Suddenly, bamboo is being inspected; inspectors are out on the streets, and the commotion at the Public Works Department proves that the fire in Hong Kong was seen from this side of the Delta. Thank goodness for that; conscience – and common sense – are the best political instruments. However, there, as here, the underlying problem is the weak culture of accountability – negligence – during times of normalcy; before the irreparable tragedy. Let’s be clear: the problem isn’t the bamboo – in that case, it’s even the nets. In a broader analysis, the tragedy stems from regulation lacking technical awareness, negligent – or corrupt – oversight, and a ridiculous, irresponsible, and criminal management culture that disregards human life and saves pennies only to later compensate for the loss of lives, ruin businesses, and be left without freedom. The official reaction deserves praise; it has to have a place, and no one can evade the evidence. But it’s also necessary to demand a better world by acting rather than reacting.
We pass by construction sites in Macau every day. Helmets? Gloves? Vests? Okay, okay… architects and engineers go to construction sites and guess at deaths and injuries we’ve never even heard of; we drive past old buildings, more or less in ruins; and we look at cracked signs, hanging balconies, imagining that one day they’ll fall on our heads. How about stopping putting up lines right after the curve, so the driver can see them before running someone over? The list is so extensive; so abnormal, that we’ve become accustomed to smiling because it’s so normal. We let it go, shrugging our shoulders – everyone. Government, builders, landlords, tenants, inspectors… the average citizen, who is very demanding about the neighbor’s noise and doesn’t even look at their own roof collapsing.
We lightly accept the excessive presence of the State in many moments of life – that’s life as it is today – but we rarely demand that it be present where it isn’t. Until Death Hurts Us
The police, always so quick to issue fines to drivers, shutting down parties at 10 PM, and taking photos left and right, aren’t even trained for these cases; they don’t realize that the risk to life doesn’t depend solely on complaints; they don’t understand that the lack of security isn’t just about accidents or violent crime. And the population also doesn’t know, doesn’t want to, or can’t point the finger at what truly needs to be corrected. National complacency doesn’t exempt us from this; it’s really about the awareness of security; and a strong culture of demanding accountability from everyone towards everyone else.
Security is a very complex concept; we need to be educated about it. In schools, in families, in the media, in all forums capable of instructing and preventing. We lightly accept the excessive presence of the State in many moments of life – that’s life as it is today – but we rarely demand that it be present where it isn’t. Until death hurts us; times on the scale of the Hong Kong tragedy. Will there always be mistakes, accidents, and incidents? Of course. There will be far fewer if each and every one of us knows how to act – and demand action – when warning signs become apparent.
*General Director of PLATAFORMA
