MyA-3H0ljG9w1qGvCx2JvI3OqU/s1600/www.mcwane.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAStXhQk1FG1MURQh6QTf73YXoUP4cjkzeWt2KnKwCkBhLe989cDTaFPLlJ-WpjMeHK7VOeYtdMxvNZFieP8JE452WPI64VoRY8r4Fa3d9EJr_k2q2MyA-3H0ljG9w1qGvCx2JvI3OqU/s320/www.mcwane.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></div></div></div></div><br />
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</div></div></div>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-61146574803163775162011-02-12T00:12:00.002-06:002011-02-25T00:18:40.246-06:00Sagan Spamming<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Letting the people know what <a href="http://www.carlsagan.com/">Papa Carl</a> has to say (via google search).</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: <a href="http://skepticblog.org/2009/04/15/brian-cox-talks-about-carl-sagan/">Skepticblog</a></td></tr>
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<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="body">"For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.</span><span class="bodybold"> </span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="bodybold" style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span class="body">"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love."</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="body">"In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe."</span> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="body">"Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge."</span> </span></div><div><span class="body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep thoughts can be winnowed from deep nonsense."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Links to free PDFs of his writings:</span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dallasuu.org/re/adult/huumanist/TitTatSagan.pdf">"The Rules of the Game" (1997)</a></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://pactiss.org/resources/booklets-and-handouts/Does%20Truth%20Matter%20and%20related%20articles%20-%20Carl%20Sagan.pdf">"Does Truth Matter?..." (1996)</a></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/blog2/endovelico/CarlSagan-Contact.pdf"><i>Contact </i>(1985)</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/dragonsofeden.pdf"><i>The Dragons of Eden </i>(1978)</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/jksadegh/A%20Good%20Atheist%20Secularist%20Skeptical%20Book%20Collection/carl%20sagan%20-%20billions%20and%20billions.pdf"><i>Billions and Billions </i>(1997)</a></span></div><div><br />
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</span></div>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-31835614835691119782011-02-10T17:17:00.002-06:002011-02-10T17:23:00.365-06:00Considering Gender<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6LaGy_X_TgDCHJWPR4SJaobTvCWH89rwqUwwqe68CSulHS_rgKJ8HtP30cesQocNBrmkQc1y42-kMQ2j1T87p1yeNq989ZoqKuKhDW_u21BabbcT8yqwQU2bsjFR_62BIkpIZYLWcEw/s1600/customLogo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6LaGy_X_TgDCHJWPR4SJaobTvCWH89rwqUwwqe68CSulHS_rgKJ8HtP30cesQocNBrmkQc1y42-kMQ2j1T87p1yeNq989ZoqKuKhDW_u21BabbcT8yqwQU2bsjFR_62BIkpIZYLWcEw/s320/customLogo.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Last night the <a href="http://www.uabgssa.org/">UAB Gay/Straight Student Alliance</a> hosted a showing of the <a href="http://groundspark.org/our-films-and-campaigns/straightlaced">Groundspark </a>film "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN5rPAAhSxU">Straightlaced: How Gender's Got Us All Tied Up</a>" on campus. The film is an amalgam of Southern California high school students of diverse backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations speaking to their experience with and perceptions of the concept of gender. The students consider gender as it is expressed in the media, as society or western culture instructs us to perform gender, and their own identities as they struggle with fitting in to the categories provided to us by our culture. The students' voices are the only bearer of information in this film - with the exception of the documentary's narrative structure derived from the editor's understanding of the interview content - and their articulate young voices are a welcome grabbag of fresh perspectives on a binary that our culture is only recently attempting to move beyond. <br />
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Until I saw the film, I was unaware of the label "genderqueer" and its definition. According to the biological female that identified herself as genderqueer in the film, the category encompasses individuals who do not identify as either male or female but rather a kind of third gender space. Genderqueer is not analogous to the sexual orientation of bisexual in the context of the homo-hetero spectrum of sexuality because it is not a combination of male and female gender roles; instead, genderqueer individuals consider themselves as neither male nor female, but something else entirely. This concept is difficult to grasp in a culture whose cognitive framework is so often founded on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_opposition">binary oppositions</a> and language is equally dependent on these contrasts. Much <a href="http://anthrogender.blogspot.com/">anthropological research</a> exists on gender as it is culturally mandated and performed in other parts of the world, and a glance at this information can sharpen our understanding of gender in our own culture.<br />
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<a href="http://hulamo.com/Educational_Anthropology_at_UAB/What_is_Anthropology.html">Anthropology</a> is useful because it is the <i>attempted</i> scientific study of humans. I emphasize the word attempted because the field's founders and practitioners - though they have certainly strived to proceed ethically - have for the most part failed to be both an objective voice on the reality of human existence and also an advocate for applying that knowledge to real world social and environmental justice problems; in other words, good anthropology is done with and for the people it studies, and it is my understanding that this is a relatively new idea in the discipline. Despite the mistakes of the past, it is because of the diligent research of all previous anthropologists that we have so much data on the diversity of the human experience. <br />
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Most anthropologists recognize that gender is a performance because culturally proscribed gender roles are not dependent on biology. In other words, the behavior and mental categories associated with gender roles are arbitrarily determined by culture, not governed by material differences in men and women. The fact that certain gender roles just happen to pertain to biological females and others to biological males is completely socially determined. For example, in traditional Fiji, the female gender role is associated with inshore marine fishing while all gardening activities are associated with men. This division of activities has nothing to do with the physical inability of Fijian women and men to carry out the gendered behavior of the opposite sex, but rather stems from 3,000 year old traditional cultural values. It is important to note that even though gender is considered a performance of cultural standards of behavior and categories of thought that govern that behavior, gender roles are often strident in a way that the term "performance" does not convey. Individuals who express gender in unique ways can be socially punished and in some cases are even considered "deviant" for violating their culture's gender rules. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirlHjSiRnqxvOTnpPHbd9vcvt7kSfFufHj7M1_cXkPeBZ9L_t19gsk6kCMgZi7dLSeqHgkvjZBWLMrgptdbyLzbgnE_cFLh3Jc3pvIp6AjnfBWwHoJqO_pPEtHsz8g-EW7k_WuOoymeA/s1600/Margaret_Mead.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirlHjSiRnqxvOTnpPHbd9vcvt7kSfFufHj7M1_cXkPeBZ9L_t19gsk6kCMgZi7dLSeqHgkvjZBWLMrgptdbyLzbgnE_cFLh3Jc3pvIp6AjnfBWwHoJqO_pPEtHsz8g-EW7k_WuOoymeA/s400/Margaret_Mead.gif" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margaret Mead and her Samoan collaborators, dressed in traditional barkcloth skirts.</td></tr>
