["The incident raised concerns derailmentn February 3, 2023, a Norfolk for health and environmental effects and triggered a Southern freight train carrying national investigation into rail volatile chemicals passed over transportation safety practices. an electric 'Hotbox warning Bill Peterson investigates\u2026 detector,' notifying the onboard Drone footage shows the freight train derailment Otrain crew of an equipment in East Palestine, Ohio, U.S., February 6, 2023. problem with the train. The crew was allegedly ordered to keep moving by railroad Photo: NTSB officials. About 20 miles later, 38 railcars of the train derailed in the small community of East Palestine, Ohio, US, setting off a series of events that included evacuation orders for residents on both sides of the Ohio-Pennsylvania border as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine raised alarms about a possible explosion. This incident would also result in not only an initial fiery hazardous materials transportation incident, but a series of after-crash effects that ranged from local residents\u2019 fears of long-term health-related issues to allegations that the railroad policy allowed a monitoring team to instruct crews to ignore alerts from trackside sensors designed to flag potential mechanical problems, to reports of previous incidents on the same rail line that would set the stage and foretell the upcoming East Palestine disaster. East Palestine is a small village in northeastern Columbiana County, Ohio. In the latest census taken in 2020, the population of east Palestine was 4,761. Located on the state\u2019s eastern border with Pennsylvania, East Palestine is about 31 km south of Youngstown, Ohio, and 64 km northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From the 1870s to the mid-1960s, the community was home to the ceramics and tyre manufacturing industries. This was the closest community to the major derailment on February 3, which spilled butyl acrylate and vinyl chloride, chemicals among a long list of other combustible liquids that authorities feared could set off a major explosion. As one would expect in this type of hazardous materials incident, a mandatory evacuation order was issued. In addition, schools and roads were closed in the area covered by the evacuation order. Three days later, authorities performed a controlled release of the toxic materials from five of the tankers. The contents were diverted to a trench and burned off. Fortunately, the controlled burn kept the loose train cars from exploding, and the evacuation order has since been lifted. Unfortunately, that does not mean all is well in the area. After monitoring the air for nine days after the first derailment, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that it had not found any contaminants at \u201clevels of concern\u201d in East Palestine or nearby, though people might still smell odours in the area. On February 21, the EPA further stated that it had tested the air inside more than 550 homes and found no breaches of air quality standards. However, environmental concerns continued to be a significant issue, as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources reported that the chemical spill resulting from the derailment had killed an estimated 3,500 small fish near the incident site. Most public health experts also warned that they wouldn\u2019t know the full extent of the environmental and health effects for quite a while and that, in the interim, a lot of work still needed to be done. Directly related to this, on February 25, 2023, Federal Environmental Officials ordered a temporary halt to the shipment of Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 51","contaminated soil and waste from the derailment site. fine. They told residents that hazardous material debris US EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore ordered from East Palestine that was being sent to Texas disposal the Norfolk Southern railroad to cease shipments from sites would pose no threat to the health and safety of local the site of the derailment, but indicated that shipments residents. Concerns around Houston were specifically would resume \u201cvery soon.\u201d Until the previous day, Norfolk fuelled by online social media reports questioning the Southern had been solely responsible for the disposal of safety of the planned disposal of firefighting water at the contaminated soil and waste and had supplied Ohio a hazardous waste disposal facility in the area. Harris Environmental officials with a list of railroads that had County (Houston Regional) Chief Executive Lisa Hidalgo selected and utilised disposal locations. \u201cGoing forward, assured residents that her office was on top of the situation incident disposal plans would include provisions that and was researching the transportation and disposal of both disposal sites and transportation routes for the contaminated materials would be subject to EPA review The contents of the report indicated and approval,\u201d Shore indicated. that the derailed equipment included 11 tank cars carrying hazardous materials She was further quoted as saying: \u201cEPA will ensure that that subsequently ignited, fuelling fires all waste is disposed of in a safe and lawful manner at EPS- that damaged an additional 12 certified facilities to prevent further release of hazardous non-derailed railcars substances and resulting impacts to communities.\u201d She continued to relate that officials have heard concerns the water to ensure that it met required regulations. The from residents and others in a number of states and are disposal company, Texas Molecular, has been in the reviewing the: \u201cTransport of some of the waste over long business of disposing of similar hazardous materials for distances and finding the appropriate permitted and more than 40 years. Jimmy Bracher, Vice President of certified sites to take the waste.\u201d Texas Molecular, informed the media that: \u201cWe are proud of our expertise, developed over many years, can help both In the three weeks following the rail incident, print and the country and the environmental recovery from this electronic media reports of facts surrounding the incident tragic accident.\u201d have driven local, regional, and national headlines. These reports have centred on resident fears of long-term health Immediately following the East Palestine incident, and environmental concerns, criticism of railroad policy the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent a dealing with public safety, and reports of similar railroad team to Ohio to conduct a full investigation surrounding operational experiences that foretold the future of the the derailment, as is standard procedure for this type of much more serious East Palestine incident. incident. A preliminary report was issued on February 23, less than three weeks after the derailment and fire. Pro Publica reported that in October 2022, more than three months prior to the East Palestine derailment, the The NTSB was reportedly focussing its investigation Norfolk Southern Railroad allegedly experienced a similar on examining tank car fittings, the locomotive event data situation with an overheated bearing on a train locomotive recorder, and surveillance video from a residence that and eventually directed the train crew to keep moving. showed what appeared to be the failure of an overheated In that incident, the overheated wheel caused that train wheel bearing moments before the derailment. to derail miles later in Sandusky, Ohio. Fortunately, that train was carrying only liquid paraffin and not any specific The NTSB\u2019s preliminary report, answers some of hazardous materials as in the East Palestine incident. the questions that were asked right after the accident. It confirmed that 38 rail cars went off the Norfolk Southern Within a few weeks of the derailment, the US Keystone Division\u2019s main track on the Norfolk Southern Environmental Protection Agency told people that Fort Wayne Line in East Palestine, Ohio. the air and water in the area were safe and that they would continue to be checked for the foreseeable future. Train to nowhere Local residents\u2019 fears for their health concerns mounted The contents of the report indicated that the derailed around the effect the derailment and the fire could have equipment included 11 tank cars carrying hazardous on the environment and the transportation network. materials that subsequently ignited, fuelling fires that Some of that reaction after the derailment stemmed damaged an additional 12 non-derailed railcars. Five of from social media concerns raised by residents. One the derailed train cars were carrying 115,580 gallons of specific question and concern arose when a handful of vinyl chloride, according to the report. Those five cars: individuals posted questions relating to the safety of their \u201cContinued to concern authorities because the temperature drinking water supply. inside one tank car was still rising.\u201d This indicates a polymerisation reaction that could result in an explosion. Giant Eagle, a regionally based supermarket entity with hundreds of stores in the five-state region, including Ohio The train was travelling about 47 mph at the time and Pennsylvania, subsequently pulled bottled water from of the derailment, which was less than the maximum its shelves out of an \u201cabundance of caution\u201d even though allowed speed limit of 50 mph. Train movements near the its bottling facility was 25 miles from the derailment site. derailment site are authorised by cab signals and wayside signal indications with an overlaid positive train control Concerns related to the air quality around the site of system. The report said the positive train control system the derailment also led two high school basketball teams was enabled and operating at the time. to decline to play and forfeit their scheduled end-of-season tournament games in the area around East Palestine or in the county where East Palestine is located. Even in Houston, Texas, which is more than 1,000 miles southwest of the place where the train derailed, politicians rushed to reassure people that everything was 52 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","derailment The engineer operating the Norfolk Southern train The NTSB\u2019s investigation is ongoing. Future Crash site applied additional brakes to stop the train\u2019s forward investigative activity will focus on the wheelset and bearing; recovery movement after receiving an alert about an overheating tank car design and derailment damage; a review of the Photo: EPA axle. The temperature reached a 'critical' level \u2013 253 accident response, including the venting and burning of the degrees Fahrenheit above ambient temperature \u2013 and an vinyl chloride; railcar design and maintenance procedures 53 audible alarm instructed: \u201cThe crew to slow and stop the and practises; NS use of wayside defect detectors; and NS train to inspect a hot axle,\u201d according to the report. The railcar inspection practises. engineer had already applied the train\u2019s brakes and applied increased braking after the alert. The emergency brakes Endnotes automatically applied, too. n ProPublica is a nonprofit media newsroom in the US that Investigators say it was the 23rd railcar that derailed investigates abuses of power in both the public and private sector. first because of that overheated wheel bearing. After the n One news report estimated there were as many as 500 residents train stopped, the report said the train crew observed fire who did not initially evacuate. and smoke and notified the Norfolk Southern dispatch n The NTSB\u2019s investigation is ongoing. Future investigative of a possible derailment. With dispatcher authorisation, activity will focus on the wheels and bearing; tank car design and the crew applied handbrakes to the two railcars at the derailment damage; a review of the accident response, including head of the train, uncoupled the head-end locomotives, the venting and burning of the vinyl chloride; railcar design and and moved the locomotives about one mile from the maintenance procedures and practices; NS use of wayside defect uncoupled railcars. detectors; and NS railcar inspection practices. The final NTSB Report on this incident is likely to take an additional 6-12 months. After the release of the NTSB\u2019s preliminary report, n The Preliminary report may be accessed at: www.ntsb.gov NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said: \u201cI can tell you this much \u2013 this was 100 per cent preventable. We call things Author accidents. There is no accident.\u201d WILLIAM (BILL) PETERSON is Senior Consultant for One of the still unanswered questions not covered in the report but posed to the NTSB was: Why wasn\u2019t the crew Strategic Government Resources, with lead responsibilities given a warning before the wheel bearing reached that critical temperature? for fire, emergency medical and emergency management NTSB Chair Homendy responded: \u201cThe warning related executive searches. Bill also serves as the primary technical threshold is set by railroads. It varies by railroad,\u201d she stated. \u201cWe\u2019re going to look at that and determine if that expert for operational assessments and management consulting threshold should change. That\u2019s going to be one of the NTSB priorities in this investigation.\u201d in these fields. Previously, he was appointed Regional Administrator of the US Department of Homeland Security\u2019s FEMA Region 6 in Denton, Texas, by President George W Bush. He is a Member of CRJ\u2019s Advisory Panel Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023","T\u00fcrkiye: Rubble of corruption fuels earthquake devastation Luavut Zahid speaks to Burcak Basbug, Academic Director of ICPEM, about the situation in T\u00fcrkiye, where 14 million are affected, with 9.1 million in the line of fire. Thousands have been injured, and countless displaced by the quake O n February 6, 2023, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake ripped through T\u00fcrkiye and Syria. The destruction is some of the was coming sooner or later because this area is prone to worst that has ever been recorded in both countries. earthquakes,\u201d she told me. Just days after the first quake, The death toll is climbing every day, with over 44,000 6.4 and 5.8 magnitude tremors rocked Hatay once more. declared dead so far. According to estimates, at least 164,000 buildings have been compromised, according to Nearly 500 years ago, a crack in the East Anatolian fault line led to a large, destructive earthquake. This is the second-biggest active fault line, which is a hazard Murat Kurm, T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s Minister for the Environment to Turkey geographically,\u201d Basbug explains. \u201cAnd the and Urbanisation. scientists knew there was a seismic gap and expected it to \u201cIt\u2019s a horrifying situation,\u201d Burcak Basbug says. occur sooner or later in Kahramanmara\u015f, the epicentre of Basbug is the Academic Director of the Institute of Civil both earthquakes. The unique case is that there were two Protection and Emergency Management (ICPEM). She separate earthquakes nine hours apart,\u201d she adds. is also the Special Advisor for Disaster, Emergency, and The first quake erupted at 4:17 am and was measured Crisis Management to the former Turkish Prime Minister, at 7.7 magnitude. The second hit came nine hours later, Professor Ahmet Davutoglu, and the Head of the Disaster registering at 7.6. Turkey is supposed to have a very Risk Management Working Group at the Ankara City strong building code in place when it comes to regulation, Council in T\u00fcrkiye. Her insight into the situation is that of one of the strongest in the Mediterranean region, so what an insider who\u2019s watched it all go wrong. went wrong? T\u00fcrkiye is prone to earthquakes due to its location near \u201cThe rules are well-written,\u201d Basbug confirms, adding the Three tectonic plates \u2013 the Arabian, Anatolian and that they aren\u2019t followed. \u201cWe watched one building totally African plates. \u201cThis was not unexpected. The earthquake collapse, killing hundreds of people, while the next stood perfectly. They have even shown people\u2019s living rooms where the plates are still standing as though no earthquake ever hit that building. If you follow the building code, that is what happens. Even a plate on a stand doesn\u2019t fall, let alone a person losing their life. This is obvious because we see buildings where they didn\u2019t implement the regulations, and you can now see sand within the construction.\u201d We always say that it is the earthquake that is the problem. But the earthquake is a natural hazard; what\u2019s killing people is the poor construction. Thousands upon thousands of people were buried under rubble all of a sudden without ever even understanding what was going on because they were caught sleeping. It is a horrible, horrible scenario,\u201d Basbug says. USGS Who\u2019s to blame? \u201cIt\u2019s not just the builders who are responsible because if you want to get a building licence, there\u2019s a process, there\u2019s a regulating body, there\u2019s a municipality signature, there\u2019s an engineer, an architect, a city planner, so a chain of signatures is supposed to give you the licence,\u201d Basbug says, emphasising that this is a systemic issue. It\u2019s become its own structure in a way because there\u2019s no one person to point a finger at. Rules are rules, and not following them can ensure this 54 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","earthquake Hatay, T\u00fcrkiye, February 9, 2023. Members of the UK\u2019s International Search & Rescue Team continued working in co-ordination with other search and rescue teams looking for survivors UK ISAR Team Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 55","level of devastation, explains Basbug: \u201cSome people claim Authority\u2019s (AFAD) aim was to make it look a lot more that it is the old buildings that fell apart, but the reality is decentralised from the bottom up. With bureaucracy, you that there we have also lost new buildings built just two, waste time and lose time. And it is obvious evidence of that three or five years ago, and they collapsed totally. There with this earthquake.\u201d is evidence that they didn\u2019t follow the building regulations and code. The buildings that were left standing perfectly Before the earthquake, the economic problems in implemented the codes because their owners had a T\u00fcrkiye were already making it hard for people to find conscience and constructed them responsibly; rules are a place to live. The country has been struggling with an rules. Rules are not there just to be written. They are there inflation rate that has gone up by 85 per cent, and things to be implemented.\u201d will only get worse from here on out. Basbug goes a step further and says that this is an \u201cIt\u2019s because of the economic situation, instability, and apolitical disaster. Instead of trying to blame those in inflation rate, which was too high and is too high. For power, we have to look at the system that is the culprit: instance, in the property market, buying a house or renting \u201cIt\u2019s not a political party or government issue. This has a house is crazy. People who earn an average salary cannot been going on for years. We saw the same thing during afford the current housing rates. Prices have been doubled, the 1999 earthquake, which we thought would be a tripled, and quadrupled. That was before the earthquake. watershed moment in Turkish disaster risk management So, it\u2019s still a problem.\u201d history. We need to learn from these events and not ignore what has happened.\u201d When it comes to earthquakes, the worst may still be yet to come. What can authorities and those in crisis There is a lot of evidence that the co-ordination was management roles do to ensure that an event of this kind lacking, as she explains: \u201cWe had a co-ordination issue, never repeats? Basbug says it\u2019s about resilience, recovery, so disaster management activities, such as reaching out to and reconstruction: \u201cWe need to build properly and find those in the rubble, were delayed. Reaching out to the retrofit what already exists. We know that 95 per cent of provinces was delayed. People panicked, and the disaster buildings in T\u00fcrkiye are vulnerable to earthquakes because and emergency managers themselves became earthquake of their location near prominent fault lines. What needs survivors. So they couldn\u2019t even help themselves, let alone to be done is give this priority immediately, from today the other people. The public has a lot of complaints that onwards, and retrofit or reconstruct all the vulnerable the response didn\u2019t come through as quickly as it was buildings everywhere. Otherwise, we will continue losing needed. There was a lack of co-ordination, organisation, thousands of people. and good governance.