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Mapping Wild Cards

Inspired by: FP7 » Trace pollutants cause ethnic air cleansing in Europe

version: 5 / updated: 2011-01-07
id: #1333 / version id: #262
mode: VIEW

Originally submitted by: Joe Ravetz
List of all contributors by versions (mouse over)
Last changed by: Joe Ravetz
WI-WE status:
submitted unpublished archived

Source of inspiration

European Commission Framework Programme for RTD (FP7)

Theme/activity of inspiration

Theme 6 - Environment (including Climate Change)

Sub-theme/area of inspiration

Environment and health

Optional reference/s to FP7 project/s

Use the following format: Project Acronym (Project Reference No.). Use commas if more than one project is associated to this Wild Card, for example: ALFA-BIRD (213266), SAFAR (213374), LAPCAT-II (211485)
Bornik Z and H Dowlatabadi (2004). “The interplay of technological change and social norms: The case of B-Thalassaemia in Cyprus” Electronic Working Papers Series. W. Maurice Young Centre for Applied Ethics. University of British Columbia at www.ethics.ubc.ca.

Headline

(max. 9 words)

Trace pollutants cause ethnic air cleansing in Europe

Description

(approx. 150 words)
Please describe the Wild Card (approx. 150 words)
The hazard of trace pollutants in urban air are shown to be focused on certain ethnic minorities, e.g. Pakistani or certain EU groups, who are more susceptible to hereditary disorders such as B-thalassaemia. This rapidly leads to controversy on social norms on genetic disorders, and the disclosure of such information: ethnic tension and stress on kinship groups: and distrust of public policy and scientists. Indirectly it helps to amplify social unrest and risk of fundamentalist terrorism.

Keywords

social norms, hereditary disorders, pollution, terrorism, racism, cohesion, ethnic

Mini-description

(max. 250 characters)

The hazard of trace pollutants in urban air lead to major health problems in certain ethnic minorities (e.g. Pakistani or certain EU groups) susceptible to hereditary disorders such as, for example, B-thalassaemia.

Likelihood

Closest timeframe for at least 50% likelihood
Please use one of the following options:
now-2050

Features of life if the wild card manifests

Feature 1: business models and industrial environment
pressure on industry to disclose trace pollutants
Feature 2: education and research environment
researchers are challenged to identify complex pollutant pathways
Feature 3: consumers, markets and lifestyles
consumers are worried that their purchases contain hidden toxics
Feature 4: technology and infrastructure
scrutiny on genetic technologies and access to information
Feature 5: politics and global affairs
rising ethnic tension
Feature 6: health and quality of life
impacts on health for victims, plus insecurity for social & kinship networks
Feature 7: security and defence
rising ethnic tension

Type of event

Unplanned consequence of events/trends/situations (e.g. financial crisis, accidental breakthrough)

Type of emergence

please select (if any) describe related trend or situation
A new development/situation
(e.g. a Romani state is established in central Europe; A message from an alien civilisation existing on a distant planet is received and understood, etc.

Type of systems affected

Human-built Systems - E.g. organisations, processes, technologies, etc.

Classification

Undesirable

Importance

please specify:
please select
Level 1: important for a particular country Pakistan
Level 2: important for a particular world region Africa, Arab region
Level 3: important for the European Union
Level 4: important for the whole world

Manifestation phase

Type of manifestation

Very uncertain

Aftermath phase

Important implications
Collapse of a system
Transformation of a system (e.g. new applications, change in stakeholders relations/influence)

Relevance for Grand Challenges

where? please justify:
particularly relevant Europe world
Coexistence and conflicts
Ethics and abuse of S&T
Social pathologies & ethics

Relevance for thematic research areas

please justify:
particularly relevant
Nanosciences, nanotech, materials & new prod. tech.
Social Sciences and Humanities
Security
Science in society