Twenty-Twenty Hindsight

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Twenty-Twenty Hindsight Journal of the Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management Twenty-Twenty Hindsight Winter 2020 ICPEM // Alert // Winter 2020 ICPEM // Alert // Winter 2020 2 Technology MEMBERSHIP NEW MEMBERS New members are always welcome. For a comprehensive range of membership options MATTERS please visit the website at www.theicpem.net [email protected] Membership matters I addresses are correct. You can Subscriptions are the life-blood of the download an update form from the institute, are due annually on the 1st website under the membership tab. Contents January, and can be paid by: Standing Order Membership matters III IFC Membership Matters Direct Debit Details of current fees are provided on the ICPEM website: Cheque 1 Christmas message from the President Bank transfer www.theicpem.net 1 Christmas message from the Vice President The Institute also benefits from Gift Events Aid when you sign up for it, and all If you are holding an event that other 2 Christmas message from the Chair the relevant forms are available for members of the Institute might be download from the website. able to assist with or attend, such 3 Editorial as exercises, and seminars, please let 4 Events Whatever arrangements you have the Managing Editor of Alert and the Webmaster know and they can made for your subscriptions, can you 5 About the authors please ensure that they are in place, be advised. The ‘public’ view of the active and have valid details. Some website includes a calendar of events 8 Food for thought subscriptions from the start of the across the spectrum of interests, so year remain outstanding, so could you we would like to have information 12 Understanding a cyber attack please check? If you have any queries on anything that you think might about arrangements for payment, please be relevant. 15 The downing of Air India flight 182 contact the Treasurer, Paul Collard on [email protected]. What else do you do? 21 Covid-19 and people with disabilities Members come from many different 24 Gender leadership Membership matters II and interesting backgrounds and take The Membership Secretary makes part in many interesting activities. 29 What can leaders facing a crisis learn a special plea for members to keep We would like to reflect these their contact details and preferences activities and achievements in Alert 35 MV Rhosus & the Beirut explosion disaster up to date. We make every effort in order to show the ‘human’ side to keep records accurate, to ensure of its membership. So, if you have The factors affecting prehospital care that members receive all relevant something unusual or interesting that 39 incident commanders, a major incident study communications. you get up to let the Managing Editor know, with some photos if you have 42 UK alert cell broadcasting Email and the website will be the them, and we will publish them in main means of getting information forthcoming editions. 44 Far right terrorism to members, so it is vital that email 47 Book review 49 The one-legged volunteer Published by CONTACT ICPEM Membership enquiries: BC Mission, vision and values The Institute of Civil Protection [email protected] and Emergency Management. Media enquiries: Registered Charity No. 1127226 [email protected] Alert enquiries: Editor [email protected] London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom. Dave Dowling WebMaster enquiries: [email protected] The Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Graphic Design Management does not accept responsibility for, or Wayne Freeman, 07916188788 Address: necessarily acquiesce in, any statement made in articles [email protected] Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, or communications from correspondents; publication c/o Prof. David E. Alexander, Institute for Risk and Disaster does not entitle the author of any contribution or Website: www.theicpem.net Reduction, Second Floor, South Wing, University College photograph to a fee unless previously arranged. ICPEM // Alert // Winter 2020 1 Foreword Our President’s Christmas Message t’s been a really difficult year for everyone – I feel it is fair to say that the work of civil and that’s putting it mildly. However, it has protection and emergency management is one that Ialso been a very important time for ICPEM is constantly changing largely due to the evidence - with emergencies around each corner. I am both of what works (or, importantly, what doesn’t work) delighted and proud to know that, despite all the which is why I am so enthusiastic about proper obstacles, ICPEM has maintained its activities. monitoring. The task then is to disseminate that information and persuade organisations, sometimes Given I am new to the organisation and resistant to change, to take on new practices. communications have not been as easy as we would have liked – notably for example So, let me take this opportunity to first and having to cancel the Annual General Meeting foremost thank all of you who have continued the at which I had hoped to meet all of you, as work of ICPEM and to wish you and your families well as the planned conference – I am pleased and very restful and restorative holiday season. that the task of reshaping the organisation has continued as has the submission of evidence Best wishes, to parliamentary committees and enquiries. Frances D’Souza Rt Hon. Baroness Frances D’Souza CMG Message from the Vice President ear Members, the selection of members of the new Executive revamped Executive Council is working hard to As I write, we are drawing to the close Council. I am delighted at the outcome and very arrange new activities for the benefit of members. Dof an extraordinary year. It has been happy to serve under the capable chairpersonship marked by exceptional challenges for us all of Sarah Schubert. Special thanks