Dear Readers, ADPC launched its first Regional Training Course on End to End Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems in Bangkok, Thailand on the 15 Sep 2008. The two weeks course is being attended by 23 participants from 16 countries in Asia, Africa, and Central America. The course builds on the capacity of participants to design, manage, evaluate and undertake improvements in people-centered end-to-end early warning systems for hydro-meteorological & geological hazards and extreme events. The training program includes three workshops, field visits to key national agencies in Thailand as part of an institutional landscaping exercise for early warning systems, and a visit to Uttaradit Province to study landslide disaster mitigation and preparedness activities, including the landslide early warning systems, which is spearheaded by the Thailand Department of Mineral Resources. ADPC is also undertaking the implementation of several new activities. ADPC will develop the training materials for disaster risk reduction for coastal zone managers. The UNEP funded project will aim to build capacities of Mangroves for the Future (MFF) National Coordinating Bodies, technical institutions and implementation partners in the three EC AIDCO target countries: India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The immediate goal is to bring basic awareness of DRR to MFF project designers and implementers. The long term goal is to strengthen the role of existing technical institutions to provide risk reduction training and other services to coastal zone and disaster risk managers. ADPC is undertaking the preparation of a World Bank (WB) funded background paper for the assessment on the economics of Disaster Risk Reduction. ADPC has deployed its staff in three recent disaster struck countries, Myanmar, China and India, to carry out damage and need assessments and various post disaster recovery programme initiatives. I am pleased to inform you that the Disaster Policy and Preparedness department of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has invited Mr. S H M Fakhruddin, ADPC technical specialist in the editorial board for the 2009 edition of the World Disasters Report focusing on early warning and early response. Please browse through our website www.adpc.net for more ADPC news updates, publications, events and training calendar for 2008. I now inform you about our activities for the month of August 2008. Dr. Bhichit Rattakul Executive Director Asian Disaster Preparedness Center