Occurrence of complex optical and chemical zoning in pyroxenes of the Tertiary-Quaternary lavas from the Oku massif, the Cameroon Volcanic Line: implications for magma evolution

Konfor Njilah, Moundi Amidou , Temdjim Robert , Nzolang Charles, Tessi Valere and Momene Brigette

The chemical composition of pyroxenes in the Tertiary-Quaternary lavas of the Oku massif was determined. Growth patterns in clinopyroxene exhibi­ting both oscillatory and hour-glass zoning have been shown to be accompanied by distinct compositional variations. Spot and traverse analysis of the different pyroxene phases furnished data concerning the nucle­ation and growth of the crystals in relation to magma evolution. The bimodal and trimodal size distribution of almost all the mineral phases and the occurrence of both normal, reverse and oscillatory zoned crystals in the same samples suggest that the crystals did not originate in the same liquid. The disequilibrium that exists at the solid-liquid interface during rapid crystal growth and the diffusion halo created thereof is thought to be responsible for the simultaneous develo­pment of hour-glass and oscillatory zones in the clinopyroxenes. Normal zoning is consistent with cry­st­­allisation processes while reverse zoning sug­gests that magma mixing had taken place. From the mor­phology and mineral chemistry of the various pyrox­ene phases, it is clear that more than one magma chambers exist under Mt. Oku where pulses of magma were injected into them at intermittent intervals.

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Preventing intentional disasters by investigating the security of chemical industrial areas

Reniers G.L.L. and Audenaert A.

Chemical industrial areas or so-called chem­ical clusters consist of various companies situated next to each other. Such areas are composed of hund­reds of chemical installations exhibiting dang­er to a certain degree for initiating or continuing knock-on eff­ects. In this article, such clusters are mode­lled as networks and a theoretical methodology to investigate their network characteristics is sugg­ested. This novel prop­osed approach leads to the conclusion that these are­as display in some cases small world behaviour an­d offer a tool to prioritize industrial clusters as reg­ards such behaviour. Cons­ide­ring parameters such as the size of the area and the efficiency of risk analysis performances in the area, the security of industrial areas can be carried out in a more mathematical way. As a result, security measures can be based on (more objective) quantit­ative data, complementary to (curre­nt­ly widespread) qualitative security vulnerabi­lity an­a­lyses.

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Configuring Disaster Risk Reduction into Development Processes

Chauhan Sunil

Development is undoubtedly a core national interest and an essential goal of nations the world over. However, development processes affect vulner­ability and disaster risk in considerable ways and have a huge impact, both positive and negative, on disaster risk, in kind of a ‘push-pull’, ‘see-saw’ relati­on­ship. Any development activity has the pote­ntial to either increase or decrease the disaster risk, while dis­a­sters severely limit development and set back development programs and at the same time pr­ovide many development opportunities. The evolu­tion of the understanding of disaster risks by societies itself establishes its link with development. The current trends indicate that rush for ‘development’ is generating new disaster risks and the development policy and programming are not explicitly configured for risk reduction. With recent activism in disaster preparedness, much progress has been made on mitigation and response improvement, but these do not comprehensively address the deve­lopment issues that are shaping disaster risk in the first place. While adequate measures are being put in place for creating awareness, mitigation and prepa­redness, an area that is posing a challenge the world over, is mainstream­ing disaster risk reduction into development. Though the linkages between devel­opment processes and disaster risk are not difficult to visualize, predicting the outcome of development pro­je­ct is complex in the absence of predictive models which are difficult to develop because of the intricate relationship and interplay between the various para­meters and var­iables of development and disaster risk. This paper attempts to examine the link between development and disaster risk and the cause effect relationship between disaster risk and development and put forth recommendations on configuring risk reduction into development processes.

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“Jevon’s Paradox: The Case of India”

Polimeni John M. and Ray Chandrasekara

Jevons’ Paradox hypothesizes that natural resource usage increases despite more efficient technological improvements. Since natural resources are used to produce energy and consumer goods, understanding how more efficient technological improvements affect resource usage is important for policymakers. India is a very interesting case study because they are one of the fastest growing econo­mies, as well as one of the largest populations, in the world. To feed this economic growth and their population, a substantial amount of resource consum­ption is necessary. If India exhibits Jevons’ Paradox, then, due to scarce energy resources, the repercussi­ons will be felt worldwide. In this paper, we will em­p­irically show that Jevons’ Paradox is likely in existence India, the reasons for the presence of the paradox, the resulting public policy implications and the applications for sustainable economic develo­pment policies.

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Psychosocial Care and ELII Approach

Newport Jeyanth K. and Godfrey G.P.Jawahar

The practice of psychological support before, during and after a disaster has been initiated fifty years back in developed countries and two decades before in India. A systematic intervention of psycho­logical support in the form of disaster mental health, trauma counseling, crisis intervention and psycho­social care is very new in the Indian context. After tsunami many International Non Government Organi­zations (INGOs) through the local partners (NGOs) initiated disaster mental health for the victims. For long term rehabilitation there is a definite need of psychosocial care for the victims. As psychosocial care interventions are always invisible, the approach should be specific in rebuilding the individual as well as the community. The ELII approach suggested is more specific in planning the rebuilding process.

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Disaster and Media: A Critical Analysis

Mohapatra Niharika

Over the last few years the world has had a surfeit of disasters. It is through the media that the people who are left behind, abandoned by the forces that were supposed to save them, are under intense scrutiny of the mass media. In this sense disasters have been democratized. But the question is do all the crisis command equal attention of the media and its camera? So, how do the media, which by its definition and profession, claim them to be informers of facts to the public operate at collective risk? Is the coverage done by media for social commitment or because of the pressures generated by intensifying competition? Is it’s reporting superficial or the media really understands the pain, agony and trauma undergone by the affected people in the catastrophe?

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