Yesterday's earthquake off Eastern Russia and the subsequent tsunami alerts brought back memories of similar, if far more devastating events this century.

I can well remember watching in growing horror in my living room in Sanda as waves washed away whole communities in Indonesia and Thailand in December 2004. I had pneumonia at the time so this only compounded my thought about a dreadful tragedy. Seven years later I watched again (this time back in Australia) as in real-time, waves washed away towns and communities in Japan, threatening even the Fukushima nuclear plant. It was horrifying.

Yes, we live on an active world that will give us grief from time to time. But modern technology means that every detail is broadcast, often live, making it, in my estimation, more incomprehensible. There is no time buffer, as of yore. 

It seems that the most recent earthquake and tsunami have not proved to be a dangerous as first thought, which is a blessing indeed. But more will come and with them, great difficulties for many people. It behooves us to be both prepared and generous in out response.