Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Katrina...
I got this forward mail from my friend.
First of all i think it is silly to be proud of the fact that our country managed a disaster well, when we lag with them in 99million other things. Somebody who didn't understand the making of this disaster has created an email like this.Thought i will shed some light on it.
New orleans is 10 feet under the sea level.It is sandwiched between the missisipi river and Lake Pontchartrain which is connected to the sea. Because it is below sea level, levees& floodwalls where constructed on both sides to prevent water from entering into the city. During katarina the levees of lake pontchartrain gave away.The water that entered the city was not rain water, but the water from the lake pontchartrain. And because it is below sea level the water wont drain by itself. It has to be pumped out.
check out wikipedia for more
image
New orleans
I couldn’t stop making this comparison..
inches of rain in new orleans due to hurricane katrina... 18
inches of rain in mumbai (July 26th).... 37.1
population of new orleans... 484,674
population of mumbai.... 12,622,500
deaths in new orleans within 48 hours of katrina...100
deaths in mumbai within 48hours of rain.. 37.
number of people to be evacuated in new orleans... entire city..wohh
number of people evacuated in mumbai...10,000
Cases of shooting and violence in new orleans...Countless
Cases of shooting and violence in mumbai.. NONE
Time taken for US army to reach new orleans... 48hours
Time taken for Indian army and navy to reach mumbai...12hours
status 48hours later...new orleans is still waiting for relief, army and electricty
status 48hours later..mumbai is back on its feet and is business is as usual
USA...world's most developed nation
India...third world country..
oops...did i get the last fact wrong???
First of all i think it is silly to be proud of the fact that our country managed a disaster well, when we lag with them in 99million other things. Somebody who didn't understand the making of this disaster has created an email like this.Thought i will shed some light on it.
New orleans is 10 feet under the sea level.It is sandwiched between the missisipi river and Lake Pontchartrain which is connected to the sea. Because it is below sea level, levees& floodwalls where constructed on both sides to prevent water from entering into the city. During katarina the levees of lake pontchartrain gave away.The water that entered the city was not rain water, but the water from the lake pontchartrain. And because it is below sea level the water wont drain by itself. It has to be pumped out.
check out wikipedia for more
image
New orleans
Comments:
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thank you for posting this. Now, I can forward the link to all people who send me this forward.
:)
:)
# posted by 
: 8:30 PM
: 8:30 PM
Very timely post Sen. I was also wondering what could be the reason that USA couldn't handle the issue properly. It is a shame that instead of sympathizing or helping with the people who had to face such a disaster these guys are utilizing this situation to find the faults in the rescue operation. What kind of patriotism is this, I wonder.
And hey, do you think the racism plays a big part in the rescue?
And hey, do you think the racism plays a big part in the rescue?
>>I was also wondering what could be the reason that USA couldn't handle the issue properly.
Because behind the veneer of 'civilisation' lies a primitive tribal mindset where people kill for food (and beer !).
Because behind the veneer of 'civilisation' lies a primitive tribal mindset where people kill for food (and beer !).
Sen,
My sincere appreciations .None but an idiot will compare the situation now !!!!
The devastation that occured in Mumbai and in New Orleans is different .I wa sin Mumbai 4 days after ,and belive me except for slum areas Mumbai wasn't affected at all .(all the water drained in 3 days )
However the crime rate at Nea Orleans is definetely disturbing .
We definetely need to be happy of the fact that we have managed the disaster well - You cannot keep on hitting India as and when you please ,we need to appreciate when there is something genuine fact - ut that appreciation is not from the comparison between two disasters .
My sincere appreciations .None but an idiot will compare the situation now !!!!
The devastation that occured in Mumbai and in New Orleans is different .I wa sin Mumbai 4 days after ,and belive me except for slum areas Mumbai wasn't affected at all .(all the water drained in 3 days )
However the crime rate at Nea Orleans is definetely disturbing .
We definetely need to be happy of the fact that we have managed the disaster well - You cannot keep on hitting India as and when you please ,we need to appreciate when there is something genuine fact - ut that appreciation is not from the comparison between two disasters .
It is equally pity that we are appreciating our Government only after comparing ourselves with New Orleans - Its a big shame on Indians .
