Never mind the Chatham House Rule (which goes like this:
“When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.”)
No, for true assurance of information privacy, you want the Rothschild’s House Rule. (Or else: bang.) Accept no substitute.
Every year, between October and February the Santa Ana winds flow down the valleys and canyons of California picking up speed. As the winds increase so does the likelihood of fire. Electrical/power lines have caused four out of 20 of the worst fires in Californian history. Fires like the Sesnon fire which is, by all accounts now 100% contained, happen with tragic regularity, they are almost predictable but the system still doesn’t seem to be able to respond to such seasonal regularity, until recently:
It wasn’t until last year’s siege of flames that regulators and lawmakers began seriously considering a coordinated response to the problem. A 2001 report (pdf) by state fire officials and utilities called for greater information sharing and a database containing tree inventories and historic fire hazard zones, yet it was never developed.
Complicating matters is that there’s no single agency in charge of regulating power lines or enforcing fire codes. The line that caused the Sesnon fire is owned by Southern California Gas Co. — which isn’t an electrical utility, so its lines aren’t regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, and PUC rules that govern brush clearance and other precautions don’t apply. It’s unclear whether any government agency had oversight over the line.
Not that government regulations guarantee safety. A PUC report released last month on the 2007 San Diego County blazes found that San Diego Gas & Electric violated regulations for safety and maintenance on lines that caused the devastating Witch and Rice fires. It also concluded that the Guejito fire was caused by a Cox Communications wire that came into contact with an SDG&E conductor during strong Santa Ana winds; Cox, too, was deemed in violation of state rules. The findings have yet to be confirmed by the PUC board, which also must decide whether to fine those responsible.
Most troubling of all: The PUC’s Consumer Protection and Safety Division found that there are other power poles in San Diego County with broken communication wires similar to the one that caused the Guejito fire. More strong Santa Ana winds are expected to gust through the area in coming weeks. Sleep well, San Diego.
So why has this problem been ignored for so long?
The best solution — burying the lines — is so expensive as to be wildly impractical, costing an estimated $1 million a mile. But there are other responses. State lawmakers could start by demanding the creation of the fire database that was recommended in 2001. It’s also outrageous that owners of private power lines like the one that sparked the Sesnon fire are being left unmonitored.
Not all is lost however. There have been some brilliant innovations. Like the following from the LA Fire Department. Yup, you’ve guessed it – using social media: In complex emergencies – feedback is key – and using social media is a fantastic way of getting it quickly – so have a look at some of the comments.
In the summer, I gave a talk at the United Nations University G8 symposium on climate change, where I explored the threshold between conflict and cooperation on carbon control.
Belatedly, the talk is online – either as a pdf, or you can read the full text after the jump.
A snip at just $84.99 from Costco – a 275-serving, emergency food supply. Only problem: “Due to overwhelming response, this item will be delivered in 10-15 business days.”
Here’s what you get:
Delicious and easy to prepare. Each bucket contains 275 servings of Pre-mixed and Pre-seasoned 100% vegetarian and vitamin fortified food. With a 20 year long shelf life, this kit is perfect for the preparation of natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or even for a camping or hunting trip.
Easy to Prepare
275 Servings
All Meals 100% Vegetarian and Vitamin Fortified
Sealed in convenient Weather-Proof bucket for easy transport
30 Servings – Potato Bakon
25 Servings – Corn Chowder
25 Servings – Ala King
25 Servings – Cacciatore
25 Servings – Western Stew
25 Servings – Country Noodle
25 Servings – Rice Lentil
45 Servings – Whey Milk
25 Servings – Blueberry Pancakes
25 Servings – Barley Vegetable
Total Weight: 23 lbs.
For best taste and nutritional value, use product before:
20 years of manufacturing date when stored at 60° F (16.6° C)
10 years of manufacturing date when stored at 70° F (21.1° C)
As conflict continues to rage in Chad and Afghanistan and the threat of terrorism at home persists, maximising the effectiveness of the current European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) remains a high priority. With the United States calling for a stronger, more cohesive approach, is it time to redefine European security priorities? How can a collective European security and defence strategy take into consideration the capabilities, weaknesses and resources of individual member states?
In this submission to the IPPR National Security Commission I argue that to create the necessary civilian capabilities in crisis situations for both common and unilateral use, the UK and like-minded allies should consider establishing a European civilian reserve – a reserve corps of 2,000 civilian specialists – with European citizens on stand-by for deployment.