Showing papers in "Journal of Latin American Geography in 2002"

Livelihoods, Mining and Peasant Protests in the Peruvian Andes

Abstract: This paper explores the relationships between Andean Peru's new mineral-based neoliberal political economy, protests against transnational mining corporations and the transformation of livelihoods taking place in the region. It evaluates how new transnational mining operations are dramatically altering livelihood resources in two case-study areas of the Peruvian Andes and in what ways they are linked to community mobilizations against mining operations. The paper argues that the utilization of frameworks based on resources and livelihoods can contribute to analyses of the spatial relationships between transnational mining corporations and local livelihood transformation. Through a comparative case study of two peasant protests that began in late 1999 and continue today in the Cordillera Huayhuash and Cajamarca, the paper illustrates how transnational mining corporations are transforming the environmental, social and economic contexts for livelihoods in the region and how these changes are linked to household engagement in protests against mining operations.

Names for Manihot esculenta: Geographical Variations and Lexical Clarification

Abstract: This study elucidates the derivations, distensions and distortions of the names for a major world crop domesticated in tropical America. In addition to the several Latin binomials, English speakers have used one or mare of six vernacular terms far this plant. Two of these words are straight borrowings (yuca from Spanish, mandioca from Portuguese and Spanish); one (yucca) implies and causes interference with an entirely different group of plants in the genus Yucca and two are conflated meanings that originally referred to manioc products (cassava and tapioca). All things considered, manioc is the one hest name for this plant in English. By taking a critical approach to nomenclature geographers and others can add precision and clarity to communication about phenomena within their general domain.

Naturaleza y sociedad desde la perspectiva de la cocina tradicional mexicana: género, adaptación y resistencia

Abstract: This article is based primarily on qualitative research carried out in Central Mexico during 2000-2001. The intent is to present a novel approach to the traditional Mexican kitchen, as well as some perspectives on nature/society relations from that space, relating these to various central themes in Laura Esquivel's novel, Like water for chocolate. The research explores gender, nature and cultural identity issues in the everyday life of women in three semi-urban communities—Xochimilco, Ocotepec, and Tetecala—with roots in prehispanic Nahuatl culture. Despite constant transformations in landscapes and lifestyles as a result of local and global pressures over time, food remains a site of cultural resistance, and kitchens a place where women's knowledge is transmitted to younger generations. Kitchenspace it is at once the center of the household and, in times of traditional celebrations, the center of community life. It is a privileged site of cultural reproduction. Resumen Este articulo se basa principalmente en una investigacion cualitativa que se llevo a cabo en el valle de Mexico durante los anos 2000-2001. La intencion es presentar una aproximacion novedosa a la cocina tradicional mexicana, asi como algunas perspectivas sobre las relaciones sociedad/naturaleza desde ese espacio, relacionando estos con varios temas centrales en la novela Como agua para chocolate de Laura Esquivel. La investigacion explora cuestiones de genero, naturaleza e identidad cultural en la experiencia de vida cotidiana de varias mujeres en tres comunidades semi-urbanas—Xochimilco, Ocotepec y Tetecala—con raices en la cultura nahua prehispanica. A pesar de las constantes transformaciones en los paisajes y los estilos de vida como resultado de las presiones tanto locales como globales a traves del tiempo, la comida se mantiene como un sitio de resistencia cultural y la cocina un espacio donde los conocimientos culturales se transmiten de mujer en mujer a las nuevas generaciones. La cocina es a la vez el centro del hogar y, en tiempos de celebraciones tradicionales, el centro de la comunidad. Es un lugar privilegiado para la reproduccion cultural.

Floodplain Styles of the Lower Pánuco Basin, Mexico

Abstract: Floodplains exhibit a variety of styles because of the dominance of specific fluvial processes. This study examines the spatial diversity of floodplain styles in the lower Panuco basin, a large river system that drains east-central Mexico and empties into the Gulf of Mexico at Tampico, Tamaulipas. Changes in mean stream power (W m-2) and surficial floodplain environments are considered for distinct valley segments. Valley width and channel width increase downstream, although lithologic controls result in the floodplain width being highly variable. Mean stream power decreases from 375 (W m-2) in the Rio Moctezuma valley in the upper portions of the coastal plain, to 14 (W m-2) in the lower reaches of the Rio Panuco. Channel deposits are more significant to floodplain construction in the upper coastal plain. In the lower Moctezuma the valley width abruptly increases and floodplain gradient decreases, which results in a more diverse suite of floodplain deposits. In the lower Panuco valley overbank processes characterize the floodplain, which is manifest as wide natural levees and large backswamp basins.

Life-Time and Recent Migration to Bolívar State, Venezuela, 1990: The Effect of the Guayana Program

Abstract: In 1959, the Venezuelan government erected a new industrial city, Ciudad Guayana, in the Southeastern State of Bolivar. The purpose of the city was to divert potential migrants from the already overcrowded Caracas Metropolitan Region. Using regression Analysis, this paper examines recent migration flows (1981-1990) to each of the ten municipios in the State of Bolivar to determine if the aggregate characteristics pertaining to the migrant's origin state were significantly different for migrants who selected Caroni municipio (the location of Ciudad Guayana) and the other nine municipios in Bolivar. Results indicated that distance was the most important variable for recent immigrants to Caroni as well as for the other three municipios which together form the northern frontier of Bolivar State. The most important predictor variable for the remaining municipios was total population of the origin state. Although Caroni was more successful in attracting recent migrants than any of the other municipios, the characteristics pertaining to the origin states of these migrants do not differ significantly from other municipios, suggesting that the growth pole was not successful in drawing migrants from the capital region as originally intended.