We are 'Citizens towards Overseas Disaster Emergency' (CODE). CODE seeks to be the core of an open forum for a variety of community members, taking an initiative for disaster relief, recovery and mitigation around the world. Participants include those who experienced the 'Hanshin-Awaji earthquake' of 17 January 1995, their friends and families, academics, journalists, businesses, and governmental, non-governmental and international organizations.
To tackle disaster issues around the world.
CODE moves for:
- Supporting recovery activities of residents
in disaster affected areas, in close collaboration
with concerned citizens;
- Supporting, as a priority, relief activities
for children and women in disaster affected
areas;
- Supporting the vulnerable such as the handicapped,
the aged and foreigners to achieve self-reliance;
- Promoting the establishment of sustainable
communities and the role of affected residents;
- Supporting local citizens' initiatives
in preparation for reconstruction and recovery
plans in affected areas (the implementation
process and the results of such plans should
be carefully monitored);
- Improving the conditions of basic human
rights;
- Implementing initiatives to prevent and
mitigate disasters, in harmony with environmental
protection, from a global citizens' perspective;
and
- Creating a wide and multi-layered network
in international society, combining people's
efforts.
From the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, we have
learned many things. Among them, the importance
of mutual help and individual dignity, the
need to re-establish communication in local
communities, the value of the volunteer spirit,
and the worthiness of supporting disaster
relief workers, are of particular importance.
We recognize that many people are eager to
support disaster-affected people around the
world. Citizens' efforts including those
of specialists can maximize effectiveness,
by using a vast pool of knowledge and increased
capacity. Whether individuals belong to business,
government, non-government, international,
academic or any other sector, it is crucial
to keep a citizens awareness. This has led
to participation of organizations as citizen
of communities.
Putting into practice the lessons learned,
CODE has become the core of an open forum
for a variety of citizens.
"The worst thing is to forget our bitter
experience about the disaster as time passes,"
said a Mexican NGO leader for relief-recovery
activities during the Mexico City earthquake,
when he visited Kobe. In order not to forget,
it is essential to learn and share experiences.
And, to coordinate and mobilize motivation
of individuals and groups, KOBE citizens
took the initiative to synthesize relief
and recovery activities, through CODE.
There is no barrier in the spirit of mutual
support. Based on this ideal, and as a member
of the global community, we wish to share
our experiences with people suffering from
disasters around world. At the same time
we can learn from their experiences. We believe
this to be our duty, as citizens who experienced
the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake. By doing this,
we can contribute to preventing and mitigating
the negative effects of disasters around
the world.
To restore each and every human right affected
by a disaster, we must keep making an effort
to offer support, directly or indirectly.
It is essential to participate in promoting
"self-advancement" of affected
people.
We have learned ways to prevent and mitigate
future disasters through daily activities.
It is vital to enhance livelihood in the
view of establishing sustainable communities.
To this end, 'global citizens' networks are
important. We have been communicating closely
with citizens of Mexico, Turkey and Taiwan,
and have learned to acknowledge differences
in custom and culture in the achievement
of a "common target" in the spirit
of mutual support. We firmly believe that
these efforts will lead to increase "global
citizen power". Accordingly,
We, "KOBE citizens" hereby declare
the establishment of "CODE".
17,Jan,2002
(Remarks)
"KOBE"(in capital letters) is intended
to represent all Hanshin-Awaji earthquake
(generally referred to as the "Kobe
earthquake") affected areas as well
as communities, groups, and people participating
in relief-recovery activities, etc. Since
our activities target disaster-affected people
and areas overseas, we use the expression
"KOBE citizens".