This study explores Zapatista communities' relationship with the land and their participation in transnational networks of coffee distribution, focusing on the political ontologies behind their resistance to capitalist privatization and extractive economies by analyzing their approach to land through the lens of political ecology and anthropology. Rooted in indigenous ontologies blended with anticapitalist ideologies, the Zapatistas' rejection of private property and their creation of autonomous territories represent a radical stance in the ongoing struggle for indigenous rights and agrarian reform in Mexico. Ethnographic fieldworks with both Zapatista producers and European solidarity networks reveal tensions between autonomy, processes of political subjectivization, and resistance to commodification, as well as the risk of romanticizing indigenous and peasant movements. The research contextualizes these dynamics within broader challenges posed by increasing violence, state repression, and organized crime in Chiapas. The findings contribute to ongoing debates about the commons, indigenous autonomy, and the contradictions of participating in transnational markets. By integrating insights from anthropology, political ontology, and social movement studies, this research offers a deeper understanding of how Zapatista communities and their allies strive to build sustainable economic lives, underlying their significance in reimagining dignifying alternatives to current predatory capitalism.
This article examines the vulnerability of rural roads in Cambodia to flooding, with a focus on enhancing climate resilience through spatial and hydrological analysis. The study utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and a Rational Method to assess flood risks and identify infrastructure vulnerabilities in Siem Reap Province. Data from a 12-year period (2012-2023) was analyzed to evaluate changes in rainfall intensity and peak discharge, revealing that certain road segments, particularly Siem Reap Roads 03 and 04, are highly susceptible to flooding. GIS-based flood mapping pinpointed flood-prone areas, while the Rational Method provided estimates of peak runoff, helping to identify critical infrastructure segments in need of upgrades. The findings demonstrate that road networks in low-lying areas and near water bodies are particularly vulnerable, with the highest peak discharge recorded in 2020, reflecting the growing impact of climate variability. To mitigate these identified risks, the study recommends infrastructure improvements such as enhanced drainage systems, road elevation, and the use of permeable materials. These results offer valuable insights for policymakers and engineers to prioritize investments and develop climate-resilient infrastructure strategies. Integrating climate resilience into rural road planning allows Cambodia to reduce adverse flood impacts on transportation and fosters sustainable rural development.
The climate crisis is a global challenge significantly affecting the sustainability of both human system and ecosystem. Due to their geographical circumstances, communities on small islands are more vulnerable to its impacts. This study critically examines the potential of the ecosystem-based climate change adaptation model (Ecosystem-Based Adaptation) to increase climate resilience in small island communities, particularly in Indonesia. Through a semi-systematic literature review of 31 key studies, this research analyzes the characteristics of small island climate vulnerability and resilience, then compare the findings to Indonesia context. Ecosystem-Based Adaptation has several advantages compared to other climate adaptation models; however, some challenges and limitations associated with its implementation are also identified. Findings suggest that for Ecosystem-Based Adaptation to be effective, it needs to be community-led alongside empowerment, integrative-collaborative, and adaptive. Furthermore, the literature review identified critical gaps in current research on Ecosystem-Based Adaptation on small islands, offering valuable avenues for further exploration and advancement of this vital adaptation approach.
Despite evidence of a biblical influence on the anthropocentric model of man's dominance over nature, some trends of Christian thought dialogue with the contemporary philosophical and anthropological insights on nature and human relationship with it. Beside Pope Francis' relevant contribution to the debate on climate change and anthropocentrism at large, and his call for integral ecology, other Christian experiences are of great interest in this regard. The article focuses on the work of an Italian Catholic thinker who anticipated some of the current theoretical questions about Anthropocene, and envisioned a novel post-Christian, generally post-religious and even post-cultural, cosmology which is worth to investigate. In L'uomo planetario (The Planetary Man) (1985), Ernesto Balducci presents a vision of human interdependence with nature, echoing themes later explored by posthumanist anthropology. Balducci advocates for transcending the human-centered view of nature as a separate object, and embracing a planetary consciousness, urging a re-evaluation of the human-nonhuman relationship. His perspective, which predates current onto-ecological debates, underscores the urgency of overcoming anthropocentrism and embracing a holistic approach to environmental stewardship. Balducci's vision aligns astonishingly with Chakrabarty's concept of the "planetary age" and resonates with his argument on overcoming sustainability toward planetary habitability. Revisiting Balducci's insights, we can find inspiration in our constant search for new visionary visions of nature and our place within it.
We study theories and models for sustainable agroecology business networks and lessons applicable to agroecology businesses and markets in Eastern Uganda. Agroecology, as both a science and social movement, offers promising solutions for building resilient food systems. However, transitioning from conventional market-driven agriculture to agroecology-based systems presents challenges, particularly in the marketing of agroecological products. To address this gap, we examine various theories and models for sustainable agroecological business networks, aiming to identify interventions that catalyse the transitioning and sustainability of agroecological business networks through enhanced marketing. Methods involved document analysis, following interpretive qualitative research, and stakeholder participatory market system mapping and development. The results indicated seven theories shaping the principles and practices of agroecology business networks, one approach for developing market systems, and ten models for social, economic, and environmental interventions in agroecology networks. The Model for Women's Entrepreneurship in Agroecology and Food Systems scored the highest at 93% to address the disablers of transitioning towards agroecology. From this model, and with support of other literature, we proposed the EquiAgro; A gender-inclusive Agroecological Business Model for Agroecology Business Networks and Markets. Our conclusions provide strategies for co-creating sustainable, resilient and socially inclusive agricultural systems that prioritize environmental stewardship and community well-being.
