Chile. The National Television Council held, together with the Embassy of Japan in Chile and the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications, the colloquium on "Early Warning Systems for Natural Disasters", which was presented by Yasuji Sakaguchi, expert in emergency warning systems, and in charge of Digital TV in the public television of Japan, NHK.
The introductory panel of the event, which was held in the premises of the Autonomous House of the Autonomous University of Chile, was attended by the president of the CNTV, Catalina Parot; the Undersecretary of Telecommunications, Pamela Gidi and Hanako Yuzawa, second secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Chile.
The president of the CNTV, Catalina Parot, highlighted the urgency of implementing measures in this area: "The reason that brings us together today is, without a doubt, of great relevance for our country, a seismic country, which has seen its own history woven with the emergency of earthquakes. This reality unites us with Japan, which, due to its geology and insularity, like Chile, frequently faces natural disasters of different kinds. Japan is also a technological powerhouse that has applied its knowledge in Early Warning Systems," he said.
He added about the role of TV, the need to develop these systems hand in hand with the implementation of Digital TV: "television is an instrument that we must take advantage of, which can certainly collaborate in improving early warning systems, in a transversal way in society. The effectiveness of these systems is based on the knowledge of the existence of risks, on the active participation of communities, on an institutional commitment that involves education as an indispensable factor for citizen awareness and the efficient dissemination of alerts, in addition to guaranteeing constant preparation".
Yasuji Sakacuchi's presentation focused on the benefits of the early warning system, and the ways in which its implementation has been an advance in the face of natural emergencies: "Among the characteristics of the EWBS (Emergency Warning Broadcast System) system are the speed and flow in the delivery of information, universality, usability and the ability to geographically direct its use; as well as the zero traffic congestion and robust nature of the transmission."
Yasuji Sakaguchi explained that in Japan this system is used in mobile phone equipment, whose communication system has been adequate to receive this type of messages. He argued that for this system of early warning by broadcasting to be used, it is necessary to insert the device into digital televisions and disseminate its advantages so that people know of its importance in issues of prevention of natural disasters. Sakaguchi acknowledged that this is hard work, which must begin to be executed as soon as possible in a country as vulnerable to natural disasters as Chile.
Sakaguchi also narrated the implementation experience in Japan and Peru, developing the flow system that sustains them and the different operational patterns it offers. He also highlighted the need for a TV network throughout the territory, as a way to better implement early warning systems.
