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Snapshot 74 January – February 2012

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This is our first edition for 2012. Although we'd have liked to get to all of our readers earlier in the year our Snapshots Editor was on a much deserved break. Well, Stephanie's back and raring to go! Her first task: to sort through a number of 'candidates' for this edition. There's been quite a lot happening.

One of our major commitments for 2012 is to work closely with SPREP and the UNISDR to lead the process of developing an integrated regional strategy for DRM and Climate Change by 2015. We've had a series of meetings with these partner organisations this year and we're almost ready to move forward and recruit an individual to lead the preparatory work. In addition, we have the biennial progress reviews of the Hyogo Framework for Action and Pacific DRR and DM Framework for Action which will undertaken at regional level and as well at national level in all 14 Pacific island countries between May and September.

As it has been every year since 2009 the Pacific Platform for DRM signifies a major commitment in the DRP calendar for 2012. This year's meeting will be held in Noumea, New Caledonia from 17th - 21st September. As we progress over the coming months we'll provide you accounts of our preparations.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition of Snapshots and as always if you have any queries or helpful suggestions just drop us a line.

Mosese Sikivou
Deputy Director, Disaster Reduction Programme

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Last Updated on Friday, 16 March 2012 13:51
 

Federated States of Micronesia Briefing

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Federated States of Micronesia Ambassador to Fiji, H.E. Gerson Alik Jackson was briefed at the Suva headquarters of the Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC) of the Secretariat of the Pacific community (SPC) on Friday 9th March.

This visit was a follow-up to a meeting with the SOPAC Director, Dr Russell Howorth and the Manager of the SPC North Pacific Regional Office, Mr Amena Yauvoli. The senior technical advisers at the SPC/SOPAC Division office who are working with the FSM briefed the Ambassador on five important areas of SPC/SOPAC Division work currently underway for the FSM.

Last Updated on Monday, 12 March 2012 15:14 Read more...
 

Enhanced Image Pre-Processing at SOPAC for the Pacific

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Pacific Island Countries are generally surrounded by large areas of ocean over which clouds easily build up within the lower atmosphere with increasing altitude. The micro-climate of the moisture-laden lower atmosphere is very inhomogeneous and can distort images captured by optical satellites. An atmospheric correction is therefore important in order to enhance image data. Beginning in 2011, atmospheric correction software has started to incorporate the digital elevation model to reduce relief related atmospheric disturbances.

The Applied Geoscience and Technology Division of SPC is the hub of satellite image data purchase within the region, and the Division also enhances the image data for Pacific users including the application of an atmospheric correction. SOPAC therefore maintains a working relationship with global software developers adjusting software specifically for Pacific conditions.

Last Updated on Friday, 09 March 2012 15:01 Read more...
 

New film highlights water issues and solutions in Tuvalu

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Funafuti, Tuvalu, March 5, 2012: A new film released today looks at the serious water issues facing Tuvalu and how the Global Environment Facility supported Pacific Integrated Water Resources Management project (GEF Pacific IWRM) is working to address these problems by installing composting toilets on the main island of Funafuti.  

The film ‘Falevatie: A toilet for our future’ shows how composting toilets can help conserve water and minimise threats to the environment, food security and human health.

Tuvalu recently experienced a devastating drought, which resulted in a national emergency and millions of dollars spent on an international relief effort to get water to the small isolated country.

Last Updated on Friday, 09 March 2012 15:01 Read more...
 

GEF Small Grant Programme partners with Pacific IWRM for strengthened community action on water issues in the Pacific Islands

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Suva, March 5, 2012: Supporting community empowerment and enabling community based organisations and NGOs to guide activities that conserve and restore the environment while enhancing their well-being and livelihoods is the very essence of sustainable development.

This was the message given this week by Dr Delfin Ganapin, Global Manager of the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grant Programme (GEF SGP) at a signing of a joint communiqué to officially launch a partnership between GEF SGP and the GEF supported Pacific Integrated Water Resources Management Project (Pacific IWRM).

The partnership aims to strengthen community involvement in integrated water resource management in the Pacific to improve implementation of “Community to Cabinet” approaches to water and wastewater management from “Ridge to Reef” and thereby also improve community resilience and environmental outcomes for many small islands.

Last Updated on Friday, 09 March 2012 08:33 Read more...
 


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Newsflash

Welcome to the first edition of Snapshots for 2013!

It's taken us a while but we've finally been able to get something together to give you some understanding of the work being undertaken by the SPC/SOPAC Disaster Reduction Programme. These are just tidbits of a wider range of initiatives, the developments of which, we hope to share with our readers over the course of 2013.

The year has gotten off to a bang but unfortunately not the kind that we would have wanted. The disasters that affected both Samoa and Fiji as a result of Tropical Cyclone Evan in December required some immediate attention early in January. Through a collaborative effort with the SPC/SOPAC Water and Sanitation Programme, we deployed two staff to assist Samoa's post disaster needs assessment . In February, we provided similar assistance to Fiji (just coming to completion as this goes to print so watch this space for news on the Fiji post disaster needs assessment). We also, per the tireless contribution of Litea Biukoto, were able to support post disaster assessment work in the Solomon Islands which was impacted by an earthquake and  tsunami in early February.

So, there's been no let up this - made even more interesting since other activities continue as scheduled. Alas, such is the life of those of us in this line of work. We have a number of interesting stories in this edition. The Pacific Disaster Net has reached a significant milestone; our work in French Polynesia is making significant progress; the B Envelope project continues to add another success to its portfolio of activities, and more.

I hope you enjoy reading our stories and please 'stay tuned' for more as we progress in the coming months.

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Mosese Sikivou
Deputy Directory, Disaster Reduction Programme