The Multi-Hazards Podcast

COVID-19 is "The Big One"; look no further!

As more of the pandemic's devastations come to light over the coming months & years, we will see how deep & devastating it really is. And how it will cause one of the most significant shifts in human society that we've experienced in modern history.

It's time we put ourselves in the here & now, end this pandemic ASAP & focus on grieving, healing & rebuilding.

Links:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/29/who-warns-covid-19-pandemic-is-not-necessarily-the-big-one https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/herd-immunity-lockdowns-and-covid-19 https://www.jblearning.com/catalog/productdetails/9781284170702 https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ https://www.hachettebooks.com/titles/debora-mackenzie/covid-19/9780306924231/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-problem-of-long-haul-covid/ https://www.survivorcorps.com/story https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2020/12/28/coronavirus-long-haulers https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/story-real-canary-coal-mine-180961570/ Telegraph UK - Poorer Countries are At Risk of Getting Stuck in the Covid Crisis Until 2023 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/2021-predictions-covid-war-famine-poverty-b1781258.html

Photos: Teddy - Daniele Levis Pelusi on Unsplash Earthquake - moein rezaalizade on Unsplash Flood - Saikiran Kesari on Unsplash Zombie - alert-4960172_1920

In this "COVID Survival 101: Winter Edition", we discuss that (1) You are not invincible; you can get COVID-19. Yes, you. Realising that can help you avoid it. (2) Make plans to stay sane and (3) Aim to make it to the end of the tunnel.

That's it. Maybe you can't thrive right now. Then . . . survive. Make it through this winter, through this pandemic.

Cheers,

Vin Nelsen

GRAPHIC is my lousy art rendition of the Alberta, Canada TV commercial character, Creepy Uncle Covid: https://youtu.be/PiG0I7VE7d4.  There's also a COVID-19 awareness page along with these great TV commercials: https://covidloves.ca.  Check them out!

"Resilience" means both grit & determination, as well as the ability to bounce back after loss, setbacks & disasters. Mexicans have a lot to teach the world with their concept of "Zozobra" as described by Mexican philosophers Emilio Uranga & Jorge Portilla. "Zozobra" in this COVID-19 pandemic, for example, is the suffering, the anxiety, the pain we all feel, the sense that our ship is about to capsize, the alienation & limbo. Facing this anxiety together, as the residents of Sante Fe, New Mexico, USA when they burn a huge monster effigy every year, can bring relief.

The other nation we look to, Finland, has the concept of "Sisu", a second wind after suffering for a time, a discovery of inner strength to face our battles & challenges. "Sisu" is what we all need to face 2021 & an ongoing pandemic where death & destruction are everywhere. Forsaking superstition & conspiracy theories, we must unite against a common enemy, COVID-19, as well as other challenges like climate change, social unrest, authoritarianism, etc. Let us use these Mexican & Finnish concepts of resilience to fight the good fight and win!

LINKS:

"I Got You" lyrics, James Brown: https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jamesbrown/igotyouifeelgood.html

"A Little Bit Off" lyrics, Five Finger Death Punch: https://genius.com/Five-finger-death-punch-a-little-bit-off-lyrics

"Zozobra":

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA "Zozobra" event: https://burnzozobra.com/all-about-zozobra/

Feeling disoriented by the election, pandemic and everything else? It’s called ‘zozobra,’ and Mexican philosophers have some advice, Dr Francisco Gallegos, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Wake Forest University, Dr Carlos Alberto Sánchez, Professor of Philosophy, San José State University, November 2, 2020: https://theconversation.com/feeling-disoriented-by-the-election-pandemic-and-everything-else-its-called-zozobra-and-mexican-philosophers-have-some-advice-148576

"Sisu":

"The Sisu Within You: The Finnish Key To Life, Love and Success": https://finland.fi/arts-culture/sisu-within-finnish-key-life-love-success/

"What Sisu Can Teach Us About Well-Being" by Dr. Marianna Pogosyan, Psychology Today, Aug 27, 2018: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/between-cultures/201808/what-sisu-can-teach-us-about-well-being

