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In the Eye of the Storm: The connection between extreme weather events and human trafficking in the case of typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Truger, Andrea LU (2015) HEKM50 20152
Human Ecology
Abstract
Considering climate change, the continuous degradation of the environment, and the uneven distribution of resources, this research project aims to shed light on the social vulnerability of people experiencing extreme weather events and possible connections to social phenomena. Specifically, this project focuses on how vulnerability to extreme weather events affects vulnerability to human trafficking.

The research case is the Philippines, and more precisely, typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in November 2013. Semi-structured expert interviews were conducted and contextualised with scientific literature and the researcher’s own experiences from a stay in the Philippines in 2013. The theoretical framework of human and political... (More)
Considering climate change, the continuous degradation of the environment, and the uneven distribution of resources, this research project aims to shed light on the social vulnerability of people experiencing extreme weather events and possible connections to social phenomena. Specifically, this project focuses on how vulnerability to extreme weather events affects vulnerability to human trafficking.

The research case is the Philippines, and more precisely, typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in November 2013. Semi-structured expert interviews were conducted and contextualised with scientific literature and the researcher’s own experiences from a stay in the Philippines in 2013. The theoretical framework of human and political ecology, especially the concept of vulnerability, serves as the basis for the analysis and provides insights into factors and root causes that determine vulnerability.

The findings of the study indicate that there is a connection between extreme weather events and human trafficking, although the actual extent cannot be defined, due to the multifactor complexity of causalities and the illicit nature of human trafficking. Various factors were determined such as poverty, migration and education to play an important role in the connection between vulnerability to extreme weather events and vulnerability to human trafficking. Accordingly, the findings show that extreme weather events create new vulnerabilities and reinforce existing ones which can pave the way for human trafficking. Thus, extreme weather events can be seen as a push factor for human trafficking. Furthermore, the study discusses how global environmental and social injustice and climate change affect extreme weather events and human trafficking. The study clearly shows that the root causes of climate change, social vulnerability and human trafficking have to be addressed and hence mitigated. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Truger, Andrea LU
supervisor
organization
course
HEKM50 20152
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
language
English
id
8045977
date added to LUP
2015-11-09 16:28:12
date last changed
2017-07-27 11:46:33
@misc{8045977,
  abstract     = {{Considering climate change, the continuous degradation of the environment, and the uneven distribution of resources, this research project aims to shed light on the social vulnerability of people experiencing extreme weather events and possible connections to social phenomena. Specifically, this project focuses on how vulnerability to extreme weather events affects vulnerability to human trafficking.

The research case is the Philippines, and more precisely, typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in November 2013. Semi-structured expert interviews were conducted and contextualised with scientific literature and the researcher’s own experiences from a stay in the Philippines in 2013. The theoretical framework of human and political ecology, especially the concept of vulnerability, serves as the basis for the analysis and provides insights into factors and root causes that determine vulnerability. 

The findings of the study indicate that there is a connection between extreme weather events and human trafficking, although the actual extent cannot be defined, due to the multifactor complexity of causalities and the illicit nature of human trafficking. Various factors were determined such as poverty, migration and education to play an important role in the connection between vulnerability to extreme weather events and vulnerability to human trafficking. Accordingly, the findings show that extreme weather events create new vulnerabilities and reinforce existing ones which can pave the way for human trafficking. Thus, extreme weather events can be seen as a push factor for human trafficking. Furthermore, the study discusses how global environmental and social injustice and climate change affect extreme weather events and human trafficking. The study clearly shows that the root causes of climate change, social vulnerability and human trafficking have to be addressed and hence mitigated.}},
  author       = {{Truger, Andrea}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{In the Eye of the Storm: The connection between extreme weather events and human trafficking in the case of typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}