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Apocalypse
Whatdisastersreveal
JunotDaz
May 01, 2011

ONE
OnJanuary12,2010anearthquakestruckHaiti.Theepicenterofthequake,whichregistereda
momentmagnitudeof7.0,wasonlyfifteenmilesfromthecapital,PortauPrince.Bythetime
theinitialshockssubsided,PortauPrinceandsurroundingurbanizationswereinruins.
Schools,hospitals,clinics,prisonscollapsed.Theelectricalandcommunicationgrids
imploded.ThePresidentialPalace,theCathedral,andtheNationalAssemblybuilding
historicsymbolsoftheHaitianpatrimonywereseverelydamagedordestroyed.The
headquartersoftheUNaidmissionwasreducedtorubble,killingpeacekeepers,aidworkers,
andthemissionchief,HdiAnnabi.
Thefiguresvary,butanestimated220,000peoplewerekilledintheaftermathofthequake,
withhundredsofthousandsinjuredandatleastamilliononetenthofHaitispopulation
renderedhomeless.AccordingtotheRedCross,threemillionHaitianswereaffected.Itwas
thesinglegreatestcatastropheinHaitismodernhistory.Itwasforallintentsandpurposesan
apocalypse.

TWO
ApocalypsecomestousfromtheGreekapocalypsis,meaningtouncoverandunveil.Now,as
JamesBergerremindsusinAftertheEnd,apocalypsehasthreemeanings.First,itistheactual
imaginedendoftheworld,whetherinRevelationsorinHollywoodblockbusters.Second,it
comprisesthecatastrophes,personalorhistorical,thataresaidtoresemblethatimagined
finalendingtheChernobylmeltdownortheHolocaustortheMarch11earthquakeand
tsunamiinJapanthatkilledthousandsandcriticallydamagedanuclearpowerplantin
Fukushima.Finally,itisadisruptiveeventthatprovokesrevelation.Theapocalypticevent,
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Bergerexplains,inordertobetrulyapocalyptic,mustinitsdisruptivemomentclarifyand
illuminatethetruenatureofwhathasbeenbroughttoend.Itmustberevelatory.
Theapocalypse,then,perBerger,istheEnd,orresemblestheend,orexplainstheend.
Apocalypsesofthefirst,second,andthirdkinds.TheHaitiearthquakewascertainlyan
apocalypseofthesecondkind,andtothosewhoperisheditmayevenhavebeenanapocalypse
ofthefirstkind,butwhatinterestsmehereishowtheHaitiearthquakewasalsoanapocalypse
ofthethirdkind,arevelation.Thisinbriefismyintent:topeerintotheruinsofHaitiinan
attempttodescribewhatformetheearthquakerevealedaboutHaiti,ourworld,andeven
ourfuture.
Afterall,ifthesetypesofapocalypticcatastropheshaveanyvalueitisthatintheprocessof
causingthingstofallaparttheyalsogiveusachancetoseetheaspectsofourworldthatweas
asocietyseektorunfrom,thatwehidebehindveilsofdenials.
Apocalypticcatastrophesdontjustrazecitiesanddrowncoastlinestheseevents,inDavid
Brooksswords,washawaythesurfaceofsociety,thesettledwaythingshavebeendone.They
exposetheunderlyingpowerstructures,theinjustices,thepatternsofcorruptionandthe
unacknowledgedinequalities.And,equallyimportant,theyallowusinsightintothe
conditionsthatledtothecatastrophe,whetherwearetalkingaboutHaitiorJapan.(Ido
believethetsunamiearthquakethatravagedSendaithispastMarchwilleventuallyreveal
muchaboutourirresponsiblerelianceonnuclearpowerandthesinistercollusionbetween
localandinternationalactorsthatledtotheFukushimaDaiichicatastrophe.)

