This is just interesting....

Winter conditions in Wisconsin and Minnesota for the weekend snow storm:

Pakistan Monsoon Victims Receiving Little Aid

After a magnitude 7 earthquake hit Pakistan last January, the country's 20 million effected have suffered due to little assistance. Reasoning behind this includes the corrupt government situation in the country. Also, in this economic era, countries are having issues helping each other out with aid after environmental hazard events. These are two of the important factors for recovery after a hazard event. If a governing body isn't stable, it can't provide the assistance and leadership needed to help affected citizens. The other factor is financial. If there isn't enough money fast enough after the disaster, then recovery slows down even further.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/08/18/pakistan.aid.flow/index.html?iref=obnetwork

Largest Snowfall in Decades hits the Twin Cities

Snow may not be the standard type of environmental hazard, but I think it could be considered as one. The combination of snow and cold temperature can be quite damaging to our environment, especially as humans. If we aren't prepared for the weather, death is a scary possibility. It's a natural occurring event that forces us to adapt or leave ourselves at risk for damaging effects.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40169437/ns/weather/

Throat of Fire Erupts

A volcano named Tungurahua, or Throat of Fire, erupted in the country of Ecuador. The volcano has erupted periodically since 1999. Ecuador's National Agency of Risk Control alerted citizens in time of Tungurahua's activity and no one was injured. This event is a good example of how people can endure environmental hazards if there is a hazard plan in place. The agency had the proper technology to know what was happening with this fiery hazard.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/12/04/ecuador.volcano/index.html

Update on Israeli Forest fire...

The Jewish National Fund has proposed replanting trees in the forest areas damaged by the recent four day fire. Donations from around the world continue to pour in for this cause. The small amount of forest Israel has in their country is extremely important to national pride. On the other hand, forestry experts state that the land should be allowed to regenerate itself. They back this claim up by saying that the fires help enhance the soil and lead to greater biodiversity development later. For now, it has been decided to wait a year for nature to take its own course.

I think the smarter decision to make is to let the forest redevelop on its own. If we has humans continue to interrupt the natural recovery systems of the environment, there will be more damage in the future.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40590433/ns/world_news-world_environment/

Island State's Existence Threatened?

This article discusses a scenario that happens in the movies. The Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean are threatened by the rising water level. This threat is very possible and could be happening this very moment. Water levels are starting the split the main island in two. Residents of the island are raising questions about the entire Islands' existence. Will an entire nation of people lose their, well, nation? If a country is swallowed by the ocean, will it still be recognized as well the its' people? These questions lead to many political and ethical considerations in the environmental hazard world. First of all, there aren't any solid laws regarding a nation/state's disappearance due to climate change. Second of all, these people's rights don't seem to have as much protection because with the island, their established governing body will also disappear. One of the main ingredients for surviving a hazard event is having an established government body to maintain order. With this island sinking below the ocean, everything literally disappears.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40534684/ns/us_news-environment/

145 Feared Dead in Colombian Landslide

As a result of El Nino weather effects, Colombia has been dealing with torrential downpour throughout the area. This downpour caused massive landslides to occur. Twenty three bodies have been recovered, but 100 are feared trapped or dead. A few residents of the area claimed that this was a previously known risk. As a country that regularly deals with landslides, the residents of this incident were underneath a large pile of dirt and rubble. The governing body didn't do anything to reduce the risk, and now the people are suffering large amounts of loss.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40526997/ns/weather/