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2018 and ACADEMIC INFORMATION The Politics of Land Use in GEOG 195 / ENVS 196

Pucará, Imbabura, Ecuador

Dear Students, Friends, and Parents,

Hi. My name is Peter Shear, instructor for The Politics of Land Use in Ecuador (Geography 195/Environmental Studies 196), which will run between December 28th , 2017 and January 14th , 2018.

The course promises to be adventurous, fun, and educationally rewarding. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, and then address some frequently asked questions and concerns regarding travel in Ecuador.

Born in Royalton, Vermont, I now live in Pucará, Ecuador and am the father of two daughters (21 and 12). I have been organizing student trips and rural development projects in Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Ecuador since 1998. I have a Master’s degree in Political Geography from the University of Vermont and also direct the Inter-American Center for the Arts, Sustainability, and Action, a 501(c)3 entity that organizes educational exchanges, workshops, and volunteer work brigades in Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and Ecuador www.casainteram.org. I have been teaching Latin American Studies and Political Geography at the university level since 1997 and at UVM since 2002. I am also the Director of Chasqui Treks, a community project, CanopyCo, a reforestation and carbon offsetting program, and owner of Finca La Fé, all here in Ecuador: www.chasquitreks.net www.canopyco.org fincalafe.wordpress.com

Now that you know a little about me, I will address some concerns often associated with travel in Ecuador:

Travel Documents Students must have a that is valid for AT LEAST 6 months at the start of the trip. If your passport is valid for 5 months and 30 days you will NOT be allowed into Ecuador! Double check ASAP.

Health One can travel in good by taking some preventative measures and being well informed about local health issues. • Students need vaccinations against Tetanus, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A, Yellow Fever and Malaria. If you have questions or want more detailed information, the Center for Disease Control (800- 526-6367) is a good source of information.

• To get the most out of the trip, students should do their best to embark in good physical and mental health. Arriving at almost 9000 feet above sea level can cause headaches, nausea, and general discomfort. To reduce the risk of temporary altitude sickness, students should avoid alcohol and smoking and stay well hydrated before and during the trip. The educational hikes we do on the trip are not designed to be physically “hardcore.” All hikes are optional. If you can climb Mt. Mansfield or Camel’s Hump, you should be fine.

• If you have dental issues, deal with them before you arrive in .

• Bring all prescribed medication with you.

Safety In light of the current world geo-political climate, and as several random robberies of tourists in Quito in the last few years have shown, travel always holds inherent risks. The itinerary for our trip has been carefully chosen to provide the safest experience possible and avoid areas of known danger and political instability. Ecuador is generally a safe country. Crime against tourists is rare outside of Quito and, even then, is usually limited to pick-pocketing and petty theft. I consider the political situation in Ecuador to be stable, as does the U.S. State Department. There are currently no State Department travel warnings for Ecuador, although travelers are advised to stay away from the Colombian border in the northeast part of the country. We will not be in this region. Up to date travel advisories are available from the U.S. State Department Emergency Center (202-647-5225) or on the web at: www.state.gov/www/services.html

Insurance All students are required by UVM’s International Studies Office to register with International SOS Global Traveler www.internationalsos.com and have a valid health insurance policy.

Travel We will travel in a fully-insured, contracted “Greyhound” type bus.

Weather Quito is located at about 2800 meters or almost 9300 feet. In January, throughout the highlands, we will typically see clear days reaching 80F and nights dropping to 50F. The Intag region is warmer, with a typical 24-hour period ranging between about 80 and 60F. The coastal region is hot and humid with temperatures up to 100F. January is generally dry but torrential rains can hit at any time.

Communications • Posted mail takes 2-3 weeks to arrive in the U.S. from Ecuador. • E-mail will be available at the beginning and end of the trip. Students should not count on having email access for the rest of the trip. • Conventional phones are available throughout the trip and students can buy phone cards in Quito to make international calls. • Phones with U.S. service providers do not always work in Ecuador. Money Ecuador dollarized its economy in 2000, the first country in the world to do so. As a result, there is no need to exchange U.S. dollars for another currency.

Money • The course fee paid by participating students is all-inclusive once they arrive in Quito: it covers all in-country , , food, park fees, volunteer project materials, airport exit fee and planned activities. The course fee does not include international airfare and tuition. If students want to purchase anything beyond this (, cigarettes, camera film, etc), they should bring their own money. Most industrial commercial items (cameras, running shoes, appliances) cost about twice as much as in the U.S., while staple items (food, transport) cost about 25-30% of what you would pay in the U.S.

