How to Write an Essay on Globalization

How to Write an Essay on Globalization Creating your own piece of work, first of all, requires well-planned work process. To start with, it is recommended to build up an outline for your essay. Let us use as an example the topic â€Å"The opportunities that globalization provides will lead to a more equitable world†. The structure we are going to offer is typical and standard, that is: introduction, body, and conclusion. Gather all information concerning the globalization opportunities using different sources like printed books, online libraries, journals or have an interview with qualified experts in this area. While getting acquainted with the notion of globalization, you can already have your own point of view concerning the globalization process and express your own opinion throughout the essay. Start working on the introduction part. In this section you will light up the main points you are going to discuss in your essay and the main ideas of your work. First of all, give the definition of what the globalization is. It is recommended to mention that the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century were notable for changing from the sovereignty of nation to the globalization. You can mention that in such areas like finance, trade, environmental law and others the world community is moving away from the individual state control to the global solutions, networks and policies. Industrialized and developing nations get their own opportunities from the national economic integration. In the body of your essay, you can pay attention to the main opportunities of globalization. The first and the most important opportunity is the free trade and, as a result, the consequential effect on the global economy. The second opportunity provided by the globalization process, can be called TRF’s or transnational regulatory frameworks. As we have already mentioned, there’s less and less individual industry and economy control that nations have. When the question is about global network, it usually assumes more control. At the same time, global network should be also concerned about the welfare of both nations each taken separately and for the global community in general. The third and the last opportunity of globalization to mention, is the rights’ institution of intellectual property. As we see, the global community becomes more and more limitless, copyrights honoring within a nation state becomes more and more inadequate. Thus, rights of intellectual property were established in order to provide world copyrights with protection. In the conclusion part, you can summarize what has been already said and express your own opinion concerning the problem which will be the main point of your essay.

The Moral And Ethical Issues Of Artificial Intelligence

fertilization, surrogate motherhood, and human cloning once were considered immoral, but since moral codes changed due to cultural settings, they became interweaved into the culture’s fabric and became acceptable. The key to understanding the moral and ethical issues raised by artificial intelligence are the four levels on which intelligent artifacts raise ethical and moral problems. The first level concerns the ethical uses of computers and how humans respond to a world that is constantly being transformed by artificial intelligence machines. With the rapid growth of the internet, it sets the values of people’s security and privacy to a higher standard. New inventions such as telepresence and telecommuting challenge how humans deal with†¦show more content†¦In the book Artificial Intelligence and Natural Man, author Margaret Boden explains how humans are grounded to the material world. When this book was published, many people took offense and considered the explanation dehumanizing. But the bottom line is that human nature spawns deviant behavior codes. Examples of these deviant behavior codes would be Social Darwinism, which justified killing off any person who could not be independent in society. The Nazis took this idea to mean that anyone who was Jewish or had mental defects should be terminated. Today, with artificial intelligence machines, genetic engineering can form human organs or even create babies. However, genetic engineering could be easily abused and present a more subtle moral and ethical dilemma than it did in the past. At the third level, ethical and moral issues are about the new obligations and duties that humans have toward artificial intelligent machines. One of the many unknown questions is if artificial intelligence will be able to experience pain and suffering like humans. This would make humans obliged to avoid doing actions that would result in pain towards artificial intelligence machines. An example would be the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). This organization says that animals experience pain and suffering as much as humans do, and deserve to be treated with the same moral code that humans apply to each other. The answer to treating other livingShow MoreRelatedEssay On Artificial Intelligence1515 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction I chose Artificial Intelligence since I believe that it is extremely intriguing and important in the field of Information Technology. Artificial Intelligence is the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages. AI is usually defined as the capability of a computer program to perform tasks or reasoning processes that we associateRead MoreSocial and Ethical Impact of Artificial Intelligence Essay examples1503 Words   |  7 PagesContents Introduction III History III What is Artificial Intelligence? III Social and Ethical Issues Associated with Artificial Intelligence IV Part I Social Impact of Artificial Intelligence IV Part II Advantages IV Part III Disadvantages IV Ethical Impact of Artificial Intelligence V Conclusion VI Bibliography VII Introduction As our world expands through the growing abilities and applications of computersRead MoreEssay about Social And Ethical Impact Of Artificial Intelligence1370 Words   |  6 Pagesthousands of years, from stories of Pygmalion to the tales of the Jewish Golem. Anat Treister-Goren, Ph.D. (http://www.a-i.com/) The concepts of the development of artificial intelligence can be traced as far back as ancient Greece. Even something as small as the abacus has in someway led to the idea of artificial intelligence. However, one of the biggest breakthroughs in the area of AI is when computers were invented. Many encyclopaedias and other reference works state that the first large-scaleRead MoreThe Controversy of Artificial Intelligence1476 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout its history, artificial intelligence has always been a topic with much controversy. Should human intelligence be mimicked? If so, are there ethical bounds on what computers should be programmed to do? These are a couple of question that surround the artificial intelligence controversy. This paper will discuss the pros and cons of artificial intelligence so that you will be able to make an educated decision on the issue. What is Artificial Intelligence? The first step in getting anywhereRead MoreCreating Artificial Intelligence And Robots Essay1542 Words   |  7 Pagestechnology and machines that help with everyday life. The thought of androids or artificial intelligence is always in question of whether or not it’s an ideal choice to make. The idea cannot be backed down since there has been some developments of self-driven cars and there have been androids created such as Erica (Bloomberg, 2016). As the world develops, so does the moral problem to creating artificial intelligence and robots. As to having such intelligent robots, the idea is mostly targeted towardsRead MoreArtificial Intelligence Is The Most Controversial Field877 Words   |  4 Pagesinformation scientists know about artificial intelligence has increased to levels never reached before. In 1968, the first computer controlled walking machine was created and today, robots are replacing humans in the work industry (History 5). By the year 2029, it is predicted that robots will be able to outsmart their makers (Khomami 1). More knowledge about artificial intelligence is being acquired by scientists. There are several advantages that come with artificial intelligence in robots, but coupled withRead MoreThe Self Driving Car Launched By Google Inc. Essay1744 Words   |  7 Pages Technological advancement as a fact of human intelligence has always been inspirational. We are delighted to view all the progress of technology and artificial intelligence that brings convenience to human beings and our planet as a whole. However, technology, which has been considered good in itself, is invading in almost all the industries and starting to replace human professions. When we walk into a grocery stores, we can see self-checkout machines happily and efficiently doing their calculationsRead MoreThe Benefits Of Driverless Cars1574 Words   |  7 Pageswithout the presence of humans on the driver seat, it is an exciting news for technology lovers and t heir followers. However, for those who are worried about artificial intelligence and their failure, it might be the bad news. Autonomous vehicles are definitely the outcome of the hard work done by our engineers in the artificial intelligence field. They apparently design the driverless vehicle technology for the betterment of the public. These driverless cars can be very beneficial for all kind ofRead MoreArtificial Intelligence is the Highest Form of Technology709 Words   |  3 PagesArtificial Intelligence Artificial Intelligence â€Å"is any intellect that vastly outperforms the best human brains in practically every field† (Bostrom). Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the highest forms of technology that we can create and can benefit the world in many ways if done correctly. The United States need to focus more resources on building this technology because there is no moral issues about building AI; working on it now is much safer than waiting for someone else, another nationRead MoreHow Technology Has Changed Our Life1643 Words   |  7 Pagessurprised by the dramatically changing. Technology in daily life is rapidly pullulating (Kline). However, as the format of our daily life is changing, the conflict of the new lifestyle with the perfection of relevant moral ethics is coming up. We have to take serious in the ethical impacts causing by the new lifestyles, which arises only in thirty to forty years but challenges the structure of society forming hundred years. According to the article Introduction to Philosophy of Technology, â€Å"philosophy

