Wednesday, May 22, 2013

United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR): Geneva, 22 May 2013. Support to disaster-proof schools and hospitals at Global Platform



Government ministers call for support to disaster-proof schools and hospitals at Global Platform

GENEVA, 22 May 2013 - Representatives from 35 governments who met with business executives and senior experts at the 4th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, have issued a call "to develop nationally agreed standards for hazard risk assessments especially of critical infrastructure (including schools, health centers, electricity and water supply systems, nodal ITC centres, road and transport systems) by 2015."

The call comes in a communique made public today by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, following a High-Level Meeting which took place yesterday in the wake of revelations from the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction that economic losses from disasters are in the range of
$2.5 trillion so far this century. The High-Level Dialogue was moderated by Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, said: "Who can forget the shocking fact that 97% of the schools in Port-au-Prince collapsed in the
2010 earthquake? It is of huge concern that the lives and education of millions of children living in seismic zones and flood plains around the world are at risk. Over the last ten years, earthquakes and tsunamis have killed almost 700,000 people, the majority of them children. Economic losses are also a deep concern.

"We have agreed today to support a global safe schools and safe health structures campaign in disaster-prone areas with voluntary funding and commitments to be announced at the World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015. From national level data collected from governments by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction we know that thousands of schools and health centres are damaged or destroyed in disasters each year. Hazard risk assessments are essential before investing in critical infrastructure which can lead to loss of lives if not disaster-proof."

Martin Dahinden, Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and Chair of the Global Platform, said: "We believe that disaster risk reduction is essential to global efforts at poverty reduction and to achieve sustainable development. We have agreed to advocate for disaster risk reduction and the building of resilience to be a central part of the post-2015 development agenda together with mitigation and adaptation to climate change. All of which will be supported by a post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction when the current Hyogo Framework for Action comes to a conclusion."

In addition to a campaign to start a global safe schools and safe health structures campaign in disaster-prone areas, the High-Level communiqué called on the private sector to integrate disaster risk in its risk management practices and for collaboration between the public and private sectors at local and national levels in risk management.

The following 35 countries were represented at the High-Level Dialogue:
Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, China, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Gabon, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Maldives, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Lucia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam.

****
Download the High Level Communique here:


Read online: http://goo.gl/a1siF

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

November 1, 2007,” Pipeline Accident Report NTSB/PAR-09/01, October 14, 2009.


http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/readynpm/view?objectid=84747


NEW EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LESSON LEARNED: MISSISSIPPI PIPELINE RUPTURE

Terry Hardy 2 days ago   Reply
On November 1, 2007, a 12-inch-diameter liquid propane pipeline segment operated by Dixie Pipeline Company ruptured near Carmichael, Mississippi. It is estimated that about 430,000 gallons of propane was released. The resulting gas cloud drifted over a nearby residential area and ignited. Two people were killed, seven were injured, and four houses were destroyed in the explosion. The property damage exceeded $3.3 million. The NTSB found in its investigation that the rupture was caused by a failure in a weld that caused the pipe to fracture along the longitudinal seam weld, a portion of the upstream girth weld, and portions of the adjacent pipe joints. The NTSB also stated in its investigation that Dixie Pipeline Company’s oversight and evaluation of the effectiveness of its public education programs were inadequate. Dixie Pipeline Company distributed safety literature to stakeholders as part of its public awareness program. However, the company found after the accident that 10 addresses in this rural area were missing from the list used to distribute the safety data. This safety data described the pipeline hazards and what residents should do in case of an emergency. These ten addresses included the houses of two residents who were killed and other houses that were destroyed. In addition, the NTSB stated that Dixie relied on a contractor to perform the mailings, and did not assess the effectiveness of its awareness program. Dixie did not conduct surveys to find out if the customers received the mailings or whether they understood the guidance. The NTSB also stated that 911 operators were not invited to be part of the company’s outreach program for emergency responders. As a result, these 911 operators may not have had the proper training to recognize the hazards associated with a large release of propane, and therefore they were unaware of the actions to take in an emergency of this magnitude. Although it did not affect this emergency, the NTSB also noted that a radio signal repeater for the fire department, the primary radio system for the county dispatch, was not working. Communications cables of the radio signal repeater had been inadvertently disconnected during routine housekeeping. Following the accident the county implemented regular tests of the communications equipment.
Lessons Learned: Training is certainly much easier to conduct if it is limited to the personnel in one organization. However, real emergencies often involve personnel from multiple organizations including fire departments, police departments, emergency dispatch units, and so on. A failure to include these personnel in training could result in an ineffective and inappropriate response to a disaster.
U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, “Rupture of Hazardous Liquid Pipeline With Release and Ignition of Propane, Carmichael, Mississippi, November 1, 2007,” Pipeline Accident Report NTSB/PAR-09/01, October 14, 2009.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Posse Foundation Scholarship

Hello juniors,
If you are interested in attending one of the following schools next year, please take a look at the guidelines for the Posse Foundation Scholarship.

