A Safer Future

Initial priorities for U.S. participation in the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, declared by the United Nations, are contained in this volume. It focuses on seven issues: hazard and risk assessment; awareness and education; mitigation; preparedness for emergency response; recovery and reconstruction; prediction and warning; learning from disasters; and U.S. participation internationally. The committee presents its philosophy of calls for broad public and private participation to reduce the toll of disasters.

The World Health Report 2007 - A Safer Future : Global Public Health Security in the 21st Century marks a turning point in the history of public health, and signals what could be one of the biggest advances in health security in half a century. It shows how the world is at increasing risk of disease outbreaks, epidemics, industrial accidents, natural disasters, and other health emergencies which can rapidly become threats to global public health security. The report explains how the revised International Health Regulations (2005), which came into force this year, helps countries to work together to identify risks and act to contain and control them. The regulations are needed because no single country, regardless of capability or wealth, can protect itself from outbreaks and other hazards without the cooperation of others. The report says the prospect of a safer future is within reach -- and that this is both a collective aspiration and a mutual responsibility.

An analysis of perceptions of public safety and policing in Nepal.

A Safer Future draws on Oxfam's experience of working with communities caught up in armed conflict in many countries around the world and makes recommendations for urgent action by governments that would reduce the risk of war and protect civilian lives. It looks specifically at changes in international policies and pre-emptive action by the international community which could prevent some wars occurring.