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Early work done by <a href="http://anthropology.usf.edu/women/mead/margaret_mead.htm">Margaret Mead</a> is considered to be the first research in Anthropology to challenge the idea that gender roles are biologically based. In her book <a href="http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=tYLS3mqMa_oC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=Sex+and+Temperament+in+Three+Primitive+Societies&ots=Z32g8plSBN&sig=iRHA9fakM2ozh5QZY4kI5jxJPBE#v=onepage&q&f=false"><i>Sex and Temperament in Three Primitive Societies</i>,</a> Mead compares gender roles among<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #602ce6; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">“the gentle mountain-dwelling Arapesh, the fierce cannibalistic Mundugumor, and the graceful head-hunters of Tchambuli,” and finds that each society expresses female and male gender roles in a different way (1935). Most importantly, the genders and gendered behavior recognized by the societies she studied were different from - and in one case, quite the opposite of - genders and gender roles as they are expressed in American culture. Though this book has since received criticism because of Mead's tendency to generalize data to fit her theory and her sometimes romantic prose, it was nonetheless groundbreaking in its assertion that gender is not innate.</span><br />
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A slightly more recent work by Serena Nanda discusses the third gender class of the Hijras in India. In <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=K1sbAAAAYAAJ&q=inauthor:%22Serena+Nanda%22&dq=inauthor:%22Serena+Nanda%22&hl=en&ei=6UZUTfmZIsiTtwfWtcn-CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA"><i>Neither Man nor Woman</i>,</a> Nanda explores the lives of Hijras, religious groups of men that dress and behave as women, but neither identify nor are identified as women or men (1999). Hijras perform a specific religious role in certain ceremonies in India (mostly weddings and births), and because of their status as individuals of a third gender, are believed to have the power to bless or curse ceremony attendants. However, also because of their status as individuals of a third gender, many Hijras must beg to survive.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLoV6qGZODR2ZgQTcvc3IrndiAc337a_VW3-MFuYNv262a4Ix0fIUvDpB-T1k9LMnR-1hbzzAPTU9nSKj2Qa7nC-vtb4q3zo-qlmvngOudwo0PwK0Dgidyqw1755JYJTZLFi8VgnFmzI/s1600/431adv_003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLoV6qGZODR2ZgQTcvc3IrndiAc337a_VW3-MFuYNv262a4Ix0fIUvDpB-T1k9LMnR-1hbzzAPTU9nSKj2Qa7nC-vtb4q3zo-qlmvngOudwo0PwK0Dgidyqw1755JYJTZLFi8VgnFmzI/s400/431adv_003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">18 year old Sonia in Armritsar, India<br />
Photo Credit: Antonio Di Vico, <a href="http://www.nazcapictures.com/feature_photo.php?id_foto=21701&travel=n">Nazca Pictures</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dBKZ9HgPkicz1feyyXfHyMrodDC9lEWF4-WzbQKtDwp3tGTv5KY7uv1CJJZwSVxjRKLw65HkAy7sd7dOr5gzVgf1lh3X4iZOs8XGkFXHcn23yM5vwNbuVCyP40foDHXb0fsLlfDkFco/s1600/hijra1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dBKZ9HgPkicz1feyyXfHyMrodDC9lEWF4-WzbQKtDwp3tGTv5KY7uv1CJJZwSVxjRKLw65HkAy7sd7dOr5gzVgf1lh3X4iZOs8XGkFXHcn23yM5vwNbuVCyP40foDHXb0fsLlfDkFco/s400/hijra1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://ascqueertheory.blogspot.com/2010/10/comparative-analysis-of-hijras-and-drag.html">ASC Queer Theory Blog</a></td></tr>
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Another frequently cited work by Nanda on the anthropology of gender explores the lives and cultural roles of third genders in indigenous America. Titled "<a href="http://www.waveland.com/Titles/Nanda.htm">Multiple Genders among North American Indians,</a>" the essay discusses how early historical accounts of Native American gender variants referred to them as the Berdache, but that this term stems from the bias of historians because it is derived from the Arabic translation of the phrase "male prostitute." Early misunderstandings of third genders by white anthropologists who could not see beyond their own culture's values have tainted what little evidence we have on the origins and past expressions of these third genders, but studying with existing North American Indians that identify as these genders has improved this. Nanda notes that across American Indian societies, gender variants had these features in common: "transvestism, cross-gender occupation, same sex (but different gender) sexuality, some culturally normative and acknowledged process for recruitment to the role, special language and ritual roles, and associations with spiritual power" (2000:14). More information on Native American gender variants are available <a href="http://people.ucalgary.ca/~ptrembla/aboriginal/two-spirited-american-indian-resources.htm">here</a>. [shameful plug: Nanda's essay appears in <a href="http://sjonesarchaeology.blogspot.com/2010/12/two-new-books-by-cormier-and-jones.html">this introduction to cultural anthropology reader</a>].<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8y7v2fErFRrivMtzQXin6n2_kRIFUE74NjWRAmqcpNwk6GzPvxFtx4Q0xQJ652ew_-FBprI8B1yW2Vlbs9SKnV3EZfOkfWvtkj5FlfD5JEs2l-4EhKX8W1QjsWjDlDhzjwFDhVqXcNik/s1600/crow-two-spirits-1928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8y7v2fErFRrivMtzQXin6n2_kRIFUE74NjWRAmqcpNwk6GzPvxFtx4Q0xQJ652ew_-FBprI8B1yW2Vlbs9SKnV3EZfOkfWvtkj5FlfD5JEs2l-4EhKX8W1QjsWjDlDhzjwFDhVqXcNik/s400/crow-two-spirits-1928.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Two-Spirit" people of the Crow Indians.<br />
Photo credit: <a href="http://www.allyaction.org/s/341/allyaction.aspx?sid=341&gid=1&pgid=1126">AllyAction</a></td></tr>
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While these are just a few examples of gender roles as they occur cross-culturally, they illustrate that just like sexuality, religion, and table manners, gender is not limited to just our culture's categories of expression, but is more like a spectrum of human diversity and possibility. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsQ-xPybQmbIrVBTg9TdJDckMSopl7zu4V6KGEhNcfXUbVQ0G2WKYaFziUm4kXXx7IP1hKMbobesat-qoQHS6-Fc1qk-zT-MauGNTsBkkDbkREhtq7FMYjQlPINSwk3MkE2-WnvpGnvg/s1600/gender-spectrum-visual-mode.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsQ-xPybQmbIrVBTg9TdJDckMSopl7zu4V6KGEhNcfXUbVQ0G2WKYaFziUm4kXXx7IP1hKMbobesat-qoQHS6-Fc1qk-zT-MauGNTsBkkDbkREhtq7FMYjQlPINSwk3MkE2-WnvpGnvg/s400/gender-spectrum-visual-mode.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphic Credit: <a href="http://www.iminflux.com/?p=4">I'm in Flux</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I recently read the fantastic book <i><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=N7htOu37OREC&printsec=frontcover&dq=gender+outlaws&source=bl&ots=MdmaEPGIyo&sig=4Eyu_ha__r9jQGzrJ6X6MN5kJKg&hl=en&ei=uUxUTf6SF862twfe2e3ICQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CF8Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q&f=false">Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation</a></i>, Kate Bornstein and S. Bear Bergman's 2010 update to their 1993 book about members of our culture who bend America's gender rules into something new. Both volumes are composed of original contributions from untraditionally gendered individuals and provide insight to the struggles and triumphs faced by those that choose to create their own gender reality. Like the film "Straightlaced," these books - along with the emergence of <a href="http://www.queertheory.com/">Queer Theory</a> as a social science and the increasing portrayal of <a href="http://glaadblog.org/category/entertainment/">untraditional genders in the media</a> - demonstrate that the movement to go beyond a dual-gendered cultural system is well underway in America. I think an anthropological perspective remains as salient to our culture's understanding of gender today as it has been in the past and can only lend more context to this movement; I hope to use the perspective provided by the cross-cultural lens to ignite social change through my own activism, teaching, and research.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QyND1b3WTUlRonvvugg3ILxHLQDDcLrgs5C6YwMj-I-7OsREcojX_y8RbuI-ovqvkri-xVmEX45_gPV4TEHEjdJPBxjHa-HpnolMwLIE5pNsnd5jpBlxBib9_eIf-tDAy6hgetG4MVA/s1600/126620-bigthumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6QyND1b3WTUlRonvvugg3ILxHLQDDcLrgs5C6YwMj-I-7OsREcojX_y8RbuI-ovqvkri-xVmEX45_gPV4TEHEjdJPBxjHa-HpnolMwLIE5pNsnd5jpBlxBib9_eIf-tDAy6hgetG4MVA/s400/126620-bigthumbnail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The glitter rainbow - an appropriate symbol for the gender spectrum?</td></tr>
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</style>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-83291433058701351632011-01-26T12:20:00.000-06:002011-01-26T12:20:48.224-06:00"Dolphin Ascendant" launch announcementExciting news on the freedom of information front: we have launched a website where all of our digital copies of educational materials will be accessible. Everything from encyclopedias to documentaries to copies of lesson plans and class notes will be available on "dolphin ascendant." It will take a few months to get the hyperlinks working properly and a few more to increase our online storage capacity, but we do have a few things up already. Because of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use">fair use</a> laws, access to the site is limited to people who ask us for permission via email. I personally invision a future where access to information is not limited to those who have the money to afford internet access and educational materials. Unfortunately, this utopic notion is not reality, but perhaps "dolphin ascendant" can play a small part in getting us there. Just zoom an email to <a href="mailto:mydoglikeschz@gmail.com">mydoglikeschz@gmail.com</a> if you are interested in access.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPVLeiM3LiuvqXRnwMyCQAfUpTaXBES0LERvBS2thE7gOopz2mQrQIWWGI8hav_UhYe3oQyFVb0NDq8ym1XvlJNtmdi4gxVwMi6R2ST61ooIW5jN_OEyZH7ZpqxfTTff99v6HLYH-x5s/s1600/DOLPHIN_DELIGHT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPVLeiM3LiuvqXRnwMyCQAfUpTaXBES0LERvBS2thE7gOopz2mQrQIWWGI8hav_UhYe3oQyFVb0NDq8ym1XvlJNtmdi4gxVwMi6R2ST61ooIW5jN_OEyZH7ZpqxfTTff99v6HLYH-x5s/s400/DOLPHIN_DELIGHT.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-41817003831374250102011-01-25T13:19:00.000-06:002011-01-25T13:19:41.508-06:00Upcoming cultural events at UABThis week UAB celebrates Community and Cultural Diversity with different activities on and off campus.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/MediaRelations/briefs/83132/" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">International Bazaar to feature taste of the world </a><br />
Art, jewelry, crafts and food from more than a dozen countries will be on display at UAB's 10th annual International Bazaar from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26 in the Hill University Center Great Hall. The free, public event is part of the campus Community Week, a celebration of cultural diversity.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.uab.edu/" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">Sterne Library to exhibit Tibetan art</a><br />
The Mervyn H. Sterne Library hosts a photographic exhibition of featuring a wide variety of spectacular Buddhist art and vibrant aspects of traditional culture in the Tibetan regions of Asia. It includes images from many areas of the Tibetan-influenced cultural sphere, including Central Tibet, Bhutan, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Ladakh, and Tibetan communities in India at Dharmsala and Bodh Gaya. The show features some 20+ large-scale photographs on display on all three levels of Sterne Library through February.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.uab.edu/lister/news?newsID=1&ID=998" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">See matinees at LHL during for Community Week </a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.uab.edu/lister/news?newsID=1&ID=998" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Lister Hill Library will be showing two movies that present different cultural perspectives during UAB Community Week at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25 and Thursday, Jan. 27 in the Electronic Classroom. Call 975-HUB1 for more information.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.uab.edu/foreignlang/community/foreign-film-series" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">Foreign Film Series to present “Sunflower”</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://www.uab.edu/foreignlang/community/foreign-film-series" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Foreign Film Series presents "Sunflower," a powerful, touching look at the compelling inner dynamics of one post-Cultural Revolution family in Beijing at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25 in Hulsey Recital Hall. See their struggle over 30 years to adjust to each other as the fabric, politics and social mores of Chinese society change ever so rapidly. In Mandarin with English subtitles.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/MediaRelations/briefs/83085/" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank"><i>Outcasts United</i> coach to deliver public lecture</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/MediaRelations/briefs/83085/" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Luma Mufleh, the inspirational coach and founder of the Fugees Soccer Team, comprising young refugees from war-torn nations, will speak at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25 in the HUC Alumni Auditorium. Mufleh's experiences are told in the national bestseller <em>Outcasts United</em>, which is the 2010-11 campus Discussion Book. Mufleh will discuss the importance of community and teamwork in bringing about positive social change and the role of athletics in empowering historically oppressed groups and bringing together people from diverse backgrounds.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/MediaRelations/articles/82878/" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">Fox News commentator Juan Williams to speak during Community Week</a><br />
American journalist and political commentator Juan Williams will deliver a free public lecture during Community Week, UAB's annual celebration of campus diversity, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27 in the HUC Alumni Auditorium.</span>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-38824607983094716362010-12-06T14:48:00.002-06:002010-12-06T14:49:52.779-06:00Historical Ecology Wikiproject - seeking editors<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Below is a copy of the email we sent regarding our new encyclopedic endeavor.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Greetings!<br />