• Traveler’s checks cannot be used on this trip.

Below, I have included an itinerary complete with emergency contact numbers, a “what to bring” checklist, a Medical Information form that must be filled out and brought to Ecuador, and the Academic Requirements of the course. Please feel free to contact me by phone (+593-98-684-9950), or e-mail [email protected] with any questions or concerns you may have prior to the trip.

Sincerely, Peter Shear

2018 Itinerary December 28- Arrive in Quito late; travel to near new airport; rest-up.

29- Today we travel to La Luna lodge outside of Otavaloenjoy a day of acclimatization and a Seminar and Orientation meeting preparing us for the rest of our trip: we will learn from guest speakers and documentaries. Am: LECTURE: A Human Ecology , Pm: LECTURE: Ecuador, Natural Resources and the Extractivist economic plan.

30- Enjoy the world famous market town of Otavalo. LECTURE: Bananas, Oil, and Labor- Ecuador’s Export Economy in the Age of Globalization

31- Travel to the -Coca Ecological Reerve and hike up to the mountain refuge at 4600 meters, The Cayambe Volcano is the only place on the in the entire world where one can find snow. We will use the as a segway to understand the hydrological cycle. LECTURE: Glaciers and water security

January 1- We travel to the indigenous town of Morochos, stopping to stand on the equator line. Settle in with families, tour of community.

2- Reforestation Minga, or community work day, with community members planting native trees to offset the carbon footprint of our course

3- Hike around Lago , a beautiful volcanic crater lake, high in the , LECTURE: Volcanic geology of the Andes, spend the night at our hostal overlooking the lake.

4- Travel to The Intag Region and Pucará, our home for the next few days. Meet home stay families and tour the Eco-Pueblo Project: www.casainteram.org/pucara

5- a.m.-Agroecological workshop and tour of Finca La Fé, p.m.- LECTURE: The conflict of copper mining concessions in the cloud forests of Intag

6- All day walk, LECTURE: The conflict of copper mining concessions in the cloud forests of Intag, Despedida, or going away ceremony with community. 7- Am: visit AACRI coffee processing plant; Am- travel to the Nangulví volcanic hot springs and Cabañas Rio Grande; soak; LECTURE: Energy sustainability and the development of community managed micro-hydro projects in Intag. dinner; live bomba music.

8- a.m.- travel to Junín stopping to see AACRI´s coffee nursery; lunch; tour of town,

9- All day walk in pristine cloud forest, Talk with community members regarding the mining struggle.

10- Travel day to Playa Escondida on the Pacific Ocean

11- Reading and relaxation day, LECTURE: the Shrimp Industry and the importance of the Mangrove Ecosystem 1

12-R and R day: Reading and Reflection

13- Travel back to Quito, going away ceremony

14- Fly Home

Emergency Contacts

Please call only in the case of a real emergency. I will have my cell phone with me at all times but there is no signal in the Intag region (January 4-10).

To call from the U.S., dial 011 then the country code 593, and then the number.

Peter Shear [email protected] 593-98-684-9950 Peter Shear (Pucará) 593 6 301 5638

Cabañas Rio Grande (Nangulví) 593-6-301-5710

Fausto Betancourt (Pucará) 593-6-264-8510

Dioselina Flores (Pucará) 593-6-264-8512

La Luna 593- 99 315 6082

Mirador del Lago Cuicocha 593- 6 301 7221 R

Rancho San Carlos (airport hotel) 593 9 9425 8261

Junín (Charo) 593 9 8887 1860

Playa Escondida Eco-Refuge 593 6 302 7496

ECUADOR TRIP CHECKLIST Bureaucracy/preparation passport air tickets/photocopy of e-ticket info immunizations policy immunization record 2 color photocopies of passport and driver’s license 2 copies of your travel insurance policy

Equipment backpack (>4500 cubic inches in volume) daypack (small backpack big enough to carry water, food, and raingear) flashlight/headlamp w/ extra batteries money belt (this is a special pouch to keep valuables that fits under your clothes) waterproof sunscreen (>asp 60) insect repellent towel toothbrush/toothpaste 1 roll toilet paper toiletries* sunglasses hat with visor or wide brim 2 quart-sized water bottles journal/sketchbook *toiletries should be kept to a minimum. Most things –soap for instance-- can be easily purchased as you go. Bring contact stuff (saline solution, etc.) and personal hygiene stuff (Naturecare tampons have no cancer causing dioxins)…otherwise stick to the list! No makeup or aerosol spray. You won’t need it.

