(no subject)

[labellementeuse]

:-/ 14 thousand people killed, and growing, in India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar, malaysia, the Maldives, elsewhere.

Tsunamis are in many ways my greatest fear, in terms of natural disaster, in a practical sense. Tornados? We don't get 'em. Cyclones? Sometimes the tail-end of one, that's all. Drought? Yeah... but Sydney's across the Ditch and that tends to give one a senseof perspective every January. Flood? Sure, but not dramatic. Earthquake? Hey, I live in Wellington, I'm cool with them.

...tsunami? NZ is an island- okay, three islands- and we are low. All our cities are ports, pretty much. And this tsunami was caused by an earthquake offshore of 9.0 Richters. Just last week we had, down south, an 8.4 or 5 richter. It's not all that far off. >.<

So, well, I'm thinking a lot about the people in Southern Asia. it's so surreal, it's like some movie or something, this idea that on the other side of the planet thousands and thousands of people just died. All at once.

Comments

[mandor700.livejournal.com]

Yea I know it sux aye. 10,000 white americans die and the canceled normal programming to bring us live coverage and were still hearing about it. 14,000 (atleast) asians die and theres barely a ripple (no pun intended).

[nzlemming.livejournal.com]

10,000? If you mean Sept 11 2001, try 2,992 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11,_2001_Terrorist_Attack/Casualties)

But your point is even sharper because of the disparity.

On the other hand, the facilities for live broadcast (and the logistics of getting there) militate against the current tragedy getting the same sort of coverage. For 9/11, they only had to grab a cab downtown...

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think there's a bit more than a ripple. Your point is sound, though. :(

[mandor700.livejournal.com]

Actually to be honest I just wasent thiking, but its funny I rember back in like November 2001 this letter to the editor talking about "10,000 victims"

[kuril.livejournal.com]

It was funny. News of Reggie White's death (some crazy religious american football player) came first, then news on the tsunami. This was on FoxNews, of course. But that's not to say the other networks weren't putting the right emphasis on this trajedy.

It's up to 20,000 dead now. At least, that's what the BBC is saying.

Rysade

[(Anonymous)]

Actually, I shoulda thought of this when 9/11 happened: Let everyone know that it was DEFINITELY 144,000 people who died, and then go around screaming about the apocalypse.

In this case, I'm worried that it might have actually BEEN that many. Know what Marilyn Manson says, though? "The death of one is a tragedy, the death of millions is just a statistic."

Re: Rysade

[mandor700.livejournal.com]

Actually that was Joseph Stalin, Manson must have used it. But your point is made.

Re: Rysade

[(Anonymous)]

Note to self: Manson Quotes Stalin.