\u201d \u201cIf there is a potential earthquake, which will be in And this lack of co-ordination and governance issues Gemlik, in the Bursa region, because there\u2019s another also go back to a flawed system. \u201cOur management and seismic gap there, it is expected, as is a big earthquake in governance system are very top-down and centralised. Istanbul. When it happens \u2013 and it will happen sooner And in 2009, the Disaster and Emergency Management or later, it will be catastrophic, and the damage level will be higher. I\u2019m already expecting further earthquakes to happen, even right now, though not in that location because now the energy has been released. But technically, other parts of the country can still be IV. Murat | Adobe Stock 56 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","earthquake affected because of the Turkish earthquake hazard map, sectors must function effectively and concurrently, with Photo I HH where over 95 per cent of the country is in the red zone. co-ordination,\u201d she adds. Humanitarian That means it\u2019s extremely dangerous and vulnerable to an earthquake hazard. And such hazards turn into disasters if Basbug believes that T\u00fcrkiye is still better than many Relief no precaution is implemented. If no mitigation strategies other countries in some aspects of disaster management. Foundation have been implemented and no preparedness action is For starters, psychological support is good there: there, then it becomes a disaster.\u201d \u201cWe are far better than many countries in the world in psychosocial support and trauma work. So, with The problem is that people forget very quickly in the experience of the 1999 earthquake and the Soma T\u00fcrkiye, according to Basbug. \u201cWe should not let this mine disaster in 2014, experience has taught us. I can be forgotten because it is a human life that doesn\u2019t have confidently state that we are good with search and rescue. a price equivalent to it. We need to look to the future. If you compare 1999 and 2011, we did really well in For instance, retrofitting is one way of making existing the 2011 earthquake, but this one, because of the scale buildings stronger, as is also reconstructing after demolition and winter conditions (where roads were blocked), was and rebuilding again wherever there are problems. They difficult to tackle. It\u2019s because people couldn\u2019t reach the have been running this campaign in Istanbul for state destination even if they had the equipment. There is schools for like 15 or 16 years. But it is huge considering definitely a need to go aerial and see whatever alternative the population and the area you need to cover; it needs routes can be built up immediately. How many months to start today. It took California, US, 40 years to retrofit do you think it will take for just the clean-up and the and reconstruct every structure that was deemed to be recovery from the Earth in the next few months?\u201d earthquake-prone. We know that the hazards in the San Andreas fault system are very similar. So, we need to She continues to have hope for the better and knows prioritise and retrofit our structures immediately. This that she can rely on the community of disaster and should be done according to the law and the current emergency managers to do what\u2019s needed: \u201cThere\u2019s a existing building code.\u201d huge disaster and emergency manager community in T\u00fcrkiye that really believes in this stuff. It\u2019s unbelievable, Some claim that it is the old the solidarity of the community in T\u00fcrkiye. They don\u2019t buildings that collapsed, but care who you are, where you\u2019re from, your height, weight, the reality is that there we or anything else, including your sect, religion, or anything have also lost new buildings else you can think of. Everyone is so interconnected, and built just two, three or five we hope that connection will last forever because there years ago, and they collapsed, is unification. We know how to come together and work totally collapsed together for the better, and that is the most important aspect of rebuilding.\u201d People must also be better prepared. \u201cWe need practice drills; practice is not just like drop, cover, and hold. That As things stand, the number of those suffering approach could work in Japan, where you trust your continues to rise. In the coming months, T\u00fcrkiye has a lot building and can go under the desk or table wherever to to do to rebuild, and a genuine makeover in both priorities keep a life triangle near you if something falls on your and system is needed for it to get back on track. head. But in a country like T\u00fcrkiye, if you don\u2019t trust your building and if it\u2019s not properly designed, it will collapse \u201cIt will take time until everything heals. But some on top of you. So if you go under the table, what will wounds will never be healed. With this level of tragedy, happen?\u201d she questions. some things you just can\u2019t walk back at this point,\u201d Basbug concludes. Basbug also recommends being prepared on an individual level. \u201cThere are people who lost their Author dentures, some who were diabetic and lost medicine, others who lost their glasses, and these are urgent issues LUAVUT ZAHID is the Publishing Editor of the Crisis that can turn into lifesaving things. People need to think about emergency preparedness. If a disaster strikes, it Response Journal affects at least 20 sectors: education, the legal system, transportation, communication, food, security, logistics \u2013 everything,\u201d she advises. \u201cRubble removal is also another issue. I read that the total pile of rubble will be equivalent to Mount Argus. It\u2019s huge! What are you going to do with that rubble and all the leftovers? This brings us to disaster risk governance, because you need to govern in a manner that produces results. On the International Disaster Risk Reduction Day, which was a campaign of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) the year before the pandemic, this was pointed out: all Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 57","Protests vs riots: Exploring the psychology behind collective action Protests and riots are rarely spontaneous and are often the symptoms of unrest and the manifestation of a deep malaise, says Matt Minshall I n January of this year, protests broke out in France against a significant reform to the retirement system. Open protests in France, like in many countries are The demonstrations became violent in many place common. The country seems to have a penchant for and the police had to be called into action. Almost a resolving issues on the streets. Previously, pension reform quarter of a million French citizens are against President protests provoked large-scale marches in 2010 and 2019. Emmanuel Macron\u2019s proposal to push the retirement age In 2018, the Yellow Vest (or Gilet Jaunes) protests turned violent; the demands were centred around rising costs of from 62 to 64. Unions estimate this number to be closer living and fuel prices. Before the current wave of protests, to two million. The key spark of ignition came when there were demonstrations against Covid-19 regulations. Article 49.3 was invoked to push the reform through Protests need to have weight to be effective. Peaceful parliament without a vote and has led to disruption and protest marches are often overlooked by the press as they violent action. can be deemed uninteresting in the era of competing 58 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","protest is social identity theory, and how it affects intergroup behaviour. The theory suggests that individuals derive part of their sense of self from their group memberships, such as nationality, race, religion, or political and even sports club affiliations. When an individual\u2019s group identity is threatened or devalued, they may be more likely to engage in collective action to defend their group\u2019s interests. Anger, frustration, and outrage are often powerful motivators for protest. Emotions can be contagious, and the expression of passions in a protest can create a sense of collective solidarity and energy that motivates individuals to take action; but in some cases, this leads to destructive behaviour and violence. Is a protest march a riot on the peaceful stage? Not necessarily; most protests are without violence, but the change from peaceful to riotous can be the work of a moment and may be the real manifestation of the deep unrest that is at the core of the protest. Riots are recorded throughout history. Following the assassination of Julius Caesar in Rome in 44 BCE, a mob took firebrands from the funeral pyre and attacked the houses of Brutus and Cassius. In the latter half of the twentieth century, the dominance of recorded incidents was in the US and in the former British Empire, but not exclusively so, and many incidents in the less developed regions did not reach the headlines. In his 1967 speech, The Protests against Other America, Martin Luther pension reforms King states that if rioting is to be have drawn in condemned for the destructive, thousands of unbridled, and rageful aggression people in Paris that it is, or, more importantly, to try to prevent it from happening Photo: Jules* in the first place, there must first | Wikimedia Commons be an understanding of its cause. Rioting can be thought of as a symptom of a disease. To treat the symptom, in this case the disease, or root cause, sensationalism to make the headlines. Strikes have a direct must be treated, and the disease, or root cause, was the effect on daily lives and get media coverage. Riots that cause damage to people and property are the direct headlines systemic racism that apparently persists more than 50 years that sell news media stories, are the stuff of nightmares for politicians, and consequently may have the most effect. after his speech and his later assassination. For every situation, a tried and tested methodology There are protests that may develop into riots taking place of analysis is the Five Ws, which are: who, what, when, where, and why, sometimes \u2018how\u2019, probably originating all over the world most of the time, and their core causes are with Aristotle. The Ws are a broad and fascinating subject, but this article attempts to focus on part of the \u2018why\u2019. many and varied. Protesting has become an art form and Why protest? Why riot? In the case of France, people an increasingly important part of life in Europe, where the riot because sometimes riots work. In 2010, protests against pension reforms led to the government making significant way democracy works seems to be getting more and more concessions. In 2019, massive climate change protests led to the government announcing a series of environmental Martti Salmi | Unsplash.com measures, including a carbon tax and investment in renewable energy. That\u2019s not to say that all protests led to the government yielding. The disorder caused by the Yellow Vests brought about no notable change in policy. Protests are a form of collective action where people voice their dissent and seek change from the authorities. Protests can take many forms, from peaceful demonstrations to violent riots, and occur for a variety of reasons, from social justice issues to economic grievances. The psychology of protest is complex and influenced by a range of individual, group, and contextual factors. A central psychological idea that helps explain protest behaviour Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 59","out of step with what people expect today. In Germany, boost employment among older workers and rebalance co-operation between the government and worker\u2019s the system, but this was ruled out by the government, and organisations works well, but they are seeing the biggest thus an impasse was created. Once an idea is embedded, strike action in over 30 years. The UK, with a less well- it is hard to change. Le Bon also states: \u201cThe masses have established government-worker relationship, is experiencing never thirsted after truth. Whoever can supply them with unprecedented and enduring protests from critical illusions is easily their master; whoever attempts to destroy infrastructure staff. But the dominant media attention their illusions is always their victim.\u201d This is a truism, as remains on France and the reform of the pension age. The masses have never thirsted after The French have a long history of fighting for their truth. Whoever can supply them with rights and protesting government policies they deem unfair. illusions is easily their master; whoever Most manifestations are carefully managed between the attempts to destroy their illusions is instigators \u2013 generally the unions \u2013 and the government, always their victim and most pass off peacefully. But when a deep malaise is focussed, control can be difficult. The government\u2019s people can prefer the easy route of illusion rather than proposed retirement reforms that have recently sparked reality to satisfy deep-rooted perceptions of injustice, and massive protests across the country have been met with once an idea is fixed it is hard to change. fierce resistance as there is a fear that they will undermine the French social model and worsen living conditions. Why do protests become violent? The police are The main focus of the reform is the plan to unify the often blamed for their heavy-handed approach to crowd country\u2019s current system. The government argues that the control, but it is rarely the government agencies in liberal current system is outdated and unfair and puts a strain democracies that incite violent activity. The controlling on the country\u2019s finances, but the message is not being forces have a clear legal escalation response process, but communicated well. some crowds have a deliberate practice of heightening media coverage through pressure that causes reactions. A prolonged period of financial difficulty stemming from Riot police often must endure prolonged periods of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine is probably deliberate and vicious provocation by protesters, much of at the heart of the concerns, and the prospect of further which goes unreported; but when the patience of the police financial erosion may be the real motivator for protest, with officer \u2013 a citizen of the same country \u2013 breaks and there the retirement reforms simply the spark of ignition. But is an outlet of reactionary anger, the media will be ready to the government has been criticised for its handling of the record the incident and tag it for best effect. situation and for failing to explain the salient facts. Seize the blaze In his 1895 work, The Crowd \u2013 A study of the popular The start of some violence is a deliberate activity from mind, Gustave Le Bon writes: \u201cThe art of those who outside sources unconnected with the protest organisers. govern consists above all in the science of employing These may include the underlying thuggish elements present words.\u201d In France, poor communication has resulted in most societies that use the opportunity for violence and in confusion and frustration. Unions see better ways to looting, and there are darker elements. There have been former anarchist groups, such as the Baader-Meinhof group, Martti Salmi | Unsplash.com which have travelled to protests with the aim of harnessing them for their goal of bringing down society. The concept of the \u2018Black Block\u2019 may have emerged from this group. The term is used to describe the unmanaged \u2018spontaneous\u2019 support described on undefined US media during the anti- Trump riots in 2017: \u201cTo provide solidarity in the face of a repressive police state and to convey an anarchist critique of whatever is being protested that day.\u201d The regularity, clarity of preparation, and management of \u2018Black Block\u2019 engagement indicate a far cry from spontaneity, and it is invariably associated with the escalation of protest from the peaceful to the violent. Peaceful protest organisers are quick to distance themselves from the mayhem of a riot, but such is the power of the media and its effects that sometimes: \u201cMethinks that the spokesperson doth protest too much.\u201d Are protests ever successful? Yes. An article in Time Magazine from 2015 opens with the premises that America was founded on riots. It mentions that from the days of tar-and-feather British tax collectors, citizens have resisted power by fighting back, using fists when their voices weren\u2019t heard. It further states that this violent tradition lives on in the country, boiling up at times in cities as the 60 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","protest result of urban tensions that explode into arson, looting, come to rely upon a comfortable time-lag of 50 years or a The yellow vests and police brutality. century intervening between the perception that something protests in 2018 ought to be done and a serious attempt to do it.\u201d turned extremely It might be argued that protest is important for violent democracy. It shows people they are not alone. One way in The frequency of protest in France may be because the which the establishment maintains its power is by creating storming of the Bastille is not yet considered conclusive by Photo: Laurent a dominant discourse from which dissidents\u2019 views are some, and to protest must be an option, and without the Bourrelly excluded. If people think differently, they may feel isolated, belief and perception that something can be done, there marginalised, and powerless. Public demonstrations and will never be an attempt to provoke change, and thus social marches show people there are thousands who think the injustice may prevail. same things. In an electoral democracy, protests provide an essential voice for minority groups. The classic theorists Sources of representational government recognised that universal suffrage and majority voting threatened to impose the n Fedotov, A (2019): Septem Circumstantiae, five W\u2019s and H or \u2018tyranny of the majority\u2019 and override the rights of \u2018six serving-men\u2019, alxfed.github.io; minorities. Protests are a vital corrective to majority rule. If n McLeod, S (2023): Social Identity Theory: Definition, History, there are enough protesters, the policies of those in power Examples, & Facts, simplypsychology.org; may become unworkable, such as the UK flat-rate Poll n (2001): Men in black behind chaos, theguardian.com; Tax in 1990, when huge numbers of people protested and n (2015): Exploring Effectiveness of Violence and Riot in refused to pay the tax, and it was subsequently abolished. American History, time.com; n H G Wells (1931): The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Protests may not win immediately, but the voice may Mankind have an influence on succeeding generations. At the time, it may feel as though it\u2019s going nowhere and that those Author in power are stuck in the dogma and ease of majority status and cannot change their thinking. But then a new MATT MINSHALL is a specialist in defence, security and generation may come along, unencumbered by past thinking, and see that the views of the protesters were resilience. He has experience and training in terrorism just common sense. H G Wells said: \u201cIn England we have counteraction, crisis management, and water and renewable energy sustainability. He teaches Arab cultural awareness and is a Member of CRJ\u2019s Advisory Panel Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 61","Caught in the crossfire: US children and gun violence Jennifer Hesterman dissects gun violence in the US and how children are turning out to be the biggest casualty B y the end of the day, at least 16 children and adolescents influenced to access and use guns, or shooters themselves. will die or receive emergency treatment for a gunshot How did the US get to this perilous point? wound in the US. A former student in Nashville killed six people, including three students, before he was taken In 2020, the pandemic began, and violence escalated. out by the police at the time CRJ\u00a0went\u00a0to\u00a0press. And this The phenomenon of children and gun violence is a is the only country among its peers in which guns are microcosm of what is happening in US society at large. the leading cause of death among children. The most For instance, the number of mass shootings (defined as vulnerable members of society are either not protected, four or more injured or killed in an event, excluding the perpetrator) had steadily risen over the last five years. Tim Mudd | Unsplash During 2020 and 2021, despite lockdowns related to the pandemic, many US cities witnessed a steep rise in homicide rates, tracking with an increase in violent crime and illegal drug use. Firearm-related homicides rose 47.7 per cent between 2019 and 2020, according to the study by researchers at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the US Department of Defense, and Georgia State University\u2019s School of Public Health. Although there is no definitive root cause, many researchers attribute the escalation in violence to pandemic-related triggers, whether economic or domestic-related stress. According to Mark Bryant, executive director of the Gun Violence Archive, a significant increase in homicides is the main factor contributing to the rise in firearm- related deaths and injuries among children. Homicide has become a leading killer of children, with guns being the most common weapon used in their deaths. Looking at data related to deaths and children during the period, the overall rate of homicides in children has grown about 4.3 per cent each year for a decade. There was a steep rise between 2019 and 2020, when the number of kids who died by homicide rose by 27.7 per cent. In 2020, firearm- related injuries, mainly homicides, surpassed motor vehicle accidents to become the leading cause of death among children and adolescents (age 19 and under), with a nearly 30 per cent increase from 2019. A record number of America\u2019s kids were injured or killed by gunfire in 2022 \u2013 more than 6,000, according to the non-profit Gun Violence Archive \u2013 the most in a single year since the database began tracking nine years ago. In the 12-17 age group, 1,300 people were killed and 3,800 injured. Data for ages 11 and younger shows more than 300 children were killed and over 700 injured. Children are also losing their lives by committing suicide with guns. According to the CDC WONDER Database, 62 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","gun violence Natalie Chaney | Unsplash Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 63","a total of 857 youths (aged 17 and under) died by firearm he had a gun in his backpack and school administrators suicide in 2022. This represents a 26 per cent increase from weren\u2019t helping. The boy also showed a student the gun 2019, when the total number of youth firearm suicides was at lunch recess and \u201cThreatened to shoot him if he told 657. This is a significant increase and highlights the need anybody.