This past weekend has been filled with terrible and remarkable stories. Baltimore, Maryland and Nepal have both been the point of tremendous suffering and incredible demonstrations of the human spirit since this past weekend.
Baltimore
It has been a trying week in the City of Baltimore. Monday night resulted in 235 arrests, 20 police officers injured, 6 seriously, 144 vehicle fires and 19 structural fires. The peaceful riots turned to violent acts of vandalism and destruction of property.
The incident began with the arrest of 25 year old, Freddie Gray. About a week after his arrest, Freddie died of a spinal injury. Many in the Baltimore community have been protesting over the treatment of Freddie by the police. Up until Monday, the protests were non-violent. That all changed Monday, the day of Freddie’s funeral, when groups decided not to protest non-violently, but to create chaos and crime throughout the city.
The residence of Baltimore, the family of Freddie Gary, and many Americans were horrified by the actions taken by these lawless thugs. The Mayor and Governor of Baltimore have responded with additional protection for the residence and the police.
If Monday was utter chaos, Tuesday was a sign that peace can overcome. While protests continued, many of the people of the city spent the day cleaning the streets. A group of committed and considerate citizens spent the day standing between the police and angry demonstrators in an effort to maintain civility. Tuesday had 10 arrests and countless acts of concern and care for the community and law enforcement. While the underlying issue remains, hopefully the members of the community can continue to look for solutions in productive and non-violent actions.
Nepal
The country of Nepal was rocked with a 7.8 magnitude earthquake over the weekend. Most recent reports estimate the death toll at 6,100. Cities and communities were turned to rubble. Approximately 450,000 people will be displaced, having to find a new home. Additionally the earthquake triggered a landslide on Mount Everest, killing 19 climbers. The death toll is expected to continue to increase as the debris is cleared.
Nepal is one of Asia’s poorest nations. Recent estimates believe the cost to rebuild Nepal will exceed $5 billion. This is about 25% of the entire Gross Domestic Product. The international community is expected to assist Nepal in their recovery efforts.
With all the tragedy, there have been miraculous stories. For example, after 22 hours of being buried beneath the debris, rescuers recovered a 4 month old boy. The efforts of the first responders and the strength of the human spirit are never short of amazing.
What are your reactions to the events in Baltimore and Nepal? What actions can we take to assist the people of Baltimore and Nepal?