Evolution, Security and Progress of Civilizations

In the past, civilizations were compelled by natural disasters to advance their technology or perish. For example, the Indus River valley civilization had to create an irrigation and dam system to control the seasonal overflow of the river. This same scenario applied to the BCE civilizations in China and India. Moreover, the hybridization of plants (like rice and wheat) had to occur in colonies where the climate and soil were much different from that of the motherland.

In the present time, the country of the Philippines is not following this technological response to natural disaster pattern. Recently, in the news, we see the capital city of Manila underwater and the surrounding towns experiencing mudslides from the attack of two typhoons. Each year, the Philippines gets pummeled by typhoons - people die and the streets flood - yet there has been no infrastructure improvement to prevent the same incident from happening the next year.

First, there is government corruption. The government does not have its priorities straight. Money is being siphoned off by greedy and corrupt government officials. Just as long as the officials are doing well then they don't care about anyone else. There is such a great divide between the poor and the rich. So, there is no money for infrastructure improvement. Next, the Philippines has a tradition of exporting its college educated to developed countries to work. A good percentage of the country's financial imports come from overseas worker remittances. Hence, civil engineers are not staying in the country to address the problem. I can go on and on.

If the Philippines does not address its fundamental problems of dealing with natural disasters then it is handicapped in the world stage. Yearly typhoon attacks are hindering economic growth and the general progress of the country. The bottom line is - the country must deal with its fundamental problems or perish.