Ecuador Declares State of Emergency Over Volcano 44
An anonymous reader writes: The President of Ecuador declared a state of emergency following growing fears over the increasing activity in the Cotopaxi volcano. Rafael Correa ordered the evacuation of a few hundred people who live near the volcano as a precaution. The first signs of eruption began last Friday when hot ash shot out of the volcano, covering areas up to 30 miles away. The volcano's last major eruptive period occurred in the late 19th century
Cool, interesting story (Score:1)
Thanks for posting!
Re: (Score:2)
Actually they hurl chunks...
Dumbing Down? (Score:3)
The C in CBBC stands for children's. Surely there has to be a better, more informative source that CBBC's newsround "the home of news and fun facts for kids". Even the actual BBC website [bbc.co.uk] is slightly better .
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This is not reddit. It is, however, a place for nerds. The sort of nerds who assume that their extensive programming/clerk typist skills translate to expertise in politics, literature, religion, science, math, statistics, and nearly every other field of human endeavor. And are old enough and arrogant enough to shout down anyone who disagrees. From their mom's basement, while carrying on a heated discussion about how "Jedi" is a real religion.
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Well it's interesting that it's been over a hundred years since the last eruption. One in Mexico has been spitting ash recently as well. It could be that the ring of fire is heating up. Volcanos are nerd news even if it's not the latest tech.
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As we are allways told this a mainly a 'merkins site then the 'dumbed down' childrens bbc report IS the correct level for it's audience reading comprehension!
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The funny thing is that there's probably not too many people to evacuate, given that indigenous groups (among others) are currently in Quito protesting "El Presidente" over the destruction of their lands ;)
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Actually, Correa is one of the president with the highest popular support in the region, if not in the world. Above 60% of approval rating, which is very high after being in power since 7 years in a country that is use to political instability. Mostly because he has a very strong economical record (greatly reduced poverty and unemployment, high growth, massive improvements in infrastructure, healthcare and education, ...).
There are some protests going on since a few months, but they are from a tiny heteroge
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Actually, his support in polls is down to 45% [dw.com]. His "strong economic record" was built on the back of high oil prices and hence is steadily falling apart in this new low price regime.
The estate tax is only one source of discontent. The natives really could care less about it, their biggest gripe is the continued destruction of their lands for oil extraction and power generation. The unions are mad at Correa's attempts to strip them of their power. Senior citizens groups are mad about cuts to pensions. And lo
Cotopaxi overlords (Score:1)
I,for one, welcome our lava hurling Cotopaxian overlords!
Stupid people (Score:2)
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People live near volcanoes all over the world. They also build cities where hurricanes repeatedly strike, in flood plains, where tornadoes are likely to hit, etc. And when their homes are destroyed repeatedly they rebuild, usually asking for the government to help them out because they were surprised that such an event happened.
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I'm wondering how exactly I'm not supposed to live near a volcano (I live in Iceland). Am I supposed to move to Greenland and commute?
Re:Stupid people (Score:5, Informative)
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Yea, so are fields covered in dead bodies. In order to save Gaia, we must kill millions of people (preferably whites) to decrease their carbon footprint so we can grow organic gardens to feed the billions of disadvantaged South American poor that can live in the USA on the dead bodies of crackers.
It is only right.
If you don't agree with me you are a racist. Seriously
Re:Stupid people (Score:5, Informative)
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It's easy to ignore a threat that may not be realized for a hundred years or more. It's kind of like gambling. The odds are you'll be fine. But.....you might get wiped out if you're unlucky.
Re:Stupid people (Score:4)
Looked at Seattle lately? It's like 60 miles or so from Mt. Rainier. A Mount St. Helen's style eruption would devastate the city. It wouldn't do Tacoma much good either.
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It doesn't help that Mt. Rainier is also rotten, full of hollow caves and eaten away by sulfuric acid. The most dangerous part is that it is quite unstable and will create a cataclysmic flash flood of mud, rock and ice, known as a lahar. About 150,000 people live on top of old lahar deposits.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
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Question: Is the country better or worse off if Mt Rainier blows?
/ if this doesn't get moderated troll I'm either disappointed, or I've tapped into something ala Trump.
Re:Stupid people (Score:5, Insightful)
Don't live near any coast, for fear of Tsunamis.
Don't life in the Midwest, for fear of tornadoes.
Don't live near any fault lines, for fear of earthquakes.
Don't live in hot climates, for fear of droughts and wildfires.
Don't live in norther climates, for fear of blizzards.
Don't live near volcanoes, for fear of eruptions.
Don't live in the jungles, for fear of diseases.
Don't live on a hillside, for fear of mudslides.
Don't live on a river plain, for fear of flooding.
Don't live in Africa, as a lion might eat you.
Don't life in Canada or Alaska, as a bear might eat you.
Don't live in Florida, as an alligator might eat you.
Don't live in Australia, since everything is venomous.
etc, etc...
There are very few places on earth where nature doesn't occasionally try to kill you.
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And don't live in solar systems with un-controlled asteroids floating around, for they too have a long record of hitting planets and causing very large numbers of deaths.
Is that all cases covered?
(You'll note that I'm not repeating the "asteroids cause mass extinctions" meme, because I'm not 100% convinced that has been proven. Lots of deaths certainly ; mass extinctions, the jury is back out.)
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Or how about Mexico City, right underneath the Popo volcano... umpteen million population, right next to a volcano that shows all the signs of becoming quite active... Don't wanna think about trying to evacuate a city that size.... shudder
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Like California, with the SA Fault ?
Yellowstone supervolcano ?
tornado alley ?
new Orleans ?
Florida & hurricanes ?
Assuage the volcano with Assange (Score:1)
Throw Assange in. He's a virgin.
Well, duh (Score:1)
First the volcano erupts, next thing you know the Argonians invade.