Jàmbá: 2016 Volume 8 No 1
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/19828
2024-03-29T15:39:21ZExposing the profiteers of globalisation, disaster, conflict and detention
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/30809
Exposing the profiteers of globalisation, disaster, conflict and detention
Von Meding, Jason K.
2016-01-01T00:00:00ZA review of children’s participation in disaster risk reduction
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/30808
A review of children’s participation in disaster risk reduction
Muzenda-Mudavanhu, Chipo
Children are often excluded from disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities, yet they are one of the most vulnerable groups to disasters. As a result, they experience physical, psychological and educational vulnerabilities. There is lack of research on children’s participation in DRR and their potential value in strengthening community resilience has been largely overlooked. Therefore, this article highlights the existing research and knowledge gap in children’s participation in DRR. It highlights the existing research and knowledge gap by reviewing literature on the concept of children’s participation in DRR. The article analyses the different ways in which children’s participation in DRR has been conceptualised, and how this has influenced the way children are involved in DRR. The study will then explore the obstacles to involving children and their potential contribution in DRR.
2016-01-01T00:00:00ZCoastal erosion management in Accra: combining local knowledge and empirical research
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/30807
Coastal erosion management in Accra: combining local knowledge and empirical research
Appeaning Addo, Kwasi; Appeaning Addo, Irene
Coastal erosion along the Accra coast has become a chronic phenomenon that threatens both life and property. The issue has assumed a centre stage of national debate in recent times because of its impact on the coastal communities. Lack of reliable geospatial data hinders effective scientific investigations into the changing trends in the shoreline position. However, knowledge about coastal erosion, by the local people, and how far the shoreline has migrated inland over time is high in the coastal communities in Accra. This opens a new chapter in coastal erosion research to include local knowledge of the local settlers in developing sustainable coastal management. This article adopted a scientific approach to estimate rate of erosion and tested the results against perceived erosion trend by the local settlers. The study used a 1974 digital topographic map and 1996 aerial photographs. The end point rate statistical method in DSAS was used to compute the rates of change. The short-term rate of change for the 22-year period under study was estimated as -0.91 m/annum ± 0.49 m/annum. It was revealed that about 79% of the shoreline is eroding, while the remaining 21% is either stabilised or accreting. It emerged, from semi-structured interviews with inhabitants in the Accra coastal communities, that an average of about 30 m of coastal lands are perceived to have been lost to erosion for a period of about 20 years. This translates to a historic rate of change of about 1.5 m/year, which corroborates the results of the scientific study. Again this study has established that the local knowledge of the inhabitants, about coastal erosion, can serve as reliable information under scarcity of scientific data for coastal erosion analyses in developing countries.
2016-01-01T00:00:00ZIndigenous practices of environmental sustainability in the Tonga community of southern Zambia
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/30806
Indigenous practices of environmental sustainability in the Tonga community of southern Zambia
Kanene, Kennedy M.
Culture plays a significant role in conserving the environment. The purpose of this study was to explore the measures that have been employed by the Tonga people of southern Zambia to sustain their local biophysical environment. The research focussed on investigating the strategies which they use to conserve the soil, water, animals, medicinal and fruit plants, and rangeland. A qualitative research design was used in the study. The data were collected through interviews with elderly Tonga people and herbalists, and through observation and personal participation in the daily life of the Tongas. The study reveals that selective harvesting, totemism and taboos, organic farming, crop rotation and intercropping, sacredness of water sources and traditional authority are the main instruments of environmental conservation amongst the Tonga. The article concludes that governments, policymakers and environmentalists need to give the conservation strategies employed by indigenous people the prominence they deserve for environmental sustainability.
2016-01-01T00:00:00Z