Can you stop a disaster? ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Summary

In this BBC Learning English episode, hosts Beth and Neil discuss the paradoxical case of Roy Sullivan, a park ranger struck by lightning seven times, and the broader issue of natural disasters. With climate change exacerbating the situation, they explore the notion that disasters are not just 'natural' but can be mitigated. Experts like Lucy Easthope argue against fatalism, emphasizing our ability to prevent additional harm. The show highlights technological and low-tech solutions, such as Bangladesh's cyclone warning system, which has drastically reduced deaths. The episode also teaches relevant vocabulary, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and community efforts in disaster management.

Takeaways

• 🌩️ Roy Sullivan, a US park ranger, was struck by lightning seven times and survived, illustrating the unpredictability of natural events.
• 🌍 Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and cyclones have caused over half a million deaths globally in the last decade.
• 🔍 The year 2023 saw at least sixty thousand deaths due to earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, highlighting the severity of recent disasters.
• 🌡️ Climate change and increasing populations are predicted to exacerbate the frequency and impact of natural disasters in the future.
• 🏞️ Floods and droughts have historically caused the most human deaths, but climate change introduces new threats.
• 🤔 Contrary to common belief, Professor Lucy Easthope argues that calling disasters 'natural' is a mistake as it implies a sense of fatalism and helplessness.
• 🏗️ There are ways to mitigate the damage caused by disasters, such as improving infrastructure and implementing early warning systems.
• 📈 Bangladesh has dramatically reduced cyclone deaths by a hundred-fold through a new monitoring and alert system.
• 🚴‍♂️ A low-tech solution in Bangladesh involves people on bicycles with megaphones to warn communities about approaching cyclones.
• 🛑 Evacuation is a critical process of moving people from dangerous areas to safety during a disaster.
• 🏠 The concept of 'livelihood' refers to jobs or work that provide the means to acquire necessities for living.

Q & A

Who was Roy Sullivan and why was he considered either extremely lucky or unlucky?

Roy Sullivan was a US park ranger who was struck by lightning seven different times and survived them all. His situation made him either the luckiest for surviving so many strikes or the unluckiest for being struck so often.

What is the estimated global death toll from natural disasters in the last decade?

In the last decade, an estimated half a million people have died globally due to natural disasters.

What natural disaster in 2023 caused a significant number of deaths in Turkey and Syria?

In 2023, at least sixty thousand people died after earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

What does Professor Lucy Easthope believe about the term 'natural disaster'?

Professor Lucy Easthope believes that describing disasters as 'natural' is a mistake because it implies a sense of fatalism and hopelessness, suggesting that people are powerless to change events.

What does the term 'fatalism' mean in the context of natural disasters?

Fatalism in the context of natural disasters refers to the belief that people are powerless to change the way things happen, implying that disasters are inevitable and unavoidable.

What is one technological solution mentioned to identify places at risk of natural disasters?

One technological solution mentioned is using computers to map geological movements to identify places at risk of natural disasters.

How has Bangladesh significantly reduced cyclone deaths?

Bangladesh has seen a hundred-fold decrease in cyclone deaths since the introduction of its new monitoring and alert system.

What is one low-tech solution that has been effective in reducing cyclone deaths?

One low-tech solution involves people on bicycles shouting warnings about approaching cyclones into a megaphone to alert people in danger zones.

What is the purpose of the shelters built in Bangladesh as part of their disaster preparedness?

The shelters in Bangladesh are built to protect everyone, including children, the old and sick, and even animals, so that they can safely return to their livelihoods after a cyclone.

Which natural disaster is most responsible for human deaths according to the script?

Earthquakes are the natural disaster most responsible for human deaths, as mentioned in the script.

What does the term 'within your grasp' mean?

If something is within your grasp, it means it is very likely that you will achieve it, suggesting that there are actions that can be taken to prevent or mitigate the effects of natural disasters.