from a geographer's point of view, the year 2008 is one of the best years to uncover the secrets of then atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere. with so many natual disasters happening, it's just amazing how they happen one after another. from cyclone nargis in Myanmar, to the tornados in the US and the recent earthquake in Chengdu, China - emotions aside - i think it is one of the best years to take geography at the 'A'levels. so many unanswered questions to explore. why did an earthquake happen in the middle of a plate? the aftermath of cyclone nargis - natural disaster or human disaster? the tornado in the US vs. cyclone in myanmar. i tell you, if i was going to take my As this year, i'd rejoice and thank God - not for the disaster, but for the excellent case studies that i would be able to "dump" into my essay this year.

from a political science point of view, 2008 is also an excellent year. from taiwan's elections earlier in the year and the US presidential elections later in the year contrasting with the junta in myanmar. democracy vs. military regime. plus my own personal favourite (although not in 2008) of singapore's constant walkovers (my mum has been living in the same district for almost 30 years, and every election that has ever happened was a walkover, she never got to vote.) i'm not a huge fan of politics per se. but i just like analyzing the patterns and trends. if you ask me what's the difference between republicans and democrats, i'll only tell you that the only thing i know is Obama + his stirring up of being the first Black pres and Clinton + her husband's sex scandal. honestly, politics is not always about the study of consitutions and laws that are passed. that's just the boring stuff. the exciting stuff is the things that happen behind all those empty promises.

from a humanitarian point, it's the best year to see NKF happening at an even larger scale - in myanmar. and it's also another year that is best to see how international relief works and how efficient it really is. with two disasters, both on a larger scale compared to the boxing day tsunami, there are guesses that there won't be enough relief to cover both disasters especially with worsened conditions in both areas. myanmar does not have enough relief flowing to the right places and china just lost it's golden 72hour period of rescue. so now what? myanmar is like a cess pit waiting to rot even further while china is already strewn with dead bodies and almost nowhere to "store" all these corpses. so where do we go from now? can the UN pass down an order for myanmar to open up? will ASEAN touch our fellow members heart and get them to allow relief experts in? will china open up to even more international help to cope with the disaster? will both countries be able to get up from these disasters and rebuild themselves?

but after all is said and done, above is all the academic questions that i want to find answers to.

but personally,

i pray for the survivors in myanmar

and for wisdom to come upon their ruling regime

to see that they cannot cope with the disaster themselves

and that they should not be profiteering from the relief efforts.

i pray that another cyclone doesn't hit the already saturated land of myanmar

and i pray for the safety of my friend's parents and family who are there.

i pray for the survivors of the quake

and i pray for miracles to happen all over that earthquake stricken place.

i pray that those trapped under the rubble

will be filled with faith that they will be rescued

and not give up on any last strands of hope.

Lord, i pray have mercy on their souls

and give comfort to those who have survived their children

and to those who have lost their parents.

give them strength to carry on from where they have fallen.

Lord, i pray, let these countries arise from these even stronger than ever.

let it be a time of revival in their lands.

Amen.