Dark horizons

The collapse of Iceland’s banks is sending shock waves through the nation. Job losses and mortgage increases are common complaints on the streets of Reykjavik. But though the mood is bleak, some creative Icelanders are fighting back.
Conflict managers

The Iraq war has been big business for US military contractors (AKA mercenaries). But now, as the withdrawal of troops becomes imminent, firms are looking to Africa as the next lucrative source of revenue.
Wealth and safety

In 1974 residents started moving to AlphaVille, São Paulo’s first gated community. Today there are 300 around the city. While residents may have escaped from becoming entries in the city’s kidnap and murder statistics, they now face new problems.
Peace and prosperity

Arbil in Iraqi Kurdistan has escaped the worst of the war raging across the rest of the country. Its new airport, coupled with burgeoning trade, offer hope for this one corner of a ravaged nation.
What crisis?

While bankers on Wall Street continue to sweat and plan new career moves, their colleagues in Beirut are literally counting their good fortunes. Book publishers in London and armoured car manufacturers in Bogotá are also feeling secure about their prospects. Monocle looks at the firms bucking the market and finding new opportunities.
What’s in store

In tough economic times, shops will need something special to keep customers. Monocle’s new star retailers are a supermarket with a concierge, a childrenswear store with staff chosen for their childcare skills, and a bookshop that stocks back issues of magazines.
Box fresh

Nine years ago, TV in Pakistan was decades behind India, with just two – state-run – channels and output that was mainly government propaganda. Today its mix of drag divas and campaigning reporters is challenging the old order.
Going solo

Frida Hyvönen is a singer-songwriter with an intimate understanding of the grand piano and the great outdoors. Monocle went backstage with the Swedish chanteuse in Paris as she prepared to play songs from her new record, ‘Silence is Wild’.
So farsi, so good

Until now there has not been a dedicated, unbiased Farsi-speaking TV station broadcasting in Iran. That’s about to change with the launch of the BBC World Service’s Persian TV. It aims to put a new spin on the country and break down a few cultural barriers.
Home rescue

On a visit to the southern Japanese prefecture of Saga, New York restaurateur Mikio Shinagawa was appalledby the destruction of the region’s traditional houses. He set about saving and restoring them, and has even managed to sell one to Robert De Niro.
Far sighted

Set up nearly four years ago by three engineering graduates, Aptomar is one of the many innovative young start-ups thriving in Trondheim, the tech capital of Norway. The firm’s latest maritime navigation equipment is not only state-of-the-art in terms of technology, but it’s also rather beautiful to look at. Monocle visits the company’s headquarters.

Airport security / New York

Safe option

New York’s JFK terminal 3 is bulking up on security equipment to fight terrorism – and catch people who forgot to throw away their water bottle. And it’s not the only airport doing so – providers of this technology are reeling in profits from airport overhauls around the globe. Now if only they could do something about the security staff.

Writer: Alice Quillet

Photography: Zack Seckler

01 Metal detector
CEIA
Founded in 1962 in Ohio, CEIA has produced metal detectors (walk-through, portable and hand-held) since the 1970s. Following September 11 it became almost mandatory in the US for passengers to remove their shoes at security, so the firm also developed the SAMD Shoe Analyzer, which reduces the time it takes to examine shoes manually.

02 Body Imaging
American Science & Engineering (AS&E)
In business for 50 years, Boston-based AS&E leads the field in X-ray body imaging. Its Z Backscatter technology sees through clothes, even identifying objects such as ceramic knives and plastic guns. The body scan is still voluntary in the US but 90 per cent of passengers say they prefer it to being physically frisked.

03 Security officer
TSA
Created after 9/11, the Transport Security Administration employs 1,921 officers at JFK who deal with hand luggage and checked-in bag screening. Officers at every checkpoint are kept on their toes on a daily basis by inspectors who test them by trying to smuggle improvised explosive devices and weapons into the terminal.

04 Baggage scanner
Smiths Detection Smiths Detection, based in the UK, manufactures sensors that identify explosives, chemical and biological agents, weapons, and contraband. The TSA (US Transport Security Administration) has placed €55m-worth of orders since October 2007 – one was for hi-tech X-ray systems that capture multiple views of carry-on bags.

05 TSA uniforms
VF Imagewear
What do an NBA basketball player, a chef and a TSA officer have in common? They all wear uniforms by VF Imagewear, a branch of VF Corporation, the world’s largest clothing company. The powerhouse had an annual turnover of $7bn (€5bn) in 2007. Its portfolio includes brands such as The North Face, Vans, Eastpak and Lee jeans.

06 Rubber gloves
Cabvi
The medical grade high-risk blue gloves worn by TSA officers to search luggage are made by Central Industries by special agreement with the New York-based Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The gloves are made of nitril rubber, which is better than latex at protecting against chemicals and needles.

07 Floor mats
Wearwell
TSA officers typically stand for eight hours during a shift, which is why they are provided with Anti-Fatigue Mats. These work by encouraging the subtle movement of leg muscles, which pumps blood back up to the heart. Wearwell was founded in 1950 by two men, who decided to convert old discarded tyres into high-quality door mats

08 Queue barrier
Tensator
British company Tensator revolutionised queueing by inventing the Tensabarrier, a post with retractable belts, in the 1970s. The leader in “queue management” now boasts headquarters in Milton Keynes (UK) and branches in New York, Frankfurt, Wroclaw (Poland) and Dubai. Further offices are planned for Mumbai and Shanghai.

Frozen assets

Dark horizons

Conflict managers

Wealth and safety

Peace and prosperity

What crisis?

What’s in store

Box fresh

Going solo

So farsi, so good

Home rescue

Far sighted

Europe briefing

Asia briefing

Americas briefing

Africa/Middle East briefing

Oceania briefing

Defence briefing

Briefing business

Travel briefing

Culture briefing

Europe briefing

Architecture/Design Briefing

Fashion briefing

New iron lady

Safe option

Inventory no.20

Freedom writer

Run in top gear

House doctor

The Hills are alive

Chip off the old block

Inner North Portland

Mathias Dahlgren

Expo 20: All at sea

Observation

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