ABSTRACT
Chapter 17 takes its cue from social scientific debates regarding the modern fear of risk. It explores participatory processes to help people discuss and decide how to balance risks and anticipated futures. The aim is for people to adjust their plans based on what they confidently know about the past and present, the likelihood of certain events happening and the relative value of different possible outcomes. For illustrative purposes, the authors focus on disaster relief and risk reduction (DR-RR), using a flexible methodology developed and tested in close collaboration with the Camillian Order and its Disaster Service (tasked with offering training and promoting psychosocial support for intelligent and effective care in emergency situations around the world). The proposed DR-RR inquiry highlights tools not presented earlier, namely Hazards and Contribution and Feasibility. They are used in combination with a variety of PAR tools presented in previous chapters. The process supports the creation of plans that communities and national or international organizations can use to improve disaster relief efforts while also helping people at risk build capacities for harm reduction and self-preservation.
