Indonesia News

Climate ‘Stars’ Schwarzenegger, Gore Take Stage at U.N. Summit

“Arnie” and “Al,” Republican and Democrat, shared the world spotlight to press for climate action, adding a touch of star quality to the staid proceedings of a U.N. summit. The two headliners, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Vice President …

Powerful Quakes Hit Sumatra

A powerful earthquake off western Indonesia triggered warnings of a potentially destructive tsunami across much of the Indian Ocean region Wednesday, meteorological agencies said. [IJ Ed. Note: Several powerful aftershocks also triggered Tsunami warnings, but as of 7:00 a.m. EDT, …

AMA JOURNAL COVERS DISASTER PLANNING/RESPONSE

The American Medical Association introduced a new medical journal billed as the first of its kind devoted to the science of disaster planning and response. The peer-reviewed quarterly journal is titled Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Its first edition …

Chicago AMA Launches Journal Devoted to Disaster Planning/Response

The American Medical Association last week introduced a new medical journal billed as the first of its kind devoted to the science of disaster planning and response. The peer-reviewed quarterly journal is titled Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. Its …

Diplomats Begin Work on New Greenhouse Gas Accord

More than 1,000 diplomats have begun working on a new accord to control greenhouse gases, with developing countries calling for more money and expertise to help them fight the potentially catastrophic effects of global warming. The 166 countries and organizations …

Solomon Disaster Exposes Earthquake Monitoring System Weaknesses

Two years before a deadly earthquake-triggered tsunami pummeled the Solomon Islands, scientist Fred Taylor’s request for U.S. funds to set up a Pacific seismic monitoring network was flatly rejected. Then there is Phil Cummins of Geoscience Australia, who is still …

International Bird Flu Summit Closes with Promise of Aggressive Campaign

In the two days of the 4th International Bird Flu Summit in Washington, D.C. last week, public health officials, business leaders, policy makers, and scientists addressed the fight against bird flu. By the close of the summit on March 14, …

Over 30 Countries Agree: Bird Flu Preparedness is Key

The threat of the bird flu virus mutating into a strain capable of causing a pandemic intensifies amidst a growing number of outbreaks and human cases in different parts of the world. Since 2003, a total of 168 people have …

Munich Re Releases 2006 Nat Cat Report; Focus on Climate Change

In a just released report – “Topics Geo — Natural catastrophes 2006” – Munich Re maintains that “continuing unfavorable natural climate cycle and additional effects of global warming will increase the risk of hurricanes in the current and forthcoming years.” …

22 Die, 118 Survive Java Air Crash

118 people miraculously escaped the flaming wreck of a Garuda Airlines Boeing 737-400, which slid off the runway at Yogyakarta airport in Java while landing. 22 people, however, died in the crash. According to news reports, survivors said the plane …