Becoming a ruinreader might not be so

bad a thing. It could in fact save your life.
If,asRoethkewrites,inadarktime,theeyebeginstosee,apocalypseisadarknessthatgives
uslight.
Butthisisnotaneasythingtodo,thispeeringintodarkness,thisruinreading.Itrequires
nuance,practice,andnosmallamountofheart.Icannot,however,endorseitenough.Given
thestateofourworldinwhichtheveryforcesthatplaceusinharmswayoftentake
advantageoftheconfusionbroughtbyapocalypticeventstoextendtheirpowerandinthe
processincreaseourvulnerabilitybecomingaruinreadermightnotbesobadathing.It
couldinfactsaveyourlife.

THREE
SotheearthquakethatdevastatedHaiti:whatdiditreveal?
WellIthinkitssafetosaythatfirstandforemostitrevealedHaiti.
Thismightstrikesomeofyouasjejunebutconsideringthecolossaldenialenergies(theveil)
thatkeepmostthirdworldcountries(andtheirproblems)outofglobalsightlines,thisisno
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meanfeat.FormostpeopleHaitihasneverbeenmorethanabliponamap,afaintdisturbance
intheforcesofarremovedthatwhathappenedtheremightaswellhavebeenhappeningon
anotherplanet.Theearthquakeforawhilechangedthat,toretheveilfrombeforeplanets
eyesandputbeforeuswhatweallsawfirsthandorontheTV:aHaitidesperatebeyond
imagining.
IfKatrinarevealedAmericasthirdworld,thentheearthquakerevealedthethirdworldsthird
world.Haitiisbynearlyeverymetriconeofthepoorestnationsontheplanetamindblowing
80percentofthepopulationliveinpoverty,and54percentliveinwhatiscalledabject
poverty.Twothirdsoftheworkforcehavenoregularemployment,and,forthosewhodo
havejobs,wageshoveraroundtwodollarsaday.Weretalkingaboutacountryinwhichhalf
thepopulationlackaccesstocleanwaterand60percentlackeventhemostbasichealthcare
services,suchasimmunizationswheremalnutritionisamongtheleadingcausesofdeathin
children,and,accordingtoUNICEF,24percentoffiveyearoldssufferstuntedgrowth.Asthe
HaitiChildrenProjectputsit:
Lackoffood,hygieniclivingconditions,cleanwaterandbasichealthcarecombinewith
epidemicdiarrhea,respiratoryinfections,malaria,tuberculosisandHIV/AIDStogive
Haitiamongthehighestinfant,underfiveandmaternalmortalityratesinthewestern
hemisphere.

InHaitilifeexpectancyhoversataround60yearsascomparedto,say,80years,inCanada.
Hunger,overpopulation,overcultivation,anddependenceonwoodforfuelhavestrained
Haitisnaturalresourcestothebreakingpoint.Deforestationhasrenderedvaststretchesof
theHaitianlandscapealmostlunarintheirdesolation.Haitiiseatingitself.Flyovermyisland
Hispaniola,hometoHaitiandmynativeDominicanRepublicasIdotwoorthreetimesa
year,andwhatyouwillseewillleaveyouspeechless.Whereforestscovered60percentof
Haitiin1923,onlytwopercentisnowcovered.Thisrelentlessdeforestationhasledto
tremendoushardshipsitisbothcausedbyandcausespoverty.Withoutforests,6,000
hectaresofarablelanderodeeveryyear,andHaitihasgrownmorevulnerabletohurricane
inducedmudslidesthatwipeoutfarms,roads,bridges,evenentirecommunities.In2008four
stormscausednearlyabilliondollarsindamage15percentofthegrossdomesticproduct
andkilledclosetoathousandpeople.Themudslidesweresoextensiveandthecleanupso
underfundedthatmuchofthatdamageisstillvisibletoday.
Inadditiontoresourcepressures,Haitistruggleswithpoorinfrastructure.Politicalandsocial
institutionsarealmostnonexistent,andadeadlyconfluenceofpoliticalinstability,pervasive
corruption,massivepoverty,andpredationfromelitesondowntoarmeddruggangshas
unraveledcivicsociety,leavingthemajorityofHaitiansisolatedandatrisk.Evenbeforethe
earthquake,Haitiwasreelingitwouldnothavetakentheslightestshovetosenditinto
catastrophe.
Allthistheearthquakerevealed.
FOUR
WhenconfrontedwithacalamityofthemagnitudeoftheHaitianearthquake,mostofus
resorttoallmannersofevasionavertingoureyes,blamingthevictim,claimingthewhole
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thingwasanactofgodinordertoavoidconfrontingwhatgeographerNeilSmithcallsthe
axiomatictruthoftheseevents:Theresnosuchthingasanaturaldisaster.Ineveryphase
andaspectofadisaster,Smithremindsus,thedifferencebetweenwholivesandwhodiesisto
agreaterorlesserextentasocialcalculus.
Inotherwordsdisastersdontjusthappen.Theyarealwaysmadepossiblebyaseriesofoften
invisiblesocietalchoicesthatimplicatemorethanjustthosebeingdrownedorburiedin
rubble.
Thisiswhywecallthemsocialdisasters.
TheAsiantsunamiof2004wasasocialdisaster.Thewavesweresolethalbecausethecoral
reefsthatmighthaveprotectedthevulnerablecoastshadbeendynamitedtofacilitate
shipping.AndtheregionsthatsufferedmostwerethoselikeNagapattinam,inIndia,where
hotelconstructionandindustrialshrimpfarminghadalreadysystematicallydevastatedthe
naturalmangroveforests,whicharetheworldsbesttsunamiprotectors.

