title: Water availability and quality in the Jordan River Valley and the Zarqa River Basin : stakeholders' perspectives

authors: Alshawabka, Zaid Ahmad

subjects: Water availability

abstract: The objective of the thesis is to investigate stakeholders’ perspectives of the impacts of pollution in the Jordan River Valley and the Zarqa River Basin in Jordan (Arabic: الأردن Al-Urdunn). The impacts that pollution has on stakeholders are varied and include physical, emotional, and spiritual impacts.
Classical Islamic Hermeneutics is used as a qualitative methodological approach. Semistructured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 50 participants to understand the environmental effects of contamination in the study area. The interviewees included residents, local farmers, environmental experts, government, NGOs and religious actors. Five in-depth interviews with water industry actors were also undertaken in order to understand water management issues in Jordan. 
The study finds that water pollution in the Jordan River Valley and the Zarqa River Basin has affected the economy of the farming community. The pollution has affected the level of income which resulted from farming owing to farmers’ using inadequately treated sewage water to irrigate high-value crops. Furthermore, using partially treated sewage water for irrigation causes additional maintenance costs owing to blockage of the irrigation networks. 
The pollution has also impacted classical and religious sites on and around the Jordan River Valley and the Zarqa River Basin and led to the loss of fauna and flora. Overall, contamination has had negative impacts on religious, domestic, and international tourism.
The effects of pollution, which include pathogens, bad smells, and the spread of harmful insects such as flies and mosquitoes, have also impacted the health, emotional, and spiritual life of the local community in the Jordan River Valley and the Zarqa River Basin. The interviews revealed that institutional factors such as nepotism, the lack of enforcement of environmental laws, and the lack of political will have led to a lack of accountability. The lack of political will to enforce environmental laws has contributed to the increasing levels of contamination in the region and caused hardships in the community.
The contribution of this research is to allow those stakeholders’ whose voices are not usually heard to contribute to a level of commentary that might encourage the government to take action. At a broader level, the research elucidates the issue of water scarcity in the Middle East and North Africa countries, many of which are experiencing similar issues to Jordan’s. The classical Islamic Hermeneutics approach is a beneficial approach that can be applied to research in other situations. 
When compared to western countries, the political factors in Jordan, the Middle East, and North Africa are about more than merely managing water. These factors include cultural factors, specifically existing rights and relationships and nepotism. In this context, water management is much more than a technical issue and is also related to political will. Politicians as well as senior managers in the Jordanian water authorities will need to work with the community to solve the problems stakeholders are currently experiencing. As a first step this task should include applying current laws and regulations fully. This step could then be followed by the introduction of a comprehensive water accounting programme to ensure this scarce resource is shared equitably.

text: Water availability and quality in the Jordan River Valley and the Zarqa River Basin : stakeholders' perspectives The objective of the thesis is to investigate stakeholders’ perspectives of the impacts of pollution in the Jordan River Valley and the Zarqa River Basin in Jordan (Arabic: الأردن Al-Urdunn). The impacts that pollution has on stakeholders are varied and include physical, emotional, and spiritual impacts.
Classical Islamic Hermeneutics is used as a qualitative methodological approach. Semistructured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 50 participants to understand the environmental effects of contamination in the study area. The interviewees included residents, local farmers, environmental experts, government, NGOs and religious actors. Five in-depth interviews with water industry actors were also undertaken in order to understand water management issues in Jordan. 
The study finds that water pollution in the Jordan River Valley and the Zarqa River Basin has affected the economy of the farming community. The pollution has affected the level of income which resulted from farming owing to farmers’ using inadequately treated sewage water to irrigate high-value crops. Furthermore, using partially treated sewage water for irrigation causes additional maintenance costs owing to blockage of the irrigation networks. 
The pollution has also impacted classical and religious sites on and around the Jordan River Valley and the Zarqa River Basin and led to the loss of fauna and flora. Overall, contamination has had negative impacts on religious, domestic, and international tourism.
The effects of pollution, which include pathogens, bad smells, and the spread of harmful insects such as flies and mosquitoes, have also impacted the health, emotional, and spiritual life of the local community in the Jordan River Valley and the Zarqa River Basin. The interviews revealed that institutional factors such as nepotism, the lack of enforcement of environmental laws, and the lack of political will have led to a lack of accountability. The lack of political will to enforce environmental laws has contributed to the increasing levels of contamination in the region and caused hardships in the community.
The contribution of this research is to allow those stakeholders’ whose voices are not usually heard to contribute to a level of commentary that might encourage the government to take action. At a broader level, the research elucidates the issue of water scarcity in the Middle East and North Africa countries, many of which are experiencing similar issues to Jordan’s. The classical Islamic Hermeneutics approach is a beneficial approach that can be applied to research in other situations. 
When compared to western countries, the political factors in Jordan, the Middle East, and North Africa are about more than merely managing water. These factors include cultural factors, specifically existing rights and relationships and nepotism. In this context, water management is much more than a technical issue and is also related to political will. Politicians as well as senior managers in the Jordanian water authorities will need to work with the community to solve the problems stakeholders are currently experiencing. As a first step this task should include applying current laws and regulations fully. This step could then be followed by the introduction of a comprehensive water accounting programme to ensure this scarce resource is shared equitably.

