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Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social issues > Social impact of disasters > General
Why was the UK so unprepared for the pandemic, suffering one of the
highest death rates and worst economic contractions of the major
world economies in 2020? Hilary Cooper and Simon Szreter reveal the
deep roots of our vulnerability and set out a powerful manifesto
for change post-Covid-19. They argue that our commitment to a
flawed neoliberal model and the associated disinvestment in our
social fabric left the UK dangerously exposed and unable to mount
an effective response. This is not at all what made Britain great.
The long history of the highly innovative universal welfare system
established by Elizabeth I facilitated both the industrial
revolution and, when revived after 1945, the postwar Golden Age of
rising prosperity. Only by learning from that past can we create
the fairer, nurturing and empowering society necessary to tackle
the global challenges that lie ahead - climate change, biodiversity
collapse and global inequality.
The magnitude of refugees movements in the Third World, widely
perceived as an unprecedented crisis, has generated widespread
concern in the West. This concern reveals itself as an ambiguous
mixture of heartfelt compassion for the plight of the unfortunates
cast adrift and a diffuse fear that they will come "pouring in." In
this comprehensive study, the authors examine the refugee flows
originating in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and suggest how a
better understanding of this phenomenon can be used by the
international community to assist those in greatest need. Reviewing
the history of refugee movements in the West, they show how their
formation and the fate of endangered populations have also been
shaped by the partisan objectives of receiving countries. They
survey the kinds of social conflicts characteristic of different
regions of the Third World and the ways refugees and refugee policy
are made to serve broader political purposes.
Storms, landslides, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunami -- all New
Zealanders will encounter at least one of these hazards in their
lives. Informative, generously illustrated, and written by some of
New Zealand's leading scientists, this massively revised and
updated edition of Te Papa Press's bestselling title is now more
relevant than ever. With all-new information on climate change and
the social and emotional impact of disasters, this book is a
fascinating encounter and valuable resource on one of the most raw,
volatile landscapes in the world.
Food aid has played a key role in responding to the extreme poverty
and disasters afflicting millions of people in the developing
world. It is at the centre of much political discussion, both
nationally and internationally, and there have been notable
successes, yet there is doubt and criticism about the
appropriateness of food aid and confusion about the deep-rooted
problems which perpetuate these calamities. Is food aid doing more
harm than good? Can food aid help, not hinder, long-term
development and self-reliance? Would a cheque not be better than
food?;This book is designed to give a clear insight into the key
issues, presenting a balanced assessment of the uses and misuses of
food aid and relating these to the complex realities of the
international economy. It is aimed at first-degree courses in
development economics, scholars and policy-makers in the field and
the general reader concerned with these issues.
On March 11, 2011, one of the biggest earthquakes in history
occurred off the northeast coast of Japan, triggering a deadly
tsunami that destroyed much of the Tohoku coastline. Driven by a
desire to help the people of Tohoku, long-time Tokyo resident
Caroline Pover embarked on a mission to collect emergency supplies
from her native UK. Caroline delivered these supplies to an
isolated part of Japan that even many Japanese have never heard of:
the Oshika Peninsula. While there, she saw beyond the horror of the
debris and destruction, and fell in love with the beauty of the
landscape and the spirit of the people who had called the peninsula
home for hundreds of years since their samurai ancestors first
settled there. Compelled to do whatever she could to help, she
promised to return, once more, just for a month ... One Month in
Tohoku is the true story of what became the many months Caroline
spent visiting Oshika. During extended periods of time over the
course of many years, she lived alongside the people of Oshika, and
they embraced her as one of their own -- she still visits them to
this day. This book tells us about a very traditional way of life
in a remote community that cares deeply about all who are a part of
it. It is the story of how, after a disaster took away everything
they had, these seemingly forgotten fishing communities are still
rebuilding their lives. It is also the story of how a network of
people from all over the globe were inspired to donate millions of
yen to support families, schools, and businesses, and to never
forget the survivors of the world's costliest disaster. To
commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the tsunami, Caroline has
set out in words a deeply moving tale of the very human impact of a
natural disaster. Readers will cry tears of laughter as well as
tears of sadness, and be touched by Caroline's surprising humour
and honesty and that of her Oshika friends as they unexpectedly
become so beloved to one another. This is the story of a beautiful
friendship between a very determined Englishwoman and the
incredibly brave and resilient fishermen, women, and children of
Tohoku.
In October 2010, nine months after the massive earthquake that
devastated Haiti, a second disaster began to unfold-soon to become
the world's largest cholera epidemic in modern times. In a country
that had never before reported cholera, the epidemic mysteriously
and simultaneously appeared in river communities of central Haiti,
eventually triggering nearly 800,000 cases and 9,000 deaths. What
had caused the first cases of cholera in Haiti in recorded history?
