MEDITERRANEAN: REPORT AND REGIONAL BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE

 

Part I: Draft Concepts of a "Regional Blueprint for Change"

 

Preamble: The Mediterranean region, comprised of countries such as Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, Macedonia, Italy, France, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Spain.  Portugal, has been a diverse mosaic over time because of geographic and cultural differences. Because important cities in the region have been destroyed more than once by earthquakes and tsunamis, this common threat has served as one of the unifying themes in the region. Professionals in the region are now cooperating as a result of successful long-term past and present programs such as the BALKANS PROJECT, SEISMED, GSHAP, SESAME, RELEMR, and MERC, each having the goal of completing a seismic hazard zoning of the European-Mediterranean region and forging regional and sub-regional partnerships to apply the maps and other technical products in regional building codes, lifeline standards, land-use plans, urban plans, and disaster management.  

 

Mediterranean Regional Leadership Team:

·        Tri-Chair: Guy Deneufbourg 

·        Tri-Chair: Khaled Kahhaleh

·        Tri-Chair: Michele Magueri

·        Secretariat: Ramy El-Kourhy

·        Secretariat: Khaled Bankher

·        Secretariat:: Djillia Benouar

·        Aicha Amina Foufa 

·        Ben Aissa Tadili

·        Sahil Alsinawi

·        Salah El-Hadidy Youssef

·        Fred Simon (Representing UNESCO--Earth Sciences Division)

·        Fred Krimgold 

·        Thomas J. Gilboy

 

I.     INTRA-REGIONAL ACTIVITIES--2002-2007  

 

We have a vision of achieving the following in the Mediterranean region by building on programs that are currently underway and projecting our advances during the next ten years: 

·        Increased public awareness

·        Improved emergency management

·        Reduced losses from natural and technological hazards

·        Increased ;protection of the population and the rich cultural heritage

·        Advanced scientific and technological programs

·        Empowered political will to change current policies and professional practices

·        Sustained societal development.

·        A Center for Disaster Management, focusing initially on earthquakes

 

 

 

A.      Establish Ad Hoc Committee on Disaster Reduction for the Mediterranean Region

 

Purpose: Over the next 1-2 years, the Committee will draft a  "road map" (or blueprint) for disaster reduction in the region and organize, publicize, and plan for a World Congress

 

Objectives:

·        Transform an ad hoc committee into a permanent Committee within 1-2 years

·        Enlarge the  membership of the Mediterranean Region Leadership Team

·        Create "Road Maps" for each of the priority areas: public awareness, emergency management, reduction of losses, protection of population and cultural heritage, advanced scientific and technical knowledge, empower political will, sustain societal development, and a center for disaster management.

·        Determine training needs  throughout the region

·        Plan for future intra-and inter-regional activities in global perspective.

 

Who is going to do it:

·        The members of the Mediterranean Leadership Team will start the process and  enlist other professionals for specific tasks.  

 

Strategy/tools:

·        A new center for disaster management

·        Guild on ongoing programs such as MERC, SESAME, and RELEMR

·        Build on ongoing relationships with the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre and the U. S. geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center to enhance seismic monitoring capabilities within the region

·        Establish a physical/virtual web site

·        Establish regional/sub-regional centers of excellence

·        MED RIM  (i.e., adapting ideas, concepts, and technology  from the "Crowding the Rim" initiative to the Mediterranean)

·        HAZ MED (i.e., adapting ideas, concepts, and technology from HAZUS, HAZ PAC, and HAZ TAIWAN to the Mediterranean)

·        Outreach to other regions (e.g., to Latin America  through programs such as PILAR)

 

When:

·        Starting now with existing organizations and existing resources and programs,  continuing for at least 1-2 years.

 

Process:

·        Build on existing bilateral and multilateral agreements

·        Build on accomplishments of programs such as MERC, in which Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority are cooperating in the development of a sub-regional seismic ground shaking hazard map and a building code 

·        Build on accomplishments of programs such as SESAME in which professionals from Spain and associated countries are constructing a unified seismic ground shaking hazard map for the entire region. 

