Japan built her cities with the primary purpose of withstanding earthquakes, which Mother Nature challenged on March 11, 2011 with a magnitude 9 shake and 30-foot tidal waves that took almost 1,000 lives (body count as of 1:30 PM Manila time). History tells us that this is not the first time a massive quake occurred. The most recent records of a magnitude 9 earthquake devastating life on Earth were in May 1960, in Chile (strongest in recorded history, at magnitude 9.5), and in December 2004, off Sumatra in Indonesia, which seems to have been the trigger for a global tsunami watch.
Technological advancements have not only made it even more possible to monitor (not predict) major geological events, but it has also allowed the rest of society to participate in such activities. Just hours after a tsunami ravaged Sendai City and beyond, a rapid coordinated effort by geophysicists and governments of countries in the Pacific rim went into play in anticipation of oncoming tidal waves from the quake's epicenter. It must've been the fastest coastal evacuation ever done in human history. Thanks to social media, we were able to track the progress of evacuation efforts as well as obtain reliable ways to keep informed and involved.
One of the Twitter accounts I've been following is New Earthquake, which automatically tweets the time, location, and magnitude of a new quake anywhere in the world. Since March 9, it has been broadcasting continuous tremors in the same epicenter that caused the horrific March 11 earthquake in Japan. Sadly, strong aftershocks are still happening in the same area until now.
It's been 2 days since calamity struck Japan. Now is no longer the time for information to simply be RT-ed, reposted, and reblogged. Now it's time for you to put your click-happy skills to good use.
Where to start? Click these links:
Want to Help or Donate to Japan?
Donate now through G-Cash! (in PH only)
Red Cross: Pinoys may ‘text’ donations for Japan
High-Tech Help: 5 Ways to Support Earthquake Relief With Social Media, Texting.
Japan Disaster Relief: Where to GiveTechnological advancements have not only made it even more possible to monitor (not predict) major geological events, but it has also allowed the rest of society to participate in such activities. Just hours after a tsunami ravaged Sendai City and beyond, a rapid coordinated effort by geophysicists and governments of countries in the Pacific rim went into play in anticipation of oncoming tidal waves from the quake's epicenter. It must've been the fastest coastal evacuation ever done in human history. Thanks to social media, we were able to track the progress of evacuation efforts as well as obtain reliable ways to keep informed and involved.
One of the Twitter accounts I've been following is New Earthquake, which automatically tweets the time, location, and magnitude of a new quake anywhere in the world. Since March 9, it has been broadcasting continuous tremors in the same epicenter that caused the horrific March 11 earthquake in Japan. Sadly, strong aftershocks are still happening in the same area until now.It's been 2 days since calamity struck Japan. Now is no longer the time for information to simply be RT-ed, reposted, and reblogged. Now it's time for you to put your click-happy skills to good use.
Where to start? Click these links:
Want to Help or Donate to Japan?
Donate now through G-Cash! (in PH only)
Red Cross: Pinoys may ‘text’ donations for Japan
High-Tech Help: 5 Ways to Support Earthquake Relief With Social Media, Texting.
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