Times Of Calamities Research Articles

A Case Study on Climate and Disaster Risks at Gitagum, Misamis Oriental, Philippines

Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA) is important particularly for the development of a specific local government unit as it determines thedifferent risk, exposure and vulnerability of a population in both rural and urban areas, natural resources, lifeline utilities, agricultural production areas, andessential facilities that could be affected during an occurrence of natural hazards and disaster. It aims to establish a vital and necessary network ofpreparation, thoughtful recommendations, and climate adaptation measures of a municipality by analyzing the underlying factors of hazard, exposure,vulnerability, sensitivity, and adaptive capacities of a local government unit in order to reduce its losses and damage in times of calamities. The results revealed that 6 barangays fall into low and 2 barangays inmoderate social vulnerability risk. The rest of the barangay had risks considered to be very low and might be insignificant. These barangays potentially at risks are Burnay, Pangayawan, and Poblacion which are situated in the coastal zones of Gitagum and had a high population community. Furthermore,there are several barangays in Gitagum that are at risk in terms of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability of the community to climate change-associated riskssuch as flooding, rain-induced landslide, and storm surge. Based on the results, barangays that are prone to flooding are Pangayawan and Quezon. Barangays G Pelaez, Kilangit, Quezon and Cogon can experience rain-induced landslide. It is therefore imperative for all sectors in the locality to doconcerted efforts in dealing and handling known hazards and risks associated with flooding, landslide and storm surge. However, this did not mean thatother known hazards must be left unattended such as drought, sea-level rise, tectonic activities, fire and others. These need to be prepared for as wellshould threshold impacts could be felt. Strong level of awareness among the constituents as well as promulgation of resolutions and ordinances could helpease known threats of climate-driven and disaster risks of Gitagum, Misamis Oriental.

Zakat Management and Distribution by Zakat, Sedekah and Wakaf (Zawaf) Unit at Universiti Teknologi Mara Perlis Branch

This article aims to analyze zakat management at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Perlis Branch which is managed by the Zakat, Sedekah, and Wakaf Unit (ZAWAF). The objective of this study is to identify the category of asnaf at the UiTM Perlis Branch that receives zakat from ZAWAF, analyze the type of zakat given by ZAWAF to zakat recipients, and analyze the management of zakat distribution by ZAWAF at UiTM Perlis Branch. This study is in the form of a qualitative study in which the method of data collection is done through the field study method. In this context, the researcher used the interview method as well as the library method. For the data analysis method, the researcher used the document analysis method by analyzing the interview findings as well as written documents such as books, articles, scientific writings, and newspapers. All the documents were analyzed through the method of content analysis. The results of this study show that the giving of zakat by ZAWAF covers staff and students who belong to the poor and poor asnaf category. For the student category, giving zakat is open to every field of study and all levels of study registered at UiTM Perlis Branch. Among the types of zakat provided are in the form of tuition fees, laptops, assistance in times of calamity, medical assistance, and Eid assistance. The results of the study found that ZAWAF has implemented zakat management efficiently, transparently, and responsibly. With the establishment of the ZAWAF unit at UiTM Perlis Branch, UiTM can help staff and students who need help more systematically.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on completed treatments and referrals during urgent dental visits.

This ecological study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on completed treatments (CTs) and referrals during urgent dental visits to primary health care units in Brazil, and their associations with socioeconomic, geodemographic, and pandemic index factors in Brazilian municipalities. The difference in rates of procedures 12 months before and during the pandemic was calculated. Data were extracted at baseline from health information systems of all municipalities that provided urgent dental care (n = 5,229 out of 5,570). Multiple logistic regression predicted the factors associated with referrals and CTs. The number of dental urgencies increased from 3,987.9 to 4,272.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. The rates of referrals decreased in 44.1% of the municipalities, while 53.9% had lower rates of CTs. Municipalities with a greater number of oral health teams in the primary health care system (OR = 1.52, 95%CI:1.21-1.91) and with specialized services (OR = 1.80, 95%CI:1.50-2.16) were more likely to decrease referrals during the pandemic. Higher HDI and GDP per capita were associated with a larger decrease in referrals and smaller decrease in CTs. The calamity generated by the long pandemic period resulted in a greater demand for urgent visits. Less developed and larger cities seem to have been more likely to not complete treatments during urgent visits in primary dental care units in times of calamity. Primary dental care offices in smaller and less developed municipalities should be better equipped to provide appropriate assistance and to improve the problem-solving capacity of dental services during emergencies.

