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© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
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Revised and Updated
Written and revised by Jane Bourke. © Ready-Ed Publications 2006. Originally published by Ready-Ed Publications (2000) P.O. Box 276 Greenwood Perth W.A. 6024 Email: info@readyed.com.au Website: www.readyed.com.au
COPYRIGHT NOTICE Permission is granted for the purchaser to photocopy sufficient copies for non-commercial educational purposes. However, this permission is not transferable and applies only to the purchasing individual or institution.
ISBN 1 87526 837 5
Using this Book This book is intended to provide starting points for student research into the areas of man-made disasters. It explores recent and historical man-made tragedies in the fields of air, space, sea, road and rail transportation as well as industrial and chemical disasters. The increasing incidence of terrorist acts in the 21st century is also dealt with in this book.
Internet References
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The Internet is undoubtedly one of the most useful current sources for obtaining up to the minute information. Information usually appears on the Internet before newspapers and television and can be updated very quickly. It also helps to develop students’ research skills as they retrieve information on disasters in history. At the time of publishing, the website addresses were accessible. Students can easily reach the nominated sites via the Ready-Ed website by visiting the address below. Any future changes will also be posted on our website as they occur at:
www.readyed.com.au/urls/disasters
Research Tips for Students
Getting © Ready EdStarted Publ i cat i ons Make sure you understand exactly what it is you need to do. Ask questions of your teacher or parent if necessary. •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Write down any questions or areas of information that you think you need to research.
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Taking Notes
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Make yourself a timetable – it may avoid a last minute rush!
Keep a record of the references that you use. e.g. (Title) “Plane Crashes in History” Pages 77-84, (Author) C. U U.. Laiter Read (or view or listen to ) the relevant parts of your references. On second reading write down some key words and phrases. Then close the book and write out your notes in your own words. Refer to key words for ideas and correct spelling. Organise your notes into sections or under headings. Include a contents page and reference list. Review – check that you have covered all that was required.
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Usually your teacher will suggest the presentation format, i.e. a chart, booklet, oral presentation etc., but often you may need to decide this yourself. Remember that the appearance of your work is important. Try to relate the handwriting and design to the theme of your work. Consider the neatness and effectiveness of your titles, handwriting, pictures, diagrams and borders.
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World Disasters Series – Book 3
Contents Teachers’ Notes ........................................................................................................................ 2 Man-made Disasters ................................................................................................................ 4 The Human Factor .................................................................................................................... 5
Space Disasters Background Notes .................................................................................................................... 6 Space Disasters ....................................................................................................................... 7 Background Notes .................................................................................................................... 8 The Challenger Disaster ........................................................................................................... 9
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Air Disasters
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Background Notes .................................................................................................................. 10 Airships ................................................................................................................................... 11 Background Notes .................................................................................................................. 12 The Hindenburg Tragedy ........................................................................................................ 13 Background Notes .................................................................................................................. 14 Air Disasters ............................................................................................................................ 15
Rail and Bridge Disasters
Background Notes .................................................................................................................. The Granville Train Disaster .................................................................................................... The Maccabiah Bridge Collapse ............................................................................................ Road, Rail and Bridge Disasters .............................................................................................
Maritime Disasters
Background Notes .................................................................................................................. R.M.S Titanic .......................................................................................................................... That Fateful Night – 1 ............................................................................................................. That Fateful Night – 2 ............................................................................................................. After the Titanic ....................................................................................................................... The Zeebrugge Ferry Disaster ................................................................................................
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20 21 22 23 24 25
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Background Notes .................................................................................................................. 26 Oil Production ......................................................................................................................... 27 Background Notes .................................................................................................................. 28 Oil Spills ................................................................................................................................. 29 Background Notes .................................................................................................................. 30 Bhopal – A Chemical Accident .............................................................................................. 31 Background Notes .................................................................................................................. 32 Beaconsfield Mine Collapse ................................................................................................... 33
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Nuclear Disasters
Background Notes .................................................................................................................. 34 Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster .................................................................................................... 35 Background Notes .................................................................................................................. 36 Radiation ................................................................................................................................ 37 Background Notes .................................................................................................................. 38 Energy at a Price .................................................................................................................... 39
Sporting Disasters
Background Notes .................................................................................................................. 40 Sports Disasters – A Research Activity ................................................................................... 41 Canyoning: An Extreme Sport ................................................................................................ 42
Terrorism Around the World Background Notes .................................................................................................................. 43 A Tragedy of the Time ............................................................................................................. 44
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Man-made Disasters Many accidental disasters occur around the world. They happen at any time and are usually difficult to predict or control. Disasters can be classified according to their origin as: Natural, Man-made or Personal. Sort this list of disasters under the appropriate headings.
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•Lockerbie air disaster
•Turkish earthquake
•Sinking of the Titanic
•Athlete is injured during a race
•Hurricane Katrina
•A pet dies
•Exxon Valdez oil spill
•Grandparent dies
•Family home burns down
•Beaconsfield mine collapse
•Asian tsunami
•Space shuttle disaster
•Great fire of London
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•Cyclone Tracy
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•Student fails an exam
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Personal
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________________________ _________________________ © Read yEdPubl i c at i ons Newspaper Study Study: Survey the newspaper for the next two weeks. Record all • f o r r e v i e w p u r p o s e s o n l y • disaster information under the same headings.
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List some other ways you could find out about recent disasters. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Page 4
World Disasters Series – Book 3
DISAST
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The Human Factor In recent years numerous man-made disasters have occurred. Like any disaster, these man-made disasters destroy life and property. Unlike natural disasters, man-made disasters are often able to be prevented and are the result of human error.
Brainstorm:
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u e.g. Lack of equipment Supervision of regular maintenance S maintenance
With your class members or a small group, conduct a brainstorm session on the various causes of man-made disasters. Record your list in the space below. For each cause, think of a way to prevent or minimise such an occurrence.
Preventative Measures
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Causes of Man-made Disasters
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Analyse your list of man-made disasters recorded from your newspaper study. Provide details for each disaster below.
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Of these disasters, which do you think could have most easily been avoided? Give a reason for your choice. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ World Disasters Series – Book 3
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Background Information:
Space Disasters Although the concept of space travel is still fairly new, it has had its fair share of disasters. The timeline below details some of the more significant space disasters including disasters that have happened on the ground but are related to space exploration. 1967 - January 27, Apollo I (USA)
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A cosmonaut, Vladimir Komarov, was killed when his craft crashed as a result of the craft’s steering system and parachute lines failing. Soyuz I was supposed to link up with a second manned spaceship, but Soyuz I developed problems and the second craft was never launched. Controllers ordered Soyuz to return to Earth and then tragedy struck.
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1980 - March 18 (Russia) A Vostok rocket exploded on the launch pad during refuelling. 50 people were killed at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia's northern launch site.
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A fire aboard the space capsule occurred at Cape Kennedy. The fires claimed the lives of three American astronauts and took place before the space craft was scheduled for take off.
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1983 - September 26 (Russia)
A fire erupted at the base of a Soyuz rocket just before liftoff. The escape module with two cosmonauts was ejected from the rocket, saving the men's lives. z
1986 - January 28, Challenger (USA)
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The Challenger space shuttle exploded 73 seconds after blast off. All seven crew members were killed, including a teacher, Christa McAuliffe. It is thought that the accident occurred as a result of a booster leak which ignited the fuel.
1970 - April 13, Apollo 13 (USA)
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An oxygen tank ruptured on the spacecraft bound for the moon. The lunar landing was aborted and three astronauts made it back to Earth alive. About 56 hours after the flight began, an explosion caused by a short circuit destroyed the systems that supplied electricity and oxygen to the command module. The astronauts retreated into the lunar module, which had enough oxygen to keep them alive during their return to Earth. The tense return trip ended safely nearly four days later. They used the command module to make a safe splashdown.
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A fire lasting 14 minutes broke out on the Russian space station Mir, sending huge flames and chunks of molten metal into the air. No major damage was done to the station and luckily there were no serious injuries to the six men on board.
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space craft after its automatic landing. When the space craft re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere, there was a loss of pressurisation which is though to have caused the deaths.
1997 - June 25 (Russia)
An unmanned cargo ship collided with the Russian space station Mir, rupturing one pressurised module and knocking out half the power on outpost. Three men escaped unharmed.
