racticing Anthropology Practicing Anthropology in a time of crisis: 2009 Year n Review Keri Vacanti Rondo ABSTRACT The breadth and reach of practicing anthropologists in 2009 suggests that anthropology has entered a new phase of advanced engagement at local, national, and international levels. In this article, I review thematic areas in which practicing anthropologists made significant contributions in 2009, including fiscal crisis and business anthropology: U.S. race relations, civil rights, and policy reforms; human rights, environmental change, and displace. ment; global health and human rights; and war and peace. New areas of expansion are also discussed in the arenas of public archaeology, museums and heritage, and engaged scholarship Innovations in anthropological research and communicating ethnographic findings with the broader public are reviewed Keywords: practicing anthropology public anthropology, 2009 trends, anthropological impacts PRACTICING ANTHROPOLOGY IN A TIME poration or community); and commitment to social justice OF CRISIS: 2009 YEAR IN REVIEW Rather than take up this debate, my approach is to apply the In 2008, anthropologists undoubtedly distinguished them- broadest possible definition of public anthropology and re selves as relevant to public debates on disaster recovery, main inclusive of the variety of ways in which anthropologists warfare, climate change, and health inequalities(see Checker gage in pl blic dial 2009a). With the dawning of 2009, anthropologists contin- Topical areas to which anthropologists made substantial ued to speak to the fiscal, ecological, and human crises that contributions in 2009 are organized to reflect the contin- defined the year for the majority of the globe. The election uum of engagement, from contract anthropology and public ama and transfer of power from the previous policy work toward more advocacy-oriented ethnograph eight years of the Bush administration ushered in a message These include:(1)fiscal crisis and business anthropology of "hope"that a more equitable world was on the horizon (2)U.S. race relations, civil rights, and policy reforms through the possibility of meaningful healthcare reform, cli- (3)human i ts,environmental change, and displacement nate talks, and the withdrawal of troops from u.S.(4)global health and human rights; and (5)war and pea anthropology engaged these and other key dialogues with In addition to these topical areas, I cover four areas of ex oth optimism and caution through a variety of new venues, pansion for public anthropology: (1)the growth of public invo/ again highlighting the importance of the discipline's archaeology and evolving relationship between museums In this article, I highlight a series of broad topical areas action-oriented anthropologists; (3)advancements within in which practicing and public anthropologists have made professional associations to better serve practicing anthro substantive contributions over the 2009 calendar year. In ologists; and(4) new methods for engaging and bridging accordance with the framing of the public anthropology re- multiple publics. It is clear that, at the close of the first view section for AA, I use the labels"practicing anthropology" decade in the new millennium, anthropology has established 2008: 172). The discussion over what constitutes "public" ernance settings as well as in community engagement, oor and"public anthropology"interchangeably(see Johnston its place in both international and domestic policy and gov It focuses on uestions over the degree of collaboration and the nature of the contractual relationships between anthropologists and FISCAL CRISIS AND BUSINESS ANTHROPOLOGY the communities they study place of research origination In the wake of the u.S. economic collapse and sub- (university or beyond); beneficiaries of findings(e.g,, cor- sequent government bailouts to the auto and financia AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, Vol. 112, Issue 2, pp. 208-218, ISSN 0002-7294 online ISSN 1548-1433. 2010 by the American Anthropological Association. All rights reserved. DOL: 10.1111/j.1548-1433201001220.x
Practicing Anthropology Practicing Anthropology in a Time of Crisis: 2009 Year in Review Keri Vacanti Brondo ABSTRACT The breadth and reach of practicing anthropologists in 2009 suggests that anthropology has entered a new phase of advanced engagement at local, national, and international levels. In this article, I review thematic areas in which practicing anthropologists made significant contributions in 2009, including fiscal crisis and business anthropology; U.S. race relations, civil rights, and policy reforms; human rights, environmental change, and displacement; global health and human rights; and war and peace. New areas of expansion are also discussed in the arenas of public archaeology, museums and heritage, and engaged scholarship. Innovations in anthropological research and communicating ethnographic findings with the broader public are reviewed. Keywords: practicing anthropology, public anthropology, 2009 trends, anthropological impacts PRACTICING ANTHROPOLOGY IN A TIME OF CRISIS: 2009 YEAR IN REVIEW In 2008, anthropologists undoubtedly distinguished themselves as relevant to public debates on disaster recovery, warfare, climate change, and health inequalities (see Checker 2009a). With the dawning of 2009, anthropologists continued to speak to the fiscal, ecological, and human crises that defined the year for the majority of the globe. The election of Barack Obama and transfer of power from the previous eight years of the Bush administration ushered in a message of “hope” that a more equitable world was on the horizon through the possibility of meaningful healthcare reform, climate talks, and the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. U.S. anthropology engaged these and other key dialogues with both optimism and caution through a variety of new venues, once again highlighting the importance of the discipline’s involvement in public discourse. In this article, I highlight a series of broad topical areas in which practicing and public anthropologists have made substantive contributions over the 2009 calendar year. In accordance with the framing of the public anthropology review section for AA, I usethe labels “practicing anthropology” and “public anthropology” interchangeably (see Johnston 2008:172). The discussion over what constitutes “public” versus “practicing” anthropology is ongoing. It focuses on questions over the degree of collaboration and the nature of the contractual relationships between anthropologists and the communities they study; place of research origination (university or beyond); beneficiaries of findings (e.g., corAMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST, Vol. 112, Issue 2, pp. 208–218, ISSN 0002-7294 online ISSN 1548-1433. c 2010 by the American Anthropological Association. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1111/j.1548-1433.2010.01220.x poration or community); and commitment to social justice. Rather than take up this debate, my approach is to apply the broadest possible definition of public anthropology and remain inclusive ofthe variety of ways in which anthropologists engage in public dialogue. Topical areas to which anthropologists made substantial contributions in 2009 are organized to reflect the continuum of engagement, from contract anthropology and publicpolicy work toward more advocacy-oriented ethnography. These include: (1) fiscal crisis and business anthropology; (2) U.S. race relations, civil rights, and policy reforms; (3) human rights, environmental change, and displacement; (4) global health and human rights; and (5) war and peace. In addition to these topical areas, I cover four areas of expansion for public anthropology: (1) the growth of public archaeology and evolving relationship between museums and communities; (2) the expansion of academically based action-oriented anthropologists; (3) advancements within professional associations to better serve practicing anthropologists; and (4) new methods for engaging and bridging multiple publics. It is clear that, at the close of the first decade in the new millennium, anthropology has established its place in both international and domestic policy and governance settings as well as in community engagement. FISCAL CRISIS AND BUSINESS ANTHROPOLOGY In the wake of the U.S. economic collapse and subsequent government bailouts to the auto and financial
Brondo Year in Review Public Anthropology 209 ndustries, anthropologists were motivated to take action, Consumption, " has global reach and will shape the way in striving to ensure that marginalized peoples and communities which the AP puts together the news in the digital age not be left out of discussions to reprioritize corporate agen das. In early fall of 2009, anthropologists working with or in RACE RELATIONS CIVIL RIGHTS AND POLICY industry joined together in Chicago at the fifth Ethnographic REFORMS Praxis in Industry Conference(EPIC)to discuss"Taking Care With the historic inauguration of the first African American of Business: Having an Impact and Staying Relevant as Ethno- U.S. president, there has been renewed public and poli graphers in Today's Economic Climate. EPIC participants attention to the critical analysis of race relations and racial worked toward building strategies to utilize ethnography perceptions in the United States. An example of public me- to lower risk, drive innovation, and maximize return on dia concern includes the February 2009 PBS broadcast of investments through business models that are sensitive to " Herskovits at the Heart of Blackness, "a film that explores peoples and cultures. One example is Elizabeth Tunstall's Melville J. Herkovits's(1895-1963)contributions to an- participation in the u. S. National Design Policy Initiative thropological theorization on power, race, representation Summit held in December of 2009 in Washington, D. C. and defining culture and includes interviews of anthropol Participants developed strategic priorities for 2010, which ogists Lee Baker and Johnnetta Cole. An example of the included the following: introducing K-12 educational cur- convergence of public and policy conversations on race is riculum learning modules on design creativity and innova- the "teachable moments"initiated by the White House to of d preparing and publishing cases studies and examples improve race relations(e.g, the July"Beer Summit"be- of design's social, economic, and environmental positive tween Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates ]r and police impacts;and developing roundtables with the design com- Sergeant James Crowley) government agencies, ar communal ity stakeholders Increasingly, anthropologists have been invited to help (seewww.designpolicy.org shape the national dialogue about race on Capitol Hill. For Gillian Tett and Karen Ho made headlines de emonstrat example, Michael Blakey, Goodman, and other schol- ing the value ethnography brings to understanding the finan- ars from the RACE project were invited to participate in cial crisis. Tett's New York Times list bestseller Fool's Gold: How "A Discussion on Race and Politics, an event sponsored by the Bold Dream of a Small Tribe at J.P. Morgan Was Corrupted by the Congressional Black Caucus(CBC)on November 18 Wall Street Greed and Unleashed a Catastrophe(2009)describes 2009, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Reverend how the invention of credit-derivate obligations--which at Jesse Jackson Sr 's first run for the U.S. presidency. Blakey first seemed a win-win in the financial world as they freed and other anthropologists reported on the emergence of up capital, increased profits, and diversified risk--led to the a"new American racism"a phrase used to describe the financial crisis when banks began to take on subprime mort- current sociocultural and political environment wherein ef gages to the derivatives and securitization. For this work forts to redress the effects of our long history of structural Tett was named the journalist of the Year at the March 2009 racism(e. g, through affirmative-action policies)are deemed British Press Awards. Karen Ho's Liquidated: An Ethnography " racist"and they urged a paradigm shift from the of Wall Street(2009)suggests that, without significant orga- ration of race as genetics toward a focus on the biol nizational culture change, the road to economic recovery consequences of race and racism(AAA 2009). This engage is far from over. Ho shows how the organizational culture ment served to further increase anthropological involvement of Wall Street and investment bankers are both"cultures of(and the articulation of scientific research findings) in the na- liquidity" and that one cannot be separated from the struc- tional conversation on race tures and practices of the e other New investment bankers Public anthropologists made advances in the area of jus socialized into a high-risk, high-reward culture that creates tice, incarceration, and access to higher education for under a perception that job insecurity builds character and leads represented populations in 2009. Addressing juvenile crime efficient business practices. Yet, rather than lead to financial policies, Robert Hahn's(the Centers for Disease Control) stability, Ho demonstrates that such a work culture produces interdisciplinary work to assess the effectiveness of laws and crisis and breeds financial insecurity. The social impact of policies that facilitate the transfer of juveniles to the adul this analysis was significantly broadened with media cover- criminal-justice system informed reconsiderations of state age of her book, including an interview with Ho by Time and federal policies in 2009. The finding that transferring Magazine in July(Kiviat 2009) juveniles to the adult justice system does not prevent or At the 108th Annual Meeting of the American An- reduce violence but actually serves to increase rates of vi- ropological Association (AAA) in Philadelphia, Robbie oler transferred youth(McGowan et al. 2007) Blinkoff and his firm, Context-Based Research, were rec- is cited in transfer-policy revisions included in the pend gnized with the Washington Association of Professional ing U.S. legislation, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Anthropologists's(WAPA)2009 Praxis Award for helping Prevention Reauthorization Act. Similar policy revisions are the Associated Press(AP)understand the way young people now being considered in Virginia, North Carolina, and other learn about news globally. Their project, "A New Model for states. At the local level, Bill McKinney addressed juve- News: Studying the Deep Structure of Young-Adult News nile justice through his work with Men in Motion in the
