Sun,sea, sand and tsunami: examining disaster vulnerability in the tourism community of Khao Lak,Thailand

The impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami on coastal tourism communities highlights the vulnerability of tourism destinations to external shocks. Based on fieldwork conducted in Thailand in the wake of this disaster, this paper addresses one fundamental question: what sociopolitical and environmental conditions contributed to the vulnerability of the affected tourism community of Khao Lak in the southern Phang Nga Province. We argue that an understanding of the root causes of destination vulnerability is vital not only for the successful implementation of regional recovery plans, but also for building long‐term resilience against future shocks. In the absence of an appropriate tourism vulnerability framework, this paper analyzes Khao Lak's vulnerability through an innovative theoretical framework comprised of the sustainability vulnerability framework, relational scale and place. The findings reveal that Khao Lak's vulnerability is shaped by 13 interlinked factors. These are the complex outcomes of social norms and developmental and dynamic governance processes driven by the competing agendas and scaled actions of key government and industry stakeholders. The identification and understanding of the drivers of Khao Lak's vulnerability and a strong vulnerability framework have significant implications for the wider tourism community. First, the empirical findings provide tourism communities with a blueprint for understanding the foundations of their vulnerability to external shocks. Second, the tourism vulnerability framework presented here provides destination communities and government stakeholders with an analytical tool through which to analyze their unique sociopolitical conditions. Together, these empirical and theoretical contributions bring us closer to securing sustainable livelihood futures for tourism dependent communities.     

A Geography of Children's Vulnerability: Gender,Household Resources,and Water‐Related Disease Hazard in Northern Pakistan*

Water‐related diseases continue to pose major threats to children's survival and well‐being in many places in the developing world. This article develops a theoretical perspective on the ways in which children's vulnerability to water‐related disease hazard is produced within the everyday circumstances of livelihood and child care. Central to this analysis is the role that household resources play in mediating or shaping particular microenvironments of health risk. Further, the effects of local geographies of gender on how household resources are accessed and on how child care is structured are examined. Children's vulnerability is evaluated in a community in the District of Gilgit in northern Pakistan, a region presently undergoing tremendous social and economic transformation. The case study highlights household‐level response and adaptation to child health risks associated with diarrheal disease transmission and infection in this mountain environment. The case study draws from ethnographic fieldwork involving qualitative household microstudies and interviewing to elicit mothers' resource and risk‐response strategies in the context of changes in livelihood systems and household dynamics.     

The Experiences of Weak and Non-Swimmers Caught in Rip Currents at Australian Beaches

Beach rip currents present a risk to weak and non-swimmers, whose limited open water swim competencies may render them incapable of swimming out of these common and strong offshore flows. Here, the aim has been to explore this group's vulnerability by identifying how the limits of their swimming competencies influence their abilities to successfully execute a rip current exit strategy. It provides empirical detail on their knowledge of rip currents, their behavioural responses when caught in the rip current, the advice they recalled and the educational messages they recommend to other swimmers. A secondary aim has been to begin a dialogue that recognises the capacity of the Australian beach cultures—as places of relaxation and natural beauty—to influence people's decisions to enter the water. This cultural contextualisation may help explain why some self-identified weak and non-swimmers still enter the water despite their limited competencies. Through a synthesis of survey and interview data, we argue that weak and non-swimmers need to take the threat of rip currents seriously. Pre-emptive safety advice should be sought, especially if people intend to swim regardless of their swimming ability.     

A Geography of Children's Vulnerability: Gender,Household Resources,and Water-Related Disease Hazard in Northern Pakistan

Abstract

Water-related diseases continue to pose major threats to children's survival and well-being in many places in the developing world. This article develops a theoretical perspective on the ways in which children's vulnerability to water-related disease hazard is produced within the everyday circumstances of livelihood and child care. Central to this analysis is the role that household resources play in mediating or shaping particular microenvironments of health risk. Further, the effects of local geographies of gender on how household resources are accessed and on how child care is structured are examined. Children's vulnerability is evaluated in a community in the District of Gilgit in northern Pakistan, a region presently undergoing tremendous social and economic transformation. The case study highlights household-level response and adaptation to child health risks associated with diarrheal disease transmission and infection in this mountain environment. The case study draws from ethnographic fieldwork involving qualitative household microstudies and interviewing to elicit mothers' resource and risk-response strategies in the context of changes in livelihood systems and household dynamics.

