Tragedy in Korea

[David]

Terrible to hear about this. So many lives probably lost in what seems like an entirely avoidable situation.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/17/south-korea-disaster-captain-crew-abandoning-passengers

Hope there's still a chance for some of the remaining passengers to be rescued and brought to safety.

[KenH]

Very sad. How terrifying for all on board.

[swoop42]

Huge death toll and amazing to think that this didn't lead the news the other night.

[3.14159]

Captain oh captain ...

[swoop42]

^If that avatar doesn't get you a gig in Nick's 22 then nothing will.

[John Wren]

[3.14159]

moved.

[pietillidie]

A tragic incident. The stories, text messages and footage coming out of the whole thing are heart-rending.

I am loathe to criticise, because tragedy rooted in poor safety procedures and inadequate emergency services can and does happen even in very wealthy countries.

At the same time, the in-group focus of the Confucian familial system means far more attention is paid to things like personal health rather than public safety. But as I always tell anyone who will listen, what good is your health if you die in an accident? (And it concerns way more basic things than major accidents like this; don't get me started on things like food, pedestrian and road safety).

The priorities are askew, though you have to remember it's far easier to see the contradictions in a system when you haven't grown up within it. (As a point of illustration, just imagine how dumb Australians building houses in bushfire-prone areas must seem as the footage is shown across the world season after season).

[HAL]

Why did you tell them?

[think positive]

Now how can I ever refuse