Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan last month causing widespread destruction and 700 deaths, particularly in the south. The government was faulted thoughout for its inept handling of the crisis, including its slow response and lack of evacuation in the face of heavy rains and huge landslides. Now political heads must roll to appease the angry electorate. This week the Prime Minister Liu Chao-shiuan resigned with the full cabinet following him this week. Collapsing popularity forced President Ma to allow the Dalai Lama to visit the victims in defiance of heavy pressure from new best friend China. “Because so many people died someone must take responsibility,” said the ex-Prime Minister. If only George Bush had been so honourable after Hurricane Katrina…
Troy Sternberg
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/world/asia/08taiwan.html
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/119102812/PDFSTART
Geography Directions 