We must refuse the old stories that tell

us to interpret social disasters as natural
disasters.
HurricaneKatrinawasasocialdisaster.Notonlyintheruthlesseconomicmarginalizationof
poorAfricanAmericansandintheoutrightabandonmentofsameduringthecrisis,butinthe
Bushadministrationsdecisiontosellhundredsofsquaremilesofwetlandstodevelopers,
destroyingNewOrleanssnaturaldefenses.Thesameadministration,accordingtoSmith,
guttedtheNewOrleansCorpsofEngineersbudgetby80percent,thuspreventingpumping
andleveeimprovements.
AswiththetsunamiandKatrina,sotooHaiti.
ButHaitiisreallyexemplaryinthisregard.Fromtheverybeginningofitshistory,rightupto
thedayoftheearthquake,Haitihadalotofhelponitslongroadtoruination.Thewebof
complicityforitsengulfmentindisasterextendsinbothtimeandspace.
WhetheritwasHaitisearlyhistoryasaFrenchcolony,whichartificiallyinflatedthecountrys
blackpopulationbeyondwhatthenaturalbountyofthelandcouldsupportandpreventedany
kindofmaterialprogresswhetheritwasHaitisstatusasthefirstandonlynationintheworld
tooverthrowWesternchattelslavery,forwhichitwasblockaded(read,furtherimpoverished)
byWesternpowers(thankyouThomasJefferson)andonlyreallyallowedtorejointheworld
communitybypayinganindemnitytoallwhiteswhohadlosttheirshirtsduetotheHaitian
revolution,anindemnityHaitihadtoborrowfromFrenchbanksinordertopay,whichlocked
thecountryinacycleofdebtthatitneverbrokefreefromwhetheritwasthatchronic
indebtednessthatleftHaitivulnerabletoforeigncapitalistinterventionsfirsttheFrench,
thentheGermans,andfinallytheAmericans,whooccupiedthenationfrom1915until1934,
installingapuppetpresidentandimposinguponpoorHaitianewconstitutionmorefavorable
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toforeigninvestmentwhetheritwasthe40percentofHaitisincomethatU.S.officials
siphonedawaytorepayFrenchandU.S.debtors,orthestringofdiabolicaldespotswho
furtherdroveHaitiintoruinandwhooftenruledwithforeignassistanceforexample,
FranoisPapaDocDuvalier,whoreceivedU.S.supportforhisanticommunistpolicies
whetheritwasthe1994UNembargothatwhittleddownHaitisrobustassemblyworkforce
frommorethan100,000workersto17,000,ortheliftingoftheembargo,whichbroughtwith
itapoisonpillgiftintheformofanIMFengineeredendtoHaitisprotectivetariffs,which
convenientlyenoughmadeHaititheleasttraderestrictivenationintheCaribbeanandopened
thedoorstoafloodofU.S.subsidizedricethatacceleratedthecollapseofthefarmingsector
andmadeapreviouslyselfsufficientcountryoverwhelminglydependentonforeignriceand
thereforevulnerabletoincreasesinglobalfoodpriceswhetheritwasthetensofthousands
wholosttheirmanufacturingjobsduringtheblockadeandthehundredsofthousandswho
werethrownoffthelandbythericeinvasion,manyofwhomendedupinthecities,inthe
marginalbuildingsandburgeoningslumsthatwerehithardestbytheearthquaketheworld
hasdoneitspartindemolishingHaiti.
Thistooisimportanttoremember,andthistootheearthquakerevealed.

