RELATIONSHIPS AMONG PAPERS IN THIS VOLUME
Michael Tiefel

Members of Natural Resources 545 have produced a number of interesting papers this semester. Although not every paper relates to my own research, three projects stand out for their similarities: Lewis Garvin's work on Bangladesh, Mark Schmidt's project on AIDs in Uganda and Natalie Henry's study of population and industrial changes in Mexico. True, at first glance it is hard to understand how ethnic minority issues in northern Vietnam relate to these other projects, but certain issues in this course transcend areas of study.

Lewis Garvin's project on the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh shares many parallels with my own paper. Lewis observed that Bangladesh had one of the world's highest population densities in 1995; he noted that there were 836 people per square kilometer on average. With such a high population density, the need for living space has placed severe pressure on available land. Lewis claimed that the poor are not able to sustain themselves because they do not have access to arable land. This situation is quite similar to the case of northern Vietnam. As in Bangladesh, the population density of Vietnam continues to rise, which puts pressure on available land. The pressure for land especially affects ethnic minority farmers in the northern mountains because many Vietnamese move into their lands in order to alleviate lowland population pressures.

Lewis studied the Grameen Bank as an example of empowerment for poor residents, especially women. He found that the Grameen Bank empowers women and gives them a sense of "self-possession." The Grameen Bank also encourages education of Bangladeshi women. Vietnam offers its own version of the Grameen Bank. In the Vietnamese case, the Vietnam Bank of Agriculture is a government run organization. It was founded to help farmers by providing small loans to them. Amazingly, both institutions boast high pay back rates. Perhaps Vietnam could learn lessons from the Grameen Bank by encouraging women, especially minority women, to seek education and empower themselves through small loans.

Mark Schmidt studied the rise of the AIDs epidemic in Uganda. He discovered that the population transition in Uganda as well as the movement of young men to cities led to a rise in the transmission of AIDs. Mark found that "push" factors created by changes in agricultural production forced many young men into cities to look for work. Similarly in Vietnam, many ethnic minorities feel the "push" and "pull" to urban environments. They have been "pushed" off their land by wars, inhospitable conditions and mounting population pressures. Ethnic minorities are also "pulled" to cities by the lure of easy to find jobs and consumer goods. Although I did not study the impact of urbanization on epidemiological problems in Vietnam, including AIDs transmission, such an approach merits further study. Such a study might include a comparison of AIDs transmission among ethnic Vietnamese and ethnic minority groups.

Lastly, I would like to compare my paper to Natalie Henry's study of transitions in Mexico. Natalie discovered that the Mexican government's policy to move its citizens into southern Mexico was motivated by a desire for agricultural development in that region. The national government supported agricultural reform policies, but could not sustain such policies since southern Mexico was not a fertile area. Once industry developed along the border with the United Sates, many Mexicans transmigrated from the southern part of the country to the north in search of employment in factories. Mexican cities soon became overcrowded because people were looking for money and opportunities. Unfortunately, the government has not pushed forward infrastructure development. Now many Mexicans are in poorly paid positions, live in unsanitary conditions and lack adequate education. Vietnamese national minorities also suffer from a lack of education. There is a fear that ethnic minorities in Vietnam could also be left behind because of doi moi economic reforms. As Vietnam transforms into a market-oriented economy, ethic minorities without skills or education could become a permanent burden on the state. Vietnam claims to have a very high literacy rate; however, over fifty percent of ethnic minorities are illiterate. And like Mexico, the Vietnamese government has encouraged a transmigration policy. In both cases this policy appears to be unsuccessful.

Projects like those of Lewis, Mark and Natalie suggest that issues of population growth and density, the promotion of good education and the protection of disenfranchised groups are matters of universal concern. Although specific circumstances may vary, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mexico, Uganda and numerous other countries share similar population and environmental difficulties. Differences between countries make common solutions doubtful; however, lessons can be learned and adopted from the success or failure of policies in other countries.