SE Asia Tsunami Disaster

[ahoteinrun]

Animals... are far more connected with nature then humans. We've known for years that cats and dogs and such can sense earthquakes far before us, but it's never really been studied. I have a feeling that after this, it will be.

[Silja]

What the hell went wrong? This is the 21st century, I thought we were above Mother Nature by now!

And it is exactly that way of thinking that will eventually destroy the whole human race (which is at this point pretty unevitable, but yeah, we can only blame ourselves). We need to realize that we will never me above Mother Nature because we are a part of it.

Not to be mean just to you, as so many others have stated the same, but I feel really sad about that people actually think we can/should/will master it somehow.

Even though it's horrible when things like this happen, we need to understand that they are a part of life, and as long as we want to live on this planet we have to accept the rules of Mother Nature and mortality itself.

[Hyperion]

Animals... are far more connected with nature then humans. We've known for years that cats and dogs and such can sense earthquakes far before us, but it's never really been studied. I have a feeling that after this, it will be.

You mean other animals, because we're animals too.

[Varana]

This is a small thing , but every little bit helps.

My friends and I have agreed to drop all chocolates, champagne, fireworks etc this comming New Years Eve. Instead, we are donating all the money to flood relief.

think about it, maybe dropping a few fun things and donate the money? do you really "need" that box of chocolate or new CD?

[Christopher]

Animals... are far more connected with nature then humans. We've known for years that cats and dogs and such can sense earthquakes far before us, but it's never really been studied. I have a feeling that after this, it will be.

You mean other animals, because we're animals too.

No no no, we are quite obviously brought here by the aliens. Thtas why we are so out of touch with the planet.

[ChromeFox]

Animals... are far more connected with nature then humans. We've known for years that cats and dogs and such can sense earthquakes far before us, but it's never really been studied. I have a feeling that after this, it will be.

You mean other animals, because we're animals too.

We're not quite animals. I think we sacrifice something by gaining our free will: instinct. If we had any remnants of the instinct our primate ancestors had, we would have sensed the quake coming and known to haul out.

I've always heard stories of massive landslides and floods and how some clairvoyants have menacing dreams that "something" is going to happen. I wonder if anyone picked up on this before it happened.

[Asthaloth]

We're not quite animals. I think we sacrifice something by gaining our free will: instinct. If we had any remnants of the instinct our primate ancestors had, we would have sensed the quake coming and known to haul out.

but on the flip side we dont really have free will.
we are slaves to our instinct (fight or flight reaction) our hormones, our wants and needs.
at the end of the day were nothing more than xenophobic apes, we care not for our "brother" man, not truly, not deep down, we do good things through guilt and fear, not because we actually care.
(although ofcourse as with everything there are the ocassional oddities, some people are capeable of selfless acts, just not as many as youd think)

as for why there is no detection system, its simple logisitcs.
few earthqaukes off the east coast, the ones that are, are often minor.
though i doubt theyll implement ones now, despite the death toll, it comes down to logistics once more, a single event (no matter how devestating) just isnt enough to warrant a multi billion *insert currency here* program.
EG: the UK had an earthquake a couple years ago, doesnt mean we have a detection system, simply because they are so friggin rare.

[Wolven Spirits]

What the hell went wrong? This is the 21st century, I thought we were above Mother Nature by now!

And it is exactly that way of thinking that will eventually destroy the whole human race (which is at this point pretty unevitable, but yeah, we can only blame ourselves). We need to realize that we will never me above Mother Nature because we are a part of it.

Not to be mean just to you, as so many others have stated the same, but I feel really sad about that people actually think we can/should/will master it somehow.

Even though it's horrible when things like this happen, we need to understand that they are a part of life, and as long as we want to live on this planet we have to accept the rules of Mother Nature and mortality itself.

I do agree. We really are a part of it. And there's no way to Master it, or to 'be above it'. We're bound to make a mistake, even if we find a way to prevent all these disasters. There is obviously a reason why things like this happen, even if it means destruction. I'm not saying I'm some cold hearted girl, I'm saying that as much as I hate it, I think there's a reason for it. I don't think it's anything against Asia and all the places that were affected, but that something was bound to happen, and it happened there.