</span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We are undergraduate anthropology students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This past semester we took a course in Historical Ecology in which we were challenged to develop a project that enhanced education in the subject. We chose to create a historical ecology wikiproject to unite diverse researchers interested in improving the quality and quantity of wikipedia articles relevant to the topic of historical ecology, and we invite you to join our efforts. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Specifically, we hope to encourage fellow project editors to join us in researching and composing sections of articles on the historical ecology of their own regions - we have already begun work on a new historical ecology section for the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Jefferson County, Alabama wikipedia article.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> We are seeking anyone interested in investing time and effort into developing similar sections for their own location's wiki article page.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">If we gather enough support and our proposal becomes an actual project, we hope over time the wikiproject will both foster a greater public understanding of human/environment interactions and also encourage dialogue between theoretically diverse researchers from many different bioregions. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us - our information is below. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
Here is the link to our wikiproject proposal page: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Council/Proposals/Historical_Ecology" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/<wbr></wbr>Wikipedia:WikiProject_Council/<wbr></wbr>Proposals/Historical_Ecology</a><br />
For more information on wikiprojects, please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WikiProject<br />
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Thank you for your time, and we look forward to collaborating with you.<br />
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With all our regards and respect,<br />
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Anna McCown<br />
<a href="mailto:admccown@uab.edu" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">admccown@uab.edu</a><br />
<br />
Lindsay Whiteaker<br />
<a href="mailto:lins090@uab.edu" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">lins090@uab.edu</a><br />
<span style="color: #888888;"><br />
Jake Delisle<br />
<a href="mailto:jdelisle@uab.edu" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">jdelisle@uab.edu</a></span></span></div>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-42149871780077192032010-11-18T09:54:00.000-06:002010-11-18T09:54:25.992-06:00Upcoming Cultural Events at UAB<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.uab.edu/MasterCalendar/EventDetails.aspx?data=hHr80o3M7J67csLlvqeJYxPL3hsum6Qc%2bOrpQySC99nxYGl3McMGxM%2btcrwEFQ4rAT4YrTtWXl6ifekCKgOU7wdJUv%2fZwt07ta2ebHnsX7g%3d" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">UAB in Nepal to host free screening of “Himalaya” Nov. 19</a><br />
<em>"</em>Himalaya<em>"</em> is a story set against the backdrop of the Nepalese Himalayas. At an altitude of five thousand meters in the remote mountain region of Dolpo, this is the story of villagers who take a caravan of yaks across the mountains, carrying rock salt from the high plateau down to the lowlands to trade for grain. An annual event, the caravan provides the grain that the villagers depend on to survive the winter. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-size: medium;">Hello everyone!</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-size: medium;">Don't forget about the WSA Game Night tomorrow!</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: black; font-size: medium;">Date: Thursday Nov. 18th</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: black; font-size: medium;">6:00 PM</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: black; font-size: medium;">Place: I - House</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></strong> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #660000; font-size: medium;"><u>FREE DELICIOUS FOOD!</u></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-size: medium;">AWESOME PEOPLE!</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #660000; font-size: medium;">Come and Join us :)</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br clear="all" /><br />
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World Student Association</div>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-42455854571543240022010-11-09T20:05:00.000-06:002010-11-09T20:05:03.429-06:00More gathering adventures<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Update on our booty from last week's gathering trips.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wednesday we traveled a few miles east of Birmingham to gather cane and chert. We scavenged a drainage ditch and discovered several viable (hopefully) pieces of chert, a few fossils, and pebbles for our indoor plants among the fill. Also gathered some dandelion greens and wild onions to toss into a salad and some a few pieces of bamboo from a nearby canebreak. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jake has finished another piece of locally extracted greenstone as well, this time crafting a pendant necklace with in-laid glass beads. </span></span></span></span><br />
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</span>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-33658671996391744602010-11-09T17:22:00.000-06:002010-11-09T17:22:26.228-06:00Considering the "unimaginable" future...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The folks over at <a href="http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/011710.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+worldchanging_fulltext+(WorldChanging.com+Full+Text)">Worldchanging: Bright Green</a> posted a 2007 <a href="http://www.ted.com/">TED talk</a> given by their founder Alex:</span></span><object height="326" width="334"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param><param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/AlexSteffen_2005G-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/AlexSteffen-2005G.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=320&vh=240&ap=0&ti=74&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=alex_steffen_sees_a_sustainable_future;year=2005;theme=design_like_you_give_a_damn;theme=a_greener_future;theme=what_s_next_in_tech;theme=inspired_by_nature;theme=tales_of_invention;theme=not_business_as_usual;event=TEDGlobal+2005;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="334" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/AlexSteffen_2005G-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/AlexSteffen-2005G.