CW6-3291
From Environmental Technology
a)
This article discusses the damage inflicted on coastal homes and hotels by hurricanes. It also says that people are stubborn about moving, even though prices for land have went sky-high. "Americans have a very stalwart, plant-the-flag attitude about natural disasters, they say, 'No hurricane is going to chase me off my beach.'" These areas are the most prone to natural disasters of this caliber, and usually occur annually, but as long as the government keeps helping residents rebuild in the wake of such disasters, there will always be people inhabiting those areas. As it stands currently, other people are paying to have homes and businesses rebuilt. This is another reason that people aren't concerned about moving anytime soon, and the only way to help change that is to find ways to make them pay for their own damages. But despite all the risks, people will always want to live where they can see the water. Florida state representative Murzin says that the only way to prevent inconceiveable amounts of damage from a natural disaster is to enforce more strict building codes in those affected areas. "The buildings that are being rebuilt or going up should be built to strong building codes," he said. "They should withstand high winds and be high enough to be above the storm surges." In general, people have a blatant disregard for the risks of rebuilding, and the numbers keep on growing...
[edit] Reference:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/02/0227_060227_hurricane_coast.html?source=rss
b)
China has a booming economy, but not the reassurance of an adequate, sustainable source of power. It's not that they don't have the resources, it's that they are reluctant to use them. Ma and EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs signed an agreement on Monday on utilizing carbon dioxide from coal burning power plants (suppling over 2/3 of China's electricity). To reduce air ppollution, they are trying to devise a way of storing it underground. Global warming is a feared risk from emissions that they are trying to help prevent. One of the ways that they are trying to reduce pollution is by generating power through wind and solar panels. China imports 95 percent of its oil by sea and hopes to build up land-based supply systems, as well. Even though there have been some improvements in how China does business with surrounding countries of importing oil, major oil discoveries are more few and far between. "Under-investment has led to a tightening of the market and higher oil prices that can undermine economic growth," China has become very vulnerable to disruptions in natural gas supplies during the recent conflict with Russia and the Ukraine. "It has become painfully clear to all of us we need a sharper focus on energy security," said Austria's ambassador to China, Hans Dietmar Schweisgut. It is a growing concern because of the expanding population, and without revenue, it will be the eventual downfall of this country.
