I’m in New York City, where I gave the keynote address at a meeting on the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3) at the Rockefeller Foundation.
APDR3 began as a partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) to leverage our assets and work together in the Pacific region and has attracted supporters such as FEMA, The U.S. Japan Council and NOAA. The initiative was highlighted during last year’s APEC meetings, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding, outlining the intent of our partnerships with Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, and unveiled in a major speech by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The project has grown exponentially since then, with a half a million dollar award from the Ford Foundation and another half a million dollars from the Rockefeller Foundation. Chevron USA presented us with a matching grant to support this growing initiative. We are thrilled. The grants will be used to design strategy and governance structure, and scope collaborative and cooperative projects.
The University of Hawaiʻi is extremely honored to house the beginnings of this institution, which will eventually include granting of executive degrees, training of workforces, research and other elements of a strong and ground-breaking academic program.
APDR3 meeting in New York
At the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3), from left, Amir Dossal, the UN's chief liaison for partnerships and M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawaii president.
APDR3 meeting in New York
University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood and New York Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program Cecilia Martinez at a meeting on the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3) at the Rockefeller Foundation in December 2012. The United Nations Human Settlements Program is committed to creating sustainable housing worldwide.
APDR3 meeting in NY
University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood gave the keynote address at a meeting on the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3) at the Rockefeller Foundation in December 2012.
APDR3 meeting in New York
At the Asia Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Resiliency Initiative (APDR3), from left, Wahyu Wilopo, S.T.M. engineering geological department, Gadjah Mada University; Densie Konan, University of Hawaii at Manoa professor and department of economics chair; M.R.C. Greenwood, University of Hawaii president and Dwikorita Karnawati, professor in environmental and engineering geology and vice rector for cooperation and alumni, Universitas Gadjah Mada.
