THERE'S something amiss with this beloved planet of ours. It is certainly not natural for hurricanes, typhoons and earthquakes to take place with such alarming regularity in recent days.
Good heavens, what is this world heading to? Scientists seem strangely quiet about this series of natural disasters. Yes, they do comment now and then but very few are brave enough to broadcast any predictions which might turn out to be hogwash or be as accurate as tomorrow's weather report.
Somewhere in this world, I am sure there are some researchers who know the consequences of what are going on with the planetary system. This is no time to be shy or be guarded about professional views. If the views could help the world, then we must hear these people out.
For too long now, nations and people in general have taken the world for granted. Fire spots are spotted by the hundreds daily by orbiting satellites. CFCs, the ozone layer, melting polar caps are given cursory coverage by many TV networks.
Unless the flood waters come right up to our doorsteps, most of us are not bothered or worried. Hurricane Katrina swept over several US Gulf states and put thousands in their graves.
If the world as a whole views this unnatural phenomenon lightly, we will be in trouble sooner than we think. It is my belief that we are already in trouble.
Earthquakes are occurring in places where they don't normally happen. Take for example, the Kashmir region saddling India and Pakistan. This mountainous region has been shaken up so badly in the recent quake that many areas have been rendered unreachable because of landslides and rockfall.
Villagers in remote areas are existing under dire circumstances. It is a similar situation to parts of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
From official reports, the melting polar caps are pouring additional volume of water into the oceans. This means the water level will rise significantly over the years. In the event of a typhoon or hurricane sweeping in from the sea, the surge of water will be higher and low-lying areas will be flooded faster and damage will be much greater.
Frankly, many coastal regions around the world are fighting a losing battle against the raging global weather. The point being made here is what are we going to do about it?
The next front mankind has to watch out for is not war, bird flu or AIDS but uncontrollable and unpredictable violent weather conditions that can wipe out communities and infrastructure in the blink of an eye.
The world has not seen such phenomena in a very long time. Some scientists said these things come in circles but the last time this kind of weather took place, these experts were not even born. So their opinions are just conjecture.
The answer to all these dangerous occurrences is not found anywhere yet. We can make weather forecasts, and call for human evacuation on a massive scale but we cannot stop hurricanes, typhoons and earthquakes.
That is the dilemma facing mankind in the 21st century.
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