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The Politics of Bio(in)security: science, experts and the dilemma of dual use
Rychnovská, Dagmar ; Karásek, Tomáš (advisor) ; Leander, Anna (referee) ; Lupták, Ľubomír (referee)
This thesis explores the politics of biosecurity and the governance of dual-use research. It focuses on life sciences, whose rapid development brings together the issues of biological weapons, terrorism, and the dangers of scientific innovations. The thesis has three goals: first, to situate the dilemma of dual-use research historically and conceptually, second, to analyse how the attempts to govern biosecurity and regulate dual-use research in life sciences affect the relations between science and security, and third, to discuss what implications this science-security nexus has for the politics of (in)security. Approaching the subject from critical security studies, the thesis looks at how the nexus between science and security is constructed. It does so, first, by exploring the dominant political and expert discourses on biosecurity and by looking at two distinct empirical sites, which exemplify how a regime of biosecurity governance evolves at a boundary of science and security in a 'global' and 'local' context: the international biological weapons regime and the Czech system of biosecurity management. The thesis finds that the attempts to govern dual-use research in life sciences focus not only on materials and technologies but also on scientific knowledge. It conceptualizes dual-use as a problem of...
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The way of alternative spread of the biological agents in population.
JIRKA, Martin
This bachelor thesis describes the ways of alternative spread of the biological agents in population. It is focused on the main precursors, which increase the risk of such use. One of the precursors is the availability of biological agents which have the potential to be exploited as a biological weapon. Majority hazardous agents are found freely in nature and could be obtained without much effort. The ability to effectively extend the dangerous pathogens is another important aspect. Among the main ways of the spread, is a form of inhalation, ingestion or inoculation, including spread of biological agents via vehicles and vectors. The ability to threaten the life and health in these ways of spreading agents is evaluated. Last precursor represented an alternative way to spread the biological agents. There are many ways how to spread dangerous germs. The thesis is focused on alternative ways, using of them and devices it´s possible to achieve efficient transfer of biological agents and achieve high damage to health of population. Furthermore, the fact is mentioned that biological agents were previously abused for attack and therefore can´t be trusted that this situation no longer occurs. And because terrorism is recently more dangerous and more cold-blooded, the problems of this topic are also described. At the conclusion thesis tries to find of the all available pathogens, which the aggressor could easily use and evaluates the way of spread the selected pathogen, which would be the most dangerous for the population from the health point of view, including its alternatives. The thesis is handled in the form of a literature search of Czech and foreign literature and the results are processed by the brainwriting method.
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The units integrated rescue system activity during suspected a possible terrorist attack using biological arms and toxins
MAISTRYSZINOVÁ, Soňa
The possible use of biological weapons has become a reality. In the face of the character and the organizational transformation of the phenomenon of terrorism and the incidents related to terrorist attacks today, the interest of specialists, politicians, general public and of course also mass media in the threat of bioterrorism and the posibility of misuse of mass destruction weapons is getting stronger. A biological attack means an intentional use of vital microorganisms or their toxic products to cause a disease and death in people, animals and plants. This is a very broad issue, that is why this work is focused especially on a short summary of main aspects of the problem, with emphasis on readiness of the integrated rescue system for extraordinary incident, eventually on a crisis situation, that could come as a consequence of the use of biological weapons. The methods of a biological attack and its main characteristics. The general public must be better informed about the possibilities of ultraterrorist attacks and must be prepared for the possible reaction in case of these attacks. Growing awareness would probably significantly contribute to the elimination of losses in the case of use of these biological weapons by terrorists. It is necessary to focus on the citizens´ preparation regarding existing threats of terrorist attacks, inform them how to identify symptoms of attacks with weapons of mass destruction and how to adequately protect ourselves against them. A rank of proceedings exists for the protection of citizens, such as sufficient amount of protective masks, means for decontamination, a complete programme for mass vaccination, a broader and deeper planning of processes for extraordinary situations, as well as information about emmergency escape shelters etc..
