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Island States (island + states)
Selected Abstracts,I Can't Eat That, It's Purple': a Geography Field Course in Vanuatu and FijiGEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2006JOHN CONNELL Abstract A month-long field course in the Pacific island states of Vanuatu and Fiji focused on development issues, involving lectures, seminars and much informal interaction. Students completed daily journals as a means of learning, a form of self-assessment of learning, a way of evaluating their participation in the course and their perception of its value. Journal themes reflected an evolution from unsettling rhetorical questions towards notions of discovery, autonomy, reflexivity and emerging cultural sensitivity. Students developed valuable social skills, and gained first-hand experience of various concepts of development and social justice. Grading the journals was difficult because of the extent of subjectivity and diverse personal experiences. The course, and the journals, emphasised the diverse values and roles of courses both on, and particularly in, developing countries, despite the substantial costs. [source] Promoting energy efficiency in small island states: overcoming barriers to the adoption of compact fluorescent lighting in Saint LuciaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 5 2007Travis W. Reynolds Abstract The ,island factor' refers to a series of shared energy-related issues that many island nations face due to their isolation and limited population size. Under such conditions, one of the only ways to reduce energy costs for consumers is through energy efficiency , including the use of energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs. This study uses consumer survey data to investigate how awareness, past purchasing behaviour, and demographic characteristics influence Saint Lucian consumers' intentions to purchase energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs. The findings indicate that a lack of awareness and understanding of energy efficiency, combined with high product costs and a lack of product availability currently inhibit the adoption of compact fluorescent technologies by Saint Lucian consumers. Awareness of energy efficiency, income and geographic location are identified as significant factors related to increased use of and willingness to pay for compact fluorescent bulbs. In the discussion, possibilities for public education and cost subsidy for compact fluorescent bulb promotion are proposed. [source] The phantom of liberty?: economic growth and the vulnerability of small statesJOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2002Harvey W. Armstrong This paper is concerned with the relationship between economic growth in small states and their vulnerability. A critical argument in much of the literature on small states, particularly small island states, is that their growth performance is greatly constrained by their vulnerability to exogenous shocks because of their size. These shocks include economic, political and environmental factors, which together dampen the long-run growth rate of these economies. The paper makes use of a global small state data set and appropriate quantitative techniques to test the relationship between growth and vulnerability using the results of Briguglio's Vulnerability Index. The results highlight some of the conceptual shortcomings in the analytical literature on small states, particularly islands, as well as suggesting that the Vulnerability Index is mis-specified. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Voices from the margins: Pacific ambassadors and the geopolitics of marginality at the United NationsASIA PACIFIC VIEWPOINT, Issue 1 2009Karen E. McNamaraArticle first published online: 25 MAR 200 Abstract This paper captures some of the structural deficiencies within the United Nations' decision-making processes at its headquarters in New York. Ideas and methodological approaches from critical geopolitics are adopted here to examine semi-structured interviews held with Pacific ambassadors (n = 7) at the United Nations and bring new knowledge to an underexplored area. Results demonstrate that the institutional capacities of Pacific small island states hinder their ability to voice their concerns adequately at every United Nations' forum, while shifting imaginaries and a decline in popularity of issues has seen a drop in on-the-ground financial assistance for these states. In this way, this paper attempts to contribute to our understanding of the practice of international diplomacy within the United Nations. [source] | ||||||||||