Chinese President Consoles Earthquake Survivors

Hu Jintao (Photo credit: Xinhua)

Chinese President, Hu Jintao, consoled victims of the terrible earthquake that hit China last week, killing over 2,000 people. Previously, Jintao, was often seen smiling in public when greeting his constituents and foreign leaders, but international papers noted he let his compassionate side show in visiting, embracing and encouraging earthquake survivors this week. Jintao promised them "new homes" stating the region "will be rebuilt" and they "will have bright futures." That was nice.

STORY SOURCE: Hu Shows Empathetic Side in Quake Area

Earthquake Hits Mexico

An 7.2 earthquake hit the country of Mexico, killing two people and trapping many inside their homes. The quake was also felt in the U.S. states of California and Nevada. This marks one of many strong earthquakes that have hit populous nations this year, such as Chile, Japan and of course, the most devastating, Haiti.

The surreal footage posted above, shows water spilling out of a swimming pool, as the Mexico earthquake shakes the ground. Due to their resources and the minimal damage done, Mexico should be able to get back on its feet quickly. However, that swimming pool in the video is another story.

George W. Bush Accused Of Derisively Wiping Hand In Haiti

Former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have started an organization aimed at helping earthquake ravaged Haiti. Clinton has been active in the country for a few years.

This week, Clinton brought Bush jr. along for a goodwill trip. However, the mainstream press is pointing to an incident regarding Bush shaking a Haitian man's hand, then wiping his own on Clinton's shirt immediately after.

How ironic. The enthusiastic Haitian survivor may have had a little dirt on his hands from the extremely dire conditions he is living in, due to the earthquake - meanwhile, Bush has blood on his hands from starting a deceitful war that killed over one million Iraqi civilians and thousands of American and British soldiers. I'd rather have dirt on my hands, than blood.

Haiti Wants Say In Rebuilding

Haiti's President, Rene Preval

Haiti's President, Rene Preval, stated his government wants a say in rebuilding his earthquake ravaged nation. Thus far, billions in donations have poured in, with an eye on rebuilding Haiti for the future.

Haiti should oversee the projects to their specifications. However, they should employ the world's best consultants, some may even work for a nominal fee or for free, due to the tragic circumstances, to help chart a course for rebuilding in a somewhat precarious seismological situation.

As with Louisiana (levees) in America, Haiti (very active fault lines) has distinct geographic features that can cause massive loss of life, if and when a natural disaster strikes. Therefore, thorough seismological surveys and earthquake resistant building codes and plans will need to be implemented and enforced. Retrofitting existing structures would be beneficial as well.

The Judiciary Report is confident Haiti has the skill, intelligence and labor to rebuild better than ever. Best wishes for the future.

Family Caught In Chile And Haiti Earthquakes

Video: Family survives Haiti and Chile earthquakes

Haitian musician, Pierre Desarmes, moved his family from their homeland, to Chile, after a terrible earthquake hit their nation, severely damaging the capital. He reasoned they would be safer in Chile, until Haiti is rebuilt and reorganized.

Not long after settling in Chile, a massive earthquake struck, leaving them stunned at what they were facing. It's amazing that this family has endured two serious earthquakes, two months apart. It is good they are alive. Life is precious and you were spared. Make the most of the life God has given you. God bless you.

Family survived Haiti and Chile earthquakes

Thu Mar 4 2010 18:30:15 - A Haitian family who left Haiti following the earthquake on January 12 has survived a second huge quake in Chile.

But having lived through two of the most devastating natural disasters in recent years, the Desarmes family is now refusing to stay in their eldest son Pierre Desarmes' house. They are instead living in the garden out of fear another tremor would cause the building to crumble...

http://itn.co.uk

More On The Quake In Chile

Video: Quake Rocks Chile

The damage from the 8.8 earthquake in Chile is worse than previously thought. Hundreds are dead, some survivors remain missing and many have been rendered homeless. The video posted above gives a glimpse into the devastation.

Earthquakes Strike Chile And Japan

Strong earthquakes hit the nations of Chile and Japan this weekend. In Chile, 300 people are feared dead, with billions in damage, after an 8.6 quake struck, toppling buildings and highways.

In Japan, a 6.9 earthquake struck Okinawa. Both quakes symbolize the strongest to hit each nation in one hundred years. This is after a massive quake hit Haiti in January, claiming 150,000 lives and causing massive damage.

As stated in the past, missile testing is creating trouble within the earth's core, adding to preexisting pressure. Quakes are a response to tension and friction, in the form of seismic activity unleashing.

