During emergencies, timely response by Scouts is a call of service. Today, Scouts are known to help during unfortunate events especially when disaster strikes unexpectedly. Scouting’s role in responding to emergencies was reinforced by members of WOSM through a recent World Scout Conference resolution 17/2011 in Brazil (January 2011). The Conference through the resolution urged all National Scout Organizations (NSOs) to respond urgently to any national/international emergency such as natural and man made disasters and to be able to coordinate with sister organizations, and hence, always remaining prepared to respond in an effective manner. The Resolution also encourages the World Scout Bureau to work in partnership with aid agencies to provide coordination, and technical & professional support to NSOs.

Many countries in Asia-Pacific are vulnerable to natural occurrences, especially those situated in what is called the ‘Ring of Fire’. In the past two years alone, disasters overwhelmed several countries in the region, and often tested the Scouts’ sense of duty and ability (being prepared) to act quickly and responsibly. This article is a focus on experiences from NSOs in the Asia-Pacific Region.

World Scouting is happy to present two very exciting products related to Scouting which have been launched in recent weeks. A well-known personality in World Scouting, Dr. Eduard Vallory (Spain) has published his book ‘World Scouting – Educating for Global Citizenship’. The book has evoked a tremendous response from personalities such as members of the World Scout Committee and former Secretary Generals of WOSM alike. The Scout Association of UK has launched an exciting Scout Game App for mobile phones called the Scouts Secret Island Adventure. The adventure video game, which also features their Chief Scout and celebrity adventurer Bear Grylls, is available for Apple and Android devices.

The Scout Association of Venezuela hosted the Second Meeting of the Andean subregion of the Youth Program Network. From 27 to 29 of february, 2012, representatives of National Scout Organizations from Colombia, Ecuador and the host Venezuela, worked with the Youth Programme Director of the World Scout Bureau - Interamerican Region in the analysis of topics of vital importance for the development of the Youth Program of the Region.

It was developed in the framework of the Educational Methods Meeting of the Central Subregion.

2013 will mark 100 years of scouting. Scouting reached the Bahamas late in 1912 when Miss Evelyn Lobb who as a member of the staff at government house, and was instrumental on forming the first Scout Troop. On march 19 of 1913 the Bahamas received its chárter from the UK, and was named The Bahamas Branch Boy Scout´s Association.