Naxal, Kathmandu, Nepal

20 JME2MN 2010-02-25T05:24:50Z 20 2010-01-14T02:10:24Z This is my 6th post on earthquakes in Nepal without any comments, while my posts on KFC, interior design, tourists, etc. all get many responses.<br><span>&nbsp;</span><br><ol><li><a href="http://www.sodne.com/20/disaster-preparedness">Disaster preparedness</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sodne.com/313/simple-and-easy-way-to-make-a-room-more-earthquake-resistant">Simple and easy way to make a room more earthquake resistant</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sodne.com/129/earthquake-disaster-hazard-map-for-kathmandu">Earthquake Disaster Hazard Map for Kathmandu</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sodne.com/66/open-source-software-to-analyze-and-design-buildings">Open source software to analyze and design buildings</a></li><li><a href="http://www.sodne.com/23/an-earthquake-shelter-for-everyone">An earthquake shelter for everyone</a>e</li></ol></li><br>This lack of interest represents pretty well the general attitude of Nepalis about Earthquakes - we don't want to think about it. If it happens, we will deal with it but for now lets pretend the risk doesn't exist. But make no mistake, the risk is very real and we will see a major earthquake in our lifetime. All you have to do is look at the history of Nepal - the recurrence interval is 70 years for a big earthquake and they are very regular. &nbsp;And the last big one was... 75 years ago. &nbsp;We're all living on borrowed time.<br><br><span>But maybe (hopefully?) the recent tragedy in Haiti will wake us up from our slumber. &nbsp;Haiti and Nepal have many many things in common. &nbsp;Poor health resources, poor living conditions, poor emergency response capabilities, extremely poor building standards. Our only international airport is connected to Kathmandu via bridges which will definitely break and limit outside help by airplanes and helicopters. &nbsp;Add to that our unique geography that will take days to send help and aid over land. &nbsp;When it is our turn, it will be exactly the same. &nbsp;Death toll in the hundreds of thousands, untold misery and complete breakdown of the capital.<br><br>Rham Emanuel from the Obama administration likes to say "a crisis is a terrible thing to waste". &nbsp;So lets not let this crisis in Haiti go to waste. &nbsp;Turn on your TV sets, read the papers. &nbsp;Then say to your self&nbsp;<strong>Port-au-Prince = Kathmandu</strong> and <strong>Haiti = Nepal</strong>. &nbsp;Think about losing your loved ones and family members under piles of rubble. &nbsp;Then breathe a sigh of relief that this hasn't happened to us. &nbsp;Yet. &nbsp;And do something about it.<br></span> 389 27.7156356477 85.3266477585 162 learning-from-haiti 0 100.0 1 0 active 2 2010-02-25T05:24:50Z 1