I am inclined to agree with Dewald. At least, as other has written, this has to go well beyond the resignation of a 'scape goat', and the root causes identified publically -- elimination of the inspectorate and, even beyond this, the blind adherence to neoliberal ideology that places the market and self interested individualism above all social norms and values.  So the self criticism should extend to the Prime Minister's political party and the links to neoliberal foundations, advisors and consultants, as well as investors in other countries (of the EU?  in the US?) should be tracked down and thoroughly critiqued.  In fact, in my humble opinion, they all should be bundled off to the prison in Guantanamo!

My 2 cents.

Cheers,

BEN

-----Original Message-----
From: Dewald van Niekerk <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Nov 28, 2013 2:55 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Accountability for Disaster

Ilan I am going to be cynical here and argue that this is a political move to effect change riding on the back of a tragedy. I have not seen any politicians giving up their position because they feel “accountable” for a disaster. The right thing to be doing is not run away from the problem but FIX the underlying causes.

My 2c worth at the end of a VERY long year!

Best

d  

Kind regards,
 
Prof. Dewald van Niekerk

Director: African Centre for Disaster Studies

Editor: Jamba: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies
(http://www.jamba.org.za)

North West University 
Potchefstroom Campus
Research Focus Area: Social Transformation
Private Bag X6001
Potchefstroom
North West Province
2520
South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)18 299 1634
Fax: +27 (0)87 231 5590
E mail: [log in to unmask]
Web site: http://www.acds.co.za
             http://www.nwu.ac.za 

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On 28 November 2013 at 1:01:47 vm., Ilan Kelman ([log in to unmask]) wrote:

This list has frequently discussed accountability for disaster. In Latvia, we see it in action http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25120936 with the Prime Minister resigning over the supermarket roof collapse. Is this an appropriate reaction, is this the accountability that we seek?

Ilan

http://www.ilankelman.org

<[log in to unmask]>

Dr. Ben Wisner
Aon-Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre, University College London, UK
& Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
& Environmental Studies Program, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, USA

"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."