Chicago, U.S.A - Aon Benfield, the global reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor of Aon plc, has released the latest edition of its Global Catastrophe Recap report, which reviews the natural disaster perils that occurred worldwide during May.

Published by Impact Forecasting, the firm’s catastrophe model development center of excellence, the report reveals that two earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks struck northern Italy within a nine-day period, killing 25 people, injuring more than 400 others and causing extensive damage to the cultural heritage throughout the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, in addition to businesses and personal property.

An initial, combined economic loss estimate from both tremors stood at EUR5 billion (USD6.25 billion), following significant damage in the provinces of Modena, Ferrara, Reggio Emilia, Rovigo and Mantua.

In Asia, severe and prolonged periods of rain impacted China throughout the month, affecting at least 22 provinces and killing at least 102 people.

According to China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA), at least 143,000 homes were damaged or destroyed during one prolonged event. More than 949,400 hectares (2.34 million acres) of cropland were also affected, contributing to a total economic loss listed at CNY16.88 billion (USD2.68 billion).

Meanwhile, powerful thunderstorms struck eastern Japan, resulting in high winds and tornadoes that killed at least three people, injured 59 others, and damaged more than 1,845 buildings in six separate prefectures.

Steve Jakubowski, President of Impact Forecasting, said: “The Italian earthquakes resulted in the largest natural disaster loss for the country since the L’Aquila earthquake event in 2009. The seismic activity was not unexpected, as Italy has long been recognised as a region exposed to the possibility of significant earthquake activity. Given the level of insurance coverage in the region, it is anticipated that insured losses would reach minimally into the hundreds of millions of dollars (USD). However, it remains too early to determine how negligible re/insurance losses may be from this event.”

In the United States, two periods of severe weather impacted central and eastern sections of the country; the first causing widespread hail and wind damage from the Dakotas to Maryland, resulting in an economic loss estimated at USD275 million, and more than 30,000 insurance claims valued atUSD150 million. A secondary severe weather outbreak across the central and eastern U.S. at the end of the month spawned significant damage as well. According to a preliminary report from the South-western Insurance Information Service, insured losses in Oklahoma alone were estimated at USD400 million.

Tropical Storm Beryl made landfall near Jacksonville Beach, Florida at peak intensity with 70 mph (110 kph) winds but did not cause any significant damage, injuries or fatalities.

And wildfires burned in several U.S. states during the month, including the largest fire ever recorded in New Mexico.

Excessive rainfall affected areas of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec in May. In Thunder Bay, at least 1,100 homes were damaged as well as businesses and infrastructure, and flood damage with a 100-year return period was recorded in Montreal, where personal property and infrastructure were widely affected.

Additional flood events were recorded in Nepal, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Cuba, Georgia, Brazil and Venezuela.

The article Deadly Natural Disasters Cost Society Millions appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

South America is facing the worst wave of press censorship since the authoritarian military dictatorships of the 1970′s. Several leaders of Latin American countries have introduced mechanisms to censor the freedom of speech and freedom of the press of their citizens.

Journalists working for media organizations are protected under article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states, “Freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers.” This is a fundamental right that gives the ability to have opinions and write about them without having to worry about whether journalists will get into trouble for what they believe.

However, some countries are taking a step backward in regard to free speech, especially in Latin America. According to FORO Nacional Internacional, “Repression and open threats have come from national and sub-national governments and even from criminal organizations. Moreover, the persistence of such pressures often results in media self-censorship, as they abstain from disseminating political views that are critical of powerful government or private interests.”

Human Rights Watch published last year how Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez undermined journalistic freedom of speech. Chavez officially removed the licenses of 32 private radio stations and 2 television channels in 2009 for “technical and administrative reasons.”

Nicaragua is the best example of the reasons behind the desire to limit freedom of speech in many Latin American countries. President Daniel Ortega has forced all private media companies to join a guild that is associated with his Sandinista Party, but few media businesses are still resisting Ortega’s proposal. Ortega limits what type of information is received by his citizens.

Freedom of expression is fragile in Colombia because it is threatened by state and non-state factions, such as the left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) guerrilla group and the “Black Eagles,” a paramilitary band.

Catalina Botero, special rapporteur for freedom of expression at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), said to a newspaper in 2010 that “death threats, stigmatization, and spying on journalists by state agencies had led the country to a red alert status.”

