Last updated: 31 October, 2008    

Disaster Mitigation in Asia
Issue No. 3 
30 April 2003

A. From the Region
B. Internships 
C. Awards
D. Conferences & Courses
E. Useful Resources

USEFUL RESOURCES

Publication on Disaster Communication: A Resource Kit for Media, 2002, ISBN 969-8702-00-8, Pictorial Printers (Pvt) Ltd., Islamabad

The publication, compiled and edited by Mr. Amjad Bhatti and Ms. Madhavi M. Ariyabandu, aims to improve the South Asian media's coverage of disasters by providing the media with a better understanding of disasters and demonstrating a more progressive approach to gathering and presenting news that could stimulate more effective action by policy makers and the public.

Several case studies are provided to support the discussion. There is also background material on disaster terminology, the nature and impact of disasters in South Asia, policies and structures for dealing with them in five countries - Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and sources for further information.

For more information, e-mail Duryog Nivaran Secretariat <dn.net@itdg.slt.lk>

Publication on Disaster Risk Reduction in South Asia, 2003, ISBN81-203-2200-2, Prentice-Hall of India Private Limited, New Delhi, Rs. 450.00 (USD9.50)

This publication edited by Dr. Pardeep Sahni and Ms. Madhavi M. Ariyabandu explores a range of disaster risk reduction strategies and approaches - both structural and non-structural. Twenty-seven contributors, both academicians and practitioners, investigate the challenges South Asia face and examine how different sectors and levels of government and non-government organizations could reduce people's vulnerability to disaster risks.

To order this publication or for more information, e-mail <phi@phindia.com>.

Guidelines for Building Measures after Disasters and Conflicts, March 2003, GTZ

In view of the great demand for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of buildings after conflicts and disasters, GTZ developed construction guidelines based on several years of experiences in disaster and conflict areas in Azerbaijan, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the Balkan regions,and Central and Latin America.

The guidelines are divided in two parts. The first part describes building issues to be considered during the phases of rapid assessment, planning and implementation. It incorporates practical hints and case studies aimed at non-commercial general contractors and development consultants. The second part comprises samples of proven contractual documents for cooperating with enterprises and organizations.

For more information, e-mail Mr. Bernd Hoffmann <Bernd.Hoffmann@gtz.de>

Radix - Radical Interpretations of Disaster <http://online.northumbria.ac.uk/geography_research/radix>

The website includes discussions, working papers, opinion pieces, resources and links contributing to issues such as human rights, respect for diversity, translation of available knowledge into action and the links among disasters, socio-economic development and politics.

Radix also has an electronic mailing list offering a more interactive and spontaneous way of sharing brief news items, ideas and commentaries. These e-mail discussions are archived on their website. To subscribe to the mailing list, send an e-mail to <majordomo@e-connexions.net> with the following in the first line of the message: subscribe radix

For more information, e-mail Dr. Maureen Fordham <maureen.fordham@northumbria.ac.uk>

Proceedings of the Conference on "The Future of Disaster Risk: Building Safer Cities" online <http://www.worldbank.org/dmf/news/conferences/washington_agenda.htm>

Proceedings, papers, presentations and videostreaming of selected presentations of the Conference on "The Future of Disaster Risk: Building Safer Cities" are now available online. The conference was organized by the ProVention Consortium and World Bank's Disaster Management Facility from 4-6 December 2002 in Washington, D.C., USA. The same resources can also be accessed from the Provention Consortium website at <http://www.proventionconsortium.org/conferences/washington_agenda.htm>.

For more information, e-mail Ms. Zoe Trohanis <ztrohanis@worldbank.org>.

Pacific Institute Launches Water and Climate Bibliography <http://www.pacinst.org/resources>

The Pacific Institute announces an on-line, searchable, water and climate change bibliography that is a comprehensive database of scientific literature pertaining to climate change and freshwater resources worldwide.The bibliography currently contains more than 3000 entries.

For more information, e-mail <pistaff@pacinst.org>.

(Extract from Disaster Research 387, Natural Hazard Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, 21 April 2003)