Creationism and Evolution in an intro class

I have been wondering lately how I am going to address Evolution and Creationism when I start teaching an introductory anthropology course this fall.

When I was in community college I had a professor who taught the Creationism/Evolution debate using what might best be called the Richard Dawkins model. He took a pretty hard line against creationists, and his class certainly sparked some strong reactions. However, there was often little room for opposing points of view, and I think that an anthropology course should always allow for that. I understood why my old professor took the position he did, but in the end I do not think it was a particularly effective way to initiate dialogue about the subject.

And that's why I prefer the way that people like Stephen Jay Gould address the subject. I do not think that creationism and evolution need necessarily be counterposed against one another. Maybe this is taking too much of a relativist position, maybe not.

Anthropologists spend a great deal of time studying and trying to understand very traditional/conservative social groups. The same kind of consideration, in my opinion, should be given to social groups within the United States. That's why I really appreciate the work of people like Susan Harding, who are taking the time to look into these kinds of belief systems with an open mind. In these often politically polemic times, when left/right and conservative/liberal monikers are thrown around so carelessly, I think that anthropologists can play a middle of the road role that serves to encourage dialogue and understanding across the divide.

UPDATE: From the American Anthropological Association's "Statement on Evolution and Creationism":

...anthropologists are encouraged to use their knowledge both of evolution and of human social and cultural systems to assist communities in which evolution and creationism have become contentious. Anthropologists should help the public and public officials understand that good science education requires that evolution be presented in the same manner as other well-supported scientific theories, without special qualifications or disclaimers, and that an understanding of religion and other cultural systems should be part of the education of each child.

More Baja...

This image is not specific to the East Cape, but to sportfishing throughout Baja, including La Paz and the Los Cabos region. The image comes from Muchobueno.com, here. What does this say about fishing and travel in Baja, hmmm? Kind of a strange logo, if you ask me, but I suppose it's meant to appeal to a certain market.

Visualizing the East Cape

So I am getting ready to head down to Baja California Sur for my summer project on tourism and development on the East Cape of Baja. One of my main areas of focus will be on the expatriate communities in the area, and how they interrelate with local communities, politics, and so on. This will include homeowners, temporary residents, business owners, and tourists.

Another aspect of my project will include an account of how the East Cape is represented visually through different forms of media. What kinds of images are used to characterize the region and sell it to incoming tourists and potential residents? Here are just a few examples of how media creates images and discourses of and about the East Cape:

Sportfishing is a huge draw on the East Cape. This image comes from Mexfish.com, here. These kinds of images continue to enhance the reputation that this portion of Baja has for many anglers and commercial fishermen.

An image of Hotel Palmas de Cortez, located in Los Barriles. This image comes from here, and is accompanied by this text:

Some say the East Cape hubs of Buena Vista and Los Barriles, magnificently situated on Bahia Las Palmas, are the Los Cabos of twenty years ago. Famous for its gamefish, Bahia Los Palmas stretches from Punta Pescadero south to Punta Arena Sur.

Blue and black marlin are plentiful from June to December, and the area explodes as the fishing resort crowd moves in. Roosterfish, yellowtail, wahoo and tuna are also abundant. Whatever your expectations, rest assured, there are miles of isolated coastline, pristine waters and an ample array of sports and activities for every taste, from diving to boardsailing.

This photograph shows the community of Cabo Pulmo, which is known for the coral reef that lies just off the beach. The image comes from the website of Arthur W. Haseltine (copyright Fotosea).

This image comes from the website of Jack Brauer, and captures the primary resources that drive much of tourism to Mexico: sun, sand, and warm blue ocean water (copyright Jack Brauer).

Diving is one of the many attractions throughout the East Cape. This image comes from here. Here is a sample of the text that goes along with the images on this page:

Riding Back in Time - The winding two-lane road leading to the East Cape is bordered by a thorny array of cactus plants and scrub brush, interjected occasionally by splashes of color from blooming acacia and bougainvilleas. Immediately beyond the airport, the terrain becomes a mix of convoluted canyons, wide dry arroyos, and the rare spring-fed stream. Cattle range freely, scrounging for their sustenance while squadrons of turkey vultures circle languidly overhead. Wild yet inviting mountains punctuate the distance. For a moment I fancy I'm a cowboy in a western movie. But the fortunate reality is that I'm riding in a fine new air-conditioned van, listening to a CD of lively mariachi music and practicing my Spanish with Manuel, the congenial driver providing my transport to the Buena Vista Hotel, 30 miles to the north, and world's away from the more predictable charms of Cabos San Lucas.

