These publications may be of interest to our readers. ADPC's Information and Knowledge Management Unit can offer assistance in locating them.

After the Tsunami: UNEP's Rapid Environmental Assessment Report. United Nations Environment Programme, 2005, ISBN 9-2807-2565-3, US$20.00. Order online at www.earthprint.com or write to orders@earthprint.com 

The destruction caused to the environment by the Asian tsunami offers an opportunity to rebuild in a manner that preserves natural resources for the benefit of the local communities who were hardest hit. This report is based on surveys by UNEP teams in the field working with other UN agencies, governments and non-governmental organizations in the affected tsunami regions. It looks at how regions are rebuilding and how future tragedies can be avoided by adequate planning. The report covers topics such as waste, water supply, sanitation and soil fertility, coral reefs, mangroves, wildlife, beach erosion and coastal vegetation.

Know Risk. United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, 2005, ISBN 9-2113-2024-0, UN Sales Number E.04.III.M.1, Tudor Rose, US$125. Order online at www.know-risk.org or contact Know Risk, Tudor Rose, Tudor House, 6 Friar Lane, Leicester, LE1 5RA, UK, Tel: +44(0) 116 2229900, Fax: +44(0) 116 2229901

Know Risk is a fully illustrated publication with contributions from over 160 authors relating their work in disaster reduction at international, regional, national, municipal and local levels. Commentaries under 15 sections cover a range of themes and issues such as, governance, institutional policy, risk identification and assessment, information, knowledge and experience, habitats in different areas, disaster preparedness and contingency planning, international and regional support and future directions. This commemorative publication reflects over ten years of progress in this field, highlighting good practices and drawing on the ISDR coordinated review of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World (1994). It emphasizes the benefits of experience leading to future actions and institutional commitments to disaster reduction.

Mainstreaming Gender in Environmental Assessment and Early Warning. United Nations Environment Programme, 2005, ISBN 9-2807-2487-6, 82 pp, US$25.00. Order online at www.earthprint.com or send an email to orders@earthprint.com  

This report seeks to understand key questions relating to gender mainstreaming in UNEP's early warning and assessment program. It contains reviews of the current situation and provides recommendations. It also analyses key issues in the areas of gender and the environment as they relate to water, poverty, security, conflict, early warning, disaster and vulnerability to environment change.

Management of Dead Bodies in Disaster Situations. Pan American Health Organization, 2004, ISBN 9-2751-2529-5, 203 pp. US$28.00/20.00 (only for Latin America and the Caribbean). Order code: OP 164 http://publications.paho.org or via email to: Ms Mylena Pinzon pinzonmi@paho.org

This timely and useful manual from the Pan American Health Organization provides technical information needed to support State authorities in the proper management of bodies. This manual will be of interest to specialists in disasters and in the management of human remains, and especially national or local authorities who are responsible for ensuring that bodies are treated in a dignified manner and that the human rights of those affected by disasters are respected.

Developing Tsunami-Resilient Communities. The National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, Bernard, E.N. (Ed.), March 2005, ISBN: 1-4020-3353-2, Springer, VI, 186 p., Euro 77.00 (prepublication price). Order online at:
http://www.springeronline.com/sgw/cda/frontpage/0,11855,5-40109-22-45854857-0,00.html
 
Tsunamis remain an ever-present threat to lives and property along the coasts of most of the world’s oceans. Because of the geographical extent of U.S. coastlines, an earthquake in Alaska can generate a local tsunami for Alaskans and, hours later, a distant tsunami for communities in Hawaii and along the Pacific Coast . This volume chronicles the development and accomplishments of a joint State/Federal partnership that was forged to reduce tsunami hazards along U.S. coastlines – the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. By integrating hazard assessment, warning guidance, and mitigation activities, the program has created a roadmap and a set of tools to develop communities more resilient to local and distant tsunamis. Among the set of tools are tsunami forecasting, educational experiments, early alerting systems, and design guidance for tsunami-resilient communities.

What is a Disaster?  New Answers to Old Questions. R.W. Perry and E.L. Quarantelli, Editors2005, 442 Pages. Hardback ISBN 1-4134-7986-3 . US $34.99. Paperback ISBN 1-4134-7985-5. US $24.99 plus shipping costs. From Xlibris Publishers, International Plaza II, Suite 340, Philadelphia, PA 19113 USA, phone +1-888-795-4274. Orders@Xlibris.com 10% discount on orders through Xlibris.

This volume addresses the most basic question in the field: that of defining the phenomenon of study. It brings together twelve social scientists representing eight disciplines and seven countries to share their definition and vision of disasters. In the process, a wide range of views are expressed and issues raised regarding the relationship of academic versus practical definitions, the impact of grouping types of disasters in different ways, and the epistemologies on which theoretical growth should rest. The forum provided involves the presentation of each author’s views, followed by a discussant’s critique, and closed with a response from the author. The editor’s close the volume with discussions of the theoretical framework of disaster research and an agenda for disaster research in the twenty-first century.