Brondo • Year in Review: Public Anthropology 209 industries, anthropologists were motivated to take action, strivingto ensurethat marginalized peoples and communities not be left out of discussions to reprioritize corporate agendas. In early fall of 2009, anthropologists working with or in industry joined together in Chicago at the fifth Ethnographic Praxis in Industry Conference (EPIC)to discuss “Taking Care of Business: Having an Impact and Staying Relevant as Ethnographers in Today’s Economic Climate.” EPIC participants worked toward building strategies to utilize ethnography to lower risk, drive innovation, and maximize return on investments through business models that are sensitive to peoples and cultures. One example is Elizabeth Tunstall’s participation in the U.S. National Design Policy Initiative Summit held in December of 2009 in Washington, D.C. Participants developed strategic priorities for 2010, which included the following: introducing K–12 educational curriculum learning modules on design creativity and innovation; preparing and publishing cases studies and examples of design’s social, economic, and environmental positive impacts; and developing roundtables with the design community, government agencies, and community stakeholders (see www.designpolicy.org). Gillian Tett and Karen Ho made headlines demonstrating the value ethnography brings to understanding the financial crisis. Tett’sNew York Times list bestseller Fool’s Gold: How the Bold Dream of a Small Tribe at J.P. Morgan Was Corrupted by Wall Street Greed and Unleashed a Catastrophe (2009) describes how the invention of credit-derivate obligations—which at first seemed a win–win in the financial world as they freed up capital, increased profits, and diversified risk—led to the financial crisis when banks began to take on subprime mortgages to the derivatives and securitization. For this work, Tett was named the Journalist of the Year at the March 2009 British Press Awards. Karen Ho’s Liquidated: An Ethnography of Wall Street (2009) suggests that, without significant organizational culture change, the road to economic recovery is far from over. Ho shows how the organizational culture of Wall Street and investment bankers are both “cultures of liquidity” and that one cannot be separated from the structures and practices of the other. New investment bankers are socialized into a high-risk, high-reward culture that creates a perception that job insecurity builds character and leads to efficient business practices. Yet, rather than lead to financial stability, Ho demonstrates that such a work culture produces crisis and breeds financial insecurity. The social impact of this analysis was significantly broadened with media coverage of her book, including an interview with Ho by Time Magazine in July (Kiviat 2009). At the 108th Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) in Philadelphia, Robbie Blinkoff and his firm, Context-Based Research, were recognized with the Washington Association of Professional Anthropologists’s (WAPA) 2009 Praxis Award for helping the Associated Press (AP) understand the way young people learn about news globally. Their project, “A New Model for News: Studying the Deep Structure of Young-Adult News Consumption,” has global reach and will shape the way in which the AP puts together the news in the digital age. RACE RELATIONS, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND POLICY REFORMS With the historic inauguration of the first African American U.S. president, there has been renewed public and policy attention to the critical analysis of race relations and racial perceptions in the United States. An example of public media concern includes the February 2009 PBS broadcast of “Herskovits at the Heart of Blackness,” a film that explores Melville J. Herkovits’s (1895–1963) contributions to anthropological theorization on power, race, representation, and defining culture and includes interviews of anthropologists Lee Baker and Johnnetta Cole. An example of the convergence of public and policy conversations on race is the “teachable moments” initiated by the White House to improve race relations (e.g., the July “Beer Summit” between Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and police Sergeant James Crowley). Increasingly, anthropologists have been invited to help shape the national dialogue about race on Capitol Hill. For example, Michael Blakey, Alan Goodman, and other scholars from the RACE project were invited to participate in “A Discussion on Race and Politics,” an event sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on November 18, 2009, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr.’s first run for the U.S. presidency. Blakey and other anthropologists reported on the emergence of a “new American racism”—a phrase used to describe the current sociocultural and political environment wherein efforts to redress the effects of our long history of structural racism (e.g.,through affirmative-action policies) are deemed “racist”—and they urged a paradigm shift from the exploration of race as genetics toward a focus on the biological consequences of race and racism (AAA 2009). This engagement servedto further increase anthropological involvement (and the articulation of scientific research findings) in the national conversation on race. Public anthropologists made advances in the area of justice, incarceration, and access to higher education for underrepresented populations in 2009. Addressing juvenile crime policies, Robert Hahn’s (the Centers for Disease Control) interdisciplinary work to assess the effectiveness of laws and policies that facilitate the transfer of juveniles to the adult criminal-justice system informed reconsiderations of state and federal policies in 2009. The finding that transferring juveniles to the adult justice system does not prevent or reduce violence but actually serves to increase rates of violence among transferred youth (McGowan et al. 2007) is cited in transfer-policy revisions included in the pending U.S. legislation, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act. Similar policy revisions are now being considered in Virginia, North Carolina, and other states. At the local level, Bill McKinney addressed juvenile justice through his work with Men in Motion in the
