[January 2020]
Disaster Preparedness and Response between Sister Cities and Friendship Cities

On behalf of all the staff of CLAIR Sydney, I would like to pay my respects to the victims and families affected by the 2019-2020 bushfire season in Australia, and the Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption in New Zealand.

In recent years, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan have all suffered from several devastating natural disasters. I believe the strong and collaborative sister city relationships and friendly relationships between our countries can play a crucial role in improving disaster preparedness, management, response, and relief in all three countries.

A great example is the partnership between Palmerston North in New Zealand and Mihara City in Japan. The two Cities share a history of experiencing earthquake and flooding disasters. Taking this into account, Palmerston North and Mihara have established an exchange program for municipal staff in charge of disaster and crisis management to visit their partner city to collaborate and learn techniques and methods to mutually improve the two Cities’ disaster preparedness and response efforts.

In the past, after the occurrence of a disaster, there had been times that the people-to-people connection within sister city relationships and partnerships between Australia, New Zealand and Japan brought comfort and relief to the disaster-stricken regions. An example of this is that after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, Christchurch’s Japanese sister city Kurashiki dispatched a team of municipal staff in charge of disaster victim support to Christchurch.

It is also common for the citizens of a sister city to hold fundraising activities to collect donations as disaster relief for their partner city if the partner city were struck by disaster. Consequently, in recent months, CLAIR Sydney has received many enquiries from Japanese local governments asking how they can donate to their Australian partner cities or disaster victims in bushfire affected areas. Another example of comfort brought on by sister city relationships and partnerships after a disaster is the condolence letters sent by the mayor of the partner cities of disaster-stricken areas. I believe the heart-warming condolences from overseas may somewhat bring a small sense of relief to disaster victims.

I hope that the above examples can be food for thought for your city’s consideration in providing support and assistance for your partner city before and after a disaster.

カテゴリー: From the Executive Director

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  •  環境問題への取組を調査するため、7月下旬~8月上旬にかけて滋賀県立彦根工業高等学校の高校生1名および引率者1名がオーストラリアを訪問し、クレアシドニー事務所は、7月29日にはオーストラリアの概要(文化、風習等)についてブリーフィングを実施し、7月31日にはブリスベンの訪問先企業へのアテンド行いました。

    ブリスベンの訪問先においては、カーボンニュートラルの観点から、カギケノリという海藻を用いて畜産動物が排出するメタンガスを減少させる取り組みについての情報を得ることができました。生徒が、将来は自らも環境のための取り組みを実施したいとの思いから、積極的にミーティングに臨んでいる姿が印象的でした。

    当事務所は今回、ブリーフィング及びアテンドのほか、ブリスベンの訪問先企業に対するアポイントメント取得のサポートも行いました。
     クレアシドニー事務所は、今後もオーストラリアでの調査に取り組む日本の自治体の活動を支援していきます。

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this correspondence in PDF.

  • *English only.

    The latest issue of our correspondence is released.

    View this Correspondence in PDF.

  •  名古屋市とシドニー市の姉妹都市交流は、2025年に45周年を迎えます。11月24日(金)には、豪州多文化主義政策交流プログラム(11月27日から12月2日まで)参加にあわせて渡豪した名古屋市職員がシドニー市役所を訪問しました。
     両市の姉妹動物園(タロンガ動物園と東山動物園)の交流の状況や名古屋市における国際交流についての情報共有に加えて、2023年12月に予定されている松雄副市長のシドニー市訪問の事前打ち合わせが行われ、クレアシドニー事務所はこの訪問をアテンドしました。
     節目の年を2年後に控え、両市の交流がさらに活発になるよう、クレアシドニー事務所は引き続き支援して参ります。