Island Residents Research Articles

Small-island communities in the Philippines prefer local measures to relocation in response to sea-level rise

Most adaptation studies suggest that sea-level rise will lead to relocation as flooding worsens. Here we identified and evaluated potential adaptation strategies for adapting to sea-level rise, based on the experiences of four low-lying island communities in central Philippines that have experienced flooding during normal high tides since a 2013 earthquake that induced land subsidence. Coastal surveys, interviews and household questionnaires showed that island residents generally prefer in situ adaptation strategies rather than relocation to the mainland. These results are unexpected, particularly because a relocation programme has been developed by authorities on the mainland. Direct measurements during a flooding event indicate stilted housing as the most effective type of adaptation strategy. Many households have also raised their floors using coral stones, although this might inadvertently increase their vulnerability to typhoons and storm surges in the long-term. It is often assumed that increased flooding due to sea-level rise will lead to mass migration. However, this study shows that residents of island communities in the Philippines prefer to implement local adaptation measures in response to frequent severe flooding rather than relocate.

Influence of sulfur dioxide on the respiratory system of Miyakejima adult residents 6 years after returning to the island.

Mount Oyama, on the Japanese island of Miyakejima, began erupting in June 2000, necessitating the evacuation of 3,000 island residents. Volcanic gas emissions, primarily consisting of sulfur dioxide (SO2), gradually decreased and residents returned to the island after the evacuation order was lifted in February 2005. To assess the exposure-effect and exposure-response relationships between SO2 exposure and effects on respiratory system in adult Miyakejima residents. Health checkups focusing on pulmonary function and respiratory/irritative symptoms were conducted six times every November from 2006 to 2011. The study population comprised 168 subjects who underwent all health checkups. SO2 concentrations were measured at six fixed monitoring stations in inhabitable areas. Based on the annual mean SO2 concentration, inhabitable areas were classified into three categories; namely, lower (L), higher (H-1), and highest (H-2) areas. Average SO2 concentrations (ppb) during 3 months prior to each health checkup dropped from 11.3 to 3.29, 32.2 to 13.4 and 75.1 to 12.6 from 2006 to 2010/2011 in L, H-1, and H-2. No significant declines in pulmonary function were observed in all areas. However, prevalence of subjective symptoms such as "Cough," "Irritation and/or pain in throat," "Irritation, runny nose, and/or nasal sniffles," and "Irritation and/or pain in the eyes," dependently increased on SO2 concentration. Odds ratios were statistically significant at approximately 70 ppb of SO2 or above. Adult residents of Miyakejima island showed no deterioration in pulmonary function at SO2 levels, but complained of respiratory/irritative symptoms in an SO2 concentration-dependent manner.

Bayonets in Paradise: Martial Law in Hawaii during World War II

Officials in Hawaii in 1942—with its 158,000 Nikkei (ethnic Japanese, both U.S. citizens and noncitizens)—have been applauded for avoiding the unconstitutional actions that were meted out to the 110,000 U.S. West Coast Nikkei, who were incarcerated en masse during World War II. Less has been noted, however, about the military regime imposed on the territory immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In response to the attack, the territorial governor Joseph Poindexter placed the islands under martial law, giving the U.S. Army control over island residents' juridical, economic, political, social, and personal lives. Examples of areas affected include curfew and blackout hours, censorship of mail, the schooling of children, the amount of cash people were allowed to hold, food production, restaurant hours, and the prices of goods. Civilian jobs, wages, and working conditions proved to be a contentious issue between labor unions and the military. The replacement of civilian courts by military tribunals also created sharp public disagreements between military officials and their critics.

TAIWAN CITIZENS' VIEWS OF CHINA: WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF CROSS-STRAIT CONTACTS?

AbstractSegregation has long been recognized as a source of ignorance which breeds negative feelings and hostility. This view maintains that interactions between members of different groups can foster social bonds and promote positive group relationship. Employing recently collected survey data, this study examines the effect of cross-Strait contacts on Taiwan citizens’ negative views toward Chinese citizens and the Beijing government. The empirical results show that casual encounters have no effect on the island residents’ general perception of China. Serious interactions in the form of friendship moderate their unfavorable feelings of Chinese citizens but have no effects on the perception of a hostile Beijing. Unless contacts can invoke true social bonds, frequent interactions do not have transformative effects on individuals’ political views. The moderating effect of contacts at the personal level is not transferable to a political entity when the latter is perceived as a suppressing agent.