\u201d The handgun he used belonged to his mother for more effective strategies to reduce access to firearms as and was legally purchased. well as to address mental health issues. What about guns in the home? Unsupervised access Why are more children committing suicide? This is a to firearms can lead to accidental shootings, suicide, and complex issue often linked to mental health conditions such other types of gun violence. The Pew Research Center as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Children may estimates that 81 million Americans own guns, or one also experience social isolation, bullying, academic stress, third of the adult population. Additionally, the Small Arms or trauma, which can contribute to suicidal thoughts and Survey estimates that there are 393 million privately owned behaviours. In some cases, suicide may be an impulsive firearms in the US, or one third of the population owns act, especially among younger children who may not fully guns. Most states have laws designed to prevent children comprehend the finality of death. Many experts believe from accessing firearms, imposing criminal liability when a there is a worsening mental health crisis among children minor gains access to a negligently stored firearm or when due to persistent hardships related to the pandemic, a gun is provided to a minor. In several school massacres whether in the home or owing to reduced community- in recent years, the shooter used a weapon provided by a based resources and increased social isolation. parent or their parent\u2019s gun. A record number of America\u2019s According to the Center for Disease Control and kids were injured or killed by Prevention, in 2018, there were more than 3,000 incidents gunfire in 2022 \u2013 more than of children under the age of 18 handling firearms and 6,000, according to the being involved in shootings. Out of these, 1,500 cases non-profit Gun Violence led to death, 1,500 cases led to injury, and the rest led to Archive \u2013 the most in a single damage to property. Often, the child had access to a gun year since the database left unsecured in their home. The child either found the began tracking nine years ago weapon while playing or was given access to it by a parent or guardian. In other cases, the child obtained the weapon The year 2022 saw school shootings set new horrifying illegally, by theft or black-market purchase. records. It\u2019s been a decade since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School took the lives of 20 first- There is still a lot of debate over whether there is a graders and six staff members, yet little has improved with correlation between violent movies, television shows, and regards to violence and schools. According to the K-12 video games and real-world violence, but existing evidence School Shooting Database, the US saw more shootings suggests there is a small effect. Studies of children exposed on school grounds \u2013 with more victims wounded or killed to violent media have shown that they may become \u2013 in 2022 than any other year since 1970. Students were numb to violence, imitate the violence, and show more the perpetrators in many of these incidents. There were aggressive behaviour. Younger children, in particular, may 50 school shootings resulting in injuries or deaths, with at be more susceptible to these effects. However, there is little least 31 children killed, including 19 murdered at the Robb empirical evidence to suggest that violent video games lead Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, at the hands of an to murder or mass shootings. 18-year-old former student. US news stations often show disturbing footage from Children are also the ones carrying out some of the the scenes of school shootings and other massacres. For shootings. School shootings are sadly a routine event in the example, video showing the activity in the hallway outside United States, but the case of a young child who brought a of the classroom where 19 children and two teachers died gun to school to shoot a teacher was particularly shocking. was repeatedly shown for over two weeks. Children can On January 6, 2023, a six-year-old boy in Virginia shot his be hurt by violent news in the media because it can make first-grade teacher in the arm and the chest at Richneck them feel more scared and worried. When a child hears the Elementary School in Newport News. The school closed same violent news over and over again, it can make them for three weeks and returned with added security measures, less sensitive to violence and more likely to see it as normal including metal detectors and clear backpacks. But was the or okay. It could also lead to increased aggression and post- attack a surprise? traumatic stress. The child had a history of alarming behaviour and Wasted watershed moments displayed prior warning signs of violence, including cursing Gun violence has a serious and long-lasting effect on at staff members and attempting to choke a teacher. Two children\u2019s mental health, including lasting trauma, days before the shooting, the student broke his teacher\u2019s depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. cell phone and insulted counsellors, which led to his There is also influence in other areas of the child\u2019s life, suspension. Although the incident is under investigation, it with academic, social, and emotional difficulties, decreased is known there were reports of a gun in the school on the ability to concentrate, nightmares, and heightened day of the shooting. The child\u2019s teacher sent the text about aggression. For children growing up in our violent society, an hour before she was shot, reporting that the student said we must provide appropriate mental health resources and support so they grow into healthy, thriving adults. We also can\u2019t forget the aftermath of gun violence and the emotional trauma for the 'walking casualties' at the scene, the first responders, and those watching videos of the scene from afar. Providing robust counselling and mental 64 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","Heather Mount | Unsplash gun violence health assistance to everyone involved in a gun-related event is critical, and we must keep reinforcing the idea that seeking help isn\u2019t a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. Parents, teachers, and mental health professionals can play a critical role in preventing suicide by providing a supportive and safe environment, promoting positive coping skills, and addressing any underlying mental health issues. They should know how to identify the warning signs of suicidal thoughts in children, such as changes in behaviour, mood, or sleep patterns, and seek appropriate support and treatment. Why are more children committing suicide? This is a complex issue often linked to mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse There is a need for proper gun safety education and better gun storage practices by adults to prevent future shootings by children. Parents and guardians must be aware of the risks associated with leaving a firearm unsecured. They should teach children about gun safety from a young age. The penalty for not doing so must be severe enough to deter sloppy practices. A final thought regarding the person behind the mean tweet and the gun \u2013 the human. Thanks in part to the global pandemic, we appear to be more disconnected than ever, increasingly communicating through text and on social media rather than in person. This anonymity can be dehumanising. There are several ways to promote greater human connection, such as more face-to-face interactions for us and youth through community events, volunteering, or team sports. A sense of belonging and social cohesion can counteract feelings of isolation and disconnection, which are the points of departure for many perpetrators of violence. Sources n Webster DW, Vernick JS, & Hepburn LM (2017): Child and teen firearm mortality: In the US and peer countries. Kaiser Family Foundation, www.kkf.org; n Thomas C (2023): A 6-Year-Old Student Brought a Gun to School and Shot His Teacher, The Cut; n Statista Research Department (2022): Share of US adults who have a firearm in their home from 2002 to 2021, www.statista.com; n American Gun Facts (nd): Gun ownership statistics, www.americangunfacts.com; n Vera A (2022): Gun ownership numbers in the US: Here's what the research says, CNN; n Wike R & Stokes B (2021): Key facts about Americans and guns, www.pewresearch.org; n Everytown Research (2021): The rise of firearm suicide among young Americans. everytownresearch.org; n United Health Foundation (2021): Suicide rate per 100,000 population (age-adjusted), all ages, all states, annual. America's Health Rankings; n Webster DW & Gostin LO (2019): The impact of gun violence on children and adolescents. Kaiser Family Foundation, www.kff.org Author DR JENNIFER HESTERMAN is a retired Air Force colonel and author of Soft Target Hardening: Protecting People from Attack. She is a Member of the CRJ\u2019s Advisory Panel Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 65","Ideological extremism and populist leaders In January, Pro-Bolsonaro protesters stormed Congress, STF and Planalto Palace Photo: Marcelo Camargo | Ag\u00eancia Brasil Elton Cunha explores the prevalence of ideological extremism in South America and how it has contributed to political instability, culminating in the Trecent violent events They claimed that the elections were rigged, despite a here have been many problems in the world lately, such as lack of evidence. These supporters have gone so far as to pandemic, financial meltdowns, unemployment, inflation, occupy the front of Army, Air Force, and Navy barracks, and an information war. But the rise of ideological demanding military intervention in what they see as a extremism, which is causing a clear imbalance, stands out. blow to democracy for the sake of democracy, an absurd This phenomenon is also happening in Latin America, and incomprehensible logic largely fuelled by fake news. particularly in South America. This false information misled nearly half of Brazil\u2019s voters, Information and counter information are being used demonstrating the ability of information and counter as weapons in a war between the left and right wing. The information to actively and voluntarily control the masses. situation is fuelled by technology and the public\u2019s desire for a leader who can solve their problems and fight for social There is an imbalance between the three powers that justice. This is not a new political movement, and these run Brazil\u2019s democracy: the executive, legislative, and circumstances are not rare in the history of the world or judicial branches. The institutional competition and near- South America. Furthermore, people are being bombarded inertia of the Brazilian National Congress have contributed by digital influencers who shape their thoughts, preventing to judicial activism frequently intervening in executive critical and questioning thinking and limiting their spatial and legislative decisions. This interference has created a vision to their own street or neighbourhood. perception of institutional meddling among the public, This is happening in Brazil, which is the largest fuelling conspiracy theories and destabilising public order. democracy in Latin America, with more than 156 million Looking only at what has been exposed is not enough to eligible waters. The 2022 presidential elections were the understand the situation fully. most contested in history, showing how divided the country is along ideological lines. The current President of Brazil, On January 8, 2023, supporters of Bolsonaro broke into Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva, won the election with a slim the Alvorada Palace, which is the home of the president, margin, with 50.83 per cent of the votes. the National Congress, and Brazil\u2019s highest court, the Even before current President Lula took office, Superior Federal Court. They vandalised and destroyed supporters of former President Bolsonaro held several whatever they could find, causing significant damage. protests and roadblocks and spread false information This incident occurred within the context of a tense and through social media, the press, and other channels. explosive social environment, highlighting the fragile state of Brazilian democracy. 66 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","instability We cannot ignore the importance of free democracy technological point of view \u2013 must have the greatness of and the dangers of using force to maintain power. History being humble and the greatness of sharing everything has proven that democracy is difficult to establish and that can happen for the good of the Brazilian people with maintain, requiring significant effort and sacrifice from people from neighbouring countries,\u201d he said. those who possess it. To sustain democracy, its owners must continuously empower and engage the people, ensuring The opposition criticised this position, mainly the that it remains a worthy system of governance. possible financing of other countries, owing to the negative history of non-payment of debts in these South American Extremism can be caused by a number of things, such countries. On social media, Federal Deputy Carlos Jordy as manipulation of the media, social injustice, corruption, (PL-RJ) criticised President Lula\u2019s decision and termed it a lack of accountability in the judiciary, nepotism, economic financing dictatorship. instability, and bad planning of public policy. These factors are tools that can create and exacerbate social tensions and Metr\u00f3polis, a news site, says that President Luiz In\u00e1cio fuel extremist ideologies. This type of libertarian thinking Lula da Silva will soon sign a law that reverses Brazil\u2019s in South America is leading to widespread instability and decision to leave the Unasul. The country left the entity giving rise to a situation where a small group of people in 2019 under the management of former president dictates the needs of the majority. Bolsonaro and now wants to promote greater international integration through the organisation, which has been To counter this, the Brazilian Senate is considering a missing since the Brazilian departure. bill called PL 455\/2023, authored by Senator Paulo Paim (PT-RS), which aims to promote economic integration Brazil\u2019s commercial partner, Argentina, has a among South American countries. The bill proposes tax superinflation rate of almost 100 per cent and nearly 40 incentives to encourage this integration and thereby restore per cent (about 20 million people) of its population lives in homogeneity to the region. poverty, as reported by the Argentine National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (Indec). This has a direct impact on According to the \u2018Ag\u00eancia Senado\u2019 of the Brazilian the members of the Mercosur free trade zone, which is a Federal Senate, projects that involve companies from two relatively sensitive area. or more South American countries can be beneficial. Each country involved in the project must contribute at least ten Venezuela, with its Bolivarian dictatorship, is one of the per cent of the capital. The tax incentive is applicable to world\u2019s biggest oil exporters. However, the humanitarian various activities such as the goods and services market, crisis that is destroying that country is unprecedented. transportation, energy, telecommunications infrastructure, Refugees are moving into South America, with many clean energy research and development, and mineral heading to Brazil. The minimum wage in Venezuela fell resource exploration and industrialisation. by 82 per cent against the American dollar. Today, the Venezuelan minimum wage is US$5.31, with inflation Too many cooks exceeding 300 per cent per year. The Southern Common Market (Mercosur) is a regional integration process that began with Argentina, Brazil, On December 7, 2022, Pedro Castilho, the former Paraguay, and Uruguay, with Venezuela and Bolivia president of Peru, was arrested and removed from joining more recently. Despite starting in 1991, economic office for trying to start a coup d\u2019\u00e9tat in a country with and social integration has not fully matured due to various a lot of social inequality and a lot of pressure on the economic crises, corruption, and divergent interests president at the time, Dina Boluarte, who had been within the trade bloc. While Brazilian President Lula Castilho\u2019s vice president. Currently, President Boluarte suggested the possibility of a single currency similar to the is under investigation for illegal financing of political eurozone, the instability in the region and globally makes organisations, money laundering, and involvement in a this unlikely in the current context. As a result, the South criminal organisation. American geopolitical situation has financial and social consequences for the region. Uruguay has been engaging in talks with China, which has caused uncertainty among other members of Some people criticise the proposal for a common Mercosur. The goal of these talks is to establish a free trade currency in Mercosur, especially between Brazil and agreement between Uruguay and China. Argentina. Mohamed El-Erian, chief economist at Allianz SE and Bloomberg Opinion columnist, wrote on Twitter In 2020, Chile experienced protests and a referendum that it\u2019s unlikely to happen. Other economists say that in which 80 per cent of the population voted in favour if Brazil ties its currency to Argentina\u2019s, it could hurt its of replacing the current federal constitution, which was strong economic policy. created during the military dictatorship in 1980, with a new one. However, despite the public\u2019s support for a new However, at the inauguration ceremony of the new constitution, almost 80 per cent of the parliament rejected President of Itaipu Binacional on March 16, 2023, the proposed new constitution. Brazilian President Lula emphasised the importance of solidarity and joint development among South American The politics of South America are plagued by populism countries. He argued for stronger relationships between and political instability, exacerbated by movements that do countries on the continent, particularly through the not always address the needs of the people. To strengthen strengthening of Mercosur and the Union of South democracy and promote openness to different ideas, South American Nations (Unasul). Lula believes that it\u2019s American countries have a long way to go. Although the necessary to develop the continent as a whole and avoid region is rich in culture, science, and resources, there is a having rich countries surrounded by poor ones. lack of unity to build strong, independent countries. \u201cBrazil \u2013 for its size, population, and for being the Author most developed country from an industrial, scientific, and ELTON CUNHA is the Municipal Director of Barra Velha Municipal Civil Defence, Brazil, and a member of CRJ\u2019s Advisory Panel Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 67","Turbulent times Luavut Zahid speaks to Dr Cesar Cunha Campos about the social and political unrest in Latin America, which is driven by concerns about inequality, corruption, and political instability I n recent years, Latin America has seen a number of social Photo: Am\u00e9rico Vermelho and political protests and demonstrations, often driven by concerns about inequality, corruption, and political projects. Campos has spearheaded projects for private and instability. Some of the factors contributing to these public corporations in Brazil, including major banks and protests include economic inequality, political polarisation, development agencies. He represents FGV as a knowledge rising crime rates, corruption scandals, and dissatisfaction partner of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation with the political establishment. and Development (OECD), having written and presented I spoke to Dr Cesar Cunha Campos about the evolution on subjects such as the future of farming and digitisation, of this crisis across the region in question. Campos has and building better cities, so his perspective on the situation been a director at Funda\u00e7\u00e3o Getulio Vargas (FGV), a in Brazil is particularly valuable. think tank founded to stimulate Brazil\u2019s socioeconomic development, since 2003. He initially served as director He thinks that what we see of Latin American unrest of FGV Projetos and currently is director of FGV today has evolved over time, but there are factors that Europe, which has been set up to establish international have sped up the chaos: \u201cIn my opinion, after the relationships with global agents from the public and Covid-19 pandemic period, local economies decayed, private sectors, and to develop international studies and as they did worldwide. However, the socioeconomic fragility of the populations living in the region generates a set of basic demands for education, health, and security that can guarantee their survival. Often these 68 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","interview demands are not, or cannot be met by governments, a population of 586 million people. It is not possible to generating turbulence.