Natural disasters: 'for whom the bell tolls'

The recent devastating Winter Storm Nemo caused massive blackouts and numerous casualties in the US Northeast. More than one million households were without electricity. As the US northeastern states are struggling to recover from the unprecedented blizzard, governors have declared a state of emergency in six states.

Nemo walloped the US East Coast shortly after it was hit by yet more devastating Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. Hurricane Sandy, the 18th tropical storm that occurred on the territory of the US in 2012, claimed 72 lives and inflicted $50 billion in damage.

After two Japanese cities were wiped out in the hell of a nuclear attack in May 1945, humanity was quick to realize that a nuclear disaster had to be avoided at all costs. The looming threat of a nuclear apocalypse forced people all over the world to join forces and prompted politicians to adopt a wide range of laws and sign a large number of treaties that are still in force and are part and parcel of the international law. Those efforts turn out to be crucial in warding off what scientists describe as ‘nuclear winter’.

The misfortunes that have been plaguing the US should serve as a reminder of what is coming if it remains deaf to nature’s warnings. Not only Washington, but politicians in Europe as well should be alerted to these warnings. This winter Europe was hit by devastating blizzards and was exposed to Arctic temperatures. Natural anomalies pummeled Russia as well.