Damn, I just found out I have relatives in Pakistan, Islamabad... Heard the building next to them fell down, theirs didnt, thank god...
Worst Earthquake/Volcano areas in the world are: The Siberian Traps and The Deccan Traps both of these have been corelated with and suggested as mass extinction event causes These, along with the Yellowstone Caldera and possibly some similar older massive geologic plumes are potential sources of global disaster. You can read all about these nasty mantle plumes here. Also, you can review the history of mass extinctions here. The Permian extinction possibly associated with the Siberian traps was the worst ever, killing 90-95% of all marine species, as well as most of the Synapsida which later gave rise to all mammals as well as all species of Trilobites. The less severe but more famous K-T boundry extenction is possibly associated with the Decan Traps as well as The Chicxulub Crater. This was the dinosaur killer. Additionally, though not as dangerous, the Pacific Plate is persistently the primary cause of severe earthquakes worldwide. Seven of the 10 largest earthquakes on record are a result of plate tectonics along this plate. This shows earthquakes along plate lines worldwide. The darker the area the larger the volume. This is a closer look at the Pacific Plate region. This was the cause of the Tsunami that killed so many people in Aceh and the rest of SE Asia. My point here is that there is physical evidence that shows why these particular areas are prone. People who predict this type of thing for personal gain are either ignorant or manipulative. These places have been earthquake prone as long as people have lived there. It's not a big revelation to say that some place that has had 20 major earthquakes in the last 100 years will have a major earthquake "soon".
its like god gives bush a perfect opportunity. help out these folks. curb terrorism. earn some good deeds hopefully to make up for all the crap he's done in iraq. but he refuses. http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article319514.ece Militants are heroes in the village that was buried alive By Justin Huggler in Chalabandi, Kashmir Published: 14 October 2005 Just north of Muzaffarabad lies the village that was buried alive. In Saturday's earthquake, the mountainside that half of Danimay Sahib was built on gave way in an immense landslide. All that is left is a great pale gash in the hillside. They say 1,000 people died here. For the survivors, the only way out is a perilous journey across the swollen rapids of the river on a makeshift boat made from the inner tube of a truck tyre. The injured are steadied by volunteers, while another rows across with a single oar. The "boat" spins and threatens to capsize. The road to the village was cut by landslides. Even the journey to the river's edge is difficult, across the mud and rubble of the landslide. This is also the only way in for food, medicine, blankets and tents for the survivors. On the other side of the river lies the village of Chalabandi, also destroyed, and a road decorated with huge cracks, just drivable. It leads to the landing pad for helicopters that ferry the wounded to hospital. The men who operate the ferry service are young, with long Islamic beards. They are the militants of Lashkar-e Toiba, listed as a "terrorist" group in the West and officially banned by the Pakistani government under Western pressure. They have come here from the same madrassa outside Lahore that attracted attention in July, after it emerged that one of the 7/7 London bombers had visited it. But to the desperate people here, the militants of Lashkar-e Toiba are heroes. "The government has done nothing for us," says Said Zurkanian, a resident of Chalabandi. "Only Lashkar has helped us. People died of hunger over there; there was no food for the injured. There are 200 people over there who are urgent need of medical help. If they do not get it they will die. Lashkar is taking it to them." The militants' relief operation is impressively well organised. They have brought their own doctors who have been taken across the river to tend the wounded. The militants take it in turns to work one-hour shifts in teams of eight, ferrying supplies across to Danimay Sahib and bringing out the seriously wounded. "We came here to help our fellow human beings," says one of the Lashkar men, who gives his name only as Babur. He says 500 young men were sent here from the Markaz-e Dawa madrassa outside Lahore, run by Lashkar-e Toiba and known as a recruiting ground for militants. Lashkar smuggles militants across the ceasefire line to mount attacks inside Indian-administered Kashmir. India accused the group of being behind an attack on the Indian parliament in 2002 that brought India and Pakistan to the brink of nuclear war. But in the ravaged villages of Kashmir, Lashkar is winning hearts and minds as quickly as the Pakistani government is losing them. Rage is spilling over at the government's failure to get help here more quickly. Habib ur-Rehman climbed over the crest of the mountains from his ruined village, Devlian, to get help. He points up at the crossing, dizzyingly high. It took him 10 hours. He said he would try to stay with relatives in Muzaffarabad, then set off on the return journey tomorrow with aid for his family. Three of his brothers died in the earthquake. Volunteers are bringing aid from all over Pakistan. But many say they will not come to the area around Chalabandi, north of Muzaffarabad, for fear of looters.