• Bucknell University
• Grinnell University
• Lafayette College
• Sewanee: The University of the South
• University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Posse Foundation Scholarship is a full tuition scholarship to one of the above schools. The following are the criteria:

1. Be high school seniors in the fall of 2013

2. Demonstrate extraordinary leadership within their high school, community, or family.

3. Excel academically and have strong GPAs. Although there is no minimum requirement, only nominees who have consistently progressed toward academic excellence will be given the opportunity to be a Posse Scholar. While the ACT or SAT are not a focus of Posse’s evaluation, students should take them. The Posse Program is open to students of all backgrounds.


More information on the program can be found on: http://www.possefoundation.org/.

Thank you,
Ms. Burke

Attachments:
PosseNominationForm.pdf

Saturday, May 18, 2013

K-12 Level STEM2 Education: Male African American Students and others Worldwide


NASA-Science Technology Engineering Math and Medicine (STEM2) for Male African American Students and others Worldwide
by Andrew Williams Jr (Notes) on Friday, May 17, 2013 at 5:29pm



Dr. Joe W. Conner, JWC/DS, and Mr. George Sun, United Lenton, Inc., are announcing plans to establish ten (10) Ocean and GIS/GPS Consortia in Southern California and beyond.

JWC/DS has received a preliminary agreement with a school district which is the first institution to share our desire for improving science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEM2) training - with a strong GIS/GPS component. The district is also the first systemwilling to take advantage of our ability to develop a strong financial base from individual households (i.e. $12.5+ million operational fund per hub). 

Collaborators with diverse service and skills sets have agreed to assist our district client as needed. A sample of our collaborators is attached. Resumes and documents detailing collaborations are available upon request.

PROJECT STRUCTURE -The project will focus on two broad themes:
  1. We will use NASA Enterprises to spinoff ways to launch the spirit of discovery in K-12 young scholars, siblings and parents;
  2. We will use GIS/GPS and related technologies to reveal how STEM2 professionals collect, analyze, and manage data.  The introduced technologies are used by ESRI and National Instruments.
                Each broad hub can bring additional domestic and international opportunities to the schools and homes of each K-12 student. The consultative efforts will locate willing prospective donors who embrace the goals established by the district. Our financial goal is to raise $10+ million for each themed hub that will allow the districtflexible options for projects and the starting of an endowment(s).

Contact

Dr. Joe W. Conner
JWC Development Systems
P.O. BOX 1515, Costa Mesa, CA 92628
Tel: 626.664.2958   Fax: 714.540.5875
E-Mail: jwconner@jwcds.com 

Created: 4-26-13 jwc
Revised: 5-6-13 db

Revised: 5-11-13 jwc

SERVICE COLLABORATIONS


Service: Workshop(s) for African-American fifth grade males

These interactive and multimedia workshows how much fun young men can have with a Ph.D.in STEM2 (science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine) fields of study. Dr. Joe will show actual marine biology and outreach field trip video and slides from California to across USA and West Africa. Students will show how they, their family members and teachers can start fun activities that match science standards, develop community resource contacts locally and beyond.The workshops can be held from one to three days with follow-up activities to establish human and financial resources.                

Fee Schedule: Available Upon Request

Service Region: State, National, International. Please specify: National and International

Contact: Joe W. Conner, Ph.D.                         Title: Senior Manager/Founder
Phone: 626.664.2958                                         Email: jwconner@jwcds.com
Fax: 714.540.5875                                             Skype: joe.conner27
Address: P.O.BOX 1515                                     City: Costa Mesa                                State: CA              Zip: 92628

Additional Comments:  Workshops are inclusive and can be tailored to meet any STEM2 organizational objects and/or target groups.



Service: RETINA (Robotics Exploration Technologies in Astrobiology)

The RETINA Program blends formal classroom instructional activities with hands-on skill development in a team-based setting conducted by the teacher and guided by national science standards. Activities are chosen carefully with the intention of integrating technology under the umbrella of a scientific process and are designed to provide consistency and a continuum of difficulty among the grades. Given the breadth of potential science and engineering topics that excite children, the RETINA Program focuses on interactive participation in the design and development of simple robotic and sensor systems, providing a range of challenges to engage all students through project-based learning (PBL). Modules are framed in science and follow accepted engineering practices. Grade-specific scientific umbrellas were chosen based on national science standards and ongoing cutting-edge research and/or technology.  Modules progress from simple activities such as making an object neutrally buoyant to writing computer code to maneuver rovers. These modules expose students to the broad range of engineering fields and the engineering processes through problem solving, creativity, and collaboration, using science as the “customer”.                               

