Do we live in a better world than today?
Oct 23, 2005
SIR — One of the arguments that were never settled between my <br>grandfather and I was whether today we live in a better world than their times.
SIR — One of the arguments that were never settled between my
grandfather and I was whether today we live in a better world than their times. I religiously defended today’s times and told him how developed the world is today compared to their times. I told him of one of the best inventions of man — the internet. However, if he was living today, he would win the argument. I have been forced to gradually change my position. There are many catastrophes we hear today from dusk to dawn. When we were just trying to accept the fact that Hurricane Katrina had claimed all those lives in New Orleans, another disaster hit our air waves. thousands of people in Pakistan had been buried under their buildings by an earthquake. The United States, in spite of her vast wealth in technology, financial and human resources could do nothing about Hurricane Katrina! And that is a ‘super power’!
Where have we failed? How can we prevent some of these disasters? Take the indiscriminate cutting down of our forest cover especially in fragile environments which need to be stabilised by forests. Bunyoro is a good example in this recklessness. God helps those who help themselves.
If we get floods in such areas because of our recklessness shall we still blame ‘nature’?
This is a question that all of us should ask ourselves. Let us try to protect our environment jealously.
I want to thank the Mufti of Uganda and all people involved in organising a fundraising for the survivors in Pakistan.
Patrick Byakagaba
Hoima
grandfather and I was whether today we live in a better world than their times. I religiously defended today’s times and told him how developed the world is today compared to their times. I told him of one of the best inventions of man — the internet. However, if he was living today, he would win the argument. I have been forced to gradually change my position. There are many catastrophes we hear today from dusk to dawn. When we were just trying to accept the fact that Hurricane Katrina had claimed all those lives in New Orleans, another disaster hit our air waves. thousands of people in Pakistan had been buried under their buildings by an earthquake. The United States, in spite of her vast wealth in technology, financial and human resources could do nothing about Hurricane Katrina! And that is a ‘super power’!
Where have we failed? How can we prevent some of these disasters? Take the indiscriminate cutting down of our forest cover especially in fragile environments which need to be stabilised by forests. Bunyoro is a good example in this recklessness. God helps those who help themselves.
If we get floods in such areas because of our recklessness shall we still blame ‘nature’?
This is a question that all of us should ask ourselves. Let us try to protect our environment jealously.
I want to thank the Mufti of Uganda and all people involved in organising a fundraising for the survivors in Pakistan.
Patrick Byakagaba
Hoima