Donnerstag, 22. Dezember 2011

Montag, 19. Dezember 2011

A very good video- documentation about refugees

http://www.prosieben.at/tv/galileo/videos/ganze-folge/248926-galileo-spezial-die-unsichtbare-mauer-1.2999585/

Dienstag, 6. Dezember 2011

Possible Safe Zones - Factors and Locations

In an attempt to develop possible safe zones for displaced persons during future disasters four main factors have been taken into consideration, tsunami danger zones, terrain, location of major cities, and location/proximity to nuclear power plants. The tsunami danger zones are located along the coast with the highest risk areas being within 3 kilometers of the eastern and southern coastline. Bays and water inlets created by Japans many islands make for areas that are less susceptible to tsunamis. Japans terrain is extremely mountainous making usable land for development and agriculture sparse. 
The majority of Japan's major cities are located along the coast and in lower elevation areas. Larger city developments such as the Tokyo and Osaka metro areas are concentrated in coastal regions at the inner most point of bay areas.
Nuclear power plants are also located along the coast due to the need for water in the nuclear power production process. The disaster at Fukushima Daiichi showed that areas with in 30 kilometers are at high risk of unsafe radiation levels in the event of a nuclear disaster. Zones up to 50 kilometers have a moderate risk to humans, while zones up 100 kilometers present risk of soil and food contamination. 
The combination of these factors presents a view of areas less likely to be effected by disaster, both natural and nuclear. 

Mittwoch, 30. November 2011

Haiti - Port au Prince

problems in the camps and their dependencies
selforganisation of the camps
Due to lack of organization of the state, the tent cities have developed itself into a political system. In the refugee camps, there are so-called tent-mayor and a cabinet which stands to the side (culture, sports, health, women and social affairs). Not all mayors were elected, accepted and are able, but they play an important rule for stability in the camps and for the communication between the various tent cities. In collaboration with the organizations they form a kind of "mini-governments".
 
slums near Pétionville
economy: history and activity


invertion of urban space
populated area (before the earthquake)

space occupied by the tent cities


Mapping the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster

Following the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami was the destruction and subsequent meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The plant, located on the eastern coast of Honshu in the Fukushima prefecture, was devastated by the size and power of the tsunami. The power plant reactors were designed to handle 6 meter high tsunami levels while the Tohoku Tsunami was recorded at levels of up to 10 meters. Between March 15 and 21 the level of radiation emitted from the Fukushima Nuclear Plant was recorded and tracked. The map below charts the movement of radiation due to wind patterns. 
These wind patterns caused nuclear particles to settle in the regions around Fukushima. The radiation levels noted below are the accumulated levels over the course of the week following the explosions at the Fukushima Nuclear Plant.
 This map shows the correlation between wind patterns and radiation levels during this period.

Mapping the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami

Japan is situated at the convergence point of four tectonic plates. Its location makes it a prime point for geological phenomenon such as earthquakes, volcanic activity. The four main islands of Japan are mostly mountainous terrain with the major cities located in the lower lying wetlands and coastal regions. 
During a five day period between March 11 and 15, and after the 9.0 magnitude Tohoku Earthquake, a number of aftershocks were recorded by the US Geological Survey, Natural Hazards Support System. The Largest of the aftershocks was a magnitude 7.4 while most other ranged between 4.0 and 7.0.
The intensity of the Tohoku Earthquake as felt on land ranged from greater than 5.5 magnitude to greater than 7.0 magnitude along the eastern coast of Japan.
An earthquake of this proportion has many effects one being the shift of land mass. As recorded by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Honshu, Japan's largest island, had land shifts ranging from 5.3m nearest the epicenter to 7.0cm in the southwest regions.
Another effect of the Tohoku Earthquake was the tsunami that followed. The Tohoku Tsunami reportedly made land fall in as little as 9 min after the occurrence of the earthquake. The map below shows the tsunami's movement over 15 hrs as it flows outward across the Pacific Ocean. The land along the east coast of japan, with in the inner most ring, was hit by the tsunami with in 30 min of the quake.

Donnerstag, 24. November 2011

Haiti - Port au Prince

Illustration of the structures of the refugee camps








analysis of the camp structures and the self-organization;
spontaneous sales stands and concentration of people


Devastation caused by the tsunami/Changes in refugee centre numbers

The destruction caused by the tsunami on various places along the cost of Japan.






Changes in the refugee centre population in each Prefecture overtime with a comparison to the overall population staying in refugee centres.

Dadaab Refugee Camps