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| Identifier: | 02ROME3296 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 02ROME3296 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Rome |
| Created: | 2002-07-05 11:38:00 |
| Classification: | UNCLASSIFIED |
| Tags: | ECON IT TSPL IT TSPL IT TSPL IT TSPL IT TSPL KSCA KSCAECON KSCAECON KSCAECON KSCAECON |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 003296
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/PDAS SOUTHWICK
E.O. 12958: N/A
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 03296 01 OF 05 051126Z
TAGS: ECON, IT, TSPL, IT, TSPL, IT, TSPL, IT, TSPL, IT, TSPL, KSCA, KSCAECON, KSCAECON, KSCAECON, KSCAECON
SUBJECT: GDIN PAVES WAY FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE
1. SUMMARY: ON JUNE 19-21, 2002, THE GLOBAL DISASTER
INFORMATION NETWORK (GDIN) HELD ITS FIFTH ANNUAL
CONFERENCE, ENTITLED "TAKING OFF: GDINS CONTRIBUTION TO
HUMAN HEALTH, SURVIVAL, AND WELL-BEING," AT THE SANTO
SPIRITO MONUMENTAL BUILDING IN ROME, ITALY. EXPERTS WERE
PRESENT FROM GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY, THE ACADEMIC
COMMUNITY, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE
UN, EC, AND UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. DAILY SESSIONS
INCLUDED PRESENTATIONS OF RESEARCH FROM THE EUROPEAN
SPACE AGENCY, THE ITALIAN CIVIL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT,
AND MEDIN, ALL OF WHICH FOCUSED UPON BOTH SPECIALIZED
GLOBAL DISASTER RESEARCH AND NETWORKING SOLUTIONS. THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONS ELLEN ENGLEMAN GAVE A
KEYNOTE ADDRESS ON INFORMATION PROBLEMS RELATED TO MAN-
MADE DISASTERS, WHILE IO PDAS AMBASSADOR E. MICHAEL
SOUTHWICK SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION IN DISASTER NETWORKING DURING THE OPENING
SPEECHES. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CONFERENCE, THE GDIN
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED THE TRANSFORMATION OF ITS
EXPERIMENTAL STATUS TO THAT OF A FORMAL NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION. END SUMMARY.
DEVELOPMENT OF GDIN
2. SINCE ITS 1998 INCEPTION IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,
PRECEDING ITS ESTABLISHMENT BY AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
OF DISASTER EXPERTS IN THE 2000 ANKARA DECLARATION, GDIN
HAS SOUGHT TO EVOLVE INTO AN INCLUSIVE, CENTRALIZED,
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 03296 01 OF 05 051126Z
COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK PROVIDING PERTINENT INFORMATION TO
THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY VIA AN EXPANSIVE
MULTILATERAL PARTNERSHIP. DRAWING UPON PROGRESS MADE AT
THE 2001 CONFERENCE IN CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, THIS YEARS
S
CONFERENCE WAS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE IN TERMS OF
MEETING THE ANKARA DECLARATIONS 2002 PROJECTION FOR
SHEDDING GDINS EXPERIMENTAL STATUS, STRENGTHENING
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ESTABLISHING AN INTERNATIONAL "LEGAL
PERSONALITY." AS A RESULT, THE CONFERENCE WAS
CHARACTERIZED BY DISCUSSION OF IMPROVING METHODS FOR
WORLDWIDE NETWORKING AND DATA ACQUISITION RELATED TO
NATURAL DISASTERS, INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND TECHNOLOGICAL
RISKS. THE GDIN 2002 ROME STATEMENT, RELEASED AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE CONFERENCE (SEE PARAGRAPH 16), ASSERTED
THAT GDIN HAD MADE THE TRANSITION FROM AN EXPERIMENTAL TO
A FORMAL INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION. THE STATEMENT ALSO
INCLUDED REITERATIONS OF GOALS SET FORTH IN THE ANKARA
DECLARATION, SUCH AS THE UNDERTAKING OF PILOT PROJECTS,
DEVELOPING EARLY WARNING AND RESPONSE INFORMATION
SERVICES, AND PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE INTERNET PORTAL
