Any student who has taken an environmental studies course at Lewis & Clark can attest that we love to discuss the different dimensions associated with each specific place. Whether we are studying abroad or doing research here in Portland, we aim to complicate our understanding of the place by bringing in various dimensions of scale and (often opposing) viewpoints. For example, this allows us to fully appreciate the complex web of stakeholders associated with each place. This is obviously a contrast to the more objective descriptions that can be used to understand an area, such as those traditionally associated with environmental science.
Max Hawoth’s post compares the way that several stakeholder experiences have changed since Mt. Fuji was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Max also examines the spiritual significance of the Oshino Hakkai ponds and poses critical questions of whether local attachment to the region has decreased as it has gained international attention. Several personal interviews are used as evidence in this post, which exemplify that each person’s interpretation of a place will be defined by their own interactions. The personal component was what really drew me into this post and it was clear the author was engaged and inquisitive of his surroundings.
Following this vein of globally minded ENVS students, Keith Morency also posed critical questions about the effect of globalization on the local experience in Ho Chi Minh City. A key aspect of our work within environmental studies is learning to recognize our own frames of understanding and the ways in which they shape our own biases. This is exemplified by the author’s willingness to admit and critique the fact that he enjoys the benefits of the city’s development plan without suffering the consequences that many local residents have faced, such as displacement from their homes. His post demonstrates an analysis of the apparent disconnect between those developing the city and those who interact with it intimately every day, all while acknowledging his own biased frame of reference. The bustle of Ho Chi Minh City may seem unrelated to tourists seeking inspiration in Mt. Fuji’s beauty, but they give two wonderfully contrasting backdrops for our ENVS students’ critical analyses as they travel abroad.
Frances Swanson’s project on the other hand, proves the value of applying our concepts in ENVS to our local areas of Portland. Her assessment examines different stakeholder goals, from the Portland Development Commission to those who live in the area. This relates to Keith’s post by examining the various groups that benefit from urban development. An example of Frances’s inclusion of various dimensions of place is her fascinating connection between automobile culture and crime in the Lents neighborhood. All of these posts are guaranteed to give the reader wanderlust as they take a broad global perspective and hone it in to discover a particular area, whether it be Mt. Fuji or the suburbs of Portland.