Glossary

The subjective judgment that people make about the characteristics and severity of a

risk. The phrase is most commonly used in reference to natural hazards and threats to

the environment or health.

A structured approach to manage uncertainty and potential losses through a process of

risk assessment and the development of strategies and specific actions to control and

reduce risks. Comment: In the field of disasters, risk management strategies include

avoiding the risk (prevention), reducing the negative effect of the risk (mitigation),

transferring the risk to another party (insurance), and accepting some or all of the

consequences of a particular risk (retained risk). In some key sectors affected by

Calculation and/or simulation of degree of danger attached to a course of action for the

purpose of uncertainty reduction. "Risk assessment and early warning are distinct but

complementary activities. Risk assessments are based on the systematic analysis of

remote and intermediate conditions. Early warning requires near real- time assessment

of events that, in a high risk environment, are likely to accelerate or trigger the rapid

escalation of conflict." (Gurr, 1996b: 137). (FEWER)

A potent protein toxin made from the waste left over from processing castor beans.

The castor plant, which is called Ricinus communis, is found throughout the world.

Ricin is fairly easy to extract. Worldwide a million tons of castor beans are processed

annually in the production of castor oil. The waste mash from this process is 5% ricin

by weight. The toxin (ricin) can be in the form of a powder, mist, pellet, or it can be

dissolved in water or weak acid. Ricin is quite stable and is not affected much by