I got my first scammer email today, from a low-life in Indonesia, trying to get me to wire money over to him in Jakarta to “help his family who live in Aceh”.
I will confess to feeling disgusted by this, and slightly sick. To abuse the kindness shown by so many and seek fraudulent gain is utterly vile. The same goes for those who are using the confusion to fuel the child slavery market. Words cannot adequately express my disgust.
Already, we must face the prospect that many governments will not actually come up with all the cash which they have promised. We must also face up to the stark reality that all this terrible suffering will fade away from the TV screens in the near future. The relief will go on just fine, till the money runs out, and then these regions will be on their own once more.
It's the natural way of things, and perhaps we need not feel too guilty, because the current intensity of reaction cannot be sustained - however sincere. Let's just hope that enough is put in place to enable those affect societies to rebuild themselves, and to, once more, attract the tourists who make up most of their income.
In recognising the evil that lurks in the world, I think we should remember that the good really does outweigh it. Towns will be rebuilt, broken lives will somehow recover themselves and re-shaped families will draw strength from each other.
Erm... could there be a Tsunami in the Atlantic? Does anyone know?
Comments