Human Waste Management in Codo Town Is Situated in the North East of Timor-Leste - Case Study Example

Human Waste Management in Codo (Timor-Leste) [Name] [Professor Name] [Course] [Date] Human Waste Management in Codo (Timor-Leste) Abstract: This paper reviews researches from several disciplines, such as architecture, urban planning, sociology and history to come up with a framework for interpreting and responding to waste management in Codo town in Timor-Leste. Developed with the objective of fortifying design practice to ensure sustainable development of the town, the paper is expected to offer an understanding of the unique waste management needs of the city through examination of the city’s lifestyle, cultures, infrastructure, problems and available resources. The case of Codo cannot be suitably examined within the theoretical framework of urbanism given its extensively divergent characteristics. In this way, it is apposite to identify an issue of concern in the city in order to examine the city. For the purpose of this study therefore, human waste management in Codo town is discussed. Keywords: Codo, Timor-Leste, cultural identity, waste management, urban development, Codo architecture, Timor-Leste identity. Codo Community and Lifestyle Codo town is situated in the North East of Timor-Leste. Generally, the town has an economy which is primarily self-sustainable. Urban development in Codo has to a limited extent reflected the cultures and traditions of the Portuguese, who colonized the Timor-Leste from 1515 to 2002, when the country’s eventually gained independence. Following its independence, the country has been in able to formulate and exercise novel culturally reflective frameworks to promote urban development. The town’s livelihood is dependent on agriculture that is strongly hinged on the town’s unique climatic conditions. The communities in Codo have maintained a substantial sense of cultural identities rooted in their traditions. Studies have showed that the town often has surplus food stock most although shortages are noticed in some months, thus an indication that the place has ineffective mobility of food due to poor infrastructure. The town is hence susceptible to the changes in the weather conditions, thus occasional droughts largely affect the residents bearing in mind that they significantly rely on agricultural produce. Human waste management is however particular concern to the town, as the waste is mostly disposed in water or nearly vegetation due to lack of proper sanitation initiatives (EWB Challenge 2013). It is widely understood that Timor-Leste’s diverse populace is made up of several ethno-linguistic groups. Some local studies have however clarified that the intrinsic commonalities between the traditions are more significant to the Timorese social fabric than several of the observable differences (Belun and CICR 2011). Villages in Codo have a household rate of nearly 92.3 percent, while another 6.5 percent live with their extended family. Most of the houses are constructed from bamboo or stones and have earthen floor. There is also much uncertainty regarding land ownership making it difficult to rehabilitate the many abandoned buildings strewn in Codo. The communities have very little sources of income making it difficult to hire professional tradesmen to construct houses or certain forms of infrastructure and buildings. Therefore, the water and sanitation projects (WASH) such as that can ensure proper human waste management (toilets) are lacking (EWB Challenge 2013). Facilities Codo typically has poor roads, drainage and waste management infrastructure, following wanton destructions in the two-week violence of September 1999, when some 70 percent of the essential utilities or public facilities were destroyed (Ximenes 2002). Like many other places in Timor-Leste, Codo has no centrally controlled waste management facilities, for wastes as human or chemicals. The situation therefore is that human wastes are disposed of into the running water ways and surrounding vegetations. Rubbish collected around Codo neighborhoods are at times collected and incinerated as a means of managing it. Organic wastes that are digestible by animals, such as food scrapes, are often fed to the livestock, given that most communities are dependent on agriculture and therefore own pigs, cattle, chicken or dogs. Agricultural wastes are burnt on the ground. Most of the consumable products used in Codo come in single-serve packets enable purchases as needed whenever there residents have money (EWB Challenge 2013). Recycling of wastes is limitedly practiced in Codo and recycling facilities are less common. However, a number of innovative examples of up-cycling for reusable products are common. Overall, the conception of waste management is scantily understood in Codo. Thus associated problems such as human waste management are common and have become environmental hazards in the area. Culture Anthropologists and social scientists have identified culture as pertinent for ensuring social order in the Timorse communities. Indeed culture has presented a steadfast sense of identity and stability to the residents of Codo, even as the government has imposed a stronger sense of state-based identity to transform the national identity of the Timor-Leste as a whole. The system of fetosaa-umane is predominant among the culture in Codo, where upon married, the family of the husband and that of the wife are bound into one for life. It is also pointed out that communal and familial conflict in Codo can be amplified by the heightened tensions within the family, thus leading to conflicts, such as domestic violence, financial constraints, gender inequality and food insecurity. Public peace agreements are negotiated using ceremonies like the Nahe biti bo’ot and Tara bandu, where the two have continued to form an effective means of dispute resolution. In addition, the culture of Codo residents, like the rest of the Timorese, is principally based on varied types of cultures. Income / expenditure Codo lies in Timor-Leste, a partially island country that is roughly 14,874 square kilometers. Currently, there is scanty literature showing the average income and expenditure of the residents of Codo, however, recent studies have revealed that nearly 70 percent of the 1 million people in