FIVE
Theearthquakerevealedourworldinotherways.LookcloselyintotheapocalypseofHaitiand
youwillseethatHaitisproblemisnotthatitispoorandvulnerableHaitisproblemisthatit
ispoorandvulnerableatatimeinourcapitalistexperimentwhenthegapbetweenthosewho
gotgrubandthosewhodontisnotonlyvastbutalsorapidlyincreasing.Saidanotherway,
Haitisnightmarishvulnerabilityhastobeunderstoodaspartofalargertrendofglobal
inequality.
Weareintheageofneoliberaleconomicintegration,ofglobalization,themagicprocessthat
wastodelivertheworldspooroutofmiseryandbringuntoldprosperitytotherestofus.
Globalization,ofcourse,didnothingofthesort.AlthoughtheBigGwassupposedtoliftall
boats,evenacursoryglanceatthestatsshowsthattheswellofglobalizationhashadabad
habitoffavoringtheyachtsoverraftsbyawholelot.TheWorldBankreportsthatin1960the
percapitaGDPofthetwentyrichestcountrieswaseighteentimesgreaterthanthatofthe
twentypoorest.By1995thatnumberhadreached37.
Inthiscurrenteraofneoliberalmadness,sociologistJanNederveenPieterseexplains,The
leastdevelopedcountrieslagmoreandmorebehindandwithincountriesthenumberofthe
poorisgrowingontheothersideofthesplitscreenistheexplosivegrowthofwealthofthe
hyperrich.Itwouldbeonethingiftherichweregettingricherbecausetheyarejustthat
muchmoreawesomethanweare,butthenumberssuggestthattherichmaybegettingricher
inpartbysqueezingthepoorand,increasingly,themiddleclass.Thisisaworldwide
phenomenon.ItishappeningatthebottomofthemarketinHaiti,forexample,whereper
capitaGDPdroppedfromaround$2,100in1980to$1,045in2009(2005U.S.dollars)and
atthetop.IntheUnitedStates,thepooresthavegainedmuchlessthanthewealthy:between
1993and2008,thetop1percentcaptured52percentoftotalincomegrowth.

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Apocalypses are not only catastrophes;

they are also opportunities: chances for
us to see ourselves, to change.
Theworldsgoodiesarebasicallygettinggobbledupbyatinygroupofgluttonswhiletherest
ofusbywhichImeanbillionsofpeoplearebeingdeprivedofeventhecrumbscrumbs.And
yetinspiteofthesestarkdisparities,theeconomicpowersthatbecontinuetoinsistthatwhat
theworldneedsmoreofiswaitforiteconomicfreedomandmarketfriendlypolicies,which
istosaymoreinequality!
Pietersedescribesoureconomicmomentbest:
Overalldiscrepanciesinincomeandwealtharenowvasttothepointofbeinggrotesque.
Thediscrepanciesinlivelihoodsacrosstheworldaresolargethattheyarewithout
historicalprecedentandwithoutconceivablejustificationeconomic,moral,orotherwise.

