"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Policy
Municipal Taxes For Wildfire Buffer Zones
03/04/23
“What are municipal taxes for wildfire buffer zones?”
Wildfire buffer zones can be effective at building wildfire resilience. However, these projects will also need funding. This can come in the form of Municipal Taxes For Wildfire Buffer Zones paid for by residents.
Why Metro Orgs Should Hire Engineers In-House
03/01/23
“Why should metro orgs hire engineers in-house?”
Metro orgs often don’t have the engineering personnel to build their long-term projects. However, when they outsource to a consulting firm, they run the risk of being overcharged and getting much less than they asked for. If metro orgs hire in-house instead, they can more diligently check the validity of the work being performed and have a much better performance. This is Why Metro Orgs Should Hire Engineers in House.
Why the War in Syria Has Made the Country Much More Vulnerable to Earthquakes
02/28/23
“Why has the war in Syria made the country much more vulnerable to earthquakes?”
On February 6th, 2023 Northwestern Syria was shaken to its core by a colossal earthquake. While anywhere would be affected by such force, Syria’s Civil War has made it particularly vulnerable. The relentless bombings by Russia and the Assad Regime have destroyed scores of buildings and weakened many. Millions of Syrians have been displaced and forced to live in the Northwest so they won’t face Assad’s oppression. The regime and its backers have done everything in their power to make it difficult to bring aid to the area. This is Why the War in Syria Has Made the Country Much More Vulnerable to Earthquakes.
As of writing, victims of the 2023 Türkiye – Syria earthquake are continuing to face great difficulties in their daily life. To make a difference, please make a donation to organizations such as the Syrian White Helmets and the Anatolian Arts Institute Earthquake Relief Fund. My friends are also connecting donations to small municipalities and vetted organizations through the venmo account @earthquake-relief. Anything you send will go a long way.
Wildfire Buffer Zones
02/27/23
“How can we create plant-based defensible zones for wildfires?”
Wildfires spread quickly over dead plant materials. However, by creating zones of around human spaces of fire-resistant plants, we can create defenses to prevent such spread. These Wildfire Buffer Zones are an optimal way to increase resilience to wildfires and enhance community security.
Soft Story Building Retrofits
02/26/23
“How can we retrofit soft-story buildings?”
Soft story buildings are incredibly vulnerable to earthquakes. Their weak ground floors make structural collapse easy during ground shaking. But by performing Soft Story Building Retrofits, we can strengthen the ground floor and decrease the damage potential. Governments should look into these techniques to create disaster resilience.
As of writing, victims of the 2023 Türkiye – Syria earthquake are continuing to face great difficulties in their daily life. To make a difference, please make a donation to organizations such as the Syrian White Helmets and the Anatolian Arts Institute Earthquake Relief Fund. My friends are also connecting donations to small municipalities and vetted organizations through the venmo account @earthquake-relief. Anything you send will go a long way.
Image credit optimumseismic.com
Why Soft Story Building Caused So Much Damage During the Earthquake in Türkiye
02/25/23
“Why did soft story buildings cause so much damage during the earthquake in Türkiye?”
Soft story buildings are prone to collapse and “pancake” during earthquakes. Despite Türkiye being prone to earthquake disasters, a very large percentage of its structures are soft stories. During the 1999 Izmit earthquake, it was recorded that nearly 85 – 90 percent of all damaged/collapsed buildings were soft story. Despite lessons learned from previous earthquakes, the Erdogan regime continued to build these structures in its infrastructure boom. When the 2023 earthquake came, these buildings caused tens of thousands of people to be trapped under heavy concrete. This is Why Soft Story Building Caused So Much Damage During the Earthquake in Türkiye.
Image credit bbc.co.uk
Why Continuing Military Aid to Ukraine is Necessary for Planetary Survival
02/24/23
“Why is continuing military aid to Ukraine necessary for planetary survival?”
One year has now passed since the Russian State launched its genocidal invasion of Ukraine. Since then, hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost and over 12 million people have been displaced from their homes. However, the resilience of the Ukrainian people has not stopped. The country has taken back over half of its land stolen by Russia and has become a beacon to democracy ever.
Authoritarian leaders see Ukraine as a threat. If Russia is stopped, then invasions for territory will stay unpopular and absolute rule will be seen as inferior to fair and equal treatment of citizens. While many are beginning to have second thoughts about sending weapons, it’s important to step back and consider Why Continuing Military Aid to Ukraine is Necessary for Planetary Survival.
As a proud descendant of Jews from Odesa, I urge you to please do what you can to help Ukrainians under invasion right now here.
Why Earthquake Planners Should Consider Aftershocks
02/20/23
“Why should earthquake planners consider aftershocks?”
Earthquakes are made much more dangerous with aftershocks. Infrastructure that may have affected survived the first round of shaking will be decimated by the next. If earthquake planners take aftershocks into account, cities can avoid much of the pain associated with these events. Possible implementations include designing buildings to withstand earthquakes far beyond what is expected and incorporating redundancy in edifice design. This is Why Earthquake Planners Should Consider Aftershocks.
As of writing, victims of the 2023 Türkiye – Syria earthquake are continuing to face great difficulties in their daily life. To make a difference, please make a donation to organizations such as the Syrian White Helmets and the Anatolian Arts Institute Earthquake Relief Fund. My friends are also connecting donations to small municipalities and vetted organizations through the venmo account @earthquake-relief. Anything you send will go a long way.
Why The 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes Are Leaving Scores of People Homeless
02/19/23
“Why are the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes Leaving Scores of People Homeless?”
The 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes have demolished much of the built environments in both countries. Many people are now forced to find shelter because their homes have been shaken to the ground. This has been a feature of past earthquakes in Türkiye. In 1999, the Izmit Earthquake left over a quarter-million people homeless. This is Why The 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes Are Leaving Scores of People Homeless.
As of writing, victims of the 2023 Türkiye – Syria earthquake are continuing to face great difficulties in their daily life. To make a difference, please make a donation to organizations such as the Syrian White Helmets and the Anatolian Arts Institute Earthquake Relief Fund. My friends are also connecting donations to small municipalities and vetted organizations through the venmo account @earthquake-relief. Anything you send will go a long way.
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