Consequences of the tsunami

Consequences of the tsunami

Natural disasters are also political events. Even if the
question may sound insensitive, we have to ask ourselves what the
consequences of the catastrophe that hit Asian coasts will be.
Will local regimes be criticized? After this tidal wave, will
there be an anti-globalism and anti-western political wave as
well?

This mainly concerns those countries that...have lately
registered high growth rates. This growth has created a business
middle class, but is also keeping urban and country masses on the
fringe of society.

Thailand and Indonesia can have a stock market, a banking
system, foreign investors, successful industries, but they do not
have an alert system, or modern health facilities. They have been
able to double their GDP in less than 20 years, but they are
unable to protect their people from such an event that Japan, for
example, is even able to predict.

It is not enough to just help people struck by the quake. It
will be necessary to help their governments and show that the
Asia's growth can be less dramatically unbalanced.
-- Corriere della Sera, Milan, Italy