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Volume XIV, Issue No. 3, Spring 2016

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Borders,Boundaries,andBarriersLesleyHaberman,St.CatherineUniversity,Development&GlobalizationProgramWhiletheotherDGstudentsworkedingroupsoncommunityprojects,IfoundmyselfdivingevendeeperintoaprojectI'vebeenpursuingonthesideallsemester.CommonGroundisamagazineproducedoutofourofficeinKhonKaenbutismadeupofcontributionsfromcurrentCIEEstudentsacrosstheglobe.Ihadgotteninvolvedattheverybeginning,workingwiththeinternsandafewotherstudentstoconceptualizethenewissue'sthemeandthepieceswereallywantedtoinclude.Overthecourseofthesemester,Icontinuedtocarvetimeoutofmyscheduletoseetheprojectprogress.

PlantingtheSeedsofHerbicide-FreeFarmingArianaParedes-Vincent,UniversityofMichigan-AnnArbor,LiatPerlin,TulaneUniversityofLouisiana,andAvenLaRosa,RutgersUniversity,Development&GlobalizationProgramOurfinalprojectgroupconsistedofArianaParedes-Vincent,LiatPerlinandAvenLaRosa.MarikoPowerswastheinterninchargeofassistingourgroup.ForourprojectwedecidedtoworkwithNaSamaisubdistrict,anareanotpreviouslyvisitedbyDevelopmentandGlobalzationstudentsthissemester.Whileinourfirstunithomestay,communityorganizerP’UbolmentionedhowimpressiveNaSamaisubdistrictwasforstartingtodiscontinuetheuseofherbicides.Weweretoldthat40%ofthesubdistricthasstoppedusingherbicidessince2012.Manyothershavedecreasedtheamountofherbicideusedperseasonwhileotherscontinuetousethechemicals,despiteawarenessoftheserioushealtheffects.P’Ubol,theNGOworkingwiththeAlternativeAgricultureNetworktohelpvillagesinYasothontransitiontobeorganic,askedustoproduceareportandpresentation.Wecreatedacase-studyreportonthesubdistricttoserveasanexampleforotherdistrictsinIsaanonhowtodiscontinuetheuseofherbicideswithinacommunity.Thereportcontainsinformationregardingtheuseofherbicides,theimpactthatherbicideshavehadontheNaSamaicommunity,waysinwhichcommunitymembershavesuccessfullyeliminatedtheuseofherbicides,andcasestudiesforwhysomefarmersstilluseherbicides.BothpartsweretranslatedbyAjaanTonyandpresentedinfrontof30representativesfrom6subdistricts.Inaddition,wewroteafeaturefortheIsaanRecorddetailingtheseissues.

Whentheinternssuggestedthatbecomingaco-editorandmajorcontributorwasanacceptablefinalproject,Iwasexcitedtofinallybeabletofocusallofmytimeandcreativeenergyonit."Borders,Barriers,andBoundaries"(thenameofthisissue)isanexplorationofinternationalborders,thebarrierswebuildonthem,andthepsychologicalimpactsandimplicationstheycanhave.Therearethreefeaturestories--anexaminationofindigenousconflictinChile,thestoryofaSyrianrefugeeinBerlin,andaQ&AwithanimmigrantjusticegroupintheUS--aswellasanumberofotherinformationalandreflectivepieces,includingaworkaboutnationalismandacollectionoffactsabouthistoricalwalls.Rallyingthecontributingwritersacrossdifferenttimezonesandpullingtogetherthesmallerpiecestookmanyhoursandagreatdealofpatience,buttheresultisamagazinethatstirscuriosityandinvitesdeeperreflection.IknowIlearnedalot,andIhopeourreadersdo,too.

DevelopmentandGlobalizationstudentstalktofarmerstransitioningawayfromherbicideuse

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Additionally,othercommunitymembers,includingtheHeadVillageHealthVolunteer,expressedconcernsthatthedevelopmentofrashesamongsomeofthevillagersoccurredasaresultofbathingwithwaterthathadbeencontaminatedbythepesticides.Therefore,webelievedthatitwasimportanttolearnmoreaboutthereasonsthatencouragericefarmersinThaKrasoemtousepesticides.Todelveintomotivationsbehindpesticideuse,weusedonlineresearchdatabases,conducted interviews,andmadeaquestionnaire.WeconductedaliteraturereviewtostudythehistoricaldevelopmentofricefarmingpracticesinNortheasternThailand.Wetheninterviewedricefarmers,specificallyfarmerswhoselltothegovernment,tolearnmore aboutfarmingdevelopmentwithinthecontextofThaKrasoemandtoassessThaKrasoem’sperceptionofgovernmentinvolvementwithagriculture.

