The hazards presented by volcanic activity have the greatest impact on the poorest members of the worlds population. To what extent do you agree with this view?

The first 200 words of this essay...

The hazards presented by volcanic activity have the greatest impact on the poorest members of the world's population. To what extent do you agree with this view?

Volcanic hazards include the primary effects of lava, lahars, and pyroclastic flows as well as the respiratory issues caused by inhalation of ash and gas. Larger, more ashy eruptions can cause worldwide effects, modern day eruptions halting and diverting commercial flights, but also causing temporary climate change and potential famines. Volcanic activity occurs in developed and undeveloped areas of the world, dictated by plate boundaries and weaknesses that produce hotspots, such as the Pacific Ring of Fire and Hawaii. Despite this, poorer populations such as those in Indonesia receive high frequencies of volcanic activity that may shrink their economies and make repair and development more difficult, potentially implementing a vicious cycle of social and economic problems caused by poor housing and transport preventing the population from working to repair its economy.

The eruptions of Soufriere Hills beginning in 1995 affected Montserrat's rich and poor inhabitants. As the mostly uninhabitable island's capital town Plymouth was covered in ash, lahars, and pyroclastic flows, many people were evacuated and the majority of the island's