An Introduction to Psychological Warfare

Psychological warfare is the planned tactical use of propaganda, threats, and other non-combat techniques during wars, threats of war, or periods of geopolitical unrest to mislead, intimidate, demoralize, or otherwise influence the thinking or behavior of an enemy. While all nations employ it, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) lists the tactical goals of psychological warfare (PSYWAR) or psychological operations (PSYOP) as: Assisting in overcoming an enemy’s will to fightSustaining the morale and winning the alliance of friendly groups in countries occupied by the enemyInfluencing the morale and attitudes of people in friendly and neutral countries toward the United States To achieve their objectives, the planners of psychological warfare campaigns first attempt to gain total knowledge of the beliefs, likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities of the target population. According to the CIA, knowing what motivates the target is the key to a successful PSYOP.   A War of the Mind As a non-lethal effort to capture hearts and minds, psychological warfare typically employs  propaganda to influence the values, beliefs, emotions, reasoning, motives, or behavior of its targets. The targets of such propaganda campaigns can include governments, political organizations, advocacy groups, military personnel, and civilian individuals. Simply a form of  cleverly â€Å"weaponized† information, PSYOP propaganda may be disseminated in any or all of several ways: Face-to-face verbal communicationAudiovisual media, like television and moviesAudio-only media including shortwave radio broadcasts like those of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty or Radio HavanaPurely visual media, like leaflets, newspapers, books, magazines, or posters More important than how these weapons of propaganda are delivered is the message they carry and how well they influence or persuade the target audience.   Three Shades of Propaganda In his 1949 book, Psychological Warfare Against Nazi Germany, former OSS (now the CIA) operative Daniel Lerner details the U.S. militarys WWII Skyewar campaign. Lerner separates psychological warfare propaganda into three categories:   White propaganda: The information is truthful and only moderately biased. The source of the information is cited.Grey propaganda: The information is mostly truthful and contains no information that can be disproven. However, no sources are cited.Black propaganda: Literally â€Å"fake news,† the information is false or deceitful and is attributed to sources not responsible for its creation. While grey and black propaganda campaigns often have the most immediate impact, they also carry the greatest risk. Sooner or later, the target population identifies the information as being false, thus discrediting the source. As Lerner wrote, Credibility is a condition of persuasion. Before you can make a man do as you say, you must make him believe what you say.† PSYOP in Battle   On the actual battlefield, psychological warfare is used to obtain confessions, information, surrender, or defection by breaking the morale of enemy fighters.   Some typical tactics of battlefield PSYOP include:   Distribution of pamphlets or flyers encouraging the enemy to surrender and giving instructions on how to surrender safelyThe visual â€Å"shock and awe† of a massive attack employing vast numbers of troops or technologically advanced weaponsSleep deprivation through the continual projection of loud, annoying music or sounds toward enemy troopsThe threat, whether real or imaginary, of the use of chemical or biological weaponsRadio stations created to broadcast propagandaRandom use of snipers, booby traps, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs)â€Å"False flag† events: attacks or operations designed to convince the enemy that they were carried out by other nations or groups In all cases, the objective of battlefield psychological warfare is to destroy the morale of the enemy leading them to surrender or defect.   Early Psychological Warfare While it might sound like a modern invention, psychological warfare is as old as war itself. When soldiers the mighty Roman Legions rhythmically beat their swords against their shields they were employing a tactic of shock and awe designed to induce terror in their opponents.   In the 525 B.C. Battle of Peluseium, Persian forces held cats as hostages  in order to gain a psychological advantage over the Egyptians, who due to their religious beliefs, refused to harm cats.   To make the number of his troops seem larger than they actually were, 13th century A.D. leader of the Mongolian Empire Genghis Khan ordered each soldier to carry three lit torches at night. The Mighty Khan also designed arrows notched to whistle as they flew through the air, terrifying his enemies. And in perhaps the most extreme shock and awe tactic, Mongol armies would catapult severed human heads over the walls of enemy villages to frighten the residents. During the  American Revolution, British troops wore brightly colored uniforms in an attempt to intimidate the more plainly dressed troops of George Washington’s Continental Army. This, however, proved to be a fatal mistake as the bright red uniforms made easy targets for Washington’s even more demoralizing American snipers. Modern Psychological Warfare Modern psychological warfare tactics were first used  during World War I. Technological advances in electronic and print media made it easier for governments to distribute propaganda through mass-circulation newspapers. On the battlefield, advances in aviation made it possible to drop leaflets behind enemy lines and special non-lethal artillery rounds were designed to deliver propaganda. Postcards dropped over German trenches by British pilots bore notes supposedly handwritten by German prisoners extolling their humane treatment by their British captors. During  World War II, both Axis and Allied powers regularly used PSYOPS. Adolf Hitlers rise to power in Germany was driven largely by propaganda designed to discredit his political opponents. His furious speeches mustered national pride while convincing the people to blame others for Germany’s self-inflicted economic problems. Use of radio broadcast PSYOP reached a peak in World War II. Japans famous Tokyo Rose broadcast music with false information of Japanese military victories to discourage allied forces. Germany employed similar tactics through the radio broadcasts of Axis Sally.   However, in perhaps the most impactful PSYOP in WWII, American commanders orchestrating the leaking of false orders leading the German high command to believe the allied D-Day invasion would be launched on the beaches of Calais, rather than Normandy, France. The Cold War was all but ended when U.S. President Ronald Reagan publicly released detailed plans for a highly sophisticated â€Å"Star Wars† Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) anti-ballistic missile system capable of destroying Soviet nuclear missiles before they re-entered the atmosphere. Whether any of Reagan’s â€Å"Star Wars† systems could have really been built or not, Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev believed they could. Faced with the realization that the costs of countering U.S. advances in nuclear weapons systems could bankrupt his government, Gorbachev agreed to reopen dà ©tente-era negotiations resulting in lasting nuclear arms control treaties.   More recently, the United States responded to the September 11, 2001 terror attacks by launching the Iraq War with a massive â€Å"shock and awe† campaign intended to break the Iraqi army’s will to fight and to protect the country’s dictatorial leader Saddam Hussein. The U.S. invasion began on March 19, 2003, with two days of non-stop bombing of Iraq’s capital city of Baghdad. On April 5, U.S. and allied Coalition forces, facing only token opposition from Iraqi troops, took control of Baghdad. On April 14, less than a month after the shock and awe invasion began, the U.S. declared victory in the Iraq War.   In todays ongoing  War on Terror, the Jihadist terrorist organization ISIS uses social media websites and other online sources to conduct psychological campaigns designed to recruit followers and fighters from around the world.

