Kelly makes a some interesting and important points.  They are timely, in not ironic, since in a few hours I will be skyping into a workshop on Haiti at the Development Planning Unit, University College London.  Kelly and I are both affiliates of the Aon-Benfield Hazard Research Centre at UCL, and both of us spend a good of time traveling in physical and cyberspace.

I can think of a number of important functions of social networking, and I am sue Kelly would agree.

1.  The tragedy in Haiti has provided a "teaching moment".  People around the world may be looking at their own school buildings, waterfront developments, split-level hillside homes, and their own local government plans with renewed intensity.  Certainly throughout much of Latin America and the Caribbean there has been a great deal of sharing of thoughts as people in networks such as La Red reflect on disaster risk in the rest of the Americas (www.desenredando.org).

2.  The engagement of Haitian civil society is one of the keys to relief, reconstruction, recovery and eventual transformation in line with the needs and potential of the Haitian people.  Since important parts of Haitian civil society reside in the diaspora, social networking helps to unite and focus their efforts.

3.  More specialized networks such as the Gender and Disaster Network (www.gdnonline.org) have been providing on line digests of past recovery experiences and lessons learned in Creole translation, as well as acting as portals to wider worldwide experience.  While Kelly's remark that "we (the outsider relief providers) know more than we can use" is possibly true, in the diverse mosaic of organizations involved, its also possible that some responders and community based organizations find this information useful.

4.  Finally, an important function of social networking can be to keep informed public pressure on national donors and multi-lateral institutions so that they do not yield to political expediency and choose short cuts in reconstruction and recovery rather than encouraging full participation of Haiti's civil society in planning the future.

Ben Wisner
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
>From: Kelly <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Mar 16, 2010 8:07 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: social networking tools for disaster relief
>
>As a recent participant on the response to Haiti I find the idea of a
>virtual community pulling together to help the disaster survivors
>commendable. 
>
>But the sad fact is that, 2 months after the earthquake struck, most
>conditions for most survivors are below international standards. There are
>many reasons for this, but the lack of information about the problem or what
>needs to be done does not now appear to be an important one. It may be a
>unique case, but Haiti seems to be a case where we (the outsider relief
>providers) know more than we can use. 
>
>While I encourage Facebooking and twittering and similar social and
>technical networking (which is, importantly, accessible to some of the
>disaster survivors), I am not clear on how these efforts deliver more
>latrines and portable toilets, or minimally adequate shelter, rapidly,
>appropriately and effectively. 
>
>Knowledge of what can be done may be less of a problem than the means to
>just do it.
>
>Regards, 
>Kelly 
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Natural hazards and disasters
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Twigg
>Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 3:38 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: social networking tools for disaster relief
>
>The "Global Disaster Relief on Facebook" group 
>(www.facebook.com/disasterrelief) set up after the Haiti earthquake is a
>recent example of how social networking tools are being used in disasters (see its 
>mission statement below). It already has more than half a million 'fans' and
>the recent postings after the earthquake in Chile show how busy it can be in an 
>emergency. This suggests we all need to take social networking more
>seriously as a medium for solidarity and support efforts by those who are not 
>professionally engaged in disaster risk management.
>
>
>(Mission Statement:) In January 2010, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti
>and the response in the days and weeks after has underscored the Internet's 
>critical role in connecting the world's population in times of tragedy.
>Facebook launched the Disaster Relief on Facebook Page where millions of people could
>educate themselves and find out how to help not only in Haiti but wherever 
>disaster and misfortune may strike.
>
>We want Disaster Relief on Facebook to serve as a collaborative resource for
>individuals, non-profits, governments and industry to raise awareness for
>those in need around the world. We're inviting relief organizations to be part of
>this effort so they can further highlight their needs during times of crisis.
>Most importantly, we hope all of you will join us by becoming a fan of Disaster
>Relief on Facebook and by continuing to support relief efforts along with your
>friends.