Recurrent Disasters Research Articles

The Attitudes of Households for Disaster Risk Management in Fogera, Estie and Ebenat Woredas

The underlining disaster risk management practice translates the combination of knowledge, attitude, and action to maximize the effectiveness of responses against disasters. While knowledge and disaster risk management activities move along simultaneously, attitudes are inherent to individuals posing challenges to easily identify issues and then taking extended time to change. Lack of scientific wisdom on the perception of individuals towards disaster management, and the limited understanding of different factors that influence attitudes, complicates the endeavor in response to the increasingly uncertain future. This study assesses the attitudes of households for disaster risk management in the nine kebeles, the lowest administrative unit in Ethiopia, and 32 villages in Fogera, Ebenat and Estie districts (Woredas, the main administrative unit similar to county). Cross-sectional quantitative method was employed, and attitudinal survey was conducted among 412 households selected through probability simple random sampling. Purposive nonprobability sampling technique was used to identify research kebeles based on disaster prevalence, and to collect supplementary attitudinal data from 64 participants representing academia and local stakeholders. Descriptive statistics and parametric test of variance and covariance have been conducted to determine the attitude levels and to assess major factors influencing households’ attitude for disaster risk management. Results indicated that most of the households (53%) have a fairly positive attitude. Households with negative (27%) and extremely negative (20%) perception are concentrated in rural kebeles that are highly affected by recurrent disasters. Therefore, households in disaster affected areas have negative and unconstructive perception for disaster risk management. This is mainly associated with lack of active community participation and ineffective risk management activities. Households’ attitude is also significantly affected by age (p = 0.0001), and within different age groups (p = 0.001), location by kebeles (p = 0.0237), education levels (p = 0.0016), education status (p = 0.004) and experience in indigenous risk management practices (p = 0.00001). In addition, this study revealed a linear relationship within all the identified factors and households’ attitude levels. Considering the situation in Ethiopia where individual perceptions are deeply rooted, coupled with the results of this study that revealed highly negative attitude among disaster affected households, it is recommended to consolidate efforts and influence attitude through maximizing community participation and enhancing the effectiveness of disaster management.

Unravelling vulnerabilities: mapping key hazards in the Gori Ganga watershed of Kumaon Himalaya for communication, conservation and management

The present study investigates the susceptibility of the Kailash Sacred Landscape in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district, focusing on regional-level disaster risk assessment in the Gori Ganga watershed as a case study and aims to prepare foundation maps for recurrent disasters like landslides, floods and forest fires. The techniques of remote sensing & geographic information systems, frequency ratio and correlation analytics were employed to perceive hazard-prone areas in the valley, using a variety of geographical, environmental and anthropogenic predictors. The accuracy of the maps generated by the modelling procedure was assessed using validation data and a receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) with the area under the curve (AUC). The analysis revealed 83.5 km2 was extremely susceptible to flood incidents, 133.1 km2 was susceptible to landslides and 147 km2 was severely vulnerable to wildfires. The determined area under the curve value for flood susceptibility was 88.6%, followed by landslides at 89.5% and wildfires at 90.9%, showing that the model performed exceptionally well. The findings reveal that precipitation, lithology and elevation were the most significant variables in inducing floods. Precipitation, profile curvature, elevation and distance to thrust are the primary determinants of landslides, while closeness to the road and settlements, as well as vegetation indices, were significant predictors of fire events. The Lower Kumaon Himalayan valley region was recognized as highly vulnerable to all three major catastrophes. This study identifies potentially hazardous regions for adaptive sustainable conservation activities, involving local communities in decision-making to mitigate impacts and aid in preventing and managing impending landscape-level threats.

Evaluating environmental legislation on disaster resilience: Data insights from Nigeria and the USA

