Bolsonaro presidential decree grants sweeping powers over NGOs in Brazil

January 2, 2019

By Gabriel Stargardter

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Brazil’s new President Jair Bolsonaro has used an executive order to give his government secretary potentially far-reaching and restrictive powers over non-governmental organizations working in Brazil.

The temporary decree, which will expire unless it is ratified within 120 days by Congress, mandates that the office of the Government Secretary, Carlos Alberto Dos Santos Cruz, “supervise, coordinate, monitor and accompany the activities and actions of international organizations and non-governmental organizations in the national territory.”

The order, signed late on Tuesday, is part of a raft of measures the far-right Bolsonaro administration implemented on its first day in power.

Jose Miguel Vivanco, director of the Americas division of Human Rights Watch, said the decree on NGOs could be viewed in a positive light, but also expressed concerns.

“If the purpose of the measure were to facilitate a constructive relationship between international civil society groups and the government at its highest level, it would be a welcome step,” he said.

“However, what strikes me is the use of the terms ‘supervise’ and ‘monitor’, which suggest a fundamental lack of understanding of the independent role that these entities play in any open and democratic society.”

The decree did not give reasons for the change, but Bolsonaro said on Twitter that NGOs had “exploited and manipulated” the country’s indigenous population of about 900,000.

“Let us together integrate these citizens and value all Brazilians,” he wrote.

The president’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bolsonaro is a former army captain and his cabinet is full of former high-ranking military officials – including Santos Cruz, a retired general.

Brazil’s military has long considered that the rich resources of the vast, sparsely-populated Amazon should be protected from any foreign interest.

Environmental and rights groups were already upset by the new government’s decision to give the agriculture ministry power over indigenous land rights decisions, and the latest move risks causing further tension with such groups.

A longtime member of Congress, Bolsonaro said at his inauguration on Tuesday that his election had freed the country from “socialism and political correctness.”

(Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter, additional reporting by Brad Brooks, editing by Rosalba O’Brien)

The Air Force’s ‘Laser’ Future: Firing Laser Weapons from F-35s, F-15s and C-130s?

Lasers for everyone in the Air Force? We take a look…

The Air Force will one day fire high-tech laser weapons from drones and fighter jets to destroy high-value targets, conduct precision strikes and incinerate enemy locations from the sky.

The first airborne tests are expected to take place by 2021, Air Force officials have said. The developmental efforts are focused on increasing the power, precision and guidance of existing laser weapon applications with the hope of moving from 10-kilowatts up to 100 kilowatts. Air Force weapons developers are also working on the guidance mechanisms to enable laser weapons to stay on-track on a particular target.

Air Force leaders have said that the service plans to begin firing laser weapons from larger platforms such as C-17s and C-130s until technological miniaturization efforts can configure the weapon to fire from fighter jets such as an F-15, F-16 or F-35. Given the state of current technology, cargo planes are better equipped in the short term to transport the requisite amount of mobile on-board power needed for airborne lasers.

The Air Force Research Laboratory is already working on a program to develop laser weapons for drones and manned aircraft to arm air platforms by the mid-2020s. When it comes to drone-fired lasers, there does not yet appear to be a timetable for when they would be operational weapons – however weapons technology of this kind is moving quickly.

Future laser weapons could substantially complement existing ordnance or drone-fired weapons such as a Hellfire missile. Laser weapons allow for an alternative method of destroying targets, rapid succession of fire, reduced expenditure of dollars and, quite possibly, increased precision, service officials have explained. For instance, a key advantage of using laser weapons would include an ability to melt or incinerate an incoming missile or enemy target without necessarily causing an explosion.

A 2016 Air Force Research Laboratory report, called “Speed of Light to the Fight by 2020,” details how laser weapons can be used to deliver “scalable” effects. These include ways a 30kW laser can create “denial, degradation, disruption and destruction from UAS (drones) to small boats at a range of several kilometers,” the report states.

“More powerful lasers have counter-air, counter-ground, and counter-sea applications against a host of hardened military equipment and vehicles at significant range,” the AFRL report writes.

A Congressional Research Service report from earlier this year on Directed Energy Programs, also details some of the key advantages and limitations of fast-evolving laser weapons.

“DE (directed energy) could be used as both a sensor and a weapon, thereby shortening the sensor-to-shooter timeline to seconds. This means that U.S. weapon systems could conduct multiple engagements against a target before an adversary could respond,” the Congressional report states.