Fee Schedule: Available Upon Request

Service Region: State, National, International. Please specify:California and National

Contact:  Dr. Geoff Wheat                                                Title: Professor
Phone: 831.633.7033                                         Email: wheat@mbari.org
Fax: N/A                                                               Skype: N/A
Address: P.O. Box 475                                       City: Moss Landing            State: CA              Zip: 95039

Additional Comments: One of the creators of C-DEBI (Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations) a NSF funded deep ocean research consortium administrated by the University of Southern California.



SERVICE COLLABORATIONS


Service: International EducationCollaboration Works

Definition: International EducationCollaboration Works to build bridges or use structures designed and built by others to facilitate exchanges.

Increasing Important Educational Innovations: The rapid emergence of new and respected higher education institutions in countries like: China, Taiwan, Korea, etc. could well lead to more choices among domestic and foreign students to study locally or in other countries.

The Information and Communications Technology: GIS/GPS and Cloud Computing technology will be the backbone of higher education or youth succeed better if they start learning the benefits of spirited collaboration in terms of developing leading-edge infrastructures.

Services: (Sample)

(1) “Become A Sister's Schools”: Under the International  Education Collaboration Plans,  Including Cultural Exchanges, Youth Ambassador Programs, Home Stay Exchange Programs.
(2) For Both Youth and Adult Students: Includes information and communication technology, musical performances, art exhibits, international cultural festivals, media, film festivals, and teacher exchanges.
(3) The Summer Programs (Summer Camps): Run summer camps for teens, older Kids, siblings and parents.

Fee Schedule:  Available Upon Request

Service Region: State, National, International. Please Specify: State, National,  and International.

Contact:  George Sun                                         Title:  President
Phone: (626)447-5119                                       Email: gsun1888@yahoo.com
Fax:  (626)447-6307                                          Skype: N/A
Address:  5917 Oak Ave.  Suite 250              City:  Temple City    State: Ca.      Zip:  91780

Additional Comments: Senior Asian Liaison for JWC/DS.



Service: STEM2 Saturday Academy Program

The Metropolitan Saturday Academy Science and Technology Programs (MSA) is a scientific and educational enrichment organization designed to create student interest in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEM2) at the elementary and middle school levels.  Since 1997, MSA has provided creative learning experiences in nontraditional formats, inspired by “NASA Underground Railroad: Connections to Freedom and Science”.  In MSA students use “hands on” activities developed by experts in STEM2fields. Students go on field trips to NASA Centers and universities across America. Our educational enrichment activities meet national education standards.  Students develop and present science projects under the guidance and direction of science and math teachers.  Research opportunities are offered to expand students’ understanding of scientific and mathematical concepts.  The program is conducted on Saturdays from December to June or during and/or after school. The major goal is to develop a cadre of multicultural youth in STEM2 fields. We strengthen each student’s educational skills, improve his/her academic achievement, provide a school-to-career focus, introduce and/or increase exposure to colleges and universities, and enhance problem-solving, critical thinking, skills in analytic, communication, presentation, leadership and interpersonal talents.
Fee Schedule:  Available Upon Request

Service Region: State, National International.  Please specify:  National and International
Contact:  Lynda Sampson                               Title:  President and CEO

Phone:  301.642.5566                                      Email:  saturdayacademy1997@yahoo.com
Fax:  301.574.0175                                          Skype: N/A
Address:  1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 300      City:  Washington      State:  DC       Zip:  20004
Additional Comments:  The STEM2 Saturday Academy Program is inclusive.MSA’s techniques and programs are transferable. 
Revised: 5-11-13 jwc

