Reconstruction paying attention to “minorities”
Difficulties of economic recovery
and the decrease in employment are
linked together when the whole
community is destroyed by a calamity.
Evacuees tend to feel more isolated and
lost, away from their home towns, even
for a short period, and can be cut off
from their relations in the community.
The people who often suffer the
m o s t f r o m d i f f i c u l t i e s i n t h e
reconstruction period are “minorities” –
that is, foreign residents, persons with
disabilities, children, sexual minorities
and those who have various needs.
T h e y a r e o f t e n p o l i t i c a l l y a n d
e c o n o m i c a l l y m i s t r e a t e d a n d
m a r g i n a l i z e d , e n d i n g u p b e i n g
“ i n v i s i b l e . ” D u e t o t h e i r l o w
representation in politics, employment
and the wage gap, women may also be
categor ized as a minor i ty group.
Minorities have been created out of the
systems and standards that are
produced only by majority of people.
Column
Areas that are vulnerable to
disaster are often the areas that
originally have a high risk with a high
density of wooden houses, narrow
roads, a shortage of green areas, and
the possibility of flood by tsunami. It
takes much effort and time to make a
consensus among residents, of the land
usage after a disaster, so it is not
always easy to agree on a plan for
reconstruction even concerning
r e l a t i v e l y s i m p l e a s p e c t s o f
infrastructure.
The voices of minority people are
often more difficult to hear in the
emergency relief period or in the
complex process of reconstruction. It is
necessary to pay attention and to
promote participation of these minority
people in the reconstruction process in
order to reconstruct the areas better
where all people can live in safety and
comfort.