Hydrogeology and management of freshwater lenses on atoll islands: Review of current knowledge and research needs

On atoll islands, fresh groundwater occurs as a buoyant lens-shaped body surrounded by saltwater derived from the sea, forming the main freshwater source for many island communities. A review of the state of knowledge of atoll island groundwater is overdue given their susceptibility to adverse impacts, and the task to address water access and sanitation issues within the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals framework before the year 2030. In this article, we review available literature to summarise the key processes, investigation techniques and management approaches of atoll island groundwater systems. Over fifty years of investigation has led to important advancements in the understanding of atoll hydrogeology, but a paucity of hydrogeological data persists on all but a small number of atoll islands. We find that the combined effects of buoyancy forces, complex geology, tides, episodic ocean events, strong climatic variability and human impacts create highly dynamic fresh groundwater lenses. Methods used to quantify freshwater availability range from simple empirical relationships to three-dimensional density-dependent models. Generic atoll island numerical models have proven popular in trying to unravel the individual factors controlling fresh groundwater lens behaviour. Major challenges face the inhabitants and custodians of atoll island aquifers, with rising anthropogenic stresses compounded by the threats of climate variability and change, sea-level rise, and some atolls already extracting freshwater at or above sustainability limits. We find that the study of atoll groundwater systems remains a critical area for further research effort to address persistent knowledge gaps, which lead to high uncertainties in water security issues for both island residents and surrounding environs.

Self-Reported and FEMA Flood Exposure Assessment after Hurricane Sandy: Association with Mental Health Outcomes.

Hurricane Sandy caused extensive physical and economic damage; the long-term mental health consequences are unknown. Flooding is a central component of hurricane exposure, influencing mental health through multiple pathways that unfold over months after flooding recedes. Here we assess the concordance in self-reported and Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) flood exposure after Hurricane Sandy and determine the associations between flooding and anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Self-reported flood data and mental health symptoms were obtained through validated questionnaires from New York City and Long Island residents (N = 1231) following Sandy. Self-reported flood data was compared to FEMA data obtained from the FEMA Modeling Task Force Hurricane Sandy Impact Analysis. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to determine the relationship between flooding exposure and mental health outcomes. There were significant discrepancies between self-reported and FEMA flood exposure data. Self-reported dichotomous flooding was positively associated with anxiety (ORadj: 1.5 [95% CI: 1.1–1.9]), depression (ORadj: 1.7 [1.3–2.2]), and PTSD (ORadj: 2.5 [1.8–3.4]), while self-reported continuous flooding was associated with depression (ORadj: 1.1 [1.01–1.12]) and PTSD (ORadj: 1.2 [1.1–1.2]). Models with FEMA dichotomous flooding (ORadj: 2.1 [1.5–2.8]) or FEMA continuous flooding (ORadj: 1.1 [1.1–1.2]) were only significantly associated with PTSD. Associations between mental health and flooding vary according to type of flood exposure measure utilized. Future hurricane preparedness and recovery efforts must integrate micro and macro-level flood exposures in order to accurately determine flood exposure risk during storms and realize the long-term importance of flooding on these three mental health symptoms.

Timbering and Turtling: The Maritime Hinterlands of Early Modern British Caribbean Cities

In the early modern era, the hinterland of a Caribbean island encompassed more than the land sequestered by its sandy shorelines. This article uses the loggers of Barbados and the turtlers of Jamaica to explore how Caribbean colonists forged and maintained maritime hinterlands in order to supply island residents and feed urban populations. In timbering nearby islands and harvesting adjacent waterscapes, loggers and turtlers forged an interisland web of ecological and economic relationships that inextricably linked proximate islands to one another. Barbadians, for example, depended on timber from St. Lucia, and Jamaicans provisioned Port Royal with turtles from the Cayman Islands. In both instances, colonists and local officials claimed these nearby islands as “dependencies” of the larger colony and sought to defend them. By reorienting our understanding of hinterlands from interior lands to neighboring islands and seascapes, this article offers a new way of thinking about port cities, sufficiency, and industry, especially in plantation America. Rather than peripheral trades with little economic value, ventures such as timbering and turtling promoted vernacular industries, which in turn reduced reliance on imported goods, thereby enabling the islands of Barbados and Jamaica to become efficient, populous colonies within a profitable Atlantic empire.

