Comfort Ocran: After it stops, what next?
I have not had the courage to come online because the news from the radio stations is very heartbreaking and gut-wrenching. No one should have their lives cut short because of a few hours of rain. No one should have property destroyed because of a few hours of rain.
Advertisement
I can feel our pain, I can feel our anger, I can feel the frustration.
I can also see the hurt and I can see the devastation.
All I can say is this situation had been predicted a long time ago. It has been threatening for more than three decades. We chose to be the proverbial vulture who swears to build a house when it is raining and forgets about it when the rain stops. We chose to ignore the prediction.
We chose to accept mere platitudes as assurances of action being undertaken. We also chose, by participating in (throwing rubbish indiscriminately, using plastic bags as if they were going out of fashion, putting up unauthorised buildings/structures in unauthorised places, using substandard materials) or ignoring (looking the other way) when people are flouting the inadequate regulations that we have.
Taking baby steps
We must collectively bow our heads in shame. It is time, my dear friends, to face the music and start taking baby steps to rectify the situation.
The first baby step is that we must ask for God’s forgiveness for disregarding the earth that He has given us by polluting it so badly. We must humbly ask God to lead us during this traumatic period.
We must pray for the departed as well as their families. Finally, we must also pray for those who have had property damaged in this rain that God will restore that which has been taken from them. But that is not enough.
Other Trending Stories
The second baby step is to decide individually to reduce or cut back on the amount of plastic we use in our homes and offices. Yes, you and I. When we’re going to the market, let’s take along baskets or shopping bags. Let’s take paper with us as well and ask the vendor to wrap the items we buy in paper.
Paper is bio-degradable. Plastic is not. If we are buying food, let us go with a container. Let us extend it to our offices, our salons, our shops; tell our friends, our neighbours, anyone who will listen or not listen.
Individual choices before legislation
Someone will ask, what about passing legislation that will ban the production of plastic? The truth is that that could be our end game. But since we are now starting, let us begin with individual choices leading to a drop in demand and in pollution. Then such legislation will become more effective.
The third baby step is challenging those who throw rubbish indiscriminately to stop. If necessary, collect the rubbish and put it in the person’s bag. Please let us not look the other way. Educate the person. This time when the pain is deepest is the best.
The fourth baby step is to support and challenge our law enforcement authorities (who sometimes bow too easily at the sight of either power or money) to enforce the law. We are too quick to pull out the “Do you know who I am” card and when that does not work, we resort to the wallet. But if the law enforcer stays as a law enforcer, breaking the law would reduce and ‘hopefully’ stop.
The fifth baby step is to ask and demand those in office to be accountable. (I am not referring to political office holders only; this step extends to those who are supposed to work to plan and build proper facilities for the nation.) If you cannot do the job that you said you would do, please, leave and let someone who can do it.
Acting out roles
We don’t mind if you heap all the accolades you want to get. (There are a lot of people who will give you accolades both for a fee and without a fee.) But for goodness sake, working and acting the role your office demands is key. If you cannot provide food and shelter for your child, how dare you ask your child to polish your shoe!
The final baby step is for us to increase and improve our health and safety awareness. It could have saved the lives of some who lost theirs in the disaster. Knowing that making a call in a thunderstorm is asking for lightning to strike, knowing that being in a position where there is no fresh air is potentially dangerous, knowing that any tiny fire and fuel are highly combustible, knowing basic first aid can save a life. Knowledge is key. Let’s improve our health and safety standards and awareness.
I know these are not all that we can and must do. But these steps, both at the individual and public level, can begin the journey to a life and society that is not afraid when disaster strikes.