1. Earthquakes Are we safe?

2. Problem Countries all over the world are struggling because of the destruction caused by earthquakes. The devastation from earthquakes, which cause buildings to crumble, is affecting everyone, directly or indirectly.

3. Preparation The question is: How do we prepare for earthquakes? Preparation for earthquakes can come in many forms. Improved building codes, avoiding human-caused earthquakes, and having a plan for when they earthquakes do hit are three main ways to prepare for the destruction that earthquakes bring.

4. Building Codes Many of the third world countries, such as Nepal and Haiti, are devastated by earthquakes because their building codes are not as up-to-date as many of the more developed countries. Much of the earthquake destruction and injury to people is caused by falling and crumbling buildings.

5. Human-Caused Earthquakes Many earthquakes occur because of human activity. Oil excavation, dam building, and pipe building are three main causes for earthquakes. Having less of these unnatural processes will lead to less damage by earthquakes.

6. Planning After an earthquake hits, many people are injured further because they either do not have a plan on what to do after an earthquake, or help doesn’t come quick enough to support and help the people in the earthquake. Having a quicker response from help could save lots of lives of those in the earthquake.

7. Solution If more time, people, and money would be put in to help get prepared for earthquakes, many lives could be saved from earthquakes. Building codes need to be improved in third world countries, like Nepal, so when earthquakes occur, they aren’t totally devastated. If better planning was instituted, so that when the earthquakes hit, the response teams could get there in a very efficient time to save lives. Human impact on earthquakes needs to stop. The effect that humans have, building dams, pipelines, etc., could potentially hurt the people in the region.

8. Bibliography “Earthquakes – How Safe Are We?” Africa News Service 10 June 2010. Global Issues in Context. Web. 26 May 2015 Wells, Ken, and Alyson Heimer, MA. "Earthquakes." The Gale Encyclopedia of Environmental Health. Ed. Jacqueline Longe. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2013. 245- 248. Global Issues In Context. Web. 27 May 2015.