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=320&vh=240&ap=0&ti=74&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=alex_steffen_sees_a_sustainable_future;year=2005;theme=design_like_you_give_a_damn;theme=a_greener_future;theme=what_s_next_in_tech;theme=inspired_by_nature;theme=tales_of_invention;theme=not_business_as_usual;event=TEDGlobal+2005;"></embed></object><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He makes some interesting points about the future, namely that a sustainable one is unimaginable because we don't know how (yet) to integrate environmental and human rights concerns into something shareable with all cultures. He then talks about the purpose of Worldchanging as providing information on how this future is already happening worldwide and gives several examples of local solutions in various parts of the global South. Alex's examples show that solutions are most effective when they are developed according to the context of the problems they solve - when they are unique to the environments in which they will be implemented. Such ideas may not necessarily translate to a global scale because they are unique to specific peoples and places. Our readings from our historical ecology class (taught by the righteous and glamorous Sharyn Jones) have been discussing similar issues in terms of activism in Environmental Anthropology. As we all figure out how to navigate our paths to the future , it is imperative to remember that broad systemic changes must take place alongside local, grassroots, context specific movements in order for sustainability to become valued and pursued as a human right. Through this blog and the blogs of our classmates (the <a href="http://uabgardengirls.blogspot.com/">garden girls</a> and the <a href="http://eatmeatfree.blogspot.com/">the pescetarian project</a>), we hope to work from both ends, documenting local and global movements for change</span></span>.Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-19949158654099418762010-11-09T10:53:00.000-06:002010-11-09T10:53:07.708-06:00Birmingham Food Summit Nov. 12-13<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This weekend <a href="http://www.gbcfp.org/">the Greater Birmingham Community Food Partnership</a> is hosting the fifth annual <a href="http://www.foodsummit.org/index.php">Birmingham Food Summit</a>. All currently involved or interested in becoming involved with our local food system are welcome to attend to network, celebrate Birmingham's rich food culture, and talk about issues and solutions regarding food security in central Alabama. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Activities include breakout sessions on a variety of topics including school lunches and community gardens, a bus and bike tour of Birmingham's community gardens, canning classes, a cooking demonstration, and a kid-friendly meal that costs $2.78 per person prepared by Slow Food Birmingham and Whole Foods Market.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.foodsummit.org/scholarship.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Scholarships</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> are available for the conference fees, but applications must be in by Thursday, November 11. Registration for all attendees is required (<a href="http://www.foodsummit.org/register.php">register here</a>).</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hope to see you there!!!</span></span>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-76781711921543260452010-11-09T08:54:00.002-06:002010-11-09T08:57:17.737-06:00Changing Education Paradigms<object width="340" height="85"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zDZFcDGpL4U?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zDZFcDGpL4U?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-66459054022613774472010-11-08T10:11:00.006-06:002010-11-08T10:28:12.558-06:00Upcoming Cultural Event at UAB<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
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<div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="s1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Time</span></span></b></span></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="s1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wednesday, November 17 · 7:00pm - 8:30pm</span></span></span></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"></span></span></span></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="s1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Location</span></span></b></span></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="s1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Heritage Hall Room 102</span></span></span></span></div><div class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="s1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
Did ancient Maya prophesies predict an end of days coming in December of 2012? Is modern science collecting evidence that an apocalypse is indeed upon is? Or are modern spiritualists correct that we are entering a new age of enlightenment and peace? Renowned Maya scholar Dr. Edwin Barnhart will separate fact from fiction in his fascinating lecture, "2012: The End of Days?" on November 17, 2010 at the campus of UAB in Heritage... Hall Room 102 at 7 p.m. This is event is sponsored by the UAB Lecture Series Committee. <br />
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Maya Exploration Center Director, Barnhart has two decades of experience in Mesoamerica as an archaeologist, an explorer and an instructor. While working in Belize, Barnhart discovered the ancient city of Ma'ax Na (Monkey House), a major center of the Classic Maya Period. He mapped over 600 structures at Ma'ax Na between 1995 and 1997 before moving his research focus to Chiapas, Mexico. While working on The Palenque Mapping Project, he documented over 1100 new structures, bringing the site total to almost 1500. The resultant map has been celebrated as one of the most detailed and accurate ever made of a Maya ruin.<br />
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Barnhart received a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001. He is a Fellow of the Explorer's Club and teaches National Science Foundation classes for college professors on Maya astronomy and sacred geometry.<br />
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For more information, please contact the UAB Office of Student Involvement in the Hill University Center Room 440 or call 205.934.8020.</span></span></span></span></div>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-59171393907444122862010-11-03T21:29:00.000-05:002010-11-03T21:29:02.922-05:00Refrigerate Without Electricity and Building Resilient Communities<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out these great excerpts from <a href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/about">YES! magazine</a>, a publication devoted to solutions:</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><img alt="jar illustration" class="image-right image-inline" height="147" src="http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/a-resilient-community/images-55/jar.jpg/image_thumb" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; clear: both; float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0.5em; margin-right: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;" width="114" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pot-in-pot cooler uses the evaporative power of water to draw heat energy away from the contents. In Nigeria, where 90 percent of villages have no electricity, these pots preserve tomatoes for 21 days instead of two or three days.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a well ventilated dry area, place a small clay pot inside a larger clay pot. Fill the space in between them with wet sand and keep it moist. Cover the top with a cloth. Store produce in the inner pot.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the water evaporates, it pulls heat out with it, making the inside pot cold.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From an <a href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/a-resilient-community/crash-course-in-resilience">article</a> on how to build Resilience into a community:</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Build skills.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Many transition initiatives start with learning and teaching skills that are valuable to yourself and others, and that can be practiced without harm to people or nature. If you can repair something, make something, or grow something, offer first aid or do low-tech mechanics, raise farm animals or rig up a solar oven, you can meet some of your immediate needs and swap with neighbors.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many people had these <a class="internal-link" href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/a-resilient-community/can-you-diy" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #8e241b; text-decoration: none;" title="Can You DIY?">skills in our grandparents’ generation</a>. Consider drawing on elders to teach the practical skills they know, perhaps swapping for the skills young people know.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also essential are the interpersonal skills that help people work together to get things done and to resolve conflicts.<strong><br />
