hurricanes...

another month, another natural disaster...as many people will argue against saying global warming is a reason for more recent natural disasters as those who say that there is still the same number as 100 years ago...as many people will argue about globalisation making it worse as will point out how it helps.

from my point of view, this seems, from the newspapers, like a third world country has turned up in the world's richest country...dead bodies floating down streets, raping etc. amongst the normal support and strength between strangers in crises that develops. What a shock for the residents that this could happen to THEM? its interesting that broadly it seems the poor were those who could not leave the city thus were worse hit. its also interesting that a hugely successful country seems unable to do any more for those in its own country, as it could for those in Phuket. I mean, wouldn't you expect a rich country to be able to instantly call upon people, food, water, transport?

the focus of rebuilding will be jobs; provide unemployment and everything else will fill into place. this America should be able to do easily -in fact most of the damage should be insured (or the government's debt will just increase even more to pay for rebuilding), so that will be spent creating jobs to do the rebuilding. Its amazing that such a large city can be wiped out so easily.

Could London be next? I know we dont have hurricanes, but i know that the Thames Barrier is becoming used more and more often, and whilst we build more houses on the low lying Thames Estuary, how would the rest of London survive if the Barrier was breached? I hope we are as well prepared as we were in July.

somehow, i don't think Beijing would have much of a problem managing. with such huge manpower resources, and such power to control everything within the means of the government, i think it would be fine. Actually i know it would be fine since so much of the city live in 30 story buildings ;). There is very frequent flooding in southern china (if you didnt know), but because it is frequent the consequences are not so severe (except for instances where 300 people get stuck in a flooded mine). At the same time there is frequent flooding in Bangladesh killing tens of thousands annually. Thus since less die in china (richer country) i was expecting less to die in US (even richer country).

Just when you thought rebuilding 16 acres in New York could be tough or expensive, what about an entire city of over a million people?

it seems money is not everyting, and life is not that straight forward.

p.s. full marks, CSR-wise, to the US companies using their resources efficiently (mattel sending toys), U-Haul providing free storage, Nissan lending 50 trucks and Kellogs, 7 trucks of nutrigrain bars. I hope other companies do the same.
p.p.s. interestingly personal donations are set to exceed the records set for the tsunami and 9/11 (because "its America" and americans have been to New Orleands, or have personal connections), but how many other countries are fundraising like they were in January?