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GlobalSecurity.org
NATO jets attack election rally in Afghanistan,
US Withdrawal from Iraq Looms Over Afghan War,
Afghanistan Gains Come at High Price, General Says,
Petraeus Plans for Start of Afghanistan Withdrawal,
Taliban in Financial Trouble, General Says
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Homeland Security News
Pakistan Military Abandons US Trips After Being Mistaken for Terrorists,
Taliban Leader Hakimullah Mehsud Charged In CIA Killings,
Discovery Channel Building – Man With Explosive Takes Hostage,
Questions Linger Over Two Men Arrested on United Flight,
International Passenger Jets Still Carry Unscreened Cargo
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The Gov Monitor
Singapore Strengthens Educational Opportunities For Students,
Singapore Outlines New Initiatives To Increase Rail Capacity,
Governor Christie Demands Further Reform From Delaware River Port Authority,
Florida Launches Virtual Discount Drug Card Promotion,
Iowa Releases Broadband Market Assessment Report
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Security has vaulted to the forefront of
everyone’s mind in our modern world, but the topic is so broad as to
be nearly incomprehensible. Each individual is concerned with specific
aspects of security. These concerns are influenced, for better or
worse, by factors such as direct personal experience, family history,
gender, education, health issues, living conditions, neighborhood, friends
and family relationships, religion, financial status, job security, news
media, advertising, government activities, crime, technology, and world
events including manmade and natural disasters.
Adding to the confusion relating to security issues are two factors:
emphasis and perception. Everyone places a different emphasis upon
specific security matters, with this emphasis shifting from day to day.
Furthermore, our perceptions of real, potential and imagined security
threats are easily altered and, alas, often manipulated. Our
perception and emphasis regarding a specific security threat can change
dramatically with the occurrence of a single event, even when that
event is unlikely to ever affect us directly or be repeated within our
lifetime. A car crash, a burglary, unexpectedly losing one’s job,
a sudden illness, the death of a friend or family member, a terrorist
attack, a natural disaster — all of these represent life-changing
events that may forever alter our security concerns and the way in which
we conduct our daily lives.
Unfortunately, far too many people do not reflect upon aspects of their
personal or family security until a crisis is encountered, at which
point it may be too late to do anything but endure the consequences. In
many such cases, pausing to consider the possibilities (referred to
in security parlance as risk assessment or threat
assessment) before engaging in an activity or failing to take a
specific action might be all that is necessary to eliminate or mitigate
risk. In other situations,
sadly, a risk assessment is performed but a wrong decision is reached
because risk factors were unknown, were underestimated, or were ignored.
This reality introduces the concept of acceptable risk, a
cornerstone of any properly functioning individual, organization or
society.
Acceptable risk may seem like an oxymoron. In point of fact, it is
necessary to assume some degree of risk when performing any activity.
Without engaging in a process of acceptable risk, we would be in a state
of paralysis and society would be unable to advance or even function.
The question then becomes, “How much risk is considered
acceptable?” When this question is answered correctly, we are
rewarded for our efforts and, on a macroscale level, society advances.
When the answer is incorrect, accidents or man-made disasters occur. The
BP oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico is an all too
tragic example of the latter, with risk assessment apparently having been
relegated to the back burner.
The keys to properly evaluating a situation or a threat and deciding whether
the risk is acceptable are knowledge and common sense.
Once risk factors have been properly and adequately assessed, two courses
of action are available. The first is risk avoidance; a
decision may be made not to perform a given activity. Cancelling an
outdoor sporting event when thunderstorms and lightning are expected is an
example of risk avoidance. The second course of action involves
reducing the risk, known as risk mitigation. Earthquake
retrofit is a prime example of risk mitigation. Donning gloves before
pruning your rose bushes is a less obvious but more personal example.
Financial planning is a method by which one can mitigate their
financial risk.
So, do you know how to locate resources that will aid you and your family
in an emergency or, better yet, before a crisis arises? Do you
know whether a particular threat is real or only perceived? Do you know
what you can do now to help assure your safety and peace of mind
for the future?
The purpose of Ten Spider™ Security & Consumer Protection is to
offer resources you can use to make informed decisions and to take action
to protect your family, home and future. As security is a constantly
evolving topic, we would like to know your security concerns and what
resources we can provide to lessen those concerns by helping you make
informed risk assessment decisions critical to the health and
welfare of yourself and your loved ones. If you are a security expert,
please consider contacting us to contribute to this effort.
Authored by Kenneth L. Anderson.
Original article published 2 August 2008, updated 8 July 2010.
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