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But the data streaming into the computers of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization served no purpose Sunday.

I think some people at UNESCO may have dragged their feet on this...

http://ioc.unesco.org/itsu/contents.php?id=73

6. REGIONAL AND OTHER TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEMS
6.1 NORTHWEST PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM
190 The Group regretted that there are currently no seismic stations available for tsunami warning close to the Philippines and Indonesia, although data are needed in that region. It was noted however, that there are 2 CTBTO (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization) stations in the Philippines and 6 in Indonesia. The Group requested the countries owning the stations to make them available for tsunami and earthquake warning purposes.
Action: Chair
Deadline: March 2004
Status: No action - 8 April 2004: Chair will send text by endof April. Secretariat to send letter. - 22/9/04: Postponed: Chair will submit text in October.
Status 25/11/04: Chair will report during Dec 2004 Officers Meeting.[snip]

I think some people at UNESCO may have dragged their feet on this...

I could laugh, if I wasn't crying.

OTOH, this is much less important than pointing out our stinginess; and President Bush's insensitivity in not shooting off his ... uhh, COMMENTING, publicly before he had something useful and important to say to the public.

Glad to see the UN has its priorities straight, as always.

From the UNESCO website

Recommendation ITSU-XIX.4: Working Group on the Tsunami Warning System in the Southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean

Writer: Tammy Kaitoku Updated: 15.10.04 Created: 21.09.04 Hits: 529
Recommendation ITSU-XIX.4: Working Group on the Tsunami Warning System in the Southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean [endoresed by the IOC Executive Council at its 37th Session in June 2004]
Recommendation ITSU-XIX.4
WORKING GROUP ON THE TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AND INDIAN OCEAN
The International Co-ordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific,
Recognizing that the Southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean has a significant threat from both local and distant tsunamis;

Further recognizing that some areas of this region are not covered by the PTWC;

Noting the interest of Member States in the Indian Ocean and Southwest Pacific regions to enhance their tsunami warning services;

Acknowledges that Indonesia has decided to develop its National Tsunami Warning System with already existing and planned upgrades to seismic and sea-level networks and that the PTWC provides distant tsunami warnings for the Southwest Pacific;

Further acknowledging that there may be mutual benefits to these regions and to the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific from the establishment of this system;

Decides to establish an intersessional Working Group on the Southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean with the following Terms of Reference:

- to evaluate capabilities of countries in these regions for providing tsunami warning services;
- to ascertain requirements from countries in the Southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean for the tsunami warning services.

Requests Australia and ITIC to prepare a draft prior to the next SOPAC meeting for consideration by the Working Group.

Recommends that the Group be composed of representatives from Indonesia, Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Japan, Observer from Papua New Guinea and the Directors of ITIC and PTWC and Chaired by the Representative of Indonesia.

Acknowledges that ITSU is the Co-ordination Body for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific (TWSP) and encourages non-ITSU Member States to contact the IOC Secretariat to request membership of the ICG/ITSU.
Financial implications:
US$ 5,000 for 2004; US$ 5,000 for 2005.