Disaster studies inside out

Disaster studies is faced with a fascinating anomaly: frequently it claims to be critical and innovative, as suggested by the so‐called vulnerability paradigm that emerged more than 40 years ago, yet often it is perpetuating some of the core and problematic tenets of the hazard paradigm that we were asked to challenge initially. This paper interrogates why such an anomaly persists. In so doing, it employs Antonio Gramsci's concept of hegemony to unpack why disaster studies is still dominated by Western epistemologies and scholars that perpetuate an orientalist view of disasters. Ultimately, it suggests a research agenda for the 40 years to come, which builds on the importance of local researchers analysing local disasters using local epistemologies, especially in the non‐Western world. Such subaltern disaster studies are to be fuelled by increasing consciousness of the need to resist the hegemony of Western scholarship and to relocate disaster studies within the realm of its original political agenda.     

The future of disasters studies: new disasters and the case of the Horn of Africa

Past disasters have been well studied, but the challenge of using the findings to improve the management of future events remains a daunting task. This paper argues that there are new and complex disasters of which the state itself has become the main source, as reflected in the Horn of Africa. This region is characterised by increasing vulnerability owing to the alarming decline of democracy and the rise of authoritarianism. These new disasters are less researched because of the hazard of conducting fieldwork in such environments. However, there is mounting evidence to highlight the possibility of performing research in these settings, but not by employing traditional methods; rather, these tools may need to be customised for use. One key policy implication here is that donors may need to invest more money in analysing these new disasters and they may need to consider building and strengthening genuine partnerships between Northern and Southern research institutions     

基于Logistic回归和NFCA的水资源供需风险分析模型及其应用

我国城市水资源供需研究多从需水的角度考虑供需平衡,而忽略了供需风险的研究。针对这一问题,论文从危险性、暴露性和脆弱性的角度构建水资源供需风险指标体系,建立了基于Logistic回归和非线性模糊综合评价(NFCA)的供需风险分析模型。考虑供水的随机不确定性,以北京市为例,研究多种不同来水条件下的风险,结果表明:在1956-2007年的来水条件下,2020年固有风险均为一级风险;利用外调水和再生水后,现实风险中三级和四级风险占75%,一级和二级风险仍然占了25%。因此在降水量很小的情况下,水资源供需风险仍然处于较高水平。     

河流水环境污染风险模糊综合评价模型

综合考虑水环境污染的脆弱性和受污染水体对人体健康的危害性, 建立了河流水环污染风险模糊综合评价模型.运用模糊语言,将脆弱性和危害性均分为6个等级,并根据F统计法和专家咨询法确定脆弱性和危害性的模糊隶属函数.由模糊综合评价得出河流水环境污染的风险水平.将该评价模型应用到湘江14个断面的水环境风险评价中,直观地表达各个断面污染风险水平,为湘江水资源管理和优先控制断面的选取提供新思路和新方法.     

The interaction between seaweed farming as an alternative occupation and fisher numbers in the central Philippines

Alternative occupations are frequently promoted as a means to reduce the number of people exploiting declining fisheries. However, there is little evidence that alternative occupations reduce fisher numbers. Seaweed farming is frequently promoted as a lucrative alternative occupation for artisanal fishers in Southeast Asia. We examined how the introduction of seaweed farming has affected village-level changes in the number of fishers on Danajon Bank, central Philippines, where unsustainable fishing has led to declining fishery yields. To determine how fisher numbers had changed since seaweed farming started, we interviewed the heads of household from 300 households in 10 villages to examine their perceptions of how fisher numbers had changed in their village and the reasons they associated with these changes. We then asked key informants (people with detailed knowledge of village members) to estimate fisher numbers in these villages before seaweed farming began and at the time of the survey. We compared the results of how fisher numbers had changed in each village with the wealth, education, seaweed farm sizes, and other attributes of households in these villages, which we collected through interviews, and with village-level factors such as distance to markets. We also asked people why they either continued to engage in or ceased fishing. In four villages, respondents thought seaweed farming and low fish catches had reduced fisher numbers, at least temporarily. In one of these villages, there was a recent return to fishing due to declines in the price of seaweed and increased theft of seaweed. In another four villages, fisher numbers increased as human population increased, despite the widespread uptake of seaweed farming. Seaweed farming failed for technical reasons in two other villages. Our results suggest seaweed farming has reduced fisher numbers in some villages, a result that may be correlated with socioeconomic status, but the heterogeneity of outcomes is consistent with suggestions that alternative occupations are not a substitute for more direct forms of resource management.     

