Abstract
On September 11, 2001, as this book was on its way to press, disaster struck once again. Two hijacked airplanes, fully loaded with passengers and fuel crashed into the World Trade Center in New York and another into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. A fourth airplane crashed into the countryside of Pennsylvania, apparently missing its intended target, but nevertheless killing all those on board. These unprecedented and brutal terrorist attacks hit the Western world at the core of its financial and military power. They left once-towering skyscrapers in piles of rubble, carrying to their deaths thousands of innocent civilians and hundreds of rescue workers. Many died in full view of bystanders who watched horrified as people jumped from the windows of the burning buildings. As undoubtedly planned, they dealt a resounding blow to the confidence of the most powerful nation in the world. People were caught in complete surprise as they went about their daily business. Around the world, people felt that the attacks had shaken the very foundations of their sense of security. They left us scared, vulnerable, and without adequate protection against the forces of terrorism. Coupled with repulsion and disbelief, various doomsday scenarios were beamed over news networks, phone lines, and electronic mail in a matter of hours.
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Havenaar, J.M. (2002). Ecological Disaster. In: Havenaar, J.M., Cwikel, J.G., Bromet, E.J. (eds) Toxic Turmoil. The Plenum Series on Stress and Coping. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0623-2_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0623-2_1
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