Lasers also bring the substantial advantage of staying ahead of the “cost curve,” making them easier to use repeatedly. In many instances, low-cost lasers could destroy targets instead of expensive interceptor missiles. Furthermore, mobile-power technology, targeting algorithms, beam control and thermal management technologies are all progressing quickly, a scenario which increases prospects for successful laser applications.

At the same time, the Congressional report also points out some basic constraints or challenges associated with laser weapons. Laser weapons can suffer from “beam attenuation, limited range and an ability to be employed against non-line-of-sight targets,” the report says.

The AFRL report reinforces this, explaining that laser weapons need to enable precise timing, tracking and pointing amidst the aero-mechanical jitter induced by vibrations during flight.

The essay also mentions the importance of engineering light-weight exportable electrical power sufficient to support a fighter-jet mounted weapon. Temperature, the report says, is also of great significance.

“System temperature much be controlled via the dissipation of wast, heat and high-speed aerodynamic flow must be mitigated to avoid aero-optical disturbances,” the AFRL document writes.

Ground testing of a laser weapon called the High Energy Laser, or HEL, has been underway at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., service officials said. The High Energy Laser tests are being conducted by the Air Force Directed Energy Directorate, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

The service is now pursuing two concurrent laser-weapons programs; the Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) is designed to prepare airborne lasers and the Demonstrator Laser Weapon System (DLWS) is geared toward ground-fired weapons.

Given the complexity of laser weapons integration, the AFRL report details a three-pronged approach to development; the phased approach begins with subsystems engineering, then moves toward low-power laser testing and them conduct extensive air and ground tests.

Another advantage of lasers is an ability to use a much more extended magazine for weapons. Instead of flying with six or seven missiles on or in an aircraft, a directed energy weapons system could fire thousands of shots using a single gallon of jet fuel, Air Force experts explained.

“The total number of shots they can fire is limited only by the fuel available to drive the electrical power source,” the AFRL report says.

Kris Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army – Acquisition, Logistics& Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist for National TV networks. He has a Masters degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.

This first appeared in Warrior Maven here.

Coping: Water Heaters – A Hidden Alzheimer’s Risk?

As I have mentioned previously, both Elaine and I decided in 2018 to get our DNA testing done.  While there are lots of “privacy issues” claimed, we believed that the potential benefits outweighed the risks by a good margin.

For example, I now know that my body metabolizes certain drugs faster (and some slower) than normal.  This may not seem like a “big deal” except that as one passes 70, you begin to look for ways to stack the odds in your favor for when treatment for (whatever) becomes necessary.  We will have plenty of privacy when the worms show up.

Knowing I have a different metabolism for a common blood thinner (warfarin) could be extremely useful for my doctor to know.  As a result, the DNA screen for drug sensitivities is now part of my medical records.

We also got some unwanted news as part of the process:  Both Elaine and I have an identical gene that raises our risk of Alzheimer’s disease.  No, we don’t have it.  It’s just that knowing we have a slightly elevated risk has spurred us to a very high-level of awareness and prevention.

The first thing we did was begin to follow the recommendations laid out the book “The End of Alzheimer’s: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline.”  $19-bucks at Amazon.

The book’s guidelines are not too difficult to follow.  The two big highlights for us included first changing over to cooking with coconut oil which you can even find with butter-flavor on Amazon. See: Franklin’s Gourmet Popcorn Butter Flavored Coconut Oil – 30 oz. Tub – Top Rated, Delicious, Healthy, Zero Trans Fat – Gluten Free/Vegan & NO Junky Ingredients – Best Movie Theater Taste – Made in USA).  Toss down a couple of coconut oil pills (or MCT oil) and that may help.

Another key point of the book is your body really needs to cycle between food and not.  So, we make it a practice now to eat around 5 PM and then not eat again until 8 AM the following day.  No snacks or TV popcorn. That’s in keeping with the 12-14 hours recommended in the book.

But we haven’t stopped there.  The next thing we looked at is the amount of soy in our diets.  The reason – if you look at the government’s amazing health research site (https://pubmed.gov ) you can find two sides to the intake of soy.

On the one hand, here’s a paper pointing to “A possible cause of Alzheimer‘s dementia – industrial soy foods. But, when you read other research, like Amyloid-degrading ability of nattokinase from Bacillus subtilis natto, the idea came to us that supplementing with nattokinase -might not be a bad thing.

