Why was the Morocco quake so deadly?
At the base of Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains. We visited this kasbah a decade ago. And it has taken some damage from the earthquake but all residents and guests were safe.
earthquakes
Russia fires up Turkey’s first nuclear power plant while Germany shuts down its last
Germany, one of the world’s leafing producers of clean, renewable energy has officially shut down its last nuclear reactor last month. On the flip-side, Turkey, the world’s most liberal Muslim country, has fired up its first.
The most dangerous spots in the Mediterranean for natural disasters
Threats of potential extreme geohazards against humanity became partial reality this month, following the spectacular eruption of the Calbuco volcano in southern Chile (photo above); and the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in northern Nepal. The Nepal earthquake, occurring in one of the poorest countries in the world, has so far killed more than 7,400 people, made thousands homeless; […]
Glass Tube Home Wraps Around a Tree in Earthquake-Prone Kazakhstan
An emergent studio from Kazakhstan has designed a curious glass tube home that wraps around a large Fir tree in the tectonically active mountainous region of the country.
Frack Off Shell! Egyptians Launch Anti-Fracking Campaign
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights have condemned fracking by Shell, Apache and Dana Petroleum in Egypt as dangerous and called for an immediate end to the practice Fracking has faced criticism worldwide due to concerns that it contaminates drinking water and triggers earthquakes. Now, Egyptians have launched a campaign against Shell’s hydraulic fracturing operations […]
Iran’s Earth Buildings are the Leading Cause of Quake Casualties
We’ve long extolled the virtues of earth building, but it turns out that Iran’s simple clay and mud brick buildings are a leading cause of casualties during strong earthquakes. Over the weekend, two earthquakes measuring 6.3 and 6.4 on the richter scale hit the country’s east Azerbaijan province, killing at least 360 people and displacing […]
Mutant Fukushima Butterflies Should Discourage Middle East Nuclear
Researchers who collected and studied 100 pale grass blue butterflies from the Fukushima prefecture following last year’s nuclear meltdown have discovered serious mutations resulting from exposure to radiation. The butterflies, which were collected two months after the March, 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, had abnormalities in their legs, antennae and […]
Iran Criticized For Response to Earthquake which Killed 306
A shortage of tents and an overseas trip taken by Ahmadinejad has sparked criticism of the Iranian government’s response following the devastating earthquake which hit the country On Saturday afternoon, two earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.4 and 6.3 hit the East Azerbaijan province of Iran. Entire villages were flattened instantly, 360 people were killed and […]
Micro-Financed Straw Houses For Pakistan Are Quake-Proof
Environmentally-friendly designed straw bale houses are energy efficient and earthquake resistant. Pakistan's poorest groups rebuild lives through Pakistan Straw Bale and Appropriate Building (PAKSBAB) micro-financed project.
Jordanians Step Up Nuclear Protests
Anti-nuclear campaigners in Jordan have staged another protest against the nation’s plans to build a nuclear reactor Around a month ago, Jordanians held a protest in Amman against the government’s plans to build a nuclear station which they remarked posed more risks than potential positive impacts. Now, they have stepped up their protests with support […]
Protest Against Nuclear Power In Jordan
Protesters in Jordan are campaigning against the country’s plans to build a nuclear reactor which they state carries more risks than positive impacts Despite the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear station and Germany’s bold move to shut down all nuclear reactors by 2020, it seems the Middle East is still set on a nuclear future. […]
Middle East Countries Prepare For Natural Disasters
From earthquakes to water scarcity, the Middle East faces its fair share of natural disasters but countries are only now starting to take disaster risk reduction seriously Over the last 25 years, the Arab region has suffered 276 disasters in which 100,000 people died, 1.5 million were left homeless and 10 million affected – yet […]
Will Iran Be Ready for the Next Tsunami?
Historical documents and a break down of a telegraph machine suggest tsunamis occurred in the recent past. Will Iran be ready for the next one? A joint workshop in co-operation of the Iranian National Center for Oceanography (INCO) and UNESCO was held in south east of Iran. The purpose of the workshop has been to […]