Humanity

Mainstream television’s reporting of natural and other catastrophes has turned the delivery of information about human struggle, the mighty elements, loss and its consequences into nothing more than disaster porn.

Where will the cameras be when the long process of rebuilding begins?

Nowhere has this been so evident than with the recent “live” coverage of the Tasmania bushfires.

Late last week and into this one, the south-east of Tasmania burned, forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents and holidaymakers as homes and livelihoods, never mind beloved pets and essential livestock perished.

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  • PsychoHyena says:

    05:08pm | 09/01/13

    @Geko, you might be interested to know that the forestry industry here in Tas has been failing for years and has received more government assistance to do so than any other industry. Though I guess recycling paper and using less timber products does have an impact on the number of… Read more »

  • Geko says:

    02:54pm | 09/01/13

    Acotrel wrote “Most recent disasters have been due to extreme weather events.  How much is unmoderated capitalism and consumerism to blame ? “ Dunno, but I know that the fire disaster in Tasmania is entirely the work of green fanatics. Tasmania is a petri dish, demonstrating the consequences of green… Read more »

 

These past two days I’ve been gazing at my fellow office workers and wondering: If an earthquake struck here, who would be a hero? Who would run back into the crumbling building for a mate, who would risk their life for another?

Screengrab from TV3 by AP

I had imagined that, of the hundreds of people, a few would shine.

Maybe that chick over there that always looks calm and competent. Maybe not that bloke who can never manage eye contact.

I also wondered what I would do and had a terrifying thought that I would be a panicker, a useless screamer (or swearer, more likely) who only contributed to the chaos.

But, as it turns out, more people are everyday heroes than I thought.

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  • Servaas says:

    12:23am | 26/02/11

    I’d say it has a lot to do with the ‘equalising’ effect of a disaster or terrifying event, or the way it bring things into perspective, how it shatters our images we put so much time and effort in. We’re all tempted to protect our reputations, to be admired by… Read more »

  • Chris L says:

    03:11pm | 25/02/11

    Marley, are you implying that other species cannot show the “human” spirit? I once saw a dog risk death to drag an injured friend off a busy freeway! Don’t be such specists people! Read more »

 

As human lives and communities are destroyed by floods in Australia, and we recall the devastation of the Haiti quake one year on, it’s appropriate to reflect on the continuing challenge humanity faces to work out how best to master nature.

Baby Montana's rescue, an already iconic image of the Queensland floods. Picture: Jack Tran

As much as we can be in awe of the beauty of nature, we should resist the naive nature worship that ignores just how arbitrary and destructive it can be.

While we are in fact part of nature, we are that part of nature that is aware of itself. We are able to imagine and construct ways of shaping and managing nature to neutralise its (and our) dark side.

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  • Peter Mullen says:

    01:09pm | 11/01/13

    Sorry mate, but your argument is tainted with the exact attitude that has us in trouble with nature already. If we are to sustain ourselves as a species; the very highest priority is population control. No, that doesn’t mean mass sterilization, or any such silliness. It starts by understanding that… Read more »

  • SimonR says:

    04:58pm | 18/01/11

    What a singularly peculiar take on the floods. Who exactly is it that is out there worshipping nature? The Greens? Hippies? Pagans? Are events like these not answering the obvious redundancy in the old chestnut of man conquering everything? Surely the better question is how can to live within the… Read more »

 

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