December 2, 2004. It’s shortly
before 8am in Sumatra, Indonesia and the ground shifts dangerously. A
devastating 9.15 earthquake rips through the Indian Ocean 150km away causing
the seabed to rise by several meters. Thirty kilometers of water rise as
tsunamis to pound mercilessly across coastlines in thirteen countries in a
series of waves as high as ten meters in some areas. Over 230,000 people die
and millions are left without homes and livestock; most are found in Indonesia,
Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India (Environmental Justice Foundation,
2006, p. 3) .
