CMNS325Nicholas Siu

200067360

Final Design. April 6, 2011.

Natural Disasters affect our world every day, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, volcanic explosions, droughts, etc. In the wake of the recent Japan earthquake and the Sendai Tsunami of March 10th 2011, we have seen one of the most damaging natural disasters, in our lifetime. In the aftermath of the disaster, what we see in the media is the cooperation of a whole nation to save those alive and rebuild. In comparison to other natural disasters this really sheds light on how people react in the aftermath of these situations. In the Hurricane Katrina, August 2005, in the aftermath stories of mass looting, carjacking, and violence ensued just days after the disaster[1]. On the other side of the world where a Tsunami hit Phuket on December, 2004, similar, but not to the same extent, of looting took place[2]. However in both cases, the governments have placed emphasis on maintaining peace with Military and heavy Police presence. In the Chilean earthquake of 2010, in Concepción, Military intervention was implemented to bring order back to the area after this disaster[3].

Similarly the Sechuan Earthquake in China, 2008, few cases of crime and looting[4] took place, but it was not as widely heard about, perhaps this is due to our lack of information getting out to the world population. In more recent events, Japan was hit with an 8.9 Magnitude earthquake in March 2011. The city of Sendai, Japan was leveled from the Tsunami waves. Counts of the lives lost in the disaster are still rising. Faced with such devastation, the Japanese people have yet to resort to such issues. Some journalists are linking it to culture. A Chinese teacher in Japan explains that the Japanese are taught at a very young age how to be polite and even have classes on this teaching[5]. The Japanese have been praised by their politeness and orderly conduct under such crisis[6].

In light of this information, many people begin to wonder what and why in such events, has some areas experience extreme disorder where as in others there is less. What may happen in different areas? What triggers people to react in these ways? Under what circumstances or cultural differences does it make people act in certain ways? As Canadians how would we react in such crisis? What can we do to promote similar effects of the Japanese? Is it even possible?

There is defiantly a connection between how the population may react during a crisis and social economic issues in the area. The Gini Coefficient, the gap between the rich and the poor maybe the most threatening risk to a peaceful and orderly population during a crisis.

In the list below are other inducing factors that should be taken into account.

Poverty – Social Economic – Gini Coefficient.

Diversity of Population

Crime Rate – Legal/Illegal weapons

Lack or timely aid in crises

Cultural – Education, politeness, social cohesion.

Although there maybe more aggregating factors, to this equation, how can we utilize this information to help our own people and governments learn from lessons of Japan’s Earthquake and Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath?

After reviewing how to approach these sensitive issues I’ve thought that the best way to approach is though the young. For my visualization I have created a booklet to educate the general population in Canada, particularly in British Columbia, as we have been waiting for a major earthquake for some time now. Its target is at youth, ages 15-25 as they would be prime candidates in changing the way people think. The booklet is in a genre and fun style that is easy to understand. Older adults may see their compassion and follow suit. The reason behind a booklet is because an illustrated booklet will engage the reader instead of simply being steps or words on a page. They can envision themselves in these situations, which make it more real.

After gathering additional information and comparing the information, I found that in the situation for Vancouver, we lay right in between the Japan Earthquake and Hurricain Katrina Event, meaning we may experience: some looting, thus government and policing will be needed at a moderate-high level. Because of our diversity in culture there may be some issues in areas that have a high population in visual minorities. There is also fairly even gap between the Gini coefficient and the crime rate is moderate to low, thus disaster crime rate maybe uncommon.

In light of this research I have developed a small booklet to be given to the residents of Vancouver for the preparation of a Natural Disaster. This booklet is called “The Art of Etiquette in a Natural Disaster,” in the booklet I have written specific etiquette techniques for young gentlemen and women to partake during the aftermath of a natural disaster. “The characteristics of all media, means that the content of any medium is always another medium” (Manghani, et al p246). The booklet was designed to help people cope in such dire times but also to change the frame of thinking and helping others, to socially change how people see each other in the light of such disasters. It helps to prove that we are able to change the way people think of each other and deal with each other, maybe not even on a natural disaster scale, but even day to day.

The booklet could be published and given to high school and university students across the province of BC. This would be a good way to get students and young adults thinking about these issues at hand.

In the booklet I have attempted to connect the issues may be the cause of instability and unrest with affected populations in the aftermath of an earthquake to the booklet. Although the words may not say it directly, some of the illustrations help to address these issues in a less direct way. Below is a list of etiquette techniques and how I’ve addressed them in the booklet.

-“Helping the elderly and young if no emergency services are available.”

  • Touches on politeness and getting people help or even something to do in these situations. This gives people something to take their mind off things and work on the problems and issues at hand. The drawing shows an elderly and young toddler which may need help in such situations. A young adult could spend their time more wisely helping out these people.

-“Give priority to critically injured.”

  • Again this image deals with politeness and ensuring emergency services are used wisely to help those who are critically incurred.

-“Share with others in time of need.”

  • This image works with the social economic and diversity of population. Giving to those who are maybe not as well off or are in need of food or shelter during these times. Offering food and shelter can really change the way people act in these situations and lighten the mood. Also, the image has a woman sharing with a man, which addresses the diversity issue, as we want everyone to help every type of ethnicity. “Race, in this imagery, is not a matter of skin color, of physical characteristics as the expression of a biological or natural essence… but rather of style, of the colour of skin…” (Manghani, et al., p262). Lury discusses that images that Beneton created in the 90’s ads where touching on how people wore their skin colour, fashionably with other colour. This holds true with the booklet, the issue of diversity needs to be addressed, and although subtly addressed in the booklet, different types of people are interacting with each other in each image that may not have in the first place. We are looking at the overall situation and how people cope in these situations by bringing their diversity to help one another.

-“Be patient and wait for emergency services.”

  • This addresses the lack of timely aid in crises. If timely aid is not administered quickly to those who need it, many may resort to crime as we saw in Hurricane Katrina to get the things they need. The image used touches on being orderly and waiting for services to come.

-“Don’t go into damaged buildings or areas.”

  • The imaged used subtly addresses two issues, ensuring that people do not enter dangerous areas, but also crime in disaster areas such as looting. The characters are telling the person with a loot bag, not to go into the building, but also addressing crime and looting.

-“Share a little love, we all need a peace of mind in these hard times.”

  • This image addresses social cohesion and politeness again. Aid offered with food and shelter are critical, but we forget that these situations can cause very traumatic episodes for people, sharing a shoulder to cry on, a ear to listen, or even a shoulder to cry on can comfort people.

Works Cited:

Manghani, Sunil and Piper, A. & Simons J. (2006) Images: A reader. London: Sage Publications Ltd.

Footnoted Sources:

BBC News (2010), Chile troops takle earthquake looters. Last accessed at April 4th 2011, Retrieved From:

CBC News Online, (2005). Hurricane Katrina Timeline. Last accessed at April 4th 2011, Retrieved From:

China Daily, (2008). 36 Quake looters arrested in Sichuan Province Police Arrests 36 People for Looting. Last accessed at April 4th 2011, Retrieved From:

Chinasmack.com (2011). Chinese Netizens Admire Japan's Post-Earthquake Behaviour. Last accessed at April 4th 2011, Retrieved From:

Phuket Gazette, (2005) 13 Looters arrested in Patong. Last accessed at April 4th 2011, Retrieved From:

[1] Hurricane Katrina Timeline

[2] Phuket Gazette, Tsunami:

[3] Police Tackle Looting:

[4] Police Arrests 36 People for Looting:

[5]Interview by a HongKong Journalist. (In Cantonese).

[6] Japan’s Post-earthquake behaviour