By Seopaul Singh
A New Year (2005) has greeted us with scenes of a tragedy, which has defied the ability of anyone to comprehend. Above and beyond this, is the tragedy of the reluctance and stubbornness of mankind – to sit back, reflect and learn the vital lessons of non-preparation. For those of us who do not believe in the Flood of Noah's day, the tsunami disaster of South Asia has left us much food for thought.
While the media focused on the sundry predictions or warnings on disasters, and the actual occurrences of some major catastrophes, little was ever noted on the need to prepare as a follow-up to the predictions.
There is a marked tendency of people to scoff and mock at any attempt to prepare for the unexpected. We brand people pessimists, who seek to alert the human race of disaster, and call them alarmists and "prophets of doom". We do not want to hear of any possible tragic outcomes in the plans and schemes of mankind. As such history is rife with tragedies, which have come upon the human race without the least effort to prepare. Noah's ante-diluvium generation was warned approximately 4000 BC. Sodom and Gomorrah were warned around BC 2050 in biblical times; and more recently, both Jamaica and Martinique were warned around the nineteenth century (of this era) before the sea swallowed up the town of Port Royal, Jamaica, and Mt. Pelee erupted in 1902, burying much of Martinique. The human race cannot prevent the occurrences of these natural phenomena, but can surely prepare for the effects of their impacts.
The terror and devastation of the December 26, 2004 tsunami have subsided, but the casualties continue to mount. The numbers would never be accurately verified, but the impact would be assessed and findings would continue to boggle the mind. Human kind has not yet fully come to grips with this most devastating natural tragedy of this modern era.
The figures have already reached over one hundred and fifty thousands, and with dreaded epidemics this figure will escalate. Those of us who stand as dumbfounded silent witnesses to this catastrophe have the mammoth task of providing some sort of aid and counseling to the survivors who suffered the loss of kin and their means of sustenance.
Another tragedy unfolds progressively as we look at the general reaction of people who are emotionally and in some ways physically removed from the Asian tsunami catastrophe. We see some going about their business as usual. Even in the wake of the tragedy, there were others sunning themselves, as if nothing happened, on the very beaches which a few days before were lined with corpses. Where is our humanity? Still, life goes on.
It does appear that some people have lost their emotional connection to the lesser fortunate of the human species. Some silently mutter, "Oh they were the wretched of the South Asian community." Or, "They were not my people." Or yet still, "They were of a different race and tongue." There is no advocacy here that we all sit and mope for the rest of our lives. But we must "mourn with those who mourn and weep with those who weep as much as we laugh with those who laugh."
The mainstream media did not immediately treat the tragedy as serious as it did the WTC attack, perhaps because it was an act of nature or away from home. Governments, which spend billions promoting weapons of mass destruction, gave pittance for damage assessment, and for the rescue and recovery efforts. Would there be an investigation as to what warning signals were picked-up and ignored? It was said that the Tsunami impact was like 100 atomic bombs, 9.0 on the Richter Scale. Why then the detection was not immediately publicized? Where are the seismic and satellites detection stations capable of zeroing on atomic tests anywhere on earth? While none of these are ever secret, the largest tremor in over forty-eight years went without alarm from the scientists who are knowledgeable of the catastrophic effects of such tremors on the oceans.
Less than one week after the terror and turmoil, the airwaves which announced the tragedy of the South Asian communities were again in full blast pursuing entertainment with fun and frolic. Also, the 2005 New York City New Year Eve "dropping" of the ball epitomizes the arrogance of America – those of us who are selfish and hardened by our narrow-minded sense of insular security. What is meant by this outrageous statement? Well, just before this annual New York tradition there were numerous vivid reports of the massive earthquake and tsunami. Images of the unimaginable damage to life were constantly spread on all the media and, as the hour passed from day to day, the enormity kept unfolding. This is how David Brooks of the New York Times describes on New Year Day: "I have this week's front pages arrayed on the desk around me. There's a picture of dead children lined up on a floor while a mother wails. There's a picture of a man on the beach holding his dead son's hand to his forehead. There are others, each as wrenching as the last." However, this did not put a damper on the 'celebration' in New York and in other cities where the traditional parades remained intact. (In other parts of the world it was seen as fitting to either cancel New Year celebration or to tone it down – with prayers and silence.) Thus it would appear that the major disaster was a mere distraction for some! The organizers (in collusion with TV in particular) switched off from the world most calamitous disaster only to switch on to celebration and revelry. How insensitive! Yes, arrogant! Surely, this was not just another story.
The world should pause a while and think on the fleeting nature and characteristic of this life. One news reporter noted, "Only the dead were the fortunate ones." The survivors are faced with the pains of loss. To them Jesus said, "Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted." A moment of silence here and there cannot replace the need for a more consorted effort to rally with our fellows who suffer such loss.
In fairness however presumably after the gravity has seeped in, government aid and donations have been overwhelming. Hopefully the world will awake to see a common humanity. As the saying goes, 'money can't bring back the dead', but it surely can help to lighten the burden and soften the suffering of those who survived.
Meaningful disaster response and recovery must be preempted by specialized damage assessment and recommendations. Knee-jerk reactions, though positive, could result in fouling up the relief operations with mountains of unnecessary goods being sent to the areas affected. For this reason Jan Egeland, UN Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs and numerous relief coordinators are advocating monetary donations in preference to goods. Always in disaster relief, the best maneuverable contribution is monetary.
The gravity of the catastrophe has begun to sink in. UN Kofi Annan and Secretary Powell have made on the spot inspections and "have never seen such utter destruction mile after mile." President G.W. Bush enlisted two former US Presidents, Bill Clinton and G. Bush Sr., to be involved in fundraisers for the 'rescue and recovery' phase of the calamity.
There is talk of 'tsunami research' to develop Global Warning System to cushion the impact of catastrophes of such magnitude. Warning systems could do much to prevent the masses from being caught totally unaware. Tsunamis research could be properly financed to further the development of the much-needed Tsunami warning systems, before another shocker catches our much scientifically advanced civilization unprepared.
One scientist, a Geophysicist, noted on mainstream TV, that such an occurrence is bound to happen on the East Coast of USA as a result of under water volcanic activity off the coast of Morocco. He observed that it is not just a question of if, but when? Closer to home, the Caribbean was recently visited by the hurricane phenomena with their devastation rocking Grenada and other Islands. The various states responded as they saw fit. But this was definitely not the end game. We have to be better prepared for these catastrophic impacts. We have to rise above the ad-hoc type of response, and do more serious permanent national and international 'Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning.'
In addition the tsunami experience is a watershed and should be a springboard for changes in political, social/religious, and economic relations in the world. The Right Reverend Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester entreated: "I am hopeful, but we must see a real commitment to changing the economic relationships between the West and the poorer countries as well as charitable giving. We need to tackle these fundamental issues." As distressing and depressing as the disaster is, it is apposite to reflect. No longer can human beings live in isolation without caring for their brothers and sisters in humanity, and without caring for the planet. If governments and politicians are complacent then the people have to be pro-active to move them. We cannot proclaim our religiosity with fervor and vehemence on the one hand and then show utter lack of concern for mankind on the other. Such Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde duplicity must be relegated to the past. We have made the world the way it is. We have to change it now with new visions to alleviate the pains and suffering throughout the world. While Free Trade and out-sourcing have made the world a Global Village, disasters have made it a global family. We are indeed our brothers' keepers.
–with Gary Girdhari
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