The 17th Global Seismological Observation Course started on January 12. 10 participants from the following 10 countries are participating in this training course: (in alphabetical order) Egypt, Fiji, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Zimbabwe.

Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Director of the International Data Center (IDC)/CTBTO, kindly attended the opening ceremony on the 12th, and presented a lecture entitled "The CTBT regime and Introduction to the International Monitoring System (IMS)" on the 13th. The training course will be closed on March 8.

Tatsuhiko HARA

Chief Research Scientist, IISEE

Building research Institute and National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) will hold an international symposium entitled "Sustainable Reconstruction from Super Earthquake Disasters" on 21 February, 2012 in Tokyo (GRIPS Sokairo Hall, Roppongi). Experts involved in reconstruction from recent super-disasters such as Great East Japan Earthquake 2011, Haiti Earthquake 2010, Wenchuan Earthquake 2008, Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami 2004, and Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake 1995 will discuss sustainable reconstruction (1st session). The panelists will discuss specific issues such as recovery of communities, gender, safer building and urban development, and international cooperation to draw lessons to be shared towards the future super disasters (2^nd session).

Detailed information is announced at the web-site of Building Research Institute (English site).

website:

http://www.kenken.go.jp/japanese/information/information/event/international_symposium-2012/pamphlet-en.pdf

Hajime KUROSAWA

Head of Administration Division, IISEE

A video conference is organized to discuss on reconstruction from super-disasters and building safer communities focusing on houses and building with invited lecturers who experienced super-disaster in recent years (Haiti, China and Indonesia) and participants from earthquake prone countries through video conference system to share experiences and lessons from each country and to obtain implications for future super-disasters.

Organizers: BRI, GRIPS

Date, time: February 22, 2012 Japan time: 16:00 -19:55

Venue: Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), The World Bank, Chiyoda-ku,

Tokyo, Japan (main), JICA Country Office

Language: English, Registration Fee: Free

Contents:

1. Damages and reconstruction focusing on houses and buildings from Haiti, China, Japan and Indonesia

2. Damages and reconstruction by recent earthquakes from Pakistan and Turkey

3. Experiences of activities/initiatives for safer reconstruction or mitigation from NSET Nepal and Philippines

4. International cooperation for sharing lessons and knowledge from WB, JICA, EERI, IAEE and others

Registration Contact: Mr. Sugioka, Mail: sugioka@ued.or.jp FAX: 03-3504-0752

Shoichi ANDO

Director, IISEE