Teaching Methods For General Psychology - 918 Words

I believe I have fairly effective study methods for general psychology, but there are things I could change. The main form of studying that I do for this class is note taking, which is very helpful for me. Currently I do most of my studying in the room, but when I study in the library it seems like I am able to get much more work completed. I tend to get very distracted by my phone when I’m studying. I have positive reinforcement of getting a good grade in this class. Typically I study with my roommate who is also in general psychology. This can be distracting sometimes, but it is also helpful because we are able to prepare for exams together and talk through any concepts that one of us doesn’t understand. The three things I want to do to improve my study behaviors are new location, setting up a schedule, and eliminating competing behavior, specifically my phone. The new location that I would choose is a study room in the library, this would become a new antecedent or signal for me to study. A study room is a much better study location than my dorm because my dorm is more of a signal to relax and hang out with my friends or watch netflix. The next thing that I want to do to improve my study habits is set up a schedule for studying. Right now I just study whenever I feel like and I do whatever homework I feel like doing at that present time. I’m usually done with class around 3:00 or 3:30, so the best times for me to study would be right after class until dinner atShow MoreRelatedA Research Study On Learning Theory Essay979 Words   |  4 Pagesabout learning theory was seen as a practice, psychology and science was found in the literature of scholars across the world. The Germany scholar named Lay (1903) studied the relationship between psychology and the practice of teaching subjects in Language Arts and Literacy and math (Lay, 1903. P.1). Based upon Lay (1903) she believed that educational subjects could benefit from an experimental approach that explored the relative sciences in psychology, biology, and, anthropology. However, the economicalRead MoreTeaching Research Methods Within The Classroom1288 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract Psychology undergraduates are required to study research methods within their course. Psychology undergraduates are required to study research methods within their course. Within this are many different statistical definitions which have been considered the most challenging aspect of the curriculum. An individual undergraduate psychology student took part in this study. The study aimed to increase the accuracy and fluency of the recall of these definitions by applying an interventionRead MoreKurt Lewin s Influence On Social Psychology Essay1209 Words   |  5 Pagespsychologist who had the biggest impact on social psychology would be Kurt Lewin. Commonly known as the father of social psychology, Lewin put in countless hours of hard work and research in the study of the individual behavior among social situations. By working with other renowned psychologists, creating theories of his own, and leaving a mark on the world that still thrives today, Kurt Lewin is greatly responsible for the many of the advancements of psychology throughout history. Born in a small townRead MoreThe Evolution of Second- and Foreign- Language Teaching1662 Words   |  7 Pagesand Foreign- Language Teaching (The 19th and 20th Century and The New Era of Second Language Teaching) In his treatment of the historical developments in language pedagogy, Stern (1992) isolates three ways in which language pedagogy has aimed to renew and improve itself:1. Innovation through change in teaching methods; 2. Innovation through language-related sciences and research; 3. Technological innovation. During the nineteenth century, the Grammar-Translation Method with its emphasis onRead MoreLightner Witmer Helped Shape The World Of Psychology The1493 Words   |  6 Pages Lightner Witmer helped shape the world of psychology the way it is today by creating the field of clinical psychology (McReynolds, 1987). His early importance of wanting to focus on individuality became the basis of his clinical method and using a one-to-one approach (Fagan, Witmer s Contribution to School Psychological Services, 1996). After he received his BA he took a teaching position at Rugby Academy. During his second year at Rugby, James Cattell entered the faculty and influenced WitmerRead MoreFactors Affecting Teaching And Leadership Essay1728 Words   |  7 Pages FACTORS AFFECTING TEACHING AND LEADERSHIP Contents Abstract 3 Introduction 4 Theories of psychology of education and learning 4 Benefits of Educational Psychology 5 Constructivism 5 Student Diversity in the Classroom 6 Out-of-School Influences 7 Bibliography 9 Abstract In this assignment, we have tried to list and analyse the factors that affect the teaching and learning of children and young people and evaluate the importance of individual differencesRead MoreThe Field Of Educational Psychology856 Words   |  4 Pages Jack (1997) defined educational psychology as a branch of psychology concerned with the scientific study of human learning. The study of learning processes, from both cognitive and behavioral perspectives, allows researchers to understand individual differences in intelligence, cognitive development, affect, motivation, self-regulation, and self-concept, as well as their role in learning. The field of educational psychology relies heavily on quantitative methods, including testing and measurementRead MoreSocial Psychology : Psychological Psychology1658 Words   |  7 Pagessocial psychology, what shapes our attitudes, what do they do, and what is the income of a social psychologist? Social psychology is important because people h ave gone through depression and anxiety. A social psychology can help one recover from the inside pain. Social psychology is a discipline that uses scientific methods to explain how the brain works, feelings and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined or implied presence of other human beings. Social psychology typicallyRead MoreImportant Aspects Of Teaching And Coaching1325 Words   |  6 Pages Important Aspects of Teaching and Coaching When a sports highlight of a great play showcasing teamwork is watched on a highlight reel, what is the immediate reaction, that play was amazing. Great teams make great plays and often those successful plays transpire to playing field or court due to many hours of practice, handwork, repetition and dedication. Those plays didn’t just miraculously happen. Someone had to draw the game plan up and then figure out the most innovative way instill that playRead MoreDevelopmental Psychology : Psychology And Psychology1105 Words   |  5 Pages Development Psychology Psychology is diverse, and there are many diverse specialty areas available to individuals seeking a career in the field of psychology. Most Psychologists choose to specialize in subfields that focus on specific subjects. Obtaining a profession in any of the specialty areas would require graduate study in that area of interest. Some professionals have a broad general knowledge, are skilled in several areas, and work with a range of clients. Some are specialist in treating

Understanding Relationship Free Essays

The need for relationships is fundamental in our life because humans are social beings. Humans like to socialize because we seek for attention. Furthermore, approval is a psychological need, and by socializing we fulfill that need. We will write a custom essay sample on Understanding Relationship or any similar topic only for you Order Now Relational needs help us to interpret and understand what people really want to get out of relating to each other. It is just like when the least expected person comes by and sit down to lend us his/her ear, we would feel loved. Although relational needs are not the basic needs for survival – like food, air or shelter, they are the key essential elements of our human relationships which make life worth living. It is shown that it can contribute widely to a good quality of life. Many a times, our happiness or despair is affected by the quality of our relationships. The best satisfaction in life comes from good relationships with people whom we love. Not only do we become more confident and relaxed, to love and be loved is the greatest feeling the world. And I’ve learnt that why love is so great? Firstly, love provides warmth to anyone who feels lonely. Secondly, love soothes an anxious and angry heart. Thirdly, love pulls us back from those stressful struggles. Lastly, love can be a huge motivation in our daily life. Nothing can come close to the love that a mother showers her children with. That is one important relationship which makes me who I am today. I can proudly say that most women are