FOR THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY. GDIN PARTICIPANTS
ALSO ENDORSED PROVIDING OPERATIONS ADVICE ON INFECTIOUS
S
DISEASES TO RELIEF AGENCIES. GDIN IS ALSO PLACING A
STRONG FOCUS ON THE TRANSFER OF DATA TO THIRD-WORLD
COUNTRIES, WHERE DISASTER AND/OR THE POTENTIAL FOR IT
HAVE BEEN INCREASING EXPONENTIALLY. IT IS GDINS HOPE
THAT THESE SERVICES, BACKED BY A DIVERSE BODY OF
RESPECTED ORGANIZATIONS, WILL SIMPLIFY WORLDWIDE DISASTER
NETWORKING, SAVING TIME AND RESOURCES THAT COULD
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 03296 01 OF 05 051126Z
OTHERWISE BE USED FOR DEVELOPMENT. MANY PARTICIPANTS
ALSO EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR CREATION OF A 501(C)(3) GDIN
FUND, LED BY AL SIMARD, AN OFFICIAL WITH NATURAL
RESOURCES CANADA.
3. THE GDIN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DECIDED TO HOLD THE SIXTH
ANNUAL GDIN CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN 2003. ALAN
HODGES, FORMER AUSTRALIAN DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR DISASTER
MANAGEMENT WAS ELECTED CHAIR OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RE-ELECTED STATE DEPARTMENT
OFFICIAL LARRY ROEDER FROM IO AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS
4. A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS WAS NOT ONLY PLACED UPON
INSTRUMENTATION AND DATA ACQUISITION, BUT ALSO UPON
DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY WITH WHICH ACQUIRED DATA CAN BE
EXPEDITED AND ACCESSED WORLDWIDE BY THOSE WHO NEED IT.
INNOVATIVE NEW TECHNOLOGIES, SUCH AS NOAAS PEACEWING
(SEE PARAGRAPH 9), WERE PROPOSED AS FASTER COMMUNICATIONS
MECHANISMS WITH WIDER GLOBAL COVERAGE, WHILE VIABLE NEW
USES WERE POSITED FOR OLDER, LESS EXPENSIVE TECHNOLOGIES.
KEY ATTENDEES
5. - AMBASSADOR MEL SEMBLER, U.S. EMBASSY TO ITALY
- AMBASSADOR E.M. SOUTHWICK, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6562
PAGE 01 ROME 03296 02 OF 05 051126Z
ACTION IO-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00
COME-00 CTME-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00
SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 FAAE-00
UTED-00 FDRE-01 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PER-00 PM-00 ACE-00
SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
R-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00
/013W
------------------C6EE35 051127Z /38
R 051138Z JUL 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4628
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
AMCONSUL NAPLES
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
NASA WASHDC
DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 05 ROME 003296
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/PDAS SOUTHWICK
E.O. 12958: N/A
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 03296 02 OF 05 051126Z
TAGS: ECON, IT, TSPL, KSCA
SUBJECT: GDIN PAVES WAY FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE
OF STATE, BUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS,
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
- ELLEN G. ENGLEMAN, ADMINISTRATOR, RESEARCH AND SPECIAL
PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION
- DR. ANVER GHAZI, HEAD OF BIODIVERSITY AND GLOBAL
CHANGE, NATURAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTERS, EC, EU-MEDIN
CHAIR
- HANS ZIMMERMAN, SENIOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICER,
UNITED NATIONS (OCHA)
- DR. S. BRIGGS, EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
6. ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE CONFERENCE, AMBASSADOR
SOUTHWICK GAVE AN OPENING SPEECH THAT STRESSED THE
IMPORTANCE OF A POLITICALLY NEUTRAL GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
AND A NEW LEVEL OF MULTILATERALISM IN THE DISASTER
MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY.
