What lessons will the world take from Haiti’s recent nightmare?
Now is the time for the world to mourn and mobilize in support the millions of unfortunate souls caught in this hellish scenario.
But as the world raises millions–if not billions–of dollars to support their friends in Haiti, I can’t help but pause. It is yet another example of the world mobilizing too late.
What if we spent this money beforehand, to develop advance earthquake warning systems and to build the infrastructure of Haiti to better withstand a natural disaster when it comes?
Study after study (and common sense) shows that the more developed a city is, the better it withstands natural disasters, reducing death tolls and damage.
The world is rife with examples of spending too late. Remember the Tsunami? Or the relatively little we spend on prevention in our health care budgets?
When are we going to learn to think first and act second?
Give now in their time of need. But also give later to organizations that nip such problems in the bud, not just those that respond when disaster strikes.
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-Did not Haiti receive billions of aid dollars in past year making this more a problem of coruption than needing more money.
-Earthquake warning systems do not exist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake_warning_system