Our Newest INDEVOURS

In order to raise funds and awareness about our field placements, my cohort of International Development students formed a group called INDEVOURS. This group was formed as part of a marketing class assignment, but has grown to be an integral and fun part of our summer student life.

In this post, I want to share a little bit about INDEVOURS, and encourage you and people you know to donate and support us.

INDEVOURS is a group of 26 fourth-year students in the International Development program at the University of Waterloo. We represent a wide variety of backgrounds and interests, but we all have one thing in common: the desire to make a difference in the world.

The name ‘INDEVOURS’ has two meanings. Our program of study, International Development, is affectionately called INDEV. Since we are the first ever cohort of this program, we feel a strong sense of ownership over our education, thus INDEVOURS. In addition, our internships are a brand-new initiative and exciting adventure – an endeavour. We have therefore labelled ourselves as INDEVOURS. INDEVOURS has a blog where you can learn more; you can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

In the next four months leading up to our departure, as a group, we have to collectively prepare for the challenges of living and working overseas for eight months. In order to mitigate some of the high financial costs of volunteering in a foreign country for an extended period of time, our goal is to raise $30,000 to be split evenly among the 26 placements.

Along with contending with our internship responsibilities, we are enrolled as full-time students at the University of Waterloo. This means, on top of day-to-day living costs and placement fees, we are still paying for tuition as well.

Between the 26 of us, the costs do vary, but reaching our $30,000 goal will mean that for each of us 1/10th of our cost will be covered. If you are interested in donating to INDEVOURS, you can do so online by following this link to the St. Paul’s website.

You can also contact us by phone at 519.772.8700 x 4036.

We are not just looking for donations – we  are trying to raise awareness and support for our program. So, please feel free to learn more by contacting INDEVOURS or me.

June Update

As of today, there are 79 days until I leave for my field internship. Time flies so quickly! Here’s a very quick update on what’s going on with my placement details:

•  I have received my plane ticket and am flying out on September 8, 2011 from Toronto to London, followed by a full day layover, then a flight to Accra. It’s a round-trip ticket, and I shall be returning the same way on April 21, 2012.
•  I have an appointment with a travel clinic to get all the necessary vaccinations: yellow fever, meningitis, typhoid, and boosters. In addition, I must learn about and choose malaria prevention methods, which will not be easy: some malaria prevention medications can cause depression, anxiety, mood swings, nightmares, hallucinations, and psychosis. Very pleasant!
• I need to extend my OHIP coverage and UW travel and health insurance.
• I need to set up a new bank account that will be accessible from my placement.
• I must apply for my travel visa (only once I get my yellow fever vaccine though).
• We have established a student group called INDEVOURS to fundraise for our placements. Please learn more about us and donate at the INDEVOURS blog or at our website here.

I think a lot of my nervousness will disappear after I talk to the travel clinic  about malaria, yellow fever, typhoid fever, dengue fever, and any other illness to which I may be susceptible. Illness could so easily ruin the experience that it is my biggest concern. Plus, I hate needles.

The 'Global South' and Other Contested Terms

As with any field of study, international development is constantly evolving. The academic literature surrounding international development evolves too. As a result, academics and development practitioners alike must be ever vigilant to stay on top of what vocabulary is the most up-to-date, accurate, and, most importantly, politically correct.

One of the most important and difficult to label concepts in international development is the category of countries/regions/areas that experience high levels of poverty/social issues/poor quality of life/etc. Even describing the category is challenging!

Post World War II, this category was classified as the “third world”. Capitalist countries were the first world, communist countries were the second, and everyone else was the third world. This term was dropped after the fall of the Soviet Union since the categories were no longer accurate. Also, the ranking of first to third was considered offensive.

Next came the distinction of industrialized versus industrializing countries, associated with modernity theory. These terms were all well and good, until academics began to realize that becoming “industrial” may not be the ideal thing for all nations. Modernity theory was also tossed out the proverbial window.

Next came developed and developing countries. These terms are still used today. However, some academics pointed out that these terms are patronizing: they insinuate that “we” are what “they” should become. Considering our problems with mass consumption and pollution, this is not particularly accurate.

