title: Articulations of Ableism in Sport and Physical Activity

authors: Townsend, Robert C.

abstract: Disabled people continue to experience ableism in sport and physical activity in many forms. Operating as a form of privilege, ableism encompasses a complex and enduring network of beliefs, processes, and practices that place value on nondisabled embodiment and shape our collective understandings of the self, our bodies, and our relationships, and how we perceive, and are perceived by, others. However, the breadth of ableist tendencies, attitudes, and practices prevalent within sport and physical activity are not clearly articulated. This study draws on data generated from eight focus group interviews with 50 participants from across the sport and active recreation sector in Aotearoa New Zealand to paint a fuller picture of how able-bodied privilege operates. Working back-and-forth between theory and data, we expand empirically on the concept of ableism in sport and physical activity, exploring covert and overt articulations of ableism expressed by sports practitioners, while locating them within a broader framework of able-bodied privilege and power. In so doing, we provide a sensitizing framework to identify different forms of ableism present in sport: from neoliberal, institutional, and enlightened attitudes through to benevolent, apologetic, aversive, and abject responses to disability. In illustrating these contemporary manifestations of ableism, we hope to develop a shared language for both understanding and challenging ableism in sport.

text: Articulations of Ableism in Sport and Physical Activity Disabled people continue to experience ableism in sport and physical activity in many forms. Operating as a form of privilege, ableism encompasses a complex and enduring network of beliefs, processes, and practices that place value on nondisabled embodiment and shape our collective understandings of the self, our bodies, and our relationships, and how we perceive, and are perceived by, others. However, the breadth of ableist tendencies, attitudes, and practices prevalent within sport and physical activity are not clearly articulated. This study draws on data generated from eight focus group interviews with 50 participants from across the sport and active recreation sector in Aotearoa New Zealand to paint a fuller picture of how able-bodied privilege operates. Working back-and-forth between theory and data, we expand empirically on the concept of ableism in sport and physical activity, exploring covert and overt articulations of ableism expressed by sports practitioners, while locating them within a broader framework of able-bodied privilege and power. In so doing, we provide a sensitizing framework to identify different forms of ableism present in sport: from neoliberal, institutional, and enlightened attitudes through to benevolent, apologetic, aversive, and abject responses to disability. In illustrating these contemporary manifestations of ableism, we hope to develop a shared language for both understanding and challenging ableism in sport.

year: 2025

title: Development of sustainable composites from treated harakeke (New Zealand flax) fibre and poly(lactic) acid

authors: Akindoyo, John O.

abstract: The building and construction sector consumes large volume of materials, it generates enormous amounts of solid wastes, and it is responsible for about 40% of annual global CO2 emissions. So, sustainable biodegradable, recyclable or renewable materials such as polymer-based materials are seen as potential substitutes to their non-renewable, non-environmentally friendly counterparts. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is a polymer produced from renewable sources, thereby supporting sustainability. The use of PLA is sometimes limited by its inherent brittleness, and insufficient mechanical strength when used alone. The brittleness of PLA may be reduced by toughening it with rubbery additives, while its strength can be improved through reinforcement with materials such as natural fibres.  

In this thesis, fibres extracted from harakeke (Phormium tenax), otherwise called New Zealand flax is used as reinforcement in PLA composites. The fibre properties were modified to facilitate processability, improve its compatibility with PLA, and to enhance its reinforcing ability by removing components such as lignin and hemicellulose which are detrimental to the mechanical and thermal performance of the composite. Different methods such as chemical treatment with alkali solutions, mechanical processing, and enzymatic treatment were explored to modify the harakeke fibre. In addition, polybutylene succinate (PBS) was blended with PLA, followed by reactive compatibilization of the reinforced PLA/PBS blend with dicumyl peroxide (DCP), with the aim of improving the toughness of the composite. 

The results show that harakeke fibre is a good reinforcement for PLA, as it increased the composite strength from 62±1.02 MPa to 82±0.98 MPa. In addition, it was found that PLA/PBS blends can be reactively compatibilized and reinforced concurrently, thereby supporting the production of composites with improved mechanical, thermal, and thermomechanical performance. Generally, the results show that enzymatic treatment could serve as a more sustainable environmentally friendly route to fibre treatment as it obviates a chemical processing route and supports recyclability and reusability. Likewise, the combination of mechanical processing with enzymatic treatment has great potential for producing large scale environmentally friendly and good quality fibres, suitable for composites.

text: Development of sustainable composites from treated harakeke (New Zealand flax) fibre and poly(lactic) acid The building and construction sector consumes large volume of materials, it generates enormous amounts of solid wastes, and it is responsible for about 40% of annual global CO2 emissions. So, sustainable biodegradable, recyclable or renewable materials such as polymer-based materials are seen as potential substitutes to their non-renewable, non-environmentally friendly counterparts. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is a polymer produced from renewable sources, thereby supporting sustainability. The use of PLA is sometimes limited by its inherent brittleness, and insufficient mechanical strength when used alone. The brittleness of PLA may be reduced by toughening it with rubbery additives, while its strength can be improved through reinforcement with materials such as natural fibres.  

In this thesis, fibres extracted from harakeke (Phormium tenax), otherwise called New Zealand flax is used as reinforcement in PLA composites. The fibre properties were modified to facilitate processability, improve its compatibility with PLA, and to enhance its reinforcing ability by removing components such as lignin and hemicellulose which are detrimental to the mechanical and thermal performance of the composite. Different methods such as chemical treatment with alkali solutions, mechanical processing, and enzymatic treatment were explored to modify the harakeke fibre. In addition, polybutylene succinate (PBS) was blended with PLA, followed by reactive compatibilization of the reinforced PLA/PBS blend with dicumyl peroxide (DCP), with the aim of improving the toughness of the composite. 

The results show that harakeke fibre is a good reinforcement for PLA, as it increased the composite strength from 62±1.02 MPa to 82±0.98 MPa. In addition, it was found that PLA/PBS blends can be reactively compatibilized and reinforced concurrently, thereby supporting the production of composites with improved mechanical, thermal, and thermomechanical performance. Generally, the results show that enzymatic treatment could serve as a more sustainable environmentally friendly route to fibre treatment as it obviates a chemical processing route and supports recyclability and reusability. Likewise, the combination of mechanical processing with enzymatic treatment has great potential for producing large scale environmentally friendly and good quality fibres, suitable for composites.

year: 2025

title: Taking quality work to a new brilliance: Tama Ma on tour [Review]

authors: Crawford, Terri Ripeka

subjects: Tama Ma

abstract: Choreographers: Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete; Douglas Wright; Michael Parmenter  Okareka Dance Company at Telecom Playhouse Theatre, WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts, Hamilton
From 17 Jun 2009 to 20 Jun 2009 

Reviewed by Terri Ripeka Crawford, 22 Jun 2009.

text: Taking quality work to a new brilliance: Tama Ma on tour [Review] Choreographers: Taiaroa Royal and Taane Mete; Douglas Wright; Michael Parmenter  Okareka Dance Company at Telecom Playhouse Theatre, WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts, Hamilton
From 17 Jun 2009 to 20 Jun 2009 

Reviewed by Terri Ripeka Crawford, 22 Jun 2009.

year: 2009