Thinking of natural disasters triggers some graphic images. Earthquakes in China, cyclones in Burma, tsuanmis in Indonesia - the stuff we see all too regularly on TV. The numbers sometimes seem staggering - 40,000 here, 150,000 over there, another 80,000 somewhere else.
At times it seems like a demented "flavour of the month" club. Whatever gets on the late news wins. That's the disaster that will trigger our consciences and then our politicians' response. Suddenly aircraft will be lined up to fly relief workers and supplies wherever - why wherever we happen to be looking at the moment. But what about all those places we don't see, the people and places that don't win the contest for network coverage?
A study just released by the Brookings Institute reveals that, when it comes to global natural disasters, we only see the tip of the iceberg:
"...every year for the past twenty years, more than 200 million people have been affected by natural disasters, most of which never make it to the nightly news in America. Yet the effects of even localized disasters are felt by affected families for years – long after the TV cameras have moved on to the next disaster.
...groups which were already vulnerable before the disaster tend to suffer disproportionately from the devastation. For example, globally, for every one adult male who drowns in a flood, there are 3-4 women who die. Most obviously, this is because in many countries girls are less likely to learn how to swim or climb trees than boys. Vulnerable groups also experience discrimination in the provision of assistance. In many camps where persons displaced by natural disasters live, food is -- at least initially -- more likely to go to healthy and strong men than to children or the disabled. And in New Orleans, it was the elderly, the immigrants and African-American communities who disproportionately suffered the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Chances of surviving a natural disaster are much higher in developed countries than in developing ones. For example, in 1988, an earthquake registering 6.9 on the Richter scale hit Armenia, killing some 55,000 people and leaving 500,000 homeless. Less than a year later, in an even stronger earthquake, 7.1 on the Richter scale, hit San Francisco, California, killing 62 and leaving 12,000 homeless.
Climate change affects natural disasters, both sudden-onset environmental events and long-term phenomena such as sea level rises. In fact, the severity and frequency of disasters, particularly what are called hydrometerological disasters (cyclones, hurricanes, flooding, mudslides, drought) are increasing. Natural disasters will be with us for a long time. While we cannot control where an earthquake will strike or a cyclone will turn, we can strengthen our collective ability to respond to these disasters and to mitigate their worst effects. And given the projections of the impact of climate change on natural disasters, we have no time to waste."
Read the full report here:
http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2008/0515_natural_disasters_ferris.aspx?emc=lm&m=215767&l=18&v=988319
At times it seems like a demented "flavour of the month" club. Whatever gets on the late news wins. That's the disaster that will trigger our consciences and then our politicians' response. Suddenly aircraft will be lined up to fly relief workers and supplies wherever - why wherever we happen to be looking at the moment. But what about all those places we don't see, the people and places that don't win the contest for network coverage?
A study just released by the Brookings Institute reveals that, when it comes to global natural disasters, we only see the tip of the iceberg:
"...every year for the past twenty years, more than 200 million people have been affected by natural disasters, most of which never make it to the nightly news in America. Yet the effects of even localized disasters are felt by affected families for years – long after the TV cameras have moved on to the next disaster.
...groups which were already vulnerable before the disaster tend to suffer disproportionately from the devastation. For example, globally, for every one adult male who drowns in a flood, there are 3-4 women who die. Most obviously, this is because in many countries girls are less likely to learn how to swim or climb trees than boys. Vulnerable groups also experience discrimination in the provision of assistance. In many camps where persons displaced by natural disasters live, food is -- at least initially -- more likely to go to healthy and strong men than to children or the disabled. And in New Orleans, it was the elderly, the immigrants and African-American communities who disproportionately suffered the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Chances of surviving a natural disaster are much higher in developed countries than in developing ones. For example, in 1988, an earthquake registering 6.9 on the Richter scale hit Armenia, killing some 55,000 people and leaving 500,000 homeless. Less than a year later, in an even stronger earthquake, 7.1 on the Richter scale, hit San Francisco, California, killing 62 and leaving 12,000 homeless.
Climate change affects natural disasters, both sudden-onset environmental events and long-term phenomena such as sea level rises. In fact, the severity and frequency of disasters, particularly what are called hydrometerological disasters (cyclones, hurricanes, flooding, mudslides, drought) are increasing. Natural disasters will be with us for a long time. While we cannot control where an earthquake will strike or a cyclone will turn, we can strengthen our collective ability to respond to these disasters and to mitigate their worst effects. And given the projections of the impact of climate change on natural disasters, we have no time to waste."
Read the full report here:
http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2008/0515_natural_disasters_ferris.aspx?emc=lm&m=215767&l=18&v=988319
On the subject of natural disasters, aftershocks that hit China today are reported to have caused the collapse of a staggering 420,000 homes. No estimate yet on the number rendered homeless.
One of the times you may find yourself in need of quick money loans is in the wake of a natural disaster. Right now there are over 1,000 homes and several thousand people in Southern California that are now currently homeless, their homes destroyed, their lives shattered in the wake of this disastrous turn of events. It is unfortunate to say, but these things do happen. Mostly knows that this occur as a natural event in the earth, and nobody is exempted for this. The only good thing is we can anticipate for this by the guidelines and safety tips of experts in this field of study, with relation to natural disasters. But sadly, even though we have high tech devices but still, there are so many circumstances that we cannot avoid with the unexpected disasters cause by the nature. There has been flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other fires, that have forced people from their homes. In the Pacific Northwest, the volcanoes that make up the American side of the Ring of Fire have all been dormant for almost a century, with the notorious exception of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Every citizen of any nation and especially in the United States should undertake some emergency preparation. Flood and fire insurance are key, but they do not always cover everything. In times of dire circumstance, such as the Chehalis flood or California wildfires, you may need a helping hand when the chips are severely down, and even though you need to not panic and do anything rash, you can keep quick loans in mind. Click to read more on Quick Money Loans.
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