1971 - June 6-30, Soyuz II (Russia)
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1997 - February 23 (Russia)
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2003 - February 1, Columbia (USA) The Columbia space shuttle was lost as it re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere after a two week space mission. All seven members of the crew were killed. Damage to the shuttle’s thermal protection system led to the spacecraft breaking apart. This fateful mission was Columbia’s 28th flight into space.
World Disasters Series – Book 3
Space Disasters Information One of the worst disasters in the history of space exploration was the Challenger disaster in 1986. Prior to this there had been two other space disasters resulting in the loss of human life. Both occurred in 1967. The first involved the United States Apollo mission, the other was the Soviet Soyuz fatality. In 2003, the Columbia space shuttle broke apart killing all seven crew members.
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Select one of these disasters to research. Provide notes under the headings below. Present your information in the format suggested by your teacher, i.e. oral presentation, chart, booklet.
Date: ________________
Names of astronauts/cosmonauts killed: __________________________________________
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© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons ____________________________________________________________________________ •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• ____________________________________________________________________________
Purpose of the space program/mission: __________________________________________
Description of the disaster: ______________________________________________________
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Cause of the disaster: __________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________
The Inquiry Conducted by: ________________________________________________________________ Findings: Malfunction or human error? ____________________________________________ Future precautions: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ World Disasters Series – Book 3
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Background Information:
Challenger The Explanations:
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The accident occurred at an altitude of 14 020 metres and at about twice the speed of sound. The crew cabin tore loose from the rest of the shuttle and soared through the air. It took almost three minutes for the cabin to fall to the Atlantic Ocean, where it smashed on impact, killing all crew members.
A special commission was appointed by United States President Reagan to determine the cause of the Challenger accident. In June 1986, the commission reported that the accident was caused by a failure of “O rings” in the shuttle’s right solid rocket booster. Mistakes in the design of the joint and the unusually cold weather during the launch caused the O rings to allow hot gases to leak out of the booster through the joint.
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One of the worst space disasters to date, the Challenger disaster, occurred on January 28, 1986. The space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven crew members. It was witnessed by hundreds of spectators and crew on the ground, and they stared in horror at the fireball and spiralling plume of smoke that resulted.
Flames from within the booster streamed past the failed seal and quickly expanded the small hole. The flaming gases then burned a hole in the shuttle’s external fuel tank. Top level managers were not told of these problems and the fact that the cold weather would have a serious effect on the O rings.
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It was the Challenger’s 10th flight and the 25th space shuttle flight since the program began. The launch had already been delayed by five days due to bad weather conditions and, in fact, January 28 was the coldest day that NASA had ever launched a shuttle.
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Some scientists dispute the “O ring” explanation provided by the commission.
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Millions of people watched the space shuttle break apart shortly after launch, live on their television sets. This launch was one of the most publicised as it was the first time that a civilian, school teacher Christa McAuliffe, was going into space. She was planning on delivering lessons from space to thousands of students.
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_program en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster
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Soon after the tragedy, NASA halted shuttle flights while it worked to improve shuttle safety and resolve management problems. Manned space flights resumed in September, 1988, with the launch of the redesigned space shuttle Discovery.
The Challenger Disaster www.answers.com/topic/space-shuttlechallenger-disaster Challenger - 20 Years On space.about.com/b/a/239196.htm Challenger Accident Links: www.fas.org/spp/51L.html
The Crew: Francis R. (Dick) Scobee was the mission commander. Along with Christa McAuliffe, the crew included Gregory B. Jarvis, Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnik, and Michael J. Smith. Page 8
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
The Challenger Disaster The Challenger was the fourth development of the space shuttle program. The space shuttle prototype was launched in 1977 with the Enterprise space shuttle. Launch Disaster Name the other space shuttles in the series and write the year of their first flight.
World wide interest was focused on the space shuttle Challenger. The much awaited launch from the Kennedy Space Center was thought to have been televised directly to all parts of the world. Horrified viewers witnessed the worst disaster in the history of space when the Challenger exploded just after take off.
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Imagine you were a journalist covering this event. Continue this paragraph describing the ill-fated launching of the Challenger.
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1977 _____________ (prototype)
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Outline the space shuttle concept. Mention the ways in which the shuttle differs from other space craft.
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Following the disaster, an immediate inquiry was ordered. When the lengthy report by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry was published it revealed that the most probable cause of the explosion was ... ___________________________________
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The report was critical of the NASA. Explain the reason for this.
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Background Information:
Airships which was known as DELAG. The first airship, the Deutschland, was approximately 148 metres long and contained three 120 horsepower engines. The DELAG service operated from 1910 to 1914 and over 10 000 people paid to use it.
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After World War I, airships were built to be bigger, faster and stronger. They also used helium instead of hydrogen, in the hope of reducing the risk of a disaster. The Akron, launched in 1931, carried fighter planes and was able to launch and receive flights in mid air. In April 1933, the Akron went down in a storm off the North American coast killing 73 people. Another airship, the Macon, met a similar fate in 1935, claiming the lives of two people.
In World War I, Zeppelins were used to patrol the North Sea, although a total of 53 airships were lost due to accidents, bad weather and enemy fire. The Zeppelins improved in design and were later able to reach speeds of up to 95 kilometres an hour. Eventually other countries used airships including the United States, Great Britain, France and Italy. The construction and design of the airships continued to improve, with the most successful being built in 1928. It was known as the LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin and had a top speed of 130 kilometres per hour.
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Airships are a lot lighter than aircraft and move through the air with the help of an engine. They were introduced in the 1800s as the first manned flying machines. This type of aircraft played a big part in World War I as they were used as bomb carriers. They were also used to carry passengers. In the 1930s they became a popular mode of transport, however, a series of disastrous crashes brought passenger services to an end.
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Airships are still around in the form of blimps, which are mainly used for advertising purposes and sometimes as a base for television crews when covering an event. They are also used for scientific surveys. In recent times, the Zeppelin company has started commercial joyride flights on hightech airships in Europe.
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Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin flew his first airship in 1900. It was 128 metres long and travelled at a speed of 27 kilometres per hour. This original airship, which soon became known as a “Zeppelin”, only made three flights because it lacked control and also did not have enough power. Count Ferdinand completed the next airship in 1905 and then a third in 1906. The German Army made the third airship the first military Zeppelin. The Count was responsible for helping to establish the world’s first commercial airline
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The LZ 129 Hindenburg was one of the largest airships ever built. In 1937, while approaching its docking, the Hindenburg exploded. A total of 35 people were killed out of the 97 aboard, as well as one person from the ground crew. It is thought that the cause of the explosion was the hydrogen gas igniting. This tragic event signalled the end of the development of airships for use as passenger services.
A series of crashes, particularly a devastating crash at sea in 1960 killing everyone on board, led to the end of airships being used for military operations. By this time, the development of passenger aeroplanes had spelt the end for airships as a mode of air transport.
Visit this website for the history of Zeppelins. www.airships.net/index.shtml Airships en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airship Diagram of the Hindenburg www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/html/e3-diagram.html
Airships Today: www.zeppelin-nt.de/index_e.htm www.goodyearblimp.com/basics/anatomy.html
World Disasters Series – Book 3
Airships The early development of airships was dominated by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. Conduct some research on Zeppelin’s airships and the company DELAG which he founded in Germany.
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From your reading, sequence the following events associated with airship development. Put numbers 1 to 7 in the boxes to show the order.
DELAG carried passengers all over Germany. Trans-Atlantic passenger service abandoned.
Research, then write a paragraph about the design and construction of the Hindenburg.
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Hindenburg Disaster
The Hindenburg airship, once described as a floating hotel, was a massive construction. Although very light, it was as high as a fifteen story building.
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Britain abandoned its airship building program.
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Zeppelin started the world’s first airline.
In the box below is a diagram of an airship. Check the websites on Page 10 to help you label the parts.
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Background Information:
Hindenburg Theories behind the disaster
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The massive airship was a luxurious aircraft with a dining room, lounge rooms, a library and state rooms, and became the world’s first trans-atlantic commercial airline.
At 7.25pm on May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg, at the end of a flight from Germany, exploded in flames while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey in the United States. The fiery disaster, captured on film and shown in newsreels around the world, ended the career of the airship as an airliner.
Some people believe that the Hindenburg was sabotaged and that a bomb had been planted on it, although there is little evidence to support this claim. Others believe that the hydrogen gas somehow ignited while the airship was getting ready to land at Lakehurst. One theory is that highly flammable hydrogen gas was triggered by a spark from an electrical storm that night.