     

Path Dependency and Patterns of Collective Action: Space,Place, and Agency in Long Beach,California, 1900–1960

Drawing on the insights of the geography, structural, and social movement literature this study analyzes the interactive effects of structure, space, place, and agency on patterns of collective action in Long Beach, California. Long Beach and Los Angeles occupy the same regional landscape with similar economies, yet the logic of collective action varies considerably. It is argued that preceding 1960, pro-business elites in Long Beach allied with their Los Angeles counterparts to spatially restrict labor organizing and foster patterns of noncontiguous interdependencies within and among labor and community groups. Through violence, cultural references, local and extralocal political policies, and regional coalition building before 1960, the Long Beach ruling elites fragmented the labor and community sector and inhibited the emergence of an organizational infrastructure necessary to foster community-based change after 1960. The legacies of this period are reflected in a fragmented labor and community sector set against a powerful ideologically driven, business-led opposition.     

新疆和田地区旅游经济系统脆弱性研究

以新疆和田地区为例,利用2000—2014年和田地区相关统计数据,运用集对分析法分析和田地区的旅游经济系统的脆弱性特征。结果表明:和田地区旅游经济系统的脆弱性除2009年为高水平外,其余年份脆弱性均为中度水平;从脆弱性整体发展趋势来看,和田地区旅游经济系统脆弱性以2009年为拐点,呈现先升后降趋势;由障碍度因素分析得出,旅游从业人员占总从业人员比重、地区内部各县市生产总值变异系数等敏感性因子,旅游劳动生产率、人均GDP等应对性因子是制约和田地区旅游经济系统脆弱性下降的重要因素。     

中国东北平原西部沙漠化现状、成因及其治理途径研究

中国东北平原西部土地沙漠化, 不仅影响该地区农、牧业和农村经济的发展, 而且已危及人民的生存。该地区科尔沁沙地土地沙漠化每年以1.5%~3.7%递增速度发展。沙漠化的形成有自然和人为两方面原因。该地区沙漠化发展具有脆弱性、可恢复性和可逆性的"三性"特征, 以及生态环境恢复的时间周期。并根据长期以来沙漠化整治试验示范成果, 加以集成优化, 提出一整套符合该区沙漠化综合治理的技术和模式, 有的技术已被当地政府推广和应用。     

The changing meaning of disaster

Adverse events such as disasters are interpreted through a system of meaning provided by culture. Historically, research into society's response to disasters provides numerous examples of community resilience in face of adversity. However, since the 1980s, numerous researchers have challenged the previous optimistic accounts and argue that such incidents result in long-term damage to the community. It is claimed that community response to a disaster episode is far more likely to be defined by its vulnerability than its resilience. This new vulnerability paradigm of disaster response is underpinned by the belief that contemporary technologically driven disasters have a peculiarly destructive outcome. This paper explores the changing conceptualisation of adversity. It suggests that the shift from the expectation of resilience to that of vulnerability is best understood as an outcome of a changing cultural conceptualisation of adversity.     

近40 a毛乌素沙地荒漠化过程研究

毛乌素沙地位于我国北方农牧交错带上,生态环境具有较强的敏感性和脆弱性。采用1977-2010年Landsat数据,运用决策树和非监督分类相结合的方法对近40 a来毛乌素沙地荒漠化过程进行了研究。结果表明：（1）决策树分类和ISODATA非监督分类相结合可快速实现荒漠化地区地物遥感解译,图像总分类精度大于87.28%;（2）近40 a毛乌素沙地流动沙地面积在20世纪90年代末最大,2010年最小;半固定沙地面积在2010年最大,90年代末最小;固定沙地面积在2010年最大,70年代末最小;（3）70年代末荒漠化程度最为严重,流动和半固定沙地面积之和占了毛乌素沙地总面积83.64%;80年代末、90年代末和2010年的流动和半固定沙地面积之和分别占总面积74.51%、77.10%和67.90%;（4）流动沙地、半固定沙地、固定沙地、耕地和水体间的相互转换过程活跃,荒漠化演替过程显著区在70年代末到80年代末主要分布在北部、西北部和南部,80年代末到90年代末主要分布在西部和南部,90年代末到2010年主要分布在西北部、西部、南部和东北部;（5）近40 a毛乌素沙地气温以0.039 ℃/a的平均速度递增,降水则以0.095 mm/a的平均速度递减,气候总体上体现出暖干的趋势。降水是影响荒漠化过程的重要因素,但不是唯一原因,人文因素中的人口、土地利用结构和政策实施等也是影响荒漠化过程重要因素。     

