Put The Camera Down And Help That Woman, Please.

In Japan, it is especially painful to look on as our neighboring Asian nations- most recently China and Myanmar- are devastated by natural disasters. 

Just last week a 6.8 magnitude quake shook Japan, resulting in a few minor injuries and zero deaths. The non-existent death toll had nothing to do with luck: God does not watch over Japan more than he does any other country in the world, and Mother Nature even seems to harbor a special hatred just for us.  The truth is, we have resources that others do not.  Living here, I witness first hand the extent to which nature`s blows may be softened by advanced architecture and municipal preparedness.

In the seas surrounding Japan, a highly advanced tsunami warning system is in place, one that alerts Japanese residents of a tidal wave within seconds after an undersea quake.  That said, it was immensely disturbing to witness as so many other Asian countries did not get the memo when a quake struck beneath the Indian Ocean in 2004.

It is all the more painful to watch something so tragic when you know first-hand that it didn`t have to be that way.  It is really too bad that Japan is so busy bickering with her neighbors (largely over events that took place during the Second World War) to tackle bigger issues and share her wealth of knowledge with those who are suffering right now.

Comments

[Melanie]

Very true and very well put.

I do have to comment on the title though...

I majored in Photojournalism for my under-grad degree. In that field, there is a big moral question about times when you can either take the shot, or help the person. Luckily, there are times you can do both, but at others, there are times when taking the shot can save many more lives (by alerting the world to situations). It's a very difficult one and to be honest, the reason why I didn't go into the field in the end.

[Miki]

I agree, Melanie...I feel that there are more people willing to make money off the suffering of others than those who truly care about their plight.

It's a sad, upsetting and frustrating reality.

[lea]

So noted. Profanities altered. Have a nice day.

[ThePenguin]

Point of pedantry, the impressive-sounding 6.8 earthquake last week was some way out to sea, if it had happened directly under Tokyo we would probably still be pulling each other out from beneath fallen utility poles while the Japanese government debates whether to let in Chinese search and rescue teams.

[lea]

Penguin, I didn`t write anything about Tokyo specifically. The 6.8 occurred just off Ibaraki, where it was a great deal stronger than it was in the capital. I hear people live up there too.