JUST last month the world was left in shock when a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand killing at least 65 people. The event was deemed as New Zealand’s darkest day.
Then on March 11, terrible news was once again brought upon us when a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan at around 2:46pm. It was considered as one of the worst and largest earthquakes ever recorded, and 8,000 times stronger than the recent earth rumbling that devastated New Zealand according to scientists.
The cataclysmic earthquake spawned tsunami waves that obliterated tens of thousands of buildings, devouring almost everything in its path. While the full extent of the casualties and the damage have yet to be known, countries around the world brace themselves for similar scenes of what the full force of Mother Nature may bring to the planet.
It is a massive understatement to say that the effects of the recent events in Japan are overwhelming. The devastating event has left one of the world’s most prosperous and technologically advanced nations in frailty.
The Philippines sits in the “Ring of Fire” along with Japan, an arc that stretches along the basin of the Pacific Ocean, and is home to 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes and more than 75 percent of the world’s volcanoes. The country is also prone to earthquakes as major as what had hit Japan.
Filipinos are no strangers to havocs caused by the environment. Over the years nature has wreaked colossal damages to this impoverished nation. Each direct hit amounts to millions worth of damages, thousands of families displaced and hundreds of lives lost.
Natural disasters are difficult to predict, let alone, be averted. This is a wake-up call to tell everyone that being prepared at all times improves chances of getting out from disasters alive. No one needs to be a Nostradamus to scare us of what other destruction the world may face. Nobody can ever prepare for Mother Nature’s wrath. For all we know this is just the beginning. The recent catastrophic events in different parts of the world should be enough emphasis for all nations to change their ways and make this planet a safer place. Any faultfinding or finger-pointing would only be an exercise in futility—everyone is simply responsible.
Filipinos are naturally resilient in spirit. The nation and its people have faced too much hardships, disasters and tragedies in the past. This is not enough. The country should not just be strong. The recent events in Japan is a mere implication of what may happen if people continue to neglect the impending effects of what nature can bring if humanity continues to abuse it. It has been said over and over before that the call to be disciplined and be concerned with the world can do big things to save the environment. It is not too late to start now.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(Las Vegas Mar 17-23, 2011 Sec A pg.6)
