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CONTENTS:

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

1. World
2. Africa
3. Americas
4. Asia Pacific
5. Europe
6. Middle East
7. South Asia
8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare
9. Finance
10 Human Rights
11. Law and Legal Issues
12. Transportation
13. Weapons of Mass Destruction
14. Recently Published

FEATURE ARTICLE:
Comparative Emergency Preparedness

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK

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1. World

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan released the report "The rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies", emphasizing the need to re-establish the rule of law and need to resolve large scale abuses following a conflict. The report stresses rejection of amnesty for acts of genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity. http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2004/616

Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow of Princeton University report that technologies to stop the escalation of global warming exist now and we can begin implementing them immediately. They identify 15 technologies that in combination can prevent global emissions from increasing for the next 50 years. http://www.princeton.edu/pr/home/hmcap.html

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2. Africa

The locust invasion in West Africa has reached Chad and is spreading towards Sudan. The fighting in western Sudan and the refugee situation have already led to a humanitarian crisis. Now the threat of regional famine worsens the situation. http://www.fao.org/
The economic crisis in Benin is the subject of an IRIN news report available online at http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=42590
In Burundi, fighting continues, accompanied by an increase in armed banditry. A raid by Forces for National Liberation (FNL) rebels on a refugee camp that housed Congolese Tutsis killed at least 156 people, mostly women and children. Rwanda believes Hutu rebels participated in the massacre and asked for international assistance to disarm them. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/3565904.stm The scheduled regional summit to ratify the power-sharing agreement has been postponed to September.

Cameroon's constitution calls for an election within two months but no date has been set and a free and fair election seems unlikely. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=42637

Clashes in Democratic Republic of Congo continue, particularly among dissident forces in the east. A new MONUC report says that illegal land seizures underlie the conflict, including the death of 8,000 civilians and displacement of another 600,000. http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=S/2004/573

Ivory Coast interim government and opposition ministers and rebels have signed a new power-sharing agreement and held their first cabinet meeting.

Kenya's Maasai tribesmen are demanding that when the 100-year lease given British colonialists expires on August 15 the land should revert to them. http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=13562 (registration)

Former Liberian rebels of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and democracy (LURD) turned political party have collected at a rubber plantation and are dug in, refusing to turn in their weapons.

Libya has agreed to pay $35 million to compensate more than 160 non-US victims of the 1986 Berlin nightclub bombing that was attributed to actions of the Libyan secret service. Compensation for US victims is the subject of a separate action.

Mauritania reports it has arrested at least ten soldiers for planning a coup against President Taya, apparently connected to the failed attempt last June. Alternative analysis suggests it is an army purge undertaken by the president.

Sudan has presented the UN a list of specific measures to meet the Security Council timetable to improve the situation Darfur where atrocities continue. Note new field reports from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and others.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusRel.asp?infocusID=88&Body=Sudan&Body1=
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/08/11/darfur9217.htm
http://www.amnesty.org/sudan
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/story.jsp?story=550120

The ancient sites of Sudan, among the great monuments of Africa, and home to the most powerful state in the Nile Valley, which briefly overwhelmed the Egypt of the Pharaohs, is a new British Museum exhibition opening in September. Contributions will be given to the Sudan relief fund. http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/whatson/comingsoon/index.html Contribute online at http://www.concern.net

Sudanese defense forces claim they killed 46 rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army neat the Ugandan border.

In the run-up to elections in Zimbabwe, there is increasing concern over systematic violence and torture against government opponents. http://www.redress.org/ http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2004/08/12/zimbab9230.htm http://www.crisisweb.org/home/index.cfm?id=1168&l=1

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3. Americas

Colombian rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) raided a coca farm in the northeastern mountains, killing nine peasant farmers.

At the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, cases have been opened for about 150 detainees to appear before status-review tribunals. Officials review records pertaining to each detainee and provide him copies of unclassified information as well as an opportunity to meet with a US military officer who can speak on his behalf. There are no means for appeal. The results of four tribunals have been approved and found that all four had been appropriately designated as enemy combatants. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Aug2004/n08132004_2004081304.html
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Combatant_Tribunals.html

The Federal Bureau of Investigation published its 2004-9 Strategic Plan. It includes long-range forecasts in terrorism, espionage, cyber threats and other major criminal areas. http://www.fbi.gov/page2/aug04/plan081004.htm

Venezuelans go to the polls on August 15 to vote in the referendum on President Chavez's rule.