210 American Anthropologist Vol 112, No. 2. June 2010 Community(MIMIC. MIMIC is an emergent nonprofit sight of the agency by the EPA, other federal agencies, and founded by a group of ex-offenders in Philadelphia that fo- Congress. A step in this direction was his successful 2009 cuses on mentoring young people and recently released for tition drive to have the a for Toxic Substances and mer offenders. McKinney also headed up a special task force Disease Registry(ATSDR), a federal agency in the division for the Philadelphia School Reform Commission(Board of of CDC and under the Department of Health and Human Education)to address the black and Latino male dropout Services, conduct a long-term assessment on the impact of rate. At the national level, McKinney continued work with the spill the Howard Samuels Center at the City University of New In November of 2009, Marty Otanez pre York,'s Graduate Center to increase access to higher educa public anthropology visual project about Australian-based tion for underrepresented populations Paladin and its uranium mining activities in Malawi, Africa Yellowcake Rising was shown at the Tanzania Uranium Aware- HUMAN RIGHTS, ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE ness Conference. "Uranium Mining and Nuclear Power AND DISPLACEMENT Tanzanian Future?" in Dar es salaam. Tanzania. The video In a time of resource scarcity, global warming, and the ever- explores the health and socioecological costs of uranium ncreasing power of transnational corporations to control with a focus on water contamination the absence of the natural world, the profound need for anthropologists living wages, and other exploitative social and environmental to document the effects on marginalized peoples continued conditions associated with Paladins mining activities. Sub to grow in 2009. Several sessions at the Society for Al tantively, this work raises questions about nuclear energy plied Anthropology(SfAA)and AAA annual meetings were In?"energy source, showing how this toxic com- focused on"development disasters, "issues also considered modity is far from clean. Otanez's work was highlighted in Anthony Oliver-Smith's edited volume Development and in the Tanzanian local press as a caution and challenge to Dispossession: The Crisis of Forced Displacement and Resettlement the Tanzanian government to prepare guidelines on extrac- tion transportation and revenues collections from uranium Examples of public engagement on these issues can be mining to prevent potential dangers to the local populati seen in Gregory Button and his Ph D. students'research (Mgwabati 2009). Yellowcake Rising releases in June of 2010 on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) December 2008 (see Yellowcake Rising 2009 for the film trailer) ash spill disaster in Kingston, Tennessee, and environmental Resurgent critiques of the linkages among resource injustice in Perry County, Alabama. In 2009, Button wrote scarcity, global warming, ecocide, and ethnocide were sug- two national op-ed pieces on the effects of the collapse. But- gested in several venues. The "Pulse of the Planet"op-ed tons July Counterpunch article covers the EPA approval to column on Counter Punch that was begun in 2008 contin- ship the toxic ash coal waste to Perry County, a primarily ued in 2009, with columns questioning the human rights frican American low-income community. The decision re- dimensions of proposed carbon-credit schemes( Checker flects a clear case of environmental injustice: the EPa did not 2009c), exploring environmental justice and the TVa ash conduct a complete and meaningful justice review, which spill ( Button 2009a, 2009b), and addressing water, culture would have considered a host of factors including public wars, and nuclear militarism (ohnston 2009a, 2009b) health, social costs, and welfare impacts(Button 2009a) Barbara rose Johnstons"Water/Culture Wars"Coun Button's December Counterpunch article describes how the terpunch column, for example, shows how although water is TVA underreported the magnitude of the spill, declaring central to cultural and environmental sustainability, water the situation "safe"despite the hazardous nature of ash and development projects frequently violate human rights, lead- without any scientific studies conducted to assess the immi- ing to displacement and resettlement, particularly among nent harm to public health or the environment. The TVa ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples. Johnston and oth- also failed to implement a National Incident Management ers have drawn international attention to these issues through System in accordance with Homeland Security Presidential the Water and Cultural Diversity project, established by Directive 5, which would have eased emergency-response the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Or- communications. Button(2009b) points out that the remedy ganization International Hydrological Programme in 2008 TVAs mishandling of the disaster requires careful atten- Staffed by anthropologist Lisa Hiwasaki and led by an inter- tion to the infrastructural policies and practices and overall national and interdisciplinary expert-advisory panel (with Johnston serving as the U. S. representative), this grou corporate culture that prevent a full and effective respons launched a water and cultural-diversity policy brief and) to disasters Over the course of 2009, Button advised several non- ticipated in a full day of special events and scientific sessions profit organizations, delivered numerous guest lectures on at the Fifth World Water Forum in Istanbul, Turkey,in and was interviewed and quoted on ngs and conferences, March of 2009. Other participating anthropologists included college campuses and at national meet the disaster over 34 Marcus Barber, Ameyali Ramos Castillo, Kelly Alley, Ro times by international, national, and regional public radio Hassoun and Suzanne hanchett TV, and print media. By uncovering the TVA's(in)actions Revised versions of the world water forum Button demonstrates the pressing need for greater over- were presented at a three-day international symposium on
210 American Anthropologist • Vol. 112, No. 2 • June 2010 Community (MIMIC). MIMIC is an emergent nonprofit founded by a group of ex-offenders in Philadelphia that focuses on mentoring young people and recently released former offenders. McKinney also headed up a special task force for the Philadelphia School Reform Commission (Board of Education) to address the black and Latino male dropout rate. At the national level, McKinney continued work with the Howard Samuels Center at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center to increase access to higher education for underrepresented populations. HUMAN RIGHTS, ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, AND DISPLACEMENT In a time of resource scarcity, global warming, and the everincreasing power of transnational corporations to control the natural world, the profound need for anthropologists to document the effects on marginalized peoples continued to grow in 2009. Several sessions at the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) and AAA annual meetings were focused on “development disasters,” issues also considered in Anthony Oliver-Smith’s edited volume Development and Dispossession: The Crisis of Forced Displacement and Resettlement (2009). Examples of public engagement on these issues can be seen in Gregory Button and his Ph.D. students’ research on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) December 2008 ash spill disaster in Kingston, Tennessee, and environmental injustice in Perry County, Alabama. In 2009, Button wrote two national op-ed pieces on the effects of the collapse. Button’s July Counterpunch article covers the EPA approval to ship the toxic ash coal waste to Perry County, a primarily African American low-income community. The decision re- flects a clear case of environmental