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Year 6 Debate: Are most natural disasters man-made today?

Good morning year 6!

Following on from our latest unit of writing I would like to ask you a question: Are most natural disasters man-made today?

I would love to hear your opinions in the comments below! Remember to try to use a variety of conjunctions. I have given an example below. Please reply to comments with relevant contrasting evidence and create a fair and interesting debate in the comments!

Example:

There are many reasons as to why people believe that humans are not responsible for causing natural disasters. It has been found that natural disasters date back to at least 526AD. The third most deadly earthquake (on record) was measured at 7.9 on the Richter scale: this took place in Syria during the Byzantine Empire. It is safe to say that during this time period humans were unable to contribute to ‘climate change’ and ‘global warming’ due to their lack of carbon emissions. Furthermore, scientists claim tectonic activity was far more frequent in prehistoric times, than it is today. This information links closely to the cause of the Damghan Earthquake in Iran (856AD).

Verbal

59 responses to “Year 6 Debate: Are most natural disasters man-made today?”

  1. Umar H.

    I believe that disasters are caused by human interference.For example,in 2010, the Guatemala government had been taking shortcuts when building infrastructure.This is the cause of a 100m sinkhole resulting in the death of 90 people and over 100 injured.The result of building over volcanic soil

  2. Mohammad A.

    I believe that natural disasters are mostly caused by human activity because some activity like building infrastructures on the wrong type of land can have a massive impact on that area which can lead to disasters happening.For example in 2010 Guatemala a sinkhole swallowed a building whole 90 people were killed during that time and hundreds injured due to the lack of knowledge on that specific area.

  3. Ilyas I.

    Some people say that natural disasters are man-made as techniques such as slash and burn used for harvesting can cause wildfires. On the other hand, the other group argues that they are beyond human control. Disasters such as tsunamis are controlled by the flow of water (which is controlled by the moon). I believe that it is humans’ and nature’s fault. Some are caused by nature but humans make more happen by consuming more resources.

  4. Xavier M.

    I believe that humans are causing natural disaster by ‘ climate change’ and are destroying the ice as most animals have hard time survival their also can be extinct .but humans aren’t the soul cause of some like floods , earthquake and hurricanes. As well people are throwing environment as that makes animals die and choke on it.

  5. Rahaniya S.

    The all natural disasters are not man-made. first the blame is going on a persons and then some peoples are saying there name is natural so it could be natural it was coming under the ground like same to same like every Google’s was telling us it was storm 🌪so might in the night and scientist 👨‍🔬 can find everything so it could be storm or tornado today and I am in class I can listen 👂🏻 outside is scary sounds.

  6. Musab H.

    For:
    To start with, humans have been impacting the earth in negative way and the environment in a costly way.Adding to this, lots of deforestation (cutting down trees) occurs, for farmland and for space, which humans require.As a result, this is effecting the environment-greenlands- because the greenery has been replaced for agriculture.Also, humans are consuming too many fossil fuels, petrol from car gases from factories and industries.Consequently, this is causing a change in global weather patterns: that can lead to an increase in floods and wildfires.
    Against:
    On the other hand, there have been many examples throughout history where earthquakes and tsunami’s can be caused by the movement of the tectonic plates around the earth’s underground. Evidence from the Richter Scale over the years, has shown severe earthquakes can be caused by seismic waves and activity earths core. Also, expert evidence from NASA has claimed that the moon can lead to potential natural disasters, due to the speed of which it orbits planet earth. Some climates, have extreme heat conditions based on their position on Earths (linked to the equator):this can lead to high temperature, high humidity and potential droughts, due to a lack of precipitation.
    By Esra and Musab.

  7. Yousuf I.

    Are most natural disasters man-made today?
    On one hand, sprawing cities and consumption of fossil fuels causing changes in global patterns leading to an increase in natural disasters. Secondly, milk,cheese,yogurt and meat are polluting our environment and risk for natural disasters. Thirdly, deforestation in the Amazon is causing a waste for natural resources and using that space for calttle-ranches. Furthermore, deforestation causes flooding and soil erosions in these areas . According to resources, deforestation cause Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 in Haiti. Finally, deforestation will be replaced by industry which use harmful things to the natural resources

    On the other hand, there have been many examples throughout history where earthquakes and tsunamis can be caused by the movement of tectonic plates around the earth,underground. Evidence for the Richter scale over the years , has shown severe earthquakes can be caused by seismic waves and activity in the earths core. In the earths core, there is a rise of temperatures and gases. The moon activity orbiting the earth can cause natural disasters. Some climates have extreme heat conditions based on the earths position. Tsunamis are caused by ocean currents and the tide. Based on the theory of evolution, natural disasters might have been caused by humans because they haven’t evolved. Even though humans were not around, they still happened. Meteors come from space e.g. the Volcanos on mars haven’t erupted for 25 million years

    In conclusion, I understand that human activity is contributing to an increase in natural disasters. However, reasearch shoes natural disasters are outside of human control. Overall, I believe natural disasters can’t be blamed on humans.

  8. Asilah K.

    For:
    Since humanity began a lot of humans started impacting the Earth.Humans began cutting down millions of trees(which is called deforestation).Without trees there will be no rain so this will cause droughts as well deforestation disrupts the water cycle.
    And humans are consuming too much fossil fuels(gas, petrol and industries). As a result, that will change the weather and there will be floods. As well we are consuming too much animal products (cheese, milk and meat). Humans have cut down 15 billion trees just for farmland, cattle ranches (cows herds) and space that humans require.And soil gets covered by cement and then plants cannot grow,without plants there will be no food.

    Against:
    On the other hand,there have been many tsunamis and earthquakes occurred due to the activity of tectonic plates. Expert evidence NASA, say that the moon’s activity may have a part in natural disasters. Some typhoons or tsunamis are by the oceans current . Not all global warming is due to human activity they are also due to the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. Some climates have extreme heat conditions based on their position on Earth. This can lead to high temperature high humidity and potential droughts, due to the lack of precipitation.

    Asilah & Aleena
    6.B

  9. Rida W.

    Our actions (for example deforestation and others), can lead to different types of natural disasters , the two types of them can be geological and hydrological disasters. These two categories can include droughts (lack of water as trees can bring water from soil to the base ground) and floods if there aren’t enough trees to store extra water.

    On the other hand, research indicates that natural disasters are not man-made, but instead it is caused by the Earths natural process; combined with activity beyond the atmosphere (also known as meteorological disasters).

    On the contrary, human diets have a impact on our atmosphere. As deforestation continues, more cattle ranches are being made by farmers to meet our needs; this may seem good but it has some negative effects including cattle emitting toxic gases. Following on from this, deforestation and other human actions in Haiti cause Hurricane Jeanne (making room for more buildings).

    However, experts from NASA say that the moon can lead hydrological disasters because of how it orbits our planet and its speed. Meteorological disasters (beyond the Earth) can effect the ground causing geological disasters, Meteorological disasters can only happen if a meteor hits Earth.

    By Rasan and Rida

  10. Rahima J.

    Are most natural disasters man-made?

    On one hand, people believe natural disasters are occurring because of human interference. Climate change is a big impact because as temperatures rise the more wildfires and droughts there are. And the more ice that melts the sea and ocean levels rise causing floods if near land.

    On the other hand humans aren’t the cause to natural disasters because natural disasters have occurred. Natural disasters like earthquakes use of tectonic movement beneath the earth’s surface.

  11. Ellie T.

    For:
    firstly , it would be wrong not to discuss without stating the disaster that we can have on our environment, leading to potentially catastrophic natural disasters.Starting with fossil fuels (which are more oil and deadly gases) across the world civilians from countries like Iraq 🇮🇶,Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 and Syria 🇸🇾 (which produce More oil which also can lead to fossil fuels being spread in the air)are dominating our Earths recourses.As a result, toxic gases are being let out into our stratosphere.
    Against:
    Some climates have extreme heat conditions based on their position on earth (linked to the equorter). This can be a high temperature, high and potential for earthquakes and other disasters.

  12. Reece T.

    Are most natural disasters man made today?

    Firstly,Humans are not the cause of natural disasters because there are
    Natural disasters on other planets

    We had a bigger response but the iPad died.

  13. Danyaal H.

    For argument:
    Humans have been impacting Earth and the Environment in a costly way. Lots of deforestation has took place to make way for agriculture. For this reason more than 3 trillion trees have been cut down and less oxygen is being produced. Less trees means less rainfall. These are important in the Water Cycle because they bring ground water back into the atmosphere.

    Against argument:
    Based on the Theory of Evolution before humans had even existed natural disasters were still occurring such as Earthquakes and Hurricanes. Expert evidence from NASA, has claimed that the Moon can lead to potential natural disasters, due to the rapid speed of which it orbits planet Earth.

    From Danyaal and Eesa.

  14. A global concern over recent times has been natural disasters.Firstly,it would be wrong not to discuss this subject without stating the impact that Homo sapiens have on the global atmosphere. Studies show that cities have the most disasters every year. Deforestation Impact animal habitats and the environment, This disrupts the water cycle because less trees can catch rainfall which could lead to potential floods.Since humanity has begun, humans have been mutilating the environment and Earth’s resources in a negative way.Starting with fossil fuels(coal,oil and nuclear gases) across the world, many countries have been squandering and depleting the Earth’s natural resources.

    Other people believe that they are natural because tectonic plates collide together to create an earthquake and we cannot speed or reduce this process.

    By Raihaan, Jacob and Siddra

  15. Leyad R.

    Firstly, it would be wrong to discuss this issue without stating all of the dangerous impacts that humans have created in the Earths environment, which is leading to potential natural disasters.Since humanity has begun, humans have been weakening the environment and the earths recourses in a very costly way. Starting with fossil fuels: (coal, oil and nuclear waste) all across the globe. As a result to this, toxic fumes are being emitted into the atmosphere: creating a rise in temperature.

    On the other hand to this debate, rainfalls and releases large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. Evidence shows that 48% of trees have been chopped down in the last 1200 years.Thus contributing to ever-increasing natural disasters such as: ( floods, tornadoes and many more) So as a result of this, research indicates that natural disasters are no man-made instead caused by The Earths Natural Process; combined with activity beyond the atmosphere.

    By James and Leyad.

  16. Sheima B.

    Surely humans contribute to natural disasters .Since humanity’s birth we have been damaging the environment in a costly way.Fossil fuels emit toxic gases which is leading to global warming which also has a big change in weather patterns which causes natural disasters.Furthermore ,these effects can cause extreme wether patterns producing evoking higher chances of wild fires and floods.

    In addition to this as humans ,we require large amounts of space and land to live , especially as the pollution continues to increase. Unfortunately , green spaces filled with trees and vegetation are being demolished -through deforestation-disrupting living organisms habitats , as well as , the water cycle.A lack of trees, significe that they are unstable to catch the rainfall and releases large amounts of CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the air.

    On the other hand, eraser has indicates that natural disasters are not man – made , but instead are caused by earths natural process; combined with activity beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.

    BY Sheima and Elyas

  17. Timothy C.

    Are most natural disasters man-made today?

    Research indicates that most natural disasters are not man-made because there is volcanic activity on Mars and on mars there is no sign of life. Also during the theory of dinosaurs there was a natural disaster ( known as a meteorite) which hit earth 66 million years ago. Some natural disasters, such as typhoons and tsunamis can be caused by the oceans current and the way the tide is flowing. Natural disasters such as wildfires can be caused by the heat of earth.

    Contrasting on this, natural disasters such as global warming and ice landslides are man-made. Moreover, humans release lots of gas which has entered the atmosphere and caused the earth to build a layer of emitted gas. This has caused ice to melt into the ocean and cause the sea levels to rise. Also wildfires are cause by humans because humans burn trees for land and farms to make money.

    Therefore I think natural disasters can be man-made and can be caused by natural reasons.

  18. Merab R.

    Firstly humans have been impacting Earth and the environment in a costly manner, in addition to this lots of deforestation has been occurring due to the lack of trees , being cut down for cattle ranches . Furthermore, these effects can cause extreme weather patterns , producing higher chances of wildfires . Moreover , with fossil fuels , across the world many countries have been consuming and developing the earths natural resources. As a result of this , toxic gases are being emitted into the atmosphere , frequently : creating a rise in temperature that can damage the ozone layer due to the increase of pollution .

    Against :
    On the other hand , there have been many examples throughout history where earthquakes and tsunamis can be caused by the movement of tectonic plates around the earth underground . Evidence from the Richter scale
    over the years , has shown severe earthquakes that can be causes by seismic waves and activity in the earths core . In contrast , it can be suggested that humans do not cause natural disasters but instead be caused by earths natural processes : combined with activity within the Earths atmosphere .

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