7. ON DAY TWO, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONS
ELLEN ENGLEMAN DELIVERED A WELL-RECEIVED KEYNOTE ADDRESS
THAT EVOKED IMAGES OF THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS.
DRAWING UPON HER EXPERIENCE WITH THE BARRAGE OF
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES PRESENTED BY THE ATTACKS IN NEW
YORK, ENGLEMAN ENCOURAGED THE FURTHER GROWTH OF GDIN AS A
WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF DATA FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT.
EUROPEAN SPACE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 03296 02 OF 05 051126Z
8. GLOBAL MONITORING OF ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY (GMES),
THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY (ESA), THE ITALIAN SPACE AGENCY
(ASI), THE GODDARD INSTITUTE FOR SPACE STUDIES (GISS),
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION (EC), AND INMARSAT MADE
PRESENTATIONS. EUROPEAN SPACE INITIATIVES ARE LARGELY
FOCUSING ON THE CREATION OF MORE AGILE, HIGH-VOLUME
STORAGE SATELLITES WITH HIGH-RESOLUTION CAPABILITIES,
CLOSING THE STILL PRESENT GAPS IN WORLDWIDE SATELLITE
COVERAGE. THE ITALIAN SPACE AGENCY (ASI) HAS SIGNED A
JOINT AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE FOR WORK ON COSMO-SKYMED,
WHICH DOES JUST THIS. THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
DISCUSSED THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENVISAT, ITS LARGEST EVER
SATELLITE WITH TEN PLATFORM INSTRUMENTS. UN
REPRESENTATIVE PIERO VALABRESE CONCURRED WITH THE NEED TO
EXPAND GLOBAL COVERAGE, AND DISCUSSED THE UNS THREE-YEAR
GLOBAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT SPACE SYSTEM, LEAD BY CANADA,
CHINA, AND FRANCE. INMARSAT OUTLINED THE TECHNOLOGY OF
ITS FOURTH-GENERATION SATELLITE AND ITS MOBILE PACKET
DATA SERVICE (MPDS), A POINT-TO-POINT PROTOCOL-BASED
(PPP) SYSTEM THAT CAN RUN IP AND OTHER PROTOCOLS AS WELL.
MPDS COULD PROVE USEFUL TO THE UN, NGOS, THE RED CROSS,
AND USCG, ALL OF WHOM INMARSAT ANTICIPATES TO BE FUTURE
CLIENTS, AND IN THE MASS MARKET.
PEACE WING
9. NOAA IS ALSO WORKING ON A PROTOTYPE PROJECT TO PROVIDE
HIGH-RESOLUTION MAPS OF DEVELOPING WEATHER, AS WELL AS
POST-EVENT ASSESSMENT OF CHANGES IN ECOSYSTEMS AND
INFRASTRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THE PROJECT, CALLED THE
PEACEWING PROTOTYPE PROJECT (PPP), UTILIZES AN UNMANNED
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 03296 02 OF 05 051126Z
AERIAL VEHICLE (UAV) EQUIPPED WITH MICROWAVE AND
HYPERSPECTRAL OPTICAL IMAGING EQUIPMENT TO GATHER DATA.
THE PPP IS A PRECURSOR TO THE OPERATIONAL VERSION OF
PEACEWING UAV, AS MODELED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
FOR GDIN. PEACEWING UAV WOULD BE A REVOLUTION IN GLOBAL
DISASTER INFORMATION NETWORKING, PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY
SPATIO-TEMPORAL SAMPLING (EXCEEDING THE CAPACITY OF
CURRENT SATELLITES) AT A FRACTION OF THE TODAYS COST.
THE MEDIN WORKING GROUP
10. THE EUS MEDIN GROUP WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS AND POOL
INFORMATION ON HAZARDS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION.
