This book creates a scientific base for the development and testing of sustainable production and land use systems in ecologically fragile and economically disadvantaged mountainous regions in Southeast Asia; to develop concepts for rural institutions that can reduce rural poverty and food insecurity, and improve livelihoods in mountainous regions in Southeast Asia; and to explore methods for analyzing complex ecosystems and their interactions with the socio-cultural, economic and institutional environment.

This book creates a scientific base for the development and testing of sustainable production and land use systems in ecologically fragile and economically disadvantaged mountainous regions in Southeast Asia; to develop concepts for rural institutions that can reduce rural poverty and food insecurity, and improve livelihoods in mountainous regions in Southeast Asia; and to explore methods for analyzing complex ecosystems and their interactions with the socio-cultural, economic and institutional environment.

Today's globalized society faces some of humanity's most unprecedented social and environmental challenges. Presenting inspiring and effective approaches to a range of these challenges, the timely volume before you draws upon individual cases of exemplary leadership from the world's Dharma traditions-Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism. The volume's authors refer to such exemplary leaders as "beacons of Dharma," highlighting the ways in which each figure, through their inspirational life work, provide us with illuminating perspectives as we continue to confront cases of grave injustice and needless suffering in the world. Taking on difficult contemporary issues such as climate change, racial and gender inequality, industrial agriculture and animal rights, fair access to healthcare and education, and other such pressing concerns, Beacons of Dharma offers a promising and much needed contribution to our global conversations. Seeking to help alleviate and remedy such social and environmental issues, each of the chapters in the volume invites contemplation, inspires action, and offers a freshly invigorating source of hope.

Human beings have long imagined their subjectivity, ethics, and ancestry with and through animals, yet not until the mid-twentieth century did contemporary thought reflect critically on animals' significance in human self-conception. Thinkers such as French philosopher Jacques Derrida, South African novelist J. M. Coetzee, and American theorist Donna Haraway have initiated rigorous inquiries into the question of the animal, now blossoming in a number of directions. It is no longer strange to say that if animals did not exist, we would have to invent them.

This interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collection reflects the growth of animal studies as an independent field and the rise of "animality" as a critical lens through which to analyze society and culture, on a par with race and gender. Essays consider the role of animals in the human imagination and the imagination of the human; the worldviews of indigenous peoples; animal-human mythology in early modern China; and political uses of the animal in postcolonial India. They engage with the theoretical underpinnings of the animal protection movement, representations of animals in children's literature, depictions of animals in contemporary art, and the philosophical positioning of the animal from Aristotle to Derrida. The strength of this companion lies in its timeliness and contextual diversity, which makes it essential reading for students and researchers while further developing the parameters of the discipline.

This edited volume explores a range of experiences and conceptualizations of New Age Judaism, an imprecise term denoting new and evolving forms of North American Judaism that are typically innovative, combinative, and often controversial. Chapters analyze the phenomenon of New Age Judaism from theoretical, theological and ethnographic perspectives. As a result, they offer a broad sampling of some of the most fascinating forms of Jewish religious expression and philosophy in North America today. Rothenberg explores the teachings of Jewish shamanism and Jewish yoga. Vallely explores the revitalization of Jewish ritual practices achieved through the embrace of Buddhism. Other chapters cover an ethnographically rich account of one synagogue's re-framing of wealth as a form of ""energy,"" a women's ritual within ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal; the 'inclusive' writings of New Age Jewish Renewal leader Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi, which claim not to be combinative at all, but rather a ""retrieval"" of ancient Jewish wisdom. Experimentation with yoga, drumming, meditation, eclectic musical forms, Buddhism, and egalitarian prayer - once the province of the most marginal of Jewish religious practices - are now being embraced with varying degrees of enthusiasm within mainstream Jewish denominations, revealing the gradual ""normalization"" and incorporation of New Age Judaism's religious forms. New Age Judaism focuses much needed scholarly attention on these new forms and expressions of Judaism both within and outside of the synagogue setting.

Rating: 41/2 stars out of total of 5 Reviewed by: John L. Hoh, Jr. This is an interesting book, written, illustrated, and photographed by Ms. Valle, who appears to be a very talented lady. Islita (whose name means "little island" in Spanish) feels a tad lazy this hot, humid day. She is supposed to put her clean laundry away. Since her bed is unmade and books and pencils strewn about...can we also assume making her bed and doing her homework might be other chores on the docket? Where is Blanco (the name means "white") and Abuela ("grandmother")? Islita wanders the house and...Abuela's cooking. Abuela seems to be a glorious cook. Islita complains of the heat and Abuela says she knows how to cool off. So grandmother and granddaughter go out to the hammock and in dreams Abuela takes Islita back to Puerto Rico (I'm assuming the land where Abuela comes from). And in the dream Islita goes back to see El Yunque and the floral and faunal beauty of the island as well as the meteorological wonders of the Caribbean island. Did you know it can rain one moment then be bright and sunny the next? No all day depressing drizzly rains there. The dream is accompanied by photographs Ms. Valle took in Puerto Rico. They feature the plants and mountains of the island...The author does a commendable job explaining the Spanish terms used in the book as well as the terms carried over from the indigenous Tainos who originally inhabited Boriken. At the back of the book is a page that defines these terms used throughout. This page also has a pronunciation guide. Overall this was a wonderful pictorial on the Puerto Rican island as well as a brief pre-Hispanic history of the islan