ThisiswhatHaitiisbothvictimandsymbolofthisnew,rapaciousstageofcapitalism.A
cannibalstagewhere,inordertopowertheexplosionofthesuperrichandtheultrarich,
middleclassesarebeingforcedtofail,workingclassesarebeingreproletarianized,andthe
poorestarebeingpushedbeyondthegrimlimitsofsubsistence,intoakindofsepulchralhalf
life,perfecttargetsforanynaturaldisasterthatjusthappenstowanderby.Itis,Isuspect,
notsimplyanaccidentofhistorythattheislandthatgaveustheplantationbigbangthatput
ourworldontheroadtothismomentinthecapitalistprojectwouldalsobethefirsttowarnus
ofthiszombiestageofcapitalism,whereentirenationsarebeingrenderedthrougheconomic
alchemyintonotquitealive.Intheolddays,azombiewasafigurewhoselifeandworkhad
beencapturedbymagicalmeans.Oldzombieswereexpectedtoworkaroundtheclockwithno
relief.Thenewzombiecannotexpectworkofanykindthenewzombiejustwaitsaroundto
die.
Andthistootheearthquakerevealed.

SIX
IcannotcontemplatetheapocalypseofHaitiwithoutaskingthequestion:whereisthisall
leading?Wherearethepatternsandforcesthatwehavesetinmotioninourworldthe
patternsandforcesthatmadeHaitisdevastationnotonlypossiblebutinevitabledelivering
us?Towhatend,towhatfuture,towhatfate?
Theanswerseemstomebothobviousandchilling.Isuspectthatoncewehavefinished
ransackingourplanetsresources,oncewehavepushedacouplethousandmorespeciesinto
extinctionandexhaustedthewatertableandpoisonedeverythinginsightandexacerbatedthe
atmosphericwarmingthatwillfinishofftheicecapsanddrownoutourcoastlines,onceour
marketoperationshaveparsedtheworldintotheextremesofultrarichandnotquitedead,
oncethefamishedbillionsthatoureconomicsystemsleftbehindhaveintheirinsatiable
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hungerfinishedstrippingthebiosphereclean,whatwewillbeleftwithwillbeastricken,
forlorndesolation,afutureoutofascififeverdreamwherethesuperrichwillliveinwalled
upplantationsofimpossibleprivilegeandtherestofuswillwallowinunimaginableextremity,
staggeringaroundthewasteandbeingpickedoffbythehundredsofthousandsbynatural
disastersbyactsofgod.
Soundsfamiliar,dontit?
Isntthatafterallthelogicalconclusionofwhatwearewreaking?Thetransformationofour
planetintoaHaiti?Haiti,yousee,isnotonlythemostvisiblevictimofourcivilizationHaiti
isalsoasignofwhatistocome.
Andthistootheearthquakerevealed.

SEVEN
IfIknowanythingitisthis:weneedtherevelationsthatcomefromourapocalypsesand
neversomuchaswedonow.Withoutthisknowledgehowcanweeverhopetotake
responsibilityforthesocialpracticesthatbringonourdisasters?Andhowcanweeverhopeto
takeresponsibilityforthecollectiveresponsethatwillbeneededtoalleviatethemisery?
Howcanweeverhopetochange?
Becausewemustchange,wealsomustrefusethetemptationtolookawaywhenconfronted
withdisasters.Wemustrefusetheoldstoriesthattellustointerpretsocialdisastersas
naturaldisasters.Wemustrefusethefamiliarscriptsofvictimsandrescuersthatfocusour
energiessolelyoncharityinsteadofsystemicchange.Wemustrefusetherecoverymeasures
thatseekalwaystofurtherpolarizethepeopleandtheplacestheyclaimtomend.Andwemust,
inallcircumstancesandwithallourstrength,resisttheattemptsofthosewhohelpedbringthe
disastertousethechaostotheiradvantagetotightentheirholdonourfutures.
Wemuststareintotheruinsbravely,resolutelyandwemustsee.
Andthenwemustact.
Ourverylivesdependonit.
Willithappen?Willwe,despiteallourlimitationsandcruelties,reallyheedourruinsandpull
ourselvesoutofourdescentintoapocalypse?