MEDIN CURRENTLY HAS A 70 MILLION EURO BUDGET AND EIGHTY
PILOT PROJECTS. ITS CENTRAL CONCERNS ARE THE MEASUREMENT
OF INDUSTRIAL RISKS, TECHNOLOGY-IMPROVING RESEARCH,
PREPAREDNESS, RISK ASSESSMENT, AND MITIGATION SPECIFIC TO
THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION, WHERE MOST EUROPEAN DISASTERS
OCCUR. ITS GOAL IS TO CREATE A SINGLE NETWORK OF
F
EUROPEAN RESEARCH PROJECTS TO ADDRESS MEDITERRANEAN
DISASTERS. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS CURRENT AND PAST
RESEARCH DONE BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MILAN ON THE "GLACIER
ARCHIVE" IN THE ALPS, WHICH POIGNANTLY REVEALS AN
INCREASE IN CARBON AND SULFATE COMPOUNDS AFTER THE PRE-
INDUSTRIAL ERA. COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE SNOW DOME
GLACIER OF WESTERN CANADA AND THE LYS GLACIER OF THE ALPS
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6565
PAGE 01 ROME 03296 03 OF 05 051127Z
ACTION IO-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00
COME-00 CTME-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00
SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 FAAE-00
UTED-00 FDRE-01 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PER-00 PM-00 ACE-00
SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
R-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00
/013W
------------------C6EE44 051127Z /38
R 051138Z JUL 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4629
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
AMCONSUL NAPLES
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
NASA WASHDC
DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 05 ROME 003296
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/PDAS SOUTHWICK
E.O. 12958: N/A
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 03296 03 OF 05 051127Z
TAGS: ECON, IT, TSPL, KSCA
SUBJECT: GDIN PAVES WAY FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE
SUPPORTED THE OBSERVATION THAT EUROPE STILL HAS VERY HIGH
EMISSIONS OF EDT, HEH, AND POPS. ALSO FOUND IN THE LYS
GLACIER WERE DDT AND ALPHA-HCH (WHICH REACHED ITS MAXIMUM
CONCENTRATION IN THE 1980S). THE CONCENTRATION OF DDT,
AN INTERMEDIATE COMPOUND OF DICOFOL, INCREASED UNTIL
1993-96.
11. ALSO OF INTEREST IS THE ITALIAN INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR
PHYSICS (INFN)- FRASCATIS RESEARCH INTO RADIOCHEMICAL
POLLUTION IN THE CRYOSPHERE. AT LEAST FIVE RADIOACTIVE
ISOTOPES CAUSED FROM 1950S ATOMIC BOMB TESTING IN THE
ATMOSPHERE HAVE BEEN FOUND, AND MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED
ISOTOPES, PARTICULARLY CS-137, HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO
NUCLEAR REACTORS. STUDIES IN THE APPENINES, HIMALAYA
HAVE PRODUCED STRONG ALPHA-PEAKS NEAR THE TIME OF THE
CHERNOBYL INCIDENT. A REDISTRIBUTION MECHANISM FOR
RADIOACTIVE FALLOUT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY INFN, WHEREIN
THE ISOTOPES SETTLE INTO RESIDUAL SNOW COVERS, WHICH THEN
MELT, DEPOSITING THE ISOTOPES INTO SOIL. WIDE DIFFUSION
OF THE ISOTOPES THROUGHOUT THE CRYOSPHERE BEFORE THEY
SETTLE WARRANTS INCREASED MONITORING OF RADIOACTIVE
POLLUTION IN THE CRYOSPHERE AND SUBSEQUENT RISK
ASSESSMENT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND OTHER AREAS.
