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11 Apr 05 Taking geography seriously: Tsunami disaster a grim reminder by Ooi Giok Ling Headlines in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami have highlighted the consequences of nature's wrath when it appears to have been mostly forgotten. In the headlong rush by societies everywhere to progress economically, grow rich and gather to ourselves the best of all material comforts, this reflection on the neglect of nature deserves far more debate than perhaps has been evident in the past. Such a debate has already begun on the Internet with numerous postings about how a more effective effort at conserving mangrove areas and coral reefs might have helped mitigate the damage caused by the killer waves. Further debate might have moved to a view that seems clear to a number who have considered the destruction of the settlements, livelihoods and infrastructure seen from Sri Lanka to Aceh. There is an urgent need to take geography seriously. The British took geography seriously once and located great port cities across the globe with Singapore numbering among the most successful. The colonial British triumphed at identifying locations for harbours and ports. Location choices were made on the basis of what might be considered the best geographical know-how of the day. Harbours needed shelter from the elements. Deep water was important as were wide-enough areas to hold large ocean-faring vessels and then allow them to turn around. These harbours served their roles best if located centrally. These would be locations that made the ports convenient way stations along the routes most popular among traders and other seafaring groups. Geography has been taken more seriously by the wiser citizens of older civilisations such as the Chinese. To site homes in locations that were well-drained and ventilated to enhance the health and well being of their denizens, geographical knowledge was essential. The Romans knew to locate their homes where good ventilation and air circulation would be able to keep their food from turning bad too quickly. As technological know-how has surpassed that of past eras, there appears this tendency to dismiss geography as conditional constraints that can be overcome by human ingenuity. Resorts and other developments locate nearly wherever the developers want them to be with the idea that technology is all enabling. Human technology now does disregard geography or supersedes the limitations and constraints posed before. This seems to be a rather perilous choice, as the recent Asian tsunami tragedy has highlighted. Geography spends much of the time working to understand how people respond to and organise their place and space. It is concerned with why and how people live where they do and do the things they do in these places. Taking geography seriously does not imply that the victims of the Asian tsunami might have fared any better than they did. Knowledge, after all, has to be successfully transformed into action to do any good. More importantly, people who live in places that are vulnerable to natural disasters should be informed about the risks. While it is very likely that these resorts and settlements would still have been built where they were in the path of tsunamis anyway, the question is whether with the geography of these places taken seriously, there might have been more pressure to put mitigating measures in place. These include having warning signals for the population and beach visitors if typhoons, storms, floods or, in this instance, tsunamis are expected at some time. At the very least, those living and working on beaches should have known the warning signs of tsunamis coming their way. This can only be, however, if people and the societies in which they live, take their geography seriously. The views expressed are strictly the author's own. She teaches Humanities and Social Studies Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University. To comment on this writer's views, email us at news@newstoday.com.sg links Related articles on Global issues: tsunami and the environment Media and other articles discussing the role of mangroves and coral reefs in mitigating the effect and the impact on the natural environment and the people that depend on them. Related articles on Wild shores of Singapore |
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