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FEMA Urges Greater Public-Private Cooperation in Disaster Response

submitted by Samuel Bendett

Homeland Security News Wire - January 24, 2012

       

New Orleans, La., Jan. 17, 2012 -- FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, guest speaker for the International Disaster Conference and Expo, emphasizes the Federal Government's initial response to a disaster is to get people to safety, transport the injured and assist in the reestablishment of infrastructure. Restoration of infrastructure is critical and involves getting private sector entities up and running so gas stations, food establishments, hotels and other essential private businesses are operable. This allows volunteers, non government organizations and emergency responders to effectively help the affected community in response and recovery operations. FEMA/Ralph Simcox

Speaking at the International Disaster Conference and Exposition, Craig Fugate, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), urged emergency planners to take a broader view of disaster response and include the private sector.

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FBI Releases Plans to Monitor Social Networks

newscientist.com - January 25, 2012

      

(Image: Patrick George/Ikon Images/Getty)

Jim Giles, consultant

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has quietly released details of plans to continuously monitor the global output of Facebook, Twitter and other social networks, offering a rare glimpse into an activity that the FBI and other government agencies are reluctant to discuss publicly. The plans show that the bureau believes it can use information pulled from social media sites to better respond to crises, and maybe even to foresee them.

The information comes from a document released on 19 January looking for companies who might want to build a monitoring system for the FBI. It spells out what the bureau wants from such a system and invites potential contractors to reply by 10 February.

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Google Announces Privacy Changes Across Products; Users Can’t Opt Out

submitted by Stuart Leiderman

      

by Cecilia Kang - The Washington Post - January 24, 2012

Google will soon know far more about who you are and what you do on the Web.

The Web giant announced Tuesday that it plans to follow the activities of users across nearly all of its ubiquitous sites, including YouTube, Gmail and its leading search engine.

Google has already been collecting some of this information. But for the first time, it is combining data across its Web sites to stitch together a fuller portrait of users.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

(GOOGLE PREVIEW: PRIVACY POLICY - EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2012)

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National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security

submitted by Luis Kun

dhs.gov - Release Date: January 25, 2012

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

DAVOS, Switzerland—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today unveiled the Obama administrations National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Department of Homeland Security is committed to facilitating legitimate trade and travel, while preventing terrorists from exploiting supply chains, protecting transportation systems from attacks and disruptions, and increasing the resilience of global supply chains.

We must continue to strengthen global supply chains to ensure that they operate effectively in time of crisis; recover quickly from disruptions; and facilitate international trade and travel, said Secretary Napolitano. As a part of this effort, we look forward to working closely with our international partners in the public and private sector to build a more resilient global supply chain.

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Smart911 Technology Improves 9-1-1- Response

submitted by Mike Kraft

Homeland Security News Wire - January 25, 2012

Municipalities improve 9-1-1 response with Smart911; the technology allows individuals to use a Web site to enter emergency-relevant information they want emergency personnel answering a 9-1-1 call to have, including children’s photos, medical conditions, disabilities, home addresses of cellphone callers, or other rescue-related information

Farmingham, Massachusetts-based Rave Mobile Safety, a provider of safety software solutions, said its Smart911 technology has seen increasing adoption in 2011. Smart911 allows citizens to create a safety profile with critical information, which is then automatically displayed at participating public safety answering points (PSAPs), when a 9-1-1 call is placed.

The company said that Smart911 is now available to more than five million citizens.

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New Jersey Enacts New Disaster Preparedness Law

submitted by Samuel Bendett

Homeland Security News Wire - January 18, 2012

On Tuesday New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed new legislation into law designed to bolster state emergency preparedness

On Tuesday New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signednew legislation into law designed to bolster state emergency preparedness.

The new law, based on recommendations from a legislative task force formed after Hurricane Katrina and Rita, is primarily aimed at addressing key emergency response activities like shelters, evacuation plans, and critical infrastructure protection.

“Updating our emergency plans is critical to ensuring that we are prepared for any weather activity that comes our way,” said State Senator Jeff Van Drew, the bill’s sponsor. 
“This process is particularly important to protecting our residents in the event a large-scale storm directly impacts the coast. This law will set into motion actions that are crucial to improving the state’s overall emergency preparedness,” Drew added.

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Data Without Borders Upcoming Event in DC - 03.02.12

Data Without Borders is coming to Washington DC!  We’ll be digging into non-profit data from around the nation’s capital the weekend of 3/2 – 3/4.  If you’re a non-profit who needs help with data or wants to understand what all the buzz is about, sign up here!

http://datawithoutborders.cc/dwbevents/

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EPA - Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Data for Calendar Year 2010

submitted by Albert Gomez

                                                                    

On January 11, 2012, EPA released greenhouse gas (GHG) data reported from large facilities and suppliers across the U.S. economy for the year 2010.

The 2010 GHG data includes public information from facilities in 9 industry groups, including 29 source categories, which directly emit large quantities of GHGs, as well as suppliers of certain fossil fuels and industrial gases.

This information can be used to help businesses track emissions and identify cost– and fuel–saving efficiencies, identify industry leaders, inform policy at the state and local levels, and provide important information to the finance and investment communities.

More information:

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Texting 911 in Emergencies

Homeland Security News Wire - November 29, 2011

The Post Falls police department in Idaho is testing a new 911 system that would allow residents to report emergencies via text message or e-mail.

Police say it is not meant to replace phone calls, but is instead designed to provide residents with additional options to communicate with authorities.

Texting or e-mailing is particularly helpful for the hearing impaired or those with disabilities that make it difficult to communicate over the phone.

Charlene Holbrook, PFPD’s emergency communications supervisor, hopes that the new text-based 911 option will encourage young people to interact with the police more. 

Texting allows them a method of communication with which most teens are comfortable,” Holbrook said. “Texting was the next logical step for us.”

Whether you like it or not, it’s obvious that the future of communication is texting,” Chief Scot Haug added. “You look at young people today and that’s the method of communication. Text messaging is here, and everybody’s using it. We are just looking for new ways to get information to solve and reduce crime.”

The new system also allows photos to be sent to 911 dispatchers.

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Mapping Digital Media

soros.org - Open Society Foundations

The values that underpin good journalism, the need of citizens for reliable and abundant information, and the importance of such information for a healthy society and robust democracy: these are perennial, and provide compass-bearings for anyone trying to make sense of current changes across the media landscape.

The Mapping Digital Media project, which examines these changes in-depth, aims to build bridges between researchers and policymakers, activists, academics, and standard-setters across the world. It also builds policy capacity in countries where this is less developed, encouraging stakeholders to participate and influence change. At the same time, this research creates a knowledge base, laying foundations for advocacy work, building capacity, and enhancing debate.

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