Adaptive reuse can be a way to save a historic building from demolition. It also allows for attractive architectural characteristics to be preserved. Whether it’s an old factory, office space or water tower, adaptive reuse is good for preservation and sustainability. But it’s not without its challenges. The Robert Frost Stone House Museum in Bennington, … Read more
If agriculture-dependent communities are to be resilient, they need to be able to respond to drought preparedness needs at a grassroots level. This can be achieved by leveraging community assets, knowledge and networks. FRRR, with support from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, is working with communities to develop and implement regional drought resilience planning … Read more
Despite the growing benefits of digitization, many people remain excluded from online opportunities. This is unsustainable and unfair, and must be addressed. Developing and developed countries alike can help to bridge the digital divide by supporting policies, stable network providers, and robust cybersecurity. This can also be done by focusing on the social barriers that … Read more
Communities need to develop their own capacity for disaster response and recovery. Community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) is a proven approach for strengthening community capacities. This article explores lessons learned from recent cyclone and flood events in South Africa. It focuses on the importance of empowering local residents to take action. 1. Resilience is a … Read more
The emergence of new technologies in agriculture is leading to an evolution in farming practices resulting in improved crop yields. This is having significant ecological benefits in terms of reducing chemical overuse, which causes water contamination and environmental damage to soil strength. The key factors that influence farmers’ adoption behaviour are resource endowment constraints, access … Read more
Aboriginal art is a potent expression of cosmology and ancestral narratives. Its immense magnitude permeates a myriad of facets of Aboriginal culture and society. Aboriginal cultural heritage is a window into a world that evokes reverence and empathy among non-Indigenous audiences. The evocative power of Dreamtime stories encourages dialogue and dismantles barriers to reconciliation. The … Read more
Biodiversity underpins a range of essential services to humans, including food production, air and water purification and climate stabilisation. Despite the efforts of many people, however, biodiversity continues to decline. This is because a ‘extinction debt’ persists from past environmental degradation and current conservation actions are unlikely to reverse the trend. Threats to Biodiversity There … Read more
A range of factors push people away from rural areas. These include natural disasters that directly displace rural residents and forms of environmental degradation that lower the profitability of the natural environment and agriculture. Many scholars of late modernity have portrayed those who stay behind as inhabitants of traditional backwaters, detached from social change. However, … Read more
Providing children with the time and space for unstructured, self-directed imaginative play is one of the most important ingredients for fostering creativity. This needs to be combined with adequate supervision, guidance and resources. Despite research showing the life changing benefits of music education, 63 percent of Australian schools offer no classroom music. Thankfully, the Limestone … Read more
Reconciliation is complex. It requires justice, truth, and forgiveness. It involves a wide range of activities, from judicial trials and memorials to government apologies and educational initiatives. The work of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and Rwanda’s Gacaca Community Courts, has inspired countries around the world to confront their bloody histories. But can reconciliation … Read more