excellent mothers. They carry their young before they are born and continue to nurture them throughout their childhood and even into adulthood. Mothers also make sure that their children are safe and happy throughout their growing stage. It is the unconditional love that a mother feels that drives these feelings. Raising children comes with many frustrations, from the needy new born baby that requires regular care to the sullen teenager. A mother’s role is really commendable as they always put their children before anything else, including their comfort and happiness. My strong relationship with my mother made me come to a realization that to experience intimacy in relationships, it is important to build trust, openness and self-awareness when relating. Under the care of my mother for almost 18 years, I have learnt to be a person of good values and I will not stop improving myself! Some of the more qualities which I am more influenced are like – generous, trustworthy, humble, lovable and easy going. I have learnt that self-awareness is having a clear perception of your personality, including strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions. It allows me to understand other people, how they perceive me, my attitude and my responses to them in the moment. Having to develop self-awareness, I am able to change the interpretations in my mind and thus allowing me to change my emotions. This is important because I feel that it is self-awareness that can allow me to be aware of where my thoughts and emotions are actually taking me. Relationships are easy until there is emotional turmoil. This is similar whether one is at work or in his/her personal life. I feel that when one can master to change the interpretation in his/her own mind of emotions will effect on the emotional quality of the relationship. When one can change the emotions in his/her relationship, then new possibilities are opened up entirely in his/her life. From lesson 1, I have learnt that self-awareness is developed through practices in focusing your attention on the details of your personality and behavior. It isn’t learned from reading a book. It is just like when we read a book, we are focusing all of our attention on the conceptual ideas in the book. With our attention focused in a book, one is actually only practicing but not paying attention to his/her own behavior, emotions and personality. One of the few important points that I have learnt to instill self-awareness is to identify my strength and weaknesses and never be afraid to look into the mirror to ponder or reflect about the positive traits I have in myself. In other words, it is engaging in self-affirmation. I have learnt that with self-awareness, this will help the relationship with my loved ones to be a more quality driven one because once I have learnt to love and value myself, I am then able to cherish my partner more without having to care how others judge us. Lesson 1 is definitely an enjoyable and valuable lesson and it has taught me many useful life long skills to prepare myself in future relationships. How to cite Understanding Relationship, Papers

Tropical Cyclone free essay sample

Capacity Development and Training 14. Awareness and Education 15. Contingency Plans 1 What is cyclone Millions of people living in the coastal areas of the west Atlantic, east and south Pacific and north and south Indian Oceans, regularly face the hazards of cyclone, also known as hurricane in the Western Hemisphere, typhoon in the western Pacific, willy willy near Australia and baguious in the Philippines. Every cyclone begins as tropical low-pressure depressions, created by oceanic temperature rising above 26 degrees Celsius, which rotates clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, forming a gigantic and highly volatile atmospheric system with an eye at the vortex (10 to 50 Km) which is a relatively calm area, an eye wall (10 to 15 km in height and 50 km in length) of gale winds and intense clouds and spiral bands of convective clouds with torrential rains (a few km wide and hundreds of km long) that move above 34 knots (64 km per hour). The cyclones moving more than 90 km, 120 km and 225 km per hour respectively have been classified as severe, very severe and super cyclones. The hurricanes in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific basins are classified in Categories I to V as per Saffir-Simpson Intensity Scale1. More often the cyclone blows over and dissipates by its own momentum without causing much damage due to reduction of moisture and increase in surface friction, but sometimes it landfalls on the coastal settlements with very high velocity of wind, torrential rain and massive storm surges, resulting in devastating damages to life and property. Killer Cyclones There are records of many killer cyclones that consumed tens of thousands of human lives, such as the Kyushu typhoon of Japan (1281) that killed more than 100,000 people, the Canton typhoon of China (1862) that took 37,000 lives, the Midnapore (1864) and the Backergunj (1876) cyclone of Bengal that claimed 75,000 and 200,000 lives respectively and the Galveston hurricane of Texas (1900) that left 12,000 dead 2. Cyclones no longer kill such enormous numbers anymore in most of the countries due to various mitigation and preparatory measures; still people die in thousands at many places. The cyclones that killed more than 1000 lives since 1950 are listed below: Table – I: Cyclones that Killed more than 1000 persons since 19503 Basin North Indian Ocean Cyclone Cyclone Cyclone Cyclone Cyclone Cyclone Bhola Cyclone Cyclone Gorky Cyclone Cyclone Year 1963 1965 1965 1965 1970 1985 1991 1971 1977 Countries East Pakistan East Pakistan East Pakistan Karachi, Pakistan East Pakistan Bangladesh Bangladesh Orissa, India Andhra, India Deaths 22,000 17,000 30,000 10,000 300,000 10,000 131,000 10,000 20,000 2 Cyclone Cyclone Cyclone West Hurricane Flora Atlantic Hurricane Inez Hurricane Fifi Hurricane David Hurricane Mitch Hurricane Katrina East and South Typhoon Iris Pacific Typhoon Sarah Typhoon Vera Baguious Thelma 1996 1998 1999 1963 1966 1974 1969 1998 2005 1955 1959 1959 1991 Andhra, India Gujarat, India Orissa, India Cuba, Haiti Caribbean, Mexico Central America Central America Central America New Orleans, USA Fujian, China Japan, South Korea Japan Philippines 1,000 1,000 9,500 8,000 2,000 5,000 2,608 11,000 1,836 2,334 2,000 4,466 3,000 It would be seen that out of a total 602,908 deaths due to these 22 killer cyclones since 1950, North Indian Ocean accounted for 551,500 (93%), Bay of Bengal 540,500 (89. 6%) and Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan) 500,000 (83%). Most of these unfortunate deaths could have been prevented if basic and elementary measures for cyclone mitigation and preparedness were in place in these countries. Analysis of the intensity of cyclones and the deaths and damages caused by them indicate very diverse co-relationship according to the level of economic and social development of the countries and the state of preparedness of the communities. The deadliest of all cyclones in recorded history – the cyclone Bhola of 1970 in East Pakistan – was classified only as Category III (maximum wind speed 205 km, lowest pressure 966 hPa and storm surge 4 m) 4 but it killed three hundred thousand people while the economic loss was estimated at only US$ 86. 4 million. Contrarily hurricane Katrina of August 2005 in New Orleans was classified as Category IV (maximum wind speed 280 km, lowest pressure 902 hPa and storm surge 6 m) 5 but the casualties, despite the terrible mismanagement of the crisis, was limited to 1836, while the economic loss mounted to US$ 81.2 billion. Hurricane Mitch of 1998 in Central America, on the contrary, was classified Category V (maximum wind speed 285 km, lowest pressure 905 hPa and storm surge 8 m) 6 that killed 11,000 people and damaged assets worth US$ 4 billion. The lessons that can be drawn from these three catastrophic cyclonic in three representative poor, rich and middle income countries are that the more developed the countries the less casualties would take place but more economic losses are likely to be sustained.  