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4. Asia Pacific

The 35th annual Pacific Islands forum concluded its meeting with a number of plans to enhance regional political and economic integration, as well as measures to assist particular crises such as that facing Nauru. They "noted with concern the major security vulnerabilities facing the Pacific region and urged members who have not yet done so to enact and implement existing model legislative provisions including those addressing terrorism and transnational organised crime, illicit drugs, weapons control and transport security. They called for national efforts and stronger and deeper regional cooperation to combat transnational organised crime, in particular by focusing on forensics analysis and capability, provision of equipment and appropriate training for staff, and maritime and border patrol and surveillance capability. Leaders welcomed the establishment of the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre (PTCCC) in Suva to harness and enhance the law enforcement intelligence generated by the national Transnational Crime Units". http://www.forumsec.org.fj/news/2004/August/Aug_09.htm

Australia rushed through new counterterrorism laws. They include giving the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) powers to confiscate foreign passports to prevent dual citizens or non-citizens from leaving the country and consorting offenses. http://www.aph.gov.au/

In Papua, Indonesia, one person was killed and at least seven injured in clashes between the Wei and Dambo tribes over the commemoration of Indonesia's Independence Day. In Aceh, 11 rebels were killed in continuing military actions.

In the Philippines, 17 suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels have been sentenced to death for kidnapping four Basilan hospital workers in June 2001. 13 were in court and four sentenced in absentia.

Uzbekistan's Prosecutor-General reported they had evidence that the attacks in March, April and July were the work of Hizb-ut Tahrir, an outlawed Islamic movement, as well as other international extremist organizations.

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5. Europe

Denmark plans to implement controls on fertilizers containing ammonium nitrate. It has previously been unregulated but since it is easily turned into an explosive controls are necessary.

Georgia's conflict with the two breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has flared again, raising the specter of full-fledged war. President Saakashvili has promised to reunite the country and to take action against outside influences - namely Russia - that are supporting separatists. Clashes in South Ossetia killed three people in an ethnic Georgian village and injured several more. Around a thousand women and children have been evacuated from villages caught in the crossfire. Georgia and South Ossetia are negotiating a ceasefire.

Italy increased security for the Assumption holiday weekend following a stream of threats from Islamic militants, including those who set August 15 as the deadline for Italy to withdraw from Iraq.

Spain's interior ministry attributed four bombings in the north over the last week to Basque separatist group ETA. There have been no fatalities, but authorities say it indicates ETA does not intend to pursue a peaceful course despite the legacy of the March 11 bombings. Spain has given residence permits to some 700 immigrants injured or related to victims of 3/11.

In Turkey, bombs at two small hotels and a gas plant killed two and injured nine. Responsibility is unconfirmed, but police say it appeared to be a terrorist attack. A previously unknown Kurdish separatist group, the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, claimed responsibility and police say they are the prime suspects. The Islamic militant Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades also claimed responsibility, through an internet message that threatened further operations throughout Europe.

Ukrainian opposition leader and presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko claims to have been the subject of an assassination attempt when a truck attempted to force his car off the road.

A British Court of Appeal denied a challenge to the detention of ten men that had been held under the 2001 Terrorism Act since the Home Secretary had information they were a risk to national security. The secretary's decision was in part based on evidence extracted under torture. The court ruled that the evidence was acceptable as long as British agents were not complicit in the abuse. They will continue to be held indefinitely in what has been called "Britain's Guantanamo".

The British Home Office launched a consultation process for proposed new police powers including stronger powers of arrest, easier use of warrants, increased authority for community support officers, making better use of forensics, and making it easier for officers? to test drug suspects. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/n_story.asp?item_id=1055

In Northern Ireland, the Parades Commission has amended a decision on the loyalist Apprentice Boys parade to allow them to take a single bus through a contentious mainly nationalist area. The feeders and main march passed without incident.

