Human beings are still helpless before nature
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury | Thursday, 17 March 2011
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury
Japan, one of the most technologically advanced nations of the world that has shown its economic prowess on a global scale, is facing the worst situation since the world war II, with destruction of an unimaginable proportion to both men and materials, caused by the fury of nature. The severe onslaught of the catastrophic quake, followed by a Tsunami that ravaged vast of its areas in several prefectures, has turned the lively sites into a pathetic horror. Japan is also fearing a meltdown of reactors at quake-hit nuclear plants as the details of the natural disaster are pouring in. More than ten thousand people are feared dead by the whims of nature. Large areas in its coastal areas, mainly along the Pacific, have been virtually wiped out, leaving the Japanese to mourn the dead while struggling to provide medical treatment to the scores of the injured and shelter to the countless, rendered homeless by the devastation. The death toll may swell as more areas than what earlier appeared to be, have been struck by the massive earth quake and Tsunami. Many people across a devastated swath of the country for the five straight days were without food, water and electricity. It is somewhat unthinkable for any human being, more particularly in countries like Japan that has achieved so much of development and has also an enormous economic might. But human beings are still unfortunately largely helpless before the natural disasters; the devastation in Japan has once again brought to the fore this harsh reality. Notwithstanding the fact that science and technology have achieved wonders including spectacular feats like sending men to the moon, the mankind is undoubtedly hapless in facing the unpredictable fury of the nature. This is an axiomatic truth. Our hearts, like those of other countries, go out in full sympathy with our fellow brethren with Japan. We, in south Asia in general and Bangladesh in particular, are vulnerable to the natural disasters. As such, the countries of this region are familiar with the fury of nature that often strike it in the forms of cyclones, floods, earthquakes and different forms of severe storms, taking a large toll of human lives. All these occurrences bring devastations that virtually cripple the economy of any affected country. The latest such onslaught in south Asia was the catastrophic floods in Pakistan and this South Asian country is still reeling from last year's severe devastations. India and Pakistan had earlier experienced earthquakes; drought is also a regular phenomenon in this part of the world. We, in Bangladesh, are the worst victims of floods and cyclones that ravage our coastal areas, along with tidal surge. The death toll because of such natural disasters is often is simply appalling. Such deluge takes away precious crops and the communications and other infrastructures are also badly destroyed, too. The pain and anguish of the devastations are so common for us that as if we have to live with this cruel reality. Incidentally, an important international conference was held in the Kobe city of Japan a few years ago in which south Asian nations, including Bangladesh along with many other nations that are prone to natural disasters, took part. The "Kobe Declaration" had adopted a series of recommendations that detailed measures to be taken to mitigate the consequences of the natural disasters while admitting that nothing substantial can be done to control the natural calamities. It is still not known how far progress has been made about implementing the recommendations of that conference which was inaugurated by the Emperor of Japan himself. It is possible that the recommendations gathered dust like many other outcomes of such much-hyped gathering. But that conference on natural disasters was qualitatively different; it needs to be viewed differently. The crying need for implementing the recommendations as far as possible, is too obvious. The international community can ill afford to turn a blind eye to, or show indifference towards, such an area of critical importance for the survival of the human beings. Japan's woes from the quakes and the Tsunami are too colossal in every sense and its nuclear radiation issue has added a dangerous element, as several reactors have been inflicted by the catastrophe. Officially, more than three and a half thousand people perished, but the death toll, it is feared, will ultimately exceed, at least, ten thousand. Millions have been evacuated to safer zones. Even a country like Japan is grappling to cope with the hugely difficult situation. When prime minister Nato Kan addresses the nation or the graphic description of the devastations are before the world through the media, all can well understand the gravity of the situation. The world is still largely helpless before the fury of nature! But we all have to face such calamities with great courage and fortitude. We all are with the people of the "Land of Rising Sun" in their hour of this great tragedy and distress, and wish them early recovery from this terrible condition. This is, however, unquestionably a gigantic task. (e-mail: [email protected])