</strong></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Learn to live within local means. </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Work toward replacing products and services brought in from long distances with things you can do, make, harvest, or repurpose locally. Consider introducing small-scale animal husbandry, nut and fruit trees, and food processing facilities. Develop local, clean sources of energy. Help restore natural systems so they can be productive and resilient into the future. Use resources frugally and efficiently, and design things to last and to be reused or repurposed.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Include culture and entertainment, and provide opportunities for local artists and performers.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Set it up so people with little cash are included from the start. <a class="internal-link" href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/a-resilient-community/share-your-stuff" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #8e241b; text-decoration: none;" title="Share Your Stuff">Develop means to barter, swap, and share</a>. This will help restore your community’s economy, keep the flow of wealth local, and include the unemployed and low-wage workers.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a good time to look around and notice who your neighbors are, and to begin building systems of mutual support. This collaboration doesn’t need to be framed by dire warnings about the collapse of civilization. It can be as simple as sharing tools, planting a garden together, or holding a neighborhood potluck. If you start by reaching across class and race lines and across “culture war” divides, you will build a strong foundation for action. When things get difficult, the person who can offer the most may be the guy you argue with about politics but who knows how to fix things. Or it could be the young woman who knows how to bring people together in a song, or the grandmother who remembers how things used to be made by hand.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Imagine, adapt, celebrate.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Building your personal resilience will increase the chances that you can help loved ones and the broader community during difficult times.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Get physically fit and healthy, and minimize dependence on high-tech medicine and pharmaceuticals.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Get out of debt.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hone your ability to observe and think for yourself—turn off the pundits, talk to your neighbors, and make up your own mind.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Build a tolerance for uncertainty. A spiritual practice or a calming practice can help you remain centered in times of rapid change.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This may be a time of change, but it needn’t be a time of despair. After all, the enormously expensive (and destructive) way of life we have been living did not bring much happiness or health. By putting life-giving values first, we could well find more rewarding ways of living.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can begin building more joyous ways of life by making the resilience work itself come alive. Encourage imagination and creativity. Have parties. Create liberated spaces. Celebrate at the drop of a hat. Communities throughout the world share music, dance, and storytelling, in secular and sacred contexts. From Appalachian square dances to Mardi Gras parades, from Native American Sun Dance to holy communion, gatherings and celebrations are the glue that hold a community together.</span></div>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-36999786787649872232010-11-03T21:11:00.000-05:002010-11-03T21:11:54.432-05:00The Victory of the Commons<div>Some visitors to the blog have asked for more information on Hardin's Tragedy of the Commons and how it relates to One Th!ng.</div><br />
<div>Hardin's 1968 essay used the following hypothetical example to describe a negative phenomenon that he saw occurring throughout history: A socially stable community of herdsman all graze their cattle in a shared field ("the commons"). One cattleman adds one cow to his herd assuming his actions will have little to no impact on the shared grazing land and its users. The cattleman increases his profits by a small increment, but simultaneously decreases by the same small increment the amount of available grazing land for the rest of the cattlemen's herds. Other cattlemen also add one more animal to their herds, each thinking that "just one more" will not impact the surrounding herdsmen. The result: multiple herd additions lead to a significant decrease in the available grazing land in the shared commons, the land can no longer sustain the herdsmen and their cattle and all move on to consume other greener pastures.</div><br />
<div>It is important to note that Hardin was writing in defense of private property and his interpretations are therefore biased towards his own values. Furthermore, he is not an anthropologist and fails to use any cross-cultural examples to support his ideas (in fact, economist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elinor_Ostrom">Elinor Ostrom</a> has since refuted his Hardin's theory based on evidence from Guatemala, Nepal, and other places and was recently awarded the Nobel Prize for her research). Nonetheless, Hardin's theory explains how and why the negative effects of human activities can grow at exponential rates into unmanageable monsters and reflects how many members of our own culture still approach sustainability efforts: as a lost cause. However, if Hardin's theory is true regarding the negative actions of individuals, could positive actions produce opposite results? Could a different perspective on the concept of the Commons help individuals from diverse cultural contexts unite and work together for causes they share? We think so! The Tragedy of the Commons can be the Victory of the Commons if we apply the same theory to our assumed "small" progressive actions. Our decisions and behavior have repercussions beyond what we can ever know, but ruminating on the negative consequences of our actions can be overwhelming and ultimately is not productive. By changing the way we live a little bit each day, recognizing what we all have in common as the species <i>Homo sapiens sapiens</i> - namely our planet Earth and the future of life on this planet - and working towards a sustainable future, we can change the world.<br />
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Source:<br />
<a href="http://dieoff.org/page95.htm">"The Tragedy of the Commons." Garrett Hardin (1968).</a><br />
