Philippines floods: an expected shock
Even when we do know about climate-related hazards, we still fail to actThe typhoon that hit Mindanao in the Philippines before Christmas to claim 1,000 lives and leave nearly 50,000 homeless was a shock,
And as the planet warms, so too does the potential for meteorological disaster. Not all disasters relate to the climate, but rising levels of greenhouse gases could double the probability of catastrophic rainfall and other weather extremes. In 2011 the United States has already experienced one of the worst years on record, with a 1,000 dead in a dozen disasters, each exacting a financial toll of $1bn or more. The total cost of these 12 assaults by tornado, wildfire, drought, blizzard, flood and heatwave is put at $52bn. The number of events that meet the UN definition of a natural disaster has risen steadily with each decade, and catastrophic floods, windstorms and so on have become everyday events: in 2010, there were 385, and they killed 297,000 worldwide. The tally for 2011 is not complete, but the auguries are ominous.
This is complete, unmitigated bullshit from the Guardian. In 1927 there were almost ten times as many US disasters as there was in 2011. There is zero evidence that the weather is getting worse. The Guardian is promoting the big lie.
http://news.google.com/newspapers
In 1898, a flood in the Phillipines killed 7,000 people, compared to 1,000 in 2011. These things happen, and humans have no power over them.
No mention of the small fact that population has grown exponentially, people are living closer together and insist on populating disaster prone areas!
They lowered the threshold of what is considered a national disaster. That along with the minor increase in population and structures that are built in “War Zones” and not built to withstand known extremes. FEMA promotes national disasters because those give them a reason to exist. They actually encourage people to rebuild as before.
It is the graun’ Steve – therefore utter guff [what else?].
BTW, have you seen the Times [UK] today in the Business section 28.12.11 – another total BS story – [sorry no link] re: Hudson Bay Polar Bears and the Polar Arctic ice cap disappearing [or summat!?].
Titled: “Bears on the front line of fight to save the planet”.
Miles Costello.
Same old cr@p but some may read it and take it at face value [lord help them].
….”As the Planet warms”……
…….”As the Worm Turns”……
……… “As the Poodle Bloviates”……
……………”As ManBearPig descends triumphantly from the heavens, Sceptre in hand”…..