HinRuVillageFightsBackAgainstEvictionCharlieRuiz,UniversityofMichigan-AnnArbor,AaronPomerance,TuftsUniversity,AndyQueen,CaliforniaLutheranUniversity,ThronHaley,UniversityofMinnesota–TwinCitiesDevelopmentandGlobalization Forourfinalproject,wecreateda15-minutevideodocumentingacommunityinChaiyaphumProvincethatisfacingpossibleevictionfromtheirhomesandtheirfarms.Thecommunitymovedontotheirlandstartingintheearly1980's,butwerenevergivenlandtitles.In1992,SaiThongNationalParkwascreated,andallofthevillagesfoundthemselvesnowinsideofitsboundaries.However,theywereabletostaywithoutissuesuntilthemostrecentmilitaryregimecametopowerin2014.InMarchof2016,thesixvillageswithinthecommunitybegantoreceivenoticesofamandatoryevictionbyApril30th.Thegovernmentclaimstowanttousethelandforreforestation,intheirmadgrabtoincreasethenationalforestcoveragefrom33%to40%.Wecreatedthevideoasameanstogetthevillagers'storyoutsothattheirevictioncanbeprevented.Thefootageinthevideoshowstheirlandscapesandtheirwayoflifeforthosewhocan'tseeitinperson.Allofthevoicesinthevideoarethatofthevillagers.ThereareEnglishsubtitles.Thevideo,alongwithanindepthcommunityhistoryreport,willbepresentedonMay17thatameetingbetweenthevillagersandtheOfficeofthePrimeMinister.Shortlyafter,thevideowillbepostedforalltoseeontheIsaanRecord'sWebsiteaswellasonCIEEKhonKaen'sYouTubechannel.

InvestigatingPesticidesinVillageWaterSourcesCamilleKim,GeorgeWashingtonUniversity,SophiaWagener,BatesCollege,RachelKupferman,BowdoinCollege,AnnaHirsch,UniversityofColorado-BoulderCommunityPublicHealth

ManycommunitymembersinThaKrasoemhaveexpressedconcernsaboutrashes,whichtheybelieveisaresultofcontactwithwatercontaminatedbypesticides.Itisessentialtolearnmoreaboutfarmers’decisionstoimplementpesticidesanduncoverstrategiestoreducetheirexposure.Althoughgoodfortheeconomy,pesticidescauseacuteandchronichealthproblemsinfarmers.Furthermore,studiesshowthatfarmersarenotproperlyeducatedonhowtoadministerpesticides,causingresiduecontaminationinfamilymembersandmoredamagetofarmers’health.

Development&GlobalizationstudentscreateadocumentaryonHinRuVillage

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DanceDanceRevolution:IsaanVillageEditionAnnaNatterstad,UniversityofSouthCarolina,CharlotteGray,NortheasternUniversity,CourtneyPetagna,UniversityofArizona,RavenCampbell,OccidentalCollege,SarahAnneNew,AmericanUniversityCommunityPublicHealthProgramDuringourcommunityneedsassessmentinBanThaMaDuaNoi,aruralcommunityinNortheastThailand,wenoticedthattherewasalackofphysicalactivityinthecommunity.Although,therewasasportscomplexinthecommunity,onlyyoungermenusedthisspace.ThisleftuswanderingifandwherethewomenofBanThaMaDuaNoiparticipateinphysicalactivity.Afewweekslater,wereturnedtoBanThaMaDuaNoitoconductresearch.Weheldthreefocusgroupsof4-5participantswithwomenages18-35,36-50,and51-64.

WeusedtheHealthBeliefModelinordertolearnmoreabouttheparticipants’physicalactivityhabitsandtheirperceptionsaroundphysicalactivity.Fromourfocusgroupswelearnedthatthehabitsdifferedbyagegroup,butmembersofallthreeagegroupsagreedthatalackofparticipationinphysicalactivitycanmakeonemoresusceptibletochronicdiseasesandothernegativeillnesses,withmostinagreementthattheywouldmostlikelynottaketheinitiativetoaddressanyrelatedhealthissuesuntiltheywerepersonallyaffectedbyoneofoneormoreofthem.Furthermore,allthreeagegroupsexpressedaneedforgreaterinstructionofspecificexercisesandaneedforarolemodelorleaderofsortstointroducetheseactivitiesandmotivatecommunitymemberstoparticipateintheseactivitiesonaregularbasis.Studentsleadvillagersinaerobicdance

Inaddition,duringthecommunitypublichearing,variousmembersofthecommunity,ofallagegroupsandgenders,expressedadesireforsometypeofworkshoptobeheldinthecommunity.Inordertoaddresstheexpressedneedsofthecommunitymembers,wedecidedtoconductaone-dayphysicalactivityworkshoptoprovideknowledgeofageappropriatephysicalactivitiesandstretchesinasustainablemanner.TheinterventionconsistedofonephysicalactivityworkshopinwhichCIEEstudentsdemonstrateddancemovesandstretchesdesignedforstretchingshoulder,hip,knee,andbackmuscles.Althoughtheworkshopwasaimedatwomeninthecommunity,menandchildrenalsoattended.