Haitis nightmarish vulnerability has to

be understood as part of a larger trend of
global inequality.
Truthbetold,Imnotveryoptimistic.Imean,justlookatus.No,Imnotoptimisticbutthat
doesntmeanIdonthavehope.DoIcontradictmyself?ThenIcontradictmyself.Imfrom
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NewJersey:asawriterfromoutthatwayoncesaid,Iamlarge,Icontainmultitudes.
Yes,Ihavehope.Wehumansareafractiouslot,flawedandoftendiabolical.But,forallour
deficiencies,wearestillcapableofgreatdeeds.Considerthelegendary,divinelyinspired
enduranceoftheHaitianpeople.Considerhowtheyhavemanagedtosurviveeverythingthe
worldhasthrownatthemfromslaverytoSarahPalin,whovisitedlastDecember.Consider
theHaitianpeoplessuperhumansolidarityintheweeksafterthequake.Considerthe
outpouringofsupportfromHaitiansacrosstheplanet.Considertheimpossiblesacrificesthe
Haitiancommunityhasmadeandcontinuestomaketocareforthosewhowereshatteredon
January12,2010.
Consideralsomypeople,theDominicans.Inthemodernperiod,fewCaribbeanpopulations
havebeenmorehostiletoHaitians.Weareofcourseneighbors,butwhatneighbors!In1937
thedictatorRafaelTrujillolaunchedagenocidalcampaignagainstHaitiansandHaitian
Dominicans.Tensofthousandsweremassacredtensofthousandsmorewerewoundedand
drivenintoHaiti,andintheaftermathofthatgenocidetherelationshipbetweenthetwo
countrieshasneverthawed.ContemporaryDominicansocietyinmanyrespectsstrikesmeas
profoundlyantiHaitian,andHaitianimmigrantstomycountryexperiencewidespread
discrimination,abysmallaborconditions,constantharassment,mobviolence,andsummary
deportationwithoutdueprocess.
Noone,andImeannoone,expectedanythingfromDominicansafterthequakeyetlookat
whathappened:DominicanrescueworkerswerethefirsttoenterHaiti.Theyarrivedwithin
hoursofthequake,andinthecrucialfirstdaysofthecrisis,whiletheinternationalcommunity
wasgettingitsacttogether,DominicansshiftedintoHaitivitalresourcesthatwerethe
differencebetweenlifeanddeathforthousandsofvictims.
Inashockingreversalofdecadesoftoxicenmity,itseemedasiftheentireDominicansociety
mobilizedforthereliefeffort.Dominicanhospitalswereemptiedtoreceivethewounded,and
allelectivesurgerieswerecanceledformonths.(ImagineiftheUnitedStatescanceledall
electivesurgeriesforasinglemonthinordertohelpHaiti,whatadifferentthatwouldhave
made.)Schoolsacrossthepoliticalandeconomicspectrumsorganizedreliefdrives,and
individualcitizensdeliveredcaravansofessentialmaterialsandpersonnelintheirown
vehicles,evenasinternationalorganizationswereclaimingthattheroadstoPortauPrince
wereimpassable.TheDominicangovernmenttransportedgeneratorsandmobilekitchensand
establishedafieldhospital.TheDominicanRedCrosswasupandrunninglongbeforeanyone
else.DominicancommunitiesinNewYorkCity,Boston,Providence,andMiamisentsupplies
andmoney.ThishistoricshiftmusthaveTrujillorollinginhisgrave.SoniaMarmolejos,a
humbleDominicanwoman,leftherowninfantbabiesathomeinordertobreastfeedmore
thantwentyHaitianbabieswhosemothershadeitherbeenseriouslyinjuredorkilledinthe
earthquake.
ConsiderSoniaMarmolejosandunderstandwhy,despiteeverything,Istillhavehope.

