The third-anniversary typhoon Morakot international symposium came to a close in Kaohsiung on May 4 after two days of lively discussion and exchange. Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council CEO Chern Jenn-chuan pointed out that to ensure sustainable development, all countries should construct disaster management systems that involve high levels of public participation to effectively tackle the challenges of disaster prevention, relief and reconstruction. From the experiences of typhoon Morakot, he indicated, Taiwan has established an innovative social management system drawing on the combined strengths of NGOs, private corporations and governments.

“Being prepared is better than conducting rescue, and conducting evacuation is better than being prepared,” Chern said, adding that this early response principle has helped Taiwan weather five more typhoons without major damage since Morakot. Through this symposium, Taiwan will share its experiences with other countries and looks forward to strengthening international disaster rescue and reconstruction collaborations, he said.

Chern commented that the Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council’s third-anniversary conference was held in conjunction with the 2012 International Symposium on Social Management Systems. At the event, 19 countries were represented by over 400 participants, including scholars, experts, as well as members of governments, NGOs and corporations. Thirty panel discussions were conducted and 166 academic papers presented (40 specific to Morakot), while exchanges were held on disaster prevention, reconstruction and social management systems.

During the lectures, elected President Gordon McBean of the International Council for Science pointed out that evidence of climate and global warming is clear and extensive, such as in the melting of polar ice caps. Other examples include melting snow at high elevations, which destabilizes mountain slopes, and landslide hazards arising from high rain volumes. He urged increased vigilance against ecological change to prevent a more fragile living environment. In the future, efforts to manage compound disaster risks should include tools and knowledge from the natural and social sciences, while disaster risk management should be incorporated into mainstream public administrative policies, McBean added.

Akira Omoto of Japan’s Tokyo Institute of Technology reflected on the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in eastern Japan, pointing out that while nuclear power can serve as a source of energy, the associated moral hazards and risk of nuclear accidents make it paramount for the government and the scientific community to apply all available technologies and knowledge to containing those risks. Following the tsunami disaster, Omoto said, the Japanese government has been re-evaluating the social and economic impact of nuclear power, diversifying the country’s energy sources and improving on their management.

Nobuo Shuto from Japan’s Tohoku University also shared his observations on the tsunami, pointing out that the disaster is a reminder to the Japanese people of the importance of coexisting peacefully with nature. Despite decades of experience and data, scientists were still unable to predict a catastrophe of such scale, he said, and no matter how sturdy the engineers built the coastal defense structures, they could not keep the shorelines from being engulfed. Tragically, coastal residents who relied on the government’s warning and protection systems lost their lives. Now, the Japanese people must learn to be prepared at all times for the occurrence of natural disasters, Shuto added.

On a different subject, Richard Anthes, president emeritus of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research in the U.S. and long-time supporter of Taiwan’s space meteorology development efforts, complimented the National Space Organization for its outstanding work in the design, manufacture and operation of weather satellites. He particularly commended the FORMOSAT-3 as one of the most accurate and stable space thermometers in the world. Anthes expressed confidence that Taiwan’s next satellite project FORMOSAT-7 would yield breakthroughs in tropical weather forecasting.

From Academia Sinica, Academician Liu Chao-han indicated that an International Centre of Excellence (ICoE) had been established in August 2011 as part of the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk initiative sponsored by the International Council for Science, the International Social Science Council, and the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN-ISDR). The ICoE at Academia Sinica is one of three major research institutes under the UN-ISDR program. So far four working groups have been established under the center—Forensic Investigations of Disasters, Risk Interpretation and Action, Disaster Loss Data, and Assessment of Integrated Research on Disaster Risk—to bring together the work of scientists in Taiwan and abroad, and to develop integrated models and databases as well as international partnerships. Such efforts demonstrate Taiwan’s important contributions to the task of preventing and mitigating natural disasters.

At the conclusion of the symposium, organizers held an evening banquet featuring performances by residents of the post-Morakot reconstructed areas. Students from Taiwu Elementary School in Pingtung’s Wulaluzi permanent housing community demonstrated their folk-singing talent, and a Bunun choir from Kaohsiung’s Shanlin Da Ai Community permanent housing base offered up singing and artistry performances. The lively music and traditional dances lent a festive mood and brought a successful close to the conference.
 

Reconstruction Council CEO Chern Jenn-chuan explains Taiwan's post-Morakot reconstruction experience to international experts.

Attendees break into small groups and have thorough discussions about rescue and reconstruction at the Symposium on Social Management Systems.

The Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council's third annual international symposium concludes with a lively discussion by participants.