James P. Robson – författare

Out-migration might decrease the pressure of population on the environment, but what happens to the communities that manage the local environment when they are weakened by the absence of their members? In an era where community-based natural resource management has emerged as a key hope for sustainable development, this is a crucial question.

Building on over a decade of empirical work conducted in Oaxaca, Mexico, Communities Surviving Migration identifies how out-migration can impact rural communities in strongholds of biocultural diversity. It reflects on the possibilities of community self-governance and survival in the likely future of limited additional migration and steady – but low – rural populations, and what different scenarios imply for environmental governance and biodiversity conservation. In this way, the book adds a critical cultural component to the understanding of migration-environment linkages, specifically with respect to environmental change in migrant-sending regions.

Responding to the call for more detailed analyses and reporting on migration and environmental change, especially in contexts where rural communities, livelihoods and biodiversity are interconnected, this volume will be of interest to students and scholars of environmental migration, development studies, population geography, and Latin American studies.

Out-migration might decrease the pressure of population on the environment, but what happens to the communities that manage the local environment when they are weakened by the absence of their members? In an era where community-based natural resource management has emerged as a key hope for sustainable development, this is a crucial question.

Building on over a decade of empirical work conducted in Oaxaca, Mexico, Communities Surviving Migration identifies how out-migration can impact rural communities in strongholds of biocultural diversity. It reflects on the possibilities of community self-governance and survival in the likely future of limited additional migration and steady – but low – rural populations, and what different scenarios imply for environmental governance and biodiversity conservation. In this way, the book adds a critical cultural component to the understanding of migration-environment linkages, specifically with respect to environmental change in migrant-sending regions.

Responding to the call for more detailed analyses and reporting on migration and environmental change, especially in contexts where rural communities, livelihoods and biodiversity are interconnected, this volume will be of interest to students and scholars of environmental migration, development studies, population geography, and Latin American studies.

"The Music of the Heart" is a collection of poetry written over a period of thirty years. Many of them resulted from conversations I had with myself or surfaced during periods of relaxation and sleep. Some were inspired by my grandaughters as I observed their young lives evolving. Like a personal diary, these poems serve as a reminder of my own idenity and awareness.

The human mind is a powerful and amazing gift but it can easily be led astray from the truth without the proper guidance which must be centered in the heart. Learning is a process which requires much discipline, focus and trial and error. It is with hope that some of the ideas conveyed in these poems will open other hearts and bring strength and encouragement.

The Gift of the Heart is a collection of poems, with most written during late 2013 through mid-2014.Each of them resulted from personal thoughts and experiences and from studying Gods Word. Before writing down these words, I processed them through my heart to be blessed by the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit dwelling in the human heart, the heart opens up to the truth of being. It takes practice, patience, and faith to hear and understand as the Holy Spirit responds, conveys, and directs the truth through the magic of the heart. My hope is that each reader will use these poems as a guide and a catalyst to gain insight into the power and love of the Holy Spirit, who was sent as a comforter by the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

This book completes a series of seven that explores and surrounds the heart, beginning with musics universal rhythm and heartbeat to the full glory and majesty of reaching the end zone, where Gods essence is on full display.

From a spiritual viewpoint, the mind desires to be plugged in so that it can be connected to the indwelling spirit. When we enter into the spiritual kingdom, God brings us to him, where we can love and where we can put our life in something that will last.

The poems in this book can be read in any order the reader chooses. Each poem is a stand-alone glimpse through a moment in time as I have observed it. My hope is that each of us can learn to love one another as God has loved us.

With love and hope,

James P. Robson