picture credits to NASA
ARMAGEDDON - The END of world? Climate change, terrorism, epidemics, poverty, economic crisis, war and etc. Yeah, you get what i am trying to drive at?
It's hard not to ponder about what lies ahead for the human race when news of these events are splashed all over the pages of both local and international newspapers.
The above-mentioned were the usual news that make up of our newspapers, but what finally struck me was the report on a possible
SOLAR STORM in 2012. That threw me off guard. This is something that we, humans, have no clear control on such catastrophe.
Solar storm occurs when the Sun unleashes powerful magnetic storms that can disable satellites, threaten astronauts' safety and disrupt communication systems on Earth. The first one ever recorded was in year 1989 and the most recent one was in 2003.
So what's the big deal?
Yes, we survived thru the 1989 and the 2003 episodes, so why am i worrying about this 'catastrophe'?
It's simple - Technology, in this case, would be a bane. It will be to human race's disadvantage with the ever-increasing reliance on technology. We are using modern electrical grids and satellites and these are vital technological infrastructures that ensure power reach each and every household and communication viable. It is estimated that 130 million people or more in just United States alone will be affected. The widespread power outage is expected to have a domino effect on our lives. With power down, essential things for human survival will be affected. This includes water distribution, disruption in transportation of food and essentially leading to food spoilage, telecommunications, heating/air-conditioning utilities will be down. Can u imagine if that happens when it's Winter or Summer that it occurs? In another words, it will be disastrous if what they predict happens. Not only our lives are in peril, the economy of various countries would come to a halt. Even the government will be at a loss, with the most essential thing - electricity be taken away. It's essentially a dark dark world and back to the medieval period.
Say 'HELLO' to lighted firetorches and hunting period. MAYBE? HAHA.
Yes, everything will be thrown off track. Governments losing their control over the people, a cease in trading between countries - no income. So anyway, it will be really drastic.
The thing is, such a catastrophe is almost unavoidable. It's unlike climate change, whereby people can organise marches to educate others to protect the environment or getting the government to support 'green' movements and projects. No. It's not gonna work in this case. That's why this is scary.
Check this out on the
FIVE ways how the world can end.
Then, there is the much-mentioned SWINE FLU virus that has been making its rounds in Mexico, Canada, Vietnam and more countries to be added on (definitely :( ) Seriously, you can see that IT'S WHAT U CAN'T SEE THAT KILLS U.
If you have been keeping up with the updates on the current epidemic, it's a much more deadly virus as compared to SARS virus which threatened the health of people in year 2004. Similarly, no available vaccine available to keep this highly dangerous virus at bay.
While i am thankful that Singapore is still safe from this threatening epidemic which is expected to affect a few hundred thousand people over the world, I was thinking how we are just as vulnerable as any countries. Thus, we shouldn't let our guards down. It takes just ONE CLOWN to enter Singapore with that virus and BOOM. Before you know it, one becomes 2 and 2 become 4, so on and so forth. While we can only pray that the customs do not screw this up, we can be more pro-active in taking charge of our personal hygiene.
1) Wash your hands thouroughly with anti-bacterial soap.
2) Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing
3) Do not leave used tissues lying around and throw them into the bin
4) Develop the habit of using hand sanitizer. This is handy when there's no water available in the nearby vicinity.
5) Should you develop flu-like symptoms, visit the doctor ASAP and wear a mask on the trip to clinic. Inform the staff on duty that you are down with flu.
6) Don't turn up for school if you are sick. (tht's good news right?)
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Yeah, the lists goes on and basically, these are all common sense. We tend to commit these small mistakes coz we tend to overlook on the seriousness of the issue at hand. So i guess, all we have to do is to pay more attention to our well-being now especially with such a critical situation at hand now.
Enough of the serious matters, just to make you feel a lil better. It's
JOKE-OF-THE-DAY time. (:
Person A: My advice to you - never marry a tennis player.Person B: Why?
