ConfessionS Of A SleePlesS MinD

Contemplations on Tsunami

09/01/04 Sunday- Singapore Memorial Service for Tsunami Victims. Its been 2 weeks since the fateful day of 26/12/04. The Tsunami has demonstrated the prowess of nature. For all the intelligence that Man seem to possess, we are unable to conquer nature. All that we build can be destroyed in a single sweep.

I can't help but get frustrated by the one-sided media coverage of the event. There wasn't a single footage of the conditions in African countries like Somalia. There were over 100 dead there. Was there a short of footage, lack of interest, media politics? Oil-rich countries, predominantly Islamic states were condemned for their "stinginess" in reaching out to the victimized countries, esp. when the worst hit country was Indonesia, the biggest Islamic country in the world. What is Brunei doing to help? One of the richest, if not the richest country of South East Asia. What are they doing to help their Islamic brother?

What has started out as a initial media coverage of the losses and tragedy of the Tsumani has evolved into a race for the highest donor. Rich countries were condemned for giving too little. Since then, the race is on. Media coverage focus on who is giving more. Tables and charts of the highest donors, like a billboard chart. Movements on the charts are tracked everyday. The disaster has become a PR publicity stint for countries to compete in. Money is not the saviour of this disaster. Logistics is. Donations are abundant but the victims are not getting them. Focus should be on reaching out to the victims, solving the logistics, not face-saving by donating more money. But Politics will be Politics. That has been the way since the birth of mankind.

Not to forget the extensive coverage by the Singapore Media on the good deeds of Singapore. The media, the tool for nationalistic propaganda. The repitition of OUR PM initiating the conference with leaders on post-tsunami. The incessant coverage of effectiveness of Singapore troops, the praises by other world organizations, the number of helicopters we are sending, the importance of the Singaporean aid in Aceh, the gratitude that the locals have for Singapore. Come on. Just do it. Don't announce it to the world. It is our duty to help as fellow human beings.

This tsunami was so close to this island state of ours. We were lucky to be blocked by Indonesia and Malaysia. Life is fragile. It takes so long to build up a life, but it can be destroyed in the blink of an eye. Like a flame of a candle. Incandescent. Burning bright. Beautiful flame. But this flame is fragile. You don't have to do much to extinguish it.

posted by KERMIT @ 1:52 AM