Timor-Leste live below US$1 per person. In addition, over 40 percent of the citizens live below the national poverty line of roughly US$0.55 per person. About 70 percent of the citizens live in rural areas and own small areas of land, small number of livestock in regions such as Codo that are prone to droughts, flooding and soil erosion (EWB Challenge 2013). Potential Problems Codo, like the rest of the towns in Timor-Leste, has low public awareness policies on the waste management. This remains a major problem as the public has failed to understand the significance and implication of proper human waste management to health. Further, the government of Timor-Leste had also failed to prioritize the environmental concerns while developing the country, leading to poor waste management in parts of the country such as in Codo. For instance, there is less emphasis on the state to allocate funds for proper waste management. Codo, like the rest of the towns in Timor-Leste, is susceptible to changes in climate as indicated by instances of floods, droughts and food shortages (Graham and Taboada 2011). Water, although a critical resource has poor supply, and since it is dependent on springs, lack of water during the dry seasons is evidenced. Thus water has been numerously mentioned as the most vital waste management constraint. There is also no effective waste management system as there are no facilities in place to support management of waste (Timor-Leste Government 2013). In the entire Timor-Leste, Tibar landfill remains the only landfill for waste management, while places such as Codo have no such systems, thus open dumping sites are used without proper treatment of waste. The high infant and newborn mortality rates in Codo, and the entire Timor-Leste, has more often been caused by high diarrheal diseases and respiratory ailments that have been blamed on the poor human waste management and poor water supply (EWB Challenge 2013). Limitations Codo faces various limitations largely attributed to the fact that Timor-Leste is a new country and which predominantly faces varied environmental issues of concern that call for investment in technology. Public awareness appears to be a major limitation, which could however be vital in ensuring that environmental issues, specifically human waste management are addressed. A major limitation of running such projects as public awareness programs is the lacking state budget that further aggravates the situations as less of the human waste management facilities are implemented. There are also high poverty rates in Codo, given that 40 percent of Timor-Leste residents, and specifically those living in rural areas such as Codo, live below US$0.55. Under these circumstances, it is difficult to build sound infrastructure to adequately manage waste. Although programs to alleviate poverty are viewed as vital, reluctance to protect environment could be disastrous to the country given the health implications (Timor-Leste Government 2013). Resources There are concerns on the cultural practices of the residents of Codo. Though there are scanty financial resources that could be channeled towards waste management. Rather, the scarce finances are used in organizing familial exchanges and cultural ceremonies (Belun and CICR 2011). The finances could instead be channeled towards improving the large human resource base, in particular training the youth, who make up to 50 percent of the population, and improve access to vocational training. Aside from the financial and human resources, Codo also has environmental resources such as rivers, springs and mountains. In Codo, the residents source water from natural springs up the mountains. The water has low level of calcium carbonate and is piped downhill to the villages and residences. The members of the communities later fetch water from the taps in containers which are stored at the homes. Energy has been severally cited as a developing sector in Timor-Leste. There was massive destruction of power infrastructure in Lautem during the violence of September 1999 and some parts of 2000. Power is however slowly returning to Codo as power lines have been re-installed and houses reconnected. There is also an interest to consume clean energy (Timor-Leste Government 2013). In conclusion, this paper presents an opportunity to instigate researches as well as to promote discussions of the physical needs of Codo’s local residents with reference to the need to have better waste management infrastructure. It is hoped that discussions by scholars and urban planners on the broader Codo community, as presented in the paper, will present the basis for promoting proper waste management practices and measures of Codo, and Timor-Leste as a whole. Practically, it is observed that developing design practices and structures for interpretation and delivery of urban development that assume a holistic view will aid in aligning the Codo’s unique cultural identity with its special needs, such as proper and sound waste management practices (Ximenes 2002). References Belun & CICR. 2011. Culture and Its Impact On Social And Community Life. (Online) retrirved from: [http://www.cicr-columbia.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Policy-Brief-5-Culture-and-its-Impact-on-Social-and-Community-Life.pdf] Accessed 15 May 2103 EWB Challenge, The. 2013. Plan Timor Leste EWB Challenge. Plan International. (Online) Retrieved from: [http://www.ewb-uk.org/filestore/Plan%20TL%20EWB%20Challenge%20Project%20Design%20Brief%20-%20UK.pdf] Accessed 15 MAy 2013 Graham, J. & Taboada, M. 2011. Urban Identity and Development in Dili, Timor-Leste: An interdisciplinary study informing architecture and urban design strategy and practice in Timor-Leste. Brisbane. Queensland University of Technology. Schenk, C. 2004. Post-Conflict Reconstruction Needs Assessment in Timor Leste – Lessons Learnt and Good Practices. (Online) Retrieved from: [http://www.giz.de/Themen/en/dokumente/en-WP_07_timorleste_gtz.pdf] Accessed 15 May 2013 Timor-Leste Government. 2013. Timor-Leste Towards Development. (ONline) Retrieved from: [http://timor-leste.gov.tl/?cat=39&lang=en] Accessed 15 May 2013 Ximenes, C.2002. Waste Management in Timor-Leste. (Online) Retrieved from: [http://www.uncrd.or.jp/env/3r_02/presentations/BG2/RT2_06_Timor_Leste.pdf] Accessed 15 May 2013 Read More

