The Crisis Response Journal

Our CRJ 19:2 is out now! Matthew Porcelli, MSc, CPP, CPOI, F.ISRM, FSyl Porcelli emphasises the importance of security for election-related civil disorder. Thomas Lanthaler explores the need for a critical re-evaluation of democratic practices to reflect the principles of participation and representation. Jeannie Barr MEPS says that elections are distracting from actual resilience work. Lucy Cuthbertson explores Estonia's e-voting system and its potential benefits and pitfalls. Keyaan Williams explains how e-voting technologies necessitate the need for secure systems.  Lina Kolesnikova highlights the significance of individual countries’ elections and the need to uphold electoral integrity. Elton Cunha & Ricardo Giovenardi, MBA,MBCI look at corporate resilience in times of government transition & James Lodge FBCI writes about building business resilience amid turbulent voting seasons. Eric McNulty and Brian Spisak, PhD emphasise the importance of access to accurate information for crisis leaders to build preparedness and response. Minhaj Aman highlights a disinformation and deepfake trend in several South Asian elections. Stefano BETTI writes about deepfakes turning into a normal tool in electoral contests globally.  Chris Needham-Bennett reviews the slow evolution of business continuity. Catharine Windust highlights the importance of using business continuity automation software.  Matt Minshall talks about the importance of choosing the right leader for a functional hierarchy to maintain order. Amanda Coleman complements this by adding that without trust, we all fall down. Mostafa Sayyadi, Author, Business and Tech Columnist and Michael Provitera talk about effective leadership in corporate social innovation. Irene Proto explores how the scale of a crisis can be amplified online based on how ‘newsworthy’ it is. Amy Leete asks: What data are we leaving behind for AI to consume.  Bill Peterson reports on the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.   Annabel Sofer reviews humanitarian crisis mapping, with a focus on the Haiti earthquake. Dr. Haseeb Irfanullah writes that in recent years, human-induced climate change has transitioned from being a subject of debate to an undeniable cause of widespread loss and damage. Amelia McNeilly expands on her research on the role of sustainable building practices in post-hazard temporary housing. Stuart Andrews & Patrick Duggan's illuminating piece connects arts, community, and resilience. Paolo Garonna notes that health systems are crashing, and we must do more. Roger Gomm QPM reports on the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA)'s Behavioural detection – Best practice, guidance, and advice.’  Dr Jennifer Hesterman examines the surge in mass stabbings globally Jeff Schlegelmilch & Ellen P. Carlin explore their book 'Catastrophic Incentives' to highlight misalignment of business models and incentive structures across sectors.  Luavut Z. speaks to Sara Weston, founder of 911der Women.

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has led to severe humanitarian crises, including widespread food shortages. According to the United Nations World Food Programme, an estimated 11 million Ukrainians – about one-third of the population – were at risk of hunger in 2023. This crisis, exacerbated by supply chain disruptions and extreme weather events, could increase diabetes prevalence not only in Ukraine, but globally, argue Peter Klimek and Stefan Thurner from the Complexity Science Hub in a commentary published in the journal 'Science'. More here: https://bit.ly/3LVEjP8

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In times of crisis or emergency, our existing plans may fail or prove inadequate for the situation at hand. In the worst-case scenario, there may be no plan to rely on at all. During such moments, capable individuals step up, think critically, and take decisive action to solve problems, mitigate further effects, and, in extreme cases, save lives, writes Robert McAlister FRGS Assoc CIPD, as he revisits the 2019 Nairobi terrorist attack. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dR4s_vus

The market for health services, private insurance, and new technology must be open, free, and wide to enable efficiency, risk pooling, capital accumulation, and a critical mass of research and innovation. This means that health systems should also have a supranational, or at least European dimension. This is probably one of the most important legacies and lessons that Covid left behind. When individual countries in Europe tried to deal with the pandemic, purely at the national level, there was a disaster of inefficiency, conflict, and recriminations. When countries recognised later that the pandemic required a joint global and European response and a solidaristic approach at the G20 level, in terms of support for research, the provision of vaccines, joint investment, and the green and digital transitions (such as the Green New Deal and the Recovery and Resilience Fund in Europe), the economic recovery occurred faster than expected, mass vaccination went on smoothly, and even inflation was finally tamed without any hard landing, writes Paolo Garonna. One of the major perceived injustices for households and local communities is the increase in coverage restrictions, co-payments, and out-of-pocket expenses, often induced by fiscal constraints and tight public health budgets. Their effect on total health costs ranges from 20 per cent to 50 per cent or even higher and is highly regressive because it weighs much more on poor or middle-income families and deprived communities. A combination of public and private insurance can address those concerns, with regulatory incentives or subsidies playing a fundamental role. Login to read CRJ 19:2: https://lnkd.in/dtV6BYCf New readers can subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/eNkBnyky