Conversely in poor countries the human losses would be more but economic losses would be less simply because the unit costs of damages are assessed lower in developing countries. In the middle income countries the damages to life and property would be somewhere in between. The poor countries can however make a big difference if the governments invest to mitigate the effects of cyclone in a cost effective manner and the communities prepare to face the cyclones in a participatory and sustainable manner. Cyclone Risk Mitigation and Preparedness Framework Based on the lessons learnt from the cyclones around the world and the advances made in various related sciences and disciplines on the subject a cyclone risk mitigation and preparedness framework can be presented in the shape of the following diagram: 3 CYCLONE RISK MITIGATION FRAMEWORK Cyclone Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Mapping, Assessment, Analysis Monitoring Participatory Risk Assessment Remote Sensing Geo Information Risk Modeling Total Risk = Mitigable Risk + Acceptable Risk Risk mitigation Structural Sea Wall Embankment Bio-Shield Cyclone Shelter Early Warning communication Cyclone resistant housing and infrastructure Development/ enforcement of Techno-legal Regime Risk transfer/ risk financing Non Structural Awareness Education Early warning Dissemination Community Based Disaster Preparedness Evacuation Plan Emergency Health Management Plan Training Mock Drills Preparedness Contingency Plan at all levels and sectors Risk Mapping, Assessment and Analysis The first and probably the most complex task of cyclone mitigation is to map the hazard, risks and vulnerabilities of cyclone at all levels, analyze and assess the levels of risks and monitor it continuously. It is only on the basis of such a knowledge base that a proper and effective strategy for cyclone risk mitigation and preparedness can be developed. Atmospheric and remote sensing sciences have made a huge progress in the understanding of the phenomenon of cyclones. Satellite images can spot the development of low pressure zones, doppler radars can track them down and instrumented aircrafts can reach the cyclone eye, eye walls and spiral bands to transmit data on wind velocity, pressure and moisture contents of the low pressure zones. Powerful software tools are available to analyze the data to make fairly accurate forecasts on the intensity, direction and location of the landfall and the likely areas to be affected by winds, rain and storm surges. The time series data on cyclones have been utilized to map and zone the areas prone to the hazards of cyclone. Such maps are now available at a regional, district and even subdistrict levels in most of the countries. Such maps are also available in digital formats which enable integration of various spatial data with socio-economic, housing, infrastructure and other variables that can provide a quick assessment of the risks and vulnerabilities of cyclones based on which appropriate mitigation and preparedness strategies can be developed. But actual work on such data integration has been limited to a few areas only and therefore vulnerability analysis has still to be done on the basis of ground level data collection and analysis, which is yet a largely unattended task in most of the countries. 4 The satellite imageries are also supplemented with data regarding topography, vegetation, hydrology, land use- land cover, settlement pattern etc to develop numerical models of storm surge and the inundation levels based on which timely warnings can be issued and realistic evacuation plans can be drawn up to shift the people and cattle likely to be affected by the cyclone. However such theoretical advances on cyclone modeling have been confronted with constraints in practical applications which would require more sustained research for accurate forecasting and simpler application format that would enable transfer of the technology to the planners and emergency response managers. The constraints are further compounded by non-availability of accurate ground level data base and the costs involved in up-scaling such models from a pilot research phase to country wide application phase. Such works are still in progress even in advanced countries and therefore developing countries may not have the benefit of such accurate modeling in the very near future although this is well within the realm of possibility. This only highlights the relevance and importance of community based Participatory Risk Assessment (PRA). Many such PRA tools have been developed in coastal areas which capture the intimate knowledge and perception that a community has about its own risks and vulnerabilities. Such perceptions have often been validated by scientific analysis, lending credence to the reliability, simplicity and cost effectiveness of such assessment. More importantly, it involves the communities in the entire process making it democratic, sustainable and proactive and definitely facilitates bridging the gap between assessment and preparedness or knowledge and action. Historically the coastal communities have faced the furies of nature and have inherited an intuitive and holistic knowledge of the way the nature behaves and the impact it has on animals, plants and human lives and livelihood. Accordingly communities have learnt to develop indigenous coping mechanisms for survival, which were internalized as life style activities and transmitted from one generation to another. Many isolated communities in the coasts have survived through this process. Unfortunately the process of so-called modernization and globalization are resulting in changes in the life style of the coastal communities and many of the traditional wisdoms and practices are fast dying out. There is a need to document these practices, assess their relevance and adapt them according to the changing conditions. Therefore the ideal tool for assessment of cyclone risks and vulnerabilities at the local level should be a combination of scientific and traditional knowledge, each supplementing the other in a manner that science corrects those superstitions and dogmas of traditional knowledge that are not substantiated and traditional knowledge enriches scientific truths with those time tested experiments and experience of centuries that can not be simulated. Such ideal solutions are not very common, but the two complementary processes – increasing spread of scientific education on the one hand and growing respect of traditional and indigenous knowledge on the other – are creating awareness of such solutions, highlighting need for increased collaboration among the physical and social scientists for cyclone risk assessment and analysis at the local level. Total and Acceptable Risk Any strategy for cyclone risk mitigation or for that matter mitigation of any disaster risk would depend on correct estimation of total and acceptable risks. The concept of ‘total risk’ connotes the sum total of all probable harmful consequences or expected losses from a disaster such as deaths, injuries, damages to movable or immovable property, livelihoods, infrastructure, disruption of economic activities or environment damages. It may not always be easy to project such damages, such as environmental or psycho-social damages would be difficult to be quantified, but based on correct risk assessment of disasters it should be 5 possible to construct different scenarios of total risks according to the intensity, location or time of disasters. Once realistic assessment of total risks are available, the countries and communities should make strategic decisions on how much of these risks can be prevented outright, how much can be mitigated and to what extent by the various agencies. The residual risks that can neither be prevented nor mitigated in a cost effective manner in the given social, economic, political, cultural, technical or environmental conditions can be regarded as ‘acceptable risks’. Therefore the level of ‘acceptable risk’ would vary from place to place and also from time to time. Once the level of ‘acceptable risk’ is decided countries and communities must be prepared to face these risks so that the damages to life, livelihood and property from these risks can be reduced to their minimum. Ideally the level of preparedness should be equal to the level of ‘acceptable risk’. Excess preparedness in any sector or level would be wasteful which should better be avoided. Similarly deficit in preparedness would be taking a chance with risks that may cause avoidable damages. Structural and Non Structural Mitigation Given the nature of the cyclonic hazards, it shall not be possible to prevent the risks of cyclone however advanced the country may be socially or economically, as has been well demonstrated during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina in the USA. On the contrary there are indications that the hazards of cyclone would increase due to the effects of global warming and the resultant climate changes. As the ocean surface temperature rises probability of atmospheric depressions on tropical seas would increase. Similarly as the glacial melts raises the level of ocean the impact of storm surges would be more severe and many sea wall or embankment modeling done in the past may undergo revisions necessitating redefinition of the design parameters of such constructions. In the face of increasing menace of cyclonic hazards, mitigation would remain the key and the most effective strategy to reduce the risks of cyclone. Every country and