Natural Disasters

Years after the tsunami, people in Aceh articulate the fragility of life through religious idioms

Though earthquakes are common in Palu, residents underestimate the threat, and government response efforts are weak

In ancient Indonesian manuscripts, a disaster is sometimes not a disaster, but a message from the deity.

A Dutch anthropologist lived in a Jakarta riverside slum to learn how residents there cope with constant flooding

Palu after the tsunami

To understand the future of Indonesian precipitation, climate scientists are looking into the distant past

Architect Antonio Ismael Risianto promotes planning for the urban poor

Aceh’s performing arts have blossomed despite the conflict and the tsunami

The fires were no natural disaster, says JOKO WALUYO. The smoking gun is in the hands of plantation companies.

The fires are merely adding to the pressure on East Kalimantan's only national park. But ALEX RYAN also finds that nature lovers have won some battles to protect its beauty.

Journal of an Aceh volunteer

Civil society mourns in the tsunami’s aftermath

International agencies need to take the time to understand local groups

As reconstruction moves into high gear, it’s time to listen to tsunami victims

NGOs and local people work together to rebuild communities, until feudalism intervenes

An Australian aid worker recounts the challenge of rehabilitating a devastated society

An Australian aid worker reflects on post-tsunami reconstruction.

Rebuilding after an earthquake takes local initiatives as well as aid.

The 27 May earthquake shook a kingdom, not just a city.