Localization of risk communication tools: Two case studies

In this paper, the authors explore some issues related to adjusting risk communication tools to localities in developing countries, i.e., the localization of risk communication tools. We introduce two anecdotal cases using simulation games as tools for risk communication. First, the "Garbage" game (Thiagarajan, 1991) was introduced to participants in order to improve their awareness of second-order social dilemmas caused by waste management. The cheating nature involved in its rules for achieving the goal was refused by some participants for reasons of religious belief in which the cheating of people is prohibited by religious tenets. The second case was froman elementary school for girls in Pakistan, where religious beliefs play an important role in education. In order to implement risk education in developing countries, it is thus important to give considerations to culture, especially to religious beliefs.