Welcome to the Greening in the Red Zone blog. Here you will read about examples of people turning to nature in times of crisis to get through hardships from the news media, and from personal accounts. Of particular interest are stories of people whose involvement in "greening" immediately after a disaster or war increased their own and their community's resistance and resilience to the disturbance. We hope you will find inspiration in these stories, and we welcome you to add your own stories of Greening in the Red Zone.

Friday, May 22, 2015

Joplin Tornado Anniversary | The MIT Press

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the deadly tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri. Keith Tidball, coauthor of Civic Ecology: Adaptation and Transformation from the Ground Up, reflects on his work in Joplin, rebuilding after devastation, and how principles of civic ecology were demonstrated in the aftermath.



Joplin Tornado Anniversary | The MIT Press

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Rachel Dobbs Dance - Day of Unity Joplin 2012

On a phone call recently, Chris Cotton, Joplin Parks and Recreation Director, told me  "Keith, we are tornadoed out." I understood his fatigue, and the fatigue of the community.  And yet, what resilience, what resolute resolve, what a recovery. As we approach the 4 year anniversary of the tornado that struck Joplin, I recalled a stunning performance by Rachel Dobbs at the 2012 Joplin Day of Unity, one in which, through her choreographed dance, Ms. Dobbs captured the fear of an approaching storm, the terror of experiencing its wrath, and the tragic and beautiful aftermaths, intertwined with hope and loss, and resilience, resolve, realization. Here's to you, Joplin. You are always loved, and may you always prosper.


Friday, January 16, 2015

Need-based giving in Disaster - Tidball Presentation at ASU



Recent presentation at the Need-based transfers in water management and disaster recovery workshop Hosted by the Human Generosity Project and the Decision Center for a Desert City at Arizona State University.


Monday, January 5, 2015

Greening in the Red Zone - book review

A new book review in the Journal of Education for Sustainable Development for the book Greening in the Red Zone.