Save the turtles. Save the polar bears. Save the rainforest. Save the desert. Don't forget the bees. Don't get me wrong. But recent events have me thinking. What about the people?
How does this relate? Well not directly I will admit. Indeed, recent events revolve around the oil spill disaster in the Gulf. Here's the connection. The Gulf. While current disasters are occurring, the world has moved on and abandoned those still in need of help and support.
Survivors of Hurricane Katrina are still scattered, New Orleans still in need of rebuilding. I'm sure enough people are back to make it a city again, but how much are they accomplishing by themselves. The straggling numbers of volunteers helping rebuild . . . how much can they do without more support from the rest of the country.
As a person who's been to New Orleans to help rebuild, I won't hide the fact that I'm itching to get back. New Orleans is a beautiful, vibrant place full of wonderful people (and great food), but it needs help.
I'm sure it isn't just New Orleans
either. What's going on in Haiti? How are the survivors of Hurricane Ike? The tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004? What is being done for the flood victims in Nashville, Tennessee back in May? (a disaster not largely publicized, hidden if you like).I guess the real question I'm posing here is this: Does the world move on too quickly and forget about those still in need? Are we just looking for the next big disaster area who is in need of aid? And finally, do we actually remember the past disaster zones that we've left partially rebuilt?
Food for thought.
Shiny