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The Hindenburg was a rigid airship built by a firm in Friedrichshafen, Germany. It was one of the largest airships ever built, measuring 245 metres long and 41 metres wide. It was almost as long as an ocean liner and was able to stay aloft as it held 7 million cubic feet of hydrogen gas. It could fly at 126 kilometres an hour.
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_disaster Hindenburg Photos www.afn.org/~afn42211/genealog/sterner/ hindenburg/ Tragedy at Lakehurst
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The Hindenburg disaster, like the Challenger disaster, was recorded on film and witnessed by hundreds of onlookers on the ground. A flame suddenly appeared near the stern. This flame spread very quickly and within seconds the airship had exploded in a huge fireball. The tail fell first, with flames then shooting from the nose of the Hindenburg. It crashed to the ground some 32 seconds after the flame was spotted.
From this site you can even view a video clip of
www.nlhs.com/tragedy.htm
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Once the airship had dropped to the ground, men and women ran out of the inferno with burning clothes. Some of the passengers even crawled out to escape. The captain, Ernst Lehmann, made it out from the plane but died the next day.
Hindenburg LZ-129
www.nlhs.com/hindenburg.htm
Hindenburg Tragedy Information
www.infoplease.com/spot/hindenburg1.html
Diagram of the Hindenburg
www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/html/e3-diagram.html
Hindenburg Theories www.hindenburg.net/theories.htm
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The Hindenburg Tragedy Information On May 6, 1937, many cameramen and reporters had gathered at Lakehurst Airfield, New Jersey, U.S.A. to cover the landing of the world’s largest airship. The Hindenburg, carrying 97 people (36 passengers and 61 crew members), was due to land – twelve hours late. It had travelled across the Atlantic Ocean from Frankfurt in Germany.
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View some of the websites which discuss the Hindenburg airship tragedy. From the accounts you have read, write an eye-witness report from the scene of the Hindenburg disaster. Try to include details of some of the survival stories. ______________________________________________________________________________
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© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• Originally the airships were designed to be filled with helium gas. At the time of the
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An inquiry by the United States Department of Commerce found claims that a bomb had been placed on board the Hindenburg to be false. Outline three “theories” about what happened to the Hindenburg. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ World Disasters Series – Book 3
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Background Information:
Air Disasters Significant Air Disasters in the 20th and 21st Centuries
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Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge was the first person killed in a plane crash. On September 17, 1908 he ventured out in a plane with Orville Wright. One of the propellers broke mid-flight and the plane crashed, killing Selfridge. Orville Wright escaped with injuries and went on to build the world’s first military plane in 1909.
Date
Location
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Cause
26/06/59
Italy
16/03/69
V enezuela
31/07/71
Japan
03/03/74
Paris
03/08/75
Morocco
27/03/77
Spain
25/05/79
Chicago
28/11/79
Antarctica
TWA Lockheed •Hit by lightning •Number of Deaths: 68 DC-9-321 •Struck power lines •Number of Deaths: 155 727-200 •Mid-air collision •Number of Deaths: 163 DC-10 •Crashed after take-off •Number of Deaths: 346 707-321C •Hit a mountain •Number of Deaths: 188 Both 747 •Mid-air collision •Number of Deaths: 583 DC - 10-10 •Engine fell off •Number of Deaths: 273 DC - 10-30 •Hit a mountain •Number of Deaths: 257 Lockheed •Fire •Number of Deaths: 301 Korean Airlines •Shot down •Number of Deaths: 269 747-200 •Bomb •Number of Deaths: 329 747 SR •Structural failure •Number of Deaths: 520 747-121 •Terrorist Bomb •Number of Deaths: 270 Airbus A-300 •Shot down •Number of Deaths: 290 TWA 800 •Crashed after take-off •Number of Deaths: 230 Saudi Boeing 747 •Collided with a cargo plane •Number of Deaths: 349 Silk Air A-300 B4 •Crashed on approach •Number of Deaths: 234 Swiss Air MD-11 •Crashed into ocean •Number of Deaths: 229 Egypt Air 990 •Crashed into ocean •Number of Deaths: 217 United / American •Terrorist Attacks Airlines •Number of Deaths: 2992* Airbus A-300 •Tail fin snapped •Number of Deaths: 265 Boeing 747 •Disintegrated over sea •Number of Deaths: 225 Military plane •Crashed into mountains •Number of Deaths: 276 Tupolev Tu-154 •Crashed in thunderstorm •Number of Deaths: 117
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Air disasters have been occurring ever since humans first developed the idea of flying. Some typical causes of air disasters include mechanical faults, turbulence, fog, bad weather and terrorism.
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Bad weather can lead to poor visibility and several planes have crashed into mountains because the pilots were unaware of where they are going.
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Russia
23/06/85
Ireland
12/08/85
Japan
21/12/88
Lockerbie
03/07/88
Iran
17/07/96
New Y ork York
12/11/96
New Delhi
26/09/97
Sumatra
03/09/98
Canada
31/10/99
New Y ork York
11/09/01
New Y ork York
12/11/01
New Y ork York
25/05/02
China
19/02/03
Iran
22/08/06
Ukraine
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For more information about air disasters visit these websites: Air Disasters www.airdisaster.com/
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Aviation Accidents en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Air_disasters Timeline of Air Disasters news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/ 2008892.stm
*At least 24 people are classified as missing. (Source: Wikipedia) Page 14
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Air Disasters Information Air disasters have occurred in many places around the world. In August, 1985 three air crashes, at Manchester, Tokyo and Dallas (Forth Worth), resulted in the deaths of 711 people. The worst plane crashes have been the result of terrorist acts, such as the September 11 attacks on New York City in 2001, where approximately 3000 people lost their lives. Britain’s worst air disaster occurred in December 1988 when a Pan American jumbo jet crashed into the town of Lockerbie after a bomb exploded on board. All 259 passengers and 11 people on the ground died.
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Check out the websites for information on air disasters. Complete the following.
Causes
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Increasingly, air disasters are associated with terrorism. Write a definition for “terrorist”.
To prevent terrorist actions on planes, a variety of security measures is strictly enforced at airports throughout the world. You may have experienced some. Describe the security procedures.
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Make a list of possible causes of air crashes.
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In Perspective
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Disasters like these may lead us to assumptions such as: “Over the last decade air crashes have become more disastrous.” Discuss this statement from two points of view:
Affirmative (ideas to support the statement) ____________________________________ Negative
(ideas contrary to the statement) ___________________________________ World Disasters Series – Book 3
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Background Information:
Rail and Bridge Disasters
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Rail and bridge disasters occur Accidental rail disasters since 1990 frequently all around the world. These Rail disasters are so frequent that only the worst types of disasters are particularly disasters since 1990 are included below. numerous in developing countries where safety procedures and equipment are of z January 1990 a lower standard. In Pakistan, a passenger train and a goods train collided leaving 350 people dead and 700 injured. Bridge disasters z September 1994 in the 20th century A derailment in the Huila province of Angola left 300 people dead and 147 injured. z 1953 z December 1994 A sudden release of water from the crater lake A train fell into a ravine in Myanmar following brake failure leaving 102 at Mt. Ruapehu in New Zealand caused a people dead. lahar (flow of volcanic mud and debris) down z August 1994 the Whangaehu River. This weakened the rail A collision between two trains in Northern India left 358 people dead bridge at Tangiwai just before a passenger and 344 injured. express train tried to cross the structure. The z September 1997 train plunged from the bridge as it collapsed, In India, five coaches of a train fell into a river killing 100 people and killing 151 people. injuring another 200. z August 1989 z February 1998 A bridge collapsed in Mexico as a train was Two oil tankers exploded after the derailment of an oil shipment in crossing, leaving 104 people dead. Cameroon. 220 people were killed. z January 1993 z June 1998 In Kenya, a train fell into a river after the In Germany, a high speed passenger train came off the rails and then collapse of a bridge near Nairobi. More than crashed into the concrete supports of an overpass which bought the structure down onto the carriages. Over 100 people were killed with 140 people were killed. many more injured. z July 1997 August 1999 z In Israel, at the Maccabiah Games, a newly A train crash in West Bengal, India, left 278 dead when two trains constructed bridge collapsed as the crashed in a head on collision. Hundreds more were injured. Australian team was passing over at the October 1999 z beginning of the opening ceremony. Four Two trains – one travelling at over 200 km/h – collided just north of people were killed and about 60 were injured. Paddington Station in London killing 31 people. A total of 227 people The opening ceremony went ahead as were hospitalised and another 296 people were treated at the site. planned despite the tragedy. z April 2005 More than 100 people are killed when a commuter train slammed into Recent terrorist acts an apartment block in the Japanese city of Amagasaki. z March 2004 z December 2004 (Natural Disaster) Coordinated bombing of four commuter trains When the Asian tsunami hit the coastal areas of Sri Lanka, the Queen occurred in Madrid, Spain. At least 191 of the Sea train ground to a halt as the tsunami waves crashed around it. Water flooded into the carriages causing panic. Many people, people were killed and 1500 were seriously believing that the train would be stable, leapt onto the train while others injured. stood behind it to protect themselves. A huge six metre wave – the z July 2005 largest of the tsunamis – then “picked up” the train and smashed it onto Bombs exploded on one double-decker bus
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and three London Underground trains, killing 56 people and injuring over 700.
