What, Me Worry?

The average North American may be buckling under the weight of heightened risk awareness, according to an article that appeared in a recent edition of the Toronto Star. Health risks like bird flu and mad cow disease, cancer and super bugs, the looming threat of terrorism, concern about the economy, fear surrounding the crime rates – it’s all part of life in what columnist Olivia Ward describes as The Risk Society – and it’s all taking a toll. In her article, entitled "The Risky Business of Life," (available here: www.thestar.com) Ward interviews the editor of Risk and Morality, a new book published by Ottawa’s Carleton University about the impact of the growing culture of worry in the Western World.

“Crime and terrorism are the most high-profile threats that make the news on a daily basis,” writes Ward, “But the number and variety of risks encountered today are much larger, often baffling and frustrating a public confronted with streams of conflicting information transmitted across the world.”

The article examines the potentially numbing impact of the seemingly endless stream of health, safety and security warnings that the average North American confronts on a daily basis. The piece may be of special interest to those in emergency planning roles, especially individuals whose job involves communicating cautionary messages to wide audiences.

Is it true that we have nothing to fear but fear itself? Perhaps FDR was onto something, the author seems to be suggesting.