<p>Nearly</a> 10,000 reported killed by China quake - CNN.com</p>
<p>^^Some estimates of students killed in the quake.</p>
<p>China</a> earthquake brings faulty school design to the fore - International Herald Tribune</p>
<p>^^Brings to light the poor earthquake preparedness of schools around the world.</p>
<p>Socialism</a> and the Chinese Earthquake - Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr. - Mises Institute</p>
<p>^^Addresses WHY schools are not prepared for earthquakes. In short: schools are made at whim while other buildings come from economic necessity (e.g. consumers desire the services). As a result, schools are amde shoddily and do not take into account risks (i.e. a 5% increase in cost could have prevented this disaster). Here is a quote that is especially telling:</p>
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[quote]
Consider the four-story Xinjian school. The building smashed to the ground, even as a nearby **10-story hotel **was completely undisturbed by the earthquake.
[/quote]
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<p>Don't forget to view the pictures of the concrete in the last link. Truly disturbing. Although this was a natural disaster, people (e.g. politicians) are still to blame for the lack of foresight. How can a building twice as tall as a collapsed school be unscathed?!?! </p>
<p>Risk assessment. Many deaths could have been prevented.</p>