By Luis Carpio
'Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed, though to walk near its crest was so pleasant; but over its terrible edge there had slipped a Duke and full many a peasant. So the people said something would have to be done, but their projects did not at all tally. Some said, "Put a fence 'round the edge of the cliff," some, "an ambulance down in the valley”. But the cry for the ambulance carried the day, for it spread through the neighbouring city; A fence may be useful or not, it is true, but each heart became full of pity for those who slipped over the dangerous cliff, and the dwellers in highway and alley Gave pounds and gave pence, not to put up a fence but an ambulance down in the valley”. Joseph Malins (1895)
It is a long held article of faith that we only find humour in gags that contain elements of truth that connect us to our own foibles or (preferably) those of “others”. The previous poem elicits a nervous laugh from all of us, simply because in it we recognise our species’ historical bias for the pound of cure over the ounce of prevention.
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| Luis Carpio |
Among other things, the Hyogo Declaration of the Second World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR II), calls on all nations to “support the creation and strengthening of national integrated disaster risk reduction mechanisms, such as multi-sectoral national platforms” as the main way in which to mainstream risk reduction approaches into currently existing emergency preparedness, response and recovery programmes, as well as integrating disaster risk reduction into countries’ sustainable development planning. Thus, emergency response leaders and personnel would be influenced by a risk reduction approach, whilst disaster risk reduction experts expand their horizons to include the social, economic and ecological spheres of sustainable development. Development policy-makers, in turn, would be called upon to include a risk reduction approach in all sustainable development efforts.
The “Platforms” thus created would more efficiently respond to the need to foster the creation and mobilisation of strong political will for the mainstreaming risk reduction into the sustainable development context, integration of disaster reduction within the national agenda and the creation and/or strengthening of national institutional and legislative frameworks. The platforms would also encourage grass-roots empowerment through community-wide participation in disaster risk reduction and capacity-building plans and programmes.
This system, once in place, will allow countries to, amongst other things; reduce the underlying risk factors by identifying, assessing and monitoring risks and enhancing early warning systems, as well as strengthening disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels. The system would further facilitate fact-based decision-making by promoting a culture of safety and resilience that makes use of knowledge, innovation and education, including through the use of Information and Communications Technology.
In 2006, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs launched a consultative process to consider practical ways of strengthening the International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (ISDR) system. The result of the consultations was the convening of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction as the primary multi-stakeholder forum for all parties involved in disaster risk reduction to raise awareness on reducing disaster risk, share experience and guide the ISDR system. The first session of the Global Platform, where the ACS will be represented, will convene from 5-7 June 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information please visit www.preventionweb.net/globalplatform/.
Being prepared, including conducting cross-sectoral risk assessments, before investing in development at all levels of society will enable countries to become more resilient to natural hazards. In this regard, recognition of disaster risk reduction and mitigation as cross-cutting themes of sustainable development planning is paramount. As such, it is hoped that the Conference will attract the participation of Planning and Finance Ministers, as well as those in charge of Civil Defence/Protection.
The way forward begins by taking into account and harnessing existing initiatives at the international, regional and national levels and, for the Greater Caribbean, the Association of Caribbean States is uniquely poised to provide a value-added framework for these discussions.
Mr. Luis Carpio is the Director of Transport and Natural Disasters of the Association of Caribbean States. The views expressed are not necessarily the official views of the ACS. Feedback can be sent to: mail@acs-aec.org
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