Why is that we blame ,blame India while we are living in a comfortable place here ?Sure ,India has lot of Negatives ,but it is our duty to recognise ,appreciate when there is something good going on ..!!!
WHat say guys ?
Why is that we blame ,blame India while we are living in a comfortable place here ?Sure ,India has lot of Negatives ,but it is our duty to recognise ,appreciate when there is something good going on ..!!!
WHat say guys ?
Sorry for split posts ..
There was an article in Thuglak by Guru Moorthy about this - It was really pathetic .
I think we have two facts to be mentioned .
1.Everywhere media ,blogs ,news papers etc speak about only ths ills of India -As a result we have lost sight of the positive things in India .If some body asks what are teh positives in India ,iam not sure how many of us can say confidently / spontaneously the positives we feel about India .As a result writers like Guru Moorthy have to write such half-baked articles stating ths positives of India .
2.I feel the patriotism that Swami Vivekananda explained is different from what we have .It has become more emotional rather than doing something for the country .His message to feel for any person in distress ,anywhere in the world is totally burried under patriotism.
There was an article in Thuglak by Guru Moorthy about this - It was really pathetic .
I think we have two facts to be mentioned .
1.Everywhere media ,blogs ,news papers etc speak about only ths ills of India -As a result we have lost sight of the positive things in India .If some body asks what are teh positives in India ,iam not sure how many of us can say confidently / spontaneously the positives we feel about India .As a result writers like Guru Moorthy have to write such half-baked articles stating ths positives of India .
2.I feel the patriotism that Swami Vivekananda explained is different from what we have .It has become more emotional rather than doing something for the country .His message to feel for any person in distress ,anywhere in the world is totally burried under patriotism.
Sen,
very well said, no comparison whatsoever
Disaster preparedness is for disasters not for such calamitous situations :-(
very well said, no comparison whatsoever
Disaster preparedness is for disasters not for such calamitous situations :-(
sen good but
geologist and other env. scientist had already given the govt enough warning about situations.
They even had a simulated computer model as how it will happen etc
but asusual budget was never allocated and politics played a big role.
geologist and other env. scientist had already given the govt enough warning about situations.
They even had a simulated computer model as how it will happen etc
but asusual budget was never allocated and politics played a big role.
ashwin,
U r welcome.that is the exact reason i posted it :).
jo,
Yep.No i dont think there was any racism involved.Not directly.Many of the black cities dont generate that much revenue, so they are cash starved.That might have had some impact on the goverment machinery doing the prepardness.other than that no.
pawan,
Actually the new orleans gov was saying that the killings were because all those drug addicts got edgy because they didn't get their shots :).
U r welcome.that is the exact reason i posted it :).
jo,
Yep.No i dont think there was any racism involved.Not directly.Many of the black cities dont generate that much revenue, so they are cash starved.That might have had some impact on the goverment machinery doing the prepardness.other than that no.
pawan,
Actually the new orleans gov was saying that the killings were because all those drug addicts got edgy because they didn't get their shots :).
Ramki,
This is not a mail that appreciates india for the disaster management.It just twists the facts makes a childish comparison.If a rich guy and a poor guy are living next to each other.And their house gets robbed, the poor guys points out to the rich guy that he defended the robber better than him.It is just childish, the point is both of them got robbed.
Every country in the world including ethiopia and rwanda have to do better disaster mangement.If one slips and fails,it is not right for the other to raise their collor and say 'i did it correctly'.
arvind,
thanxs
ganesh,
yeah.New orleans has been sitting below sea level for almost a century.
This is not a mail that appreciates india for the disaster management.It just twists the facts makes a childish comparison.If a rich guy and a poor guy are living next to each other.And their house gets robbed, the poor guys points out to the rich guy that he defended the robber better than him.It is just childish, the point is both of them got robbed.
Every country in the world including ethiopia and rwanda have to do better disaster mangement.If one slips and fails,it is not right for the other to raise their collor and say 'i did it correctly'.
arvind,
thanxs
ganesh,
yeah.New orleans has been sitting below sea level for almost a century.
