TRAGIC EARTHQUAKE HITS HAITI

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IUGS E-BULLETIN (NO. 47, JANUARY 2010)
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http://www.iugs.org/

TRAGIC EARTHQUAKE HITS HAITI

As we were going to press with this latest IUGS e-Bulletin, a magnitude 7.0
earthquake struck Haiti, near the city of Port-au-Prince on 12 January 2010
causing immeasurable loss of life and damage to critical infrastructure. As
we usher in the year 2010, we are humbly reminded that many tragedies
around the world often relate to the dynamic nature of planet Earth. As
Earth Scientists, we all well appreciate the need to better understand the
causes of natural hazards. It is terrible and unfortunate that events such
as earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and volcanic eruptions continue to
impact such significant numbers of people around the world. Our collective
efforts through geoscience education, practical field research and
innovative studies can help to minimize the risks of natural hazards,
reduce human vulnerability and enhance the safety of the global society. On
behalf of the many geoscientists represented by the IUGS, we send our
heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the many people affected by this
recent catastrophe.

The IUGS has maintained a resolution on natural disasters

The EFG echoes the sentiments expressed by the IUGS and will keep in touch with developments in case its network of professional geologists can contribute in any practical way to the recovery and rebuilding effort

EFG DOCUMENTS IN THIS CONTEXT:

Geo-scientific Manifesto on Civil Protection against Natural Hazards, 2005

The European Federation of Geologists, with support from EuroGeoSurveys, EAGE, IUGS and World Geologists,

would like to emphasize the importance of geo-sciences in civil protection against natural hazards to policy-makers

at world, European, national, regional and local level. Together, these organisations represent the European geoscientific

community, including the community of geological hazards experts.


Final resolutioninternational geohazards conference: European Federation of Geologists and “Consiglio Nazionale dei Geologi d’Italia” (Italian National Council of Geologists), May 2007