Who or what was the deadly agent of origin? Why did it explode in
the agricultural-rich delta of the Artibonite River? When answers
were few, rumors spread, causing social and political consequences
of their own. Wanting insight, the Haitian government and French
embassy requested epidemiological assistance from France. A few
weeks into the epidemic, physician and infectious disease
specialist Renaud Piarroux arrived in Haiti.In Deadly River, Ralph
R. Frerichs tells the story of the epidemic-of a French disease
detective determined to trace its origins so that he could help
contain the spread and possibly eliminate the disease-and the
political intrigue that has made that effort so difficult. The
story involves political maneuvering by powerful organizations such
as the United Nations and its peacekeeping troops in Haiti, as well
as by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control. Frerichs explores a quest for scientific truth and
dissects a scientific disagreement involving world-renowned cholera
experts who find themselves embroiled in intellectual and political
turmoil in a poverty-stricken country.Frerichs's narrative
highlights how the world's wealthy nations, nongovernmental
agencies, and international institutions respond when their
interests clash with the needs of the world's most vulnerable
people. The story poses big social questions and offers insights
not only on how to eliminate cholera in Haiti but also how nations,
NGOs, and international organizations such as the UN and CDC deal
with catastrophic infectious disease epidemics.
A global health crisis creates great uncertainty, high stress, and
anxiety within society. During such a crisis, when information is
unavailable or inconsistent, and when people feel unsure of what
they know or what anyone knows, behavioral science indicates an
increased human desire for transparency, direction, and meaning of
what has happened. At such a time, the roles of stakeholders that
emerge with their words and actions can help keep people safe, help
them cope with emotions, and ultimately bring their experience into
context leading to meaningful results. But as this crisis shifts
beyond public health and workplace safety, there are implications
for business continuity, job loss, and radically different ways of
working. While some may already seek meaning from the crisis and
move towards the ""next normal,"" others feel a growing uncertainty
and are worried about the future. Therefore, it is important to
analyze the role of stakeholders during these uncertain times.
Stakeholder Strategies for Reducing the Impact of Global Health
Crises provides a comprehensive resource on stakeholder action and
strategies to deal with crises by analyzing the needs of society
during global health crises, how stakeholders should communicate,
and how resilience and peace can be promoted in times of chaos. The
chapters cover the roles of stakeholders during a pandemic spanning
from the government and international development agencies to
industry and non-government organizations, community-based
organizations, and more. This book not only highlights the
responsibilities of each of the stakeholders but also showcases the
best practices seen during the COVID-19 pandemic through existing
theories and case studies. This book is intended for researchers in
the fields of sociology, political science, public administration,
mass media and communication, crisis and disaster management, and
more, along with government officials, policymakers, medical
agencies, executives, managers, medical professionals,
practitioners, stakeholders, academicians, and students interested
in the role of stakeholders during global health crises.
The COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the world and left turmoil
in every facet of society in its wake. As in-person activities came
to an end for public safety, businesses closed, classrooms
scrambled to transition online, and society was forever changed. As
the pandemic comes to a close, it is essential that researchers
take this opportunity to study the changes that have occurred so
that society may revive what has been lost and promote resilience
should another crisis arise. Societal Transformations and
Resilience in Times of Crisis focuses on the revival of societal
institutions after events such as natural disasters, pandemics,
political turmoil, and global crises, and looks toward building
more resilient structures. It contributes novel approaches and
provides implications for countries to improve the social system
through novel approaches. Covering topics such as employee
psychological distress, democracy, and higher education
institutions, this premier reference source is a dynamic resource
for government officials, community leaders, non-governmental
organizations, students and faculty of higher education,
sociologists, business executives and managers, human resource
managers, researchers, and academicians.
In Toxic Matters, Monica Seger considers two Italian environmental
disasters: an isolated factory explosion in Seveso, just north of
Milan, in 1976 and the ongoing daily toxic emissions from the Ilva
steelworks in the Apulian city of Taranto. Both have exposed
residents to high concentrations of the persistent organic
pollutant known as dioxin. Although different in terms of geography
and temporality, Seveso and Taranto are deeply united by this
nearly imperceptible substance, and by the representational
complexities it poses. They are also united by creative narrative
expressions, in literary, cinematic, and other forms, that push
back against dominant contexts and representations perpetuated by
state and industrial actors.Seger traces a dialogue between Seveso
and Taranto, exploring an interplay between bodies, soil,
industrial emissions, and the wealth of dynamic particulate matter
that passes in between. At the same time, she emphasizes the
crucial function of narrative expression for making sense of this
modern-day reality and for shifting existing power dynamics as
exposed communities exercise their voices. While Toxic Matters, is
grounded in Italian cases and texts, it looks outward to the
pressing questions of toxicity, embodiment, and storytelling faced
by communities worldwide.
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