浑善达克沙地植物群落主要类型与特征

浑善达克沙地植被在维护草原与沙地生态系统稳定、保护京津冀地区生态安全方面发挥着重要作用。因水分条件的不同,浑善达克沙地植被从东到西具有明显的地带性,物种组成和群落结构差异明显。本研究在野外样方调查的基础上,对浑善达克沙地不同降水条件下的植被类型进行了划分,分析了不同水分条件下群落的物种组成和多样性特征。结果表明：（1）浑善达克沙地植被类型丰富,可划分为5个植被型组、12个植被（亚）型、27个群系。（2）物种组成多样,共有维管植物46科149属256种,草本植物占75%以上。（3）东西部空间差异明显,由东部的疏林草原、中部的典型草原向西部的荒漠草原过渡。中东部优势科为菊科、禾本科、豆科等,西部的优势科为苋科和禾本科。     

Local Impacts of Unconventional Gas Development within Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale Region: Gauging Boomtown Development through the Perspectives of Educational Administrators

Using survey and interview data gathered from educators and educational administrators, we investigate school and community impacts of unconventional gas extraction within Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale region. Respondents in areas with high levels of drilling are significantly more likely to perceive the effects of local economic gains, but also report increased inequality, heightened vulnerability of disadvantaged community members, and pronounced strains on local infrastructure. As community stakeholders in positions of local leadership, school leaders in areas experiencing Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction often face multiple decision-making dilemmas. These dilemmas occur in the context of incomplete information and rapid, unpredictable community change involving the emergence of both new opportunities and new insecurities.     

A Review of “Diasporas”

This paper examines the ways that community policing organizes urban space in order to increase the police's ability to observe and to enforce. The logic of that organization, I argue, rests in the particular way that police are integrating civilians into police practice as part of community policing's police-community partnership, a partnership that is characterized by the concrete metaphor of a policing body. This paper presents the results of twenty months of field research with the Boston Police Department whose community policing program, Neighborhood Policing, is being hailed as a national model.     

The Space Community Policing Makes and the Body That Makes It

This paper examines the ways that community policing organizes urban space in order to increase the police's ability to observe and to enforce. The logic of that organization, I argue, rests in the particular way that police are integrating civilians into police practice as part of community policing's police-community partnership, a partnership that is characterized by the concrete metaphor of a policing body. This paper presents the results of twenty months of field research with the Boston Police Department whose community policing program, Neighborhood Policing, is being hailed as a national model.     

浑善达克沙地植物群落物种多样性及环境解释

认识沙地植物群落物种多样性及其与环境的关系,对维护沙地生态系统的结构与功能具有重要意义。本研究基于浑善达克沙地83个样地的群落数据及环境数据,通过数量生态学方法对群落物种多样性及其影响因子进行分析,探讨浑善达克沙地物种多样性特征及其环境解释。结果表明：（1）主要群落有榆树（Ulmus pumila）群落、小叶锦鸡儿（Caragana microphylla）群落、黄柳（Salixgordejevii）群落及长梗扁桃（Prunus pedunculata）群落等,其中榆树群落分布在降水和土壤养分都比较高的区域,小叶锦鸡儿群落适生生境为降水较少且土壤贫瘠的区域;影响该区群落分布的主要环境因子依次为生长季降水量、生长季温度、土壤全氮和全钾含量,降水量的差异显著影响群落分布格局。（2）浑善达克沙地植物多样性的分布呈现出一定的规律性变化。物种多样性指数均随经度和海拔的增加而增加;Patrick指数与Shannon-wiener指数随纬度的增加呈现减少的趋势;Simpson指数与Pielou指数随纬度增加而增加;Patrick指数、Simpson指数和Shannon-wiener指数与生长季降水量、土壤有机碳和有效氮含量呈显著正相关,与生长季均温、≥0 ℃积温、生长季风速呈显著负相关,所有环境变量与Pielou指数均无显著相关性。研究结果阐明了浑善达克沙地物种多样性及植物群落分布的规律以及与关键环境因子之间的关系,有利于提高沙地植物多样性和稳定性,增强沙地植被的生态功能。     

Gender analysis of fear and mobility in the context of ethnic conflict in Kayah State,Myanmar

Kayah State has faced prolonged conflict for the past six decades. The conflict has affected all the people of Kayah, though the nature and extent of the impact varies by age, gender and class. Caught between the ethnic armed groups and military and brutalized by both, the people of Kayah have struggled to survive. The conflict has further restricted the mobility of an already isolated people. This lack of mobility has affected every aspect of their lives including livelihood, access to education and markets, and religious and social networks. Women's mobility is more restricted than that of men, and the different levels of mobility have in turn led to different strategies to survive the conflict. While men can leave the area for work and education, women cannot. Staying in the conflict zone increases both their vulnerability and isolation. The increased isolation affects their position within the family and community, as they have less confidence, voice and decision‐making power. Women use silence and submissiveness to escape from both the military and the ethnic armed groups. However, such strategies, in the long term, continue to perpetuate women's subordinate position in society. They also reinforce women's powerlessness and maintain the current power structures and hierarchies.     

