A perennial challenge in efforts to deal with environmental issues is the question of how to simplify. As such, where and when one simplifies is often a source of conflict, but perversely also paramount to finding a solution. This thesis focuses on one long-standing environmental issue, the whaling debate. Specifically, it performs a strategically sited microethnography of Faroese whaling, grindadráp, exploring linkages between actions on local and international scales. This thesis aims to contribute to environmental sociological efforts to analyse and resolve complex socio-environmental problems. The five papers that together constitute this thesis collectively provide a description of grindadráp from the local scale of the bays where pilot whales are killed to the international forums where whaling as a whole remains an issue at the heart of an on-going, deadlocked conflict. Primarily based on three months’ fieldwork in the Faroe Islands, this thesis combines observation, interviews, media and other literature. The theoretical lenses employed are that of the ‘ontological turn’ and the ‘theory of sociocultural viability’ (cultural theory). The former utilised as a tool for ethnographic practice with the latter used to analyse how different perspectives on reality manifest throughout the whaling conflict. This thesis demonstrates that grindadráp has changed through time as a result of the interactions between actors with different views on the matter at hand. However, in contrast to the global whaling debate, this interaction has been mostly constructive, with appropriate changes in practice ensuring grindadráp’s continued popularity within the Faroe Islands. Furthermore, its continuation will likely depend on grindadráp’s continued ability to balance different perspectives. This thesis thus echoes environmental sociological calls for improved dialogue in the framing and resolution of environmental disputes, suggesting that cultural theory provides a tool that balances relativism and pragmatism in dealing with complex environmental problems.

A perceived opposition between 'culture' and 'nature', presented as a dominant, biased and antagonistic relationship, is engrained in the language of Western culture. This opposition is reflected in, and adversely influences, our treatment of the ecosphere. I argue that through the study of literature, we can deconstruct this opposition and that such an ‘ecocritical’ operation is imperative if we are to avoid environmental catastrophe. I examine the way language influences our relationship with the world and trace the historical conception of ‘nature’ and its influence on the English language. The whale is, for many people, an important symbol of the natural world, and human interaction with these animals is an indication of our attitudes to the natural world in general. By focusing on whale texts (including older narratives, whaling books, novels and other whale-related texts), I explore the portrayal of whales and the natural world. Lastly, I suggest that Schopenhaurean thought, which has affinities in Moby-Dick, offers a cogent approach to ecocritically reading literature.

Contemporary resource use on Indigenous lands is not often well understood by the general public. In particular, there is a perception that traditional and commercial resource use are mutually exclusive, and therefore there is often an assumption that Indigenous communities are abandoning their traditional economy when they participate in the commercial sector of the larger regional economy. This perceived tension between traditional and commercial resource use is caused in part by a limited understanding of the participation of Indigenous peoples in commercial industries historically and the subsequent process of the commercialization of some aspects of Indigenous peoples pre-contact economies. This dissertation examines the seasonal cycle of activities and the patterns of consumption and production of the Indigenous peoples who participated in the fur trade at Ile a la Crosse in northwestern Saskatchewan and the whaling industry at the Otakou shore station in southern New Zealand. A systematic analysis of the daily journals and accounting records kept by company employees in these two regions demonstrate that participation in these industries allowed the Indigenous economies to be transformed from pre-contact times. While this participation did not completely subsume the Indigenous economies, the changes that were made created a need for the Indigenous people to continue accessing the European-style goods that had been incorporated into their livelihoods, a need that was exacerbated as local resources declined as a result of over-use. Thus, there is a need to re-conceptualize what is generally thought of as the traditional economy. The traditional economy in contemporary Indigenous communities is often perceived as an Indigenous approach to resource use that has changed little, except perhaps in the technology used, from pre-contact times. This dissertation, however, clearly demonstrates that participation in commercial industries historically encouraged the adaptation of Indigenous economies in response to changing opportunities and circumstances. It becomes clear then that the so-called traditional economy of today, is an Indigenous economy that has already been shaped and influenced by participation in historical commercial economies. Understanding the adaptability of Indigenous economies has important implications for economic development initiatives in Indigenous communities today. / Comparative Indigenous Economic History

Whaling is one of the longstanding environmental controversies that has sharply divided perceptions and allegiances on a global scale. Despite the international moratorium on commercial whaling, Japan remains one of the few nations that continues to hunt and consume whales for food under the name of “scientific research.” Yet, given the highly polarized and value-laden nature of this environmental controversy, Japan’s resolute pro-whaling stance appears puzzling for whaling has become an economically, socially, and politically insignificant industry within the country. Drawing on fieldwork conducted at a Tokyo-based whaling company, my research explores why and how this marginal industry has survived today amidst fierce international criticism. In this dissertation, I investigate the process of institutionalization and forms of discursive practices by means of which state and industrial actors secure whaling and constrain environmentalist mobilizations. I examine the ways in which both formal and informal political networks are formed across political, bureaucratic, and corporate institutions. I situate this small-elite echelon of pro-whaling protagonists against a backdrop of wider ideological legitimizations, namely cultural and scientific discourses that shape public opinion and perception toward whaling in Japan. By closely examining their organizational and representative practices, this study illustrates how they acquire political power, material advantage, and legitimacy to continue scientific whaling as a state project in Japan. / Anthropology

No description available.

This thesis is an investigation into, and a gathering of evidence on, the various ways in which two iconic species, whales and elephants, and the two conventions which govern their management, the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) and the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), are linked in international law and politics. After explaining the nature of international conventions governing wildlife species generally, the respective histories of the two conventions are considered: first, that of the ICRW is considered, together with its strengths, weaknesses and current position; after which a similar assessment is made of CITES. The history of linkage between the two is considered, including attempts made to use the one to undercut the other. Various aspects of the protection, use and management of the two species are then canvassed; and it is shown how important political actors hold apparently mutually exclusive views. Throughout, the position of South Africa is particularly considered. The importance of protecting biological diversity is then considered, together with the potential harmonising role of the 1989 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the political stances of various countries, together with ongoing analysis of efforts to effect change. The natures of whales and elephants as symbols, and as special animals, are then considered. In conclusion, it is explained that both treaties could work if the political drive was present - but that this is currently absent, and the environment is suffering whilst politicians argue over the best courses to follow to protect natural resources. It is suggested that the reason that the arguments in respect of whales and elephants, the ICRW and CITES, are so bitter is because so much is at stake - for the fight on this battleground is not simply about the particular species, but the course the world as a whole should follow in all of its use of natural resources. Understanding the links between species and between treaties helps us to understand alternative possible courses. By exploring one such set of links that has not previously been analysed, the research presented in this thesis is intended to make a contribution to that understanding (both internationally and within South Africa). / Thesis (LL.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

No description available.

xiv, 240 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / The use of rhetoric to frame policy issues often influences the amount of attention countries pay to international issues and the level of support for those issues. Often, domestic and international actors present different descriptions of policy issues in order to advance their own views and change the international agenda. Despite frequent attempts to change the international agenda and the importance of agendas for policy formation, our understanding of the factors that contribute to why particular issues get international attention is limited. This project develops a theoretical understanding of the development of the international agenda, how issues on that agenda are framed, and why agendas change over time. The project contributes to international relations theory by understanding the factors responsible for increasing attention to issues, and the factors that influence how states define the problems on the international agenda that may eventually become part of international treaties and organizations. The project redefines agendas through a constructivist approach where individuals interpret real phenomena through frames. Rhetoric's influence on agenda changes described in this project also demonstrates a mechanism through which the soft power of attraction changes international outcomes. The project takes a positivist approach to analyzing constructivist and realist causes of agenda changes. The project tests specific implications of these theories of international agenda development and issue framing by examining the case of international efforts to address whaling. The project demonstrates the importance of polarity in enabling changes in attention from security to non-security issues and the importance of rhetoric in causing changes in issue frames. / Committee in charge: Ronald Mitchell, Chairperson, Political Science; Craig Parsons, Member, Political Science; Lars Skalnes, Member, Political Science; Jean Stockard, Outside Member, Planning Public Policy & Mgmt

A presente pesquisa integra os esforços de um projeto mais amplo que é aquele definido pelo Programa Arqueológico do Baixo Vale do Ribeira, coordenado pela Profª Drª Maria Cristina Mineiro Scatamacchia, e que, de forma sucinta, objetiva a produção de conhecimento arqueológico sobre as diferentes sociedades humanas que ocuparam, desde o período pré-histórico, a planície costeira de Cananéia-Iguape. No nosso caso, especificamente, a proposta foi a de agregar a esse esforço de pesquisa, o espaço insular do Bom Abrigo, propondo interpretações sobre os exemplares de cultura material aí presentes e seu papel no processo de formação e desenvolvimento da sociedade histórica que se estabeleceu no território brasileiro a partir do século XVI, em particular daquelas comunidades da planície costeira de Cananéia-Iguape. O foco de nossa discussão é aquele definido pela "Arqueologia Marítima", que procura analisar os diferentes aspectos do que podemos classificar como uma "cultura marítima" e de sua importância dentro dos processos sociais, políticos e econômicos produzidos pela diferentes sociedades humanas. Essa relação com o ambiente marítimo se reflete, também, na nossa metodologia de pesquisa que tem, como destaque, o emprego de técnicas de arqueologia subaquática. Em linhas gerais, a pesquisa realiza uma macro-análise da Ilha do Bom Abrigo, propondo interpretações sobre três diferentes contextos de interesse arqueológico aí identificados, a saber: a armação baleeira, o complexo faroleiro e a Enseada da Prainha. Em todos eles visamos discutir a importância do papel da cultura marítima dentro do processo de formação e desenvolvimento da sociedade comercial-mercantil capitalista que se instalou na região da planície costeira de Cananéia-Iguape, a partir dos primeiros anos do século XVI, e que serviu de base para a formação da atual sociedade brasileira. / The present research integrates efforts from a wider-ranging project which is defined by the Archeological Program from Baixo Vale do Ribeira coordinated by Professor Maria Cristina Mineiro Scatamacchia. The Archeological Program from Baixo Vale do Ribeira aims, in short, the production of archeological knowledge about different human societies that occupied the coastal plain Cananéia-Iguape since the pre historical period. In this case, specifically, the proposal was to aggregate into the research efforts the Bom Abrigo Island, presenting interpretations on the material culture found there and its role in the formation and development process of the historical society that was established in the Brazilian territory from the XVI century on , in particular of those communities from the coastal plain Cananéia-Iguape. The focus of our discussion is defined by the Maritime Archeology which analyzes the different aspects of what we can classify as a maritime culture and its importance in the social, political and economical processes produced by the different human societies. This relation with the maritime environment is also reflected in our research methodology which applies techniques of underwater archeology. In a broad sense, the research performs a macro analyzes of the Bom Abrigo Island proposing interpretations about three different contexts of archeological interest identified there: the whaling station, the lighthouse complex and the "Prainha" bay. In the three contexts we aimed to discuss the importance of the maritime culture in the formation and development process of the commercial, mercantile, capitalist society which was established in the coastal plain Cananéia-Iguape from the very first years in the XVI century, and which served as a basis for the formation of the current Brazilian society.

A presente pesquisa integra os esforços de um projeto mais amplo que é aquele definido pelo Programa Arqueológico do Baixo Vale do Ribeira, coordenado pela Profª Drª Maria Cristina Mineiro Scatamacchia, e que, de forma sucinta, objetiva a produção de conhecimento arqueológico sobre as diferentes sociedades humanas que ocuparam, desde o período pré-histórico, a planície costeira de Cananéia-Iguape. No nosso caso, especificamente, a proposta foi a de agregar a esse esforço de pesquisa, o espaço insular do Bom Abrigo, propondo interpretações sobre os exemplares de cultura material aí presentes e seu papel no processo de formação e desenvolvimento da sociedade histórica que se estabeleceu no território brasileiro a partir do século XVI, em particular daquelas comunidades da planície costeira de Cananéia-Iguape. O foco de nossa discussão é aquele definido pela "Arqueologia Marítima", que procura analisar os diferentes aspectos do que podemos classificar como uma "cultura marítima" e de sua importância dentro dos processos sociais, políticos e econômicos produzidos pela diferentes sociedades humanas. Essa relação com o ambiente marítimo se reflete, também, na nossa metodologia de pesquisa que tem, como destaque, o emprego de técnicas de arqueologia subaquática. Em linhas gerais, a pesquisa realiza uma macro-análise da Ilha do Bom Abrigo, propondo interpretações sobre três diferentes contextos de interesse arqueológico aí identificados, a saber: a armação baleeira, o complexo faroleiro e a Enseada da Prainha. Em todos eles visamos discutir a importância do papel da cultura marítima dentro do processo de formação e desenvolvimento da sociedade comercial-mercantil capitalista que se instalou na região da planície costeira de Cananéia-Iguape, a partir dos primeiros anos do século XVI, e que serviu de base para a formação da atual sociedade brasileira. / The present research integrates efforts from a wider-ranging project which is defined by the Archeological Program from Baixo Vale do Ribeira coordinated by Professor Maria Cristina Mineiro Scatamacchia. The Archeological Program from Baixo Vale do Ribeira aims, in short, the production of archeological knowledge about different human societies that occupied the coastal plain Cananéia-Iguape since the pre historical period. In this case, specifically, the proposal was to aggregate into the research efforts the Bom Abrigo Island, presenting interpretations on the material culture found there and its role in the formation and development process of the historical society that was established in the Brazilian territory from the XVI century on , in particular of those communities from the coastal plain Cananéia-Iguape. The focus of our discussion is defined by the Maritime Archeology which analyzes the different aspects of what we can classify as a maritime culture and its importance in the social, political and economical processes produced by the different human societies. This relation with the maritime environment is also reflected in our research methodology which applies techniques of underwater archeology. In a broad sense, the research performs a macro analyzes of the Bom Abrigo Island proposing interpretations about three different contexts of archeological interest identified there: the whaling station, the lighthouse complex and the "Prainha" bay. In the three contexts we aimed to discuss the importance of the maritime culture in the formation and development process of the commercial, mercantile, capitalist society which was established in the coastal plain Cananéia-Iguape from the very first years in the XVI century, and which served as a basis for the formation of the current Brazilian society.