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The methods of hospital protection against terrorist attacks by biological weapons
JANDOVÁ, Miroslava
The aim of following work is to pass judgement on how the hospilals are ready to react to possible terrorist attack made with the help of biological materials. Evaluate available crisis management and ability to protect the hospitals and inhabitants from different kinds of terrorist attacks in Czech Republic. The point of this work is at least a bit clear up how biological materials are dangerous and how important is to be at least partly prepared for possible terrorist attack. My work explains term biological terrorism, what is its aim, ahat is the biological weapon, which biological materials can be used as a biological weapon and what kind of effect on humen being is has got. Then my work look on possibilities of terrorist attack and how the hospitals and IZS are prepared for this kind of thread. .
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Biological Weapons and Readiness of Integrated Rescue System for Biological Attack
KVÍDEROVÁ, Lenka
As the topic for my Bachelor Thesis I have chosen the Biological Weapons and Readiness of Integrated Rescue System for Biological Attack. The bioterrorism has recently become one of the most critical worldwide problems. The terrorist organizations that would misuse the biological weapons as a tool of pressure and blackmail to enforce their own interests would choose mainly civilian population as the target of their attack. The Integrated Rescue System plays an important role in protecting the population against this threat. The purpose of this Thesis is to point out the issue of biological weapons, to outline possibilities of production of these hazardous materials, to inform about how these biological means can be spread among the population and mainly to draw attention to the most significant representatives of the biological weapons. I will also describe the Integrated Rescue System and its individual components taking part in solving extraordinary situations incorporating occurrence of B-agens. In order to ensure readiness of the basic components of the Integrated Rescue System for biological terrorism, there has been a questionnaire compiled and handed over to the respective members of the Fire Brigade, Police of the Czech Republic and medical emergency services to fill it in. The Thesis is verifying the hypothesis whether the Integrated Rescue System components are sufficiently ready for a biological attack. Based on confrontation of the information obtained from literature, legislation, electronic sources and outcome of the questionnaire survey, there was an answer to the defined hypothesis formulated in the conclusion, stating that the Integrated Rescue System components are not currently prepared sufficiently for a biological attack.
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Biological terrorism - New Threat in the Hands of Extremist Groups
FUČÍK, Miroslav
In my bachelo´s work I am dealing with questions of a danger of misuse of biological weapons by some radical-thinking groups to promote their aims at the expense of our society and if the parts of integrated rescue system are sufficiently prepared for similar kind of threat and possible liquidation of effects. Nowadays when we can see an escalation of tension between radical-thinking groups of Islamic fundamentalists on the one hand and the civilized west on the other is misusing of B-agens as a means of weapons of mass destruction lies mainly in inconspicuously spreading it among civilians. It is necessary to realize that in sprite of the ban on production and holding of these agens there still is an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction with these agens available, mainly in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Problems arising from the misuse of biological agens as possible terrorist weapons become more real in a more globalized world such as the one in which the Czech Republic can be found. We gradually become a place where we have to prepare for possibilities that such cases of attacks can happen at our place. The threat itself of using these agens is bringing us a lot of questions. For example, if our security system is ready to deal with these kinds of extraordinary events. This range of problems is covered by a wide spectrum of scientific studies and that is why I do not try to investigated situations which could happen in case of using B-agens from the point of view of integrated rescue system components. The hypothesis that "bioterrorists" can with very little effort achieve very high impact as a result of their efforts is shown in work. By comparing and studying available materials, I discovered that despite the fact that all the materials are at very high levels of elaboration regarding the theory, on the other hand in reality, the components of integrated rescue system are not sufficiently ready and equipped for similar kind of possible danger and dealing with similar unexpected common event.
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Bioterorism and problems with mass media in population awarness.
