[Telecentres] ICTs & Disaster Risk Reduction/Protectingcommunities

[Don Cameron]

Thanks Elizabeth - In anticipation of WSIS now recognising true social
development priorities I look forward to the redevelopment of principles and
action plans in accord with these new-found objectives. Of course if there
is anything I can contribute to this effort please let me know.

Best rgds, Don
  

-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Carll, PhD [mailto:ecarll at optonline.net] 
Sent: Thursday, 6 January 2005 2:41 AM
To: telecentres at wsis-cs.org; 'Andy Carvin'; Don Cameron
Cc: Elizabeth Carll, Ph.D.
Subject: RE: [Telecentres] ICTs & Disaster Risk
Reduction/Protectingcommunities

Dear Don and all,

Thank you for your noteworthy comments.  ICTs are essential during times of
emergency and crisis.  The use of ICTs for health (physical and mental) in
disaster and crisis intervention and postvention is critical to health.
While specific reference to large scale emergencies did not appear in the
health section, I would recommend its inclusion in any revisions.

In addition, I have attached the Statement on ICTs, Mental Health, and
Trauma from International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, which we
submitted to WSIS.  It specifically addresses trauma resulting from violence
and war as a major health issue which can be addressed through the use of
ICTs and also refers to "other traumatizing life events".

The ravages of war are viewed as emerging complex emergencies that can
undermine the physical and mental health and well being of a society.
Although there was an emphasis in the ISTSS Statement on the traumatic
effects of violence which has a major psychological toll on nations due to
the intentionality of the event and impacting larger segments of the
population than natural disasters, there was also the recognition of the
consequences of major natural disasters and why "other traumatizing life
events" was included.

Don, your comments should be taken into consideration in the drafting of
future health sections of declarations and documents.

As we are now entering a new year and a number of my projects have been
completed, I am refocusing on the efforts of the Health and ICT Working
Group, which I began organizing at WSIS I in Geneva.   The task at hand for
the Health and ICT WG is to draft a statement on physical and mental health
for WSIS II.  I will be asking for volunteers to participate in the
drafting.  If there are members of the Telecenters WG who would be
interested in participating, please let me know.  A number of you had
contacted me in the past, however, others are certainly welcome as well.

Best regards,

Elizabeth

Dr. Elizabeth Carll
Focal Point to WSIS
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies; Chair, Media/ICT Working
Group, NGO Committee on Mental Health, New York