also to Dave As 2021 nears, we all fervently hope that the and major changes in our lives. Covid-19 is a Dowling for compiling and editing Alert and present annus horribilis will not be repeated major tragedy. I have been studying disasters Tony Moore for his energetic work to run, with all its tragic consequences and profound for exactly 40 years and at times this year support and promote special interest groups. disruptions. Whatever ‘normal life’ is like after the has felt like a replay, with those decades of pandemic, we look forward to gradually renewing experience suddenly compressed into only ten Covid-19 is, of course, very much within the our sense of fellowship and conviviality. We look months. We all struggle to cope, professionally Institute’s purview. Like many organisations, we forward to resuming those activities that we have and personally. We all worry about the future have had to follow through the arduous process had to forsake. Most pertinently, we look forward and lament the state of the world at present. of adjusting to the pandemic, moreover at the to using the expertise we have gained during this same time as we have endeavoured to respond to long-drawn-out, profound emergency to make ICPEM started the year in a most difficult it as an organisation. So much of what a learned life safer for all in the future. In the meantime, position. Our normal mechanism of renewing and professional society does is dependent on I wish you a festive season marked by hope, and reconfirming our Executive Council was social contact, and particularly on meeting optimism and–of disrupted, as we were unable to hold a proper together in person. While this has been off the course--safety! Annual General Meeting and had to reorganise cards, we have done our best to use electronic elections to the various posts. The Trustees communication in substitution. Members can Best wishes, of ICPEM got together and kept the institute rest assured that ICPEM is alive and kicking. We David Alexander running over the summer while intensively are a small institute, but we have played a role in preparing to relaunch the Executive Council via providing advice, commentary and background elections and an extraordinary general meeting material on the evolving disaster where such in the Autumn. I am most grateful to my fellow things were needed. We stand ready to continue Professor David E. Alexander trustees for their hard work on this process, supporting our members in their activity, and the PhD FRGS FGS FRSA FICPEM FISRM and to all ICPEM members who participated in 2 Our Vice President’s Christmas Message I do hope that you have enjoyed and ear Members, I hope that you and your Professor David Alexander continues benefited from reading the various families are well and continue to stay to advise at various select and publications that ICPEM has produced. safe. It seems that it was far longer ago parliamentary committees and in D The Special Interest Group (SIG) newsletters have than October that I was privileged to take on the early December will be providing provided excellent, and informative insight Chair role for ICPEM; the days seem strangely long evidence to the Risk Assessment into areas that we might not normally have but short at the same time. Times continue to be and Risk Planning Committee. challenging, with lockdowns to various degrees a window into. I’d like to especially thank accompanied by complex and changing rules. Improving ICPEM Tony Moore for his work co-ordinating for our members these to ensure that the information Increasing our sphere of benefit is shared across the Institute so that we all can learn and benefit. influence In the Thank you also to those chairing the groups: The new Executive Council and I are driving ICPEM’s background the team and I have been working • Historical SIG – Pete Davies future as a learned society, to influence the future of on establishing strong foundations for the • International SIG – CJ Manjarres-Wahlberg civil protection and emergency management.
Recommended publications
  • HZS C2BRNE DIARY – August 2020
    1 HZS C2BRNE DIARY – August 2020 www.cbrne-terrorism-newsletter.com 2 HZS C2BRNE DIARY – August 2020 www.cbrne-terrorism-newsletter.com 3 HZS C2BRNE DIARY – August 2020 PART B Cover photo: Lebanese artist Fatima Dia is auctioning her painting of last week’s tragic Beirut explosion, “Rising Angels,” to help those affected by the blast which tore through the capital on Aug. 4 from the city’s port area, killing over 135 and injuring thousands more. The artist will donate 100 percent of the proceeds to people who lost their homes and were affected by the blast. Indian nuclear forces, 2020 By Hans M. Kristensen & Matt Korda Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 2020, Vol. 76, No. 4, pp.217–225 Source: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00963402.2020.1778378 India continues to modernize its nuclear arsenal, with at least three new weapon systems now under development to complement or replace existing nuclear-capable aircraft, land-based delivery systems, and sea-based systems. Several of these systems are nearing completion and will soon be combat-ready. India is estimated to have produced enough military plutonium for 150 to 200 nuclear warheads but has likely produced only 150. Nonetheless, additional plutonium will be required to produce warheads for missiles now under development, and India is reportedly building several new plutonium production facilities. India’s nuclear strategy, which has tradition-ally focused on Pakistan, now appears to place increased emphasis on China, and Beijing is now in range of Indian missiles. Hans M. Kristensen is director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists where he provides the public with analysis and background information about the status of nuclear forces and the role of nuclear weapons.
