The Successes, Discoveries and Future of GeoHazards International In
Improving Global Earthquake Safety

by Brian E. Tucker
GeoHazards International

3-4pm
Friday May 30, 2003
Refreshments served at 2:45pm
Munk Conference Room
Cecil and Ida M. Green Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of California, San Diego
http://mahi.ucsd.edu/seminar/

Abstract

GeoHazards International (GHI) is a nonprofit organization, founded
in 1991, with the mission to reduce the death and suffering caused by
earthquakes in the world's most vulnerable and most ready-to-be-helped
communities, through preparedness, mitigation and prevention.  The need
is great: earthquake risk in developing countries is large and growing
rapidly, it continues to be largely ignored, and unless something is
done about it -- fast -- both developing and developed countries will
suffer.  GHI's approach has included raising awareness, strengthening
local institutions and launching mitigation activities, particularly
for schools.  Since its founding, GHI has worked in more than a dozen
countries and has achieved some success: thousands of school children
are safer, hundreds of cities are aware of their risk, tens of cities
have been assessed and advised, and some local organizations have
been strengthened.  But there is disturbing evidence that what is
being done is inadequate.  A modified approach, involving a global,
multidisciplinary network, to rank countries according to some widely
accepted norms is being considered, tested and reviewed.