Five Years Later

[+ Lucky]

Five years ago the greatest natural tragedy of my lifetime occurred. The tsunami of 2004 hit hard in southeast Asia, killing some 250,000 people. For me, it wasn't something that happened in some far away land, as I had been to Phuket and Phang Na bay, home of the famous James Bond Island. On the way there, our boat stopped at a Muslim fishing village, built entirely on stilts in the water. Obviously that was wiped out, and the people I saw no doubt all died.

 

So I am a bit surprised at how little mention the anniversary gets. Maybe it's too remote to think that it might happen again, and it most certainly won't happen here, I don't think. But it seems so odd that in one fell swoop nature can take the lives of so many people. The stories are so amazing. Take a look at the National Geographic's recounting of the story:

 

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1227_041226_tsunami_2.html

[Guest greatness]

It makes us humble

 

RIP those who died.

[Txpaytoplay]

This is truly one of the saddest natural disasters in my lifetime.

[Cooper]

Remembering

 

So I am a bit surprised at how little mention the anniversary gets.

 

Here in NY the local news channels have widely reported on the tragic events of 5 years ago.

 

One moving story I heard today was that of Petra Nemcova, a Czech model, who was in Thailand with her fiance. For 8 hours she clung on to a tree waiting to be rescued. Sadly, she watched her boyfriend washed out to sea.

 

She regularly returns to Thailand to help those in need. She started a charity called "Happy Hearts Fund" to provide children with the basic essentials.

 

Happy Hearts Fund

 

In 2005, Němcová started The Happy Hearts Fund, a charitable organization and campaign formed after her survival and recovery from the Tsunami of 2004. It aims to advocate and provide for disadvantaged youngsters who have had to endure hardship and who are not receiving the essential and sustainable help they need for healthy childhood development. It actively partners with charities, donors and foundations committed to providing immediate, tangible assistance for children.

[KMEM]

I remember being terrified watching the ship in the movie Krakatoa turn into the tidal wave. A tsunami moving at over 500 MPH has got to be absolutely awful to contemplate and the reality in Thailand et al was worse than my imagination.

 

i don't believe we have adequate world wide warning now and I am not sure how this could be accomplished, but it surely would be nice.

 

Best regards,

KMEM