Our past week of silence across social media amounts to a small sign of respect for the tragic disaster experienced by our fellow citizens and neighbors in Turkey and Syria.
We remain in contact with our colleagues and former students living in the region, as well as being grateful for our researcher who was on site offering support to the devastated cities in southern Turkey. There are no words to describe what millions of people in the affected areas are experiencing.
In the face of this disaster, resulting in the loss of many thousands of lives, and the hardship awaiting all those who survived, let’s at least move forward with a bit more knowledge than before.
For many decades human arrogance and selective memory has perhaps become our biggest fault. We have ignored the fact that we reside on a living planet which continues to evolve every day with its own pace and rules.
We continue to think that we are stronger than nature and that we have control. It is a paradox to believe that such devastation will never happen to ourselves but only those afar. With the same arrogance we destroy the air we breathe, the water we drink and so much more.
Though we will never be able to regain all lost in the tragedy, we hope you will stand by us and support in any way we can the survivors, and to go forth having drawn knowledge and respect for the living planet we all share.