Seismic activity increases with earth tensions below the surface. Iran, North Korea and America, have been testing missiles and it is placing too much pressure on the earth. The gestation period for stress then builds up, due to nuclear stimuli, creating unusual quakes, at greater than normal intervals. It's a type of domino effect, causing greater eruptions (quakes).

Tsunami panic after Chile earthquake

February 28, 2010 - Residents look at a collapsed building in Concepion following a magnitude 8.8 earthquake
Tony Allen-Mills and Nathan Crooks in Santiago

JAPAN was warned of the possibility of 10ft waves early today as a tsunami swept across the Pacific after the huge earthquake that struck Chile early yesterday.

The first 12ft tsunami waves generated by the earthquake hit French Polynesia and the Chatham Islands in New Zealand.

On an island off Chile the high waves swamped a village with five people dying and 11 missing but elsewhere there were no reports of damage though authorities warned that higher tides could come later.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk

The Key To Rebuilding Haiti

The key to rebuilding Haiti will be in logistics. The building code in the Caribbean has to be strict, as the climate is often subject to powerful hurricanes and sometimes earthquakes.

Prefab building can be quick, but may be dangerous, as most of the materials used for such structures are typically wood and softer fibers. Concrete, steel and rebar should be the order of the day.

Structural engineers should also be consulted, to create structures with room for swaying, in the event of a future quake. Seismology surveys need to be done, to avoid rebuilding on dangerous fault lines.

A centralized, organizational committee should be formed and issues of import duty, tax and any other VAT mandates (materials) will have to be thoroughly mulled over, lest it make the rebuilding process more tedious and lengthy than necessary. Haiti's damaged areas can be rebuilt and in good time, but a very good plan needs to be on the table.

Thus far, over a billion has been raised, but more is needed.

Haitian Man Survives 4 Weeks In Quake Rubble

Evan Muncie

A 28-year-old Haitian man, Evan Muncie, was found alive in a collapsed market, 4 weeks after a devastating 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti. He stated someone brought him water while he was trapped. He was extracted from the rubble, somewhat emaciated, but alive. Another great story of miraculous survival.

Doctors: Haitian may have survived 4 weeks in rubble

February 9, 2010 -- Updated 0212 GMT (1012 HKT) - Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- A man pulled alive from the rubble of a building in Haiti's capital Monday may have been trapped since the January 12 quake that leveled much of the city, doctors reported.

The 28-year-old man, identified as Evan Muncie, was found in the wreckage of a market where he sold rice, his family told staff at a University of Miami field hospital. He suffered from extreme dehydration and malnutrition, but did not appear to have significant crushing injuries, the doctors said...

http://edition.cnn.com

Haiti Advised To Relocate Capital

As the death toll in Haiti tops 200,000, the Haitian government is being advised by geologists, to relocate the country's capital, Port-Au-Prince, as the current location lies on a deadly earthquake fault that could erupt again within this generation, as it did last month, coming in at 7.0 on the Richter Scale.

There is logic to what they are stating and it would not be the first time in history such an occurrence has happened in the world, due to a natural disaster. Though for Haitians, it will be difficult to let go of the region that is currently the capital. It is definitely something for their government to ponder.

Haiti death toll tops 200,000 as aid anger mounts

February 4, 2010 - The aid flooding into Haiti by plane and boat is not reaching earthquake victims quickly enough to stem growing unrest.

The death toll in the Haiti quake has topped 200,000, Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said on Wednesday, as angry protests over the slow arrival of aid flared on the rubble-strewn streets...

http://www.smh.com.au

Geologists warn Haiti to move its capital

By TIM PADGETT Tim Padgett – Tue Feb 2, 12:15 pm ET - The image on Falk Amelung's laptop screen looks like 1960s psychedelia. But the interferogram, a composite radar snapshot of Haiti captured by Japanese satellite before and just after the Jan. 12 earthquake, is a trove of geological information.

And much of it has surprised the University of Miami professor of geology and geophysics. "In theory this should have been an earthquake of simple left-lateral movement along the fault line," says Amelung. Then he points to the kaleidoscopic color contours rippling from the quake's epicenter, west of the capital, Port-au-Prince, which indicate vertical quake movement as well. "It's more than we would have thought to see in this region," he says. "We're puzzling over this."

As a result of that anomaly and others they've seen so far, Amelung and many of his colleagues are urging the Haitian government and its international donors to consider relocating the capital, which was largely reduced to rubble by the quake. The most important infrastructure should be rebuilt at a site well away from a fault line that they believe will rupture again within the next generation or two, but even closer to Port-au-Prince. "...

http://news.yahoo.com