tagged w/ Natural Disasters
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YPNation Contributor Nikki Gloudeman highlights a recent report from the UN Population Fund about the vulnerability of the world's poor women when it comes to climate change: http://www.ypnation.net/blogs/women-key-climate-change-debate
"A report following a catastrophe-heavy year in 1991 found that the death rate among females was 71 per 1000, compared to 15 per 1000 for men. Beyond fatality, disasters also have more of a lingering impact on women in the country—they destroy both the agricultural landscape and the homes in which they work."YPNation Contributor Nikki Gloudeman highlights a recent report from the UN Population... more
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A landslide triggered by torrential seasonal rains swept through a hilly region in southern India, killing at least 42 people, an official said Tuesday.
The landslide demolished nearly 300 tin-roofed mud huts Monday in the Ooty and Coonoor region of Tamil Nadu state, a state flood control official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters. The region is nearly 1,120 miles (1,800 kilometers) south of the capital, New Delhi.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/11/09/international/i225847S86.DTL&tsp=1A landslide triggered by torrential seasonal rains swept through a hilly region in... more
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"It sounds like something out of science fiction: zombie fire ants. But it's all too real.
Fire ants wander aimlessly away from the mound.
Eventually their heads fall off, and they die.
The strange part is that researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M's AgriLife Extension Service say making "zombies" out of fire ants is a good thing.
"It's a tool — they're not going to completely wipe out the fire ant, but it's a way to control their population," said Scott Ludwig , an integrated pest management specialist with the AgriLife Extension Service in Overton , in East Texas .
The tool is the tiny phorid fly, native to a region of South America where the fire ants in Texas originated. Researchers have learned that there are as many as 23 phorid species along with pathogens that attack fire ants to keep their population and movements under control.
So far, four phorid species have been introduced in Texas .
The flies "dive-bomb" the fire ants and lay eggs. The maggot that hatches inside the ant eats away at the brain, and the ant starts exhibiting what some might say is zombie-like behavior.
"At some point, the ant gets up and starts wandering," said Rob Plowes, a research associate at UT.
The maggot eventually migrates into the ant's head, but Plowes said he "wouldn't use the word 'control' to describe what is happening. There is no brain left in the ant, and the ant just starts wandering aimlessly. This wandering stage goes on for about two weeks.""It sounds like something out of science fiction: zombie fire ants. But it's all too... more
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Only Spirituality can provide a holistic outlook towards understanding and tackling global climate change
There is a vast difference between the discussions on climate change that are taking place nowadays in advance of the Copenhagen climate summit and those that used to take place a few years ago, when many were still unwilling to admit that – global climate is undergoing unprecedented change. Yet, most of the discussions on climate change and the recent rise in natural disasters still miss something of key importance to the debate and to the ultimate solution for stabilizing the world’s climate – and that is the role of spiritual factors in causing the present state.
Read the full article:
http://technorati.com/lifestyle/green/article/tackling-climate-change-at-a-spiritual/Only Spirituality can provide a holistic outlook towards understanding and tackling... more
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The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is measured in parts per million. Before the Industrial Revolution, before men began greater coal burning, destruction of forests and use of oil, the concentration was 280 parts per million by volume. We are now at 387. The Kyoto Protocol provided not to exceed 450 parts per million. But it is only a maximum level to avoid the catastrophe, not a disaster.The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is measured in parts per... more
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While there are many theories how a month's worth of rainfall can happen in six hours, there's one that makes sense: Climate Change.While there are many theories how a month's worth of rainfall can happen in six hours,... more
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(CNN) -- Flooding and landslides from tropical depression Parma have killed 186 people in the Philippines, authorities said Saturday.
Another 93 people have been injured, according to Nalia Tabliago of the Philippines National Disaster Coordinating Council.
Rescuers are searching for 40 people reported missing, Tabliago said.