community has to decide its own mitigation strategy according to its own risks, resources and capabilities. Broadly such strategies would be two fold: structural and non-structural. Structural mitigation measures generally refer to capital investment on physical constructions or other development works, which include engineering measures and construction of hazardresistant and protective structures and other protective infrastructure. Non-structural measures refer to awareness and education, policies techno-legal systems and practices, training, capacity development etc. Sea Wall and Embankments Among the structural mitigation measures sea walls and saline water embankments are probably the most effective and capital intensive investment to mitigate the risks of cyclones. A seawall is a coastal defense constructed usually of reinforced concrete on the inland part of a coast to prevent the ingress of storm surges arising out of cyclones. Sometimes the sea wall is constructed with a multiple purpose of reclaiming low lying land or preventing coastal erosion. The height of sea walls is determined according to the maximum observed height of storm surges which may be as high as 10 meters. Therefore sea walls are usually massive structures which can be built only with a heavy investment. Maintenance of such structures further requires recurrent expenditure. Hence sea walls along the entire coast are never a practicable solution to prevent or mitigate storm surges, but such walls are recommended when valuable assets like a city or a harbor is to be protected. Sea walls can be vertical, sloping or curved. Modern concrete sea walls tend to be curved to deflect the wave energy back out to sea, reducing the force. There are instances of many sea walls which were constructed after devastating cyclones and which successfully prevented such disasters. The most important is the 12 Km long and 17 ft high seawall 6  constructed in Texas after the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 which killed 8000 people. The seawall has never been overtopped by a storm surge from a hurricane, although maintenance of the wall has been beset with various engineering problems. The Gold Coast seawall in Australia was laid along the urban sections of the Gold Coast coastline following 11 cyclones in 1967. The massive stone seawall in Pondicherry constructed and maintained by the French engineers kept the historic city center dry even though tsunami waves of December 2004 had driven water 24 feet above the normal hightide mark. Similarly 3. 5 meter high sea wall in Maldives saved the city of Male from the tsunami. Such success stories are available from many coastal cities. There are also instances where absence of such protective structures near the beaches and resorts and breaches in sea walls near the cities and towns resulted in severe damages to life and property. If sea walls are essential to protect coastal cities and harbors, saline water embankments are recommended to protect rural settlements and to prevent saline water ingress into agricultural and horticultural land. Such embankments are usually a ridge built with earth or rock to contain the storm surges. Cost benefit calculations usually do not permit very high specifications for such constructions and therefore effectiveness of such embankments in preventing or mitigating the impacts of cyclones have been rather limited. Further, saline embankments have the potential to kill the mangroves due to chocking of saline water. Therefore such embankments should be constructed in limited areas where vegetative protection would not be adequate to prevent the ingress of saline water into habitations. Bio-Shields Bio shields usually consist of mangroves, casuarinas salicornia, laucaena, atriplex, palms, bamboo and other tree species and halophytes and other shrub species that inhabit lower tidal zones. These can block or buffer wave action with their stems, which can measure upto 30 meter high and several meters in circumference. They trap sediment in their roots, thereby maintain a shallow slope on the seabed that absorbs the energy of tidal surges. They also break the high velocity of winds and thus protect agricultural crops and shelters besides providing shelter and grazing lands for the livestock and farms. They reduce evaporation from the soil, transpiration from the plants and moderate extreme temperatures. They protect fertile coastal agricultural land from erosion. They also serve as carbon sinks as they help enhance carbon sequestration which makes coastal communities eligible for carbon credit to earn additional income. Besides they promote sustainable fisheries by releasing nutrients in the water. Unfortunately the multiple and long term environmental protection and economic functions of the bio-shields have not been adequately appreciated until very recently. Unabated anthropogenic pressures of coastal settlements and unchecked commercial exploitation of coastal resources have resulted in denudation of such natural buffers exposing large areas to the vagaries of cyclonic storms. In the Indian state of Orissa, where the low-lying coastline has been stripped of mangroves to make way for shrimp farms, the super cyclone of 1999 left more than 10,000 people dead and around 7. 5 million homeless. Although the cyclone affected over 250 km of Orissa’s coastline, it was only the highly denuded area of 100 km through which water surged. Other areas with intact mangrove forests were largely unaffected. Again 7 the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 impacted those areas more severely where the bioshields buffer were either not available or depleted considerably. In such areas tsunami waves made deep ingress into land, ruined crops, drowned livestock and poisoned arable land and water supplies with salt. Mangroves and other coastal habitats, where still in existence, met the tsunami head on. For instance, the Pichavaram mangrove forest, a tourist attraction in Cuddalore district, protected about 6,000 people living in six hamlets located between 100 meters and one kilometer from the mangroves. Seawater did not enter the village and hence there was no loss of property. Therefore systematic regeneration of the bio-shields in the coastal belts wherever feasible is the most natural and cost effective method of protecting these areas from storm surges and erosion. This is not an easy task which can be achieved instantly since there is a time cycle for such plantations to grow and survive against fresh pressures of winds and waves. Therefore serious efforts are required in designing such bio-shields, selecting the appropriate fast growing species suitable to the agro-climatic zones and involving the coastal communities in the maintenance and protection of such buffer zone of plantations. Cyclone Shelter A large number of people in the coastal areas live in thatched houses which cannot withstand the high velocity of wind and storm surges resulting in extensive damages of such houses and deaths and injuries of a large number of poor people. The high rates of casualties in cyclones in Bangladesh and India are primarily due to unsafe buildings in the coastal areas. The poor economic conditions of the people may not permit them to rebuild their houses as per the cyclone resistant designs and specifications. Therefore, community cyclone shelters constructed at appropriate places within the easy access of the habitations of the vulnerable communities can provide an immediate protection from deaths and injuries due to the collapse of houses. Such shelters are usually built on pillars above the danger level of storm surges/inundation, are specious enough to accommodate a few hundred people of the neighboring hamlets and provide provisions of drinking water, sanitation, kitchen, etc. During the normal season such shelters can be utilized as schools, dispensaries or other community purposes. A large number of such cyclone shelters were built in the coastal areas of Bangladesh and eastern and south India, which provided immediate shelters to the vulnerable communities. Drastic reduction in the number of deaths and injuries in the cyclones during the past 5-6 years can be partly attributed to these shelters. Therefore, the governments have placed a very high priority on the construction of such shelters in areas which have hitherto not been covered. Cyclone Resistant Housing Infrastructure Super cyclones with wind velocity of 250 km per hour and above have caused damages to even engineered structures at many places around the world. This was largely due to the absence of appropriate design criteria for construction of buildings and infrastructure which can withstand the pressures of such strong winds. Bureau of Standards of various countries have developed revised design norms which are followed for new constructions. However, the