NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9626146/

This happened a few days ago...I was wondering how long it would take for people to notice.

This happened a few days ago...I was wondering how long it would take for people to notice.

I just found out five minutes ago. I can't believe I didn't hear about it sooner.

I just found out five minutes ago. I can't believe I didn't hear about it sooner.
Well, I found out within hours of it happening, it was the BBC's lead story from the moment it happened, and I did discuss it with a few people last night. But I never posted a link here because let's be honest, there's not many Generalites who would care, when it happens in a poor country. I remember when tens of thousands died in the Iranian earthquake a year or two ago, 43,000 in one city alone, a lot of people here said 'Good, serves them right', because the Iranians are supposed to be the enemy. So... :(

OMG!!!111!! Bu$h did it by firing a lazer beam in the center of the earth! Democracynow.org

I am sure it was God punishing the Muslims living in the area. Not really, but it makes as much sense as all those Muslims thinking that hurricane Katrina was God punishing Christians.

(before anyone declares jihad on me, I was not refering to all muslims, just those jackasses on Al Jazeera who actually said Katrina was a wrath of God event)

(before anyone declares jihad on me, I was not refering to all muslims, just those jackasses on Al Jazeera who actually said Katrina was a wrath of God event)
Did they, now? Can you show me where on their site they wrote that?

Did they, now? Can you show me where on their site they wrote that?

Actually, I thought you provided the link yourself...it was in the "Did God punish New Orleans" thread...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/26/AR2005092601613_pf.html

Oh, al Qaeda, not al Jazeera. Oh, well, close enough. ;) I knew there was a claim by extremist muslims, is my point.

Yeah, al Quaeda do their own publicity these days, because al Jazeera is full of liberals.

Yeah, al Quaeda do their own publicity these days, because al Jazeera is full of liberals.


Liberal meaning what? That they only support terrorist attacks against Israel, and foreigners in the middle east? (as opposed to commiting terrorism abroad)

Liberal meaning what? That they only support terrorist attacks against Israel, and foreigners in the middle east? (as opposed to commiting terrorism abroad)
They don't support anything, any more than FOX News supports anything. They report on the news, public opinion, and analyse the implications. If a suicide bomber blows someone up, blame his errors of judgement, not the network for reporting his history of oppression.

A big event indeed. My condolenses to the victims. Though really, these natural disasters get deadlier and deadlier by the year. It almost makes me scared to think of what could be next.

A big event indeed. My condolenses to the victims. Though really, these natural disasters get deadlier and deadlier by the year. It almost makes me scared to think of what could be next.
I think it is in part due to population growth and densities. In the past, volcano goes off, earthquake strikes, tsunami comes, nothing but a few villages would be in the way. Now Nature can't even sneeze without finding a mega-city in the way.

I think it is in part due to population growth and densities. In the past, volcano goes off, earthquake strikes, tsunami comes, nothing but a few villages would be in the way. Now Nature can't even sneeze without finding a mega-city in the way.
I was thinking that, too. And it's not necessarily that there are more people, but everyone is in a city. This is the first time in human history that more humans live in a city than in the countryside.

yeh, as well as the fact that having so many people in the world and so much more technology than ever before is messing up the environment (global warming etc.) which is making the weather more unpredictable and dangerous.

yeh, as well as the fact that having so many people in the world and so much more technology than ever before is messing up the environment (global warming etc.) which is making the weather more unpredictable and dangerous.
Last time I checked, Earthquakes do not fall into the "weather" category.

yeh, as well as the fact that having so many people in the world and so much more technology than ever before is messing up the environment (global warming etc.) which is making the weather more unpredictable and dangerous.
Don't forget, though, that this was an earthquake. If humans could influence seismic activity, then fireflies can influence the Empire State Building to jump into the Hudson.

Last time I checked, Earthquakes do not fall into the "weather" category.

We were aslo talking about tsunamis and hurricanes which are affected by weather.

You know, with all the natural disasters happening lately, and the threat of an avian flu pandemic on the horizon, you almost have to wonder if the world is going 'Shit, this human infection is getting out of control! Time to take care of it.'

Or y'know. Just the fact that we are pretty much setting ourselves up for it, packing so many people into small areas. Doesn't stop it from being sad, though.

You know, with all the natural disasters happening lately, and the threat of an avian flu pandemic on the horizon, you almost have to wonder if the world is going 'Shit, this human infection is getting out of control! Time to take care of it.'

Or y'know. Just the fact that we are pretty much setting ourselves up for it, packing so many people into small areas. Doesn't stop it from being sad, though.
There's a lot of good from the urbanization. But like all things, it comes with a price tag.

Well you see it in nature, if a numbers of a population increase over the environment's carrying capacity, disease, lack of resources and space etc. force the population to reduce in size. It makes sense the same thign would happen on a large scale with humans.

Well you see it in nature, if a numbers of a population increase over the environment's carrying capacity, disease, lack of resources and space etc. force the population to reduce in size. It makes sense the same thign would happen on a large scale with humans.
Two words: Hong Kong. It's small, devoid of natural resources, and doesn't even have enough fresh water for its people. Yet not only does it survive, but it thrives. Only Norway, Luxembourg, and the US have a higher GDP/capita than Hong Kong.

There's a lot of good from the urbanization. But like all things, it comes with a price tag.

S'truth. Same thing goes for the domestication of animals, really. Several diseases that passed over from animals to human probably wouldn't have if we had never lived in close quarters with them. However, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Two words: Hong Kong. It's small, devoid of natural resources, and doesn't even have enough fresh water for its people. Yet not only does it survive, but it thrives. Only Norway, Luxembourg, and the US have a higher GDP/capita than Hong Kong.

Humans do seem to have a tendency of not following the natural norm.

S'truth. Same thing goes for the domestication of animals, really. Several diseases that passed over from animals to human probably wouldn't have if we had never lived in close quarters with them. However, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
I agree. And if this avian flu does turn into the pandemic we all feared, I seriously doubt anyone will suggest that we outlaw farming and eat hunted meat. Even buffalo are farmed these days.