This one comes from LuxuryRealEstate.com, here. Here is the text that is included with the photo (in caps as it appears on the site):

LARGE SEA OF CORTEZ DEVELOPMENT LOT NEAR BETWEEN LAS BARRACAS [sic] AND CABO PULMO THE PARCEL HAS HILLSIDE INCLINE GOOD FOR COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT PRISTINE BEACH FRONT NEW ON MARKET THIS AREA IS ONE OF THE HOTTEST AND SOUGHT A FOR DEVELOPMENT IN BAJA SUR MEXICO BEACHFRONT 114 HECTARES 276 ACRES WITH 464.865 METERS OF BEACH OR 1,500 FEET 40 US PER SQUARE METER

This last image is what draws yet another interest group to the East Cape: surfers. They are generally some of the earliest to arrive in more remote places such as this part of Baja, along with divers, fishermen, and other more hardy travelers. In many ways, these travelers/tourists represent the leading ranks of of visitors, and are often followed by other types of tourists when development increases access and ease of travel. Surfers, however, often try to keep such places "secret" as long as possible. This image comes from here and here.

It is really easy to find images of waves, fishing, beaches, hotels, pools, diving spots, and blue water. What is not easy to find on many tourism sites, however, are photographs of the Mexican people who actually live in Baja California Sur. I suppose they are not a part of the experience that travelers and tourists are seeking...

Technical Issues

So I am looking for a good audio recorder to bring into the field in Baja this summer. I have been leaning toward the Samson H2, but I read some reviews that describe it as something that is somewhat cheaply made.

The Samson H2 portable stereo recorder (photo from Amazon.com)

I would prefer to have something that is pretty durable. So I have also looked at the Samson H4, and the Edirol R-09. Karen Nakamura over at Photoethnography.com has written about the H4 and the Edirol, and she also seems pretty optimistic about the H2.

I wish I could test all three first before buying them. All I know is that I want to record interviews with much better audio quality than I have done in the past. Any other ideas???

Punta Brava: Local Protests

More about Punta Brava. Although there has been very little news from the developers in the last month, the community group in Ensenada that has been protesting the project has been very active. Here is a flyer that they produced and sent around in an attempt to challenge and stop what is planned:


Also, here is an online petition that people are signing as a form of protest. They are utilizing all sorts of media to challenge the project, including this page on facebook. The developers, for their part, have used a highly polished web site (which reflects how much money they are putting into the project), and standard news/press releases.

I have read through the website and the press releases put up by the developers. While they try to sell the project as "eco-friendly" and culturally sensitive, in my opinion their plans are severely suspect. First of all, why don't they mention the real location of the project, which is on Punta Banda, in Baja California? Also, how can this project be environmentally sensitive? A golf course in a place where water is scarce? And what about all the runoff from the grass? How will that affect the local marine and coastal environment? Finally, how can this project be sold as something that "benefits" the local community when that community is not allowed to enter the site?

There is a section on the main Punta Brava website called "Enlighten." Under that is yet a subsection titled "Sea Change." It reads:

When we cease to think primarily of ourselves and our own preservation, we undergo a truly remarkable transformation. A sea change. At Punta Brava, such a transformation of spirit is almost inevitable. Nature's power and beauty are everywhere. With every breath a fresh perspective is inhaled, and one's inner energy surges. The invisible pull of inertia and apathy falls away enabling the heart to soar to new places. This transformational power of Punta Brava must reach beyond its owners and guests. The transformation must flow through them. Project Sea Change is designed to make it possible. Project Sea Change is about transformation. It is about protecting and inspiring. It is about allowing the heart to guide our actions. To transform the life of another, and thus experience the transformation of self. To give back for the betterment of all. For this generation, and for generations that follow.

It's great language, of course. But I do not see how the proposed project in any way illustrates any of these stated ideals. How is the project giving back to the local population (and where is the local population in the overall plan? They aren't even on the website).

