Disasters seem destined to be major issues of academic enquiry in the new century if for no other reason than that they are inseparably linked questions environmental conservation, resource depletion and migration patterns an increasingly globalised world. Unfortunately, inadequate attention has been directed at considering historical roots discursive framework within which hazard is generally presented, how might reflect particular cultural values do with way certain regions or zones world...

Flooding is not a recent hazard in the Philippines but one that has occurred throughout recorded history of archipelago. On hand, it related to wider global ecological crisis do with climatic change and rising sea levels on other also effect more localised human activities. A whole range socio-economic factors such as land use practices, living standards policy responses are increasingly influencing frequency natural hazards floods corresponding occurrence disasters. In particular, reason...

What makes people vulnerable? To most today, this is an everyday question that as simple it complex. At one level, the answer a straightforward one about poverty, resource depletion and marginalization; at another about the diversity of risks generated by interplay between local global processes and coping with them on daily basis. For billions people, nature their vulnerability changing intensifying, while their ability to cope has diminished. The saddest part, perhaps, loss hope for...

A warming climate and less predictable weather patterns, as well an expanding urban infrastructure susceptible to geophysical hazards, make the world increasingly dangerous place, even for those living in high‐income countries. It is opportune moment, therefore, from vantage point of second decade twenty‐first century, review terms concepts that have been employed regularly over past 50 years assess risk measure people's exposure such events light wider geopolitical context. In particular,...

Peter Boomgaard, Introducing environmental histories of Indonesia Harold Brookfield, Land degradation in the Indonesian region, interpreted as landscape history Anthony Reid, Inside-out: The colonial displacement Sumatra's population David Henley, Carrying capacity, climatic variation and problem low growth among swidden farmers: Evidence from North Sulawesi Han Knapen, Epidemics, drought other uncertainties Southeast Borneo during eighteenth nineteenth centuries J.W. Nibbering, Upland...

The social construction of hazard is a matter considerable moment to those engaged in disaster preparedness, management and relief. All too often, insufficient recognition accorded the manner which people's actions are influenced by their cultural interpretation what they experiencing. Behaviours that appear inappropriate or illogical external agency relief workers may be entirely consistent rational when understood context operating schema individuals experiencing such phenomena.

ABSTRACT Robert Putnam's influential article ‘Bowling alone: America's declining social capital’ puts forward a number of possible factors to explain the decline civil society in USA. Many these same forces are also at work erstwhile colony Asia, Philippines, where almost opposite outcome is true if one can measure such things as capital by activity formal and informal associations networks devoted mutual assistance. Unlike Americans, however, Filipinos exposed much higher degree everyday...

It is now generally appreciated that what constitutes vulnerability to one person not necessarily perceived as such by the next. Different actors 'see' disasters different types of events and a result they prepare for, manage record them in very ways. This paper explores perceptions mean terms understanding practices two significant sets stakeholders involved disaster preparedness management Philippines: state NGOs. Approaches are just function people's risk but also their prevailing social...

Reciprocal mobilities: Indigeneity and imperialism in an eighteenth-century Philippine Borderland By Mark Dizon Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2023. Pp. 259. Illustrations, Maps, Index.

This paper examines the parallel discourses of ‘lost’ local flood expertise and growing use commercial consultancies to outsource aspects risk work. We critically examine various claims counter‐claims about lost, external in management, focusing on aftermath 2007 floods East Yorkshire, England. Drawing interviews with consultants, drainage engineers others, we caution against that privilege ‘local’ knowledge as ‘good’ expert somehow suspect. urges carefulness interpreting knowledge, arguing...

Purpose Globally, over 95% of fire related deaths and injuries occur in low- middle-income countries. Within informal settlements, the risk resulting injury or death is particularly high. This paper examines risks settlements New Delhi Cape Town, tented Lebanon. Design/methodology/approach Our analysis draws on primary sources, secondary literature, statistical data qualitative interviews. Findings The distribution across urban societies a fundamentally political issue. Residential can be...

As an historian whose interests lie in both contemporary disaster practice as well the historical roots of vulnerability, I have become increasingly intrigued by manner which proponents these two ‘fields’ approach question time relation to disasters. Needless say actors regard it very differently. Social scientists (and here include mainly sociologists, anthropologists and human geographers) largely pay lip service its importance, at best mentioning relevance en passant but giving analysis...

Verwundbarkeit' vergleichen: Auf dem Weg zu einer Kartierung der historischen Verlaufskurve von Kata strophen?. Disasters have two historical trajectories, one 'natural' in that they involve or more physical hazards and the other societal are largely culturally de termined. They 'historical' sense both forces change over time. Charting an trajectory of vul nerability allows us to compare how skilfully different communities societies past managed all kinds climatic seismic risks. A...

The Manawatu floods of 2004 have had significant, long‐lasting social consequences. This paper draws on findings from a series detailed surveys 39 farm households directly affected by the and 17 individuals involved in managing flood recovery programme. nature impact rural families highlights how ‘hollowing out’ New Zealand has changed capacity communities to respond natural hazards increased their sense isolation. In addition, exposed vulnerability communities. is shown implications for...

Abstract The history of much England is written in water. Water has not only shaped England's prosperity and external relations but it also been a significant factor fashioning its internal fabric. In particular, large areas the eastern coastline hinterland are close to or even below sea-level represent an 'English Lowlands' comparable many respects more aptly named region on opposite mainland. Indeed, Netherlands, northwest coast Germany western Denmark form together with one vast North Sea...

The tropical forests of the Philippine Archipelago are some most threatened in 21st century. Among prominent threats introduction new plant and animal species, as well forms land management (e.g. plantations), that have accompanied industrial expansion. Such a potentially long-term history prehistory Philippines, not just consequence Spanish colonial administration land-use changes from 16th century, but also context pre-colonial introductions rice agriculture domesticated animals. However,...

Assessing risk and evaluating crises—be they financial, social, political or environmental—have come increasingly to preoccupy the interests concerns of analysts around globe. In developed countries what until recently was usually referred as First World, such considerations involve re-conceptualization post-industrial societies ones in which rise “manufactured uncertainties” have undermined state's established safety systems its conventional calculus security (Giddens 1991). Yet billions...