In giving thanks for our blessings to begin this holiday season, a valid question for this forum would be something like this: What do Emergency Managers have to be thankful for?
First, of course, the not-very short list of what Emergency Managers are NOT thankful for. These would include, but are not limited to: ice storms & winter weather (currently outside my window), terrorism, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, cyber-crimes, global warming, war, and the like. A substantial list.
The perfect world for Emergency Managers would be one in which societies are affluent; the served population is educated; resource utilization is sustainable; pollution is negligible; cities are protected from prevalent hazards through prescient planning and mitigation investment; and people are tolerant of their wondrously diverse neighbors in accordance with the teachings of all major faiths. ALL major faiths.
And couched in those terms, and synthesizing down the commonality of those societies that most closely fit the perfect world model, this is the answer: Emergency Managers (and the rest of us) need to give thanks this holiday season for: Women.
Follow me on this. The logic is there, but convoluted. The rationale and examples are sound, but could be shot full of holes by a determined critic, so please don’t. Here goes:
The United Nations maintains a treasure trove of fascinating data on [link url=”http://hdr.undp.org/en/data” title=”Human Development”]. In scanning this data, several things become apparent as a general rule:
- There is a direct correlation between gender equality and prosperity of the nation.
- There is a direct correlation between gender equality and low level of conflict.
- There is a direct correlation between gender equality and national success at rebounding from trauma (Think ‘Chile’ vs. ‘Haiti’ earthquake recovery or ‘Croatia’ vs. ‘Afghanistan’ war recovery).
- Societies are stronger in every sense if girls have access to education:
“Educate a boy, and you educate an individual. Educate a girl, and you educate a community.”
~ Adelaide Hoodless
The United States ranks no higher than 47th in the Human Development index. We have work to do in achieving our own level of gender equality and participation in society, and there are determined factions in our country that want to prevent basic human rights for women–such as access to gender-specific health care–that must be overcome. But that’s an argument for another day.
On this day/weekend/holiday season of Thanksgiving, let’s give thanks for the contribution of women to the ongoing effort of our species to survive on Spaceship Earth, and when it comes time to make resolutions for next year, let’s vow to do even better. It’s a goal that every Emergency Manager should jump behind wholeheartedly.
Book Review
[link url=”http://www.amazon.com/Half-Sky-Nicholas-D-Kristof-ebook/dp/B002MHOCTO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1448636617&sr=1-1&keywords=half+the+sky” title = “Half the Sky“] by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.
Through these stories, Kristof and WuDunn help us see that the key to economic progress lies in unleashing women’s potential. They make clear how so many people have helped to do just that, and how we can each do our part. Throughout much of the world, the greatest unexploited economic resource is the female half of the population. Countries such as China have prospered precisely because they emancipated women and brought them into the formal economy. Unleashing that process globally is not only the right thing to do; it’s also the best strategy for fighting poverty.
~ (courtesy of Amazon.com)
Joyous holiday season to all!!
~ The EDM Digest Team