Then there was Attenuation of neurobehavioral and neurochemical abnormalities in animal model of cognitive deficits of Alzheimer‘s disease by fermented soybean nanonutraceutical, that grabbed our attention, as well.  Naturally fermented soy sauce, anyone?

There was one other supplement – and I’ve mentioned it before – serrapeptase.  this may be useful if I am reading “Serrapeptase and nattokinase intervention for relieving Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology in rat model” correctly.

There is a lot more background on serrapeptase available, but it’s not widely publicized to the non-medical community that serrapeptase is correctly called serratiopeptidase.  And when comes to that, as of five years ago in “Serratiopeptidase: A systematic review of the existing evidence,” it was judged that not enough data was in.

Notwithstanding, since we also take turmeric as a supplement, more recent papers like “Co-delivery of curcumin and serratiopeptidase in HeLa and MCF-7 cells through nanoparticles show improved anti-cancer activity.” but serratiopepditase is not a be-all, end-all wonder supplement,  While on the one hand we read about it’s role in “Serratiopeptidase: a well-known metalloprotease with a new non-proteolytic activity against S. aureus biofilm” there are downsides as well depending on condition such as that described in “Serratiopeptidase – A Cause for Spread of Infection.

With our perpetual remind that THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE.  ASK YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING ANYTHING! the third “leg of the milkstool” we’ve decided on is turmeric because of its curcumin levels.  Which becomes clear when you review papers like “Curcumin in Combination with Anti-Cancer Drugs: A Nanomedicine Review.

Sure,.this seems a bit far afield from Alzheimer’s prevention, but it’s to give you a sense of the depth of our studies.  We also know there are plenty of cannabinol anti-cancer papers, too.  Which is why the US government patented certain compounds in weed back in 2003.  Flip over to the https://uspto.gov site and search Patent 6630507 for details.

Tons of background, but we pay a lot of attention to our health on the theory in Life, “You must be present to win.”

Which now gets us to your Water Heater and questioning whether it is an unindicted/hidden cause of Alzheimer’s increase?

Let me begin with a small citation:  A 2011 paper on PubMed asks the critical question: “Aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease: after a century of controversy, is there a plausible link?”  The part that made us sit up and take notice was this, knowing that (AL) means aluminum and (AD) means Alzheimer’s disease…:

…the role of Al in AD has been heavily disputed based on the following claims: 1) bioavailable Al cannot enter the brain in sufficient amounts to cause damage, 2) excess Al is efficiently excreted from the body, and 3) Al accumulation in neurons is a consequence rather than a cause of neuronal loss. Research, however, reveals that: 1) very small amounts of Al are needed to produce neurotoxicity and this criterion is satisfied through dietary Al intake, 2) Al sequesters different transport mechanisms to actively traverse brain barriers, 3) incremental acquisition of small amounts of Al over a lifetime favors its selective accumulation in brain tissues, and 4) since 1911, experimental evidence has repeatedly demonstrated that chronic Al intoxication reproduces neuropathological hallmarks of AD. Misconceptions about Al bioavailability may have misled scientists regarding the significance of Al in the pathogenesis of AD. The hypothesis that Al significantly contributes to AD is built upon very solid experimental evidence and should not be dismissed. Immediate steps should be taken to lessen human exposure to Al, which may be the single most aggravating and avoidable factor related to AD.

A view of the latest PubMed articles offers a couple of tons of reading:

Wait!  What does the home water heater have to do with (AL) potentially causing (or potentiating) presentation of Alzheimer’s or Alzheimer’s-like symptoms?

You need to be aware that most water heaters employ a sacrificial anode in them. The sacrificial anode dissolves, “sacrificing” itself so the steel tank walls don’t leak.  Extends the product life for the tank and that’s a good thing..Or, is it?

Here’s the Catch: Care to guess what sacrificial anodes are typically made of to keep down costs?  Yes!  Aluminum!. Or, a mix of Aluminum and Zinc. Study this part of Wikipedia explaining the role of the sacrificial metal

“Sacrificial metals are widely used to prevent other metals from rusting, for example galvanised steel. Most of the steel object is coated with a layer of zinc, which is more electronegative than the iron, preventing it from rusting. Similarly, sacrificial bars of a metal such as magnesium can be attached to an oil rig or the hull of a ship to prevent it from rusting and breaking down. “

BUT!  Here’s the catch (and missing from the Wiki entry!):  Magnesium sacrificial anodes cost more than aluminum anodes.  So, on Amazon for example, you will find products like “Aluminum Zinc Hex Head Flexible Anode Rod Stops Rotten Egg Smelly Water! ”

Do they give Alzheimer’s?