This review provides a succinct overview of the research conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental legislation in enhancing disaster resilience, drawing insights from case studies in Nigeria and the United States. Environmental legislation plays a pivotal role in mitigating the impacts of natural disasters, yet its effectiveness in fostering resilience remains a subject of debate. This study employs a comparative analysis approach, examining the legislative frameworks and their implementation in two diverse contexts: Nigeria, representing a developing nation with significant environmental challenges, and the USA, a developed nation with robust regulatory mechanisms. Through comprehensive data collection and analysis, this research scrutinizes the extent to which environmental legislation contributes to disaster resilience in both countries. Key factors such as regulatory compliance, enforcement mechanisms, stakeholder engagement, and institutional capacity are evaluated to gauge the efficacy of the legislative frameworks. Findings reveal disparities in the implementation and effectiveness of environmental legislation between Nigeria and the USA. In Nigeria, despite the existence of relevant laws, challenges persist in enforcement due to institutional weaknesses, corruption, and inadequate resources. Consequently, communities remain vulnerable to recurrent disasters, exacerbating socio-economic disparities and environmental degradation. Conversely, the USA demonstrates a more structured approach to environmental legislation, with robust regulatory mechanisms, efficient enforcement, and proactive risk management strategies. This has led to greater resilience and adaptive capacity, evidenced by effective disaster preparedness, response, and recovery measures. However, despite these disparities, the study identifies common areas for improvement in both contexts. Strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing public awareness and participation, promoting sustainable practices, and fostering international cooperation emerge as crucial strategies to bolster disaster resilience through environmental legislation. This research underscores the significance of evaluating environmental legislation in enhancing disaster resilience, providing valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders in Nigeria, the USA, and beyond. By addressing the identified challenges and leveraging best practices, nations can foster a more resilient future in the face of escalating environmental risks and uncertainties.

Barriers to Women's Menstrual Hygiene Practices during Recurrent Disasters and Displacement: A Qualitative Study.

Disasters that involve displacement are particularly challenging for managing personal and menstrual hygiene, which can increase the risk of toxic shock syndrome, infections and other health conditions that can endanger women's lives. This study aimed to examine the menstrual hygiene challenges experienced by internally displaced women affected by recurrent natural disasters and subsequent displacement in the context of a low-middle-income country, i.e., Pakistan. A critical ethnographic study was undertaken in disaster-relief camps in the northern region of Pakistan. Data were collected using multiple methods, including field observations, review of media reports and in-depth interviews with 18 women. The findings suggested that the key barriers to the personal and menstrual hygiene of women during recurrent disasters and displacement in the mountainous rural region of Pakistan include inadequate housing, lack of infrastructure and humanitarian aid, no waste disposal system and lack of women-friendly spaces in disaster-relief camps. Community-based collaboration is necessary for the implementation of effective interventions. A comprehensive menstrual response to promote the health and well-being of women during disasters must include menstruation supplies, supportive facilities (mainly toilets and bathing facilities), supplementary supplies for storing, washing and drying, disposal/waste management facilities, education and culturally appropriate spaces and supplies.

Community disaster resilience in Brazilian small urban centers

Brazilian small urban centers are facing several disasters impacts due to their singular environmental, economic, and social characteristics. A comprehensive approach encompassing multiple dimensions of resilience and adaptation is essential to minimize material and human losses. This article analyzes the community disaster resilience of 213 small urban centers in the Brazilian Southeast region, affected by recurrent events, such as floods, flash floods, and landslides. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach. First, a quantitative analysis was conducted at the municipal level using statistical techniques to develop a community disaster resilience index, incorporating social, economic, infrastructure, institutional, and community dimensions. Simultaneously, a qualitative assessment evaluated the levels of social capital at the intra-municipal scale among populations affected by disasters through an online questionnaire. The results demonstrated a direct correlation between community disaster resilience levels and the economic and urban development of the assessed municipalities. Lower levels of community disaster resilience were associated with higher vulnerability of the population, characterized by limited socioeconomic development, inadequate housing conditions, insufficient urban infrastructure for transportation, healthcare, leisure, and social support services, and ineffective implementation of public development policies. Moreover, the absence and limited diversity of leisure spaces that foster social connections contributed to reduced community engagement and participation, resulting in lower levels of social capital. This study underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to enhance community resilience in small urban centers facing recurrent disasters. The findings provide insights for policymakers and practitioners to prioritize interventions and investments in economic development, infrastructure improvement, and social capital enhancement as crucial elements of disaster risk reduction and resilience-building efforts.

Threats to the Lower Section of the River after Fish Mortality in the Ecological Environment of the Oder River

This work presents a case study accompanied by an analysis of potential reasons for fish mortality in the lower Oder River during an ecological disaster in August 2022. Changes in physicochemical water quality indicators indicate that fish and benthic organism death was likely due to the creation of hypoxia. The research also highlighted the trophic threats to the studied Oder River section linked to the disaster. The disaster occurred in the upper and middle Oder River, extending to the lower stretch. A physicochemical analysis of water samples revealed that the fish and organism death in the estuarine section was mainly due to reduced dissolved oxygen, caused by the decomposition of organic matter from the upper river sections. This was reinforced by high temperatures and low water levels. The negative trophic consequences of the described ecological disaster for the lower section of the Oder River may be long-term. Over thirty years of monitoring showed threats of excess biogenic compounds, organic matter, and bacterial contamination. Despite decreasing nitrogen and phosphorus, significant phytoplankton blooms implied internal nutrient sources. Considering climate change and the poor trophic status, recurrent disasters and deteriorating conditions are anticipated. Mitigation requires continuous monitoring, limiting the nutrient input (especially phosphorus), and preparing for extreme events. Geotechnical methods in the lower river can improve oxygen levels and fish survival.

