Southern California was hit by a 5.4-magnitude earthquake Tuesday that rattled nerves and got people thinking about how much more prepared they need to be before the “Big One” that scientists have long feared finally hits.
The quake, which caused only limited damage and minor injuries, rocked the region from Los Angeles to San Diego and served as a reminder of the invisible seismic danger lurking beneath the ground.
But as strong a jolt as it was, Tuesday’s quake had only about one percent of the energy of the deadly magnitude-6.7 Northridge earthquake that toppled bridges and buildings in 1994, experts say.
Still, the less powerful quake was strong enough to hit headlines across the nation and get Californians vowing to step up their emergency preparations.
“People have forgotten, I think, what earthquakes feel like,” Caltech seismologist Kate Hutton told The Associated Press. “So I think we should probably look at it as an earthquake drill.”
Tuesday’s temblor certainly mobilized a number of Californians to take a closer look at how they’ve set up their environments, prompting many to secure free-standing bookshelves, begin stocking up on non-perishable foods, or check on the availability of flashlights, candles, and radios in their homes.
What spurred less action was news just two weeks earlier that nearly one in four public high school students in California dropped out in the 2006-07 school year.
Should it have?
Also, on the same day that the quake hit, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously on a one-year ban on new fast-food restaurants in a poor neighborhood of the city battling higher-than-average obesity.
The ban was approved at a time when governments of all levels are increasingly viewing menus as a matter of public health. Last Friday, California became the first state in the nation to bar trans fats, which lowers levels of good cholesterol and increases bad cholesterol.
The quake and fast-food ban also comes one week after the Los Angeles City Council decided to outlaw plastic bags in two years to minimize cleanup costs for the city and reduce trash that collects in storm drains and the Los Angeles River.
So …? How are all these seemingly unrelated news items tied together?
Well, when it comes to protecting the physical health of its citizens and its patch of the earth, the people of California are pioneers.
Now, imagine if Californians did the opposite – voting against a moratorium for new fast-food restaurants, allowing trans fats to be readily available, and allowing plastic bags that could be a threat to the environment.
Liberal lawmakers and activists would likely shudder at the thought. Why? Because they feel such bans are necessary and can potentially protect the health of the people and the health of the planet. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
What’s wrong, however, is the fact that a large number of Californians are failing to see that the society it hopes to make healthier is in jeopardy because of unseen cancers – harmful agents that are being opposed by weak efforts, no efforts, or even garnering support.
Without much difficulty, many can see the relationship between fast-food, trans-fat, and obesity – whether through scientific findings or personal belief or observation. Also observable is a relationship between recycling and pollution. Continue >>
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