Resident perceptions on cross-cultural understanding as an outcome of volunteer tourism programs: the Bahamian Family Island perspective

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the perceptions toward volunteer tourism from the viewpoint of Bahamian Family Island residents with a specific focus on cross-cultural understanding as an outcome. Cross-cultural understanding reflects the idea that there is a greater opportunity for exchange between tourists and residents as a result of volunteer tourism. Utilizing social exchange theory (SET), this research examines whether residents’ perceived benefits, positive impacts, negative impacts and support for volunteer tourism activities predict their support for cross-cultural understanding. Additionally, this study reveals factors contributing to residents’ motivation to participate in volunteer tourism activities within their community. A mixed-method research design that employed face-to-face interviews and quantitative surveys revealed eight major themes: Community Involvement, Empowerment, Sustainability, Education, Dependency, Neglect of Community Needs, Community Involvement and Communication. Multiple regression analysis results suggest partial support for SET and reveal new predictions for the support for cross-cultural understanding. Implications for volunteer tourism programs, host communities and national tourism organizations are discussed. Future research evaluating the volunteer–host relationship is warranted.

Mosquito Biology and Mosquito-Borne Disease Awareness Among Island Communities In Malaysia.

Mosquito-borne diseases have been increasing at an alarming rate over the past decades. In Malaysia, one finds several important mosquito-borne diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Mosquito surveillance and control programs are the most effective way of detecting and controlling mosquito-borne diseases, but these programs are less effective without an aware and well-informed general public. In 2014 we used a questionnaire to evaluate the extent of awareness of basic mosquito biology and mosquito-borne diseases in 6 villages, Kampung Masjid, Kampung Teluk Gedung, Kampung Teluk Dalam, Kampung Ujung Kelawai, Kampung Sungai Pinang Besar, and Kampung Sungai Pinang Kechil on Pangkor Island, Malaysia. A total of 1,012 individuals responded to the questionnaire, consisting of 790 Malay (78.1%), 164 Chinese (16.2%), and 58 Indian (5.7%). More than 60% (Malay = 73.7%, Chinese = 64.0%, Indian = 79.3%) of the respondents were familiar with basic mosquito biology and practiced personal protection against mosquito bites, and the association was statistically significant (P = 0.02). However, the majority of the respondents had limited knowledge on mosquito-borne diseases, and this varied significantly among the 3 ethnic groups (P = 0.0001). Our recommendations are to improve and intensify public health education outreach programs to the island residents and to encourage community participation in vector control programs.

Access to substance use treatment among young adults who use prescription opioids non-medically.

BackgroundNon-medical prescription opioid (NMPO) use is a substantial public health problem in the United States, with 1.5 million new initiates annually. Only 746,000 people received treatment for NMPO use in 2013, demonstrating substantial disparities in access to treatment. This study aimed to assess correlates of accessing substance use treatment among young adult NMPO users in Rhode Island, a state heavily impacted by NMPO use and opioid overdose.MethodsThis analysis uses data from a study of 200 Rhode Island residents aged 18 to 29 who reported NMPO use in the past 30 days. We compared individuals who had ever successfully enrolled in a substance use treatment program without ever facing barriers, individuals who had ever attempted to enroll but were unable, and individuals who never attempted to enroll. We used multinomial logistic regression to determine the independent correlates of never attempting and unsuccessfully attempting to access substance use treatment.ResultsAmong 200 participants, the mean age was 24.5, 65.5% were male, and 61.5% were white. Nearly half (45.5%) had never attempted to enroll in substance use treatment, while 35.0% had successfully enrolled without ever facing barriers and 19.5% were unsuccessful in at least one attempt to enroll. In multivariable models, non-white participants were more likely to never have attempted to enroll compared to white participants. Previous incarceration, experiencing drug-related discrimination by the medical community, and a monthly income of $501 - $1500 were associated with a decreased likelihood of never attempting to enroll. A history of overdose and a monthly income of $501 - $1500 were associated with an increased likelihood of unsuccessfully accessing treatment. The most commonly reported barriers to accessing treatment were waiting lists (n = 23), health insurance not approving enrollment (n = 20), and inability to pay (n = 16).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates significant disparities in access to treatment among young adults who report NMPO use. A history of overdose was shown to correlate with experiencing barriers to substance use treatment utilization. Interventions are needed to reduce drug-related discrimination in clinical settings and to provide mechanisms that link young adults (particularly with a history of overdose) to evidence-based treatment.

Key to the Indies: Port Towns in the Spanish Caribbean: 1493–1550

Seaborne commerce, communication, and transportation to a great extent defined and enabled the Spanish enterprise in the Caribbean from the time Europeans first arrived in the islands. With the exception of a minority of towns such as Concepción de la Vega in Española that were established in the interiors of the islands to provide access to gold mines and the indigenous labor to exploit them, the majority of new towns and cities were located on the coasts. Although Santo Domingo, San Juan, and eventually Havana emerged as the principal ports and administrative capitals of the large islands of the northern Caribbean in the first half of the sixteenth century, many secondary and small port towns played essential roles in the rapid development of systems of local and regional exchange, indigenous slave raiding, and transatlantic commerce that linked the islands to Seville, the Canaries and other islands of the Atlantic and the southern Caribbean. Allowing island residents to take advantage of waterborne transportation often via indigenous-built canoes, linking the islands to one another and the circum-Caribbean mainland, and serving as staging grounds for slave-raiding and other expeditions that radiated out from the islands, these towns helped to forge a diverse and dynamic region that was closely tied both to Spain and later to the developing societies of Spanish America.

