Turning Disasters Into Peacemaking Opportunities

1
Turning Disasters Into Peacemaking Opportunities

• Chapter 7

2
Defining Natural and Un-Natural Disasters

• No place on Earth is immune to natural disasters.
  
• Natural disasters are often the product of
  hydrological, geological, or meteorological
  events.
• A combination of human-related factors including
  ecosystem destruction, climate change and
  population growth have been part of the cause of
  un natural disasters
• An Un Natural disaster is a natural disturbance
  made worse by human activities.
• Coral destruction on coastline allowed waves to
  become more powerful when they hit land.

3
The Connection Between Disasters and Conflicts

• This chapter talks about why some disasters do
  not bring peace makers or help.
• Some disasters are too small or have a slow onset
  do not grab the drama necessary to grab the
  worlds attention for intervention and help.
• Some disasters such as drought do not attract the
  peacemaking abilities that would by a hurricane
  or tsunami

4
Storm Clouds and Silver Linings

• Natural disasters both rapid and slow onset such
  as floods and droughts can undermine livelihoods
  and compromise human security.
• May trigger social conflicts as well
• Disasters create heavy economic tolls on the
  countries hit by natural disasters
• In divided societies, conflicts may arise if
  relief is seen as a tool for favors to a group or
  community.
• Resettlement post disasters may also create
  conflicts between feuding groups.
• Disasters may create new conflicts in the midst
  of peacekeeping operations

5
Aceh Breaking the Logjam

• Post-Tsunami Aceh stated peacemaking operations
  to end the 30 year conflict
• Political centralization and exploitation of
  natural resources stated and remain at the center
  of conflict
• Humanitarian effort in Aceh after the 2004
  tsunami kick started efforts to remove military
  influence in the government and the conflict.
• An August 2005 peace agreement with Aceh included
  human rights, amnesty, reintegration, security,
  economy and political participation. Enabled the
  government have more freedom.

6
Sri Lanka Neither War Nor Peace

• Sri Lanka was torn in half by civil war until
  1983 until a cease fire was reached
• The cease fire however was focused on only two
  groups of the country instead of all, including
  the Buddhist and Muslim parties
• Post Tsunami called for national unity and
  started cooperation from all groups.
• Rifts between LTTE ( Liberation Tigers of Tamil
  Eelam) and the governing party were not
  forgotten.
• A Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure
  in 2005 brought together the fighting groups plus
  others to reconcile and bring their country
  together from the Tsunami

7
Humanitarian and Environmental Peacekeeping

• Humanitarian efforts must be transformed into
  political change by addressing the base of
  conflicts and creating tasks to change conflict
  to peace
• Environmental restoration after disasters is
  important because it aids a vulnerable ecosystem
  which has been weakened during a natural disaster
• Peacekeeping operations are one of a kind. They
  either aid in the change from conflict to peace
  or they can deepen the conflict between feuding
  societies