By CARA ANNA (AP)   

BEIJING — China's largest reported oil spill more than doubled in size to 165 sq. miles (430 sq. kilometers) by Wednesday, forcing nearby beaches to close and prompting one official to warn of a "severe threat" to sea life and water quality.
The oil slick started spreading five days ago when a pipeline at a busy northeastern port exploded, sparking a massive fire that took more than 15 hours to contain. Hundreds of boats have been deployed to help with the cleanup.

At least one person has been killed in those efforts, a 25-year-old firefighter, Zhang Liang, who drowned Tuesday after a wave threw him from a vessel and pushed him out to sea, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. Another man who also fell in was rescued.
Beaches near Dalian, once named China's most livable city, were closing as oil started reaching their shores, Xinhua reported.
"The oil spill will pose a severe threat to marine animals, and water quality, and the sea birds," Huang Yong, deputy bureau chief for Dalian, China Maritime Safety Administration, told Dragon TV.

The environmental group Greenpeace China released several photographs this week showing oil-slicked rocky beaches, a man covered in thick black sludge up to his cheekbones. One worker, covered in oil, was being carried away by a colleague, but he was not identified.
The amount of oil spilled in the explosion was still not clear Wednesday, though China Central Television earlier reported an estimate of 1,500 tons. That would amount roughly to 400,000 gallons (1,500,000 liters) — as compared with 94 million to 184 million gallons in the BP oil spill off the U.S. coast.

State Oceanic Administration released the latest size of the contaminated area in a statement Tuesday.
Though the slick has continued to expand — it covered a 70-sq.-mile (180-sq.-kilometer) stretch earlier this week — officials maintain no more oil was leaking into the Yellow Sea.

The cause of the blast was still not clear. The pipeline is owned by China National Petroleum Corp., Asia's biggest oil and gas producer by volume.

Images of 100-foot-high (30-meter-high) flames shooting up near part of China's strategic oil reserves late Friday drew the immediate attention of President Hu Jintao and other top leaders. Now the challenge is cleaning up the greasy brown plume.
"Our priority is to collect the spilled oil within five days to reduce the possibility of contaminating international waters," Dalian's vice mayor, Dai Yulin, told Xinhua on Tuesday.
But an official with the State Oceanic Administration has warned the spill will be difficult to clean up even in twice that amount of time.
The Dalian port is China's second largest for crude oil imports, and last week's spill appears to be the country's largest in recent memory.
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(AFP) - UNITED NATIONS — The British High Commissioner to Australia, Valerie Amos, has been appointed the new head of the UN Office of Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs, officials said Friday.

She will take over the New York-based post from another Briton, John Holmes, who is leaving at the end of August, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said.

Amos, 56, who was born in Guyana, was the first black woman to hold a British cabinet post when she was appointed secretary for international development in 2003. In that role, she took part in negotiations about African conflicts.

In 1997, she was made a Labour Party life peer, and sat in the House of Lords, where she became leader of the House in 2003.

© AFP

01 to 31 July 2010 in New York, USA

A British Council exhibition highlighting the human face of climate change in partnership with the World Bank Group and the Global Risk Forum GRF Davos.

Date: 1–31 July 2010 (Official Opening: 14 July 2010)

United Nations Headquarters New York, Main Gallery, Visitors Lobby

The exhibition Climate Faces highlights the human face of climate change. It illustrates the way in which young people around the world are reacting to the drastic changes in our environment, and show the passion and engagement with which they campaign in their own communities to raise awareness for climate change. >>> read more

GRF’s latest book “Microinsurance – An Innovative Tool for Risk and Disaster Management” contains fifteen papers which all focus – from different perspectives – on an integrated approach in risk and disaster management through Microinsurance. Case studies from Africa, Asia and Latin America involving a broad variety of stakeholders, institutions, risks, methods, and business models, reveal the enormous potential of microinsurance in particular in disaster management. >>> read more

GRF Davos, 28 June 2010/ JP

After the G-20 summits in Washington in 2008 and in London and Pittsburgh in 2009, the fourth G-20 summit took place from 26 to 27 June 2010 in Toronto, Canada. Prime Ministers, Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union met to follow through on commitments made at previous summits and to continue the work of building a healthier, stronger and more sustainable and stable global economy.

The first world economic summit, after the G-20 took over the leadership from the exclusive circle of the G8 in September 2009, very much focused on recovery from the global economic and financial crisis and the implementation of commitments from previous G-20 summits to lay the foundation for sustainable and balanced growth.

GRF Davos followed the G-20 summit with attention, in particular the handling of risks, social and environmental impacts of the financial crisis and the concerns of developing countries. Also the progress regarding the MDG's and the building of a sustainable, more resilient financial system are of GRF Davos’ interest. >>>read more

During the 3rd International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC Davos 2010, taken place in Davos, Switzerland  from 30 May to 03 June 2010, UN-ISDR launched the campaign "Making cities resilient - My city is getting ready".