Then there is the "Family Impact Program," which is also under the "Enlighten" section of the website. This section reads:

Strong families are the bedrock of vital communities. When the life of one family member is positively impacted - with a sustaining job, with life-advancing education, with the possibility of even more for their children - ripples of hope begin to spread. This is the promise of Project Sea Change's Family Impact Program: to also invest in the families who make Punta Brava special.

That sounds great too. But it's also incredibly vague. What does it mean, and what is actually being done? If there is a community outreach part of the project, where is this happening? Why aren't there any press releases about that? If the project is so engaged, why is there local protest and dissent?

Introducing anthropology

So I am entering a PhD program this fall and I will be teaching an introductory class in anthropology. It is a four field class that is meant to introduce students to the whole field in one semester, and I am looking at some different syllabi to see what I want to do with the class. Do I want to use a textbook? Or should I do case studies instead? Which texts are good, and which ones are dry and boring? Which ones cost WAY TOO MUCH? There is one book by Luke Eric Lassiter, Invitation to Anthropology, that looks pretty interesting--but it really focuses more on just cultural anthropology. However, I like a lot of the contemporary examples, and the style that it's written in. Some of the past teachers of the class have recommended the Ember and Ember textbook, and others have recommended Lavenda and Schultz's Anthropology: What Does it Mean to Be Human?. And what about case study books? And then there is this question: can open access anthropology be incorporated? Hmmm.

More about this later. But in the meantime: any other suggestions?

What, exactly, is "development" anyway?

Development abounds, and there is no stopping it, whether domestic or international. Whether in your own backyard (this one was in the town where I grew up) or on the so-called other side of the world. But do you ever wonder exactly what the term "development" really means? I have found myself accepting as if it is something that naturally exists out there in the world, free of human politics and such.

"Pads," Photo by R.A. 2006.

According to Arturo Escobar, development “can best be described as an apparatus that links forms of knowledge about the Third World with the deployment of forms of power and intervention, resulting in the mapping and production of Third World societies” (From Edelman and Haugerud's The Anthropology of Development and Globalization, pp. 342).

That is an interesting start, although development is not something that is limited to the "Third World," of course. But thinking of development as something that links forms of power and intervention is an interesting way of looking at it. Development is, in some ways, just a termsthat glosses over the actual process and puts it in a normative and everyday sounding term that seems quite benign, if not safely bureaucratic. Development is change, but that doesn't mean it's progess. Development is transformation, but not necessarily for the better.

"Development, " Photo by Michael Petri 2007.

Somewhere along the way I became enmeshed in development. I think it must have happened when I was, in a small way, privy to a behind the scenes view of development when I worked for a few years in Cultural Resource Management here in California. That was an interesting and often frustrating experience that was equal parts applied anthropology and pure business. In fact, there were many times when I felt that CRM archaeology would be better described as Business Archaeology, since there were many cases when standard archaeological methods took a very distant backseat to the pressing needs of a client's timeline.

"Tracts," Photo by R.A. 2006.

In those days, "development" just meant that somebody wanted to take a piece of land and change it in a certain way, and they had the money to do it. The money, and the power. Many project proposals sounded very nice and well-rounded in the usual stilted report manner, but in the end it was all about investing money and trying to make more. I worked on projects for power lines, golf courses, houses, and hotels. More often than not I felt as if I was helping the process of development, as opposed to doing either archaeology or anthropology.

These days, development is something that I study via cultural anthropology. Along with its close cousin Tourism, it is one of the subjects that I am drawn to trying to understand. It seems to be everywhere, and so well accepted as "how we do things." Is it how we do things? Or is it how some people do things?

Is development something that we should all work with and try to improve? Or is it something that we should completely abandon, as Escobar argues?

East Cape development

I just heard about a new project that is in the early stages down on the east cape of Baja California Sur. It's called "Cabo Cortés," and from what I know at this point will include golf courses, a marina, and hotels. Here is the website for the project. According to the Financial Times,

Known as Cabo Cortés, the new site consists of almost 4,000 hectares of land and, once complete, will have an estimated total population of 25,000 people – 10,000 of them support staff.

Apparently, this project is supported by Fonatur, the Mexican government's tourism institution.

News Release from Members of the Community of Ensenada

I was forwarded this news/press release this past week regarding the Punta Brava development project:

Tiger Woods’ golf resort would destroy one of Baja California’s most Fragile Environmental and Cultural Landmarks

Texas billionaire McCombs ‘discovers’ pristine and endangered habitat; plans exclusive golf course and resort catering to foreign millionaires.