injustice: the EPA did not conduct a complete and meaningful justice review, which would have considered a host of factors including public health, social costs, and welfare impacts (Button 2009a). Button’s December Counterpunch article describes how the TVA underreported the magnitude of the spill, declaring the situation “safe” despite the hazardous nature of ash and without any scientific studies conducted to assess the imminent harm to public health or the environment. The TVA also failed to implement a National Incident Management System in accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5, which would have eased emergency-response communications. Button (2009b) points out that the remedy to TVA’s mishandling of the disaster requires careful attention to the infrastructural policies and practices and overall corporate culture that prevent a full and effective response to disasters. Over the course of 2009, Button advised several nonprofit organizations, delivered numerous guest lectures on college campuses and at national meetings and conferences, and was interviewed and quoted on the disaster over 34 times by international, national, and regional public radio, TV, and print media. By uncovering the TVA’s (in)actions, Button demonstrates the pressing need for greater oversight of the agency by the EPA, other federal agencies, and Congress. A step in this direction was his successful 2009 petition drive to have the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal agency in the division of CDC and under the Department of Health and Human Services, conduct a long-term assessment on the impact of the spill. In November of 2009, Marty Otanez previewed his ˜ public anthropology visual project about Australian-based Paladin and its uranium mining activities in Malawi, Africa. Yellowcake Risingwas shown at the Tanzania Uranium Awareness Conference, “Uranium Mining and Nuclear Power: Tanzanian Future?” in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The video explores the health and socioecological costs of uranium mining, with a focus on water contamination, the absence of living wages, and other exploitative social and environmental conditions associated with Paladin’s mining activities. Substantively, this work raises questions about nuclear energy as a “clean” energy source, showing how this toxic commodity is far from clean. Otanez’s work was highlighted ˜ in the Tanzanian local press as a caution and challenge to the Tanzanian government to prepare guidelines on extraction transportation and revenues collections from uranium mining to prevent potential dangers to the local populations (Mgwabati 2009). Yellowcake Rising releases in June of 2010 (see Yellowcake Rising 2009 for the film trailer). Resurgent critiques of the linkages among resource scarcity, global warming, ecocide, and ethnocide were suggested in several venues. The “Pulse of the Planet” op-ed column on CounterPunch that was begun in 2008 continued in 2009, with columns questioning the human rights dimensions of proposed carbon-credit schemes (Checker 2009c), exploring environmental justice and the TVA ash spill (Button 2009a, 2009b), and addressing water, culture wars, and nuclear militarism (Johnston 2009a, 2009b). Barbara Rose Johnston’s “Water/Culture Wars” Counterpunch column, for example, shows how although water is central to cultural and environmental sustainability, waterdevelopment projects frequently violate human rights, leading to displacement and resettlement, particularly among ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples. Johnston and others have drawn international attentiontothese issuesthrough the Water and Cultural Diversity project, established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization International Hydrological Programme in 2008. Staffed by anthropologist Lisa Hiwasaki and led by an international and interdisciplinary expert-advisory panel (with Johnston serving as the U.S. representative), this group launched a water and cultural-diversity policy brief and participated in a full day of special events and scientific sessions at the Fifth World Water Forum in Istanbul, Turkey, in March of 2009. Other participating anthropologists included Marcus Barber, Ameyali Ramos Castillo, Kelly Alley, Rosina Hassoun, and Suzanne Hanchett. Revised versions of the world water forum papers were presented at a three-day international symposium on
Brondo Year in Review: Public Anthropology 211 Water. Cultural Diversity. and Environmental Change"at homes(Checker 2009c). Checker's work demonstrates th the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature in Kyoto, flaws of the market-based REDD initiatives(UN Collabora- Japan, in October of 2009. At that conference, anthropol- tive Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation gists joined geographers, philosophers, civil engineers, hy- and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries)that trades drologists, and indigenous leaders from around the world to public-health and human rights protections of local com discuss traditional water-resource management, water cul- munities for corporate carbon-trading profits and provides tures and waterscapes, and the varied relationships among incentives to pollute rather than protect, doing very little in ultural diversity and the privatization of water, deterio- the end to slow global warming or reduce our dependence rating water quality, diminishing or lack of access, and the on fossil fuels mpending complications of climate variability. Outcomes Other practicing anthropologists conducting research from these meetings include substantive contributions to on land-based carbon-offset projects reported on their work a"Water, Cultural Diversity and Environmental Change" in a double session organized by Shirley Fiske and Stephanie textbook project, the launching of an international commu- Paladino at the SfAA meetings in 2009. Organized with nityofpractice(www.waterandculturaldiversity.org),andafocusonequityandparticipationpanelistssharednu- the formation of working groups to develop a"culture and anced views of ways in which carbon-offset projects are water"course for water managers in graduate programs being formulated that contrast with the more visible, large and propose scientific sessions as part of the September scale commercial projects that have raised serious equity 2010 Stockholm Water week. Anthropologists involved in concerns. They highlighted, for instance, the contrasting these initiatives are hoping to make real contributions to ns taken by indigenous peopl carbon credi the models and methods that guide water-resource man- for avoided deforestation, a national program that has been agement by exploring the culturally diverse ways in which reshaped by civil-society organizations, and on locally gener water resou are valued, used, and managed; introduc- ated projec cts atte mpting to use carbon revenues to sup ing"cultural flows"and "rightsholder"concepts as central to indigenous and locally directed development, such as th ater-resource management;and by demonstrating the im- one Paladino reported on in Chiapas, Mexico(see Scolel'te portance of biocultural health as a key indicator in planning d. assessment, and management