The word tsunami is Japanese, from tsu (harbour) and nami (wave). It is the term given to a wave which occurs after an earthquake or volcanic eruption or landslide under the oceans beds. These waves can be confused with tidal waves which are simply driven by the tide and wind. A tsunami is so deadly because the waves are not preceded by rough seas and gales or weather conditions which might alert people. We do have technology in place which can give warnings, but sadly the measures were not taken in the area affected by this disaster.

It looks like the final death toll from the Boxing Day Earthquake and resulting tsunami will come close to 200,000 victims. Right now Reuters is stating 125,000 have perished. The figure rises by the hour. The numbers are hard to comprehend, yet, if truth be told, it's just the latest in a series of natural disasters which inevitably occur each year. Though many of these disasters cannot be predicted - we know with certainty that every year will bring a number of natural disasters, and therefore it would make sense to both take measures of detection and warning, and also to have on hand some collective effort which might see nations use the same organisational skills in dropping bombs to drop food and water and medicines instead. It is ironic that nature, or the geophysics of the Earth has wiped out as many people in an event which happened in a couple of hours as the USA and UK have in over 18 months of deliberate destruction over in Iraq.

As usual, the politicians will act humbled, as if death is a terrible thing they would not ever wish upon poor innocent people. But if the money spent on military expenditure was instead diverted to humanitarian aid, this disaster would never have taken so many lives. The earthquake and subsequent waves would have happened, but the resulting death toll would not be as high. How many lives could have been saved can be seen by witness accounts and video of the waves coming in.

Many Victims Could Have Been Saved

Many of the victims of the flooding could have been saved. Give that most were killed as they stood close to the shoreline, it will emerge in the coming days that a warning system has not been in place due to the fact that life is cheap in the areas affected. On the Oregon and Washington State coast, there are actually road signs indicating tsunami escape routes. The small Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia - home to a US naval base - escaped unharmed in this latest disaster as it was forewarned by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii and all those on the Island had time to head inland.

Russia maintains a National Tsunami Warning Center to provide tsunami warning service for any tsunami impacting Russia national interests The cost of the monitoring equipment would have set back the nations affected several million pounds of pounds. Thailand might have a working class population who struggle in difficult economic circumstances- but there leader is so rich that he was going to buy part of Liverpool FC not so long back. The Thai Government and its leaders have long been accused of feathering there own nests. But let's be honest - politicians always feather their own nests and they do so at the expense of the ordinary people. They cut back on various projects - and the series of early warning system monitors was an expense that these collective nations chose not to take onboard. If the President of Thailand can afford to buy Liverpool FC, than what the hell is this Country doing without an early warning system for the inevitable tsunami which hit them? We can ask the same of many of the Nations hit.

Broken Promises

Last year we saw a massive earthquake kill tens of thousands in Iran, and of course we had the promises of help and everything they needed would be on its way, or so we heard. Not too many of the victims were shown, a few reports on TV, but no follow up to see the success of the international aid coming through. The Devon Village of Boscastle in the UK, was flooded early this year (with no loss of life) and we've had many follow ups on the progress there. It seems self indulgent almost now. Our politicians talk of the World as if we are a Global Village, but its not our politicians living in huts and flimsy buildings is it? Many of the people in Iran are still living in tents. They recently had the first anniversary of the terrible event, but the West is too busy bombing Iraq to help too much in Iran which we planned to bomb ourselves until China made a deal with Iran. Of course, the Iranian leaders will also have there millions stashed away. Despite being an oil rich Nation the people living in an earthquake prone area in Iran, were living in flimsy houses, many of which would have survived had they been reinforced.

The crocodile tears from Bush and Blair and the rest of the warmongers are a disgrace. They are the same people who would steal the bread off the plates of starving to fill up there overflowing bank accounts. Remember that both Blair and Bush have pushed the World towards even greater gaps between rich and poor. They have pushed towards a war. This contempt for the lives of poor people left a massive area unprotected for the want of a few million pounds worth of equipment.

A Brief History of Tsunamis

In 1896 a population of 20,000 in Sanriku, Japan were wiped out when a wave came out of nowhere and swept over them. Tsunamis have resulted in waves as high as 135 ft above normal sea level and at terrifying speeds of over 500mph. A tidal wave can reach the height of 1000 foot but generally loses its momentum as it reaches shorelines. The area which was hit by an underwater or submarine Earthquake on Boxing day (26th December 2004) was in a known fault line area where previous tremors had seen devastation caused. We know with certainty that had this area been off the coastline of the USA or Hawaii or Russia, that there would have been a lot less life lost due to a warning system being long in place. Developing Nations have a duty to make sure that we pass on any such technologies to ensure that potential loss of life in areas prone to natural disasters is anticipated and acted upon to the best of our ability. If the sea comes crashing in, then loss of property and anything that cannot be moved is certain to occur. But many people, if given a warning, would have a good chance of staying alive.

Hawaiian Islands

Since the year 1819, more than 40 tsunamis have struck the Hawaiian Islands. A tsunami warning system has been developed in places which have had a history of these events, though not around the Indian Ocean. Hawaii averages one tsunami every year with a big one which will cause some damage on the coastlines happening around every 7 years. Alaska also has a similar record. The warning system itself is provided by seismograph records being recorded from a number of points and the subsequent information used to warn those costal areas in the way of the incoming tsunami.

