Role of Islam in Practical Life amongst Some Young Swiss Muslim Adults: A Focused Ethnographic Analysis

Contemporary secular Switzerland has been polarised by more than two decades of anti-Muslim sentiments, conveyed through misrepresentative narratives by some politicians and media, ‘otherising’ Islam and Muslim-related issues. This polarised environment may have triggered ambivalent impacts on the personal development of Swiss-born Muslims Consequently, I suggest that they live in an ambivalent position, where their status as Muslim is not fully acknowledged and their belonging to Switzerland still questioned. Indeed, this article will explore the following research question: How do some young Swiss-born Muslim adults construct their subjectivities and experiences linked to Islam in their daily lives in contemporary Switzerland? The research methodology of this focused ethnography draws on various semi-structured interviews and informal conversations with several young Swiss Muslim men and women. The paper focuses on (a) Switzerland’s socio-cultural and political context and (b) the various ways this study’s research partners construct their ambivalent subjectivities through the analysis of their individual trajectories and narratives. It concludes that young Swiss Muslim adults formulate and produce alternative narratives, in order to make sense of their lives and accommodate various layers of identification in contemporary Switzerland. Eventually some recommendations for further research are formulated.  

To Study of Risk Assessment Due to Extent of Hydrocarbons Contamination Along Coastline of Karachi

Hydrocarbons naturally form in fossil fuels. Automobile exhaust, industrial emission and refused incineration are the major anthropogenic sources. Hydrocarbons enter the marine environment via atmospheric deposition, urban runoff, dumping of untreated industrial waste, petroleum losses from vessels during transportation and accidental oil spills in the sea. On entering the marine environment hydrocarbons distribute in seawater, sediments and biota. Karachi is known as industrial hub of Pakistan, being an industrial city, it produce a great amount of pollutants which ultimately transported to the coastal areas by various means. Therefore, present study was designed to determine the extent, concentration and possible risk level of hydrocarbons to marine fauna as well as on human. Seawater, sediments and marine fauna samples were collected from different sampling stations of Karachi coastal areas include Defense Housing Authorities, Clifton, Oyster Island, entrance of Karachi Harbour, Manora and Sand Spit during 2003-2006. Gas Chromatograph equipped with Flame ionization detector and capillary column was used to analyze the hydrocarbons. Seawater samples were found containing PAHs (Σ16PAHs) 1.280 μg L-1 and 0.366 μg L-1 in 2003 and 2006, respectively. Concentration of Carcinogenic PAHs (Σ7PAHs) was found 2.402 μg L-1 and 0.008 μg L-1 in 2003 and 2006 respectively. Benzo (a) pyrene, the most carcinogenic PAH, was found at 0.641 μg L-1 in 2003 but not detected in 2006. Sediment samples collected from study areas in 2003 contain average PAHs (Σ16PAHs) concentrations of 11641 μg kg-1 while in 2006 it was 37.57μg kg-1. As per sediments Quality Guidelines, Threshold Effect Level/Probable Effect Level and Effect Range Low /Effect Range Median include with mean- Probable Effect Level-quotient and m- Effect Range Median-quotient maximum probability of adverse biological effects was found 85% in 2003 which was gradually reduced to 9% in 2006. In seven fish specie, Apogon cocciveus was found lowest and Escualosa Thoracatta was found highest contaminated specie with 1.51μg/g and 732μg/g of total PAHs, respectively. Among four shellfish specie, Portunus Sanguinolentis was found lowest and Acanthopagrus Latus was found highest contaminated with 9.70 μg/g and 561.2 μg/g of PAHs, respectively. Contrary to PAH, variable levels of aliphatic hydrocarbons were found which could not lead to some meaningful risk effects. Oil spill is found to be the basic root cause for abrupt change of hydrocarbons level and destruction of marine ecosystem in coastal areas of Karachi. Although pyrogenic sources sufficiently contributed with it, however, hydrocarbons contamination level in study areas reduced with the passage of time.