The Tales of the Philippine Coast Guard Personnel in Responding to the Community Needs

The Philippine Coast Guard personnel experienced a lot of challenges as they put their lives at risk while saving the community against the threat brought by the calamity. One of this life threating incident is the strong typhoon that hits Misamis Occidental. This typhoon gave the people fear in their hearts and mind specially the Philippine Coast Guard Personnel who was the one saving the lives of the community even if it costs their lives. Another incident was also when Super typhoon Odette hit the Philippines. This typhoon was hailed as one of the strongest typhoon that happened in the country that brought torrential rains, strong winds and floods. The study explored the experiences of the Philippine Coast Guard Personnel during their actual rescue or how they respond to the situation during the calamity. There were ten participants who experienced saving lives and properties during calamities served as the participant of the study. Data was obtained through the interview and analyzed through Moustaka’s Transcendental Phenomenological data analysis approach. The generated data from the participants were analyzed and gathered four (4) themes, which include: (1) Motivated to Serve; (2) Prepared to Respond to the Community Needs; (3) Resistant of the Citizens; (4) Job Satisfaction. The government and the community should continue showing their support towards the Philippine Coast Guard organization, especially in times of calamities. The government should conduct a training program for the personnel and also for the community to improve their survival skills. The organization should also conduct survival training or seminars to increase the level of preparedness of the community whenever calamity will arrive.

Malaysian dental deans’ consensus on impact of COVID-19 and recommendations for sustaining quality dental education

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the training of dental students and the impact can be felt not just by the students, but patients seen at dental school operated clinics. We used the modified-Delphi method to investigate the response from deans of all Malaysian dental schools on the impact of COVID-19, and to solicit their views on policy recommendations to sustain quality dental education during and beyond the infectious disease outbreak. Our analysis revealed that all dental deans are in agreement with strong consensus to 10 out of fifteen items listed to be the challenges they faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic particularly these three items: “Patients under care of students experienced interrupted dental treatment which increases their risk of having their dental and overall wellbeing affected”; “Increased clinical budget for daily operations of Students’ clinics to cater for extra PPE and related expenses,” and; “The Students’ ability to meet clinical requirements for safe and competent practice.” All deans agreed with a strong consensus to the policy statements formulated based on the WHO’s Six Building Blocks to sustain quality dental education. In view of the results, we further discussed the importance of acknowledging that university-led dental clinics as an important part of the national healthcare system. Hence, we proposed that dental education need to have clear policies on having adequate number of trained staff, sufficient funds, information, supplies, transport, communications and overall guidance, and direction to function. Having a National Dental Education Policy that addresses the unique challenges identified in this study will serve as a monumental cornerstone to sustain quality dental education during times of calamity.

Residents Satisfaction on Disaster Risk Reduction Management Unit

Disaster risk means the potential loss of life, injury, or destroyed or damaged assets to which could occur to a system, society, or community in a specific period of time, determined probabilistically with relation to risk, exposure, and susceptibility (UNISDR, 2019). In times of calamities, MDRRMU plays a crucial role in assisting residents. This study is being undertaken to determine the residents' satisfaction with the MDRRMU in Estancia, Iloilo. As a result, the purpose of this research was to see how satisfied residents were with the performance of Estancia MDRRMU. This study used the descriptive method of research and a researcher modified questionnaire was used to gather data. Conducted in the municipality of Estancia, located in the northern part of Iloilo province, 501 randomly selected residents of the municipality were the respondents of the study. Result shows that residents were satisfied with the performance of MDRRMU. To improve residents' satisfaction, the MDRRMU should be proactive in educating people in Estancia about disaster management and strengthening its MDRRM Council with clear and enumerated functions, responsibilities, and coordination.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Times of Calamities