Clothing (this includes what you where on the plane) 1 pair waterproof hiking boots Rubber boots 1 pair sandals/flip flops/or tennis shoes 3 T-shirts (avoid flashy shirts with logos and/or product names) 5 pairs of wool blend or thicker synthetic sox 2 pairs of shorts 2 pair light pants (not cotton or jeans) underwear (don’t go overboard-- we can do wash anytime you want) polypropelene 1 “nice” light longsleeve shirt for bugs and going out 1 water proof rainjacket 1 water proof rainpants nylon waterproof rain poncho sweater or fleece pullover winter hat and gloves swimsuit

Optional camera binoculars a cheap watch (don’t bring a nice one) iPhones and other electronic communication devices will be turned in at the beginning of the class and returned on January 13th.

Academic Format and Requirements The Politics of Land Use in Ecuador: GEOG 195 / ENVS 196

This study-abroad course includes lectures, discussions, small group activities, homestays, and volunteer work in communities. Although the dates of the course amount to a couple of weeks, we will also have two pre-trip meetings and a half-day, post-trip seminar to submit and share research projects and evaluate the course. You will be graded on the following:

Participation 30% Pre-trip Analytical Writing Assignments 20% Reflection Papers (2) 10% Post-trip Research Paper 40%

Pre-trip Analytical Writing Assignments Students are expected to complete the assigned text for this course before arriving in Ecuador. Upon arrival in Quito, students submit four 2-3 page analytical papers based on assigned study questions and the course text: Indians, Oil, and Politics. A Recent History of Ecuador by Allen Gerlach. All four papers should attempt to answer the assigned study questions through logic, illustrative examples from the text, and personal analysis. Each paper will (1) use at least five cited references from the text, (2) refer to and outline the main ideas and arguments of the text, and (3) be followed by questions, commentary, analysis, protests, opinions, or any combination of these. STUDY QUESTIONS (2-3 typed pages each)

1. How has the physical historically affected human and economic development patterns?

2. How has the discovery of oil changed the economic and social development of Ecuador?

3. What are the main contributing factors to the development and strength of Pachakutik and Indigenous political power?

4. Discuss the reasons for, and effects of, dollarization in Ecuador.

Reflection Papers Students will have two short writing assignments while in Ecuador, which are part of their journal writing. The assignments are focused reflection papers that integrate experiential learning, guest presentations, readings, and overall thoughts and questions. Students write daily in a journal and use descriptive observations, reflections, and questions as a basis for the two reflection papers. There is no set length, although 5 hand- written pages is the minimum.

Reflection Paper 1 will be due about half way through the trip. It should address the following: a) since arriving in Ecuador, in what ways have you re-conceptualized your concepts of development, land use, and/or culture? Give examples. b) are there ways in which you are thinking about your own life (for example, as a U.S. citizen, as an individual, as a student, as a teacher, etc.) differently? Give examples.

Reflection Paper 2 will be due towards the end of the trip. This paper takes the form of a research proposal, and will describe the following: a) What do you want to do or discover? b) What primary information and data have you gathered, c) How will you gather the needed secondary materials and information? d) How will you present your materials and information? and e)Why do you think this project is worthwhile? By the end of the two weeks in Ecuador, you should have discussed your ideas for your Final Research Paper or project with Peter.

The Final Research Paper or project should explore some aspect of the Politics of Land Use in Ecuador, a very broad and malleable theme. Exactly what the final product will look like will be tailored to fit your needs and interests. While the research project option can be designed to give you an opportunity to express your learning through new and creative ways (different from traditional research papers), this option also requires a written research paper. The research paper should follow commonly accepted rules of academic scholarship and be at least 10 pages. This project will be due February 12th, 2018. Late work will not be accepted.

Reading A coursepack of relevant readings will be given to students upon arrival in Quito.

Required Readings: Indians, Oil, and Politics. A Recent History of Ecuador by Allen Gerlach, (Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources), 2003. ISBN-13: 9780842051088