?
It is important
to raise citizens’ awareness of disaster prevention in a country like Japan
where natural disasters occur on a frequent basis. It is therefore critical for
each citizen to seriously consider and prepare for his or her safety and the
safety of his or her family. It is also important
to prepare one’s space and community rather than viewing disasters as somebody
else’s problem. Daruma was founded in
order to share information about disaster prevention and to establish a human
network. Our group intends to organize many activities that aim at naturally
increasing people’s consciousness about disaster prevention.
?
The level of
disaster prevention activities at the local level contributes to decreasing the degree of
disaster when an earthquake hits. With this in mind, a lifelong learning course
entitled “Town Planning Course on Local Disaster Prevention,” hosted by
Kanagawa prefecture, started at Kanagawa University in 2005. Later, students of
the course and others founded a “group that discusses disaster prevention and
town planning.” This group later became the “Study Group on Disaster
Prevention: Daruma” that intends to practice
hands-on activities based on feedback and challenges exchanged and presented at
meetings involving universities, government, voluntary organizations on
disaster prevention, and other organizations. The “Town Planning Course on
Local Disaster Prevention” has been held on a monthly basis at Kanagawa
University since its 23rd meeting (April, 2007).
?
1)
2) To create a human network that seeks to share information regarding
disaster prevention and community building, and
3) To contribute to town planning related to disaster prevention at local
societies.
?
1
1） Holds meetings (both “Daruma:
Study Group on Disaster Prevention” and “Town Planning Course on Local Disaster
Prevention”)
2） Plans and manages the “Training course of coordinators who contribute to
practical disaster prevention and town planning”
3） Plans and manages cooperative courses on disaster prevention at the school
and local level
4） Voices opinions aimed at the government regarding disaster prevention and
disaster reduction
5） Participates in various events and cooperates on disaster prevention
activities at the local level
6） Provides post-earthquake reconstruction assistance and participation in
risk-management activities
7） Interacts with people at earthquake struck areas (Kobe, Chuetsu, and
Tohoku)
8） Exchanges ideas with academic groups on public works
?
Most of our members are citizens who belong to
residents’ and neighborhood associations who are concerned with disaster
prevention. Others are voluntary participants from governments or NPOs. Daruma serves as a human network base on
disaster prevention and disaster reduction. Anybody who is able to have a frank
conversation with specialists, who is interested in disaster prevention and
disaster reduction, and is willing to exchange with others with similar
interests, and/or would like to study these topics is welcomed to our group.
・ ・Founded in 2005
・Membership: 109 (as of March, 2015)
・Annual fee: 1,000 yen (Full member); 5,000 yen (Supporting member)
・Web: http://darumajin.sakura.ne.jp/
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