All of us


		Foreseeing the consequences when planning new buildings.
		Education for prevention.
		Favouring ecological defences against natural disasters.
		Promoting networks for observation, monitoring and data collection.
		Cooperating and creating a good social network.
		Reducing the carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

FORESEEING THE CONSEQUENCES WHEN PLANNING NEW BUILDINGS

The displacement of the rural population to the cities and the increase in the world population are feeding the growth of built-up areas. This growth is taking place in a disorderly fashion, without complying to any regulations (when they exist), and buildings go up anywhere, such as in the beds of rivers. Today, 40 or 50 of the fastest growing cities are in seismic zones and in very precarious conditions. This lack of minimum guarantees, added to a larger earthquake or flood than usual, facilitate the occurrence of large-scale catastrophes.


		Riverside areas are susceptible to flooding. In these regions, it is therefore important to foresee that floods will on occasions occur.

Even though we know that prevention is much cheaper than reconstruction and that loss of life is irreparable, we still allow irrational urban growth. Compliance with basic rules forbidding buildings in particularly vulnerable areas would avoid many tragedies and high costs in lives and property. Certain measures, such as the construction of protection for slopes, the use of flexible materials for water and gas pipes, or declination walls lay the foundations for an effective prevention policy.

EDUCATION FOR PREVENTION

Prevention is a fundamental tool for avoiding the serious consequences of earthquakes, floods and natural inclemencies, but at the same time the population must be ready to react correctly in a risk situation. Education, especially in at-risk areas, is an important tool for combating natural disasters and allows the population to react better. In Japanese schools, boys and girls are taught what measures to take in the case of an earthquake.


		Education in the classroom is fundamental for learning to confront natural disasters.

If people are prepared for these eventualities, financial losses can also be avoided, because people are more capable of collaborating in rescue work and of helping the injured. The publication and circulation of explanatory leaflets, education in schools, simulations and teaching programmes in response to natural disasters are very valuable tools.

	FAVOURING ECOLOGICAL DEFENCES AGAINST NATURAL DISASTERS

	The experts assure us that there are no figures to confirm that the magnitude of meteorological phenomena has increased. On the other hand, they say that the ecological defences against these phenomena have decreased. China has calculated that the value of the forests (as regards their capacity for water infiltration and retention and the prevention of floods and erosion) it has cleared in the upper basin of the Yangtze river is three times the price it has received for the wood. Forests play a leading role in the prevention of disasters: they reduce erosion, increase infiltration and soften the force of the rain. Forests greatly reduce river floods, attenuate surface run-off and act as a brake to avalanches and landslides. Yet in spite of this role they are still cleared faster than they can regenerate. Although forests will not avoid all disasters, they can help a lot. Today there is a vital need to maintain forests in as natural a state as possible. A forest is much more than just a plantation of trees; it is a varied ecosystem which provides many services and products, amongst which is protection against extreme phenomena. As consumers, we must be very careful in our use of paper and wood, moderating consumption and recycling the remains.

PROMOTING NETWORKS FOR OBSERVATION, MONITORING AND DATA COLLECTION

Experience of previous events, observation and monitoring of cases occurring, data collected over the course of years and analysis of the most sensitive areas are an important basis for preventing future episodes of natural disasters and, especially, for establishing what measures are needed to avoid a tragedy when a disaster takes place. Collecting data for these episodes is therefore very important for evaluating the risk of disaster, modelling cases, interpreting results and implementing prevention measures.


		New information technologies are a key tool for foreseeing exceptional climatic phenomena.

In this field, science has made great progress. We know far more today and we have new and more accurate measuring apparatus, but we must not think science has an answer to everything. For the time being, the contributions from people living in the area are an essential complement in data collection. These are the people who are most familiar with the surroundings, and who see the consequences of natural disasters. Their experience is a basic source of information for preventing disasters. Everyone must contribute what they know.

	COOPERATING AND CREATING A GOOD SOCIAL NETWORK

	The role of the society when it comes to taking action against large-scale natural phenomena is a key factor for the right reaction. As well as preparing people and having the right mechanisms to face these situations, it is important to establish a communication network by which people can maintain contact and be correctly and quickly informed. A good social structure means measures can be taken in advance of events (protection of threatened areas, displacement of people in danger areas), but this must be understood as a shared task in which everyone must be involved. The administration will have to coordinate these networks and make available the information at its disposal, but people and local organisations must be able to inform on their situation and send whatever information they have. These networks, although mainly voluntary, must have adequate means, and the administration and business must finance its operations. Participation by different sectors makes its operation more complex but guarantees better results.

	REDUCING THE CARBON EMISSIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

	The two great challenges facing humanity at the moment are stabilising the climate and stabilising the world population. Both have indirect repercussions on natural disasters. We have already mentioned that the population must be trained and equipped to avoid the consequences of the most violent natural phenomena. Furthermore, the growth of carbon dioxide emissions and the subsequent climatic change are factors that increase climatic instability and the virulence of atmospheric phenomena. For this reason, compliance of international agreements on climate change is basic if we are to stop the increase of natural disasters. But as well as the main international agreements, a commitment is needed on a small scale in the face of climate change. The use of collective transport, moderate heating of homes and a reduced electricity consumption based on low-consumption appliances are individual measures needed to palliate the consequences of emissions affecting the whole world.