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the trees and houses that lined the track, instantly killing everyone who had been standing behind it. The eight carriages were so packed with people that the doors could not be opened. Water filled the carriages drowning almost everybody inside, as waves continued to wash over.
World Disasters Series – Book 3
The Granville Train Disaster The Granville train disaster occurred in 1977. It was described as Australia’s worst peace time disaster and claimed the lives of 83 people, while more than 200 people were injured. Conduct some research into this horrific tragedy and complete the report below. You may like to use this website as a starting point: danger-ahead.railfan.net/accidents/granvill.htm
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Date: ________________________
Time: __________________________
Location: _________________________________________________________
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Describe the events that led to the accident: _______________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________
Outline the rescue efforts: _______________________________________________________
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What was the extent of the damage? _____________________________________________
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What reasons were given for the cause of this disaster? _____________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ What difficulties did the rescuers have to overcome? ________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ World Disasters Series – Book 3
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The Maccabiah Bridge Collapse In 1997, during the opening ceremony of the 15th Maccabiah Games in Israel, a new bridge – built especially for the games – collapsed as the Australian team was crossing. Four Australian athletes were killed and at least 160 were wounded when they fell into the polluted waters of the Yarkon River below. Research the events of this tragedy. You might like to use the website below as a starting point. Find answers for the following. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabiah_Games www.cjnews.com/pastissues/00/apr28-00/international/int2.htm
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Who are the Maccabiah games for? ________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
How many athletes competed in the games? _________________________________________ What exactly happened on the bridge? ______________________________________________
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© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons Describe the decision that was made about the opening ceremonies proceedings. •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
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______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Who were the people involved in the controversy? _____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Who was blamed for the bridge disaster? ____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 18
World Disasters Series – Book 3
Road, Rail and Bridge Disasters Numerous accidents have occurred on transport systems. These disasters frequently feature in newspapers, Internet and news broadcasts. Select one from the list below, or another more recent disaster, to research. • Queen of the Sea, Sri Lanka (Tsunami) 2004
• High speed train disaster, Germany 1998
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• London Tube fire, U.K. 1987
• Granville train disaster, Australia 1977
Date: ________________________
Time: __________________________
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Location: _________________________________________________________
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Organise your notes under the following headings or use others as appropriate. Outline and location of disaster
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_____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Future precautions _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________
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Background Information:
R.M.S Titanic On April 15, 1912 the grand British passenger liner, R.M.S. Titanic hit an iceberg and sunk. The tragic disaster occurred on the ship’s maiden voyage which was en route from Southampton, England to New York City, in the United States.
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Titanic was the largest and most luxurious liner at that time. Many people described the ship as “unsinkable” because its hull was divided into 16 watertight compartments. It was thought that even if two of those compartments filled up with water, the ship would still float. The iceberg damage caused a total of six compartments to fill up.
At least 11 movies have been made about this fascinating but tragic event. In 1997, the blockbuster movie “Titanic” was made, set against a fictional love story starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio. The movie used genuine footage of the Titanic wreck at the beginning of the movie.
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The ship hit the iceberg on April 14 at 11.40pm. It broke into two sections and sank about two and a half hours later taking 1517 people with it, including the captain, Edward J. Smith. The iceberg caused a number of small cracks in the hull and this allowed sea water to flood into the bow of the ship.
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The sinking of the “unsinkable” Titanic is probably the most famous man-made disaster of all time. There are many interesting websites that have a variety of information about this doomed ship.
This movie holds the record for winning the most Academy Awards (at time of publication)*. It is believed that this is the only movie to make more than $US1.8 billion world wide.
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The wreck of Titanic was discovered in 1985 by American oceanographer, Dr Robert Ballard and his team. The two sections of the ship were found resting on the sea floor about 400 metres apart. They had sunk to a depth of approximately 3800 metres, about 650 kilometres off the coast of Newfoundland, in North America.
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R.M.S. Titanic en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic R.M.S. Titanic Tribute Site www.titanicstory.com/
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The discovery of the wreck cleared up a few puzzles about the sinking. It was always thought that the iceberg had caused a huge gash in the hull but this was not the case. The metal used to make the hull had become very brittle in the freezing cold waters of the Atlantic, and had very easily fractured when the iceberg was hit. It was also found that Titanic had been travelling too fast for that area.
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Titanic Wreck Images titanic-model.com/photoarchive/titanic/ wreck/page1.html
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Check Out:
Survivor Stories www.sfmuseum.org/hist5/dodge.html Titanic @ Encyclopedia Brittanica www.britannica.com/titanic/
Titanic Images www.keyflux.com/titanic/pictour.htm Titanic – The Movie www.titanicmovie.com/menu.html
*
The movie Ben Hur also holds the same record for winning 11 Academy Awards (1959).
World Disasters Series – Book 3
R.M.S Titanic Much publicity surrounded the launching of the R.M.S. Titanic, the world’s most luxurious liner.
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First class grand staircase
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Use your research skills to find images of the following features of the Titanic. Check out the websites on page 20 and print out and paste (or draw )pictures in the boxes below.
Third class dining room
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The wreck of the Titanic’s bow section
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You have been asked to interview one of the few remaining survivors of the Titanic disaster. Prepare four questions for your interview and write them below.
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Using a sheet of paper, or a computer program such as Microsoft Publisher, design a brochure to attract wealthy and famous passengers on the Titanic’s maiden voyage. Be sure to include all relevant details (e.g. dates, features, facilities, requirements and so on) and to use appropriate wording and illustrations. Check some of the websites on Page 20 for authentic details.
World Disasters Series – Book 3
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That Fateful Night –1 Many detailed and interesting accounts have been published about the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic. Try to locate one of these to read before attempting to rearrange the paragraphs below. Cut out the nine paragraphs below and on the next page and correctly sequence them to tell the story of the R.M.S Titanic.
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ware of the extent of the damage and the imminent disaster, Captain Smith ordered distress calls to be sent. In less than an hour, he had directed all passengers to assemble on the boat deck where women and children would be put into life boats. Incredibly, the passengers remained unconcerned. Perhaps the calm weather, the lights and the orchestra playing averted any panic.
ore passengers boarded in France and Ireland before the Titanic headed out into the Atlantic. During these first two days the passengers and crew spent most of the time settling into ship life and familiarising themselves with the layout and amenities. The Titanic made excellent progress. The weather was fine. The sea was calm. There were few complaints of seasickness or discomfort and the passengers were enjoying life onboard. It seemed nothing could interrupt their pleasure.
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o expense had been spared, it appeared, in creating the world’s most luxurious liner. Designed to attract wealthy and famous passengers to its trans-Atlantic voyages, the ship boasted elegant decorations and outstanding facilities, not to mention top class service by 500 service staff. Suites and public rooms were fitted out with superb furnishings. Gourmet meals could be enjoyed in the stylish restaurant, or a more casual meal could be taken in the café. Two small orchestras provided musical entertainment. For those so inclined, a gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, turkish bath and squash courts were available. Of course the fare for such a voyage was enormous.
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lthough in very close proximity, the Californian had turned off its radio equipment and did not respond to distress signals. It was not until almost two hours after the Titanic liner went down that the Carpathia arrived on the scene. Of the 850 passengers who were lowered into lifeboats, 705 were rescued by the Carpathia. More than 1500 people had perished. Page 22
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the ship also accommodated a small number of second class passengers who enjoyed none of the luxuries. Third class passengers travelled in the steerage part of the ship where conditions were very modest but clean. Most of the steerage passengers were immigrants travelling to America. It was prohibited for passengers to move from second or third class areas.
