How Are Natural Disasters Socially Constructed Essay Example

How Are Natural Disasters Socially Constructed? Paper The extent to which the natural occurrence of a physical process, such as a flood or earthquake, impacts on society is constructed by that society, creating a disaster as measured by a loss of life, structures and/or money. If a similar natural event was to occur in a place deserted of human life or contact, it would not be termed a natural disaster but recognizes as the Earths natural processes and physical movement. Conversely, these processes are potentially disastrous for the Earths plant and animal biodiversity; however the Earth manages to adapt and recover. It is the culture vs.. Nature separation and the uneven distribution of power in society that has contributed to the recent increase in natural disaster occurrence. There is a separation of society and nature where humans view nature as untamed and wild, leading to their attempt to control it. This has lead to the conservative response to managing disasters we currently use that focuses solely on the physical factors. (Reference the lecture here). Vulnerability due to power inequalities within society impacts the damage caused, and to whom, from these natural hazards. The social construction of natural disasters results from power inequalities in society that leads to vulnerability of certain groups. Within society we construct categories, for example by class or gender, which are more exposed to risk (McLaughlin Dietz, 2007). Class inequity results in an uneven distribution of wealth and access to resources where lower classed groups are more vulnerable to natural hazards. As the Marxist approach puts it, underlying states of human normalization are conceived as the principle cause of disaster. (Peeling, 2001, p. 179). We will write a custom essay sample on How Are Natural Disasters Socially Constructed? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on How Are Natural Disasters Socially Constructed? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on How Are Natural Disasters Socially Constructed? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This resource exclusion to particular categories of people within society creates their vulnerability to risk, and in turn disaster. McLaughlin and Dietz (2007) suggest there are three dimensions that make up vulnerability including exposure, sensitivity and resilience. An example displaying the vulnerability of lower classed social categories is in North Briar, India, where floods have been managed through engineering works to create embankments. While the Government appears to be reducing the hazard, this has increased the vulnerability of the local people. Soil fertility has decreased reducing agricultural success, dangerous flash floods are occurring due to embankment walls collapsing and communities have settled on apparently safe embankments and are now highly exposed (Peeling, 2001). The natural flood hazard was dangerous, but these works by society have created a natural disaster (Peeling, 2001 Power inequalities have created this disastrous situation where lower classes are at high exposure to floods due to profit hungry management bodies. This technological approach is clearly failing but the Government and other managing groups make large profits off flood engineering works and have the power to decide how to control the issue (Peeling, 2001 This has resulted in creating possibilities for disaster from risk as these vulnerable, powerless groups are threatened by death, loss of housing and infrastructure as well as economic losses from agriculture due to flash floods on what appears to be safe embankments. They are highly exposed, sensitive to floods and have a low resilience capacity. The inequality of power in this situation has constructed vulnerable social groups resulting in the occurrence of natural starters. Society actions and decision making have created modern day disasters triggered by natural events, due to poor planning resulting in large scale death and damage. With educated planning we could avoid the disastrous consequences of many natural processes by refusing to settle in known danger spots. However, society s choice of location and design has allowed the construction of what we term natural disasters, despite the anthropogenic causes behind their disastrous affects (Peeling, 2001). Mike Davis (1995) explains how Los Angels has socially constructed the natural starters there by settling the city in a high risk area known for hazardous storms, fires, floods, drought and earthquakes. Despite historic evidence of environmental risks and recent research warning of massive earthquakes and a mega-drought, Los Angels market-driven arbitration has transgressed environmental common-sense (Davis, 1995, p. 223). The city is located centrally to many known, natural hazards; and due to the high density population and arbitration the effects of any one of these natural processes would easily create disaster. One must also take into account how both local ND national organizations will be able to assist and respond to the occurrence of disaster (Peeling, 2001 The inability of emergency crews to assist, for aid to be delivered and the aftermath of a disaster be managed, would be further human contribution to natural disaster. Metropolitan Los Angels has again constructed a socially based capacity for disaster in its city through knowingly lacking the emergency capacity to respond to the forewarned earthquake clusters and mega-droughts/floods (Davis, 1995). The economic response of the nation or area must also be examined as some mall communities rely completely on crops that lie in vulnerable positions and can not regain their economic standing after such a natural event (for example island nations in the Pacific Ocean whom are hit by a tsunami and can not cope economically for years to come). This inability to respond economically can create disastrous results that are socially constructed by the nations dependence on such risky enterprises. The ways in which society has formed itself in relation to the known risks associated with natural processes has shaped natural disasters. There are methods present to avoid such agitators effects as well as research educating us on climatic trends etc, but poor management of our communities has lead to the social creation of these events. Recent years have seen a steady rise in the event of natural disasters and while there are many factors that could have impacted this, anthropogenic interactions causing acceleration in global warming is an undeniable factor (Appears-carryings, 2003). The human induced climate change that has started to occur has resulted in changing weather patterns that can increase the frequency and intensity of weather related disasters. This hastened warming of our atmosphere has occurred due to human impacts on the Earth including the wide-spread deforestation of the planet and the increased pollutant emissions from fossil fuels due to increased arbitration and industrialization (Appears-Carryings, 2003). The resultant impact of global warming on increasing the frequency and intensity of weather related disasters displays how they have a significant human cause. Events such as storms and hurricanes have become more powerful and regular; and the human impact on these results can not be ignored.

