Disasters

by Diane Andrews Henningfeld

Overview

There is no place on Earth that is disaster-proof. We can build special structures, but we cannot control the nature and power of a disaster. This must-have book takes readers around the world to learn about disasters from international points of view. Readers will evaluate the causes of disasters, and the relationships between disasters and social issues, politics, and preparedness. Readers will learn about responses to aftermaths as well. Viewpoints are shared from such cultures and places as Africa, China, England, Haiti, Brazil, Japan, and Rwanda.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737764383
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	02/15/2014
Series:	Global Viewpoints Series
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Foreword 11

Introduction 14

Chapter 1 Causes of Disasters

1 Climate Change May Increase Natural Disasters Worldwide: World Health Organization 19

2 Famine in Africa Is the Result of a Natural Disaster Alhagie Jobe 26

3 Famine in-Africa Is Caused by Humans, Not Nature Thomas Keneally 32

4 In the United States, the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Was the Result of Industrial Mistakes: National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling 41

5 A British Analyst Examines the Causes of the 9/11 Disaster in the United States Peter Bergen 50

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 64

Chapter 2 Disasters, Social Issues, and Politics

1 Poverty Magnifies the Impact of a Disaster Dan Brook 66

2 Natural Disasters and Women Lorena Aguilar 72

3 Women Survivors of the Bhopal Disaster in India Claim Their Rights Jashodhara Dasgupta 78

4 Natural Disasters Can Cause Political Instability and Conflict Elizabeth Ferris 86

5 Politics Negatively Affected Cyclone Nargis Disaster Relief in Myanmar Donald M. Seekins 99

6 Haiti's Earthquake Disaster Is Exacerbated by Politics and Poverty Andrew Apter 110

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 116

Chapter 3 Disaster Preparedness

1 Better Global Preparedness for Natural Disasters Would Save Lives Bill McGuire Robin McKie 118

2 Counting the Cost of Calamities: The Economist 124

3 Early Warning Is Insufficient Preparation for Famines in Africa Jeeyon Janet Kim Debarati Guha-Sapir 136

4 Without Effective Prevention, Natural Hazards Become Human-Made Disasters: The World Bank 144

5 Lack of Preparation for Floods in Brazil Leads to Many Deaths Natalia Viana 156

6 Japan Was Unprepared for the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami Jun Hongo 162

7 In the United States, Transportation Planners Were Not Prepared for Hurricane Katrina Todd Litman 169

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 176

Chapter 4 Disaster Response and Aftermath

1 Disease Often Follows Natural Disasters: CBC News 178

2 The Aftermath of the Japanese Tsunami Triggers a Potential United States Environmental Disaster Becky Bohrer 186

3 Britain Proposes a New Way of Responding to Disasters Rachel Sylvester Alice Thomson 193

4 The World Bank Responds Effectively to the Haiti Earthquake: Independent Evaluation Group 202

5 The International Monetary Fund's Response Endangers Haiti's Recovery: Bretton Woods Project 211

6 Rwanda Cuts Disaster Risk at the Site of a Potential Explosion Xan Rice 216

7 China Effectively Responds to Disasters but Must Improve Risk Reduction Zhang Qingfeng Melissa Howell Alipalo 222

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 228

For Further Discussion 229

Organizations to Contact 231

Bibliography of Books 236

Index 239