pickering-dominica 2015

31
THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF WATER IN DOMINICA: AND HOW IT HAS INFLUENCED USE AND EXPORTATION Evelyn Pickering University of Arizona School of Anthropology Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology 2015 1

Upload: evelyn-pickering

Post on 09-Aug-2015

31 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Pickering-Dominica 2015

1

THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF

WATER IN DOMINICA: AND HOW IT HAS INFLUENCED

USE AND EXPORTATION

Evelyn Pickering

University of Arizona

School of Anthropology

Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology

2015

Page 2: Pickering-Dominica 2015

2

GEOGRAPHY

Page 3: Pickering-Dominica 2015

1

3

INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY

Page 4: Pickering-Dominica 2015

Dominica has been recognized as having a dramatic physical landscape that receives high rainfall that subsequently flows off of the high volcanic mountains as hundreds of rivers.

Dominicans refer to their environment as both the Land of 365 Rivers and Nature Island.

WATER AVAILABILITY

4

Page 5: Pickering-Dominica 2015

Water on Dominica is held as a communal property, and is therefore managed by the Department of Land, Housing, Settlements, and Water Resources in the manner.

The Dominican Water and Sewage Company Ltd. (DOAWASCO) distributes tap water to 95% of Dominican homes.

WATER MANAGEMENT

5

Page 6: Pickering-Dominica 2015

Within the historical memory and contemporary experiences of Dominicans there has been such an abundance of water.

It is a common perspective on the island that because there is an abundance of water it should be shared.

WATER EXPORTATION

6

Page 7: Pickering-Dominica 2015

Apparently because some of their government offi cials and many Dominican citizens hold the epistemological position that water is a communal resource and should be shared, the country has begun to sell to foreign water industries and tourism boats millions of gallons of water.

WATER EXPORTATION

7

Page 8: Pickering-Dominica 2015

Dominican people have deeply rooted cultural connections to a wide variety of water, and uphold strong morals regarding the distribution of resources.

Currently, water is being exported in an eff ort to bring economic development to Dominica. The island’s “abundance” of fresh water attracted the industries interested in economic and natural resource development.

In the face of climate change, the relationship between the social construction of water in Dominica and bulk water exportation from the island is problematic.

THE ISSUE

8

Page 9: Pickering-Dominica 2015

9

WATER BEING PUMPED FROM FRESH WATER LAKE TO ROSEAU, VIA THE

PENSTOCK TUBE

Page 10: Pickering-Dominica 2015

The purpose of this research has been to document the cultural meaning of water, how Dominican people use it, how Dominican people feel about exporting water, and environmental or climatic changes Dominica has experienced recently.

The topics listed below were fundamental in this study:

Water Usage Perceived Water Availability Water Ownership Water Sales Common Knowledge of Exportation and Lease Agreements Environmental Predictability Environmental Change 10

RESEARCH PROBLEM

Page 11: Pickering-Dominica 2015

2

11

OVERVIEW OF ISLAND AND PEOPLE

Page 12: Pickering-Dominica 2015

The topography of the island has created a climate of high rainfall.1

Low population density.

High Biodiversity

The island is widely reported to have 365 rivers, one for each day of the year.

The ten largest rivers all have average annual fl ows of 10 million gallons per day”. 1

12

TOPOGRAPHY AND ECOLOGY

1 John et al. 2001, xiii

Page 13: Pickering-Dominica 2015

According to the 2014 census, Dominica has a population of 73,449 citizens.

The capital of Dominica is Roseau. The population of Roseau is

16,582 people.

13

DOMINICAN DEMOGRAPHICS

Page 14: Pickering-Dominica 2015

Historically, Dominica had a rural agriculture-based society. Currently, over half of the population lives in urbanized communities, and this number is increasing annually.

Dominica gained independence on November 3rd, 1976

After Independence, Dominica strengthened its economy, and place in the global market, through banana exportation.

14

HISTORY

Dominica News Online

Page 15: Pickering-Dominica 2015

Dominica’s economy depends on agriculture, primarily banana exports . The tourism industry , however, has had increasing impact with the international rise in popularity of ecotourism.

