The location:
A significant island country in the South Pacific.
The people:
Over 50% under 15 years of age
Ethnic mix of indigenous South Pacific tribes, Asian (Chinese primarily), African, French, Spanish, and since World War II, a sizeable number of Americans.
Religions – Indigenous 50%, remainder closely divided between Christian, Buddhist, and Islamic.
Languages – Numerous indigenous, as well as English, Spanish, and French.
The economy:
Petroleum, coffee, cocoa, spices, bananas, sugar, tourism, fishing, and natural gas, as well as inexpensive, quality labor.
Disasters threats:
Tidal waves/tsunami
Typhoons/Hurricanes
Tornadoes
Floods
Fires
Volcanic eruptions
Earthquakes
HIV/AIDS
Petroleum spill
High risk for avian flu
Terrorism, from within and outside the country
Helping organizations:
Governmental service – local, state, and national levels—including the military
Community based organizations
Faith-based groups
Businesses
THE SITUATION:
After Alex’s introduction to Kava, reviewing the potential risk associated with our location, and thinking I’m showing Alex my great observation skills, I declare, “That’s why the mess all around here. Some disaster hit this place. Right?”
Alex’s eyes spoke, “No kidding, slugger.” But kinder and more informative words came from Alex’s mouth that said, “No, not some disaster. It was some disasters—fastballs being thrown from all sides, so to speak.”
I asked my first stupid question, “What kind of disasters have they had here?”
With some chiding, but great patience, Alex replied, “Don’t they teach about things that happen in the rest of the world at your college, or did you get hit by a pitch?”
“They do,” I answered, “but like everybo ...