compliance standards of such norms have not been very effective largely due to inadequacies of properly trained engineers 8 and masons who can supervise and raise such constructions. The problem is further compounded by a week and ineffective system of enforcement of the guidelines. The problem is even more complex for the large number of existing structures that have already been constructed without adherence to the revised norms. Such buildings can only be retrofitted with an additional cost which the house owners find reluctant to invest. Various advanced countries have passed legislations which has made retrofitting mandatory. In the developing countries the focus is confined more to strengthening the lifeline buildings which would play a critical role during emergency operations such as hospitals, emergency operation centers, police control rooms etc, leaving other unsafe structures and habitations as ‘acceptable risks’, for which adequate preparedness measures should be developed. Early Warning and Communication Early warning of cyclones and its dissemination to the coastal habitations is an important preparatory measure to reduce the losses of life and property during cyclones. Due to heavy investments involved in the installation, operation and management of modern early warning system, it is also considered as an essential component of structural mitigation. With the rapid development of science and technology the early warning and communication system is undergoing changes. Powerful doppler radar systems can now track the movement of atmospheric depression and accurate early warnings can be issued 48-72 hours in advance about the probability of cyclone, its intensity and wind speed, direction and possible location of the land fall. Such warnings are broadcast through the radio and television network for the information of people in the coastal areas. Based on the data generated by the system numerical modeling on storm surge and flooding can forecast the inundation level from where the affected population can be evacuated to safer places. There are hundreds of such instances where early warning helped to save thousands of lives in the coastal areas. However, inaccuracies in the modeling exercises have some time led to exaggerated responses leading to unnecessary evacuation of hundreds of persons which could have been avoided. Such inaccurate predictions some time reduce the faith of coastal communities on the early warning system, which need to be avoided at any cost. It is expected that with further advances of early warning technology the predictions would be more and more accurate leading to better responses in emergency situations. It is also expected that increasing coverage of radio and television, more extensive use of ham radios and innovative use of mobile communication system would facilitate better dissemination of early warning to the isolated coastal communities particularly in the remote islands. The dissemination system can be made more effective with the active involvement of the communities and households in the preparation of their own cyclone contingency plans. Community Based Disaster Preparedness Communities are the first real time responder to any disaster situation. However developed or efficient a response mechanism could be there would always be a time gap between the disaster and the actual response from the government and other agencies. In the case of Mumbai flood of July 2005 the response time was 12 9 hours while in the case of hurricane Katrina a month later it was more than 48 hours. During this critical period it is the community which has to look towards itself for self help. Therefore if the communities are mobilized and trained to assess their own risk through participatory risk assessment process, develop their own contingency plans and set up their own teams for  evacuation, search and rescue, emergency shelter, first aid etc, the risks of cyclones can be managed with significant reduction in number of deaths and injuries. The post 1991 cyclones in Bangladesh have demonstrated how a Community Based Disaster Preparedness (CBDP) programme could make a drastic reduction in the risks of cyclonic disasters. Therefore, more and more governments have adopted CBDP as an important strategy for disaster risk management particularly in the coastal areas. The Government of Philippines has in fact amended their laws to devolve certain emergency response functions to the communities. The Government of India is implementing the largest ever CBDP programme in 169 multi-hazard districts of 17 States covering nearly 300 million people. Risk Transfer and Risk Financing Mounting economic losses due to cyclones cannot be compensated by the Government whose role would be limited to providing ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of persons who have died or to those sustained injuries and to provide support for the reconstruction of houses and livelihood regeneration for the poor and lower middle class people. Government support would also be necessary for reconstruction of the damaged public assets. The risks of industrial, commercial and other infrastructure and assets in the private and household sector can only be secured through the mechanism of risk financing and risk insurance. As the country develops, the share of private sector in the GDP would increase and, therefore, risk financing would be assuming increasing importance. In the developed countries nearly ninety percent of the assets are covered by insurance against natural disasters which has encouraged collateral investment on disaster resistant housing and infrastructure so as to reduce the premium for insurance. This has been a win-win situation for the private and individual sector in transferring their risks to the insurance companies, for the insurance companies in generating business and for the government in reducing its expenditure on relief and reconstruction while at the same time encouraging private investments for better safety standards for buildings and infrastructure. The experiences gained in this regard need to be further adapted according to the conditions of low and middle income countries. Various innovative services and products like micro insurance, micro credit etc.have been developed in many countries for increasing the resilience of local communities. Micro credit is particularly playing an importance role in retrofitting the vulnerabilities of the poorer sections of the community, especially the women, in the developing countries. Capacity Development and Training Capacity development is the most cost effective method of reducing the vulnerabilities of the people living in the coastal areas. The coastal communities have a certain degree of capacities built into their social systems and practices acquired through inherited experiences of generations. But such indigenous capacities are often overwhelmed by the vagaries of nature due to various anthropogenic factors like the 10 degradation of environment, changing land uses, pressures of population on settlements, climate change etc. Therefore, the local capacities have to be continuously upgraded and further developed according to the changing needs and the developments of science and technology and other improved practices in various sectors. The challenge of capacity development is to transfer the new horizons of knowledge into actionable modules at the local levels for the local people by the local community. Such capacities can be developed through meetings, interactions, discussions, exposure visits and trainings. Training is particularly necessary for cutting edge functionaries within and outside the government at various levels in different sectors to impart them with necessary skill for cyclone risk reduction and management. Training programmes have to be practical, scenario based and exercise and problem solving oriented so that the functionaries are aware of their specific responsibilities and are able to discharge those responsibilities efficiently before, during and after the cyclonic disasters. Training is also required for those community members who would be part of the community response teams for the initial critical hours and days till specialized assistance from the government and non-governmental agencies from the outside are organized. Such trainings may include maroon search and rescue, first aid, evacuation, temporary shelter management, arrangements of drinking water and sanitation, provision of cooked food etc. Such trainings can be better organized by a core group of community trainers who can be trained intensively by the specialized government and non-government agencies. Awareness and Education While training and capacity development target specific groups according to their specific training needs, awareness generation is more of a general in nature which