Peter Haas discusses Haiti's 2010 earthquake in a TED talk. The earthquake caused widespread building collapses that displaced many Haitians and cut off food and water. Haas argues it was not just a natural disaster, but a "disaster of engineering" because Haitian buildings were not constructed with proper earthquake-resistant techniques. An organization called Design Corps is helping Haiti's masons learn how to build structures safely.

1. Haiti’s disaster
of engineering
By Peter Haas/On July 2010/length-8:30
http://www.ted.com/talks/peter_haas_haiti_s_
disaster_of_engineering.html

5. • Image from
• haiti,’s earthquake
• http://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/20100115/13/sosh/6b/0c/j/o0610040710376708953.jpg
• Disaster,collapse
• Displaced
• Cut off food and water
• Proper→techniques
→…ly how to build
Key vocabulary

6. • “it was not a natural disaster
– it was a disaster of engineering.”
quotation

7. • Why did many buildings collapse?
• A group helps Haiti’s masons build safe buildings
properly. What group is it?
• Now, how many masons know how to build properly?
Comprehension question:

8. • Experience: When big earthquake happened on March 11th
2011, what did you do? And, have you seen collapsed
buildings?
• Knowledge: What other major earthquakes in the world
do you know about?
• Opinion: Do you think all Japanese buildings are safe?
If you don’t think so, what percentage of
buildings are safe?
Discussion questions: