Finding a Balance
Using Traditional Knowledge to Address Food Insecurity and Climate Change in Malawi View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Anne Dressel
Climate change and food insecurity are ongoing challenges in Malawi. Located in southeastern Africa, Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world and at disproportionately higher risk for suffering negative impacts due to climate change. As in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, traditional proverbs are often used in Malawi to express lived realities and to relay indigenous knowledge to subsequent generations. In our qualitative study, we conducted focus group and individual interviews with 83 participants in rural Malawi to solicit information about behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge related to nutrition, women’s empowerment, and gender equality. We began each interview by asking participants to share common proverbs or expressions related to hunger and nutrition. An indigenous-based theoretical framework centered our qualitative analysis, which yielded six themes: “showers have fallen,” “a black dog enters the home,” “a man is at the stomach,” “the hunger season,” “we lack peace in our hearts,” and “don’t stay with your hands hanging.” This traditional knowledge can provide insight into helping to address the underlying causes of food insecurity, including climate change.
Digital Technology as a Pathway to Sustainable and Resilient Communities View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Simona Stojanova
The term “sustainable development” is explained by the World Economic Forum as development that improves the current living standards without sacrificing future generations, encompassing economic, environmental, and social aspects. With the fact that urban-rural movement tends to increase (Martin S. & Bergann J., 2021), these areas should not be left behind in achieving sustainable development. The rural-urban gap is heavily present in the literature, covering different perspectives of research, such as wellbeing (Lagakos, D. et al., 2018), health (Glauber, R., 2022), the social aspect of living (Zarifa, D. et al., 2019), the economy (Lagakos, D. 2020), business growth, and performance (Greenberg, Z. et al., 2018). Rundelet al. (2020) demonstrate that one of the possible solutions for achieving community resilience in such remote areas is through rural Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH). The strategy towards a sustainable and resilient community encompasses different elements such as social change (Zavratnik et al., 2019), technical and socio-economic approaches, related to the support of rural businesses in the digital economy (Tiwasing et al., 2022), new technologies and policies (Roberts, E. et al., 2017). This paper presents the role of rural DIHs in rural areas, supported by a case study of a rural DIH in Slovenia, as one of the possible solutions for achieving stronger and more resilient communities and a long-term sustainable future. This paper considers the effects of this technological solution on individuals, rural entities, and the community.
Legal Regulation of Odours
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Mojca Ramšak
The paper presents the legal and self-regulatory regulation of odours in three areas: Environment, Food, and Fragrances. It is based on EU legislation, Slovenian national legislation, and examples of sensory marketing with odours as described in the scientific and professional literature. After noise, odour pollution is the second most common cause of environmental complaints at the European and global levels, accounting for more than 30% of environmental complaints. Frequent exposure to intense odours can lead to headaches, poor concentration, stress, and respiratory problems. However, odour pollution has been consistently ignored in environmental regulations, leaving citizens unprotected and leading to frequent environmental disputes in affected communities. The legislation also regulates odours as they relate to specific foods, products, or technological processes (e.g., traditional and other foods, alcoholic and other beverages, tobacco, new plant varieties, toys, landfills, hydroelectric plant operations, natural gas distribution), health suitability of foods and substances, refers to odour as a marketing ploy and warns against unfair business practices. The legislation does not regulate odours in connection with the preservation and presentation of cultural heritage, e.g. in museums.