Does an increase in subsidies lead to changes in air fares? Empirical evidence from Spain

This paper examines the impact on prices of various regulatory changes in residents’ flight subsidies implemented in Spain in recent years. It draws on a large sample of domestic routes for the period 2003–2013 to estimate a price equation that accounts for the panel data and the potential endogeneity of specific explanatory variables. Price differences were not found between the treated routes (routes affected by the discounts) and the control routes (routes not affected by the discounts). This is the case regardless of the discount percentage on prices that island residents enjoy.

Eudaimonic well-being of islanders: Does tourism contribute? The case of the Aeolian Archipelago

Abstract This study investigates the contribution of tourism to the well-being of island residents. Recent literature on eudaimonic well-being informs the research. A phenomenological approach was used during the field research carried out in small island destinations: the Aeolian Archipelago (Sicily, Italy). Three themes were identified from data analysis. Islanders' narratives document the search for a well-lived life and support the role of tourism in creating opportunities to enrich residents' lives. The results reveal that a eudaimonic approach to the investigation of well-being can offer insights on the connection between tourism and residents´ well-being.

Social cost benefit analysis for deep sea minerals mining

Many countries in the Pacific Island Region have significant mineral deposits on the seafloor within their national jurisdiction. Emerging technology has considerably increased the probability that these deposits could be mined profitably. However, to date no one has attempted to determine if such activity is likely to improve the well-being of host country citizens. This paper uses a cost-benefit analysis framework to formally assess the social costs and benefits of mining deep-sea minerals in the Pacific Island Region. Since this type of mining has yet to occur anywhere in the world, the analyses are based on realistic yet hypothetical mining scenarios developed for three mineral deposits thought to have a high potential for economic viability: seafloor massive sulphides deposits in Papua New Guinea, manganese nodules in the Cook Islands, and cobalt rich crusts in the Republic of Marshall Islands. In each scenario, costs and benefits are based on the operation of a single optimized mine site. The results indicate that deep-sea mining has the potential to increase the well-being of the people of Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands. In contrast, given current technology and commodity prices, the mining of cobalt rich crusts is unlikely to improve the well-being of Republic of the Marshall Islands residents.

Incidence of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis in Rhode Island: Report from the Ocean State Crohn's and Colitis Area Registry.

Studies describing the incidence of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are uncommon in the United States. We sought to determine the incidence of CD and UC in the state of Rhode Island. The Ocean State Crohn's and Colitis Area Registry is a state-based inception cohort of patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Rhode Island. To confirm a diagnosis of CD, UC, or IBD unclassified (IBDU), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases IBD Genetics Consortium criteria were applied in a review of medical records from gastroenterology practices located in the state of Rhode Island and adjacent to the Rhode Island border in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Using population-based data, we determined the statewide incidence of IBD in Rhode Island from 2008 to 2010. A total of 971 Rhode Island residents were diagnosed with IBD, including 444 with CD, 486 with UC, and 41 with IBD unclassified from 2008 to 2010. The overall age- and sex-adjusted IBD incidence was 30.2 (95% confidence interval, 28.3-32.1) per 100,000 persons in this time frame with 13.9, 15.1, and 1.3 per 100,000 diagnosed with CD, UC, and IBD unclassified, respectively. Of the total incident cases in Rhode Island, 30% (n = 291) were enrolled in Ocean State Crohn's and Colitis Area Registry for follow-up. The incidence of IBD in Rhode Island is higher than that previously reported by other population-based cohorts in the United States. Prospective follow-up of individuals enrolled in the community-based Ocean State Crohn's and Colitis Area Registry cohort is ongoing.

Leprosy on Reunion Island, 2005-2013: Situation and Perspectives.

