More than half of the world's population-3.4 billion people-is in danger of falling victim to at least one natural disaster,according to a report released yesterday by The World Bank and The Earth Insitute at Columbia University.
The global analysis of "Natural Disaster Hotspots" found that 90% of the populations in 10 countries,including Haiti and the Dominican Republic,have a relatively high risk of death from two or more types of calamity.The report highlights the need to prepare before disaster strikes,such as Monday's earthquake off the coast of Sumatra.
Advance plans to respond to disasters such as volcanoes,earthquakes,floods and droughts should be in place not only to
protect the lives of potential victims but also to prevent economic devastations,Margaret Arnold of the World Bank said.
"If we focus only on the loss of life then the issue will remain on the humanitarian agenda" said Arnold,program manager of the bank's hazard management unit."We want to be able to address the economic losses so it becomes a part of the development agenda as well."
Art Lerner-Lam,with Columbia's Center for Hazards and Risk Research,said researchers will have to make use of the best science
and technology to mitigate the effects of future natural disasters in advance.
"The problem is that what we know is laced with uncertainty,"Lerner-Lam told amNew York."we need to work to eliminate false forecasts and improve our accuracy."
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
cltaylor12 wrote:
The first thing I thought from the title of the thread was, " Only Half? I thought the entire world's population was at risk of death...."
I'd say 100% of us are guaranteed death.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 4:56 pm Posts: 19957 Location: Jenny Lewis' funbags
godeatgod wrote:
Being from Ontario I would have absolutely no idea of what to do in any type of natural disaster, my ass would be dead.
if the leafs ever manage to win the cup, you better bunker down cause toronto is gonna erupt in a fiery hellstorm. seriously that city has the most insane hockey fans ive ever encountered
I believe the Discovery Channel did a special about this a few years ago then updated it after the Boxing Day Tsunami. They also talked about a mega-tsunami that occured 40-ish years ago in Alaska. I'll have to dig it up, fascinating stuff.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:55 am Posts: 9080 Location: Londres
It did, and I saw it like a week after the Boxing Day tsunami. I reckon they must've been replaying that over and over in the weeks that followed, cos I caught it on the teev for another few times after that.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:59 am Posts: 18643 Location: Raleigh, NC Gender: Male
Hinny wrote:
It did, and I saw it like a week after the Boxing Day tsunami. I reckon they must've been replaying that over and over in the weeks that followed, cos I caught it on the teev for another few times after that.
Did you see the footage about the one in Alaska. It's mindboggling, they showed an animation of what it must have looked like, something like 1300 feet high. Crazy.
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