This earthquake has wreaked its havoc on the physical make-up of the country, but has also left an indelible mark on the emotional well-being of Haitians, rescue teams, and world observers alike. The sight and smell of death and destruction will likely haunt the Haitian survivors and rescuers for years to come. Media coverage of a physically injured and emotionally tortured nation moves the remote global community to tears. The whole world has just witnessed yet another frightening reality check: one minute all may be right in the world but it can take Mother Nature less time than that to bring a nation to its knees.

Haiti's tragedy hits rather close to home for Californians in particular as the impending "Big One" has become an increasing concern -- and rightly so. Mark Benthien from the Southern California Earthquake Center at USC observes, "It's human nature to consider your risk based on your experience and also to deny the risk you have in order to feel safe.... If we didn't think that way instinctively, we'd never leave the house" (Decker, LA Times). While heuristics such as the one Benthien describes are indeed necessary at times to allow us to cope with fear and risk, it is especially important nowadays to set aside these heuristics long enough to fully prepare yourself and your family for an earthquake. Seismologists and other earthquake-concerned institutions have entreated Californians long enough to brace themselves for what will come in only a matter of time. A wake-up call has been issued at the expense of a small island just 3,000 miles away.

Despite the terrible impact, Haiti has already proved to be more than another cautionary tale. It is also a powerful reminder of the capacity for humanitarianism in a modern age of isolationism, power struggle, political turbulence, weapons of mass destruction, exploitation, and worse. Through the rubble that now blankets Port-Au-Prince and other areas afflicted with aftershocks shines a faint beacon of hope for the good that still exists in a world where destruction continues to transpire by human hands. If it takes a village to raise a child it takes nations to rebuild a city and how inspiring it is to see the cooperation of so many nations in this effort.

Indeed, a lot can be learned from the earthquake in Haiti, but how far we in California and around the world will take these lessons is yet to be seen. 
 
Our hearts and thoughts go to Haiti. If you would like to donate to the relief efforts, a few links have been provided in the Resources section of the newsletter.