The term ‘manufacturing risk’ is interesting - it makes me realize that while paying attention to the development of a “ new nuclear plant” in an earthquake prone area is critical, we are still grappling with something more simple and profound: what conversations (and actions) do we need to have (and take) to break our silence and move loudly, or quietly, into action.
Too often disaster risk management practitioners have elevated the subject to the complex. Risk is complex, no doubt. Uncertainty is difficult to understand, and act upon.
But until we are able to simplify what we do, speak the language of a common person - to explain to our 5 and 10 year old children, and our 70 year old fathers and ninety year old grandparents what we do, in terms that they can comprehend, we may be contributing to a mystification of the risks we no doubt manufacture.
Safer villages, a safer school, a safer hospital, a safer home, a safer city …… as key ingredients of a safer world are tangible and understandable things we can talk about. And children and grandparents can understand and relate to.
As a first step, let’s simplify our conversation and the language we speak in - to make it understandable to many. We can still be profound in our ideas and change-makers through the actions we undertake.