With Baofeng County (China), Davos(Switzerland), Tehran and Mashad (both I.R.Iran) 4 cities have signed-up during the conference. >>>read more

Within the 3rd International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC Davos GRF Davos offered two education courses. Prior to the conference from 29 May to 30 June the 2-day continuous education course on Disaster Risk Reduction enjoyed great popularity. 77 participants completed the two-day course successfully with a certificate of the GRF Davos Risk Academy.
In cooperation with Europa Media, Hungary,  GRF Davos conducted from the 4 to 5 June, the EU-Project Development course. The course gave a specific insight in the professional and successful writing of EU-project offers and in particular in how to gain partners over for prosperous collaborations in EU-projects.
GRF Davos can thus look back on two more succesful education courses within the Riskacademy and is already looking forward to further courses and  workshops with numeberous participants from all over the world. >>>read more

Desertification is one of the most significant impacts of climate change. The 17th June is each year dedicated to all those who are directly or indirectly affected by desertification.
In the UN Year of Biodiversity, the UNCCD directed their special attention to the non-obvious impacts of desertification, namely the depletion of biodiversity in the soil and its effects. Under the motto "Enhancing soils anywhere enhances life everywhere" the UNCCD tries to raise the public awareness for the close corellation between working ecosystems, healthy soil and our livelihood.

GRF Davos also contributes in raising the public awareness for the impacts of desertification. >>> Read more

The International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC Davos 2010 with its motto “Risk, Disasters, Crisis and Global Change – From Threats to Sustainable Opportunities” was a milestone toward the integration of the ever more complex and interwoven portfolio of risk, security and disaster related topics, themes and trends as addressed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon in his message to IDRC Davos 2010.

At IDRC Davos 2010 some 850 conference participants from 100 countries all over the world have gathered in a unique setting and atmosphere. High-ranking delegations from The Gambia, Uganda, Republic of the Congo, from the I.R.Iran, from India, P.R. China, and Indonesia participated. (Please find the list of the IDRC Davos 2010 participants here)

Thirteen plenary sessions, around 50 special and parallel sessions, side events, poster sessions, exhibitions, workshops, training courses and cultural events provided the frame for this worthwhile undertaking. It is remarkable to realize how far the formerly fragmented, global risk and disaster community has grown into one distinctive body of excellence. (This body is reflected in the IDRC Davos 2010 conference programme)

To increase the interaction and exchange knowledge and ideas, GRF is in the process of transforming the concentrated collection of ideas and knowledge presented at IDRC Davos 2010 into an interactive portfolio of presentations, video recorded plenary sessions and video statements. Most presentations are already available on the GRF Davos slideshare site and will soon be integrated into an interactive conference programme. All plenary sessions are being broadcasted at the IDRC Davos 2010 TV Channel, more statements from conference participants will follow soon.

GRF Davos as organising committee of the 3rd International Disaster and Risk Conferennce IDRC Davos 2010 is grateful for the contributions and the support of  experts and representatives from different fields and diffrent countries from all over the world. A special thanks belongs to all our Plenary Speakers at the IDRC Davos 2010. Thank you for your great commitment.

A major earthquake (M 6.9) hit the province Qinghai in China this night at 23:49 GMT.  At least 300 hundred people have died and thousands are feared hurt.

The quake occurred in a mountainous region in southern Qinghai near Tibet, according to the U.S. seismological USGS strength 6.9. The official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported the strength with 7.1. >>> read more

On Saturday, February 27th, at 3:34 am local time, a devastating magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Chile, one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. The earthquake had its epicenter some 100 kilometers west of Concepcion, Chile's second largest city with 600'000 inhabitants. Up to now, over 700 persons have been reported to be killed, 2 million people to be displaced, injured or otherwise impaired by the disaster. >>> read more

28 - 30 January 2010 in Davos, Switzerland

From Thursday, 28th January to Saturday, 30th January 2010 GRF Davos invited to 3 great films showing the devastating effects of human activities on the earth. Subsequent to the screenings GRF had invited several experts to panel discussions, including Claudio Lardi, Governor of the Canton of Grisons, David Syz, former statesecretary for economic affairs and the producer of the film "Beyond a dollar a day", Reto Dürst, Landrat of the Community of Davos, and other experts and political representatives. See impressions, videos and pictures of the events here.

The GRF Davos team is deeply grieving for the victims of the horrible earthquake which hit Haiti on 12 Jan. at 4.53pm, and offers the Haitian people all its warm condolence. Several tens of thousands of people are estimated dead or missing, and further tens of thousands have been injured. Public infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, roads, bridges, government buildings, as well as private houses have collapsed. As a result, standing hospitals are overwhelmed with victims, and tens of thousands are left homeless.