Punta Banda is the point located on the tip of Ensenada Bay, Baja California, Mexico. It is one of the last remaining areas of endangered maritime coastal scrub habitat and the site of countless prehistoric and historic archeological sites. This spectacular landscape—often compared to California’s Big Sur–boasts sea bluffs, caves, coastal terraces and wondrous tide pools creating a unique coastal environment in the region. Its cultural and archeological significance has been documented by the international scientific community and Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), and visits to the site have long been a tradition for local and foreign peoples alike.

The beauty of this site has attracted Texas billionaire B.J. “Red” McCombs, who ironically hopes to dynamite the area and create an exclusive golf course and resort. Prices for these homes range from 3 to 10 million dollars; helicopter flights will allow the elite clientele to take a short ride from San Diego to the resort. Infrastructure needs for the golf course include copious amounts of water which are unavailable in this arid region. The project foresees a desalination plant which will discharge huge quantities of salt sludge directly into the bay. This brine has the potential of affecting water quality and the whole marine ecosystem.

“The hundreds of acres that would be devastated by the impact of this development belong to an ancient cultural landscape that has attracted people for thousands of years,” explained Ensenada anthropologist Michael Wilken. “There may be evidence of the earliest entry of humans into the Americas, and certainly of thousands of years of human history. There may be sacred sites that should be respected or complexes of Kumiai Indian villages. However if only a token amount of “salvage” archaeology is carried out, we stand to lose priceless and irreplaceable knowledge about the shared cultural heritage of the Californias.”

McCombs has a history of siting projects in pristine areas which have lead to opposition and litigation; one example is Wolf Creek in Colorado, where permitting processes have been successfully stalled by local communities . In the case of Punta Banda McCombs is relying on the reputation and stature of international golf celebrity Tiger Woods to promote the development. However possible losses of the cultural heritage at the site, as well as the environmental fragility are major issues, have provoked strong resistance from the Ensenada community, which is keeping a close eye on the permitting process.

At recent public hearings related to the project, local scientists, community members and activists pointed out numerous glaring flaws and inconsistencies in the environmental impact report presented by the promoters, leading the government’s Environmental Secretariat (SEMARNAT) to request additional information. While Punta Banda is known for its archeological significance, the INAH, the federal agency in charge of all cultural and historic preservation in Mexico, has shown little interest in sites without pyramids or monumental architecture, granting developers quick, low cost permits with minimal mitigation. A project of similar dimensions in the developers’ own country could easily take years and millions of dollars to complete; in this case it is not yet clear what plans the INAH’s federal bureaucracy has for its archeological “salvage” project. Although the Mexican Constitution guarantees the right of Mexican citizens to direct access to the coast, local residents have been alarmed to find that the area has been fenced off, denying all access. Additionally local residents have pointed out that municipal land use ordinances for the area do not allow the construction of this type of development in this fragile zone, and yet the permitting process continues.

Local community leaders, scientists, residents and activists fear the loss of cultural and natural heritage at Punta Banda. The resort as planned would destroy acres of archeological sites as well as fragile coastal and marine ecosystems home to sea lions, harbor seals and peregrine falcons. This week Tiger Woods will be receiving over 200 letters and petitions written by local residents and organizations. The community is calling on Tiger Woods to withdraw his support of this project, to consider the enormous value of the area for future generations and to collaborate in the creation of a nature preserve which would protect the archeological sites and ecological integrity but also allow for appropriate public use and enjoyment of the area, including hiking in the area’s spectacular landscapes, exploring caves, kayaking, rappelling, sightseeing and scientific research in this rich biodiversity area. “This area must be protected not only for Mexican citizens but for the whole world to benefit from its magnificent landscapes, wildlife and cultural heritage” said Mercedes Armendariz, local resident of Punta Banda.

CONTACTS:
Carlos Lazcano 011 52 1 (646) 175 9038
Moises Santos Mena 011 52 1 (646) 148 9907
Gabriel Camacho Jimenez 011 52 1 (646) 161 4158
Fernando Ochoa Pineda 011 52 1 (646) 171 5348
Claudia Leyva Aguilera 011 52 1 (646) 136 9161
Aida Navarro (619) 261 2060
Mike Wilken (619) 578 3149