The flood disaster has taught us a key lesson: we can no longer sweep problems under the rug and hope they will eventually disappear.
Natural phenomena such as floods and drought are not unpredictable. If we deal with these problems early on, the extent of damage can be lessened. The public can also play a supporting role.
They should not leave these problems solely in the hands of politicians.
Public media must also change the ways in which they present the news. It may be time to focus more on programmed that educate the public than sensational or human interest stories.
Current political news presentation focuses mainly on conflicts among political parties and key political actors, with little substance on the real issues affecting the people or the country.
The conflict between the haves and have-notch is real in our country. Only the rich and powerful have easy access to national resources.
The ongoing flood may also be linked to the rampant exploitation of the country's natural resources. Forests and public land are encroached upon by greedy but powerful people.
Unregulated land use is also a major problem, as witnessed by the damage done to huge industrial parks that are located in low-lying areas which once were paddy fields.
It is high time we learned from our past mistakes. If we do not change, we will face even more disastrous natural phenomena in the future.
The mass media can play a constructive role by educating the public about the need to protect our natural resources, and offering long-term solutions.
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