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</div>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-46800307596640289422010-11-03T15:50:00.002-05:002010-11-03T23:37:38.793-05:00Upcoming Cultural events at UAB<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Some interesting events happening around campus in the next two weeks for those not interested in homecoming festivities...</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ispstadiumseating.com/pilotFiles/affiliateSchools/thumbs/UAB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://www.ispstadiumseating.com/pilotFiles/affiliateSchools/thumbs/UAB.jpg" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/MediaRelations/briefs/81399/" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How can you help UAB stamp out hunger? </span></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The UAB Hunger and Food Security Initiative will host a luncheon lecture with David Beckmann, the 2010 World Food Prize Laureate, on from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11 in the School of Nursing Rooms 1023-1024. All are invited to attend the event, "Every Student Has a Role in the Fight Against Hunger." A light lunch will be served. Event space is limited ,and registration is required at <a href="http://beckmann.eventbrite.com/" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">beckmann.eventbrite.com</a>.</span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="https://orgsync.com/14215/events/show/166677" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Camacho to discuss Freedom to Thrive Nov. 10</span></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On Nov. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. the Global and Community Honors Program, the UAB Interculture Committee and the UAB Leadership and Service Council will present a lecture from Sarah Camacho, the director of Freedom to Thrive, and a film screening of "Demand," a film from Shared Hope International. Freedom to Thrive is an organization that from a passion during her college years, Camacho started with the mission to eliminate human trafficking in the Greater Birmingham area through raising awareness, increasing collaborative service, and advocating for needed policies and resources.</span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/students/life/leadership/33643/" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Attend a free screening of “The Drummer”</span></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Join the InterCulture Committee during International Education Week to view the Hong-Kong film "The Drummer" on Monday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. in HUC Alumni Auditorium. Free Asian-inspired foods will be available.</span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/students/life/leadership/33626/" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Harlem Nights to be held Nov. 17</span></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Join BSAC for an evening of poetry, music and free food on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. in the HUC Great Hall. This event will feature poems written by UAB students and readings of poetry and works by Harlem Renaissance-era writers.</span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/DOE/ECR/discussionbook/75257/" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Contemporary artists and exile topic of next dialogues</span></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jessica Dallow<strong>, </strong>Ph.D., and associate professor of Art and Art History, will present "Contemporary Artists and Exile" at the UAB Discussion Book Dialogues at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 18 in Heritage Hall Building Room 549. For more information contact Juanita Sizemore at<a href="mailto:jsizemor@uab.edu" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">jsizemor@uab.edu</a>. This event is free and open to the public. A complete listing of UAB Discussion Book activities can be found <a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/DOE/ECR/discussionbook/75257/" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank">online</a>.</span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/MediaRelations/briefs/81506/" style="color: #0658b5;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Foreign film screening and fundraiser to be held Nov. 9</span></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">UAB's Le Club F will host a free foreign-film screening and scholarship fundraiser Tuesday, Nov. 9 in the Hulsey Recital Hall. The film is director Jean Renoir's 1937 "La Grande Illusion," considered to be one of the first prison-break movies ever made. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and the film will begin at 7:45 p.m. Club F will sell raffle tickets starting at 6:30 for $1 each and proceeds will be used to create a study-abroad scholarship for French students.</span></span></div>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-15713498868314248002010-11-02T19:03:00.005-05:002010-11-09T20:08:42.418-06:00El Dia de los Muertos and Treasure Hunting<div>Spent the evening at the Bare Hands Gallery over on 21st avenue south celebrating the Mexican holiday that commemorates loved ones who have passed on through colorful art and dance.</div><div>Learn more here:</div>http://www.barehandsgallery.org/dotd-history.html<br />
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</div><div>Afterwards we went dumpster diving at Window World on University. We are beginning to scavenge the city for materials for the biointensive garden we are planning. Tonight's run yielded four 2x4's, a decent piece of plywood, a 3 ft. long 4x4, and two windows. That is some serious loot gain with relatively little work.</div><div><br />
</div><div>We hope to acquire most of the materials needed for upcoming projects in a similar fashion. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKhzq6EtEX0Q9ZKMRS31pVXgm5UZGFbqrvtaRxzKKC5Mw_tzoPqfRJe0rmX9y76t6skl5gyWE9XfGz1Khcd-B5N4jx7LRfnN2PrFIsC7f2MY8qHc0DLeAe46S76PbZTEbG1WQiegc1_A/s1600/DSCF4076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKhzq6EtEX0Q9ZKMRS31pVXgm5UZGFbqrvtaRxzKKC5Mw_tzoPqfRJe0rmX9y76t6skl5gyWE9XfGz1Khcd-B5N4jx7LRfnN2PrFIsC7f2MY8qHc0DLeAe46S76PbZTEbG1WQiegc1_A/s320/DSCF4076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
</div>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-58248580132320461582010-11-02T11:53:00.005-05:002010-11-03T20:31:13.176-05:00Get out the Vote<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WO8J1XRNYS0vvqVvytSBT3h23q3JboDid1-zhew_hRaZHStbaW6UdT-f_tEnrSCW3L2v89MeuXMSFloEwEd6RuYZ7J-saUChhGq4yWbc5GrDu6DA2Z0DZqaBwdY43m_2IIxn-pUrW9k/s1600/vote!.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534997695967870802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WO8J1XRNYS0vvqVvytSBT3h23q3JboDid1-zhew_hRaZHStbaW6UdT-f_tEnrSCW3L2v89MeuXMSFloEwEd6RuYZ7J-saUChhGq4yWbc5GrDu6DA2Z0DZqaBwdY43m_2IIxn-pUrW9k/s320/vote!.jpeg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 184px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 274px;" /></a> <br />
One thing that makes a huge difference: voting. Even if it involves choosing the lesser of many evils, its worth it to ensure that there is less evil in office.<br />
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</div><div>Find your polling place here:</div><div>http://reformimmigrationforamerica.org/blog/voting/</div><div><br />
</div><div>More info about voting courtesy of moveon.org:</div><div><br />
