Warning: Asia may see more quakes

Thai disaster agency says earth's fault lines are more active since 2004 tsunami

http://news.asiaone.com.sg/st/st_20070519_121393.html

May 19, 2007
The Straits Times


'Thailand's National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) has said people living near geological fault lines in Asia should be prepared for more earthquakes, as many fault zones had become more active following the huge quake that caused the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.' This warning came after powerful tremor occured in Laos that was felt around the region, causing much fear to the people. 'NDWC chairman Smith Dharmmasaroj said the Mae Chan fault, which caused the Laos earthquake on Wednesday, had become more active since the 2004 earthquake off Sumatra' and he 'urged people to take part in evacuation drills and to make sure their houses are strong enough to withstand an earthquake'. To deal with the possibility of more earthquakes, Meteorological Department director-general Suparerk Tansriratanawong said his department was planning to open 30 more earthquake-measuring stations by the end of the year. 'If earthquakes occur, we plan to alert people within five minutes through the mass media like television and radio,' he said.

The plan of opening earthquake-measuring stations would definitely help in informing the people about possible earthquakes that would happen and they would probably have the necessary time to evacuate from the danger site. Smith Dharmmasaroj is doing the right thing by urging the people to take part in eavcuation drills and making sure their houses are strong nough to withstand an earthquake. As a person of high authority, he is setting a very good example by encouraging the people and sets a standard for other leaders to follow. Moreover, people would probably listen to him as he is of a high authority and treat his words with respect.

However, there is a very important factor that Thailand has to consider when she builds these earthquake-measuring stations. Thailand is assuming that the people are aware of the danger of a possible natural disaster that would happpen in the future. However, in reality, many people are not actually aware of the danger. What the government has to do is to use various forms of advertisements, albeit brochures or even television advertisements, to INFORM the people about the danger. Only when the people are INFORMED, will this whole plan of opening earthquake-measuring stations to warn people about approaching earthquakes work.

Asia has experienced it's own share of natural disaster. An example would be the Boxing Day Tsunami that took away thousands of lives. However, if you remember there was a young girl who saw approaching waves from the far horizon. She remembered about learning this in school and knew that a catastrophe was about to happen - a tsunami was approaching. She quickly warned the people around and managed to save hundreds of lives. And why is this so? It is because of education, which is another key factor. Elementary schools in Thailand should educate students about this unavoidable predicament of earthquakes happening in the region and teach them about the things that would normally happen before earthquakes occur, this way they will be more INFORMED about this problem and spread the word to their family and relatives. Hence, when an earthquake really do occur, students and families would know what to do and evacuate to a safe place immediately.

In conclusion, I feel Thailand is doing a really good job in opening earthquake-measuring stations to warn the people. However, my main statement would be that they should focus more on the social aspect of the situation, which is INFORMING and EDUCATING the people about earthquakes and the dangers of it.

Be informed,
Be educated,
Be safe.

Polluted cities taking initiative to tackle global warming

Mayors tell climate summit they cannot wait for national policies to be enacted

http://news.asiaone.com.sg/st/st_20070517_120779.html

May 17, 2007
The Straits Times


'Mayors from more than 40 of the world's most polluted cities have declared at a climate summit here that cities must take the lead in the campaign to reverse global warming.' These countries are carrying out national policies in hope to reduce carbon emissions and develop more energy-efficient infrastructure. 'As cities produce three-fourths of the carbon emissions, we must act,' London Mayor Ken Livingstone told delegates, describing climate change as 'the single biggest threat to the future of humanity'. During the meeting, there was a 'pledge by 514 US mayors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Kyoto Protocol, a move which signals their objections to the environmental policies of US President George W. Bush.' Governer Shintaro Ishihara felt that it was ridiculous that the US did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Mr Ishihara also implemented tough regulations on diesel vehicles in Tokyo. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg also criticised governmental inaction on climate change, telling delegates: 'We need no new technology, we need no new invention, all that is required is political will.'

I have to say that i entirely agree with what Michael Bloomberg said. We can have the best technology and inventions to lower carbon emissions around the world, however without the political will of the governments of cities, it would be of no use at all. The mayors of the other US cities have all signed an accord to slash pollutants to below 1990 levels by 2012. It is probably because of his personal pride, George Bush is unwilling to ratify the Kyoto Protocol as it was against his own environmental policies. As the president of the United States, he should have the people and the country's future in mind when making any decisions, however this time he is defending his own personal pride and sacrificing probably the future of the entire planet.

Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore planned to ask other cities to follow Sydney by implementing an 'Earth Hour', during which businesses and homes turn off their lights for one hour to reduce energy consumption. The city's first 'Earth Hour', on March 31, was hailed as a success. It cut normal energy use by 10 per cent. I feel this idea implemented by Lord Mayor Clover Moore is very innovative and an effective way to cut down energy consumption. This is because he is using this 'Earth Hour' to challenge the people to do what is right for environment and the world they are living in, and this method is very efficient.

Forget about fancy hybrid cars that claim to reduce gas emissions and other technologies that claim to reduce harm to environment. The most important is the people. If the leaders of the world can think of a way to encourage the people to save power and have a 'greener' lifestyle, then that would probably be the best way to tackle this problem of global warming. Well, not only the leaders can influence the people. Everybody, you and I can do our part by spreading the word of maintaining a clean and green society! As students, we can try to turn the lights off when they are not in use and encourage our parents to use cleaner and greener car petrol. We can all do our part to save the Earth.

The future is all in our hands, it's just whether we want to make a difference.