Radical Interpretations of Disasters and Radical Solutions (RADIX)
Mission
RADIX is meant as a home for discussion, working papers, opinion pieces, resources, links that can help to develop radical interpretations of and radical solutions for ALL disasters in ALL parts of planet earth.
Disaster Reduction Goal
RADIX insists that progress in disaster reduction can only be made if the root causes of disaster vulnerability and deep structural blockages of people's and local government's capacities and capabilities to reduce risk are addressed. Thus RADIX's goal is worldwide consensus on the need for a structural and holistic approach.
Policies and Programmes in DRR
INTERNATIONAL: work toward a binding international agreement recognising the national government's responsibility to protect citizens and residents from avoidable harm from natural hazards.
NATIONAL: advocate well-resourced activities that integrate human development, social protection, reduction of disaster risk, climate change mitigation and adaptation and environmental management.
LOCAL: understand and facilitate partnerships among local government, civil society and communities; lay emphasis on a respectful and age/ gender-inclusive dialogue between local knowledge and outside specialist knowledge.
Membership in Key Networks
RADIX cooperates with the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction and with La Red, Peri-Peri and Duryog Nivaran as well as the Gender and Disaster Network and Disaster Diplomacy.
Cooperation as well with RiskRED and the Coalition for Global School Safety.
Disaster Reduction Focal Point(s)
Dr. Ben Wisner [email protected]
Dr. Maureen Fordham [email protected]
Dr. Ilan Kelman [email protected]
Dr. J.C. Gaillard [email protected]
Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA)
Making disaster risk reduction a policy priority, institutional strengthening (HFA 1)
Research,networking and advocacy supporting a rights-based approach and development of a binding international agreement on minimum acceptable government actions to reduce disaster risk.
Risk assessment and early warning systems (HFA 2)
Research, networking and advocacy for widespread, effective use of participatory-action methods of risk assessment -- in particular, continued improvement and diffusion of community based disaster risk management.
Advocacy of people-centred warning systems as opposed to those designed with people-at-risk as the so-called 'last mile'.
Education, information and public awareness (HFA 3)
Research, networking and advocacy of school-community linkages for practical risk reduction in addition to its academic study K-12.
Promotion and mentoring of young professionals in breaking down disciiplinary boundaries in graduate education.
Emphasis on the political nature of 'risk awareness' as involving class and caste based differences in the power to define what 'acceptable risk' is.
Reducing underlying risk factors (HFA 4)
Push to enlarge the interpretation of 'underlying risk factors' to include many exclusionary and corrupt practices such as land grabbing and embezzlement of government funds.
Preparedness for effective response (HFA 5)
Design and promotion of community-based training, capacity building in local government, mutual aid arrangements among local governments; civilianisation of respons; and innovative us of micro-insurance.
Other activities
RADIX-network based on line discussions ([email protected]) that have resulted in:
- Collaborative concept paper on school seismic safety.
- Collaborative concept paper on climate change and human security.
- Collaborative concept paper on political will and the incentives for implementation of the HFA.
Voluntary Commitments
The Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) online platform allows stakeholders to inform the public about their work on DRR. The SFVC online platform is a useful toolto know who is doing what and where for the implementation of the Sendai Framework, which could foster potential collaboration among stakeholders. All stakeholders (private sector, civil society organizations, academia, media, local governments, etc.) working on DRR can submit their commitments and report on their progress and deliverables.