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Article
Publication date: 9 September 2014

Lisa K. Miller

61

Abstract

Details

Reference Reviews, vol. 28 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0950-4125

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 June 2009

Ali Mohamed Al‐Damkhi, Sabah Ahmed Abdul‐Wahab and Nabeel Mansour Al‐Khulaifi

Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990 precipitated an ecological tragedy in the Arabian Gulf region. During the course of the invasion Kuwait suffered severe losses to both…

1352

Abstract

Purpose

Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990 precipitated an ecological tragedy in the Arabian Gulf region. During the course of the invasion Kuwait suffered severe losses to both its oil industry and its ecological system. The scale of damage was enormous, ranging from destruction as a result of oil fires and spills to the economic deterioration of Kuwait's oil industry. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the lessons learned from Kuwait's oil well catastrophe in the hope of preventing or at least minimizing future such man‐made disasters.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews and analyzes Kuwait's oil well tragedy in terms of its scope, logistical services provided to cope with the disaster, the techniques used in firefighting operations and related political issues. The paper also discusses the need to review existing environmental laws and the concept of environmental crime in light of this catastrophe.

Findings

There are many important lessons that can be drawn from Kuwait's catastrophic disaster, the most important of which is to ensure that dictators in the future never believe they can destroy the environment without severe repercussions from the international community.

Practical implications

The conflagrations in Kuwait demonstrate the dangerous consequences of large‐scale modern combat in an environmentally fragile area. Not just Kuwait but all oil‐producing nations, especially the Gulf countries, are vulnerable to this type of environmental and economic disaster.

Originality/value

Kuwait's tragedy highlights the need for immediate consideration of possible similar disasters in the future and how the global community will deal with them. The high cost of environmental degradation only gets more expensive when left unattended. The price is paid not only in hard currency for firefighting but in damage to the public's health and in other environmental problems. This paper shows that sustainable development is impossible in the presence of wars and terrorist activities.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 18 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

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Article
Publication date: 8 May 2018

Spyridon Repousis

The purpose of this paper is to examine Greek forest fires in August 2007 and statements about terrorism (pyro-terrorism) and the impact on Greek banks stocks.

212

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine Greek forest fires in August 2007 and statements about terrorism (pyro-terrorism) and the impact on Greek banks stocks.

Design/methodology/approach

Event study methodology and market model is used in this paper and data of all Greek bank stocks prices listed in Athens Stock Exchange are analysed, before and after 17 August 2007, which is when forest fires took place in Greece.

Findings

Total number of burned acres during a seven-year period, 2000-2006, was 2,530,883, and during only August 2007, burned acres accounted to 2,059,615. The former Minister for Public Order, Vyron Polydoras, stated the fires may be a result of terrorist attacks, as many of the fires started simultaneously and in places where an arsonist could not be seen. The Minister also stated that the country is facing an asymmetric threat, a military term used for terrorist attacks. The findings of event study methodology and market model show that CAARs were slightly negative but not statistically significant and during event date, and average abnormal return (AAR) was slightly positive at 0.0273 per cent. The event caused no influence on the stock market.

Practical implications

Results are important for banking system, compliance and regulatory authorities, justice system and politicians.

Originality/value

The impact of Greek forest fires in August 2007 on Greek banks stocks has not been examined so far.

Details

Journal of Money Laundering Control, vol. 21 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1368-5201

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Article
Publication date: 26 June 2007

Ali Mohamed Al‐Damkhi

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature about the environment as one of the victims of war throughout the history of mankind. Kuwait's environment, as a victim of…

670

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the literature about the environment as one of the victims of war throughout the history of mankind. Kuwait's environment, as a victim of the scorched‐earth tactic carried out by the retreating Iraqi forces in 1991, is also reviewed. The probable scenarios of an environmental threat in Iraq as a result of exploding the oil wells or discharging crude oil into the two rivers, Tigris and Euphrates, are elaborated, taking into consideration the repetition of the current terrorist attacks on Iraq's oil installations.

Design/methodology/approach

The difficulties likely to face the firefighting efforts in such scenarios, compared with Kuwait's experience, are mentioned, with reference to the main differences between Kuwait's and Iraq's oil fields, topography, logistic services and security situation.

Findings

Owing to the large oil‐reserves in Iraq, the prospective environmental damages and economic losses are expected to be enormous. As the terrorist attacks on Iraq's oil installations may escalate, the potential scenarios of oil discharge into the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, or the use of scorched‐earth tactics in Iraq, might become the worst man‐made ecological disasters in history.