ITALIAN CIVIL PROTECTION
12. AS THE HOST COUNTRY FOR THIS YEARS CONFERENCE,
VARIOUS ITALIAN MINISTRIES MADE LARGE CONTRIBUTIONS TO
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 03296 03 OF 05 051127Z
THE CONFERENCE. THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL PROTECTION (DPC)
SHARED, AMONG OTHER TOPICS, ITS SEISMIC MONITORING
TECHNIQUES, ACTIVE VOLCANO MONITORING SYSTEMS, AND A
PILOT PROJECT FOR TRANSPORTATION OF DANGEROUS GOODS. IN
ALL AREAS OF RISK ASSESSMENT AND DISASTER, THE PROBLEMS
ARE ADDRESSED ON THE LEVEL TO WHICH THEY CORRESPOND (I.E.
NATIONAL, REGIONAL, PROVINCIAL, OR MUNICIPAL). ALL
EMERGENCY/HIGH RISK AREAS ARE LOCALIZED AS DICTATED BY
THE ITALIAN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM, AND THE DPC
COORDINATES INTERVENTION OF ALL OPERATIVE PARTIES.
13. IN THE SOUTHERN REGIONS OF ITALY, SUCH AS CALABRIA,
SICILY, CAMPANIA, AND ABRUZZO, WHERE SEISMIC VIBRATIONS
ARE MOST PREVALENT, THE DPC USES STEP-DOWN CRITERIA TO
ASSESS SEISMIC RISK, NARROWING TO TOWNS, THEN PUBLIC
BUILDINGS, THEN SPECIFIC TYPES OF BUILDINGS. MODELING
AND STRUCTURAL SENSORS ARE USED TO DETECT LONGITUDINAL,
VERTICAL, AND TRANSVERSAL DEFORMITIES UNDER INDUCED
MICROTREMORS. CURRENTLY, THE DPC USES RAN-309 STRONG
MOTION INSTRUMENTS PLACED THROUGHOUT ITALY ACCORDING TO
SEISMIC SUSCEPTIBILITY. EVENTUALLY, THE DPC WOULD LIKE
TO UTILIZE INSTRUMENTS CAPABLE OF DETECTING VI MM
(MODIFIED MERCATI SCALE).
14. IN EASTERN SICILY, CLOSE TO THE MT. ETNA VOLCANO, THE
DPCS POSEIDON PROJECT IS SITUATED. POSEIDON IS A DATA
COLLECTION CENTER THAT MONITORS CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL
INDICATORS ASSOCIATED WITH VOLCANO ERUPTIONS, SUCH AS
SEISMICITY, GRAVITATIONAL, MAGNETIC, AND ELECTROMAGNETIC
FIELDS, SOIL DEFORMATION, AND GAS EMISSIONS.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 03296 03 OF 05 051127Z
15. THE DPCS NATALE MAZZEI PRESENTED A CURRENT PILOT
PROJECT INVOLVING THE TAGGING OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS WITH
REMOTE SENSORS DURING TRANSPORT. MONITORING OCCURS ON A
REAL TIME BASIS, COVERING MATERIAL BEING TRANSPORTED,
ROUTE OF TRANSPORT, PACKAGING, AND VEHICLE BEING USED.
ALL DATA IS ROUTED BACK TO A REGIONAL CONTROL AND COMMAND
CENTER, WHICH HAS TWO FUNCTIONS: FORECASTING/PREVENTION
(I.E. CALCULATING THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH A PARTICULAR
ROUTE AND SUGGESTING ALTERNATIVE ROUTES) AND EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT (REPORTING DATA BACK TO THE RCCC ABOUT THE
EMERGENCY). THE PROJECT IS BEING CONDUCTED ON THE
PROVINCIAL LEVEL, AS DATA VOLUME EXCEEDS CURRENT
PROCESSING CAPACITY AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL.
