18,000 ‘Quakes and Counting |
|
By Michael Knight
Being one who likes to keep an eye on the world – the Mother Earth one – I subscribe to a daily update on earthquake and volcanic activity.
That’s partly because I have personally been shaken around and almost knocked off my feet by earthquakes back when I was a reporter in New Zealand.
But it’s also because I have spent many years writing about preparedness issues – even back then when Kiwis (New Zealanders) were inclined to just take it in stride when disaster hit. |
|
Today, my “disaster antenna” started to twitch a bit when I learned that there have been 18,000 (that’s no typo, 18,000) earthquakes in Iceland, and obviously that means the volcanoes there are under severe stress. An eruption may be imminent. |
|
I also learned that yesterday a shallow M6.0 hit Greece, and thousands spent the night outdoors, afraid of any aftershocks.
At that point – a few minutes ago in my time – I decided to go visit the online earthquake guru, Dutchsinse. I don’t use the term “guru” in a disparaging way either. He has 490,000 subscribers, and today’s live update had already had close to 40,000 views by the time I got there. |
|
And lo and behold…. He was reporting that three massive earthquakes had struck just a few hours ago north of New Zealand.
They included a Magnitude 7.3, a Magnitude 7.4 and an 8.1. |
|
While this newsletter does have subscribers in Australia and New Zealand, across Europe and South America and Canada, most readers are located in the United States. |
|
Does that mean the US is exempt from earthquake activity? Absolutely not. Now if you look at the global fault zone map …. |
|
…. you’ll notice that these fault lines run like threads all over the world. Or to put it another way, imagine them as huge underground wires, carrying vast amounts of electricity – conduits for lightning-like shock-waves of energy that keep the earth shuddering and changing every minute of the day.
This certainly results in earthquakes of various magnitudes all over the planet, and when they happen far away, it’s quick and easy to dismiss them as “not in my reality,” as some people like to say.
The stupid thing about that sort of thinking is that it has led to the really stupid practice of building nuclear power plants on or close to major fault lines ....
|
|
,,, and just a week from now, we’ll see the 10th anniversary of the 9.1 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that decimated the Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant in Japan. |
|
|
Will the Pacific ocean ever recover from the millions and millions of tons of radioactive water that have contaminated it – killing off the denizens of the deep – mutating fish – starving bird-life for lack of sea food over the past 10 years? (Have you noticed that this subject has disappeared off the radar in recent years? How do you hide bad news? Just say nothing about it.)
And then there’s the tens of millions of tons of plastic we have thrown into the oceans – plastic that can NEVER be recycled. Plastic that is now being found in everything from sardines to whales. |
|
When it comes to the endless lifespan of this planet, you and I are but blips in time...
But she is a living being...and perhaps, just perhaps, she is fighting for her own survival...and wants to rid herself of a plague far worse than anything out of a Chinese laboratory. |
|
Well, lest I go too far and start likening humanity to a virus … there, I went too far … and having expressed my heartfelt concern for this great giver of life, for I have a gut feeling that her labor pains are increasing, may I politely invite you to take ten minutes to watch today’s Dutchsinse presentation at this link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff97FMl1yFM
Sincerely.
Michael Knight. |
|
About The AuthorPlease be aware that I am nothing more than a reporter, for the most part reporting what other people say or do. And of course I do my own research on your behalf, and incorporate that as well.
I just happen to have a background in researching and writing about complex issues. I therefore do my best to write for "first timers" who, as I once was, want to learn more about current events.
Become a Digital Soldier
I am currently putting many hours into developing an online course for those who have a desire to become really good Internet reporters - or "Digital Soldiers" as General Flynn has talked about.
If that interests you, please email me with "course" in the subject line. I am keeping that list for when the course is finally published - but it will be a few weeks yet.
contact (at) northstarnewsletter (dot) com
Sincerely.
Michael Knight |
|
|
