• journal_title：Geology
• Contributor：Joseph V. Smith
• Publisher：Geological Society of America
• Date：1985-
• Format：text/html
• Language：en
• Identifier：10.1130/0091-7613(1985)13<675:POTHRA>2.0.CO;2
• journal_abbrev：Geology
• issn：0091-7613
• volume：13
• issue：10
• firstpage：675

Although we justifiably worry about the danger of nuclear war to civilization, and perhaps even to survival of the human race, we tend to consider natural hazards (e.g., comets, asteroids, volcanoes, earthquakes) as unavoidable acts of God. In any human lifetime, a truly catastrophic natural event is very unlikely, but ultimately one will occur. For the first time in human history we have sufficient technical skills to begin protection of Earth from some natural hazards. We could decide collectively throughout the world to reassign resources: in particular, reduction of nuclear and conventional weapons to a less dangerous level would allow concomitant increase of international programs for detection and prevention of natural hazards. Worldwide cooperation to mitigate natural hazards might help psychologically to lead us away from the divisive bickering that triggers wars. Future generations could hail us as pioneers of peace and safety rather than curse us as agents of death and destruction.