Disaster management is dominated by top-down relief efforts that assume children and youth are passive victims with no role in communicating risks or preventing and responding to disasters. This article challenges these assumptions and critically assesses prevailing theoretical models of risk communication using two case studies that highlight the unique needs and potential roles of children and youth as resources or receivers of disaster management information.
The impact of risk communication depends upon a complex interaction between the characteristics of the audience, the source of the message, and its content. Audience perception of risk is influenced by demographic factors (e.g. age, gender), personality profile, past experience, and ideological orientation. It is also affected by cognitive biases (e.g. unrealistic optimism) and lay 'mental models' of the hazard For food hazards, the important dimensions of risk are controllability, novelty and naturalness.
Both risks and benefits have to be considered when seeking to understand what drives some behaviours and why some interventions are more acceptable and successful than others. Social, cultural and economic factors are central to how individuals perceive health risks. Similarly, societal and structural factors can influence which risk control policies are adopted and the impact that interventions can achieve.
In this report GECHS, in collaboration with several leading institutions within the climate change community, analyzes recent literatures on the human dimensions of climate change and the risk perspective. Recognition of the threats to human security associated with climate change has generated growing interest in the relationship between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. There is an intuitive understanding that the two are closely linked, yet it has been difficult to elaborate a common framework for addressing disaster risk in the context of climate change.
The interdisciplinary research project, Disaster Risk, Livelihoods and Natural Barriers, Strengthening Decision-Making tools for Disaster Risk Reduction, a Case Study from Northern Pakistan, funded by the Geneva International Academic Network (GIAN) small grant programme, attempts to profile the disaster that took place in Neelum Valley, AJK, Pakistan. Its goal is to strengthen decision-making tools by identifying the main land use factors and land use strategies that affect the vulnerability of communities in Neelum Valley. Authors: Sudmeier-Rieux, K., Qureshi, R.A., Peduzzi, P., Nessi, J., Breguet, A., Dubois, Jaboyedoff, M., Jaubert, R., Rietbergen, S., Klaus, R. and M.A. Cheema.
A collection of practice notes developed by Christian Aid to help civil society organisations and communities to better monitor, influence and secure commitment to the Hyogo Framework for Action at the local level.
A social network by and for teachers and educators who want to make a difference in disaster prevention.
This is a annotated bibliography on early warning, public awareness, public education developed by Dennis S. Mileti, Rachel Bandy, Linda B. Bourque, Aaron Johnson, Megumi Kano, Lori Peek, Jeannette Sutton, Michele Wood at Natural Hazard Centre, University of Colorado
Risk RED's purpose is to increase the effectiveness and impact of disaster risk reduction education. This is accomplished by bridging the gaps between idea and audience, local and non-local practitioner knowledge, content and design, and research and application.
