‘I wish none of these have happened’ …

And so did Frodo and Gandaff in ‘Lord Of The Rings.’
‘So do all who live to see such times.
But that is not for them to decide.
All we have to decide is what to do
with the time that has been given to us.’

Destructions By Superstorm Sandy ~ Bloomberg

And now the cold sets in…

And Now The Cold Sets In ~ BBC’s Photo

The aftermath of Superstorm Sandy where millions had to endure damaged homes, floods, inclement weather is really heart wrenching. The loss of lives is always a tragedy. All the affected families had to endure the loss of electrical power and all the conveniences of modern living had to suffer and endure. And now comes the terrible cold that has descended upon the disaster areas. Homes without power for heating has become uninhabitable. Until power is restored and even then the flood waters remain a challenge. According to CNN, an estimated 1.2 million people are still without power and it’s a week after Sandy.

Working By The Falshlight ~ photo from CNN

Mother Nature is something beyond our control. We live in a world where we have taken for granted our access to instant communication. Video sharing , Facebook, Twitter, Google and other social media depend on  hardwares  that work only if we have the juice to power them. As CNN have reported, you’re disconnected from the entire world. You are powerless in two senses of the word ; no utilities and no control over Mother Nature. Is the latter condition, a harbinger of bad weather we can expect to come from a very real world afflicted by global warming? That’s a very real issue, but the immediate need is to ensure that victims are given all the help that is urgently needed.

Music lends her soothing hand…

The NBC initiated Hurricane Sandy : Coming Together concert on 02 November raised US23 million disaster relief money for the American Red Cross. Bravos to NBC, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Christina Aguilera, Jon Bon Jovi and other stars.  Whilst we cannot decide and control the course of Mother Nature, we can decide “what to do with the time that is given to us.” 

There are so many ways that you can help, but don’t do nothing. Participate in neigbourhood cleanup. Donate what you can. Share water, canned foods … even the very basics. Lend space, even a couch to friends who need to tide over the cold as I was happy to discover amongst my friends via Facebook.