Thanks Elizabeth - In anticipation of WSIS now recognising true social development priorities I look forward to the redevelopment of principles and action plans in accord with these new-found objectives. Of course if there is anything I can contribute to this effort please let me know.
Best rgds, Don -----Original Message----- From: Elizabeth Carll, PhD [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, 6 January 2005 2:41 AM To: [email protected]; 'Andy Carvin'; Don Cameron Cc: Elizabeth Carll, Ph.D. Subject: RE: [Telecentres] ICTs & Disaster Risk Reduction/Protectingcommunities Dear Don and all, Thank you for your noteworthy comments. ICTs are essential during times of emergency and crisis. The use of ICTs for health (physical and mental) in disaster and crisis intervention and postvention is critical to health. While specific reference to large scale emergencies did not appear in the health section, I would recommend its inclusion in any revisions. In addition, I have attached the Statement on ICTs, Mental Health, and Trauma from International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, which we submitted to WSIS. It specifically addresses trauma resulting from violence and war as a major health issue which can be addressed through the use of ICTs and also refers to "other traumatizing life events". The ravages of war are viewed as emerging complex emergencies that can undermine the physical and mental health and well being of a society. Although there was an emphasis in the ISTSS Statement on the traumatic effects of violence which has a major psychological toll on nations due to the intentionality of the event and impacting larger segments of the population than natural disasters, there was also the recognition of the consequences of major natural disasters and why "other traumatizing life events" was included. Don, your comments should be taken into consideration in the drafting of future health sections of declarations and documents. As we are now entering a new year and a number of my projects have been completed, I am refocusing on the efforts of the Health and ICT Working Group, which I began organizing at WSIS I in Geneva. The task at hand for the Health and ICT WG is to draft a statement on physical and mental health for WSIS II. I will be asking for volunteers to participate in the drafting. If there are members of the Telecenters WG who would be interested in participating, please let me know. A number of you had contacted me in the past, however, others are certainly welcome as well. Best regards, Elizabeth Dr. Elizabeth Carll Focal Point to WSIS International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies; Chair, Media/ICT Working Group, NGO Committee on Mental Health, New York _______________________________________________ telecentres mailing list [email protected] http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/telecentres To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
