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This article considers the impact of commodification, urbanization, and technology on water systems and cultural relations in the urban context of Niamey, Niger. We focus on the lives and work of water vendors (called ga'ruwa in Hausa) working in the informal economy. Fieldwork in 2013 and 2014 sought answers to two related questions. First, why are ga'ruwa jobs in Niamey dominated by immigrant men? And, second, why do Nigerien men in Niamey avoid this job, even in light of high unemployment? We argue that ga'ruwa offer a conduit for understanding key cultural symbols, values, and social relationships that lead to answers to these questions, but that we also must understand symbols, values, and social relationships to understand the ga'ruwa themselves., Introduction In Niger, water is a matter of life and death, and a key multivalent symbol. In this paper, we offer a holistic examination of water in Niamey--the capital of [...]

Listening to radio programs was once a family/community event that connected listeners to both place and time. Today, amidst marketing concerns and Top 40 hits, commercial radio has become a [...]

Water has always been a driver of human mobility, migration, and displacement. But water is increasingly central to explaining environmental migration in the context of climate change. Most studies of the relationship between water and environmental migration are framed around punctuated, extreme weather events and disasters that either limit agricultural or livestock productivity or make a community physically unlivable. The chronic experiences of household water insecurity and poor water governance also shape migration decision‐making through a variety of social, political, and economic factors, but these relationships have received considerably less attention. This article provides an overview of punctuated and chronic water‐related triggers of environmental migration at the household level. We also offer a conceptual framework based on multiphasic response theory that highlights water's multiple roles in migration decision‐making. We close by reflecting on key gaps in the climate‐water‐migration literature, identifying research questions that might help us better understand these relationships, and considering the implications for sustainable development policies that could potentially ease pressures on water‐related displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the covid-19 pandemic, cloth and disposable masks were recommended to reduce virus transmission. As mask wearing became more common, whether by personal choice or regulation, and the variety of masks available increased, these masks acquired the status of key material-culture objects. This essay reflects on the symbolic nature of obtaining, wearing, and discarding masks during the pandemic within the context of Michigan in the United States. Using material-culture theories proposed by Anna Tsing, Arjun Appadurai, Christine Harold, and Andrei Guruianu and Natalia Andrievskikh, I consider the cultural value, power, and communicability of masks. Woven into this reflection are my personal experiences with masks as they relate to the three themes. I conclude by reflecting on the ephemeral nature of masks and the ever-changing meanings derived through an examination of material culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joseph L. Scarpaci, a highly esteemed Latin American scholar, passed away on December 30, 2023. He was a professor emeritus at Virginia Tech and taught various subjects including geography, urban planning, historic preservation, landscape architecture, and Latin American studies for two decades. Scarpaci was a prolific writer and speaker, receiving recognition from organizations such as the Association of American Geographers and the Library of Congress. He was particularly known for his research on Cuba and Cuban communities in the United States. Scarpaci was described as having a free-spirited nature and a deep curiosity, and he was dedicated to fostering a love of geography among his students. [Extracted from the article]

The article is an editor's note from the journal "Material Culture." The editor highlights three interesting articles in the issue, including one on storytelling and human nature in exhibits at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The editor also mentions an analysis of postcards from Route 66 and a reprint of an article on the history of prison postcards. The editor announces that this will be their last note as editor and introduces Dr. Ethan Bottone as the new editor. The editor expresses confidence in Dr. Bottone's ability to bring a fresh perspective to the journal. The editor also mentions upcoming conferences and expresses excitement for future interactions with readers. [Extracted from the article]

For most in the United States, the realities of the covid-19 pandemic hit home in March 2020. This decentralized method of handling the pandemic resulted in reinterpretations of space, place, practices, policies, and spatial patterns. Qingfang Wang and Wei Kang analyze the impact of the pandemic on small business practices in 50 MSAs and the degree of vulnerability created by policy differences. [Extracted from the article]

The transportation and storage of water in the semi‐arid country of Niger is an important cultural feature that varies by gender, income and other socio‐economic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the cultural imprint of the Newfoundlander community on the city of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the booming oil economy in Alberta, other parts of Canada are experiencing population losses to the province. In Alberta, the financial rewards of working in the oil industry outweigh the negative aspects of the often dangerous jobs. One striking result of this internal migration is the presence of Newfoundlanders in Fort McMurray, Alberta, a town at the edge of the oil sands development. A lack of economic opportunities in Newfoundland makes Fort McMurray an attractive destination, and Newfoundlanders now make up approximately 30 percent of the city's population. The large percentage of one particular culture group in Fort McMurray has influenced many realms of the city's culture, including radio broadcasting, television, and print media. This article uses theories involving the importance of social capital, as established by Bourdieu, Coleman, and Putnam, to explore the role that these media play in establishing and maintaining social networks and social capital between Newfoundland migrants to Fort McMurray and those who remain on the island. For this research, social capital is defined as the value of being able to mobilize and maintain effective social networks so as to gain access to resources. Data were collected over two summers of fieldwork in Fort McMurray and four summers of fieldwork in Newfoundland. Using statistics from the Canadian Census and testimonials from Newfoundlanders, this article indicates that radio, television, and print media are important media through which social capital is accumulated and social networks are created. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a case study on the exploration of Wenhai ecolodge as a tourist destination in southwest China. Wenhai ecolodge in Yunnan Province has addressed various human-environmental conflicts such as providing a source of income for residents and the use of fuel-efficient stoves to reduce wood consumption. However, the lodge is unsustainable due to the trash littered in the stream and the overflow of cans on patio. Meanwhile, ecotourism bubble arises as tourists visits the ecolodge.