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Society at Large Needs to Get Involved

Li Guyi's school has conducted several evacuation drills, and launched an earthquake drill on the third anniversary of Wenchuan Earthquake. But Li thought it was far from enough. "Setting up a classroom for experiential emergency response is not enough; even 100 classrooms are not enough." She said the school has a close relationship with firefighters and police in local communities. Their classroom is also available for use by other schools and communities in the area. But so far, only students of Hepingli No.1 Primary School have held classes there. "We would like the classroom be worn out rather than left unused."

Fang Weihua is associate professor at the Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Education, and member of the expert board for the National Disaster Reduction Commission. He presided over the compilation of the Disaster Reduction and Mitigation Textbook (including teacher and student manuals), a requirement for Sichuan students covering natural disaster behaviors, self-assistance in emergencies, and escape skills. Schools in Beijing also planned to use this textbook. "Disasters differ from region to region; the disaster Beijing would face is different from what Sichuan suffered," said Fang Weihua, "and we should encourage local textbooks instead of publishing a nationally unified version."

Furthermore, Fang believes disaster education is also important in colleges. "The current situation is that we have an inadequate number of teachers even for middle and primary schools, and the same can be said for practical textbooks addressing teacher training." Li Guyi couldn't agree more. She is the only teacher for the 180 students in her school. "To be honest, we are laymen, amateurs really," she said self-mockingly. When the special classroom was launched, the CCTF promised to train teachers, but didn't start till now. Fang Weihua said according to The National Program of Disaster Reduction and Mitigation Talent Development (2010-2020), as of 2015, we need 2.75 million people, including teachers, active in this area. We have a big gap to fill.

Fang said disaster reduction and mitigation is not only the task of schools; instead, "comprehensive disaster reduction" should be promoted. "All of the resources of a community should be integrated, and all potential beneficiaries be identified for tailored outreach programs. Residents, big organizations, volunteers and social organizations should be involved, and effective mechanisms be formed." He thought people were just becoming aware of disaster reduction, but "awareness will lead to knowledge, then skills and then action."

As of the end of 2010, China had 1,562 demonstration communities on comprehensive disaster reduction programs, and 5,000 more are on the agenda to be covered over five years. "The distribution shows there are more programs in East China than West." Fang said the education process should focus on practical content instead of form. "From the national to local to grassroots level, many have already made contingency plans for natural disasters. These plans are similar in many ways, but most of them are designed from an administrative angle; they are not so practical in operation. In addition, emergency drills are very important." He said in 2009, Luojiazui Village of Ningqiang County in Shaanxi Province conducted drills with the support of the Ministry of Civil Affairs; later stricken by torrential rain, the village had no casualties thanks to timely evacuation.

Fang Weihua believes it is urgent to figure out the distribution of potential disasters in China. "If we don't know the extent to which a community, a school or a family faces a potential danger, a disaster reduction program has no place to start." One of the key tasks of National Comprehensive Program of Disaster Prevention and Reduction (2011-2015) is to identify the areas most likely to be stricken by natural disasters, investigate the capacity for disaster reduction and improve the related database.

May 12 is "National Disaster Reduction Day." In 2011, the theme is "Prevent and mitigate disaster – start with me." Fang warns, "You can't wait for the government to do everything. In this area, everyone's awareness and participation is essential."

"We don't need to worship Japanese primary and middle schools' disaster education. They don't practice everyday, many schools have drills only once or twice a year," Fang said, "and safety training shouldn't make students afraid of anything, or they will lose their pioneering spirit and become little lambs."

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VOL.59 NO.12 December 2010 Advertise on Site Contact Us