Papers by Dr. Tamara Plush
Natural Hazards, 2018
As the risks and costs associated with disasters and climate change escalate, international,
nati... more As the risks and costs associated with disasters and climate change escalate, international,
national, and regional governments are searching for ways to increase citizen engagement,
as well as develop innovations and investments to reduce disaster risks and enhance climate
change adaptation. As a signatory to the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction
(DRR), Canada has committed to a whole of society approach to DRR that includes engaging
youth as credible stakeholders. Historically, in the context of disasters, young people
(children and youth) have more often been framed one-dimensionally as a population at
high risk of experiencing negative impacts during disasters, and, therefore, a population in
need of protection. However, youth have more recently been recognized as having potential
as change agents in their communities and stakeholders in the development and implementation
of DRR policies and practices (Cox et al. in Int J Disaster Risk Reduct 22:249–
356, 2017). As the first digitally native generation, youth today are equipped with unprecedented
technological savvy, an entrepreneurial orientation, and confidence in their ability
to change the world. From this perspective, youth, aged 15–24, stand poised as a significant
capacity multiplier in Canada’s efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with disasters
and climate change. This paper explores the current state of youth engagement
Using visual storytelling for women's empowerment
Media Development, 2013
We’ve raised their voice. Is anyone listening? Participatory video practitioners and valued citizen voice in international development contexts (PhD)
Within international development, strengthening the voice of citizens living in poverty is recogn... more Within international development, strengthening the voice of citizens living in poverty is recognised as vital to reducing inequity. In support of such endeavors, participatory video (PV) is an increasingly utilised communicative method that can stimulate community engagement and amplify the voice of groups often excluded from decision-making spaces. However, implementing PV processes specifically within an international development context is an immensely complex proposal. Practitioners must take into consideration the different ways institutions may understand the use of participatory video for raising citizen voice; and how therefore the practice may be influenced, co-opted or even devalued by these institutional assumptions. To this end, this article interrogates how global PV practitioners express tension in their work. Analysis of their descriptions suggests six influential views on PV practice with the potential to diminish the value of voice from the margins.
Nordicom Review 36 (2015) Special Issue, pp. 57-70
Climate change is hindering the rights of poor women and children to live a safe life due to its ... more Climate change is hindering the rights of poor women and children to live a safe life due to its negative impacts on their livelihoods, health, education and food security. New innovations and approaches are needed to link these impacts to policy-makers in a way that not only amplifies the concerns of poor women and children but promotes their participation in and capacity for creating adaptation solutions. This paper shares the experiences of a participatory action researcher who studied how participatory video could be used as one method to educate and empower marginalized groups to advocate for climate change adaptation support. It will explain how a year-long research project in Nepal explored participatory video as a supportive development tool to generate local knowledge on impacts and coping strategies, build the capacity to act on this knowledge, and advocate for adaptation support from the local to the global level. The paper will also examine and share the strengths and limitations of using participatory video for transformational social change through observations and lessons learned that can be applied in the climate change debate as well as to a wider scope of development issues.
Women's rights in climate change: using video as a tool for empowerment in Nepal
Gender & Development, 2009
An innovative Action Aid-supplied project in Nepal has seen women’s empowerment make rapid progre... more An innovative Action Aid-supplied project in Nepal has seen women’s empowerment make rapid progress through the use of video discussions about climate change. In this
exploration of the project, we ask what we can learn from the use of such technology, and consider the implications for international development agencies and their efforts
to support women’s rights.
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time with the greatest impacts being fel... more Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time with the greatest impacts being felt by poor and marginalised people living in developing countries, and particularly children. While children have done very little to cause the changing climate, they will inherit its problems. This puts them in the precarious situation of having to cope with both current and future impacts from increasing climate shocks and stresses. Yet when decision makers create policies and programmes for climate change adaptation, children’s concerns are rarely part of the discussion, even though children will benefit most from increased knowledge, resources, and funding. The motivation to amplify children’s voices around their adaptation needs
formed the basis for a participatory video action research project that took place in Nepal in 2008 as part of an Institute of
Development Studies (IDS) Masters research project. This paper describes the methodology and experience.
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Papers by Dr. Tamara Plush
national, and regional governments are searching for ways to increase citizen engagement,
as well as develop innovations and investments to reduce disaster risks and enhance climate
change adaptation. As a signatory to the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction
(DRR), Canada has committed to a whole of society approach to DRR that includes engaging
youth as credible stakeholders. Historically, in the context of disasters, young people
(children and youth) have more often been framed one-dimensionally as a population at
high risk of experiencing negative impacts during disasters, and, therefore, a population in
need of protection. However, youth have more recently been recognized as having potential
as change agents in their communities and stakeholders in the development and implementation
of DRR policies and practices (Cox et al. in Int J Disaster Risk Reduct 22:249–
356, 2017). As the first digitally native generation, youth today are equipped with unprecedented
technological savvy, an entrepreneurial orientation, and confidence in their ability
to change the world. From this perspective, youth, aged 15–24, stand poised as a significant
capacity multiplier in Canada’s efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with disasters
and climate change. This paper explores the current state of youth engagement
Nordicom Review 36 (2015) Special Issue, pp. 57-70
exploration of the project, we ask what we can learn from the use of such technology, and consider the implications for international development agencies and their efforts
to support women’s rights.
formed the basis for a participatory video action research project that took place in Nepal in 2008 as part of an Institute of
Development Studies (IDS) Masters research project. This paper describes the methodology and experience.