Disasters Mirror Society - Solo with Host Vin Nelsen

The Multi-Hazards Podcast

This episode is a reading and explanation of "Disasters Mirror Society", an article written by Multi-Hazards host Vin Nelsen, inspired by his recent podcast with Vincent B. Davis. Disaster Doc Mark Keim so graciously put the article on his website as a guest blog. Within the article are important lessons, because the next few years and decades will be all about "the vulnerable" in pre/during/post disaster work. Thanks to these wonderful experts, and also Heather McGhee (The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together) and Debora MacKenzie (COVID-19: The Pandemic that Never Should Have Happened and How to Stop the Next One) for their excellent, scholarly work. Study Guide here:

Other Links: https://disasterdoc.org/disasters-mirror-society/ (This article may have disappeared from here by now; please check the PDF link on my podcast website). Articles about the Simon Fraser University alumni in a racist incident: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/black-alumnus-of-sfu-charged-after-controversial-arrest-by-police-at-burnaby-campus-1.5848978 https://thetyee.ca/News/2021/03/26/Canadian-Universities-Racism-Problem/

Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash Outro Music: The End - Coyote Hearing from YouTube Audio Library

Vin Nelsen's Bio

Vin Nelsen has a passion for protecting communities. While continuing to teach immigrants at Douglas College near Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), Canada, he studied a Grad Diploma in Climate Risk Management from the University of Waterloo, a Certificate in Climate Change Policy & Practice from the University of Toronto, courses from Yukon University's Graduate Diploma in Climate Change Policy, as well as a Diploma of Emergency & Security Management, Certificate in Emergency Management and Certificate of Emergency Management Exercise Design from Justice Institute of BC (JIBC), plus courses in First Nations' Studies, meteorology, technical writing and cyber security while volunteering with a local Emergency Preparedness program and Red Cross these last two + years. He finished in December 2019, then COVID-19's disruption came in March 2020, so this podcast at least lets him release some of that pent-up steam while seeking ways to contribute to the fields of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

He has a Master of Arts in Cross-Cultural-related studies (Trinity), a Bachelor of Arts, double majors of Communication (Media) and French as well as a Certificate of Liberal Arts (Simon Fraser University), a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (Vancouver Community College), and passed the Real Estate Trading Services Licensing from the University of British Columbia (UBC).

His previous work including many years in immigrant helping organisations as program manager, career and job search counsellor and instructor, English language instructor and real estate agent. He worked six years in Asia and has worked especially with non-Westerners since his youth. For the next few decades, he will dedicate himself to protecting communities from extreme weather events, geohazards, security threats and damaging social and political trends.

«Être fort pour être utile.» ("Be strong to be useful")