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3)Tosupplyinformationregardingthelinkbetweenhypertensionandsodiumconsumptionandtoencouragecommunitymemberstoreducetheirsodiumintake.Forourintervention,westagedacommunityeducationpresentation.Weutilizedmatchinggames,visualaids,andaQ&Aportiontohelpeducateabout30attendees.Wefoundthatvisualizingtherecommendedintakeversustheiractualestimateddailyintakeresonatedmostwithcommunitymembers. Providingahealthy,lowsodiumsnackalsokeptattendeescaptivatedinoureducationportion.Overall,theinterventioncanbeconsideredasuccessbecauseattendeeswereengagedthroughallsteps.

Despitethesecomplications,westillfoundaroughestimateofsodiumconsumption:3700mgofsodiumpermeal.AccordingtotheWorldHealthOrganizationguidelines,anadultshouldonlyconsumearound2000mgofsodiumaday.Wepresentedourfindingstothecommunity,anddiscussedourdatawiththemaswellasreceivedtheirpermissiontohaveusbackforaproject.Aftergettingthego-aheadweoutlinedourobjectives:1)Toprovideclearandaccuraterepresentationsofsodiumlevelsinfrequentlyusedcondiments2)Toinformthecommunityinanengagingandenjoyablewayaboutthedangersofconsumingadiethighinsodium

ASaltyDiscoveryMonataSong,BatesCollege,SophiaJaeckel,UniversityofColoradoBoulder,TressKeogh,UniversityofWisconsin-Madison,LisaLevoir,McalesterCollege,CommunityPublicHealthProgramBanThaMaDuaNoi,aruralricefarmingcommunityinnortheastThailand,ishometoapproximately340people.Thevillageisprimarilycomposedofricefarmersandworkersatalocalceramicfactory,withsevenvillagehealthvolunteersandoneheadvillagehealthvolunteer.Onourinitialvisitinthecommunityweobservedhighamountsofcondimentsbeingaddedtothedishesandweheardanexpressedconcernabouthypertensionandaperceivedneedforfoodeducationinthecommunity.Wedecidedthiswasanimportantissuetoinvestigateandconsequentlydevelopedatri-forcemethodofdatacollection:observingmealpreparation,healtheducationsurvey,andaFoodFrequencyQuestionnaire(FFQ).Throughobservingmealpreparationandtryingtostandardizeaprotocolformeasuringsodium,wewereabletoestimateamealandaservingaverageofsodiumconsumption.WewereabletousetheFFQ,whichmeasuresafull24-hourperiodofallfoodsandbeveragesconsumed,tocalculatethedailyaverageofsodiumconsumption.Wealsousedthehealthperceptionssurveytohelpusgainapictureofthehealtheducationinthecommunity.Someissuesweencounteredindatacollectionincluded:nothavingatranslatorfortheobservations,nothavingamorestandardizedprotocolinmeasurementandFFQreporting,aswellasnottalkingtothecommunitymembersdiagnosedwithhypertension.

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RadicalGrandmaCollectiveBusinessPlanAlishaMaliki,GeorgeWashingtonUniversity,LizzyDombrock,UniversityofMinnesota-TwinCities,PaigeOrganick,WhitmanCollege,DevelopmentandGlobalizationForthepastmonth,Paige,Alisha,andLizzy,threestudentsfromtheDevelopmentandGlobalizationProgramatCIEEKhonKaen,havebeenworkingdiligentlytocreateabusinessplanforthenewbusinessventure,theRadicalGrandmaCollective.TheRadicalGrandmaCollectiveismadeupofthirteengrandmasfromNaNongBongvillageinNortheastThailand.Thegrandmasaredeterminedtomakeenoughmoneythroughtheirtraditionofweavingscarvestosupporttheirfamiliesandfundtheirfightagainstaminingcompanythatdestroyedanearbymountaintobuildagoldmineneartheirvillage.Thegoldminecontaminatedtheirwater,fish,andfarms,sothecollective,alongwiththerestoftheNaNongBongcommunity,formedagrouptoprotestlocalgovernmentandtheminingcompanythatdisruptedtheirwayoflife.Wearetryingtohelpthegrandmasbroadentheirmarketinordertohelpthemearnmoremoneyfortheirfamiliesandtheirfightagainstthemine.Allthreeofusfocusedondifferentaspectsofthebusiness.Paigefocusedonthenumbers,calculatingsalesprojectionsandpotentialprofitsearnedbysellingwholesaleversusconsignment.Continuedonnextpage

AfishfarmontheChiRiverinMahasarakamprovince,Thailand.Currently,watercontaminationfromfishfarmingisathreattowaterresourcesincommunities.Asofrightnow,thereareonly6familiesinthecooperativebuttheyplantoexpandtothreeadditionalcommunities.