Japan, one of the most technologically advanced nations of the world that has shown its economic prowess on a global scale, is facing the worst situation since the world war II, with destruction of an unimaginable proportion to both men and materials, caused by the fury of nature. The severe onslaught of the catastrophic quake, followed by a Tsunami that ravaged vast of its areas in several prefectures, has turned the lively sites into a pathetic horror. Japan is also fearing a meltdown of reactors at quake-hit nuclear plants as the details of the natural disaster are pouring in. More than ten thousand people are feared dead by the whims of nature. Large areas in its coastal areas, mainly along the Pacific, have been virtually wiped out, leaving the Japanese to mourn the dead while struggling to provide medical treatment to the scores of the injured and shelter to the countless, rendered homeless by the devastation. The death toll may swell as more areas than what earlier appeared to be, have been struck by the massive earth quake and Tsunami. Many people across a devastated swath of the country for the five straight days were without food, water and electricity. It is somewhat unthinkable for any human being, more particularly in countries like Japan that has achieved so much of development and has also an enormous economic might. But human beings are still unfortunately largely helpless before the natural disasters; the devastation in Japan has once again brought to the fore this harsh reality. Notwithstanding the fact that science and technology have achieved wonders including spectacular feats like sending men to the moon, the mankind is undoubtedly hapless in facing the unpredictable fury of the nature. This is an axiomatic truth. Our hearts, like those of other countries, go out in full sympathy with our fellow brethren with Japan. We, in south Asia in general and Bangladesh in particular, are vulnerable to the natural disasters. As such, the countries of this region are familiar with the fury of nature that often strike it in the forms of cyclones, floods, earthquakes and different forms of severe storms, taking a large toll of human lives. All these occurrences bring devastations that virtually cripple the economy of any affected country. The latest such onslaught in south Asia was the catastrophic floods in Pakistan and this South Asian country is still reeling from last year's severe devastations. India and Pakistan had earlier experienced earthquakes; drought is also a regular phenomenon in this part of the world. We, in Bangladesh, are the worst victims of floods and cyclones that ravage our coastal areas, along with tidal surge. The death toll because of such natural disasters is often is simply appalling. Such deluge takes away precious crops and the communications and other infrastructures are also badly destroyed, too. The pain and anguish of the devastations are so common for us that as if we have to live with this cruel reality. Incidentally, an important international conference was held in the Kobe city of Japan a few years ago in which south Asian nations, including Bangladesh along with many other nations that are prone to natural disasters, took part. The "Kobe Declaration" had adopted a series of recommendations that detailed measures to be taken to mitigate the consequences of the natural disasters while admitting that nothing substantial can be done to control the natural calamities. It is still not known how far progress has been made about implementing the recommendations of that conference which was inaugurated by the Emperor of Japan himself. It is possible that the recommendations gathered dust like many other outcomes of such much-hyped gathering. But that conference on natural disasters was qualitatively different; it needs to be viewed differently. The crying need for implementing the recommendations as far as possible, is too obvious. The international community can ill afford to turn a blind eye to, or show indifference towards, such an area of critical importance for the survival of the human beings. Japan's woes from the quakes and the Tsunami are too colossal in every sense and its nuclear radiation issue has added a dangerous element, as several reactors have been inflicted by the catastrophe. Officially, more than three and a half thousand people perished, but the death toll, it is feared, will ultimately exceed, at least, ten thousand. Millions have been evacuated to safer zones. Even a country like Japan is grappling to cope with the hugely difficult situation. When prime minister Nato Kan addresses the nation or the graphic description of the devastations are before the world through the media, all can well understand the gravity of the situation. The world is still largely helpless before the fury of nature! But we all have to face such calamities with great courage and fortitude. We all are with the people of the "Land of Rising Sun" in their hour of this great tragedy and distress, and wish them early recovery from this terrible condition. This is, however, unquestionably a gigantic task. (e-mail: [email protected])