EIGHT
Thesearedarktimes,thereisnodenying.ThusspakeBillNighyscharacterinthe
penultimateHarryPottermovie.Sometimeswehavetolookinourentertainmentfortruths.
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Andsometimeswehavetolookintheruinsforhope.
MorethanayearhaspassedsincetheearthquaketoppledHaiti,andlittleonthematerialfront
haschanged.PortauPrinceisstillinruins,rubblehasnotbeencleared,andtheportisstill
crippled.Morethanamillionpeoplearestillintentcities,vulnerabletotheelementsand
diseaseandpredatorygangs,andthereisnosignthattheywillbemovingoutsoon.The
rebuildinghasmademanyU.S.companiesbucketsofcash,butsofarhasdoneverylittlefor
Haitiancontractorsorlaborers.Choleraisspreadingthroughthereliefcamps,killingmore
than4,500sofar,accordingtotheUnitedNations.InDecember2010PaulFarmerreported
thatnearlyayearafterthedisasterHaitihadreceivedonly38percent,or$732.5million,of
promiseddonations,excludingdebtrelief.IntheDominicanRepublic,threatsofviolence
causedthousandsofHaitianimmigrantstoabandontheSantiagoareajustweeksbeforethe
earthquakesfirstanniversary.
Morethanayearlater,wecansaysafelythattheworldhaslookedaway.Ithasfailedtolearn
thelessonoftheapocalypseofHaiti.

If anything is certain it is this: there will

be more Haitis.
Neverfearthoughifanythingiscertainitisthis:therewillbemoreHaitis.Somenew
catastrophewillstrikeourpoorplanet.AndforashortwhiletheEyeofSauronthatisthe
globesfickleattentionspanwillfalluponthisnovelmisery.Morehandwringingwillensue,
moreobfuscatorynarrativeswillbetrottedout,morepeoplewilldie.Thoseofuswhoare
committedwillhelpallwecan,butmostpeoplewillturnaway.Therewillbeafew,however,
who,steelingthemselves,willpeerintotheruinsforthenewsthatwewillalleventuallyneed.
Afterall,apocalypsesliketheHaitianearthquakearenotonlycatastrophestheyarealso
opportunities:chancesforustoseeourselves,totakeresponsibilityforwhatwesee,to
change.Onedaysomewhereintheworldsomethingterriblewillhappen,andforoncewewont
lookaway.WewillrejectwhatJaneAnnaandLewisR.GordonhavedescribedinOfDivine
Warningasthatstrangemomentfollowingacatastrophewhereinouraversiontoaddressing
disastersassignswerefusetointerpretandtakeresponsibilityforthekindsofcollective
responsesthatmaybeneededtoalleviatehumanmisery.Onedaysomewhereintheworld
somethingterriblewillhappenandforoncewewillheedtheruins.Wewillbegincollectivelyto
takeresponsibilityfortheworldwerecreating.Callmefoolishlyutopian,butIsincerely
believethiswillhappen.Ido.Ijustwonderhowmanymillionsofpeoplewillperishbeforeit
does.

POSTSCRIPT
March15:AsIrevisethisessay,Iamwatchingtheharrowingimagesbeingbeamedinfrom
postearthquakeposttsunamiJapan.Anotherapocalypsebeyondtheimaginationbutone
thatmightaffectusall.ThenewsisreportingthatathirdexplosionhasrockedtheFukushima
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Daiichinuclearpowerplantandthattheremightbeafireinthefourthreactor.Theworst
nuclearaccidentsinceChernobyl,anicelycombedmanissaying.Evenifthereactorcoresdo
notmeltdown,radioactivereleasesintotheenvironmentwillcontinueforweeks,perhaps
evenmonths.MyfriendsinTokyoreportthattheconveniencestoresthatIsolovehavebeen
emptiedandthattherearesignsthattheradiationhasalreadybeguntoreachthatmetropolis
of13million.Andfinallythis,aperfunctorystatementfromtheU.S.NuclearRegulatory
Commission:NRCsrigoroussafetyregulationsensurethatU.S.nuclearfacilitiesare
designedtowithstandtsunamis,earthquakesandotherhazards.Whenpressedfordetails,
NRCspokesmanDavidMcIntyrewasreportedtohavesaidthatthecommissionisnottaking
reportersquestionsatthispoint.

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