systems The population displa cement tr The threat that climate change brings to increasing the change disasters and"solutions" to climate change was also marginalization of impoverished and indigenous peoples the subject of increasing anthropological engagement in compelled anthropologists to play an important advocac 2009. For example, Oliver-Smith, one of four Munich Re role in international climate-change negotiations in 2009. Foundation(MRF) chairs at the Un University Institute Some of this work was conducted through publications, for Environment and Human Security(UNU-EHS)in Bonn such as Susan Crate and Mark Nuttall's edited volume, (2005-09), gave a variety of presentations at Expert Work- Anthropology and Climate Change: From Encounters to Action ing Groups; participated in the Climate Change, Environ- (2009). The volume is the first comprehensive assessment ment and Migration Alliance(CCEMA) workshops spon anthropology's engagement with climate change, focus- sored by the International Organization on Migration ing on the impact of climate change on indigenous commu UNU-EHS. the Munich Re Foundation. and the Rockefeller nities around the world. It also includes a call to action, Foundation; and produced several briefing papers on envi- omplete with tips on innovative communication forums ronmental migration and sea-level rise for UNESCO and the or engaging the public on climate change and for shaping UNU-EHS Over a dozen members of the AAA were present for the In a less formal, although perhaps more public, media UN Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) venue, Melissa Checker's Counterpunch article detailed the n Copenhagen, December 7-18, 2009. The relevant activ human costs of carbon offsets through examples like FACE, ities associated with the meetings took place simultaneously the Forests Absorbing Carbon Dioxide Emissions, a partner-in throughout Copenhagen. To organ ship between the Dutch Electricity Generating Board and the their efforts, Janet Chernela and Soren Hvalkof convene uganda Wildlife Authority(UwA)that led to the displace- a meeting at the Danish Institute for International Studies ment of 6,000 people from Mount Elgon. The displaced lost (DIIS)that allowed the group to form a strategy to cope with the challenges of conducting event anthropology (i.e, coor clared their former home a national park and then suffered dinating the activities of many researchers so as to improve violent attacks by rangers when they continued to attempt to intersectorial understanding and bring a holistic anthropo- use parkland. The Mount Elgon project enabled the building logical presence to a large-scale international meet of several coal-fired plants, which brought a whole additional event-engagement strategy and follow-up communications set of human costs through mountaintop removal, a contro- network are intended to accompany the UNFCCC proce versial method of coal extraction that dumps tons of toxic over the next several years. Crate was one of two anthro- waste into streams and valleys, leads to flooding of highly pologists to formally share her research on the human di- toxic debris, and drives nearby residents to move from their mensions of climate change, making presentations during
Brondo • Year in Review: Public Anthropology 211 “Water, Cultural Diversity, and Environmental Change” at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature in Kyoto, Japan, in October of 2009. At that conference, anthropologists joined geographers, philosophers, civil engineers, hydrologists, and indigenous leaders from around the world to discuss traditional water-resource management, water cultures and waterscapes, and the varied relationships among cultural diversity and the privatization of water, deteriorating water quality, diminishing or lack of access, and the impending complications of climate variability. Outcomes from these meetings include substantive contributions to a “Water, Cultural Diversity and Environmental Change” textbook project, the launching of an international community of practice (www.waterandculturaldiversity.org), and the formation of working groups to develop a “culture and water” course for water managers in graduate programs and propose scientific sessions as part of the September 2010 Stockholm Water week. Anthropologists involved in these initiatives are hoping to make real contributions to the models and methods that guide water-resource management by exploring the culturally diverse ways in which water resources are valued, used, and managed; introducing “cultural flows” and “rightsholder” concepts as central to water-resource management; and by demonstrating the importance of biocultural health as a key indicator in planning, assessment, and management systems. The threat that climate change brings to increasing the marginalization of impoverished and indigenous peoples compelled anthropologists to play an important advocacy role in international climate-change negotiations in 2009. Some of this work was conducted through publications, such as Susan Crate and Mark Nuttall’s edited volume, Anthropology and Climate Change: From Encounters to Action (2009). The volume is the first comprehensive assessment of anthropology’s engagement with climate change, focusing on the impact of climate change on indigenous communities around the world. It also includes a call to action, complete with tips on innovative communication forums for engaging the public on climate change and for shaping policy. In a less formal, although perhaps more public, media venue, Melissa Checker’s Counterpunch article detailed the human costs of carbon offsets through examples like FACE, the Forests Absorbing Carbon Dioxide Emissions, a partnership between the Dutch Electricity Generating Board and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) that led to the displacement of 6,000 people from Mount Elgon. The displaced lost their rights to livelihood when the Ugandan government declared their former home a national park and then suffered violent attacks by rangers when they continued to attempt to use parkland. The Mount Elgon project enabled the building of several coal-fired plants, which brought a whole additional set of human costs through mountaintop removal, a controversial method of coal extraction that dumps tons of toxic waste into streams and valleys, leads to flooding of highly toxic debris, and drives nearby residents to move from their homes (Checker 2009c). Checker’s work demonstrates the flaws of the market-based REDD initiatives (UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries) that trades public-health and human rights protections of local communities for corporate carbon-trading profits and provides incentives to pollute rather than protect, doing very little in the end to slow global warming or reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Other practicing anthropologists conducting research on land-based carbon-offset projects reported on their work in a double session organized by Shirley Fiske and Stephanie Paladino at the SfAA meetings in 2009. Organized with a focus on equity and participation, panelists shared nuanced views of ways in which carbon-offset projects are being formulated that