What can you do?

The victims of this disaster need your support today. If you want to help, you may find links to documents and web pages which offer further information here. We encourage you to contribute to this list and upload further materials. As the number of injured survivors grows and the needs mount, you can directly help providing immediate lifesaving services to especially women, children and the elderly. We have linked some organisations where you can donate.

9 - 17 December in Copenhagen, Denmark

Of course the Global Risk Forum GRF Davos is also participating the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Project Manager Marc Stal is reporting live from Copenhagen from 9 Dec to 17 Dec. Follow him on or read his daily reports on our website. >>>read report here

2 - 6 November 2009, Switzerland

Under the leadership of its Director WU Yaoqiang, a delegation of the Earthquake Administration of the Sichuan Province has visited a number of institutions in Switzerland. GRF Davos has been asked to organize the delegation’s visit to Switzerland.>>>read more

On Monday 9 Nov. 2009, the “L’Institut Euro Méditerranéen en Science du Risque” (EMR) has been launched. EMR is a network of a number of university institutes around the Mediterranean sea and serves to coordinate the research efforts in the various risk sectors and disciplines. GRF’s president Walter Ammann has been invited to participate in a panel debate on the needs and topics in risk science. >>>read moreHe emphasized the need for inter- and transdisciplinarity in risk science, the need to bridge the gap between science and practice and to accelerate the transfer of theoretical knowledge to applicable know-how and to focus more on  future perspectives of global trends (in time, space, etc.), of consequences on sustainable development, poverty, hunger, ecosystems, etc..The panel has been moderated by Dr. Badaoui Rouhban, UNESCO Director on Disaster Prevention.>>>read more

A memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the Command Center of National Production Security Emergency and Rescue of China, Beijing, China, the Harbin Institute of Technology HIT, Harbin, China and the and the Global Risk Forum GRF Davos, Switzerland on cooperating in research and development, education and training, in order to support and progress the good relationship between Switzerland and China, and to strengthen the cooperation of governmental agencies and academic institutions in the field of disaster risk reduction, emergency and rescue. The areas of cooperation will include any program offered by one or more partners of the agreement as thought desirable and feasible on either side and that all partners think will contribute to the fostering and development of the cooperative relationship between all partners of the agreement. It is planned to set up a Sino-Swiss International Training Center for Disaster Emergency and Rescue, as a common platform to establish long term cooperation in disaster risk management, the training of top managers and professional rescue personnel for disaster management, emergency and rescue, etc..>>> read more

20 - 23 Oktober, Davos

On behalf of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zürich, Global Risk Forum GRF Davos conducted the postgraduate course CAS ETH in Risk and Security Modul V7: Natural hazards in Davos. During 4 days, Students from all over Switzerland, and some also from Germany and Austria, concerned theirselves with risk and threats caused by nature. For the purpose of an integral risk management the course gave a holistic overview for Switzerland, standing for all the Alpine countries, relevant natural hazards. Numerous experts discussed with the students the possible protective or preventive measures. Particular attention was directed to the question: -What is feasible? What is affordable? Are there marginal cost of saving one life?>>>read more

Within the UNCCD COP 9 meeting in Buenos Aires, some 1600 delegates from over 150 countries have participated in three High Level Segment Round Tables for two days. The purpose of the Round Tables was to discuss responses to emerging challenges as they relate to desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD). It was anticipated that the Round Tables should bring political momentum to the deliberations of country parties on the best options to foster the implementation of the UNCCD Convention.Three Round Tables have been organized, each starting with a key-note speech, initial interventions by 5 panellists, and followed by interventions of a substantial number of country representative’s interventions. GRF Davos President Walter J. Ammann had the honour and pleasure to moderate the first Round Table.>>>read more

The IABSE Symposium 2009 on 'Sustainable Infrastructure Environment Friendly, Safe and Resource Efficient' has been held from 9-11 September 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. More than 500 academics, researchers and practitioners from all over the world intensively discussed applicable solutions on how to achieve sustainable infrastructure through planning, design, operation, renovation, retrofitting and repairs. For more information on the conference and a key note lecture  held by GRF President Walter Ammann >>>read more here.

The World Resources Forum WRF has held its annual conference in Davos, Switzerland from 14 -16 September 2009. In a number of workshops, many critical issues have been addressed. GRF Davos partnered and participated the conference, which ended with a declaration (see http://www.worldresourcesforum.org/wrf_declaration). For more information on the conference and a workshop chaired by GRF President Walter Ammann >>>read more here.