World Disasters Series – Book 3
That Fateful Night -2
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xcitement surrounded the maiden voyage of the R.M.S Titanic. As it began its journey on April 10, 1912, none of the many onlookers gathered at the Southampton dock could have imagined the tragic events which were to take place four days later. Much publicity had been associated with the building and outfitting of the Titanic, the world’s largest and most technologically advanced ship. She was of massive proportions, measuring about four city blocks in length and almost as high as an eleven story building. Further, she was declared unsinkable with a hull constructed of two coats of steel, one inside the other.
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nterrupted it was, late in the evening of Sunday, April 14. Unnoticed by most of the sleeping passengers, the Titanic struck an iceberg. Earlier warnings of their presence seemed to have been ignored. Water poured in through the damaged areas and the watertight compartments at the bottom of the ship’s hull were filling rapidly. Little could be done to prevent the ship from sinking.
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espite not having practised any lifeboat drills, the crew managed to help most women and children from first and second class into lifeboats. Tragically, many lifeboats were lowered half empty. Even if they had been filled to capacity, almost one thousand people could not have been accommodated by the lifeboats. As the last of the lifeboats was launched, it was obvious to all that the ship was sinking. Those still on board had no means of escape. Freezing temperatures meant that few would survive in the water.
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nvestigations were launched by both the United States and British Governments. These inquiries identified a number of factors which contributed to the disaster. As a result, a number of changes were introduced to make trans-Atlantic voyages safer. Ship building specifications and construction were improved, lifeboat provision was extended to accommodate all people onboard, emergency lifeboat drills were regulated, wireless rooms were to be operated around the clock, and the International Ice Patrol was formed.
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After the Titanic Life at the time the Titanic was launched was, in many ways, different from the life we experience today. List five of what you consider to be the most significant inventions that didn’t exist in 1912. • __________________________________________
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From your reading of accounts of the Titanic tragedy, outline two ways in which people’s social attitudes have changed.
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What were some of the features of the Titanic that are, in many ways, comparable to a holiday cruise today? _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
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When news of the Titanic disaster was broadcast people were stunned. Explain the reasons for this.
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Name a recent disaster that you think caused a similar reaction. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 24
World Disasters Series – Book 3
The Zeebrugge Ferry Disaster Information On March 6, 1987 the Herald of Free Enterprise capsized in icy cold waters soon after leaving the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. It appeared that the bow doors were left open allowing water to pour into the car deck. Tragically, 193 people died as the car ferry sank. Dutch and Belgian ships raced to the scene and were soon rescuing survivors, however many people were trapped inside the hull of the ferry which was submerged. Divers struggled through broken windows in their efforts to rescue survivors before they died from exposure.
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John Wickham, of Ash Green in England, remembers the night clearly. He was a truck driver who regularly travelled to and from Zeebrugge. On that night he was in the lounge when the ship began to roll onto its side. He spent sixty minutes up to his chest in freezing cold water. When at last he was rescued by divers, he heard a noise and turned to see a tiny figure on a ledge. He made a quick grab for the child and dragged her out with him, later wondering where his strength had come from. Kerry Smith was only five when the tragedy occurred and lost her mother, father and baby brother in the disaster. She has developed a strong bond with her rescuer all these years later. In fact, Mr Wickham even named a hair dressing salon after her!
© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons After reading the above story, what would you ask these two survivors if you were to interview them? •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
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What part do you think human error played in this tragedy?
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Outline some comparisons between the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster and that of the Titanic.
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Background Information:
Industrial Disasters Oil spills are responsible for causing widespread environmental damage. The most disastrous oil spill to date is the Exxon Valdez disaster which occurred off the coast of Alaska in 1989.
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Alaskan officials launched a criminal investigation into the disaster after it was concluded that Captain Joe Hazelwood was legally drunk at the time of the accident. He was later dismissed.
The local fishing industry was directly affected, beaches were polluted and wildlife was destroyed. The $15 million herring season was cancelled and fisherman were mobilised in order to protect unaffected beach space.
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In March 1989, the supertanker hit a reef causing it to pour 50 million litres of crude oil into Prince William Sound. Eight of the tanker’s thirteen cargo tanks were punctured. The ship was in the charge of a third mate, who was not qualified to manoeuvre the tanker through the entrance of Prince William Sound. The captain was in his cabin at the time of the accident.
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Damage to the Environment
Attempts to rescue oil-soaked wildlife were hampered by the remote and rugged coastline and the extent of the spill. Landing boats was virtually impossible and voluntary rescuers were discouraged as officials were afraid they might not be prepared for survival in wilderness conditions. Capture of animals for treatment at emergency aid centres was consequently limited and hundreds of animals died before they could receive attention.
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Initial plans of controlling the spill with dispersants and skimmers were abandoned and burning the spill was the only means of cleaning up the slick. Environmentalists and scientists believe that ecological recovery will take many years.
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Fears of a massive ecological disaster rose as wind and waves spread the oil slick over 260 square kilometres of an area rich in marine wildlife. The Governor of Alaska declared a state of emergency.
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The Exxon oil company was accused of being generally uncooperative and slow to respond to the clean-up. The cost of the clean-up was expected to be more than $US 1 billion.
Check Out: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill - Wikipedia Article en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Exxon_Valdez_oil_spill Environmental Update www.valdezscience.com/
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World Disasters Series – Book 3
Oil Production Following the Exxon Valdez disaster environmentalists called for an end to Arctic oil development. Other interest groups disagreed, stating that western society is dependent on oil and that exploration and production must continue. Both groups have valid arguments.
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Advantages
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List the advantages and disadvantages of oil development in areas like the Arctic and Antarctic.
Disadvantages
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© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons Make a list of the uses of oil. •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
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Brainstorm the effects of an oil spill on the environment. Include the damage to animals, environment and details about the clean-up using organised headings.
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Background Information:
Oil Spills The Sanko Harvest
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In February 1991, the Japanese tanker Sanko Harvest ran aground near Esperance, Western Australia, plunging tonnes of fertiliser and oil into the Southern Ocean. No person was killed or injured as a result of the grounding, however, extensive damage occurred to the bottom of the ship from the impact with the reef, resulting in the release of heavy bunker oil from the double bottom fuel tanks. After three days the ship broke into three sections and sank to the bottom of the ocean. At least 30 000 tonnes of fertiliser and 600 tonnes of fuel oil polluted large parts of the Recherche Archipelago.
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Usually chemical dispersants would be used to mop up the spill but this could not be used over the crayfish breeding grounds, so most of the clean-up involved skimming and breaking up the slick, which was less environmentally harmful.
On August 3, 1999, at least 10 000 litres of oil leaked from the Italian tanker, Laura Amato, while it was transferring crude oil to the Shell terminal on Sydney Harbour’s northern foreshore. An inquiry was launched to determine the actual cause for the spill. Vessels were used to skim the oil and recovery vessels came from Brisbane and Geelong. Most of the spill was contained not long after the accident, however the surrounding foreshore quickly became heavily polluted with dead fish washing up.
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The Kirki Oil Spill
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On July 20, 1991, approximately 20 000 tonnes of crude oil spilled into the Indian Ocean when the Greek tanker, Kirki, left a slick at least 90 kilometres long and ten kilometres wide. The slick came very close to the Western Australian coast near Jurien Bay and Cervantes, and is probably the worst oil spill in Australia’s history.
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The accident occurred in very rough seas and the bow of the ship actually broke away from the rest of the ship. A fire erupted and the oil in the cargo tanks flowed into the ocean. In the next few hours five fires broke out from the cargo area, however, they were extinguished by the sea each time. Page 28
Several birds were found covered in oil and the National Parks and Wildlife Service collected four cormorants caught in the slick as well as attending to a pelican at Middle Harbour. A change in the wind direction hampered the clean-up and divers spent time trying to release the trapped oil from beneath the hull of the Laura Amato.
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An oil slick spread rapidly from the wreck, with oil and tar being reported from beaches up to 60 kilometres apart on either side of Esperance. Many birds were killed, and a newly discovered colony of the protected New Zealand fur seal was badly affected. The large scale release of phosphate and ammonia fertilisers caused the death of many reef creatures, fish, abalone and scallops.
Thinkquest Site - Oil Spills library.thinkquest.org/CR0215471/ oil_spills.htm Bioremediation library.thinkquest.org/03oct/01840/ Oil Spills www.amsa.gov.au/ Marine_Environment_Protection/ Major_Oil_Spills_in_Australia/
World Disasters Series – Book 3
Oil Spills While the Exxon Valdez spill was the most ecologically devastating, there have been many other tanker spills that have caused serious pollution. Use your research skills to find out about other oil spills. Choose one and explain what happened, using the following headings.
