9/11: nine years
Nine years. So much has happened since then that it seems as though we’re a different country now. And not a better one. For a while it seemed the legacy of 9/11 would be a unity of purpose, a stunned … Continue reading →
Category Archives: Disaster
Horrific stampede in Germany
A deadly stampede has occurred in Germany, especially terrible because most of those killed were young people. As Matthias Roeingh, one of the organizers of the event (ironically) called the Love Parade said, “one single entrance through a tunnel lends … Continue reading →
Obama and the oil spill: why would anyone expect leadership from him in this crisis?
Even many of Obama’s supporters have became impatient with his lack of energetic leadership on the Gulf oil spill. But why would they have expected any different? Obama has almost never shown that characteristic—and he’s been praised for that fact … Continue reading →
Survival and chance: Air India IX-812
By now you have probably heard the news of the crash of Air India Flight IX-812. The plane overshot the runaway and broke into pieces, bursting into flames. Fire seems to have claimed the lives of most of the passengers … Continue reading →
The missing booms: the best laid schemes o’ government an’ men…
…gang aft agley An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy! What is the moral to this story?: If U.S. officials had followed up on a 1994 response plan for a major Gulf oil spill, it is … Continue reading →
The oil spill and risk management
The Gulf oil spill is very disturbing in its scope. Not only did it kill eleven people, but it now threatens the huge fishing industry in the region, not to mention wildlife and beaches that are beautiful and drive the … Continue reading →
Death of Polish President Kaczynski
It is impossible not to suspect that foul play was involved in the plane crash death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski in Russia: Polish President Lech Kaczynski and some of the country’s highest military and civilian leaders died on Saturday … Continue reading →
Comparing the Chilean and Haitian earthquakes
Time magazine’s Tim Padgett writes an entire piece comparing the damage in the Chilean and Haitian earthquakes without ever once mentioning one huge difference: the Chilean earthquake, although stronger, was deeper and further away from population centers. The Time piece—and … Continue reading →
After more than two weeks, a life saved in Haiti
This sort of story is the reason rescuers will not give up, even though it’s been over two weeks since the quake: A 16-year-old girl has been pulled out of the rubble in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, 15 days after … Continue reading →
Haiti: amidst the horror, a few good stories
It’s only about one small child who was saved, to be sure. But whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world. I have highlighted this story not only because of the heartwarming fact that … Continue reading →
Saving Haiti
“Only the world can come to our rescue,” says a stricken Haitian. The Haitian government, ordinarily good for nothing save corruption and exploitation, has been hard hit itself. The UN, which would ordinarily coordinate relief efforts, is busy counting its … Continue reading →
Haiti: at least…
…it’s warm there. Can you imagine how much worse it would have been if this had occurred in a cold climate during winter? On top of all the other problems, people would be freezing to death. That’s small comfort, though, … Continue reading →