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Selflessness - a crying need

The majority of the public is likely to be relieved to a degree on learning that things are falling into place, finally, for the great reconstruction and 'nation-re-building' effort which is ahead of us.

For instance, three principal Task Forces have been set up, with the participation of key personnel in the public and private sectors, covering areas, such as, rescue and relief, 'nation-re-building' and logistics and law and order. Previously, a Centre for National Operations was established for the purpose of closely co-ordinating and planning the relief effort at hand.

Some initial confusion, ineptness and fumbling should only have been expected on the reconstruction and rehabilitation fronts on account of the unprecedented nature and awesome proportions of the tsunami-induced disaster.

Now as the debris settles on the crisis and the State gears itself for the reconstruction drive with the necessary mechanisms and action groups at hand, a more coherent, planned and orderly response could be made to the monumental challenge presented to us on December 26th, provided we, Sri Lankans, are willing to rise as one man, in a spirit of absolute self-sacrifice, to work untiringly for the good of all.

The Parliament of Sri Lanka, which of late has been better known for its discordance, in one of its more solemn and reflective moments was called on to think on these things on Tuesday by Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara. In fact, the Speaker called on the totality of the citizenry to give of its best in the reconstruction and rehabilitation effort.

Needless to say, Sri Lanka has paid an unbearable cost for the political disunity which has bedevilled it for decades. Competition for power among political parties is an inescapable feature of politics anywhere but in the local context, such competition has known no bounds.

Power politics cannot, for instance, be conducted at the cost of the national interest but our principal parties have been pitting themselves against each other with hardly a care for the price it exacts. In fact, such unbridled competition for power has greatly impeded the nation-building process.

We, therefore, hope the present challenge would instil a sense of unity and clarity of direction among our contenders for political power and their parties. One of the worst things which could befall Sri Lanka in this distressing crisis is for interested groups to exploit the problems at hand for political gain. This must be avoided, come what may.

Besides, selfless labour is an essential condition for national recovery. The country expects this of the mechanisms and bodies which have been specially created for reconstruction and connected tasks.

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An affordable warning system

One of the main reasons for the massive loss of lives on December 26 was the lack of an early warning system. Most people didn't literally know what hit them. Several radio stations reported the earthquake, but there was no prior warning whatsoever of the tsunami.

Today's summit in Jakarta will focus on building such an early warning system for the Indian Ocean region. This will be an elaborate, complex and expensive network of sensors that will primarily warn Government agencies of an impending tsunami wave.

But what about individuals who have no immediate access to such a warning system ?

An Israeli company may come to their rescue. The company plans to distribute free to Asian countries hit by last week's tsunami a device it says could save lives by warning holiday-makers and residents directly that a tidal wave is coming.

The system developed by Israeli inventor Meir Gitelis uses land and water sensors, smaller than a shoe box and each costing US$ 170 (Rs.17,000 approx) to measure seismic activity and wave motion. Like other systems already in operation, the sensors can send alerts in seconds by satellite to governments anywhere in the world. This system can also relay warnings directly to private subscribers over cellphones, pagers or dedicated receivers, spreading the message widely.

Serious thought should be given to popularising this system, in the light of what the Indian Ocean countries had gone through in the last week. Coastal dwellers will especially benefit, as they will no longer need to resort to guesswork. Seaside hotels too could install a satellite receiver to pick up warnings broadcast over the system seconds after an earthquake that could cause giant waves. The system could be integrated with local cellphone or pager networks.

The sensors can apparently determine the tremor's intensity as well as the height and speed of the waves above it. The system can then analyse all the data and predict if and when a tsunami will come, where it will hit and how big its impact will be. This will be a great boon to coastal residents, who must now forever live in fear of the ocean.

The silver lining is that the inventors plan to give it away free to the tsunami-hit countries. The meterological and geological agencies of these countries should study the product closely with a view to deploying it in coastal areas without delay. Every little help counts at an extraordinary time like this.

www.millenniumcitysl.com

www.Pathmaconstruction.com

www.ceylincoproperties.com

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