Have We Mastered Our Environment?
Natural disasters tend to nullify best efforts of mankind. It is as though
there are forces at work that are contemptuous of our proud achievements.
Who has not read of or seen waters which deluge our towns and cities,
jeopardizing lives and culminating in the destruction of the results of endless
work in the space of a few moments. We are all vulnerable to the feelings of
futility as we view the carnage caused to cattle from the sudden inundation.
Despite the laudable advances made in technology, it can be seen that we cannot
yet say we have mastered the environment. Disasters of this type, leaving only
pathetic vestiges of homes and shops, are accepted as inevitable, and what we
can do is to attempt to ameliorate the conditions that result.


to build upon sand--to have a poor base, or not sufficient preparation.
Because they were amateurs and without money, the political campaign was
built upon sand and the candidate was a flash in the pan.