This year’s International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) was focused on how disasters affected people living with disabilities. As part of UNISDR’s Communications Unit, we’re responsible for defining the theme, messages, and getting people motivated to take part in the celebrations on 13 October. Even with this global focus, we normally organize something locally in … Continue reading Lacing up for people with disabilities
Author: Vincent
Van Damme the risks.
The Loy Krathong festival is an amazing sight to see with all the floating ‘krathongs’ or lotus-shaped container on the river and the hovering ‘khom loi’ or sky lanterns. While people were lining the river to release their krathongs, many others moved to higher ground to prepare their khom lois to launch them into the … Continue reading Van Damme the risks.
Filtering out “Butt Dials” and saving lives with technology
I find the combination of Qatar and humanitarian action an unlikely partnership. It’s just not something that comes to mind when I think of how the world has come together to better respond to and address large scale disasters like the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, or even the … Continue reading Filtering out “Butt Dials” and saving lives with technology
Humans United
Who works at the UN? How did they get there? What are their hopes and dreams? That’s what I want to try to answer with this month’s theme for my photo project. The monthly theme has really focused my photography and it’s been an interesting ride with only two more months left to complete my … Continue reading Humans United
The mEdium is the mEssage
I took this photo just around the corner from where I live. Graffiti like this is a common sight in most cities and all are communicating a message – in some cases one that the general public can understand or in other cases targeted to a specific audience. Aside from the message, there are a … Continue reading The mEdium is the mEssage
Whether it’s print or interactive, A is for Action
Every couple of months Communication Arts comes out with their annual on advertising, photography, design, and interactive. It’s always a visual feast flipping through the Annuals and my jaw drops when I see all the creativity that comes from each book. While I’m normally not a big fan of the Interactive Annual, probably because it takes … Continue reading Whether it’s print or interactive, A is for Action
The Open Data Revolution
There’s a bit of a revolution going under most people’s noses and it is probably something most people won’t think about even if we need this revolution whether we realize it or not. And at the same time people contribute to this revolution even if they don’t know about it. It’s a good thing – … Continue reading The Open Data Revolution
Disability is NOT inability – why Thunderclap it?
UNISDR’s Communications Unit in Geneva, a 5-person team that includes me, have been scratching its head for most of the last few months to see how we can generate interest in the 2013 International Day for Disaster Reduction, especially since it falls on a Sunday this year. While events celebrating IDDR are and have been … Continue reading Disability is NOT inability – why Thunderclap it?
Behind the scenes on the 2013 IDDR infographics
Tomorrow is October 13th. To most people, it’s just another day, but to those who believe in and work to reduce disaster risks, the 13th of October is the day to celebrate the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR). This year the focus of IDDR is on some one billion people around the world who … Continue reading Behind the scenes on the 2013 IDDR infographics
Cities are good for you
World Habitat Day happens the first Monday of every October and it’s a day to reflect on the state of our towns and cities. It’s also a time to remind the world that we all have responsibility in shaping the future of our cities and towns. FYI, this year’s focus is on Urban Mobility – … Continue reading Cities are good for you