11-19-2007, 06:35 PM
mella,
my take on why they aren't pursuing diversion:
1) the cultural context is respect for and belief in Pele. Diversion is trying to thwart her will. (as was said above)
2) they don't know what exactly they're doing
3) if they don't divert and houses burn, that is an act of god or rather goddess. If they divert and save some area but the lava takes out other homes that would not have burned -- they the County could get sued for their act that led to those losses.
4) as to why they can't send it over completely unbuilt territory, for sure, refer to points 1 and 2 again. Pele's will and the fact they don't know enough about how to control the results of tinkering to direct them with any precison.
my take on why they aren't pursuing diversion:
1) the cultural context is respect for and belief in Pele. Diversion is trying to thwart her will. (as was said above)
2) they don't know what exactly they're doing
3) if they don't divert and houses burn, that is an act of god or rather goddess. If they divert and save some area but the lava takes out other homes that would not have burned -- they the County could get sued for their act that led to those losses.
4) as to why they can't send it over completely unbuilt territory, for sure, refer to points 1 and 2 again. Pele's will and the fact they don't know enough about how to control the results of tinkering to direct them with any precison.