Mother Earth and the Japanese Earthquake

As we see more and more reports of the Earthquake from Japan we are bound to be struck by the widespread devastation it has caused. My heart goes out to the Japanese especially the children, the aged and others who have suffered grievously in this crisis and my prayer is to wish them much peace and strength to cope with this crisis and its aftermath. Relief camps have been organized for persons displaced out of their homes. Yesterday a BBC reporter described with wonder and admiration that how in spite of the devastation the Japanese people organized themselves in patient lines while relief supplies such as food and water were being distributed and helped each other as well. This is in contrast to the scuffles and disorders one has witnessed in Haiti and Pakistan recently after similar disasters. It is without doubt that the Japanese people are imbued with the highest virtues of patience, order, discipline and compassion that human communities are capable of. It is an indication that the country will emerge from the crisis as an even stronger society in the near future. Humans display a complex character and it is possible that Japanese may have acquired some unworthy qualities as well in the decades of peace and prosperity that the country has witnessed. Humans do tend to become complacent and careless when the going is good. The Governor of Tokyo, Shinatro Ishihara told reporters on Monday that the disaster was punishment from Heaven because Japanese have become greedy. Dangerous nuclear plants and crowded cities have sprung up in sensitive coastal areas. However, it is not just the Japanese that may have picked up a fault. Communities across the planet suffer from various shortcomings and it is not just blue fin sharks or whales that are facing destruction but also a large number of other plants and animals. While humans are gung ho about the wonders of new technologies the green cover of the planet and a variety of plant and animal species are disappearing. Gigantic cities are growing ever larger on the face of the planet as gigantic cancerous moles. Mother Earth bears all these infirmities with patience but as illustrated by this most recent crisis, only up to a point. Photo: Computer art by author. If you wish to make a copy and circulate or print to put up in school, office or club please feel free to do so. It is in gray scales so it can be printed easily.