It appears that the Pakistani government is the one being faulted in the article that you posted, yet you seek to make it an Anti Bush rant. Please explain/amplify what you mean about curb terrorism. Since the impacted area has some roads blocked and is somewhat remote, then helipcoters would seem to be a needed item in rescue and relief operations. U.S. choppers ferry injured from Pakistan BALAKOT, Pakistan -- With a whoosh of dust, the twin-rotor Chinook helicopter circled a scene of devastation in this quake-flattened town in northern Pakistan and landed on a river bank, in front of hundreds of bedraggled survivors of South Asia's quake. Within minutes, the U.S. Army crew had disgorged its cargo of tents - donated by the Iranian Red Crescent - and filled the hulking chopper with a dozen badly injured people on stretchers and shrouded by blankets. In a move that could boost America's battered profile in the Islamic world, the U.S. military has diverted eight heavy-lifting choppers from the war on terrorism in neighboring Afghanistan to help earthquake victims. It's due to send another two dozen helicopters from further afield in the days ahead. "I don't have a bad feeling about America," said Wali ur-Rehman, who lost four children in the quake and cradled a surviving son, 2-year-old Kalil, in his arms. "It's a long, long way away, and they are helping us." Six days after the temblor, the injured, many with open fractures that have become infected, were still pouring in from outlying villages to Balakot. From the air, it appeared the ground has been pulled out from under the town. Buildings were spread-eagled, tin roofs were grounded. Local police and rescue workers estimated 2,000 to 3,000 had died in Balakot, including hundreds of children buried in three destroyed schools. Many more were feared dead in outlying villages, which have seen little of the aid that has gravitated toward the town. The U.N. undersecretary general and emergency relief coordinator, Jan Egeland, flew over Kashmir by helicopter Thursday and warned time was running out for the tens of thousands left homeless by the quake. "I fear we are losing the race against the clock in the small villages" cut off by blocked roads, Egeland said. "I've never seen such devastation before." Fateh Sher, 22, a medical student volunteer in Balakot, said the American helicopter missions would change people's opinions of the United States - whose Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice promised long-term aid during Pakistan's "hour of need." "The media and all others who come here can see that America can help us," Sher said. Another volunteer, Irfan Haider, was more circumspect. "America always helps, like they did during the tsunami," he said, referring to the assistance given by the U.S. military to areas of Indonesia, Thailand and other nations hit by the devastating waves that killed tens of thousands of people last December. "But I think the U.S. should not help Israel. America's politics are still a problem," Haider said. The eagerness of the U.S. military to escort journalists on sorties into the quake zone suggested the Army understands the public relations potential of the exercise. Pakistan's government is a strong ally in the war on terrorism, yet its 150 million mostly Muslim people deeply resent the United States, a sentiment that has only deepened in the two years since the invasion of Iraq. "Miss Behavin'" - the lewd logo of the Chinook - was covered with green gaffer tape to respect "cultural sensitivities," said Chief Warrant Officer Mark Jones of Seattle, the chief pilot, who usually flies the helicopter to support combat missions in eastern Afghanistan. "This is a good job," he said of the assignment in Pakistan. "You see the people. They are scared and they're hurting. It's good to know we are getting them out to hospital, especially the kids." Still, many of the quake victims appeared oblivious to where the choppers come from. Germany and Afghanistan also are contributing military helicopters, much needed in the mountainous terrain where many roads are still blocked by landslides. The Chinook had no stars and stripes on its side and the nine crew barely disembarked during their mission and had minimal contact with the people they are helping. Ur-Rehman, whose graying beard makes him look far older than his 40 years, initially guessed the Chinook that carried him and his son was from Brazil - after misinterpreting the meaning of a name tag worn by one of the American soldiers........ If the Pakistani government really cared about their citizens in the earthquake area, then why was the offer of helicopters from India turned down? India willing to provide whatever relief Pak wants: Saran With Pakistan declining to accept Indian helicopters and foot patrols, India tonight said it respected the sensitivities of the neighbouring country and was willing to provide whatever it required as relief in the wake of the killer earthquake. "It is very important to take into account Pakistan's comfort level," Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told Karan Thapar in CNBC's programme 'Tonight at 10'. About yesterday's militant attacks and infiltration attempts in Jammu and Kashmir, he said "we would have hoped that in the wake of this tragedy, we would not have to take care of infiltration and continuing violence because the Army and the security forces have their hands full". Asked about Pakistan's reluctance to accept Indian helicopters and foot patrols to areas across the Line of Control easily accessible from this side, he said "We will go as far as Pakistan wishes us to go". Appreciating the Indian assistance, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri said "we are very happy to accept it". On the issue of Indian helicopters and foot patrols, he said "Pakistan had made a similar offer to India in the initial stages. There are sensitivities involved. The idea is to help each other"........
Shameful response by the Pakistani government. You would think a military dictatorship would be much more organized/swift in its response, but apparently not. Sishir might be better informed about this, but weren't militants also praised for their help following the Tsunami disaster in SE Asia?
tigermission1 More on the Pakistani Government: Disaster relief a civil job, says minister Government's earthquake aid failure fuels calls for holy war
I had a geology teacher in college that every semester "predicted" that during his three months with the students, a major earthquake would take place. He later goes on in the class to explain why its not much of a prediction at all given the frequency with which they transpire.
before anyone recommends these savages for saint-hood, heres what they did a day after the earthquake: the earthquake didnt do much to come in the way of their bogus "jihad" here's one man's opinion:
mulletman I have read similar articles about having to explain the militant camps. Another suggestion that I had read was that Pakistani pride was too great and that having Indians visibly helping them in the quake area would be a blow to that pride. A link to an opinion piece by Pervez Hoodbhoy. The challenge of Balakot to save lives
Thanks for the plug but I can't tell you much. What I've heard regarding militants is that the Aceh rebels laid down their arms and worked with the government and NGO's to provide aid while in Sri Lanka the Tamil Tigers refused to lay down their arms and at first wouldn't allow the Sri Lankan Government or NGO's into Tiger held territory.
I just saw an article that said the death toll is now almost 80,000 and rising. As cold weather starts setting in this thing could rival the tsunami in the amount of misery. Unfortunately other than giving money to aid groups I'm not sure what we as average Americans can do..