Cartografia de síntese e as escalas horizontais e verticais da paisagem: estudo sobre suscetibilidade às inundações e alagamentos em Lavras - MG

Floods are the most recurrent disasters in Brazil in recent years; thus, knowledge of the natural dynamics of watercourses during the rainy season is extremely important, because it helps to reduce the damage caused by floods. The occupation of these areas corresponds to one of the main actions that will cause impacts during the rainy season, causing damage to the population through the occurrence of inundation that occupy the entire floodplain area. This article aims to present the synthesis cartography in detailing the susceptibility to inundation from cartographic and secondary data on a microscale, so that the results contribute to systematize methodological proposals in accordance with the Environmental Cartography assumptions. The studied area comprises a stretch of the Ribeirão Vermelho floodplain, located in Esplanada neighborhood, urban area of Lavras/MG, Brazil. The theoretical-methodological foundation was based on the General Theory of Systems applied in Physical Geography. The materials are made up of microscale cartographic and secondary data, which were organized and carried on ArcGis® 10.7. From the analytical mapping of topographic and anthropic conditions in the area, it was possible to carry out the analysis of the landscape vertical and horizontal structure. The results indicate the degree of susceptibility to floods and inundations from the organization of the classes from Very Low (1) to Very High (5), subdivided into sectors according to the relevance of systemic interactions.

Indicators of community disaster fatigue: A case study in the New South Wales Blue Mountains

A succession of disasters affecting eastern Australia left communities, regions, and states with physical, mental, and resource exhaustion during 2019–2022. Fire, pandemic, and flood occurred in successive waves, hampering recovery efforts. We propose the phenomenon of community disaster fatigue to explain the failure of a community to recover, effectively function, and move forward following a series of disasters. To investigate indicators of community disaster fatigue, we undertook a case study in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales (NSW) and interviewed community leaders. The interviews were thematically analysed and then categorised through the application of the three overarching domains previously used to define community disaster fatigue: (A) defeatism, deterioration, and a lack of planning, (B) weakening health and wellbeing, and (C) corrosion of economic entrepreneurialism and decline in social capital. The results explain how disaster fatigue manifests in a diverse group of community leaders and the issues arising for their careers, volunteer workers, and communities. A major finding is that community disaster fatigue appears to be associated, on a collective level, with elements reflecting the breakdown of community resilience. Thus, as a contribution to practice, a theory of community disaster fatigue can also be useful in developing a strategy for building community resilience. Furthermore, the lack of surge funding, disengagement as a means of self-protection, and closure of local businesses, put the viability of the community at risk. Recent events indicate that closely occurring disasters should be factored into emergency planning, which is a realistic approach given the current trend of recurrent disasters in Australia.

Climate Risk Analysis Using a High-Resolution Spatial Model in Costa Rica

Increasing extreme weather and climate events have led to recurrent disasters that cause significant harm to human populations. The aim of this present study is to complement Costa Rica’s National Meteorological Institute 2017 risk assessment methodology for extreme weather and climate events. This methodology uses different socio-spatial indicators related to vulnerability and hazards to extreme hydrometeorological events. However, in the methodology applied and presented in this document, an exposure component was added to the model to obtain a more detailed representation of climate-related risks. The presented methodology was implemented in the municipalities of Cartago and Turrialba, where the frequency and severity of weather events have been a major issue in the last few decades. The results showed in fact, there were considerable differences between both, whereby factoring in the exposure component it is possible to visualize more specific risk zones, which evidences the need to include exposure components in this type of model, as this may allow for more timely responses and disaster risk prevention according to the specific vulnerability conditions in these zones. The outcomes at the minimal geostatistical unit level can aid local decision makers in developing more effective disaster risk management and adaptation strategies to minimize the loss of life and property resulting from extreme weather and climate events in Costa Rica.

