Dear colleagues,
In the last few years, a group of us who are interested in disaster preparedness and prevention have been working on how to reduce some of the barriers to effective disaster risk reduction (DRR). We have convened two international conferences (at Bielefeld and Erlangen, both in Germany, in 2011 and 2013), and producing a book to be published by Routledge in 2014. There are materials for the second conference here: http://culturesanddisasters.org/wp/
Two of the main issues we are looking at are:
• How can DRR be made more effective when working with people who live in risky places because that is where they can gain their livelihood? We all know that all over the world many people live quite willingly in places that may be affected by floods, cyclones, drought, earthquakes, tsunami, eruptions, because they are also good places for farming, fishing, and other forms of livelihood. Most of these people would not put serious hazards at the top of their priorities: they are more concerned about how to get food for next week, pay school fees, avoid crime and disease. We know they face serious risks from hazards: how do we get a better match between people’s priorities and protection from possible disaster?
• Many (probably most) people in the world are fatalistic about disasters. Many others think that disasters happen to them because they are being punished for wrongdoing by god(s). Other people are willing to live in dangerous places because of beliefs that enable them to experience danger as a positive or spiritual experience. Very few institutions that want to support people in disaster risk reduction take account of these cultural and religious beliefs, and act as though the people share the outsiders’ scientific and “rational” approach.
As a result of these two issues, DRR is likely to be severely constrained.
We are now looking for some additional examples for our next project, and inviting anyone who has interesting case studies to share them with us. What we are looking for includes:
1. Examples from your own experience or what you have read of cases where people have traded danger for livelihoods. In particular it would be useful to know how any disaster preparedness projects have tried to deal with this contradiction.
2. Examples (again from the literature or your experience) of cultural (including religious) beliefs or perceptions of risk that are interpreted through culture and/ or religion. In particular it would be good to know examples of where this was a barrier to effective DRR, or something that improved the effectiveness of DRR, or where DRR initiatives ignored the cultural aspects.
3. Examples of the effects of cultural factors in relief and reconstruction after a disaster, either helping or hindering the recovery process.
Your information can be kept anonymous if that is necessary for you to provide the material. We look forward to your contributions, which may help to make DRR more effective by bringing in these factors.
Many thanks,
Terry Cannon, Lisa Schipper, Greg Bankoff and Fred Krueger
Dr. Lisa Schipper | Adaptation, Vulnerability & Development Consultant | Associate Editor, Climate and Development | [log in to unmask] | New Book: Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change
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