Another, theoretically less dictatorial, set of terms is Global North and Global South. This based on the Brandt Line, a visual depiction of the North-South divide. Basically, North means wealthy and privileged, while South means impoverished and vulnerable. Considering the obvious flaws with this geographical divide (ahem, Australia!), this term, though still current, is also contested.

Really, it is exhausting for a mere student to keep straight.

I have most commonly used the developed versus developing terminology or Global North versus Global South, sprinkled in with some “emerging economies” and “impoverished nations” for good measure. However, my favourite textbook this summer, Geographies of Developing Areas by Williams, Meth, and Willis, pointed out the quandary about using the terms Global North and Global South. And it got me thinking…

Just how important is terminology? If I say developing countries and you say Global South, does it matter as long as we all know what we are talking about? How does public perception factor in?

I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter!

Thinking About Gender

On June 8, 2011, my INDEV 474 (Special Topics in International Development) had the privilege of having Sharada Srinivasan as a guest speaker. Sharada is the Assistant Professor of International Development Studies at York University and has a Ph.D. in Development Studies from the Institute of Social Studies in the Netherlands.

Sharada led a whirlwind discussion on gender relations, hegemonic masculinity, and male bias. I wish I could summarize it here, but I was so interested in the lecture that my notes are a mess! The class made me wish that there was a stronger gender relations component to UW’s International Development program, or at least that I had selected some Gender Studies classes as my electives.

The discussion did an excellent job highlighting how gender issues are all pervasive and must be understood no matter what field you are working in. It definitely left me with a great deal of food for thought. I look forward to exploring how gender relates to my field placement in environmental conservation and reforestation projects. In the meantime, if you ever have the opportunity to hear Sharada Srinivasan speak, do yourself a favour and attend!

From One Book Lover to Another

Since I was a child, I have always loved reading. My bedroom at home is lined with bookcases, filled to overflowing with well-thumbed books. My passion growing up was always fiction – to quote Beauty and the Beast, “it’s my favourite: far off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise!”. Needless to say, I am a big geek and very proud of the title.

In the past five years, I have expanded my personal library and literary tastes to non-fiction, and, to my everlasting delight, have discovered that they are every bit as interesting as fiction, if not more so.

In this post, I would like to share with you some titles that I have found interesting and applicable to International Development and related topics. They are a mixed bag of non-fiction and covers a wide variety of topics. In sharing these books with you, I must also share a disclaimer: many of these books have very politicized messages. Through my recommendation, I am not endorsing any particular book’s political message. I am merely directing you to an interesting read.

Guns, Germs, and Steel, by Jared Diamond: This Pulitzer-prize winning tome explores historical theories of development. Very interesting but also heavy – definitely not a light read.

Out of Poverty, by Paul Polak: This book discusses practical methods of eradicating poverty in the Global South, based on one man’s experience building a successful social enterprise. A quick and entertaining book full of real-life examples and applicable ideas.

America in the Age of Genocide, by Samantha Power: A moving analysis of genocides in the 20^th century and the United States’ failure to act. This is a thick book but is easy to read, and very helpful in understanding contemporary political situations.

The Collapse of Globalism, by John Ralston Saul: Saul’s insightful book investigates the role of globalism in shaping our world today, and what it means for the future. This book is written for people already acquainted with development issues and global politics, so may be challenging for readers newly introduced to the field.

In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan: This book talks about the Western diet and our many dietary challenges. It uses a nice mix of rhetoric and applicable lessons in smart eating, but for that same reason may be off-putting: grocery shopping has become more challenging for me after reading this book, so approach with caution!

Spellbound, by Karen Palmer: I have only read ¾ of this book so far, but it is spellbinding. A description of witch camps and belief in magic in Ghana and Western Africa, written in an easy-to-read tone.

A Long Way Gone, by Ismael Beah: the very moving story of a young boy growing up in war-torn Sierre Leone, forced to become a boy soldier. This is a beautiful book that provides valuable insight into the effects of war on children.

Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali: an autobiographical book about a controversial political figure; Ali writes about her experiences as a Muslim woman and refugee. This book is fast-paced and fascinating, and I highly recommend it.

The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell: a very well written book that explores the spread and retention of ideas. A must-read for anyone working in any field!

King Leopold’s Ghost, by Adam Hochschild: a historic book detailing the role of King Leopold II of Belgium in the establishment and exploitation of colonial Africa. This is an amazingly well-written book that appeals to readers of many ages and genres.

Since this post is already very long, I will wrap it up with one last recommendation: if you like fiction, read Joseph Boyden’s Through Black Spruce and Three Day Road. These novels are about First Nation’s men from northern Ontario and their experiences. Beautiful and moving.

If you have any book recommendations for me, I would be thrilled to receive them! Please feel free to post titles for myself and other readers.

Confessions of a Guilty Tourist

Mass tourism is a hot topic for discussion in development circles. In Caribbean-type holiday destinations, there are many negative impacts resulting from resort-style tourism, and there are few benefits.

I’ll let you in on a deep, dark secret: I am a mass tourist.

In April I spent a week on a beach in Cuba, drinking piña coladas and absorbing some rays. And I am not a one-time offender either – I’ve done the same in the Dominican Republic. What can I say? I love the ocean. I love the beach. I love the sun. I will probably do it again, too.

So, why is this fact such a shameful truth?

In numerous classes I have taken on development and geography, we discussed mass tourism. Sadly, every step of the path is fraught with unsustainable actions: the minute you get on the plane, your carbon footprint skyrockets from the plane’s fuel emissions. The very nature of resorts requires environmental degradation: huge construction projects parallel beaches for kilometers, leaving little undeveloped natural land for local ecosystems. Huge amounts of pesticides are dumped on resort grounds to minimize tourists’ discomfort. Incredible amounts of fresh water are used in pools and by hundreds of thousands of tourists in their suites. Significant amounts of erosion occur when the same hundreds of thousands of tourists decide to go walk the beach. Coral reefs, dolphin and whale pods, and exotic fish are stressed by swimmers, snorkelers, and scuba divers wanting to interact with the beautiful aquatic environment. The list goes on, and on, and on and on and on.

Many argue that this is weighed by the economic gains of tourism. For many Caribbean countries, tourism is the core of the economy and a major source of employment.

There is a downside to that too, though – scholars counter that argument, saying the mass tourism is exploitative of the local people, who work menial jobs as groundskeepers and maids, with little or no education, or need for education. Also, since most of the vacation spots and interchangeable to tourists (we don’t really care whether we visit the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, etc., as long as there is a beach), the influx of tourists is unreliable and can fluctuate easily. If the evening news reports that instances of tourist muggings are high in Mexico, people will decide to visit somewhere else en masse, and the Mexican economy will suffer. This is a pivotal point for the difference between resort tourism and more destination-oriented tourism, which is location specific (for example, wanting to visit the Sistine Chapel).

Now, how do I reconcile my love of the beach with this knowledge? This is a challenge for me to rise to, by making more informed choices and supporting more environmentally-friendly tourism initiative. It is time for me to put my money where my mouth is and take more responsibility for my actions.

Fighting for the Spotlight

I read a news article today about the Ivory Coast – follow this link:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/cotedivoire/8401230/Ivory-Coast-risks-becoming-forgotten-humanitarian-disaster.html

This article discusses the fact that, with all the international drama going on – earthquake and potential nuclear meltdown in Japan, violence and unrest in Libya – the civil unrest in the Ivory Coast risks being forgotten by the international community. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are fleeing the country and need aid, but demand is not being met.

Thinking about this makes me reflect on the fickleness of the international community and the general public. We will band together to raise tons of money for disaster relief, but cannot do the same for malaria control or hunger relief at a significant scale.

It seems that problems have to be immediate, solve-able, and uncontroversial to get the public’s attention and help. Other problems that are too complex or intimidating are brushed aside; problems like the conflict in the Congo, HIV/AIDS, and climate change.

For progress to occur, something needs to change.