Occurrence of Disaster Events and their Impact in Nepal: Role of Government and Civil Society Organizations to Reduce the Disaster Risks

Nepal is highly vulnerable to multiple geological, hydro and meteorological hazards in which floods, landslides, fires, avalanches, glacial lakes outburst floods, droughts and earthquakes are predominant. Nepal has also been experiencing outbreak of epidemics and pandemic having high morbidity and mortality. Every day, on an average, 2 people die due to recurrent disasters. Situated in seismic zone, Nepal is prone to earthquake, and it had experienced several episodes of earthquake having losses of human lives and physical infrastructure. Climate change attributing significantly in extreme weather conditions resulting heavy rainfall, drought, fire, and glacial lake outburst floods. The disasters events have severe impact in socio-economic and health of community people creating problem in access, disrupting supply chain, damage, and destruction of service delivery outlets. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the disaster situation in country, their impact and assess the role of government of Nepal and civil society organizations in reducing the disaster risks. This paper has been prepared by reviewing the secondary data mainly government, UN and I/NGOs reports and research articles. Marginalized groups of the society are hardest hit by the disasters. Investing resources in preparedness and risk reduction pays off in saving lives and properties, investing 1 NPR in DRR is equivalent to 18 NPR during post disaster situation. A whole of society approach where preparedness, risk reduction, response, recovery, and reconstruction go simultaneously in building resilience nations to disasters. Development work should mandatorily apply environmental impact assessment and do no harm principles. The government of Nepal has developed DRM Act, policy, and strategic plan. Accountability framework, risk governance and risk education play a critical role to achieve outcomes stipulated in the strategic plan.

Community Participation in Indonesia in Preservation and Continuation of Environmental Protection and Management

The concept of sustainable development, as discussed at the United Nations Conference on the Environment in Stockholm in 1972, focuses on development that considers environmental impacts. It highlights the constitutional mandate in Article 28H of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, emphasizing the right of every Indonesian citizen to a good and healthy living environment. Despite this constitutional provision, implementing sustainable development has faced challenges and confusion at the policy and regulatory levels. In Indonesia, where forest and land fires are recurrent disasters with severe ecological, economic, and social consequences, the aims underscore the significance of environmental awareness and proactive measures in addressing these issues. It emphasizes the interdependence between human actions and the environment and calls for responsible environmental stewardship. The research method used is legal research, which departs from statutory provisions, namely research on the legal principles of environmental provisions, specifically regarding community participation in environmental management. Overall, this provides insights into the critical role of environmental awareness and sustainable development in ensuring a better future for Indonesia's environment and its citizens, in alignment with constitutional mandates and international principles.

Emotions matter: EMPOWER-ing youth by integrating emotions of (chronic) disaster risk into strategies for disaster preparedness

In a context where disaster risk has become a chronic, continuous condition, this paper explores new pathways for creating long-term (emotional) resilience. I show that emotions matter as part of devising community-based and formal educational strategies for disaster risk reduction and preparedness. Focus is on exploring young people's everyday emotional experiences in situations of recurrent disaster risk, such as flooding and landslides. The article draws on lessons learned from participatory and community-based research with 30 young people in the urban periphery of Sao Paulo, Brazil, as well as educational approaches on dealing with climate anxiety and ecological distress. Results indicate that participants tended to ‘normalise’ risk while using humour to engage with difficult emotions. Results however also show that with the tools at hand to acknowledge, validate and engage with the emotions of disaster risk, youth can develop and cultivate hope, improve individual coping behaviours, and recognise their agency without minimising or denying their experience. To guide interdisciplinary disaster risk scholars and practitioners in developing a process of reflective participation and collaborative peer- and intergenerational learning about disaster risk, I developed the EMPOWER framework. I suggest that by openly engaging with and sharing emotions across the researcher/practitioner and participant divide, we can develop critical reflexivity and collective hope as part of a praxis for improved wellbeing and disaster preparedness.

Observing Bupati leadership on peatlands protection at The Tanjung Jabung Timur Regency

The issue of forest fires has become a high concern for many parties. The recurrent disasters of forest fires due to the degradation of peatlands functions require responsive leadership. Therefore, this article examines the leadership of the Bupati/ Regional Head of Tanjung Jabung Timur Regency, Romi Hariyanto, in protecting peatlands. We found that peatlands protection is not easy to do by the local governments. Reflecting on the Tanjung Jabung Timur Regency, Bupati is facing the problem of limited budget capacity and disharmony among programs. However, the weakness was covered by his leadership which was firm and consistent in enforcing the rules. In the end, disaster policy management requires strategic and adaptive leadership.