    [Show full text]
  • Making Central Beneficial Ownership Registers Public
    Making central beneficial ownership registers public Policy Briefing May 2021 Overview 2 Public beneficial ownership data user groups 5 Government users 5 Private sector users 6 Civil society 8 Considerations for implementers 12 Centralised registers 12 Data accessibility and usability 13 Establishing a legal basis 14 Mitigating potential negative effects of public access 17 Conclusion 20 Page 2 of 25 / Making central beneficial ownership registers public Overview The question of whether data should be made open and publication of personal data in BO registers on the grounds accessible to the public, and the concerns about personal of GDPR have followed. It is important that this is being privacy and security risks to individuals, are some of the tested in the courts, and their outcomes will no doubt have most debated issues in beneficial ownership (BO) reform. a profound impact on the debate. In other countries, such These are important, connected issues that need careful as Mexico, there are concerns for kidnapping and personal consideration by implementers. As beneficial ownership safety. These need to be assessed and understood. transparency (BOT) is a relatively new policy area, there The publication of any data, personal or otherwise, as part is not yet a large body of evidence on the impact of making of BO disclosures has some known consequences as well registers public. Nevertheless, where public registers as some potentially unknown consequences. BO data is have been implemented, early evidence is emerging and different from many other datasets being made open, such specific benefits of making BO data publicly available can as contracting data, as it must contain personally iden- be identified.
    [Show full text]
  • 129 2020.Pdf
    THETHE COVERTCOVERT WORLDWORLD OFOF ESPIONAGEESPIONAGE ® INTELLIGENCE MAGAZINE £4.25 NUMBER 129 2020 •MOSSAD & UNIT 8200 •EDWARD SNOWDEN • COZY BEAR CYBER MENACE •UAE-ISRAEL ACCORDS •RUSSIA INTERFERENCE •MI9 WWII OPERATIONS •WEAPONISING SPACE •FBI COUNTER-ESPIONAGE STING •IRAN SPY GAMES THE MI6 SPYMASTER COVID-19 VACCINE 13 GRU Cyber Group APT28 - Cozy Bear - in Worldwide Hunt for Advanced Research 18 Richard Moore CHASING THE HOLY GRAIL UK Foreign Intelligence Service - New Chief EXTREME PREJUDICE HOUSE OF SPIES 48 26 New Novichok Sanction Intelligence hands behind attempted CHINA INTEL FOCUS assassination of Kremlin critic Navalny WIZARDS OF FEAR 52 56 THE A-Z LANGUAGE OF SPIES The secret Kremlin intel programme targeting US troops in Afghanistan EDWARD SNOWDEN THE INSPECTOR White House 71 Opens Gateway to America for NSA Leaks More rogue Russian satellite activity Man monitored by West 31 2 EYE SPY INTELLIGENCE MAGAZINE 129 2020 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ “Russia poses the greatest military and geopolitical threat to European EYE SPY 129 security. China is increasingly authoritarian and assertive. It poses the greatest threat to world order...” ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ VOLUME XVII NUMBER ONE 2020 (ISSUE 129) Lt. General Hockenhull, UK Chief of Defence Intelligence ISSN 1364 8446 publication date: SEPT/OCT 2020 FRONT COVER MAIN IMAGE: GETTY CHINA AND RUSSIA: ESPIONAGE, INFLUENCE & PROPAGANDA Established December 2000 Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause major disruption, distress and sorrow around the world, the great game of espionage is still being played. Intelligence is a 24-hour-a-day highly specialised field that for a multitude of reasons will always remain active, though here too agencies have had to alter work practices and put a hold on planned operations - though not all.
