This thesis investigates how community groups make use of hypermedia technology to tell their stories. Hypermedia software can enable multimedia and multi-linear production which brings new modes of expression and approaches to organising material which can lead to new ways of telling a community story. Using Ricoeur's consideration of the role of imagination in social action, it is argued that storytelling is an important process in maintaining and strengthening community. A review of community media production reinforces this argument that story is integral to community experience and action and considers how this is influenced by choice and engagement with media technology. Hypermedia as both a technology and a form for community representation and story as well as approaches for facilitating the use of hypermedia software in community or participatory media production are explored through a hypermedia storytelling project with St Paul's Carnival Association, Bristol, UK. This project was both observed and facilitated by the author which allowed privileged access to the emerging process. Different methodological approaches were required to accommodate these different roles. Facilitation approaches were borrowed from participatory development and community media which favour participant-led processes. The approach to observation borrows from ethnomethodology in that it favours the participants' accounts of their production and is influenced by Certeau's account of tactical and strategic activity. Analysis of the case study suggests that hypermedia technology can be used to produce rich representations of community experience. Theprocess of production is shaped in particular ways by choice of media, context of production and motivations of participants. Particular attention is drawn to the following aspects: • How hypermedia story making relates to community identity and action including the dynamic between individual and collaborative practices and motivations; • the process of storymaking as a community project including participants' tactical engagement with both story and technology; • the form of the emerging hypermedia community story in particular the collage-like nature of hypermedia production and the appropriateness of this form for the partial and provisional nature of community story; • the role of the facilitator; Suggestions are made for a framework for community-based hypermedia production

This thesis contends that conservative academic culture and the predominance of science-based courses can block the inclusion of green education into tertiary curricula. In the study, I used a participatory action research approach, embedded in a critical research paradigm, in order to work with interested students and community groups as well as academia at the University of Canberra. During the research period, I aimed to further develop green education on the campus, while observing responses of academia, students and environmentally related community groups. Data were analysed using an analytical model linking education with social change. The thesis addresses the following questions: how do students demonstrate their interest in environmental sustainability; why are formal studies within an institution unable to respond to student interest; what characterises the gap between formal university studies and non-formal environmental education in relevant community groups; what is green education, how is it put into practice, and does it bridge the gap between formal studies and community-based environmental education. The study found that the environmental science-based course at the university was focussed on the transmission of knowledge rather than the teaching of contemporary problem solving in the form of green education. The formal environmental education of the university setting varied greatly in terms of purpose, culture, values and philosophy from the environmental education of the community, which was compatible with the theory of green education. Communication between academia and community groups was minimal. The study also demonstrates that following student activities, green education has now been implemented in many universities around the globe, resulting in a breakdown of the barrier between formal and nonformal education sectors. Students have set-up and maintained links with the green education practiced by community groups, and have then brought ideas of green education into universities. Recommendations are made for green education at the University of Canberra.

Environmental decision making processes are subject to diverse and at times conflicting pressures. On one hand, an enlightenment perspective places high value on scientific information about complex environmental phenomena, thus encouraging highly trained experts to perform research, interpret results, and provide advice to decision makers. On the other, international and domestic efforts to apply the concept of sustainable development tend to promote an enhanced role for non-expert knowledge and increased opportunities for public participation in decisions that affect local environments and livelihoods. Complicating this scenario further are debates within governments about how to allocate limited resources for environmental research and management. Citizen environmental monitoring initiatives provide an opportunity to examine these considerations as they play out in a variety of settings. From local, grassroots citizen groups to regional networks with government support, a wide range of monitoring programs exist that involve volunteers in gathering environmental information using scientific methods. Many groups attempt to apply their findings to planning initiatives, policy development or environmental law enforcement at local or regional levels. These efforts may blur the distinction between scientific and local knowledge, while raising questions about the relative legitimacy of experts and citizens as producers of knowledge for use in environmental decision making. Using a case study approach, this thesis explores factors affecting the application of information gathered through citizen environmental monitoring programs to decision making processes and outcomes in Comox Valley, British Columbia, and Hamilton and Muskoka, Ontario. Semi-formal interviews were conducted in all three locations with coordinators of citizen groups that perform environmental monitoring, as well as with government representatives who have some involvement with the same citizen monitoring initiatives. Key themes affecting the use of citizen monitoring information emerged from the study, including political will on the part of local decision makers, scientific rigour and data quality of citizen monitoring efforts, and perceived legitimacy of citizen groups in terms of their organizational stability and reputations. Suggestions are presented for overcoming obstacles in each of these areas. The research also identifies further issues that affect the application of citizen-collected data such as the level of matching between the information priorities of citizen groups and governments, as well as collaborative arrangements between program partners. On these issues, interviewees shared their ideal scenarios for citizen monitoring programs with respect to funding, partnership strategies, and best roles for volunteers, citizen groups, and governments who are involved in citizen environmental monitoring programs. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that future research investigate further the issues of power sharing, agenda setting, and mutual trust between citizen groups and governments at the local level.

