Earthquakes,Global Warming, European Storms

Earth Quakes
Last month there was an earth quake in Chile, that killed over 700 people and caused nearly 30 billion dollars in damages. At a magnitude of 6.7 aftershock, the earth quake shook south-central Chile. Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter announced in economic terms that this is the worst catastrophe Chile has suffered. The Public Works Minister Hernan de Sominihac, said it will cost around $1.46 billion dollars to restore the public construction, like the fallen bridges that are slowing reconstruction to the city.

Global Warming
In the dead of winter - especially now this year with its massive snow storms in the eastern United States - its not the easiest time to make the case for global warming. But it's even harder these days to convincingly argue that climate change is a reality. Since 2008, the number of people who don't believe global warming is happening has more than doubled to 16 percent. But, at the same time , those alarmed at the climate change has dropped from 18 percent to just 10 percent, and those who say they're "concerned" has dropped from 33 percent to 29 percent. Meanwhile, action in Congress on climate change has essentially stalled. “The heavy snowfalls this month have been used as fodder for ridicule by those who argue that global warming is a myth, yet scientists have long pointed out that warmer global temperatures have been increasing the rate of evaporation from the oceans, putting significantly more moisture into the atmosphere – thus causing heavier downfalls of both rain and snow in particular regions, including the Northeastern United States. Just as it’s important not to miss the forest for the trees, neither should we miss the climate for the snowstorm.”

European Storms
Rescue workers in dinghies cruised flooded streets on France's Atlantic coast Monday, searching for people still trapped in their homes by storms that smashed through concrete sea walls and killed at least 62 people across Western Europe. The storm, called Xynthia, blew into France early Sunday with hurricane-force winds, flooding ports, destroying homes and leaving 1 million households without electricity. The coastal regions of Vendee and Charente-Maritime, and pledged euro3 million in emergency aid. Floodwaters also submerged streets in L'Ile de Re, a chic resort island of colorful ports, charming cottages and bike paths. The spokesman for France's emergency services, Lt. Col. Patrick Vailli, said nine people were still missing and scores more were wounded. In the southwestern French town of La Faute sur Mer, firefighters evacuated stranded residents by boat Monday and car roofs just peeked out above the floodwaters.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/lt_chile_earthquake;_ylt=Asvgs.kkTmBm2Gg.uvDxPX.s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNqYmlkcW5yBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMzAxL2x0X2NoaWxlX2VhcnRocXVha2UEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwMxBHBvcwMyBHB0A2hvbWVfY29rZQRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNjaGlsZXRyb29wc3A-

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20100228/ts_csm/283713

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100301/ap_on_re_eu/eu_france_deadly_storm