From poverty to power - Oxfam-Québec

FROM POVERTY TO POWERand withstand them. The factors are constantly evolving throughsocial, political, and environmental change. For example, urbanisationis placing millions of people in potential death traps. Almost halfof the world’s largest cities are situated along major earthquake faultsor are exposed to tropical cyclone tracks, while many large cities are oncoasts where they may be vulnerable to rising sea levels, storms, andpossibly tsunamis. 6FIGURE 4.1: HOW VULNERABILITY AFFECTS LIVELIHOODSSEASONALFLUCTUATIONSProductionPricesTechnologye.g. new seeds,informationchannelsLONG-TERMTRENDSPoliticsWeatherEnvironmentaldegradationJobsClimatechangeHealthe.g. HIVLIVELIHOOD ASSETSHUMAN CAPITALSOCIAL CAPITALNATURAL CAPITALPHYSICAL CAPITALFINANCIAL CAPITALEvictionNaturaldisastersEconomiccrisesCrimeConflictCrop andlivestockfailuresSHOCKSPopulationpressureLIVELIHOOD ASSETSHuman capital: skills, knowledge, ability to work, and good health.Social capital: the social resources upon which people draw, including informalnetworks, either with individuals or wider institutions, such as political or civicbodies; membership of more formalised groups such as churches; andrelationships of trust, reciprocity, and exchange.Natural capital: the natural resource stocks on which people can draw,including common resources, land, water, and so on.Physical capital: the basic infrastructure (shelter, transport, irrigation, energy,etc.) and producer goods needed to support livelihoods.Financial capital: savings, wages, remittances, or government transfers suchas pensions.202