Tropical depression Parma, known locally as Pepeng, dumped as much as 36 inches of rain in some parts of the nation of islands last week, compounding misery in areas already flooded by an earlier storm, typhoon Ketsana
On Friday, landslides blocked traffic along the Marchos Highway, Naguilian Road, Kennon Road and Ambuklao Road, cutting access to Baguio City, Benguet Province and Mountain Province, according to the Office of Civil Defense in Cordillera.
Earlier reports from Rocky Baraan, provincial administrator of Pangasinan, said flooding had inundated 32 towns and two cities, Dagupan and Urdaneta. Some 35,000 people had fled to evacuation centers, the official Philippines News Agency reported, citing the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council.
The worst-hit areas included Bayambang, Alcala and Basista, the news agency reported.
People clambered onto rooftops as floodwaters rose, calling and texting for help. Rescue trucks were hampered by floodwaters that reach the roofs of single-story houses, Baraan said. About 16 rubber rescue boats had been deployed.
Since the rains started in central Luzon, three dams in the Pangasinan area have been releasing vast amounts of water -- up to 10 million cubic meters an hour at one dam, officials said.(CNN) -- Flooding and landslides from tropical depression Parma have killed 186 people... more
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Surviver Kit Essentials.
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quanta
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added this
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1 month ago
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If you reside in an earthquake-prone area, this next bit of information may interest you. A research team comprised of experts from five universities is currently working on a way to build earthquake-poof structures from wood. So far, their results appear promising. On July 14th at Japan’s Hyogo Earthquake Engineering Research Center (that’s a mouthful) researchers performed a test on a seven-story wood condominium weighing one million pounds. The condo was placed on an E-Defense Shake Table, the largest in the world, and survived a simulated quake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale.If you reside in an earthquake-prone area, this next bit of information may interest... more
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BBC was inspired by the recent spate of natural disasters to befall Indonesia AGAIN, and interviewed my friend, Geologist Chris Rowan. In this interview, Chris explains to the BBC interviewer why scientists cannot predict earthquakes nor (to a lesser extent) tsunamis.BBC was inspired by the recent spate of natural disasters to befall Indonesia AGAIN,... more
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A tsunami warning was issued for New Zealand and other small Pacific islands after a major 7.9 magnitude quake struck in the ocean off American Samoa, U.S. government agencies said on Tuesday.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, a branch of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, issued the warning after the quake hit about 120 miles southwest of the remote Pacific island of American Samoa. It struck at a depth of 20.5 miles.
A tsunami watch was in effect for Hawaii, Papua New Guinea and other small Pacific islands.
The agency noted that its warning did not mean a tsunami had necessarily been generated by the quake. The warning was issued because a quake of this magnitude had the power to generate a destructive tsunami, it said.
In 2004, a quake in the Indian Ocean generated a powerful tsunami that killed tens of thousands people in Asia.
The representative from American Samoa to the U.S. Congress, Eni Faleomavaega, told NBC News that quake hit between the North Marianas Islands and American Samoa, creating 10 to 15- foot waves in populated low-lying areas like Pago Pago Bay.
"Cars were seen floating," the congressman said of Pago Pago Bay.
He said there will likely need to be mass evacuations of low-lying areas and there will be requests for assistance from Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
He didn't have any reports on numbers of deaths at this time.
The U.S. State Department also said there was no word of American casualties or evacuees.A tsunami warning was issued for New Zealand and other small Pacific islands after a... more
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The United States wants to enlist its 3.4 million Girl Scouts in the effort to combat hurricanes, pandemics, terror attacks and other disasters. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched a campaign Tuesday to entice the blue, brown and green-clad multitudes to be even more prepared, with the promise of a new patch if they pitch in.