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6. Middle East

The latest Security Council status report on the Middle East found no tangible progress towards resuming the peace process, with violence continuing to claim innocent lives and neither side taking adequate steps to protect civilians or meet their international legal obligations. Over the last month, 54 Palestinians had been killed and 400 Palestinians and 23 Israelis injured, bringing the total number of Palestinian casualties to 34,770 and the total number of Israeli casualties to 6,102, since the intifada. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sc8166.doc.htm

In Gaza, Israeli operations continued, with missile launches and house demolitions. One helicopter missile fired at people in the street injured 14, four critically. The 12-year-old boy shot by Israeli soldiers at the weekend has died of his injuries.

Iraq is holding a conference on creating an interim assembly, amid continued violence and a nearby mortar attack. Political developments continue to be overshadowed by violence, dominated by a week of fierce fighting in the holy city of Najaf in which hundreds are reported dead and injured. The presence of US troops in one of Shiite Islam's holiest sites has inflamed Shiites around the world and inspired fighters from as near as Iran and as far as the UK to join in the fighting. Britain has warned that if its citizens (some have been stopped at the airport) take up arms against its forces in Iraq they could face treason charges. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mosque12aug12,1,3755516,print.story

Lebanon continues to see over-flights by Israel, but Israel's General Moshe Yaalon said that withdrawal from the Golan Heights would not endanger Israel's security and could be part of a peace deal with Syria.

In the West Bank, clashes in Nablus killed an 18-year-old girl and wounded ten Palestinians, and an armed Tanzim man was killed in a gunfight on Tuesday. On Wednesday Fatah militants set off a car bomb near a checkpoint, killing at least two Palestinians and injuring six Israeli troops and injuring 13. An al-Aqsa Brigades gunman ambushed a Jewish settler who later died of his injuries. The gunman was killed by security guards.

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7. South Asia

Afghanistan's election commission has approved 18 candidates for the October 9 presidential elections, including the sole woman. Of the 23 applicants, two withdrew and three were rejected. http://www.elections-afghanistan.org.af/ Candidate profiles: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3541726.stm Additional NATO troops meant to support the elections are still not in place. A greater threat is the continued violence. On Saturday, fighting in Herat between governor Ismail Khan and rival warlord Amanullah Khan has killed at least 50 people.

India's state of high alert for Independence Day was largely focused on the capital, New Delhi that has been targeted in recent years, and in Bombay that has also been subject to several attacks. In the event, the northeastern state of Assam was the target. A bomb exploded at a college parade ground, killing at least 18, many children and their mothers, and injuring dozens more. The night before a grenade exploded in a cinema, killing four and injuring several others. Police attributed the attacks to one of the eight separatist groups.

The Indian state of Manipur recommended to the federal government that the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) is withdrawn and the recommendation has been accepted. This followed a week of human rights protests led by 32 different organizations that were sparked by an alleged rape and murder in custody under special army powers provided under the controversial legislation. Police used force to break up the protests and hundreds of people were injured. The army says these draconian powers are necessary to combat separatists, but repeated allegations of abuse and military impunity are widely considered to have strengthened the separatists.

Indian officials and Kashmiri separatists held talks necessary as part of the broader peace process with Pakistan but they broke down when an Indian minister insisted the talks be conducted within the terms of the Indian constitution that says Kashmir is an integral part of India. Separatists reject that demand as unacceptable and prejudicial to their goals.

India and Nepal plan to require some form of identification for border crossings.

The Maldives are under indefinite state of emergency following pro-democracy protests and demands for release of political prisoners that involved several thousand people and in which up to 20 activists were arrested.

Nepal has launched a major offensive , including air attacks, against Maoist rebels in the western hill district of Accham where they believe rebel leaders have been assembling for a planned assault.

Pakistan increased security measures in connection with Independence Day. In addition to increasing the presence of security forces, the government withdrew permission for the hardline Islamic Jammat ud Dawa (formerly Lashkar-e-Toiba) to hold a rally in Lahore. The group has been banned since being declared a terrorist organisation by the US. Instead of the rally they plan smaller local meetings. Tensions in the country have been particularly high after operations targeting al Qaeda in which up to 25 suspects were arrested.

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels killed at least three supporters of breakaway leader Colonel Karuna. The violence among the rival Tamil Tiger factions is inhibiting reestablishment of the peace process.