contrast with the more visible, largescale commercial projects that have raised serious equity concerns. They highlighted, for instance, the contrasting positions taken by indigenous peoples on carbon credits for avoided deforestation, a national program that has been reshaped by civil-society organizations, and on locally generated projects attempting to use carbon revenues to support indigenous and locally directed development, such as the one Paladino reported on in Chiapas, Mexico (see Scolel’te´ n.d.). The population displacement triggered by climatechange disasters and “solutions” to climate change was also the subject of increasing anthropological engagement in 2009. For example, Oliver-Smith, one of four Munich Re Foundation (MRF) chairs at the UN University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) in Bonn (2005–09), gave a variety of presentations at Expert Working Groups; participated in the Climate Change, Environment and Migration Alliance (CCEMA) workshops sponsored by the International Organization on Migration, the UNU-EHS, the Munich Re Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation; and produced several briefing papers on environmental migration and sea-level rise for UNESCO and the UNU-EHS. Over a dozen members of the AAA were present for the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen, December 7–18, 2009. The relevant activities associated with the meetings took place simultaneously in numerous venues throughout Copenhagen. To organize their efforts, Janet Chernela and Soren Hvalkof convened a meeting at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) that allowed the group to form a strategy to cope with the challenges of conducting event anthropology (i.e., coordinating the activities of many researchers so as to improve intersectorial understanding and bring a holistic anthropological presence to a large-scale international meeting). The event-engagement strategy and follow-up communications network are intended to accompany the UNFCCC process over the next several years. Crate was one of two anthropologists to formally share her research on the human dimensions of climate change, making presentations during
212 American Anthropologist Vol 112, No. 2. June 2010 the Danish Energy Agency's Polar Science Day and at th GLOBAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS GRID-Arendal's United Nations Environment Programme's Without a doubt, the health of the individual and commu Many Strong Voices"event. Noor Johnson played a coor- nities became a topic of popular discussion in 2009. Media dinator role by helping to organize the activities of the Inuit exposure of issues like genetically modified food produc Circumpolar Council of Canada(ICC), a UNFCCC accred tion, the growth of CSAs(community supported agricul ited observer organization. Other participants in the event ture), the u.S. health-care-reform debate, and the global anthropology team included Brandon Derman(a human ge- swine-flu epidemic incited a focus on healthy lifes grapher), Ted Maclin, and Bob Pokrant. Collectively, the thropologists were active in bringing to light long-standin group focused their coverage on the following: participation issues of health disparities and global health-related huma by forest and Arctic indigenous communities and NGOs in rights violations, as well as in providing recommendations olicy development; knowledge flows among constituencies for national and community-level policy initiatives in the (scientific, governmental, nongovernmental, and civil soci- wake of this renewed public interest ty)present at the Climate Summit; and human rights and For example, David Himmelgreen's(2009)The Global social justice issues entailed in the framing of a"democratic" Food Crisis: New Insights into an Age-Old Problem brought to UNFCCC process gether a series of applied and practicing anthropologists to Mite anet Chernela, Janis Alcorn, Robert Hitchcock, Mark shed light on the ways in which food policies and economic Nuttall, and others covered indigenous responses to the restructuring have contributed to increasing food inequities REDD initiatives and UNFCCC process. Collectively, they across the globe. Contributors offer a range of ways in which documented meetings that led to Copenhagen, working with anthropology can play a role in formulating locall ly appropr indigenous communities and their advocates to ensure that ate solutions to the global food crisis. Barbara Ryklo-Bauer cultural rights would be recognized within the agreements eagles ar nd others took up the impact of structural Chernela, for example, reported on the indigenous peo- military, and communal violence on health and healthcare les and climate-change meeting of the Brazilian indigenous delivery in their edited volume, Global Health in Times of association COIAB( Seminario Povos Indigenas e Mudan- Violence(2009). And Nancy Scheper-Hughes's decade-lon cas Climaticas) held on September 10, 2009. She translated research on illegal organ trafficking entered the u. S.main and shared with colleagues the letter that seminar partic- stream in July of 2009 with widespread media coverage oduced, calling on the Brazilian government and of the federal arrest of 44 people-including New jersey signatories of the UN convention on climate to for- state legislators, government officials, and rabbis--for their recognize the role of indigenous peoples in the pro- involvement in an international laundering scheme that traf tection and conservation of the Amazon forests. Others, ficked human organs. Scheper-Hughes's research and the such as Chris Erni of the International Work Group for data collected by her nonprofit organization Organs Watch Indigenous Affairs and members of the Forest Peoples Pro-(a human rights group in Berkeley, CA) played a key sup gram, lent their support to indigenous organizations whose porting role in building the FBI case. The specific case-and fforts to obtain title to ancestral tropical rainforest are the global black market in organ trafficking, in general- adversely impacted by climate-change "solutions, " which, was the subject of television, radio, and media interviews among other things, represent a commoditization of sacred with Scheper-Hughes by Newsweek, CNN, NPR'S Talk of the erritor The overall concern of these and other anthropologists Public engagement with national-level health and hu who work with indigenous peoples is that, despite the 2007 man rights concerns is also illustrated with the May 2009 UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, indi publication of Philippe Bourgois and Jeff Schonberg's pho nous peoples'basic human rights--especially their rights toethnography, Righteous Dopefiend. Part of the University of o land, employment, resources, and residence--remained California's Series in Public Anthropology, the book makes threatened via the climate-change talks. Communicating a case for "critically applied public anthropology" through these concerns in various ways up to and at the Copenhagen its focus on the unintended consequences of public policies meeting had some impact, as illustrated in the December that inadvertently exacerbate the suffering of street-based 12, 2009, climate-change statement on the proposed REDD drug users in the United States. The work was on exhibit mechanisms, which included a statement on indigenous peo- at the Slought Foundation of Philadelphia from December ples. It was the first in the UNFCCC Process to refer to 3 to 31, 2009, and at the University of Pennsylvania Ar- ration on Mo shts, and it made note of the 2007 UN Decla- chaology and Anthropology Museum from December 5 Rights of Indigenous peoples. Unfortunately, through May of 2010. The exhibition was designed as a this language was not contained in the final Copenhagen Ac- public conversation in conjunction with the Penn Center for cord, and indigenous peoples worldwide have sharply criti- Public Health Initiatives's 2009-10 series, Creative Action: The cized the emerging statements. Anthropological research on Arts in Public Health. Policy recommendations that emerg the effects of climate change on indigenous peoples, thus from their research include the expansion of single-re becomes all the more pressing in 2010 cupancy hotels with in-house medical staffs, mobile health
