Editorial Comment
January 6th 2005

Without lessening the terrible tragedy, although the tsunamis that stuck the many coasts and islands in the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day killing upwards of 150,000 people and leaving 5 million homeless in 12 countries, it was neither the greatest catastrophe nor was it the greatest loss of life experienced in a natural disaster in living memory.

During the past 50 years there have been many other natural disasters of either more or of equal devastation.

For instance, on July 28, 1976 in Tangshan, China, an earthquake devastated 20 sq mi of city, leaving 242,000 dead (official), with an estimated death toll as high as 655,000. And on November 13th, 1970 in East Pakistan 200,000 people were killed by a cyclone-driven tidal wave from the Bay of Bengal - with over 100,000 missing. (see: Disasters )

Apart from the terrible devastation and awful loss of life created by this Asian Tsunami, there has been an extraordinary out-pouring of sympathy along with an unprecedented level of donations pledged worldwide that is currently running at more than £3bn - with over £100 million coming from Britons alone.

So why has there been such a response to this particular natural disaster, when clearly other natural disasters of equal or greater magnitude have occurred during the past 50 years?

Firstly, the tsunami stuck on Boxing Day the December 26th whilst most people were at home enjoying their Christmas break, with many watching their televisions. The news was immediately flashed up on our screens and quite soon after the media were on the scene with their crews, cameras and satellite dishes. More poignantly was the instant and most vivid digital video images taken by those caught up in the disaster and, in some cases, transmitted instantly via the Internet to the World media. In addition, mobile phones were used to text information and pictures that allowed the survivors to communicate with both their relatives and the media.

Secondly, many of the victims were multi-nationals holidaying in some of the most popular destinations throughout the Indian Ocean basin. The catastrophe and devastation touched all nations as they witnessed a tragic event that decimated both their own citizens and the local population in such a shocking manner.

Thirdly, the word 'tsunami' conjures up a mystique that creates instant fear of giant waves and almost certain devastation and shows the power of nature in its most awesome and raw form - illustrated in recent Hollywood movies such as 'The Day After Tomorrow'.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated, "What happened on 26 December, 2004, was an unprecedented, global catastrophe. It requires an unprecedented, global response."

Although perhaps not quite 'unprecedented', one could say that modern Global communications motivated the World into action, and not just by the scale of the disaster.

I think Sir Bob Geldof said it all a few days ago in a BBC Radio 4 interview. "We ended 2004 on a note of horror and we open 2005 with a genuine wave of compassion and kindness and interest, but we must not forget that 30,000 children are dying in the World everyday from war, disease and starvation that is preventable. We cannot prevent natural disasters from happening - but we can prevent these (11 million every year) children from dying".

I wonder what the reaction and the compassion of the World would be if we were able to constantly view video pictures and photographs of each of the 11 million children who die every year?

Could it happen again? It shouldn't for another 500 to 700 years, but......

As a keen amateur astronomer I noted that the Earthquake on the floor of the Indian Ocean which created the tsunamis, coincided with a Full Moon (15.07 UTC). Not only was the Full Moon passing over the north part of the Bay of Bengal at almost the exact time as the earthquake, but the Earth was almost at its nearest to the Sun (91 million miles), which actually occurred on the 2nd Jan 2005.

Pure coincidence perhaps, but of course the gravity of the Moon, and lesser the Sun, do create and affect tides - and some theorists believe that together, in certain circumstances, they also affect Tectonic plate movement.

In should be noted that the next Full Moon over that region occurs on the 25th January 2005 at 10.33 UTC (17.33hrs local time). Let's pray it passes without incident.

References:

www.mediatheek.thinkquest.nl/~ll125/en/sunmoon.htm

www.geotimes.org/aug02/NN_tide.html