SPC Geoscience Division

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International Day for Disaster Reduction

Monday, 07 November 2011 13:07 administrator
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The International Disaster Risk Reduction Day in Papua New Guinea was marked at a special event organised by the National Disaster Centre of Papua New Guinea and supported by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).  

Representatives from key National Government Departments, I/NGOs and Donor partners, UN agencies attended the commemoration ceremony.  School children from four schools in Port Moresby also attended the commemoration ceremony.

Last Updated on Thursday, 10 November 2011 12:12 Read more...
 

Science a guiding star for South Pacific Region

Friday, 04 November 2011 09:15 administrator
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For twenty-six years scientists from around the world have provided advice and support to countries and territories in the South Pacific Region through STAR, the Science, Technology and Resources Network.

The most recent meeting, an integral part of the SPC/SOPAC Division meeting, took place in Nadi last week (16th – 21st October).

STAR Chair Dr John Collen, Associate Professor, School of Geography, Environmental and Earth Sciences, Victoria University, Wellington NZ, said that STAR was founded in 1983 in collaboration with the International Oceanographic Commission, so that the international scientific community could provide advice to SOPAC.

Last Updated on Friday, 04 November 2011 09:26 Read more...
 

SOPAC Quarterly News April - September 2011

Tuesday, 01 November 2011 15:28 administrator
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Inside this issue

First Sopac Division Meeting Set to Roll Mid October.

EU Funds Deep Sea Minerals Project: a Resurgence of Interest in Pacific Deep Sea Minerals.

Inaugural Meeting Gathers Delegations and Experts from Around the Globe.

Meet Your Deep Sea Minerals Project Staff.

Download Full Issue | Read Online

Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 November 2011 15:37
 

Education key to preventing death by drowning

Monday, 31 October 2011 07:09 administrator
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Every year people in Fiji drown in floods. Most of these fatalities occur as a result of people making poor choices and entering the floodwater.

Speaking at last week’s SPC/SOPAC Division’s STAR meeting (17th-18th October) in Nadi, Dr Stephen Yeo, a flood risk management consultant from Australia said, “A disproportionately high number of those who have lost their lives in floods in Fiji are males, especially teenagers and young men aged 15 to 24 years, the median age being 23 years.”

Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 November 2011 15:36 Read more...
 

New Video Profiles The Division

Wednesday, 26 October 2011 08:37 administrator
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“Our intention is to provide a clear picture of the work that SOPAC continues to do in the region to build the resilience of Pacific people through better understanding of the risks faced, especially to natural hazards ” said Dr. Russell Howorth, Director of the SOPAC Division of SPC.

Dr. Howorth was speaking at the SPC/SOPAC Division Meeting held recently in Nadi where an 18-minute video profile of the SOPAC Division of the SPC was shown for the first time to the more than 60 participants, including 22 member country representatives. Copies were distributed to those attending.

Last Updated on Monday, 31 October 2011 07:14 Read more...
 
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Page 43 of 74

Newsflash

Tuesday 14 October 2014, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) – Suva, Fiji: sWhat is the true cost of a disaster in human and economic terms and, once we know, what can we do to reduce the burden the next time?

These are the questions that were considered last week by a group of 29 participants as they completed Samoa’s first national training course in “Post Disaster Needs Assessment” (PDNA). The training, supported by the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) – European Union (ACP-EU)-funded “Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific Project” (BSRP) is implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and forms part of Samoa’s preparations for the forthcoming Tropical Cyclone season.

Samoa presently leads the way in conducting PDNAs in the region, having already conducted two assessments: the first in 2009, following the earthquake and tsunami and, the second in 2012, following Tropical Cyclone Evan. Both Assessments revealed the true economic cost of the disasters, far exceeding original estimates. The level of detail and accuracy contained within the assessments provided a strong foundation for the identification and prioritisation of appropriate measures to effect timely recovery and reconstruction.