Originally published in 1984 Natural Disasters shows how misleading the term ?natural disaster? can be. Forces of nature such as earthquakes, cyclones and extreme variations in weather can trigger disasters, but in many Third World countries it is environmental degradation, poverty and rapid population growth which turn a natural hazard into major disaster. This book questions whether the rich nations? usual response to disaster ? fast, short-lived emergency assistance ? is any longer adequate. Today, most major disasters are ?development? gone wrong, development which puts millions of poor people on the margins of existence. Disaster relief alone is like bandaging a rapidly growing wound. The appropriate response must include an element of true development ? development which reduces rather than increases vulnerability to disasters.

Table of Contents:

Summary Preface Introduction: A Question of Balance 1. Forces of Nature, Acts of Man 2. Droughts: Too Little Water 3. Floods 4. Tropical Cyclones and Other Winds 5. Earthquakes 6. Tsunami and Volcanoes 7. Relief 8. Disasters and Development Appendix Further Reading

Natural Disasters

Social issues, social work

Astrophysics

Geophysics

Organizational sociology

Ethnography in general

Earth sciences in general

Geography

Geology

Meteorology

Seismology, volcanology

Social geography

Further readings in earth sciences

Social issues, social work (charity campaign)

Astrophysics (charity campaign)

Geophysics (charity campaign)

Organizational sociology (charity campaign)

Ethnography in general (charity campaign)

Earth sciences in general (charity campaign)

Geography (charity campaign)

Geology (charity campaign)

Meteorology (charity campaign)

Seismology, volcanology (charity campaign)

Social geography (charity campaign)

Further readings in earth sciences (charity campaign)

Originally published in 1984 Natural Disasters questions whether the rich nations? usual response to disaster is any longer adequate. Today, most major disasters are ?development? gone wrong, development which puts millions of poor people on the margins of existence.