The colonial relationship between the Maya of Southern Belize and the Government of Belize (GoB) has been the subject of much research. A pivotal moment in this relationship came in 2002 when the People’s United Party (PUP) controlled the Government and promised to improve the lives of Mayas in Southern Belize. To achieve this promise, the PUP created the Toledo Development Corporation (TDC), a corporation created to carry out development projects in the Toledo District of Southern Belize. By many accounts, the TDC was disastrous to the people of Toledo, but no external reviews were conducted. This paper utilizes archival materials from various sources to trace the debates and criticisms that culminated in the creation of the TDC. By arguing that the TDC was created despite opposition from Maya leaders, this paper provides a missing piece in the history of the colonization of the Maya by the Government of Belize.
The AAG 2023 Plenary Session “Global Geographies of Weather Modification in an Era of Climate Change” discussed the utilizations and impacts of weather modification focusing on rural populations in China. I would like to extend this notion globally, and apply it locally by asking “How are Indigenous “ways of knowing” affected by weather modification?” Are Hawaiian Kanaka, who have used wave-reading, ocean current readings, and other Indigenous “ways of knowing” affected by a shift in Global or Regional weather patterns? Looking at Indigenous futurisms, how can the concept of Kuleana, or responsibility, be presented in a manner to foster judicial, legislation, and social justice options that are available to Indigenous populations, that want or need a voice in how weather modification affects their communities? I aim to expand the discussion beyond rural China to consider the impacts of weather modification on indigenous communities and their traditional ways of knowing.
The hydrosocial cycle as theorized by Linton and Budd (2014) recognizes that society and water shape and reshape each other over time. By identifying areas where the hydrosocial cycle exists within urban environments, these “models” can be used for future implementation elsewhere. The San Joaquin Marsh exemplifies the hydrosocial cycle theory. Through restoration efforts by education, local government, and a water district, this natural marsh has been shaped by humans and reshaped for environmental purposes. This paper examines the San Diego Creek and San Joaquin Marsh, tracing their history in the 20th and 21st centuries. Engineering projects disrupted and later restored these water systems, eventually reshaping the marsh into an ecological habitat and natural runoff treatment system. By restoring this natural marsh through collaborative efforts, the hydrosocial cycle theory is evidenced, as a natural water system was shaped by humans and reshaped for environmental purposes.
Understanding the impact of changing soil salinity on coastal wetland plants is crucial due to impacts on plant health and ecosystem functions, such as productivity, exemplifying the need for improved salinity monitoring methods. While remote sensing has been used to estimate agricultural soil salinity, its application to wetlands is complicated due to their heterogeneous landcover and multiple factors leading to salinization. This study demonstrates an approach for using high-resolution hyperspectral imagery combined with elevation data to estimate soil salinity in Devereux Slough located in Goleta, California. Through random forest regression, we identified elevation and the modified anthocyanin index (mARI) as important predictors for estimating root-zone soil salinity in wetlands. The combined use of spectral and elevation data resulted in high correlation between predicted and actual values (r = 0.84) and generated soil salinity maps. These findings are an important step in advancing coastal salinity monitoring and ecosystem modeling.
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This historical cartographic study aims to unearth a forgotten fragment of Modesto's past: China Alley, an ethnic enclave whose existence has functionally vanished from public awareness. At the turn of the 20th century, China Alley reflected the broader Chinese-American experience. This project definitively documented the geographical and historical reality of China Alley, contributing to the ever-expanding picture of the San Joaquin Valley's complex social history. Diving deep into the archives and utilizing GIS, this study charted the community's spatial and temporal boundaries from 1885 to 1919. The resulting map is a testament to a community that once was - a cartographic confirmation of a cultural footprint that has since faded. In resurrecting Modesto's China Alley from historical obscurity, this study serves as a call to acknowledge a lost chapter of our shared narrative just as much as a lesson in the enduring impact of urban and racial dynamics.
Carbon emissions have increased greatly in the last decade leading to climate change becoming a serious problem in the 21th century. The Land Cover Classification project focuses on estimating and reporting on the annual amount of carbon sequestration from trees at Stanislaus State. This study is beneficial as it strengthens sustainability knowledge as well as its impact on absorbing carbon emissions. The research team uses iTree, an open software package developed by USDA Forest Service, to classify land cover to estimate the amount of carbon sequestration in our campus. The research team expects to find differences in carbon absorption range by land cover classification. This study hopes to contribute to our campus sustainability program.
This paper presents a reflection of my travel to Malaga, Spain. During my most recent visit, I was able to recognize the city’s design and use it as a guide to travel within the city. I contemplate the navigating process by bringing Kevin Lynch’s concepts into perspective to compare how we perceive and navigate a city. I reflect on Kevin Lynch’s five elements and bring examples while traveling to Malaga. Commonly, my navigation of the city of Malaga mirrors Kevin Lynch’s elements of the city.