This article examines the plural and relational nature of what we call “Local Disaster Knowledge” (LDK) in the context of an agrarian volcanic landscape in Central Java, Indonesia, known as the Dieng Plateau. We describe how LDK incorporates complementary forms of knowledge gained through everyday livelihood practice, scientific information and cultural-religious beliefs. The findings advocate for disaster policy, global DRR framework, and local programmes that ethically and equally incorporate, rather than separate, local and expert views.

Disease burdens threaten future food production, particularly so in the case of aquaculture. Reducing disease burden needs to consider not only the incidence of disease but also the socio-economic effects of changing farming practices. Employing a multi-method approach to farms in SW Bangladesh, we argue that understanding disease risk practices are central to any attempt to reduce disease burdens and unsustainable treatments of disease.

This commentary shows an example of a more practical and concrete illusion that includes how to transform existing, unsustainable, fossil fuel-based urbanisation into a more sustainable, post-fossil future in the spatial context of East Asia.

The drastic reductions in human activities and mobilities associated with quarantines implemented to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 has been described as “the anthropause.” In this commentary, we unpack the anthropause as a spatio-temporal event, attending to its geographies, histories, and genealogies. Following Arundhati Roy, we conclude by advancing an understanding of the pandemic as a “portal” rather than a pause, identifying lockdown lessons from the anthropause for a post-pandemic new normality.