The importance of coastal vegetation and coral reefs as a protective belt against destructive waves like tsunamis or those caused by cyclones is underlined. Most severe damage of the disastrous tsunami of December 2004 has been caused in areas, where coastal ecosystems were absent. These ecosystems have high ecological values, but are under threat in various ways. Protection and even restoration of coastal ecosystems has a high priority.

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The tropical island state of Sri Lanka was unprepared for a disaster of the magnitude of the post-Christmas tsunami on 26 December 2004. It was equally inexperienced in relief and rehabilitation logistics afterwards. This essay is based on observations made on three field visits by the author in February/March, May and September 2005. It outlines the status of recovery and rehabilitation measures in Sri Lanka and looks critically into their sustainability.

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The impact of “Katrina” on the Gulf Coast of the United States was the costliest and one of the most deadly hurricane strikes in the country’s history. The high wind speeds and extreme storm surge combined to produce extensive damage along approximately 450 km of the Gulf Coast across four states. In particular, the storm induced flooding had a devastating effect on the region’s largest city, New Orleans.

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The city of Auckland dominates the New Zealand economy, accounting for roughly one third of the nation’s output and jobs. Globalisation offers exciting opportunities and major challenges for cities like Auckland, regions and nation states like New Zealand on the edge of the global economy. The decline in costs of transportation and communication has made far-away locations more accessible. At the same time, a growing mobility has led to increased outflows of people that may pose major challenges for these economies, e.g., skilled labour shortages. The Auckland metropolis is New Zealand's most important contact zone in a global space of flows. What role is migration playing in economic activities? How significant are the impacts of globalisation and related national policies for the Auckland metropolis?

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In China “New Special Development Zones” (NSDZs) refer to a variety of specialized economic development areas established by governments at national or sub-national levels in the post-Mao reform era. In these NSDZs comparatively “special” economic policies, institutional arrangements, and management instruments are applied, aiming at promoting the development of the situated local regions by creating a more favourable business milieu in order to attract inward investment and trade and foster certain categories of “new industries.

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The article explores the connections between culture and identity in contemporary Britain, with a particular focus on culinary culture. It outlines the cultural diversity of contemporary Britain in political, ethnic and religious terms arguing that diversity adds richness while increasing the potential for conflict. The paper then focuses on the increasing popularity of 'Indian' food in Britain and, in particular, on the status of chicken tikka masala as Britain's most popular dish. Different claims about the dish are assessed including hose who cite it as confirmation of Britain's commitment to multiculturalism and those who deny its cultural and political significance. Here, the emphasis is on 'Indian' food as an indication of the increasingly hybrid and transnational character of British identity and the porosity of cultural boundaries. Conclusions are also drawn about the politicisation of food in contemporary Britain.

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