Talk Program on Towards Sustainable Development Efforts in Asia

Ehime University International Center and Center for Disaster Management Informatics Research (DMI) organized an international talk program on Towards Sustainable Development Efforts in Asia on 10 February 2009 in Ehime University Industrial Science and Technology Research Support Center.
Experts from Nepal and Ehime University made presentation on different aspects of disaster mitigation, reduction and environment of sustainable development in Asia. Mr. Jishnu Subedi, Associate Professor, Nepal Engineering College and Former Researcher of UN Center for Regional Development, Hyogo Office highlighted the topic Disaster Risk Prevention in Asia: Resilient Communities for Sustainable Development. Quoting Asia as Earthquake prone Zone, he presented the statistics that the ten hazardous disasters of the world occurred in Asia only in the year 2008. His presentation depicted the climate change as one of the major factors for natural disaster in the world. The trend shows that number of disaster and number of affected people are increasing; however, reported number of persons dead due to the natural disaster is decreasing. It may be because of the preventive measures and preparedness, he expressed. He accentuated on building resilient communities as a strategic approach to prevent the natural disaster
Similarly, Amod M. Dixit, Executive Director, National Society for Earthquake Technology, Nepal(NSET) highlighted on the earthquake reduction efforts in Nepal and South Asia. Because South Asia lacks the preventive measures it is more prone to the vulnerability of the natural disasters, he started. He opined that earthquake indeed is human friendly because it gives us beautiful mountains and natural resources; it is the improper structure and unplanned management that invites irreparable hazards. He summoned for the strategic approach such as risk assessment, planning for vulnerability reduction and building resilient communities to name a few.
Presentation by Katsuya Osozawa, Associate Professor, Ehime University, Faculty of Agriculture followed the next. He highlighted the topic Towards Creating Coastal Region Pilgrimage In Heisei Era presenting his experience gained in course of his research study in the rural village of Indonesia.
Series of queries were raised after the presentation and clarification was made by the presenters. About 50 participants including Japanese and international students, faculty members and professors participated in the talk program.