Ole Bruun Livres

The book examines the debate surrounding the universality of human rights in the context of East and Southeast Asia, asserting a strong stance in favor of universal rights. It explores the interplay between Asian values and the dynamics of authoritarianism versus democracy, highlighting how both sides manipulate Western perceptions to support their narratives. Through empirical analysis, it delves into the social and political processes within various Asian countries, offering insights into the complexities of human rights in the region.

Focusing on a community of Mongolian livestock herders, the narrative explores their transition from Soviet-style collectives to a market-oriented existence. The author highlights crucial factors for their survival, including cultural adaptability, evolving working strategies, government policies, and the impact of international attention. Through this lens, the book examines the challenges and opportunities faced by the herders in a changing socio-economic landscape.

Focusing on the origins and practices of Chinese Feng Shui, this book delves into its historical roots and cultural significance. It also explores how Feng Shui has been adapted and interpreted in Western contexts, highlighting the differences and similarities in practice. The examination provides insight into the philosophy behind Feng Shui and its relevance in contemporary settings, making it a valuable resource for those interested in both traditional and modern approaches to this ancient practice.

Fengshui is explored as an alternative tradition of cosmological knowledge, explaining various everyday occurrences in rural China, including health issues and accidents. The study contrasts popular Western manuals with an academic perspective, emphasizing its historical significance and reinterpretation over the past 150 years. Through anthropological fieldwork in two rural areas, the author provides insights into contemporary fengshui practices, highlighting its relevance in addressing local beliefs and challenges.

This book is intended to fill a gap in climate-change literature by providing a comprehensive regional study and identifying the overall adaptation challenges in a real-life context. The way in which possible climate impacts interact with a range of other challenges in agriculture, forestry, disaster planning, health care, general economic development, and common livelihoods are presented, and it is argued that greater realism and broader vision are needed in order to address the climate challenge. For instance, unsuitable land- use changes in both coastal and highland regions may increase the vulnerability of rural people, many of whom are already living on the fringes. The author(s) also state(s) that, depending on context, it may be pertinent to address short-term and unsustainable resource use, irregularities in local land management, ineffective governance and social inequality, which are all likely to aggravate the impact of external climate and weather. Not least, it is imperative to integrate general environmental management with any climate-change adaptation effort.