African Centre for Disaster Studies - NWU

Multi-media

The ACDS realise that this intervention must make provision for a variety of different learners and learning styles. To this end a number of multi-media products will also form part of our Knowledge Shop. Some under development currently is mentioned below.

Documentary on Climate Change Adaptation: Community Perspectives directed by Nick Ellenbogen

We are most privilaged to be working with one of the foremost playwrights, directors and producers in South Africa, Mr. Nick Ellenbogen. Mr. Ellenbogen has written over 150 theatre pieces many focussing on issues of conservation and sustainable natural resource management. Nick knows how to tell a story and how to capture the imagination of the viewers. Roddy Bray writes about Nick: "Nicholas is one of those people who can fill a stage. He was a central figure in 'struggle theatre', the multi-racial productions that challenged the apartheid regime in the '70s and '80s. In particular he was a founder of the Market Theatre in Johannesburg and helped establish the renowned Grahamstown Festival. In 1989 he started 'Theatre for Africa' to exemplify African arts. He travelled to far-flung villages, auditioning actors, creating theatre companies, combining skills from different African cultures. With Nicholas as playwright and director they travelled the world with productions focused on conservation. Their success provided opportunities for the actors beyond their dreams. Year after year they won awards at the Edinburgh Festival. They toured Asia, Europe and the USA; they even performed for the British Royal Family at Balmoral and at the US State Department. Some of the plays, such as 'Horn of Sorrow' and 'Guardians of Eden', had a significant impact on the international regulation of the ivory trade.

Nicholas is well aware that international action for conservation is only half the battle. He wanted to bring conservation debates back to Africa, especially to communities living in ecologically sensitive areas and around wildlife reserves. The success of 'Theatre for Africa' had come to the attention of the Ford Foundation, World Bank and the WWF, and they agreed to sponsor his actors to tour even the most remote regions of Southern Africa. The success of Nicholas' approach has been recognised in a Congressional Citation (USA) and the WWF President's Award."

Filming on the project is scheduled for end November to mid-December 2010. Watch this space for more information.

(the above excerpt from http://www.capetown.at/letters/ellenb.htm)

Knowledge Product Multi-media

The following knowledge products will have a strong multi-media component linked to them:

1. Conceptualisation of Disaster Risk
2. Vulnerability assessment and analysis
3. Community Capacities and Resilience
4. Understanding Disaster Risk
5. Disaster risk reduction: A trans-disciplinary issue
6. Disaster risks assessment and analysis
7. Information Management and systems for disaster risk management
8. Remote Sensing and the application of GIS for disaster risk reduction
9. Geological Hazards
10. Biological Hazards
11. Environmental degradation
12. Urban disaster risks
13. Planning and disaster reduction
14. Land Tenure and opportunities for reform
15. Indigenous knowledge for disaster risk reduction
16. Food security overview
17. Critical infrastructure
18. Water catchments and resource management
19. Public participation and community action
20. Environmental Management
21. Communication for Disaster Risk Reduction