The Global Risk Forum GRF Davos was present at the Davos Trade Fair along side the other four research centers of Davos. Several thousand visitors came to visit and to inform themselves on the various Davos firms and organizations.
The Davos Trade Fair presented a good opportunity for the Global Risk Forum GRF Davos, as a new foundation, to present its work and its products to the public. The visitors were very interested in information about the Global Risk Forum GRF Davos, especially because of the upcoming voting about the possible new localities for the GRF Davos offices.>>>read more

>>>Read german version here

'The Age Of Stupid' is the new cinema documentary from the Director of 'McLibel' and the Producer of the Oscar-winning 'One Day In September'. This enormously ambitious drama-documentary-animation hybrid stars Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite as an old man living in the devastated world of 2055, watching "archive" footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change while we had the chance? (from www.vimeo.com/ageofstupid)

Global Risk Forum GRF Davos held a screening for this film on 22 September 6 pm in Davos, which was free for the public to attend. The screening was followed by a discussion. >>> more

The Age of Stupid - Why didn't we stop it!

'The Age Of Stupid' is the new cinema documentary from the Director of 'McLibel' and the Producer of the Oscar-winning 'One Day In September'. This enormously ambitious drama-documentary-animation hybrid stars Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite as an old man living in the devastated world of 2055, watching "archive" footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change while we had the chance? (from www.vimeo.com/ageofstupid)

Global Risk Forum GRF Davos shows this film to the public on 22 September 6 pm in Davos with a following discussion.
>>>read more about the movie

The IDRC Chengdu 2009 took place from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 July 2009, in Chengdu, China.
The conference revealed the importance of an international experience sharing. The valuable experiences of the Chinese experts and people will help the international risk and disaster community to contribute to a sustainable, harmonious world and to be better prepared for future catastrophes. >>> read more

"Uranium Tailing in Central Asia: National Problems, Regional Consequences, Global Solution"

On 29 June, the Government of the Kyrgyz Repubic and UNDP invited to an International Forum on Uranium Tailing in Central Asia. Timeliness and urgency of this Forum is explained by the existing tailings in the territory of Central Asia left as a legacy from the military-industrial complex of the former USSR. The state of these tailings which contain huge wastes of uranium and other technological wastes over tens of years after shutdown ofthese enterprises have significantly worsened. >>> read more

 The Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, organised by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN-ISDR), took place from June 16 - 19 in Geneva, Switzerland. It concluded with participants from some 300 regional/national organizations and governments urging political leaders to implement measures to halve the number of deaths from natural hazard by 2015.
In order to reach this goal, specific targets were identified as catalysts for cutting deaths and economic losses brought on by disasters. The Global Risk Forum GRF Davos was present with an exhibition booth and organized a special event dedicated to the harmonization of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. >>> read more

The Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, organised by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN-ISDR), will take place next week in Geneva. Global Risk Forum GRF Davos will be present with an exhibition booth and will organize a special event dedicated to the harmonization of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. >>> read more

In the context of international commitment to the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), the United Nations has launched the 2009 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR/DRR) in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Global Risk Forum GRF Davos was represented in this event by Dr. Marco Ferrari, who moderated the workshop “Progress in Reducing Disaster Risk”on May 18.  >>>read more

Global Risk Forum GRF Davos presents the “100 Ideas for Action”, a compendium of 100 ideas that lead to concrete projects in areas, which have been identified as important for climate change adaptation and for disaster and risk reduction, in order to help with the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action.
>>> read more and download the brochure!

For the 7th time the IHDP community came together from 27-30 April for their Open Meeting to exchange and discuss on the human dimensions of global change and the pathways to a more sustainable future. This time under the motto "Social Challenges of Global Change". GRF was represented by Dr. Walter Ammann and Dr. Myriam Poll at this event that gathered around 1000 participants - scientists, policy makers, young scholars as well as representatives of the private sector, NGO's and the media. >>> read more

The British Council, the Permanent Mission of the Maldives to the United Nations office at Geneva and the Global Risk Forum GRF Davos have jointly organised “Turning the Tide”, an international climate change photo exhibition during the main annual Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The exhibition is on display at the Palais des Nations from 3 to 30 March 2009. >>> more

World Health Day 2009 focuses on the resilience and safety of health facilities and the health workers who treat those affected by emergencies. With the launch of the Safer Hospitals Initiative at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum 2008 in Davos supported by the GRF Davos we would like you to join our discussion circle on the Platform for Networks so you can keep working on this issue.   >>> read more

 INDM 2009 in its 4th year was held in Tehran and Mashad from March 1 – 4, 2009. By putting the focus on resiliency, the conference organizer has chosen a complementary approach to the standardized, integrated risk management process. GRF President Walter J. Ammann was asked to give a key-note lecture entitled “On the role of Resilience in Integral Risk Management”. >>> more