Are we doing enough?

Citation

Wilson, H.C. (2004), "Are we doing enough?", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 13 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm.2004.07313aaa.001

Are we doing enough?

Are we doing enough?

"Doing enough of what?", I hear you cry.

Working here in the University of Bradford, staff are engaged in the university ethos of "Making knowledge work", which translated literally means taking our knowledge beyond the confines of the university campus and applying it whereever applicable.

In the disaster prevention, management and response fields are we "Making knowledge work" in a manner that benefits everyone and not just those at home who are our immediate responsibility?

Are we, for example, transferring our knowledge and skills into the developing and under-developed nations of the world, and if we are, is the method of that transfer being done in an effective and sustainable manner?

Certainly we make our systems available to those in the target regions, but do we do enough to ensure that the systems we leave behind will continue to function and develop? Do we train the staff to such a level that they can act independently once we withdraw? Do we put in place procedures for upgrading the equipment and training of the staff? Do we include future funding as part of our systems, or do we expect the poorer nations to take over the funding of those projects?

In the developed nations we live in a culture of change, and at times, very rapid change, especially when we look at our communications and computing cultures. It is an uphill struggle trying to keep abreast of those changes. Imagine if we lived in one of the target areas where change could mean breaking with traditions that have been held for many generations. What support would we need?

I am not criticising the efforts that are being made at present, but I am asking for a review of what we do, how we do it, and what long-term benefits we leave behind. We live in a culture where we maximise as much as possible the benefits of our technology and knowledge. When we parachute into another culture with our technology and knowledge, do we leave enough of it behind to make that vital difference?

Henry C. Wilson