Different Perspective. USAID: The Soft Arm of Imperialism


http://newsjunkiepost.com/2012/11/24/usaid-the-soft-arm-of-imperialism/

Foreign aid is the opium of modern times
No one pushes foreign aid better than USAID (the United States Agency for International Development). The agency operates in over 100 countries. New takers arrive all the time, the most recent one being Burma, which returned for a fix after a 24-year hiatus. Unlike the current celebrations of Burma, the last major news about USAID were hardly ones to boast about. Soon after the Paraguay coup in June, the ALBA member countries – Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Dominica, Nicaragua, and Venezuela – declared they would expel the agency. In mid-September, Russia accused the agency of “political meddling”and gave it less than two weeks to leave. USAID had entered Russia right after the collapse of the Soviet Union and spent about $2.6 billion in its 20 years there. Of the $50 million allocated for 2012, more than half had been intended to “promote democracy.”
What is this Orwellian aid organization that countries expel as soon as they are able? USAID is a relatively young agency: a John F. Kennedy brainchild that gathered a group of aid organizations under one umbrella with the passage of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. USAID was intended to follow in the footsteps of the Marshall Plan but function more efficiently to advance US foreign policy. The goals back then were clearly expressed and were consistent with the cold war policies to diminish the threat of communism and open new markets for the US. These have expanded to include: developing “countries’ policies and institutions” and even “rebuilding government.”
USAID’s list of top aid recipients hardly sounds like a group of coddled countries, but rather a list of places that are either formally at war or don’t know they are at war even as their very fabric is being unraveled. In 2011, for example, the number one recipient was Afghanistan, at $1.4 billion, and number two was Haiti, at $971 million. Other countries in the top 20 aid recipients include Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, West Bank/Gaza, Iraq, Colombia, and Liberia.
What happens in Haiti doesn’t stay in Haiti
Although many of USAID’s policies were initially practiced on Haiti, the agency did not get a foothold into the country until Jean-Claude Duvalier came to power in 1972. Duvalier the father had been irascible and nobody’s boy. Consequently, the Kennedy administration had cut off all aid to the country in 1963, and Haiti enjoyed an unprecedented economic independenceduring the early 1960’s to 1970’s. Duvalier the son, on the other hand, was quick to open the country’s economy to US exploitation in exchange for his own protection. USAID declared Haiti’s “comparative advantages” to be its: (1) low-cost labor force, (2) year-round cultivation and (3) proximity to the US, and it rapidly set about to reorient all Haitian labor and agriculture to export.
Part of the plan was to double the urban population to create an assembly/sweatshop sector that could be easily policed. Aid was given, not to the poor, but to rich landowners, to tie them over while the country’s agriculture was transformed from production for its domestic market to production for export. Over time, USAID carried out a series of studies to understand the support systems for Haiti’s peasants and then set about to destroy all those systems. One of these was the Creole pig, which was eradicated in 1982 presumably because of a swine-flu epidemic in the Dominican Republic, although the pig, which had adapted to the Island over hundreds of years, was resistant to swine flu. Later, subsidized rice from Arkansas was dumped into Haiti to bankrupt the country’s small rice farmers and create a market for the US.
An analogous process took place in Egypt, where Mubarak opened the country’s economy to the US in exchange for protection from his own people. All of Egypt’s pigs were slaughtered in 2009, not to prevent a swine flu, but a human flu. This wholesale killing of the animals was correctly interpreted by Egypt’s Christian minority as being a direct attack on its economy. Likewise, USAID set out to undermine the major Egyptian crop for consumption, in this case wheat, by dumping the subsidized US product on the market. Currently, Egypt imports over 10 million tons of wheat per year, about 40% of it from the US alone. Indeed, for every dollar the US has spent on development in Egypt, that country has spent about $40 on US imports.
“Napalm in the morning, candy in the afternoon”
As an aid organization, USAID principally serves US corporations. The agency subverts the economies, cultures, and even religions of assisted countries to open them as markets and transform their entrepreneurial poor into workers for subsistence wages. In this project, USAID exploits a broad array of supposed non-governmental organizations (NGO) to employ mainly Americans. Although these NGO workers live in place, they isolate themselves in small enclaves and spend so much of their funds on US goods that USAID can boast of recycling about 80% of its dollars back into the US economy. For its more than 50 years, the policy of USAID has been to “buy American”and strictly require “tied aid”: i.e. that its funds be spent on goods and services, not only from US concerns but also transported solely by US carriers, even if this means paying higher prices that undermine the local economies that are supposedly being helped.
In February, USAID announced it would relax its purchase policy to allow most goods and services to be bought in place, except for: food aid, US-patented pharmaceuticals, and motor vehicles. This sounds harmless enough, until one recognizes that, given USAID’s policy of generating the need for its goods, this policy change predicts an escalation in hunger, disease, and protest. For the most part, the aid from USAID consists of defective goods that cannot compete on the world market. Examples include unfortified rice, genetically modified (GMO) seeds rejected by the European Union countries but bought from Monsanto by assisted countries; dangerous vaccines that are nonetheless adopted into the vaccination programs of USAID clients; vehicles, many of which are defective but purchased by aided governments for their staff, police and military.
The aid is for the US, not the designated recipients, who cannot disavail themselves of the supposed help without an almost impossible effort to independence.  It is an addictive drug couriered by local despots, a soft instrument of war every bit as debilitating as the military arm of US foreign policy: the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

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