Environmental decision making processes are subject to diverse and at times conflicting pressures. On one hand, an enlightenment perspective places high value on scientific information about complex environmental phenomena, thus encouraging highly trained experts to perform research, interpret results, and provide advice to decision makers. On the other, international and domestic efforts to apply the concept of sustainable development tend to promote an enhanced role for non-expert knowledge and increased opportunities for public participation in decisions that affect local environments and livelihoods. Complicating this scenario further are debates within governments about how to allocate limited resources for environmental research and management. Citizen environmental monitoring initiatives provide an opportunity to examine these considerations as they play out in a variety of settings. From local, grassroots citizen groups to regional networks with government support, a wide range of monitoring programs exist that involve volunteers in gathering environmental information using scientific methods. Many groups attempt to apply their findings to planning initiatives, policy development or environmental law enforcement at local or regional levels. These efforts may blur the distinction between scientific and local knowledge, while raising questions about the relative legitimacy of experts and citizens as producers of knowledge for use in environmental decision making. Using a case study approach, this thesis explores factors affecting the application of information gathered through citizen environmental monitoring programs to decision making processes and outcomes in Comox Valley, British Columbia, and Hamilton and Muskoka, Ontario. Semi-formal interviews were conducted in all three locations with coordinators of citizen groups that perform environmental monitoring, as well as with government representatives who have some involvement with the same citizen monitoring initiatives. Key themes affecting the use of citizen monitoring information emerged from the study, including political will on the part of local decision makers, scientific rigour and data quality of citizen monitoring efforts, and perceived legitimacy of citizen groups in terms of their organizational stability and reputations. Suggestions are presented for overcoming obstacles in each of these areas. The research also identifies further issues that affect the application of citizen-collected data such as the level of matching between the information priorities of citizen groups and governments, as well as collaborative arrangements between program partners. On these issues, interviewees shared their ideal scenarios for citizen monitoring programs with respect to funding, partnership strategies, and best roles for volunteers, citizen groups, and governments who are involved in citizen environmental monitoring programs. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that future research investigate further the issues of power sharing, agenda setting, and mutual trust between citizen groups and governments at the local level.

This research investigates the emergence of new participatory spaces in the transition towards a low-carbon society. Specifically, it focuses on the emerging spaces and roles for community groups in renewable energy governance. The role of community groups in facilitating a low-carbon transition has received much attention in recent years, but has been insufficiently studied within the wider context of evolving state-civil society relations. This research puts forward an understanding of community energy initiatives that is neither inherently celebratory nor dismissive of community action, but argues that such initiatives should be understood based on the interactions – between practices, organisations and relations – within and external to these communities. In doing so, this research adopts an interdisciplinary approach, building on insights from both geography and political science to understand how opportunities for community participation are articulated in particular geographical and political contexts. Grounding this research in Scotland shows the unique ways in which devolution – from the UK Government to the Scottish Government, but primarily through the emerging powers for community groups in Scotland – has created a set of spatially and temporally-specific spaces and practices of intervention. The devolution of energy governance, and the diversity of practices emerging through this process, also raises questions, however, about the democratic qualities of these new spaces and practices. This research specifically explores this issue through building on the emerging concept of energy democracy. ‘Energy democracy’ is a concept that has been adopted by a growing number of international civil society actors who regard the transition to law-carbon energy sources as an opportunity not only for technological innovation but also for wider socio-economic transformation. Invoking an image of associative democracy, those advocating for greater energy democracy consider self-governing community groups as best placed to ensure that the transition towards a low-carbon society is one that is more inclusive, democratic and just. While energy democracy, like related concepts of energy citizenship and energy justice, aims to combine technological and social transformation, its activist roots also means it is noticeably different. This is evident in two ways. First, the current body of literature is largely uncritical and rather vague in nature. The second consequence of the activist roots of energy democracy is that it is diverse in its framing of the issue and its formulation of desired transition pathways. As its main contribution to existing academic debate, my thesis explores and expands the conceptual foundations of ‘energy democracy’ by evaluating its connections to different political theories, and the consequences of different interpretations for energy democracy research and practice. Secondly, I seek to develop the empirical evidence base for energy democracy. The current, primarily activist, literature on energy democracy often assumes rather than demonstrates that the forms of governance it promotes are more democratic than the status quo. This PhD therefore sets out to analyse the complex and varied ways in which local communities practice energy governance in Scotland. First, I introduce a quantitatively-developed typology of community energy projects in Scotland to highlight the diverse nature of the sector. Subsequently I demonstrate through qualitative interviews with community groups how the diversity of the sector (both within and between groups) both contributes to, and challenges, the democratic claims made for and by community energy. In the final part I show that the hybridity of spaces created by, and for, community energy intermediaries reflect the interactions between policy and community-action. Through a focus on the interaction between actors at different governance levels, my research helps to improve an understanding of the creation and contestation of new spaces of intervention in the Scottish energy transition as a process that not only reflects a broader (re)structuring of state-civil society relations, but also provides an early and somewhat experimental expression of such restructuring.

