Array ( [sid] => 78041 [catid] => 1 [aid] => mick [title] => Tsunami-December 2004 [time] => 2005-01-01 14:04:17 [hometext] => [bodytext] => TSUNAMI-DECEMBER 2004…(©Peter Sprenkeler)

SOCIAL COMMENT

The events of the last week have shocked and saddened the entire world. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the shores of Sumatra and the subsequent Tsunami that developed from this, has devastated whole communities in 12 countries. The death toll as of new years day 2005 stands at an appalling 150,000; and this could conceivably rise even further. Many of the dead and missing will probably never be found. These figures are horrendous and without any precedent. The grief and the suffering of these peoples affected is simply indescribable. We have all seen the footage, the carnage, the bodies…a true humanitarian catastrophe in every sense of the word.
Apart from the sheer massive scale of death, infrastructures, services, communications, livelihoods are all in complete and utter ruin. So much so that the very real danger of epidemic and disease is now a looming threat to these devastated communities.
One could not imagine a worse end to a year…yet there is something quite incredible going on within our global community. Amid all this horror and gloom and suffering…mankind has united and rallied. Aid, assistance, money is pouring in from all over the world. Yet far more significant; the world is ‘feeling the pain’ of others. A very warming and welcome swell of humanitarian compassion is sweeping the world. People want to help. People from all nations and religions are ‘moved’ to do something for they feel it is a humanitarian responsibility…they are so moved by compassion…a trait that I have often felt is rapidly disappearing from our species.
The sheer scale of this disaster and the pathetic hopelessness of the people affected seems to have deeply touched mankind. This is profoundly encouraging…this could build so many ‘bridges’ toward future peace and understanding.
This event, albeit a tragic and horrendous catastrophe, could indeed be the catalyst for tremendous and radical change; positive change for a much better mankind as a whole.
There is so little good news from amid all this horror…yet this aspect of a compassionate and caring global community is surely a radiant beam of light amid all this darkness.
It will take years to rebuild these shattered lives and towns and villages, and the compassion we are presently showing is already beginning this healing and rebuilding process. For people whom have nothing…knowing the rest of the world cares and is eager to help must be profoundly comforting.




[comments] => 3 [counter] => 221 [topic] => 19 [informant] => pete [notes] => [ihome] => 0 [alanguage] => english [acomm] => 0 [haspoll] => 0 [pollID] => 0 [score] => 10 [ratings] => 2 [editpoem] => 1 [associated] => [topicname] => InspirationalPoems ) Your Poetry Dot Com - Tsunami-December 2004


Tsunami-December 2004
Date: Saturday, 1st January 2005 @ 02:04:17 PM AEST
Topic: Sad Poetry

Contributed By: pete
TSUNAMI-DECEMBER 2004…(©Peter Sprenkeler)

SOCIAL COMMENT

The events of the last week have shocked and saddened the entire world. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake off the shores of Sumatra and the subsequent Tsunami that developed from this, has devastated whole communities in 12 countries. The death toll as of new years day 2005 stands at an appalling 150,000; and this could conceivably rise even further. Many of the dead and missing will probably never be found. These figures are horrendous and without any precedent. The grief and the suffering of these peoples affected is simply indescribable. We have all seen the footage, the carnage, the bodies…a true humanitarian catastrophe in every sense of the word.
Apart from the sheer massive scale of death, infrastructures, services, communications, livelihoods are all in complete and utter ruin. So much so that the very real danger of epidemic and disease is now a looming threat to these devastated communities.
One could not imagine a worse end to a year…yet there is something quite incredible going on within our global community. Amid all this horror and gloom and suffering…mankind has united and rallied. Aid, assistance, money is pouring in from all over the world. Yet far more significant; the world is ‘feeling the pain’ of others. A very warming and welcome swell of humanitarian compassion is sweeping the world. People want to help. People from all nations and religions are ‘moved’ to do something for they feel it is a humanitarian responsibility…they are so moved by compassion…a trait that I have often felt is rapidly disappearing from our species.
The sheer scale of this disaster and the pathetic hopelessness of the people affected seems to have deeply touched mankind. This is profoundly encouraging…this could build so many ‘bridges’ toward future peace and understanding.
This event, albeit a tragic and horrendous catastrophe, could indeed be the catalyst for tremendous and radical change; positive change for a much better mankind as a whole.
There is so little good news from amid all this horror…yet this aspect of a compassionate and caring global community is surely a radiant beam of light amid all this darkness.
It will take years to rebuild these shattered lives and towns and villages, and the compassion we are presently showing is already beginning this healing and rebuilding process. For people whom have nothing…knowing the rest of the world cares and is eager to help must be profoundly comforting.






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