Therefore, the water and sanitation projects (WASH) such as that can ensure proper human waste management (toilets) are lacking (EWB Challenge 2013). Facilities Codo typically has poor roads, drainage and waste management infrastructure, following wanton destructions in the two-week violence of September 1999, when some 70 percent of the essential utilities or public facilities were destroyed (Ximenes 2002). Like many other places in Timor-Leste, Codo has no centrally controlled waste management facilities, for wastes as human or chemicals.

The situation therefore is that human wastes are disposed of into the running water ways and surrounding vegetations. Rubbish collected around Codo neighborhoods are at times collected and incinerated as a means of managing it. Organic wastes that are digestible by animals, such as food scrapes, are often fed to the livestock, given that most communities are dependent on agriculture and therefore own pigs, cattle, chicken or dogs. Agricultural wastes are burnt on the ground. Most of the consumable products used in Codo come in single-serve packets enable purchases as needed whenever there residents have money (EWB Challenge 2013).

Recycling of wastes is limitedly practiced in Codo and recycling facilities are less common. However, a number of innovative examples of up-cycling for reusable products are common. Overall, the conception of waste management is scantily understood in Codo. Thus associated problems such as human waste management are common and have become environmental hazards in the area. Culture Anthropologists and social scientists have identified culture as pertinent for ensuring social order in the Timorse communities.

Indeed culture has presented a steadfast sense of identity and stability to the residents of Codo, even as the government has imposed a stronger sense of state-based identity to transform the national identity of the Timor-Leste as a whole. The system of fetosaa-umane is predominant among the culture in Codo, where upon married, the family of the husband and that of the wife are bound into one for life. It is also pointed out that communal and familial conflict in Codo can be amplified by the heightened tensions within the family, thus leading to conflicts, such as domestic violence, financial constraints, gender inequality and food insecurity.

Public peace agreements are negotiated using ceremonies like the Nahe biti bo’ot and Tara bandu, where the two have continued to form an effective means of dispute resolution. In addition, the culture of Codo residents, like the rest of the Timorese, is principally based on varied types of cultures. Income / expenditure Codo lies in Timor-Leste, a partially island country that is roughly 14,874 square kilometers. Currently, there is scanty literature showing the average income and expenditure of the residents of Codo, however, recent studies have revealed that nearly 70 percent of the 1 million people in Timor-Leste live below US$1 per person.

In addition, over 40 percent of the citizens live below the national poverty line of roughly US$0.55 per person. About 70 percent of the citizens live in rural areas and own small areas of land, small number of livestock in regions such as Codo that are prone to droughts, flooding and soil erosion (EWB Challenge 2013). Potential Problems Codo, like the rest of the towns in Timor-Leste, has low public awareness policies on the waste management. This remains a major problem as the public has failed to understand the significance and implication of proper human waste management to health.

Further, the government of Timor-Leste had also failed to prioritize the environmental concerns while developing the country, leading to poor waste management in parts of the country such as in Codo. For instance, there is less emphasis on the state to allocate funds for proper waste management. Codo, like the rest of the towns in Timor-Leste, is susceptible to changes in climate as indicated by instances of floods, droughts and food shortages (Graham and Taboada 2011).

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