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  • From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lflj@intrex.net>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [permaculture] BBC NEWS | Special Reports | Weather disasters 'getting worse'
  • Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2007 02:26:07 -0500


<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7111623.stm>
Last Updated: Sunday, 25 November 2007, 02:43 GMT
Weather disasters 'getting worse'
The effects of flooding in Phu Yen, Vietnam, Nov. 5, 2007 (File picture)
Flooding has increased six-fold since the 1980s, the report says
The number of weather-related disasters has quadrupled over the past 20 years and the world should do more to prepare for them, the aid agency Oxfam says.

Population increases mean more people are affected when catastrophic weather
events take place, it says in a report.

Global warming is to blame for the growing number of weather disasters, Oxfam
adds.

An average of 500 such disasters are now taking place each year, compared to
120 in the 1980s, the report says.

The number of floods has increased six-fold over the same period.

Small disasters ignored

The agency expresses particular concern about the increase in small and medium-sized weather events, which it says affect great numbers of people, but do not attract as much international aid as large, well-publicised natural disasters.

The report argues that climate change is responsible for the growing number of weather-related disasters - more intense rain, combined with frequent droughts, make damaging floods much more likely.


You get this spiral downwards of vulnerability and destitution
John McGrath, Oxfam

The increasing number of weather events has been accompanied by large global population increases, and Oxfam says this means more people are being forced to live in areas which are vulnerable to the effects of the weather changes.

"They're going to forests, to jungles, to mountains... but these are just the very places that have been more affected by intense rain... and that in turn actually increases the displacement... so you get this spiral downwards of vulnerability and destitution," says Oxfam's John McGrath.

Unless the global aid community begins preparing for the future growth in weather-events, Oxfam warns, its ability to respond to natural disasters will be overwhelmed.

VIDEO AND AUDIO NEWS
Tsunami and floods affect millions of people

SEE ALSO
Philippines storm changes course
24 Nov 07 | Asia-Pacific
Bangladesh cyclone hits poor hardest
18 Nov 07 | South Asia
China reels after Typhoon Krosa
08 Oct 07 | Asia-Pacific
Three die as typhoon hits Vietnam
04 Oct 07 | Asia-Pacific
Five dead as typhoon hits China
20 Sep 07 | Asia-Pacific
Pakistan flood toll rises to 240
03 Jul 07 | South Asia
Cyclone adds to Pakistan misery
26 Jun 07 | South Asia
Cyclone Favio strikes Mozambique
23 Feb 07 | Africa

--
Lawrence F. London, Jr.
lflj@intrex.net
lflj@bellsouth.net
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  • [permaculture] BBC NEWS | Special Reports | Weather disasters 'getting worse', Lawrence F. London, Jr., 11/25/2007

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