James,
Thankyou for your e-mail.
Vulnerability is indeed part of Natural Disaster Management, in my opinion.
The main reason is that to be an efficient natural disaster manger, one
needs to have clearly in mind the risk of a community and the potential
impact of an eventual natural hazard. In order to have an idea of the risk
at hand, one needs to have to assess the vulnerability of the community.
Vulnerability assessment is a fundamental part of disaster management.
Knowing where a communityis most vulnerable, one can then be able to
prioritise on where to invest more (time and means) for the prevention and
preparedness phase in natural disaster management. Unfortunately, no
country invests enough in this.
I agree that the European Union has "the administrative resources to
investigate causes of
vulnerability" and the European Commission attempts to finance projects
geared also in this direction. However, the JRC, where I am working, is
unfortunately just part of a large bureaucratic machine. Personally, I would
ideally like things to move more efficiently and faster than they do in this
system, but that is beyond my control.
With regards to tourism, fact is that tourists are everywhere. I agree that
tourism increases vulnerability. We cannot obliterate tourism from the face
of the earth in order to reduce vulnerability. Thus, in my opinion, it is
essential to promote legislation that will help protect the lives of any
citizen of the world, wherever they may be. We must be realistic. With view
to globalisation, everyone potentially has access to everywhere on earth.
Tourism exists and one must study in detail its effects and to what extent
it increases the risk of a particular community. A European-wide directive
regarding the link between tourism and natural hazards could be beneficial.
Examples of what COULD be done are:
REGARDING THE HELP THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC
- a standard tel. no. for information dissemination on risk of a natural
hazard occurring for every European country
- a standard tel no., e.g. 112 for emergency situations regarding tourists
needing assistance during a natural hazard event
- ensure that the tel. service called is multilingual + proper training of
operators answering the phonecalls
- ensure that all travel agencies and airlines are pulled into getting
involved in the awareness raising activity
- dissemination of a standard brochure that goes with the airline ticket
(electronic or hard copy) so that the traveller can read about important
tel. numbers and important information on what to do and not do in case of a
particular natural hazard occurrence
- creation of a natural hazard and tourism website where vauable information
on natural risk regarding each country cabn be found
REGARDING COORDINATION
- ensure that the Ministry of Tourism of each Member State is involved in
the awareness raising activity
- ensure that the Ministry that deals with Civil Protection (e.g. Ministry
of Interior) is involved in the awareness raising activity, as it is the one
who can adequately advice the public on what to do before, during and after
a severe natural event
- ensure that the Ministry of Environment of each Member State is involved
in the awareness raising activity, so that the science communicated to the
public is correct and that it is in a language that is not too scientific
- ensure that the above-mentioned ministries dialogue with each other
- ensure that this system (tourism+natural hazard "unit") is well-linked
with all the other "units" such as: monitoring and forcasting units, alert
units and warning units (of each natural disaster).
A cross-European study of the causes of vulnerability would be a very
interesting project. As we have an institutional agenda for 2001-2002, and
due to lack of manpower in our Sector, it would be impossible for us to take
the initiative. However, for you there is a call for proposals in the
Research DG Fifth Framework Programme in October 2001. You and your
colleagues cold perhaps submit a proposal.
Here is the url of the Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development
(EESD) Thematic Programme website:
http://www.cordis.lu/eesd/home.html
I have also included the EESD work programme as an attachment. There is a
deadline on the 15th of October 2001. Perhaps you may wnat to give it a
shot?
I will definitely refer your suggestion to colleagues in tHE Environment DG
in Brussels.
Best wishes,
Ana
PS I would be very happy to receive your comments on the above examples I
have given and in general too.
-----Original Message-----
From: James Lewis [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 17 August 2001 12:41
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Forum on risk management and assessments of natural hazards
Dear Ana Lisa Vetere Arellano,
With reference to your brief membership of the Natural Hazards/Disasters
Network and your message of 14 August:
My princpal concern and interest is the causes of vulnerability. This may
be outside your terms of reference for Natural Disaster Management,
although personally you may feel it should not be.
Largely, it is the developed countries, eg: those of the European Union,
that have the administrative resources to investigate causes of
vulnerability, for example as emboddied in development of almost all kinds.
"Tourism" appears on your short list of areas where a European-wide
approach could be beneficial; but tourism development is a prime creator of
vulnerability - not only for itself and its occupants, but for hinterland
occupants as well.
May I encourage a cross-European study of the causes of vulnerability - to
accompany other aspects of natural disaster management ?
Yours sincerely,
James Lewis
Visiting Fellow in Development Studies, University of Bath
Presenter of paper: Continuum or contiguum ? Development for survival and
vulnerability reduction
European Sociological Association Conference, Helsinki
August 27 - September 1
Author of: Development in Disaster-prone Places: Studies in
Vulnerability
IT Publications, London. 1999
*********************************************************
James Lewis
Architect RIBA
Visiting Fellow in Development Studies
University of Bath
Consultant in natural hazards and human settlements
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