Social Economics Within the Great Gatsby Essays

Social Economics Within the Great Gatsby Essays Social Economics Within the Great Gatsby Paper Social Economics Within the Great Gatsby Paper Essay Topic: Economics Instead, Fitzgerald explores two efferent classes of the wealthy. There are individuals, like Jordan Baker, who were born into their wealth. Her family has most likely had money for generations on end. Because of this they are called old money. In The Great Gatsby, the people who are born into old money do not have to work, do not talk about their wealth, and are able to go through their days entertaining themselves with whatever makes them happy. The characters who represent this group, Tom, Daisy, and Jordan, are most likely the most selective group, making distinctions of a persons kind of wealth. They base heir decisions not on how much wealth a person has, but on how long that person has had their wealth and how they made It. In the asses Gatsby and many others acquired their wealth. People like this were considered new money. The fact that these people are new money is enough reason for old money people, like Tom and Daisy, to not include them in their circle. According to the old money way of thinking, new money people could never have their kind of taste and sophistication. Not only does Gatsby work, but his origins are from a poor class, which means that he could not be good enough for Daisy. Daisy, coming from old money, is Judgmental and shallow. When she first met Gatsby, she decided she could not possibly be with him because of his lack of money. She failed to look at the essence of Gatsby and realize that this man was hard working and willing to make more money. Instead, she believed that she was superior and could not stoop to love a man without as much money as she. But are people from new money any different? If we look at Gatsby new money party-goers, we see that they attend his parties uninvited, they eat and drink his food, yet they dont show the courtesy to meet Gatsby. After Gatsby death, hey do not even show up to his funeral. Obviously, Fitzgerald does not show either the new or old money characters in a complimentary light. Their highest priority is living for today, the next party, and on what they can spend their money. Fitzgerald did a Just as explicit a job when portraying the middle class. Nick, even though he is from a family with some wealth, does not have by any means as much money as Tom or Daisy. In the end, he is revealed as a man with principles and integrity. He is confident In himself and his accomplishments and Is, therefore, able to mingle among the classes. In a word, Nick Is content. Myrtle, though, Is on the other side of the middle class spectrum. She Is currently married too middle class man, but Is a leads her into having an affair with Tom. Because of this need, Myrtle has distanced nearest Trot morals, Ana NAS no problem accenting on nerd NASDAQ IT It means Tanat for a short while she can live the lifestyle she desires. The Great Gatsby is often viewed as Fitzgerald masterpiece. It portrays an accurate picture of American society in the asses. The asses were filled with post-war economic growth, and Fitzgerald presents the frenzy of society to take part in that growth. The characters in the novel exemplify the ease with which new and greed can derail ones moral code. Other characters, especially those in the old money class, are only minimally aware that a moral code even matters. At the same time, Fitzgerald portrays a third group represented by Nick. These people stand apart from the social frenzy. They hold their moral code above the quest for wealth. They live apart from the lure of social class. Despite the wish of many to view America as a classless society, The Great Gatsby reveals that class distinctions not only exist but also define acceptable behavior.