I hate it though. I think it's awful. It's hard for that number to penetrate the mind. That huge amount of loss, of devastation. And it's still climbing. Plus there are those places that will never be accounted for... Those small unknown villages... THey'll be gone, and no one will know how many died.
Then there are the wounded, many of which will die from their wounds.
It saddens me so much to even think of it.

But at school, I am in a club called the Key Club, part of Kiwanis, and we help those in need. We are going to do a fundraiser to help raise money for those in need. I'm glad that we can do at least something, and not simply have to sit around and talk about how bad it is.
Many of my relatives in Singapore are helping by donating lots of their items. I'm just relieved that the earthquake didn't affect my family there.

One thing I hate about big devastations like this, is that people tend to forget that there ARE other places in the world that need help as well. Think of Africa, where there are all those starving children. I always feel so torn. I want to do something for both, but there isn't that much I can do. Blah, my rant is cut off here

[Asthaloth]

villages gone?
there are several islands that have ben scoured don to the bedrock, never again to rise above the ocean surface.

and somthing else i forgot; the earths trajectory being altered is nothing new, our orbit decays by about a centimeter everyear (in that we get 1 CM closer to the sun, which gives us...oh... 1674 wit 17 0's years yet)

[Bangel]

We're not quite animals.

I completely disagree, scientificly or however you spell that, and opinionatidly, ditto about the spelling.

We are mammals. We are covered in hair and feed milk to our young. We may be more superior and intelligent than many other animals, but we still are animals.

[Wolven Spirits]

Oh I know that there are islands gone. That's the thing. People know about it. Whereas there are many small villages that people don't really know about, that have been lost. The final number of deaths will most likely be lower than what it really is. *sigh*

[ladyemilylacy]

This is a small thing , but every little bit helps.

My friends and I have agreed to drop all chocolates, champagne, fireworks etc this comming New Years Eve. Instead, we are donating all the money to flood relief.

think about it, maybe dropping a few fun things and donate the money? do you really "need" that box of chocolate or new CD?

I agree completely. My small bit I just sent off today, it is a ton of cash to me but a small bit on the whole...whatever helps you know.
The money was for my van, she is not too old (1989) but was not well taken care of -not my fault- all my doors are broken except for my 1 sliding door. So it is funny going to the store, especially without the kids. Open the sliding door climb in crawl to the front. But the thing is that I have a van, and my home is happy. So the money is well given.

[SpiraLethe]

We're not quite animals. I think we sacrifice something by gaining our free will: instinct.

Free will? Explain, please, this free will and how humans have it and "animals" don't.

[ChromeFox]

at the end of the day were nothing more than xenophobic apes, we care not for our "brother" man, not truly, not deep down, we do good things through guilt and fear, not because we actually care.

Apes are no less xenophobic than we are. Male chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, etc. will fight to the death against members of another group, even their own group if the chips are down (the "chips" being dominance, females, etc.). Just because they're animals doesn't mean they're saints.


In other news...Oh GREAT, now the survivors, who managed to get through killer tsunami waves, have to deal with not only lack of food and water and eventually disease but CROCODILES. Yes, crocodiles. Jeez, Mother Nature, how bout easing up just a little?

But hey, they're just taking advantage of the situation I guess, like looters during power outages.

[Fishblade_Bluestream]

We're not quite animals. I think we sacrifice something by gaining our free will: instinct. If we had any remnants of the instinct our primate ancestors had, we would have sensed the quake coming and known to haul out.

but on the flip side we dont really have free will.
we are slaves to our instinct (fight or flight reaction) our hormones, our wants and needs.
at the end of the day were nothing more than xenophobic apes, we care not for our "brother" man, not truly, not deep down, we do good things through guilt and fear, not because we actually care.
(although ofcourse as with everything there are the ocassional oddities, some people are capeable of selfless acts, just not as many as youd think)

That is not true. Every human being cares for something that is non material. I think it was also a terribly mean thing to say about people. It's horrible to question peoples' love for one another.

My mom made a donation today. I'm really glad that we're helping all those poor people.