ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN DISASTER

We observe the best and worst in human behavior during a disaster. Communities all around the world pull together when there is a common threat. People are often surprised at the level of personal sacrifice and courage seen in emergency situations. In fact, it is very common for people to empathize with others and to offer comfort, shelter, and sustenance. But there is another side of disaster that reveals the tragedy of choice, perceived need, and perceived loss. Here are some examples of situations in which these issues become very real:

1. Marginalized populations such as those living in poverty,older adults, physically and mentally challenged, and chronically ill are often invisible during a disaster. Their needs have not been preplanned. They cannotadvocate for themselves and rely on others to advocate for them. If the social and political will is not there, they may be forgotten in a crisis.

2. People who have immediate access to disaster assistance are helped first. If disaster assistance is unable to reach all the people who need aid, those who can travel are better able to travel to the assistance.

3. Individuals’ perceived needs are often very different from each other. The perception of what is essential for survival or even comfort may be far above or below what the reality of the situation can provide or that agencies should provide.

4. Disaster assistance agencies and managers must make choices during mass disaster. Who should be rescued first? What criteria are used? What priority should be given to aiding animals?

5. Should people be compensated by the government for loss that occurred during a disaster?

6. In multiple disasters within a state or region, how can we decide where to place resources?

These questions and many more are often debated publiclyby community leaders, emergency and disaster specialists, and ethicists. Students involved in disaster response should debate the legal and ethical implications of these issues to explore or provide clarity about one’s personal convictions and to understand those of others.

A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy (an explosive device). Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechanical stress, the impact and penetration of pressure-driven projectiles, pressure damage, and explosion-generated effects.[1] A nuclear weapon employs chemical-based explosives to initiate a much larger nuclear-based explosion. Bombs have been in use since the 11th century in Song Dynasty China.[2]The term bomb is not usually applied to explosive devices used for civilian purposes such as construction or mining, although the people using the devices may sometimes refer to them as "bomb". The military use of the term "bomb", or more specifically aerial bomb action, typically refers to airdropped, unpowered explosive weapons most commonly used by air forces and naval aviation. Other military explosive weapons not classified as "bombs" include grenades, shells, depth charges (used in water), warheads when in missiles, or land mines. In unconventional warfare, "bomb" can refer to a range of offensive weaponry. For

instance, in recent conflicts, "bombs" known as improvised explosive devices (IEDS) have been employed by insurgent fighters to great effectiveness.The word comes from the Latin bombus, which in turn comes from the Greek βόμβος (bombos),[3] an onomatopoetic term meaning "booming", "buzzing".

Types of bomb, explosive or missile

A-bomb nounan atom bombatom bomb nounan atom bombatomic bomb nouna bomb that causes a very large nuclear explosion from the energy it produces by splitting atoms (=breaking them apart)ballistic missile nouna type of missile that travels long distances and cannot be controlled after it has been launchedbomb nouna weapon made to explode at a particular time or when it hits somethingbomb nounrelating to or caused by a bombbooby trap nouna hidden bomb designed to kill or injure someone who does not realize it is there. It explodes when someone touches something connected to it.cannonball nouna heavy solid metal or stone ball shot from a cannoncar bomb nouna bomb hidden in or under a carcluster bomb nouna bomb dropped from an aircraft that contains a lot of smaller bombs that it sends out over a large area when it explodesdepth charge nouna bomb that is designed to explode under water, used especially for destroying a submarinedevice nouna bombdirty bomb nouna bomb containing harmful nuclear waste that is sent out when the bomb explodesdud nouna bomb or other explosive object that fails to explodedynamite nouna substance used for causing explosions, especially for breaking rock into piecesfirebomb nouna bomb that is designed to start a fire when it explodesfusion bomb nouna hydrogen bombgelignite nouna substance used to cause explosions, especially under watergrenade nouna small bomb that someone throws or fires from a gunguided missile nouna missile whose path is controlled by radio signals or by an electronic system on the missilegunpowder nouna substance that is used for causing explosions or for making fireworks (=objects that burn to produce noise and colored light)hand grenade noun