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8. Cyberterrorism and Information Warfare

Next Generation Security Software Ltd claims it has discovered over 30 critical security vulnerabilities in all versions of Oracle's database server. http://www.nextgenss.com/

The Mosquito Trojan is the first malicious virus targeting mobile phones, since the Cabir proof-of-concept was released. It poses as a legitimate game and attacks the Symbian Series 60 operating system, installing a program to send text messages to premium rate numbers. http://www.symbian.com/press-office/2004/pr040810.html

Netcraft reports that phishing attacks are spreading malicious code through banner ads. http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2004/08/06/phishing_attacks_using_banner_ads_to_spread_malware.html

Microsoft released the Windows XP upgrade intended to improve security. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/features.mspx

Secunia announced a critical vulnerability in AOL Instant Messenger that can allow execution of arbitrary code on the user's system. http://secunia.com/advisories/12198/

Dan Verton and Lucas Mearian write of "Online Data a Gold Mine for Terrorists: IT's high-alert response overlooks corporate sites" in Computerworld, August 9. http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,95108,00.html

The US National Institute for Standards and Technology has published " Forensic Examination of Digital Evidence: A Guide for Law Enforcement" that includes new information on digital forensics for personal computers, handheld devices and mobile phones. Publications number NCJ 199408 can be downloaded from the National Institute of Justice at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs.htm

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9. Finance

The Center for Security Police published "Terrorism Investments of the 50 States", finding that "America's 100 largest and most prominent public pension systems hold in their portfolios some $200 billion worth of stock in public companies that do business in terrorist-sponsoring states". http://www.divestterror.org/ http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/index.jsp?section=papers&code=04-P_06

The European Union' s independent Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) issued a provisional finding that "To date, there is no evidence that funds from the non-targeted EU Direct Budget Assistance to the Palestinian Authority have been used to finance illegal activities, including terrorism". http://europa.eu.int/comm/anti_fraud/press_room/pr/2004/15_en.html

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) registered a 30 percent increase in official diamond exports between July 10 - 30 following an international ban on diamonds in Republic of Congo. The illegal diamond trade in DRC is still estimated at $450 million per year. http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=42631

The Combined Federal Campaign that combines charitable donations from US federal workers, will enforce a requirement that participating charities screen their workers and volunteers against terrorist screening lists beginning October 1. The American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International and other national nonprofits argue this is ineffective and a violation of privacy rights. They and other national charities plan to fight the rule. http://www.opm.gov/cfc/opmmemos/2003/2003-7.asp http://www.opm.gov/cfc/opmmemos/2003/2003-10.asp

The British Patent Office announced the first Intellectual Property Crime Strategy meant to combat counterfeiting and piracy. http://www.patent.gov.uk/media/pressrelease/2004/1008.htm

British banking regulators say they have given permission for The Islamic Bank of Britain to start operating in the UK. It will be the UK's first purely Islamic bank, headquartered in Birmingham, where there is a substantial Muslim community.
http://www.islamic-bank.com/islamicbanklive/GuestHome/1/Home/1/Home.jsp

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10. Human Rights

The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) held its first regional consultation in Latin America, to discuss new problems for refugees and governments generated by the war on terrorism. They also observed the 20th anniversary of the Cartagena Declaration that addressed the needs of victims of armed conflicts and human rights abuses in Latin America. http://www.unhcr.ch/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home/+cwwBme4SMrexxwwwwnwwwwwwwhFqnN0bItFqnDni5zFqnN0bIAFqnN0bIDzmxwwwwwww1FqnN0bI/opendoc.htm

India carried out its first execution since 1995 with the hanging of convicted rapist and murderer Dhananjoy Chatterjee.
Ryan Matthews became the 115th death row inmate in the US to be exonerated in the last 25 years after DNA testing failed to establish any forensic link to the 1977 murder of which he was accused. He had just turned 17 at the time and the Supreme Court will hear a case next term regarding the constitutionality of executions for 16- and 17-year olds.

Iraq has reintroduced the death penalty. Europeans among coalition forces are lobbying for the decision to be repealed and in some cases suggest they may not be able to turn captured suspects over to Iraqi authorities if they face the death penalty.