Practical implications

It is believed that such scenarios should be taken seriously by the concerned environmental planners and the need to secure Iraq's oil fields is paramount.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the problems associated with maintaining an adequate level of security and the potential repetition of terrorist attacks which will undoubtedly prevent or postpone any sustainable development in Iraq, especially in the oil industry and the two rivers‐based‐projects for at least the next decade. The effects of unsustainable development can become entangled with traditional forms of conflict in a way that can widen and deepen the latter in Iraq.

Details

Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, vol. 16 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-3562

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 October 2010

Terry O'Brien

164

Abstract

Details

Reference Reviews, vol. 24 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0950-4125

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 March 2017

Roey Tzezana

The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework to thinking and creating scenarios about future crimes and terror attacks relying on the Internet of Things (IoT), and to…

1668

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework to thinking and creating scenarios about future crimes and terror attacks relying on the Internet of Things (IoT), and to present a crowdsourcing research based on this thinking, which resulted in both high- and low-probability scenarios with dramatic impact.

Design/methodology/approach

The research relies on general morphological analysis for deconstructing wicked problems into core components, and on crowdsourcing 50 experts on Wikistrat’s commercial platform, allowing them to suggest core components, rank them by importance and develop scenarios together. This methodology allowed a wider view than usual, and allowed the experts to examine unorthodox combination of components, leading to the creation of wild-card scenarios.

Findings

Analysis of both the core components and the resulting scenarios indicates that the IoT is set to have a dramatic role in crime and terror attacks in the near future. High-impact high-probability scenarios include attacks on power plants, cyber wallets and personal assistants. High-impact low-probability scenarios include terrorist attacks by environmentalist groups, accidental attacks conducted by immature pranksters and having a computer worm propagating in a low-security but critical facility like a hospital.

Originality/value

This paper brings a standardized method which can be used to examine complex events like crime and terror attacks using a disruptive and emerging technology. The results can be used by practitioners to further study the issue and develop many other scenarios more tailored to their needs. The scenarios presented in this paper can also be of value to security bodies who wish to be better prepared for the future.

Details

foresight, vol. 19 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-6689

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 December 2017

Małgorzata Wiśniewska

The purpose of this paper is to present the practical implementation of the CARVER+Shock (CS) method and describe the following steps of vulnerability assessment on the basis of a…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the practical implementation of the CARVER+Shock (CS) method and describe the following steps of vulnerability assessment on the basis of a catering company, and to confirm that it can be successfully applied by the restaurant for better preparation regarding potential, intentional contamination.

Design/methodology/approach

The research method is a case study, including examining the company’s documentation and the interview with the company owner. The analysis refers to the following seven attributes: criticality, accessibility, recuperability, vulnerability, effect, recognizability and shock.

Findings

The practical application of CS method in company allows indicating the most vulnerable phases of the catering process. The values of “recuperability,” “effect” and “shock” are increasing along with the development of the catering process. The lowest risk of threat is observed at the first phases of the catering process, and the most risky were those connected with the preliminary consumption phase and with the final phase, which is arranged in the place of the event. The attributes “recognizability” and “effect” have the greatest influence on the outcome. The closer the food gets to the consumer, the higher is the risk of intentional contamination, and the harder it is to reverse its effects.

Originality/value

In the scientific literature, there is a gap observed in the subject of applying the CS method. This is the first case study presentation referring to its application in catering processes in Poland.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 119 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 February 2021

Neil A. Hart

An accessible resource on the role of teachers in perpetuating inequality through Prevent Duty, with guidance on how to change teaching practice to empower Muslim students.

Abstract

Purpose

An accessible resource on the role of teachers in perpetuating inequality through Prevent Duty, with guidance on how to change teaching practice to empower Muslim students.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses critical race theory (CRT) to interrogate power and Whiteness in the interaction of teachers and students when complying with Prevent Duty and delivering lessons on fundamental British values. This is illustrated through a constructed narrative between three characters in a London school, and offers a Freirean approach to empowering students through Prevent delivery.

Findings

A disproportionately White profession is acting in what they perceive to be the best interest of their students, while failing to interrogate their own position of power and not creating opportunities to be guided by Muslim voices. As a consequence Muslim students continue to be oppressed.

Practical implications

Teachers can disrupt Prevent Duty while complying with its legal obligations by interrogating their own position of Whiteness. They can work with students to ensure Muslim voices lead discussion around Prevent and the inequality in society that is being reproduced by Prevent Duty.

