Critical Releases in Homeland Security: July 28, 2021

From the Background: "During the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, people have been exposed to a great deal of information: news, public health guidance, fact sheets, infographics, research, opinions, rumors, myths, falsehoods, and more. The World Health Organization and the United Nations have characterized this unprecedented spread of information as an 'infodemic.' While information has helped people stay safe throughout the pandemic, it has at times led to confusion. For example, scientific knowledge about COVID-19 has evolved rapidly over the past year, sometimes leading to changes in public health recommendations. Updating assessments and recommendations based on new evidence is an essential part of the scientific process, and further changes are to be expected as we continue learning more about COVID-19. But without sufficient communication that provides clarity and context, many people have had trouble figuring out what to believe, which sources to trust, and how to keep up with changing knowledge and guidance. Amid all this information, many people have also been exposed to health misinformation: information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading according to the best available evidence at the time. Misinformation has caused confusion and led people to decline COVID-19 vaccines, reject public health measures such as masking and physical distancing, and use unproven treatments."

From the Introduction: "The ongoing COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has propelled the topic of vaccines to the centre of public life and discourse in Germany. Debates on how necessary and effective vaccines really are have gained importance, fuelled by the unprecedented speed with which the vaccines against the novel coronavirus have been developed and certified for use. At the same time, an increase in uncertainty and economic hardship as well as social distancing mandates have been accompanied by a growing desire for straightforward explanations to the ongoing pandemic and the rapid development of the vaccines. One purported response comes in the form of a growing number of conspiracy theories, which are riddled with misinformation. Their authors, who range from right-wing extremists and esotericists to hard-core conspiracists, use them as highly fertile soil for sowing the seeds of discord and taking advantage of pre-existing fears. They claim that the vaccines are creating a 'two-tier society' or a 'COVID dictatorship', or are even part of a 'plandemic' aimed at decimating the population. The outcome? A permanently divided society. For the first time, this report by 'ISD [Institute for Strategic Dialogue] Germany' offers a comprehensive insight into the digital networks used by vaccine sceptics in Germany."

From the Abstract: "This report documents the extent and severity of food insecurity among working-age veterans, ages 18-64, who made up 76 percent of the United States' veteran population in 2019. Food insecurity occurs when individuals have limited or uncertain access to enough food because they lack economic resources. In 2015-19, 11.1 percent of working-age veterans lived in food-insecure households, and 5.3 percent lived in households with very low food security, the most severe range of food insecurity where households report reductions in food intake. Food insecurity varies among working-age veteran subpopulations defined by age, area of residence, disability status, educational attainment, gender, geographic region, household composition, income, labor force participation status, race and ethnicity, and military service history. The report compares food insecurity among working-age veterans and nonveterans to examine the association between military service and food insecurity. After adjusting for observable differences between working-age veterans and nonveterans, we find veterans are 7.4 percent more likely to live in a food-insecure household."

From the Foreword: "'Report on Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2020' provides the most recent national indicators on school crime and safety. The information presented in this report serves as a reference for policymakers and practitioners so that they can develop effective programs and policies aimed at violence and school crime prevention. Accurate information about the nature, extent, and scope of the problem being addressed is essential for developing effective programs and policies. This is the 23rd edition of Indicators of School Crime and Safety, a joint effort of the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This report provides summary statistics to inform the nation about current aspects of crime and safety in schools. 'Report on Indicators of School Crime and Safety' includes the most recent available data, compiled from a number of statistical data sources supported by the federal government."