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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Our world has shifted...

"We still do not know one-thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us." ~ Albert Einstein

I haven't blogged since Friday. I have however, spent time with my family, gone to satsang, gone to a tea party (held in honour of my girl cousin's 13th birthday) and gone to Tobago. I've been going about with my own life. In the back of my mind though is the awareness of what is happening in Japan and in the world. The quake which hit Japan on Friday is one of the largest to hit since 1900 (different sites give different stats so I'm not sure whether it's the fourth or fifth largest quake). It has moved the island of Honshu 8 feet to the east and has sped up the earth's rotation by 1.6 microseconds. The tsunamis triggered by this quake has caused damage to Japan, Hawaii and California (am not sure of anywhere else). There is now the threat of a nuclear disaster in Japan. It all boggles the mind. Surreal.

What can one single individual do to help others going through this trauma? I hold you in my thoughts and prayers. I will donate to relief funds. I will talk about what is happening-what has happened-what can still happen in the hopes that persons I talk to can improve on building codes, warning systems, evacuation procedures in my country and elsewhere. I will appreciate what's around me and try to show gratitude and appreiciation just a little bit more.

There is a part of me that wonders if we bring this trauma on ourselves. We have grown so fast, taken up so much space, used up so much resources ... it makes me wonder. Where are we going as a people? What are we meant to do? We cannot expect that everything will remain the same but we can try to ensure that it's somewhat better. This article featured in the Huffington Post speaks about the opportunities that can arise from this devastation. I'm sure there are many persons thinking like the author and hope that they continue to inform and discuss ideas like these. I'm also hopeful that we will try to create these opportunities ourselves - to come up with new ways of doing, creating and living.

peace,
Ren

2 comments:

Rachel Rampersad said...

It's in time like these you just need to pray and send positive energy into the world...

Anonymous said...

Listening to the Satsang... I really know nothing of Hindu tradition and I live so close.

Think I have only been two weddings and one funeral...

Shame... so shame.