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I am looking for information on natural hazards (especially earthquakes) in Azerbaijan. My project is a joint student conference between Baku State University, Azerbaijan, and California Universities. The theme of the conference is a comparative look at Azerbaijan and California, the geographical and geoecological problems of both places. If anyone could provide me with information or at least give me hints on where to look, I would be very appreciative
James R. Hotchkiss
4425 East Sixth Street
Long Beach, CA 90814
Phone/fax: (562) 433-8897
E-mail: JnTBaker@aol.com
I am conducting a small research project into the two schools of thought on hazards and their perception, namely natural and technological hazards. I am trying to discover why the schools exist, where they came from, why their views differ, and most importantly, whether they will ever merge. If at all possible, it would be very helpful if you could send this email to as many people in the field that may be able to help with this project.
Thank you for your time,
Jason Webb
University of Surrey & HR Wallingford
jpw@hrwallingford.co.uk
For a European Union project a panel of experts will be established that is able to quantify (in terms of subjective assessments) parameters with respect to emergency actions (evacuation, sheltering and so forth). I am trying to reach as many persons or institutes as possible with experience in such research. Please contact me and I will respond as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Louis Goossens
Tel: +31.15.278.1080
Fax: +31.15.262.2235
E-mail: louis.goossens@wtm.tudelft.nl
[Adapted from "Stop Disasters," the newsletter of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction]
What role do we have in causing disasters - or preventing them? Many people believe that natural disasters are "acts of God" and that little can be done to prevent them. Yet the recent rise in losses due to natural disasters has been too steep to be attributed entirely to Mother Nature. Economic damage from natural disasters has quadrupled in the last 30 years, and the 1995 costs were at least double those of 1994.
Humankind is clearly contributing to the rise in disasters, but we can also reverse this trend. To increase understanding of how this can be done, the United Nations International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) Secretariat has designated Wednesday, October 8, as the 1997 World Disaster Reduction Day and has announced that the theme will be "Disaster Prevention and Sustainable Development" - again, focusing on the role we as individuals and communities have in contributing to or preventing disasters.
Because many so-called "natural" disasters are the consequence of inadequate development policies and practices, the rising impact of disasters is becoming a commonly cited indicator of unsustainable development. However, these risks can be managed, and people can be made less vulnerable to natural phenomena.
To this end, and to support national, regional, and local Disaster Reduction Day campaigns, the IDNDR Secretariat has prepared campaign announcements; a selected bibliography on disaster and development issues; a contact list of partner organizations with special interests in this theme; a facts and figures leaflet, poster, and stickers; "Issue Briefs" - a collection of profiles of organizations and vulnerability reduction activities; a report of 1996 Decade Day activities and contact information of IDNDR campaign partners; proceedings of the 1996 IDNDR Internet conference on "Cities at Risk"; a reprint of the 1995 booklet for children, "Learning about Disasters"; and other press information. In addition, the secretariat has suggestions and help available for the design of local activities and is also planning several Geneva-based activities.
For additional information about World Disaster Reduction Day 1997 and the resources available from the U.N., contact Natalie Domeisen, IDNDR Secretariat, United Nations, Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland; tel: (41-22) 798 68 94; fax: (41-22) 733 86 95; e-mail: Natalie.Domeisen@dha.unicc.org.
The Insurance Institute for Property Loss Reduction (IIPLR) has formed a private-public partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to develop better ways to protect people and property from earthquakes. Under the agreement, IIPLR and the USGS will work together to improve earthquake loss computer modeling, develop earthquake education programs, and sponsor research. IIPLR will assist in identifying the needs of insurers for ground-shaking maps and historic and current earthquake information and will distribute earthquake information developed by the USGS to insurers and the general public. The agencies' overall goal is to ensure that earthquake hazard mitigation becomes a salient public goal. For more information on this partnership, contact IIPLR, 73 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108-3910; (617) 722-0200: fax: (617) 722-0202.
Established in January 1996 by the United Nations Department for Development Support and Management Services (UN/DDSMS), the U.N. Global Programme for the Integration of Public Administration and the Science of Disasters is an effort to strengthen the capacity of communities to assess and mitigate the risk of natural disasters by reinforcing public administration systems that provide the backbone for community preparedness and disaster mitigation. To show how public administrators have adapted scientific information to improve disaster preparedness, the program recently issued "A Best Practice Case of Earthquake Preparedness in China," a paper detailing the efforts of public administrators of Qinglong County, China - the site of the Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976 that killed at least a quarter of a million people. To obtain copies of this paper or more information about the U.N. Global Programme for the Integration of Public Administration and the Science of Disasters, contact the Division for Governance, Public Administration and Finance, UN/DDSMS, DC1-986, New York, NY 10017; (212) 963-8377; fax: (212) 963-2916; e-mail: col@un.org; or consult the program Web site: http://www.shore.net/~global/ungp/.
The Rescue Engineering Council (REC) was recently formed to recruit engineers and construction personnel to train and prepare for responding to disasters. (Many of the engineers involved in this effort were members of search and rescue teams established around the country by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide hands-on expertise during disaster response and recovery.) REC recently held its first meeting, and additional information is available from Dean Tills, REC, P.O. Box 290, Germantown, MD 20875; e-mail: Rescueeng@aol.com.
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