Disasters come packaged like the links in a chain. Starting with the base link which is the causative factor for subsequent events (links), they follow each other-not necessarily sequentially -like dominoes till the final one hits you. Why do we 'die so repeatedly' from fuel spillage, especially in these days of universal information? Why do we gravitate towards mass annihilation like a moth to a flame?
The problem, when one suffers the ultimate from a calamity, it is often too late to learn and the ones left behind usually dismiss it as bad luck on your part. The powers that be will at times label disasters as 'Acts of God' while the lesser mortals will at times declare them 'acts of witch craft' and 'curses of evil'. Religious leaders will sometime label them as 'God's judgement of the evil humans' and /or 'signs of the times'. The fortunate survivors will live on to repeat the same mistakes on a future date and for them too, the bell will toll. ad infinitum.
Solutions for these recurrent problems revolve around addressing abject poverty, civic education, enforcement of laid down regulations, building and habitation codes, effective investigations as to who the responsibility falls under for ensuring safe functioning of systems and disciplining all who may be found in fault. Why do we encroach, live and do commerce on road reserves, railway reserves, pipeline reserves, game reserves and no one is able to stop us? The cancer of corruption which results in breeding impunity, nepotism and favouritism, will haunt us till we look at it in the face and call it as such. Question is; will we live to that day or are we going to self-destruct before it?
My sympathies are with all the victims and those left behind. May we learn something from those events to help us live more safely and appreciate the dangers surrounding us. and let us see who will be held responsible for these events.