In 2013, Dominica imported $220 million worth of goods, while exporting $40 million.

There is an unemployment rate of 23%2.

15

ECONOMY

2CIA World Factbook

www.walshww.com

Page 16: Pickering-Dominica 2015

3

16

STUDY DESIGN

Page 17: Pickering-Dominica 2015

There were a total of 52 interviews for this study.

In 2014, 32 formal interviews were conducted. In 2013, 7 informal interviews were conducted. In 2014, 13 informal interviews were conducted.

The sample population was not random.

Initial Sampling Standards: That the respondent was interested in participating in the study, and Was at least 18 years old

The Specifi c Characteristics That Were Sampled For: Gender Age (18-50) or (50+) Urban or Rural Community Resident

17

SAMPLE: FORMAL INTERVIEWS

Page 18: Pickering-Dominica 2015

Urban Women

Rural Women

Urban Men Rural Men Totals

Adults (18-50)

5 4 6 4 19

Seniors (50+)

1 2 4 6 13

Total Interviews

6 6 10 10 32

18

2014 FORMAL INTERVIEWS

Page 19: Pickering-Dominica 2015

A semi-directed survey form was employed to collect data in the 32 formal interviews. This data collection instrument consisted of 19 open-ended questions.

19

MEASUREMENT

Page 20: Pickering-Dominica 2015

This study consists of two analyses.

1. A literary review of contemporary documents and articles.

2. Examination of the data that was collected in Dominica.

20

ANALYSES

Page 21: Pickering-Dominica 2015

4

21

FINDINGS

Page 22: Pickering-Dominica 2015

While some of the research questions seemed to be useful for understanding the issues being investigated, interview responses revealed a more complex relationship between Dominicans, water, and the environment.

Dominicans do hold an epistemological position that their surplus is a blessing that they are morally obligated to share with a more arid world and as aid in the case of natural disaster.

Dominicans do believe that the sale of water by the government to foreign businesses is an appropriate action by the government.

Dominicans do have a complex understanding of water in their environment.

Dominicans do understand that global warming is causing climate change resulting in unpredictable timing and amount of rainfall.

22

BIG PICTURE FINDINGS

Page 23: Pickering-Dominica 2015

The knowledge domain of water is complex and richly nuanced. When asked, what types of water do you have in Dominica , 20

diff erent types of water were identifi ed by interviewees: 1. Sea (Caribbean Sea),2. Fresh rivers, 3. Sulfuric rivers, 4. Springs, 5. Rain, 6. Lakes, 7. Swamps, 8. Waterfalls, 9. Mineral water, 10. Freshwater Lake (Specific

lake in Dominica), 11. Boiling Lake (Specific lake in

Dominica),

12. Sulfur ponds, 13. Sulfur lakes, 14. Aquifers, 15. Steams, 16. Public stand-pipe water, 17. Atlantic Ocean (Different from

Caribbean Sea), 18. Sous (Creole for water that

drips from rock walls or mountains),

19. Mayan Water (Hot water), 20. Glogayak (Creole for cold

mineral water).

23

EXAMPLE: TYPES OF WATER

Sulfur water, for example, is used as medicine.

Page 24: Pickering-Dominica 2015

Water is central within Dominican culture. Some of the ways Dominicans use, perceive, and sustainably manage natural resources include:

There are many diff erent types of water in Dominica, and these cultural perceptions infl uence how water is used.

People in rural communities perceive and rely on a wider variety of water types than urban communities.

In general, all Dominicans described the island as having an abundance of freshwater.

Dominicans feel morally responsible to share water with other countries that experience extreme poverty and/or natural disasters. However, most people also recognized the profitability of the

resource for the nation. 24

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Page 25: Pickering-Dominica 2015

Respondents from younger generations or urban communities more frequently recognized the economic benefi ts of foreign water sales.

The majority of interviewees supported water exportation, but people were divided between the ethical and economic incentives.

Rural interviewees responded more frequently than urban respondents that they have experienced environmental changes.

