Good Effin' Grief - Nepal hit with a 7.3 earthquake

[malaise]

more deaths, more destruction.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32701385
A major earthquake has struck eastern Nepal, near Mount Everest, two weeks after more than 8,000 died in a devastating quake.

At least four people have been killed and an unknown number injured, according to aid agencies.

The latest earthquake hit near the town of Namche Bazaar, near Mount Everest.

The US Geological Survey said it had a magnitude of 7.3. An earthquake on 25 April, centred in western Nepal, had a magnitude of 7.8.

[dembotoz]

1. awful

[Marrah_G]

2. omg

[HERVEPA]

4. Yeh, fun.

A little tone-deaf, are we? Maybe use the word interesting rather than fun?

[Divernan]

7. "fun to watch"? No, neither geologically nor any other way.

"Scientifically interesting"? Yes. "Significant"? Yes "Tragic?" Most certainly.

Bad enough any one individual sees "fun" in major earthquakes. But you, apparently an American from New York, currently teaching Chinese students in Nanjing (according to your profile), reveal this ability to divorce a sense of common humanity & grim, lethal reality and massive human suffering from the field of science, to each of your students and through them, like ripples in a pond, their friends and relatives.

Is there an epidemiologist on staff having "fun" watching/mapping the spread of Ebola? Maybe determining the cost per dead body of U.S. drone strikes? Or maybe, being a New Yorker, you could choose as a "fun" topic mapping the social geography of cancer deaths of first responders at Ground Zero? How about starting your class with a moment of silence for the dead, dying and permanently displaced victims of earthquakes?

I'm hoping that you are still so very young that you have never experienced any real tragedy and see the world like it's a huge video game. But what are you teaching your students through your attitude, about Americans and American values?

[malaise]

11. Good post

[Divernan]

14. The Chinese govt. routinely sends college age students

to western countries. I was at a symphony performance in Edinburgh, Scotland and was sitting in front of 3 Chinese students - 2 women and 1 man. Got talking with them at an intermission and then afterward we stood in front of Usher Hall, talking for another 20 minutes. The three of them were very polite, very earnest, and very curious. They had a lot of questions for me, as I did for them. Their govt. had sent them for a six month stay in Edinburgh to learn about the country, the people, the customs, political practices (such as the nationalist movement in Scotland) etc., so that as future Chinese leaders they would understand "the West".

Other Chinese students were sent to major cities throughout the EU. This was totally funded by the Chinese government, as was their entire university education. I have no doubt these 3 were among the elite students - and their English was quite good, of course. I can see them eventually influencing decisions in China on interacting with the EU.

Whenever one travels abroad, one is representing their country's values to all those with whom they come in touch. Hope this young DU-er now teaching in China comes to realize this and lose the word "fun" from the study of shifting tectonic plates.

[malaise]

8. Sure watching people die, and others injured while

they lose their homes is real 'fun'.

What a thoughtless post.

[whopis01]

9. Well at least someone can find the fun side of tragedy. n/t

[stonecutter357]

12. you should not be teaching shit to anyone...

[Takket]

13. I would strongly suggest you reword that

[steve2470]

19. sorry, horrible timing for that comment nt

[Recursion]

5. Yeah, we're scrambling here

I'll probably be in Kathmandu for the weekend. I can't describe how awful things are. Even Mumbai felt this one.

I know this sounds mercenary and awful, but:

If you want to help, what the Red Cross and others need is money. Even if you can only give $1, that will help them more than a blanket.

Thank you so much to everyone who has helped. I'll let you know more what we see from the regional side of things.

[jtuck004]

6. You take care out there. n/t

[malaise]

10. I never give the Red Cross money

but I'll send to my charity of choice. Thanks for your help - keep us posted.

[Recursion]

15. Will do. Thanks! (nt)

[OregonBlue]

18. Please keep us informed. I love Nepal, spent lots of time hiking there when I was young.

Hiked to Everest base camp among others and have been to Namche. I can hardly stand to look at the pictures. Do let us know what is going on and how you are.

[Mira]

16. Terrifying! I just now had word

that my young cousin is OK and carrying on with her merciful work as best she can
you may remember her

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026627413

[malaise]

17. Glad she's OK

This is horrific

[steve2470]

20. ......

[niyad]

21. how awful