南方丘陵区农业水资源脆弱性概念与评价

论文旨在探讨中国南方丘陵区农业水资源脆弱性的概念及内涵,构建脆弱性评价指标体系并进行定量评价实证研究。首先,在了解资源环境科学领域有关脆弱性研究相关成果的基础上,结合中国南方丘陵区农业水资源系统的特点,给出了农业水资源脆弱性的概念,并分析了其脆弱性内涵。然后,以衡阳盆地为例构建了一个包括自然脆弱性、人为脆弱性、承载脆弱性3个方面12个具体指标的评价指标体系。最后,运用模糊物元模型对衡阳盆地7个县(市)的农业水资源脆弱度进行评判,发现祁东县、衡阳县、衡南县、衡东县和耒阳市农业水资源脆弱度为强脆弱度等级,常宁市、衡山县为微脆弱等级。经验证,评价结果与评价区水资源脆弱性的实际表现比较吻合。     

二氧化碳驱油安全性研究现状及发展趋势

在能源紧缺和节能减排的背景下,二氧化碳驱油产业化应用前景广阔,但由此而来的风险不容忽视。以二氧化碳驱油广泛开展、安全问题日益突显为背景,综述了二氧化碳驱油安全性研究现状,指出完善二氧化碳驱油安全性评价体系势在必行,脆弱性评价为其提供了新思路。     

Constructing a holistic approach to disaster risk reduction: the significance of focusing on vulnerability reduction

As a result of the increase in natural disaster losses, policy‐makers, practitioners, and members of the research community around the world are seeking effective and efficient means of overcoming or minimising them. Although various theoretical constructs are beneficial to understanding the disaster phenomenon and the means of minimising losses, the disaster risk management process becomes less effective if theory and practice are set apart from one another. Consequently, this paper seeks to establish a relationship between two theoretical constructs, ‘disaster risk reduction (DRR)’ and ‘vulnerability reduction’, and to develop a holistic approach to DRR with particular reference to improving its applicability in practical settings. It is based on a literature review and on an overall understanding gained through two case studies of post‐disaster infrastructure reconstruction projects in Sri Lanka and three expert interviews in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.     

Attitude before method: disability in vulnerability and capacity assessment

Many agencies working on disaster risk reduction use vulnerability and capacity assessment (VCA) to identify vulnerable groups, to assess their needs and capacities, and to develop appropriate programmes and policies. In theory, VCA offers a good opportunity to incorporate disabled people's needs and resources in counter‐disaster programming. This paper seeks to establish and explain the extent to which disability is included in VCA in practice. It reviews VCA reports and findings, formal VCA guidance, and other methodological literature. The review indicates that disability is a neglected issue in VCA practice and that manuals and guidelines, while promoting the general ideal of inclusiveness, are insufficiently aware of the challenges to achieving this in practice and do not offer enough guidance on how to reach and include disabled people. Ways of overcoming these problems are suggested. However, the real challenge may be to change core attitudes and perceptions of disability within implementing organisations.     

Managing natural resources with eco-friendly technologies for sustainable rural development: a case of Garhwal Himalaya

Traditional Central Himalaya societies face a range of socio-economic and environmental problems. The potential of science and technology has not yet been adequately and appropriately harnessed to overcome the development constraints posed by the fragile Himalayan environment. Thus there is a need for large-scale establishment of technology resource centers. The Garhwal Unit of GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development established rural technology demonstration and training centers in three different agroecological zones between 550 and 2200 m asl and in 13–15 locations, with suitable technologies based on appropriate use and management of locally available bio-resources that ensure people participation. About 35 on-site training courses were organised for about 2329 participants. The participants were given on-site demonstrations, training and technical know-how on various technologies, to enable farmers to better understand problems faced during implementation of new technologies for sustainable management of natural resources. An action research framework and training manuals were also developed in consideration of local socio-economic condition. The documentation and analysis of research (quantitative and qualitative) and data related to cost–benefit analysis of the technologies adopted by farmers generated through this study has created wider sharing of farmer training outputs, at farm level, amongst the scientific communities and with policy planners.