When asked if Dominica was experiencing climate change, many interviewees were unsure. However, when asked more specifi cally about changes to their land and recent weather patterns, the majority of people interviewed described decreased annual rainfall, inconsistent and unpredictable rainy and dry season, and more severe hurricanes.

25

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Page 26: Pickering-Dominica 2015

The Mountain Chicken, Leptodactylus fallax.

This species is now considered critically endangered.

Within the last decade, the population of this frog has decreased by 80%3.

26

ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATOR OF CLIMATE CHANGE

3Wildscreen Arkive.

Page 27: Pickering-Dominica 2015

When discussing notable environmental changes in Dominica, one respondent mentioned the disappearance of the Mountain chicken4.

According to this respondent, mountain chickens used to be widely available on the island, and were a traditional national dish prepared for special occasions and holidays. Now, they said, Mountain chicken is never on the menu and you no longer hear them chirping. Apparently, they taste similar to

poultry, and were named for that reason5.

27

MY MOUNTAIN CHICKEN IS GONE

4Crother 1999: 185, 5Khan 2011

mountainchicken.org

Page 28: Pickering-Dominica 2015

5

28

CONCLUSION

Page 29: Pickering-Dominica 2015

The key objective of this study has been to understand Dominican perceptions of water availabil ity and how the resource should be used or exported.

The current foreign exportation endeavors of Dominican freshwater is common knowledge nationwide, Dominican citizens have a signifi cant knowledge basis of their environment, but the driving force of potential economic development is overshadowing potential social or ecological impacts of bulk water exportation.

29

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Page 30: Pickering-Dominica 2015

Advameg Inc . Las t mod ifi ed 2014 . Accessed Februa ry 4 , 2014 . "Domi n i ca - Topography. " Encyc l oped i a o f t he

Na t i ons . h t tp : / /www.na t i onsencyc l oped i a . com/Amer i cas /Domi n i ca - TOPOGRAPHY.h tml .

Arno ld , Dav id O1970 . D i mens i ona l sampl i ng : An approach f o r s tudy ing a sma l l number o f cases . The Amer i can

Soc i o l og i s t 5 , ( 2 ) : 147 -150 .

Cent ra l I n te l l i gence Agency“Domin i ca , ” Wor l d Fac tbook ,

h t tps : / /www.c i a .gov / l i b ra ry /pub l i ca t i ons / the -wor l d - f ac tbook /geos /do.h tml ( accessed Oc tober 2014 ) , under “ Peop le and Soc i e ty” and “Economy.”

Handwerker , W. Penn1998 . "Consensus Ana l ys i s : Sampl i ng Frames f o r Va l i d , Genera l i zab le Resea rch Fi nd i ngs . " I n

Us ing Methods i n the Fi e l d : A Prac t i ca l I n t roduc t i on and Casebook . V i c to r C . de Munck and E l i sa J . Sobo , ed . Pp . 165 -178 .Wa l nutC reek ,CA:A l t ami raPress .

J ohn , B .M . , Ma r t i n Pa rry , and Mar t i n Pa r ry , Mrs , ( eds . )2001 . I n i t i a l Na t i ona l Communi ca t i on o f t he Commonwea l th o f Domi n i ca under the Un i ted

Na t i ons F ramework Convent i on on C l imate Change . Roseau , Domin i ca : Env i ronmenta l Coo rd ina t i ng .

Romney , A . K . , S . C . We l l e r , and W. H. Ba tche lde r1986 . Cu l tu re as consensus : a theo ry o f cu l tu re and i n fo rmant accuracy. Amer i can

Anthropo log i s t 88 :313–338 .

Wi l dsc reen Ark i ve ."Mounta in ch i cken ( Leptodac ty l us f a l l ax ) . " Accessed December 4 , 2014 . H t tp : / /www.a rk i ve .o rg /mounta in -ch i cken / l eptodac ty lus - f a l l ax / .

30

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Page 31: Pickering-Dominica 2015

Evelyn Pickering, [email protected]

CONTACT INFORMATION

31