When do disasters spark transformative policy change and why?

Floods, earthquakes, droughts, and other recurrent disasters around the globe have sparked renewed interest in whether and how disasters can be leveraged as turning points for transformation toward more sustainable and resilient societies. As the transformative potential of disasters increasingly gains prominence in different research fields, it is important to describe how different scientific approaches view the relationship. This article synthesises key insights from the policy sciences and public administration scholarship regarding the link between disruptive disaster events and policy activity aiming towards societal transformation. Key explanatory perspectives are discussed, including dynamics associated with institutional crisis, policy subsystems, agenda-setting and issue salience, governance capacity, policy-oriented learning and concentration of power, and situated in relation to four scenarios of potential disaster impacts on policymaking aiming at transformation. The results of this synthesis seek to enhance our understanding of when disasters may spark transformative change. Based on these findings, the article identifies priorities for future research into policymaking in the wake of disaster.

A framework for research on recurrent acute disasters.

Disaster science examines the causes, behaviors, and consequences of hazardous events, from hurricanes to wildfires, flooding, and major industrial accidents. Individual disasters are recurring more frequently and with greater intensity. Recurrent acute disasters (RADs) are sequential disasters that affect a specific locale over time. While disaster science has matured in recent years, understanding of the distinctive characteristics of RADs varies by discipline and lacks predictive power. A theoretical framework is presented by borrowing in part from mathematical topology and disturbance ecology. The recurrent disasters affecting Puerto Rico 2017–2020 are examined as a case example to test the framework. A key variable is the complex characteristics of legacy conditions created by one disaster that influence the effects of subsequent disasters. Substantial improvements in disaster response, recovery, and preparedness can be gained by adopting a RAD-based approach.

Scientific and Indigenous Knowledge Understanding of Rainfall Induced Landslide in Murang’a County, Kenya

The East African region has reported major landslides and Kenya is indeed characterised as a disaster-prone country. Landslides are a recognised but poorly studied phenomenon in the Eastern foot-slopes of the Aberdare Ranges in Central Kenya. A dearth of information about landslides has been cited in the country. Landslides in Murang’a County are known to occur especially during the two rainy seasons and has been recurring in the recent past. Such a scenario makes rainfall factor of interest in understanding the landslide occurrences. People living in landslides prone areas are said to have huge experiences and knowledge about landslides but have remained hugely unexploited. The adaptation and integration of both the scientific and indigenous knowledge may be an option to increase the understanding of landslide disaster risks in the prone areas. The aim of this study is to fill the existing gap in the understanding of the recurrent landslide disaster risks in Murang’a County through an investigation of the rainfall as a major causal/trigger factor as viewed through both indigenous and scientific understandings. Primary data were collected through household questionnaires administered to a total of 336 household heads, complemented with 8 Key Informants Interviews and 6 Focus Group Discussion interviews conducted across the study administrative locations. Quantitative data were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics in the SPSS package. Secondary data obtained from remote sensing were quantitatively analysed using Raster-GIS in ArcGIS software. The study findings showed that Rainfall is a major factor in causing/triggering landslides in Murang’a County as understood by experts from among other institutions the meteorological department, where a rainfall threshold of 1,160mm mapped99% of the March-April-May 2018 reported landslides in the ‘high risk zones’. Rainfall factor had an approval rate 98% as being the most prominent landslide contributing factor as viewd by the indigenous people. In conclusion, both scientific and indigenous knowledge concur that rainfall is a major landslide causal/trigger factor in Murang’a County. The study recommends that since landslides are highly localized, an in-depth research on other causal/trigger factors using both scientific and indigenous knowledge should be done, especially in areas which have previously been affected by landslides. Such would give a better understanding of landslides in terms of the causal or trigger factors with the aim of enhancing the disasters management in the county and formulating a policy framework integrating the two levels of knowledge.

