Prospects for Socializing the Green Economy: The Case of Renewable Energy

This is the project proposal for BALTA Project B6 - Prospects for Socializing the Green Economy: The Case of Renewable Energy. It examines the context for wind energy production and involvement by social economy organizations in wind generation, then examines several best practice cases in Canada and internationally, then explores a strategy for developing the sector.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC

Farmers’ Markets as Social Economy Drivers of Local Food Systems

The objectives of this project are as follows: 1. To examine the literature on FMs through a social economy lens: a) To examine and compare the role of FMs in the development of local food systems in different global contexts - e.g. North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America; b) To gather information on the history of FMs in Canada, particularly BC and AB contexts (ie. origins, locations, function, organizational structure) and what influences have shaped this. What is the distribution of public, social, and private investment in supporting the development of farmer’s markets in BC/AB (land, buildings, infrastructure, administration). What actors within the social economy are taking the lead in this area, and what role do FMs play in their larger objectives/initiatives? c) To identify themes emerging from the literature regarding the successes and challenges of FMs, and if possible to assess the extent to which FMs are (or could be) a driver of community food systems. 2. To develop individual case profiles (shortened version of a case study) of FMs clustered within a regional setting in BC and AB (no more than 10 FMs in each province) in order to evaluate and compare their current and potential role in advancing local food systems, individually and as part of an interacting regionally-based network. We are particularly interested in understanding if and how a regional cluster of FMs can stimulate short supply chain development. As part of a network analysis, we will investigate a number of relevant variables such as producer marketing mobility within a regional market cluster, competition for marketing space at different FMs, and FM relationships to other local businesses and community organizations. What purposes does the FM serve beyond sales – e.g., production and marketing knowledge exchange, political networking and advocacy, building awareness about local production and consumption? What is the potential for FMs to become focal points for warehousing, processing, and other forms of distribution of local food products, including public procurement? 3. To establish a Delphi method of inquiry in order to engage a group of experts (e.g., producers/vendors, FM managers, FM association representatives, academics, government representatives) in: 1) assessing the prospects for, and conditions affecting, FMs becoming a driver of the re-localization of food systems in BC and AB in the coming decade; and 2) proposing criteria for the success of FMs in this role in BC and AB. For further details on this method see attached appendix.There is growing interest in the re-localization of food systems. Farmers’ markets are important and increasingly prevalent sites of economic and social exchange in the evolution of local food systems. Little is understood, however, about the role of farmers’ markets in fostering increased local production and consumption, or the broader impacts of these social economy enterprises on the communities (both urban and rural) and regions with which they are associated. The goal of this research is to examine and compare the current and potential role of farmers’ markets in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, as social economy drivers for local food systems.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA

Farmers’ Markets as Social Economy Drivers of Local Food Systems: Phases I and II

There is growing interest in the re-localization of food systems. Farmers’ markets are important and increasingly prevalent sites of economic and social exchange in the evolution of local food systems. Little is understood, however, about the role of farmers’ markets in fostering increased local production and consumption, or the broader impacts of these social economy enterprises on the communities (both urban and rural) and regions with which they are associated. This research project over two phases will examine and compare the current and potential role of farmers’ markets in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, as social economy drivers for local food systems.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC

Exploring Applications of the Nova Scotia Co-op Development System in B.C. and Alberta

This research proposal outlines planned research examining how to strengthen the co-operative development systems in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. It builds upon earlier research of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) that examined the recent history of successful innovation and development in the co-operative sector in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, that has been unparalleled in other parts of Anglophone Canada.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; British Columbia Co-operative Association (BCCA); Alberta Community and Co-operative Association (ASCCA) ; Canadian Centre for Community Renewal (CCCR) ; Rural and Co-operatives Secretaria

