Puerto Rico’s Seismic Shocks
Part 1: Summary
It is worth noting that the article, ‘Puerto Rico’s Seismic Shocks’ is focused on illustrating how recent earthquakes, as well as aftershocks in Puerto Rico, create what is described as overwhelming evidence of the urgent need for community-directed renewable energy. As such, this article by Catalina de Onis, Hilda Llorens as well as Ruth ‘Tata’ helps the reader discover how seismic activity has impacted the environment in various ways in Puerto Rico. As far as this is concerned, it becomes imperative to realize that more than one thousand quakes have rocked the southern region, something that has taken place in just two weeks, and this is with many getting to 4.5 or even greater magnitude. According to the article, news reports, including residents’ social media posts to a great extent, documented and continue to record their fully altered surroundings.
It is essential to note that the issue described in the article has affected the people in various ways. As the authors argue, at least three deaths, numerous injuries, as well as devasted infrastructure, have been reported. Additionally, students across the region have been affected negatively as school reopening has, to a great extent, been delayed primarily because of the urgent need for building inspections. The impacts are described as gravely concerning, and the government ought to take immediate action in addressing the issue (Onis, et al., 2020). It is proper to remember that energy creation through methane gas combustion involves risks associated with a seismic activity that can highly result in leaks as well as explosions. This tends to be a great danger both to the members of the public, including the environment. The situation has led to the creation of toxic environments that, in one way or another, end up harming people’s physical health as well as their mental health.
The article has some connections with the United States’ interests. As the United States focuses on improving its service delivery to the people, it has realized that earthquakes, including all seismic activities, happen to be among the largest triggers of economic disruption. As such, the government strives to address the issue in various parts of the country, including Puerto Rico. As stated in the article, ‘Puerto Rico’s Seismic Shocks,’ Puerto Rico has for a long time been utilized by the government as guinea pugs for establishing capitalism in Latin America, cancer research and birth control testing, something that implies that the United States cannot let the region be troubled by seismic activity without it intervening. It becomes of great significance to realize that for the Americas to prosper, Puerto Rico ought to be making the necessary steps.
Part 2: My Point of View
I am impressed by the arguments put across by the authors of the article. These authors play a tremendous role in reminding us that in order to address challenges with grid failures, air pollution as well as unreliable, expensive power, especially when there are storms or various other disasters, the government would have to step in and support projects aimed at solving the issue. It is worth noting that amid widespread power outages experienced in Puerto Rico as a result of a series of strong earthquakes, the region has turned to the use of generators as the means to power their basic needs as well as activities (Onis, et al., 2020). Even though this may sound like an excellent approach when it comes to solving the issue, it is proper to realize that a lot of industries that use high voltage will suffer as generators considered cannot run them.
Additionally, I do agree with the argument that energy creation through what is described as methane gas combustion, to a great extent, involves risks connected to seismic activity that can result in leaks as well as explosions. Such incidents tend to be a great danger to the people, including the environment. It would, therefore, be proper for the United States government to consider ways to address the issue and ensure that seismic activity does not affect the economic progress of Latin America negatively. As far as this is concerned, it becomes proper to discover that just like in the rest of the United States, electricity in Puerto Rico is highly created mostly at large, centralized plants. Rural, as well as small island communities, are particularly at great risk for what can best be identified as frequent and also prolonged disruption in service (Blanchard-Boehm, 2004). Therefore, by dealing with the issue, the country will be in a position to avoid high electricity costs. The article has helped me to discover that the issue being faced is not an issue for Puerto Rico alone, but it is an issue that affects Latin America and the Americas in general. It implies that solving the issue will benefit the entire United States of America.
Conclusion
It is worth noting that recent earthquakes, as well as aftershocks in Puerto Rico, generate what is identified as overwhelming evidence of the urgent need for community-directed renewable energy. It is to imply that seismic activity in this region, Puerto Rico, has to a great extent impacted the environment in various ways. Additionally, the issue, as described in ‘Puerto Rico’s Seismic Shocks’ has affected the people negatively. For instance, students have had to wait for longer for schools to reopen, something that has been triggered by the urgent need for building inspections. There have been deaths, numerous injuries as well as devastating infrastructure being reported. The health of the people continues to be at great risk as a result of leaks and explosions. The issue has led to economic disruption in Latin America and in the entire United States. Therefore, focusing on addressing the issue will be an excellent way for the nation to ensure that there are no high electricity costs.