Reports from recent AJS-NSW Events
Events 2016
"JAPAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI FIVE YEARS ON – REFLECTIONS ON VOLUNTEERING"
John Black - Professor Emeritus Transport Engineering, UNSW
Reporter: Terry Crotty
March 16 2016
John Black opened with a reflection on the almost 20,000 people who lost their lives in that tragic event. He reflected on volunteering efforts in the immediate aftermath of the event and despite the influx of large numbers of volunteers, this created management and coordination issues with local authorities who were trying to manage the huge number of well-meaning volunteers who were arriving in the area every day. At the time, he started researching several of the ongoing issues and problems which were facing residents at the time – from school children forced to travel many miles to get to and from school to the debris clean up solutions which took place.
He spoke of the immediate impact of the tsunami with waves more than 8.6m in height inundating more than 30% of the coastal plain area which resulted in more than 50,000 people being evacuated to shelters. The significant damage to infrastructure caused large scale transport problems which compounded the difficulties of the subsequent rebuilding program. He spoke of the efforts of the Strategic Lifecycle Infrastructure Management (SLIM) in the clean up of the region and concluded by reflecting again on the tragic event and the important role that volunteering played in the aftermath. |
John Black with President Philip Mitchell Presentation by John Black:- (Click image below for PDF)
Previous Event Reports : How Japan Can Save the World - August 2015 Japan through the Lens of a Global Investor - July 2015 From Exchange Student to Executive VP - June 2015 2015 University Awards - May 2015 Rugby World Cup 2019 - Nov. 2014 Food Safety and Security - JAEPA July 2014 Tohoku - 3 Years On - March 2014 Nikkei Australians- November 2013 August 2013 - Japanese Investment Mark Willacy and others Jan - July 2013 |
He outlined his passion for art and how that pursuit resulted
in him being in the Sendai on the day on the earthquake and tsunami.
About the SocietyThe Australia-Japan Society of NSW Incorporated (AJS-NSW) aims to bring together Australian and Japanese people living in NSW to explore mutual interests.
AJS-NSW holds regular business, social and cultural functions, at various locations around Sydney. |
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