Thanks, so much, Charles.  This is a great initiative, coming at a time of
institutional change in Africa (AU, NEPAD, revitalized regional trade blocks),
increasing democratization, and some important success in peace making
(although some tragic conflicts continue as in Dafur).  This is therefore a
good moment to reflect how disaster risk management in Africa can benefit from
these positive developments.  Continuing challenges such as HIV/AIDS, climate
change, low commodity prices, uneven global trade playing field mean that even
micro-successes ("projects") disappear after some years into an ocean of
macro-failures (big policy initiatives such as "structural adjustment").

I would hope that this discussion is not only "technical" -- focusing on ICT
systems, warning warning, etc. -- but would contextualize African disaster
risk management in two ways.  First, in the global context as described by the
Presidents of Tanzania and Finland in the recent report of the World
Commission on Social Dimension of Globalization
(http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/ ).  Second, in the local context of
the capacities and vulnerabilities that are present in daily life in rural and
urban Africa.  We should not forget, by the way, that while most still African
live in rural areas, the urban growth rate in Africa is the highest in the
world.

I look forward to this virtual conference, and I encourage all my colleagues
who read this list as well as those who read RADIX postings to consider
participation.  Even if one is not an Africa expert, there are two good
reasons for participating.  First, Africa has a lot to teach the rest of the
world (especially when one considers the "micro-successes" I alluded to
earlier).  Second, experience in other parts of the world is certainly
relevant to our colleagues working in Africa.

All the best,

BEN

Dr. Ben Wisner
London School of Economics
& Benfield Hazard Research Centre, UCL
& Oberlin College

Charles Kelly wrote:

> A gentle reminder:
>
> The TIEMS Interactive (Internet) Conference on Disaster Management in
> Africa begins in 18 April and runs through 17 May 2004. Additional
> information on this virtual conference being held over the internet can
> be found in the attached announcement.
>
> You can sign up for the conference by going to
> http://listserv.tiems.org/mailman/listinfo/virtualconference and
> following the instructions for joining.
>
> Regards,
> C. Kelly
> The International Emergency Management Society