Here is the article that I wrote for my town newsletter this month.

On the morning of December 26, 2004, 150 kilometres off of the Indonesian coast of Sumatra the most powerful earthquake in 40 years occurred. The result – an enormous displacement of the ocean’s water creating a 10 meter high tsunami travelling at 800 km an hour that attacked the coast of Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, and even East Africa’s Somalia which was thousands of kilometres away from the earthquake. Unfortunately, the people in these areas had no warning. It was like a scene from a movie – unbelievable.

No one knew the extent of the damage. Not even the people directly involved in the disaster. The first reported death tole was only 30, 000. Now authorities are reporting more than 150, 000 deaths (most of them from Sumatra). This is not including the tens of thousands of people missing or the many injured. If you include families who lost a mother, father, or child, this number increases substantially. These countries have some of the highest tourist rates in the world. Many of the dead were travelling. The devastation can be felt around the world. Some affected areas are no longer inhabitable. Most will take years to rebuild. Many people have lost everything – their family, their homes, their boats, and in turn, their jobs. It is estimated that 1.5 million children have been orphaned or separated from their families.

The last tsunami of this calibre was over 120 years ago in the East Indies when the volcano, Krakatoa erupted killing over 36, 000 people. Like I said, this is unbelievable. It is horrifying and frightening. Most of my friends in Japan were on winter vacation most of them in Thailand. For the week after the news about the tragedy spread, I didn’t know if my friends were dead, injured, or safe. I thought for sure someone would have been involved. Afterall, when you go to a warm country in winter, you go to visit the beaches. Miraculously, everyone was fine. By chance, they had all planned to go to the beaches near the end of their trips – closer to New Year’s.

In situations such as these, it is easy to dwell on the negative things. However, it is important not to. The generosity of people around the world is heart-warming. The amount of money that has been donated to the people in the affected areas is enormous. Countries around the world have dispatched people to aid in the clean up and restoration of affected areas. Efforts are underway to help with medical aid, restore safe drinking water and to ensure everyone has food. The world has really pulled together to help those in need. I have realized how important family and friends are to me. I am lucky because I have always had a roof over my head, more than enough food to eat, access to proper health care, education, and a job.

There are many people in developing and Third-world countries who are not so lucky - not just the people affected by earthquakes and other natural disasters. It is important that we give money and other donations not only now to the victims of the tsunami but always to those less fortunate than ourselves.