Some natural hazards, such as volcanic eruptions, can be predicted days in advance. The U.S. Geological Survey monitors volcanic activity globally. Other hazards, however, such as flash floods or earthquakes cannot be predicted soon enough to save lives.

What is the natural hazard preparedness of your community? Using the Internet, identify the geologic and environmental hazards of your community. Some, such as fault lines, are obvious, but others, such as radon gas or water stress, are more subtle. In an emergency, what should you do to protect yourself or to assist others?

The U.S. National Weather Service and the Meteorological Service of Canada provide up-to-the-minute weather information for North America as well as long-term climate data. Historically, knowing which way the winds blow has been crucial to global trade. In the era of globalization, local storms can have a worldwide effect on finance as well as on communications or transportation. For instance, bad weather can affect oil tanker routes and safety.

The World Resources Institute recently issued a report on environmental risks and the petroleum industry. National energy policies and corporate interests acknowledge that global climate change would begin with altered weather patterns.

If you were an independent consultant hired by a consortium of major corporations, what would you recommend to the energy industry regarding climate change?

Recently, countries suffering from widespread hunger turned away food aid because it derives from genetically modified (GM) crops. Others are suspicious of food that has been irradiated to prevent it from rotting before reaching the consumer.

Are fears regarding GM crops and irradiated foods justified? Or do these fears stem from ignorance that unnecessarily blocks food from reaching the hungry?