Reporters Without Borders (RWB) cited that four journalists have been killed since the start of 2010 in Colombia in connection with their journalistic work. RWB mentioned that, in 2011, the Black Eagles made a campaign threatening the life of five journalists: Hollman Morris (Contravía), Daniel Coronell (Univisión), Marcos Perales (Portada), Claudia Julieta (Radio Nizkor), and Eduardo Márquez, the president of the Colombian Federation of Journalists (FECOLPER). These professionals media activities were spied on and hacked by Colombia’s leading intelligence agency and the Administrative Department of Security which involved the Colombian President Álvaro Uribe with this scandal.

Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries to work as a journalist. Despite the fact that Mexican President Felipe Calderón promised a number of international press monitors in 2010 and a new program to guarantee safety conditions for journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) found that these measures did not work.

According to the CPJ, seven journalists and one media worker were killed in 2011. A total of 80 journalists have been murdered since 2000, and 14 have disappeared since 2003. Even social media as an alternative for journalists to shed light on democracy is threatened by Mexican cartels. For instance, social media journalist Macías Castro was killed last year for her anonymous story on the drug war through social media.

Cuba does not let any independent press operate outside the control of the state. The official media (one television channel, one radio station and two dailies are the official channels to serve propaganda for the regime with just a few Catholic magazines being tolerated. Many Cuban journalists have been forced to publish from Miami and Spain against the regimen.

In general, by monitoring the media, the South American governments have control over all aspects of their citizens’ lives. Governments are able to stop any reports that show the real facts of politicians and is even capable of getting the media to publish false election results to keep the status quo. Censorship is a tyranny mechanism whose practice limits the freedom of speech instead of promoting a real democracy in Latin America.

Image Courtesy of  The Israel Project

The article Freedom of Expression Kidnapped in South America appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Surfing is one of the oldest and most physically demanding sports in the world. With origins in Hawaii, surfing has grown into an internationally famous sport and has produced a large surf culture. The energizing adrenaline rush often experienced while surfing is exactly what surfers travel the world to discover.

World class surfing destinations have sprouted up in famous places, as well as overlooked parts of the world. One of the legendary surfing locations in the world is right on the islands where the sport took shape. The North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii is often considered to be one of the most dangerous, but optimal surfing locations in the surfing world.

The constant presence of unique waves ranging from 3 to 10 feet allow for surf enthusiasts to challenge themselves on large waves. The North Shore is host to the Triple Crown of Surfing, which includes the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing, Billabong Pipeline Masters and Reef Hawaiian Pro. Professional surfers from around the world convene on the North Shore every December for these events.

Located at Ehukai Beach is the world renowned Banzai Pipeline, an elusive wave that is the epitome of extreme surfing. It is known to be a very dangerous wave and only the most skillful surfers dare to challenge its waves. Experiencing the waves on the North Shore is highly recommended for advanced surfers and is often considered to be the best spot in the world for the sport.

The tropical waters of French Polynesia are also a highly desired surfing location. Teahupo’o, located in Tahiti, is an area surfers travel to in search of the perfect wave. Waves in Teahupo’o usually reach upwards of 10 feet and provide consistent conditions for the sport. It is the site of the Billabong Pro Tahiti surfing competition and constantly attracts professionals.

Teahupo’o is known for its extreme barrels and like the waves on the North Shore of Hawaii, are dangerous for even the most professional surfers. Chasing these severe waves has become a drivingforce for those who travel to Teahupo’o, often having to be towed in to these waves just to ride them.

The Central American countries of Costa Rica and Nicaragua have been steadily climbing the favorability ladder in terms of being an optimal surfing destinations. Costa Rica has many spots where surfers can enjoy the ocean, including Jaco, Tamarindo, and Hermosa. The beaches and waves are easily accessible from these coastal towns and surf schools have emerged in these areas.

There are over 700 miles of beach to choose from in Costa Rica, making it one of the most desirable surfing destinations. Nicaragua offers prime year round surfing conditions and consistently warm waters. In contrast with neighboring Costa Rica, Nicaragua offers more secluded beaches and less crowded waves.

The Popoyo Surf Lodge on Playa Guasacate is the first surf camp established in Nicaragua and continues to be a favorite. Surfers are constantly in search for increasingly difficult waves to provide an adrenaline rush. Sleepy coastal communities around the world have exploded in popularity because of their proximity and direct access to some of the most favorable surf conditions.

With waves rising well over 10 feet, areas in Hawaii, Tahiti, Central America, are just some of the world renowned surfing destinations.

 
Mana Photo / Shutterstock.com

The article World Class Surfing Destinations appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.