At #IDRC2014 we shared how social media can make disaster resilience a social norm

IDRCDisasterResilience

It was a thrill and honour to present the Emergency 2.0 Wiki, a nonprofit I founded and lead on a voluntary basis, on the world stage at the 5th International Disaster and Risk Conference (#IDRC2014) in Davos, Switzerland on 27 August.

I was excited to have the opportunity to showcase the Emergency 2.0 Wiki, share our message on how countries can build disaster resilience through a whole of community approach to using social media, and also influence future world policy.

#IDRC2014csm_idrc2014_6fe511616e, held 24-28 August, was organised by the Global Risk Forum in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and is the largest world gathering of key players in this field. Over 700 participants from more than 80 countries attended the conference including from the United Nations and international organisations; from NGOS, the private sector, science and the media.

It was an opportunity to share how the Emergency 2.0 Wiki’s work had supported the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, and to influence future world policy, making recommendations for the Post 2015 Disaster Risk Reduction Framework to be ratified at the UN World Conference WCDRR in Sendai Japan in 2015. I did this via a presentation, an extended abstract, a personal statement and a video Red Chair Statement.

Red Chair Statement

To view the Emergency 2.0 Wiki submission documents, please visit the wiki policy submission page.

emergency2.0wiki_logo_colour_lowres (2)The presentation

The presentation topic was “The importance of a whole of community approach to using social media for disaster resilience and how the Emergency 2.0 Wiki can help.”

We believe that social media can play a transformative role in making disaster resilience a social norm. Social media offers the potential to help create a level of resilience that ensures communities don’t just ‘bounce back’ after a disaster, but ‘bounce forward’, becoming stronger with increased social networks, social cohesion and social capital.

This requires a ‘whole of community approach’ in which the community becomes partners in using social media for disaster resilience. I explained how along with emergency response agencies, all sectors of the community: local government, schools, hospitals, ngos, community groups, faith based groups, service clubs, business and citizens; have a role to play in disaster resilience, showcasing examples from around the world.

http://www.slideshare.net/emergency20wiki/idrc14-pppeileen-culleton-final

Thank you

EMA - Stacked (3)I would like to thank everyone who made this presentation possible by helping to fund my travel to Davos, Switzerland. I would like to thank Emergency Management Australia, of the Attorney General’s Department, for providing a sponsorship for the Emergency 2.0 Wiki.

I also thank key crowdfunding supporters: Emergency AUS, Paula Bernett-McInnes, Philippe Borremans,  Joanna L Lane, Kerry McGoldrick, Tracie McNamara-Jones, Margaret Scott & Associates, Reputelligence, Streaka, Craig Thomler, Tchem Ryland and Gay Turner.

I would also like to thank the many who gave anonymously, and all who shared the project with their social networks.

Cheers,

Eileen

PS. Together we will make our world safer…

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