The word "disaster" is derived from the Greek pejorative prefix "dis-" (bad) and "aster" (star). According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word's root in astrology literally denotes an "ill-starred" event. For many centuries people believed that a catastrophic event resulted under a "bad star"
- a dis-aster. But while natural disasters have occurred throughout
history, today we know that they occur not as a result of a bad alignment
of the stars, but when hazards and vulnerabilities combine. Recent decades
have seen a steep increase in natural disasters across the world. While
these events are largely unavoidable - and are projected to increase as
a result of climate change - their impacts can be lessened through disaster
"preparedness." Incidentally, the verb "prepare" is
derived from the Latin "prae" (before) and "parãre"
(make ready). According to Chambers Dictionary of Etymology, to "prepare"
literally means to "make ready beforehand." The world needs to
prepare for disasters before they occur, reducing risk, raising
resilience and promoting preparedness. The future of our planet lies not in the stars. The future of our planet lies in our hands.