Social implications

There is potential for good teaching practice to overcome the structural racism and continued inequality experienced by diverse Muslim communities.

Originality/value

The paper is an accessible application of CRT to Prevent Duty, a resource for teachers, students and activists. It can help in the recognition of the potential for even well-meaning teachers to act in ways that perpetuate inequalities. It provides a clear set of suggestions for teaching practices that can overcome this.

Details

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, vol. 40 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-7149

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 November 2021

Danielle Nicholson and Clare S. Allely

The purpose of this study is to explore the current literature which assesses the incidence of completed or attempted mass shooting events in which a female party acted either…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the current literature which assesses the incidence of completed or attempted mass shooting events in which a female party acted either alone or as an accomplice; explore the involvement of women in the planning or execution of acts of terrorism; evaluate the pathology of women involved in these acts of extreme violence; highlight any gender-specific pathological and environmental risk factors associated with the planning or completion of the mass shooting, spree killing or terrorist attack events.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the 27-item preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines (Moher et al., 2009), the present systematic review explored peer-reviewed literature published between 1908 and September 2020 using six databases [SalfordUniversityJournals@Ovid; Journals@Ovid Full Text; APA PsycArticles Full Text; APA PsycExtra; APA PsycInfo; Ovid MEDLINE(R)], in addition to conducting a grey literature search on “Google Scholar” using specific search terms, predetermined following use of the patient/population, intervention, comparison framework.

Findings

Findings of the review did identify several distinguishing characteristics exclusive to women allied to terror organisations; including lower levels of extremism and religious ideology, lower age of radicalisation, higher levels of education than currently hypothesized and the significance of relational affiliation with extremist causes. Despite the synthesis of descriptive characterises being achieved, data relating to female mass shooters was scant and relied upon case study review and discussion. As a result, identification of precipitating psychopathological and environmental triggers was difficult, however, there does appear to be a higher proportion of female mass shooters targeting current or previous places of employment.

Research limitations/implications

One of the potential limitations of this review is that some relevant studies were not identified during the search. The risk of this was minimised as much as possible by screening the reference section of relevant reviews and theoretical papers (which were identified in the search of the databases) for any potentially relevant studies that may have been missed. In addition, numerous permutations of the search criteria that were entered into the databases were also entered into “GoogleScholar”.

Practical implications

Current literature has highlighted that the age of radicalisation among women across both jihadi-inspired, right-wing and far-left extremist organisations are decreasing, with many new recruits being born after 1990 (Jacques and Taylor, 2012). This finding aids in identifying a target of entry to minimise the chance of radicalisation, through targeted educational training and anti-radicalisation programmes intervening in at risk groups at the correct time. However, further exploration will be necessary to identify specific risk factors prior to radicalisation in such groups.

Originality/value

There appears to be a large gap in literature quantitively assessing the rates of psychopathological variables among this demographic. When narrowing the lens further onto female mass shooters, empirical literature investigating even characteristic variables continues to evade the academic remit. Arguably this obstruction to the current understanding of female perpetrated violence, both in an organised terror and a mass shooter capacity, limits the ability to meaningfully evaluate whether previous models assessing risk among mass shooters is valid across genders.

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2002

Mark Harvey, Andrew McMeekin and Ian Miles

This essay examines the issues that the ongoing revolution in biosciences and biotechnology pose to social science. A convenient frame for examining these issues is the framework…

Abstract

This essay examines the issues that the ongoing revolution in biosciences and biotechnology pose to social science. A convenient frame for examining these issues is the framework of “thematic priorities” established by the British funding agency for social science, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). These “thematic priorities” are used to identify major challenges and opportunities that currently confront social research. Though not constructed as part of a futures exercise, this framework proved useful for organising the issues that were generated from literature review and brainstorming, provided a stimulus to identify new issues, and was a useful filter for presenting results to the ESRC, which sponsored the study. This range of issues does not just call for interaction between natural and social scientists: there is also need for the sharing of knowledge and perspectives across diverse fields of social science. In order to help inform future research priorities, we need to move beyond the perspectives of single disciplines, and make sure that we do not simply emphasise those areas where social scientists have already been actively engaged. The study concludes clearly that there is a huge range of vital questions that social science needs to address if we are to understand, let alone bring more social intelligence to bear on shaping, the scientific and technological revolutions that are under way, and their broader social implications.

Details

Foresight, vol. 4 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-6689

Keywords

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