Monday, February 23, 2009

February 23 Meeting: PLAN 670 - Overview of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

Prof. Karl Kim


Click here to listen.



Speaker: Karl Kim, Ph.D., UH Manoa Department of Urban and Regional Planning “PLAN 670 - Overview of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance”. Kim received his Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Notes:

Our luncheon speaker Karl Kim, is Professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Director of the UH Program on Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance. He has received more than $10 million in extramural research grants related to transportation, environmental management, urban planning and disaster management.

“The point I’m trying to make is that our society has known of these tremendous risks and threats to our communities across the planet yet we have not done enough to prevent the loss of lives and injuries and all the disruptions to our economies and communities. Planning for disaster is not enough.

“Hawaii is very different from the mainland. We can’t jump into our cars and drive away from an approaching storm. We need to develop more extensive shelter-in-place strategies.

“The challenge is not just to develop the best tools for predicting and managing disasters but also ensuring that those most vulnerable to these natural and technological disasters have access and knowledge and training and resources necessary to use these tools in order to save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce the loss of income, jobs, property and other necessities of life.”

Kim believes there should be more direct involvement of the community in the development of plans and strategies for preparedness, response and recovery. First responders are also families and neighbors and need to plan and communicate with each other.

He therefore asked the audience for suggestions. Some of the suggestions:

• The telephone book tsunami pages are not the same as the Federal guidelines and should be changed.
• Warnings, evacuation information and shelter sites are not communicated well.
• Plans for different kinds of help should be tailored to the needs of vulnerable people.
• Problems with condos were repeatedly mentioned with many condo managers and boards resisting making plans because of liability concerns.
• A law is needed to demand condos plan for disasters.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

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Saturday, February 21, 2009

February 23 Program: PLAN 670 - Overview of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

MONDAY, February 23, 2009

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Miyama Main Hall
Harris United Methodist Church
Nuuanu Ave. and South Vineyard Blvd.

Ample parking - driveway off Nuuanu Ave.

AGENDA:

11:30 Luncheon: Vegetable/ Meat Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Salad, Dessert by Eloise- $5.00 Donation

11:45 Welcome, Introductions and remarks, Larry Geller, President

12:00 Program: Karl Kim, Ph.D., UH Manoa Department of Urban and Regional Planning “PLAN 670 - Overview of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance”. Kim received his Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

12:30 Questions and Answers
12:45 Announcements
1:00 Adjourn

Medicare cautions about fraudulent phone calls

Watch out!

A caller says he needs to know the name and address of the Medicare member in order to mail a new card. Another caller tells the Medicare member to make a one-time lump-sum payment and premium deductions from the member’s Social Security benefits check will cease forever so please provide a bank account number. Medicare does not sell products or services nor is issuing a new card.

Do not volunteer personal information to anyone claiming to call from Medicare. If this happens, report the call to SMP Hawaii, a fraud prevention program at Executive Office on Aging at 586-7281. If you think you have given your bank account number to a scam artist call your bank immediately.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

February 9 Program: The case against legalized gambling

Prof. John Kindt


Click here to listen.



Speaker: John W. Kindt, Professor of Business and Legal Policy in the Department of Business Administration, University of Illinois. For 20 years his specialty research has been focused on the societal, business, and economic impacts of decriminalizing gambling activities--particularly gambling's destabilization of international financial institutions and criminal justice systems, resulting in increased addicted gamblers, bankruptcies, and crime. Presented by Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling.


Click here for a set of slides in pdf format.