year: 2019

title: The Diaolou of Zili Village: An aspect of China’s architectural heritage

authors: Scott, Howard M.

subjects: Pacific area

abstract: In this piece of photographic journalism, I explore an aspect of Pacific Rim architecture, that is, China's Diaolou - fortress-like buildings combining aspects of Chinese and Western architecture which were constructed for a combination of defense and housing on the instructions of Chinese migrants returning from overseas. These buildings provide us with important insights into the history of China and Chinese migration.

text: The Diaolou of Zili Village: An aspect of China’s architectural heritage In this piece of photographic journalism, I explore an aspect of Pacific Rim architecture, that is, China's Diaolou - fortress-like buildings combining aspects of Chinese and Western architecture which were constructed for a combination of defense and housing on the instructions of Chinese migrants returning from overseas. These buildings provide us with important insights into the history of China and Chinese migration.

year: 2006-02

title: Tariao Whitiwhitiora

authors: Totorewa, Te Oko Horoi

abstract: I te tau 1875 i tiihooka tahi atu a Kiingi Taawhiao ki Taranaki ka tau ki mua ki te aroaro o Te Uahaumeene. Matua raa ko te rongomau me te rangimaaria, te kotahitanga me te aroha o teetehi ki teetehi maa roto mai i te whakapono ki te atua te whaainga i haere ai ia.

Ka tutuki i a Kiingi Taawhiao te rongomau me te rangimaaria, te kotahitanga me te aroha o teetehi ki teetehi maa te whakakotahi i ngaa ngaa koorero, ngaa hiitori, ngaa whakapapa, ngaa maataapono mai o te taioretanga o ngoo taatou tuupuna ka toopuuria ki te whakapono Tariao.

He whakapono teenei i whakaorangia e ia, e Kiingi Taawhiao maa roto mai i te tongikura, “E Ua, e toru ngaa taonga kei te kapu o taku ringa, ko te Mihinare, ko te Katorika me te Weteriana. Homai taau ka whaa. Kopi katoa ngeenei taonga i au ki te kapu o taku ringa, ka puta ko te Paimaarire.” Ko te whakapono Tariao me ngaa karakia Paimaarie ka hikitia, ka haapaingia tonu e maatou ngaa mangainga, ngaa kaiwhakapuumau i te Kiingitanga inaa raa koia teenei te whakapono matua moo te Kiingitanga.

I teenei tuhinga whakapae ko te whakapono Tariao te taahuhu o ngaa koorero. I konei ngahere mai ai te kaupapa matua o teenei tuhinga.

“He kura Tariao he kura whakapapa, te herenga ki te whakaoranga o Waikato tangata”

Ko teenei kaupapa ka whakarukuhia maa te rangahau i te ahunga mai o te maatauranga kei aa teenei whakapono i whea. Ka rangahautia ko te whakapaparanga o Kiingi Taawhiao mai i te Kore, ki a Rangi raaua ko Papa heke iho mai ki a Hoturoa, aa, ka tau ki a ia ki a Kiingi Taawhiao inaa raa, ko ngeenei momo he mea e tauiratia ana ki roto ki ngaa karakia, ki ngaa Kura kei teenei whakapono.

