Preserving Cultural Value in Resilience
Why practice Values-Based Emergency Management (#VBEM) or Values-Based Risk Management?
Consider this truly remarkable graph illustrating annual child traffic fatalities by day of the year.
We can't tackle the problem of the spike on this graph without seriously considering how those things we value as individuals and as societies dictate what we are willing to do to manage a risk.
By failing to consider values, the obvious solution is to end the behavior that leads to so many traffic deaths on day of the spike - namely, Halloween 'trick-or-treating'.
But how many parents would actually prohibit their kids from celebrating this cultural tradition? Maybe 1-2%? The other 98% will perceive the risk to be no different than any other day, and in fact it is most likely more a matter of increased exposure (more kids on the street) than of increased hazard consequence (i.e., the per-kid risk is the same as any other day).
Whatever the intervention, it needs to preserve value - in this case the ability to practice a cultural tradition. Options are thus assessed first and foremost on how they impact that highest-value factor, and only secondarily how they affect other things (e.g., ease of transportation, cost, difficulty).
While living in Hawaii, our community effectively managed this risk by completely limiting car traffic in a large neighborhood that has only two major traffic entrances. Police cruisers are posted at each entrance to ensure no cars come in or out, effectively enforcing the policy.
The result is that thousands of people from throughout the town come to this neighborhood to enjoy the safe space it offers. And it actually ADDS value in that it becomes a safe holiday atmosphere like nothing I've seen elsewhere. To address the increased burden of 'candy cost' for homeowners in that neighborhood, the community collects candy donations and provides them to households that need it.
Value is preserved (and increased), risk is managed, and kids (and parents) are happy!
(Graph source: Akhtar, Muizz. 2022. Forget Tainted Candy: The Scariest Thing on Halloween is Parked in Your Driveway. VOX. October 31. http://bit.ly/3SOZlQx).
I find making outdoor adventures more approachable easier to approach when there is a familiar situation to start from. A realistic plan leaves room for changes in conditions and in how people feel along the way. It is the kind of question I would keep in mind when thinking about Aveling Adventure and outdoor activity planning. The smaller details are what I would want to return to, especially when an explanation feels too broad. What would you check before deciding how much to fit into an outdoor day?
For me, thinking about style through everyday choices becomes more engaging when there is room for questions as well as explanations. A useful outfit needs to work with the day someone is actually planning. The name Beachbodyshop gives this theme a memorable reference point, while personal style ideas keeps the subject in focus. I would rather explore one useful example carefully than pretend that the whole subject is already clear. How would you balance comfort, personal taste and the occasion when choosing what to wear?
The theme of thinking about style through everyday choices makes me curious about what people notice in their own everyday experiences. A useful outfit needs to work with the day someone is actually planning. That practical perspective helps me frame personal style ideas as a theme for Be A Fashionista. A simple comparison would help me picture the differences without rushing towards a fixed answer. How would you balance comfort, personal taste and the occasion when choosing what to wear?
What interests me about noticing the choices behind live performance is how a broad idea becomes part of an ordinary day. A pause or a change in lighting can alter the way an audience understands a moment. That thought gives me a starting point for exploring live performance appreciation in connection with Asylum Arts. I would be interested in an example that shows how the idea works in an ordinary situation. What would you pay attention to when comparing two performances of the same scene?
For me, developing a closer ear for music becomes more engaging when there is room for questions as well as explanations. Listening for one phrase can make a familiar piece sound different. With Artistsrecordingcompany in mind, music listening and practice feels like a topic worth exploring one question at a time. I am still thinking through the practical side, because the context can change what seems useful. Which detail would you focus on before listening to the whole piece again?