Ourprojectconsistedofthreecomponents.First,wecompletedaresourcepacketthatshowcasedfishfarmingcooperativecasestudies,bestfishfarmingpractices,nativefishspeciestoIsaan,andmarketingstrategiesforthecooperative.Wealsowrotegrantdraftsfor3differentfundingsources,theRockefellerFoundationSustainableDevelopment Grant,theWallaceGlobalFund,andtheConservation,FoodandHealthFoundation.Lastly,wecreatedashortvideoabouttheAANtobeusedforaGoFundMecampaign.

Sustainable&EthicalFishFarminginIsaanCassieSpear,OccidentalCollege,DanielleRaskin,OccidentalCollege,EstrellaVargas,DenisonUniversity,MariaPettis,PomonaCollege,DevelopmentandGlobalizationP’UbonandtheAlternativeAgriculturalNetwork(AAN)areworkingwithfishfarmersinMahasarakhamtotransitionoutofcontractfarmingandformafishfarmingcooperative.AfterspendingmanyyearsincontractswithCPtofarmtilapia,fishfarmersaredeeplyindebtandarestartingtobuythemselvesoutoftheircontracts.Thegoalofthecooperativeistoputnewlyindependentfarmersincontrolofthefarmingprocess,fromraisingtosellingfishinthemarket.Thecooperativealsowantstousemoresustainablepracticessuchasraisingfewerfish,usingfewerantibioticsandfindingfoodthatdoesn’tcontaminatetheriver.

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RadicalGrandmaCollectiveBusinessPlanCont.AlishaandLizzyfocusedmoreonmarketingbyoutliningdifferentapproachestoadvertising,causemarketing,andthecost-benefitanalysisofadvertisingthroughsocialmedia.WealsocreatedmarketingmaterialslikeprofilesoftheweaversandexamplesofadvertisementsfordifferentRadGramsocialmediaoutlets.Now,wehavea50-pagebusinessplanthatdetailsclosetoeverythingwecouldthinkoffortheRadicalGrandmaCollectivetogetofftheground.WeaversinNaNongBongvillageexaminepicturesofscarfdesigns

ThaiTreesCamilleKim,GeorgeWashingtonUniversity,CommunityPubicHealth

Itisinterestinghowthethingsthatareimportanttoyoucanchangesoquickly.Deepimmersionintoanewculturehasapowerfulandlastingeffectonthesoul.WhenIreflectonthefactthatmysemesterismorethanhalfwayover,somanyfeelingscomeup.MainlysadnessbecauseIdon’twanttoleave.Thaiculturespeakstome.Thepeopleherevaluekindnessandpositivity(LandofSmiles)overmostthings.Theyvaluerelaxationandneverrush,whichisamajorjuxtapositiontotheAmericancollegelifestyle.Iamdiggingit.IthoughtIwasreallytypeA.IthoughtthatIenjoyedthe“gogogo”lifestyle.Infact,Ineverreallyhavetakenthetimetostopmovingatthespeedoflight.

ThissemesteristhefirsttimeIeversloweddown.ItisthefirsttimeIreflectedoneverypartofmyidentity.Thegood,thebad,theugly,thetraumatized,andthepassionate.ImovedfromSeattletoDCforschoolandIfellinlovewithmylifeandmyfuture.ItraveledacrosstheworldandIfellinlovewithmyself.Idon’tknowifthatwouldhavebeenpossiblewithoutthebeautifulstillnessofThaisociety.MaybeitwasthealonenessIhadtoconfrontheadon.Orthewelcomingsmilesofthelocals.ButsomethingaboutThailandsparkedinmeanewloveoflife.ItchangedmyidentityfromthetypeA,hard-corefeministrunningaroundtryingtochangetheworld,toamoreappreciativeanddeeplyspiritualpersonwhoisokaywithstillness.Thatdoesn’tmeanIwon’tberunningaroundfullpaceddoingtheactivistthing.Orthatmybeliefshaveinanywaychanged(stillafeministdemocraticsocialist).ItjustmeansthatmyfoundationhasgrowncomfortablewithseeingasmuchgoodasIdobad.Iguessabetterwaytoputitiswithmyfavoritemetaphor:Atree(Ihaveabigthingfortrees.Iamsostereotypicalhippy.IamfromSeattle,whatdoyouexpect?)Mybranchesarethesame.Theyaregrowingthesamedirectionandreachthesamesky.Thetrunkofthetreehowever,isnowrootedindifferentsoil.Thesoilisstronger,andmorenutritious.IthinkeveryoneneedsalittleThaisoil.Itreallydoesgrowthemostbeautifultrees.