GDINS "ROME STATEMENT"
16. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS RELEASED BY THE GDIN
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CONFERENCE:
GDIN 2002
ROME STATEMENT
TAKING OFF: GDINS CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN HEALTH,
SURVIVAL, AND WELL-BEING
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6567
PAGE 01 ROME 03296 04 OF 05 051127Z
ACTION IO-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00
COME-00 CTME-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00
SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 FAAE-00
UTED-00 FDRE-01 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PER-00 PM-00 ACE-00
SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
R-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00
/013W
------------------C6EE4D 051127Z /38
R 051138Z JUL 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4630
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
AMCONSUL NAPLES
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
NASA WASHDC
DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 05 ROME 003296
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/PDAS SOUTHWICK
E.O. 12958: N/A
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 03296 04 OF 05 051127Z
TAGS: ECON, IT, TSPL, KSCA
SUBJECT: GDIN PAVES WAY FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE
THE FIFTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE GLOBAL DISASTER
INFORMATION NETWORK (GDIN) MET IN ROME FROM 17 TO 21
JUNE. THE MEETING, INVOLVING REPRESENTATIVES FROM 29
COUNTRIES, EXPLORED DEVELOPMENTS IN INFORMATION RESOURCES
AND MANAGEMENT TO IDENTIFY KEY FUTURE ACTIVITIES FOR
GDIN. AT THE MEETING GDIN ALSO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED
ITS TRANSITIONS FORM AN INFORMAL ASSOCIATION TO A REAL
INTERNATIONAL BODY. THESE DEVELOPMENTS WILL ASSIST IN
REDUCING THE EVER-INCREASING HUMAN AND FINANCIAL LOSSES
FROM DISASTERS.
UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN
REPUBLIC, REPRESENTATIVES FROM AROUND THE WORLD MET AT
THE SANTO SPIRITO MONUMENTAL BUILDING IN ROME. THE
MEETING OF GDIN EXAMINED IN DEPTH MEASURES TO MAKE BEST
USE OF DEVELOPMENTS IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND
TECHNOLOGIES TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF NATURAL AND MAN-MADE
DISASTERS ON LIVES, PROPERTY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE MEETING STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE CONTINUATION OF THE
CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, AND FOSTERING OF WORKING GROUPS
TO EXAMINE SPECIFIC ISSUES. THE PARTICIPANTS ALSO AGREED
TO CONTINUE THE EXCELLENT PROGRESS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SERVICES THAT GDIN COULD PROVIDE, INCLUDING:
- PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE AND TIMELY ADVICE TO RELIEF
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 03296 04 OF 05 051127Z
AGENCIES ON THE IMPACT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES ON THEIR
OPERATIONS.
- UNDERTAKING PILOT PROJECTS.
FURTHERMORE, THE PARTICIPANTS AGREED TO CONTINUE EFFORTS
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER SERVICES, INCLUDING:
- DEVELOPING EARLY WARNING AND RESPONSE INFORMATION
SERVICE.
- PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE INTERNET PORTAL FOR EMERGENCY
MANAGERS GLOBALLY.
THE CONFERENCE WAS CHARACTERISED BY STRONG AND POSITIVE
INTERACTION BETWEEN EXPERTS FROM NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS,
INDUSTRY, ACADEMIA, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS,
INCLUDING THE UN, OECD, AND EC. SUCH COOPERATION IS
ESSENTIAL FOR BRINGING INFORMATION SUPPLIERS AND USERS OF
PRODUCTS CLOSER TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE MORE EFFECTIVE
DISASTER PREVENTION, MITIGATION, PREPARATION, RESPONSE,
AND RECOVERY.