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Time and place - ________________________________________________ What happened and why? - _____________________________________ ________________________________________________________________
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Environmental damage - ________________________________________
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Supertanker Design
Describe some of the most recent developments in supertanker design which aim to prevent future spill disasters.
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In your opinion, would such developments prevent accidents like those caused by the Exxon Valdez, Kirki and Sanko Harvest tankers. Give reasons for your answer.
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Bioremediation
Comment on this type of development: ______________________________________
This relatively new development is a process where naturally occurring bacteria is used to speed up the degradation of pollutants such as oil in soil, water and air. It involves releasing thousands of litres of microscopic bugs onto the affected site. The bugs then take about six months to consume the oil and then they die back to their natural population numbers. Using this method, no harmful chemical dispersants and required.
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Do you think bioremediation would work for oil spills? Why or why not? ________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________
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Background Information:
Bhopal r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
The leak was caused by both mechanical and human errors. Some of the safety equipment installed at the plant was not working properly and the rest of the safety equipment failed. By the time the plant had sounded the alarm, which was an hour after the toxic gas had escaped, most of the damage had already been done.
For more information on the Bhopal industrial disaster visit these websites:
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The chemical manufacturer was Union Carbide, a United States based company. They denied liability, blaming the disaster on terrorism and industrial sabotage. In 1989 it was agreed they should pay $470 million to the survivors of the disaster.
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Bhopal Information Centre
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In December, 1984, a factory involved in producing pesticides leaked a highly toxic cloud of methyl isocyanate into the region of Bhopal in central India. About 800 000 people were living in Bhopal at the time and 2000 people died immediately. As many as 300 000 people were injured and 8000 people have died since then as a result of injuries.
www.bhopal.com/ © ReadyEdP ubl i cat i ons Bhopal Disaster -e Wikipedia Article •f orr evi ew pu r p o s s o nl y• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_Disaster
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Bhopal Disaster - 20 Years Later web.amnesty.org/pages/ec-bhopal-eng
Volunteers were asked to fly in and assist the army with the task of removing bodies and dead animals.
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Some of the injuries found in many of the survivors included blindness, gastrointestinal disorders, weakened immune systems and post traumatic stress disorders. Bhopal has also seen an increase in stillbirths and a number of babies born with genetic defects.
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To add to the disaster, no health officials had been informed of the use of the dangerous chemicals at the factory. No emergency plans or procedures were set out and no one had any real idea about dealing with the toxic cloud.
World Disasters Series – Book 3
Bhopal – A Chemical Accident In December 1984, the Indian Government declared Bhopal a disaster area following a gas leakage from a factory manufacturing chemicals. The manufacturer was Union Carbide, an American company. Like other “western” countries, the United States sometimes establishes industries or carries out certain aspects of an industry in “developing” countries.
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Outline the reasons for this practice.
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Conduct some research on the Bhopal Disaster. Complete the following:
The Incident
What types of chemicals did Union Carbide manufacture? ____________________________ Name the gas which leaked from the storage tanks. __________________________________ Explain why people were so enraged at this incident. _________________________________
© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons At least 2000 people died and many hundreds more suffered serious health problems as a result• of the Bhopal chemical leak. Describe some ofo these ands their consequences. f o rr evi ew pu r p se o nl y•
The Victims
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Despite the magnitude of the disaster, the press coverage was much less than that received by the “Challenger” disaster two years later where seven people were killed. Why?
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The Future
What does “compensation” mean? ________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ In what ways were the Bhopal survivors compensated? _______________________________ What safety regulations were introduced as a result of the Union Carbide accident? Research and write them on another sheet of paper.
World Disasters Series – Book 3
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Background Information:
Beaconsfield Mine surface. Thinking the worst, they remained there helpless, until rescue workers were able to make a path that led one rescuer close enough to shake one of the trapped miner’s hands. However, the nightmare wasn’t over yet. It was too dangerous to drill straight through the rubble as it would have led to the wire cage collapsing.
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The Collapse
The Beaconsfield gold mine collapse occurred around 9.30pm on Anzac Day, 2006. The collapse resulted when an earthquake triggered an underground rock fall at the mine. There were 17 people working in the mine on the time, and 14 miners managed to escape immediately. Three miners could not be found and were feared dead.
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The Beasonfield mining tragedy kept the people of Australia glued to the television and media outlets for two weeks in April and May 2006. Never has such a rescue event captured the attention of the nation. The story was also widely reported overseas and thousands of people around the world tuned in to live television to watch the trapped miners walk free.
It took another nine days before the miners would be set free. During this time food and supplies were sent to the miners through a tube and they kept their spirits up by singing, making jokes and listening to music on iPods that had been supplied to them via a tube.
Rescue © ReadyEdThe P u bl i cat i ons Finally on May 8, after a massive rescue effort, a team of three rescuers were able to •f orr evi ew pu r posesonl y• cut through to the men and the two miners
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Trapped Alive!
The miners were expected to make a full recovery from their physical injuries.
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After five days, two miners were found to be alive, trapped inside a wire cage deep within the mine. Miraculously, miners Brant Webb and Todd Russell had been saved from being crushed by falling rocks by a ceiling of tightly packed rocks that protected them in the vehicle they were working in. While they were partly stuck under the rocks they were able to cut themselves free using tools that they had taken with them. Surviving on groundwater seeping through the rocks and half a muesli bar, the men lay stuck nearly a kilometre below the earth’s Page 32
walked free from the mine at around 4.30am. They were greeted by their families and an excited crowd of locals from the town of Beaconsfield. Also there to capture the moment, were hundreds of news reporters, TV crews and photographers.
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On April 26, the rescue effort began using a remote-controlled earth mover which started to clear the rock underground. Early on the morning of April 27 the body of one of the missing three miners, Larry Knight, was found in the mine shaft.
Wikipedia Article en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Beaconsfield_mine_collapse Photo Gallery - ABC News www.abc.net.au/news/indepth/featureitems/ s1633698.htm Beaconsfield Timeline - ABC News www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/ s1633820.htm
World Disasters Series – Book 3
Beaconsfield Mine Collapse
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On Anzac Day 2006, a small earthquake caused a rockfall in the Beaconsfield gold mine in northern Tasmania. Thousands of Australians became focused on the plight of three missing miners who were believed to have been trapped in the rock fall. Stuck almost a kilometre underground in a small wire cage were two of the miners. Sadly, the third miner had been killed by falling rocks. This story and the rescue that followed unfolded on televisions across the country and around the world for over two weeks. Hundreds of viewers watched live as the two men walked to safety.
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Timeline of Events
The initial rockfall occurred on April 25. Conduct some research using the websites listed on Page 32 and write a timeline of events up until the rescue on May 8.
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In your opinion, what was it about this event that made it so newsworthy?
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Imagine you are a newspaper journalist. Report live from the scene at the Beaconsfield mine. Research how the events played out over the two weeks and provide a recap. In your report describe the amazing scenes surrounding the mine as news reporters and camera crews arrived to film the rescue efforts. Make your report as descriptive as possible.
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____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________
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Background Information:
Chernobyl r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S
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Unlike most western reactors, the Chernobyl reactors lacked an enclosure to prevent radioactive isotopes from escaping. A power surge caused fuel in the nuclear reactor to overheat, resulting in a steam explosion and fire. The radio isotopes created by nuclear fission in the reactor escaped into the atmosphere through the smoke from the fire, which burned for ten days.
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For more information on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster visit these websites: Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster www.chernobyl.co.uk/
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The worst nuclear accident in history occurred in April, 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Kiev in Ukraine, which was then part of the Soviet Union. An explosion and fire ripped apart the reactor and released large amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere. Nuclear fallout from the accident caused many health and environmental problems.
Chernobyl: A Nuclear Disaster library.thinkquest.org/3426/
Chernobyl Accident - Wikipedia Article en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_accident
© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons United Nations: Chernobyl 20th Anniversary •f orr evi ew puchernobyl.undp.org/english/ r posesonl y•
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Chernobyl Today library.advanced.org/3426/data/chernobyltoday/
Note: Due to changes in the region, the name “Chernobyl” is now sometimes spelt as “Chornobyl” using the Ukrainian spelling, so when using search engines, it might pay to try both combinations.
