padang is a ticking time-bomb
Experts have called on the government to invest in quake-resistant buildings and widen Padang’s roads — predicting an exodus of about 500,000 people in the event of a major quake. But little has been done.
There's this "thing" in the TwIndoVerse going around right now. Don't point the finger. Stop blaming people for the disaster in Padang. I have a problem with that because there are clearly a LOT of people to blame:
* the local and central governments who have ignored the experts' warnings about the earthquake risk since 2004
* the developers and builders for the shoddy structures they built, collapsing like a souffle
* the people of Indonesia, if we let this happen again.
Contrary to public belief, people do not have to die in an earthquake. We let them die. If we do not make this pathetic excuse of a government take responsibility for their corruption and ineptitude, then when the next one hits --- and it will --- we only have ourselves to blame.
Comments (5)
Don't get me wrong, I don't think that comparisons are particularly helpful, and I don't think for minutes that one country is better than the other -- that's just dumb. But I do think that the government, for all its faults, accepts responsibility for the safety and welfare of New Zealanders. Why? Because New Zealanders demand it.
This is why the government spends millions of dollars on earthquake preparation. It's why I instinctively know DO NOT RUN OUTSIDE during an earthquake and why woodden houses are better than brick. It's why there was a mass evacuation of the North Island coastline last week, not because there was a tsunami, but because there was a RISK of one.
All this takes is a bit of a mind-shift: from disaster management to risk management. It will save us so much money in the long run. All we have to do is DEMAND our leaders do it.
I know it's not fair to compare as difference can be up to 10 years behind but I kept doing it. The reason is I'd like to initiate or stimulate some ideas so the younger generation (mine) can at least be aware of major issues. However, like most Indonesians, even my own friends get slightly irritated (imagine if these are all strangers, I'll prob be hunted down and bashed to pulp). So I try to keep criticizing if I find interesting issue while being careful not to offend them. Anyway, the idea is I agree with comparing things with more developed countries or even to our 'controversial' neighbor Malaysia which has far better progression.
The problem is, some idiots on the parliament (DPR) or whatever constitutions which has power to influence (sorry, not good in institutional hierarchy) from time to time keep saying "we cannot be dependent on other country" or "we have to be careful with propaganda" or "we have to repel 'BAD' influence". I say, what the hell! Why can't we learn to be the student here? We're so left behind anyway. Being arrogant just worsen our dignity. This is another problem for Indonesia, we are too arrogant to accept that we are so far behind.
Take example from Japan when they closed everything to avoid influence from international world (forgot the term, not good on history as well). They fell apart and hit bottom line. They then realized that they can only go up from there, by learning from the mighty US of A. Look at them now. I hope we fly some Japanese architects and civil engineers to build paper buildings. Sigh..
My father (both parents on holiday visiting me here) kept telling me these people have been warned to move out since years ago. So stubbornness is obviously one problem.
The other major problem is superstition. How many times already have you heard "God's wrath, sinner, etc" Don't get me wrong, I'm a devoted Christian and believe in God and His punishment but this is not one! God's wrath does not strike the same place every second year! AND the ONLY sin we commit so far is BEING STUPID AND IGNORANT! Yes there are so many evil people (recently the ones taking advantage to get money from frustrated victims' relatives) that need to 'bertobat'.
As a country believes so much in superstition, I can understand why people blame everything on something they don't fully understand but if we don't stop doing it, we will overlook the real problem which is "West Sumatra is a place waiting for another disaster". That's right, a lot of people to blame.