\u201d simplify the discussion, according to Campos: \u201cCan we just say that there is political instability in Latin America Economic policies have certainly contributed to social because some countries are undergoing transformations? inequality and unrest in the region. According to the World I believe not. I affirm that in order to contribute to Inequality Database, the top 10 per cent of the population the countries of Latin America, external agents must in Latin America captures 71 per cent of the region\u2019s understand the diverse realities.\u201d total income. Meanwhile, data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) shows that 30 per cent Interestingly, social media has played a huge role in how of the population in Latin America lives in poverty, and 10 civil unrest unfolds in different Latin American countries. I per cent lives in extreme poverty. asked Campos how social media has affected public unrest in Latin America and what the potential implications are I asked Campos about the policies needed to address for the future of political mobilisation these issues. He says: \u201cIt is notorious that almost all in the region. Latin American countries have quite unequal societies. It is essential to reduce this gap. In Brazil, some income \u201cIt is a new worldwide phenomenon. We are used to transfer policies implemented over the last decades have traditional media, which transfer their influences in a had an effect, such as \u2018Bolsa Fam\u00edlia\u2019 and \u2018Aux\u00edlio Brasil.\u2019 structured way and within particular ethical rules. Social However, a substantial and more structural factor would be media are freer and not controlled by pre-established full access to quality education for all Brazilian citizens so regulations. Moreover, the poorest populations, that future generations can have jobs compatible with the characteristic of Latin America, who do not have access economic dimension of Brazil.\u201d to traditional media, rely on social networks, believing The region has also experienced significant human It is notorious that almost all Latin rights violations. Latin America has some of the highest American countries have quite unequal rates of violence in the world, with many countries in the societies. It is essential to reduce this gap region experiencing high levels of crime, gang, and drug- related violence. For example, according to the United whatever might be most convenient for them,\u201d he explains. Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, in 2019, El Salvador \u201cUnderstanding this phenomenon, some groups have had a homicide rate of 50.3 per 100,000 people, while Honduras had a rate of 38.9 per 100,000 people. used these tools to convince their theories and to politically influence some groups of the population,\u201d he adds. On how human rights violations have contributed to disruptions, Campos explains: \u201cIt is a controversial issue Indigenous peoples in Latin America face high levels under constant discussion in Brazil. Political parties of of discrimination and marginalisation. According to different hues understand the problem from radically the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, opposed perspectives. However, much has been done in indigenous peoples in the region are more likely to this direction regarding the country\u2019s native people, black experience poverty, illiteracy, and poor health outcomes people, women, and the LGBT community. Right-wing than the general population. parties soften some aspects, but left-wing parties have firm positions in the cultural transformation of understanding Where do indigenous communities fit into the civil concerning these issues. Likewise, education and unrest equation? According to Campos: \u201cRecently, the affirmative action policies are the paths to follow.\u201d Brazilian Government created a Ministry of Native Populations, headed by an indigenous woman, precisely to Hidden fissures deal with this delicate matter with distinction. Despite all the issues the region faces, Campos says the problem is not one of political instability. \u201cWhat exists, \u201cWithin this discussion, there is a relevant economic in my understanding, is a process of gradual evolution of aspect. Today there are more than 700 indigenous the political process. The populations of countries that territories in Brazil, in a territorial extension of one million present exacerbated social inequalities tend to be warmer km\u00b2, mainly in the Amazon, guaranteeing the rights of in their discussions of which political paths should be indigenous people. However, ensuring these rights in areas followed. They demand, therefore, more experimentation. of this size is not easy.\u201d Nevertheless, democracy is the hallmark of governments in the region. \u201cOn the borders of these regions, there is a large and often underprivileged population, which is attracted to \u201cIn my opinion, in terms of how external actors could the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of the contribute, it should be by understanding that there are indigenous regions, which are often unexploited. Despite significant cultural differences and that people should not the monitoring, there are problems to be solved within expect reactions that resemble only their own convictions. the political scenario. How to reconcile diverse legitimate interests? Only through qualified political discussion will \u201cEurope encapsulates 58 countries and has a territorial issues of this complexity be resolved,\u201d he explains. extension of 10 million km\u00b2, with a population of 851 million. There are different realities. Can countries like The unrest in Latin America is not likely to be resolved Albania and Germany, Austria and Azerbaijan, Bosnia anytime soon. While there are steps that can be taken, and Slovakia, and Russia and Ukraine be compared? whether someone will take them or not is another thing. Can we affirm that there is political instability in Europe because one country or another experiences some Author instability? I believe not!\u201d LUAVUT ZAHID is the Publishing Editor of the Crisis The Latin American region is vast. It consists of 20 countries and extends itself over 20 million km\u00b2, with Response Journal Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 69","Who shoulders the migrants, and who the refugees? Lina Kolesnikova takes a look at the refugee crisis in Europe and how Schengen states are grappling with the influx of refugees looking for safety and those seeking economic opportunity L ast November, the French Government called Italy \u201cinhuman\u201d and \u201cirresponsible\u201d for not coming to the aid of a ship carrying refugees who had been stuck in Italian waters for three weeks. The Ocean Viking, operated by the European NGO SOS M\u00e9diterran\u00e9e, had picked up migrants near the Libyan coast and then spent several weeks in search of a port that would accept the ship. Eventually, the ship docked in Toulon, France, offloading 230 passengers, which included 57 children. The Ocean Viking\u2019s case intensified the existing long-term dispute between these two countries over the migration issue. The rift worsened after Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy, was elected prime minister. As a reciprocal gesture towards Italy for not allowing the Ocean Viking to dock, France decided to suspend the plan to host 3,500 asylum seekers who have already arrived in Italy, and French authorities promised to strengthen controls over the French- Italian border. Italy, on the other hand, responded by saying it had hosted no less than 90,000 migrants in the year 2022 alone, and other EU countries have no legal or moral right to blame it for shunning Ocean Viking\u2019s passengers. It seems that just around the time the Covid-19 crisis has 70 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","refugees slowed down, the migration crisis has shot back into EU countries. There are more and more cases where news headlines in many parts of the world (EU, UK, US, even minors and women with children are staying on the Latin America). It seems this year is not going to be much streets for months, waiting for their first application and different, as we have already observed so far. then for a decision. The average waiting time is now six months, with some cases going up to two years. We hear the word \u2018crisis\u2019 often in the context of migration. But this is not a \u2018simple or regular\u2019 one-off Many of the arriving population are forced to take to issue. According to Arjen Boin, what we are witnessing the streets in an unorganised manner, causing additional is a classic creeping problem, where a crisis evolves problems. M\u00e9decins Sans Frontieres said that more and over time, reveals itself in different ways, and resists more asylum seekers are contracting serious infectious comprehensive responses despite periodic public diseases because they sleep on the street and can\u2019t get attention. The people can observe the \u2018growing and medical help for their physical health. Long waiting spreading\u2019 outcomes of migration, often daily; they periods and uncertainty degrade people\u2019s mental health, see the effects and, at times, inequalities brought to causing violent and criminal behaviour. The latter worsens themselves, their families, and their children. safety and security problems for European cities and citizens and further increases social tensions. Migration can be unpleasant for many people because it has such far-reaching social implications. Despite the On top of the complications that refugees will face high level of political attention and debate surrounding the when they arrive, the time that they are meant to depart issue, there is often a lack of comprehensive strategies and is not any easier. This is true not just for those being action plans in place to address it. This suggests that many asked to leave the EU after their applications have been governments may be more focused on using the issue of refused, but also for the local populations of these areas. migration as a political tool than on developing effective A poorly functioning return process (towards outside of policies and solutions to deal with the practical challenges the EU) falters due to the lack of co-operation from the that migration poses. migrants\u2019 countries of origin. Such an understandable lack of co-operation and the subsequent inability of the The fact is that the flow of refugees consists of two EU to push \u2018refused migrants\u2019 back is, in EU decision- streams \u2013 those looking for safe harbour and those looking makers\u2019 eyes, a \u2018pull factor\u2019 inviting further illegal for economic opportunities \u2013 and it is very difficult to migration, and rightfully so. distinguish between the two. It does not help that trying to develop strategies to do so can lead to politicians getting Authorities in most EU countries also blame NGOs branded for or against immigrants. and lawyers who repeatedly appeal for case rehearsals, further overloading an already saturated system and The issue of migration isn\u2019t an alien concept for Europe giving a positive, reassuring, and inviting message to next- itself. Europeans also experience migration crises, and the generation newcomers, therefore generating more income social dimensions of this issue run deep into the feelings for traffickers. Business for traffickers is getting better and perceptions of the people. and better, and far from scaling back, they seem to be increasing their activities. The current problem in the EU stems from unresolved issues during the previous crisis in 2015, when 1.3 million There was a lot of hope for a better-financed and people (mostly from Syria) came to the region as refugees. equipped Frontex (European Border and Coast Guard Soon, it became clear that the Dublin III system and Agency), which would recruit more and aim to have 10,000 solidarity would not help stop \u2018migration shopping\u2019 or people employed by 2027. The agency, which only had a make some EU countries less appealing than others. six-million-euro budget in 2005, was granted 750 million The Dublin Agreement says that the first country where euros last year. But the situation is far from ideal. The an asylum seeker registers is responsible for his or her 129-page investigation report by the European Anti-Fraud reception and asylum procedures. However, in 2015, the Office (OLAF) found that Frontex, under former executive agreement didn\u2019t work. Thousands of people marched director Fabrice Leggeri, was complicit in Greek efforts to straight through safe EU countries to get to Germany, force migrants and asylum-seekers crossing the Aegean Sea Sweden, Belgium, and the UK, which are more popular to return to Turkey; simply speaking, it closed its eyes on European destinations. Eastern European countries, on the the practise of pushbacks. And Greece was not alone. other hand, flat-out refused to take in refugees. On February 9, the EU held a summit on migration Last year, as Covid-19 began to weaken and countries with a focus on migrant returns and border protection. opened up once more \u2013 despite claims to the contrary The inability to find working solutions to the migrant \u2013 the refugee issue began to pick up speed once again. crisis can bury the Schengen Agreement, because The EU saw a massive increase in the number of asylum discontent and mistrust among EU countries are only applications, jumping from 630,000 in 2020 to 924,000 in growing. The unwillingness of some EU countries to 2021. And after February 24, 2022, EU countries added see Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen area is clear more than four million Ukrainian citizens under the evidence of that. Building fences and walls on external borders has become a more and more popular way temporary simplified access and protection scheme, and of acting, so we see the \u2018fortress of Europe\u2019 approach overall numbers could increase this year. materialising. Between 2014 and 2022, the total length Such massive inflows slow down the of border fences grew from 315 km to 20,478 km. Greece decision-making process, expand and Bulgaria, for example, expressed their wishes to have backlogs (increasing waiting fences and walls constructed on their borders with Turkey. times for asylum hearings Spain has a fence on its border with Morocco. Poland and decisions), and have completed its 186-km border wall, and Latvia completed practically paralysed its five-kilometre fence with Belarus. reception facilities in most of the Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 71","Even though the EU and Schengen have experienced some big problems, the problem of migration and the lack of controls is not unique to the EU. The UK found itself in a particularly difficult and awkward situation as one of the main slogans of Brexit was \u2018taking back control\u2019 of UK borders, promising British voters that it would result in the halting of illegal migration from the continent. And it seemed that although the UK could make all the decisions needed to make this happen on its own, but it hasn\u2019t done so so far. The UK hoped that leaving the EU would solve the migration problem, but things didn\u2019t go as assumed. The new facts are that there is a lack of emergency housing, problems with the return system, a high cost to taxpayers, a political crisis, and a big rise in illegal entries through the English Channel. Asylum seekers can\u2019t get to the UK through the safe and legal routes that were once available through the EU\u2019s Dublin system. However, since Brexit, the number of irregular (and, of course, illegal) arrivals by small boats crossing the English Channel has increased in a way that has never happened before. While sneaking into the country has become more difficult, channel crossings by boat have reached a new high. According to the UK Ministry of Defense, as of November 2022, more than 40,000 people had crossed the English Channel in small boats. On November 12, 2022, alone, 972 people on 22 boats crossed the Channel. The highest daily total on record was seen on August 22, with 1,295 people crossing in 27 boats. The highest number of these people are Albanian nationals, whose objectives are often far from the \u2018safe harbour\u2019 origins of established permissive migration controls. This new popular route has greatly contributed to an overall increase in asylum applications in the UK. But it is not all about illegal migration. The UK has also witnessed a significant increase in legal migration as well. Net migration to the UK reached 504,000 with the arrival of Ukrainians, Hong Kong nationals, and Afghans (invited on humanitarian grounds). No greener pastures the attractiveness of the UK as a destination. This deal was With this big jump in the number of newcomers, housing, severely criticised not only internationally but also by some health care, schools, and other public services have been intra-country opponents of the current government. put under a lot of stress. The UK pays seven million pounds a day for illegal immigrants in hotels because there Another catch was that the UK is no longer bound aren\u2019t enough places for them to stay at the airports or in to the Dublin Framework, the Eurodac fingerprint the cities. And the majority of them are kept away from database, and other important parts of the European the controls. According to the opposition Labour party, migration and asylum system. So, Brexit also made it only two per cent of those arriving apply for asylum (read: harder for the UK and its European partners to come stay under a controllable process umbrella); others simply up with and carry out effective plans to stop smuggling. disperse in the country and are employed by the grey As a result, in addition to being an appealing \u2018primary\u2019 economy or end up in organised crime groups. destination, the UK now represents a \u2018second chance\u2019 for those denied entry into the EU. Like what we\u2019ve seen in the EU, the UK has a backlog problem when the process can\u2019t keep up with the number Meanwhile, the UK tries to work closer with France on of newcomers and the \u2018queue\u2019 keeps getting longer. As the other side of the Channel. In November 2022, the UK of June 2022, there were 127,026 cases waiting for a first and France made a migrant deal. The UK will pay France decision, or pending further review. 