NATURAL DISASTERS
The world is defined as the earth,
with all the countries, peoples and natural features.
Everything that exists on the earth
is part of the world. It is isolated but not unrelated. Humans and non-humans
are born in different parts of the world but they are not foreign. They are the inhabitants of not only of a
particular country but of the whole world. Thus they are neighbours, not aliens.
When Jesus said love thy neighbor as thyself, he did not mean only the next
door person but also every other person
who lives in this world.
Natural disasters are known as
catastrophic events by natural forces that result in major damage and loss of
life. They are listed as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions,
tsunamis, wildfires, droughts, landslides, and avalanches. They occur at a
particular place but have their impact on several areas far and wide. Their
management needs the help of neighbouring as also of distant countries.
It is sad to see that helping
countries are not unselfish. They extend help with some return for their own
countries. For them only selected counties deserve their help. There may be
political, commercial, or other advantages.
The saying : fishing in troubled
waters is true in many cases.
You are selective, not universal.
You first weigh the resultant benefits for yourself before you extend your help
any country in a natural or man-made
calamity like war. . You help a particular country which is inimical to another
country with which you are also inimical.
Natural disasters are destructive in several ways. They cause death and destruction
in a large scale. They are merciless.
Ancient monuments, sacred places
like temples, mosques, and churches are all destroyed. They don’t discriminate between the sacred
and secular. . Whatever comes in their way is hit harshly, not softly. Even
natural objects like trees and gardens are destroyed. Birds and beasts, too,
are killed. Nothing is spared. There is nothing sacred for natural disasters.
Exceptions are not within their rules. They are blind forces. Why does God
allow their onslaught is a mystery.
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PUNCHLINE: We may despise the word
having natural disasters, but we cannot live without it.
****
G.R.Kanwal
27 August 2026
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