What drives a bad actor to use a knife instead of a firearm? Primarily, they are inexpensive, easier to obtain, and usually untraceable. Those hoping to escape apprehension appreciate and leverage the appeal of knives, writes Dr Jennifer Hesterman. As opposed to running and hiding from an active shooter, people are more willing to engage and try to subdue an attacker with a knife. However, neutralising the attacker with a disabling or more potent weapon, like a firearm, is the best defence. This is where ‘bringing a gun to a knife fight’ is a good tactic. Login to read CRJ 19:2: https://lnkd.in/dtV6BYCf New readers can subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/eNkBnyky

The guidance is designed to help both policymakers in government and industry who are responsible for advising and/ or mandating security processes and measures and those on the frontline responsible for ensuring security, according to Roger Gomm QPM. It is important to employ trained personnel if they are expected to conduct behavioural detection alongside other duties at the same time; this may hinder the effectiveness of the capability. Also, the potential of behavioural detection to be effective is significantly influenced by the number of trained staff on duty, the area that they are covering, and other elements of the environment. The guidance paper sets out key points to consider regarding the use of behavioural detection to contribute to the security of different environments. It outlines when, where, why, and how behavioural detection may be effective or fail, and critically, what to consider when contemplating the use of behavioural detection. Login to read CRJ 19:2: https://lnkd.in/dtV6BYCf New readers can subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/eNkBnyky

Sustainable post-hazard housing must prioritise hazard resistance, mitigation, and personal safety. However, there are challenges in implementing sustainable designs that meet the diverse needs of affected communities. Evaluation tools, such as the assessment, planning, intervention, review, and evaluation (Aspire) tool, and post-occupancy evaluations, play a crucial role in assessing the effectiveness of PHTH initiatives, writes Amelia McNeilly. Reimagining foreign aid and post-disaster housing requires a shift towards more inclusive and culturally appropriate approaches that prioritise the needs and identities of affected communities. This entails greater oversight and accountability in aid distribution, as well as collaboration between international organisations, governments, and local communities to ensure sustainable and equitable outcomes. Login to read CRJ 19:2: https://lnkd.in/dtV6BYCf New readers can subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/eNkBnyky

For decades, hard-engineering solutions have been the cornerstone of coastal protection efforts. Seawalls, groynes, and revetments have been extensively deployed to fortify coastlines and mitigate erosion. While these structures have provided a degree of protection, their efficacy is increasingly being questioned. Seawalls, for instance, can disrupt natural sediment flow, leading to erosion downstream and exacerbating ecological degradation, says Lucy Cuthbertson. In the face of escalating climate change effects, it is imperative that coastal communities adopt a paradigm shift towards nature-based solutions and integrated coastal management to combat the rising tides of adversity. Traditional hard-engineering approaches, while offering short-term fixes, often exacerbate environmental degradation, disrupt natural ecosystems, and fail to address the root causes of coastal vulnerability. By investing in nature-based solutions such as living shorelines, mangrove restoration, and coral reef rehabilitation, coastal communities can not only enhance their resilience to climate change, but also unlock multiple co-benefits, including biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration, and sustainable livelihoods. Login to read CRJ 19:2: https://lnkd.in/dtV6BYCf New readers can subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/eNkBnyky

Due to attribution science, we can now effectively show that the frequency, intensity, and timing of extreme events (such as floods, cyclones, and heatwaves) and slow-onset events (such as sea-level rise, salinisation, and desertification) currently observed around the world are due to recent global temperature rise. Therefore, 'loss and damage' (L&D) is not a myth but an undisputed consequence of the climate crisis, asserts Dr. Haseeb Irfanullah. Login to read CRJ 19:2: https://lnkd.in/dtV6BYCf New readers can subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/eNkBnyky