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This discussion paper deals with some of the broader questions and issues surrounding rapid geological change and how it affects people, settlements and societies. Examples include both catastrophic (e.g. volcanic eruptions, landslides, tsunami) and non-catastrophic changes (e.g. dune formation and movement, frozen ground activity, and lake level fluctuations). As shown by several examples from arid and semi-arid regions, lives have been altered by rapid changes in landscapes, but separating human causes that may be manageable from non-human drivers that may not is commonly difficult. The question is raised as to whether society should be moving to stop or avoid rapid natural geological change, or learning to adapt to new circumstances. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.