POLITICAL ECOLOGY
Turbine Trouble: How Commercial Wind Threatens Sustainable Development in Rural Oklahoma Kaya, Cricket E. The Undergraduate Research Journal Vol. 21, University of Oklahoma Press, 2022
Turbine Trouble is an archival retelling of the challenges posed by extractive corporate wind projects to my hometown's path towards a just transition. Delving into historical records, I reveal the political and ecological implications that often go unnoticed amidst the promises of economic prosperity.
Through this analysis, I challenge the prevailing notion of wind energy as an unequivocal solution for sustainability, offering a nuanced perspective on the complex interactions between commercial wind ventures and our aspiration for a more equitable energy transition.
Blackouts, Borders, and Blame: Disaster Governance and Winter Storm Uri Kaya, Cricket E. IAS 4013: Environment and Society, College of International Studies, University of Oklahoma, 2022
In Blackouts, Borders, and Blame, I investigate the intricate political landscape behind the far-reaching power outages triggered by the 2021 winter storm Uri. Beyond the well-documented impact on Texas, my research includes the lesser-known, extensive power disruptions across Mexico.
I analyze regional media accounts in both Spanish and English to navigate a discourse of disaster governance, climate change, political ecology, and a global energy crisis.
Confronting Environmental Displacement in Sao Paulo, Brazil's Smart Megacity Kaya, Cricket E. IAS 3003: Environmental Justice and Global Cities, College of International Studies, University of Oklahoma (2021)
This paper is an exploration of the relationship between "green" infrastructures and the displacement of peripheral communities within the urban landscape of Sao Paulo. With a focus on the city's history of municipal displacement, I unravel the systemic forces that have shaped the spatial dynamics of its neighborhoods and socioeconomic makeup.
A central element of my analysis is a detailed case study of the Tiete River Valley Park, a prominent example of green infrastructure development which has displaced poor communities who live alongside the river.
You can view my digital abstract below.
The Disposition Handbook: Molding Asian American Impersonality, Kaya, Cricket E. Brainstorm X Vol. 11, University of Oklahoma Press, 2019
In The Disposition Handbook, I write about a deeply personal exploration of my own identity as a hyphenated American within the complex tapestry of immigrant America. Reflecting on my family's history of incarceration during Japanese internment in World War II. I navigate the relationship between assimilation, resilience, and historical trauma.
Drawing from my intimate familial narrative, I examine the broader context of Asian American political presence in contemporary America, particularly within the discourse surrounding affirmative action.
Carbon Offset as Restorative Sovereignty: The Yurok Tribe's Groundbreaking Approach to Climate Conservation, Kaya, Cricket E. NAS 3313: Introduction to Native Peoples and Sustainability, University of Oklahoma (2022)
I explain the innovative and empowering strategies employed by the Yurok Tribe to harness the potential of carbon offset as a means of advancing their ancestral conservation efforts.
This essay aims to highlight the ways that indigenous self-determination should be used as a standard for the field of conservation, offering a testament to the Yurok Tribe's pioneering efforts in forging a new paradigm of restorative sovereignty.
You can view a copy of my summary presentation below.
Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Abusive Ego-Gaurds in the Congo Basin: Why Conservation Should Go Local, Kaya, Cricket E. HON 3993: Africa and the Urge to Help, University of Oklahoma (2021)
I dissect the troubling narrative surrounding the WWF and its use of eco-gaurds in the Congo Basin. Through a critical lense, I open the web of imperialist tendencies that inadvertently hindered the WWF's ability to heed local voices and concerns.
I highlight the stark consequences of a paternalistic approach that silences the concerns of the communities with deep ancestral ties to the land. This analysis unravels the emergence of a militaristic presence facilitated by the WWF, underscoring the urgency of a shift in conservation paradigms.
GLOBAL POLITICS
Petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Seeking Justice for Violations of the Rights of Breonna Taylor from the United States Police (Class Exercise)
Report to CEDAW (Class Exercise)
Essay Assessing the Legitimacy of the International Human Rights System
Political Analysis of Felon Disenfranchisement