63 million pounds (an increase compared to the previous The UK tries to benefit from its ability to make single- handed decisions. In April 2022, the UK Government signed a deal with Rwanda to deport all asylum seekers arriving via the Channel. It was planned that such a deal would discourage new migrants and stop the trafficking. The logic is that if such a \u2018return\u2019 system works, it will have a significant impact on traffickers\u2019 businesses and reduce 72 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","refugees Alexlmx | Adobe Stock figure of 55 million pounds) for a significant increase in The migration crisis is a creeping one, often changing officers patrolling beaches in northern France on the south its face along the way. It demands elaborate measures side of the Channel. The number of officers patrolling for effective solutions. Such measures, many of which the French coast will increase from 200 to 300. There will are on many people\u2019s lips, may necessitate serious be more surveillance measures, including CCTV, more and profound large-scale consultations across the drones, night vision equipment, and detection dog teams, entire society, as well as, and this is crucial, a strong all deployed to prevent illegal entrance via lorries and political will and personal career risk-taking. Whatever small boats. An intriguing twist in this story is that UK and a good and\/or balanced solution might turn out to be, French observers will collaborate in joint control rooms, politicians who support it will almost certainly face while state sovereignty does not allow for joint patrolling. harsh criticism from one or both ends of the political spectrum... or from all of them. Following the deal with France, which owns a large part of the continental side of the Channel as well as the Author Channel Tunnel, subsequent joint efforts should be made with Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, from where LINA KOLESNIKOVA is a Consultant in international migrants can reach the British coast in the same way as from the French coast. relations, security, risk and crisis management, Belgium and Member of the CRJ\u2019s Advisory Panel Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 73","Refugee women: One organisation's mission to empower and heal Shreyas Jayakumar explores the challenges faced by refugee women in accessing employment and mental health services, and the Azadi Project\u2019s work supporting them When Sedigeh, an Afghan refugee, arrived in Greece W hen we first met Alina in May 2022, she had just made with her husband and two children, she, like most refugees, the arduous journey from her war-torn country to the relative safety of Krakow, Poland. Luck, coupled with the had to survive on food packets and the \u20ac90 per month generosity of the Polish government and its citizens, meant that she was able to find a host family to take her and her provided by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees six-year-old son in. Unfortunately, her inability to speak Polish or English proved to be a huge challenge in finding (UNHCR). There were no jobs for women like her. She was a job. Back home, she was financially comfortable, but in Poland, her master\u2019s degree in banking meant nothing, and a refugee woman of colour with almost no English language she was forced to clean homes to be able to take care of herself and her son. skills. Alina moved to Poland five years after Sedigeh made \u201cIn Ukraine, I had saved up to be able to travel and follow my dreams. I am using it now for basic supplies and her way to Greece, yet the challenges facing both women food. This makes me very sad,\u201d she told me. Alina shared that within a month of coming to Poland, her mental health and countless others like them remain the same. had taken a huge toll because of the uncertainty and fear of trying to make ends meet in a strange land. By the end of 2021, the UNHCR\u2019s most recent official numbers show that 89.3 million people around the world were forced to leave their homes because of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, or events that seriously disturbed public order. Russia\u2019s war on Ukraine in February 2022 snowballed into a crisis, and 8.1 million Ukrainians have sought refuge across Europe over the past year. The global refugee crisis, which is wreaking havoc on Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, has resulted in unprecedented numbers of refugees and internally displaced people, the highest since World War II. From what I\u2019ve seen, food, medicine, and shelter aside, mental health continues to remain an overlooked area when it comes to humanitarian aid. Migration and refugee groups have a much higher rate of mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), than do host populations. Refugees, particularly those who have fled horrific disturbances in their home countries and migrated through harsh conditions, are frequently re-traumatised by violence and other camp conditions. Women, young adults, and children are susceptible to gender-based violence, including physical and mental assault, trafficking, and sexual violence. Furthermore, the fear of not knowing what their future holds or how they will feed and care for their loved ones can aggravate the problem. In such volatile situations, untreated mental health issues can cause irreversible harm that persists across generations. Yet despite the huge need for psychosocial support and the fact that refugees\u2019 right to mental health services is enshrined in international law, few can navigate the barriers to access.Like Sedigeh and Alina, most migrant and refugee women do not find employment in the skilled Ukrainian refugee sector. Systemic barriers women talk about that prevent refugee women shared experiences during an Azadi MHPSS from accessing paid work can session in Rzeszow, include unfair expectations Poland of caregiving responsibilities, Photo: The Azadi Project language issues, and gender 74 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","refugees inequality at the workplace. Nobel Peace Furthermore, due to intersectional Laureate, Leymah bias and negative stereotyping, Gbowee com- the labour participation of refugee forts a Ukrainian refugee during an Azadi programme and migrant communities is low. in Krakow, Poland When these intersectionalities and . biases meet, it becomes that much harder to find skilled jobs and Photo by Ania Bystrowska for The Azadi Project integrate into host communities. Even with the acute labour shortage intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic, qualified refugee women are still unable to find jobs. Summon up education, thanks to her. Rohingya refugee Irrespective of the circumstances that forced them to flee The Azadi Project\u2019s focus is on enhancing refugee women and girls their home countries, most refugees display tremendous in New Delhi, India resilience and fortitude. Farhana, a young Rohingya women\u2019s and girls\u2019 voice and agency by providing demonstrating refugee and activist, fled persecution in Myanmar leadership and livelihood skills. This is done in addition to the power of (formerly Burma) and sought refuge in India, only to providing psychosocial support to women from refugee and community discover that life as a refugee was also difficult. The marginalised communities around the world. The project\u2019s Rohingya is an ethnic group from Myanmar that has been unique community-based model was created and continues Photo: The Azadi persecuted, suppressed, and stripped of citizenship since to evolve to meet the various challenges faced by women Project the 1980s. This stateless group of people is among the most from refugee and marginalised communities. discriminated against in the world. Farhana\u2019s story is an inspiring one. In the Rohingya community, women and When refugees find themselves in camps or shelters far girls are treated as less than equal. They have no rights from their homes and loved ones, what they need most is and are not allowed to go out or study. Most Rohingya an outlet for their mental trauma. The project\u2019s Mental consider their women to be burdens, and young girls are Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) programmes typically married off when they reach puberty. In India, address their trauma while building confidence, all in a Farhana fought for her right to education despite facing safe and judgement-free space. Each group session is led opposition from her community. Her parents stood by her, by trained facilitators and therapists, many of whom are even when her lack of proper documentation meant that she had to run from pillar to post to get the authorities to allow her to write her exams. Today, Farhana is seen as a shining example within the community and is an advocate for women\u2019s safety and the right to education. Some of her biggest detractors now allow their daughters to study. Over 50 Rohingya girls from her camp are pursuing their Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 75","survivors or from the same community as the refugees has been designed to build confidence and transform themselves. I have taken part in several of these sessions participants into leaders and agents of change. The need and forced myself to be vulnerable; I\u2019ve experienced how of the hour, especially with marginalised communities in this can increase comfort levels, foster a sense of kinship, India, is to also enable them to identify solutions to mental and make opening up easier. The overarching aim of health and gender equity issues and be the voice for their each session is to help de-escalate the women\u2019s emergency communities. Participants are also provided a holistic mental health situations by providing peer support. We learning opportunity that helps them develop the skills have seen the most positive results when a combination necessary to get paid jobs and become integrated members of creative tools, including art therapy, storytelling, of society \u2013 something that India falls behind on. Staying movement, and games, are integrated into the sessions. true to our purpose, while this is open to all genders, priority is given to women from these communities. Depending on the location and the type of intervention Thankfully, an increasing number of corporations are needed, MHPSS sessions are often complemented with now choosing to put their weight behind impact investing virtual and on-site workshops that cover sessions on gender equality, basic spoken English, digital literacy, public \u201cFinding accommodation, food, and basic speaking, and other soft skills. The goal is to prepare them needs is a secondary problem. The main for a professional career and to take up leadership roles issue is our mental health\u201d \u2013 Alina, a within their communities. Helping women process their Ukrainian refugee, and single mother trauma and find comfort and friendship in a group is one thing, but with the odds stacked against these women from projects in the upskilling and job creation space. the beginning, it is imperative that psychosocial support The project\u2019s extensive work with over 5,500 displaced extends beyond safe spaces and therapy. As clich\u00e9 as it may sound, it is important to allow these women to feel women from some of the world\u2019s most conflict-torn empowered, hopeful, and resilient. countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Niger, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen, has revealed that by In India, the Azadi Project\u2019s ongoing pilot leadership the end of the programme, the majority of our participants programme, which is supported by Libra Social report reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, as Responsibility, is open to people from any marginalised well as a greater sense of well-being that prepares them to community or group, regardless of gender identity. Over take on leadership roles. Many of them have also joined the the course of nine months, participants are provided organisation as consultants and volunteers in order to have with leadership, public-speaking, and livelihood skills in addition to regular mental health support. The three- month corporate internship at the end of the programme 76 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","refugees a greater and more direct effect on their community. This when it comes to breaking down barriers and beginning Refugee women is, in my opinion, a far more effective result of a successful the healing process. To this end, we commissioned describe their mental health and psychosocial support programme. Guidehouse\u2019s (a global provider of consulting services) pro state of mind bono consultants to conduct an independent evaluation after completing Take Fariba, for instance. Fariba and her younger of our MHPSS initiatives for Ukrainian refugees in an Azadi MHPSS brother are from Afghanistan and currently live in a refugee Poland. Through a detailed evaluation that included session in Athens, camp in Greece. She always aspired to become a doctor participant surveys and data analysis, the results at Greece and had studied medicine back home. Despite experiencing the end of six months were heartening. Words like violence in Afghanistan and in the camp, Fariba\u2019s \u201coverwhelming,\u201d \u201cstressed,\u201d \u201canger,\u201d and \u201cuncertainty Photo: The Azadi resilience shines through. She takes care of her brother, about employment\u201d were replaced by \u201cperseverance,\u201d Project stands up for the rights of women, and even worked as \u201ccommunication,\u201d \u201cself-regulation,\u201d \u201cempathy,\u201d and an Azadi filmmaker, shedding light on the struggles of \u201csense of community.\u201d The entire pool of participants being a woman in a refugee camp. Through all of this, she felt supported and found common ground with other continues to dream of becoming a doctor someday. refugees\u2019 stories, and 97 per cent of them felt they were equipped with skills and strategies to manage their Similarly, Zahra is an Afghan woman currently in the feelings. We even hired two participants as a translator Moria camp in Greece. She was raised in Iran and had just and a therapist for future sessions. entered law school when her family was forced to flee the country. During one of our MHPSS sessions, she shared As a participant said: \u201cMy emotions and feelings how she still dreams about completing her law course in can now be controlled. Although it is not easy, I now Europe and becoming an attorney. However, instead of understand that it is possible, and this has helped me giving up, she keeps herself busy by working as a social improve my quality of life.\u201d Listening to these women as worker and advocating for women\u2019s rights in the camp. they share their stories of courage reminds me of Desmond Tutu\u2019s famous words: \u201cHope is being able to see that there The level of participation of the refugee community is light despite all the darkness.\u201d And it is an honour to in any intervention also affects its success. During witness the sheer strength of hope that these women exhibit. our sessions in Poland, we\u2019ve seen how the quietest woman finally felt safe enough to open up about her Author fears and insecurities. We\u2019ve seen how refugees in Bangladesh\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazaar camp assisted us in conducting SHREYAS JAYAKUMAR is the Director for Communications contraception, sexually transmitted disease, and child marriage workshops. Yemeni women who are currently for The Azadi Project leaders in their community have served as an inspiration to us. We\u2019ve witnessed the power of a simple hug or a smile Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 77","Virtual assistance in disasters: Bridging the digital divide As the digital revolution continues, response organisations increasingly rely on ICTs to deliver disaster assistance. Gabriel Carrier examines these developments in Canada F rom mass-messaging critical information to providing Canadians could call or email to receive immediate financial programmes, devices allow organisations assistance while travelling. These two systems enabled the to provide relief at unprecedented scales, regardless department to repatriate thousands of Canadians who of physical boundaries or hazards. Information and were stranded globally during the pandemic due to border communication technologies (ICTs) are transforming closures and flight suspensions. For instance, by the end how responders interact with their clients, with disaster of the Afghanistan crisis in 2021, GAC had successfully assistance increasingly becoming available solely through managed to repatriate over 65,000 people back to Canada virtual spaces. by distributing flight information and financial loans Within the Canadian Government, during the through the Registration of Canadians Abroad. Covid-19 pandemic, federal departments were encouraged to virtualise their services to protect the However, while GAC and other organisations continue health and safety of Canadians. For instance, at the to digitise their service delivery, research increasingly Global Affairs Canada (GAC), a system called the demonstrates that the digital divide can prevent individuals Registration of Canadians Abroad was frequently used and communities from using devices. Despite this, response to mass-message emergency instructions to the emails of organisations are increasingly virtualising their tools, citizens stranded outside the country. The department with clients now becoming reliant on the Internet and also launched the Emergency Contact Centre, which devices to access disaster assistance online. To investigate this phenomenon, research was developed by completing Jcomp | Freepik questionnaires and conducting interviews with 20 public servants at Global Affairs Canada, who had provided emergency information to Canadians abroad through telephone and email during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Afghanistan crisis, and the invasion of Ukraine. These interviews were analysed to identify the recurring issues encountered by clients who were seeking emergency assistance online. This analysis helped provide meaningful recommendations to assist organisations in 78 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","technology improving the delivery of virtual disaster assistance amid After interviews, the transcripts were looked at to see the growing digital divide. what problems Canadians kept having when trying to get disaster help on the Internet. In particular, the results Research has demonstrated several times that the showed that Canadians had technical issues, had trouble characteristics of individuals and groups can influence how using devices or getting to them, or didn\u2019t know about the effectively they cope with or recover from disasters. Persons resources that were available online. who possess less capacity would be conceptualised as more vulnerable than others, since they are likely to experience First, all participants reported that some clients greater losses or recover more slowly from emergencies. experienced technical issues with their devices while Consequently, many humanitarians have focused on attempting to contact the Emergency Contact Centre. increasing the resilience of these groups, increasingly Participants repeatedly shared scenarios where clients through digital devices, as they assert that these tools could struggled with connecting to wireless services or help them access resources, information, and assistance encountered problems with phone batteries. that could aid them in handling the effects of disasters. For example, it is argued that the Internet could help Second, several participants talked about clients who individuals reconnect with displaced community members, couldn\u2019t use devices because they didn\u2019t know how to use access critical information from responders, or leverage technology. This kept them from getting online disaster financial opportunities to facilitate their recovery. help. Namely, participants recalled situations where users could not find or complete an online PDF form, thus But research shows that even though ICTs might help these communities, the digital divide can make it The digital divide may influence the hard for people to use or to access devices in the first effectiveness of digital disaster assistance place. For instance, according to the United Nations, half because it can prevent individuals and groups of the world\u2019s population does not possess an internet from acquiring resources on the Internet, connection, while one billion people do not have access primarily owing to issues in accessing, to reliable cellular service. Since over 50 per cent of all understanding, or operating devices online information is in English, language barriers can also impede people from understanding virtual resources. rendering them unable to receive instructions on how to Lastly, researchers have repeatedly highlighted that people register for evacuation flights. Responses also proposed can fail to access or use devices due to various socio- that these problems occurred more frequently with specific economic, educational, regional, personal, or attitudinal demographics and language groups, with the elderly being factors. As an example, some individuals are unable to reported as most often facing difficulties. operate devices because they are digitally illiterate and simply unable to use or manipulate information online. Third, all of the participants talked about times when Canadians couldn\u2019t obtain devices or wireless connections If the digital divide is seen in the context of disaster to get online disaster help. The findings suggested that management, it affects how people use devices to get ready this was typically due to local factors like remoteness or for or get back on their feet after an emergency. Naturally, a lack of cellular infrastructure, or because clients could ICTs are only useful to seek disaster assistance in regions not afford the costs of devices. Participants also noticed where cellular infrastructure is effective or where devices that, depending on where they lived, Canadians could use are readily available. Demographic characteristics are also different digital tools and media platforms. For example, shown to influence which devices and social platforms most clients in Afghanistan were able to use WhatsApp people choose to acquire information, suggesting these and email but had difficulty placing calls due to issues with tools can create divides in preparedness levels between cellular infrastructure. In other places, some customers groups. Some demographics may also not know of the could make calls but didn\u2019t have the right tools to use the emergency resources that exist on the Internet overall. For Internet or check their emails. instance, despite the fact that seniors could greatly benefit from online assistance, this demographic uses ICTs less Lastly, the participants said that most Canadians just frequently because they frequently struggle to understand didn\u2019t know about the services offered by Global Affairs the resources available online. Canada, especially the services provided through the registration of Canadians abroad. Due to this lack of Therefore, evidence indicates that devices do reduce knowledge, these clients were not able to get emergency vulnerability since they enable users to access resources help in a timely manner, which left them stuck outside of that help them cope with and recover from emergencies. Canada for long periods of time. However, these positive effects on resilience will shift between people since the digital divide will influence how In all of the above situations, these problems made it people access or use devices. This digital divide is therefore hard for Canadians to get the time-sensitive information important to examine when investigating the effectiveness and resources they needed to leave disaster zones. For of emergency assistance provided by organisations online. example, during one interview, a participant described an elderly client who was unable to obtain a booking code To investigate how the digital divide might affect to reserve a seat on a repatriation flight because he was virtual disaster assistance, interviews were conducted with unable to navigate the Internet to complete the registration public servants who interacted directly with Canadians form online. In another scenario, a participant assisted abroad at the Emergency Contact Centre of Global a Canadian who was unable to apply for a financial Affairs Canada. At the time, since this centre could only loan online because he did not possess a computer or an be contacted by telephone or email, it was assumed internet connection. that public servants working there would have directly interacted with Canadians experiencing challenges caused by the digital divide. Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 79","Macrovector | Freepik As such, these results indicate that the digital divide Organisations should choose tools can prevent people from acquiring, understanding, or that digitally illiterate users can easily using devices, thus impeding their access to online disaster understand to increase the accessibility assistance. This proposes that, when delivering services on of online disaster assistance the Internet, organisations should choose and design tools that accommodate their audiences and remain mindful of during interviews, numerous participants indicated that the needs of digitally illiterate users. elderly Canadians had issues with emails since they were unable to navigate the Internet or structure their In particular, these findings demonstrate that information in messages. In contrast, most seniors could organisations should carefully consider the characteristics, call the Emergency Contact Centre directly, as they contexts, and digital awareness of their clients before understood how to operate telephones. Organisations delivering services online. Particularly, organisations should choose tools that digitally illiterate users can should develop digital strategies to assist clients who easily understand to increase the accessibility of online experience difficulties accessing or using devices. disaster assistance. As a first example, during the study, several participants Similarly, to increase user friendliness, organisations shared that Canadians only had access to social media should incorporate accessibility programmes into their while abroad, causing them to miss emergency information online services. For example, several websites now include shared through telephone or email. Therefore, in the \u2018plug-in\u2019 tools that help clients with sight issues and convert future, Global Affairs Canada should deliver services text into audio or fonts that are easier to read. Other on WhatsApp and other social media platforms to programmes enable users to translate content into any accommodate these users. Providing services across language they wish, which helps non-English speakers multiple platforms will broaden the accessibility of virtual navigate internet information. Incorporating similar assistance, help responders contact more demographics, features into virtual disaster assistance could help clients and ensure a more effective response overall. In parallel, organisations should choose platforms that suit the needs of digitally illiterate users. For instance, 80 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","technology Photoroyalty | Freepik experiencing these issues, thus increasing the accessibility As seen in the case of Global Affairs Canada, the of online services. digital divide may influence the effectiveness of disaster assistance distributed online. This is because the digital Gaps or chasms divide can prevent individuals and groups from acquiring Furthermore, to raise awareness among specific resources on the Internet, primarily because of issues in demographics, organisations should promote their accessing, understanding, or operating devices. In the services through targeted advertising campaigns. future, responders should further examine how the digital Since people use particular platforms and devices divide affects their audiences to adapt their services to based on their demographic traits, choosing these the needs of their clients. This will ensure that responders specific channels will ensure promotional materials choose digital strategies that effectively reach their effectively reach targeted audiences. In addition, to audiences, leading to a more successful and accessible approach several groups simultaneously, organisations response for all. should promote their services across multiple channels to maximise the demographics contacted through Sources promotional content. n G P (1997): Digital Literacy, John Wiley; Lastly, organisations should continue providing in- n Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development person services to accommodate individuals affected by (2001): Understanding the digital divide, OECD Publications; the digital divide. If organisations are unable to deliver n R M (2017): The Third Digital Divide: A Weberian Approach to assistance in person, they should consider outsourcing their digital inequalities, Routledge; services to agencies or corporations that have the capacity n United Nations Statistics (2022): SDG Indicators. to do so. This is important to ensure that clients who struggle with technology are not excluded from obtaining Author virtual disaster assistance. As humanitarians, response organisations cannot leave behind those who are unable to GABRIEL CARRIER is a public servant at Global Affairs adapt to the digital age. Canada with several years of experience assisting Canadians during disasters abroad Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 81","Sirens to sounds: Emergency services and harnessing the power of TikTok Emergency services staff or social media stars? In today\u2019s world, you can be both, as TikTok carves out a new space for police, firefighters, and paramedics to reach a young, new audience, writes Amy Leete I t is hard to deny that TikTok, with over one billion monthly active users, has become a daily part of life for many young people across the world. It\u2019s an app that\u2019s no stranger to controversy. Several countries, including France, the Netherlands, and Norway, have recently banned the use of TikTok on government-issued devices, citing concerns over the app\u2019s privacy\u00a0and\u00a0security. A social media application, the premise is simple: you are presented with a never-ending list of entertaining videos to scroll through. Anywhere from 15 seconds to 10 minutes long, TikTok\u2019s powerful algorithm is able to determine what kind of videos you like based on the time you spend watching, as well as your comments and likes. From funny cat videos to restaurant reviews and home- repair tips, almost every hobby and interest is represented. Dance challenges form a large part of TikTok\u2019s appeal (readers with children may find this a useful explanation for their strange behaviour). Certain songs, dances, and video formats rise in popularity, and content creators make their own versions. TikTok has led to the emergence of a new category of videos: infotainment, where genuinely useful information is presented in an engaging, entertaining, and often comedic way. You may wonder how such a platform would hold any value for emergency services. Life-or-death situations are not amusing, and the issues affecting emergency service personnel, such as their psychosocial well-being, are serious. Above all, emergency service organisations (ESOs) have historically been conservative and cautious in allowing 82 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","technology staff to create their own accounts, citing risks to reputation Ivector | Adobe Stock and patient safety. Yet, as approximately 60 per cent of the world\u2019s population is now active on social media, even ESOs themselves have established online presences to share relevant, useful, and accurate information on public safety. Twitter and Facebook are now populated with ESO-run accounts, detailing what to do in an emergency, how to stay Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 83","safe in adverse weather conditions, and more. But TikTok a closer look at our good advice,\u201d according to Rune. is a new frontier, with a new, young audience hungry for As positive perception increases, so does public awareness trendy, comedic content. This time around, both ESOs and emergency service staff are seizing the opportunity quickly of how to stay safe. \u201cThe Norwegian police model is to with huge amounts of success. prevent crime before it happens,\u201d says Kaare Andre, noting that this is: \u201cWhy we\u2019re on TikTok, trying to prevent crime.\u201d The accounts @politivest and @politisorvest (Norway\u2019s West and South-West Policing Districts) are examples For Jason, there are a lot of public misconceptions about of one of TikTok\u2019s greatest emergency service triumphs. emergency services: \u201cA lot of people believe when you call With a combined follower count of almost 1.5 million us, we choose the calls we take, for example; my videos and 16 million likes on their videos, they are undeniably dispel these myths and help responders through a more superstars of the platform. I spoke to Rune Fimreite (Police informed public.\u201d Superintendent, Vest Politidistrikt) and Kaare Andre \u00d8degaard (Police Superintendent, S\u00f8r-Vest Politidistrikt) As an individual on the front line, Jason also uses his about their motivations, reasons, and results. platform to highlight issues and adverse effects of the job. \u201cI\u2019ve found that being able to create content and talk \u201cOur motivation was to expand our social media presence about the things I\u2019ve seen has been really therapeutic for and connect to a younger audience,\u201d Rune notes. \u201cIt was just me and others.\u201d a test \u2013 nothing very serious, but we had a hugely positive response and a genuine connection with youth.\u201d Kayla Corredera-Wells of @princessofpages shares this sentiment. A paramedic and EMS educator herself, Part of @politivest and @politiorvest\u2019s appeal is their her \u2018video moments as a paramedic that permanently ability to jump on existing TikTok trends and join in with altered my brain chemistry\u2019 highlight the effect of an emergency service focus. Dance challenges in full uniform, playing Britney Spears songs in police vans, and Creating content that is able to disperse the ever-popular presence of Norway\u2019s most endearing information in a lighthearted way police dogs have made their accounts globally adored. allows people t digest information and A We Will Rock You collaboration video of Norwegian actually learn police, firefighters, paramedics, the army, air rescue, coastguard, and nurses gained 26 million views. traumatic calls on emergency service staff, with over eight million views and 11,000 comments. Citing particularly But besides just having fun, there is a real reason to have difficult jobs that will stay with her for the rest of her life, a TikTok account. Kaare Andre says: \u201cIt\u2019s about breaking Kayla\u2019s video reminds viewers that emergency service down barriers with the public, showing them a face, and staff are equally human \u2013 and grieve too. \u201cI was really that even the police have good and bad days \u2013 we\u2019re surprised when it blew up,\u201d Kayla says, \u201cbut it raised human. There are certainly negative perceptions of the important conversations. Most people I\u2019ve met don\u2019t really police that exist, and our TikTok accounts help to resolve understand my job and are almost shell-shocked when I tell this. The public should and could feel safe around us.\u201d them what paramedics go through daily. I thought it would be cool to show the public what we actually do.\u201d For Rune, the effect isn\u2019t limited to Norway: \u201cWe are reaching worldwide and helping affect worldwide public Both Jason and Kayla, they reach not only a public perception of police forces \u2013 our videos have reached audience, but other emergency service workers as well. \u201cI America and even Iraq, for example.\u201d was surprised that my video raised a conversation about pay and benefits for emergency service workers \u2013 and with It isn\u2019t just the police or ESOs themselves finding a global reach, we shared experiences and got to know the success on the platform. Individual emergency service staff working conditions for staff in other countries. Our work is are also contributing to growing positive perceptions and traumatising \u2013 suicides are rising \u2013 and TikTok allows us to finding their own benefits from TikTok. Jason Patton of talk about it,\u201d Kayla says. @firedepartmentchronicles is a Florida-based firefighter, paramedic, and comedian with 2.1 million followers and Jason, too, is no stranger to issues that affect emergency over 61 million likes. Having perfected the infotainment service staff. He\u2019s featured in videos on identifying cancer genre, Jason shares vital information, such as how to risks for firefighters and often talks about his own mental perform CPR, what to do with kitchen fires, and a day in health on his account. Emergency service staff have the life of a firefighter. His content is peppered with his reached out to Jason about the positive effect of his videos. natural gift for humour. \u201cWhen I first started, a firefighter reached out to me after a really bad multiple-fatality road traffic collision. \u201cCreating content that is able to disperse information He was sitting with his crew after the incident, and one of in a lighthearted way allows people to digest information my videos came up on his feed. It helped him laugh and and actually learn,\u201d Jason notes. \u201cIt can help in high-stress remove some of the stickiness from the situation he\u2019d just situations in the future \u2013 so that when you are faced with endured. I\u2019ve had countless responders reach out about life-or-death situations, you feel prepared.\u201d For example, mental health issues, feeling that they can after I\u2019ve talked Jason\u2019s video on how to use an AED combats myths and about my own mental health,\u201d he explains. misinformation but also explains, step by step, the method of using an AED effectively. Some of the 1.1 million viewers Now, Kayla is using the platform to raise awareness of this video will have been organically shown this training and educate TikTok\u2019s young audience on how they can without looking for it \u2013 a boost for public safety. \u201cYou\u2019re become emergency service staff themselves. With staff incredibly knowledgeable AND hilarious!\u201d says a comment shortages and retention an issue across the world, Kayla on the video. \u201cI love how you\u2019re able to explain things a is finding an eager audience on TikTok. \u201cA lot of people lot of us don\u2019t know. I\u2019m a new fan!\u201d TikTok\u2019s format for asked about getting into the profession \u2013 as an EMS being able to save videos lends itself to this method. \u201cOur videos are saved on a feed, so people can go back and have 84 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","technology Pastoralists at home on Jereende Pampo, a small island on the River Benue, Yola North LGA, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Recently arrived migrant farmers are trying to take over the island for cultivation, reducing the space for grazing there Photographer: Adam Higazi | Conciliation Resources educator, this really motivated me! I didn\u2019t realise people But aside from the fun, there is a genuine wanted to talk about emergency services on TikTok. As I reason for establishing a TikTok presence. go to high schools and education centres to raise awareness It\u2019s about breaking down barriers of emergency services, I now have a good idea of the showing a face questions people want to know an answer to but might be too scared to ask,\u201d she says. experiences, Rune, Kaare Andre, Jason, and Kayla share an intense pride in their work and a genuine As TikTok grows beyond a passing trend and into a appreciation for the role of public safety. Direct access social media giant likely to stick around for a long time, to the public has never been easier for emergency so does the way it is used, benefitting emergency service services, and their enthusiasm is infectious. Although accounts even more. For many of the \u2018Gen Z\u2019 generation unconventional, it may be viral songs, funny dance \u2013 those born between the mid-to-late 1990s and the early challenges, and new video trends that show the humans 2010s \u2013 TikTok is now their new search engine. Younger behind emergency services. generations prefer their content in video format rather than reading walls of text on websites. Whether it\u2019s a \u201cIt was an overwhelmingly positive experience, going restaurant recommendation or ideas for holiday trips, viral. It really motivates me,\u201d Kayla says. \u201cWe need to TikTok is becoming an easy source of information and follow trends and continue to be where the people are. The advice. There is no doubt that this extends to public safety. public is welcoming us to take a daily part in their lives Typing in AED on TikTok\u2019s search option reveals countless through social media,\u201d notes Kaare Andre. videos, including tips from the emergency room on using an AED, how to use an AED on a drowning person, Jason sums it up perfectly: \u201cKnowing I can reach a and how to perform CPR effectively. Under emergency much broader and wider audience than I could alone services, videos of a day in the life of a firefighter and personally gives me purpose in life \u2013 and having purpose heroic rescues from burning buildings and people swept keeps you going in your life and in your job.\u201d out to sea are available. The content is overwhelmingly positive, thanks in part to the work of the creators Author interviewed in this article. AMY LEETE is the Communications and Press As for the future of social media and emergency services, despite the varying locations, sectors, and Manager for EENA, eena.org Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 85","No safeguards here? HatiPlong\u2019s team of clinical psychologists examines the mental health challenges faced by first responders, how they can recognise symptoms, and the long-term effects of untreated issues\u2026 Freepik.com 86 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","D uring times of civil unrest, first responders are important mental health for maintaining order. However, the stress and trauma they experience in these high-pressure situations can have a of police officers have symptoms of PTSD or depression, significant effect on their mental health. compared to ten per cent of the general population. A Around the globe, the situation is concerning for those study also found that one in four first responders in Asia serving on the frontlines of disorder and chaos. In the US, has mental health problems. such personnel are deemed most likely to die by suicide, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Such personnel are often exposed to traumatic events, Data from the Mental Health Commission of Canada leading to the experience of vicarious or secondary trauma. shows first responders are at a higher risk of developing Vicarious trauma happens when a person is indirectly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than the general exposed to traumatic events, and it is often seen as an population, with rates estimated to be ten per cent for occupational challenge when someone is working with firefighters, 16 per cent for paramedics, and 24 per cent for victims of disasters or traumatic events. The symptoms police officers. The numbers are no better in the UK, with of vicarious trauma are similar to those of PTSD. It can the Mental Health Foundation reporting that 20 per cent include difficulties sleeping, hypervigilance, difficulties trusting others, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, nightmares and flashbacks, agitation, irritability, and suicidal ideation. It is also fairly common for substance use to become an issue, Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 87","especially alcohol (PFA) for first responders and to raise awareness about consumption, the importance of maintaining mental wellbeing. Ideally, since it is a if they are all aware of what mental health challenges socially accepted can look like, that it is \u2018normal\u2019 to struggle at times, and and accessible that it\u2019s okay to seek help, people will be more willing to substance. These talk about it and seek the support they need in the earlier symptoms often phases rather than when the symptoms become more affect the quality of unmanageable. We, at HatiPlong, strive to put more relationships, physical efforts into widening the range of resources available in health, and daily Indonesia, which includes ongoing psychoeducation about functioning. In addition mental health issues and ongoing individualised mental to exposure to trauma, health support. when a person becomes accustomed to functioning in Watering the seed a crisis situation, the adjustment The good news is that one can build resilience and to calm, peaceful daily life can be develop coping mechanisms to manage the emotional toll somewhat