Japan and Libya - Disasters show our vulnerability

DAYS after the 9.0 Richter scale earthquake that sent a devastating tsunami crashing through the coastal regions of northern Japan, the images of communities, shipping, rows of buildings, cars and trucks being swept along like leaves in an angry autumn river are probably even more socking than they were when first seen.

The destruction of property was terrifying but the psychological and emotional damage inflicted on people who have lost family members, homes, farms or businesses, not to mention the communities those businesses were rooted in, must be devastating.

There must be a terribly unnerving sense of powerlessness when faced with such a disinterested and implacable force. As more footage comes to light nearly every hour, the awesome power unleashed is truly frightening and sobering.

It is not at all surprising that Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan admitted that his country is experiencing its greatest hardships since World War II. Mr Kan’s remarks came as his country tries to deal with the domino affect of Friday’s earthquake — the tsunami, frightening instability at least three nuclear power plants, food shortages and the fact that hundreds of thousands of people have lost their homes and probably their incomes too. Mr Kan also warned that hundreds of thousands will have to endure power cuts and possibly water shortages.

For one of the world’s most powerful economies to have to concede that it faces this level of jeopardy is almost astounding in a world where we imagine money can fix more or less everything, more or less immediately.

However, there is something deeply impressive about the pragmatism that has characterised the Japanese response. Tens of thousands of lives may have been lost but that figure would have been much, much higher had the country not recognised the threat posed by frequent earthquakes and prepared thoroughly.

The calm shown by those caught at the fringes of the disaster is impressive, as is the incredible composure shown by very young children obviously separated from parents, homes and siblings.

As the world offers whatever help Japan has asked for, the impact of the disaster is being felt half a world away too. Before Friday’s earthquake the revolt against the unhinged Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was the centre of attention.

Now, as the rebels struggle against superior and better-equipped forces, their situation and the terrible retribution they will inevitably face should Gaddafi prevail, will get less attention and maybe even less support.

This is a chilling reality as it becomes ever more obvious that intervention of any meaningful kind in Libya is almost impossible. Tragically this reality is Gaddafi’s stay-out-of-jail card. He, his army and his mercenaries know this and act accordingly.

That the world is unable to undo the disaster in Japan or prevent one unfolding in Libya, or in any of the myriad places where natural disaster or terror prevail, reminds us how powerless we can sometimes be.