Chile death toll mounts

One of the most powerful earthquakes in history struck Chile on Saturday, and the aftermath has been devastating. As is typical when this type of strategy strikes, it is initially difficult to accurately asses the damage and the loss of life, so the numbers of dead and injured tend to rise continuously. The first reports confirmed at least a hundred fatalities, but as of this writing, that number has risen to over 700. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet is appealing to the world for assistance.

“We face a catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude that it will require a giant effort,” said Bachelet.

Fortunately, the Tsunami that was a result of the huge quake inflicted minimal damage outside of the immediate coastal communities.

This catastrophe comes on the heels of the recent earthquake in Haiti on January 12th, and though the hand to mouth rescue and relief efforts are the most important concern right now, these events make a profound statement to those of us who have not been directly impacted by them. Politicians, bankers, and military machines may seem nearly omnipotent and eminently powerful, but in the end, when planet Earth feels the need to hiccup, all of that power can be swallowed up in a matter of minutes, hours, or days.

It is important to do all that we can to help those in need, first and foremost because it is the right thing to do. But we have to remember that even the “world’s only superpower” can be brought to its knees any time the forces of nature happen to erupt, and we may be the ones needing assistance. When you see how much damage and loss of life can happen so quickly, and you consider the Katrina response, you have to how prepared we are here in America should we be victimized by an earthquake or some other natural disas