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A recent announcement from an international organisation not unrelated to Chile or the identification of supermassive stars or the study of the impact of sun storms upon earth’s vulnerable telecommunications infrastructure…. Absolutely classic!

Every day we are faced with risky situations that sometimes have unforeseen consequences. Often perhaps the majority. We “jump in” unthinkingly, either because we are in hurry or because we are unclear as to what the priority is at the time. Crossing a street on foot against a red light, passing through an intersection when the light turns yellow, getting off a bus that is in movement, eating unwashed fruit, drinking water from a cracked glass, turning on a light switch when your hands are wet … and many examples more.

It is our pleasure to invite all of you to our safety talk on this matter, entitled “Risk assesment” (poorly calculated risks), next Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. This talk will be different, and will use examples from our everyday life.

We laugh at translation sometimes, but that is not my point. Every individual calculates risks, often subliminally or even simultaneously, but the majority are consigned to the junkmail tray in our brains. The chosen examples of calculated risks above are, ironically rather poor examples.

In reaching this event, individuals are required to cross roads without a pedestrian crossing, to climb stairs which just might have been washed and now be slippery. If they catch a bus in Chile, then they will have to jump on, probably while it is still moving or else catch a taxi, without question.

Furthermore, by adding the incentive of

we will end the talk with a delicious snack and a raffle for two dinners at a restaurant of choice.

they are in fact, encouraging irresponsability and poorly calculated risks, inflating the value of the seminar and influencing their decision to ago, without regard to inherent risks!

How many real risks shall an individual overlook if they consider possible but non-pressing risks in their decision-making? And in a country which thrives on risks, particularly in investment (and driving), does an international organisation really want to demonstrate european ideas, principles and standards in this way? I don’t think so.

If I applied the kind of risk assesssment indicated in this email to my life here in Santiago, I would never leave the house and i wouldn’t do anything. Oh, hold on…

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