Ka hereherea ko Te Uahaumeene ki koneki naa, ki ngaa koorero e kitea ai maa whea i puaawai mai ai te Tariao me ngaa karakia Paimaarire. Ko te Kiingitanga me ngaana pehonga kaupapa e taapae atu ana ki te oranga o teenei whakapono maa te whakamahi i teenei whakapono teeraa ka waahia. Taea noatia ki te puutakenga mai o te whakapono ake, ngoonaa koorero, ngoona tuuranga, ngoona karakia, ngoona kura, ngoona whakamaaramatanga, tau iho mai ki te reo
 
tupuna o roto. Ko ngaa aupiki me ngaa auheke, te whakaraakeiora hoki i waatea mai, i whaipaanga atu ki te whakapono Tariao ka whakamaaramahia. Ka whakamutua atu me te taatari i ngaa putanga ka puta e kite ake ai me he herenga too teenei whakapono ki te whakaoranga o Waikato tangata.

text: Tariao Whitiwhitiora I te tau 1875 i tiihooka tahi atu a Kiingi Taawhiao ki Taranaki ka tau ki mua ki te aroaro o Te Uahaumeene. Matua raa ko te rongomau me te rangimaaria, te kotahitanga me te aroha o teetehi ki teetehi maa roto mai i te whakapono ki te atua te whaainga i haere ai ia.

Ka tutuki i a Kiingi Taawhiao te rongomau me te rangimaaria, te kotahitanga me te aroha o teetehi ki teetehi maa te whakakotahi i ngaa ngaa koorero, ngaa hiitori, ngaa whakapapa, ngaa maataapono mai o te taioretanga o ngoo taatou tuupuna ka toopuuria ki te whakapono Tariao.

He whakapono teenei i whakaorangia e ia, e Kiingi Taawhiao maa roto mai i te tongikura, “E Ua, e toru ngaa taonga kei te kapu o taku ringa, ko te Mihinare, ko te Katorika me te Weteriana. Homai taau ka whaa. Kopi katoa ngeenei taonga i au ki te kapu o taku ringa, ka puta ko te Paimaarire.” Ko te whakapono Tariao me ngaa karakia Paimaarie ka hikitia, ka haapaingia tonu e maatou ngaa mangainga, ngaa kaiwhakapuumau i te Kiingitanga inaa raa koia teenei te whakapono matua moo te Kiingitanga.

I teenei tuhinga whakapae ko te whakapono Tariao te taahuhu o ngaa koorero. I konei ngahere mai ai te kaupapa matua o teenei tuhinga.

“He kura Tariao he kura whakapapa, te herenga ki te whakaoranga o Waikato tangata”

Ko teenei kaupapa ka whakarukuhia maa te rangahau i te ahunga mai o te maatauranga kei aa teenei whakapono i whea. Ka rangahautia ko te whakapaparanga o Kiingi Taawhiao mai i te Kore, ki a Rangi raaua ko Papa heke iho mai ki a Hoturoa, aa, ka tau ki a ia ki a Kiingi Taawhiao inaa raa, ko ngeenei momo he mea e tauiratia ana ki roto ki ngaa karakia, ki ngaa Kura kei teenei whakapono.

Ka hereherea ko Te Uahaumeene ki koneki naa, ki ngaa koorero e kitea ai maa whea i puaawai mai ai te Tariao me ngaa karakia Paimaarire. Ko te Kiingitanga me ngaana pehonga kaupapa e taapae atu ana ki te oranga o teenei whakapono maa te whakamahi i teenei whakapono teeraa ka waahia. Taea noatia ki te puutakenga mai o te whakapono ake, ngoonaa koorero, ngoona tuuranga, ngoona karakia, ngoona kura, ngoona whakamaaramatanga, tau iho mai ki te reo
 
tupuna o roto. Ko ngaa aupiki me ngaa auheke, te whakaraakeiora hoki i waatea mai, i whaipaanga atu ki te whakapono Tariao ka whakamaaramahia. Ka whakamutua atu me te taatari i ngaa putanga ka puta e kite ake ai me he herenga too teenei whakapono ki te whakaoranga o Waikato tangata.

year: 2022