This study aims to explore how social workers and community groups in southern Nigeria understand and interpret women's roles in witchcraft related violence and the implications those views have on the handling of such violence. This topic is of relevance for social work since knowledge about this problem can increase the awareness of violence and its implications when meeting clients that are exposed to it.     The study was conducted with an ethnographical approach using a combination of participant observations, semi structured and un-structured forms of interviews’ and seven focus group discussions. Four of the focus groups consisted of social workers who work with empowerment and advocacy for women and girls in Edo-state. The other three were made up of locals in a suburb of Benin City. In this study, I used Clifford Geertz (1973) interpretive anthropology as a comprehensive theory in analysing the results and the theoretical concepts from Mann Huyng Hurs (2006) theory on stages of Empowerment; an existing social disturbance, Conscientizing, Mobilizing, Maximizing and creating a new order. The results of this study show that understandings and interpretations of women’s role in witchcraft-related violence by the participating social workers and community members influences their views on what is to be considered violence and who are to be considered victims. Their views also influence their containment strategies and approaches on how to handle this violence.

Community journalists, most of whom work and live in small towns, are likely to create personal relationships with sources and local organizations because of their proximity and involvement in the community. Such relationships may raise ethical questions that explore how journalists manage personal ties in the community. Using a grounded theory approach, the researcher analyzed 15 qualitative, in-depth interviews, this research examined ways in which journalists in six Western communities weigh their personal relationships against traditional journalism norms such as objectivity and detachment. Analysis of these interviews found community journalists fear conflicts of interest, and many of the interview subjects said that if they know a source personally or are a member of an organization, they often try to rescue themselves from coverage of a story. The research also explored ways in which the community journalists take advantage of their community involvement, especially as it pertains to gathering information and developing sources. Respondents were asked how they suggested a reporter balance membership in the local dominant faith with coverage of church issues. The community journalists who were interviewed mostly did not see a conflict between membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and coverage of church issues. Analysis also showed that the editors had few policies governing community involvement, instead relying on reporters' personal judgment and counsel from leadership—while examining each case individually based on its prominence. Finally, this study attempted to explore the differences in community involvement between smaller and larger community newspapers. However, the research suggests that other causes, such as demographics, roots and ties to the community, leadership, and formal training, may play an equal role in encouraging involvement.

Bike to the Future is an Active Transportation advocacy organization in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Since its incorporation in 2007, active transportation attitudes, policies, funding, and infrastructure have improved substantially in the city. Many successes have been attributed to this organization, representatives of which are now considered to be the Winnipeg experts in cycling infrastructure and policy creation. This thesis explores how people who use (or want to use) a comparatively marginalized traffic form empowered themselves and spurred on positive changes to cycling policy and infrastructure. The literature review offers a larger context for the importance of power analysis, collaborative planning and the work of Bike to the Future. This provides a framework overview of power discussions in planning discourse, and connects heterarchical power structures to collaborative planning theory and strategic networking. Research for this project involved a case study of the work of Bike to the Future. Four different research methods were employed during different stages of research, including media and literature searches (of news sources, blogs, and planning literature), a case study, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation. The work of Bike to the Future has also shown that influence can be strengthened when different power resources—powers of knowledge, speech, place, and political and market powers – are used. The value of using different power structures, hierarchical and heterarchical, is highlighted. In order to be most effective, this study suggests all structures and resources must be used cooperatively and collaboratively. Because of its ability to engage wide audiences, recognize interdependence, and connect the different types of knowledge and expertise, Bike to the Future can be understood as a collaborative success. Although at the time of this study, this organization was susceptible to volunteer schedules and burnout, its networking potential and networking power was strong. These will continue to be major assets in the evolution of this organization evolution. Lessons learned from this research process may be useful for many other groups seeking to expand their influence in decision-making realms and on multiple fronts.

Bike to the Future is an Active Transportation advocacy organization in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Since its incorporation in 2007, active transportation attitudes, policies, funding, and infrastructure have improved substantially in the city. Many successes have been attributed to this organization, representatives of which are now considered to be the Winnipeg experts in cycling infrastructure and policy creation. This thesis explores how people who use (or want to use) a comparatively marginalized traffic form empowered themselves and spurred on positive changes to cycling policy and infrastructure. The literature review offers a larger context for the importance of power analysis, collaborative planning and the work of Bike to the Future. This provides a framework overview of power discussions in planning discourse, and connects heterarchical power structures to collaborative planning theory and strategic networking. Research for this project involved a case study of the work of Bike to the Future. Four different research methods were employed during different stages of research, including media and literature searches (of news sources, blogs, and planning literature), a case study, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation. The work of Bike to the Future has also shown that influence can be strengthened when different power resources—powers of knowledge, speech, place, and political and market powers – are used. The value of using different power structures, hierarchical and heterarchical, is highlighted. In order to be most effective, this study suggests all structures and resources must be used cooperatively and collaboratively. Because of its ability to engage wide audiences, recognize interdependence, and connect the different types of knowledge and expertise, Bike to the Future can be understood as a collaborative success. Although at the time of this study, this organization was susceptible to volunteer schedules and burnout, its networking potential and networking power was strong. These will continue to be major assets in the evolution of this organization evolution. Lessons learned from this research process may be useful for many other groups seeking to expand their influence in decision-making realms and on multiple fronts.

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