Dr Min Hee Go | Rethinking Community Resilience after Climate Catastrophe

02/18/22 • 20 min

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In this episode of ClimateGenn I am speaking with Dr Minnie Go about her recent book ‘Rethinking Community Resilience’ looking in detail at how the city of New Orleans emerged from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.

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Minnie’s work looks at how the dynamics between civic groups and governing bodies can determine very different outcomes.

Distrust of government by those most impacted communities meant they worked hard and fast to repair the damage to the same standards experienced before Katrina hit.

A better-informed approach would have looked at what was necessary to protect them against future impacts that the science tells us are increasing in power and frequency.

Minnie’s work gives us insight into how civic groups and communities are likely to become more resilient based on the characteristics and efficacy of regional government.

In the next episode, I am speaking to Sir Tim Smit, who created the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK just over 20 years ago.

Sir Tim discusses how the Eden Project has developed and become a shop window for initiatives that are going to be key to our survival in the coming years as climate closes in.

Thanks for listening to ClimateGenn - please do consider supporting the series via Patreon and/or following on any of the podcast channels or Youtube. Feedback is always welcome too so don’t hesitate to get in touch. I will try my best to respond.

Support ClimateGenn on Patreon: https://patreon.com/genncc and visit our website at https://genn.cc

Minnie’s work looks at how the dynamics between civic groups and governing bodies can determine very different outcomes.

Distrust of government by those most impacted communities meant they worked hard and fast to repair the damage to the same standards experienced before Katrina hit.

A better-informed approach would have looked at what was necessary to protect them against future impacts that the science tells us are increasing in power and frequency.

Minnie’s work gives us insight into how civic groups and communities are likely to become more resilient based on the characteristics and efficacy of regional government.

In the next episode, I am speaking to Sir Tim Smit, who created the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK just over 20 years ago.

Sir Tim discusses how the Eden Project has developed and become a shop window for initiatives that are going to be key to our survival in the coming years as climate closes in.

Previous Episode

Population, Consumption & Climate Change | Dr Paul Behrens

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In this episode of ClimateGenn I am speaking to Dr Paul Behrens about the complexity of population, consumption and climate change.

Support this channel on Patreon: https://patreon.com/genncc (website: https://genn.cc)

In his book, ‘The Best of Times, The Worst of Times’ Paul addresses population, presenting both a pessimistic potential outcome, and also a more hopeful outcome based on a set of choices that we, especially those of us in wealthier high emitting countries, can make to improve the chances for a better future.

One big barrier to a better future is the growing narrative that stokes fears about migration. The propagating of these myths falls under the title of econativism, a term that Paul both defines and discusses in some detail.

Population and migration are critical and controversial issues and when placed in the context of continually rising emissions and consequent impacts, they stress the need for reflection on how we value our own life and the lives of all those around us.

In the next episode I am speaking to Dr Min Hee Go in South Korea about her recent book ‘Rethinking Community Resilience’ that looks at the politics of disaster recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Minnie’s research highlights the necessity to not just build back from catastrophe but also how we must ensure community resilience, as the frequency and extremity of these events increase.

Thank you for listening to ClimateGenn. You can follow this series on all major podcast channels, on Youtube, on my website at GENN.cc and you can follow and support on Patreon.

Next Episode

Sir Tim Smit | Eden Projects for the future (come the revolution!)

In this ClimateGenn episode, I am speaking with Eden Project founder, Sir Tim Smit about the stories that need to be told to create the future we want to have.

Please consider supporting this work via a small subscription via https://patreon.com/genncc

Sir Tim sees the now as a moment of great revolution that is emerging from what he calls the new green enlightenment. With world leaders of low-calibre and backward thinking, it is right to ask from whence will these great game-changers emerge?

If you have just got your head around exponential climate change then why not have a go at exponential biosphere healing? With 20th century style aggression erupting in Europe, it will take a leap of great faith and hope to keep the lantern burning in these dark dystopian times.

Some key quotes:

i. “I am at a real sea change with Eden."
ii. “A very rapid reappraisal is necessary of the whole world of science, of scientific research, the way it is funded...”

iii. “Our disrespect for biology has led to many of the pickles we are now in.”
iv. “I think we are living at a time of great revolution... in twenty years time we will be looking at this as the start of a new green enlightenment.”

v. “I know many many top business people who feel they would not like to do anything other than have a shower after they have been with many bankers!”
vi. “I have met very few leaders who are champions of citizenship. They see leadership as being about being decisive!”

Vii. “I see us a shop window on a future that is still ours to make!”

Thank you for listening to ClimateGenn where we explore the reality of what to do, and how to come to terms with such a severely changing world. You can support this work via https://patreon.com/genncc or by subscribing on any major podcast channel and Youtube. Please also consider sharing any episodes of interest.