August 9 was the International Day of the World?s Indigenous People
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/news/news_internationalday2004-1.htm

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11. Law and Legal Issues

Kamran Akhtar ("Kamran Shaikh") was arrested in North Carolina, US, on immigration violations. He was found videotaping buildings including financial institutions, in several US cities, and evidence will be placed before a grand jury to determine whether to indict him on other charges. http://www.ice.gov/graphics/news/newsreleases/articles/081004AkhtarPakistanCase.htm

Ahmed Chalabi, Iraqi National Congress leader and US ally while exiled under the Saddam Hussein regime, has been charged in Iraq with counterfeiting money.

Salem Chalabi, head of the special tribunal trying Saddam Hussein and Ahmed Chalabi's nephew, has been charged in Iraq with murder, for the death in June of Haithem Fadhil, the director-general of the Iraqi finance ministry

Mounir al-Motassadek was the only person found guilty to aiding the September 11 attacks, but his February 2003 conviction in Germany was quashed this March when Abdelghani Mzoudi was acquitted of the same charges. This followed reports that al Qaeda suspect Binalshibh told US interrogators that the Hamburg cell consisted only of himself and three of the hijackers. Motassadek is now being retried. Prosecutors believed that evidence from Binalshibh and other suspects would support their case, but the US Department of Justice has refused to provide any classified information, including whether Binalshibh has been detained. They have offered instead to send an FBI agent to testify.

Major-General Sriyanto Muntrasan was acquitted in Indonesia of human rights abuses including the killings of 23 anti-government protesters in the 1994 Tanjung Priok incident.

Terry Nichols, an accomplice in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing was sentenced to life in prison for each of 161 murder charges. He is already serving a life sentence on federal charges of conspiracy and the involuntary manslaughter of eight federal officers.

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12. Transportation

The 35th annual Pacific Islands forum "recognised the serious risks to the region's trade and tourism of non-compliance with international transport security measures". They called for:
* Establishing a network of central contact points,
* Holding a counter-terrorism working group in advance of the 2005 meeting of the Forum Regional Security Committee
* Working on extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters
* Coordinating views from members and regional specialised law enforcement agencies on possibly conducting a regional counter-terrorism contingency planning exercise http://www.forumsec.org.fj/news/2004/August/Aug_09.htm

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced new border control policies to expand the policy of expedited removal and expand the time restriction of Mexican border-crossing cards. http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3930 Customs and Border Protection, with the Food and Drug Administration, have issued a revised compliance schedule for prior notice rules related to the Bioterrorism Act's advance notification of food shipments. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/press_releases/08122004.xml

DHS has also warned of the use of tourist helicopters and trucks in attacks. For background on vehicle bombs see https://terrorismcentral.com/Newsletters/2003/090703.html#FeatureArticle

International Maritime Organization regulations for compulsory automatic ship identification that come info force in December currently call for notification at a range of 50 miles. The US is pushing for earlier notification, at a range of 2,000 miles. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3583598&thesection=news&thesubsection=world

The US Transportation Security Administration has begun development of a new ID card for transportation workers to improve security at seaports, airports, rail, pipeline, trucking and mass transit facilities. They plan a tamper-proof credential containing biometric information. http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?theme=44&content=09000519800c10bd

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13. Weapons of Mass Destruction

Following news of three more human deaths from avian influenza the World Health Organization, investigating the recent cases, warns of the high risk of poultry to human transmission and the risk that avian influenza can evolve into a human pandemic. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_08_12/en/"

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) completed its annual inspection of nuclear materials remaining in Iraq under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/PressReleases/2004/prn200406.html"

Initial IAEA findings regarding trace particles of enriched uranium found in Iran indicate the material was inadvertently brought into the country on contaminated equipment purchased on the black market.

Kansai Electric Power Company, which operates the Mihama nuclear power plant in Japan, stopped power generation following the rupture of a severely corroded pipe that released super-heated water from a turbine, killing four and injuring seven. Officials reported no release of radiation. It has since emerged that the plant had not been properly inspected for 28 years and now all 11 of the company's nuclear reactors will be closed for urgent safety checks. http://www.kepco.co.jp/english/
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/PressReleases/2004/prn200407.html

The US government will increase financing of projects to address Uzbekistan's biological weapons programs, a legacy of the Soviet Union, by another $21 million. This will help fund an infectious disease research laboratory and create 14 regional diagnostic monitoring centers that can detect dangerous biological agents.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved pentetate calcium trisodium injection (Ca-DTPA) and pentetate zinc trisodium injection (Zn-DTPA) for treatment of certain kinds of internal contamination from radioactive elements. The Acting Commissioner said this approval was " another example of FDA?s readiness and commitment to protecting Americans against all terrorist threats". http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01103.html

