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Economic losses from disasters set new record in 2012

Thursday, March 14, 2013 13:08

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(Before It's News)

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Quite often observations about changing environment are regarded as purely anecdotal by many who will often deny or object to the notion that indeed our living circumstances are in flux.

Somehow, many seem to adopt a position of denial in the matter of extreme earth change, be it socioeconomic or ecological, often saying reports of change are insignificant, overstated or do not apply to their circumstance.

I suppose if one has not been directly affected or impacted YET, then reports of said change may seem distant or surreal.

Throughout the known history of our planet–environmental, geographical and ecological change has been the norm rather than the exception, this is with or without human contribution.

Even so, there are many who appear shocked or surprised that the universe cannot or will not suddenly accommodate their preferences by somehow locking into a state of stability to accommodate their personal liking.

Some even labor under the delusion that if sufficient taxes are paid then their governmental representation can somehow regulate the naturally occurring cyclic transitions the solar system and the planets within it are bound to experience. Climates change, that is what they do and always will.

This attitude has to be the new height of “sense of entitlement” evident with today’s society in the western world. It is pitiful to see so many so far removed from reality they seriously believe humanity could exert sufficient control over immutable universal flux as to render it harmless.

The solution of course is adaptation.

Adaptation can result if honest reporting is provided, with correct assessments and facts–populations can review options and make changes, even extreme changes such as a complete relocation or change of lifestyle. Avoiding the inevitable is bound to exacerbate the problem, delay is caused by the confusion of authorities who claim solution through tax and control legislation rather than adaptation strategies.

For the informed, this leaves an individual in a position of self assessment of worsening conditions followed by self-determination and self reliance.

For those interested in current trends these are some facts of the matter.

Economic losses from disasters set new record in 2012

GENEVA, 14 March 2013 – The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) today stated that for the first time in history the world has experienced three consecutive years where annual economic losses have exceeded $100 billion due to an enormous increase in exposure of industrial assets and private property to extreme disaster events.

Some 310 disasters killed over 9,300 people in 2012 and affected 106 million others and cost 138 billion US$ (mainly in the US, Italy and China).

63% of the economic losses were in the Americas, mainly due to Hurricane Sandy ($50 bn) and the drought ($20 bn). Europe was hit by two long cold waves at the beginning and end of the year killing almost 1,000 people and Africa was severely affected by drought but also by floods such as those in Nigeria which took over 300 lives.

“Globally, most victims this year were from floods and droughts which were responsible for nearly 80% of all victims. But as they occur in poorer countries, the economic losses are low. Even so, the floods of Pakistan cost nearly 2% of its annual GDP which is a lot to recover. Disasters are a major problem in all poor countries and threats to global security.

Supplemental reference:

Natural Disasters Quadruple – Insurers Getting Queasy?

World’s Population Migrating into Danger

As 2013 unfolds we may or may not personally fall victim to collapsing socioeconomic conditions or extreme earth change phenomena but one thing seems almost certain–change with a capital C is inevitable, self-motivated proactive adaptation will prove to be far more successful as a self-preservation strategy than relying on the self-professed “powers that be” who have only self interest at heart.

When the time for action arrives, the time to prepare is lost.