IIC Orientation

IIC Orientation 2013

It was a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon in Denver, with the smell of fresh cut grass wafting in the air, when the 2013-2014 International and Intercultural Communication (IIC) students, faculty, and staff gathered for orientation.  The students congregated at the University of Denver’s air-conditioned International House and sat in a circle of comfortable sofas and chairs as they introduced themselves to their peers.  Each student present gave a short description of his or her exceptional accomplishments and interests, and each student emoted anticipation for what is to come this academic year.  The intimate orientation, facilitated by Margie Thompson and Kate Burns, featured an overview of the IIC program as well as appearances by department faculty members and the Dean of the Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences. 

To kick-off the learning process, the IIC students participated in a cultural exercise, which featured a real and current development issue in Costa Rica that is close to Margaret Thompson’s heart.  The activity dealt with development, land rights, and finding common ground between stakeholders.  In groups of three, the students worked to analyze and create solutions via the perspectives of various stakeholders in the issue.  The activity necessitated the focus, participation and expertise of each IIC student and created a sense of teamwork.  Overall, the findings were creative, thoughtful, and overlapping.

The exercise focused on current tensions along the southern Carribbean coast of Costa Rica with historic land rights and mega tourism “development”:

“A growing number of people in the coastal communities fear that their small paradise in the southern Caribbean is being severely threatened by the current government, land speculators, transnational mining and oil interests and mega tourism developers.  Although 90% of the land in the Talamanca region is within some kind of wildlife or indigenous reserve, manipulation is taking place behind the scenes, designed to create confusion and pass laws in the name of ‘protection’ that would weaken or even eliminate historical land rights of coastal villages.”

Student groups represented the following stake holder groups:

Afro Costa Ricans, ICT (National Costa Rican Tourism Institute), Foro Caribe Sur (community forum), Talamanca Chamber of Tourism, small entrepreneurs, and environmentalists)

Each of the stakeholders named concerns for building capital, protecting the environment, and maintaining local support and culture.  Below is a summary of their analyses:

1)      Afro Costa Ricans

-Needs/concerns:  job scarcity; no proper land titles; vulnerable eco-tourism/paradise and heritage; subject to discrimination and racism

-Potential solutions:

Establish guidelines for accessing land titles; having more afro costa rican representation within the government; Work with locals to establish alternative tourism

Hold cultural heritage celebrations; have more legal representation/create more voice for locals

2)      The ICT (National Costa Rican Tourism Institute)

-Needs/concerns: Money, community support, favorable laws

-Potential solutions: Donating a portion of profits to health and education efforts; involving local (and claimants); providing jobs (education and health)

-Developing advisory board; establishing community funds; developing business cooperative company

3)      The Foro Caribe Sur

-Needs/Concerns: Funding for health, education and tourism promotion (not large corp. development project); maintain current laws and land rights; maintain integrity of land-environmental issues

Potential solutions:

-Small scale tourism development projects (avoid cruise ships, etc.); education on laws/land rights to avoid manipulation; laws/plans to distribute tourism revenue for education, health, etc.

-More emphasis on locals in terms of health and education; better communication with community members; locals gaining pride/ownership in their community

4)      The Talamanca Chamber of Tourism

Needs/concerns: Make money and economic improvement; control development as opposed to outside control; maintain community ownership

Potential solutions:

-Physically limit development for purpose of protecting land rights and environment as well as maintain ecotourism; hire locally; smear campaign against outside development

-Provide employment for community members and entrepreneurs in the community; develop ecotourism destinations that incorporate wildlife refuges; plan cultural festivals to celebrate local culture

5)      Small entrepreneurs

Needs/concerns: Maintain profits and competitive edge; maintain the integrity of the environment to continue their eco-tourism industry; maintain special access for local businesses (taxes, permits, etc.)

Potential solutions:

-Establish a chamber of commerce/coalition that represents the interests and needs of already established and/or new locally owned businesses; establish an environmental council that is part of the decision-making process in regards to environmental protection from extractive industries; establish an “eco-tax” on corporations or businesses that have an environmental impact that goes back to preservation

-See “eco-tax”; mapping of the community to demonstrate the different areas/businesses/industries; establish a traditional authority to represent the costa rican cultural groups.

6)      Environmentalists

Needs/concerns: Legal protection; sustainability of National Ecotourism; Preservation of National Resources

Potential solutions:

-Political Coalitions/Boards/Steering Groups (costa riquisimma!); Economic rule of law, clear borders, return financing; Cultural: Indigenous, Afro-Costa Rican, Spanish (Education, museums, interthematic promotion)

-Human rights: Education, Decent labor; historical locale propriety; expanding semi protected lands; Adjusting rates and laws

The exercise turned out to be a great way for the students to learn that there are no easy answers in international development (an area where some of us may work someday).  This message lingered over the IIC Department as the orientation came to a close with a savory meal and conversation between the students.  This in-depth orientation left the department, students and faculty, more acquainted and prepared for the 2013-2014 academic year.