sensitizes common masses about the risks, vulnerabilities of cyclones and the preventive, mitigative and preparedness measures that can be taken at the government, community, household and individual level. Electronic, print and folk media can play important roles in awareness generation on a large scale. Awareness and sensitization programme can also be organized for more specific and limited audience such as parliamentarians, policy makers, media and other selected audience. Cyclone education programme, on the contrary, would be more formalized curriculum which can be institutionalized within the education system at various levels. Disaster management has already been included in the educational curriculum of the schools in many countries and cyclone risk mitigation can be a part of such curriculum. Various branches of science and technology can have course modules on Cyclone Risk Management. For example, civil engineering and architectural courses can have curriculum on cyclone resistant housing and infrastructure. Medical and mental health sciences can have course module on emergency health and trauma management for cyclone affected people, while IT and Communication sciences may have courses on Early Warning and Communication. Such curriculum at various levels of general and professional courses would help to develop necessary 11 professional expertise to support the disaster risk mitigation and preparedness programmes of the government and other agencies at different levels. Contingency Plans In the not too distant past whenever a severe cyclone storm has struck the coastal areas in the developing countries the communities and government have mostly been caught unaware and often they have been so overwhelmed by the all round damages and destructions that it has taken quite some time for them to recover from the initial shocks and to plan and act in a coordinated manner, resulting in considerable chaos and confusion not only among the decision makers but also the emergency responders and other key stakeholders. Coordination among the agencies becomes a casualty in a crisis situation which affects the relief and reconstruction operations. The disastrous consequences of an absence of a pre-disaster contingency plan has been demonstrated repeatedly in many countries on a number of occasions. Therefore, one of the most critical elements of cyclone risk management is to have a contingency plan in readiness, which would clearly delineate the roles and responsibilities of various agencies within and outside the government, define the exact functions to be performed by them, the process to be followed in the performance of these functions, the tools and equipments to be kept in readiness, procurements to be made, evacuation drills to be followed, the emergency medical plan to be put in place etc. Such a contingency plan should be prepared vertically at the national, provincial, district and sub-district and community level and horizontally for the different sectors – police, civil defence, health, fire services, food and civil supplies, agriculture, fisheries, water supply, roads and bridges and so on. Standard operating procedure should be laid down for each activity to avoid any confusion and to ensure coordination among the various agencies involved in the response, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes after the disasters. Such contingency plan should be reviewed periodically to update them according to changing situations and also to create awareness among all the stakeholders. The best way to keep the contingency plan in readiness is to conduct mock drills at least once in a year before the cyclone season starts so that the operational difficulties in implementation of the plan are sorted out at the ground level and the various agencies within and outside the government can work together in a coordinated and efficient manner when the disaster would actually strike. Such mock drills again should be conducted at various levels to ensure operational readiness of the system. Even with all these mitigation and preparatory measures in place the cyclones would continue to strike the coastal settlements and probably these would strike with more frequencies and greater intensities in future. Death, injuries and losses can no doubt be reduced with better preparedness and mitigation measures, but these can not be avoided altogether. The challenge would be how efficiently these damages are managed, how best the affected people are rescued and provided relief and rehabilitation assistance in a humane and transparent manner, how fast the damaged houses and infrastructure are reconstructed and how quickly the pre-disaster situations are restored and normal life bounces back to its rhythm. This would require a pre 12 disaster recovery planning to be in place, ready for implementation, whenever a disaster strikes.

Choose Cruelty Free A Campaign

Question: Describe about the Campaign for Choose Cruelty Free. Answer: Critical Discussion of the Campaign Outcome The Choose Cruelty Free (CCF) was holding different campaigns, and these include: CCF postcards distribution, calling out to the Australian government to pass the enactment of banning imported items, for example, beautifying agents and corrective fixings that were at first tried on animals, photograph campaign to show cruelty free makeup products also do the job, an expression campaign for the people to show their feelings regarding the topic and to use art to encourage people to act in an ethical way. Along with that, media coverage and global campaigns were conducted on a large scale to push the legislation passing and banning the cruel tests (CCF Official Site 2016). CCF has established integrity and the alertness of the public by putting on view billboards and different TV advertisements, along with the other campaigns. Consumers are mostly uninformed that conscious animals are still experimented on with chemical substances and held against their will. This CCF campaigning calls on consumers, lawmakers and organizations to stop cosmetic experimenting on animals, since no animal is supposed to die for makeup and toiletries. The petition launching for ending import of animal-tested cosmetic products had a positive effect on the masses. The unaware public became aware of what they are using, and what things are sacrificed for that. The campaign played a leading role in directing organizations to commit to banning sale of animal-tested cosmetics or importing the same. Long continuing political negotiations and high profile communal campaigning were coupled to achieve victory and pass the legislation. Global online pledges educated consumers and prov ided them with an opportunity to support the campaign from any part of the world. Policy makers were convinced to ban the animal tests from the nations cosmetic standards. National cosmetics safety assessment guidelines were revised due to the campaigns influence and the guidelines were updated, complying with the campaigns main objectives. Even the countrys federal parliamentarians were approached for backing the campaign, to give it a political boost (Seidle 2013). In the past CCF has co-funded training courses for stakeholders to train them on the use and interpretation of non-animal OECD test guideline methods. Moreover, in their latest campaign again they have announced to do the same. They have approached this method with an aim to revise the countrys cosmetics structure regulation totally, and incorporate cruelty free methods and practices. The campaigns thorough political, authoritarian and commercial engagement has prompted the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, who handle Animal Welfare acts, to make a policy shift and recognize non-animal tests (Agriculture.gov.au, 2016). CCF and their partners are working jointly to manipulate laws and regulations prevailing in the trade to avert the formation of loopholes of any kind that will allow, or necessitate animal testing or importing of animal-tested cosmetics. The campaign has placed the animal testing concern on the community policy agenda. Opinion polls have exposed extraordinary levels of community support for countrywide prohibitions on cosmetics animal experimenting and the campaign has assisted in pushing public rule discussions and governmental proposals quarrelling the case for the bans (Lee 2016). References Agriculture.gov.au. 2016. Home Home. [online] Available at: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/ CCF Official Site. 2016. CCF Official Site. [online] Available at: https://www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au/ Lee, C.G., 2016. The Animal Welfare Act at Fifty: Problems and Possibilities in Animal Testing Regulation.Nebraska Law Review, Forthcoming. Seidle, T., 2013. Humane Society Internationals Global Campaign to End Animal Testing.