VENKRBCOVÁ, Klára
Bioterrorism is a deliberate abuse of bilogical agents with a view to bring on a human or animal illness, it can have military, religious or political connection. Biological weapons number among mass destruction weapons and their advantage is in their ineffectiveness on dead matter and ability to cause high mortality. Biological weapons are very various and budget-priced. Just a small amount can kill many people or contaminate a vast area for a long time, it all depends on qualities of the used biological agent. Biological agent can be spread in several ways, namely by aerosol inhalation, in an alimentary way otherwise by taking of with groceries, by exterior contamination by means of objects or linen and by means of vector (medium {--} insects) by blood suction. The aspiration of my work was to state the awareness level of inhabitants and I asume it was carried out. The first hypothesis {\clqq}General awareness level about bioterrorism is mininal`` This hypothesis was neither validated nor confuted, fifty percent of the answers confirmed the thesis but fifty percent did not. The second hypothesis {\clqq}Awareness and interest in bioterrorism fall with the rising age.`` This was confirmed. The third hypothesis {\clqq}Media are exaggeratedly interested in this topic. This hypothesis wasn{\crq}t confirmed. The fourth hypothesis {\clqq}The Czech Republic is according to informants´ views ready for a bioterrorist attack but it isn{\crq}t imminent.`` This hypothesis was neither validated nor confuted, as well as the first hypothesis it was confirmed from 50 % and confuted from 50 % . The fifth hypothesis {\clqq} People look for special information on bioterrorism most ofen in special literature and they get further information most ofen through the medium of television.`` This hypothesis was neither validated nor confuted. The sixth hypothesis {\clqq}The informants connect the planned build- up of the American counter rocket radar with the menace of bioterrorism.`` It was confuted.
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Botulotoxin: dangerous poison or useful remedy?
HAMERNÍKOVÁ, Magdalena
ABSTRACT Botulotoxin: dangerous poison or useful remedy? Regarding present awareness of biological agents and the possibilities for terrorist groups several possible sources, which are most likely to be abused in biological weapons and subsequent spread of these diseases (sources) in population have been addressed, botulotoxin is one of them. Poisoning with botulotoxin (botulism) is a possible variant of bio-terrorist attack, which is considered real at present.. Botulotoxin is used in cosmetics, particularly for smoothening wrinkles, and is also applied in medicine. The aim of my thesis was to gather summarized information on botulotoxin and the possibilities of its abuse as poison for terrorist attack, to enlighten its availability, the way of use by terrorist, a scenario of such an attack, the clinical progress of poisoning, possible mortalities and preventive measures minimizing them, the issues of using botulotoxin as medicine in present health care and evaluation the possible consequent risks, and evaluation of awareness of botulotoxin and bio-terrorism in general among general public and professionals. H1: Professionals consider botulotoxin one of the poisons most likely to be used as an instrument of bio-terrorism and has been high attention paid to its study. H2: General public more perceive botulotoxin as cosmetic preparation for smoothening wrinkles in a face and it has only a few informations of its terrorist abuse. Verification of the first hypothesis was performed at theoretical level by studying professional literature its critical assessment and consultation with experts. All available publications on botulotoxin and its relation to bio-terrorism of the last ten years were collected, and the reasons why botulotoxin is considered to be a suitable instrument of bio-terrorism as well as a suitable instrument in medicine and cosmetics. Verification of the second hypothesis was performed by investigation in the form of a questionnaire research. A questionnaire enabling to find out awareness of botulotoxin and bio-terrorism in general among the public was compiled. The research was conducted among the general public and among professionals, represented by members of the Integrated Rescue System in České Budějovice. The questionnaire consists of 18 questions. The samples of both the groups include 100 respondents, stratified selection of whom was performed upon consultation with an expert. Questionnaire evaluation was performed in 2 spheres. The first sphere deals with identification data and the second with general awareness. The aim of this work was to find out what the awareness of botulotoxin and bio-terrorism in general the general public and professionals was like. Finally I analysed the research results and the formulated hypotheses The research results have confirmed my hypotheses. They show that the examined general public sample and the sample of professionals could not have been chosen from an identical outside group, the difference between them is statistically significant. Professionals are statistically significantly better aware of botulotoxin features than the general public. This thesis represent an information source for those interested in these issues, particularly for the Integrated Rescue System units.
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