A GLOBAL DISASTER

The disaster following the earthquake and tsunamis has not just been an Asean tragedy but a global one, with people from a large number of countries sadly lost. As I write this the death toll has risen to more than 70 000 people with many more still missing and thousands lying injured in the hopsitals.

Mother Nature sometimes is as unpredictable as she is uncontrollable. But this doesn't mean that we're left with trusting to luck. While we cannot prevent things like this from happening, we can lessen the effects and we must work hard to do so. Technology and development are the tools we have, and they are not unfit for the job. A high priority must be to extend the systems we have for detecting earthquakes like this one, so that they cover all areas of the world - in particular areas like this one which lie in high risk zones. The technology already exists (such systems are deployed in Australia and on Hawaii for instance) and surely the cost for extending them cannot be that high.

In Sweden there's been some critizism over the governments slow response and while I would never wish to see anyone using an event such as this to win political points some questions should be asked. I just watched a press conference with the Prime Minister who was very much on the defensive and who seemed more interested in saving his own skin than actually making sure every effort was made to localize and bring home the thousands of Swedish citizens that were celebrating their holiday in Thailand. Getting jet planes fit for transporting injuried people must be a high priority - especially as the hospitals in the area are more than filled with people in desperate need for help.

What I'd like to see - expect to see - from the Prime Minister in times like this is some leadership. Not him cowering away, trying to have as little to do with this as possible.

Most of all though, I'd just wish to send out my thoughts to those struck down by grief, and those caught in horrible suspense, not knowing whether their loved ones are alright or not. Hang in there.

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