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<div class="p1" style="text-align: left;"><span class="s1"><b>Election 2010 Voting Information - Share Widely</b></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1">Today, November 2nd, is Election Day! Make sure to get out and vote. Voting is pretty simple, but if you have any questions, here's an outline of helpful information. Please share this information widely--forward this email, and post it on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fpol.moveon.org%2Felectioninfo2010.html%2F%3Frc%3Dmanual_forward.fb.share.3"><span class="s2">Facebook</span></a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/home?status=RT%20%40MoveOn%20Today%2C%20Nov.%202%2C%20is%20%23electionday%21%20Questions%20about%20where%2C%20when%2C%20how%20to%20vote%3F%20Answers%20here%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F9x2CCT%20Share%20widely%21"><span class="s2">Twitter</span></a>. </span>(Reading this on your mobile phone? You can get voting info here: <a href="http://m.google.com/elections"><span class="s2">m.google.com/elections</span></a>)</div><div class="p3"><span class="s1"></span> </div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>Where and when do I vote?</b></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"> - Find your polling place, voting times, and other important information at <a href="http://pol.moveon.org/votinginfo2010.html"><span class="s2">http://pol.moveon.org/votinginfo2010.html</span></a>, using an application developed by the Voting Information Project.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"> - You can also get your polling location by texting "where" to 30644 from your mobile phone.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"> - These resources are excellent, but not perfect, so to double-check information, you can use the <a href="http://pol.moveon.org/votinginfo2010.html/"><span class="s2">Voting Information Project application</span></a> to find contact information for your state or local election official.</span></div><div class="p3"><span class="s1"></span> </div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>What do I need to bring?</b></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"> - Voting ID laws vary from state to state, but if you have ID, bring it. To find out the details, check out your state's info at<a href="http://www.866ourvote.org/state"><span class="s2">http://www.866ourvote.org/state</span></a>.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"></span> - You can also find more information by calling or checking out the website of your state election official. Look up their contact information here: <a href="http://pol.moveon.org/votinginfo2010.html/"><span class="s2">http://pol.moveon.org/votinginfo2010.html/</span></a></div><div class="p3"><span class="s1"></span> </div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>What if something goes wrong? </b></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"> - Not on the voter list? Make sure you're at the right polling place, then ask for a provisional ballot.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"> - Need legal help? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE or email <a href="mailto:help@866ourvote.org"><span class="s2">help@866ourvote.org</span></a>.</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"> - The League of Young Voters has put together a site where groups and individuals can post do-it-yourself voter guides. Check out your state here: <a href="http://theballot.org/"><span class="s2">http://theballot.org/</span></a></span></div><div class="p3"><span class="s1"></span> </div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"><b>How can I help get out the vote today?</b></span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"> - Make calls to voters right from your home: <a href="http://pol.moveon.org/2010/call/start.html"><span class="s2">http://pol.moveon.org/2010/call/start.html</span></a></span></div><div class="p3"><span class="s1"></span> </div><div class="p3"><span class="s1"></span> </div><div class="p2"><span class="s1"> And a quote to remind us all how important it is to vote today...</span></div><div class="p2"><span class="s1">"<i>Because if everyone who fought for change in 2008 shows up to vote in 2010, we will win this election, I'm confident that we will</i>." --President Barack Obama</span></div></div><div><br />
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</span></h2></div>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5474161194139014175.post-1528120420301335392009-03-28T18:20:00.005-05:002011-02-20T19:01:35.332-06:00What is One Th!ng?One Th!ng seeks to accomplish three goals:<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">1. To inspire people to act by</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">putting the power for change in the hands of the individual. </span> <br />
As I've grown older I've learned some wonderful things about the world and the living things that inhabit it. I've also had to face the consequences of the actions of humans, the actions of myself. The problems that we -- that <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> -- have caused to other individuals and to the planet are deep and seemingly insurmountable. Classmates from my global issues course shared these feelings of frustration with themselves and the problems, and harbored guilt for not acting to combat them. Most of them seemed to feel like world problems are simply too large for any one person to change. I questioned some acquaintances outside of class and they agreed, most of them saying that individual efforts are pointless in the grand scheme of global issues. One Th!ng desires to change this line of thinking, acting out Garrett Hardin's idea of the Tragedy of the Commons in reverse. By doing one thing one time, no matter how small, for others or for the planet, an individual creates one positive change in the world. This individual is not alone in her or his actions; others have been and are doing things as well, making each individual's one thing apart of a larger movement towards change. Also, by encouraging individuals to engage in just one thing, One Th!ng seeks to remove the guilt that daily, weekly, annual, etc. committments to action or monetary donations often cause when the committment is not kept. However, I've found it nearly impossible to stop at one since I adopted the One Th!ng mindset!<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">2. To provide individuals with resources to carry out their One Th!ng for causes that matter to them.<br />
</span>As One Th!ng develops I hope to include links to foundations and organizations arranged by cause and geographic location, as well as lists of small things each of us can do to make a big difference. <br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">3. To facilitate the sharing of ideas among One TH!ng-ers and the global community.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Operating on the premise that groups of individuals have more things in common than not, One Th!ng's greater aim is to encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to participate in a campaign for a common goal: global change through individual action. Visitors to the site are encouraged to post ideas, links, testimonies, photos, etc. from their experiences doing One Th!ng, voice their thoughts on and constructive critiques of One Th!ng and its participants, and to engage with individuals across the globe in the exchange of ideas. <br />
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(click <a href="http://onethingcampaign.blogspot.com/2010/11/victory-of-commons.html">here</a> to navigate to a follow-up post on the Victory of the Commons)<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Anna McCownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10837800034293577104noreply@blogger.com1