We went to PubMed to see if all the smart people in science have asked the obvious.  Show us papers with the search terms “aluminum sacrificial anode alzheimer’s “.    Know what came back?

This is why we quit using hot water for everything but dish-washing a long while back.  If a recipe calls for hot water, I get water from the cold-water (double filtered) from the fridge door and microwave it.  We do NOT drink hot water from the tap!!!

Again, we are NOT offering any health advice here.  Just passing on our personal health-maintenance research and revealing a potentially invisible source of elevated aluminum levels that may act as a trigger if you have a previous genetic predisposition.0

If you click here, Amazon has a wide variety of magnesium anodes available.  Just remember to turn off the water AND power before messing with the anode change-out.  Exposing heating elements to air has a way of burning them out…so always pull the power when a water heater could drain as from a water leak and so forth.

We hope you find this a worthy topic for future personal research and again – this is not medical advice,.  Talk to your healthcare professional!  Oh, and consider passing it along to your friends with the caveat those UrbanSurvival.com people do come up with some far-fetched views now and then…

Now, Your Christmas Present!

Yes, the Chjronicle Project is alive, although very low-key.  Here’s the latest from Chris Tyreman and the researchers who are doing a retranslation/rethink of the Bible:

“Hey George, season’s greetings from the chronicle project. I know people have been wondering why no updates in SOOOO long.  The answer, is so we could focus on what we are here to do, and that’s to complete the restoration of the O.T. or the Tanakh as we call it.  But for you…here’s something fun.

If you attend any classes regarding the old testament, you are sure to be told that the books contained in that section, are historical at best, and more often metaphorical.  Sadly we never question if this is true, because the translations seem very convoluted at best.

We are told that Daniel was written after the fact, as it is too accurate and we have no copies older than about 300 BC to prove them wrong.  But what if they are wrong.  What if the truth has been hidden to make us believe that the information contained within these books is to be ignored.

What happens if you apply the SDH rules of restoring Hebrew to something like snips from the book of Joel?

So here’s your Christmas present.  You might want to look up the bible version and then compare it to the below restoration of the same section. See if it even looks the same

The words in parenthesis are our fill ins.  the writers expect the reader to know this by context, but we added it for first timers and to help that context.  You might also note that the verses are split in the wrong places in order to create the bible translation.  we have corrected that as you will see the … dots connecting the lines of verse:

Chapter 1 Book of Joel

1:6 Thus a nation shall ascend to mount my earth, a tree, being those.  And (it shall) be preparing a pair, that to recount.  A pair (by a specific) lion.   And that (lion) shall proceed toward (you) to bend toward being, toward to bring to…

1:7 …(this) location (you) my vine toward there.  And my fig tree (shall be brought) toward, a fragment, a cleaned away strip.  And the (Lion) shall place your (people) the (Jews) toward (there), to be discerning between (the two strips) to delegate ( the) turn over.

1:8 Approach this being retained (by England), draw to (it), engulf (it), pour out to upon (it). Own, (what was) therefore stirred up to materialize (the return to Zion).

1:9 The (Jews who were) restrained (in the Cypress camps), those shall go before, and therefore shall crowd that household of Creator.

_______________________________________________________

So we now have a text, which predicted that England (the tree) would mount the Earth.  A tree, because its roots are still England, but its branches have become other nations ie: Canada, USA and Aussi land. They were the overseer at the end of the Ottoman empire of the establishment of the land of Israel and the events at that time.

But just so we don’t leave you with the feeling that this was coincidence, here’s another tid bit:

Chapter 4 Book of Joel

4:19 Egypt toward devastation, shall proceed to be, and Aadavam (Edom), toward a wilderness. Devastation shall proceed to be, (upon) Khamas.  (The) son(s) (of) Yahavadaha (Judah), (they) established to force out (their) blood, to begin to clear away those (who are Jewish) amid (the) Earth.

4:20 And so Yahavadaha (Judah) from that point on (shall) proceed to settle (there) and Yaravashalam (Jerusalem) (shall be their’s) to inhabit. And (they shall) inhabit,…

4:20 …and (they) shall clear away what remains.  (The) blood (of) those, (who attacked) shall not exist.  It shall remain cleared away, and Creator (shall) lodge amid Tsayavan (Zion) from then on.