The nation’s concern of strengthen the country’s disaster reduction system. It seeks the reduction and better management of disaster risk. This research aimed to determine the level of readiness and responsiveness of Municipality of Balaoan on the implementation of different programs and projects on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management along the areas on prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation. The researcher used descriptive-developmental design with 250 respondents. Developmental design was based on the constraints gauged use in the preparation of functional program and research made survey containing items along readiness, preparedness and responsiveness of the respondents. Mean and Frequency counts were used as the simple statistical tools. The researcher found that 36 Barangays in Balaoan with regards to the implementation of their programs and projects in terms of prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation was described as much ready. The total grand mean for the categories was 3.69 described as much ready. A well – managed program on disaster risk reduction shall be organized by the DRRMO. This is necessary to improve the disaster risk reduction management program of the Barangay and make sure that their constituent attains the full benefits of the programs and projects that they implement towards the disaster resiliency of their barangay. More intensified training program should be designed, formulated and implemented to upgrade the skill and competence of DRRM Barangay coordinators in managing disaster risk reduction in the Barangay; the evaluated program can be use by future researchers as benchmark if they plan to replicate the study in their respective areas of specialization.

Footloose Workers in Times of Calamities: A Case Study of the 2018 Kerala Floods

Kerala, the southernmost state in India, much researched for its high standard of living and a model of development, largely dependent on international remittances, experienced one of its worst floods in 2018. The state also experiences a peculiar type of labor crisis; where the local population migrates internationally, attracting interstate migrants to compensate for the labor deficit. However, in times of calamities like floods, these unorganized laborers are the worst hit and still the last priority. The media widely reported their mass exodus, unhygienic living conditions, and mistreatment in relief camps during the floods, though the policy responses have been unsatisfactory to date. The paper tries to evaluate the role of inter-state migrants in the socio-economic profile of Kerala and comments on the necessity to include them as a priority in the migration policy discussions, particularly in light of the state’s extreme proneness to natural disasters.

التضامن في إغاثة المنكوبين (دراسة دستورية مقارنة)

The need for solidarity arises when the life of the individual or society is exposed to a danger that he cannot prevent. Solidarity imposes the provision of positive assistance to others in times of calamities, as a result of the existence of common human interest and many democratic constitutions have addressed the solidarity between emphasis and mitigation of its provisions. The Iraqi constitution /2005 gave the legislature and executive power the possibility of imposing restrictions on the prohibition of forced labor which lead to restricting freedom. The Iraqi constitution did not treat explicitly the competence of the Union or regions to give assistance to regions are unable to deal with emergency disasters and crises. This does not prevent the existence of a federal law imposing mutual assistance in order to protect the unity of Iraq according to the constitution. However, in the reality there are legislative weakness in this area.

Synchronous online flip learning with formative gamification quiz: instruction during COVID-19

PurposeThis study aims to present research evidence on the relevance of online gamification flip learning as a pedagogical instruction in promoting learning engagement when college students are impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In this study, a gamified formative assessment was used to examine learner engagement and to evaluate the effectiveness of gamification within a synchronous online flipped instruction.Design/methodology/approachA multiphase mixed methods research design was used for this study. The evaluation relied on triangulated evidence gathered through questionnaire surveys and semi-structured interviews administered at an Indonesian college setting.FindingsBased on the findings, gamified learning and formative assessments that adopt online flipped approaches have shown a positive bearing on learner engagement, despite the challenges learners face while harrowing through times of calamity. The results of this study provide prima facie support for the claim that the use of interactive gamified e-quizzes proves to be an innovative means of stimulating student engagement during the online class.Originality/valueThe results further suggest that a learning framework that incorporates both online flipped and gamification techniques provide the stimulus that is likely to forge an emotional connection that can inspire learner engagement, much needed when learners rally through calamitous events. This study has established evidential links between gamification and flipped classroom instructional delivery, particularly for online class settings. It is well-anticipated that gamification flip learning can continue to be implemented either in online, blended or face-to-face class instruction and particularly after the time of the pandemic.