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Is this the new "national security corps" that Obama talked about? I can't decide if this is funny or stupid.The United States wants to enlist its 3.4 million Girl Scouts in the effort to combat... more
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A quake registering 7.0 on the Richter scale devastated Indonesia. Over 100 have been hospitalized with numbers surely expected to grow.A quake registering 7.0 on the Richter scale devastated Indonesia. Over 100 have been... more
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A massive magnitude 7.6 quake struck in the Indian Ocean off India's Andaman Islands, triggering a tsunami watch for India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand and Bangladesh, the U.S. Geological Survey reported on Monday.
The USGS said the quake, initially reported as a magnitude 7.7, was 20.6 miles deep and was centered 160 miles north of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami watch for the region.A massive magnitude 7.6 quake struck in the Indian Ocean off India's Andaman Islands,... more
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Have you ever experienced an earthquake? Well, in 1994 a 6.7 shook Los Angeles and left the city in shambles. The blogger recalls her unique experience about the earthquake through the collection of her precious snow globes. How losing her “little worlds” taught her a lesson about the “big world”--- that life can shatter in an instant.
A really touching story about history, humanity, the human spirit, and really cool coming of age piece. Great for collectors (not just of snow globes, but of all things that are precious) and people who have been through natural disasters and who have suffered loss. But also great for people who have recaptured hope and can learn a lesson about appreciating life. A really well written, unique, touching, sweet, inspiring piece by a fantastic blogger who has already won “A Blog Of The Day Award” (and her blog is only a few weeks old) and is on top bloggers blog rolls already. A great Sunday read. A+Have you ever experienced an earthquake? Well, in 1994 a 6.7 shook Los Angeles and... more
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jrn
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4 months ago
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What began as a typical morning meal turned into a life-altering event when a bolt of lightning struck a mother of six inside her Texas home as she cleared the breakfast table.
What saved Kimberly Krone's life was the quick action of her 9-year-old son Tristan Coxwell, who called 911 for help.
"When I was little she got me a little play phone and stuff and I played with it. She taught me how to call 911," Tristan told "Good Morning America" today. "In this equation, I just remembered to call 911 in an emergency."
Krone, whose children range in age from 6 months to 9 years, was cleaning up from breakfast with her kids on June 11 and had just grabbed a dirty pan when she heard two loud booms.
That sound was quickly followed by an electrical bolt which made its way through recessed lighting in her ceiling, before bouncing off the pan and plunging into her chest.
The 29-year-old from Forney, Texas said she tried to drop the pan but couldn't and the current shot out of her little toe.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=8034658&page=1What began as a typical morning meal turned into a life-altering event when a bolt of... more
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Congress is debating a bill that would open up oil and natural gas platforms just 10 miles from portions of Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts. It's putting pressure on state lawmakers to decide how close is too close to search for new energy sources.
As it stands, oil and natural gas exploration is limited to dozens of miles away from Florida's beaches and some in the state worry that allowing access just ten miles away, in Federal waters, puts Florida at risk environmentally without any of the financial windfalls.
Florida's Petroleum Council argues lawmakers should open up state waters, the first 10 miles of ocean and gulf waters beyond the shoreline, to oil exploration. Analysts estimate such a move could generate more than $1.5 billion a year in lease agreements and jobs.
"We know it's out in the eastern Gulf of Mexico," Council spokesperson Eric Hamilton says. "And we can get to that with a very small footprint."
Governor Charlie Crist has remained open-minded on the offshore drilling debate, provided platforms were largely out of sight and environmental risk was small.
"It's such an important issue that all the aspects of it, particularly if it would mean any revenue for Florida," Crist said Wednesday. "I understand that it may not. That would be a deal breaker."
Ultimately, voters could decide if near-shore drilling is in Florida's future. A push is on to put the question of opening up Florida's waters for oil and natural gas leases on the 2010 ballot.
"We've got this beautiful economy that every other state would envy," Audubon of Florida spokesperson Eric Draper says. "Why would we put that at risk for a little bit of oil that's not even going to bring that much money into the state of Florida."
Recent polling by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research Institute find a majority of Floridians support drilling off Florida's coasts, if safety was guaranteed.
