Disaster through a different lens: behind every effect, there is a cause

Behind every effect, there is a cause:

This manual for the media - compiled by journalists and disaster experts who understand that disaster risk reduction is a civic duty, government responsibility, national obligation and a good story - is for reporters and broadcasters who want to know more about those urgent, terrifying and all-too-often tragic moments when the fabric of national and civic government encounters the forces of nature.

It asserts the importance of the role of newspapers, radio, television and other media in creating awareness and disseminating information about disasters. Reporters, commentators and broadcasters, can do more than just inform and raise awareness about disasters. They can make a real difference in the way people think and act, especially now when climate change is recognized as a major challenge that will aggravate our vulnerability to disasters.

The chapters address:

- What you need to know about disaster risk reduction (DRR)
- Disaster risk reduction in the media
- DRR lessons from four disasters: Indian Ocean tsunami; Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines; Hurricane Katrina, USA; Kashmir earthquake, Pakistan
- Useful information on natural hazards
- Disaster risk reduction resources

The conclusion includes: Annexes on a brief history of the evolution of disaster risk reduction, terminology, and how corruption costs lives; a Bibliography.