Latest comments posted about Learning from the snow crisis on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1709-Learning-from-the-snow-crisis http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1709-Learning-from-the-snow-crisis In order to face up to disasters, we need to combine both spiritual and material forces. Political mobilization and economic motivation should play respective roles in anti-disaster and relief efforts. Besides, snow crisis management system should be further strengthened. (comment translated by Zhou Chen) Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:22:23 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1709#comment-7508 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1709#comment-7508 Regarding the snow disaster, abnormal climate change is not only a natural disaster, but also the consequence of humanity's behaviour. Even though it is only partly to blame, we should be aware from now on. Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:49:17 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1709#comment-7064 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1709#comment-7064 Though certain link can be identified between this snow crisis and climate change, not all damage should blame on natural disaster. The lack of instant solution in confronting extreme natural crises of this kind is the reslut of long-time indifference of infrastructure construction. In recent two years, the frequent occurence of climate crises in Chinese cities have cost heavy casualties and financial loss, which has greatly challeged the crisis management of the government and professional ethics of government officials. Each time when crisis occured, it was the poor people , such as immigrant workers, who suffered the most. They have not so much means to actively prevent the harm , but to wait for help due to the economic vunerability and social insecurity. This snow crisis in southern China has drawn our attention to the social vunerable group of immigrant workers, especially in the time of crisis. Moreover, the fact that social charity has not been fully motivated has exposed the problems in Chinese social assistance system . The drawbacks of authoritarian decision-making and the special requirement in crisis and emergency management has demostrated that it is far from enough to solely rely on the government to fulfill the job of disaster relief and reconstruction. Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:53:47 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1709#comment-7049 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1709#comment-7049 It was sort of lucky we survived from the snow crisis. Still, the self-saving force of the society was not well-constructed, sometimes even suppressed, which is likely to lead to a bigger loss in bigger disasters. During the train station salvation, the civil administration departments cornered all the salvation work with a low efficiency. Many NGOs couldn't even get it, unless through the civil administration, which indicates some potential danger in the future. Larry Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:56:49 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1709#comment-7053 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1709#comment-7053 What has always struck me about extreme weather conditions in the context of climate change and global warming is that, although these disasters are often devastating, in some ways, it is this devastation that could play a vital part in increasing awareness and promoting change. Saying this, this doesn't appear to be the case. Too often than not, natural disasters due to weather conditions are classed as simply that: 'natural' disasters. But there is a large degree of human agency involved, and this is something that must change. We must become more aware of our actions and their consequences, and realise the knock-on effects for people worldwide. I hope that the victims of such disasters can take stock of such issues from a new perspective, but I fear that many people today still fail to realise reality in its 'not-so-natural' forms. It is not enough that we create wars when there truly ARE enough natural disasters out there, but we also increasingly add to disasters through our creation of unnatural disasters, and this is something that must be addressed in more detail. News reporters and politicians need to remind us of this fact when these disasters strike - at the scene of the crisis - when it will have most impact. We cannot only remember to 'be green' on an everyday basis made easier by government policies and local councils: we have to look at the bigger picture. Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:22:59 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1709#comment-7045 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1709#comment-7045