ABU @ WCDRR Exhibition
L
ike hundreds of organisations involved and affiliated with the Climate Change and Disaster
Risk Reduction efforts, the ABU also had its own stand at the 3nd United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (14-18 March 2015, Sendai, Japan).
The ABU stand showcased some of the Union’s ongoing efforts in this area, which started after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. With support from members the stand showcased documentaries produced in the aftermath of various disasters as well as videos produced to educate and inform the public on the effects of climate change and how to react to impending
disasters to reduce the impact on human lives and livelihoods.
The other highlight of the ABU stand was the Radio-in-a-Box (RiB) unit, which attracted a lot of attention amongst the visitors. The Radio-in-a- Box was one of the many projects that the ABU initiated in the aftermath of
the 2004 tsunami. The basic idea was to develop an FM radio station that can be mobilised and set up in disaster stricken areas, where almost all communication infrastructure would have been damaged. It can be used for life saving information before and during the disaster, to assist rescue efforts and to educate people how to prepare for future calamities.
The RiB is a complete FM radio station, with transmission and production facilities assembled in a trolley case which can be easily transported and setup for full operation in a few minutes. RiB is also used in community radio broadcasting as well as a standby FM station. Visitors to the exhibition were able to see the RiB demo unit on display and ask questions on its use and operations.
Other information provided at the stand was related to the future ABU activities related to DRR, including the 2nd Media Summit on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction which will take place from the 12 – 13 May 2016 in Phuket, Thailand.
Cyclone Pam: ABU expresses its solidarity with Vanuatu
Severe tropical cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu late on March 13, packing wind gusts of up to 320 kilometres (200 miles) an hour, causing loss of lives and widespread damage in the archipelago nation in the South Pacific Ocean.
Vanuatu’s President Baldwin Lonsdale called the storm a “monster” that killed dozens, destroyed or damaged 90 percent of the buildings in the capital, and will force the nation to start anew. Cyclone Pam struck Vanuatu as the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction being held in Sendai, Japan. There is a global consensus that a changing climate leads to changes in the frequency, intensity, duration and timing of extreme weather and climate events, and can result in unprecedented events.
The ABU Secretary General, Dr Javad Mottaghi expressed his solidarity in a message sent to Mr Fred Vurobaravu, General Manager of Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC): “I am deeply saddened by the loss of life, injuries, and damage that have occurred as a result of the cyclone Pam in Vanuatu. On behalf of the ABU, I wish to extend my profound condolences to the families of the victims. I hope they will bravely endure the pain and suffering that this calamity has imposed on them. At the same time, I am heartened and encouraged by the remarkable resiliency of the Vanuatu people and the commitment of their media and Government. I hope together we can build the nation and the spirit of the people. ABU will support you in any possible way.”
ABU News
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