International
Day for Disaster Reduction
13 October 2004 |
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Learning
by playing
On the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Reduction,
UN/ISDR, UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are holding a press conference that
will discuss the importance of learning and education for disaster
risk reduction and mark the official launching of the boardgame
and video "Riskland".
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THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
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MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY
FOR DISASTER REDUCTION
13 October 2004
The theme of the International Day for Disaster Reduction, “Learning
from today’s disasters for tomorrow’s hazards”,
reminds us that the task of learning from disasters concerns every
one of us.
In the aftermath of a disaster, government authorities, businesses,
community groups and individuals should all ask whether appropriate
actions, such as early warning, were taken to save life and property.
All should resolve not to repeat the mistakes of the past. All
should work together to improve the chain of information and decision-making,
so that their communities are better prepared should hazards strike
again.
Young people should also be encouraged to learn these lessons – in
school, at university, and through community networks. By participating
in educational activities, engaging in community risk mapping exercises,
and sharing good practices, young people can learn lifelong lessons,
and help make their communities more disaster resilient.
At the global level, there is a lot of learning to do as well.
The World Conference on Disaster Reduction, to be held in January
next year in Kobe, Japan, will give decision-makers and experts
a unique chance to take stock of what has been learned from our
direct experience with disasters over the past decade, and to provide
clear guidelines for implementing those lessons.
Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, volcanic eruptions and other
natural disasters are an inevitable part of life. Our degree of
vulnerability to them need not be. As we saw during the recent
hurricane season in the Caribbean, the more prepared communities
are, the less likely they are to suffer catastrophe. After disaster
strikes, the first task of local responders and their international
supporters is to bring immediate relief to the victims. But all
involved must also be sure to learn from what happened, and act
to prepare communities to be more resilient and reduce the risks
for the future. On this International Day for Disaster Reduction,
let us rededicate ourselves to that mission.
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Other
messages on the occasion of the International Day for Disaster
Reduction |
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Events
held on the International Day for Disaster Reduction |
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Planes
de Emergencia y de Evacuación del Colegio Nuevo Gimnasio
Villavicencio, Colombia
Instructivo
general de emergencia
Plan
de evacuatión
Plan
general
For more
information, please contact:
José Arjona
arjona@etell.net.co
www.apelljag.co
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Disaster
Awareness Week
Jakarta, Indonesia
The event
is supported by UN-OCHA, CARE Indonesia, CRS, Red Cross
Indonesia, ECHO and national news media (SCTV, Jakarta News FM,
Trijaya FM,
Suara Metro FM, RAMAKO FM, Elshinta FM).
For more
information, please contact:
Akhmad Hidayatno, on behalf of SATKORLAK PBP Jakarta Provincial
Government
akhmad@cbn.net.id
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Publishing
awareness raising Poster, organizing rally with participation
of different senior Government officials and high level political
leaders, round table discussion on experience sharing and
lessons learnt from recent flood disaster 2004, community
drills and meeting, Bangaldesh Radio and Bangaldesh Television
telecast special programmes on the highlighting importance
of the Day.
Bangladesh
For
more information, please contact:
Probir Kr. Das, MIM Division, Disaster Management Bureau, under the
Ministry of Food and Disaster Management of the Government of Bangaldesh
dmb@bttb.net.bd |
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Riskantes
Leben? Schüler und Journalisten auf der Suche nach dem
Risiko - Roundtable for Journalists
Bonn, Germany
For more
information, please contact:
Karl-Otto Zentel, German Committee for Disaster Reduction
birgit.zum.kley@inwent.org
www.dkkv.org
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ADPC-UNESCAP
Annual Journalism Award for Outstanding Reporting on
Emergencies and Disasters
Bangkok, Thailand
For more
information, please contact:
Le Huu Ti, Water Resources Section, Environment and Sustainable
Development, UNESCAP
ti.unescap@un.org
www.adpc.net
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School
lecture programmes at the University of Bab Ezzaouar (USTHB)/Faculty
of Civil Engineering, Algeria; NSET Nepal
Disaster Management and Sustainable Development Centre,Kathmandu
University; and Seaton Valley Community Education Centre,Seaton
Delaval,Northumberland,UK
For more
information, please contact:
Komal Aryal, Disaster and Development Centre, Northumbria University
komal.aryal@unn.ac.uk
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School
education activities
Vanuatu
For more
information, please contact:
Alan Mearns, SOPAC
Alan@sopac.org
www.sopac.org
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World Risk
Reduction Day
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
For more
information, please contact:
Allison Ali, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
societies
ifrctt07@ifrc.org
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Media event
to commemorate the International Day for Disaster Reduction
Panama City, Panama
For further
information, please contact
Robert Cohen, UNICEF TACRO
The Americas & Caribbean Regional Office
rcohen@unicef.org
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