CHALLENGE N° 7 - Security : DRAW UP A CONCERTED “CATASTROPHE PLAN” INVOLVING NATION STATES, BUSINESSES, NGOS, AND CITIZENS

We are most likely entering into an age of catastrophes; climatic, epidemiological and terrorist in origin, these catastrophes will occur all over the world. Some may be the direct responsibility of human activity, like in the case of the over zealous selling of certain biotechnological products. We’re not talking here about “major catastrophes,” but about a multiplication of disasters on a regional or national level, the consequences of which, thanks to globalisation, will be felt elsewhere.

Prevention, detection, and response: a long-lasting vision

A «catastrophe plan,» as currently exists pretty much everywhere for known natural and human disasters, is a combination of prevention, advanced detection, emergency response, and reconstruction. Digital technologies can contribute to the efficiency of these plans, through captors and other means of surveillance, emergency organisation, mobile communications, etc. But there are several different ways of organizing the details of such a plan. A “sustainable” approach (which would probably note be suitable in all cases) would encourage a local response that would mobilise to consolidate and restructure infrastructure, the local economy, and social relationships all at once, rather than benefit from a short-term shower of aid from outside sources. In its prevention phase, an approach such as this uses “human captors” and local networked experience as well as technical and security measures.

Avoid the production of new catastrophes

History has shown us that catastrophes – or even catastrophe plans – can bring out the best and the worst of people. Does the existence of a national-level plan risk discouraging local actors, leading them to neglect prevention or pull the plug on research that studies causes rather than consequences? Or does too much catastrophe talk spoil our taste for taking risks? And then there are more questions: are we going to see the emergence of a global catastrophe industry that brings together specialized businesses and certain NGOs? Is a disaster not the ideal occasion to impose power? Does a global approach, led by western powers, not risk imposing solutions that are not suitable for the populations involved, who are most often located in the third world?