SEGMENTAL PHONOLOGY OF MAITHILI URDU

This paper on the Mithilanchal Urdu, a dialect of the Indo-Aryan language family, would be an interesting study in the time of the Corona Pandemic, as it may be considered a minority language or dialect and such languages and dialects have been found to be especially vulnerable in the times of calamities like the present COVID-19 pandemic. However, this paper would basically provide a baseline upon which post-pandamic studies can be based for exploring the effect of the pandemic. The present study reflects the segmental phonology of Maithili Urdu, a dialect of the Indo-Aryan language family, spoken mainly in the Mithilanchal region of the state of Bihar in India. Maithili Urdu does not have its own script or literature, yet it has maintained an oral history over many centuries. It has contributed in enriching the Maithili, Hindi and Urdu language and literature very profoundly. There are ten vowels in Maithili Urdu. It would be very interesting to know that out of these, there are four front vowels, four back vowels, and two central vowels. Lip rounding is not distinctive, but only the back vowels are rounded. Out of these ten vowels, three are short and seven are long. Length, thus, is a distinctive feature in Maithili Urdu, where short and long vowels show full phonological opposition in all positions. These are all pure vowels, non-nasalized. All vowels in Maithili Urdu can be nasalized. Consonantal phonemes in Maithili Urdu show four-way contrast between voiceless and voiced and unaspirated and aspirated at bilabial, dental, retroflex, palatal, velar, and glottal places of articulation. Phonetically, affricates also behave like stops. Similarly, the taps, laterals, and nasals also show a two-way contrast between unaspirated and aspirated. Aspiration, thus, is an overriding characteristic of the Maithili Urdu sound system. This study has greatly benifited from the similar work done by Dixit, 1963; Halle & Mohannan 1985; Masud Husain Khan, 1986; Hyman, 2003. In this paper, a brief overview of segmental phonology of Maithili Urdu will be presented wherein vowels and consonants and their phonotactic behavior will be described in detail.

The Gratifications Achieved by Egyptian women from the use of E-Marketing sites on the Internet

The aim of this research is to know the extent of Egyptian women's use of online e-marketing sites, their motives and the gratifications achieved from them in meeting their needs to obtain information, knowledge and entertainment through e-marketing sites as well as the role that these sites can play in attracting Egyptian women to be able to satisfy their needs. This study is a surveyed descriptive research where the researcher relied on applying E-questionnaires, besides using SPSS program on a sample of (230) Egyptian women using online e-marketing sites. The study has reached the following results: There are many online e-marketing sites, which provide many gratifications to women, top of which is that of entertainment, followed by the ability to monitor specific e-marketing environments. The study has also shown that one of the major causes of using theses platforms is to secure social distancing to protect families from Covid 19 pandemic; these sites have been proved to be effective in times of calamities, which has pushed the sample of the study to rely on them while shopping online. Moreover, online social platforms as well as Instagram have been proven to be the most used in e-shopping. Additionally, the ease of using electronic marketing sites came first when evaluating the study sample for their using of e-marketing sites, with a total of (190) respondents out of (230), while online purchase came in second place as safe, healthy and helpful to provide social distancing due to the presence of Covid 19, with a total of (189) out of (230) women who strongly agree, which indicates that electronic marketing has a significant impact on the study sample during Covid 19 period. Social media has come in the forefront of the most used websites in the sample with a rate of 71.4%, followed by Souq.com with a percentage of 61.5% and by Jumia with 48.1%. The most popular products watched/searched for are home appliances, followed by mobile phones, followed by clothing, food supplements and cars. The impact of using online electronic marketing sites on traditional marketing has reached 57.1%. The percentage of payment on receipt occupied 87.9% of the preferred payment methods for the study sample when purchasing from e-marketing sites. Ritual reasons showed 57.7%, followed by utilitarian ones.