Taina Wants To Salsa is a story about young girl, Taina. There are many changes happening in Taina's life. She is having problems with her parents, her friends, and in school. She desperately needs help. She is very confused and has many unanswered questions. She does not know what to do. If she is having problems with her family and friends, who can help? How can she solve her many problems? Jo Anne Valle is a writer and educator. Her writing includes young adult literature, children literature, and philosophy. She has a BA and MA in philosophy. Her picture book "Sweet Dreams" was given 41/2 stars by John L. Hoh, Jr. He writes that Jo Anne Valle "appears to be a very talented lady...The author does a commendable job explaining the Spanish terms used in the book as well as the terms carried over from the indigenous Tainos who originally inhabited Boriken. At the back of the book is a page that defines these terms used throughout. This page also has a pronunciation guide. Overall this was a wonderful pictorial on the Puerto Rican island as well as a brief pre-Hispanic history of the island.&quo

This edited volume explores a range of experiences and conceptualizations of New Age Judaism, an imprecise term denoting new and evolving forms of North American Judaism that are typically innovative, combinative, and often controversial. Chapters analyze the phenomenon of New Age Judaism from theoretical, theological and ethnographic perspectives. As a result, they offer a broad sampling of some of the most fascinating forms of Jewish religious expression and philosophy in North America today. Rothenberg explores the teachings of Jewish shamanism and Jewish yoga. Vallely explores the revitalization of Jewish ritual practices achieved through the embrace of Buddhism. Other chapters cover an ethnographically rich account of one synagogue's re-framing of wealth as a form of ""energy,"" a women's ritual within ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal; the 'inclusive' writings of New Age Jewish Renewal leader Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi, which claim not to be combinative at all, but rather a ""retrieval"" of ancient Jewish wisdom. Experimentation with yoga, drumming, meditation, eclectic musical forms, Buddhism, and egalitarian prayer - once the province of the most marginal of Jewish religious practices - are now being embraced with varying degrees of enthusiasm within mainstream Jewish denominations, revealing the gradual ""normalization"" and incorporation of New Age Judaism's religious forms. New Age Judaism focuses much needed scholarly attention on these new forms and expressions of Judaism both within and outside of the synagogue setting.

Human beings have long imagined their subjectivity, ethics, and ancestry with and through animals, yet not until the mid-twentieth century did contemporary thought reflect critically on animals' significance in human self-conception. Thinkers such as French philosopher Jacques Derrida, South African novelist J. M. Coetzee, and American theorist Donna Haraway have initiated rigorous inquiries into the question of the animal, now blossoming in a number of directions. It is no longer strange to say that if animals did not exist, we would have to invent them.

This interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collection reflects the growth of animal studies as an independent field and the rise of "animality" as a critical lens through which to analyze society and culture, on a par with race and gender. Essays consider the role of animals in the human imagination and the imagination of the human; the worldviews of indigenous peoples; animal-human mythology in early modern China; and political uses of the animal in postcolonial India. They engage with the theoretical underpinnings of the animal protection movement, representations of animals in children's literature, depictions of animals in contemporary art, and the philosophical positioning of the animal from Aristotle to Derrida. The strength of this companion lies in its timeliness and contextual diversity, which makes it essential reading for students and researchers while further developing the parameters of the discipline.

Itinerant white-robed ascetics represent the highest ethical ideal among the Jains of rural Rajasthan. They renounce family, belongings, and desires in order to lead lives of complete non-violence. In their communities, Jain ascetics play key roles as teachers and exemplars of the truth; they are embodiments of the "lokottar" - the realm of the transcendent.

Based on thirteen months of fieldwork in the town of Ladnun, Rajasthan, India, among a community of Terapanthi Svetambar Jains, this book explores the many facets of what constitutes a moral life within the Terapanthi ascetic community, and examines the central role ascetics play in upholding the Jain moral order. Focussing on the Terapanthi moral universe from the perspective of female renouncers, Vallely considers how Terapanthi Jain women create their own ascetic subjectivities, and how they construct and understand themselves as symbols of renunciation. The first in-depth ethnographic study of this important and influential Jain tradition, this work makes a significant contribution to Jain studies, comparative religion, Indian studies, and the anthropology of South Asian religion.