______________________________________________________

Khamas or as the news says it “Hamas” is the present group causing all sorts of problems to Israel.  Not a bad prediction huh.  So if this is in a book about the events at the end of days, we must be close to winding down.

Remember, when the sea of Galilee dries up, the beast shall rise out of the sea.

Merry Christmas G

And a Merry Christmas all and do… Write when you get rich,

[email protected]

The post Coping: Water Heaters – A Hidden Alzheimer’s Risk? appeared first on UrbanSurvival.

Watch: Morano debates warmist Brad Johnson (who called for jailing skeptics) on The Ingraham Angle on Fox News

Morano debates Brad Johnson on Fox News Channel – The Ingraham Angle – Broadcast Live: December 17, 2018

Marc Morano: ‘Brad has said, politicians who deny climate claims should be put in jail. He just said that in 2017. See: Warmist Brad Johnson urges: ‘Put officials who reject science in jail’ Brad Johnson: “Put officials who reject science in jail.” Johnson linked to an article demanding “climate change denial should be a crime.” 

Laura Ingraham to Johnson: ‘Do you really think they should be put in jail?’

Brad Johnson: ‘I mean, if they are lying deliberately and causing harm to other people.’

Laura Ingraham: ‘This whole town, most people would be in jail. If it’s just climate — if it’s across the board, maybe I’ll take you up on that.’ 

Marc Morano: ‘Brad does not want to allow dissent and he claims that solar and wind are ready to burst on and make all this money and take over our energy. If something is that good, solar, wind, renewable energy, why do you have to ban energy? Go after fracking? There is not a fair playing field.’

Boston Marathon Bombing Investigation in Revere Massachusetts SUSPECT in Bombing

Boston Marathon Bombing Investigation in Revere Massachusetts SUSPECT in Bombing

Video shows explosion at Boston Marathon finish line | Boston Marathon Bombing

The deadly bombing at the Boston Marathon Monday has left at least three people dead — including an 8-year-old boy — and more than 130 others wounded.

Two explosions rocked the Boston Marathon near the finish line, causing multiple casualties and sending the city into chaos. Another explosion occurred at the JFK Library, but authorities were unsure if the incidents were linked.

The blasts downtown in Copley Square occurred just before 3:00 p.m., according to MyFoxBoston.

There is no “person of interest” in custody, said Commissioner Ed Davis at an evening press conference.

FBI Special Agent In Charge Richard DesLauriers said the criminal probe is a potential terrorism investigation. “I encourage everyone to have a heightened state of vigilance in the Boston area,” he said. Boston Marathon Explosion Photos (GRAPHIC) Video Of The Bombing Third Explosion At JFK Library Witnesses Describe Scene In Boston Bombing Timeline President Obama Calls FBI Director After Bombing Justice Department Directing Full Resources To Investigate Prayers For Boston ‘Heightened Security’ In D.C. How To Help Boston Marathon Victims Department Of Homeland Security Providing ‘Whatever Assistance’ Needed Google Person Finder History Of U.S. Bombings

Severe U.S. storm brings heavy snow, baseball-sized hail

ShareThis

Severe U.S. storm brings heavy snow, baseball-sized hail 23 Mar 2013 A major early spring storm brought heavy snow, severe thunderstorms and floods as it moved east across the United States on Saturday, closing highways and causing a pileup involving dozens of vehicles. Baseball-sized hail was reported in northern Florida, along with possible tornadoes, while heavy snow in Colorado and Kansas delayed flights and shut down part of Interstate-70. A crash involving up to 50 vehicles closed part of Interstate-25 near Loveland, Colorado, north of Denver.

Citizens for Legitimate Government

Does fighting your traffic ticket cause public safety Issues?

We Are Change TV
Sean Ackley

"Officer Johnson and other police officials say that people fighting traffic tickets are causing a public safety issue".

"Officers have to drive all the way to Fremont now, taking them off the road"

So what do these "officials" expect to do now?   Are they to assume the police will give us tickets with impunity and expect us to pay whatever they want?   Is this

Unusual ‘Transport’ Vehicle Causing Some Concern

SteveQuayle.com April 26, 2012 ORIGINAL CAPTION: I got a forwarded email last night from someone, and like the person who sent them to me, I have NO idea what they are. The only thing I could think of is potentially FEMA movement vehicles. Has anyone seen these things before?What are these vehicles? Who uses them? […]

Hospice patients being sent letters urging them to return to work

Whitehall blunder: The Department for Work and Pensions has been sending back-to-work letters to the dying

THOUSANDS of dying people are being sent letters urging them to consider getting a job, it has been revealed.

