Under a program called Partners for Peace – New Hampshire 2006, a delegation of civil and military leaders from Kazakhstan, participated in a democracy education initiative and workshops throughout New Hampshire earlier this month. The topic of discussion was emergency planning and response in the event of a natural disaster.

The program is a joint undertaking by the University of New Hampshire, the NH National Guard, and the U.S. Department of defense to demonstrate to leaders of countries in transition to democracy New Hampshire's unique approach of how government, non-profit organizations and the private sector respond and cooperate in the event of an earthquake, flood, forest fire or other sudden natural emergencies.

Kazakhstan was part of the former Soviet Union and became independent in 1990. Three UNH faculty members talked with the delegation – Barry Rock, professor of natural resources, talked about technology in environmental management; Alynna Lyon, assistant professor of political science, discussed the relationship between civil servants, military structure and the role of elected officials; and Ted Kirkpatrick, co director of UNH’s JusticeWorks, talked about communication systems, cyber technology and crisis management. (Carie Schelfhaudt/Media Relations)