January 2013 edition credits
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- Navigate this page:
- VOCABULARY Tectonic Plates
- VIDEO REVIEW Pre-viewing Activity
- ACTIVITY: Thinking About the Northern Gateway Pipeline
- Answers to Earthquake Quiz
- S Vocabulary – Platform
| SETTING THE STAGE
On October 27, 2012 an earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck at 8:04 p.m. off the west coast of British Columbia. The quake, the largest in Canada in more than 60 years, struck about 70 kilometres south-southwest of Queen Charlotte City, Haida Gwaii. Residents of Haida Gwaii scrambled to get to high ground, and were terrified as more than 50 aftershocks rippled through the area. Despite the size of the earthquake, no one was killed and there was very little damage because the location of the epicenter was in the ocean. Earthquakes in Canada The Pacific Coast of Canada is the most earthquake-prone region of the country. More than 100 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5 or greater have occurred in the offshore region west of Vancouver during the past 70 years. The reason for the concentration of earthquakes along the West Coast is the active faults, or breaks in the earth’s crust, that occur in this area. The West Coast is one of the few areas in the world where four tectonic plates meet and interact. When plates move against each other, earthquakes occur.
Large rigid blocks that are floating on semi-fluid rock and are therefore able to interact with each other at their boundaries. Richter Scale The Richter Scale is a measurement system that evaluates the magnitude – or energy – of an earthquake. The magnitude is recorded through numerical values ranging from 1-10. 
The area beneath the Lower Mainland is known as the Cascadia subduction zone, where the Juan de Fuca plate dips below the North American plate about 50 kilometres below the earth’s surface. In a subduction zone, plates can slip against each other vertically – rather than just bumping up against each other horizontally – and this can create a violent quake and tsunami. Scientists predict that the Cascadia subduction zone will eventually give rise to a giant, megathrust earthquake off the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. It is believed there is a one in 10 chance that it will impact Vancouver in the next 50 years. It is expected that if such a megathrust earthquake strikes, it would result in buckled roads, collapsed buildings, and structural damage to water treatment plants and other major industries. It is also expected that a huge tsunami would be created by the earthquake, which would do further catastrophic damage of its own. Scientists hope that by studying the October 2012 BC earthquake they can learn more about this geologically sensitive area, and be better prepared for earthquakes that are bound to come in the future. To Consider 1. Have you ever felt an earthquake? If so, what was it like? 2. If you live in British Columbia, do you worry about a major earthquake hitting the region? If you live outside British Columbia, would the fact that BC is an earthquake zone deter you from moving to the province? Explain your answer. 3. Do you think that Canada is well prepared for an emergency like a major earthquake? VIDEO REVIEW
By yourself, or with a partner, complete the following Earthquake Quiz. The answers to the quiz can be found at the end of this Guide. H Earthquake Quiz 1. If you were in an apartment, house, or other building, what is the safest spot to be during an earthquake? (a) Under a doorframe (b) On the lowest level of the building (c) Beside a wall 2. Where do most earthquakes occur? (a) At plate boundaries (b) In areas of high urban density (c) In the mantle 3. How many small earthquakes occur each year? (a) 500 – 1,000 (b) 1,000 – 5,000 (c) 20,000 – 25,000 (d) 40,000 – 50,000
(a) 4 inches (10 centimetres) per day (b) 4 inches (10 centimetres) per year (c) 4 inches (10 centimetres) per century (d) 4 inches (10 centimetres) per second
(a) Richtergraph (b) Magnetic resonance machine (c) Wave scope (d) Seismograph
ow did you do on the quiz? If you live in a coastal area you likely did better than a student from Central Canada. But did you know that the Ottawa Valley area in Ontario is prone to earthquakes as well? Viewing Questions 1. How large was the earthquake that occurred off the coast of BC in October of 2012? 2. How many aftershocks occurred? 3. What are tsunami warnings and why are they so important? 4. Why did the U.S. government tsunami warnings get sent out much more quickly than those of the Canadian government? 5. Describe why Prince Rupert would be at risk during an earthquake? 6. What precautions were taken in Prince Rupert after the tsunami warning was issued? 7. Where did most people in Prince Rupert get their information about the tsunami warning? 8. Explain how the new tsunami warning system will work in BC. 9. What information do scientists try to gather after an earthquake? 10. Record some of the physical and psychological impacts of the earthquake on residents of Skidegate. 11. How will the data gathered by scientists be used? Post-viewing Activities With a partner or small group, select one of the following issues to research on your smartphone, laptop, or other electronic device. Be prepared to report back to the class on what you learned. 1. Why did Canadian authorities send out tsunami warnings much later than American authorities? 2. What changes have been made to the earthquake emergency response procedure in British Columbia since the October 2012 quake? 3. Why did the Haida Gwaii hot springs dry up? And will they come back? 4. How have people recovered since the earthquake? Has life gone back to normal or not? ACTIVITY: Thinking About the Northern Gateway Pipeline The Northern Gateway project is a proposed $6.5-billion twin pipeline that would carry crude oil from the Athabasca oil sands near Edmonton, Alberta to a marine terminal in Kitimat, British Columbia. From there the oil would be transported to Asia via tankers. The pipeline project was first introduced in the mid-2000s but has been halted a number of times. Supporters of the pipeline — mostly business people — argue that the pipeline will create hundreds of new jobs. Opponents of the pipeline — among them aboriginal peoples whose lands will be crossed by the pipeline, environmentalists, and many others — argue that the environmental, economic, and cultural risks of the pipeline are too great. Critics also point out that Enbridge, the Canadian company that would develop the pipeline, has a bad history of accidents and oil spills. The October 2012 earthquake has made some people reconsider their position on the Northern Gateway pipeline. Some people feel that the quake underlines the potential pitfalls of oil tankers plying the B.C. coast. The area is prone to earthquakes, and that is a fact. It seems logical to assume that this increases the risk of a disaster involving a major oil spill. So what do you think? Those in support of the pipeline, and those against the pipeline couldn’t be farther apart. The best way for you to decide which side you support, or whether you fall somewhere in the middle, is to learn more about the issue. Visit at least three credible news sites and search for articles on the Northern Gateway pipeline. These sites could include:
The Globe & Mail The Toronto Star Maclean’s magazine The National Post CBC News, CTV News, Global News The Huffington Post Read as much as you can about the proposed pipeline and then write an opinion piece to capture your feelings about the pipeline. You could also record a video rant to express yourself. Be prepared to share your opinion piece, or rant, with the class. Answers to Earthquake Quiz 1. (c) Beside a wall Many people are injured by falling debris just outside buildings. If you are inside it is usually best to stay inside near a wall. If you are outside, move away from buildings and power lines. 2. (a) At plate boundaries Most earthquakes occur at the boundaries where the plates meet. The plates slide over, under, and past each other causing fractures that release energy. 3. (d) 40,000 – 50,000 Although we don’t feel them all, approximately 40,000 to 50,000 small earthquakes are recorded each year. 4. (b) 4 inches (10 centimetres) per year About the same amount that human hair grows in a year. 5. (d) Seismograph The seismograph has a base that sets firmly in the ground, and a heavy weight that hangs free. When an earthquake causes the ground to shake, the base of the seismograph shakes too, but the hanging weight does not. Instead the spring or string that it is hanging from absorbs all the movement. The difference in position between the shaking part of the seismograph and the motionless part is what is recorded.
S Vocabulary – Platform A political platform outlines a political candidate’s (or party’s) position on key issues. ETTING THE STAGE If you ask Canadians what they think about municipal politics, most would say it is “boring” or that they don’t know much about it. After all, municipal – or local – politics is the area of government that most people think is the least interesting. Municipal politicians aren’t involved in sending Canadian troops to war – that’s the federal government, or figuring out how to deal with wait times in hospital emergency rooms – that’s the provincial government. Municipal politics handles local matters like city road repairs, maintenance of parks and recreation facilities, and snow removal. B  ut municipal politics has been in the media spotlight ever since Rob Ford was elected mayor of Toronto in the Fall of 2010. Ford was elected on a platform that promised he’d “cut the fat” from municipal politics. During his campaign he argued that municipal politicians in the city of Toronto had been wasting taxpayers’ money. He vowed to change all that. The 2010 election happened during tough economic times. And when elections happen during tough economic times, voters often vote for a change. They are unhappy with the way things are going in their own lives, and are open to the idea that someone new in office can make things better for them. Voters also often feel that politicians don’t understand them and the struggles that they face. Voters see politicians as wealthy and out-of-touch with the common man or woman. Rob Ford was able to tap into these sentiments and present himself as a common man who understood the struggles of the average voter. “  In economic down times people are angry. So they throw the bums out. But: be careful what you wish for.„
– Neil Thomlinson, political scientist, Ryerson University F
– Rob Ford, after introducing his motion in city council to have garbage collection contracted out to private companies (Steven D’Souza, CBC News) ord won the election easily, despite the fact that he had a sketchy record during his time as a city councilor. He was known for his insensitive comments against homeless people, against some immigrant groups, against homosexuals, and against cyclists: “Roads are built for buses, cars, and trucks. Not for people on bikes. And, you know, my heart bleeds for them when I hear someone gets killed, but it’s their own fault at the end of the day” (Rob Ford, March 3, 2007, Globe & Mail, August 10, 2010). Once in office, Ford began to implement the cost-cutting measures that he had promised during his campaign. He cancelled a transit plan in place for the city that would have seen a light rail train system built across the city. (Toronto is one of the most congested cities in North America.) Instead, he introduced a plan that would see a more expensive underground subway line built. He also pushed through a plan to remove garbage collection from the jurisdiction of the city, and contract it out to private firms. In essence, taking away the jobs from city workers. But he claimed it would save the city money. But it wasn’t just his actions within the council chambers that generated attention: it was his actions outside city council. He was caught using a cell phone while driving and allegedly gave another driver the finger when she tried to get him to hang up. On another occasion he was spotted reading while driving. He also came to attention after he phoned 911 when a comedian from the show This Hour Has 22 Minutes showed up at his house to film a sketch. And he phoned the police when a Toronto Star reporter – trying to do research for a story – walked onto a parcel of land, adjacent to Mr. Ford’s home, that the mayor was trying to purchase. He refused to attend the high-profile Gay Pride parade , and he was charged with an ethics violation after using money he solicited on city letterhead to pay for equipment for the football team he coached. At the end of 2012 Ford was found guilty for breaking conflict of interest rules and was ordered to be removed from office. Another judge ruled he could stay in office pending an appeal. In early 2013 Ford will hear if his appeal was successful. But no matter the outcome, municipal politics will never be the same again. Directory: filer public filer public -> Midlands State University, Zimbabwe Introduction filer public -> Providing access to online research literature a guide for librarians filer public -> Routes to online research literature : a guide for partners and funders filer public -> Programmes which support access to information 1Access to Global online Research in Agriculture (agora) filer public -> Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission September 27, 2016 meeting At Maryland Public Television filer public -> Contacts: Tom Williams, apr filer public -> Astrobiology Research Priorities for Primitive Asteroids filer public -> For immediate release Contacts filer public -> Season 34 of MotorWeek filer public -> Small Group and Shared Reading in the Primary Classroom Background Essay Download 2.38 Mb. Share with your friends:
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