"More than 238,000 people lost their lives to natural catastrophes and man-made disasters in 2008 – the fourth largest number of deaths since 1970.

"While the total cost to society was USD 225 billion, USD 50 billion was covered by property insurance, making 2008 the second costliest year ever in terms of insured losses.

"In early May, tropical cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar, killing 138,400 people, setting off one of the largest humanitarian crises in recent memory.

"Later in May, a devastating earthquake measuring 7.9 magnitude shook China’s Sichuan region, killing 87,400 people and leaving over 10 million homeless. Most of the losses from these two events were not insured."

Full Article

What is considered a manmade disaster?

War? Terrorism? Or just accidents?

Many people are probably never even accounted for in these disasters in some countries, as their governments may have never known they even existed (or cared).

What is the cost of rebuilding a mud hut in eastern China in USD?

Need more.


Need more deaths here in the states.

Forget Grinch, we have the Grim Reaper here.

Hey they're killing people with ACID in India if you want to go!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7270568.stm

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Ya. I remember that control the world population bullshit they spewed in the olden days. Population conscious Americans should try to slow the population growth by having 2.5 kids per family instead of the 6,10,12, 14, 18 or 20 kid families. Now we have 325 million people in this country. All the kids we stopped having were made up for by people of all backgrounds crashing our borders or the leg spreading underpriviliged bored stiff tweeners who couldn't afford video games so instead played bury the joystick. I often feel that epidemics, natural disasters and war have an important place in population reduction. Yes I realize it could happen to me. I gave 5 years of my life that it might have happened to me. It didn't and now your all stuck with me. Ha, ha, ha, ha !!!

Geez, it's like a rerun episode of Care Bears in here.

Kevin, the issue is people having a liter of kids all at once, or having 6 or more. is there really any need for more than 2? People live a long time now.

We don't have a resource problem as some people claim. Look at the amount of usable water/food/etc. We have a people problem. Way to many people.

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Judging by that story and some of the responses here, it tends to dash any hope that humanity will ever survive itself.

They interviewed these people on the local news this morning:

http://www.hollywoodtoday.net/2008/12 ... mily-welcomes-18th-child/

It was very apparent they were simply attention whores and trying to sell their book.

In this counry they just shoot them, run them over, drown them in the tub. Much more humane than an acid attack.


I heard Mrs Duggar say that each child is a gift from God. Look out; Here comes your husband with another present.

"Now we have 325 million people in this country. All the kids we stopped having were made up for by people of all backgrounds crashing our borders or the leg spreading underpriviliged bored stiff tweeners who couldn't afford video games so instead played bury the joystick."

LOL, so you know my brother-in-law. the tweener that is.

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I've never seen a liter of kids, but I did find a 2 liter of kids.

Matthew

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He said joystick. Uh...huh huh huh.



Matthew