    [Show full text]
  • Israeli-Made Spyware Used to Monitor Journalists and Activists Worldwide
    They Are Watching You: Israeli-Made Spyware Used to Monitor Journalists and Activists Worldwide By OCCRP In Hungary, Szabolcs Panyi exposed spy intrigue and murky arms deals. In India, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta probed the ties between business and political interests. In Azerbaijan, Sevinj Vaqifqizi caught vote-rigging on tape. Separated by thousands of miles, these journalists have one thing in common: their governments considered them a threat. All three were among dozens of journalists and activists around the world whose smartphones were infected by Pegasus: spyware made by Israeli firm NSO Group that is able to secretly steal personal data, read conversations, and switch on microphones and cameras at will. The attacks were revealed by The Pegasus Project, an international collaboration of more than 80 journalists from 17 media organizations, including OCCRP, and coordinated by Forbidden Stories. What Does ‘Selected for Targeting’ Mean? The phones of Panyi, Thakurta, and Vaqifqizi were analyzed by Amnesty International’s Security Lab and found to be infected after their numbers appeared on a list of over 50,000 numbers that were allegedly selected for targeting by governments using NSO software. Reporters were able to identify the owners of hundreds of those numbers, and Amnesty conducted forensic analysis on as many of their phones as possible, confirming infection in dozens of cases. The reporting was backed up with interviews, documents, and other materials.The strongest evidence that the list really does represent Pegasus targets came through forensic analysis. Amnesty International’s Security Lab examined data from 67 phones whose numbers were in the list. Thirty-seven phones showed traces of Pegasus activity: 23 phones were successfully infected, and 14 showed signs of attempted targeting.
    [Show full text]
  • Veterinary Workers at CRVS Ratify First Private-Sector Union Contract in the Industry
    Published by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union www.ilwu.org VOL 78, NO 8 • SEPTEMBER 2020 THE INSIDE NEWS Explosion at the Port of Beirut puts spotlight on lax maritime regulations 3 Local 5 marks 20-year anniversary 4 ILWU Legislative Director Lindsay McLaughlin retires 5 Local 94 assists COVID testing effort 6 TRANSITIONS 8 Rally for fair contract: National Veterinary Professionals Union Vice President Tana Greatorex speaks at a rally for CRVS workers in February of this year. Other organizations at the rally included ILWU Locals 4 and 5, the Inlandboatmen’s Union and Jobs with Justice. SFVS workers strike to protest illegal Veterinary workers at actions by VCA-Mars page 2 CRVS ratify first private-sector union contract in the industry orkers at Columbia the profession. In recent years, there also a necessary one. As the seventh River Veterinary Spe- has been massive consolidation of the guiding principle of the ILWU states; cialists (CRVS) in industry as large companies acquire ‘To organize the unorganized must W locally owned hospitals, leading to be a cardinal principle of any union Vancouver, Washington rati- a corporate-led environment where worth its salt; and to accomplish this fied their first union contract on workers’ rights and sustainable jobs is not merely in the interest of the August 12 by an overwhelming for local communities too often come unorganized; it is for the benefit of margin of 53-1. These workers second to profit. the organized as well.’” have been bargaining a con- Organizing the unorganized Campaign goals tract with CRVS management “This is a historic agreement that Like the vast majority of first for over a year, after voting to will set a new standard for wages and contract campaigns, this one was join ILWU Local 5 in February conditions in the veterinary indus- long and hard fought.
    [Show full text]
  • Was This Event Needed?
    WAS THIS EVENT NEEDED? The noon time of the capital city of Lebanon was not a peaceful one on the 4th of august for the citizens of Beirut. The devastating incident in Lebanon’s biggest state, the blast shook the minds of the entire world. Two explosions occurred in the port of Beirut, the second one being more powerful causing at least 171 deaths,6,000 injuries and 10-15 billon dollars in property damage and left around 300,000 people homeless. The reason for this blast was identified as stockpiling of ammonium nitrate in the port which has been stocked there for six years. The negligence of the Lebanese government on the stockpiling of the chemical for six years has now taken a toll on the people of Beirut and also Turkey, Syria, Israel and parts of Europe as a seismic event. Even though the government had been warned several times by different authorities no action had been taken, which has now turned a horrific blast which is considered now as one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosions in history. The ammonium nitrate that has been stored in the port of Beirut had come in the cargo ship MV Rhosus which set sail from Batumi, Georgia on 27th September 2003 to Beira, Mozambique carrying 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate This incident could have been easily avoided by Lebanon in a time period of six years but due to negligence a lot has been lost by Lebanon and its government as on 10th August 2020, the prime minister Hassan Diab and the Lebanese cabinet resigned due to mounting political pressure that was exacerbated by the event.
