CRJ 17:1 out now!

Crisis Response Journal 17:1 was commissioned and written before the invasion of Ukraine. This war, and its human consequences, threaten to dwarf other concerns about life, security, global stability, food supplies, Covid-19 and even climate issues. Sadly, many of the areas discussed in this edition will be exacerbated by this war. We stand with those who are under threat, whether from war, terrorism or other disasters – we hope to see a safer world.
 
The edition is available for subscribers online and print copies are being mailed out to subscribers as well. Click here to find out how to subscribe to gain full access to the Journal and our extensive archive.
 
Here’s what is coming up...
 
Stefano Betti highlights threats related to the move towards sustainable energy. He suggests that a lack of interagency co-ordination, institutional inertia or cultural biases mean we could fail to anticipate looming threats.
 
In our security feature, Keyaan Williams continues the conversation he started in CRJ 16.3, focusing on the need for comprehensive cyber insurance, while Adam Berry describes how a call to action can be used to help responders, local governments and contractors mobilise and work cohesively during a crisis.


 
We then turn to governance. Philip Trendall addresses the salient points in a recent UK Government’s House of Lords Select Committee Report, echoing one witness’s suggestion that: “Resilience is an issue that never goes away, but it is easy to forget about when you are not in the middle of an emergency.” Jeannie Barr, of CRJ Key Network Partner the EPS, summarises key points arising from the UK Government’s call for evidence for its National Resilience Strategy, saying that resilience professionals still need to be placed at the forefront of crisis planning and from another Key Network Partner, Beverley Griffiths of Wolverhampton University explores, ethical theories in her quest to develop a living code of ethics for the Emergency Management Profession.
 
The Covid-19 pandemic is not over but, looking forward, Roger Gomm questions whether we are doomed to repeat the quintessential mistakes after the pandemic – in other words, the error of failing to hold on to the lessons that are learnt as we go along. Jennifer Hesterman provides a first-hand account of Covid measures in Indonesia and Regina Phelps says that it turns out that the best leaders in the pandemic have had what is termed HEART; in other words: Humanity; evolution; action; regard; and timeliness. Chloe Demrovsky says that it would be a mistake for resilience professionals draw a line under the Covid-19 pandemic as the worlds lowly returns to pre-pandemic life. Eric McNulty and Lyndon Bird share the findings of a joint study on multi-sector trends during the pandemic, revealing key insights for improving readiness and enhancing leadership qualities
 
Looking at business continuity and resilience ahead of this year’s Risk-!n conference, Alexandra Hoffmann and Rob van den Eijnden explain how organisations can aim for good operational health via a structured and holistic approach, followed by Barbara Flügge’s analysis of how brand resilience and organisational growth can be enhanced in an ever-changing and disruptive world.
 
Avnesh Ratnanesan and Derrick Tin contend that disasters are fast becoming business as usual in the corporate world and suggest ways that future preparedness might be enhanced. Meanwhile, there is a surprising amount that we can learn by looking at how leaders made decisions over 100 years ago, says Brad Borkan.


 
Tony Jaques asks what is the point of crisis red flags if no-one pays any attention? And Andy Marshall discusses the complex world of planning, outlining key differences and similarities between the main types of plans. Next, Gill Kernick shares her methodology for exploring systemic change that she developed to help make sense of our failure to learn from catastrophes.
 
Turning to people, Andy Blackwell explores the challenges faced by crisis managers and the critical human factors at play during their selection, training and when managing crises. This is followed by Magdalena Lind and colleagues, who build on concepts surrounding the personnel resilience, robustness and mental ability of hospital staff during Covid-19. Burnout needs to be addressed as a strategic risk and an organisation is only as resilient as the individuals within it, says Mike Rennie.


 
We then turn to our feature on supply chains and food security. Gilles Paché writes that as the post-Covid world takes shape, it is time to think about the configuration of tomorrow’s supply chains: We will probably have to learn to live with shortages. Then Bill Peterson takes a closer look at the conditions and factors that continue to cause supply chain challenges and offers a view of what might be in store in the months – and possibly years – to come.
 
Millions of people in the world simply do not have enough food and are facing the shadow of famine. Even in affluent countries, the thin veneer of food security is stretched and weakening. Lina Kolesnikova warns how Covid, logistics, energy policy and rising prices, climate and raw materials all have unsustainable and far reaching social and security ramifications. And, of course, war and sanctions will only make things worse. Homing in on country-specific issues, Pakistan has upped its game when it comes to both wheat and rice, becoming a surplus food producer. One would think that the country shouldn’t have to worry about food security. Why, then, are 36.9 per cent of its people food insecure? Luavut Zahid investigates.


 
Natural hazards can be inconsistent and unpredictable in their occurrence and intensity. This requires public safety operators to be highly adaptable, says CRJ Key Network Partner, Pix4D. Alistair Harris outlines the positive effects that the Palestinian Civil Defence teams are having in Lebanon, in terms of promoting social cohesion and peace among the communities who live there.


 
This edition’s country focus Bangladesh, edited by Advisory Panel Member Haseeb Md Irfanullah. He brings together six experts on governance, climate and security, who share their views and research about how the country has made improvements to its resilience and disaster risk management capabilities.


 
Our events pages look at the EENA conference, the Risk-!n event in Geneva and Milipol Qatar. In addition, Nadine Sulkowski reports on the webinar that the CRJ hosted to explore current endeavours to strengthen disaster resilience links between all sectors and stakeholders. The webinar can be listened to here.
 
Finally, Advisory Panel Member Elton Cunha speaks to Senior Sergeant Samira Coelho dos Santos of the Military Fire Department of the State of Santa Catarina in Brazil about her professional life and what she wants from the future.
 
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