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ITB LC serves you better ACADEMIC WRITING [FRIDAY]: Final Project

Friday, May 13, 2005

Final Project

Please post your final project here

posted by Jati at Friday, May 13, 2005

1 Comments:

Blogger vanya said...

Vanya Vabrina.V (13204033)
Puput Pratiwi (13204122)

Earthquake occurs frequently in this world, especialy in Indonesia. This phenomenon is divided into tectonic earthquake and volcanic earthquake. Tectonic earthquake is defined by “the release of stored energy caused by sudden fracture and movement of rocks inside the earth. Part of the energy released produces seismic waves that travel outward in all directions from the point of initial rupture. These waves shake the ground as they pass by.” (Richter, 1958). Indonesia lies at the junction of three major crustal plates, the Pacific, the Australian, and the Eurasian. The intersection of these plates makes Indonesia as the one of the world’s most complex geological settings. Vulcanic earthquake caused by vulcanic mountains activities, like eruption or elevation changes. Indonesia is located beetwen two largest vulcanic mountains rings, circum Pacific and circum Mediteranian which are regions of young, growing mountains in sesmic-belt. Thus makes earthquake is often happen in Indonesia. The following are arguments why cities located in high-risk earthquake areas should or should not be relocated despite opposition based on economic and historic reasons.
Many people will lose their wealth or even their souls if earthquake occurs in their city before it has been relocated. This hazardous magnitude of earthquake can be predicted by seismograph. Earthquake can be very destructive and deathful if it is occurred in > 8 rithcer scale. In this scale, the shock is higher than the natural frequency of most buildings in Indonesia. Then, buildings, houses, and other constructions that cannot resist the damaging shocks will collapse and strike down people who live there. Besides, all of their wealth will be lost and flat with ground. Vulcanic earthquake can be more dangerous because the eruptions are not only caused damaging shocks, but also produce gas, mudflow, and lava which can threaten people’s life.
Historical relics should be relocated before it is destroyed by earthquake. Mostly, some Indonesian historic relics are located in high risk earthquake area. For example, one of the temple in Central Java, Borobudur, is located near Merapi mountain. Historical monument in Nias is also located in high-risk seismic activity area, which part of it has been broken because of past earthquake. The facts above show that hundred years ago, people chose to build their kingdom society around the whealthy area, which now proven has more vulcanic-tectonic risk. Historical relics, such as temple, statue, aftefak, should be moved first to museum or cultural sites in ‘safe’ area.
With relocation, people will get safe and better place to live. Sometimes, all of facilities, economic life and living things are complete in their city. But, when earthquake attacked, all of those things are gone. The infrastructure, buildings, plantation, government facilities will be ruined. Many people will lose their job and for a couple of time, the economy in the city is unstable. However, earthquake is not just happen once but maybe twice a year, twice a month, or even more than that. For example, the earthquake which happened in Padang several months ago. The shocks attacked their city in January, then it was occurred again in the next month with different magnitude scale. In April, the earthquake was happened every five minutes and continued for several days. To prevent lots of detriments and traumatic people by repeated earthquake, city has to be relocated.
Nevertheless, high-risk earthquake area cannot be relocated because of several problems. It need very high cost to be done, because to move the entire city is not a simple task to do. If it is relocated, inhabitants will lose the historical value that grew in their city. Maybe it was a location where an international agreement had been held or a place where many patriots born. Next, the offenses from the community who live in there. Not all of the people there want to leave their city with sincerity. Because, for them, the city has brought lot of memories in their life.
Despite opposition based on economic and historic reasons, cities located in high-risk earthquake areas should be relocated because of three reasons. First, to prevent the hazardous of earthquake to human’s life. Second, historical relics can be relocated in a safe place before it is destroyed by earthquake. Third, with relocation, people will get safe and better place to live. While, some obstacles will make the city relocation still hard to be done. The relocation has to be prepared well, not only in physical factor like money or the relocation system, but also in human factor. City relocation can prevent large destruction, but it cannot guarantee people to be free from the earthquake.

Wednesday, May 25, 2005 1:21:00 PM  

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