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In the early 1990s, Ukrainian officials estimated that 6000 to 8000 people died as a result of the explosion and its aftermath. The disaster has caused high rates of cancer and other illnesses in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. As a result of the accident at Chernobyl, opposition to nuclear power increased in many countries during the late 1980s.
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Soviet officials initially reported that 31 people had died from radiation sickness or burns and more that than 200 others were seriously injured. The radioactive substances spread over parts of what are now Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, and were carried by winds into northern and central Europe. Experts expected a significant increase in the number of cancer deaths among those near the reactor.
World Disasters Series – Book 3
Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster The following eight paragraphs represent a brief account of the nuclear accident at Chernobyl in what was then known as the Soviet Union (USSR). The paragraphs have not been placed in the correct sequence. You will need to read some reference material before cutting out the boxes and rearranging the paragraphs in the order that the events happened at Chernobyl. In the empty box write a paragraph telling about the latest developments in the Chernobyl disaster. Use the websites on Page 34 to help you with your research.
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oviet reactors do not have containment buildings to prevent the release of radioactivity. In order to avoid contamination of the Dnieper River which supplies Kiev, engineers tunnelled beneath the reactor. A thick layer of protective concrete was poured.
ork was ready to begin on the final stage of the clean-up. The reactor was to be encased in concrete. The construction of a massive concrete box about twenty storeys high would seal the reactor forever. The remains of the core will be hot for many years as the radioactivity slowly declines.
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nhabitants of Pripyat, a town built to house workers at the plant, were advised to stay indoors. No warnings were issued. People in the immediate area were not evacuated for 36 hours.
t was not until four days after the disaster that the Soviet Union broke its silence. Officials admitted to the rest of the world that an accident had occurred at Chernobyl. According to the brief statement, two people were killed and nearby inhabitants had been evacuated. Three other nuclear reactors had been shut down.
© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y•
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he fire at Chernobyl was finally brought under control. For two weeks helicopters had smothered the reactor with a mixture of sand, clay, lead and boron.
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ire officers were exposed to dangerously high levels of radiation when they attended the fire at the Chernobyl power station. A huge explosion smashed the roof and walls of the building. Large quantities of radioactive material escaped into the atmosphere. The accident occurred during an experiment at the plant.
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adiation detectors in Sweden reported increased levels of radiation. Initial fears that there was a radioactive leak at a local nuclear power station were dispelled when similar readings were confirmed in Denmark and Norway. Experts soon pinpointed the leak at Chernobyl, Russia. Wind had carried the radioactive material across Europe.
o c . che e r ______________________________ o t r s supe r ______________________________
mergency measures were immediately put into action in the Scandinavian region and other European countries. People were warned against eating fresh fruit, vegetables and fish and drinking fresh milk and rainwater. Contaminated produce was ordered to be dumped at official centres. Farmers were advised to keep cows indoors. In Poland iodine was distributed to children in an attempt to reduce radiation intake.
______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________
World Disasters Series – Book 3
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Background Information:
Radiation Radiation is the transmission of energy in the form of waves, and is present whenever energy moves from one place to another.
Medical Uses
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Many people think radiation is something that only happens around nuclear reactors, however, there are other forms of radiation such as the sunlight we receive and ultraviolet rays. Other everyday forms of radiation include heat from the fireplace, radio signals sending sound and light from a laser beam, and microwaves used to cook food.
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Some types of cells in the human body are more easily damaged by radiation than others. The most sensitive cells are those of the blood-forming bone marrow and lymphoid tissues and those of a human embryo. Adult muscle and brain cells are the least sensitive to radiation. The amount of radiation in the body is measured in units known as rems or millirems. The average person throughout his/her life would receive 7 to 14 rems from natural sources of radiation, such as the sun. This is known as background radiation. Smokers take in higher doses from radioactive isotopes in smoke.
© ReadyEdAP ubl i cat i ons single exposure of 5 to 75 rems produces few visible symptoms. Vomiting, fatigue, and •f orr evi ew pu r p ose o nl y•of loss of appetite wills occur with exposures
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Detecting Radiation Even though radiation is invisible and without smell or taste, it can easily be detected using special instruments. A Geiger counter is an instrument that detects forms of radiation. Geiger counters are used by prospectors to find uranium and other radioactive elements.
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75 to 200 rems, and recovery takes a few weeks. Severe changes in blood cells and haemorrhage occur with exposures of more than 300 rems. Above 600 rems, a person can expect to lose his/her hair and the body’s ability to fight infection, which will usually result in death.
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Radiation can actually help in diagnosing, preventing and curing serious diseases. Every time we have an X-ray we are exposed to low levels of radiation that is used to allow doctors to see broken bones and cancers that might be growing in the body.
o c . che e r o t r s s r u e p Check Out: Radiation Sickness This sickness involves a variety of symptoms that result after a person’s exposure to damaging amounts of certain types of radiation. Exposures to high levels of radiation can cause a variety of ongoing injuries or even death.
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Doctors can treat only the symptoms of radiation sickness. Blood transfusions and the use of antibiotics to fight infection are common treatments.
Radioactivity - ThinkQuest Site library.thinkquest.org/27954/welcome.htm Z for Zachariah - Nuclear Holocaust novel www.answers.com/topic/z-for-zachariah
World Disasters Series – Book 3
Radiation The picture shows a worker measuring radiation levels following the Chernobyl accident.
What is radiation? ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
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Outline the dangers associated with exposure to various levels of radiation as shown below. Scientific opinion varies in these effects.
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___________________________________
negligible levels: ___________________
___________________________________ low levels: ________________________ ___________________________________ moderate levels: ___________________
© ReadyEdPu bl i cat i ons ___________________________________ intense levels: _____________________ • f o r r e v i e w p u r p o s e s o nl y• ________________________________
Describe in detail the outfit the worker is wearing.
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The levels of radioactivity around nuclear power stations are constantly monitored. Workers in nuclear power stations are exposed to extremely low levels of radiation.
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Name the instrument which the worker is using. ________________________________ Outline its purpose.
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Identify the two ways that these low levels are achieved. 1. __________________________________ ___________________________________
________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________
2. __________________________________ ___________________________________
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Background Information:
Energy r o e t s Bo r e p ok u S The Victorian Gas Crisis
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In the United States, an accident occurred at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1979. Overheating caused by an interruption in the reactor’s cooling system resulted in severe damage to a reactor core. However, a protective building that contained the reactor, largely prevented the radioactive debris from being released into the environment.
Radiation levels outside the site were about seven times that of normal background levels. The workers received radiation of up to 4000 times the level considered safe.
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Chernobyl was not the first area to suffer a nuclear accident. In 1957 in Northern England, fallout from a fire at Windscale plutonium production plant contaminated about 520 square kilometres of surrounding countryside. A large amount of radioactive material was released and the British government banned the sale of milk from cows in that part of England for more than a month after the fire.
In September 1998, a gas explosion occurred at an Esso gas plant in East Gippsland, Victoria. The site was rocked by huge explosions in the afternoon which resulted in a huge fire. The blaze forced the other two Esso gas plants to be shut down, meaning all gas supplies to Victoria were lost.
© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons Two people were killed in the blast and eight •f orr evi ew pu r p os es oseries nl y people were injured in the of •
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Esso defended the design of the gas plant but said that new options would be considered. Although only one of the three plants was affected, the other two plants could not function because of the way the three plants were interconnected. It was estimated that the reconstruction of the damaged site would cost $1 billion.
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In September 1999, a uranium processing plant in Tokaimura, Japan, was the scene for Japan’s worst nuclear accident. An accident at the plant set off an atomic reaction which resulted in the deaths of two workers. Three workers were sent to hospital and all others in a 385 metre radius were required to be evacuated to avoid radiation sickness.
The accident was caused by workers who were not practising proper safety procedures.
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The Victorian Gas Crisis meant restrictions on gas usage and fines for people who continued to use gas.
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Although no one died in the accident, concerns about the safety of nuclear reactors increased. Mechanical and human failures resulted in a breakdown of the reactor’s cooling system and the destruction of the reactor core. Clean-up of the plant was completed in the early 1990s.
explosions. More than 120 residents in the surrounding areas were evacuated.
Check Out: Esso Gas Plant Explosion en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ 1998_Esso_Longford_gas_explosion
World Disasters Series – Book 3
Energy at a Price In all industries associated with the production of energy there are dangers, and in all industries disasters have occurred. In the table below list some of the risks involved in the production, transportation, storage and waste products of each form of industry. Risks/dangers ...
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... to workers
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oil
gas
coal
nuclear
... to general population
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... to the environment
Nuclear energy has a number of advantages over other forms of energy production. It also has distinct disadvantages.
