Stories about Disaster from February, 2009
Myanmar: Three-year cyclone relief plan
According to The Irrawaddy, the Tripartite Core Group of Burma has a 3-year recovery and preparedness plan and will seek US $691 million to continue the Cyclone Nargis relief effort. Nargis hit Myanmar last May 2008 which killed and displaced hundreds of thousands in the country.
Indonesia: Earthquake report through Twitter
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake jolts Indonesia and some parts of the Philippines. Twitter broke the news ahead of mainstream media. Jyamasaki tweets: “I continue to be impressed how twitter is able to report on the Earthquake in Indonesia a few hours before it's reported on major news sites.”
Ukraine: Profile of a Chernobyl Employee
Michael Forster Rothbart writes about one of control room shift supervisor at Chernobyl Power Plant, whom he photographed for “a series of panoramic portraits of Chernobyl employees en milieu“: “The photos are equally about the people and the places they inhabit. Daily lives in this unique environment.”
China: PS Photos on CCTV Fire
Fauna from ChinaSMACK has a selection of PS photos on CCTV Fire happened on Monday night.
Ukraine: Chernobyl Exhibit in Slavutych
Linda Norris writes about Ukraine and Ukraine's museums at The Uncataloged Museum; one of the latest entries is about a Chernobyl exhibit in the town of Slavutych: “I remember much talk at one point in among American museums about collecting the 20th century: Barbie dolls, Tupperware, and more. Those objects–and...
Ukraine: Photographing Chernobyl's 4th Block Control Room
Photographer Michael Forster Rothbart is back in Ukraine, writing about a shooting session at the Chernobyl Power Plant's Fourth Block Control Room: “[…] Next comes surprise. We enter. It is dark. One security light high above casts one small pool of light. My first thought is that it doesn't look...
China: Can Paper Wrap the Fire?
Last night CCTV's new building's extension caught fire because of nearby fireworks celebrating the Chinese Lantern Festival (元宵). Blogger Anlei recorded the whole process with a series of photos. Even though the fire is an accident, the propaganda department still decided to harmonize / censor the news. A notice has...
China: CCTV Fire News Censored
Fauna from ChinaSMACK reported about the CCTV building fire and how the news got censored in major internet portal, like Sina and NetEase.
China: CCTV Fire Photos – Twitter breaks the news again
David Feng from CNreviews tells the story on how twitter breaks the news on the fire in CCTV building last night in Beijing.
China: Worst Drought in 50 years
A worst drought in 50 years, affecting more than 12 provinces and more than 9.3m hectares, in northern China has hit 43% of the country's wheat crop. The Office of State Control and Drought Relief Headquarters warned that 3.7 million people and 1.85 million livestock had lost access to drinking...
Australian wildfires and web tools
With devastation so widespread, and the threat of Australian bushfire continuing, citizen journalists have had a hard time getting near the scenes. Yet, the internet is full of pertinent information for those living in affected areas about the continuing spread of fires and those outside who want to stay tuned.
Australia: Bushfires devastate Victoria
It is being called Australia’s worst natural disaster. Bushfires have devastated the South East. The worst impact is in Victoria with more than 100 confirmed deaths and more than 750 houses incinerated. Whole towns such as Marysville have been wiped out, destroying their communities.
Syria: Israel arrests and deports aid workers
Syria News Wire reports that a group of Syrian and Lebanese aid workers have been arrested and deported from Israel.
Brunei: More rain, flashfloods and landslides
The recent downpour in Brunei caught many by surprise. It caused a power outage, flashfloods and landslides. Many of the rural areas have been cut off due to rising flood waters.
DRC: Volcanic eruption may be imminent
Local radio are reporting that Nyamulagira volcano, near Goma, is showing intense activity, suggeting that an eruption may be imminent.
Malaysia: War on Dengue and Chikungunya
The Malaysian government has launched a dengue awareness campaign in response to the rising number of dengue cases. Aside from dengue, there is another virus which is spreading in several Malaysian states: Chikungunya.
Thailand: Four years after the tsunami
Jamie from Phuket, Thailand remembers the tsunami which hit Asia-Pacific last December 2004. Jamie blogs the tsunami's impact on Phuket. Lilian offered prayers for those who lost loved ones on that day.
Paraguay: Stadium Collapse Kills Two Police Officers
Daniel Ortiz of El Peatón [es] criticizes the authorities’ failure to inspect the Defensores del Chaco stadium, where two Paraguayan police were killed after part of the structure collapsed.
Palestine: BBC Rally in Gaza
Moments in Gaza reports about a rally in Gaza against the BBC. “So … people are homeless, hungry and in hospitals all around Gaza. Asking for humanitarian help for them is…”biased” ? So much for bloody objectivity! What shame,” notes Gaza Moments.
South Korea: Protest Against Police Violence at Yongsan
CINA posts photos of a protest against police violence at Yongsan. The police action in the redevelopment zone on 20 of January had resulted in the death of 5 residents who were protesting against a forced eviction.
Tajikistan: New Year, New Energy Crisis
Until recently, most parts of Tajiksitan have had almost no electricity: only six hours a day. But at least what came during those six hours was steady. Now, the situation becomes worse. Turkmenistan cut off electricity for Tajiksitan in the beginning of the year due to an ongoing disagreement between...
