The Rights of Nature is a new paradigm shift which holds that Nature has fundamental rights. Proponents claim that this new form of ecological governance will create sustainable solutions for...Show moreThe Rights of Nature is a new paradigm shift which holds that Nature has fundamental rights. Proponents claim that this new form of ecological governance will create sustainable solutions for environmental degradation as well as expand the cultural heritage and rights of indigenous peoples. However, there lacks sufficient transparency to what extent these claims are accurate. The goal of this thesis is to investigate the Rights of Nature from a cultural heritage perspective in order to create greater understanding and clarity. The core of the research is to look at the interrelation between the Rights of Nature, landscape protection and heritage studies. In turn, this interrelation can reveal to what extent the Rights of Nature truly expands the cultural heritage and rights of indigenous peoples as well as promotes environmental protection. The research focuses on the parallel cases of Ecuador and New Zealand where the Rights of Nature are legally recognised but approached in different ways. First, the research takes a closer look at the origins, developments and characteristics of the Rights of Nature movement, including the interrelated expansion of the human rights development. Second, the heritage focus reveals that western and indigenous heritage values have a different conception of the human-Nature relationship. Indigenous heritage values reflect an intimate relation with Nature where both humans and the natural world are equally interconnected. In contrast, western heritage values reflect a dualistic perspective on the human-Nature relationship, where human culture is separated from Nature and often in dominion over Nature. These contrasting conceptions, in turn, shape the way cultural landscape protection as well as the Rights of Nature is defined and expressed. From a pure theoretical framework, the Rights of Nature carries both elements of western and indigenous heritage values, however, this is not straightforward and remains ambiguous. The case studies show that Ecuador and New Zealand carry both strong and weak elements in how the implement their Rights of Nature. As a result, the countries have a different outcome in how they protect their cultural landscapes in relation to environmental challenges as well as to what extent they expand the cultural heritage and rights of indigenous peoples. The research presents a variety of conclusions, but the main point is that the Rights of Nature can be regarded as a small step forward in the recognition of Nature’s right, however, it is not the end-solution. So far, the Rights of Nature does not sufficiently expand the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples as well as provides straightforward solutions to environmental degradation. Alternatively, when the western legal system changes its fundamental normative rules that define the principles of rights to a relationship framework, indigenous people’s rights and cultural traditions can be easier embraced. We need a language of law that brings to light the patterns of relationship rather than hides it in structures of hierarchies, boundaries and competing interests. When relationship patterns become the intention within the legal framework, the Rights of Nature can become more effective in bringing about its aim.Show less
The goal of this thesis is to understand more clearly the interpretations of the Confederate Battle Flag and statues, and how an analysis of the interpretations of the symbols featured in this case...Show moreThe goal of this thesis is to understand more clearly the interpretations of the Confederate Battle Flag and statues, and how an analysis of the interpretations of the symbols featured in this case benefits understanding heritage constructions, negotiations, and dissonance. The finding of the different interpretations of the Confederate Battle Flag and statues was done through the analysis of media bias, historical research, and literature. These interpretations are then compared to similar case studies and theoretical heritage research to find out how these interpretations came to be and how they can be explained. Important aspects of heritage construction are that the maker of heritage decides wat is remembered. This selective remembrance is the primary cause of the lack of negotiations between opposing sides in the case of the Confederate symbols, because there is no understanding for the basis of the arguments of the ‘other side’. The heritage dissonance of these Confederate symbols, i.e. different interpreted message of monuments by groups of people, lead to tensions because of the charged history of racial inequality and slavery in the United States, exacerbated further by a lack of understanding that has trouble being resolved.Show less
In the field of digital cultural heritage, digital libraries have played the role of preserving and sharing cultural material in digital format. These tools (portals, collections and archives) have...Show moreIn the field of digital cultural heritage, digital libraries have played the role of preserving and sharing cultural material in digital format. These tools (portals, collections and archives) have been influenced by the evolution of the digital medium and by new technologies which, over the years, have been provided both by the areas defined as neighbours and by conceptually distant environments. The birth of the web has played a fundamental role in today's concept of digital library, in fact this tool has allowed us to increase the scope of these collections and greatly improve their functions. In this sense it is possible to observe how digital libraries have evolved together with the web and how they have always exploited the technologies offered by cyberspace. This improves the possibilities offered to specialists in the sector and those who rely on these collections, their study, or simply to increase their cultural baggage. These collections however are affected by numerous problems that undermine not only the possibilities offered to users and specialists but also their main functions of sharing and protection. Over the last few years, several specialists and academics have focused their attention on the analysis of these solutions. Nevertheless, many possible solutions have been offered in the past and today. This area suffers from various problems that undermine the operations connected to these collections. The objective of this paper is to analyse the evolution of digital libraries in order to offer an analysis of the aforementioned problems and, as a consequence, to suggest a possible solution. Exploiting the new technologies offered by the digital medium is able to resolve, or at least curb, the weaknesses that grip this area. Through the proposal of an ecosystem for digital libraries of cultural heritage and digital cultural heritage initiatives based on the joint use of IPFS and the Ripple ledger, this work aims to offer a solution able to overcome the critical issues analysed during this study. Yet the proposed ecosystem should not be understood in any way as a conclusive point on the question but the main objective is to offer ideas. On these elements, we may build a debate on the potential of these technologies and their possible application within the field of digital libraries.Show less