Flooding, Food Security and the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria: An Assemblage and Systems Thinking Approach

Food is connected to sustainable development goals in numerous ways, as food security is key to achieving sustainable development. The world is currently not on track to achieve the set sustainable development goals (SDGs). In Nigeria, flooding is a recurrent disaster and constitutes a setback to success with the SDGs and sustainable development. Flooding disasters are a threat to food security due to their impact on the food system. This study is an integrative review that explores the link between Nigeria’s flooding, food security, and the SDGs. It adopts an assemblage and systems thinking approach to analyze the impact of flooding on all components of food security. It finds that, despite the impact of flooding on food security, it is not recognized as a threat by policymakers, as evidenced by the lack of mention of disasters in the current Nigeria Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP). Attention is drawn to this oversight in this work by highlighting the interconnections between flooding, food security, and sustainable development. Recommendations on flood mitigation and adaptive practices that can alleviate the negative impact of flooding on food security to enhance the success rate of the SDGs are proffered. This work contributes to the literature by showcasing the impact of flooding on food security and its connection to sustainable development, which is an area that has not received adequate attention in research. The assemblage and system thinking approach adopted brings novelty and allows for a succinct understanding of how flooding impacts all four aspects of food security. This paper serves as the first time the problem has been explored in this manner.

Falling "fortresses": Unlocking Governance Entanglements and Shifting Knowledge Paradigms to Counter Climate Change Threats in Biodiversity Conservation.

Biodiversity conservation is facing unprecedented challenges at the intersection of rapidly changing climates, widespread ecosystem degradation under the influence of global warming and resultant human tragedies over livelihood, habitation, adaptation and coping needs. These challenges are more acute across biodiversity hotspots in the Global South. This study disentangles the complex interplay to propose alternative paradigms of governance and policy thinking necessary for sustainable biodiversity conservation. Climate change impacts are exposing critical deficiencies of 'scientific forest management' pursued for over a century. For example, recurrent disasters and ecological shifts are increasingly obfuscating cognitive and physical boundaries between the reserve forest and human habitations; putting additional stress on livelihoods which in turn escalate pressures on the forest commons and fuel further conflicts between conservation governance and local communities. Instead of assisting in adaptation, the existing conservation governance mechanisms are producing further conflicts between humans and non-humans; livelihoods and conservation; disaster management and development. Conducted in the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve -world's largest mangrove forest ecosystem and a climate change hotspot located along the Bay of Bengal across India and Bangladesh -the study finds an urgent need of rethinking and recalibrating biodiversity conservation in the times of climate change. However, institutional and market-based approaches such as promoting ecotourism or mangrove plantations may have little impact in this regard, the study finds. Instead, integrating cultural ecosystem services and co-producing knowledge will be critical to tackle the entanglements of climate change and its impacts on local lives, livelihoods and biodiversity conservation.

Community-driven disaster risk reduction: a case study of flood risk management in Brandon, MB, Canada

ABSTRACT Recurrent disaster experiences can motivate communities to initiate risk management as part of their resilience mechanism if there is appropriate support to assist their shared commitment and goals. This scenario was evident in the City of Brandon's (Manitoba, Canada) response to the 1-in-300-year high-water event during the spring of 2011. This study examined how this small prairie city/community achieved the creation and preservation of locally driven flood risk management practice, and the critical role of the Brandon Emergency Support Team (BEST), a community-based disaster risk management organization, in facilitating enhanced risk awareness towards protecting the city from flooding.

Transposição de conteúdo fulldome para mídia plana motivado por medidas sanitárias decorrentes da pandemia de COVID-19

Belonging to the Circuito Liberdade, which brings together cultural spaces in Belo Horizonte - Brazil, the Espaço do Conhecimento UFMG is a museum that aims to promote scientific and cultural dissemination. Since 2010 it houses a long-term exhibition, temporary exhibitions, an astronomical terrace and a planetarium, with optical-mechanical and digital projectors. Throughout its ten years of existence, the Espaço do Conhecimento UFMG has been producing immersive content for the planetarium that go beyond themes focused on astronomy. Within this context, and motivated by the repeated socio-environmental crimes committed by mining companies in Minas Gerais, the documentary “Inconfidências” was produced, which aimed to offer a critical discussion about mining activity in the State. Based on a historical analysis, experts and environmentalists evaluate the impacts of mining, the recurrent criminal disasters, and propose a reflection on the future of activity. With a premiere date scheduled for May 2020 at the Espaço do Conhecimento UFMG planetarium, Inconfidências remains unprecedented in hemispheric projections, since the planetarium was closed to the public in March 2020 due to sanitary issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, without reopening prevision. So, the documentary was adapted for projection on flat screens and officially launched on 12/11/2020 as part of the commemorative events for the ten years anniversary of Espaço do Conhecimento UFMG, and made available on its Youtube channel. This article deals with the transposition of the original fulldome format of the documentary to its flat version, allowing a reflection on the challenges and solutions found in this process.