LIPI exhibit educates on disaster preparedness

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 01/25/2007 3:46 PM  |  Life

Wasti Atmodjo, Contributor, Kuta, Bali

Over the past year, Indonesians have experienced series of natural and man-made disasters, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, eruptions, mud flows, floods and other tragedies.

Geographically, the country is located in ""The Ring of Fire"", which makes it vulnerable to any natural influences, especially eruptions and earthquakes. Unfortunately, living in this dangerous region does not make either the people nor their government aware of the possible threats that could occur at any moment.

To raise people's awareness and to prepare them in facing disasters as these, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) recently held a number of exhibitions and workshops in several major cities including Kuta, Bali.

Singer and songwriter Franky Sahilatua patiently taught children from Jimbaran elementary school on how to react in the event of a tsunami.

Jimbaran Bay is one of Bali's most fragile coastlines, where residents live near the sea without proper barriers or other structural protection.

""Tsunamis, floods and landslides can come at any time, so we have to prepare ourselves,"" Franky said while entertaining the enthusiastic students.

Aditya, a fifth grader at SD Jimbaran 3, said he was happy visiting the exhibition and meeting famous leaders and local celebrities.

""I live in Jimbaran and I am not afraid of swimming and playing on the beach, because that is where I live with my parents,"" he said, adding that he had already learned about tsunamis at his school.

Bali's provincial and regional governments have been actively providing workshops on safety procedures and drills on disaster management and preparation at local schools and banjar (village communities).

The resort island has two active volcanoes and vulnerable coastlines. In addition, many of its natural mangrove forests are now in a dilapidated condition due to various development projects.

Comedian Sogi, a star of local television show Extravaganza, showed students how to protect themselves in a disaster situation during a lively simulation with several elementary students of SD Sesetan and SD Jimbaran. The session was highlighted by music and entertainment provided by local bands and musicians.

Irina Raflina, coordinator of the organizing committee, explained that the exhibitions aimed to show people that disasters are near at hand, and that we had to be fully prepared to face them.

""Indonesia has many active volcanoes and earthquakes that cause tsunamis, and therefore continuous education and practice would be the best ways to protect many people from the disasters,"" Raflina, a LIPI scientist, commented.

The event mainly targeted students and young people in improving their preparedness so as to prevent injuries and fatalities caused by disasters.

""Minor earthquakes can be very dangerous for untrained people, especially children,"" she said. Citing an example, Raflina said that one minor earthquake in Sumatra had lightly damaged a classroom at a local school.

""Yet many students were heavily injured and some were killed in the panic following the earthquake,"" she noted. With adequate training for students on safety procedures and proper supervision, many of these lives could have been saved.

The touring exhibitions and workshops were organized by LIPI in coordination with the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency and related bodies dealing with natural disasters.

The exhibition featured posters, slides and videos on the natural landscape of Indonesia and how the country is wide open to various natural calamities. In another room, visitors saw numerous high-tech equipments used in disaster management and prevention, such as early warning tools and sensor systems.

""Actually, Indonesia has 'traditional' warning systems in place among local communities to warn their members of the possible danger,"" Raflina said.

In Bali, the close-nit banjar system and active participation of their members have made it easier for people to warn others and to carry out evacuation procedures when disaster strikes.

On other islands like Papua, Sumatra and Sulawesi, residents still use their ""traditional know-how to prevent people from becoming trapped in a disaster"".

""The combination of high technology and traditional wisdom could save many lives,"" she said.

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