Westlock Grain Terminals : A Case Study

This is a case study of Westlock Grain Terminals, a very successful new generation co-operative located in Westlock, Alberta. In 2002, when the community found out that their grain terminal was going to be sold, they rallied together to raise more than $1.2 million to purchase the terminal as a community owned venture. Since then, the co-op has paid a healthy dividend on its shares to members and investors every year and are following through on plans to continually expand their grain handling capacity. Its success was a result of the vision and dedication of a small group of farmers, with the support of other key individuals. The experience of Westlock Terminals has lessons to offer to any community faced with the loss of a major economic asset.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Alberta Community and Co-operative Association (ACCA) ; Athabasca University ; Canadian Centre for Community Renewal ; Rural and Co-operatives Secretariat's Co-operative Development Initiative, Government of Canad

Westlock Grain Terminals : A Case Study

This presentation to the 2009 symposium of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) reports on a case study of Westlock Grain Terminals, a new generation co-operative in Alberta, Canada.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) ; Alberta Community and Co-operative Association (ACCA) ; Athabasca University ; Canadian Centre for Community Renewa

Farmers Markets as Social and Economic Drivers of Local Food Systems

This presentation was given at the November 24-25, 2009, symposium of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.This presentation reported on the results to date of BALTA research projects B5 and B7 (second phase of research) which are exploring the current and potential role of farmers’ markets in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, as social economy drivers for local food systems.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC

Identidad de género y orientación sexual: cambiando una discriminación social

Curso de Especial Interés – Psicología y SexualidadEl estudio profundiza en una fundamentación teórica alrededor de los temas LGBT, discriminación y violencia. Su objetivo general es la promoción de la protección de los derechos sexuales y reproductivos de la comunidad LGBT. Este estudio indagó de diferentes formas los niveles de discriminación en la comunidad LGBT, y a partir de los resultados se construyó una página web que permitiera cumplir el objetivo general.RESUMEN Y JUSTIFICACIÓN 1. IDENTIDAD DE GÉNERO Y ORIENTACIÓN SEXUAL 2. MARCO METODOLÓGICO 3. ESTUDIO DE MERCADEO 4. RESULTADOS 5. CONCLUSIONES Y RECOMENDACIONES BIBLIOGRAFÍA ANEXOS O APÉNDICESPregradoPsicólog

Automated Calibration of a Snow‐On‐Sea‐Ice Model

Abstract Snow on Arctic sea ice has many, contrasting effects on ice thickness and extent. Furthermore, estimates of snow depth on Arctic sea ice are a key input for ice thickness estimates from satellite altimeters such as ICESat‐2. Models such as the NASA Eulerian Snow on Sea Ice Model (NESOSIM) have been recently utilized by the sea ice community to provide time‐varying basin‐wide estimates of snow depth and density on Arctic sea ice. NESOSIM is a two‐snow‐layer model with simple representations of snow accumulation, wind packing, loss due to blowing snow, and redistribution due to sea ice motion. Two free parameters in NESOSIM, which dictate the bulk effect of wind packing (densification) and blowing snow processes, lack direct observational constraints. We present an indirect calibration of these parameters using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach. NESOSIM output is calibrated to observations of snow depth from Operation IceBridge and CRREL‐Dartmouth buoys, and density from historical drifting stations. OIB measurements alone are found to more strictly constrain the blowing snow parameter, and including additional observations yields more physically reasonable density estimates. The MCMC‐calibrated model output is further used to estimate sea ice thickness and uncertainty from model parameter uncertainty using ICESat‐2 freeboard measurements. Despite visible differences in density, the change in ice thickness is minimal. We also find that the model is relatively insensitive to parameter variations, and hence, the snow model uncertainty contribution to ice thickness is small compared to the systematic uncertainty from snow in the current ICESat‐2 thickness product

Farmers Markets as Social and Economic Drivers of Local Food Systems

This presentation was given at the November 13-14, 2008, symposium of the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance in Vancouver, BC, Canada.This presentation reported on the results to date of BALTA research project B5 which is exploring the current and potential role of farmers’ markets in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, as social economy drivers for local food systems.BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance (BALTA) ; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC