[torchthemummy]

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.

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.

[torchthemummy]

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.

Gotta love the "about" references not to mention the nice even 120 and 500 figures.