    [Show full text]
  • International Maritime Organization Maritime
    INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION MARITIME KNOWLEDGE CENTRE (MKC) “Sharing Maritime Knowledge” CURRENT AWARENESS BULLETIN AUGUST 2020 www.imo.org Maritime Knowledge Centre (MKC) [email protected] www d Maritime Knowledge Centre (MKC) About the MKC Current Awareness Bulletin (CAB) The aim of the MKC Current Awareness Bulletin (CAB) is to provide a digest of news and publications focusing on key subjects and themes related to the work of IMO. Each CAB issue presents headlines from the previous month. For copyright reasons, the Current Awareness Bulletin (CAB) contains brief excerpts only. Links to the complete articles or abstracts on publishers' sites are included, although access may require payment or subscription. The MKC Current Awareness Bulletin is disseminated monthly and issues from the current and the past years are free to download from this page. Email us if you would like to receive email notification when the most recent Current Awareness Bulletin is available to be downloaded. The Current Awareness Bulletin (CAB) is published by the Maritime Knowledge Centre and is not an official IMO publication. Inclusion does not imply any endorsement by IMO. Table of Contents IMO NEWS & EVENTS ............................................................................................................................ 2 UNITED NATIONS ................................................................................................................................... 4 CASUALTIES...........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 117 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
    E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 117 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 167 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 No. 139 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Friday, August 6, 2021, at 12 p.m. Senate WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2021 The Senate met at 10:30 a.m. and was to the Senate from the President pro A bill (H.R. 3684) to authorize funds for called to order by the Honorable BEN tempore (Mr. LEAHY). Federal-aid highways, highway safety pro- RAY LUJA´ N, a Senator from the State The senior legislative clerk read the grams, and transit programs, and for other of New Mexico. following letter: purposes. Pending: f U.S. SENATE, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, Schumer (for Sinema) amendment No. 2137, PRAYER Washington, DC, August 4, 2021. in the nature of a substitute. To the Senate: Carper-Capito amendment No. 2131 (to The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, amendment No. 2137), to strike a definition. fered the following prayer: of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby Carper (for Johnson) amendment No. 2245 Let us pray. appoint the Honorable BEN RAY LUJA´ N, a (to amendment No. 2137), to prohibit the can- Eternal God, in these challenging Senator from the State of New Mexico, to cellation of contracts for physical barriers days, our hearts are steadfast toward perform the duties of the Chair. and other border security measures for which funds already have been obligated and You.
    [Show full text]
  • 4 August 2020 Beirut Port Explosion: the Lebanese Legal System Continues to Fail Victims a Year Later
    4 AUGUST 2020 BEIRUT PORT EXPLOSION: THE LEBANESE LEGAL SYSTEM CONTINUES TO FAIL VICTIMS A YEAR LATER 3 AUGUST 2021 LEGAL ACTION WORLDWIDE (LAW) Legal Action Worldwide: LAW is an independent, non-profit organisation comprised of human rights lawyers working in fragile and conflict affected areas in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. We have a particular focus on the rule of law and accountability; transformative justice; non-discrimination and gender equality, working to bring justice to those who need it most. CONTENTS I. Background ............................................................................................................................ 1 II. Investigations ......................................................................................................................... 2 III. Arrests, charges and indictments to date ......................................................................... 2 IV. Role of ministers and immunity........................................................................................ 3 V. Possible interference in the ongoing investigation .............................................................. 5 VI. Alleged Syrian links ........................................................................................................... 6 VII. Investigations by other governments ............................................................................... 6 VIII. Independence of the investigating body ..........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #15 14Th August 2020
    MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #15 14th August 2020 The Pulse The MISSION of The Merchant Navy Association is to bring all serving and retired Seafarers together in a spirit of companionship, consideration and commitment towards a united lobby for the Community of the Sea Hi Shipmates, Please find below more snippets of information since circular #14 was published 29th July 2020. My thanks to MNA National Secretary, Pete Sinke’s daily publication “Maasmond Maritime - Shipping News Clippings”, Lloyds List, gCaptain, Maritime London, Flashlight and many others from the T’internet, not forgetting the items sent in by Readers and any other source I can access. MNA National Contact Points National Secretary, David Parsons = Email: [email protected] Tel: 01935 414 765 Welfare & Events, Tim Brant, - Tel: 01733 205001, Email : [email protected] National Membership Secretary, Roy Glencross - Mobile: 07738 425875 Email: [email protected] MNA Slop Chest, The Supply Officer:- Sandra Broom [email protected] Tel 0121 244 0190 If you call her, it may go to an answerphone. Please leave a message and she will call you. Change of Address???? If any member has changed any of their contact details (Postal, E- mail or Telephone) it is important that you inform the following people by email:- [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Please Note the Change of Contact Details of the above _____________________________________________________________________________________ MSC HANNAH arriving at Greenock over the weekend. Her new scrubber unit isn’t very pretty at all. Photo : Tommy Bryceland. SCOTLAND © _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 1 MNA CIRCULAR 2020 - #15 14th August 2020 The Pulse _____________________________________________________________________________________________ We are pleased to say we are now able to offer our supporters the facility to make donations via our Just Giving page.
    [Show full text]
  • BUSINESS LIFE Sept 2020.Pdf
    BackedBacked by by our our solid solid inancial inancial position, position, strong strong and and minimumminimum ratedrated reinsurance reinsurance securities, securities, DAMANA DAMANA helpshelps you you aim aim for for success, success, overcome overcome hurdles hurdles and and achieveachieve your your business business aspirations. aspirations. ww w w DAMANADAMANA is is a a registered registered trademark trademark for for Saudi Saudi Arabian Arabian Insurance Insurance Company Company B.S.C. B.S.C. (c) (c) With our one card regional solution, in-house 24-hour administration and customer service, SAICOHEALTH provides your business with a comprehensive health insurance coverage. BackedBacked by by our our solid solid inancial inancial position, position, strong strong and and minimumminimum ratedrated reinsurance reinsurance securities, securities, DAMANA DAMANA helpshelps you you aim aim for for success, success, overcome overcome hurdles hurdles and and achieveachieve your your business business aspirations. aspirations. damana.com/saicohealth DAMANADAMANA is is a a registered registered trademark trademark for for Saudi Saudi Arabian Arabian Insurance Insurance Company Company B.S.C. B.S.C. (c) (c) DAMANA is a registered trademark for Saudi Arabian Insurance Company B.S.C. (c) w w CONTENTS September 2020 COVER INTERVIEW ENERGY 38|Nuclear Power in the United Arab Emirates 11|Built to Last: the Quest for Social and Business Sustainability INSURANCE MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE 40|Beirut Explosion: Cache of Ammonium Nitrate Blamed 22 | Water
    [Show full text]
  • The Explosion in Beirut
    1 Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research international, movement-driven institution focused on stimulating intellectual debate that serves people’s aspirations. It Is Late, but It Is Early Morning If We Insist a Little: The Thirty-Third Newsletter (2020) Tricontinental · Thursday, August 13th, 2020 Jamil Molaeb (Lebanon), Untitled, October 2019. Dear friends, Greetings from the desk of the Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. Nothing happens in Beirut and Lebanon that is transparent; plots of all kinds unravel Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research - 1 / 9 - 17.09.2021 2 against the ordinary hopes of the population. After the deadly explosion, it was impossible to imagine that the most reasonable explanation would be accepted. Rumours flew around, except the rumours did not have their impact. It was clear to the people that this time – unlike so many times previously – it was their own political system that had to be held accountable for the enormous explosion, which came in the midst of a pandemic, a currency and economic crisis, and a long-standing and unresolved political quagmire. From Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research comesRed Alert no. 8: The Explosion in Beirut. This red alert has been put together by organisations and people from Lebanon, for whose input we are grateful. Red Alert: The Explosion in Beirut In the early evening of August 4, a fire broke out in Warehouse 12 at the Port of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon (population 6.8 million, including over a million refugees). An enormous plume of smoke rose from the fire, which was then overshadowed by an explosion whose powerful force tore outwards and shattered parts of Beirut.
    [Show full text]