I even saw a few foreign (including Indian) , news and current affairs program stating KATRINA as Tornado, and went on to explain what a tornado is all about.
sen ,
As far as i belong to that poor house ,i do need to recognise that i have defended well - but certainly not in comparison with any other guy rich or poor - as u have mentioned.
While we are very nice having a stand that we should not compare things now or at any point of time (which makes lot of sense ) ,where were our comments when our government did a reasonable job in Mumbai ? Why is that we fail to appreciate the efforts ?
But senthil ,we can't help it .We are always compared with US with each and every stuff - we can't expect who has been said ' You guys are nothing compared to US ' for 1000 times to shut his mouth now .That dog will have his day :((
That was my concern .
As far as i belong to that poor house ,i do need to recognise that i have defended well - but certainly not in comparison with any other guy rich or poor - as u have mentioned.
While we are very nice having a stand that we should not compare things now or at any point of time (which makes lot of sense ) ,where were our comments when our government did a reasonable job in Mumbai ? Why is that we fail to appreciate the efforts ?
But senthil ,we can't help it .We are always compared with US with each and every stuff - we can't expect who has been said ' You guys are nothing compared to US ' for 1000 times to shut his mouth now .That dog will have his day :((
That was my concern .
Senthil,
Adding to your points.....
http://soonapaana.blogspot.com/2005/09/katrina-hows-whys-and-what-might-have.html
Adding to your points.....
http://soonapaana.blogspot.com/2005/09/katrina-hows-whys-and-what-might-have.html
I don't think its a matter of comparing tragedies - that would be cruel. Its what happened after that, the rescue operation that leaves a bad taste. After putting their noses in everyone elses business, when their people needed them, they dissapointed and probably caused the lost of many lives.
They're still throwing blames around between themselves and instead of solving that have immediately jumped to continue poking their noses in other countrys affair. So where was the lesson learnt?
Look after your own before trying to look after others.
They're still throwing blames around between themselves and instead of solving that have immediately jumped to continue poking their noses in other countrys affair. So where was the lesson learnt?
Look after your own before trying to look after others.
well said...seems like u just read my husbands mind...we were discussing the other day about the same and he was telling the same about how it is below sea level and how it is difficult to drain the water....
I guess, people are just being cynical in an untimely fashion....I mean I would stop being cynical and act on something that is constructive! rite??
I guess, people are just being cynical in an untimely fashion....I mean I would stop being cynical and act on something that is constructive! rite??
Sen,
I got your link from a reaction at chinmayi's blog.. http://chinmayisripada.blogspot.com
I have been further distressed today to learn that this email is doing severe rounds in our Indian groups in an obsessive way and also was posted in various professional and art groups.
Your analysis and some of the responses to your post are atleast a shimmer of hope. I was wondering about the emotional bankruptcy that we are showing as Indians in the way this email was making rounds. Unbelievable.
Somehow, this email hit a raw nerve in me...that we behave in such a shallow manner as a group.
Thanks for your post again. I guess many people from Chin's blog will visit yours soon!
I got your link from a reaction at chinmayi's blog.. http://chinmayisripada.blogspot.com
I have been further distressed today to learn that this email is doing severe rounds in our Indian groups in an obsessive way and also was posted in various professional and art groups.
Your analysis and some of the responses to your post are atleast a shimmer of hope. I was wondering about the emotional bankruptcy that we are showing as Indians in the way this email was making rounds. Unbelievable.
Somehow, this email hit a raw nerve in me...that we behave in such a shallow manner as a group.
Thanks for your post again. I guess many people from Chin's blog will visit yours soon!
Blame it on the leader.. Look who is leading U.S.A right now... pfff... he was lost then, and he's lost now.
Thank goodness just 3 more years and he's outta there, time for a new leader, my hands are itching to vote again
~ merino
Thank goodness just 3 more years and he's outta there, time for a new leader, my hands are itching to vote again
~ merino
I hope that they dont try and reconstruct the city as is.. maybe the people shd move out and reside in less-dangerous places. But this is easier said than done :(
also, this is ironic that the city that hosts millions during Mardi Gras found less than normal rescuers during tough times..
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also, this is ironic that the city that hosts millions during Mardi Gras found less than normal rescuers during tough times..
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