Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU) encourages communities to talk about disaster reduction
The “Our Community Disaster Reduction: Map Simulation” activity conducted by
the Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU) in 2007 is a workshop-style program to promote disaster reduction.
Participants incorporate disaster reduction information provided by the government, as well as disaster management information they already have, into a large map of their neighbourhoods, and then conduct mock disaster exercises using their maps and hypothetical disaster scenarios. Participants learn important disaster management information relevant to their community, particularly the lesson that individual household preparedness and the cooperation of neighbours are essential to reducing the damage caused by disasters.
This program has been developed in collaboration with the Cabinet Office of Japan and with the support of several local governments. These activities will be expanded nationwide in 2008. The development of co-operative relationships with university professors and fire fighting personnel is likely to help expand activities in even more ways.