BackgroundReunion Island is a French overseas territory located in the south-western of Indian Ocean, 700 km east of Madagascar. Leprosy first arrived on Reunion Island in the early 1700s with the African slaves and immigration from Madagascar. The disease was endemic until 1980 but improvement of health care and life conditions of inhabitants in the island have allowed a strong decrease in new cases of leprosy. However, the reintroduction of the disease by migrants from endemic neighbouring countries like Comoros and Madagascar is a real and continuing risk. This observational study was then conducted to measure the number of new cases detected annually on Reunion Island between 2005 and 2013, and to describe the clinical features of these patients.Methodology/Principal FindingsData were collected over two distinct periods. Incident cases between 2005 and 2010 come from a retrospective study conducted in 2010 by the regional Office of French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (CIRE of Indian Ocean), when no surveillance system exist. Cases between 2011 and 2013 come from a prospective collection of all new cases, following the implementation of systematic notification of all new cases. All patient data were anonymized. Among the 25 new cases, 12 are Reunion Island residents who never lived outside Reunion Island, and hence are considered to be confirmed autochthonous patients. Registered prevalence in 2014 was 0.05 /10 000 habitants, less than the WHO’s eradication goal (1/10 000).Conclusions/SignificanceLeprosy is no longer a major public health problem on Reunion Island, as its low prevalence rate indicates. However, the risk of recrudescence of the disease and of renewed autochthonous transmission remains real. In this context, active case detection must be pursued through the active declaration and rapid treatment of all new cases.

Analysis of factors that influence energy expenditure in honeyeaters (Meliphagidae)

ABSTRACTThe energy expenditure of the tūī (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae), a meliphagid endemic to New Zealand, was measured and compared with 20 species of honeyeaters (family Meliphagidae) to determine whether its expenditure is influenced either by life in a moist, temperate climate or an island residence. Body mass in the honeyeaters accounted for 91.5% of the variation in basal rate. The combination of body mass, climate and the maximal limit to an altitudinal distribution explained 98.6% of the variation in basal rate with tropical, low-altitude species having the highest mass-independent rate. The basal rates of meliphagids in tropical highlands are similar to those in temperate lowlands, which may reflect similar food supplies. The tūī mass-independent expenditure appears to reflect an active lifestyle in a temperate climate with no evidence that an island residence influenced its rate, whereas sedentary birds on New Zealand have responded to island life with a depressed basal rate. An effective analysis of the variation in energy expenditure requires the inclusion of the ecological and behavioural characteristics that distinguish species.

Connecting tourism development with small island destinations and with the well-being of the island residents

Connecting tourism development with small island destinations and with the well-being of the island residents

Patient satisfaction with a teleradiology service in general practice.

BackgroundAccessibility to secondary health services is not always easy for patients who live at a great distance of hospital. In these circumstances, transferring diagnostic tools and treatment options to primary care could prove beneficial for patients. To do so, the quality of medical care and the costs and benefits of the approach need to be assessed. However, the patient perspective is equally important, offering important insights.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study we investigate the satisfaction of patients toward a new teleradiology facility offered a general practice on Ameland, an island in the Netherlands.A questionnaire was created based on the Dutch version of the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire III and completed by all patients after receiving an x-ray in primary care between June 1, 2007 and June 1, 2009. Those who received more than one x-ray in that period were included only once. The technical and interpersonal skills of doctors were rated out the sum score of the questionnaire namely 25 and 30, respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the differences between the means of the satisfaction subscales and the patient characteristics.ResultsThe response proportion was after reminder 65 % (381/587 patients). Satisfaction with the technical skills of the doctor providing the teleradiology service was 22.4 ± 3.7, while satisfaction with the interpersonal skills of the doctor during the diagnostic phase was 26.8 ± 3.8. Island residents, the elderly, and those with no history of trauma were more satisfied with the technical and interpersonal aspects of the consultation than non-residents, younger patients, and those with a history of trauma.ConclusionPatients in the island community of Ameland experienced high levels of satisfaction with the teleradiology service offered in primary care.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12875-016-0418-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Coal mining on pastureland in Southern Chile; challenging recognition and participation as guarantees for environmental justice

Coal mining in Chile has grown significantly from virtually nonexistent in the late 1990s to become a profitable business in 2014. This paper explores the consequences of such revival from a post-political environmental justice perspective, through the case of a coal-mining project on Isla Riesco, located in the Chilean Patagonia. The project Mina Invierno has met the necessary legal requirements and obtained the required environmental permits to become operational. Nonetheless, island residents are opposed to the project, and especially families engaged in sheep ranching, which is one of the oldest and most significant production activities in the area. By analyzing the conflict between coal mining and ranching on Isla Riesco, this article challenges the so far conceptualization of recognition and participation as dimensions of environmental justice, since our results reveal that what is excluded in this case are not only people but ideas, even if these come from non-marginalized actors. This finding contributes to environmental justice literature by proposing that the study of environmental conflicts, analyzed from a post-political viewpoint, should also focus on the challenges that communities face in order to rebut the prevailing consensuses that sustain their situation.