“Existential gen fic often takes itself too seriously, but the absurdist, often endearing and oddly funny story of the characters does just the opposite, accepting itself for what it is. [...] the book is a stunning read” -Rhianna Pike, wicked. magazineNick and Mark are 20-something nihilists with nothing but Thursday evenings, a mattress caving under the weight of their own thoughts. In one final attempt to find the meaning of life, they give the...

Travelling solo for more than 33,000 miles motorcycle taught Annette Birkmann to experience the unknown not as fraught with danger but as providing endless opportunities.Every time I have reached a goal in my life, it has been with the expectation that once this goal is achieved, everything will from then on be fine - I will be free, I will be happy. But things seldom work out that way.At the age of thirty-one, Annette left her job as a lawyer in Denmark, sold her belonging...

Assessment of Vulnerability to Natural Hazards covers the vulnerability of human and environmental systems to climate change and eight natural hazards: earthquakes, floods, landslides, avalanches, forest fires, drought, coastal erosion, and heat waves. This book is an important contribution to the field, clarifying terms and investigating the nature of vulnerability to hazards in general and in various specific European contexts. In addition, this book helps improve understanding of vulner...

Population shifts and an increase in the number of natural (and man-made) disasters are having a profound effect on urban and rural habitats globally. This book brings together for the first time the experiences and knowledge of international contributors from academia, research, policy and practice to discuss the role of spatial planning after significant disasters. It highlights on-going efforts to improve spatial resilience across the globe and predicts future trends. Comparisons from f...

As Singapore enters its 50th year of independence, it is a time for introspection to look back at the successes and challenges of the past, but is also a crucial time to consider what the future holds for the nation.Singapore 2065: Leading Insights on Economy and Environment from 50 Singapore Icons and Beyond is one such key contribution to the endeavour of thinking about what lies ahead. While many forthcoming projects and books take a more retrospective approach reflecting upon Singapore...

The methods of disaster research are indistinguishable from those used throughout the social sciences. Yet these methods must be applied under unique circumstances. Researchers new to this field need to understand how the disaster context affects the application of the methods of research. This volume, written by some of the worlds leading specialists in disaster research, provides for the first time a primer on disaster research methods. Among the topics covered are qualitative field stud...

The first decade of the 21st century saw a remarkable number of large-scale disasters. Earthquakes in Haiti and Sumatra underscored the serious economic consequences that catastrophic events can have on developing countries, while 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina showed that first world nations remain vulnerable.The Social Roots of Risk argues against the widespread notion that cataclysmic occurrences are singular events, driven by forces beyond our control. Instead, Kathleen Ti...

This evaluation assesses the Bank Group's support for environmental sustainability in both the public and private sectors over the past 15 years. It identifies several crucial constraints that need to be addressed, perhaps most importantly insufficient government commitment to environmental goals and weak institutional capacity to deal with them. But constraints within the Bank Group, including insufficient attention to longer-term sustainable development, must be reduced as well. The Ba...

Climate change has had a significant impact globally, predominantly for those vulnerable to its influence. The first book of its kind, The Climate Resilient Organization assesses the issues that have mounted for decision-makers in the field, while providing strategies to tackle them.With a particular focus on building climate-resilient pathways for private sector organizations, the expert authors offer practical tools and decision-making criteria for evaluating adaptation ...

A New Perspective on Poverty presents a new perspective on poverty in the Caribbean region using qualitative research methods, presented through poor people's own voices, the realities of their lives. It gives an indepth analysis using specialised software, of the extensive qualitative data generated through participatory poverty assessments to achieve a better understanding of the terms used by the poor to describe poverty; the coping strategy of the poor; the causes of poverty as underst...

Climate disasters demand an integration of multilateral negotiations on climate change, disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, human rights and human security. Via detailed examination of recent law and policy initiatives from around the world, and making use of a capability approach, Rosemary Lyster develops a unique approach to human and non-human climate justice and its application to all stages of a disaster: prevention; response, recovery and rebuilding; and compensation an...

Disasters can strike often and with unexpected fury, resulting in devastating consequences for local populations that are insufficiently prepared and largely dependent upon foreign aid in the wake of such catastrophes. International law can play a significant role in recovery after natural disasters; however, without clear legal frameworks, aid may be stopped, delayed, or even hijacked - placing the intended recipients in critical condition. This edited volume brings together experts, emer...