The Department for Work and Pensions writes to everyone claiming the new Employment Support Allowance suggesting that they see a personal advisor to “help you move towards work”.

That includes those whose families have specifically told officials that they have less than six months left to live.

Ministers have admitted that 1,000 terminally ill people were sent the letters in just three months in a written answer to MPs.

The shocking figure comes after David Cameron railroaded his brutal welfare reforms which will take cash from disabled children and cancer sufferers through Parliament.

The letters state: “You can volunteer to work with a specialist personal adviser or job broker who will support and encourage you to carry out reasonable steps to manage your illness or disability and undertake relevant activity which will help you move towards work.”

They do say that those receiving them “are not required to take part in any work-related activity”.

But that doesn’t stop them causing upset and alarm among dying people and their families, Labour MP Tom Greatrex warned.

Mr Greatrex uncovered the scale of the problem after coming across the case of a constituent Stevie McGowan, 51, who was sent one despite being blind, bed-ridden and suffering severe dementia.

His wife Elizabeth said it was an insult for officials to suggest that the former painter and decorator, who was struck down by multiple sclerosis in 2002, should be considering work.

She said: “We thought is was a joke. And when I say that paragraph I thought it was an insult to Stevie.”

Elizabeth, 49, of Blantyre in Scotland, added: “There is no amount of ‘support’ that they could give my husband that would enable him to go back to work.”

The Department of Work and Pensions stood by the letters. A spokeswoman said: “There are no conditions attached to the financial support you receive if you have a terminal illness.

“However, it would be wrong not to give those with a terminal illness the same opportunities as others. All our customers are told about the extra support their benefit entitles them to.”

But Mr Greatrex, MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, said that officials should stop causing upset and alarm by sending the letters to the terminally ill.

“The Government know these people are nearing the end of their lives and it is clearly inappropriate to be sending these letters suggesting they should go back to work.

“It is causing unnecessary distress to people who are terminally ill and their loves ones and they should stop it.”

**********
Related Links:
* Man in coma loses benefits as ATOS classifies him fit for work
Rob Ray, libcom.org
* People are dying during wait for Atos chaos benefits judgement
Kate Devlin, The Herald

Strong Earthquake Strikes Central Peru, Injuring More Than 70

The Intel Hub
January 30, 2012

ICA, PERU (BNO NEWS) — A strong earthquake struck near the Peruvian city of Ica on early Monday morning, causing damage and injuring more than 70 people, officials said. Thousands of people were forced to spend the night on the street.

The 6.2-magnitude earthquake at 12:11 a.m. local time (0511 GMT) was centered about 47 kilometers (29 miles) southwest of Ica, the capital of the region which carries the same name. It struck about 48 kilometers (29.8 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP).

The earthquake, which was felt across central Peru and struck as most people were sleeping, caused damage to an unknown number of houses and other buildings. Some telephone lines collapsed and power outages were reported in Ica and the surrounding area, local media reported.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS), which measured the strength of the earthquake at 6.3 on the regional moment magnitude scale, estimated that approximately 345,000 people may have felt strong shaking. Nearly one million others may have felt light to moderate shaking.

In the hours after the earthquake, approximately 70 people were treated at hospitals and health centers for various injuries, city officials said, although none of them were believed to be seriously injured. Most of the injuries were described as cuts and bruises, although several people suffered broken bones.

In Ica, a city with a population of about 220,000, many thousands of people spend the night on the street in fear of aftershocks.

Peru is on the so-called ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’, an arc of fault lines circling the Pacific Basin that is prone to frequent and large earthquakes. Volcanic eruptions also occur frequently in the region.

In October 2011, at least 83 people were injured and more than 130 houses were destroyed when a 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck about 51 kilometers (32 miles) south-southwest of Ica. It came just two months after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Peru, injuring several people.

And in August 2007, at least 514 people were killed and more than 1,000 others were injured when a massive 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck the central coast of Peru, generating a small tsunami which flooded some areas. Large parts of Ica were devastated by the earthquake.

Peru’s most catastrophic earthquake on record happened in May 1970 when a powerful 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck about 36 kilometers (22 miles) off the coast of northwestern Peru, killing at least 66,794 people. More than 50,000 others were injured.

© 2012. BNO News. All Rights Reserved. Published by The Intel Hub with permission.

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