·        Build on accomplishments of programs such as RELEMR, in which professionals from Turkey, Lebanon, Cyprus, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Spain are collaborating in a comprehensive program to reduce potential  losses from earthquakes.  The Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, UNESCO, U. S. Department of Energy, and U. S. Geological Survey are providing technical support.  

·        Develop "Road Maps" for each of the priority focus areas.

·        Enlist sponsors

·        Enlist human resources

·        Promote education of professionals

·        Promote training

·        Share knowledge

 

Potential investors/donors/advisors (traditional and non-traditional):

·        UNESCO and other United Nations organizations (e.g., UNDP, UNEP)

·        European Community

·        National, regional, and international  development agencies

·        USAID

·        United States Geological Survey

 

II.     INTER-REGIONAL ACTIVITIES--2002-2007

 

We will be in a position to contribute to inter-regional activities for the benefit of other regions during 2002-2007 as a result of the intra-regional activities described above. 

 

PART II: BACKGROUND

 

A.     GLOBAL BLUEPRINTS FOR CHANGE

 

1.      In the Mediterranean region, we live with natural and technological hazards. We  are especially concerned about: a) earthquakes (including tsunamis and earthquake-induced liquefaction and landslides), b) water-related hazards (floods, droughts, water quality, changes in the hydrologic cycle, loss of wet lands, infectious diseases), c) changes in global weather systems, d) environmental degradation of air, water, and soil, e) coastal erosion, f) desertification, and g) volcanic eruptions

2.      We  need  a "Regional Blueprint" that focuses on: a) Increased public awareness, b)

      Improved emergency management, c) Reduced losses from natural and    technological hazards and environmental impacts, d) Increased ;protection of the population and our rich cultural heritage, e) Advanced scientific and technological programs, f) Empowered political will to change current policies and professional practices, and g) Sustained societal development.

3.      We plan to adapt and use ideas and concepts from the first editions of the following Global  Blueprints for Change:

·        Theme A: Topics A.2., A.4, A.6, and A.10

·        Theme B: Topics B.1, B.2, B.3, B.4, B.5, B.8, and B.10

·        Theme C; Topics C.1, C.4, C.6, C.7. C.9

 

4.      We plan to adapt and use many of the new ideas recommended by the Blueprinters, such as:

·        A culture of prevention

·        Disaster Technical Assistance

·        Anticipation instead of just reaction

·        Sharing new knowledge in real and near real time

·        Information systems

·        Maps

·        Models

·        Case histories

·        Guidelines

·        Manuals

·        Success stories

·        Databases

·        Check lists to aid decision makers

·        Centers of excellence on sustainability

·        Centers of excellence on emergency management

·        Regional partnerships

·        Legislation

 

5.      We want current and new Blueprinters to know that we plan to use their ideas and concepts as long as they are concrete, practical, and usable.  The  second editions  will be used to advance and accelerate achievement of our priorities.

 

B.    PROPOSED "INTERNATIONAL MEETING" IN 2002

 

1.      We welcome the proposed congress and will help to design the program and share in it, using it as a  mechanism to highlight our  goals, priority objectives, and the priority activities named above.  

 

C.    REGIONAL FORUMS, ONGOING PROJECTS, AND  CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

 

1.      We will seek opportunities to undertake regional projects to  contribute to assessment and reduction of vulnerability and risk in the Mediterranean region. 

2.      The measures of success include: a) increased awareness in all sectors, b) increased professional capacity through sharing of knowledge, education, and the  acquisition and use of advanced information technology, c) increased safety of the people through protection of buildings, infrastructure, environment, and cultural heritage, and d) improved professional practices through  building codes and land use, and e) new committees  (e.g., the successor to the Ad Hoc Committee) and centers (e.g., a center for disaster management).