Technofix paradigm - class

Question 1

Characteristics of technofix paradigm

Answer 1

• Purely modernist; control nature, power of rationality, systematic research, rigidness
• Focused on formal knowledge; hard and fast rules over cultural local knowledge; one size fits all approach which is not always working because of context influences.
• All hazards approach: prepared for any type of disaster; principles for fighting floods are the same as wildfires. In detail they are different, but the organizational principle is the same. There are various debates on this and whether that is effective or if a context-based approach would be more effective.

Question 2

Technofix approach in emergency aid brings in army engineering. What does this mean?

Answer 2

Army assisting in humanitarian aid because:
o We need their equipment
o They have military engineering and knowledge on aid

Question 3

What are weaknesses of army engineering in aid?

Answer 3

o Better at destroying than at saving
o Political decision making/mandate decides.
o Mostly not lean and mean; bring big and fast engineering but are not very subtle e.g. driving through local agricultural fields which contain peoples livelihoods without being aware
o Disaster response is not their main task.
o Lack of cultural awareness
o Often technical solutions instead of social/comprehensive solutions

Question 4

What is the difference between structural and nonstructural measures?

Answer 4

• (infra) Structural (hard) measures – prevention: Flood walls, hard or mobile defenses, barriers, shelters and camps
• Non (infra)structural (soft) measures – mitigation: Land use planning, some areas may flood, flood warning, insurance, flood steps, disaster kits

Question 5

What are Natech disasters?

Answer 5

Natural hazards that cause damage to instillations resulting in loss of containment and so-called natural hazard triggered technological accidents&raquo_space; e.g oil spill because of earthquake.

Question 6

Two ways of post-disaster recovery

Answer 6

1) Emergency humanitarian relief: focuses on responding to the immediate need for restoration of basic services, medical treatment and medical supplies, food and temporary shelter, and is a short term effort.
2) Reconstruction of permanent houses: continuous process that often requires decades of effort to return a community to normality.

Whilst emergency relief is generally perceived to be very effective, post-disaster housing reconstruction projects often fail to meet their set objectives.

Question 7

What are some points of failure in reconstruction in post-disaster according to SADIQUE ET AL, 2012?

Answer 7

• Lack of community engagement
• Problems with community participation: ideas might not be realistic
• Relocation issues – space vs place debate
• Fraudulent and corrupt use and waste of funds
• Ignoring local needs and culture – refusement of housing by locals