ISS TAKES NOTE OF THE RELEVANT WORK ON THE RESHAPING OF
GDIN, IN A FORMAT THAT ALLOWS FOR A STRONG PUBLIC HEALTH
COMPONENT AS ONE OF THE OUTCOMES OF ITS ACTION. WHILE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RELIES ON A TRULY MULTI-SECTORAL
APPROACH BASED ON MULTI-PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, THERE IS
LITTLE DOUBT THAT REDUCTION OF AVOIDABLE MORBIDITY AND
MORTALITY STAYS AS THE MAJOR CHALLENGE. TO ACHIEVE THIS
NOT ONLY TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 ROME 03296 04 OF 05 051127Z
SHOULD BE THE CORE BUSINESS FOR GDIN, BUT ALSO PROPER
COMMUNICATION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION WHICH IS
VITAL TO SUPPORT DECISION-MAKING UNDER DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THOSE CREATED BY DISASTERS. AN
ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVE FOR GDIN SHOULD BE PREVENTION, RISK
ASSESSMENT, AND IDENTIFICATION. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY BY
WHICH REAL PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT CAN BE ACHIEVED,
ALTHOUGH IT IS APPRECIATED THAT THIS SPECIFIC AREA IS THE
MOST DIFFICULT AND CONTROVERSIAL, WHERE EVIDENCE OF THE
EFFECTIVENESS HAS TO BE PROPERLY ASSESSED AND
DISSEMINATED. THE PRODUCTION OF BEST PRACTICES AND A
SYSTEMIC META-ANALYTICAL VIEW OF CURRENT STATE OF THE ART
PROCEDURES, AS WELL AS OF TECHNOLOGIES, MAY CONTRIBUTE TO
JUSTIFY FURTHER THE GDIN MISSION IN A HIGH LEVEL
INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO, IF SUPPORTED BY A PROPERLY
DESIGNED SOCIAL MARKETING STRATEGY.
THE CONFERENCE WAS A WATERSHED IN FORMALIZING GDIN WITH
THE APPROVAL OF BYLAWS AND MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE. THESE
PROVIDE EFFECTIVE PROCESSES BY WHICH GDIN CAN INTERACT
WITH ITS MEMBERS AND MANAGE ITS BUSINESS.
THE CONFERENCE EXPRESSED ITS GRATITUDE TO THE ITALIAN
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOR THE CONFERENCE
ORGANIZERS: ITALIAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH, US
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, ITALIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
ACCADEMIA DI STORIA DELLARTE SANITARIA, ITALIAN SPACE
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6571
PAGE 01 ROME 03296 05 OF 05 051127Z
ACTION IO-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CEA-01 CIAE-00
COME-00 CTME-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 WHA-00
SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EXME-00 EUR-00 E-00 FAAE-00
UTED-00 FDRE-01 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00
ITC-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00
OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PER-00 PM-00 ACE-00
SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
R-00 EPAE-00 PMB-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00
/013W
------------------C6EE63 051128Z /38
R 051138Z JUL 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4631
AMCONSUL MILAN
AMCONSUL FLORENCE
AMCONSUL NAPLES
EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
NASA WASHDC
DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 05 OF 05 ROME 003296
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/PDAS SOUTHWICK
E.O. 12958: N/A
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 ROME 03296 05 OF 05 051127Z
TAGS: ECON, IT, TSPL, KSCA
SUBJECT: GDIN PAVES WAY FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT WORLDWIDE
AGENCY, EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY, NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR
OCCUPATIONAL PREVENTION AND SAFETY AND ITALIAN CIVIL
PROTECTION DEPARTMENT. THANKS WERE ESPECIALLY GIVEN TO
PROF ANGELO CAPPARONI, PRESIDENT ACCADEMIA DI STORIA
DELLARTE SANITARIA, AND TO DR RANIERI GUERRA AND HIS
STAFF OF THE ITALIAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH FOR THE
DETAILED SUPPORT IN DEVELOPMENT AND CONDUCT OF THE
CONFERENCE.
THE NEXT CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN WASHINGTON DC IN 2003
ON THE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING GDIN CONFERENCE
IN 1998. IN THE MEANTIME, DISCUSSIONS ARE UNDERWAY FOR
THE CONDUCT OF CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS IN LATIN AMERICA
AND AFRICA.
THIS SUCCESSFUL ROME CONFERENCE AUGURS WELL FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF GDIN IN THE COMING YEARS WHICH WILL SEE
ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORGANISATION AND ITS
SERVICES.
END ROME STATEMENT.
17. THIS CABLE WAS PREPARED BY ANNE MARIEL PETERS,
SCIENCE INTERN.
SEMBLER
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 ROME 03296 05 OF 05 051127Z
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2002ROME03296 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
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