Joanna Nylund, Sisu: The Finnish Art of Courage (2018, UK: Gaia; USA: Running Press): https://www.runningpress.com/titles/joanna-nylund/sisu/9780762493371/

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Photo:

robert-collins-tvc5imO5pXk-unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/tvc5imO5pXk

Quebec is the most populated province in Canada. There, First Nations people are on the move, making their communities safer by ever-improving Emergency Management strategies. Paul-Emile Auger is working with First Nations communities there. Listen to some information and updates about what is happening there in this episode: "Some Updates on First Nations in Quebec's Emergency Management - Conversation with Paul-Emile Auger" (Multi-Hazards Podcast S03 E09).

Paul-Emile Auger Bio

Paul-Emile Auger is Emergency Management (EM) Specialist at the Grand Council of the Waban-Aki Nation near Trois Rivières, Quebec, the French-speaking province in Eastern Canada. He is also an Incident Commander for crises and disasters, and responsible for public security in daily life. His job scope includes supporting all First Nations in Quebec in the four pillars of EM: Prevention, Preparation, Intervention & Recovery. Prior to this he worked as at the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada as EM & Procurement Officer. He has done post-graduate studies in Sociology at Quebec's Laval University and completed a Bachelor's in Political Science there as well. He is fluent in both French and English and is one of the rare people who can move in both social circles, as well as among First Nations everywhere.

How can Canada & other nations ramp up our climate adaptation? How have we reached this point in adaptation and where are we headed? Hear it from an engineer and educator's perspective here in this timely, in-depth episode: "An Engineer Faces a Changing Climate - Conversation with Joel Nodelman" (Multi-Hazards Podcast S03 E08).

Joel Nodelman Bio

Joel Nodelman is an engineering and risk management specialist with over forty years of professional practice. Over his career, Joel’s primary mission was environmental responsibility and sustainable development. He promoted these strategies in the design, operation, and management of complex engineered systems and organizational structures. He brings this focus to his consulting practice, providing clients with pragmatic approaches to address climate change risk. A gifted speaker, facilitator and educator he taught 4th-year engineering courses in sustainable development and engineering management at the University of Alberta for well over a decade. He is the author of numerous articles and papers on sustainable development, climate change, climate resiliency, and environmental affairs. A graduate of Queen’s University with degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Joel is a Professional Engineer, registered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geophysicists of Alberta. Joel holds a Canadian Risk Management (CRM) professional designation from the Global Risk Management Institute (GRMI). Joel and his partner Joan founded Nodelcorp Consulting in 2002 with the firm belief that the combination of their professional skills would offer synergies that support superior client service. (Source: https://www.nodelcorp.com/joel-nodelman-professional-engineer/).

How can indigenous and scientific knowledge merge to educate the younger generations? Dawn Pratt is an indigenous expert trained as a scientist, with a passion for training youth in STEM (science, technology, engineering & mathematics). Listen to "Indigenising Science for Education - Conversation With Dawn Pratt" (Multi-Hazards Podcast S03 E07).

Dawn Pratt Bio

Dawn is an Indigenous Scientist creating ethical Indigenised STEM activities with epistemological and pedagogical hands-on-learning while infusing Indigenous Languages, Elders and their knowledge into Western Science Curriculum. Her First Nation language is Saulteaux (Ojibway). Dawn has a Masters of Science in Physical Chemistry from the University of Saskatoon and has several peer-reviewed articles on ResearchGate. In her career, she actively searches for Indigenous Knowledges and give credit to the Elders and Knowledge Keepers. She's a learner for life and has a passion for everything STEM, which includes Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics. She is mentoring her two Indigenous daughters to see the world of science & math with culture & language. Follow her on Twitter @dawnypratt.

How can communities be protected from fires, without firefighters getting diseases, or being injured or killed? How can our attitudes about fire and firefighter workplace culture change, so that more lives are saved, those of community members and firefighters? Listen to this timely, exciting episode with a fire culture expert who has put a lot of thought and time into these questions, a master storyteller: "Fighting for the Soul of Firefighting - Conversation With Burton Clark" (Multi-Hazards Podcast S03 E06). 

Dr Burton A Clark Bio

Dr. Burton A. Clark, Executive Fire Officer (EFO), has been in the fire service for 50 years, including the District of Columbia in Washington DC the Capital of the USA, Prince George’s County Fire Department in Maryland and the USA National Fire Academy. He served as Assistant Fire Chief in Laurel, Maryland and as an Operations Section Chief for National emergencies and disasters. Presently he serves on the Board of Advisors for the Fire Service Psychology Association and the Board of Governors for the John M. Moschella Fire Service Research Grant Trust. Dr. Clark is a Technical Expert Reviewer for the USA National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention program and a doctoral dissertation advisor at various universities. He is the author of “I Can’t Save You, But I’ll Die Trying. The American Fire Culture” which I am now reading, it's chock full of great stories & a call to reform this great profession and the way society looks at fires. Dr. Clark studies fire culture worldwide, his web page is  www.americanfireculture.com

How can you protect your community when facing the giants such as climate change and powerful corporate & political interests? Dominic Frongillo & his partners have successfully organised communities across New York State & the United States. He is an example of what we all can do! Listen to this timely, exciting episode: "Community Leadership & Protecting Our Home - Conversation With Dominic Frongillo" (Multi-Hazards Podcast S03 E05). Study Guide included, click on the top left of the website: where it says "PDF":   https://multi-hazards.libsyn.com/community-leadership-protecting-our-home-conversation-with-dominic-frongillo

Adaptation to climate change is becoming something we all have to pay attention to. But what steps are there for countries and communities to take? Let's learn the scene "down under" from one of the nation's top adaptation experts. Listen to "The State of Adaptation Science in Australia & Beyond - Conversation with Dr. Johanna Nalau" (Multi-Hazards Podcast S03 E04). Study Guide here: https://multi-hazards.libsyn.com/the-state-of-adaptation-science-in-australia-beyond-conversation-with-dr-johanna-nalau

Dr. Johanna Nalau Bio

Dr. Nalau has a a PhD in climate change adaptation and is an adaptation scientist at Griffith University based on the Gold Coast, Australia. Her research is focused on understanding how, why and when people make decisions to adapt to climate change, and what role science can and should play in that process. This includes issues such as decision-making, policy development and implementation, limits to adaptation, and the gap that we often see between academic theory and real-world practical actions. She has a keen interest in leadership and management. This is because she firmly believes that good leadership enables better lives and better decisions across organisations and scientific fields. And thus, she explores the linkages between leadership, climate adaptation and decision-making with a weekly blog at www.johannanalau.com.

What if too many people hesitate to take the COVID-19 vaccine(s) when ready? Besides masks and social distancing, stopping this coronavirus pandemic will also involve vaccines. And this means we all need to be willing participants in vaccine rollouts. Listen to this timely, exciting episode: "Vaccine Hesitancy in a Global Pandemic: Conversation with Dr Jennifer Reich" (Multi-Hazards Podcast S03 E03). Check out the Study Guide, click on the top left "PDF": https://multi-hazards.libsyn.com/vaccine-hesitancy-in-a-global-pandemic-conversation-with-dr-jennifer-reich

Dr. Jennifer Reich Bio

Dr. Reich is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the University Honors and Leadership Program at the University of Colorado - Denver. She is author of two award-winning books, Fixing Families: Parents, Power, and the Child Welfare System and Calling the Shots: Why Parents Reject Vaccines, and is co-editor of the book, Reproduction and Society. Her work has been featured in media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, and Newsweek, and on the Netflix show, Bill Nye Saves the World. She teaches classes on healthcare, family, and reproductive politics. (Source: https://clas.ucdenver.edu/cpe/covid-19-colorado-beyond).