212 American Anthropologist • Vol. 112, No. 2 • June 2010 the Danish Energy Agency’s Polar Science Day and at the GRID-Arendal’sUnitedNations Environment Programme’s “Many Strong Voices” event. Noor Johnson played a coordinator role by helping to organize the activities of the Inuit Circumpolar Council of Canada (ICC), a UNFCCC accredited observer organization. Other participants in the event anthropology team included Brandon Derman (a human geographer), Ted Maclin, and Bob Pokrant. Collectively, the group focused their coverage on the following: participation by forest and Arctic indigenous communities and NGOs in policy development; knowledge flows among constituencies (scientific, governmental, nongovernmental, and civil society) present at the Climate Summit; and human rights and social justice issues entailed in the framing of a “democratic” UNFCCC process. Janet Chernela, Janis Alcorn, Robert Hitchcock, Mark Nuttall, and others covered indigenous responses to the REDD initiatives and UNFCCC process. Collectively, they documented meetingsthat ledto Copenhagen, working with indigenous communities and their advocates to ensure that cultural rights would be recognized within the agreements. Chernela, for example, reported on the indigenous peoples and climate-change meeting of the Brazilian indigenous association COIAB (Seminario Povos Indigenas e Mudancas Climaticas) held on September 10, 2009. She translated and shared with colleagues the letter that seminar participants produced, calling on the Brazilian government and other signatories of the UN convention on climate to formally recognize the role of indigenous peoples in the protection and conservation of the Amazon forests. Others, such as Chris Erni of the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs and members of the Forest Peoples Program, lent their support to indigenous organizations whose efforts to obtain title to ancestral tropical rainforest are adversely impacted by climate-change “solutions,” which, among other things, represent a commoditization of sacred territory. The overall concern of these and other anthropologists who work with indigenous peoples is that, despite the 2007 UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, indigenous peoples’ basic human rights—especially their rights to land, employment, resources, and residence—remained threatened via the climate-change talks. Communicating these concerns in various ways up to and at the Copenhagen meeting had some impact, as illustrated in the December 12, 2009, climate-change statement on the proposed REDD mechanisms, which included a statement on indigenous peoples. It was the first in the UNFCCC process to refer to indigenous rights, and it made note of the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples. Unfortunately, this language was not contained in the final Copenhagen Accord, and indigenous peoples worldwide have sharply criticized the emerging statements. Anthropological research on the effects of climate change on indigenous peoples, thus, becomes all the more pressing in 2010. GLOBAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS Without a doubt, the health of the individual and communities became a topic of popular discussion in 2009. Media exposure of issues like genetically modified food production, the growth of CSAs (community supported agriculture), the U.S. health-care-reform debate, and the global swine-flu epidemic incited a focus on healthy lifestyles. Anthropologists were active in bringing to light long-standing issues of health disparities and global health–related human rights violations, as well as in providing recommendations for national and community-level policy initiatives in the wake of this renewed public interest. For example, David Himmelgreen’s (2009) The Global Food Crisis: New Insights into an Age-Old Problem brought together a series of applied and practicing anthropologists to shed light on the ways in which food policies and economic restructuring have contributed to increasing food inequities across the globe. Contributors offer a range of ways in which anthropology can play a role in formulating locally appropriate solutions to the global food crisis. Barbara Ryklo-Bauer and colleagues and others took up the impact of structural, military, and communal violence on health and healthcare delivery in their edited volume, Global Health in Times of Violence (2009). And Nancy Scheper-Hughes’s decade-long research on illegal organ trafficking entered the U.S. mainstream in July of 2009 with widespread media coverage of the federal arrest of 44 people—including New Jersey state legislators, government officials, and rabbis—for their involvement in an international laundering scheme that traf- ficked human organs. Scheper-Hughes’s research and the data collected by her nonprofit organization Organs Watch (a human rights group in Berkeley, CA) played a key supporting role in building the FBI case. The specific case—and the global black market in organ trafficking, in general— was the subject of television, radio, and media interviews with Scheper-Hughes by Newsweek, CNN, NPR’s Talk of the Nation, and others. Public engagement with national-level health and human rights concerns is also illustrated with the May 2009 publication of Philippe Bourgois and Jeff Schonberg’s photoethnography, Righteous Dopefiend. Part of the University of California’s Series in Public Anthropology, the book makes a case for “critically applied public anthropology” through its focus on the unintended consequences of public policies that inadvertently exacerbate the suffering of street-based drug users in the United States. The work was on exhibit at the Slought Foundation of Philadelphia from December 3 to 31, 2009, and at the University of Pennsylvania Archaeology and Anthropology Museum from December 5 through May of 2010. The exhibition was designed as a public conversation in conjunction with the Penn Center for PublicHealthInitiatives’s 2009–10 series, Creative Action: The Arts in Public Health. Policy recommendations that emerged from their research include the expansion of single-roomoccupancy hotels with in-house medical staffs, mobile health