Let’s start broad, very broad. And talk about something that affects or will affect us all. Ulrich Becks conecpt of a ‘risk society is easy to understand: ecological risks affect us all. No distinction between people, races or classes. Just like time – smog for example – is a democatic thing. His work became popular after Tsjernobyl. Beck sees environmental risks not as a side product but as the predominant product. On a related noted, you can hear political activist Rifkins using similar arguments these days. Risks are part of life, but man-made risks on a such a scale are new. You can question the thesis and the lack of data to proof. What to remember: he & his fellows introduced reflexive state and concepts like sustainability & a precautionary principle. They made us look further: think with the end in mind. Or not act at all.