The challenges facing poor and marginalised communities in today’s society are multiple and complex; from economic crises, to natural disasters, to environmental degradation and conflict, all of which are increasing poor people’s vulnerability and posing significant challenges to securing their livelihoods. Climate change threatens to exacerbate the problem further by creating an additional lay...

This paper gives an initial evaluation of approaches to chance discovery and management, a new research field invented by Yukio Ohsawa. Our aims in this preliminary report are very modest. First, we briefly describe research work done with the intent to detect chances (i.e., opportunities and risks) in various application areas such as the web, natural disasters, or histories of bankruptcy. Sec...

This article answers a series of questions about the role of environmental degradation in population displacement, refugee movement, and migration. The environment tends not to be included in the reasons for migration. Roger's indicators of migration potential include population growth, economic restructuring, increased economic disparities, and increased refugee flows. Myers (1993) estimate...

State and local health departments continue to face unprecedented challenges in preparing for, recognizing, and responding to threats to the public's health. The attacks of 11 September 2001 and the ensuing anthrax mailings of 2001 highlighted the public health readiness and response hurdles posed by intentionally caused injury and illness. At the same time, recent natural disasters have highli...

BACKGROUND The fields of expertise of natural disasters and complex emergencies (CEs) are quite distinct, with different tools for mitigation and response as well as different types of competent organizations and qualified professionals who respond. However, natural disasters and CEs can occur concurrently in the same geographic location, and epidemics can occur during or following either event...