Natural disasters are more frequent, and their effects more destructive, than at any time in recorded history. The number of people vulnerable to them has risen by 50,000 to 60,000 per decade since the early 1970s. At least half of their casualties are children.
Natural and man-made disasters connect with each other. One of the countries most affected by the catastrophic tsunami of December 26th 2004 was Sri Lanka. When the great wave swept all before it on the eastern shore of the island one of the places it struck hardest was Batticaloa, the waterside headquarters of a brigade of Sri Lankan army. To defend themselves against the Tamil Tigers, the Sri Lankan soldiers had laid a belt of landmines around the garrison. The landmines were swept away by the tsunami. There were maps of the old minefield, but not of the new one.
Again it was the children who were chiefly vulnerable. A high proportion of landmine and anti-personnel mine casualties in all conflicts are the boys whose energy and curiosity lead them into danger. Cluster munitions especially are child killers.
Well, this is a cut short version of a report on a website. But, still it is the same which I wanted to tell. Nature takes its revenge through disasters. It provides and it takes, for it does not need to ask since it has already got the power to do that. Saving the Earth, is not at all a mighty task, if you are willing to do it wholeheartedly.
No comments:
Post a Comment