Advantages
Disadvantages
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________________________________ © R e a d y E d P u bl i cat i ons ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ •f orr evi ew pur p osesonl y• ________________________________
Survey
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After Chernobyl, opinion polls conducted throughout Europe indicated that the majority of the people opposed the establishment of any new nuclear power stations, e.g. West Germany - 69% opposed, The Netherlands - 70% opposed.
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How do the results of your survey compare with those above, i.e. in Europe?
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Survey 20 people of various ages over 10 years with the question:
“Are you for or against the use of nuclear power stations?” Multiply the responses by 5 to represent a percentage, e.g. 3 responses × 5 = 15%
Survey results For
________ percent
Against
________ percent
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Outline some of the possible reasons for any variations. ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
World Disasters Series – Book 3
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Background Information:
Sporting Disasters Tragedies at sporting events are fairly rare. However when they do occur, they usually involve thousands of spectators. Some of the more well-known disasters include:
The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race (1998)
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The worst soccer disaster on record occurred in Lima, Peru in 1964, when more than 300 soccer fans were killed and 500 were injured. The tragedy occurred during riots and panic that followed a decision made by a referee in the Peru versus Argentina game.
Hillsborough Disaster
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In 1955, a racing car in the Grand Prix hurtled into the grandstand, killing 82 spectators.
The race that had become known as one of the world’s major sporting events turned into a major sporting disaster when six sailors were tragically killed and several others injured. In the ocean off south-eastern Australia the race was in chaos. At one stage eight yachts and more than 70 people were missing when dangerous storm conditions developed over Bass Strait.
Extreme Sports Accidents
Extreme sports have a high risk factor due to the conditions in which they take place. Kayaking, rock climbing, skiing, bungee jumping, windsurfing, mountain climbing, parachuting, canyoning, cave diving and white water rafting, among others are considered to be extreme sports. Most of the thrill is in the danger involved. More accidents and disasters occur in these types of sports.
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Lenin Stadium, Moscow In 1982, at least 340 people were killed when exiting soccer fans collided with returning fans after the final goal was scored. The fans had been crowded into one section by the police.
Skiing and snowboarding are considered to be extreme sports because of the element of danger that is created in a skiing environment. Not only are skiers and snowboarders susceptible to steep and slippery mountain slopes, they may also get caught in blizzards and avalanches.
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In 1989, a tragic disaster occurred at a football final in Northern England where 96 people were killed. After several inquiries, it was ruled that the accident occurred because two policeman allowed a flood of late arrivals into the ground, crushing those already inside against the stadium’s fenced in enclosure.
Canyoning is an extreme sport originating in France about 15 years ago. It is much more dangerous than white water rafting as it takes place without a raft or any other escape vessel. The sport is done in narrow gorges or canyons that are too rugged for boats of any kind. The fast moving and swirling water makes the sport dangerous under normal conditions.
. t eFire o Bradford Stand c . che e r o t r s super In 1985, a fire broke out in the main grandstand at the Bradford Stadium (UK) resulting in 56 deaths while 200 others were injured.
Soccer World Cup Qualifying Match (1996) In Guatemala, at least 84 people were killed and 147 were injured by stampeding soccer fans before a 1998 World Cup qualifying match between Guatemala and Peru. The tragedy occurred at the Mateo Flores National Stadium.
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All participants wear protective gear such as helmets, wetsuits and ropes. People must be extremely fit and be able to dive and swim before taking part in such an activity. Safety procedures should be understood before taking part in the activity. Extreme sports have a much higher risk of casualties when compared to sports such as football, rugby, tennis and cricket.
World Disasters Series – Book 3
Sporting Disasters A number of disasters have occurred at major sporting events. Many of them involve spectators and crowding problems. Select one from the list below or one of your own to research.
•Le Mans Grand Prix smash (1955) •Hillsborough disaster (U. K. 1989) •Sydney to Hobart yacht race (1998)
•Bradford stadium fire (U. K. 1985) •Soccer stampede in Guatemala (1996) •Accra Hearts of Oak Soccer stampede (2001)
r o e t s Bo r e p ok u Research S Disaster: ___________________
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Organise your notes under the following headings (or others as appropriate). Present your information as one of the following: oral presentation, wall mural, booklet or PowerPoint presentation.
Date: ________________________
Location: _______________________________________________________
Outline of the disaster: (Include details of resulting loss of life and damage.)
© ReadyEdPubl i cat i ons _____________________________________________________________________________ •f orr evi ew pur posesonl y• _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________
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Contributing factors: e.g. human error, malfunction, weather conditions
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_____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Resulting precautions:
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Canyoning: An Extreme Sport In July 1999, a tragic accident occurred in Switzerland when 21 adventurers lost their lives. This tragedy was caused by a natural event (flood), however, it is often thought of as a man-made disaster as the deaths occurred as a result of an organised event. Using your research skills, find out information about this tragedy and complete the questions below.
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Where exactly did this tragedy occur? ________________________________ What is an extreme sport?
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What does the extreme sport of canyoning involve? ________________________________
Disaster 1: _______________________
Date: ____________________________
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Find reports on other tragedies that have occurred as a result of participation in extreme sports and describe some of them below.
Location: _________________________ What happened?
___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
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Disaster 2: _______________________
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Date: ____________________________
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Location: _________________________
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What happened?
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World Disasters Series – Book 3
Background Information:
Terrorism Around the World Topics for Further Research:
Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001 the subject of terrorism has exploded onto the world stage. Terrorism, however, is not a new thing. Acts of terror have been occurring for hundreds of years. Terrorism basically means the use or threat of violence and crime to create widespread fear and grief in an attempt to greatly affect a society or government. Acts of terrorism include bombings, arson, plane hijackings, kidnappings, murder and other serious crimes.
Significant Groups in History
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You may want to research the activities and causes of the following groups that are believed to have carried out terrorist attacks in the past. • Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden • Irish Republican Army (IRA) • Palestinian Liberation Front (PLO)
• Aum Shinrikyo (Japanese group responsible for Sarin nerve gas deaths in Tokyo subway in 1995) • Ku Klux Klan (KKK)
How are terrorists different to other criminals?
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What is Terrorism?
Major Terrorist Attacks Since 2001
0Sep 2001 – September 11 attacks in New York and Washington, USA.
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0Oct 2002 – Bali Bombings, Indonesia.
0May 2003 – Bombings in Casablanca, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.
0Aug 2003 – Bombing of Marriott Hotel in Indonesia 0Apr 2004 – Series of attacks in Saudi Arabia 0Sep 2004 – Australian Embassy bomb, Indonesia
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Most serious criminals commit crimes for money or revenge whereas the goal of terrorists is usually political. Conducting acts of terror is a way that terrorists think will bring publicity to their cause, which will then result in some sort of political change. Terrorists may be fighting for freedom for a particular race or cultural group, or for a government to change its policies or political behaviour. People throughout the world know that acts of terror result in the killing and wounding of innocent victims. Governments around the world, such as in the United States and United Kingdom, have declared a “War on Terror”, however, it is difficult to fight terror as no countries wish to be seen as harbouring terrorists. Many terrorists refer to themselves as “freedom fighters”.
0Mar 2004 – Train bombing in Madrid, Spain
0Jul 2005 – London bus and Underground bombings 0Oct 2005 – Bombings at Kuta and Jimbaran, Bali
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Terrorists carefully plan their attacks to get as much media coverage as possible. They are likely to target world landmarks and tourist centres as this will spread news of the event to worldwide audiences. They believe that the more attention they receive, the more they will gather support for their cause.
Check Out:
Terrorism Incidents around the World www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorist_incidents Looking For Answers www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/terrorism/ Peace Gallery www.mamamedia.com/activities/gallery_2/peace/ Fighting Terrorism dailynews.yahoo.com/fc3/yahooligans/usattack Biological Warfare www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bioterror/ Bomb Squad www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/robots/
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A Tragedy of the Time Research a terrorist incident from recent times. Use websites to gather accurate information about the attack. Complete the report below. Date: ________________
Location: ___________________
Time: ______________
Type of attack: _____________________________________
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Number of deaths: ___________________
Number of injured: ___________________
Specific details of the attack:
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Who took responsibility for the attack?
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What was the motive for the attack? __________________________________
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Aftermath
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Have any further attacks taken place at this location? _____________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Give details of memorials that remember this tragedy: _____________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Page 44
World Disasters Series – Book 3