Mother Nature

Just saw Avatar. Never been so engrossed in a long movie since probably LOTR 9 yrs back.

Gorgeous visuals, can see why every single person who has watched it has told me to with much relish. Still irked by the little snippet of sex that they just HAD to throw in. It's as though James Cameron thought "oh yeah, of course we have to throw that in, just because every other movie has it". As if it wasn't predictable enough. I challenge directors to avoid the cliche for once!

But yes, it reminded me that we actually are them. We're on the way to destroying our world just as we destroy them, and with every little thing we do, this Earth moves toward its own demise. I'm as much responsible for it as anyone else, but how can we change the ways that have been embedded into our lifestyles?

As we were enjoying the movie, something else was happening down south. Just looking at the news about Haiti though and I am in shock. Of all the places on Earth for this to happen, this was the last place that needed it. Even in the best of times it still looked like a disaster zone. But now? I don't even want to imagine how bad this disaster will be. Especially with its infrastructure. This was the last thing they needed to happen.

Dear God. In whatever incarnation you take. Give them hope.

The International press will turn their attention to them, the aid agencies and pledges of help, money and manpower will pour in. Only now? After years of problems and strife, it takes Mother Nature's destructive fury as a call to action. Media is the most powerful creator of attention, and what better actor than tragedy? After the sense of emergency is over, people, aid and money will leave the area. The story plays out much as it always has, in Aceh, in New Orleans.

Does it really take a disaster as a refresh button for us humans? For us to pledge over and over again that we WILL do something different this time. When these little jolts don't come along, we lapse into indifference.