a small bomb that explodes after it has been thrown by handH-bomb nounhydrogen bomb: a type of nuclear bombhigh explosive nouna substance that produces a quick and powerful explosion and is often used in bombshydrogen bomb nounan extremely powerful type of nuclear bombIED nounimprovised explosive device: a simple bomb that someone, especially a terrorist or guerrilla, has made themselvesincendiary nouna bomb or missile that causes a fire when it hits somethinglandmine nouna bomb hidden under the ground that explodes when a person or vehicle moves over itletter bomb nouna small bomb hidden inside a lettermail bomb nouna small bomb sent in a package and designed to explode when the package is openedmine nouna bomb that is hidden under the ground or under water and explodes when someone or something touches itmissile nouna weapon that travels under its own power for long distances and explodes when it hits its targetMolotov cocktail nouna simple bomb consisting of a bottle filled with a liquid that you can set on fire and then throwneutron bomb nouna nuclear bomb designed to kill people with strong radiation but to cause little damage to buildingspetrol bomb nouna molotov cocktailplastic explosive nouna soft substance that can explode, or a bomb made from this substancerocket nouna weapon shaped like a tube that flies through the air and explodes when it hits somethingSAM nounsurface to air missile: a powerful weapon that is fired from the ground at flying aircraftScud missile nouna type of powerful missile used by the militarySemtexa plastic substance that can be bent into any shape and is used for making bombssmart bomb nouna missile that is controlled by a computer or a laser so that its direction can be changedsmoke bomb nouna bomb that creates a cloud of smoke when it explodessurface-to-air adjectiveused to describe a missile that is fired from the ground or from a ship to hit aircraft or other missiles in the airtime bomb nouna bomb that can be set to explode at a particular timeTNT nouna chemical used for making powerful explosionstorpedo noun

a weapon shaped like a tube that is shot under water to hit a ship or a submarinemail bomb verb

A Bomb is an explosive weapon. Bombs are usually used in warfare, although terrorists groups also use them. Bombs kill or injure people and destroy buildings, aeroplanes, ships, and other targets. Most bombs consist of a metal case filled with explosives or chemicals and a means of exploding or scattering the contents. Most bombs are large and dropped from aeroplanes, but some bombs are small enough to be carried by hand. Such bombs are often used by terrorists. In warfare, small bombs may be thrown as grenades or fired from artillery.

Bombs are set off by a small device called a fuse. A contact fuse sets off the explosion when the bomb strikes a target. A bomb with a proximity fuse goes off a short distance above the ground. One type of proximity fuse uses a radar to measure the distance to the ground. Yet another type of proximity fuse reacts to the level of air pressure.

Bombs are either conventional or nuclear. Conventional bombs vary in size and design. They are usually classed as; general-purpose, guided, armour-piercing, fragmentation, and incendiary bombs.

General-purpose bombs use explosives like RDX or TNT. The bomb destroys by the combination of the blast, the vacuum pressure, the fragmentation, and the shock wave. The blast is the enormous wave of air pressure produced by the explosion, a wave that destroys everything in it’s path. The vacuum pressure is the suction effect caused when air rushes back into the partial vacuum caused by the blast. Fragmentation is when the bomb breaks into little pieces which fly everywhere and cause damage and injury. The shock wave is the blow transmitted through the ground, water or physical structures in which the bomb explodes. It can weaken and destroy underground foundations and structures. General-purpose bombs usually weigh between 100kg (215lbs) and 900kg (1938lbs). Their length ranges from around 180cm (6ft) to 3.8m (2ft 8in).

Guided bombs, A.K.A. “Smart bombs”, are directed towards targets by electronic equipment like a TV monitor or a laser beam. Armour-piercing bombs have a heavy steel nose designed to penetrate a battleships armour. The bomb then explodes inside the ship.

Fragmentation bombs have many metal fragments or bars that that break into jagged pieces upon detonation. These fragments scatter fly out with tremendous speed to kill and injure. A certain fragmentation bomb, know as a cluster bomb, has hundreds of small bombs (bomblets) packed into a light container. They either explode on impact to the target or lay dormant until they are bumped by a car or person.

Incendiary bombs contain substances like petrol compounds or thermite (a mix of aluminium and iron oxide). When detonated, they spread a sticky mixture that ignites and causes a fire that is very hard to put out.

Other conventional bombs include chemical bombs, depth bombs, leaflet bombs and photoflash bombs. Chemical bombs spread smoke or poison gas. Depth bombs work underwater against submarines. Leaflet bombs spread propaganda to the enemy. Photoflash bombs provide the light needed for aerial photography at night.