The US Department of Energy's Inspector General published several important reports this month, related to critical issues of security and preparedness. http://www.ig.doe.gov/new.htm

Researchers report on two mechanisms of antibiotic tolerance in two papers in Science this week, one on persister cells and one on the SOS response. http://www.sciencemag.org/ http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20040813/01

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14. Recently Published

Thomas Barnett, "The Pentagon's New Map" Putnam

Robert C Byrd, "Losing America: Confronting a Reckless and Arrogant President" WW Norton

Steve Crawshaw, "Easier Fatherland: Germany and the Twenty-First Century" Continuum

FX et al, "Stealing the Network: How to Own a Continent" Syngress (fiction)

Melvyn C Goldstein, et al, "A Tibetan Revolutionary: The Political Life and Times of Bapa Phuntso Wangye" University of California Press

Tahar Ben Jelloun, transl Linda Coverdale, "The Blinding Absence of Light" New Press

Paul D Kennedy, "Doing Business with Kuwait", Kogan Page
http://www.kogan-page.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=319

Lewis Lapham, "Gag Rule: On the Suppression of Dissent and the Stifling of Democracy" Penguin

D van Well-Stam et al, "Project Risk Management" Kogan Page
http://www.kogan-page.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=4116

Michael Walzer, "Arguing About War" Yale University Press

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FEATURE ARTICLE: Comparative Emergency Preparedness

Last week's Feature on "Terrorism Warnings" described some of the best practices in crisis communications. One of these key recommendations is to provide guidance on recommended measures to counter the threat. At the same time, most disasters don't give much advance notice. Emergency preparedness addresses this by showing how to be ready to deal with the unexpected, whether it is a terrorist attack, a natural disaster, or some other unanticipated event. This week we look at how three governments have addressed this need for individuals in Australia, Britain, and the US.

Australia and the US issued household emergency advice in February 2003, in the lead-up to the war in Iraq and increased threat environment associated with it. Emergency Management Australia (EMA), part of the Attorney General's Department, is responsible for disaster planning and response. They worked with other agencies to develop public information campaign on terrorism called National Security Australia. In addition to an advertising campaign, they sent to every household an information kit that included a booklet and emergency contact information on a refrigerator magnet.

The 20-page booklet included information on preparing for an emergency, first aid, advice for specific situations, and so on. It's recommends that the emergency kit include:

The campaign cost A$15 million. On the plus side, the campaign was multicultural and included broadcasts on indigenous and community radio stations. The booklet was published in 32 languages: Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, Croatian, Dari, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indigenous, Indonesian, Italian, Khmer, Korean, Macedonian, Maltese, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Serbian, Sinhalese, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Turkish, and Vietnamese. On the negative side, the refrigerator magnet was widely ridiculed and the campaign won Privacy International's "Most Egregiously Stupid Award" for stupid security measures.

In the US the Federal Emergency Management Agency now part of the Department of Homeland Security, takes the lead in providing such information. There has been no national campaign, although individuals and departments often hold industry and town meetings with small groups. The primary source of information is online, through the readiness web site: www.ready.gov. It's recommended basic emergency kit calls for:

Advice in this booklet is simple and low-key. It suggests that:
If you are at home and an emergency happens, try to gather together:

Also, it is always useful to have:

Underlying all of these campaigns is a faith that the government and civil defense systems will survive an attack and be available to you in a reasonable amount of time. This, of course, depends on the circumstances.

Emergency advice during the Cold War was far more frightening, offering advice for surviving a nuclear holocaust. For example, "Protect and Survive" describes how to build a fall-out room and improvised toilet, understanding warning sounds, and dealing with dead bodies. The booklet would be distributed to every household if Britain ever faced immediate threat of nuclear war. This survival kid, in the fall-out room, included:

The advice has changed, but emergency requirements from 1955 remind us of the potential scale of a truly massive disaster.

Today, you need to adjust personal, family, and business emergency preparedness to your own estimation of the threat environment and your own appetite for risk.

Additional Resources:

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