Book excerpt: This book contains the proceedings of the 31st International Seminar on Nuclear War and Planetary Emergencies convened in Erice, Italy, on May 7-12, 2004. World leaders in their fields of Science, directors of National Laboratories, advisors to Presidents, Defence Secretaries and high-level diplomats converged at the event. Together, they offer different schools of thought to the widely-debated subject of Cultural Emergency and Terrorism. The subjects treated in this volume include societal and global approach to terrorism; responses to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, as well as challenges to emergency/risk management, media information and communication.The proceedings have been selected for coverage in: ? Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings? (ISTP? / ISI Proceedings)? Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings (ISTP CDROM version / ISI Proceedings)? Index to Social Sciences & Humanities Proceedings? (ISSHP? / ISI Proceedings)? Index to Social Sciences & Humanities Proceedings (ISSHP CDROM version / ISI Proceedings)? CC Proceedings ? Engineering & Physical Sciences