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國際 RI 與總監事務 3
Unnatural disasters eruptions, and extreme storms, drought,
and flooding occur because of natural
processes on Earth. But it is how these
In December, I will attend the United Nations events affect people or the environment that
COP28 climate change summit in Dubai, has the potential to make them a disaster
United Arab Emirates. There, I will speak — outcomes influenced by human factors
about the convergence of two global crises: like where people live, what types of homes
climate and mental health. As the World they have, political instability, and the lack
Health Organization has noted, climate of proactive measures to protect vulnerable
change worsens risk factors — such as communities. A disaster is the result of
disruptions to homes and livelihoods — systemic inequalities in access to resources
for mental health problems. The emotional and power. Where we live and how much
distress of a disaster also makes it difficult money we have often determinesour ability
for people to recover and rebuild. to recover. The people worst affected are
Rotary partner ShelterBox is an international those living in poverty, with the least means
disaster relief charity that has helped to protect themselves and few resources to
more than 2.5 million displaced people withstand the next event.
in approximately 100 countries with By framing these events as natural, we
emergency shelter, essential household undermine the need for proactive measures
items, and technical support. I wish to share to protect vulnerable communities, masking
this month’s column with their CEO, Sanj the underlying social, economic, and
Srikanthan, who explains that the words we political instability that makes marginalized
choose to describe disasters matter. a nd d i s adv a n t age d c omm unit ie s
— gordon mcinally disproportionately affected. Our teams
see firsthand how issues like inequality,
poverty, urbanization, deforestation, and the
he term “natural” disaster has long climate crisis can make communities more
T been used to describe tropical storms, vulnerable.
floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, At ShelterBox, we simply say “disaster”
but there needs to be an urgent shift in or are more specific, describing the
the language we use. While the term may extreme weather, earthquake, tsunami, or
seem harmless, and we’ve not always gotten volcanic eruption. I urge everyone to help
it right, we’ve learned through our work us in breaking this cycle by committing to
with disasteraffected communities how it language that accurately reflects why people
perpetuates a dangerous myth that nothing are affected so badly.
could have been done to prevent people Only then does it pave the way to address
being so badly affected. This misleading and the underlying causes of vulnerability and
harmful narrative can lead to a lack of action work toward a more just and equitable
to help people who need it. future for all, with the necessary investment,
The language we use matters. When resources, and proactive measures to help
we frame disasters as natural, we fail to protect affected communities.
acknowledge the complex interplay between Disasters are not natural. Let’s stop saying
nature and the role of human actions and they are.
how they impact communities around the
world. GORDON R. MCINALLY
Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic President, Rotary International
2023. 12-1 總監月刊
