蜜芽传媒

Good morning. With the death toll rising above 7,000, and millions of people in desperate need of food and shelter, the UN is urging the government of Nepal to reduce the red tape which, it says, is hampering the arrival of relief aid. So, it may be surprising that one of the pressing issues facing that government is whether or not to re-open the route for climbers on Mount Everest.

Twelve years ago, I was trekking with friends in the Himalayas in the neighbouring Indian state of Uttarakhand and began to understand the vital importance of tourists to the economy of the mountains. It鈥檚 a heart-rending responsibility for the Nepalese government deciding how to allocate its scarce resources in the midst of this crisis. As the Hindu text, Mahabharat, comments: "When there is a time of calamity, those who do not act, or those who do not act correctly, are both reprehensible." Perhaps, facilitating the climbing expeditions is one way to get the country back on track.

It鈥檚 also been suggested in many reports worldwide, that the apparent lack of preparation within Nepal for a big earthquake may be the result of a type of fatalism. But, is this a religious belief or as seismologist, Susan Hough, said: a feeling that problems may be beyond their ability to control?

Perhaps, those who live in the face of the power of nature are more likely to feel themselves subordinate. Certainly, Hindu texts do teach that, despite humans鈥� brilliance and capability, we should maintain a certain humility & reverence towards our planet.

Hindus regard the Earth as one of our mothers 鈥� she gave birth to our bodies from her own and suckles us with the food she produces. But, she has a broader long-term agenda 鈥� she is mother not just to humans; but to all life. And, she must provide fairly for all.

It鈥檚 said that land is a good investment; they鈥檙e not making it anymore. But, the Earth does create land 鈥� by the movement of tectonic plates pushing up new land-masses. Without this action, all existing land would erode into the sea and disappear. Earthquakes are a necessary, though deadly, way by which Mother Earth provides a home for us.

But, that doesn鈥檛 mean we should be passive when disaster strikes; or before it happens. The Ramayan says: 鈥淎 wise person should foresee tragedy or misfortune and take action to prevent or mitigate its effects well in advance.鈥� Let鈥檚 hope the response to this disaster not only helps the Nepalese through their current crisis, but supports them to re-build their communities in a way that respects the benevolence of Mother Nature but also protects them from her power.

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