Online Marriage Education During COVID-19 Home Lockdown: A Multiple-Baseline Single-Case Experimental Design

Flexible-delivery marriage education (ME) has many advantages over traditional alternatives in reaching couples during the time of COVID-19 lockdown or other national emergencies. In an effort to add to the research of flexible-delivery ME, this exploratory study evaluated an online class adapted from an empirically-validated, marriage curriculum (Four Gifts of Love Class, [FGL]) under home lockdown conditions lasting over 2 months caused by COVID-19 government restrictions. Using a concurrent multiple-baseline single-case experimental design, three distressed couples residing in the Philippines completed seven online lessons over 7 weeks while experiencing home lockdown. Visual analysis of the data suggested that all three couples responded positively to the intervention. The Tau-U and SMDall analyses for each couple ranged from a small to large effect size on measures of marital adjustment (weighted average Tau-U = .50, p < .05; BC-SMD = 0.34) and romantic love (weighted average Tau-U = .52, p < .01; BC-SMD = 0.31), with increases reaching clinical and statistical significance for one couple out of the three. In addition, there was no attrition. The promising results from this preliminary study suggested that the online adaptation of FGL as a flexible-delivery ME could mitigate marital decline, especially during times of calamity when traditional-delivery ME is unavailable and marital decline is predicted. Further study of this program and other online ME programs are recommended to expand the limited research in this area of flexible-delivery ME.

Health and Education Officials' Perspectives on the Impact of Typhoon Haiyan on Mass Drug Administration for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections in the Philippines.

In the Philippines, morbidity control of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections is done through mass drug administration (MDA) of anthelmintics to school-age children (SAC). In 2013, the Philippines was devastated by the deadliest cyclone ever recorded, Typhoon Haiyan. The study aimed to understand the impact of Typhoon Haiyan on the MDA of anthelmintics to SAC in the provinces of Capiz and Iloilo in the Philippines from the perspectives of local health and education officials. The study was conducted in the municipalities of Panay and Pilar in Capiz and the municipalities of Estancia and Sara in Iloilo, areas that were devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. Qualitative, semi-structured key informant interviews were conducted with 16 total participants, which included officials of the Department of Health, Department of Education, and concerned local government units. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded in an open, iterative manner. Codes were reviewed to identify patterns and themes. Participants described the following themes: (1) their perception that the typhoon had no effect on the MDA program or on resources necessary to complete the program; (2) the program's simple design allowed for 1-time administration to a pre-assembled population; (3) the program allowed a sense of community cohesiveness; (4) the program served as a vehicle for altruism, particularly regarding helping needy children, in this time of calamity. Our informants perceived that the MDA program in Region VI was not affected by Typhoon Haiyan. They attributed the resilience to the program's simple procedure, attitudes of altruism, program importance, and community cohesiveness. Despite Typhoon Haiyan's mass destruction of infrastructure and livelihood leading to incredible challenges, mobilization of the community allowed for the continuation and successful implementation of the MDA program. The experience of Region VI may serve as a model for other low- and middle-income countries prone to natural disasters.

Protecting Liberty in Times of Calamity: The Long and Short Term Benefits of Data Minimization During National Emergencies Like COVID-19

Overall, data minimization provides more benefits to the United States in both the short and the long term because it directs governmental resources to areas that curb the spread and effects of COVID-19; it honors our democratic, republican principles of government; and it protects individual liberties reinstated by judicial precedent and guaranteed by the United States Constitution. While it may appear, in the short term, broader data information would aid in the fight against COVID-19, it would need to reach the level of surveillance as seen in communist, dictatorial regimes in order to be effective, which is something the Constitution and the American people will not allow. Thus, in the short term, it is far wiser and more prudent to direct financial energy toward those areas that do in fact aid in the fight against COVID-19, which, in the long term, upholds American democracy and liberty. When the COVID-19 chapter of history closes, those governments that did not give in to the reactionary, totalitarian temptations will be made clear. If there only be one, let it be America.

