HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TECHNICAL FORUM ( 22 July 1999)

THE "WORKSHOP ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT" CONCLUDED THAT:

Earth observation, telecommunication, navigation and other services are an effective means to improve monitoring, mitigation and management of disasters to prevent or limit the suffering of the global population.
Disasters are by nature trans-boundary hence international cooperation between operations and data provider is essential.
Timely release of data and services should be the main focus of international cooperation.

THE "INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON AN INTEGRATED GLOBAL OBSERVING STRATEGY" WORKSHOP ARRIVED AT A RANGE OF RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDING:

Identifying the need for long-term global change research through a full range of data collection programmes including processing, archiving and assessing.
Strengthening capacities of developing countries to fill gaps in global data sets and raise local awareness of environmental issues.
Calling for governments to support the transition from research to operational programmes.

THE ROUND TABLE ON THE "INTEGRATION OF EARTH OBSERVATION INTO SECONDARY EDUCATION" HEARD THAT:

Success in this area depends on well-trained teachers.
The United Nations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will inform many Ministries of Education about the need to create teacher-training courses about space.
It is cheaper and easier to educate through the use of space tools.

THE "FORUM ON SPACE ACTIVITIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY" RECOMMENDED:

Developing cheap, reliable and clean space transportation.
Establishing pilot settlements to learn to live away from the Earth's biosphere.
Encouraging the development of space tourism.