Sumatra 1883 - 2004

One of the most destructive tsunamis ever recorded, travelled at least half way around the world in 1883 after the collapse of Krakatoa, a volcano in Indonesia. Waves up to 100 ft. high caused great damage along the coast of Sumatra which has also been badly affected by this recent tsunami. Sumatra is the 6th biggest Island in the World (470,000sqkm) and was the closest land mass to the epicentre of last weekend's massive earthquake. It was overwhelmed, yet again, by the tsunami that followed. The area is home to a large Muslim and Christian population and has seen some of the worse loss of life. We only hope that these two religions can work together to help people there regardless of belief.

USA hit by tsunami 1964

America has had an early warning system in place for decades. Back in 1964, an Alaskan earthquake caused a tsunami measuring only 10 to 20 foot high to head towards parts of the USA. Massive damage to parts of the Californian, Oregon, and Washington coastlines were reported. This tsunami caused more than $84 million in damage in Alaska and 123 fatalities in Alaska, Oregon, and California.

Chile 1960, Boats flee Earthquake and find tsunami

On May 22, 1960, a large tsunami was triggered by an earthquake which began in Chile on the land itself, not under the ocean bed. The number of fatalities caused by the event was numbered at 2,290. The tsunami brought about an estimated half billion dollars in damage. Sadly, the actual earthquake forced many on boats to take what they saw as the safer option of sailing off away from the shoreline and away from the tremors on the land. There initial safety in the calm ocean was soon ended with the horrific realisation that a tsunami was heading there way some 10 minutes after the tremors. Almost all were reported killed as the wave smashed those on the boats, including ferries, seeking refuge away from the shoreline. Any initial survivors caught up in the water will be smashed by debris which is being hurled around.

Kirkby Times cannot do much to help - but if people want to donate, Everton FC who are sponsored by a Thailand Beer company, have kindly and promptly set up a fund and will make a donation themselves. Many local Churches and benevolent organisations will help out and finding someone to donate the money to is not a problem. The UK Government offered a paltry £15 Million pounds then raised it to £50M, we are among the more 'generous', with America making a donation not much bigger than ours, despite there wealth. As ever, we wonder how much of the money will actually get through. All too often we see the initial great efforts, then the news some time later that many are still homeless and the donations haven't quite reached those intended. After all, we've got Iraq and Afghanistan to still rebuild, and we destroyed those places ourselves with little help from nature.

After the initial promises by the Governments, and perhaps another pathetic attempt by pop star millionaires to release more charity singles, the issue will be forgotten, just like the myriad of disasters which we've forgotten.

'act of God'

Some would call the wave an 'act of God', yet this is a disturbing thought for many to take onboard. Most of the people killed were poor people so any God who'd take out his or her anger or wrath on the poor, must be some sort of indiscriminate Yob. Most of us would sooner see this disaster as an act of nature and part of the hazard of living on a globe spinning wildly around a giant ball of very hot fire (the sun). We really don't need to start wars or trouble, its waiting all around us. There is enough trouble just waiting in the form of the elements and nature. Our very existence here on this planet is enough to keep us busy helping each other out.

One million nuclear bombs

The force of the earthquake which started this devastating act of nature was reported to be equivalent to the force of one million nuclear bombs. We can draw some comfort perhaps that nature has used so much force yet left relatively few casualties compared to what the Human Race would do if it had the power to unleash 1,000,000 atomic bombs.

Kirkby Times sends our commiserations and heartfelt sympathy to fellow working class people who have lost loved ones in the disaster. We hope that the rich and privileged throughout the World are one day seen for the treacherous scoundrels they are. Lets us remember that many of those tragically killed have been the victims of the usual stupidity of our leaders in not anticipating an event on this scale. After all, it's not the first time a tsunami has happened and it won't be the last.

Martin Luther King once told us that charity is more than slinging a few coins at a beggar. The amount donated to the disaster relief fund is small change indeed to what we have forked out on destroying Iraq.

The USA had spent a reported $162bn on the invasion of Iraq (April 2004 BBC reports) The cost could reach as high as 2000 Billion US Dollars. This amount could provide all children on earth with enough food, basic medical care, primary education and clean water for 3 1/4 years according to UNICEF.

The USA has donated some $75M to the tsunami disaster relief fund.

The UK has spent a minimum of 3 Billion pounds on the Iraq War. (it's likely a lot higher but figures are hard to come by)

The UK has announced it will donate £50 million pounds to the tsunami disaster relief funds.

As we struggle to comprehend with the enormity of the death toll and the work that needs to carried out, many of those working class people in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Somalia and other affected places have long seen the pressing concern of the disparity of wealth. For these Countries, already afflicted by poverty and the theft of resources from the rich and powerful, the solution in the long term will need to be a revolution. The rich will never give up there wealth and power freely and will need, as ever, to be forcibly made to do so.

We have reached a point were the obscene wealth of individuals like the Queen or Bill Gates of Microsoft exceeds that which some Countries have. We see the developed World spend Billions on destruction, yet the starving rely on the few coins which we throw at them from time to time. We have satellite navigation systems so that drivers in the UK can find there way from A to B, but apparently the cost of a satellite to monitor the tsunamis for the Third World, is not cost productive. Saving the lives of the poor does not carry a big profit margin.

Along with forces of nature - the ongoing struggle of the poor and dispossessed also stand poised to bring great changes to the World in the coming years. We cannot stop earthquakes, but we can certainly rock the World of the idle rich and parasites whose very greed has almost certainly seen tens of thousands of people die for no other reason than it seemed like not having an early warning system could save some money.

How much the eventual cost of this early warning system is, will be made clear in the days ahead, but we know in our hearts that whatever the cost - it was dirt cheap compared to the gamble that was taken with so many lives.