أحاديث قنوت النوازل جمع ودراسة

أحاديث قنوت النوازل جمع ودراسة ملخص البحث البحث هو جمع لأحاديث قنوت النوازل ثم دراستها من جهة الإسناد وبيان حکمها صحتة وضعفا، ثم دراستها من جهة الأحکام التي تدل عليها. بدأ البحث بمقدمة وفيها بيان أهمية الموضوع وأن [القنوت في النوازل] مسألة مهمة من مسائل الصلاة فالقنوت عمل يحصل داخل الصلاة، ولذلک وجب على المصلي أن يتعلم أحکامه، وما جاءت السنة فيه من بيان کيفيته ومکانه ومتى يشرع، فالاهتمام ببيان أحکام القنوت هو من الاهتمام بالصلاة نفسها. ثم بينت بعد ذلک أسباب اختيار الموضوع منبها لقلة الکتب المؤلفة في هذا الموضوع، وذکرت بعد ذلک الدراسات السابقة. وذکرت بعد ذلک خطة البحث وأنه يتکون من مقدمة وأربعة فصول، أما المقدمة فسبق توضيح ما فيها. أما الفصل الأول فهو في تخريج الأحاديث والکلام عليها، وقد خرجت الأحاديث فيه تخريجا مطولا مبينا حکمها ومناقشا ما فيها من علل أو من زيادات في الألفاظ ونحو ذلک، وکذلک أتکلم على رواة الإسناد مبينا منزلتهم وقد أطيل في بعض التراجم عند الحاجة لذلک. والفصل الثاني: في بيان فقه هذه الأحاديث، وفيه مبحثان، المبحث الأول: في بيان مجمل لألفاظ الأحاديث وغريبها، حيث بينت معنى القنوت في اللغة والمصطلح، وکذلک معنى النازلة. وأما المبحث الثاني فقد بينت فيه فقه هذه الأحاديث وما يستفاد منها. Search summary Search is a collection of Hadith prostrating then studied hand attribution and authenticity and vulnerable ruling statement ، Then study the provisions hand evidenced. The search began with an introduction in which the importance of the topic and that [qunoot at times of calamity] important matters to pray qunoot work get into prayer ، Thus the Chapel to learn its provisions ، And when the year came from and how and where and when the statement prescribed ، Concern for the provisions of qunoot is attention to prayer itself.. Then Bennett then causes an alert to theme a few books on this topic ، Then said previous studies. Then said the research plan and it consists of an introduction and four chapters ، Either made it already clarify including. The first chapter is In the graduation speech and conversations on them, came when conversations at length, discussing and explaining the derivation of the ills or increases in profanity and so on, as well as speak on the cross have approved their narrated showing which dwell in some Translations if needed. Chapter II : In a statement the jurisprudence of these discourses ، Faithful subjects ، The first section : In a statement outlining its amazing conversations and words ، Where indicated meaning qunoot in language and terminology ، As well as the sense of calamity. As the second episode which showed the jurisprudence of these discourses and utilized.

Role of forensic odontology in the Indian Armed Forces: An unexplored arena.

Forensic odontology (FO) is a branch of forensic medicine that in the interest of justice deals with proper handling and examination of dental evidence. Teeth can survive in most conditions encountered at death and during decomposition, even when the body is exposed to extreme forces and/or temperatures. FO is being practiced worldwide since 1775, after which it has not only become an integral part of the judicial system of the developed countries but also been adopted by the armed forces and investigative agencies of these countries. In India, the awareness of FO is gaining pace since the last decade after the establishment of various organizations and the Dental Council of India making it a part of the curriculum. However, its identity as an individual endeavour is still to be established. Awareness and applicability of FO in the Indian Defense Forces would be of great help for better and accurate record keeping of the dedicated and vigilant warriors of our army. These records will be of great help for easy recognition of our army men at the time of calamities, wars, and other difficulties. It would also be useful in the identification of terrorists who enter our country and travel easily in disguise.

