Jàmbá: 2011 Volume 3 No 2http://hdl.handle.net/10394/88912024-03-29T00:10:12Z2024-03-29T00:10:12ZCorruption: the hidden perpetrator of under-development and vulnerability to natural hazards and disastersLewis, Jameshttp://hdl.handle.net/10394/88992018-09-03T09:44:04Z2011-01-01T00:00:00ZCorruption: the hidden perpetrator of under-development and vulnerability to natural hazards and disasters
Lewis, James
My lecture is based upon a fully referenced paper but it is not an academic paper that contains evidence from which it draws conclusions. It’s in the nature of corruption that there is little evidence and there are no text-books, no journals devoted to its practise and no guidelines. Instead there is observation, #nancial calculation, investigative journalism, and an increasing number of legal investigations and trials of its perpetrators to draw upon. When evidence is in short supply, therefore, it becomes necessary to rely upon inquiring minds.
2011-01-01T00:00:00ZField note from Pakistan floods: preventing future flood disastersOxley, Marcushttp://hdl.handle.net/10394/88962018-09-03T09:40:23Z2011-01-01T00:00:00ZField note from Pakistan floods: preventing future flood disasters
Oxley, Marcus
Unusually heavy monsoon rains in Northern Pakistan have caused disproportionate levels of extreme flooding and unprecedented flood losses across the entire Indus River basin. Extensive land use changes and environmental degradation in the uplands and lowlands of the river basin together with the construction of a “built environment” out of balance with the functioning, capacities, scale and limits of the local ecosystems have exposed millions of people to an increased risk of extreme #ooding. The catastrophic nature of the August #ooding provides a unique opportunity to fundamentally change Pakistan’s current socio-economic development path by incorporating disaster risk reduction and climate change measures into the post-disaster recovery process to rebuild a safer, more resilient nation. In January 2005 one hundred and sixty-eight nations adopted the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)2005-2015 to bring about a “substantial reduction in disaster losses” by 2015. Despite this global initiative a series of major disasters, including the recent flooding in Pakistan, all indicate that we are not on track to achieve the substantial reduction of disaster losses. The following fieldnote considers what can be done to accelerate progress towards implementation of the Hyogo Framework, drawing on insights and lessons learnt from the August flooding to understand how Pakistan and neighbouring countries can prevent a repeat of such catastrophic disasters in future years.
2011-01-01T00:00:00ZChallenges to disaster risk reduction: a study of stakeholders’ perspectives in Imizamo Yethu, South AfricaRoth, Ann-SofieBecker, Perhttp://hdl.handle.net/10394/88952018-09-03T09:36:24Z2011-01-01T00:00:00ZChallenges to disaster risk reduction: a study of stakeholders’ perspectives in Imizamo Yethu, South Africa
Roth, Ann-Sofie; Becker, Per
South Africa is a complex and dynamic society, with overwhelming and increasing problems with disaster risk in the vulnerable urban communities in and around its rapidly growing metropolitan centres. The purpose of this study is to improve the understanding of the challenges for disaster risk reduction in such communities. It focuses on the case of Imizamo Yethu, in the Western Cape, in order to build theory that is grounded in the empirical realities of stakeholders involved in disaster risk reduction there. The result points towards five interrelated key challenges, which must be concurrently addressed through large-scale development efforts. Without such investments, it is unlikely that disaster risks can be reduced to tolerable levels.
2011-01-01T00:00:00ZThe vulnerable state of the Ghana coast: the case of Faana-BortianorOteng-Ababio, MartinOwusu, KwadwoAddo, Kwasi Appeaninghttp://hdl.handle.net/10394/88942018-09-03T09:33:42Z2011-01-01T00:00:00ZThe vulnerable state of the Ghana coast: the case of Faana-Bortianor
Oteng-Ababio, Martin; Owusu, Kwadwo; Addo, Kwasi Appeaning
Coastal communities worldwide are becoming increasingly vulnerable to a wide range of potential hazards including shoreline erosion and coastal resource degradation. The problem is exacerbated due to rapid urbanization and the concomitant anthropogenic beach changes which influence coastal processes. The lack of basic services and disaster warning as well as response mechanisms makes the situation daunting. Using mainly qualitative methods, which include two Focus Group Discussions and 17 in-depth interviews, the authors explore the perception of respondents in regard to coastal erosion and how to mitigate the observed condition. Thee research incorporates both physical and social science knowledge. Our key finding is that although the Faana coastline is eroding at a signi%cantly high rate, residents are resolved to maintain their occupancy for as long as they have the opportunity to practise their trade. The authors argue that proactive measures can be taken to reduce vulnerability and provide the enabling conditions for communities to absorb and bounce back from disruptions in basic services and economic activities.
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