We have set up these blogs to invite all delegates to publish their own thoughts and ideas, for the benefit of their fellow workshop members and so that everyone can hear what has happened at each of the workshops. Please do publish your thoughts and ideas. If you're unsure how to do this ask the secretariat member who will be present at each workshop! Best wishes Terry... Tags: Untagged Read More

We have set up these blogs to invite all delegates to publish their own thoughts and ideas, for the benefit of their fellow workshop members and so that everyone can hear what has happened at each of the workshops. Please do publish your thoughts and ideas. If you're unsure how to do this ask the secretariat member who will be present at each workshop! Best wishes Terry... Tags: Untagged Read More

We have set up these blogs to invite all delegates to publish their own thoughts and ideas, for the benefit of their fellow workshop members and so that everyone can hear what has happened at each of the workshops. Please do publish your thoughts and ideas. If you're unsure how to do this ask the secretariat member who will be present at each workshop! Best wishes Terry... Tags: Untagged Read More

Saludos!Hemos creado estos blogs para invitar a todos los delegados a publicar sus propios pensamientos e ideas, para el beneficio de sus compañerosmiembros del taller y para que todos puedan oír lo que ha sucedido en cada uno de los talleres. Por favor, publicar sus pensamientos e ideas.Si no estás seguro de cómo hacer esto, consulte el miembro de la secretaría, que estará presente en cada taller!Terry ... Tags: Untagged Read More

We have set up these blogs to invite all delegates to publish their own thoughts and ideas, for the benefit of their fellow workshop members and so that everyone can hear what has happened at each of the workshops. Please do publish your thoughts and ideas. If you're unsure how to do this ask the secretariat member who will be present at each workshop!Best wishesTerry... Tags: Untagged Read More

While I ought to write a conference report that wouldn't take up much space, in my opinion. As Jiuta said on the email list this morning:- "My fear is that this GP will only be a feast fest of good ideas.Hard questions needs to be asked. What are we going to do to change this tune? How are we going change this tune" The discussion at the VFL meeting yesterday led to several members asking whether it was time to take action and organise partnerships for local level action rather than waiting for international institutions and governments to take note of the UN call for 'increased investment in local action' We published an article about the frontline this week in the Guardian which highlighted the practical experience of the frontline. It is focuses on a low lying island in the coastal regions of Bangladesh, showing the challenges people face as a result of their exposed situation, the rising sealevels, increasing intensity of storms and the silting of the estuary increasing the erosion of the island. One person commented on the picture that headed the article, saying that it showed women washing clothes in the sea at the edge of the island, and therefore wasn't abou... Tags: Untagged Read More

As lawrence said at the end of the opening plenary session yesterday - let's celebrate what's being achieved - lets dance! Lawrence invites the opening session to dance! Alongside the achievements on the ground I'm hearing from network members who are here about what's not working! There are lots of questions about how we can break through the barriers which still prevent local level people having a real voice. John from Vietnam said to me this morning that he feels there is less, rather than more civil society access here this time than in 2009. Certainly there are small details like the fact that there were no seats for civil society representatives in the opening session (last time there were). He agreed that the presence of the parallel World Bank conference has made the tone of the event more institutional. Someone in our round table session yesterday said that while the local level is important, in the end you need to bring in the professionals. What is he saying? Is he saying that people at local level aren't professional?So what do we do next. Takeshi from Afghanistan asked whether there's a danger that people will think the network is just something that does a surve... Tags: Untagged Read More

I know that Lawrence is a much better communicator than me, but I saw him this morning and he is nervous. Since his comments in the 'If we do not join hands . . .' report were seen by UNISDR and they invited him to be part of the opening plenary things have moved very fast. He sat at the panel in the big conference last night and said 'wow'. There's a lot on his shoulders. He's the token voice of the 'Frontline' and of communities all over the world. Its an important role, as even ISDR report that progress in practical implementation is still patchy and weak. Until governments and organisations start to tall to people at the frontline change just won't happen. I'll update the blog to let you know how he did. Also join us for an important round table on local action at 14:45 GM You can watch the video stream at http://www.globalnetwork-dr.org/conference-blog/conference-video-stream.html and vote at http://www.globalnetwork-dr.org/conference-blog/confpoll.html Finally the UK Guardian newspaper have published our article today - view it and add your comment at:-  http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/may/10/un-disaster-re... Tags: Untagged Read More

As the Global Platform prepares for its formal opening the halls are filling up. Everybody is telling everybody else to come to their special meeting. At the Global Network market stall we've been meeting old and new friends. We must highlight Lamia, our colleague from Cairo who managed to continue the Views from the Frontline project in the midst of the civil uprising there. Now that calm is restored she's determined that the next time we have a conference of our own we hold it in Cairo, which is an invitation we will take seriously. All this talk is a very different experience to the day to day experience of our globally distributed network. There are so many great ideas and insights we hear when we meet people, but how can we maintain that energy when we're all back in our own situations? I've been wondering that over the last two years of trying out different ways of communicating and collaborating. This week we're inviting you to contribute to this blog, and to vote in the polls (both are on the conference pages of the website). If you twitter you can find us @globalnetworkdr . But  how can we keep the conversations going?  What do you think?  ... Tags: Untagged Read More

Here are four ways you can make your voice heard. We will do our best to make sure your contributions are included in the Round table and other meetings – so speak out! 1. VOTE NOW! Add your views to a poll which will be conducted during the Round table session on Tuesday afternoon. Just go to http://www.globalnetwork-dr.org/conference-blog/confpoll.html 2. BLOG NOW! Log on as a member and add your comments to the conference blog:- http://www.globalnetwork-dr.org/conference-blog.html 3. SPEAK NOW! Add your comments to the GNDR conference voicemail and we will use them in the sessions.  Skype ‘terencegibson’ or dial +44 203 2877 203  4. TWITTER NOW! If you use twitter find us at @globalnetworkdr - follow us and add your views! ... Tags: Untagged Read More

As I blogged earlier, Lawrence Temfwe, whose words 'If we do not join hands ...' provided the title for the Views from the Frontline report, was invited by the UN to come to Geneva and join the opening plenary. We only heard this a week ago so making arrangements for him to travel from Zambia has been tricky. We finally heard today that his visa has been granted so Lawrence is en route!!... Tags: Untagged Read More

I had to do a lot of work yesterday on the 'action at the frontline' case study videos. As I did I was really struck by the straightforward practical stories of people making a difference at the frontline. From the Ferghana valley in Uzbekistan to the crumbling slopes of Limbe city in Cameroon practical implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction is making a difference. We're very busy right now with preparations for the Global Platform next week, but I was reminded that its the Frontline that matters. Are you at the frontline? go there now - http://www.globalnetwork-dr.org/action-at-the-frontline.html ... Tags: Untagged Read More

The Views from the Frontline report 'If we do not join hands . .. ' was finally published last week. The many network members who have worked on it will know that the timescale for the whole project was very very tight so it was a relief to see the report finally completed! Almost as soon as it was published we received a request from ISDR for Lawrence Temfwe, whose thinking introduces the report and who gave it its title, to be present at the opening high level plenary. They said that they found what he was saying compelling. This is great news as their support for a local level voice talking about the necessity for partnerships and collaboration between all those concerned with Disaster Risk Reduction - at local, national and internatlonal level - is right in line with the message of Views from the Frontline.  As I write Lawrence is trying to secure his visa - a challenge for many of us! Subject to that he will be speaking on this theme as part of the panel at the opening plenary. You can follow this and news of other presentations, events and action at this blog. Network members can also contribute to it if you log on first - do make your views known!... Tags: Untagged Read More