Res Communis

Disasters Charter: Floods in Myanmar

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The Disasters Charter was activated for Floods in Myanmar:

Floods in Myanmar

Type of Event: Flood
Location of Event: Myanmar
Date of Charter Activation: 25/10/2010
Charter Requestor: UNOOSA on behalf of WFP
Project Management: ESA

Description of the Event
Tropical Cyclone Giri strengthened into a category 4 storm over the Northeast Indian Ocean as it approaches the west coast of Myanmar. Landfall of Giri on the coast of Myanmar is forecasted to happen, at or near Ramree Island.

The site of likely landfall lies between Chittagong, Bangladesh and the Myanmar capital, Yangon (or Rangoon).

As per field information major impact on local population is expected.

Wall Street Journal on Lunar Law

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The Wall Street Journal has published to articles online that discuss the space law regime as it applies to the Moon:

Ashby Jones, On the Moon, Water, Water Everywhere, But Not a Drop to Own, Wall Street Journal

and

Ashby Jones, Lunar Rush Far, Far Away as Earthlings Struggle With Laws in Space, Wall Street Journal

Disasters Charter: Typhoon Megi in the Philippines

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The Disasters Charter was actived for Typhoon Megi in the Philippines:

Typhoon Megi in the Philippines

Type of Event: Typhoon
Location of Event: Philippines
Date of Charter Activation: 20/10/2010
Charter Requestor: UNITAR/UNOSAT
Project Management: UNITAR

Description of the Event:
Typhoon Megi (locally named Juan) made landfall as a category 5 typhoon in the mountain range of sierra Madre, Isabella Province, Cagayan region (Region II) at 11:25 am on 18 October 2010. At least 10 people have been killed in the Philippines by the typhoon which hit the north of the country. Communication channels have been cut and access prevented due to stormy weather and roads blocked by small landslides.

Typhoon Megi weakened after landfall and made a West-South-West path across northern Luzon Island at 19km per hour.

Russia – China Launch Notification Agreement

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

According to the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces Blog, China and Russia have signed an agreement concerning launch notifications. The agreement is in Russian but the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces Blog has a summary of it:

. . . The agreement will cover launches of ballistic missiles that the countries launch in the direction of each other – for Russia it is “East, North-East, South, and South-East”, for China – “West, North-West, North, and North-East.” It will also cover all launches of space launchers. . . .