I CAN NOT IMAGINE ANYONE BEING IGNORANT ENOUGH TO BELIEVE ANY "GUARANTEE' (OR ANYTHING ELSE) BY BIG OIL AND/OR CORRUPT POLITICIANS THAT SUPPORT IT!
$1.5 BILLION WOULD NOT COVER THE LOSS INCURRED BY 1 MAJOR SPILL. THE DAMAGE TO MARINE WILDLIFE, ENDANGERED COASTAL HABITAT AND ALREADY FRAGILE MARINE ECO-SYSTEMS WOULD NOT BE REPLACEABLE.
IT IS STRANGE HOW NATIONAL AND LOCAL MEDIA FAIL TO REPORT ALL OF THE OIL SPILLS HERE ALONG THE GULF COAST AFTER A HURRICANE...
PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THE DESTRUCTION OF FLORIDA'S DELICATE ECO-SYSTEMS!
NO MORE DRILLING! WE NEED REAL ENERGY ALTERNATIVES THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE AND RENEWABLE NOW!
OUR GROTESQUE CONSUMPTION OF EARTH'S NATURAL RESOURCES HAS NOT BEEN REDUCED BY EXTINCTION, POLLUTION, STARVATION, WAR, POVERTY, HABITAT-LOSS, DISEASE... WHAT MORE WILL IT TAKE?Congress is debating a bill that would open up oil and natural gas platforms just 10... more
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When a hurricane knocks out electrical power, emergency rooms expect a few cases of carbon monoxide poisoning -- sometimes fatal -- among residents who power up gasoline-fired generators.
Until now, doctors believed most of the victims were generating electricity to keep lights, air conditioners and refrigerators running. But now it appears that a substantial number were using the generators to power video games.When a hurricane knocks out electrical power, emergency rooms expect a few cases of... more
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Full Report: http://linkbee.com/LA-Earth-Quake
A moderate earthquake jolted the Los Angeles region late Sunday, shattering glass, setting off alarms and fraying nerves. There were no reports of any major injuries or damage.
The magnitude-4.7 quake hit at 8:39 p.m. about 10 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles and three miles east of Los Angeles International Airport, according to a preliminary report by the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake was followed minutes later by at least three...(Continue Reading News Report: http://linkbee.com/LA-Earth-Quake)Full Report: http://linkbee.com/LA-Earth-Quake
A moderate earthquake jolted the Los... more
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Viper7
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6 months ago
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Emotional survivors gathered in Myanmar to remember the 138,000 people left dead or missing by Cyclone Nargis, despite authorities largely ignoring the storm's first anniversary.
No official ceremonies were planned and state media made no mention of the deadly storm, which lay waste to large swathes of the country on May 2-3 last year and drew worldwide criticism for Myanmar's military rulers.
Only the Myanmar language daily newspaper Myanma Ahlin made any reference to the 2.4 million people affected by the cyclone, with photographs of the new houses authorities have built for some of the survivors.
Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on May 2 and 3 with wind speeds reaching 240 kilometres (150 miles) an hour and storm surges up to four metres high.
Thousands of homes were swept away, rice fields were flooded with saltwater and schools and hospitals were ravaged in the storm.
A year later aid agencies say half a million people remain without adequate homes, while at least 250,000 people will require food handouts until the end of 2009 at the earliest.
But many survivors were more concerned with the dead as they marked the cyclone's anniversary Sunday, with those who could afford to paying about 100,000 Kyats (100 dollars) in donations for a monk-led ceremony at home.
Win Khaing, 22, from Tha Kyar Hin O, hosted his own memorial before visiting the unveiling a new cyclone shelter in his village.Emotional survivors gathered in Myanmar to remember the 138,000 people left dead or... more
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Kepano
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7 months ago
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![Dr. Chris Rowan explains why earthquakes and tsunamis can't be predicted on BBC News [audio link]](http://i2.crtcdn.net/images/current/placeholders/no_asset/no_image_60x45.gif)