challenging. of their jobs. It is possible for responders to learn the skills These individuals may not always recognise needed to manage their emotions and reactions when that they are experiencing a mental health crisis, because dealing with tense and potentially dangerous situations often people don\u2019t understand their symptoms until they during civil unrest. become worse, they are informed by other people in their lives. However, they can start monitoring their mental The first step to building resilience is for a person to health by monitoring their basic needs, including sleeping understand his or her strengths and acknowledge their and eating patterns, daily mood, and energy levels. If struggles. Once these are acknowledged, the next step possible, it is recommended that their loved ones should will be understanding and monitoring their patterns of also be aware of these potential symptoms, so that they can responses, including the emotions or thoughts that arise observe and help monitor. For some, it may become an issue of resources, while First responders may not always others may not be willing to get the help they need. This recognise that they are experiencing a might depend on the area or country where they are located. mental health crisis, because often people However, there is a perceived expectation that first don\u2019t understand their symptoms until responders are able to take care of themselves, because they become worse they have the ability to respond to crises and emergency situations; this then leads to isolation and an unwillingness during certain situations. Once they know what types of or inability to talk freely about mental health struggles, emotions come up, they can regulate their emotions by which inevitably leads to a lack of resources available regulating their physical reactions. One example involves, for this population. Personnel are usually briefed after practising the body scan exercise to find out where in deployment, and these briefings usually focus on all aspects the body they feel unusual sensation or tension when an of health, not just mental health. There have been more emotion arises and then regulating that specific part of efforts to support first responders as awareness of mental the body either through movement or through breathing health has grown. In the US, the Code Green Campaign exercises. Clients are encouraged to practise these exercises has been helpful in collecting and spreading resources. on a consistent basis, not just during difficult situations, so Other than that, such personnel seem to be expected to that their brains and bodies know how to respond when know when or how to seek help when they need it. There difficult emotions arise. We don\u2019t learn how to swim are also efforts, globally, to utilise Psychological First Aid when we\u2019re already drowning; we learn in a controlled Rawpixel.com environment first. First responders who don\u2019t get help for mental health problems could suffer serious long-term effects, so steps should be taken to prevent this. If left untreated, what starts out as mild symptoms can become more severe in regard to the intensity and severity of symptoms, as well as the frequency of the symptoms experienced by an individual. When mental health symptoms become daily or even every other day 88 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","mental health occurrences, they can easily spill over into issues in our human experience to struggle after personal relationships, professional work, and physical being exposed to traumatic events. health. Many are also caregivers in their personal lives. When mental health is not being tended to, fulfilling roles And such events can vary from person as caregivers for children, parents, or spouses can feel to person, event to event, or area to area. extremely challenging. This can be prevented by raising In general, first responders often witness awareness of what to look for in regard to mental health aggression, injuries, or even death during struggles and then seeking support when a person notices civil unrest or other disturbances. These an area of struggle or changes in patterns of living. Having experiences also often include witnessing or a strong support system is also crucial ensuring consistent being subjected to physical and\/or verbal support in their lives, whether professional support like a threats. When responding to these events, therapist and psychologist, or a personal support system they might have had training on what to such as family members or friends. Ideally, prevention also do or how to keep as many people safe as includes improving awareness of the different ways to care possible. Often, they are able to fulfil their for their mental health sustainability. roles and responsibilities. In some cases, even though they are fulfilling their roles, some responders It is important to note that stress responses can vary might feel a sense of hopelessness or helplessness from person to person. Even though a crisis is a subjective when observing certain reactions from the people in and individual experience, there can be specific mental such situation. Then, depending on how they process health concerns that are unique to first responders. For these experiences afterwards, it can lead to different example, differences in work schedules might lead to different presentations of symptoms. If firefighters and Such personnel are often exposed paramedics are required to participate in mandatory to traumatic events, leading to the overtime or long work hours, such as 72- to 96-hour shifts, experience of vicarious or they might see different symptoms compared to police secondary trauma officers working 12- to 16-hour shifts. This will likely affect sleeping patterns, often leading to an increase in anxiety mental health challenges. If not managed or processed and irritability. The types of trauma that responders appropriately, the brain can overgeneralise certain are exposed to and their personal life experiences behaviours or cues as perceived threats. This is often seen might also lead to different symptoms. Paramedics in war veterans, who are triggered when they hear loud and firefighters who are parents and who frequently noises, such as fireworks or watching a car crash on TV. respond to child-related calls might start experiencing increased hypervigilance and intrusive thoughts about First responders can benefit from processing difficult the safety of their children and families. Another aspect experiences through psychotherapy since the process that is important to consider is the societal perception of can be tailored to their situation. Other than that, roles and ethics. For example, in the US, police officers the leadership or management team can also help by might experience different types of stress compared to creating and\/or maintaining a positive and calm office firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). environment. Agencies or organisations can provide a At the end of the day, different types of first responders list of, or access to, available resources that can be easily can be seen as different types of cultures, where each utilised. Outside of professional support, loved ones of such group has a shared way of perceiving mental health personnel can also play an important role in providing struggles and stress as well as managing them. the space for to share their emotions and experiences, reinforcing the belief that emotions, no matter how Tackling the taboo difficult, are a part of human experiences. Stigma grows in silence. To reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health support for first responders, At a systemic level, training in best practices should we first have to be able to acknowledge and talk about be provided on an ongoing basis to increase the level of these issues. Psychoeducation about mental health and preparedness felt by first responders. Ongoing support in what challenges can look like is essential to reducing the field, and once they return, should also be maintained. In addition to the ongoing support being provided, an the stigma. When a person knows that they assessment or screening of mental health issues is ideally are not alone in facing mental health conducted on a consistent basis so severe and long-term challenges, it can open up some space effects can be prevented. This supports and these services for conversations about challenges can be bolstered by public health reform. If insurance and resources. Normalisation companies recognise mental health issues as an important of mental health struggles aspect of person\u2019s quality of life and if their policies cover after being exposed to mental health treatment costs, people are more likely to stressful environments explore and seek support when they need it. can often be perceived as permission to seek Authors help without fear of being perceived HatiPlong\u2019s Clinical Team members Rahajeng Ika, Margaret as incapable of doing their work. Khoman, and Jeannette Kent Setiawan wrote this piece, while After all, it is a very common Jeanette collated and translated the material Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 89","From 9\/11 to Covid-19: US public health emergency preparedness evolution Raphael Barishansky discusses public health emergency preparedness in the United States, its development since 9\/11, and its response to various crises since then I n the United States, the subdiscipline of public health National Incident Management System (NIMS) by emergency preparedness was born in the aftermath of 9\/11 public health entities in regard to communication and and the anthrax attacks that followed shortly afterwards. co-operation with other, more traditional emergency In this turbulent time period, public health professionals response agencies as well as developing, exercising, and were tested in ways they had not been until that point, demonstrating emergency plans to test both staff and including responding to multiple white-powder incidents, system capabilities and capacity. In addition, we saw rapid identification of various biological agents, and the buildup of state and local level epidemiological and understanding the distinct roles of local, state, and federal laboratory capacity and the recruitment of public health authorities in public health emergency response. This preparedness subject matter experts for health agency time period additionally marked the beginning of several roles. These years have also tested the nascent PHEP\/CRI funding streams in the US, specifically, the Public Health system with various public health emergencies that have Emergency Preparedness (PHEP), Hospital Preparedness been handled with mixed results, but always with valuable Program (HPP), and Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) lessons learned for moving forward. grants. These financial resources were focused on various public health preparedness capabilities and the ability for Emergencies such as SARS, H1N1, and even Ebola local, state, and federal entities to meet those capabilities. brought the needs of various response measures specific Over the past 20 years, these combined efforts to public health into focus. These emergencies also have seen successes in many areas, both planned and stressed the importance of ongoing communication with serendipitous. These successes include increasing the other stakeholder disciplines (for example, emergency utilisation of the Incident Command System (ICS) and management, emergency medical services, public safety, etc) and a distinct need for public health response funding. Passionart | Adobe Stock 90 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","health emergency Additionally, each of these emergencies taught the public territorial public health workers surveyed were feeling health community specific lessons regarding the strengthening bullied, threatened or harassed due to work and almost 12 of national capacities for surveillance, response, and control per cent had received job-related threats. of communicable diseases; the need to review existing legal frameworks to support public health partnerships further; So, how do we utilise these various lessons learned and the need for an emergency operations centre to facilitate to craft the future of the subdiscipline of public health communications, among other areas. emergency preparedness? The lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic To be sure, the planning must include a focus were multifold and included many areas that had been on inclusivity \u2013 persons of colour, under-resourced previously seen as weaknesses or deficiencies in public communities, and those with access or functional needs. health emergency responses. Questions about state and These communities were hit harder by the Covid-19 federal statutory authority for the application of mandates pandemic than they had been by previous disasters, and for non-pharmaceutical interventions (PHI) and vaccine better attention must be paid to these findings. The first roll-outs became a fulcrum for divisive arguments in 20 years of public health emergency preparedness built the public forum. A past practice of insufficient and a robust system of plans and personnel that focused on delayed federal funding allowed for the pervasive lack of public health emergency preparedness and response and a common operating picture, further compounding the clearly cemented preparedness into the public health effect of inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) lexicon. With these successes in mind, the coming decades manufacturing and supply chain resources. should build on what has already been accomplished and shift the focus to advancing an agenda that addresses In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic saw an excessive health equity, community resilience, and the social and toll taken on the public health workforce, with issues political factors that affect health. ranging from a lack of political support to fluctuations in and uncertainty about future funding and associated In addition, we must ensure a dedicated funding requirements, a lack of understanding of job expectations framework that takes into account modern-day public (including remote work and data-sharing capabilities), and health preparedness realities and moves us away from the mental health toll of a sustained response. the \u2018disease du jour\u2019 funding schemes seen during H1N1, Ebola, Zika, and even now during Covid-19. These Anticipatory chaos supplemental funds are emergency-specific and restricted All of these aforementioned issues were exacerbated by to specific uses, thus leaving public health agencies (local, the outsized role of both elected officials and the media. state, and federal) unable to sustain temporary workforce The intrusion of these sectors into the various public expansions after an emergency event or implement health operations of local, state and federal governments enterprise-wide data systems or other initiatives. These resulted in deep divisions based on political affiliations funds, while well intended, do nothing to allow for the and was not conducive to a co-ordinated approach to public health infrastructure \u2013 including personnel, the levels of morbidity and mortality being experienced. materials, and physical facilities \u2013 so necessary in the early Contentious debates about various public health actions \u2013 days of any public health emergency. ranging from mask mandates to quarantine and isolation orders and even including vaccine utilisation \u2013 were Additionally, it is time for a paradigmatic shift from commonplace. In addition, the media played a very a solely reactionary emergency response mechanism important role in the dissemination of the Covid-related driven by distinct units within the government towards information, often with an adaptation of their practices a more proactive community-type approach to public to meet the challenges of reporting on a pandemic with health emergencies. There will certainly always be a need unknown consequences, while governmental authorities for a response element, but this element must be a pre- faced the difficult task of managing the communication established component of prepared, resilient communities. of their decisions. Along with this, dialogues that denied the virus proliferated and shared other false propaganda A final important note about this future is that it must became impediments to pandemic management. include a focus on the wellbeing of the public health Various social media platforms inflamed a spread of workforce. Given the inherent stress of responding to misinformation that, at times, was as much of a threat to a public health emergency as extended as the current public health as the virus itself. one, employees need to be provided trauma-informed worker support as well as training in critical areas such as The problem of inaccurate information served to employee well-being and the identification and treatment undermine the global response to the pandemic by of burnout. Along with paying attention to these mental eroding public trust and marring attempts to control its and behavioural health realities, a necessary corollary spread. Both of these factors \u2013 the intrusion of elected to making this a reality is working with law enforcement officials and the role of the media \u2013 potentially had officials to increase protections for health officials. a role in what was seen as the largest mass-exodus of Focusing on ensuring safety and security would include public health officials, both state and local, in recent investigating credible threats, providing police details when memory. Public health officials have retired, resigned, or needed, and prosecuting those who break the law. left the workforce due to stress, burnout, public threats, and political scapegoating, among other causes. A study Author published in the June 2021 edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u2019s (CDC) Morbidity and RAPHAEL M. BARISHANSKY, DrPH, is a public health Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) found that nearly 24 per cent of more than 26,100 state, tribal, local and and EMS leader with more than 30 years of experience. Currently a consultant providing his unique perspective and multi-faceted public health and EMS expertise to various organisations, he was formerly the Deputy Secretary for Health Preparedness and Community Protection at the Pennsylvania Department of Health Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 91","Enhancing preparedness against quick clay landslides Alexandra Olson explores the work being done by the Trondheim Red Cross to strengthen local communities against quick clay landslide disasters as a part of the Engage project Quick clay landslides, which involve quick clay flowing was devastating, as over twenty homes and farms were like liquid if overloaded or disturbed, have the potential destroyed and one person was killed. To this day, it is still to affect very large areas and therefore pose a risk to an considered the largest quick clay landslide to have occurred estimated 140,000 people in Norway. This article will in Norway in the 20th century. provide an overview of the work that the Trondheim Red Cross has carried out as a part of the Engage project The municipality of Trondheim, in central Norway, with the aim of enhancing the preparedness of the is also no stranger to the risks that quick clay landslides local community to quick clay landslide disasters. pose. In 2012, a quick clay landslide hit Byneset, a former On April 9, 1978, a quick clay landslide with a volume municipality located in the present-day municipality of five to six million cubic metres occurred in the former of Trondheim. It was several hundred metres long Norwegian municipality of Rissa. The result of the disaster and spurred the evacuation of about 50 people. The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection designated 92 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","preparedness \u00d8vre Bakklandet in Trondheim as a \u2018quick clay\u2019 risk zone \u2013 they seem to understand their capacities and the co- in 2013. Since it is among the mapped risk zones with the operation opportunities, which they hadn\u2019t seen before.\u201d most inhabitants, the occurrence of a quick clay landslide has the potential to cause devastating consequences for the The Preparedness Guards also provided information local population. to evacuees and sought to answer any questions that came their way. Matthieu Branlat, the coordinator of the Engage This is why, on November 12, 2022, a quick clay project, noted that: \u201cApart from the initial alert, which landslide scenario in the city centre formed the backdrop was sent to inform us that a \u2018landslide\u2019 had occurred, all for an exercise implemented by the Trondheim Red other information was conveyed to us via the Preparedness Cross. In Norway, the Red Cross is the country\u2019s largest Guards.\u201d When asked about his experience of being assisted volunteer disaster preparedness organisation, whose work by the Preparedness Guards, he explained: \u201cI participated involves providing assistance to local authorities and in the exercise with my family, so the role I was playing emergency services in the event of a crisis. As a branch of involved arriving at the Red Cross building separately from the Red Cross, the work of the Trondheim Red Cross is them. Since we had the liberty of inventing new aspects [to also volunteer-based and organised to ensure that people our roles], we took the opportunity at some point to try and in need can be reached quickly and efficiently. Since the get some information about our son since we didn\u2019t have objective of the organisation is to improve the robustness any news and he was supposed to be in the city centre.