Posted on 11/25/2007 6:23:44 PM PST by NormsRevenge
LONDON (AFP) - More than four times the number of natural disasters are occurring now than did two decades ago, British charity Oxfam said in a study Sunday that largely blamed global warming.
"Oxfam... says that rising green house gas emissions are the major cause of weather-related disasters and must be tackled," the organisation said, adding that the world's poorest people were being hit the hardest.
The world suffered about 120 natural disasters per year in the early 1980s, which compared with the current figure of about 500 per year, according to the report.
"This year we have seen floods in South Asia, across the breadth of Africa and Mexico that have affected more than 250 million people," noted Oxfam director Barbara Stocking.
"This is no freak year. It follows a pattern of more frequent, more erratic, more unpredictable and more extreme weather events that are affecting more people."
She added: "Action is needed now to prepare for more disasters otherwise humanitarian assistance will be overwhelmed and recent advances in human development will go into reverse."
The number of people affected by extreme natural disasters, meanwhile, has surged by almost 70 percent, from 174 million a year between 1985 to 1994, to 254 million people a year between 1995 to 2004, Oxfam said.
Floods and wind-storms have increased from 60 events in 1980 to 240 last year, with flooding itself up six-fold.
But the number of geothermal events, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, has barely changed.
Oxfam urged Western governments to push hard for a deal on climate change at a key international meeting that runs December 3-14 on the Indonesian island of Bali.
Rich Western nations and the United Nations must act to "make humanitarian aid faster, fairer and more flexible and to improve ways to prepare for and reduce the risk of disasters," it said.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change conference in Bali aims to see countries agree to launch a roadmap for negotiating cuts in climate-changing carbon emissions from 2012.
The Oxfam study was compiled using data from the Red Cross, the United Nations and specialist researchers at Louvain University in Belgium.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Clearly, this is just one more horror that must be Bush’s fault. [/sarcasm]
And... the money quote:
Rich Western nations and the United Nations must act to “make humanitarian aid faster, fairer and more flexible and to improve ways to prepare for and reduce the risk of disasters”
Rich Western nations and the United Nations must act to "make humanitarian aid faster, fairer and more flexible and to improve ways to prepare for and reduce the risk of disasters," it said.
Don't send food - just money. Preferably direct deposited to the Leader's Swiss bank account.
I’m sure there were just as many natural disasters in 1980 as there are now. The difference is that satellite and internet technology developed over the last quarter-century now enables the whole world to get the news about each and every disaster occurring anywhere.
We used to have the occasional flood, now we have disaster declarations when it floods.
We used to have the occasional hurricane, now we have disaster declarations before the hurricane even hits.
We used to have the occasional wildfire, now we have disaster declarations when a wildfire occurs.
We used to have the occasional drought, now we get disaster declarations when one occurs.
We classify everything as a disaster nowadays. Mabe that is why there are more of them.
Why is there a greenhouse left standing?
Well, Oxfam! /roll eyes/ What do you expect from Oxfam? Deep research?
I think you have discovered the real reason for this article.
I believe you are the winner.
Subsidize it, and then be surprised when you get more of it? Oh well, that scam has been very profitable for legions of bureaucrats here in the US, so why not try it worldwide?
Shouldn't that read "The world reported about 120 natural disasters in the early 1980s, which compared with the current reported figure of 500"?
What, exactly, has changed: The climate? Or the reporting?
If there is more floods occuring, then there’s not less fresh water is there? This article is Shullbit!
Charles Mackay anticipated this human-caused global warming delusion in his 1841 classic, “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds”:
“Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one!” Charles Mackay
When it comes to human nature, not much if anything has changed since 1841.
Why shouldn't it work for the global warming zealots?
By and large, they are all one and the same.
The most obivous question is what is the definition of a "natural disaster"? I am quite comfortable in stating that the definition has become more "liberal" in the vein of the changing definition of obesity. Change the definition and, wala, more "victims"
The number of people affected by extreme natural disasters, meanwhile, has surged by almost 70 percent, from 174 million a year between 1985 to 1994, to 254 million people a year between 1995 to 2004, Oxfam said.
As dominant as Pres. Bush's popular vote was over Kerry, I felt it was insignifigant to state the fact that Pres. Bush won more votes than any presidential candidate in history. Ditto for Kerry. The point is a consideration of proportionality. That is how many eligible voters vs. actual voters.
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