浑善达克沙地飞播区植被动态

采用空间代替时间的方法,连续4年对浑善达克沙地飞播区（1999-2015年）植被进行调查,分析飞播植被演替进程中群落物种组成、多样性以及飞播植物种群盖度的动态变化,以期揭示飞播措施下的植被恢复规律,为飞播区植被稳定性维持提供依据。结果表明：（1）对照与演替初期生活型以一、二年生草本植物为主,随着演替时间的增加,多年生植物种类增加,逐渐取代一、二年生草本植物优势地位;演替9 a时原生植物入侵明显。（2）演替4 a时Pielou均匀度指数最高,演替9 a时Partrick丰富度指数最高,演替10 a时Shannon-Wiener多样性指数最高,在演替进程中,3个指数变化不一致。（3）羊柴种群在演替8 a时达到峰值（68.33%）,种群能维持较长时间;白沙蒿种群在演替3 a时达到峰值（10.17%）,在演替11 a时退出;沙打旺种群在演替4 a时达到峰值（12.67%）,在演替9 a时退出;沙地榆种群盖度呈缓慢增加的线性趋势。飞播措施下浑善达克沙地植被能快速恢复,有利于植被自然演替。在浑善达克沙地生态建设中,应先考虑沙地的恢复力再决定是否飞播。     

科尔沁沙地水域景观格局的时空动态——以奈曼旗为例

对位于科尔沁沙地腹地的奈曼旗近30 a来土地利用/覆被信息中水域类型的景观格局指数进行了时空组合分析。结果表明,大尺度研究区（8 135.15 km2）1975-1985年水体与湿地斑块的类型面积和数量增加,形状趋于复杂;1985-2005年斑块类型面积和数量大幅减少,形状趋于简单;中尺度研究区（892.74 km2）水体与湿地斑块的类型面积在波动中减小,湿地斑块数量减少和形状简单化的转折期相对较短且滞后于水体。小尺度研究区（110.42 km2）集中了人畜以及上游活动的干扰,水体与湿地斑块仅在个别时期出现,难以连续存在。在各尺度研究区内,河漫滩斑块类型面积变化趋势各异,数量和形状复杂程度都相对稳定;且随着研究区增大形状更加不规则。水域类型的景观格局虽然在不同时空上的动态过程存在差异性,但其发展方向具有相同趋势,发展过程受到气候波动和人类活动干扰的共同影响。     

毛乌素沙地土地沙漠化评价

基于遥感监测反演数据,以多等级土地沙漠化转化度为评价指标,研究构建了毛乌素沙地土地沙漠化转化度模型,并对20世纪80年代末到90年代末期间毛乌素土地沙漠化转化情况和转化机理进行了系统评价和分析。评价发现,毛乌素沙地土地沙漠化情况为:东部区沙漠化发展的转化度为12.113%,逆转的转化度为9.639%,所以该区沙漠化呈现加重的态势;中部区沙漠化发展的转化度为14.551%,逆转的转化度为18.954%,但强烈发展所占比例较大,可见该区土地沙漠化呈现面积缩小、程度加重的特点;西部区沙漠化发展的转化度为8.731%,逆转的转化度为7.298%,说明该区土地沙漠化发展略大于逆转,沙漠化面积扩大,但分析发现该区重度、极重度沙漠化土地逆转的转化度很高,总和为6.483%,约为发展转化度总和的两倍,所以该区土地沙漠化程度整体减轻。     

水位梯度对毛乌素沙地柳湾林群落特征影响

根据典型样地和样方调查资料,采用聚类分析法,对毛乌素沙地柳湾林群落类型、多样性及生物量变化特征进行研究。结果表明,随着水位梯度的降低,柳湾林群丛类型由乌柳+中国沙棘群丛向北沙柳群丛过渡;辛普森指数、香浓-威纳指数、物种丰富度、均匀度指数和生物量均呈明显下降的趋势,相关系数分别为0.837、0.784、0.617、0.615、0.710。这表明水位梯度是影响毛乌素沙地柳湾林生态系统生物多样性与生产力的主要因素之一。     

从科尔沁沙地分析不同生态水平因子对脆弱生态环境景观扰动的响应

脆弱生态环境是影响生存环境,导致环境日趋恶化的不稳定因素。本文以科尔沁沙地为例,从景观和景观生态出发,论述影响脆弱生态环境景观不稳定性的各生态等级尺度的扰动因子,即个体生态、种群生态、生态位、群落生态、生态系统。同时文章认为各种干扰的实质是能流、物流、信息流的传递,分析各生态等级尺度扰动因子有助于建立景观生态模型,从而更好地研究脆弱生态环境及其景观扰动。