\u201d and disaster preparedness of the local community, an exercise of this sort aligns well with this goal because it This improvisation gave the Preparedness Guards a aims to foster learning and enhance awareness of a natural chance to practise how they would address such questions disaster that poses one of the most prominent risks within in a real-life scenario and gain a better understanding the Trondheim municipality. of the channels they would have to go through with the Trondheim municipality obtain this information. Matthieu The storyline of the exercise involved the evacuation further noted that: \u201cThey were making as much effort of residents from the city centre who, after coming as they could to provide as much information as possible across the Trondheim Red Cross building along the way, and telling us when they didn\u2019t have an answer that they approached in order to receive aid. Before the exercise would try to find out through their own channels. You began, participants playing the role of evacuated residents were assured by the fact that someone was aware you were were given a profile that included background information trying to find information and wanted to find it for you. [In such as where they lived, what language(s) they spoke, and this case] it\u2019s not about being able to answer all the time; what specific actions their character carried out after the it\u2019s an incomplete situation, but it\u2019s important that they landslide occurred. Such profiles indicated, for example, were conveying that they were working on it.\u201d if you were a resident of Trondheim, whether or not you spoke Norwegian, and if you had sustained any injuries Communication was also an integral element in as a result of the landslide. In the cases where the profile ensuring that evacuees who did not speak Norwegian indicated that an injury was sustained, makeup was were still able to obtain information and stay updated in administered in order to simulate specific injuries. In other regard to the situation. \u201cThere was a girl present who spoke cases, participants pretended to be distressed and in need German, and one of the volunteers had some knowledge of psychological support or simply sought aid in the form of of speaking German, so any time someone was providing shelter or food. information, it was translated into German for her,\u201d according to Martina Ragosta, a researcher at SINTEF The Search and Rescue team of the Trondheim Red Digital. All updates were also given in both Norwegian and Cross, whose members are specialists in first aid, as present English, and information from the Board of the Red Cross in order to train in a lifelike context that reflected a myriad was also provided in at least these two languages.\u201d of different situations that could arise after a landslide. Their main tasks included the triaging of evacuees based Taking steps such as these to ensure that multilingual on their simulated injuries, which ranged from small communication can be facilitated if a landslide were to cuts to broken arms to a full fatality. The responsibilities occur in the future is vital, especially since the population that assisting evacuees required were also shared with of the Trondheim municipality is very diverse, with many the Red Cross Preparedness Guards, who are volunteers who appear on a list to be alerted and mobilised in the case of an extraordinary incident. Although not as highly trained as the Search and Rescue team, the Preparedness Guards were able to administer basic first aid and provide psychological support to evacuees thanks to the training courses prior to appearing on the alert list. This exercise was the first time that the two teams had the opportunity to train together and opened the door for further collaboration in the future. Marita Hoel Fossen, Executive Director of the Trondheim Red Cross, described how the collaborations between the two teams played out during the exercise: \u201cWe saw how important a good foundation of training was for our volunteers. They were able to divide the responsibilities between them quite quickly, and [after the exercise] we noticed that the Search and Rescue Team viewed the Preparedness Guards with a completely different perspective Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 93","94 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","preparedness different languages spoken in addition to English. This is in these exercises. This is something that we will try to not the only way that the Trondheim Red Cross ensured take with us when we organise a [larger scale] exercise in that its emergency plan accounted for every possible Trondheim [in September of 2023] \u2013 the more people we situation that could arise during a landslide scenario, can have participate, the bigger opportunity it is to let the either. \u201cThere was also a simulation of a power outage,\u201d population how the system works, what the role of different Marita explained. organisations is, and how they can be prepared for a hazard event such as a landslide.\u201d Martina also concurred with this \u201cThere was an initial message that indicated that the point, noting that: \u201cWhen you know that in the area where power was out and that the WiFi was dead as well. We you live there is a certain risk, exercises like this are the best have a generator that provides us with electricity, and it way to understand properly how you should react.\u201d only took seven minutes from when the power went out to when it was back on, so the training [that we underwent The Engage project will carry out four exercises in 2023 to ensure this process runs smoothly] clearly functions. We in Spain (raising awareness about the risks that cybercrimes also have enough petrol to have the generator running for pose), Italy (heatwave scenario), Romania (awareness- one to two days before more is needed,\u201d she added. raising for a scenario involving mass displacement), and Norway (quick clay landslide scenario). If you would like to In the event of a natural disaster like a quick clay stay updated on the results of these exercises, you can visit landslide, the ability of an organisation to take stock the Engage website. of what resources, such as generators and gasoline, are n Engage is a project funded by the European Union\u2019s available to them is incredibly important in order to ensure Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under that citizens in need can receive the highest quality of care. grant agreement No. 882850 For this reason, the Trondheim Red Cross tested a mock- n For more information, visit: www.project-engage.eu up of an application called \u2018Dopomoha\u2019 within the context of the exercise. Originally implemented in Romania to Sources aid and support Ukrainian refugees, the Dopomoha app allows organisations to match the needs of citizens with the n Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (2019): Analyses of resources that spontaneous volunteers (individuals who are Crisis Scenarios, www.dsb.no; not affiliated with an organisation but want to help when a n Petley D (2010): The Rissa Landslide- new (old) video available crisis arises), who have registered on the app, provide. online, blogs.agu.org; n Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (nd): Quick clay landslides: \u201cWithin the Trondheim Red Cross, we don\u2019t have a Quick clay landslides in Norway, www.ngi.no; system that is easy to manage spontaneous volunteers, so n Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (2013): 2013 the Dopomoha app was very helpful,\u201d Marita explained. Nasjonalt Risikobilde, www.dsb.no; \u201cEverything was listed on the app so we could filter out n Engage (nd): The Preparedness Guards\u2019 role in Trondheim Red which resources we needed; for example, a psychologist Cross regarding the Ukrainian refugee situation, www.project- offering their assistance in speaking with evacuees or an engage.eu; individual who could provide transportation to help others n Engage Knowledge Platform (nd): Dopomoha app, evacuate, then one of my colleagues could go through the engageknowledgeplatform.eu app and easily communicate with the individuals who were offering the particular resources we needed.\u201d Author The Dopomoha app and the Preparedness Guard are ALEXANDRA OLSON is a Project two solutions identified as part of the Engage project\u2019s work (strategies, tools, or initiatives that can be used to improve Officer with EENA, eena.org collaboration between citizens, first responders, and public authorities). They are featured on the project\u2019s online Catalogue of Solutions, which is one of the main ways that the project works towards its objective of bridging the gap between the formal effort of public authorities to protect citizens from harm and the voluntary support provided by citizens during emergencies. Within the context of the natural hazards that the municipality of Trondheim faces, Marita emphasised that: \u201cWhat is important for us is to use the Catalogue of Solutions to see what type of solutions could be interesting to test in these circumstances. We know that managing spontaneous volunteers is important, for example.\u201d Marita also noted that: \u201cIt is exciting to take part in a project like this, as we have the possibility to have safer and better communities all over Europe. It helps us learn and gives us opportunities that we may not have had on our own.\u201d The educational aspect is something that was also stressed by Matthieu, as he noted that: \u201cParticipating in the exercise with my family was very interesting, particularly for my 11-year-old daughter, who was seeing what the Red Cross was doing and hearing about what the municipality would be doing in parallel. This made me realise that there is a huge education component to being an actor Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 95","Risk-!n returns this May THE RISK-!N 2023 conference this year takes place on May 25-26 at and crisis management, linking them to climate change and ESG. the Marriott Hotel in Zurich, Switzerland. Attendees will learn what E, S, and G mean for their value chain, strategic developments, and stakeholders. The conference will also The fifth edition of the conference will focus on security, insurance, feature testimonials from organisations that have found ways to resilience, and risk management. Risk experts from different fields will continue operating during the Covid-19 pandemic, offering attendees meet at the conference to talk about the challenges of managing risks valuable insights on how to better approach these risks in the case of in a world that is changing so quickly. another similar situation. This year\u2019s conference will feature a diverse range of topics, with Another topic to be covered at the conference is cyber risks and a focus on bridging the silos between all organisational processes and their effect on business resilience. Attendees will learn about the their respective value chains. The conference aims to bring attendees knock-on effects of cyberattacks on all organisational processes and up to date on sustainable organisational resilience and challenge their how to quantify cyber risks to build proper coverage. The conference assumptions with insights from topical experts. will also address the critical role of data in risk management, which is often underestimated by RM practitioners. Overall, the Risk-!n 2023 One of the key topics that will be discussed at the conference is conference promises to be an informative and engaging event for risk insurance, captive management, and risk financing. With the insurance professionals. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from topical markets retreating, organisations need to find alternative ways to experts, learn from peers, and deepen their understanding of the latest finance or transfer their risks. Attendees will learn about the necessary trends and best practices in risk management. steps for creating a captive that will help any organisation with their main risk transfer challenges, including employee benefits aspects. n For more information, visit: www.risk-in.com The conference will also delve into the pressing topics of resilience 96 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","events AlexPhototest | Adobe Stock April 19 - 21, 2023 June 19 - 23, 2023 EENA Conference & Exhibition NFPA Conference & Expo, Drones for the future 2023, Ljubljana, Slovenia Las Vegas, USA eenaconference,org nfpa.org THE COMMERCIAL UAV EXPO is the world\u2019s largest trade shows and conferences on April 25 - 27, 2023 July 11 - 12, 2023 the integration and operation of commercial The Security Event, Birmingham, UK Disaster & Emergency Management UAS. The event is set to welcome 4,000 attendees thesecurityevent.co.uk Conference, Australia from 75 nations. Industries covered include anzdmc.com.au construction, drone delivery, energy and utilities, April 24 - 27, 2023 forestry and agriculture, infrastructure and 2023 Preparedness Summit, August 23 - 24, 2023 transportation, mining and aggregates, public Georgia, USA Australian Disaster Resilience safety and emergency services, security, along preparednesssummit.org Conference, Brisbane, Australia with surveying and mapping. aidr.org.au May 2, 2023 Launched in 2015, the Commercial UAV National Flash Drought September 5 - 7, 2023 Expo gathers the international drone ecosystem Workshop, Colorado, USA NCT USA, Maryland, USA under one roof. With education, networking, and drought.dov nct-events.com\/event many exhibits, Commercial UAV Expo is the must-attend event if keeping up with the newest May 7 - 11, 2023 September 5 - 7, 2023 technology and developments is a priority. The Association of State Floodplain Managers Commercial UAV Expo, event brings together qualified end-users from Conference, North Carolina, USA Las Vegas, USA vertical industries, leaders who are helping to floods.org www.expouav.com safely UAS into the airspace, solution pioneers, and more. UAS from the world\u2019s best solution May 9 - 10, 2023 September 26 - 27, 2023 providers will be on display at the exhibits, making Extreme Heat Summit, International Security Expo, it easy to qualify and compare solutions. Chicago, USA London, UK web.cvent.com internationalsecurityexpo.com The conference and show are presented by Commercial UAV News and organised by May 9 - 12, 2023 October 2 - 6, 2023 Diversified Communications, organiser of GEO Conference on Protective NCT PRO Challenge Business, Digital Construction Week, and Geo Clothing, the Netherlands Europe, Croatia Week, which comprises the International LiDAR f-e-u.org\/events nctprotraining.com Mapping Forum, SPAR 3D Expo & Conference, and AEC Next Expo & Conference. Use the May 15 - 18, 2023 October 10 - 12, 2023 code SAVE100 for a $100 discount and\/or free Heat Pump Conference, 2023 Cap Implementation Workshop, expo admission. Chicago, USA Geneva, Switzerland n For more information, visit: www.expouav.com hpc2023.org cap-workshop.alert-hub.org May 24 - 26, 2023 October 19 - 21, 2023 NCT Europe, Rotterdam, EDRR Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia The Netherlands edrri.com nct-events.com\/event October 25 - 26, 2023 May 25 - 26, 2023 Aidex 2023, Paleexpo, Geneva Risk-!n, Zurich, Switzerland aid-expo.com www.risk-in.com October 26 - 28, 2023 May 28 - 31, 2023 Milipol India, New Delhi, India The 20th Annual Global Conference on milipolindia.com Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, Nebraska, USA November 7 - 9, 2023 unomaha.edu NCT APAC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia June 6 - 7, 2023 nct-events.com\/event The International Crisis Management Conference, November 14 - 17, 2023 Newport, Rhode Island, US Milipol Paris 2023, Paris, France crisisconferences.com\/conference milipol.com See more dates on our online calendar at www.crisis-response.com Digital and print editions for subscribers www.crisis-response.com Crisis Response Journal 18:1 | April 2023 97","Insights from Brazil on disaster science Elton Cunha speaks to Dr Osvaldo Moraes about his work as Director of Cemaden, Dthe national centre for monitoring and alerts of natural hazards in Brazil r Osvaldo Moraes has been leading the organisation since 2015. He has a degree and a doctorate in physics, as well as a post-doctorate from the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center at SUNY. He is a university professor and also serves as the co-ordinator of the Standing Committee of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) for Reducing Risks of Disasters. Additionally, he is a member of the Science and Technology Advisory Committee (RSTAG) for the Americas and the Caribbean, which is part of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Speaking about Cemaden, he notes that the organisation plays a significant role in monitoring natural Says Dr Osvaldo Moraes: \u201cInvesting in disasters has a hazards in Brazil. tangible result; it\u2019s a part of our everyday lives; every citizen and every politician understands that investing in this area of \u201cCemaden is a research, science, and technology knowledge is essential because it preserves lives.\u201d institution of the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation. It was created in 2011 after a historic Photo: Elton Cunha disaster in the mountainous area of the State of Rio de intangible results through the application of resources. Janeiro. It monitors the processes that lead to the disaster He suggests that science can be defended with different and checks against information on vulnerability and arguments, but ultimately, it is the practical application of disposition of risk areas in Brazil, subsequently issuing alerts scientific knowledge that produces measurable outcomes. to state and municipal civil defence units,\u201d he told me. \u201cFor example, making an investment in theoretical There is difficult work to be done, and the organisation physics is extremely important because it enables the is at the forefront at times. \u201cAccording to the Atlas of advancement of knowledge as a whole, but this is a type Natural Disasters in Brazil from the Federal University of of investment that is intangible and does not appear to Santa Catarina (UFSC), the disasters that cause the most society immediately. deaths in Brazil are hydrological and geodynamic events, \u201cInvesting in disasters has a tangible result; it\u2019s a part in other words, floods, torrents, and earth movements. of our everyday lives; every citizen and every politician At the other extreme of weather forecasting, the disaster understands that investing in this area of knowledge is that most affect people in Brazil is drought, so Cemaden essential because it preserves lives. And secondly, associated works exactly at these two extremes, estimating the effect of with this same logic, is the fact that in Brazil, to undertake drought and its consequences. For example, it asks: What the science of disasters is to do it particularly for the most is the effect of drought on energy generation? What is the vulnerable society. This is motivating! Disaster science being effect of the drought on food production? What is the effect a multidisciplinary science, communicating the exact and of the drought on human water resources? social sciences is also a great challenge. Another fundamental \u201cThe two great challenges for us are the scientific issue is communication to the citizen; if this alert is not challenges. For some atmospheric processes, understood, our work will be innocuous,\u201d he explained. meteorological science is still unable to make predictions But the work can be a challenge, according to Dr far in advance. The events that mainly cause floods in Moraes: \u201cWe tend to complain that public administration Brazil, which are events triggered by atmospheric processes is inefficient, that managers are ineffective, and that on a very small and short spatial scale, cannot be predicted human and economic resources are small. All of this is by meteorological science hours in advance and only when true, and it is not a sin for us to identify these limitations they are already happening. This is not a limitation only in that exist for public management. Brazil. The challenge is to have a very dense observational \u201cHowever, I don\u2019t try to look at life from that darker side. network and have this operational network in conditions Every day I think that today I have other challenges to face; where it can be working in real time, sending data in real each challenge is an opportunity for you to learn a little more, time to Cemaden\u2019s operating room, and maintaining the so facing it is actually a process of knowledge and growth.\u201d observational network. The organisation spends 80 per cent of its budget on network maintenance, which is the Author scientific limit for some processes.\u201d ELTON CUNHA is Municipal Director of Barra Velha Dr Moraes is motivated to work in disaster science Municipal Civil Defence, Brazil, and a Member of CRJ\u2019s because it is an applied science that produces tangible and Advisory Panel 98 Follow our LinkedIn Company page for updates: The Crisis Response Journal follow us on twitter @CRJ_reports","",""]
Search
