GEO 210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Cloud Seeding, Political Ecology, Human Ecology
28 Feb 2020
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Document Summary
Understanding of hazards and disasters has changed throughout history. Disasters = acts of god - divine punishment. Pre-1950; built structures, protection, control damaging effects. First river dams - 4,000 years ago in middle east. Earthquake-resistant buildings at least 2,000 years ago. 1950"s-1970"s - human ecology approach (adjustment to environment) Initiative of disaster on hazardous environment; individual choice to deal with risk. Modifying causes of hazard (cloud seeding to reduce/prevent hail) Modifying exposure to the natural event (flood control dams, warning systems) Critique of dominant paradigm"s failure to explain how broader social, political, economic organ. Disasters are unscheduled extremes of geological process (disconnected from h-e relationship) Risks come from ordinary life rather than rareness of extremes . Why vulnerabilities exist in everyday life, how they interact with triggers in natural environment. Disasters - outcome of complex interactions between physical, technological, social, economic, political, institutional factors. Hazards and disasters embedded within climate change, development, sustainability, other global issues.