Landslide Inventory Using Knowledge Based Multi-sources Classification Time Series Mapping: A Case Study of Central Region of Kenya

Advances in classification using multispectral remote sensing imagery have gained increasing attention in solving environmental problems, and the management of disasters such as floods and landslides, due to their wide coverage and enabling ease of access in times of calamities. Multispectral data has facilitated the mapping of soils, land-cover, and structural geology, all of which are factors affecting landslide occurrence. The main aim of this research was to map landslide-affected areas using remote sensing techniques for the central region of Kenya, where landslide disasters are common occurrences. The study area has a highly rugged terrain, and rainfall has been the main trigger of recent landslide events. False colour composite (FCC), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Independent Component Analysis (ICA), spectral indices in the form of Normalised Difference Index (NDI), and knowledge-based classification formed the methodology. PCA and ICA were performed on Landsat data sets, and the components with the most geologic information after factor loading analysis were chosen to be used in a colour composite. The blue component of the colour composite was a spectral index involving bands 7 and 3 for Landsat ETM+, or bands 7 and 4 for Landsat OLI. The FCC formed the inputs for knowledge based classification with the following 13 classes: runoff, extreme erosions, other erosions, landslide areas, highly erodible, stable, weathering rocks, agriculture, green, new forest regrowth areas, as well as clear, turbid, and salty water. Validation of the mapped landslide areas with field GPS locations of landslide affected areas showed that 66% and 62% of the points coincided well with landslide areas mapped in the years 2000 and 2014, respectively. The classification maps showed extreme erosions taking place along drainage channels and other erosions in agricultural areas; with highly eroble zones charchaterised by already weathered rocks or deposit area, while fluvial deposits mainly characterised runoff areas. Thus, landuse and rainfall processes play a major role in landslide processes in the study area.

Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Natural Calamities by Residents in a Flood-Prone Community: A Case in Leyte, Philippines

Residents in disaster-prone areas use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to cope with risks. This study was conducted in a flood prone barangay of Palo, Leyte to determine the informants’ use of ICTs in natural calamities. Following the grounded theory approach, the 23 informants were chosen using snowball sampling and were interviewed using an in-depth interview guide. The theoretical model generated from the data showed that in this flood-prone community, residents are exposed to various information sources that they use in the different phases of the disaster for various reasons. Although informants’ reasons for accessing and using ICTs were not primarily related to their use in times of disasters, their good access to these technologies proved useful in times of calamities. ICTs have also proven as crucial means of communication especially in giving residents warnings of an incoming disaster and in surviving and recovering from the disaster. Results suggest the need to enhance ICT access among residents and officials in disaster-prone communities.

The Cultural Meaning of Disaster: Remarks on Gregory Button's Work

AbstractAfter the two major nuclear disasters I have witnessed in my life, Chernobyl and Fukushima, I experienced uncertainty that seemed stronger than fear, anger or panic. In George Button's excellent work I found my personal experience of uncertainty explained as a cultural phenomenon that indeed prevails after all natural and manmade disasters. He has been studying disasters for over 30 years as an academic and a reporter. He covered and reported on, for example, the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster, the Exxon Valdes oil spill, and Hurricane Katrina. His book tells a powerful story about US disasters and their cultural aspects. However, I think that Button's research methodology and his findings can be applied to the Japanese situation as well. On the one hand, his book can serve as a warning on how not to act in the face of calamity if we want our culture to survive the suffering, and, on the other, it can serve as inspiration for domestic research on the most recent Japanese calamity. Button is interested in the way a disaster becomes a cultural, social and political phenomenon where uncertainty prevails and his focus on uncertainty as a main category seems to be a pioneering attempt that his book extends from previous studies. He focuses on uncertainty as an experience of affected people as well as the politics of uncertainty inflected in a time of calamity and finds that the two aspects are correlative.